Author: Paul Zalonski

Vatican said to investigate alleged Medjugorje apparitions

Getting to the bottom of the story, or at least approaching the bottom, is welcomed news as to the validity of the alleged apparitions at Medjugorje by the Blessed Mother. Remember these apparitions have been going on since 1982! Are these apparitions or hallucinations? The answer may come if the reports that a Vatican commission has been established are true. An Italian media group is reporting that the Vatican is setting up a commission to be headed by Cardinal Camillo Ruini.

CNA speaks about some recent issues pertaining to the hallucinations, I mean, alleged apparitions. I am of the opinion that these events at Medjugorje are not true but I am willing to say that the Holy Spirit can bring good out of bad.

Saint John of God

St John of God.jpgFather, You gave John of God love and compassion for others. Grant that by doing good for others we may be counted among the saints in Your kingdom.

Saint John of God made his conversion at the age of 40 (there’s hope for those of us who are older) and is famously known for founding a group of brothers whose work is to serve the sick and the dying, especially the homeless and those on the margins of society. The order is known as the Brothers Hospitallers of Saint John of God. A statue of St John of God is positioned among the great founders of religious orders at Saint Peter’s Basilica, Rome.
Today, there are provinces of the brothers around the world, and in the USA, they can found here: The Hospitaller Brothers of Saint John of God.
Saint John of God is the patron saint for heart patients, hospitals, nurses, firefighters, printers and booksellers.

Cistercian Martyrs of England

We beseech Thee, almighty God, grant that we who celebrate the heavenly birth of the blessed English Cistercian Martyrs, may be strengthened by their intercession in the love of Thy Name.

English Cistercians.jpgUnder King Henry VIIIs order, many Cistercian monks were cruelly
put to death for Catholic faith, the some may argue about pretexts. In the
months of March and May 1537, died for the Catholic faith


Dom John Harrison,
Abbot of Kirkstead, with Dom Richard Wade, Dom William Small and Dom Henry
Jenkinson;

Dom John Paslew, Abbot of Whalley, with Dom William Haydock and Dom
Richard Eastgate.

The Abbot of Fountains
and a monk of Louth Park.

In 1538, these Cistercians were martyred:

Dom Robert
Hobbes, Abbot of Woburn,
with Dom Rudolph Barnes and Dom Laurence Blunham.

The Church also acknowledges
as authentic confessors of the faith: Dom Thomas Mudd, monk of Jervaulx,
who died on September 7, 1583;

Dom John Almond, who died on April 18, 1585;

Dom
Gilbert Browne, the last Abbot of Sweetheart, who died on March 14, 1612.

Saints Perpetua and Felicity

Sts Perpetua & Felicity.jpegTheirs is the kingdom of heaven who despising a worldly life have attained the rewards of the kingdom, and have washed their robes in the Blood of the Lamb.

We beseech Thee, O Lord our Savior, grant us to revere with unceasing devotion the glorious victories of Thy holy Martyrs Perpetua and Felicity; may we at least honor with our lowly homage those whose praises we can not sing worthily.
Reading the Roman Martyrology (2004) today I also note that the Church remembers among others, the death of Saint Thomas Aquinas in the Cistercian monastery of Fossanova, the Martyred priests in London under Henry VIII, Blesseds John Larke, John Ireland, Germain Gardiner, Discalced Carmelite nun Saint Terese Margarita Redi, in Russia Blessed Leonid Fedorov, bishop and martyr of the Russian Byzantine Catholic Church.

Seminary and Sex

Creation of Eve Michelangelo.jpgSexuality is a beautiful part of being human and it is a gift from God that needs to be known, understood, appreciated and embraced (no pun intended). Sexuality is a holy part of being a man or a woman. Unfortunately, that’s not the message we receive in secular society and it is infrequently heard from the pulpit in Catholic churches and very likely not in other Christian communities. Unheard of from the pulpit, that is, until Pope John Paul II introduced his monumental work, Theology of the Body. But that’s a topic for another time. Sexuality is not just a religious issue, it is a human issue and everything human is of our interest.

Religion & Ethics Newsweekly ran an interesting story on sexuality. I will say it makes some good points BUT there are some views that are inconsistent with Catholicism. OK, but that’s a not a good reason not to watch the story! Familiarize yourself with the issues –watch the video and read something on the Theology of the Body. AND don’t be scared.
At places like St Joseph’s Seminary there’s a course on human sexuality taught by Father John Bonnici, a priest of the Archdiocese of New York. Father Bonnici deals with the physiological, psychological, relational, spiritual and theological aspects of human sexuality viz. priestly ministry. AND I am glad to have the class. It is a forum for us to intelligently speak about human sexuality matters while considering the pastoral issues at hand that we will encounter in the parish setting. Learning on the job is not an adequate response any longer… sorry….

Good Friday Way of the Cross over the Brooklyn Bridge connected with closeness & prayers of Pope Benedict

The Secretariat of State of the Holy See has asked me
to convey the following message:


Way of the Cross 2010.jpg

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI sends greetings
and the assurance of closeness in prayer to all attending the Good Friday
Stations of the Cross organized by Communion and Liberation in New York City
and in the other cities throughout the United States. It is his hope that by
accompanying the Redeemer along the path leading to calvary they will draw ever
closer to Him in His loving obedience to the Father’s Will and His redemptive
solidarity with suffering humanity, and be led to deeper conversion, more fervent
faith and generous commitment to the spread of God’s kingdom of reconciliation,
justice and peace. Commending all present to the intercession of Our Lady of
Sorrows, the Holy Father cordially imparts his apostolic blessing as a pledge
of Easter joy and hope.

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone
Secretary of State

With prayerful
good wishes, I remain

Sincerely yours in Christ,
Archbishop Pietro Sambi Apostolic
Nuncio

NB:

There is a plenary indulgence granted to the faithful who

1. devoutly assist at the adoration of the Cross in the solemn liturgical action of Good Friday; or

2. personally make the pious Way of the Cross, or devoutly unite themselves to the Way of the Cross while it is being led by the Supreme Pontiff and broadcast live on television or radio.

Saint John Joseph of the Cross


St John Joseph of the Cross.jpg

He was in prayer and even spent the night praying and giving
thanks.

Father, You raised Your servant Saint John Joseph of the Cross through
the rugged way of poverty, humility and patience to heavenly glory. Grant us
the grace to follow his example so as to share in eternal joy.

Saint John
Joseph comes from the island of Ischia, off the coast of Naples. Some might say
it is better than Capri. Virtuous from his earliest days he followed the path
set by Saint Peter of Alcantara -the same person who was a spiritual father to
Saint Teresa of Jesus– who developed a strict observant Franciscan fraternity
which emphasized contemplation and penance. John Joseph was such an exemplary friar
that he was asked to be ordained a priest and to make Franciscan foundations.
In time he was appointed both master of novices and provincial superior. His
humility endeared him to others; he insisted on menial tasks even though he had noble birth and positions of influence. John Joseph was zealous for souls and it is
reported that he had the gift of prophecy and healing. As an insightful
confessor John Joseph would encourage people to pray, live simply and be
devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

More on Saint John Joseph can be read here.

What is fasting? What Catholics teach…

In the famous Sermon on the Mount Jesus speaks of the three important spiritual exercises: fasting, prayer and almsgiving. Here I want to write about fasting. And over the many centuries that the Catholic Church has existed, there has been development in the teaching based on experience.

Jesus’ teaching on fasting is this:

*Fasting is an extremely important means –not an ends– of resisting sin and the threat of hell.

*Fasting is practiced as a memorial of Christ’s death on Good Friday; it ought to be practiced each Friday but the Church only requires fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

*Fasting is intimately linked to prayer and almsgiving as spiritual exercises.

In paragraph of 2043 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, quoting the Code of Canon Law, states, “The fourth precept (“You shall observe the days of fasting and abstinence established by the Church”) ensures the times of ascesis and penance which prepare us for the liturgical feasts and help us acquire mastery over our instincts and freedom of heart.”

Our Church still believes that fasting is not only helpful, but is required because it forms and reforms a sense of faith, hope and charity. Serious Christians will not abandon the practice of fasting, especially before significant events in life like baptism, confirmation, marriage, ordination, etc. So what does the Church believe about fasting? Fasting means…

*There are two fast-days on which we are allowed but one full meal but person can have one full meal, take two other meatless meals, to maintain strength, according to one’s needs. Taken together these two meatless meals should not equal another full meal.

*All people over 18 and under 59 years of age, and whose health and occupation will permit them to fast. (Abstinence begins for those who are 14.) The Church, showing mercy, does excuse certain persons from the obligation of fasting on account of age, health, work, or the circumstances in which they live. Children, from the age of seven years, and persons who are unable to fast are bound to abstain on days of abstinence, unless they are excused for sufficient reason. If questions persist, please find a parish priest for consultation.

*Fast-days occur during Advent and Lent, on the Ember days and on the vigils or eves of some great feasts. A vigil falling on a Sunday is not observed.

Fasting is often seen by some people as antiquated, harmful, or a waste of time. To think that fasting is only about the legal requirements of the faith, is a serious reduction of the practice of religion to ideology. Moralism is shallow and gets us no where. I will say, fasting is an essential part of being formed in the Catholic faith, adhering closely to Christ. No one who takes seriously their faith can dispense themselves without good reason from fasting as Christ fasted. Yes, it is hard and yes it is annoying but the pay-off is profound because it opens the body, the heart and the mind to grace. Fasting allows us to see more deeply and clearly the conversion we are called to work on, and to be less satisfied with the status quo. Fasting assists our restlessness in tending towards God by stripping away sin (and a little weight comes off, all the better). 

I have to say there is a beauty in fasting because it is a method in emptying myself of that which weighs me down either with food –which makes me sluggish and at time incapable of listening to the movements of the Holy Spirit in my life– or fasting from sinful tendencies which can also make me sluggish but there is a significant risk in not fasting from sin because sin leads away from God and from the heart of the Church, the sacrament of Christ on earth.