In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” 

When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.
They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:  ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.'”

Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared.  Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.”
When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was.  When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy.  On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.  Matthew 2:1-12 (NIV)

Tomorrow we mark the end of the Christmas season – the Day of Epiphany.  We celebrate this day to reflect on the visit of the Magi – the wise men – to Jesus and the giving of their gifts. We reflect on the meaning of this visit of those wise ones to see Jesus.

Epiphany is about Jesus and his message being available and relevant to people of every age and race. Jesus isn’t just a Jewish prophet with an exciting message, but God made present amongst us and available to all of us to worship and follow. God’s love reaches beyond the everyday barriers of race and class; something the Magi didn’t quite get at first.

So Who Were the Magi?

We don’t know much about the Magi from Scripture. All Saint Matthew tells us is that they were “Magi from the East”. Some translations have “Wise men from the East”. The word in Greek refers to priests of the Zoroastrian religion. They came from Persia, the countries now known as Iran and Iraq, and they saw meaning in the movement of the stars. Their visit fits an Eastern pattern of great births being accompanied by momentous events in the sky. Certainly we know of a comet in 11BCE in Gemini with its head towards Leo, seen by many as a symbol of Judah.  We also know of planetary conjunctions in both 7 BCE and 6 BCE which would have added to a sense that momentous happenings were on the way. The Magi would have noticed these things and taken them seriously. But who were they?

One commentator, Brian Stoffregen puts it like this;

“Originally in Persia, Magi were dream- interpreters. By Jesus’ time, the term referred to astronomers, fortune-tellers, or star-gazers.   They were horoscope fanatics – a practice condemned by Jewish standards. We might compare them to people in fortune – telling booths, or people on the “psychic hotline” or other “occupations” that foretell the future by stars, tea leaves, Tarot cards etc. They were magicians, astronomers, star-gazers, pseudo-scientists, fortune tellers…”

Another writer, Nathan Nettleton, puts it like this;

“They were the speakers of the sacred words at the pagan sacrifices. At worst, the term referred to a magician or sorcerer, or even a deceiver. Magi were people whose activities were repeatedly condemned and prohibited throughout the scriptures and were completely anathema to the people of Israel.”

Whilst in English we get the words “magic” and “magician” from Magi, the Zoroastrian religion forbade sorcery. They clearly were looking for a new king and had found meaning in the movement of the planets and stars which led them to come to Israel to greet the new-born king. They journeyed from their homes in Persia to Bethlehem in search of this baby. Instead of angels and visions, we have the image of the Magi following a sign in the skies – in nature – and for a long period of time. The magi see the intentions of God in the skies. This is not new: Psalm 19 tells us that the heavens themselves declare who God is, and that his handiwork is seen in created nature.  “We observed his star at its rising”. The magi know that there is something significant happening.

When did they come?

The Gospel of Saint Luke doesn’t mention the Magi and holds that the Holy Family returned to Nazareth after the presentation of Jesus at the Temple where he was circumcised. It’s probable that Saint Luke didn’t know of this episode in Jesus’ early life. Saint Matthew seems to place the visit of the Magi some time after Jesus’ birth. The Holy Family are in a “house” not in the stable of the inn.  Herod kills all the newborn boys under the age of two years. So it’s likely that the Holy Family had stayed for some time in Bethlehem and the Magi came some time after Jesus’ birth, perhaps as long as two years after.

WHY did they come?

Clearly, the Magi were searching.  The Magi recognized much of the truth of Jesus, who he was and what he would become.  The Magi had a general idea of this God and this King of the Jews, but they didn’t really know who or what they were looking for.  Bono and U2 were criticized some years ago by some supposedly orthodox Christians when they produced a song entitled, “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For,” which is about searching for fulfillment.  You see, the example of the Magi was that they were searchers, not really knowing what or who they were looking for.  They didn’t claim to have it all but they saw their lives as a journey of discovery. And in that they are an example to us. We don’t know it all. But if we, like them, are prepared to be diligent seekers, then, like them, we may be graced by God’s light, by our own Epiphany.  When the wise men finally found Jesus, we are told that their first response was joy – “they were overwhelmed with joy”. That is what happens when we find Jesus. This is what awaits us at the end of the journey. Next, they paid him homage – they worshiped him and acknowledged Him as King. After the joy comes the worship. That means acknowledging Jesus as King. Jesus as the center. Jesus as Lord. And then, after joy and after worship, comes offering of their gifts. In response to who Jesus is and the joy He gives, we offer ourselves and our gifts to Him.

So my message for today is to dare, like them, to take the risk of seeking, and God may well bless us with our own Epiphanies which transform us, as doubtless the Magi were transformed by what must have been a surprising experience for them as they knelt before the infant Jesus.

So how do you find Jesus? Maybe you can start out like the Magi – with a general idea of God, and a general idea that He is guiding you. Like the Magi, we need to turn to the scriptures. If you don’t read them, you will never really get the specific directions that God is trying to give you. Approach them with the right spirit, the right purpose. Ask for help along the way – the church, we, God’s people, are meant to help you along that way. The wise men knew when they needed to ask someone else for help. And pray. Ask God. When you find Jesus, rejoice. After all, He is God. Put Him in the center of your life. Ask yourself whether what you are doing honors him a King. Offer to him what you have, who you are.

Where can this Jesus be found?  He is with you now.  Won’t you seek Him?  Won’t you recognize Him?  Won’t you let Him fill YOUR life with joy?  Amen.

 

Liturgically, we are still in the Christmas season. The Epiphany is approaching. Traditionally, these twelve days between Christmas and Epiphany known as The Twelve Days of Christmas.  Yep, that’s where the song comes from!   Christ was born on blessed Christmas Eve and the radiant star was born above Bethlehem.  It was once believed that it took twelve days from the appearance of the star, for the Magi to make their way to Bethlehem. Hence, the “twelve days of Christmas” and the celebration of the Epiphany.

I propose herewith, an interesting observation.  We have not even celebrated the New Year  and already I see many who have discarded their Christmas trees outside.  I have seen neighbors take down Christmas lights from their homes and remove decorative wreaths from their front doors.  I am bewildered.  Is Christmas over?  Then again, is Christmas only a tree?

I know every year I do hear those who complain that Christmas seems to begin earlier.  My husband employed in retail, serves evidence of this as the Christmas music in his store begins right after Halloween.  Indeed, the store decorations and stock of holiday items march in at the same time.  But one cannot deny, there begins a hint of anticipation in the air.  As Christmas draws closer, it builds- like an overture.

People being to decorate. Christmas trees pop up. Santa rides into town on his sleigh at the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade. The world becomes joyful. Those who are first, and perhaps foremost, in the decorating frenzy- echo the same sentiment, I needed a little Christmas!  Just like the lyrics of that popular song from Mame- “I need a little Christmas, right this very minute…”

It is indeed theraputic. Christmas. Christ. Does any other season offer the possibility of hope and peace, as Christmas?  We cannot deny that images and thoughts of Christ heal us.  More at this time of year then any other, except perhaps Easter.  But Christmas builds like the aforementioned overture. Musically all around us- in both audible and visual stimulation. Like a giant celebration played out to cheer the heart and kindle the spirit within.  Why then, do we let is go so quickly?

We have ridden the wave of anticipation and excitement for many weeks. Christmas is coming!  Its promise and its joy.  How can we be content to let it slip from us for another year?  Hide it in a box? Watch it wilt at the curbside?

In 1955 Bing Crosby recorded a lesser known Christmas carol, Is Christmas only a tree?  Perhaps this is the answer.  “Is Christmas only a tree? Just falling snow and candle glow and mistletoe?  Frosted air, angel hair and Christmas carols everywhere?  Is Christmas only a tree?  I seem to see beyond the tree, to where the angels sing.  Hosanna ring to heaven’s king and my heart is answering.  Is Christmas only a tree?  The answer is from long ago, for whever there is a Christmas tree, my heart will know.”

But those visual affirmations can help. They serve to keep the spirit of Christmas- the promise of Christmas- of Christ, alive and present. So let us not be to quick to take down the Christmas tree.  There are those of us who find our personal spirit dampened at the departure of the season. How can we keep the joy of Christmas in our hearts year ’round?

Just by remembering the JOY of the Christmas season, with this easy formula-  JOY.  J is for Jesus, O is for Others and Y is for Yourself.  If you keep Jesus and Others before Yourself… you will have JOY.   And holding onto that Christmas tree a little longer may help too. Either way though, pray never to loose the Christmas spirit!

“We three kings of the Orient are, bearing gifts as we travel so far…”

Glorious Christmas Greetings! We are now indeed within the wonder of the Church’s Christmas season. Commonly referred as “the twelve days of Christmas”, the time from Christmas Day until the Epiphany.  It is thought that this was the period of time it took the Magi- the three kings (sometimes also called the three wise men), once observing the star proclaiming Jesus’ birth to travel to Bethlehem.

The story of the Magi, told in the Gospel of Matthew Chapter 2- tells how these three traveled from the east toward Jerusalem following the star.  When King Herod had learned that these noble men were nearby, seeking “the one who has been born King of the Jews”  ( Matthew 2:2 ), he summoned them under the full pretense of wanting to worship Jesus too. ( He sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me so that I may go and worship him too.'”  ( Matthew 2:8 )  Ultimately we know is was Herod’s murderous intent to kill Jesus and thus secure his throne.  When the Magi did not return to him (… having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod… ( Matthew 2:12 ))  Herod furious, ordered the slaughter of all infant boys in Bethlehem under the age of two ( Matthew 2:16).  ( We remember this sad day and recall the untimely loss of all children of the Day of the Holy Innocent’s December 28th.)

But what else do we know about the Magi, and what their knowledge has to to do with the meaning of Christmas?

We know they were kings from the east.  East of Judea.  A father of the Church, Origen of Alexandria records much significance of them in his work ‘Contra Celsum’ written in 248AD.  He identifies them as Gaspar, King of India and Melchior, King of Persia and Balthazar, King of Arabia.  Perhaps this is what frightened Herod, that three wise men of such position and influence would have the knowledge of birth of a new king and- more alarming to Herod, that these three kings felt an obligation to worship this new king!

The gifts presented by the three kings as they knelt before the Christ child, is even more foretelling and…. foreboding.

Gold is presented.  It is befitting because the baby Jesus was born a king.  King of the Jews.  In the time of Jesus’ birth, only kings and the very rich and powerful- could afford to posses gold.  Let alone to give it as a gift. But in doing so, the kings observe this small infant wrapped simply in swaddling blankets- as a king.  Equal to their own station.

“Born a king on Bethlehem’s plain, Gold we bring to crown him again. King forever, ceasing never. Over us all to reign.” ( We Three Kings. by Rev. John Hopkins Jr. (c) 1863 )

Then, to elevate and proclaim Jesus’ majesty and deity- they offer to the Christ child the gift of Frankincense. An aromatic resin tapped from the sap of Boswellia tree, or more accurately- shrubs.  It had two purposes. First as a rare find and flowering plant, its sap was used in perfume of the rich and well to do.  Significant of its expense and rarity, Frankincense was also burned in temples to uplift prayers to God.  To present this rare fragrant spice to the baby Jesus, signified- “we know of your divinity.”

“Frankincense to offer have I.  Incense owns a Deity high. Prayers and praising, all men raising- worship Him, God on high.” ( We Three Kings. )

Lastly and perhaps most profoundly and subtlely, Jesus was presented Myrrh.  Another aromatic resin, this is taken from the Commoiphora tree- a small thorny and prickly plant.  Its sap was known to harden quickly and be glossy, so it was often used for the embalming of the wealthy deceased in those times.  What a strange gift to give to a newborn child- Myrrh.  What influence or insight had the Magi known?  They knew to travel far from the east to seek the child born a king under the star.  They foretold of his divinity.  What did they know of the future plans and sacrifice of this child?

“Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume.  Breathes a life of gathering gloom.  Sorrow, sighing, bleeding, dying.  Sealed in the stone cold tomb.” ( We Three Kings. )

All we can know now, as we ourselves march toward the Epiphany- when the glory of knowledge of the Christ child is proclaimed- is what the Magi knew then.  We seek to find Christ.  There is born a Messiah.  A savior who is our hope and our salvation.  It is in him- and through him, that we will find all that is good and necessary.  Christ teaches us how to live and how to love.  His lessons and words are as valuable today as they were when He first spoke them. Perhaps that is why it is said- wise men still seek him.

“Glorious now behold him arise- King and God and Sacrifice. Alleluia. Alleluia. Sing His praise to the skies! ” ( We Three Kings. )

“Star of wonder, star of night. Star with a royal beauty bright. Westward leading, still proceeding. Guide us to Thy perfect Light.”  ( We Three Kings. )

May you and yours enjoy a blessed New Year.  Let us go forth in the love and peace of Christ, to seek Christ. As wise men still do.

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

December 15, 2013

Based on: James 5:7-10

5:7 Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains.  5:8 You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.  5:9 Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors!  5:10 As an example of suffering and patience, beloved, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

All of God’s children who dearly love, serve and obey the Heavenly Father yearn so much in their hearts for his return in Glory. The time IS coming.  He WILL return with all of his heavenly hosts in a blaze of Glory, but it will be at a time not when we  feel it to be the correct time, but when God our eternal and ever loving Father, who knows everything well before our birth decides the time is right. Sometimes we as humans want everything in a rush, and in this day and age especially, we tend to live our lives in one huge hurry.  We forget that all the plans for the Lord’s return were laid even before our creation. We have to learn to be patient, and learn to wait quietly, just as the farmer has to wait patiently for his crops to grow and ripen before he can harvest them. In the Holy Words of God in James 5:7-10 we are clearly told that to have patience is the only way, and that we must wait quietly without any fighting or hatred towards our earthly brothers and sisters. And while waiting show them the love and kindness because they are children of God.  This this pleases our Father in heaven.  If we love, care for, and respect each other, then we shall not be judged harshly, as we are each judged by our thoughts, words and deeds towards each other.  Meaning if we treat each other otherwise, we will therefore be judged by the same token.  And we are treating God in the same manner.  Also if our Father God is to love and have mercy and forgiveness towards our sins  and iniquities,  which he does tirelessly and eternally, then we most show these same qualities to our brothers and sisters in the same manner. We are taught to be as the prophets were in their lives

and we must be prepared to suffer and have vast patience and to follow their examples in the same way.  We are to live our lives s He would have us live them, until the Lord decides the time is right to return in Glory!!

Let us pray:  As we joyfully await the glorious coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ, let us pray for the needs of the church,  of our community, and of the world. May we give Love where there is hate or hurt, and may we all learn to live in patience, with tolerance and forgiveness towards each other as Our Heavenly Father has taught us and  live our lives  by following the examples that the Saints and Prophets before us have shown us by the way they lived and served you to your Glory. God of joy and exultation,you strengthen what is weak; you enrich the poor, and you give hope to those who live in fear. Look upon all of our needs this day. Make us grateful for the Good news of your Salvation and keep us faithful in your service until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives with You in the presence of The Holy Spirit for ever and ever.   Amen.

 

Blessed James Benefatti, James is known as the Father of the Poor.  He was a Dominican at Mantua, Italy in 1290, and was a  Doctor of theology and a priest. He was also a friend and brother friar of Nicholas Boccasino who later became Pope Benedict XI, and for whom James held several support offices including papal legate.  He was the Bishop of Mantua in 1303, and noted for his devotion to the poor. James rebuilt his cathedral and refurbished churches and was appointed Papal legate for Pope John XXII.  He died 19 November 1332 at Mantua, Italy of natural causes.  His body was found incorrupt when exhumed both in 1480 and 1604.  He was beatified in 1859 by Pope Pius IX.

Blessed Lucy of Narni was the eldest of eleven children of Bartolomeo Broccadelli and Gentilina Cassio. When she was only five years old, she had a vision of the Virgin Mary. Two years later, she had another vision, this time of the Virgin Mary accompanied by Saint Dominic. Dominic is said to have given her the scapular at this time. When she was twelve years old, Lucy made a private vow of chastity, and determined to become a Dominican nun.

Circumstances, however, changed to make doing so difficult.  The next year her father died, leaving her in the care of an uncle. This uncle determined that the best course of action he could take would be to get Lucy married as quickly as possible.

He made several attempts to do so. One of these included holding a large family party. He had invited the man he had chosen as Lucia’s husband to the party, with the intention of having the couple publicly betrothed. He however had not informed Lucia of his intentions. The suitor made an attempt to put a ring on Lucia’s finger, only to be slapped repeatedly for his efforts by Lucia.

A later attempt involved Count Pietro de Alessio of Milan, an acquaintance of the family. Lucia was actually quite fond of him, but felt her earlier vow to become a nun made the possibility of marriage impossible. The strain Lucia felt as a result of the conflicting feelings made her seriously ill. During this time, the Virgin Mary and Saint Dominic again appeared to her, this time accompanied by Catherine of Siena. They reportedly advised Lucia to contract a legal marriage to Pietro, but to explain that her vow of virginity would have to be respected and not violated. Pietro agreed to the terms, and the marriage was formalized.

In 1491 Lucia became Pietro’s legal wife and the mistress of his household, which included a number of servants and a busy social calendar. Despite her busy schedule, Lucia made great efforts to instruct the servants in Christianity and soon became well known locally for her charity to the poor.

Pietro observed Lucia’s behavior, and occasional quirks, quite indulgently. He never objected when she gave away clothing and food nor when she performed austere penances, which included regularly wearing a hair shirt under her garments and spending most of the night in prayer and acting to help the poor. He also seemed to have taken in stride the story he was told by the servants that Lucia was often visited in the evenings by Saint Catherine, Saint Agnes, and Saint Agnes of Montepulciano who helped her make bread for the poor.

However, when one of the servants came up to him one day and told him that Lucia was privately entertaining a handsome young man she appeared to be quite familiar with, he did react. He took up his sword and went to see who this person was. When he arrived, he found Lucia contemplating a large crucifix. The servant told him that the man he had seen Lucia with looked like the figure on the crucifix.

Lucia left one night for a local Franciscan monastic community, only to find it closed. She returned home the following day, stating that she had been led back by two saints. That was enough for Pietro. He had her locked away for the bulk of one Lenten season. She was only visited by servants who brought her food. When Easter arrived, however, she managed to escape from Pietro back to her mother’s house and on 1494 May 8 became a Dominican tertiary. Pietro expressed his disapproval of this in a rather dramatic form, by burning down the monastery of the prior who had given her the habit.

In 1495 Lucia went to Rome and joined a group of Third order Dominican tertiaries. The next year she was sent to Viterbo and here she found she was frequently the object of unwanted attention. It was here, on February 25, 1496 that she is reported to have received the stigmata. Lucia did her best to hide these marks, and was frequently in spiritual ecstasy. The house had a steady stream of visitors who came to speak to Lucia, and, often, just look at her. Even the other nuns were concerned about her, and at one point called in the local bishop who watched Lucia go through the drama of the Passion for twelve hours straight.

The bishop would not make a decision on Lucia, and called in the local inquisition. Reports here vary, some indicating that he referred the case directly to the Pope, who is said to have spoken with her and, with the assistance of Columba of Rieti, ultimately decided in her favor, telling her to go home and pray for him. Other sources question the accuracy of these reports.

At that time Pietro also came to her, making a final plea to persuade Lucia to return with him as his wife. She declined, and Pietro left alone. He would himself later become a Franciscan monk and a famous preacher.

When Lucy returned to the convent in Viterbo, she found that the Duke of Ferrara, Ercole d’Este I, had determined to build a convent in Ferrara and that, having heard of her, he determined that she would be its prioress. In summer of 1497, he invited her to be the founder of this new monastery. Lucia herself, the Dominican order, and the Pope all agreed quickly to the new proposal. The municipal council of Viterbo, however, objected, not wanting to lose Lucy. Lucia had been praying for some time for a way to create a new convent of strict observance, and agreed to go to the new convent.

 

Lucia’s departure precipitated a conflict between Ferrara and Viterbo which would continue for two years. Viterbo wanted to keep the famous mystic for themselves, and the duke wanted her in Ferrara. After extensive correspondence between the parties, on April 15, 1499 Lucia escaped secretly from Viterbo and was officially received in Ferrara on May 7, 1499. Thirteen young girls immediately applied for admission to her new community; the construction of the monastery began in June and was completed two years later, in August 1501. It contained 140 cells for sisters and the novices, but to fill it with suitable vocations proved to be very difficult. Lucia expressed the wish to have there some of her former friends from Viterbo and Narni. Duke Ercole, in September 1501 sent his messenger to Rome asking for the help of the pope’s daughter Lucrezia Borgia, who was preparing to marry Duke’s son Alfonso. She collected all eleven candidates Lucia had indicated and sent them, as a special wedding present to Lucia and to the Duke, a few days ahead of her bridal party. She herself solemnly entered Ferrara on February 2, 1502.

The Duke petitioned the local bishop for some help for Lucia in governing her new community, and he sent ten nuns from another community to join Lucia’s convent. Unfortunately, these ten nuns were members of the Dominican second order, who were canonically permitted to wear black veils, something Lucia and the members of the Dominican third order community were not allowed to do.

Tensions were heightened when one of these veiled outsiders, Sister Maria da Parma, was made the prioress of the convent on September 2, 1503. When Duke Ercole died on January 24, 1505 the new prioress quickly found Lucia to be guilty of some unrecorded transgression, most probably of the support for the Savonarolan church reform, and placed her on a strict penance. Lucia was not allowed to speak to any person but her confessor, who was chosen by the prioress. The local provincial of the Dominican order would also not permit any member of the order to see Lucia. There are records that at least one Dominican, Catherine of Racconigi, did visit her, evidently by bilocation, and that Lucia’s earlier visitation by departed saints continued. In response to Lucia’s insistent prayer her stigmata eventually disappeared, which caused some of the other nuns to question whether they had ever been there at all. When Lucia finally died, in 1544, many people were surprised to find that she had not died years earlier.

Then suddenly everything changed. When her body was laid out for burial so many people wanted to pay their last respects that her funeral had to be delayed by three days. Her tomb in the monastery church was opened four years later and her perfectly preserved body was transferred to a glass case. When Napoleon in 1797 suppressed her monastery the body was transferred to the Cathedral of Ferrara; and on 1935 May 26 – to the Cathedral of Narni.

Lucia was beatified by Pope Clement XI on March 1, 1710

Saint Albert the Great was born sometime between 1193 and 1206, to the Count of Bollstädt in Lauingen in Bavaria.  Contemporaries such as Roger Bacon applied the term “Magnus” to Albertus during his own lifetime, referring to his immense reputation as a scholar and philosopher.  Albertus was educated principally at Padua, where he received instruction in Aristotle’s writings. A late account by Rudolph de Novamagia refers to Albertus’ encounter with the Blessed Virgin Mary, who convinced him to enter Holy Orders. In 1223 (or 1221) he became a member of the Dominican Order, against the wishes of his family, and studied theology at Bologna and elsewhere. Selected to fill the position of lecturer at Cologne, Germany, where the Dominicans had a house, he taught for several years there, at Regensburg, Freiburg, Strasbourg and Hildesheim. In 1245 he went to Paris, received his doctorate, and taught for some time as a master of theology with great success. During this time Thomas Aquinas began to study under Albertus.

In 1254, Albertus was made provincial of the Dominican Order, and fulfilled the arduous duties of the office with great care and efficiency. During his tenure he publicly defended the Dominicans against attacks by the secular and regular faculty of the University of Paris, commented on St. John, and answered what he perceived as errors of the Arabian philosopher Averroes.

In 1260, Pope Alexander IV made him Bishop of Regensburg, an office from which he resigned after three years. During the exercise of his duties he enhanced his reputation for humility by refusing to ride a horse—in accord with the dictates of the Dominican order—instead walking back and forth across his huge diocese. This earned him the affectionate sobriquet, “boots the bishop,” from his parishioners. After his stint as bishop, he spent the remainder of his life partly in retirement in the various houses of his order, yet often preaching throughout southern Germany. In 1270, he preached the eighth Crusade in Austria. Among the last of his labors was the defense of the orthodoxy of his former pupil, Thomas Aquinas, whose death in 1274 grieved Albertus. After suffering a collapse of health in 1278, he died on November 15, 1280, in Cologne, Germany. His tomb is in the crypt of the Dominican church of St. Andreas in Cologne, and his relics at the Cologne Cathedral.

Albertus was beatified in 1622. He was canonized and proclaimed a Doctor of the Church in 1931 by Pope Pius XI. St Albert’s feast day is celebrated on November 15.

 

Blessed John Licci, born to a poor farmer, his mother died in childbirth. His life from then on, all 111 years, was a tale of miracles.  His father, who fed the baby on crushed pomegranates, had to work the fields, and was forced to leave the infant alone. The baby began crying, and a neighbor woman took him to her home to feed him. She laid the infant on the bed next to her paralyzed husband – and the man was instantly cured. The woman told John’s father of the miracle, but he was more concerned that she was meddling, and had taken his son without his permission. He took the child home to feed him more pomegranate pulp. As soon as the child was removed from the house, the neighbor’s paralysis returned; when John was brought back in, the man was healed. Even John’s father took this as a sign, and allowed the neighbors to care for John.

A precocious and emotional child, John began reciting the Daily Offices before age 10. While on a trip to Palermo, Italy at age 15, John went to Confession in the church of Saint Zita of Lucca where his confession was heard by Blessed Peter Geremia who suggested John consider a religious life. John considered himself unworthy, but Peter pressed the matter, John joined the Dominicans in 1415, and wore the habit for 96 years, the longest period known for anyone.

He founded the convent of Saint Zita in Caccamo, Italy. Lacking money for the construction, John prayed for guidance. During his prayer he had a vision of an angel who told him to “build on the foundations that were already built.” The next day in the nearby woods he found the foundation for a church called “Saint Mary of the Angels,” a church that had been started many years before, but had never been finished. John assumed this was the place indicated, and took over the site.

During the construction, workmen ran out of materials; the next day at dawn a large ox-drawn wagon arrived at the site. The driver unloaded a large quantity of stone, lime and sand – then promptly disappeared, leaving the oxen and wagon behind for the use of the convent. At another point a well got in the way of construction; John blessed it, and it immediately dried up; when construction was finished, he blessed it again, and the water began to flow. When roof beams were cut too short, John would pray over them, and they would stretch. There were days when John had to miraculously multiply bread and wine to feed the workers. Once a young boy came to the construction site to watch his uncle set stones; the boy fell from a wall, and was killed; John prayed over him, and restored him to life and health.

John and two brother Dominicans who were working on the convent were on the road near Caccamo when they were set upon by bandits. One of the thieves tried to stab John with a dagger; the man’s hand withered and became paralyzed. The gang let the brothers go, then decided to ask for their forgiveness. John made the Sign of the Cross at them, and the thief‘s hand was made whole.

One Christmas a nearby farmer offered to pasture the oxen that had come with the disappearing wagon-driver. John declined, saying the oxen had come far to be there, and there they should stay. Thinking he was doing good, the layman took them anyway. When he put them in the field with his own oxen, they promptly disappeared; he later found them at the construction site, contentedly munching dry grass near Father John.

While he did plenty of preaching in his 90+ years in the habit, usually on Christ’s Passion, he was not known as a great homilist. He was known, however, for his miracles and good works. His blessing caused the breadbox of a nearby widow to stay miraculously full, feeding her and her six children. His blessing prevented disease from coming to the cattle of his parishioners.  A noted healer, curing at least three people whose heads had been crushed in accidents, he was Provincial of Sicily, and Prior of the abbey on several occasions.

The General Council of the Order of Preachers, IOCC is thrilled to announce The Very Reverend Lady Sheila Tracey Sherwood has been admitted to the Novitiate of our Order.  Please continue to keep our dear sister in your prayers as she continues to develop her ministry in the UK, and as she begins the process of preparing for her life as a solemnly professed Dominican.