Legion of Mary Blog

VATICAN CITY, NOV 8, 2007 (VIS) - Made public today was a Letter written by the Holy Father for the occasion of the 16th centenary of the death of St. John Chrysostom, in which he underlines the saint’s “shining figure,” proposing it “for the joint edification” of the universal Church.

The Letter was read this morning at the opening of an international congress, “St. John Chrysostom 1600 years after his Death,” being held at Rome’s “Augustinianum” patristic institute from November 8 to 10.

“The life and doctrinal teaching of this saintly bishop and Doctor ring out in every century,” the Pope writes, “and even today they still induce universal admiration. The Roman Pontiffs have always recognized in him a living source of wisdom for the Church and their interest in his magisterium became more intense over the course of last century.”

Referring to the life and ministry of the saint, Benedict XVI recalls how he was born in Antioch in Syria in the mid fourth century. “During his 12 years of priestly ministry in the Antiochean Church, John distinguished himself for his capacity to interpret Scripture in a manner the faithful could understand.” He also sought “to strengthen the unity of the Church, … at a historical moment in which it was threatened both internally and externally. He rightly felt that unity among Christians depends above all on a correct understanding of the central mystery of the Church’s faith: that of the Blessed Trinity and the Incarnation of the Divine Word.”

“Having served the Church in Antioch as a priest and preacher for 12 years, John was consecrated bishop of Constantinople in 398, remaining there for five and a half years. In that role, he concerned himself with the reform of the clergy, encouraging priests by word and example to live in conformity with the Gospel.”

St. John Chrysostom “tirelessly denounced the contrast that existed in the city between the extravagant wastefulness of the rich and the indigence of the poor.” At the same time, he encouraged the wealthy “to welcome homeless people into their own houses.” He also “stood our for his missionary zeal” and built hospitals for the sick.

Talking of the bishop of Constantinople’s ministry, Benedict XVI recalls how “since the fifth century John Chrysostom has been venerated by the entire Church, Eastern and Western, for his courageous witness in defense of ecclesial faith and for his generous dedication to pastoral ministry.”

“Special mention must also be made of the extraordinary efforts undertaken by St. John Chrysostom to promote reconciliation and full communion between Christians of East and West. In particular, his contribution proved decisive in putting an end to the schism separating the See of Antioch from the See of Rome and from other Western Churches.”

The Pope goes on to highlight how “both in Antioch and Constantinople John spoke passionately of the unity of the Church throughout the world. … For John, the unity of the Church is rooted in Christ, the Divine Word Who with His Incarnation united Himself to the Church as a head is united to its body.”

“For John Chrysostom the ecclesial unity achieved in Christ finds unique expression in the Eucharist.” His “profound veneration” for this Sacrament was “particularly nourished in the celebration of the divine liturgy. In fact, one of the richest expressions of Eastern liturgy bears his name: ‘The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom’.”

The Holy Father indicates how, “with great profundity, John Chrysostom develops his ideas on the effects of sacramental communion in believers. … He tirelessly repeats that preparation for Holy Communion must include penitence for sins and gratitude for the sacrifice Christ made for our salvation. Thus, he exhorts the faithful to participate fully and devotedly in the rites of divine liturgy and to receive Holy Communion in the same way.”

John Chrysostom “also draws the moral consequences” from his contemplation of the Eucharistic Mystery, reminding people “that communion with the Body and Blood of Christ obliges them to offer material assistance to the poor and hungry who live among them.”

Benedict XVI expresses the hope that this centenary may be a good occasion to increase studies on the saint, “recovering his teachings and encouraging his devotion.”

“May the Fathers of the Church,” the Pope concludes, “become a stable point of reference for all Church theologians.” And may theologians themselves discover “a renewed commitment to recover the heritage of wisdom of the holy Fathers. The result can only be a vital enrichment of their ideas, even on the problems of our own times.”

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VATICAN CITY, NOV 7, 2007 (VIS) - During his general audience this morning, the Holy Father dedicated his catechesis to St. Jerome. The audience was held in St. Peter’s Square in the presence of 40,000 people.

St. Jerome, born into a Christian family around the year 347, “placed the Bible at the center of his life: he translated it into Latin, commented on it in his writings and, above all, undertook to put it into concrete practice during his long earthly life.”

This Father of the Church “received a careful education” in Rome. “Having been baptized,” he was attracted to “the ascetic life” departing “for the East where he lived as a hermit in the desert. … He perfected his knowledge of Greek and began to study Hebrew, transcribing codices and patristic works. Meditation, solitude and contact with the Word of God brought his Christian sensibility to maturity.”

When Jerome returned to Rome Pope Damasus engaged him as secretary and counsellor, but following the pontiff’s death Jerome went back to the Holy Land, settling in Bethlehem where he remained until his death in 419 or 420, all the while “continuing his intense activities.”

In Bethlehem, St. Jerome “commented on the Word of God, defended the faith and vigorously opposed various heresies. He exhorted monks to perfection, taught classical and Christian culture to young pupils, and showed great pastoral solicitude in welcoming pilgrims visiting the Holy Land.”

“His literary education and his vast learning enabled Jerome to revise and translate many biblical texts” thus achieving “a vital task for the Latin Church and for Western culture.”

Recalling the fact that one of the saint’s great achievements was “the so-called ‘Vulgate,’ the ‘official’ text of the Latin Church, recognized as such by the Council of Trent,” the Pope mentioned some of the criteria chosen by Jerome for his translation, such as “respecting the order of words in the Holy Scripture,” because, “the saint says, ‘even the order of the words is a mystery,’ in other words a revelation.”

The Holy Father indicated how Jerome also affirmed “the need to go back to the original texts, … to the Greek in which the New Covenant was written” and “to the Hebrew” for the Old Testament, “thus everything that arises from the source ‘we may find in the streams’” he said, again quoting the saint.

It was Jerome’s view, the Pope explained, “that commentators must present multiple opinions” so that readers, “having read the various explanations, … may judge which is the most trustworthy.”

The saint “energetically and vigorously refuted heretics who attacked the tradition and faith of the Church. He demonstrated the importance of Christian literature, which by then was worthy to bear the confrontation with classical literature,” having become part of “a true Christian culture.”

“From Jerome,” Pope Benedict went on, “we must learn to love the Word of God in Holy Scripture,” because to ignore it “is to ignore Christ.” Hence it is important “to live in contact and living dialogue” with Scripture.

“Such dialogue must have two dimensions. On the one hand it must be a truly personal dialogue … because God has a message for each one of us. We must read Scripture not as words from the past but as the Word of God Who talks to me, and seek to understand what the Lord is telling me.”

However, “in order not to fall prey to individualism, we must bear in mind that the Word of God is given to us to build communion, to unite us in that truth, in that path. … The Word of God, though it is always personal, is always a Word that builds … the Church. For this reason we must always read it in communion with the living Church. And the privileged place for listening to the Word of God is the liturgy.”

“The Word of God transcends time,” the Pope concluded. “Human opinions come and go, … the Word of God is the word of eternal life. It carries eternity within and is valid forever.”

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Eternal Father, I thank you for the grace you gave to your servant, Edel Quinn, of striving to live always in the joy of your presence, for the radiant charity infused into her heart by your Holy Spirit and for the strength she drew from the Bread of Life to labour until death for the glory of Your name in loving dependence on Mary, Mother of the Church. Confident, 0 Merciful Father, that her life was pleasing to you, I beg you to grant me, through her intercession, the special favour I now implore ……….., and to make known by miracles the glory she enjoys in Heaven, so that she may be glorified also by your Church on earth, through Christ Our Lord, Amen

Favours attributed to the intercession of The Venerable Edel Quinn should be reported to:

Legion of Mary De Montfort House
Morning Star Avenue, North Brunswick Street, Dublin 7,
Ireland

Thanks to your prayers, George continues to make progress in his rehabilitation.
Most importantly, George’s mind and personality are intact. He can speak, read and
write. This is truly a miracle in view of the severity of his stroke. George is on
an aggressive schedule of 4 hours of therapy six days a week. He is starting to
regain use of his left leg. He is starting to stand and take a few steps with
support. His left arm is also starting to respond.

He will likely be in in-patient rehabilitation for another 4-5 weeks before he comes
home. He loves to receive cards and he can have visitors. However, his therapy
schedule changes day to day. If you would like to visit, we request that your call
George, Sr. first to confirm his schedule. Below is the address of
the Mount Vernon Rehabilitation Center:

Inova Rehabilitation Center
Inova Mount Vernon Hospital
2501 Parker’s Lane
Alexandria, VA 22306
Room 502, Bed 1

We are eternally grateful to you for your prayers. We know God has performed a
miracle. Please continue the prayers as George still has a way to go.

God bless you,

George and Monica Bonina