19th January 2014 - SS102fm 2013 Church Year in Review - 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

On this weeks programme the SS102fm team take a look back over 2013 from a Church perspective at home and abroad. We look to the major upcoming events in 2014 and introduce our blog (and personal) 2014 patron saints.
 
You can listen to the podcast of the programme HERE.
 
2013 Church Year in Review
 

 
 
It is probably fair to say that 2013 was a busy year for the Roman Catholic Church both locally in Limerick, nationally in Ireland and internationally. We take a trip back through the last twelve months and discuss some of the events and happenings which made up 2013
 
Some other commentators to read:
 
John Allen - The top five under-covered Catholic stories of 2013
National Catholic Reporter's "All Things Catholic" Column
John Thavis
Vatican Insider 
Whispers in the Loggia
 

2014 Prospects

 




 

Looking ahead to 2014 we discuss the consistory on February 22nd – currently 108 cardinal electors; will there be a re balancing to global south? The upcoming papal visit to Holy Land in May for 3 days including the meeting with Patriarch Bartholomew marking the 50th anniversary of meeting of Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras. The April 27th 2014 date for the canonisation of John XXIII and John Paul II. What is happening with the Synod of Bishops meeting in 2014 and 2015 to discuss the family And in an Irish context looking at the forthcoming changes amongst the bishops due to retirements and the challenges facing the church in the next twelve months.



 
2014 Patron Saints
 
SS102fm custom is to pick a new patron saint for the blog each year and this years patron is St Bonaventure - a Franciscan saint in a Franciscan year!



From Catholic Online: 

St. Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (Feast day-July 15)  known as "the seraphic doctor," was born at Bagnorea in Tuscany, in 1221. He received the name of Bonaventure in consequence of an exclamation of St. Francis of Assisi, when, in response to the pleading of the child's mother, the saint prayed for John's recovery from a dangerous illness, and, foreseeing the future greatness of the little John, cried out "O Buona ventura"-O good fortune!  At the age of twenty-two St. Bonaventure entered the Franciscan Order. Having made his vows, he was sent to Paris to complete his studies under the celebrated doctor Alexander of Hales, an Englishman and a Franciscan. After the latter's death he continued his course under his successor, John of Rochelle. In Paris he became the intimate friend of the great St. Thomas Aquinas. He received the degree of Doctor, together with St. Thomas Aquinas, ceding to his friend against the latter's inclination, the honor of having it first conferred upon him. Like St. Thomas Aquinas, he enjoyed the friendship of the holy King, St. Louis.

 

Continue reading HERE

 

The SS102fm team also picked their own personal patron saints for 2014:

 



St Cecilia (source)



Lorraine got St Cecilia - the patroness of musicians. It is written that as the musicians played at her wedding she "sang in her heart to the Lord". Her feast day is celebrated on November 22. She is one of seven women, excluding the Blessed Virgin, commemorated by name in the Canon of the Mass.

 

Read more HERE.

The Basilica dedicated to St Cecilia in Rome is called Santa Cecilia in Trastevere
 

St Michael the Archangel (source: Wikipedia)

John got St Michael the Archangel - Feastday: September 29
Patron of grocers, mariners, paratroopers, police, and sickness. The name Michael signifies "Who is like to God?" and was the warcry of the good angels in the battle fought in heaven against satan and his followers. Holy Scripture describes St. Michael as "one of the chief princes," and leader of the forces of heaven in their triumph over the powers of hell. He has been especially honored and invoked as patron and protector by the Church from the time of the Apostles.

You can read more HERE.

Ann got Pope Pius V - Pope from 1566-1572 and one of the foremost leaders of the Catholic Reformation. Born Antonio Ghislieri in Bosco, Italy, to a poor family, he labored as a shepherd until the age of fourteen and then joined the Dominicans, being ordained in 1528. Called Brother Michele, he studied at Bologna and Genoa, and then taught theology and philosophy for sixteen years before holding the posts of master of novices and prior for several Dominican houses. Named inquisitor for Como and Bergamo, he was so capable in the fulfillment of his office that by 1551, and at the urging of the powerful Cardinal Carafa, he was named by Pope Julius III commissary general of the Inquisition. In 1555, Carafa was elected Pope Paul IV and was responsible for Ghislieri’s swift rise as a bishop of Nepi and Sutri in 1556, cardinal in 1557, and grand inquisitor in 1558

Read more HERE.

St Andre Bessette (source: Wikipedia)

Shane got St Andre Bessette C.S.C. - (9 August 1845 – 6 January 1937), more commonly known as Brother André and since his canonization as St. André of Montreal, was a lay brother of the Congregation of Holy Cross and a significant figure of the Roman Catholic Church among French-Canadians, credited with thousands of reported miraculous healings.He was declared venerable in 1978 and was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1982. Pope Benedict XVI approved the decree of sainthood for Blessed André on February 19, 2010, with the formal canonization taking place on October 17, 2010.

You can read more HERE.





 You can pick a patron saint for 2014 for yourself by using this handy generator HERE.

Gospel - John 1:29-34

 "John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said,
“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.
He is the one of whom I said,
‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me
because he existed before me.’
I did not know him,
but the reason why I came baptizing with water
was that he might be made known to Israel.”
John testified further, saying,
“I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from heaven
and remain upon him.
I did not know him,
but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me,
‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain,
he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’
Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.”
 

From Limerick Diocese weekly newsletter:

In this Sundays Gospel, Jesus approaches John the Baptist and his followers, so John introduces Jesus to them with the words "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!". Then John speaks of who he, John, is because of this Jesus: " I myself did not know him; but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, `He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God. " John had come to understand himself through reflecting on who Jesus was for him and his life.

This is a lovely inspiration for us this week.

Consider how you introduce Jesus to others in your life.
... Behold - Look - this is Jesus, let me introduce you .... 

 How can we know someone well enough to introduce them ... but spending time with them, by really looking at them, and letting them look at you.

Pope Francis said: 
"The first thing for a disciple is to be with the Master, to listen to him and to learn from him. This is always true, and it is true at every moment of our lives.... It means abiding in the Lord’s presence and letting ourselves be led by him.

I ask you: How do you abide in the presence of the Lord? When you visit the Lord, when you look at the tabernacle, what do you do? Without speaking… “But I speak, I talk, I think, I meditate, I listen…” Very good! But do you let yourself be looked at by the Lord? Letting ourselves be gazed upon by the Lord. He looks at us and this is itself a way of praying. Do you yourselves be gazed upon by the Lord? But how do you do this? You look at the tabernacle and you let yourselves be looked at… it is simple! “It is a bit boring, I fall asleep”. Fall asleep then, sleep! He is still looking at you. But know for sure that he is looking at you! ... This warms the heart, igniting the fire of friendship with the Lord, making you feel that he truly sees you, that he is close to you and loves you."



Reflections on this weeks gospel:

Word on Fire
Sunday Reflections
Centre for Liturgy
 
 
Liturgical odds and ends

Saints of the Week

January 20th - Blessed Basil Anthony Marie Moreau
January 21st - St Agnes (Virgin)
January 22nd - Saint Dominic of Sora
January 23rd - Saint Colman of Lismore
January 24th - St Francis de Sales
January 25th - Feast of the Conversion of St Paul the Apostle