Year of Faith - Irish Dominicans - Credo Series - X, XI and XII

One of the series which we cross posted for the Year of Faith was the Irish Dominican student series "Credo" which looked at the articles of the Creed. Below are the most recent three episodes released in the series.

X -  "I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets"  Bro. Luuk Dominiek Jansen OP talks with Bro. Conor about the role of the Holy Spirit.

XI - "The Church is One Holy, Catholic and Apostolic" Fr.John Harris OP talks with Fr.Ciaran about the Church.

XII - "I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins". Rosemary Swords talks with Fr.Ciaran about the baptism.

Tu es Petrus (You are Peter)

In what can only be described as another unique event under this Franciscan pontificate, today the Catholic faithful got a chance to glimpse the relics of the prince of apostles, the fisherman of Galilee, the first pope and vicar of Christ - St Peter.

In a tender moment during the proclamation of the Creed at the Mass marking the close of the Year of Faith, St Peter's 266th successor tenderly cradled the reliquary.

While pious tradition had always held that the altar of St Peter's basilica was built on the tomb of the apostle, a tomb with Greek graffeti proclaiming it as the tomb of Peter was uncovered during excavations under St Peter's in the 1950's. While the archelogical evidence is said to be inconclusive as St Thomas Aquinas noted “To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.”

Fr James Martin SJ makes the point on his Facebook page that many scholars dismissed the idea as mere "pious tradition." Many "merely legendary" religious sites, and places of pilgrimage, often turn out to have a basis in fact. The reason is simple: It is human nature to remember places associated with important events. Sites associated with the life of Jesus (in the Holy Land) and with the lives of the saints (in Rome and in other places) would have been remembered by witnesses, and then passed down to later generations, who would treasure that information and venerate the sites. Remember too that in antiquity people didn't move around much; families would rooted to one place for generations, and so when early Christians visited, say, Capernaum, they would have been shown where St. Peter made his home. To take another example, the Pool of Bethesda, in Jerusalem--where Jesus heals a lame man, long thought to be an "allegory," was discovered in the late 19th century, and was found by archaeologists to have "five porticoes," precisely as the Gospel of John had described. So we need to be careful what we dismiss as only "legendary" or "pious tradition."

 

 

Rocco over at Whispers has reflective coverage including the full text of the popes homily.

When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”

They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.

And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.

I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

 



 

Tu es Petrus
et super hanc petram aedificabo ecclesiam meam
et portae inferi non praevalebunt adversus eam.
Et tibi dabo claves regni caelorum.

Quodcumque ligaveris super terram, erit ligatum et in caelis,
et quodcumque solveris super terram, erit solutum et in caelis.
Et tibi dabo claves regni caelorum

 

 

You are Peter,
And upon this Rock I will build My Church:
and the gates of hell shall not overcome it.
And I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven.

Whatever you bind upon earth shall be bound in heaven,
and whatever you release upon earth shall be released in heaven,
and I will give you the keys to the kingdom of Heaven.

 

 

You can read the homily HERE and the Angelous message HERE.

The Year of Faith draws to a close

 

Over at Blue Eyed Ennis, Phil has a round up of the links to the events online including the liturgical books HERE.

Pope in General Audience: Every two weeks I go to Confession; Calls on priests to be servants of the Sacrament of Forgiveness.



During his catechesis at the General Audience, Pope Francis spoke about forgiveness and Confession. He said that God never tires of forgiving, and he urged all Catholics to never tire of asking for forgiveness. The Pope also acknowledged that he too goes to Confession.

“Our mothers, our grandmothers said that it's better to turn red once, than to turn pale thousands. You turn red once, you're absolved of your sins, and you move on. Even I go to Confession every 15 days, because the Pope is also a sinner. And the confessor listens to what I tell him, he advises me and absolves me, because we are all in need of this forgiveness.”

The Pope explained that the task of forgiving sins is so delicate, that if a priest is not merciful and benevolent, he should avoid being a confessor.

“Penitents have... the obligation? No. They have the right! We have the right, all of us, to find in priests, the servants of forgiveness from God.”




Dear Brothers and Sisters:

Today I would like to speak again on the forgiveness of sins by reflecting on the power of the keys, which is a biblical symbol of the mission Jesus entrusted to the Apostles.

First and foremost, we recall that the source of the forgiveness of sins is the Holy Spirit, whom the Risen Jesus bestowed upon the Apostles. Hence, he made the Church the guardian of the keys, of this power. The Church, however, is not the master of forgiveness, but its servant. The Church accompanies us on our journey of conversion for the whole of our lives and calls us to experience reconciliation in its communal and ecclesial dimension. We receive forgiveness through the priest. Through his ministry, God has given us a brother to bring us forgiveness in the name of the Church. Priests, who are the servants of this sacrament, must recognize that they also are in need of forgiveness and healing, and so they must exercise their ministry in humility and mercy. Let us then remember always that God never tires of forgiving us. Let us truly value this sacrament and rejoice in the gift of pardon and healing that comes to us through the ministry of priests.

**********************

 

The Most Rev Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, has a recommendation to Anglicans: Go to confession.

Addressing the heads of other churches—including the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Westminster, Most Rev. Vincent Nichols—Archbishop Welby admitted that confessing one’s weaknesses to someone else might not be a “bunch of laughs,” still he believes that unburdening oneself to a confessor is good for the soul.

“It is enormously powerful and hideously painful when it’s done properly,” he said. “It’s really horrible when you go to see your confessor – I doubt you wake up in the morning and think, this is going to be a bunch of laughs.” But speaking about it as part of a “wider catholic tradition,” Archbishop Welby encouraged his congregants to try it for themselves.

Source here and here.

Confession continues the cleansing act of Baptism, Pope tells audience

“Confession is not a torture chamber, it is a celebration of the day of Baptism,” Pope Francis told his weekly audience on Wednesday, November 13.   

The Pope devoted his catechetical talk to the phrase from the Creed: “I believe in one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins.” Baptism, he said, is “the act of birth of a Christian in the Church.”

The entire mission of the Church, he added, could be summed up as “to evangelize and to forgive sins through sacramental Baptism.” Baptism, the Pope continued, is “a true spiritual immersion in the death of Christ.” Through Baptism the Christian has opened the door to grace. “But when the door narrows a little because of our weaknesses or our sins, Confession helps us to open it,” he said. Thus Confession should be seen as “like a second Baptism,” the Pope told his audience.    

Pope Francis asked those in attendance at his Wednesday public audience whether they could name the date of their Baptism. When only a few raised their hands in response, he remarked that Christians should be aware of that vitally important date, just as they are aware of their birthdays. He challenged everyone to look up the date of their Baptism, and celebrate it each year.

Full text of address here.

Bishop Brendan Leahy on Sacrosanctum Concilium

As part of the Year of Faith and for the 50th Anniversary of the Second Vatican Council, Bishop Brendán Leahy gives an excellent introduction to the Dogmatic Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium.  Bishop Brendán outlines what liturgy means and some of the main themes of this beautiful document in a profound, but accessible way:



The full document on the liturgy is available HERE.

Vatican will display relics of St. Peter for first time ever, to mark end of the Year of Faith

The Vatican announced that, for the first time in history, it will publicly display the relics of St. Peter, the very first Pope and original Bishop of Rome. It'll be a unique exhibit to mark the conclusion of the Year of Faith. Msgr. Rino Fisichella, president for the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization, made the announcement in an editorial published in the Vatican's official newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano. The Apostle's remains will leave the Vatican Grotto for the celebrations, but exact details are not yet clear.

The tomb of St. Peter, located under the altar of the Vatican basilica, was unearthed during excavations in the mid-20the century. In 1968, after extensive research and testing, Pope Paul VI announced that relics of St. Peter had been identified. These relics have been kept in the grotto of the basilica, and never placed on public display.

The Year of Faith concludes on November 24, the feast of Christ the King. On November 21, Pope Francis will visit a cloistered monastery in Rome. On the 23, he will meet with cathechumens inside St. Peter's Basilica. The Year of Faith will conclude on Sunday, the 24th, with the Pope celebrating Mass at St. Peter's Square

Pope Francis consecrates the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

On Sunday before 100,000 pilgrims gathered in St Peter's Square, Pope Francis marked the Marian Event of the Year of Faith by consecrating the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in the presence of the statue of Our Lady of Fatima brought especially from Portugal for the occasion.

[Vatican Radio has an article/interview about Fatima and the statue HERE]

 

On the Saturday, the statue of Our Lady of Fatima from the Portuguese shrine was flown to Rome for the event. On arrival in Rome, the statue was carried to Benedict XVI's residence, the former Mater Ecclesiae monastery. Benedict XVI welcomed the statue himself and walked along with it as it was taken to his nearby chapel. He prayed before Our Lady along with Archbishop Rino Fisichella, who serves as the president of the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization. The statue was then taken to the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta where Pope Francis lives. From there, the statue was taken to St. Peter's Square where thousands were already waiting.

 

The pilgrims welcomed Our Lady with white handkerchiefs as she made her way through St. Peter's Square. Pope Francis first greeted her by kissing her feet.

During his catechises he reflected on the power of Mary's faith by asking Christians a very direct question. “What is our faith like? Like Mary, do we keep it burning even at times of difficulty and darkness? Do I have the joy of faith?”

You can read the full text of Pope Francis catechises HERE.

Rocco's account of the vigil over at Whispers in the Loggia is HERE.

Then on Sunday, Pope Francis celebrated mass in St Peter’s square in honour of the Marian Day, an event organised as part of the Year of Faith on the anniversary of the final apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Fatima (13th of October 1917). He also consecrated the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Reflecting on the faith of Our Lady, the Pope urged Christians to reject the short-term culture that has taken over marriage and faith. “Am I a part-time Christian or am I a Christian full-time? The culture of the ephemeral, the relative, also affects the way we live our faith. Think of all the times when we were excited about something, a project or task, but afterward, at the first sign of difficulty, we throw in the towel."

Vatican Radio has a report on the Pope's homily HERE.

Pope Francis who is well known for his devotion to the Blessed Virgin said that it was a day to consider one of the marvelous things Mary had done, that was “to be chosen to be the Mother of God”.Taking Sunday’s liturgy as his inspiration, Pope Francis reflected on three things. They were that God surprises us, God asks us to be faithful and God is our strength.  

Referring to Mary the Holy Father said God surprised Mary, but despite this she was able to say, “Here I am, the servant of the Lord, be it done onto me according to your word.” The Pope went on to say that God does surprise us, he wreaks havoc with our plans, but he also says “trust me, do not be afraid”.In his second reflection “God asks us to be faithful” Pope Francis explained that God is loving, but he also “demands that we be faithful in following him”. Mary was that faithful follower, he continued, she said her “yes” to God both in moments of joy and sorrow.” The Holy Father then said, our duty is to “walk with God always, even in moments of weakness, even in our sins. That, he added, is what is means to be “a full-time Christian.” 

In his third point, “God is our Strength”, Pope Francis said that Mary gave praise and thanks to God . She did this, the Pope stressed because, “Everything is his gift. He is our strength!” He also underlined the importance of not taking things for granted and asked people to remember, three key words, sorry, excuse me and thank you.

Full text of the Pope's homily is available HERE.




At the end of Sunday's Mass, Pope Francis entrusted the world to Our Lady of Fatima with a special prayer in front of thousands of pilgrims at St. Peter's Square. At her feet, Pope Francis prayed for Our Lady's protection to the world and for the reinforcement of people's goodwill. Also, he asked her to revive the faith and charity in people so that they look after those who suffer and those excluded from society.

Blessed Mary, Our Lady of Fatima, with renewed gratitude by your motherly presence we unite our voice to that of all generations that call you blessed.  

We celebrate with you the mighty works of God, who never gets tired of bending over mankind, beset by evil and wounded by sin, with mercy to heal and to save it.  

Mother embrace with benevolence this act of entrustment that we make today with confidence, before this your image which is so dear to us.

We are confident that each of us is precious in your sight and that nothing is alien to you of all that dwells in our hearts. We are touched by the gaze of your sweet eyes and welcome the comforting caress of your smile.

Safeguard our lives in your arms: bless and strengthen every desire for goodness, revitalize and nourish our faith, sustain and brighten the hope that stirs the soul and charity ; guide all of us on the path of holiness.

Teach us your same love and preference for the young and the poor, the marginalized and the suffering, for sinners and those whose hearts are lost: gather all under your protection and deliver us all to your beloved Son, our Lord Jesus. Amen.

13th October 2013 - 28th Sunday in Ordinary time (Year C) - Interview with James Kilbane

On this weeks programme John and Ann are joined by special guest James Kilbane to discuss faith and music. We have a reflection on this weeks gospel from Sr Ann Shields from Renewal Ministries. We have our liturgical odds and ends including Saints of the Week and some local notices.

You can listen to this weeks full radio programme on our podcast HERE.

You can listen to the James Kilbane interview excerpted from the programme HERE.

Interview with James Kilbane

John and Ann are joined this week by singer James Kilbane who shares his story of faith and music and also about an up coming event in the Augustinians in Limerick on 17th October.

James Kilbane is a multi-platinum selling Christian, country gospel and Irish singer. James Kilbane was the runner up in Ireland's national talent television show You're A Star in 2003 / 2004. Since then he has established his career with his mix of gospel, Christian, country and folk music.

Since his success in You're a Star, Kilbane has gone on to record and release a number of well received albums including King of the Road, Close to You, Hymns of Praise, Divine Love, Life's Miracle, Heart to Heart, Glory and Grace, and Songs Of Ireland, as well as his Christmas album titled The Christmas Collection. For the Year of Faith James is the voice of Veritas. The album was released to celebrate the Year of Faith and presents 20 tracks giving a flavour of 200 years of Irish Christian and faith based music that many have held dear in prayer and in their spiritual lives.

A very unique partnering will take place at St. Augustine’s Church, O’Connell Street, Limerick on Thursday 17th October when country singer James Kilbane and popular journalist and writer John Waters present a presentation together at the city centre church for the Year of Faith. The early evening event will commence with Holy Mass at 4pm followed immediately by the Year of Faith presentation with John Waters and James Kilbane. The theme for the evening will be Opening doors for the Year of Faith. Fr. Liam Ryan commented, “This year is so much about openness. The opening of new doors of faith, the doors of the heart and the doors of the mind, for God”. It is felt that this event will contribute to this theme as the city centre church and the Augustinians play an very open and an important part to the life and faith of Limerick always believing in existing without frontiers as the church is always open to all walks of life in the city and surrounding parishes of greater Limerick and serving the community at hand.

 

 

As part of their contributions to the Year of Faith, James Kilbane and John Waters have decided to become partners in a short tour of communities, churches and venues over the Year of Faith and are joining the Augustinians on Thursday 17th. In these presentations James and John will share their faith and stories that will explore through their music and the spoken word some of the most fundamental questions facing faith, Irish culture and those who inhabit it today: on subjects as, openness, freedom, reason, hope, certainty and overcoming adversity. The evening that promises to be an enjoyable, inspiring and thought provoking evening of faith sharing.

Roscommon native, John Waters is a well known Irish personality and writer. He has been a journalist since 1984 and currently writes for the Irish Times, The Irish Mail on Sunday and The Irish Catholic. He also wrote for The Hot Press Magazine for many years. Waters has published six books and several plays as well as public speaking around the world. In his writing and life Waters has specialised in raising unpopular issues of public importance, including the repression of Famine memories, the denial of rights to fathers and, more recently, the conundrum of maintaining faith in an increasingly secular Irish and global culture. He was recently a guest speaker on the theme of “addiction and grace”, alongside Pope Francis, to an audience of 200,000 in St Peter’s Square, as part of the Pentecost Vigil of new Catholic movements. Commenting on the Year of Faith and his tour with James Kilbane, “For me, faith is knowledge of reality. There’s no need to make any great leap from the world as we encounter it every day. I’ve learned to look hard at reality, and, when I began to do that, I soon noticed that the manmade world had been working very hard to convince me that there’s nothing beyond it I needed to be bothered with. I’m sufficiently astonished by the mysteriousness of my own existence to be unconvinced by most of the supposedly rational analysis emanating from secular sources. Human beings need to stay in touch with their mysterious nature and origins, which for me is the essence of religion. Now I try to share my understandings and experiences with people. That’s that I see this Year of Faith as being about: to wake ourselves up to the fact that we are hooked into God as much as any human being who ever stood on the earth. And this is the best news you’re ever going to hear”

Partnering John on the evening is award winning singer James Kilbane who has become a leading voice for Christian music in Ireland. Ten years on since You’re A Star, James has continued to develop in music with the release of ten albums and against the odds of commercial secular based music he held to his beliefs and is now a multi-platinum selling artist. In recent times Kilbane has been involved in a variety of faith based music endeavours, including attending Grafton High Security Prison, Ohio where he was invited to perform a concert at the Death Row prison. He was a guest performer at the International Eucharistic Congress held in Dublin where James and his country band performed to thousands on the main arena stage. A very important part of Kilbane’s belief is to work with other Christian traditions and he regularly is invited to perform and work at cross denominational faith events along the border regions and in America. Not forgetting home James is a regular soloist at Knock Shrine. As a producer, promoter and songwriter he is a visitor to Nashville where he has co-written songs which have been included on several of his albums and include the anthem for Mary's House in Ephesus, Turkey. For the Year of Faith James is currently the voice of Veritas and earlier this year Veritas and James co-released a popular compilation album titled “The Songs of Faith Collection”. In 2012 James was voted “Irish Gospel Singer of the Year” and today his music is popular on radio and television at home and abroad. For the Year of Faith James is working with parishes, groups and organisations at grass roots with concerts and faith events that include this tour and audience with John Waters. Waters final comment on James and him working together is “That is why both James and I decided to do these events – because we believe the two of us have come to the same conclusions from different directions and experiences.”

For further information on this A Year of Faith Audience with John Waters and James Kilbane at St. Augustine’s Church, O’Connell Street, Limerick on Thursday 17th October then call Augustinians at 061 415126. 

Admission is free with however a freewill offering will be collected. This is an open faith event and all believers and non-believers are all are very welcome. The evening is expected to be completed by approximately 6.15pm

Gospel - Luke 17:11-19

"On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Sama'ria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices and said, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us." When he saw them he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then said Jesus, "Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" And he said to him, "Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well."

 

Renewal Ministries is dedicated to fostering renewal and evangelization in the Catholic Church by helping people know the personal love of God in Jesus and grow in holiness. They seek to proclaim Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit through their weekly television program, The Choices We Face, our daily radio programs, Food for the Journey and Fire on the Earth; through parish missions, seminars and conferences, books, tapes, CDs, and videos, and through mission work in more than 25 countries. Their aim is to strengthen and equip Catholics for evangelization and ministry in the power of the Holy Spirit. The gospel reflection this week is Sr. Ann Shields who is an internationally noted conference and retreat speaker and author of Deeper Conversion, To Be Like Jesus and other books on Catholic spirituality. She is a member of the Servants of God’s Love, a charismatic religious community established in the Diocese of Lansing, Michigan. She is currently the host of the daily radio program Food for the Journey.

Other reflections on this weeks gospel:

Humblepiety
Word on Fire
English Dominicans
Sunday Reflections
Centre for Liturgy

Liturgical odds and ends

Liturgy of the Hours - Psalter Week 4

Saints of the Week

October 14th - St Callistus (Pope) - patron of cemetery workers
October 15th - St Teresa of Avila OCD  (Virgin, Doctor of the Church) - Reformer/refounder of the Disclaced Carmelite Order - Patron of Headache sufferers, Spanish Catholic Writers
October 16th - St Margaret Mary Alacoque (Visionary of the Sacred Heart) 
Also St Gerard Majella (patron of expectant mothers)
October 17th - St Ignatius of Antioch
October 18th - St Luke (Evangelist)
October 19th - St John de Brebeuf & Companions

Notices

Songs of Faith: - As part of the Year of Faith celebrations, you are invited to attend an hour of scripture reflection, silence and congregational hymn singing in St. John’s Cathedral on Sunday, October 13th from 4.30pm to 5.30pm. This was a very beautiful celebration when it was held last May and promises to be the same this time. Please come along if you are free.

Book Launch: - Tuesday, October 15th at 7pm, Bishop Brendan Leahy will be launching an Irish language version of the New Testament and the Psalms in the Reception Area of Mary Immaculate College. There will be a display of 18th and 19th Century Irish Manuscripts from the Diocesan Archive to accompany Launch. Catechetical and other Irish language resources for schools and parish will also be available on the night.

Reminder: Monastic Experience Day: - will be held at the Poor Clare Monastery, Nuns’ Island, Galway from 10am to 5pm on Saturday, October 19th for those aged between 20 and 40 who are discerning a religious vocation to experience first hand what the Poor Clare way of life is like. Pre-booking is essential. Contact vocations@poorclares.ie

Year of Faith - Popes general audience - Church too is made up of sinners; do not be afraid to strive for holiness

Vatican Radio:

“Do not be afraid to aim for holiness and turn yourselves over to the love of God. Holiness does not mean performing extraordinary things but carrying out daily things in an extraordinary way – that is, with love, joy and faith.” That’s what Pope Francis told pilgrims gathered in Saint Peter’s square on Wednesday for the weekly General Audience.
Speaking in Italian, the Pope said the Church is not without sin because it is made up of sinners. Priests, sisters, bishops, cardinals and even Popes are sinners. ‘Who, among the pilgrims gathered in the square, he asked, is not a sinner?’ ‘We are all sinners!’ He exclaimed.

Throughout its two thousand year history, he said, the Church went through many “trials, problems (and) moments of darkness.” But how can a Church “made up of human beings, of sinners,” he asked, “be holy?”

Recalling Christ, who gave himself up for the Church, he said this ultimate sacrifice is what renders the Church holy. The Church, he went on, is holy for three reasons: firstly because it is faithful to God, who does not abandon it to the “powers of death and evil.” Secondly, because it “is united in an everlasting way to Jesus Christ,”and thirdly, because “it is led by the Holy Spirit who purifies, transforms and renews it.”

The Church, he concluded, does not renounce sinners, but opens its doors to everyone so they may find God’s tender mercy and forgiveness.
You can listen to Vatican Radio's report HERE and also read the full text of the general audience

15th September 2013 - 24th Sunday in Ordinary time (Year C) - Return of the Prodigal Sons

On this weeks programme, the SS102fm team have a discussion about what people can do for the remaining few weeks of the Year of Faith. We also have our regular reflection on this weeks gospel as well as a run down on our celestial guides of the week as well as some local notices.

You can listen to the podcast of this weeks programme HERE.

Year of Faith

As regular readers/listeners will know, SS102fm has been promoting the Year of Faith called by Pope Benedict XVI to mark the 50th anniversary of the calling of the second Vatican Council and the 25th anniversary of the publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The year began on October 11th 2012 and will end on the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Universal King on November 24th 2013. This is a special year in which we are asked as to reflect on the gift of faith as the universal Church, episcopal conferences, diocesan level, parish, community, association, movements and individually.

You can find more information on the official website of the Year of Faith. Also please check out our page on the Year of Faith for further information, links and suggestions.

Gospel - Luke 15: 1- 32

The Return of the Prodigal Son - Rembrandt

 

This week we are presented with three parables from Luke's gospel which follow on from last weeks gospel which reminded us that we are called to focus on God alone and this weeks gospel gives us a glimpse of who our God is. On the programme we focused on the parable of the Prodigal Son or perhaps what we should call the Return of the Prodigal Sons. 

 

"The parable of the Prodigal Son is likely one of the most quoted and most versatile of all the stories in the Gospels. And it is so because at various times in our lives it is easy to identify with one or all of these three characters. Of course our motives for identifying with them can be mixed, such as when we prefer to put ourselves in the shoes of the generous father. He has been deeply wronged, and his youngest son has been a keen disappointment. We’ve all been there. And there is more than a hint of disappointment to be found in the eldest son, who complains that he has not gotten proper recognition from the father. We’ve all been the aggrieved elder brother. But unlike the father, are there times when we’ve preferred to wallow in our grief and refuse to turn the page and move on?"

For the younger son we see how he rejects the Fathers house, the community and leaves for distant lands. Could we say it is people who have left the faith; left the community (being excluded from the community)? But still he has remorse and humility - "I have sinned against heaven and against my father" - can we see ourselves in the younger son? Have we the humility to be able to recognise our weaknesses and sinfulness and being grown up enough to be able to ask for forgiveness and seek to return?

 

While many of us may sympathise with the Elder son we need to recognise how he had put himself from as far from the love of his Father as much as the younger brother had left and put himself beyond the community/family of love. His heart is full of resentment and a heart full of resentment and bitterness can be open to love. He was with his father but didn't really know his father - we can see he has a chip on his shoulder over the slightest thing. Can we see elements of ourselves in him?

 

The Father's extravagant love for both his sons despite their faults and their lack of openness and no matter what they are still  his sons. Are we as open to those around us? Are we also open to recognising this love God has for each one of us? Many people are depressed and afraid to recognise and accept this abundant love the Father has for each one of us.

 

Which character are you? Focus on each one - how am I the younger son? How am I the elder son? How am I the father? Take a day on each one and reflect and pray on each one during the coming week.

 

Reflections on this weeks gospel:

• Word on Fire
• Irish Dominicans
• English Dominicans
• Centre for Liturgy
• Sunday Reflections
• A Monks Chronicle
• Ascension Catholic Reflection
• Patrick Muldoon

Reflections on further information on Rembrandt's painting:

• Rembrandt's Prodigal Son
• Henri Nouwen - The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming
• Excerpt from Nouwen's reflection on the Rembrandt painting

 

“Addiction" might be the best word to explain the lostness that so deeply permeates society. Our addiction make us cling to what the world proclaims as the keys to self-fulfillment: accumulation of wealth and power; attainment of status and admiration; lavish consumption of food and drink, and sexual gratification without distinguishing between lust and love. These addictions create expectations that cannot but fail to satisfy our deepest needs. As long as we live within the world's delusions, our addictions condemn us to futile quests in "the distant country," leaving us to face an endless series of disillusionments while our sense of self remains unfulfilled. In these days of increasing addictions, we have wandered far away from our Father's home. The addicted life can aptly be designated a life lived in "a distant country." It is from there that our cry for deliverance rises up.”   

 

Liturgical Odds and Ends

Liturgy of the Hours - Psalter week 4

Saints of the Week

September 16th - Ss Cornelius (pope) and Cyprian (martyrs). Also St Hildegard of Bingen (Doctor of the Church)
September 17th - St Robert Bellarmine SJ
September 18th - St Joseph of Cupertina
September 19th - St Januarius of Naples
September 20th - The Korean Martyrs
September 21st - St Matthew (Apostle)

8th September 2013 - 23rd Sunday in Ordinary time (Year C) - Year of Faith: Exploring Our Church's understanding of Divine Revelation (Part 4 of 4)

On this week's programme we have the final episode in our Year of Faith reflection on the Second Vatican Council's Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation Dei Verbum. We have our usual reflection on the Gospel and outlining our celestial guides for the week ahead.  This week's full programme is available HERE.

The book we used as the basis for our programmes on Dei Verbum is a wonderfully accessible and insightful book by Canon John Redford called Treasures of Dei Verbum.  It has the text of Dei Verbum on the left hand side of the page and an explanation of the text on the right hand side of the page.  It is available from Alive Publishing (www.alivepublishing.co.uk)

On our first programme we outlined what Dei Verbum was all about i.e. the bishops of the Second Vatican Council saw the need to place more emphasis on the goal of divine revelation.  The whole point of divine revelation is to give us all a share in the divine life, fellowship, communion with God the Father through Jesus the Son in the Holy Spirit.  This is the good news we have to give to the world.

In our second programme we looked at how Divine Revelation was handed on by the bishops as successors of the Apostles. The teaching office of the Church (Magisterium) is the authentic interpreter of the Word of God in Scripture and Tradition. The Holy Spirit gives special assistance to the Bishops of the Church united with the Pope to serve, teach, listen to, guard and explain the Word of God. We also looked at Sacred Scripture, its inspiration and divine interpretation.
 
In our third programme we saw that the OT and the NT are the inspired word of God and how we cannot dismiss the OT because it is divinely inspired. “God, the inspirer and author of both Testaments, wisely arranged that the New Testament be hidden in the Old and the Old be made manifest in the New” (DV 16). We saw how the Old and New Testaments were not merely collections of sacred books, but witnessed to two Covenant events. The covenant event of the OT is the covenant given to Moses on the holy mountain with its laws and directions to guide the people to the promised land. The covenant event of the NT is the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ to be born of a virgin, preach the kingdom of God, perform miracles, manifest himself as God become Man, die on the cross for our salvation, rise again from the dead bodily and pour out his Spirit on those who believe. We also looked at how the books of the NT, the Gospels, the letters and the Book of revelation, are of course very important, the inspired word of God, but their value, as Dei Verbum tells us, is as the prime witness to the wonderful realities of the coming of Jesus our Saviour.
 
This week we will look at the final Chapter of Dei Verbum, Chapter 6, Sacred Scripture in the Life of the Church.

You can listen to the Dei Verbum section of the programme HERE.

Resources which may be of use to you on reading and understanding Dei Verbum:

• Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation (Dei Verbum) - Second Vatican Council 
• Catechism of the Catholic Church
• The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church - Pontifical Biblical Commission
• SS102fm page on Lectio Divina
• The website of the 2005 Dei Verbum international conference organized jointly by the Catholic Biblical Federation and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the promulgation of the Vatican II Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation. The website is in various languages and has links and many articles for reference and further reading.
• One of the highly regarded series of commentaries written about the documents of Vatican II was a 1967 series written by a young German theologian named Joseph Ratzinger.  The link to an extract from the commentary on Dei Verbum is here.
• Short summary of Dei Verbum here

 
Gospel - Luke 14: 25 - 33

This week's Gospel contains one of the greatest challenges Jesus ever offered to his disciples: "If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple." Here Christ is emphasizing the great spiritual principle of detachment. In order to live healthy spiritual lives we must love Christ most of all, with everything else finding its meaning in relation to God.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German Lutheran pastor, theologian, dissident anti-Nazi and founding member of the Confessing Church. His writings on Christianity's role in the secular world have become widely influential. Apart from his theological writings, Bonhoeffer became known for his staunch resistance to the Nazi dictatorship. He strongly opposed Hitler's euthanasia program and genocidal persecution of the Jews. He was also involved in plans by members of the Abwehr (the German Military Intelligence Office) to assassinate Adolf Hitler. He was arrested in April 1943 by the Gestapo and executed by hanging in April 1945 while imprisoned at a Nazi concentration camp, just 23 days before the German surrender.

One of his most famous books is called the "Cost of Discipleship" and has a number of challenging and thought provoking quotes in line with this weeks gospel:
 
“Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves. Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession.... Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.” 

“Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock. Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: 'Ye were bought at a price', and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us. Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us. Costly grace is the Incarnation of God.” 

Reflections on this weeks gospel:
Word on Fire
English Dominicans
Sunday Reflections
Centre for Liturgy
Dear Working Preacher - The cost of disipleship

Liturgical odds and ends

Liturgy of Hours - Psalter Week 3, 23rd week in ordinary time

Saints of the Week

September 9th - St Kieran of Clonmacnoise
September 10th - 205 Martyrs of Japan
September 11th - Bl Dominic Dillon (Martyr)
September 12th - Holy Name of Mary also Bl Victoria Strata
September 13th - St John Chrysostom also Bl Margaret of Cashel
September 14th - The Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross

1st September 2013 - 22nd Sunday in Ordinary time (Year C) - Year of Faith: Exploring Our Church's understanding of Divine Revelation (Part 3 of 4)

On this week's programme we continue our Year of Faith reflection on the Second Vatican Council's Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation Dei Verbum, as well as our usual reflection on the Gospel and outlining our celestial guides for the week ahead.  This week's full programme is available HERE.

The book we are using as the basis for our programmes on Dei Verbum is a wonderfully accessible and insightful book by Canon John Redford called Treasures of Dei Verbum.  It has the text of Dei Verbum on the left hand side of the page and an explanation of the text on the right hand side of the page.  It is available from Alive Publishing (www.alivepublishing.co.uk)
On our first programme we outlined what Dei Verbum was all about i.e. the bishops of the Second Vatican Council saw the need to place more emphasis on the goal of divine revelation.  The whole point of divine revelation is to give us all a share in the divine life, fellowship, communion with God the Father through Jesus the Son in the Holy Spirit.  This is the good news we have to give to the world.

In our second programme we looked at how Divine Revelation was handed on by the bishops as successors of the Apostles.  The teaching office of the Church (Magisterium) is the authentic interpreter of the Word of God in Scripture and Tradition.  The Holy Spirit gives special assistance to the Bishops of the Church united with the Pope to serve, teach, listen to, guard and explain the Word of God.  We also looked at Sacred Scripture, its inspiration and divine interpretation.  This week we continue looking at Dei Verbum’s treatment of Scripture in Chapter 4 and Chapter 5 on the Old and New Testaments.

You can listen to the Dei Verbum section of the programme HERE.

Resources which may be of use to you on reading and understanding Dei Verbum:

• Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation (Dei Verbum) - Second Vatican Council 
• Catechism of the Catholic Church
• The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church - Pontifical Biblical Commission
• SS102fm page on Lectio Divina
• The website of the 2005 Dei Verbum international conference organized jointly by the Catholic Biblical Federation and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the promulgation of the Vatican II Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation. The website is in various languages and has links and many articles for reference and further reading.
• One of the highly regarded series of commentaries written about the documents of Vatican II was a 1967 series written by a young German theologian named Joseph Ratzinger.  The link to an extract from the commentary on Dei Verbum is here.
• Short summary of Dei Verbum here

Gospel - Luke 14:1, 7-14

Reflections on this weeks gospel:
HumblepietyWord on Fire
English Dominicans
Sunday Reflections
Centre for Liturgy

Liturgical odds and ends

Liturgy of Hours - Psalter Week 2, 22nd week in ordinary time

Saints of the Week

2nd September - The Martyrs of September (aka the Martyrs of Paris)
3rd September - St Gregory the Great (Pope)
4th September - St Mac Nissi (Bishop)
5th September - Bl Mother Teresa of Calcutta
6th September - Bl Thomas Tsuji SJ (Martyr) (First Friday)
7th September - St Regina

Popes Intentions for month of September

General – Silence: That the men and women of our time, often overwhelmed by noise, may rediscover the value of silence and learn to listen to the voice of God and their brothers and sisters.

Mission – Persecuted Christians: That Christians who suffer persecution in many parts of the world may be prophets of the love of Christ by their testimony