Where He Has Gone, We Hope To Follow

The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord is an opportunity for all of us to reflect on our own baptism - that moment when we began our lives as Christians by entering the waters made holy by Jesus himself. 

As I explain at baptism ceremonies, Jesus went into the waters first, we follow him, and as we do so, we enter his life so, as St Paul says, we no longer live, but Christ lives in us and we live in him: his life is ours, and united with us, he can transform us.  We can then say in faith, that where he has gone we hope to follow, because we walk in his footsteps guided by him in grace.

An interesting aspect of the Gospel account of the Baptism of Jesus, is the moment when the Father proclaims Jesus as his Son: at that moment we find out who he is and what his mission is.  Contrary to what many think, when we enter into the life of Christ we do not lose ourselves, but rather find ourselves: we discover who we truly are and what our mission here on earth is - and of course what our destiny is. 

Pope Benedict explores this beautifully in his homily at the inauguration of his papacy:

If we let Christ enter fully into our lives, if we open ourselves totally to him, are we not afraid that He might take something away from us? Are we not perhaps afraid to give up something significant, something unique, something that makes life so beautiful? Do we not then risk ending up diminished and deprived of our freedom? And once again the Pope said: No! If we let Christ into our lives, we lose nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing of what makes life free, beautiful and great. No! Only in this friendship are the doors of life opened wide. Only in this friendship is the great potential of human existence truly revealed. Only in this friendship do we experience beauty and liberation. And so, today, with great strength and great conviction, on the basis of long personal experience of life, I say to you, dear young people: Do not be afraid of Christ! He takes nothing away, and he gives you everything. When we give ourselves to him, we receive a hundredfold in return. Yes, open, open wide the doors to Christ – and you will find true life.

Report On New Nuncio's Ordination

Annus De Fide

Today Cardinal Levada of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith released its Note with Pastoral Recommendations for the Year of Faith in response to the Holy Father's Apostolic Letter Motu Proprio, Porta fidei, see here for the text of the Note.

The Year begins on the fifieth anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council and twenieth anniversary of the promulgation of the Catechism: 11th October this year, and ends on Solemnity of Christ the King the following year, 24th November 2013. 

As the Cardinal points out: 'The Year of Faith is intended to contribute to a renewed conversion to the Lord Jesus and to the rediscovery of faith, so that the members of the Church will be credible and joy-filled witnesses to the Risen Lord in the world of today - capable of leading those many people who are seeking it to the "door of faith".'  At the heart of the Year, then, will be the person of Jesus Christ, a renewal of our faith in him, a radical catechesis based on the Catechism, and a major push to all involved in the New Evangelisation.  

The Note offers a number of recommendations for the Year for the various levels in the Church: universal, episcopal conference, diocesan and parish.    A Synod of Bishops in October 2012 will be devoted to it, and World Youth Day in Rio in 2013 will take it as its theme.  

At the episcopal conference level, I note a recommendation with regard to local Saints - Ireland should take careful note of this.  As I have often said, and as my friend over at Fr Willie Doyle's blog noted just a few days ago, there has been an appalling lack of interest in the holy people of our country.  As the Note correctly points out: "the Saints and Blesseds are authentic witnesses of faith".

At parish level, I see the Cardinal is aiming at a major catechesis - priests should offer cycles of homilies on the various aspects of the faith, the creed, encounter with Christ, and faith and the Church.  That is badly needed.   We will have to get thinking.  It might be no harm for groups of priests to get together and help each other in this.  Any takers, brothers?

The Year of Faith is a great opportunity, I hope the Church in Ireland takes it.  The various other Years passed us by - Rosary, Eucharist, Pauline - I do hope we won't let this pass: it is a marvellous gift to us as we work towards reform and renewal.   And not only for Ireland, for the whole Church.

Nuncio Ordained, New Cardinals Announced

Cardinal-designate, Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York

As I mentioned earlier, Mgr Charles Brown, our new Nuncio, was ordained Archbishop in St Peter's Basilica today, by Pope Benedict - EWTN covered the ceremony, and it was beautiful.   May the Lord grant him every grace as he prepares for his mission to Ireland.

The Vatican have also just annouced the names of those who are to receive the red hat in February - the Consistory is to be held on the 18th.  Among the future Cardinals is Archbishop Tim Dolan of New York: there will be great celebrations there.  He is a regular visitor to Ireland and often visited us in Drogheda.  He is also one of the Apostolic Visitators to Ireland, investigating the seminaries, which was no easy task.  May the Lord bless him as he is raised to the Cardinalate.   Here is his reaction to his elevation: as always - humble, self-effacing and practical. 

Here is the list of Cardinals designate. 

First the Curial/Roman Appointments:

1. Msgr. Fernando Filoni, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples;
2. Msgr. Manuel Monteiro de Castro, Major Penitentiary;
3. Msgr. Santos Abril Y Castellò, Archpriest of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major;
4. Msgr Antonio Maria Veglio, President of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People;
5. Msgr. Giuseppe Bertelli, President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State and President of the Governorate of the same State;
6. Msgr Francesco Coccopalmerio, President of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts;
7. Msgr JOÃO Braz de Aviz, Prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life;
8. Msgr Edwin O'Brien, Pro Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem;
9. Msgr. Domenico Calcagno, President of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See;
10. Msgr Giuseppe Versaldi, President of the Prefecture for Economic Affairs of the Holy See.

The Metropolitan Archbishops, Primates, etc:

11. His Beatitude GEORGE Alencherry, Major Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly of the Syro Malabar (India);
12. Msgr Thomas Christopher Collins, Archbishop of Toronto (Canada);
13. Msgr Dominik Duka, Archbishop of Prague (Czech Republic);
14. Msgr Willem Jacobus Eijk, Archbishop of Utrecht (Netherlands);
15. Msgr. Giuseppe Betori, Archbishop of Florence (Italy);
16. Msgr Timothy Michael Dolan, Archbishop of New York (United States);
17. Msgr. Rainer Maria Woelk, Archbishop of Berlin (Federal Republic of Germany);
18. Msgr John Tong Hon, Bishop of Hong Kong (China).

The Holy Father is also raising another prelate and three priests to the Cardinalate, all of whom are over eighty:

1. His Beatitude Lucian Muresan, Major Archbishop of Fagaras and Alba Julia of the Romanians (Romania);
2. Rev. Julien Ries, priest of the Diocese of Namur and professor emeritus of history of religions at the Catholic University of Louvain;
3. Fr. Prospero Grech, OSA, Professor Emeritus of various Roman universities and Consultant to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith;
4. Fr. Karl Becker, SJ, Professor Emeritus of the Pontifical Gregorian University, Consultant for many years the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

A Must for Little Christmas

Okay, I know some will get this and others won't - you have to be a Downton Abbey fan and know the character of Carson the butler.  When I saw this on the web I thought it was hilarious and decided to share it with you: A Very Carson Christmas.

The Holy Magi

A happy feast day to you all: the great Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord.  Today we celebrate the Christ's first manifestation to the gentiles through the holy Magi.

The Magi have always fascinated me: tradition accords them the names Caspar, Balthazar and Melchior.  They were Persians, priests of the Zoroastrian religion, who saw the sign in the heavens which announced the birth of a divine king.  Their philosopher-founder, Zoroaster, predicted, in the manner of the ancient Sybils, the coming of the Saviour, pointing out that a star would lead to the "mysterious child" who is "the Almighty Word who created the heavens."

According to Christian tradition, the Magi were converted by St Thomas when he ministered in Persia, and they were said to have died as martyrs.  St Helen, in her quest to find the holy places and relics in the Holy Land, sent a delegation into Persia to find the tomb of the Magi.  The tomb located, she had the remains translated to Constantinople, from where they were brought to Milan and then to Cologne, where they now rest in the cathedral.

As we celebrate the solemnity today, we might remember to put ourselves in the place of the Magi, and there come to encounter anew the Lord Jesus who came down to us.  One of the most beautiful meditations on this "spirituality of the Magi", is that given by Blessed John Paul II in his last message to the young people of the world for World Youth Day 2005.  I think it is worth reading.

As we celebrate, let us also remember today Mgr Charles Brown, the new nuncio to Ireland, who is being ordained an Archbishop in Rome by Pope Benedict.  As he receives the fullness of the priesthood, and prepares for his mission, may the Lord grant him many graces and blessings. 

A Gift To Priests

Today is the feast of St Charles of St Andrew, also known as St Charles of Mount Argus.   Canonised in 2007, he is the most recent "Irish" Saint - I put Irish in inverted commas because St Charles was actually Dutch, but became "more Irish than the Irish themselves" (as the saying goes) by spending most of his priestly ministry here among us.

Born Joannes Andreas Houben in Holland in 1821, he joined the Passionists in Belgium in 1845, and was professed as Br Charles of St Andrew in 1847.  He was ordained priest in 1850.  Sent to England two years later, he met with many Irish emigrants and ministered to them.  Fr Charles fell in love with the Irish: saw their strengths, but also their weakensses and difficulties - particularly their problem with alcohol.  In his ministering to them, he heard a call to go to Ireland and spend his life there.

That call was confirmed in 1857 when he was sent with other Passionists to found a new community in Dublin.    With the exception of two years, he would spend the rest of his life in Ireland, travelling around the country raising money to build St Paul's Retreat and its church at Mount Argus in Dublin, and ministering to those who came to the monastery.  

He quickly became known as Fr Charles of Mount Argus and he endeared himself to the faithful.   He was gifted with numerous charismatic gifts, among which were the gift of healing and discernment which revealed the heart of his mission: that of hearing confession and healing the sick.  Up to the day of his death, people made their way out to Mount Argus to be healed, to go to confession, and to attend his Mass during which he often fell into ecstasy.

Recognised as a Saint by many, he had his enemies - some of those who attended Mass in Mount Argus, for example, thought his Mass was too long, and so were forever complaining: his superior eventually had to stand by him at the altar and put pressure on him.  Whenever he entered a mystical ecstasy, his superior would shake him until the came out and continued the Mass.  It seems these people did not really appreciate the presence of a Saint or the manifestation of the mystical - unfortunately it is an attitude still to be found in Ireland: we have many "watch gazers" and "time keepers" at Mass on Sundays: the obvious sign of a serious need for renewal. 

Fr Charles was a victim to false allegations during his lifetime.  A man arrived one day at the monastery and asked the Saint to bless a barrel of water: Charles did so gladly.  However, the man bottled the water and sold it throughout Dublin city as Holy Water blessed by the Saint of Mount Argus.  Complaints flooded in to the Passionists, and even though Charles pleaded innocence, his superiors did not believe him and he was sent back to England in disgrace.  When the truth emerged two years later, he was rehabilitated and sent back to Ireland.

Charles died on the 5th January 1893 with a reputation for holiness.  His Cause was opened in 1935 and reached a successful conclusion on the 3rd June 2007 when Pope Benedict XVI canonised him.  Sadly, he is unknown by most Irish people, very little effort was made in the run up to his canonisation -  another opportunity missed by the Church in Ireland.  His tomb is in the Passionist Church in Mount Argus and is a wonderful place to go and pray in the presence of the sacred remains of a holy priest who followed Christ with deep fidelity.  It is worth a visit.

I believe that St Charles was given to Ireland as a gift, and indeed he is a gift to all priests.  In his life and virtues we see how a true Christian is to live, and for us priests we see what is most important in our vocation.  At the heart of St Charles's ministery, indeed his life as a priest, was the Mass, confession and prayer.   The Mass was the centre of his life - in his offering it we see another Padre Pio - indeed St Charles is Ireland's St Pio.  Like St Pio, his ministry in the confessional reminds us of the importance of that sacrament - a message we need to hear as many today abandon the sacrament.  In his healing ministry he always told those who came to him that true healing was to be found in confession.

This morning in Rathkenny we celebrated the Saint's feast, although, strangely, the new translation of the Missal (Veritas version) does not include the texts for his memoria. 

Update On Tesco

Further to my previous post on Tesco, the company has apologised for creating "misunderstanding and mistrust" and will cease sponsoring the Gay Pride event in London.  See an article here by Francis Phillips in the Catholic Herald. 

I note the venomous comments by some at the end of the article, once again proving that for those who support the gay agenda tolerance and respect is a one way street: one-way in their direction.  

Anyway, that is good news about Tesco. 

Feast Of Friends

The feast of St Basil the Great and St Gregory Nazianzen, the great bishops of Cappadocia and Doctors of the Church.    There is so much to honour and praise in these two holy men: their personal virtues, their humility sitting comfortably with great learning, their heroic defence of the teaching of orthodox Christianity, their profound works of theology and spirituality - I could go on.  But, to be honest, there is one thing, after their deep love of God, which I think we can praise above all of these: their holy friendship. 

Basil and Gregory were very close friends - best friends.  They spent their lives in each other's company, supporting each other and encouraging a life of heroic virtue in the other.   They had their rows, but these fade when we look to the union of fraternal love which existed between them.

Here's what St Gregory says of their friendship in an oration delivered following Basil's death in 379:

We were contained by Athens, like two branches of some river-stream, for after leaving the common fountain of our fatherland, we had been separated in our varying pursuit of culture, and were now again united by the impulsion of God no less than by our own agreement. I preceded him by a little, but he soon followed me, to be welcomed with great and brilliant hope.

Whenever any newcomer arrives, and falls into the hands of those who seize upon him, either by force or willingly, they observe this Attic law, of combined jest and earnest. On this occasion I not only refused to put to shame my friend the great Basil, out of respect for the gravity of his character, and the ripeness of his reasoning powers, but also persuaded all the rest of the students to treat him likewise, who happened not to know him. For he was from the first respected by most of them, his reputation having preceded him. The result was that he was the only one to escape the general rule, and be accorded a greater honour than belongs to a freshman's position.

This was the prelude of our friendship. This was the kindling spark of our union: thus we felt the wound of mutual love.

And when, as time went on, we acknowledged our mutual affection, and that philosophy was our aim, we were all in all to one another, housemates, messmates, intimates, with one object in life, or an affection for each other ever growing warmer and stronger. Love which is godly and under restraint, since its object is stable, not only is more lasting, but, the fuller its vision of beauty grows, the more closely does it bind to itself and to one another the hearts of those whose love has one and the same object. This is the law of our superhuman love. Such were our feelings for each other, when we had thus supported, as Pindar has it, our “well-built chamber with pillars of gold,” as we advanced under the united influences of God's grace and our own affection. Oh! How can I mention these things without tears.

We were impelled by equal hopes, in a pursuit especially obnoxious to envy, that of letters. Yet envy we knew not, and emulation was of service to us. We struggled, not each to gain the first place for himself, but to yield it to the other; for we made each other's reputation to be our own. We seemed to have one soul, inhabiting two bodies. And if we must not believe those whose doctrine is “All things are in all;” yet in our case it was worthy of belief, so did we live in and with each other. The sole business of both of us was virtue, and living for the hopes to come, having retired from this world, before our actual departure hence. With a view to this, were directed all our life and actions, under the guidance of the commandment, as we sharpened upon each other our weapons of virtue; and if this is not a great thing for me to say, being a rule and standard to each other, for the distinction between what was right and what was not.

So today, let us commend to the holy friends, Basil and Gregory, our own dear friends, as we give thanks for friendship.  Spiritual exercise for today: contact your friends, wish them a happy feast day, tell them you love them and thank them for their friendship.  Friendship can sanctify, that is one of the lessons God teaches us today in life and example of these two holy men.   May all of us, friends, spur each other on to holiness.

Happy feast day, my dear friends!

RELATED:  Fr Dwight Longenecker has an excellent article on modern Arianism on his blog - well worth reading.  It reminds us of course that the Church is still struggling with the same issues that SS Basil and Gregory had to deal with in their own, plus ça change....!

Happy New Year

To all the members of the Fraternity, and to all who read my blog - the extended family, I wish you all every blessing and grace for this New Year.  May Mary, the Holy Mother of God, whose solemnity is the first we celebrate this year, watch over you, protect you and obtain from her Divine Son, all the graces you need for the weeks and months to come.

This year is already sizing up to be a busy one.  In terms of the Fraternity it is our fifth year - so to celebrate we will have various events - a Mass in Drogheda on the foundation day (19th January); a Mass in the church where the Fraternity was born - Corpus Christi in London, on the 8th March; a pilgrimage to Rome (see link above); and of course St Genesius's feast day on the 25th August.  If you want to join our family of prayer go to http://www.stgenesius.com/.  If you want to start a prayer group in your area, let us know.

Now, time to pick your Saint for the year: go to this website here.