Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 08-04-05, Memorial, St. John Mary Vianney, priest

August 4, 2005
Memorial of Saint John Vianney, priest

Psalm: Thursday 34

Reading I
Nm 20:1-13

The whole congregation of the children of Israel
arrived in the desert of Zin in the first month,
and the people settled at Kadesh.
It was here that Miriam died, and here that she was buried.

As the community had no water,
they held a council against Moses and Aaron.
The people contended with Moses, exclaiming,
"Would that we too had perished with our kinsmen in the LORD's presence!
Why have you brought the LORD's assembly into this desert
where we and our livestock are dying?
Why did you lead us out of Egypt,
only to bring us to this wretched place
which has neither grain nor figs nor vines nor pomegranates?
Here there is not even water to drink!"
But Moses and Aaron went away from the assembly
to the entrance of the meeting tent, where they fell prostrate.

Then the glory of the LORD appeared to them,
and the LORD said to Moses,
"Take your staff and assemble the community,
you and your brother Aaron,
and in their presence order the rock to yield its waters.
From the rock you shall bring forth water for the congregation
and their livestock to drink."
So Moses took his staff from its place before the LORD, as he was ordered.
He and Aaron assembled the community in front of the rock,
where he said to them, "Listen to me, you rebels!
Are we to bring water for you out of this rock?"
Then, raising his hand, Moses struck the rock twice with his staff,
and water gushed out in abundance for the people
and their livestock to drink.
But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,
"Because you were not faithful to me
in showing forth my sanctity before the children of Israel,
you shall not lead this community into the land I will give them."

These are the waters of Meribah,
where the children of Israel contended against the LORD,
and where the LORD revealed his sanctity among them.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9

R. (8) If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us bow down in worship;
let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
For he is our God,
and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Oh, that today you would hear his voice:
"Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
as in the day of Massah in the desert,
Where your fathers tested me;
they tested me though they had seen my works."
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Gospel
Mt 16:13-23

Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi
and he asked his disciples,
"Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"
They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
Simon Peter said in reply,
"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.
And so I say to you, you are Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my Church,
and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.
Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
Then he strictly ordered his disciples
to tell no one that he was the Christ.

From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples
that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly
from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed and on the third day be raised.
Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him,
"God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you."
He turned and said to Peter,
"Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me.
You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do."

From: Numbers 20:1-13

Moses Brings Water from the Rock

[1] And the people of Israel, the whole congregation, came into the
wilderness of Zin in the first month, and the people stayed in Kadesh; and
Miriam died there, and was buried there.

[2] Now there was no water for the congregation; and they assembled
themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. [3] And the people
contended with Moses, and said, "Would that we had died when our brethren
died before the LORD! [4] Why have you brought the assembly of the LORD into
this wilderness, that we should die here, both we and our cattle? [5] And
why have you made us come up out of Egypt, to bring us to this evil place?
It is no place for grain, or figs, or vines, or pomegranates; and there is
no water to drink." [6] Then Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the
assembly to the door of the tent of meeting, and fell on their faces. And
the glory of the LORD appeared to them, [7] and the LORD said to Moses,
'"Take the rod, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother,
and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water; so you shall bring
water out of the rock for them; so you shall give drink to the congregation
and their cattle." [9] And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he
commanded him.

[10] And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and
he said to them, "Hear now, you rebels; shall we bring forth water for you
out of this rock?" [11] And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock
with his rod twice; and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation
drank, and their cattle. [12] And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because
you did not believe in me, to sanctify me in the eyes of the people of
Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I
have given them." [13] These are the waters of Meribah,' where the people of
Israel contended with the LORD, and he showed himself holy among them.

Commentary:

20:1-19. When the spies sent to explore the land of Canaan returned to base,
people of Israel were in the desert of Paran, in Kadesh (13:26). The desert
of Zin, which is referred to here, and which is different from that of a
very similar name (Sin) mentioned in Exodus 16:1 and 17:1, was the
north-west part of the wilderness of Paran, to which the cloud had led the
Israelites from Sinai (cf. 10:12). Kadesh was not really a town but an area
containing leafy oases. It was a key point of reference for the people of
Israel's route towards Canaan. From Kadesh they will leave for the plains of
Moab (cf. 22:1). Kadesh marks the end of the desert trek (cf. chaps. 33-38);
from now on the land is inhabited and the Israelites will have contact with
those who live there.

As they make their way, the people encounter both external and internal
difficulties, but that does not stop their advance to the promised Land,
because God is their guide and he is helping them. In this sense the people
of Israel prefigures the Church, for "as Israel according to the flesh which
wandered in the desert was already called the Church of God (cf. Num 20:4;
etc.), so too, the new Israel which advances in this present era in search
of a future and permanent city (cf. Heb 13:14), is called also the Church of
Christ (cf. Mt 16:18). It is Christ indeed who had purchased it with his own
blood (cf. Acts 20:28); he has filled it with his Spirit; he has provided
means adapted to its visible and social union" (Vatican II, "Lumen Gentium",
9).

20:2-13. Unlike Exodus 17:1-17, here it is Aaron who accompanies Moses, so
that both of them share in the sin of mistrusting God (cf. v. 12). The text
does not say what their sin was exactly: presumably it was because they
struck the rock twice due to lack of faith, instead of once (cf. vv. 11-12)
or in the fact that they struck the rock whereas God had told them to speak
to the rock (cf. v. 8)--although in Exodus 17:6 Moses was in fact told to
hit it. In v. 24 we are told it was a sin of rebellion, and in Psalm
106:32-33 it says that Moses "spoke words that were rash". In Deuteronomy
1:37 and elsewhere, the punishment inflicted on Moses is, however,
attributed to the people's disobedience. At any event, the event is
recounted here, just before the narrating of the death of Aaron (as it will
also be mentioned in Deuteronomy 32:51 before the account of Moses' death).
Here the episode is connected with two place-names--Kadesh, which means in
fact "holiness" and which would remind people of the holiness of God (cf. v.
13), and Meribah, which means "rebellion" and would evoke Moses' sin. The
two names appear linked (Meri-bath-kadesh) in Deuteronomy 32:51 and Exodus
47:19.

This rock prefigured Christ, according to 1 Corinthians 10:4-5. The Fathers
gave an allegorical interpretation: the rock is Jesus, and the water the
grace which flows from the open side of our Lord; the double strike stands
for the two beams of the cross. Moses stands for the Jews, because just as
Moses doubted and struck the rock, the Jewish people crucified Christ, not
believing that he was the Son of God (cf. St Augustine, "Contra Faustum",
16, 15; "Questiones In Heptateuchurn", 35).

Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.

From: Matthew 16:13-23:

Peter's Profession of Faith and His Primacy

[13] Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He
asked His disciples, "Who do men say that the Son of Man is?" [14] And
they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others
Jeremiah or one of the prophets." [15] He said to them, "But who do
you say that I am?" [16] Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the
Son of the living God." [17] And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you,
Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, by
My Father who is in Heaven. [18] And I tell you, you are Peter, and on
this rock, I will build My Church, and the powers of death shall not
prevail against it. [19] I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of
Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven, and
whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven." [20] Then He
strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that He was the Christ.

Jesus Foretells His Passion and Resurrection

[21] From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go
to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests
and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. [22] And
Peter took Him and began to rebuke Him, saying, "God forbid, Lord!
This shall never happen to You." [23] But He turned and said to Peter,
"Get behind Me, Satan! You are a hindrance to Me; for you are not on
the side of God, but of men."

Commentary:

13-20. In this passage St. Peter is promised primacy over the whole
Church, a primacy which Jesus will confer on him after His
Resurrection, as we learn in the Gospel of St. John (cf. John
21:15-18). This supreme authority is given to Peter for the benefit of
the Church. Because the Church has to last until the end of time, this
authority will be passed on to Peter's successors down through
history. The Bishop of Rome, the Pope, is the successor of Peter.

The solemn Magisterium of the Church, in the First Vatican Council,
defined the doctrine of the primacy of Peter and his successors in
these terms:

"We teach and declare, therefore, according to the testimony of the
Gospel that the primacy of jurisdiction over the whole Church was
immediately and directly promised to and conferred upon the blessed
Apostle Peter by Christ the Lord. For to Simon, Christ had said, `You
shall be called Cephas' (John 1:42). Then, after Simon had
acknowledged Christ with the confession, `You are the Christ, the Son
of the living God' (Matthew 16:16), it was to Simon alone that the
solemn words were spoken by the Lord: `Blessed are you, Simon
Bar-Jona. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My
Father who is in Heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this
rock I will build My Church, and the powers of Hell shall not prevail
against it. I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and
whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven, and what you loose
on earth shall be loosed in Heaven' (Matthew 16:17-19). And after His
Resurrection, Jesus conferred upon Simon Peter alone the jurisdiction
of supreme shepherd and ruler over His whole fold with the words, `Feed
My lambs....Feed My sheep' (John 21:15-17) [...].

"(Canon) Therefore, if anyone says that the blessed Apostle Peter was
not constituted by Christ the Lord as the Prince of all the Apostles
and the visible head of the whole Church militant, or that he received
immediately and directly from Jesus Christ our Lord only a primacy of
honor and not a true and proper primacy of jurisdiction: let him be
condemned.

"Now, what Christ the Lord, Supreme Shepherd and watchful guardian of
the flock, established in the person of the blessed Apostle Peter for
the perpetual safety and everlasting good of the Church must, by the
will of the same, endure without interruption in the Church which was
founded on the rock and which will remain firm until the end of the
world. Indeed, `no one doubts, in fact it is obvious to all ages, that
the holy and most blessed Peter, Prince and head of the Apostles, the
pillar of faith, and the foundation of the Catholic Church, received
the keys of the kingdom from our Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior and the
Redeemer of the human race; and even to this time and forever he
lives,' and governs, `and exercises judgment in his successors' (cf.
Council of Ephesus), the bishops of the holy Roman See, which he
established and consecrated with his blood. Therefore, whoever
succeeds Peter in this Chair holds Peter's primacy over the whole
Church according to the plan of Christ Himself [...]. For this reason,
`because of its greater sovereignty,' it was always `necessary for
every church, that is, the faithful who are everywhere, to be in
agreement' with the same Roman Church [...].

"(Canon) Therefore, if anyone says that it is not according to the
institution of Christ our Lord Himself, that is, by divine law, that
St. Peter has perpetual successors in the primacy over the whole
Church; or if anyone says that the Roman Pontiff is not the successor
of St. Peter in the same primacy: let him be condemned [...].

"We think it extremely necessary to assert solemnly the prerogative
which the only-begotten Son of God deigned to join to the highest
pastoral office. And so, faithfully keeping to the tradition received
from the beginning of the Christian faith, for the glory of God our
Savior, for the exaltation of the Catholic religion, and for the
salvation of Christian peoples, We, with the approval of the sacred
council, teach and define that it is a divinely revealed dogma: that
the Roman Pontiff, when he speaks "ex cathedra", that is, when, acting
in the office of shepherd and teacher of all Christians, he defines, by
virtue of his supreme apostolic authority, doctrine concerning faith or
morals to be held by the universal Church, possesses through the divine
assistance promised to him in the person of St. Peter, the
infallibility with which the divine Redeemer willed His Church to be
endowed in defining doctrine concerning faith or morals; and that such
definitions of the Roman Pontiff are therefore irreformable because of
their nature, but not because of the agreement of the Church.

"(Canon) But if anyone presume to contradict this our definition (God
forbid that he do so): let him be condemned" (Vatican I, "Pastor
Aeternus", chaps. 1, 2 and 4).

23. Jesus rejects St. Peter's well-intentioned protestations, giving us
to understand the capital importance of accepting the cross if we are
to attain salvation (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:23-25). Shortly before this
(Matthew 16:17) Jesus had promised Peter: "Blessed are you, Simon"; now
He reproves him: "Get behind me, Satan." In the former case Peter's
words were inspired by the Holy Spirit, whereas what he says now comes
from his own spirit which he has not yet sloughed off.

Catholic Culture

Collect:
Father of mercy, you made Saint John Mary Vianney outstanding in his priestly zeal and concern for your people. By his example and prayers, enable us to win our brothers and sisters to the love of Christ and come with them to eternal glory. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Recipes:

» French Pea Soup

Activities:

» What is a Nameday?

less

Prayers:

August 04, 2005

Memorial of St. John Vianney, priest

Old Calendar: St. Dominic, confessor

St. John Baptist Mary Vianney (1786-1859) was born in Dardilly and died in Ars, France. Although his talents were limited and his education meager, he was ordained a priest in 1815. After three years at Ecully, he was appointed parish priest of Ars. Here he spent almost forty-two years of his life, devoting himself to prayer, mortification, and pastoral works. His success in directing souls made him known throughout the Christian world. Men of all ranks and conditions of life sought his guidance and advice. He was beatified by Pope St. Pius X, himself once a parish priest, and canonized by Pope Pius XI.

Before the reform of the General Roman Calendar today was the feast of St. Dominic which is now celebrated on August 8. St. John Vianney's feast previously was on August 9.

St. John Vianney

During the French Revolution a small band of Ursuline nuns was imprisoned in the Bastille. To cheer her disconsolate companions, one of the group passed wheaten discs of bread, cut from the loaf of the daily rations, to memorialize the happy days when they were free and could receive Our Lord in Holy Communion. At that time all religious schools and churches were closed, and those who harbored priests were imprisoned.

At the Vianney farmhouse near Dardilly, France, fugitive priests were offered a refuge. Here their son was prepared in his tenth year for the reception of Holy Communion by a hunted priest.

While tending his father's sheep, John Vianney fashioned a small statue of Our Lady out of clay. He hid it in the hollow of an old tree with this petition: "Dear Lady Mary, I love you very much; you must bring Jesus back to His tabernacles very soon!"

On a visit to his aunt at Ecully, John listened to her praises of Father Balley, the parish priest, and he sought the Father's advice regarding his vocation to the priesthood. The pastor appraised the overgrown, awkward youth of faltering speech and devoid of general education. Though John was unable to answer the questions pertaining to earthly science which Father asked him, yet, when the priest put to him the questions of the catechism, his face became luminous with lively interest. He answered every question correctly, and in a manner beyond his years. The amazed pastor took this evidence as a sign from heaven, prophesying, "You will become a priest!"

The ensuing years brought many trials to John. He was conscripted; his mother died; he failed often in his studies. Ordained as a Mass priest, August 12, 1815, he remarked to Our Lady, Queen of the Clergy: "Here is your priest, O Blessed Mother! Stay close to me. Help me to be a good priest!"

As a curate and as a pastor, St. John Vianney's daily instruction on the catechism found an inspired audience, among whom were noted orators such as Père Lacordaire, O.P., the famed preacher of Notre Dame. The saintly pastor performed many miracles, but the greatest was his own manner of Eucharistic living. It was his Lord, living in Father Vianney, who made him "spend and be spent" in ceaseless service for both sinner and saint in the sacred tribunal of penance.

— Rev. Vincent F. Kienberger, O.P.

Patron: Archdiocese of Dubuque, Iowa; confessors; diocese of Kansas City, Kansas; priests.

Things to Do:

The Collect praises St. John Vianney's zeal for souls and his spirit of prayer and penance. Say a special prayer today that by his example and intercession we too may win the souls of our brothers for Christ.
Say a prayer for priests that they may persevere in their vocation. If you haven't been to confession for a while resolve to do so right away and be sure that you remember to say an extra prayer for your confessor.
From the Catholic Culture library: Pope John XXIII holds St. John Vianney as a model for the priesthood in this Encyclical.
Read this longer life of the Cure of Ars by Bruce Marshall and also these excerpts from his sermons.

From another thread:

If I, then, were to ask, What is it to love our neighbor? the answer would be, The love of God causes us to love Him more than our wealth, our health, our good name, and even our life, and the love which we should have for our neighbor should enable us to love him as ourselves, so that all the good that we should wish for ourselves, we should wish for him. We must have this charity without which there is no heaven to hope for, and no friendship with God. Now, what do we understand by the word, our neighbor? Nothing is easier of comprehension. Every one of our brother men, even those who have wronged us, who have injured our good name, and calumniated us, or who have even sought to take our life. We ought to love them as we love ourselves, and wish them all the good that we wish ourselves. It is not only forbidden for us to wish them ill, but we must also render them service if they require it of us, and we are able to do so. We ought to rejoice when our enemies are successful in business, and we should feel sorry when they meet with reverses or losses, and we must take their part when others speak bad of them. We should tell others the good we know of them, and not avoid their society. Behold, my dear friends, this is how God wills that we should love our neighbor. If we do not believe this, then we must admit that we neither love our neighbor nor do we love God. We are bad Christians, and we shall be lost!

Mt 16:13-23
#	Douay-Rheims	Vulgate
13	And Jesus came into the quarters of Cesarea Philippi: and he asked his disciples, saying: Whom do men say that the Son of man is?	venit autem Iesus in partes Caesareae Philippi et interrogabat discipulos suos dicens quem dicunt homines esse Filium hominis
14	But they said: Some John the Baptist, and other some Elias, and others Jeremias, or one of the prophets.	at illi dixerunt alii Iohannem Baptistam alii autem Heliam alii vero Hieremiam aut unum ex prophetis
15	Jesus saith to them: But whom do you say that I am?	dicit illis vos autem quem me esse dicitis
16	Simon Peter answered and said: Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God.	respondens Simon Petrus dixit tu es Christus Filius Dei vivi
17	And Jesus answering said to him: Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven.	respondens autem Iesus dixit ei beatus es Simon Bar Iona quia caro et sanguis non revelavit tibi sed Pater meus qui in caelis est
18	And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.	et ego dico tibi quia tu es Petrus et super hanc petram aedificabo ecclesiam meam et portae inferi non praevalebunt adversum eam
19	And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven.	et tibi dabo claves regni caelorum et quodcumque ligaveris super terram erit ligatum in caelis et quodcumque solveris super terram erit solutum in caelis
20	Then he commanded his disciples, that they should tell no one that he was Jesus the Christ.	tunc praecepit discipulis suis ut nemini dicerent quia ipse esset Iesus Christus
21	From that time Jesus began to shew to his disciples, that he must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the ancients and scribes and chief priests, and be put to death, and the third day rise again.	exinde coepit Iesus ostendere discipulis suis quia oporteret eum ire Hierosolymam et multa pati a senioribus et scribis et principibus sacerdotum et occidi et tertia die resurgere
22	And Peter taking him, began to rebuke him, saying: Lord, be it far from thee, this shall not be unto thee.	et adsumens eum Petrus coepit increpare illum dicens absit a te Domine non erit tibi hoc
23	Who turning, said to Peter: Go behind me, Satan, thou art a scandal unto me: because thou savourest not the things that are of God, but the things that are of men.	qui conversus dixit Petro vade post me Satana scandalum es mihi quia non sapis ea quae Dei sunt sed ea quae hominum

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.