A Visit to “Chez Mère Bruyère” to Mark Its Twentieth Anniversary

On Tuesday afternoon, Mgr Daniel Berniquez and I dropped in on “Chez Mère Bruyère” at 264 Olmstead Avenue in Vanier to help observe the 20th anniversary of its foundation.  Its purpose is to provide children's clothing from birth to twelve years of age to poor and immigrant families. 

The Sisters of Charity of Ottawa noted the need in 1991 and the program was up and running by March 25, 1992.  Through contacts made with the help of clergy, school authorities or social workers, a parent, accompanied by their children or not, get an hour-long appointment to choose needed clothes, outwear in winter, boots, etc.  As the children's clothing is taken away, each child is also given a toy.

Stories were told of the different religious sisters who gave the leadership to this tiny, helpful presence in the heart of Vanier and reflections on the experiences of the many volunteers were also shared.  The celebration was humble and joyful.  Some other photos:

   

Corpus Christi 2012 - NET CANADA Year-End Wrap-Up Optional Memorial: St. Norbert

The Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ (Year “B”) - June 10, 2012

THE RENEWAL OF GOD'S COVENANT IN JESUS' BLOOD

[Texts: Exodus 24.3-8 [Psalm 116]; Hebrews 9.11-15; Mark 14.12-16, 22-26]

On this wonderful feast this coming Sunday, I will take part with five priests and twenty laity from the Archdiocese of Ottawa in the Opening Liturgy of the 50th International Eucharistic Congress in Dublin, Ireland, which has as its theme, The Eucharist: Communion with Christ and with One Another.

The Mass will be presided by the Papal Legate, Cardinal Marc Ouellet, Prefect of the Congregation of Bishops, host—as Archbishop of Quebec—of the last International Eucharistic Congress in 2008.

Sunday also marks the 40th anniversary of my ordination as a priest by the late Bishop Thomas B. Fulton, whom I will remember at Mass along with two classmates ordained with me whom the Lord has called home: Ronald Barnes, S.J. and Brian Massie, S.J.

* * *

During Holy Week 2012 the entire Passion Narrative was read twice, from Mark's Gospel on Passion (Palm) Sunday and from John's Gospel on Good Friday. When the entire narrative is read, the rich theological themes of the Passion come all at once and it can prove difficult to absorb more than one or two of them.

Today's solemn commemoration of Corpus Christi (the Body [and Blood] of Christ) allows for a deepened appreciation of the key mystery of Catholic belief: that in the celebration of Holy Communion, the bread and wine are changed into the Body and Blood of Christ, serving as heavenly food for the Christian to live out the teaching of Jesus on his or her journey to God's Kingdom.

There are four accounts of the institution of the Eucharist, one in each of the synoptic gospels (Matthew 26.26-30; Mark 14.22-26; Luke 22.14-20) and a fourth in Paul's first epistle to the Corinthians (11.23-27).

Close examination of the four versions shows that Luke and Paul's accounts are similar, perhaps reflecting liturgical traditions of the church at Antioch, while Mark and Matthew's resemble each other, possibly paralleling a formula used in Jerusalem.

Mark often stresses Jesus' ability to predict the future: his sufferings and subsequent glory, as well as the failure of his disciples and their reconstitution in Galilee (14.27-28). So today's gospel opens with Jesus arranging for the celebration of a Passover meal. He asked two of the disciples (Luke identified them as Peter and John [22.8]) to go into Jerusalem where they would meet a man carrying a water jar, something unusual as this was women's work.

The late Benedictine archaeologist Bargil Pixner suggested that this person was associated with the Essenes and that Jesus observed Passover according to the Qumran calendar. Since the Essene observance of Passover that year would have been a couple of days ahead of that celebrated by the rest of the Jews, this might explain the Synoptic view that the Last Supper was a Passover meal, whereas John maintains that it happened the day before Passover.

In his account of the Last Supper John's focus is on Jesus' humility in washing his disciples' feet; Johannine teaching on the Eucharist is found in the Bread of Life discourse, which will be presented this year in the Sunday readings of August.

When the stranger showed them the large upstairs room, they prepared the Passover there. Surrounding the Eucharistic words are Jesus' predictions of his coming betrayal by Judas (14.17-21) and the falling away of Peter and the rest (14.27-31). Even though his disciples fall short, Jesus promises that God's purposes will be realized in Jesus' resurrection and formation of the nascent church in Galilee (16.7).

Jesus ended his words over the bread and the cup by asserting an unshakeable conviction that, though he suffered betrayed, his act of abstaining from wine would culminate in celebration and he would commemorate a victory in the coming Kingdom: “I will never again drink the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the Kingdom of God” (14.25).

The words Jesus pronounced over the bread (“Take; this is My Body”) are sparse by comparison with the Paul/Luke tradition (“that is for you”/ “which is given for you”), but the symbolism of his breaking the bread points to the coming gift of his life on the Cross.

Jesus' words over the cup (“This is My Blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many”) echo the text from Exodus, the first reading of today's liturgy. Just as Moses had sprinkled the blood of sacrifice, half on the altar representing God and half on the people God had chosen to symbolize their union, Jesus united himself with his weak and struggling disciples by a bond that can never be broken.

The “blood of the covenant” created solidarity between two parties involved. In biblical thought, this is based on the understanding that blood is the distinctive element which makes life possible.

At Sinai, Israel began a new life of obedience, signified by the sacrificial meal offered up and acceptance of the “book of the covenant” read out by Moses and the “blood of the covenant” acted out in a marvellous liturgy. So too does the Church in the Lord's Supper.

* * * * * *

NET CANADA MASS OF THANKSGIVING

FESTIVE GATHERING

Last Saturday morning, I had the joy of going to Blessed Sacrament Parish in the Glebe for the closing of the year Mass of Thanksgiving for all the graces bestowed on the members of the seven teams of NET Canada and Les Equipes NET and, through them, for the graces poured out abundantly on the youth they encountered across Canada.

From conversation I held, I know that amily members came at least from British Columbia, Saskatchewan and from far and near in Ontario to share the day. 

There was a delicious brunch, posters summarizing the activities of the teams, skits and speeches and songs.  I had to leave before everything had ended, but I did manage to snap some photos of the gathering, a few of which follow:

 

* * * * * *

SAINT NORBERT

Archevêque, Fondateur de l'Ordre des Prémontrés (1080-1134)

Norbert, né en 1080, près de Cologne, fut engagé dès son jeune âge dans la cléricature; mais il fréquentait plus la cour que l'Église et reculait devant les Ordres sacrés, afin de suivre la voie des plaisirs.

Il avait déjà trente-trois ans, quand, traversant à cheval une belle prairie, accompagné d'un seul serviteur, il fut assailli par une soudaine et horrible tempête. La scène de saint Paul sur le chemin de Damas se renouvela; car Norbert entendit une voix céleste lui dire: "Pourquoi Me fuis-tu? Je te destinais à édifier Mon Église, et tu scandalises Mon peuple." En même temps, la foudre éclate et le renverse par terre, où il demeure évanoui pendant une heure entière. Quand il eut recouvré ses sens, il dit à Dieu: "Seigneur, que demandez-Vous de moi?" Et la réponse à sa question lui fit comprendre qu'il devait quitter le monde et vivre dans la pénitence.

La conversion fut immédiate et complète, et bientôt l'on put voir, non sans étonnement, le brillant gentilhomme échanger ses riches vêtements contre la bure du moine. Il se prépara pendant quarante jours, dans un monastère, à offrir pour la première fois le Saint Sacrifice de la Messe.

Norbert obtint du Pape les pouvoirs de missionnaire apostolique et commença à prêcher la pénitence. Ses oeuvres étaient plus éloquentes encore que sa prédication: il marchait nu-pieds, même en plein hiver, au milieu de la neige, n'avait pour vêtement qu'un rude cilice en forme de tunique et un manteau de pénitent; il observait perpétuellement le carême selon la rigueur des premiers siècles, et y ajoutait de ne manger presque point de poisson et de ne boire du vin que très rarement: on eût dit un nouveau Jean-Baptiste, par son zèle et ses austérités.

Cependant Dieu réservait à Norbert la gloire de fonder l'Ordre des Prémontrés, ainsi nommé parce que le Saint avait eu révélation du lieu où il devait l'établir. Saint Augustin lui ayant apparu, une Règle d'or à la main, il comprit qu'il devait adopter pour son Ordre la règle de ce grand docteur. Il fut lui-même la règle vivante de ses frères.

En 1126, se réalisa une vision que sa mère avait eue avant sa naissance: Norbert fut obligé d'accepter l'archevêché de Magdebourg, et il eut désormais outre le souci de son Ordre, le soin de son diocèse, où son apostolat fut traversé par de grandes persécutions et couronné d'abondants fruits de salut. Rien du reste, n'avait changé dans sa vie, et jusqu'à sa mort il mena dans son palais la vie d'un moine dans sa cellule. [Abbé L. Jaud, Vie des Saints pour tous les jours de l'année, Tours, Mame, 1950.]

* * *

O God, who made the Bishop Saint Norbert a servant of your Church, outstanding in his prayer and pastoral zeal, grant, we ask, that by the help of his intercession, the flock of the faithful may always find shepherds after your own heart and be fed in the pastures of salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Youth Gathering at the Diocesan Centre - Saint Boniface, martyr

The Under the Son Rally that normally takes place towards the end of May, beginning of June, did not get much traction this year so it was cancelled.  But a spontaneous Saturday evening gathering of young people at the Diocesan Centre was quickly organized and drew some fifty adolescents and young adults.

I had been asked to speak about how one becomes "rooted in Christ" and develops one's relationship with Our Lord.  In my presentation I mentioned the Pauline prayer in Ephesians 3.14-21 and the following reflection given by the former Superior General of the Jesuits who speaks of how one's life changes by falling in love (including with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ):

Fall in Love (attributed to Fr. Pedro Arrupe, SJ [1907–1991])

Nothing is more practical than
finding God, than
falling in Love
in a quite absolute, final way.
What you are in love with,
what seizes your imagination, will affect everything.
It will decide
what will get you out of bed in the morning,
what you do with your evenings,
how you spend your weekends,
what you read, whom you know,
what breaks your heart,
and what amazes you with joy and gratitude.
Fall in Love, stay in love,
and it will decide everything.

* * *

The evening included board games and "ice-breakers" at the tables, supper (hot dogs and chips and drinks), a conference in the chapel, a period of reflection before the Blessed Sacrament, which also allowed time for celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  It was a light but enjoyable evening:

* * * * * *

SAINT BONIFACE

Archevêque de Mayence, Martyr (680-754)

Boniface, appelé d'abord Winfrid, naquit en Angleterre, l'an 680. Une maladie grave que Dieu lui envoya décida son père à le laisser partir dans un monastère.

Devenu professeur après de brillantes études, Winfrid, par sa science et son éloquence, acquiert une réputation dont il est effrayé; alors, refusant tous les honneurs, il tourne toute l'ambition de son zèle vers les contrées encore païennes de la Germanie, et n'a qu'un désir: devenir apôtre de l'Allemagne.

En 718, il va s'agenouiller aux pieds du Pape Grégoire II et reçoit de lui tous les pouvoirs apostoliques. Après avoir traversé, en exerçant sa charité pour les âmes, la Lombardie, la Bavière et la Thuringe, il va se joindre à saint Willibrord, apôtre des Frisons; mais il s'enfuit dès que celui-ci veut lui conférer l'épiscopat. Winfrid évangélise alors la Thuringe, dont les sauvages forêts se couvrent bientôt de monastères et se peuplent de saints.

La moisson est trop abondante, il lui faut des auxiliaires; le Pape l'appelle à Rome, le sacre évêque et change son nom en celui de Boniface. L'apôtre, secondé par de vaillants missionnaires, travaille avec plus d'ardeur que jamais à étendre le règne de l'Évangile. Ses saintes audaces sont bénies du Ciel.

Un jour, il fait abattre un arbre de superstition, qui servait d'idole à un peuple aveugle, et quand la foule en fureur va se jeter sur lui, un prodige vient soudain la calmer: l'arbre énorme se plie sous une main invisible et va tomber en quatre tronçons aux pieds du Saint. Le Christ avait vaincu; des milliers de païens demandèrent le baptême.

Boniface était de nouveau débordé par l'immensité de ses succès; il fait un appel à sa patrie, et bientôt de nombreux missionnaires viennent se joindre à lui. Archevêque, légat du Pape, Boniface ne s'attribue point la gloire de ses oeuvres; Dieu est sa seule force et son seul recours; voilà le secret de ses conquêtes pacifiques.

A ce héros, il ne manquait plus qu'un combat; à ce triomphateur, il ne manquait plus qu'une victoire. Un matin, Boniface se préparait à offrir le Saint Sacrifice, quand une foule armée se précipite vers lui en poussant des cris sauvages; son entourage court aux armes; mais Boniface sort de sa tente: "Cessez le combat, mes enfants, dit-il, voici l'heure de la délivrance!" Bientôt l'apôtre tombe sous les coups de ces barbares avec tous ceux qui l'accompagnent. On le trouva criblé de blessures, tenant en main le livre de saint Ambroise: Du bienfait de la mort. [Abbé L. Jaud, Vie des Saints pour tous les jours de l'année, Tours, Mame, 1950.]

Retreat for Hamilton Priests at Carmelite Monastery, Niagara Falls

The Carmelite Monastery above Niagara Falls, Ontario was the site of the first session of the Annual Priests' Retreat for the Diocese of Hamilton that I was privileged to direct from Monday to Friday last week. 

Bishop Douglas Crosby, OMI and some thirty-five priests attended.  We were mindful of the last days of Diocesan Chancellor Msgr. John Vincent Kerr, who subsequently passed away on Saturday evening after a short but intense bout with cancer.

The Carmelite facility is beautiful architecturally and the Community and staff offer wonderful hospitality.  We posed for a photo on Thursday morning; several other photos that give a flavour of the gathering and the beauty of the monastery chapel:

Trinity Sunday - Pentecost Sunday Confirmations at the Cathedral

God our Father, who by sending into the world the Word of truth and the Spirit of sanctification made known to the human race your wondrous mystery, grant us, we pray, that in profession the true faith, we may acknowledge the Trinity of eternal glory and adore your Unity, powerful in majesty. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

* * * * * *

PENTECOST SUNDAY AT THE CATHEDRAL:

CONFIRMATION OF ADULTS & ADOLESCENTS

Last Sunday was a busy time in Ottawa with the Marathon and Race Weekend events.  It was also the Solemnity of Pentecost, the birthday of the Church and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Church.

As I have done regularly in previous years at Pentecost, this offered an opportunity at the Cathedral celebration for those adolescents and adults from throughout the Archdiocese who for one reason or another have missed being confirmed to come together in the mother church for Confirmation, after being prepared for the celebration in their own parishes. 

We held two celebrations at noon in English and at 5:15 PM in French with a hundred members of our Church of Ottawa being confirmed.  Here are some photos from the latter celebration (which also included the youth of Ecole Sainte-Anne, which is associated with the Cathedral Parish. 

Congratulations to all the newly confirmed!

Accompany with your blessing from this day forward, O Lord, those who have been anointed with the Holy Spirit and nourished by the Sacrament of your Son, so that, with all trials overcome, they may gladden your Church by their holiness and, through their works and their charity, foster her growth in the world.

RIP: Rev. Dr. John B HIBBITTS & M. l'abbé Paul-Yvon MÉNARD

Even in this age of instantaneous communications, news sometimes gets overlooked or one does not get informed because others think you must already know.  So, it was a couple of days ago that I learned of the death in March of one of my colleagues at Atlantic School of Theology, the Anglican divine and Oxford graduate Dr. John B. Hibbitts.

When I began teaching as a rookie at AST in Halifax in the fall of 1975, my two associates were nearing retirement, the late Dr. John (Ian) Hardie, of Presbyterian origin from Glasgow who served as a United Church minister and Professor of Old Testament and John Hibbitts, who taught both testaments (the historical books of the OT and the Johannine Corpus in the NT).

"Doctor Hibbitts" was the kindliest person in our community, with always a kind word for everyone (he could see the best in each student and his affection was reciprocated).  He continued to correspond with me every Christmas with ever an encouraging word.  I shall miss his regular updates on what was going on in Halifax, with news of his family, of his wife June who passed away some years ago and about his two sons of whom he was quite proud. 

The obituary informs of features of his life that I had not known:


Rev. Dr. John Bernard Hibbitts - 93, died Saturday March 24th in the Halifax Infirmary, QEII. Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the son of John T. and Ethel A. (Wambolt) Hibbitts (of Mount Uniacke and Halifax), he graduated from the Nova Scotia Normal College with a Superior First Class teaching certificate and a scholarship. He taught in the Nova Scotia schools as teacher and principal. He was employment agent responsible for hiring at the Halifax Shipyards, then with 3000 workers.

He entered Dalhousie University, graduating with highest honours, the Governor General's Gold Medal and the university medal for highest standing in Arts and Science. He received his MA in English in 1946. He was for many years an honorary judge for the Hon. W.H. Dennis prizes in prose and verse at Dalhousie, one of which he had won as a student. He lectured in the English Seminar at the University of Bonn, in Germany. He entered the Divinity School of the University of King's College and obtained a master's degree in Sacred Languages, Greek, Latin, and Hebrew. He enrolled in the General Theological Seminary, New York, where he was ordained an Episcopal (Anglican) priest and appointed a Fellow and Tutor in 1948 and received masters' degrees in Divinity and Sacred Theology. He worked in parishes in New York, NY and Newark, NJ.

He went to Oxford University as a member of University College and worked in the Oxford diocese, being acting chaplain in his college for a term. In 1954 he received his doctorate of philosophy in theology from Oxford and came to the University of King's College as an associate professor in divinity. He held a number of offices at King's, being Dean of Men, acting Librarian, priest in charge of King's Chapel, professor of Biblical Studies and Dean of Divinity. He was a member of the King's Board of Governors for 20 years. He was an examiner for degrees in Divinity for the Anglican Church of Canada and served on committees of its General Synod on theological education and ministry, was archivist for the Provincial Synod and worked on Nova Scotia diocesan committees. He wrote for international, national, and local publications and was a member of international and national learned theological societies. His lectures on Henry Hammond, a Caroline divine, given at Evanston, Illinois, were published.

In 1971 he began teaching at the Atlantic School of Theology in Halifax as professor of Scripture Studies, where he remained until his retirement in 1983, although he continued to teach part-time until 1987. In his later years he began the study of Spanish and traveled frequently to South America, especially Chile. During his teaching career he taught clergy and laypeople of many Christian churches, including Salvation Army officers and Greek Orthodox priests, and in his own denomination nearly a dozen future bishops in Canada, the United States, Japan, Pakistan and Nigeria passed through his classes. In the last period of his teaching career he was beset by heart problems that he felt hampered his performance. He received honorary doctor of divinity degrees from Pine Hill Divinity Hall and from King's where he was an Inglis Professor, an honorary title at his death.

He said he had had four vocations, that of a student and scholar, that of a teacher, that of an Anglican priest, and that of a husband, father, and grandfather, all of which enhanced and broadened his life. He is survived by his children, Bernard (Carrie) Hibbitts of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Paul (Sheila) Hibbitts of New Westminster, BC; grandchildren William Hibbitts of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; and Marika June Hibbitts of New Westminster, BC. He was predeceased by his wife June and his sister Marguerite.  His funeral took place on March 29th in Halifax.

The family wishes to express publicly their deep gratitude to the officiating clergy, to the physicians, nurses and staff of the Halifax Infirmary, QEII and all the physicians and staff of Halifax hospitals over the years who looked after him, to his personal family physician Dr. D. Wood, to his specialists Dr. R. Gregor, Dr. J. Sullivan, Dr. J. Wood, and especially to his caregivers Joann and Rosalie, who provided outstanding personal care and constant companionship in his final years, enhancing those with their warmth, compassion and extraordinary dedication in good times and bad.

The family would also like to thank his neighbours – old and young alike – for taking the time to chat with him as he sat out on his front porch whatever the weather, and for their many other kind gestures. Lastly, the family wishes to acknowledge the many contributions of Metro Transit bus operators and Halifax cab drivers who, after he became unable to walk long distances as he had once done on his own or with his young sons, enriched his life by their service and consideration.


In gratitude for his friendship and fellowship in the Christian ministry of Scriptural scholarship, I commend him to the Lord's mercy and pray for the consolation of those he leaves behind. 

* * * * * *

Nécrologie de monsieur l'abbé Paul-Yvon MÉNARD

L'abbé Paul-Yvon Ménard est décédé le samedi 26 mai 2012 à l’âge de 81 ans. Né à Hull, il était le fils de feu Ferdinand Ménard et de feu Léontine Charbonneau. Neveu de Mgr Joseph Charbonneau, le quatrième archevêque de Montréal, l'abbé Paul-Yvon regardait son oncle comme un modèle de vie sacerdotale et de zèle pastoral.

Prédécédé par sa soeur Thérèse, en plus de ses confrères du clergé d'Ottawa, il laisse dans le deuil ses soeurs Pauline (feu Fernand Mousseau) et Françoise (Nicolas Gagnon) ainsi que plusieurs nièces et neveux.

L'abbé Paul-Yvon a été ordonné à la prêtrise le 17 juin 1955 par Mgr Marie-Joseph Lemieux, o.p., archevêque d'Ottawa. Il a exercé son ministère presbytéral dans plusieurs localités, notamment Masham, Hawkesbury, Vanier, Ottawa, Marionville et Embrun.

Ses proches ont recu les condoléances le vendredi 1er juin avant la célébration des funérailles qui ont eu lieu à 10h30, en la Basilique-cathédrale Notre-Dame d'Ottawa.

Pour ceux et celles qui le désirent, au lieu de fleurs, vos marques de sympathie peuvent se traduire par des offrandes de messe ou par un don au Fonds de la pension du clergé (a/s Centre diocésain, 1247, place Kilborn, Ottawa, ON K1H 6K9).

Que le Seigneur accorde à son serviteur fidèle la récompense éternelle.

* * * * * *

REQUIESCANT IN PACE

The Pope's Weekend in Milan - June: Month of the Sacred Heart - Memorial: Saint Justin the Martyr

MILAN AWAITS THE POPE

Families from five continents are meeting in Milan for the 7th World Meeting of Families. These same families will welcome Benedict XVI this afternoon on his arrival in the capital of Lombardy. One can bet that they will welcome him with the same enthusiasm with which they flooded the streets, squares, churches and meeting places in the Ambrosian metropolis during the past few days.

The participating families - coming from 100 countries including Canada, Guinea Bissau, one of the world's poorest countries, and even Australia from the other side of the world - are not only enlivening the Pastoral Theological Congress' work at Fieramilanocity, in several places in the city and various neighbouring dioceses, but are actively participating in all initiatives, such as the “Congress of Children”, uniting the youngest participants.

At the first gathering, hundreds of children hand-in-hand recited, each in their own language, the “Our Father” for their parents and the victims of the earthquake which struck Emilia Romagna and part of Lombardy. It was an act of solidarity in addition to the fund raising organized by Family 2012 and Caritas.

In short, as one of the largest posters hung in the city announces: “In Milan, doors open to the world”— because the family, despite its great changes and challenges, remains the cornerstone of civil life and society.

Cardinal Angelo Scola, Archbishop of Milan, underlined that the World Meeting “wishes to be an event of the people, able to enter into dialogue with the fundamental needs of every person”.

Along that same line, according to Cardinal Ennio Antonelli, President of the Pontifical Council for the Family, “the event in Milan, like every true and intense meeting of persons, is made up of a rich, complex and interesting network of relationships”, which must be recognized and welcomed “with gratuitousness, passion and intelligence”. (Courtesy: L’Osservatore Romano)

* * * * * *

BEHOLD THE HEART THAT HAS SO LOVED MANKIND

Just as May has traditionally been devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary, so the month of June is devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Catholic piety.  John O'Brien SJ has recently described the imagery of the Sacred Heart and the meaning of the imagery:

Pope Benedict has invited the faithful to renew their devotion to the Sacred Heart and with good reason: as a symbol – and object of meditation – it contains many dimensions of the mystery of God. Let’s reflect on a few of those.

First, the heart is visible. Jesus does not conceal his love, but makes it readily available to all. It is offered to us. He is vulnerable in that respect. It calls us to let down our barriers.

There are thorns that encircle it. This is not a valentine, but a passionate love that has and will suffer for the beloved. Just as our own vulnerable love can sometimes suffer, so does Christ’s for us.

There’s a cross on top of the heart. John and Mary stood at the foot of the cross when others had run away. This is an invitation to us to stand with them for Jesus. However this plays out in our lives, this is love in action.

The wound. It reminds us of the blood and water that flowed when the heart was pierced by the soldier’s lance. Both elements signify the life (Eucharist and baptism) that results from his sacrifice. It is also the birth of the Church.

The fire blazing. The most dramatic element, it tells us about the fierce love that God has for his people. It offers light and warmth to all who approach, and its blaze melts the hardened parts of our hearts. This fire is also contagious, and will inflame us in going out to set the world on fire.

[To read more of his presentation, including word of a new book that explains the spirituality of the Heart of Christ, go to this site: http://iboetnonredibo.blogspot.ca/2012/05/heart-of-world.html#more].

* * *

PAPAL PRAYER INTENTIONS

FOR JUNE 2012

This month's Prayer Intentions recommended by the Holy Father, also a intergral aspect of devotion to the Sacred Heart, are as follows:

GENERAL INTENTION: That believers may recognize in the Eucharist the living presence of the Risen One who accompanies them in daily life.

MISSIONARY INTENTION: That Christians in Europe may rediscover their true identity and participate with greater enthusiasm in the proclamation of the Gospel.

* * * * * *

 Saint Justin, Martyr

 

 

 

O God, who through the folly of the Cross wondrously taught Saint Justin the Martyr the surpassing knowledge of Jesus Christ, grant us, through his intercession, that, having rejected deception and error, we may become steadfast in the faith. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.