August 7 2023 - St. Cajetan - Trust in God at all times

 

Saint Cajetan, the founder of the Clerics Regular, who was born in 1480 and died on this day in 1547, lived at a profoundly troubled time in the life of the Church. There was corruption in the hierarchy. There was Protestant Revolt. There was moral decay throughout society going uncorrected by the clergy, many of whom were either complicit in immorality or indifferent to it. The Church was “sick in head and members”.

The italian priest, Gaetano dei Conti di Thiene, knew something had to be done. He knew that the soundness of life of the Church depended upon a holy clergy, and so renewal in the Church required clerical reform. 

So, Fr. Gaetano, or Cajetan, formed an association of the regular clergy who would model the life of the Apostles. The Ordo Clericorum Regularium, the Ordo of Clerics Regular also known as the Theatines after the birthplace of St. Cajetan.

The Theatines would live in community and take vows of poverty, chastity, obedience, and stability. They endeavored to recall the local clergy to an edifying life of virtue and the laity as well. They founded oratories and hospitals, devoted themselves to preaching the Gospel, and reformed lax morals. and zealously endeavored to combat the errors of Martin Luther. They wore the simple black cassock of the local clergy.

While the Theatines have diminished in number, they are still present in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Spain, and the U.S., where they maintain a parish at Durango, Colorado in the Diocese of Pueblo. 

At a most bleak moment in the life of the Church, the light of Christ shown forth in the life and work of Saint Cajetan, of the priests who joined him, and in other saintly faithful who would not permit discouragement to overcome them.

Discouragement is a temptation in this dark time. St. Cajetan, as the collect for his feast said, trusted God at all times. He trusted that God chose him for that moment in history, that dark time.

And so, I repeat my message from Sunday’s homily, the Lord chose us to be born and live in this time. To be beacons of light and reform. We are to ourselves ever more ardently to the service of Christ and the Church, trusting in His word: “Do not be afraid.” Do not be afraid to witness, do not be afraid to pursue virtue, do not be afraid to do penance, do not be afraid of imitating the saints. Do not be afraid of entering religious life, or the priesthood. Do not be afraid to pursue the prayer life you need, in order to witness to Christ as you should. 

If you could do anything for God, what would you do? Maybe that’s the thing you should be pursuing. For the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

- - - - - - -  

That Pope Francis and all bishops and clergy may lead the Church by example in witnessing to the truth of the Gospel with courage and living the Gospel with charity and perseverance, and for the reform of the clergy where it is needed.

That the light of Christ may radiate in our parish through our reverent worship, works of mercy, preaching and teaching, patience, kindness, generosity, and suffering for the sake of the Gospel.

That politicians and government officials may protect religious freedom, promote virtue, and look to the law of Christ to guide their work for the good of nations and the human race, especially for the protection of the unborn.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, immigrants and refugees, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.

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

18th Week of OT 2020 - Friday - Purification, Restoration and St. Cajetan

 Two of the reoccurring themes of Scripture that sort of go hand in hand are purification and restoration—the purification of what has become corrupted by sin in order that it may be restored and begin to grow again. We are familiar with the story of the biblical flood—how the world had become so corrupted by sin, that God sends a purifying flood. Sometimes purification is difficult—like scrubbing out an infected wound is painful. But, following purification, God restores order by building humanity up again after the flood.

Immediately after the fall of Adam and Eve, God hints at the promise of a redeemer—one who will bring purification and restoration to the human race.

Nahum the prophet speaks about restoration in our first reading. Because of her sins, the southern kingdom of Judah had become vulnerable to attack and invasion. Babylon had sacked Jerusalem and carried off her citizens into exile. 

But Nahum the prophet speaks a word of promise, that after the purification, Judah and the holy city of Jerusalem, and her holy feasts will be restored. “The Lord will restore the vine of Jacob” he says. Again purification precedes restoration.

We see this divine logic in the Gospel as well. Jesus over and over heals the sick and then restores them to their families. He dies on the cross to purify humanity of its sinfulness in order that it may be restored to what God had intended it to be.

Today we honor a saint of restoration. St. Cajetan was a priest…well, he was a lawyer who then became a priest who was tasked to work in Rome—in the Roman Curia in the early 1500s.

He came to realize that the Church needed reform. He said the Church was “sick in her head and in her members.” The Church seemed to have lost her zeal, her commitment to authentic worship, her commitment to the evangelical counsels. Protestantism, which arose shortly in this time, was a sort of reaction to the Church’s sickness. But unlike his contemporary, Martin Luther, Cajetan believed that the Church could be reformed from the inside—through a return to what is truly good and holy. So Cajetan founded a religious order, the Theatines, who took the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience and working to reignite apostolic zeal amongst the clergy.

It is no secret that there are parts of the Church that are sick right now—parts of the world where faith has been decimated, watered down, corrupted by worldly values. So, we do well to invoke Saints like Cajetan, to help purify the Church from corruption—the corruption of authentic doctrine and religious practice and liturgical worship, to help us experience the restoration the Holy Spirit wishes to work in our own day.

But no doubt, purification and restoration begins in the individual human soul. Each one of us, lay, cleric, religious, priest, cardinal and Pope, has a duty to seek purification as difficult as that is from all that is prideful or selfish, that what is corrupt in us may be purified, that what is broken may be restored, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - - - - 

That Pope Francis and all bishops and clergy may lead the Church by example in witnessing to the truth of the Gospel with courage and living the Gospel with charity and perseverance. 

That politicians and government officials may protect religious freedom, promote virtue, and look to the law of Christ to guide their work for the good of nations and the human race, especially for the protection of the unborn.

That our young people on summer vacation may remain close to Jesus through prayer, attendance at Holy Mass with their families, repentance through Sacramental Confession, and faithfulness to all the teachings of Christ. We pray to the Lord.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, immigrants and refugees, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.

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

August 7 2018 - St. Sixtus II and St. Cajetan - Trusting God at all times

The Church honors two saints today, separated by more than a thousand years.

In the third century, the Roman Emperor Valerian ordered that Christians had to take part in the state religious ceremonies. He also forbade them from assembling for Christian worship, threatening with death anyone who was found to disobey the order.  St. Sixtus II was Pope during this terrible time.  And for nearly a year Sixtus functioned as Pope, administering the Church. He famously worked to resolve a conflict with certain Eastern churches over the rebaptism of converted heretics.

In August of 258, Emperor Valerian issued a far crueler edict.  It simply and coldly ordered that all bishops, priests, and deacons be put to death. On August 6, 258, Pope Sixtus II and four deacons, were seized while celebrating Mass in the Catacombs of Callistus in Rome.  They were beheaded that same day.

Over a thousand years later, the Lord raised up a priest, a tremendously compassionate heart. He had been consecrated to the Blessed Virgin by his parents. Caitano, or Cajetan, as we call him, lived a life of great austerity and charity toward the poor. He was a mystic. His charity and prayer seemed to impress heaven itself: Our Lady appeared to him and allowed him to hold the child Jesus. He founded a religious order known as the Theatines to care for the impoverished sick and dying.

Sixtus and Cajetan, two very different saints, and yet, both imitating Our Lord. In the Gospel, we hear of the Lord walking on water, and commanding Peter to do the same. Yes, Peter sinks into the sea, and requires rescue from the Lord, but for a moment he walked on water, just like the Lord. The Lord said that we, his followers, would perform works just like his, miraculous works, works of charity, acts of great courage, and our suffering would be like his as well.

Many Christians settle for mediocrity while the Lord is actually calling us to walk on water with Him. The Collect prayer for St. Cajetan beseeches God for the ability “to trust God at all times”, to trust Him when he calls us out of the comfort of the boat, out of the familiar, out of ingrained habits and routines, out of mediocrity, out of our vices, to love the sick and the poor more, like St. Cajetan, to witness with Courage to the truth of the Gospel even when we will be persecuted, like St. Sixtus, to walk on water like St. Peter.

The Lord longs to do great things in us, with us, and through us. Through the intercession and example of the saints, may we come to trust Him at all times in order to cooperate with His Holy Will, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - - -
 
That Pope Francis and all bishops and clergy may lead the Church by example in witnessing to the truth of the Gospel with courage and living the Gospel with charity and perseverance.

That politicians and government officials may protect religious freedom, promote virtue, and look to the law of Christ to guide their work for the good of nations and the human race, especially for the protection of the unborn.

For the Holy Father’s prayer intention for the month of August that any far-reaching decisions of economists and politicians may protect the family as one of the treasures of humanity.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, immigrants and refugees, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.

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