Memorial Bench

OCTOBER 5 BLESSED FRANCIS XAVIER SEELOS, PRIEST

[In the Dioceses of the United States]

651A

From the Common of Pastors: For Missionaries (#719-724).

“Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos”
artist and date unknown

Biographical information about Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos ^{^[1]}

Readings and Commentary: ^{^[2]}

Reading 1: (Common of Pastors 5. For Missionaries)

Isaiah 52:7-10

How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of him who brings glad tidings,
Announcing peace, bearing good news,
announcing salvation, and saying to Zion,
"Your God is King!"
Hark! Your sentinels raise a cry,
together they shout for joy,
For they see directly, before their eyes,
the LORD restoring Zion.
Break out together in song,
O ruins of Jerusalem!
For the LORD comforts his people,
he redeems Jerusalem.
The LORD has bared his holy arm
in the sight of all the nations;
All the ends of the earth will behold
the salvation of our God.

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Commentary on Isaiah 52:7-10

At the time of its writing, the Prophet’s intent was to proclaim the joy of the return of the Jews from the Babylonian exile to Judah. He sees the event as salvation for the Hebrew people. God leads them back to the land he gave their fathers.

“These verses form the famous poem of the ‘messenger of peace’ who ‘brings good tidings.’ The ideas of the first oracle of this second part of the book (40:1-11) are repeated here very beautifully. The messenger's feet are praised - a symbol of his speed and surefootedness when crossing the mountains, which is where important news comes from (cf. 40:9). His message (v. 7) is described very significantly as involving ‘peace,’ which in Isaiah means safety in Israel after the hardships of exile; ‘good tidings’ or, more literally, ‘news of goodness and well-being,’ that is, genuine material and spiritual prosperity; and "salvation", which is permanent renewal on all levels. The three words read together mean the highest degree of happiness imaginable. The core of this message is the enthronement of God: ‘Your God reigns,’ similar to 40:9: ‘Behold your God.’” ^{^[3]}

From a greater distance and depth of understanding, we see him announcing the coming of the Messiah and the salvation that comes to the New Jerusalem through Jesus Christ.

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Responsorial Psalm: (5. Common of Pastors) Psalm 96:1-2a, 2b, 7-8a, 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.

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Commentary on Psalm 96:1-2a, 2b, 7-8a, 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]}

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Gospel: (6. For Missionaries From the Common of Pastors) Mark 16:15-20

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Commentary on Mk 16:15-20

The verse just prior to this passage. which is the ending of St. Mark’s Gospel, indicates that the disciples are still not sure what has happened (typical of the image we have of the disciples in St. Mark's Gospel). Jesus comes to them at table, rebuking them for their unbelief. That sets the stage for this commissioning address by the Lord. Once again the disciples, now Apostles, are sent into the world with God’s blessing. This action is important because it supports the universal mission of the Twelve. In response to the Lord's instructions the Apostles went into the world, accompanied by the Holy Spirit ("while the Lord worked with them"). They demonstrated the truth that is Christ risen.

CCC: Mk 16:15-16 977, 1223; Mk 16:15 888; Mk 16:16 161, 183, 1253, 1256, 1257; Mk 16:17-18 670, 1507; Mk 16:17 434, 1673; Mk 16:18 699; Mk 16:19 659, 659; Mk 16:20 2, 156, 670
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Reflection:

Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos (January 11, 1819 – October 4, 1867) is, as of this writing, still waiting for a second miracle attributed directly to his intercession to be canonized a saint in the Church. In looking at his life of service, we see all of God’s fingerprints that lead us to believe this will happen. Fr. Francis felt called to his vocation at a very young age in German, the country of his birth. He obviously heard the Gospel call to "Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.” He asked to be sent to the United States to serve German immigrants, insuring they would receive the sacraments and be invited to deeper conversion. As a Receptionist Priest he served with St. John Neumann in Pennsylvania which had a great impact on his service. Of their association he is known to have said: “He has introduced me to the active life” and, “he has guided me as a spiritual director and confessor.”

His selfless service and leadership have placed him on a path to sainthood and his works have had far-reaching impact on countless people, even President Abraham Lincoln (he asked the president not to conscript his seminarians into military service during the American Civil War). What we most notably take away from his life are the virtues of piety coupled with diligent service in the name of Jesus. His example of faith-inspired work should be an example to each of us, as we are all called to be missionary disciples.

We all hear the words of St. Mark - "Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.” That instruction was given to the Apostles, it is handed down to us and is reinforced by holy men and women, as demonstrated by Fr. Francis.

On his feast day, let us beg his intercession. May we be given the strength and wisdom to hear and answer God’s call, taking the Lord with us wherever we go, bringing the Gospel to every creature.

Pax

[1] The picture is “Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos” artist and date unknown.

[2] The readings are selected by the author and taken from the New American Bible, with the exception of the psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This republication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.

[4] NAB footnote on Psalm 96.

JULY 4 INDEPENDENCE DAY

[In the Dioceses of the United States]

594A

From Masses for Various needs and Occasions, II. For Civil Needs: 13. For the Nation, nos. 882-886, or 14. For Peace and Justice, nos. 887-891

“Declaration of Independence” (detail)
by John Trumbull, 1819

Readings and Commentary: [1]

(Note: since there is no approved “proper” for Independence Day, the texts below have been selected by the author.)[2]

Reading 1: 9. Isaiah 58:6-11(From #882, 13. For the Nation )

Thus says the LORD:
This is the fasting that I wish:
releasing those bound unjustly,
untying the thongs of the yoke;
Setting free the oppressed,
breaking every yoke;
Sharing your bread with the hungry,
sheltering the oppressed and the homeless;
Clothing the naked when you see them,
and not turning your back on your own.

Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
and your wound shall quickly be healed;
Your vindication shall go before you,
and the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer,
you shall cry for help, and he will say: Here I am!
If you remove from your midst oppression,
false accusation and malicious speech;
If you bestow your bread on the hungry
and satisfy the afflicted;
Then light shall rise for you in the darkness,
and the gloom shall become for you like midday;
Then the LORD will guide you always
and give you plenty even on the parched land.
He will renew your strength,
and you shall be like a watered garden,
like a spring whose water never fails.

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Commentary on Is 58:6-11

This passage is from what is known as Deutero-Isaiah. It was written in the latter part of the Babylonian exile (700 BC). Isaiah laments and chastises the people for missing the point of their fasts of atonement. They perform the rituals and follow the law but then violate the spirit of God’s Law by being uncaring and cruel to each other.

The prophet explains what that spirit is and how it is to impact their actions and closes with the reward for following the spirit of God’s Law – “Your integrity will go before you and the glory of the Lord behind you. Cry, and the Lord will answer; call, and he will say, ‘I am here’.” [3] He goes on to describe the salvific effect of these actions of charity and compassion as being as a light in darkness, as rain in parched land. He concludes with what can be seen as a baptismal reference (well-spring of holiness) that brings eternal life.

CCC: Is 58:6-7 2447

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Responsorial Psalm: 3. Psalm 85:9ab-10, 11-12, 13-14 (From #884, For the Nation)

R. (see 9b) The Lord speaks of peace to his people.

I will listen for the word of God;
surely the LORD will proclaim peace
Near indeed is his salvation
Near indeed is salvation for the loyal;
prosperity will fill our land
R. The Lord speaks of peace to his people.

Love and truth will meet;
justice and peace will kiss.
Truth will spring from the earth;
justice will look down from heaven.
R. The Lord speaks of peace to his people.

The LORD will surely grant abundance;
our land will yield its increase.
Prosperity will march before the Lord,
and good fortune will follow behind.
R. The Lord speaks of peace to his people.

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Commentary on Ps 85:9ab-10, 11-12, 13-14

Psalm 85 is a communal lament that focuses on the woes of the nation. These strophes reflect the joy of salvation at the restoration of the land following the destruction of the temple and the Diaspora. Those faithful to God see the reward: a land restored, justice returned, and the salvation of God.

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Gospel: 4. Matthew 22:15-21 (From #886, For the Nation)

The Pharisees went off
and plotted how they might entrap Jesus in speech.
They sent their disciples to him, with the Herodians, saying,
"Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man
and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.
And you are not concerned with anyone's opinion,
for you do not regard a person's status.
Tell us, then, what is your opinion:
Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?"
Knowing their malice, Jesus said,
"Why are you testing me, you hypocrites?
Show me the coin that pays the census tax."
Then they handed him the Roman coin.
He said to them, "Whose image is this and whose inscription?"
They replied, "Caesar's."
At that he said to them,
"Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar
and to God what belongs to God."

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Commentary on Mt 22:15-21

St. Matthew describes this incident between Jesus and the Pharisees (with support of those who followed King Herod – Herodians who were fiercely loyal to Rome). In this instance a trap was intended to be laid for Jesus. By asking him if the census tax should be paid the Lord would have been condemned if he answered yes or no. If he said yes, the Hebrews would have called him heretic based on idol worship since Caesar considered himself to be a god. If he said no, the Herodians would have pounced because Jesus would have been encouraging disobedience to the civil government.

“Is this not, in fact, one of the choice ploys of the enemies of religion in all ages? ̶ namely, to argue that all those sublime truths about God’s glory and heroic charity, and so forth, may be very fine poetry indeed, but they change absolutely nothing in the hardships of our concrete lives… Was it not precisely Satan’s strategy during the Temptations to try persuading Jesus that, in 'real' human life, a real loaf of bread, made from real wheat grains, is far more nourishing than the 'sublime' Word of God? No wonder Jesus knows the 'malice' in his questioners' hearts!” [4]

The Lord finds the trap and avoids it by using the coin’s (graven) image of a false god to be paid to that god. At the same time he encouraged the Hebrew faithful to provide the necessary sacrifices and tithes to the temple.

CCC: Mt 22:21 2242

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Reflection:

The word of God, our Sacred Scriptures, and the Incarnate Word, Jesus Christ, focus all our attention on the idea of harmony based upon love and respect: love and respect for our fellow beings; love and respect for the creation the Lord, in his infinite mercy, placed in our trust. There is no question that our biblical texts speak of the frailty and failings of peoples throughout history to hear that clarion call to love. But always the people find a way to forget, to become wrapped up in their own greed or idealism and believe themselves to be above God’s law and to ignore the dignity of humankind from conception to natural death. The very notion of sin can be most easily defined as a conscious failure to love.

When these failings occur, the Lord stretches out a loving hand to his fondest creation and calls them back. We see this clearly as the prophet Isaiah, speaking with God’s voice, calls to the Hebrew people who were torn apart from their land in a war that cause an entire nation to be scattered throughout the Babylonian Empire. He calls them to seek justice for those falsely accused and imprisoned and he calls his people to peace and unity.

Jesus faced similar trials in his life and ministry among us. In the confrontation between Jesus, the Pharisees, and the Herodians recounted in St. Matthew’s Gospel. we see even political rivals join forces to try to pull down the idea of unity under God. They attempt to force Jesus to declare that the head of state of the Roman Empire, Caesar, is master of all creation (recalling that Caesar declared himself a god). Always power has corrupted, and the power of Rome in Jesus' day corrupted many hearts. But the Lord recognized that government had its place and that faith in a higher power need not be subservient to it. He pointed to a symbol of civil power, monetary exchange, and rightly stated that it was Rome’s domain, not the kingdom of God.

Today, in the United States of America, we celebrate our declaration of independence from the United Kingdom (England as it was called in 1776). God-fearing individuals recognized that for people to flourish in our country “We the people” needed a system of government that was based upon human freedoms and human dignity. Looking back those 200 plus years, we know many of those “founding fathers” were subject to the morality of the times. They were imperfect and many, by modern standards, would be considered downright crude and criminal. We cannot look at history, however, and judge those individuals by our standards. They were, even as in biblical times, operating out of the Sitz im Leben, or situation in the life and times in which they were living.

We are unfortunately seeing today many groups and individuals who under the label “activists” wish to judge all historical figures by their own personal gnosis, believing themselves to be able to judge long-dead leaders by their own standards. The Lord has given us a warning about such “idealism”: “Stop judging, that you may not be judged. For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you.” (Matthew 7:1-2)

Today we celebrate the beginning of our national journey. We recall the brave people who have, over the centuries, fought and died that the idea of liberty for all people might continue here, in the land of the free. We thank God for the gift of the Holy Spirit which inspired many of those who founded our nation, and we ask for continued strength to mend the political animosity that grips our country. For our part, we are called to be disciples of the Christ whose great commandment was that we love one another. Let us all pledge to do that, to put aside the contentious positions of politics and work to become one nation under God.

Pax

[1] The readings are taken from the New American Bible, with the exception of the psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This republication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.
[2] The picture used is “Declaration of Independence” (detail) by John Trumbull, 1819.
[3] Translation from the Jerusalem Bible.
[4] Fire of Mercy Heart of the Word Volume III, Erasmo Leiva-Merikakis, Ignatius Press, San Francisco, CA, © 2012 p. 543.

JULY 1 SAINT JUNIPERO SERRA, PRIEST

[In the Dioceses of the United States]

592A

From the Common of Pastors: For Missionaries, or the Common of Holy Men and Women: For Religious

Biographicalinformation about St. Junipero Serra

St. Junpero Serra
Artist and date not cited.

Readings and Commentary: [1]

(Note: since there is no approved “proper” for St. Junipero, the texts below have been selected by the author.)

Reading 1:

5. For Missionaries (from the Common of Pastors)

Isaiah 52:7-10

How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of him who brings glad tidings,
announcing peace, bearing good news,
announcing salvation, and saying to Zion,
“Your God is King!”

Hark! Your sentinels raise a cry,
together they shout for joy,
for they see directly, before their eyes,
the Lord restoring Zion.
Break out together in song,
O ruins of Jerusalem!
For the LORD comforts his people,
he redeems Jerusalem.
The Lord has bared his holy arm
in the sight of all the nations;
all the ends of the earth will behold
the salvation of our God.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Is 52:7-10

At the time of its writing, the prophet’s intent was to proclaim the joy of the return of the Jews from the Babylonian exile to Judah. He sees the event as salvation for the Hebrew people. God leads them back to the land he gave their fathers.

“These verses form the famous poem of the ‘messenger of peace’ who ‘brings good tidings.’ The ideas of the first oracle of this second part of the book (Isaiah 40:1-11) are repeated here very beautifully. The messenger's feet are praised - a symbol of his speed and surefootedness when crossing the mountains, which is where important news comes from (cf. Isaiah 40:9). His message (v. 7) is described very significantly as involving ‘peace,’ which in Isaiah means safety in Israel after the hardships of exile; ‘good tidings’ or, more literally, ‘news of goodness and well-being,’ that is, genuine material and spiritual prosperity; and 'salvation,' which is permanent renewal on all levels. The three words read together mean the highest degree of happiness imaginable. The core of this message is the enthronement of God: ‘Your God reigns,’ similar to Isaiah 40:9: ‘Behold your God.’” [2]

From a greater distance and depth of understanding, we see him announcing the coming of the messiah and the salvation that comes to the new Jerusalem through Jesus Christ.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Responsorial Psalm:

8. Psalm 117:1bc, 2 (From the Common of Pastors)

R. (Mark 16:15) Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.

Praise the LORD, all you nations;
glorify him, all you peoples!
R. Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.

For steadfast is his kindness toward us,
and the fidelity of the LORD endures forever.
R. Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.
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Commentary on Ps 117:lbc, 2

“This shortest of hymns calls on the nations to acknowledge God's supremacy. The supremacy of Israel's God has been demonstrated to them by the people's secure existence, which is owed entirely to God's gracious fidelity.” [3] Using a refrain from St. Mark’s Gospel (Mark 16:15), the psalm is one of praise for the Good News of God’s salvation.

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Gospel:

6. For Missionaries (From the Common of Pastors)

Mark 16:15-20

Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them: "Go into the whole world
and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned.
These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages.
They will pick up serpents with their hands,
and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."
So the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them,
was taken up into heaven
and took his seat at the right hand of God.
But they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them
and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.
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Commentary on Mk 16:15-20

The verse just prior to this passage, which is the ending of St. Mark’s Gospel, indicates that the disciples are still not sure what has happened (typical of the image we have of the disciples in St. Mark's Gospel). Jesus comes to them at table, rebuking them for their unbelief. That sets the stage for this commissioning address by the Lord. Once again the disciples, now apostles, are sent into the world with God’s blessing. This action is important because it supports the universal mission of the Twelve. In response to the Lord's instructions the apostles went into the world, accompanied by the Holy Spirit ("while the Lord worked with them"). They demonstrated the truth that is Christ risen.

CCC: Mk 16:15-16 977, 1223; Mk 16:15 888; Mk 16:16 161, 183, 1253, 1256, 1257; Mk 16:17-18 670, 1507; Mk 16:17 434, 1673; Mk 16:18 699; Mk 16:19 659, 659; Mk 16:20 2, 156, 670
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Reflection:

St. Junípero Serra was born Miguel José Serra Ferrer on November 24, 1713 and died on August 28, 1784. While his life of service to the Lord has become somewhat controversial in recent years, his demonstrated excellence in learning, wisdom, administration and determination have given us a saint who has truly earned the honorary title of “The Father of the California Missions.” In looking at his life from over two hundred years in the future we can clearly see God’s “fingerprints” all over him. He rose from humble beginnings, a farmer’s son, on the Spanish island of Mallorca to become a Franciscan priest, scholar and professor of philosophy in his native Spain.

Our Lord clearly saw this young priest of his to be capable of much more. He was caught up in the missionary efforts to the new world and sent to Mexico where he again enrolled in local academic institutions. But he was called to evangelize in an even more fundamental way and took up ministry to the indigenous peoples, learning their language and translating the catechism into it. His missionary zeal and supporting academic excellence propelled him to the great Spanish expansion into the California territory where, in good Franciscan fashion, he walked thousands of miles, evangelizing the Native Americans and establishing missions throughout what was to become the State of California.

In the past year, extremists in California have attacked his character, we believe (hope), out of ignorance, claiming he did not stop the mistreatment of the Native Americans by the Spanish settlers of the region. It is so easy to apply modern standards to historical people, forgetting their level of social and moral development.

We see St. Junipero as one called by God to use the tools and abilities he was given to accomplish, as best he could, the mission handed on to all of us by Christ. We look at his legacy and see the great good it has accomplished. We lament that misguided individuals who see, in tearing him down, only a way to bring attention to themselves, because clearly St. Junipero’s work benefited them in untold ways.

Today, on his feast day, we celebrate his great accomplishments in support of God’s mission. We ask for his intercession. May we be give the strength of purpose and energy to do great good in proclaiming the Word of God to all we meet.

Pax

[3] NAB footnote on Psalm 117.