If You Are in Rome or Poland….

Posted on April 11, 2011 by Deacon Bob

The Holy Father announced today that October 22 will be the feast day of soon to be Blessed Pope John Paul II in the diocese of Rome and in all the dioceses of Poland. Outside of these dioceses, the local bishop will have to ask special permission of the Vatican to have the feast day inserted into the liturgical calendar.

This is one of the notable differences in how the Church celebrates those who are “Blessed” as compare to a canonized saint, i.e., the Church celebrates a “Blessed” one in a more regional or local manner in contrast to a saint who is universally celebrated by the Church.

Every diocese of the Catholic Church has been given permission to set aside a day in the upcoming year as a day of thanksgiving for Blessed John Paul. Keep an eye on your diocesan calendar to find out if and when it will occur for you.

There seems to be little doubt to me that all this will be a moot point in the relatively near future, for I am confident that John Paul II will soon be canonized, and the universal Church will celebrate his feast day on the 22nd of October.

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Random Thoughts

Posted on April 11, 2011 by Deacon Bob

A new week is beginning. Being a cleric, and spending the entire weekend assisting at Mass, preaching and other such diaconal responsibilities often leaves me feeling like one week doesn’t end nor another begins. It becomes clearer to me why the Church has the Liturgy of the Hours and the Church calendar. It brings beginnings and ends into the life of a Christian. The life of a cleric doesn’t lend itself to the secular ebb and flow of the days and weeks; rather, it lends itself nicely to the rhythym of the Church’s week and year.

The movie, The King’s Speech, was seen yesterday by this blogger and his wife. A good movie, I think. Nothing one would have to shield from the eyes and ears of youngsters or one’s own conscience.

The diaconal community of the diocese of Winona had a day of reflection last Saturday, led by Deacon Joe Michalak from the Archdiocese of St. Paul/Minneapolis. He led us in considering the diaconal identity and its theology, as well as the diaconate and marriage. Got a few of us thinking. The point that there needs to be an integration in the deacon’s life as a cleric, husband and parent, and a right ordering of time, effort and attention was appreciated by me. I find that those two terms — intregration and ordering — are so much more helpful than what many of us were taught in formation, i.e., the need to prioritize.

For all you Polish readers, happy St. Stanislaus day!

I am hoping all of you have a great day.

Deacon Bob

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Deacon Bob’s Audio Homily – 5th Sunday of Lent

Posted on April 10, 2011 by Deacon Bob

Here is Deacon Bob’s homily on the raising of Lazarus for this weekend.

5th Sunday of Lent, Cycle A

5th Sunday of Lent, Cycle A, Part 2

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Counter Gone Awry

Posted on April 8, 2011 by Deacon Bob

The visit counter at the bottom of this webpage has gone awry. Keeps setting itself back to zero.

In my obssessiveness, I keep track of the number of visits to the blog. The total number now stands at  346, 500.

Thanks again for the patronage!

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The Holy Father on Continuing Life-long Formation

Posted on April 7, 2011 by Deacon Bob

The Holy Father addressed the bishops of the Syro-Malabar Church in India today as part of their ad limina visit to Rome. He spoke of a number of things, but one thing caught my attention — the need for ongoing formation after ordination or religious profession of vows.

He said, “The Church insists that preparation for religious profession is to be marked by long and careful discernment with the goal of ensuring… that each candidate is firmly rooted in Christ, solid in his or her capacity for genuine commitment and joyful in the gift of self to Jesus Christ and his Church. Furthermore, by its nature, formation is never completed, but is ongoing and must be an integral part of daily life of each individual and community. Much needs to be done in this area, utilizing the many resources available in your Church, above all through deeper training in the practice of prayer…. and the intellectual demands of a solid pastoral practice. I encourage you,…. to plan effectively for such a solid ongoing formation….” (Italics mine. Original language is English.)

For those of us in the diaconate, continuing formation is a real challenge. We need diocesan support for opportunities and means. For many of us deacons, the realities of life, family, work and economics make ongoing formation, especially in the area of intellectual formation, a real challenge. Yet, as the Holy Father has said, the Church insists on it and the nuturing of our vocations demands it.

One thing I recall in formation prior to ordination was our director stating that a lot of diaconal ministry revolves around time management and keeping balance. Let us not neglect ourselves in our ministry to others.

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Open the Doors to Christ!

Posted on April 6, 2011 by Deacon Bob

A beautiful song has been written for the beatification of Pope John Paul II. It will be debuting on April 30, from what I know.

It’s title is: Aprite le porte a Cristo! and is written by Msgr. Marco Frisina, the director of Liturgy for the diocese of Rome. The English translation of the title is: Open the Doors to Christ!

It is absolutely splendid! Msgr. Frisina has made both an audio recording as well as the music score available for listening and downloading online.

Log on to: Marco Frisina to find links to the audio and the score.

Enjoy!

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Quote for the Day – Fr. Fabian

Posted on April 6, 2011 by Deacon Bob

“As long as we’re on this side of eternity, it’s a matter of imperfect human beings, in an imperfect sort of way, with imperfect instruments, striving for perfection.” — Fr. Andrew C. Fabian, OP

(Father Fabian was my philosophy professor at St. Mary’s College from 1973-1977. A truly remarkable man. He is still teaching there well into his 80s. God bless him richly for the innumerable ways he has enriched hundreds of students since 1964. I will write a lengthier post about him at a later date.)

Posted in General Interest, Spirituality | 1 Comment

St. Maximus, Confessor on Mercy and Redemption

Posted on April 6, 2011 by Deacon Bob

The Office of Readings today gives us a selection from St. Maximus, confessor, on the mercy of God and reconciliation. I won’t translate it all from the Italian, but do want to offer this paragraph for your reflection today.

“All the preachers of the truth, all the ministers of divine grace and all those who from the beginning up to the these present days who have spoken to us about the saving will of God tell us that nothing is more dear to God and more in conformity with his love than the conversion of men through a sincere repentence from sin. Because of this, and to lead all men to himself, God worked marvelous deeds and gave the greatest proof of his infinite goodness. The Word of the Father, with an act of inexpressable humility and incredible benevolence, took on our flesh and saw fit to live among us. He accomplished, suffered and said all that was necessary to reconcile us who were enemies and adversaries of God the Father. He reclaimed again for us the life from which we had been excluded….. He freed us from many and terrible sins. Even more, with many examples, he prods us to be like him in understanding, courtesy and perfect love toward our brothers. …. Teaching us the justice and goodness of God, he commands us, ‘Be holy, be perfect, be merciful as is your Father in heaven.'”

Don’t be afraid of that admonition to perfection. It is not a standard for condemnation or punishment. It is an indication of the greatness of our dignity and calling as sons and daughters of God. It is an indication of the heights to which we are called. It is an indication of what Jesus has won for us by his Passion, Death and Resurrection. The doors of Paradise (perfection) have been opened to us.

Food for thought.

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Quote for the Day

Posted on April 5, 2011 by Deacon Bob

“Wealth is always so limited. Why do people chase after her so? While Holy Poverty knows no ending or boundaries.” — Will Moore, SFO

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Quote for the Day

Posted on April 4, 2011 by Deacon Bob

“Jesus Christ is my kingdom. If I possess him alone, I shall have all things; if I have not him, I lose all.” — St.Louis of Anjou, OFM

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Video on Papa Luciani

Posted on April 3, 2011 by Deacon Bob


I viewed this evening a YouTube clip on Papa Luciani that I hadn’t yet seen. There are many available, but this one has slipped by me up to now for some reason. It is a pretty good one.

Here is the link: Papa Luciani.

By the way, another good video source for Papa Luciani video is TauCross Media.

Papa Luciani, the Smiling Pope who became the Smile of God.

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Laetare Sunday

Posted on April 3, 2011 by Deacon Bob

Today is Laetare Sunday, marking the halfway point in Lent. The traditional colors for the day is rose. Laetare Sunday invites us to rejoice and be glad for our redemption is soon to be celebrated on Easter.

The Holy Father’s Angelus message today was: “The Lenten journey that we are living is a particular time of grace, during which we experience the gift of the benevolence of the Lord in what we meet along the way. The Liturgy this Sunday, called “Laetare”, invites us to rejoice and be glad as was proclaimed in the entrance antiphon of the Eucharistic celebration: “Rejoice, Jerusalem, and all who love her, join together. Exult and be glad, you who were weeping: be filled with the consolation” (cf. Isaiah 66: 10-11). What is the profound reason for this rejoicing? The Gospel today tells us why, in the account of Jesus healing the man born blind from birth. …. The Lord Jesus is the “light of the world” (John 8:12), because in him “shines the knowledge of the glory of God” (2 Cor 4:6)…” (My translation of the Italian original.)

Jesus is the Light of the world that heals our blindness and brings us out of the darkness of our sin. Next week we will hear of Lazarus coming out of the darkness of the tomb and into the light of life.

Let us keep each other in our prayers these final weeks of Lent.

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A Witness for Life

Posted on April 2, 2011 by Deacon Bob

Thanks to The Anchoress, I read a wonderful witness to the value of life written by Lecticia Velasquez. She reflects on the death of Terri Shiavo, John Paul II and on the life of her daughter with Down syndrome.

As you know, Terri Schiavo was starved and dehydrated to death, dying on March 31, 2005 and Pope John Paul II died on April 2 of the same year.

Log on to: Death in the Springtime: Terri Schiavo and Pope John Paul II to read the essay.

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Servant of God, Bernard Lehner

Posted on April 2, 2011 by Deacon Bob

The Holy Father today has approved a miracle attributed to the Servant of God, Bernard Lehner. Now, I suspect few of you are acquainted with Bernard.

He was a German lad who died at age 14 years in Germany at the height of World War II. Born in Herrngiersdorf, the son of a carpenter, he was described as a studious, religious boy who attended seminary school in Regensburg when he was thirteen years old. Soon thereafter, he contracted diptheria and taken to the children’s clinic. After ten weeks of intense suffering, he realized he was going to die and requested the Sacrament of the Sick. He died on January 24, 1944.

Early in 1948, Archbishop Michele Buchberger of Regensburg opened the process for the child’s beatification. In 1951 the documents were submitted to the Congregation of the Saints at the Holy See.

Shortly after his death, a Jesuit priest, Fr. Giuseppe Kunz, of the seminary in which Bernhard studied, wrote a short biography published in 1947.

The memory and story of Bernard Lehner spread throughout Europe. In 1952, his remains were transferred from the church cemetery to the church in the city in which he died.

Yes, even the young among us can be recognized as saints. Perhaps we need to remember this as we interact with the youth of our day.

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Rest in Peace, Papa Wojtyla

Posted on April 2, 2011 by Deacon Bob

Today is the sixth anniversary of the death of Pope John Paul II. I suspect many of you recall where you were when you heard of his death. It was one of those moments in life that marks time in an unforgettable manner.

I recall too were I was when I heard of his election as pope. I was standing off down in the Piazza San Pietro, to the right side of the main loggia of St. Peter’s basilica in the Vatican City, that evening. When his name was announced I thought we were hearing the name of an African bishop, and I stood astounded. My astonishment remained when I learned our new pope was from Poland. One of the priests on staff at the North American College at the time, Msgr. John Strynkowski, began to smile broadly and almost began to dance. Msgr. Strynkowski had met the then Karol Wojtyla, and knew him.

Let us pray for John Paul II’s soul, as we do for all the faithfully departed. We trust God has given him a place in his heavenly kingdom. His upcoming beatification reinforces our hope in this regard.

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