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MARTYRS REGION THE NEWSLETTER |
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| June, 2006 | Home Page |
Christopher Columbus Launches Out in Faith - Duc In Altum
Fr. Tom Murphy, OFM
Regional Spiritual Assistant
Why was Christopher Columbus, a devout sixteenth century member of the Third Order of St. Francis, the first person in Christian Europe during the second Christian millennium to consider seriously venturing westward into the vast Ocean Sea? In 1501 Columbus began a letter to the King and Queen of Spain with the words, "Most eminent rulers: At a very early age [about age 10] I began to navigate upon the seas, which I have continued to this day.... Such has been my interest for more than forty years . . ." About ten of those years, from about 1475 until 1484, Columbus had spent sailing under the Portuguese flag. Near the end of this period, he approached King John II of Portugal with his idea of sailing west over the Ocean Sea to the Indies, his "Enterprise of the Indies." Portugal had long been in the process of trying to reach the Indies by sailing south and east around the continent of Africa. When the King finally responded negatively to his plan, Columbus immediately set out for Spain, where in 1486 he managed to present his adventurous plan before King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. If they refused his plan, he was ready to approach the Crowns of England and France, where, in fact, his brother Bartholomew was representing him when Christopher made landfall in the Bahama Islands in 1492. While Columbus was so engrossed in trying to get backing for his "Enterprise of the Indies" during these years, we know of no other person in the seafaring nations of Europe who had shown any interest in the same idea. How did Christopher Columbus come to be the only person in Christendom to have this ambitious goal in mind at this time?
Ordinarily in major historical breakthroughs, there are many parties involved striving to be the first to succeed in some new venture. Many corporations competed with Microsoft to determine who would dominate the new computer industry. The Soviet Union and the United States spend enormous sums in rocketry to be the first to put a man on the moon. How did Columbus come to be the only person to have the audacious ambition of sailing west to the Indies in the late fifteenth century?
In the same letter to the Spanish Sovereigns mentioned above, Christopher Columbus has left a personal account describing how he came to be the unique agent of the European discovery of the "New World". Columbus incorporated this letter in a manuscript he compiled in Spain after his return from his third voyage. He called his manuscript the Libro de las profecias. The "Libro" was composed in Seville, Spain between September 1501 and March 1502. In his letter to Ferdinand and Isabella, Columbus reveals the workings of his inner soul:
With a hand that could be felt, the Lord opened my mind to the fact that it would be possible to sail from here to the Indies, and he opened my will to desire to accomplish the project. This was the fire that burned within me when I came to visit Your Highnesses [in 1486] .... Who can doubt that this fire was not merely mine, but also of the Holy Spirit who encouraged me in a radiance of marvelous illumination from his sacred Holy Scriptures, by a most clear and powerful testimony from the forty-four books of the Old Testament, from the four Gospels, from the twenty-three Epistles of the blessed Apostles - urging me to press forward? Continually, without a moment's hesitation, the Scriptures urge me to press forward with great haste .... I believe that the Holy Spirit works among Christians, Jews, and Moslems, and among all men of every faith, not merely among the learned, but also among the uneducated .... I am only a most unworthy sinner, but ever since I cried out for grace and mercy from the Lord, they have covered me completely. I have found the most delightful comfort in making it my whole aim in life to enjoy his marvelous presence.... Whoever finds so much faith as a grain of mustard seed will be obeyed by the mountains. Knock and it must be opened unto you. No one should be afraid to undertake any project in the name of our Savior, if it is a just cause and if he has the pure intention of his holy service. "From Christopher Columbus' own words in this letter we have Columbus' own answer to the question of how he happened to be the one person in Europe to open up the western hemisphere of the earth and to bear Christ (Christopher) and his message and Church to the "New World." From his own words there should be no doubt that the Lord himself, his Holy Spirit and the words of Sacred Scripture were the key factors inspiring Columbus to launch out fearlessly on the uncharted waters of the Ocean Sea in 1492 in the name of the Lord.
In accomplishing this extraordinary feat he was following the example of his patron, St. Francis of Assisi. In the thirteenth century Francis helped to revitalize the Catholic Church by likewise taking to heart the demanding words of the Gospel message and, relying on the Grace of God, carried out in his own life the great quest of living out the full Gospel way of life.
The Libro de las profecias of Christopher Columbus: An en face edition; translation and commentary by Delno C. West and August Kling; University of Florida Press; Gainesville; 1991; page 105.
You Will Have Your Faith Shaken!
A Reflection on the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus
Deacon Ric Nagle, SFO
At the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the veil of the Temple in Jerusalem was torn in two from top to bottom. Jesus' own prophecy of the destruction of this Temple made by human hands, the old place of atonement for the Hebrew people, is fulfilled by his bodily death on the Cross. The tearing of the veil of the Temple represents a new opening to God the Father through the consubstantial divine and human nature of his Son. In Christ's ultimate sacrifice on the Cross, the giving of himself for the atonement of the sins of the whole world, he breaks though and removes all obstacles blocking the way to the mercy of God. Christ's rightful identity is fully expressed by the Centurion at the foot of the Cross: Truly this man was the Son of God! The true identity of the Messiah is expressed, and his divine Sonship is proclaimed (cf Mark 14:1-15:47, Gospel for Passion Sunday this year).
Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of the temple not made by human hands, the Church born of the water and blood flowing from his pierced heart. This divine and merciful temple is open to all people. It is a house of prayer and a gathering place for all those able to recognize and accept Christ as the true Son of God, one in Being with the Father. Only one of the Twelve who had witnessed his Transfiguration and his Agony remained with him at the foot of his Cross. The Apostles were hiding in fear, their faith shaken, not yet strengthened by the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. However, the Centurion, Joseph of Arimathea, and the women closest to Jesus faithfully remain with him through his Passion and death to his resurrection three days later. Joseph, a nighttime disciple who asked for the body of Jesus so that it could be properly laid to rest, and the faithful women, who came to anoint his body and prepare it for burial, represented what the everlasting faithful Christian community will be: men and women, Gentile and Jew, all called to be witnesses and instruments of the humble, loving, self-giving life of Jesus Christ.
When we hear the Gospels read year after year, do we begin to think that are they boring? Perhaps this is the way we may fall into the trap of having our own faith shaken. We watch old movies. We know the ending, but each time we are warmed by the theme and find new insights and things we missed before. It is the same with our faith and the teachings of Our Lord found in the Gospels we hear every day. It may take a true act of our will to see and hear the message of the Gospel anew, looking for insights and truth that we had not known before. The real presence of the true humanity and divinity of Christ in the Church and the Sacraments supports our faith each day, every week and every year, to help the little faith that we have. Faith in the redeeming power of Christ's sacrifice on the Cross is all about love: God's everlasting love for us, our daily choice to love him in return, and our desire to share his love for us by loving each other as his children. If we are to be true children of God, we must strive to remain faithful and obedient to his Commandments, as were Abraham, David, and Mary, people after God's own heart, fulfilling His every wish. And the greatest of these is love.
To believe in Christ as Son of God is to be born of God and to be made children and heirs of God. Faith in Christ generates the responsibility of love for God and love for neighbor. We express this love by doing our best to keep the commandments of the Church, which help us in Christ to be victorious over the forces of evil and free us from the downward spirals and addictive behaviors of the pagans and the lost. Christian moral behavior must not conform to that of the world. Our personal commitment in faith to God the Father, through God the Son, and in God the Holy Spirit brings us into a personal relationship with the human and divine life of the risen Jesus and the eternal glory he has promised to those who love him. The life, passion, death, and resurrection of Christ and his victory over sin, darkness, fear, and death must be the Gospel we proclaim as Christians and Franciscans. We must strive for holiness in our lives, lead others to the merciful kingdom of God, and show others the glory of God's eternal love and promise of everlasting life.
God's Peace and the Power of the Resurrection be with you all in this Easter Season.
References:
The Passion and Resurrection Narratives ofdesus: A Commentary; Rev. Stephen J. Binz; The Liturgical Press, Collegeville, MN; 1989; pages 34, 35.
Live Letters: Reflections on the Second Readings of the Sunday Lectionary; Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk; St. Anthony Messenger Press, Cincinnati, OH; 2002; pages 130, 131.
I Was In Pain and You Visited Me
Andy Buchleitner, SFO, Regional Work Commissioner
Reaching people where they are in life without expecting them to come to us, this is the key to developing a ministry of presence - a ministry that builds trust. Very often this may call for us to meet the needs of others where we would rather not go - maybe even to prison. But there is no alternative. "To know the problem of poverty intellectually is not to understand it. It is not by reading, talking, walking in the slum that we come to understand it and discover what it has of bad and of good. We have to dive into it, live it, share it. Only by being one with us has Jesus redeemed us. We are allowed to do the same." (Mother Teresa)
Sin is an attempt to fill a void in our lives. It comes in many forms, but at its root is a lack of knowing Christ's love. To initiate the process of rehabilitation, one must go beyond preconceived opinions and prejudices and judge, not according to past history or reasons for failure, but simply because a person is in need. If there is to be any hope for rehabilitation, we must look through God's eyes and see what a man can become, not what he may be or what society has labeled him. "Jesus does away with all our blame and looks upon us, with pity and compassion, as innocent and beloved children." (Julian of Norwich)
People respond to how others see them. If we acknowledge the person we meet in prison as a child of God rather than a criminal and encourage and unconditionally accept them, they may very well see their self-worth, and develop the confidence needed to stimulate change. Prisoners need forgiveness and compassion not condemnation for, "their crimes are always before them." (cf. Ps 51)
Understanding where the incarcerated have come from will help us bring them to where they need to be. The biggest common factor shared by most inmates is rejection. For most, this rejection came at an early age with the loss of a parent, or parental abuse and neglect throughout their childhood. Through any number of other social influences, including the ultimate rejection of being placed in prison, the incarcerated have lost all feeling of self-worth. They struggle to accept forgiveness, even when it is freely offered. We need to help them learn to love themselves. If we can accomplish this, the repentant sinner will now have the ability and desire to spread the love he has found by loving others. We will have added yet another servant for the Kingdom!
If each of us became a more tangible sign of God's love to those in need, we would indeed have the answer to the cry of the poor. Let us look at the amazing effect love had on one person standing on the threshold of despair. Perhaps you will begin to believe that your love can also bring hope, even to the most hardened criminal living in: PAIN AND MISERY
They say the eyes are the windows of the soul. Have you ever looked into someone's eyes and seen hell?
Joining with several Christian brothers, I found myself once again "locked down." Our purpose was to conduct a Spirit-filled weekend of prayer, instruction and worship, offering hope to men living in a prison containing a large number of HIV/AIDS victims. One of the participants was a young man who had some of the most gruesome tattoos I had ever seen. The knuckles of his left hand spelled the word "Pain," the right, "Misery." His arms and neck had numerous satanic signs and unrecognizable creatures. During our conversations he manipulated a black needle with his tongue, continually poking it in and out through a hole in his lower lip. Most disturbing, however, were his eyes. In their depths I saw the most intense suffering, loneliness and despair I had ever seen.
His eyes, it turned out, reflected his life. Fatherless from an early age, his mother had recently committed suicide. For him a life of drugs, abuse and abnormal behavior were the only things he knew. His study had been of the occult. His only desire - to survive.
At the beginning of the retreat he shared the fact that he did not know God. It was only his openness to see what our program had to offer and the food we were able to take into the prison that had influenced him to attend. The deciding factor, however, was the fact that his only friend, his prison "dad," would also be coming.
God works in mysterious but mighty ways! I could spend hours going into the transformation I saw that weekend. From his initial hesitancy in sharing until his tearful acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior four days later, it will be an experience I will never forget.
Conversion can sometimes happen in an instant. More often, however, it is a gradual process that will take our entire lifetime. But to even begin the conversion process we must come to a true self-knowledge. For most of us, the God we have come to know is the God we have seen in our parents. The example they have given is what we have come to believe. Unfortunately, if their example has been a distorted reflection of the Truth, our perception of God may not attract or interest us. Conversion begins when we realize that some of the beliefs we have conformed our mind to, sometimes for many years, are not real. Coming to know the "real" God can sometimes take a great deal of unlearning. The Spirit, working through people like you and I, can be that "Light" for those seeking a genuine understanding and love of God.
A survey was made of over 1000 Christian kids asking them what the most important catalyst was in their spiritual growth. Bible studies and "preaching" barely registered any mention. The top factors, they answered, were relationships. Twenty-five percent of the youth considered their relationship with a Christian peer or parent as having had the most impact on their spiritual development. Seventeen per cent also sighted a spiritual retreat, another relationship-building experience, as the turning point in their lives.
It's obvious that if we truly want to change lives we need to "be" the gospel by our example. Just as importantly, however, we must put that example into action through direct, hands-on, relationship-building efforts. "Make a friend, be a friend and bring a friend to Christ." (Kairos slogan) C'mon Franciscans, lets go to prison! 
Around the Region
EAST CENTRAL AREA
Divine Mercy Fraternity Vero Beach
Pauline Pavlick was professed on March 19, 2006. Congratulation from all of us.
St. Maximillian Kolbe Fraternity Deltona
The fraternity meeting this month was a celebration. It was the Profession of Diane O'Brien,
the 50th anniversaries of two of our members, Maria Scorpio and Berry Sulek. Congratulations to all from all of us.
SOUTH EAST AREA
St. Joseph Fraternity Ft. Lauderdale
Mary Jo Bossone celebrated 51 years of profession on May 1, 2006. Congratulations, Mary Jo
Dear Ministers,
It would be good to have many items from fraternities all over the Region. Some ministers send me their newsletters and I read them for items, as you can see I do not get very much information. Would it be easier to send me emails for whatever you would like to see in your regional newsletter. Would you rather mail information to me.
Nancy Mathewson, SFO On the website, we do not show mailing addresses and e-mails unless requested by the author of the notice; see your Fraternity Minister for that type of information /Webmaster
"The Newsletter" deadlines are as follows:
March Newsletter - February 10th; September Newsletter - August 10th
June Newsletter - May 10th; December Newsletter - November 10th
I said a prayeryou today I knew you wouldn't mind,
And know God must have heard.
I felt Me answer in my heart
Although He spoke no word.
I didn't ask for wealth or fame,
I asked Him to o end treasures,
of a far more lasting kind.
I asked that He'd be near you,
At the start of each new day.
to grant you health and blessings
and friends to share your way
I asked for happiness for you,
In all things great and small,
But it was for His loving care,
I prayed for most of all.
