Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

Today, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.  It was my turn to offer the reflection for our Seminary Community at mass.   Here's what I had to say (in Italian, of course :)

On this Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Church offers us the image of the Good Shepherd in the Gospel.   This is the Good Shepherd who goes and searches for the lost sheep.  Now, we are all students of the Scriptures.  In fact, I recently passed my Synoptics (study of Matthew, Mark, and Luke) exam!  So, we know that there are two versions of this parable – with two different settings (sitz im leben) for two different communities with two different messages.  I’m sure we could all reflect on this today.  But instead, I propose that we forget all that .  I propose that we focus on the heart of Jesus – the heart of the one who loves us with an unquenchable love.  Let us focus on the heart of the Shepherd who leads us, his flock.

            We all heard the famous quote from Pope Francis at the Chrism Mass:  We are to be shepherds living with “the odor of the sheep”.  I dare to say, that the Sacred Heart of Jesus is full of our odor.  Like the shepherds in today’s readings, Jesus will give up all else to find us, to carry us home, to embrace us to himself.  The shepherd looks after his sheep with loving care.  Likewise, the heart of Jesus is big and wide, full of compassion and love, always forgiving and tender.  The shepherd knows every one of his sheep.  Likewise, the heart of Jesus knows each of us.  The Shepherd is always with his sheep, protecting the herd from wolves.  Likewise, the heart of Jesus yearns to be with us and keep us from all harm.  Jesus, the Good Shepherd, will give up everything – even life itself – for you, for the whole world.

It is no wonder that this image of the Good Shepherd is so beloved.  We turn to it at funerals.  From the catacomb paintings here in Rome, we know that it was present in the early days of Christianity.  We find comfort in praying Psalm 23: In Jesus we find all that we need.  In Jesus we find peace and consolation, comfort and abundance, goodness and mercy all the days of our lives.  The Good Shepherd protects us and loves us.  And this is the heart of Jesus, the heart of the Shepherd.  

In the English world, there is a beautiful hymn that expresses so much of what the heart of Jesus means.  Don’t worry, I’m not going to sing it.  But the title says so much:  “The King of Love my Shepherd Is.”  It is the tenderness and love of the Shepherd that shows us the heart of Jesus.  Today, brothers and sisters, let us fall in to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.  And in doing so, we will fall in Love.  

Listen to the song here. 

Following St. Thomas Aquinas

Question: What happens when you go to a Dominican School?
Answer: Everyone gets really excited about St. Thomas Aquinas!

Let me explain...

St. Thomas was a 13th century philosopher and theologian who pretty much set the course for much of the theology that would follow him (even until today).  His most famous work is the "Summa" which, after having had a mystical experience, he called "worth nothing more than straw."  And, he was a Dominican (ahhh, now the riddle makes sense.)

In this spirit, my school took a trip a few weeks ago in the footsteps of Thomas.

Our first stop was Fossanova, a few hours from Rome.  It is here, in a Cistercian Abbey, that Thomas died.  He was on his way to the Council of Lyons when he fell ill.  (Interestingly, his fellow theologian, and rival, St. Bonaventure died at the Council of Lyons under suspicious circumstances.)  Now, Thomas was a rather large individual, and was given an upper room with a narrow staircase (I can attest to that).  Because he could not easily go up and down the stairs, he took his meals in his room.  And, as the story goes, after he died, the monks decided to boil his body so that it would be easier to bury.  After all, as one Dominican told us on the trip, it's the bones as relics that are the most important!

From the cloister of the Abbey.

Inside the Church

In St. Thomas' room - a depiction of his last days.

St. Thomas' room is on the top floor, left side.

Fossanova

Next, we found our way to Roccasecca.  Here, Thomas was born into a slightly noble family (they weren't the richest in the area, but had titles nonetheless.)  The remains of the family castle are still on the top of the hill.  It was a bit of a climb, but well worth the views at the end.

Before setting out, we had to stop for a little to eat.

In his younger years, St. Thomas was a shooting guard.

The present day city.

Me.

Looking up to Thomas' family castle.

Of course, there are always sisters hanging around :)

Some of the ruins of the castle.

Don't worry, I know where we're going.

A church built to accommodate the Medieval pilgrims on their way to the top of the hill.

Almost to the top.

Thomas' home from down below.

Finally, we came to Monte Cassino.  Thomas went to school at the Benedictine Abbey here.  However, it is more famous for being the first monastery founded by St. Benedict in the 6th century.  It was sacked by the barbarians a few times, and succumbed to an earthquake, so it has been rebuilt a few times.  But, in 1944, the Allied Troops, thinking that the Nazis were hiding in the abbey, completely obliterated the complex.  Unfortunately, the Allies had bad information, and the Nazis were actually in the surrounding hillside.  The Abbey, however, has been completely reconstructed according to the specifications of the "rebuilt" monastery.  So, basically it looks the same, just several hundred years newer!

The outside of the Abbey Church.

And the inside of the church.

The tomb of St. Benedict and his sister, St. Scholastica.  (I'm not holding my breath for another brother-sister saintly duo from my family :)

Some of the cloister.

St. Scholastica

In St. Benedict's cell.  It was pretty cool to be in his actual room.

Painting of St. Benedict writing his Rule of Life.

The original door to the monastery.  It was through here that the monks escaped during the bombing

It was a foggy afternoon.  And because the monastery is built on top of a mountain, we were really in the clouds.

St. Benedict.

Bro. Dan and Bro. Chinnaiah with St. Benedict and friends.

Outside the main door.  It was raining, too, that day.

The courtyard.

Ciao!

37

I talked to my mom yesterday, and the first question she asked was, "So what did you do on your birthday?"  Of course, being the good seminarian that I am, I went to school!  So, on my birthday I listened to a lecture on the miracles in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke; I read a little bit from 5th century theologian John Chrysostom, and I learned how to use third declension 'i-stem' nouns in Latin!

But, of course, all work and no play makes not a good priest (and a cranky Bob)!  So, in true Italian fashion, we went for gelato after dinner.  For those who have been following this blog, this shouldn't come as a surprise.

At our favorite gelateria.  Being only two blocks from our house, it's a blessing and a curse :)

Every Wednesday, I volunteer at a home for senior citizens, and I found out that one of the other volunteers, Paolo, shares my birthday.  I never thought I would have an Italian Birthday Twin!  So, tonight, we celebrated together with Italian 'torta.' 

Celebrating our birthdays with Mariastella.

This birthday, I realized that I'm getting a bit closer to one of the those landmark birthdays (yikes!)  But I also realized how grateful I am for all the experiences that I have had, all the things I have been able to do and see, and all the people (both near and far) who are a part of my life.  I was overwhelmed with birthday greetings from all over the place...from the USA, Europe, South America, India, and Israel...written in English, Italian, and even Greek!  So, too all of you, a big THANK YOU!!!  and GRAZIE MILLE!!! and σας ευχαριστώ!!!

Ciao!

Medieval Times...

...And I don't mean the dinner theater show.  This is the real deal, folks.

This weekend, I visited three Medieval towns not too far from Rome.  Bro. Giuliano, an Italian Marianist, offered to take us on a little tour.  It was an absolutely beautiful day and a wonderful end to spring break.  Watch for the "Brothers Gone Wild" video shortly :)  Here's some (okay, a lot) pictures from the excursion.

Stop 1: Bagnoregio
This town is built on top of a hill that juts out of nowhere.  Most Medieval towns were built on a hilltop for defense.  Unfortunately, the city still needs defending today because the mountain is eroding away.  I read that there are now only about 12 permanent residents (and I"m not making that up!)  The only way in is the pedestrian bridge.  You can't get lost because it's so small, and you would just fall off if you went too far.  This is also the birthplace of St. Bonaventure, noted Medieval theologian and Doctor of the Church.

Civita di Bagnoregio

Getting ready to climb up

Bro. Bosco excited for the bridge.

The main piazza (plaza) in town.

Quaint.

A beautiful day in the beautiful country.

With Bro. Dan.

Bro. Les and Bro. Bosco.

Plaque marking the place where St. Bonaventure was born.  However, I still probably like his nemesis St. Thomas Aquinas better.

Near the place of Bonaventure's house.  Not a bad view to wake up to in the morning.

One more...I really liked this place.

Stop 2: Bolsena
This quaint town is situated on the shore of Lake Bolsena.  It was originally inhabited by the Etruscans who pre-date the Romans.  It is most famous for the "Eucharistic Miracle" of 1263.  A Germain priest was on pilgrimage and had doubts about the Real Presence in the Eucharist.  While celebrating mass in town, the consecrated host is said to have bled real blood, leaving some on a corporal (white cloth).  It is from this incident that we get the annual Feast of Corpus Christi.

The Castle

Bros. Dan, Les, and Bosco.

Looking out to the lake.

City planning was not too developed in the Middle Ages.

The old city.

Some Etruscan pottery in the museum.

The Church of Santa Cristina.

The miracle reliquary.

There is a second miracle attached here.  Cristina's father tried to drown her, but the stone that she was attached to floated!  Her footprints are still there!!!!

The chapel of the miracle.

The blood stained corporal.

Bro. Bosco taking a rest by the shore.

It really was a beautiful day.

Stop 3: Tuscania
Another quaint, little town.  We mainly stopped here to have a "merenda" (snack) before we headed back to Rome.  It is full of hilly, winding, and narrow streets.  The surrounding countryside was just breathtaking.

Lots of stairs.

Ruins in the countryside.

What an enjoyable day.  Thanks Bro. Guiliano!

Ciao!