Month: August 2011
Saint Louis of France
Sofia Cavalletti, 94, dies
My friend Michel wrote to tell me that Sofia Cavalleti last evening. You may remember that a few days ago I asked you to include Sofia in your prayers. This past Sunday, Sofia celebrated her 94th birthday. I once again recommend to you the soul of Sofia Cavalletti to the Lord, the Good Shepherd of our souls.
The following is the message sent out by the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd USA board:
With tears and with peace, we want to share with you that our beloved Sofia Cavalletti, at 94, a founding mother of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, has entered the celestial pasture of the Good Shepherd. There is great rejoicing in heaven for her with Gianna, Tilde, Fr. Mongillo, Maria Christleib and Tina, along with members of her family who have gone before her.
Francesca Cocchini sent the following announcement from Rome, Italy: “Dearest, this is only to say that during this night – at ten after midnight (Tuesday, August 23) Sofia encountered the Good Shepherd face to face.” The funeral Mass will be on Wednesday, August 24.
Ján Chryszostom Cardinal Korec, SJ
An interesting and unique anniversary is being observed by a member of the College of Cardainls: Ján Chryzostom Korec, SJ, the emeritus bishop of Nitra (Slovak Republic), 87, Bishop Pavel Hnilica ordained the cardinal secretly in a hospital room.
The cardinal is an exceedingly interesting man. When I met him in 1997 when he was making a US tour of Slovak communities, his interaction among his hosts was wonderful. He received an honorary Doctorate from Sacred Heart University on that visit to Connecticut.
Cardinal Korec’s statistics are fascinating: nearly 61 years a priest, 60 years a bishop and 20 years a cardinal.
Here’s the Pope’s congratulatory message:
Venerabili Fratri Nostro
IOANNI CHRYSOSTOMO S.R.E. Card. KOREC, S.I.
Episcopo emerito Nitriensi
Laeti laetum nuntium accepimus quod tu, Venerabilis Frater Noster, sexagesimam propediem anniversariam celebrabis memoriam illius diei semper tibi recolendi, quo Episcopus consecratus es et inter Apostolorum Successores relatus, huius nominationis occulte nactus honorem.
Quemadmodum tam felicis nec non praeclari eventus ratio poscit, Nos, commemorantes ministerium sacrum quod diligentissime tot annos peregisti, te actuosum, fidelem ac prudentem Pastorem enixe laudamus praesentiamque spiritualem Nostram hac in festivitate tibi pollicemur.
Dum ergo flagrantia vota, quaecumque sunt salutaria, optabilia, fausta adprecantia, imo e pectore promimus, a sanctissimo ac sempiterno Deo tibi supernorum munerum copiam imploramus, quorum auspicium simul atque propensae voluntatis Nostrae pignus esto Apostolica Benedictio, quam tibi amantissime impertimus.
Ex Arce Gandulfi, die XV mensis Augusti, in Sollemnitate Assumptionis Beatae Mariae Virginis, Anno MMXI, Pontificatus Nostri septimo.
BENEDICTUS PP XVI
No substitute for a personal encounter with the Lord
What, dear brothers, is more delightful than this voice of the Lord calling to us? See how the Lord in his love shows us the way of life. Clothed then with faith and the performance of good works, let us set out on this way, with the Gospel for our guide, that we may deserve to see him who called us to his kingdom (RB, Prologue, 20-1).
Continue reading No substitute for a personal encounter with the Lord
Priest and seminarian killed in Tulsa Diocese
From my friend, Father Frowin, I learned of this tragic news:
Last night a driver traveling an estimated 85 mph and failing to stop at a red
light broadsided and killed Father Jorge Gomez (ordained a priest just last month)
and seminarian Stanley Karioke.”
faithful departed, rest in peace. Amen.
Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Queen of Heaven
means Queen of Earth, Queen of the Truth of earth, of earth in its permanent
truth, because veritas Domini manet: the truth of Being endures.
The wait for
Christ’s return-and each of us is called to experience this-is the passion and
the joy, the joyous hope for that day when all the world will be truly itself,
all mankind will acknowledge Him, and Christ will truly be “everything in
everyone.” That moment is the meaning of everything that is, the meaning of the
whole of time, of all that we do, and the apex, the heart of hope, because
man’s glory depends on this; in this adherence man begins to cry out God’s
glory. Our life seeks glory because it is made for this. Glory is not something
promised for the future, but is a promise already begun and already fulfilled.
To the extent that we offer ourselves and acknowledge that the substance of
everything is Christ, this promise is accomplished for us. Paradise is not
somewhere else; it will be here. Paradise is the total truth between you and
me, in the relationship between you and me; it is the total truth in the
relationship between me and the image that comes to me through thought, between
me and things. Paradise is a feast which “fulfills every feast the heart has
desired.”
May the hand of Our Lady introduce us into the Mystery, because this
is the meaning of our days, the meaning of time that passes. May her gaze guide
us on our journey, may her example teach us, may her figure be the plan of our
purpose. Generous Mother, who generates for us the great presence of Christ, we
want to be consoled, comforted, nourished, enriched, and gladdened by that
Presence which was born again from your flesh, and for this reason we ask you
to make us participate in your freedom, your readiness to help, your life.
Luigi Giussani
The Holy Rosary
Peter, you are the rock upon which I will build my church
Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi and he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Then he strictly ordered his disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ. (Matthew 16 13-20)
A challenging gospel passage for people who are skeptical about Christ being THE Way, and giving the keys to Peter and thus to the Church. We have to ask ourselves: Who do you say Jesus is? Do you take His words seriously? Is Peter’s confession of Jesus believable? Do you know the Church in a loving and faith-filled way?
The Magis according to St Ignatius of Loyola
An often confused issue in Ignatian spirituality as it is formulated by Saint Ignatius of Loyola is the concept of the magis. It can be an elusive but central Ignatian idea. But it doesn’t have to be such. Many writers on Ignatian spirituality say that the magis means the best, the highest, the most that we can do for God. But these writers miss the point because Ignatius doesn’t speak in superlative terms.
The recently departed Jesuit Father Dave Fleming contests this understanding. According to Fleming, the magis is comparative not superlative. That is, it is the more, not the most. Holy Father Saint Ignatius meant the magis to be interpreted and thus lived in view of the greater not the greatest.
Father Dave wrote: “Ignatius never works with superlatives.” Fleming explains, “When we want to do the best, we may get frozen. If we want to do what might be better, we might be able to choose.” Thus, there is an emphasis on freedom in this more authentic interpretation of Ignatius than what one gets with using superlative language. Hence, the magis as a comparative applies to everything, not just a select point or two of one’s life. Everything. A complete and sincere gift of self to God, and then to neighbor.
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux
I consider that the blessing of a fuller sanctification
descended upon her [Mary, the Mother of God], so as not only to sanctify her birth, but also to keep her
life pure from all sin; which gift is believed to have been bestowed upon none
other born of woman. This singular privilege of sanctity, to lead her life
without any sin, entirely benefited the queen of virgins, who should bear the
Destroyer of sin and death, who should obtain the gift of life and
righteousness for all.
of the Church