PLEASE PRAY FOR THE FOLLOWING INTENTIONS
WHAT’S HAPPENING
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Lietuvi
AT ST. CASIMIR PARISH?|
ST. GREGORY THE GREAT Pope September 3rd |
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Note that a man whom the Lord sends forth
as a preacher is called a watchman. A watchman always stands on a height so that
he can see from afar what is coming. Anyone appointed to be a watchman for the
people must stand on a height for all his life to help them by his foresight. St Gregory the Great, the first monk to become pope, consolidated papal territories and helped shift the church’s focus from the fading Roman Empire toward western Europe thus initiating the conversion of the British Isles to Christianity. (from the “National Geographic” article Pope Francis Remakes the Vatican, August 2015, p. 44) The quote from Gregory’s homily tell us something about his future vision for the Church and the role of the papacy. It would seem that St. Gregory was a watchman. It was he who sent Augustine of Canterbury and forty other monks to evangelize England. To Gregory’s credit goes the laying of the foundation of what was to become the Papal States (lands of the Western Roman empire). Gregory, the son of a Roman senator, was born in Rome. He grew up in a time of wars, invasions by hostile tribes, famine and destruction. Like most of the nobility of his time, he was well-educated. But unlike many, he was generous and concerned about the poor. After a career in civil and political service he became a monk. He observed the Benedictine Rule and loved his life in the monastery. He was a junior deacon when he was elected Pope in 590. Unwillingly Gregory accepted the role, calling himself “the servant of the servants of God.” As Pope he continued his work on behalf of the poor. He was involved in civil government and was tireless and energetic in matters relating to the internal affairs of the Church. He enforced clerical celibacy and was an outstanding moral teacher of his time. His writing, Pastoral Care, sets forth his view of the bishop as shepherd. Gregory also took a personal interest in changing and developing the liturgy. He was a Pope of great determination, foresight, ability and tireless energy. Sources: IN HIS LIKENESS by Rev. Charles E. Yost, SCJ, STL, and SAINTS AND FEAST DAYS, Loyola University Press. |
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THOUGHTS FROM THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH |
Prophecy of the Holy Spirit
# 715 The prophetic texts that directly concern the sending of the Holy Spirit are oracles by which God speaks to the heart of his people in the language of the promise, with the accents of “love and fidelity.” St. Peter will proclaim their fulfillment on the morning of Pentecost. According to these promises, at the “end time” the Lord’s Spirit will renew the hearts of men, engraving a new law in them. He will gather and reconcile the scattered and divided peoples; he will transform the first creation, and God will dwell there with men in peace.
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REFLECTION |
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UNITY PREVAILS OVER CONFLICT
Conflict cannot be ignored or concealed. It has to be faced. But if we remain trapped in conflict, we lose our perspective, horizons shrink and reality itself begins to fall apart. In the midst of conflict, we lose our sense of the profound unity of reality.
When conflict arises, some people simply look at it and go their way as if nothing happened; they wash their hands of it and get on with their lives. Others embrace it in such a way that they become its prisoners; they lose their bearings, project onto institutions their own confusion and dissatisfaction and thus make unity impossible. But there is also a third way, and it is the best way to deal with conflict. It is the willingness to face conflict head on, to resolve it and to make it a link in the chain of a new process. “Blessed are the peacemakers!” (Mt. 5:9)
In this way it becomes possible to build communion amid disagreement, but this can only be achieved by those great persons who are willing to go beyond the surface of the conflict and to see others in their deepest dignity. This requires acknowledging a principle indispensable to the building of friendship in society: namely, that unity is greater than conflict. Solidarity, in its deepest and most challenging sense, thus becomes a way of making history in a life setting where conflicts, tensions and oppositions can achieve a diversified and life-giving unity. This is not to opt for a kind of syncretism, or for the absorption of one into the other, but rather for a resolution which takes place on a higher plane and preserves what is valid and useful on both sides.
(Source: The Joy of the Gospel, EVANGELII GAUDIUM, number 226, 227, 228 Pope Francis