May 20, Seventh Week in Ordinary Time
ST. BERNARDINO DA SIENA (Italy, 1380-1444), Franciscan, Preacher
The other great medieval saint of Siena was, like an earlier Franciscan, Anthony of Padua (1195-1231), considered the greatest preacher of his time, attracting as many as 30,000 to his sermons which he had to give in piazzas and open places because no church was big enough to hold his audiences. He was characterized by solid holiness, boundless energy and joy, and designed and popularized the trigram IHS to symbolize the Holy Name of Jesus in order to focus the attention of the faithful on Christ. Joan of Arc would use the trigram on her battle standard and St. Ignatius Loyola's Society of Jesus would adapt it for their symbol. Bernardino was born to a noble family and received the best education. When he was 20, Siena was afflicted by the plague. He and some fellow members in a Marian confraternity helped nurse patients in Siena's hospital until the plague broke. He contracted it himself bur recovered, Inspired by a meeting with the man who would become St. Vincent Ferrer, he joined the Franciscan Friars of Strict Observance (of which he would later become the Superior General) at age 22, then after his ordination, spent 12 years of solitude devoted to prayer and studies in theology and canon law, during which, it is said, he learned to preach by speaking to the country folk and learning the best ways to communicate to them, using their language and their images. In 1417, he was named vicar of Tuscany. This marked the start of his public preaching which soon took him to other major cities of Italy, also earning a reputation for conciliating feuding political factions (pro-Pope vs Pro-Holy Roman Emperor). He started the idea of the 'bonfire of vanities' during which he encouraged the faithful to burn objects of temptation. He was very outspoken against the practice of homosexuality. In 1527, a cycle of sermons he gave in Siena was meticulously transcribed and give a vivid idea of his eloquent preaching. Strangely, his advocacy of the trigram twice brought him to trial for heresy, first in Rome, in 1427, and then at the Council of Basel. Both times, he was acquitted. He impressed Pope Martin V so much that he wanted to name him Bishop of Siena, Bernardine refused, as he did later offers to become Bishop of Ferrara and of Urbino. Among his disciples were Giovanni (John) da Capistrano and Giacomo delle Marche, both of whom would become saints. Another four of his closest disciples have been beatified. He himself was canonized just six years after his death. He died of natural causes while on a visit to L'Aquila to settle yet another political feud. He is buried in L'Aquila in a basilica that his disciples Giovanni and Giacomo caused to have built soon after his death. He and Catherine are the co-patrons of Siena.
Readings for today's Mass:
www.usccb.org/bible/readings/052013.cfm
AT THE VATICAN TODAY
At Domus Sanctae Marthae, Pope Francis met with
= Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos, emeritus President of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei.
At the Vatican Apostolic Palace:
- Nine bishops from Sicily Group 1) on ad-limina visit
- Cardinal Robert Sarah, President of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum
And in the afternoon, at Domus Sanctae Marthae:
- Nine more bishops from Sicily (Group 2) on ad limina visit.
One year ago...
Before the Regina caeli prayers, Benedict XVI reflected on the Ascension of Jesus, which was celebrated on this Sunday in most countries, including Italy. Afterwards, he had a number of pastoral reminders and messages. First, on the World Day for Social Communications marked on May 20, for which he had released his message last January on 'Silence and words'; and the Feast of Mary Help of Christians on May 24, which is celebrated most especially in the Marian shrine of Sheshan near Shanghai, and which, since 2008,
the Church marks as a day of prayer for the Church in China. The Pope then expressed his condolences and prayers for the victims of the terrorist bomb planted at a school in Brindisi, southeastern Italy, on May 19, killing a girl and wounding dozens of others; and for the victims of an earthquake that struck north of Bologna, Italy, in the morning. He also greeted Italy's Movement for Life who turn out annually for the Angelus or Regina caeli to publicize their movement.
REGINA CAELI
May 20, 2012
Here is a translation of the Holy Father's words today:
Dear brothers and sisters,
Forty days after the Resurrection, according to the Acts of the Apostles, Jesus ascended to heaven. That is, he returned to his Father who had sent him to the world.
In many countries, this mystery is celebrated not on Thursday (that is the 40th day since Easter Sunday] but today, which is the Sunday after that Thursday.
The Ascension of the Lord marks the full compliance of the work of salvation that began with the Incarnation. After having instructed his disciples for the last time, Jesus rose to heaven (cfr Mk 16,19).
But he has not 'distanced himself from our lowly state' (cfr Preface for Ascension I). In fact, in his humanity, he has taken up mankind with himself to the intimacy of the Father, and has revealed the final destination of our earthly pilgrimage.
Just as he came down from heaven for us, and suffered and died on the cross for us, so he rose again and returned to the Father, who is no longer remote, but 'our God', 'our Father' (cfr Jn 20,17).
The Ascension is the last act of our liberation from the yoke of sin, as the apostle Paul writes: "He ascended on high and took prisoners captive" (Eph 4,8). St. Leo the Great explains that this mystery "proclaims not just the immortality of the soul but also that of the flesh. Today, in fact, we are not only confirmed to be the possessors of Paradise. but we are also penetrated by Christ from the heights of heaven" (De Ascensione Domini, Tractatus 73, 2.4: CCL 138 A, 451.453).
That is why the disciples, when they saw the Master rise from the earth and towards the sky, they were not seized by desolation, but felt a great joy and felt themselves urged on to proclaim the victory of Christ over death (cfr Mk 16,20).
And the Risen Lord worked with them, distributing to each one his own charism, so that the Christian community in its entirety could reflect the harmonious richness of heaven.
St. Paul continues: "He gave gifts to men... And he gave some as apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers... for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the full stature of Christ" (Eph 4,8.11-13).
Dear friends, the Ascension tells us that in Christ, our humanity is carried up to God. And so, everytime we pray, the earth conjoins with heaven. Just as incense when it burns sends its smoke upwards with its gentle odor, so it is that when we raise our fervent and trustful prayer to the Lord, it reaches up to the Throne of God, where it is heard by him and answered.
In the famous work of San Juan de la Cruz [John of the Cross], Ascent to Mount Carmel, we read that "for us to see the desires of our heart fulfilled, there is no better way than to place the force of our prayers into that which pleases God most. Then, he will not just give us what we ask for, namely, salvation, but also what he sees right and good for us, even if we do not ask for it" (Libro III, cap. 44, 2, Roma 1991, 335).
After the prayers, he said:
Today, we celebrate the World Day for Social Communications on the theme "Silence and words: The path to evangelization". Silence is an integral part of communication - it is the favored place in which to encounter the Word of God and our brothers and sisters.
I invite everyone to pray so that communications, in its every form, may always serve to establish authentic dialog with others, one that is based on reciprocal respect, on listening, and on sharing.
Thursday, May 24, is a day dedicated to the liturgical commemoration of the Blessed Virgin Mary as the Help of Christians, venerated with great devotion in the shrine of Sheshan, near Shanghai.
Let us join in prayer with all the Catholics of China so that they may announce Christ who died and rose again, with humility and joy; that they may be faithful to his Church and to the Successor of Peter; and that they may live daily in a way that is consistent with the faith that they profess.
Mary, faithful Virgin, sustain the Chinese Catholics on their journey, make their prayers ever more intensely valuable in the eyes of the Lord, and let the affection and participation of the universal Church in the journey of the Chinese Catholics continue to grow.
I address a heartfelt greeting to the thousands of members of the Italian Movement for Life who are now gathered in Aula Paolo VI. Dear friends, your movement has always been committed to the defense of human life, according to the teachings of the Church.
Along these lines, you have announced a new initiative called 'Uno di noi' (One of us) to stand up for the dignity and fundamental rights of every human being from the time he is conceived.
I encourage you and urge you to always be witnesses and builders of the culture of life.
In his closing greeting to Italian pilgrims, he said:
Today, unfortunately, I must talk about the children at the school in Brindisi who were the targets yesterday of a vile bomb attack. Let us pray together for the wounded, many among them seriously, and especially for the young Melissa, innocent victim of brutal violence, for her family, and all those who are in grief.
My affectionate thoughts also go to the dear people of Emilia-Romagna stricken a few hours ago by an earthquake. I am spiritually close to all those who are being tested by this calamity. Let us ask God's mercy for those who have died, and relief in their suffering for those who were injured.
NB: The bomb planted in the Brindisi school was intended to mark the 20th anniversary of the ambush killing near Palermo by Mafia gunmen of a judge who was trying some Mafia cases, his wife and three bodyguards. It will be recalled that when Pope Benedict made a pastoral visit to Palermo in 2010, on his way to the airport afterwards, he stopped to offer a prayer at the roadside memorial to those Mafia victims... The magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck north of Bologna and has claimed six deaths so far.
