Nowadays, a loud cry can be heard for “a better-assured peace within an atmosphere of mutual respect between men, and between the peoples of the world”. (Paul VI, Apostolic Letter, “Octogesima adveniens”, 14 May 1971)
This desire for a more just world in which greater respect is given to man, is fundamental to the “hunger and thirst for justice” (cf Mt 5:6) which must exist in the heart of a Christian.
The entire preaching of Jesus is a call to justice (in its fullness) and to mercy. The Apostle James harshly reproached those who grow rich through injustice:
“Your riches have rotted ... The wages of the labourers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.” (James 5:2-4)
The Church in faithfulness to the teaching of Holy Scripture, urges us to unite ourselves to this universal clamour and to turn it into a prayer that reaches our Father God. At the same time she urges us to live the demands that justice makes on our personal lives (professional and social levels), and to defend the weak who cannot avail themselves of their rights.
In the heart of each man originates every type of injustice imaginable. It is there also that the possibility of correcting all human relationships is conceived.
“By denying or trying to deny God, who is his Beginning and End, man profoundly disturbs his own order and interior balance and also those of society and even of visible creation.
“It is in their relationship to sin that Scripture regards all the different calamities which oppress man in his personal and social existence.” (SCDF, “Instruction on Christian Freedom and Liberation”, 22 March 1986, 38)
Thus, as Christians, when through our personal apostolate we bring men closer to God, we are building a world which is more human and more just.
Furthermore, our faith urges us never to avoid our personal commitment to the defence of justice, particularly in those aspects related to fundamental rights of the person: right to life, to work, to education, to good reputation. Within our personal sphere of action we must ask ourselves --
Do we perfectly perform the work we are paid for?
Do we pay in full what we owe people for services rendered?
Do we responsibly exercise those rights and duties that affect the activities of our institutions?
Do we make good use of our time at work?
Do we defend other people’s good name?
These are some instances where we show our love for justice.
Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:203-5
Unity of Christians is a Gift of God
‘This week of prayer’ comes around again punctually, to arouse the consciences of Christians to examine themselves under God’s eyes on the question of regaining full unity. As a gift of God, we must, therefore, ask for it intensely from the Lord. The fact that Christians of various confessions join in common prayer assumes special significance.
Christians are rediscovering with increasing lucidity how partial but true communion already exists, and, before God and with His help, they are moving toward unity. They are moving toward that goal by beginning with prayer to the Lord, to Him who purifies and liberates, who redeems and unites.
We must be very attentive and make sure prayer does not lose that power of turning things upside down. It ought to shake the consciences of all about the division of Christians, ‘which openly contradicts the will of Christ, provides a stumbling block to the world, and inflicts damage on the most holy cause of proclaiming the good news to every creature’.
We ask You, O Lord, for the gifts of Your Spirit so that we can enter into the depths of the truth, whole and entire. Teach us to overcome divisions.
Send Us Your Spirit to lead all your children to full unity, in full charity, in obedience to Your will. Amen.
Ref: Cf Pope John Paul II, “Prayers and Devotions”, 1994, p62
Unity of Christians, a Task For All
Many voices -- those of Catholics, of Orthodox, of Protestants unanimously rise to our Father who is in heaven, in concordant and fervent prayer ...
This unity is all the more urgent ‘in our time’ so that the Church may more effectively perform her mission, and testify full fidelity to the Lord and proclaim the Gospel.
All Christians ought to strive and collaborate for recovery of unity, all Christians who wish to be consistent in their vocation and mission.
Let us pray to the ‘Theotokos’, the Mother of God, who brought Christ, true God and true Man, the Prince of Peace, Him who, together with His Spirit, realizes the Kingdom of God in us.
Ref: Cf Pope John Paul II, “Prayers and Devotions”, 1994, p63
Lourdes: The thirteenth apparition
‘Tuesday.’ This day’s vision was one of the most important of the mystic events. Bernadette reached the grotto already crowded with onlookers. The crowd noticed nothing unusual compared to the previous visions although Bernadette was visibly shaken when she emerged from her ecstasy.
“Aquero” had asked her to tell the priests ‘to come here in procession and to erect a chapel on this spot’. Except for her confessor, Bernadette has never told any priest about the visions; she was a bit taken aback with the idea.
After much hesitation, with her aunts, she went to the parish priest, Abbe Peyramale. She told him of the Virgin’s first request.
Receiving a curt reprimand in reply, she forgot about the chapel. The message prompted her dismissal.
Though Peyramale had been informed from the first apparition by Bernadette’s confessor (with her permission), he had always kept out of it. He had forbidden the clergy to take part in the Massabielle ‘meetings’, awaiting the end of the excitement.
Bernadette realized her omission but couldn’t go back to Peyramale. Dominiquette Cazenave, one of the most fervent believers in the apparitions and sister of M. Soubiros’ employer, came to her aid. She set a meeting with the parish clergy for that evening. Peyramale, two vicars and Father Pomian listened to Bernadette repeat the request for a chapel.
Repressing his instinctive severity which would only lead to a fit of anger, Peyramale again asked the name of the Lady. Bernadette again answered that she didn’t know. ‘You’ve got to ask her’, he promptly commanded.
Ref: Cf G Menotti, “Lourdes”, p11
• Our Lady of Apparitions, at Madrid, so-called because in the year 1499, the Blessed Virgin appeared during a whole week to a young woman named Yves, and ordered her to build a church in her honor, on the spot where she should find a cross planted to Our Lady.
— Life of Blessed Jane. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com)
• Our Lady of Apparitions (Madrid, Spain, 1449). (www/divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html)
• Our Lady of Apparitions (Madrid, Spain). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
• Our Lady of Cosmedin (1815) (http://mariedenazareth.com)
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