3rd Week of Lent 2024 - Wednesday - The pure of heart shall see God

 In the Office of Readings this morning from the Liturgy of the Hours, there is a passage by a saint named Theophilus of Antioch. Theophilus was the sixth bishop of Antioch. Ignatius, our patron, was the third bishop.

Writing 30-40 years after Ignatius, bishop Theophilus has a famous letter to a pagan name Autolycus. And Theophilus is writing to his pagan friend in order to convince him to become Christian. Throughout the letter, Theophilus presents arguments and explanations to address Autolycus's doubts and objections regarding Christianity. He contrasts the moral teachings of Christianity with the vices and immorality prevalent in pagan society, urging Autolycus to embrace the moral teachings of Christ.

And Theophilus has this great quote, he writes, “If you say, 'Show me your God,' I will say to you, 'Show me what kind of person you are, and I will show you my God” Theophilus knows that striving for moral purity will help Autolycus come to grasp Christ. For Purity of heart enables us to more clearly apprehend truth and apprehend God. Jesus says, “Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God”. 

This is why in our scripture readings today Moses and Jesus are both stressing the importance of following the law and following the commandments and teaching little ones to do the same. God desires that we come to behold his face. And that means striving for purity of heart.

Purity of heart involves adhering to God's commandments and living in accordance with His will. It includes refraining from sin and avoiding actions, thoughts, and attitudes that are contrary to God's standards of holiness. A pure heart fosters intimacy with God, allowing us to experience His presence. When we are in right relationship with God, our hearts are open to His love, guidance, and revelation.

"Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?” the Psalmist asks, “And who shall stand in his holy place? Those who have clean hands and pure hearts, who do not lift up their souls to what is false, and do not swear deceitfully."

Lenten repentance and Lenten prayer, fasting, and almsgiving all help us to cultivate that purity of heart God wants for us.

Beloved, as we continue our Lenten journey, let us renew our commitment to lives of profound holiness and integrity—to purity of heart. Through our words and deeds shining with the light of Christ, may all peoples come to know and follow Christ for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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For the whole Christian people, that in this sacred Lenten season, they may be more abundantly nourished by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

For the whole world, that in lasting tranquility and peace our days may truly become the acceptable time of grace and salvation.

For sinners and those who neglect right religion, that in this time of reconciliation they may return wholeheartedly to Christ.

For ourselves, that God may at last stir up in our hearts aversion for our sins and conviction for the Gospel.

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

Grant, we pray, O Lord, that your people may turn to you with all their heart, so that whatever they dare to ask in fitting prayer they may receive by your mercy. Through Christ Our Lord.

June 9 2021 - St. Ephrem the Syrian - "Blessed are the Pure of Heart"

 

In popular devotion, the deacon St. Ephrem is not as well-known as St. Francis or St. Anthony or St. Patrick, yet Ephrem is a wonderful saint for us.  He was so steeped in God’s word, so in love with God.  Earlier this week, we heard the beatitudes from the Lord’s Sermon on the Mount. Well, St. Ephrem embodied that beatitude “Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God”. He was enraptured with God. He composed poetry and hymns to God and to the Blessed Mother. 

His poetry and hymns also served another purpose. He used them to catechize and defend the faith against the false doctrines and heresies rampant in his time, particularly the Arian heresy which denied the full divinity of Jesus.

Love of God impelled him to defend the faith, and lead others sweetly to the faith. When your love for God is great, you want others to know that love.  It is said that St. Ephrem had such an acute vision of the goodness of God and man’s need for God, that he was often “dissolved in tears.”  He is was in this constant state of weeping because of his insight into God’s love for us.  

He is known as St. Ephrem the Deacon because he was ordained a deacon by St. Basil the Great, but never a priest.  In fact, the people wanted him to be a bishop, but he is said to have avoided episcopal consecration by pretending to be insane. Smart man! He died in 373 while caring for those infected by the plague.  

There are many people today who do not know that Jesus is God. They do not know God’s love for them, nor will they acknowledge their need for God. Saints like Ephrem point us to the one true God by the goodness of their life, by their labors, by their concern for souls. They remind us to be wary of the glamours and errors of the world, and call us to that purity of heart in which we contemplate the truth, goodness, and beauty of the one, true, God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 

May St. Ephrem help us in remaining free from all that keeps us from contemplating God’s goodness, truth, and beauty this day for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For the whole Christian people, that the beatitudes of Christ may animate our lives. Let us pray to the Lord. 

For our President and all elected government representatives, may the Holy Spirit grant them wisdom and guide them to promote authentic and lasting peace in the world, an end to terrorism, respect for religious freedom, and a greater reverence for the sanctity of Human Life. Let us pray to the Lord.

For our young people beginning summer vacation, that they may be kept close to the truth and heart of Jesus, that young people may live in faith-filled homes where the Gospel is cherished, studied, and lived-out. Let us pray to the lord.

For all of the sick and suffering, for the grace to unite their sufferings with Christ and to know His consolation and peace.

For our departed loved ones and all of the souls in purgatory, and for N. for whom this Mass is offered. We pray to the Lord.

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 6 2020 - St. Maria Goretti - A holy life prepares us for trial

Maria Goretti was born of a poor family in the central Italian town of Corinaldo. Her father died when she was 10 years old, and one of the men who had worked with her father, 19 year old Alessandro Serenelli, had made several attempts to seduce the young girl. She told him that he could go to hell for what he wanted to do.  Her refusal and her words of faith so angered him that he stabbed her, 14 times.

It took Maria two days to die from those stab wounds.  And On her deathbed, Maria, not only pardoned Alessandro, but she said: “I hope that he too will join me in Paradise.”  Maria died in the hospital after forgiving her murderer.  Maria Goretti was scarcely twelve years old when she died on July 7, 1902. 

Alessandro remained unrepentant for his attempted rape and murder of the young girl, but several years into his prison sentence, Alessandro had a dream in which Maria presented him with a bouquet of lilies—lilies are of course a symbol of purity. Repentance filled his heart and he turned to the mercy of Christ.  After 27 years in prison, Alessandro was released, and visited Maria’s mother, Assunta, whom he asked forgiveness. “If my daughter can forgive him, who am I to withhold forgiveness?" she said. Alessandro spent his last years as a third-order Franciscan and died in 1970.

Maria Goretti was canonized by Pope Pius XII in 1950, and it is the first time in history that the mother of a saint was present at the canonization.  Alessandro was also there, also probably the first time that the saint’s murderer was present at the canonization, and thanks be to God, his soul was right with God. He had testified in her cause for canonization, speaking not only of her courageous protection of her purity, but the tremendous holiness the saint had cultivated over those short twelve years.

It is said that "even if she had not been a martyr, she would still have been a saint, so holy was her everyday life".  And this is such an important lesson for all of his: the holiness of her everyday life helped her at a crucial moment to remain courageous, to forgive and love her murderer with the heart of Christ. And her sanctity brought about the eventual conversion of a very evil man, who probably only died in communion with Christ because of her.

May St. Maria Goretti help us to cultivate a love of innocence, chastity, and forgiveness, and help all of us to remain steadfast in faith in the moment of trial, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
 
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Through the intercession of the holy virgin-martyr St. Maria Goretti, for an increase of reverence for and practice of the virtues of chastity, purity, and modesty and for greater respect for the dignity of the human body and all human life.

That all of our young people on summer vacation may be kept safe from the poisonous errors and vices of our time and be kept in close friendship with the Lord Jesus through the faith of their families, daily prayer, attendance at Mass, and the practice of the virtues.

That the Holy Spirit may guide the selection of a new bishop for the diocese of Cleveland.

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, for victims of abuse, especially children, 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

May 26 2017 - St. Philip Neri - Pilgrimage & the Miracle of the Heart

As the home of the Pope and his Curia, as well as the locus of many sites and relics of veneration related to the apostles, saints, and martyrs; Rome has been a destination for pilgrims for most of Christian history.

Rome was certainly the destination for today’s saint, Philip Neri. He was born in Florence. And already when he was just about five years old, he was known as “good little Philip” by his parents because of his innocence and obedience. At age 8, he almost died, a horse fell on top of him crushing him to the ground, but when he emerged unscathed he credited his preservation to God, and dedicated his life to God’s service. He went to Rome to study philosophy and theology, although the divine truths were so clear in his mind he didn’t have to study much, the only two books he owned were the bible and the Summa Theologica of Thomas Aquinas.

St. Philip seemed surrounded by celestial splendor, holiness radiated from him, the effect of his angelic purity which he never lost despite the many temptations of Rome. He always maintained sexual innocence and his virginity. He was fiercely tempted by his flesh and the devil, but he won these battles by fasting and mortification.

In 1548, together with his confessor, Neri founded the Confraternity of the Most Holy Trinity of Pilgrims and Convalescents whose primary object was to minister to the needs of the thousands of poor pilgrims who flocked to Rome, especially in jubilee years.

There is a special tradition, started by St. Philip Neri, of visiting the seven pilgrim churches of Rome, a tradition I was able to partake of when I visited Rome the first time.

Philip would often make pilgrimages to the catacombs where he would pray for the gifts of the Holy Spirit and venerate the relics of the martyrs. In the catacomb of St. Sebastian, Philip witnessed a great miracle. A few days before Pentecost in 1544, while he making a late night vigil, praying for the gifts of the Holy Spirit, when a globe of fire, entered into his mouth and lodged in his chest; he was filled with the tremendous fire of love and he almost couldn’t bear it. When the doctors examined his body after death, they discovered that the saint’s heart had been dilated so much under this powerful impulse of love, that in order that it might have sufficient room to beat, two ribs had been miraculously broken and curved in the form of an arch.

Each of us need to make a pilgrimage of love from time to time. It should be a sacrifice, it should take some time, some effort, and done for the soul purpose of honoring God. And if we make that pilgrimage, our hearts will expand.

May St. Philip Neri inspire us to make that journey for God, that our love for God might increase so to become every greater instruments in his service, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That the merciful love of the Good Shepherd may fill the hearts of all of the ordained.

That the entire church might emulate the sacrifice and charity of the saints.

For all the safety of all travelers, especially those who make pilgrimages to the Holy Places.

That the love of Christ, the divine physician, may bring healing and comfort to the sick.

O God, who know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.