...the evidence now clearly shows that public institutions, including public schools, are among the most common environments for sexual abuse of minors by adults. But under Colorado law, the financial and legal liability for sexual abuse in public schools is drastically reduced. Since two-thirds of children from practicing Catholic families in Colorado attend public schools, this should gravely concern the whole Catholic community.More here...
In January, legislators offered three bills to the Colorado General Assembly that would extend or eliminate the statute of limitations for allowing lawsuits in the sexual abuse of minors. But every one of these bills — House Bill 1088, House Bill 1090 and especially Senate Bill 143 — ignores the serious problem of sexual abuse in public schools and other public institutions, and focuses instead on religious and private organizations. In other words, some Colorado legislators seem determined to be harsh when it comes to Catholic and other private institutions, and much softer when it comes to their own public institutions, including public schools. And it will be families, including Catholic families, who suffer.
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Archbishop Chaput: Bad public policy & bad law
Gospel for Wednesday, 5th Week in Ordinary Time
From: Mark 7:14-23
What Defiles a Man
[14] And He (Jesus) called the people to meet Him, and said to them, "Hear Me, all of you, and understand: [15] there is nothing outside a man which by going into him can defile him; but the things that come out of a man are what defile him." [17] And when He had entered the house, and left the people, His disciples asked Him about the parable. [18] And He said to them, "Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a man from outside cannot defile him, [19] since it enters, not his heart but his stomach, and so passes on?" (Thus He declared all foods clean.) [20] And He said, "What comes out of a man is what defiles a man. [21] For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, fornication, theft, murder, adultery, [22] coveting, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. [23] All these evil things come from within, and they defile a man.
_______________________
Commentary:
15. Some important codexes add here: "If any man has ears to hear, let him hear," which would form verse 16.
18-19. We know from Tradition that St. Mark was the interpreter of St. Peter and that, in writing his Gospel under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he gathered up the Roman catechesis of the head of the Apostles.
The vision which St. Peter had in Joppa (Acts 10:10-16) showed him the full depth of what Jesus teaches here about food. When he returns to Jerusalem, St. Peter himself tells us this in his report on the conversion of Cornelius: "I remembered the word of the Lord" (Acts 11:16). The now non-obligatory character of such prescriptions laid down by God in the Old Testament (cf. Leviticus 11) would have been something St. Peter included in his preaching. For interpretation of this text cf. also note on Matthew 15:10-20.
[Note on Matthew 15:10-20 states:
10-20. Our Lord proclaims the true meaning of moral precepts and makes it clear that man has to answer to God for his actions. The scribes' mistake consisted in concentrating on externals and not giving pride of place to interior purity of heart. For example they saw prayer in terms of exact recital of fixed forms of words rather than as a raising of the soul to God (cf. Matthew 6:5-6). The same thing happened in the case of dietary regulations.
Jesus avails Himself of the particular cases dealt with in this passage to teach us where to find the true center of moral action: it lies in man's personal decision, good or evil, a decision which is shaped in his heart and which then is expressed in the form of action. For example, the sins which our Lord lists are sins committed in the human heart prior to being acted out. In the Sermon on the Mount He already said this: "Every one who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (Matthew 5:28).]
20-23. "In order to help us understand divine things, Scripture uses the _expression `heart' in its full meaning, as the summary and source, _expression and ultimate basis, of one's thoughts, words and actions" ([St] J. Escriva, "Christ Is Passing By", 164).
The goodness or malice, the moral quality, of our actions does not depend on their spontaneous, instinctive character. The Lord Himself tells us that sinful actions can come from the human heart.
We can understand how this can happen if we realize that, after original sin, man "was changed for the worse" in both body and soul and was, therefore, prone to evil (cf. Council of Trent, "De Peccato Originali"). Our Lord here restores morality in all its purity and intensity.
_______________________
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.
What Defiles a Man
[14] And He (Jesus) called the people to meet Him, and said to them, "Hear Me, all of you, and understand: [15] there is nothing outside a man which by going into him can defile him; but the things that come out of a man are what defile him." [17] And when He had entered the house, and left the people, His disciples asked Him about the parable. [18] And He said to them, "Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a man from outside cannot defile him, [19] since it enters, not his heart but his stomach, and so passes on?" (Thus He declared all foods clean.) [20] And He said, "What comes out of a man is what defiles a man. [21] For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, fornication, theft, murder, adultery, [22] coveting, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. [23] All these evil things come from within, and they defile a man.
_______________________
Commentary:
15. Some important codexes add here: "If any man has ears to hear, let him hear," which would form verse 16.
18-19. We know from Tradition that St. Mark was the interpreter of St. Peter and that, in writing his Gospel under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he gathered up the Roman catechesis of the head of the Apostles.
The vision which St. Peter had in Joppa (Acts 10:10-16) showed him the full depth of what Jesus teaches here about food. When he returns to Jerusalem, St. Peter himself tells us this in his report on the conversion of Cornelius: "I remembered the word of the Lord" (Acts 11:16). The now non-obligatory character of such prescriptions laid down by God in the Old Testament (cf. Leviticus 11) would have been something St. Peter included in his preaching. For interpretation of this text cf. also note on Matthew 15:10-20.
[Note on Matthew 15:10-20 states:
10-20. Our Lord proclaims the true meaning of moral precepts and makes it clear that man has to answer to God for his actions. The scribes' mistake consisted in concentrating on externals and not giving pride of place to interior purity of heart. For example they saw prayer in terms of exact recital of fixed forms of words rather than as a raising of the soul to God (cf. Matthew 6:5-6). The same thing happened in the case of dietary regulations.
Jesus avails Himself of the particular cases dealt with in this passage to teach us where to find the true center of moral action: it lies in man's personal decision, good or evil, a decision which is shaped in his heart and which then is expressed in the form of action. For example, the sins which our Lord lists are sins committed in the human heart prior to being acted out. In the Sermon on the Mount He already said this: "Every one who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (Matthew 5:28).]
20-23. "In order to help us understand divine things, Scripture uses the _expression `heart' in its full meaning, as the summary and source, _expression and ultimate basis, of one's thoughts, words and actions" ([St] J. Escriva, "Christ Is Passing By", 164).
The goodness or malice, the moral quality, of our actions does not depend on their spontaneous, instinctive character. The Lord Himself tells us that sinful actions can come from the human heart.
We can understand how this can happen if we realize that, after original sin, man "was changed for the worse" in both body and soul and was, therefore, prone to evil (cf. Council of Trent, "De Peccato Originali"). Our Lord here restores morality in all its purity and intensity.
_______________________
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, February 07, 2006
Archbishop Burke Heads Team to Visit Washington Theological Union
From Rocco Palmo's blog:
Read it here.
HT to Johnna H!
This week, a team headed by Archbishop Raymond Burke of St. Louis will investigate the Washington Theological Union, where most of the professed seminarians who will be ordained for religious orders undertake their studies.Normally I would not link to Rocco's blog, but there are some rather "interesting" comments regarding some of Archbishop Burke's remarks regarding the visitation.
Burke raised some eyebrows with his remarks at WTU during Morning Prayer today, which one witness referred to as "striking."
Read it here.
HT to Johnna H!
Sins Against the Second Commandment
"Lord, save us! we are perishing!" St. Matthew, 8:26.
In the early 1900's Messina, Italy, had the reputation of being an irreligious and sinful city. They had even conducted a blasphemous procession and had given voice to the defiant threat thrown at the Lord:
"Send down an earthquake, if you can."
It is a matter of history that a short time after this wicked and devilish challenge the city of Messina was totally destroyed by an earthquake in the year of 1908. Those people learned, as everyone who breaks the Second Commandment will learn, that God avenges sins against His Holy Name, and that God preaches in a different way than we do.
1. One of the worst sins not only against the Second Commandment, but in the entire catalogue of sin, is blasphemy, which means an expression that is insulting to God, to religion, or to the saints.
In fact, the four great offenses we have mentioned today are against the Second Commandment - blasphemy, cursing, profanity, and perjury. Oh, how the world is clouded with these sins. Like a black breath these sins against God's Holy Name rise to heaven continuously.
To continue blaspheming and cursing and indulging in profanity is to make sure of your damnation. It is like being out on a wild and stormy sea, like the apostles in the Gospel this morning. They cried out: "Lord save us! we are perishing!"
The Catholic with the bad habits of cursing and profanity is perishing. Call out to the Lord today to help you overcome that disgusting habit.
Lord, save us from it. Amen.
_________________________
Adapted from Talks on the Commandments
by Fr. Arthur Tonne
In the early 1900's Messina, Italy, had the reputation of being an irreligious and sinful city. They had even conducted a blasphemous procession and had given voice to the defiant threat thrown at the Lord:
"Send down an earthquake, if you can."
It is a matter of history that a short time after this wicked and devilish challenge the city of Messina was totally destroyed by an earthquake in the year of 1908. Those people learned, as everyone who breaks the Second Commandment will learn, that God avenges sins against His Holy Name, and that God preaches in a different way than we do.
1. One of the worst sins not only against the Second Commandment, but in the entire catalogue of sin, is blasphemy, which means an expression that is insulting to God, to religion, or to the saints.
A. One commits blasphemy by words, gestures, writing, drawing, or by distributing writings insulting to the Lord.2. Cursing means calling down evil upon ourselves or others.
B. Blasphemy is a direct insult to the Lord Himself. It is directly insulting to Him by being against faith, the sacraments, the Mass or some sacred person.
C. It is an extremely serious sin, as we read in the Old Testament. "He that blasphemeth the name of the Lord, dying let him die." Levit. 24 :16. It usually includes hatred or contempt or lack of faith. It is so frightfully sinful because it generally has not the excuse of passion, human weakness, or self-interest, but is cold-blooded and malicious.
D. Frequently expressions which seem to be blasphemous are really not so; they are rather profanity. Again, loss of temper and a weak faith often lead people to say things which they really do not mean.
A. Sometimes it is serious and deliberate, and is like a prayer to God asking Him to bring about some evil. Often the curser only vaguely intends to wish evil to someone, or he wishes to express his anger towards animals or inanimate things.3. Profanity means taking God's name in vain. Here we need to remember the words of Ecclesiasticus, 23: 10: "Let not the naming of God be usual in thy mouth. . . for thou shalt not escape free from sin."
B. It is a sin against love of self and love of neighbor. It is a sin of disrespect toward God and His Holy Name. It is a venial sin when it is due to thoughtlessness or a habit which one is trying to correct, or if it is the cursing of animals or lifeless things. It is a mortal sin when the evil wished is serious, when we think about it, and really mean the curse.
A. Profanity is committed by:4. Even though we previously discussed perjury we would like to emphasize again its wickedness. Perjury means to swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, "so help me God," and then to tell a lie. The perjurer asks God to witness to a lie. Even the civil courts punish one who perjures himself. It is also a serious offense against the law of God.1. Using the name of God without just cause, thoughtlessly, through habit, impatience, surprise, or merely to emphasize a point. Your use of God's name is profane when it does not honor God, or help your neighbor or help you.B. The sinfulness of profanity or using the name of God in vain, depends upon the deliberation, the irreverence intended and the scandal given. Ordinarily profanity is only a venial sin. It becomes serious and a mortal sin when there is deliberate and intentional contempt of God or His Holy Name.
2. Speaking lightly or jokingly of God or holy thing".
3. Using words of Scripture unbecoming to believers, like "damn", "hell," or words that mimic in sound the name of God.
The all-too-common American expression. "Jeez," should be noted here. It sounds exactly like the first part of the Holy Name of Jesus. Anyone who loves the Holy Name and who wants to keep the Second Commandment carefully, ought to avoid that expression, and others like it.
In fact, the four great offenses we have mentioned today are against the Second Commandment - blasphemy, cursing, profanity, and perjury. Oh, how the world is clouded with these sins. Like a black breath these sins against God's Holy Name rise to heaven continuously.
To continue blaspheming and cursing and indulging in profanity is to make sure of your damnation. It is like being out on a wild and stormy sea, like the apostles in the Gospel this morning. They cried out: "Lord save us! we are perishing!"
The Catholic with the bad habits of cursing and profanity is perishing. Call out to the Lord today to help you overcome that disgusting habit.
Lord, save us from it. Amen.
_________________________
Adapted from Talks on the Commandments
by Fr. Arthur Tonne
Unbelievable...
Hot Cross Buns Banned in English School
By Hilary White
IPSWICH, February 7, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The UK’s mania for political correctness has struck again where a school has banned hot cross buns, a traditional sweet pastry associated with Good Friday. A representative of Oaks Primary School in Ipswich, said the buns, which include two strips of decorative icing intersecting in the middle, might offend Jehovah’s Witnesses who attend the school.
Hot cross buns, a spicy currant or raisin studded yeast bun, topped with a "Cross" of lemon-flavored icing, have been a feature of English culture since the Middle Ages.
Compendium of the Catechism Available March 31
WASHINGTON (February 6, 2006) — The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops announced that the new Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, a 200-page synthesis of the 1992 Catechism, will be available starting March 31, 2006. It will be published exclusively by USCCB Publishing, the publishing office of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.At the RECongress in LA - Heterdox City?
USCCB Publishing will launch the Compendium in English and Spanish at the 2006 Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, an annual gathering of over 30,000 parish and diocesan leaders in religious education, adult faith formation, liturgy, and youth ministry. The paperback version will be available first with the hardcover to follow shortly after.
Link
What Bravery Is Instilled in Young Men These Days
ANKARA, TURKEY: Boy is sought in killing of Catholic priest
Source...
A teenage boy fatally shot an Italian Roman Catholic priest [in the back] in a church in the Black Sea port city of Trabzon on Sunday, shouting "God is great" as he escaped, according to police and witnesses.Ah yes...making Mohammed proud!!!
Officers were searching for the boy, about 14 or 15 years old, according to a police official.
Source...
SNAP Wants Cardinal George Sanctioned
A victims' rights group demanded sanctions Friday against Cardinal Francis George and others for the slow response to abuse allegations in the archdiocese.
Members of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests gathered outside the archdiocesan chancery office, also demanded the firing of Catholic school officials who allegedly failed to report allegations of child abuse. In addition, they are seeking reprimands from bodies that audit the archdiocese to ensure it is in compliance with the Catholic bishops' charter.
Blessed Are the Meek: The Life and Martyrdom of a Priest on Mission in Turkey
Fr. Andrea wanted to live in the Middle East “as Jesus lived there, with the humble gift of his life.” They killed him, crying out “Allah is great,” while he prayed
by Sandro Magister
by Sandro Magister
ROMA, February 7, 2006 – He had knelt down to pray shortly before celebrating the Mass in the little Catholic Church of Trabzon, in the north of Turkey, on the Black Sea, when a young man shot him in the back twice with a pistol, crying out “Allah is great.”
This is how Fr. Andrea Santoro, 60, of the diocese of Rome, a missionary in Turkey, was killed on Sunday, February 5.
Nativity-bad; Jewish menorah & Islamic star and crescent-good
From the Thomas More Law Center:
Sharply Divided Court Upholds City's Anti-Christian Ban of Nativity in New York City Public Schools
ANN ARBOR, MI — A sharply divided panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled that it is constitutionally permissible for New York City public schools to ban the display of the Christian nativity during Christmas, while permitting the display of the Jewish menorah and the Islamic star and crescent during Hanukkah and Ramadan.
The legal challenge to this policy was brought by the Thomas More Law Center on behalf of Ms. Andrea Skoros and her two children, who attend public elementary schools in New York.
Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel of the Thomas More Law Center, called the decision another outrageous example of federal courts discriminating against Christians. Said Thompson, “Many federal courts are using the contrived endorsement test to cleanse America of Christianity. This unprincipled test allows judges to impose their ideological views under the pretext of constitutional interpretation. Thus, the majority opinion says it is legitimate to discriminate against Christians in the largest public school system in the country, with over one million students enrolled in its 1200 public schools and programs. This should be a wake-up call for Christians across this nation.”
Judge Straub was equally critical in his dissenting opinion. In his separate and lengthy, 46-page dissent, Judge Straub stated, “It is my view that the policy of the New York City Department of Education to arrange for the children to celebrate the holiday season in schools through the use of displays and activities that include religious symbols of the Jewish holiday of Chanukah and the Muslim commemoration of Ramadan, but starkly exclude any religious symbols of the Christian holiday of Christmas, fails under the [Constitution], both on its face and as applied.”
Judge Straub concluded, “I find it clear that the current policy and displays violate the Establishment Clause insofar as a reasonable student observer would perceive a message of endorsement of Judaism and Islam and a reasonable parent observer would perceive a message that Judaism and Islam are favored and that Christianity is disfavored.”
The policy at issue expressly states that the display of “secular holiday symbol decorations is permitted,” and it lists as examples the menorah and the star and crescent. The policy specifically excludes the display of the Christian nativity scene. The City defended its policy by arguing that the menorah and star and crescent were permissible symbols because they were “secular,” whereas the nativity scene had to be excluded because it was “purely religious.” Even though the majority recognized that the City’s argument was fallacious, stating that the policy “mischaracterizes” these symbols, it still upheld the discriminatory ban on the Christian nativity.
Judge Straub strongly disagreed with the majority, arguing that this aspect of the policy was itself a violation of the Constitution. He noted that the nativity scene or crèche “depicts a historical event and thus, has some non-religious aspects to it.” He concluded that the City’s “action in defining a menorah and star and crescent as secular, and a crèche as ‘purely religious,’ is impermissible insofar as it takes positions on divisive religious issues.”
Robert Muise, the Law Center’s attorney handling the case, commented, “This is a shocking decision and Christians should be outraged by it. We strongly believe that the majority decision is fundamentally flawed, as pointed out by the dissent, and we intend to take this fight to the next level. This battle is far from over.”
Sharply Divided Court Upholds City's Anti-Christian Ban of Nativity in New York City Public Schools
ANN ARBOR, MI — A sharply divided panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled that it is constitutionally permissible for New York City public schools to ban the display of the Christian nativity during Christmas, while permitting the display of the Jewish menorah and the Islamic star and crescent during Hanukkah and Ramadan.
The legal challenge to this policy was brought by the Thomas More Law Center on behalf of Ms. Andrea Skoros and her two children, who attend public elementary schools in New York.
Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel of the Thomas More Law Center, called the decision another outrageous example of federal courts discriminating against Christians. Said Thompson, “Many federal courts are using the contrived endorsement test to cleanse America of Christianity. This unprincipled test allows judges to impose their ideological views under the pretext of constitutional interpretation. Thus, the majority opinion says it is legitimate to discriminate against Christians in the largest public school system in the country, with over one million students enrolled in its 1200 public schools and programs. This should be a wake-up call for Christians across this nation.”
Judge Straub was equally critical in his dissenting opinion. In his separate and lengthy, 46-page dissent, Judge Straub stated, “It is my view that the policy of the New York City Department of Education to arrange for the children to celebrate the holiday season in schools through the use of displays and activities that include religious symbols of the Jewish holiday of Chanukah and the Muslim commemoration of Ramadan, but starkly exclude any religious symbols of the Christian holiday of Christmas, fails under the [Constitution], both on its face and as applied.”
Judge Straub concluded, “I find it clear that the current policy and displays violate the Establishment Clause insofar as a reasonable student observer would perceive a message of endorsement of Judaism and Islam and a reasonable parent observer would perceive a message that Judaism and Islam are favored and that Christianity is disfavored.”
The policy at issue expressly states that the display of “secular holiday symbol decorations is permitted,” and it lists as examples the menorah and the star and crescent. The policy specifically excludes the display of the Christian nativity scene. The City defended its policy by arguing that the menorah and star and crescent were permissible symbols because they were “secular,” whereas the nativity scene had to be excluded because it was “purely religious.” Even though the majority recognized that the City’s argument was fallacious, stating that the policy “mischaracterizes” these symbols, it still upheld the discriminatory ban on the Christian nativity.
Judge Straub strongly disagreed with the majority, arguing that this aspect of the policy was itself a violation of the Constitution. He noted that the nativity scene or crèche “depicts a historical event and thus, has some non-religious aspects to it.” He concluded that the City’s “action in defining a menorah and star and crescent as secular, and a crèche as ‘purely religious,’ is impermissible insofar as it takes positions on divisive religious issues.”
Robert Muise, the Law Center’s attorney handling the case, commented, “This is a shocking decision and Christians should be outraged by it. We strongly believe that the majority decision is fundamentally flawed, as pointed out by the dissent, and we intend to take this fight to the next level. This battle is far from over.”
Gospel for Tuesday, 5th Week in Ordinary Time
From: Mark 7:1-13
The Tradition of the Elders
[1] Now when the Pharisees gathered together to Him (Jesus), with some of the scribes, who had come from Jerusalem, [2] they saw that some of His disciples ate with hands defiled, that is, unwashed. [3] (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they wash their hands, observing the tradition of the elders; [4] and when they come from the market place, they do not eat unless they purify themselves; and there are many other traditions which they observe, the washing of cups and pots and vessels of bronze.) [5] And the Pharisees and the scribes asked Him, "Why do Your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with hands defiled?" [6] And He said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, `This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me; [7] in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.' [8] You leave the commandment of God, and hold fast the tradition of men. [9] And He said to them, "You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God, in order to keep your tradition! [10] For Moses said, "Honor your father and your mother'; and `He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him surely die'; [11] but you say, `If a man tells his father or his mother, What you would have gained from me is Corban' (that is, given to God)--[12] then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, [13] thus making void the word of God through your tradition which you hand on. And many such things you do."
_________________________
Commentary:
1-2. Hands were washed not for reasons of hygiene or good manners but because the custom had religious significance: it was a rite of purification. In Exodus 30:17ff the Law of God laid down how priests should wash before offering sacrifice. Jewish tradition had extended this to all Jews before every meal, in an effort to give meals a religious significance, which was reflected in the blessings which marked the start of meals. Ritual purification was a symbol of the moral purity a person should have when approaching God (Psalm 24:3ff; 51:4 and 9); but the Pharisees had focused on the mere external rite. Therefore Jesus restores the genuine meaning of these precepts of the Law, whose purpose is to teach the right way to render homage to God (cf. John 4:24).
3-5. We can see clearly from this text that very many of those to whom St. Mark's Gospel was first addressed were Christians who had been pagans and were unfamiliar with Jewish customs. The Evangelist explains these customs in some detail, to help them realize the significance of the events and teachings reported in the Gospel story.
Similarly, Sacred Scripture needs to be preached and taught in a way which puts it within reach of its hearers. This is why Vatican II teaches that "it is for the bishops suitable to instruct the faithful [...] by giving them translations of the sacred texts which are equipped with necessary and really adequate explanations. Thus the children of the Church can familiarize themselves safely and profitably with the Sacred Scriptures, and become steeped in their spirit" ("Dei Verbum", 25).
11-13. For an explanation of this text cf. note on Mt. 15:5-6. Jesus Christ, who is the authentic interpreter of the Law, because as God He is its author, explains the scope of the fourth commandment and points out the mistakes made by the Jewish casuistry. There were many other occasions when He corrected mistaken interpretations offered by the Jewish teachers: for example, when He recalls that phrase of the Old Testament, "Go and learn what this means, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice" (Hosea 6:6, 1 Samuel 15:22; Sirach 35:4) in Matthew 9:13.
[The note on Matthew 15:5-6 states:
5-6. Over the years teachers of the Law (scribes) and priests of the temple had distorted the true meaning of the fourth commandment. In Jesus' time, they were saying that people who contributed to the temple in cash or in kind were absolved from supporting their parents: it would be sacrilegious for parents to lay claim to this "corban" (offerings for the altar). People educated in this kind of thinking felt that they were keeping the fourth commandment--in fact, fulfilling it in the best way possible--and they were praised for their piety by the religious leaders of the nation. But what in fact it meant was that, under the cloak of piety, they were leaving elderly parents to fend for themselves. Jesus, who is Messiah and God, is the one who can correctly interpret the Law. Here He explains the proper scope of the fourth commandment, exposing the error of Jewish practice at the time.
For Christians, therefore, the fourth commandment includes affectionate help of parents if they are old or needy, even if one has other family, social or religious obligations to attend to. Children should check regularly on whether they are looking after their parents properly.]
______________________
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 Tradition of the Elders
[1] Now when the Pharisees gathered together to Him (Jesus), with some of the scribes, who had come from Jerusalem, [2] they saw that some of His disciples ate with hands defiled, that is, unwashed. [3] (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they wash their hands, observing the tradition of the elders; [4] and when they come from the market place, they do not eat unless they purify themselves; and there are many other traditions which they observe, the washing of cups and pots and vessels of bronze.) [5] And the Pharisees and the scribes asked Him, "Why do Your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with hands defiled?" [6] And He said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, `This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me; [7] in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.' [8] You leave the commandment of God, and hold fast the tradition of men. [9] And He said to them, "You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God, in order to keep your tradition! [10] For Moses said, "Honor your father and your mother'; and `He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him surely die'; [11] but you say, `If a man tells his father or his mother, What you would have gained from me is Corban' (that is, given to God)--[12] then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, [13] thus making void the word of God through your tradition which you hand on. And many such things you do."
_________________________
Commentary:
1-2. Hands were washed not for reasons of hygiene or good manners but because the custom had religious significance: it was a rite of purification. In Exodus 30:17ff the Law of God laid down how priests should wash before offering sacrifice. Jewish tradition had extended this to all Jews before every meal, in an effort to give meals a religious significance, which was reflected in the blessings which marked the start of meals. Ritual purification was a symbol of the moral purity a person should have when approaching God (Psalm 24:3ff; 51:4 and 9); but the Pharisees had focused on the mere external rite. Therefore Jesus restores the genuine meaning of these precepts of the Law, whose purpose is to teach the right way to render homage to God (cf. John 4:24).
3-5. We can see clearly from this text that very many of those to whom St. Mark's Gospel was first addressed were Christians who had been pagans and were unfamiliar with Jewish customs. The Evangelist explains these customs in some detail, to help them realize the significance of the events and teachings reported in the Gospel story.
Similarly, Sacred Scripture needs to be preached and taught in a way which puts it within reach of its hearers. This is why Vatican II teaches that "it is for the bishops suitable to instruct the faithful [...] by giving them translations of the sacred texts which are equipped with necessary and really adequate explanations. Thus the children of the Church can familiarize themselves safely and profitably with the Sacred Scriptures, and become steeped in their spirit" ("Dei Verbum", 25).
11-13. For an explanation of this text cf. note on Mt. 15:5-6. Jesus Christ, who is the authentic interpreter of the Law, because as God He is its author, explains the scope of the fourth commandment and points out the mistakes made by the Jewish casuistry. There were many other occasions when He corrected mistaken interpretations offered by the Jewish teachers: for example, when He recalls that phrase of the Old Testament, "Go and learn what this means, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice" (Hosea 6:6, 1 Samuel 15:22; Sirach 35:4) in Matthew 9:13.
[The note on Matthew 15:5-6 states:
5-6. Over the years teachers of the Law (scribes) and priests of the temple had distorted the true meaning of the fourth commandment. In Jesus' time, they were saying that people who contributed to the temple in cash or in kind were absolved from supporting their parents: it would be sacrilegious for parents to lay claim to this "corban" (offerings for the altar). People educated in this kind of thinking felt that they were keeping the fourth commandment--in fact, fulfilling it in the best way possible--and they were praised for their piety by the religious leaders of the nation. But what in fact it meant was that, under the cloak of piety, they were leaving elderly parents to fend for themselves. Jesus, who is Messiah and God, is the one who can correctly interpret the Law. Here He explains the proper scope of the fourth commandment, exposing the error of Jewish practice at the time.
For Christians, therefore, the fourth commandment includes affectionate help of parents if they are old or needy, even if one has other family, social or religious obligations to attend to. Children should check regularly on whether they are looking after their parents properly.]
______________________
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.
Monday, February 06, 2006
Rzeppa to head St. Vincent de Paul Society
Zip Rzeppa was a television sportscaster and has run for public office, but he may be tackling his biggest challenge yet with his new job.
Rzeppa has been named executive director of the St. Louis Metropolitan Council of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, a Catholic community assistance organization. He took over the position Jan. 19.
Even 'sick or damaged' life must be defended, Pope tells faithful
In a strong condemnation of abortion, Pope Benedict XVI urged the faithful on Sunday to develop a new respect for life, even when it is "sick or damaged."
In marking the Italian Catholic Church's "Day for Life," Benedict stressed the need to protect all human life.
The pontiff cited the 1995 encyclical "Evangelium Vitae," in which Pope John Paul II delivered the Vatican's most forceful condemnation of abortion, artificial contraception, euthanasia and experimentation on human embryos.
Benedict told pilgrims and tourists in St. Peter's Square: "We know well that this truth risks being contradicted by the hedonism of the so-called well-off societies: Life is exalted as long as it's pleasant, but one tends to not respect it any more when it is sick or damaged."
Fr Andrea Santoro, a martyr for the third millennium
Fundamentalism among assassin's motives: the killer shouted "Allah akhbar, Allah is great!" But it could also be revenge by mafia controlling prostitution.
Ankara (AsiaNews) - Grief, but also "recognition", in the thoughts of the Vatican's nuncio in Ankara for the sacrifice of Fr Andrea Santoro, a "fidei donum" priest killed this afternoon in the Saint Mary Church of Trebizond (Trabzon in Turkish), nothern Turkey. Contacted by telephone, Monsignor Antonio Lucibello, who took up his post as nuncio just over a month ago, told AsiaNews: "This is a source of great sorrow, but also a great recognition for this priest from the diocese of Rome who had committed himself to missionary work. During the Great Jubilee we often had martyrdom mentioned as the Church's keynote. Fr Andrea is a new martyr for this millennium. Let us hope that his blood is the seed for new Christians. Fr Andrea was a missionary just like Saint Paul who says: My duty is to evangelize."
Representations Offensive to the Religious Sentiments
VATICAN CITY, FEB 4 2006 (VIS) - In response to several requests for the Holy See's position vis-à-vis recent representations offensive to the religious sentiments of individuals and entire communities, the Vatican press office states:While I believe that some people we be offended no matter what, one should not deliberately attempt to offend another because of his religion. However, it seems to me that violent criminal reactions and behavior to cartoons are much worse than "equally deplorable"...
"1. The right to freedom of thought and expression, sanctioned by the Declaration of the Rights of Man, cannot imply the right to offend the religious sentiments of believers. This principle obviously applies for any religion.
2. In addition, coexistence calls for a climate of mutual respect favoring peace among men and nations. Moreover, these kinds of exasperated criticisms or derision of others manifest a lack of human sensitivity and may constitute in some cases an inadmissible provocation. A reading of history shows that wounds existing in the life of a people are not healed in this way.
3. However, it must be said immediately that the offenses caused by an individual or a member of the press cannot be imputed to the public institutions of the corresponding country, whose authorities might and should intervene eventually, according to the principles of national legislation. Therefore, violent actions of protest are equally deplorable. Reaction in the face of offense cannot fail the true spirit of all religion. Real or verbal intolerance, no matter where it comes from, whether as action or reaction, is always a serious threat to peace."
Who would like to bet that those starting fires and engaging in other illegal criminal acts of violence over some cartoons are not fanatical or crazed "Religion of Peace" Mohammedans proclaiming their disgust and outrage but covert Christians and Jews who have infiltrated the ranks of Islamofacism - all in an effort to sway public opinion...I mean, why accept any responsibility for ones own criminal, frenzied and psychotic behavior? Surely, it's always someone elses fault...
I suppose they haven't seen or read Jack Chick's tracts yet?
So far it seems that some Danish imams distributed booklets that showed, in addition to the original 12 cartoons, three fraudulent anti-Mohammed pictures that were much more offensive than the ones published in Denmark. Some think that these three unpublish images are what ignited the outrage in the Muslim world.
The End of a Taboo: Even Romano Amerio Is “A True Christian”
Amerio was the leading figure of the traditionalist opposition in the Church of the twentieth century, and was punished for this through a general ostracism. But now it turns out that his central thesis is the same as that of Benedict XVI – who wants to make peace with the Lefebvrists
By Sandro Magister
By Sandro Magister
ROMA, February 6, 2006 – For the morning of Monday, February 13, Benedict XVI has scheduled a meeting of the cardinal prefects of the Vatican congregations in order to decide two questions: the lifting of the sentence of excommunication against the followers of archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, and the widening of the permission to celebrate the Mass in Latin according to the rite established by the Council of Trent.Continued...
Benedict XVI has already taken two important steps toward the correction of these irregularities.
On August 29, at Castelgandolfo, he received the two principal leaders of the Lefebvrist Fraternity, Bernard Fellay and Franz Schmidberger, “in an atmosphere of love for the Church and of the desire to arrive at perfect communion.”
On December 22, in his pre-Christmas address to the Vatican curia, he made an interpretation of Vatican Council II that took into account the seriousness of some of the criticisms advanced by the traditionalists. In particular, the pope wanted to reassure them that the conciliar decree on religious liberty does not have to be understood as a surrender to relativism.
Gospel for Feb 6, Memorial: St. Paul Miki, Martyr, & His Companions, Martyrs
From: Mark 6:53-56
Cures at Gennesaret
[53] And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret, and moored to the shore. [54] And when they got out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him (Jesus), [55] and ran about the whole neighborhood and began to bring sick people on their pallets to any place where they heard He was. [56] And wherever He came in, in villages, cities, or country, they laid the sick in the market places, and besought Him that they might touch even the fringe of His garment; and as many as touched it were made well.
______________________
Commentary:
None.
______________________
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.
Cures at Gennesaret
[53] And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret, and moored to the shore. [54] And when they got out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him (Jesus), [55] and ran about the whole neighborhood and began to bring sick people on their pallets to any place where they heard He was. [56] And wherever He came in, in villages, cities, or country, they laid the sick in the market places, and besought Him that they might touch even the fringe of His garment; and as many as touched it were made well.
______________________
Commentary:
None.
______________________
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, February 05, 2006
Baptismal Sponsors
"Go, show thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a witness to them." St. Matthew, 8:10.
Back in the 1920's a mere boy was crowned king. Though only eight years old, Prince Michael was crowned king of Bulgaria to succeed his deceased father. As Michael was not old enough to rule, his mother, the queen, ruled for him. To help take care of her son's domain she appointed a guardian or regent. In case of the queen mother's death this regent was to have full powers until the young king came of age.
The sponsor at Baptism is like this regent. He governs in place of another. Every baptized person inherits a kingdom, the kingdom of heaven. Does not God then make us His sons and daughters? But, if a child cannot manage an earthly kingdom, much less can a mere boy or girl manage a heavenly kingdom. Just as King Michael needed a governor until he came of age, so the baptized child, heir of the kingdom of heaven, needs a gover-. nor until it can take care of its own spiritual possessions. We call such a governor a sponsor or godparent.
Though the Bible does not mention sponsors, we find them already in early Christian times. They were always necessary, but especially during the early persecutions. In those days there was constant danger that parents would be martyred, and that the children would fall back into paganism. Godparents were absolutely necessary to take care of these orphaned Catholic children.
Sponsors are just as necessary today. We, too, live in a time of persecution, not bloody persecution, but an under-handed, serpent-like sort of attack. The Romans cried: "The Christians to the lions." Today the enemies of Christ cry out: "The Christians to the lions - the lions of impurity and greed, the lions of injustice and pride." In the newspaper, at the theater, over the radio, and in godless schools we meet these lions. To protect us from them the Church has sponsors.
As you know, sponsors are those persons who present the child to be baptized. In the name of the child they make a profession of faith. They take upon themselves the duty of seeing to the spiritual needs of the little one. After birth an infant needs a nurse to take care of its body. After spiritual birth a child needs a sponsor to take care of its soul. Primarily this duty belongs to parents. Should they die, or be unable or unwilling to take spiritual care of their offspring, the duty falls upon the sponsors. They must help the child keep its baptismal promises, help the child learn his prayers and catechism, and see that he attends a Catholic school.
To be sponsor is an honor. Allow me to repeat some of the requirements for those who receive this honor. A sponsor must have the use of reason and be a member of the Church in good standing. He must be old enough for the responsibility. He should not be the father or mother, husband or wife of the one baptized. The priest or the parents must appoint the godparents, who, to show their acceptance, hold or touch the infant during the ceremony. Sponsors should know something about the Catholic faith.
Only Catholics can be sponsors, because only a Catholic can carry on the instruction of the child in its Catholic faith. In most cases a priest will permit a nonCatholic relative to stand by, but in every case the official sponsors must be Catholic.
During the ceremony they answer for the child. They recite the Apostles' Creed and the Our Father. They hold, or at least touch the child, at the pouring of the water and saying of the words. These great honors bring great responsibilities.
Should the parents die or neglect their Christian duty, the sponsors are to look after the Catholic education of their charge.
In general godparents do not have a great deal to do with the training of their godchildren. The parents take care of it. However, I would make two suggestions: Pray every day for your godchild. Secondly, when financially able godparents should occasionally give some religious gift to their spiritual children. This gift may be a prayer-book, Rosary, a subscription to some good Catholic magazine, or a Catholic book like "The Lives of the Saints," which can be obtained in editions adapted to young people.
In most parishes it is customary for the sponsors to offer a little gift to the priest on the occasion of a Baptism. This is generally done after the ceremony is over. If your gift takes the form of money, I suggest that it be enclosed in an envelope and quietly offered. In this matter there is a wide range of practice. Follow the custom that prevails in your parish. Offering something is a fine gesture of appreciation.
To all of you who ever have been sponsors, and who ever will be sponsors, I say: Take your duties seriously. Realize your responsibility. You are the special guardians and protectors of those who have inherited a kingdom. Help your charges arrive at their kingdom. Amen.
_____________________
Adapted from "Talks on the Sacraments" (1947)
by Fr. Arthur Tonne, OFM
Back in the 1920's a mere boy was crowned king. Though only eight years old, Prince Michael was crowned king of Bulgaria to succeed his deceased father. As Michael was not old enough to rule, his mother, the queen, ruled for him. To help take care of her son's domain she appointed a guardian or regent. In case of the queen mother's death this regent was to have full powers until the young king came of age.
The sponsor at Baptism is like this regent. He governs in place of another. Every baptized person inherits a kingdom, the kingdom of heaven. Does not God then make us His sons and daughters? But, if a child cannot manage an earthly kingdom, much less can a mere boy or girl manage a heavenly kingdom. Just as King Michael needed a governor until he came of age, so the baptized child, heir of the kingdom of heaven, needs a gover-. nor until it can take care of its own spiritual possessions. We call such a governor a sponsor or godparent.
Though the Bible does not mention sponsors, we find them already in early Christian times. They were always necessary, but especially during the early persecutions. In those days there was constant danger that parents would be martyred, and that the children would fall back into paganism. Godparents were absolutely necessary to take care of these orphaned Catholic children.
Sponsors are just as necessary today. We, too, live in a time of persecution, not bloody persecution, but an under-handed, serpent-like sort of attack. The Romans cried: "The Christians to the lions." Today the enemies of Christ cry out: "The Christians to the lions - the lions of impurity and greed, the lions of injustice and pride." In the newspaper, at the theater, over the radio, and in godless schools we meet these lions. To protect us from them the Church has sponsors.
As you know, sponsors are those persons who present the child to be baptized. In the name of the child they make a profession of faith. They take upon themselves the duty of seeing to the spiritual needs of the little one. After birth an infant needs a nurse to take care of its body. After spiritual birth a child needs a sponsor to take care of its soul. Primarily this duty belongs to parents. Should they die, or be unable or unwilling to take spiritual care of their offspring, the duty falls upon the sponsors. They must help the child keep its baptismal promises, help the child learn his prayers and catechism, and see that he attends a Catholic school.
To be sponsor is an honor. Allow me to repeat some of the requirements for those who receive this honor. A sponsor must have the use of reason and be a member of the Church in good standing. He must be old enough for the responsibility. He should not be the father or mother, husband or wife of the one baptized. The priest or the parents must appoint the godparents, who, to show their acceptance, hold or touch the infant during the ceremony. Sponsors should know something about the Catholic faith.
Only Catholics can be sponsors, because only a Catholic can carry on the instruction of the child in its Catholic faith. In most cases a priest will permit a nonCatholic relative to stand by, but in every case the official sponsors must be Catholic.
During the ceremony they answer for the child. They recite the Apostles' Creed and the Our Father. They hold, or at least touch the child, at the pouring of the water and saying of the words. These great honors bring great responsibilities.
Should the parents die or neglect their Christian duty, the sponsors are to look after the Catholic education of their charge.
In general godparents do not have a great deal to do with the training of their godchildren. The parents take care of it. However, I would make two suggestions: Pray every day for your godchild. Secondly, when financially able godparents should occasionally give some religious gift to their spiritual children. This gift may be a prayer-book, Rosary, a subscription to some good Catholic magazine, or a Catholic book like "The Lives of the Saints," which can be obtained in editions adapted to young people.
In most parishes it is customary for the sponsors to offer a little gift to the priest on the occasion of a Baptism. This is generally done after the ceremony is over. If your gift takes the form of money, I suggest that it be enclosed in an envelope and quietly offered. In this matter there is a wide range of practice. Follow the custom that prevails in your parish. Offering something is a fine gesture of appreciation.
To all of you who ever have been sponsors, and who ever will be sponsors, I say: Take your duties seriously. Realize your responsibility. You are the special guardians and protectors of those who have inherited a kingdom. Help your charges arrive at their kingdom. Amen.
_____________________
Adapted from "Talks on the Sacraments" (1947)
by Fr. Arthur Tonne, OFM
Gospel for the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time
From: Mark 1:29-39
The Curing of Peter's Mother-In-Law
[29] And immediately He (Jesus) left the synagogue, and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. [30] Now Simon's mother-in-law lay sick with a fever, and immediately they told Him of her. [31] And He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her; and she served them.
Jesus Cures Many Sick People
[32] That evening, at sundown, they brought to Him all who were sick or possessed with demons. [33] And the whole city was gathered together about the door. [34] And He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew Him.
Jesus Goes To a Lonely Place To Pray
[35] And in the morning, a great while before day, He rose and went out to a lonely place, and there He prayed. [36] And Simon and those who were with Him followed Him, [37] and they found Him and said to Him, "Everyone is searching for you." [38] And He said to them, "Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also; for that is why I came out." [39] And He went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.
________________________
Commentary:
34. Demons possess a supernatural type of knowledge and therefore they recognize Jesus as the Messiah (Mark 1:24). Through the people they possess they are able to publish this fact. But Our Lord, using His divine powers, orders them to be silent. On other occasions He also silences His disciples (Mark 8:30; 9:9), and He instructs people whom He has cured not to talk about their cure (Mark 1:4; 5:43; 7:36; 8:26). He may have acted in this way to educate the people away from a too human and political idea of the Messiah (Matthew 9:30). Therefore, He first awakens their interest by performing miracles and gradually, through His preaching, gives them a clearer understanding of the kind of Messiah He is.
Some Fathers of the Church point out that Jesus does not want to accept, in support of the truth, the testimony of him who is the father of lies.
35. Many passages of the New Testament make reference to Jesus praying. The evangelists point to Him praying only on specially important occasions during His public ministry: Baptism (Luke 3:1), the choosing of the Twelve (Luke 6:12), the first multiplication of the loaves (Mark 6:46), the Transfiguration (Luke 9:29), in the garden of Gethsemane prior to His passion (Matthew 26:39) etc. Mark for his part, refers to Jesus' prayer at three solemn moments: at the beginning of His public ministry (1:35), in the middle of it (6:46), and at the end, in Gethsemane (14:32).
Jesus' prayer is prayer of perfect praise to the Father; it is prayer of petition for Himself and for us; and it also a model for His disciples. It is a prayer of perfect praise and thanksgiving because He is God's beloved Son in whom the Father is well pleased (cf. Mark 1:11). It is a prayer of petition because the first spontaneous movement of a soul who recognizes God as Father is to ask Him for things. Jesus' prayer, as we see in very many passages (e.g. John 17:9ff) was a continuous petition to the Father for the work of redemption which He, Jesus, had to achieve through prayer and sacrifice.
Our Lord wants to give us an example of the kind of attitude a Christian should have; he should make a habit of addressing God as son to Father in the midst of and through his everyday activities--work, family life, personal relationships, apostolate--so as to give his life a genuinely Christian meaning, for, as Jesus will point out later on, "apart from Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5).
"You write: `To pray is to talk with God. But about what?' About what? About Him, about yourself: joys, sorrows, successes and failures, noble ambitions, daily worries, weaknesses! And acts of thanksgiving and petitions: and love and reparation. In a word: to get to know Him and to get to know yourself: `to get acquainted!'" ([St] J. Escriva, "The Way").
38. Jesus tells us here that His mission is to preach, to spread the Good News. He was sent for this purpose (Luke 4:43). The Apostles, in turn, were chosen by Jesus to be preachers (Mark 3:14; 16:15). Preaching is the method selected by God to effect salvation: "it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe" (1 Corinthians 1:21). This is why St. Paul says to Timothy: "Preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, and exhort, be unfailing in patience and teaching" (2 Timothy 4:1-2). Faith comes from hearing, we are told in Romans 10:17, where St. Paul enthusiastically quotes Isaiah: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach good news!" (Romans 10:15; Isaiah 52:7).
The Church identifies preaching the Gospel as one of the main tasks of bishops and priests. St. Pius X went so far as saying that "for a priest there is no duty more grave or obligation more binding (to dispel ignorance)" ("Acerbo Nimis"). In this connection Vatican II states: "The people of God is formed into one in the first place by the Word of the living God (cf. 1 Peter 1:23; Acts 6:7; 12:24), which is quite rightly sought from the mouths of priests (2 Corinthians 11:7).
For since nobody can be saved who has not first believed (Mark 16:16), it is the first task of priests as co-workers of the bishops to preach the Gospel of God to all men (2 Corinthians 11:7). In this way they carry out the Lord's command `Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature' (Mark 16:15) (cf. Malachi 2:7; 1 Timothy 4:11-13; etc.) and thus set up and increase the people of God" ("Presbyterorum Ordinis").
Jesus' preaching is not just limited to words: He backs up His teaching with His authority and with deeds. The Church also has been sent to preach salvation and to effect the work of salvation which it proclaims--a work done through the Sacraments and especially through the renewal of the sacrifice of Calvary in the Mass (Vatican II, "Sacrosanctum Concilium", 6).
In the Church of God all of us should listen devoutly to the preaching of the Gospel and we all should feel a responsibility to spread the Gospel by our words and actions. It is the responsibility of the hierarchy of the Church to teach the Gospel authentically--on the authority of Christ.
_________________________
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 Curing of Peter's Mother-In-Law
[29] And immediately He (Jesus) left the synagogue, and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. [30] Now Simon's mother-in-law lay sick with a fever, and immediately they told Him of her. [31] And He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her; and she served them.
Jesus Cures Many Sick People
[32] That evening, at sundown, they brought to Him all who were sick or possessed with demons. [33] And the whole city was gathered together about the door. [34] And He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew Him.
Jesus Goes To a Lonely Place To Pray
[35] And in the morning, a great while before day, He rose and went out to a lonely place, and there He prayed. [36] And Simon and those who were with Him followed Him, [37] and they found Him and said to Him, "Everyone is searching for you." [38] And He said to them, "Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also; for that is why I came out." [39] And He went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.
________________________
Commentary:
34. Demons possess a supernatural type of knowledge and therefore they recognize Jesus as the Messiah (Mark 1:24). Through the people they possess they are able to publish this fact. But Our Lord, using His divine powers, orders them to be silent. On other occasions He also silences His disciples (Mark 8:30; 9:9), and He instructs people whom He has cured not to talk about their cure (Mark 1:4; 5:43; 7:36; 8:26). He may have acted in this way to educate the people away from a too human and political idea of the Messiah (Matthew 9:30). Therefore, He first awakens their interest by performing miracles and gradually, through His preaching, gives them a clearer understanding of the kind of Messiah He is.
Some Fathers of the Church point out that Jesus does not want to accept, in support of the truth, the testimony of him who is the father of lies.
35. Many passages of the New Testament make reference to Jesus praying. The evangelists point to Him praying only on specially important occasions during His public ministry: Baptism (Luke 3:1), the choosing of the Twelve (Luke 6:12), the first multiplication of the loaves (Mark 6:46), the Transfiguration (Luke 9:29), in the garden of Gethsemane prior to His passion (Matthew 26:39) etc. Mark for his part, refers to Jesus' prayer at three solemn moments: at the beginning of His public ministry (1:35), in the middle of it (6:46), and at the end, in Gethsemane (14:32).
Jesus' prayer is prayer of perfect praise to the Father; it is prayer of petition for Himself and for us; and it also a model for His disciples. It is a prayer of perfect praise and thanksgiving because He is God's beloved Son in whom the Father is well pleased (cf. Mark 1:11). It is a prayer of petition because the first spontaneous movement of a soul who recognizes God as Father is to ask Him for things. Jesus' prayer, as we see in very many passages (e.g. John 17:9ff) was a continuous petition to the Father for the work of redemption which He, Jesus, had to achieve through prayer and sacrifice.
Our Lord wants to give us an example of the kind of attitude a Christian should have; he should make a habit of addressing God as son to Father in the midst of and through his everyday activities--work, family life, personal relationships, apostolate--so as to give his life a genuinely Christian meaning, for, as Jesus will point out later on, "apart from Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5).
"You write: `To pray is to talk with God. But about what?' About what? About Him, about yourself: joys, sorrows, successes and failures, noble ambitions, daily worries, weaknesses! And acts of thanksgiving and petitions: and love and reparation. In a word: to get to know Him and to get to know yourself: `to get acquainted!'" ([St] J. Escriva, "The Way").
38. Jesus tells us here that His mission is to preach, to spread the Good News. He was sent for this purpose (Luke 4:43). The Apostles, in turn, were chosen by Jesus to be preachers (Mark 3:14; 16:15). Preaching is the method selected by God to effect salvation: "it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe" (1 Corinthians 1:21). This is why St. Paul says to Timothy: "Preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, and exhort, be unfailing in patience and teaching" (2 Timothy 4:1-2). Faith comes from hearing, we are told in Romans 10:17, where St. Paul enthusiastically quotes Isaiah: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach good news!" (Romans 10:15; Isaiah 52:7).
The Church identifies preaching the Gospel as one of the main tasks of bishops and priests. St. Pius X went so far as saying that "for a priest there is no duty more grave or obligation more binding (to dispel ignorance)" ("Acerbo Nimis"). In this connection Vatican II states: "The people of God is formed into one in the first place by the Word of the living God (cf. 1 Peter 1:23; Acts 6:7; 12:24), which is quite rightly sought from the mouths of priests (2 Corinthians 11:7).
For since nobody can be saved who has not first believed (Mark 16:16), it is the first task of priests as co-workers of the bishops to preach the Gospel of God to all men (2 Corinthians 11:7). In this way they carry out the Lord's command `Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature' (Mark 16:15) (cf. Malachi 2:7; 1 Timothy 4:11-13; etc.) and thus set up and increase the people of God" ("Presbyterorum Ordinis").
Jesus' preaching is not just limited to words: He backs up His teaching with His authority and with deeds. The Church also has been sent to preach salvation and to effect the work of salvation which it proclaims--a work done through the Sacraments and especially through the renewal of the sacrifice of Calvary in the Mass (Vatican II, "Sacrosanctum Concilium", 6).
In the Church of God all of us should listen devoutly to the preaching of the Gospel and we all should feel a responsibility to spread the Gospel by our words and actions. It is the responsibility of the hierarchy of the Church to teach the Gospel authentically--on the authority of Christ.
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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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