Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 08-27-05, Memorial, St. Monica

August 27, 2005
Memorial of Saint Monica

Psalm: Saturday 37

Reading I
1 Thes 4:9-11

Brothers and sisters:
On the subject of fraternal charity
you have no need for anyone to write you,
for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another.
Indeed, you do this for all the brothers throughout Macedonia.
Nevertheless we urge you, brothers and sisters, to progress even more,
and to aspire to live a tranquil life,
to mind your own affairs,
and to work with your own hands,
as we instructed you.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 98:1, 7-8, 9

R. (9) The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.
Let the sea and what fills it resound,
the world and those who dwell in it;
Let the rivers clap their hands,
the mountains shout with them for joy.
R. The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.
Before the LORD, for he comes,
for he comes to rule the earth;
He will rule the world with justice
and the peoples with equity.
R. The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.

Gospel
Mt 25:14-30

Jesus told his disciples this parable:
"A man going on a journey
called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them.
To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one–
to each according to his ability.
Then he went away.
Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them,
and made another five.
Likewise, the one who received two made another two.
But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground
and buried his master's money.
After a long time
the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them.
The one who had received five talents
came forward bringing the additional five.
He said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents.
See, I have made five more.'
His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant.
Since you were faithful in small matters,
I will give you great responsibilities.
Come, share your master's joy.'
Then the one who had received two talents also came forward and said,
‘Master, you gave me two talents.
See, I have made two more.'
His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant.
Since you were faithful in small matters,
I will give you great responsibilities.
Come, share your master's joy.'
Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said,
‘Master, I knew you were a demanding person,
harvesting where you did not plant
and gathering where you did not scatter;
so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground.
Here it is back.'
His master said to him in reply, ‘You wicked, lazy servant!
So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant
and gather where I did not scatter?
Should you not then have put my money in the bank
so that I could have got it back with interest on my return?
Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten.
For to everyone who has,
more will be given and he will grow rich;
but from the one who has not,
even what he has will be taken away.
And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.'"

From: 1 Thessalonians 4:9-11

Charity and Good Use of Time

[9] But concerning love of the brethren you have no need to have any
one write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love
one another; [10] and indeed you do love all the brethren throughout
Macedonia. But we exhort you, brethren, to do so more and more, [11] to
aspire to live quietly, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your
hands, as we charged you; [12] so that you may command the respect of
outsiders, and be dependent on nobody.

Commentary:

9-10. "The greatest commandment of the law is to love God with one's
whole heart and one's neighbor as oneself (cf. Mt 22:37-40). Christ has
made this love of neighbor his personal commandment and has enriched it
with a new meaning when he willed himself, along with his brothers, to
be the object of this charity, saying, 'When you did it to one of the
least of these my brethren, you did it to me' (Mt. 25:40). In assuming
human nature he has united to himself all mankind in a supernatural
solidarity which makes of it one single family. He has made charity the
distinguishing mark of his disciples, in the words: 'By this all men
will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another'
(Jn 13:35). In the early days the Church linked the 'agape' to the
eucharistic supper, and by so doing showed itself as one body around
Christ united by the bond of charity. So too, in all ages, love is its
characteristic mark" (Vatican II, "Apostolicam Actuositatem", 8). Love
for the other members of the Church is fraternal love, a love which
brothers and sisters should have for one another, for the Church is one
large family. The Thessalonians practised this love not only among
themselves but also with the other believers living in Macedonia;
fraternal charity is absolutely necessary for the unity of Christians.

"No tongue can tell the heights to which love uplifts us", St Clement
of Rome teaches. "Love unites us to God; love casts a veil over
innumerable sins; there are no limits to love's endurance, no end to
its patience. There is nothing base, nothing proud, about love [...] It
was in love that all God's chosen ones were made perfect. Without love
nothing is pleasing to God" ("Letter to the Corinthians", 1, 49).

11-12. Everyone has certain obligations connected with his position in
life which he should conscientiously fulfill. They include,
particularly, duties to do with work and family, and they provide us
with an opportunity for conversation with God. St John Chrysostom
teaches, for example: "A woman working in the kitchen or doing some
sewing can always raise her thoughts to heaven and fervently invoke the
Lord. If someone is on the way to market or is traveling alone, he can
easily pray attentively. Someone else who is in his wine-cellar,
engaged in stitching wine skins, is free enough to raise his heart to
the Master" ("Fifth Homily on Anna", 4, 6).

Work is something of immense human and supernatural value, for it is a
means readily at hand for personal sanctification and cooperation with
others. It would be unworthy of a Christian to live an idle life and
expect to be supported by the charity of others. St Paul counsels
everyone who can to look after his family and "be dependent on nobody".
And so we find the following in one of the very earliest Christian
documents: "If someone wants to settle down among you, and is a skilled
worker, let him find employment and earn his bread. If he knows no
trade, use your discretion to make sure that he does not live in
idleness on the strength of being a Christian. If he does not want to
work, he is only trying to exploit Christ. Be on your guard against
people of that sort" ("Didache", 12). So, a person cannot be regarded
as a good Christian if he does not try to work well, for "our
professional vocation is an essential and inseparable part of our
condition as Christians. Our Lord wants you to be holy in the place
where you are, in the job you have chosen" ([St] J. Escriva, "Friends of
God", 60).

In addition to promoting personal sanctification and cooperation with
others, work gives the Christian a share in Christ's work of
Redemption. "Sweat and toil, which work necessarily involves in the
present condition of the human race, present the Christian and everyone
who is called to follow Christ with the possibility of sharing lovingly
in the work that Christ came to do (cf. Jn 17:4). This work of
salvation came about through suffering and death on a Cross. By
enduring the toil of work in union with Christ crucified for us, man in
a way collaborates with the Son of God for the redemption of humanity.
He shows himself a true disciple of Christ by carrying the cross in his
turn every day (cf. Lk 9:23) in the activity that he is called upon to
perform" (John Paul 11, "Laborem Exercens", 27).

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 25:14-30

The Parable of the Talents

(Jesus said to His disciples,) [14] "For it will be as when a man going
on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his property;
[15] to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to
each according to his ability. Then he went away. [16] He who had
received the five talents went at once and traded with them; and he
made five talents more. [17] So also, he who had the two talents made
two talents more. [18] But he who had received the one talent went and
dug in the ground and hid his master's money. [19] Now after a long
time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
[20] And he who received the five talents came forward, bringing five
talents more, saying, `Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I
have made five talents more.' [21] His master said to him, `Well done,
good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will
set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.' [22] And he
also who had the two talents came forward, saying, `Master, you
delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.' [23]
His master said to him, `Well done, good and faithful servant; you have
been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the
joy of your master.' [24] He also who had received the one talent came
forward, saying, `Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where
you did not sow, and gathering where you did not winnow; [25] so I was
afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have
what is yours.' [26] But his master answered him, `You wicked and
slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and
gather where I have not winnowed? [27] Then you ought to have invested
my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what
was my own with interest. [28] So take the talent from him, and give
it to him who has the ten talents. [29] For to every one who has will
more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not,
even what he has will be taken away. [30] And cast the worthless
servant into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their
teeth.'"

Commentary:

14-30. A talent was not any kind of coin but a measure of value worth
about fifty kilos (one hundred pounds) of silver.

In this parable the main message is the need to respond to grace by
making a genuine effort right through one's life. All the gifts of
nature and grace which God has given us should yield a profit. It does
not matter how many gifts we have received; what matters is our
generosity in putting them to good use.

A person's Christian calling should not lie hidden and barren: it
should be outgoing, apostolic and self-sacrificial. "Don't lose your
effectiveness; instead, trample on your selfishness. You think your
life is for yourself? Your life is for God, for the good of all men,
though your love for our Lord. Your buried talent, dig it up again!
Make it yield" ([St] J. Escriva, "Friends of God", 47).

An ordinary Christian cannot fail to notice that Jesus chose to outline
his teaching on response to grace by using the simile of men at work.
Here we have a reminder that the Christian normally lives out his
vocation in the context of ordinary, everyday affairs. "There is just
one life, made of flesh and spirit. And it is this life which has to
become, in both soul and body, holy and filled with God. We discover
the invisible God in the most visible and material things. There is no
other way. Either we learn to find our Lord in ordinary, everyday
life, or else we shall never find Him" ([St] J. Escriva, "Conversations", 114).

Catholic Culture

Collect:
God of mercy, comfort those in sorrow, the tears of Saint Monica moved you to convert her son Saint Augustine to the faith of Christ. By their prayers, help us to turn from our sins and to find your loving forgiveness. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Activities:

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Prayers:

» August Devotion: The Immaculate Heart

August 27, 2005

Memorial of St. Monica

Old Calendar: St. Joseph Calasanctius (Calasanz), confessor

St. Monica (333-387) was born in Tagaste, northern Africa and died in Ostia, near Rome. Monica was a Christian, but her husband Patricius was a pagan and a man of loose morals. Monica's virtues and prayers, however, converted him, and he was baptized a year before his death. When her son, Augustine, joined the Manichean sect and went astray in faith and morals, Monica's tears and prayers for her son were incessant. She followed him to Milan, where Augustine went to teach, and there continued to storm heaven with her prayers for her son. Finally, she had the joy of witnessing St. Ambrose baptize Augustine in 387. She died in Ostia, as she and her son gazed at the sea and discoursed about the joys of the blessed.

Before the reform of the General Roman Calendar today was the feast of St. Joseph Calasanz which is now celebrated on August 26. St. Monica's feast previously was on May 4.

St. Monica

St. Monica is an example of those holy matrons of the ancient Church who proved very influential in their own quiet way. Through prayer and tears she gave the great Augustine to the Church of God, and thereby earned for herself a place of honor in the history of God's kingdom on earth.

The Confessions of St. Augustine provide certain biographical details. Born of Christian parents about the year 331 at Tagaste in Africa, Monica was reared under the strict supervision of an elderly nurse who had likewise reared her father. In the course of time she was given in marriage to a pagan named Patricius. Besides other faults, he possessed a very irascible nature; it was in this school of suffering that Monica learned patience. It was her custom to wait until his anger had cooled; only then did she give a kindly remonstrance. Evil-minded servants had prejudiced her mother-in-law against her, but Monica mastered the situation by kindness and sympathy.

Her marriage was blessed with three children: Navigius, Perpetua, who later became a nun, and Augustine, her problem child. According to the custom of the day, baptism was not administered to infants soon after birth. It was as an adolescent that Augustine became a catechumen, but possibly through a premonition of his future sinful life, Monica postponed his baptism even when her son desired it during a severe illness.

When Augustine was nineteen years old, his father Patricius died; by patience and prayer Monica had obtained the conversion of her husband.

The youthful Augustine caused his mother untold worry by indulging in every type of sin and dissipation. As a last resort after all her tears and entreaties had proved fruitless, she forbade him entrance to her home; but after a vision she received him back again. In her sorrow a certain bishop consoled her: "Don't worry, it is impossible that a son of so many tears should be lost."

When Augustine was planning his journey to Rome, Monica wished to accompany him. He outwitted her, however, and had already embarked when she arrived at the docks. Later she followed him to Milan, ever growing in her attachment to God. St. Ambrose held her in high esteem, and congratulated Augustine on having such a mother. At Milan she prepared the way for her son's conversion. Finally the moment came when her tears of sorrow changed to tears of joy. Augustine was baptized. And her lifework was completed. She died in her fifty-sixth year, as she was returning to Africa. The description of her death is one of the most beautiful passages in her son's famous "Confessions.

Excerpted from The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch.

Patron: Abuse victims; alcoholics; alcoholism; difficult marriages; disappointing children; homemakers; housewives; married women; mothers; victims of adultery; victims of unfaithfulness; victims of verbal abuse; widows; wives.

Symbols: Monstrance; IHC on a tablet; veil or handkerchief; open book; girdle; staff; tears.

The Word Among Us

Saturday, August 27, 2005

Meditation
Matthew 25:14-30

Back when his prayer group was just starting out, John volunteered to set up the chairs before the meetings and then to take them down again. He enjoyed doing this service for the group and always faithfully and effectively fulfilled this task. As the group grew in size, he enlisted the help of others as well. Then, his group got involved on a national level with a major yearly conference, and John was asked to coordinate the arrangement and set-up of the physical facilities with a large team of helpers. For the conference that year, in addition to coordinating the planning of the entire conference, John was asked to give a workshop on planning and managing regional and local conferences.

John is an example of a person who has used—and developed—his skills to help build the kingdom of God. Because he was faithful, God was able to build on his gifts and to multiply the effects of his efforts. This is the essence of Jesus’ parable on the talents: God loves it when we “invest” our talents and gifts in building up his kingdom. In fact, he loves it so much that he infuses our talents with his grace to make them even more effective!

Each of us has been given a unique set of gifts and abilities. Some may be more simple and common. Others may be extraordinary and quite spectacular. Still others may have a combination of the simple and the more profound gifts. But what is consistent is that no matter what gifts we have, God treasures them and wants to fill them with his divine power.

No matter what talents you may have, God has a specific plan for them—a plan that includes service in his kingdom. Don’t ever think that your gifts are mundane! Don’t ever think that you are mundane! Every time you invest in the kingdom of God, you reap a dividend that far surpasses your investment. Not only are you transformed, but so too are your skills and talents. You become a new creation in every way, a vital and integral member of the kingdom of God.

“Lord, thank you for the gifts that you have given to me. I commit them to you. Take and transform them, Lord, so that your kingdom can shine even brighter here on earth!”

1 Thessalonians 4:9-11; Psalm 98:1,7-9

One Bread, One Body

<< Saturday, August 27, 2005 >>

St. Monica

1 Thessalonians 4:9-11

Psalm 98

Matthew 25:14-30

View Readings

“OUT OF FEAR” (Mt 25:25)

“ ‘My lord,’ he said, ‘you let me have five thousand.’ ” —Matthew 25:20

The servant who received the five thousand silver pieces feared his master the right way. This healthy fear is evident because upon receiving what his master entrusted to him, he “immediately” went to work on his master’s behalf (Mt 25:16). This servant had a spirit of the “fear of the Lord” and this fear caused him to “delight” (Is 11:2, 3) to receive the master’s gifts and respond with “industrious and reliable” service (Mt 25:21).

The servant who received the one thousand silver pieces feared his master the wrong way. This fear is evident because upon receiving what his master entrusted to him, he was afraid to make a mistake “out of fear” of being punished (Mt 25:25). This servant had a fear that was self-centered, not master-centered.

If God calls us to a task, He provides the grace to perform the task. Because of challenging Scriptures like these, we may be tempted to “fear” to succeed in God’s work since He has made it clear that success leads to even greater responsibilities (Mt 25:21). This “fear is useless. What is needed is trust” (Mk 5:36). Jesus makes it absolutely clear that greater responsibilities are first accompanied by greater grace (e.g. Mt 25:29). The Lord never sends anyone out without first empowering and equipping them for His service. Jesus trusts us with great gifts and great tasks. We can respond to the Lord by joyfully and fearfully exclaiming, “You entrusted me” (Mt 25:22), or by sullenly and fearfully saying, “You burdened me” (see Mal 1:13). Choose the right fear.

Prayer: Father, may I make “even greater progress” in serving and pleasing You (1 Thes 4:10).

Promise: “Come, share your Master’s joy!” —Mt 25:21

Praise: St. Monica was not afraid to ask and persist in seeking the “impossible” of her Lord. As a result, the scorn she once received from her son changed into a deep gratitude and love.

Mt 25:14-30
#	Douay-Rheims	Vulgate
14	For even as a man going into a far country called his servants and delivered to them his goods;	sicut enim homo proficiscens vocavit servos suos et tradidit illis bona sua
15	And to one he gave five talents, and to another two, and to another one, to every one according to his proper ability: and immediately he took his journey.	et uni dedit quinque talenta alii autem duo alii vero unum unicuique secundum propriam virtutem et profectus est statim
16	And he that had received the five talents went his way and traded with the same and gained other five.	abiit autem qui quinque talenta acceperat et operatus est in eis et lucratus est alia quinque
17	And in like manner he that had received the two gained other two.	similiter qui duo acceperat lucratus est alia duo
18	But he that had received the one, going his way, digged into the earth and hid his lord's money.	qui autem unum acceperat abiens fodit in terra et abscondit pecuniam domini sui
19	But after a long time the lord of those servants came and reckoned with them.	post multum vero temporis venit dominus servorum illorum et posuit rationem cum eis
20	And he that had received the five talents coming, brought other five talents, saying: Lord, thou didst deliver to me five talents. Behold I have gained other five over and above.	et accedens qui quinque talenta acceperat obtulit alia quinque talenta dicens domine quinque talenta mihi tradidisti ecce alia quinque superlucratus sum
21	His lord said to him: Well done, good and faithful servant, because thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will place thee over many things. Enter thou into the joy of thy lord.	ait illi dominus eius euge bone serve et fidelis quia super pauca fuisti fidelis super multa te constituam intra in gaudium domini tui
22	And he also that had received the two talents came and said: Lord, thou deliveredst two talents to me. Behold I have gained other two.	accessit autem et qui duo talenta acceperat et ait domine duo talenta tradidisti mihi ecce alia duo lucratus sum
23	His lord said to him: Well done, good and faithful servant: because thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will place thee over many things. Enter thou into the joy of thy lord.	ait illi dominus eius euge serve bone et fidelis quia super pauca fuisti fidelis supra multa te constituam intra in gaudium domini tui
24	But he that had received the one talent, came and said: Lord, I know that thou art a hard man; thou reapest where thou hast not sown and gatherest where thou hast not strewed.	accedens autem et qui unum talentum acceperat ait domine scio quia homo durus es metis ubi non seminasti et congregas ubi non sparsisti
25	And being afraid, I went and hid thy talent in the earth. Behold here thou hast that which is thine.	et timens abii et abscondi talentum tuum in terra ecce habes quod tuum est
26	And his lord answering, said to him: Wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sow not and gather where I have not strewed.	respondens autem dominus eius dixit ei serve male et piger sciebas quia meto ubi non semino et congrego ubi non sparsi
27	Thou oughtest therefore to have committed my money to the bankers: and at my coming I should have received my own with usury.	oportuit ergo te mittere pecuniam meam nummulariis et veniens ego recepissem utique quod meum est cum usura
28	Take ye away therefore the talent from him and give it him that hath ten talents.	tollite itaque ab eo talentum et date ei qui habet decem talenta
29	For to every one that hath shall be given, and he shall abound: but from him that hath not, that also which he seemeth to have shall be taken away.	omni enim habenti dabitur et abundabit ei autem qui non habet et quod videtur habere auferetur ab eo
30	And the unprofitable servant, cast ye out into the exterior darkness. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.	et inutilem servum eicite in tenebras exteriores illic erit fletus et stridor dentium

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