St Bridget, Apostle Of The Passion



 

On a trip to Rome a few months ago I visited the Church of St Bridget of Sweden in the Piazza Farnese.  I had visited the church before, but this time I made a point of calling in to greet the sisters and request a visit to the rooms of St Bridget.  The sisters were very kind and I got a wonderful tour by a lovely German sister.  I learned a great deal about the Saint, including one snippet of information which had particular interest for me as an Irishman:  St Bridget of Sweden was called after St Brigid of Ireland. St Bridget's mother had a devotion to our Brigid and so named her daughter after her, though the spelling is slightly different.

 

St Bridget always fascinated me, partly because my own mother bears her name, but also because Bridget was part of that spiritual movement in the 14th century which sought to rekindle a renewal of spiritual life, one to which a later Saint, St Catherine of Siena, would dedicate her life.  At the heart of St Bridget's plan of reform was meditation on the passion of the Lord. Later reformers would take up this spirituality, notably St Alphonsus Ligouri and St Paul of the Cross.  St Bridget was credited with writing the famous Fifteen Prayers which are said to be the fruit of various visions.  Now, while we cannot prove for certain that Bridget actually wrote these prayers, we do know that they share her spiritual vision and can lead us to understand her spirituality.

 

We cannot escape the passion of the Lord, and it is necessary for us to meditate on it frequently.  For one thing as we pray the passion we realise that we were redeemed by the death of Christ, offered as free gift in love; a gift we cannot earn, but one we are asked to receive and live, re-orienting our lives to conform with the love that is revealed on the cross.  Why does the Church ask us to follow the Gospel? Because it is the way our Crucified Lord laid out for us, it is the way to heaven and it takes us into the pierced Heart of Christ where we will find our salvation and our eternal life.  The truth of the Gospel is guaranteed by the Suffering and Risen Saviour, and so in abandoning ourselves to the passion of the Lord, we come to understand the Gospel and we are inspired to live it, not as a daily toil, but as daily offering of love.

The Role To End All Roles

It is well known, and often remarked upon, that the actor Robert Powell could never shake off the role of Jesus after having played him in the successful mini-series Jesus of Nazareth.  He found it difficult to get other roles because people always associated him with Jesus.  I think one actress was quoted as saying that she found it difficult doing an on-screen kiss with Powell because it was like kissing Jesus.  His hard luck was due to stereotyping, it seems another actor who also played the Lord is also having a tough time, though not because of stereotyping.

Jim Caviezel who played Jesus in The Passion of the Christ has been talking recently about his difficulties in finding work in the last few years.  He recalls in an interview that after Mel Gibson offered him the part, the director then asked him not take it because it would probably destroy his career. Caviezel went ahead remarking that we all had a cross to carry; whether he realised at the time that the cross would be as big as it turned out to be I'm not sure: but it has been a big cross.

While Powell suffered from stereotyping, Caviezel is probably suffering from bigotry.  The Passion of the Christ had its enemies in Hollywood (and even in the Church), so those involved took a big risk in seeing the project through.   Caviezel rightly says he will receive his reward in heaven, with God's help he will - but he does have to eat and provide for a family, so we will keep him in our prayers.  He is a fine actor, perhaps not Hollywood Idol status, though he has the looks, but he has the ability to be a great actor, so I hope the Lord will provide for him.  All of this, of course, reveals a nasty anti-Christian (anti-Catholic?) side of Hollywood and the film industry.  It also reveals appalling double standards. 

However, Caviezel is upbeat, God bless him. In his interview he also says something very interesting and true for all of us Christians in a time like this: "We have to give up our names, our reputations, our lives, to speak the truth". 

Most Precious Blood of Jesus

This morning I will be offering a Votive Mass in honour of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus - probably the last time I will do so until after Advent and Christmas.  I often offer this Mass on Fridays of Ordinary Time because it is a devotion which is well worth reviving.  Since Vatican II devotion to the Precious Blood seems to have dropped out of Church's liturgical life.  The suppression of the feast of the Precious Blood, celebrated on the 1st July did not help.  Of course that feast was incorporated into Corpus Christi, but it has been lost, and little is now said about the Precious Blood.  I was most impressed when the Holy Father offered the Votive Mass during his visit to Britian - Westminster Cathedral is dedicated to the Precious Blood, so it was appropriate.  But I hope the Holy Father's choice will help revive the devotion.

Interestingly, devotion to the Precious Blood might actually help our relations with our Protestant brethern.  A friend of mine told me of a conversation she had with a relation of hers who has embraced evangelical Protestantism.  Her relation was railing against the Catholic Church and her idolotries.  My friend was reminded that we were saved by the Blood of Christ, and Catholics seemed to have forgotten that.  "Well actually", my friend responded with great gusto, "we haven't.  Fr John said the Mass of the Precious Blood this morning!"  

Some may find the devotion strange and off-putting.  I remember reading a critique of Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ in which a disgusted (Catholic) critic balked: "It's all about the blood!!"  Yes, it is!  And that is what our salvation is all about - the Blood of Christ in which we were redeemed.  If Gibson has left that image in people's mind good for him, it's good theology.   We are saved by the shedding of Christ's blood.  Our redemption was won by the generous suffering of our Saviour, the Lamb who was slain and whose Blood flowed out to wash away our sins.  This Precious Blood is the fountain of grace in which we are renewed.  Devotion to the Precious Blood reminds us of this, and brings us to a great appreciation and greater gratitude.   It also helps deepen our Eucharistic faith.  When we receive Holy Communion we receive the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ, and in that Communion his Precious Blood flows through us, filling us with his life and his grace.  The devotion is centred on Jesus, on his Sacred Heart and on his saving work; it is Christian, Biblical, theological and intimate.

In this difficult times we could worse than turn to the Precious Blood of the Lord. There are a number of beautiful prayers, but my favourite is the Litany of the Precious Blood.   Perhaps today, Friday, we might take a moment and pray that Litany for the world, for our suffering brothers and sisters, and for any needs which may be occupying our mind and hearts at this time.  As we pray for the renewal of the Church in Ireland, I feel this prayer can bring great comfort and inspire confidence.

Precious Blood of Jesus, save us.