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12-5-06

Greetings!

 

The pope's trip to Turkey ended without the normal fanfare and crowds normally seen.  I want to point out 3 little events that didn't attract a lot of attention, but will hopefully bear fruit—toward peace and with the help of God, reunion of the Churches.

1. During the Pope's Vist and the celebration of the Divine Liturgy with Patriarch Bartholomew I.  Via Zenit.org 11-30-06    After the Divine Liturgy, the Pope and patriarch went out on the balcony of the Patriarchal Palace to bless the faithful present, in Latin and Greek. Amid applause, the patriarch raised the Pope's hand, which made the Bishop of Rome smile.

2. During the Pope's Visit to the historic "Blue Mosque" via Zenit.org 11-30-06     The visit, which lasted some 30 minutes, ended with an exchange of gifts. The mufti gave the Pope the representation of a dove, symbol of peace, with the words from the Koran "in the name of God, clement and merciful."

The Bishop of Rome gave the Grand Mufti a mosaic in which doves were also depicted. On seeing the coincidence, the mufti commented: "A happy sign of fate."
"It is a message of fraternity, in memory of this visit which I shall surely never forget," said Benedict XVI.
He is the second Pope to enter a mosque's enclosure. John Paul II visited the Umayyad Mosque in Syria in May 2001.

3. From a Zenit.org interview of Patriarch Bartholomew I, following the pope's visit comes this nugget.  

Q: The addresses and common declaration you signed are "lofty" and compromising. Have you also spoken of the future?
Bartholomew I: In this respect, I can say that I spoke with His Holiness of something -- something that we could do. I presented him with a proposal which I cannot now elaborate on, as we await an official response, but I can say that His Holiness was very interested and that he received it favorably.
We hope it can be undertaken as it is directed to that ecumenical progress that, as we have affirmed and written in the common declaration, both of us are determined to pursue.   ZE06120103

Phil's Tidbits:

The rest of a Zenit.org interview with Patriarch Bartholomew I following the pope's visit to Turkey:

Q: What can you tell us about this journey?

Bartholomew I: Above all, I must say that I truly thank His Holiness for his visit to us on the feast day of St. Andrew. It is a truly very significant step forward in our relations, and undertaken in the framework of a journey which has made, on the whole, a contribution to interreligious dialogue which I think is truly important.

Q: You and the Pope have seen one another face to face several times, away from the cameras and journalists. What have you said to one another?

Bartholomew I: His Holiness showed his benevolence to the patriarchate and its problems; for this reason we are truly grateful to him.

It has been an opportunity to know one another better, including the cardinals of his entourage, with whom I think we have established a good friendship, and this also seems to me to be very important.

We can truly say that this Thursday we lived a historic day, under many aspects. Historic for ecumenical dialogue and, as we saw in the afternoon, historic for the relationship between cultures and religions. And, obviously, because of all this, historic also for our country.
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A baby elephant has a gestation period of 2 years in the womb.   They were recently able to get a picture of a baby elephant at 6 months…or ¼ of the way through its pregnancy.  It's an incredible picture.   Click on the link below to see it.

What it means to be a truly Universal Church…

What a beautiful description of a new "Blessed"! 

OLLUR, India, DEC. 4, 2006 (Zenit.org ).- Newly beatified Sister Euphrasia of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Eluvathingal was described as a "tabernacle in motion," a religious in continual prayer.

Sister Euphrasia, a professed religious of the Congregation of Sisters of the Mother of Carmel, was beatified on the First Sunday of Advent in Ollur, in the Archdiocese of Trichur.

She was born Rosa Eluvethingal, in 1877 in the Diocese of Trichur, in Edathurhty.

Father Giorgio Nedungatt, the postulator of Sister Euphrasia's cause of beatification, described her on Vatican Radio as "a great mystic who was completely dedicated to Jesus, her Spouse, King and God."

"Jesus accepted her in a relationship of mystical and spousal union, making her participate in his sufferings of the passion, but also in the joy of the resurrection, so much so that she transmitted an atmosphere of peace," Father Nedungatt said. "She always had an attractive and heavenly smile."

Sister Euphrasia "spent much time, almost all her free time, before the tabernacle in adoration of the Most Holy Sacrament and, outside the chapel, people saw a religious who was always praying the rosary," the postulator added.

Her sister religious called her a "tabernacle in motion"; other people simply called her the "praying Mother," added Father Nedungatt.

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Elizabeth Lev is a regular contributor to Zenit and a professor teaching in Rome.  She usually has a pretty good perspective and offers this review of "The Nativity."  (Note I have not seen the film myself-PL).

Birth of a Film

Advent started early for a few lucky Romans this year. Last Sunday, thousands piled into the Vatican's Paul VI Hall for the world premiere of the new film "The Nativity."

The evening began with a reading of the Gospels recounting the stories of the angel's appearance to Zachariah, the Annunciation to Mary, the Nativity, the Adoration of the Magi and the Massacre of the Innocents. Italian actor Gigi Prioetti read the passages beautifully, preparing the audience for what was to come. Hearing the words of the Gospel helped the viewer tie the backdrop of God's Word to the dramatized version of the story.

The movie does a remarkable job of encapsulating time. It starts on a dark night and an approaching storm and jumps back a year so that the viewers feel propelled toward man's appointment with God. All things converge at this "fullness of time," from the miraculous conceptions of Jesus and John the Baptist to the magi, who observe an extraordinary sign in the heavens, and finally even Herod, the despot who senses an impending threat and uses all his guile and power to root it out.

The story is far more fast-paced than one would imagine, with a few action scenes dotted through the film to build up tension and anticipation. But this is not a movie about special effects or glamorous sets. The film never forgets it is a vehicle to communicate the story of the humble birth of the Savior of the world.

The one slightly jarring note comes from a less-than-inspiring rendering of the character of Mary. Keisha Castle-Hughes, the actress entrusted with this daunting task, gives us a Mary who was much like any other girl, so similar in fact that she embodies an adolescent moodiness that seems strangely out of place.

When Mary learns of her betrothal to Joseph, for instance, she complains in terms understandable in 2006 ("Why do I have to marry a man I hardly know?") but impossible for a young woman of her era and station, and much less for one of Mary's exceptional virtue.

Fortunately this lacuna has only a minor effect on one's enjoyment of the film. Castle-Hughes' portrayal of Mary's pregnancy in both beautiful and moving. As she slowly deepens in her understanding of Who she is carrying, Mary becomes more serene and certain.

The real star of the show is Joseph, played by Oscar Isaac. He is portrayed as one having loved Mary from afar, assisting her family in tactful ways. He is overjoyed the day Mary is promised to him as wife. This makes it all the more poignant when Joseph discovers that Mary is pregnant. More than wounded pride and honor, his heart seems broken.

Even before the angel informs him of Mary's exalted status, Joseph has already decided not to denounce her, still protecting her, and when he returns to Mary's side he becomes a most steadfast and self-sacrificing husband as he bears hardship, scorn and suffering. Joseph reminds us what a wonderful gift good husbands and fathers are.

After the glorious story of Christmas and the drama of Christ's birth, the best part of "The Nativity" for me was to see a role model for young men of a heroic, virtuous and loving husband and father.

Hollywood needs a lot more of these.

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Elizabeth Lev teaches Christian art and architecture at Duquesne University's Italian campus. She can be reached at lizlev@zenit.org.

 

God bless you!                                                                                                                                       Phil Lawson                                                                                                            For the latest info on St. Peter's, check out the parish website:   www.saintpetercatholic.com                                                                                 (You can also find old editions of the Areopagus here)

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