February 22-23 2020 | 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time | Parish Marian Year

What Francis thinks of John Paul II: New book-interview on “John Paul the Great” (Part 1)

Pope Francis also speaks out about gender ideology as one of the evils of the day.

Out now in Italian bookstores (and translations already underway) is the most recent book by Pope Francis, dedicated to his Polish predecessor, titled “Saint John Paul the Great” (“San Giovanni Paolo Magno”). To be precise, it’s a book-interview collaboration with a young Italian priest (also a professor and author), Fr. Luigi Maria Epicoco.

We spoke with the author:

SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Aleteia: When and how did the idea of the book come about?

Fr. Luigi Maria Epicoco: The idea was born during a conversation with the pope in June of last year: I told him about my project of a short spiritual biography for the 100th anniversary of the birth of Pope Wojtyła. At that point, the pope told me some personal anecdotes related to his predecessor, and from there came the idea of collecting his testimony and including it in this book. From then until Christmas we met periodically to organize and put together this shared project.

Aleteia: Between John Paul II and Francis … is there room for Benedict XVI?

Fr. Luigi Maria Epicoco: One could not think of the first two without the third: Benedict remains the true bridge between the end of an important pontificate like that of John Paul II and another important pontificate, which would never have existed without the choices and intuitions of Pope Benedict.

Several times, moreover, in the course of conversations, Pope Francis reiterated that, in his opinion, in 2005 the only person who could take up the legacy of John Paul II was Cardinal Ratzinger.

Aleteia: Which section of this book is dearest to you?

Fr. Luigi Maria Epicoco: In the chapter “The Priest” I asked the Holy Father for a word about spiritual direction, given that in Christus Vivit he also invited young people to be accompanied in their growth and that John Paul II himself had several exceptional companions, among them the lay saint Jan Tyranowski. The pope has repeatedly stressed that the ministry of spiritual direction should not be thought of primarily as something that the Church can or should codify, in the manner of established ministries:

“… basically spiritual direction is a charisma. It is not so much a function, but a paternity, a brotherhood that finds its ultimate root not in our organization but in the life of the Spirit. Certainly it’s inherent in the priest’s duty to offer direction, but I reiterate the basic idea that spiritual direction is a charism, which in some cases is strongly manifested and in others is more difficult to recognize, and that it is not only something given to priests but also to lay people and consecrated women, because it is a charism of the baptized.”

Pope Francis (with Luigi Maria Epicoco), St. John Paul the Great, 76-77 (to be continued).

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Some 2020 anniversaries:

January 1880: 140th anniversary of OLR Primary School

May 3 1820: 200th anniversary of arrival of Fr John Therry, Fr Philip Conolly.

May 18 1920: Centenary of birth of Pope Saint John Paul II.

200th Anniversary of Catholic education in Australia.

May 8/Sept 2 1945: 75th anniversary of end of World War II.

December 8 1870: 150th anniversary of Pope Pius IX declaration of St Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church.

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Meditate on God’s presence after communion

February 15-16 2020
5th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Parish Marian Year

Do you stop to realize that the God of the universe is inside you at communion?

 

Often the familiarity with attending Mass and receiving holy communion can make us indifferent to what is truly happen-ing.
As Catholics, we believe that Jesus Himself is present in the Eucharist in a unique way. His entire body, blood, soul and divinity is there in the consecrated host and when we receive communion, we are receiving the God of the universe into our hearts.

 

Do we ever stop to meditate on that profound truth?
Mother Mary Loyola in her book, Welcome! Holy Communion, provides a brief meditation on this reality that can help awaken in us an awe at what is happening at Mass. Sometimes we need a little "poke" to see the divine mysteries that occur and to un-derstand who is coming inside us at communion.

How near I am now, nay, how closely united I am now, to the Source of all good. I cross my hands upon my breast and know that, folded there, is all good.

And He is here to share with me, like a true lover, all that He has and is. Within my breast is:

All His Omnipotence to protect me—"Thou shalt know that the Lord thy God is a strong and faithful God" (Deut. vii.).


All His Wisdom to guide me—"Abide thou with Me, tear not" (i Kings xxii.).

All His loving-kindness to help me—" I will not leave thee nor forsake thee" (Jos. i.).

All His charity to warm me—" Our God is a consuming fire" (Heb. xii.).

All His zeal to enkindle mine, for "The charity of Christ presseth us" (2 Cor. v.).

All His treasures to enrich me, for "He that spared not even His own Son…how hath He not also with Him given us all things!" (Rom. viii.).


All His merits to plead for me—"Ever living to make inter-cession for us" (Heb. vii.).

How near to me is all this in the supremely precious mo-ments after Communion! Not at my door, not within my reach, but absolutely within my breast. Open, then, Thy hand to me, O Lord, and fill Thy needy creature with benediction by filling it with Thyself.

Philip Kosloski , Aleteia, Jan 23, 2020

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Jesus to a Benedictine monk, In Sinu Jesu, p 106: "It is in these few precious moments after Holy Communion that My Heart seeks to hold conversation with My friends, but so many turn away from Me to busy themselves about many things. Of you, My friend, I ask something more. Re-main with Me for these few moments. Listen for the sound of My voice in your heart. Know that My desire is to speak to you and to listen to all that you have to tell Me. It is in these moments that I am most disposed to grant the re-quests made of Me in faith." (Friday March 13, 2009)  
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A prayer to the Holy Family of Nazareth to bring love to your own family

Heavenly Father, we ask You to bless our family.

Open our hearts to receive Your love. May our home be another Nazareth,

so that our family may be a place where Your peace and love abides.

Open our eyes to recognize the gift and beauty of life,

so that we may find joy in Your presence among us.

Grant us pure hearts seeking holiness, generous hearts full of Your love,

merciful hearts ready to forgive and tender hearts full of kindness.

May our family be a sanctuary of life and love,

a beacon of hope

drawing others to your Son, Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, Holy Family of Nazareth, pray for us.

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Some 2020 anniversaries:
 January 1880: 140th anniversary of OLR Primary School

May 3 1820: 200th anniversary of arrival of Fr John Therry, Fr Philip Conolly.

200th anniversary of Catholic education in Australia.

May 8/Sept 2 1945: 75th anniversary of end of World War II.

December 8 1870: 150th anniversary of Pope Pius IX declaration of St Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church.



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5 Keys to a good education according to St. John Bosco

February 1-2 2020 - Presentation of the Lord



Parish Marian Year
On January 31, we celebrate St. John Bosco. An extraordinary educator, this Italian priest founded the Salesian Order and cre-ated an educational system that has lost nothing of its pertinence today.
John Bosco was born in the vicinity of Turin in 1815. He lost his father at the age of two and was lovingly raised by his mother. In order to continue his educa-tion, he had practiced numerous small trades. Having become a priest, he developed a network for young apprentices arriving from the countryside and proposed training for the unemployed in the streets of Turin. Later, he opened a series of boarding schools (where he received the future St. Dominic Savio). The Salesian Society was inaugurated in 1854 to continue his work. At his death in 1888, Don Bosco’s work spread beyond the borders of Italy. Still today, his teaching method remains relevant and can be helpful to parents and educators.

Here are five key elements to retain from this teaching method.
1. Transform children into "honest citizens and good Christians"
Don Bosco’s teaching method includes all aspects that make up a person – intellect, technology, sports, expression, affection, and religion. Don Bosco wished "to create honest citizens and good Christians."


2. Boost self-confidence and trust in others

An education on how to be successful includes: teach-ing children how to be confident, highlighting success and in case of failure, encouraging the ability to over-come it. The goal is to provide self-confidence and trust in others: "There is no confidence without affection, without confidence, there is no education," affirmed John Bosco.

3. Let children know they are loved


It is an education of love that accepts young people as they are, and desires that they thrive and manifests true affection.  

4. Never forget fun and games  Among many other things, games develop the sense of reality, respect for rules, and socialization. "Let us pro-vide ample liberty to jump, run and cry with joy. Gym, music, drama, excursions improve both physical and mental health," said Don Bosco.
 
5. And above all teach about grace


One must encourage children to live in grace as a path to saintliness. A good education is first of all a fruit of God’s love.

Edifa , Aleteia, Jan 29, 2020


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Kobe Bryant’s last great acts
With the sudden death of Basketball Legend Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, on Sunday, a lot has been shared in the press and on social media about Bryant’s outstanding talent and drive, and the motivational force he was on the basketball court which inspired millions. Though some of his past choices off the court were not without controversy, some of the greatest praise he has received was for the kind of man and dad he had become. In his last 24 hours, the Philadelphia native demonstrated this, away from the heights of the basketball hoop.

On the day of his death, a Sunday, many reports have said that Bryant started his day at the Catholic church in Orange County, California, where he regularly at-tends. As Fr. David Barnes shared on Twitter, Bryant’s commitment to his faith will be a great source of com-fort to those who mourn him, and inspiration for oth-ers to go to Mass:

"As sad as Kobe’s death is, a friend texted me today to tell me that a friend of her’s attends the same Catholic Church as Kobe and saw him this morning at Mass. There can be nothing more consoling to those who mourn than to know that a loved one worshipped God right before his death because worshipping God is what heaven is. Go to Mass. Go to Mass. Go to Mass."

Singer Cristina Ballestero spoke of meeting Bryant one day during Communion at Holy Family Cathedral and posted on Instagram the impact the encounter had on her: "His most inspiring trait was his decision to turn to his faith in God and receive God’s mercy and to be a better man after a regretful decision."

Cerith Gardiner, Aleteia, Jan 28, 2020

May his soul Rest in Peace

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