Divine Mercy vs. Dictatorial Mercilessness

There had been rumors circulating the past week or so about a meeting between the Pentagon and the nuncio (the Vatican ambassador to the U.S.) in January. Apparently, the administration did not like Pope Leo’s call for peace in his Easter Urbi et Orbi message. The under secretary apparently said, “America has the military power to do whatever it wants in the world. The Catholic Church had better take its side.” It was also rumored that they made reference to the Avignon Papacy, implying that military power can be used to control the Church, or that a nation can install its own puppet pope. I didn’t initially have too many thoughts on it; the meeting was confirmed, but the specifics were rumor. The Vatican released a statement saying that it was pretty much a normal meeting and the media narrative wasn’t factual.

But it was clear that the pope’s message of peace and the administration’s message of war were at growing odds. That is probably obvious for anyone paying attention, but the rumors of the meeting conflict brought it out to light. It was further highlighted when, on Easter, the holiest day of the Christian year, instead of a message of blessings or resurrection, the president posted a threat to blow Iran back to the Stone Age. Two days later he further threatened that a “whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again.”

In his Urbi et Orbi message on Easter (his first Easter as pope), Pope Leo XIV noted that Christ is victorious, but that victory is non-violent. He spoke against war, private interests, and inhumane treatment. He spoke of unity, peace, and freedom. “Let those who have weapons lay them down! Let those who have the power to unleash wars choose peace! Not a peace imposed by force, but through dialogue! Not with the desire to dominate others, but to encounter them!.... On this day of celebration, let us abandon every desire for conflict, domination, and power, and implore the Lord to grant his peace to a world ravaged by wars and marked by a hatred and indifference that make us feel powerless in the face of evil.”

St. Maria Crescentia Höss

Anna Höss was born Oct. 20, 1682 in Bavaria. Her father was a weaver, and the family had little money. Anna trained to be a weaver as well. She wanted to join the local Tertiary Franciscan convent, but the family could not pay the expected dowery. The convent was in financial straits and depended on local patrons and doweries of novices.

The mayor of Kaufbeuren, a Protestant, donated a building to the convent. In compensation, he asked that Anna be accepted as a candidate. Even as a Protestant, he recognized Anna’s piety and knew she would be a benefit to the convent. She was admitted in June of 1703 and took the name Maria Crescentia.

However, the community resented Anna’s admittance, considering her a “parasite,” who did not financially contribute. She was treated poorly and given the most menial tasks. She did not have a cell of her own and has to ask other sisters to sleep in the corner of their cells.

In 1707 a new superior was elected who was more sympathetic to Maria Crescentia. Maria Crescentia began receiving better assignments, eventually becoming mistress of novices in 1717. She became known both in and out of the convent for her wisdom and good advice.

In 1741 she became the mother superior. She cultivated deep devotions in the convent, telling sisters that “God wants the monastery rich in virtue, not in temporal goods.”

In her final years, she suffered great pain in her body, slowly losing mobility. St. Maria Crescentia died on Easter Sunday, April 5, 1744. Her feast day is April 5, though due to Easter falling on the same day this year, her feast is celebrated on April 6.

An Empty Sepulchre

Due to the current conflict, the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem has been closed since Feb. 28. It, along with other major religious sites, were closed for security concerns as Iran began retaliatory strikes against Israel. A government statement said that "all holy sites in the Old City of Jerusalem, including the Western Wall, the Temple Mount and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, will remain closed … for security reasons in light of the current tensions in the region."

On March 12, a missile struck a few hundred meters from the Old City. The closed remain citing security risks of high-target areas and mass gatherings.

As Muslims celebrated the end of Ramadan on March 15, they were prevented from entering al-Aqsa Mosque. As Holy Week begins, it looks like Christians will similarly be unable to celebrate the holiest days of the year at the tomb of Christ.  

It’s so sad to think of the Holy Sepulchre closed off from worshippers. Even though I wasn’t going to be there, it feels like I’m being denied something. I want the holiest site to be reverenced on our holiest day. Here Christ was buried. Here He rose. A historical moment. In a real place. And when we commemorate it, I want to know that some of my brothers and sisters can stand in that place.

The Becket Way

The new Archbishop of Canterbury has been on a pilgrimage to her installation. Sarah Mullally, the first woman Archbishop of Canterbury, has been walking from London to Canterbury over the past six days. Upon her arrival today, the Feast of the Annunciation, she will be installed as the top clerical figure in the Church of England.

This path from London to Canterbury has long been a pilgrimage path for English Christians, but this is the first time in modern history that an Archbishop of Canterbury has taken the pilgrimage in lead up to their installation. The 140km route includes stretches of the Via Britannica and the Augustine Camino, the pilgrimage route celebrating the conversion of English-speaking people to Christianity.

It is sometimes called the Becket Camino as it mimics the journey of Thomas Becket before his murder in 1170. As a common pilgrimage path, it served as the inspirational setting for The Canterbury Tales.

I think it is a beautiful way to start off an episcopy, with prayer and humility, as a pilgrim. For the first woman to hold the office, I think it is also a great way of showing continuity, tying herself to this ancient path and the archbishops who have made this pilgrimage before her.  

Means to an Ends Time

Just hours after the attacks on Iran began, disturbing interpretations of the conflict emerged. The violence itself is disturbing enough, of course, but one hopes that there was a series of rational explanations that got us here. Yet, military personal began reporting that they were being told from higher ups to interpret the conflict through a (narrow) biblical lens. More than 100 service members across dozens of bases made reports to the Military Religious Freedom Foundation that commanders were framing operations as part of God’s plan for Armageddon and the return of Christ.

To this dangerous strain of Christianity, one wants to accelerate violence and tribulations in order to hurry Christ’s return. They interpret prophets as literal geopolitical predictions and the Book of Revelation as a blueprint in which they can be major players in controlling the narrative.

Iran is viewed as modern Persia. Israel (and ally U.S) as the modern Israelites. A war between them as the battle of Gog and Magog (Ezekiel 38). Interpretations always vary to accommodate current geopolitics; currently the prevailing idea is that Gog (Iran) and Magog (Russia/China) will invade Israel, with God supernaturally intervening to protect Israel. The Third Temple will be rebuilt, with the Dome of the Rock destroyed and a red heifer sacrificed. Jesus will come back and establish peace.

First, this is bad theology. Point blank. For most of Christianity, no one was concerned with concrete details of Christ’s return. He would keep His promises, He would return, and we must be ready for Him. It was a personal, spiritual call to prepared, like the brides with oil in their lamps.

Proclaim Boldly

Yesterday was International Women’s Day, and the Gospel reading for the day was the woman at the well. The story of Jesus’ encounter with the woman at the well is often how she was a Samaritan and an outcast, how Jesus saw past her social standing and sin. But there is a second part to the story. Once she sees that he is the Messiah, she rushes back to her village to tell everyone. 

She is an evangelist. She doesn’t care that she is an outcast or they may not believe her; she has a message of salvation and immediately wants to share it with others. "Many of the Samaritans of that town began to believe in him because of the word of the woman who testified" (John 4:38).

Time and time again, Jesus uses women to share His message.

St. Gerolamo Emiliani

Gerolamo Emiliani was born in 1486 in Venice. At age 15, he ran away to join the army. While defending a fortress in the mountains of Treviso, he was taken prisoner after all but three other soldiers abandoned the post. Though not particularly religious before, in prison he began to pray.

One month late, he was able to escape, and he attributed his escape to Mary’s intersession. He claimed a woman clothed in white appeared and handed him the keys to unlock his chains and the door of the prison tower. He even made a pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady of Treviso and left his prisoner’s chains there.
He served the army for a few more years. In 1516, he returned to Venine to help supervise his nephews and nieces, who had been orphaned. He also spent time studying theology and doing works of charity. He began caring for the city’s poor and sick, particularly orphans. He ran the hospital for incurables. He also travelled around northern Italy encouraging other cities to build hospitals and orphanages.

He found community in meetings with members of the Community of Divine Love, a lay apostolate dedicated to the poor, the sick, and the union of hearts. Some accounts say that Gerolamo was ordained, while others suggest that he wasn’t. However, he begin to work with two priests, and together, they began to plan a religious community based on Gerolamo’s charity, also probably influenced by the Community of Divine Love.

In 1532 Gerolamo founded the Congregation of Regular Clerics in Somasca, a small town between Milan and Bergamo. The principal work of the community was care for orphans, poor, and sick. The members of the order became known as Somachi or Somascans.

In 1537, Gerolamo contracted the plague while assisting the inflicted during an epidemic. He died on Feb. 8, 1537. He is the patron of orphaned and abandoned children. His feast day is Feb. 8. The Somascans still care for orphans all around the world. 

St. Lidwina of Schiedam

St. Lidwina of Schiedam was born April 18, 1380 in Holland. When she was 15, she fell while ice skating and broke a rib. She became progressively disabled for the rest of her life. She first developed difficulty walking and headaches. By 19, both her legs were paralyzed and her vision blurred. It is said that she slowly became paralyzed all over except for her left hand, leading some to speculate that she had multiple sclerosis.

After her injury, Lidwina fasted and prayed regularly and became known as a healer.

Locals claimed that she ate very little food, rarely slept, and that she shed parts of her body which were collected in a jar by her parents and that the jar gave off a sweet odor. Near the end of her life, she had mystical visons. Her life is an example of how anyone, in any condition, can lead a holy life and inspire others.

Lidwina died on April 14, 1433. She is the patron of the chronically ill and ice skaters. Her feast day is April 14.

Walking for Peace

For the past few months, a group of 19 Buddhist monks have been walking from Texas to D.C. On Tuesday, they arrived in Washington. Their journey gained a lot of attention, and huge crowds gathered to welcome them and cheer them on as they (and their rescue dog Aloka) passed through. The 2,300-mile trek took 15 weeks.

The purpose of their journey was to promote peace.

"It's a spiritual offering, an invitation to live peace through everyday actions, mindful steps and open hearts," a spokesman for their temple said. "We believe when peace is cultivated within, it naturally ripples outward into society."

Monday Motivation: Lift Every Voice and Sing

Lambs for God

Today, the feast of St. Agnes, Pope Leo XIV was presented two lambs. The animals were later blessed, and the wool from the lambs will be used to make the pallia, a band of white wool with black crosses worn by metropolitan archbishops, given to them by the pope.

The lamb blessing on the feast of St. Agnes going back at least 500 years. St. Agnes, a virgin martyr from the 4th century, is often depicted holding a lamb, as agnus in Latin means “lamb.” The lambs come from Trappist monks, who used to pay their rent with the lambs. In the summer, Benedictine nuns will use the wool to make the pallia.

The lambs presented for the blessing were decorated in red and white flowers and placed in baskets (to prevent them from running around during the blessing). Their adorable baaing could be heard during the pope’s prayer.

What a sweet tradition.

Monday Motivation: MLK

"Love is the greatest force in the universe. It is the heartbeat of the moral cosmos. He who loves is a participant in the being of God."

"True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice." 

“Every time I look at the cross I am reminded of the greatness of God and the redemptive power of Jesus Christ. I am reminded of the beauty of sacrificial love and the majesty of unswerving devotion to truth.”

"We shall overcome because the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice."

"I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant."

When One Door Closes...

Between Christmas Eve and Epiphany, the four Holy Doors in Rome were closed, officially concluding the Jubilee. So much has happened since Christmas Eve 2024 when Pope Francis opened the Holy Door.

I did not plan to go to Rome, but I found myself there. There was no loud revelation, but the moments of grace have been dripping in ever since.

I never would have imagined that there would be an American pope. And then I found myself only a few feet away from him.

No need to mention all that has gone on in the country. But it’s clear to say the world is much different.

Open doors are invitations. They are thresholds into something new. There is an expectation that things will be different on the other side. We are invited to enter, to experience, to be changed. Holy Doors invite us to enter into God’s will, with the promise there is grace and blessings within. I am grateful I accepted that invitation.

The Jubilee is closed. Which feels like an ending, and a sad one at that. Does that mean this year is just…normal? But really, a jubilee is a reset; it is meant to make the going forward easier. It is a time of grace and forgiveness so that we can start anew, unburdened.

I don’t think this year will be unburdened; no time is. But that is why opportunities of grace are so important. The next invitation of grace probably won’t be as conspicuous as the large bronze doors of a basilica. But I hope that I will answer. And enter.

Happy Berchtoldstag!

Berchtoldstag is a holiday celebrated in Switzerland and Liechtenstein on Jan. 2. It celebrates Duke Berchtold V and the founding of Bern. 

Beyond its historical meaning, the feast day may allude to the word “berchten” which means to walk around asking for food. It’s also possible that it alludes to a word from the Middle High German “berhttac,” which means epiphany. The holiday seems to have taken hold in areas where Protestantism abolished the traditional celebration of Epiphany. So Berchtoldstag can serve as a sort of a replacement New Year / Epiphany celebration.  

Gatherings, folk dancing, and feasts are traditional ways to celebrate. There is also a large focus on eating nuts and nut-based activities. Children make hocks, four nuts placed together with a fifth placed on top.

In Hallwil, there is a parade which includes characters: the jumpfere dressed in white, the spielchärtler wearing a robe of playing cards, a character wearing holly or fir branches or straw, an old woman who sprays water from a pan, and the schnäggehüüslig wearing a snail shell.

I had never heard of this holiday until about a month ago. It sounds like a light-hearted, fun holiday.