Saturday of the First Week in Lent/OM: Saint Polycarp, Martyr - Visit to Prince of Peace School

Turn our hearts to you, eternal Father, and grant that, seeking always the one thing necessary and carrying out works of charity, we may be dedicated to your worship. 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.

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SAINT POLYCARP OF SMYRNA, MARTYR

 

"To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death. (Revelation 2:8-11)

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Saint Polycarp was disciple of Saint John the Evangelist, and Saint John ordained him bishop of Smyrna. And there were at Rome then two heretics, that one was called Marcian and that other Valentine, the which had deceived much people by their false doctrine. Then Saint Polycarp went to Rome on Easter-day, and there by his predication he brought again to the faith them that they had deceived. He wrote to the Philippians a much fair epistle, and much profitable, the which is yet read in Asia unto this day. It happened that in the time that Marcus Antoninus and Marcus Aurelius reigned, which was the year of grace one hundred and sixty-two, was made the fourth persecution on christian people, after the Emperor Nero, through all Asia.

Saint Polycarp heard how the people cried and was moved, he therefore was never moved, but abode without dread. And he was gracious and courteous in manners and pleasant in regard, and tarried always in the city as an hardy champion of God. He was so much required of the people that he departed from the city with their familiar friends, that he went to the field nigh unto the city, and there he prayed all the night for the peace of all holy church. And thereof had he a custom all the days of his life.

It happed that three days before that he was taken, as he prayed in a night he had a vision, that seemed that his hair was burnt, and when he awoke he told to them that were with him the vision, and expounded it to them, saying that: For certain he should be burnt for love of God. When he saw that they approached him that would have taken him, he went to meet them and right gladly received them, whereof they were much abashed that they were commanded to take so good a man. And anon he laid the table to his enemies, and made to them as good cheer as they had been his friends, and gave to them largely wine and meat, and get of them leave to pray an hour, and all that hour he prayed much devoutly for all the state of holy church.

When the hour was passed he mounted upon an ass, and was brought into the city, and as they led him, Herod came, which wwas provost of the country, and his father with him, and they took him into a chariot with them, and said to him much sweetly: Wherefore do ye not sacrifice as the others do? What harm is it to call Cæsar his lord, and to do sacrifice to the gods for to live surely? And when they saw that it availed not, and that always he was firm and constant in the law of God, they were much wroth with him and did to him much harm in the chariot, and as he approached the city a great multitude of people began to murmur against him. Anon a voice descended from heaven saying unto him: Polycarp be strong and constant. That voice was heard of many but none saw it. Then anon it was told to the provost all openly, that Polycarp had three times confessed to be christian.

When these tidings were heard all the people of the city of Smyrna...began to cry in great ire: This is the master and doctor of all the christian people that be in Asia, and hath destroyed all our gods, we require that he be burnt all quick. Then the people assembled much wood and brought him to a stake. And when they brought him to the stake they would have bound him thereto, and nailed the bonds with great nails. Then he said to them: Let me alone, for he that hath ordained me to suffer this torment of fire shall give to me virtue of patience, without moving me from this place, for to endure and suffer the flame of the fire.

Then the tyrants left the nails, and bound him with cords to the stake, and his hands bound behind him. And as in his passion he praised and blessed our Lord, and the fire was burning and a great flame shining, a much notable miracle was showed right there to much people, which God showed to the end that it should be showed unto all other. And the miracle was this, that the flame departed all about him in manner of a chamber by virtue of a sweet wind that came from heaven, and the body of the martyr was not as flesh burnt in the flame, but as fair as it had been purified in a furnace, and they that were about him felt an odour so sweet as it had been incense or precious ointment.

When the tyrants saw that the fire might not consume the body of the glorious martyr, they made the ministers to approach and did them to smite him through the body with a spear, and then issued out of his glorious body so great abundance of blood that it quenched the fire. And when the people saw the miracle they departed, having much marvel that they did so much cruelty to the friends of God. And with this glorious martyr were twelve other martyrs martyred, for to get the joy of heaven. The which grant us the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen. [The Golden Legend]

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God of all creation, who were pleased to give the Bishop Saint Polycarp a place in the company of the Martyrs, grant, through his intercession, that sharing with him in the chalice of Christ, we may rise through the Holy Spirit to eternal life. 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.

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VISIT TO PRINCE OF PEACE SCHOOL

As part of the Visitation of St. Peter's Parish last weekend, Fr. Geoffrey Kerslake and I visited Prince of Peace School a few days beforehand. 

The school shares a chapel with the parish, which is supplemented with additional chairs in the attached gymnasium, which conveniently serves both parish and school.

We are grateful to Father Joseph Vayalil, Pastor and Mr. Stephen Gay, Principal, as well as the school staff for the warm welcome.

Here are some photos from the School Visitation, a most joyful occasion; pictures of the parish Masses will be forthcoming.

 

The Feast of the Chair of St. Peter

Grant, we pray, almighty God, that no tempests may disturb us, for you have set us fast on the rock of the Apostle Peter's confession of 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.

Kindness Week in Ottawa - OM: Saint Peter Damian, Church Doctor

The week after Winterlude is celebrated widely in Ottawa as KINDNESS WEEK.  Rabbi Bulka who has spear-headed this for the last six years invited me to join him and other religious leaders at Ottawa International Airport as we gave out chocolates to passengers arriving in Ottawa.

Many are pleased to be welcomed and leave smiling.  Others brush past us very busy on cell phones or in a rush to get to their appointments for the day.  We enjoyed our time together, as you can see above; below are photos of our activity (enthusiastically welcomed by airport administration and covered by media reps).

 

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THURSDAY IN THE FIRST WEEK OF LENT

Bestow on us, we pray, O Lord, a spirit of always pondering on what is right and of hastening to carry it out, and, since without you we cannot exist, may we be enabled to live according to your will. 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.

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OPTIONAL MEMORIAL OF ST. PETER DAMIAN,

BISHOP, CONFESSOR, DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH

All-powerful God, help us to follow the teachings and example of Peter Damian. By making Christ and the service of his Church the first love of our lives, may we come to the joys of eternal light where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

New Hamilton Auxiliary Bishop - Lent 2C: Jesus Is Transfigured

Today it was announced in Rome that His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Father Daniel J. Miehm, currently Pastor of St. Benedict Parish in Milton in the Diocese of Hamilton, as Titular Bishop of Gor and Auxiliary Bishop of Hamilton.

Congratulations, Your Excellency!

Aujourd’hui a Rome on a annoncé que Sa Sainteté le Pape Benoît XVI a nommé Monsieur l’abbé Daniel J. Miehm, présentement curé de la paroisse St. Benedict de Milton du diocèse d’Hamilton, évêque titulaire de Gor et évêque auxiliaire à Hamilton.

Felicitations, Excellence!

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 Second Sunday in Lent (Year “C”) February 24, 2013

The Transfiguration
by Blessed Fra Angelico, whose feast waa yesterday

“HE WILL TRANSFORM THE BODY OF OUR HUMILIATION”

[Texts: Genesis 15.5-12, 17-18 [Psalm 27]; Philippians 3.17-4.1; Luke 9.28b-36]

What to make of the mystery of the Transfiguration? This remains a puzzle in New Testament research and in Christian spirituality.

Some scholars detect in the Transfiguration story features found in the Resurrection appearances breaking into the public ministry of Jesus (e.g., white garments, the shining of the garments, fear).

In the post-Easter narratives, however, an angel or Jesus generally gives specific individuals a commission to proclaim the Resurrection. By contrast, after the Transfiguration, a command to silence is given the disciples by Jesus in the gospels of Mark and Matthew. Luke simply observes that “the disciples kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen”.

The Transfiguration remains a unique episode in the public ministry of Jesus that heralds both His coming Passion and Exaltation.

Jesus goes up the mountain to pray (only Luke gives this reason), during which He is transfigured. The Transfiguration prepares for a meeting with “two men,” who are identified as Moses and Elijah. Now the disciples, who have been kept out of view, are grafted into the scene, managing to overcome sleep to witness the heavenly trio of Jesus, Moses and Elijah.

Subtly, the perspective shifts to the interior experience of Peter, James and John. As the heavenly visitors prepare to leave, Peter tries to prevent the ending of their mystical experience. The rejoinder to Peter's remark comes not from Jesus but from an enveloping cloud that both reveals and conceals God's presence.

Evoking an awesome fear, God's voice from heaven declares that Jesus' suffering path to glory (his exodos, poorly rendered as “departure”) cannot be bypassed by extending this foretaste of resurrection glory. Once God's voice has spoken, the scene reverts to what it was before the Lord's prayer, Jesus alone with his chosen disciples. The stunned disciples not unnaturally keep to themselves what they have gone through.

Though the Lectionary selection omits it, the introductory verse of the Transfiguration story says that the Transfiguration took place “eight days after” Jesus had begun to teach his followers that he would suffer, die and rise (Luke 9.21-22). Immediately after that prophecy, Jesus declared that any who wanted to be disciples had to take up their cross every day and follow him (9.23-26).

Peter, James and John had to learn from Jesus a great deal, which they would share later with the church. They had to listen attentively, for much of what they were hearing was not what they expected. This is why the divine voice offered assurances that what Jesus taught about suffering was pleasing to God (“this is my Son, my chosen; listen to him”).

Paul challenged his Philippian converts to imitate him in his following of Jesus. For the true disciple of Jesus there remains the promise of one day sharing the glory of his Transfiguration (“he will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory”).

The first reading also reflects the biblical invitation that believers look beyond present circumstances to the hope-filled future being prepared for them by God.

Having grown old without seeing fulfilled God's promise that he would have offspring, Abram brought his complaint before God. The Lord promised Abram that, despite appearances to the contrary, his posterity would be as numerous as the stars in the night sky.

The closing actions of the Abram story depict a covenant-making ceremony. The sacrificial cutting of animals in two indicated that the parties entered into a solemn pledge. Each solemnly bound the other to be willing to die—like the sacrificed animals—if he failed to adhere to the promises made.

Here, however, it was God alone (symbolized by the “smoking fire pot” and “flaming torch” passing between the victims) who made the death-defying commitment. Though “a deep sleep fell upon Abram and terrifying darkness descended upon him”, he received God's offer of land which his progeny would occupy (“to your descendants I give this land”).

We learn in the Genesis reading that Abraham (Abram's later name), believed God “and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness”. In his epistle to the Romans, Paul described such a trusting disposition as the characteristic of every believer (cf. Romans 1.17).

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WEDNESDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK OF LENT

Look kindly, Lord, we pray, on the devotion of your people, that those who by self-denial are restrained in body may by the fruit of good works be renewed in mind. 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.

Le pape nous parle des tentations de Jésus—the Pope interprets Jesus’ temptations and our own

Sunday's next-to-last Angelus message by Pope Benedict was a classic.  Explaining what temptation is for us by reflecting on the experience of Jesus.  There are five steps for us in reflecting on Luke 4.1-13: read, reflect, pray, repent, take a decision in favour of the needy [a variation on the four or five stages of Lectio divina or "holy reading"].  Here it is in French and English:

Carême : démasquer les fausses images de l'homme

Chers frères et sœurs,

Mercredi dernier, avec le traditionnel rite des cendres, nous sommes entrés dans le Carême, temps de conversion et de pénitence en préparation à Pâques. L’Eglise, qui est mère et maîtresse, appelle tous ses membres à se renouveler dans l’esprit, à se réorienter résolument vers Dieu, reniant l’orgueil et l’égoïsme pour vivre dans l’amour. En cette Année de la foi le Carême est un temps favorable pour redécouvrir la foi en Dieu comme critère de base de notre vie et de la vie de l’Eglise. Ceci comporte toujours une lutte, un combat spirituel, parce que l’esprit du mal, naturellement, s’oppose à notre sanctification et cherche à nous faire dévier du chemin vers Dieu. Pour cela, le premier dimanche de Carême, est proclamé chaque année l’Evangile des tentations de Jésus dans le désert.

Jésus en effet, après avoir reçu l’"investiture" comme Messie – "Oint" de l’Esprit Saint – au baptême dans le Jourdain, fut conduit par le même Esprit dans le désert pour être tenté par le diable. Au moment de commencer son ministère public, Jésus a dû démasquer et repousser les fausses images de Messie que le tentateur lui proposait. Mais ces tentations sont aussi de fausses images de l’homme, qui en tout temps essaient de piéger la conscience, en prenant la forme de propositions avantageuses et efficaces, et même bonnes. Les évangélistes Matthieu et Luc présentent trois tentations de Jésus, qui sont différentes seulement par leur ordre. Leur noyau central consiste toujours à instrumentaliser Dieu pour ses propres intérêts, en donnant plus d’importance au succès ou aux biens matériels. Le tentateur est sournois : il ne pousse pas directement vers le mal, mais vers un faux bien, en faisant croire que les vraies réalités sont le pouvoir et ce qui satisfait les besoins primaires. De cette façon, Dieu devient secondaire, il se réduit à un moyen, en définitive il devient irréel, il ne compte plus, il s’estompe. En dernière analyse, c'est la foi qui est en jeu dans les tentations, parce que Dieu est en jeu. Dans les moments décisifs de la vie, mais aussi, à bien y voir, à chaque instant, nous sommes face à un carrefour : est-ce que nous voulons suivre le « moi » ou Dieu ? L’intérêt individuel ou bien le vrai Bien, c’est-à-dire ce qui est réellement bon ?

Comme nous l’enseignent les Pères de l’Eglise, les tentations font partie de la "descente" de Jésus dans notre condition humaine, dans l’abîme du péché et de ses conséquences. Une "descente" que Jésus a parcourue jusqu’à la fin, jusqu’à la mort en croix et aux enfers de la séparation suprême avec Dieu. De cette façon, Il est la main que Dieu a tendue à l’homme, à la brebis égarée, pour la sauver. Comme l’enseigne saint Augustin, Jésus a pris nos tentations, pour nous donner la victoire (cf. Enarr. in Psalmos, 60,3: PL 36, 724). Donc n’ayons pas peur d’affronter nous aussi le combat contre l’esprit du mal : l’important est que nous le fassions avec Lui, avec le Christ, le Vainqueur. Et pour rester avec Lui adressons-nous à sa Mère, Marie: invoquons-la avec confiance filiale à l’heure de l’épreuve, et elle nous fera sentir la présence puissante de son Fils divin, pour repousser les tentations avec la Parole du Christ, et ainsi remettre Dieu au centre de notre vie.

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We Join Him and We Ask Him to Give Us

Strength to Fight Our Weaknesses

Dear brothers and sisters!

Last Wednesday, with the traditional distribution of ashes, we entered into Lent, a time of conversion and penance in preparation for Easter. The Church, who is mother and teacher, calls all of her members to renew themselves spiritually, to reorient themselves toward God, renouncing pride and egoism to live in love. In this Year of Faith Easter is a favorable time to rediscover faith in God as a basic criterion for our life and the life of the Church. This always means a struggle, a spiritual combat, because the evil spirit naturally opposes our sanctification and seeks to turn us away from the path to God. That is why each year on the first Sunday of Lent the Gospel narrative of Jesus’ temptation in the desert is proclaimed.

Jesus, in fact, after having received “investiture” as Messiah – “anointed” with the Spirit – at the baptism in the Jordan, was led by the same Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. At the beginning of his public ministry Jesus had to unmask and reject the false images of the Messiah that the tempter proposed to him. But these temptations are also false images of man, which always harass our conscience, disguising themselves as suitable, effective and even good proposals. The evangelists Matthew and Luke present 3 temptations of Jesus, differing in part only in the order. The nucleus of these temptations always consists in instrumentalizing God for our own interests, giving more importance to success or to material goods. The tempter is clever: he does not direct us immediately toward evil but toward a false good, making us believe that power and things that satiate primary needs are what is most real. In this manner God becomes secondary; he is reduced to a means, he becomes unreal, he no longer counts, he disappears. In the final analysis, faith is what is at stake in temptations because God is at stake. In the decisive moments of life and, in fact, in every moment of life, we are faced with a choice: do we want to follow the “I” or God? Do we want to follow individual interest or rather the true Good, that which is really good?

As the Fathers of the Church teach us, temptations are of Jesus’ “descent” into our human condition, into the abyss of sin and its consequences. A “descent” that Jesus undertook to the very end, to the point of death on the cross and the descent into the netherworld (inferi) of extreme distance from God. In this way he is the hand of God extended to man, to the lost sheep, to bring back him to safety. As St. Augustine teaches, Jesus has taken temptations from us to give us his victory (cf. Enarr. in Psalmos, 60,3: PL 36, 724). Therefore, we too are not afraid to face combat with the evil spirit: the important point is that we do it with him, with Christ, the Victor. And to stand with him we turn to the Mother, Mary: let us invoke her with filial confidence in the hour of trial, and she will make us feel the powerful presence of her divine Son, to reject the temptations with the Word of Christ, and so to put God once again at the center of our life.

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Look upon your family, Lord, that, through the chastening effects of bodily discipline, our minds may be radiant in your presence with the strength of our yearning for you. 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.

BENOÎT XVI: MESSE D’ACTION DE GRÂCE - THANKSGIVING MASS FOR THE PONTIFICATE OF BENEDICT XVI 27/02/13

MESSE BILINGUE D’ACTION DE GRÂCE POUR LE PONTIFICAT DE BENOÎT XVI le mercredi 27 février à 17h15 à la cathédrale Notre-Dame d’Ottawa

BILINGUAL THANKSGIVING MASS FOR THE PONTIFICATE OF BENEDICT XVI Wednesday, February 27 at 5:15PM in Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica, Ottawa

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MONDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK OF LENT

 

 

Convert us, O God our Savior, and instruct our minds by heavenly teaching, that we may benefit from the works of Lent. 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.

First Sunday of Lent "C": Cathedral Rite of Election This Afternoon - Visit of Claretian Superior General

This afternoon at 2:30PM, Catechumens preparing for the Easter Sacraments (Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Communion at the Easter Vigil)  as well as  Candidates for reception into Full Communion with the Catholic Church from some thirty parishes will be welcomed at Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica.

This annual Rite of Election of the Catechumens will see some fifty men, women and children sign the Book of the Elect in the presence of their sponsors, family, parish representatives and those accompanying them to union with Our Lord's Paschal Mystery through the baptismal washing, sacred anointing with Holy Chrism and admittance to Holy Communion. 

Others who will be present are the men and women who accompany these parishioners in their journey through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA).

Another seventy Candidates, French and English-speaking, will be greeted and prayed over as they prepare to be received into full communion with the Roman Catholic Church--most of these having belonged earlier to another Christian community by baptism--and several others who have not been active in ther Catholic faith until now and are following a program similar to the RCIA to come to know and appropriate their faith.

All are welcome to assist at the ceremony this afternoon--always a joyous celebration at the start of Lent--and the reception afterwards in the parish hall where we can welcome the newcomers personally.  Let us keep them all in prayerful remembrance as we journey to Easter and the renewal of our own baptismal commitment!

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Grant, almighty God, through the yearly observances of holy Lent, that we may grow in understanding of the riches hidden in Christ and by worthy conduct pursue their effects. 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.

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VISIT OF THE FATHER GENERAL

OF THE CLARETIAN CONGREGATION

Left to righ: Fr. Lukose Kochupurackal, Very Rev. Josep M. Abella Batlle, Fr. James Raphel

Earlier this week, the Claretian Superior General, Father Josep Abella Batlle, a Spaniard and former missionary to Japan now serving in his tenth year of a 12-year mandate, visited Ottawa as part of his canonical visitation to the Claretians in Canada (other members are in the Province of Quebec) and a forthcoming chapter meeting.

Our two Ottawa-based Claretians, Fathers Kochupurackal and Raphel serve at St. Bernard and Holy Cross Parishes respectively.

Four years ago ,the Claretian Superior General and I had met at the Synod of Bishops, so it was good to become reacquainted and to share our concern for the mission of the Church.

Grateful for his community's presence in our Church of Ottawa I pray that the Lord may guide him and his congregation as, together, we collaborate in facing the challenges of the New Evangelization in this Year of Faith and beyond.