Saint Cecilia, virgin and martyr
1. O God of tune and rhyme,
Whose song the world has made,
Whose Word before all time
The universe displayed:
We praise in song this woman’s fame,
Who, in the face of death and shame,
Gave glory to her Savior’s name.
2. O Christ, who summoned all
To follow in your way,
That we might bear our cross
And live in endless day:
We thank you for Cecilia’s stand;
And trusting in your loving hand,
We too will sin and death withstand.
3. O Spirit, Lord of life,
Whose gifts all faith maintain,
Your leading through earth’s strife
Let us your heav’n attain.
Grant us firm faith that, as did she,
We follow you, O Wind most free,
That Christians true we e’er may be.
4. O Trinity, One God,
O Source of music’s art,
Guide us through ways untrod
Until, within your heart,
With all your saints and angels’ throng
We live with you, and there prolong
Our endless alleluia song.
J. Michael Thompson
Copyright © 2009, World Library Publications
66 66 888
RHOSYMEDRE
Pope visits where Connecticut nun and mystic lived
When Pope Francis went to the Sant’Antonio Abate Monastery for Vespers today, he made an unusual visit to the monastic cell of an American Mystic and anchoress. Sister Nazarena. The Camaldolese Benedictine nun is not well known; Sister Nazarena of Jesus, was known in history as Julia Crotta (October 15, 1907 – February 7, 1990). She made the honest claim that her vocation was the direct result of a vision she had of the Lord. She reports that the Lord called her name, “Julia, come to me in the desert, I will never leave you.” She would come to devote her life in love through music, according to the grace God gave her. A Jesuit sent her to Rome to find her vocation.
Monastery is located at the foot of the Aventine Hill, not far from Byzantine Church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin (one of my favorite churches in Rome) and not far from the Church of Santa Sabina and Sant’Anselmo –the Benedictine house of studies.
Crotta was from Glastonbury, Connecticut, a daughter of Italian immigrants, a gifted and trained musician who began her studies at Hartford Consevatory, then at the Yale School of Music in violin and composition, but left Yale to finish at Albertus Magnus College up the street run by the Dominican Sisters of St Mary’s of the Springs (now Dominican Sisters of Peace). She finished with a degree in French. She taught music in Manhattan before trying her vocation with the Carmelites in two different monasteries.
After meeting with Pope Pius XII, Julia Crotta became a Camaldolese Benedictine nun and later an anchoress, that is, living a hidden life for 45 years. Her name in religion was Sister Nazarena of Jesus. The Camaldolese’s founder was an anchorite, Saint Romuald (who live around the AD 1000), and they honored the recluse vocation. Hers was a rare vocation yet a shining star in the Church. Pope Paul VI visited Sister Nazarena in 1966.
Benedictine Father Thomas Matus, an American monk and author of Nazarena: An American anchoress (Paulist Press 1998) spoke with Laura Ieraci of Vatican Radio about Sister Nazarena’s vocation, spiritual writings and the witness she offers today
The quick link to the interview is here with Vatican Radio.
Father Thomas is a monk of New Camaldoli Hermitage in Big Sur, California and an adjunct professor of Theology at Jesuit School of Theology at Santa Clara.
Here is an example of holiness springing up from Connecticut!!!
Pope meets Eastern Catholic Patriarchs and Major Archbishops
As the Roman Pontiff, Bishop of Rome, the Pope meets with the Fathers of the Churches who are in communion with him to be updated on the life of particular churches. The Patriarchs and Major Archbishops from the Eastern Churches are in Rome this week for a plenary meeting of the Congregation for Eastern Churches.
Who are these bishops? The current (2013) patriarchs and major archbishops are:
- Patriarch Gregory of the Melkites
- Patriarch Bechara of the Maronites
- Patriarch Ignatius of Syrians
- Patriarch Louis of the Chaldeans
- Patriarch Nerses of the Armenians
- Patriarch Ibrahim of the Copts
- Major Archbishop Sviatoslav of the Ukrainians
- Major Archbishop Lucian of the Romanians
- Major Archbishop George of the Syro-Malabars
- Major Archbishop Baselios of the Syro-Malankars
- Archbishop Fouad, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem
This year’s meeting centered around the theme of religious liberty, an issue that is at crisis proportions around the world, even in the Western nations.
From Vatican Radio, “Citing the words of his predecessor, Pope emeritus Benedict XVI in the post-Synodal exhortation, Ecclesia in medio oriente (nn. 39-40), Pope Francis said, “[You are] watchful guardians of communion and servants of Ecclesial unity,” adding, “that union, which you are called to realize in your Churches, finds natural and full expression in the ‘indefectible union with the Bishop of Rome’.” Pope Francis went on to say, “In order that our witness be credible, we are called ever to seek justice, mercy, faith, charity, patience and meekness.”
As you know, the current Pope and the previous one has had a deep appreciation for the patrimony of Eastern Christianity. They are brothers.
The Vatican Radio report can be heard here.
Rome Reports has filed a report here.
Pope Francis visits Camaldolese monastery
As one of the final events for the Year of Faith Pope Francis will have a “Pro Orantibus Day,” honoring the liturgical feast of of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Since 1953, today has been a day of prayer for those belonging to contemplative religious orders. Pope Pius XII established this day to remind all the faithful of the indispensability of contemplative vocation for the health of the Church. It is also a day many of the Benedictine Oblates renew their oblation to their monastery.
Pope Francis called today “a good opportunity to thank the Lord for the gift of so many people who, in monasteries and hermitages, dedicate themselves to God in prayer and silent work.”
The Pope urged the faithful to give their spiritual and material support to these brothers and sisters “so that they can carry out their important mission.”
At Vespers, the Pope Francis will visit a Camaldolese monastery of cloistered nuns, Sant’Antonio abate, on the Aventine hill. Previous Roman Pontiffs have prayed at this monastery.
Here’s a VERY fascinating interview with Veronica Scarisbrick of Vatican Radio with one of the nuns (the radio link) at Sant’Antonio.
Listen to the interview, please. AND there’s another report here from Vatican Radio.
Rome Reports has a report here.
Presentation of Mary in the Temple
The Church liturgically honors Mary in her being Presentation in the Temple. The Byzantine Church calls the memorial The Entrance of the Theotokos in the Temple. It is one of the 12 Great Feasts.
Mary, Ark of the Covenant, pray for us.
Saint Gregory Palamas orients our thoughts today:
With profound understanding she listened to the writings of Moses and the revelations of the other prophets when, every Saturday, all the people gathered outside, as the Law ordained. She learned about Adam and Eve and everything that happened to them: how they were brought out of non-being, settled in paradise and given a commandment there; about the evil one’s ruinous counsel and the resulting theft; about their expulsion from paradise on that account, the loss of immortality and the change to this way of life full of pain.
She saw that as time passed, life continued under the inherited curse and grew even worse, God’s creature made in His image was estranged from the Creator and became more and more closely associated with the one who had evilly schemed to crush him. No one was capable of putting an end to this impulse which brings destruction on all men alike, or to the uncheckable rush of humankind towards hell.
When the holy Virgin heard and understood this, she was filled with pity for humanity and, with the aim of finding a remedy to counteract this great affliction, she resolved at once to turn with her whole mind to God. She took it upon herself to represent us, to constrain Him Who is above compulsion, and quickly draw Him towards us, that He might remove the curse from among us, halt the advance of the fire burning men’s souls, weaken our enemies, answer our prayers, shine upon us with light that never sets and, having healed our sickness, unite His creatures with Himself.”
A traditional Catholic Thanksgiving hymn
For those looking for an antiphon for Thanksgiving…
The text reads:
Dominus dixit ad me: vade et interfice a Turcia operretur, et servient in fratribus meis minimis. Et abii, et percussit Turcia, et praeparavit cibos fratribus meis servierim. Alleluia.
In translation:
The Lord said to me: Go and kill a turkey, dress it, and serve to the least of my brethren. So I went and slew the turkey, dressed it and served to my brethren. Alleluia.
You can click not the image to enlarge it.
Thanks to my friend, Father Fluet…
Secular Franciscans of Bethlehem at 125
The Secular Franciscan Order of Bethlehem are celebrating 125 years. Laity, according to their own context and vocation, are living the gospel and bringing the gospel message to the world. The SFO are living witnesses in imitation of Saint Francis of Assisi. The SFO provides personal formation to its members, education to youth, are present to the needs of the local church and assist in the Church Universal in a myriad of good works.
Living in Bethlehem brings a unique due to the fact it’s the place where the Lord lived, died, rose from the dead and ascended to God the Father.
The Franciscan Media Center carried the story here.
The vocation to follow in the steps of Saint Francis of Assisi and the blessers and saints of the Order is available around the world. You can check locally to see about the presence of SFO. Each fraternity is unique and one may not have the same vigor as another. Following the Lord in this way is a rewarding way to know, love and serve Jesus.
Jerome Murphy-O’Connor, OP, RIP
On November 11 in Jerusalem one of the world’s best known scholars of the New Testament died, Dominican Father Jerome Murphy-O’Connor, 78. Father Jerry, as he was known, was certainly the best known priest in Jerusalem. He lived with poor health in recent years.
A tall man with a big personality was certainly a force to be reckoned with on all planes. He was certainly a provocative thinker, particularly on Saint Paul, was one who pushed the boundaries; but he was a man of trust in Divine Mystery. Some may say he was a modernist scholar; a keen interest was the real humanity of Jesus, especially as Jesus approached the crucifixion. Hence, you may not agree with all things that he said, but one would hope that you’d do your own research and draw your own conclusions, but you can’t dismiss out of hand professional and honest work. I certainly think history will show us that JMC was a on to something.
His last book was, Keys to Jerusalem: Collected Essays (Oxford, 2012).
I met Father Jerry at University of Notre Dame several years ago while he was there doing some teaching and lecturing in NT studies.
Several articles ought to be read:
- The Franciscan Media Center produced this video clip of Father Murphy-O’Connor’s funeral.
- Catholic Herald’s “Church mourns renowned Bible scholar Fr Jerome Murphy O’Connor.”
- The Telegraph obit, “Father Jerome Murphy O’Connor – Obituary“
- Brian B. Pinter has an appreciative essay of Father Jerome in America, “Jerome Murphy-O’Connor, O.P.: A Life well Lived.”
- And a 2012 interview given to the Catholic Herald, “Jesus had a brief nervous breakdown” on what is speculated happened to Jesus in Gethsemani.
May God be merciful to Father Jerome. May Our Lady and Saint Dominic guide Father to the Beatific Vision.
Saint Mechtilde of Hackeborn
“O good Jesus, I love You, and whatever is not in me, I beg of You to offer to the Father in its stead the love of Your own Heart…. I offer You, therefore, this love, in order to supply thereby for all that is wanting in me.”