Daily Reading, September 8

Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary 

 

Mi 5:1-4a

The LORD says:

AND THOU, BETHLEHEM Ephrata,
art a little one among the thousands of Juda:
out of thee shall he come forth unto me
that is to be the ruler in Israel:
and his going forth is from the beginning,
from the days of eternity.
Therefore will he give them up
even till the time wherein she that travaileth shall bring forth:
and the remnant of his brethren
shall be converted to the children of Israel.
And he shall stand, and feed in the strength of the Lord,
in the height of the name of the Lord his God:
and they shall be converted, for now shall he be magnified
even to the ends of the earth.
And this man shall be our peace.

Or:

Rom 8:28-30

Brethren:

And we know that to them that love God, all things work together unto good, to such as, according to his purpose, are called to be saints. For whom he foreknew, he also predestinated to be made conformable to the image of his Son; that he might be the firstborn amongst many brethren. And whom he predestinated, them he also called. And whom he called, them he also justified. And whom he justified, them he also glorified.

Ps 13:6ab, 6c

With delight I rejoice in the Lord.

But I have trusted in thy mercy.
My heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.

With delight I rejoice in the Lord.

I will sing to the Lord, who giveth me good things.

With delight I rejoice in the Lord.

Mt 1:1-16, 18-23

The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham:

Abraham begot Isaac.

And Isaac begot Jacob.

And Jacob begot Judas and his brethren.

And Judas begot Phares and Zara of Thamar.

And Phares begot Esron.

And Esron begot Aram.

And Aram begot Aminadab.

And Aminadab begot Naasson.

And Naasson begot Salmon.

And Salmon begot Booz of Rahab.

And Booz begot Obed of Ruth.

And Obed begot Jesse.

And Jesse begot David the king.

And David the king begot Solomon, of her that had been the wife of Urias.

And Solomon begot Roboam.

And Roboam begot Abia.

And Abia begot Asa.

And Asa begot Josaphat.

And Josaphat begot Joram.

And Joram begot Ozias.

And Ozias begot Joatham.

And Joatham begot Achaz.

And Achaz begot Ezechias.

And Ezechias begot Manasses.

And Manasses begot Amon.

And Amon begot Josias.

And Josias begot Jechonias and his brethren in the transmigration of Babylon.

And after the transmigration of Babylon, Jechonias begot Salathiel.

And Salathiel begot Zorobabel.

And Zorobabel begot Abiud.

And Abiud begot Eliacim.

And Eliacim begot Azor.

And Azor begot Sadoc.

And Sadoc begot Achim.

And Achim begot Eliud.

And Eliud begot Eleazar.

And Eleazar begot Mathan.

And Mathan begot Jacob.

And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary,

of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

Now the generation of Christ was in this wise. When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child, of the Holy Ghost. Whereupon Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing publicly to expose her, was minded to put her away privately. But while he thought on these things, behold the angel of the Lord appeared to him in his sleep, saying: Joseph, son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her, is of the Holy Ghost.

Or:

Mt 1:18-23

Now the generation of Christ was in this wise. When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child, of the Holy Ghost. Whereupon Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing publicly to expose her, was minded to put her away privately. But while he thought on these things, behold the angel of the Lord appeared to him in his sleep, saying: Joseph, son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her, is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son: and thou shalt call his name JESUS. For he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which the Lord spoke by the prophet, saying: Behold a virgin shall be with child, and bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

German court rejects challenge to eurozone bailouts

In a move likely to relieve financial markets, the German Constitutional Court has approved Eurozone bailouts. Now they just have to work- good luck with that.

And technocrats shall rule the world: the hideously soulless office building that houses the German high court

Ten dead in New Delhi bomb blast outside high court

Death toll likely to rise; around 60 injured; terrorists still not conclusively identified; Harkat-ul-Jihad Islami claims responsibility in email; bomb believed to have been left in briefcase

Zenit: Cardinal Bertone: Solidarity Is Everyone's Responsibility

With Italy's governmental debate on austerity measures leading to a nation-wide strike today, Benedict XVI's secretary of state has recalled that solidarity is the responsibility of individuals and the state.

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone addressed the Christian Associations of Italian Workers (ACLI) on Friday from the papal summer residence of Castel Gandolfo, as today's strike had already been called by Italy's biggest workers' union.

Cardinal Bertone framed the debate on employment in the context of human dignity and justice, saying that access to steady work is a priority.

"The common good, fraternity, sharing -- all belong to the profound dimension of being and of man, which also gives meaning to work, as well as to the whole of society," he said.

[. . .]

"Solidarity, above all, is to feel responsible for all and, therefore, it cannot be delegated to the state alone," he affirmed.

"A civilized economy cannot neglect the social value of an enterprise and a corresponding responsibility toward workers' families, society and the environment," Cardinal Bertone stressed. Social rights, in fact, "are an integral part of substantial democracy and the commitment to respect them cannot depend merely on how the stock market is doing."

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone

Catholic World News: Cardinal Schönborn plans no disciplinary action against dissident priests

Quoted without comment:

Although about 400 Austrian priests have now joined in a call for open disobedience of Church authority, Vienna’s Cardinal Christoph Schönborn does not perceive a major crisis, a spokesman has reported.

[. . .]

In July, Cardinal Schönborn said that he was shocked by the open defiance expressed by the Priests’ Initiative, which has encouraged pastors to defy Church rules on issues ranging from homosexuality and female priests to the reception of Communion by divorced and remarried Catholics. But—contrary to several media reports—the cardinal has not threatened disciplinary action against the dissident priests. "There has been no discussion of sanctions, no ultimatum, no talk of punishment," Pruller said.

Cardinal Christoph Schönborn; papabile?

Catholic News Agency: Indian bishop tells Catholics to remain peaceful despite church attack

Masked vandals attacked and desecrated a Catholic church in the Indian state of Kerala on September 4, according to a local bishop who has encouraged the faithful not to retaliate.

"We will act according to the law,” Bishop Stanley Roman of Quilon told Fides news agency. “We have reported the incident to the police, we are confident in the work of the police and hope that they can identify the culprits and bring them to justice as soon as possible.”

In the meantime, Bishop Roman has urged parishioners of South Kerala's Church of Our Lady of Vailankanni “not to react, to endure violence and persecution with patience.”

[. . .]

Kerala is demographically unique among Indian states, with Christians – who represent less than 2.5 percent of India's overall population –  making up more than 20 percent of its local population. Muslims account for another quarter of the people, while the remaining majority are Hindus.

Bishop Roman says the churches in Kerala “will continue our pastoral work, (spreading) the message of Christ through the joyful witness of the Gospel and serving others.”

Bishop Stanley Roman of Quilon, India

Catholic World News: 20 masked men desecrate Kerala parish

Yet another church attacked in India:

Twenty masked men destroyed the altar, confessionals, and vestments in a parish in the southwestern Indian state of Kerala on the evening of September 4.

Vatican Radio: Abp. Kaigama of Jos, Nigeria: Religion not root cause of violence

Fifty have been killed in the latest wave of intercommunal violence between Christians and Muslims in Plateau State, Nigeria. Archbishop Ignatius Ayau Kaigama of Jos, Nigeria, in an interview with Vatican Radio, offers some background, locating the source of the source of the bloodshed more in a battle for resources than of religion: it is a struggle between competing tribes that is primarily over who controls fertile farmland and who gets to wield political power. “It is very convenient for those in authority to say that the whole crisis is about religion. Christians, Muslims are fighting. Yes, I don’t deny that. There is tension in that regard. But then, the factors that are fueling that crisis are not certainly only religions. There are many deep-seated root causes that have to be dug out and probably solutions found. This is not done.” Hear the entire interview here.

Archbishop Kaigama made a similar point in a January 2010 interview with Aid to the Church in Need, saying:

“It is unfortunate when religion is being used to camouflage the real problems. Religion is a tool being used by politicians who have ulterior motives.

“They have not been able to resolve who are indigenous to the area and who are settlers. You need to find the best way to relate to these groups. Many are very restive. This needs to be addressed politically and socially.”

From the Office of Readings for Sept. 7: Portion of a sermon by St Bernard of Clairvaux

On the stages of contemplation

Let us take our stand on the tower, leaning with all our strength on Christ, the most solid rock, as it is written: He has set my feet on a rock, he has guided my steps. Thus firmly established, let us begin to contemplate, to see what he is saying to us and what reply we ought to make to him.
 
The first stage of contemplation, my dear brothers, is to consider constantly what God wants, what is pleasing to him, and what is acceptable in his eyes. We all offend in many things; our strength cannot match the rightness of God’s will and cannot be joined to it or made to fit with it. So let us humble ourselves under the powerful hand of the most high God and make an effort to show ourselves unworthy before his merciful gaze, saying Heal me, Lord, and I shall be healed; save me and I shall be saved. And again, Lord, have mercy on me; heal my soul because I have sinned against you.
 
Once the eye of the soul has been purified by such considerations, we no longer abide within our spirit in a sense of sorrow, but abide rather in the Spirit of God with great delight. No longer do we consider what is the will of God for us, but rather what it is in itself.
 
For our life is in his will. Thus we are convinced that what is according to his will is in every way better for us, and more fitting. And so, if we are concerned to preserve the life of our soul, we must be equally concerned to deviate as little as possible from his will.
 
Thus having made some progress in our spiritual exercise under the guidance of the Spirit who gazes into the deep things of God, let us reflect how gracious the Lord is and how good he is in himself. Let us join the Prophet in praying that we may see the Lord’s will and frequent not our own hearts but the Lord’s temple; and let us also say, My soul is humbled within me, therefore I shall be mindful of you.
 
These two stages sum up the whole of the spiritual life: when we contemplate ourselves we are troubled, and our sadness saves us and brings us to contemplate God; that contemplation in turn gives us the consolation of the joy of the Holy Spirit. Contemplating ourselves brings fear and humility; contemplating God brings us hope and love.

St. Bernard of Clairvaux; from a mosaic at the Cistercian abbey of Our Lady of Dallas

Saint of the Day, September 7: Bl. Frederick Ozanam

Bl. Frederick Ozanam (1813-1853): Frederick was born in Italy but raised in France. When he was eighteen, he published his first book, a refutation of socialism, and he went to Paris to study law. There he founded the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. After earning doctorates in both law and literature, he married and became a parent.

Bl. Frederick Ozanam

Daily Reading, September 7

Col 3:1-11

Brethren:

Therefore, if you be risen with Christ, seek the things that are above; where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God: Mind the things that are above, not the things that are upon the earth. For you are dead; and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ shall appear, who is your life, then you also shall appear with him in glory.

Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, lust, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is the service of idols. For which things the wrath of God cometh upon the children of unbelief, In which you also walked some time, when you lived in them. But now put you also all away: anger, indignation, malice, blasphemy, filthy speech out of your mouth. Lie not one to another: stripping yourselves of the old man with his deeds, And putting on the new, him who is renewed unto knowledge, according to the image of him that created him. Where there is neither Gentile nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian nor Scythian, bond nor free. But Christ is all, and in all.

Ps 145:2-3, 10-11, 12-13ab

The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.

Every day I will bless thee:
and I will praise thy name for ever; yea, for ever and ever.
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised:
and of his greatness there is no end.

The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.

Let all thy works, O lord, praise thee:
and let thy saints bless thee.
They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom:
and shall tell of thy power

The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.

To make thy might known to the sons of men:
and the glory of the magnificence of thy kingdom.
Thy kingdom is a kingdom of all ages:
and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.

The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.

Lk 6:20-26

And he, lifting up his eyes on his disciples, said:

Blessed are ye poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.

Blessed are ye that hunger now:
for you shall be filled.

Blessed are ye that weep now:
for you shall laugh.

Blessed shall you be when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Be glad in that day and rejoice; for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For according to these things did their fathers to the prophets.

But woe to you that are rich:
for you have your consolation.

Woe to you that are filled:
for you shall hunger.

Woe to you that now laugh:
for you shall mourn and weep.

Woe to you when men shall bless you: for according to these things did their fathers to the false prophets.

AsiaNews: Fourteen years after her death, Mother Teresa still teaching India about human dignity

“Each day, ten people die in Khaligat. They die in dignity, smiling, touched by the love of Christ Mother Teresa and the missionaries brought them,” Sister Alex said. She is a Missionary of Charity working in Nirmal Hriday (house of pure heart). She remembers the nun from Kolkata, who was beatified by John Paul II in 2003, on the day of her liturgical memory, which is also the day of her death.

Today, around her grave at the headquarters of the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata, Christian, Hindu, Muslim and Jain religious leaders gathered to pray. The topic of the service was “Love, as I have loved”.

[. . .]

For Fr Cedric Prakash, director of Prashant, a Jesuit centre for human rights, justice and peace based in Ahmendabad, Mother Teresa “represents a challenge for each of us”. Her work is also a lesson that can be used in the fight against corruption.

In the past few months, the Indian government has introduced anti-corruption legislation in parliament, which led Anna Hazare to adopt a Gandhian strategy of resistance. His repeated hunger strikes successfully blocked the bill before lawmakers, which gives him hope that his proposal might be examined.

“India needs the values Mother Teresa stood for, nurtured and born witness to in all her life,” Fr Prakash said.

AsiaNews: Bani Walid surrenders

AsiaNews is reporting that  National Transitional Council (NTC) forces have entered the town of Bani Walid, Libya, without a fight, in a reversal of yesterday's reports that talks between town leaders and the NTC had broken down. The report also highlights rumors that Muammar Gaddafi might have fled Libya for Niger:

A military source in Niger reported that '"persistent rumours speak of the presence of Moammar Gaddafi or one of his sons in the convoy" of more than 200 heavily armed military vehicles, which passed overnight from Libya into Agadez, in central Niger. The convoy, according to local press sources, is directed towards the capital Niamey.

Zenit: Dublin Archbishop: Polemics Don't Protect Children

The archbishop of Dublin is calling for all sides to work together in providing a safe environment for children, and to drop the polemics.

Archbishop Diarmuid Martin said this in a statement released Saturday after the Holy See issued its response to the Cloyne Report, which was published in July.

[. . .]

Archbishop Martin praised the Vatican response for being "detailed and comprehensive," and for addressing the "broader questions of Church policy on child safeguarding."

"My hope is that it will be understood and received as such and not be an occasion just for added polemics," he said. "Polemics really do very little for the protection of children and the support of survivors."

Archbishop Diarmuid Martin

Zenit: UK Remembers Pope's Visit, Acts on His Message

For three days in mid-September, the Catholic faithful of the United Kingdom will join together to not only commemorate the first anniversary of Benedict XVI's historical visit to their homeland, but to share with each other how his visit has affected their lives and deepened their faith.

In an interview with ZENIT, Clare Ward, the Home Mission Advisor for the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, describes the festivities that will be taking place, beginning Friday, Sept. 16, through Sunday, Sept. 18. She also conveys some inspiring stories others have shared with her, regarding how their lives have changes since the Pope's visit last year.

Photo: PA;Pope Benedict XVI greeting young people outside Westminster Cathedral, London.

Catholic News Service: The Vatican and 9/11: Commitment to dialogue, cooperation set the tone

CNS reports on the Vatican's response to the 9-11 terrorist attacks:

The Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States horrified the pope and Vatican officials, who unequivocally condemned terrorism and offered prayers for the dead, the survivors and the rescue workers.

The attacks shook the world but did not destroy the commitment to dialogue and cooperation of Catholic and Muslim leaders in interreligious relations.

[. . .]

After the attacks, Pope John Paul II immediately sent a telegram to President George W. Bush, and the pope spoke about the tragedy at his general audience the next day, saying: "Yesterday was a dark day in the history of humanity, a terrible affront to human dignity."

"Even if the forces of darkness appear to prevail," he said at the audience, "those who believe in God know that evil and death do not have the final say. Christian hope is based on this truth; at this time our prayerful trust draws strength from it."

[. . .]

Two months after the attacks, then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was interviewed by Vatican Radio and asked what his first reflections about 9/11 would have been. He said he might have pointed out that "religion here is being abused for other ends; it has been politicized and made a factor of power."

"On the other hand, perhaps I would have spoken more about the need to know God's human face. If we see Christ's face, our Lord who suffers for us and showed how much he loved us in dying for us, we have a vision of God that excludes all forms of violence," the cardinal answered.

As pope, he visited ground zero in New York in 2008 and recited a special prayer he wrote to mark the occasion.

He prayed, "God of peace, bring your peace to our violent world: peace in the hearts of all men and women and peace among the nations of the earth. Turn to your way of love those whose hearts and minds are consumed with hatred."

Catholic World News: Priest slain in Colombia

In sad news, CWN reports on the murder of yet another priest, this time in Columbia. Father Jose Reinel Restrepo Idárraga, 36, was shot twice in the chest in Marmato, Columbia. From a Fides report it appears that he was murdered for his motorcycle, which was stolen by his assailants; other personal effects were taken from him, as well, the exact nature of which are unspecified.  The motorcycle was later found by police, who are working to confirm the exact motive for his murder and to arrest those responsible.

Catholic World News: Analysis- Vatican issues strong response to Irish criticism

Catholic World News prints a solid, unsigned article analyzing the content of the Holy See's formal response to the Cloyne report, as well as press and government reactions to it. In part:

The Vatican’s 15-page report, officially presented to Irish officials both in Dublin and in Rome, indicated that the Holy See is “ashamed for the terrible sufferings which the victims of abuse and their families have had to endure within the Church of Jesus Christ, a place where this should never happen.” That suffering, the document observed, was attributable to “grave failures in the ecclesiastical governance of the diocese.”

However, in measured yet clear diplomatic language, the Vatican expressed clear unhappiness over public statements by Irish Taoiseach (prime minister) Enda Kenny and other government officials who had suggested that the Vatican had interfered with efforts to address the abuse scandal.

For example, regarding a much-discussed 1997 message from the Congregation for the Clergy, expressing concerns about policies proposed by the Irish hierarchy, the Vatican response pointed out that the message was a response to a request for guidance from the Irish bishops: “The congregation offered advice to the bishops with a view to ensuring that the measures which they intended to apply would prove effective and unproblematic from a canonical perspective.” The Vatican had never rejected the Irish bishops’ policies, the response noted, because in fact the Irish hierarchy had never submitted those policies for approval. Moreover, individual bishops were free to implement those policies within their own dioceses, as their own discretion.

In stronger terms the Holy See rejected suggestions that the Vatican had encouraged Irish bishops to frustrate law-enforcement investigations.

[. . .]

Although the statement was couched in respectful and even conciliatory language, the content clearly conveyed the dismay of Vatican officials over the angry denunciations that government leaders had directed at Rome. An Irish Times report conveyed the force of the Vatican’s careful response to Kenny’s highly public criticism: “Rarely in the field of diplomatic exchanges has a taoiseach received so loud a raspberry from such a moral high ground.” An editorial in the Irish Catholic observed that the response, with its call for a clarification of the Irish leader’s remarks, was an embarrassment to Kenny and his government, since it exposed the fact that Kenny had no factual basis for his tirade against Rome. Commentator David Quinn made a similar point in a Vatican Radio interview, pointing out that although they charged the Vatican had encouraged violation of Irish laws, Kenny and his allies could not point to any law that had been undermined.

[. . .]

Government leaders, meanwhile, refused to temper their criticism in the light of the Vatican response. A spokesman for Enda Kenny indicated that the Taoiseach was not likely to retract or even amend his public criticism of the Holy See.

In more extended remarks, foreign minister Eamon Gilmore said that the Vatican response was a promising start to a needed dialogue, and said that he hoped to “build on this.” But he objected to the “very technical and legalistic” nature of the Vatican’s point-by-point response.

Clearly indicating that the Irish government hopes to capitalize on public outrage without delving into the details of alleged Vatican involvement, Gilmore said that sexual abuse is “such a heinous and reprehensible crime, that issues about the precise status of documents should not be allowed to obscure the obligation of people in positions of responsibility to deal promptly with such abuse and report it.”

Catholic News Agency: Heroic New York priests vividly recall Sept. 11 attacks

Catholic News Agency profiles two New York City priests who worked with emergency personnel following the 9-11 attacks.

Fr. Gerald Murray of St. Vincent De Paul Church remembers going to the roof of his rectory in Chelsea when he saw the second plane hit the World Trade Center.

“It was quite dramatic,” he recalled, momentarily stunned by what he saw that morning 10 years ago.

His next move, however, was surprising.

Rather than follow the natural instinct to run away from danger, he grabbed his bike and rode in the direction of the inflamed towers “so that I could be of use as a priest giving last rites,” he told CNA.

[. . .]

Having served as a Navy Reserve chaplain, Fr. Murray explained that he was taught that the “chaplain doesn't go to the battle line, he goes where they bring the wounded – the aid station.”

“Immediately I saw the priest at St. Vincent's and I said 'could you use some help?' and he said 'yes' so I stayed at St. Vincent's the whole morning and gave absolution to people who were being wheeled in.”

[. . .]

Both priests remember being moved at how the local community mobilized immediately after the tragedy hit.

“The city really snapped into action,” Fr. Murray said, noting that then-mayor Rudy Guliani came by that morning to St. Vincent's Hospital. He also remembered “a lot of people milling around St. Vincent's.”

“It was very inspiring – people lined up to give blood and it was very moving.”

Fr. Rutler agreed, saying there “was a  most remarkable display of cooperation. New Yorkers are at their best in crisis.”

From the Office of Readings for Sept. 6: A sermon by St Bernard

I shall stand upon my watch-tower to see what the Lord will say to me

We read in the gospel that when the Lord was teaching his disciples and urged them to share in his passion by the mystery of eating his body, some said: This is a hard saying, and from that time they no longer followed him. When he asked the disciples whether they also wished to go away, they replied: Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
 
I assure you, my brothers, that even to this day it is clear to some that the words which Jesus speaks are spirit and life, and for this reason they follow him. To others these words seem hard, and so they look elsewhere for some pathetic consolation. Yet wisdom cries out in the streets, in the broad and spacious way that leads to death, to call back those who take this path. Finally, he says: For forty years I have been close to this generation, and I said: They have always been faint-hearted. You also read in another psalm: God has spoken once. Once, indeed, because for ever. His is a single, uninterrupted utterance, because it is continuous and unending.

 
He calls upon sinners to return to their true spirit and rebukes them when their hearts have gone astray, for it is in the true heart that he dwells and there he speaks, fulfilling what he taught through the prophet: Speak to the heart of Jerusalem. You see, my brothers, how the prophet admonishes us for our advantage: If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. You can read almost the same words in the gospel and in the prophet. For in the gospel the Lord says: My sheep hear my voice. And in the psalm blessed David says: You are his people (meaning, of course, the Lord’s) and the sheep of his pasture. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
 
Hear also the prophet Habakkuk in today’s reading. Far from hiding the Lord’s reprimands, he dwells on them with attentive and anxious care. He says: I will stand upon my watch-tower and take up my post on the ramparts, keeping watch to see what he will say to me and what answer I will make to those who try to confute me. I beg you, my brothers, stand upon our watch-tower, for now is the time for battle. Let all our dealings be in the heart, where Christ dwells, in right judgement and wise counsel, but in such a way as to place no confidence in those dealings, nor rely upon our fragile defences.

St. Bernard of Clairvaux; from a mosaic at the Cistercian abbey of Our Lady of Dallas

Saint of the Day, September 6: Bl. Claudio Granzotto

Bl. Claudio Granzotto (1900-1947): Claudio was drafted into the Italian army at fifteen, where he served for three years. His artistic abilities, especially in sculpture, led to a degree with honors from the Venice Academy of Fine Arts. Six years later, he entered the Order of Friars Minor. He was known for his life of prayer, his work with the poor, and his artistic skill.

Bl. Claudio Granzotto

Daily Reading, September 6

Col 2:6-15
 
Brethren:

As therefore you have received Jesus Christ the Lord, walk ye in him; Rooted and built up in him, and confirmed in the faith, as also you have learned, abounding in him in thanksgiving.

Beware lest any man cheat you by philosophy, and vain deceit; according to the tradition of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ.

For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead corporeally; And you are filled in him, who is the head of all principality and power.

In whom also you are circumcised with circumcision not made by hand, in despoiling of the body of the flesh, but in the circumcision of Christ:  Buried with him in baptism, in whom also you are risen again by the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him up from the dead. And you, when you were dead in your sins, and the uncircumcision of your flesh; he hath quickened together with him, forgiving you all offences: Blotting out the handwriting of the decree that was against us, which was contrary to us.

And he hath taken the same out of the way, fastening it to the cross: And despoiling the principalities and powers, he hath exposed them confidently in open shew, triumphing over them in himself.

Ps 145:1b-2, 8-9, 10-11

The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.

I will extol thee, O God my king:
and I will bless thy name for ever; yea, for ever and ever.
Every day I will bless thee:
and I will praise thy name for ever; yea, for ever and ever.

The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.

The Lord is gracious and merciful:
patient and plenteous in mercy.
The Lord is sweet to all:
and his tender mercies are over all his works.

The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.

Let all thy works, O lord, praise thee:
and let thy saints bless thee.
They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom:
and shall tell of thy power

The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.

Lk 6:12-19

And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and he passed the whole night in the prayer of God. And when day was come, he called unto him his disciples; and he chose twelve of them (whom also he named apostles). Simon, whom he surnamed Peter, and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alpheus, and Simon who is called Zelotes, And Jude, the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, who was the traitor.

And coming down with them, he stood in a plain place, and the company of his disciples, and a very great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and the sea coast both of Tyre and Sidon, Who were come to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases. And they that were troubled with unclean spirits, were cured. And all the multitude sought to touch him, for virtue went out from him, and healed all.

BBC: Libya conflict- Bani Walid siege talks 'have failed'

Gaddafi loyalists refuse to surrender in Bani Walid; negotiators hand matter over to rebel military; attack imminent.

Bani Walid, Libya

Zenit: Indian Christians Welcome Court Decision on '08 Violence

Christians in the state of Orissa are welcoming a Monday high court decision mandating the National Human Rights Commission to draw up a status report on efforts to compensate victims of anti-Christian violence.

[. . .]

UCANews reported that Bipra Charan Nayak, convener of the Survivors Association of Kandhamal Violence, said, "We welcome the court order as it could help restore things to what they were before the violence began."

The court decision was a response to a petition filed by retired Archbishop Raphael Cheenath of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar.

The commission is to draw up the report within six weeks.

Church destroyed by arson, Orissa, India, 2008

Zenit: Vietnamese Parents Beg Prayers After Arrest of 15 Youths

Say Their Only "Crime" Is Promoting Common Good

Vietnamese authorities arrested 15 Catholic youths in July and August, six of whom are being held in Hanoi, while the whereabouts of the other nine is unknown.

Their families launched an appeal for solidarity in an open letter in which they ask for the active support and prayer of the whole Church, the Eglises d'Asie agency of the Foreign Missions of Paris reported Thursday.

The families say their children are innocent of any crime, and that they should not be punished for involvement in social activities that promote the common good.

Notre Dame Cathedral, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Catholic News Agency: Investigators release report on Kansas City diocese’s response to sexual misconduct

An independent investigation has issued its report into how Bishop Robert W. Finn and the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph mishandled claims of sexual misconduct and how the diocese may improve its response to such allegations.

“Our investigation identified shortcomings, inaction and confusing procedures, but we believe Bishop Finn and the leadership of the diocese understand the gravity of the issues and take these recommendations seriously,” said Todd P. Graves, the former U.S. Attorney who led the investigation.

The 141-page report, dated Aug. 31, found four shortcomings: the diocese’s gatekeeping function for addressing abuse was consolidated into a single administrative office; there was a failure to follow diocesan policy in a timely manner; officials relied on limited professional judgments rather than the diocese’s Independent Review Board; and the bishop misplaced trust in Fr. Shawn Ratigan’s agreement to comply with restrictions.

Fr. Ratigan, former pastor of St. Patrick Church, was arrested May 19, 2011 and charged with possessing child pornography.

Bishop Robert Finn, Kansas City

Catholic News Agency: Pope stresses need for ‘fraternal correction’ in Christian life

Correcting the behavior of those gone astray is an essential part of Christian life, said Pope Benedict XVI in his Sunday Angelus address Sept. 4.

“This approach is called fraternal correction: it is not a reaction to injury suffered, but is moved by love for one’s brother,” said the Pope to pilgrims gathered at his summer residence of Castel Gandolfo.

The Pope made his comments in the light of today’s Gospel in which Jesus suggests that “if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone.”

The text of the Gospel “tells us that brotherly love also involves a sense of mutual responsibility,” said the Pope, “so if my brother sins against me, I must use love towards him and, first of all, speak to him personally, pointing out that what he has said or done is not good.”

Catholic News Agency: Making a difference: Volunteers offer the gift of service

The impact that volunteers make throughout the diocese and globally is endless. Answering a selfless calling of faith, individuals see summer service as an opportunity to build stronger communities, offer Christ-like compassion and change lives.

Jamie Chapman grew up volunteering in her hometown of Dacula, Georgia. The Portsmouth Abbey School student had always seen service as something simple, something she did to help people and the community, but a recent 10-day summer service trip to Lourdes, France changed the simplicity of the act.

“Volunteering in Lourdes has been the most humbling experience of my life,” the 17-year-old explained. “I volunteered to help the Hospital Pilgrims, but I feel as though they helped me on a much deeper level.”

After her conversion to Catholicism in 2009, Chapman found her new faith somewhat overwhelming. She felt called to pursue her faith by volunteering in France this summer for the Ampleforth Lourdes Hospitalite.

“I decided to volunteer in Lourdes to better understand what faith really means,” she said. “I needed to understand what these people had found in Lourdes that drove them so close to God, to be so reverent in their own faith.”

Chapman shared that volunteering has had a tremendous impact on her faith.

Catholic News Agency: New Yorkers wonder if US heard spiritual 'wake-up call' of 9/11

When Robert Harding saw the World Trade Center collapse four blocks from his Manhattan loft on September 11, 2001, he felt God calling people of every nation, race, language, and religion to repentance.

“When I saw the Towers come down, I didn't think 'God is punishing me' – but I did feel that it was a spiritual event. I literally felt the presence of a tremendous spiritual power. It was almost like a wake-up call, to me: 'Look at what you're doing, humanity. Take stock of yourselves. This is where you are, so wake up.'”

But many Americans who hoped for a new era of national purpose and unity after 9/11 find themselves disappointed. Harding, an internationally exhibited artist and lifelong Catholic who grew up during the Second World War, now thinks America might have missed the worldwide “wake-up call.”

From the Office of Readings for Sept. 5: A sermon by Pope St Leo the Great

Whoever loves your law will have abundant peace

The blessedness of seeing God is justly promised to the pure of heart. For the eye that is unclean would not be able to see the brightness of the true light, and what would be happiness to clear minds would be a torment to those that are defiled. Therefore, let the mists of worldly vanities be dispelled, and the inner eye be cleansed of all the filth of wickedness, so that the soul’s gaze may feast serenely upon the great vision of God.

 It is to the attainment of this goal that the next words refer: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. This blessedness, dearly beloved, does not derive from any casual agreement or from any and every kind of harmony, but it pertains to what the Apostle says: Be at peace before the Lord, and to the words of the prophet: Those who love your law shall enjoy abundant peace; for them it is no stumbling block. Even the most intimate bonds of friendship and the closest affinity of minds cannot truly lay claim to this peace if they are not in agreement with the will of God. Alliances based on evil desires, covenants of crime and pacts of vice – all lie outside the scope of this peace. Love of the world cannot be reconciled with love of God, and the man who does not separate himself from the children of this generation cannot join the company of the sons of God. But those who keep God ever in their hearts, and are anxious to preserve the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace, never dissent from the eternal law as they speak the prayer of faith. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
 
These then are the peacemakers; they are bound together in holy harmony and are rightly given the heavenly title of sons of God, co-heirs with Christ. And this is the reward they will receive for their love of God and neighbour: when their struggle with all temptation is finally over, there will be no further adversities to suffer or scandal to fear; but they will rest in the peace of God undisturbed, through our Lord who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen.

Pope St. Leo the Great

Saint of the Day, September 5: Bl. Teresa of Calcutta

Bl. Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997): In 1928 Teresa joined the Sisters of Our Lady of Lareto in India. She taught school there for seventeen years. In 1950 she founded the Missionaries of Charity, an order devoted to helping the sick and poor. She is most well known for humbly ministering to lepers, the homeless and the poorest of the poor in the slums of Calcutta.

Daily Reading, September 5

Col 1:24:2:3

Brethren:

I Paul am made a minister. Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up those things that are wanting of the sufferings of Christ, in my flesh, for his body, which is the church: Whereof I am made a minister according to the dispensation of God, which is given me towards you, that I may fulfill the word of God: The mystery which hath been hidden from ages and generations, but now is manifested to his saints, To whom God would make known the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ, in you the hope of glory. Whom we preach, admonishing every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. Wherein also I labour, striving according to his working which he worketh in me in power.

For I would have you know, what manner of care I have for you and for them that are at Laodicea, and whosoever have not seen my face in the flesh: That their hearts may be comforted, being instructed in charity, and unto all riches of fulness of understanding, unto the knowledge of the mystery of God the Father and of Christ Jesus: In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Ps 62:6-7, 9

In God is my safety and my glory.

But be thou, O my soul, subject to God:
for from him is my patience.
For he is my God and my saviour:
he is my helper, I shall not be moved.

In God is my safety and my glory.

Trust in him, all ye congregation of people:
pour out your hearts before him.
God is our helper for ever.

In God is my safety and my glory.

Lk 6:6-11

And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue, and taught. And there was a man, whose right hand was withered. And the scribes and Pharisees watched if he would heal on the sabbath; that they might find an accusation against him. But he knew their thoughts; and said to the man who had the withered hand: Arise, and stand forth in the midst. And rising he stood forth. Then Jesus said to them: I ask you, if it be lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil; to save life, or to destroy? And looking round about on them all, he said to the man: Stretch forth thy hand. And he stretched it forth: and his hand was restored. And they were filled with madness; and they talked one with another, what they might do to Jesus.

Vatican Radio: Summary of the Holy See's response to the Cloyne Report

Vatican Radio has put together a helpful summary of the Holy See's response to the Cloyne Report here.

The full text of the response is available for your perusal here.

Catholic News Service: Vatican responds to Irish government report on clerical sexual abuse

Cindy Wooden of CNS has filed their first report on the Holy See's response to the Cloyne Report here.

The Vatican forcefully denied it undermined the Irish bishops' efforts to protect children from sexual abuse and characterized as "unfounded" claims the Vatican tried to interfere in government investigations regarding church handling of sex abuse cases.

The Vatican recognizes "the seriousness of the crimes" detailed in a government report about cases in the Diocese of Cloyne, Ireland, and "has sought to respond comprehensively," said a communique released by the Vatican Sept. 3.

The communique accompanied a 19-page formal response to the Irish government's Cloyne Report on the diocese and to statements made by the Irish prime minister and motions passed by both houses of the Irish Parliament concerning the report and the Vatican's involvement in how cases were handled.

Catholic News Agency: Charges that it meddled in Irish abuse cases are ‘unfounded,’ Vatican says

CNA's initial report on the Holy See's response to the Cloyne Report is published here.

The Vatican has issued a detailed response to a report charging that Irish Church officials in the Cloyne Diocese mishandled allegations of abuse by priests.

But it denied accusations that it deliberately disrupted the Irish government’s efforts to bring priests to justice in Ireland.

“The Holy See does not accept that it was somehow indifferent to the plight of those who suffered abuse in Ireland,” the Vatican said in a 25-page formal response delivered to the Irish government. 

National Catholic Reporter: Vatican insists it didn't torpedo Irish response to abuse crisis

John Allen of the National Catholic Reporter summarizes the Holy See's response to the Cloyne Report and passes on some of the early reactions to it in Ireland.

Vatican Insider: The Vatican’s measured response to Ireland

Calling  it "the most reasoned response the Vatican has given to the accusations made against it over these years in the field of clerical abuse of children," Gerard O'Connor of Vatican Insider offers a detailed analysis of the Holy See's response to the Cloyne report.

Vatican Radio: An interview with David Quinn, "Irish Independent" columnist, on the Holy See's response to the Cloyne Report

David Quinn is religious affairs commentator in Ireland and columnist with 'The Irish Independent'. In an interview with Emer McCarthy he gives us his reaction to the Holy See's response to the Cloyne Report.

Asked by Emer what he sees as a decisive issue in the response David Quinn replies that at first reading the report is lengthy, well considered, forensic and polite in tone.

He then points to the understandable anger at the Church for its mishandling of the clerical sex abuse scandal, highlighting how the Vatican had to respond to the specific charges made against it : " To me the most important part of this document is the proper interpretation of a letter that was sent in 1997, via the office of the papal nuncio in Dublin , to the Bishops conveying the response of the Congregation for the Clergy ...and it was a response to the Irish Bishops' 1969 guidelines on the child protection issue”.

“This it seems to me is the letter that has caused a lot of the anger directed specifically at the Vatican and brought about the accusation by the Irish government that the Vatican interfered in the law of the land. Now to me an objective reading of that letter says there's only one possible passage in it that could be charged in that way and that is where there's a reservation expressed by the Congregation of the Clergy about mandatory reporting. But there is no law in Ireland that requires mandatory reporting and in fact back in 1997 ...that government considered mandatory reporting and decided not to go ahead with it...in other words the Vatican's reservations about mandatory reporting was shared by the government. And indeed no subsequent Irish government has introduced mandatory reporting in all the years since 1997 and it is only now in the last month, post the Cloyne report coming out, that the government is finally getting around to some version of mandatory reporting”.

“Therefore what law was the Vatican interfering with? The answer is, it wasn't. And that is the key point because the Irish government made a very serious charge against the Holy See saying it interfered with the law of the land. But if you actually try to find what law, there's no law that it interfered with. "

In this interview Emer also asks David Quinn how he feels the Holy See's response to the Cloyne Report will be perceived by the average Catholic in Ireland . And also as to how the ongoing issue of clerical sexual abuse in Ireland is going to impact on the people of this nation in the long run:

"...The anger is going to continue for quite a while yet, because as you say, there are various reports to come. These are not official government reports, but reports that have been compiled by the Bishop's own 'National Child Protection Office'. That's independent and has a good strong reputation that people respect...I think a great deal is actually going to depend on how the Vatican responds to the Apostolic Visitations that took place earlier this year.

David Quinn is also Director of the Iona Institute.

Listen to Emer McCarthy's report in full here.

Vatican Radio: Comments of Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, Dublin, on the Holy Sees's response Cloyne Report

“Wherever we go from here we have to go together”, says Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin speaking to Vatican Radio, Saturday, following the publication of the Holy See’s response to the Irish Government regarding the Cloyne report.

“The climate of tension and polemics doesn’t help”, he adds, “but we also have to go forward following the truth, making sure that what is said is true. That we go forward with a policy of transparency and honesty in this and that any attempts to go back into a cover up mode or mentality will only damage not just the Church itself, but it will damage children. One of the things we have to remember is that Jesus identified children as a sign of the kingdom and we have to learn again what that was saying to us and how becoming like children, safeguarding and cherishing children is actually part of the way Christians live and should live”.

Regarding the specifics of the Vatican response, the Archbishop notes: “One of the things that struck me when I read the section about the development of the policies of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith over the past ten years, is that over 20 times it stresses the need for the Church to respect national laws on the reporting of the abuse cases, and that’s a very, very strong affirmation of the position of the Congregation and of the Catholic Church”.

Archbishop Martin notes that the distinct roles of Church and State in safeguarding children is another essential element : “This brings us back to a central point which is implicit in the Cloyne Reports phrase “if fully implemented”: even the best norms in the world must be accompanied by an on-going process of independent monitoring and reviewing of day-to-day practice. Within the Catholic Church this is being undertaken by the National Board for the Safeguarding of Children. Its reviews are underway and will be published. The primary responsibility for monitoring child safeguarding measures in any dimension of Irish society belongs – I repeat – with the State”.

In a statement released Saturday the Primate of Ireland also stated: “One of the key points of the Taoiseach’s [Prime Minister] intervention was the assertion that “the Holy See attempted to frustrate an enquiry in a sovereign democratic republic as little as three years ago not three decades ago”. There is no evidence presented in the Murphy Report to substantiate this, the Holy See could find no evidence and the Department of An Taoiseach’s office said that the Taoiseach was not referring to any specific event. This merits explanation”. Listen to his full interview with Emer McCarthy here.

Archbishop Diarmuid Martin

Vatican Radio: Holy See response to the Cloyne Report in full

Read it here.