Fr. Bob's Corner

Catholic World News : Faith & reason: Pope returns to Regensburg themes: “Faith & reason: Pope returns to Regensburg themes
Vatican, Jan. 29, 2007 (CWNews.com) – Returning to the theme of the noted speech he delivered in Regensburg last October, Pope Benedict XVI (bio – news) spoke on the partnership of faith and reason during his Angelus audience on January 28.
Noting that the date marked the feast of St. Thomas Aquinas, the Holy Father said that the work of that great theologian is “a valid model for harmony between reason and faith, dimensions of the human spirit that that are fully realized in the meeting and dialogue between them.’ “

Jesuit who served in U.S. Congress on anti-Vietnam War platform dies

I have always admired those who have the courage to speak for those that they felt were oppressed and ignored. Here is a priest that fought for such people! Let us us remember him in our prayers.

Global Catholic News – Ancient Papyrus Donated to the Vatican: “Ancient Papyrus Donated to the Vatican
VATICAN CITY, JAN. 24, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI received as a gift to the Holy See one of the most ancient manuscripts of the Gospels, an artifact that demonstrates Scripture’s historical actuality.The Pope was given the 14-15 Bodmer Papyrus (P75), dated between A.D. 175 and 225, on Monday by Frank Hanna and his family, of the United States.

‘The papyrus contains about half of each of the Gospels of Luke and John. It was written in Egypt and perhaps used as a liturgical book,’ explained Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, archivist and librarian of the Holy Roman Church, during the audience. “

Most Saturday Mornings, with a cup of coffee in hand, I read Bishop Paul Andre’s column (Word of the Day) in the Cornwall Standard Freeholder. Each week he writes a little article on the second reading of the Sunday Liturgy which is down to earth, easy to read, relevant, hopeful, and inspiring. The Bishop has this remarkable gift to demystify big words and complex thoughts and to make them clear, insightful, and meaningful in just a few words of his own.

This week in an article on Corinthians 12:31-13:13 entitled, ‘A Celebration of Agape Love’, he writes: “This hymn to love is without doubt one of the most beautiful passages in the Bible. It brings to mind Pope Benedict XVI’s first encyclical, ‘Deus Caritas Est’, God is Love.”

I encourage all of you to read his column, especially this week, as he captures the essence of Pope Benedict’s wonderful encyclical while uniting it to the core meaning of the reading from St. Paul for this Sunday.

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Episcopal ordination of Most Rev. G?rard Pettipas

New Bishop for Edmonton Ukrainian Catholics

Toronto: installation of Archbishop Thomas Collins

Recently, Father Buzzeti, an Italian Biblicist made the following statement;
“Most Catholics, Father Buzzetti said, understand heaven as a vague place of eternal survival, where happiness can become monotonous and where the absence of human passions creates an ‘anemic’ atmosphere.
In other words, boring. And if heaven is seen as a dull routine of perpetual bliss, how can it possibly stimulate people to live a good and moral life in this world?

“Father Buzzetti posed the questions in a long article in a recent issue of Italian Clergy Review. He based his analysis on extensive discussions with pastors, who told him the traditional images of heaven – a vision of God, a banquet or eternal repose – were making little or no impression on modern Christians.”

I guess I let go of this boring vision of heaven a long time ago. If we are to rise body and soul, it seems to be that all that we know in this life will be part of what we experience in eternity. How could we be physically present, and not have all the wonderful things of this world present to us. In other words I see heaven as the redemption of God’s full creation. Now how all this will happen, don’t ask me. But, one thing I know, it won’t be boring. And all the pain, woundedness, and darkenss of this world will be gone. Only pure joy, love, and happiness will be what we experience.

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The challenge of living in this time of history is somewhat overwhelming for the vast majority of us. On a daily basis we are confronted with a myriad of choices, from selecting a couple of apples from a huge glorious display in a fruit store with hundred of varieties, to deciding which medical procedure we should have for a serious illness. There are experts galore with all kinds of advice and opinions to help us, but who should we believe? Even in the fruit store, if we begin seeking advice, we are just as likely to find shoppers and store clerks either as confused as we are, or with differing personal opinions. Most of us manage to get by, but sometimes we just give up. On such occasions we trust neither ourselves, nor the advice of others, and just close down and refuse to choose or trust.

This Sunday we listen to the rationale given by Luke to write his Gospel: “I too decided, after investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly account for you…, so that you may know the truth……” Then he reports that Jesus stood up in the synagogue in Nazareth and taking a scroll read these words. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.”
And Jesus rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then Jesus began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

There was a time not too long ago that we would hear these words and know in faith, and believe in our hearts that Jesus, both human and divine, had spoken these words at the beginning of his ministry. And we would study these verse to grow in our understanding of our faith. Today, however, many begin to unconsciously question. Now who was Luke? When did he write? Why did he write? What did the people understand when he spoke? As we explore the passage this way, we may find ourselves lost in a series of multiplying questions, and divergent expert opinions.
Sort of like trying to pick out a couple of apples in the store, and not knowing what to choose or who to believe, isn’t it?

As Christians we must recognise this phenomena of choice and experts for what it is, and know that it is merely one of the challenges of the times in which we live. We must not allow all the clutter to distract, confuse, and close us down. We must hold on to and cherish our faith, seeking answers yes, but always in a humble manner when we are dealing with the mystery of God. This time and challenge will pass, and new challenges will arise, but one thing is for sure, God will be there ready to help and lead the way.

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“Rome, Jan. 17, 2007 (CWNews.com) – The Italian weekly Panorama has predicted that the first phase of the cause of beatification for Pope John Paul II (bio – news) will be completed by April 2: the 2nd anniversary of the late Pontiff’s death.
Panorama reports that an investigation into the life and work of the Polish Pontiff, currently being undertaken by the Rome diocese, will be completed soon, with the dossier then forwarded to the Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints. Neither the Vatican nor the Rome diocese has commented on the report. “

In a Jan. 18 statement, the Coordination of Episcopal Conferences in Support of the Church of the Holy Land said that “future of all peoples of the Holy Land depends upon securing a just and lasting peace.” They also called for the recognition and securing of rights for the region’s small minority Christian community.

Noting the “profound suffering on both sides,” the bishops’ conference representatives urged specific measures to attempt to establish “mutual trust” between Palestinians and Israelis. Read Full Article:

Break cycle of Israeli fear, Palestinian anger, Catholic episcopal ‘coordination’ says – Catholic Online

I have not read Cardinal Ratzinger’s Book or any other reviews, but I came across this lastest posting by Asharq Alawsat Newspaper, and thought it would be a good place to start investigating this publication by now Pope Benedict. I’ll get back to this post later. Any suggestions?
Read full atricle.
Values in a Time of Upheaval (Asharq Alawsat Newspaper)