Kathryn Lopez
1, Today’s the feast day of Chinese martyrs, Augustine Zhao Rong and his 119 companions. When they were canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2000, he said, in part:
“The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart” (Responsorial Psalm). These words of the Responsorial Psalm clearly reflect the experience of Augustine Zhao Rong and his 119 companions, martyrs in China. The testimonies which have come down to us allow us to glimpse in them a state of mind marked by deep serenity and joy.
Today the Church is grateful to her Lord, who blesses her and bathes her in light with the radiant holiness of these sons and daughters of China. Is not the Holy Year the most appropriate moment to make their heroic witness shine resplendently? Young Ann Wang, a 14-year-old, withstood the threats of the torturers who invited her to apostatize. Ready for her beheading, she declared with a radiant face: “The door of heaven is open to all”, three times murmuring: “Jesus”. And 18-year-old Chi Zhuzi, cried out fearlessly to those who had just cut off his right arm and were preparing to flay him alive: “Every piece of my flesh, every drop of my blood will tell you that I am Christian”.
The other 85 Chinese men and women of every age and state, priests, religious and lay people, showed the same conviction and joy, sealing their unfailing fidelity to Christ and the Church with the gift of their lives. This occurred over the course of several centuries and in a complex and difficult era of China’s history. Today’s celebration is not the appropriate time to pass judgement on those historical periods: this can and should be done elsewhere. Today, with this solemn proclamation of holiness, the Church intends merely to recognize that those martyrs are an example of courage and consistency to us all, and that they honour the noble Chinese people.
Resplendent in this host of martyrs are also the 33 missionaries who left their land and sought to immerse themselves in the Chinese world, lovingly assimilating its features in the desire to proclaim Christ and to serve those people. Their tombs are there as if to signify their definitive belonging to China, which they deeply loved, although with their human limitations, and for which they spent all their energies. “We never wronged anyone”, Bishop Francis Fogolla replied to the governor who was preparing to strike him with his sword. “On the contrary, we have done good to many”. (In Chinese) God sends down happiness.
2.
The disciple is not directed in his or her life by the adage "be yourself" but by the desire to be like Christ.
— FrSteveGrunow (@FrSteveGrunow) July 9, 2015
3.
It is in a disciple's willingness to forgive-especially when forgiveness is undeserved- that we become Christ-like.
— FrSteveGrunow (@FrSteveGrunow) July 9, 2015
5.
From St. Ambrose in the Liturgy of the Hours today (on Psalm 118):
My Father and I will come and make our home with him. Let your door stand open to receive him, unlock your soul to him, offer him a welcome in your mind, and then you will see the riches of simplicity, the treasures of peace, the joy of grace. Throw wide the gate of your heart, stand before the sun of the everlasting light that shines on every man. This true light shines on all, but if anyone closes his window he will deprive himself of eternal light. If you shut the door of your mind, you shut out Christ. Though he can enter, he does not want to force his way in rudely, or compel us to admit him against our will.
Born of a virgin, he came forth from the womb as the light of the whole world in order to shine on all men. His light is received by those who long for the splendor of perpetual light that night can never destroy. The sun of our daily experience is succeeded by the darkness of night, but the sun of holiness never sets, because wisdom cannot give place to evil.
Blessed then is the man at whose door Christ stands and knocks. Our door is faith; if it is strong enough, the whole house is safe. This is the door by which Christ enters. So the Church says in the Song of Songs: The voice of my brother is at the door. Hear his knock, listen to him asking to enter: Open to me, my sister, my betrothed, my dove, my perfect one, for my head is covered with dew, and my hair with the moisture of the night.
When does God the Word most often knock at your door?—When his head is covered with the dew of night. He visits in love those in trouble and temptation, to save them from being overwhelmed by their trials. His head is covered with dew or moisture when those who are his body are in distress. That is the time when you must keep watch so that when the bridegroom comes he may not find himself shut out, and take his departure. If you were to sleep, if your heart were not wide awake, he would not knock but go away; but if your heart is watchful, he knocks and asks you to open the door to him.
Our soul has a door; it has gates. Lift up your heads, O gates, and be lifted up, eternal gates, and the King of glory will enter. If you open the gates of your faith, the King of glory will enter your house in the triumphal procession in honor of his passion. Holiness too has its gates. We read in Scripture what the Lord Jesus said through his prophet: Open for me the gates of holiness.
It is the soul that has its door, its gates. Christ comes to this door and knocks; he knocks at these gates. Open to him; he wants to enter, to find his bride waiting and watching.
Still looking for good summer reading? How about the psalms?
(Some other summer readings recommendations on National Review Online here.)
6.
Young people must have hope, joy, and purpose, all of which can be found through the Lord Jesus.
— Bishop Caggiano (@BishopCaggiano) July 7, 2015
7.
“As you enter a house, wish it peace.” We bring Christ to others – not our peace, but his. We offer others his life, not ours. #HomilyTweet
— Fr James Bradley (@FrJamesBradley) July 9, 2015
8.
The world is made of distractions and entertainment. It takes our eyes off Jesus. Stay focused. Keep your eyes on the Cross.
— Fr Brad Sweet (@BradBradsweet) July 9, 2015
9.
Silently, approaching sanctuary,
the altar stands as bridge to eternity,
in hushed tones, the work of prayer is recited reverently. #Mass
— Fr. Patrick Brennan (@Pathound) July 9, 2015
10. Some beautiful – real, fatherly – outtakes from Pope francis speaking to priests and religious:
Francis to priest: as for the Grace not to forget that none of us deserved to become priests!
— IneSM (@inesanma) July 8, 2015
Francis to priests: we have to serve even when we're fed up with people! Daily pray for this strength!
#PapaEnEcuador
— IneSM (@inesanma) July 8, 2015
Pope to priests: The holy people of God, ontologically, has 2 qualities: they do whatever they want, and they are exhausting!#PapaEnEcuador
— IneSM (@inesanma) July 8, 2015
Pray for priests.
11. There’s a reflection from Caryll Houselander in Magnificat today:
Christ’s example shows us so clearly and simply how to practice his objective love, how to learn what is in the hearts of others. First we must realize everyone separately and approach each one differently.
There are some who come to him through their minds, through their study, and through considering the problems of today, suffering above all. We should be ready to discuss their thoughts with them, not in order to score points against them in argument, but to help them to clarify their own ideas, to form their own conclusions – this, with the gentleness of Christ, that they, like the disciples on the road, may feel their hearts burning within them as they mystery of the Redemption begins to shine on their minds.
Not only by words or acts can we show Christ to men, but also by the quality of our love. Sometimes in denying ourselves its immediate delight – Do not cling to me thus (Jn 20:17); sometimes in the humility which causes us to put ourselves into the hands of the love one: Let me have your hand; put it into my side (Jn 20:27). Sometimes by serving, lighting the fires, cooking the food, in the simplicity of the Risen Christ. Sometimes by forgiving, with his forgiveness that heals because it asks only for love: Simon, son of John, do you love me? (Jn 21:17).
Sometimes the revelation is secret, and is made through reparation, through gladly bearing the wounds of sin, our own and world’s, inwardly, and offering our suffering and sorrow in Christ’s to redeem the world and bring peace and the forgiveness of sin. By this means it is that Christ in us still passes through the locked doors of other lives, of closed minds and frightened hearts. The disciples had locked the doors of the room in which they had assembled; and Jesus came, and stood there in their midst” (Jn 20:19).
Do you subscribe to Magnificat yet? It is a blessed resource.
12. Have you prayed for priests yet? Start, perhaps, with a “Hail Mary,” “Our Father,” and “Glory Be” for your pastor, or another priest you’ve encountered. And add a Hail Mary for good and holy seminary formation.
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In