Holy Father asks for prayers for 'Ship of Peter'

Zenit has this report:

Pope Urges Prayers for "Ship of Peter"

Says It's Not Always Smooth Sailing

VATICAN CITY, FEB. 13, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI is urging the faithful to pray that God continues to watch over the "Ship of Peter," as its not always smooth sailing for the tiny state.

The Pope said this Thursday evening at the end of a concert held in Paul VI Hall commemorating the 80th anniversary of the foundation of Vatican City State.

Our Lady's Choral Society and the RTE Concert Orchestra, both from Dublin, Ireland, played the "Messiah" by Georg Friedrich Handel.

"This concert," the Pontiff said, "which celebrates such a significant anniversary for Vatican City State, is one of a series of events organized for this occasion on the theme: 'A Small Territory for a Great Mission.'"

"I would like to thank all the people who have contributed to solemnize such an important moment for the Catholic Church," the Holy Father continued. "Commemorating 80 years of the 'Civitas Vaticana,' we feel the need to pay homage to all the past and present protagonists of these eight decades of history of this small parcel of land."

Benedict XVI recalled Pius XI, "who, in announcing the signing of the Lateran Pacts and, especially, the foundation of Vatican City State, chose to use an expression of St. Francis of Assisi. He said that the new sovereign status was for the Church, as it had been for St. Francis, 'just enough body to hold the soul together.'"

"Let us ask the Lord, Who guides the fortunes of the 'Ship of Peter' among the not-always easy events of history, to continue to watch over this small state," the Pope continued.

"Above all," he urged, "let us ask him to help, with the power of his Spirit, Peter's Successor who stands at the helm of this ship, that he may faithfully and effectively undertake his ministry as the foundation of unity of the Catholic Church, which has its visible center in the Vatican whence it expands to all the corners of the earth."

I had heard Our Lady's Choral Society from Dublin, directed by Proinnsias O'Duinn (pronounced Prun-she-ass O Din only the last vowel in Proinnsias is long) were singing in Rome and I am delighted that it was part of the celebrations of the foundation of the Vatican State. There's a video report at Gloria.tv.

Cyril and Methodius

Cyril and Methodius are now co-Patrons of Europe with Benedict. The account given in the modern Roman Breviary of the death of Cyril in Rome I find very moving, especially the Pope's order that he be given the honours due a Pope by Greeks and Romans. Below is the prayer Cyril prayed shortly before he died:
"O Lord, my God, you have created all the angelic ranks and spiritual powers. You have spread out the heavens and made firm the earth, bringing into existence from nothing all that exists. You always hear the prayers of those who do your will, who revere you and keep your commandments. Hear my prayer and keep safe your faithful flock over which you set me, your foolish and unworthy servant.
Free your people from the impious malice of those unbelievers who blaspheme against you. Make your Church grow in number, and gather all its members into unity. Make them a chosen people, of one mind in your true faith and orthodox profession of it; breathe the word of your teaching into their hearts. For it is a gracious favour from you that you have accepted us to preach the gospel of your Church by encouraging people to do good works and by doing what pleases you.
I return to you as your own those whom you gave me. Rule them with your right hand; keep them under the shadow of your wings, that they all may praise and glorify your name, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen."
He was forty-two when he died. Let us be united with these two heroes of the faith in their desire for unity in orthodoxy and love. Today begins the novena for our Holy Father and I believe there is no better day than today for it to begin. The icon in mosaic of Cyril and Methodius is in the church of San Clemente, not far from the Collosseum, Rome, and was presented in memory of these two great saints by the Eastern Rite Churches (not sure whether Greek Catholic or Orthodox). The tomb of Cyril is under San Clemente.
The other image, top, is of Cyril from a fresco under San Clemente.

St. Blaise, Bishop and Martyr

I often tell congregations, when I get to preach on the feast of a martyr, that martyrs do not suddenly decide to start witnessing to the Lord unto death. They do not suddenly find themselves in conflict with the enemies of the Gospel. Long before they are called to make the ultimate sacrifice they witness to Christ on a daily basis, living the Gospel whole-heartedly. I have by my bedside an old booklet, lent me by a fellow Capuchin, on the mother of Maria Goretti and her account of her daughter. Maria lived her faith with total devotion, despite her few years and in the face of continuous attempts to get her to compromise that faith, long before she was finally attacked and killed. Blaise was no exception. He too lived the Gospel first before he gave his life for it. The martyr is an exile from the world long before his or her body leaves it. As our world changes, recession bites, governments enact unjust, and evil laws, intruding on privacy or using public funds to promote the destruction of life we too are called to stand up for Christ on a daily basis, to witness to Him. Maybe, one day, we may be asked to give the ultimate witness. Less than 200 years ago priests were hunted here in Ireland and Catholicism was a repressed faith. People gave their lives for it. Are we to be the generation that fails the test?

Coronation of Patriarch Kirill

Go over to the Moscow Patriarchate and have a look at the photos of the Coronation of Patriarch Kirill. Words fail me! Such magnificence and beauty in a liturgy! Truly they know how to give glory to God. Thanks to the New Liturgical Movement for the link.

Interesting Video on the Coronation in 1917 of Patriarch Tikhon

Watching this video reminded me that the Church is always suffering somewhere. Russia has suffered since the eruption of the Bolshevic revolution just as the Orthodox Church was begining to regain her independence. May the blood of her martyrs, their witness and their intercession gain for Patriarch Kirill and the Russian Orthodox a new spring.

Vocations to the Dominican Sisters

Creative Minority Report has a beautiful video from the enclosed Dominican Sisters of Summit, New Jersey, in the US. Well worth a viewing - you'll find it very rewarding. Visit their blog here.

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time; St. Brigid Secondary Patron of Ireland

Of course Brigid is not celebrated this year but I did give her a mention in the Eucharistic Prayer. Some time ago I watched a TV program called "Digging for Jesus". At first I thought this would be another Christ-bashing exercise and the presenter was a sceptic or at least he started out that way. As he went around interviewing archaeologists in the Holy Land he was shocked to discover that they had no problem with the historicity of the Gospels. Their 'digging' confirmed that the Gospel authors knew the geography and culture of first century Palestine very well. They had discovered what they believed to be the High Priest's house not too far from the Temple among other previously unknown buildings. This leads me to today's Gospel. Jesus never comes right out and says "I am God; I am the Second Person of the Holy Trinity". Instead it is what He does and how He teaches, 'with authority' that point to His true identity. He calls Himself the healer of Israel, the Bridegroom, and the Shepherd all of which are symbols of God's relationship to Israel. He heals the sick, gives sight to the blind, makes the deaf hear, casts out demons and raises the dead. Finally, as John records, He tells them "Before Abraham was, I am". While not being as explicitly a claim to Divinity as we might think it is a claim to pre-existence and the next best thing. We have to the witness of those who followed and knew Him. They were prepared to endure years of hardship, rejection, persecution and even torture and death to spread His Gospel. They had little material reward, suffered hunger, thirst and poverty to bring others to Jesus. They believed Him because they saw Him risen from the dead. They understood the Divine plan and handed it on to us through the Church. In the midst of world that is always changing, with economies in crisis, and nations in turmoil, with wars and rumours of wars, one firm anchor holds fast: Christ the Eternal Word and Image of the Father. When we are built on Him we cannot be shaken.
Brigid was one lady who built on Christ. Miracle-worker, foundress and abbess of a monastery for women and men, peacemaker and evangelist for a new faith she must have been an extraordinary woman. Her cross, famous throughout Ireland, was woven from straw as she nursed her pagan father in his last illness. Her blue cloak is apparently preserved in Belgium. Her impact on Ireland was so great she became known as Mary of the Gael (Irish). She died in 525. Beannachtaí Lá Féile Bríd!