By Gregory Nazianzen
From Universalis: Office of Readings:
"Recognise to whom you owe the fact that you exist, that you breathe, that you understand, that you are wise, and, above all, that you know God and hope for the kingdom of heaven and the vision of glory, now darkly as in a mirror but then with greater fullness and purity. You have been made a son of God, co-heir with Christ. Where did you get all this, and from whom?
Let me turn to what is of less importance: the visible world around us. What benefactor has enabled you to look out upon the beauty of the sky, the sun in its course, the circle of the moon, the countless number of stars, with the harmony and order that are theirs, like the music of a harp? Who has blessed you with rain, with the art of husbandry, with different kinds of food, with the arts, with houses, with laws, with states, with a life of humanity and culture, with friendship and the easy familiarity of kinship?
Who has given you dominion over animals, those that are tame and those that provide you with food? Who has made you lord and master of everything on earth? In short, who has endowed you with all that makes man superior to all other living creatures?
Is it not God who asks you now in your turn to show yourself generous above all other creatures and for the sake of all other creatures? Because we have received from him so many wonderful gifts, will we not be ashamed to refuse him this one thing only, our generosity? Though he is God and Lord he is not afraid to be known as our Father. Shall we for our part repudiate those who are our kith and kin?
Brethren and friends, let us never allow ourselves to misuse what has been given us by God's gift. If we do, we shall hear Saint Peter say: Be ashamed of yourselves for holding on to what belongs to someone else. Resolve to imitate God's justice, and no one will be poor."
Monday, February 14, 2005
Father Benedict on the Pope's Example
From CFR Page:
"There is hardly a single leader still on the scene who was within office when Pope John Paul became pope. He still takes his apostolic mandate as central, providential call for himself and he accepts this heavy cross to bear.
Each one of us has our cross. For some it's not so heavy, but it will be. Everyone sooner or later goes to Calvary and some people go several times. The important thing is not to look for a cross, but to carry the one you are given, not to become impatient, not to become bitter, not to say why me. Look at your life, you have a cross, you probably have several of them. Don't spend your time lamenting the fact that you have them, but pick them up and carry them. You might be tempted to say anything but this. That's a bad idea. Say, this is what I was given. The way to get better is to get better and the way to carry the cross is to pick it up and carry it. That's the only way that makes sense. Right now in the church we have this magnificent symbol of courage, faith, dedication and complete reliance on God. Who cares what any of the members of the peanut gallery have to say? They should be brought to silence by the shadow of this great and holy man carrying his cross."
"There is hardly a single leader still on the scene who was within office when Pope John Paul became pope. He still takes his apostolic mandate as central, providential call for himself and he accepts this heavy cross to bear.
Each one of us has our cross. For some it's not so heavy, but it will be. Everyone sooner or later goes to Calvary and some people go several times. The important thing is not to look for a cross, but to carry the one you are given, not to become impatient, not to become bitter, not to say why me. Look at your life, you have a cross, you probably have several of them. Don't spend your time lamenting the fact that you have them, but pick them up and carry them. You might be tempted to say anything but this. That's a bad idea. Say, this is what I was given. The way to get better is to get better and the way to carry the cross is to pick it up and carry it. That's the only way that makes sense. Right now in the church we have this magnificent symbol of courage, faith, dedication and complete reliance on God. Who cares what any of the members of the peanut gallery have to say? They should be brought to silence by the shadow of this great and holy man carrying his cross."
St. Louis Archbishop "There is going to be a persecution..."
From St. Louis Archbishop Warns of Upcoming "Persecution" over Abortion and Homosexuality:
" In an interview with LifeSiteNews.com, St. Louis Archbishop Raymond Burke said that as Catholics continue to speak out on life and family issues they will face persecution. "There is going to be a persecution with regard to this, that's clear," said the Archbishop.
The media has painted the St. Louis church leader as a mean-spirited bully, yet in person he is soft-spoken and kind with a keen sense of the truth and an urgency to convey it for the salvation of souls. Rather than using high-sounding platitudes which coast over the heads of many, Archbishop Burke speaks plainly the teaching of the Church on matters of central importance, without fear of being labeled politically incorrect."
" In an interview with LifeSiteNews.com, St. Louis Archbishop Raymond Burke said that as Catholics continue to speak out on life and family issues they will face persecution. "There is going to be a persecution with regard to this, that's clear," said the Archbishop.
The media has painted the St. Louis church leader as a mean-spirited bully, yet in person he is soft-spoken and kind with a keen sense of the truth and an urgency to convey it for the salvation of souls. Rather than using high-sounding platitudes which coast over the heads of many, Archbishop Burke speaks plainly the teaching of the Church on matters of central importance, without fear of being labeled politically incorrect."
Sunday, February 13, 2005
Thanks to All at Fatima Retreat House in Indianapolis
Thanks to all who attended the retreat I presented at Fatima Retreat House this weekend. A group of very special people, all intent on growing spiritually and the prayer together empowered me. The retreat staff was great too providing us with a great environment for special time with God.
Given the fact that Sister Lucia, one of the original Fatima seers died on the last day of the retreat--being at Fatima and praying the rosary in front of the image of Our Lady of Fatima will be something that I will remember for a long time.
Given the fact that Sister Lucia, one of the original Fatima seers died on the last day of the retreat--being at Fatima and praying the rosary in front of the image of Our Lady of Fatima will be something that I will remember for a long time.
The Children of Fatima--Sister Lucia Dies
From CBC News: Witness to Fatima apparition dies at 97:
"The young Portuguese girl who witnessed several apparitions of the Virgin Mary in the town of Fatima back in 1917 has died at the age of 97, reported Portuguese media Sunday.
Sister Lucia Marto, a Roman Catholic nun, had been ill for several months. She died at the Convent of Carmelita near Lisbon, say radio reports.
She and her two cousins, Jacinta and Francisco, claimed that Mary appeared before them on six occasions predicting major world events such as world wars and the 1981 attempted assassination of Pope John Paul."
Friday, February 11, 2005
Less Violent "Passion" to Hit Theaters for Holy Week This Year
From Gibson softens 'Passion' for Easter release. 11/02/2005. ABC News Online:
"Mel Gibson will release a new, low-violence version of his 2004 mega-hit The Passion of the Christ next month, Daily Variety reports.
The star, dubbed Hollywood's most powerful figure since the huge success of the low-budget, graphically gory film, is trimming five to six minutes of violent scenes ahead of the film's March 11 reappearance on United States screens.
The original film raked in $474 million in its North American run that began on Ash Wednesday one year ago.
But Gibson noted that many people had avoided the film because of its grisly portrayal of Jesus Christ being tortured by Roman troops.
'There has been quite a demand by the religious community to bring [the film] back for Easter,' Bruce Davey, Gibson's partner at Icon Productions, told Variety.
'And there has been a lot of discussion about the violence. Mel wanted to try and accommodate those people by making a version that is softer and gentler.
The film, The Passion Recut, will be beamed onto 500 to 750 screens by distributor Newmarket Films, Variety said, adding that the new versions would not be lumbered with an audience age restriction.
The new less violent version of the film goes easier on the brutal details of the last days of Christ."
"Mel Gibson will release a new, low-violence version of his 2004 mega-hit The Passion of the Christ next month, Daily Variety reports.
The star, dubbed Hollywood's most powerful figure since the huge success of the low-budget, graphically gory film, is trimming five to six minutes of violent scenes ahead of the film's March 11 reappearance on United States screens.
The original film raked in $474 million in its North American run that began on Ash Wednesday one year ago.
But Gibson noted that many people had avoided the film because of its grisly portrayal of Jesus Christ being tortured by Roman troops.
'There has been quite a demand by the religious community to bring [the film] back for Easter,' Bruce Davey, Gibson's partner at Icon Productions, told Variety.
'And there has been a lot of discussion about the violence. Mel wanted to try and accommodate those people by making a version that is softer and gentler.
The film, The Passion Recut, will be beamed onto 500 to 750 screens by distributor Newmarket Films, Variety said, adding that the new versions would not be lumbered with an audience age restriction.
The new less violent version of the film goes easier on the brutal details of the last days of Christ."
Thursday, February 10, 2005
Forty Days of Lent
Sunday's do count, in fact the first "traditional" day of Lent is the First Sunday of Lent--forty days later is Holy Thursday which is still a Lenten day until sundown.
From Another View of What Lent Means:
"When does Lent begin and end?
The observation of Lent begins on the first Sunday after Ash Wednesday (the first day we are sure to gather together), and ends at sundown, Holy Thursday, although the season starts on Ash Wednesday. So strictly speaking, what we call Lent is more than 40 days. Please see the documents quoted above for more information."
From Another View of What Lent Means:
"When does Lent begin and end?
The observation of Lent begins on the first Sunday after Ash Wednesday (the first day we are sure to gather together), and ends at sundown, Holy Thursday, although the season starts on Ash Wednesday. So strictly speaking, what we call Lent is more than 40 days. Please see the documents quoted above for more information."
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