Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 02-21-14, OM, St. Peter Damian, Bishop and Doctor/Church

February 21, 2014

Friday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

What good is it, my brothers and sisters,
if someone says he has faith but does not have works?
Can that faith save him?
If a brother or sister has nothing to wear
and has no food for the day,
and one of you says to them,
“Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,”
but you do not give them the necessities of the body,
what good is it?
So also faith of itself,
if it does not have works, is dead.

Indeed someone might say,
“You have faith and I have works.”
Demonstrate your faith to me without works,
and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works.
You believe that God is one.
You do well.
Even the demons believe that and tremble.
Do you want proof, you ignoramus,
that faith without works is useless?
Was not Abraham our father justified by works
when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar?
You see that faith was active along with his works,
and faith was completed by the works.
Thus the Scripture was fulfilled that says,
Abraham believed God,
and it was credited to him as righteousness,
and he was called the friend of God.
See how a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
For just as a body without a spirit is dead,
so also faith without works is dead.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 112:1-2, 3-4, 5-6

R. (see 1b) Blessed the man who greatly delights in the Lord’s commands.
Blessed the man who fears the LORD,
who greatly delights in his commands.
His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth;
the upright generation shall be blessed.
R. Blessed the man who greatly delights in the Lord’s commands.
Wealth and riches shall be in his house;
his generosity shall endure forever.
Light shines through the darkness for the upright;
he is gracious and merciful and just.
R. Blessed the man who greatly delights in the Lord’s commands.
Well for the man who is gracious and lends,
who conducts his affairs with justice;
He shall never be moved;
the just man shall be in everlasting remembrance.
R. Blessed the man who greatly delights in the Lord’s commands.

Gospel Mk 8:34-9:1

Jesus summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them,
“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake
and that of the Gospel will save it.
What profit is there for one to gain the whole world
and forfeit his life?
What could one give in exchange for his life?
Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words
in this faithless and sinful generation,
the Son of Man will be ashamed of
when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

He also said to them,
“Amen, I say to you,
there are some standing here who will not taste death
until they see that the Kingdom of God has come in power.”

Interactive Saints for Kids

St. Peter Damian

Feast Day: February 21
Born:1007 :: Died:1072

St. Peter Damian was born at Ravenna, in Italy. His parents died when he was a child and he was left an orphan. He went to live with an older brother who mistreated him badly. He often left him hungry and starving and made him look after his herd of swine to earn his keep. Another brother named Damian found out about the trouble little Peter was having and brought him to his own home.

That was when Peter's life changed completely. He was treated with love, affection and care. He was so grateful that when he became joined a religious order he took the name Damian after his loving brother. Damian educated Peter and encouraged his studies.

Peter later became a great teacher and taught at the university while he was in his twenties. But the Lord was directing him in ways he could never have thought of.

Peter lived in times when many people in the Church were more interested in collecting wealth. Peter realized that the Church is divine and has the grace from Jesus to save all people. He wanted the Church to shine with the holiness of Jesus.

After seven years of teaching, he decided to become a Benedictine monk. He wanted to live the rest of his life in prayer and penance. He would pray and make sacrifices so that many people in the Church would become holy. His health suffered when he tried to replace sleep with prayer.

He went to a monastery of St. Romuald and wrote a rule for the monks. He also wrote about the life of their holy founder, Romuald. Peter wrote many books about religious studies to help people deepen their faith.

Twice his abbot sent him to neighboring monasteries so he could help the monks change their lives so that they could live closer to God. The monks were grateful because Peter was so kind and respectful.

Peter was finally called from the monastery. He became a bishop and a cardinal. He was sent on very important missions for various popes throughout his long life. St. Peter Damian died in 1072 at the age of sixty-five. Because he was a champion of truth and a peacemaker, he was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1828.

Mark
	English: Douay-Rheims	Latin: Vulgata Clementina	Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000)
	Mark 8
34.	And calling the multitude together with his disciples, he said to them: If any man will follow me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.	Et convocata turba cum discipulis suis, dixit eis : Si quis vult me sequi, deneget semetipsum : et tollat crucem suam, et sequatur me.	και προσκαλεσαμενος τον οχλον συν τοις μαθηταις αυτου ειπεν αυτοις οστις θελει οπισω μου ακολουθειν απαρνησασθω εαυτον και αρατω τον σταυρον αυτου και ακολουθειτω μοι
35.	For whosoever will save his life, shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel, shall save it.	Qui enim voluerit animam suam salvam facere, perdet eam : qui autem perdiderit animam suam propter me, et Evangelium, salvam faciet eam.	ος γαρ αν θελη την ψυχην αυτου σωσαι απολεσει αυτην ος δ αν απολεση την εαυτου ψυχην ενεκεν εμου και του ευαγγελιου ουτος σωσει αυτην
36.	For what shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and suffer the loss of his soul?	Quid enim proderit homini, si lucretur mundum totum et detrimentum animæ suæ faciat ?	τι γαρ ωφελησει ανθρωπον εαν κερδηση τον κοσμον ολον και ζημιωθη την ψυχην αυτου
37.	Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?	Aut quid dabit homo commutationis pro anima sua ?	η τι δωσει ανθρωπος ανταλλαγμα της ψυχης αυτου
38.	For he that shall be ashamed of me, and of my words, in this adulterous and sinful generation: the Son of man also will be ashamed of him, when he shall come in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.	Qui enim me confusus fuerit, et verba mea in generatione ista adultera et peccatrice, et Filius hominis confundetur eum, cum venerit in gloria Patris sui cum angelis sanctis.	ος γαρ εαν επαισχυνθη με και τους εμους λογους εν τη γενεα ταυτη τη μοιχαλιδι και αμαρτωλω και ο υιος του ανθρωπου επαισχυνθησεται αυτον οταν ελθη εν τη δοξη του πατρος αυτου μετα των αγγελων των αγιων
	Mark 9
1.	8:39 And he said to them: Amen I say to you, that there are some of them that stand here, who shall not taste death, till they see the kingdom of God coming in power.	8:39 Et dicebat illis : Amen dico vobis, quia sunt quidam de hic stantibus, qui non gustabunt mortem donec videant regnum Dei veniens in virtute.	και ελεγεν αυτοις αμην λεγω υμιν οτι εισιν τινες των ωδε εστηκοτων οιτινες ου μη γευσωνται θανατου εως αν ιδωσιν την βασιλειαν του θεου εληλυθυιαν εν δυναμει

34. And when he had called the people to him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
35. For whoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the Gospel's, the same shall save it.
36. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
37. Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
38. Whoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

BEDE; After showing to His disciples the mystery of His passion and resurrection, He exhorts them, as well as the multitude, to follow the example of His passion. Wherefore it goes on; And when he had called the people to him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whoever wishes to come after me, let him deny himself.

CHRYS. As if He would in say to Peter, You indeed do rebuke Me, who am willing to undergo My passion, but I tell you, that not only is it wrong to prevent Me from suffering, but neither can you be saved unless you yourself die. Again He says, Whoever wished to come after me; as if He said, I call you to those good things which a man should wish for, I do not force you to evil and burdensome things; for he who does violence to his hearer, often stands in his way; but he who leaves him free, rather draws him to himself. And a man denies himself when He cares not for his body, so that whether it be scourged, or whatever of like nature it may suffer, he bears it patiently.

THEOPHYL. For a man who denies another, be it brother or father, does not sympathize with him, nor grieve at his fate, though He be wounded and die; thus we ought to despise our body, so that if it should be wounded or hurt in any way, we should not mind its suffering.

CHRYS. But He says not, a man should not spare himself, but what is more, that He should deny himself, as if He had nothing in common with himself, but face danger, and look upon such things as if another were suffering; and this is really to spare himself; for parents then most truly act kindly to their children, when they give them up to their masters, with an injunction not to spare them. Again, He shows the degree to which a man should deny himself, when He says, And take up his cross, by which He means, even to the most shameful death.

THEOPHYL. For at that time the cross appeared shameful, because malefactors were fixed to it.

PSEUDO-JEROME; Or else, as a skillful pilot, foreseeing a storm in a calm, wishes his sailors to be prepared; so also the Lord says, If any one will follow me, &c.

BEDE; For we deny r ourselves, when we avoid what we were of old, and strive to reach that point, whither we are newly called. And the cross is taken up by us, when either our body is pained by abstinence, or our soul afflicted by fellow-feeling for our neighbor.

THEOPHYL. But because after the cross we must have a new strength, He adds, and follow me.

CHRYS. And this He says, because it may happen that a man may suffer and yet not follow Christ, that is, when he does not suffer for Christ's sake; for he follows Christ who walks after Him, and conforms himself to His death, despising those principalities and powers under whose power before the coming of Christ, he committed sin. Then there follows For whosoever will save his life shall lose it, but whoever shall lose his life for my sake and the Gospel's, the same shall save it. I give you these commands, as it were to spare you; for whoever spares his son, brings him to destruction, but whoever does not spare him, saves him. It is therefore right to be always prepared for death; for if in the battles of this world, he who is prepared for death fights better than others, though none can restore him to life after death, much more is this the case in spiritual battle, when so great a hope of resurrection is set before him, since he who gives up his soul unto death saves it.

REMIG. And life is to he taken in this place for the present life, and not for the substance itself of the soul.

CHRYS. As therefore He had said, For whoever will save his life shall lose it, lest any one should suppose this loss to be equivalent to that salvation, He adds, For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul, &c As if He said, Think not that he has saved his soul, who has shunned the perils of the cross; for when a man , at the cost of his soul, that is, His life, gains the whole world, what has He besides, now that his soul is perishing? Has no another soil to give for His soil? For a man can give the price of his house in exchange for the house, but in losing his soul he has not another soul to give.

And it is with a purpose that He says, Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? for God, in exchange for our salvation, has given the precious blood of Jesus Christ.

BEDE; Or else He says this, because in the of persecution, our life is to be laid aside, but in time of peace, our earthly desires are to be broken, which He implies when He says, For what shall it profit a man, &c. But we are often hindered by a habit of shamefacedness from expressing with our voice the rectitude which we preserve in our hearts; and therefore it is added, For whoever shall confess me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, him also shall the Son of man confess, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

THEOPHYL. For that faith which only remains in the mind is not sufficient, but the Lord requires also the confession of the mouth; for when the soul is sanctified by faith, the body ought also to be sanctified by confession.

PSEUDO-CHRYS. He then who has learned this, is bound zealously to confess Christ without shame. And this generation is called adulterous, because it has left God the true Bridegroom of the soul, and has refused to follow the doctrine of Christ, but has prostrated itself to the devil and taken up the seeds of impiety, for which reason also it is called sinful. Whoever therefore amongst them has denied the kingdom of Christ, and the words of God revealed in the Gospel, shall receive a reward befitting His impiety, when He hears in the second ,advent, I know you not.

THEOPHYL. Him then who shall have confessed that his God was crucified, Christ Himself also shall confess, not here, where He is esteemed poor and wretched, but in His glory and with a multitude of Angels.

GREG. There are however some, who confess Christ, because they see that all men are Christian; for if the name of Christ were not at this day in such great glory, the Holy Church would not have so many professors. The voice of profession therefore is not sufficient for a trial of faith whilst the profession of the generality defends it from shame. In the time of peace therefore there is another way, by which we may be known to ourselves. We are ever fearful of being despised by our neighbors, we think it shame to bear injurious words; if perchance we have quarreled with our neighbor, we blush to be the first to give satisfaction; for our carnal heart, in seeking the glory of this life, disdains humility.

THEOPHYL. But because He had spoken of His glory, in order to show that His promises were not vain, He subjoins, Verily I say to you, That there be some of them that stand here who shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power. As if He said, Some, that is, Peter, James, and John, shall not taste of death, until I show them, in my transfiguration, with what glory I am to come in my second advent; for the transfiguration was nothing else, but an announcement of the second coming of Christ, in which also Christ Himself and the Saints will shine.

BEDE; Truly it was done with a loving foresight, in order that they, having tasted for a brief moment the contemplation of everlasting joy, might with the greater strength bear up under adversity.

CHRYS. And He did not declare the names of those who were about to go up, lest the other disciples should feel some touch of human frailty, and He tells it to them beforehand, that they might come with minds better prepared to be taught all that concerned that vision.

BEDE; Or else the present Church is called the kingdom of God; and some of the disciples were to live in the body until they should see the Church built up, and raised against the glory of the world; for it was right to make some promises concerning this life to the disciples who were uninstructed, that they might be built up with greater strength for the time to come.

PSEUDO-CHRYS. But in a mystical sense, Christ is life, and the devil is death, and he tastes of death, who dwells in sin; even now every one, according as he has good or evil doctrines, tastes the bread either of life or of death. And indeed, it is a less evil to see death, a greater to taste of it, still worse to follow it, worst of all to be subject to it.

1. And he said to them, Verily I say unto you, that there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.

PSEUDO-JEROME; After the consummation of the cross, the glory of the resurrection is shown, that they, who were to see with their own eyes the glory of the resurrection to come, might not fear the shame of the cross;

wherefore it is said, And after six days Jesus takes with him Peter, and James, and John, and led them up into an high mountain apart by themselves, and he was transfigured before them.

Catena Aurea Mark 8
Catena Aurea Mark 9

Part 1: The Profession of Faith (26 - 1065)

Section 2: The Profession of the Christian Faith (185 - 1065)

Chapter 2: I Believe in Jesus Christ, the Only Son of God (422 - 682)

Article 4: "Jesus Christ suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried" (571 - 630)

Paragraph 1: Jesus and Israel (574 - 594)

530
591
(all)

574

From the beginning of Jesus' public ministry, certain Pharisees and partisans of Herod together with priests and scribes agreed together to destroy him.³¹⁷ Because of certain acts of his expelling demons, forgiving sins, healing on the sabbath day, his novel interpretation of the precepts of the Law regarding purity, and his familiarity with tax collectors and public sinners³¹⁸ — some ill-intentioned persons suspected Jesus of demonic possession.³¹⁹ He is accused of blasphemy and false prophecy, religious crimes which the Law punished with death by stoning.³²⁰

317.

Cf. Mk 3:6; 14:1.

318.

Cf. Mt 12:24; Mk 2:7,14-17; 3:1-6; 7:14-23.

319.

Cf. Mk 3:22; Jn 8:48; 10:20.

320.

Cf. Mk 2:7; Jn 5:18; Jn 7:12, 7:52; 8:59; 10:31, 33.

993
(all)

575

Many of Jesus' deeds and words constituted a "sign of contradiction",³²¹ but more so for the religious authorities in Jerusalem, whom the Gospel according to John often calls simply "the Jews",³²² than for the ordinary People of God.³²³ To be sure, Christ's relations with the Pharisees were not exclusively polemical. Some Pharisees warn him of the danger he was courting;³²⁴ Jesus praises some of them, like the scribe of Mark 12:34, and dines several times at their homes.³²⁵ Jesus endorses some of the teachings imparted by this religious elite of God's people: the resurrection of the dead,³²⁶ certain forms of piety (almsgiving, fasting and prayer),³²⁷ the custom of addressing God as Father, and the centrality of the commandment to love God and neighbor.³²⁸

321.

Lk 2:34.

322.

Cf. Jn 1:19; 2:18; 5:10; 7:13; 9:22; 18:12; 19:38; 20:19.

323.

Jn 7:48-49.

324.

Cf Lk 13:31.

325.

Cf. Lk 7:36; 14:1.

326.

Cf. Mt 22:23-34; Lk 20:39.

327.

Cf. Mt 6:18.

328.

Cf. Mk 12:28-34.

576

In the eyes of many in Israel, Jesus seems to be acting against essential institutions of the Chosen People:

submission to the whole of the Law in its written commandments and, for the Pharisees, in the interpretation of oral tradition;
the centrality of the Temple at Jerusalem as the holy place where God's presence dwells in a special way;
faith in the one God whose glory no man can share.

Catholic Culture

Daily Readings for:February 21, 2014
(Readings on USCCB website)

Collect: Grant, we pray, almighty God, that we may so follow the teaching and example of the Bishop Saint Peter Damian, that, putting nothing before Christ and always ardent in the service of your Church, we may be led to the joys of eternal light. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

RECIPES

o Cream of Chicken Bisque

ACTIVITIES

o Elementary Parent Pedagogy: Teaching Purity at the Elementary Age

PRAYERS

o Prayer for Purity

LIBRARY

o Invincibly Defended by the Banner of the Cross | St. Peter Damian

o Message for the 100th Anniversary of St. Peter Damian | Pope Benedict XVI

o St. Peter Damian | Fr. Paul Haffner

· Ordinary Time: February 21st

· Optional Memorial of St. Peter Damian, bishop and doctor

St. Peter Damian, a man of vehemence in all his actions who was brought up in the hard school of poverty, found that he had the vocation of a reformer. He exercised it in the first place against himself as one of the hermits of Fontavellana in about 1035, but he did not remain for long hidden in his cell: his colleagues soon made him their abbot (1043). In 1057, Stephen IX made him Cardinal Bishop of Ostia. By his preaching and writings he was one of the valuable collaborators of the eleventh century popes in their great work of reform. Pope Leo XII declared him a Doctor of the Church in 1823. His feast is celebrated on February 23 according to the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite.

St. Peter Damian
St. Peter Damian must be numbered among the greatest of the Church's reformers in the Middle Ages, yes, even among the truly extraordinary persons of all times. In Damian the scholar, men admire wealth of wisdom: in Damian the preacher of God's word, apostolic zeal; in Damian the monk, austerity and self-denial; in Damian the priest, piety and zeal for souls; in Damian the cardinal, loyalty and submission to the Holy See together with generous enthusiasm and devotion for the good of Mother Church. He was a personal friend of Pope Gregory VII. He died in 1072 at the age of 65.

On one occasion he wrote to a young nephew, "If I may speak figuratively, drive out the roaring beasts from your domain; do not cease from protecting yourself daily by receiving the Flesh and Blood of the Lord. Let your secret foe see your lips reddened with the Blood of Christ. He will shudder, cower back, and flee to his dark, dank retreat."

In his poem, the Divine Comedy, Dante places Damian in the "seventh heaven." That was his place for holy people who loved to think about or contemplate God.

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

Symbols: Cardinal bearing a discipline in his hand; pilgrim holding a papal Bull, to signify his many legations.

Things to Do:

St. Peter Damian was a great reformer, often prescribing penances and fasting to lax religious. Choose a day every week, most appropriately Friday, on which you will fast and offer penances for specific intentions. Pray especially that our nation and the world will recognize the evil of homosexuality. Pray for those who are guilty of this sin.
Read more about St. Peter Damian at EWTN.
Pray the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Peter Damian revised and recommended it. Go to The Mary Page for a copy.

Doctors of the Catholic Church

Saint Peter Damian

Also known as

Peter Damiani

Memorial

21 February
formerly 23 February

Profile

Youngest child in a large but impoverished family of local nobility. Orphaned young, Peter was sent to live with a brother who mistreated him and forced him to work as a swine-herd. A pious boy, Peter was eventually sent to live with another brother, Damian, a priest in Ravenna, Italy; Peter was so grateful that he took the name Damian. Well educated in Ravenna, in Faenza and in Parma Italy. Professor. He was known for his life of strict austerity.

Around 1035, Peter gave up teaching to retire from the world and become a Benedictine monk. His health suffered, especially when he tried to replace sleep with prayer. He was forced to spend time in recovery; he used it to study Scripture, and when he was healthy, he was assigned to teach his brother monks and then the public. Economus of Fonte-Avellana; prior of the house in 1043, a post in which he served for the rest of his life. He expanded the monastery, greatly improved its library, and founded sister hermitages in San Severino, Gamugno, Acerata, Murciana, San Salvatore, Sitria, and Ocri. Friend of the future Pope Saint Gregory VII.

Attended a synod in Rome in 1047, and encouraged Pope Gregory VI to support a revitalization of Church zeal and clerical discipline. Wrote Liber Gomorrhianus, which described the vices of priests, mainly in their concern with worldly matters, with money, and the evil of simony. Created cardinal-bishop of Ostia on 30 November 1057. Fought simony. Tried to restore primitive discipline among priests and religious who were becoming more and more worldly. Strongly opposed anti-pope Benedict X. Legate to Milan for Pope Nicholas II in 1059; worked there with Saint Ariald the Deacon and Saint Anselm of Lucca. Supported Pope Alexander II.

A prolific correspondent, he also wrote dozens of sermons, seven biographies (including a one of Saint Romuald), and poetry, including some of the best Latin of the time. He tried to retire to live as a simple monk, but was routinely recalled as papal legate, called upon to make peace between arguing monastic houses, clergymen, and government officials, etc. Declared a Doctor of the Church in 1828.

Born

1007 at Ravenna, Italy

Died

22 February 1072 of fever at Ravenna, Italy while surrounded by brother monks reciting the Divine Office
immediately buried in the in the monastery church; there were concerns that others would try to obtain his relics
cultus developed almost immediately after his death
relics moved several times, and since 1898 has been in the Chapel of Saint Peter Damian in the catherdral of Faenza, Italy

Canonized

1823 by Pope Leo XII (cultus confirmation)

Representation

cardinal bearing a whip in his hand
pilgrim holding a papal bull, to signify his many legations

Additional Information

American Catholic
Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
Catholic Culture
Catholic Encyclopedia
Catholic News Agency
Catholic Online
CRadio - audio
Kirken i Norge
Lives of the Saints, by Father Alban Butler
New Catholic Dictionary
Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints
Pictorial Lives of the Saints
Santi e Beati
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Svetniki
uCatholic

Readings

Let us faithfully transmit to posterity the example of virtue which we have received from our forefathers. - Saint Peter Damian

The Word Among Us

Meditation: James 2:14-24, 26

Saint Peter Damian, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

Faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead. (James 2:17)

Even in the early Church, the debate about faith and works was a heated one! But here, James is telling us that faith is not something just to be talked about; it’s to be lived! As followers of Christ, we demonstrate the extent of our faith all day long, consciously or unconsciously, by the way we live.

Our works don’t earn us salvation. However, we make our love of God visible through the things we do. Abraham demonstrated his faith when he trusted God and prepared to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice. Mother Teresa demonstrated her faith when, even though she didn’t feel God’s presence, she continued to serve the poor, encourage her sisters, and trust God’s providence. Neither of these friends of God was saved because of his or her actions, of course, but their actions did give us a glimpse into the faith that supported everything they did.

What James is pointing to here is the “wheel of holiness.” God gives us the gift of faith. With that faith, we seek his presence in prayer and are moved deeply when he touches our hearts. Changed by what we have experienced, we find ourselves becoming more generous and selfless. This self-giving in turn nourishes our love for God and our desire to be with him, so we return to him in prayer. And so it continues. We form habits of holiness; we become more disposed toward God; it becomes more natural for us to demonstrate our faith in our everyday situations.

No matter where you are in this circle, let God take you farther! Do you have faith? Great! Act on it. Find someone today who needs you, and help him or her out. Are you busy working for God’s kingdom? Keep it up, but make sure you are cultivating your spiritual life as well. Righteousness isn’t about proving yourself by your deeds; it’s about letting your faith show itself. It’s about embracing all that God has done for you and wanting more. It’s not talking about faith but showing it in the way you live!

“Thank you, Father, for the gift of faith! Draw me close to you so that my faith makes itself known in every choice I make and every word I speak. I don’t want just to sound like a believer; I want to be one!”

Psalm 112:1-6; Mark 8:34–9:1

Vultus Christi

God Alone

Friday, 21 February 2014 20:06

I continue here my translation of Mother Mectilde’s writing on prayer as given in Mère Marie–Véronique’s book, Catherine de Bar, Itinéraire spirituel. It is evident to one familiar with such shining spiritual doctors as Saint Teresa of Avila and Blessed Marie of the Incarnation, that Mother Mectilde belongs to the same company of chosen souls, graced by God with a marvelous ability to set forth the experience of interior prayer with clarity and simplicity. Mother Mectilde knows by experience that the soul drawn by God into the grace of contemplative prayer passes through successive seasons of purification. Reading Mother Mectilde makes one want to set out on the journey.

A Half–Way Light

[The contemplative soul passes] from perception by means of the senses to comprehension by the mental faculties or reason and. then, from this to the light of faith, beyond which comes another light, which one might call a half–way light between the light of glory and the light of faith. In this light the soul is possessed of God, who acts upon her as a painter applies different brush strokes to the canvas prepared for his work. At first, it seems that God stills all the soul’s faculties, which He holds bound and in darkness. The spirit is a bit restless, and then remains as if all lost in God, and God is the soul of its soul, in such wise that if God moves, something happens; if not, the soul rests in Him in patience and humility.

Repose and Quietness

At other times God manifests His presence as if He were withdrawn into Himself. The soul recognises that He is present and holds herself in respect before Him, like a valet in the presence of his master. In the nothingness of all operations, the soul enjoys a grand repose and quietness, neither wanting to be, nor being applied to anything in particular. This is the most ordinary disposition [of one] in this state of silence.

Nought but God and His Good Pleasure

At other times, the soul feels a plenitude of God that seems to take full possession of her. Sometimes the senses participate in this by the relish and sweetnesses communicated to them. And if the soul is continually ready to be sacrificed, and held captive by an impression of the holy love that detaches her from everything, she can want nought but God or His good pleasure.

Not by Reason

The understanding seems lifted into this light, and this without the operations of reason but, rather, by a prompt and sudden manifestation causing so instantaneous a change in the soul that she becomes aware of it only after she is established therein.

God Soothes the Afflicted Soul

When, at other times, the soul is cast down within herself, it seems that God manifests Himself to her to soothe her, to instruct her, and to raise her up. Finally, according to her need, He speaks a few distinct words to her, which, all of a sudden, lift her up to God. The soul has nothing to do in this state; she has only to receive passively and to leave God to his repose within her.

Simplicity and Recollection

In this state, the soul must simple, abandoned, simplified, humble, faithful to her duties and, above all, she must avoid the dissipation of the senses, the wanderings of the mind, and rushing about interiorly or exteriorly. Purity of heart and of conscience and the disengagement of the mind are absolutely necessary.

Experience the Best Teacher

To speak of the deaths, the agonies, the temptations that one must suffer to arrive at this . . . experience will teach it better than the discourse of a simple and ignorant girl. But, in the end, the fruits that one gathers from this are most sweet. The peace that the soul tastes causes her to pass over many a difficulty and to recognise that God alone can satisfy our spirit.

The Gift of Understanding

I want to say that the soul, in the state of interior silence, receives another light that illumines the light of faith. Its special characteristic is to captivate and subject human understanding to the truth of the mysteries taught us by faith. In this way the understanding is raised aloft with such certitudes of the things proposed to her that she could never doubt of them. This, according to my thinking, may be called the gift of understanding that the Holy Spirit pours forth into the soul.

Without Rule and Method

In this state of interior silence, one can give no law, nor exercise, nor can the soul bear any of these things. She must wait and receive in all simplicity what is given her. Her rule and method is to be unable to have any, given that, in this way, she is acted upon, and not herself acting.

In relation to this magnificent text, Mother Mectilde writes to Monsieur de Bernières on 7 December 1648 that she finds herself in a dark night where she clings to nought but a naked faith, stripped of all consolation. This little fragment is, to my mind, one of Mother Mectilde’s most beautiful writings. I have long wanted to translate it.

Abandoning Myself Without Return

Our Lord leads me by [the way of] darkness and poverty. I no longer know what He will make of me. I no longer have any knowledge; I relish nothing; I see nothing; I no longer know anything except that one must lose oneself and, even then, I do not know how to go about losing myself. All that I can do is remain at peace while abandoning myself without return to the divine leading.

Regnum Christi

The Transforming Power of the Cross

| SPIRITUAL LIFE | SPIRITUALITY

Friday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

Mark 8: 34-9:1

He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. And he said to them, "Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the kingdom of God has come with power."

Introductory Prayer: O Lord, this day you wish to take away from me any false ideas about what it means to be your friend. I believe that by attending to the sacred message of your cross, I can learn authentic love of you and your Kingdom. In your cross is an example of every virtue I need and every goal I wish to attain. In the cross there is hope, an all-powerful hope that transcends every human disappointment. I wish to carry my cross with joy as a token of my love and gratitude to you.

Petition: Lord, make the cross a singular place of friendship with you in my life.

1. Becoming Through Suffering: Most people move through the day with self-preservation and self-interest influencing their decision-making. Choosing a harder road can still be a self-interested affair, if people seek their own advancement in life. Christ’s message is not simply about a work ethic—sweating, toiling and sacrificing to be successful. The self-denial that is asked of a Christian goes deeper than that. It must reach into that place where we try to preserve ourselves and our most cherished desires. Nothing teaches Christ’s lesson better than the crosses that have surprised us, the crosses that were not planned or wanted. Every step with these crosses on our backs is true following, true loving, true salvation without delusion or bitterness.

2. Following or Leading?One day Mother Teresa saw one of her sisters headed out into the streets with a long face. She called her over and said, “What did Jesus say, to carry the cross in front of Him or to follow Him?” The sister responded, smiling, “To follow Him.” Mother then asked, “Why are you trying to go ahead of Him?” (Mother Teresa: Come be My Light, p.221) “The cross of Christ” is not just the rightful assumption of the weight of a holy life, it is also an attitude. The wrong attitude can crush our spirits and make us suffer like a pagan: alone. Humble faith reveals the One we follow, who shows us the way, who sustains our hope, and who leads us to profound Christian joy.

3. Sacrificial Love and Life Are Inseparable: Seeing the Kingdom in power is a consequence for those who suffer for Christ. Our Lord guarantees this: Love will never be defeated in this life or the next. Although they might seem to have suffered in vain, many saints saw the glory of the Lord in special moments during their life and in abundance after they passed to heaven. The incorrupt, the documented miracles of intercession, the great movement of spirituality in the Church—all these attest that God will never let love for him be separated from the coming of his Kingdom in power.

Conversation with Christ: Lord, bring my soul to the cross without fear, trusting in its mysterious power to change me and the world around me. I should not withdraw from life when it wounds me. May I resolve in every low moment, when Christ asks for more from me, to live the resolution of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta: “A hearty ‘Yes’ to God, and a big smile for all” (Mother Teresa: Come be My Light, p.217).

Resolution: At night I will examine well my attitudes towards difficulties and ensure that they reflect the spirit of a true disciple.

One Bread One Body

One Bread, One Body

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All Issues > Volume 30, Issue 2

<< Friday, February 21, 2014 >>

St. Peter Damian

James 2:14-24, 26
View Readings

Psalm 112:1-6

Mark 8:34—9:1
Similar Reflections

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"If anyone in this faithless and corrupt age is ashamed of Me and My doctrine, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes with the holy angels in His Father's glory." —Mark 8:38

The Lord is well aware that He sends us forth to witness in an unfavorable and even hostile situation, to a "faithless and corrupt age." Nonetheless, He challenges us to boldly proclaim Him and His teaching. If we let ourselves be intimidated by negative circumstances, Jesus will be ashamed of us "when He comes with the holy angels in His Father's glory" (Mk 8:38).

This takes away one of our best excuses for not being Jesus' witnesses. We rationalize not speaking up for Jesus because the people in a particular situation are not open or ready for the Gospel. However, the Gospel itself opens people to the Gospel. People don't need to be ready for it, but we need to be ready for them by obeying Jesus.

Jesus sent His disciples to proclaim the Gospel to all creation (Mk 16:15). They did not "pick their spots." They were not reacting to circumstances, but the circumstances were reacting to them. We don't have to inform the Lord about how hard and resistant are the hearts of those to whom He sends us. He knows the situation.

Our job is to obey Him. His job is to open people's hearts, save them, and lead them into everlasting life. Therefore, in Jesus' name go with the Gospel to all people, even to the "faithless and corrupt."

Prayer: Father, may my heart overflow with love for You, and may I speak from the abundance of my heart (Lk 6:45).

Promise: "You must perceive that a person is justified by his works and not by faith alone." —Jas 2:24

Praise: St. Peter Damian was an orphan who later became an international peacemaker. "Blessed too the peacemakers; they shall be called sons of God" (Mt 5:9).

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Day 74 - Why did Jesus die on a Cross?

Saint Peter Damian

Meditation: James 2:14-24, 26

Marriage=One Man and One Woman 'Til Death Do Us Part

One Bread, One Body

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