Today, the liturgy permits an optional memorial of SAINT CASIMIR, King of Poland (1458-1483).

Casimir, the second son of Casimir III, King of Poland, was born in 1458. From the custody of a very virtuous mother, Elizabeth of Austria, he passed to the guardianship of a devoted master, the learned and pious John Dugloss. Thus animated from his earliest years by precept and example, his innocence and piety soon ripened into the practice of heroic virtue.

In an atmosphere of luxury and magnificence the young prince fasted, wore a hair shirt, slept upon the bare earth, prayed by night, and watched for the opening of the church doors at dawn. He became so tenderly devoted to the Passion of Our Lord that at Mass he seemed quite rapt out of himself; his charity to the poor and afflicted knew no bounds.

His love for our Blessed Lady he expressed in a long and beautiful hymn, familiar to us in English as “Daily, Daily, Sing to Mary”. At the age of twenty-five, sick with a long illness, he foretold the hour of his death, and chose to die a virgin rather than accept the life and health which the physicians held out to him in the married state.

The miracles wrought by his body after death fill an entire volume. The blind saw, the lame walked, the sick were healed, a dead girl was raised to life. At one time the Saint in glory, seen in the air by his army, led his Catholic countrymen to battle and delivered them by a wondrous victory from the schismatic Russian hosts.

One hundred and twenty-two years after his death Saint Casimir’s tomb in the cathedral church of Vilna was opened, that the holy remains might be transferred to the rich marble chapel where it now lies. The place was damp, and the very vault crumbled away in the hands of the workmen; yet the Saint’s body, wrapped in robes of silk, still intact, was found whole and incorrupt, and emitting a sweet fragrance which filled the church and refreshed all who were present. Under his head was found his hymn to Our Lady, which he had had buried with him.

* * * * * *

THE VISITATION OF ST. ISIDORE PARISH



Father Virgil Amirthakumar and Deacon Des Adams head up the team at St. Isidore's

St. Isidore's has a long history, having begun in 1836 as the "Mission in March", attached to St. Patrick's Parish in Fallowfield, and whose log cabin was blessed in 1840 by Mgr Bourget of Montreal.





The parish is currently planning the construction of a new church to meet the needs of a growing parish, anticipating future growth. Besides three Masses celebrated in the Church on Saturday at 5PM and on Sunday at 8:30 and 11:30, a Mass that can accommodate more worshippers is offered at 10AM in All Saints Catholic High School.



Besides presiding at the Masses and greeting the faithful, there was a delicious supper prepared by the Knights of Columbus (with assistance from the Catholic Women's League for the desserts) in the parish hall for representatives of the Pastoral and Finance Councils as well as members of other parish committees.



There were opportunities for all to present a sense of their achievements and goals, along with their concerns and questions. Father Muldoon took notes and I responded to the presentations, then took additional questions. There are worries about the debt being assumed in the construction of the church (although $1.6M has been collected or pledged), concerns about how to reach out to the younger generations and whether the Archdiocese will be able to supply a priest for the parish in the longer term future.



On Sunday, after the last Mass, a reception was held in the Parish Hall. The CWL also served a home-cooked lunch to close out the visitation. Photos of this visit to a lively worshipping community are interspersed with highlights of the history of the parish:



The steeple had become precarious and was removed in autumn 2009

1850 The chapel was enlarged; in 1861, the first baptism registered in the parish was John Fahey, son of William Fahey and Margaret King by Fr. M. Molloy; in 1864, the first marriage was performed on November 9, uniting Michael Fahey, son of John Fahey and Nancy Kinly, with Elizabeth, daughter of William Tracey and Rachel Day. In 1869, the first funeral was on July 12 for Michael Ahearn, 75 years old.






In 1883, the mission was named "St. Isidore" by Archbishop Joseph Thomas Duhamel of Ottawa in a pastoral letter; in 1887, the present church was built and blessed by Archbishop Duhamel on October 9. In 1891, a 740-pound bell, which was christened St. Anne, was purchased from Mr. Henry McShane and blessed by Archbishop Duhamel on November 15. In 1898, a five-acre field was purchased, a cemetery was established, and a rectory was under construction; in 1899 the rectory was completed.

In 1900, Father Thomas John Brownrigg became the first full-time resident priest of the parish, and in 1922 Electricity came to St. Isidore: $974 was spent on wiring and fixtures for the church and rectory. In 1924, the first telephone bill amounting to $20.28 for the year was paid to the Monk Rural Telephone Company; in 1927 under the direction of Fr. John Cunningham, 35 ladies of the parish gathered in the rectory to form St. Isidore Catholic Women's League.

In 1934, Fr. Philip C. Harris organized the installation of the memorial stained glass windows; indoor plumbing was installed in the rectory at a cost of $322.44. In 1946, the beautiful statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary was installed on the front lawn of the rectory; in 1961 a new organ was purchased for $1,595. Around this time, the beautiful lighted cross was donated by Ed and Laura Kennedy and installed in the steeple.



In 1966, the church interior is changed to conform to the new liturgy and language changes made in keeping with liturgical directives inspired by the Second Vatican Council. The high altar and communion rail were removed, new platforms were built and confessionals added to the back of the church and removed from the sacristy. The total cost of the renovations amounted to $65,000. Sunday masses were held in St. Isidore School until renovations were completed in 1967.



In 1976, Fr. Francis J. McEvoy encouraged the ladies of the parish to re-establish the Catholic Women's League which had faded from lack of support in the early 1970s. In 1979, the church hall was opened and in 1987, the 100th anniversary of the church was celebrated.



Part of the assembled members of the congregation at the Saturday evening dinner, exchange

In the United States today, an optional memorial of St. Katherine Drexel is permitted. Her story is so gripping and inspiring, it bears sharing:

If your father is an international banker and you ride in a private railroad car, you are not likely to be drawn into a life of voluntary poverty. But if your mother opens your home to the poor three days each week and your father spends half an hour each evening in prayer, it is not impossible that you will devote your life to the poor and give away millions of dollars. Katharine Drexel did that.

She was born in Philadelphia in 1858. She had an excellent education and traveled widely. As a rich girl, she had a grand debut into society. But when she nursed her stepmother through a three-year terminal illness, she saw that all the Drexel money could not buy safety from pain or death, and her life took a profound turn.

She had always been interested in the plight of the Indians, having been appalled by reading Helen Hunt Jackson’s A Century of Dishonor. While on a European tour, she met Pope Leo XIII and asked him to send more missionaries to Wyoming for her friend Bishop James O’Connor. The pope replied, “Why don’t you become a missionary?” His answer shocked her into considering new possibilities.

Back home, she visited the Dakotas, met the Sioux leader Red Cloud and began her systematic aid to Indian missions.

She could easily have married. But after much discussion with Bishop O’Connor, she wrote in 1889, “The feast of St. Joseph brought me the grace to give the remainder of my life to the Indians and the Colored.” Newspaper headlines screamed “Gives Up Seven Million!”

After three and a half years of training, she and her first band of nuns (Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament for Indians and Colored) opened a boarding school in Santa Fe. A string of foundations followed. By 1942 she had a system of black Catholic schools in 13 states, plus 40 mission centers and 23 rural schools. Segregationists harassed her work, even burning a school in Pennsylvania. In all, she established 50 missions for Indians in 16 states.

Two saints met when she was advised by Mother Cabrini about the “politics” of getting her Order’s Rule approved in Rome. Her crowning achievement was the founding of Xavier University in New Orleans, the first Catholic university in the United States for African Americans.

At 77, she suffered a heart attack and was forced to retire. Apparently her life was over. But now came almost 20 years of quiet, intense prayer from a small room overlooking the sanctuary. Small notebooks and slips of paper record her various prayers, ceaseless aspirations and meditation. She died at 96 and was canonized in 2000. (--Saint of the Day, http://www.AmericanCatholic.org)

Katharine was beatified by Pope John Paul II on November 20, 1988 and canonized on October 1, 2000. The Vatican identified in Katharine a fourfold legacy: A love of the Eucharist and her perspective on the unity of all peoples; courage and initiative in addressing social inequality among minorities; her efforts to achieve quality education for all; and her selfless service, including the donation of her inheritance, for the victims of injustice. She is known as the Patron Saint of racial justice and of philanthropists.

Prayer of the Optional Memorial

Ever-loving God, You called Saint Katharine Drexel to teach the message of the Gospel and to bring the life of the Eucharist to the African American and Native American peoples. By her prayers and example, enable us to work for justice among the poor and the oppressed, and keep us undivided in love in the eucharistic community of Your Church. 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. Amen.

* * * * * *

ST FRANCIS XAVIER AND THE NOVENA OF GRACE

The typically Jesuit Novena of Grace, begun in 1643 by an Italian devotee of St Francis Xavier, still draws crowds in many Jesuit parishes from March 4-12 (the illustration is from last year's observance in Dublin's St. Francis Xavier Church). Perhaps this permits the faithful to celebrate St. Patrick (whereas those making the Novena to St. Joseph or to the Canadian Martyrs, who were devotees of Our Lord's foster-father are jsut getting underway on March 12).

The Novena of Grace originated in Naples, Italy in 1643. The Novena of Grace owes its origin to St. Francis Xavier. In December 1633 Fr. Marcello Mastrilli, SJ was at the point of death when St. Francis Xavier appeared to him and asked him to renew a vow he had made to labor in Japan. St Francis promised that all who implore his help for nine consecutive days and worthily receive the sacraments of penance and the Holy Eucharist on one of the nine days would experience his protection and hope to obtain from God any grace they ask for the good of their souls and the glory of God. Fr. Mastrilli was instantly cured. The spiritual and temporal favors, which have been obtained through the novena, caused it to become known as the Novena of Grace. It is celebrated from March 4th to March 12th, the anniversary of the canonization of St. Francis Xavier.

* * * * * *



Francis was born in Navarre, northern Spain in 1506. His university studies brought him to Paris where he met Inigo, later Ignatius, a mature student from the same part of Spain. Inigo was hell-bent on getting creative and ambitious people to make the Spiritual Exercises he had put together. These were a series of prayer exercises over thirty days to find out the will of God in one’s life and to follow Jesus Christ.

Eventually Francis agreed to do this, and thus began the journey of life which would eventually bring him as a missionary to India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan and to his death within sight of China in 1542 at the young age of 46. His memory is dear to Jesuits all over the world, and in many places this devotion has taken root in his honour.

The Novena is simply nine days of prayer, bringing intentions to the Lord and opening ourselves to his grace. Its special focus is on the following of Jesus in the life of St Francis Xavier, listening to the word of God in the Eucharist and following responses to it in the homily. We come in trust to God that God is interested in our life and in our needs.

Many intentions are for loved ones – that sons and daughters may come back to practice of faith, that someone may give up drink, drugs or crime. That someone might find a marriage partner or happiness in marriage. People pray for jobs for themselves and for the family. For cures from depression and illness, that family conflicts may be resolved and that loved ones may rediscover faith in God. The petitions cover most human needs and hopes.

The novena brings the ordinary yet deep cares of life to God, based on the faith that God does care for our lives and that our concerns are his concerns. It is centred on the liturgy of the Mass, is rooted in the bible in its readings and homilies on the Scriptures; it is focussed on Jesus Christ ,whom Francis Xavier loved and served, and is a popular and communal renewal of people’s faith in people.

Is it old-fashioned? Yes and no. Its tradition is long, some of the hymns are the old favourites, while others are more up to date. The language of the prayer can vary whether the more traditional prayer is used or the modern version. It presents no magical formula.

In good gospel tradition it hears the words of Jesus, ‘ask and you shall receive’, and we ask knowing that God always gives something through prayer. People say they have received a particular intention, and this is part of why people come. Nobody goes away disappointed from God, even if the specific intention is put on hold.
(from http://www.amdg.ie/2009/02/24/novena-of-grace/)

The Novena

DAILY SEQUENCE

1. Take a moment in quiet to put yourself in God’s presence and to think of your particular intention for this novena.

2. Read the biographical section and the questions for reflection for each day.

3. Spend some quiet time meditating on the reading or how you have responded to the questions.

4. Pray the Our Father, the Hail Mary and the Glory Be to the Father.

5. Close with the following prayer:

O most kind and loving saint, in union with you I adore the Divine Majesty. The remembrance of the favors with which God blessed you during life, and of your glory after death, fills me with joy; and I unite with you in offering to God my humble tribute of thanksgiving and of praise.

I implore of you to secure for me, through your powerful intercession and the all important blessing of living and dying in the state of grace. I also beseech you to obtain the favor I ask in this Novena (here ask the favor you wish to obtain), but if what I ask is not for the glory of God or for the good of my soul, obtain for me what is most conducive to both. Amen


DAY ONE

Francis is born into a rich family: Francis was born in 1506, into an aristocratic family. When he was 19, he went to Paris to study, to help the family fortune by becoming a cleric. By his own account, he was more interested in the parties than in studies.

Reflection: How has my family and my upbringing influenced my life and my choices?

DAY TWO

Francis meets Ignatius Loyola: Ignatius was twice as old as Francis, and saw potential in the young man from his part of the country. It took 5 years of each man getting to know the other, but finally Francis let Ignatius direct him in the Spiritual Exercises and his life was changed forever. He decided to give his life to serving God.

Reflection: Who has been influential in my life? Have I ever examined my life and my goals in quiet prayer? What role does God play in my life today?

DAY THREE

Francis and the First Companions are ordained: Ignatius and Francis gathered around them a group of young men with whom they prayed and planned for the future. They decided to be ordained and to go to Rome to offer themselves at the service of the Pope. Eventually they decided to form a religious order, the Society of Jesus.

Reflection: Who are my companions? Do I ever share spiritual desires with my friends, or invite them to share theirs with me? Is my faith a part of my character that I share with others? Am I willing to ask for help – from others, and from God?

DAY FOUR

Francis is secretary to Ignatius: When he joined with Ignatius and the other companions, their idea was “to do great things for God.” Others were sent to councils and to deal with Kings and princes. Ignatius asked Francis if he would stay with him in Rome and help deal with the management of the new religious order. For someone who wanted to “go forth,” this must have been a difficult assignment.

Reflection: How do I react when asked to do something I don’t want to do? How do I deal with difficult challenges in my life? Where is God in my decision-making?

DAY FIVE

Francis is sent to India: At the last moment, Francis took the place of another Jesuit who had fallen ill. With no preparation or even a chance to pack, he left to spread God’s word in foreign places. He never returned to Rome or saw Ignatius again.

Reflection: Am I ready if God calls me for a special mission? Am I listening for God’s voice in my life? Does prayer appear on my schedule every day?

DAY SIX

Francis baptizes thousands: Francis worked tirelessly wherever he went, and he traveled throughout the lands of India and Japan for many years. Everywhere he went he taught and preached and above all, baptized. Although he was often alone and sometimes became discouraged, he was always cheerful and energetic in his work.

Reflection: How do I react when things are difficult? Do I easily get discouraged? Am I open to new challenges in my life? What really excites me?

DAY SEVEN

Francis goes to Japan: Always looking for new souls to save, Francis managed to spend almost three years working in Japan. He learned Japanese customs so he could better explain the beliefs of Christianity.

Reflection: Am I open to learning new ways of doing things? Do I assume that “my ways” are automatically better? Am I willing to try to explain my faith to others?

DAY EIGHT

Francis preaches by his life: When Francis went to Japan, he had a translator but he was limited by not being able to speak the language. But he soon started to make many converts, because they were impressed that the way he lived his life so closely reflected what he preached.

Reflection: What do people learn about me from the way I live? Am I embarrassed at sharing my faith in public? Do I live what I say I believe?

DAY NINE

Francis dies overseas: Francis did not know that Ignatius had sent for him to come home; the letter arrived after he died. Legend has it that he died on the beach, looking across the ocean at China, the land he never reached.

Reflection: How do I imagine my death? What can I learn about my life by reflecting on the life of Francis Xavier? How do I want to be remembered?

Questions to ask myself each day: What have I done for Christ? What am I doing for Christ? What will I do for Christ?

Although Gatineau is part of the National Capital Region and I often find myself driving over the Alexandra and Portage interprovincial bridges (often as a shortcut around traffic in front of Parliament Hill), I have rarely attended events there.

On Friday evening, however, I was invited to be a presenter when the Church's Communications et Societe juries invited me to take part in presentations on winning books in the spirituality and society realm.





Thus, did I come to attend the 31e Salon du livre de l'Outaouais - 25 au 28 février, 2010 at the Palais des congrès de Gatineau.



The Archbishop of Gatineau, Mgr Roger Ebacher was also a presenter and a brother bishop, Emeritus Archbishop of Rimouski Bertrand Blanchet one of the laureates for his recent book on bioethics.

Mgr Ebacher, left and Madame Danielle Bougie make presentation to Mgr Blanchet, right

I took the opportunity to visit the booths which featured a vast array of books in every field and of every sort in the French language.



I met numerous priests and religious in my browsing, as well as parishioners from Paroisse St-Remi, Ottawa and Paroisse St-Benoit Labre, Wendover.



As well, I found myself unexpectedly spenting quite a bit more on books than I had imagined. Scattered about are photos from my excursion.



* * * * * *

POPE BENEDICT XVI'S MONTHLY PRAYER INTENTIONS

The Holy Father recommends the following universal intentions for March:

General - The World Economy: "That the world economy may be managed according to the principles of justice and equity, taking account of the real needs of peoples, especially the poorest."

Mission - Churches in Africa: "That the Churches in Africa, may be signs and instruments of reconciliation and justice in every part of the world."

* * * * * *

Father Bill Ryan Speaks on the Holy Father's Third Encyclical



Last evening at St. Paul's University, I joined a good throng who came to hear a Harvard-trained Jesuit economist speak on Pope Benedict XVI's 2009 encyclical on the world economy and social order Charity in Truth (Caritas in veritate). He suggested that heeding the teaching contained in it could unleash a revolution of love that would tranform our world.

As this is also the theme of this month's papal prayer intention, the Apostleship of Prayer (http://www.apostleshipofprayer.org/reflectionsMonthly.html) offers the following reflection:

Speaking of last year's global financial collapse, Pope Benedict said "it was precisely from this root of covetousness that the crisis sprang" (General Audience, April 22, 2009). Economic and political solutions can go only so far to fix the economy. What is needed is a spiritual solution to a spiritual problem: prayer.



The Holy Father asks us to pray that the economy be managed with justice and equality, mindful of the "needs of peoples, especially the poorest." It is the poorest who are most forgotten and denied their rights to what is necessary for life - food, shelter, and medical care.

Lent is a good time to pray and give alms. Can we sacrifice something so we can give something more to others?

Can we see all of humanity with the Heart of Jesus, recognizing our solidarity in one family? We pray for the development of a truly Christian world economy.

Pope Benedict concluded his third encyclical, Charity in Truth, with these words:
"Development needs Christians with their arms raised towards God in prayer... Development requires attention to the spiritual life, a serious consideration of the experiences of trust in God, spiritual fellowship in Christ, reliance upon God's providence and mercy, love, and forgiveness, self-denial, acceptance of others, justice and peace. All this is essential if 'hearts of stone' are to be transformed into 'hearts of flesh,' rendering life on earth 'divine' and thus more worthy of humanity" (Ezekiel 36:26).

Jesus once said, "Man was not made for the Sabbath, but the Sabbath for man." Today we might alter those words to say, "Man was not made for the economy, but the economy for man." In other words, what is primary is the sacred human person made in God's image and likeness.



* * * * * *

A Lenten Prayer over the Faithful



Graciously hear the cries of your faithful, O Lord, and relieve their weariness of soul, that, receiving forgiveness, they may ever rejoice in your blessing. Though Christ our Lord.

ONE PICTURE SAYS IT ALL (I'm a hockey fan):

Congratulations to all the athletes who took part in the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games!

* * * * * *

WALES' NATIONAL PATRON SAINT

Today in Wales, the Church celebrates the national patron, St. David (520 - 588).

Although much has been written about him, very little is known for certain of the life of David (in Welsh, Dewi Sant). He was probably born in Cardigan in about 520 and received his early training from St. Illtyd. He attracted many postulants to the monasteries he founded, all of which were remarkable for the austerity of their rule of life.

Consecrated bishop, according to his biographer, in Jerusalem, he was recognised as primate of Wales and established his see at Mynyw (Menevia), the monastery of which he was abbot and where he died about the year 588. He belonged to the great monastic movement which became influential in Wales in the sixth century and had links with monasticism in Gaul and in Ireland: indeed, the earliest references to David are in Irish annals. He was canonized by Pope Callistus II in 1123.

* * * * * *

CL FOUNDER REMEMBERED AT MEMORIAL MASS

Last Monday evening, the Feast of the Chair of Peter and the fifth anniversary of the death of Don Luigi Giussani, founder of Communion and Liberation. On that occasion, I presided at Mass for the local chapter of CL. Here is an excerpt from my homily:

Aujourd’hui, nous nous souvenons du Saint-Père et des évêques partout dans le monde, qui tous partagent l’autorité du magistère dans leurs Églises particulières ou dans des ministères spécialisés. Il est clair que, dans chaque cas, le don est donné et non pas mérité. Il s’agit d'un don accordé gratuitement par le Père des Cieux, communiqué par le Saint-Esprit, et fait au nom de Jésus.

Dieu est le pasteur de nos vies, comme nous le proclamons par le répons du psaume. Il veille sur nous à chaque étape de nos vies, jusque dans la vallée des ténèbres et de la mort. Nous ne craignons aucun mal, car son bâton et sa houlette nous réconfortent.

Pierre, à la fin de sa longue histoire d’amour avec le Seigneur, qui le conduirait bientôt à donner sa vie par amour du Christ, pousse ses confrères-surveillants à être prêts à se sacrifier dans leur ministère:

« J’exhorte donc les anciens qui sont parmi vous, moi qui suis ancien avec eux et témoin des souffrances du Christ, moi qui ai part à la gloire qui va être révélée : Paissez le troupeau de Dieu qui vous est confié, non par contrainte, mais de bon gré, selon Dieu; non par cupidité, mais par dévouement. N’exercez pas un pouvoir autoritaire sur ceux qui vous sont échus en partage, mais devenez les modèles du troupeau. Et quand paraîtra le souverain berger, vous recevrez la couronne de gloire qui ne se flétrit pas » (1 Pierre 5, 1-4).

Five years ago today, Don Luigi Giussani, the founder of a movement that came to be known as Communion and Liberation was called home to God by the Lord Jesus Christ. Cardinal Ratzinger, our present pope was sent by Pope John Paul II as his legate to the funeral ceremony in Milan.



On that occasion, he testified to the way in which Don Giussani had allowed himself to be led by Christ in a loving relationship from his earliest years, just as Peter had from the moment of his first encounter with Jesus: “This love affair with Christ, this love story which is the whole of his life, was however far from every superficial enthusiasm, from every vague romanticism. Really seeing Christ, he knew that to encounter Christ means to follow Christ.

“This encounter is a road, a journey, a journey that passes also–as we heard in the psalm–through the ‘valley of darkness.’ In the Gospel, we heard of the last darkness of Christ’s suffering, of the apparent absence of God, when the world’s Sun was eclipsed. He knew that to follow is to pass through a ‘valley of darkness,’ to take the way of the cross, and to live all the same in true joy.

Pourquoi en est-il ainsi? Le Seigneur lui-même a traduit ce mystère de la croix, qui est en réalité le mystère de l'amour, par une formule dans laquelle s'exprime toute la réalité de notre vie. Le Seigneur dit: ”Qui cherche sa vie la perdra et qui perd sa propre vie la trouvera".

Dom Giussani voulait réellement ne pas garder sa vie pour lui, et il a donné sa vie; c'est précisément ainsi qu'il a trouvé la vie non seulement pour lui, mais aussi pour tant d'autres. Il a réalisé ce que nous avons entendu dans Évangile: il ne voulait pas être un maître, il voulait servir, il était un fidèle 'serviteur de Évangile', il a distribué toute la richesse de son coeur, il a distribué la richesse divine de Évangile, dont il était imprégné et, servant ainsi, en donnant la vie, celle-ci a porté des fruits abondants - comme nous le voyons en ce moment - . Il est réellement devenu le père d'une multitude, ayant guidé toutes ces personnes, non pas vers lui, mais vers le Christ, il a vraiment gagné les coeurs, et contribué à améliorer le monde, à ouvrir les portes du monde pour le ciel.



Joseph Ratzinger et Luigi Giussani étaient tous deux possédés par la conviction que notre relation de foi n’est pas une expression de moralisme. Elle est plutôt une réponse profonde, dans la joie et l’amour, à l’expérience d’une rencontre avec la Vérité, le Bien et le Beau, avec Dieu qui s’est manifesté d’une façon suprême, complète, en Jésus.

Nous ne devenons pas bons et honnêtes, et nous ne nous conduisons pas de façon correcte afin que Dieu nous accepte. Mais plutôt, toute bonté, vérité et beauté inhérentes à nos vies et à nos actions, viennent de notre réponse à Dieu qui, le premier, nous a aimés. C’est notre réponse d'amour.

St. Francis Xavier expressed this in a lovely poem, O Deus, Ego Amo Te, translated touchingly by his brother Jesuit, the poet Gerard Manley Hopkins:

O GOD, I love thee, I love thee-
Not out of hope of heaven for me
Nor fearing not to love and be
In the everlasting burning.
Thou, thou, my Jesus, after me
Didst reach thine arms out dying,
For my sake sufferedst nails, and lance,
Mocked and marred countenance,
Sorrows passing number,
Sweat and care and cumber,
Yea and death, and this for me,
And thou couldst see me sinning:
Then I, why should not I love thee,
Jesu, so much in love with me?
Not for heaven's sake;
not to be out of hell by loving thee;
Not for any gains I see;
But just the way that thou didst me
I do love and I will love thee:
What must I love thee, Lord, for then?
For being my king and God. Amen.

Voilà la raison pour laquelle nous évitons le péché – non pas parce qu’il y a des règles qui doivent être observées. Mais parce que nous aimons le Christ, lui qui nous a aimés le premier. Les éléments de cet amour sont : prier, éviter le péché, évangéliser comme André a fait en cherchant son frère Pierre et l’apportant a Jésus (Jean 1, 40-42) ou la Samaritaine qui a partage la bonne nouvelle avec ses concitoyens (Jean 4, 39-42), et poser des gestes de charité de toutes sortes envers notre prochain.

Alors que nous poursuivons notre célébration de la sainte Eucharistie, acte suprême d’amour de Dieu pour nous dans le Christ, souvenons-nous du témoignage de saint Pierre et de Don Giussani, et demandons la grâce de vivre et d’aimer comme ils l’ont fait.



* * * * * *

Loss of one of our residents

On Friday, Abbé Marcel Gauthier passed away after a long convalescence since suffering a fall in our house in autumn 2008.

Marcel always had a lilt in his speech, a twinkle in his eye and a bounce in his step; I delighted in getting to know him when I first came to Ottawa. We talked often of his years as Pastor of St. Bernard's, Blossom Park (at that time a bilingual parish) and later of his more than twenty years at Paroisse St-Thomas d'Aquin across Kilborn Place from the Diocesan Centre. He was reckoned one of the last of the "immoveable pastors" (prior to the establishment, in the post-conciliar period, of term limits for pastoral appointments).

Born on July 19, 1921, he was ordained on June 15, 1946 and passed away on February 26, 2010. Funeral details are pending. Please join with me in commending him to Christ the Good Shepherd, whose care of souls he strove to imitate. (The photograph was taken on August 14, 2008 at an informal gathering on the patio of our residence.)

Here are some reflections on the readings for this Second Sunday of Lent, which always features the Lord's Transfiguration to strengthen his followers in their journey of inner renewal during this holy season:

"HE WILL TRANSFORM THE BODY OF OUR HUMILIATION" [Texts: Genesis 15:5-12,17-18 (Psalm 27); Philippians 3:17-4:1; Luke 9:28b-36]

What to make of the mystery of the Transfiguration? This remains a puzzle in New Testament research and in Christian spirituality.

Some scholars detect in the Transfiguration story features found in the Resurrection appearances breaking into the public ministry of Jesus (e.g., white garments, the shining of the garments, fear).

In the post-Easter narratives, however, an angel or Jesus generally gives specific individuals a commission to proclaim the Resurrection. By contrast, after the Transfiguration, a command to silence is given the disciples by Jesus in the gospels of Mark and Matthew. Luke simply observes that 'the disciples kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen'.

The Transfiguration remains a unique episode in the public ministry of Jesus that heralds both His coming Passion and Exaltation.

Jesus goes up the mountain to pray (only Luke gives this reason), during which He is transfigured. The Transfiguration prepares for a meeting with 'two men,' who are identified as Moses and Elijah. Now the disciples, who have been kept out of view, are grafted into the scene, managing to overcome sleep to witness the heavenly trio of Jesus, Moses and Elijah.

Subtly, the perspective shifts to the interior experience of Peter, James and John. As the heavenly visitors prepare to leave, Peter tries to prevent the ending of their mystical experience. The rejoinder to Peter's remark comes not from Jesus but from an enveloping cloud that both reveals and conceals God's presence.

Evoking an awesome fear, God's voice from heaven declares that Jesus' suffering path to glory (His 'exodos', poorly rendered as 'departure') cannot be bypassed by extending this foretaste of resurrection glory. Once God's voice has spoken, the scene reverts to what it was before the Lord's prayer, Jesus alone with His chosen disciples. The stunned disciples not unnaturally keep to themselves what they have gone through.

Though the Lectionary selection omits it, the introductory verse of the Transfiguration story says that the Transfiguration took place 'eight days after' Jesus had begun to teach His followers that He would suffer, die and rise (Luke 9:21-22). Immediately after that prophecy, Jesus declared that any who wanted to be disciples had to take up their cross and follow Him (9:23-26).

Peter, James and John had to learn from Jesus a great deal, which they would share later with the church. They had to listen attentively, for much of what they were hearing was not what they expected. This is why the divine voice offered assurances that what Jesus taught about suffering was pleasing to God ('this is My Son, My Chosen; listen to Him').

Paul challenged his Philippian converts to imitate him in his following of Jesus. For the true disciple of Jesus there remains the promise of one day sharing the glory of His Transfiguration ('He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of His glory').

The first reading also reflects the biblical invitation that believers look beyond present circumstances to the hope-filled future being prepared for them by God.

Having grown old without seeing fulfilled God's promise that he would have offspring, Abram brought his complaint before God. The Lord promised Abram that, despite appearances to the contrary, his posterity would be as numerous as the stars in the night sky.

The closing actions of the Abram story depict a covenant-making ceremony. The sacrificial cutting of animals in two indicated that the parties entered into a solemn pledge. Each solemnly bound the other to be willing to die--like the sacrificed animals--if he failed to adhere to the promises made.

Here, however, it was God alone (symbolized by the 'smoking fire pot' and 'flaming torch' passing between the victims) who made the death-defying commitment. Though 'a deep sleep fell upon Abram and terrifying darkness descended upon him', he received God's offer of land which his progeny would occupy ('to your descendants I give this land').

We learn in the Genesis reading that Abraham (Abram's later name), believed God 'and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness'. In his epistle to the Romans, Paul described such a trusting disposition as the characteristic of every believer (cf. Romans 1:17).

* * * * * *

"Spiritual consolation" as a help in daily life

Father Jack Mahoney has some insights on how God's consolation, shown Jesus and his disciples in the gospel, can, when it is given us in prayer, spiritual experiences, help our daily dedication to the Lord's way:

Another point to consider is Peter’s feeling that it was ‘good’ for the disciples to be there on the mountain top along with the glorified Jesus and Moses and Elijah, and that when Moses and Elijah were about to depart Peter wanted to keep them all together and to prolong the experience.

This recalls the point beloved of traditional retreat givers, that we may on occasion experience a feeling of spiritual pleasure or contentment, or what St Ignatius of Loyola called ‘consolation’ in prayer; that we want to maintain the spiritual glow of devotion and are sorry to feel it go.

How are we to handle what we may call the ‘re-entry’ problem, that of reluctantly returning from a state of spiritual delight to the mundane realities and distracting chores of daily life? Peter did not appreciate that the shared experience of the Transfiguration was to prepare him and his fellows, as well as Jesus, for the distress and desolation which they were soon to experience when Jesus completed his journey to Jerusalem, as Luke points out (9:31).

The point is well captured by St Ignatius in his comment on ‘rules for discernment of spirits’ in the first week of the Spiritual Exercises: ‘let any who are in consolation think how they shall carry themselves in the desolation that will come afterwards, gathering new strength for that time.’

That seems to be Luke’s point for his readers, and the Church’s point for us at this stage in Lent: assurance and divine encouragement from the Transfiguration of Jesus, to keep going in following Jesus and to trust God in whatever future he may have in mind for us. (Read more at: http://www.thinkingfaith.org/articles/20100224_1.htm)

* * * * * *

The Pastoral Visitation of St. Isidore's Parish (South March/Kanata) continues this weekend.

Here are some photos of an hour spent on Friday afternoon with the residents of Forest Hill Long Term Care Home:

Lancement Carême de Partage / Share Lent Launch 2010

On Monday, I joined some fifty of the clergy and faithful of the Archdiocese at Ottawa's St. Joseph Parish for the official launch of this Lent's campaign to turn the fruits of our fasting, abstinence and other sacrifices to support the poor of the world. Several other speakers spoke to the needs of the poor for the contributions in solidarity.

In addition to photos taken on that occasion, here are my remarks:

Jésus a dit à ses premiers disciples : «Donnez-leur à manger ». La Lettre encyclique Caritas in Veritate lance le même défi lorsque le Pape Benoît XVI nous rappelle que nourrir nos sœurs et nos frères dans le besoin est « …un impératif éthique pour l’Église universelle, qui répond aux enseignements de solidarité et de partage de son Fondateur, le Seigneur Jésus. »

En tant que disciples du Christ et membres de l’Église universelle d’aujourd’hui, relevons le défi évangélique afin d’aider à nourrir plus d’un milliard de nos frères et sœurs qui, dans le monde entier, luttent chaque jour pour trouver suffisamment de nourriture pour eux-mêmes et pour leurs familles. La crise alimentaire est loin d’être terminée pour eux.

ShareLent provides an opportunity to respond to this challenge. Our gifts will grow as they are used by Development and Peace partners to improve the quality of life for people in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.

On behalf of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, I encourage you to support the work of Development and Peace by giving generously to Share Lent. Together, we can watch our gift grow. In 2010, your solidarity can help reduce world hunger.

Autour du thème « Elle cultive votre don. En 2010, toutes et tous solidaires contre la faim dans le monde », nous pouvons utiliser le Carême, ce temps privilégié de conversion fournit aux catholiques, comme l’occasion de tourner nos regards vers les plus démunis de la planète et de poser des gestes de solidarité et de compassion. Voilà le jeûne qui plaît à Dieu (Isaie 58, 5).

Développement et Paix, organisme officiel de l’Église catholique au Canada pour la solidarité internationale et membre canadien de Caritas Internationalis, nous lance un vibrant appel à l’endroit des communautés des pays du Sud. C’est pourquoi le Carême de partage vise trois objectifs: d’abord le renouvellement de l’esprit du Carême, l’éducation du public sur le développement international et la levée de fonds.

During Lent 2010, the parishes of the Ottawa Archdiocese have an opportunity to meet one of the challenges of their faith, by participating in the mission of the church to help break the chains of poverty and exclusion.


On Sunday March 21, through their Share Lent contributions, Canadian parishioners will help the poor through the work of Development and Peace. This will help the victims of economic injustice and political oppression; they will provide hope, help and dignity by supporting projects in 40 countries.

Le Pape Benoît XVI, dans son encyclique « Caritas in veritate », rappelle que chaque personne sur terre a le droit fondamental à la vie. Nous devons toujours nous en souvenir, et lorsque nous faisons du bien aux pauvres, cette vérité doit sous-tendre les efforts pour soulager toute pauvreté et souffrance. Par son comité spécial de surveillance, la Conférence des évêques catholiques du Canada veut que toute activité de Développement et Paix porte la marque de cette vision.

For several months now, Benedict XVI's third encyclical titled Caritas in Veritate (Charity in Truth) has been inviting Catholics to search for the positive aspects of globalization, that is, those with universal values.

“Charity in truth, to which Jesus Christ bore witness" is "the principal driving force behind the authentic development of every person and of all humanity". Pope Benedict reminds us that "charity is at the heart of the Church's social doctrine".


Actuellement, l’heure est à la solidarité dans plusieurs parties du monde et particulièrement en Haiti dévasté par le tremblement de terre du 12 janvier dernier. Par l’appui financier des catholiques et des personnes de bonne volonté pendant le Carême 2010, Développement et Paix pourra poursuivre le mandat reçu en 1967 de la Conférence des évêques catholiques du Canada, inspiré de « Popularum Progressio » de Paul VI.

“Love is God’s greatest gift to humanity; it is God’s promise and our hope.” ShareLent is an occasion that allows us to renew our hearts, and demonstrate that our decisions and actions truly reflect our beliefs, and our humanity to the world.



* * * * * *

Yesterday, Episcopal Vicar Father Joseph Muldoon and I headed west to St. Isidore's Parish to begin the Pastoral Visitation that will continue this weekend.

The two elementary schools St. Isidore's (next to the church on March Road) and Georges Vanier School (Kanata) welcomed us warmly as may be seen by the following photos:

Visit to St. Isidore's School (South March)

The bishop's staff is called a "crozier", his high hat a "miter"

Several students got to come up and ask questions, "How do you get to be a bishop?"

The children of St. Isidore's school

Visit to Georges Vanier Elementary School (Kanata)

Family members came to the school to take part in the episcopal visitation assembly

The Georges Vanier children who will celebrate First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion this year

"Did you really get that cross from Pope Benedict?"

Almost everyone wants to ask a question

* * * * * *

Lenten Prayer over the People



May the blessing for which they have longed strengthen your faithful, O God, so that, never straying from your will, they may always rejoice in your favours. Through Christ our Lord.


(artwork by a student of Georges Vanier School)

Living the Catholic Faith in 2010

The Diocese of London created a lecture series in honour of Bishop John Michael Sherlock upon his retirement in 2002.

They were initially held in St. Peter's Cathedral Basilica, then last year at King's College, University of Western Ontario and this year the lecture was held on Wednesday night in the auditorium of St. Peter's Seminary.

Newly appointed Seminary Rector Father Stephen Wlusek (at left, welcoming everyone) was our host for the evening.

The timing was somewhat precarious for me as we had two Pastoral Days scheduled this week: for the English Sector on Wednesday and for the Francophone Sector yesterday. But Air Canada Jazz had a direct flight to London on Wednesday afternoon at 4:30 and a return flight on Thursday morning at 8:10, which should have allowed a neat fit.

However air travel in winter can be problematic, with the result that yesterday the plane that should have taken us to Ottawa by 9:40 was delayed by de-icing at Toronto Pearson, its point of origin, and then a mechanical failure of some kind that developed in the air, resulting in the delay of most of the morning's flights leaving London for Ottawa and Toronto.

After being re-routed through Toronto, I arrived at Ottawa International at 2:30PM, just slightly after the Pastoral Day had wrapped up.

The "Journey of a Bishop" sometimes encounters bumps on the road (or in the air)!

Herewith photos from Wednesday evening's event:

Alex Schadenberg of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, one of the evening's promoters, and Bishop John Michael Sherlock, who graciously introduced the speaker

The assembly 20 minutes before the talk; chairs were continually added and it was SRO as we began

* * * * * *

Prayer over the People



Look with favour on your people, Lord, that what their observance declares outwardly may take effect more deeply within them. Through Christ our Lord.

A Visit to Sherbrooke...

Last week, I spent several days (Wednesday-Friday) at the Famille Marie-Jeunesse centre in Sherbrooke (QC). This was to offer a short course on the Resurrection of Jesus.

During my time there I had a chance to play hockey with the young members (male and female), some of whom, hailing from Belgium and Ile de la Reunion, had never been on skates before coming to Canada.

Thursday evening, to mark the Year of Priests, I shared some reflections on my experience of priesthood and listened to those of the younger priest-members and took discernment questions.

Friday was my birthday, so a cake was presented and songs sung. It was a lovely and lively interlude.

Wednesday evening hockey under the lights (it was easier next afternoon)

Young and old face off

A pause between course sessions

Famille Marie-Jeunesse founder Real

The young priests and those discerning a call to the priesthood

Being serenaded after the birthday cake candle was extinguished

* * * * * *

...and a Stopover in Montreal

On the way home to Ottawa, I broke the trip with an overnight visit at the Loyola Jesuit Community in Montreal where the first year novices and Jesuits working on a history project at the newly-opened Archives got together for supper.

Joining with the Jesuit Community at the Loyola Residence in west end Montreal






The library of the new Jesuit Archives in Montreal

New facilities of the Archives for both Jesuit Canadian Provinces were recently inaugurated

Jesuits at the new Archives facilities in Montreal working on a history of the English-speaking Jesuit Province

Archbishop Pedro Lopez Quintana, named as the Apostolic Nuncio to Canada on December 10, arrived in Ottawa yesterday to take up his duties.

While it will take some time to schedule a meeting with Governor General Michaelle Jean because of her other commitments, His Excellency will begin to feel comfortable in his new home, get to know his collaborators at the Nunciature and begin to meet the bishops of Canada.




Archbishop López Quintana served as Apostolic Nuncio, or the Vatican's ambassador, to India and Nepal from 2003 until his recent nomination. He succeeds Archbishop Luigi Ventura, who served in Ottawa from 2001 until his appointment as Nuncio to France in September.

Born in Barbastro, Spain, on July 27, 1953, López Quintana was ordained to the priesthood in 1980, entered the Holy See’s diplomatic service in 1984 and was ordained bishop in 2003. He has also served in the apostolic nunciatures of Madagascar, the Philippines and India, as well as in the Holy See’s Secretariat of State, where he served as Assessor for General Affairs.

The archbishop holds a Doctorate in Canon Law and speaks French, English, Italian and Portuguese in addition to Spanish.

In the late afternoon, I joined the staff of the Nunciature to travel to Ottawa International to welcome the Nuncio to our country and city. Some photos:

A striking painting serves as the backdrop for the welcoming delegation

Canadian consular official welcomes the Vatican's envoy

Relaxing in the diplomatic lounge while awaiting the arrival of luggage

* * * * * *

LENTEN MESSAGE ON YouTube



At the top right of this blog page, you will find posted an expression of my Lenten letter and encouragement of Lectio divina, produced by Ted Hurley, Ottawa's English-sector Youth Director.

A Lenten Prayer over the People inviting God's cleansing of the Church's catechumens and those renewing their baptismal commitment to Christ:

Keep guard over your people, Lord, and graciously cleanse them from all sins, for no adversity will harm them if no iniquity rules them. Through Christ our Lord.

Today the liturgy permits an optional memorial of St. Polycarp of Smyrna, who had known those who had known Jesus; he was a disciple of St. John the Apostle, who had converted him around the year 80 AD.

He taught, says his own pupil Irenaeus of Lyons, the things that he learned from the Apostles, which the Church hands down, which are true. Irenaeus, who as a young boy knew Polycarp, praised his gravity, holiness, and majesty of countenance. He had lived near Jerusalem and was proud of his early associations with the Apostles.

Polycarp became bishop of Smyrna and held the see for about 70 years. He was a staunch defender of orthodoxy and an energetic opponent of heresy, especially Marcionism and Valentinianism (the most influential of the Gnostic sects). Toward the end of his life he visited Pope St. Anicetus in Rome and, when they could not agree on a date for Easter, decided each would observe his own date.

To testify his respect and ensure that the bonds of charity were unbroken, Anicetus invited Polycarp to celebrate the Eucharist in the papal chapel on this occasion.

Polycarp suffered martyrdom with 12 others of his flock around the year 156.

* * * * * *

Le Jour du Seigneur at Ottawa's Cathedral

The First Sunday of Lent was a very busy day with the first of a series of weekly broadcasts of Mass from Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica on Le Jour du Seigneur, on SRC/Radio-Canada, the francophone branch of the CBC.

As a way of covering budgetary shortfalls due to cuts and to meet the public demand for the Lord's Day Mass on television, the Ottawa bureau of SRC proposed locating the equipment and stay in one church for protracted periods. Thus, Eglise St-Sebastien in Vanier-Overbrook was host for seven weeks in the fall of 2009. This time it is the turn of the Cathedral. The main French liturgy normally celebrated at 10:30 has been advanced to 10 o'clock until Easter 2010 and all the Lenten Masses will be telecast through Easter (except for next Sunday).

This Sunday, I presided at the first of these Eucharists from the Cathedral. They may be viewed on demand from the website by clicking on derniere emission, or the Sunday in question (at http://www.radio-canada.ca/television/seigneur/).

Last minute consultations take part in the sacristy prior to the Mass

Notre Dame Cathedral Rector, Father Paul McKeown OSM, greets friends visiting from Magog (QC) following Le Jour du Seigneur Mass

Production equipment for the televised Mass takes up space in the sacristy

Cameraman completes the taping as parishioners recess after Mass

* * * * * *

Rite of Election and Candidacy

A standard celebration on the afternoon of the First Sunday of Lent is the "election" (calling those God has chosen) of the catechumens who will be fully initiated into life with Christ by the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist). The catechumens are accompanied by Catholic men and women who form the team who carry out the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) in their parishes.

I am always encouraged by this ceremony and the opportunity this affords me to welcome those who will be joining the Church at Easter. There is a follow-up Mass for the Neophytes (those "new-born" into Christ) after Easter -- this year at the 7:30PM Mass at Notre Dame Cathedral on April 18, 2010. Some scenes from Sunday afternoon's gathering:

A catechumen from Holy Korean Martyrs Parish is presented by his sponsor

Father Lindsay Harrison, pastor of Holy Name of Mary, Almonte, calls the name of a candidate

Candidates for Full Communion with the Catholic Church stand with their sponsors as their names are called

A reception followed downstairs in the parish hall

Posing for a photo marking a memorable day

* * * * * *

News services are drawing attention to the forthcoming introduction of a new translation of the Roman Missal expected to come into effect in Advent 2011. Here is some background information on programs being set up to acquaint priests and people for the transition:

New Words: A Deeper Meaning, but the Same Mass

The Missale Romanum (the Roman Missal), the ritual text for the celebration of the Mass, was first promulgated by Pope Paul VI in 1970 as the definitive text of the reformed liturgy of the Second Vatican Council. A second edition followed in 1975.

Pope John Paul II issued a revised version of the Missale Romanum during the Jubilee Year 2000. The English translation of the revised Roman Missal has been completed, and the Bishops of Canada, the United States and a dozen other nations approved the final sections of the text in late 2009.

Among other things, the revised edition of the Missale Romanum contains prayers for the observances of recently canonized saints, additional prefaces for the Eucharistic Prayers, additional Votive Masses and Masses and Prayers for Various Needs and Intentions, and some updated and revised rubrics (instructions) for the celebration of the Mass.

The English translation of the Roman Missal will also include updated translations of existing prayers, including some of the well–known responses and acclamations of the people.



The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has devoted a section of their website (http://www.usccb.org/romanmissal/) to help Catholics prepare for the transition . As this site continues to be expanded, it will offer helpful resources for the faithful, for the clergy, and for parish and diocesan leaders. Similar preparatory materials are being readied for use in Canada by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.

It is hoped that this process leading to the implementation of the revised Roman Missal in English (the First Sunday in Advent 2011 is the projected date for its launch) will be a time of deepening, nurturing, and celebrating our faith through our worship and the celebration of the Sacred Liturgy.

Every year on February 22, the Church celebrates the feast of the Chair of St. Peter, to commemorate St. Peter's teaching in Rome. Already in the second half of the 18th century an ancient wooden chair inlaid with ivory was venerated and traditionally held to be the Episcopal chair on which St. Peter sat as he instructed the faithful of Rome.

In fact, it is a throne in which fragments of acacia wood are visible, which could be part of the chair of St. Peter, encased in oak and reinforced with iron bands. Several rings facilitated its transportation during processions.

Pope Alexander VII commissioned Bernini to build a sumptuous monument which would give prominence to this ancient wooden chair. Bernini built a throne in gilded bronze, richly ornamented with bas-reliefs in which the chair was enclosed: two pieces of furniture, one within the other. On January 17, 1666 it was solemnly set above the altar.

The base of the altar is made of black and white marble from Aquitaine and red jasper from Sicily. Four gigantic statues (about 5 m. tall) in gilded bronze surround the Chair which looks almost as if it were suspended amidst the clouds.

The two outer statues are figures of two Doctors of the Latin Church: St. Ambrose and St. Augustine; the two inner statues, with bare heads, are of two Doctors of the Greek Church: St. Athanasius and St. John Chrysostom. These saints represent the catholicity of the Church and at the same time, the consistency of the theologians' teaching with the doctrine of the Apostles.

Above the Chair are two angels bearing the tiara and keys, symbols of the Roman pontiff's authority. On the Chair, are three bas-reliefs picked out in gold, which refer to the same number of Gospel episodes: the Consignment of the keys, Feed my sheep, and the Washing of the feet.

The whole composition is crowned by the fantastic gilt and stucco Gloria peopled by a host of angels among rays of light and gigantic billowing clouds. In their midst is the precious window of Bohemian glass, divided into twelve sections as a tribute to the Twelve Apostles; a brilliant dove stands out against it, the symbol of the Holy Spirit, the soul of the Church which he never ceases to help and to guide.

Vanvitelli decorated the vault with gilded stucco. In the three medallions are portrayed: the Consignment of the Keys, the Crucifixion of St. Peter and the Beheading of St. Paul.

* * * * * *

It was on this feast day in 1995 that Pope John Paul II named me Titular Bishop of Slebte (Saint Fiacre-among-the-mountains, Ireland) and Auxiliary Bishop of Toronto.

How these 15 years have just flown past!

Te Deum laudamus....

* * * * * *



Pope Benedict XVI spoke on the meaning of this feast in 2006:

Dear Brothers and Sisters! The Latin liturgy celebrates today the feast of the Chair of Peter. It is a very ancient tradition, witnessed in Rome since the end of the fourth century, which renders thanksgiving to God for the mission entrusted to the Apostle Peter and his successors.

"Cathedra" literally means the established seat of the bishop, located in the mother church of a diocese, which for this reason is called "cathedral," and it is the symbol of the authority of the bishop and, in particular, of his "magisterium," that is, of the evangelical teaching that he, insofar as a successor of the apostles, is called to guard and transmit to the Christian community.

When the bishop takes possession of the local Church that is entrusted to him, he, bearing the miter and the shepherd's crosier, sits on the cathedra. From that seat he will guide, as teacher and shepherd, the journey of the faithful in faith, hope and charity.

Which was, then, the "cathedra" if St. Peter? He, chosen by Christ as "rock" on which to build the Church (cf. Matthew 16:18), began his ministry in Jerusalem, after the ascension of the Lord and Pentecost. The first "seat" of the Church was the Cenacle, and in all probability in that room, where Mary, the Mother of Jesus, also prayed with the disciples, a special place was reserved for Simon Peter.

Subsequently, the see of Peter was Antioch, a city situated on the Orontes River in Syria, today Turkey, which at the time was the third metropolis of the Roman Empire after Rome and Alexandria in Egypt. Of that city, evangelized by Barnabas and Paul, where "for the first time the disciples were called Christians" (Acts 11:26), Peter was the first Bishop.

In fact, the Roman Martyrology, before the reform of the calendar, established also a specific celebration of the Chair of Peter at Antioch (January 18). From there, Providence led Peter to Rome, where he concluded with martyrdom his course of service to the Gospel. For this reason, the See of Rome, which had received the greatest honor, received also the task entrusted by Christ to Peter of being at the service of all the local Churches for the building and unity of the whole People of God.

In this way the See of Rome came to be known as that of the Successor of Peter, and the "cathedra" of its Bishop represented that of the apostle charged by Christ to feed all his flock. It is attested by the most ancient Fathers of the Church, as for example St. Irenaeus, bishop of Lyon, who in his treatise "Against Heresies" describes the Church of Rome as "greatest and most ancient, known by all; … founded and constituted at Rome by the two glorious Apostles Peter and Paul"; and he adds: "With this Church, because of her outstanding superiority, the universal Church must be in agreement, that is, the faithful everywhere" (III, 3, 2-3).

Tertullian, for his part, affirms: "How blessed this Church of Rome is! The Apostles themselves shed on her, with their blood, the whole of the doctrine" ("La Prescrizione degli Eretici," 36). The Chair of the Bishop of Rome represents, therefore, not only his service to the Roman community, but also his mission of guide of the whole People of God.

To celebrate the "Chair" of Peter, as we do today, means, therefore, to attribute to it a strong spiritual significance and to recognize in it a privileged sign of the love of God, good and eternal Shepherd, who wants to gather the whole of his Church and guide her along the way of salvation.

Among so many testimonies of the Fathers, I would like to refer to that of St. Jerome, taken from a letter of his to the Bishop of Rome, particularly interesting because he makes explicit reference in fact to the "chair" of Peter, presenting it as the safe harbor of truth and peace. Jerome writes thus: "I decided to consult the chair of Peter, where that faith is found exalted by the lips of an Apostle; I now come to ask for nourishment for my soul there, where once you received the garment of Christ. I follow no leader save Christ, so I enter into communion with your beatitude, that is, with the chair of Peter for this I know is the rock upon which the Church is built! ("Le Lettere," I, 15,1-2).

Dear Brothers and Sisters, in the apse of St. Peter's Basilica, as you know, is found the monument to the Chair of the Apostle, a mature work of Bernini, made in the shape of a great bronze throne, supported by the statues of four Doctors of the Church, two from the West, St. Augustine and St. Ambrose, and two from the East, St. John Chrysostom and St. Athanasius.

I invite you to pause before that evocative work, which today it is possible to admire decorated with so many candles, and pray in a particular way for the ministry that God has entrusted to me. Raising one's gaze to the alabaster glass window that opens precisely above the chair, invoke the Holy Spirit, so that he will always sustain with his light and strength my daily service to the whole Church. For this, as for your devoted attention, I thank you from my heart.

In my letter to the Faithful of the Archdiocese of Ottawa for Lent 2010, I encouraged the practice of Lectio divina. Here is a sample of the Holy Reading of Scripture, illustrated by references to the Readings for this First Sunday in Lent (Year “C”):

“THE WORD IS NEAR ... ON YOUR LIPS, IN YOUR HEART” [Texts: Deuteronomy 26:4-10 [Psalm 91 (90)]; Romans 10:8-13; Luke 4:1-13]

Besides fasting and almsgiving, Christian tradition emphasizes greater attention to the life of prayer during Lent. Lectio divina or “holy reading” is particularly appropriate as disciples of Jesus “prepare to celebrate the paschal mystery”—the Lord's Supper, the Commemoration of the Passion and the Easter Vigil—“with mind and heart renewed” (Preface of Lent 1).

Devotional perusal of the Sunday (or daily) Lenten Scriptures may take a variety of forms. The following pattern, with four phases (reading, meditating, praying, contemplating), is an ancient form dating to medieval times. It is offered as one model that may prove fruitful for followers of Jesus when practised regularly for 10-30 minutes at a time.

Beginning Lectio Divina

Before Lectio Divina one becomes aware of God’s presence and asks that one’s prayer be directed to God’s glory and one’s personal good. Then, one begins the four steps without being too preoccupied; the important thing is to delight in being with God for this short period of time.

1. Reading (Lectio) reverently the scriptural story of Jesus' temptations takes very little time. However, the first part of lectio divina consists in quiet repetitions of the text, savouring its special quality and noting specific features. For example:

In the opening words, the reader learns that Jesus was said both to be “full of the Holy Spirit” and “led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days He was tempted by the devil”.

At the end of the forty days three of Jesus' temptations were singled out for mention (“command[ing] this stone to become a loaf of bread”; worshipping the devil to receive the glory and power of “all the kingdoms of the world”; and throwing Himself down from the Temple pinnacle so that God might rescue Him).

In each instance, Jesus refuted the devil with a quotation from the Book of Deuteronomy, a text which Jesus Himself must have meditated on often. The narrative concludes by observing that “when the devil had finished every test” (were the three simply typical ones?), he departed from Him “until an opportune time” (i.e., the Passion, when “Satan entered into Judas Iscariot” [22:3]).

Unlike the accounts of Mark and Matthew, Luke said nothing about angels coming to minister to Jesus after the temptations (cf. Mark 1:13; Matthew 4:13). Later, Luke alone noted the presence of a comforting angel during Jesus' Gethsemane prayer (Luke 22:43-44).

2. Meditating (Meditatio) consists in diligent mental reflection upon the truth hidden in the reading. Some such thoughts might include the fact that, like Jesus. Moses and Elijah had fasted for forty days at critical periods in their ministry. That Adam, in paradise, and Israel, for forty years in the wilderness, failed the test of temptation and trial, but Jesus did not.

When one attempts to visualize the scene of the temptations, one notes that there is something mystical about the second and third temptations (the devil showed Jesus “in an instant all the kingdoms of the world”; and “the devil placed Jesus on the pinnacle of the Temple”). Still the issues were real. Jesus seized what was at stake, and refused to be taken in.

3. Praying (Oratio) means a persevering appeal for divine help in achieving communion with God. It often issues spontaneously from the steps of reading and meditating, as persons see their relationship with Jesus or the issues at stake in their lives before God.

What Paul said to the Romans in the second reading—quoting Deuteronomy as Jesus did –is an apt commentary on this third step of lectio divina, “The Word is very near you, on your lips and in your heart” (cf. Deuteronomy 30:14). Now, the issue becomes one of belief in the heart that moves to expression (“for one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved”). One prays in one's own words or in a formula such as today's psalm (“be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble”).

4. Contemplating (Contemplatio) may be defined as the fruit of God's compassionate response by which devout hearts raise their gaze to God in sentiments of faith, hope and love. At this point, the disciple of Jesus attempts to speak intimately to God—as to a friend—about the matters pondered in prayer.

Just as the Israelite identified with Israel's history when he and his family came before the Lord at harvest time (“A wandering Aramean was my ancestor... The Lord brought us out of Egypt”, so the Christian identifies with Jesus who has won the victory over temptations. The story of Jesus and the Christian gradually become one through prayer.

Concluding the Lectio divina

As the time set aside draws to a close, in the Holy Spirit one speaks simply to God the Father and to Jesus His Son, closing with the Our Father or some other favourite prayer.

* * * * * *

Mes armes sont la prière et le sacrifice que je garderai jusqu’ à mon dernier soupir; là seulement, celle du sacrifice tombera, mais celle de la prière viendra avec moi ou elle sera plus puissante que sur la terre

(Sainte Bernadette)


Let your bountiful blessing come down upon your people, Lord we pray, that their hope may grow in tribulation, their virtue be strengthened in temptation, and eternal redemption be given them. Through Christ our Lord.

(Prayer over the People, First Sunday of Lent)


* * * * * *

It's a wrap for Winterlude 2010...

The snow sculpture by the team from Newfoundland and Labrador

A labyrinth not made of corn stalks but shoulder high snow banks...

Inner tubes are as good for snow as water slides....

Last Saturday, I met with a dozen young people--some teenagers, most twenty-somethings--who are taking part in a discernment program about God's will for their lives, called "Duc in altum". We celebrated the Eucharist, shared lunch and some dialogue on heeding Jesus' teaching on the evangelical counsels (poverty, chastity, obedience).

Here are some features of the process as described in the original website:



DUC IN ALTUM: Ottawa! “Put out into the deep.” (Luke 5:4)

Dear Young Friends in Christ, Remember our beloved JP II who encouraged us to: DUC IN ALTUM: Ottawa! «Put out into the deep.» Luke 5:4

Have you ever asked yourself ...
•What am I doing with my life?
•How do I find out what God wants me to be and do?
•How do I discern? How do I decide and follow through?

Well, discovering our purpose in life requires that we «put out into the deep»!

Take time to read about the following amazing opportunity to dedicate
«A year for your future»!Why DUC IN ALTUM can be “A year for your future”?
•Gives you space for discernment in a group environment!
•Gives you the gift of personalized accompaniment!
•Identifies avenues for personal growth and service of life!

What is this project DUC IN ALTUM “A year for your future”?
•It is an innovative journey requiring a faithful and faith-filled commitment.
•It is a journey of discovery of God's dream for you!
•It is an invitation to a commitment of participation on a journey that includes:
•a personal accompaniment process;
•a group journey with prayer and reflection over a yearly period of eight encounters - ◦2009-2010

Topics of the various encounters include: discernment, personal accompaniment, Lectio Divina, Prayer, Identity, Marriage, Theology of the Body, Reconciliation, Evangelical counsels, Vocation and Mission, Experience of various Worship and prayer experiences: Eucharist, Penance, Liturgy of the Hours, Adoration, meditation, etc.



For whom? •For young adults, (ages 20-35) who are journeying in their faith formation and relationship with Christ;
•For young adults who are asking themselves «How can I respond to God's call to happiness?»

Speakers: Various guests speakers & witness talk given by Bishops, priests, deacons, religious and married couples.

Need to clarify some of your thoughts about this: Learn more about the benefits, process, guest speakers, topics, cost, and team from Ted.

Who will lead us? •A team of passionate and dedicated people who want to give their time and energy to people wanting to know who Christ is in their lives! In collaboration with the Archdiocesan Youth Office and the Office for English Pastoral Services.



* * * * * *

Winterlude/Bal de neige images

Today, Pope Benedict XVI at a consistory of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, announced the forthcoming canonization of Blessed André Bessette.

The ceremony will take place at Rome on October 17 in St. Peter's Square in front of the Vatican Basiica with five other men and women saints (No doubt, Australia will be there in force for canonization of Mary McKillop, their first saint). This is thrilling news for Montreal, Canada, the Oratory and the Congregation of the Holy Cross. If possible, I hope to attend as I have felt a special devotion to Brother André since my childhood.

The President of the Canadian Bishops' Conference released a statement to mark this historic occasion:

Statement welcoming news of the canonization of Brother André

It is with much joy that the Bishops of Canada welcome today's announcement by Pope Benedict XVI of the canonization of Brother André.

Brother André lived his life with great humility. Guided by a deep faith and devotion to Saint Joseph, he dedicated his life to praying, serving the poor, welcoming strangers, healing the sick and comforting the suffering. To this day, his memory remains an important witness to all Canadians of faith and love.

As the Holy Father has said so well on another occasion, “Visiting a botanical nursery garden, one is amazed by the variety of plants and flowers, and often one is drawn to think of the imagination of the Creator who has given the earth a wonderful garden. A similar feeling of wonder strikes us when we consider the spectacle of sainthood: the world appears to us as a ‘garden’, where the Spirit of God has given life with admirable imagination to a multitude of men and women saints, of every age and social condition, of every language, people and culture.

Every one is different from the other, each unique in his or her own personality and spiritualcharism. All of them, however, were impressed with the ‘seal’ of Jesus (cf. Book of Revelation 7.3) or the imprint of his love witnessed through the Cross. They are all in joy, in a festival without end, but, like Jesus, they achieved this goal passing through difficulties and trials (cf. Revelation 7.14), each of them shouldering their own share of sacrifice in order to participate in the glory of the Resurrection” (Angelus message, 1 November 2008).

May the canonization of Brother André be a moment of rejoicing throughout our country. May his legacy remind us of what each of us can achieve through faith and love. In his own words, “It is with the smallest brushes that the artists paint the most beautiful pictures.”

Most Reverend Pierre Morissette, Bishop of Saint-Jérôme
President, Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops
February 19, 2010

* * * * * *

Winterlude/Bal de neige--last weekend coming up

One of Canada's military helps a young lad get a start on snow-shoeing

The entrance to the snow labyrinth

On Saturday evening (the eve of St. Valentine's Day), I attended the Fourth Annual Fundraising Gala for Ottawa's independent Catholic elementary school, Maryvale Academy, whose theme was LOVE.

It was held at the St. Elias Banquet Centre.


From the website of Maryvale Academy (www.maryvaleacademy.ca), we learn that the objectives of the school are to:

۰ Provide an affordable and accessible Catholic education in which students encounter God and discover their unconditional worth as children of God.

۰ Provide a quality education through rigorous academic standards so that students will have the means for life-long learning and personal spiritual growth.

۰ Foster a deep love and knowledge of Jesus Christ and the Catholic Faith.

۰ Model the Christian concept of unity through community interaction - involving the family, the parish and the larger community in the educational process.

۰ Birth a new generation of Catholic leaders and visionaries to renew, evangelize, and open our society to the truth of the Catholic Faith.

A range of items was available in the Silent Auction; later there was a traditional auction on prime items with bidding...

Parents of students, clergy and friends are enthusiastic about the Academy

The students served as greeters

The school choir glows as they perform

* * * * * *

More pix of Winterlude ...

Go for a skate...

...take in some art

This Lent we are again invited to join in renewing our journey as Catholic Christians on the path to holiness.

Holiness means being like God the Father, who is merciful (Luke 6:36).

Holiness means being lovingly obedient like Jesus. Holiness means to live as one guided by the Holy Spirit.

St. Francis de Sales teaches that the path to holiness will be different according to one’s state in life. It will be exercised today in different ways by the investment broker, the scientist, the minimum wage worker; by the politician and the teacher; by those widowed, young people, parents of young children and the clergy.

So, the quest for holiness needs to be adapted to the strength, activities, and duties of each particular person.

With this in mind, we find Lent offers us three traditional means to draw near to God: prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

The prayer above all others is the Eucharist. All should strive to renew their commitment to Sunday Mass as the centre of their life of faith. Daily Mass or meditation on the daily Scripture readings (through Lectio divina) can extend the Lord’s Day throughout the week.

Morning and evening prayer, grace before meals and other devotions such as the Rosary, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and the Stations of the Cross are also expressions of a faith that is alive and grateful to God for blessings received.

Finally, Eucharistic adoration where available allows for the deepening of our love for the Eucharistic Lord Jesus and a coming to appreciate his will for our lives.

Fast and abstinence still comprise an important aspect of a Catholic’s devotional life.

Catholics are called to abstain from meat today (Ash Wednesday) and on the Fridays of Lent and to fast (eat only one full meal--two other snacks not equalling a full meal are permitted) today and on Good Friday.

These are expressions of a desire to enter into the Lenten renewal at the start of Lent (Ash Wednesday) and gratitude for the Lord Jesus’ gift of his life for us (Fridays, especially Good Friday).

Other traditional acts of “giving up” sweets, alcohol, tobacco or other pleasures during Lent help individuals personalize their spirit of Lenten sacrifice—a desire to “turn from sin and believe the Good News”.

Almsgiving flows naturally from the saving of money by these sacrifices. We should be particularly caring for the needy near and far, participating in our parish’s social outreach and in the Lenten campaign for the poor of the world conducted by Development and Peace, the social justice program promoted by the Bishops of Canada (Share Lent).

Finally, the Sacrament of Reconciliation plays a key role in our quest for holiness.

The Church mandates that Catholics conscious of serious sin make an annual confession during the Easter Season (Ash Wednesday to Divine Mercy Sunday).

Wise interpreters of the spiritual life know that this practice of confession is a help to all who wish to grow spiritually on the path to holiness.

* * * * * *

Bal de neige/Winterlude shots

Sliding down one of the hills at Parc Jacques-Cartier

The weekend was very busy: on Sunday evening I downloaded more that 200 digital photos.

They were from a visit to young men and women discerning God's will for them through a "Duc in altum" meeting held on Saturday at a home in Kanata.

That evening I attended the 4th Maryvale Academy Fundraising Gala at the St. Elias Centre.

On Sunday, I visited Shin Shen (Holy Spirit) Catholics at the Diocesan Centre where I met with community leaders, presided at Mass and took in the Lunar New Year celebrations.

Late that afternoon I took in the Winterlude/Bal de neige activities at Parc Jacques-Cartier across the bridge in Gatineau. There, families were enjoying the sliding hills, viewing the snow sculptures, wandering through the labyrinth made entirely of snow, eating beaver tails, drinking hot chocolate, having a great time.

I will upload photos from these events during this week, beginning today with photos of the Chinese community's New Year festivities.

Deacon Peter Fan's ordination in 2008 gave a boost to the community

Leaders past and present pose following discussion of the community's achievements, challenges and hopes

A visit before Mass to the cafeteria coincided with the arrival of the festive roast pig

During Mass red was worn as it symbolizes divine blessings for the Chinese

The presentation of the gifts

The dragon and the tiger parade through the assembly

The bearer of gifts appears with youngsters and Sister

Performances include this brother and sister spinning the large yo-yo's

A special Chinese musical instrument, the yee hoo

A colourful bevy of young ladies

A duet of a Chinese love ballad

The ladies "band" lets loose

* * * * * *

Lenten Prayer Blog

Ignatius Loyola at Manresa, Spain where, following his conversion, he began to compose his Spiritual Exercises

Looking for help praying during Lent? I've just learned of a new Spiritual Exercises Blog, basing prayer suggestions on the text and methods of St. Ignatius Loyola.

This just got started this week and promises daily aids to prayer this Lent by some young Jesuits in the USA.

Check it out at http://sedaily.wordpress.com.

* * * * * *

Bal de Neige/Winterlude: Scenes from Gatineau's Parc Jacques-Cartier

Posing with some parishioners from Rockland

The winning snow sculpture by Team Alberta pays homage to Canada's love affair with hockey

Today is FAMILY DAY, a public winter holiday in Ontario.

It is also the 45th anniversary of the public display of the "new" Canadian Flag (at left) on February 15, 1965.

This replaced the Canadian Red Ensign (at right below; the flag of France is on the left), a step that caused some controversy particularly among those who had fought under the Red Ensign.


I remember being among a very excited group of young Jesuits gathered beside the flagpole at Ignatius College, Guelph that day to hoist the new flag of Canada for the first time on our flag staff at the main entrance.

* * * * * *

A few pix of the ongoing Winterlude...





* * * * * *

St. Claude La Colombière (1641-1682) enjoyed an intense, if brief, life, notable for the part he played as champion of the devotion to the Sacred Heart. He is remembered principally as the spiritual director who recognized the truth of the revelation that St. Margaret Mary Alacoque received; he also showed heroic virtue in enduring imprisonment that weakened his health and led to an early death on February 15, 1682.

So this is a special day for Jesuits, who claim today’s saint as one of their own. It’s also a special day for people who have a special devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus—a devotion Claude la Colombière promoted, along with his friend and spiritual companion, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. The emphasis on God’s love for all was an antidote to the rigorous moralism of the Jansenists, who were popular at the time.

Colombière was born in southern France and studied at a Jesuit school from an early age. He entered the Society of Jesus when he was 17 and followed a normal course of studies: grammar, literature, philosophy and theology. After teaching for a few years in Avignon, he studied theology in Paris and was ordained April 6, 1669. He taught for another three years and then became preacher at the Jesuit church in that city before going on to tertianship. During that year of prayer and reflection, he felt moved to take a special private vow to obey all the rules of the Society in the most strict manner possible.

The French Jesuit's first assignment after tertianship was to be superior of a small community in Paray-le-Monial, where there was also a convent of cloistered Visitation sisters. One of them was Sister Margaret Mary Alacoque to whom God's presence in prayer was revealing a message of divine love. Some other members of her community thought her prayer was a delusion, and their skepticism caused her suffering. She received assurance from the Lord, however, that he was sending her his "faithful servant and perfect friend."

Colombière became the confessor of the convent and Sr. Margaret's spiritual director. She opened her soul to him and told of the supernatural events taking place in her life. He had the insight to recognize this prayer as a real gift from God and a true revelation. In his own prayer, Colombière came to learn the Lord's wishes more clearly. In June 1675 the Lord made an explicit request regarding the devotion to his Sacred Heart, asking her to establish the Friday following the octave of Corpus Christi as a special feast and to tell Colombière to do all he could to spread this devotion.

Colombière's time in Paray-le-Monial lasted only until October 1676 when he was assigned to be the preacher to the duchess of York in London. Although England was officially non-Catholic, King Charles II allowed his brother the Duke of York to have a chapel in St. James Palace.

The chaplain had to come from outside England; so the young French Jesuit left his own country to live in a foreign court. He continued to preach what was most dear to him the message of Christ's love for humankind, symbolized by his Sacred Heart. The sermons resonated with the duchess who years later became the first royal personage to petition Pope Innocent XII to establish a solemn feast in honor of the Sacred Heart.

Royal forbearance did not protect the Jesuit from betrayal by a Frenchman whom Colombière had befriended in London. In November 1678 the man falsely denounced the Jesuit to the government in order to win a reward. Colombière was arrested on charges of traitorous speech against the king and parliament and placed in a cold dungeon where his health rapidly deteriorated. He was released after a month in prison, but the damage was done.

Colobière returned to France and slowly headed south, stopping frequently when weakness overtook him. He arrived in Lyons on March 11, 1679 and stayed there as a spiritual father to the young Jesuits in the school where he himself once taught. He continued to preach about the Sacred Heart, but his own health did not improve so superiors sent him back to Paray-le-Monial in 1681.

Although he loved the place dearly, he could not recover. In early February 1682, a fever took him; when he died on February 15, he was only 41 years old. On June 16, 1929 Pope Pius XI beatified Claude La Colombière, whose charism, according to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, was that of bringing souls to God along the gospel way of love and mercy which Christ revealed to us. Pope John Paul II canonized him in 1992.

Tomb of St. Claude La Colombiere at Paray-le-Monial

Holy Reading for Priests and People Alike

On Wednesday, Stephen Binz, a biblical scholar and writer from Baton Rouge, spoke during a midday presentation to the priests of Ottawa (with representation from Gatineau and Pembroke) on the principles and practice of Lectio divina, "holy reading" to help mark the Year of Priests.

Though the snowstorm in the USA meant he arrived only at 4AM on Wednesday, his presentation touched many, including the lay faithful at an evening presentation at the Diocesan Centre.

On Thursday, he travelled to the Diocese of Alexandria-Cornwall for a daytime presentation to the priests and for the faithful that evening.

Stephen Binz and Fr. Joseph Muldoon, episcopal vicar and director of continuing/adult faith formation

A cross-section of the Ottawa priests

Pembroke priests took part in the day

Conversation before the evening lecture

A public session on Wednesday evening

Stephen Binz shows how Scripture study can transform a parish....

A Visit to St. Patrick's Home

On Thursday, feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, I enjoyed a very pleasant visit to St. Patrick's Home near Mooney Bay.

align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 217px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_NR6lxJkhnY4/S3YPzoDESnI/AAAAAAAAC9w/4NfKqJpUv5o/s320/binz+105.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437550979694479986" />



We began observance of the World Day of Prayer for the Sick with Holy Mass, with a special blessing for the nursing staff and a final blessing for all the aged and infirm.









This was followed by a visit to the patients who were unable to attend the Eucharist.





Then, there was a reception in the Library followed by a delicious luncheon in the Sisters' dining room on the top floor; the sisters continue to add a special caring and spiritual dimension to the care and outreach to the residents.



Currently, the average age of residents on admission is 86 years; it was in the middle sixties 60s when the present building was built some 45 years ago.

* * * * * *

More scenes from Winterlude...

“THE WORD IS NEAR ... ON YOUR LIPS, IN YOUR HEART”

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

Lent is about each Christian's call to renew the death to sin and rising to newness of life with Christ that took place when he or she was baptized.

We do this as we accompany, in prayer and with other gestures of support the “Elect”, who will celebrate the Sacraments of Christian Initiation at the Easter Vigil.

The first Lenten preface describes well this season of grace, praising God for personal transformation: “As we recall the great events that gave us new life in Christ, you bring the image of your Son to perfection within us”.

As Lent approaches, Christians consider ways to develop their spiritual union with Jesus.

Of course, we do have some practices in common. The Church asks us to fast on Ash Wednesday, to mark the beginning of our pilgrimage with Christ, and again on Good Friday, in gratitude for Jesus’ death on the Cross out of love for us and to take away our sins. To remind us of this, Fridays throughout the year are days of abstinence from meat, but Catholics may substitute special acts of charity or piety. This Lent, I recommend we make an effort to practice again abstinence from meat on Fridays in memory of the Lord’s Passion.

We are encouraged to make sacrifices—of our own choosing—on the weekdays of Lent. When we cut back on food or other legitimate pleasures, we are encouraged to give the money saved to benefit the poor.

On Solidarity Sunday—March 21—the faithful in Canada make a sacrificial offering to assist the poor countries of the world through “Development and Peace”, the official charitable organization of the Canadian Catholic Bishops.



Pope Benedict XVI, in his encyclical “Caritas in veritate”, recalled that every person on earth has the fundamental right to life. We should always remember this and, whenever we good we do for the poor, this principle should underlie our efforts to alleviate poverty and suffering. Through its special oversight committee the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops intends that every activity of Development and Peace be informed by this vision.

A traditional act of Lenten piety is that of a making good confession. This is a grace that our priests wish to share with you in this “Year of the Priest”, which recalls the confessional ministry of St. Jean-Marie Vianney, a most extraordinary physician of souls.

Finally, I recommend to you the practice of Lectio divina, a process of prayerful reading and reflection (some pointers on how to do this accompany this letter). Your prayerful reading may focus on the Lenten Mass readings of each Sunday or of each day’s Mass. Meditating on Scripture offers a rich spiritual discipline for personal growth.

On the First Sunday of Lent, we learn that Jesus was steeped in such knowledge of the Bible. He called on scripture passages to refute the devil and overcome temptation. To overcome the tempter, Jesus quoted from Deuteronomy, a text he must have contemplated often. Scripture can likewise strengthen us.

In resisting the first temptation to turn stones into bread for his nourishment, Jesus recalled that “one does not live by bread alone”. Besides attending to one's physical sustenance each day, disciples feed on God's Word for spiritual nourishment.

In the second reading for the First Sunday, Paul also cites the Book of Deuteronomy, showing that for those who ground themselves in reflection of the Scriptures, “the Word is very near you, on your lips and in your heart” (Deuteronomy 30.14-Romans 10.8). Grasping God's Word inwardly, then, helps disciples to meet the challenges in our struggle to be faithful to God's way.

The Christian gradually identifies with Jesus who won the victory over sin for us. The stories of Jesus and of his followers become one through various Lenten observances, including scriptural prayer.

Blessed Lent!

Fraternally yours in Christ,

Terrence Prendergast, S.J.
Archbishop of Ottawa

* * *

FAST AND ABSTINENCE IN CANADA

The Church prescribes fasting (only one full meal and two smaller meals which together are not greater than a full meal) and abstinence from meat on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Catholics aged 18-59 are bound to fast; those 14-59 to abstinence. Those who are ill are freed from these obligations; all, even above the age of 59 may continue to fast and abstain.

Parents and educators are reminded of their duty to introduce children gradually to the understanding and practice of penance. Adult example will be the greatest influence in this matter.

* * * * * *

« LA PAROLE EST PRÈS…
DANS TA BOUCHE, DANS TON CŒUR »

Chers frères et sœurs dans le Christ,

Le Carême invite chaque chrétien, chrétienne à renouveler ses efforts pour faire échec au péché et pour augmenter la vie nouvelle avec le Christ, reçue au baptême.

Nous le faisons en accompagnant, par la prière et d’autres gestes de soutien, les « Élus » qui célébreront les sacrements d’initiation chrétienne à la Veillée pascale.

La première préface du Carême décrit bien cette saison de grâce, louant Dieu pour la transformation personnelle : « … fidèles aux sacrements qui les ont fait renaître [que les fidèles] soient comblés de la grâce que tu réserves à tes fils ».

À l’approche du Carême, les chrétiens s’interrogent sur les façons d’approfondir leur union spirituelle avec Jésus.

Bien entendu, certaines pratiques sont communes à tous. L’Église nous demande de jeûner le Mercredi des Cendres, afin de souligner le commencement de notre pèlerinage avec le Christ, ainsi que le Vendredi Saint, en signe de reconnaissance pour la mort de Jésus sur la Croix, par amour pour nous, pour enlever nos fautes. Elle nous rappelle également que tous les vendredis de l’année sont jours d’abstinence de viande; les catholiques peuvent toutefois la remplacer par des actes de charité ou de piété. Au cours des vendredis de Carême, je recommande que nous fassions effort pour pratiquer à nouveau l’abstinence de viande, en mémoire de la Passion du Seigneur.



Nous sommes exhortés à faire des sacrifices, à notre choix, les jours de semaine du Carême. Lorsque nous réduisons la quantité des aliments ou d’autres plaisirs légitimes, nous sommes encouragés à donner aux pauvres les sommes économisées.

Le dimanche de la collecte du Carême de partage, le 21 mars, les fidèles du Canada feront une offrande sacrificielle pour aider les pays pauvres du monde, par l’entremise de « Développement et Paix », l’organisme officiel de bienfaisance des Évêques catholiques du Canada.

Le Pape Benoît XVI, dans son encyclique « Caritas in veritate », rappelle que chaque personne sur terre a le droit fondamental à la vie. Nous devons toujours nous en souvenir, et lorsque nous faisons du bien aux pauvres, cette vérité doit sous-tendre les efforts pour soulager toute pauvreté et souffrance. Par son comité spécial de surveillance, la Conférence des évêques catholiques du Canada veut que toute activité de Développement et Paix porte la marque de cette vision.

Faire une bonne confession est un acte de piété traditionnel du Carême. C’est là une grâce que nos prêtres veulent partager avec vous en cette « Année des prêtres », pendant laquelle nous faisons mémoire du ministère de confession de saint Jean-Marie Vianney, un médecin des âmes vraiment extraordinaire.

Enfin, je vous recommande la pratique de la Lectio divina, une lecture et une réflexion priante des Écritures (quelques indications sur la méthode à suivre sont jointes à cette lettre). Votre lecture priante peut porter sur les lectures de la messe de chaque dimanche du Carême ou encore sur celles de chaque jour. La méditation des Écritures est une riche discipline spirituelle qui favorise la croissance personnelle.

Le premier dimanche du Carême, nous apprenons que Jésus était imprégné d’une telle connaissance de la Bible. Il avait recours à des passages des Écritures pour réfuter le diable et pour vaincre la tentation. Pour triompher du tentateur, Jésus cite un passage du Deutéronome, un texte qu’il a dû contempler souvent. L’Écriture peut aussi nous fortifier.

En résistant à la première tentation de transformer les pierres en pain pour se nourrir, Jésus rappelle que « nul ne vit de pain seulement ». En plus de veiller à sa propre subsistance quotidienne, le disciple se nourrit de la Parole de Dieu pour alimenter sa vie spirituelle.

Dans la deuxième lecture du premier dimanche, Paul cite également le livre du Deutéronome, montrant que pour ceux qui s’enracinent dans la réflexion sur les Écritures, « la Parole est près de toi, elle est dans ta bouche et dans ton cœur » (Deutéronome 30, 14 – Romains 10, 8). Saisir ainsi la parole de Dieu par le dedans aide le disciple à faire face aux défis rencontrés dans notre lutte pour demeurer fidèle aux voies de Dieu.

Le chrétien s’identifie graduellement à Jésus qui, pour nous, a été victorieux contre le péché. Les récits à propos de Jésus et de ses disciples s’unifient à travers diverses observances du Carême, incluant la prière spirituelle.

Saint Carême!

Fraternellement, dans le Christ,

Terrence Prendergast, S.J.
Archevêque d’Ottawa

* * *

Jeûne et l’abstinence au Canada

L’Église prescrit le jeûne (un seul repas complet, ou deux petits repas équivalant à un repas complet) et l’abstinence de viande le Mercredi des Cendres et le Vendredi Saint. Les catholiques âgés de 18 à 59 ans ont l’obligation de jeûner; ceux qui ont entre 14 et 59 ans, doivent s’abstenir de viande. Les malades sont exemptés de ces obligations; tous, même au-delà de 59 ans, peuvent continuer de jeûner et de s’abstenir de viande.

On rappelle aux parents et aux éducateurs leur devoir de présenter aux enfants, de façon graduelle, la compréhension et la pratique de la pénitence. En cette matière, l’exemple des adultes est la plus importante influence.

* * * * * *

This is the second of three Winterlude weekends...





...meantime scenes of Winterlude in Rome (pix of yesterday's snow fall):

Snow at St. Peter's Vatican Basilica

The skyline of Rome with snow not seen since 1986