At Fatima, Pope Asks Mary to Help Keep Priests Holy

Pope Benedict XVI waves after arriving at the Marian shrine of Fatima in central Portugal May 12.

FATIMA, Portugal (CNS)—Pope Benedict XVI prayed at the site of Mary's apparitions at Fatima and entrusted the world's priests to her, saying the church needs "holy priests, transfigured by grace."

The pope prayed that Mary keep priests from the temptations of evil and "restore calm after the tempest."

While he did not explicitly refer to the priestly sex abuse crisis, the pope's remarks May 12 in some ways echoed what he said on his flight to Portugal the previous day, when he called the scandal a "terrifying" example of sins committed by the church's own ministers and urged a process of penance and purification in the church.

The German pope arrived at Fatima to the cheers of more than 40,000 faithful, many of them sick or disabled, who had waited for hours at the sanctuary. Some watched from stretchers as the pope waved from a pavilion overlooking a vast plaza in front of the shrine, as cold rain showers alternated with sunshine.

The pope then knelt in the Chapel of the Apparitions, built on the site where three shepherd children witnessed a series of apparitions beginning May 13, 1917. In a prayer recited before a statue of Mary, he recalled that Pope John Paul II had placed in its crown a fragment of a gunman's bullet that seriously wounded him May 13, 1981.

He noted that the Polish pope was convinced Mary had saved his life that day.

"It is a profound consolation to know that you are crowned not only with the silver and gold of our joys and hopes, but also with the 'bullet' of our anxieties and sufferings," Pope Benedict said. He left a gold rose at the statue's feet.

After celebrating evening prayer with priests, religious and seminarians, the pope pronounced the "act of entrustment and consecration of priests to the immaculate heart of Mary." In the Year for Priests, he said, it was important to remind priests that Christ is their model of holiness.

"Help us, through your powerful intercession, never to fall short of this sublime vocation, nor to give way to our selfishness, to the allurements of the world and to the wiles of the Evil One," he said.

"Let your presence cause new blooms to burst forth in the desert of our loneliness, let it cause the sun to shine on our darkness, let it restore calm after the tempest," he said. "Come to our aid and deliver us from every danger that threatens us."

The entrustment of the world's priests to Mary was a late addition to the papal program in Fatima. It came as the pope and other church officials have responded to disclosures of hundreds of past cases of sexual abuse of minors by priests in several European countries.

In his comments to reporters aboard his plane May 11, the pope described the scandal as a grave spiritual failing that highlights the need for penance and spiritual conversion inside the church. In a letter to Irish Catholics in March, the pope said abusive priests had betrayed the trust of innocent young people and would answer to God for their sins.

At the evening prayer service in Fatima's immense and modern Church of the Most Holy Trinity, the pope spoke about the importance of the Year for Priests and his hope that the church's ordained ministers would strengthen their commitment to their vocations, above all through prayer.

He told priests that their own spiritual lives were crucial to their effectiveness in proclaiming the radical challenge of the Gospel.

"How much we need this witness today! Many of our brothers and sisters live as if there were nothing beyond this life and without concern for their eternal salvation," he said.

The pope encouraged priests to look out for one another's spiritual health and intervene when necessary.

"Be especially attentive to those situations where there is a certain weakening of priestly ideals or dedication to activities not fully consonant with what is proper for a minister of Jesus Christ. Then is the time to take a firm stand, with an attitude of warm fraternal love, as brother assisting his brother to remain on his feet," he said.

The pope also urged priests to help the church discern new vocations. As with many European countries, Portugal has seen a gradual but consistent drop in the number of seminarians; today there are about 290 seminarians in the country, down nearly 60 percent from 35 years ago.

The vocations rate in Portugal, where nearly 90 percent of the population professes Catholicism, is today among the lowest in Europe. Church officials said increasing participation by young people in Catholic lay movements was a hopeful sign for the future, and they were also hoping the pope's visit would stir new interest in vocations.

---from American Catholic

3rd Sunday of Lent (C)

First Reading: Exodus 3: 1-8, 13-15. God reveals himself to Moses and promises to bring the Israelites out of slavery.

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 10: 1-6, 10-12. Some of the Israelites accepted their deliverance from slavery, but did not respond with faith in God. This brought them death.

Gospel: Luke 13: 1-9. The fruitless tree will be cut down; but God will give us yet another chance to turn to him and do his will.

Points for Reflection by Fr Carlo Tei

Today’s Scripture Readings warn us against the danger of being overconfident about our salvation.

1. The First Reading presents Moses, who is called by God to deliver the Israelites from slavery.

2. In his Letter to the Corinthians St Paul points out that the history of Israel must be a warning to us Christians. All the Israelites, under the leadership of Moses, crossed the Red Sea, but most of them, because of their lack of faith in God, did not reach the Promised Land. They died in the wilderness. The same thing could happen to us as well: the fact that we are all baptized will not guarantee our salvation, unless our hearts are really converted to God.

3. The same warning comes from today’s Gospel: “If you do not repent, you will all perish”. Jesus refers to two tragic incidents that took place in Jerusalem: a repression of a group of Galileans and the fall of a tower, which caused the death of many people. Jesus points out to the crowds that those who were murdered and killed in those two incidents were no greater sinners than the rest: “If you do not repent, you will all perish as they did”. Then he clarifies his thought with the parable of the barren fig tree. Israel must repent before the time of grace runs out.

4. We are Christ’s disciples. He has delivered us from slavery to sin. We belong to his Church, and we all share the same Eucharistic Banquet. This, however, is no guarantee of salvation. Unless we repent, we will all perish. Thus, what really matters in our Christian life is our being converted to God. A living example of “conversion to God” is Jesus Christ Our Lord. Like him, we should put God the Father at the centre of our values and concerns. It is by doing the will of God, like Jesus did, that we are gradually converted to him.

Father Matteo Ricci in China, JS

2nd Sunday of Lent

First Reading: Genesis 15: 5-12, 17-18. God made a covenant with Abraham because of his faith.

Second Reading: Philippians 3: 17-4:1. If we persevere with Christ as our model, he will change our weakness into glory.

Gospel: Luke 9: 28b-36. The Apostles Peter, James and John see Jesus in the glory of his future Resurrection.

Points for Reflection --Fr Carlo Tei

When God made his covenant with Abraham, he allowed Abraham for a moment to see his glory in the form of fire.

In the same way, once Peter, James and John had accepted Jesus as the Messiah who had to suffer and die, they were allowed for a moment to have a glimpse of his future glory: the glory of his Resurrection. With a mixture of exaltation and awe, they recognized Moses and Elijah with him, symbolizing the law and the prophets, and Jesus as the Lord of both. Jesus spoke to them of his death as the necessary prelude to his Resurrection, according to the will of the Father, whose voice, proclaiming him as his chosen Son, was heard coming from a cloud.

If, as Paul tells us, we also are to be transfigured, it will mean following Jesus Christ, our Leader and Saviour, in everything, including a love for the Father and our brothers and sisters that might lead us to our cross. There is no avoiding the road of love that leads to our personal Calvary if we are to follow Him up the glory of the Resurrection.

It is difficult for us, as it was for the Apostles to follow, trust and love a Messiah obedient to death--even a death on a cross out of love for the Father and for us. We are so often tempted to follow our own standards of living instead of moulding our thoughts, desires, plans and actions upon our faith in Jesus.

As we are preparing for the celebration of Easter, God invites us once again to “listen to his chosen Son”. Though difficult it may be, if we answer God’s call, he will transfigure us, too, and we will hare his Son’s glory and build a better world.

A TIME OF GRACE

5th Sunday of the Year C

First Reading: Isaiah 6: 1-8.  Isaiah has a vision of God and realizes that he is called to speak for him. Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15: 1-11.  Paul preaches the Resurrection of Christ as the basis of our faith.
Gospel: Luke 5: 1-11.  Peter recognizes a more than human power in Jesus and responds by following him.

Points for Reflection-by Fr Carlo Tei

1. The Scripture Readings of the 5th Sunday of the Year (C) give an account of what happened to three of the most illustrious figures in the history of salvation: the Prophet Isaiah and the Apostles Paul and Peter. In a certain moment of their lives, all three experienced:

• the living presence of the Lord;

• their own unworthiness;

• and their dependence on him.

At the end of their experience:

• they entrusted themselves to the Lord;

• allowed him to take charge of their lives;

• and were enlisted to carry out the work entrusted to them by God.

2. What happened to these three great servants of the Lord is something that also touches upon our lives.

• First of all, God speaks to us, too, although to each one of us in a different way. We should always be open and attentive to the Spirit, who reaches us through the events and the people we come across in our daily lives or through “his own special ways”.

• Secondly, there are times when we feel our unworthiness before God. They are privileged moments when we are given the opportunity to free ourselves of our illusions and are reminded that all that is good and worthwhile comes only from God.

• When we recognize our unworthiness, we also come to know God’s merciful love for each one of us. And every experience of God’s love for us becomes the source of our love for others and the starting point of our missionary witness, of our work of evangelization. The more we recognize that God is love, the more we feel commissioned to tell other people about God and his love; and to share this love with anyone we come across in our daily lives, especially with those who feel lonely and neglected, and with those who are still waiting for some fishers of men to help them free themselves from the power of evil hidden in so many wordly illusions, enchantments and deceitful attractions.

Presentation of the Lord

At the end of the fourth century, a woman named Etheria made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Her journal, discovered in 1887, gives an unprecedented glimpse of liturgical life there. Among the celebrations she describes is the Epiphany (January 6), the observance of Christ’s birth, and the gala procession in honor of his Presentation in the Temple 40 days later—February 15. (Under the Mosaic Law, a woman was ritually "unclean” for 40 days after childbirth, when she was to present herself to the priests and offer sacrifice—her "purification.” Contact with anyone who had brushed against mystery—birth or death—excluded a person from Jewish worship.) This feast emphasizes Jesus’ first appearance in the Temple more than Mary’s purification.

The observance spread throughout the Western Church in the fifth and sixth centuries. Because the Church in the West celebrated Jesus’ birth on December 25, the Presentation was moved to February 2, 40 days after Christmas.

At the beginning of the eighth century, Pope Sergius inaugurated a candlelight procession; at the end of the same century the blessing and distribution of candles which continues to this day became part of the celebration, giving the feast its popular name: Candlemas.

Comment:

In Luke’s account, Jesus was welcomed in the temple by two elderly people, Simeon and the widow Anna. They embody Israel in their patient expectation; they acknowledge the infant Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah. Early references to the Roman feast dub it the feast of St. Simeon, the old man who burst into a song of joy which the Church still sings at day’s end.

Quote:

"Christ himself says, ‘I am the light of the world.’ And we are the light, we ourselves, if we receive it from him.... But how do we receive it, how do we make it shine? ...[T]he candle tells us: by burning, and being consumed in the burning. A spark of fire, a ray of love, an inevitable immolation are celebrated over that pure, straight candle, as, pouring forth its gift of light, it exhausts itself in silent sacrifice” (Paul VI). --from American Catholic

Priests and the digital world: Part 1

Priests and the digital world: Part 1

4th Sunday of the Year C

First Reading: Jeremiah 1: 4-5, 17-19. Jeremiah, the hesitant young prophet, is encouraged in his mission.

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12: 31-13:13. Paul reminds us that the great gift of the Spirit is love.

Gospel: Luke 4: 21-30. Jesus’ fellow-townsmen grow increasingly hostile as they realize the significance of his message.

Points for Reflection by Fr Carlo Tei

1. Today’s Gospel refers to the first episode of Jesus’ public life.

• Jesus is in the synagogue of Nazareth, his original, town. After having read a passage taken from Isaiah, he applies it to himself. It is he who fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah concerning the Messiah. He is the Messiah who has been sent to preach the Good news to the poor, to obtain freedom for the prisoners and the oppressed, and the sight for the blind.

• But Jesus’ listeners, though they are astonished by his words, are not ready to commit themselves to him and to accept through faith the message of salvation proclaimed by him. On the contrary, they become hostile to him.

2. This episode already contains the main features which characterize Jesus’ entire life.

• He brings a message of salvation which is not accepted by his people. The refusal of his message by Nazareth citizens foreshadows the total refusal by Israel.

• This, however, does not prevent Jesus from continuing his mission. He has to break with his social environment, especially with those in authority, because their way of thinking of the Messiah in terms of a political warrior is in contrast with the mind of God.

• As a result of this, Jesus has to bring his message to the Gentiles. Through Jesus, God makes it clear that he is going to open the doors of the Kingdom to all the Peoples on earth. He is the God of all. No one can claim any privilege before him. Salvation is not the prerogative of a single People, but a gift granted to all who are willing to believe in Christ, to accept him and his message, and to follow him.

This episode also signifies what any true prophet of God is going to face. We, being the followers of Christ, are prophets by definition. We are supposed to bring the Good News of salvation to others: this is the mission of the Church.

• If we are genuine Christians (prophets), sooner or later we are going to meet with the opposition and misunderstanding on the part of our fellow Christians and of non-Christians.

• Nothing, however, should stop us.

• We have to live and announce a love without frontiers. God’s love, universal and merciful, should shine in our lives, and make it clear that God is the God of all. It is only by accepting God’s love (by believing in and following Christ) that one belongs to God’s family.

3rd Sunday of the Year C

First Reading: Nehemiah 8: 2-6, 8-10. Returned from the exile, their city rebuilt, the people assemble to listen to God’s Word.
Second Reading: 1Corinthians 12: 12-30. We are a community, each with his role to play under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Gospel: Luke 1: 1-4; 14-21. Jesus announces himself to be the fulfillment of the Scriptures.

Points for Reflection by Fr Carlo Tei

1. It was the practice in synagogue worship to have a reading from the Law and another from the Prophets of the Old Testament, followed by a sermon. In today’s event Jesus was invited to act as both the reader and preacher. The Gospel notes that ‘And the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him”. It was really as if the eyes of all the people of God, who had ever lived, were looking upon Jesus at that moment. Century upon century of promises from God and waiting by the people focused upon that moment in time. Jesus read, as we have just heard, a passage from the book of Isaiah. Then he spoke simple, but momentous words – words which sounded astonishing to his listeners: “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing”. Actually, it was not only this passage from the Old Testament that Jesus fulfilled. Jesus was the perfect fulfillment of everything written in the Old Testament; moreover, he embodied and completed in himself the whole destiny and purpose of the chosen people.

2. In the First Reading we see Nehemiah reminding the people of their destiny. In reading the word of God to them, he was reminding them that they were a people set apart by God, so that they could preserve his truth, law and worship, and mediate his blessings to all mankind. By means of the prophets, judges and kings God made his truth and law known. Through them he pointed out the way of life that his people were to follow. Also God made of his chosen ones a priestly people, set apart to offer a pleasing worship to the one true God, and to receive his blessings in return. But the whole destiny of the chosen people was in the future, in a great day of the Lord, when the Messiah would come. The Messiah was to fulfill not just some prophecies made about his coming, but he would perfect and complete the whole purpose of the chosen people.

3. Then on that apparently ordinary day in the humble synagogue of Nazareth, Jesus, in simple words, spoke tremendous truth. In effect he said: “I am the one you have been waiting for. All the centuries of promise and waiting have become reality in me”.

4. We are the new chosen people of God. We are people, not of promise, but of fulfillment. Jesus is alive and active among us, who are the People of God and the Church. To fulfill our destiny, to be true to our Christian call and mission, we must be committed to Christ. He is the One we must know, because he is the truth. His way of living we must follow and imitate. His commitment to the needy and suffering of the world, and his proclamation of the time of the Lord’s grace we must make our own plan of action, because he is the way, the only way to the Father. He is the only way to a meaningful life and to true happiness for the world and us. He is the life…