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   Dear children! Today again I call you to become carriers of my peace. In a special way, now when it is being said that God is far away, He has truly never been nearer to you. I call you to renew prayer in your families by reading the Sacred Scripture and to experience joy in meeting with God who infinitely loves His creatures. Thank you for having responded to my call.

For more on Medjugorje, click on MEDJUGORJE AND MORE

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Holy Father emphasizes communitarian nature of pardon and peace

   In his most recent regular weekly Wednesday Papal Audience in St. Peter's Square, Pope John Paul II continued his treatise on reconciliation speaking on Reconciliation with God and others in preparing all in the universal Church for the Jubilee Year 2000 in which we first must reconcile with God, then with each other. For the Pope's words, click on THE VICAR OF CHRIST SPEAKS.

RECONCILIATION WITH GOD AND OTHERS

Papal Audience Address from Wednesday, September 22, 1999

    On this past Wednesday, the Holy Father addressed over 15,000 in St. Peter's Square, continuing his theme of reconciliation for the Jubilee Year 2000 on the importance of "pardon and peace" - pardon from God and peace with others through reconciliation with our brothers and sisters. The Pope points out this charge the Church has always carried out through the Sacrament of Penance and the communitarian nature of forgiveness in being accepted back into the full graces of God and His community on earth.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

1. Continuing our reflection on the Sacrament of Penance, today we want to delve into a dimension that intrinsically characterizes it: reconciliation. This aspect of the sacrament works as an antidote and medicine against the lacerating character proper to sin. In fact, by sinning man not only distances himself from God, but sows seeds of division within himself and in his relationships with his brothers and sisters. The return to God implies therefore a reintegration of the unity jeopardized by sin.

2. Reconciliation is a gift of the Father: He alone can bring it about. Therefore it represents first of all an appeal that comes from on high: "In the name of Christ, be reconciled to God" (2 Cor 5:20). As Jesus explains to us in the parable of the Merciful Father (cf Lk 15:11-32), forgiveness and reconciliation to Himself are a celebration for Him. The Father, here as in other Gospel passages, not only offers forgiveness and reconciliation but at the same time shows how these gifts are sources of joy for everyone.

    The link between divine paternity and the hearty joy of the banquet is significant in the New Testament. The reign of God is compared to a joyous banquet where it is the Father who does the inviting (cf Mt 8:11; 22:4; 26:29). The fulfillment of salvation history is again expressed with images of the feast prepared by God the Father for the marriage of the Lamb (cf Ap 19:6-9).

3. It is precisely in Christ, the spotless Lamb, offered for our sins (cf 1 Pt 1:19; Ap 5:6; 12:11) that the reconciliation that comes from the Father is concentrated. Jesus Christ is not only the One who reconciles, but Reconciliation itself. As St. Paul teaches, our becoming a new creature, renewed by the Spirit, "comes from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and entrusted to us the ministry of reconciliation. In other words, God in Christ was reconciling the world to Himself, not holding men's faults against them, and he has entrusted to us the news that they are reconciled" (2 Cor 5:18-19).

    Precisely through the mystery of the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ the drama of the division existing between man and God is overcome. With Easter, in fact , the mystery of the infinite mercy of the Father penetrates the darkest roots of the iniquity of human beings. There it effects a movement of grace which, if we accept it freely, causes us to relish the sweetness of full reconciliation.

    Christ's abyss of pain and abandonment is in this way transformed into an inextinguishable source of compassionate and peacemaking love. The Redeemer redesigns a way of return to the Father that permits us to experience again the filial relationship that had been lost and confers on human beings the strength necessary to maintain this profound communion with God.

4. Unfortunately, there also exists in redeemed life the possibility of sinning again, and this requires a continual vigilance. Furthermore, even after being forgiven, the "residues of sin" remain, which can be removed and combated by a penitential program of stronger striving for good. It requires in the first place reparation of physical or moral wrongs done to groups or individuals. Thus conversion becomes a permanent way in which the mystery of reconciliation effected in the sacrament acts as both a point of arrival and point of departure.

    The encounter with Christ Who forgives fosters in our hearts the dynamism of trinitarian love that the "Ordo Penitentiae" (Rite of Penance) describes as follows: "Through the sacrament of Penance the Father accepts the penitent son that returns to Him; Christ puts the lost sheep on His shoulders to bring him back to the fold, and the Holy Spirit re-sanctifies His temple or intensifies His presence in it; it signals the renewed and more fervent participation at the Table of the Lord, in the great joy of the banquet that the Church of God prepares to celebrate the return of the prodigal son." (N. 6; cf also NN. 5 and 19).

5. The "Rite of Penance" explains in the formula of absolution the link between pardon and peace, offered by God the Father in the Passover of his Son, and with the "mediation of the minister of the Church" (OP, 46). The Sacrament, while signifying and realizing the gift of reconciliation, makes evident that she does not only look to our relationship with God the Father, but also the relationship with our brothers. These two aspects of reconciliation are intimately connected. The reconciling action of Christ happens in the Church. She is not able to reconcile by herself but as a living instrument of the pardon of Christ, according to the precise mandate of the Lord (cf Jn 20:23; Mt 18:18). This reconciliation in Christ is realized in an outstanding way in the celebration of the sacrament of Penance. However, all of the intimate being of the Church in its communitarian dimension is characterized by the permanent habit of reconciliation.

    A certain individualism in understanding reconciliation must be overcome: the entire Church cooperates in the conversion of sinners, through prayer, exhortation, fraternal correction, and the support of love. Without reconciliation among brothers, love does not take flesh in the individual. As sin tears the fabric of the Body of Christ, so reconciliation recreates solidarity between the members of the People of God.

6. The ancient practice of penance highlighted the communitarian-ecclesiastical aspect of reconciliation, in particular in the final moment of absolution by the Bishop with the readmission of the penitent to the community. The teaching of the Church and penitential discipline promulgated after the Second Vatican Council exhort us to rediscover and again honor the communitarian-ecclesiastical dimension of Reconciliation (cf LG, 11 and also SC, 27), while conserving the doctrine on the need for individual confession.

    In the context of the Grand Jubilee of the Year 2000 it will be important to offer the people of God valid and up-to-date programs of reconciliation which bring about the rediscovery of the communitarian nature, not only of penance, but also of the Father's entire project of salvation for humanity. In this way the teaching of the Constitution "Lumen Gentium" will be realized: "God wanted to sanctify men, not individually and without any connection between them, but by making of them a people that would recognize Him in truth and piously serve Him" (N. 9). (Translation by ZENIT Staff)

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Archbishop of Cordoba Cardinal Raul Francisco Primatesta has always placed formation of priests foremost

   We continue with this special series introducing you to the Princes of the Church. Our one-hundred-third red-hat we feature, in alphabetical order is 80 year-old Cardinal Raul Francisco Primatesta, Archbishop of Cordoba. He was elevated to the cardinalate by Pope Paul VI during the Consistory of March 5, 1973. For more on Cardinal Raul Francisco Primatesta, click on COLLEGE OF CARDINALS COLLECTION

103.   Cardinal Raul Francisco Primatesta

    After of the death of Cardinal Eduardo Pironio last year on February 5th in Rome, Cardinal Raul Francisco Primatesta remains the only cardinal from Argentina. Primatesta was born in the Diocese of Zarate-Campana in the village of Capilla del Senor in Argentina on April 14, 1919. At the age of 15 he entered the seminary in La Plata, and at 18 was sent to the Gregorian University in Rome where he obtained his degrees in Theology and Sacred Scripture. He became a priest on October 25, 1942 at the Church of Il Gesu in Rome and returned to his nativeland of Argentina where he was assigned to the faculty of the minor seminary at La Plata, teaching Greek and Latin. In 1945 he was transferred to the major seminary San Jose de La Plata where he was charged with teaching Dogmatic Theology and Sacred Scripture until he was named Titular Bishop of Tanais and Auxiliary of La Plata on August 15, 1957 by Pope Pius XII. He was installed on June 14, 1957. Throughout his duration of teaching at both seminaries, he placed as his highest priority the quality of the young men and their dedication to upholding their charge as priests as prayerful servants of the Lord. He also wrote numerous articles for several theology reviews.

    On June 12, 1961 Pope John XXIII transferred him to the Diocese of San Rafael as the bishop there and on February 16, 1965 Pope Paul VI made him the Archbishop of Cordoba where he has remained for the past thirty-four years as he nears retirement. On March 5, 1973 he was elevated to the cardinalate during Paul VI's Consistory that year. He received the titular church of the Blessed Mary Sorrowful Virgin. Because of his concentration solely on his diocese over the past three decades he serves participation only in one curial office of the Roman Curia, as a member of the Sacred Congregation for Clergy to which he can add invaluable counsel from his many years of fostering priestly vocations.

    Today is the Feast of Saint Vincent de Paul, priest and religious founder while tomorrow, besides being the Twenty-sixth Tuesday in Ordinary Time is also the Feast of Saint Wenceslaus, ruler and martyr and Saint Lawrence Ruiz, husband, father and martyr along with his companion martyrs in Nagasaki, Japan. For the readings, liturgies, meditations, and vignettes on these feasts, click on DAILY LITURGY.

Monday, September 27, 1999

Monday September 27:
Feast of Saint Vincent de Paul, priest and religious founder

White vestments

First Reading: Zechariah 8: 1-8
Psalms: Psalm 102: 16-23, 29
Gospel Reading: Luke 9: 46-50

SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL, PRIEST AND RELIGIOUS FOUNDER

    Though Saint Vincent de Paul was not a doctor like Saints Cosmas and Damian whose feasts are celebrated the day before, Vincent performed in the same loving, charitable and merciful manner as did the twin saints thirteen centuries before him. Vincent was born in Gascony, France in 1581 into a poor, but holy Catholic family who fostered in him a vocation to the priesthood. Thus at only 19 Vincent became a priest. While enroute to a mission across the sea he was captured by high Moslem sea pirates and spent two years in prison and then sold as a slave in Tunisia. There, through prayer and his example, he was able to convert his master to Christianity and allowed to return to France. While in Paris, his spiritual director Pere Peter de Berulle suggested that he accept the appointment of pastor of a small parish at Clichy just outside of Paris. There he recruited numerous young men to assist him, instilling in them a love for the priesthood. Shortly after he was appointed to serve as the chaplain to a rich family of the French aristocrat where he remained for twelve years. During this time satan tempted him severely, but Vincent persevered and volunteered to minister to sailors and ship-builders in the port cities, remembering his earlier travails on the seas. This association led him to become chaplain to the galley-slaves who were endeared to Vincent because he cared much in the same way as Saint Peter Claver, his Spanish counterpart half way around the world in Columbia at the same period of time. Yet, his apostolate of teaching the catechism and ministering to the poor and peasants of the French countryside became paramount, especially after meeting Saint Francis de Sales and Saint Jane Francis Chantal. It was shortly after this in 1622 that he was appointed superior of her convent of the Visitation in Paris where he remained until his death in 1660. Seeing the needs of the people, Vincent gathered a group of young men to assist him in ministering to the people. This was the beginning of the Vincentians (Congregation of the Mission or Lazarists as they were known in France) which were approved by Pope Urban VIII in 1633. That same year Vincent founded the Daughters of Charity along with Saint Louise Marillac. This order of extern nuns was dedicated to a social agenda of ministering to the poor. To keep the line of priests continuing for the Vincentians, Vincent established numerous seminaries and thus formulating the clergy was added to the mission of the order. Both Louise and Vincent died in 1660, the latter passing away in Paris on September 27 which ultimately became his feast day as proclaimed by Pope Clement XII in 1737 when he officially canonized Vincent. Towards the end of the 19th Century, Pope Leo XIII, a pontiff of great social order conscience, decreed Vincent patron of all charitable works universally. Today, in practically every parish, there is a St. Vincent de Paul Society which dedicate themselves to collecting goods to distribute to the poor or selling them so that the money can be donated to those less fortunate.

Tuesday September 28:
Twenty-sixth Tuesday in Ordinary Time
Feast of Saint Wenceslaus, Ruler and Martyr
Feast of Saint Lawrence Ruiz, Husband, Father and Companions, Martyrs

Green or Red vestments

First Reading: Zechariah 8: 20-23
Psalms: Psalm 87: 1-7 or Zechariah 8: 23
Gospel Reading: Luke 9: 51-56

SAINT WENCESLAUS, RULER AND MARTYR

    Born in 907, Saint Wenceslaus of Prague was the first Slav to be canonized. His canonization was expedited because of his martyrdom at the hands of his brother who was jealous. Their father had died early in their life and they were educated and cared for by their grandmother Saint Ludmilla who also was martyred in a sinister family plot by their own mother who had grown bitter and jealous. At the tender age of 15 Wenceslaus ascended to the throne as king of his country where he ruled with wisdom and concern, stressing God's Will in all things, which angered the pagans of his land who mounted an underground opposition to overthrow him. Even though Wenceslaus knew his mother's heart was not pure, he prayed incessantly for her and would not exile her, hoping she would see the light of God's way. Even though he had all the proof in the world of her involvement in his grandmother's death, he rebuked those who urged him to take revenge with the words, "Why do you want to prevent me from applying the Divine Law of Jesus Christ and to obey His commandments? I reject your advice because I want to serve God with all my heart." A few years later, after Wenceslaus had married and bore a son, the opposition got to his brother Boleslaus who, realizing he was younger and would not be successor to the throne now that Wenceslaus had a heir, became embittered and was easy prey for their machinations. Thus, on September 26 Boleslaus invited Wenceslaus to attend Mass with him in celebrating the feast of Saint Cosmas and Damian. However it was a trap to lure Wenceslaus into a secluded area away from his entourage of guards where Boleslaus struck the holy king on the head from behind with his sword. The blow did not immediately kill Wenceslaus who struggled with his own flesh and blood for his very life as blood flowed profusely from his skull, but though the king was stronger, Boleslaus' accomplices lying in wait behind the pillars emerged and thrust their swords into Wenceslaus' back, felling the holy Slav ruler. Three years later his remains were transfered from the cemetary to the church of St. Vitus in Prague where he was greatly venerated and fifty years later the people were openly celebrating with great pomp and circumstance the feast of St. Wenceslaus for he had been so loved and so promoted the Catholic faith that many conversions had taken place.

SAINT LAWRENCE RUIZ, HUSBAND, FATHER AND COMPANION MARTYRS

    This feast commemorates the first Filipino martyrs Saint Lorenzo Ruiz, a layman and his fifteen companions met their death in Nagasaki in 1637 at the hands of heathen Japanese warriors. Born in China, Lorenzo migrated to the Philippines where he settled in the Chinese section in Manila called Binondo. A father of four children, he was forced to flee with Dominican missionaries, who were enroute to Japan to spread the faith, because he had unjustly been accused of a crime being blackmailed because of his honesty and virtuous life. The companions were composed of all those somehow associated with the Dominicans either as clergy or lay order. Two days after Christmas of 1637 word finally reached Manila that Lorenzo and his Dominican companions had all been slayed. Immediately the people gathered at the church of Santo Domingo to sing a solemn Te Deum in honor of their fallen compadres. These saints were canonized 350 years later by Pope John Paul II during his visit to Manila on October 18, 1987.

    In honor of today's Feast of Saint Vincent de Paul we present a special prayer from My Daily Prayer book:

O God, Who, for the preaching of the Gospel to the poor, and for advancing the honor of the priesthood, didst endow Blessed Vincent with apostolic power; grant, we beseech Thee that we who honor his godly life, may likewise be taught by the example of his virtues. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.

    On this day 459 years ago in 1540 Pope Paul II officially approved the Society of Jesus religious order of priests founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola and others. The Holy Father's Papal Bull Regimini militantis ecclesiae gave solemn recognition to the Company known as Jesuit Fathers with the specific purpose of defending the Faith against Protestantism and to be the vanguard for the Pope. For other pertinent events throughout the centuries that are memorable in Church history today, click on MILLENNIUM MILESTONES AND MEMORIES

Historical Events in Church Annals for September 27:

1540 A.D.


Pope Paul III approves the Society of Jesus Order founded by Saint Ignatius Loyola in 1534, giving solemn recognition with his papal bull Regimini militantis ecclesiae. The Jesuits were founded to protect the Pope and defend the faith in the face of the Protestant revolt.

1590 A.D.


Death of Pope Urban VII, 228th successor of Peter, whose pontificate lasted only 13 days. He was a virtuous and charitable man who undoubtedly would have aligned his government with the Tridentine decrees from the Council of Trent had he not died of malaria shortly after his election. He earmarked all his wealth for the works of charity.

1660 A.D.


Death of Saint Vincent de Paul. For more on this priest and religious founder, see DAILY LITURGY

1700 A.D.


Death of Pope Innocent XII, 242nd successor of Peter who ordered priests to wear the cassock everyday and to make retreats at regular intervals. France's King Louis XIV renounced the Gallican Proposals and Innocent agreed to recognize the bishops nominated by the king. Innocent died at age 85 after a pontificate lasting nine years.

SIMPLY SHEEN:

Clear the beam in our own eye first!

      They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but the words of Bishop Fulton J. Sheen have been known to launch a thousand images in one's mind, one of the ways this late luminary did so much to evangelize the faith. Because of the urgency of the times and because few there are today who possess the wisdom, simplicity and insight than the late Archbishop who touched millions, we are bringing you daily gems from his writings. The good bishop makes it so simple that we have dubbed this daily series: "SIMPLY SHEEN".

"If we are proud, covetous, conceited, selfish, lustful, constantly wanting our own way, it is far better to come face to face with our own ugliness than to live in a fool's paradise. The basis of all criticism of neighbor, the source of false judgments, slander, jealousies and pulling down the reputation of others is our refusal to look into our own soul. "

Finally the long-awaited books "I SOLEMNLY TELL YOU..." and THE HIDDEN WAY are NOW available!

     With the messages completed, you can now order the book that contains ALL the messages. This much-anticipated 224-page book of ALL the messages to the world imparted to the Hidden Flower of the Immaculate Heart from the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary is a lasting gift that will inspire you in your faith, and all God asks of us. You can acquire your own handsome, coffee-table top copy of "I SOLEMNLY TELL YOU..." containing all 632 messages or the THE HIDDEN WAY containing 100 inspirational Meditative Lessons from Our Lord and Our Lady on Church Doctrine by clicking on "I SOLEMNLY TELL YOU..." or THE HIDDEN WAY or both books at BOOKS

Click here to go to SECTION THREE or return to SECTION ONE or click here to return to the graphics front page of this issue.

September 27, 1999 volume 10, no. 183   DAILY CATHOLIC