LITURGY for THURSDAY and FRIDAY - January 6 and January 7
Thursday, January 6, 1998
First Reading: 1 John 4: 19-21; 5: 1-4
Psalms: Psalm 72: 1-2, 10, 12-13
Gospel Reading: Luke 4: 14-22
Blessed Andre Bessette, Religious
Credited with countless cures, Canadian-born Blessed Andre Bessette, a Holy Cross Brother was born
in 1845 into a family of twelve. At the age of twelve he became an orphan when his parents died and helped
care for his brothers and sisters by working in mills and farms in New England before returning to Montreal
in 1870. At the age of 25 he joined the Holy Cross Order as a Lay Brother. Never educated and of poor
health, Andre did not let that deter him from fulfilling God's Will in the simplest of ways. Though he was first
rejected by the Holy Cross Fathers after his novitiate, the Bishop of Montreal intervened and suggested that
he become a lay brother with the Order. For the next 67 years he devoted himself to the menial, but
spiritually rewarding jobs of porter and gardener. Through the grace of God those who came in contact with
this holy man were cured and word quickly spread of his fame. While he was helping build a shrine to Saint
Joseph in Montreal - St. Joseph's Oratory, he contined as porter at the College of Notre Dame in that
Canadian city. For 40 years he held this responsibility until demand was so great for Brother Andre to be at
the shrine that the Holy Cross Order transferred him over there. Millions of pilgrims flooded the shrine with
countless cures physically and spiritually occurring regularly when they came in contact with this holy,
humble man of God. They flocked to him for spiritual direction. He received over 80,000 letters a year and
insisted on corresponding with the people, but could not read or write and so he dictated the letters, many
through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to a plethora of secretaries hired to handle the phenomenal
responses to Blessed Andre. Through word of mouth and devotion, this shrine has since become the most
well-known shrine to the protector of the Blessed Virgin Mary and foster father of Jesus in the world. It was already the best known in North America when Brother Andre succumbed of old age at 92 in 1937. Eighteen years later the Oratory was solemnly dedicated and declared a minor basilica. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1982. For more on this blessed one, we recommend 40th Top Catholic of the Century
Friday, January 7, 1998
Friday January 7: Weekday in the Days of Christmas and
Feast of Saint Raymond of Penyafort, Priest and Religious White vestments
First Reading: 1 John 4: 5: 5-13
Psalms: Psalm 72: 1-2, 14-15, 17
Gospel Reading: Luke 5: 12-16
Feast of Saint Raymond of Penyafort, Priest and Religious
Born at Penyafort in Catalonia, Spain in 1175, Saint Raymond was a scholarly genius, evident by the fact
he was teaching philosophy in Barcelona at the early age of 20. By the time he was 35 he had resigned to
study law at Bologna, Italy where he acquired a doctorate in 1216. Two years later Bishop Berengarius of
Barcelona, proud of Raymond's achievements, made him an archdeacon which led to Raymond's vocation
as a Dominican. The ensuing years brought fame to Raymond for his preaching throughout Spain as he
addressed both Moors and Christians who had been freed from Moorish slavery, an endeavor Raymond
played a pivotal role in from preaching the Spanish crusade which ultimately freed the Spanish slaves.
Along with Saint Peter Nolasco, Raymond cofounded the Mercedarians in 1223, which was a lay order
called the Order of Our Lady of Ransom and whose specific purpose was to raise money to ransom the
Christian slaves. Raymond was St. Peter Nolasco's spiritual director. Raymond became spiritual confessor
to Pope Gregory IX in 1230. It was there in Rome where Raymond was assigned the task of collecting and codifying papal decrees. His massive work, released in 1150, became the cornerstone for canon law. It
was also during this time that he was appointed papal penitentiary which led to his writing Summa casuum
and which would have an influential effect on the penial system throughout Europe during the middle ages.
In 1235 Raymond was consecrated Archbishop of Tarragona, Spain. It was a position he did not want for he
wanted to be with the people and felt as bishop he could not dedicate time to preaching or studies. He
became very ill a year later and requested the Holy Father to rescind his appointment as bishop so he could
return to his beloved Spain where, after recuperating, resumed his preaching duties. Three years later he
was named Master General of the Dominican Order. In this position he wrote a revision of the Dominican
constitution, one that would stand until 1924 and then, at the age of 65, resigned his position with the
Dominicans. Though it was the end of his official titles with the Dominicans it was not the end of his
ministry for he would go on to preach for 35 more years, living to the ripe old age of 99, passing into God's
embrace on January 6, 1275 in Barcelona, just shy of becoming a centarian. In those final years Raymond
not only founded friaries in Tunis and Murcia, introduced the study of Arabic and Hebrew in Dominican
circles to better understand Sacred Scripture and to preach to the non-Christians of the mideast during the
Crusades, but also assisted in establishing the Inquisition in Catalonia, Spain. Raymond was canonized in
1601 by Pope Clement VIII.
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