Take me to the letter

Saint Peter and Paul (Tarsus, 5 - Rome 67)

Imagine for a moment that you are not Peter but Paul. Suppose you have to write an epistle to Philemon - an email if you prefer - presenting him an accurate as possible picture of the parish he is about to embark.

What would you write?


I did not say Peter because albeit not even the choice of Philemon is up to your pick - the Bishop decides - the selection of 'Peter' befalls in the hands - pardon - the wings of the Holy Spirit.

Dating out of date

Iraneus of Lyons (Smirne, Turkey 130 - Lyons, France, 200)

One night stands...I thought that that was the only novelty of our times, but it seems that there is a whole set of terms denoting whether a rapport stretches or not as far as including the following morning breakfast.

Connection with a Bishop that, with pacifying intentions, travelled across the storms of his age? He learnt the language of the pagans.

Time those pagans in collar learn the language of the youth, trying to understand what lies behind the search for such short lived rapports with many different partners where the physical is the only searched for aspect?

Forerunners (continued...)

Cyrillus of Alexandria (Alexandria of Egypt, 370-444)

Sitting South and North, or East and West, of the Vatican II Conciliar Bank - in terms of ordination year and ages, many a priest - or current seminarian - will ask themselves if it was, since then, that the notion of 'heresy' became 'heretical'. Comparing Cyrillus ferocious battling against the Nestorians to the ecumenical openings to the multiplicity of protestant outlooks on the Gospels and, when included in the Bible, the OT.

(for the image I gratefully thank a couple of pics, heart stored from the  http://www.institute-christ-king.org/vocations/seminary/ gallery)

Blessed those who can ponder such issues in the cooling shades of that valley.

Smashing ministry

Vigilio (Rome, 355-Val Rendena, Giugno 405)

 In the course of his evengelisation ministry in the Alto Adige and Trentino valleys, on finding a pagan idol on his route he destroyed it.

Can you think of an example in your ministry - lived or foreseen if still in your seminarian years - where acting with more pastoral acumen would have been more advisable?

Fore Crawlers

I wish I could remember all the names
Lets hope Frs will remember in a few years time to ask the kids what they remember of the day
And lets make sure next time visitors will know that the Baptistry holds not a mass celebration but a special for a few
Rejoicing in the decibels raising the Bp's ears above the avarage pastoral council
In waiting for the 2011-2012 crawling lot

And making sure from their push chairs  at the door, serious faced,  that their name is on the selected list


Guglielmo Abate (Vercelli,1085-Goleto di Nusco, Avellino, 1142)
In modern terms, a pilgrimage sites trotter.

One more memory from the day? That toddling boy thudding flat down when the Bp was reminding the pews of God's saving mercy :)

Un solo Battesimo. La Chiesa Fiorentina fa memoria del Battesimo dei suoi figli nel bel San Giovanni

Solennità di San Giovanni Battista patrono della città di Firenze

24 Giugno 2011, ore 18 30

Battistero di San Giovanni Battista

Forerunners (continued...)

This is a silly one

Saint John the Baptist

 OK not the Saint of course...but the reflection point. Amongst the relevant events and deeds that characterised the life of Jesus closest disciple - best mate or buddy we would say now - are the facts that he wore a tunic made of camel skin and ate locusts.

How many other Saints can you think at the drop of a hat that are associated with animals? Would make a helpful children calendar (and a good memory jog for adults like me too ;)).

Father read my mind!

Pilgrimages! Said the visiting Father today at the end of the Mass in the Duomo. Florence should become a destination for pilgrims thirsting for faith.

En route we are, having a large portion of the centre been pedestriansied. 99 to go and ready for the 100 stations of the second major saint pardon saint major of the city. In due time steps being accomplished ;)

btw this post is valid for tomorrow

Lanfranco, Bishop (Gropello, Pavia, 1124 - Pavia, 23 Giugno 1198)


Tomorrow, then, hold your  spiritual breath waiting for the next!

Forerunners (continued...)

Saint Thomas More (London 1478-1535)

He lost his head for  truth - literally.

Too well known the life of this Saint made known to the large also lay audience  via the film A man for all  Seasons (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060665/) for the need to say anything else about him. Watch the film if you haven't.

My tip for today is: have your saying with any fellow clergy man or sister you find on your way. Share your favourite quote at every opportunity.

San Luigi Gonzaga (Castiglione delle Stiviere, Mantova  1568 - Roma, 1591)


He died after catching leprosy from a sick person he had found on his way and that he carried himself.

Imagine for a moment (not theologically supported ;)) that you are allowed to take with you some luggage to the  heavenlies - a statue, specifically, representing your ministry. What would it be? Could be anything seen for real or imagined reading the life of  a Saint.

Forerunners

Pope St. Silverius (Ceccano, Frosinone 480 - Palmarola, Ponza 537)

When he stood up against the Byzantine court to defend the Church against the Monophysites, they took off his papal robes and let him  die of hunger and thirst on the island of Palmarola,  naked like Jesus on the cross, but could not took off him the apostolic spirit that had been passed on into him when Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit into the first apostles.

Kneeling with the apostles - past and present

 From the 29th June take an hour a day in front of the Most Blessed Sacrament and pray for all clergy. At whatever stage of their race ask God to illumine the path and strengthen their call. Pray for new workers and kneel with Saint John Vianney and Mary to ask for the safeguarding of their souls (http://timothyandtitus.wordpress.com/2011/05/29/congregation-for-the-clergy-calls-for-60-hours-of-eucharistic-adoration/  - thank you for the beautiful images).

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/cardinal-encourages-60-hours-of-adoration-to-celebrate-popes-anniversary/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+catholicnewsagency%2Fdailynews-vatican+%28CNA+Daily+News+-+Vatican%29




http://www.perpetualadoration.org/

Running with Paul

The apostle did not make use of his power of being maintained at the charges of those to whom he preached, that he might give no hindrance to the gospel. Of running in the race and striving for the mastery.

[1] Am not I free? Am not I an apostle? Have not I seen Christ Jesus our Lord? Are not you my work in the Lord? [2] And if unto others I be not an apostle, but yet to you I am. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. [3] My defence with them that do examine me is this. [4] Have not we power to eat and to drink? [5] Have we not power to carry about a woman, a sister, as well as the rest of the apostles, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

[5] "A woman, a sister"... Some erroneous translators have corrupted this text by rendering it, a sister, a wife: whereas, it is certain, St. Paul had no wife (chap. 7 ver. 7, 8) and that he only speaks of such devout women, as, according to the custom of the Jewish nation, waited upon the preachers of the gospel, and supplied them with necessaries.

[6] Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to do this? [7] Who serveth as a soldier at any time, at his own charges? Who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? Who feedeth the flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? [8] Speak I these things according to man? Or doth not the law also say these things? [9] For it is written in the law of Moses: Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? [10] Or doth he say this indeed for our sakes? For these things are written for our sakes: that he that plougheth, should plough in hope; and he that thrasheth, in hope to receive fruit.

....
[21] To them that are under the law, as if I were under the law, (whereas myself was not under the law,) that I might gain them that were under the law. To them that were without the law, as if I were without the law, (whereas I was not without the law of God, but was in the law of Christ,) that I might gain them that were without the law. [22] To the weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak. I became all things to all men, that I might save all. [23] And I do all things for the gospel's sake: that I may be made partaker thereof. [24] Know you not that they that run in the race, all run indeed, but one receiveth the prize? So run that you may obtain. [25] And every one that striveth for the mastery, refraineth himself from all things: and they indeed that they may receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible one.
Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible  1st Epistle Of Saint Paul To The Corinthians

Think of an hexagon. Like one of the three you can see on the floor in the cathedral of Florence - opposite the left pews in the choir - and then (we are made in the image of God was today the gist of Fr's homily on Holy Trinity Sunday) write along its three top lines GOD SON HOLY SPIRIT  and in the bottom ones HOPE FAITH CHARITY. Now starting from the top draw a cross rooted in the latter and stretching up to the top. Jesus arms stretching in the middle of the hexagon. Kneel on those footprints. Cross yourself and GO!


A special Happy Father Day to all those leaders in the spiritual race - may each of your day start in the Trinity :) (i know it's an upside tree with its trunk rooted in Heaven...)