Chrism Mass

Christ the Eternal High Priest
Artist and Date are Unknown

Holy Thursday
Chrism Mass

Readings for the Chrism Mass[1][2]

Readings from the Jerusalem Bible

Readings and Commentary:[3]

Reading 1: Isaiah 61:1-3a, 6a, 8b-9

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
because the LORD has anointed me;
He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the lowly,
to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
and release to the prisoners,
To announce a year of favor from the LORD
and a day of vindication by our God,
to comfort all who mourn;
To place on those who mourn in Zion
a diadem instead of ashes,
To give them oil of gladness in place of mourning,
a glorious mantle instead of a listless spirit.

You yourselves shall be named priests of the LORD,
ministers of our God shall you be called.

I will give them their recompense faithfully,
a lasting covenant I will make with them.
Their descendants shall be renowned among the nations,
and their offspring among the peoples;
All who see them shall acknowledge them
as a race the LORD has blessed.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Is 61:1-3a, 6a, 8b-9

The prophetic vision from Isaiah begins with words used by Jesus himself in Luke 4: 18-19. In the day it was first used, it was inspired by the return of the faithful from the Babylonian exile. It envisions the coming of the messianic age, foreseeing the saving work of the Messiah (“glad tidings to the lowly, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners”).

The oracle continues, seeing the reestablishment of the temple and priests to serve it. This vision is also seen as the prediction of the new covenant and the establishment of the new Jerusalem. All who dwell there are blessed.

CCC: Is 61:1-2 714; Is 61:1 436, 695, 716, 1286; Is 61:6 1539
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 89:21-22, 25 and 27

R. (2) For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

“I have found David, my servant;
with my holy oil I have anointed him.
That my hand may always be with him;
and that my arm may make him strong.”
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

“My faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him;
and through my name shall his horn be exalted.
He shall say of me, ‘You are my father,
my God, the Rock, my savior!’“
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 89:21-22, 25 and 27

Though Psalm 89 is a lament of the community, this section is prophetic and reiterates the strength of the Davidic dynasty. The first strophe recalls God’s faithfulness expressed In his unbreakable covenant with King David. With clear focus on the people of God – these strophes are part of the song of praise for God who is the true shield and king.

CCC: Ps 89 709
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reading 2: Revelation 1:5-8

[Grace to you and peace] from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness,
the firstborn of the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his Blood,
who has made us into a Kingdom, priests for his God and Father,
to him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen.

Behold, he is coming amid the clouds,
and every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him.
All the peoples of the earth will lament him.
Yes. Amen.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God,
“the one who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Rv 1:5-8

This vision of St. John of the return of Jesus as king is very straightforward. One of the more significant verses is "I am the Alpha and the 'Omega,' says the Lord God, 'the one who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.'" Alpha and Omega are first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, these words are used again later in Revelation (Revelation 22:13) and were predicted by Isaiah (Isaiah 41:4), a clear reference to Christ’s kingship.

CCC: Rev 1:6 1546, 2855; Rev 1:8 2854
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: Luke 4:16-21

Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had grown up,
and went according to his custom
into the synagogue on the sabbath day.
He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah.
He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring glad tidings to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.

Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down,
and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him.
He said to them,

“Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Lk 4:16-21

This selection from St. Luke’s Gospel takes place immediately following the Lord’s Baptism by St. John and his trial in the desert. Jesus' return to Galilee is also documented in St. Matthew’s Gospel (Matthew 4:12-17). Here the Lord begins his public ministry with a straightforward statement of his identity and mission: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free.” This announcement of Isaiah’s prophecy (Isaiah 61:1-2) being fulfilled tells the audience that he is the Messiah who came bringing them salvation.

CCC: Lk 4:16-22 1286; Lk 4:16-21 436; Lk 4:18-19 695, 714; Lk 4:18 544, 2443; Lk 4:19 1168
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:

Since this day is a special day for my presbyteral brothers our priests, it is not for a deacon, who serves at table, to offer reflective comments. To that end, we offer you the Holy Father, Pope Francis:

Holy Chrism Mass: Homily from April 2, 2015
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“My hand shall ever abide with him, my arms also shall strengthen him” (Ps 89:21).

This is what the Lord means when he says: “I have found David, my servant; with my holy oil I have anointed him” (v. 20). It is also what our Father thinks whenever he “encounters” a priest. And he goes on to say: “My faithfulness and my steadfast love shall be with him… He shall cry to me, ‘You are my Father, my God and the rock of my salvation”’ (vv. 24, 26).

It is good to enter with the Psalmist into this monologue of our God. He is talking about us, his priests, his pastors. But it is not really a monologue, since he is not the only one speaking. The Father says to Jesus: “Your friends, those who love you, can say to me in a particular way: ‘You are my Father’” (cf. Jn 14:21). If the Lord is so concerned about helping us, it is because he knows that the task of anointing his faithful people is not easy, it is demanding; it can tire us. We experience this in so many ways: from the ordinary fatigue brought on by our daily apostolate to the weariness of sickness, death and even martyrdom.

The tiredness of priests! Do you know how often I think about this weariness which all of you experience? I think about it and I pray about it, often, especially when I am tired myself. I pray for you as you labour amid the people of God entrusted to your care, many of you in lonely and dangerous places. Our weariness, dear priests, is like incense which silently rises up to heaven (cf. Ps 141:2; Rev 8:3-4). Our weariness goes straight to the heart of the Father.

Know that the Blessed Virgin Mary is well aware of this tiredness and she brings it straight to the Lord. As our Mother, she knows when her children are weary, and this is her greatest concern. “Welcome! Rest, my child. We will speak afterwards…”. “Whenever we draw near to her, she says to us: “Am I not here with you, I who am your Mother?” (cf. Evangelii Gaudium,286). And to her Son she will say, as she did at Cana, “They have no wine” (Jn 2:3).

It can also happen that, whenever we feel weighed down by pastoral work, we can be tempted to rest however we please, as if rest were not itself a gift of God. We must not fall into this temptation. Our weariness is precious in the eyes of Jesus who embraces us and lifts us up. “Come to me, all who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest” (Mt 11:28). Whenever a priest feels dead tired, yet is able to bow down in adoration and say: “Enough for today Lord”, and entrust himself to the Father, he knows that he will not fall but be renewed. The one who anoints God’s faithful people with oil is also himself anointed by the Lord: “He gives you a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit” (cf. Is 61:3).
 

Let us never forget that a key to fruitful priestly ministry lies in how we rest and in how we look at the way the Lord deals with our weariness. How difficult it is to learn how to rest! This says much about our trust and our ability to realize that that we too are sheep: we need the help of the Shepherd. A few questions can help us in this regard.
 

Do I know how to rest by accepting the love, gratitude and affection which I receive from God’s faithful people? Or, once my pastoral work is done, do I seek more refined relaxations, not those of the poor but those provided by a consumerist society? Is the Holy Spirit truly “rest in times of weariness” for me, or is he just someone who keeps me busy? Do I know how to seek help from a wise priest? Do I know how to take a break from myself, from the demands I make on myself, from my self-seeking and from my self-absorption? Do I know how to spend time with Jesus, with the Father, with the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph, with my patron saints, and to find rest in their demands, which are easy and light, and in their pleasures, for they delight to be in my company, and in their concerns and standards, which have only to do with the greater glory of God? Do I know how to rest from my enemies under the Lord’s protection? Am I preoccupied with how I should speak and act, or do I entrust myself to the Holy Spirit, who will teach me what I need to say in every situation? Do I worry needlessly, or, like Paul, do I find repose by saying: “I know him in whom I have placed my trust” (2 Tim 1:12)?
 

Let us return for a moment to what today’s liturgy describes as the work of the priest: to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim freedom to prisoners and healing to the blind, to offer liberation to the downtrodden and to announce the year of the Lord’s favour. Isaiah also mentions consoling the broken-hearted and comforting the afflicted.
 

These are not easy or purely mechanical jobs, like running an office, building a parish hall or laying out a soccer field for the young of the parish… The tasks of which Jesus speaks call for the ability to show compassion; our hearts are to be “moved” and fully engaged in carrying them out. We are to rejoice with couples who marry; we are to laugh with the children brought to the baptismal font; we are to accompany young fiancés and families; we are to suffer with those who receive the anointing of the sick in their hospital beds; we are to mourn with those burying a loved one… All these emotions…if we do not have an open heart, can exhaust the heart of a shepherd. For us priests, what happens in the lives of our people is not like a news bulletin: we know our people, we sense what is going on in their hearts. Our own heart, sharing in their suffering, feels “com-passion”, is exhausted, broken into a thousand pieces, moved and even “consumed” by the people. Take this, eat this… These are the words the priest of Jesus whispers repeatedly while caring for his faithful people: Take this, eat this; take this, drink this… In this way our priestly life is given over in service, in closeness to the People of God… and this always leaves us weary.
 

I wish to share with you some forms of weariness on which I have meditated.
 

There is what we can call “the weariness of people, the weariness of the crowd”. For the Lord, and for us, this can be exhausting – so the Gospel tells us – yet it is a good weariness, a fruitful and joyful exhaustion. The people who followed Jesus, the families which brought their children to him to be blessed, those who had been cured, those who came with their friends, the young people who were so excited about the Master… they did not even leave him time to eat. But the Lord never tired of being with people. On the contrary, he seemed renewed by their presence (cf. Evangelii Gaudium,11). This weariness in the midst of activity is a grace on which all priests can draw (cf. ibid., 279). And how beautiful it is! People love their priests, they want and need their shepherds! The faithful never leave us without something to do, unless we hide in our offices or go out in our cars wearing sun glasses. There is a good and healthy tiredness. It is the exhaustion of the priest who wears the smell of the sheep… but also smiles the smile of a father rejoicing in his children or grandchildren. It has nothing to do with those who wear expensive cologne and who look at others from afar and from above (cf. ibid., 97). We are the friends of the Bridegroom: this is our joy. If Jesus is shepherding the flock in our midst, we cannot be shepherds who are glum, plaintive or, even worse, bored. The smell of the sheep and the smile of a father…. Weary, yes, but with the joy of those who hear the Lord saying: “Come, O blessed of my Father” (Mt 25:34).
 

There is also the kind of weariness which we can call “the weariness of enemies”. The devil and his minions never sleep and, since their ears cannot bear to hear the word of God, they work tirelessly to silence that word and to distort it. Confronting them is more wearying. It involves not only doing good, with all the exertion this entails, but also defending the flock and oneself from evil (cf. Evangelii Gaudium,83). The evil one is far more astute than we are, and he is able to demolish in a moment what it took us years of patience to build up. Here we need to implore the grace to learn how to “offset” (and it is an important habit to acquire): to thwart evil without pulling up the good wheat, or presuming to protect like supermen what the Lord alone can protect. All this helps us not to let our guard down before the depths of iniquity, before the mockery of the wicked. In these situations of weariness, the Lord says to us: “Have courage! I have overcome the world!” (Jn 16:33). The word of God gives us strength.
 

And finally – I say finally lest you be too wearied by this homily itself! – there is also “weariness of ourselves” (cf. Evangelii Gaudium,277). This may be the most dangerous weariness of all. That is because the other two kinds come from being exposed, from going out of ourselves to anoint and to do battle (for our job is to care for others). But this third kind of weariness is more “self-referential”: it is dissatisfaction with oneself, but not the dissatisfaction of someone who directly confronts himself and serenely acknowledges his sinfulness and his need for God’s mercy, his help; such people ask for help and then move forward. Here we are speaking of a weariness associated with “wanting yet not wanting”, having given up everything but continuing to yearn for the fleshpots of Egypt, toying with the illusion of being something different. I like to call this kind of weariness “flirting with spiritual worldliness”. When we are alone, we realize how many areas of our life are steeped in this worldliness, so much so that we may feel that it can never be completely washed away. This can be a dangerous kind of weariness. The Book of Revelation shows us the reason for this weariness: “You have borne up for my sake and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first” (Rev 2:3-4). Only love gives true rest. What is not loved becomes tiresome, and in time, brings about a harmful weariness.
 

The most profound and mysterious image of how the Lord deals with our pastoral tiredness is that, “having loved his own, he loved them to the end” (Jn 13:1): the scene of his washing the feet of his disciples. I like to think of this as the cleansing of discipleship. The Lord purifies the path of discipleship itself. He “gets involved” with us (Evangelii Gaudium,24), becomes personally responsible for removing every stain, all that grimy, worldly smog which clings to us from the journey we make in his name.
 

From our feet, we can tell how the rest of our body is doing. The way we follow the Lord reveals how our heart is faring. The wounds on our feet, our sprains and our weariness, are signs of how we have followed him, of the paths we have taken in seeking the lost sheep and in leading the flock to green pastures and still waters (cf. ibid., 270). The Lord washes us and cleanses us of all the dirt our feet have accumulated in following him. This is something holy. Do not let your feet remain dirty. Like battle wounds, the Lord kisses them and washes away the grime of our labors.
 

Our discipleship itself is cleansed by Jesus, so that we can rightly feel “joyful”, “fulfilled”, “free of fear and guilt”, and impelled to go out “even to the ends of the earth, to every periphery”. In this way we can bring the good news to the most abandoned, knowing that “he is with us always, even to the end of the world”. And please, let us ask for the grace to learn how to be weary, but weary in the best of ways! 

© Copyright - Libreria Editrice Vaticana

[1] S.S. Commemoratio
[2] The picture is “Christ the High Priest” Artist and Date are UNKNOWN
[3] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.

MARCH 23 SAINT TORIBIO DE MOGROVEJO

"St. Toribio De Mogrovejo"
artist and date are UNKNOWN



MARCH 23

SAINT TORIBIO DE MOGROVEJO, BISHOP

Biographical Information about St. Toribio De Mogrovejo[1]

Readings for the Memorial of St. Toribio De Mogrovejo

Readings and Commentary:[2]

FIRST READING
2 Timothy 1:13-14; 2:1-3

Beloved:
Take as your norm the sound words that you heard from me,
in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
Guard this rich trust with the help of the Holy Spirit
who dwells within us.
My child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
And what you heard from me through many witnesses
entrust to faithful people
who will have the ability to teach others as well.
Bear your share of hardship along with me
like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on 2 Tm 1:13-14; 2:1-3

St. Paul exhorts his protégé, St. Timothy, to safeguard what the apostle has given him; the Good News of Christ. He tells St. Timothy to hold fast to that word using the indwelling strength of the Holy Spirit and to pass this authentic teaching along through those he finds who can also teach it to others. He compares this task, in the final verse, to that of a soldier’s duty to a cause.

CCC:2 Tm 1:12-14 84; 2 Tm 1:12 149; 2 Tm 1:13-14 857; 2 Tm 1:14 1202
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 96: 1-2a, 2b-3, 7-8c, 10

R. (3) Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name.
R. Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
R. Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Give to the LORD, you families of nations,
give to the LORD glory and praise;
give to the LORD the glory due his name!
R. Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Say among the nations: The LORD is king.
He has made the world firm, not to be moved;
he governs the peoples with equity.
R. Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 96: 1-2a, 2b-3, 7-8c, 10

“Announce his salvation, day after day.” This song of praise to the Lord invites all humanity to participate in God’s salvation. “This psalm has numerous verbal and thematic contacts with Isaiah ch. 40-55, as does Psalm 98. Another version of the psalm is 1 Chronicles 16:23-33.”[3]

 

CCC: Ps 96:2 2143
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GOSPEL
Matthew 9:35-38

Jesus went around to all the towns and villages,
teaching in their synagogues,
proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom,
and curing every disease and illness.
At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them
because they were troubled and abandoned,
like sheep without a shepherd.
Then he said to his disciples,
"The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Mt 9:35-38

This selection emphasizes Jesus' early struggle to accomplish what he came to do by himself. We sense the humanness as he says: "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few." Immediately following this discourse the 12 are named and sent.

"In this connection Paul VI reminds us: 'the responsibility for spreading the Gospel that saves belongs to everyone -- to all who have received it! The missionary duty concerns the whole body of the Church; in different ways and to different degrees, it is true, but we must all of us be united in carrying out this duty. Now let the conscience of every believer ask himself: Have I carried out my missionary duty? Prayer for the Missions is the first way of fulfilling this duty' ('Angelus Address,' 23 October 1977)." [5]

CCC: Mt 9:38 2611
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:

St Turibius of Mongrovejo (1538 - 1606)

“He was born in Spain in about 1538 and studied law at the University of Salamanca. He was named bishop of Lima in 1580 and sailed to America. Full of apostolic zeal, he traversed his gigantic diocese three times, generally on foot, baptizing, teaching and confirming the natives. He assembled many synods and councils to make the Church strong, organized, and above all holy; and he strongly defended the rights of the natives, who were Spanish citizens according to the law but who were nevertheless being oppressed by the colonists and the provincial governors. He died in Lima on 23 March 1606.”[4]

St. Toribio De Mogrovejo provides us with an example of what amazing things can be accomplished by one person in a state of grace. St. Toribio is credited with evangelizing much of Peru and did so for the most part on foot. It is said he walked across his huge diocese three times often alone, baptizing along the way. Among those (half a million, accounts say) were St. Rose of Lima, St. Francis Solano, St. Martin of Porres, and St. John Macias. We can only imagine the impact of passing on the faith to such as these.

As we celebrate his feast day we ask for his prayers on our behalf, that we might also be effective tools of Christ, spreading the faith through our words and actions. We ask for his prayers also for the missionaries who follow in his footsteps, especially in South America where the Church is under attack in many places from secular leaders who would see their own positions strengthened rather than tending to the good of the people they serve.

Pax

[1] The picture is “St. Toribio De Mogrovejo” taken from a holy card, artist and date are UNKNOWN
[2] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.
[3] See NAB footnote on Psalm 96
[4] Taken from Universalis, March 23. 2010
[5] The Navarre Bible, “Gospels and Acts,” Scepter Publishers, Princeton, NJ, © 2002, p. 111.

MARCH 18 SAINT CYRIL OF JERUSALEM

“St. Cyril of Jerusalem”
Iconifer and Date are UNKNOWN

MARCH 18

SAINT CYRIL OF JERUSALEM,
BISHOP AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH 

Biographical Information about St. Cyril of Jerusalem[1]

Readings for the Memorial of St. Cyril of Jerusalem

Readings and Commentary:[2]

FIRST READING 
1 John 5:1-5

Beloved:
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten by God,
and everyone who loves the Father
loves also the one begotten by him.
In this way we know that we love the children of God
when we love God and obey his commandments.
For the love of God is this,
that we keep his commandments.
And his commandments are not burdensome,
for whoever is begotten by God conquers the world.
And the victory that conquers the world is our faith.
Who indeed is the victor over the world
but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on 1 Jn 5:1-5

The beginning of this chapter from St. John’s first letter provides us with an understanding of Christ and God being of the same essence. “Children of God are identified not only by their love for others (1 John 4:7-9) and for God (1 John 5:1-2) but by their belief in the divine sonship of Jesus Christ. Faith, the acceptance of Jesus in his true character and the obedience in love to God's commands (1 John 5:3), is the source of the Christian's power in the world and conquers the world of evil (1 John 5:4-5), even as Christ overcame the world (John 16:33).” [3]

 

CCC: 1 Jn 5:1 2780, 2790
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 11

R. (10) The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
or:
R. (John 6:63) Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
 
The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
or:
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
 
The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart.
The command of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eye. 
R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
or.
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life. 

The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just. 
R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
or:
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
 
They are more precious than gold,
than a heap of purest gold;
Sweeter also than syrup
or honey from the comb. 
R. The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
or:
R. Your words. Lord, are Spirit and life. 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11

Psalm 19 is a hymn of praise. In this passage we give praise for God’s gift of the Law which guides us in our daily lives. The hymn also extols the virtues of obedience and steadfastness to the Law and its precepts. The passage also reflects the idea that following God’s statutes leads to peace and prosperity.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GOSPEL 
John 15:1-8

Jesus said to his disciples:
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.
He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit,
and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.
You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you.
Remain in me, as I remain in you.
Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own
unless it remains on the vine,
so neither can you unless you remain in me.
I am the vine, you are the branches.
Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit,
because without me you can do nothing.
Anyone who does not remain in me
will be thrown out like a branch and wither,
people will gather them and throw them into a fire
and they will be burned.
If you remain in me and my words remain in you,
ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.
By this is my Father glorified,
that you bear much fruit and become my disciples." 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Jn 15:1-8

This selection begins the discourse on the vine and the branches – really a monologue on the union with Jesus. It is still part of Jesus’ farewell speech. The familiar image of the vineyard and the vines is used which has imagery in common with Isaiah 5:1-7; Matthew 21:33-46 and as a vine at Psalm 80:9-17; Jeremiah 2:21; Ezekiel 15:2; 17:5-10; 19:10; Hosea 10:1. The identification of the vine as the Son of Man in Psalm 80:15 and Wisdom's description of herself as a vine in Sirach 24:17. This monologue becomes a unifying tie that pulls everything together.

"The wood of the vine is the more contemptible if it does not abide in the vine, and the more glorious if it does abide. [...] For, being cut off it is profitable neither for the vinedresser nor for the carpenter. For one of these only is it useful--the vine or the fire. If it is not in the vine, it goes to the fire; to avoid going to the fire it must be joined to the vine" (St. Augustine "In Ioann. Evang.", 81, 3).

CCC: Jn 15:1-17 1108; Jn 15:1-5 755; Jn 15:1-4 1988; Jn 15:3 517; Jn 15:4-5  787787; Jn 15:5 308, 737, 859, 864, 1694, 2074, 2732; Jn 15:7 2615; Jn 15:8 737
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
 
St Cyril of Jerusalem (315 - 386)
He was born in 315 of Christian parents and succeeded Maximus as bishop of Jerusalem in 348. He was active in the Arian controversy and was exiled more than once as a result. His pastoral zeal is especially shown in his Catecheses, in which he expounded orthodox doctrine, Holy Scripture and the traditions of the faith. They are still read today, and some of the Second Readings of the Office of Readings are taken from them. He died in 386. He is held in high esteem by both the Catholics and the Orthodox, and he was declared a Doctor of the Church by the Pope in 1883.[4]

We often take for granted that Church doctrine, what makes us Catholic, has always been there. We forget that there have been times in the past when the actions of a few brave souls articulated a truth that has formed us in all the generations since they first set pen to paper or orated to group that had been given poisonously wrong teachings about faith or morals. St. Cyril of Jerusalem was one such person.

He came into the Church at a time when the there was a lot of variability in Church teaching about everything from the nature of Christ himself not to mention the way we worshiped within the churches. His Catechetical and Mystigogical lectures teach such things as the proper way to receive communion (in the hand). He fought valiantly against Gnostics and heretics in the early Christological Heresies at a time when bishops were being killed for their views.

We look back today and give thanks to God for extending the vine of Christ and placing its pruning into the brilliant and loving hands of such as St. Cyril. We ask also for his intercession that we might faithfully carry on his tradition of proclaiming the faith by our words and actions.

Pax

[1] The Icon is “St. Cyril of Jerusalem” Iconifer and Date are UNKNOWN
[2] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. 
[3] See NAB Footnote on 1 John 5:1ff 
[4] Taken from Universalis, March 18, 2010

MARCH 17 SAINT PATRICK

"St. Patrick"
Artist and Date are UNKNOWN

MARCH 17
 
SAINT PATRICK, BISHOP 

Biographical Information about St. Patrick[1]

Readings for the Memorial of St. Patrick

Readings and Commentary:[2]

FIRST READING 
1 Peter 4:7b-11

Beloved:
Be serious and sober-minded
so that you will be able to pray.
Above all, let your love for one another be intense,
because love covers a multitude of sins.
Be hospitable to one another without complaining.
As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another
as good stewards of God's varied grace.
Whoever preaches, let it be with the words of God;
whoever serves, let it be with the strength that God supplies,
so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ,
to whom belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on 1 Pt 4:7b-11

“The inner life of the eschatological community [the Christian Community’s focus on the end times] is outlined as the end (the parousia of Christ) and the judgment draws near in terms of seriousness, sobriety, prayer, and love expressed through hospitality and the use of one's gifts for the glory of God and of Christ.”[3] The concluding doxology may have been the ending of an address, or possibly even the conclusion of a baptismal celebration.

CCC: 1 Pt 4:6 634; 1 Pt 4:7 670, 1806; 1 Pt 4:8 1434
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RESPONSORIAL PSALM 
Psalm 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 7-8b, 10

R. (3) Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name. 
R, Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds. 
R. Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Give to the LORD, you families of nations,
give to the LORD glory and praise;
give to the LORD the glory due his name! 
R. Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Say among the nations: The LORD is king.
He has made the world firm, not to be moved;
he governs the peoples with equity. 
R. Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on  Ps 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 7-8b, 10

“Announce his salvation, day after day.” This song of praise to the Lord invites all humanity to participate in God’s salvation. “This psalm has numerous verbal and thematic contacts with Isaiah ch. 40-55, as does Psalm 98. Another version of the psalm is 1 Chronicles 16:23-33.”[4]

  

CCC: Ps 96:2 2143
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GOSPEL Luke 5:1-11

While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God,
he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret.
He saw two boats there alongside the lake;
the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets.
Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon,
he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore.
Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.
After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon,
"Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch."
Simon said in reply,
"Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing,
but at your command I will lower the nets."
When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish
and their nets were tearing.
They signaled to their partners in the other boat
to come to help them.
They came and filled both boats
so that they were in danger of sinking.
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said,
"Depart from me. Lord, for I am a sinful man."
For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him
and all those with him,
and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee,
who were partners of Simon.
Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid;
from now on you will be catching men."
When they brought their boats to the shore,
they left everything and followed him. 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Lk 5:1-11

St. Luke’s Gospel presents the call of St. Peter, St. James, and St. John to discipleship. The Lord has demonstrated his authority through his teaching, and then through the miraculous catch of fish. We note the similarity of this incident with the post-resurrection incident recounted in St. John’s Gospel (John 21:1-11) when, on the Sea of Tiberias, the unrecognized Lord again asked St. Peter to lower his net after an unsuccessful attempt to catch fish, whereupon John rather than Peter recognized Jesus.

 

At Jesus' summons, Simon and the two sons of Zebedee leave all they have and follow the Lord. No mention is made here of Simon’s (Peter’s) brother Andrew who would also have been there, and in fact, as a disciple of John the Baptist, actually introduced the two (John 1:41 ff). We do hear that James and John, Zebedee’s sons, were also there as Simon’s partners, and are called at the same time.

 

Simon Peter’s response to the Lord’s call is one of being sinful and therefore unworthy of the presence of the Lord. In response to Simon’s fearful humility, Jesus invites them all to leave what they have and become fishers of men.

CCC: Lk 5:8 208
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
St Patrick (385 - 461)

He was born in Roman Britain around the end of the 4th century, and died in Ireland about the middle of the 5th century. As a missionary bishop, he endured many hardships and faced opposition even from his friends and fellow Christians. Nevertheless, he worked hard to conciliate, to evangelize, and to educate local chieftains and their families. He is remembered for his simplicity and pastoral care, for his humble trust in God, and for his fearless preaching of the gospel to the very people who had enslaved him in his youth.[5]

The patron saint of Ireland, who is memorialized today, accepted the call to follow in the disciples' footsteps, taking the Gospel of Jesus Christ into the world. He heard a call to service and he accepted it. It is something we all are asked to do. For some it might be as simple as daily prayer for those in need, for those who have rejected Christ, or for those who have never heard of Christ. For others it may mean packing one’s belongings and going to where the Gospel calls. This latter service can be rewarding but is frequently uncomfortable. It seems the Lord likes to test his servants and has a willing helper in this task, the Evil One himself.

Discerning the call to service is an ongoing occupation of the Christian. When those first disciples went out to fish the day Jesus walked by the shore, they probably felt they were doing what they were meant to do. Suddenly the Lord appeared and invited them to follow and that changed everything. Similarly with St. Patrick, he had escaped from captors in the very land he was sent back to serve. We can never guess where the Spirit of God will send us. All we can do is be open to the Spirit and do our best to respond.

Today we ask for St. Patrick’s intercession. We ask for his prayers, that we might hear the Lord clearly as we are called. We ask also for his prayers for Ireland, that the hearts and minds of her people might be turned constantly toward the peace of Christ.

Pax

[1] The picture is “St. Patrick” Artist and Date are UNKNOWN 
[2] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. 
[3] See NAB Footnote on 1 Peter 4:7-11 
[4] See NAB footnote on Psalm 96 
[5] Universalis. March 17, 2010

MARCH 9 SAINT FRANCES OF ROME

“The Vision of
St Francesca Romana”
by Orazio Gentileschi,
1615-19

MARCH 9

SAINT FRANCES OF ROME, RELIGIOUS

Biographical Information about St. Frances of Rome[1]

Readings for the Memorial of St. Frances of Rome

Readings and Commentary:[2]

FIRST READING
Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31

When one finds a worthy wife,
her value is far beyond pearls.
Her husband, entrusting his heart to her,
has an unfailing prize.
She brings him good, and not evil,
all the days of her life.
She obtains wool and flax
and makes cloth with skillful hands.
She puts her hands to the distaff,
and her fingers ply the spindle.
She reaches out her hands to the poor,
and extends her arms to the needy.
Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting;
the woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Give her a reward of her labors,
and let her works praise her at the city gates.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Prv 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31

This entire section (Proverbs 31:10-31) is an acrostic poem (each strophe starting with the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet). It is sincere praise for the virtuous wife (unlike Ecclesiastes 7:28 in which the author finds guile) and is intended to be a model for the good Hebrew wife to follow. The strophes selected emphasize first the esteem in which she is to be held by all (not just her family), and next the example of diligence in the tasks she performs. The concluding strophe is praise for the woman who “fears the Lord,” as indicated earlier in Proverbs 9:10 and 1:7. Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9, 10-11

R. (2) I will bless the Lord at all times.
or:
R. (9) Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear and be glad.
R. I will bless the Lord at all times.
or:
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Glorify the LORD with me,
let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
R. I will bless the Lord at all times.
or:
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
R. I will bless the Lord at all times.
or:
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Taste and see how good the LORD is;
blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
R. I will bless the Lord at all times.
or:
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Fear the LORD, you his holy ones,
for nought is lacking to those who fear him.
The great grow poor and hungry;
but those who seek the LORD want for no good thing.
R. I will bless the Lord at all times.
or:
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9, 10-11

Psalm 34 is a song of thanksgiving and a favorite for celebrating the heroic virtue of the saints. The psalmist, fresh from the experience of being rescued (Psalm 34:5, 7), can teach the "poor," those who are defenseless, to trust in God alone. This psalm, in the words of one being unjustly persecuted, echoes hope for deliverance and freedom. The promise of salvation for those who follow the Lord gives hope to the poor and downtrodden.

CCC: Ps 34:3 716; Ps 34:8 336
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: Matthew 22:34-40

When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees,
they gathered together, and one of them,
a scholar of the law, tested him by asking,
"Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?"
He said to him,
"You shall love the Lord, your God,
with all your heart,
with all your soul,
and with all your mind.
This is the greatest and the first commandment.
The second is like it:
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Mt 22:34-40

The story of Jesus delivering the Great Commandment is the fourth of the “Controversy Stories” in St. Matthew’s Gospel (stories in which Jesus argues with the Jewish leadership). Jesus has just refuted those Sadducees who did not believe in the resurrection (v. 23-33) and now is challenged by the Pharisees. The question posed by the “scholar of the law” (probably a scribe; see also Luke 10:25-28) “which commandment in the law is the greatest?” is asked in a rabbinical sense, meaning which of the 613 distinct statutes was considered greatest. Within this body of law, 248 of these precepts were positive and 365 were prohibitions. In addition these precepts were further divided into “light” and “heavy.” This was a fairly typical exchange for a rabbinical debate.

 

“’Test him’: the text has πειοαξων, a word that may also be translated as ‘to tempt’ and ‘to submit to trial’. Matthew uses the term six times altogether from one end of his Gospel to the other (4:1,3; 16:1; 19:3; 22:18; 22:35), and two things are significant about this use. The first time the term appears the tempter is Satan himself, and this fact lends to every other occasion a satanic whiff; and secondly, the object of the tempting or testing in every case is Jesus himself.” [3]

In answering, Jesus quotes two texts of the law that now form the foundation for a new morality in the Gospel. He first quotes Deuteronomy 6:5 “Therefore, you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” This text forms part of the Shema, the Jewish profession of faith. This first quote would not be surprising. What makes this exchange novel and important is that Jesus adds the quote from Leviticus 19:18b “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” This juxtaposition of quotes makes them equally “heavy” and there is no parallel In Jewish literature.

 CCC: Mat 22:23-34 575; Mat 22:34-36 581; Mat 22:36 2055; Mat 22:37-40 2055; Mat 22:37 2083; Mat 22:40 1824
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:

How often the heroic virtue of the great saints centers around their ability to accept Christ and his Great Commandment with such completeness that it exceeds physical understanding. Such was the life of St. Frances of Rome (or Francesca Romana). Her story, set during one of the most difficult times of the Church’s history, with the plague ravaging Europe, and schisms within the Church abounding, is one of God’s fingerprints. The Church hierarchy had become so embroiled in the politics of the day that it might have fallen apart had it not been for God’s intervention using the likes of the great Saints (Francis of Assisi, Benedict, Gregory, Dominic and of course St. Francesca to mention a few). What they accomplished was incredible – bringing the compassion and love of Christ to those who could have perished without knowing the love of God.

We who live in a more compassionate time might wonder at the likes of St. Frances of Rome – on the surface she was canonized because she founded a small religious order (to this day only one house exists) but her impact on that region of the country and the Church went far beyond that visible remnant. She stood as a heroic example of the lived Gospel in a time when such examples were rare and she did so in a way that demonstrated that God was truly involved and active in the salvation of humanity. Her visions and ecstasy gave the people hope in the living God.

Today we ask for her intercession. We ask that through her prayers we too might be examples of the lived Gospel to those we meet and that our genuine compassion and love of the poor might bring hope to those without hope and love to those who are unloved.

Pax

[1] The picture is “The Vision of St Francesca Romana” by Orazio Gentileschi, 1615-19
[2] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.

[3] Fire of Mercy Heart of the Word Volume III, Erasmo Leiva-Merikakis, Ignatius Press, San Francisco, CA, © 2012 p. 576