St. Anthony Zaccaria

Optional Memorial (1969 Calendar): July 5
Double (1955 Calendar): July 5

Today the Church remembers St. Anthony Zaccaria (1502-1539), priest, the founder of the Clerks Regular of St. Paul, later called the Barnabites. He also founded a congregation of nuns but they no longer exist. He preached the Gospel as his model St. Paul did, but the labor greatly weakened him. St. Anthony Zaccaria died as a holy priest at the young age of 36.

Born to a noble family in Lombardy, St. Anthony was early recognized for his virtue. He was devoted to the Mother of God, and he displayed piety for God and great mercy for the poor. St. Anthony would frequently give his rich clothing to those in need. St. Anthony Zaccaria's father died when he was only two years old, his mother was 18 years old at the time.

St. Anthony Zaccaria went to Pavia for philosophy and later Padua for medicine. After he earned a doctorate in medicine at the age of 22, he returned home to realize God was calling Him to save souls. So, St. Anthony gave his wealth to his mother and followed Our Lord's will and became a priest. St. Anthony never ceased to visit the sick or instruct children in Christian doctrine. During his first Mass, the congregation remarks that they witnessed him surrounded by angels in heavenly light. He received everyone with charity and encouraged them with holy words. He was servant to the poor, oppressed, and helpless. Essentially, St. Anthony was a friend to all the friendless; he was a true priest.

St. Anthony Zaccaria realized that he could do better work for the Kingdom of God if he had fellow helpers. So, he spoke with Bartholomew Ferrari and James Morigia, two saintly noblemen. The three of them founded a society of Clerks Regular at Milan. The order was approved by Clement VII and confirmed by Paul III. It soon spread through many lands. St. Anthony Zaccaria was also the founder and father of the Angelic Sisters, which is no longer in existence today. The Angelic Sisters were the first uncloistered nuns.

However, St. Anthony Zaccaria was so humble that he refused to become Superior of his own Order. He displayed remarkable patience to those that opposed him and charity to all. St. Anthony often carried the cross through the streets and public squares, together with his religious. By his prayers, many wicked men came back to Christ, the source of salvation and hope.

What I truly admire about him is his love for Jesus Crucified. At 3:00 PM on Fridays, the hour of Christ's death, St. Anthony would have the bells of the church ring. Jesus's holy name was always on his lips and St. Anthony bore the mortification of Christ in his body. St. Anthony was graced with the gift of ecstasy, tears, knowledge of future things, and the secrets of hearts and power over the enemy of mankind. He had such a fervent love for Jesus in the Holy Eucharist and greatly promoted the 40 Hours Devotion.

At the young age of 36, St. Anthony was taken to Cremona where he died on July 5, 1539, amid his fellow religious and pious mother. His mother would soon die too, which St. Anthony had foretold would occur. At the final hour of life, he was graced by God of a vision of the apostles and he foretold the growth of his order. He is buried in Saint Paul's Convent of the Angelics at Milan, Italy.

Pope Leo XIII canonized him on Ascension Day in 1897.

One of His Writings:

We are fools for Christ’s sake: our holy guide and most revered patron was speaking about himself and the rest of the apostles, and about the other people who profess the Christian and apostolic way of life. But there is no reason, dear brothers, that we should be surprised or afraid; for the disciple is not superior to his teacher, nor the slave to his master. We should love and feel compassion for those who oppose us, rather than abhor and despise them, since they harm themselves and do us good, and adorn us with crowns of everlasting glory while they incite God’s anger against themselves. And even more than this, we should pray for them and not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil by goodness. We should heap good works like red-hot coals of burning love upon their heads, as our Apostle urges us to do, so that when they become aware of our tolerance and gentleness they may undergo a change of heart and be prompted to turn in love to God.

In his mercy God has chosen us, unworthy as we are, out of the world, to serve him and thus to advance in goodness and to bear the greatest possible fruit of love in patience. We should take encouragement not only from the hope of sharing in the glory of God’s children, but also from the hardships we undergo.

Consider your calling, dearest brothers; if we wish to think carefully about it we shall see readily enough that its basis demands that we who have set out to follow, admittedly from afar, the footsteps of the holy apostles and the other soldiers of Christ, should not be unwilling to share in their sufferings as well. We should keep running steadily in the race we have started, not losing sight of Jesus, who leads us in our faith and brings it to perfection. And so since we have chosen such a great Apostle as our guide and father and claim to follow him, we should try to put his teaching and example into practice in our lives. Such a leader should not be served by faint-hearted troops, nor should such a parent find his sons unworthy of him.

Prayer:

Make us, O Lord God, learn in the spirit of Paul the Apostle the knowledge of Jesus Christ which surpasseth all understanding, wherein blessed Anthony Mary was marvelously versed and formed in Thy Church new religious congregations of men and women. Through the same our Lord.

Prayer Source: 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal

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At Mass We are Part of the Heavenly Court

A Catholic Hart posted a link to a Spirit Daily article reminding us that at Mass we are part of the Heavenly Court. At Mass, there are a multitude of angels present giving praise and glory to God. It is the highest form of all worship. The veil between Heaven and Earth is the narrowest during the Holy Mass.

Image Source: The Feast of Corpus Christi at Holy Trinity German Catholic Church in Boston, 2000

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Francis Cardinal Arinze: Music in the Mass

I found this great article posted on Irish and Dangerous. The following is an interview with Francis Cardinal Arinze found in the summer 2006 issue of Sacred Music, Vol. 133 No.2:

The Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship spoke to Inside the Vatican about sacred music, November 2005:

ITV: In Sacrosanctum concilium (Vatican II's Decree on the Liturgy), it indicated at Mass, pride of place must be given to Gregorian chant. But the reality is that few Catholics under the age of 50 would ever have heard a Te Deum sung in their parish church. Liturgical music today is largely guitars and tambourines, etc. Is this an appropriate form of musical expression for divine worship?

Arinze: For music in the liturgy, we should start by saying that Gregorian music is the Church's precious heritage. It should stay. It should not be banished. If therefore in a particular diocese or country, no one hears Gregorian music anymore, then somebody has made a mistake somewhere.

But, the Church is not saying that everything should be Gregorian music. There is room for music which respects that language, that culture, that people. There is room for that too, and the present books say that is a matter for the Bishops Conference, because it generally goes beyond the boundaries of one diocese.

The ideal thing is that the bishops would have a Liturgical Music Comission which looks at the wording and the music of the hymns. And when the commission is satisfied, judgement is brought to the bishops for approval, in the name of the rest of the conference.

But not individuals just composing anything and singing it in church. This is not right at all. No matter how talented the individual is. That brings us to the question of the instrument to be used. The local church should be conscious that church worship is not really the same as what we sing in a bar, or what we sing in a convention for youth. Therefore it should influence the type of instrument used, the type of music used.

I will not now pronounce and say never guitar. That would be rather severe. But much of guitar music may not be suitable at all for the Mass. Yet, it is possible to think of some guitar music that would be suitable, not as the ordinary one we get every time, the visit of a special group, etc.

The judgement would be left to the bishops o the area. It is wiser that way. Also, because there are other instruments in many countries which are not used in Italy or in Ireland, for instance.

But music should nourish faith, burst from our faith and should lead back to the faith. It should be a prayer. Entertainment is quite another matter. We have the parish hall for that, and the theater. People don't come to Mass in order to be entertained. They come to Mass to adore God, to thank him, to ask pardon for sins, and to ask for other things that they need. Those are the reasons for Mass. When they want entertainment, they know where to go: Parish hall, theater, presuming that their entertainment is acceptable from a moral theological point of view.

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Third priest Attacked in Turkey this Year

In addition to the murder of Fr. Andrea Santore, two other priests have been attacked in Turkey. One of them was just attacked last Sunday, July 2, 2006, in the Black Sea port of Samsun.

Fr. Pierre Brunissen, 74, was injured in the hip and leg and rushed to hospital, Msgr. Luigi Padovese, the apostolic vicar for Anatolia, told The Associated Press. The French priest lost a lot of blood but his condition is not life threatening.

"I hope this has nothing to with Islamic fundamentalism," Msgr. Padovese reportedly told the AP. "The climate has changed,” he was quoted as saying. “It is the Catholic priests that are being targeted."

Police detained the 47-year-old attacker, who has been described as mentally ill, the Anatolia news agency reported. The man was known to have complained about the priest for allegedly promoting Christian propaganda, the agency reported.   

Source: Catholic News Agency

Let us please say a prayer for him and for all our priests. As I posted about before, the Age of Martyrs continues.

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Independence Day: Pro-life Meditation

This is a meditation from Dr. John C. Willke, MD, Life Jewels, Volume 1:

"As we celebrate the 4th of July, we’re commemorating the Declaration of Independence, not our United States Constitution.

"Now they’re both remarkable documents, but the Constitution can and has been changed – changed by formal amendments—tragically, also in recent years, changed by liberal judges.

But the Declaration of Independence is the very charter of our nation. It cannot be changed, and it states clearly that all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights. Remember the first one mentioned – the right to “life.”

"So, no matter what a liberal court may attempt to do, the charter of our nation stands tall. It says that each of us has a right to life, and no President, no Congress, and no judge can take this from us. I’d like you to think about that. This is Dr. John Willke" (TOC).

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Words of Inspiration: July 4, 2006

Blessed Mother Teresa:

"On the Cross Jesus said: ‘I thirst.’ From the Blessed Sacrament Jesus continues to say to each of us: ‘I thirst.’ He thirsts for our personal love, our intimacy, our union with Him in the Blessed Sacrament. His longing for us to be with Him in the Blessed Sacrament is infinitely greater than our longing to be with Him."

St. Padre Pio:

"My Jesus, save everyone; I offer myself as a victim for everyone; strengthen me, take my heart, fill it with Your love and then command me to do whatever You want" (AD 53).

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Prayer for the Intercession of St. Pio of Pietrelcina

Dear God, You generously blessed Your servant, St. Pio of Pietrelcina, with the gifts of the Spirit. You marked his body with the five wounds of Christ Crucified, as a powerful witness to the saving Passion and Death of Your Son. Endowed with the gift of discernment, St. Pio labored endlessly in the confessional for the salvation of souls. With reverence and intense devotion in the celebration of Mass, he invited countless men and women to a greater union with Jesus Christ in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.

Through the intercession of St. Pio of Pietrelcina, I confidently beseech You to grant me the grace of (here state your petition). Amen.

Glory be to the Father... (three times).

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Felipe Calderon wins Mexican Election

In an extremely close election, conservative candidate Felipe Calderon, a devout Roman Catholic, has won his election campaign to succeed Vicente Fox, another devout Catholic, who shocked many when he kissed Pope John Paul ll's ring during the Pontiff's 2002 visit to Mexico in an act of humility. I am particularly pleased with reading this:

"Calderon is unabashedly conservative on moral issues. He's opposed to contraception and the morning-after pill, and believes the only acceptable reasons for abortion are cases of rape and incest and when the mother's health is at risk."

This is excellent news. Reuters previously reported some people were trying to get citizens to openly reject candidates that agree with the Church on abortion and contraception. I'm so pleased to read that Felipe Calderon, a man of values, is going to be the President and the anti-Catholic agenda lost again! Mexcio has about 100 million people and 85 percent are Catholic.

A mandatory recount will begin soon because of the closeness of the election. But, I'm still very pleased that he will pull through.

Photo Source: REUTERS/Jorge Silva

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Words of Inspiration: July 3, 2006

"The humbler the work, the greater should be your love and efficiency. Be not afraid of the life of sacrifice."

~Blessed Mother Teresa

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St. Thomas the Apostle

Feast (1969 Calendar): July 3
Double of the II Class (1955 Calendar): December 21

Today we remember the apostle Thomas, called Doubting Thomas. From the Tridentine Rite Website:

The feast of St. Thomas the Apostle is of double rite and its liturgical colour is red. According to tradition St. Thomas preached the Gospel in Asia and the Indian sub-continent. He is believed to have founded, inter alia, the St. Thomas Christians on the West coast of India, one of several groups using the East-Syrian family of liturgies

In an earlier section of the Gospel, St. Thomas said that he would go to Jerusalem to die with Jesus if needed. But, like the other apostles, he too left the Lord when the time came for the Crucifixion. And, after the Lord's Resurrection, St. Thomas is best known for doubting the Lord's Resurrection. While the disciples were in the upper room, the Lord appeared to them and ate with them. However, St. Thomas was not with them.

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

(Jesus) said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained." Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe."

John 20:19-25

All of us also experience some form of dryness in the spiritual life or doubting that our prayers will be heard. The words of St. Thomas, as many saints have taught, are incredibly helpful for our salvation. The exclamation of Thomas: "My Lord and My God" is one of the chief pieces of Scripture used to refute the heresy of Arianism. In those situations of spiritual dryness we should keep in mind the words of Thomas and Our Lord's reply to Him:

Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe." Thomas answered and said to him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed."

John 20:26-29

Even though St. Thomas was not with the apostles when they received the power to forgive sins, he did receive that power at a later time. That leads many scholars to admit that the apostles passed the power down to him through the imposition of hands. This same power has been passed down even until the present era. Our bishops and priests have that power because of Jesus Christ. If you have never gone to Confession, I highly encourage you to experience the greatest source of forgiveness on this earth in the confessional.

St. Thomas, after the events recorded in the Gospel, went off to preach the Gospel in India as Our Lord commanded: "All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age" (Mt 28:18-20).

St. Thomas went out and preached in Parthia, Persia, and India, even though he was reluctant to start the mission because he had to be taken into slavery by a merchant heading that way. Finally, he submitted himself to God's will and was freed from slavery. He formed many parishes and built many churches along the way. He is called the Apostle of India. Let us realize that we too are called to serve the Catholic Church and spread the Gospel. St. Thomas, the doubting apostle, eventually laid down his life for Jesus Christ. Our love for Christ must also be that great.

While in India, St. Thomas witnessed a group of people desperately trying to remove a post from the earth. With ease, St. Thomas removed it and thrust it back into the ground saying that water shall never again pass the point. Atop the post now stands Santhome Cathedral. And, quite miraculously, when the Tsunami of 2004 hit and destroyed much of the buildings in Chennai, the water stopped at the steps of the Cathedral. The miracle of St. Thomas is still alive.

St. Thomas the Apostle died in c.72 AD in India after being stabbed with a spear.

For more on the lives of all the Apostles, pick up a copy of "The Twelve: Lives and Legends of the Apostles" on paperback or as part of the online course on the Apostles, which includes a Certificate of Completion.

Prayer:

Give us, O Lord, we beseech Thee, a share in the glory of today's festival of Thy blessed Apostle Thomas: and grant that we may be uplifted by his patronage and drawn with fitting devotion to equal him in faith. Through our Lord.

Prayer Source: 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal

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