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Sunday, April 13, 2025

Passion Sunday (C)

(Edited) Sunday Reflections (from) Liturgical Years 2011 (A), 2012 (B), and 2013 (C)

Passion Sunday (C), March 24, 2013
Liturgical readings
Isaiah 50:4-7
Psalm 22
Philippians 2:6-11
Luke 22:14 - 23:56

"Do this as a remembrance of me."

The story of the Lord's Passion evokes an intensity and depth of feeling among Catholics. In the Philippines, the passion narrative is presented in Mass as a dialogue or a dramatization - with the priest-presider speaking the lines of Jesus, and the other members of the congregation taking the roles of Pontius Pilate, Simon Peter, the crowds, etc. This passion narrative in the gospel of Luke includes: the Last Supper event; the agony of the Lord in the Mount of Olives; the betrayal of Jesus by Judas Iscariot; the arrest, trial and condemnation of the Lord; the denial of Jesus by Simon Peter; the crucifixion and death of Jesus; and the burial of the Lord by Joseph of Arimathea.

We can learn about the mystery of the Lord's Passion not only in this gospel narrative in Luke, but also in traditional sources such as the homily of St. Gregory Nazianzen. St. Gregory Nazianzen can help us to see the Lord's Passion and his Cross as a call to stop sinning and receive our salvation. Written below is a quote from that homily:

"For your sake, and because of your sin, Christ himself was regarded as a sinner; for his sake, therefore, you must cease to sin. Worship him who was hung on the cross because of you, even if you are hanging there yourself [like one of the two criminals]. Derive some benefit from the very shame, purchase salvation with your death. Enter paradise with Jesus, and discover how far you have fallen."

The Lord's Passion reveals God's mercy for all humanity - for all who have sinned. His Passion shows as a Way to return to the Father. Thus, to do our part, we can show our love for God by our fidelity to the Lenten discipline. It is not easy to pray, to abstain and fast, and to practice works of charity faithfully during the whole Lenten season. But it is a discipline that is needed to be practiced every year. In whatever one has fallen short of this year, or was amiss in what is required for this Lent, can be hopefully seen as an opportunity to make amends, and to strengthen one's resolve to cease from sin: to love the Lord with a work and life that pleases Him and serves others - recalling His words "Do this as a remembrance of me".

Scripture quotes for reflection:

"Morning after morning he opens my ear that I may hear." (Isaiah 50)
"They have pierced my hands and my feet; I can count all my bones." (Psalm 22)
"He emptied himself and took the form of a slave." (Philippians 2)

Friday, April 11, 2025

Spiritualities of the Heart

"Spiritualities of the Heart: Approaches to Personal Wholeness in Christian Tradition", edited by Annice Callahan, R.S.C.J.

Catholic spirituality is the way of prayer and work by which Catholics follow Christ. Most seasoned Catholics are inspired to follow the spirituality of a Saint whose life inspires them, or whose path in following Christ is a path similar to theirs. Now, every Saint follows a distinct way of praying and working in the Catholic mission or apostolate. Some saints are more contemplative and others are more active. But both are just as holy and just as close to the imitation of Christ in their particular way of following the Lord. What is important is to discern what balance of contemplative or active life one can follow Christ, and the Saint he is inspired to follow, so that the outcome of one's work and life is beneficial not only to oneself, the community where one belongs, but also for the common good.

For anyone who wants to know the Saints, and how their influential spiritualities have contributed much to the building of the Christian faith with institutes that dotted two millenia of history, the book Spiritualities of the Heart is a very good source. It spans the development of Christian spirituality from as early as the time of Irenaeus of Lyons, up to present day writer Henri Nouwen. The focus of the book is seeing the "heart" as the locus of faith in God and others.

Contains primary sources and current scholarship

The book combines primary sources (from the original writings of the 14 spiritual masters featured in the book) with current scholarship (contemporary expositions on the 14 Catholic spiritualities). This manner of presentation is a great help to understand the general history of Catholic spirituality. Though there are many contributors in the book, all have focused on the importance of the heart as a major symbol of Catholic spirituality.

Use of the book

This book is applicable for academic purposes or for personal growth - especially for those who have advanced in their understanding of the Catholic faith. It is also an excellent supplementary source for those who wish to advance in their knowledge of Christianity, its history, its great Catholic spiritual teachers, and their theological thinking.

Spiritual writers featured

The great spiritual writers featured in this book:

  • Irenaeus of Lyons
  • Augustine of Hippo
  • Bonaventure
  • Thomas Aquinas
  • Catherine of Siena
  • Martin Luther
  • Ignatius of Loyola
  • Teresa of Avila
  • John of the Cross
  • Francis de Sales and Jane de Chantal
  • Madeleine Sophie Barat
  • Teilhard de Chardin
  • Jean Vanier
  • Henri Nouwen

A very scholarly exposition

Each of the 14 contributors of the book have treated their subjects in an excellent manner. They have provided exceptional endnotes in the book for further research and study. Those who are doing any formal paper on Catholic spirituality will find this book a boon for his research.

The 14 contributors who wrote about the 14 spiritual writers mentioned above:

  • Mary Ann Donovan
  • Walter Principe
  • Harvey D. Egan
  • Wendy M. Wright
  • Michael Downey
  • Mary T. Clark
  • Suzanne Noffke
  • Margaret Brennan
  • Mary Quinlan
  • Annice Callahan [the editor of the book, is professor of spiritual theology at Regis College in Toronto]
  • Elizabeth Dreyer
  • Jared Wicks
  • Keith J. Egan
  • Robert Faricy

Though very scholarly presented and theologically insightful, the exposition of Christian principles taught by the 14 Catholic spiritualities featured can be basically applied today. From Irenaeus in ca. 130-202 A.D. to Henri Nouwen in our own time, what can easily be digested is that one's love for God and others, can be appropriately symbolized and seen in all simplicity, in the "heart" of one's core and being where the love of God and His love for all dwells..

Commemoration of Saints (April 11)

Solemnities, Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials, and Traditional Dates of Commemoration

  • Stanislaus, bishop and martyr
  • Barsanuphius, hermit and writer
  • Isaac of Spoleto, hermit and abbot
  • Godeberta, virgin
  • Guthlac, hermit
  • Gemma Galgani, virgin [1]

Commemorated this day, April 11, are 1 bishop and martyr, 3 hermits, and 2 virgins. Foremost among the Saints commemorated today is St. Stanislaus, whose feast is celebrated as an Obligatory Memorial. According to author McBrien of the book Lives of the Saints, when the former Karol Wojtyla, archbishop of Cracow, was elected to the papacy in 1978 A.D., he thought about taking the name of Stanislaus for his papal name in honor of the Saint who was also bishop of Cracow. However, he decided to finally take the name John Paul II [3].

St. Stanislaus (ca. 1030-1079) was ordained a priest and became the bishop of Cracow in 1072 A.D. At first, he was in good terms with the king, King Boleslaus. However, the king resented Stanislaus' attacks on him for his personal behavior and in the way he treated his subjects. A conflict thus ensued between them. Stanislaus excommunicated the king and the king ordered the bishop killed. The king pursued Stanislaus who was said to have fled to a chapel from the Cracow cathedral. Together with his guards, the king entered the chapel and ordered his guards to kill Stanislaus. But the guards refused. So the king himself stepped in, struck St. Stanislaus with a sword and killed the bishop on April 11, 1709 A.D. St. Stanislaus' martyrdom is likened to the martyrdom of St. Thomas Becket and St. John Nepomucen who also were both slain at the order of their kings [3][4].

Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [April 11]

  • St. Antipas, Bishop-Martyr of Pergamus
  • Pharmuthius [2]

Venerable Pharmuthius the Anchorite of Egypt lived in the 4th century A.D. in a desert monastery. He gave food to St. John who practiced an ascetical life and lived in a well. Not much is known of Pharmuthius save for providing food to St. John, who lived a more ascetical life [5].

References: Books, Websites & AI Search Results

  • [1] Pocket Catholic Dictionary, John A. Hardon
  • [2] Dictionary of Saints, John J. Delaney
  • [3] Lives of the Saints, Richard P. McBrien
  • [4] St. Stanislaus, Catholicnewsagency.com
  • [5] Venerable Pharmuthius, Oca.org