Friday, Sept. 10, 22nd Week in Ordinary Time
ST. TOMAS DE VILLANUEVA (Spain, 1486-1555), Augustinian, Bishop and Confessor
We know him better by the Italian form of his surname since the parish church in Castel Gandolfo is named for him. He was an Augustinian who was a brilliant professor (though he was known to be absent-minded at times) and was considered the greatest preacher of his day, by his example as well as by his words. Elected head of the Augustinian order in Spain, he sent the first Augustinian missionaries to the New World. He was the confessor to Charles V, King of Spain and Holy Roman Emperor, who said upon hearing him preach the first time, "This man can move even the stones!" He refused his nomination as Archbishop of Granada but eventually agreed to be Archbishop of Valencia. Known since his university days for his personal austerity, he was devoted to charity all his life. As bishop, hundreds of poor people came to his door every day for food and alms. Sometimes called the Spanish St. Bernard [of Clairvaux] because of his profound theology on Mary, he was also devoted to the welfare of children, defended his diocese from Muslim threats, and brought about public conversions. He died of a heart attack at age 67, and was canonized in 1618, 63 years after his death. His biography was written by his townmate Francisco Quevedo, who was born 15 years after Tomas died, and became one of Spain's greatest literary writers during her Golden Age of Literature. Tomas's complete writings were published in 1881 in six volumes.
Readings for today's Mass:
www.usccb.org/nab/readings/091010.shtml
OR today.
Papal stories on Page 1 are the Holy Father's message to the Chief Rabbi of Rome and the Jewish community for the high holidays, and an essay on the insight into Benedict XVI's personality provided by Michael Mandlik's film celebrating five years of his Pontificate. In the inside pages, an essay by the emeritus Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor, on the significance of the Pope's visit to the UK; an article on Cardinal Newman; and the ecumenical aspects of the journey. Page 1 international 'news': a puff piece on Obama's anti-rich class legislation; a UN report on violence in the Congo in the decade 1993-2003; another UN report that says 34 tribes in Brazil's Amazonia are in danger of extinction because of civilization's incursions.
THE POPE'S DAY
The Holy Father met with
- H.E. Pál Schmitt, President of Hungary, and his delegation.
- Mons. Ottorino Assolari, C.S.F., Bishop of Serrinha, Brazil (Last of the Northeast sector bishops on ad-limina visit
whom the Pope has been meeting individually over the past several days).
- Bishops of Brazil (Northeast sector III) as a group. Address in Portuguese.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 10/09/2010 19:03]