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Weekly Bulletin November 17, 2024
by Terrie Evans
This Sunday is the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. On Monday, November 18th, we celebrate the Feast of the Dedication of the Basilicas of the Apostles Peter and Paul. The prayers of the Mass for the Dedication celebrate the Church building as an image of the universal Church built of the living stones of God’s Baptized people, and the liturgical rite dedicating the building evokes in many ways the rite for Baptizing Christians. The liturgical book for the dedication of a Church provides auxiliary rites for the blessing and laying of a cornerstone, the dedication of a church already in use, the blessing of a new altar, and a simple blessing for a place that will be used for worship only temporarily. On This feast day, we recall the history of the Emperor Constantine’s building projects that would entice many pilgrims to Rome. In 319, Constantine built a Basilica on the site of a simple cemetery where the faithful gathered at St. Peter’s tomb. The Basilica stood for over one thousand years until in 1506, Pope Julius ordered it razed and reconstructed. The new Basilica was not completed or dedicated for more than two centuries. Constantine also built another Basilica, St. Paul’s Outside-the Walls at the site where St. Paul was believed to be beheaded and the largest church in Rome until St. Peter’s was rebuilt. The basilica rises over the site of St. Peter’s grave and in 1823, the recent edifice was constructed. Many pilgrims had visited the basilicas to honor the Apostles who are believed to be buried there. Catholic Bishops are required to make a Quinquennial visit ad limina, to go: “To the Tombs of the Apostles” in Rome. This was established by Pope Sixtus V in 1585 and in 1909, Pope Pius X decreed that a Bishop needs to report to the Pope on the state of his diocese once every 5 years starting in 1911. The two churches were at one time linked by a roofed colonnade of marble columns that were built despite the serval miles distance between them.
On Monday, November 18th we honor the feast day of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne (1769-1852) born in Grenoble, France and entered the Visitation of Mary Convent at the age of 19. When the French Revolution broke out, the convent closed, she aided the poor, sick and put her life in danger helping priests in the underground. After opening a school for homeless children, Rose tried to revive the religious life of the convent, but only 4 nuns were left, they joined the Society of the Sacred Heart who’s Superior was Madeleine Sophie Barat, who became a lifelong friend. Rose became a supervisor of the novitiate and the school. Rose had always wanted to come to America to do missionary work in Louisiana and possibly go to work among native Americans. At the age of 49, Rose and 4 nuns spent 11 weeks at sea on their way to New Orleans and then 7 more weeks traveling on the Mississippi, to St. Louis. On their arrival the Bishop stated he had no accommodations and sent them to St. Charles Missouri called: “The remotest village in the U.S.” For the next ten years, Mother Duchesne suffered every hardship in America, having poor lodging, food shortages, poor drinking water, and lack of money. Her party suffered through forest fires, blazing chimneys, the Missouri climate, undesirable living conditions and the rude manners of children they were trying to teach. She eventually settled in Florissant, Missouri where she founded the 1st Catholic Indian school and went on to add others in the territory. She founded a mission at Sugar Creek Kansas at the age of 72. Although in poor health, Mother Duchesne worked and lived among the Potawatomi who named her “Woman-Who-Prays-Always” as the Native American children witnessed her praying undisturbed for many hours. Mother Rose Duchesne died at the age of 83 in 1852 and was canonized in 1988. A beautiful mosaic of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne is displayed in the Cathedral Basilica in St. Louis Missouri.
On Thursday, November 21st we honor the feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a solemn feat that is celebrated with Mass and special prayers. The feast recalls when Mary’s parents Joachim and Anna, who had been childless, received a message from Heaven that they would give birth to a child. In a gesture of thanksgiving, for the gift of their daughter, they brough her to the Temple. At the age of 3, Mary was presented to the Temple in Jerusalem by her parents and consecrated to God as she began her lifelong service in the Temple. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, the feast day is known as “The Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple.” The feast was first introduced in 1372 by a decree of Pope Gregory XI. In 1472, Pope Gregory XI included the feast in the Roman Missal that was later suppressed by Pope Pius V in the 16th Century. In 1585, it was reestablished by Pope Sixtus V and has been celebrated ever since. In the Catholic Church, the feast is celebrated for Mary’s role as the Mother of God being a time for family gatherings and traditional food celebrations. In the Anglican Church, it is commemorating the Presentation of Mary as a model of obedience to God. They often schedule church services and prayers, meetings with family and food celebrations. The Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary honors all that God has done for this special woman.
On Friday, November 22nd, we honor the life of St. Cecilia, the patroness of Musicians, Composers and Singers. Born in Rome during the 2nd or 3rd Century; at an early age planned to remain devoted only to God even after her marriage to her husband Valerian. Cecilia converted her husband to the Faith of Christ who helped her in all her charitable works. Cecilia along with her husband Valerian, his brother Tiburtius, and Maximus, a Roman soldier martyred in 230 by the Emperor Alexander Severus spent many funds obtaining bodies of martyred Christians, giving them a proper burial. Cecilia obtained their bodies and buried them in the cemetery in the Cemetery of Praetextatus. Her practice of having religion services in her home was discovered and they would not renounce their practice. They were summoned to a trial and were sentenced to death for their charitable work. When Cecilia was tortured, after being struck three times on the neck with a sword, and while mortally wounded, asked Pope Urban to convert her home into a church. She was buried in the Catacomb of Callixtus and later transferred to the Church of Santa Cecilia in Rome around 817. The Church was reportedly built on the site of the house in which she lived. In 1599, when Cardinal Paolo Emilio Sfondrati was leading a renovation when her tomb was opened and her remains that were said to be incorrupt were reburied. She is one of several virgin martyrs commemorated by name in the Canon of the Mass in the Latin Church and is one of the most famous Roman Martyrs, who symbolizes the central role of music in the liturgy. The Cistercian Nuns from the convent near Santa Cecilia shear lamb’s wool to be used for the Palliums of the new Metropolitan Archbishops. The Pallium is worn over the shoulders by all new Metropolitan Bishops and also the Pope at Pontifical Liturgies. They are given by the Pope on the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul on June 29th. The lambs who provide the wool are blessed very year on January 21st, the memorial of St. Agnes. Since 1994, Poland holds the festival, Cecyliada in honor of St. Cecilia for all lovers of sacred choral and contemporary music.
On Saturday, November 23rd we honor the memorials of St. Clement I, Pope, and Martyr; St. Columban, Abbot; and Blessed Miguel Pro, Priest, and Martyr. St. Clement, mentioned in the Canon of the Mass is the third successor of St. Peter. He ruled the Church from 92-102 and while Pope, wrote a letter to the Corinthians that showed his religious spirit and his love of Christian unity. His letter is one of the most ancient and precious documents that has survived from the early Christian times. Pope Clement worked to rebuke the evils of jealousy at the Church in Corinth where pagans were overthrowing the lawful Christian leaders. Due to his stance, he was banished to Chersones where 2,000 Christians also had received the same sentence. When they saw Him, they all said; “Pray for us Blessed Clement that we may become worthy of the promise of Christ” Pope Clement replied: “Without any merit of my own, the Lord sent me to you to share in your crowns.” Pope Clement was sentenced to be drowned with an iron anchor tied around his neck. When he was making his way to the sea the faithful cried out “Lord Jesus Christ, save him” as Pope Clement prayed “Father receive my Spirit.” At the shore, the Christians asked God to give them the Pope’s body found in a small chapel of marble that was said to be built by the hands of angels. The body was later taken to Rome and placed in a church dedicated in his honor, which became one of the most venerable churches in Rome retaining all the liturgical arrangement of ancient times. He is the patron of marble workers, mariners, and boatmen. A Prayer to honor St. Clement: “Almighty ever-living God, who are wonderful in the virtue of all your Saints, grant us the joy in the yearly commemoration of Saint Clement, who as a Martyr and High Priest of your Son, bore out by his witness what he celebrated in mystery and confirmed by example what he preached with his lips. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.”
We also commemorate St. Columban, born in Ireland in 540 who desired to become a “Pilgrim of God”. As a monk, he and 12 other monks were sent to Gaul in 585 to do missionary work, building his 1st monastery at Annegray. He was able to build two more monasteries with his followers growing throughout the countries of France, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. Columban soon faced opposition from the Frankish Bishops for refusing the Bishop’s jurisdiction as they were suspicious of the Celtic practices he promoted. He defended his stance in letters to the Holy See and refused to attend a synod in 603 when summoned to explain the rules he established. Columban also angered King Theodoric II of Burgundy when he refuted his way of life with the King ordering all Irish monks banished. Columban crossed the Alps into Italy where he was welcomed to Milan by King Agilulf of the Lombards and soon founded a Monastery at Bobbio, between Milan and Genoa. The monastery he established became the center of culture, learning and spirituality. Columban wrote his Monastic Rule, Sermons, Poetry, and Treaties against Arianism and died at his monastery on November 23, rd. He is the Patron of the Missionary Society of St. Columban, Bargino, and Bobbio, Italy. At St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, the Irish Chapel is dedicated to St. Columban. A Prayer in memory of St. Columban: “O God, who in Saint Columban wonderfully joined the work of evangelization to zeal for the monastic life, grant, we pray, that through his intercession and example we may strive to seek you above all things and to bring increase to your faithful people. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.”
On November 23rd we also remember the life and works of Blesses Miguel Agustin Pro, born in Guadalupe Zacatecas, Mexico on January 13, 1891, becoming a Jesuit novice at the age of 20. He was soon exiled during the Mexican Revolution and found himself traveling to the United States, Spain, Nicaragua, and Belgium where he was ordained in 1925. He was called back to Mexico in 1926 by his Superiors even though religious persecutions were going on in the country with churches being closed and priest going into hiding. On his arrival, Father Pro started a secret ministry to aid the faithful Mexican Catholics fulfilling their spiritual needs and assisting the poor of Mexico City. He remained a faithful servant to his Superiors while serving Christ until he was falsely accused of attempting to bomb the President-elect. He became a wanted man, betrayed to the authorities, and sentenced to death without a trial. At his execution, Father Pro prayed, refused to be blindfolded while proclaiming “Viva Cristo Rey” (Long Live Christ the King). Blessed Miguel Agustin Pro’s remains are held in a silver reliquary on the right side of the main sanctuary of the Parish of the Holy Family in Mexico City, Mexico. A Prayer in memory of Blessed Miguel Pro: “ Our God and Father, who conferred upon your servant Blesses Miguel Augustin Pro the grace of ardently seeking your greater glory and the salvation of others, grant, through his intercession and example, that by faithfully and joyfully performing our daily duties and effectively assisting those around us, we may serve you with zeal and ever seek your glory, Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.”