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Omnia possum in eo, qui me confortat
22 May - 4 June 2020
Issue 291
Devotion to
Devotion to
The Immaculate
The Sacred
Heart of Mary
Heart of Jesus
- page 16
- page 17
Oh Mary We Crown Thee With Blossoms Today Witnessing to the Resurrection - page 2
Is It Permissible to forbid Public Masses?- page 12
Apostolic Qualities - page 24
Please Join Us Online Monday 25th May Holy Mass & Rosary of Reparation - 7.00pm www.institute-christ-king.ie (reparation on the second anniversary of Ireland’s abortion referendum)
2 EVANGELISATION
Catholic Voice
22nd May 2020
Witnessing To The Resurrection Eanna Johnson PhD. At this season of Easter we joyfully celebrate our redemption, when Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross freed mankind from the slavery of sin and death, vanquished Satan, and opened to us the gates of Heaven. Jesus’ Resurrection showed His victory over death, the sign that we too will rise again one day to the promise of eternal life. If Christ is not risen, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith is also in vain (1 Cor.15:14). As well as celebrating the Resurrection we are also called to witness to it. Jesus’ Great Commission to his apostles was: Go make disciples of all nations, baptize them and teach them to observe all that I gave you (Mt.28:19-20). Witnessing to the Good News in our words and lives is a real privilege and can be joyful, but can also be challenging and painful. While we can learn so much from the witness of countless faithful Christians over the past two millennia, the responses of the first witnesses to the Resurrection are particularly interesting. Witnesses to the Resurrection did not just happen through coincidence, but were chosen by the deliberate plan of God, as Peter told Cornelius: God raised Jesus to life and allowed him to be seen, not by the whole people but only by certain witnesses God had chosen beforehand. (Acts 10:40-41). It is interesting to compare the very different responses of the two groups who were the first witnesses of the Resurrection. On the one hand we have the guards at the tomb and the religious leaders of the Jewish people, to whom the guards brought the news of the resurrection. On the other hand we have the faithful women who
arrived at dawn to anoint the body of Jesus and the apostles to whom the women brought the good news. The Guards and the Jewish Leaders The guards who were keeping watch at Jesus’ tomb were the first witnesses of the Resurrection, indeed they were the only witnesses of the event itself. After Jesus’ death on the cross, Joseph of Arimathea went to Pontius Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate handed over Jesus’ body to Joseph, who wrapped it in a clean linen shroud and put it into his own new tomb (Mt.27:5760). The next day the chief priests and Pharisees went to Pilate asking that the tomb be made secure so that Jesus’ disciples could not steal away his body and claim that he had risen from the dead. Pilate replied, ‘You have a guard. Go and make the tomb as secure as you can’. So the tomb was sealed and a guard was placed on it (Mt.27:62-66). At some time before dawn, the earth shook as an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, came and
rolled back the stone and sat upon it. His appearance was like lightning and his robe white as snow. For fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men... Some of the guards went into the city and told the chief priests all that had happened. (Mt.28:2-4,11). The mission of Jesus was to all of God’s Chosen People, the Jewish nation, calling on them to accept him as the Messiah promised by God, and to bring the Good News of salvation to the whole world. Jesus had given a clear statement of his divine nature and mission to the Sanhedrin, the assembled leadership of the Jewish nation, for which he was condemned to death for blasphemy. Now, the leaders were the first to hear the news of the Resurrection, the opportunity to fulfil their destiny and lead the whole people of Israel in accepting Jesus as Messiah and Saviour, and bringing the Good News to the whole world. But they blew it, and bribed the guards to spread the ‘fake news’ that the disciples had stolen the body of Jesus.
22nd May 2020 Catholic Voice An intriguing question arises as to who were the guards at the tomb. One option is that the guards were Roman soldiers. In this option Pilate’s words, “You have a guard”, are interpreted as ‘I am putting a detachment of my soldiers at your disposal’. However, it seems unlikely that Pilate, having washed his hands of responsibility for Jesus’ body by giving it over to Joseph of Arimathea, would take back responsibility, and risk getting blamed if anything went wrong, by allocating his own soldiers to guard the body. It also seems unlikely that Pilate would put his soldiers, the foundation of Roman power, under the command of Jewish leaders that he neither trusted nor liked.
The Women and the Apostles The next witnesses of the Resurrection were Mary Magdalen and the other faithful women who arrived early on the first Easter Sunday morning to anoint the body of Jesus. They were not there out of faith or hope, believing or even hoping that Jesus would rise from the dead, as he had promised. They went out of love – they had accompanied Jesus during his public ministry and had taken care of him using their own money; now their love was in no way diminished by his death. Of the three great virtues – faith, hope and love – the greatest is love (1 Cor.13:13), and their love was rewarded by being the first disciple witnesses of the Resurrection.
Another option is that when Pilate said, “You have a guard”, he meant it literally, because the chief priests did have a militia, the Temple guards. In that case Pilate was simply telling the chief priests that if they wanted the tomb guarded they should go and do it themselves with their own guards. The Temple guards were Levites, the priestly tribe appointed by God to minister to and guard the Temple. Jesus described his body as the Temple (Jn.2:19-21) so it would be fitting for Levites to guard the body of Jesus, the Temple in person. Could it be that the guards at the tomb are recorded only in Matthew’s gospel, because Matthew, himself of the tribe of Levi, had inside information?
When Mary Magdalen and the others arrived at the tomb they found it empty, and were met by two angels who told them that Jesus had risen from the dead. Soon after, the faithful Mary Magdalen was the first to whom Jesus appeared in person after his resurrection.
The gospel account is not definitive on the identity of the guards at the tomb, because the New Testament uses similar generic terms for Romans, and for the militias and prison guards maintained by the Chief Priests and King Herod. Matthew’s Gospel uses three different terms in referring to the tomb guards; one of the terms, ‘strateotes’, describes the lowest rank, and literally means ‘campers out’, which is just what the guards were doing, camping out in the open all night.
The angels told the women to bring the good news of Jesus’ resurrection to the disciples, which they did joyfully, but had to suffer rejection of their story by some, but not by Peter, whom Jesus had made leader of the Twelve. Peter, with John, immediately ran to see the empty tomb, and later that same day they too saw Jesus in person. How different were the responses of Mary Magdalen and Peter to that of the guards and chief priests. The chief priests had done a terrible thing in condemning Jesus to death, which they compounded by rejecting the witness of his resurrection. Mary had been delivered of seven demons, and was filled with grateful love. Peter had done a terrible thing by denying Jesus, but he repented of his sin and was also filled with love for Jesus (Jn.21:15-17). Mary and Peter had responded to God’s mercy and were open to accept the incredible witness of the resurrection. The apostles and other disciples went on to witness to the Resurrection
EVANGELISATION 3
far and wide, often at the cost of shedding their blood. Witnessing to the Resurrection Today Christians today are called to continue the witness of the resurrection of Jesus. We are invited to emulate the faithful women and the apostles, and proclaim the truth in love with joy, no matter what it costs. Christianity is persecuted today in many countries of the world, including the shedding of blood. Contemporary secular culture in the West does not suppress Christianity with ‘dungeon, fire and sword’, but is nevertheless increasingly hostile to faith, and has ways of making it very uncomfortable for Christian witnesses. So it is not an easy time to witness to Christ, but we could find no better advice than the First Letter of Peter 3:15-16, Always have your answer ready for people who ask you the reason for the hope that you all have, but give it with courtesy and respect and with a clear conscience.
10 LETTERS
Catholic Voice
Letters GREEN CLOUD CUCKOO-LAND Dear Editor, The Greens are planning to spend millions of Euros that we haven’t got, on a problem which doesn’t exist. On Sep 23rd 2019, 500 scientists of international repute, submitted a document entitled “European Climate Declaration” to the UN. It stated, among other things that:“The general circulation models of climate on which international policy is at present founded are UNFIT FOR PURPOSE. Therefore, it is cruel as well as imprudent to advocate the squandering of trillions of dollars on the basis of results from such immature models.” On Mar 9th 2020, The Center for the Study of Carbon Dioxide and Global Change announced that it had filed a petition with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), asking it to repeal its: “Endangerment Finding for Greenhouse Gases”. The petition also presented compelling evidence that CO2 emissions and fossil energy use provide critical benefits that act to enhance health and
HANDS OFF OUR KIDS
PROTECTING PARENTAL CHOICE IN THE CLASSROOM
This CD of the compelling talk given by Charlotte McQuaid-Bruen at Catholic Voice annual conference 2019, sums up the proposed sex education to be taught across schools in Ireland in 2020. Parents, grandparents, friends, family members and clergy need to be informed about what their children are going to be subjected to.
Please help spread this talk TODAY. 4 CDs inc p&p €20
1 CD inc p&p €7.50
Complete coupon and return with cheque/postal order to The Lumen Fidei Institute, Raith, Aghamore, Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo F35 V127 Name: ........................................................................................... Address: ........................................................................................ ....................................................................................................... ....................................................................................................... Phone No: ..................................................................................... Please send me ______copies of the CD - ‘Hands off our Kids’ Total Enclosed: € ________ To pay by post with credit/debit card please complete: Card number: ________________________________________ Expiry Date: _________________ C.V.V._______________
22nd May 2020 Send your letters to: Letters Page, Catholic Voice, St Michael’s House, Castlemitchell South, Athy, Co Kildare or email to letters@catholicvoice.ie
welfare for humanity and the natural world. According to Dr. Idso, chairman of the centre: “Without adequate supplies of low-cost centralised energy derived from fossil fuels, few, if any, of the major technological and innovative advancements of the past two centuries that have enhanced and prolonged human life could have occurred. Additionally, without the increased CO2 emissions from fossil fuel use over the past two centuries, Earth’s terrestrial biosphere would be nowhere near as vigorous or productive as it is today. Rather, it would be devoid of the growth-enhancing, water-saving and stress-alleviating benefits it has reaped in managed and unmanaged ecosystems from rising levels of atmospheric CO2 since the Industrial Revolution began.” Why is it that the UN and the world’s media, feted Greta Thunberg, but ignored 500 scientists. Why is it that the Greens and their fellow travellers, continue to promote the hype of vested interests while ignoring scientific facts. There is something rotten in the area of anthropogenic global warming. Steve Mcgarry, Bishopstown, Cork. SAVING LIVES? Dear Editor, Recent commentators, notably Douglas Murray (Spectator) and the historian Tom Holland, have asked the question: That in the light of the current adulation towards Britain’s NHS, has it become a de facto secular church? With the weekly clapping of hands on a Thursday together with the politicos and the great and the good outgoing each other in lavishing praise, it would appear that this observation is correct. However, with the chant of “save lives; save the NHS” a darker aspect needs challenging. With the same health service having an alliance with, and a near reliance upon the culture of Death apparatus, it seems that calling to save lives verges on the hypocritical. That abortions are continuing both as medical and chemical operations, shows how wrong our attitudes towards those who run this venerable seventy five year old institution are! Instead of claps, prayers must be offered for their salvation and a return to the classical purity of the Hippocratic Oath, in which the unborn were protected. Until this is changed, the current adulation for the NHS could be viewed as making the ‘Charge of the Light Brigade’, somehow look like a sensible military exercise! Fr John McCallion M.Phil cc, Coalisland, Co Tyrone.
22nd May 2020
FATIMA 11
Catholic Voice
The Angel Of Portugal In Fatima In 1915, and again in 1916, the three children of Fatima, Lucia de Jesús dos Santos, and her two cousins Jacinta and Francisco Marto, were visited by the angel of Portugal. The significance of these heavenly visits can be properly measured by looking at some of the angelic visits recorded in Holy Scripture. The birth of John the Baptist, is preceded and foretold by the visit of the Angel Gabriel to Zechariah. The birth of Jesus Christ is preceded by the visit of the Angel Gabriel to Our Lady. St Joseph was visited by an angel when he was unsure of what to do regarding his role in the life of Our Lady. Angels came and ministered to Jesus Christ after His temptation in the wilderness. Angelic visits are often the precursors of great happenings in our world. In Portugal in 1916, the angel asked the three children to pray with him and he taught the three children some prayers to recite. “Fear not! I am the Angel of Peace. Pray with me!” The Angel knelt on the ground and bowed very low. By some inspiration, the children imitated the angel and repeated the words they heard him pronounce: “My God, I believe, I adore, I hope, and I love Thee. I ask pardon for all those who do not believe in Thee, do not adore Thee, do not hope in Thee, do not love Thee.” Some time after this the angel appeared and found that the children were not praying he said to them. “What are you doing? Pray! Pray a great deal! The hearts of Jesus and Mary have designs of mercy for
you! Offer prayers and sacrifices unceasingly to the Most High!” Lucia asked “But how are we to sacrifice ourselves?” to which the angel responded, “Offer up everything within your power as a sacrifice to the Lord in an act of reparation for the sins by which He is offended; and of supplication for the conversion of sinners. Thus invoke peace upon your country. I am her Guardian Angel; the Angel of Portugal. Above all, accept and bear with submission the sufferings that the Lord may send you.”
Sacrament giving the children and the whole world an example of the reverence that is due to God truly present in the Most Holy Eucharist. The angel’s visits were a precursor to Our Lady’s visits to the three children.
From this we learn of God’s desires for our prayers and sacrifices. They serve to make reparation for the sins which offend God and they assist in the conversion of sinners. On another occasion the angel brought Holy Communion to the children under both species. The Angel, who is of a higher order of being than man, prostrated himself before the exposed Blessed
Saint Jacinta Marto and her cousin Lucia de Jesús dos Santos