Saint Peter Regalado

The upright live forever, their reward is with the Lord and the Most High has them in His care.

Father, You lifted up and enflamed Saint Peter Regalado with the gifts of heaven. Through his loving intercession and by the example of his mortified life, may we come to eternal blessedness with all Your holy ones.

From a wealthy family and having lived in an era of history making (the Western Schism), Peter entered the Conventual Franciscans but later joined a reformed group of Franciscan friars. He inspired and educated his brother Franciscans by his life. He lived with significant mortifications; his biographers note that Peter lived with hunger, subsisting on bread and water. Solitude and a devoted life are key aspects of Saint Peter Regalado’s life.
His body is incorrupt. In some places Saint Peter’s feast day is May 13.

More questions result from media persecution of Pope

In the School of Community Sunday evening –the weekly catechetical meeting for members & friends of Communion & Liberation– we discussed Traces‘ April editorial, “Greater than Sin.” The editorial is an attempt to put words to an experience and to remind ourselves of the workings of grace and sin.

The more I look I these accusations of sexual misconduct and other sinful behavior by priests (and even the laity), I am inclined to say that it’s more than a question of homosexual priests or affectively retarded individuals who have had positions of pastoral authority in the Church, and much to do with our faith in Christ as the answer to limited humanity. In other words, there has been a significant lack of faith in the Incarnation and Christ as the answer to my nothingness. For some, this assessment makes no sense because if you are ordained a priest or a vowed religious, one expects that you would have an intimate experience of the workings of God and His love. BUT this can’t always be assumed. The more I sit with the problem I am curious to know the depth of relationship with God existed with those who committed these sexual crimes and the church leaders who had oversight. Could it be that those who abused children or scandalized the faithful in other ways didn’t have a living faith in Christ who is alive today, right now? Could it be that for some of these people God is dead in the conscience? More questions surfaced than I have answers for. For example:

Are we certain about the Catholic faith we are living? Are certain about what we are saying?
What has been happening with the sexual abuse crisis is the direct result of a lack of certainty of faith in Christ. We the Church, laity and clergy, have demonstrated a real lack of faith in the saving promises of Christ than in the offer of communion with Him. Our sense seems to indicate that the hundredfold Christ speaks of is a complete fabrication.
Key to understanding our Catholic way of living is that we have a different standard of measuring things: justice, mercy, forgiveness, love are the measures. Priesthood is a total, permanent change in a man’s being, a permanent change in character, not a career, not something temporary, not something magical, not something esoteric; the priesthood means being configured to Christ in a permanent way.
In our discussions we asked the Christological question: who is Christ and how does Christ act in my and how do I know Him. Do we believe Christ is for all people? Do we believe Christ is alive right now, in front of us, in the person next to us? Is Christ recognizable? Do we believe that Christ redeemed us through his death and resurrection?
The question of forgiveness surfaced in our School of Community based on the fact that Christ tells us to forgive and He himself is the pattern of reconciliation. Is forgiveness possible? Is it possible to live in an attitude of forgiveness? Is forgiveness familiar to me (us)? Do we have an experience of forgiveness? Can we hold that what we believe as true –Jesus Christ– is for everyone?
The we dealt with the problem that for many people it is impossible to accept the Church as a mother who cares for her children, educates her children, who disciplines her children but doesn’t throw the problem child under the bus. The Church’s maternity seems not only to be less understood today if not completely rejected by many of the faithful and the media. Maternity is reduced to giving birth and completely neglecting the moral motherhood. The Church, since Christ founded her, has neither said nor indicated that she was a perfect mother. She is divinely instituted but populated by sinners trying to be holy and at times missing the mark. The Church like the rest of the world is daily pursuing justification in Lord’s cross and resurrection.
The attacks the whole Body of Christ –the Church– is facing these days attempts to pervert people’s faith and confidence in the Church and therefore to prevent the Church from caring for all her children –the victims, the perpetrators, bystanders, etc.
An answer to some these questions is ‘yes’ if we know that only with Christ is forgiveness, conversion possible.
We need to understand ourselves in action, in concrete ways, in the ways in which Providence has deemed to give us the grace to live…otherwise we live in the abstract and God, therefore has no real bearing on our life.
Beautiful words don’t save us, Jesus does, who is alive right now.
So, I think the Pope is correct in recommending a spiritual renewal program (see the Letter to Ireland) to regain, or just to establish for the first time a real relationship with the Christ. His aim is to ask the question, do you know Christ? if so, do you know how to live according to the pattern of Christ’s sacrificial love?

Legion of Christ: will it reform or be suppressed?

Absolution will not the only remedy for the a group like the Legion of Christ as it had in 1956 when another apostolic visitation happened. True, substantive reform of the spiritual life and formation will have to take place if it hopes to survive. Legion can’t continue in the way has been for the last 50 years; the old guard can’t run things any more, and honesty has got to reign. AND God willing Pope Benedict will demand changes.

Sandro Magister’s piece today is an eye-opener. Read “Legionaries. The ‘Nomenklatura’ That Must Disappear.” If everything Magister says is true –and there is no reason to doubt his facts– then there’s no reason to believe that the Legion of Christ will survive present scrutiny. Plus, a cosmetics’ change will only be more deception than the current issues: sweeping things under the rug are just not tenable.

The problem, as I’ve said in the past, is what to do with all the young men who in good faith , honesty and certainty entered the Legion of Christ to pursue a vocation to religious life and priesthood not knowing the details of their founder’s sinful past, the Legion’s suspicious ways of proceeding when it comes to accounts of conscience, reading of the seminarian’s mail, radical separation from family, etc…all the cult like aspects one hears about.
I’m hearing that a few local dioceses are getting requests of current Legionary priests for incardination. But how much can a diocese absorb? Well, we have a need and many of the guys seeking a change are excellent, well-trained men who love sincerely love Christ and the Church…but they have baggage. In my own diocese we’ve already taken in three former legionaries and in another diocese there is as many a five seeking a transfer.
Holy Spirit, advocate for us!

Attacking the Pope (and the Catholic faith)…an annual sport — Communion and Liberation responds

No Catholic should be surprised that there is filth in the
Church for Our Lord Himself told us that this would be so in the parable of the
weeds among the wheat (Matthew 13:24-30). AND it’s no surprise that the
Church is full of sinners, sinners who commit grave sin.  And yes, some
who claim to follow Christ commit evil and everything possible must be done to
stem the evil and to make amends for that pain generated by that evil.

Furthermore,
no Catholic should be surprised that the Faith should once again be attacked
during Easter because this is an annual event.  However, this year’s
annual Easter attack on the Faith has taken the form of one upon the person of
the Pope, Benedict XVI, himself.

What truly saddens me, however, is that there
are many within the Church herself, those who should know better, that are once
again attempting to create a Christianity without Christ.  But if we
forget Christ, if we do away with the wholly different measure that He
introduces into the world now, through the Church, then we no longer have the
terms on which to judge the Church.

Continue reading Attacking the Pope (and the Catholic faith)…an annual sport — Communion and Liberation responds

Franciscan winemakers cheer the heart


barrel of friar wine.jpg

In October I posted a
piece on the Franciscan Friars’ wine making hobby. Franciscan Friar
of the Renewal Brother Giuseppe Maria Siniscalchi had an idea a few years ago
to make homemade wine when he wasn’t hitting the theology books. The friars do more than study, serve the poor, run the Catholic Underground— they cheer the heart with their wine which is a very human thing to do. This is the
second year for Our Lady of Cana wines. Perhaps this may be a new franchise for the friars!!! I’m looking forward to a 3rd year of winemaking. AND I am willing to be the wine-quality control guy.

With grapes handpicked and materials donated by friends, and
help from the other friars, Brother Giuseppi made a great barrel of wine. Of course, nature did her part and God His… For the
last six months the wine has matured –and we’ve been eagerly waiting for the maturing process to work– in a basement corner in an oak barrel. The
wine now sufficiently mature, today was the time to bottle.

Deacon James
Ferreira, Ken Riello (a 1st yr Dunwoodian) and yours truly set out to watch,
assist and taste the fruit of the earth. James was most kind in bringing some
great bread, cheese and soppressata.

fr Giuseppe & JFerreira ciphening.jpgfrs John Paul & Ignatius bottling.jpgfr Bonaventure corking2.jpgPAZ & fr Charles satisfying a thirst.jpg

We had great fun bottling nearly 275 bottles of wine. James, I hear, has a case of wine for his first Mass in May! AND this event was SO Catholic!

fr Charles praying a blessing.jpg

Always thinking liturgically, the
soon-to-be-priested, Friar Deacon Charles blessed the new wine using this
text, but here is another version of the blessing of wine:

The Blessing of Wine in Honor of Saint John the Evangelist

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.

Pray Psalm 22 and then the Our Father

V. And lead
us not into temptation.

R. But deliver us from evil.

V. Preserve thy servants.

R.
That trust in thee, my God.

V. Send them aid, O Lord, from heaven.

R. And from
Sion watch over them.

V. Let the enemy be powerless over them.

R. And the son
of evil do nothing to harm them.

V. And should they drink anything deadly.

R.
May it not hurt them.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto
thee.

V. The Lord be with you.

R. And with your spirit.

Let us pray.

Holy Lord,
Father Almighty, eternal God! Who didst will that thy Son, equal to thee in
eternity and substance, should descend from heaven and in the fullness of
time take temporal birth of the most holy Virgin Mary, so that He could seek
the lost and wayward sheep and carry it on His shoulders to the sheepfold, and
could cure the man fallen among robbers of his wounds by pouring in oil and
wine– do thou bless + and sanctify + this wine which thou hast vintaged for
man’s drink. Whoever partakes of it on this holy solemnity, grant him life in
body and soul. By thy goodness let it be to him strength in the pilgrimage to
prosper him on the way, that his journey may come to a happy termination.
Through the same Christ our Lord.

R. Amen.

Let us pray.

O Lord Jesus Christ,
Who didst call thyself the true vine and thy holy apostles the branches, and
didst desire to plant a chosen vineyard of all who love thee, bless + this wine
and impart to it the power of thy benediction.+And as thy beloved disciple John,
Apostle and Evangelist intercedes for them that partake thereof, grant them
security from all deadly and poisonous afflictions and constant good health of
soul and body. Who lives and reigns forever.

R. Amen.

Let us pray.

O God, thou
gives to man bread to eat and wine to drink — bread to nourish the body and
wine to cheer the heart. And as thou didst confer upon blessed John, thy
beloved disciple such favor that not only did he himself escape the poisoned
potion, but could restore life to others so overcome; do thou grant to all that
drink this wine spiritual joy and eternal life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ,
thy Son, who with Thee, lives and reigns, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one
God, forever and ever.

R. Amen.



Fr Luigi Squarcia who united his suffering with Christ’s, meets the Lord

LSquarcia2.jpgLast November I posted a story about a priest, Father Luigi Squarcia, 66, a priest of the Diocese of Viterbo, who was living with Lou Gehrig’s Disease relating that Father Luigi was determined not to be defined by the ravages of a disease, nor to give into the nihilism of sickness and forthcoming death. What he did was remarkable: Father Luigi lived as a true Christian. He gathered up his sufferings for the life of the Mystical Body of the Church and gave them to the Lord in the person of Pope Benedict.

I received word today from friends of his letting me know that Father Luigi died on Wednesday and his funeral is today. My correspondent said that his funeral was concelebrated by four bishops. “He was loved by everyone and a real priest, since he offered and prayed until the last the minute.” I hope that can be said of me when I meet the Lord face to face. In his funeral homily Bishop Chiarinelli likened Father Luigi to Job: tested and found faithful. The bishop also noted that Father’s life was courageous, full of hope and complete in the Cross of Christ.
Providential that I receive this note from Italy about Father Luigi’s death because in my Christian Anthropology class these last days we’ve been speaking of suffering, uniting our suffering with that of Christ’s for the salvation of the world. We’re reading John Paul’s Salvifici Doloris and CS Lewis’ The Problem of Pain trying to understanding the mystery of suffering and pain and how it is redemptive and has radical meaning in a world that rejects suffering and meaning.
Offer a prayer for Father Luigi Squarcia who, indeed, did not squander the gift of suffering.
O God, Who did raise Thy servant Luigi Squarcia to the dignity of priest in the apostolic priesthood, grant, we beseech Thee, that he may be joined in fellowship with Thine Apostles forevermore.
I ask you to pray for a friend, also a priest, Father David Borino, who living with the same disease as Father Luigi.
In the above picture, courtesy of the sisters of the Immaculate Heart Monastery in Acquapendente, has Father Luigi walking with Archbishop Boccardo praying the rosary. In 2005, while processing with the Blessed Sacrament to conclude a Marian year, Father felt a change in feeling in his arms.

Acta Sanctae Sedis, Acta Apostolicae Sedis & Acts and Documents from WWII online

The Holy See has put the “official documents” online. The three acta noted below contain the principal decrees, encyclicals, decisions of the Vatican offices and other notices of ecclesiastical appointments and interests. Church laws contained in the Acta are considered promulgated when published in these organs of communication and official three months from the date of publication unless otherwise mentioned. The Vatican’s website is not part of the official documentary services of the Holy See; it is a method of communication. So, access to this information online is an incredible gift:

Acta Sanctae Sedis (1865-1908)

Cardinal Egan at Holy Innocents Church NYC

Sanctuary, Holy Innocents Church NYC.jpgCardinal Edward Michael Egan, emeritus archbishop of New York, preached at Mass tonight observing the the 15th anniversary of Evangelium Vitae at The Church of the Holy Innocents (West 37th Street, NYC). Holy Innocents is a beautiful church consecrated in 1901 by Archbishop Michael Corrigan.

The Sacrifice of the Mass was celebrated by the Rev’d Father James Miara (a man ordained by the cardinal), assisted by the Rev’d Father Michael Barrone (Newark Archdiocese) and the Rev’d Father Richard Trezza, OFM, deacon and subdeacon respectfully. Nearly 400 people were in attendance.

The Cardinal focussed his homily on three points: the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord,  the 15th anniversary of Evangelium Vitae (1995) and the Mass. All three foci speak one language of obedience, though not an obedience of acquiescence to the will of another, but of an obedience that is filled with joy, done willingly and loyally.
The Blessed Mother sets the tone; some might say her life is a poem of love. From the earliest days of the Church the BVM has been an example of how to obey. She is an example for Catholics, particularly in difficult times, of how to live in manner filled with joy by abiding by God’s law joyfully, willingly, enthusiastically and loyally.

Cardinal Edward M Egan Mar 25 2010.jpeg

The late Pope John Paul II’s encyclical Evangelium Vitae taught that every human person is precious beyond expression, a mirror held up to the divinity. And thus, every person deserves respect. The encyclical opens with the words “The incomparable worth of the human person,” and then proceeds to lay out for the reader the roots of human dignity from Genesis, Deuteronomy, the Gospels, Saint Paul, Saint John and the natural which is written in the heart of all people.
In fact, the cardinal used an architectural image of sculpting to speak of the natural law being in our hearts and minds paying close attention to the reasonableness of the natural law which guides the human faculty of understanding. The natural law for us, pre-dates the fact of religion. That the natural law is written on the human heart we understand it’s function as being protective of life. People of reasonable mind, therefore, argue that the natural law applies equally to the baby in the womb as to the elderly woman in the wheelchair. Egan’s mantra becomes ours as it is our humane job is to protect life joyfully, willingly and loyally. And as the Blessed Mother gave her ‘yes’ to God, we ought to do the same for ourselves and for all of life at all its stages.
Apparently the cardinal watches National Geographic films these days. He highly recommended 2 films: “In the Womb” and “In the Womb – Multiples.” Both of these films show the great miracle of new life– alive, innocent and smiling. Only Egan would talk about Aristotle’s quip that the sign of a human being is his ability to smile. One would think that man’s ability to smile is linked to rationality and that the high tech photography of pre-born babies show them smiling would convince the cold rationalist to admit that which is in the woman womb is not fleshy stuff but a human being, an innocent baby. I suppose the non-smiling among us aren’t human yet. I wonder. Could Aristotle be correct?
Egan uttered the pious ejaculation: “Yes, Lord, we will defend children from conception to their natural end.
Ordained a priest in Rome in 1957 by Archbishop Martin J. O’Connor, a man for whom His Eminence has had the “greatest respect,” the themes imprinted on Egan’s heart were that of loyalty and obedience (lived joyfully and willingly, of course). Egan expressed his love for the Ordinary and the Extraordinary Forms of the Mass. As he said, he’s an obedient and loyal son of the Church and since Pope Benedict has determined the Church needs two forms of the Mass, he abides. In fact, the cardinal indicated that he “hears the voice of the Church as the will of God.” Benedict’s motu proprio Summorum Pontificum allows for the Missal of Blessed John XXIII to flourish and it deserves all people’s respect and love. Egan encouraged all to follow and truly embrace the faith as it is lived in sacred Scripture, sacred Tradition and the Magisterium of the Catholic Church.
Brought together, the priest and the faithful are to adjust to the leadership of the Catholic Church as Mary was obedient to God in Gabriel announcement of the Day of Redemption and as Pope John Paul II taught in Evangelium Vitae and as Pope Benedict in making the 1962 Missal a respectable form of worship consistent with theological and liturgical tradition.