July 30 2021 - St. Peter Chrysologus - A good tree bears good fruit

 

A week and a half ago, on July 20, we celebrated the feast of St. Apollonaris, who was bishop of the Italian diocese of Ravenna when he was martyred in AD 79. Today, we celebrate the feast of another bishop of Ravenna, living about 400 years later, Peter Chyrsologus, whose name means “golden words”. Bishop Peter of the golden words was known for his elegant homilies, over 150 of which have survived and continue to speak to us today. His golden words attest to the Church's ancient and perpetual beliefs about Mary's perpetual virginity, the powerful value of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, Christ's Eucharistic presence, and the role and primacy of the Pope.

Emerging from the persecutions, the church of the 5th century had its own challenges. As the church flourished throughout the empire, heresies like Arianism and Monophysitism also sprung up. These errors taught that Jesus,  lacked a full human nature. God did not fully incarnate. Bishops like St. Peter Chyrsologus addressed these errors in their own dioceses, but that the entire church might be united in the faith, the Great Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon was called 451 AD. A still-existing text from the council written by Peter Chyrsologus corrects the error of the Monophysites, affirming that Jesus is fully God and fully man, and calls for obedience to the Pope in teaching this truth of the faith. 

In addition to his contributions to the council, as shepherd of Ravenna, Bishop Peter encouraged his flock to daily reception of Eucharist, helped them to apply the moral teachings of Christ to their daily lives, and urged a special care of the poor.

"A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit” says the Gospel for his feast today. Peter Chrysologus was certainly a good tree, that bore much fruit, because he was rooted in Christ, his mind and heart were made good soil to receive the seed of the Word of God. His golden words were the fruit of allowing the word of God to be nurtured through prayer, good works, study, holy meditation, careful speech, frequent reception of the Eucharist, love of and devotion to the Blessed Mother.

We need bishops like Peter Chrysologus; we need clear teachers of the faith like him, and we need uncompromising faithful sons and daughters of the Church like him. May his golden words continue to teach the church and encourage us to the unity of faith and enflame us for the mission of the Gospel, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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May the Church constantly be enriched through her study of God’s incarnate word and learning of God’s statutes and commands.

That all Bishops may preach and teach eloquently and faithfully the truth of Christ’s Gospel.

For the protection of young people from the corrupting influences of the world, for Christians families, and for the conversion of the faithless.

That the sick and suffering may find comfort in the promises of Christ and the consolation of the Spirit.

For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, the souls in purgatory, deceased bishops, priests, and religious, those who fought and died for our freedom, and for N. for whom this Mass is offered.

Hear Our Prayers, O Lord, and through the intercession of St. Peter Chrysologus, free us from all that keeps us from the truth of Christ. Through the same Christ Our Lord.

July 20 2021 - St. Apollonaris, martyr - Witness matters

 My final year of college seminary, I was able to spend a semester studying abroad in the Holy City of Rome.  Not only were we able to soak up the culture, piety, and religious history of Rome, but we were able to travel to many of the other important cities to Catholicism, at least in Italy.  

Our Church architecture professor took us to the city of Ravenna, known for its beautiful mosaics and ancient churches.  In the Cathedral of Ravenna, behind the altar is a beautiful mosaic of that city’s first bishop, the saint whom the Church celebrates today, Apollinaris.  Apollinaris was a disciple of the Apostle Peter and was famous for the gift of healing.  In fact, that’s what started to get him into trouble.  

Sent by Peter to Ravenna, Apollonaris began preaching in the town. A certain, Roman Tribune impressed by the man, welcomed the new bishop to his home. The tribune brought the bishop to the bed of his blind son who Bishop Apollonaris immediately healed.  The Tribune and his family converted on the spot, and even offered their home as the new headquarters for the bishop. 

The faith flourished in Ravenna in the 26 years Apollonaris was Bishop there, until the Imperials had enough of him. He was imprisoned and tortured, exiled after he miraculously survived his tortures, including being plunged into boiling oil. He continued to win converts even in exile, so he was captured and imprisoned again, and finally beaten to death in the year A.D. 79. 

Whenever we celebrate the martyrs, we are challenged by them in a number of ways.  Would I have the strength of faith to witness with my life?  But also, the perhaps more pressing question, do my words and deeds mark me as a Christian?  Do I make people like the Roman Imperials concerned because souls are becoming Christian or taking their faith more seriously because of my efforts?  

Now the beautiful ancient churches and famous mosaics of Ravenna were not fashioned for about 400 years after the martyrdom of her first bishop. But without men like Apollonaris there wouldn’t have been Christians in Ravenna whose great great grandchildren would go on to build those churches and mosaics. What we do in this life matters. The example of our faith and the perseverance through difficulty matters. 

May the Martyrs preserve us, inspire us, and strengthen us for the witness and work God has for us in our own time, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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Our Savior’s faithfulness is mirrored in the fidelity of his witnesses who shed their blood for the Word of God. Let us praise him in remembrance of them:

The martyrs professed their faith by shedding their blood, may we have a faith that is constant and pure. 

The martyrs followed in Christ’s footsteps by carrying the cross, may we endure courageously our earthly trials and all the misfortunes of life.

The martyrs washed their garments in the blood of the Lamb, may we be helped by their prayers to overcome the weaknesses of the flesh and worldly allurements.

For Pope Francis’ prayer intention for the month of July: That priests, who experience fatigue and loneliness in their pastoral work, may find help and comfort in their intimacy with the Lord and in their friendship with their brother priests. We pray to the Lord.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

July 20 2018 - St. Apollinaris - Perseverance and the Crown of Life

Behind the altar of the great Cathedral in Ravenna Italy, there is a beautiful mosaic of that city’s first bishop, the saint who we honor today, St. Apollinaris. Apollinaris was a disciple of the apostle Peter, who accompanied Peter from to Antioch, and finally to Rome, the place of Peter’s martyrdom.

Before his death, St. Peter sent Apollinaris to Ravenna, to be that place’s first bishop. There he preached the faith with great courage and performed many healing miracles. Upon his arrival, he was welcomed into the home of a Roman Tribune who had a blind son. Apollinaris shared with the tribune the good news of Jesus Christ. Apollinaris then healed the blind boy, and the tribune and his family converted. His house became the headquarters of the Bishop. Soon, many families were coming to the bishop to be instructed in the faith. The faith began to flourish, priests and deacons were ordained.

The pagan Roman priests soon became disgruntled at the number of Christian conversions, and had the city officials arrest, imprison, and torture the bishop in order to get him to leave Ravenna. He was flogged, put on the rack, and plunged into boiling oil. When he survived these tortures, he was exiled for a time, and after preaching the Gospel and winning many conversions in exile, he returned to Italy, where he was imprisoned and tortured again, and eventually beaten to death on July 23rd in the year 79. His feast was transferred to July 20th after the revision of the Liturgical Calendar at Vatican Council II.

The Collect prayer for the mass in honor of Apollinaris speaks of perseverance; we certainly see perseverance in the life of this holy bishop, enduring torture, exile, the hatred of rival religions and secular government, not to mention the ordinary crosses that every Christian faces: the temptations to abandon the commandments, to lose our temper when things don’t go our way, to grow lax in our attentiveness to the needs of the poor, to give in to being grumpy, gloomy, irritable, impatient.

Christians need to look to the martyrs constantly to remind us that if they can endure such great suffering, we can certainly endure the ordinary difficulties of life with the help and grace of God if we really want to.

St. James writes, “Blessed is the man who perseveres in temptation, for when he has been proved he will receive the crown of life.” May we open our hearts to the help of the martyrs, like St. Apollinaris, that we may so persevere in keeping the commandments as to merit being crowned with them, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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Our Savior’s faithfulness is mirrored in the fidelity of his witnesses who shed their blood for the Word of God. Let us praise him in remembrance of them:

The martyrs professed their faith by shedding their blood, may we have a faith that is constant and pure.

The martyrs followed in Christ’s footsteps by carrying the cross, may we endure courageously our earthly trials and all the misfortunes of life.

The martyrs washed their garments in the blood of the Lamb, may we be helped by their prayers to overcome the weaknesses of the flesh and worldly allurements.

For Pope Francis’ prayer intention for the month of July: That priests, who experience fatigue and loneliness in their pastoral work, may find help and comfort in their intimacy with the Lord and in their friendship with their brother priests. We pray to the Lord.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord