Posted on 11/17/2008 9:44:45 PM PST by Salvation
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Tuesday of the Thirty-third Week
in Ordinary Time
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Reading 1
Rv 3:1-6, 14-22
I, John, heard the Lord saying to me:
“To the angel of the Church in Sardis, write this:
“‘The one who has the seven spirits of God
and the seven stars says this: “I know your works,
that you have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.
Be watchful and strengthen what is left, which is going to die,
for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.
Remember then how you accepted and heard; keep it, and repent.
If you are not watchful, I will come like a thief,
and you will never know at what hour I will come upon you.
However, you have a few people in Sardis
who have not soiled their garments;
they will walk with me dressed in white,
because they are worthy.
“‘The victor will thus be dressed in white,
and I will never erase his name from the book of life
but will acknowledge his name in the presence of my Father
and of his angels.
“‘Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”
“To the angel of the Church in Laodicea, write this:
“‘The Amen, the faithful and true witness,
the source of God’s creation, says this:
“I know your works;
I know that you are neither cold nor hot.
I wish you were either cold or hot.
So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold,
I will spit you out of my mouth.
For you say, ‘I am rich and affluent and have no need of anything,’
and yet do not realize that you are wretched,
pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.
I advise you to buy from me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich,
and white garments to put on
so that your shameful nakedness may not be exposed,
and buy ointment to smear on your eyes so that you may see.
Those whom I love, I reprove and chastise.
Be earnest, therefore, and repent.
“‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock.
If anyone hears my voice and opens the door,
then I will enter his house and dine with him,
and he with me.
I will give the victor the right to sit with me on my throne,
as I myself first won the victory
and sit with my Father on his throne.
“‘Whoever has ears ought to hear
what the Spirit says to the churches.’”
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 15:2-3a, 3bc-4ab, 5
R. (Rev. 3: 21) I will seat the victor beside me on my throne.
He who walks blamelessly and does justice;
who thinks the truth in his heart
and slanders not with his tongue.
R. I will seat the victor beside me on my throne.
Who harms not his fellow man,
nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor;
By whom the reprobate is despised,
while he honors those who fear the LORD.
R. I will seat the victor beside me on my throne.
Who lends not his money at usury
and accepts no bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things
shall never be disturbed.
R. I will seat the victor beside me on my throne.
Gospel
Lk 19:1-10
At that time Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town.
Now a man there named Zacchaeus,
who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man,
was seeking to see who Jesus was;
but he could not see him because of the crowd,
for he was short in stature.
So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus,
who was about to pass that way.
When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said,
“Zacchaeus, come down quickly,
for today I must stay at your house.”
And he came down quickly and received him with joy.
When they saw this, they began to grumble, saying,
“He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.”
But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord,
“Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor,
and if I have extorted anything from anyone
I shall repay it four times over.”
And Jesus said to him,
“Today salvation has come to this house
because this man too is a descendant of Abraham.
For the Son of Man has come to seek
and to save what was lost.”
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Sign of the Cross: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Apostles Creed: I BELIEVE in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day He rose again. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. >From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Lord's Prayer: OUR Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Hail Mary: HAIL Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and in the hour of our death. Amen. (Three times)
Glory Be: GLORY be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Fatima Prayer: Oh, my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of your mercy.
The Mysteries of the Rosary
By tradition, Catholics meditate on these Mysteries during prayers of the Rosary.
The biblical references follow each of the Mysteries below.
Since the 16th century Catholic piety has assigned entire months to special devotions. As a reminder of our duty to pray for the suffering faithful in Purgatory, the Church has dedicated the month of November to the Holy Souls. The Holy Souls are those who have died in the state of grace but who are not yet free from all punishment due to their unforgiven venial sins and all other sins already forgiven for which satisfaction is still to be made. They are certain of entering Heaven, but first they must suffer in Purgatory. The Holy Souls cannot help themselves because for them the night has come, when no man can work (John 9:4). It is our great privilege of brotherhood that we can shorten their time of separation from God by our prayers, good works, and, especially, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
INVOCATION Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.
FOR THE SOULS IN PURGATORY My Jesus, by the sorrows Thou didst suffer in Thine agony in the Garden, in Thy scourging and crowning with thorns, in the way to Calvary, in Thy crucifixion and death, have mercy on the souls in purgatory, and especially on those that are most forsaken; do Thou deliver them from the dire torments they endure; call them and admit them to Thy most sweet embrace in paradise. Our Father, Hail Mary, Eternal rest, etc.
FOR ALL THE DECEASED By Thy resurrection from the dead, O Christ, death no longer hath dominion over those who die in holiness. So, we beseech Thee, give rest to Thy servants in Thy sanctuary and in Abraham's bosom. Grant it to those, who from Adam until now have adored Thee with purity, to our fathers and brothers, to our kinsmen and friends, to all men who have lived by faith and passed on their road to Thee, by a thousand ways, and in all conditions, and make them worthy of the heavenly kingdom. Byzantine Liturgy
DE PROFUNDIS The psalmist is crying out here from the depression that grips him because of his sense of sin. He tells God that no man could be forgiven should strict justice be demanded; but, since God is forgiving and merciful, the psalmist (Israel) will hope for redemption from iniquities. We, who know the mercy of God far better than the g Israelites, may pray this psalm with even greater trust in God. The Church uses this psalm in the liturgy as her official prayer for the souls in Purgatory. Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord; Lord, hear my, voice! Let Your ears be attentive to my voice in supplication: If You, O Lord, mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand? But with You is forgiveness, that You may be revered. I trust in the Lord; my soul trusts in His word. My soul waits for the Lord more than sentinels wait for the dawn. More than sentinels wait for the dawn, let Israel wait for the Lord, For with the Lord is kindness and with Him is plenteous redemption; And He will redeem Israel from all their iniquities. Psalm 130
THE MISERERE This psalm is a marvelous act of contrition, confession, and supplication by a repentant sinner. It was composed by David after his sin with Bethsabee. In reparation David promises to lead others back to God by telling them of the ways of divine justice. Instead of offering God an external sacrifice which he knows He will not accept, he offers instead the sacrifice of a contrite and humble heart, a sacrifice that will always be most pleasing in the eyes of God. Have mercy on me, 0 God, in Your goodness; in the greatness of Your compassion wipe out my offense. Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me. For I acknowledge my offense, and my sin is before me always: "Against You only have I sinned, and done what is evil in Your sight"-- That You may be justified in Your sentence, vindicated when You condemn. Indeed, in guilt was I born, and in sin my mother conceived me; Behold, You are pleased with sincerity of heart, and in my inmost being You teach me wisdom. Cleanse me of sin with hyssop, that I may be purified; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear the sounds of joy and gladness; the bones You have crushed shall rejoice. Turn away Your face from my sins, and blot out all my guilt. A clean heart create for me, 0 God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me. Cast me not out from Your presence, and Your holy spirit take not from me. Give me back the joy of Your salvation, and a willing spirit sustain in me. I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall return to You. Free me from blood guilt, 0 God, my saving God; then my tongue shall revel in Your justice. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim Your praise. For You are not pleased with sacrifices; should I offer a holocaust, You would not accept it. My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a heart contrite and humbled, 0 God, You will not spurn. Be bountiful, O Lord, to Sion in Your kindness by rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem; Then shall You be pleased with due sacrifices, burnt offerings and holocausts; then shall they offer up bullocks on Your altar. Psalm 50
FOR THE SOULS IN PURGATORY O Lord, who art ever merciful and bounteous with Thy gifts, look down upon the suffering souls in purgatory. Remember not their offenses and negligences, but be mindful of Thy loving mercy, which is from all eternity. Cleanse them of their sins and fulfill their ardent desires that they may be made worthy to behold Thee face to face in Thy glory. May they soon be united with Thee and hear those blessed words which will call them to their heavenly home: "Come, blessed of My Father, take possession of the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."
| O Lord God omnipotent, I beseech You by the Precious Blood, which Your divine Son Jesus shed in the Garden, deliver the souls in purgatory, and especially that one which is the most forsaken of all, and bring it into Your glory, where it may praise and bless You for ever. Amen. |  |
| Say here: one Our Father and one Hail Mary CONCLUDING PRAYERS Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen. Merciful Father, hear our prayers and console us. As we renew our faith in Your Son, whom You raised from the dead, strengthen our hope that all our departed brothers and sisters will share in His resurrection, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. |
| O Lord God omnipotent, I beseech You by the Precious Blood, which Your divine Son Jesus shed in His cruel scourging, deliver the souls in purgatory, and among them all, especially that soul which is nearest to its entrance into Your glory, that it may soon begin to praise You and bless You for ever. Amen. |  |
| Say here: one Our Father and one Hail Mary CONCLUDING PRAYERS Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen. Merciful Father, hear our prayers and console us. As we renew our faith in Your Son, whom You raised from the dead, strengthen our hope that all our departed brothers and sisters will share in His resurrection, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. |
| O Lord God omnipotent, I beseech You by the Precious Blood of Your divine Son Jesus that was shed in His bitter crowning with thorns, deliver the souls in purgatory, and among them all, particularly that soul which is in the greatest need of our prayers, in order that it may not long be delayed in praising You in Your glory and blessing You for ever. Amen. |  |
| Say here: one Our Father and one Hail Mary CONCLUDING PRAYERS Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen. Merciful Father, hear our prayers and console us. As we renew our faith in Your Son, whom You raised from the dead, strengthen our hope that all our departed brothers and sisters will share in His resurrection, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. |
| O Lord God omnipotent, I beseech You by the Precious Blood of Your divine Son Jesus that was shed in the streets of Jerusalem while He carried on His sacred shoulders the heavy burden of the Cross, deliver the souls in purgatory and especially that one which is richest in merits in Your sight, so that, having soon attained the high place in glory to which it is destined, it may praise You triumphantly and bless You for ever. Amen |  |
| Say here: one Our Father and one Hail Mary CONCLUDING PRAYERS Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen. Merciful Father, hear our prayers and console us. As we renew our faith in Your Son, whom You raised from the dead, strengthen our hope that all our departed brothers and sisters will share in His resurrection, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. |
| O Lord God omnipotent, I beseech You by the Precious Body and Blood of Your divine Son Jesus, which He Himself on the night before His Passion gave as meat and drink to His beloved Apostles and bequeathed to His Holy Church to be the perpetual Sacrifice and life-giving nourishment of His faithful people, deliver the souls in purgatory, but most of all, that soul which was most devoted to this Mystery of infinite love, in order that it may praise You therefore, together with Your divine Son and the Holy Spirit in Your glory for ever. Amen. |  |
| Say here: one Our Father and one Hail Mary CONCLUDING PRAYERS Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen. Merciful Father, hear our prayers and console us. As we renew our faith in Your Son, whom You raised from the dead, strengthen our hope that all our departed brothers and sisters will share in His resurrection, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. |
| O Lord God omnipotent, I beseech You by the Precious Blood which Jesus Your divine Son did shed this day upon the tree of the Cross, especially from His sacred Hands and Feet, deliver the souls in purgatory, and particularly that soul for whom I am most bound to pray, in order that I may not be the cause which hinders You from admitting it quickly to the possession of Your glory where it may praise You and bless You for evermore. Amen |
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Say here: one Our Father and one Hail Mary
CONCLUDING PRAYERS Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen. Merciful Father, hear our prayers and console us. As we renew our faith in Your Son, whom You raised from the dead, strengthen our hope that all our departed brothers and sisters will share in His resurrection, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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The Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed (All Souls)
During Month of Souls, Recall Mystic, St. Gertrude the Great
From: Revelation 3:1-6, 14-22
Letter to the Church of Sardis
Letter to the Church of Laodicea
[15] “’I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold
or hot! [16] So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew
you out of my mouth. [17] For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need
nothing; not knowing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.
[18] Therefore I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, that you may
be rich, and white garments to clothe you and to keep the shame of your na-
kedness from being seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see.
[19] Those whom I love, I reprove and chasten; so be zealous and repent. [20]
Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens
the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. [21] He who
conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I myself conquered
and sat down with my Father on his throne. [22] He who has an ear, let him
hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”
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Commentary:
1. Sardis, about 50 kilometers (30 miles) south-east of Thyatira, was an impor-
tant hub in the highway system; it was also famous for its acropolis, which was
located in an unassailable position. Herodotus describes its inhabitants as im-
moral, licentious people (cf. “History”, 1, 55). The Christians of the city were
probably somewhat infected by the general atmosphere.
Christ is now depicted as possessing the fullness of the Spirit, with the power to
effect radical change by sanctifying the churches from within (cf. note on 1:4).
He is also portrayed as the sovereign Lord of the universal Church (cf. note on
2:1), ever ready to imbue it with new life.
The church of Sardis is accused of seeming to be alive but in fact being dead:
in other words, although its external practice of religion makes it look Christian,
most of its members (not all: cf. v. 4) are estranged from Christ, devoid of interior
life, in a sinful condition. Anyone who lives like that is dead. Our Lord himself de-
scribed the situation of the prodigal son as being a kind of death: “my son was
dead, and is alive again”, the father exclaims in the parable (Lk 15: 24); and St
Paul invites Christians to offer themselves to God “as men who have been
brought from death to life” (Rom 6:13). Now, in this passage of Revelation, we
are told that the cause of this spiritual, but real, death is the fact that the works
of this church are imperfect in the sight of God (v. 2); they were works which led
to spiritual death, that is, what we would term mortal sins. “With the whole tradi-
tion of the Church”, John Paul II says, “we call ‘mortal sin’ the act by which man
freely and consciously rejects God, his law, the covenant of love that God offers,
preferring to turn in on himself or to some created and finite reality, something
contrary to the divine will (”conversio ad creaturam”) [...]. Man perceives that this
disobedience to God destroys the bond that unites him with his life-principle: it
is a mortal sin, that is, an act which gravely offends God and ends in turning
against man himself with a dark and powerful force of destruction” (”Reconci-
liatio Et Paenitentia”, 17).
2-3. Vigilance is always necessary, particularly in certain situations like that of
Sardis where there was a number of people who had not fallen victim to sin. In
this kind of peril, Christians need to be alerted and confirmed in the faith. They
need to remember what they learned at the beginning, when they were instructed
in the faith, and try to bring their lives into line with that teaching. And so they are
not simply exhorted to conversion but told how to go about it—by comparing their
lives with the Word of God and making the necessary changes: “no one is safe if
he ceases to strive against himself. Nobody can save himself by his own efforts.
Everyone in the Church needs specific means to strengthen himself—humility,
which disposes us to accept help and advice; mortifications, which temper the
heart and allow Christ to reign in it; the study of abiding, sound doctrine, which
leads us to conserve and spread our faith” (St. J. Escriva, “Christ Is Passing
By”, 81).
“I will come like a thief”: an image also found elsewhere in the New Testament
(cf. Mt 24:42-51, Mk 13:36; Lk 12:39ff; 1 Thess 5:2; 2 Pet 3: 10). This does not
mean that our Lord is lying in wait, ready to pounce on man when he is una-
wares, like a hunter waiting for his prey. It is simply a warning to us to live in the
grace of God and be ready to render our account to him. If we do that we will not
run the risk of being found empty-handed at the moment of death. “That day will
come for us. It will be our last day, but we are not afraid of it. Trusting firmly in
God’s grace, we are ready from this very moment to be generous and coura-
geous, and take loving care of little things: we are ready to go and meet our
Lord, with our lamps burning brightly. For the feast of feasts awaits us in heaven”
(St. J. Escriva, “Friends of God”, 40).
4-5. Despite the corrupt environment in which they were living, there were some
Christians who had not been contaminated by the immoral cults and lifestyles of
the pagans: their loyalty is symbolized by white garments. In the course of nar-
rating his visions St John mentions white garments a number of times (cf. 7:9,
13; 15:6; 19:14); this color symbolizes purity and also the joy of victory.
The symbol of the “book of life”, which occurs often in the Apocalypse (cf. 13:8;
17:8; 20:12, 15; 21:27; etc.), is taken from the Old Testament, where those who
belong to the people of Israel are described as enrolled in the “book of the living”,
which is also referred to as the book of the Lord (cf. Ps 69:28; Ex 32:32ff). Those
whose names are in the book will share in the promises of salvation (cf. Is 4:3),
whereas those who are unfaithful to the Law will be excluded from the people of
God and their names blotted out of the “book of the living”. Other New Testa-
ment texts use the same image (cf., e.g., Lk 10:20; Phil 4:3).
The names of the victors will stay in the “book of life” which lists those who have
proved loyal to Christ, as well as those who belonged to the people of Israel.
Finally, on Judgment Day, those Christians who have kept the faith, will be spo-
ken for by Christ (cf. Mt 10:32; Lk 12:8).
14. Laodicea was a city on the border of Phrygia, about 75 kilometers (45 miles)
south-west of Philadelphia. It is also mentioned by St Paul when he suggests to
the Colossians that they exchange his letter to them for the one he sent the
Laodiceans (cf. Col 4:16).
Jesus Christ is given the title of “the Amen”; a similar description is applied to
Christ in 2 Corinthians 1:20. Both texts are instances of a divine name being ap-
plied to Christ, thereby asserting his divinity. “Amen”, so be it, is an assertion
of truth and veracity and connects with the title of “the true one” in the previous
letter. It highlights the fact that our Lord is strong, dependable and unchangeable;
the words that follow, “faithful and true witness”, spell out the full meaning of the
“Amen” title (cf. 1:5).
The most satisfactory interpretation of the phrase “the beginning of God’s crea-
tion” is in terms of Jesus Christ’s role in creation: for “all things were made
through him” (Jn 1:3) and therefore he, along with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
is the Creator of heaven and earth.
15-16. The prosperity Laodicea enjoyed may have contributed to the laxity and
lukewarmness the church is accused of here (Israel tended to take the same di-
rection when living was easy: the people would become forgetful of Yahweh and
adopt an easy-going lifestyle: cf., e.g., Deut 31:20; 32:15; Hos 13:6; Jer 5:7).
The presence of hot springs close to the city explains the language used in this
passage, which amounts to a severe indictment of lukewarmness. It shows God’s
repugnance for mediocrity and bourgeois living. As observed by Cassian, one of
the founders of Western monasticism, lukewarmness is something that needs to
be nipped in the bud: “No one should attribute his going astray to any sudden col-
lapse, but rather [...] to his having moved away from virtue little by little, through
prolonged mental laziness. That is the way bad habits gain round without one’s
even noticing it, and eventually lead to a sudden collapse. ‘Pride goes before de-
struction, and a haughty spirit before a fall’ (Prov 16:18). The same thing happens
with a house: it collapses one fine day due to some ancient defect in its founda-
tion or long neglect by the occupiers” (”Collationes”, VI, 17).
Spiritual lukewarmness and mediocrity are very closely related: neither is the
route Christian life should take. As Monsignor Escriva puts it, “’In medio virtus’....
Virtue is to be found in the middle, so the saying goes, warning us against extre-
mism. But do not make the mistake of turning that advice into a euphemism to
disguise your own comfort, calculation, lukewarmness, easygoingness, lack of
idealism and mediocrity.
“Meditate on these words of Sacred Scripture: ‘Would that you were cold or hot.
So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of
my mouth”’ (”Furrow”, 541).
17-19. The Christians of Laodicea did not realize how precarious their spiritual
situation was. The city’s flourishing trade and industry, and the fact that the
church was not being persecuted in any way, made them eel prosperous and
content: they were proud as well as lukewarm. They had fallen victim to that self-
conceit the wealthy are always inclined to feel and which moved our Lord to say
that rich people enter heaven only with difficulty (cf. Mt 19:23); he often pointed
to the dangers of becoming attached to material things (cf. Lk 1:53; 6:24; 12:21;
16:19- 31; 18:23-25). The Laodiceans had become proud in their prosperity and
did not see the need for divine grace (which is worth more than all the wealth in
the world). As St Paul says in one of his letters: “Whatever gain I had, I counted
as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed I count everything as loss because of the
surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered
the loss of all things, and count them as refuse, in order that I may gain Christ”
(Phil 3:7-8).
There was an important textile industry in Laodicea which specialized in the
manufacture of black woolen cloth. Instead of wearing that material, the Laodi-
ceans must dress in garments which only our Lord can provide and which are
the mark of the elect (cf., e.g., Mt 17:2 and par; Rev 3:4-5; 7:9). The city was
also famous for its oculists, like Zeuxis and Philetos, who had developed a very
effective ointment for the eyes. Jesus offers an even better ointment—one which
will show them the dangerous state they are in. This dire warning comes from
God’s love, not his anger: it is his affection that leads him to reprove and correct
his people: ‘the Lord reproves whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he
delights” (Prov 3:12). After quoting these same words the Epistle to the Hebrews
adds: “It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons;
for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without
discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and
not sons” (12:7-8).
“Be zealous”: stop being lukewarm and enter the fervor of charity, have an ardent
zeal for the glory of God.
20-21. Christ knocking on the door is one of the most touching images in the Bi-
ble. It is reminiscent of the Song of Songs, where the bridegroom says, “Open to
me, my sister, my dove, my perfect one; for my head is wet with dew, my locks
with the drops of the might” (Song 5:2). It is a way of describing God’s love for us,
inviting us to greater intimacy with him, as happens in a thousand ways in the
course of our life. We should be listening for his knock, ready to open the door
to Christ. A writer from the Golden Age of Spanish literature evokes this scene in
poetry: “How many times the angel spoke to me:/’Look out of your window now,
/you’ll see how lovingly he calls and calls.’/Yet, sovereign beauty, how often/I re-
plied, ‘We’ll open for you tomorrow’,/ to reply the same when the morrow came”
(Lope de Vega, “Rimas Sacras”, Sonnet 18).
Our Lord awaits our response to his call, and when we make the effort to revive
our interior life we experience the indescribable joy of intimacy with him. “At first
it will be a bit difficult. You must make an effort to seek out the Lord, to thank
him for his fatherly and practical concern for us. Although it is not really a matter
of feeling, little by little the love of God makes itself felt like a rustle in the soul.
It is Christ who pursues us lovingly: ‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock’ (Rev
3:20). How is your life of prayer going? At times during the day don’t you feel the
impulse to have a longer talk with him? Don’t you then whisper to him that you
will tell him about it later, in a heart-to-heart conversation [...]. Prayer then be-
comes continuous, like the beating of our heart, like our pulse. Without this pre-
sence of God, there is no contemplative life; and without contemplative life, our
working for Christ is worth very little, for vain is the builder’s toil if the house is
not of the Lord’s building (cf. Ps 126:1)” (St. J. Escriva, “Christ Is Passing By”,
8).
Jesus promises that those who conquer will sit beside him on his throne. He
gave a similar promise to St Peter about how the Apostles would sit on twelve
thrones to Judge the twelve tribes of Israel (cf. Mt 19:28; 20:20ff). The “throne” is
a reference to the sovereign authority Christ has received from the Father. There-
fore, the promise of a seat beside him is a way of saying that those who stay
faithful will share in Christ’s victory and kingship (cf. 1 Cor 6:2-3).
*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.
Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.
From: Luke 19:1-10
The Conversion of Zacchaeus
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Commentary:
1-10. Jesus Christ is the Savior of mankind; He has healed many sick people,
has raised the dead to life and, particularly, has brought forgiveness of sin and
the gift of grace to those who approach Him in faith. As in the case of the sinful
woman (cf. Luke 7:36-50), here He brings salvation to Zacchaeus, for the mis-
sion of the Son of Man is to save that which was lost.
Zacchaeus was a tax collector and, as such, was hated by the people, because
the tax collectors were collaborators of the Roman authorities and were often
guilty of abuses. The Gospel implies that this man also had things to seek for-
giveness for (cf. verses 7-10). Certainly he was very keen to see Jesus (no doubt
moved by grace) and he did everything he could to do so. Jesus rewards his
efforts by staying as a guest in his house. Moved by our Lord’s presence Zac-
chaeus begins to lead a new life.
The crowd begin to grumble against Jesus for showing affection to a man they
consider to be an evildoer. Our Lord makes no excuses for his behavior: He ex-
plains that this is exactly why He has come—to seek out sinners. He is putting
into practice the parable of the lost sheep (cf. Luke 15:4-7), which was already
prophesied in Ezekiel: “I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and
I will bind up the crippled, and I will strengthen the weak” (34:16).
4. Zacchaeus wants to see Jesus, and to do so he has to go out and mix with
the crowd. Like the blind man of Jericho he has to shed any kind of human res-
pect. In our own search for God we should not let false shame or fear of ridicule
prevent us from using the resources available to us to meet our Lord. “Convince
yourself that there is no such thing as ridicule for whoever is doing what is best”
(St. J. Escriva, “The Way”, 392).
5-6. This is a very good example of the way God acts to save men. Jesus calls
Zacchaeus personally, using his name, suggesting he invite Him home. The
Gospel states that Zacchaeus does so promptly and joyfully. This is how we
should respond when God calls us by means of grace.
8. Responding immediately to grace, Zacchaeus makes it known that he will
restore fourfold anything he obtained unjustly—thereby going beyond what is laid
down in the Law of Moses (cf. Exodus 21:37f). And in generous compensation
he gives half his wealth to the poor.” Let the rich learn”, St. Ambrose comments,
“that evil does not consist in having wealth, but in not putting it to good use; for
just as riches are an obstacle to evil people, they are also a means of virtue for
good people” (”Expositio Evangelii Sec. Lucam, in loc.”). Cf. note on Luke
16:9-11).
10. Jesus’ ardent desire to seek out a sinner to save him fills us with hope of
attaining eternal salvation. “He chooses a chief tax collector: who can despair
when such a man obtains grace?” (St. Ambrose, “Expositio Evangelii Sec.
Lucam, in loc.”).
*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.
Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.
| First reading | Apocalypse 3:1-6,14-22 © |
|---|---|
| I, John, heard the Lord saying to me: ‘Write to the angel of the church in Sardis and say, “Here is the message of the one who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars: I know all about you: how you are reputed to be alive and yet are dead. Wake up; revive what little you have left: it is dying fast. So far I have failed to notice anything in the way you live that my God could possibly call perfect, and yet do you remember how eager you were. when you first heard the message? Hold on to that. Repent. If you do not wake up, I shall come to you like a thief, without telling you at what hour to expect me. There are a few in Sardis, it is true, who have kept their robes from being dirtied, and they are fit to come with me, dressed in white. Those who prove victorious will be dressed, like these, in white robes; I shall not blot their names out of the book of life, but acknowledge their names in the presence of my Father and his angels. If anyone has ears to hear, let him listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.” ‘Write to the angel of the church in Laodicea and say, “Here is the message of the Amen, the faithful, the true witness, the ultimate source of God’s creation: I know all about you: how you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were one or the other, but since you are neither, but only lukewarm, I will spit you out of my mouth. You say to yourself, ‘I am rich, I have made a fortune, and have everything I want’, never realising that you are wretchedly and pitiably poor, and blind and naked too. I warn you, buy from me the gold that has been tested in the fire to make you really rich, and white robes to clothe you and cover your shameful nakedness, and eye ointment to put on your eyes so that you are able to see. I am the one who reproves and disciplines all those he loves: so repent in real earnest. Look, I am standing at the door, knocking. If one of you hears me calling and opens the door, I will come in to share his meal, side by side with him. Those who prove victorious I will allow to share my throne, just as I was victorious myself and took my place with my Father on his throne. If anyone has ears to hear, let him listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.”’ |
|
| Psalm or canticle: Psalm 14:2-5 |
| Gospel | Luke 19:1-10 © |
|---|---|
| Jesus entered Jericho and was going through the town when a man whose name was Zacchaeus made his appearance; he was one of the senior tax collectors and a wealthy man. He was anxious to see what kind of man Jesus was, but he was too short and could not see him for the crowd; So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to catch a glimpse of Jesus who was to pass that way. When Jesus reached the spot he looked up and spoke to him: ‘Zacchaeus, come down. Hurry, because I must stay at your house today.’ And he hurried down and welcomed him joyfully. They all complained when they saw what was happening. ‘He has gone to stay at a sinner’s house’ they said. But Zacchaeus stood his ground and said to the Lord, ‘Look, sir, I am going to give half my property to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody I will pay him back four times the amount’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because this man too is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek out and save what was lost.’ | |
| Tuesday, November 18, 2008 Dedication of the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul (Optional Memorial) |
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The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary:
Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word.
And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us.
Amen. |
Thanks again.
| Lk 19:1-28 | ||
|---|---|---|
| # | Douay-Rheims | Vulgate |
| 1 | And entering he walked through Jericho. | et ingressus perambulabat Hiericho |
| 2 | And behold, there was a man named Zacheus, who was the chief of the publicans: and he was rich. | et ecce vir nomine Zaccheus et hic erat princeps publicanorum et ipse dives |
| 3 | And he sought to see Jesus who he was: and he could not for the crowd, because he was low of stature. | et quaerebat videre Iesum quis esset et non poterat prae turba quia statura pusillus erat |
| 4 | And running before, he climbed up into a sycamore tree, that he might see him: for he was to pass that way. | et praecurrens ascendit in arborem sycomorum ut videret illum quia inde erat transiturus |
| 5 | And when Jesus was come to the place, looking up, he saw him and said to him: Zacheus, make haste and come down: for this day I must abide in thy house. | et cum venisset ad locum suspiciens Iesus vidit illum et dixit ad eum Zacchee festinans descende quia hodie in domo tua oportet me manere |
| 6 | And he made haste and came down and received him with joy. | et festinans descendit et excepit illum gaudens |
| 7 | And when all saw it, they murmured, saying, that he was gone to be a guest with a man that was a sinner. | et cum viderent omnes murmurabant dicentes quod ad hominem peccatorem devertisset |
| 8 | But Zacheus standing, said to the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have wronged any man of any thing, I restore him fourfold. | stans autem Zaccheus dixit ad Dominum ecce dimidium bonorum meorum Domine do pauperibus et si quid aliquem defraudavi reddo quadruplum |
| 9 | Jesus said to him: This day is salvation come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham. | ait Iesus ad eum quia hodie salus domui huic facta est eo quod et ipse filius sit Abrahae |
| 10 | For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. | venit enim Filius hominis quaerere et salvum facere quod perierat |
If this is the first Hour that you are reciting today, you should precede it with the Invitatory Psalm.
O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.
A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.
| Psalm 9B (10) |
|---|
| Thanksgiving |
| With what purpose, Lord, do you stay away, hide yourself in time of need and trouble? The wicked in their pride persecute the weak, trap them in the plots they have devised. The sinner glories in his desires, the miser congratulates himself. The sinner in his arrogance rejects the Lord: “there is no God, no retribution.” This is what he thinks – and all goes well for him. Your judgements are far beyond his comprehension: he despises all who stand against him. The sinner says to himself: “I will stand firm; nothing can touch me, from generation to generation.” His mouth is full of malice and deceit, under his tongue hide trouble and distress. He lies in ambush by the villages, he kills the innocent in some secret place. He watches the weak, he hides like a lion in its lair, and makes plans. He plans to rob the weak, lure him to his trap and rob him. He rushes in, makes a dive, and the poor victim is caught. For he has said to himself, “God has forgotten. He is not watching, he will never see.” Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Psalm 9B (10) |
|---|
| Rise up, Lord, raise your hand! Do not forget the weak. Why does the wicked man spurn God? Because he says to himself, “you will not take revenge.” But you do see: you see the trouble and the pain, and then you take things into your own hands. The weak fall to your care, and you are the help of the orphan. Break the arms of the sinner and evil-doer: seek out wickedness until there is no more to be found. The Lord is King for ever and for ever. The Gentiles have perished from his land. You have heard the prayer of the weak, Lord, and you will strengthen their hearts. You will lend your ear to the pleas of the orphans and the helpless, so mere mortals can frighten them no longer. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Psalm 11 (12) |
|---|
| A prayer against the proud |
| Save me, Lord, for the good men are all gone: there is no-one to be trusted among the sons of men. Neighbour speaks falsehood to neighbour: with lying lips and crooked hearts they speak. Let the Lord condemn all lying lips, all boastful tongues. They say “Our tongues will make us great, our lips are ours, we have no master.” “On account of the sufferings of the poor, the groans of the weak, I will rise up,” says the Lord. “I will bring to safety the one whom men despise.” The words of the Lord are pure words, silver tried by fire, freed from dross, silver seven times refined. You, Lord, will help us and guard us from now to all eternity – while the wicked walk round outside, where the vilest are most honoured of the children of men. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Reading | Zechariah 9:1-10:2 © |
|---|---|
| The Lord has passed through the land of Hadrach and Damascus is his dwelling-place; for the cities of Aram belong to the Lord no less than all the tribes of Israel; Hamath too, which borders on it, (Tyre) and Sidon also, despite her acumen. Tyre has built herself a rampart, has heaped up silver like dust and gold like the dirt of the streets. And now the Lord is going to take possession of her; he will topple her power into the sea; she herself will be consumed by fire. Seeing this, Ashkelon will be terrified, and Gaza be seized with trembling, so will Ekron, at the ruin of her prospects; the king will vanish from Gaza and Ashkelon remain unpeopled, but the bastard will live in Ashdod! I mean to destroy the arrogance of the Philistine; I intend to take his blood out of his mouth and his abomination from between his teeth. He too will become a remnant for our God and be like a family in Judah. Ekron shall be like the Jebusite. Near my house I will take my stand like a watchman on guard against prowlers; the tyrant shall pass their way no more, because I have now taken notice of its distress. Rejoice heart and soul, daughter of Zion! Shout with gladness, daughter of Jerusalem! See now, your king comes to you; he is victorious, he is triumphant, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. He will banish chariots from Ephraim and horses from Jerusalem; the bow of war will be banished. He will proclaim peace for the nations. His empire shall stretch from sea to sea, from the River to the ends of the earth. As for you, because of the blood of your covenant I am sending back your prisoners from the pit (in which there is no water). To you, daughter of Zion, the hopeful captives will return. In compensation for your days of banishment I will give you back double. For I bend my bow; it is Judah; I make Ephraim its arrow. I am going to brandish your children, Zion, (against your children, Javan); I mean to make you like the sword of a hero. The Lord will appear above them and his arrow will flash out like lightning. The Lord will sound the trumpet and advance in the storms of the south. The Lord (of Hosts) will protect them! They will trample sling stones underfoot, they will drink blood like wine, they will be soaked in it like the horns of an altar. The Lord their God will give them victory when that day comes; he will pasture his people like a flock (like the flashing jewels of a diadem) on his land. What joy and what beauty shall be theirs! Corn will make the young men flourish, and sweet wine the maidens. Ask the Lord for rain at the time of the spring rains. For it is the Lord who sends the lightning and gives the showers of rain; he gives bread to man, and grass to the cattle. Because the teraphim utter futile words and the diviners have lying visions and publish empty dreams and voice misleading nonsense, naturally the people stray like sheep; they wander because they have no shepherd. |
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| Reading | A discourse by St Andrew of Crete |
|---|---|
| Behold, your king is coming to you, the Holy One, the Savior | |
| Let us say to Christ: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the king of Israel. Let us hold before him like palm branches those final words inscribed above the cross. Let us show him honour, not with olive branches but with the splendour of merciful deeds to one another. Let us spread the thoughts and desires of our hearts under his feet like garments, so that entering us with the whole of his being, he may draw the whole of our being into himself and place the whole of his in us. Let us say to Zion in the words of the prophet: Have courage, daughter of Zion, do not be afraid. Behold, your king comes to you, humble and mounted on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden. He is coming who is everywhere present and pervades all things; he is coming to achieve in you his work of universal salvation. He is coming who came to call to repentance not the righteous but sinners, coming to recall those who have strayed into sin. Do not be afraid, then: God is in the midst of you, and you shall not be shaken. Receive him with open, outstretched hands, for it was on his own hands that he sketched you. Receive him who laid your foundations on the palms of his hands. Receive him, for he took upon himself all that belongs to us except sin, to consume what is ours in what is his. Be glad, city of Zion, our mother, and fear not. Celebrate your feasts. Glorify him for his mercy, who has come to us in you. Rejoice exceedingly, daughter of Jerusalem, sing and leap for joy. Be enlightened, be enlightened, we cry to you, as holy Isaiah trumpeted, for the light has come to you and the glory of the Lord has risen over you. What kind of light is this? It is that which enlightens every man coming into the world. It is the everlasting light, the timeless light revealed in time, the light manifested in the flesh although hidden by nature, the light that shone round the shepherds and guided the Magi. It is the light that was in the world from the beginning, through which the world was made, yet the world did not know it. It is that light which came to its own, and its own people did not receive it. And what is this glory of the Lord? Clearly it is the cross on which Christ was glorified, he, the radiance of the Father’s glory, even as he said when he faced his passion: Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him, and will glorify him at once. The glory of which he speaks here is his lifting up on the cross, for Christ’s glory is his cross and his exultation upon it, as he plainly says: When I have been lifted up, I will draw all men to myself. |
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| Concluding Prayer |
|---|
| O Lord our God, grant that we may always find joy in serving you; for if we constantly serve the one from whom all good things come, it will give us perfect happiness for ever. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen. |
Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne, Virgin
Optional Memorial
November 18th
[In the Diocese of the United States]
1769-1852 She founded a boarding school for daughters of pioneers near St. Louis and opened the first free school west of the Missouri. At seventy-one she began a school for Native Americans. In her life she showed great courage in frontier conditions and a single-mindedness in pursuing her dream of serving Native Americans.
Source: Daily Roman Missal, Edited by Rev. James Socías, Midwest Theological Forum, Chicago, Illinois ©2003
Collect:
Gracious God,
you filled the heart of Philippine Duchesne
with charity and missionary zeal,
and gave her the desire
to make you known among all peoples.
Fill us who honor her memory today,
with that same love and zeal
to extend your kingdom to the ends of the earth.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.Readings are taken from the Common of virgins
Dedication of the Basilica
of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles
Optional Memorial
November 18th
The dedication of these basilicsa were celebrated annually as early as the twelfth century. Both were completed in the fourth century. St. Peter's Basilica was built over the tomb of St. Peter was rebuilt in the seventeenth century. St. Paul's Basilica, on the Ostian Way, was likewise built over St. Paul's tomb and was rebuilt in the nineteenth century.
Source: Daily Roman Missal, Edited by Rev. James Socías, Midwest Theological Forum, Chicago, Illinois ©2003
Collect:
Lord,
give your Church the protection of the apostles.
From them it first received the faith of Christ.
May they help your Church to Grow in your grace
until the end of time.
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. +Amen.First Reading: Acts of the apostles: 28:11-16, 30-31
After three months we set sail in a ship which had wintered in the island, a ship of Alexandria, with the Twin Brothers as figurehead. Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there for three days. And from there we made a circuit and arrived at Rhegium; and after one day a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli. There we found brethren, and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome. And the brethren there, when they heard of us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them Paul thanked God and took courage. And when we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier that guarded him.Gospel: Matthew 14:22-33
Then He made the disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds. And after He had dismissed the crowds, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone, but the boat by this time was many furlongs distant from the land, beaten by the waves; for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. But immediately He spoke to them, saying, "Take heart, it is I; have no fear." And Peter answered Him, "Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus; but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." Jesus immediately reached out His hand and caught Him, saying to him, "O man of little faith, why did you doubt?" And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshipped Him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."
Collect: Lord, give your Church the protection of the apostles. From them it first received the faith of Christ. May they help your Church to grow in your grace until the end of time. 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. Amen.
Optional Memorials of the Dedication of the Churches of Peter and Paul, apostles; St. Rose Philippine Duchesne, virgin (USA)
Old Calendar: Dedication of the Basilicas of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul
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The whole Church celebrates today the dedication of the two great Roman basilicas of St. Peter at the Vatican and of St. Paul-outside-the-Walls. The basilica of St. Peter stands on the site of the tomb of the Prince of the Apostles, where stood Nero's circus. It was here that St. Peter was executed. Recent excavations have shown that the present basilica which, in the seventeenth century replaced the ancient Constantinian basilica, was built over the tomb of St. Peter, just as the previous basilica. It was consecrated by Urban VIII on November 18, 1626. St. Paul-outside-the-Walls, situated at the other end of the city on the Ostian Way, is built near the place St. Paul was martyred. It was almost completely destroyed by fire in 1823 and was rebuilt in sumptuous fashion by Gregory XVI and Pius IX and consecrated by the latter on December 10, 1854. The celebration of the anniversary of these two dedications has been kept, nevertheless, on November 18.
St. Rose was born in Grenoble, France in 1769, and became a Visitation nun during the French Revolution. After her convent was closed during the reign of terror, she joined the Society of the Sacred Heart. She was sent to the Louisiana territory as a missionary and founded a boarding school for daughters of pioneers near St. Louis and opened the first free school west of Missouri. She also began a school for Indians. She died in 1882 in St. Charles, Missouri, and was canonized in 1988.
Today's feast is a spiritual journey to two holy tombs, that of St. Peter and that of St. Paul in Rome. These two basilicas, marking the place of each apostle's martyrdom, are the common heritage and glory of Christendom; it is, therefore, easily seen why we observe their dedication. Abbot Herwegen makes the following observations on St. Peter's in Rome. The Eternal City has two principal churches, St. John Lateran and St. Peter's. Since ancient times the Lateran basilica, the mother of all churches on earth, has been the church proper to the bishop of Rome in his position as head of the local community. Here the Lenten season was opened and the Easter liturgy solemnized. The basilica of St. Peter, on the other hand, was the church of non-Romans, of pilgrims who journeyed to the city where the two great apostles were martyred. Here those celebrations were held which expressed the universal character of the Roman Church, e.g., Epiphany and the noon Mass on Christmas. The Introits, Lessons, and chants of both these feasts are best explained as proclaiming Christ's universal dominion and His royal majesty.
The third lesson gives the history regarding the construction of the two basilicas. Among the holy places which the first Christians held in honor, those sites were especially dear where the bodies of holy martyrs lay. Great veneration was accorded that area of the Vatican Hill where the grave of St. Peter was located. From all lands Christians made pilgrimages to it as to the rock of faith and the foundation of the Church. In due time the legend arose that Emperor Constantine the Great, eight days after his baptism, took off his diadem, threw himself humbly upon the earth, and shed many tears. Then with pick and shovel he started digging and, in memory of the twelve apostles, carried away twelve baskets of ground; thereby he set the boundaries of the basilica to be built in honor of St. Peter. When finished, the edifice was solemnly consecrated by Pope Sylvester I.
Pope Sylvester had ordered the altar to be of stone; he anointed it with chrism and decreed that in the future only stone altars were to be used. A new church, the present St. Peter's, was consecrated by Pope Urban VIII on November 18, 1626. The ancient basilica of St. Paul was destroyed by fire in 1823; a new structure was consecrated by Pius IX on December 10, 1854, the occasion of the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception.
In the perspective of the liturgy, the two churches honored today are prime examples connoting the heavenly Jerusalem. The liturgy excels in the pedagogy of passing from the material to the supernatural — the precedent for which on the point in question was already set by the author of the Apocalypse.
Excerpted from The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch.
Things to Do:
Philippine was the daughter of a prominent French lawyer and was educated by the Visitation nuns, whom she later joined. During the French Revolution the Order was dispersed and for some years she served the sick and the poor as well as fugitive priests. In 1804 she joined the Religious of the Sacred Heart, founded by St. Madeline Sophie Barat. When Bishop Dubourg of New Orleans asked for nuns for his young American diocese, Philippine begged for permission to go with him. She was forty-nine years old when she arrived at St. Louis, Missouri, with four companions, and established the first convent of the Society at St. Charles.
Cold, hunger, illness, poverty, and opposition were the lot of the young community, but the indomitable courage of the holy foundress overcame all obstacles. She opened a school for Indians and whites at Florissant, the first free school west of the Mississippi. She established houses at various places which were the beginnings of noted schools and colleges conducted today by the Society. Her one ambition, however, was to work among the Indians. She was seventy-one years old when she obtained the coveted permission from Mother Barat, who wrote: "Don't try to stop her; it was for the Indians that she went to America."
With three companions she traveled by boat and oxcart to Sugar Creek, Kansas, to labor there among the Potawatomi's. Their convent was a wigwam, they slept on the bare ground, and the food was coarse. They opened a school for Indian girls and taught them sewing, weaving, and other household arts. Philippine thought herself a failure because she could not master English, much less the Indian language, but her holiness made a deep impression on the Indians who called her "the woman who always prays," because she spent so much time in the chapel. A priest said of her: "The Indians used her kindness as one uses water — without thinking of it, for they were sure of finding it always fresh and pure."
The severe winters and the lack of proper food sapped her health and she was sent back to St. Charles. Here she spent the last decade of her life, praying "for her Indians" and for the Society which she had established and which was growing rapidly. She died at St. Charles, thinking herself a failure, yet she was the first missionary nun among the Indians, blazing the trail for a host of valiant women who were to follow her.
Excerpted from A Saint A Day, Berchmans Bittle, O.F.M.Cap.
Patron: Opposition of Church authorities; diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
Things to Do:
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