Papal Palace in Orvieto

I have had a few comments on last Sunday's Corpus Christi - Orvieto post.  One person reminded me that there is a Papal Palace beside the Duomo. I mentioned that when the miracle happened, Pope Urban IV was living down the road in Rome and heard about this. In fact he spent most of his papacy living in Orvieto and was living in Orvieto when the Bolsena miracle happened.

Cathedral video view

This view of the Cathedral prior to the earthquake reveals the interior beauty of the building.  Use your mouse and cursor to control the view and scan up to ceiling and to left and right. 

The video clip at the bottom of the page is a TV3 news update.

For a 360 degree view of the interior of the Cathedral prior to the earthquake, click here

 

 

 

correction! (Corpus Christi)

I am grateful to a friend who responded to my Corpus Christi post with a necessary correction.

In my reflection I suggested that God enters bread and wine in every Mass. But God is already everywhere - remember that catechism question: "where is God?"  Answer: "God is everywhere!"

God does not come onto the altar during the Mass - God does not move. But the substance of the bread and wine are changed.

St. Thomas Aquinas also does not use the word miracle (as I wrongly did) of the Mass. This is because what happens in the Mass is not miraculous - it is sacramental. It is crucial that we understand the difference. A miracle happens only when God chooses. But the sacraments are available to us.

This is a remarkable thing. Take a moment to consider that God allows us to determine the time and the place of the event of each Mass. And God responds to our decision be becoming real among us in the form of bread and wine.

My friend offered an accurate rewrite of my incorrect paragraph. I am happy to share it so as to avoid spreading misunderstanding. Thank you to him!

the gifts of bread and wine are brought forward,. Elements that are simply flour and water and grape. Now the Eucharistic Prayer is prayed and the bread and wine are changed. Now the whole and entire reality of Christ is present to His Church. He is there under the appearances of what was once bread and wine. The fullness of God's only son is at home in our world of sign and symbol.

Corpus Christi Sunday

Orvieto is a beautiful settlement where all roads lead to the magnificent medieval Cathedral. The ‘treasure’ of this church is the corporal onto which the host was said to bleed during a Mass in the year 1263.

In this Middle-Age era of scepticism and instability, reports of the miracle spread rapidly and widely as a message of hope and confidence in the reality of Jesus present in the form of bread and wine. What Christians knew to be true was verified once again. The people were delighted.

When Pope Urban IV heard the response of the people to the miracle, he too saw this event as a communication from God. The following year he proclaimed the feast we celebrate today: Corpus Christi, the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ.

Eight hundred years later, on the other side of the world, we celebrate this feast that is the heart of our Catholic faith. God is with us. We are never alone and therefore have no cause to ever feel lonely.

God is available to us in every Mass, in the most tangible and simple elements of bread and wine.The disciples of Jesus knew, as they left the Last Supper, that something remarkable had happened at their table. They did not understand at the time why Jesus had told them to “do this in memory...”. But after his Resurrection three days later, and six weeks later filled with the Pentecost Spirit, they knew that Jesus had in fact gifted them with Himself.

As they began to meet weekly ‘in memory of Him’, they did exactly as Jesus had instructed them. They took bread and broke it. They took the cup and proclaimed the blessing. They ate and drank what they knew to be His body and His blood. In doing this they realised that they were partaking of the food of life. This nourishment was the source and summit of their existence.

Within a few years, as the flailing Roman Empire desperately grasped at power, Christians were seen as a threat. Those who professed Jesus as their savour, and who gathered for the Eucharist, were persecuted and often put to death. In the midst of this antagonism Christians became more committed to Jesus, and Christianity spread throughout the world.

God prevailed in the lives of this persecuted little group. Despite every opposition their community flourished throughout the Empire. Over the dark and difficult ages that followed Christianity flourished. Twelve hundred years later St. Francis and St. Dominic proclaimed this life of Christ in ‘real presence’ in the Eucharist.

Forty years after the death of Francis and Dominic, just down the road from the towns of their deaths, the miracle of the corporal renewed the world’s understanding of the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.

After the Reformation, when many began to see the Eucharist as simply a symbolic ritual, Catholics continued to know that in receiving communion, they were accepting the reality and fullness of Jesus into their lives. Catholics showed their conviction in this reality by receiving communion only after much prayer and reflection. This was no token ritual for them, but a conscious and active participation in the life of God.

It is significant that at the Last Supper, Jesus instructed his disciples to “remember”. “Do this in memory of me”.  He would have known how easy it is for humans to forget what is essential and to become preoccupied with what is less necessary and even trivial.

Weekly participation in the celebration of the Eucharist has throughout Christian history been the sign that one is seeking to live the life of Christ fully. 


Today, when we pass through the doors to enter a Catholic Church, we are expressing our desire to enter the life of Christ more fully. A Catholic church is a holy place. We are silent and still. As we enter we bless ourselves with the waters of baptism. When we arrive at our seat we genuflect to the reality of Jesus present in the tabernacle. In the moments before Mass begins we remember our need for God. In every Mass we are reminded of God’s desperate desire to live with and in us in every moment.

As the Word of God is proclaimed we recall what we have missed during the week. We remember that we need to know God is with us in every moment of the week ahead. Without this active memory, we can never feel as though we are truly alive.

The gifts of bread and wine are brought forward. Simple elements that are simply flour and water and grape. Now the Eucharistic Prayer is prayed and the reality of Jesus comes onto the altar and into the bread and wine. While retaining their former outward appearance, a miracle has happened. The fullness of God has made his home in these elements.

But a greater miracle is still to happen. Jesus allows Himself to be given to us. God allows Himself to be consumed by us. In this moment we cannot doubt that Jesus is with us, for without own eyes we have seen Him make His home in our bodies.

When we recall that this is in fact what is happening, our healthy response is humility, gratitude and veneration. 

It is appropriate that in the moments before we receive communion we make a physical act of preparation, the Sign of the Cross, a dignified bow, before the God who is eager to give us all we desire. 
  

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Pope Benedict XVI Corpus Christi Homily 2011


Pope Benedict XVI Corpus Christi Procession in Rome 2011 (video below)

Orvieto Corpus Christi Procession of the Corporal (video below)

Cathedral on Facebook

A Facebook page for the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament has been set up. It can be found at

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rebuilding-the-Cathedral-of-the-Blessed-Sacrament/207593515948284?sk=wall

You are welcome to send the link to anyone interested.

St. John Fisher & St. Thomas More

Today we celebrate the feast of two of the great English Martyrs. You can read more about them at this link.

At Mass this evening I mentioned the play A Man for All Seasons by Robert Bolt. This is a wonderful account of the story of Thomas' More's fidelity to God as known in his well-informed and highly developed conscience. This inspiring drama was also produced as a successful movie.

You might appreciate (as I have) some of the quotations from the play.

Bishop Barry Jones

This note came through this morning from Fr. Rick Loughnan the Vicar General of the Diocese.

June 21, 2011

Dear Brother Priest

I am just writing to inform you that Bishop Barry has had a nasty chest cold that has possibly gone to pneumonia.  He went into Hospital on Monday morning and they are working on helping him recover.  His condition this morning is reported as stable.  He is a bit miserable.  Please keep him in your prayers

God bless

Reverend Rick Loughnan

Vicar General

Let us pray that the Lord will quickly and completely restore Bishop Barry to health in His service.

Trinity Sunday

 

In these months of receiving the revised texts of the Mass, we could be forgiven for focusing only on the texts. It is true that the new texts are taking our attention and effort at the moment. But this rediscovery of the gift of the Mass invites us to a much broader project. These months of renewal are an opportunity for us to appreciate anew the beauty of the Mass.

In every Mass, our human senses are re-activated and re-oriented towards God. The Mass, when celebrated well, engages our physical senses, so enabling the senses of the soul to become more sensitive to the activity of God with us.

In the Mass we listen and we speak. We see. We touch. Even our sense of smell is engaged as the incense rises. Our bodies are active in worship of God as we kneel and stand. We bow and beat our breasts. We process. We listen and look.

The Mass is not simply a ‘spiritual’ event. It is also a physical action.  When Jesus enters bread and wine, transforming them into his body and blood, this is much more than a spiritual experience. It is a tangible event. It is a corporeal reality.

And so our 'spiritual life’ is a profoundly ‘physical’ existence. The fullness of God has become fully present in earthly elements. The bread and wine now have a new reality. They are God-with-us.  We consume this reality and every cell of our bodies becomes a new creation.

We too easily make the mistake of thinking of God as only ‘spiritual’ and dwelling only in the human ‘soul’. Yes, God is Spirit, and God does live in the soul. But the process of human growth invites God to transform every emotion, every experience, every encounter. The full presence of God, in Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, is a physical reality among us.

Now that this divine reality has been communicated to us, we have become the vehicles of the divine word to the world. Our awakened bodies become the voice through which we tell of God: through our words, and work, the way we look and listen. Every aspect of our presence in the world becomes the vehicle of our inner life with God to our family, friends, neighbours and to all people.

The liturgy of the Church seeks to engage our hearts, minds AND bodies, in worship of God.

One of the most universal and popular prayers highlights this. When we make the Sign of the Cross we use movement to accompany our invocation of the Trinity.

The Sign of the Cross is not simply a convenient way to begin and end prayer. The Sign of the Cross IS prayer.  We have prayed this prayer often and habitually. We rejoice when we see a sportsman or stranger quickly make this sign in a moment of need or thanksgiving. 

The Sign of the Cross, even without the conscious use of words, is a powerful prayer.

On this Trinity Sunday, let us rediscover this short, simple and beautiful prayer; the prayer that engages our bodies in participation in the full life of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Cathedral 'drone' Images

This morning we received images from the damaged Cathedral.

• At this link you will find the film taken by the 'drone' which was sent inside the Cathedral to record the state of the building inside.

• Here is this morning's stuff.co.nz update

• and a TVNZ link

Pentecost Red

It is only mid-week. Already last Sunday seems an age ago with all that has happened.

Last Sunday morning, around 7.30, I was driving to Darfield for Mass. The effects of the Chilean Volcano were visible in the sky above Christchurch.

It was a remarkable Pentecost morning reminder: the red sky  - the liturgical colour of the feast. I stopped and took this picture, and drove on to Darfield.

I was at Charing Cross just before 8am and turned the radio on in time to hear the Concert Programme play the wonderful Douglas Mews Pentecost Anthem: "A Sound Came from Heaven". This had been on my mind since the Christchurch Cathedral Choir had sung this on Saturday at Charles' ordination in Palmerston North.

Many might think that these coinciding moments were simply coincidence. But last Sunday morning these little events were blessings. They served to remind me of the presence and power of the Spirit of God. 

Many times in the last 48 hours I have needed to remember this as we again suffer the effects of the earthquake.

Cathedral Update

The update below was received by Christchurch DIocese parishes last night.

Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Christchurch

Earthquake report – June 14, 2011

Report from Lance Ryan, 
chairman of the Cathedral Management Board

Unfortunately the Cathedral has sustained substantial damage in yesterday’s earthquakes. Concrete floors on the outside of the basilica have collapsed on to the floor below, damaging the north and south arches that help support the dome.

Walls at the back half of the basilica were displaced horizontally by up to 100mm.

Engineers are presently carrying out a full inspection of the Cathedral, and we have other information to consider, such as assessing the amount of movement of the building during the earthquake from information sent from sensors that had been placed in different parts of the basilica.

It will be several days before we are in a position to comment on the future of the building.

These aftershocks are quite devastating as we were making such good progress in preparing the dome so that it could be lifted off in a couple of weeks. All this work is now on hold.

Drone

The engineers managed to fly a small drone on a preliminary inspection of the interior of the building.  This flight took place before the aftershocks, so it is expected that the interior damage will now be worse than the drone footage shows.

The footage from the drone indicated that the nave appeared to still be intact, although the drone was unable to get close enough to the pillars and walls to identify whether any significant structural damage had occurred. 

The footage also shows some rubble in the sacristy area of the cathedral, as well as an organ still standing upright on the ground floor of the building.

Containers

Several shipping containers were placed in front of the fragile north tower of the cathedral in early June to prevent the tower from collapsing further in an aftershock.  Initial indications are that this preventive measure has held the damaged tower in place as intended, although the extent of any damage from the latest aftershocks has yet to be determined.

Media contacts

Lance Ryan, chairman of the Cathedral Management Board, ph 021-246-0354

John Durning 0274 373 286 (Catholic Diocese)

Karen Wrigglesworth 027 453 0456 (Opus)

Tuesday Masses...prayer in earthquake

Both Tuesday morning Masses tomorrow morning (14 June) will be offered for safety in time of earthquake.

Tuesday 14 June

7.00am &  9.00am

Our Lady of VIctories Church

106 Main South Road

The church will also remain open 24 hours each day until further notice for people wishing to pray.

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will continue Tuesday from after Mass throughout the day until Benediction at 5.30pm.  Full details on parish website at www.olv.co.nz

earthquake

It's just after 6pm and the geonet website already lists fifteen quakes today. Two quakes this afternoon were significant, causing major damage.

Thanks be to God there have been no reports of loss of life or of serious injury.

But the day has taken its toll on our emotions and sense of stability.  Once again we turn to prayer, especially the Collect from the Mass in time of Earthquake:

God our Father

you set the earth on its foundation

Keep us safe from the danger of earthquakes

and let us always feel the presence of your love

May we be secure in your protection

and serve you with grateful hearts

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit

one God, for ever and ever.

Amen

Bishop Charles Drennan D.D.

This morning, priest of the Christchurch diocese Charles Drennan was ordained as the Co-adjutor bishop of the diocese of Palmerston North.

The gathering of people from around the diocese of Palmerston North and throughout the country (and abroad) was a powerful witness to the life of Catholic faith vibrant and visible in the diocese and throughout New Zealand.

It was clear throughout the Ordination Rite, that the Sacrament of Order in the Church is one hundred percent dependant on the power of the Spirit of God.

Below you can read part of the Ordination Rite used today. Let it inspire us to pray for Charles as he begins his ministry as a bishop.

At the end of the homily, the ordaining bishop Peter Cullinane turned to the rite instructing us and examining Charles: 

Consider carefully the position in the Church to which our brother is about to be raised.  Our Lord Jesus Christ, who was sent by the Father to redeem the human race, in turn sent twelve apostles into the world.  These men were filled with the power of the Holy Spirit to preach the Gospel and gather every race and people into a single flock to be guided and governed in the way of holiness.  Because this service was to continue to the end of time, the apostles selected others to help them.  By the laying on of hands which confers the sacrament of orders in its fullness, the apostles passed on the gift of the Holy Spirit which they themselves had received from Christ.  In that way, by a succession of bishops unbroken from one generation to the next, the powers conferred in the beginning were handed down, and the work of the Savior lives and grows in our time.

In the person of the bishop, with his priests around him, Jesus Christ, the Lord, who became High Priest for ever, is present among you.  Through the ministry of the bishop, Christ himself continues to proclaim the Gospel and to confer the mysteries of faith on those who believe.  Through the fatherly action of the bishop, Christ adds new members to his body.  Through the bishop's wisdom and prudence, Christ guides you in your earthly pilgrimage toward eternal happiness.

Gladly and gratefully, therefore, receive our brother whom we are about to accept into the college of bishops by the laying on of hands.  Respect him as a minister of Christ and a steward of the mysteries of God.  He has been entrusted with the task of witnessing to the truth of the Gospel and fostering a spirit of justice and holiness.  Remember the words of Christ spoken to the apostles: "Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me, and those who reject me reject the one who sent me."

You, dear brother, have been chosen by the Lord.  Remember that you are chosen from among men and appointed to act for men and women in relation to God.  The title of bishop is not one of honor but of function, and therefore a bishop should strive to serve rather than to rule.  Such is the counsel of the Master: the greater should behave as if he were the least, and the leader as if he were the one who serves.  


Proclaim the message whether it is welcome or unwelcome; correct error with unfailing patience and teaching.  Pray and offer sacrifice for the people committed to your care and so draw every kind of grace for them from the overflowing holiness of Christ.

As a steward of the mysteries of Christ in the church entrusted to you, be a faithful overseer and guardian.  Since you are chosen by the Father to rule over his family, always be mindful of the Good Shepherd, who knows his sheep and is known by them and who did not hesitate to lay down his life for them.

As a father and a brother, love all those whom God places in your care.  Love the priests and deacons who share with you the ministry of Christ.  Love the poor and infirm, strangers and the homeless.  Encourage the faithful to work with you in your apostolic task; listen willingly to what they have to say.  Never relax your concern for those who do not yet belong to the one fold of Christ; they too are commended to you in the Lord.  


Never forget that in the Catholic Church, made one by the bond of Christian love, you are incorporated into the college of bishops.  You should therefore have a constant concern for all the churches and gladly come to the aid and support of churches in need.  Attend to the whole flock in which the Holy Spirit appoints you an overseer of the Church of God -- in the name of the Father, whose image you personify in the Church -- and in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, whose role of Teacher, Priest, and Shepherd you undertake -- and in the name of the Holy Spirit, who gives life to the Church of Christ and supports our weakness with his strength.

Examination of the Candidate

The bishop-elect then rises and stands in front of the principal consecrator, who questions him:  An age-old custom of the Fathers decrees that a bishop-elect is to be questioned before the people on his resolve to uphold the faith and to discharge his duties faithfully.

My brother, are you resolved by the grace of the Holy Spirit to discharge to the end of your life the office of the apostles entrusted to us, which we now pass on to you by the laying on of hands?

The bishop-elect replies:  I am.

Principal consecrator:  Are you resolved to be faithful and constant in proclaiming the Gospel of Christ?

Bishop-elect:  I am.

Principal consecrator:  Are you resolved to maintain the deposit of faith, entire and incorrupt, as handed down by the apostles and professed by the Church everywhere and at all times?

Bishop-elect:  I am.

Principal consecrator:  Are you resolved to build up the Church as the body of Christ and to remain united to it within the order of bishops under the authority of the successor of the apostle Peter?

Bishop-elect:  I am.

Principal consecrator:  Are you resolved to be faithful in your obedience to the successor of the apostle Peter?

Bishop-elect:  I am.

Principal consecrator:  Are you resolved as a devoted father to sustain the people of God and to guide them on the way of salvation in cooperation with the priests and deacons who share your ministry?

Bishop-elect:   I am.

Principal consecrator:  Are you resolved to show kindness and compassion in the name of the Lord to the poor and to strangers and to all who are in need?

Bishop-elect:  I am.

Principal consecrator:  Are you resolved as a good shepherd to seek out the sheep who stray and to gather them into the fold of the Lord?

Bishop-elect:  I am.

Principal consecrator:  Are you resolved to pray for the people of God without ceasing, and to carry out the duties of one who has the fullness of the priesthood so as to afford no grounds for reproach?

Bishop-elect:  I am, with the help of God.

Principal consecrator:  May God who has begun the good work in you bring it to fulfillment.