Paul Zalonski: April 2012 Archives

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Father Julián Carrón will be receiving an honorary degree from the Catholic University of America on Saturday, May 12, 2012.  It is the 123rd commencement for CUA. This is a wonderful sign of esteem both for Fr. Carrón and for lay ecclesial movement Communion and Liberation here in the US. It ought to be noted that a number of US bishops would have had to have voted to grant him such an honor. 

 

For those who would like and are within close enough range, there will be an open assembly with Father Carrón on the School of Community text, At the Origin of the Christian Claim, and on the "Page One" of the recent issue Traces, "Self-Awareness: the Reawakening Point."  It will take place that same day, Saturday, May 12th, 2012 at 3:00pm in a place to be announced in Washington, DC. 


His Eminence, Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan, PhD will receive the President's Medal and address the graduates.


Also among those receiving honorary degrees from CUA are Giuseppe Mazzotta, Yale University's Sterling Professor of Humanities for Italian literature, the philanthropist Carmen Ana Casal de Unanue and her husband and former head of Goya Foods Joseph A. Unanue.

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Saint Catherine of Siena

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St Catherine.jpgToday is the transferred feast of the great Dominican saint, Catherine of Siena.

Since her feast day is April 29th, and this year the 29th was Good Shepherd Sunday, and the Sunday celebration is rarely trumped by a saint, the feast moved to the next available day.

Being that I work at a Dominican church, we celebrated Catherine's gift to the Church with great solemnity. Cardinal Donald Wuerl and Sister Elaine Goodell, PBVM were honored with the "Saint Catherine of Siena Award" and Brother Ignatius Perkins, OP was inaugurated with the new chair of Catholic Ethics at the Dominican House of Studies. Brother Ignatius is currently a professor of Nursing at Aquinas College, Nashville.

Here for the celebration were the Dominican Friars, a secular priest, a Jesuit priest, with several congregation of sisters including the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist, the Hawthorne Dominicans, the Dominicans of Nashville, the Sparkhill Dominicans, the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and the Sisters of Life.

"Set the world ablaze"
In the days following the Easter celebrations Pope Benedict XVI took time to reflect on through the form of a letter, the liturgical use of the phrase "For you and for many" that is used at Mass. With the third edition of the Roman Missal this phrase has been restored and it is has caused some people to wonder why the change after so many years; the priest had been saying "for all." The Pope's teaching is clear to why our liturgical praxis needs to be coherent with sacred Scripture, coherent with the Lord's own teaching.

Vatican Radio ran a piece on this issue here.
Montfort detail.tifThe Church gives us an inspired, perhaps even truly brilliant preacher, as a model of grace. Saint Louis-Marie de Montfort was ordained a priest in 1700; proficient in the thinking of the Church Fathers on the Virgin Mary, Montfort's mission was to preach on Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, in a period of time of great theological error in France. He's famous for preaching on the Rosary and he created a series of meditations that led to a Consecration to the Blessed Mother. His preaching of Mary was really a work of preaching on the Paschal Mystery. The collect for the Mass tells us that Louis-Marie 'walked the way of salvation and the love of Christ" by "meditating on the mysteries [God's] love" which led to "the building up of [God's] Church."

Montfort was a Third Order Dominican and held a papally given title Missionary Apostolic. He was also a founder of three congregations, one of men and two of women. For some time now there's been movement to have Louis-Marie to named a Doctor of the Church.

We are more aware of Montfort through John Paul's adoption of one of Montfort's phrases, Totus Tuus (totally yours).

Paul's conversion

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Today's first reading for Mass is the stunning narrative of Saint Paul's conversion.

I realized the full force of Grace when I was listening to it today.

May I recommend it for your lectio?

Saint Paul, pray for us.
The world of medical care is always under the gun due to costs. It is has changed so radically in the last 40 years that it would make your head spin. The Church has for 2000+ years been at the center of healthcare around the world. I can think of the hospices at the cathedrals, monasteries, parish churches, roadside stations. Historically, no cathedral church would be without facilities to welcome the stranger, care for the ill person or instruct the ignorant. The Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy were always and without reservation kept fresh in our daily activities and living the Gospel. In Connecticut we are blessed to have several hospital centers that were founded by religious sisters following the example of the Lord and then the Apostles in healing the sick and caring for those in need of certain medical attention in body, mind or spirit.

In today's New Haven Register (26 April 2012) I read the article about the merging of Yale New Haven Hospital with Saint Raphael's Hospital, a ministry of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth (Convent Station, NJ) with great interest because I wanted to know what was being done about the Catholic nature of Saint Raphael's. I got my answer. The article reported,

"The first thing we wrestled with was the question of Catholicity, and the sisters were incredibly engaged and courageous and made this decision [to merge with the secular hospital] that it was more important to meet the mission in New Haven than to retain official Catholicity."

What exactly does it mean say that a Catholic hospital should be able "to meet the mission in New Haven" and divorce itself from the Catholicism? With a Catholic hospital is there a mission without the gospel of Jesus Christ? How can the Sisters of Charity abort their mission to heal based on the charism of their order to easily?

Without a doubt the merger seems to be a good thing, though I am skeptical as to why an alternative like working with a Catholic healthcare organization could not be worked out. Clearly the Sisters of Charity and the CEO Christopher O'Connor are being opportunistic for the bottom line and not too respectful of Christ's mission through the Church. The Catholicity of any organization in the Church is not lipstick on a pig. The Catholicity is the heart and mind of what we do, why we do it, and how we do it in light of following Christ. 

The Sisters of Charity aided by Christopher O'Connor care little, it seems, for the sacramentality of medical care and the care of the whole person as passed down to us by Christ, the Apostles, the Archdiocese of Hartford and Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton.

AND we wonder why the Church wants to reform the Leadership Conference Women Religious. If you throw Christ under the bus, there is no reason why we need groups like the LCWR. They are as one may think, not following Christ and the Church too closely, not thinking with the Church.

Saint Mark

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St Mark and Christ.jpgShout for joy! with cries of gladness
Gather those who were dispersed.
Here the blind are given vision;
Here the comfortless find mirth.

In his faith, blind Bartimaeus
Shouted out his need to see---
Jesus, Light from Light, restored him,
Gave him sight, and set him free.

Each of us, in our baptism,
Has received the gift of sight
Through the Christ, our High Priest Jesus: Filled with joy, we seek God's light!

Hymn text by J. M. Thompson
a budding OSB Oliv.jpgThis young man may be elected the abbot general and the Abbot of the Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore of the Olivetan Benedictines at some point. The abbot general is also appointed by the pope as the territorial abbot of this monastery, hence the magenta skull cap.

The Benedictine monks of Mount Olivet in Tuscany function as a congregation more than in a "traditional" Benedictine manner in that there's a major religious superior who can move monks from one monastery to another, among other things that make the Olivetans.

As you see, the symbol of the abbot general's office fits the boy well enough. A budding Benedictine!

Saint Benedict and Saint Bernard Tolomei, pray for us.
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Saint George

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The figure of Saint George is widely acknowledged across cultures. His cult, as it were, comes from Palestine; he is a heavenly patron among the Greeks and Latins. Since about AD 800 Saint George has been a patron of England and he is known elsewhere as one of the "14 Holy Helpers."

Aside from legendary activity, George adhered to the Lord's words and His person in that he's known to have imitated the Passion as we see below in the opening collect for Holy Mass. No doubt his preaching, protecting and safeguarding the sacred Mysteries led people to Christ.

Let us pray that through Saint George's intercession, and the power of the Lord's Holy Name, the dragon of temptation and sin may be driven away by heavenly powers so as to be united in deeper communion with Christ.

And so we pray with the Church, 

Extolling your might, O Lord, we humbly implore you, that, as Saint George imitated the Passion of the Lord, so he may lend us ready help in our weakness.

Charles Colson, RIP at 80

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Charles Colson.jpgThe famed Watergate figure who turned his soul over to Christ has died at the age of 80. He met the Lord at 3:12 pm earlier today.

The Boston paper has a story which you can contrast with the Evangel blog piece hosted by First Things on Colson; I am sure there will be many other comprehensive pieces on Mr Colson in the days ahead.

His own organization posted this tribute to Chuck. It will be remembered that "Chuck's life is a testimony to God's power to forgive, redeem, and transform."

May Charles Colson rest in the peace of the Lord.

Saint Anselm

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St Anselm Photo by Tony Bowden.jpg

Saint Anselm (1033-1109) is famous for saying many things, one that is easily recalled is "I do not seek to understand that I may believe, but I believe in order to understand." We can easily say that the Lord has give us in the person of Saint Anselm one of the most eminent figures of the Middle Ages who harmonized faith and reason. To what might we attribute this harmonization? I and some others would say it was his radical mystical experience, finely attuned sense of communio with the Trinity that oriented his thought and his action. Anselm's contemplation and action were in sync; there was no distraction in him. 


Saint Anselm knew and taught us, according to Pope Benedict,  that  "a true theologian's work is divided into three stages: faith, God's gratuitous gift to be welcomed with humility; experience, which consists in incarnating the Word of God into daily life; and true knowledge, which is never the fruit of sterile reasoning but of contemplative intuition."


photo: Tony Bowden

The April 21, 2012 issue of L'Osservatore Romano ran this editorial on the work of the evangelization in the United States. We are getting noticed for our zeal for the Gospel. Perhaps we colonialists do have something to contribute to the life of the Church universal.

"Join us in a journey to re-discover the faith or answer questions about reconnecting with the Catholic Church". This is the call of  the document by the Bishops of the United States which intends renew with great strength the mission of spreading and proclaiming the Gospel. The episcopate's initiative, written for the modern man and for the benefit of the whole community, is centred on references to the Pontifical Magisterium and to other interventions of the episcopate.

The 

Disciples Called to Witness: The New Evangelization is the title chosen for the document that "focuses on reaching out to Catholics, practicing or not, who have lost a sense of the faith in an effort to re-energize them", as described in a note by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). 

It was chairman of the USCCB Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis, Bishop David Laurin Ricken of Green Bay, Wisconsin, to point out this new duty, stating: "Every Catholic has a role in the Church, and every Catholic is called to spread the Gospel". But he adds "in order to evangelize, a person must first be evangelized. This is really the heart of the New Evangelization". The document especially highlights the call of Pope Benedict XVI to pursue the New Evangelization with renewed vigor and joy.

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May the Lord bless and protect Pope Benedict XVI!

Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha

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The Church, today, give us Blessed --soon-to-be canonized Kateri Tekakwitha today as a model of evangelization and the desire one has for Christ. Pope Benedict renewed our attention to Blessed Kateri in 2008: 

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, Saint John Neumann, Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, Venerable Pierre Toussaint, and Padre Felix Varela: any one of us could be among them, for there is no stereotype to this group, no single mold. Yet a closer look reveals that there are common elements. Inflamed with the love of Jesus, their lives became remarkable journeys of hope. For some, that meant leaving home and embarking on a pilgrim journey of thousands of miles. For each there was an act of abandonment to God, in the confidence that he is the final destination of every pilgrim. And all offered an outstretched hand of hope to those they encountered along the way, often awakening in them a life of faith. Through orphanages, schools and hospitals, by befriending the poor, the sick and the marginalized, and through the compelling witness that comes from walking humbly in the footsteps of Jesus, these six people laid open the way of faith, hope and charity to countless individuals, including perhaps your own ancestors.
The incredulity of Christ.jpgThe Incredulity of Thomas is likely one of the most identifiable images for Christians to meditate on. It is for me. Few artists can trigger my Catholic imagination as Caravaggio can. As I run through my day, I keep as a constant refrain in my mind the sentence from St Mark's gospel: Lord, I believe; help my unbelief. Today, following from Divine Mercy Sunday, meditating on John 20:26-29 is a needed mercy.

The medieval abbot, theologian and mystic William of St. Thierry (1085-1148) has the following to say about the topic of mercy:


The group deputed to work with questions and programs on the teachings of the Catholic faith and the sharing of that faith with others, USCCB Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis. published "Disciples Called to Witness: The New Evangelization." There are a lot of great resources herein.

The opening paragraphs are here:

Jesus on Mt Galilee Duccio.jpgChrist commands us to be his witnesses to the ends of the earth. We are to proclaim his Good News to all people, everywhere and at all times. After Christ promises the disciples that the Holy Spirit will come upon them, he ascends into heaven. The disciples, rather than heeding Christ's command to be his witnesses, stare "intently at the sky." It takes "two men dressed in white garments" asking, "Men of Galilee, why are you . . . looking at the sky?" for the disciples to begin to realize the meaning of Christ's command (Acts 1:10-11). 
Our Catholic bishops in American published "Our First, Most Cherished Liberty," a12-page statement by the Ad Hoc Committee on Religious Liberty that sets out to explain what religious freedom means to a Catholic and it also calls for "a fortnight for freedom" from June 21, the vigil of the feasts of Saint John Fisher and Saint Thomas More, to July 4, US Independence Day. 

The matter of our freedom is not merely an activist mentality, but it is centrally located in our prayer life. AND that's what we should do-- pray. This is what the bishops propose:

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We suggest that the fourteen days from June 21--the vigil of the Feasts of St. John Fisher and St. Thomas More--to July 4, Independence Day, be dedicated to this "fortnight for freedom"--a great hymn of prayer for our country. Our liturgical calendar celebrates a series of great martyrs who remained faithful in the face of persecution by political power--St. John Fisher and St. Thomas More, St. John the Baptist, SS. Peter and Paul, and the First Martyrs of the Church of Rome. Culminating on Independence Day, this special period of prayer, study, catechesis, and public action would emphasize both our Christian and American heritage of liberty. Dioceses and parishes around the country could choose a date in that period for special events that would constitute a great national campaign of teaching and witness for religious liberty.

In addition to this summer's observance, we also urge that the Solemnity of Christ the King--a feast born out of resistance to totalitarian incursions against religious liberty--be a day specifically employed by bishops and priests to preach about religious liberty, both here and abroad.

And we pray....

Almighty God, Father of all nations,
For freedom you have set us free in Christ Jesus (Gal 5:1).
We praise and bless you for the gift of religious liberty,
the foundation of human rights, justice, and the common good. 
Grant to our leaders the wisdom to protect and promote our liberties; 
By your grace may we have the courage to defend them, 
for ourselves and for all those who live in this blessed land. 
We ask this through the intercession of Mary Immaculate, our patroness, and in the name of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, with whom you live and reign, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

O day of resurrection!

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Resurrection Seghers.jpg


O day of resurrection!
Let us beam with God's own pride!
Let everyone embrace in joy!
Let us warmly greet those we meet and treat them all like brothers,
even those who hate us, for in His rising from the dead is all grace and pardon! 
Let all the earth resound with this song:
Christ is risen from the dead, conquering death by death,
and on those in the grave bestowing life!!!
The US leadership of the Catholic lay ecclesial movement Communion and Liberation issued a flyer on the recent events concerning the HSS mandate to curb religious freedom. The flyer is written in light of recent US bishops' statement on religious liberty. As you might expect, what's at the center of the controversy is our witness that Christ is the way, the truth and the life.

What is at stake in this moment of our history is not just the possibility for religious groups to continue to give their own original contribution to American society, but also the possibility for any man or woman to gain access to the truth of life. For this reason, we will not give up the right to publicly witness to the world, through our lives and our work, what we hold most dear. With the words of the Russian writer Vladimir Soloviev, we repeat today what Christians have been repeating for 2,000 years.

"In the grieved voice the Emperor addressed them: 'Tell me yourselves, you strange people...you Christians, deserted by the majority of your brothers and leaders: what do you hold most dear in Christianity?' At this Elder John rose up and said in a quiet voice: 'Great sovereign! What we hold the most dear in Christianity is Christ Himself - He in His person. All the rest comes from Him, for we know that in Him dwells bodily the whole fullness of Divinity.'"

The entire statement can be read here: What we hold most dear - a CL flyer 2012.pdf

Pope Benedict turns 85

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B16 bday celebration.jpgToday is the 85th anniversary of the birth and the Baptism of Hi Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI. Let's  pray for the Pope and his intentions today. 

V. Let us pray for our Pontiff, Pope Benedict.

R. May the Lord preserve him, and give him life, and bless him upon earth, and deliver him not to the will of his enemies. 

Our Father. Hail Mary. 

Let us pray. O God, Shepherd and Ruler of all Thy faithful people, look mercifully upon Thy servant Benedict, whom Thou hast chosen as shepherd to preside over Thy Church. Grant him, we beseech Thee, that by his word and example, he may edify those over whom he hath charge, so that together with the flock committed to him, may he attain everlasting life. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Antonio Cavallucci St Benedict Joseph Labre.jpg
Today's feast of Saint Benedict Joseph Labre is a beautiful reminder of the humility with which we face God, our own humanity, and the world.

The Missal speaks of Benedict Joseph as a "Fool for Christ": he met Christ with his whole self, the physical and psychological weaknesses and the desire to be in communion with his Savior. Benedict Joseph has much to teach.

The story of Saint Benedict Joseph is nicely painted by a friend, Father Mark here.

Let's pray for all those who face life with difficulties, especially the mentally unstable and the homeless. That for the Grace of God, there we go through life.

On his birthday, let's remember Pope Benedict.
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Last week, during his Easter vigil homily, Pope Benedict XVI said: ...the Church presents the mystery of light using a unique and very humble symbol: the Paschal candle. This is a light that lives from sacrifice. The candle shines inasmuch as it is burnt up. It gives light, inasmuch as it gives itself. Thus the Church presents most beautifully the paschal mystery of Christ, who gives himself and so bestows the great light. Secondly, we should remember that the light of the candle is a fire. Fire is the power that shapes the world, the force of transformation. And fire gives warmth. Here too the mystery of Christ is made newly visible. Christ, the light, is fire, flame, burning up evil and so reshaping both the world and ourselves." St. Catherine of Siena once said: "If you are what you should be, you will set the whole world on fire." Bishop Roman's last hours were spent in the same way he spent his entire life: evangelizing, preaching the gospel. He was what he should have been: a friend of the poor, the sick, the imprisoned, the exile and the immigrant. He was a friend to us all - because he was first of all and above all a friend of Jesus. He was light; he was fire. His passion for evangelization, for catechesis, was never about making people follow him but rather it was about leading them to Jesus.


Archbishop Thomas Wenski

from the Funeral homily for Bishop Agustín Román

April 14, 2012

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Today Eucharist means the Risen Lord is constantly present, Christ who continues to give Himself to us, calling us to participate in the Banquet of His Body and Blood. From the full communion with Him comes every other element of the life of the Church, in the first place the communion among the Faithful, the commitment to proclaim and give witness to the Gospel, the ardor of charity towards all, especially toward the poor and the smallest.

Pope Benedict XVI


The Pope hits on something significant in the life of the Christian: keeping in front of oneself that God has not abandoned humanity AND that He thirsts for us, He desires to be in relationship with us. In our daily living the baptized seek the face of God (as it is spoken of in the Scriptures) and to recognize Christ in the faces of the people around us and in creation.

This week we've heard some beautiful readings of the resurrected Lord thus giving perspective on His previous preaching about the Cross. The resurrection makes things clearer, hopeful. The resurrected Christ laughs in the face of death. Now, He is present to us not merely in one location but now in all places and constantly through the Eucharist. The Incarnation is now a recognizable Divine Fact that walking and talking could not manage. By action of the Holy Spirit Christ is present to all who call on his Name. And we ought to give witness to this fact.

Can God still surprise me?

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Emmaus detail Caravaggio.jpgEarlier this evening at the School of Community we were talking about our problem recognizing Christ in daily living. In what ways am I moved by Christ? A (vigorous) prayer life keeps us focussed on the meaning of our life in Christ.

Taking some clues from Father Julián Carrón may be helpful to those who want to make sense of the spiritual life.  Father Carrón encourages a few things:

1. to understand that we need an awareness of ourself;
2. to be mindful that we never fully possess Christ in this life because Christ is a Mystery; that to possess we'd be alone and that is not what the Holy Trinity has promised;
3. yes, it is easy to complain about not being "connected" to Christ in a meaningful manner but we need to consider that to really engage in the Fact and Event of the Incarnation of the Word Made Flesh is to accept that Christ is not reducible to an idea or an opinion;
4. to recall that to have real confidence that God loves me unconditionally; that is not say that God doesn't care about the sinful things we do, He does and he desires true Charity and justice, but His Mercy for our being is stronger than anything we could imagine.
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Today, the US bishops issued a call to action to defend religious liberty and urged laity to protect the First Freedom of the Bill of Rights. No doubt there is  considerable consternation surrounding the proposed usurpation of our legal freedom of religion: clearly the US President has forgotten the first clause of the Bill of Rights: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof...."

The statement, "Our First, Most Cherished Freedom," aims to inform and to encourage the entire Christian Church in North America -and beyond--in understanding what the Church teaches on religious liberty. Moreover, the US bishops want to encourage a rightful role in defending the first of our American liberties. Being Catholic -or a person of faith- does not mean that we give up a sense of reasonableness and citizenship. The bishops published this work in order to reassert their voice in the public square, thus bridging the gap of faith and reason for a coherent national debate on matters of concern. Religion cannot be relegated to the closet. Like most documents of the Church, this one also hopes not only to impart information but also to form Catholics (indeed, all Christians) as faithful citizens. It is our Christian belief that religious liberty is God-given and is not imparted by our elected officials. "Our First, Most Cherished Freedom" is a document of the Bishops' Ad Hoc Committee on Religious Liberty.

Andrew Bertie.jpgThe Grand Magistry of the Order of Malta has informed its members that the process to study toward the beatification of the former Grand Master and Prince, Fra' Andrew Willoughby Ninian Bertie.

His Most Eminent Highness, Fra' Andrew died in Rome on February 7, 2008 at 78 years (he was born May 15, 1929). Berite was admitted to the Order in 1956 and was the 78th head of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, the successor of Blessed Gerard. Fra' Andrew was the youngest son of the 7th Earl of Abigngdon; both sides of his family has royal ties through the centuries. Bertie was educated at Ampleforth Abbey School, Christ Church, Oxford and at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London. He taught French and Spanish for 23 years at the Worth Abbey School, run by the Benedictine monks.

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In April 1988, Andrew Bertie was elected the Grand Master of the Order of Malta, Fra' Angelo de Mojana di Cologna. It is long known that Fra'Andrew was followed closely the official motto of the order is Tuitio Fidei et Obsequium Pauperum, "Defense of the Faith and Service of the Poor." 

Several years ago the Order of Malta was credited to having about 13, 000 Knights and Dames, 80,000 volunteers (15,000 trained as doctors and nurses), and a presence in 200 hospitals. The Order has an official presence in 120 countries. I am sure the data could be updated.

Fra' James-Michael von Strobel has been charged to compile a list of persons in the United States who knew Fra' Andrew and would support favorably this cause.

Please contact Fra' James-Michael if you care to give support in this endeavor. jmvonstroebel@hotmail.com 

Pope Benedict XVI spoke of Fra' Andrew and praised "the work of this man of culture and of his generous commitment in the fulfillment of his high office, especially in favor of those most in need, and for his love for the Church and for his luminous testimony of the principles of the Gospel."

Fra' Andrew was succeeded by Fra' Matthew Festing.
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1490 Martyrdom of St Stanislaus of Krakow.jpgO God, for whose honor the Bishop Saint Stanislaus fell beneath the swords of his persecutors, grant, we pray, that we may persevere strong in faith even until death.


I've been devoted to Saint Stanislaus for many, many years. He was the patron of my grammar school. In fact, his story mirrors Saint Thomas Becket. Like Becket, Stanislaus spoke truth to power and it cost him his head for the sake of the Kingdom of God.

Saint Stanislaus, pray for Poland.

Addressing all Christians through the mouth of Saint Paul, the Spirit cries out: "If you have risen with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God" (Colossians 3:1).


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For all its brevity, that sentence contains the most amazing assertion. In effect, it signifies not only that Christ has risen and that we ourselves shall one day rise with him, but that we have already risen with Christ through our baptism. The whole mystery of what it is to be a Christian subsists in that statement. Apparently, our human condition remains unchanged; yet Christ's resurrection has already accomplished its transforming work in the hidden world of our souls. Christians are now only waiting for the outward manifestation of what has already been achieved in Christ. Saint Paul, in fact, goes on to say: "Your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you too will be revealed with him in glory" (Colossians 3:3-4).


The resurrection, therefore, means that here and now our humanity is elevated to the inaccessible realm of the divine. The resurrection is the Good News par excellence, the glorious destiny, far above its own nature, to which the Father's love has called the human race in his only Son through the gift of the Spirit.


All this only possible through the action of God. In Christ, God comes down to us, takes our carnal nature, and raises it above itself in order to carry it into the intimate presence of the Father, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.


Thus the resurrection of Christ constitutes the first-fruits of our own resurrection. With Christ, part of our humanity is already taken up into the abyss of the Godhead. According to the metaphor employed by the writer to the Hebrews, Christ is like an anchor, which instead of being let down in the depths of the sea, is cast up into the heights of heaven (cf. Hebrews 6:19). He is the guarantee of our hope, because that hope has already been fulfilled in him.


Jean Cardinal Danielou, S.J. (1905-1974)

Felix Varela.jpegThe Congregation for Saints has told Bishop Octavio Cisneros, an auxiliary bishop of Brooklyn that the Servant of God Felix Varela's cause has been accepted by the Pope as a man of heroic and cardinal virtue. He will be given the title "Venerable Servant of God." Cisneros is the vice-postulator of Varela's cause.

Father Varela (1788-1853) was ordained a priest in Havana and came to the USA to serve as a priest. In 1837 he was appointed the Vicar General of New York diocese, the number two in responsibility for a diocese. He founded the first Spanish language newspaper in the USA, the founder of the New York Churches of the Transfiguration and Saint James and was a delegate to Council of Balltimore with Bishop DuBois.

The Cuban American priest worked for the needs of the immigrants, especially the Irish immigrants at time when the Irish were maltreated. Father Varela was an ardent fighter for freedom here in the USA and abroad;  he spoke for the freedom for the Colonies, from slavery and for the religious freedom of the Church.

Let's pray that God will soon glorify Father Felix to the Altars.
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After this Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him leave. So he came and took away his body.


Mary sees her son die, the Son of God and her son too. She knows that he is innocent, but took upon himself the burden of our misery. The mother offers her son, the son offers his mother. To John and to us.


Jesus and Mary: here we see a family that on Calvary suffers as it experiences the ultimate separation. Death parts them, or at least it seems to part them: a mother and son united by an unfathomable bond both human and divine. Out of love they surrender it. Both abandon themselves to the will of God.


Into the chasm opened in Mary's heart comes another son, one who represents the whole human race. Mary's love for each of us is the prolongation of her love for Jesus. In Jesus' disciples she will see his face. And she will live for them, to sustain them, to help them, to encourage them and to help them to acknowledge the love of God, so that they may turn in freedom to the Father.


What do they say to me, to us, to our families, this mother and son on Calvary? Each of us can only halt in amazement before this scene. We know instinctively that this mother and this son are giving an utterly unique gift. In them we find the ability to open our hearts and to expand our horizons to embrace the universe.


There, on Calvary,
at your side, Jesus, who died for us,
our families welcome the gift of God:
the gift of a love 
which can open our arms to the infinite.


The 13th Station Meditation of the Way of the Cross, Rome

Danilo and Anna Maria Zanzucchi

the Cross of Christ.jpg

Once more in meditation, prayer and song, we have recalled Jesus's journey along the way of the cross: a journey seemingly hopeless, yet one that changed human life and history, and opened the way to "new heavens and a new earth" (cf. Rev 21:1).  Especially today, Good Friday, the Church commemorates with deep spiritual union the death of the Son of God on the cross; in his cross she sees the tree of life, which blossoms in new hope.


The experience of suffering and of the cross touches all mankind; it touches the family too.  How often does the journey become wearisome and difficult!  Misunderstandings, conflicts, worry for the future of our children, sickness and problems of every kind.  These days too, the situation of many families is made worse by the threat of unemployment and other negative effects of the economic crisis.  The Way of the Cross which we have spiritually retraced this evening invites all of us, and families in particular, to contemplate Christ crucified in order to have the force to overcome difficulties.  The cross of Christ is the supreme sign of God's love for every man and woman, the superabundant response to every person's need for love.  At times of trouble, when our families have to face pain and adversity, let us look to Christ's cross.  There we can find the courage and strength to press on; there we can repeat with firm hope the words of Saint Paul: "Who will separate us from the love of Christ?  Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ... No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us" (Rom 8:35, 37).


In times of trial and tribulation, we are not alone; the family is not alone.  Jesus is present with his love, he sustains them by his grace and grants the strength needed to carry on, to make sacrifices and to overcome every obstacle.  And it is to this love of Christ that we must turn when human turmoil and difficulties threaten the unity of our lives and our families.  The mystery of Christ's suffering, death and resurrection inspires us to go on in hope: times of trouble and testing, when endured with Christ, with faith in him, already contain the light of the resurrection, the new life of a world reborn, the passover of all those who believe in his word.


In that crucified Man who is the Son of God, even death itself takes on new meaning and purpose: it is redeemed and overcome, it becomes a passage to new life.  "Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it produces much fruit" (Jn 12:24).  Let us entrust ourselves to the Mother of Christ.  May Mary, who accompanied her Son along his way of sorrows, who stood beneath the cross at the hour of his death, and who inspired the Church at its birth to live in God's presence, lead our hearts and the hearts of every family through the vast mysterium passionis towards the mysterium paschale, towards that light which breaks forth from Christ's resurrection and reveals the definitive victory of love, joy and life over evil, suffering and death.  Amen.


Pope Benedict XVI

Address following the Via Crucis

Good Friday

6 April 2012

The laity are stepping up to the plate to evangelize because it is part of the baptismal call to make disciples of all nations. We are now seeing more and more talented young people coming forward to share with the world the Truth of the faith proposed by Christ for our salvation. Two men from Saint Mary's Church (Greenville, SC) pastored by Father Jay Scott Newman, have formed The Momentum Studios as a Catholic company that aims to ignite our enthusiasm, adherence and love for Christ and His Church.

A recent Momentum Studios piece is on the Stations of the Cross. See it here...

We look forward to more.
The Portsmouth Institute is set to begin its third year of work from June 22-24, 2012, with the theme of "Modern Science, Ancient Faith." 

The Institute is located at Portsmouth Abbey and School (Portsmouth, RI).

Check the website for more information.
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The world's Catholics -not merely the Franciscans--are celebrating "Clarian Year," to observe the eighth centenary of the conversion and consecration of Saint Clare of Assisi (1193-1253) which tradition tells us took place on Palm Sunday 1211 or 1212. Pope Benedict XVI wrote to Bishop Domenico Sorrentino of Assisi - Nocera Umbra - Gualdo Tadino to express his own affection for the continued witness of Saint Clare.

Saint Clare's history "also speaks to our generation, and has a particular fascination for the young. All Christian life, and thus also consecrated life is the fruit of the Paschal Mystery and of our participation in the death and resurrection of Christ. In the Palm Sunday liturgy pain and glory come together, a theme which will be developed over the following days through the dark night of the Passion up to the ultimate light of Easter. With her choice Clare relived this mystery.

At its most profound level, Clare's 'conversion' is a conversion of love. No longer would she have the refined dress of the Assisan aristocracy, but an elegance of soul expressed in praise of God and giving of self. Day by day a fraternity came into being within the confines of the monastery of San Damiano, at the school of the Eucharistic Christ, ... a fraternity regulated by love of God and prayer, by concern for others and service. It was in this context of profound faith and great humanity that Clare came to interpret the Franciscan ideal, imploring the 'privilege' of poverty and renouncing even the shared possession of material goods, something which left even the Supreme Pontiff perplexed, until in the end he too surrendered to the heroism of her sanctity.


The Holy See Press Office Director Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi said this morning in Rome that "The fact that the Cuban authorities have immediately accepted the request made by the Holy Father to President Raul Castro, declaring next Good Friday a holiday, is certainly a very positive sign. The Holy See hopes that this will facilitate participation in religious celebrations and favor a happy Easter holiday. It also hopes that the Holy Father's visit may continue to produce fruits for the good of the Church and of all Cubans."

Those of you who attended the Palm Sunday Mass today heard the Passion according to Saint Mark. It is the briefest of the synoptic passions; even in the economy of the gospel it is incredibly rich for lectio divina. Saint Mark, for me, is a true delight to listen to and to meditate on but not because of its brevity but because of compact unity; it's stress on evangelization. Do you remember Alec McCowen's one-man performance in the black box of the Gospel of Mark? You should see if you have not.

From today's proclamation of Mark's gospel you heard mention of the donkey; an uncommon beast, or at least a beast that doesn't garner too much respect. Seemingly it is more tolerated than truly appreciated. But you may recall, that the donkey even protects the infant Divine Babe, Jesus. Later in the Passion the donkey bears the Lord into Jerusalem that leads to the Cross, to glory.

Donkey.jpg

We know from others that donkeys are used to protect cattle, but they also are recognized as being docile and friendly and they don't eat like horses; but donkeys are instinctively hostile to wolves and coyotes. Archbishop Chaput told his evening congregation that Christians ought to be like donkeys in the daily living of the Christian life: we are to be docile (being humble, and open enough to learn from others), friendly to other Christians and to the good things of the world and yet instinctively hostile, that is, protective of those who are vulnerable toward the weak of heart, mind or body, and to protect the Truth and dignity of man and woman from being trampled. Moreover, we are to bear the Lord in every aspect of our lives.

I don't know about you, I like donkeys; they are quite likable creatures.

GK Chesterton's poem, The Donkey, is a fine reminder of what we celebrate today: 


EM Egan et al 1 April 2012.jpgThis afternoon, Palm Sunday 2012, His Eminence, Edward Cardinal Egan, JCD, preached Solemn Vespers and Benediction. He was the final preacher for our Sunday Vespers highlighting Great Preachers.

His Eminence's presence among us, along with his priest secretary Father Brendan Fitzgerald, was a very delightful experience; it was a joy to hear about things historical and present. Time spent with the Cardinal and Father Brendan a perfect ending to the day and perfect beginning to Holy Week.

EM Egan and Paul Zalonski 1 April 2012.jpg
Cardinal Egan celebrates his 80th birthday. Canonically, he loses his right, responsibility and duty to enter a conclave to elect a pope. He will likely be attending to fewer things in Rome as travel is getting more and more difficult.

The Cardinal's preaching was a fine opening to Holy Week. Domine, quo vadis? He focussed our attention on 1 Peter 1:18-21:    

Realizing that you were ransomed from your futile conduct, handed on by your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold but with the precious blood of Christ as of a spotless unblemished lamb. He was known before the foundation of the world but revealed in the final time for you, who through him believe in God who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
B16 Palm Sunday.jpgGeneral intention

That many young people may hear the call of Christ and follow him in the priesthood and religious life.

Missionary intention

That the risen Christ may be a sign of certain hope for the men and women of the African continent.
Entry in Jerusalem Duccio.jpg






Almighty ever-living God, who as an example of humility for the human race to follow caused our Savior to take flesh and submit to the Cross, graciously grant that we may heed his lesson of patient suffering and so merit a share in his Resurrection.

About the author

Paul A. Zalonski is from New Haven, CT. He is a member of the Fraternity of Communion and Liberation, a Catholic ecclesial movement and an Oblate of Saint Benedict. Contact Paul at paulzalonski[at]yahoo.com.

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