All posts by Anne Tschanz

Saints

Patron of the Universal Church

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You know the times in which we live; they are scarcely less deplorable for the Christian religion than the worst days, which in time past were most full of misery to the Church. We see faith, the root of all the Christian virtues, lessening in many souls; we see charity growing cold; the young generation daily growing in depravity of morals and views; the Church of Jesus Christ attacked on every side by open force or by craft; a relentless war waged against the Sovereign Pontiff; and the very foundations of religion undermined with a boldness which waxes daily in intensity.

Ite ad Joseph ("Go To Joseph") Genesis 41:55

That God may be more favourable to Our prayers, and that He may come with bounty and promptitude to the aid of His Church, We judge it of deep utility for the Christian people, continually to invoke with great piety and trust, together with the Virgin-Mother of God, her chaste Spouse, the Blessed Joseph.

In giving Joseph the Blessed Virgin as spouse, God appointed him to be not only her life’s companion, the witness of her maidenhood, the protector of her honour, but also, by virtue of the conjugal tie, a participator in her sublime dignity. And Joseph shines among all mankind by the most august dignity, since by divine will, he was the guardian of the Son of God and reputed as His father among men. Hence it came about that the Word of God was humbly subject to Joseph, that He obeyed him, and that He rendered to him all those offices that children are bound to render to their parents.

And for such reasons, the Blessed Patriarch looks upon the multitude of Christians who make up the Church as confided specially to his trust – this limitless family spread over the earth, over which, because he is the spouse of Mary and the Father of Jesus Christ he holds, as it were, a paternal authority. It is, then, natural and worthy that as the Blessed Joseph ministered to all the needs of the family at Nazareth and girt it about with his protection, he should now cover with the cloak of his heavenly patronage and defend the Church of Jesus Christ.

Excerpted from Quamquam Pluries – ENCYCLICAL OF POPE LEO XIII ON DEVOTION TO ST. JOSEPH

 

 

 

News

Habemus Papam Franciscum

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“I am very happy that a Latin American has been elected. We know the hopes that it would have been someone from the continent that has the majority of Catholics [in the world],” were the first words of Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., director of the Holy See Press Office, commenting on the election of the new Pope to reporters.

“The choice of the name Francis is very meaningful,” he said. “It is a name that has never been chosen before and evokes simplicity and an evangelical witness. His first, simple appearance in public testifies to both. It is a sign of great spirituality to ask the people’s blessing for him before giving his own. It is a spirituality that recalls that of his predecessor. His pastoral sense of relationship with the Diocese of Rome should also be noted. It is the Pope’s diocese and [he chose] to pray the Church’s simplest prayers with the People of God at a moment like this.”

“Cardinal Bergoglio,” he added, “is a Jesuit. Jesuits are characterized by their service to the Church, collecting all the charisms that the Lord gives us wherever they are needed, but trying to avoid positions of power. For me this election takes on the meaning of a call to server, a strong call and not a quest for power or authority. I am absolutely convinced that we have a Pope who wants to serve. His election was the election of a rejection of power.”

Thanks to Vatican Information Service (13-3-2013)  for providing this commentary. Click here to go to the Vatican website for a collage of pictures from that historic night.

News

Bearing Witness to Truth

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In Catholic World Report (March 13, 2013), Bishop Robert Vasa of the Diocese of Santa Rosa is interviewed about his requirement that the teachers in his diocesan schools promise (with their signatures) to uphold and live out the teachings of the Catholic Church.

The addendum to their contract is called “Bearing Witness” and it calls teachers “to a life of holiness;” a call, the bishop says, that is “more compelling for me since I have been entrusted, in my vocation as a teacher/administrator in a Catholic school, with the formation of souls.” The bishop goes on to say: “I am especially cognizant of the fact that modern errors — including but not limited to matters that gravely offend human dignity and the common good such as contraception, abortion, homosexual ‘marriage’ and euthanasia — while broadly accepted in society, are not consistent with the clear teachings of the Catholic Church.”

Bishop Vasa is the President of the Institute on Religious Life and makes makes the point that parents in good faith are sending their kids to Catholic Schools where he presumes that they are looking for their children to receive proper “spiritual, dogmatic, moral formation.” He states: “And since I operate with that presumption, that imposes a responsibility upon me to make sure that the Catholic formation in that school is consistent with what the Catechism and the Holy Father proclaim to be the teachings of the Church. A failure to do that is an abdication of my responsibility.”

In every other walk of life it seems, we are expected to follow the rules for less lofty reasons than what is at stake here. I worked for a large corporation for many years. We had to agree to the Business Conduct Guidelines of the company with our signatures or our employment would be terminated. I only sold computers. In the Bishop’s case, we are taking about people’s souls and their eternal salvation. Shortchanging or darkening children’s consciences does great harm to the individual and to society. Society needs holy Catholic men and women, in our families, schools, hospitals, capitol buildings, convents, monasteries and rectories. I applaud Bishop Vasa for creating the environment where this can happen.

Women's Communities

Sisters of Life

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When bishop-elect John O’Connor visited Dachau concentration camp and “felt the intermingled ashes of Jew and Christian, rabbi, priest and minister, ” he proclaimed, “Good God, how could human beings do this to other human beings?” He vowed then to do all he could to protect all human life, especially the most vulnerable among us.

Later, as Cardinal of New York, he wondered why the efforts of the pro-life cause were not gleaning the results expected. His eyes fell upon the passage from Scripture, “This kind of demon can only be cast out by prayer and fasting.” From this epiphany moment, a new gift to the Church eventually come into being: the Sisters of Life.

If you are not on their mailing list to receive their newsletter, you are really missing out. In every issue, there are incredibly inspirational stories about young, pregnant and vulnerable expectant mothers who find that the love, caring and shelter offered by the sisters transforms their lives and leads them to Jesus.

The sisters offer pregnancy services, “holy respite” facilities for pregnant women to live with the sisters, post-abortion healing seminars, evangelization talks, seminars and assistance to the Archdiocese by staffing the Respect Life Office. For more information about their life and services, visit their website.

News

The Cardinal’s Farewell of Gratitude

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“The Cardinal Fathers, gathered at the Vatican for the General Congregations in view of the next conclave, send you their devoted greetings and express their renewed gratitude for all your illustrious Petrine ministry and for your example of generous pastoral care for the good of the Church and of the world.

With their gratitude they hope to represent the recognition of the entire Church for your tireless work in the vineyard of the Lord.

In conclusion, the members of the College of Cardinals trust in your prayers for them, as well as for the whole Church.”

A beautiful article describing the Holy Father’s last appearance in Rome, his impact on the young and the distortions that dogged him in the English press can be found in Crisis Magazine. Well worth a read.

Men's communities, News

Franciscan Brothers of Peace

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Was there anyone in the Church more vilified during the Terri Schiavo tragedy than than Brother Paul O’Donnell, f.b.p.? Brother Paul is the Guardian of the Franciscan Brothers of Peace and he was a courageous spokesman for the utterly defenseless as Terri’s life and death were laid bare for all the world to see.

I am happy to see that their community is growing!

Brother Paul asks that we please pray to God for more vocations to his community and Franciscan way of life. Visit his Facebook page or go to their website for more information.

Peter, the new postulant
Bro. Dominic, FBP, the newest Brother
Bro. Juniper, FBP, the newest novice

News, Women's Communities

Not Your Average 70’s Chapel

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One year ago, I posted a blog on the proposed renovation of the Carmelite chapel in the Infant of Prague Monastery in Traverse City, Michigan.

Here is what it looked like then.

 

Here is what it looks like now.

The renovated chapel and new altar were dedicated by Bishop Bernard Hebda of the Diocese of Gaylord on Sunday, February 3, 2013

The design and renovation work were supervised by Notre Dame architecture professor Duncan G. Stroik.

 

The Carmelite nuns decided after years of reflection to transform the modern-style chapel into a place of sacred beauty and transcendence. For the Carmelites, every experience of beauty is an experience of God – and their renovated chapel, though small, offered an opportunity for this beauty.

The nuns lead lives of simplicity, contemplation, and prayer, but wanted a beautiful sanctuary for the glory of God and to inspire the laity. The nuns’ choir is positioned to the side of the sanctuary, separated from it by a new forged steel grille in the Spanish Carmelite tradition. The Choir is positioned to the side of the sanctuary, where the nuns attend Mass and pray. There is a new altar rail, marble floor, mahogany woodwork, and new shrines to St. John of the Cross, St. Teresa of Avila, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, St. Joseph, and the Infant of Prague. The nuns requested wood columns and a wooden altar rail to give the sanctuary a Spanish aesthetic – and to aid Michigan’s economy by using local labor and materials.

A new tabernacle was also installed, accompanied by a matching set of candlesticks and crucifix, first in a new line of altar appointments designed by Mr. Stroik called Rinascimento,. The tabernacle is enthroned on the Carmelite’s high altar, with views from the nave and through the cloister grille.

The inscription above the Ionic columns reads Adducam eos in montem sanctum meum et laetificabo eos in domo orationis meae (Isaiah 56) – “These I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer.”

Mother Mary of Jesus, Prioress of the monastery, said, “We would need a cathedral to seat everyone who has helped us. The overwhelming support of the community has demonstrated that people want churches that look like churches.” Amen!

News

Mary, Mother of the Church, Pray for Us!

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O God, eternal shepherd, who govern your flock with unfailing care,

grant in your boundless fatherly love a pastor for your Church

who will please you by his holiness and to us show watchful care.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in unity of the Holy Spirit, one God,  for ever and ever.

O Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us!

Men's communities, News

From the Ashes…

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Archbishop John Barwa, SVD, a Divine Word Missionary in India, knows what persecution is like firsthand. In 2008, in his own Archdiocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, Hindus went on rampage that killed 100 people, destroyed 18 churches and displaced some 5000 people. His own niece, a nun, was gang-raped.

While he was not the archbishop of the diocese at the time, he accompanied Cardinal Telesphore Toppo to the area during the first wave of persecutions, a experience he said was both painful and frightening. But Cardinal Toppo encouraged the people by saying, “From these ashes a new church will come about, so let us pray to God for the possibility for going through this suffering.”

With the help of the SVD Missionary Center in Techny, Illinois (which has an incredibly beautiful chapel in the main building), most of the churches and homes have been rebuilt. Some of those who took part in the violence, says the Archbishop, have had a change of heart. “Those who took part in the persecution realized that it was fruitless. They asked for pardon and forgiveness.”

The threats on his life are very real but God has been with him. “They can kill me only once. If that happens, then I will die for my people.” Such dying to self has reaped astounding benefits. Last year, the Archbishop ordained 33 young men to the priesthood. In the town where the persecution began, he ordained 5 deacons and 3 priests.

Who knows, maybe the next Pope will come from India. I have adopted (been assigned) a Cardinal to pray for before and during the conclave. His name is Oswald Gracias and he is from the Indian Archdiocese of Mumbai (Bombay) and also happens to be the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India. If you “wish to contribute through the power of your prayers so that the Holy Spirit may guide, protect and enlighten our Cardinals when they determine the next successor of St. Peter,” you can adopt one too!  To have a Cardinal assigned to you visit //adoptacardinal.org/.