#Church of San Clemente

[howamidrivinginlimbo]

Basilica di San Clemente al Laterano in Rome, Italy

Under the basilica that stems from the 12th century, there are two more layers that you are able to visit: a basilica from the 4th century and a mithraeum from the 2th century.

In my opinion the most interesting church Rome has to offer.

[iamthepulta]

Our tour guide around Rome today was a historian, and one of the most fantastic people I've been able to meet on the trip and enthusiastic about history and his research. So much fun to walk around with! My pictures are all a bit meh imo. But I'll post some a bit later.

[mioritic]

Seen at the Basilica di San Clemente on Saturday

Rome, Italy

28 January 2023

Fujifilm X100V

[random-brushstrokes]

Lawrence Alma-Tadema - Interior of the Church of San Clemente, Rome (1863)

[blueiscoool]

‘Secret Room’ Decorated by Michelangelo to Open to the Public in Italy

He’s known for his colossal works, such as the statue of David, the floor-to-ceiling frescoes of the Sistine Chapel, and the dome of St. Peter’s which dominates the Rome skyline.

But it’s Michelangelo Buonarroti’s less bombastic work that’s on display to the public for the first time in the artist’s “secret room” in Florence.

The tiny space sits beneath the Medici Chapels in Florence, where Michelangelo sculpted intricate tombs for members of the Medici family behind the church of San Lorenzo in the Sagrestia Nuova, or New Sacristry.

In 1975, during works to create a new exit for the venue, a restorer carrying out cleaning experiments uncovered multiple drawings of human figures under two layers of plaster in a corridor underneath the sacristy which had been used to store coal.

The narrow space is 33 feet long, 10 wide and eight feet high.

The figures – sketched in charcoal and sanguine (rust-colored chalk or crayon), often one on top of the other, and of different sizes – were attributed to Michelangelo by Paolo Dal Poggetto, the former director of the Medici Chapels.

It is believed that the artist hid in the claustrophobic space for several weeks in 1530 when pope Clement VII – a member of the Medici family, who had recently returned to power in Florence, having been kicked out by a republican government for whom Michelangelo had worked – ordered his death. The death sentence was rescinded after two months, and Michelangelo returned to work in Florence, before moving to Rome four years later.

It’s believed the drawings are sketches for future works, including the legs of one of the statues in the New Sacristy.

“This place grants today’s visitors the unique experience of being able to come into direct contact not only with the creative process of the maestro, but also with the perception of the formation of his myth as a divine artist,” said Francesca de Luca, curator of the Museum of the Medici Chapels, in a statement. Paola D’Agostino, director of the Bargello Museums, which the chapels are part of, said the restoration has been “time-consuming, constant and painstaking work.”

The space has never been open regularly to the public before, but will open for visits on November 15 to highly limited numbers in order to preserve the drawings. A maximum of 100 people will be able to visit per week, in groups of four, and 15-minute visits will take place every day except Tuesdays and Sundays.

By Julia Buckley.

[thepastisalreadywritten]

SAINT OF THE DAY (August 23)

On August 23, the church celebrates the first saint of the New World, St. Rose of Lima.

Isabel Flores de Oliva was born on 20 April 1586 in Lima, Peru, daughter of Gaspar Flores and Maria de Oliva.

She was baptized in the parish of San Sebastián in Lima by the priest, Fr. Antonio Polanco.

She was confirmed in the village of Quives de Manos by the then Archbishop of Lima, St. Toribius de Mogrovejo.

At a very young age, she chose to consecrate her life to God. She practiced very intense prayer and penance daily, sometimes depriving herself of food and sleep.

She joined the Third Order of St. Dominic and lived in a little hut in her parents' garden, working to help support them.

She was ill for the last three years of her life.

She died at the age of 31 on 24 August 1617, Feast of St. Bartholomew, as she herself prophesied.

Rose was beatified by Pope Clement IX on 25 April 1667. She was canonized by Pope Clement X on 12 April 1671.

She is the patron saint of embroiderers, gardeners, florists, people who are harassed for their piety, and those suffering from family problems.

She is also the patroness of the Americas, the indigenous people of the Americas, and of Peru, India, and the Philippines.

Her shrine, alongside those of her friends, St. Martin de Porres and St. John Masias, is located inside the convent of St. Dominic in Lima.

[todaysdocument]

2nd Lieutenant Santos Cadena details the injuries he received in the American Civil War, the Mexican Reform War, and the Second Franco-Mexican War. Affidavit (5/4/1898) and diagram (3/28/1904) from his Civil War pension file. 

Record Group 15: Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs

Series: Case Files of Approved Pension Applications of Widows and Other Dependents of the Army and Navy Who Served Mainly in the Civil War and the War With Spain

Image description: Four diagrams of a man, two showing the skeleton and two showing the outside of the body (without arms). Marked in red ink are “Fracture of Clavicle,” “Wound of Chest,” “Sabre Wound of Arm,” “Wounds of leg,” and entrance and exit of the chest wound. 

Transcription: 

GENERAL AFFIDAVIT.

STATE OF Texas, COUNTY OF Duval ss:

In the matter of Santos Cadena - late Co “B” 2nd Tex, Cavly Vols,

ON THIS 4th. day of May, A.D. 1898., personally appeared before me, a Notary Public in and for the aforesaid County and State, duly authorized to administer oaths Santos Cadena, aged 68 years, a resident of Rancho Salado, in the County of Starr and State of Texas, who, being duly sworn, declares in relation to aforesaid claim as follows:

I received a gunshot wound of the left nipple or chest in front of Matamoros in the year 1866 under the command of General Mariano Escobedo, of the Mexican Liberal Army,

I received a Gunshot wound in the left leg in year 1860 in a battle at Gunajuata Mexico, with General Jose Maria. J. Carabajal, of the Mexican Liberal Army,

I received a Saber cut of the left arm in the action of Sialo. West of Guanajuata Mexico, under command of General Carabajal of the Mexican Liberal army,

I had my collar bone broken in the service of the United States near La Trinidad Ranch in Nueces County Texas, in the year 1864 I was a second Lieutenant and was sent out by Colonel J L. Naynes, of the 2nd. Texas Cavalry Volunteers to get some horses for the command and in running the Horses to take them to the pens my horse fell and broke my collar bone, None of the foregoing wounds were caused by Viscious habits,

The Gunshot wound in left nipple, and the Gunshot wound in left leg and the saber cut in left arm were received by my while I was in the Mexican Army, in 1860 I was fighting for Mexico against the Reacitionary or Church party in Mexico, and in 1866 I was fighting against the Imperialists who had invaded my country, I am a Mexican by birth but am an American Citizen,

He further declares that he has [“no” crossed out] interest in said case and is [“not” crossed out] concerned in its prosecution. He being the applicant.

X [signed] Clemente Pompa

X [signed Imalio[?] Perez

His

Santos X Cadena

Mark

NOTE.- In the execution of evidence, whenever a witness signs by X mark, two persons WHO CAN WRITE, MUST attest the signature by signing their names opposite.

[circular stamp]

PENSION

US

OFFICE

MAY 9 1898

[end stamp]

[along left margin]

The foregoing was prepared for typewriting from the statements of the witness in his presence and from my oral statements then made, said oral statements were made to Jas. O. Luby, Notary Public Duval County Texas, at his office in San diego said County and State, May 4th. 1868. And did not use and was not aided or prompted by any printed statement or recital, prepared or dictated by any other per so

[dato-georgia-caucasus]

Lawrence Alma-Tadema - Interior of the church of San Clemente, Rome

[romaaeterna2024]

We started off the morning by going to visit the Colosseum. It was hard to get through all of the people because there was also a marathon going on and the streets were closed. Eventually, we were able to get inside and were able to see all of the cool sights and take pictures with them. Afterwards, we went to the 3 layer church, San Clemente, and walked around in there which was very intriguing and saw the physical “layers” that show the story behind the church and what role it plays in the area. Lastly, we went to see Trajan's and Augustus’s forums which provided a great view and a fun experience to really dive deep into the understanding the monument and why it was salvaged. Today was a fun day and we're glad we were able to learn even more about the breathtaking Roman architecture and its history in the region.

-Nicco and Angel

[medievalanchoress]

Bronze doors at Church of San Clemente in Casauria (Italy), ca. 1184

[anonsally]

Day 6 in Rome

This was our last day before flying to Germany, but it was even lower-key than the previous day!

We had booked entry to San Clemente for 11am. The church was built in the 1200s and doesn't require a ticket to enter. But it was built on top of a church from 392AD, which in turn was built on top of a Mithraic temple and some other ancient Roman buildings, and the underground parts do require a ticket.

It was really interesting, and of course much cooler underground. I had been there once before, but Wife had not, and we really enjoyed it. I especially liked the water gushing out of a spring that had been in a building in ancient Rome. Some people had indoor running water! Afterwards we sat for a bit in the church (it was so hot out that it was even hot in the church) admiring the mosaics. I liked the sheep.

Then we headed out. It was hot, so we went to Fassi, the gelateria we'd passed on the tram the previous evening. It's kind of an Institution. They must own the building, because it's a huge (air conditioned!) space. It was founded in the 1880s, I think. We went all-out: we each ordered, instead of a paper "coppetta" (gelato cup), a fancy glass goblet with four flavors of gelato, whipped cream, and an optional crispy long cylindrical cookie. The flavors I chose were lemon (made with lemons from a specific region with a certified geographic indication) and banana sorbets and pistachio and stracciatella gelatos. We ate there, of course. Very delicious, very refreshing, and very definitely the most gelato I've ever eaten in one sitting!

Then we got a quick, light lunch in a hotel restaurant and went back to our hotel to rest/get out of the heat. I started packing and checked in for the flight the next morning.

We left a little after 5pm to look for an aperitivo, but it was very hot out and we weren't sure where to go. We ended up at the Chiostro di Bramante, which is now a museum. We didn't go into the exhibition, but had a glass of wine at the cafe in the courtyard, which was still hot but had a nice ambience. We then ate dinner at a Risotteria which was good but not exceptional. The dessert, however, was unusual and delicious: a semifreddo di sbrisolona with pistachio creme. Sbrisolona is a crumbly almond cake from Mantua, and the dessert had an interesting texture. It was very sweet!

We walked past the Pantheon (closed by then) to say goodbye to its exterior, and saw a few bats flitting about! Then we took the bus back to the hotel.

[iamthepulta]

Ailsa's not-closest-friend, but not-hated-enemy is from one of the business families throughout Barllony. As first-born of their family, the business would fall to her, but she had little interest in oil and perfume. With a few well-yanked strings and a fierce passion for the royal family, Ailsa's not-enemy landed in training for the Order of Sol, where Ailsa met her.

It's odd for amber stones to be in the same location, especially for children born in different order of birth, but not uncommon. For Ailsa, it was just another reminder that she was about as much use as a knight. So if she could be a better knight, that'd be worth something, wouldn't it?

But it never quite fit. She was never quite good at it. Ailsa's faith to the Sun was unwavering, but every time her father gifted the Rays in the yearly ceremony, or performed the proper rites. She felt the disconnect to his role weigh on her.

Woke up at 2am to ask the DM what he thought about burning amber to their bodies as a sort of catechism-esque religious ceremony in the culture Ailsa comes from which worships the sun. And his response in the morning was "What the..." Which I get. I know my only worldbuilding strength is esoteric industry and its affects on culture. But that's so sick omg. When you turn 12, every child has an amber stone pressed to their ffkn body symbolizing their relationship to the sun? Then you have a whole industry around 'good amber' and rich people having lighter colors, and the texture of the stone represents industry or quality. And people with overlapping locations are thought to be close as siblings- sooo much to unpack there.

Also can we just think about an amber-themed Sun worshipping jihad for a minute? Rotating in my mind like a ball of fire. DM I'm begging u the implications it's only 7am

[mioritic]

Portion of a mosaic depicting three noble youths 

Apse mosaic, Basilica di San Clemente, Rome, Italy, 12th century

Scanned from a postcard purchased at the church and sent to my friend Miklós

[frmartinshomiliesandreflections]

14th February >> Fr. Martin’s Gospel Reflections / Homilies on 

Luke 10:1-9 for the Feast of Saint Cyril, Monk and Saint Methodius, Bishop

    And on

Mark 8:14-21 for Tuesday, Sixth Week in Ordinary Time.

Feast of Saint Cyril, Monk and Saint Methodius, Bishop.

Gospel (Except USA)

Luke 10:1-9

Your peace will rest on that man.

The Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them out ahead of him, in pairs, to all the towns and places he himself was to visit. He said to them, ‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest. Start off now, but remember, I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Carry no purse, no haversack, no sandals. Salute no one on the road. Whatever house you go into, let your first words be, “Peace to this house!” And if a man of peace lives there, your peace will go and rest on him; if not, it will come back to you. Stay in the same house, taking what food and drink they have to offer, for the labourer deserves his wages; do not move from house to house. Whenever you go into a town where they make you welcome, eat what is set before you. Cure those in it who are sick, and say, “The kingdom of God is very near to you.”’

Gospel (USA)

Luke 10:1-9

The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few.

The Lord Jesus appointed seventy-two other disciples whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. He said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves his payment. Do not move about from one house to another. Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.’”

Reflections (5)

(i) Feast of Saints Cyril and Methodius

Today we celebrate the feast of Saints Cyril and Methodius. They were brothers from Macedonia in Greece who in the ninth century preached the gospel in Moravia, an area that corresponds to the modern day Czech Republic, Slovakia and parts of Hungary. In their efforts to convey the gospel message to this Slavic people, they translated the Scriptures and the liturgical texts into the local Slav language. They understood that only if the texts were in the vernacular could they communicate to the local people. In the process they invented a new alphabet, from which the present Slav alphabet is derived; it is still called Cyrillic to his day, after Saint Cyril. For that reason they are regarded as the founders of Slavonic literature. Because of opposition from Christian missionaries from Germany, who disapproved of their methods of evangelization, they had to leave Moravia and at the invitation of the Pope they travelled to Rome. Pope Adrian, however, gave his seal of approval to their work in Moravia and created the two brothers bishops. Cyril died in Rome in 869. There is an Irish connection to Cyril; he is buried in the Irish Dominican church of San Clemente, where an ancient fresco depicts his funeral. Methodius returned to Moravia where he preached the gospel in spite of great opposition, including opposition from local bishops who continued to object to his use of the vernacular. Worn out by his labourers, he died in 885. Both brothers were wonderful examples of what today’s gospel reading calls labourers in the Lord’s harvest. Their basic message was the message Jesus asked the seventy two to proclaim in whatever town they entered, ‘The kingdom of God is very near to you’. That remains the gospel message for us today. The kingdom of God, God’s loving reign, is very near to us, especially in and through the risen Lord and the Holy Spirit. There is an Irish saying, ‘God’s help is nearer than the door’. Cyril and Methodius traveled far from their hopes to proclaim to the Slav peoples that God was not far from their home but was nearer to them than the door of their home. The Lord is near and he is always inviting us to draw near to him, so that we can draw life and strength from his loving presence to us and within us.

And/Or

(ii) Feast of Saints Cyril and Methodius

Today we celebrate the feast of Saints Cyril and Methodius. They were brothers from Macedonia in Greece who in the ninth century preached the gospel in Moravia, the modern day Czech Republic, as well as in modern day Slovakia and Hungary. In their efforts to communicate the gospel they translated the Scriptures and the liturgical texts into the local Slave language. They understood that if they were to communicate with the local people, these important texts would need to be in the vernacular. Because of opposition, they had to leave their mission in the Slavic lands and at the invitation of the Pope they travelled to Rome. There Cyril became a monk and he is buried in the Irish Dominican church of San Clemente, where an ancient fresco depicts his funeral. Methodius returned to Moravia where he continued to preach the gospel in spite of great opposition, including opposition from local bishops who objected to his use of the vernacular. Cyril and Methodius were labourers in the Lord’s harvest. In today’s gospel reading, Jesus sends out 72 such labourers, and he calls on those 72 labourers to ask God to send more labourers to the harvest. Jesus was aware that God needed an abundance of labourers in God’s harvest. God needs each one of us. We are all called to be labourers in the Lord’s harvest in one way or another. We may not be asked to travel far from our homes, like Cyril and Methodius. We can labour for the Lord wherever we find ourselves. The Lord will always provide us with opportunities to make his kingdom values present to others.

And/Or

 (iii) Feast of Saints Cyril and Methodius

Today we celebrate the feast of Saints Cyril and Methodius. They were brothers from Macedonia in Greece who in the ninth century preached the gospel in Moravia, modern day Czech Republic, Slovakia and parts of Hungary. In their efforts to do this they translated the Scriptures and the liturgical texts into the local Slav language. They understood that only if the texts were in the vernacular could they communicate to the local people. In the process they invented a new alphabet, from which the present Slav alphabet is derived. For that reason they are regarded as the founders of Slavonic literature. Because of opposition from Christian missionaries from Germany, they had to leave Moravia and at the invitation of the Pope they travelled to Rome. Pope Adrian approved of their work in Moravia and created the two brothers bishops. Cyril died in Rome in 869, and he is buried in the Irish Dominican church of San Clemente, where an ancient fresco depicts his funeral. Methodius returned to Moravia where he preached the gospel in spite of great opposition, including opposition from local bishops who objected to his use of the vernacular. Worn out by his labourers, he died in 665. Cyril and Methodius were both labourers in the Lord’s harvest in the language of today’s gospel reading. We are all called to be labourers in the Lord’s harvest in one way or another. We are all called to proclaim with our lives the message that Jesus gave to We may not be asked to travel far from our homes, like Cyril and Methodius. We can labour on behalf of the Lord where we find ourselves. The Lord will always provide us with opportunities to help to make his kingdom present to others.

 And/Or

(iv) Feast of Saints Cyril and Methodius

There is an Irish connection to today’s feast of Saints Cyril and Methodius. They were born in Thessalonica in northern Greece in the ninth century. They became noted linguists and scholars and went on to become monks.  In response to a request from the leader of Moravia to the Emperor in Constantinople, Cyril and Methodius were sent to preach the gospel in Moravia, corresponding to modern day Czech Republic, Slovakia and parts of Hungary. In their efforts to do this they translated the Scriptures and the liturgical texts into the local Slav language. They understood that only if the sacred texts were in the vernacular could they communicate to the local people. In the process they invented a new alphabet, from which the present Slav alphabet is derived. Today this alphabet is called Cyrillic and is used for Russian, Ukrainian, Bulgarian and Serbian. For that reason they are regarded as the founders of Slavonic literature. Because of opposition to their work, they had to leave Moravia and at the invitation of the Pope they travelled to Rome. Pope Adrian approved of their work in Moravia and created the two brothers bishops. Cyril died in Rome in 869, and he is buried in the Irish Dominican church of San Clemente near to the Coliseum, where an ancient fresco depicts his funeral. Methodius returned to Moravia where he preached the gospel in spite of great opposition, including opposition from local bishops who objected to his use of the vernacular. Worn out by his labourers, he died in 885. Cyril and Methodius were both labourers in the Lord’s harvest, in the language of today’s gospel reading. We can all be labourers in the Lord’s harvest in one way or another. We are all called to proclaim with our lives the message that Jesus gave to the seventy two in that gospel reading, ‘The kingdom of God is very near to you’. We may not be asked to travel far from home like Cyril and Methodius, but we can labour on behalf of the Lord wherever we find ourselves. The Lord can use whatever natural gifts we have in the service of his mission to make present the kingdom of God on earth. All he asks for is something of the same responsiveness to his promptings that marked the lives of Cyril and Methodius.

 And/Or

(v) Feast of Saints Cyril and Methodius

Cyril and Methodius were brothers who were born in Thessalonica in northern Greece in the ninth century, sons of a prominent Christian family. Because many Slavs came to that part of Greece, they became proficient in the Slav language. They became noted linguists and scholars and went on to become monks.  In response to a request from the leader of Moravia to the Emperor in Constantinople, Cyril and Methodius were sent to preach the gospel in Moravia, corresponding to modern day Czech Republic, Slovakia and parts of Hungary. In their efforts to do this they translated the Scriptures and the liturgical texts into the local Slav language. They understood that only if the sacred texts were in the vernacular could they bring the gospel to the local people. In the process of translating they invented a new alphabet, from which the present Slav alphabet is derived. Today this alphabet is called Cyrillic, after Cyril, and is the basis of the Russian, Ukrainian, Bulgarian and Serbian alphabet today. For that reason they are regarded as the founders of Slavonic literature. Because of opposition to their work, they had to leave Moravia, and at the invitation of the Pope they travelled to Rome. The Pope approved of their work in Moravia and created the two brothers bishops. Cyril died in Rome in 869, and he is buried in the Irish Dominican church of San Clemente near to the Coliseum, where an ancient fresco depicts his funeral. Methodius returned to Moravia where he preached the gospel in spite of continuing opposition to his mission, including opposition from local bishops who objected to his use of the vernacular. Worn out by his labourers, he died in 885. Pope John Paul II, a Slav Pope, declared them co-patrons of Europe on 31st December 1980. A few years earlier, the Pope had spoken of the brothers as ideal examples of the true missionary spirit, faithful to the tradition which shaped them and yet striving to understand the peoples to whom they were sent. In the language of today’s gospel reading, they were wonderful labourers in the Lord’s harvest. In that reading, as the Lord sends out seventy two labourers, he calls on the seventy two to pray to God, the Lord of the harvest, to send more labourers into the harvest. We are all called, each in our own way, within our own sphere of influence, to be among those labourers the Lord so keenly desires. We all have some gift through which the Lord can work for the coming of his kingdom. If we use our gifts in the service of the Lord, then, he can say through us, in the words of the gospel reading, ‘the kingdom of God is very near to you’.

---------------------------------

Tuesday, Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel (Except USA)

Mark 8:14-21

Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.

The disciples had forgotten to take any food and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. Then he gave them this warning, ‘Keep your eyes open; be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.’ And they said to one another, ‘It is because we have no bread.’ And Jesus knew it, and he said to them, ‘Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you not yet understand? Have you no perception? Are your minds closed? Have you eyes that do not see, ears that do not hear? Or do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves among the five thousand, how many baskets full of scraps did you collect?’ They answered, ‘Twelve.’ ‘And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many baskets full of scraps did you collect?’ And they answered, ‘Seven.’ Then he said to them, ‘Are you still without perception?’

Gospel (USA)

Mark 8:14-21

Watch out, guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.

The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. Jesus enjoined them, “Watch out, guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” They concluded among themselves that it was because they had no bread. When he became aware of this he said to them, “Why do you conclude that it is because you have no bread? Do you not yet understand or comprehend? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes and not see, ears and not hear? And do you not remember, when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many wicker baskets full of fragments you picked up?” They answered him, “Twelve.” “When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many full baskets of fragments did you pick up?” They answered him, “Seven.” He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”

Reflections (6)

(i) Tuesday, Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

In the gospel reading this morning, Jesus seems very frustrated with his own disciples. In spite of all he has said and done in their presence, they still do not really understand who he is or what he is about. They are misunderstanding his words and not grasping the real significance of his deeds, such as his feeding of the multitudes. Worse is to come of course. They not only misunderstand Jesus, but they will eventually abandon him. Mark, the evangelist, gives quite a negative portrayal of the disciples in his gospel. Yet, these are the very disciples that Jesus keeps faith with. Mark’s gospel ends with the words of the young man from the tomb, ‘Go, tell his disciples and Peter that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee, there you will see him, just as he told you’. After their failure, Jesus met with his disciples again in Galilee to renew their call. The gospel of Mark proclaims that Jesus is faithful to us, even when we are less that faithful to him. He goes ahead of us into all the places we journey to and find ourselves in. He is always there, ahead of us, calling us to begin again after we have failed. St  Paul puts this very simply, ‘if we are faithless, he remains faithful’.

 And/Or

(ii) Tuesday, Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

In the gospel reading Jesus seems very frustrated with his disciples. They misunderstand what Jesus says to them about the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod, thinking that Jesus is referring to the fact that they have forgotten to bring bread. In reality, Jesus was trying to warn them against the evil intentions of the Pharisees and of Herod. Jesus addresses his disciples as people without perception. It is likely that Jesus can be just as frustrated with us at times. Like the first disciples we too can demonstrate a lack of perception, a failure to hear what Jesus is really saying to us, a failure to see what Jesus is trying to show us. We need to keep coming before the Lord in the awareness that we do not see as he wants us to see or hear as he wants us to hear. Our eyes and our ears need opening, and, perhaps, the times when we think we see and hear well are the very times when we are most blind and deaf. We need the humility, the poverty of spirit, which keeps us praying, ‘Lord, that I may see’, ‘Lord, that I may hear’.

 And/Or

(iii) Tuesday, Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

In this morning’s gospel reading, Jesus speaks about the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod. In that culture ‘yeast’ or ‘leaven’ was often used as a symbol of evil and with reference to how the evil of a few can infect a large group. However, the disciples interpret Jesus’ reference to ‘yeast’ in a very literal way, with reference to bread. ‘It is because we have no bread’, they said. As a result, Jesus goes on to address them as having no understanding or perception, having eyes and not seeing, having ears and not hearing. Jesus often speaks in the language of image, metaphor and symbol. Sometimes, to take what he says literally is to misunderstand him, like the disciples in today’s gospel reading. Today’s gospel reading suggests that the meaning of what Jesus says is not always obvious. If we presume too quickly that we know what Jesus says, we can dismiss it too quickly if it does not make immediate sense to us. As we listen to what Jesus says, we need to take time to ponder his words so as to hit upon the real meaning of what he says. We need to approach the word of God in a spirit of humility, recognizing that we can easily be blind and deaf, like the disciples. We listen, in the awareness that we are learners before the word and that we need the Spirit to enlighten us.  

 And/Or

(iv) Tuesday, Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

Not everything in the Scriptures is to be taken literally. The language of the Bible is often very often symbolic and poetic. In today’s gospel reading, we find Jesus speaking symbolically and his disciples taking him literally. He warns his disciples to be on their guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Herod. Linking yeast and bread, the disciples think that he is chiding them for not bringing enough bread with them in the boat. In reality, Jesus was using yeast or leaven as a symbol of evil, which was not uncommon in that culture. A little yeast can have a powerful impact on a large batch of dough. In a similar way, the evil of a few can infect the many. The disciples need to be on their guard that they are not unduly influenced by the mind-set of the religious experts, the Pharisees, and the political powers, Herod. Jesus was concerned that this might happen. He asks his disciples a series of questions which show his frustration with them, ‘Do you not yet understand? Have you no perception?’ As the Lord’s disciples today, we all need to be on our guard against being unduly influenced by mind-sets which are contrary to the mind-set of the Lord. We need to keep immersing ourselves in his mind-set as it comes to us through the gospels and the other documents of the New Testament. In one of his parables, Jesus used the image of leaven in a positive sense, declaring that the kingdom of God is like a woman who placed a little leaven in a large batch of flour. The Lord wants us to be leaven in that sense, bringing the values of the kingdom of God to our world by how we live.

 And/Or

(v) Tuesday, Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

Today’s gospel reading is unusual for the number of questions that Jesus asks his disciples. They are all asked in desperation. It seems as if Jesus is almost ready to give up on his disciples. He has invested a great deal in them, and, yet, they don’t seem to be making any progress. Jesus asks them ‘Do you not yet understand?’ His questions go on to suggest that their minds are closed, that they don’t see with their eyes or hear with their ears, that they are without perception. He speaks like a frustrated teacher who just can’t seem to get through to his pupils. Jesus may have been tempted to give up on his disciples, but he didn’t. They would go on to disappoint him in a much more dramatic fashion in the hour of his passion and death, deserting him when he needed them. Yet, it was to these same disciples that Jesus as risen Lord appeared, commissioning them to go forth in his name to preach the gospel. Today’s gospel reading suggests that there is hope for us all. We often get it wrong in our following of the Lord. Like the disciples in the gospel reading we can be slow to perceive and understand what he is showing us. In the words of James in the first reading, we can be attracted and seduced by our own wrong desires, failing to stand firm when our faith is put to the test. Yet, the Lord remains faithful to us. As long as we are seeking him, the Lord will not give up on us. In a sense, we are all he has and he needs us. If the Lord does not give up on us, we must resist the temptation to give up on ourselves, especially in those times when we feel we are falling short of where we could be.

 And/Or

(vi) Tuesday, Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

It is clear that Jesus is very frustrated with his disciples in today’s gospel reading. He warned them against the yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod, ‘yeast’ being a traditional symbol of evil and wickedness. The disciples interpreted him in a very literal way, presuming he was giving out to them because they did not bring enough bread in the boat. This was shortly after Jesus had fed the multitude in the wilderness with bread. They seem to have been on a totally different wavelength to Jesus. Jesus’ litany of questions to his disciples expressed his exasperation at them, ‘Do you not yet understand? Have you no perception? Are you minds closed?’ It is as if Jesus was saying, ‘What do I have to do or say to get through to you?’ I suspect the risen Lord continues to struggle with us, his disciples, today. We are not always on his wavelength. Like the disciples in the boat, we can be bothered about what is not important and we can fail to appreciate what the Lord is actually doing for us and asking of us. We continue to have eyes that do not see and ears that do not hear. Those first disciples had a long way to go before their eyes were finally opened. It would be after Easter before this happened, and, even then, there was much for them to learn from the Lord. We all have a long way to go when it comes to seeing what the Lord wants us to see, hearing what he wants us to hear and opening our minds to what he wants us to understand. What is important is that we stay faithful to this journey of discovery, always having the humility to recognize that, in the words of Paul, ‘now we see as in a mirror dimly’, and always having the openness of the child to keep receiving what the Lord is trying to show us.

Fr. Martin Hogan.

[whitepolaris]

Mission San Juan Capistrano

The 1939 hit tune “When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano” was recorded by Glenn Miller, Gene Autry, and the Ink Spots, but no one has thus far been inspired to sing about the ghosts that haunt this upscale area. 

Predictably, the official guide to the Mission San Juan Capistrano given out at the entrance turnstile concentrates on the history of founder Father Junipero Serra and the story of the Spanish colonization of California. The mission was founded by Serra on November 1, 1776, and soon became one of the busiest in the territory. As in almost everywhere the Spanish set down roots, the native population was forced to work as free labor for the greater glory of God and the Royal Crown. The Indians were actually locked up in the buildings at night. 

The big deal at Capistrano is, of course, the swallows, whose numbers have dwindled recently due to encroaching development and the loss of habitant for the insects that provide their diet. 

When you think about it, it would be peculiar if there weren’t any supernatural phenomena in this town, steeped as it is in the history of early California. On the night of December 18, 1812, a catastrophic earthquake effectively leveled the ornate chapel that once stood here, taking the lives of forty worshippers. But enough remnants of the old mission still stand to give the place an authentic, and sometimes ghostly, air. There are no actors to help the atmosphere along, but tourists occasionally report sightings of Franciscan monks walking among the adobe colonnades-and disappearing into thin air. Visitors have also heard bells tolling for mass, even though the mission’s four massive bells have not been used for years. In addition, ghost hunter extraordinaire Richard Senate reports that a woman in a white dress, looking like she had just come from in from the rain that was falling outside, once entered the gift shop, formerly the priests’ quarters. She had jet-black hair and looked “confused and perhaps ill.” When a clerk approached to ask if she needed help, the woman walked straight through a wall. The phantom left no wet footprints. 

An Indian woman named Magdalena, who is said to have died without confessing her sins, walks one of the upper stories of the ruined walls, carrying a candle that can be seen on dark nights through one of the windows at the back of the church. The mission cemetery, on the east side of the complex, has witnessed strange lights moving about the tombstones at night and even a few instances of spirit voice recordings. The utterings, known as Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP), can be manifested by anyone with a tape or digital recorder. One said, “I’m scared” and “I’m cold,” and another whispered more cryptically, “It’s happening again.”

A few doors south of the mission is the popular El Adobe De Capistrano restaurant, known for its enchiladas, which were often special-ordered by Richard Nixon during his brooding retreats to the Western White House in nearby San Clemente. The building was originally two structures, the oldest built in 1797 as a private home. In 1812, the local courthouse was established next door. After the structure were joined in 1910, the place went through a few different owners, who began to notice strange goings-on in the basement of the courthouse, which served as a jail. Restaurant employees are wary of the area, which now is used as a wine cellar. They report feelings of being watched, cold spots (in an already cold basement), and wine bottles falling off racks.