DAILY REFLECTION: Holy Name of Jesus, January 3, 2007

From Apostolic times, the name of Jesus was both the source and cause of great devotion. The emblem associated with the name of Jesus appears above. The Catholic Encyclopedia article, Holy Name, gives a brief but packed history. There you will learn -- if the Sisters or priests did not teach you -- that centuries ago Jesus was written as IHESUS and shortened as IHS. St. Bernard of Siena labored to spread an awareness of and devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus. Also the name of Jesus was added to the original Hail Mary prayer to intensify the awareness of this sacred name. Almost at the turn of the 16th century (1597) Pope Sixtus V did all he could possibly do to encourage the pious invocation, "Praised be Jesus Christ."

The scripture readings for today's liturgy, Readings , however, do not address the feast. The First Letter of St. John continues the Christmas season theme. In particular the offered verses speak of the impact of God's love poured upon us with the gift of the Incarnation. John wants his readers to realize that being made by God, we are children of God not children of this world. John continues his "teaching" that it is sinfulness that will prevent us from seeing or knowning Jesus who was given to us to take away our sins.

DAILY REFLECTION: Sts Basil and Gregory January 2, 2007

Two leading theologians of the fourth century. Both born in 330. Basil was strong in the defense of the Catholic faith against the Arians and their denial of the divinity of Jesus Christ.

Arianism

Noted for his devotion to the poor. Gregory also born in 330. Eventually became the patriarch of Constantinople. These two men encountered opposition, problems and suffering throughout their lives because they believed. Both attested to the strong attachment to prayer as the source of their strength. Let our prayer in the 21st century be the source of our strength when we encounter the poor and those who are separated from our Church.

HOLY FAMILY SUNDAY: Homily

During the last few hours of the year 2006, after an Advent and Christmas celebrations, I would like to draw attention to one of the major persons in the history of Jesus’ life. We heard much about John, the Baptizer, about Mary and about Jesus. Today, a history lesson about another important person sent by the Father, can help us deepen our appreciation of and, perhaps, devotion to, Joseph.
Many of the pseudo gospels that appeared during and after his life, have produced a number of outrageous and seemingly incorrect historical facts about the man. One such is a writing that maintained that Joseph was about ninety years old when he married Mary. Imagine his doing carpentry work at that age!
The facts that the Church relies on are found in initial chapters of Matthew and Luke. He was portrayed as a "righteous" man. He often received his marching orders in dreams. He was Mary’s husband. He traveled to Egypt – most likely to Alexandria, Egypt. On return he settled his family in Nazareth. We know also that when Jesus was twelve years old, Joseph was still alive. It is presumed that Joseph was dead when Jesus was crucified because Jesus entrusted his mother to John.
Dedication and devotion to Joseph was not an early beginner. It took a few centuries for a better understanding of the man and gifts he brings. The first mention about him after the death of Jesus occurs in the 5th century. So three hundred years before his place and work were recognized as avenues to the Father. It was in the Coptic Church (eventually divided by a schism into the Orthodox Coptic and the Coptic Catholic) that Joseph was first mentioned.
The Roman Rite did not dedicate a church to Joseph until 1129. Then there was another hiatus. Not until the 1300s and 1400s did devotion to Joseph begin to grow. The Carmelite and Dominican Orders of priests and religious sisters and brothers fostered devotion to Joseph. St. Teresa of Avila was well known for her devotion to St. Joseph. Another three hundred years and Joseph’s name began to appear on some church calendars.
In the nineteenth century devotion to Joseph grew rapidly. Especially devoted to the working man, this saint became a favorite of the new working classes that were growing as cities industrialized.
Not until 1847 did a feast honoring Joseph make it to the Church’s universal calendar of saints.
In 1870 St. Joseph became the Patron of the Universal Church through the strong efforts of Blessed Pius IX.
Pope Pius XII added the feast of St. Joseph the Worker on May 1st of each year. Blessed John XXIII added Joseph’s name to the 1st Eucharistic Prayer, the Roman Canon, as it is formally titled. Venerable John Paul II was baptized Karol Josef Woytila and our current Pope, is, by name, Joseph Ratzinger.
Beyond all this history, what does Joseph offer. With the little information we have about him, we can see that there are three virtues that dominated his life: DEVOTION, COMPASSION and OBEDIENCE.
In Matthew we learn that Joseph was a "righteous" man — he was devoted to his Jewish faith. Again in Matthew we read how Joseph handled the unexpected pregnancy of Mary. Here and elsewhere Joseph demonstrated a genuine compassion. Lastly, Joseph was a model of obedience. The few times an angel appeared in his dreams. Joseph immediately carried out what he was called upon to do.
Let Joseph be a model for all of us — perhaps with renewed devotion. He may well be the missing link in many families who find life a challenge.
I owe thanks to Paul S. Siebenand of Liturgical Press for having put the historical data together. It made preparing this message so much easier.
Michelangelo's painting of the Holy Family.

Georgetown Grads: Rev. Timonty S. Healy, SJ

Today in the anniversary of the 1992 death of Father Tim Healy, SJ who served as President at Georgetown University. Well known in the academic world as well as "inside the beltway" for his candor and robust leadership at Hoyaville. After his G-town service, Tim accepted the position of leadership at the NY Library in downtown Manhattan. He suffered a death-dealing heart attack at Newark airport, returning from holiday vacation.

SCHOOL PARENTS TAKE NOTE

Just when you thought the loved one would be returning to the classroom after the almost two full weeks of Christmas vacation, the Archdiocesan Catholic Schools Office announced that the return to classes would be postponed for a day. The students will return on Wednesay, January 3rd. The reason: the National Day of Mourning for President Gerald Ford and all the events that will be taking place throughout the city.

But, but, but not so for the parish staff: the commander-in-chief is continuing with the scheduled return to the office. The necessary carpet removal project in the school library and the first floor parish offices is completed. Now the massive mound of mail and trying to reconnect all of the computer wires will require a day.

New Termine Stazione Name in Rome

Today there was a formal "rededication" of the Stazione Termini, the famous railroad station in Rome. The new name is Stazione Termini Giovanni Paulo Secundo is the new name, honoring in another way, Pope John Paul II.

Greetings from "B16" as he has come to be known in many European papers. This is is formal apprearance on the loggia of the loggia on the front of St. Peter's Basilica on Christmas morning.

So, here is our Holy Father, extenind his ffiahful, his Chrsitmas blessing.

DAILY REFLECTION: John the Evangelist, December 27, 2006

Titian's John the Evangelist on the Island of Patmos where the apostle had been exiled and where he wrote the Book of Revelations. At the National Gallery in Washington, DC.

Today's feast honors the disciple Jesus loved. The feast day is not so much about John as it is about fellowship, about community and about the eternal nature of God: always the way of one who loves someone else -- focus on the loved one rather than self.

Today's scripture readings are to be found at Readings. Click on the Readings tab.

In the first reading, John's first letter, we find an invitation for anyone who strives to be in communion with those who knew the man Jesus: "so that you too may have fellowship with us." It is a fellowship that joins us with the Father as well as Jesus.

For me, John's writing in this letter -- as well as the words from St. Augustine in the Office of Readings, a part of the Liturgy of the Hours, the "official" prayer of the Church -- brings me to a moment of consideration of God's eternal nature. John also intends "to proclaim (to you) the eternal life that was with the Father ...." It seems good, it seems spiritually healthy, to take time on occasion to feast on the meaning of the reality so challenging to the human mind and heart in our modern culture: there always was a God, an eternal God. This God cannot be "was." He is. He is the "I am." What a wonderful exercise: imagine, as best as you can, what it means not to have a starting point. That is difficult for the finite, human mind. Something existing without a beginning? Even our words manifest our need to have a time and place for everything: imagine never beginning but always being, without a starting point or date! That's our God. That's the God of John the Evangelist.

This is the eternal God that John invites us to know along with himself and the others who came to know, to see and to touch in the person of Jesus Christ. Is there any wonder that John would author a gospel so different from Matthew, Mark and Luke, the Synoptics (with eyes)? John always endeavors to join us to the eternal not simply alone but with the community of believers. John cam to believe there is a partnership among believers with the eternal Father.

Today's feast and readings calls us to remember that our fellowship, our sense of community joins us with believers in far away places as well as with those who are our neighbors. In a way, these communal bonds join us with those who believe in the God who spoke the Word of life and made that Word visible in the person of Jesus Christ BUT who feel a separation from our Church. Is this feast not, then, a call to continue John's work of proclamation to reunite what is separated from the fullness of the complete joy mentioned in the first reading?

Saddam: Execution within 30 Days

Just a few moments ago, the appeals court in Iraq announced its decision. The execution must be carried out within 30 days.

Now we await the consequences. Surely the hierarchy will speak out against the death penalty. What will the US Armed Forces experience as a result?

DAILY REFLECTION: St. Stephen's Day, December 26, 2006

St. Stephen – Proto-martyr
Can you recall the different times this late Fall and Winter when one day the temperatures were in the seventies and the next morning you awoke to the middle thirties? Almost unbelievable change ... until you walked outside ... and bavoom ... the cold hits you squarely in your face.
The feast day of yesterday and of today is similar to that. Yesterday, we basked in the sunshine of the greatest gift God has ever given the world. Today we are hit squarely what it can cost to be a follower of Jesus Christ, the wonderful gift from God to us.
For the last three weeks I have been writing and speaking out God’s intention for us and the purpose He has given us in our lives at any given time. Looking at the martyrdom of St. Stephen, his being stoned to death, we encounter a man who gave his life for the one who sacrificed his life for Stephen.
Today we go from unwrapping to repackaging: from the special joy of the birth of Jesus to putting that away for a while, yet again, and now returning to the ordinary. Yet, as we know, there is nothing ordinary about our ordinary life as followers of Jesus. It is difficult, I believe to think about martyrdom. It is not something we would expect to encounter in our country. But accepting in an adult manner the reality of our Baptism and Confirmation, we know deep within our hearts, in that placeless place, that there are daily martyrdoms we are called upon to live in our lives ... simply by following the Commandments, following what the Catholic Church teaches us and calls us to follow.
Think of the major concerns that we have in our Church vis-a-vis our societal ways. Moral issues in the medical field ... they are here every day not just during presidential campaigns. Economic issues in our world: the ever-increasing numbers of poor matched only by the great increases in wealth in an ever-smaller segment of society. In our Church, how do we confront those who feel alienated from the Church? How do we labor to understand why they feel alienated? How can we help bring them back to the Church? Yes, there are many martyrdoms out there if we respond as Stephen did with his words: Yes, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."

The painting is the work of Annibale Carraci. Completed in 1604, it can be seen in the Louvre, Paris, France.