Archive for December, 2009
Mini-Retreat with the Holy Family
Friday, December 25th, 2009
The past several days have been a time for physical, mental, and spiritual renewal. I really needed to catch up on some sleep and recover a sense of solitude to my soul. The past several months have been very demanding, and so there was a need to spend some quiet time with Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.
On Wednesday and Thursday, I slept in, went running, prayed a lot, and then spent some time reading the book, Born of the Eucharist: A Spirituality for Priests. I received the book as a Christmas gift, and it appealed to me once I got it. It focuses on the priest’s relationship with the Eucharist. It’s made up of several different essays, which was good for me since I could read one or two and then spend some time thinking, reflecting, and praying.
Yesterday evening, we had the first Christmas Mass here at the priest house, and then a very elaborate dinner. My Mass was offered for my family. After the meal, several of the priests went to St. Peter’s Basilica for the pope’s Evening Mass at 10:00 PM. I was still enjoying my self-imposed mini-retreat so I went to bed early. So, in answer to some e-mails, I missed the sad situation of the woman who attacked the Holy Father at the Mass. Some of the priests who were there said this morning that it was very scary, especially since they were at the front of the basilica and didn’t know what had happened. Thanks be to God, the Holy Father is safe, and was able to get up, dust himself off, and celebrate the Mass!
If anyone is interested, the footage of the woman leaping over the security barricade and assaulting the Holy Father can be viewed on YouTube. It’s very disturbing.
The Holy Father gave his famous “Urbi and Orbi” (”to the city and the world”) blessing this morning from the center balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. The blessing can also be viewed on YouTube. The pope looked good and well rested. Many might recall that the Vatican moved the pope’s evening Mass last night from the traditional Twelve Midnight to 10:00 PM citing the pope’s holiday schedule and age (the pontiff is 82 years old). The Vatican was insistent that the change of time was not a consequence of ill health on the part of the pope, but of simply spacing out the pope’s schedule and making concession for his age and energy level.
Later today, I’ll offer my Mass on Christmas Day. The Mass will be offered for my Bishop.
This Christmas season should be a time for each of us to take a mini-retreat (to the degree that we can), and reflect on what God has done for us, what he is doing for us, and what he desires to do for us. The powerful and humbling gift of the Lord Jesus in the manger should move us all to incredible docility and openness to the workings of God in our lives (and in the lives of our loved ones). In the midst of the hustle and bustle of this season, we have to pause (for a couple of days or even just five minutes) and consider the mystery and the gift of Christmas. Brothers and Sisters, consider this: God has become a man! He is with us!
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Angelic Salutations!
Thursday, December 24th, 2009
Tonight, the angelic hosts announce to the shepherds the tremendous news: The Messiah has come! He is born, in a manger, in Bethlehem. Go, and adore him!
This same announcement is given to us: Our Savior is born! He has come to save us. Let us go to him, and adore him!
Yesterday, we concluded the “O Antiphons,” which recorded certain key biblical titles of Jesus and summarized the prophetic anticipation for the Messiah. If we take the last title and move forward, taking the first letter of each antiphon, we have:
Emmanuel – Rex – Oriens – Clavis – Radix – Adonai – Sapientia: ERO CRAS.
ERO CRAS – which, in Latin, means: “Tomorrow, I will come.” The antiphons of the past seven days have meant to intensify our Advent waiting and help us to prepare more deeply for the coming of the Christ Child, of our Redeemer and Savior, born in a stable. Brothers and Sisters, the Messiah has come! Come, let us go, and adore him!
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Wednesday, December 23
Thursday, December 24th, 2009
O Emmanuel: “O Emmanuel, king and lawgiver, desire of the nations, Savior of all people, come and set us free, Lord our God.” Isaiah had prophesied, “The Lord himself will give you this sign: the Virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel.”
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Tuesday’s wanderings through Rome
Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009
Today, I toured some of Rome with a family that has been visiting the city these past few days. Among many sites, we went to St. Mary Major (which is the answer for last week’s Church Jeopardy). In that church is the crib of the Lord Jesus. It was a blessing to be able to pray in front of that holy relic, and to recall the wonderful Gift of the Lord Jesus to each of us. He is a Gift that we do not deserve, and one that we must seek to understand and accept into our hearts. Why else would he come as a baby other than to help us embrace him and accept his love?
Here’s a picture of the holy crib:
And, here’s a shot of the awesome family that has been visiting Rome:
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Tuesday, December 22
Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009
O Rex Gentium: “O King of all the nations, the only joy of every human heart; O Keystone of the mighty arch of man, come and save the creature you fashioned from the dust.” Isaiah had prophesied, “For a child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.” (9:5), and “He shall judge between the nations, and impose terms on many peoples. They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; one nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again.” (2:4) .
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Monday, December 21
Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009
O Oriens: “O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.” Isaiah had prophesied, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shown.” (9:1).
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Pope Venerable Pius XII
Sunday, December 20th, 2009
In a laudable move from the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints, Pope Pius XII, who was the pope from 1939-1958, was elevated to the status of a “venerable.” This is one of the steps towards eventually being declared a saint.
This has been a long and turbulent process, with several unfounded or exaggerated claims against this esteemed pope, who led the Church and the world through the horrors of the Second World War.
Few people have ever been declared a “Defender of the City of Rome.” The most well-known is St. Leo the Great, who defended Rome from Attila the Hun in the fifth century AD. Pope Pius XII, however, after World War II, was declared a “Defender of the City.” The square in front of St. Peter’s Square is named after him under this title. Here’s the marker:
Furthermore, it is particularly remarkable that the Chief Rabbi of Rome who was so impressed by the witness of Pope Pius XII that after the war, he converted to Catholicism and took the pope’s given name as his own baptismal name.
These are just two of the various facts that help us to understand the confusing and sporadic era of the Second World War. Certainly, there is a need for greater research and explanation.
I do, however, pray that one day our world will better understand what Pope Pius XII sought to accomplish, what he did accomplish in a difficult time in human history, and what he has passed on to future generations.
Here is a picture of Pope Benedict XVI praying at the tomb of Pope Pius XII:
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Sunday, December 20
Sunday, December 20th, 2009
O Clavis David: “O Key of David, O royal Power of Israel controlling at your will the gate of Heaven: Come, break down the prison walls of death for those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death; and lead your captive people into freedom.” Isaiah had prophesied, AI will place the Key of the House of David on His shoulder; when he opens, no one will shut, when he shuts, no one will open.” (22:22), and “His dominion is vast and forever peaceful, from David’s throne, and over His kingdom, which he confirms and sustains by judgment and justice, both now and forever.” (9:6).
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Saturday, December 19
Saturday, December 19th, 2009
O Radix Jesse: “O Flower of Jesse’s stem, you have been raised up as a sign for all peoples; kings stand silent in your presence; the nations bow down in worship before you. Come, let nothing keep you from coming to our aid.” Isaiah had prophesied, “But a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom.” (11:1), and A On that day, the root of Jesse, set up as a signal for the nations, the Gentiles shall seek out, for his dwelling shall be glorious.” (11:10). Remember also that Jesse was the father of King David, and Micah had prophesied that the Messiah would be of the house and lineage of David and be born in David’s city, Bethlehem (Micah 5:1).
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The Port City of Ostia Antica
Saturday, December 19th, 2009
This morning, for my first day of Christmas vacation, I went with some friends to the ancient port city of Rome, the city of Ostia Antica. This was once a prominent and powerful point of convergence for the Roman Republic (and later Empire). It has seen so many events that have shaped Western civilization. Here are some pictures:
This is the amphitheater of the ancient city:
Here’s a picture of one of the many remaining roads of the area:
Of the many events that Ostia Antica has witnessed, there is one very endearing episode. Throughout the life of St. Monica, she prayed for her son. He was wayward for many years, and she faithfully held on, never losing hope, and always interceding for him. After many mistakes and indifference to the Christian religion, her son finally converted. He became not only a Catholic Christian, but also a priest and bishop, and one of our greatest saints. This, of course, is the great St. Augustine of Hippo. His faith was indebted to his mother’s hope.
In Ostia Antica, Augustine met his mother, who was in ill health, and the two had a powerful conversation on heaven, and then a very sad farewell as Monica passed from this life to the next.
Here is a marker honoring that meeting of these two inspiring saints:
Here’s a selection from St. Augustine’s Confessions, Book IX, where he recounts the meeting with his mother and her farewell from this life:
27. What reply I made unto her to these things I do not well remember. However, scarcely five days after, or not much more, she was prostrated by fever; and while she was sick, she one day sank into a swoon, and was for a short time unconscious of visible things. We hurried up to her; but she soon regained her senses, and gazing on me and my brother as we stood by her, she said to us inquiringly, Where was I?
Then looking intently at us stupefied with grief, Here,
says she, shall you bury your mother.
I was silent, and refrained from weeping; but my brother said something, wishing her, as the happier lot, to die in her own country and not abroad. She, when she heard this, with anxious countenance arrested him with her eye, as savouring of such things, and then gazing at me, Behold,
says she, what he says;
and soon after to us both she says, Lay this body anywhere, let not the care for it trouble you at all. This only I ask, that you will remember me at the Lord’s altar, wherever you be.
And when she had given forth this opinion in such words as she could, she was silent, being in pain with her increasing sickness.
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