Memorial of St. Clement of Rome, Pope

Posted on November 23, 2009 by Deacon Bob

Today is the memorial of St. Clement of Rome, the third pope after St. Peter.  Little is known about his life and death, except for a wonderful epistle to the Corinthians which he wrote toward the end of the first century. The Corinthian church was beset with discord at the time, and his letter to them was meant to strengthen the bonds of peace there.

Here is an excerpt in English from the Italian text that I used:

“Therefore, brothers, we fight with all our strength under [Jesus’] unshakeable commands. The great cannot live without the small, nor the small without the great.  All live amongst each other with reciprocal advantage to all. We take as an example our bodies. The head is nothing without the feet just as the feet are nothing without the head. Also, the most insignificant members of our bodies are necessary and useful to the whole body; therefore all come together and give themselves to the same purpose, i.e., that the whole body remain strong.

“May all of us be assured then of salvation in Christ Jesus, and each of us be subject to our neighbor according to the gift of grace that has been entrusted to him. He who is strong should take care of the weak and the weak respect the strong. The rich should come to the aid of the poor, and the poor should praise God that he has been given someone who fills his poverty. The wise should show his wisdom not with words but with good works; the humble ought not give witness to himself, but leave to others to give it to him. Having received from God all these things, we give him thanks for it all.  To him be glory in all the ages. Amen.” — St. Clement of Rome, Letter to the Corinthians, Capp. 38; Funk 1, 105-109

Amazing how the needs of the Church remain similar to the needs of the ancient Church 2000 years ago.

By the way, the Church of St. Clement is in Rome, between the Coliseum and the Basilica of St. John Lateran.

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Christ the King

Posted on November 22, 2009 by Deacon Bob

I am out of my home parish this weekend, actually visiting what was my parish for two years back in the 1980s. The Mass was an unusual experience of a blending between the old and the new, the traditional and the contemporary.  The vestments and Liturgy of the Eucharist had all the extras available; the presentation of the pastor was dramatic.

It was remarkable in that the church building was built in the 1880s and retains all its finery — statues, color, windows, altars, etc. etc.  It is beautiful to say the least, and perhaps credit should be given the the Franciscans who were present at the parish for 150 years (until last year when diocesan priests took over).

Today is the Solemnity of Christ the King.  King of the universe, king of all who accept him. The unknown king of those who don’t. 

Enthroned on the cross, enthroned in our hearts, enthroned at the right hand of the Father in heaven.

Happy Feast day to all of you.

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Quote for the Day

Posted on November 20, 2009 by Deacon Bob

“They do not have intelligence, those who bear an idol sculpted by their own hands and pray to a god who cannot save.” — Isaiah 45

Before we too quickly dismiss this as something pertaining to the pagans and far from our lives, I think it may be good to ask ourselves where our hearts and energies are directed. To whom do we obey and wo what do we listen? Sometimes our greatest idol are those persons or things we most fear.  

God’s love casts out all fear. He asks for our hearts.

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Quote for the Day

Posted on November 18, 2009 by Deacon Bob

“No more war; no more hatred and bloodshed, but peace! God wills it!” — St. Anthony of Padua, OFM

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To Be a Modern Incarnation of God

Posted on November 17, 2009 by Deacon Bob

All you who read the Deacon Digest may have read Deacon Harold Jopp’s article in the November-December  edition. He states the challenge for deacons is to become “the modern Incarnation of God.” We are to incarnate our spirituality in the realities of human life, especially in the lives of those we serve.

What then does the deacon look like?

Jopp uses two stories to describe this.  In the first, he illustrates the gentleness of God that should be reflected in all that we do. In the second, he describes enkindling the fiery furnace within us. He says, “It is in our power to become all flame if we allow God’s grace to enkindle the call within us.”

Gentleness and Fire.  What great images!

I tend to think that our gentleness is best expressed in our one-to-one interactions with parishioners, prisoners, patients and the poor. We must let others, not us, be judges here. We are to bind the wounds and heal the hearts by presence and listening.

The fire can be expressed in our preaching. People want preachers enflamed with conviction and love. Passionate. Speaking to the heart.  Challenging in that way.

The diaconal face of the incarnate God may well be the face of gentleness toward others and aflame with the love of God, aflame by moving ourselves off center-stage and letting God speak through us.

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St. Elizabeth of Hungary and the Secular Franciscans

Posted on November 17, 2009 by Deacon Bob

Today is the memorial of St. Elizabeth of Hungary.  Born a princess of Hungary in 1207, she was married at age 14 to Louis IV and bore three children before her husband’s death. As a widow, she embraced voluntary poverty and built a hospital in which she tended to the poor. She died in 1231 at the age of 24 years. She is a patroness of the Secular Franciscan Order.

So congratulations secular Franciscans! Especially to my friend Mike…

A diaconal blessing on all of you.

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The End Times — St. Fulgentius of Ruspe

Posted on November 16, 2009 by Deacon Bob

Today’s Office of Readings includes a section from the treatise entitled, “The Remission” written by St. Fulgentius of Ruspe.  He speaks of the end times for each of us personally.

Here is a snippet (my translation of the Italian):

“Grace first works, as divine gift, a renewed spiritual resurrection by means of an interior justification.  Then there will come a resurrection of the body that perfects our justified state. The final transformation will consist of glory. But this change will be definitive for eternity.

“It is through this that the faithful pass by successive transformations of justification, then resurrection and then glorification, for this remains unchangeable for eternity.

“The first change occurs here through illumination and conversion, that is from the passing from death to life, from sin to justification, from infidelity to faith, from evil acts to a holy manner of life. Those that are raised by this resurrection do not undergo a second death. These are those of whom the Apocalypse speaks: ‘Blessed and holy are those that take part in the first resurrection. Death no longer has power over them.’ (Ap. 20,6)

“In the same book it is said: ‘The victor will not be struck by a second death’ (Ap. 2,11). Therefore, just as the first resurrection consists of the conversion of heart, so to does the second death consists sin eternal torture.”

I like how he describes this process of conversion and glorification. In this life, we work to justify ourselves by faith and conversion from sin. We experience then, a sort of spiritual resurrection, as we celebrate in Baptism especially, and the sacraments of Penance and of the Sick. In the world to come we will experience the raising of our bodies on the last day, and the just will be glorified with God in heaven; the unjust will experience eternal death.

What a wonderful journey we are on!  Be not afraid!  As long as we keep ourselves in the race, God will see to it that we are awarded the victor’s prize!

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Quote for the Day

Posted on November 16, 2009 by Deacon Bob

“Our sad weakness today is our lack of faith, and consequently, want of confidence in God.” — Ven. Solanus Casey, OFM Capuchin

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Pope Benedict on the End Times

Posted on November 15, 2009 by Deacon Bob

As you know, we are in the last two weeks of the liturgical year. Today’s readings for Mass are all about the end times, and the homilies of today are centered on that.

Our Holy Father similarly took up this theme today in his Angelus address to the pilgrims in Rome. Here is an excerpt, my translation of the Italian original:

“..Saint Mark .. presents today part of Jesus’ discourse on the end times.  In this discourse, there is a phrase that strikes us because of its clarity: ‘The heavens and the earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.’ (Mk 13,31) Let us stop a while and reflect on this prophecy of Christ.

“The expression ‘the heavens and the earth’ is frequently found in the Bible to indicate the whole universe, the entire cosmos. Jesus declares that everything is destined to ‘pass away’. Not only the earth, but also the heavens that here he is using in a cosmic sense, not a synonym for God.  The Sacred Scriptures do not know ambiguity: all of creation is marked by a limit … there is no confusion between the creator and the created, but rather a clear difference. With such a clear distinction, Jesus affirms that his words ‘will not pass away’, that is, they exist as a part of God and thus they are eternal. Even though they are pronounced in the concreteness of earthly existence, they are prophetic words par excellence, as Jesus affirmed in another place, turning to the heavenly Father: ‘The words that you have given me I have given to them. They have accepted them and they truly know that I have come from you, and they have believed that you have sent me.'(John 17,8) In a famous parable, Christ compares himself to a sower of seeds and explains that the seed is the Word: those that hear it, accept it and bear fruit are part of the Reign of God, that is they live under its rule; the remain in the world, but are no longer of the world; they carry in themselves the seed of eternity, a principle of transformation that manifests itself already now in a good life, animated by charity, and in the end produces the resurrection of the body. Behold the power of the Word of Christ.”

I guess the point the pope is making (perhaps?) is that when we start reflecting on the end times, our own limited earthly life, we need remember that there is planted within us the seeds of eternity, the Word of God sent by the Father that never will be destroyed if we listen, accept and bear fruit as called to do.

How great is our dignity to be called sons and daughters of God!

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Milwaukee has a new Archbishop

Posted on November 14, 2009 by Deacon Bob

I was browsing the Vatican website this afternoon, and learned that our neighboring diocese to the east, La Crosse, will be losing Bishop Jerome Listecki. This morning, the Holy Father named him the 11th archbishop of Milwaukee.

Congratulations, Milwaukee! And La Crosse:  I am sure you will miss your bishop. He is well liked by most everyone.

Blessings on both dioceses.

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On the Love of God

Posted on November 14, 2009 by Deacon Bob

George Herbert wrote this beautiful poem on the love of God.

 

Throw away the rod,

Throw away thy wrath:

O my God, take the gentle path.

 

For my heart’s desire

Unto thine is bent:

I aspire to a full consent.

 

Though I fail, I weep:

Though I halt in pace,

Yet I creep to the throne of grace.

 

Then let wrath remove;

Love will do the deed:

For with love stony hearts will bleed.

 

Love is swift of foot;

Love’s a man of war, 

And can shoot, and can hit from afar.

 

Who can scape his bow?

That which wrought on thee

Brought thee low, needs must work on me.

 

Throw away thy rod;

Though man frailties hath,

Thou art God: throw away thy wrath.

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Quote for the Day

Posted on November 13, 2009 by Deacon Bob

“The name of Jesus is a standard in battle, that is to say, in the fight against evil.” — St. Bernardine of Siena, OFM

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Visit the Roman Basilicas – from home

Posted on November 12, 2009 by Deacon Bob

Yesterday, during my daily scan of the website of the Holy See, I ran across  virtual tours one can take of St. John Lateran and St. Paul Outside the Walls. Both are major basilicas in Rome

I have personally visited St. John Lateran and St. Paul Outside the Walls several times,  and I must say this virtual tours are pretty close to actually being there.

Take a look.  You won’t be disappointed.

www.vatican.va/various/basiliche/san_giovanni/vr_tour/index-en.html

www.vatican.va/various/basiliche/san_paolo/vr_tour/index-en.html

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Quote for the Day

Posted on November 11, 2009 by Deacon Bob

“Train yourself in all works of charity both for the healthy as well as for the sick.” — Bl. Baptista Varano, OSC

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It is Mercy I Seek….

Posted on November 11, 2009 by Deacon Bob

I would ask that all of us remember in our prayers John Allen Muhammed, who was executed last night in Virginia. 

I do not support the death penalty nor do I support abortion or euthanasia. God alone is the author of life and permits in his own time the death of any of us.

Violence doesn’t solve much, if anything. Taking the life of a convicted killer is unneeded when other effective means of rendering punishment and justice exist.

Let us pray also for the victims of violent crime in our society, especially for the victims of Mr. Muhammed.

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