September 2012 Archives

The "Ratzinger Prize" is also known as the "Nobel of Theology." The Prize is sponsored by the Joseph Ratzinger (Benedict XVI) Vatican Foundation, whose aim is to "promote the publication, distribution and study of the writings of former university professor Joseph Ratzinger." The Prize, though, recognizes excellence in theological study and teaching and not the echoing Ratzinger's thought. Vatican Radio explains more here.

In 2010, the Holy Father established, in consultation with other, a Prize in Theology noting three areas: Sacred Scripture, Patristics and Fundamental Theology.

2012

• Rémi Brague, Professor emeritus of medieval and Arabic philosophy, University Panthéon-Sorbonne (Paris I) and professor of Philosophy of the European religions (Romano Guardini Chair), Ludwig- Maximilian University
• Father Brian E. Daley, SJ, Professor of Theology, University of Notre Dame

2011

• Professor Dr. Manlio Simonetti, Professor of Ancient Christian Studies and Patristic Biblical Interpretation, La Sapienza University
• Father Dr. Olegario González de Cardedal, Professor of Dogmatic and Fundamental Theology, Pontifical University of Salamanca
• Father Dr. Maximilian Heim, OCist, Abbot of Heiligenkreuz Monastery, Austria, Professor of Dogmatic and Fundamental Theology, University of Heiligenkreuz.

I want to remember the Vincentian community in here in Connecticut, and particularly at Saint Stanislaus Church in New Haven. 

My prayer is that the Vincentian priests and brothers fulfill what the Church prays in the Mass Collect (see below) so that their witness be bold and clear for the faithful following of Jesus Christ. We need the witness of Saint Vincent de Paul and his sons and daughters through the vowed life of the Vincentian Society today more than ever. In an age of diminishment in vocations, the love with which the Vincentians live their vocation needs to be extroverted.

With the Church we pray,

O God, who for the relief of the poor and the formation of the clergy endowed the Priest Saint Vincent de Paul with apostolic  virtues, grant, we pray, that, afire with that same spirit, we may love what he loved and put into practice what he taught.

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To you do we cry poor banished children of Eve. To you do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, O most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus.

O clement! O loving! O sweet Virgin Mary!

The narrative of this feast of Our Lady has its origin in the devotion of Saint Peter Nolasco in the late 12th century France. Father Paul Haffner tells us more here.

The feast of Our Lady of Mercy is close to the heart of the Sisters of Mercy of Alma, and those who have an awareness of the role of Mercy in life.

May Our Lady of Mercy be with us, pray for us.

It is no less challenging to follow Christ today, It means learning to keep our gaze fixed on Jesus, growing close to him, listening to his word and encountering him in the sacraments; it means learning to conform our will to his. This requires a genuine school of formation for all those who would prepare themselves for the ministerial priesthood or the consecrated life under the guidance of the competent ecclesial authorities. The Lord does not fail to call people at every stage of life to share in his mission and to serve the church in the ordained ministry and in the consecrated life (48th World Day of Vocations, 2011).

The key words for us ought to be "to follow," "to keep our gaze," "listening," "conforming," and "encountering." The crux is, to whom do we belong? Of course, I would hope that we could easily say that we belong to Christ and to His Church. But we know that while we may honestly believe this fact, it is not so every day. We say one thing but we don't always follow and keep our gaze on the Lord. May this be our prayer and our work today!

This is the third year that I have surveyed, in representative manner, some of the US monastic communities and religious orders who have had members profess simple and/or solemn vows, new members who received the habit or have receive ordination to the Order of Deacon or Priest. While the numbers may be sobering, the point is not about numbers as much as to recognize the many testimonies of grace, the rich living of the offer God has made to our sisters and brothers to love and serve Him in religious life. Corrections welcome.

Monastic life

monks

• St Anselm's Abbey (Washington, DC): 3 novices entered
• St Louis Abbey: 1 monk made a profession of solemn vows; 2 monks ordained deacon

• St Meinrad Archabbey: 1 profession of simple vows; 2 novices entered
• Conception Abbey: 2 ordained deacon and 1 ordained priest
• Marmion Abbey: 5 novices entered; 1 monk ordained priest.
• Glastonbury Abbey: 1 monk made a profession of simple vows
• Monastery of Saint Benedict (Norcia, Italy): 1 monk professed solemn vows

• St Vincent's Archabbey: 4 profess simple vows; 4 profess solemn vows; 2 ordained deacons, 2 ordained priests
• St John's Abbey: 2 monks make a profession of solemn vows; 3 professed simple vows
• St Benedict's Abbey (Atchinson, KS): 1 monk solemn vows, 3 received as postulants, 1 postulant in Brazil
• Belmont Abbey (Charlotte, NC): 1 novice entered; 2 monks profess solemn vows
• St Martin's Abbey: 1 entered as a novice

• Daylesford Abbey (Norbertines): 1 simple profession, 2 entered the novitiate
• Cistercian Abbey of Our Lady of Dallas: 2 monks make solemn professions; 2 monks ordained to the Order of Deacon, and 2 ordained to the Order of Priest
• Charterhouse of the Transfiguration (Carthusians in Vermont): 1 novice entered, other juniors in community

nuns

• Abbey of Regina Laudis: 2 entered the postulancy, 2 entered the novitiate, 3 nuns profess simple vows and 2 profess solemn vows
• St Walburga Abbey (Virginia Dale, CO): 2 nuns profess solemn vows
• St Scholastica Priory (Petersham, MA): 2 nuns profess simple vows
• Benedictines of Mary, Queen of the Apostles: 4 sisters profess simple vows, 3 novices take the habit, 1 candidate invited.
• Mount St Scholastica Monastery (Atchinson, KS): 2 received as postulants
• Monastery of the Visitation, Mont Deux Coeurs (Tyringham, MA): 1 nun professed solemn vows, 1 novice with 2 postulants entered.
• Valley of Our Lady Monastery (Prairie du Sac, WI): the Cistercian nuns simply professed 1; others entered.

I would hope that Catholics know and utilize the work of of the Apostleship of Prayer. You would know the Apostleship because of their publication of the Pope's monthly prayer intentions, the advocacy of the Morning Offering and devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Well, there is good work being done to make the ministry of these faithful Jesuits more known so as to lead all to Christ. 

Cindy Wooden of CNS notes, 

"Membership in the Apostleship of Prayer involves a commitment to beginning each day with a prayer offering one's life to God and praying for the needs of the universal church and the intentions of the pope. Members promise to end each day prayerfully reviewing their blessings and failings.

The morning offering and prayers are the basic membership requirements, and in many countries the apostleship has no registration, no groups, no fees, and no special meetings. The Jesuits estimate that about 50 million people fulfill the membership requirements in the apostleship and its youth wing, the Eucharistic Youth Movement."

The September 17th article is here.

Please join the Apostleship of Prayer (see the link above).

Yahoo News published a story this morning published online a story, "Forbes Photographs 'Titans of Philanthropy'" noting the group which represents $126 Billion dollars. How many of those photographed can you name? Honestly... I can name a few but not the entire group without help. My prayer for these people is that they give their money to good causes that genuinely promote the common good influenced by virtue.

In the Forbes photo, left to right: Warren Buffett, Oprah Winfrey, Bill Gates, Melinda Gates, Peter Peterson, Leon Black, Jon Bon Jovi, Marc Benioff, David Rubenstein, Steve Case, Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen, Marc Andreessen

O Lord, you were generous with your gifts of grace to the virgin Hildegard. By following closely her example and teaching, may we pass from the darkness of this life into your marvelous light.

Saint Hildegard (1098-1179) was a Benedictine of great learning ( a true polymath), a holy woman who was known for her visions, prophesies, poetry and spiritual guidance. Some have likened her to Dante and William Blake. She was given the title of the Sibyl of the Rhine. Since the 15th century Hildegard's name was in the Roman Martyrology but was not officially canonized. On May 10, 2012 Pope Benedict XVI gave the entire Church the liturgical memory of Saint Hildegard (the equivalent of canonizing her); the Pope stated that on October 7, 2012 he will name the Saint a Doctor of the Church.

We pray for the Benedictine Congress in Rome that begins today and goes until the 25th through the intercession of Saint Hildegard.

I am giving emphasis these days on knowing what we believe as Catholics by looking at the liturgical sources. We first go to the sacred Liturgy to study and pray the prayers prayed by the priest for Mass, Lauds, Vespers, or those smaller rites such as the Blessing of Basil that you would find on today's feast of the Holy Cross, also called the Roodmas. Ours is a richly endowed sacramental faith.

"The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, which, the day after the dedication of the Basilica of the Resurrection raised over the tomb of Christ, is exalted and honored, in the manner of a memorial of His paschal victory and the sign which is to appear in the sky, already announcing in advance His second coming" (from the Roman Martyrology)

The Blessing of Basil

V. Our help is in the name of the Lord.

R. Who made heaven and earth.

Let us pray.

Almighty and merciful God, deign, we beseech You, to bless Your creature, this aromatic basil leaf. + Even as it delights our senses, may it recall for us the triumph of Christ, our Crucified King and the power of His Precious Blood to purify and preserve us from evil so that, planted beneath His Cross, we may flourish to Your glory and spread abroad the fragrance of His sacrifice. Who is Lord forever and ever.

R. Amen.

The bouquets of basil leaf are sprinkled with Holy Water.

The movie, "For Greater Glory," is now available on DVD on Amazon, but it is also available from Ignatius Press.

What price would you pay for freedom? In the exhilarating action epic "For Greater Glory" an impassioned group of men and women each make the decision to risk it all for family, faith and the very future of their country, as the film's adventure unfolds against the long-hidden, true story of the 1920s Cristero War the daring people's revolt that rocked 20th Century North America.

This movie is an excellent addition for your Catholic library of film and appropriate for a high school Catholic curricula, the RCIA and adult faith formation work of your parish. This forgotten part of our North American history needs to be better known.

The President of the Fraternity of Communion and Liberation, Father Carrón's, said the following in tribute to Carlo Maria Cardinal Martini in a September 4th editorial in Corriere della Sera: 

"And like Archbishop Montini, who initially confessed that he did not understand Fr. Giussani's method, though he did see its fruits, Cardinal Martini also encouraged us to go forward. I am still moved by the words that he addressed to Fr. Giussani in 1995, during a meeting of priests, when he thanked 'the Lord, who gave Msgr. Giussani this gift for continually re-expressing the core of Christianity. 'Every time that you talk, you always return to this core, which is the Incarnation, and - in a thousand different ways - you propose it again.'"

The full text of the editorial: Julian Carron Letter on Carlo Martini's death.pdf

This text is a brief, honest and yet key reflection not only on the life and influence of Cardinal Martini, perhaps an excellent synthesis of Christian life and how it is extroverted in a human being. There are some very tiresome reviews of who the Cardinal was, and what he meant to the Church too often in political language. To my mind those authors who evaluate a man such as Martini in this manner does not abide with the Gospel and faith.

The letter of Father Carrón acknowledges the fact that Communion and Liberation has significantly neglected the various opportunities of collaboration with Cardinal Martini that presented themselves over the years. This admission to members of CL should help all of us to reassess how we live and breathe in our given ecclesial context. This is a serious point that we can't pass off to circumstance. That is to say, we who claim to be faithful members of CL need to work more diligently with the Diocesan Ordinary "in giving reasons for our hope" in concrete ways so that we are witnesses as the Servant of God Pope Paul VI said (cf. the letter).

Agimus tibi gratias, omnipotens Deus, pro universis beneficiis tuis, qui vivis et regnas in saecula saeculorum. Fidelium animae, per misericordiam Dei, requiescant in pace. Amen.

Let us celebrate with joy the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, for from her arose the sun of justice, Christ our God. (antiphon)

Impart to your servants, we pray, O Lord, the gift of heavenly grace, that the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin may bring deeper peace to those for whom the birth of her Son was the dawning of salvation.

Several things to pray for today,

• the Most Rev. Edoardo Aldo Cerrrato, CO, on the day of his episcopal ordination in Rome;
• the Cistercian Order;
• those who professed vows today;
• the Benedictines of Saint Mary's Monastery (Petersham, MA);
• Archbishop Charles Chaput, OFM, Cap, on the first anniversary of being the archbishop of Philadelphia;
• Michael Maggiore who is healing.

Keeping in mind what Saint Thomas of Villanova reflected upon for today's feast,

"What joy, what happiness there is in heaven! The shoot for the root of Jesse, sown so long ago in the patriarchs, has today sprung up and began  to grow, and will bear a Flower which is destined to heal the world; a Flower whose scent revives the dead, whose taste heals the sick, whose beauty delights the angels; a Flower both white and red, which the angels long to see."

I am not a subscriber to Entertainment Weekly but this week when I saw the magazine I had another reason for not reading this rag.  The well-known actress Jessica Lange is on the cover wearing a religious sister's habit, a crucifix around her neck, brandishing a cane and wearing fire-engine red lipstick and painted nails advocating "American Horror Story." Hmmm, the artists got the look of many women religious, right?  It doesn't take a brain surgeon to see the ugliness of this image viz. with conversation the Church is having with the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR). 

While I am not a fan of what the LCWR stands for, or perhaps more accurately, what some members of the LCWR stand for, there is no need perpetuate the crass cliché through mocking portrayals of ruler-wielding nuns  who are seen as backwards and stupid. The vast majority of religious sisters and nuns are not this way. One ought to ask, "What about the beautiful work of teaching children Catechism, their work with the poor and the marginalized, all those women of prayer and learning in hospitals, and schools?

I think EW has stooped way too low in publishing a cover with anti-Catholic stereotyping. One can't claim that some members of the media are not anti-Catholic when a prominent magazine puts silly things on the cover. Really, a terrifying nun to advance a fictional plot?

What does one say when EW describes Sister Jude (Miss Lange's character) as a "scarily stern woman of faith...and a fan of corporal punishment...who has a penchant for red lingerie and vivid fantasies about her superior, Monsignor Timothy O'Hara." Further, EW quotes Joseph Fiennes who says, "Clearly she's attracted to the monsignor for his grace and religiousness." Fiennes plays O'Hara, "the monsignor might play with that, manipulate that."  Slutty nun.  Manipulative priest.

The show's co-creator, Ryan Murphy says, "I'm scared of aliens and I'm scared of Nazis and I'm scared of nuns."

To posit that there is no anti-Catholicism, I would think you might want to revise your opinion given the presence of fact:  anti-Catholicism has a history,  it's alive and well. Some Catholics are not bothered by dysfunctional nuns priests. Art, in this case, is claimed to be in the realm of opinion, that is, subjective.  It is said that what is one person's good-natured ribbing is another person's offensive stereotype. Do we really think it is appropriate to hold this idea at all, never mind if we apply the whole issue to those who hold Judiasm or Islam as their faith? Would the media think that making fun of a rabbi, an iman or a Buddhist monk is a good thing? That doing so is good natured? Why do it to Catholics?

EW's incredibly sad portrayal of a Catholic sister as the centerpiece of fictional show on TV is wrong, disrespectful, especially when the reality is very different. The concept is ill-conceived.

The most well-known face of 20th century Catholicism and care for the human person after Pope John Paul is Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Her life and work is incomparable as well as her relationship with God even if there was distance between the two. Nothing is more beautiful in the spiritual life than an honest relationship, especially with God. Mother Teresa died on this date in 1997. Soon after her death, the Church waived the waiting period before a cause for canonization could be submitted to the Holy See. She was beatified on October 19, 2003.

The Church prays

O God, who called blessed Teresa, Virgin, to respond to the love of your Son thirsting on the cross with outstanding charity to the poorest of the poor, grant us, we beseech you, by her intercession, to minister to Christ in his suffering brothers.

You may want to listen to Veronica Scarisbrick's interview with Monsignor Leo Maasburg, a close friend of Mother, posted at Vatican Radio. He recently published a book, Mother Teresa of Calcutta: A Personal Portrait, 50 Inspiring Stories Never before Told (Ignatius, 2011).

A prior post on Blessed Teresa and Divine Mercy

"... it is the community prayer of the Word of God that stands out for ... [St Benedict] as the most vital prayer for everyone because everyone is involved in it, because the whole Church and all mankind are included in it..."

Ampleforth Abbey

For September, let's offer a rosary and other good works for the intentions of the Pope. As Abbot Patrick said above, the community's prayer includes all people.

The general intention

That politicians may always act with honesty, integrity, and love for the truth. 

The missionary intention

That Christian communities may have a growing willingness to send missionaries, priests, and lay people, along with concrete resources, to the poorest Churches.