Author: Paul Zalonski

Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien to lead the Order of the Holy Sepulchre

EDWIN F. OBRIEN.jpgIt sounds like this appointment of Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien, 72, to head the 1000 year old lay group Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.

The video of the press conference where Archbishop Edwin O’Brien announces he’s going to head the Order of the Holy Sepulchre.

Up to now he’s been the 15th Diocesan Ordinary of Baltimore; in 2007 Benedict appointed O’Brien to succeed Cardinal William Henry Keeler.

Several articles from Baltimore’s Catholic Review shed some light on Archbishop O’Brien: here, here and his own remarks.
As the Archbishop promised when he took over the Baltimore Archdiocese nearly four years ago, “Whatever I am and all that I have, I give to you” will be the same pledge to the Knights and Dames of the Holy Sepulchre.
Here’s a piece on the playful side of Edwin F. O’Brien.
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Beheading of Saint John the Baptist


Beheading of St John the Baptist HMemling.jpgO God, who willed that Saint John the Baptist should
go ahead of your Son both in birth and in death, grant that as he died a Martyr
for truth and justice, we, too, may fight hard for the confession of what you
teach.



There is no
doubt that blessed John suffered imprisonment and chains as a witness to our
Redeemer, whose forerunner he was, and gave his life for him. His persecutor
had demanded not that he should deny Christ, but only that he should keep
silent about the truth. Nevertheless, he died for Christ. Does Christ not say:
“I am the truth”? Therefore, because John shed his blood for the truth,
he surely died for Christ. 

Through his birth, preaching and baptizing, he bore
witness to the coming birth, preaching and baptism of Christ, and by his own
suffering he showed that Christ also would suffer. Such was the quality and
strength of the man who accepted the end of this present life by shedding his
blood after the long imprisonment. He preached the freedom of heavenly peace,
yet was thrown into irons by ungodly men. He was locked away in the darkness of
prison, though he came bearing witness to the Light of life and deserved to be
called a bright and shining lamp by that Light itself, which is Christ.

Father Pius Parsch
The Church’s Year of Grace

Saint Augustine of Hippo


St Augustine caravaggio.jpgChrist humbled himself, you have something, Christian,
to latch onto. Christ became obedient. Why do you behave proudly? 


Saint
Augustine

When you read what the Pope has to say about Saint Augustine, you can tell that he really loves and knows Saint Augustine…as we all ought. He’s given us a lot to think about using Augustine’s thinking. Here’s the 2008 discourse of the Pope on the saintly Bishop of Hippo.

Given what is said above, pay close attention to the second half of the Pope’s talk.

Saint Monica


St Monica PdellaFrancesca.jpgAnd when the Lord saw [the mother of the deceased
young man], he had compassion on her and said to her, ‘Do not weep.’ And he
came and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, ‘Young
man, I say to you, arise.’ And the dead man sat up, and began to speak. And he
gave him to his mother” (Luke 12:13-15).


The Holy Spirit saw to it that Monica’s son Augustine was baptized in 387 by Saint Ambrose, after he resisted her for 17 years.


A blessed feast day of Saint Monica, especially two friends who bear the name of Monica, the parish of Saint Monica, Northford, CT.

I also remember Mother Monica, OP, a former Prioress of Our Lady of Grace Monastery, North Guilford, CT. She made me a 15 decade rosary in 1983.

Saint Monica is often known as the patron saint for those who have difficult and abusive marriages, of troubled youth, the conversion of relatives. She might as well be the patron saint of the virtues of patience and perseverance.

Saint Louis of France



St Louis of France.jpg




O God, who
brought Saint Louis from the cares of earthly rule to the glory of a heavenly
realm, grant, we pray, through his intercession, that by fulfilling our duties
on earth, we may seek out your eternal Kingdom.

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:


Sofia with children arm on Bible.JPG

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.

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