January 6th, 2007

The Feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord

Readings for the Day:

First Reading: 1 John 5:5-13
Psalm: Psalm 147:12-15, 19-20
Gospel: Mark 1:7-11 or Luke 3:23-38 or Luke 3:23, 31-34, 36, 38

By the very nature of creation, material being is endowed with its own stability, truth and excellence, its own order and laws.

-- Gaudium et spes

Saints of the Day:

My favourite Theologian, Shepherd and Pope, John Paul II was known for the number of Venerables, Blessed and Saints that he recognised during his pontificate. John Paul felt that all members of the Church are called to live a life characterised by Apotheosis - regardless of their being lay people leading ordinary lives. Today, while I was praying my morning office and reading the news, I came across the following story. While the individuals in this article may never be officially recognised as Venerable, Blessed or Saint in the Church, I confer upon them the title μακάριος.

Here is the story, in full, from Yahoo!News:

Two defining characteristics of heroes are that they often risk their own lives almost instinctively, and that they usually think what they've done is no big deal.

Wesley Autrey meets that definition. "I don't feel like I did something spectacular," the 50-year-old construction worker told The New York Times after he jumped into the path of a New York City subway train Tuesday to rescue a 20-year-old student who had had a seizure and fallen onto the tracks. "I just saw someone who needed help. I did what I felt was right."

The nation is rightly celebrating Autrey's remarkably selfless act: As his two little daughters looked on in horror from the platform above, he wrestled the student off the rails and then tucked him into a shallow trough between the tracks as the oncoming train passed inches above their heads. Then Autrey yelled to onlookers to reassure his girls that he was OK.

Many others on the platform had the same chance to act, but it was hardly surprising that none of them jumped in front of a train to try to save a stranger. What's remarkable, and inspiring, is how often someone unexpectedly emerges from the crowd to demonstrate astonishing courage.

Think of Lenny Skutnik, a 28-year-old federal worker who swam out into the ice-choked Potomac River in January 1982 to save a drowning woman when an Air Florida jet crashed shortly after takeoff. "I couldn't just stand there and do nothing to help," Skutnik said later.

Think of Michael Monsoor and Ross McGinnis, who might have said something similarly self-effacing after what they did, but we'll never know. Both died.

Monsoor, a Navy SEAL, was 25 last September when an Iraqi grenade hit him in the chest inside the sniper hideout where he and four other SEALs were concealed. Monsoor threw himself on the grenade and saved his buddies.

Army Pfc. McGinnis was just 19 last month when an Iraqi insurgent threw a grenade into the Humvee that carried him and four other soldiers. McGinnis dove backwards onto the grenade and absorbed the blast, saving the others.

Autrey, Skutnik, Monsoor, McGinnis and others like them deserve our deepest admiration and gratitude, not just for saving the lives they did, but also for displaying extraordinary sparks of nobility that remind us of the heroic side of human nature.

These individuals deserve the title Makarios because they completely and selflessly followed the teachings of Jesus in John 15:

My Father's glory is shown by your bearing much fruit; and in this way you become my disciples. I love you just as the Father loves me; remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that your joy may be complete. My commandment is this: love one another, just as I love you. The greatest love you can have for your friends is to give your life for them.

These Makarioi did what they knew to be right, even though it might (and in two cases did) cost them thier lives; may their names and memories be forever praised.

This week's Lectio Divina.

January 3rd, 2007

This week's Lectio Divina (from the Carmelite Site).

The Memorial of the Holy Name of Jesus (as celebrated according to the General Roman Calendar).

El Greco's Adoration of the Holy Name of Jesus 1578/9

This memorial is celebrated today on the General Roman Calendar, but on the 14th of January according to the Franciscan and Carmelite calendars. More about this feast from the Catholic Encyclopedia and Wikipedia.

Catholic News Headlines

The Vatican has once again reaffirmed its stance on the Death Penalty. Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, stated the following on Saturday, December 30th, the day that Saddam Hussein was executed by hanging:

A capital execution is always tragic news... reasons for sadness, even if it is about a person who has been guilty of grave crimes. To kill the guilty one is not the way to rebuild justice and to reconcile society. The risk also exists that, on the contrary, the spirit of vengeance will be fueled and new violence be sown. In this dark time of the life of the Iraqi people one cannot but hope that all those responsible will make every effort so that in a dramatic situation channels of reconciliation and peace will finally be opened.

from EWTN.com, and Zenit.org #ZE07010107.

Cardinal Giovanni Cheli, who served from 1978 to 1986 by appointment of Pope John Paul I as the Holy See’s permanent observer at UN headquarters in New York, is supporting a proposal by his successor, Cardinal Renato Martino, which calls for an international moratorium on the death penalty. Cardinal Martino is known as "the Vatican’s most outspoken critic of the death penalty" (a title to be proud of!).

from EWTN.com .

Pope Benedict XVI stated in his public statement on January 1st, The Solemnity of Mary Mother of God:

Today we contemplate Jesus, born of the Virgin Mary, in His attribute of true 'Prince of Peace.' He 'is our peace,' Who came to break down the wall that divides men and peoples, in other words 'hostility'... it was Paul VI who wished "that the year should begin under the protection of Most Holy Mary, venerated as the Mother of God" and that January 1 "should mark the World Day of Peace, so that each year may start in the light of Christ, the great pacifier of humanity...
Today, I renew my hope for peace to the governors and leaders of nations and of international organizations, and to all men and women of good will. I do so particularly with the special Message that I prepared together with my collaborators in the Pontifical Council of Justice and Peace and that has as its theme this year: 'The Human Person, the Heart of Peace'.
That Message, touches upon an essential point: the value of the human person, who is the column that supports the entire grand edifice of peace. Today there is much talk of human rights, but it is often forgotten that they need a foundation that is firm, not relative or subjective. This foundation can only be the dignity of the person. And respect for this dignity begins with the recognition and protection of people's right to live and profess their own religion freely.
...To the Holy Mother of God we trustingly address our prayer that sacred respect for all human beings and the firm refusal of war and violence may develop in people's consciences. Help us, Mary, you who brought Jesus into the world, to welcome from Him the gift of peace and to be sincere and courageous builders of peace.

Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver has protested that international officials are ignoring the suffering of Christians in Iraq. In the Washington Times, Archbishop Chaput observed that the Christian minority in Iraq has endured “a disproportionate burden of violent attacks and other human-rights abuses.” The archbishop co-authored the Times essay along with Felice Gaer, who chairs the US Commission on International Religious Freedom.
The Times column observed that religious minorities in Iraq are being subjected to intimidation by extremist Muslim groups, who have attacked their churches, shops, and homes. As a result many Christians have fled the country. The archbishop noted that while Christians constitute only 3% of the Iraqi population, they account for 40% of the refugees leaving the country.
The plight of these Christian refugees is aggravated, Archbishop Chaput and Gaer continued, because the UN has not yet recognized them as constituting a class of refugees in special need of protection and aid.

It should be noted also that the persecution of Christians in Iraq only began after the US invasion in March 2003.