The Pope of Rome received on February 7th, the six Patriarchs of the Eastern Catholic churches: the Maronite, the Chaldean, the Copt, the Syriac, the Melkite and the Armenian. The conversation situated around circumstances of these particular churches in the Middle East.
A CNA article on the event.
Weekends, especially Saturday morning, is a good day to recuperate from the work week: physically, intellectually and spiritually. Of course we ought not to run ourselves down so much so as forget the Lord, His Gospel and the tradition of the Church; we all have to learn a proper balance to keep us on the “right path” without distractions. One of the sources of wisdom is the venerable Holy Rule of St. Benedict (it is not only for monks and nuns but also for the laity).The vocation of a Benedictine is to seek God. We seek God in the ordinary circumstances of life. Turning the idea around some say God searches, too.
What does it mean when we say that God searches the innermost depths of the heart? Nothing is hidden from God. Before any of us ever settles into reflective silence, God knows each of us through and through. In this sense, God doesn’t search out anything for God is already fully aware of the complexity of our inner lives, our conflicting motives and our spontaneous emotions. But what God sees fully we are often blind to — in denial over, actually — with the result that we can act in ways that confuse us and make no sense. It is only when we face our inner reality honestly and humbly with the light of grace that we can see clearly enough to move forward. This is the work of inner prayer which is simultaneously God’s searching the innermost depths of our hearts. (NS)
Let them prefer nothing whatever to Christ,
and may he bring us all together to everlasting life.
Rule of Benedict 72:11-12
“When you see the year ending, thank the Lord, because He had led you into this cycle of years. Stab the heart [‘prick the heart’] reckon up the time of your life, say to oneself: ‘The days run and pass by, the years fill-up, we have progressed much of the way; What good is there for us to do? Will we not depart from here, empty and deserted of all righteousness, the judgment at the doors, the rest of life leads us to our old age.’” — St. John Chrysostom
At this seventh day of Christmas, I am thinking of who it is we preach these days. A piece from Saint Cyril of Jerusalem is helpful to contextualize the question especially we are day before the Octave Day of Christmas: the giving of the Holy Name, the only one that truly saves us. The saint preached:
We do not preach only one coming of Christ, but a second as well, much more glorious than the first. The first coming was marked by patience; the second will bring the crown of a divine kingdom.
In general, whatever relates to our Lord Jesus Christ has two aspects. There is a birth from God before the ages, and a birth from a virgin at the fullness of time. There is a hidden coming, like that of rain on fleece, and coming before all eyes, still in the future.
At the first coming He was wrapped in swaddling clothes in a manger. At His second coming He will be clothed in light as in a garment. In the first coming He endured the cross, despising the shame; in the second coming He will be in glory, escorted by an army of angels.
We look then beyond the first first coming and await the second. At the first coming we said: Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. At the second we shall it again; we shall go out with the angels to meet the Lord and cry out in adoration: Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.
Of your charity please pray for Prospero Cardinal Grech OSA, founder and first president of the Augustinianum in Rome, who died today.
Born Stanley Grech in Malta on 24 December 1925
Joined the Augustinian Order in 1943 and ordained in 1950
Served the Roman Pontiffs John XXIII and Paul VI in various capacities
Created Cardinal of the Roman Church by Benedict XVI in 2012
Requiescat in pace.
Life in the Fraternity of Communion and Liberation forms us to know and appreciate the role of the heart in all things. Looking at the spiritual life, “The heart is the key to all true prayer. When prayer arises out of our deepest center it is pure and totally free. It seeks nothing but to reveal to God how we truly are at that moment, with all our desires and concerns, our hopes and expressions of wonder and praise at God’s goodness. Beneath whatever external “form” we use to come before God is the silent pulse that carries our “Yes” to God in a rhythm of faith.” (NS)
Sweet Jesus, you chose to be born in humility of a humble handmaiden, who humbly wrapped you in the swaddling clothes of humility and laid you in a manger. Most merciful Lord, grant that the holiness of new life may be reborn in me through the ineffable mystery of your nativity. Thus may I be wrapped in the swaddling clothes of the religious habit and strive to live within the constraints of Christian discipline – placed as it were in the manger – to lead me to the summit of true humility. And as you deigned to share in our humanity and mortality, grant that I may share in your divinity and eternity. Amen.
A prayer of Ludolph of Saxony
Lord, you gave Saint Peter Canisius wisdom and courage to defend the Catholic faith. By the help of his prayers may all who seek the truth rejoice in finding you, and may all who believe in you be loyal in professing their faith.
“Have you read you Canisius today,” was the question school kids would ask each other referring to reading the catechetical texts composed by Fr Peter Canisius. His catechetical writings focussed on the Liturgy and the sacraments. The hallmark of Canisius and then his writings was his profound personal friendship with Jesus.
While we don’t use the saint’s catechism today, at least not in the USA, the question remains the pertinent to us –have we studied our catechism today?
Read Pope Benedict XVI’s 2011 brief biography on Canisius can be read here.
Today is the anniversary of death of Archbishop Vsevolod (Maidansky) of Scopelos. The Archbishop was a member of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the USA. He reposed in the Lord in 2007, six days after his 80th birthday.
Archbishop Vsevolod was man of great humanity and intelligence. I met him at several of the ecumenical meetings he was at and enjoyed is company. His commitment to an on-going dialogue between the Eastern Orthodox and Catholic Churches was remarkable and helpful.
May God draw Archbishop Vsevolod to Himself.
Eternal memory, dear friend.