2nd Sunday of Advent (B)

(Edited) Sunday reflections: (From) years 2014 (A), 2015 (B), and 2016 (C)

December 7, 2014
Liturgical readings
Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11
Psalm 85
2 Peter 3:8-14
Mark 1:1-8

"He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

The first reading is from the book of Isaiah and prefigures the person of John the Baptist. The first reading refers to the first coming of Christ (the first Advent). The second reading is from the second letter of Peter and refers to the second coming of Christ - a second Advent. This second Advent in the reading is described in cataclysmic terms: "the heavens will pass away with a mighty roar, and the elements will be dissolved by fire". The gospel reading then describes the prophet John the Baptist preparing the way for Jesus. In the gospel reading, John baptizes the people Israel, and leads them to a path to repentance before God. John continues the work of the prophets to bring back the people Israel to God because of their present infidelity to the covenant - a covenant established between them and God since the time of their forefather Abraham.

The hope and anticipation of a Messiah expressed in the readings reminds this present generation of that time when the Lord will come again: in the Parousia, (or Second Coming). The liturgical season of Advent is always a strong reminder of this event. But instead of the fear and anxiety which this event can give, all are encouraged to see the Parousia as an event that brings the final redemption of all. Advent is the season to prepare for such an event. The modern spirit of this season which focuses on Christmas parties and family get-togethers can be balanced by giving more time to listen well to the Advent homilies in Mass and make them a guide in living well this season. Every priest-presider teaches what Advent is and what the spirit of anticipation for Christmas means for all. Listening well obtains a greater understanding of what one's Advent-faith in Christ should be.

What can this Advent-faith in Christ mean? One simple understanding is to prepare Christ's indwelling in one's soul. This direction makes any soul more patient - especially in a time when it is difficult to be so (dealing with traffic, long lines to the cashier, and the common stress of purchasing Noche Buena and gifts). The season of Advent calls all to pause and slow down, to take more opportunities to thank God for the blessings He has given the whole year: life, family, friends, work, and resources to spend for food and gifts. It is the time of year to be humble (to acknowledge one's finitude and return to the Lord); to be vigilant (to avoid excess in food and wine, to be sober and awake); to be joyful (in anticipation of Christ's presence this Christmas); and to have peace (that even with all the bad news we read in social media, each one is held in the saving hand of the Lord).

Saints Who Lived to 100 Years or More (Last Part)

A simple analysis

We know that centenarians are rare in human history. What is even rarer are centenarians who were celebrated as Saints in the altar of the Church. They have focused their life in Christ and centered all what they did in God. Given the list of 22 blesseds and saints, if some analysis were done to this group, we can learn something from the study. There is a limitation to the study as this is just a sample listing. For certain, there are more centenarian-saints in the records of the Church (which are not included here due to the author's limited resources), and also many more in the early centuries whose lives were not recorded in the Church's books. But with this sample list and an analysis, one can produce questions to help anyone reflect on what may have been the reasons for their longevity.

14 out of 22 were religious

14 out of the 22 centenerians were religious - meaning those who lived a very structured community life (or solitary in community) with the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience to a religious superior. This is quite a remarkable statistic as it is more than half of the entire group: 63.6%. And they are distributed in an almost equal number - with no particular religious order markedly predominating the others: 3 Dominicans, 2 Benedictines, 2 Carthusians, 2 Franciscans, 1 Servite, 1 Gilbertine, 1 Camaldolese, 1 Trinitarian, and 1 Carmelite. Could it be that a very structured life, akin to living in a religious community, contribute to longevity?

10 out of 22 were hermits

10 out of the 22 centenarians were hermits most of their life - or lived an eremitical life at one stage of their life. The percentage of hermits over the others is 45.5% - just a little below half of the group. We know how living in a city can be a very stressful lifestyle, and can contribute to an early death. Could it be that living in an isolated place, far from the hectic pace of civilized activity, be a contributory factor to longevity?

9 out of 22 lived to 100 years, 13 out of 22 lived more!

9 out of 22 centenarians, or 40.9% lived to 100 years; the other 13, or 59.1% outlived them! It is interesting to note that in this sample, there are more who lived passed the age of 100 years. What could have been the common denominator shared by those who have lived passed 100 years?

13 lived in the second millenium

7 centenarians lived in the first millenium, 13 lived in the second millenium, while 2 lived on the cusp: between the 1st and 2nd millenium. Those two who lived on the cusp between the 1st and 2nd millenium, are the only two in the group who lived to 120 years. And they both lived as Benedictines. Is living on the cusp of the millenium contributory to longevity? Were the two who survived the stresses of the 'millenial change', strengthened both spiritually and physically by the experience?

Life is a gift

We can quote St. John Paul II as one who also lived on the cusp - between the second and third millenium - what his view on life is. He says:

"This life is a talent entrusted to all of us so that we can transform it and increase it, making it a gift to others."

What John Paul II says is true. Each one's life is a gifts from God. Each life on earth is an instrument by which we see God's mercy and goodness, even despite imperfections and defects. With this sample study on the life of centenarian-saints, one can use it as a platform to learn more about the Christian faith, and the riches of Catholic spirituality (Benedictine, Trinitarian, Camaldolese, etc.). By reflecting more on what the gift of life essentially means in the Christian context, one can discover a depth of meaning, and a richness of purpose to live for God and others.

Saints Who Lived to a 100 Years or More (Part Three)

Introduction
Below is the last list of seven centenarian saints. One had been a hermit for four-fifths of his life, living up to 113 years of age. Of the other saints, three were monks, two were Dominican friars, and one was active in the court of the Spanish royal family.

Third list of centenerian-saints

• St. Parisio: (1160-1267 A.D.), Camaldolese monk, ordained to the priesthood, chaplain of St. Christina convent at Treviso for 77 years. Lived to 107 years.
• St. Paul the Hermit: (229-342 A.D.), hermit, lived to 113 years of age in which 90 years were spent in silence and solitude.
• St. Raymond of Peñafort: (1175-1275 A.D.), Dominican, preached the crusade against the Moors, confessor to Pope Gregory IX, master general of the Dominicans, resigned at 65 years old but lived 25 more years in active life.
• Blessed Simon de Rojas: (1522-1624 A.D.), Trinitarian friar, superior of the Order, confessor of the Spanish royal couple, and tutor of the royal family's children.
• St. Simon Stock: (1165-1265 A.D.), hermit, Carmelite, became superior general of the Carmelites, promoted devotion to the brown scapular.
• Blessed Aime Taparelli: (1395-1495 A.D.), was married first and then entered a new state of life as a Dominican, taught at the University of Turin, adviser to the duke of Savoy, an officer of the Inquisition.
• St. Theodosius the Cenobiarch: (423-529 A.D.), pilgrim, monk, hermit, founder of a monastery near Bethlehem, appointed head of cenobites in Palestine.

A remarkable statistic
The 22 centenerian-saints surveyed in this Series of articles are merely a sample of probably more centenerians that are recorded in the Church's archives. One remarkable feature of this survey (with information gathered from just a few books) is that all these centenarian-saints were male. It is for certain that there were also female centenarians in the history of our Christian faith. They are just not recorded in presently printed books as much as the male.

Life is a mystery
Life is a gift and a mystery. The wisdom books always remind that all are to choose life and not death. We are to choose life through the paths of virtue, righteousness, and justice. But God's word nevertheless reminds all of the truth about man's earthly life. In Psalm 90:9ff, it says:

"...our lives are over in a breath - our life lasts for seventy years, eighty with good health, but they all add up to anxiety and trouble" (Jerusalem Bible)

The centenerian-saints surveyed in this series of articles lived very long lives, but even though it may appear that they have 'outlived' the Lord, they still shared in His suffering and death - more so with the very many difficult struggles that go with the weakness of physical age. However, what can inspire all in this present generation is the perseverance and faithfulness in prayer and work that these centenarian-saints gave a good example of. If many midlifers complain of long prayers and tedious work already, imagine these centenarian-saints who had to live an additional 50 or more years in that same tedious prayer, study and work! They were able to do so because of their love for God and the Church.