31 Oct 2014

Saints and All Hallows Eve - Busted Halo

 

 
Fr. James Martin describes the connections between the Saints and All Saints Day, including: canonization process, patron saints and highlights of various individual saints.
 
A few articles from around the web on All Hallows Eve and the commemoration of the dead in the Catholic tradition:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Why I Kneel - All Saints - Word on Fire
 
 
All Saints and All Souls Day: A Time of Mercy, Forgiveness and Reflection (Part II)






 
Sleepers awake, Christ is now risen
Empty the tomb risen the son X2
Alleluia x4
Marked with the cross, sealed with the Spirit
Risen with Christ, sing out our joy x2
Alleluia x4
Death has been slain; life is victorious
Winter is past; Springtime returns x2
Alleluia x6


You can find the readings for All Saints HERE and the Office for the Dead for All Souls HERE.
 
Reflections on All Saints from past posts on the blog here, here, here and here.

26 Oct 2014

26th October 2014 - Reflection on the Rosary - 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

On this weeks programme Michael Keating makes a welcome return with a reflection on the Rosary as October is the month of the Rosary. We have our regular reflection on this weeks gospel and some other liturgical odds and ends.

You can listen to the full podcast of the programme HERE.

Reflection on the Rosary

Love it or hate it, the Rosary is a prayer very much associated with the Roman Catholic faith. On this weeks programme Michael Keating takes us through a reflection on this Marian prayer which has a long history and is a guide and meditation to the events of the life of Jesus.

You can listen to the reflection on the Rosary excerpted from the main programme HERE.

How to pray the Rosary

Holy Mary Mother of God! - Reflections on the Rosary - Busted Halo - "I’m not sure about you, but I’ve had a love-hate relationship with the rosary. It stems from long road trips with my very Catholic family, where the CD I had been playing through the car speakers was suddenly turned off, my parents’ rosaries pulled out from the glove compartment and for the next 15-20 minutes I was forced to endure an incessant babble of words repeated over and over. I understood the importance of prayer, I just didn’t see why we had to make an already long and tedious drive all the more so by becoming quiet and serious, with the same two or three prayers recited in a nearly mindless chant. I was at a loss so I sat quietly while my parents prayed, waiting until I could turn the music back on...."

Series of articles also available from Busted Halo (at the bottom of the page)

Papal Reflections on the Rosary

Reflections on the Rosary by a Cloistered Poor Clare Nun

Mary, the Rosary and the Word of the Lord

Gospel - Matthew 22:34-40 - The Great Commandment

But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sad'ducees, they came together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, to test him. "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets."




Reflections on this weeks gospel:

Word on Fire
Sunday Reflections
English Dominicans
Centre for Liturgy

Liturgical Odds and Ends

Liturgy of the Hours - Psalter Week 2
For the liturgical anaraks who want to understand the liturgical minefield around the celebration of the Solemnity and All Souls next weekend - Complicated Ordo Alert--Two Solemnities on one Weekend

Saints of the Week

October 27th - St Otteran
October 28th - Ss Simon and Jude
October 29th - St Colman of Kilmacduagh
October 30th - Blessed Jean-Michel Langevin
October 31st - Bl Dominic Collins

November 1st - Solemnity of All Saints
November 2nd - Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed

22 Oct 2014

October 22nd - feast day of St John Paul II


“I plead with you! Never, ever give up on hope, never doubt, never tire, and never become discouraged. Be not afraid,” Pope John Paul II


The Universal Church is marking the first liturgical feast day of Saint John Paul II, Tuesday October 22. Poland’s greatest son led the Church from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005. He was canonized along with Pope John 23rd earlier this year by Pope Francis.He was the longest reigning Pope in modern history, serving from October 16, 1978 until his death on April 2, 2005.

Saint John Paul was canonized this year on Divine Mercy Sunday — an observance he put on the church's universal calendar in 2000 on the Sunday after Easter. The Polish pope was a longtime enthusiast of the Divine Mercy devotions of St. Faustina Kowalksa, whom he beatified in 1993 and canonized in 2000.

As the first non-Italian pope in 455 years, John Paul saw the fall of European communism and the passage to the third millennium of Christianity.

From Vatican Radio:

Saint John Paul and the Mysteries of Light: a musical meditation

Universal Church marks first feast day of St. John Paul II




20 Images that Prove St. John Paul II was the Coolest Saint Ever

From Catholic Online - saint of the day

The readings from the Office of Readings for the new feast day.

Why Pope John Paul II is a Saint - Word on Fire

Pope John Paul II: Thinking outside the church

National shrine, exhibit feature artifacts, insights about late Pope St. John Paul II




Pope John Paul II was in many respects a pope of firsts: the first pope to visit the White House, the first pope to visit Cuba, and the most widely traveled Pope in history. As one of the longest reigning popes in the history of the Church, his influence will be felt for generations. Join host Cheridan Sanders as she speaks with Fr. Thomas Rosica, CSB about the life and times of Pope John Paul II in this latest episode of Catholic Focus from Salt + Light.


Look who was in Rome today...................



From The Irish Catholic Newspaper Facebook page:

Pope Francis being presented with a book on the history of the Diocese of Limerick as he greeted Bishop Brendan Leahy today in Rome. Bishop Leahy and Bishop Emeritus Donal Murray are leading a group of 35 pilgrims from the diocese who travelled to Rome to mark the feast-day today of Saint John Paul II

***************

Details of the diocesan pilgrimage and what the pilgrims got up to can be seen on the Limerick Diocese Facebook page and they got a mention at Pope Francis General Audience today (mention is at 1.51 and again at 2.31 on the video)!


19 Oct 2014

Beatification of Pope Paul VI


19th October 2014 - Mission Sunday - 29th Sunday in Ordinary time



Due to some technical difficulties at SS102fm base camp, this week we are unable to bring our planned programme, so instead we are going to repeat and interview we did with Fr John O'Shea.
 
You can listen to the podcast of the programme HERE.
 
Mission Sunday
 
This weekend is Mission Sunday in Ireland which has a particular focus on supporting the missionary church. World Mission Sunday takes place on the second last Sunday of October each year. Since 1926, the Church has traditionally remembered its universal mission during the month of October. This year Mission Sunday will be celebrated throughout the world on the 19 October 2014. In Rome the celebration of Mission Sunday will take place at the conclusion of the Synod of Bishops on the “Pastoral Challenges to the Family in the Context of Evangelization” which is taking place in Rome from 5 to 19 October.
 
Throughout the world the faithful will reflect on the universal call to Mission of all the baptised and they will be invited to contribute what they can to support the development and growth of the young churches throughout the world. Mission Sunday is celebrated by every Church throughout the world, including the poorest. This special Sunday in October provides Catholics with the opportunity to unite with their missionary sisters and brothers overseas, and to recommit themselves to bringing the Joy of the Gospel to everyone they meet in their daily lives at home and at work.
 
In October and especially on Mission Sunday Catholics are invited to be specifically conscious of the Church’s missionary activity abroad (ad gentes) through prayer, sacrifice and financial contributions. The funds collected in all Churches throughout the world on Mission Sunday, is coordinated by the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, founded by Pauline Jaricot 190 years ago. The funds are used to assist Churches who need financial support and directed towards communities in need, both spiritually and materially.
 
In October 2013, Irish Catholics contributed more than €1.6 million on Mission Sunday. The Mission Sunday collection is made available, in its entirety, to be distributed to as many as 1,100 young Churches who are supported by the generosity of Churches that have been blessed with a greater quantity of financial and material gifts.
 
Contributions will be used to build simple mission churches, to educate seminarians as well as female diocesan religious novices. Your support also assists in the formation of catechists and lay leaders. The Mission Sunday gift may also be used for building health facilities for children and adults as well as for providing emergency aid in times of war or natural disaster or to assist missionaries in their efforts to care for refugees.
 
The theme for World Mission Sunday in Ireland this year 2014 is “That they may have Life”. The theme goes to the heart of Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel) published by Pope Francis on 24 November 2013.
 
On Mission Sunday, in a special way, we celebrate the work our c. 1,300 Irish born missionaries and all missionaries throughout the world. We thank God for them, for all who support them in our own country and during mission month we unite ourselves in prayer with them and with the communities with whom they work.
 
 
 
Pope Francis message for World Mission Sunday 2014 is available HERE.


 As part of our outreach, SS102fm wanted to highlight the difficulties of our fellow christians in the Middle East. While issues of everyday concern to families are on the agenda at the extraordinary Synod on the Family, one participant has come to Rome with a very sinister tale to tell. It’s the plight of tens of thousands of Iraqi Christian families who fled for their lives to escape from Islamic State militants. Few think they will ever return home.

That’s according to Archbishop Ignatius Joseph III Younan, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East of the Syriac Catholic Church who was eager to speak to Vatican Radio outside the Synod hall. He wanted to raise global awareness about the desperate conditions in which his people are now living in northern Iraq.

Listen to the interview with Patriarch Younan in this program by Tracey McClure on Vatican Radio HERE.
 
Gospel - Matthew 22:15-21


"Then the Pharisees went and took counsel how to entangle him in his talk. And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Hero'di-ans, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are true, and teach the way of God truthfully, and care for no man; for you do not regard the position of men. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, "Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the money for the tax." And they brought him a coin. And Jesus said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" They said, "Caesar's." Then he said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.""

Reflections on this weeks gospel:

Sunday Reflections
English Dominicans
Word on Fire
Centre for Liturgy

Beatification of Pope Paul VI

The beatification of Paul VI takes place this weekend. You can read more about it in an earlier post HERE.

Liturgical odds and ends

Saints of the Week

October 20th - St Aidan of Mayo
October 21st - Bl Charles of Austria
October 22nd - St Pope John Paul II
October 23rd - St John of Capistrano
October 24th - St Anthony Mary Claret
October 25th - Bl Thaddeus MacCarthy
 

18 Oct 2014

Blessed Pope Paul VI - UPDATED

Pope Paul VI
Source - Wikipedia
On Sunday 19th October at the closing Mass of the Extraordinary Synod on the Family, Pope Francis will beatify his often castigated and ignored predecessor Pope Paul VI who was pope from 1963 to 1978. This follows on from a decision on 20th December 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI, to declare that the late pontiff had lived a life of heroic virtue, which means that he can now be called "Venerable". A miracle attributed to the intercession of Paul VI was approved on 9 May 2014 by Pope Francis. His liturgical feast day will not on the date of his death as is usual, but it will be celebrated on the date of his birth, 26 September.

Biography of Pope Paul VI from the Vatican website HERE



Analysis of Pope Paul's contribution to the church and to the world and the road to beatification:

Vatican Radio - Pope Paul VI: of miracles and relics

John Predmore SJ - Pope Paul is almost a saint: Here are four of his biggest legacies

Russel Shaw - Giving Pope Paul his due and Paul VI: The Long-Suffering Servant Pope

Thomas Williams - The case for the sainthood of Pope Paul VI

Whispers in the Loggia - The Blessed Montini – Paul VI To Be Beatified Oct. 19

The Irish Catholic - Paul VI beatification highlights the importance of dialogue 

Pray Tell - My favourite story about Paul VI



 
 
UPDATE

"The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone"... at least, of the current pontificate. @roccopalmo
 
 
When we look to this great Pope, this courageous Christian, this tireless apostle, we cannot but say in the sight of God a word as simple as it is heartfelt and important: thanks! Thank you, our dear and beloved Pope Paul VI! Thank you for your humble and prophetic witness of love for Christ and his Church!

In his personal journal, the great helmsman of the Council wrote, at the conclusion of its final session: "Perhaps the Lord has called me and preserved me for this service not because I am particularly fit for it, or so that I can govern and rescue the Church from her present difficulties, but so that I can suffer something for the Church, and in that way it will be clear that he, and no other, is her guide and saviour" (P. Macchi, Paolo VI nella sua parola, Brescia, 2001, pp. 120-121). In this humility the grandeur of Blessed Paul VI shines forth: before the advent of a secularized and hostile society, he could hold fast, with farsightedness and wisdom – and at times alone – to the helm of the barque of Peter, while never losing his joy and his trust in the Lord.
 
 

12 Oct 2014

12 October 2014 - Update on the Synod on the Family - 28th Sunday in Ordinary time (Year A)

On this weeks programme John is joined by Martina O'Sullivan to review what has been happening on the Synod on the Family which has been taking place in Rome over the last week. We have an interview with Cardinal Wurl from Washington DC in the USA from Vatican Radio which gives some back ground to what is happening in Rome as well as our regular reflection on the Sunday gospel and other liturgical odds and ends.

You can listen to the podcast of this weeks programme HERE.

Synod on the Family


This week we are broadcasting an interview from Vatican Radio with Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington DC in the USA.

The Synod is a process, “we should not expect sound bite solutions” to the challenges facing the family in todays’ “secularized culture”, says the Archbishop of Washington DC, Cardinal Donald Wuerl. He was speaking to Vatican Radio on the eve of the first full day of working sessions in the Extra-Ordinary Synod of Bishops on the challenges of the family in the context of evangelization.

You can listen to the interview excerpted from the main SS102fm programme HERE.

You can find the original link to Vatican Radio HERE.

 
Pope Francis prayer for the Synod on the Family

Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
in you we contemplate
the splendour of true love,
to you we turn with trust.

Holy Family of Nazareth,
grant that our families too
may be places of communion and prayer,
authentic schools of the Gospel
and small domestic Churches.

Holy Family of Nazareth,
may families never again
experience violence, rejection and division:
may all who have been hurt or scandalized
find ready comfort and healing.

Holy Family of Nazareth,
may the approaching Synod of Bishops
make us once more mindful
of the sacredness and inviolability of the family,
and its beauty in God’s plan.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
graciously hear our prayer.
 
 
Coverage from around the web on the Synod:

John L Allen and his team over at Crux have excellent coverage HERE.

You can watch a series of short 2-3 minute daily videos updating about what has been happening in the Synod from Rome Report's HERE.

Daily summary from Vatican Information Service giving the main points discussed during the Synod available HERE.

Catholic News Service coverage of the Synod HERE.

Salt + Light coverage of the Synod HERE.

Vatican Radio coverage can be read HERE.

Rocco's coverage of the Synod over at Whispers in the Loggia but his best coverage is from his Twitter feed.

Phil over at Ennis Blue has a round up of links on coverage of the Synod.

Gospel - Matthew 22: 1-14


And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying,

"The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a marriage feast for his son, and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the marriage feast; but they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying, `Tell those who are invited, Behold, I have made ready my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves are killed, and everything is ready; come to the marriage feast.' But they made light of it and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, `The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the thoroughfares, and invite to the marriage feast as many as you find.' And those servants went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good; so the wedding hall was filled with guests.

"But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment; and he said to him, `Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, `Bind him hand and foot, and cast him into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.' For many are called, but few are chosen."


 








 



Reflections on this weeks gospel:

Word on Fire
Sunday Reflections
English Dominicans
Centre for Liturgy

Liturgical Odds and Ends

Saints of the Week

October 13th - St Edward the Confessor
October 14th - St Callistus
October 15th - St Teresa of Avila
October 16th - St Margaret Mary Alacoque - seer of the Sacred Heart
October 17th - St Colman of Kilroot
October 18th - St Luke

7 Oct 2014

Oct 7th - Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary

 
 
Pour forth, we beseech you, O Lord, your grace into our hearts, that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ you Son was made known by the message of an Angel, may, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, by his Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of his Resurrection. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
 
From Sacred Space.ie:
 
Our Lady of the Rosary is a title of the Virgin Mary related to the prayer of the Rosary, whose origin has been attributed to an apparition of Our Lady to St Dominic in 1208 in the church Prouille, near Carcasonne in the south of France.  
Pope Pius V instituted the feast of “Our Lady of Victory” to commemorate the naval victory of Don John of Austria over the Turkish fleet at Lepanto on the 7 October 1571, the first Sunday of the month. The victory was attributed to the help of the Mother of God, because a rosary procession had been offered on that day in St. Peter’s Square in Rome for the success of the League in preventing Muslim forces from overrunning Western Europe. Two years later, at the request of the Dominican Order, Pope Gregory XIII in 1573 allowed this feast to be kept in all churches which possessed an altar dedicated to the Holy Rosary. In 1671 the observance of the feast was extended by Pope Clement X to the whole of Spain. 
Somewhat later Pope Clement XII, following the victory over the Turks gained by Prince Eugene on 6 August 1716 (the feast of our Lady of the Snows), at Peterwardein in Hungary, decreed that the Feast of the Rosary be celebrated by the whole Church on the first Sunday in October.  
Pope Pius X changed the date to 7 October and in 1969, Pope Paul VI changed the name of the feast to “Our Lady of the Rosary”. Today’s celebration invites all of us to meditate often on the mysteries of Jesus’ life.
 

“The rosary, though clearly Marian in character, is at heart a Christ-centered prayer. It has all the depth of the gospel messge in its entirety. It is an echo of the prayer of Mary, her perennial Magnificat for the work of the redemptive Incarnation which began in her virginal womb.... It can be said that the rosary is, in some sense, a prayer-commentary on the final chapter of the Vatican II Constitution Lumen Gentium, a chapter that discusses the wondrous presence of the Mother of God in the mystery of Christ and the Church"

(Pope John Paul II, apostolic letter The Rosary of the Virgin Mary).
 
A reflection on the rosary by Timothy Radcliffe OP
 
Ten beads: protestant meditations on the Ave Maria 
 
Papal encyclicals on the Rosary

Catholic Culture article HERE

Word on Fire article HERE

Catholic News Agency article HERE


6 Oct 2014

Fr Benedict J. Groeschel, CFR - RIP


SS102fm extends our sympathies to the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal (a.k.a. the Monks of Moyross) on the death of their founder Fr Benedict J. Groeschel, CFR, who passed away on October3rd .

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and may he rest in peace!

Official Obituary found here

Facebook Memorial Page found here

To make a memorial offering in honor of Fr. Benedict click here

Press Release PDF here

Statement from the friars PDF here




The Irish Catholic - A conference discussing "Pope Francis and the Future of the Catholic Church"

On October 4th the Irish Catholic in association with Trocaire hosted a conference at the Red Cow Hotel in Dublin looking at "Pope Francis and the future of the Catholic Church in Ireland". It was an interesting conference with presentations from: Austen Iveragh (papal biographer), Eamonn Meehan (Director of Trocaire), Fr Tom Norris, Baroness Nuala O Loin, Mark Patrick Hederman (Abbot, Glenstal Abbey), Breda O'Brien (journalist) and David Quinn (Iona Institute).

The conference was live streamed on iCatholic and videos of the talks have now been made available.




Archbishop Charles Brown, Papal Nuncio to Ireland, address to the Conference - Pope Francis and the Future of the Church in Ireland

This Conference was hosted by The Irish Catholic and sponsored by TrĂłcaire.








Day for Life




Bishop Brendan Leahy outlines Day for Life and explains the theme and message chosen by the bishops for this year's Day for Life on Sunday 5 October.

For more information see www.catholicbishops.ie and www.dayforlife.org

The Cry of the Earth: A call to action for Climate Justice


Priceless – Francis arrives at #Synod14, Guards salute... but Pope wants a handshake


10 years and counting - Cross-post from Pilgrims Progress

Congrats from the SS102fm team to our friend and prayerful intercessor Sr Louise who celebrated 10 years of religious life last Friday. Ad multos annos Sr Lou!









 
     
Here are the words which I shared with the people who joined with me on the 2nd of October 2014 to celebrate my 10 years of religious profession and to pray for vocations to the priesthood and the religious life.

"Usually in religious life, we begin counting our ‘milestones’, so to speak, when we reach 25 years. However, as the years go on, we realise that life is precious and fragile and commitment to religious life, priesthood and marriage is to be celebrated as we support each other in our various vocations. This 10th anniversary is very meaningful for me as I remember also my Profession companion Sr.Gabriela from Poland, who would have been celebrating her 10th this week but the Lord had other plans and called her home to Himself in heaven last March at the young age of 33. As St. Theophane once said: "We are all flowers planted on this earth, which God plucks in his own good time, some a little sooner, some a little later."

With some of my Dominicans friends,
thanks to Br. David for the photo.
Today we celebrate the feastday of the Guardian Angels. In my vocational journey, the angels and archangels have always been close to me. As we heard in the first Reading: “the Lord himself will send an angel to guard us as we go and bring us to the place which He has prepared.” How true are these words. I entered the community on their feastday, I began novitiate on this feastday and then in 2004, I professed my vows on the feast of the Guardian Angels. Ten years ago, I showed my readiness to consecrate everything I am and have to God because He first consecrated me, firstly through the gift of baptism and then by bringing it to maturation in the call to religious life as a Disciple of the Divine Master. It is a call not to hold back what I can be and give but to continuously offer acts of selflessness in justice, creativity and compassion for my brothers and sisters.

Just a few days ago, we had the Feastday of the Archangels, among them St. Gabriel. St. Gabriel announced the most wonderful and life-changing event ever to occur in the universe, the Incarnation of Jesus in the womb of Mary. How many times have I meditated upon the mystery of the Annunciation, of God’s annunciation to me! Mary’s fiat has become the model of ‘fiat’ for disciples throughout the centuries and I am no different. I continue to say: “let it be done according to your will”. This is the ‘fiat’ in the messiness of life. I can still feel the joy and the apprehension in saying ‘here I am, Lord’ and hear the gentle whisper of the Lord who says ‘do not be afraid, I am with you’.

Pope Francis in the Joy of the Gospel calls us to pause before the joy of the moment when "Jesus looked at me" and to recall the important and demanding, underlying meaning of our vocation: “It is a response to a call, a call of love”. To stay with Christ requires us to share our lives, our choices, the obedience of faith, the happiness of poverty, the radicality of love. It is about being reborn through vocation. Since we are witnesses of a communion beyond our vision and our limits, we are called to wear God’s smile and live joyfully.
With Sr. Mary (aka Maggiorina) and Sr. Brid
at the end of the evening.
Happy smiles all round!
Every day, I ask the Master for an increase of faith. It has been a rocky road at times but He has not left me on my own. If God asks, He will give you the grace to do something. Yes, the Lord never leaves us on our own and places the right people at the right time upon our pilgrim way. I see the various people who clearly influenced and continue to influence my own faith journey in positive and powerful ways.

To finish, I’d like to leave each one of us with a challenge, again issued by Pope Francis:

"Look into the depths of your heart, look into your own inner depths and ask yourself: do you have a heart that desires something great, or a heart that has been lulled to sleep by things? Has your heart preserved the restlessness of seeking or have you let it be suffocated by things that end by hardening it? God awaits you, he seeks you; how do you respond to him? "

Thank you for your presence with me here this evening. I am grateful to God for each one of you and your prayerful support with me over the years and I continue to count on it in the future. Rest assured of my humble prayers for you, your families and your communities. AMEN.