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Pope Francis prepares for the Synod

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The Synod that takes place in the autumn will be an important event. Here is the English summary of the teaching that Pope Francis gave at his weekly audience in Rome this Wednesday.

Dear Brothers and Sisters: We return now to our catechesis on the family, by reflecting on the situation of our brothers and sisters who have divorced and entered a second union. Though their unions are contrary to the Sacrament of marriage, the Church, as a Mother, seeks the good and salvation of all her children.

As these situations especially affect children, we are aware of a greater urgency to foster a true welcome for these families in our communities. For how can we encourage these parents to raise their children in the Christian life, to give them an example of Christian faith, if we keep them at arm’s length? I am especially grateful to the many pastors, guided by my Predecessors, who have worked diligently to let these families know they are still a part of the Church. There is no easy solution for these situations, but we can and must always encourage these families to participate in the Church’s life, through prayer, listening to the Word of God, the Christian education of their children, and service to the poor.

As the Good Shepherd gives his life for the sheep, so the Church as a Mother gives her life for all her children, by being always the “house of the Father, with doors wide open”. May everyone, especially Christian families, imitate the Good Shepherd, who knows all his sheep and excludes no one from his infinite love.

Fr Matthew

Summer Holy-Days

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If you look up the word “holiday” in a certain online source-of-all-knowledge you will find this: “The intention of a holiday was typically to allow individuals to tend to religious duties associated with important dates on the calendar.” Yes, the idea of a holiday has its origin in religion, as we can see from its two halves holi- and –day.

So as we get into the traditional summer holiday part of the year, we could pause a moment to remind ourselves that there is a spiritual dimension to the concept. I suppose we could connect the idea of an annual rest to that of a weekly one – a kind of yearly Sabbath – and that, of course is based on the Book of Genesis telling us that even God took a break after the mighty and somewhat exhausting task of creating everything.

Through most of history, the only type of holidays the average working person got was precisely religious ones. The idea of state, or Bank, holidays is a lot later. In some countries the link between state and church holidays is still much stronger than here in Britain where the Whitsun holiday got disconnected from Whitsun or Pentecost. We still have Christmas and Good Friday, though – at the moment…

So make sure this summer that you try to get some rest for your soul as well as your body. Don’t fill up your time with busy-ness. If possible, make sure you have time for just being as well as doing. Visit somewhere quiet and inspiring, maybe an old church or ruined abbey – we have plenty around.

Find a nice view or a quiet corner… give time for your soul to breath. Enjoy the summer – and may your holidays truly be holy-days!

Fr Matthew

 

Saint James the Great (Feast day Saturday)

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Saint James was a son of Zebedee and Salome. He was brother of John, and probably the elder of the two. He is called “the Great” to distinguish him from the Apostle James the Less, son of Alphaeus, who was probably just shorter! They were known as Boanerges or Sons of Thunder, maybe because of their fiery tempers. Their parents seem to have been people of means. Zebedee was a fisherman in Galilee who lived perhaps in Capernaum; and had some boatmen or hired men. Salome was one of the pious women who afterwards followed Christ and helped take care of him. The brothers would have been men of ordinary education, in the common walks of Jewish life. John was personally known to the high -priest, and must have had the means to provide for the Mother of Jesus given to him at Calvary.

James was one of the first disciples to join Jesus. James and John were with their father by the seashore when Jesus called them to follow him. James was one of only three apostles whom Jesus selected to witness his Transfiguration. James and his brother wanted to call down fire on a Samaritan town, but were rebuked by Jesus. The Acts of the Apostles records that Herod had James executed by sword. The only apostle whose martyrdom is recorded in the New Testament, he is traditionally believed to be the first of the twelve martyred for his faith.

Saint James is patron saint of Spain, and, according to legend, his remains are held in Santiago de Compostela. The traditional pilgrimage there, known as the “Camino” or Way of St James, has been popular since the early Middle Ages. Local tradition tells how on 2 January AD 40, the Virgin Mary appeared to James on the bank of the River Ebro at Caesaraugusta (now Zaragoza), while he was preaching. She appeared upon a pillar, which is venerated there. It is said that his disciples later carried his body by sea to Spain, where they took it for burial at Santiago. James’ emblem was the scallop shell (or “cockle shell”), and pilgrims to his shrine often wore and wear that symbol on their hats or clothes.

Fr Matthew