Tag Archives: Pope

St. Francis of Assisi; Friar (04 OCT)

04 Friday Oct 2013

Posted by in Ascetic Theology, Inspirational Christians, Saints and Feast Days, The Church, The Liturgical Year

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Most high, omnipotent, good Lord, grant your people grace to renounce gladly the vanities of this world; that, following the way of blessed Francis, we may for love of you delight in your whole creation with perfectness of joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

 – Collect from Lesser Feasts and Fasts, 2003

St. Francis of Assisi was an Italian Catholic friar and preacher. He founded the men’s Order of Friars Minor, the women’s Order of St. Clare, and the Third Order of Saint Francis for men and women not able to live the lives of itinerant preachers. Though he was never ordained to the Catholic priesthood, Francis is one of the most venerated religious figures in history.

On July 16, 1228, he was pronounced a saint by Pope Gregory IX. He is known as the patron saint of animals, the environment, and is one of the two patron saints of Italy (with Catherine of Siena). It is customary for Catholic and Anglican churches to hold ceremonies blessing animals on his feast day of October 4. He is also known for his love of the Eucharist,his sorrow during the Stations of the Cross, and for the creation of the Christmas creche or Nativity Scene.

 -From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_of_Assisi

REFLECTION

St. Francis is one of the most admired saints in all of Christianity. His love of all of God’s creation (humanity, animals, the environment) is highlighted in many seminaries worldwide. His story of being a rich kid who gave up his wealth to be in service to others is highly admired. As many people who love St. Francis, many find it difficult to actually live as he did. His sacrifice was much more than living in poverty. It was the teaching of the faith, the loving of the “least of these.”

Upon my priestly travels, the religious order that I interact with the most are the Franciscans (used to be the Jesuits). The first Roman Catholic Priest who invited me not only to process with him, but to have a seat in the altar/sanctuary is a Franciscan.  My first priestly confession was with a Franciscan priest. I have a fond admiration for the Franciscans. It is as strong as my admiration for the Jesuits, but its different. The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston is Cardinal Sean O’Malley, a Franciscan – Capuchin.

St. Francis was also a strong advocate for helping his fellow brother and sister when it came to developing religious orders. He was very instrumental in the establishing the “Poor Claire’s” with Claire of Assisi as well as helping St Dominic with the establishment of the Orders of Preachers (Dominicans). This sort of Christian collegiality by St. Francis is often overlooked. If we pay attention to it, we can see clearly this value being embodied in our current Pope.

The Inauguration Mass For Pope Francis

Pope Francis I, a Jesuit, does embody many of the qualities of St. Francis. His love of the “least of these” is evident not only in this picture, but in many scenes we have seen since his conclave. The washing of the feet of incarcerated women, praying over babies in large crowds, and blessing those with physical and mental disabilities are just a snapshot of his view of the call to the ministry and the ideals of St. Francis. Like his name sake, he is not quick to judge, but will adhere to sound Christian doctrine and Christian collegiality. It is noted that he and Anglican Bishop Gregory Venables are close friends. He has met with Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and with Argentinian President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner (the two have not had the best relationship in the past).

At the end of the day, the most important part of the St. Francis’ legacy his love and care for all of God’s creation. Its that love that drove his preaching, teaching and sacrifice of himself for the work of the Lord.

 – JMH+

Chair of St. Peter (22 FEB)

22 Friday Feb 2013

Posted by in The Church, The Liturgical Year

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Cathedra Petri - USE THIS

O God, Who by delivering to Thy blessed Apostle Peter the keys of the kingdom of Heaven, didst confer upon him the pontifical power of binding and of loosing, grant that, by the help of his intercession, we may be delivered from the bonds of our sins. Who livest and reignest with Thee, One God, world without end. Amen.

– Roman Catholic Prayer

The Chair of Saint Peter, or the cathedra (latin) or kathedra (greek) is believed to be the seat or throne of the First Bishop of Christianity. The day is to celebrate the day St. Peter first held a service, as Bishop in Rome. However, there is much speculation over which “seat was first.” Prior to Pope John XXIII, the Roman Church would celebrate the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter in Rome (18 JANUARY), and the Feast of St. Peter in Antioch (22 FEBRUARY). Some early church documents point to the chair in Antioch older than the one in Rome. Other documents state the inverse. However, the late Pope decided that the chair in Rome was first, thus the January date is celebrated. However, old habits die hard. Older Roman Catholics, Anglo-Catholics, Lutherans celebrate one, or both days as a commemoration to the office of the Episcopate.

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Despite where the chair was first, the office of the Episcopate is one that is highly revered for several reasons. Being the pastor to pastors, the “Prince of the Church” and in the line of St. Peter the Apostle is very appealing to those who are called to this vocation. It is  to the point where denominations that are NOT liturgical, NOT connected to Apostolic Succession nor believe in the episcopal structure of church governance, have “Bishops.”

At the beginning of my “official” transition to Anglicanism, I struggled with the episcopal structure. Coming from a Baptist lens, a “bishop” was nothing more than a Pentecostal minister who has a mega-church and spend a lot of time in ministry. I would called them “Bishop” because that is what they wanted to be called. If I did not call them “Bishop so and so”, they would hold some sort of grudge against me and label me disrespectful.

When I first spoke to my current Bishop over the phone, I called him “Bishop” and he corrected me by instructing me to call him by his first name. I was stunned! Here was a man, who is a Bishop with valid Apostolic Succession, and he is not hung up on the title! That one time, I complied, however, I was so impressed with his emphasis on the role of the Bishop, and not the title, vestments, or prestige, I have NO problem calling him or any other Bishop “Your Grace.”

The Pope, or, the Bishop of Rome, is to be respected due to his position as a successor and occupier of St. Peter’s Chair. Although I disagree with some of the Holy Father‘s actions and decrees, especially the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter, I do commend his service to God and society. May God bless him, as he moves on to the next stage of his life next week.

 – JMH+

Unnecessary Backlash: A Response to the Retirement of the Holy Father

16 Saturday Feb 2013

Posted by in The Church

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Pope BXVI

On 11 FEBRUARY 2013, it was announced that the Holy Father, the Bishop of Rome, Pope Benedict XVI will be retiring on 28 FEBRUARY 2013. There have been a multitude of reactions. Many are shocked by the suddenness of it all. Others are worried about the state of the Roman Catholic Church, and others, like comedian Bill Maher, “just don’t care.” Although many atheists like Maher claim that they don’t care, they are using this as a means of attacking and degrading not only the Roman Catholic Church, but religion as a whole. Maher spend the final segment of his show belittling the position of the Papacy, as well as the church as a whole. As usual, his comments and supposed “facts” were simplistic and childish, but stated with such fervor, that many believe it.

Although I am not Roman Catholic (I’m a proud Anglican), I do have respect for the Holy Father, and more importantly, the seat in which he sits. It’s the same reverence I have for the Ecumenical Patriarch, and of course, the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Do I see the Holy Father stepping down as a bad thing? No, not in the slightest. The media is making it out to be more than it is. Mind you, the same “experts” who are questioning the retirement of the Pope, are also the same ones who said he was “too old” when he was elected in 2005.

I think this is a redefining moment for the Roman Catholic Church. A moment that can lead to a resurgence of Catholics returning back to the church. It can redefine the church like the II Vatican Council did in 1962. Rather than speculate the “back story”, we should be prayerful for our fellow Christian brothers and sisters, as they enter into a transition in their church.

– JMH+