Strange that this fascinating saint's life seems somewhat forgotten. Craftsman, diocesan priest, Jesuit, Claretian founder, reformer, mystic, wonder-worker, confessor to Isabella II, promoter of the rosary and apostle on the order of St. Francis Xavier. At one time he was known as "the most calumniated man" of the 19th century. Here's his autobiography, written reluctantly, under obedience. You might call him the patron saint of good use of time: He resolved never to waste a moment of time, and during his 35 years a priest he wrote 144 books and preached some 25,000 sermons. On one trip, besides traveling, he wrote, 205 sermons in 48 days - 12 in one day. Giving the reason he worked so zealously, he wrote, "If you were to see a blind man about to fall into a pit or over a precipice, would you not warn him? Behold, I do the same, and do it I must, for this is my duty. I must warn sinners and make them see the precipice which leads to the unquenchable fires of Hell, for they will surely go there if they do not amend their ways. Woe to me if I do not preach and warn them, for I would be held responsible for their condemnation."Popery
Two Sundays ago, when the Gospel was the account of the healing of ten lepers with only one --the Samaritan-- returning to give thanks, the Pope used his Angelus remarks to reflect on two levels of healing --physical & spiritual. He also ponders Christ's response to the Samaritan's thank-you: "Your faith has saved you." In what way does gratitude express faith?
faith is expressed with appreciation. He who, like the healed Samaritan, knows how to give thanks, shows that he does not consider everything as something which is merited, but instead as a gift that, even if it comes through people or through nature, in the end, comes from God. Faith involves, then, the openness of the person to the grace of the Lord; to recognize that all is gift, all is grace. What a treasure is hidden in the little phrase "thank you!"The Pope also compared sin to spiritual leprosy and spoke of the need for each of us to repent and believe the Gospel. At which point, in his continuing effort to downplay the Marian devotion his predecessor encouraged, he greeted via television the faithful gathered in Fatima on the anniversary of the apparitions there.
In last week's Audience, we learn about Eusebius of Vercelli as not only a defender of the faith against Arianism, but also the model of the episcopal relationship with his flock. The Pope highlights in particular Eusebius' formation of his clergy, his close relationship to the lay faithful, and his affection for the non-Catholics in his diocese:
Eusebius asked his sons and daughters to give his greeting "also to those who are outside the Church, yet deign to nourish feelings of love for us: etiam hos, qui foris sunt et nos dignantur diligere". This is an obvious proof that the Bishop's relationship with his city was not limited to the Christian population but also extended to those who - outside the Church - recognized in some way his spiritual authority and loved this exemplary man.The Pope's particular emphasis is on the holy bishop's witness of life. He teaches that Eusebius was effective because he lived as he preached and thus subsequent bishops such as Ambrose and Maximus of Turin took Eusebius for their model. I won't quote, but it's worth studying what the Pope says about what bishops should be --and interesting that's what he preached about on the same day he announced the next consistory. Follow the link for the list of names. You may have already read that for the first time, Texas will get a red hat.
Last week the Holy Father traveled to Naples, and the homily he gave on the "relevance," and effectiveness of prayer is very moving. He sees the outstretched arms of Moses in the battle against the Amalekites as a prefigurement of Christ's outstretched arms on the cross:
Moses' raised arms are reminiscent of the arms of Jesus on the Cross: the outspread, nailed arms with which the Redeemer won the crucial battle against the infernal enemy. His fight, his arms raised to the Father and wide open for the world, ask for other arms, other hearts that continue to offer themselves with his same love until the end of the world.Then, dovetailing with his remarks on St. Eusebius, he continues:
I am addressing you in particular, dear Pastors of the Church in Naples, making my own the words that St Paul address to Timothy and that we heard in the Second Reading: remain firm in what you have learned and have believed. Preach the word, persevere on every occasion, in season and out of season, convince, rebuke and exhort, be unfailing in patience and in teaching (cf. II Tim 3: 14, 16; 4: 2). And like Moses on the mountain, persevere in prayer for and with the faithful entrusted to your pastoral care, so that every day they may be able to face together the good fight of the Gospel.From there he talks about the mafia, the black market and the hopeless, lawless mentality they create --and calls on men & women of good will to work together to change the mentality of young people.
- B16's visit coincided with the Saint Egidio Community-sponsored International Encounter for Peace. He addressed an ecumenical group of religious leaders here, insisting once again that no one can justify violence in the name of God.
- Much more Naples coverage here and here.
Here's also the Angelus for last week's World Mission Sunday. And today's Audience on St. Ambrose (full text to come), in which the Pope continues his how-to-be-a-holy-bishop theme:
those who teach the faith “cannot run the risk of appearing like a type of clown who is playing a part; rather he must be like the beloved disciple who rested his head on the Master’s heart and learned therein how to think, speak and act”. Because “at the end of it all a true disciple is he who announces the Gospel in a credible and effective way”, in short “authentic witness”, as was the case with Saint Ambrose.Hmm. Wonder what is on the Holy Father's mind, speaking so much about what makes a good bishop to primarily lay audiences?
Potpourri
- Great Britain: Cardinals' letter on the 40th anniversary of the Abortion Act.
- India: 20,000 Christians pray for peace, restoration of democracy in Burma. Also, priest & human rights activist refuses UN foundation money (that's Ted Turner's endowment). Preach it, Padre:
that money cannot be accepted because they come from a group of people who do not have the real problems of the world at heart. [snip] ...the time has come to reveal what is the true diabolical nature of the United Nations and all of its collaborators. I will go on doing what I have always done, maybe with the few resources that I have at my disposal but with a clean conscience...[snip] ...Money in itself is useful, above all in humanitarian causes. But if we are dealing with dirty money, you may be certain that it will not bear fruit. Jesus told us to seek, first and foremost, the Kingdom of justice: there are no short cuts in this journey without falling into the trap of greed for money.
- Iraq:Two kidnapped priests released, report taking courage from B16s appeal for them.
- Israel: The Holy Land's only Christian tv station folds at the end of the week.
- Lebanon: the papal nuncio is trying to prevent the Christian vote from splitting into factions in the upcoming presidential election.
- Pakistan:Taliban targets Catholic schools.
- Also: Samir Khalil Samir, SJ on that letter to Christians from Muslim leaders. Scroll to the end of this post for some excerpts from the discussion at that St. Egidio meeting. Here's the greeting the Vatican sent to all Muslims for the end of Ramadan. Note the lengthy comments about religious liberty.
