9-9 Col 1:24-2:3; Ps 62: 6-7, 9; Lk 6:6-11 In 1888 Pope Leo XIII canonized two Spanish Jesuits: Fr. Peter Claver and Brother Alphonsus Rodriquez. The Brother encouraged Peter in his dream of serving in Latin America and once he went, supported him spiritually with powerful prayers. Behind the scenes encouragement of Alphonsus was so important to the Pastoral success of the more famous Saint, Peter Claver. The history of slavery in our American continent was horrible. Enter into these tragedies the gentle soul, Saint Peter Claver, giving simple solid service to the slaves who suffered so. He preached powerfully of the profound encouragement and courage that comes only from our God who is so eager and ready to give it generously. Psalm 62 stresses that only God is our rock, our salvation, our stronghold, no matter the tragedies we all face in our lives. St. Peter Claver preached from Colossians the dignity of each of them in faith: "It is Christ in you, the hope of glory." A century after his death in 1654, the Jesuits had by then organized successful communities of the Native Peoples. In the movie, The Mission, the Colonists were successful in having the Church suppress the Jesuits there, in the vain hope that with this appeasement Jesuit suppression could be avoided in Europe...a few years later the church suppressed the Jesuits world-wide under pressure from anti-Church governments. And now we have a Jesuit Pope. We pray for our Francis, though the intercession of his fellow Jesuits, St. Peter Claver (and Alphonsus Rodriqeuez!), to be as he wants: a poor Church for the poor. We pray for our American Continent blessed with this great Saint to follow him in respecting the inherent dignity of all persons and peoples in word and compassionate, competent and courageous deeds. usccb.org/bible/readings/090913.cfm
Posted on: Mon, 09 Sep 2013 14:00:01 +0000
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