Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 05-25-05, Optional, St. Bede the Venerable

For your reading, reflection, faith-sharing, comments, questions, discussion.

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SAINT BEDE [THE VENERABLE] CONFESSOR, DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH—735 A.D.

From: Sirach 36:1, 4-5a, 10-17

Prayer for Israel

[1] Have mercy upon us, 0 Lord, [4] As in us thou hast been sanctified
before them, so in them be thou magnified before us; [5a] and let them know
thee. [10] Crush the heads of the rulers of the enemy, who say. "There is no
one but ourselves." [11] Gather all the tribes of Jacob, and give them their
inheritance, as at the beginning. [12] Have mercy, 0 Lord, upon the people
called by thy name, upon Israel, whom thou hast likened to a first-born son.
[13] Have pity on the city of thy sanctuary, Jerusalem, the place of thy
rest. [14] Fill Zion with the celebration of thy wondrous deeds, and thy
temple with thy glory. [15] Bear witness to those whom thou didst create in
the beginning, and fulfill the prophecies spoken in thy name. [16] Reward
those who wait for thee, and let thy prophets be found trustworthy. [17]
Hearken, 0 Lord, to the prayer of thy servants, according to the blessing of
Aaron for thy people, and all who are on the earth will know that thou art
the Lord, the God of the ages.

Commentary:

36:1-17. ThIs prayer addressed to on behalf of the people of Israel recalls
his mighty deeds and asks for his further help. It does not argue that the
people have merited God's intervention as a reward for their actions, but it
appeals to the promises he made; it will redound to his glory.

This is one of the few passages in Sirach that looks forward to the
messianic times when God will restore Israel. God's response to Israel's
appeal went much further than the Jews envisaged: he used Israel to extend
salvation to all mankind: "At all times and in every place, anyone who fears
God and does what is right has been acceptable to him (cf. Acts 10:35). He
has, however, willed to make men holy and save them, not as individuals
without any bond or link between them, but rather to make them into a people
who might acknowledge him and serve him in holiness. He therefore chose the
Israelite race to be his own people and established a covenant with it. He
gradually instructed this people--in its history manifesting both himself
and the decree of his will--and made it holy unto himself. All these,
things, however happened as a preparation that new and perfect covenant was
to be ratified in Christ, and of the fuller revelation which was to be given
through the Word of God made flesh" (Vatican II, "Lumen Gentium", 9).

Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.

From: Mark 10:32-45

Third Prophecy of the Passion

[32] And they (the disciples) were on the road, going up to Jerusalem,
and Jesus was walking ahead of them; and they were amazed, and those
who followed were afraid. And taking the Twelve again, He began to
tell them what was to happen to Him, [33] saying, "Behold, we are going
up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief
priests and the scribes, and they will condemn Him to death, and
deliver Him to the Gentiles; [34] and they will mock Him, and spit upon
Him, and scourge Him, and kill Him; and after three days He will rise."

The Sons of Zebedee Make Their Request

[35] And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to Him, and
said to Him, "Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask of
You." [36] And He said to them, "What do you want Me to do for you?"
[37] And they said to Him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand
and one at your left, in your glory." [38] But Jesus said to them,
"You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup
that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am
baptized?" [39] And they said to Him, "We are able." And Jesus said
to them, "The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism
with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; [40] but to sit at My
right hand or at My left is not Mine to grant, but it is for those for
whom it has been prepared." [41] And when the ten heard it, they
began to be indignant at James and John. [42] And Jesus called them to
Him and said to them, "You know that those who are supposed to rule
over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise
authority over them. [43] But it shall not be so among you; but
whoever would be great among you must be your servant, [44] and whoever
would be first among you must be slave of all. [45] For the Son of
Man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a
ransom of many."

Commentary:

32. Jesus was making His way to Jerusalem with a burning desire to see
fulfilled everything that He had foretold about His passion and death.
He had already told His disciples that He would suffer there, which is
why they cannot understand His eagerness. By His own example He is
teaching us to carry the cross gladly, not to try to avoid it.

35-44. We can admire the Apostles' humility: they do not disguise their
earlier weakness and shortcomings from the first Christians. God also
has wanted the Holy Gospel to record the earlier weaknesses of those
who will become the unshakeable pillars of the Church. The grace of
God works wonders in people's souls: so we should never be pessimistic
in the face of our own wretchedness: "I can do all things in Him who
strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13).

38. When we ask for anything in prayer, we should be ready, always, to
accept God's will, even if it does not coincide with our own: "His
Majesty knows best what is suitable for us; it is not for us to advise
Him what to give us, for He can rightly reply that we know not what we
ask" (St. Teresa, "Mansions", II, 8).

43-45. Our Lord's word and example encourage in us a genuine spirit of
Christian service. Only the Son of God who came down from Heaven and
freely submitted to humiliation (at Bethlehem, Nazareth, Calvary, and
in the Sacred Host) can ask a person to make himself last, if he wishes
to be first.

The Church, right through history, continues Christ's mission of
service to mankind: "Experienced in human affairs, the Church, without
attempting to interfere in any way in the politics of States, `seeks
but a solitary goal: to carry forward the work of Christ Himself under
the lead of the befriending Spirit. And Christ entered this world to
give witness to the truth, to rescue and not to sit in judgment, to
serve and not to be served' (Vatican II, "Gaudium Et Spes", 3).
Sharing the noblest aspirations of men and suffering when she sees them
not satisfied, she wishes to help them attain their full flowering, and
that is why she offers men what she possesses as her characteristic
attribute: a global vision of man and of the human race" (Paul VI,
"Populorum Progressio", 13).

Our attitude should be that of our Lord: we should seek to serve God
and men with a truly supernatural outlook, not expecting any return; we
should serve even those who do not appreciate the service we do them.
This undoubtedly does not make sense, judged by human standards.
However, the Christian identified with Christ takes "pride" precisely
in serving others; by so doing he shares in Christ's mission and
thereby attains his true dignity: "This dignity is expressed in
readiness to serve, in keeping with the example of Christ, who `came
not to be served but to serve.' If, in the light of this attitude of
Christ's, `being a king' is truly possible only by `being a servant',
then `being a servant' also demands so much spiritual maturity that it
must really be described as `being a king.' In order to be able to
serve others worthily and effectively we must be able to master
ourselves, possess the virtues that make this mastery possible" (John
Paul II, "Redemptor Hominis", 21). Cf. note on Matthew 20:27-28.

Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.

Wednesday, May 25, 2005
Feria

First Reading:
Psalm:
Gospel:

Sirach 36:1, 4-5, 10-17
Psalm 79:8-9, 11, 13
Mark 10:32-45

God does not ask of us the perfection of tomorrow, nor even of tonight, but only of the present moment.

-- St Madeline Sophie Barat

Catholic Culture

Collect:
Father, you have enlightened your Church with the learning of St. Bede. In your love may your people learn from his wisdom and benefit from his prayers. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Recipes:

» Heart Cake (cut-up)

Activities:

Prayers:

May 25, 2005

Optional Memorial of St. Bede the Venerable, priest and doctor; Optional Memorial of St. Gregory VII, pope; Optional Memorial of St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi, virgin; Optional Memorial of Bl. Louis-Zepherin Moreau, bishop (Canada)

Old Calendar: St. Gregory VII, pope and confessor; St. Urban I, pope and martyr; St. Madeline Sophie Barat, religious

St. Bede was born in England. A Benedictine, he was "the most observant and the happiest of all monks." His writings were so full of sound doctrine that he was called "Venerable" while still alive. He wrote commentaries on Holy Scripture and treatises on theology and history. He died at Jarrow, England.

St. Gregory VII was a monk of Cluny. Before ascending to the papacy, he fought against the abuse of lay investiture, the source of the evils from which the Church was suffering. His energetic stance as Pope Gregory VII earned for him the enmity of the Emperor Henry IV. He was exiled to Salerno where he died.

St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi was born in Florence and joined the Carmelites when she was nineteen. She practiced great mortification for the salvation of sinners; her constant exclamation was, 'To suffer, not to die!' With apostolic zeal, she urged the renewal of the entire ecclesiastical community.

Bl. Louis-Zephirin Moreau founded the communities of the Sisters of Saint Joseph and the Sisters of Sainte Marthe. He also participated in the founding of numerous other institutions and pious works. He died on May 24, 1901.

Before the reform of the General Roman Calendar, today were the feasts of St. Urban I, a Roman, successor of Callistus in the papal chair (222-230) and St. Madeline Sophie Barat, foundress in France of the Society of the Sacred Heart. Their feasts are no longer celebrated in the United States.

St. Bede
Bede occupies an important niche in Church history by bridging the gap between patristic and early medieval times, the era when the Germanic nations had just been Christianized. Through him Christian tradition and Roman culture came to the Middle Ages. He is also honored as the "father of English history." His writings were read publicly in churches while he was still alive; but since he could not be called "Saint," the title of Venerable was attached to his name, a usage which continued down through the centuries.

True Benedictine that he was, his life revolved around prayer and work. On the vigil of the Ascension he felt death approaching and asked to be fortified with the last sacraments. After reciting the Magnificat antiphon of the feast's second Vespers, he embraced his brethren, had himself placed upon a coarse penitential garment on the earth, and breathed forth his soul while saying softly: "Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost."

How St. Bede loved the Bible! Anyone who intends to live with the Church must keep the Scriptures near — day in, day out. St. Bede explained the Bible to others. At times you too will have this privilege. Use it. — The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch

Patron: Lectors; historians.

Symbols: Pitcher of water and light from Heaven; scroll; pen and inkhorn; volume of ecclesiastical history.
Often portrayed as: Monk writing at a desk; old monk dying amidst his community; old monk with a book and pen; old monk with a jug.

Things to Do:

Learn more about monasticism and about the Benedictine Order.

St. Gregory VII

Gregory VII — his name had been Hildebrand before becoming Pope — was born about the year 1020. For two years he was a Benedictine monk of Cluny (1047-1049), then he became a cardinal, and finally, in 1073, Pope. A strong character with a remarkable personality, he easily takes a place with the greatest popes in the Church's history.

His life was one long struggle to purify and unify the Church, and to make her free and independent of secular powers. He enacted strict prohibitions against simony (the purchasing of ecclesiastical preferments), clerical concubinage, and lay investiture (appointment to ecclesiastical offices by civil authorities). On this later score he soon became involved in a dispute with the Emperor Henry IV which caused him untold trouble and which finally resulted in banishment and death. But his stand cleansed the Church and restored its status. Gregory died in exile with these words on his lips: "I loved justice and hated iniquity, therefore I die in exile."

Concerning him the Protestant historian Gregorovius wrote: "In the history of the papacy, there will always be two shining stars to reveal the spiritual greatness of the popes. The one is Leo, before whom the terrible destroyer Attila drew back; the other is Gregory, before whom Henry IV knelt in the garb of a penitent. Each of these world renowned men, however, engenders a different reaction. Where Leo inspires highest reverence for pure moral greatness, Gregory fills one with admiration because of an almost superhuman personality. The monk who won without weapons has more right to be admired than Alexander, Caesar, or Napoleon.

"The battles fought by medieval popes were not waged with weapons of iron and lead, but with moral weapons. It was the application and operation of such lofty, spiritual means that occasionally raised the Middle Ages above our own. Alongside Gregory, Napoleon appears as a bloody barbarian. . . . Gregory's accomplishment is a distinctly medieval phenomenon, to study it will always be exciting. The history of the Christian world would lose one of its rarest pages if this stalwart character, this artisan's son in the tiara, were missing." — The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch

St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi

Mary Magdalen of Pazzi, a highly gifted mystic, had made a vow of chastity at the age of ten. She entered the convent of the Discalced Carmelite nuns in Florence, because the practice of receiving holy Communion almost daily was observed there. For five years her only food was bread and water. She practiced the most austere penances and for long periods endured complete spiritual aridity. Her favorite phrase was: "Suffer, not die!" Her body has remained incorrupt to the present day; it is preserved in a glass coffin in the church of the Carmelite nuns at Florence.

Purity of soul and love of Christ are the chief virtues which the Church admires in St. Mary Magdalen of Pazzi. These virtues matured her spiritually and enabled her to take as a motto, "Suffer, not die!" Purity and love are also the virtues which the Church today exhorts us to practice in imitation of the saint. We may never attain her high degree of holiness, but we can at least strive to suffer patiently out of love for Christ. — The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch

Patron: Bodily ills; sexual temptation; sick people.

Things to Do:

Contemplative nuns and monks spend their whole lives praying for the needs of the world and doing penance for the sins of others, but they also need our prayers. Say a prayer today for someone you know who is a contemplative religious or for a contemplative community which is in your area.

Bl. Louis-Zepherin Moreau

Born and baptised at Becanour on the first of April 1824, the future saint was the fifth of thirteen children from the marriage Louis-Zephirin Moreau and Marquerite Champoux-Saint-Pair. This "intelligent, pious, modest, gentle, and thoughtful" child was educated in his native parish until the age of fifteen before being admitted into the Seminary of Nicolet. In 1844, he received the ecclesiastic habit at Quebec, but in 1845, Msgr Signay sent him back home, because he found him to be in fragile health. It would take more than this setback to discourage the young man on his path towards the priesthood. He then begged Msgr Bourget to permit him to achieve his dream at the Ecole de theology of Montreal. This was accomplished, thanks to the kindness of Msgr Prince, head of this institution. Father Moreau was ordained a priest on Dec. 19, 1846. at the age of 22. Six years later, Msgr Prince became the first titular of the new diocese of Saint-Hyacinthe and he appointed Father Moreau as secretary-chancellor. The apprenticeship of the future prelate was as parish priest for the cathedral, and he was administrator of the diocese five times. On Jan 15 1876, at the age of 51, Father Moreau became the fourth bishop of Saint-Hyacinth

As bishop, he remained what he had always been: "good, simple, humble, and poor". Twenty three years after his death, steps were taken towards his beatification and canonization. The numerous healings which were attributed to him would later launch this irrevocable progression towards the formal recognition of his holiness. — Our French - Canadian Ancestors, Thomas J. Laforest

St. Urban

St. Urban, who succeeded Pope St. Callistus (cf. October 14), reigned from 222 to 230. During his pontificate the Church enjoyed peace, because Emperor Alexander Severus forbade the persecution laws to be enforced. Of special interest to us is a decree ascribed to Pope Urban regarding the use made of the gifts offered by the faithful at Mass. "The gifts of the faithful that are offered to the Lord can only be used for ecclesiastical purposes, for the common good of the Christian community, and for the poor; for they are the consecrated gifts of the faithful, the atonement offering of sinners, and the patrimony of the needy" (Breviary).

St. Urban's body was transferred to the Church of St. Praxedes in the year 818, where it remains to this day. Some hagiographers hold that his grave is in the Church of St. Cecilia in Rome. Vintagers honor Pope St. Urban as their patron. — The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch

St. Madeleine Sophie Barat

Under the guidance of her brother Madeleine Sophie Barat became at an early age proficient in Latin, Greek, Spanish and Italian. The brother, nine years her senior, was a stern disciplinarian. If her work was bad, she was punished — sometimes by a box on the ears - but if she did well, no word of praise was uttered. She was never allowed to relax from this discipline — even walks were forbidden unless they were strictly necessary for exercise; and when, in a moment of mistaken tenderness, she gave her brother a present, he threw it on the fire. She was ten when the French Revolution occurred in 1789. Afterwards, and still under the influence of her brother, she met Father Varin who desired to found a female counterpart of the Jesuits which should do for girls' education what they did for boys' education. On November 21st, 1800, Madeleine with three companions dedicated herself to the Sacred Heart and so the New Congregation was begun. From the first house at Amiens it was to spread in the lifetime of its foundress all over Europe and to Africa and America, and its boarding schools have become famous.

Madeleine's energy in extending the work was seconded by her reliance on God which enabled her to succeed in times of great difficulty. 'Too much work is a danger to an imperfect soul,' she said, 'but for one who loves our Lord it is an abundant harvest.' — The Saints edited by John Coulson

GOD SPOKE
The man whispered, "God, speak to me",
and a meadowlark sang. But,
the man did not hear.

So the man yelled "God, speak to me",
and the thunder rolled across the sky.
But, the man did not listen.

The man looked around and said,
"God let me see you", and a star
shined brightly.
But the man did not notice.

And, the man shouted,
"God show me a miracle",
and a life was born.
But, the man did not know.

So, the man cried out in despair,
"Touch me God, and let me
know you are here".

Whereupon, God reached down
and touched the man.
But, the man brushed the butterfly
away and walked on.

Don't miss out on a blessing because it
isn't packaged the way you expect it to be.

~ Author Unknown ~

bttt

Homily of the Day

Homily of the Day

Title:	To Ransom Captives and Rescue Prisoners
Author:	Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D.
Date:	Wednesday, May 25, 2005

Mk 10:32-45

Deep in the Middle Ages wave after wave of Christians went on crusades to the Holy Land to liberate the holy places from the Moslems. These crusades went on for several centuries and failed in the end. But in the meantime there were vast numbers of casualties: many thousands killed or injured in battle, tens of thousands — including a king of France — cut down by disease on the way, and thousands more — including a king of England — held captive for ransom. Whole religious orders of priests were founded with the sole purpose of ransoming captives and liberating prisoners from the clutches of the heathens. And sometimes those priests would even offer themselves in exchange for the prisoners!

Just an isolated moment in history long ago and far away? We might think so, but today's Gospel disagrees. For, as we heard so clearly, Jesus defines his whole mission as ransoming captives. "I have come to give my life in ransom for the many." In defining himself in that way, Jesus also defines our vocation as his followers. So we'd better figure out what this business of ransoming captives and rescuing prisoners is all about.

First of all, what it's not about for us is dashing off to Lebanon or Iran or Iraq to negotiate with terrorists. Our task is more subtle than that, and our opportunities are much closer at hand. Jesus is asking us to do for one another what he tries to do for us. He's asking us to invest our very best energies in the task of setting one another free from whatever holds us captive.

To understand that vocation we have to look closely at the kinds of things that enslave people. Just think of the fears, and angers, and grudges that hold people captive. Think of the bad habits of a lifetime that are trapping so many. Think of the bad ideas that imprison so many. And think of the compulsive need for things, the need for stuff, which holds so many of us hostage and forecloses the possibility of a happy life. Just call up in your mind's eye the face of anyone you know, friend or foe, and you'll see there, even in the very best of people, the hints of prison walls, the need to be set free.

So how do we go about helping one another escape our prison walls? Tons of free advice will rarely do it — we've already learned that! The most powerful, liberating gift we have to give is our steadfast, compassionate presence. Our strength, our goodness, and our willingness to continue walking at the side of our friend can, in time, become strength and goodness and freedom for our friend.

That is a wonderful gift we have to give: strength, goodness, and freedom. What a sadness it would be if we failed to give it!

A Voice in the Desert

Wednesday May 25, 2005 Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

Reading (Sirach 36:1, 4-5a, 10-17) Gospel (St. Mark 10:32-45)

In the first reading from the Book of Sirach, we hear this beautiful prayer as Sirach pours his heart out to God, asking for the Lord to intervene. What is important about this prayer is the humility with which it is prayed. Sirach, remember, is one of the wisest individuals in ancient Israel, and therefore he is someone who could easily get caught up in his own sense of greatness. But instead he turns humbly to the Lord and he prays.

Now contrast that with what goes on in the Gospel. We have James and John coming to ask the Lord if they can sit one at His right hand and the other at His left in the kingdom. Then we have the other ten getting angry because James and John want to be above them. Well, the only reason they would be angry at that is because they wanted to be above James and John. So we have this whole fight going on about who is going to be the greatest. The Lord, Who is the greatest, tells them that the one who will be the greatest among them is the one who is the servant of all, the one who makes himself the least, the one who is willing to serve. And He tells us, regarding His own self, that He came not to be served but to serve, and He came to give His life as a ransom for many.

So if we are going to follow in His footsteps, the same has to be said. He told James and John that they would drink of the chalice from which He would drink and that they would be baptized with the same baptism with which He would be baptized. They would have to drink the cup of suffering. They would be killed, just as He was killed. That was not enough to be able to obtain for them that position they desired. The only thing that is going to obtain it is humility, to be a servant, to be the least, because when that is our attitude then charity can fill in.

The only one who is going to be the highest in heaven is the one who loves the most. That, of course, is Our Lady. But, as I like to point out, we know who has the top spot – we do not know who has the next one. It could be for you. There is no reason why it could not be. We are not going to get anywhere near to where Our Blessed Lady is, but beyond that, for God all things are possible (as we heard yesterday in the Gospel). So it is possible for God even to make us saints, great saints. But we have to cooperate. It means we have to be small. It means we have to be willing to be humble. It means we have to be willing to serve. Saint Paul says of Jesus in his Letter to the Philippians that He humbled Himself and took the form of a slave. Jesus was God. If that was not beneath His dignity, to humble Himself and take the form of a slave, why do we think it is beneath ours? He came to serve, not to be served. In our turn, we must do the same.

We have to be humble, we have to be small. Otherwise, we can spend eternity with the one who thought he was great, one whose motto is “I will not serve.” That is the opposite of where we want to be. But the way to get to each place is clearly laid out. One is where people who are arrogant and want to be served and want to be selfish are going to be. And one is where the humble, the servants, are going to be. The choice is entirely ours. God will make us great saints if we are willing to allow it, but He will not force us to be. We have to cooperate. We need to pray for humility, we need to pray for charity, and we need to pray for the grace to follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, Who humbled Himself, became a slave, and served.

* This text was transcribed from the audio recording with minimal editing.

The Word Among Us

Wednesday, May 25, 2005

Meditation
Mark 10:32-45

We’ve all read fairy tales about a baker or a woodsman or a rash widow who was granted three wishes and squandered all three of them on silly things. And we’ve all thought: “My first wish would be to have an unlimited number of wishes!” This is the kind of mentality that lay behind James’ and John’s request: “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you” (Mark 10:35). It’s as if they were treating Jesus like an all-purpose appliance existing only to do their bidding. When challenged by Jesus, they quickly claimed to be willing to pay the price for the honor they sought. But it’s clear that they had no idea what “drinking the cup” entailed.

How easy it can be to approach Jesus in the Eucharist in the same way—with a wish list of sins we want forgiven and favors we want granted, but with no sense of being connected to him. On one level, such an approach appears to honor him as sovereign Lord. But if we really want to know how to come to Jesus at Mass, perhaps we should ask how he approaches us.

“The Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). At Mass, Jesus is the victim whose body is broken for us. He is the one who stoops down before us and scrubs the caked road dust from our feet. He is one whose relentless gaze exposes the deepest needs of our hearts and stands ready to fill them. He is the one who invites us to take up our cross and follow him on the road of trust and obedience.

Instead of coming to the Eucharist with a list of petitions or asking Jesus to fill you with blessings, try this approach every now and then. Try offering to Jesus everything you have: the work you did last week, your talents, and your accomplishments. Come to him the way he comes to us—as one who gives instead of one who receives. You’ll be amazed at how much heavenly grace will flow into your life. Just like Jesus, you will be lifted up by your Father in heaven.

“Jesus, help me to empty myself and admit my deep need to receive your unconditional love. My highest ambition is to be a fellow servant with you in the household of faith.”

Sirach 36:1,4-5,10-17; Psalm 79:8-9,11,13

One of my favorite Ascensiontide hymns was written by Bede the Venerable. The fifth and sixth verses are particularly meaningful considering how this holy Father entered into Life Everlasting at Ascension, just minutes after completing his translation of the fourth Gospel.

"A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing"
by The Venerable Bede, 673-735
Translated by Benjamin Webb, 1820-1885

1. A Hymn of glory let us sing:
New songs throughout the world shall ring:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Chirst, by a road before untrod,
Ascendeth to the throne of God.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

2. The holy apostolic band
Upon the Mount of Olives stand;
Alleluia! Alleluia!
And with His followers they see
Jesus' resplendent majesty.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

3. To whom the angels, drawing nigh,
"Why stand and gaze upon the sky?
Alleluia! Alleluia!
This is the Savior!" thus they say;
"This is His noble triumph-day."
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

4. "Again shall ye behold Him so
As ye today have seen Him go,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
In glorious pomp ascending high
, Up to the portals of the sky."
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

5. Oh, grant us thitherward to tend
And with unwearied hearts ascend
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Unto Thy kingdom's throne, where Thou,
As is our faith, art seated now.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

6. Be Thou our Joy and strong Defense
Who art our future Recompense:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
So shall the light that springs from Thee
Be ours through all eternity.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

7. O risen Christ, ascended Lord,
All praise to Thee let earth accord,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Who art, while endless ages run,
With Father and with Spirit One.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

The Lutheran Hymnal
Hymn #212
Text: Acts 1: 11
Author: The Venerable Bede, 735
Translated by: Benjamin Webb, 1854, alt.
Titled: "Hymnum canamus gloriae"
Tune: "Lasst uns erfreuen"
1st Published in: _Geistliche Kirchengesaeng_
Town: Cologne, 1623

This sounds beautiful. Wish I could hear the music.

One Bread, One Body

<< Wednesday, May 25, 2005 >>

Venerable Bede
Pope St. Gregory VII
St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi

Sirach 36:1, 4-5, 10-17

Psalm 79

Mark 10:32-45

View Readings

NOT ME

“It cannot be like that with you.” —Mark 10:43

Christian leaders are to be totally different from worldly leaders. We are to stand out in an obvious contrast to worldly leaders in many ways, such as:

trusting God to provide what we need (Mt 6:10), rather than building our own financial security,
giving rather than saving,
surrendering control to God rather than amassing control (Lk 1:38),
serving humbly from weakness (Mk 10:43; 2 Cor 12:9-10) rather than ruling from a position of strength,
praising God rather than receiving praise ourselves (Mt 6:5),
giving even our lives for the problem people we lead, rather than getting rid of them (Mk 10:45),
serving “the needs of all” — directly and personally (Mk 10:44),
showing no favoritism (Jas 2:1), but treating all with the same interest and love, and
being always ready to hand over the leadership role to another if God requires.

Those in the world who “exercise authority lord it over them” (Mk 10:42). “It cannot be like that with you” (Mk 10:43).

Prayer: Father, “reward those who have hoped in You, and let Your prophets be proved true” (Sir 36:15).

Promise: “The Son of Man has not come to be served but to serve — to give His life in ransom for the many.” —Mk 10:45

Praise: St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi had to persevere through long periods of spiritual barrenness. Her relentless love of Jesus enabled her to endure her crosses.

Mk 10:32-45
#	Douay-Rheims	Vulgate
32	And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem: and Jesus went before them. And they were astonished and following were afraid. And taking again the twelve, he began to tell them the things that should befall him.	erant autem in via ascendentes in Hierosolyma et praecedebat illos Iesus et stupebant et sequentes timebant et adsumens iterum duodecim coepit illis dicere quae essent ei ventura
33	Saying: Behold we go up to Jerusalem, and the Son of man shall be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes and ancients. And they shall condemn him to death and shall deliver him to the Gentiles.	quia ecce ascendimus in Hierosolyma et Filius hominis tradetur principibus sacerdotum et scribis et senioribus et damnabunt eum morti et tradent eum gentibus
34	And they shall mock him and spit on him and scourge him and kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.	et inludent ei et conspuent eum et flagellabunt eum et interficient eum et tertia die resurget
35	And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come to him, saying: Master, we desire that whatsoever we shall ask, thou wouldst do it for us.	et accedunt ad illum Iacobus et Iohannes filii Zebedaei dicentes magister volumus ut quodcumque petierimus facias nobis
36	But he said to them: What would you that I should do for you?	at ille dixit eis quid vultis ut faciam vobis
37	And they said: Grant to us that we may sit, one on thy right hand and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.	et dixerunt da nobis ut unus ad dexteram tuam et alius ad sinistram tuam sedeamus in gloria tua
38	And Jesus said to them: You know not what you ask. Can you drink of the chalice that I drink of or be baptized with the baptism wherewith I am baptized?	Iesus autem ait eis nescitis quid petatis potestis bibere calicem quem ego bibo aut baptismum quo ego baptizor baptizari
39	But they said to him: We can. And Jesus saith to them: You shall indeed drink of the chalice that I drink of; and with the baptism wherewith I am baptized you shall be baptized.	at illi dixerunt ei possumus Iesus autem ait eis calicem quidem quem ego bibo bibetis et baptismum quo ego baptizor baptizabimini
40	But to sit on my right hand or on my left is not mine to give to you, but to them for whom it is prepared.	sedere autem ad dexteram meam vel ad sinistram non est meum dare sed quibus paratum est
41	And the ten, hearing it, began to be much displeased at James and John.	et audientes decem coeperunt indignari de Iacobo et Iohanne
42	But Jesus calling them, saith to them: You know that they who seem to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them: and their princes have power over them.	Iesus autem vocans eos ait illis scitis quia hii qui videntur principari gentibus dominantur eis et principes eorum potestatem habent ipsorum
43	But it is not so among you: but whosoever will be greater shall be your minister.	non ita est autem in vobis sed quicumque voluerit fieri maior erit vester minister
44	And whosoever will be first among you shall be the servant of all.	et quicumque voluerit in vobis primus esse erit omnium servus
45	For the Son of man also is not come to be ministered unto: but to minister and to give his life a redemption for many.	nam et Filius hominis non venit ut ministraretur ei sed ut ministraret et daret animam suam redemptionem pro multis

Henry IV begs Mathilda of Canossa to intercede with Pope Gregory VII for him.

I just rechecked the link on the tune name (near the bottom of my post) and it is working. Click it and you will hear the music. It is the same tune often used with the hymn "All Creatures of our God and King" based on St. Francis' "Brother Sun..." prayer.

"Show us, O Lord, the light of your kindness" bump.

Faith-sharing bump