The Areopagus 12-7-09
posted by Phil Lawson
12-7-09
Here’s a good opportunity to celebrate the Year of the Priest with a focus on Fr. Botros from Egypt.
This priest is amazing. His name is Fr. Zakaria Botros—originally from Egypt. He has been a missionary to Muslims regarding the Catholic faith—literally helping thousands come to Christ. In fact, he has been so successful that there is a $60 million bounty on his head from no less a group then Al Quaeda. He continues his work from undisclosed locations through his television show and the internet. (He was imprisoned for a time and later exiled from Egypt. Fr. Zakaria is no spring chicken either---he’s 75 years old. Patrick Madrid writes about him here:
http://patrickmadrid.blogspot.com/2009/11/and-now-meet-other-father-z.html
Phil’s Tidbits:
Continuing our Year of the Priest focus—it’s not often you hear the Vatican refer to “Rambo” and “Priest” in the same sentence! (Maybe now I can convince my wife to watch this Hollywood feat of high culture, drama and artistic craftsmanship ).
Vatican: Priests Need Rambo-esque Spiritual Muscle
Archbishop Piacenza Presents Year for Priests Activities
By Carmen Villa
ROME, NOV. 29, 2009 (Zenit.org).- A priest's soul should have "interior muscle" comparable to the physical strength of Rambo, which is nourished with "prayer, the interior life and true motivation," says the secretary for the Congregation for Clergy.
Archbishop Mauro Piacenza said this Friday upon meeting with a small group of journalists to present some reflections and activities that will take place in Rome in the context of the Year for Priests.
I regularly place clips from Dick Van Dyke’s Faith, Hope and Hilarity: The Child’s Eye View of Religion in our parish bulletin. This one I had to pass along to you as well. From the eyes of children!
“When her mother said the local church they attended was ‘God’s house,’ a girl commented, ‘Aren’t we lucky to live in the same neighborhood with God?’”
Unity is what the Church is called too---which of course leads to the various ecumenical dialogs that are ongoing. Most of the time the correspondence is very gentle, careful not to give offense. Hence, I was pretty surprised to see the Pope call out the Orthodox here. He’s certainly not trying to give offense, but is simply pointing out that all agree the Holy Spirit is moving us toward unity---let’s not get in the way. A loving and firm exhortation from a true shepherd:
Pope to Orthodox: History Impeding the Holy Spirit
Sends Message to Patriarch for Feast of St. Andrew
VATICAN CITY, NOV. 30, 2009 (Zenit.org).-
From Pope Benedict XVI on the Feast of St. Andrew
The Pontiff said the memory of the martyrs compels Christians to bear witness to their faith, which he observed is "an urgency [...] especially in our own day, in which Christianity is faced with increasingly complex challenges."
This witness, he added, "will surely be all the more credible if all believers in Christ are 'of one heart and soul.'"
The Bishop of Rome noted how the Catholic and Orthodox Churches have been committed to "the path towards the re-establishment of full communion."
"[A]lthough we have not yet reached our goal," he said, "many steps have been taken that have enabled us to deepen the bonds between us."
He stated that this "growing friendship and mutual respect, and our willingness to encounter one another and to recognize one another as brothers in Christ, should not be hindered by those who remain bound to the remembrance of historical differences, which impedes their openness to the Holy Spirit who guides the Church and is able to transform all human failings into opportunities for good."
Finally, this Saturday, Dec. 12th is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas and to the unborn. Since it was her appearance in Mexico (1531) that precipitated the ending of child sacrifice in that country—Catholics have invoked her intercession for the Gospel of Life today, with many parishes holding prayer vigils for that intention. Bishop Morlino of Madison has taken that a step further. In a recent letter, he encouraged all Catholics in the Madison Diocese to fast and pray from Dec. 9th-11th. I include his letter below. We’re all going to have to answer for our action or inaction toward the evils of our own times. This is a great opportunity to join the battle (see especially his reference to Lepanto!):
December 4, 2009
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
In recent years we have been blessed in the Diocese of Madison with a renewed growth and commitment by many to proclaim, witness to, and strive to restore recognition for the inherent dignity of the human person—from conception to natural death. As I have said so many times before, it is the work of the laity, and not the bishops or priests, to transform our culture and the laws which govern our land, and many have taken up their responsibility with renewed vigor. Insofar as
we strive to protect the preborn child and all of the vulnerable, “the least among us,” so too we serve Jesus Christ who specifically bestowed even his own identity upon such as these (Mt 25:40).
So many of you continue to do a great deal, and for that I am so very grateful. Whether your efforts include peacefully praying outside abortion facilities, teaching chastity to the young, offering assistance to mothers in crisis situations, or respectfully petitioning our legislators, your efforts do much to actualize Vatican II’s specific call to the laity to build and restore a just society.
The very heart of efforts such as these, however, should always be prayer and the deepening intimacy each of us shares with Jesus Christ - in and through His Church.
Therefore, when approached and petitioned by a group of active pro-life individuals to call for and encourage three days of prayer and fasting in preparation for the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, I embraced this
sentiment with joyful and hopeful enthusiasm that we may most effectively serve and support this most critical cause of our time.
With these thoughts in mind, I am inviting, encouraging and requesting the faithful of the Diocese of Madison, and any other interested party, to intensified prayer and fasting from December 9th through the 11th, asking our Lord for a restored respect and protection of the vulnerable among us, particularly, but not limited to, each and every preborn child. Fasting from TV or the internet, for
example, is appropriate, as is fasting from food or drink.
In obedience to the teaching of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Mk 9:29), the Church has witnessed within her history how through prayer and fasting the Father has bestowed generous victories to rectify and dissolve what had seemed to be insurmountable and oppressive dangers to the vulnerable. I recall primarily the Battle of Lepanto in 1571 and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1989. Please join me in these three days of prayer and fasting, with supplication particularly to the intercession of Our Blessed Mother, Our Lady of Guadalupe, in anticipation of her feast day on December 12th. May Our Lady of Guadalupe, Queen of the Rosary, intercede for us in our critical needs of this time, as we strive to build a Culture of Life.
Faithfully Yours in Christ,
Most Rev. Robert C. Morlino
Bishop of Madison
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)
The Areopagus is a regular email for adults that includes various reflections, tidbits, news and events. Hope you find it fruitful!
If you would like to be added to this list, send an email to lawsphil@gmail.com
On the other hand, if you would like to be removed, send an email to the same address indicating that.
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)
The Areopagus is a regular email for adults that includes various reflections, tidbits, news and events. Hope you find it fruitful!
If you would like to be added to this list, send an email to lawsphil@gmail.com
On the other hand, if you would like to be removed, send an email to the same address indicating that.
Here’s a good opportunity to celebrate the Year of the Priest with a focus on Fr. Botros from Egypt.
This priest is amazing. His name is Fr. Zakaria Botros—originally from Egypt. He has been a missionary to Muslims regarding the Catholic faith—literally helping thousands come to Christ. In fact, he has been so successful that there is a $60 million bounty on his head from no less a group then Al Quaeda. He continues his work from undisclosed locations through his television show and the internet. (He was imprisoned for a time and later exiled from Egypt. Fr. Zakaria is no spring chicken either---he’s 75 years old. Patrick Madrid writes about him here:
http://patrickmadrid.blogspot.com/2009/11/and-now-meet-other-father-z.html
Phil’s Tidbits:
Continuing our Year of the Priest focus—it’s not often you hear the Vatican refer to “Rambo” and “Priest” in the same sentence! (Maybe now I can convince my wife to watch this Hollywood feat of high culture, drama and artistic craftsmanship ).
Vatican: Priests Need Rambo-esque Spiritual Muscle
Archbishop Piacenza Presents Year for Priests Activities
By Carmen Villa
ROME, NOV. 29, 2009 (Zenit.org).- A priest's soul should have "interior muscle" comparable to the physical strength of Rambo, which is nourished with "prayer, the interior life and true motivation," says the secretary for the Congregation for Clergy.
Archbishop Mauro Piacenza said this Friday upon meeting with a small group of journalists to present some reflections and activities that will take place in Rome in the context of the Year for Priests.
I regularly place clips from Dick Van Dyke’s Faith, Hope and Hilarity: The Child’s Eye View of Religion in our parish bulletin. This one I had to pass along to you as well. From the eyes of children!
“When her mother said the local church they attended was ‘God’s house,’ a girl commented, ‘Aren’t we lucky to live in the same neighborhood with God?’”
Unity is what the Church is called too---which of course leads to the various ecumenical dialogs that are ongoing. Most of the time the correspondence is very gentle, careful not to give offense. Hence, I was pretty surprised to see the Pope call out the Orthodox here. He’s certainly not trying to give offense, but is simply pointing out that all agree the Holy Spirit is moving us toward unity---let’s not get in the way. A loving and firm exhortation from a true shepherd:
Pope to Orthodox: History Impeding the Holy Spirit
Sends Message to Patriarch for Feast of St. Andrew
VATICAN CITY, NOV. 30, 2009 (Zenit.org).-
From Pope Benedict XVI on the Feast of St. Andrew
The Pontiff said the memory of the martyrs compels Christians to bear witness to their faith, which he observed is "an urgency [...] especially in our own day, in which Christianity is faced with increasingly complex challenges."
This witness, he added, "will surely be all the more credible if all believers in Christ are 'of one heart and soul.'"
The Bishop of Rome noted how the Catholic and Orthodox Churches have been committed to "the path towards the re-establishment of full communion."
"[A]lthough we have not yet reached our goal," he said, "many steps have been taken that have enabled us to deepen the bonds between us."
He stated that this "growing friendship and mutual respect, and our willingness to encounter one another and to recognize one another as brothers in Christ, should not be hindered by those who remain bound to the remembrance of historical differences, which impedes their openness to the Holy Spirit who guides the Church and is able to transform all human failings into opportunities for good."
Finally, this Saturday, Dec. 12th is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas and to the unborn. Since it was her appearance in Mexico (1531) that precipitated the ending of child sacrifice in that country—Catholics have invoked her intercession for the Gospel of Life today, with many parishes holding prayer vigils for that intention. Bishop Morlino of Madison has taken that a step further. In a recent letter, he encouraged all Catholics in the Madison Diocese to fast and pray from Dec. 9th-11th. I include his letter below. We’re all going to have to answer for our action or inaction toward the evils of our own times. This is a great opportunity to join the battle (see especially his reference to Lepanto!):
December 4, 2009
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
In recent years we have been blessed in the Diocese of Madison with a renewed growth and commitment by many to proclaim, witness to, and strive to restore recognition for the inherent dignity of the human person—from conception to natural death. As I have said so many times before, it is the work of the laity, and not the bishops or priests, to transform our culture and the laws which govern our land, and many have taken up their responsibility with renewed vigor. Insofar as
we strive to protect the preborn child and all of the vulnerable, “the least among us,” so too we serve Jesus Christ who specifically bestowed even his own identity upon such as these (Mt 25:40).
So many of you continue to do a great deal, and for that I am so very grateful. Whether your efforts include peacefully praying outside abortion facilities, teaching chastity to the young, offering assistance to mothers in crisis situations, or respectfully petitioning our legislators, your efforts do much to actualize Vatican II’s specific call to the laity to build and restore a just society.
The very heart of efforts such as these, however, should always be prayer and the deepening intimacy each of us shares with Jesus Christ - in and through His Church.
Therefore, when approached and petitioned by a group of active pro-life individuals to call for and encourage three days of prayer and fasting in preparation for the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, I embraced this
sentiment with joyful and hopeful enthusiasm that we may most effectively serve and support this most critical cause of our time.
With these thoughts in mind, I am inviting, encouraging and requesting the faithful of the Diocese of Madison, and any other interested party, to intensified prayer and fasting from December 9th through the 11th, asking our Lord for a restored respect and protection of the vulnerable among us, particularly, but not limited to, each and every preborn child. Fasting from TV or the internet, for
example, is appropriate, as is fasting from food or drink.
In obedience to the teaching of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Mk 9:29), the Church has witnessed within her history how through prayer and fasting the Father has bestowed generous victories to rectify and dissolve what had seemed to be insurmountable and oppressive dangers to the vulnerable. I recall primarily the Battle of Lepanto in 1571 and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1989. Please join me in these three days of prayer and fasting, with supplication particularly to the intercession of Our Blessed Mother, Our Lady of Guadalupe, in anticipation of her feast day on December 12th. May Our Lady of Guadalupe, Queen of the Rosary, intercede for us in our critical needs of this time, as we strive to build a Culture of Life.
Faithfully Yours in Christ,
Most Rev. Robert C. Morlino
Bishop of Madison
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)
The Areopagus is a regular email for adults that includes various reflections, tidbits, news and events. Hope you find it fruitful!
If you would like to be added to this list, send an email to lawsphil@gmail.com
On the other hand, if you would like to be removed, send an email to the same address indicating that.
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)
The Areopagus is a regular email for adults that includes various reflections, tidbits, news and events. Hope you find it fruitful!
If you would like to be added to this list, send an email to lawsphil@gmail.com
On the other hand, if you would like to be removed, send an email to the same address indicating that.
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