The battle for religious freedom is only now heating up. The 16th archbishop of Baltimore, William E. Lori, is the spokesman for matters pertaining to religious freedom viz. the Catholic Church in the USA. However, one could claim with seriousness that he is not only speaking for the Catholics, but for people of faith. Gave a keynote address tonight in Washington that you ought to read. The full text is here: Lori on Religious Freedom May 24 2012.pdf
Translation of the Relics of Saint Dominic
O Light of the Church, teacher of truth, rose of patience, ivory of chastity; you freely pour forth the waters of wisdom, preacher of grace, unite us with the blessed.
(Magnificat antiphon for Vespers; O Lumen)
In Churches administered by the Order of Friars Preachers (the Dominicans) the faithful would have heard the Mass prayers not for Thursday of the Seventh Week of Easter but for the Translation of the Relics of Saint Dominic. That is, the observance of a secondary feast of Saint Dominic.
What is celebrated is not the mere moving of a coffin from one place to another but the recognition by the Church that the person in question has the “odor of sanctity.” That is, he or she is infallibly with the Blessed Trinity. The Dominican friars did in fact, move the body of their holy father from a humble place of burial to a more noble one, but this feast really marks an ecclesial event recognizing the sign that Dominic was holy man.
It ought to be noted, however, Dominic was buried as he wished, “under the feet of his brothers. in the Church of Saint Nicholas de Vineis. Known among the faithful to be a blessed man who loved everyone and was in turn loved by all, Dominic asked the Lord to heal people of their infirmities. Miracles happened and were acknowledged by many except for the Dominicans; they in fact destroyed the offerings left as gifts of thanksgiving at the grave of Father Dominic. Pope Gregory IX, on 24 May 1233, sanctioned the moving of the body that happened in the presence of the archbishop of Ravenna, Theodoric and the second Master of the Order Blessed Jordan of Saxony to a new marble tomb during the Dominican’s General Chapter held in Bologna. This gesture inaugurated the process of canonizing Dominic which happened on 3 July 1234 by Gregory IX.
Peter Maurin and Dorothy Day: still relevant today
Catholics who don’t know the names of Peter Maurin (1877-1949) and Dorothy Day (1897-1980) ought to do some research. These two, I am becoming more convinced, are true holy people that we can reliably follow. That is, they will lead us to Christ. But don’t be fooled: neither are easily understood given what we face today, nor are they lukewarm about the Catholic faith they wholeheartedly embraced and lived.
Writing for Crisis Magazine online, Christopher Shannon said that “Day herself considered him the holiest man she ever knew, yet conceded he was something of an eccentric. Still, she remained convinced that he was a truly Christian eccentric, a holy fool in the tradition of St. Paul, or more specifically, St. Francis.”
Read the whole essay, “Peter Maurin: A Fool for Christ“, it is worth the time.
You may also want to read other recent works on the Servant of God Dorothy Day (who was also an Oblate of Saint Benedict):
- Dorothy Day, with Francis J. Sicius, Peter Maurin: Apostle to the World (Maryknoll: Orbis Books, 2004).
- Robert Ellsberg, ed., All the Way to Heaven: The Selected Letters of Dorothy Day (Milwaukee: Marquette UP, 2010).
- Jim Forest, All is Grace: A Biography of Dorothy Day (Maryknoll: Orbis Books, 2011).
A year ago I sponsored an evening on Dorothy Day with Crossroads Cultural Center, here is the post from that event.
Work, culture and education according to Benedict
Last week Benedict XVI spoke to people who belong to various movements in the Church that make contributions to work, culture and education. Why is my posting this important? Because I believe what the Pope has to say is crucial in following his lead in the life I lead, and I believe it is helpful for others who desire to live similarly. I am confronted –in a good way– with questions about the value of work, culture and education and the place of the Church in these sectors. As Father Giussani told us, the Church is not here to fix our problems but to offer us a lens by which we can judge the reality in front of us so that we can fix a problem. Pay close attention to what Benedict has to say:
”Work is not only an instrument of individual profit, but it is a moment in which to express ones’ own skills with a spirit of service in a professional activity, be it factory work, agricultural, scientific or otherwise,”
“Culture, voluntary service and work constitute the indivisible trinomial of the Catholic laity’s daily life, which makes belonging to Christ and the Church more real, in the private as much as in the public spheres of society.”
“The lay faithful put themselves in the game when they touch one or more of these contexts and, in the cultural service, by showing solidarity with those in need and on the job, they strive to promote human dignity.”
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Are you part of the problem?
I saw this on Facebook via a friend. I think it is true…. (Of course, I can only identify may be one of the characters on the right. How of the guys on the right can you name?)
Pope lunches with friends, speaks of struggle against evil
At Monday’s lunch with many of the cardinals –not all–Pope Benedict XVI spoke of the struggle he and they are engaged together: for good against evil. Not exactly a lite topic for discussion for a lunch celebrating one’s 85th birthday and 7th anniversary of election to the Chair of Saint Peter, but a point that is true and needs to be addressed.
In reading his text (below) you will notice the Pope’s use of the concept ecclesia militans – the Church Militant – which he admits is “old fashion” but still fitting today. When we say “the Church Militant” it means all living Christians who struggle against sin, the devil, or as the Apostle Paul says “..the rulers of the darkness of this world” and “spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12).
“Church Militant” has two other sisters, “Church Triumphant” and “Church Suffering” that give context to Christian life in light of the doctrine of the Communion of Saints and of what we know the Church to be.
The quick definition of the “Church Triumphant” (Ecclesia Triumphans), indicates those who live in the beatific vision, they see and are seen by God; we say these people are in heaven. The feast day for those in heaven is November 1, All Saints Day. When we speak of the “Church Suffering” (also called the Church Penitent, Ecclesia Penitens; or Church Expectant, Ecclesia Expectans), we believe that this group of believers are the souls in purgatory. The feast day is All Souls, November 2.
Continue reading Pope lunches with friends, speaks of struggle against evil
A new CFR priest! Father John Paul
The newly ordained (19 May 2012) Franciscan Friar of the Renewal Father John Paul offers a blessing. Brother Luke Mary is assisting. Father John Paul’s ordination happened at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral (NYC). Father John Paul will serve his community as the vocation director. Saint Francis pray for us.
Photo: Fr Sweeney
Everyone knows your sin –on Facebook
A blessing of a priest
The late spring months have a few notable celebrations: the continuation of the Easter Mysteries like the Ascension and Pentecost, Corpus Christi, Mother’s and Father’s Day, and priesthood celebrations. Nothing moves the heart spiritually, that is, than witnessing the blessing of a newly ordained priest. Here a newly ordained priest of Toronto bestows God’s blessing on a little one…
Pray for Mary’s intercession for priests….
The Lord waits to be gracious
God’s providence means that wherever we have got to, whatever we have done, that is precisely where the road to heaven begins. However many clues we have missed, however many wrong turnings we have taken, however unnecessarily we may have complicated our journey, the road still beckons, and the Lord still ‘waits to be gracious’ to us.
Father Simon Tugwell, OP