August 2013
Pope's Intentions
Parents and Teachers. That parents and teachers may help the new generation to grow in upright conscience and life.
The Church in Africa. That the local Church in Africa, faithfully proclaiming the Gospel, may promote peace and justice.
Saint Bartholomew, apostle - Feast
Commentary of the day
Saint Peter Damian (1007-1072), hermit then Bishop, Doctor of the Church
Sermon 42, 2nd for Saint Bartholomew ; PL 144, 726
"You will see the sky opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man"
The apostles' glory is so indistinguishable and so bonded together by the cement of so many graces that in celebrating the feast of one of them the common greatness of all is called to our interior attention. For they share together the same authority of supreme judge, the same honorable rank, and they hold the same power to bind and loose (Mt 19,28; 18,18). They are those precious pearls that Saint John tells us he beheld in the Book of Revelation out of which are constructed the gates of the heavenly Jerusalem (Rv 21,21.14)... And indeed, whenever the apostles beam divine light through their signs or miracles, they open up the heavenly glory of Jerusalem to all peoples who have been converted to the christian faith...
Of them, too, the prophet says: “Who are these who fly along like clouds?” (Is 60,8)... God raises the minds of his preachers to contemplation of truths on high... so that they can abundantly pour down the rain of God's word into our hearts. Thus they drink water from the spring so as to give us drink too. Saint Bartholomew drew from the fulness of this spring when the Holy Spirit came upon him, as on the other apostles, in the form of tongues of fire (Acts 2,3).
Perhaps, hearing of fire, you don't see its relationship to water? But listen to how our Lord calls “water” the Holy Spirit who came down like fire on the apostles: “Let anyone who thirsts,” he says, “come to me and drink”. And he adds: “Whoever believes in me – as scripture says – 'Rivers of living water will flow from within him'.” And the evangelist explains: “He said this in reference to the Spirit that those who came to believe in him were to receive” (Jn 7,37-39). The Psalmist, too, says to believers: “They have their fill of the prime gifts of your house; from your delightful stream you give them.