From: John 14:27-31a
The Promise of the Holy Spirit (Continuation)
(Jesus said to His disciples,) [27] "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [28] You have heard Me say to you, `I go away, and I will come to you.' If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced, because I go to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. [29] And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place, you may believe. [30] I will no longer talk much to you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over Me; [31a] but I do as the Father has commanded Me."
_________________________
Commentary:
27. Wishing a person peace was, and still is, the usual form of greeting among Jews and Arabs. It is the greeting Jesus used, and which the Apostles continued to use, as we can see from their letters (cf. 1 Peter 1:3; 3 John 15; Romans 1:7; etc.).
The Church still uses it in the liturgy: for example, before Communion the celebrant wishes those present peace, a condition for worthily sharing in the holy sacrifice (cf. Matthew 5:23) and also a fruit of that sacrifice.
On our Lord's lips this common greeting acquires its deepest meaning; peace is one of the great messianic gifts (cf. Isaiah 9:7; 48:18; Micah 5:5; Matthew 10:22; Luke 2:14; 19:38). The peace which Jesus gives us completely transcends the peace of the world, which can be superficial and misleading and compatible with injustice. The peace of Christ is, above all, reconciliation with God and reconciliation of men with one another; it is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit (cf. Galatians 5:22-23); it is "serenity of mind, tranquility of soul, simplicity of heart, a bond of love, a union of charity: no one can inherit God if he does not keep His testament of peace, or live in unity with Christ if he is separated from Christianity" (St. Augustine, "De Verbis Domini Serm.", 58).
"Christ `is our peace' (Ephesians 2:14). And today and forever He repeats to us: `My peace I give to you, My peace I leave with you'. [...] Never before in the history of mankind has peace been so much talked about and so ardently desired as in our day. [...] And yet again and again, one can see how peace is undermined and destroyed. [...] Peace is the result of many converging attitudes and realities; it is the product of moral concerns, of ethical principles based on the Gospel message and fortified by it. [...] In his message for the 1971 Day of Peace, my revered predecessor, that pilgrim of peace, [Pope] Paul VI, said: "True peace must be founded upon justice, upon a sense of the untouchable dignity of man, upon the recognition of an indelible and happy equality between men, upon the basic principle of human brotherhood, that is, of the respect and true love due to each man, because he is man'. This same message I affirmed in Mexico and in Poland. I reaffirm it here in Ireland. Every human being has inalienable rights that must be respected. Each human community--ethnic, historical, cultural or religious--has rights which must be respected. Peace is threatened every time one of these rights is violated. The moral law, guardian of human rights, protector of the dignity of man, cannot be set aside by any person or group, or by the State itself, for any cause, not even for security or in the interests of law and order. The law of God stands in judgment over all reasons of State. As long as injustices exist in any of the areas that touch upon the dignity of the human person, be it in the political, social or economic field, be it in the cultural or religious sphere, true peace will not exist. [...] Peace cannot be established by violence, peace can never flourish in a climate of terror, intimidation and death. It is Jesus Himself who said: `All who take the sword will perish by the sword' (Matthew 26:52). This is the word of God, and it commands this generation of violent men to desist from hatred and violence and to repent" ([Pope] John Paul II, "Homily at Drogheda", 29 September 1979).
The peace and joy which Christ brings us should be typical of believers: "Get rid of those scruples that deprive you of peace.--What takes away your peace of soul cannot come from God.
"When God comes to you, you will feel the truth of those greetings: My peace I give to you..., peace I leave you..., peace be with you..., and you will feel it even in the midst of troubles." ([St] J. Escriva, "The Way", 258).
28. Jesus Christ, as Only-begotten Son of God, possesses divine glory for all eternity; but while He is on earth this glory is veiled and hidden behind His holy human nature (cf. 17:5; Philippians 2:7). It only shows itself on a few occasions, such as when He performs miracles (cf. 2:11) or at the Transfiguration (cf. Matthew 17:1-8 and paragraph). Now, through His death, resurrection and ascension into Heaven Jesus will be glorified--in His body also--as He returns to the Father and enters into His glory. Therefore, His departure from this world should be a source of joy for His disciples; but they do not properly understand what He is saying, and they are saddened because they are more aware of the Master being physically separated from them than the glory which awaits Him.
When Jesus says that the Father is greater than He, He is thinking about His human nature; as man Jesus is going to be glorified, ascending as He does to the right hand of the Father. Jesus Christ "is equal to the Father in His dignity, less than the Father in His humanity" ("Athanasian Creed"). St. Augustine exhorts us to "acknowledge the twofold nature of Christ--the divine, by which He is equal to the Father; the human, by which He is less than the Father. But the one and the other are together not two, but one Christ' ("In Ioann. Evang.", 78, 3). However, although the Father and the Son are equal in nature, eternity and dignity, our Lord's words can also be understood by taking "greater" to refer to His origin: only the Father is "beginning without beginning", whereas the Son proceeds eternally from the Father by way of a generation which is also eternal. Jesus Christ is God from God, Light from Light, True God from True God (cf. Nicene Creed).
30. Clearly the world is good, for it has been created by God, and God loved it so much that He sent His Only-begotten Son (cf. John 3:16). However, in this passage "world" means all those who reject Christ; and "the ruler of the world" is the devil (cf. John 1:10; 7:7; 15:18-19). The devil opposed the work of Jesus right from the start of His public life when he tempted Him in the desert (cf. Matthew 4:1-11 and paragraph). Now, in the passion, he will apparently overcome Christ. This is the hour of the power of darkness when, availing of Judas' treachery (cf. Luke 22:53; John 13:27), the devil manages to have our Lord arrested and crucified.
___________________________
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland. Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Monday, May 15, 2006
5th Week of Easter - His Descent into Hell
"Where art thou going?" St. John, 16:5.
"He descended into hell." Creed.
Cities of refuge they were called. According to ancient Jewish law certain towns enjoyed the right of asylum, that is, anyone who had accidentally slain another might find safety in one of these cities, and be protected from avengers. In the book of Deuteronomy, 19:2,7, we read of three such cities. Later three more were set apart.
This right of refuge was recognized under conditions carefully laid down by Jewish law. No refuge was offered to one who had treacherously and intentionally reddened his hands with blood. Protection was granted only to those who had unintentionally taken the life of another. The fugitive had to prove to the authorities of the sanctuary or the town that he had not planned the murder. Upon proving this he was permitted to remain in certain parts of the city. He could not return to his old home, nor could he buy his freedom with money. He was a virtual prisoner.
Today we would like to explain another City of Refuge, another asylum. In the Creed we pray: "Christ descended into hell." What do these words mean?"
Even though we are separated in time and thought from Good Friday, nevertheless the descent of Christ into hell is part of His triumph, and fits in with this Easter season of triumph. "At the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in heaven, on earth, and under the earth." Philippians, 2:10. The earth bent its knee at the recent resurrection; heaven will bend its knee at the coming Ascension; in His descent into hell, the underworld bent its knee. Christ was to triumph in heaven, on earth, and under the earth.
What does "hell" mean in this connection? Hell, we must know, is the name of four distinct places in the lower world:
Remember, not until Christ died were the gates of heaven opened.
Before the first Good Friday the souls of the just had to wait in a place called Limbo. They experienced no pain, but were buoyed up by the blessed hope of salvation. They even enjoyed peaceful repose. By going down to this part of hell, Jesus did not lessen His supreme power in any way, nor was it in any way a blemish on the splendor of His sanctity.
Others had gone down there as captives and prisoners; Jesus went down as Victor and Conqueror. They went down to await redemption; Christ went down as the Redeemer Himself. Look at Limbo for a moment. It was a place of rest, hope, and happiness, for the good souls who passed away before the price of redemption was paid. They did not enjoy the vision of God; that is for the blessed in heaven. They longed for God, knowing that someday they would surely see Him.
In that abode of waiting and hoping we see countless multitudes of every age and every country. We see all those who believed in God and tried to serve Him according to their lights. We see those who lived in hopes of the Messias. There we see Abel, the first of the human race to taste death, the figure and forerunner of Christ in His death. There we see Adam and Eve who for hundreds of years did penance for their sin of disobedience. There we see the saints of the Old Testament. There we see the patriarchs and prophets. There, too, we see, the saints of the New Law, St. Joseph, St. John the Baptist, and the good thief. All of them were eagerly awaiting the coming of the Messias. All of them were longing for the hour when Christ would come to set them free.
On that first Good Friday Christ came to claim them for His own. He came as a King, to announce that His kingdom reached even under the earth. He came as Priest, to bring salvation to those who believed in His coming. He came as Prophet, to foretell their redemption, and their immediate entrance into heaven.
There are many lessons in Christ's descent into hell. It helps us understand the extent of His power. It tells us of His limitless love; He died for all, and went to summon those who were waiting for Him.
We rejoice with the souls set free. We exult in the glory of the God-man. Well might we ask Christ, "Where art thou going?" as He begins His descent into hell. Exultingly He answers that He is going to open the gates of heaven to those who waited for Him thousands of years, and to those, like the good thief, who had waited but a few moments. For all these souls Limbo was truly a City of Refuge. Like prisoners they waited. May Christ, in whatever way He deems fit, come to each of us with His redemption and salvation. Amen.
__________________________
Adapted from Talks on the Creed
by Fr. Arthur Tonne, OFM (© 1946)
"He descended into hell." Creed.
Cities of refuge they were called. According to ancient Jewish law certain towns enjoyed the right of asylum, that is, anyone who had accidentally slain another might find safety in one of these cities, and be protected from avengers. In the book of Deuteronomy, 19:2,7, we read of three such cities. Later three more were set apart.
This right of refuge was recognized under conditions carefully laid down by Jewish law. No refuge was offered to one who had treacherously and intentionally reddened his hands with blood. Protection was granted only to those who had unintentionally taken the life of another. The fugitive had to prove to the authorities of the sanctuary or the town that he had not planned the murder. Upon proving this he was permitted to remain in certain parts of the city. He could not return to his old home, nor could he buy his freedom with money. He was a virtual prisoner.
Today we would like to explain another City of Refuge, another asylum. In the Creed we pray: "Christ descended into hell." What do these words mean?"
Even though we are separated in time and thought from Good Friday, nevertheless the descent of Christ into hell is part of His triumph, and fits in with this Easter season of triumph. "At the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in heaven, on earth, and under the earth." Philippians, 2:10. The earth bent its knee at the recent resurrection; heaven will bend its knee at the coming Ascension; in His descent into hell, the underworld bent its knee. Christ was to triumph in heaven, on earth, and under the earth.
What does "hell" mean in this connection? Hell, we must know, is the name of four distinct places in the lower world:
1. Hell may mean the place of eternal torments, the dwelling of the devils and the damned.It is in this last sense that the Creed speaks of hell. When we pray, "He descended into hell," we mean that the soul of Christ, shining with joy and glory, as soon as He died, went down into that place where the souls of the just were waiting for the redemption. Jesus did not go to the hell of the damned; they will never see God; they have no comfort or hope. But He went to the dwelling of those people who had lived before the death of Christ, in order to set them free.
2. Hell sometimes means what we call purgatory, the place of purification of those who are to join God.
3. Hell also means the paradise of little children who die without baptism.
4. Lastly, hell means Limbo, the place of imprisonment and repose of the just who died before Christ.
Remember, not until Christ died were the gates of heaven opened.
Before the first Good Friday the souls of the just had to wait in a place called Limbo. They experienced no pain, but were buoyed up by the blessed hope of salvation. They even enjoyed peaceful repose. By going down to this part of hell, Jesus did not lessen His supreme power in any way, nor was it in any way a blemish on the splendor of His sanctity.
Others had gone down there as captives and prisoners; Jesus went down as Victor and Conqueror. They went down to await redemption; Christ went down as the Redeemer Himself. Look at Limbo for a moment. It was a place of rest, hope, and happiness, for the good souls who passed away before the price of redemption was paid. They did not enjoy the vision of God; that is for the blessed in heaven. They longed for God, knowing that someday they would surely see Him.
In that abode of waiting and hoping we see countless multitudes of every age and every country. We see all those who believed in God and tried to serve Him according to their lights. We see those who lived in hopes of the Messias. There we see Abel, the first of the human race to taste death, the figure and forerunner of Christ in His death. There we see Adam and Eve who for hundreds of years did penance for their sin of disobedience. There we see the saints of the Old Testament. There we see the patriarchs and prophets. There, too, we see, the saints of the New Law, St. Joseph, St. John the Baptist, and the good thief. All of them were eagerly awaiting the coming of the Messias. All of them were longing for the hour when Christ would come to set them free.
On that first Good Friday Christ came to claim them for His own. He came as a King, to announce that His kingdom reached even under the earth. He came as Priest, to bring salvation to those who believed in His coming. He came as Prophet, to foretell their redemption, and their immediate entrance into heaven.
There are many lessons in Christ's descent into hell. It helps us understand the extent of His power. It tells us of His limitless love; He died for all, and went to summon those who were waiting for Him.
We rejoice with the souls set free. We exult in the glory of the God-man. Well might we ask Christ, "Where art thou going?" as He begins His descent into hell. Exultingly He answers that He is going to open the gates of heaven to those who waited for Him thousands of years, and to those, like the good thief, who had waited but a few moments. For all these souls Limbo was truly a City of Refuge. Like prisoners they waited. May Christ, in whatever way He deems fit, come to each of us with His redemption and salvation. Amen.
__________________________
Adapted from Talks on the Creed
by Fr. Arthur Tonne, OFM (© 1946)
Retired Davenport Priest, Living in St. Louis, is Laicized
A retired Catholic priest [William Wiebler], accused of sexually abusing children in Iowa during the 1970s and '80s before moving to the St. Louis area nearly two years ago has been defrocked, the Davenport Diocese confirmed Friday.
. . .
In a news release this week, the Davenport Diocese announced that Bishop William Franklin had received formal notification from the Vatican that Wiebler had been laicized, or defrocked. The decree by Pope Benedict XVI cannot be appealed.
May 28 - Surviving The DaVinci Code: A Catholic Response
You and your family are cordially invited to a presentation titled:
“Surviving The DaVinci Code:
A Catholic Response”
to be held at
St. Francis de Sales Oratory
2653 Ohio Ave
St. Louis, MO
St. Louis, MO 63125
Sunday May 28th at 1:30PM.
There is nothing new about attacks on the Church. Throughout Her long history, the Church has weathered many storms.
It is important to know how to respond to these attacks since today the Church faces a new wave of attacks that threaten the very practice of our Faith. This is especially true in today’s Cultural War where we see blasphemies like The Da Vinci Code book and movie taking special aim at the Church.
In this talk, American TFP member John Horvat will discuss these attacks especially in the light of the Fatima apparitions. He will show how the Church has always responded to such attacks and what our strategy should be.
He will review the options and explain how all Catholics must fight back.
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how to defend Our Lord and His Church. Meet with like-minded Catholics who want to stand up and make a difference!
This talk is one of a series of regularly held talks sponsored by the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property (TFP) and its America Needs Fatima campaign.
A question and answer period will follow the presentation. Please join us for what promises to be a stimulating evening of Catholic conviviality, enlightening conversation, and hope for the future.
For additional information, contact Mark Serafino at (573) 459-5531.www. tfp.org
A Catholic Response”
to be held at
St. Francis de Sales Oratory
2653 Ohio Ave
St. Louis, MO
St. Louis, MO 63125
Sunday May 28th at 1:30PM.
There is nothing new about attacks on the Church. Throughout Her long history, the Church has weathered many storms.
It is important to know how to respond to these attacks since today the Church faces a new wave of attacks that threaten the very practice of our Faith. This is especially true in today’s Cultural War where we see blasphemies like The Da Vinci Code book and movie taking special aim at the Church.
In this talk, American TFP member John Horvat will discuss these attacks especially in the light of the Fatima apparitions. He will show how the Church has always responded to such attacks and what our strategy should be.
He will review the options and explain how all Catholics must fight back.
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how to defend Our Lord and His Church. Meet with like-minded Catholics who want to stand up and make a difference!
This talk is one of a series of regularly held talks sponsored by the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property (TFP) and its America Needs Fatima campaign.
A question and answer period will follow the presentation. Please join us for what promises to be a stimulating evening of Catholic conviviality, enlightening conversation, and hope for the future.
For additional information, contact Mark Serafino at (573) 459-5531.www. tfp.org
Da Vinci Scratchcards?
Scratchcards, usually associated with National Lottery games offering "instant cash prizes", are to be put to a more elevated use - debunking The Da Vinci Code.An interesting idea...
The Christian Enquiry Centre is distributing 270,000 specially designed cards today to every cinema screening the Hollywood version of the Dan Brown bestseller when it is released next week.
Article here.
Cleveland Catholics give warm welcome to new bishop
More than 1,200 Catholics from Greater Cleveland braved chilly, wind-driven rain to attend a Sunday evening service at St. John Cathedral downtown to welcome Bishop Richard Lennon.
The Da Vinci Code and Opus Dei...A primer
Many have probably already seen this:
1. Was Jesus Christ really married?And more here...
Yes. Jesus was married to the Church. In the New Testament, Jesus is frequently referred to as the Bridegroom, and St. Paul tells us: “a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall be one flesh. This is a tremendous mystery. I’m applying it to Christ and the Church.” (Ephesians 5:31-32) In fact, the Christian vocation is nothing less than an invitation to the eternal “wedding supper” (Rev. 19:9) of Christ and His Bride, the Church.
Gospel for Monday, 5th Week of Easter
From: John 14:21-26
The Promise of the Holy Spirit
(Jesus said to His disciples,) [21] "He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him, and manifest Myself to him." [22] Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, "Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?" [23] Jesus answered him, "If a man loves Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. [24] He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me.
[25] "These things I have spoken to you, while I am still with you. [26] But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you."
_________________________
Commentary:
22-23. It was commonly held by the Jews that when the Messiah came He would be revealed to the whole world as King and Savior. The Apostles take Jesus' words as a revelation for themselves alone, and they are puzzled. Hence the question from Judas Thaddeus. It is interesting to note how easy the Apostles' relations with our Lord are: they simply ask Him about things they do not know and get Him to clear up any doubts they have. This is a good example of how we should approach Jesus, who is also our Teacher and Friend.
Jesus' reply may seem evasive but in fact, by referring to the form His manifestation takes, He explains why He does not reveal Himself to the world: He makes Himself known to him who loves Him and keeps His commandments. God repeatedly revealed Himself in the Old Testament and promised to dwell in the midst of the people (cf. Exodus 29:45; Ezekiel 37:26-27; etc.); but here Jesus speaks of a presence of God in each person. St. Paul refers to this presence when he asserts that each of us is a temple of the Holy Spirit (cf. 2 Corinthians 6:16-17). St. Augustine, in reflecting on God's ineffable nearness in the soul, exclaims, "Late have I loved You, O Beauty so ancient and so new, late have I loved You! You were within me, and I was in the world outside myself. I searched for You in the world outside myself.... You were with me, but I was not with You. The beautiful things of this world kept me far from You and yet, if they had not been in You, they would have no being at all. You called me; You cried aloud to me; You broke my barrier of deafness; You shone upon me; Your radiance enveloped me; You cured my blindness" ("Confessions", X, 27, 38).
Jesus is referring to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the soul renewed by grace: "Our heart now needs to distinguish and adore each one of the Divine Persons. The soul is, as it were, making a discovery in the supernatural life, like a little child opening his eyes to the world about him. The soul spends time lovingly with the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and readily submits to the work of the lifegiving Paraclete, who gives Himself to us with no merit on our part, bestowing His gifts and the supernatural virtues!" ([St] J. Escriva, "Friends of God", 306).
25-26. Jesus has expounded His teaching very clearly, but the Apostles do not yet fully understand it; they will do so later on, when they receive the Holy Spirit who will guide them unto all truth (cf. John 16:13). "And so the Holy Spirit did teach them and remind them: He taught them what Christ had not said because they could not take it in, and He reminded them of what the Lord had taught and which, either because of the obscurity of the things or because of the dullness of their minds, they had not been able to retain" (Theophylact, "Enarratio in Evangelium Ioannis, ad loc").
The word translated here as "bring to your remembrance" also includes the idea of "suggesting": the Holy Spirit will recall to the Apostles' memory what they had already heard Jesus say--and He will give them light to enable them to discover the depth and richness of everything they have seen and heard. Thus, "the Apostles handed on to their hearers what He had said and done, but with that fuller understanding which they, instructed by the glorious events of Christ (cf. John 2:22) and enlightened by the Spirit of truth, now enjoyed: (Vatican II, "Dei Verbum", 19).
"Christ has not left His followers without guidance in the task of understanding and living the Gospel. Before returning to His Father, He promised to send His Holy Spirit to the Church: `But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all I have said to you'" (John 14:26).
"This same Spirit guides the successors of the Apostles, your bishops, united with the Bishop of Rome, to whom it was entrusted to preserve the faith and to `preach the Gospel to the whole creation' (Mark 16:15). Listen to their voices, for they bring you the word of the Lord" ([Pope] John Paul II, "Homily at Knock Shrine", 30 September 1979).
In the Gospels is consigned to writing, under the charism of divine inspiration, the Apostles' version of everything they had witnessed--and the understanding of it, which they obtained after Pentecost. So it is that these sacred writers "faithfully hand on what Jesus, the Son of God, while He lived among men, really did and taught for their eternal salvation, until the day when He was taken up (cf. Acts 1:1-2)" (Vatican II, "Dei Verbum", 19). This is why the Church so earnestly recommends the reading of Sacred Scripture, particularly the Gospels. "How I wish your bearing and conversation were such that, on seeing or hearing you, people would say: This man reads the life of Jesus Christ" ([St] J. Escriva, "The Way", 2).
___________________________
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland. Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
The Promise of the Holy Spirit
(Jesus said to His disciples,) [21] "He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him, and manifest Myself to him." [22] Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, "Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?" [23] Jesus answered him, "If a man loves Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. [24] He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me.
[25] "These things I have spoken to you, while I am still with you. [26] But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you."
_________________________
Commentary:
22-23. It was commonly held by the Jews that when the Messiah came He would be revealed to the whole world as King and Savior. The Apostles take Jesus' words as a revelation for themselves alone, and they are puzzled. Hence the question from Judas Thaddeus. It is interesting to note how easy the Apostles' relations with our Lord are: they simply ask Him about things they do not know and get Him to clear up any doubts they have. This is a good example of how we should approach Jesus, who is also our Teacher and Friend.
Jesus' reply may seem evasive but in fact, by referring to the form His manifestation takes, He explains why He does not reveal Himself to the world: He makes Himself known to him who loves Him and keeps His commandments. God repeatedly revealed Himself in the Old Testament and promised to dwell in the midst of the people (cf. Exodus 29:45; Ezekiel 37:26-27; etc.); but here Jesus speaks of a presence of God in each person. St. Paul refers to this presence when he asserts that each of us is a temple of the Holy Spirit (cf. 2 Corinthians 6:16-17). St. Augustine, in reflecting on God's ineffable nearness in the soul, exclaims, "Late have I loved You, O Beauty so ancient and so new, late have I loved You! You were within me, and I was in the world outside myself. I searched for You in the world outside myself.... You were with me, but I was not with You. The beautiful things of this world kept me far from You and yet, if they had not been in You, they would have no being at all. You called me; You cried aloud to me; You broke my barrier of deafness; You shone upon me; Your radiance enveloped me; You cured my blindness" ("Confessions", X, 27, 38).
Jesus is referring to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the soul renewed by grace: "Our heart now needs to distinguish and adore each one of the Divine Persons. The soul is, as it were, making a discovery in the supernatural life, like a little child opening his eyes to the world about him. The soul spends time lovingly with the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and readily submits to the work of the lifegiving Paraclete, who gives Himself to us with no merit on our part, bestowing His gifts and the supernatural virtues!" ([St] J. Escriva, "Friends of God", 306).
25-26. Jesus has expounded His teaching very clearly, but the Apostles do not yet fully understand it; they will do so later on, when they receive the Holy Spirit who will guide them unto all truth (cf. John 16:13). "And so the Holy Spirit did teach them and remind them: He taught them what Christ had not said because they could not take it in, and He reminded them of what the Lord had taught and which, either because of the obscurity of the things or because of the dullness of their minds, they had not been able to retain" (Theophylact, "Enarratio in Evangelium Ioannis, ad loc").
The word translated here as "bring to your remembrance" also includes the idea of "suggesting": the Holy Spirit will recall to the Apostles' memory what they had already heard Jesus say--and He will give them light to enable them to discover the depth and richness of everything they have seen and heard. Thus, "the Apostles handed on to their hearers what He had said and done, but with that fuller understanding which they, instructed by the glorious events of Christ (cf. John 2:22) and enlightened by the Spirit of truth, now enjoyed: (Vatican II, "Dei Verbum", 19).
"Christ has not left His followers without guidance in the task of understanding and living the Gospel. Before returning to His Father, He promised to send His Holy Spirit to the Church: `But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all I have said to you'" (John 14:26).
"This same Spirit guides the successors of the Apostles, your bishops, united with the Bishop of Rome, to whom it was entrusted to preserve the faith and to `preach the Gospel to the whole creation' (Mark 16:15). Listen to their voices, for they bring you the word of the Lord" ([Pope] John Paul II, "Homily at Knock Shrine", 30 September 1979).
In the Gospels is consigned to writing, under the charism of divine inspiration, the Apostles' version of everything they had witnessed--and the understanding of it, which they obtained after Pentecost. So it is that these sacred writers "faithfully hand on what Jesus, the Son of God, while He lived among men, really did and taught for their eternal salvation, until the day when He was taken up (cf. Acts 1:1-2)" (Vatican II, "Dei Verbum", 19). This is why the Church so earnestly recommends the reading of Sacred Scripture, particularly the Gospels. "How I wish your bearing and conversation were such that, on seeing or hearing you, people would say: This man reads the life of Jesus Christ" ([St] J. Escriva, "The Way", 2).
___________________________
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland. Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
Sunday, May 14, 2006
5th Week of Easter - Fortitude
"It is expedient for you that I depart." St. John, 16:7.
On one of the Hawaiian Islands far out on the Pacific there is a volcano called Mauna Loa. Its crater is nine miles around, and looks down into a lake of liquid fire that burns and smolders day and night. The natives believed that a fierce goddess, called Pele (pe-lay) lived in that flaming furnace. They were told that if a woman ever climbed that mountain, gathered berries from its bushes, and threw them into the crater, the goddess would rock the mountain with thunder and shatter the whole island.
About one hundred years ago Christian missionaries instructed the people in the one, true God, and gradually persuaded them to give up their false gods. But fear of the fierce Pele still made the natives tremble.
One day a native woman, a Christian convert, courageous in her newfound faith, decided to defy the fire-goddess and break forever the fear of her power. This woman's name was Kapiolani. She climbed the mountain, picked the berries and walked over to the edge of the crater. She threw in the sacred berries, shouting with all her might:
1. Courage was one of the outstanding characteristics of Christ. It is a mark of His followers. Courage or fortitude is one of the four cardinal virtues. It is that virtue which gives us strength of soul in meeting and bearing with difficulties for God and for our salvation. Courage is that quality of mind which enables one to meet dangers and difficulties with firmness and valor.
2. Courage has several assistant virtues, qualities which help do its work:
The other extreme, excessive timidity, is also sinful. It prompts us to dodge dangers we can and should face. Some people, for example, are kept from a devout and sincere practice of their religion from fear, yes, fear of what others may think and say. They lack courage.
We also sin against the virtues allied to courage. Instead of being bigsouled we are stingy-souled. Grudgingly we give God a little service on Sunday; and even, that is cut down by some lazy late-comers.
Being big-hearted can be carried to extremes, as can so-called patience and perseverance. Patience may be mere indifference. Perseverance may be obstinancy or cowardice.
To a certain extent courage is a natural virtue. But true religious, spiritual courage, the virtue in its fullness and strength comes only from above. Jesus tells the Apostles and He tells us that He is returning to heaven in order to send the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Fortitude, the Spirit of Courage, to everyone of us. When you need to be brave, ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with fortitude.
May the Lord give us courage in every walk and phase of life. Amen.
__________________
Adapted from Prayers, Precepts and Virtues
by Fr. Arthur Tonne, OFM (©1949)
On one of the Hawaiian Islands far out on the Pacific there is a volcano called Mauna Loa. Its crater is nine miles around, and looks down into a lake of liquid fire that burns and smolders day and night. The natives believed that a fierce goddess, called Pele (pe-lay) lived in that flaming furnace. They were told that if a woman ever climbed that mountain, gathered berries from its bushes, and threw them into the crater, the goddess would rock the mountain with thunder and shatter the whole island.
About one hundred years ago Christian missionaries instructed the people in the one, true God, and gradually persuaded them to give up their false gods. But fear of the fierce Pele still made the natives tremble.
One day a native woman, a Christian convert, courageous in her newfound faith, decided to defy the fire-goddess and break forever the fear of her power. This woman's name was Kapiolani. She climbed the mountain, picked the berries and walked over to the edge of the crater. She threw in the sacred berries, shouting with all her might:
"If I perish by the anger of Pele, then dreadful is her power. Behold, I defy her; I break her orders - and yet I live and I am safe, because the Lord Almighty is my God. His power enkindled these flames and His hand restrains their fury."Would that more Christians had such courage. Would that more followers of Christ would bravely defy bigotry, and human respect, and class distinctions, and greed for gold, and greed for pleasure, the fires that burn perpetually in the crater of the human heart.
1. Courage was one of the outstanding characteristics of Christ. It is a mark of His followers. Courage or fortitude is one of the four cardinal virtues. It is that virtue which gives us strength of soul in meeting and bearing with difficulties for God and for our salvation. Courage is that quality of mind which enables one to meet dangers and difficulties with firmness and valor.
A. It overcomes our passions, especially the passion of fear, which it drives out or at least moderates. It checks the passion of anger, or directs it into channels of good.All these elements we find in the courage of the Christian woman who threw the sacred berries into the fierce volcano. There was the almost overpowering passion of fear. There was the difficulty that no woman had ever attempted it before. There was the devilish superstition, the false belief, that great harm would come to her and her people.
B. It helps carry out the duties of our state in life. Who of us has no difficulties? Courage helps you to meet them.
C. It conquers the devil, that fallen angel, who schemes and plans day and night to lead us away from God.
D. It assists us in working out our salvation against great obstacles, hardships, and monotony. There is always some tough angle to what we have to do; there is always something or someone in the way; there is ever the apparent monotony of being good and doing good. Courage makes it thrilling to overcome these difficulties.
2. Courage has several assistant virtues, qualities which help do its work:
A. Magnanimity or greatness of soul inclines us to undertake heroic acts of every kind of virtue. An example of this is Abraham preparing to sacrifice his own son Isaac.3. Courage does not mean bold, brash and blustering daring. That is a vice rather than a virtue. An example would be reading a book against religion for no solid and sufficient reason.
B. Magnificence or generosity inclines us to acts of great virtue at great personal expense, either in money or effort. We speak of the magnificent courage of a daughter who sacrifices a career or marriage in order to take care of an aging mother. Magnificence does not refer to the amount; it refers to the degree of sacrifice required. The widow's small contribution was praised by our Lord, because, although the amount was small, the sacrifice was great.
C. Patience, as an assistant to courage, enables us to bear setbacks and afflictions of body and soul for the sake of our salvation. Who of us does not have to bear ridicule of our religion? Who of us has not had to be patient in the face of stupid sneering and cold contempt of our Catholic faith?
D. Perseverance or stick-to-it-iveness holds the soul to its good purpose through thick and thin, through long-continued trials. What courage is demanded of the breadwinner who works with brain and brawn for years? What persevering courage must mother have to keep her family clothed and fed and healthy? What persevering courage to continue receiving Holy Communion daily or weekly?
The other extreme, excessive timidity, is also sinful. It prompts us to dodge dangers we can and should face. Some people, for example, are kept from a devout and sincere practice of their religion from fear, yes, fear of what others may think and say. They lack courage.
We also sin against the virtues allied to courage. Instead of being bigsouled we are stingy-souled. Grudgingly we give God a little service on Sunday; and even, that is cut down by some lazy late-comers.
Being big-hearted can be carried to extremes, as can so-called patience and perseverance. Patience may be mere indifference. Perseverance may be obstinancy or cowardice.
To a certain extent courage is a natural virtue. But true religious, spiritual courage, the virtue in its fullness and strength comes only from above. Jesus tells the Apostles and He tells us that He is returning to heaven in order to send the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Fortitude, the Spirit of Courage, to everyone of us. When you need to be brave, ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with fortitude.
May the Lord give us courage in every walk and phase of life. Amen.
__________________
Adapted from Prayers, Precepts and Virtues
by Fr. Arthur Tonne, OFM (©1949)
Questions for Bishop Richard Lennon from Hopeful Cleveland Catholics
1. Bishop Lennon, will you have the courage to remove Futurechurch from diocesan property and remove from our Seminary those teachers who support Futurechurch?Faithful Catholics should pray that the new bishop will do everything he can and must in order to carry out his obligations as the spiritual shepherd of the diocese of Cleveland...
2. Bishop Lennon, will you remove these Homosexual Rainbow Gay Pride Symbols from our diocesan website?
3. Bishop Lennon, John Carroll University is a hotbed of dissent and anti-Catholicism. What do you intend to do about John Carroll University and will you continue to let our seminarians take classes there?
HT to Cathleen for the link!
Changes Anger Some at St. Agnes in Twin Cities
A change in pastoral leadership announced this weekend at St. Agnes Catholic Church is expected to spark speculation the archdiocese is cleaning house at one of the Twin Cities' most prominent traditional parishes.Let us not forget that the Truth cannot be silenced for long...Those who attempt to do so, engage in futile acts...
But archdiocese officials say it is the departure of St. Agnes' 77-year-old pastor for a less strenuous assignment that has triggered a series of moves, including the transfer of St. Agnes' longtime associate, the Rev. Robert Altier, who will become chaplain of a medical center in Hastings. Altier has been a prominent voice in conservative Catholic circles.
HT to Darla for the link!
Gospel for the 5th Sunday of Easter
From: John 15:1-8
The Vine and the Branches
(Jesus said to His disciples,) [1] "I am the vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. [2] Every branch of mine that bears no fruit, He takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit He prunes that it may bear more fruit. [3] You are already made clean by the word which I have spoken to you. [4] Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. [5] I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. [6] If a man does not abide in Me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned. [7] If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. [8] By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples."
______________________
Commentary:
1. This comparison of the chosen people with a vine was used in the Old Testament: Psalm 80 speaks of the uprooting of the vine in Egypt and its re-planting in another land; and in Isaiah's Song of the Vineyard (5:1-7) God complains that despite the care and love He has lavished on it, His vineyard has yielded only wild grapes. Jesus previously used this imagery in His parable about the murderous tenants (Matthew 21:33-43) to signify the Jew's rejection of the Son and the calling of the Gentiles. But here the comparison has a different, more personal meaning: Christ explains that He Himself is the true vine, because the old vine, the original chosen people, has been succeeded by the new vine, the Church, whose head is Christ (cf. 1 Corinthians 3:9). To be fruitful one must be joined to the new, true vine, Christ: it is no longer a matter of simply belonging to a community but of living the life of Christ, the life of grace, which is the nourishment which passes life on to the believer and enables him to yield fruits of eternal life. This image of the vine also helps understand the unity of the Church, Christ's mystical body, in which all the members are intimately united with the head and thereby are also united to one another (1 Corinthians 12:12-26; Romans 12:4-5; Ephesians 4:15-16).
2. Our Lord is describing two situations: that of those who, although they are still joined to the vine externally, yield no fruit; and that of those who do yield fruit but could yield still more. The Epistle of St. James carries the same message when it says that faith alone is not enough (James 2:17). Although it is true that faith is the beginning of salvation and that without faith we cannot please God, it is also true that a living faith must yield fruit in the form of deeds. "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is of any avail, but faith working through love" (Galatians 5:6). So, one can say that in order to produce fruit pleasing to God, it is not enough to have received Baptism and to profess the faith externally: a person has to share in Christ's life through grace and has to cooperate with Him in His work of redemption.
Jesus uses the same verb to refer to the pruning of the branches as He uses to refer to the cleanness of the disciples in the next verse: literally the translation should run: "He cleanses him who bears fruit so that he bear more fruit". In other words, He is making it quite clear that God is not content with half-hearted commitment, and therefore He purifies His own by means of contradictions and difficulties, which are a form of pruning, to produce more fruit. In this we can see an explanation of the purpose of suffering: "Have you not heard the Master Himself tell the parable of the vine and the branches? Here we can find consolation. He demands much of you for you are the branch that bears fruit. And He must prune you `ut fructum plus afferas": to make you bear more fruit'.
"Of course: that cutting, that pruning, hurts. But, afterwards, what richness in your fruits, what maturity in your actions" ([St] J. Escriva, "The Way", 701).
3. After washing Peter's feet Jesus had already said that His Apostles were clean, though not all of them (cf. John 13:10). Here, once more, He refers to that inner cleansing which results from accepting His teachings. "For Christ's word in the first place cleanses us from errors, by instructing us (cf. Titus 1:9) [...]; secondly, it purifies our hearts of earthly affections, filling them with desire for Heavenly things [...]; finally, His word purifies us with the strength of faith, for `He cleansed their hearts by faith' (Acts 15:9)" (St. Thomas Aquinas, "Commentary on St. John, in loc.").
4-5. Our Lord draws more conclusions from the image of the vine and the branches. Now He emphasizes that anyone who is separated from Him is good for nothing, like a branch separated from the vine. "You see, the branches are full of fruit, because they share in the sap that comes from the stem. Otherwise, from the tiny buds we knew just a few months back, they could not have produced the sweet ripe fruit that gladdens the eye and make the heart rejoice. Here and there on the ground we may find some dry twigs, lying half-buried in the soil. Once they too were branches of the vine; now they lie there withered and dead, a perfect image of barrenness: `apart from Me, you can do nothing'" ([St] J. Escriva, "Friends of God", 254).
The life of union with Christ is necessarily something which goes far beyond one's private life: it has to be focused on the good of others; and if this happens, a fruitful apostolate is the result, for "apostolate, of whatever kind it be, must be an overflow of the interior life" ([St] J. Escriva, "Friends of God", 239). The Second Vatican Council, quoting this page from St. John, teaches what a Christian apostolate should be: "Christ, sent by the Father, is the source of the Church's whole apostolate. Clearly then, the fruitfulness of the apostolate of lay people depends on their living union with Christ; as the Lord Himself said: `He who abides in Me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing'. This life of intimate union with Christ in the Church is maintained by the spiritual helps common to all the faithful, chiefly by the active participation in the Liturgy. Laymen should make such a use of these helps that, while meeting their human obligations in the ordinary conditions of life, they do not separate their union with Christ from their ordinary life; but through the very performance of their tasks, which are God's will for them, actually promote the growth of their union with Him" ("Apostolicam Actuositatem", 4).
6. If a person is not united to Christ by means of grace he will ultimately meet the same fate as the dead branches--fire. There is a clear parallelism with other images our Lord uses--the parables of the sound tree and the bad tree (Matthew 7:15-20), the dragnet (Matthew 13:49-50), and the invitation to the wedding (Matthew 22:11-14), etc. Here is how St. Augustine comments on this passage: "The wood of the vine is the more contemptible if it does not abide in the vine, and the more glorious if it does abide....For, being cut off it is profitable neither for the vinedresser nor for the carpenter. For one of these only is it useful--the vine or the fire. If it is not in the vine, it goes to the fire; to avoid going to the fire it must be joined to the vine" ("In Ioann. Evang.", 81, 3).
___________________________
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland. Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
The Vine and the Branches
(Jesus said to His disciples,) [1] "I am the vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. [2] Every branch of mine that bears no fruit, He takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit He prunes that it may bear more fruit. [3] You are already made clean by the word which I have spoken to you. [4] Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. [5] I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. [6] If a man does not abide in Me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned. [7] If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. [8] By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples."
______________________
Commentary:
1. This comparison of the chosen people with a vine was used in the Old Testament: Psalm 80 speaks of the uprooting of the vine in Egypt and its re-planting in another land; and in Isaiah's Song of the Vineyard (5:1-7) God complains that despite the care and love He has lavished on it, His vineyard has yielded only wild grapes. Jesus previously used this imagery in His parable about the murderous tenants (Matthew 21:33-43) to signify the Jew's rejection of the Son and the calling of the Gentiles. But here the comparison has a different, more personal meaning: Christ explains that He Himself is the true vine, because the old vine, the original chosen people, has been succeeded by the new vine, the Church, whose head is Christ (cf. 1 Corinthians 3:9). To be fruitful one must be joined to the new, true vine, Christ: it is no longer a matter of simply belonging to a community but of living the life of Christ, the life of grace, which is the nourishment which passes life on to the believer and enables him to yield fruits of eternal life. This image of the vine also helps understand the unity of the Church, Christ's mystical body, in which all the members are intimately united with the head and thereby are also united to one another (1 Corinthians 12:12-26; Romans 12:4-5; Ephesians 4:15-16).
2. Our Lord is describing two situations: that of those who, although they are still joined to the vine externally, yield no fruit; and that of those who do yield fruit but could yield still more. The Epistle of St. James carries the same message when it says that faith alone is not enough (James 2:17). Although it is true that faith is the beginning of salvation and that without faith we cannot please God, it is also true that a living faith must yield fruit in the form of deeds. "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is of any avail, but faith working through love" (Galatians 5:6). So, one can say that in order to produce fruit pleasing to God, it is not enough to have received Baptism and to profess the faith externally: a person has to share in Christ's life through grace and has to cooperate with Him in His work of redemption.
Jesus uses the same verb to refer to the pruning of the branches as He uses to refer to the cleanness of the disciples in the next verse: literally the translation should run: "He cleanses him who bears fruit so that he bear more fruit". In other words, He is making it quite clear that God is not content with half-hearted commitment, and therefore He purifies His own by means of contradictions and difficulties, which are a form of pruning, to produce more fruit. In this we can see an explanation of the purpose of suffering: "Have you not heard the Master Himself tell the parable of the vine and the branches? Here we can find consolation. He demands much of you for you are the branch that bears fruit. And He must prune you `ut fructum plus afferas": to make you bear more fruit'.
"Of course: that cutting, that pruning, hurts. But, afterwards, what richness in your fruits, what maturity in your actions" ([St] J. Escriva, "The Way", 701).
3. After washing Peter's feet Jesus had already said that His Apostles were clean, though not all of them (cf. John 13:10). Here, once more, He refers to that inner cleansing which results from accepting His teachings. "For Christ's word in the first place cleanses us from errors, by instructing us (cf. Titus 1:9) [...]; secondly, it purifies our hearts of earthly affections, filling them with desire for Heavenly things [...]; finally, His word purifies us with the strength of faith, for `He cleansed their hearts by faith' (Acts 15:9)" (St. Thomas Aquinas, "Commentary on St. John, in loc.").
4-5. Our Lord draws more conclusions from the image of the vine and the branches. Now He emphasizes that anyone who is separated from Him is good for nothing, like a branch separated from the vine. "You see, the branches are full of fruit, because they share in the sap that comes from the stem. Otherwise, from the tiny buds we knew just a few months back, they could not have produced the sweet ripe fruit that gladdens the eye and make the heart rejoice. Here and there on the ground we may find some dry twigs, lying half-buried in the soil. Once they too were branches of the vine; now they lie there withered and dead, a perfect image of barrenness: `apart from Me, you can do nothing'" ([St] J. Escriva, "Friends of God", 254).
The life of union with Christ is necessarily something which goes far beyond one's private life: it has to be focused on the good of others; and if this happens, a fruitful apostolate is the result, for "apostolate, of whatever kind it be, must be an overflow of the interior life" ([St] J. Escriva, "Friends of God", 239). The Second Vatican Council, quoting this page from St. John, teaches what a Christian apostolate should be: "Christ, sent by the Father, is the source of the Church's whole apostolate. Clearly then, the fruitfulness of the apostolate of lay people depends on their living union with Christ; as the Lord Himself said: `He who abides in Me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing'. This life of intimate union with Christ in the Church is maintained by the spiritual helps common to all the faithful, chiefly by the active participation in the Liturgy. Laymen should make such a use of these helps that, while meeting their human obligations in the ordinary conditions of life, they do not separate their union with Christ from their ordinary life; but through the very performance of their tasks, which are God's will for them, actually promote the growth of their union with Him" ("Apostolicam Actuositatem", 4).
6. If a person is not united to Christ by means of grace he will ultimately meet the same fate as the dead branches--fire. There is a clear parallelism with other images our Lord uses--the parables of the sound tree and the bad tree (Matthew 7:15-20), the dragnet (Matthew 13:49-50), and the invitation to the wedding (Matthew 22:11-14), etc. Here is how St. Augustine comments on this passage: "The wood of the vine is the more contemptible if it does not abide in the vine, and the more glorious if it does abide....For, being cut off it is profitable neither for the vinedresser nor for the carpenter. For one of these only is it useful--the vine or the fire. If it is not in the vine, it goes to the fire; to avoid going to the fire it must be joined to the vine" ("In Ioann. Evang.", 81, 3).
___________________________
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland. Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Mental Prayer for May 14-Mary, Most Perfect Follower of Christ
Mental Prayer Meditation Helps
Presence of God.
Grace I Ask: Dear Mother, obtain from your Son for me the grace to know you better, that I may love and imitate you in your knowledge, love, and following of Christ.
Mental Picture: A form in brilliant white garments bows low before Mary; "Hail, full of grace," he says, "the Lord is with you." This is the woman God Himself picked out among all women to be His own mother. How holy, spotless, sinless she must have been! Even the mighty Angel Gabriel bows low before her! This is the Mary that would carry our Lord in her body for nine months - how many a prayer she would whisper to Him there! From Mary, Christ would be born into poverty and lowliness in the stable of Bethlehem. She would watch her child grow from an infant to a boy and into manhood. She would prove herself strong and brave when He would leave her alone to begin His public life. He would be obedient to the will of the Father - how could she resist it or complain? This is the Mary who would stay close to her Son in His shame and abandonment on the cross, the loving Mother of God for whom Christ would show concern even at His crucifixion.
I Speak to Mary: Dear Lady, how tremendous your love and understanding of Christ must have been! How out of the question it was for you to do anything that displeased Him! I make you my patroness in the perfect following of your Son. Help me to come to know Him, love Him, and serve Him as you did; help me to pray to Him, to do His will unselfishly, to share my sorrows with Him, just as you did.
Thought for Today: Through Mary to Jesus.
___________________
Adapted from Mental Prayer, Challenge to the Lay Apostle
by The Queen's Work,(© 1958)
Presence of God.
Grace I Ask: Dear Mother, obtain from your Son for me the grace to know you better, that I may love and imitate you in your knowledge, love, and following of Christ.
Mental Picture: A form in brilliant white garments bows low before Mary; "Hail, full of grace," he says, "the Lord is with you." This is the woman God Himself picked out among all women to be His own mother. How holy, spotless, sinless she must have been! Even the mighty Angel Gabriel bows low before her! This is the Mary that would carry our Lord in her body for nine months - how many a prayer she would whisper to Him there! From Mary, Christ would be born into poverty and lowliness in the stable of Bethlehem. She would watch her child grow from an infant to a boy and into manhood. She would prove herself strong and brave when He would leave her alone to begin His public life. He would be obedient to the will of the Father - how could she resist it or complain? This is the Mary who would stay close to her Son in His shame and abandonment on the cross, the loving Mother of God for whom Christ would show concern even at His crucifixion.
I Speak to Mary: Dear Lady, how tremendous your love and understanding of Christ must have been! How out of the question it was for you to do anything that displeased Him! I make you my patroness in the perfect following of your Son. Help me to come to know Him, love Him, and serve Him as you did; help me to pray to Him, to do His will unselfishly, to share my sorrows with Him, just as you did.
Thought for Today: Through Mary to Jesus.
___________________
Adapted from Mental Prayer, Challenge to the Lay Apostle
by The Queen's Work,(© 1958)
Eleven new priests for Denver, largest ordination class in 40 years
Denver, May. 09, 2006 (CNA) - Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver will ordain 11 new priests for his diocese May 13, on the feast of Our Lady of Fatima, at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception.Great news!!!
The ceremony will bring the total number of ordinations for Denver this academic year to 14; three men were ordained in December. This is the largest number of ordinations in Denver since the 1960s. There were five ordinations in 2002-03 and seven in 2004-05.
Gospel for Saturday, 4th Week of Easter
From: John 14:7-14
Jesus Reveals the Father
(Jesus said to Thomas,) [7] "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; henceforth you know Him and have seen Him.
[8] Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and we shall be satisfied." [9] Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you do not know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, `Show us the Father?' [10] Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does His works. [11] Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me; or else believe Me for the sake of the words themselves.
[12] "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father. [13] Whatever you ask in my name I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son; [14] if you ask anything in my name, I will do it."
______________________
Commentary:
8-11. The Apostles still find our Lord's words very mysterious, because they cannot understand the oneness of the Father and the Son. Hence Philip's persistence. Then Jesus "upbraids the Apostle for not yet knowing Him, even though His works are proper to God--walking on the water, controlling the wind, forgiving sins, raising the dead. This is why He reproves him: for not recognizing His divine condition through His human nature" (St. Augustine, "De Trinitate", Book 7).
Obviously the sight of the Father which Jesus refers to in this passage is a vision through faith, for no one has ever seen God as He is (cf. John 1:18; 6:46). All manifestations of God, or "theophanies", have been through some medium; they are only a reflection of God's greatness. The highest _expression which we have of God our Father is in Christ Jesus, the Son of God sent among men. "He did this by the total fact of His presence and self-manifestation--by words and works, signs and miracles, but above all by His death and glorious resurrection from the dead, and finally by sending the Spirit of truth. He revealed that God was with us, to deliver us from the darkness of sin and death, and to raise us up to eternal life" (Vatican II, "Dei Verbum", 4).
12-14. Before leaving this world, the Lord promises His Apostles to make them sharers in His power so that God's salvation may be manifested through them. These "works" are the miracles they will work in the name of Jesus Christ (cf. Acts 3:1-10; 5:15-16; etc.), and especially the conversion of people to the Christian faith and their sanctification by preaching and the ministry of the sacraments. They can be considered greater works than Jesus' own insofar as, by the Apostles' ministry, the Gospel was not only preached in Palestine but was spread to the ends of the earth; but this extraordinary power of apostolic preaching proceeds from Christ, who has ascended to the Father: after undergoing the humiliation of the cross Jesus has been glorified and from Heaven He manifests His power by acting through His Apostles.
The Apostles' power, therefore, derives from Christ glorified. Christ our Lord says as much: "Whatever you ask in My name, I will do it". "It is not that he who believes in Me will be greater than Me, but that only that I shall then do greater works than now; greater, by him who believes in Me, than I now do by myself without Him" (St. Augustine, "In Ioann. Evang.", 72, 1).
Jesus Christ is our intercessor in Heaven; therefore, He promises us that everything we ask for in His name, He will do. Asking in His name (cf. 15:7, 16; 16:23-24) means appealing to the power of the risen Christ, believing that He is all-powerful and merciful because He is true God; and it also means asking for what is conducive to our salvation, for Jesus is our Savior. Thus, by "whatever you ask" we must understand what is for the good of the asker. When our Lord does not give what we ask for, the reason is that it would not make for our salvation. In this way we can see that He is our Savior both when He refuses us what we ask and when He grants it.
___________________________
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland. Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
Jesus Reveals the Father
(Jesus said to Thomas,) [7] "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; henceforth you know Him and have seen Him.
[8] Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and we shall be satisfied." [9] Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you do not know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, `Show us the Father?' [10] Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does His works. [11] Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me; or else believe Me for the sake of the words themselves.
[12] "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father. [13] Whatever you ask in my name I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son; [14] if you ask anything in my name, I will do it."
______________________
Commentary:
8-11. The Apostles still find our Lord's words very mysterious, because they cannot understand the oneness of the Father and the Son. Hence Philip's persistence. Then Jesus "upbraids the Apostle for not yet knowing Him, even though His works are proper to God--walking on the water, controlling the wind, forgiving sins, raising the dead. This is why He reproves him: for not recognizing His divine condition through His human nature" (St. Augustine, "De Trinitate", Book 7).
Obviously the sight of the Father which Jesus refers to in this passage is a vision through faith, for no one has ever seen God as He is (cf. John 1:18; 6:46). All manifestations of God, or "theophanies", have been through some medium; they are only a reflection of God's greatness. The highest _expression which we have of God our Father is in Christ Jesus, the Son of God sent among men. "He did this by the total fact of His presence and self-manifestation--by words and works, signs and miracles, but above all by His death and glorious resurrection from the dead, and finally by sending the Spirit of truth. He revealed that God was with us, to deliver us from the darkness of sin and death, and to raise us up to eternal life" (Vatican II, "Dei Verbum", 4).
12-14. Before leaving this world, the Lord promises His Apostles to make them sharers in His power so that God's salvation may be manifested through them. These "works" are the miracles they will work in the name of Jesus Christ (cf. Acts 3:1-10; 5:15-16; etc.), and especially the conversion of people to the Christian faith and their sanctification by preaching and the ministry of the sacraments. They can be considered greater works than Jesus' own insofar as, by the Apostles' ministry, the Gospel was not only preached in Palestine but was spread to the ends of the earth; but this extraordinary power of apostolic preaching proceeds from Christ, who has ascended to the Father: after undergoing the humiliation of the cross Jesus has been glorified and from Heaven He manifests His power by acting through His Apostles.
The Apostles' power, therefore, derives from Christ glorified. Christ our Lord says as much: "Whatever you ask in My name, I will do it". "It is not that he who believes in Me will be greater than Me, but that only that I shall then do greater works than now; greater, by him who believes in Me, than I now do by myself without Him" (St. Augustine, "In Ioann. Evang.", 72, 1).
Jesus Christ is our intercessor in Heaven; therefore, He promises us that everything we ask for in His name, He will do. Asking in His name (cf. 15:7, 16; 16:23-24) means appealing to the power of the risen Christ, believing that He is all-powerful and merciful because He is true God; and it also means asking for what is conducive to our salvation, for Jesus is our Savior. Thus, by "whatever you ask" we must understand what is for the good of the asker. When our Lord does not give what we ask for, the reason is that it would not make for our salvation. In this way we can see that He is our Savior both when He refuses us what we ask and when He grants it.
___________________________
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland. Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
Friday, May 12, 2006
Mental Prayer for May 13-Mary, My Mother
Mental Prayer Meditation Helps
Presence of God.
Grace I Ask: To have complete confidence in Mary, the Mother of all mankind.
The Idea: In an age that is as social-minded as our own, this beautiful truth of Mary's motherhood of all men should take on a deeper and fuller meaning.
Mary is the Mother of Christ; we are members of the Mystical Body of Christ. She who cared so tenderly and lovingly for the person of Christ is just as much interested in her spiritual children. This is not just a pious thought or figure of speech, but a living and real fact. In accepting the position of Mother of the Redeemer and in suffering along with Him on Calvary, she has won the right and the duty of being Mother of all those for whom her Son died. This means she is really our Mother...; and most important for me, my Mother.
My Personal Application: Do I turn to my heaveniy Mother when I need help? Do I ask Mary to help me see Christ in all her other sons and daughters, so that I'll give them the respect they deserve as brothers of Christ and children of Mary? Do I ask Mary, the Mother of the Mystical Body, to help those who are less fortunate than ourselves to overcome false prejudices against our fellowmen?
It is said that a mother is the heart of a family, the one who brings unity and love. Ask Mary to turn our earthly family, in our homes and community, into the wonderful society that the Holy Family must have been.
I Speak to God: Dear Lord, fill my heart with love and confidence in our holy Mother.
Thought for Today: "Son, behold your mother!"
___________________
Adapted from Mental Prayer, Challenge to the Lay Apostle
by The Queen's Work,(© 1958)
Presence of God.
Grace I Ask: To have complete confidence in Mary, the Mother of all mankind.
The Idea: In an age that is as social-minded as our own, this beautiful truth of Mary's motherhood of all men should take on a deeper and fuller meaning.
Mary is the Mother of Christ; we are members of the Mystical Body of Christ. She who cared so tenderly and lovingly for the person of Christ is just as much interested in her spiritual children. This is not just a pious thought or figure of speech, but a living and real fact. In accepting the position of Mother of the Redeemer and in suffering along with Him on Calvary, she has won the right and the duty of being Mother of all those for whom her Son died. This means she is really our Mother...; and most important for me, my Mother.
My Personal Application: Do I turn to my heaveniy Mother when I need help? Do I ask Mary to help me see Christ in all her other sons and daughters, so that I'll give them the respect they deserve as brothers of Christ and children of Mary? Do I ask Mary, the Mother of the Mystical Body, to help those who are less fortunate than ourselves to overcome false prejudices against our fellowmen?
It is said that a mother is the heart of a family, the one who brings unity and love. Ask Mary to turn our earthly family, in our homes and community, into the wonderful society that the Holy Family must have been.
I Speak to God: Dear Lord, fill my heart with love and confidence in our holy Mother.
Thought for Today: "Son, behold your mother!"
___________________
Adapted from Mental Prayer, Challenge to the Lay Apostle
by The Queen's Work,(© 1958)
Fearful of Joining in a Protest?
Whenever the time comes to publicly proclaim the Faith, a certain measure of jitters is to be expected. To overcome these jitters, TFP Member Michael Whitcraft decided to wet his feet a little by participating in a preemptive theater protest at Regal Theaters in Harrisburg, Penn. last Sunday. He could not believe how simple it was or the amount of public support he received."Be not afraid!"
Click here for more details.
Do the clergy oppose theater protests against The Da Vinci Code film?
...the truth is that many church officials have come out in support of peaceful theater prayer vigils against The Da Vinci Code. Until now, their voices have been generally unheard.
. . .
Most Reverend Raymond L. Burke, Archbishop of St. Louis, expressed his gratitude for protest efforts:“I was very pleased to receive your letter of April 5th last in which you invited me to take part in one of the protests organized by the America Needs Fatima Protest Campaign against ‘The Da Vinci Code.’”He finished this letter offering his prayers and apostolic blessing for Da Vinci Code protests and all other TFP activities:Be assured of my prayers for the work of the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property and its America Needs Fatima Campaign, as it seeks to support the Catholic Church and uphold its traditional beliefs. I know that there will be many people involved in this campaign and I ask you to extend to them my prayerful best wishes.The list continues with Most Reverend Michael J. Sheridan, Bishop of Colorado Springs. He stated:I am very pleased to know that so many faithful people will be giving peaceful and prayerful demonstration of their faith as this film opens in theaters around the country. May the Lord bless you for your courageous stance; and know that I will hold you in my prayers in a very special way.
Vatican prepares for anniversaries of first Fatima appearance,...
...JPII assassination attempt on Saturday
Vatican City, May. 12, 2006 (CNA) - Officials at the Vatican are preparing to recognize two major anniversaries tomorrow. May 13th marks both the 89th anniversary of the first appearance of the Virgin Mary to 3 children in Fatima, Portugal and the 25th anniversary of the failed assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II in St. Peter‘s Square.More
...
Tom Hanks Blasts Da Vinci Critics
The row over the imminent release of the Da Vinci Code film grew today when star Tom Hanks hit out at its Catholic critics.This bit about Opus Dei has become tiresome...The ignorant are wont to use "hardliners" or "ultra conservative" or some other perjorative label, knowing little or nothing about the apostolate. I have even heard some priests refer to Opus Dei as the "Pope's Watchdogs"...Cute, yes?
Cardinals, speaking with the authorisation of the Vatican, have called for the Hollywood version of Dan Brown's bestselling novel to be boycotted.
They say the theme of the film - that Jesus Christ had children with Mary Magdalene and that hardline Catholic movement Opus Dei covered up his secret life - is highly blasphemous.
But Oscar-winner Hanks said objectors to The Da Vinci Code are taking the film too seriously, telling the Evening Standard: "We always knew there would be a segment of society that would not want this movie to be shown.Of course, Tom, it'll be a hoot to see the lies portrayed as truth on the bigscreen! Can't wait for protests, boycotts, or as some have suggested, "othercotts"...
"But the story we tell is loaded with all sorts of hooey and fun kind of scavenger-hunt-type nonsense. If you are going to take any sort of movie at face value, particularly a huge-budget motion picture like this, you'd be making a very big mistake. It's a damn good story and a lot of fun... all it is is dialogue. That never hurts."
Source.
Religious Leaders Unite Against “The Code”
Posted as received:
Interfaith Coalition Against The Da Vinci Code
Urges Boycott of the Movie
Washington, D.C. – Today, the newly formed Interfaith Coalition Against The Da Vinci Code announced it will gather religious leaders from across the country, uniting in opposition of Sony’s soon-to-be-released film, to hold a press conference coinciding with the premier of the film at the Cannes film festival on May 17th.
“The distortions contained in The Da Vinci Code novel are as dangerous as they are numerous,” Dr. Ted Baehr, Chairman of Christian Film and Television Commission, continued. “The movie threatens to strike another massive blow to the understanding of the Judeo-Christian teachings and understanding. This is particularly alarming because of the sheer scale of influence a popular movie can have.”
“We are committed to exposing the movie’s offensive and misleading content and are calling for a boycott. This film is a clear attack on all religions,” said Don Feder, syndicated columnist and President of Jews Against Anti-Christian Defamation.
Wednesday, May 17 @ 1:30 p.m. EST
WHO: Dr. Ted Baehr of The Christian Film and Television Commission,
Don Feder of Jews Against Anti-Christian Defamation,
Austin Ruse of The Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute,
Robert Knight of The Culture and The Family Institute and Concerned Women for America,
Patrick Reilly of The Cardinal Newman Society, and
Patrick Fagan of The Heritage Foundation
WHAT: A press conference, featuring the nation’s religious leaders, to denounce The Da Vinci Code and call for a boycott of the film
WHEN: Wednesday, May 17 from 1:30 to 3:00 pm EST
WHERE: Murrow Room
The National Press Club
529 14th Street N.W.
Washington D.C
Dr. Baehr, founder and publisher of MOVIEGUIDE® and Chairman of the Christian Film & Television Commission, is a well known Christian Leader, movie critic, educator, lecturer, and media pundit. Don Feder is a syndicated columnist and President of Jews Against Anti-Christian Defamation.
Anti-Prostitution Pledge for Federal Funds Violates Free Speech
From the Catholic Family & Human Rights Institute:
A US Federal judge has determined that the US government may not refuse to fund pro-prostitution groups overseas. This means that American funds may go to those that aid sex trafficking. Outrageous.This "Friday Fax Article" is not yet available, but should be later today/
Spread the word.
Yours sincerely,
Austin Ruse
President
Catholic School Teacher Fired for Having In Vitro
The schools say [Kelly] Romenesko agreed to follow church teachings when she was hired. One of those teachingsWhere were those who were charged with teaching these things? Was this negligence solely on her part? Are the priests who preached to her at Mass partially culpable? Is the penalty too harsh? Was she, in fact, culpably ignorant? Would her continued employment be a source of scandal?was[is] that the in vitro techniquewas[is] morally wrong because it replaced natural conception.
"I did not know what the Catholic doctrine stated against in vitro fertilization. Yes, I signed a contract, but the contract was vague in my opinion. I didn't know what I was doing as far as in vitro goes that that went against doctrine. My understanding was it was the Ten Commandments."
One can only wonder if the Church's teachings on contraception and other life issues were proclaimed from the pulpit, if this type of issue could not have been prevented.
Romenesko appealed to the school board, but it would not reinstate her. Now a state agency is looking into the case. Meanwhile, the Romeneskos have stopped practicing Catholicism.Sad...
"I think the issue here is the fact that Kelly was released from her job for being pregnant, not the in vitro fertilization itself," Eric said. "Our daughters have been baptized Lutheran at this point in time. Kelly and I haven't converted yet."
Native St Louisan Ordained Transitional Deacon, Fathers of Mercy
From the St. Louis Review:
Brother William Bellrose, CPM, a St. Louis native, was ordained a transitional deacon by Archbishop Henry Mansell of Hartford, Conn., on April 22 at St John Church in Cromwell, Conn. Rev. Mr. Bellrose, 36, professed perpetual vows in the Fathers of Mercy and is expected to be ordained to the priesthood in 2007 after completing studies at Holy Apostle Seminary in Cromwell. A graduate of Bishop Dubourg High School, Rev. Mr. Bellrose earned a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Missouri-Rolla before joining the Fathers of Mercy in June 2001. This summer he will serve at Sacred Heart Parish in Eureka. He is the son of William and Kathleen Bellrose of St. Matthias Parish in South County.
Brother William Bellrose, CPM, a St. Louis native, was ordained a transitional deacon by Archbishop Henry Mansell of Hartford, Conn., on April 22 at St John Church in Cromwell, Conn. Rev. Mr. Bellrose, 36, professed perpetual vows in the Fathers of Mercy and is expected to be ordained to the priesthood in 2007 after completing studies at Holy Apostle Seminary in Cromwell. A graduate of Bishop Dubourg High School, Rev. Mr. Bellrose earned a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Missouri-Rolla before joining the Fathers of Mercy in June 2001. This summer he will serve at Sacred Heart Parish in Eureka. He is the son of William and Kathleen Bellrose of St. Matthias Parish in South County.
Ave Maria University enters its second year in St. Louis
The program was introduced in St. Louis at the invitation of Archbishop Raymond L. Burke, who was instrumental in bringing the program to his former Diocese of La Crosse, Wis. The program is expanding to Kansas City, Mo., Madison, Wis., Phoenix, Ariz., and Orlando, Fla. this fall. The program also is offered in Naples and Green Bay, Wis.
Archdiocese of Los Angeles Celebrates...
...20th Anniversary of its Lesbian-"Gay" Ministry
If this "ministry" is an aid in helping those with disordered inclinations live a life of chastity and holiness, then it is a reason to celebrate...
If this "ministry" is an aid in helping those with disordered inclinations live a life of chastity and holiness, then it is a reason to celebrate...
Last Night's "Meet the Pastor" with Fr. Elliott
Last night we attended the "Meet the Pastor" night at Immaculate Conception Parish in Dardenne. This was an opportunity for parishioners to meet Father Timothy Elliott who is to be the new pastor of the new parish named St. Gianna. It is the first new parish in the Archdiocese in about 25 years.
The previous night Fr. Elliott had met with a group from St Patrick's in Wentzville about the move and he indicated that several people had volunteered to help with PSR and such. He mentioned last nite that he would be sending out a form for those who might be interested in assisting in some manner or another.
It is estimated that about 700 families are affected by the establishment of the new parish. However, it remains to be seen how many actually make the move.
Fr. Elliott, as a devoted and humble priest, began the meeting with a short personal introduction followed by the Sign of the Cross and then a reading from St. Paul followed by some prayers, including a special litany invoking the intercession of St. Gianna. Fr. Elliott, with Fr. Robert Reiker, pastor of Immaculate Conception, greeted each person as he or she arrived, and gave each a copy of the prayer, a Holy Card of St. Gianna, and a flyer containing biographical information about St. Gianna.
Fr. Elliott stressed that he did not yet have all the answers to many questions, however he wished to welcome all new founding members to the parish. Deacon Dan Henroid, from the Archdiocese offices was there to help.
Fr. Elliott, echoing Archbishop Burke and emphasizing St Paul's words about making sacrifices, told us that we would probably experience bouts of confusion initially, but with prayer and faith we would be able to work everything out. He stressed the necessity of building our new parish on the one and only foundation stone - that of our Lord, Jesus Christ. We, then, after having this firm foundation would become the building blocks or stones for the new parish. Fr Elliott also stated that we would have a beautiful church. ( In a previous conversation with him, he had indicated that he already had a baldacchino picked out for the new church and that he had his eyes on some beautiful stained glass windows...)
There were a number of questions about PSR, the temporary space for Mass, sports, school, etc.
I want to relate one comment and then add some observations...
One man, during the Q&A period, asked the question why the parish was given the name of such a recent saint and why such a recent person was named a saint? Why did we not have a patron saint whose name was well known? His followup was, "Is there some sort of political statement or agenda being made by naming the parish after this particular saint?" (paraphrased)
Fr Elliott responded that he did not see it as a political statement, but perhaps as a moral statement. After all, St. Gianna was a devoted mother, a faithful member of the Church, dedicated to helping others and fulfilling her vocation as a wife and mother. What a perfect example she is to us today - she reminds of sacrifice, she followed our Lord's example, by giving her life so that her child might live. We, too, are called to a life of holiness, heroic virtue, a life of sacrifice. Her example should be an inspiration to us.
Another person asked about PSR, specifically, how many nights a week would we get to choose from (ICD currently has 3). Of course, since there may only be 100 or so families with children who would attend and the fact that the local middle school would have to be used in the interim for this project, one night a week would seem to be sufficient. Then the question, I suppose, would be which night? Privately it was suggested that perhaps it could be on Sunday morning during the time between the 2 morning Masses as this might serve as an incentive to get more people to Mass.
Some observations:
In talking briefly with a some people after the meeting, some were undecided about transferring to the new parish. Others felt it would be too much of a sacrifice to switch. Some felt content to stay where they are (at ICD) and stated that Fr. Reiker had told them they did not have to go. Still others are excited and thankful, even if one must endure the pains of growth and development inherent in going from an empty 25 acre tract of farm land to a full fledged parish with all its structures and programs.
I did notice some rather "distinctive" attitudes among those who were called to be be founding members of the new parish. There were attitudes of ambivalence, hesitation, fear, and uncertainty. There were also attitudes of complacency, feelings that "I'm good right where I'm at." Others seemed to be reluctant because the new parish might be "too Catholic"...Some of us, though, while not looking forward to the sacrifices, feel that we have been blessed beyond belief. The tremendous gratitude expressed by a number of people with whom I spoke - gratitude for Archbishop Burke and Fr Elliott - is a joy to witness!
Anyway, it looks to be very interesting...Now perhaps, I can donate the 100 year old tabernacle (or as it was described to me, "a Catholic sacrament holder") that I acquired (in a effort to save a very sacred object from further profanation) at a local flea market recently - complete with keys!
The previous night Fr. Elliott had met with a group from St Patrick's in Wentzville about the move and he indicated that several people had volunteered to help with PSR and such. He mentioned last nite that he would be sending out a form for those who might be interested in assisting in some manner or another.
It is estimated that about 700 families are affected by the establishment of the new parish. However, it remains to be seen how many actually make the move.
Fr. Elliott, as a devoted and humble priest, began the meeting with a short personal introduction followed by the Sign of the Cross and then a reading from St. Paul followed by some prayers, including a special litany invoking the intercession of St. Gianna. Fr. Elliott, with Fr. Robert Reiker, pastor of Immaculate Conception, greeted each person as he or she arrived, and gave each a copy of the prayer, a Holy Card of St. Gianna, and a flyer containing biographical information about St. Gianna.
Fr. Elliott stressed that he did not yet have all the answers to many questions, however he wished to welcome all new founding members to the parish. Deacon Dan Henroid, from the Archdiocese offices was there to help.
Fr. Elliott, echoing Archbishop Burke and emphasizing St Paul's words about making sacrifices, told us that we would probably experience bouts of confusion initially, but with prayer and faith we would be able to work everything out. He stressed the necessity of building our new parish on the one and only foundation stone - that of our Lord, Jesus Christ. We, then, after having this firm foundation would become the building blocks or stones for the new parish. Fr Elliott also stated that we would have a beautiful church. ( In a previous conversation with him, he had indicated that he already had a baldacchino picked out for the new church and that he had his eyes on some beautiful stained glass windows...)
There were a number of questions about PSR, the temporary space for Mass, sports, school, etc.
I want to relate one comment and then add some observations...
One man, during the Q&A period, asked the question why the parish was given the name of such a recent saint and why such a recent person was named a saint? Why did we not have a patron saint whose name was well known? His followup was, "Is there some sort of political statement or agenda being made by naming the parish after this particular saint?" (paraphrased)
Fr Elliott responded that he did not see it as a political statement, but perhaps as a moral statement. After all, St. Gianna was a devoted mother, a faithful member of the Church, dedicated to helping others and fulfilling her vocation as a wife and mother. What a perfect example she is to us today - she reminds of sacrifice, she followed our Lord's example, by giving her life so that her child might live. We, too, are called to a life of holiness, heroic virtue, a life of sacrifice. Her example should be an inspiration to us.
Another person asked about PSR, specifically, how many nights a week would we get to choose from (ICD currently has 3). Of course, since there may only be 100 or so families with children who would attend and the fact that the local middle school would have to be used in the interim for this project, one night a week would seem to be sufficient. Then the question, I suppose, would be which night? Privately it was suggested that perhaps it could be on Sunday morning during the time between the 2 morning Masses as this might serve as an incentive to get more people to Mass.
Some observations:
In talking briefly with a some people after the meeting, some were undecided about transferring to the new parish. Others felt it would be too much of a sacrifice to switch. Some felt content to stay where they are (at ICD) and stated that Fr. Reiker had told them they did not have to go. Still others are excited and thankful, even if one must endure the pains of growth and development inherent in going from an empty 25 acre tract of farm land to a full fledged parish with all its structures and programs.
I did notice some rather "distinctive" attitudes among those who were called to be be founding members of the new parish. There were attitudes of ambivalence, hesitation, fear, and uncertainty. There were also attitudes of complacency, feelings that "I'm good right where I'm at." Others seemed to be reluctant because the new parish might be "too Catholic"...Some of us, though, while not looking forward to the sacrifices, feel that we have been blessed beyond belief. The tremendous gratitude expressed by a number of people with whom I spoke - gratitude for Archbishop Burke and Fr Elliott - is a joy to witness!
Anyway, it looks to be very interesting...Now perhaps, I can donate the 100 year old tabernacle (or as it was described to me, "a Catholic sacrament holder") that I acquired (in a effort to save a very sacred object from further profanation) at a local flea market recently - complete with keys!
Interview with Archbishop Burke on the Tridentine Indult
A short except of this excellent report:
Read more of this interview here.
(From the May 18 edition of The Wanderer)And this one on Latin!
Archbishop Raymond Burke, who previously consecrated his former Diocese of La Crosse, Wis., to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, is known as one of very few bishops in the United States who has sincerely been "wide and generous" (Ecclesia Dei Adflicta, by Pope John Paul II, June 1988) in allowing all of the Classical Roman rite sacraments in his diocese. He has begun to show his benevolence toward the Classical Roman liturgy and sacraments also in the Archdiocese of St. Louis, as will be shown later in this interview.
Q. What has your experience been with the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest?
A. Given the demands on priests today, as I experienced both in the Diocese of La Crosse, and as I am now experiencing in the Archdiocese of St. Louis, I have always tried to establish some centers of the apostolate for the Old Mass. I have been very blessed to come to know the Institute of Christ the King, Sovereign Priest in a little way while I was working in Rome, and then after I came to the Diocese of La Crosse and I was looking for some priests to help with this apostolate, they were willing to give me that help. It has been a very good relationship.
In the Diocese of La Crosse, there was a very large territory. There were four centers where the Mass and the other sacraments were being celebrated, and the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest had charge of two of them. At the two other places, diocesan priests were doing it.
In St. Louis, we have two centers now. One is at St. Francis de Sales right in the heart of the city, and then the other one is at the Passionist Monastery. The Institute of Christ the King has charge of the one at St. Francis de Sales. A new community in its first years of existence, the Canons Regular of the New Jerusalem, have charge of the one at the Passionist Monastery. [Editor's Note: Dom Daniel Augustine Oppenheimer is the founder of this new traditionalist community.]
---------------
Q. Do you see any benefit to the unity Latin and Gregorian chant breeds with the continuing influx of Spanish-speaking Catholics into the United States?Archbishop Burke confirms much of has been posted recently on the use Latin.
A. I think that is one of the great blessings of Gregorian chant and the Latin language is its universality and drawing us together. I think it certainly can be a great help.
In particular, if one sees the celebration of the pontifical liturgies in Rome — the liturgies of our Holy Father — if we are able to sing some of the responses in Gregorian chant, and some of the responses, that Latin is the language that draws us all together.
I remember when I was a boy — we were farmers, so we didn't travel very much — but I remember people who traveled that would come and visit our home, this was the great thing: Everywhere they traveled, wherever they went to Mass, it was the same. You could be in Hong Kong or New York City or Paris, and Mass was always the same.
So I think if there could be recovery of at least some standard elements — in terms of the music such as the use of Gregorian chant and the use of the Latin texts in communities that are diverse — this would be wonderful!
Read more of this interview here.
Gospel for Friday, 4th Week of Easter
From: John 14:1-6
Jesus Reveals the Father
(Jesus said to His disciples,) [1] "Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. [2] In My Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? [3] And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also. [4] And you know the way where I am going." [5] Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going; how can we know the way?" [6] Jesus said to him, "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father, but by Me."
_____________________
Commentary:
1-3. Apparently this prediction of Peter's denial has saddened the disciples. Jesus cheers them up by telling them that He is going away to prepare a place for them in Heaven, for Heaven they will eventually attain, despite their shortcomings and dragging their feet. The return which Jesus refers to includes His Second Coming (Parousia) at the end of the world (cf. 1 Corinthians 4:5; 11:26; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; 1 John 2:28) and His meeting with each soul after death: Christ has prepared a Heavenly dwelling-place through His work of redemption. Therefore, His words can be regarded as being addressed not only to the Twelve but also to everyone who believes in Him over the course of the centuries. The Lord will bring with Him into glory all those who have believed in Him and have stayed faithful to Him.
4-7. The Apostles did not really understand what Jesus was telling them: hence Thomas' question. The Lord explains that He is the way to the Father. "It was necessary for Him to say `I am the Way' to show them that they really knew what they thought they were ignorant of, because they knew Him" (St. Augustine, "In. Ioann. Evang.", 66, 2).
Jesus is the way to the Father--through what He teaches, for by keeping to His teaching we will reach Heaven; through faith, which He inspires, because He came to this world so "that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life" (John 3:15); through His example, since no one can go to the Father without imitating the Son; through His merits, which make it possible for us to enter our Heavenly home; and above all He is the way because He reveals the Father, with whom He is one because of His divine nature.
"Just as children by listening to their mothers, and prattling with them, learn to speak their language, so we, by keeping close to the Savior in meditation, and observing His words, His actions, and His affections, shall learn, with the help of His grace, to speak, to act, and to will like Him.
"We must pause here...; we can reach God the Father by no other route...; the Divinity could not be well contemplated by us in this world below if it were not united to the sacred humanity of the Savior, whose life and death are the most appropriate, sweet, delicious and profitable subjects which we can choose for our ordinary meditations" (St. Francis de Sales, "Introduction to the Devout Life", Part II, Chapter 1, 2).
"I am the way": He is the only path linking Heaven and Earth. "He is speaking to all men, but in a special way He is thinking of people who, like you and me, are determined to take our Christian vocation seriously: He wants God to be forever in our thoughts, on our lips and in everything we do, including our most ordinary and routine actions.
"Jesus is the way. Behind Him on this Earth of ours He has left the clear outlines of His footprints. They are indelible signs which neither the erosion of time nor the treachery of the Evil One have been able to erase" ([St] J. Escriva, "Friends of God", 127).
Jesus' words do much more than provide an answer to Thomas' question; He tells us: "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life". Being the Truth and the Life is something proper to the Son of God become man, who St. John says in the prologue of his Gospel is "full of grace and truth" (1:14). He is the Truth because by coming to this world He shows that God is faithful to His promises, and because He teaches the truth about who God is and tells us that true worship must be "in spirit and truth" (John 4:23). He is Life because from all eternity He has divine life with His Father (cf. John 1:4), and because He makes us, through grace, sharers in that divine life. This is why the Gospel says: "This is eternal life, that they know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou has sent" (John 17:3).
By His reply Jesus is, "as it were, saying, By which route do you want to go? I am the Way. To where do you want to go? I am the Truth. Where do you want to remain? I am the Life. Every man can attain an understanding of the Truth and the Life; but not all find the Way. The wise of this world realize that God is eternal life and knowable truth; but the Word of God, who is Truth and Life joined to the Father, has become the Way by taking a human nature. Make your way contemplating His humility and you will reach God" (St. Augustine, "De Verbis Domini Sermones", 54).
___________________________
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland. Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
Jesus Reveals the Father
(Jesus said to His disciples,) [1] "Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. [2] In My Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? [3] And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also. [4] And you know the way where I am going." [5] Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going; how can we know the way?" [6] Jesus said to him, "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father, but by Me."
_____________________
Commentary:
1-3. Apparently this prediction of Peter's denial has saddened the disciples. Jesus cheers them up by telling them that He is going away to prepare a place for them in Heaven, for Heaven they will eventually attain, despite their shortcomings and dragging their feet. The return which Jesus refers to includes His Second Coming (Parousia) at the end of the world (cf. 1 Corinthians 4:5; 11:26; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; 1 John 2:28) and His meeting with each soul after death: Christ has prepared a Heavenly dwelling-place through His work of redemption. Therefore, His words can be regarded as being addressed not only to the Twelve but also to everyone who believes in Him over the course of the centuries. The Lord will bring with Him into glory all those who have believed in Him and have stayed faithful to Him.
4-7. The Apostles did not really understand what Jesus was telling them: hence Thomas' question. The Lord explains that He is the way to the Father. "It was necessary for Him to say `I am the Way' to show them that they really knew what they thought they were ignorant of, because they knew Him" (St. Augustine, "In. Ioann. Evang.", 66, 2).
Jesus is the way to the Father--through what He teaches, for by keeping to His teaching we will reach Heaven; through faith, which He inspires, because He came to this world so "that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life" (John 3:15); through His example, since no one can go to the Father without imitating the Son; through His merits, which make it possible for us to enter our Heavenly home; and above all He is the way because He reveals the Father, with whom He is one because of His divine nature.
"Just as children by listening to their mothers, and prattling with them, learn to speak their language, so we, by keeping close to the Savior in meditation, and observing His words, His actions, and His affections, shall learn, with the help of His grace, to speak, to act, and to will like Him.
"We must pause here...; we can reach God the Father by no other route...; the Divinity could not be well contemplated by us in this world below if it were not united to the sacred humanity of the Savior, whose life and death are the most appropriate, sweet, delicious and profitable subjects which we can choose for our ordinary meditations" (St. Francis de Sales, "Introduction to the Devout Life", Part II, Chapter 1, 2).
"I am the way": He is the only path linking Heaven and Earth. "He is speaking to all men, but in a special way He is thinking of people who, like you and me, are determined to take our Christian vocation seriously: He wants God to be forever in our thoughts, on our lips and in everything we do, including our most ordinary and routine actions.
"Jesus is the way. Behind Him on this Earth of ours He has left the clear outlines of His footprints. They are indelible signs which neither the erosion of time nor the treachery of the Evil One have been able to erase" ([St] J. Escriva, "Friends of God", 127).
Jesus' words do much more than provide an answer to Thomas' question; He tells us: "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life". Being the Truth and the Life is something proper to the Son of God become man, who St. John says in the prologue of his Gospel is "full of grace and truth" (1:14). He is the Truth because by coming to this world He shows that God is faithful to His promises, and because He teaches the truth about who God is and tells us that true worship must be "in spirit and truth" (John 4:23). He is Life because from all eternity He has divine life with His Father (cf. John 1:4), and because He makes us, through grace, sharers in that divine life. This is why the Gospel says: "This is eternal life, that they know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou has sent" (John 17:3).
By His reply Jesus is, "as it were, saying, By which route do you want to go? I am the Way. To where do you want to go? I am the Truth. Where do you want to remain? I am the Life. Every man can attain an understanding of the Truth and the Life; but not all find the Way. The wise of this world realize that God is eternal life and knowable truth; but the Word of God, who is Truth and Life joined to the Father, has become the Way by taking a human nature. Make your way contemplating His humility and you will reach God" (St. Augustine, "De Verbis Domini Sermones", 54).
___________________________
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland. Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Mental Prayer for May 12- Mary, the Mother of God Presence of God.
Mental Prayer Meditation Helps
Presence of God.
Grace I Ask: Lord, give me the grace to understand the dignity of the grace of Mary's divine motherhood.
The Idea: To what dignity and honor can a creature be elevated that is higher than that of Mother of God? Specially chosen by God the Father and richly showered with gifts of grace, overshadowed by the Holy Spirit, Mary conceives within her the Son of God Himself, the Second Person of the Trinity. What intimate union with God! No creature could even imagine such an honor, much less aspire to it. And yet on this humble young girl of Nazareth, God heaped all these gifts.
My Personal Application: First, do I congratulate the Blessed Mother for such a high position and honor? Do I thank her for the part she had in my salvation? Then, do I imitate her as closely as possible? Do I strive to be united to God by trying with all my power to increase the grace in my soul? Do I imitate her humility in accepting the gifts that God has heaped upon me? Have I ever stopped to realize what a tremendous honor it is for every man - for me - that a human being should be God's mother?
I Speak to God: Lord, give me the grace to address my prayers to Our Lady with greater confidence in her powerful intercession. Give me a deep realization of Mary's high role in winning my salvation... (And to Our Lady) Mary, Mother of God, bring me closer to your divine Son.
Thought for Today: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.
___________________
Adapted from Mental Prayer, Challenge to the Lay Apostle
by The Queen's Work,(© 1958)
Presence of God.
Grace I Ask: Lord, give me the grace to understand the dignity of the grace of Mary's divine motherhood.
The Idea: To what dignity and honor can a creature be elevated that is higher than that of Mother of God? Specially chosen by God the Father and richly showered with gifts of grace, overshadowed by the Holy Spirit, Mary conceives within her the Son of God Himself, the Second Person of the Trinity. What intimate union with God! No creature could even imagine such an honor, much less aspire to it. And yet on this humble young girl of Nazareth, God heaped all these gifts.
My Personal Application: First, do I congratulate the Blessed Mother for such a high position and honor? Do I thank her for the part she had in my salvation? Then, do I imitate her as closely as possible? Do I strive to be united to God by trying with all my power to increase the grace in my soul? Do I imitate her humility in accepting the gifts that God has heaped upon me? Have I ever stopped to realize what a tremendous honor it is for every man - for me - that a human being should be God's mother?
I Speak to God: Lord, give me the grace to address my prayers to Our Lady with greater confidence in her powerful intercession. Give me a deep realization of Mary's high role in winning my salvation... (And to Our Lady) Mary, Mother of God, bring me closer to your divine Son.
Thought for Today: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.
___________________
Adapted from Mental Prayer, Challenge to the Lay Apostle
by The Queen's Work,(© 1958)
Missouri House Restricts Monies for Abortion, SCNT, Cloning
The House voted overwhelmingly Monday to make abortions, human cloning and certain types of stem cell research out of bounds for any money gained by selling some of the assets of the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority.Good move...we know how those obsessed with promoting the culture of death just love to use public funds to carry out their nefarious deeds.
That was quick!
Belgium Bishops release declaration on church occupations
Brussels, May. 11, 2006 (CNA) - Today the Bishops of Belgium held a press conference in order to explain their position on the current occupation of church buildings by undocumented foreigners. A formal declaration was issued subsequently. This comes a day after the declaration of the Apostolic nuncio in Belgium. . .Source.
Pope Benedict Exhorts Canadian Bishops to Rediscover Centrality of the Eucharist
Vatican City, May. 11, 2006 (CNA) - In a meeting earlier today with a group of prelates from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, Pope Benedict XVI had strong words regarding the state of the Church in that country, stressing the need for increased devotion to the Eucharist, stronger priestly formation and greater outreach to young people.
The Holy Father began his address by chiding Canadian society, calling it marked by “pluralism, subjectivism and increasing secularization.” In this light, he said he was grateful for the visit as it allowed him the opportunity to reflect on the Church’s mission in that country.
The Vatican Information Service has the Holy Father's comments here.
Father Robert Altier to be Assistant Chaplain of Nursing Home
Father George Welzbacher, pastor of the Church of Saint Agnes, has issued a statement regarding the unexpected reassignments of both himself and Father Robert Altier. Sometime in mid-June, Father Welzbacher will be leaving Saint Agnes parish at his own request and move to an unspecified location. But the biggest surprise is Archbishop Harry Flynn's shocking decision to remove Father Altier from Saint Agnes and appoint him as assistant chaplain of a nursing home in an outlying district 30 miles southeast of Saint Paul-Minneapolis.More here...
One can only wonder how soon it will be before rainbow banners will be hanging in St Agnes and the little children of the Archdiocese are educated in the adult aspects of sexuality.
The Family who runs a "Voice in the Desert" has requested that faithful Catholics cahritably contact Vatican officials about this injustice.
Please pray for Frs. Altier and Welzbacher and also for Archbishop Flynn.
Catholic priest convicted of nun's 1980 murder
Prosecutors said the Rev. Gerald Robinson killed Sr. Margaret Ann Pahl because he was angry over his stalled career.
TOLEDO, Ohio — A jury convicted a Catholic priest Thursday of the 1980 slaying of a nun in a hospital chapel.
The panel deliberated six and a half hours before finding the Rev. Gerald Robinson guilty of one count of murder in the strangulation and stabbing of Sr. Margaret Ann Pahl.
Robinson, 68, was immediately sentenced to life in prison, cuffed and taken from the courtroom. He will be eligible for parole after serving 15 years of the sentence.
A News Alert from the Thomas More Law Center
National Petition Drive Launched to Save Mt. Soledad Cross
ANN ARBOR, MI – In an effort to save the famous 43-foot Mt. Soledad Cross and the granite memorial walls surrounding it as a National Veterans Memorial, the Thomas More Law Center has launched a national petition drive requesting President Bush to take the land under the federal government’s powers of eminent domain. The petition will be sent directly to President Bush.
The petition requests the President to direct the Secretary of the Interior to “immediately begin legal proceedings” to take the land by eminent domain.
The petition quotes from a May 22, 2001 letter from President George W. Bush describing the Soledad site as a “place to reflect on our past, be inspired by true American patriots, and offer war veterans our heartfelt gratitude for the freedom we all enjoy today.” You are invited to view and sign the petition by clicking here.
For the latest information on the Mt Soledad Cross controversy you may visit the Thomas More Law Center website at www.thomasmore.org .
ANN ARBOR, MI – In an effort to save the famous 43-foot Mt. Soledad Cross and the granite memorial walls surrounding it as a National Veterans Memorial, the Thomas More Law Center has launched a national petition drive requesting President Bush to take the land under the federal government’s powers of eminent domain. The petition will be sent directly to President Bush.
The petition requests the President to direct the Secretary of the Interior to “immediately begin legal proceedings” to take the land by eminent domain.
The petition quotes from a May 22, 2001 letter from President George W. Bush describing the Soledad site as a “place to reflect on our past, be inspired by true American patriots, and offer war veterans our heartfelt gratitude for the freedom we all enjoy today.” You are invited to view and sign the petition by clicking here.
For the latest information on the Mt Soledad Cross controversy you may visit the Thomas More Law Center website at www.thomasmore.org .
A Religious Awakening in Europe?
In a Very Secular France, Nicolas Sarkozy Is Breaking a Taboo
In a book, the candidate for the presidency of the French republic acknowledges the public role of religion. And the Church is paying attention, in Italy and Rome, too
by Sandro Magister
In a book, the candidate for the presidency of the French republic acknowledges the public role of religion. And the Church is paying attention, in Italy and Rome, too
by Sandro Magister
Bishop Anthony Pilla Reflects on Years as Diocese Leader
Pilla To Retire After Serving 25 Years As Cleveland BishopThe faithful of Cleveland will need a strong, faithful bishop...This would be a good intention to keep in your prayers.
CLEVELAND -- He's the first Clevelander to ever serve as bishop of the Cleveland Catholic Diocese, and after 25 years, Bishop Anthony Pilla will official step down on Monday. . .
A Mother's Day Reflection
Mother's Day - Mother, I Love You
"But Mary kept in mind all these words, pondering them in her heart." St. Luke, 2:19.
It was a busy moment of a busy day. The street-car was crowded in that noon hour rush of the holiday season, when a young, pleasant-faced woman boarded the car with her two small sons. The smaller sat with his mother, while the older, a lad about four, took a seat across the aisle from them.
His eyes flashed out the window, then toward his mother, then toward his little brother. After he had sized up everything and everybody, the four-year old leaned across the aisle and whispered faintly: "Mother."
But mother did not hear, for all the noise and distraction of the trolley. The lad leaned still farther toward her, and in one of those childish whispers that start the echoes, he exclaimed: "Mother."
She heard, turned to him, and smiled. The boy brightened, and with all the breath in his little body he told her in a sort of stage whisper: "Mother, I love you!"
The mother returned a loving look. Passengers glanced at one another and smiled, turning tender faces toward the mother and her son. The street car became a place of joy, simply because a small son had told his mother that he loved her. The heart of everyone felt a tender tug.
We do something similar on Mother's Day. As we whirl along on the busy, crowded, distracted, unfeeling, thoughtless street-car of life, we take time out to tell our mothers that we love them. Sad it is that we must be reminded and prompted to do this. Yet, better far than forgetting them altogether is our custom of picking out one Sunday, the second Sunday of May to show our love and respect for the most important members of society.
Like that small boy, we want to say: "Mother. I love you."
In different ways we will say it. Some of us with a letter, a card, a phone call: others with some simple gift - flowers, candy, a pair of gloves.
Some of us may have mothers who live at no earthly address; they dwell in a mansion along some street of heaven. Even these we will not forget - no, we will send them, too, a winged prayer, a Communion, a Mass.
Many a son and daughter will be far from mother on her day. Large numbers of us will not be able to send her much, if anything, in the way of candy or flowers, but we can and must send her a greeting, we can and must send her some spiritual gift. My suggestion is that everyone of you who ever had a mother - and that includes all of us - attend Holy Mass and receive Holy Communion for her on Mother's Day. And then, or better still, the week before, write and tell her that you are offering Mass and Communion for her on her day.
How happy that will make her. She will be happy because you thought of her, and in such a beautiful way. Her happiness will be greater for the knowledge that you are attending Holy Mass and receiving our Lord. Aren't those the things that will gladden her mother heart more than anything? Isn't it the greatest happiness of a Catholic mother - to know that her boy and her girl are faithful to the religion which she helped to plant in their hearts? Will it not make her supremely satisfied to be thus assured that you are doing the right thing? What better proof can a mother have that her boy and her girl are trying to be the girl and boy she wants them to be, than the information that they have received Holy Communion and have offered Holy Mass - for her intention?
There is someone else to whom we want to say: "Mother, I love you."
To the Mother of all mothers we want to say during these May days: ""Heavenly Mother, I love you."
The earthly woman who gave you birth was the very first to tell you about that other woman who gave birth to the Son of God. At the knees of her who brought you into the world, you learned about her who brought Jesus into the world. Least jealous of the love and devotion we show to Mary, is the earthly mother who told you about her, who taught you to love her, who showed you how to imitate her, who trained your lisping lips to hail in angelic words the Mother of us all.
To that Mother her Son leaned over across the aisle of hate and separation and agony, and from the cross said in effect: Mother, I love you."
There and then Jesus gave her to us, and gave us to her: "Son, behold thy Mother - Mother, behold thy son."
And, oh, how the world needs a Mother today! Did you ever notice how skilfully a mother calms the quarrels of her children? Did you ever observe how deftly and firmly a mother will settle the arguments between her sons and daughters? How she defends the weak? How she curbs the strong? Did you ever notice how she makes peace between quarreling children?
A world Mother is what the world needs today and all the time. The children of the nations are quarreling. Every generation or so that quarreling is unto blood and death, breaking out in a cruel world war. Only a Mother common to them all can quiet the angry arguments, can decide the deadly disputes, can bring peace to blood-thirsty brothers.
With all the ardor in our make-up we will tell our Blessed Mother during this season of May that we love her and want all men and women to love her. Then we will ask our Blessed Mother to help us love our earthly mothers more, and to make all mothers worthy of the high calling for which God has chosen them.
We wish to say to every mother in this parish: "Mother, I love you." And for the parish we wish to say to Mary: "Mother, I love you." Amen.
__________________
Adapted from Occasional Talks
by Fr. Arthur Tonne, OFM (©1949)
"But Mary kept in mind all these words, pondering them in her heart." St. Luke, 2:19.
It was a busy moment of a busy day. The street-car was crowded in that noon hour rush of the holiday season, when a young, pleasant-faced woman boarded the car with her two small sons. The smaller sat with his mother, while the older, a lad about four, took a seat across the aisle from them.
His eyes flashed out the window, then toward his mother, then toward his little brother. After he had sized up everything and everybody, the four-year old leaned across the aisle and whispered faintly: "Mother."
But mother did not hear, for all the noise and distraction of the trolley. The lad leaned still farther toward her, and in one of those childish whispers that start the echoes, he exclaimed: "Mother."
She heard, turned to him, and smiled. The boy brightened, and with all the breath in his little body he told her in a sort of stage whisper: "Mother, I love you!"
The mother returned a loving look. Passengers glanced at one another and smiled, turning tender faces toward the mother and her son. The street car became a place of joy, simply because a small son had told his mother that he loved her. The heart of everyone felt a tender tug.
We do something similar on Mother's Day. As we whirl along on the busy, crowded, distracted, unfeeling, thoughtless street-car of life, we take time out to tell our mothers that we love them. Sad it is that we must be reminded and prompted to do this. Yet, better far than forgetting them altogether is our custom of picking out one Sunday, the second Sunday of May to show our love and respect for the most important members of society.
Like that small boy, we want to say: "Mother. I love you."
In different ways we will say it. Some of us with a letter, a card, a phone call: others with some simple gift - flowers, candy, a pair of gloves.
Some of us may have mothers who live at no earthly address; they dwell in a mansion along some street of heaven. Even these we will not forget - no, we will send them, too, a winged prayer, a Communion, a Mass.
Many a son and daughter will be far from mother on her day. Large numbers of us will not be able to send her much, if anything, in the way of candy or flowers, but we can and must send her a greeting, we can and must send her some spiritual gift. My suggestion is that everyone of you who ever had a mother - and that includes all of us - attend Holy Mass and receive Holy Communion for her on Mother's Day. And then, or better still, the week before, write and tell her that you are offering Mass and Communion for her on her day.
How happy that will make her. She will be happy because you thought of her, and in such a beautiful way. Her happiness will be greater for the knowledge that you are attending Holy Mass and receiving our Lord. Aren't those the things that will gladden her mother heart more than anything? Isn't it the greatest happiness of a Catholic mother - to know that her boy and her girl are faithful to the religion which she helped to plant in their hearts? Will it not make her supremely satisfied to be thus assured that you are doing the right thing? What better proof can a mother have that her boy and her girl are trying to be the girl and boy she wants them to be, than the information that they have received Holy Communion and have offered Holy Mass - for her intention?
There is someone else to whom we want to say: "Mother, I love you."
To the Mother of all mothers we want to say during these May days: ""Heavenly Mother, I love you."
The earthly woman who gave you birth was the very first to tell you about that other woman who gave birth to the Son of God. At the knees of her who brought you into the world, you learned about her who brought Jesus into the world. Least jealous of the love and devotion we show to Mary, is the earthly mother who told you about her, who taught you to love her, who showed you how to imitate her, who trained your lisping lips to hail in angelic words the Mother of us all.
To that Mother her Son leaned over across the aisle of hate and separation and agony, and from the cross said in effect: Mother, I love you."
There and then Jesus gave her to us, and gave us to her: "Son, behold thy Mother - Mother, behold thy son."
And, oh, how the world needs a Mother today! Did you ever notice how skilfully a mother calms the quarrels of her children? Did you ever observe how deftly and firmly a mother will settle the arguments between her sons and daughters? How she defends the weak? How she curbs the strong? Did you ever notice how she makes peace between quarreling children?
A world Mother is what the world needs today and all the time. The children of the nations are quarreling. Every generation or so that quarreling is unto blood and death, breaking out in a cruel world war. Only a Mother common to them all can quiet the angry arguments, can decide the deadly disputes, can bring peace to blood-thirsty brothers.
With all the ardor in our make-up we will tell our Blessed Mother during this season of May that we love her and want all men and women to love her. Then we will ask our Blessed Mother to help us love our earthly mothers more, and to make all mothers worthy of the high calling for which God has chosen them.
We wish to say to every mother in this parish: "Mother, I love you." And for the parish we wish to say to Mary: "Mother, I love you." Amen.
__________________
Adapted from Occasional Talks
by Fr. Arthur Tonne, OFM (©1949)
July 16 - Pontifical High Mass with Archbishop Burke
Where:
St Francis de Sales Oratory
2653 Ohio Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63118
When:
Sunday July 16 - 10:00am
This is the Closing Mass of the Latin Liturgy Association convention.
It will be a Pontifical High Mass, celebrated by Archbishop Burke.
St Francis de Sales Oratory
2653 Ohio Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63118
When:
Sunday July 16 - 10:00am
This is the Closing Mass of the Latin Liturgy Association convention.
It will be a Pontifical High Mass, celebrated by Archbishop Burke.
Jun 23 - Feast of the Sacred Heart with Archbishop Raymond Burke
Where:
St Francis de Sales Oratory
2653 Ohio Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63118
When:
Friday June 23 - 7:00pm.
Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Special guest homilist will be Archbishop Raymond Burke.
St Francis de Sales Oratory
2653 Ohio Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63118
When:
Friday June 23 - 7:00pm.
Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Special guest homilist will be Archbishop Raymond Burke.
June 11 - Fr Michael Witt on Christianity under Attack
Supporting Orthodoxy and the Holy Father
Is Proud to Present
Father Michael Witt
Speaking on the Topic
“Christianity under Attack”
On Sunday, June 11, 2006
6:00PM
Crown Plaza Hotel
7750 Carondelet Blvd.
Clayton MO
Father Michael John Witt will examine the nature and motivation behind the recent intense attacks on Christian beliefs and values.
Father Witt is a priest of the archdiocese of St. Louis, ordained in 1990. He served as associate pastor at St. Monica, Sante Genevieve and pastor of Blessed Sacrament in St. Louis City and as Director of Continuing Formation for Priests for the Archdiocese of St. Louis.
Prior to ordination he served the Church for 22 years as a Christian Brother, teaching in Oklahoma, Missouri and Tennessee. He holds a Ph.D. in Modern European History from St. Louis University and a M. Div. from Kenrick-Glennon Seminary. He is often heard on WRYT Catholic Radio. Currently he resides at St. Mary Magdalen Church in Brentwood and teaches Church History at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary.
Join us on Sunday June 11th for a delicious dinner at the Crown Plaza Hotel at 7750 Carondelet Blvd. in Clayton. Meal include Tossed Garden Salad, Appropriate Vegetables, Dinner Roll & Butter, Beverage and Dessert. Cost is $20.00 per person. Time 6:00 p.m. Free inside parking at the 7777 Bonhomme Garage. Use the Orange Level Bridge to the hotel.
Contact: Howard Brandt at 314-894-0357 or by e-mail at hbrandt AT i1.net
Entree choice is Grilled Salmon or Chicken Parmesan.
May 21 - The DaVinci Code Protest, Having An Impact On Our Culture
You and your family are cordially invited to a presentation titled:
“The DaVinci Code Protest - Having An Impact On Our Culture”
to be held at
St. Raymond’s Cathedral
939 Lebanon Dr.
St. Louis, MO
Sunday, May 21, 2006 at 1:30 PM.
With an introduction by Father Andre Mhanna,
Rector of St. Raymond’s Cathedral
In this talk, American TFP member John Horvat will speak about the 1000 protest vigils being held by The American TFP and its America Needs Fatima campaign against Dan Brown’s The DaVinci Code movie.
He will discuss some of the reactions to the campaign, refute some of the arguments used against protesting and talk about future plans.
This talk is one of a series of regularly held talks sponsored by the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property (TFP) and its America Needs Fatima campaign.
A question and answer period will follow the presentation. Please join us for what promises to be a stimulating evening of Catholic conviviality, enlightening conversation, and hope for the future.
For additional information, contact Mark Serafino at (573) 459-5531.
www.tfp.org
The American TFP – America Needs Fatima • P.O. Box 341 Hanover, PA 17331 717-225-7147
Mental Prayer for May 11 - I Desire Nothing More
Mental Prayer Meditation Helps
Presence of God.
Grace I Ask: That I may understand the extent of this offering, and have the generosity to fulfill it. Take,O Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, my whole will. You have given me all that I have.
I restore it all to You and surrender it: Everything that is me - my mind, my will, my talents - that they may be used in Christ's battle to bring the world to you.
That You may dispose of it according to Your will: Christ, I want you to call the signals. I know you show me your will through those who take your place in my life: my parents, my teachers; my priest, my bishop, Your vicar, my pope. I break the chain of command you have set up when I refuse my devoted service to these, your liaison officers. My "I surrender" becomes then, "I want out."
Give me only Your love: True, Christ, you love every man, but in proportion as each has a capacity for your love. You offer me the special love of a captain for his devoted soldiers.
And Your grace: Both sanctifying grace, the life of the soul (for without it we can do nothing in our service), and actual grace, the impulses and inspirations, the lights and urgings always to do better in your service.
And I am rich enough: If I really live this offering, I am one of the richest persons in the world. I have everything that really counts for true happiness, for true security. Much richer than I deserve to be for my past weaknesses in your ranks. God, you yourself actually love me. You want me to fight as a soldier in your cause. What a tremendous thought and challenge! With all of this I am quite rich enough!
And I desire nothing more: What else of any real importance is there to want? You have proved your love for me by your death. How am I going to prove mine? By this offering of my whole self!
Thought for Today: Give me your grace and I am rich!
___________________
Adapted from Mental Prayer, Challenge to the Lay Apostle
by The Queen's Work,(© 1958)
Presence of God.
Grace I Ask: That I may understand the extent of this offering, and have the generosity to fulfill it. Take,O Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, my whole will. You have given me all that I have.
I restore it all to You and surrender it: Everything that is me - my mind, my will, my talents - that they may be used in Christ's battle to bring the world to you.
That You may dispose of it according to Your will: Christ, I want you to call the signals. I know you show me your will through those who take your place in my life: my parents, my teachers; my priest, my bishop, Your vicar, my pope. I break the chain of command you have set up when I refuse my devoted service to these, your liaison officers. My "I surrender" becomes then, "I want out."
Give me only Your love: True, Christ, you love every man, but in proportion as each has a capacity for your love. You offer me the special love of a captain for his devoted soldiers.
And Your grace: Both sanctifying grace, the life of the soul (for without it we can do nothing in our service), and actual grace, the impulses and inspirations, the lights and urgings always to do better in your service.
And I am rich enough: If I really live this offering, I am one of the richest persons in the world. I have everything that really counts for true happiness, for true security. Much richer than I deserve to be for my past weaknesses in your ranks. God, you yourself actually love me. You want me to fight as a soldier in your cause. What a tremendous thought and challenge! With all of this I am quite rich enough!
And I desire nothing more: What else of any real importance is there to want? You have proved your love for me by your death. How am I going to prove mine? By this offering of my whole self!
Thought for Today: Give me your grace and I am rich!
___________________
Adapted from Mental Prayer, Challenge to the Lay Apostle
by The Queen's Work,(© 1958)
Gospel for Thursday, 4th Week of Easter
From: John 13:16-20
Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet
(Jesus said to His disciples,) [16] "Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. [17] If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. [18] I am not speaking to you all; I know whom I have chosen; it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, `He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.' [19] I tell you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am He. [20] Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives any man whom I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me."
___________________________
Commentary:
15-17. Jesus' whole life was an example of service towards men, fulfilling His Father's will to the point of dying on the Cross. Here our Lord promises us that if we imitate Him, our Teacher, in disinterested service (which always implies sacrifice), we will find true happiness which no one can wrest from us (cf. 16:22; 17:13). "`I have given you an example', He tells His disciples after washing their feet, on the night of the Last Supper. Let us reject from our hearts any pride, any ambition, any desire to dominate; and peace and joy will reign around us and within us, as a consequence of our personal sacrifice" ([St] J. Escriva, "Christ Is Passing By", 94).
18. Lifting one's heel against someone means hitting him brutally; metaphorically, therefore, it means violent enmity. Judas' treachery fulfills the words of Psalm 41:10 where the psalmist complains bitterly of a friend's treachery. Once again the Old Testament prefigures events which find their full _expression in the New.
Through Baptism, the Christian has become a son of God and is called to share in God's good things, not only in Heaven but also on earth: He has received grace, he shares in the Eucharistic Banquet..., he shares with his brethren, other Christians, the friendship of Jesus. Therefore, if a person sins who has been born again through Baptism, in some sense his is a sort of treachery similar to Judas'. However, we have the recourse of repentance: if we trust in God's mercy we can set about recovering our friendship with God.
"React. Listen to what the Holy Spirit tells you: `"Si inimicus meus maledixisset mihi, sustinuissem utique"'. If it were the enemy who insulted me, I could put up with that. But you...`"tu vero homo unanimis, dux meus, et notus meus, qui simul mecum dulces capiebas cibos"': you, My friend, My Apostle, who sit at My table and take sweet food with Me!" ([St] J. Escriva, "The Way", 244).
19. Jesus tells the Apostles in advance about Judas' treachery, so that when they see Christ's predictions come true, they will realize He has divine knowledge and that in Him are fulfilled the Scriptures of the Old Testament (cf. John 2:22). On the words "I am", cf. note on John 8:21-24.
___________________________
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland. Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet
(Jesus said to His disciples,) [16] "Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. [17] If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. [18] I am not speaking to you all; I know whom I have chosen; it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, `He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.' [19] I tell you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am He. [20] Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives any man whom I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me."
___________________________
Commentary:
15-17. Jesus' whole life was an example of service towards men, fulfilling His Father's will to the point of dying on the Cross. Here our Lord promises us that if we imitate Him, our Teacher, in disinterested service (which always implies sacrifice), we will find true happiness which no one can wrest from us (cf. 16:22; 17:13). "`I have given you an example', He tells His disciples after washing their feet, on the night of the Last Supper. Let us reject from our hearts any pride, any ambition, any desire to dominate; and peace and joy will reign around us and within us, as a consequence of our personal sacrifice" ([St] J. Escriva, "Christ Is Passing By", 94).
18. Lifting one's heel against someone means hitting him brutally; metaphorically, therefore, it means violent enmity. Judas' treachery fulfills the words of Psalm 41:10 where the psalmist complains bitterly of a friend's treachery. Once again the Old Testament prefigures events which find their full _expression in the New.
Through Baptism, the Christian has become a son of God and is called to share in God's good things, not only in Heaven but also on earth: He has received grace, he shares in the Eucharistic Banquet..., he shares with his brethren, other Christians, the friendship of Jesus. Therefore, if a person sins who has been born again through Baptism, in some sense his is a sort of treachery similar to Judas'. However, we have the recourse of repentance: if we trust in God's mercy we can set about recovering our friendship with God.
"React. Listen to what the Holy Spirit tells you: `"Si inimicus meus maledixisset mihi, sustinuissem utique"'. If it were the enemy who insulted me, I could put up with that. But you...`"tu vero homo unanimis, dux meus, et notus meus, qui simul mecum dulces capiebas cibos"': you, My friend, My Apostle, who sit at My table and take sweet food with Me!" ([St] J. Escriva, "The Way", 244).
19. Jesus tells the Apostles in advance about Judas' treachery, so that when they see Christ's predictions come true, they will realize He has divine knowledge and that in Him are fulfilled the Scriptures of the Old Testament (cf. John 2:22). On the words "I am", cf. note on John 8:21-24.
___________________________
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland. Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
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