The Last (Paschal) Supper
Jesus left Jerusalem on Wednesday evening, and slept at Bethania, returning to the city towards sunset of Thursday, first day of the Azymes.
The Apostles came to him, asking, "Where do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Pasch?" ... he sends two of his disciples, saying to them, "Go into the city ... there you will meet a man carrying a jar of water; follow him, and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, 'The Teacher asks, Where is my refectory, where I may eat the Pasch with my disciples?’ ...” (cf Mk, 14:12-5)
His disciples went into the city, and found the place, furnished, as he had told them. They prepared the Pasch undoubtedly, with the help of the Blessed Mother and the pious women (they procure a paschal lamb, slaughtering it in the Temple then roasted; unleavened bread [azymes], wine, and lettuce or other vegetables).
This chamber is an image of our heart which our Lord makes his dwelling-place in Holy Communion. To receive him, our heart must be large and spacious in desires and generosity. Never give our Lord only what we cannot refuse him under pain of mortal sin. It must also be well-furnished: adorned with virtues, true humility, ardent love.
He sat down with the twelve Apostles and said, “I have desired to eat this Pasch with you before I suffer” (Lk 22:15). In the Paschal lamb Jesus must have forcibly seen his imminent passion; but he remained calm.
Thus the Paschal Supper, institution of the Eucharist, agony in the Garden, his death and burial, all took place in one day, consummated on the cross.
Judas had, on the day before, promised to deliver his Lord into the hands of his enemies for thirty pieces of silver. To be consistent with our Lord’s glory and not appear ignorant of this base betrayal, Jesus predicted it during the Paschal Supper: “Amen, I say to you one of you who eats with me will betray me.” (Lk 22:21)
The Apostles began to be sorrowful and one by one asked him, ‘Is it I?’ Judas does not seem to show any emotion despite our Lord’s denunciation: “It were better for him if that man had never been born.” (Mt 26:24)
Let us, at this sad spectacle of weakness and treachery in the person of an Apostle, humiliate ourselves profoundly before God, and beg him to preserve us in his holy fear with the aid of his all-powerful grace.
The Paschal Supper will shortly become the Eucharistic feast in which the Lamb of God gives himself as food of his creatures; before instituting this mystery, Jesus chose to act with utmost humility: wash the feet of his apostles including Judas. By it he intends to give us some idea of the purity of soul with which we must receive Holy Communion.
“... rising from supper and removing his garments, he tied a towel around himself. He poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet; and to wipe them with the towel ...” (Jn 13:4-5)
Then he sat down and said, “You call me Master and Lord. ... If, then I, being your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you ought also to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that as I have done to you, so you do also.” (Jn 13:13-5) His example as the rule of our words, thoughts, and actions.
The institution of the Holy Eucharist is narrated in the Gospel: “... while they were at supper, Jesus took bread, blessed, broke, gave to his disciples, and said, ‘Take and eat; this is my Body’. Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, gave to them, saying, ‘Drink from it all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins’.” (Lk 22:19-20; Mt 26:26-7)
At Holy Mass imagine hearing Jesus say, ‘Do this for commemoration of me’; and behold him, in the person of the priest, changing bread and wine into his adorable Body and Blood.
Jesus, knowing his hour has come, showed a deeper love for his followers. For the first time he calls them: “Little children, yet a little while I am with you.” (Jn 13:33)
“... if I go and prepare a place for you” (Jn 14:3), “... I will ask the Father ... he shall give you the Paraclete, to be with you forever” (cf Jn 14:16). “... In the world you face persecution; but take courage, I have conquered the world.” (Jn 16:33)
“I say to you, if you ask the Father anything in my name, he will give it to you.” (Jn 14:13-4)
As a dying father exhorts his weeping children, Jesus commands his Apostles -- “By this everyone will know you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (Jn 13:35)
Jesus had begun his public life by prayer, and ends it similarly. “He looked up to heaven, and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son, so that the Son may glorify you’ ...” (Jn 17:1)
He asks to be loved, known, and served by all men, but only for the glory of his Father. We here learn: To begin and end all our good works by prayer, asking God’s blessing on them.
He prays further, “... that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent”; and asks it as the price of his merits: “I have glorified you on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.” (Jn 17:3-4)
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp756-64
The ‘New Commandment’ of Our Lord
“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” (Jn 13:34-5)
New because the reasons for it are new: the neighbor, one with Christ and the object of the Father’s special love; the Model, always current, establishing a new relationship with men; its degree of fulfilment ... ‘as I have loved you’; and a fresh approach between men.
Let us recall Mary’s dedication to the accomplishment of God’s Will and her service to others. So great is Mary’s love for all mankind that she, too, fulfilled Christ’s words when he affirmed: “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for his friends” (Jn 15:13). (cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “Friends of God”, 287)
Ref: cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:278-80
Octave of the Annunciation of Our Lady (in the Carmelite order). — Balingham on Calend. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
Our Lady of Tears. Syracuse, Italy. Statue which wept August 29 to September 1, 1953. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
Our Lady of Tears, Sicily (1953). (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
Polish king Jan Casimir proclaims Mary, Patroness and Queen of Poland. 1656. Proclamation is in recognition of defeat of the Swedish siege of Jasna Góra; Polish victory at "fortress of Mary" attributed to her miraculous intercession. ... On Apr 1, 2005, letter from Pope John Paul II delivered to Jasna Góra prior; Pope also sent new "crowns" for icon. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
31 March 2010: Wednesday in Holy Week
On this eve of Holy Thursday the princes and doctors of the nation, gathered in council under Caiphas, have determined to put our Lord to death. Judas had agreed to betray him to them for thirty pieces of silver. Jesus, as usual, taught in the Temple, and denounced the Pharisees who misled the people by an outward semblance of virtue and religion.
“Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill and cummin, and have neglected weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy and faith. ... blind guides who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel; ... you are like white-washed tombs, outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead men’s bones and all filth.” (cf Mt 23:23-7)
Did our Lord address these bitter reproaches to the Pharisees alone? Did he have in mind Christians who are prone to scruples and accuse themselves of trifles, while they ignore grave omissions in the discharge of their duties? Truly, when they examine their conscience, ‘strain out a gnat and swallow a camel’.
Are there not others who only care for appearances, who wish to be virtuous in the eyes of men, while in the sight of heaven they are unclean and mere whited sepulchres? Do we belong to either of these two classes?
In general, hypocrites loudly censure others, while they allow themselves great liberties. The Pharisees belonged to this class. Our Lord again denounced them, saying, “... you hypocrites, you shut the kingdom of heaven against men! You neither enter nor allow those who were entering to do so.” (cf Mt 23:13) “... they bind heavy and oppressive loads, lay them on men’s shoulders, but will not lift a finger to move them.” (cf Mt 23:4)
We condemn the conduct of these hypocritical Pharisees, as did our Lord; but are we not disposed to exact as much from others, our subordinates, which we do not consider is required of us? Do we practise what we teach?
Jesus also condemned the Pharisees for their pride and self-interest. Doing all their works to be seen by men; they make their phylacteries* broad, and enlarge their fringes. They love first places at feasts, and first chairs in synagogues; while they devour the houses of widows. “They will receive the greater judgment.” (Mk 12:40)
The world often complains that some Christians are proud and self-interested. May we never give it any excuse for such reproaches. Let us carefully examine our conscience regarding our intentions, words, and behavior before God.
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp753-5
(*Little boxes containing Scripture texts bound to the forehead and left arm when the Jews say their prayers. In Juan MH Ledesma, SJ, STD, “The Life of Our Lord Jesus Christ”, p233)
Jesus meets His Mother
‘In the Way of the Cross’, we meditate on the meeting of Jesus with his mother in one of the narrow streets where the cruel procession passed. Jesus stopped for a moment. “With immense love Mary looks at Jesus, and Jesus at his Mother. Their eyes meet, and each heart pours into the other its own deep sorrow. Mary’s soul is steeped in bitter grief, the grief of Jesus Christ.
“‘O all you that pass by the way, look and see, was there ever a sorrow to compare with my sorrow?’ (“Lamentations” 1:12) But no one notices, no one pays any attention: only Jesus ...
“In the dark loneliness of the Passion, Our Lady offers her Son a comforting balm of tenderness, of union, of faithfulness: a ‘yes’ to the divine will. Hand in hand with Mary, you and I also want to console Jesus, by accepting always and in everything the Will of his Father, of our Father.
“The Lord continues on his way, and Mary accompanies him a few yards behind, right up to Calvary. Simeon’s prophecy is being fulfilled to the letter. What man would not weep seeing the Mother of Christ in such a cruel torment?” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way of the Cross”, Fourth Station)
Her Son so stricken ... we, cowards, keep our distance, not wanting to accept the Will of God. My Mother and Lady, teach me how to pronounce a 'Yes', which, like yours, will identify with the cry Jesus made before his Father: “... not my will but God’s be done.” (cf Lk 22:42)
When we suffer pain or affliction, when these are all the more piercingly severe, we turn to Our Lady, to the ‘Mater dolorosa’, to implore her to strengthen us and so we may learn to sanctify them with peace and serenity.
Ref: cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:272-3
Not Momentary Practices but Constant Attitudes
During Lent we often hear directed at us these words: ‘prayer’, ‘fasting', ‘almsgiving’.
We are accustomed to think of these things as good, pious works, which every Christian ought to do at this time above all. This is a correct, but incomplete way of thinking. Prayer, almsgiving and fasting must be more deeply understood, if we wish to bring them more into our lives and not regard them only as passing practices, depriving us of something only for a short while.
This way of thinking will not yet get us to the real meaning and real power which prayer, fasting and almsgiving have in the process of ‘conversion to God’ and ‘spiritual maturation’. One goes along with the other: we mature spiritually by converting to God, and conversion is effected through prayer as well as through fasting and almsgiving, properly understood.
It is a matter of ‘constant attittudes of mind’, which give lasting form to our conversion to God. As a liturgical season, Lent lasts only forty days in each year; but we have to stretch out to God always. That means we must be converted continually.
Lent ought to leave a strong indelible imprint on our lives; to renew the knowledge in us of our union with Jesus Christ, who makes us see the need for conversion and shows us the way to accomplish it. Prayer, fasting and almsgiving are the way Christ pointed to us.
Ref: cf Pope John Paul II, “Prayers and Devotions”, 1994, pp145-6
On the Island of Limasawa -- On March 31 in 1521, the first Christian Mass was celebrated in the Philippines. Humabon, Chief of Cebu and many of his subjects were converted. Ferdinand Magellan gifted Humabon’s wife with an image of the Infant Jesus which in 1565 was recovered by one of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi’s men. This providential find made Legazpi to name Cebu in honor of the “Santissimo Nombre de Jesus” (Most Holy Name of Jesus); still the official name of the Archdiocese of Cebu. (In “2000 Years of Vatican Treasures”, 1994, p235)
Our Lady of the Holy Cross, at Jerusalem, where is kept a part of Our Lady’s veil, given by St Helena. — Honorius, lib. vii.. Eccl. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)
Our Lady of the Holy Cross, Jerusalem. (http://www/divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
“Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill and cummin, and have neglected weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy and faith. ... blind guides who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel; ... you are like white-washed tombs, outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead men’s bones and all filth.” (cf Mt 23:23-7)
Did our Lord address these bitter reproaches to the Pharisees alone? Did he have in mind Christians who are prone to scruples and accuse themselves of trifles, while they ignore grave omissions in the discharge of their duties? Truly, when they examine their conscience, ‘strain out a gnat and swallow a camel’.
Are there not others who only care for appearances, who wish to be virtuous in the eyes of men, while in the sight of heaven they are unclean and mere whited sepulchres? Do we belong to either of these two classes?
In general, hypocrites loudly censure others, while they allow themselves great liberties. The Pharisees belonged to this class. Our Lord again denounced them, saying, “... you hypocrites, you shut the kingdom of heaven against men! You neither enter nor allow those who were entering to do so.” (cf Mt 23:13) “... they bind heavy and oppressive loads, lay them on men’s shoulders, but will not lift a finger to move them.” (cf Mt 23:4)
We condemn the conduct of these hypocritical Pharisees, as did our Lord; but are we not disposed to exact as much from others, our subordinates, which we do not consider is required of us? Do we practise what we teach?
Jesus also condemned the Pharisees for their pride and self-interest. Doing all their works to be seen by men; they make their phylacteries* broad, and enlarge their fringes. They love first places at feasts, and first chairs in synagogues; while they devour the houses of widows. “They will receive the greater judgment.” (Mk 12:40)
The world often complains that some Christians are proud and self-interested. May we never give it any excuse for such reproaches. Let us carefully examine our conscience regarding our intentions, words, and behavior before God.
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp753-5
(*Little boxes containing Scripture texts bound to the forehead and left arm when the Jews say their prayers. In Juan MH Ledesma, SJ, STD, “The Life of Our Lord Jesus Christ”, p233)
Jesus meets His Mother
‘In the Way of the Cross’, we meditate on the meeting of Jesus with his mother in one of the narrow streets where the cruel procession passed. Jesus stopped for a moment. “With immense love Mary looks at Jesus, and Jesus at his Mother. Their eyes meet, and each heart pours into the other its own deep sorrow. Mary’s soul is steeped in bitter grief, the grief of Jesus Christ.
“‘O all you that pass by the way, look and see, was there ever a sorrow to compare with my sorrow?’ (“Lamentations” 1:12) But no one notices, no one pays any attention: only Jesus ...
“In the dark loneliness of the Passion, Our Lady offers her Son a comforting balm of tenderness, of union, of faithfulness: a ‘yes’ to the divine will. Hand in hand with Mary, you and I also want to console Jesus, by accepting always and in everything the Will of his Father, of our Father.
“The Lord continues on his way, and Mary accompanies him a few yards behind, right up to Calvary. Simeon’s prophecy is being fulfilled to the letter. What man would not weep seeing the Mother of Christ in such a cruel torment?” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way of the Cross”, Fourth Station)
Her Son so stricken ... we, cowards, keep our distance, not wanting to accept the Will of God. My Mother and Lady, teach me how to pronounce a 'Yes', which, like yours, will identify with the cry Jesus made before his Father: “... not my will but God’s be done.” (cf Lk 22:42)
When we suffer pain or affliction, when these are all the more piercingly severe, we turn to Our Lady, to the ‘Mater dolorosa’, to implore her to strengthen us and so we may learn to sanctify them with peace and serenity.
Ref: cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:272-3
Not Momentary Practices but Constant Attitudes
During Lent we often hear directed at us these words: ‘prayer’, ‘fasting', ‘almsgiving’.
We are accustomed to think of these things as good, pious works, which every Christian ought to do at this time above all. This is a correct, but incomplete way of thinking. Prayer, almsgiving and fasting must be more deeply understood, if we wish to bring them more into our lives and not regard them only as passing practices, depriving us of something only for a short while.
This way of thinking will not yet get us to the real meaning and real power which prayer, fasting and almsgiving have in the process of ‘conversion to God’ and ‘spiritual maturation’. One goes along with the other: we mature spiritually by converting to God, and conversion is effected through prayer as well as through fasting and almsgiving, properly understood.
It is a matter of ‘constant attittudes of mind’, which give lasting form to our conversion to God. As a liturgical season, Lent lasts only forty days in each year; but we have to stretch out to God always. That means we must be converted continually.
Lent ought to leave a strong indelible imprint on our lives; to renew the knowledge in us of our union with Jesus Christ, who makes us see the need for conversion and shows us the way to accomplish it. Prayer, fasting and almsgiving are the way Christ pointed to us.
Ref: cf Pope John Paul II, “Prayers and Devotions”, 1994, pp145-6
On the Island of Limasawa -- On March 31 in 1521, the first Christian Mass was celebrated in the Philippines. Humabon, Chief of Cebu and many of his subjects were converted. Ferdinand Magellan gifted Humabon’s wife with an image of the Infant Jesus which in 1565 was recovered by one of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi’s men. This providential find made Legazpi to name Cebu in honor of the “Santissimo Nombre de Jesus” (Most Holy Name of Jesus); still the official name of the Archdiocese of Cebu. (In “2000 Years of Vatican Treasures”, 1994, p235)
Our Lady of the Holy Cross, at Jerusalem, where is kept a part of Our Lady’s veil, given by St Helena. — Honorius, lib. vii.. Eccl. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)
Our Lady of the Holy Cross, Jerusalem. (http://www/divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
Monday, March 29, 2010
30 March 2010: Tuesday in Holy Week
Jesus, back to Jerusalem, spent most of the day in the Temple teaching, chiefly in parables. “He saw how the people put money into the collection box. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny.
“He called his disciples, and told them, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow put in more than all those who donated to the treasury. They gave from their abundance, but she of her want cast in all she has to live on.’” (Mk 12:41-4)
The Scribes and Pharisees, in order to ensnare Jesus, hoping to make him look bad to the people, or a criminal in the eyes of the Roman government, came to him with a cunning question--
“Tell us what you think. ‘Is it lawful to pay taxes to Cæsar or not?’ Jesus, aware of their malice, said, ‘Why do you test me, hypocrites? Show me the coin used for the tax.’ They brought him a small Roman coin and he said to them, ‘Whose head is this, and whose inscription?’ They replied, ‘Cæsar’s’. At that he said to them, ‘Then give to Cæsar what is Cæsar’s, and to God the things that are God’s’. ... taken aback by this reply, they went away.” (Mt 22:17-22)
We do wrong to yield to fear and discouragement when we see the enemies of religion craftily endeavoring to ensnare us. Such a weakness is injurious to God and hurtful to ourselves.
After Jesus had confounded the Scribes, the Sadducees came on a similar task. “Master”,they said, speaking of a woman who had successively married seven brothers, “at the resurrection, therefore, whose wife of the seven shall she be, for they all had her?” (Lk 20:32) “Our Lord answered, ‘In the resurrection they will neither marry nor be married, but will be as the angels of God in heaven’.” (Lk 20:34-6)
What consoling words! Like angels who are pure spirits? Yes, as the Apostle says, because our body shall rise a spiritual body, possessed of angelic qualities -- agile, lucid, subtle, and incorruptible.
“There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug in it a wine-press, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went into a far country.” (Mt 21:33)
It must have been almost impossible for the Jewish priests and rulers not to have understood the meaning of this parable. So clearly does it refer to Almighty God and his chosen people, whom he blessed above all others, and who made so ungrateful a return.
The vineyard is our religion. The fence is our norms; the wine-press, pouring its costly juice, is an image of our spiritual life from which flows an inexhaustible stream of grace and merit. The tower represents the tabernacle, from where our Lord watches with a special care over those admitted into his vineyard.
He has let out to us this vineyard that we may labor in, and cultivate, it. He appears to be distant, hidden from our eyes, though near in reality, observing if we are faithful and diligent; preparing a reward proportioned to our efforts.
“When harvest time had come, he sent his servants to the tenants, to collect his produce. But the tenants seized his servants, beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants, more than the first; they were treated in like manner.” (Mt 21:33)
“Finally, he sent his son, saying, ‘They will respect my son’. But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir; let us kill him and get his inheritance’. So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.” (Ibid, op cit, 21:34-9)
Here our Lord refers not only to the obstinate and ungrateful Jews, but to those unhappy Christians who despite warnings of their spiritual directors, the representatives of God, and the inspirations of their guardian angels -- leave the vine committed to their care uncultivated, and consequently, produce no fruit.
Jesus concludes, “When, therefore, the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” (Mt 21:40) The Jews reply, unconsciously pronouncing their condemnation: “He will put those wretches to a miserable death; and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits at harvest time.” (Mt 21:41)
Jesus confirms it in these words: “I tell you, the kingdom of God shall be taken away from you, and given to a people that produces fruits of the kingdom.” (Mt 21:43)
Many of us after long years in spiritual formation and direction, deserve such penalty. Let us be truly sincere with our spiritual director. As to our sins, temptations, fears and doubts, follow his advice.
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp747-51
On the ‘Via Dolorosa’
“The Saviour walked, his body bowed down under the weight of the Cross, his eyes swollen and almost blinded by blood and sweat and tears; each step made painfully slow and difficult by his failing strength. His knees buckled as he virtually dragged himself along behind his two companions in punishment. The Jews laughed; the executioners and the soldiers pushed them forward.” (L de la Palma, “The Passion of the Lord”)
In the Fourth Sorrowful Mystery of the Rosary, we contemplate “Jesus carrying his Cross, goes out of the city to the place of the skull -- called 'Golgotha' in Hebrew”. (cf Jn 19:17)
“If anyone would follow me ... Little friend, we are sad, living the Passion of Our Lord Jesus. See how lovingly He embraces the Cross. Learn from him. Jesus carries the Cross for you: you carry it for him.
“But don’t drag the Cross ... Carry it squarely on your shoulder, because your Cross, if you carry it like that, will not just be any cross ... It will be the Holy Cross. Don’t carry your Cross with resignation: resignation is not a generous word. Love the Cross. When you really love it, your Cross will be ... a Cross without a Cross.
“And surely you will find Mary on the way, as Jesus did.” (cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “Holy Rosary”, Fourth Sorrowful Mystery)
Ref: cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:271-2
Restoration of the chapel of Our Lady, at Boulogne-sur-mer by Claude Dormy, bishop of that city. — Triple Couronne, n. 53. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com); (http://www/divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
Notre Dame de Boulogne-sur-Mer, France. 19th Century basilica, damaged in 1941, rebuilt; popular pilgrimage site in Middle Ages based on 7th Century miracles. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
Our Lady of Boulogne-sur-Mer (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
“He called his disciples, and told them, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow put in more than all those who donated to the treasury. They gave from their abundance, but she of her want cast in all she has to live on.’” (Mk 12:41-4)
The Scribes and Pharisees, in order to ensnare Jesus, hoping to make him look bad to the people, or a criminal in the eyes of the Roman government, came to him with a cunning question--
“Tell us what you think. ‘Is it lawful to pay taxes to Cæsar or not?’ Jesus, aware of their malice, said, ‘Why do you test me, hypocrites? Show me the coin used for the tax.’ They brought him a small Roman coin and he said to them, ‘Whose head is this, and whose inscription?’ They replied, ‘Cæsar’s’. At that he said to them, ‘Then give to Cæsar what is Cæsar’s, and to God the things that are God’s’. ... taken aback by this reply, they went away.” (Mt 22:17-22)
We do wrong to yield to fear and discouragement when we see the enemies of religion craftily endeavoring to ensnare us. Such a weakness is injurious to God and hurtful to ourselves.
After Jesus had confounded the Scribes, the Sadducees came on a similar task. “Master”,they said, speaking of a woman who had successively married seven brothers, “at the resurrection, therefore, whose wife of the seven shall she be, for they all had her?” (Lk 20:32) “Our Lord answered, ‘In the resurrection they will neither marry nor be married, but will be as the angels of God in heaven’.” (Lk 20:34-6)
What consoling words! Like angels who are pure spirits? Yes, as the Apostle says, because our body shall rise a spiritual body, possessed of angelic qualities -- agile, lucid, subtle, and incorruptible.
“There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug in it a wine-press, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went into a far country.” (Mt 21:33)
It must have been almost impossible for the Jewish priests and rulers not to have understood the meaning of this parable. So clearly does it refer to Almighty God and his chosen people, whom he blessed above all others, and who made so ungrateful a return.
The vineyard is our religion. The fence is our norms; the wine-press, pouring its costly juice, is an image of our spiritual life from which flows an inexhaustible stream of grace and merit. The tower represents the tabernacle, from where our Lord watches with a special care over those admitted into his vineyard.
He has let out to us this vineyard that we may labor in, and cultivate, it. He appears to be distant, hidden from our eyes, though near in reality, observing if we are faithful and diligent; preparing a reward proportioned to our efforts.
“When harvest time had come, he sent his servants to the tenants, to collect his produce. But the tenants seized his servants, beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants, more than the first; they were treated in like manner.” (Mt 21:33)
“Finally, he sent his son, saying, ‘They will respect my son’. But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir; let us kill him and get his inheritance’. So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.” (Ibid, op cit, 21:34-9)
Here our Lord refers not only to the obstinate and ungrateful Jews, but to those unhappy Christians who despite warnings of their spiritual directors, the representatives of God, and the inspirations of their guardian angels -- leave the vine committed to their care uncultivated, and consequently, produce no fruit.
Jesus concludes, “When, therefore, the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” (Mt 21:40) The Jews reply, unconsciously pronouncing their condemnation: “He will put those wretches to a miserable death; and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits at harvest time.” (Mt 21:41)
Jesus confirms it in these words: “I tell you, the kingdom of God shall be taken away from you, and given to a people that produces fruits of the kingdom.” (Mt 21:43)
Many of us after long years in spiritual formation and direction, deserve such penalty. Let us be truly sincere with our spiritual director. As to our sins, temptations, fears and doubts, follow his advice.
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp747-51
On the ‘Via Dolorosa’
“The Saviour walked, his body bowed down under the weight of the Cross, his eyes swollen and almost blinded by blood and sweat and tears; each step made painfully slow and difficult by his failing strength. His knees buckled as he virtually dragged himself along behind his two companions in punishment. The Jews laughed; the executioners and the soldiers pushed them forward.” (L de la Palma, “The Passion of the Lord”)
In the Fourth Sorrowful Mystery of the Rosary, we contemplate “Jesus carrying his Cross, goes out of the city to the place of the skull -- called 'Golgotha' in Hebrew”. (cf Jn 19:17)
“If anyone would follow me ... Little friend, we are sad, living the Passion of Our Lord Jesus. See how lovingly He embraces the Cross. Learn from him. Jesus carries the Cross for you: you carry it for him.
“But don’t drag the Cross ... Carry it squarely on your shoulder, because your Cross, if you carry it like that, will not just be any cross ... It will be the Holy Cross. Don’t carry your Cross with resignation: resignation is not a generous word. Love the Cross. When you really love it, your Cross will be ... a Cross without a Cross.
“And surely you will find Mary on the way, as Jesus did.” (cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “Holy Rosary”, Fourth Sorrowful Mystery)
Ref: cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:271-2
Restoration of the chapel of Our Lady, at Boulogne-sur-mer by Claude Dormy, bishop of that city. — Triple Couronne, n. 53. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com); (http://www/divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
Notre Dame de Boulogne-sur-Mer, France. 19th Century basilica, damaged in 1941, rebuilt; popular pilgrimage site in Middle Ages based on 7th Century miracles. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
Our Lady of Boulogne-sur-Mer (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
Sunday, March 28, 2010
29 March 2010: Monday in Holy Week
On the evening of Palm Sunday Jesus returned to Bethany, but proceeded to Jerusalem on the next day. On his way, St Matthew relates that he was hungry. Most probably, Jesus had fasted the whole day before; and therefore, must have been greatly famished.
We know that Jesus frequently fasted, and the Holy Spirit no doubt especially mentions his hunger in this place to encourage those who imitate his example and suffer likewise. But it is the spiritual rather than the bodily hunger of our Lord that we should emulate.
St Mark wrote, “Seeing in the distance a fig-tree in leaf, he went to see if perhaps he might find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the time for figs.” (Mk 11:13)
This barren tree offers a striking image of the Jewish nation, whose religion consisted only in outward forms and blind adherence to the letter of the law, without imbibing its spirit or living the virtues it prescribed.
The fig-tree also is an image of weak and lukewarm Christians who neglect doing good works; and content with mere prayers and outward practices. How easily we may also fall into this state.
“And he said to it, ‘May no fruit grow on you henceforth forever!’ And the fig-tree withered at once. When the disciples saw it, they were amazed, saying, ‘How did the fig-tree wither at once?’" (Mt 21:19-20)
How much greater will be the sinner’s astonishment, surprised by death amidst his vain plans of future conversion, on hearing the words, “Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Mt 25:41); and finds his regrets useless, and the time for bringing forth works of penance lost forever!
Let this thought inspire us with zeal for conversion of sinners; and our own conversion and sanctification.
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp745-7
Recourse to Our Blessed Mother
Sin, infidelity to a greater or lesser degree, always involves a denial of Christ and of the highest ideals he has sown inside us. Sin is the great downfall of man. Thus, we must struggle with determination, counting on grace, so that we avoid all grave sins -- of weakness or malice -- and then all deliberate venial sin.
But even from our sins, when we unfortunately commit them, we must draw advantage, because contrition strengthens the bond of friendship with Our Lord. Heaven is full of repentant great sinners. Jesus always welcomes us and rejoices to see us back on the road we had abandoned, perhaps in trivial matters.
Linked to Christ, repentance becomes a joyous sorrow because a lost friendship is regained. Peter is instantly united to Our Lord and much closer than he had ever been, because of sorrow for his denials.
We need to awaken frequently in our hearts a sorrow born out of Love, for the sins we have committed especially on examining our conscience at the end of each day; and when we prepare for Confession.
“You who tend to lose heart, I will tell you something very consoling: when a person does what he can, God will not deny his grace. Our Lord is a Father, and if, in the silence of his heart, one of his sons says to him: ‘My Father in Heaven, here I am, help me ...’ If he goes to the Mother of God, ... our Mother, he will get through.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way of the Cross”, Tenth Station, 3
Ref: cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:254-5, 258
Remembrance and Challenge
Lent is remembrance.
It reminds us of the way the Lord pointed out by His forty days fast at the beginning of his messianic mission. It also reminds us -- at whatever point one may be on his earthly path -- one must detach oneself from the “threefold desires” (cf 1 Jn 2:16), “works of the flesh” (Gal 5:19), which “oppose the Holy Spirit” (Acts 7:51), and so leave room for the fruit of the spirit (Gal 5:22), by following Christ in prayer and fasting, so far as one is capable.
If, therefore, we feel ourselves to be in that unity with Christ which makes us remember the very name of Christian, we cannot admit that this exceptional period in the Church’s life does not stand out in some way in our lives ... Let us live the spirit of penitence better.
Let us remember that the Christ of Lent is above all the Christ who awaits us in every suffering person, He who urges us to love and judges according to what we have done for even one only of our weaker brethren.
Lent is therefore, not only remembrance, but also continual ‘challenge’. Entering into this period and living it in the spirit which the oldest and ever-living tradition of the Church transmits to us, means: ‘opening up our consciences’; letting Christ Himself open them for us with the word of His Gospel, above all with the eloquence of His Cross.
Lent is thus an exceptional occasion for saving “the inward man” in each of us (cf Eph 3:16). He is often forgotten, yet he is created “in justice and holiness” (Eph 4:24) through the operation of the Sufferings and the Resurrection of Christ.
Ref: cf Pope John Paul II, “Prayers and Devotions”, 1994, p114
Entering into Ourselves
The essential work of Lent -- conversion -- is performed in such interior intimacy with God. Words resound in that interior privacy and intimacy with God himself, in all the truth of one’s own heart and conscience. Words such as those of the Psalmist, one of the profoundest confessions which man had ever made to God:
“Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me. For I acknowledge my offense and my sin is before me always: Against you only have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight.” (Ps 51:1-6)
Let us recite these purifying words often during Lent. Let us above all seek to renew this spirit which enlivens them; that interior breath of life which has linked the power of conversion exactly with these words. ...
Ref: cf Pope John Paul II, op cit, p140
Apparition of Our Lady to St Bonet, Bishop of Clermont in Auvergne, whom she ordered to say mass one night when he had remained in the church to pray. The saint leaning against a pillar, as if to hide himself, the stone became soft and made the place for him, which is seen to this day. But the Blessed Virgin having obliged him to officiate, she left him when mass was over, the chasuble which had been brought him by angels to celebrate in. The heavenly present is still to be seen at Clermont, where it is preserved with great care. — See his Life in Surius, Jan. 15. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)
Apparition of Our Lady to St Bonet (7th Century). (http://www/divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
We know that Jesus frequently fasted, and the Holy Spirit no doubt especially mentions his hunger in this place to encourage those who imitate his example and suffer likewise. But it is the spiritual rather than the bodily hunger of our Lord that we should emulate.
St Mark wrote, “Seeing in the distance a fig-tree in leaf, he went to see if perhaps he might find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the time for figs.” (Mk 11:13)
This barren tree offers a striking image of the Jewish nation, whose religion consisted only in outward forms and blind adherence to the letter of the law, without imbibing its spirit or living the virtues it prescribed.
The fig-tree also is an image of weak and lukewarm Christians who neglect doing good works; and content with mere prayers and outward practices. How easily we may also fall into this state.
“And he said to it, ‘May no fruit grow on you henceforth forever!’ And the fig-tree withered at once. When the disciples saw it, they were amazed, saying, ‘How did the fig-tree wither at once?’" (Mt 21:19-20)
How much greater will be the sinner’s astonishment, surprised by death amidst his vain plans of future conversion, on hearing the words, “Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Mt 25:41); and finds his regrets useless, and the time for bringing forth works of penance lost forever!
Let this thought inspire us with zeal for conversion of sinners; and our own conversion and sanctification.
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp745-7
Recourse to Our Blessed Mother
Sin, infidelity to a greater or lesser degree, always involves a denial of Christ and of the highest ideals he has sown inside us. Sin is the great downfall of man. Thus, we must struggle with determination, counting on grace, so that we avoid all grave sins -- of weakness or malice -- and then all deliberate venial sin.
But even from our sins, when we unfortunately commit them, we must draw advantage, because contrition strengthens the bond of friendship with Our Lord. Heaven is full of repentant great sinners. Jesus always welcomes us and rejoices to see us back on the road we had abandoned, perhaps in trivial matters.
Linked to Christ, repentance becomes a joyous sorrow because a lost friendship is regained. Peter is instantly united to Our Lord and much closer than he had ever been, because of sorrow for his denials.
We need to awaken frequently in our hearts a sorrow born out of Love, for the sins we have committed especially on examining our conscience at the end of each day; and when we prepare for Confession.
“You who tend to lose heart, I will tell you something very consoling: when a person does what he can, God will not deny his grace. Our Lord is a Father, and if, in the silence of his heart, one of his sons says to him: ‘My Father in Heaven, here I am, help me ...’ If he goes to the Mother of God, ... our Mother, he will get through.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way of the Cross”, Tenth Station, 3
Ref: cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:254-5, 258
Remembrance and Challenge
Lent is remembrance.
It reminds us of the way the Lord pointed out by His forty days fast at the beginning of his messianic mission. It also reminds us -- at whatever point one may be on his earthly path -- one must detach oneself from the “threefold desires” (cf 1 Jn 2:16), “works of the flesh” (Gal 5:19), which “oppose the Holy Spirit” (Acts 7:51), and so leave room for the fruit of the spirit (Gal 5:22), by following Christ in prayer and fasting, so far as one is capable.
If, therefore, we feel ourselves to be in that unity with Christ which makes us remember the very name of Christian, we cannot admit that this exceptional period in the Church’s life does not stand out in some way in our lives ... Let us live the spirit of penitence better.
Let us remember that the Christ of Lent is above all the Christ who awaits us in every suffering person, He who urges us to love and judges according to what we have done for even one only of our weaker brethren.
Lent is therefore, not only remembrance, but also continual ‘challenge’. Entering into this period and living it in the spirit which the oldest and ever-living tradition of the Church transmits to us, means: ‘opening up our consciences’; letting Christ Himself open them for us with the word of His Gospel, above all with the eloquence of His Cross.
Lent is thus an exceptional occasion for saving “the inward man” in each of us (cf Eph 3:16). He is often forgotten, yet he is created “in justice and holiness” (Eph 4:24) through the operation of the Sufferings and the Resurrection of Christ.
Ref: cf Pope John Paul II, “Prayers and Devotions”, 1994, p114
Entering into Ourselves
The essential work of Lent -- conversion -- is performed in such interior intimacy with God. Words resound in that interior privacy and intimacy with God himself, in all the truth of one’s own heart and conscience. Words such as those of the Psalmist, one of the profoundest confessions which man had ever made to God:
“Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me. For I acknowledge my offense and my sin is before me always: Against you only have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight.” (Ps 51:1-6)
Let us recite these purifying words often during Lent. Let us above all seek to renew this spirit which enlivens them; that interior breath of life which has linked the power of conversion exactly with these words. ...
Ref: cf Pope John Paul II, op cit, p140
Apparition of Our Lady to St Bonet, Bishop of Clermont in Auvergne, whom she ordered to say mass one night when he had remained in the church to pray. The saint leaning against a pillar, as if to hide himself, the stone became soft and made the place for him, which is seen to this day. But the Blessed Virgin having obliged him to officiate, she left him when mass was over, the chasuble which had been brought him by angels to celebrate in. The heavenly present is still to be seen at Clermont, where it is preserved with great care. — See his Life in Surius, Jan. 15. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)
Apparition of Our Lady to St Bonet (7th Century). (http://www/divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
Saturday, March 27, 2010
28 March 2010: Passion (Palm) Sunday
All the ceremonies of Palm Sunday: the blessing of the palms, the procession, the chanted hosannas-- are instituted by the Church to recall the triumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem on that day.
“He entered Jerusalem, and into the Temple”; there were certain Gentiles “who came up to adore on the festival day; these therefore, came to Philip, who was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, ‘Sir, we wish to see Jesus’. Philip tells Andrew. ... Andrew and Philip spoke to Jesus.” (Jn 12:20-22)
Let us, after the example of Jesus, hasten into his sanctuary to thank him for any success we may have obtained. If we visit a place, let us first of all, if possible, visit the church to adore our Lord, and ask his blessing on our labors. Does our indifference in this respect contrast unfavorably with the behavior of the Gentiles mentioned above?
Jesus, having granted the request of the Gentiles, foretells in their presence and before the multitude his approaching death, speaking of it under the guise of a parable which would shortly be made clear to them.
“The hour has come”, he said, “for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” (Jn 12:23-4) Thus Jesus speaks of his death and of its fruit, the conversion of the Gentiles.
What a lesson for us! Our Lord gave his life for the salvation of souls; and we will not suffer. We would choose another road to heaven for ourselves and others than the royal road of the cross. What extraordinary blindness!
“Now is my soul troubled” (Jn 12:27), continues Jesus. Why? It was at the thought of the cruel and shameful death which awaited him. But he goes on, “Father, save me from this hour”; and then adds, “Father, glorify your name”. Thus, a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it and will glorify it again.” (Jn 12:28)
Our anxiety at a prospective humiliation or affliction is not an imperfection, still less a fault, since our Lord experienced it. But do we as he did, sanctify it by prayer and submission to the holy will of God?
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp171-3
The triumphal entry into Jerusalem
“How different the cries, ‘Away with him, away with him, crucify him,’ and then ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, hosanna in the highest!’ ... the cries now calling him ‘King of Israel’ and then in a few days time will be ... ‘We have no king but Caesar!’
“What a contrast ... the green branches and the cross, the flowers and the thorns! ... they were offering their own clothes for him to walk upon ... so soon afterwards they are stripping him of his, and casting lots upon them." (cf St Bernard, "Sermon on Palm Sunday”, 2, 4)
Also in Jerusalem is Mary, wanting to be close to her son in celebrating the Passover. It is to be the last Jewish Passover and the first Passover in which her Son is both Priest and Victim.
Let us stay beside Her. She will teach us how to remain constant, to struggle in little things, to grow continually in love for Jesus. May She be close to our side as we contemplate the Passion, Death and Resurrection of her Son. We will not find a more privileged place.
Ref: cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:251-2
Conversion, God’s Gift
Conversion is fundamentally a turning away from sin and a return to the Living God, to the God of the Alliance: “Come let us return to the Lord, for it is he who has rent, but he will heal us; he has struck us, but he will bind our wounds” (Hos 6:1) is the invitation of the prophet Hosea. He insists on the interior character of true conversion. It should always be inspired and moved by love and knowledge of God.
And Jeremiah, the great master of interior religion, prophesied an extraordinary spiritual transformation of the members of the People of God, through the action of God: “I will give them a heart to know that I am the Lord. They shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart.” (Jer 24:7)
Conversion is a gift from God which man must ask for with fervent prayer and which was merited for us by Christ, ‘the new Adam’. Sin and death entered into the world through the disobedience of the first Adam and dominate man. But, “If death began its reign through one man because of his offense, much more shall those who receive the overflowing grace and gift of justice live and reign through the one man, Jesus Christ.” (Rom 5:17)
The Christian, strong with the strength which comes to him from Christ, moves farther and farther from sin, that is, from the sad reality of the original disobedience. This occurs to the degree to which Grace abounds through the merits of “one man, Jesus Christ” (cf Rom 5:15). Conversion is thus an almost gradual, effective and continuous transition from the ‘old’ Adam to the ‘new’ one, who is Christ.
Ref: cf Pope John Paul II, "Prayers and Devotions", 1994, p130
'Harden Not Your Hearts'
Hear His voice today: “Harden not your hearts.” (Ps 95:8)
This prayer is relevant and necessary, but it is particularly recommended in the course of the forty days ‘that we hear the voice of the living God’. It is a penetrating voice, when we consider how God speaks in Lent not only with the exceptional richness of His Word in the liturgy and in the Church’s life; but above all with the paschal eloquence of the Passion and Death of his own Son.
He speaks with His cross and with His sacrifice. In a certain sense, this is his last discourse in His dialogue with man, ... with his mind and with his heart, with his conscience and his conduct. The heart means man in his inner spirituality, the very center of his likeness with God. The interior man. ‘The man of conscience.’
Our prayer during Lent aims at awakening of consciences, arousing them to the voice of God. A man who has a hardened heart and a degenerate conscience is ‘spiritually a sick man’, even though he may enjoy the fullness of his powers and physical capacities. Everything must be done to bring him back to having a healthy soul.
Ref: cf Pope John Paul II, op cit, p131
Our Lady of the Precious Blood
On Easter Sunday, 28 March 1171, on the altar of Our Lady in the church of 'Sta Maria Vado' (Blessed Mary in the water) in Ferrara, Italy, there occurred a Eucharistic Miracle.
This image of Our Lady, believe to have been painted by St Luke, was stolen from the church now a Basilica, on 26 April 1994. Police searched the house of the thieves. They found many paintings but not that of Our Lady. They were about to leave when the Police Chief faintly heard a voice say, ‘Return to the house!’ There was a big cupboard with a false back which on lifting, revealed the missing image.
Ref: Bob and Penny Lord, “Miracles of the Eucharist”, II: 21-33
Our Lady of Castelbruedo, at Olian, in Catalonia. It is related that every year, on the day of the Annunciation, three lights were seen of a blue color, which shone through the glass windows of this church, lighted the lamps and wax candles, went out by the same way; and immediately disappeared. — Ludo Marinaeus. lib. Y., de rebus Hispanicis, c. ultimo. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)
Our Lady of Castelbruedo (Olian, Catalonia). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
Our Lady of Castelbruedo ('Nuestra Señora de Castelbruedo'). Catalonia, Spain. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm);(http://www/divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
“He entered Jerusalem, and into the Temple”; there were certain Gentiles “who came up to adore on the festival day; these therefore, came to Philip, who was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, ‘Sir, we wish to see Jesus’. Philip tells Andrew. ... Andrew and Philip spoke to Jesus.” (Jn 12:20-22)
Let us, after the example of Jesus, hasten into his sanctuary to thank him for any success we may have obtained. If we visit a place, let us first of all, if possible, visit the church to adore our Lord, and ask his blessing on our labors. Does our indifference in this respect contrast unfavorably with the behavior of the Gentiles mentioned above?
Jesus, having granted the request of the Gentiles, foretells in their presence and before the multitude his approaching death, speaking of it under the guise of a parable which would shortly be made clear to them.
“The hour has come”, he said, “for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” (Jn 12:23-4) Thus Jesus speaks of his death and of its fruit, the conversion of the Gentiles.
What a lesson for us! Our Lord gave his life for the salvation of souls; and we will not suffer. We would choose another road to heaven for ourselves and others than the royal road of the cross. What extraordinary blindness!
“Now is my soul troubled” (Jn 12:27), continues Jesus. Why? It was at the thought of the cruel and shameful death which awaited him. But he goes on, “Father, save me from this hour”; and then adds, “Father, glorify your name”. Thus, a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it and will glorify it again.” (Jn 12:28)
Our anxiety at a prospective humiliation or affliction is not an imperfection, still less a fault, since our Lord experienced it. But do we as he did, sanctify it by prayer and submission to the holy will of God?
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp171-3
The triumphal entry into Jerusalem
“How different the cries, ‘Away with him, away with him, crucify him,’ and then ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, hosanna in the highest!’ ... the cries now calling him ‘King of Israel’ and then in a few days time will be ... ‘We have no king but Caesar!’
“What a contrast ... the green branches and the cross, the flowers and the thorns! ... they were offering their own clothes for him to walk upon ... so soon afterwards they are stripping him of his, and casting lots upon them." (cf St Bernard, "Sermon on Palm Sunday”, 2, 4)
Also in Jerusalem is Mary, wanting to be close to her son in celebrating the Passover. It is to be the last Jewish Passover and the first Passover in which her Son is both Priest and Victim.
Let us stay beside Her. She will teach us how to remain constant, to struggle in little things, to grow continually in love for Jesus. May She be close to our side as we contemplate the Passion, Death and Resurrection of her Son. We will not find a more privileged place.
Ref: cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:251-2
Conversion, God’s Gift
Conversion is fundamentally a turning away from sin and a return to the Living God, to the God of the Alliance: “Come let us return to the Lord, for it is he who has rent, but he will heal us; he has struck us, but he will bind our wounds” (Hos 6:1) is the invitation of the prophet Hosea. He insists on the interior character of true conversion. It should always be inspired and moved by love and knowledge of God.
And Jeremiah, the great master of interior religion, prophesied an extraordinary spiritual transformation of the members of the People of God, through the action of God: “I will give them a heart to know that I am the Lord. They shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart.” (Jer 24:7)
Conversion is a gift from God which man must ask for with fervent prayer and which was merited for us by Christ, ‘the new Adam’. Sin and death entered into the world through the disobedience of the first Adam and dominate man. But, “If death began its reign through one man because of his offense, much more shall those who receive the overflowing grace and gift of justice live and reign through the one man, Jesus Christ.” (Rom 5:17)
The Christian, strong with the strength which comes to him from Christ, moves farther and farther from sin, that is, from the sad reality of the original disobedience. This occurs to the degree to which Grace abounds through the merits of “one man, Jesus Christ” (cf Rom 5:15). Conversion is thus an almost gradual, effective and continuous transition from the ‘old’ Adam to the ‘new’ one, who is Christ.
Ref: cf Pope John Paul II, "Prayers and Devotions", 1994, p130
'Harden Not Your Hearts'
Hear His voice today: “Harden not your hearts.” (Ps 95:8)
This prayer is relevant and necessary, but it is particularly recommended in the course of the forty days ‘that we hear the voice of the living God’. It is a penetrating voice, when we consider how God speaks in Lent not only with the exceptional richness of His Word in the liturgy and in the Church’s life; but above all with the paschal eloquence of the Passion and Death of his own Son.
He speaks with His cross and with His sacrifice. In a certain sense, this is his last discourse in His dialogue with man, ... with his mind and with his heart, with his conscience and his conduct. The heart means man in his inner spirituality, the very center of his likeness with God. The interior man. ‘The man of conscience.’
Our prayer during Lent aims at awakening of consciences, arousing them to the voice of God. A man who has a hardened heart and a degenerate conscience is ‘spiritually a sick man’, even though he may enjoy the fullness of his powers and physical capacities. Everything must be done to bring him back to having a healthy soul.
Ref: cf Pope John Paul II, op cit, p131
Our Lady of the Precious Blood
On Easter Sunday, 28 March 1171, on the altar of Our Lady in the church of 'Sta Maria Vado' (Blessed Mary in the water) in Ferrara, Italy, there occurred a Eucharistic Miracle.
This image of Our Lady, believe to have been painted by St Luke, was stolen from the church now a Basilica, on 26 April 1994. Police searched the house of the thieves. They found many paintings but not that of Our Lady. They were about to leave when the Police Chief faintly heard a voice say, ‘Return to the house!’ There was a big cupboard with a false back which on lifting, revealed the missing image.
Ref: Bob and Penny Lord, “Miracles of the Eucharist”, II: 21-33
Our Lady of Castelbruedo, at Olian, in Catalonia. It is related that every year, on the day of the Annunciation, three lights were seen of a blue color, which shone through the glass windows of this church, lighted the lamps and wax candles, went out by the same way; and immediately disappeared. — Ludo Marinaeus. lib. Y., de rebus Hispanicis, c. ultimo. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)
Our Lady of Castelbruedo (Olian, Catalonia). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
Our Lady of Castelbruedo ('Nuestra Señora de Castelbruedo'). Catalonia, Spain. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm);(http://www/divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
Friday, March 26, 2010
27 March 2010: The scourging of Jesus Christ
Our innocent Lord heard himself sentenced to the humiliation and suffering of scourging. He was dragged to the place of punishment; saw the preparations and anticipated all its horror. How terrible must this fear have been to his sensitive nature! But he never wavered and went resolutely forward in bearing all for us.
How differently do we act! How often do we waver or actually shrink from carrying out our resolutions! And only because we are terrified by the anticipation (which usually exaggerates) of the trouble they would cost us. Such as, rising on time, doing an act of penance or mortification, or faithfully fulfilling a particular duty.
The horror of scourging is nondescript. Imagine yourself undergoing it -- clothes torn off, bloodied body bound to the pillar, while strong men armed with whips, straps, cords or iron spikes, scourge you till their arms drop with fatigue. Your whole body is sore, flesh torn, the ground covered with blood.
In all our troubles, of mind or body, let us fix our eyes on Jesus our King bound to the pillar. This sight will make all our sufferings seem nothing. We will then bear them with courage and with love.
It was a cruel and cowardly expedient for Pilate to appease the people and to save Jesus from death. Our Lord bore it out of his heroic love for us. He abandoned his body into the hands of the executioner, that he might expiate, in his innocent flesh, the countless sins by which men dishonor God.
If I have offended against holy purity even but once, I ought to say to myself -- ‘Here is my work! It is I who, by the hands of the executioners, have torn the body of Jesus, who have covered it with blood and wounds.’
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp138-40
On the grace of our vocation
“‘Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!’ The messenger greets Mary as ‘full of grace’. He calls her this as if it were her real name. He does not call her by her proper earthly name ‘Miriam’ (Mary), but by this new name: ‘Full of grace’. What does this mean? Why does the archangel address the Virgin of Nazareth in this way?
“In the language of the Bible ‘grace’ means a special gift which according to the New Testament has its source precisely in the Trinitarian life of God himself, of God who is love.” (cf 1 Jn 4:8) (John Paul II, “Redemptoris Mater”, 25 March 1987, 8)
Mary is called ‘full of grace’ to express her true being. Whenever God changes a person’s name or gives him or her an extra one, he destines him or her to something new or reveals to that person his or her true mission in the history of salvation. Mary is called ‘full of grace’, most highly favored, because of her divine Motherhood.
The angel’s announcement revealed to Mary her mission in the world, the key to her whole existence. For her the Annunciation was a most perfect light that filled the whole of her life and made her fully aware of her exceptional role in the history of mankind. “Mary is definitively introduced into the mystery of Christ through this event.” (Ibid, loc cit)
“The scene of the Anunciation is a very lovely one. How often have we meditated on this! Mary is recollected in prayer. ... using all her senses and her faculties to speak to God. ... in prayer ... she comes to know the divine Will. And with prayer she makes it the life of her life. Do not forget the example of the Virgin Mary.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Furrow”, 481)
Mary’s vocation is the perfect example for any vocation. We understand our own life and the events surrounding it in the light of our vocation. In our endeavor to fulfill this divine plan is the way to Heaven. Therein also lies our own human and supernatural fulfilment.
Vocation is not the choice we make for ourselves so much as that which God makes of us through the thousand and one events in which we are involved. We must know how to interpret these circumstances with faith, and with a pure and upright heart. “You did not choose me, but I chose you.” (Jn 15:16)
“Every vocation, every existence, is in itself a grace that encloses within it many others; it is a grace, a gift, that is given to us, that is bestowed on us without our having deserved it, without being evoked by any merit of ours, and with no right to it on our part. It is not necessary that ... the call to fulfil the plan of God, the assigned mission, be great or splendid.
“It is enough that God has wanted to employ us in his service, that He wants us to aid him, that he trusts in our cooperation. The fact that he wants our cooperation is in itself so extraordinary and magnificent, that an entire life spent in thanksgiving is not enough to repay him for such an honour.” (Federico Suarez, “Mary of Nazareth” [Sinag-Tala Publishers, Inc, Manila, 1988, pp20-21])
The 'yes' that God asks of each one of us, whatever our direction in life may be, lasts for the whole of our lives. Sometimes, it will be our reply to minor events, at other times to larger, more important situations.
Let us ask Our Lady for a great and true desire to perceive our own vocation in greater depth and for light so as to correspond to the successive calls God makes to us. Let us ask her to enable us to give a prompt and firm reply on each occasion. Our vocation alone is what can fill our lives and give them their full meaning.
Ref: cf Francis Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 6:182-7
Our Lady
“What humility, that of my holy Mother Mary! She’s not to be seen amidst the palms of Jerusalem, nor -- except that first one at Cana -- at the hour of the great miracles.
“But she doesn’t flee from the degradation of Golgotha: there she stands, ‘juxta crucem Iesu’ -- ‘by the cross of Jesus’ -- his Mother.”
Ref: St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 507
Apparition of Our Lord to Our Lady immediately after his resurrection. — Alphonsus a Castro, c. 17. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)
Apparition of Our Lord to Our Lady, as soon as He was risen from the dead (in accordance with original date). (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
How differently do we act! How often do we waver or actually shrink from carrying out our resolutions! And only because we are terrified by the anticipation (which usually exaggerates) of the trouble they would cost us. Such as, rising on time, doing an act of penance or mortification, or faithfully fulfilling a particular duty.
The horror of scourging is nondescript. Imagine yourself undergoing it -- clothes torn off, bloodied body bound to the pillar, while strong men armed with whips, straps, cords or iron spikes, scourge you till their arms drop with fatigue. Your whole body is sore, flesh torn, the ground covered with blood.
In all our troubles, of mind or body, let us fix our eyes on Jesus our King bound to the pillar. This sight will make all our sufferings seem nothing. We will then bear them with courage and with love.
It was a cruel and cowardly expedient for Pilate to appease the people and to save Jesus from death. Our Lord bore it out of his heroic love for us. He abandoned his body into the hands of the executioner, that he might expiate, in his innocent flesh, the countless sins by which men dishonor God.
If I have offended against holy purity even but once, I ought to say to myself -- ‘Here is my work! It is I who, by the hands of the executioners, have torn the body of Jesus, who have covered it with blood and wounds.’
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp138-40
On the grace of our vocation
“‘Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!’ The messenger greets Mary as ‘full of grace’. He calls her this as if it were her real name. He does not call her by her proper earthly name ‘Miriam’ (Mary), but by this new name: ‘Full of grace’. What does this mean? Why does the archangel address the Virgin of Nazareth in this way?
“In the language of the Bible ‘grace’ means a special gift which according to the New Testament has its source precisely in the Trinitarian life of God himself, of God who is love.” (cf 1 Jn 4:8) (John Paul II, “Redemptoris Mater”, 25 March 1987, 8)
Mary is called ‘full of grace’ to express her true being. Whenever God changes a person’s name or gives him or her an extra one, he destines him or her to something new or reveals to that person his or her true mission in the history of salvation. Mary is called ‘full of grace’, most highly favored, because of her divine Motherhood.
The angel’s announcement revealed to Mary her mission in the world, the key to her whole existence. For her the Annunciation was a most perfect light that filled the whole of her life and made her fully aware of her exceptional role in the history of mankind. “Mary is definitively introduced into the mystery of Christ through this event.” (Ibid, loc cit)
“The scene of the Anunciation is a very lovely one. How often have we meditated on this! Mary is recollected in prayer. ... using all her senses and her faculties to speak to God. ... in prayer ... she comes to know the divine Will. And with prayer she makes it the life of her life. Do not forget the example of the Virgin Mary.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Furrow”, 481)
Mary’s vocation is the perfect example for any vocation. We understand our own life and the events surrounding it in the light of our vocation. In our endeavor to fulfill this divine plan is the way to Heaven. Therein also lies our own human and supernatural fulfilment.
Vocation is not the choice we make for ourselves so much as that which God makes of us through the thousand and one events in which we are involved. We must know how to interpret these circumstances with faith, and with a pure and upright heart. “You did not choose me, but I chose you.” (Jn 15:16)
“Every vocation, every existence, is in itself a grace that encloses within it many others; it is a grace, a gift, that is given to us, that is bestowed on us without our having deserved it, without being evoked by any merit of ours, and with no right to it on our part. It is not necessary that ... the call to fulfil the plan of God, the assigned mission, be great or splendid.
“It is enough that God has wanted to employ us in his service, that He wants us to aid him, that he trusts in our cooperation. The fact that he wants our cooperation is in itself so extraordinary and magnificent, that an entire life spent in thanksgiving is not enough to repay him for such an honour.” (Federico Suarez, “Mary of Nazareth” [Sinag-Tala Publishers, Inc, Manila, 1988, pp20-21])
The 'yes' that God asks of each one of us, whatever our direction in life may be, lasts for the whole of our lives. Sometimes, it will be our reply to minor events, at other times to larger, more important situations.
Let us ask Our Lady for a great and true desire to perceive our own vocation in greater depth and for light so as to correspond to the successive calls God makes to us. Let us ask her to enable us to give a prompt and firm reply on each occasion. Our vocation alone is what can fill our lives and give them their full meaning.
Ref: cf Francis Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 6:182-7
Our Lady
“What humility, that of my holy Mother Mary! She’s not to be seen amidst the palms of Jerusalem, nor -- except that first one at Cana -- at the hour of the great miracles.
“But she doesn’t flee from the degradation of Golgotha: there she stands, ‘juxta crucem Iesu’ -- ‘by the cross of Jesus’ -- his Mother.”
Ref: St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 507
Apparition of Our Lord to Our Lady immediately after his resurrection. — Alphonsus a Castro, c. 17. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)
Apparition of Our Lord to Our Lady, as soon as He was risen from the dead (in accordance with original date). (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
Thursday, March 25, 2010
26 March 2010: Pilate tries to save Jesus from the fury of the Jews
“Pilate said to them, ‘What shall I do then with Jesus, called Christ?’ They all say, ‘Let him be crucified!’”(Mt 27:22) Pilate’s efforts to rescue Jesus only incensed his enemies further. They thought Jesus would elude them. Three classes were concerned in bringing about his death -- Pilate, the people, and the priests.
The priests had the greater guilt. Jealous, they invented and sustained the accusation; excited and seduced the people who overpowered the judge by cries of rage and fury which they made the crowd shout. Their sin was great. The sanctity of their office, the greater light and grace they had received, ought to have made them models to their people.
Here is another sad proof of the truth of the old saying: ‘The best when corrupted become the worst.’ And this unhappily continues nowadays.
“The governor said to them, ‘Why what evil has he done?’”(Lk 23:22) This question ought to have reminded the Jewish people of the public life of Jesus which had brought blessings on them. Among them might have been many he had miraculously cured -- given sight, hearing, or use of their limbs. A still greater number delivered from the possession or tempations of the devil.
All our life, and especially since we entered into our state in life, we can remember many wonderful graces and blessings. They constantly flash across our minds, and ought to increase our love and devotion to Jesus. How is it, then, that we correspond so little with these graces, that we are so lukewarm in his service?
“He said to them the third time, ‘I find no cause of death in him. I will chastise him, and let him go.’” (cf Lk 23:22) Three times Pilate had declared Jesus innocent.
Still, he condemned him to a cruel and shameful punishment. He aimed to save his life by exciting compassion for his sufferings; but did not see what the Jews were aiming at. Scourging often preceded crucifixion.
How often have our passions -- pride or sensuality -- made us act like fools? Have we tried to escape from the humiliations and mortifications which we ought to seek? Have we sought pleasures and distinctions which we knew well would harm us? Are we then, on guard against our passions? Do we earnestly fight them?
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp136-8
The impact of the Incarnation in our life
The Incarnation should have a pronounced and dramatic impact on our life. This event is the central moment of human history. Without Christ, life has no meaning. “Christ the Redeemer ‘fully reveals man to himself’.” (John Paul II, Encyclical, “Redemptor hominis”, 4 March 1979, 11)
It is only through Christ that we will come to understand our inner self and everything that matters most to us: the hidden value of pain and of work well-done, the authentic peace and joy which surpass natural feelings and life’s uncertainties, the delightful prospect of the supernatural reward in our eternal homeland.
“Unceasingly contemplating the whole of Christ’s mystery, the Church knows with all the certainty of faith that the Redemption which took place through the cross has definitively restored his dignity to man and given back meaning to this life in the world, a meaning that was lost to a considerable extent because of sin.” (Ibid, 10)
The human testimony of the Son of God teaches us that all earthly realities ought to be loved and offered up to Heaven. Christ has transformed the human condition into a pathway to God. Consequently, the Christian’s struggle for perfection takes on a truly positive character. It does not mean erasing man’s humanity so that the divine might shine out instead.
Sanctity does not require total separation from worldly affairs. For it is not human nature that opposes God’s will, but sin and the effects of original sin which have so severely damaged our souls. Our struggle to become like Christ brings with it a life-long battle against whatsoever degrades our humanity -- egoism, envy, sensuality, a critical spirit ...
The authentic struggle for sanctity involves every aspect of the proper development of human personality: professional work, human and social virtues, love for everything that is truly human. Similarly, the humanity of Christ is not effaced by his divinity. Thus, through the Incarnation, the human condition preserves its integrity and finds its final end.
“Through his Incarnation, through his work at Nazareth and his preaching and miracles in Judaea and Galilee, through his death on the cross and through his Resurrection, Christ is the centre of the universe, the firstborn and Lord of all creation.
“Our task as Christians is to proclaim this kingship of Christ, announcing it through what we say and do. Our Lord wants men and women of his own in all walks of life. Some he calls away from society, asking them to give up involvement in the world, so they remind the rest of us by their example that God exists. To others he entrusts the priestly ministry. But he wants the vast majority to stay right where they are, in all earthly occupations in which they work: the factory, the laboratory, the farm, the trades, the streets of big cities and the trails of the mountains.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 105)
This is the context of our vocation.
Let us go to the Mother of Jesus who is also our Mother. “O Mary! ... by your conception you have brought our Saviour to the world ... O Mary, blessed be you among all women for ever ... the Godhead has become one with our humanity in such a permanent bond that nothing can break it -- not our ingratitude, not even death itself.” (St Catherine of Siena, “Elevaciones”, 15) Blessed are you!
Ref: cf Francis Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 6:179-180
Our Lady of Soissons, occupied by Benedictine nuns. In this abbey is seen one of the shoes of Our Lady. — Hugo Farcitus. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)
Our Lady of Soissons / 'Notre Dame de Soissons' (France, 1128). (http://www/divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
The priests had the greater guilt. Jealous, they invented and sustained the accusation; excited and seduced the people who overpowered the judge by cries of rage and fury which they made the crowd shout. Their sin was great. The sanctity of their office, the greater light and grace they had received, ought to have made them models to their people.
Here is another sad proof of the truth of the old saying: ‘The best when corrupted become the worst.’ And this unhappily continues nowadays.
“The governor said to them, ‘Why what evil has he done?’”(Lk 23:22) This question ought to have reminded the Jewish people of the public life of Jesus which had brought blessings on them. Among them might have been many he had miraculously cured -- given sight, hearing, or use of their limbs. A still greater number delivered from the possession or tempations of the devil.
All our life, and especially since we entered into our state in life, we can remember many wonderful graces and blessings. They constantly flash across our minds, and ought to increase our love and devotion to Jesus. How is it, then, that we correspond so little with these graces, that we are so lukewarm in his service?
“He said to them the third time, ‘I find no cause of death in him. I will chastise him, and let him go.’” (cf Lk 23:22) Three times Pilate had declared Jesus innocent.
Still, he condemned him to a cruel and shameful punishment. He aimed to save his life by exciting compassion for his sufferings; but did not see what the Jews were aiming at. Scourging often preceded crucifixion.
How often have our passions -- pride or sensuality -- made us act like fools? Have we tried to escape from the humiliations and mortifications which we ought to seek? Have we sought pleasures and distinctions which we knew well would harm us? Are we then, on guard against our passions? Do we earnestly fight them?
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp136-8
The impact of the Incarnation in our life
The Incarnation should have a pronounced and dramatic impact on our life. This event is the central moment of human history. Without Christ, life has no meaning. “Christ the Redeemer ‘fully reveals man to himself’.” (John Paul II, Encyclical, “Redemptor hominis”, 4 March 1979, 11)
It is only through Christ that we will come to understand our inner self and everything that matters most to us: the hidden value of pain and of work well-done, the authentic peace and joy which surpass natural feelings and life’s uncertainties, the delightful prospect of the supernatural reward in our eternal homeland.
“Unceasingly contemplating the whole of Christ’s mystery, the Church knows with all the certainty of faith that the Redemption which took place through the cross has definitively restored his dignity to man and given back meaning to this life in the world, a meaning that was lost to a considerable extent because of sin.” (Ibid, 10)
The human testimony of the Son of God teaches us that all earthly realities ought to be loved and offered up to Heaven. Christ has transformed the human condition into a pathway to God. Consequently, the Christian’s struggle for perfection takes on a truly positive character. It does not mean erasing man’s humanity so that the divine might shine out instead.
Sanctity does not require total separation from worldly affairs. For it is not human nature that opposes God’s will, but sin and the effects of original sin which have so severely damaged our souls. Our struggle to become like Christ brings with it a life-long battle against whatsoever degrades our humanity -- egoism, envy, sensuality, a critical spirit ...
The authentic struggle for sanctity involves every aspect of the proper development of human personality: professional work, human and social virtues, love for everything that is truly human. Similarly, the humanity of Christ is not effaced by his divinity. Thus, through the Incarnation, the human condition preserves its integrity and finds its final end.
“Through his Incarnation, through his work at Nazareth and his preaching and miracles in Judaea and Galilee, through his death on the cross and through his Resurrection, Christ is the centre of the universe, the firstborn and Lord of all creation.
“Our task as Christians is to proclaim this kingship of Christ, announcing it through what we say and do. Our Lord wants men and women of his own in all walks of life. Some he calls away from society, asking them to give up involvement in the world, so they remind the rest of us by their example that God exists. To others he entrusts the priestly ministry. But he wants the vast majority to stay right where they are, in all earthly occupations in which they work: the factory, the laboratory, the farm, the trades, the streets of big cities and the trails of the mountains.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 105)
This is the context of our vocation.
Let us go to the Mother of Jesus who is also our Mother. “O Mary! ... by your conception you have brought our Saviour to the world ... O Mary, blessed be you among all women for ever ... the Godhead has become one with our humanity in such a permanent bond that nothing can break it -- not our ingratitude, not even death itself.” (St Catherine of Siena, “Elevaciones”, 15) Blessed are you!
Ref: cf Francis Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 6:179-180
Our Lady of Soissons, occupied by Benedictine nuns. In this abbey is seen one of the shoes of Our Lady. — Hugo Farcitus. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)
Our Lady of Soissons / 'Notre Dame de Soissons' (France, 1128). (http://www/divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
25 March 2010: Solemnity-- The Annunciation of the Lord
The Archangel Gabriel communicated to Mary that she will be the Mother of the Son of God. Mary’s Fiat (Consent) initiated the working of the Holy Spirit and she conceived the Saviour. In this dialogue Our Lady appears to us so humble; yet so great. Through her consent to God’s plans, she takes part in the whole redemptive work of her Son, Jesus. We venerate her as the Mother of Christ and our Mother. (Fr James Socias, et al [Eds], “Daily Roman Missal”, p1499)
‘The Word was made flesh ...’
“... the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. Upon arriving, the angel said to her: ‘Rejoice, O highly favored daughter! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women.’ When she had heard him she was troubled at his word, and kept pondering what manner of greeting this might be.”
“And the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found grace with God. You shall conceive and bear a son and give him the name Jesus. Great will be his dignity and he will be called Son of the most high. The Lord God will give him the throne of David his father. He will rule over the house of Jacob forever and his reign will be without end.’”(Lk 1:26-33)
Our Lady, having been allayed by the angel about fearing the loss of her virginity, gave her consent: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word.” (Lk 1:38) Immediately, “the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us” (Jn 1:14).
Here ... is the answer given by a mother, ... the reply of a young woman: a “yes” which suffices for a whole life. (cf “Prayers and Devotions from Pope John Paul II”, p134)
Many practical reflections flock to the mind--
1. Mary endowed with grace, raised to a dignity above all other creatures, looks on herself as nothing, calls herself only “the handmaid of the Lord” (Lk 1:38). And I, empty of mind, full of sins and imperfections, raise myself in thought above others.
2. Mary recognizes the great things that have been wrought in her; but, as she answered the congratulations of Elizabeth, she looks on them only as the free gift of God: “He that is mighty has done great things to me.” (Lk 1:49) And I look on the little good I do as my own personal merit: I like to be esteemed before men.
3. Mary was more anxious to please God by preserving her virginal purity than to have the honor of the Divine motherhood. And I fear so little to tarnish the purity of my soul in the eyes of God.
What did God do on this day in our favor? He gave us the proof of his infinite love by giving us his only Son. ‘For God so loved the world’ (the men who are in the world) ‘as to give his only-begotten Son’ (become a mortal Man capable of suffering), that the world may be saved by him. It is by Mary who became on this day a mother while still a virgin, that he has willed to give him to us; ‘Mary, of whom was born Jesus’.
Let us be disposed to what the Church inspires in us as the fruit of this feast by rekindling love in our hearts towards our God and Creator, our heavenly Father. Let us be grateful towards the Eternal Son of God, made Man for us on this day. Let us have a filial devotion to Our Lady who on this day became Mother of God.
Let us activate these feelings: our ‘love’, by striving to fulfill more faithfully our Father’s Will-- our sanctification; our ‘gratitude’, in honoring this wonderful abasement of the Son of God in his Incarnation, by exalting and practising humility; our ‘filial devotion’ towards the Mother of God and our Mother, by being like her.
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp857
Our Lady
See the simplicity? ‘Ecce ancilia’ -- ‘Behold the handmaid!’ And the Word was made flesh. That’s how the saints worked: without any outward show. And if there was any, it was in spite of themselves. (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 510)
Mary most holy, Mother of God, passes unnoticed, as just one more among the women of her town. Learn from her how to live with ‘naturalness’. (Ibid, Op cit, 499)
Lourdes: The sixteenth apparition
‘Thursday.’ Bernadette didn’t sleep well -- her Lady was calling. She got to the grotto at 5:00 A.M. “Aquero” was waiting. After saying her rosary, she entered the grotto. On coming out her face was joyful.
Dropping the candle in her great haste, she ran off to tell Peyramale the news. Bernadette narrated: “... I again asked her three times in a row who she is. She continued to smile. Finally, I dared ask once more. Unclasping her hands, she stood with her arms at her sides; then once more crossed her hands up to her breast, meanwhile looking up to heaven. And told me she is the Immaculate Conception ...”
Peyramale asked her if she was certain of the Lady’s reply. Bernadette said she was and that she had repeated the words -- mysterious for her -- the whole way back so she wouldn’t forget them.
This day was the high point of the story of Lourdes. The name “Immaculate Conception” was totally foreign to Bernadette’s simple vocabulary. Practically illiterate at the time, it had to be explained to her later by M. Estradre: only the Virgin Mary could have said “I am the Immaculate Conception”.
Peyramale’s doubts were dissipated. He remained prudent and reserved; but he had already decided. He would later say, “even if the roses never bloomed, water undeniably did spout from the spring”.
Ref: cf G Menotti, “Lourdes”, p14
“Alma Mater” -- “Nourishing mother”, from a hymn to the Blessed Mother, “Alma Redemptoris Mater”. Applied to universities and schools, considered foster mothers of students. (cf “The 1955 National Catholic Almanac”, p212)
‘Redemptoris Mater’ (Mother of the Redeemer). Pope John Paul II’s sixth Encyclical, 25 March 1987. (In George Weigel, “Witness to Hope”, 1999, p577)
Annunciation. Instituted by the Apostles. Oldest Marian festival. In years when this falls during Lent, celebration is transferred to earlier in the Month. The day marked beginning of the New Year in old style calendars. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
‘The Word was made flesh ...’
“... the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. Upon arriving, the angel said to her: ‘Rejoice, O highly favored daughter! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women.’ When she had heard him she was troubled at his word, and kept pondering what manner of greeting this might be.”
“And the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found grace with God. You shall conceive and bear a son and give him the name Jesus. Great will be his dignity and he will be called Son of the most high. The Lord God will give him the throne of David his father. He will rule over the house of Jacob forever and his reign will be without end.’”(Lk 1:26-33)
Our Lady, having been allayed by the angel about fearing the loss of her virginity, gave her consent: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word.” (Lk 1:38) Immediately, “the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us” (Jn 1:14).
Here ... is the answer given by a mother, ... the reply of a young woman: a “yes” which suffices for a whole life. (cf “Prayers and Devotions from Pope John Paul II”, p134)
Many practical reflections flock to the mind--
1. Mary endowed with grace, raised to a dignity above all other creatures, looks on herself as nothing, calls herself only “the handmaid of the Lord” (Lk 1:38). And I, empty of mind, full of sins and imperfections, raise myself in thought above others.
2. Mary recognizes the great things that have been wrought in her; but, as she answered the congratulations of Elizabeth, she looks on them only as the free gift of God: “He that is mighty has done great things to me.” (Lk 1:49) And I look on the little good I do as my own personal merit: I like to be esteemed before men.
3. Mary was more anxious to please God by preserving her virginal purity than to have the honor of the Divine motherhood. And I fear so little to tarnish the purity of my soul in the eyes of God.
What did God do on this day in our favor? He gave us the proof of his infinite love by giving us his only Son. ‘For God so loved the world’ (the men who are in the world) ‘as to give his only-begotten Son’ (become a mortal Man capable of suffering), that the world may be saved by him. It is by Mary who became on this day a mother while still a virgin, that he has willed to give him to us; ‘Mary, of whom was born Jesus’.
Let us be disposed to what the Church inspires in us as the fruit of this feast by rekindling love in our hearts towards our God and Creator, our heavenly Father. Let us be grateful towards the Eternal Son of God, made Man for us on this day. Let us have a filial devotion to Our Lady who on this day became Mother of God.
Let us activate these feelings: our ‘love’, by striving to fulfill more faithfully our Father’s Will-- our sanctification; our ‘gratitude’, in honoring this wonderful abasement of the Son of God in his Incarnation, by exalting and practising humility; our ‘filial devotion’ towards the Mother of God and our Mother, by being like her.
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp857
Our Lady
See the simplicity? ‘Ecce ancilia’ -- ‘Behold the handmaid!’ And the Word was made flesh. That’s how the saints worked: without any outward show. And if there was any, it was in spite of themselves. (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 510)
Mary most holy, Mother of God, passes unnoticed, as just one more among the women of her town. Learn from her how to live with ‘naturalness’. (Ibid, Op cit, 499)
Lourdes: The sixteenth apparition
‘Thursday.’ Bernadette didn’t sleep well -- her Lady was calling. She got to the grotto at 5:00 A.M. “Aquero” was waiting. After saying her rosary, she entered the grotto. On coming out her face was joyful.
Dropping the candle in her great haste, she ran off to tell Peyramale the news. Bernadette narrated: “... I again asked her three times in a row who she is. She continued to smile. Finally, I dared ask once more. Unclasping her hands, she stood with her arms at her sides; then once more crossed her hands up to her breast, meanwhile looking up to heaven. And told me she is the Immaculate Conception ...”
Peyramale asked her if she was certain of the Lady’s reply. Bernadette said she was and that she had repeated the words -- mysterious for her -- the whole way back so she wouldn’t forget them.
This day was the high point of the story of Lourdes. The name “Immaculate Conception” was totally foreign to Bernadette’s simple vocabulary. Practically illiterate at the time, it had to be explained to her later by M. Estradre: only the Virgin Mary could have said “I am the Immaculate Conception”.
Peyramale’s doubts were dissipated. He remained prudent and reserved; but he had already decided. He would later say, “even if the roses never bloomed, water undeniably did spout from the spring”.
Ref: cf G Menotti, “Lourdes”, p14
“Alma Mater” -- “Nourishing mother”, from a hymn to the Blessed Mother, “Alma Redemptoris Mater”. Applied to universities and schools, considered foster mothers of students. (cf “The 1955 National Catholic Almanac”, p212)
‘Redemptoris Mater’ (Mother of the Redeemer). Pope John Paul II’s sixth Encyclical, 25 March 1987. (In George Weigel, “Witness to Hope”, 1999, p577)
Annunciation. Instituted by the Apostles. Oldest Marian festival. In years when this falls during Lent, celebration is transferred to earlier in the Month. The day marked beginning of the New Year in old style calendars. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
24 March 2010: Our Lady of the Dove
‘Nuestra Señora de la Paloma’ -- This devotion celebrates the mystery of the Incarnation. In her image, the doctrine of the virgin birth is presaged by presence of the symbolic dove, representing the Holy Spirit; and lilies and roses, symbols of her purity. She is crowned by cherubs as the ‘Virgin of virgins’. (Fr Charles Belmonte, “Aba Ginoong Maria”, 1990, p27)
Barabbas compared with, and preferred to, Jesus
“So after they have gathered, Pilate said, ‘You have a custom that I should release one unto you at the Pasch. Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?’” (Mt 27:17)
Pilate had declared the innocence of Jesus. It was against his conscience to condemn him; but self-interest prevails to gratify the Jews, or lose favor before Cæsar. Conscience and interest put Pilate in a dilemma.
He offered the people their choice between a hated criminal and the Saviour, whom till then they had reverenced so much. But his efforts proved futile. Always shirking from doing his duty and after some more futile attempts, he completed his evil work by condemning the innocent. He thus lost his own soul.
How true are our Lord’s words -- ‘No man can serve two masters!’ It is impossible to steer a course between God and the world. We cannot hover between virtue and vice, even if the misdeed may be trivial. An unjust friendship, though based on good motives, may cause us qualms of conscience.
Our good sense and spiritual director advise us to be decisive and abandon it. But we answer, ‘No, you expect too much; but I will be more careful for the future. My case is special.’ This delusion of self-love leads nowhere.
Let us try to understand how much Jesus was insulted. Pilate placed him on a level with the greatest criminal in prison. To his surprise, the people unanimously demanded: “Not this man, but Barabbas!” (Lk 23:18)
Pilate’s wife warned him against getting involved in the passion of the Jews towards Jesus, an extraordinary grace granted Pilate at the critical moment-- debating between doing a great act of justice, which would have won his salvation, and an atrocious crime. He fell into disgrace and was banished; finally, killed himself.
Most interpreters believe that the uneasiness of Pilate’s wife was an inspiration of grace which obtained her salvation. The Greeks honor her as St Claudia Procula.
How many times and in how many ways have our guardian angels and directors warned and tried to strengthen us; when our passions dominate and darken our judgment; and we were vacillating between good and evil? These warnings were extraordinary graces. Did we correspond?
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp133-6
Conversion, God’s Gift to the Church
The Church converts to Christ to renew the consciousness and certainty of all His gifts, with which she was endowed by him through the Cross and Resurrection. Christ is at the same time the Church’s Redeemer and her Spouse. As Redeemer and Spouse, Christ established the Church among weak, sinful and fallible men; but he established her at the same time strong, holy and infallible not through the work of men.
Believing in the Church’s strength is believing in that power which “in weakness reaches perfection” (2 Cor 12:9).
Believing in the Church’s holiness means believing in that gift which makes us heirs of the divine holiness.
Believing in the Church’s infallibility means believing in Christ’s gift which permits fallible men to infallibly proclaim and confess the truth revealed for our salvation.
The Church of our time -- this critical epoch -- ought to have particular certainty regarding Christ’s gift, the gift of strength, the gift of holiness, the gift of infallibility.
The more she is conscious of the weakness, sinfulness, fallibility of man, the more she should maintain her certainty of those gifts, coming from Her Redeemer and Her Spouse.
Ref: cf Pope John Paul II, “Prayers and Devotions”, 1994, pp133-4
Love of God
God expects from each one of us an unconditional response to his love for us. Our love for God is shown in numerous little incidents of each day. We love God through our work done well, how we live our family life, our social interactions, the use we make of our leisure time. Everything can be converted into a deed of love.
“While we carry out as perfectly as we can (with all our mistakes and limitations) the tasks allotted to us by our situation and duties, our soul longs to escape. It is drawn towards God like iron drawn by a magnet. One begins to love Jesus in a more effective way, with the sweet and gentle surprise of his encounter.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Friends of God”, 296)
“... all sorts of setbacks are encountered as difficult by those who do not love; those who do love, on the contrary, find them trivial and easily manageable. There is no suffering, however cruel or violent it may be, which is not made bearable or even reduced to nothing by love.” (St Augustine, “Sermon 70”)
Our love for God has to be supreme and absolute. Within this love all the noble loves of the earth are found, according to each one’s vocation and with naturalness. “It would not be fair to say ‘either God or man’. They ought to love ‘God and man’ ... In other words, love for God is certainly dominant, but is not exclusive. ...” (John Paul I, ‘General Audience’, 27 September 1978)
Love for God is necessarily shown in love for others; in the way we live charity with whoever are with us everyday. “In this they will know you are my disciples ...” (Jn 13:35)
In refined dealings with others; in mutual respect. In thinking favorably of others, in helping in little things at home or at work, in a loving and appropriate fraternal correction, in prayer for the one who needs it most ...
Let us ask Our Lady to teach us to respond to the love of her Son, so that we may also know how to love, with deeds, her other children who are our brothers.
Ref: cf Francis Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:148-150
Eve of the Annunciation of Our Lady, instituted by Gregory XI. On this day, Our Lady kept the Passover at Jerusalem, in the year of Our Lord 49. Balingham, Metaphrastes. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)
Vigil of the Annunciation (Instituted by Pope Gregory XI). (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
Barabbas compared with, and preferred to, Jesus
“So after they have gathered, Pilate said, ‘You have a custom that I should release one unto you at the Pasch. Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?’” (Mt 27:17)
Pilate had declared the innocence of Jesus. It was against his conscience to condemn him; but self-interest prevails to gratify the Jews, or lose favor before Cæsar. Conscience and interest put Pilate in a dilemma.
He offered the people their choice between a hated criminal and the Saviour, whom till then they had reverenced so much. But his efforts proved futile. Always shirking from doing his duty and after some more futile attempts, he completed his evil work by condemning the innocent. He thus lost his own soul.
How true are our Lord’s words -- ‘No man can serve two masters!’ It is impossible to steer a course between God and the world. We cannot hover between virtue and vice, even if the misdeed may be trivial. An unjust friendship, though based on good motives, may cause us qualms of conscience.
Our good sense and spiritual director advise us to be decisive and abandon it. But we answer, ‘No, you expect too much; but I will be more careful for the future. My case is special.’ This delusion of self-love leads nowhere.
Let us try to understand how much Jesus was insulted. Pilate placed him on a level with the greatest criminal in prison. To his surprise, the people unanimously demanded: “Not this man, but Barabbas!” (Lk 23:18)
Pilate’s wife warned him against getting involved in the passion of the Jews towards Jesus, an extraordinary grace granted Pilate at the critical moment-- debating between doing a great act of justice, which would have won his salvation, and an atrocious crime. He fell into disgrace and was banished; finally, killed himself.
Most interpreters believe that the uneasiness of Pilate’s wife was an inspiration of grace which obtained her salvation. The Greeks honor her as St Claudia Procula.
How many times and in how many ways have our guardian angels and directors warned and tried to strengthen us; when our passions dominate and darken our judgment; and we were vacillating between good and evil? These warnings were extraordinary graces. Did we correspond?
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp133-6
Conversion, God’s Gift to the Church
The Church converts to Christ to renew the consciousness and certainty of all His gifts, with which she was endowed by him through the Cross and Resurrection. Christ is at the same time the Church’s Redeemer and her Spouse. As Redeemer and Spouse, Christ established the Church among weak, sinful and fallible men; but he established her at the same time strong, holy and infallible not through the work of men.
Believing in the Church’s strength is believing in that power which “in weakness reaches perfection” (2 Cor 12:9).
Believing in the Church’s holiness means believing in that gift which makes us heirs of the divine holiness.
Believing in the Church’s infallibility means believing in Christ’s gift which permits fallible men to infallibly proclaim and confess the truth revealed for our salvation.
The Church of our time -- this critical epoch -- ought to have particular certainty regarding Christ’s gift, the gift of strength, the gift of holiness, the gift of infallibility.
The more she is conscious of the weakness, sinfulness, fallibility of man, the more she should maintain her certainty of those gifts, coming from Her Redeemer and Her Spouse.
Ref: cf Pope John Paul II, “Prayers and Devotions”, 1994, pp133-4
Love of God
God expects from each one of us an unconditional response to his love for us. Our love for God is shown in numerous little incidents of each day. We love God through our work done well, how we live our family life, our social interactions, the use we make of our leisure time. Everything can be converted into a deed of love.
“While we carry out as perfectly as we can (with all our mistakes and limitations) the tasks allotted to us by our situation and duties, our soul longs to escape. It is drawn towards God like iron drawn by a magnet. One begins to love Jesus in a more effective way, with the sweet and gentle surprise of his encounter.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Friends of God”, 296)
“... all sorts of setbacks are encountered as difficult by those who do not love; those who do love, on the contrary, find them trivial and easily manageable. There is no suffering, however cruel or violent it may be, which is not made bearable or even reduced to nothing by love.” (St Augustine, “Sermon 70”)
Our love for God has to be supreme and absolute. Within this love all the noble loves of the earth are found, according to each one’s vocation and with naturalness. “It would not be fair to say ‘either God or man’. They ought to love ‘God and man’ ... In other words, love for God is certainly dominant, but is not exclusive. ...” (John Paul I, ‘General Audience’, 27 September 1978)
Love for God is necessarily shown in love for others; in the way we live charity with whoever are with us everyday. “In this they will know you are my disciples ...” (Jn 13:35)
In refined dealings with others; in mutual respect. In thinking favorably of others, in helping in little things at home or at work, in a loving and appropriate fraternal correction, in prayer for the one who needs it most ...
Let us ask Our Lady to teach us to respond to the love of her Son, so that we may also know how to love, with deeds, her other children who are our brothers.
Ref: cf Francis Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:148-150
Eve of the Annunciation of Our Lady, instituted by Gregory XI. On this day, Our Lady kept the Passover at Jerusalem, in the year of Our Lord 49. Balingham, Metaphrastes. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)
Vigil of the Annunciation (Instituted by Pope Gregory XI). (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
Monday, March 22, 2010
23 March 2010: Jesus insulted at the court of Herod
Herod had put St John Baptist to death. He wanted the Saviour of the world of whom he had heard so much, to work a miracle before him, not that he might be converted; but simply to gratify his vanity and curiosity.
God does not grant extraordinary graces to such men; but reserves them for the humble, who deem themselves unworthy of them. He delights to pour them on those who are emptied of self, dead to self-love, seeking only his greater glory. These souls ask for extraordinary graces or miracles only that they may serve him better, or gain others to his service.
Why do we receive so few extraordinary graces? We probably lack these dispositions or made little progress in them despite many years in our state in life.
Wonderful indeed was the silence and passiveness of our Lord before Herod. He was accused of great crimes; but he could have confounded them in a few words, and turned the tide in his favor. Yet he held his peace. He went there to receive a sentence for life or death. Had Jesus worked a miracle as Herod desired, he would have found protection; but he did not.
Herod and his court regarded the calm silence of our Lord as helplessness and stupidity; and treated it as such. Jesus kept silence to punish Herod’s pride and to teach us to mortify ours. Pride is our greatest trial: it makes us desire esteem, notice, praise, and applause, especially from the powerful. Have we fought steadfastly against this unruly passion of pride?
Let us contemplate Jesus, the King of Glory, the eternal Wisdom; standing before Herod, insulted by the coarse and stupid mob. Let us, in spirit, follow him wearing the fool’s robe through the streets of Jerusalem. The immense crowd which the Paschal feast had brought into the city jeering at him.
When we contemplate Jesus Christ as the living model of perfection, it should kindle in our hearts an ardent desire to imitate him, and willingly serve him. To be ready for his love, to be despised, insulted, reviled, and even considered a fool despite our innocence. This is the ‘foolishness of the Cross’. Many of God’s servants have travelled by this road.
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp131-3
The opposition from the good
We must always pray for peace in the Church and for Christians of every country. However, we should not be surprised or frightened if there is resistance to the teaching of Christ which we want to spread, a hostility in the form of defamation, calumnies. God will help us to reap abundant fruits from such situations.
On arriving in Rome, the Jews living there, referring to the infant Church, told St Paul: “We know that everywhere it is spoken against” (Acts 28:22). After twenty centuries we continue to see how in various countries thousands of good Christians, priests and lay persons, have suffered martyrdom because of their faith.
They have been discriminated against for their beliefs, or kept out of public offices or teaching positions on account of their Catholicism; or encounter difficulties in securing a Christian education for their children.
It is difficult to understand calumny or persecution at a time when one hears so much about tolerance, understanding, fellowship and peace. But the attacks become more difficult to understand when they come from good men, when a Christian persecutes, no matter how, another Christian, or a brother, his brother.
Our Lord prepared his own for these inevitable times when the enemies of Christ are not pagans, but brothers in the Faith who think that by their actions they would be doing “a service to God” (cf Jn 16:2). This ‘opposition from the good’, an expression coined by the founder of ‘Opus Dei’, St Josemaria Escrivá to describe what he experienced so painfully, is a trial God sometimes permits.
It is particularly painful for the Christian victim. The calumniators are usually motivated by human passions that can distort good judgment and complicate the clear intention of men who profess the same faith as those they attack, and who make up the same People of God.
At times jealousies supervene; rash allegations that may arise from envy, and make it possible to regard as evil the good that others are doing. There can also be a ‘tunnel vision’ of dogmatism that refuses to recognize for others the right to think differently in matters left by God to the free judgment of men. (cf J Orlandis, “The Eight Beatitudes”, p150)
The Christian who wants to be faithful to Christ must learn to pardon, make amends and act with rectitude of intention, all the time focused on Christ.
“Don’t expect people’s applause ... sometimes you musn’t even expect other people and institutions, who like you are working for Christ, to understand you. Seek only the glory of God and while loving everyone, don’t worry if there are some who do not comprehend what it is you are doing.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Forge”, 255)
“Turn to our Lady, the Mother, Daughter, and Spouse of God, and our Mother, and ask her to obtain more graces for you from the Blessed Trinity -- the grace of faith, of hope, of love and of contrition, so that when it seems that a harsh dry wind is blowing in your life, threatening the flowers of your soul, they will not wither, and neither will those of your brothers.” (cf Ibid, Op cit, 227)
Ref: cf Francis Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 4:589-592
Prayer for our enemies -- "O GOD, the lover and preserver of peace and charity: grant unto all our enemies peace and true charity; give them remission of all their sins, and by Thy power deliver us from their snares. Amen." (Very Rev Charles J Callan, OP, STM and Very Rev John A McHugh, OP, STM, “Blessed Be God”, 1925, p469)
Crucible -- “Insults hurt so much, even though you want to love them. Don’t be surprised: offer them to God.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Forge”, 793)
Our Lady of Victory. This image bears that name because the French having fortunately taken it from the hands of the Greeks, during a sanguinary engagement with them near Constantinople in the year 1204, they gained by means of it a complete victory. — Spondanus, Annals ann. 1204. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)
Our Lady of Victory / Victories. Lepanto. Hungary. 1716. [See October 7 for details] (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (http://www/divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
God does not grant extraordinary graces to such men; but reserves them for the humble, who deem themselves unworthy of them. He delights to pour them on those who are emptied of self, dead to self-love, seeking only his greater glory. These souls ask for extraordinary graces or miracles only that they may serve him better, or gain others to his service.
Why do we receive so few extraordinary graces? We probably lack these dispositions or made little progress in them despite many years in our state in life.
Wonderful indeed was the silence and passiveness of our Lord before Herod. He was accused of great crimes; but he could have confounded them in a few words, and turned the tide in his favor. Yet he held his peace. He went there to receive a sentence for life or death. Had Jesus worked a miracle as Herod desired, he would have found protection; but he did not.
Herod and his court regarded the calm silence of our Lord as helplessness and stupidity; and treated it as such. Jesus kept silence to punish Herod’s pride and to teach us to mortify ours. Pride is our greatest trial: it makes us desire esteem, notice, praise, and applause, especially from the powerful. Have we fought steadfastly against this unruly passion of pride?
Let us contemplate Jesus, the King of Glory, the eternal Wisdom; standing before Herod, insulted by the coarse and stupid mob. Let us, in spirit, follow him wearing the fool’s robe through the streets of Jerusalem. The immense crowd which the Paschal feast had brought into the city jeering at him.
When we contemplate Jesus Christ as the living model of perfection, it should kindle in our hearts an ardent desire to imitate him, and willingly serve him. To be ready for his love, to be despised, insulted, reviled, and even considered a fool despite our innocence. This is the ‘foolishness of the Cross’. Many of God’s servants have travelled by this road.
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp131-3
The opposition from the good
We must always pray for peace in the Church and for Christians of every country. However, we should not be surprised or frightened if there is resistance to the teaching of Christ which we want to spread, a hostility in the form of defamation, calumnies. God will help us to reap abundant fruits from such situations.
On arriving in Rome, the Jews living there, referring to the infant Church, told St Paul: “We know that everywhere it is spoken against” (Acts 28:22). After twenty centuries we continue to see how in various countries thousands of good Christians, priests and lay persons, have suffered martyrdom because of their faith.
They have been discriminated against for their beliefs, or kept out of public offices or teaching positions on account of their Catholicism; or encounter difficulties in securing a Christian education for their children.
It is difficult to understand calumny or persecution at a time when one hears so much about tolerance, understanding, fellowship and peace. But the attacks become more difficult to understand when they come from good men, when a Christian persecutes, no matter how, another Christian, or a brother, his brother.
Our Lord prepared his own for these inevitable times when the enemies of Christ are not pagans, but brothers in the Faith who think that by their actions they would be doing “a service to God” (cf Jn 16:2). This ‘opposition from the good’, an expression coined by the founder of ‘Opus Dei’, St Josemaria Escrivá to describe what he experienced so painfully, is a trial God sometimes permits.
It is particularly painful for the Christian victim. The calumniators are usually motivated by human passions that can distort good judgment and complicate the clear intention of men who profess the same faith as those they attack, and who make up the same People of God.
At times jealousies supervene; rash allegations that may arise from envy, and make it possible to regard as evil the good that others are doing. There can also be a ‘tunnel vision’ of dogmatism that refuses to recognize for others the right to think differently in matters left by God to the free judgment of men. (cf J Orlandis, “The Eight Beatitudes”, p150)
The Christian who wants to be faithful to Christ must learn to pardon, make amends and act with rectitude of intention, all the time focused on Christ.
“Don’t expect people’s applause ... sometimes you musn’t even expect other people and institutions, who like you are working for Christ, to understand you. Seek only the glory of God and while loving everyone, don’t worry if there are some who do not comprehend what it is you are doing.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Forge”, 255)
“Turn to our Lady, the Mother, Daughter, and Spouse of God, and our Mother, and ask her to obtain more graces for you from the Blessed Trinity -- the grace of faith, of hope, of love and of contrition, so that when it seems that a harsh dry wind is blowing in your life, threatening the flowers of your soul, they will not wither, and neither will those of your brothers.” (cf Ibid, Op cit, 227)
Ref: cf Francis Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 4:589-592
Prayer for our enemies -- "O GOD, the lover and preserver of peace and charity: grant unto all our enemies peace and true charity; give them remission of all their sins, and by Thy power deliver us from their snares. Amen." (Very Rev Charles J Callan, OP, STM and Very Rev John A McHugh, OP, STM, “Blessed Be God”, 1925, p469)
Crucible -- “Insults hurt so much, even though you want to love them. Don’t be surprised: offer them to God.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Forge”, 793)
Our Lady of Victory. This image bears that name because the French having fortunately taken it from the hands of the Greeks, during a sanguinary engagement with them near Constantinople in the year 1204, they gained by means of it a complete victory. — Spondanus, Annals ann. 1204. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)
Our Lady of Victory / Victories. Lepanto. Hungary. 1716. [See October 7 for details] (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (http://www/divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
Sunday, March 21, 2010
22 March 2010: Jesus is silent before Pilate
The first accusations by the Jews were vague and false. Pilate rejected them and declared Jesus innocent. Some points were beneath our Lord’s dignity to merit a reply. The sanctity of his life answered for him and proved his divinity. Despite efforts to appear human, his answers to the judge revealed his divinity.
Happy is the man whose conduct is a conclusive defence against the false accusations of the wicked and envious! Happier still if his conscience bears witness to his constant effort to be spotless before God.
The astonishment of Pilate was not surprising. It was natural for an accused to defend himself before a tribunal from which there was no appeal, and whose death was eagerly sought. Particularly when the judge favors his cause. But Jesus was silent. Pilate could not understand the calm dignity of our Lord’s silence.
We are better off than Pilate, for we know why Jesus was silent. He was determined to die for us. Having manifested the truth, he would not say a single word to save his life. By his silence he chose to expiate our sins of the tongue, and to teach us to avoid an angry reply to whoever wounds our feelings, or injures us.
After Pilate had acknowledged the innocence of Jesus, his duty was to silence the accusers, and dismiss them with the contempt they deserved. This he dared not do. The Jews, perceiving his weakness, pressed their advantage. They succeeded in besieging him to grant what was against his conscience.
The devil treats us in this same way. Once he sees us hesitating between God and creatures, or conscience and our passions, he takes advantage of our weakness, and grows bolder than ever. His arguments deafen our ears. He terrifies us with imaginary difficulties, and gives us no peace till we consent to sin.
Let us be aware of our weakness; and reasonably in fear of the tempter, never yield a bit. We must firmly resist his first suggestions, arming ourselves, as the Apostle says, with the shield of faith and prayer.
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp129-31
Striving for virtue
God doesn’t ask the impossible. He expects all Christians to live the christian virtues in their entirety, even if they find themselves in environments that seem to be moving farther and farther away from God. He will give the graces necessary for being faithful in such situations. Furthermore, the good example He expects of all of us will often be the means of making Christ’s doctrine attractive to others, and of evangelizing again the world.
To grow in the human and supernatural virtues, as well as in grace, we must make a personal effort to develop the practice of these virtues in our everyday “lives until we acquire authentic habits, and not only the appearance of virtue. The facade appears full of strength and resilience. But how much softness and lack of will-power there is within! You must hold to your determination not to let your virtues become fancy dress but clothes that define your character.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Furrow”, 777)
What is important is we should make a definite and loving decision to strive after virtue in our everyday affairs. The more we practise doing these good acts, the easier it will be to do them again. In this way we will identify ourselves more and more with Christ.
Our Lady, “Model and school of all virtues” (St Ambrose, “Treatise on Virginity”, 2) will teach us to achieve our wish if we turn to her for help and advice. She will make it easier for us to reach the goal we have set in our particular examination of conscience wherein we will often decide to aim at the acquisition of a very specific virtue.
Ref: cf Francis Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:137-8
“Paid in full with one glass of milk” -- (A touching true story, on the power of one good act. This anecdote is copied from “Word Alive” by Fr Bel R San Luis, SVD, “Manila Bulletin”, 2 September 2001.)
One day a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry. He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so she brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, and then asked, “How much do I owe you?”
“You don’t owe me anything”, she replied. “Mother taught us never to accept pay for a kindness.” “Then, I thank you from my heart.” As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man became strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit.
Years later, that young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease. Dr Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, strange light filled his eyes.
Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room. Dressed in his doctor’s gown, he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day on, he gave special attention to the case. After a long struggle, the battle was won.
Dr Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally, she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill. She read these words ...
“Paid in full with one glass of milk.”
(Signed) Dr Howard Kelly
On Palm Sunday, in the year 1098, St Robert, Abbot of Moleme, retired with twenty-one of his monks to the diocese of Chalons-sur-Seine, where he built, in honor of Our Lady, the celebrated monastery of Citeaux, the head house of the order. — Arnold Vionus, lib. L; Ligni vitae c. 47. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (http://www/divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
Feast: Seven Sorrows of Mary. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
Happy is the man whose conduct is a conclusive defence against the false accusations of the wicked and envious! Happier still if his conscience bears witness to his constant effort to be spotless before God.
The astonishment of Pilate was not surprising. It was natural for an accused to defend himself before a tribunal from which there was no appeal, and whose death was eagerly sought. Particularly when the judge favors his cause. But Jesus was silent. Pilate could not understand the calm dignity of our Lord’s silence.
We are better off than Pilate, for we know why Jesus was silent. He was determined to die for us. Having manifested the truth, he would not say a single word to save his life. By his silence he chose to expiate our sins of the tongue, and to teach us to avoid an angry reply to whoever wounds our feelings, or injures us.
After Pilate had acknowledged the innocence of Jesus, his duty was to silence the accusers, and dismiss them with the contempt they deserved. This he dared not do. The Jews, perceiving his weakness, pressed their advantage. They succeeded in besieging him to grant what was against his conscience.
The devil treats us in this same way. Once he sees us hesitating between God and creatures, or conscience and our passions, he takes advantage of our weakness, and grows bolder than ever. His arguments deafen our ears. He terrifies us with imaginary difficulties, and gives us no peace till we consent to sin.
Let us be aware of our weakness; and reasonably in fear of the tempter, never yield a bit. We must firmly resist his first suggestions, arming ourselves, as the Apostle says, with the shield of faith and prayer.
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp129-31
Striving for virtue
God doesn’t ask the impossible. He expects all Christians to live the christian virtues in their entirety, even if they find themselves in environments that seem to be moving farther and farther away from God. He will give the graces necessary for being faithful in such situations. Furthermore, the good example He expects of all of us will often be the means of making Christ’s doctrine attractive to others, and of evangelizing again the world.
To grow in the human and supernatural virtues, as well as in grace, we must make a personal effort to develop the practice of these virtues in our everyday “lives until we acquire authentic habits, and not only the appearance of virtue. The facade appears full of strength and resilience. But how much softness and lack of will-power there is within! You must hold to your determination not to let your virtues become fancy dress but clothes that define your character.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Furrow”, 777)
What is important is we should make a definite and loving decision to strive after virtue in our everyday affairs. The more we practise doing these good acts, the easier it will be to do them again. In this way we will identify ourselves more and more with Christ.
Our Lady, “Model and school of all virtues” (St Ambrose, “Treatise on Virginity”, 2) will teach us to achieve our wish if we turn to her for help and advice. She will make it easier for us to reach the goal we have set in our particular examination of conscience wherein we will often decide to aim at the acquisition of a very specific virtue.
Ref: cf Francis Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:137-8
“Paid in full with one glass of milk” -- (A touching true story, on the power of one good act. This anecdote is copied from “Word Alive” by Fr Bel R San Luis, SVD, “Manila Bulletin”, 2 September 2001.)
One day a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry. He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so she brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, and then asked, “How much do I owe you?”
“You don’t owe me anything”, she replied. “Mother taught us never to accept pay for a kindness.” “Then, I thank you from my heart.” As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man became strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit.
Years later, that young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease. Dr Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, strange light filled his eyes.
Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room. Dressed in his doctor’s gown, he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day on, he gave special attention to the case. After a long struggle, the battle was won.
Dr Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally, she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill. She read these words ...
“Paid in full with one glass of milk.”
(Signed) Dr Howard Kelly
On Palm Sunday, in the year 1098, St Robert, Abbot of Moleme, retired with twenty-one of his monks to the diocese of Chalons-sur-Seine, where he built, in honor of Our Lady, the celebrated monastery of Citeaux, the head house of the order. — Arnold Vionus, lib. L; Ligni vitae c. 47. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (http://www/divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
Feast: Seven Sorrows of Mary. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
Saturday, March 20, 2010
21 March 2010: Pilate interrogates Jesus
Jesus Christ was not King of the Jews, nor of this world, in the ordinary sense. His kingdom is the Church, the assembly of all those who willingly follow his teaching and observe his laws.
The Church is in the world, but not of it. She came down from heaven, and earth is but the place of her pilgrimage and her trials. She will return to heaven where the glorious and everlasting kingdom of Jesus and his disciples shall last forever.
This was the kingdom he meant when he said to Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world” (Jn 18:36); and again, when he says to his disciples, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God” (Lk 12:31).
How great is our happiness in becoming, by holy Baptism, children of the Church and subjects of Jesus Christ by professing the Christian faith! If we choose, the kingdom of heaven is ours. Though ‘in’ the world, we are not ‘of’ the world. We must live in spirit in heaven, as the Apostle says, ‘Our conversation is in heaven’.
Pilate’s conduct is a striking example of human instability. He really desired to know the truth about the wonderful Being whom the world thought of so differently, and who was now before him. This desire increased after he had heard him say, “For this came I into the world; that I should give testimony to the truth” (Jn 18:37).
Naturally he asked, “What is truth?” (Jn 18:38) Apparently, he eagerly awaited the reply. Yet, when given, he ignored it and quickly left the judgment-hall.
We fully condemn Pilate’s weakness and vacillation; but has our conduct been similar? Before acting or deciding in difficult circumstances, we usually invoke: ‘Come, Holy Spirit’, thus begging to know his will. But, we often decide hastily without awaiting to hear his reply. Do we thus imitate Pilate’s lack of resolve?
Pilate, wise and experienced, initially was sure the crimes alleged against Jesus could not be proved. As judge, however, he questioned Jesus about his kingdom. Jesus’ answers clearly showed that his kingdom was not opposed to the earthly rulers. Thus, he pronounced -- “I find no case against him” (Jn 18:38).
Pilate, though vacillating, was just and a lover of truth. If he had been as firm as he was just, he would never have condemned Jesus. Afraid to get into trouble, human respect prevailed on him. Weak and timid, the Jews craftily worked upon his fears, and extorted the unjust sentence from him.
This is the devil’s way with us -- he studies our weak points, and takes advantage of them. Once we are off our guard, he entraps us with subtle snares.
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp126-8
Learning to see the good in others
Charity makes the heart find room in it for all men, even those who don’t understand us or who fail to respond to our love. With the Lord beside us no one will be our enemy. We will learn not to judge the covert personal intentions of others. The few external signs we see often do not reflect their true motives.
“Although you might see something bad, do not instantly judge your neighbour, advises St Bernard; but, rather, excuse him interiorly. Excuse the intention if you are unable to excuse the action. Consider it as done in ignorance, or unawares, or through weakness. If the matter is so weighty that you cannot possibly overlook it, then try to believe the following and say to yourself: the temptation must have been very strong!” (St Augustine, “Sermon 40 on the Song of Songs”)
Our Lady will teach us, if we ask her, how to forgive -- in Cana, Mary does not deplore or criticize the lack of wine, ‘but helps find a solution to the need’ -- and to struggle to cultivate in our personal lives these very virtues which, on occasion, may seem to us to be lacking in others. We will then be in an excellent position to offer a helping hand to them.
Ref: cf Francis Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:132
On Making Disciples
Jesus Christ said: “Go, therefore and make disciples of all nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Mt 28:19-20)
Since then, there has been ceaseless organizational or communal response from those who believe and are baptized. In the “Acts of the Apostles" we read: “Those who accepted his message devoted themselves to the apostles’ instruction and the communal life ...” (2:41-2) Here we already see the Church’s communitarian nature. ...
“This is how all men will know you for my disciples: your love for one another.” (Jn 13:35) The communal dimension of your Christian vocation was strongly emphasized by the liturgical reform of the Second Vatican Council. Every liturgical act is an act of the entire Body of Christ ... and every Mass is an act of Christ in his Body.
Every good deed done by a member is to the advantage of all the members together, and every sin is not only an offense against God but is also a wound inflicted on Christ’s Body ... Clearly, it is not even thinkable that a Christian should live solely for himself.
A Christian who has not learned to see and love Christ in his neighbor is not fully Christian. We are our brothers’ keepers; bound to each other by the bond of love ... This communal or organizational nature of our vocation ought to be directed toward the universal Church. We are a local Church instituted by Christ the Lord only to the degree in which we are part of the universal Church.
Ref: cf Pope John Paul II, “Prayers and Devotions”, 1994, p56
Our Lady
“Love of our Lady is proof of a good spirit, in works and in individuals. Don’t trust the undertaking that lacks this characteristic.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 505)
“Before, by yourself, you couldn’t. Now, you’ve turned to our Lady, and with her, how easy!” (St Josemaria Escrivá, Op cit, 513)
Our Lady of Bruges, in Flanders, where a lock of the Blessed Virgin’s hair is exhibited, given by a Syrian bishop, named Moses. — Hugo Farcitus, lib. i., Miracul. B. Virg. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)
Our Lady of Bruges, Flanders (1150), where a lock of Our Lady’s hair is preserved. (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (http://www/divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm)
The Church is in the world, but not of it. She came down from heaven, and earth is but the place of her pilgrimage and her trials. She will return to heaven where the glorious and everlasting kingdom of Jesus and his disciples shall last forever.
This was the kingdom he meant when he said to Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world” (Jn 18:36); and again, when he says to his disciples, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God” (Lk 12:31).
How great is our happiness in becoming, by holy Baptism, children of the Church and subjects of Jesus Christ by professing the Christian faith! If we choose, the kingdom of heaven is ours. Though ‘in’ the world, we are not ‘of’ the world. We must live in spirit in heaven, as the Apostle says, ‘Our conversation is in heaven’.
Pilate’s conduct is a striking example of human instability. He really desired to know the truth about the wonderful Being whom the world thought of so differently, and who was now before him. This desire increased after he had heard him say, “For this came I into the world; that I should give testimony to the truth” (Jn 18:37).
Naturally he asked, “What is truth?” (Jn 18:38) Apparently, he eagerly awaited the reply. Yet, when given, he ignored it and quickly left the judgment-hall.
We fully condemn Pilate’s weakness and vacillation; but has our conduct been similar? Before acting or deciding in difficult circumstances, we usually invoke: ‘Come, Holy Spirit’, thus begging to know his will. But, we often decide hastily without awaiting to hear his reply. Do we thus imitate Pilate’s lack of resolve?
Pilate, wise and experienced, initially was sure the crimes alleged against Jesus could not be proved. As judge, however, he questioned Jesus about his kingdom. Jesus’ answers clearly showed that his kingdom was not opposed to the earthly rulers. Thus, he pronounced -- “I find no case against him” (Jn 18:38).
Pilate, though vacillating, was just and a lover of truth. If he had been as firm as he was just, he would never have condemned Jesus. Afraid to get into trouble, human respect prevailed on him. Weak and timid, the Jews craftily worked upon his fears, and extorted the unjust sentence from him.
This is the devil’s way with us -- he studies our weak points, and takes advantage of them. Once we are off our guard, he entraps us with subtle snares.
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp126-8
Learning to see the good in others
Charity makes the heart find room in it for all men, even those who don’t understand us or who fail to respond to our love. With the Lord beside us no one will be our enemy. We will learn not to judge the covert personal intentions of others. The few external signs we see often do not reflect their true motives.
“Although you might see something bad, do not instantly judge your neighbour, advises St Bernard; but, rather, excuse him interiorly. Excuse the intention if you are unable to excuse the action. Consider it as done in ignorance, or unawares, or through weakness. If the matter is so weighty that you cannot possibly overlook it, then try to believe the following and say to yourself: the temptation must have been very strong!” (St Augustine, “Sermon 40 on the Song of Songs”)
Our Lady will teach us, if we ask her, how to forgive -- in Cana, Mary does not deplore or criticize the lack of wine, ‘but helps find a solution to the need’ -- and to struggle to cultivate in our personal lives these very virtues which, on occasion, may seem to us to be lacking in others. We will then be in an excellent position to offer a helping hand to them.
Ref: cf Francis Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:132
On Making Disciples
Jesus Christ said: “Go, therefore and make disciples of all nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Mt 28:19-20)
Since then, there has been ceaseless organizational or communal response from those who believe and are baptized. In the “Acts of the Apostles" we read: “Those who accepted his message devoted themselves to the apostles’ instruction and the communal life ...” (2:41-2) Here we already see the Church’s communitarian nature. ...
“This is how all men will know you for my disciples: your love for one another.” (Jn 13:35) The communal dimension of your Christian vocation was strongly emphasized by the liturgical reform of the Second Vatican Council. Every liturgical act is an act of the entire Body of Christ ... and every Mass is an act of Christ in his Body.
Every good deed done by a member is to the advantage of all the members together, and every sin is not only an offense against God but is also a wound inflicted on Christ’s Body ... Clearly, it is not even thinkable that a Christian should live solely for himself.
A Christian who has not learned to see and love Christ in his neighbor is not fully Christian. We are our brothers’ keepers; bound to each other by the bond of love ... This communal or organizational nature of our vocation ought to be directed toward the universal Church. We are a local Church instituted by Christ the Lord only to the degree in which we are part of the universal Church.
Ref: cf Pope John Paul II, “Prayers and Devotions”, 1994, p56
Our Lady
“Love of our Lady is proof of a good spirit, in works and in individuals. Don’t trust the undertaking that lacks this characteristic.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 505)
“Before, by yourself, you couldn’t. Now, you’ve turned to our Lady, and with her, how easy!” (St Josemaria Escrivá, Op cit, 513)
Our Lady of Bruges, in Flanders, where a lock of the Blessed Virgin’s hair is exhibited, given by a Syrian bishop, named Moses. — Hugo Farcitus, lib. i., Miracul. B. Virg. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)
Our Lady of Bruges, Flanders (1150), where a lock of Our Lady’s hair is preserved. (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (http://www/divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm)
Friday, March 19, 2010
20 March 2010: Motives for penance-- The loss the sinner incurs
By mortal sin we lose God’s friendship, ‘sanctifying grace’, inheritance of the beatific vision, and all privileges received in Baptism. In a state of mortal sin we are God’s enemies; the devil’s children and slaves. We are under a curse.
Perhaps we have spent days in this miserable state; or even a great part of our lives. This bitter thought caused such deep grief to St Augustine, that his only consolation was to do constant penance daily.
During these days of universal penance, let us imitate the saint. If God’s mercy has preserved us from frequent mortal sin, recall those numerous venial sins, a sufficient cause for penance. Venial sin does not deprive us of God’s love but certainly diminishes it.
Mortal sin also deprives our soul of ‘supernatural life’: our union with God, bonded by love. Mortal sin breaks this tie. While separated from God, the soul is dead -- incapable of a meritorious action. Our best works are inert. Every day, every month, passed in this state, is lost forever.
Venial sin does not ‘destroy’, but weakens this supernatural life. The soul is less fruitful in good works which are less pleasing to God and less meritorious. Moreover, our human imperfection is so great that it always deforms and diminishes the merit of our best works.
The saints tried to compensate for all this by great penance and constant mortification. We, who have sinned so much and repented so little must imitate them. Mortal sin robs the soul of its beauty, and renders it ugly in the eyes of God and his holy angels. As the Scriptures say, ‘They are become abominable’. One mortal sin changed an angel into a demon, and cast him down to hell.
How, then, must a soul, defiled by numerous mortal sins, appear to God? What will be its destiny in eternity, when the punishment will be in proportion to sins committed?
We might have incurred this penalty. If so, we have a strong motive to accept hardship and penance, and persevere till the end. For, although it may be certain that we have sinned grievously, our penance could not have been sufficient.
The Church also tells us that the slightest venial fault leaves a stain upon the soul; and ‘nothing defiled can enter heaven’ are the words of the Holy Spirit. We have daily stained our souls, and made few efforts to cleanse them. Therefore, our purgatory will last much longer.
If we could but understand what for one moment is to endure the pain of purgatory, to be deprived of the beatific vision, the greatest penance would seem light.
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp124-6
Docility in spiritual direction
Faith in the means God gives us works miracles. On one occasion Our Lord asked a cripple to do something which the man knew, from vast experience, he could not do: to stretch out his withered hand. But again, docility, the sign of an operative faith, made the miracle possible. “... the man stretched out his hand, and it was restored ...” (Mt 12:13)
At times we, too will be asked to do things we think we are incapable of. They will become possible if we allow the grace of God to act within us -- a grace which comes to us as a result of docility in spiritual direction.
Our Lord asks us not to seek mere earthly supports which would inevitably lead us to pessimism. He asks us for supernatural trust, for us to be supernaturally realists -- to count on Him, ie, being aware that Jesus Christ continues to influence our lives. Ten docile lepers are cured. Jesus simply tells them: “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” (Lk 17:14)
On another occasion Our Lord has compassion on a man born blind. St John vividly relates the incident: Jesus spat on the ground, made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, saying to him: “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam. The beggar did not doubt. So he went and washed, and came back able to see.” (Jn 9:6-7)
Blindness, defects, weaknesses -- are faults that have a remedy. By ourselves, we are helpless; Jesus Christ is all-powerful. The water of that pool was still water, and the clay remained clay. But the blind man recovered his sight with a deeper, living faith in the Lord.
“I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, working at his wheel. And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he remade it into another vessel ... Like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand.” (Jer 18:1-7)
With availability and docility, we will allow ourselves to be reworked and reshaped by God as often as is necessary. This could be the resolution we make in our prayer today, a resolution we will bring to fruition with the help of Our Lady.
Ref: cf Francis Fernandez, "In Conversation with God", 2:124-6
Allowing ourselves to be led
The word ‘faith’ is rooted in a person’s placing himself in the care of someone who is stronger; trusting in this person’s assistance. We put our trust in God. But He wants us to rely on those He has put by our side to help us see. God frequently gives light through his creatures. (cf J Dheilly, “Biblical Dictionary”, Barcelona)
The Lord passes by so close to us that we should be able to find him and follow him. Frequent recourse to the sacrament of Penance is an excellent way to ensure we see God more clearly in ourselves and in those around us.
We ask the Blessed Virgin to help us purify our mind and heart so we can find God in the circumstances of every day.
“Lord, I believe in you: increase my faith. I trust in you: strengthen my trust. I love you: let me love you more and more.” (“The Universal Prayer” [Attributed to Pope Clement XI] in Fr Charles Belmonte and Fr James Socias (Eds), “Handbook of Prayers”, p213)
Ref: cf Francis Fernandez, op cit, 4:194-6
Our Lady of Calevourt, at Uckelen, near Bussels. This image began to work miracles in the year 1454, which induced the erection of a magnificent chapel in honor of Our Blessed Lady, in the year 1623. The Infanta of Spain, Isabella Clara Eugenia, devoutly visited it the same year. — Aub. Miraeus, in Annalis Belgicis. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com); (http://www/divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
Perhaps we have spent days in this miserable state; or even a great part of our lives. This bitter thought caused such deep grief to St Augustine, that his only consolation was to do constant penance daily.
During these days of universal penance, let us imitate the saint. If God’s mercy has preserved us from frequent mortal sin, recall those numerous venial sins, a sufficient cause for penance. Venial sin does not deprive us of God’s love but certainly diminishes it.
Mortal sin also deprives our soul of ‘supernatural life’: our union with God, bonded by love. Mortal sin breaks this tie. While separated from God, the soul is dead -- incapable of a meritorious action. Our best works are inert. Every day, every month, passed in this state, is lost forever.
Venial sin does not ‘destroy’, but weakens this supernatural life. The soul is less fruitful in good works which are less pleasing to God and less meritorious. Moreover, our human imperfection is so great that it always deforms and diminishes the merit of our best works.
The saints tried to compensate for all this by great penance and constant mortification. We, who have sinned so much and repented so little must imitate them. Mortal sin robs the soul of its beauty, and renders it ugly in the eyes of God and his holy angels. As the Scriptures say, ‘They are become abominable’. One mortal sin changed an angel into a demon, and cast him down to hell.
How, then, must a soul, defiled by numerous mortal sins, appear to God? What will be its destiny in eternity, when the punishment will be in proportion to sins committed?
We might have incurred this penalty. If so, we have a strong motive to accept hardship and penance, and persevere till the end. For, although it may be certain that we have sinned grievously, our penance could not have been sufficient.
The Church also tells us that the slightest venial fault leaves a stain upon the soul; and ‘nothing defiled can enter heaven’ are the words of the Holy Spirit. We have daily stained our souls, and made few efforts to cleanse them. Therefore, our purgatory will last much longer.
If we could but understand what for one moment is to endure the pain of purgatory, to be deprived of the beatific vision, the greatest penance would seem light.
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp124-6
Docility in spiritual direction
Faith in the means God gives us works miracles. On one occasion Our Lord asked a cripple to do something which the man knew, from vast experience, he could not do: to stretch out his withered hand. But again, docility, the sign of an operative faith, made the miracle possible. “... the man stretched out his hand, and it was restored ...” (Mt 12:13)
At times we, too will be asked to do things we think we are incapable of. They will become possible if we allow the grace of God to act within us -- a grace which comes to us as a result of docility in spiritual direction.
Our Lord asks us not to seek mere earthly supports which would inevitably lead us to pessimism. He asks us for supernatural trust, for us to be supernaturally realists -- to count on Him, ie, being aware that Jesus Christ continues to influence our lives. Ten docile lepers are cured. Jesus simply tells them: “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” (Lk 17:14)
On another occasion Our Lord has compassion on a man born blind. St John vividly relates the incident: Jesus spat on the ground, made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, saying to him: “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam. The beggar did not doubt. So he went and washed, and came back able to see.” (Jn 9:6-7)
Blindness, defects, weaknesses -- are faults that have a remedy. By ourselves, we are helpless; Jesus Christ is all-powerful. The water of that pool was still water, and the clay remained clay. But the blind man recovered his sight with a deeper, living faith in the Lord.
“I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, working at his wheel. And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he remade it into another vessel ... Like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand.” (Jer 18:1-7)
With availability and docility, we will allow ourselves to be reworked and reshaped by God as often as is necessary. This could be the resolution we make in our prayer today, a resolution we will bring to fruition with the help of Our Lady.
Ref: cf Francis Fernandez, "In Conversation with God", 2:124-6
Allowing ourselves to be led
The word ‘faith’ is rooted in a person’s placing himself in the care of someone who is stronger; trusting in this person’s assistance. We put our trust in God. But He wants us to rely on those He has put by our side to help us see. God frequently gives light through his creatures. (cf J Dheilly, “Biblical Dictionary”, Barcelona)
The Lord passes by so close to us that we should be able to find him and follow him. Frequent recourse to the sacrament of Penance is an excellent way to ensure we see God more clearly in ourselves and in those around us.
We ask the Blessed Virgin to help us purify our mind and heart so we can find God in the circumstances of every day.
“Lord, I believe in you: increase my faith. I trust in you: strengthen my trust. I love you: let me love you more and more.” (“The Universal Prayer” [Attributed to Pope Clement XI] in Fr Charles Belmonte and Fr James Socias (Eds), “Handbook of Prayers”, p213)
Ref: cf Francis Fernandez, op cit, 4:194-6
Our Lady of Calevourt, at Uckelen, near Bussels. This image began to work miracles in the year 1454, which induced the erection of a magnificent chapel in honor of Our Blessed Lady, in the year 1623. The Infanta of Spain, Isabella Clara Eugenia, devoutly visited it the same year. — Aub. Miraeus, in Annalis Belgicis. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com); (http://www/divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
Thursday, March 18, 2010
19 March 2010: St Joseph, the husband of Mary
Considered as the greatest saint, next to the Blessed Virgin Mary, because of his humility and closeness to Jesus. Sacred Scripture records that Joseph was just, pure, gentle, prudent, and unfailingly obedient to the divine will. We wish to imitate him by renewing our desire to be faithful to the Lord till the last day: the only meaning of our life. Patron of the Universal Church. (Fr James Socias, et al [Eds], "Daily Roman Missal", p1494). [Solemnity: St Joseph. 29 AD. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)].
‘Go to Joseph.’
St Joseph, as the legal husband of the Blessed Virgin, was head of the Holy Family. He supported them by manual labor; governed and guided them in obedience to direction from on high, through the ministry of angels. Jesus and Mary strictly obeyed him. Thus, he is invoked as the protector of Christian families who desire to obey the will of God.
The Gospel records that Jesus submitted to the direction of St Joseph. Jesus and Mary obeyed him in everything. “And he was subject to them.” (Lk 2:51) We may say he had charge of the education of Jesus as a child, youth, and young man. He enjoyed the greatest happiness a father can have: seeing him increase in age, in wisdom before God and men.
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp228-9
Going to St Joseph for our every need
By the example of their life in Nazareth Jesus and Mary invite us to seek Joseph’s assistance. They frequently went to Joseph for his help in all kinds of needs. Their attitude and behavior is a wonderful model for us to imitate. When “we go to Joseph for help we should have no fear at all. We ought to have a steadfast faith that what we are doing is the most pleasing to God Almighty and the Queen of Angels.” (Isidoro de Isolano, “The Gifts of St Joseph”)
With the exception of God himself, Our Lady loved no one more than she loved St Joseph, her husband. Who can imagine the strength of Joseph’s petition before Our Lady, Mediatrix of all graces?
Spiritual authors have seen fit to make this comparison: “Christ is the one mediator before the Father, and the way to reach Christ is through Mary, his Mother. Similarly, the best way to reach Mary is through St Joseph. The ascending order is from Joseph to Mary, from Mary to Christ, from Christ to the Father.” (B Llamera, “Theology of St Joseph”, 315)
Reflect on the teaching of St Thomas concerning divine vocation: “To those whom God calls for his work, God provides the necessary preparation and graces so that they will be the ideal instruments for that work.” (St Thomas, “Summa Theologiae”, 3, q27,a4,c)
St Joseph fulfilled the mission which God had entrusted to him. His whole life was an unconditional gift to God for the good of the Holy Family and all people. (cf John Paul II, Apostolic Exhortation, “Redemptoris custos”, 15 August 1989, 17)
We ask the Holy Patriarch to help us fulfill the will of God in everything. We pray he show us how to live out our commitments joyfully and without reservation.
Ref: cf Francis Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 6:162, 165-6, 171
St Joseph’s eminent dignity and great power
To form an idea of St Joseph’s attributes, we should reflect that God called him to the holiest and most exalted of all offices-- to be the spouse of the Mother of God, foster-father of the Eternal Son of God-made-man, ruler of the Holy Family, and guardian of the secret of the Divine Incarnation.
Reflect that God always proportions his gifts to the dignity to which he raises whomever it pleases him to elevate. Reflect that St Joseph whom the Holy Spirit called a 'just man' (Mt 1:18), corresponded most faithfully to the abundant graces which he received.
Thus he laid up an immense treasure of merits and sanctity, and we will draw the certain conclusion that, after the Mother of God, St Joseph is the nearest to the Eternal Throne; and that his intercession must be all-powerful. How can Jesus refuse the prayer of him whose will he obeyed in all things while on earth?
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, p855
Be silent and listen
Here was an ordinary man to whom God granted extraordinary graces. Joseph was to fulfill a most singular mission in God’s salvific design. He experienced indescribable joys along with trials of doubt and suffering. We recall his perplexity at the mystery of Mary’s conception, the extreme material poverty in Bethlehem, the prophecies of Simeon in the Temple, the hurried flight into Egypt, the difficulties of having to live in a foreign land, the return from Egypt, and the threat posed by Archelaus. Joseph proved himself always faithful to the will of God; ever ready to set aside his own plans. (cf Francis Fernandez, op cit, 170)
And yet there is not a single word spoken by him in the Gospels. Truly he lived the wonderful implications of two words -- ‘silent’ and ‘listen’. Applied to our spiritual life, they dispose us to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit. If we “make” time to be ‘silent’, we become docile and disposed to ‘listen’ to the Holy Spirit.
Joseph Believed
St Joseph of Nazareth was a ‘just man’; said to his credit, ‘as justice’, ‘that he believed in the God who gives life to the dead and calls into existence things which do not yet exist’.
That happened at the ‘decisive moment for the history of salvation’, when God, the eternal Father sent His Son into the world to accomplish the promise made to Abraham.
It was exactly then that the faith of Joseph of Nazareth was manifested. It showed itself to be up to the measure of the faith of Abraham.
It was evident even more when ‘the Word of the living God became flesh in Mary’; by the announcement of the angel, ‘she was with child through the power of the Holy Spirit’. The faith of St Joseph was bound to be manifested ‘before the mystery of the Incarnation of the Son of God’.
And Joseph believed in God: ‘Joseph, son of David, have no fear about taking Mary as your wife.’
Ref: cf Pope John Paul II, “Prayers and Devotions”, 1994, pp22-3
The Beautiful Lady, at Norgent-Sur-Seine. It is affirmed, that it is impossible to remove this celebrated picture from its little chapel, which is only four or five feet square. — Ex monumentis Novigentenis. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
The Beautiful Lady (‘Norgent-sur-Seine’, France). (http://www/divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
‘Go to Joseph.’
St Joseph, as the legal husband of the Blessed Virgin, was head of the Holy Family. He supported them by manual labor; governed and guided them in obedience to direction from on high, through the ministry of angels. Jesus and Mary strictly obeyed him. Thus, he is invoked as the protector of Christian families who desire to obey the will of God.
The Gospel records that Jesus submitted to the direction of St Joseph. Jesus and Mary obeyed him in everything. “And he was subject to them.” (Lk 2:51) We may say he had charge of the education of Jesus as a child, youth, and young man. He enjoyed the greatest happiness a father can have: seeing him increase in age, in wisdom before God and men.
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp228-9
Going to St Joseph for our every need
By the example of their life in Nazareth Jesus and Mary invite us to seek Joseph’s assistance. They frequently went to Joseph for his help in all kinds of needs. Their attitude and behavior is a wonderful model for us to imitate. When “we go to Joseph for help we should have no fear at all. We ought to have a steadfast faith that what we are doing is the most pleasing to God Almighty and the Queen of Angels.” (Isidoro de Isolano, “The Gifts of St Joseph”)
With the exception of God himself, Our Lady loved no one more than she loved St Joseph, her husband. Who can imagine the strength of Joseph’s petition before Our Lady, Mediatrix of all graces?
Spiritual authors have seen fit to make this comparison: “Christ is the one mediator before the Father, and the way to reach Christ is through Mary, his Mother. Similarly, the best way to reach Mary is through St Joseph. The ascending order is from Joseph to Mary, from Mary to Christ, from Christ to the Father.” (B Llamera, “Theology of St Joseph”, 315)
Reflect on the teaching of St Thomas concerning divine vocation: “To those whom God calls for his work, God provides the necessary preparation and graces so that they will be the ideal instruments for that work.” (St Thomas, “Summa Theologiae”, 3, q27,a4,c)
St Joseph fulfilled the mission which God had entrusted to him. His whole life was an unconditional gift to God for the good of the Holy Family and all people. (cf John Paul II, Apostolic Exhortation, “Redemptoris custos”, 15 August 1989, 17)
We ask the Holy Patriarch to help us fulfill the will of God in everything. We pray he show us how to live out our commitments joyfully and without reservation.
Ref: cf Francis Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 6:162, 165-6, 171
St Joseph’s eminent dignity and great power
To form an idea of St Joseph’s attributes, we should reflect that God called him to the holiest and most exalted of all offices-- to be the spouse of the Mother of God, foster-father of the Eternal Son of God-made-man, ruler of the Holy Family, and guardian of the secret of the Divine Incarnation.
Reflect that God always proportions his gifts to the dignity to which he raises whomever it pleases him to elevate. Reflect that St Joseph whom the Holy Spirit called a 'just man' (Mt 1:18), corresponded most faithfully to the abundant graces which he received.
Thus he laid up an immense treasure of merits and sanctity, and we will draw the certain conclusion that, after the Mother of God, St Joseph is the nearest to the Eternal Throne; and that his intercession must be all-powerful. How can Jesus refuse the prayer of him whose will he obeyed in all things while on earth?
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, p855
Be silent and listen
Here was an ordinary man to whom God granted extraordinary graces. Joseph was to fulfill a most singular mission in God’s salvific design. He experienced indescribable joys along with trials of doubt and suffering. We recall his perplexity at the mystery of Mary’s conception, the extreme material poverty in Bethlehem, the prophecies of Simeon in the Temple, the hurried flight into Egypt, the difficulties of having to live in a foreign land, the return from Egypt, and the threat posed by Archelaus. Joseph proved himself always faithful to the will of God; ever ready to set aside his own plans. (cf Francis Fernandez, op cit, 170)
And yet there is not a single word spoken by him in the Gospels. Truly he lived the wonderful implications of two words -- ‘silent’ and ‘listen’. Applied to our spiritual life, they dispose us to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit. If we “make” time to be ‘silent’, we become docile and disposed to ‘listen’ to the Holy Spirit.
Joseph Believed
St Joseph of Nazareth was a ‘just man’; said to his credit, ‘as justice’, ‘that he believed in the God who gives life to the dead and calls into existence things which do not yet exist’.
That happened at the ‘decisive moment for the history of salvation’, when God, the eternal Father sent His Son into the world to accomplish the promise made to Abraham.
It was exactly then that the faith of Joseph of Nazareth was manifested. It showed itself to be up to the measure of the faith of Abraham.
It was evident even more when ‘the Word of the living God became flesh in Mary’; by the announcement of the angel, ‘she was with child through the power of the Holy Spirit’. The faith of St Joseph was bound to be manifested ‘before the mystery of the Incarnation of the Son of God’.
And Joseph believed in God: ‘Joseph, son of David, have no fear about taking Mary as your wife.’
Ref: cf Pope John Paul II, “Prayers and Devotions”, 1994, pp22-3
The Beautiful Lady, at Norgent-Sur-Seine. It is affirmed, that it is impossible to remove this celebrated picture from its little chapel, which is only four or five feet square. — Ex monumentis Novigentenis. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
The Beautiful Lady (‘Norgent-sur-Seine’, France). (http://www/divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
18 March 2010: St Cyril of Jerusalem, bishop and Doctor of the Church
St Cyril is known mainly for his Catecheses which remain relevant, conclusively showing that Catholic doctrine is the same then (+386) and now. (Fr James Socias et al [Eds], Daily Roman Missal, p1493)
Jesus accused by his people before Pilate
“Pilate therefore went out to them, and said, ‘What accusation bring you against this man?’ They answered and said to him ‘If he were not a criminal, we would not have delivered him to you’.” (Jn 18:29-30)
We cannot help becoming greatly indignant at the rulers of the Jews who instigated the crowd to accuse Jesus of a crime and to hate their Messiah who had never harmed anyone; but who had blessed them all.
This frightful picture is reproduced daily. Our Lord and his doctrine are still hated, calumniated; and often by those who received his best gifts. Those whose rank and talents are used to mislead their inferiors, and incite them up against our Lord and his Church.
“Pilate said to them, ‘Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law’. The Jews replied, ‘We are not permitted to put anyone to death’.” (Jn 18:31-2)
The Scribes and Pharisees were the accusers of our Lord, but they would not pass sentence on him, even after Pilate authorized them. They wanted Jesus to appear more guilty by being condemned by the chief magistrate. To avert the stigma of his death from themselves; and to be crucified, the most shameful and most cruel mode of death commonly used by the Romans. Crucifixion is not found in any of the Jewish laws.
Under a pretence of justice, the Jews hypocritically masked their wickedness. Unknowingly, they were fulfilling prophecy. Jesus had foretold the manner of his death; and for love of us was willing to drink the cup of suffering and humiliation to the last drop.
Let us never waver in our faith when we see the wicked succeed in their evil designs. God, who in his infinite wisdom orders the whole course of events, will turn all things to his glory and the good of his Church.
Jesus was accused of three crimes-- perverting the people, refusing to pay tribute, and assuming the name of Christ the King. The first two were obviously false. He had preached and practised the contrary. The third was in the sense of a kingdom opposed to Caesar’s.
Our Lord willed to be calumniated without even being disturbed by it. Should we not ignore men’s wrongful judgment when our conscience tells us we have acted rightly?
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp121-3
A life close to the Cross
To be a disciple of Our Lord means to follow his advice: “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.” (Mt 16:24) It is not possible to follow Our Lord without the Cross. Jesus’ words are relevant in all ages, since they are directed to each and every man.
To take up the cross -- acceptance of the contradictions God permits, the costly fulfilment of our duties, Christian mortification voluntarily accepted -- is the indispensable condition for following the Master.
“What would become of a Gospel, of a Christianity, without the Cross, without pain, the sacrifice of pain? It would be a Gospel, a Christianity without Redemption, with no Salvation; a Redemption and Salvation of which, and we ought to recognise with unmitigated sincerity, we stand in absolute need. The Lord has saved us with the Cross; with his death. He has given us hope again, the right to life. ...” (cf Paul VI, “Address”, 24 Mar 1967)
It would be a valueless Christianity, useless in reaching Heaven, for “the world cannot be saved except with the Cross of Christ”. (St Leo the Great, “Sermon 51”)United to the Lord, mortifications, voluntary or passive, acquire their deepest meaning. They are a ‘participation’ in the mystery of the Redemption.
To some, mortification can signify madness or stupidity, some kind of relic carried over from earlier eras which is inappropriate to the progress and cultural development of the twenty-first century. But none of this should surprise us. St Paul had already written that “it is a stumbling block to the Jews and folly to the Gentiles” (1 Cor 1:23).
Christians who lose sight of the supernatural meaning of their lives fail to understand that we can only follow Christ through a life of sacrifice, beside the Cross. “If you don’t deny yourself, you never will be a soul of prayer." (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 172)
“To suppose that He would admit to his close friendship pleasure-loving people who want to be free from all trials is ridiculous.” (St Theresa, “The Way of Perfection”, 18, 2)
Ref: cf Francis Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:113-5
In Christ we contemplate the sorrows of mankind
In him led publicly to execution and exposed to a humiliating death -- the Man of sorrow -- predicted by Isaiah, is summed up and sanctified every human sorrow.
Servant of the Father, Firstborn among many brothers, the Head of humanity, he transforms man’s suffering into an offering that pleases God, a redeeming sacrifice. The Lamb who takes away the sins of the world, the faithful Witness who sums up in himself, and ennobles, every martyrdom.
On the ‘Via Dolorosa’ and on Golgotha is his Mother, the first Martyr. And with the heart of his Mother, to whom he consigned as his testament from the Cross every disciple and every man, we contemplate, with emotion, Christ’s sufferings, learning from him obedience until death, even death on the Cross; learning from her to accept every man as our brother, to be with her near the innumerable crosses to which the Lord of glory is still unjustly nailed, not his glorious Body but the suffering limbs of his mystical Body.
Ref: cf “The Private Prayers of Pope John Paul II”, 1993, p69
In the year 1586, Our Lady of Loretto was erected into a cathedral by Sixtus V, having been previously a collegiate church. — Tursellini, Historia Lauretana, v. 10. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com); (http://www/divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
Our Lady of Loreto. (House where Mary and Joseph raised Jesus.) Cathedral built by Pope Sixtus V. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm) 1586
Marian apparitions in Savona, including the event in 1536 which this feast commemorates. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
Our Lady of Mercy. Patroness of Savona, Italy. [Connection to Our Lady of Mercy, September 24.] (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (http://www/divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
Daughters of Our Lady of Mercy, saves Ajaccio, France from black death, 1656. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
Jesus accused by his people before Pilate
“Pilate therefore went out to them, and said, ‘What accusation bring you against this man?’ They answered and said to him ‘If he were not a criminal, we would not have delivered him to you’.” (Jn 18:29-30)
We cannot help becoming greatly indignant at the rulers of the Jews who instigated the crowd to accuse Jesus of a crime and to hate their Messiah who had never harmed anyone; but who had blessed them all.
This frightful picture is reproduced daily. Our Lord and his doctrine are still hated, calumniated; and often by those who received his best gifts. Those whose rank and talents are used to mislead their inferiors, and incite them up against our Lord and his Church.
“Pilate said to them, ‘Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law’. The Jews replied, ‘We are not permitted to put anyone to death’.” (Jn 18:31-2)
The Scribes and Pharisees were the accusers of our Lord, but they would not pass sentence on him, even after Pilate authorized them. They wanted Jesus to appear more guilty by being condemned by the chief magistrate. To avert the stigma of his death from themselves; and to be crucified, the most shameful and most cruel mode of death commonly used by the Romans. Crucifixion is not found in any of the Jewish laws.
Under a pretence of justice, the Jews hypocritically masked their wickedness. Unknowingly, they were fulfilling prophecy. Jesus had foretold the manner of his death; and for love of us was willing to drink the cup of suffering and humiliation to the last drop.
Let us never waver in our faith when we see the wicked succeed in their evil designs. God, who in his infinite wisdom orders the whole course of events, will turn all things to his glory and the good of his Church.
Jesus was accused of three crimes-- perverting the people, refusing to pay tribute, and assuming the name of Christ the King. The first two were obviously false. He had preached and practised the contrary. The third was in the sense of a kingdom opposed to Caesar’s.
Our Lord willed to be calumniated without even being disturbed by it. Should we not ignore men’s wrongful judgment when our conscience tells us we have acted rightly?
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp121-3
A life close to the Cross
To be a disciple of Our Lord means to follow his advice: “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.” (Mt 16:24) It is not possible to follow Our Lord without the Cross. Jesus’ words are relevant in all ages, since they are directed to each and every man.
To take up the cross -- acceptance of the contradictions God permits, the costly fulfilment of our duties, Christian mortification voluntarily accepted -- is the indispensable condition for following the Master.
“What would become of a Gospel, of a Christianity, without the Cross, without pain, the sacrifice of pain? It would be a Gospel, a Christianity without Redemption, with no Salvation; a Redemption and Salvation of which, and we ought to recognise with unmitigated sincerity, we stand in absolute need. The Lord has saved us with the Cross; with his death. He has given us hope again, the right to life. ...” (cf Paul VI, “Address”, 24 Mar 1967)
It would be a valueless Christianity, useless in reaching Heaven, for “the world cannot be saved except with the Cross of Christ”. (St Leo the Great, “Sermon 51”)United to the Lord, mortifications, voluntary or passive, acquire their deepest meaning. They are a ‘participation’ in the mystery of the Redemption.
To some, mortification can signify madness or stupidity, some kind of relic carried over from earlier eras which is inappropriate to the progress and cultural development of the twenty-first century. But none of this should surprise us. St Paul had already written that “it is a stumbling block to the Jews and folly to the Gentiles” (1 Cor 1:23).
Christians who lose sight of the supernatural meaning of their lives fail to understand that we can only follow Christ through a life of sacrifice, beside the Cross. “If you don’t deny yourself, you never will be a soul of prayer." (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 172)
“To suppose that He would admit to his close friendship pleasure-loving people who want to be free from all trials is ridiculous.” (St Theresa, “The Way of Perfection”, 18, 2)
Ref: cf Francis Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:113-5
In Christ we contemplate the sorrows of mankind
In him led publicly to execution and exposed to a humiliating death -- the Man of sorrow -- predicted by Isaiah, is summed up and sanctified every human sorrow.
Servant of the Father, Firstborn among many brothers, the Head of humanity, he transforms man’s suffering into an offering that pleases God, a redeeming sacrifice. The Lamb who takes away the sins of the world, the faithful Witness who sums up in himself, and ennobles, every martyrdom.
On the ‘Via Dolorosa’ and on Golgotha is his Mother, the first Martyr. And with the heart of his Mother, to whom he consigned as his testament from the Cross every disciple and every man, we contemplate, with emotion, Christ’s sufferings, learning from him obedience until death, even death on the Cross; learning from her to accept every man as our brother, to be with her near the innumerable crosses to which the Lord of glory is still unjustly nailed, not his glorious Body but the suffering limbs of his mystical Body.
Ref: cf “The Private Prayers of Pope John Paul II”, 1993, p69
In the year 1586, Our Lady of Loretto was erected into a cathedral by Sixtus V, having been previously a collegiate church. — Tursellini, Historia Lauretana, v. 10. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com); (http://www/divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
Our Lady of Loreto. (House where Mary and Joseph raised Jesus.) Cathedral built by Pope Sixtus V. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm) 1586
Marian apparitions in Savona, including the event in 1536 which this feast commemorates. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
Our Lady of Mercy. Patroness of Savona, Italy. [Connection to Our Lady of Mercy, September 24.] (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (http://www/divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
Daughters of Our Lady of Mercy, saves Ajaccio, France from black death, 1656. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
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