Michael Czerny S.J. of the English Canadian Province is missioned to the office of the president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. This is the second in a series of weekly articles which Michael will write from Ash Wednesday until the inauguration of the new Pope. Michael will report personally with reflections on the ecclesial and spiritual drama as seen from within. They will be posted every Friday....
We were all initially surprised to hear about Pope Benedict XVI's decision to resign, something not done by a pope since 1415. But then one looks back at the record of his papacy and the clues were there. For Jesuits, one clue stands out. Like the Pope, the Jesuit General Superior is elected for life. When our former General, Pedro Arrupe, asked Pope John Paul II if he could resign, because he was feeling the signs of growing ill health, the answer was a decisive no. Not long afterwards in 1981, Arrupe suffered a major stroke, and died in 1991. Fr. Peter-Hans Kolvenbach succeeded him in 1983....
We all live in imagined worlds and we live in those worlds as if they were real. This is not to say that there is no such thing as reality but it is to say that how we appropriate and construct that reality is through the imagination and that imagination incarnates itself through stories....
Keeping little children attentive during liturgical services can be a task. Keeping them occupied during a baptism can be a major one. Perhaps my memory exaggerates, but I seem to recall that at baptisms outside of Mass, we spent a fair amount time waiting for some family members to show up. That generally gave the little ones time to unleash their restless energies, usually noisily running about while parents chased after them. One thing I've learned from years of baptizing is to include in the ritual, if possible, any smaller children present, which meant inviting them to gather around the font to "help" with the baptism. Carefully I show them how to scoop the water gently with both hands over the baby's head. They seem to rise to such a solemn event, and in their own way feel they too share in the service....
Michael Czerny S.J. of the English Canadian Province is missioned to the office of the president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. This is the first in a series of weekly articles which Michael will write from Ash Wednesday until the inauguration of the new Pope. Michael will report personally with reflections on the ecclesial and spiritual drama as seen from within....
I have always wondered at the fact that all of the first companions of St. Ignatius were priests before they were Jesuits. In this light, I have reflected on the question, "do I think of myself as a priest who is a Jesuit or a Jesuit who is a priest?"...
The canonization of the first North American First Nations Catholic took place in Rome last October 21. For me, the six months leading up to it involved a deepening relationship with the saint....
Three things confront you in daily life in Ukraine, from conversations to projects to state government. First is the complicated drag of the Soviet legacy; second, the irreversible integration into the modern, globalized world; third, the deep quest for spirituality. So, let's buy a house, open a centre for refugees, and give an eight-day retreat to see how these aspects play out....
Leviticus 11:44 -- For I am the Lord, your God; sanctify yourselves therefore, be holy, for I am holy. 1 Peter 1:16 -- As he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct; for it is written "You shall be holy, for I am holy.' Catechism of Catholic Church 2013 – "All Christians in any state or walk of life are called to the fullness of Christian life and to the perfection of charity." All are called to holiness: "Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." [LG 40-2; Mt. 5:48)...
A few Catholic saints were physicians. One of the better known is the evangelist Luke, the namesake for many health institutions. Another physician-saint is St. René Goupil, the first of the eight Canadian Martyrs who are celebrated in Canada on September 26....
