NOVEMBER 13 SAINT FRANCES XAVIER CABRINI, VIRGIN MEMORIAL

[In the Dioceses of the United States]

674A
“Mother Cabrini”
artist and date were not cited.


 
Readings and Commentary: [2]
 
Reading 1: (from the common of Holy Men and Women, 4. For Religious)
Deuteronomy 10:8-9
 
Moses summoned all of Israel and said to them:
"At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi
to carry the ark of the covenant of the LORD,
to be in attendance before the LORD and minister to him,
and to give blessings in his name,
as they have done to this day.
For this reason,
Levi has no share in the heritage with his brothers;
the LORD himself is his heritage,
as the LORD, your God, has told him."
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Commentary on Dt 10:8-9

This passage is a part of Moses’ discourse to the tribes, a renewal of the articles of the Covenant under which they are bound, to love and serve the Lord because he is above all that is. In this selection he singles out the tribe of Levi – from which the priests of Israel are derived. They are told that the Levites are set apart because they were not in existence at the time of the Aaronic Apostasy (Exodus 32-34) and need not atone for that sin. It became their role to bear the Ark of the Covenant, the Holy of Holies before the Hebrew people as they sojourned, and later became the priestly caste, serving the temple.

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Responsorial Psalm: (From the Common of Holy Men and Women 7.)
Psalm 112:1-2, 3-4, 5-7a, 7b-8, 9

R. (1) Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
or;
R. Alleluia.

Blessed the man who fears the LORD,
who greatly delights in his commands.
His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth;
the upright generation shall be blessed.
R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Wealth and riches shall be in his house;
his generosity shall endure forever.
Light shines through the darkness for the upright;
he is gracious and merciful and just.
R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Well for the man who is gracious and lends,
who conducts his affairs with justice;
He shall never be moved;
the just one shall be in everlasting remembrance.
R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

An evil report he shall not fear;
his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.
His heart is steadfast; he shall not fear
till he looks down upon his foes.
R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Lavishly he gives to the poor,
his generosity shall endure forever;
his horn shall be exalted in glory.
R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
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Commentary on Ps 112:1-2, 3-4, 5-7a, 7b-8, 9

In this section of Psalm 112 the virtues of faithfully following God’s commandments are extolled. The one who follows the Lord will be upheld by God “in everlasting remembrance.”

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Gospel: (From the Common of Holy Men and Women, 15. For Teachers)
Mark 9:34-37

Jesus' disciples had been discussing among themselves
who was the greatest.
Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them,
"If anyone wishes to be first,
he shall be the last of all and the servant of all."
Taking a child he placed it in their midst,
and putting his arms around it he said to them,
"Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me;
and whoever receives me,
receives not me but the One who sent me."
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Commentary on Mk 9:34b-37

While the disciples clearly understand the Lord is to leave them, they do not yet grasp the nature of his mission as they are arguing about who among them will be greatest once victory is achieved. The Lord sees this in them, and when they don’t respond to his direct question, he gives them the example of servant leadership. He uses the example of a child so they can understand that it is through humility and innocence that God’s servants lead. Jesus tells them directly that their role (and by extension the role of all Christian disciples) is one of service. He probably uses the example of children to represent the “anawim,” the poor in spirit, the most vulnerable of the Christian faithful.

CCC: Mk 9:37 1825
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Reflection:
 
Maria Francesca Cabrini (1850-1917): There seems to be a large number of saints whose physical constitution make it almost impossible for them to pursue vocations to the priesthood or religious life.  Such was the case of “Mother Cabrini.”  She was the youngest and most frail of thirteen children born to farmers Agostino Cabrini and Stella Oldini in the Lombard region of Italy.  Of her brothers and sisters only she and three others survived to adolescence.  Initially, St. Frances wanted to join the Daughters of the Sacred Heart at Arluno, her teachers growing up, but was told she was too frail for the rigors of religious life. She had graduated with a teaching certificate and found that God’s call to some cannot be ignored.  She became headmistress of an orphanage and there drew a group of women to her and formed a small community.  She took religious vows in 1877 and in 1880, with the seven sisters who had taken vows with her, founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (M.S.C.).
 
St. Frances and her sisters established their rule and founded an orphanage and schools for the poor.  Her original intent was to become a missionary to China. However, when speaking of her desire to Pope Leo XIII in 1887, she was encouraged instead to go to the United States to help the Italian immigrants who had come in the thousands and needed spiritual guidance and assistance. She and six of her sisters came to the U.S. in 1889 and faced many hardships. Ultimately, under St. Frances' leadership, 67 schools, orphanages and hospitals were established.  Mother Cabrini died in Chicago (in a hospital founded by her order) in 1917 from complications from malaria which she contracted in one of her numerous trips to Central and South America.
 
We consider the journey of St. Frances.  She was called at a young age and tried to respond in spite of her frailty.  It is such instruments the Lord frequently uses to help us understand the truth of the beatitudes: “Blessed are the meek…”  It is not physical strength that often responds to the mission Jesus left for his disciples, rather spiritual strength.  That strength welling up in St. Frances accomplished amazing things against staggering odds. See our Gospel - "Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me." Think of how many children St. Frances touched, children in orphanages she founded, children in hospitals she served, children in schools were she taught.  If she received Christ in them, how blessed she must be in heaven.
 
We pray for her intercession on her feast day, that she ask the Lord who gave her strength in her weakness, to give us strength to carry out the Lord’s mission as well.
 
Pax

[1] The picture is “Mother Cabrini” artist and date were not cited.

[2] No proper texts for have been promulgated for St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, these selections are made by the author.  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.

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OCTOBER 6 BLESSED MARIE-ROSE DUROCHER, VIRGIN

[In the Dioceses of the United States]
 
652A
 
From the Common of Virgins, or from the Common of Holy Men and Women For Religious For Religious.
Blessed Marie-Rose Durocher
artist and date not cited

Biographical information about St. Marie-Rose Durocher
 
Readings and Commentary: [1]
 
Reading 1: 4. (From the Common of Holy Men and Women, For Religious)

Moses summoned all of Israel and said to them:
"At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi
to carry the ark of the covenant of the LORD,
to be in attendance before the LORD and minister to him,
and to give blessings in his name,
as they have done to this day.
For this reason,
Levi has no share in the heritage with his brothers;
the LORD himself is his heritage,
as the LORD, your God, has told him."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Dt 10:8-9

This passage is a part of Moses’ discourse to the tribes, a renewal of the articles of the Covenant under which they are bound: to love and serve the Lord because he is above all that is. In this selection he singles out the tribe of Levi – from which the priests of Israel are derived. They are told that the Levites are set apart because they were not in existence at the time of the Aaronic apostasy (Exodus 32-34) and need not atone for that sin.

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Responsorial Psalm: (8. From the Common of Holy Men and Women)
Psalm 128:1-2, 3, 4-5

R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.

Blessed are you who fear the LORD,
who walk in his ways!
For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;
blessed shall you be, and favored.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.

Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
in the recesses of your home;
Your children like olive plants
around your table.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.

Behold, thus is the man blessed
who fears the LORD.
The LORD bless you from Zion:
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
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Commentary on Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5

Psalm 128 is a song of thanksgiving. It begins here with the typical blessings given to those following and having faith in the Lord. This selection uses the analogy of the family and the blessing it brings to the faithful, using the symbolism of vines and olives, imagery commonly used in Sacred Scripture.
 It also supports the creation of woman and the marriage theme in Genesis 2:18-25. It is the logical extension of the two becoming one flesh and the children flowing from that union.
 
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Gospel: (21. From the Common of Holy Men and Women, For Religious)
Luke 12:32-34

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Do not be afraid any longer, little flock,
for your Father is pleased to give you the Kingdom.
Sell your belongings and give alms.
Provide money bags for yourselves that do not wear out,
an inexhaustible treasure in heaven
that no thief can reach nor moth destroy.
For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be."
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Commentary on Lk 12:32-34

This passage is part of a great compilation of the saying of Jesus in the twelfth Chapter. Here the Lord emphasizes the need of true dependence on God alone, a commandment taken to its most extreme by the religious who vow extreme poverty, depending upon God's mercy for subsistence.

CCC: Lk 13:33 557
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Reflection:
 
Marie-Rose (Eulalie Mélanie) Durocher (1811-1849): She was born at St. Antoine in Quebec, Canada, Eulalie Durocher was the youngest of the ten children. Following the tradition, as the tenth child she was “tithed” to the Church.  Bl. Marie-Rose first joined her brother in parish ministry where she observed a general lack of resources for educating youngsters, especially young women.  She eventually (1844), after many attempts, and failures, was successful in establishing a religious order, Sœurs des Saints-Noms de Jésus et de Marie (Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary). She has been described by her biographers as “A woman of great virtue, in close communion with the Lord and a peerless educator.” As a testament to her zeal and the gifts of the Holy Spirit, when she died on 6 Oct. 1849, on her 38th birthday, the community already had 30 teachers, 7 novices, 7 postulants, and 448 pupils in 4 convents. [2]
 
Bl. Marie-Rose was an apt student of Sacred Scripture and we wonder if the passage from St. Luke’s Gospel echoed in her ears as she passed at such a young age to be with the Lord: “Do not be afraid any longer, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the Kingdom.” As we commonly see with those marked with God’s favor, her works for the great glory of Jesus and Mary, his mother, often multiply themselves, seemingly without any resources from which to draw.  Such was the case with this fledgling group of dedicated sisters.
 
We await a second miracle attributed directly to Bl. Marie-Rose.  The first, prayers for her assistance when a man was crushed and pronounced dead, yet miraculously survived and was restored to health, has been confirmed.  Several others have been submitted, two of which related to placing pictures of Bl. Marie-Rose on trees in the path of wild fires which turned aside are being considered. It is our fervent hope that one day her cause will succeed and she will be canonized.
 
Today we pray for he intercession with our cause; may we be given the strength and perseverance she possessed and, for the greater glory of Jesus, accomplish good works and continue his mission on earth.
 
Pax

[1] No proper texts for have been promulgated for Blessed Marie-Rose. These selections are made by the author.  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] Dictionary of Canadian Biography, Volume VII (1836-1850), funded by the Canadian Government.

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17 SEPTEMBER SAINT HILDEGARD OF BINGEN, VIRGIN AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH

641B 

“St. Hildegard von Bingen”
artist and date not cited.
Biographical information about St. Hildegard [1] 

Readings and Commentary: [2] 

Reading 1: Song of Songs 8:6-7 

Set me as a seal on your heart,
as a seal on your arm;
For stern as death is love,
relentless as the nether world is devotion;
its flames are a blazing fire.
Deep waters cannot quench love,
nor floods sweep it away.
Were one to offer all he owns to purchase love,
he would be roundly mocked.
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Commentary on Sgs 8:6-7

This short phrase from a love song in Song of Songs begins with the notion of undying fidelity in love. ("Set me as a seal on your heart – Seal: this could be worn bound to the arm, as here, or suspended at the neck, or as a ring (Jeremiah 22:24). It was used for identification and signatures. Stern . . . relentless: in human experience, death and the nether world are inevitable, unrelenting; in the end they always triumph. Love, which is just as certain of its victory, matches its strength against the natural enemies of life; waters cannot extinguish it nor floods carry it away. It is more priceless than all riches.”) [3] In this context the image of chaste love of God reflects the virgin’s virtue.

CCC: Sgs 8:6-7 1611; Sgs 8:6 1040, 1295
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 45:11-12, 14-15, 16-17 

R. (11) Listen to me, daughter; see and bend your ear.

or:
R. The bridegroom is here; let us go out to meet Christ the Lord. 

Hear, O daughter, and see; turn your ear,
forget your people and your father’s house.
So shall the king desire your beauty;
for he is your lord, and you must worship him.

R. Listen to me, daughter; see and bend your ear.

or:
R. The bridegroom is here; let us go out to meet Christ the Lord. 

All glorious is the king’s daughter as she enters;
her raiment is threaded with spun gold.
In embroidered apparel she is borne in to the king;
behind her the virgins of her train are brought to you.

R. Listen to me, daughter; see and bend your ear.
or:
R. The bridegroom is here; let us go out to meet Christ the Lord. 

They are borne in with gladness and joy;
they enter the palace of the king.
The place of your fathers your sons shall have;
you shall make them princes through all the land.

R. Listen to me, daughter; see and bend your ear.
or:
R. The bridegroom is here; let us go out to meet Christ the Lord.

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Commentary on Ps 45:11-12, 14-15, 16-17

Psalm 45 is a royal psalm originally sung in honor of the king’s marriage to a queen (of foreign extraction). It is likely that it influenced St. Paul’s instructions on virgins and marriage. It emphasizes the beauty of the sacramental relationship (see 1 Corinthians 7:25-35). 

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Gospel: Matthew 25:1-13 

Jesus told his disciples this parable:
"The Kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins
who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
Five of them were foolish and five were wise.
The foolish ones, when taking their lamps,
brought no oil with them,
but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps.
Since the bridegroom was long delayed,
they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
At midnight, there was a cry,
'Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'
Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps.
The foolish ones said to the wise,
'Give us some of your oil,
for our lamps are going out.'
But the wise ones replied,
'No, for there may not be enough for us and you.
Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.'
While they went off to buy it,
the bridegroom came
and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him.
Then the door was locked.
Afterwards the other virgins came and said,
'Lord, Lord, open the door for us!'
But he said in reply,
'Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.'
Therefore, stay awake,
for you know neither the day nor the hour."
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Commentary on Mt 25:1-13

St. Matthew’s Gospel gives us the parable of the Ten Virgins, continuing the Gospel theme of preparedness and vigilance (although strictly speaking this parable is about foresight). In this story the idea of vigilance is expanded to include being prepared. The Jewish wedding customs of the time would have dictated a procession [at night] from the house of the bride to the house of the groom. The whole act is symbolic of the coming of the messianic era also portrayed as a wedding in Matthew 9:15, Matthew 22:1-14 and John 3:29. The wise virgins brought oil for their lamps while the foolish ones did not. The oil is interpreted by some scholars as referring to good works.

The overarching symbolism is the lamp of faith (light of the indwelling Holy Spirit) being kept burning with oil (good works). Hence, without good works (oil), the lamp will not continue to burn (James 2:17) and the virgins, so deprived of light, are excluded from the heavenly kingdom.

CCC: Mt 25:1-13 672, null796; Mt 25:1 672; Mt 25:6 1618; Mt 25:13 672
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Reflection: 


Hildegard von Bingen (1098- 1179): St. John Paul II called her a “light for her people and her time.” During a tumultuous time of heresies and schisms in the Church, when few women wrote, Hildegard produced major works of theology and visionary writings. When few women were respected, she was consulted by and advised bishops, popes, and kings.
 
As the tenth child of a wealthy landowner, Hildegard was “tithed” to the church as was the local custom during that time in what is modern Germany.  She was known to have visionary abilities from a very young age and when she was just 8, she became an oblate at the Benedictine Abbey of Disibodenberg, where in 1115 she made her religious profession.
 
Her literary accomplishments which, proclaimed by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012, earned her the title “Doctor of the Church” have been long recognized as lamps of wisdom which come only from those truly inspired by the Holy Spirit.  Her spirit of holiness has long been established as she cared for and instructed her sisters in cloister at her abbey in Bingen.  The details of her story should inspire all of the Christian faithful.
 
Let us examine the Sacred Scripture assigned for her feast day as they highlight St. Hildegard’s holiness.  In the Song of Songs, a love song to God, the singer pledges eternal, indelible love, “as a seal on your heart.” In this same spirit, St. Hildegard devoted her life to God’s glory through song and words.  During a time when the Church was being caught in chaos, she brought stability through her love.  The song of King David echos this compelling call: “he is your lord, and you must worship him.”
 
Lastly, St. Matthew’s Gospel relates the parable of the ten virgins in which he exhorts the faithful to be vigilant and prepared.  St. Hildegard’s life was nothing if it was not a constant preparation to meet the Lord when he comes.  Her message cast widely about invites all to follow her example of fidelity and hope.
 
Today we ask for the intercession of St. Hildegard; we invite her vision to come to us and show us clearly the Lord’s call and loving presence in our lives.  May we heed that call and embrace the Lord of love as faithfully as she did.
 
Pax 

[1] The Picture is “St. Hildegard von Bingen” artist and date not cited.

[2] 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.

[3] NAB footnote for Song of Songs 8:4-7.

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