Who has a stronger conflict than he who strives to overcome himself?
-Bk. I, ch. iii.
Such a one is conqueror of himself and lord of the world, a friend of Christ, and an heir of Heaven..
-Bk. II, ch. iii.
_______________
There is a striking passage on bodily penance in the Life of Bl. Henry Suso. He had ruined his health by the appalling penances he inflicted on himself, when an angel appeared and bade him cease, saying: "All this time you have fought as a common soldier; you shall now be made a knight," thus teaching the holy man that the spiritual combat was more sublime than "bodily mortification.
God has never let me fight as a common soldier; from the very beginning I was made a knight, and set out on a spiritual campaign against myself, by self-denial and little, unknown sacrifices. I have found peace and humility in this hidden struggle where human nature can find no satisfaction.
-Letters.
__________________
For more information, see this post.
Adapted from Just For Today(©1943 Burns & Oates)
Nihil Obstat: Reginaldus Phillips, S.T.L.,Censor deputatus
Imprimatur: Edwardus Myers, Vic. Cap.
Saturday, June 07, 2008
Thoughts and Counsels - June 8
You propose to give up everything to God; be sure, then, to include yourself among the things to be given up.
-St. Benedict.
________________________
From Mary, Help of Christians
Part VI, Thoughts and Counsels of the Saints for Every Day of the Year
Compiled by Fr. Bonaventure Hammer, OFM (© 1909, Benziger Brothers)
-St. Benedict.
________________________
From Mary, Help of Christians
Part VI, Thoughts and Counsels of the Saints for Every Day of the Year
Compiled by Fr. Bonaventure Hammer, OFM (© 1909, Benziger Brothers)
Meditation for June 8, I Belong to God
Without doubt I know in theory that I depend upon God absolutely, totally, fundamentally. I am God's property.
Of myself I am nothing. There was a time when I did not exist. Whatever I have, I hold not of myself, but in God. He is my creator. Why did He who saw before Him the farthermost depths of eternity, the innumerable and invisible throng of souls that He might bring into being, create me? From among that countless number of souls that He was free to call into existence or leave uncreated as He willed, why did the Lord choose me, neglecting the millions of others? Why did He draw me forth from that immense crowd of potential beings?
I consider all this, but I reason about it theoretically. Am I sufficiently convinced of it in practice? Do I sense my absolute, continual dependence upon God? Is my life permeated with the thought of it?
I shall often come back to this thought as does the Psalmist:
Adapted from Meditations for Religious
by Father Raoul Plus, S.J. (© 1939, Frederick Pustet Co.)
Of myself I am nothing. There was a time when I did not exist. Whatever I have, I hold not of myself, but in God. He is my creator. Why did He who saw before Him the farthermost depths of eternity, the innumerable and invisible throng of souls that He might bring into being, create me? From among that countless number of souls that He was free to call into existence or leave uncreated as He willed, why did the Lord choose me, neglecting the millions of others? Why did He draw me forth from that immense crowd of potential beings?
I consider all this, but I reason about it theoretically. Am I sufficiently convinced of it in practice? Do I sense my absolute, continual dependence upon God? Is my life permeated with the thought of it?
I shall often come back to this thought as does the Psalmist:
Lord, thou hast proved me, and known me: thou hast known my sitting down, and my rising up._________________
Thou hast understood my thoughts afar off: my path and my line thou hast searched out.
And thou hast foreseen all my ways: for there is no speech in my tongue.
Behold, O Lord, thou hast known all things, the last and those of old: thou hast formed me, and hast laid thy hand upon me.
Thy knowledge is become wonderful to me: it is high, and I cannot reach to it.
Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy face?
If I ascend into heaven, thou art there: if I descend into hell, thou art present.
If I take my wings early in the morning, and dwell in the utter most parts of the sea:
Even there also shall thy hand lead me: and thy right hand shall hold me. (Psalm 138, 1-10.)
Adapted from Meditations for Religious
by Father Raoul Plus, S.J. (© 1939, Frederick Pustet Co.)
Gospel for Saturday, 9th Week in Ordinary Time
First Saturday
_________________
From: Mark 12:38-44
Jesus Censures the Scribes
[38] And in His (Jesus') teaching He said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to go about in long robes, and to have salutations in the market places [39] and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, [40] who devour widow's houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation."
The Widow's Mite
[41] And He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the multitude putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. [42] And a poor widow came, and put in two copper coins, which make a penny. [43] And He called His disciples to Him, and said to them, "Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. [44] For they all contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, her whole living."
_________________________
Commentary:
38-40. Our Lord reproves disordered desire for human honors: "We should notice that salutations in the marketplace are not forbidden, nor people taking the best seats if that befits their position; rather, the faithful are warned to avoid, as they would evil men, those who set too much store by such honors" (St. Bede, "In Marci Evangelium Expositio, in loc."). See also notes on Matthew 23:2-3, 5, 11 and 14.
41-44. Our Lord uses this little event to teach us the importance of things which apparently are insignificant. He puts it somewhat paradoxically; the poor widow has contributed more than all the rich. In God's sight the value of such an action lies more in upright intention and generosity of spirit than in the quantity one gives. "Didn't you see the light in Jesus' eyes as the poor widow left her little alms in the temple? Give Him what you can: the merit is not in whether it is big or small, but in the intention with which you give it" ([St] J. Escriva, "The Way", 829).
By the same token, our actions are pleasing to God even if they are not as perfect as we would like. St. Francis de Sales comments: "Now as among the treasures of the temple, the poor widow's mite was much esteemed, so the least little good works, even though performed somewhat coldly and not according to the whole extent of the charity which is in us, are agreeable to God, and esteemed by Him; so that though of themselves they cannot cause and increase in the existing love [...] yet Divine Providence, counting on them and, out of His goodness, valuing them, forthwith rewards them with increase in charity for the present, and assigns to them a greater Heavenly glory for the future" (St. Francis de Sales, "Treatise on the Love of God", Book 3, Chapter 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.
_________________
From: Mark 12:38-44
Jesus Censures the Scribes
[38] And in His (Jesus') teaching He said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to go about in long robes, and to have salutations in the market places [39] and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, [40] who devour widow's houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation."
The Widow's Mite
[41] And He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the multitude putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. [42] And a poor widow came, and put in two copper coins, which make a penny. [43] And He called His disciples to Him, and said to them, "Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. [44] For they all contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, her whole living."
_________________________
Commentary:
38-40. Our Lord reproves disordered desire for human honors: "We should notice that salutations in the marketplace are not forbidden, nor people taking the best seats if that befits their position; rather, the faithful are warned to avoid, as they would evil men, those who set too much store by such honors" (St. Bede, "In Marci Evangelium Expositio, in loc."). See also notes on Matthew 23:2-3, 5, 11 and 14.
41-44. Our Lord uses this little event to teach us the importance of things which apparently are insignificant. He puts it somewhat paradoxically; the poor widow has contributed more than all the rich. In God's sight the value of such an action lies more in upright intention and generosity of spirit than in the quantity one gives. "Didn't you see the light in Jesus' eyes as the poor widow left her little alms in the temple? Give Him what you can: the merit is not in whether it is big or small, but in the intention with which you give it" ([St] J. Escriva, "The Way", 829).
By the same token, our actions are pleasing to God even if they are not as perfect as we would like. St. Francis de Sales comments: "Now as among the treasures of the temple, the poor widow's mite was much esteemed, so the least little good works, even though performed somewhat coldly and not according to the whole extent of the charity which is in us, are agreeable to God, and esteemed by Him; so that though of themselves they cannot cause and increase in the existing love [...] yet Divine Providence, counting on them and, out of His goodness, valuing them, forthwith rewards them with increase in charity for the present, and assigns to them a greater Heavenly glory for the future" (St. Francis de Sales, "Treatise on the Love of God", Book 3, Chapter 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.
Friday, June 06, 2008
Just for Today, June 7
Confide not in thyself, but place thy hope in God. Do what is in thy power, and God will be with thy good will.
-Bk. I, ch. vii.
Thou therefore art the fountain of all good, the height of life, and the depth of wisdom; and to trust in Thee above all things is the greatest comfort of Thy servants.
-Bk. III, ch. lix.
_______________
How pure one must be to appear before the God of all holiness! Yet He is at the same time infinitely just, and His justice, which terrifies so many souls, is the cause of my hope.
Justice does not only consist in punishing the guilty, but also in acknowledging good intentions and rewarding virtue.
I hope as much in God's justice as in His mercy, for it is because He is just that the Lord is compassionate and merciful: long-suffering and plenteous in mercy. As a father hath compassion on his children, so hath the Lord compassion on them that fear him: for he knoweth our frame (Ps. cll, 8, 13, 14).
-Letters.
__________________
For more information, see this post.
Adapted from Just For Today(©1943 Burns & Oates)
Nihil Obstat: Reginaldus Phillips, S.T.L.,Censor deputatus
Imprimatur: Edwardus Myers, Vic. Cap.
-Bk. I, ch. vii.
Thou therefore art the fountain of all good, the height of life, and the depth of wisdom; and to trust in Thee above all things is the greatest comfort of Thy servants.
-Bk. III, ch. lix.
_______________
How pure one must be to appear before the God of all holiness! Yet He is at the same time infinitely just, and His justice, which terrifies so many souls, is the cause of my hope.
Justice does not only consist in punishing the guilty, but also in acknowledging good intentions and rewarding virtue.
I hope as much in God's justice as in His mercy, for it is because He is just that the Lord is compassionate and merciful: long-suffering and plenteous in mercy. As a father hath compassion on his children, so hath the Lord compassion on them that fear him: for he knoweth our frame (Ps. cll, 8, 13, 14).
-Letters.
__________________
For more information, see this post.
Adapted from Just For Today(©1943 Burns & Oates)
Nihil Obstat: Reginaldus Phillips, S.T.L.,Censor deputatus
Imprimatur: Edwardus Myers, Vic. Cap.
Thoughts and Counsels - June 7
Meditation for June 7, The Gift of Wisdom
What we understand by Wisdom would be more correctly termed Counsel, Knowledge or Understanding.
According to the Latin sense of the word, wisdom, sapientia, is less the ability to see God than to taste God. Wisdom meaning savor or relish would be much more in accordance with the original sense.
It is a question not so much of sensible tastes and consolations of divine realities - we may or may not enjoy them - but rather of a more or less lively and profound attraction toward the things of God; a practical habit of looking always toward the heavens, toward the large horizons, toward grandeur; a thirst for contentment, but at the same time a deep-seated inability to be satisfied with insignificant things; a joyous and imperturbable indifference before all that is nonessential, with this limitation, however, that we never hesitate, through charity or another similar motive to expend energy, to interest ourselves in what is not naturally appealing, or to give attention, with the condescension of Our Lord, to the most insignificant details.
St. Thomas points out a relationship between the gift of Wisdom and the seventh Beatitude, Blessed are the peacemakers. On first thought that is astonishing. But is not peace closely connected with Wisdom and Wisdom with peace?
Can the soul which has singularly tasted divine things ever be troubled?
_________________
Adapted from Meditations for Religious
by Father Raoul Plus, S.J. (© 1939, Frederick Pustet Co.)
According to the Latin sense of the word, wisdom, sapientia, is less the ability to see God than to taste God. Wisdom meaning savor or relish would be much more in accordance with the original sense.
It is a question not so much of sensible tastes and consolations of divine realities - we may or may not enjoy them - but rather of a more or less lively and profound attraction toward the things of God; a practical habit of looking always toward the heavens, toward the large horizons, toward grandeur; a thirst for contentment, but at the same time a deep-seated inability to be satisfied with insignificant things; a joyous and imperturbable indifference before all that is nonessential, with this limitation, however, that we never hesitate, through charity or another similar motive to expend energy, to interest ourselves in what is not naturally appealing, or to give attention, with the condescension of Our Lord, to the most insignificant details.
St. Thomas points out a relationship between the gift of Wisdom and the seventh Beatitude, Blessed are the peacemakers. On first thought that is astonishing. But is not peace closely connected with Wisdom and Wisdom with peace?
Can the soul which has singularly tasted divine things ever be troubled?
_________________
Adapted from Meditations for Religious
by Father Raoul Plus, S.J. (© 1939, Frederick Pustet Co.)
Great News!
Excommunicated St. Stanislaus member reconciles with Archbishop Burke, ChurchMay God be praised for blessing Mr Florek with courage and wisdom!
Edward Florek, excommunicated in December 2005 for being part of the St. Stanislaus Kostka Corporation board of directors that fought Archbishop Raymond L. Burke over parish restructuring, privately met with the archbishop this week and was reconciled with the Church.
Florek, 63, a St. Stanislaus parishioner for 33 years since coming from Poland, said he broke ranks with the St. Stanislaus board in March. He told the Review he had concluded that Father Marek Bozek, whom the board hired as its pastor after the archbishop recalled the parish’s priests in 2004, was leading the parish away from Roman Catholicism.
He said he stopped attending St. Stanislaus Church in March when Father Bozek "refused to enter discussions with the archbishop."
"Most important for me, I didn’t see the solution (being) under Father Bozek’s guidance," Florek said. "I would like us to be part of the Roman Catholic Church."
The reconciliation occurred June 2 at the Catholic Center in the Central West End. Florek said he initiated the meeting with Archbishop Burke through a phone call to Msgr. Vernon Gardin, a vicar general for the archdiocese.
Florek is the only one of eight excommunicated St. Stanislaus board members to seek a reconciliation with the archbishop. The board represents St. Stanislaus Kostka Corporation, which the archdiocese considers a civil organization and no longer a parish....
And the little children suffer...
Catholic adoption service stops over gay rightsMorally bankrupt policies and laws created by incompetent lawmakers who have demonstrated that they do not care for children at all but only wish to serve the wants of a depraved and hedonistic minority while calling it "equality."
A Catholic adoption agency has become the first to stop finding new homes for children because of the Government's new gay equality laws.
One MP said it was "a tragedy" that the Catholic Children's Rescue Service would have to stop doing the work it has carried out since 1886, and accused ministers of discriminating against Roman Catholics.
Its directors say they have been forced to stop recruiting, assessing or approving couples who want to adopt children because of new legislation which means they cannot follow their religious beliefs by turning away homosexual couples.
Several other adoption agencies around the country have cut their ties with the Roman Catholic Church - which has ruled that gay adoption is morally wrong - in order to comply with the Equality Act....
And who suffers in this arrangement, but the children.
Jim Dobbin, a Catholic Labour MP in Manchester, said: "It is a tragedy....I don't think there was any need for this legislation at all. It was forced through and was all done to avoid discrimination but all it has done is to introduce discrimination against agencies that operate according to the principles of a religious faith.But, we thought that it was permissable - even required - to discriminate against the Catholic Church, especially when the discrimination results in doing violence to children - whether born or unborn...And this is mandated so that disordered homosexuals can now adopt and degrade children and raise them to follow in their debauched lifestyle. What perversion. What an outrage!
"The Government will rue the day when it pursued this line of action. It smacks of a secular attack on the Catholic Church."
Satan has enlisted the stupid, the cunning, the apathetic, and the wicked to take control of governments in order to promote sinful, offensive laws and decrees that destroy the very fabric of society - the family and the Church.
A 140 year old institution chooses to cease doing adoptions because of an illegal and immoral decree which came from the depths of hell, itself. Some might have chosen to fight in order to save the little ones. Perhaps it is doing what it deems best - but in the end, it will be unable to save children from being placed in immoral and repugnant situations. And what a tragedy this is.
The Credo of Paul VI. Who Wrote It, and Why
St Stanislaus Board Dissolves
ST. LOUIS — In a 4-3 vote Thursday night, the lay board of St. Stanislaus Kostka church voted to dissolve itself and allow the parishioners to elect a new board at its annual meeting in August, board members said.More trouble brewing st St Stans...
The deciding vote was cast by the Rev. Marek Bozek, the church's excommunicated pastor, who also made the motion to dissolve the board. All the board's members have also been declared excommunicated....
Stan Rozanski, a board member who voted to fire Bozek, said Thursday's vote to dissolve the board was probably illegal.
"If there's a legal remedy here, I'll pursue it," Rozanski said. "I was elected to a three-year term by the people of this parish. My family's been a part of this parish since 1905."
Gospel for Friday, 9th Week in Ordinary Time
Optional Memorial of St. Norbert, bishop
Old Calendar: St. Norbert
From: Mark 12:35-37
Christ the Son and Lord of David
[35] And as Jesus taught in the temple, He said, "How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? [36] David himself, inspired by the Holy Spirit, declared, `The Lord said to the Lord, Sit at My right hand, till I put Thy enemies under Thy feet'. [37] David himself calls Him Lord; so how is He his son?" And the throng heard Him gladly.
__________________________
Commentary:
35-37. Jesus here bears witness, with His special authority, to the fact that Scripture is divinely inspired, when He says that David was inspired by the Holy Spirit when writing Psalm 110. We can see from here that Jews found it difficult to interpret the beginning of the Psalm. Jesus shows the messianic sense of the words "The Lord said to my Lord": the second "Lord" is the Messiah, with whom Jesus implicitly identifies Himself. The mysteriously transcendental character of the Messiah is indicated by the paradox of His being the son, the descendant, of David, and yet David calls Him his Lord. Cf. note on Matthew 22:41-46.
[Note on Matthew 22:41-46 states:
41-46. God promised King David that one of his descendants would reign forever (2 Samuel 7:12ff); this was obviously a reference to the Messiah, and was interpreted as such by all Jewish tradition, which gave the Messiah the title of "Son of David". In Jesus' time this messianic title was understood in a very nationalistic sense: the Jews were expecting an earthly king, a descendant of David, who would free them from Roman rule. In this passage Jesus shows the Pharisees that the Messiah has a higher origin: He is not only "Son of David"; His nature is more exalted than that, for He is the Son of God and transcends the purely earthly level. The reference to Psalm 110:1 which Jesus uses in His argument explains that the Messiah is God: which is why David calls Him Lord--and why He is seated at the right hand of God, His equal in power, majesty and glory (cf. Acts of the Apostles 33-36; 1 Corinthians 6:25).]
___________________________
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.
Old Calendar: St. Norbert
From: Mark 12:35-37
Christ the Son and Lord of David
[35] And as Jesus taught in the temple, He said, "How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? [36] David himself, inspired by the Holy Spirit, declared, `The Lord said to the Lord, Sit at My right hand, till I put Thy enemies under Thy feet'. [37] David himself calls Him Lord; so how is He his son?" And the throng heard Him gladly.
__________________________
Commentary:
35-37. Jesus here bears witness, with His special authority, to the fact that Scripture is divinely inspired, when He says that David was inspired by the Holy Spirit when writing Psalm 110. We can see from here that Jews found it difficult to interpret the beginning of the Psalm. Jesus shows the messianic sense of the words "The Lord said to my Lord": the second "Lord" is the Messiah, with whom Jesus implicitly identifies Himself. The mysteriously transcendental character of the Messiah is indicated by the paradox of His being the son, the descendant, of David, and yet David calls Him his Lord. Cf. note on Matthew 22:41-46.
[Note on Matthew 22:41-46 states:
41-46. God promised King David that one of his descendants would reign forever (2 Samuel 7:12ff); this was obviously a reference to the Messiah, and was interpreted as such by all Jewish tradition, which gave the Messiah the title of "Son of David". In Jesus' time this messianic title was understood in a very nationalistic sense: the Jews were expecting an earthly king, a descendant of David, who would free them from Roman rule. In this passage Jesus shows the Pharisees that the Messiah has a higher origin: He is not only "Son of David"; His nature is more exalted than that, for He is the Son of God and transcends the purely earthly level. The reference to Psalm 110:1 which Jesus uses in His argument explains that the Messiah is God: which is why David calls Him Lord--and why He is seated at the right hand of God, His equal in power, majesty and glory (cf. Acts of the Apostles 33-36; 1 Corinthians 6:25).]
___________________________
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, June 05, 2008
Just for Today...
JUNE 6
Give me, O Lord, heavenly wisdom, that I may learn above all things to seek Thee, and to find Thee above all things; to relish Thee and to love Thee, and to understand all other things as they are, according to the order of Thy wisdom.
-Bk. III, ch. xxvii.
_______________
My way is that of love and trust, I cannot understand those souls who fear so loving a Friend. Sometimes, when I have been reading a book on the spiritual life where perfection is shown all hedged round with barriers, my poor little mind is wearied and my heart dried up, so that I close the book and turn to Holy Scripture. There everything is clear and full of Light, a single word opens out a wide horizon before me, perfection seems a simple matter. I see that all I have to do is to acknowledge my nothingness and place myself like a child in God's arms...I leave to great souls and lofty minds the fine books that I cannot even understand, much less put into practice, and rejoice in my littleness, for the kingdom of heaven is for such (Matt. xix, 14). What a good thing it is that there are many mansions in the kingdom of Heaven, for otherwise I doubt if I should ever get there, the way to some of them seems so complicated.
-Letters.
__________________
For more information, see this post.
Adapted from Just For Today(©1943 Burns & Oates)
Nihil Obstat: Reginaldus Phillips, S.T.L.,Censor deputatus
Imprimatur: Edwardus Myers, Vic. Cap.
JUNE 6
Give me, O Lord, heavenly wisdom, that I may learn above all things to seek Thee, and to find Thee above all things; to relish Thee and to love Thee, and to understand all other things as they are, according to the order of Thy wisdom.
-Bk. III, ch. xxvii.
_______________
My way is that of love and trust, I cannot understand those souls who fear so loving a Friend. Sometimes, when I have been reading a book on the spiritual life where perfection is shown all hedged round with barriers, my poor little mind is wearied and my heart dried up, so that I close the book and turn to Holy Scripture. There everything is clear and full of Light, a single word opens out a wide horizon before me, perfection seems a simple matter. I see that all I have to do is to acknowledge my nothingness and place myself like a child in God's arms...I leave to great souls and lofty minds the fine books that I cannot even understand, much less put into practice, and rejoice in my littleness, for the kingdom of heaven is for such (Matt. xix, 14). What a good thing it is that there are many mansions in the kingdom of Heaven, for otherwise I doubt if I should ever get there, the way to some of them seems so complicated.
-Letters.
__________________
For more information, see this post.
Adapted from Just For Today(©1943 Burns & Oates)
Nihil Obstat: Reginaldus Phillips, S.T.L.,Censor deputatus
Imprimatur: Edwardus Myers, Vic. Cap.
Thoughts and Counsels - June 6
Whatsoever good work you undertake, pray earnestly to God that He will enable you to bring it to a successful termination.
-St. Benedict.
________________________
From Mary, Help of Christians
Part VI, Thoughts and Counsels of the Saints for Every Day of the Year
Compiled by Fr. Bonaventure Hammer, OFM (© 1909, Benziger Brothers)
-St. Benedict.
________________________
From Mary, Help of Christians
Part VI, Thoughts and Counsels of the Saints for Every Day of the Year
Compiled by Fr. Bonaventure Hammer, OFM (© 1909, Benziger Brothers)
Meditation for June 6, The Gift of Understanding
What it understanding? A calm and clear comprehension of God's work in the world, which makes the soul docile to carry on this work, and powerful to accomplish it. Such is the understanding which is the gift of the Holy Spirit - The shining of the Eternal Light (Wisdom vii, 26), the habit of looking on things as God sees them.
What must I do to possess this divine understanding?
I must exercise myself in the supernatural spirit, that is, I must endeavor always to see things from God's viewpoint.
And in order to arrive at this habitual spirit of faith, I must ask for this grace from the Spirit of Understanding, the Holy Spirit.
I have prayed, says the Book of Wisdom, and wisdom was given to me; I have invoked the Lord and the spirit of understanding came to me...and with it all good (Wisdom vii, 9-11).
God of the Fathers, Lord of mercy, who has made the universe by Your word, and who through Your guidance has established man to rule the world in holiness and justice, give me the gift of Understanding...and cast me not off from the number of Your children. Send me this gift from Your holy heavens that it may assist me in my labors, and that I may know what is pleasing to You.
Why should I not go more frequently to draw from the Book of Wisdom, the words of wisdom that God Himself inspired? Have I a sufficient contact with the Bible, with those portions of the Bible which can clarify my way? It would be a pity to have fountains...and what fountains!...and not to drink from them!
_________________
Adapted from Meditations for Religious
by Father Raoul Plus, S.J. (© 1939, Frederick Pustet Co.)
What must I do to possess this divine understanding?
I must exercise myself in the supernatural spirit, that is, I must endeavor always to see things from God's viewpoint.
And in order to arrive at this habitual spirit of faith, I must ask for this grace from the Spirit of Understanding, the Holy Spirit.
I have prayed, says the Book of Wisdom, and wisdom was given to me; I have invoked the Lord and the spirit of understanding came to me...and with it all good (Wisdom vii, 9-11).
God of the Fathers, Lord of mercy, who has made the universe by Your word, and who through Your guidance has established man to rule the world in holiness and justice, give me the gift of Understanding...and cast me not off from the number of Your children. Send me this gift from Your holy heavens that it may assist me in my labors, and that I may know what is pleasing to You.
Why should I not go more frequently to draw from the Book of Wisdom, the words of wisdom that God Himself inspired? Have I a sufficient contact with the Bible, with those portions of the Bible which can clarify my way? It would be a pity to have fountains...and what fountains!...and not to drink from them!
_________________
Adapted from Meditations for Religious
by Father Raoul Plus, S.J. (© 1939, Frederick Pustet Co.)
Jun 28 - Feast of St JoseMaria Escriva, Founder of Opus Dei
11:00 am at
Immaculate Conception Church
7701 Highway N
Dardenne Prairie, MO 63368
Rev. Tim Elliott
Pastor, Saint Gianna Parish
Principal Celebrant
Rev. William Korte
Pastor, Saint Joseph Church
Salisbury, MO
Homilist
Confessions available beginning at 10:30 am
Reception following the Mass
Web Site Offers to Send Post-Rapture E-Mails to Friends 'Left Behind'
You say, "You've gotta be kidding, right?" Nope, some people are going to be making some money with this, I'm certain. From Fox News, we read:
A new Web site is offering a miraculous service — e-mails sent to loved ones left behind on Earth after you've been swept up to heaven in the Rapture.What some people won't do for a buck these days....
YouveBeenLeftBehind.com promises to alert up to 62 people exactly six days after the event that, according to the Bible, signals the beginning of Armageddon, Wired magazine's Threat Level reports.
"You've Been Left Behind gives you one last opportunity to reach your lost family and friends for Christ," the site promoting the service says.
Final e-mails from vanished subscribers will be triggered when three of the site's five Christian staffers fail to log in for six days in a row.
The site, the brainchild of Mark Heard, charges $40 a year for the service, which also includes 150 megabytes of encrypted storage space, recommended for financial information, Threat Level reports....
An Update on Marek Bozek and St Stanislaus
From an updated post from yesterday...
KTVI Fox2 News was called about the previous reported news story and the station indicated that the story was not and probably would not be posted on its website. No reason was given.
A call was made to the St Stanislaus parish secretary. She said she was unclear what to make of the news story on Fox2 News on Tuesday evening. She did state that some sort of decision on Marek Bozek's status should be forthcoming by this Friday.
The following is a short summary received from an unnamed source which sheds some light on the Fox2 News report.
It would appear that the end is near for Marek Bozek, who still is subject to laicization in the coming weeks. Perhaps cooler, rational heads will prevail at St Stanislaus and healing and reconciliation will be sooner rather than later?
KTVI Fox2 News was called about the previous reported news story and the station indicated that the story was not and probably would not be posted on its website. No reason was given.
A call was made to the St Stanislaus parish secretary. She said she was unclear what to make of the news story on Fox2 News on Tuesday evening. She did state that some sort of decision on Marek Bozek's status should be forthcoming by this Friday.
The following is a short summary received from an unnamed source which sheds some light on the Fox2 News report.
The St Stanislaus board met this past Sunday.____________________
The meeting was supposed to be closed to the parishioners because it concerned some of Marek Bozek’s recent activities. These are certainly questionable from a Catholic's perspective - attending a "women's ordination ceremony", etc...
Marek Bozek, however, brought his own group of supporters to the meeting and it has been reported that the exchanges were, at times, heated.
Bozek apparently demanded a vote as to whether he should be retained or terminated.
Surprisingly to him, 3 directors voted in favor of firing him while 3 voted to retain him.
It has also been reported that a few of Bozek’s supporters demanded a vote of the entire parish - although this would have no legally binding force on the board members.
It would appear that the end is near for Marek Bozek, who still is subject to laicization in the coming weeks. Perhaps cooler, rational heads will prevail at St Stanislaus and healing and reconciliation will be sooner rather than later?
And some thought they'd seen it all...
Honestly, I do not search for the strangest stories, but this was at LifeSite and it is not a surprise to those who have watched in horror at what is going on:
Soon, we'll see activist courts deciding that civil "rights" include marriage between and human being and his/her pet - or someone else's pet (Imagine the lawsuits). We may be on the verge of surpassing ancient Rome in perversion, debauchery and hedonism!
Singing "How much is that doggie in the window" may even become a "hate crime!"
It's probably only a few years (or months away). "Family values" will take on another new and corrupted meaning and the sheeple will rejoice in how open minded and tolerant they have become.
But we will be told to think of the new entreprenurial ventures - human/animal dating services, special catering opportunities, a new "breed" of divorce lawyers...
May God have mercy on us! I must go pray and ask God to help me overcome my frustration with this absurdity. Surely, we will be put to the test - may we accept the graces needed to defeat this onslaught of evil!
Prominent Homosexual Activist Says Bestiality OK "As Long as the Animal Doesn't Mind"Sickos and perverts are defining both morality for society and normal behavior for the APA.
WASHINGTON, D.C., June 4, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Long-time homosexual activist Frank Kameny's claim to fame is successfully manipulating the American Psychiatric Association into declassifying homosexuality as a mental disorder, and today the Smithsonian honoree is now busily advocating bestiality "as long as the animal doesn't mind."
Kameny, 83, has had a long career advocating the removal of any restrictions on human acts long considered by sane societies as obscene, dangerous, and disordered.....
Soon, we'll see activist courts deciding that civil "rights" include marriage between and human being and his/her pet - or someone else's pet (Imagine the lawsuits). We may be on the verge of surpassing ancient Rome in perversion, debauchery and hedonism!
Singing "How much is that doggie in the window" may even become a "hate crime!"
Kameny made the bold claim that the founding fathers of the United States implicitly approved of uninhibited sexual exploits or "sexual perversion" when they wrote the Declaration of Independence, because he believes it is part of the "Inalienable Right, of the 'Pursuit of Happiness'".The "Pursuit of Happiness" becomes the "Pursuit of Misery and Death" - and we are to call it "Good!"
It's probably only a few years (or months away). "Family values" will take on another new and corrupted meaning and the sheeple will rejoice in how open minded and tolerant they have become.
But we will be told to think of the new entreprenurial ventures - human/animal dating services, special catering opportunities, a new "breed" of divorce lawyers...
May God have mercy on us! I must go pray and ask God to help me overcome my frustration with this absurdity. Surely, we will be put to the test - may we accept the graces needed to defeat this onslaught of evil!
Every day seems like "News of the Weird" day
Colorado Gov. Ritter Signs Transgender BillAnd this governor is considered by some to be a faithful Roman Catholic?
... On Thursday, Ritter signed Senate Bill 200 which expands "ant-discrimination" law to cover sexual orientation, meaning not only homosexuality or bisexuality, but also "transgender status or another person's perception thereof."
... A major criticism of the bill by conservatives is that it appears to allow men who self-identify as "transgender" a legal right to demand to be able to user women's bathrooms, health club showers, bathhouses, and any other "public accomodation".
Importantly, the bill does not define "transgender".
...In other words, not only is there no legal definition for transgender, but there isn't even a solid dictionary definition for a court to rely on. Instead, transgender status is a matter of self-identification, rendering such a claim to be nearly impossible to prove or disprove....
at Human Events.
Battling for America’s Soul
How Homosexual “Marriage” Threatens Our Nation and Faith — TFP Urges Lawful and Conscientious ResistanceThis should be required reading by all. Unfortunately, far too many are either woefully ignorant/apathetic or they are in league with the father of lies.
Written by The American TFP
Wednesday, June 04 2008
Published in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times and The Washington Times - June 5, 2008
Within the perspective of the nation’s Cultural War, Americans felt the full force of two actions favoring the homosexual movement in May 2008. Same-sex “marriage” is now being imposed upon the nation by government fiat.
On May 15, 2008, California’s Supreme Court declared the unconstitutionality of Proposition 22—ignoring the voices of 61% of California voters who approved the measure in 2000—and all other California statutes restricting marriage to the union of one man and one woman and imposed homosexual “marriage” on the Golden State.
Concomitantly, New York Governor David Patterson unilaterally ordered all government agencies to revamp their rules, procedures, and regulations so as to show legal recognition to same-sex “marriages” contracted outside the state....
TFP notes "Religious Persecution in the Making" in the must-read article:
Below are some signs of laws and other measures that target Americans who oppose homosexual acts and same-sex “marriage.”The battle is real, souls are at risk and our nation is in peril:• In 2007, California Gov. Schwarznegger signed a measure into law that places public school teachers before the alternative of either teaching the homosexual ideology or suffering sanctions.[9]
• Also in 2007, Crystal Dixon, former Associate Vice President of Human Resources at the University of Toledo, was fired after writing a letter to the editor expressing her belief as a black woman that it was inaccurate to compare the homosexual movement to the civil rights movement.[10]
• In 2008, Jon and Elaine Huguenin were fined $6,000 by the New Mexico Human Rights Commission for refusing to photograph a homosexual “commitment ceremony.”[11]
• In Massachusetts, the justices of the peace who refused, based on problems of conscience, to solemnize same-sex “marriages” were summarily dismissed.[12]
• Boston Catholic Charities was obliged to abandon its adoption service since it was not willing to place children with homosexual couples.[13]
...the battle for marriage in America is the clash of two worldviews. On the one hand, those Americans who still defend a moral law. On the other, the homosexual revolution and its secularist allies.Please, please, read the full article and pass it along to friends and family.
The stakes are also clear. This is a battle for the soul of America. The so-called Cultural War is gradually becoming a Religious War. For one cannot modify the lex agendi (rules of morals) without thereby modifying the lex credendi (rules of belief) given the profound relationship between the two. He who accepts as good and even exalts homosexual practice cannot adore the true and living God who destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because of that sin. (Gen. 18-19)
In view of the above, it is urgent to resist the imposition on our country of “morals” opposed to those of Christ.
Our resistance must be accompanied by sincere, ardent, and persevering prayer, since, as the Savior admonished us, “without Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
Lastly, since the legalization of homosexual “marriage” is a public sin that can draw God’s punishment upon our country, we must sacrifice and do penance, for God does not despise “a contrite and humbled heart.” (Ps. 50:19)
The hour is late. Our Lady warned at Fatima that sin weighs heavy in the scales of God’s justice. God will not be mocked. (Gal. 6:7) By taking energetic and faithful action in this struggle, we can heed the Blessed Mother’s maternal warning, recognize and correct our failings, and rightly be one nation under God. The choice is ours.
May She help us all to do our duty, in full and faithful compliance with the perennial and immutable teaching of Holy Mother Church on the intrinsic evilness of homosexual acts.
Father's Day - By Fr. John Corapi
As we prepare to celebrate Fathers' Day we should reflect a bit on what a father is. Today I'm afraid that there are a large number of people who can no longer relate to the reality or the concept of a father. This was not always the case as most marriages never suffered from the ravages of divorce. Many individuals today did not have the benefit of a father at home, or even in their life to any extent. 50%+ of marriages, including Catholic marriages, end in divorce. Single parent families are painfully common.Online version of this email can be found here.
A human being needs both a father and a mother, male and female, to receive the fullness of nurturing, love, and support. One parent can try heroically to fill both roles, and do quite well, but it is never the same as when mom and dad fulfill their respective roles.
A father, along with a mother, obviously collaborate with God to bring life into existence. You will never know the eternal joy of Heaven without your father and mother saying yes to life. A father protects and supports his family. If evil in any form threatens his family a father must engage the evil and protect the family. This is true most of all spiritually, but also physically, emotionally, economically, and morally.
Dad has to fight many a battle to win the war of the salvation of the souls of his spouse and children. If dad doesn?t even know there is a war, where would that leave his family? How many sleepless nights fathers have had had worrying how to provide for mom and the kids? How many days he has come home from work bone tired, trying to provide a life for the family better than he had? How many deaths has he died agonizing over the welfare of each of his children?
Remember your father this Fathers' Day. Pray for him, alive or deceased. While you are doing this, hopefully through a day started with the Holy Eucharist, remember your priests, who are truly fathers in the spiritual sense. They too have expended a lot of 'blood, sweat, and tears' trying to insure the well-being of their spiritual children. Without the priest there is no forgiveness through the sacrament of Reconciliation. Without the priest there is no strengthening through the sacrament of Confirmation. Without the priest there is no anointing of the sick. Most of all, no priest no Eucharist?the Source, Center, and Summit of the Church's life. [emphasis added]
Let's pray for our fathers, both biological and spiritual, this Fathers' Day, and every day. We need them, and they need us.
God bless you,
Fr. John Corapi
St. Sabina Parish leaders to meet with Cardinal George about Fr. Michael Pfleger
Is this the look of Christian Charity?
Where's Sharpton, Farrakhan, Jeremiah Wright?
This priest and his followers need therapy, and soon!
Where's Sharpton, Farrakhan, Jeremiah Wright?
Can one imagine what these little children are being taught when they are used and exploited in this manner? My God, have these people no decency whatsoever? Evidently not with a priest like Pfleger around.
Gerald Stewart, St. Sabina parish council president, speaks at a rally at the church Tuesday night in support of Rev. Michael Pfleger. (Tribune photo by Terrence Antonio James / June 3, 2008)
________________
A couple scheduled to be married Saturday at St. Sabina Catholic Church and the 51 graduating kindergartners at St. Sabina Academy called on Cardinal Francis George Wednesday to "reinstate" Rev. Michael Pfleger in time for the celebrations this weekend.
The cardinal repeatedly has allowed Pfleger to stay as pastor of St. Sabina, where he's served for more than 30 years, long beyond church policies that limit pastors to two 6-year terms in a parish.Why? Why was this man given such preferential treatment? Because he refused to be moved as some have insinuated, threatening a revolt or rebellion?
Church leaders said they would meet with the cardinal to discuss the hiatus he forced on their pastor.Cardinal George "forced" this on Pfleger? Is everyone blind? Pfleger willfully did this to himself and the Church.
This priest and his followers need therapy, and soon!
Archbishop Chaput Challenges ‘Roman Catholics for Obama’
DENVER — Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver chided a group called Roman Catholics for Obama ’08 for quoting him out of context on voting for a pro-abortion candidate....The only solution to the “voting dilemma” these people have is to abandon the marxist, anti-life B. Hussein Obama. It's that simple - no more "dilemma." That would require, however, a small bit of integrity and character - things which quite scarce among both Obama and his supporters.
The controversy began after excerpts from an earlier column were posted on the website romancatholicsforobama.com as a possible solution to the “voting dilemma” of supporting Obama, whose “position on abortion is in conflict with the vision of the Church.”
...the group offered this assessment: “After faithful thought and prayer, we have arrived at the conclusion that Senator Obama is the candidate whose views are most compatible with the Catholic outlook, and we will vote for him because of that — and because of his other outstanding qualities — despite our disagreements with him in specific areas.”These so-called "Catholic" clowns are incapable of "faithful thought and prayer." This Obama character does not even come close to being "compatible with the Catholic outlook." It's amazing how some Catholics could be so dim-witted and foolish.
When I read or hear of incidents like this I am reminded of Fr. Corapi's quip, "God placed limits on our intelligence, but evidently, He did not put any limits on our stupidity."
Canadian priest investigated for 'hate-crime'
“If one, because of one’s sincerely held moral beliefs, whether it be Jew, Muslim, Christian, Catholic, opposes the idea of same-sex marriage in Canada, is that considered ‘hate’?”The all-powerful and all-knowing state decides what is right and what is wrong, what is good and what is evil.
The question was not rhetorical. Nor was it theoretical. Fr. Alphonse de Valk, a Basilian priest and pro-life activist known throughout Canada for his orthodoxy, is currently being investigated by the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC) — a quasi-judicial investigative body with the power of the Canadian government behind it. The CHRC is using section 13 of Canada’s Human Rights Act to investigate the priest. This is a section under which no defendant has ever won once the allegation has gone to tribunal....
With what "hate crime" is Father de Valk being charged?
[He] defended the Church’s teaching on marriage during Canada’s same-sex ‘marriage’ debate, quoting extensively from the Bible, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and Pope John Paul II’s encyclicals. Each of these documents contains official Catholic teaching. And like millions of other people throughout the world and the ages - many of who are non-Catholics and non-Christians — Father believes that marriage is an exclusive union between a man and a woman.The radical homosexual agenda has been embraced by small-minded government officials and others who, due to malformed intellects and consciences, believe perversion and depravity are good for society. The tyrants wish to destroy the truth and all those who hold fast to it. They wish to deprive humanity of that which is good and wholesome and replace it with the vices and sins being offered and promoted by the evil one. How long will it be before the tyrants are cast down to the pits of their deceptive mentor and father? How long will it be before good men and women rise up to defeat and destroy these depraved reprobates?
Gospel for June 5, Memorial: St. Boniface, bishop and martyr
Old Calendar: St. Boniface
From: Mark 12:28-34
The Greatest Commandment of All
[28] One of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that He (Jesus) answered them well, asked Him, "Which commandment is the first of all?" [29] Jesus answered, "The first is, `Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one; [30] and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' [31] The second is this, `You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." [32] And the scribe said to Him, "You are right, Teacher; You have truly said that He is one, and there is no other than He; [33] and to love with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." [34] And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, "You are not far from the Kingdom of God." And after that no one dared to ask Him any question.
_______________________
Commentary:
28-34. The doctor of the law who asks Jesus this question is obviously an upright man who is sincerely seeking the truth. He was impressed by Jesus' earlier reply (verses 18-27) and he wants to learn more from Him. His question is to the point and Jesus devotes time to instructing him, though he will soon castigate the scribes, of whom this man is one (cf. Mark 12:38ff).
Jesus sees in this man not just a scribe but a person who is looking for the truth. And His teaching finds its way into the man's heart. The scribe repeats what Jesus says, savoring it, and our Lord offers him an affectionate word which encourages his definitive conversion: "You are not far from the Kingdom of God." This encounter reminds us of His meeting with Nicodemus (cf. John 3:1ff). On the doctrinal content of these two commandments cf. note on Matthew 22:34-40.
[Note on Matthew 22:34-40 states:
In reply to the question, our Lord points out that the whole law can be condensed into two commandments: the first and more important consists in unconditional love of God; the second is a consequence and result of the first, because when man is loved, St. Thomas says, God is loved, for man is the image of God (cf. "Commentary on St. Matthew", 22:4).
A person who genuinely loves God also loves his fellows because he realizes that they are his brothers and sisters, children of the same Father, redeemed by the same blood of our Lord Jesus Christ: "This commandment we have from Him, that he who loves God should love his brother also" (1 John 4:21). However, if we love man for man's sake without reference to God, this love will become an obstacle in the way of keeping the first commandment, and then it is no longer genuine love of our neighbor. But love of our neighbor for God's sake is clear proof that we love God: "If anyone says, `I love God', and hates his brother, he is a liar" (1 John 4:20).
"You shall love your neighbor as yourself": here our Lord establishes as the guideline for our love of neighbor the love each of us has for himself; both love of others and love of self are based on love of God. Hence, in some cases it can happen that God requires us to put our neighbor's need before our own; in others, not: it depends on what value, in light of God's love, needs to be put on the spiritual and material factors involved.
Obviously spiritual goods take absolute precedence over material ones, even over life itself. Therefore, spiritual goods, be they our own or our neighbor's, must be the first to be safeguarded. If the spiritual good in question is the supreme one for the salvation of the soul, no one is justified in putting his own soul into certain danger of being condemned in order to save another, because given human freedom we can never be absolutely sure what personal choice another person may make: this is the situation in the parable (cf. Matthew 25:1-13), where the wise virgins refuse to give oil to the foolish ones; similarly St. Paul says that he would wish himself to be rejected if that could save his brothers (cf. Romans 9:3)--an unreal theoretical situation. However, what is quite clear is that we have to do all we can to save our brothers, conscious that, if someone helps to bring a sinner back to the way, he will save himself from eternal death and cover a multitude of his own sins (James 5:20). From all this we can deduce that self-love of the right kind, based on God's love for man, necessarily involves forgetting oneself in order to love God and our neighbor for God.]
30. This commandment of the Old Law, ratified by Jesus, shows, above all, God's great desire to engage in intimate conversation with man: "would it not have sufficed to publish a permission giving us leave to love Him? [...]. He makes a stronger declaration of His passionate love for us, and commands us to love Him with all our power, lest the consideration of His majesty and our misery, which make so great a distance and inequality between us, or some other pretext, divert us from His love. In this He well shows that He did not leave in us for nothing the natural inclination to love Him, for to the end that it may not be idle, He urges us by His general commandment to employ it, and that this commandment may be effected, there is no living man He has not furnished him abundantly with all means requisite thereto" (St. Francis de Sales, "Treatise on the Love of God", Book 2, Chapter 8).
___________________________
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.
From: Mark 12:28-34
The Greatest Commandment of All
[28] One of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that He (Jesus) answered them well, asked Him, "Which commandment is the first of all?" [29] Jesus answered, "The first is, `Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one; [30] and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' [31] The second is this, `You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." [32] And the scribe said to Him, "You are right, Teacher; You have truly said that He is one, and there is no other than He; [33] and to love with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." [34] And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, "You are not far from the Kingdom of God." And after that no one dared to ask Him any question.
_______________________
Commentary:
28-34. The doctor of the law who asks Jesus this question is obviously an upright man who is sincerely seeking the truth. He was impressed by Jesus' earlier reply (verses 18-27) and he wants to learn more from Him. His question is to the point and Jesus devotes time to instructing him, though he will soon castigate the scribes, of whom this man is one (cf. Mark 12:38ff).
Jesus sees in this man not just a scribe but a person who is looking for the truth. And His teaching finds its way into the man's heart. The scribe repeats what Jesus says, savoring it, and our Lord offers him an affectionate word which encourages his definitive conversion: "You are not far from the Kingdom of God." This encounter reminds us of His meeting with Nicodemus (cf. John 3:1ff). On the doctrinal content of these two commandments cf. note on Matthew 22:34-40.
[Note on Matthew 22:34-40 states:
In reply to the question, our Lord points out that the whole law can be condensed into two commandments: the first and more important consists in unconditional love of God; the second is a consequence and result of the first, because when man is loved, St. Thomas says, God is loved, for man is the image of God (cf. "Commentary on St. Matthew", 22:4).
A person who genuinely loves God also loves his fellows because he realizes that they are his brothers and sisters, children of the same Father, redeemed by the same blood of our Lord Jesus Christ: "This commandment we have from Him, that he who loves God should love his brother also" (1 John 4:21). However, if we love man for man's sake without reference to God, this love will become an obstacle in the way of keeping the first commandment, and then it is no longer genuine love of our neighbor. But love of our neighbor for God's sake is clear proof that we love God: "If anyone says, `I love God', and hates his brother, he is a liar" (1 John 4:20).
"You shall love your neighbor as yourself": here our Lord establishes as the guideline for our love of neighbor the love each of us has for himself; both love of others and love of self are based on love of God. Hence, in some cases it can happen that God requires us to put our neighbor's need before our own; in others, not: it depends on what value, in light of God's love, needs to be put on the spiritual and material factors involved.
Obviously spiritual goods take absolute precedence over material ones, even over life itself. Therefore, spiritual goods, be they our own or our neighbor's, must be the first to be safeguarded. If the spiritual good in question is the supreme one for the salvation of the soul, no one is justified in putting his own soul into certain danger of being condemned in order to save another, because given human freedom we can never be absolutely sure what personal choice another person may make: this is the situation in the parable (cf. Matthew 25:1-13), where the wise virgins refuse to give oil to the foolish ones; similarly St. Paul says that he would wish himself to be rejected if that could save his brothers (cf. Romans 9:3)--an unreal theoretical situation. However, what is quite clear is that we have to do all we can to save our brothers, conscious that, if someone helps to bring a sinner back to the way, he will save himself from eternal death and cover a multitude of his own sins (James 5:20). From all this we can deduce that self-love of the right kind, based on God's love for man, necessarily involves forgetting oneself in order to love God and our neighbor for God.]
30. This commandment of the Old Law, ratified by Jesus, shows, above all, God's great desire to engage in intimate conversation with man: "would it not have sufficed to publish a permission giving us leave to love Him? [...]. He makes a stronger declaration of His passionate love for us, and commands us to love Him with all our power, lest the consideration of His majesty and our misery, which make so great a distance and inequality between us, or some other pretext, divert us from His love. In this He well shows that He did not leave in us for nothing the natural inclination to love Him, for to the end that it may not be idle, He urges us by His general commandment to employ it, and that this commandment may be effected, there is no living man He has not furnished him abundantly with all means requisite thereto" (St. Francis de Sales, "Treatise on the Love of God", Book 2, Chapter 8).
___________________________
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.
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Just for Today, June 5
Nothing, tnerefore, ought to give so great joy to him that loves Thee, and knows Thy benefits, as the accomplishment of Thy will in himself, and the pleasure of Thy eternal approbation. With which he ought to be so far contented and comforted, as to be willing to be the least as another would wish to be the greatest; and to enjoy as much peace and content in the lowest place as in the highest; and to be as willing to be despicable and mean, and of no name and repute in the world, as to be preferred in honour, and greater than others.
-Bk. III; ch. xxii.
___________________
A rose, that in the morning light unfurled
Its glistening petals to a wondering world,
Is fit, my little Lord and God, to grace
Thy feast. But when, full-blown, its lovely face
Is all disfigured and its petals fall,
Despised, 'tis trodden underfoot by all.
It gladly gave its loveliness, and went,
Its little end achieved, its life well spent.
Take Thou my life, my youth, as they unfold
All their bright promise like a tale untold;
Beneath Thy little feet, there let them lie,
Like petals of a rose that soon must die.
-Poems.
__________________
For more information, see this post.
Adapted from Just For Today(©1943 Burns & Oates)
Nihil Obstat: Reginaldus Phillips, S.T.L.,Censor deputatus
Imprimatur: Edwardus Myers, Vic. Cap.
-Bk. III; ch. xxii.
___________________
A rose, that in the morning light unfurled
Its glistening petals to a wondering world,
Is fit, my little Lord and God, to grace
Thy feast. But when, full-blown, its lovely face
Is all disfigured and its petals fall,
Despised, 'tis trodden underfoot by all.
It gladly gave its loveliness, and went,
Its little end achieved, its life well spent.
Take Thou my life, my youth, as they unfold
All their bright promise like a tale untold;
Beneath Thy little feet, there let them lie,
Like petals of a rose that soon must die.
-Poems.
__________________
For more information, see this post.
Adapted from Just For Today(©1943 Burns & Oates)
Nihil Obstat: Reginaldus Phillips, S.T.L.,Censor deputatus
Imprimatur: Edwardus Myers, Vic. Cap.
Thoughts and Counsels - June 5
Live always in the certainty that whatever happens to you is the result of divine Providence; because nothing hard or laborious falls to your lot without the Lord permitting it.
-Ven. Louis de Blois.
________________________
From Mary, Help of Christians
Part VI, Thoughts and Counsels of the Saints for Every Day of the Year
Compiled by Fr. Bonaventure Hammer, OFM (© 1909, Benziger Brothers)
-Ven. Louis de Blois.
________________________
From Mary, Help of Christians
Part VI, Thoughts and Counsels of the Saints for Every Day of the Year
Compiled by Fr. Bonaventure Hammer, OFM (© 1909, Benziger Brothers)
Meditation for June 5, The Gifts of Counsel & of Knowledge
Although there is a distinct difference between the gifts of Counsel and of Knowledge, let us consider them together in this meditation.
The Gift of Wisdom with its accompanying graces manifests itself in various ways: in the soul's efforts to live by the light of the Holy Spirit in order to determine prudently the right path to follow itself or to counsel others to follow, guided always by its recognition of eternal values and true estimation of the triviality of worldly things; further in the soul's unfaltering judgment regarding men and events in all its contacts with the world; finally in the endeaver of the soul not only to avoid the cult of the worthless, but also to draw others to an appreciation of the Kingdom within them, not by superiority, impatience or sermonizing, which reveals merely a desire to convince, but much more by example and association.
It is well to note that if God seeks to enlighten us, it supposes every effort on our part to arrive at the light--efforts at prayer to get in contact with invisible realities, as well as efforts at study to advance in the knowledge of religious doctrines and dogmas, Christian ethics, and the spiritual life.
We ought further to aim at offering to the Light from above our souls as a mirror, clear and free from the least blemish. Blessed are the pure, for they shall see!
_________________
Adapted from Meditations for Religious
by Father Raoul Plus, S.J. (© 1939, Frederick Pustet Co.)
The Gift of Wisdom with its accompanying graces manifests itself in various ways: in the soul's efforts to live by the light of the Holy Spirit in order to determine prudently the right path to follow itself or to counsel others to follow, guided always by its recognition of eternal values and true estimation of the triviality of worldly things; further in the soul's unfaltering judgment regarding men and events in all its contacts with the world; finally in the endeaver of the soul not only to avoid the cult of the worthless, but also to draw others to an appreciation of the Kingdom within them, not by superiority, impatience or sermonizing, which reveals merely a desire to convince, but much more by example and association.
It is well to note that if God seeks to enlighten us, it supposes every effort on our part to arrive at the light--efforts at prayer to get in contact with invisible realities, as well as efforts at study to advance in the knowledge of religious doctrines and dogmas, Christian ethics, and the spiritual life.
We ought further to aim at offering to the Light from above our souls as a mirror, clear and free from the least blemish. Blessed are the pure, for they shall see!
_________________
Adapted from Meditations for Religious
by Father Raoul Plus, S.J. (© 1939, Frederick Pustet Co.)
Papal Spokeman: Every Intentional Concealment of the Truth, Will Exact a Dear Price in the End
TORONTO, June 3, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Jesuit Father Frederico Lombardi, the director of the Holy See Press Office, addressed the Catholic Media Convention in Toronto Thursday providing a fascinating study in effective communications. Lombardi, who also oversees Vatican Television and Vatican Radio, spoke on "When the Pope speaks to the world" analyzing the strategy behind Papal communications. A key message in Fr. Lombardi's talk was the "balance between the positive message and the clear identification of evils, divisions, weaknesses and dangers" present in the world....We witness the lies and deceptions daily - we seem to be bombarded with them from all sides. And, of course, everyone suffers that 'dear price' because of it.
"We have to know how to recognize and denounce the evils, the risks and the dead ends present in contemporary culture." The consequences for failure in this regard are dire, he suggested.
"It is vitally important to tell the truth with clarity and simplicity. Every ambiguity, every reticence and, worse still, every intentional concealment of the truth, will exact a dear price in the end. The vicissitudes connected to the sexual abuse crisis were the weightiest proof of this...."
Communion Denied to Staunch Obama Supporter
Word spread like wildfire in Catholic circles: Douglas Kmiec, a staunch Republican, firm foe of abortion and veteran of the Reagan Justice Department, had been denied Communion.Another Catholic Obamacon...Seems like everyone has lost his/her mind theses days.
His sin? Kmiec, a Catholic who can cite papal pronouncements with the facility of a theological scholar, shocked old friends and adversaries alike earlier this year by endorsing Barack Obama for president. For at least one priest, Kmiec's support for a pro-choice politician made him a willing participant in a grave moral evil....
...because Kmiec is a private citizen and has such a long history of embracing Catholic teaching on abortion, denying him Communion for political reasons may spark an even greater outcry inside the church.It's not being used a weapon - Kmiec chose to make the denial a public matter, therefore, it is he who is turning this into a 'weapon.' He is the one who perpetuates the scandal by promoting a known culture of death advocate and supporter of infanticide. His weak arguments are the as the one we've heard for decades...
Kmiec says he is grateful because the episode reminded him of the importance of the Eucharist in his spiritual life, and because he hopes it will alert others to the dangers of "using Communion as a weapon."
St Sabina Parish Protests Cardinal's Action
This was to be expected, but it doesn't seem like much of a protest.
The decision to remove Father Michael Pfleger, the Catholic priest who berated Hillary Clinton from the floor of Barack Obama’s former church, has drawn criticism from members of St. Sabina Church where Pfleger is the pastor.The priest was given a two week paid vacation. He might need more time than that.
St. Sabina President Gerald Stewart said members of the church “wholeheartedly disagree” with Cardinal Francis George’s decision and “respectfully request” that Pfleger be reinstated because of the significant impact he has had on the Chicago community....
Gospel for Wednesday, 9th Week in Ordinary Time
Old Calendar: St. Francis Caracciolo, Confessor
From: Mark 12:18-27
The Resurrection of the Dead
[18] And Sadducees came to Him (Jesus), who say that there is no resurrection; and they asked Him a question, saying [19] "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies and leaves a wife, but leaves no child, the man must take the wife, and raise up children for his brother. [20] There were seven brothers; the first took a wife, and when he died left no children; [21] and the second took her, and died, leaving no children; and the third likewise; [22] and the seven left no children. Last of all the woman also died. [23] In the resurrection whose wife will she be? For the seven had her as wife."
[24] Jesus said to them, "Is not this why you are wrong, that you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God? [25] For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in Heaven. [26] And as for being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God said to him, `I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? [27] He is not God of the dead, but of the living; you are quite wrong."
_____________________
Commentary:
18-27. Before answering the difficulty proposed by the Sadducees, Jesus wants to identify the source of the problem--man's tendency to confine the greatness of God inside a human framework through excessive reliance on reason, not giving due weight to divine Revelation and the power of God. A person can have difficulty with the truths of faith; this is not surprising, for these truths are above human reason. But it is ridiculous to try to find contradictions in the revealed word of God; this only leads away from any solution of difficulty and may make it impossible to find one's way back to God. We need to approach Sacred Scripture, and, in general, the things of God, with the humility which faith demands. In the passage about the burning bush, which Jesus quotes to the Sadducees, God says this to Moses: "Put off your shoes from your feet, for the place on which you stand is holy ground" (Exodus 3:5).
___________________________
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.
From: Mark 12:18-27
The Resurrection of the Dead
[18] And Sadducees came to Him (Jesus), who say that there is no resurrection; and they asked Him a question, saying [19] "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies and leaves a wife, but leaves no child, the man must take the wife, and raise up children for his brother. [20] There were seven brothers; the first took a wife, and when he died left no children; [21] and the second took her, and died, leaving no children; and the third likewise; [22] and the seven left no children. Last of all the woman also died. [23] In the resurrection whose wife will she be? For the seven had her as wife."
[24] Jesus said to them, "Is not this why you are wrong, that you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God? [25] For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in Heaven. [26] And as for being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God said to him, `I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? [27] He is not God of the dead, but of the living; you are quite wrong."
_____________________
Commentary:
18-27. Before answering the difficulty proposed by the Sadducees, Jesus wants to identify the source of the problem--man's tendency to confine the greatness of God inside a human framework through excessive reliance on reason, not giving due weight to divine Revelation and the power of God. A person can have difficulty with the truths of faith; this is not surprising, for these truths are above human reason. But it is ridiculous to try to find contradictions in the revealed word of God; this only leads away from any solution of difficulty and may make it impossible to find one's way back to God. We need to approach Sacred Scripture, and, in general, the things of God, with the humility which faith demands. In the passage about the burning bush, which Jesus quotes to the Sadducees, God says this to Moses: "Put off your shoes from your feet, for the place on which you stand is holy ground" (Exodus 3:5).
___________________________
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, June 03, 2008
Just for Today, June 4
Son, patience and humility in adversity are more pleasing to Me than much consolation and devotion in prosperity. Why art thou disturbed at a little thing said against thee? If it had been more, thou oughtest not to have been moved. But now let it pass; it is not the first nor anything new; nor the last if thou live long.
Thou art, valiant enough, so long as no adversity, or opposition comes in thy way. Thou canst also give good advice, and encourage others with thy words; but when any unexpected trouble comes to knock at thy door, then thy counsel and thy courage fail thee.
Consider the great frailty which thou hast often experienced in small difficulties: yet it is intended for thy good, as often as these or such-like things befall thee. Put it from thy heart the best thou canst: if it has touched thee, let it not cast thee down nor keep thee long entangled. At least bear it patiently, if thou canst not receive it with joy.
- Bk. III, ch. lvii.
__________________
One day when St Teresa had a high temperature, one of the Community came to ask her help in some artistic work which was far from easy. For one moment her expression betrayed the struggle in her soul, and Sœur Agnus de Jesus being present noticed it. That same evening St Teresa wrote her the following letter: "My beloved Mother, your child has just shed tears of repentance, or rather, of love and gratitude. Today I showed you my virtue, my treasures of patience! I who know so well how to preach to others! I am glad you have seen my imperfection. You did not scold me, although I deserved it; but as a matter of fact your gentleness had more effect upon me than sharp words would have had; to me you are the personification of divine Mercy.
"Well, my darling Mother, I can tell you that my imperfection gives me more pleasure than if, by the help of grace, I had been a model of patience. It is such a help to find. Jesus just as gentle and loving towards me. I feel overwhelmed with loving gratitUde."
-Letters.
__________________
For more information, see this post.
Adapted from Just For Today(©1943 Burns & Oates)
Nihil Obstat: Reginaldus Phillips, S.T.L.,Censor deputatus
Imprimatur: Edwardus Myers, Vic. Cap.
Thou art, valiant enough, so long as no adversity, or opposition comes in thy way. Thou canst also give good advice, and encourage others with thy words; but when any unexpected trouble comes to knock at thy door, then thy counsel and thy courage fail thee.
Consider the great frailty which thou hast often experienced in small difficulties: yet it is intended for thy good, as often as these or such-like things befall thee. Put it from thy heart the best thou canst: if it has touched thee, let it not cast thee down nor keep thee long entangled. At least bear it patiently, if thou canst not receive it with joy.
- Bk. III, ch. lvii.
__________________
One day when St Teresa had a high temperature, one of the Community came to ask her help in some artistic work which was far from easy. For one moment her expression betrayed the struggle in her soul, and Sœur Agnus de Jesus being present noticed it. That same evening St Teresa wrote her the following letter: "My beloved Mother, your child has just shed tears of repentance, or rather, of love and gratitude. Today I showed you my virtue, my treasures of patience! I who know so well how to preach to others! I am glad you have seen my imperfection. You did not scold me, although I deserved it; but as a matter of fact your gentleness had more effect upon me than sharp words would have had; to me you are the personification of divine Mercy.
"Well, my darling Mother, I can tell you that my imperfection gives me more pleasure than if, by the help of grace, I had been a model of patience. It is such a help to find. Jesus just as gentle and loving towards me. I feel overwhelmed with loving gratitUde."
-Letters.
__________________
For more information, see this post.
Adapted from Just For Today(©1943 Burns & Oates)
Nihil Obstat: Reginaldus Phillips, S.T.L.,Censor deputatus
Imprimatur: Edwardus Myers, Vic. Cap.
Thoughts and Counsels - June 4
The love of God inspires the love of our neighbor, and the love of our neighbor serves to keep alive the love of God.
-St. Gregory thr Great.
________________________
From Mary, Help of Christians
Part VI, Thoughts and Counsels of the Saints for Every Day of the Year
Compiled by Fr. Bonaventure Hammer, OFM (© 1909, Benziger Brothers)
-St. Gregory thr Great.
________________________
From Mary, Help of Christians
Part VI, Thoughts and Counsels of the Saints for Every Day of the Year
Compiled by Fr. Bonaventure Hammer, OFM (© 1909, Benziger Brothers)
Meditation for June 4, The Gift of Fortitude
An Hungarian author of meditations for youth relates that once upon a mountain road an auto making a sudden turn, while traveling at full speed, came upon a rather indistinct mass lying directly in its path. There was no time to put on the brakes. The machine overturned the obstacle, then stopped, and the passengers got out.
Do you know what the auto crushed? A giant eagle. There it lay, annihilated by a machine traveling along the ground - the royal eagle who lives and moves habitually in the heights.
And why?
Because the eagle, having noticed some carrion in the middle of the road, rushed upon it, forgetting all, its nest, its little one, its flights in the azure and the sunshine. It swooped down, lodging upon this prey already in a state of putrefaction, and from then on, no longer saw or heard anything else. The auto sounded its horn. But what did that matter? The eagle was digging its beak into the flesh; he was feasting.
A flash! All is over! Nothing remains but crushed flesh mingled with other crushed flesh.
How many souls, made like the eagle for the heights, are suddenly brought to earth by a base lust? The warning signal of danger sounds, but the soul pays no heed. Ruin follows - all because the soul lacks the virtue of strength.
I need the courage of a more attentive vigilance; the courage of a more marked resistance against the allurements of nature, so that if some day lust should awaken, brutally strong within, for religious life is not necessarily a guarantee against such temptations, I will have sufficient energy to realize its treachery and throw it off.
A profane author, trying to be witty, wrote, "We resist everything except temptation." That's a mistake. By praying for strength and by training the will for a considerable time, I can hold out, I can do all things in Him who strengthens me. That is the truth!
_________________
Adapted from Meditations for Religious
by Father Raoul Plus, S.J. (© 1939, Frederick Pustet Co.)
Do you know what the auto crushed? A giant eagle. There it lay, annihilated by a machine traveling along the ground - the royal eagle who lives and moves habitually in the heights.
And why?
Because the eagle, having noticed some carrion in the middle of the road, rushed upon it, forgetting all, its nest, its little one, its flights in the azure and the sunshine. It swooped down, lodging upon this prey already in a state of putrefaction, and from then on, no longer saw or heard anything else. The auto sounded its horn. But what did that matter? The eagle was digging its beak into the flesh; he was feasting.
A flash! All is over! Nothing remains but crushed flesh mingled with other crushed flesh.
How many souls, made like the eagle for the heights, are suddenly brought to earth by a base lust? The warning signal of danger sounds, but the soul pays no heed. Ruin follows - all because the soul lacks the virtue of strength.
I need the courage of a more attentive vigilance; the courage of a more marked resistance against the allurements of nature, so that if some day lust should awaken, brutally strong within, for religious life is not necessarily a guarantee against such temptations, I will have sufficient energy to realize its treachery and throw it off.
A profane author, trying to be witty, wrote, "We resist everything except temptation." That's a mistake. By praying for strength and by training the will for a considerable time, I can hold out, I can do all things in Him who strengthens me. That is the truth!
_________________
Adapted from Meditations for Religious
by Father Raoul Plus, S.J. (© 1939, Frederick Pustet Co.)
Vatican reaffirms Church teaching on ordination to the priesthood
Vatican City, Jun 3, 2008 / 01:33 pm (CNA).- The secretary for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Archbishop Angelo Amato, said this week only men can be ordained to the priesthood because “the Catholic Church is not authorized to change the will of her founder, Jesus Christ."Archbishop Amato was interviewed by L’Osservatore Romano, explaining that the recent CDF decree was necessary because of the numerous faux ordinations occurring.
"Therefore," the archbishop continued, "in the participation in the life and mission of the Church, women cannot receive the sacrament of Holy Orders and therefore, they cannot carry out the functions proper to the ministerial priesthood....”
Bishop Braxton to Meet Privately with Priests
BELLEVILLE, Ill. (AP) -- The Roman Catholic bishop of the Belleville diocese plans to begin meeting privately this summer with the diocese's priests in hopes of smoothing communication.Again, we should pray that much good will be the result of this endeavor to open up communication and understanding between the priests and the bishop.
Bishop Edward Braxton says in a letter to priests that the goal of the discussions is to improve dialogue and move beyond was has been contentious relations....
Let us pray as well that the priests exercise charity and humility in their meetings lest they forget that they are to work with the bishop for the salvation of souls - first and foremost.
St Stanislaus Board Deadlocked over Firing Marek Bozek
A priest "for hire" - for as long as he's 'necessary,' it seems... It's time to come back, folks!
Fox 2 News reported earlier today that the board members were locked in a 3 to 3 tie vote over whether to terminate Marek Bozek's "employment" as pastor of St Stanislaus Church...
More coming...
**** Updated 6/3/ LRS ****
We will post more information as it becomes available. We pray that this could be the beginning of a reconciliation process for St Stanislaus parishioners who have been denied valid or licit sacraments for so long.
*** Updated 6/4 ***
KTVI Fox2 News indicated that the story was not and probably would not be posted on its website. No reason given.
The parish secretary was unclear what to make of the news story on Fox2 News on Tuesday evening. She did state that some sort of decision on Marek Bozek's status should be forthcoming by this Friday.
Fox 2 News reported earlier today that the board members were locked in a 3 to 3 tie vote over whether to terminate Marek Bozek's "employment" as pastor of St Stanislaus Church...
More coming...
**** Updated 6/3/ LRS ****
We will post more information as it becomes available. We pray that this could be the beginning of a reconciliation process for St Stanislaus parishioners who have been denied valid or licit sacraments for so long.
*** Updated 6/4 ***
KTVI Fox2 News indicated that the story was not and probably would not be posted on its website. No reason given.
The parish secretary was unclear what to make of the news story on Fox2 News on Tuesday evening. She did state that some sort of decision on Marek Bozek's status should be forthcoming by this Friday.
Cardinal George Temporarily Removes Pfleger From St. Sabina
CBS 2 News has learned that Francis Cardinal George is temporarily removing Father Michael Pfleger from his position as pastor of St. Sabina Roman Catholic Church on Chicago's South Side.If true, we applaud Cardinal George for taking this first step...
CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine reports the move comes after several days of deliberation and consultation by the Cardinal, who first learned about Pfleger's racially charged comments about Sen. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton from the pulpit of Trinity Unity Church of Christ last Thursday night.
The Cardinal immediately contacted Pfleger who agreed not to refer to the presidential candidates by name, but as CBS 2 reported at the time, there remained the possibility of some further disciplinary action against Pflege...
Future Leader of St Stanislaus Church?
Zambia: Milingo Conducts Mass in LusakaIt's a really tough decision for some. Do we follow Christ and His Church or shold we chase after renegades like this? Who has the words of erternal life? For some, sadly, Milingo is the answer.
"ARCHBISHOP" Emmanuel Milingo yesterday conducted his first mass in Zambia since being excommunicated by the Roman Catholic Church two years ago and immediately started holding healing sessions expected to last up to Wednesday.
And the 77-year-old prelate has urged priests who have been excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church to join him and start serving the people.
He said when a priest was ordained; he could never lose the powers just as was the case with a person who had been baptised."We are not a sect!" How did this guy make it through to be a bishop? Who was asleep at the wheel? And Bozek has no problem with this guy?
"Whatever the Church (Catholic) has been preaching is a lie. We can't accept this. We are not a sect as we are claiming what is ours. They abused their authority by excommunicating us.
"We are coming back, Saint Peter was married, all of them were except John the evangelist. We are not a sect but just reminding you of your duties. You can't just sit down. The priests should not fear excommunication. It does not exist. You are priests forever" Archbishop Milingo who was accompanied by his wife Maria Sung said.....
"Whatever the Church has been preaching is a lie." - Uhh, right! And Milingo offers us the truth...doesn't the devil tell us the same thing? I'll think I'll stick with the Church Jesus founded and which He promised to protect.
Shroud of Turin on Display in 2010
Pilgrims at the Tomb of Peter. As in Ancient Rome (Chiesa)
Few California chanceries willing to discuss consequences for Catholics in civil same-sex 'marriage'
California Catholic Daily contacted every chancery in the state, asking what would happen to the canonical status of Catholics of the same sex who were civilly married: Could they be catechists? Extraordinary ministers? Lectors? Would they be permitted to receive Communion?Read more about it here...Seems simple enough to answer, but then, I don't live in California.
Gospel for Jun 2, Memorial: St. Charles Lwanga and Companions, martyrs
Tuesday, 9th Week in Ordinary Time
From: Mark 12:13-17
On Tribute to Caesar
[13] And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to entrap him in his talk. [14] And they came and said to him, "Teacher, we know that you are true, and care for no man; for you do not regard the position of men, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? [15] Should we pay them, or should we not?" But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, "Why put me to the test? Bring me a coin and let me look at it." [16] And they brought one. And he said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" They said to him, "Caesar's." [17] Jesus said to them, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." And they were amazed at him.
________________________
Commentary:
13-17. Jesus uses this situation to teach that man belongs totally to his Creator: "You must perforce give Caesar the coin which bears his likeness, but let you give your whole being to God, because it is his likeness, not Caesar's that you bear" (St Jerome, "Comm. in Marcum, in loc.").
Our Lord here asserts a principle which should guide the action of Christians in public life. The Church recognizes the rightful autonomy of earthly realities, but this does not mean that she has not a responsibility to light them up with the light of the Gospel. When they work shoulder to shoulder with other citizens to develop society, Christian lay people should bring a Christian influence to bear: "If the role of the Hierarchy is to teach and to interpret authentically the norms of morality to be followed in this matter, it belongs to lay people, without waiting passively for orders and directives, to take the initiative freely and to infuse a Christian spirit into the mentality, customs, laws and structures of the community in which they live. Changes are necessary, basic reforms are indispensable; lay people should strive resolutely to permeate them with the spirit of the Gospel" (Paul VI, "Populorum Progressio", 81).
__________________________
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.
From: Mark 12:13-17
On Tribute to Caesar
[13] And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to entrap him in his talk. [14] And they came and said to him, "Teacher, we know that you are true, and care for no man; for you do not regard the position of men, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? [15] Should we pay them, or should we not?" But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, "Why put me to the test? Bring me a coin and let me look at it." [16] And they brought one. And he said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" They said to him, "Caesar's." [17] Jesus said to them, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." And they were amazed at him.
________________________
Commentary:
13-17. Jesus uses this situation to teach that man belongs totally to his Creator: "You must perforce give Caesar the coin which bears his likeness, but let you give your whole being to God, because it is his likeness, not Caesar's that you bear" (St Jerome, "Comm. in Marcum, in loc.").
Our Lord here asserts a principle which should guide the action of Christians in public life. The Church recognizes the rightful autonomy of earthly realities, but this does not mean that she has not a responsibility to light them up with the light of the Gospel. When they work shoulder to shoulder with other citizens to develop society, Christian lay people should bring a Christian influence to bear: "If the role of the Hierarchy is to teach and to interpret authentically the norms of morality to be followed in this matter, it belongs to lay people, without waiting passively for orders and directives, to take the initiative freely and to infuse a Christian spirit into the mentality, customs, laws and structures of the community in which they live. Changes are necessary, basic reforms are indispensable; lay people should strive resolutely to permeate them with the spirit of the Gospel" (Paul VI, "Populorum Progressio", 81).
__________________________
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, June 02, 2008
What Kind of a Theologian Are You - Biblical Inspiration
You already know that
Try the Following Quiz on Biblical Inspiration.
Give yourself 10 points for each of the 10 questions Which you answer correctly. If you score 95-100, give yourself a SCL (summa cum laude); 90-95, a MCL (magna cum laude); 85-90, a CL (cum laude); 80-85, a BP (bene probatus); 70-80, a P (probatus); 1>-70, a NP (non probatus).
[Answer each "a, b, c, d" with Yes or No]
____________________
1. Is it of divine and Catholic faith that God is the author of the Bible through inspiration?
2. a) Can the divine authorship of the Bible be proved by texts from the Bible? and, b) Do the inspired books of the Bible demonstrate their divine origin by their excellence of doctrine, their sublimity of language, and their effects on devout minds?
3. How do we know what books belong to the Bible?
4. Does inspiration mean:
a) that God dictates the book to a human writer?
b) that the human writer receives his ideas by divine revelation?
5. Does inspiration mean that the activity of the human writer is:
a) more than
b) less than
c) the same as the activity of a noninspired writer?
6. Does inspiration mean:
a) that the human writer does not enjoy freedom of the will in writing?
b) that the human writer is moved by God to perform all the action necessary to write a book?
7. Would a book be called inspired because:
a) its author wrote under a divine command?
b) its author was divinely protected from error?
c) it contains divine revelation?
8. Does inspiration exclude:
a) ignorance?
b) doubt?
c) error?
d) mendacity?
e) dullness?
f) bad grammar?
g) obscurity?
9. Does inspiration mean:
a) that each and every sentence in the Bible is equally the word of God?
b) that the Bible has been transmitted to us without error or alteration?
10. Are some parts of the Bible more inspired than others?
_________________________
Answers next Monday...
Adapted from The Queen's Work Magazine, April 1946
"all those things are to be believed with divine and Catholic faith which are contained in the written or orally transmitted word of God, and which the Church, either by a solemn judgment or by her ordinary and universal magisterium, proposes for belief as having been divinely revealed." (Vatican Council.)Can you recognize truths which are divine and Catholic faith?
Try the Following Quiz on Biblical Inspiration.
Give yourself 10 points for each of the 10 questions Which you answer correctly. If you score 95-100, give yourself a SCL (summa cum laude); 90-95, a MCL (magna cum laude); 85-90, a CL (cum laude); 80-85, a BP (bene probatus); 70-80, a P (probatus); 1>-70, a NP (non probatus).
[Answer each "a, b, c, d" with Yes or No]
____________________
1. Is it of divine and Catholic faith that God is the author of the Bible through inspiration?
2. a) Can the divine authorship of the Bible be proved by texts from the Bible? and, b) Do the inspired books of the Bible demonstrate their divine origin by their excellence of doctrine, their sublimity of language, and their effects on devout minds?
3. How do we know what books belong to the Bible?
4. Does inspiration mean:
a) that God dictates the book to a human writer?
b) that the human writer receives his ideas by divine revelation?
5. Does inspiration mean that the activity of the human writer is:
a) more than
b) less than
c) the same as the activity of a noninspired writer?
6. Does inspiration mean:
a) that the human writer does not enjoy freedom of the will in writing?
b) that the human writer is moved by God to perform all the action necessary to write a book?
7. Would a book be called inspired because:
a) its author wrote under a divine command?
b) its author was divinely protected from error?
c) it contains divine revelation?
8. Does inspiration exclude:
a) ignorance?
b) doubt?
c) error?
d) mendacity?
e) dullness?
f) bad grammar?
g) obscurity?
9. Does inspiration mean:
a) that each and every sentence in the Bible is equally the word of God?
b) that the Bible has been transmitted to us without error or alteration?
10. Are some parts of the Bible more inspired than others?
_________________________
Answers next Monday...
Adapted from The Queen's Work Magazine, April 1946
What's Your Moral IQ of 'Charity towards Ourselves'?
Allow ten points for each question. One hundred per cent means that you are a moral theologian; 90, you know the law; 80, you are about average; 70, you'd better join a study club.
___________________
1. What is an act of charity towards ourselves?
2. Are we obliged to know our last end and the means of obtaining it?
3. Are we obliged to study at school?
4. A rich man says that he has a right to be idle. Is he correct?
5. Am I bound to work as Christ worked?
6. Why have I no right to inflict evil on myself or to destroy myself?
7. If I have no right to destroy myself then I never have any right to wish to die. Is this true?
8. Have I any obligation to reconcile myself with God when I am in mortal sin and in danger of death?
9. May I prefer suffering to be like Christ?
10. May I prefer riches in order to do great work for Christ?
_________________________
Answers next Monday...
Adapted from The Queen's Work Magazine, April 1946
___________________
1. What is an act of charity towards ourselves?
2. Are we obliged to know our last end and the means of obtaining it?
3. Are we obliged to study at school?
4. A rich man says that he has a right to be idle. Is he correct?
5. Am I bound to work as Christ worked?
6. Why have I no right to inflict evil on myself or to destroy myself?
7. If I have no right to destroy myself then I never have any right to wish to die. Is this true?
8. Have I any obligation to reconcile myself with God when I am in mortal sin and in danger of death?
9. May I prefer suffering to be like Christ?
10. May I prefer riches in order to do great work for Christ?
_________________________
Answers next Monday...
Adapted from The Queen's Work Magazine, April 1946
Just for Today, June 3
Thou knowest, O Lord, what is best; let this or that be done, as Thou wilt. Give what Thou wilt, how much Thou wilt, and at what time Thou wilt.
-Bk. III, ch. xv.
________________
I have always been pleased with what God has given me, even when I thought that what others had seemed better and finer.
-Conseils et Souvenirs.
__________________
For more information, see this post.
Adapted from Just For Today(©1943 Burns & Oates)
Nihil Obstat: Reginaldus Phillips, S.T.L.,Censor deputatus
Imprimatur: Edwardus Myers, Vic. Cap.
-Bk. III, ch. xv.
________________
I have always been pleased with what God has given me, even when I thought that what others had seemed better and finer.
-Conseils et Souvenirs.
__________________
For more information, see this post.
Adapted from Just For Today(©1943 Burns & Oates)
Nihil Obstat: Reginaldus Phillips, S.T.L.,Censor deputatus
Imprimatur: Edwardus Myers, Vic. Cap.
Thoughts and Counsels - June 3
An act of perfect conformity to the will of God unites us more to Him than a hundred other acts of virtue.
-St. Alphonsus.
________________________
From Mary, Help of Christians
Part VI, Thoughts and Counsels of the Saints for Every Day of the Year
Compiled by Fr. Bonaventure Hammer, OFM (© 1909, Benziger Brothers)
-St. Alphonsus.
________________________
From Mary, Help of Christians
Part VI, Thoughts and Counsels of the Saints for Every Day of the Year
Compiled by Fr. Bonaventure Hammer, OFM (© 1909, Benziger Brothers)
Meditation for June 3, The Gift of Piety
To say that a soul possesses the Gift of Piety does not mean that it is pious in the ordinary sense of the word but rather that it lives in an habitual disposition of devoted love.
In practice, this habitual disposition begets a manifestly eager recourse to prayer and contact with God, particularly in difficulties or after a serious fall; cheerful fidelity in fulfiling all my duties under the eyes of God, solely for His good pleasure; absolute conviction that His mercy will assist me in all my interior trials, that His paternal indulgence will cover all my wretchedness; finally a steady poise in all the occurrences of life which will never frighten me, no matter how incomprehensible they may seem - a father is always a father.
It will also give rise to childlike gratitude for all the marks of God's goodness, my apostolic successes, interior lights and consolations, holy friendships, and numerous other favors.
O Holy Spirit, animate my religious life with true piety. I do not want to be a coward when it comes to serving God. When I was in the world I was considered pious, now that I live the religous life, can it be said that I serve You less well? Oh, I am only too well aware that I possess in a very slight degree, if at all, those virtues which true piety implies - thirst for contact with God, ardent and cheerful fidelity in accomplishing my duty, absolute abandonment, and complete surrender of my all into the hands of Providence.
Give me all that!
_________________
Adapted from Meditations for Religious
by Father Raoul Plus, S.J. (© 1939, Frederick Pustet Co.)
In practice, this habitual disposition begets a manifestly eager recourse to prayer and contact with God, particularly in difficulties or after a serious fall; cheerful fidelity in fulfiling all my duties under the eyes of God, solely for His good pleasure; absolute conviction that His mercy will assist me in all my interior trials, that His paternal indulgence will cover all my wretchedness; finally a steady poise in all the occurrences of life which will never frighten me, no matter how incomprehensible they may seem - a father is always a father.
It will also give rise to childlike gratitude for all the marks of God's goodness, my apostolic successes, interior lights and consolations, holy friendships, and numerous other favors.
O Holy Spirit, animate my religious life with true piety. I do not want to be a coward when it comes to serving God. When I was in the world I was considered pious, now that I live the religous life, can it be said that I serve You less well? Oh, I am only too well aware that I possess in a very slight degree, if at all, those virtues which true piety implies - thirst for contact with God, ardent and cheerful fidelity in accomplishing my duty, absolute abandonment, and complete surrender of my all into the hands of Providence.
Give me all that!
_________________
Adapted from Meditations for Religious
by Father Raoul Plus, S.J. (© 1939, Frederick Pustet Co.)
Answers-What's Your Moral IQ of the Virtue of Hope?
The Virtue of Hope
Questions can be viewed here.
_____________
1. Hope is a supernatural virtue by which we trust God will give us eternal life and the means to obtain it.
2. By making acts of hope, by diverting one's attention to something else, by praying, and by thinking of the sufferings and death of Our Lord.
3. No, because he does not trust that God will help him through this trial.
4. Yes, because she must co-operate with the means God gives her for her salvation.
5. Probably not, because she is just exasperated, and she doesn't sincerely mean this.
6. Margy would have no interest in living with God in heaven.
7. Yes, but this would be only natural hope.
8. Such a person would not have the virtue of hope because he does not place his trust in God's help.
9. Yes, implicitly, because he does not trust in God's help, but he would also sin against whatever virtue the sin violated.
10. Yes, because he doesn't trust that God will give him the grace to forgive his enemy.
_________________________
Adapted from The Queen's Work Magazine, February 1946
Questions can be viewed here.
_____________
1. Hope is a supernatural virtue by which we trust God will give us eternal life and the means to obtain it.
2. By making acts of hope, by diverting one's attention to something else, by praying, and by thinking of the sufferings and death of Our Lord.
3. No, because he does not trust that God will help him through this trial.
4. Yes, because she must co-operate with the means God gives her for her salvation.
5. Probably not, because she is just exasperated, and she doesn't sincerely mean this.
6. Margy would have no interest in living with God in heaven.
7. Yes, but this would be only natural hope.
8. Such a person would not have the virtue of hope because he does not place his trust in God's help.
9. Yes, implicitly, because he does not trust in God's help, but he would also sin against whatever virtue the sin violated.
10. Yes, because he doesn't trust that God will give him the grace to forgive his enemy.
_________________________
Adapted from The Queen's Work Magazine, February 1946
Cardinal George: Stopping pro-abortion speakers.... "would be futile"
Cardinal George has determined that stopping pro-abortion speakers from appearing in Catholic Churches "would be a futile gesture and a waste of effort.Not only local Catholics, but many Catholics nationwide are more than disappointed at the lack of disciplinary measures being taken for the public shame and scandal that this priest causes.
2/7/2003 3:07:00 PM
By Karl Maurer, Vice President and Treasurer -CATHOLIC CITIZENS OF ILLINOIS
Chicago Catholics are reacting with anger and shock over a press release by Cardinal George late Friday afternoon.
The release reads as follows:"Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., learned from the news media that the Rev. Al Sharpton has been invited to speak at St. Sabina's on February 9 in the course of celebrating Black History Month. The Cardinal supports the celebration but does not approve of the invitation because of the Rev. Sharpton's present political candidacy and his pro-abortion stance."[...]
"Since the homily at Mass is a liturgical action, the homilist is to be a bishop, priest or deacon. This is the normal sacramental discipline of the Catholic Church. Archdiocesan policy also respects the civil internal revenue laws prohibiting direct political campaigning during a worship service."
"The Cardinal believes, however, that making a case of this invitation at this time would be a futile gesture and a waste of effort."
Local Catholics have responded to Cardinal George's decision with bitter disappointment.
Dr Edward Peters: Autism and the Sunday Mass obligation
A pastorally difficult case in Minnesota involving Mass attendance by an autistic boy is not being helped by caricatures of the Church’s law on the Sunday/holy day obligation. My suggestions for clearing one obstacle to mutual understanding are here...
Pope Encourages Sacred Heart Devotion
Vatican, Jun. 2, 2008 (CWNews.com) - Pope Benedict XVI spoke about devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus at his regular midday audience on Sunday, June 1.
The Holy Father observed that the Sacred Heart devotion, to which the month of June is traditionally located, highlights "a symbol of June is traditionally dedicated to the Heart of Jesus, "a symbol of the Christian faith that is especially dear to ordinary people as well as to mystics and theologians." The image of the Sacred Heart, he explains, captures the essence of Christ's love "in a simple and authentic way...."
Priests from Nebraska lead rite's resurgence of Latin Mass
Christopher BurbachFr. Z has screen captures from the EWTN broadcast on his blog.
Omaha World-Herald, Neb.
Released : Saturday, May 31, 2008 4:00 AM
May 31--LINCOLN -- A cardinal from the Vatican, surrounded by 50 priests.
Gregorian chants floating through clouds of incense.
A 3 1/2 -hour Mass, sung in Latin mostly by priests facing the altar.
A cathedral packed to standing-room-only with lots of families with lots of children, women and girls in veils, men in suits, boys in neckties and close-cropped haircuts.
Catholics kneeling to take communion.
The ordination at Lincoln's Cathedral of the Risen Christ on Friday seemed oh-so-retro. But it was hardly an exercise in nostalgia. It was more like back to the future for a small but growing minority that seeks a louder voice in the Roman Catholic Church -- those devoted to the old Latin liturgy known as the Tridentine Mass.
It's a big deal for Catholics because many equate bringing back the Tridentine Mass, which dates to the 16th century, with rejecting the 1960s reforms of Vatican II. Proponents see it as finally bringing back sacredness, God-oriented reverence and tradition that had been left behind.
Whatever the reaction, Friday's events in Lincoln were a further sign that the Latin Mass is on a rebound some 40 years after it was replaced, in the wake of Vatican II, by the modern Mass. The newer rite is celebrated in the local language with the priest facing the congregation.
The Latin Mass was largely shunned for nearly 20 years. It began a comeback when Pope John Paul II approved its use in 1984, then further encouraged its use in 1988 with a letter known as Ecclesia Dei Adflicta.
The rebound accelerated last year when Pope Benedict XVI decreed, in a document called a motu proprio, that priests no longer needed their bishops' approval to say the old Latin Mass, or as the pope calls it, the extraordinary form of the Roman rite.
Denton, Neb., a small town outside Lincoln, is a center of the movement. It's home to Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary, which prepares men from all over the world to be priests in the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter. That organization is the largest of the priestly societies authorized by the Vatican to preserve ancient liturgical traditions.
Friday's service in the Lincoln cathedral was the ordination of four Fraternity of St. Peter priests. They were ordained by Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos, head of the Vatican department that oversees matters regarding the Latin Mass. His appearance in Lincoln was not only a sign of the Nebraska seminary's importance to Rome, but also a further symbol of encouragement from a pope seen as friendly to those who love the Latin Mass....[continued, see below]
Gospel for Monday, 9th Week in Ordinary Time
Optional Memorial of Sts. Marcellinus and Peter, martyrs
Old Calendar: Saints Marcellinus, Peter and Erasmus, bishop, martyrs
From: Mark 12:1-12
The Parable of the Wicked Tenants
[1] And he began to speak to them in parables. "A man planted a vineyard, and set a hedge around it, and dug a pit for the wine press, and built a tower, and let it out to tenants, and went into another country. [2] When the time came, he sent a servant to the tenants, to get from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. [3] And they took him and beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. [4] Again he sent to them another servant, and they wounded him in the head, and treated him shamefully. [5]And he sent another, and him they killed; and so with many others, some they beat and some they killed. [6] He had still one other, a beloved son; finally he sent him to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.' [7] But those tenants said to one another, 'This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.' [8] And they took him and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard. [9] What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants, and give the vineyard to others. [10] Have you not read the scripture: 'The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner; [11] this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?" [12] And they tried to arrest him but feared the multitude, for they perceived that he had told the parable against them; so they left him and went away.
____________________
Commentary:
1-12. This parable is a masterly summary of history of salvation. To explain the mystery of his redemptive death, Jesus makes use of one of the most beautiful allegories of the Old Testament the so-called "song of the vineyard," in which Isaiah (5:1-7) prophesied Israel's ingratitude for God's favors. On the basis of this Isaiah text, Jesus reveals the patience of God, who sends one messenger after another--the prophets of the Old Testament--until at last, as the text says, he sends "his beloved son", Jesus, whom the tenants will kill. This _expression, as also that which God himself uses to describe Christ at Baptism (1:11) and the Transfiguration (9:7), points to the divinity of Jesus, who is the cornerstone of salvation, rejected by the builders in their selfishness and pride. To the Jews listening to Jesus telling this parable, his meaning must have been crystal clear. The rulers "perceived that he had told the parable against them" (v. 12) and that it was about the fulfillment of the Isaiah prophecy (cf. note on Mt 21:33-46).
___________________________
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.
Old Calendar: Saints Marcellinus, Peter and Erasmus, bishop, martyrs
From: Mark 12:1-12
The Parable of the Wicked Tenants
[1] And he began to speak to them in parables. "A man planted a vineyard, and set a hedge around it, and dug a pit for the wine press, and built a tower, and let it out to tenants, and went into another country. [2] When the time came, he sent a servant to the tenants, to get from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. [3] And they took him and beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. [4] Again he sent to them another servant, and they wounded him in the head, and treated him shamefully. [5]And he sent another, and him they killed; and so with many others, some they beat and some they killed. [6] He had still one other, a beloved son; finally he sent him to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.' [7] But those tenants said to one another, 'This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.' [8] And they took him and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard. [9] What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants, and give the vineyard to others. [10] Have you not read the scripture: 'The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner; [11] this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?" [12] And they tried to arrest him but feared the multitude, for they perceived that he had told the parable against them; so they left him and went away.
____________________
Commentary:
1-12. This parable is a masterly summary of history of salvation. To explain the mystery of his redemptive death, Jesus makes use of one of the most beautiful allegories of the Old Testament the so-called "song of the vineyard," in which Isaiah (5:1-7) prophesied Israel's ingratitude for God's favors. On the basis of this Isaiah text, Jesus reveals the patience of God, who sends one messenger after another--the prophets of the Old Testament--until at last, as the text says, he sends "his beloved son", Jesus, whom the tenants will kill. This _expression, as also that which God himself uses to describe Christ at Baptism (1:11) and the Transfiguration (9:7), points to the divinity of Jesus, who is the cornerstone of salvation, rejected by the builders in their selfishness and pride. To the Jews listening to Jesus telling this parable, his meaning must have been crystal clear. The rulers "perceived that he had told the parable against them" (v. 12) and that it was about the fulfillment of the Isaiah prophecy (cf. note on Mt 21:33-46).
___________________________
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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