On Wednesday, October 27, Pope Benedict XVI noted that in
the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000, the Venerable Servant of God John Paul II
proclaimed Saint Bridget of Sweden (1303-1373), co-patroness of the whole of
Europe. It's the hope of all of us, as Benedict indicated, that Saint Bridget
"...can intercede effectively before God, to obtain the much-awaited grace of the
full unity of all Christians. We want to pray ... for this same intention, which
we consider so important, so that Europe will be able to be nourished from its
own Christian roots, invoking the powerful intercession of St. Bridget of
Sweden, faithful disciple of God, co-patroness of Europe."
Foreword by Archbishop Raymond L. Burke
From Ignatius Press:
This volume contains the Office of Compline for every day of the year, in Latin and English, according to the novus ordo of the Roman Catholic Church, with Gregorian Chant settings. On the facing pages for the Latin, the official English text is also arranged for chanting, using simple English tones. New translations have been made for the official hymns of the Office, and all the hymns are given with the Gregorian melodies proper for each season and feast of the liturgical year.
This book will find a welcome in parishes, cathedrals, religious communities and seminaries, as well as families, all who wish to pray together at the end of the day.
Complete instructions are given for praying Compline. The Foreword by Archbishop Raymond Burke explains the rich spiritual tradition of prayer at the close of day, and provides an inspiring meditation on the texts and meaning of the Office of Compline.
The scriptures give only one command concerning the
frequency of prayer: pray without ceasing (Lk 18:1; 1 Thess 5:17). This volume
will prove to be a welcome companion to all who are seeking to make a full
response to the Gospel, and persevere in unceasing prayer.
The editor, Fr. Samuel Weber, is a Benedictine priest and monk of the Archabbey of Saint Meinrad and is the Director of the Institute of Sacred Music in the Archdiocese of Saint Louis
For those who think that the Catholic Church, orthodox Catholic theology, the Pope, or any right-thinking Catholic person in the 21st century is against science: think again. Take your head out of the sand; do some reading. Today, His Holiness address the distinguished members of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences meeting for their plenary assembly. The theme they've chosen to explore is "The Scientific Legacy of the Twentieth Century."
Two papal hopes for future scientists: "the need for an interdisciplinary approach tied with philosophical reflection" and that the work of science "always be informed by the imperatives of fraternity and peace, helping to solve the great problems of humanity, and directing everyone's efforts towards the true good of man and the integral development of the peoples of the world."
Benedict addressed the following text to 80 scientists:
The history of science in the twentieth century is one of undoubted achievement and major advances. Unfortunately, the popular image of twentieth-century science is sometimes characterized otherwise, in two extreme ways. On the one hand, science is posited by some as a panacea, proven by its notable achievements in the last century. Its innumerable advances were in fact so encompassing and so rapid that they seemed to confirm the point of view that science might answer all the questions of man's existence, and even of his highest aspirations. On the other hand, there are those who fear science and who distance themselves from it, because of sobering developments such as the construction and terrifying use of nuclear weapons.
Science, of course, is not defined by either of these extremes. Its task was and remains a patient yet passionate search for the truth about the cosmos, about nature and about the constitution of the human being. In this search, there have been many successes and failures, triumphs and setbacks. The developments of science have been both uplifting, as when the complexity of nature and its phenomena were discovered, exceeding our expectations, and humbling, as when some of the theories we thought might have explained those phenomena once and for all proved only partial. Nonetheless, even provisional results constitute a real contribution to unveiling the correspondence between the intellect and natural realities, on which later generations may build further.
The progress made in scientific knowledge in the twentieth century, in all its various disciplines, has led to a greatly improved awareness of the place that man and this planet occupy in the universe. In all sciences, the common denominator continues to be the notion of experimentation as an organized method for observing nature. In the last century, man certainly made more progress - if not always in his knowledge of himself and of God, then certainly in his knowledge of the macro- and microcosms - than in the entire previous history of humanity. Our meeting here today, dear friends, is a proof of the Church's esteem for ongoing scientific research and of her gratitude for scientific endeavour, which she both encourages and benefits from. In our own day, scientists themselves appreciate more and more the need to be open to philosophy if they are to discover the logical and epistemological foundation for their methodology and their conclusions. For her part, the Church is convinced that scientific activity ultimately benefits from the recognition of man's spiritual dimension and his quest for ultimate answers that allow for the acknowledgement of a world existing independently from us, which we do not fully understand and which we can only comprehend in so far as we grasp its inherent logic. Scientists do not create the world; they learn about it and attempt to imitate it, following the laws and intelligibility that nature manifests to us. The scientist's experience as a human being is therefore that of perceiving a constant, a law, a logos that he has not created but that he has instead observed: in fact, it leads us to admit the existence of an all-powerful Reason, which is other than that of man, and which sustains the world. This is the meeting point between the natural sciences and religion. As a result, science becomes a place of dialogue, a meeting between man and nature and, potentially, even between man and his Creator.
As we look to the twenty-first century, I would like to
propose two thoughts for further reflection. First, as increasing
accomplishments of the sciences deepen our wonder of the complexity of nature,
the need for an interdisciplinary approach tied with philosophical reflection
leading to a synthesis is more and more perceived. Secondly, scientific
achievement in this new century should always be informed by the imperatives of
fraternity and peace, helping to solve the great problems of humanity, and
directing everyone's efforts towards the true good of man and the integral
development of the peoples of the world. The positive outcome of twenty-first
century science will surely depend in large measure on the scientist's ability
to search for truth and apply discoveries in a way that goes hand in hand with
the search for what is just and good.
The liturgical year of the Church brings to the front burner of the spiritual life a number of things at this time of year: questions about salvation, death, hell, heaven, purgatory, Christ's kingship, conversion, and the like. In fact, a central piece of our spiritual work in the School of Community (of Communion and Liberation) right now is understanding what it means to convert, to live in spirit of conversion, to live as though we REALLY believe in Christ, turning away from sin, and turning toward the Lord. Father Julian Carron is hitting members of Communion and Liberation pretty hard with the call to conversion. However, if truth be told, Father Carron is taking his cue from Pope Benedict. Nevertheless, on the human level, for finite beings we have to be concerned with such things because we don't live forever, just in case you didn't know this fact; we are rightly concerned now because once we're dead, there is no way of making a conversion (sorry, there is no reincarnation).
A professor at the Institute of Philosophy and Theology of Shkodër (Albania), Jesuit Father Mario Imperatori, wrote an essay that caught my eye, "Eschatology and Resurrection of the Body in St. Thomas Aquinas," published in the current issue of La Civiltà Cattolica (issue # 3849; pp. 257-268). As you know, this periodical is reviewed by the Secretary of State of the Holy See prior to publication.
In the article, Father Imperatori argues, "St. Thomas's doctrine regarding glorified bodies is based on the resurrection of the flesh, interpreted in an anti-spiritualistic manner. For him, in fact, the intellectual soul is the unique and subsisting shape of the human being; after the resurrection carried out by God, the body too will share with the soul the same incorruptibility and bliss; it will be a spiritual body not because it becomes spirit, but because everything will be subjected to the spirit. Aquinas adds that the human body, because of its wholeness, will continue to be sexual, despite the absence of procreation. The Eschatology of St. Thomas has proven controversial, but it has the merit of asserting the bodily-spiritual reality of man as the ultimate purpose of creation."
So, the human body will relate as a sexual being in the eternal life. Interesting. Thanks for letting me know. What joy that will be, don't you think? I wonder what relating sexually means for a glorified body.
Some friends and I at the parish have been reading a series of Pope Benedict's homilies on the Eucharist taken from his book, God is Near Us. I recommend paying attention to every page of this small collection of Benedict's. Reading through some meditations of Blessed Columba Marmion, the famed Benedictine monk and spiritual master struck me. He wrote,
The bishops at the Synod of Bishops for the Middle
East have given the Holy Father the following propositions for his
consideration and perhaps for him to act on when he issues a post-synodal
document. The Synod is now closed and the bishops are on their way home and now it's time for the Pope and his consultors to do some heavy lifting. The publication of the propositions was approved by the Pope, though they remain unofficial. Some of the propositions are formal, pro-forma and many are so boring
that watching the grass grow is fun.
Mother Assumpta Long announced last evening that her new congregation of religious sisters, the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, are hoping to purchase the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center across the street from the Catholic University of America, Washington, DC and using the facility as a house of studies.
A record number of Australians flocked to Rome last week to attend to the Mass and rites of canonization celebrated by Pope Benedict of 6 people, among them was Australia's first saint, Sister Mary of the Cross MacKillop. While many will make her the patron saint of the former ex-communicate, she is for me an example of staying faithful to Christ even when ecclesiastics are unusually harsh in their pastoral judgment. For Saint Mary of the Cross for us too, Jesus told us that upon Peter is the Church built; and that's how we follow Christ: by remaining on that Rock. As her own religious name indicates, "of the Cross," we ought to carry our cross but with Christ helping us. We don't go through life alone!!!! The Lord is there with us, right now.
It would be a pity to forget last Sunday's first
reading where we read of Moses' role as mediator of God's saving plan.
The Pope announced his intention to name 24 new cardinals of the Holy Roman Church today. The public consistory is scheduled for November 20 and it is at this ceremony that the Holy Father's intention becomes official, becoming members of the College of Cardinals. The new cardinals will have their names in inscribed in the list of "Roman priests" who are deputed to elect the Bishop of Rome.
This is the third time the Holy Father has created cardinals since his becoming Pope in 2005. Previous consistories were in 2006 and 2007. The new cardinals reflect the various competences the Church relies upon to preach the Gospel and to serve the Church.
Archbishop Angelo Amato, SDB, Prefect of the Congregation of Saints
Archbishop Mauro Piacenza, Prefect of the Congregation of Clergy
Archbishop Fortunato Baldelli, Major Penitentiary
Archbishop Velasio De Paolis, CS, President of the Prefecture of the Economic Affairs of the Holy See
Archbishop Paolo Sardi, Vice-Chamberlain of the Apostolic Chamber and Patron of the Order of Malta
Archbishop Francesco Monterisi, Archpriest of the Basilica of Saint Paul outside the Walls
Archbishop Gianfranco Ravasi, President of the Pontifical Council of Culture
Archbishop Paolo Romeo, Archbishop of Palermo
Archbishop Raymond Leo Burke, Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of Apostolic Signatura
Archbishop Donald William Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington, DC
Archbishop Kurt Koch, President of the Pontifical Council for the Unity of Christians
Archbishop Reinhard Marx, Archbishop of Munich and Freising
Archbishop Kazimierz Nycz, Archbishop of Warsaw
Archbishop Robert Sarah (Guinea Conakry), President of Cor Unum
Archbishop Medardo Mazombwe, Emertius Archbishop of Lusaka
Archbishop Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya, Archbishop of Kinshasa
Archbishop Malcom Ranjith Patabendige Don, Archbishop of Colombo
His Beatitude, Patriarch Antonio Naguib, Patriarch of Alexandria of the Copts
Archbishop Raymundo Damasceno Assis, Archbishop of Aparecida
Archbishop Raul Eduardo Vela Chiribogo, Emeritus Archbishop of Ecudor
Msgr. Domenico Bartolucci, Emeritus Master of the Sistine Chapel
Msgr. Walter Brandmüller, Emeritus President of the Pontifical Commission of Historical Sciences
Bishop Elio Sgreccia, Emeritus President of the Pontifical Academy of Life
Archbishop Jose Manuel Estepa Llaurens, Emeritus Ordinary of the Spanish Military
Read journalist John Allen's analysis of the new cardinals: John Allen the new cardinals 2010.pdf
The Church in North America was built, in part, by the pouring of the blood of Jesuits and laymen in the 17th century. Men who followed Christ to a perfect end. That is, not for their glory but for the greater glory of God. Saint Paul's 2nd Letter to the Corinthians captures this foundation well: "For while we live we are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh."
In the last few days the Catholic and secular media have picked up a story in L'Osservatore Romano, the Vatican newspaper, on the famous show, "The Simpsons." To me, the show is OK social commentary and therefore not for young audiences. The show is now in its 22nd season and broadcast to 90 countries. The claim is that Homer J. Simpson is Catholic. Well.... The Jesuit periodical, La Civiltà Cattolica published last week Jesuit Francesco Occhetta's essay, "'The Simpsons' and Religion." For what's it's worth, here is the précis of the article says:The Order of Capuchin Friars Minor opened a center for spirituality and formation for religious and laypeople who want to attend courses and retreats in that region. The center, which is inspired by the motto, "I am the light of the world," was inaugurated 28 September 2010.
At the inauguration ceremony, Archbishop Fouad Twal, Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, noted that this light is the witness that believers make to those around them. He added that this idea "is a topic of our next synod," which will take place in Rome, beginning Sunday, and will focus on the Middle East.
"In Jerusalem, we can count on hundreds of religious congregations, 14 of which are contemplative communities," the prelate said. "They are the strength and richness of the Latin Catholic Church." He continued: "Today we inaugurate a new center for spirituality and welcome, thanks to the goodwill of our beloved Capuchins, a center called to be light." "True Christians influence the world around them and reflect the light of the Lord," the archbishop affirmed.
The property where the center is located belonged to the Capuchin order since the 1930's, when Archbishop Luigi Barlassina invited the religious to build a convent in the Jewish area of Jerusalem.
However, the friars had to leave Jerusalem during World War II, putting the project on hold. The property was taken over by the state for a psychiatric hospital. The Capuchin center project was later revived in the 1990's.
Present at the inauguration ceremony were: Fr. Mauro Jöhri, Capuchin General Minister and the entire Definitory; His Beatitude, Archbishop. Fouad Twal, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem; Archbishop Antonio Franco, Apostolic Delegate in Jerusalem and Apostolic Nuncio in Israel; Fr. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, OFM, Custos of the Holy Land; Bishop Francesco Beschi, Bishop of Bergamo; the Capuchin Order's Legal Representative, the General Bursar, the Capuchin Provincial Minister of Venice, other Franciscan Provincials.
The renovation was made possible by a number of benefactors, with a considerable contribution from the Cariplo Foundation.
A photo journal of the center's dedication is here.
The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem posted a story on the center.
Zenit carried a story on this center.
(this
story is reposted and edited from Capuchin Newsnotes, 13 October 2010)
Pope Benedict said earlier today,
"Brother André Bessette, born in Quebec, in Canada, and a religious of the Congregation of the Holy Cross, knew suffering and poverty very early in life. This led him to turn to God for prayer and an intense interior life. Doorman at the Notre Dame College in Montreal, he showed boundless charity and did everything possible to soothe the despair of those who confided in him. With little instruction, he nevertheless understood what was essential to his faith. For him, to believe meant to submit freely and lovingly to Divine Will. Everything existed through the mystery of Jesus, he lived the beatitude of the pure of heart, that of personal rectitude. It is thanks to this simplicity, he showed many God. He had the Saint Joseph Oratory of Mont Royal built, where he was the faithful guardian until his death in 1937. There, he was the witness of many healings and conversions. "Do not try to have your trials taken away from you", he said, "rather, ask for the grace to endure them well". For him, everything spoke of God and His presence. May we, following his example, search for God with simplicity to discover Him always present in the core of our lives! May the example of Brother André inspire Canadian Christian life!"
In 2009 I wrote a review of the book, The Catholic Handbook for Visiting the Sick and Homebound. The 2011 edition is now available for use beginning on November 28th, the First Sunday of Advent 2010. Liturgy Training Publications is the publisher. This resource is a good deal for $6.00, discounts for bulk orders.
Too many women, too many friends, have or have had, breast cancer. Just the other day in the local newspaper there was an obit for a young woman who died of breast cancer at 43 years. Her battle with an ugly disease captured my prayer for that day. It drew to intensify my own resolve to work in simple ways to work for a cure but my angle is the spiritual battle; first petitioning the patron saint of those living with diseases of the breast, Saint Agatha. (If you're a Communio reader you might remember attention focussed on Saint Agatha's spiritual patronage for breast cancer survivors especially in February.)
Hail to You, Christ, Prince of Peace!
Each year, the lay ecclesial movement, Communion and Liberation (CL) in NY suggests a particular Crossroads Cultural Center (NYC) event that has a particular significance, seriousness, and the weight because of its potential impact on our lives.
There is one event in the Crossroads program which CL wants to underline and encourage everyone not only to attend but also to put effort into getting the word out among fellow parishioners, co-workers, family, etc.
This year, it is an event, October 13, at 7pm at Columbia University, entitled "Health Care Reform: What is it all about?" Below is an excerpt from the Crossroads website.
The distinguished panel of speakers will help us to understand better what practical consequences we should expect from the new health care law and its implementation. To a large extent, the debate on health care reform has been shaped by "experts," both from the academic world and from various think-tanks and professional associations. The idea behind this discussion is to ask a group of experienced professionals whose work is related to health care how the new law will concretely impact their work, and the health care system as they know it in their field of action. As a general rule, experience is the best immunization against the temptations of ideology. In the case of health care reform these temptations include both the utopian conviction that this huge social problem can basically be solved by technocratic means (i.e., government action) and the opposite prejudice, namely that nothing good can come from governmental intervention in the health care system as prescribed by the reform. Rather than joining this stale ideological struggle, we want to listen to those who will deal every day with the effects of the reform, as the best to way to learn what we should realistically expect.
The most important thing is that we take this event seriously as a personal invitation to come to know more about something in reality as it's unfolding now. It's in reality that the Divine Mystery speaks to us. We cannot simply ignore the questions and problems our society faces and claim to be above them. It's in facing reality, struggling with it, and involving ourselves with it, that we can come to know Christ more.
The presentation info:
Wednesday, October 13, 2010 at 7 pm
Columbia University, Philosophy Hall 301
1150 Amsterdam Avenue at 116th Street
The flyer for the event is posted here: Health Care Reform.pdf
The Holy Father published a long-awaited Motu Proprio, Ubicumque et semper, by which he established a new office (dicastery) at the Roman Curia: "Pontifical Council for Promotion of the New Evangelization." The new head of the Council is, as you know, Archbishop Rino Fisichella.
The objectives of the new Pontifical Council:
A summary of Ubicumque et semper can be read here.
I am happy that a papal document finally appeared since it was expected since four months ago. Now a more concerted effort at the needs of evangelization will be worked on by the Roman Curia and that good works already in play with groups like Communion and Liberation, Opus Dei, Focolare, Sant'Egidio will be more coordinated and collaborated with. I hope the big religious orders like the Benedictines, Franciscans and Dominicans will respond positively to the hopes and desires of the Pope. The expectation of the new Council are looking to re-energize the work of evangelization of culture and to give renewed interest and thrust of the Church as missionary. Please note, secularism, not secularity needs to be addressed by the entire Church, not just the bishops and certainly not just the Roman Curia.
The Pope said, "At the root of all evangelization there is no human project of expansion, but the desire to share the priceless gift that God wished to give us, sharing His life with us."
There are, however, a number of missed opportunities already since the announcement of the Council: there was a too long of wait for the motu proprio, the motu proprio is only available in Latin and Italian at this point, the staff has not been announced, and there is no web presence for the new Council as of yet. Another example of not doing the homework on the part of those who work for the Pope.
Today we are given Blessed John XXIII as a model of holiness. Pope Blessed John's liturgical memorial is not the date of his death but the anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council.
The monastic family of Saint John's Abbey and the American Cassinese Congregation mourns the passing of Abbot Timothy Kelly who died on October 7. He was 76 and had been suffering from cancer.
Proclaim the glory of the Lord among the nations; God's marvelous deeds to all the peoples; great is the Lord and worthy of all praise.
O God, the source of wisdom's fire,
Who formed the mind of man
In complex and mysterious ways
Within Your loving plan,
We thank You now for calling forth
This priest who praised Your Name
By teaching and exalting you
In words of living flame.
John Henry Newman, England's son,
Was formed in Oxford's halls,
Endowed with tow'ring intellect
To answer all the calls
Which Church and University
Gave forth in times of doubt,
A rebirth of the ancient truths
As rain for minds in drought.
He served the Church of England well
With scholarship and grace,
Restoring ancient roots of faith,
Removing error's trace.
But scorned by leaders of his time,
He left his Oxford home,
In search of kindly, leading light
Which led him on toward Rome.
O God, who bestowed on the priest Blessed John Henry Newman the grace to follow Your kindly light and find peace in Your Church; graciously grant that, through his intercession and example, we may be led out of shadows and images into the fulness of Your truth.
"God has created me to do him some definite service. He has committed some work to me which he has not committed to another" (JH Newman, Meditations on Christian Doctrine).
Blessed John Henry's feast day today is the anniversary of his conversion to Catholicism and not the date of his birth into eternal life (death), as most of the saints are honored.
The other Propers for Mass and the Office of Readings for Newman's feast day can be found here.
The Catholic University of Lueven, founded in 1425 by Pope Martin V is said to be entering into a process to re-consider their Catholic identity, even to the point of removing the adjective "Catholic" from their title, a news item on the Cardinal Newman Society's webpage said, reporting a Brussels-based news article on October 7.
The university's rector Mark Waer, 59, a trained physican and medical researcher in nephrology and immunology, has reportedly said, "The Catholic message is not appropriate for the university..." after the criticism from Catholics about the granting of the Nobel Prize to the instigator of IVF technology. Waer only began his term as rector of the university in 2009.
The University's mission statement can be read here.
UK's The Tablet ran a news piece today saying the seminary for the North of England dioceses, Ushaw College, is closing at the end of the school year in June 2011. Currently, 7 English dioceses are served by UC. Ushaw was first founded in Douai, France in 1568 and has been located four miles west of Durham City since 1808.
From its heyday of 400 men studying for the priesthood to 26 today, the Ushaw has a staff of 62.
The story of Ushaw is grim and it sounds like St Joseph's Seminary (Dunwoodie) which has fewer than 25 seminarians for the secular priesthood. For the time being SJS is working alone and is slated to merge with Huntington's seminary.
I once told a youth director who was getting "heat" from his colleagues for having his parish youth group pray the rosary that that prayer is really Scripture study. What else could you call the each of the mysteries, the Hail Mary and the Lord's Prayer? On the simplest level praying the rosary is not only a tool of spiritual education in the School of Mary, but also uniting more and more closely to the Lord.
It is often said that if you want to end sin in your life, evil in the world, that is, to slice the head off evil, then pray the Rosary. I see more rosaries around the rear view mirror or around the neck but so rarely in those same hands fingering the beads of the Mysteries of the Jesus' life, death and resurrection. In the rosary we trace the lines of salvation history and the beautiful mission of Jesus.
Pope, saints, good priests and religious and grandmothers recommend wholeheartedly our attachment to this divine gift of love.
The previous year's post for this feast is here.
The infant church in prayer was gathered round
Th'apostles and the Mother of the Lord;
In faithfulness to Christ's farewell command,
They prayed and waited, trusting in the Word.
With joy we think on incarnation's grace;
With light we meditate upon Christ's life;
With sorrow, all his passion keep in mind;
And in his glory, hope beyond all strife.
For Mary's faithfulness we praise you, Lord,
who heard and trusted in your promise strong;
To you we sing, O Trinity most blessed,
In praise that through the ages echoes long.
10 10 10 10
SURSUM CORDA
Clued-in Catholics know the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. They are, however, unlikely to know the person who made this devotion known to the world and who was instrumental in getting the work of divine mercy known in the world today. Today, the Church gives us the woman who made the Lord's mercy known to men and women of today.
Sr Faustina Kowalska wrote in her Diary: "I feel tremendous pain when I see the sufferings of my neighbours. All my neighbours' sufferings reverberate in my own heart; I carry their anguish in my heart in such a way that it even physically destroys me. I would like all their sorrows to fall upon me, in order to relieve my neighbour" (Diary, p. 365). This is the degree of compassion to which love leads, when it takes the love of God as its measure!
It is this love which must inspire humanity today, if it is to face the crisis of the meaning of life, the challenges of the most diverse needs and, especially, the duty to defend the dignity of every human person. Thus the message of divine mercy is also implicitly a message about the value of every human being. Each person is precious in God's eyes; Christ gave his life for each one; to everyone the Father gives his Spirit and offers intimacy. (Pope John Paul II, Canonization homily, April 30, 2000).
Today, we are praying the Mass of Christian Burial for a friend, Pauline Marie Fahey, who died last Thursday after living with cancer. Join me in praying for her peaceful repose thanking God for this blessing.
There are several "firsts" for the new session of the Supreme Court of the United States. Among the firsts:
Saint Francis seems to be a model of holiness for many, many people. Protestants of all flavors, the Muslims and Jews honor dear Francis for a variety of reasons. They've met Francis in as many ways as I have.
This morning I am pondering why I love Francis. Preparing for my reception of the sacrament of Confirmation I chose as my "confirmation name" Francis of Assisi because he not only seemed to reasonable guide for life, especially the spiritual life, but I was drawn to him through the stained glass in the parish church, the secular Franciscans were present but more important, the narrative of Saint Francis' life was verifiably compelling.
Over time I've come to know Francis as not only poor, humble, loving, faithful, guru of the human condition but also that he preached what he received from the Lord Himself: the mercy of Christ crucified is real, the truth of faith, hope and love in Christ is the path to salvation, that he preached the reality of knowing who in fact God is (that is, Father, Son, Holy Spirit) and not what he thought, guessed about God. Saint Francis emblematic of the Catholic second chance, that is, one can be given another chance for happiness. So, the real Saint Francis is not the personage hijacked by the lefty-looines who use him to justify all sort of liberalities of theology, Liturgy, social concern and life in the public order. Francis is not the stereotypical garden statue nor is he a man unconcerned with true conversion of life. He's quite the opposite: he life was a life in Christ firmly rooted in the Mystical Body of Christ --the Church-- nourished by the sacraments, most especially the Holy Eucharist.
Friar Charles, OFMCap had this to say about Saint Francis.
Saint Francis died during the evening of October 3/4. The Church observes the death of Saint Francis on October 4.
As he lay dying, Francis prayed Psalm 142 and during the closing verse he died. This human and liturgical event is solemnly remembered each year by Franciscans to honor their holy Father's entrance into the joy of being the Most Blessed Trinity be prayerfully remembering the passage --a transitus-- of Francis from life to Life today, October 3.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Francis, poor and humble, enters heaven rich and is welcomed with celestial hymns. Alleluia.
Psalm 142
I cried to the Lord with my voice; with my voice to the Lord did I make my supplication.
I poured out my complaint before him; I showed before him trouble.
When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then he knew my path.
In the way where I walked have they secretly laid a snare for me.
I looked on right hand, and held, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.
I cried to You, O Lord: I said, You are my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.
Attend to my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.
Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise Your name: the righteous shall compass me about; for You shall deal bountifully with me.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Francis, poor and humble, enters heaven rich and is welcomed with celestial hymns. Alleluia.
O God, you granted
our blessed Father Francis the reward of everlasting joy: grant that we, who
celebrate the memory of his death, may at last come to the same eternal joy;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
The annual Red Mass celebrated by Archbishop Donald Wuerl at Saint Matthew's Cathedral (Washington, DC) was preached by Archbishop J. Augustine DiNoia, OP, Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship (Rome). Today's Red Mass is the 57th and was sponsored by the John Carroll Society. Present was the Vice President, the Chief Justice and four other justices. Archbishop DiNoia's homily follows.
In anticipation of the official opening of the Supreme Court term tomorrow, we unite in prayer today in this solemn liturgy in order to invoke the Holy Spirit upon the distinguished justices, the judges, attorneys, and lawmakers, professors and students of the law, the law clerks and paralegals, and upon all others who serve us in the various sectors of the legal profession. We give thanks to God for their precious service, and we humbly pray, "Holy Spirit, Lord of light / From the clear celestial height / Thy pure beaming radiance give"(Veni Sancte Spiritus, Pentecost Sequence, trans. Nat. Lit. Conf. England and Wales, 1967).
The annual invocation of the Holy Spirit at the start of the judicial year in Washington reflects a 700 year old tradition honoring the sacred character of the law and the vital civic role of its guardians. Indeed, the practice of celebrating a Red Mass--"red" because of the color of both the liturgical vesture and the traditional judicial robes--at the opening of the judicial term is as old as the legal profession itself. According to historian James Brundage (cf. The Medieval Origins of the Legal Profession, University of Chicago Press, 2008), the emergence of a distinctive legal profession in the West dates roughly to the thirteenth century--precisely when the first recorded celebrations of the Red Mass occurred in Paris in 1245 and in Westminster in 1301. It may well be that the widespread practice of celebrating a votive Mass of the Holy Spirit at other similar occasions--like the start of the academic year--originated with the tradition of the Red Mass.
The celebration of the annual Red Mass signals the profound esteem which the Church has for the Supreme Court and the legal and judicial institutions of this nation, for the invocation of the Holy Spirit on this occasion springs from nothing other than the trinitarian faith which is at the very center of her faith. "Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come and make our dwelling with him." Christ teaches and the Church proclaims that God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, desires to share the communion of trinitarian life with creaturely persons, that--in the famous formulation of St. Irenaeus--God who is without need of anyone gives communion with himself to those who need him. Christ teaches us, moreover, that it is the Holy Spirit who plays a critical role in fitting individual persons and the Church herself for this high destiny. "The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, that the Father will send in my name...will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you." Thus we can pray: Veni Sancte Spiritus! Come Holy Spirit! "Thou, on us who evermore / Thee confess and thee adore, / With thy sevenfold gifts descend. / Give us comfort when we die; / Give us life with thee on high; / Give us joys that never end."
What should we be praying for as we invoke the Holy Spirit on the justices and on all the rest of us during this Red Mass? As St. Paul reminds us, the Holy Spirit himself helps us to ask for the right things: "The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes with inexpressible groaning." We have already heard some verses from the ancient "Golden Sequence" for Pentecost Sunday, the Veni Sancte Spiritus; let us turn to it again to learn more of what we can expect when the Church invokes the Holy Spirit in this solemn setting.
Veni Sancte Spiritus! Come Holy Spirit! "Thou, of all consolers best, / Thou the soul's delightful guest, / Dost refreshing peace bestow; / Thou in toil art comfort sweet; / Pleasant coolness in the heat; / Solace in the midst of woe." In praying to the Holy Spirit, for, among other blessings, consolation, peace, and solace, the Church understands the nearly overwhelming complexity of the climate which envelops the practice of law and the administration of justice today.
And perhaps not just today. It was precisely such complexity that gave rise to the legal profession in the 13th century as popes, kings and bishops found it impossible to carry out their duties without expert legal advice. You will be amused to learn that, during this period, there was lively debate about whether popes should be elected from the ranks of theologians or of canon lawyers: as a theologian, it pains me to report that learned opinion favored the election of qualified lawyers to the See of Peter.
In all seriousness, no informed observer can fail to acknowledge that the social and cultural pluralism of our times--not to mention the relentless and sometimes pitiless public scrutiny to which you are subjected--makes the work of judges and lawyers today very hard indeed. The Church prays that, amidst the clamor of contending interests and seemingly intractable moral disagreements, the Holy Spirit will help you to maintain your personal integrity and professional equilibrium. Not for nothing, then, do we invoke the Holy Spirit today with these poignant words. Veni Sancte Spiritus! Come Holy Spirit! "Heal our wounds, our strength renew; / On our dryness pour thy dew; / Wash the stains of guilt away. / Bend the stubborn heart and will; / Melt the frozen, warm the chill; / Guide the steps that go astray."
The words of the prophet Ezechiel recall another important element in our invocation of the Holy Spirit today. "I will put my Spirit within you," he says, "and make you live by my statutes, careful to observe my decrees." Positive law rests on certain principles the knowledge of which constitutes nothing less than a participation in the divine law itself: the pursuit of the common good through respect for the natural law, the dignity of the human person, the inviolability of innocent life from conception to natural death, the sanctity of marriage, justice for the poor, protection of minors, and so on. The legal profession is entrusted with the discernment and administration of justice and the rule of law according to an objective measure--in effect, according to principles--not of our own making. A consensus about these principles inspired the founders of modern democracies, and although it was profoundly influenced by Judaism, Islam, and Christianity (think of Averroes, Maimonides and Aquinas), this consensus was understood to transcend religious and cultural differences. Thus, it follows that the invocation of the Holy Spirit in the Red Mass is a prayer for light and guidance. Among the things for which we ardently pray is the wisdom to affirm and maintain those profound truths about human nature that are at the foundation of the common life we treasure in this great nation. "Holy Spirit, Lord of Light ... / Come thou light of all that live ... / Light immortal, light divine."
At the deepest level, our invocation of the Holy Spirit here today manifests the conviction that the democratic state does not so much confer the most fundamental human rights and the duties of citizenship as acknowledge their existence and source in a power beyond the state, namely in God himself. Your presence here today bears eloquent witness to the enduring power of this conviction.
Yet, as she invokes the guidance and consolation of the Holy Spirit today, the erosion of this conviction is a source of deep concern for the Church. The alternative view--until recently more or less successfully resisted by democratic societies like ours--is the idea that man can find happiness and freedom only apart from God. This exclusive humanism has been exposed as an anti-humanism of the most radical kind. Man without God is not more free but surely in greater danger. The tragic history of the last century--as John Paul II and Benedict XVI have unceasingly reminded us--demonstrates that the eclipse of God leads not to greater human liberation but to the most dire human peril. That innocent human life is now so broadly under threat has seemed to many of us one of the many signs of this growing peril. Gabriel Marcel said somewhere that in our time "human flesh has undergone such intolerable outrage that it must receive some kind of reparation in glory...The world today can be endured only if one's spirit is riveted on [the] hope of the resurrection... If this hope were shared by a greater number, perhaps, respect for the flesh and for the body, so terribly lacking in our time, would be restored." Thus, along with wisdom and light, today we must also beg the Holy Spirit for the gift of hope in the resurrection.
Our enactment of this ancient ritual of the Red Mass joins us to the generations of judges and lawyers who pursued their professions conscious of their need for divine grace and guidance, for enlightenment, for consolation, for refreshment, for solace, for healing, for comfort, for hope. May these wonderful blessings of the Holy Spirit be yours today!
Veni Sancte Spritus! Come Holy Spirit!
"Come, thou Father of the poor,
Come with treasures which endure...
Light immortal, light divine,
Visit thou these hearts of thine,
And our inmost being fill." Amen.
Autumn is upon us with its mix of weather: recent days
there's been warmth and coolness, rain, clouds and sun. The earth is adjusting and so are we, at least liturgically. Judging by the liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church we are
near the end of the liturgical year with the First Sunday of Advent only a few weeks away. Some churches, like the Maronites in
particular, mark this time of the liturgical year by counting weeks after the
Exaltation of the Cross in a time called the Season of the Cross. This particular season of the Maronite liturgical calendar prepares us to account for our lives by looking to our personal final victory through prayer, fasting, waiting, and conversion of life. The rich liturgical theology of the Maronite Church ought to draw us more closely to the glory of the Lord's right side in an attitude of gratitude for all things in life.
Archbishop Velasio de Paolis, C.S., the Pope's delegate for the Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ, announced the names his four counsellors who will assist him in restructuring and renewing the Legion.
The counselors:
Archbishop Ricardo Blazquez Perez of
Valladolid, Spain, is the visitator for Regnum Christi.
See that you do not despise one of these little ones...
God of tenderness and mercy,
Choosing weak, confounding strong,
Telling all of heaven's secrets
To the child that for you longs;
We give thanks for boundless kindness
Shown to this, your little one,
Who, in midst of earthly darkness,
Sought the radiance of your Son.
For Thrérèse, your little flower,
We lift up our song today--
In her life and in her teachings
We are led the "little way,"
From self-seeking to self-knowledge,
That we all might serve in love.
Give us strength to thus surrender;
Shower graces from above.
From her hidden life in Carmel,
You have raised her as a light
In your Church for all your people,
Drawing us from sinful blight
Into fellowship with Jesus,
Image of the Father's face:
Grant us mission spirit fervent,
Preaching you to ev'ry race.
Teach us by her great example
How to treasure sacrifice;
Show us that small acts of loving
Are true gifts, beyond all price.
As she did, so let us utter,
"Jesus, help me love you more!"
In our lack of might and power,
Let us praise you and adore.
God of mercy, love, and blessing,
Father, Son, and Spirit great,
To your name we give the glory
As your coming we await.
Working here to spread your Kingdom,
Lead us in your little way
Till Thèrése and all your faithful
Sing your name in endless day!
J. Michael Thompson copyright 2010
87 87 D; IN BABILONE, BEACH SPRING
Keeping the Pope and his intentions in front of us in prayer and in conversation, October's intentions are the following:
