Compelled by Compassion - Operation Yolanda

St Anthony Zaccaria’s Podcast

St Anthony Zaccaria’s Podcast

Post Election Reflection

President Obama has been re-elected by a solid Electoral College majority and approximately a 51% take of the popular vote.  The President pursues and promotes some policies that are grave moral evils that can never be supported by Catholics and in fact violate natural law.  In some areas he pursues policies that are in line with Catholic Social Teaching, however even when pursuing these laudable goals he often intertwines them with terrible evils.  Early data indicates that 50% Catholic voters (approx 25% of total number of voters) cast their ballots for President Obama. (CARA)  The President has repeated his 2008 calls for unity and collaboration.

To those Catholic who voted for him intending to affirm the good the President claims to intend, while opposing the harm he does, I say, “I pray good is accomplished”.  For me the good he seeks could be achieved without the evils he propagates.  At the same time I ask you to use the fact you voted for him to tell him and his collaborators constantly that you abhor the evils he promotes and in the end to abandon him and his supporters if they continue in this manner.  For me one term of this doublespeak was enough but I am obviously a minority.

To those Catholics, who actually support the grave evils the President promotes – abortion, marriage redefinition etc and some lesser evils (e.g. restriction of religious freedom) – you break my heart.  I pray that you will change not so much your political views but repent of your rejection of Christ’s teachings and confess sacramentally.

For those who are disappointed, as I am, that our nation continues to choose such evils, we pray together that our nation will repent and avoid reaping the evils it sows so willingly.  Pray Our Lady of Fatima to intercede for mercy for our country.  I encourage you, as Cardinal Dolan indicated in his letter to President Obama, (http://www.usccb.org/news/2012/12-183.cfm ) that we will continue to work tirelessly for what is truly right and boldly collaborate when it is possible.  See also the USCCB press release http://usccbmedia.blogspot.com/2012/11/from-virulent-partisanship-to-bold.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter . 

The liturgy often inspires us and the readings of the liturgy, on this Day After Election Day remind us of a few things.  Paul says to the Philippians (cf Phil 2:12-18): 

Do everything without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine like lights in the world, as you hold on to the word of life,

We are indeed in the midst of a perverse and crooked generation.  Let us strive for holiness so that we may be pure and be lights shining in the darkness that grows over our country. 

In the Gospel (Luke 14:25-33 Jesus reminds us that we may have to hate those closest to us because of the call of the Gospel.  Obviously Jesus is speaking in hyperbole; our love for the Lord may seem to force us to “hate” them because we cannot abide their actions.  Our differences with them must lead us to pray and sacrifice for them.  The command to "hate", through the power of the Cross is really a command to love.  He tells us to take up the cross and follow him.  In the end we know that He is Lord – and we trust in Him alone as or refuge and strength.  We cannot in the end put our trust in earthly allegiances and are convinced that He will give us the grace to overcome every trial.  Let us seek to live in a manner worthy of the call we have received.  Finally Philippians 4:4:  Rejoice in the Lord always!

October 4 Allocution

An exhortation given by
ST. ANTHONY MARY ZACCARIA
to his companions of the first hour (October 4, 1534, the commemoration of St. Francis of Assisi) in the wake of bitter accusations, threats, and persecution from evil and worldly people. One of these religious, Fr. Battista Soresina (1512-1601) who had treasured that famous speech in his heart, and could later on repeat it almost word by word, did enact it to our second–generation Fathers, among them Fr. Giovanni Antonio Gabuzio (1551-1627) our first official historian, who paraphrased it in elegant Latin in his History of the Clerics Regular of St. Paul), Rome: Salviucci (1852), pp. 52-56. Here is a translation of this text.
We are fools for Christ's sake,”(1Cor 4:10) said St. Paul, our most holy guide and patron, of himself, of the other Apostles, and of those who profess the Christian and apostolic faith. But there is no reason to be surprised or afraid, my dear brothers, if we are troubled by the snares and deceits of the devil, or by the open attacks and insults of people with minds set on earthly things (cf. Phil 3:19). For “a disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. If they persecuted me”— said our Teacher and Lord—“they will persecute you” (John 15:20). The world cannot help hating you, “If you were of the world, the world would love its own” (John 15:19). “Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on account of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven” (Matt 5:11-12).
As you well know, our Savior and heavenly Teacher foretold that similar things would happen to us, so that we would not be surprised as if they were new and unexpected. He confirmed it by His example, so that we would not fear to experience them as being unbearable. However, those who persecute us are hurting themselves, because they provoke God's wrath against themselves. At the same time they benefit us, because they enhance our crown of eternal glory. We, therefore, instead of hating and detesting them, have to pity them and love them. Indeed, we have to pray for them (cf. Matt 5:44) and, as our Apostle warns us, we should not allow evil to control us but instead we should conquer it with good and heap on their heads acts of mercy as so many burning coals of charity, (cf. Rom 12: 20-21) so that they, seeing our patience and confounded in their iniquity, may return to a better life and be inflamed with God's love.
As for us, God in His mercy has taken us, though unworthy, out of the world, so that we may serve Him, advancing from virtue to virtue, and through patience, bear abundant fruits of charity, boasting not only of the hope of God's children but also of our afflictions. For we know “that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us” (Rom 5:3-5).
But what is there so great and worthy of admiration, my brothers, if the worldly scorn us for being fools for Christ's sake, and persecute us when Christ Himself, the very Son of God and God's Wisdom, willed to be treated as a fool and be scorned and despised
for our sake? And didn't our Apostle—the most excellent Doctor of the Nations—show himself and the other Apostles, as we have already said, a pattern of derision for us when he said, “We are fools for Christ's sake [...]. When slandered, we try to conciliate” (1 Cor 4:10ff). Are we perhaps wiser than the Apostles? Are we perhaps, or do we claim to be, in a better position than Christ? Is there anyone of us who thinks he is wiser than the others? But if someone is that wise, let him become a fool that he may become wise (cf. 1Cor 3:18).
Well then, “consider your call, brothers,” I speak to you with the very words of the Apostle, “not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth; but God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the, wise, God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong, God chose what is low and despised in this world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are”( 1 Cor 1:26-28).
Consider your call, my dear brothers. If we examine it carefully, we would easily recognize that this is what it demands of us. As we have started to follow, though from afar, in the footsteps of the Holy Apostles and of the other Knights of Christ, so let us not refuse to share in their suffering; bearing these trials which are much lighter than theirs.
As a result, just as in times past, the Catholic Church, despite the hardest persecutions she had to endure, did not diminish in number, but rather increased more and more; so this little part of her body will not be weakened by outrages, but will increase if we endure; and while it is subjected to hardships, it will grow stronger.
By walking on this road, the holy Martyrs, the glorious Confessors, and all the Saints of God, after having gone through fire and water, (cf. Ps 66:12) reached heaven. And “indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim 3:l2).

Let us look, among others, at St. Francis, whose feast day we are celebrating, “so that we may not loathe imitating that which we delight in celebrating” (P.L. 39.2161). In him, in fact, as if in a mirror there shines the most splendid example of Christian patience, profound humility, and above all, the most ardent charity. Oh, how ready was he to accept reproaches! How strong in despising himself and the world!
How firm when offended, how joyous when scorned! How prepared at enduring the most painful things for the love of Christ! He welcomed all kinds of abuses as the most precious jewels sent him from heaven; to him offenses were far more precious than praises; suffering for Christ's sake was more desirable than being happy in the world. Now he sits the higher and more glorious in heaven, the humbler and more despicable he was to his own eyes and the eyes of others while on earth.
Let us then, beloved, imitate this saint, and let it not be a burden for us to follow in our own life conduct the one we venerate with religious devotion and honor with praises.
And, concluding the Apostle, “let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, heedless its shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured from sinners such hostility against Himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood” (Heb 12:1-4). And let us also “commend ourselves, as servants of God, in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, tumults, labors, watching, hunger; by purity, knowledge, forbearance [ ... ] with weapons of righteousness for the right and for the left, in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute, as impostors and yet true” (2Cor 6:4-8).
Therefore, since we have chosen such an Apostle as guide and father and have committed ourselves to follow him, let us strive to put into practice his doctrine and his example. It would not be proper that in the ranks of such a captain there should be soldiers who are cowards and traitors, nor that the children of such a great father should be degenerate.

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Special Advent Greetings

Glory to Jesus Christ!

I would like take this opportunity to wish all of my Barnabite confreres a Blessed and Peaceful Advent season of joy and peace and we await the coming of that glorious Child who comes to sav us!

Lord God! I praise you, thank You for the gift of being your child! You are my Heavenly Father! You created me, You sustain my life. You want me to live, for Your prolong my life. You wish me happiness and I wish it. I accept from Your hands everything that You send me, and what You wish to give me. I thank you for everything, and repent of my faults.

Lord, I don't want to be a failure. I want to be Your child in the great Divine family. Lord, give me strength to fulfill that to which You are calling me. Lord God, I am Yours! I give you the keys to my heart. I entrust to You my total self, my life and my eternity. Jesus, I am Yours. Guide me. Let Your Spirit always remain in me and with me. Jesus, I give you my heart; fill it with love. Gift me with your love, so that I can share it with others. Jesus, I entrust myself to your mercy and trust in your love for me.

September Zaccarian Moments

September

2 September
1537 – Antonio Maria returns to Vicenza, the second trial against the Pauline Family was resolved positively.

5 September
1567 – Consecration of the altar of St. Barnabas by St. Charles Borromeo

6 September
1551 - Death of Mother Domenica Battista da Sesto, first prioress of the Angelics. (1536)
1617 – Death of Ludovico Bitoz, coadjutor brother, missionary in Protestant territory.

1880 – Death of Fr. Giusto Pantalini who, together with Maria Bucchi, founded the Sisters of the Most Precious Blood.

11 September
1896 – Inauguration of the new monastery of the Angelic Sisters in Milan.
1924 – Death of Fr. Alessandro Ghignoni, noted conference speaker and proponent of sacred religious music.

12 September
Traditional feast of the Holy Name of Mary, the name which all Barnabites add to their own on the day of their profession.

14 September
1542 – Death of Fr. Francesco Crippa, one of the first 5 members of the Order, called by the founder “basso” (humble).

15 September
1636 – Death of Fr. Anacleto Secchi, historian of the 3 Co-Founders.
1855 – Death of Fr. Gian Pietro Curti, worked with Ancilla Ghezzi in the foundation of the Sacramentine of Monza.

16 September
1944 – Death of Fr. Giuseppe Boffito, historian of the Order.

17 September
1579 – Death of Fr. Aimone Cario, biblical scholar and preacher of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception.

18 September
1771 – Death of Servant of God, Francesco Castelli, Barnabite seminarian, disciple of St. Francesco Saverio M.Bianchi.

19 September
1528 Subdeacon ordination of St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria.
1986 – During the Continuing Education and Planning for Barnabite Scholastic Network, the reconstruction of the Third College under the name of the City of St. Paul.

20 September
1806 – Introduction of the Cause of Anthony Mary Zaccaria under Pope Pius VII.

24 September
1601 – Death of Fr. Giambattista Soresina, one to the first members of the Order leaving precious accounts concerning the founder after having copied the texts of the Constitutions.
1789 – Death of Fr. Giovanale Sacchi, musicologist.

29 September
1533 – St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria and Bartolomeo Ferrari initiate Barnabite community life in the rectory of St. Caterina de Fabbri near the Porta Ticinese of Milan. The chapel was destroyed at the end of the 18^th Century. Two years later the little community transferred to the house next to St. Ambrogio, left vacant by the Angelics, who had moved to their new monastery, S. Paolo Converso.

Five Months As A Barnabite Postulant

August 3, 2008 marked the five month anniversary in my life as a postulant for the Barnabite Brotherhood. Each day of these past five months have been a blessing for me. I have received blessings that I never thought were possible and I am slowly discovering more talents within myself thanks to the direction and the advice of the confreres that I am blessed to share family life with. I would use the word community, but the Barnabites are so much more to me than just a religious community. They are and have become actual family. I am indebted in a large way to all of my confreres here at the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima. Everyone here has gone out of their way to make me feel at home and welcome in this milieu. I thank the Lord for all of you!

Reflection on Religious Life

A religious community takes time to form, it takes time for barriers to drop, for mutual confidences to grow. It becomes a religious faith community when most of the members have passed from "the community for me" to "we for the community". The passage from egoism to love is bound to be painful. A member of the community who lives in love tries to understand and appreciate the sense of community living - a life of love allows for imperfections.

We accept our sinful members, because we are sinful. Christ did not promise us joy and contentment in this world but persecution, tribulation for His sake. However, admist all these trials, He promised us His peace, a peace of heart that no one can take away from us. We diud not come together just to be happy, but because God called us.

It is incumbent upon each of us to work with others in building community, for it is in community that our salvation as religious will reach its clear manifestation. An apostolic, religious community must integrate these three elements, a life of prayer, of service, and an atmosphere where all its members can grow in their gifts.

We are drawn closer together in love through the experience of living off one another's faith and strength. We become saints together. The greatest joy that we can present to God is that of presenting ourselves to Him, as united religious family. It is only with deep conviction of what constitutes us as community and with fidelity to the demands of our vocation that our apostolic community will be able to be in the world a light that is not hidden and salt which keeps its flavor.

A faith community is made up of people who love, who forgive, who endure, who rejoice, who celebrate the gift of one another. In community we reveal who we are to one another. This interaction is the spiritual vehicle for a deepening and purifying formation of people.

This meditation was written by Sr. Dominica Slawuta, SSMI and is taken from the book "With All My Heart" A reflection on the Charism, Spirituality and Community Life of Blessed Josaphata Hordashevska the foundress of the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate. I feel that it can very well be applicable to religius life in various religious congregations and orders.

Welcome Giuseppe

Ciao Giuseppe,
I noticed you arrived on the blog. I know oyu said you thought you were very busy and we respect that fact. Nevertheless the opening of any discussion here owuld be most welcome.
GB
Fr Pete
... To reach a port, we must sail, sometimes with the wind, sometimes against it. But we must never drift or lie at anchor. – Oliver Wendell Holmes.*

Let us unite in prayer for the Year of St. Paul

As we approach the start of the Pauline Year in the Church, let us pray ardently for each other that we will be open to the promptings and will of Divine Providence in our lives. May the study of the writings of St. Paul aid us in this intention and help us as we strive to serve Our Lord and the Church better.

Zaccarian May Calendar

May is certainly an exciting month for us!

May

May 1
1580 Giovanni Andrea Scaglioli died. He was one of the first Coadjutor Brothers accepted into the Order in 1542.

May 2
1903 – Death of Fr Giosuè Magnaghi, who had the crypt under the Church of San Baranaba made for the relics of the Holy Founder.

May 4
1904 – Venerable Fr. Cesare Barzaghi, servant of the poor and Apostle of Lodi, Italy passed away. His heroic virtues were declared in 1993.

May 8
1891 – Finding of the body of St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria in the “scurolo” (underground crypt) of the church of San Paolo Converso of the Angelic Sisters.

May 10
1544 - Death of Antonietta Pescaroli, mother of St. Anthony Mary, after having consigned to the Angelics of San Marta of Cremona the manuscripts of her son’s Sermons to the Amicizia Oratory.

May 12
1854 – Death of Cardinal Lambruschini, Barnabite Archbishop of Genoa, Nuncio to Paris and Secretary of State for Pope Gregory XVI.

May 13
1890 - Reintegration of the cult of St. Anthony Mary by a decree of Urban VIII.
1954 – Death of Ven. Brother Teodoreto delle Scuole Cristiane (Giovanni Gaberoglio), founder of the Unione dei Catechisti del SS. Crocifisso e di Maria SS. Immacolata (1948).

May 16
1954 - Death of Fr. Francesco Richard, Foudner and First Prelate of the Mission of Guamà in the Amazon.

May 17
1551 – The young Alexander Sauli, Patron of Barnabite Students (youth), is accepted in the Congregation after having preached Christ Crucified in the Piazza Mercanti of Milan.

May 22
1732 – Death of the Servant of God, Bishop Raimondo Recrosio, Theologian of the Divine Love.
1986 Death of Fr. Giovanni Bernasconi, Superior General of the Order and Council Father (participant) in the Second Vatican Council, whose reforms he promoted.

May 25
1579 – Promulgation of the Barnabite “Constitutions of 1579”

26 May
1537 – Founder writes letter to the Angelics prior to the Vincenza Mission.
1595 – Death of St. Philip Neri friend of the Barnabites, so influential in the founding of a Barnabite Community in Rome.

27 May
1897 – Pope Leo XIII canonized St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria

30 May
1993 - Decree of Approval of the Discepole del Crocifisso, founded by Fr. Gaetano Barbiere (d. 2008) in 1961, as a diocesan Secular Institute.

31 May
1530 - Anthony Mary writes his spiritual father, Fra Battista da Crema, from Milan.
1856 – Famous author, Alessandro Manzoni, alumnus of the Barnabite Coleggio dei Nobili in Milan, affiliated to the Order.

Reflections of a Barnabite Postulant

As most of you know, on April 3, I will have the joy of being a Barnabite postulant for the period of one month. It has been a month of great grace and deep blessings. As I am initiated into the customs and practices of the Order all of which have been interesting and not complicated. Life at the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima has proven to be a blessed experience. My community companions are a blessing in my life and I hope that I am somewhat of a blessing in their lives as well.

I would be remiss if I did not extend a thank you to Fathers Gabriel, Joseph, Julio, Paul, and Peter. All of whom have helped to guide me along the way through guidance and good conversation coupled with a deep understanding.

Anyone who is thinking of a Barnabite vocation should certainly be willing to make the step of crossing the threshold. It is my hope that others will desire to follow in the footsteps of our great founder - St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria and the many Barnabites who have lived before us.

May all be blessed on this feast of the Divine Mercy!

Zaccarian April Dates

April 2

1859– Death of Fr. Agostino Šuvalov – Russian convert and apostle of ecumenism.

1872 – Death of Fr. Tommaso Manini – cofounder of the Daughters of Divine Providence.

April 4

1555 - Death of Angelic Paola Antonia Negri – the first to receive the habit of the Angelic Sisters.

April 8

1850 – Death of the Servant of God Fr. Fortunato Redolfi, founder of the Barnabite oratories, noted style of youth ministry.

April 10

1990 – Death of Fr. Salvatore De Ruggiero who was the first to promote the reading of the Founder’s Sermons, publishing them in an appendix to a biography of the Founder in 1933.

April 13

1546 – Death of Venerable Giacomo Antonio Morigia, cofounder of the Barnabites.

April 15

1536 – Venerable Fr. Giacomo Antonio Morigia elected first Barnabite Superior.

April 18

1662 – The Barnabites move their Curia from Milan to Rome.

April 19

1921 – Pope Benedict XV approved the Constitution of the Lega di San Paolo (League of St. Paul giving rebirth to the Zaccarian Third College.

April 22

1802 – Diocesan phase of the Cause for the Canonization of St. Anthony M. Zaccaria begun in Milan.

April 25

1810 Napoleon issued decree suppressing religious orders, including the Barnabites.

Holy Week Greetings

May this week in which we prepare for the Feast of Easter the Rising of Jesus from the dead be a week of deep prayer and reflection for all of us. May Jesus the Lover of Mankind bless all the members of the CRSP chat!

May all Barnabites be blessed in their vocation of service to others as they strive to continue the works begun by Saint Anthony M. Zaccaria