Rooted in Jesus Christ (RiJC): an Adult Faith Formation Community

Rooted in Jesus Christ (RiJC) is an Adult Faith
Formation Community whose goal is to offer everyone the opportunity to explore
ways to ratify, strengthen, and renew their knowledge of, and love for, Jesus
Christ. If you are interested in deepening your faith, then we invite you to
join us at one of our Friday night gatherings. RiJC meets at Our Lady of Good
Counsel Church (East 90th Street, NYC, btw 2nd & 3rd Aves). For dates of
the meeting read the flyer here. 



RiJC is a personal initiative of members of Communion & Liberation.

Saint Gaetano Catanoso –a saint for the Year of the Priest


Thumbnail image for St Gaetano Catanoso.jpg

Many think that Saint John Vianney is the only canonized
parish priest. Vianney is certainly the most known for his extraordinary life.
And it helps that popes and other notable authors have drawn our attention to
him. But there is another saint who has a persuasive personality who is also a
parish priest and worthy of our attention. In this Year of the Priest it fitting to have yet another intercessor before God. Today the Church celebrates the
liturgical memorial of Saint Gaetano Catanoso.

Pope Benedict XVI canonized him on October 23, 2005. In
the homily of the Mass of Canonization said:

Saint Gaetano
Catanoso was a lover and apostle of the Holy Face of Jesus. “The Holy Face,” he
affirmed, “is my life. He is my strength”. With joyful intuition he joined
this devotion to Eucharistic piety.

He would say: “If we wish to adore the real
Face of Jesus…, we can find it in the divine Eucharist, where with the Body
and Blood of Jesus Christ, the Face of Our Lord is hidden under the white veil
of the Host.”

Daily Mass and frequent adoration of the Sacrament of the Altar
were the soul of his priesthood: with ardent and untiring pastoral charity he
dedicated himself to preaching, catechesis, the ministry of confession, and to
the poor, the sick and the care of priestly vocations. To the Congregation of
the Daughters of Saint Veronica, Missionaries of the Holy Face, which he founded,
he transmitted the spirit of charity, humility and sacrifice which enlivened
his entire life.

More of Saint Gaetano can be read here.

The American cousin of the saint has a book on Saint Gaetano Catanoso, see it at this link.

Fires of Faith: Catholic England under Mary Tudor: Eamon Duffy strikes again

EDuffy Mary Catholic England.jpgStuart Chessman, the blogger at The Society of St. Hugh of Cluny recently gave his musings of Eamon Duffy’s newest work, Fires of faith: Catholic England under Mary Tudor (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2009).

Professor Duffy was at Yale this past week to present the Bainton Lecture on his work.

While I have not read the book, I am always intrigued by Duffy’s perspective: it tends to be strikingly real and on-the-mark. Even Chessman’s review has drawn me closer in getting the book.You?

Saint Francis Mary of Camporosso

St Francis Mary of Camporosso.jpgLavishly he gave to the poor; his generosity shall endure forever.

God our Father, you made your lowly servant Saint Francis Mary illustrious through every work of charity. Grant us through his prayers and example always to continue in sincere and humble service of our brothers [and sisters].
Some calendars have Saint Francis Mary’s liturgical memorial on September 19 and others on the 20th.
Know more about Saint Francis Mary
Another version of the saint’s life

Holy Land facing hurdles too high to jump over?

FTwal2.jpgA recently published story about the comments on the future of the Holy Land made by His Beatitude Fouad Twal, Patriarch of Jerusalem, are nothing new: the Holy Land is facing a significant reduction in the numbers of Christians living there and help from the world’s Christians is desperately needed. No one following the Church can say this is news since for years it’s been said that the various Christian communities are leaving in vast numbers each year due to oppression and other hardships. What may be new, perhaps, is that the Patriarch is now admitting that the methodology to secure a better life and peace in that region was wrong. Arab-Israeli problems are only the tip of the iceberg. Divisions in the Christian community have made matters worse, even hopeless for many. Even the Pope’s visit made little difference. Everything from the economy to education, to security, to personal freedoms, to religious sectarianism among the Christians has not produced one iota of hope for the future. What does a Christian presence in the Holy Land mean today? What difference does it make? What to do? First, one ought to pray. Second, one ought to find ways to understand the issues at hand; the witness of practicing Christians at the Holy Places in Jerusalem is crucial for the memory and active memory of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; but knowing the facts can be hard to do since the media is controlled by the Israelis who ideologically spin the stories. Third, do something. Christians around the world need to do something to be in solidarity with Christians there. Fourth, respond with reason and humanity. Can one image in the Holy Land without Christians? I can. AND that’s a problem. Charity needs to have a presence. Charity needs a face and a voice. What about yours?

Saint Joseph of Cupertino

St Joseph Cupertino.jpg

The love of God is honorable wisdom and they to whom she shows herself love her by the sight and the knowledge of her great works.
God, our Father, your wisdom disposed that your only-begotten Son, when lifted above the earth, should draw all things to himself. May the merits and example of Saint Joseph help us to rise above earthly desires and become perfectly conformable to your Son.

*Saint Joseph of Cupertino is a firm patron of students, particularly seminary students. So, please for me and fellow seminarians here at Saint Joseph’s Seminary (though this Joseph is the husband of Mary). He’s also the patron saint for astronauts and pilots & stewards.

CFR Sudan Mission

Fr Herald & Eric.jpeg

Appeals for money on this blog are rare but I believe in giving to needy philanthropic projects. Plus, this request comes via my friend Henry who is connected with the priest in question (and seen to the right).


On my own recommendation I urge you to give because I believe the work and witness of the Franciscans. AND that I am in school with many Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, I am asking for consideration of Father Herald Brock’s mission work. Father Herald is a Franciscan Friar of the Renewal. Therefore, I want to encourage you to consider making a donation.  Details about the situation are on Father Herald’s blog.


Donations in the form of checks or money orders made out to “CFR Sudan Mission,” can be sent to the following address:

 

CFR Sudan Mission
PO Box 1086
Secaucus, NJ 07096-1086

&nbs
p;

Please note in the memo box if you would like the funds to be used for hunger relief.

Peace in Christ

Stigmata of our Holy Father Francis

The liturgical calendar can vary from country to country and the various religious orders may have their calendar of saints, e.g., the Benedictine, Carmelite, Dominican, Franciscan, Jesuit, etc. On the universal Roman calendar today is the optional memorial of Saint Robert Bellarmine, a Jesuit, bishop, cardinal and Doctor of the Church (see the prayer in the entry below). On the Franciscan sanctoral calendar, today is this the feast of Saint Francis’ stigmata. And so I offer these Mass prayers for  prayer.

St Francis receiving the stigmata.jpg

May I never boast of anything but the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ! Through it the world has been crucified to me and I to the world. (Gal. 6:14)
Almighty God, you renewed the marks of the sufferings of your Son in the body of our holy Father Francis in order to inflame our hearts with the fire of your love. Through his prayers may we be conformable to the death of your Son and thus share also in his resurrection.
Lord, may the humble and devout prayer of Saint Francis sustain us. Through this offering may we always experience within us the saving benefit of the sufferings of your Son. (Prayer over the Gifts)
Almighty God, in many ways you displayed the wondrous mystery of the cross in our holy Father Francis. May we follow the example of his devotion and find strength in constant meditation on the same cross. (Prayer after Communion)