St. Peter's Repeated Miracles

God surrounds us with His miracles every day, but often we don’t have the eyes to see them.

Some, like the incredible gift of the Eucharist, are given to us repeatedly, yet we take them for granted. But sometimes smaller miracles jump out us – God’s way of grabbing our attention – especially when they are repeated.

My family recently experienced a miracle repeated twice for us, at the same location and same circumstances, but three years apart, at St. Columbkille School’s fourth-grade fishing trip.

Three years ago, my daughter Faustina went on the trip to Wehrspann Lake with her brother Daniel, an avid fisherman and a seminarian at the time. Faustina hadn’t been catching any fish, so Daniel suggested that they try a prayer to one of the most famous fishermen of all, St. Peter.

They prayed a prayer, and Faustina caught a fish – instantly.

Daniel already had developed a fast friendship with St. Peter, not only as a fishing buddy, but also as his inspiration to investigate a possible vocation to the priesthood.

Daniel’s love of fishing (which may have had its beginnings with his fourth-grade trip) had him planning to make a career of fishing, including studying wildlife fishery in college. But then Jesus’ words in the Gospel jumped out at him, as they had centuries ago to Peter (then-named Simon) and his brother, Andrew:

“Come after Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Daniel entered the seminary, but after four years he discerned that God’s call wasn’t necessarily to priesthood. Daniel continues to follow Jesus and is still pondering what that call might entail.

For Faustina, the little fishing miracle was life-changing. It came at a formative age and remains one of the first things she mentions as proof to her that God exists, that He answers prayers and that He answers her prayers.

So those family experiences must have entered Paul’s mind last week when he went on the same field trip with his class. It was a cold, windy day, and the fish weren’t biting for him either. Toward the end of the day, after both his parents had left, a frustrated Paul also asked St. Peter for help – out loud in front of a handful of classmates.

He followed that prayer with a silent Hail Mary as he walked a couple steps away to try a new spot. And he cast his line, immediately hooked a bass and reeled it in. He didn’t want to handle the fish, though, so his friend, Quinn, is shown holding the bass in the picture.

At least one parent witnessed the prayer, and God’s response. She said other kids also began calling out to St. Peter for help. God doesn’t necessarily work that way, she tried to explain.

A lot of people would be skeptical of our family’s fishing miracles, dismissing them as coincidences or too trivial a request for God. But I think God has been doing some of His own fishing.

First He landed Daniel. Then He hooked Faustina. And now He’s angling for Paul, or perhaps one or more of the people who witnessed our family’s second fishing miracle through St. Peter’s intercession.

St. Peter, our Lady and our Lord still have some work to do. We have two more children who haven’t reached fourth-grade yet. And next in line for the fishing trip is our own Peter, named after the saint and another great pope, St. John Paul.

St. Peter, pray for us! Watch over all fishermen (and women). And through your intercession, may God make us fishers of men!

Inspired by the Year of Faith, Susan Szalewski began writing weekly columns for us. Although that year is over, we liked them so well that we asked her to keep writing. Thankfully, she said yes. So watch for these on Thursdays and see the Year of Faith Blog here.

Happy Easter

The image above is in Fr. Damian's office. It depicts the disciples Peter and John (the other disciple whom Jesus loved) as they rush to the tomb as described in today's Gospel. John is young, Peter is old, and each runs with their own thoughts. Here is today's Gospel:

On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.”

So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.

When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed.

For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead.

Ending the Year of Faith

Today's Feast of Christ the King ends the Year of Faith proclaimed by Pope Benedict XVI. The closing Mass in St Peter’s Square included exposition, for public veneration, of the bones of St. Peter. Eight bone fragments were in an open bronze reliquary displayed to the side of the altar.

In 1971, Paul VI was given an urn containing the relics, which were kept inside the private papal chapel inside the Apostolic Palace and exhibited for the pope's private veneration each June 29, for the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul. Sunday marked the first time they were shown in public.

During the ceremony, the Pope – the 265th successor of Peter – held the closed reliquary for several minutes in silent prayer while choirs sang the Nicene Creed in Latin. The bones, which were discovered during excavations of the necropolis under St Peter’s Basilica had never been displayed in public.

“When Jesus is at the centre, light shines even the darkest moments of our lives; he gives us hope,” Pope Francis said in his homily.

At St. Columbkille, to mark the end of the Year of Faith we are renewing our Baptismal Promises.

Renewal of Baptismal Promises: (replaces Creed)

Priest:

Brothers and sisters,
through the Paschal Mystery
we have been buried with Christ in Baptism,
so that we may walk with him in newness of life.
And so, as the Year of Faith comes to an end,
let us renew the promises of Holy Baptism,
by which we once renounced Satan and his works
and promised to serve God in the holy Catholic Church.

(Congregation should be standing.)

And so I ask you:

Priest:  Do you renounce sin,
          so as to live in the freedom of the children of God?
ALL:  I do.

Priest: Do you renounce the lure of evil,
          so that sin may have no mastery over you?
ALL:  I do.

Priest:  Do you renounce Satan,
          the author and prince of sin?
ALL:  I do.

Priest: Do you believe in God,
          the Father almighty,
          Creator of heaven and earth?
ALL:  I do.

Priest: Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
          who was born of the Virgin Mary,
          suffered death and was buried,
          rose again from the dead
          and is seated at the right hand of the Father?
ALL:  I do.

Priest: Do you believe in the Holy Spirit,
          the holy Catholic Church,
          the forgiveness of sins,
          the resurrection of the body
          and life everlasting?
ALL:  I do.

Priest: And may almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
          who has given us new birth by water and the Holy Spirit
          and bestowed on us forgiveness of our sins,
          keep us by his grace,
          in Christ Jesus our Lord,
          for eternal life.

ALL:  AMEN.

It's a Holiday ... in Rome

Today is a holiday in Rome celebrating the Feast day of Sts. Peter and Paul. This is from Pope Francis' homily this morning:

Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles(Saturday, 29 June 2013)

Your Eminences,My Brother Bishops and Priests,
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
We are celebrating the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles, principal patrons of the Church of Rome: a celebration made all the more joyful by the presence of bishops from throughout the world. A great wealth, which makes us in some sense relive the event of Pentecost. Today, as then, the faith of the Church speaks in every tongue and desire to unite all peoples in one family.
I offer a heartfelt and grateful greeting to the Delegation of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, led by Metropolitan Ioannis. I thank Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomaios I for this renewed gesture of fraternity. I greet the distinguished ambassadors and civil authorities. And in a special way I thank the Thomanerchor, the Choir of the Thomaskirche of Leipzig – Bach’s own church – which is contributing to today’s liturgical celebration and represents an additional ecumenical presence.
I would like to offer three thoughts on the Petrine ministry, guided by the word “confirm”. What has the Bishop of Rome been called to confirm?
1. First, to confirm in faith. The Gospel speaks of the confession of Peter: “You are Christ, the Son of the living God” (Mt 16:16), a confession which does not come from him but from our Father in heaven. Because of this confession, Jesus replies: “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church” (v. 18). The role, the ecclesial service of Peter, is founded upon his confession of faith in Jesus, the Son of the living God, made possible by a grace granted from on high. In the second part of today’s Gospel we see the peril of thinking in worldly terms. When Jesus speaks of his death and resurrection, of the path of God which does not correspond to the human path of power, flesh and blood re-emerge in Peter: “He took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him ... This must never happen to you” (16:22). Jesus’ response is harsh: “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me” (v. 23). Whenever we let our thoughts, our feelings or the logic of human power prevail, and we do not let ourselves be taught and guided by faith, by God, we become stumbling blocks. Faith in Christ is the light of our life as Christians and as ministers in the Church!
2. To confirm in love. In the second reading we heard the moving words of Saint Paul: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Tm 4:7). But what is this fight? It is not one of those fights fought with human weapons which sadly continue to cause bloodshed throughout the world; rather, it is the fight of martyrdom. Saint Paul has but one weapon: the message of Christ and the gift of his entire life for Christ and for others. It is precisely this readiness to lay himself open, personally, to be consumed for the sake of the Gospel, to make himself all things to all people, unstintingly, that gives him credibility and builds up the Church. The Bishop of Rome is called himself to live and to confirm his brothers and sisters in this love for Christ and for all others, without distinction, limits or barriers.
3. To confirm in unity. Here I would like to reflect for a moment on the rite which we have carried out. The pallium is a symbol of communion with the Successor of Peter, “the lasting and visible source and foundation of the unity both of faith and of communion” (Lumen Gentium, 18). And your presence today, dear brothers, is the sign that the Church’s communion does not mean uniformity. The Second Vatican Council, in speaking of the hierarchical structure of the Church, states that the Lord “established the apostles as college or permanent assembly, at the head of which he placed Peter, chosen from their number” (ibid., 19). And it continues, “this college, in so far as it is composed of many members, is the expression of the variety and universality of the people of God” (ibid., 22). In the Church, variety, which is itself a great treasure, is always grounded in the harmony of unity, like a great mosaic in which every small piece joins with others as part of God’s one great plan. This should inspire us to work always to overcome every conflict which wounds the body of the Church. United in our differences: this is the way of Jesus! The pallium, while being a sign of communion with the Bishop of Rome and with the universal church, also commits each of you to being a servant of communion.
To confess the Lord by letting oneself be taught by God; to be consumed by love for Christ and his Gospel; to be servants of unity. These, dear brother bishops, are the tasks which the holy apostles Peter and Paul entrust to each of us, so that they can be lived by every Christian. May the holy Mother of God guide us and accompany us always with her intercession. Queen of Apostles, pray for us! Amen.

Just before the homily, Pope Francis presented a pallium to those who have been named an Archbishop in the last year. This includes Archbishop Mario Aurelio Poli who was named to the pope's former position in Buenos Aires, Argentina (pictured below).

The pallium is a a circular band worn by the Archbishop over the chasuble at Mass. Each year on the Feast of St. Agnes, two lambs are blessed and palliums are made from their wool by a group of religious sisters. The new palliums are blessed on the ever of the feast and kept in a silver-gilt container in front of the Main altar in St. Peter's Basilica until given to the Archbishops.

Other US Archbishops receiving the pallium this year were Archbishop Joseph Tobin, CSSR of Indianapolis (above), Archbishop Alexander Sample of Portland ...

... Archbishop Michael Jackels of Dubuque and Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco (above.)

As is tradition, this weekend we shall also have a second collection called Peter's Pence to used as the Pope wishes.

Archbishop Sample's Play by Play of the Installation

Above is a picture of Pope Francis as he prayed at the tomb of St. Peter before the Installation Mass which was at 3 a.m. local time.

As he watched the televised Mass, Archbishop Alexander Sample (@ArchbishpSample) tweeted his thoughts. Archbishop Sample is the Archbishop-designate of the Catholic Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon and is the Bishop Of Marquette in Michigan. Here were his tweets:

I'm watching live the inauguration of Pope Francis' pontificate. A glorious day in Rome and for the whole Church! Laudetur Iesus Christus!

Very moving to see Pope Francis pray before Mass at the tomb of St. Peter - called the "confessio" below the papal altar in St. Peter's.

Pope Francis begins the Mass in Latin. An international gathering, so he uses the universal language of the Church.

Pope Francis receives the pallium and the ring of the fisherman as Mass begins - powerful symbols of his office.

Pope Francis does not chant the Collect but recites it. Interesting.

Six cardinals representing the whole college come forward to show their filial respect and obedience to the new Pope.

The Pope uses the confiteor as the Act of Penitence.

The Kyrie from the Missa de Angelis and Gloria sung alternating with the choir.

Pope Francis has his head bowed and looks very much deep in prayer during the singing of the Gloria.

The Pope is wearing very simple vestments. The Cardinals chasubles look more ornate than the Holy Father's

Oops! Now comes the Collect of the Mass - the other prayers he said before the Penitential act were upon receiving the ring and pallium

First reading in English. Sounds like North American English.

I see Msgr. John Cihak next to the cantor of the psalm. He is a master of ceremonies and a priest of the Archdiocese of Portland

Msgr. Cihak works in the Congregation for Bishops and will soon be one of my priests (2 weeks from today I will be installed in Portland)

Second reading in Spanish.

The Gospel will be chanted in Greek by an Eastern deacon. The Church breathes with both lungs (East and West) on such an occasion!

It should be said that the Mass today is the Mass of the Solemnity of St. Joseph - patron of the universal Church. How appropriate!

Okay, one question answered. The Pope will preach standing and without the miter.

Pope Francis highlights St. Joseph's faithful, humble care of Mary and Jesus. He is the protector even when he does not understand

Protecting Christ as St. Joseph did means that we look out for all people, especially the poor and needy - all people.

Interesting - more than once the Pope mentions also caring for the creation, the environment.

Pope: we must not be afraid of goodness, tenderness.

Authentic power is service. When the Pope exercises power, it is service as it was for St. Peter. Feed my sheep!

The Pope has finished his homily. A strong theme of protecting with goodness and tenderness all of creation and every human person.

The Pope bows deeply at the "incarnatus est" of the Creed.

Prayers of the faithful in various languages. Somewhat abbreviated it seems to me from past Masses.

I see the priests assuming their places for the Eucharistic Prayer. I wonder if Fr. Dan Moll (Diocese of Marquette )is among them.

A simpler offertory. The gifts are not presented to the Pope by the people from various countries, but simply brought to the altar.

The Mass maintains the so-called "Benedictine" altar arrangement - 7 candles with the crucifix in the middle.

The Holy Father recites the preface, not chanting it. Many speculate if his reduced lung capacity (one lung) limits his ability.

The Holy Father uses the Roman Canon (Eucharistic Prayer I).

The Holy Father maintains his practice, which I have observed, of actually placing his hands on the chalice and bread at the epiclesis.

The Holy Father has completed the consecration. He looks with such devotion at the host and chalice at the elevation. Touching.

I must say that I am struck by the Holy Father's prayerfulness during the celebration of this Mass. He seems to meditate.

The Holy Father gives Holy Communion to the deacons of the Mass by intinction while the deacons kneel.

Interesting that the Holy Father has chosen not to distribute Holy Communion himself to the faithful.

Prayer after communion. Pope Francis gives us his blessing!

Amazing. They got this whole Mass in under 2 hours. Now they chant the Salve Regina. Pope Francis has a great devotion to Our Lady.

The Holy Father stands in prayer before the statue of Holy Mary during the Salve Regina. Holy Mother of the Church, intercede for him!

And now a solemn Te Deum!

Te Deum laudamus indeed. Now I must go and celebrate Mass for our new Pope. God bless you all!

The Case of the Missing Pope

Omar Gutierrez is an Archdiocese story teller of non-fiction who told of the discovery of Saint Peter's tomb like a Dan Brown mystery being slowly revealed.

He introduced and described the many characters, Popes, Roman emperors, archaeologists, and clergy in the story as each designed, built, or excavated the Basilica and its tombs.

He revealed clues using humor

 and drawings and photographs.

We felt like a by-stander as the discoveries kept being revealed across the centuries.

Thank you Mr. Gutierrez!