Creator of all things
true source of light and wisdom,
lofty origin of all being,
graciously let a ray of your brilliance
penetrate into the darkness of my understanding
and take from me the double darkness
in which I have been born,
an obscurity of both sin and ignorance.
Give me a sharp sense of understanding,
a retentive memory,
and the ability to grasp thing
correctly and fundamentally.
Grant me the talent of being exact in my explanations,
and the ability to express myself
with thoroughness and charm.
Point out the beginning, direct the progress,
and help in the completion;
through Christ our Lord.
Amen
St. Thomas Aquinas
Feast of St. Catherine of Siena -Â Â 2011
Jesus is our bridge to Heaven.
( St. Catherine’s Principal teachings and spiritual development.)
St. Catherine is well known for using images in her writings.
And so in her Dialogue, we find among other images that
of the BRIDGE, which God himself used in one of their
exchange  of  words – He said :
“I told you that I have made a bridge of the Word ( JESUS ),
My only-begotten Son, and such is the truth.  I want you to
realize, my children, that by Adam’s sinful disobedience  the road
was so broken  up  that no one could reach everlasting life.
Since  they had no share  in the good for  which I had created them,
they   did not give me the return of glory they owed me,  and so my
truth  was not fulfilled.   What is this truth ?
That I had created them in my image and likeness so that they might
have eternal life , sharing in my being and enjoying  my supreme
eternal tenderness and goodness. But because of their sin, they
never reached this goal and never fulfilled my truth,  for sin closed
heaven and the door of my mercy.
This sin sprouted thorns and troublesome vexations.  My creatures
found rebellion within themselves,  for as soon as they rebelled
against me,  they became rebels against themselves.
With sin there came at once the flood of a stormy river that beat
against them constantly with it waves,  bringing weariness and
troubles from themselves as well as from the devil and the world.
You were all drowning,  because not one of you, for all  your
Righteousness,  could reach eternal life.
But I wanted to undo these great troubles of yours.  So I gave  you
A  BRIDGE,  my Son,  so that you could cross over the river,  the stormy
sea  of this darksome life, without being drowned . “
See how indebted to me are my creatures !  And how foolish to
choose to  drown rather than accept the remedy I have given them ! “
My dear brothers and sisters in Our Holy Father St. Dominic,
I am sure we have all seen the terrible scenes of the extremely
powerful devastating  force of the Tsunami which hit Japan recently,
as a  follow-up of the earthquake.
After reflecting on these words that God spoke to Catherine,
I began to realize how serious  SIN  is in the eyes of Almighty God.
We all saw how devastating were the waters of the tsunami,
washing away everything in its path…wiping out whole cities.
My dear Brothers and Sisters ,  yes,  the tsunami is a most serious
and powerful destructive force  of Nature,  but all that is destroyed
after all  is  the material side of life, even though Man himself
was also destroyed in many cases, and human relationship were lost.
BUT  when  the storm of life  coming through  SIN caused by
our following the  temptations of the Devil and the World,
strikes us …it is  eternal life  that is lost !
We are made in the likeness and image of God, to return to Him
after we have lived this life according to HIS WILL,  that is
to KNOW,  LOVE  and  SERVE HIM.
But since the road of life was destroyed by the spiritual tsunami
caused by Adam’s first sin,   we had no means of returning to
our heavenly home…
So, God is telling Catherine…I  have built this  BRIDE – which is
My only begotten Son,  Jesus Christ himself… who is the WAY
THE  TRUTH  AND THE  LIFE…    Follow  HIM  and you will  be
saved.
Yes, my dear brothers  and sisters,  we have THIS  BRIDGE –
are we not grateful to Our Lord  Jesus Christ for having accepted
HIS  Father’s  will  in  coming into our life,  lived  the difficulties
of human life,  suffered  the  insults,  the cruelties of his persecutors,
who rejected HIM  after all THE GOOD He had done for them …
and finally   even  condemned  HIM  to the most shameful, cruel form
of death –  the  Crucifixion   ?
And  Jesus did all this simply  out  of  LOVE  FOR  US,  nothing else.
And should we be so foolish as to drown in our sins of selfishness,
obstinacy  and  pride… rather than accept  JESUS  as  OUR  BRIDGE
TOÂ Â HEAVEN ?
(Fr. Lionel Xavier, OP)
MEANING OF EASTER
As I begin to mediate on the meaning of Easter for me, I remember a story. A few years ago, as I was walking one afternoon in the campus of the University of Santo Tomas, Manila, a young man approached me and asked: “Father, what is the real meaning of Easter?†After conversing with the young man I went home and wrote a few thoughts on Easter. Let me share with you those thoughts and others that occurred to me on the journey of life.
Christians through centuries, particularly the first disciples of Jesus, have proclaimed in words and deeds: We are Easter people! For us Christians, the resurrection of Christ is the central mystery of our faith. Saint Paul writes: “In the first place I taught you what I had been taught myself, namely that Christ died for our sins, in accordance with the scriptures; that he was buried, and that he was raised to life on the third day, in accordance with the scriptures†(I Cor 15:3-4).
To be a Christian yesterday, today and always means to be able to say with God’s grace – like Mary Magdalene, like the apostles – I have seen the Lord! To see the Lord in life implies to experience his presence as Crucified and Risen Lord, to be transformed by him, to be seduced by his life and mission. How may we know that indeed we have seen the Lord Jesus?
How did the first Christian communities show that they had experienced Christ’s transforming presence? Their answer: “They remained faithful to the teaching of the apostles, to fraternity, to the breaking of the bread, and to prayer… They shared their food gladly and generously, praised God and were looked up to by everyone†(Acts, 2:42, 46-47).
Is the Lord the Risen Lord for us? If we have encountered Jesus in our life, then he is raised from the dead. Where may we encounter the Risen Lord? We may encounter the Risen Lord in the praying and fraternal community, in the Church, which is the Mystical Body of Christ and a Community of Disciples: “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in their midst†(Mt 18: 19-20). We recall that the apostle Thomas did not experience the presence of the Risen Lord when he was absent from the apostolic community.
We may encounter the Risen Lord in the Sacraments of the Church: in Baptism (the catechumens baptized on Easter Vigil experienced Jesus raised from the dead), in Penance, and above all in the Holy Eucharist: “This is my body,†Jesus said, “This is my blood†(Mt 26:28-28). Furthermore, we may experience the Risen Lord in the Word of God, the Sacred Scriptures, particularly when proclaimed in the Church. We remember the two disciples of Emmaus, who after recognizing the Lord in the breaking of the bread said to one another: “Were not our hearts burning inside us as he talked to us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us? “ (Lk 24:32).
We may encounter Christ the Lord in our mission, in preaching and witnessing the Good News. This is the great resurrection command from the Risen Lord: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations… And know that I am with you always, until the end of the world†(Mt 28:19-20). We may also feel the presence of Jesus in our lives if we love the little ones, that is, the poor, the sick, and the abandoned on the roads of life. These words of Jesus resound in our hearts in a special way through Easter: “What you do to the least of my brothers, you do it to me†(Mt 25:40). As it has been often said and repeated: Jesus is personally present (“I was hungry and you gave me foodâ€) in the “poor†and in those who are close to the poor.
How may we experience Christ’s resurrection, Easter today? We may experience him by turning away from sin, which is darkness and by practicing virtue, which is light. Easter is light: the light of Christ, Jesus the Easter Candle. True Easter, according to Saint Athanasius, is abstention from sin, practice of virtue and the passage from death to life. But, how may one know that he or she has passed from death to life? We know, St. John tells us, “we know that we have passed out of death and into light, and of this we can be sure, because we love our brothersâ€(I Jn 3:14).
One fact from the Easter narratives that moves me deeply is the courageous, hopeful and joyful love of the apostles and the first Christians. These proclaimed the Word, focused on the death and resurrection of Jesus, in an incredibly bold manner. They were outrageously joyful – even in suffering and particularly in martyrdom. At times in our life, it is hard to be joyful. But we know that, as witnesses of the resurrection of Christ, our life ought to be permeated essentially by joy. I remember this remark by one of my favorite authors, Martin Descalzo: “The two travelers to Emmaus had a reason to be sad, for they believed that Jesus was dead; the bad thing is that some of us continue to be sad even believing that He lives.â€
Saint Augustine narrates to us a beautiful and inspiring story. In the first centuries, through the Easter Vigil night, some unbelievers (“the pagansâ€) were not able to sleep much – haunted it would seem by the songs of the Christians inside their home or community. At early morning, these unbelievers rushed to the Christian places of worship and position themselves near the doors to be able to watch how the Christians came out after the celebration of the Eucharist of the Resurrection through the whole night long. When they saw the joyful, transfigured faces of the Christians, many of them were converted to Jesus – to the Risen Lord. How are the faces of Christians today – our faces? “The old has passed away, behold the new has come†(II Cor 5:17).
Are we Easter People? Indeed, we are: We Christians believe strongly in the resurrection of Jesus the Lord, which is the guarantee of our own resurrection (I Cor 15:20-23). That is why we are Easter People and we – sinners all – try hard to behave as witnesses of his resurrection – of his love. We are Easter People and Alleluia is our song! May those around us notice that we are Easter People by the way we treat them with kindness and compassion. Dear co-pilgrim by the journey of life… Happy Easter! (FGB)
EASTER VIGIL: CHRIST, OUR PASCHAL LIGHT
“Christ is our light. THanks by to God”
Easter Vigil 1
Easter Vigil 2
Easter Vigil 3
Easter Vigil 4
Easter Vigil 5
Easter Vigil 6
Easter Vigil 7
Easter Vigil 8
GOOD FRIDAY: THE LORD’S PASSION
INTRODUCTION
It is Good Friday! Today’s austere liturgy comprises three parts.
First part: Liturgy of the Word (“to revive our faith in the power of the Lord’s deathâ€), and General Intercessions (to pray for all).
Second part: Veneration of the Cross (source of our redemption).
Third part: Holy Communion (according to ancient tradition, Mass is not celebrated today and tomorrow). As we begin, we place ourselves actually before Jesus on the Cross.
MEDITATION (on the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ)
What may anyone – much less me -, what can anyone say after proclaiming – reliving – the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ?
I feel urged to add a footnote in three basic questions:
- We contemplate Jesus, the innocent one, the holy one. We look at him: so “gentle, humble and patient†(St. Basil). So serene! First question: Why did Christ die on the Cross?
Two reasons are clearly given by our faith. Jesus suffered and died on the Cross to show us the great love of God for us: “God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son.†Moreover, Jesus died on the cross to show us the evilness of sin: Sin is darkness, night, and unhappiness: a betrayal of God’s love and of the blood of Christ shed for us.
- 2. We see the terrible sufferings pervading our world: natural disasters, wars, violence, injustice, the suffering of the innocent! Second twofold question: Why there is so much suffering in our world? Why do innocent children suffer?
The mystery of evil continues! And the mystery of a good and omnipotent God! We know that God loves us, and that the only answer we have to those piercing questions is Jesus on the cross – Jesus, the Son of God and the Son of Mary, our brother! Facing those sufferings, we are asked by our humanity and our faith to help others carry their cross not with sermons, but with compassion. One of the gravest things one can do in life is to make others suffer (A. Camus).
- 3. As we fix our eyes on Jesus on the Cross, we also think of our own cross: you know that you will be saved on your cross, and I know that I will be saved on mine! Third multiple question: Dear Lord, why this cross? Why for me? Why now?
Jesus answers from the Cross: “If anyone wants to be my disciple let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.†Jesus, our savior and friend, adds: “My yoke is light,†“come to me all who are burdened and I will give you rest.†No wonder, for the saints, the truly happy ones, when the cross comes, it is the Lord who comes!
As we venerate the Cross of Chris, we make an act of faith (“Adoro te devote, latens deitas, in cruce latebat sola deitasâ€Â – “I adore You, hidden God, in the Cross only the divinity was hidden,†while in the Eucharist, also the humanity of Christ is hidden). When we kiss the Cross of Christ, we kiss Christ on the Cross. As we kiss Christ on the Cross today we also kiss our brothers and sisters who are crucified like Christ. Where were you, where was I, when they crucified our Lord? Where are we when others are crucified today?
Good Friday is part of our life. We cannot jump from Palm Sunday and its hosannas, to Easter Sunday and its Alleluias! Easter Sunday is only possible after Good Friday! With Mother Mary, Our Lady of Hope, we thank you, Lord, for your wounds, for your death – for your love! We are sorry Lord, for our sins, for the sufferings we cause to others, for our lack of compassion. Above all, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit; above all, many, many, many thanks! To you, dear God One and Triune, be honor and glory and power forever and ever. Amen.
Fr. Fausto Gomez Berlana, O. P,
HOLY THURSDAY: THE LORD’S SUPPER
Fr. Alejandro Salcedo, OP
As we celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper we commemorate three main events this evening: the institution of the Holy Eucharist; the institution of the Priesthood; and Jesus’ new commandment to love one another as He has loved us.
Some months ago, the History Channel showed a documentary in which scientists tried to construct a 3-D image of the face of Christ.
After many years of investigation and the use of the latest computer technology on the Shroud of Turin, the face of a young man with long hair, and a beard, and scars, and blood stains in his forehead came out.
According to the study the supposed Jesus was about 1.75 heavy and muscular built. But tonight we are given a very different image of Jesus from the one portrayed by the History Channel. We see him on his knees, washing feet. The image of Jesus given to us tonight is surprising, and challenging. It is God becoming less, so that we can become more.
I would like to invite you to reflect on this amazing scene from John’s Gospel, how just on the night before his arrest, during the Last Supper, Jesus bends over and washes the feet of his disciples, and then puts a question to his disciples and to us: “Do you realize what I have done for you?” “I have given you a model to follow,” he says, “You too should wash one another’s feet. As I have done for you, you should do for one another.” I believe it is an amazing scene to reflect upon because we have a “a God who bends over” a God who serves us, a God who is inviting us to be people who bend over and serve one another in humility and love. Blessed are you if you do itâ€, He tells us.
And it is out of this love that He wants to immortalize himself among us, but he does not do it in the way we perpetuate ourselves. He does not want to be remembered like the Pharaohs by the huge pyramids, or like the Mogul Emperor Shah Jahan by its famous and beautiful Taj Mahal palace, or by statues erected on our name for all we have done during our life. Out of his love, He perpetuated himself in two ways – in his priesthood and in the mystery of his Eucharistic.
Although He is the only priest who offered his own sacrifice however in every generation he chooses ordinary men to be a living witness to him by their very presence in the community, to offer again his sacrifice in his memory. The priesthood and the Eucharist are inseparable; one cannot exist without the other. Both, the Eucharist and the priesthood were instituted simultaneously as a sign of his love for us making a new covenant sealed not with the blood of animals as in the old times but sealed with his own blood. “Happy are those who are called to His supper.â€
Over the past decade we all have been scandalized by the revelation concerning certain priests or bishops, or we have experienced the defects of those who are call to continue what we celebrate tonight, their impatience, anger, and I am subjected to it every day, however if we have a look at the people in the Upper Room sitting around the table with Jesus, we will find out that Jesus did not choose angels to be His priests. We will see Judas, who would betray Him. Peter the head of the apostles who will deny Jesus. The rest of the disciples, with the exception of John, will run away and abandon Jesus. Clearly Jesus did not choose angels, but purposely he chose those twelve men. St. Paul sums up his priestly ministry very beautifully when he says; “we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us.â€
I believe that the event of the Last Supper and what was instituted that night it is not just a description of what love looked like in the life of a nice Jewish rabbi from 2000 years ago. It was not just the institution of the Eucharist or priesthood. The Last Supper is the mission statement, job description, and guiding principle of anyone who dares to call him/herself a Christian. Likewise what we celebrate tonight is not just a nice piece of history; it is an invitation to the mystery of our own life.
The choice is only ours. I am sure you have heard the saying, “Let’s eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we will die.†However Christ’s invitation reads, “Eat and drink that you may live.†In the Eucharist Christ perpetuate himself among us and enable us, with all our faults, and imperfections, to be perpetuated in him through the sacrament. Christ lives in us and we live in Christ. And in this way we too fulfill that desire to perpetuate ourselves, but not as I mention before with palaces, stars in Hollywood or with statues of streets named after us. He is inviting us to live our humanity, not in his divinity, because that would be impossible for us, but perpetuating our humanity in His humanity.
Unfortunately, we live in a world that has been caught up in death for a long time. We kill each other in acts of murder, abortion, euthanasia, execution, war, and terrorist activities. We kill ourselves through suicide, drugs and alcohol abuse, overwork, stress, bad eating habits, and physical neglect. We watch as others die from poverty, hunger and malnutrition, unemployment, disease, child abuse, discrimination, and all the laws, policies, practices and attitudes, which contribute to these conditions. So, the question how in the world are we going to perpetuate ourselves in Jesus may very easily spring up into our minds and we may be tempted to act like Judas, Peter or like the rest of the disciples. This is the very reason why we should reflect more often on what went on that night in the Upper Room and reflect on what Jesus said: I am sending you out into the world, among the people from whom I called you. Your mission? It is very simple. Just love them.â€
Fr. Alejandro Salcedo, OP
