The Cross: our Badge of Honour
Christianity is full of paradoxes. One of them is the Cross, which has been transformed from a symbol of disgrace into a symbol of honour. In the Roman Empire, dying on the cross was a brutal punishment reserved for slaves and lowly criminals; however, through Jesus Christ’s Passion, Death and Resurrection, it became a symbol of hope and love.
On 14 September, we celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. It is a manifold commemoration: that of the discovery of the True Cross by St Helena on her pilgrimage to Jerusalem in the year 326 AD; the dedication of the church of the Holy Sepulchre built by her son, the first Christian Roman Emperor, Constantine the Great, and consecrated on 13 September 335 AD; and the public veneration of the Cross there the following day.
Much later, Emperor Heraclius won back from the Persian Emperor Khosrow II the True Cross that the latter had captured on the occasion of his conquest of Jerusalem in 614 AD. The Byzantine emperor elevated the said Cross at Hagia Sophia, Constantinople, and later brought it to Jerusalem in 629 AD.
Considering the central role of the Cross in the Christian faith, the Sign of the Cross has become a distinctive gesture of devotion. Christian households usually have a crucifix (a cross with the body of Christ on it) hanging on the wall. ‘Exaltação da Cruz’ (Exaltation of the Cross, in Portuguese) is even taken as a baptism name. All of which speaks of how the Cross is exalted above all other symbols in Christianity.
This year, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross falls on a Sunday. This happens on an average once in seven years. Hence, a new set of Readings on the 24th Sunday of Ordinary Time of this year.
In the First Reading (Num 21: 4b-9) we see the punishment meted out to the Israelites who had rebelled against God instead of being grateful to Him for rescuing them from slavery in Egypt. They were bitten by fiery serpents, and perished. So, God instructed Moses to create a bronze serpent figurine and hoist it on a pole or staff; whoever looked upon the bronze serpent, survived.
In reality, the bronze serpent was the prefiguration of the Lord Himself, who would hang on the Cross for our sake centuries later. This is clear from Jesus’ words to Nicodemus in the Gospel text (Jn 3:13-17): ‘No one has gone up to heaven except the One who has come down from Heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.’
The Ascension would not have happened without His Passion, Death, and Resurrection, all of which was an act of loving reparation for the sins of humankind: ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life.’
The Gospel text further states in no uncertain terms that ‘God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.’
St Paul makes this clear in today’s Second Reading (Phil 2: 6-11) when he says that Christ ‘emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, He humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.’
Therefore, we must never feel embarrassed by the Cross. In fact, we must put it back where it belongs: in the Catholic educational institutions that have removed it in the name of ‘political correctness’ and in the clinics and hospitals that have replaced it with the Rod of Asclepius.[i] We must bring back the solid crucifix into our ultramodern churches that have fallen for minimalist crucifixes, or the Risen Christ with the cross in the background, or even just the Risen Christ – as though the Crucified Christ were something to be ashamed of.
Finally, today and always, we must make it a point to exalt the Cross in our homes and in society at large. In concrete terms, we must take up our cross and follow Him (cf. Mt 16: 24). The Cross is the ultimate example of love. We must make it a point to exalt the Cross in our hearts: it is our badge of honour.
[i] The Rod of Asclepius symbol is a medical symbol depicting a single snake coiled around a staff or rod, representing healing, medicine, and the Greek god of healing, Asclepius.
Jesus lambasts hypocrisy
The Bible is not a collection of feel-good stories that might give false hope and ultimately disappoint us. It is a collection of books that reveal God’s sincere and longstanding relationship with humankind. The Word became flesh in Jesus, who then refined the teachings of the Old Testament, making them comprehensible to modern man. For its part, the New Testament is a perfect guide for imperfect people like you and me, helping us to live rightly, as Jesus did.
Take the case of the Book of Sirach, from where the First Reading (3: 17-20, 28-29) is taken. Written circa 180 BC, it is the only book of wisdom literature whose author is known by name: Jesus Ben Sirach, a Hellenistic Jewish scribe. It is warmly recommended for its instruction and edification. Its rich, practical teachings are presented in a fatherly and persuasive manner.
Shining as it does by its supernatural motivation, its advice differs from, say, that of Bacon’s Essays, or Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People. So, when Sirach tells you to ‘perform your tasks in meekness; then you will be loved…’, it’s not a manipulative strategy to find acceptance in the world. The words that follow ‘loved’ are important: ‘loved by those whom God accepts.’
In other words, the approach is other-worldly. God’s acceptance or ratification is what matters – an aspect so important to stress upon in an age when ‘anything goes.’ For example, if wanting to pass off as ‘broad-minded’ individuals, elders may fail to reprimand youngsters. Similarly, politicians of all hues bend over backwards to please (and in recent times, even Opposition members have shown much skill in backbends and forward bends). The bend is always on the side their bread is buttered...
As if that wasn’t bad enough, ‘men of God’ have followed suit. And what can be worse than the hypocrisy of the ‘men of God’? Some of them feed off the people’s adulation, while others curry favour with political animals… Just another move, and they’ll have crossed over to the other side and worship false gods. That’s precisely what happened in Goa yesterday (
If we’ve got any self-respect left, our archdiocese ought to feel distressed with the arrival of another edition of the ‘elephantine blunder’ of 2022 https://www.oscardenoronha.com/2022/09/13/elephantine-blunder/
In concrete terms, how can a priest engage in idol worship, imagining it to be some kind of innocuous ‘outreach’? If they argue that ‘those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick’ (Mt 9: 12), for goodness’ sake, where’s the medicine?... When Jesus was invited by shady characters – public sinners – He went, knowing full well that they didn’t have the right intentions. But then, He didn’t jump on the bandwagon; rather, confronting the majority, He announced the Good News straight on. That’s a medicine indeed; if we don’t give out our medicine, we could end up drinking their poison!
In today’s Gospel text (Lk 14: 1, 7-14), Jesus advises us to sit in the lowest place, so that when the host comes, he may say, ‘Friend, go up higher’. This may seem like a tactic to climb the ladder of success in this world, but it’s not! In fact, Jesus wants us to transpose the situation to Heaven. For in God’s eyes, ‘He who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.’ This is a lesson in authentic, not false, humility.
Further on, Jesus exhorts us to love and care especially for the poor, the weak, and the voiceless. By advising the Pharisee to invite people such as these, and not the rich and famous alone, to his dinner or banquet, He teaches a lesson in selflessness and total trust in the eternal reward that awaits us in Heaven: ‘You will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.’
None of that is difficult for those who truly believe and trust in the Lord our God. That is also the message of the Second Reading (Heb 12: 18-19, 22-24), which juxtaposes the experience of the old and the new covenants. Whereas formerly God made covenants with His people in the midst of the great theophany of the Sinai (God’s visible manifestation to humankind there), in the latter days God made a covenant in the city of the living God. And where once there was fear, now there is love.
Where, then, is there place for hypocrisy in God's economy? None. In fact, Jesus reserves his harshest condemnation for religious hypocrites, such as the Pharisees. He decries their outward show of righteousness as a "whitewashed tomb" and warns that hypocrites will face severe punishment. Their place, then, could well be Hell.
Who will be saved?
Recently, when Israel began to pound Gaza, in a bid to forcefully occupy it, a quote from Zephaniah 2: 4 came up for discussion: ‘For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up.’ Is the prophecy applicable to the present times?
Gaza is in Palestine; the remaining three cities, in Israel. Israel began its offensive against Gaza last Thursday. Yesterday, Yemen's Houthi forces targeted Ashkelon with drones and missiles. What will happen to Ashdod and Ekron (Tel Miqne), both in Israel? How it will all pan out is anybody’s guess.
Meanwhile, it is curious to note how modern Israel seems keen on rewinding Biblical history in its favour. The country is a far cry from the Biblical Israel. How, then, can they insist on the status quo ante? Canaan was for the Chosen People, an enviable position they lost as a result of disobeying God’s commands down the ages. We Christians, for our part, know that the erstwhile Chosen People’s problems are of their own making…
As the First Reading (Is 66: 18-21) states, the Jewish people had been expected to ‘gather all nations and tongues… that have not heard [God’s] fame or seen [His] glory’. They were enjoined to ‘declare my glory among the nations…’ and bring them ‘as an offering to the Lord, upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon dromedaries, to my holy mountain Jerusalem.’ How much of this did the Jewish people do to glorify the true God?
Whereas they failed to acknowledge that Jesus is the Son of God, and to go out to the whole world and proclaim the Good News, now they line up, like self-proclaimed heirs and beneficiaries who unashamedly gather after a person’s death, to claim the former land of Canaan as their inheritance. Their gods are Baal and Mammon; their instruments of worship, drones and missiles! That’s the measure of their iniquity.
In the Gospel (Lk 13: 22-30), the Son of God, whom God the Father sent to earth as a final act of redemption, stated in no uncertain terms: ‘Many, I tell you, will seek to enter [the kingdom of God] and will not be able.’ This is a word of caution to all who go on with life as if the earth is their final destination: let them not be alarmed when the hour inexorably strikes! At that point, of what use will it be to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ He will retort: ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from; depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity!’
Alas, they will weep and gnash their teeth on seeing Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and be thrust out. Even if pagan nations unite against Jerusalem, God will defeat them and use them for His glory. Thereafter they will share the former privileges of the Jew: ‘Men will come from east and west, and from north and south, and sit at table in the kingdom of God.’ The glorious task of evangelisation will be entrusted to them.
Is Israel, then, fated to perish? My interlocutor pointed out that the Lord says, ‘How can I give you up, Israel? How can I abandon you?... My heart will not let me do it. My love for you is too strong.’ (Hos 11: 8) For sure, we have a most faithful and loving God; He is just and full of mercy. The book’s narrative arc maintains that even if God’s people had deserted the Lord, in the end God’s constant love would prevail and win the nation back to Himself, restoring the relationship. This has been the message of prophets like Jeremiah and Ezekiel, too.
But can the Lord be put to the test? It is futile to think that God being so good will not condemn us definitely. After all, Hell is for the condemned. Why can’t Israel, too, learn a lesson or two from the centuries gone by? They – and we – would do well to take a leaf from the Second Reading (Heb 12: 5-7, 11-13): ‘Have you forgotten the exhortation which addresses you as my sons? … My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord… The Lord disciplines every son whom he receives… For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant; later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.’
The kingdom of God belongs to such as these who will let themselves be disciplined by the Lord our God. They will show love; they will be grateful; they will serve and be saved.
The Peace We Seek
A prophet finds no acceptance in his own home or country. It could be so for many reasons, one being that true prophets speak the full truth. They do so to guide, warn, or offer hope. But, as the saying goes, the truth hurts, and the prophets end up alienating people. And if they be rich and powerful people, prophets will soon be at the receiving end of all sorts of punishments. It has been so since times immemorial, and is true even in our world that swears by openness, transparency and democracy.
It is therefore not surprising that the prophet Jeremiah in the First Reading (Jer 38: 4-6, 8-10) suffered what he did at the hands of the powers-that-be. It was the year 588 BC, when the king of Babylon had besieged the holy city of Jerusalem. God’s spokesman, finding it suicidal to resist the enemy, advised the country to surrender. His message, however, was not music to the ears of the political leaders. They first tried to prevent him from being in touch with the people. Then, egged on by the puppet king Zedekiah, they condemned him to death. Zedekiah was fated to be the last king of Judah before its destruction by the Babylonian Empire.
Meanwhile, Ebedmelech the Ethiopian prevailed upon the king to reverse his decision. Accordingly, Jeremiah was lifted out of the miry cistern of Malchiah. Ebedmelech, whose name meant Servant of the King, was evidently a believer in Israel’s God. He was an honourable man, the likes of which are rare. Really, how many men of character like the African who saved Jeremiah can we find in our midst today?
Alas, crisis of character is the bane of our times. There is an undeniable decline in moral principles and ethical behaviour, and a visible erosion of trust in institutions and leaders. Those in power are expected to protect and save, but they turn into predators instead. Their egoism and greed has become the defining characteristic of our days. Was it because we have had it easy for too long that we have even forgotten God our Provider? As Michael Hopf, a US Marine veteran, puts it memorably in his book Those Who Remain: ‘Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times.’
‘Strong men’ is obviously what Our Lord wants to make of us when in the Gospel text (Lk 12: 49-53) He declares: ‘I have come to cast fire upon the earth… Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.’ This again is not good news to our generation that is so accustomed to sermons on forgiveness, love and peace alone, not war and retribution.
Could Our Lord ever be wrong? He spoke of ‘division’ in lieu of ‘peace’. Does that seem incompatible with Our Lord’s title of ‘Prince of Peace’? Fr Anton Huonder, Jesuit missiologist, ascetical writer, and renowned preacher of The Spiritual Exercises, states: ‘Certainly, the Saviour wanted to bring peace to men of goodwill, those who submit themselves to the yoke of His law; He wants to give them, not the peace that the world dreams of, but His peace, which the world cannot give.’ Hence, neither at home nor in society should we aim to please everybody, satisfy all tastes, wear a mask, make a pact with error and vice, harmonise irreconcilable dissonances. Instead, we must look for an authentic expression of peace, which is in keeping with God's law.
For that matter, in the world of politics, can we go by the promises of peace made by leaders, be it Trump or Putin, Netanyahu or Khamenei? Look at how ‘Pursuing Peace’ melted down in Alaska yesterday. The peace our statesmen present is not true peace; they neither know nor wish to know how to achieve it. It suits them to pose as ‘pacifists’ whereas all they ever want is personal glory and (maybe) monetary advantages for their country. The late Brazilian Catholic thinker Plínio Corrêa de Oliveira clinched it: ‘Peace [is] a cause much too beautiful, much too just and much too noble to be left in the hands of pacifists.’
To conclude, there is nothing else left for us to do but to ‘run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the Cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.’ That’s the message of the Second Reading (Heb 12: 1-4) today. And there is none else that we can trust but Him who gave Himself up for our salvation.
Jesuit Fr Douglas Rowe’s hymn puts it very heart-warmingly: ‘No one can give to me that peace which my Risen Lord, my Risen King can give’. Indeed, that’s the one and only peace we ought to seek.
Faith conquers all
It is sad how in the world today human reason or knowledge rather than faith in God is generally at the top of the order. Accordingly, people of faith are perceived as weak while those with worldly knowledge are celebrated. People with minds trusting in human agencies strut around as if they have seen it all, done it all. Thankfully, today’s Readings lend us a fresh perspective.
In the First Reading taken from the Book of Wisdom (18: 6-9), the writer refers to the fact that Abraham and his descendants were aware of the night when their people would be freed from slavery in Egypt. That night would mark the ‘deliverance of the righteous and the destruction of their enemies’. But then, did they acquire that knowledge on their own merits? No; it was revealed to them by God, because of their faith in Him.
In whatever we do, whether big or small, we must rely on divine providence; pray, and give thanks at all times. For their part, the Israelites offered sacrifices ‘in secret’, in the privacy of their homes. But that was not all. With one accord they agreed to abide by the divine law and were ready for ‘blessings and dangers’ alike. Life would be less stressful life if we too, as per the Ignatian formula, prayed as if everything depended on God and worked as if everything depended on us. ‘God knows best’ could well be our motto.
It is this type of faith that the Second Reading (Heb 11: 1-2, 8-19) defines as ‘the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.’ That is how our ancestors lived: always trusting in the Lord. That is how Abraham went out and lived in a foreign land, no questions asked; and Sarah, though sterile, received power to conceive. When a sense of adventure and openness is informed by a deep faith, God makes the seemingly impossible possible!
In fact, in chapter 11, the writer revisits the whole of salvation history from the faith perspective. He also introduces us to a number of individuals and events that bear out the power of faith. That is not to say that having faith frees us from trouble, sickness, criticism, attacks, danger, and the like. What it really does is strengthen us in the belief that, no matter what happens, we enjoy the benefit of God’s protection.
Similarly, all that we have prayed for or expected may not happen on earth. After all, we are exiles in this valley of tears. So, it is in Heaven, a ‘better country’, our final destination, that we shall receive our eternal reward. Heaven is the place God has prepared for us, just as He once prepared the Promised Land of Canaan for His Chosen People. Thus, setting our eyes on Heaven is not escapist but realistic; no wonder it ensures health of mind and body.
In that regard, the opening words of the Gospel text (Mt 12: 32-48) carry a hugely refreshing message to our world drowned in anxiety: ‘Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.’ So, let's not to rely on what the world has to offer; let's not to set our hearts on things that do not satisfy! Instead, ‘let your loins be girded and your lamps burning, for the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect.’
The said Gospel chapter has a series of parables on Our Lord’s exhortation to vigilance. We have to wait for the Second Coming, bide our time, and keep the faith. Such advice is ingrained in our religion. Therefore, however learned we may be, or no matter what we have achieved in life, there is nothing comparable to divine power and providence. As A. G. Sertillanges (1863-1948), the redoubtable French Dominican priest, philosopher, and apologist, puts it, ‘Reason ambitions only a world; faith gives it infinity.’ Indeed, faith conquers all.
Banner: https://shorturl.at/PIB5u
Between Jerusalem and Rome
The Readings of the Fourteenth Sunday of the Year especially grab our attention. In the First, we see Isaiah’s colourful imagery involving Jerusalem (Is 66: 10-14); in the Second, we have St Paul’s passionate testimony (Gal 6: 14-18) based on his life experience in the Roman Empire; and in the Third, Jesus exhorts His disciples to travel to the ends of the world (Lk 10: 1-12, 17-20).
With the goings-on in Israel, however, can we legitimately ‘rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who love her’? Must we love her at all? Regardless of the present conflict in the region (pushed by the modern State of Israel, which is not the biblical Israel), we ought to love Jerusalem as the cradle of Christianity and the city where Our Lord lived, died, and rose. Therefore, the Church favours a two-nation solution to the Israel-Palestine imbroglio and an internationally guaranteed special status for Jerusalem, with access to the holy places guaranteed.
For his part, the Jewish Prophet Isaiah is an integral part of our Christian heritage. His colourful images come alive even for us who have long looked to Rome for spiritual inspiration. Rome is the centre of the Catholic Church, the seat of the Papacy, and the location of Vatican City, an independent city-state, albeit surrounded by the city of Rome. The Church prays for the conversion of Israel, specifically for the Jewish people to acknowledge Jesus Christ as the Messiah. All this makes the reference to Jerusalem all the more significant.
Of course, with Jesus, it became clear that salvation is not the preserve of the Jewish people. No doubt, it was first proclaimed to them. Jesus spoke first to the Twelve (see Lk 9), and then to the Seventy-two. Knowing that the Jewish officialdom would not take forward the divine mission, Jesus empowered His disciples to do so.[1] They went before Him to several places and ‘returned with joy’. And then, not only did Peter go to Rome and Paul journey through the Roman Empire, but Thomas came as far as India and died there.
A fragment of today’s Gospel text rings in the ear of every Christian: ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few.’ He set them out ‘as lambs amid wolves’, anticipating trials and tribulations in a hostile world. Yet, He bid them to ‘carry no purse, no bag, no sandals, and to salute none along the way.’ They were not to waste time in elaborate greetings, so typical of Oriental cultures, but to focus on announcing the Good News without delay.
Furthermore, the disciples were to eat, drink, and accept accommodation as provided to them, ‘for the labourer deserves his wages’; but they were not to have great expectations or make demands. God would sustain them. They had to reach out to the sick physically and spiritually, giving them the hope of eternal salvation. Divine Master gave His disciples practical tips, management skills infused with psychological and spiritual principles! It is no wonder that Vatican diplomacy possesses unique strengths and commands respect.
St Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles, who witnessed crises in the communities he tended and overcame them, concludes his Letter to the Galatians as follows: ‘I do not wish to take pride in anything except in the Cross of Christ Jesus our Lord.’ So, it is not circumcision or uncircumcision but the Cross of Christ that matters for our salvation. This is a big eye-opener. We ought not to sacrifice the truth of the Gospel to materialistic values and goals, something that even those in authority sometimes do. We must hold steadfast to the divine message.
So, whether in Jerusalem, in Rome, or at home, we must strive to be true disciples of Christ, the salt of the earth and light of the world.
[1] How many did Jesus commission? Some codices say 70, others 72; both figures are correct, as they represent the pagan communities (70 in the Hebrew text, 72 in the Greek) mentioned in Genesis 10. St Luke is the only Evangelist who mentions this number, suggesting that Jesus would not limit Himself to the twelve tribes of Israel (denoted by the Apostles) but would reach out to all communities and nations.
Models of faith and courage
Today, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. The Readings for the Vigil Mass[1] and the Day Mass are different, thus helping us to explore various facets of the feast and enjoy a richer liturgical experience. The Vigil Mass provides a broad overview, while the Day Mass offers specific insights into the lives and teachings of the two foundational figures of the early Church.
The Day Mass delves into the lives and ministries of the twin saints. In the First Reading (Acts 12:1-11), we see Herod’s persecution of the fledgling church. This was Herod Agrippa I, who ruled as king over Judea. He was the grandson of Herod the Great, who was on the throne when Jesus was born, and a nephew of the tetrarch of Galilee and Perea, Herod Antipas, who beheaded St John the Baptist.
Here, Herod is seen persecuting the early Christians, executing Zebedee’s son James the Great, and imprisoning Peter. But, miracle of miracles, the angel of the Lord visited Peter in jail and walked him out. The city’s iron gate opened to them of its own accord, and with Peter now in a safe zone, the angel left him without ado. All along, Peter thought he was seeing a vision, until he exclaimed: ‘Now I am sure that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.’
The day’s Reading ends here, but the story continues with Peter meeting his fellow men huddled in prayer at the house of St Mark the Evangelist. He described to them how the Lord had brought him out. The angel’s intervention had been a direct response to the church’s fervent prayers for Peter's release. He requested them to inform James, a leader in the Jerusalem church. Then Peter departed and went to another place. And when day came, there was no small stir among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. A frustrated Herod ordered that the soldiers be put to death and died shortly thereafter, struck by an angel for accepting praise as a god.
While all this is believed to have happened in the year 44 AD, a decade or so after Our Lord’s Ascension, the Gospel text (Mt 16:13-19 covers a much earlier, ground-breaking episode in Peter’s life: his profession of faith. When Jesus posed the question, ‘Who do men say that the Son of man is?’, to Peter, He was unmistakably ‘Christ, the Son of the living God.’ Recognising that his answer came by inspiration from God the Father, Jesus answered: ‘And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of Heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven.’
Words of great import. They conferred primacy upon the son of Jonas, and set on him His Church, a name mentioned for the first time. Simon, the weak mortal of flesh and blood, was now destined to brave all assaults of Hell. Jesus assured him of the same stability that He gave to His Church, transmitting the privileges of Peter to his successors seated in the Chair of Infallibility and holding in their hands the Keys of supreme authority. They would give laws and guide kings and peoples, pastors and their flocks in the path of salvation; they would open and shut the gates of the celestial Kingdom.[2]
But these splendours were not free of troubles. Peter, the first Pope, endured persecution for the sake of the Church. Similarly, St Paul had his share of struggle and pain. But both persevered to the end. Hence, St Paul’s exhorted his people to preach the Word of God in and out of season, foreseeing that ‘the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their likings, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths’ (2 Tim 4: 3-4).
How true, especially in our days, when ‘sound teaching’ is sometimes scorned for its directness. So, we go about our petty lives feeling just listless and complacent, if not revolted. But then, to keep up with the Joneses, we might find ourselves a cosy nook and turn to teachers who will whisper sweet nothings and never ruffle feathers. And as if these false teachers weren’t bad enough, we might even ‘wander into myths.’ These are now part of New Age movements that the Church cautions us against.
The Apostle to the Gentiles in the Second Reading (2 Tim 4: 6-8, 17-18), after speaking of his impending martyrdom, famously says: ‘I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.’ He can legitimately hope that the Lord will award the crown of righteousness to him and to all who have waited for His appearing.
All of which brings into sharp focus a psalm for deliverance from trouble (34:2-9), which the afflicted will hear and be glad. It invites us to trust in the Lord at all times, to look to Him and be radiant, to taste and see that He is good! It comforts the afflicted to know that ‘the angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and delivers them.’ Hence, happy is the man who takes refuge in the Lord. Like St Peter and St Paul, we too must strive to be models of such faith and courage.
Banner: The Virgin and Child with Saints Peter and Paul, by Girolamo Figino
[1] Acts 3:1-10 (Peter and John healing a crippled beggar); Psalm 19:2-3, 4-5 (Their message goes out through all the earth); Galatians 1:11-20 (Paul's conversion and preaching); John 21:17 (Jesus asks Peter if he loves him); John 21:15-19 (Jesus reinstates Peter).
[2] Cf. l’Abbé C. Fouard, Jesus Christ the Son of God (Goa: Don Bosco, 1960), p. 258.
Celebrating Peter and Paul
Have you ever wondered why the Church celebrates St. Peter and St. Paul on the same day, 29 June? The tradition can be traced back to at least the third century. It is commonly believed that the two apostles were martyred on the same day, albeit three years apart, in circa 64 AD and 67 AD, respectively, under the infamous Emperor Nero. Another theory is that the day marks the anniversary of the translation of their relics. These are two of the most important explanations for the joint celebration, possibly instituted in the year 258.
Before the Christian era, 29 June marked the pagan festival of Romulus and Remus, legendary twins who founded Rome. Romulus was the city’s first king, but its founding date was not 29 June, but 21 April 753 BC. And, whereas the blood brothers founded the City of Seven Hills, brothers-in-the-faith St. Peter and St. Paul founded Christian Rome and are the patron saints of the Eternal City. So, regardless of the backstory, it can well be said that the Church Christianised the date in question.
Origins
St Peter is the founder of the See of Rome, and like him, St Paul too preached the Christian faith in the city. It is there that both were executed and buried. Peter was crucified, upside-down at his request, because he claimed to be unworthy to die on the Cross like his Lord. He was buried on Vatican Hill, and centuries later, St. Peter’s Basilica rose over his tomb.
Paul, on the other hand, was prescribed death by decapitation, given that he was a Roman citizen; crucifixion was a punishment reserved for non-citizens and slaves. His remains are housed in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls.
However, the two apostles are not linked in death alone. There are several other similarities and dissimilarities in the lives of these two seminal figures of the early Church.
Peter, originally Simon, was a fisherman of Galilee. He was the first of the apostles to recognise that Jesus was ‘the Messiah, the Son of the living God’ (Mt 16: 16). Jesus named him Cephas (Petrus in Latin), which means ‘Rock’ in Aramaic, for he was to become the rock upon which Christ would build His Church. Although he had pledged his fidelity until death, he had a momentary loss of faith – for example, when walking on water with Christ – and on the night of Christ’s Passion, he thrice denied Him.
Paul, originally known as Saul, was born in Tarsus, a city in south-central Turkey, near the Mediterranean coast. He was a well-educated Jew and Pharisee. Whereas Peter had a personal relationship with Jesus, Paul never met Christ face to face, but scorned His teachings and persecuted Christians. When on a hounding mission to Damascus, his dramatic encounter with Christ changed it all for him.
Turnaround
‘Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart’ (Prov. 21:2).
Despite Peter’s many shortcomings, God chose him to shepherd His flock. The Acts of the Apostles notes that, in his capacity as the first bishop of Rome, he endured persecution and ensured that Christians kept the faith. St Peter is credited with writing two epistles: 1 Peter and 2 Peter. However, some scholars suggest that they may have been written by proxy.
Saul’s turnaround was even more spectacular. He continued on the road to Damascus with a contrite heart, received baptism, and got back his sight. Saul then became Paul. Breaking thus with his Hebrew identity, he exclusively used his Roman name, more familiar to Gentiles of the Mediterranean world, to reach a wider audience with the Christian message.[1]
St Paul spent the rest of his life in apostolic labours unequalled in Church history. While 13 letters included in the New Testament are traditionally attributed to him, many scholars believe that only seven are authentically Pauline: Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, and Philemon. The authorship of other letters, such as Ephesians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Timothy, and Titus, is debated.
In our times
Peter and Paul are twin pillars of the Church. Their activity as the first Pope and as the Apostle to the Gentiles throughout the Roman Empire, respectively, quickly established Rome as the headquarters of the Church. The later recognition of papal primacy and the eventual establishment of the Vatican City within the city solidified its position as the Church’s central location.
The close association of Peter and Paul is clear. It is seen in theology and in art. There are also many churches dedicated to the pair. That is because, although distinct in origin and temperament, their ministries and teachings are complementary. This is all the more reason to celebrate them together. A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who fervently recite the prayer in honour of the apostles on the Solemnity,[2] and a plenary indulgence to those who devoutly use a sacramental blessed by a bishop, provided they make a valid profession of faith during its use.[3]
Way back in the year 395, St Augustine of Hippo said of St Peter and St Paul: ‘Both apostles share the same feast day, for these two were one; and even though they suffered on different days, they were as one. Peter went first, and Paul followed. And so, we celebrate this day made holy for us by the apostles’ blood. Let us embrace what they believed, their life, their labours, their sufferings, their preaching, and their confession of faith.’
Notes
[1] In the first century, it was common for individuals to have dual names, one Hebrew and the other Roman, which they used interchangeably.
[2] “Partialis indulgentia conceditur christifideli qui orationem Sancti Apostoli Petre et Paule devote recitaverit. 'Sancti Apostoli Petre et Paule, intercedite pro nobis. Protege, Domine, populum tuum; et Apostolorum tuorum Petri et Pauli patrocinio confidentem, perpetua defensione conserva. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.” (in Enchiridion Indulgentarium, Concessiones, n°. 20, Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 4th edition, 2004, p. 67).
[3] "Christifidelis qui pietatis obiecto (crucifixo, cruce, corona, scapulari, numismate), a quovis sacerdote rite benedicto, pia utitur mente, consequitur indulgentiam partialem. Si autem pietatis obiectum a Summo Pontifice aut a quolibet Episcopo fuerit benedictum, christifidelis, eodem obiecto pia utens mente, assequi potest etiam indulgentiam plenariam die festo SS. Apostolorum Petri et Pauli, addita tamen, qualibet legitima formula, fidei professione." (in Enchiridion Indulgentarium, Normae, n°. 17, Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 4th edition, 1999).
References
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/sts-peter-and-paul-501
Catechism of the Catholic Church
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Freemantle, Anne (Ed.). The Papal Encyclicals in their Historical Context. New York: New American Library, 1956.
A Pope of Great Promise
The outcome of a papal conclave is always a surprise. Not only is the august assembly held cum clave, meaning under lock and key, the huge number of cardinal electors – who double as candidates – makes it impossible to guess who will emerge as the pontiff. Even though well before a conclave begins, different agencies float names of the papabile, these have only indicative value. The cardinal electors make their final decision on the spur of the moment, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. That’s how unpredictable a papal conclave can be.
The secular world, however, looks at it as a numbers game or a power struggle. No doubt, historically, Europe has had the largest number of Popes (235/266), with Italians outnumbering them all (217). Yet it cannot be said that the papal office is racially defined. For instance, in the early centuries even the so-called Dark Continent produced Popes, whereas the white New World got its first one as late as the twenty-first century.
Furthermore, while 15 countries have produced Popes till date, including tiny Albania way back in the eighteenth century, longtime superpower USA had to wait until the twenty-first to have their very own top man at the Vatican. He possibly comes as a divine reward for the resurgence of faith and devotion (particularly with the National Eucharistic Revival) in his native country; but he has not trumpeted his national affiliations.
Finally, there will always be countries not making the grade, but surely no country or race will be deliberately excluded. So, no matter which part of the world the Pontiff comes from, he never fails to surprise.
First Impressions
The rise of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as an American is as good a surprise as it would have been if he were an Indian or an Australian. So long as he steers the Barque of Peter with faith and divine authority – that is all that matters.
That is why, even before I got to see the man in the Loggia delle Benedizioni, I felt the blessing of the name he had assumed: Leo XIV. Much as we may say ‘What’s in a name?’, a name is not without historical and cultural significance. It is selected after much reflection and with a purpose. Presently, it symbolises strength, courage, power and the determination to begin a course correction. It represents the divine kingship and majesty of Christ. It stands for the teaching authority of Jesus, who is the ‘Lion of the Tribe of Judah’ (Rev 5:5).
After a quick minute of great anticipation, the French window finally opened. I saw the man in traditional vestments. What most impressed me was his calm and gentle demeanour, humility and unpretentiousness. He came across as a simple and sincere prelate. He seemed authentic and accessible, straightforward and down-to-earth, with the ability to call a spade a spade. While he looked at the cheering crowds with tenderness, he was far from being over the moon with delight.
An unmistakable change in that iconic balcony! I said to myself, let bygones be bygones; the past is behind us – the present and the future are all that matter. The Loggia of Blessings was to me a window on the future. I began to imagine Leo XIV restoring all things in Christ. Just then, I heard the Vicar of Christ's deeply evocative greeting – Peace be with all of you! – ‘the first greeting of the Risen Christ, the Good Shepherd who gave His life for God's flock.’
Like a tender father, the Pontiff wished ‘this greeting of peace to enter your hearts, to reach your families, and all people, wherever they are, all of the people, all over the earth.’ He followed it up with reassuring words: ‘God loves us, God loves you all, and evil will not prevail! We are all in the hands of God.’ Calling disciples of Christ to join hands and move forward, he focussed on the Divine Master alone, saying: ‘Christ precedes us. The world needs His light. Humanity needs Him as the bridge to allows it to be reached by God and by His love.’
And then, lo and behold, there came words and phrases that had almost fallen into disuse: his was a call to be ‘faithful to Jesus Christ, without fear, to proclaim the Gospel, to be missionaries.’ Pledging his service as a true son of Saint Augustine, he turned the people’s gaze to ‘that homeland that God has prepared for us.’ A man of deep faith and experience indeed.
The Holy Father had a special greeting to the Church of Rome and to his diocese of Chiclayo, in Peru, ‘where a faithful people accompanied their bishop, shared their faith and gave so, so much to continue being a Church that is faithful to Jesus Christ.’ Words of gratitude, of encouragement, of zealous devotion are what we heard from the Loggia that blessed night.
But that is not all. His Holiness reminded the gathering that it was ‘the day of the Supplication to Our Lady of Pompeii. Our Mother Mary always wants to walk with us, to be close, to help us with her intercession and her love,’ and befittingly ended his first Urbi et Orbi blessing with a Hail Mary. I felt immensely comforted.
Tasks Ahead
The Lord our God has favoured us with Pope Leo XIV, thanks to the prayers of many zealous souls. For over a decade now, the likes of German Cardinal Gerard Müller, Guinean Cardinal Robert Sarah, US Cardinal Raymond Burke, German Bishop Athanasius Schneider; theologians, lay individuals and groups had been sounding the alarm bell about the waves of the world mercilessly buffeting the Barque of Peter. Providentially, the new Captain will steer the drifting ship back on course.
To my mind, the tasks ahead are many. Meanwhile, to maintain our integrity as Catholics, we must turn the spotlight on three fundamental issues. First, we must stress the importance and non-negotiable nature of the Sacred Tradition and the Holy Magisterium of the Church. As Cardinal Müller recently said, ‘the question is not between conservatives and liberals but between orthodoxy and heresy.’
Secondly, we must address the wrong notion that even some of us Catholics have of the Church’s mission. It is our duty to make Christ known, present, and active in the world. We must lead people toward a deeper relationship with Him and with one another. The Church is not a ‘humanitarian organisation doing social work’ but a spiritual lighthouse that affords a view of eternal life.
Thirdly, how can we recover from the identity crisis that ails us? It is fuelled by gas lighters, some of whom have infiltrated the Church. It is the proverbial smoke of Satan clouding our minds and making us look for validation from the secular world. The antidote is to appreciate, love and be grateful for the treasures of our Faith and our Church.
Let us entrust these issues and many others too long to list here to the leadership and wisdom of Pope Leo XIV and be continually surprised and amazed by God's work in our midst. No matter how hard it is to figure it out, he occupies the Chair of Peter by the express will of God, Who has said: ‘So is My word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.’ (Is 55: 11).
Long live Pope Leo XIV!
Banner: https://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/first-urbi-et-orbi-blessing-of-the-holy-father-leo-xiv/
Prevost at the Vatican (2023) https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20250508-pope-leo-xiv-profile-robert-prevost-from-peru-missionary-to-first-american-pontiff
Holy Passion Processions in Panjim
At the Church of the Immaculate Conception – the Igreja Matriz or main parish church of Panjim – the sixth Sunday of Lent begins on a festive note. It is Palm Sunday, which commemorates the triumphant entry of Jesus in Jerusalem.
However, after the morning Masses, there is a visible change in the mood, especially with the unveiling of the tableau in the chancel: a larger-than life-size statue of Christ carrying the Cross. Hence, the day's alternative designation: Passion Sunday.
The evening of Passion Sunday features a solemn procession that begins from and ends at the iconic church. It is the highpoint of the Santos Passos (‘Holy Steps’) held on the first five Sundays of Lent, highlighting some of the most intense moments of Christ’s Passion leading to Calvary: the Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane; the Arrest of Jesus; the Flagellation at the Pillar; the Crowning with Thorns; the condemnation by Pontius Pilate (See my blogpost https://www.oscardenoronha.com/2019/03/17/santos-passos-in-panjim/ ). Other churches in Goa do not necessarily have the same set-ups (See https://www.oscardenoronha.com/2021/03/21/lenten-traditions-in-goa/ ).
Passion Sunday signals the beginning of the Holy Week. The predominant colour is purple; the altars are bare and there is not a flower arrangement to be seen. After the evening Mass, a procession called Cruz às costas – the same tableau of Jesus carrying the Cross – wends its way through some of the main thoroughfares of the capital city: the Church square, a section of 18 June, Pissurlencar, past Azad Maidan.
Confrades (Church confraternity members) wearing opa e murça (a red and white cape) carry the statue concertedly, giving the impression that it is floating on its own power. In the past, a brass band would follow; but nowadays, a choir sings from an intermediate landing of the church's zigzag stairway. The singing and prayers are heard throughout the route via funnel loudspeakers. The procession is animated by the recitation of five Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary until the end of the procession.
The circuit is marked by over ten descansos (halts), at which points the faithful flock to kiss the statue. A major halt happens at the Capela da Conceição (Chapel of the Immaculate Conception). Built in 1823, it was once a private chapel attached to the mansion of Dom Lourenço de Noronha, scion of a Portuguese noble family, and was later bequeathed to the Confrarias of Panjim church and has been under repairs since 2019.
The cavalcade then proceeds via M. G. Road and Dr D. R. de Sousa, past the Garcia de Orta Garden, and up to the church square. Here, at the foot of the stairway, Jesus is met by His Blessed Mother. Sorrowing over her Son so unjustly accused and made to carry the Cross to His death, she accompanies him on his last last legs, as she did two thousand years ago to Golgotha.
Soon thereafter, the two statues halt on the intermediate landing in front of a large cross carved out of the wall. A level higher, from a pulpit-like balcony jutting out of the said wall, a little girl unrolls the Veil of Veronica while she sings the traditional narrative. This is about the meeting of the legendary woman (feast day, 12 July) with Jesus. As recorded in the fourth station of the Via Crucis (Way of the Cross), Veronica, moved by the sight of Jesus carrying the Cross, wiped his brow with her handkerchief only to find a lasting imprint of his holy face on the cloth.
Thus ends Passion Sunday and preparations begin for the Holy Triduum beginning on the evening of Maundy Thursday. This day, which comprises a Mass with the reenactment of the historic Washing of the Feet by Jesus, marks the institution of the Eucharist and the Priesthood and the proclamation of the Commandment of Love. There is no public procession.
Five days later, on Good Friday, the processional arrangement is the same as on Passion Sunday, except for a few obvious differences.
The poignant Crucifixion tableau opens in the chancel at 3 o’clock in the afternoon. It is interesting how by then the sky is usually cloudy and the mood sombre. The liturgy of the Word and the Eucharist continue until at about half past five. Then, a procession of a larger-than-life-size statue of Senhor Morto (The Departed Lord) placed on an andor (black canopied wooden platform) starts off, with the statue of Our Lady in trail.
There are some other differences too. Today, the faithful are in funereal attire, which once upon a time was de rigueur. And instead of the sanctus bell, we hear the matraca or wooden rattle at every halt in the procession.
A major difference between the Passion Sunday and the Good Friday procession lies at their very end. This time round, in a coda to the baroque event, is the Sermão da Soledade de Maria (Sermon on the Solitude of Mary) delivered by a priest from the same pulpit-like balcony. The preacher extols the virtues of Mary and highlights her present solitude. Formerly, rhetoric played a crucial role on such occasions, helping to fully engage the congregation. Nowadays, the limited number of faithful who stay on to listen are easily distracted, not least by vehicle noises that detract from the solemn ambience.
In this context, one striking similarity between the processions is that both are watched in awe by people of other religions. On both occasions, residences put up decorative lights, candles or oil lamps in homage to Our Lord. Some non-Christian establishments remain open, it being a weekday, do the same. People from other religions watch in awe, including policemen (one of whom I saw standing at attention and saluting the Departed Lord). Particularly interesting is the case of the Caculos and the Neurencars, two Hindu families on Pissurlencar Street; they traditionally offer garlands of xenvtim or abolim.
Depending on the number of attendees, the pious, kilometre-long march and related ceremonies on both days take between 75 and 90 minutes. The statues return to the church for concluding rites and veneration. By 8 o’clock, they call it a night!
Behold two processional events in Panjim that have left a lasting imprint on my mind. So was it when my life began; so is it now I am a man. So be it when I grow old – for this ancient tradition is without a doubt one of the most moving spectacles in the religious and cultural calendar of my city, Panjim.
Requests:
1- In the comments section below, do share snippets of similar traditions in your village or city, and document them whenever possible.
2 - Do watch my video titled "Passion Sunday Procession in Panjim", on http://www.youtube.com/@oscardenoronha