ROME, OCTOBER 11, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Pope Benedict XVI, in his homily for the opening Mass of the Year of Faith, recalled how the Second Vatican Council was animated by a desire… to immerse itself anew in the Christian mystery so as to re-propose it fruitfully to contemporary man.
The Year of Faith, which the Holy Father commenced today with Mass in Saint Peter’s Square, coincides with the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council. To commemorate these two occasions together, Pope Benedict said in his homily, the celebrations were reminiscent of the Council through a variety of signs, such the enthronement of a copy of the Book of the Gospels used at the Council, and the consignment of the seven final Messages of the Council. These signs, Pope Benedict help us not only to remember, they also offer us the possibility of going beyond commemorating. They invite us to enter more deeply into the spiritual movement which characterized Vatican II, to make it ours and to develop it according to its true meaning. And its true meaning was and remains faith in Christ, the apostolic faith, animated by the inner desire to communicate Christ to individuals and all people, in the Church’s pilgrimage along the pathways of history.
Today’s commencement of the Year of faith is linked harmoniously with the Church’s whole path over the last fifty years: from the Council, through the Magisterium of the Servant of God Paul VI, who proclaimed a Year of Faith in 1967, up to the Great Jubilee of the year 2000, with which Blessed John Paul II re-proposed to all humanity Jesus Christ as the one Savior, yesterday, today and forever. Between these two Popes, Paul VI and John Paul II, there was a deep and profound convergence, precisely upon Christ as the centre of the cosmos and of history, and upon the apostolic eagerness to announce him to the world.
The Council, Pope Benedict recalled, was animated by a desire, as it were, to immerse itself anew in the Christian mystery so as to re-propose it fruitfully to contemporary man. The Servant of God Paul VI, two years after the end of the Council session, expressed it in this way: ‘Even if the Council does not deal expressly with the faith, it talks about it on every page, it recognizes its vital and supernatural character, it assumes it to be whole and strong, and it builds upon its teachings. We need only recall some of the Council’s statements in order to realize the essential importance that the Council, consistent with the doctrinal tradition of the Church, attributes to the faith, the true faith, which has Christ for its source and the Church’s Magisterium for its channel.’ (General Audience, 8 March 1967)
At the time of the Council, the Holy Father continued, there was an emotional tension as we faced the common task of making the truth and beauty of the faith shine out in our time, without sacrificing it to the demands of the present or leaving it tied to the past: the eternal presence of God resounds in the faith, transcending time.
Pope Benedict said that he believed that the most important thing is to revive in the whole Church that positive tension, that yearning to announce Christ again to contemporary man. But, so that this interior thrust towards the new evangelization neither remain just an idea nor be lost in confusion, it needs to be built on a concrete and precise basis, and this basis is the documents of the Second Vatican Council, the place where it found expression.
If today the Church proposes a new Year of Faith and a new evangelization, the Holy Father continued, it is not to honor an anniversary, but because there is more need of it, even more than there was fifty years ago! And the reply to be given to this need is the one desired by the Popes, by the Council Fathers, and contained in its documents.
Pope Benedict referred to the first reading of Mass today, which spoke to us of the wisdom of the wayfarer (cf. Sir34:9-13): the journey is a metaphor for life, and the wise wayfarer is one who has learned the art of living, and can share it with his brethren – as happens to pilgrims along the Way of Saint James or similar routes which, not by chance, have again become popular in recent years.
How come so many people today feel the need to make these journeys? the Pope asked. Is it not because they find there, or at least intuit, the meaning of our existence in the world? This, then, is how we can picture the Year of Faith: a pilgrimage in the deserts of today’s world, taking with us only what is necessary: neither staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money, nor two tunics – as the Lord said to those he was sending out on mission (cf. Lk 9:3), but the Gospel and the faith of the Church, of which the Council documents are a luminous expression, as is the Catechism of the Catholic Church, published twenty years ago.
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2012-10-11
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(On May 24, the Dominican family celebrates the Memorial of the Translation of Our Holy Father. This Feast commemorates the day – May 24, 1233 – when the remains of our Father and Founder Dominic, and due to the great devotion of the people for him, were transferred from an ordinary tomb to a marble sepulcher in the Church of Saint Nicholas in Bologna. Due to the fact that August 8, which celebrates the Solemnity of St. Dominic, falls within summer in many places and therefore the majority of the brothers are on vacation, many Dominican communities celebrate the day of our Father on May 24. Our St. Dominic’s Priory is among these communities. To honor our dear Father, we offer here the powerful and always relevant sermon of the great Dominican preacher Savonarola)
 Behold a great priest! During his lifetime he repaired the house of God and in his days he reinforced the temple. This text refers to Blessed Dominic whose feast we celebrate today and who together with Blessed Francis renewed the Church that was falling into ruin. Behold a great priest. [Brothers,] note the words and mark the mysteries. There are many priests yet few priests. Alas, though some priests are good, not all are great. A priest ought to enlighten the people, for a priest’s task is to preach. Therefore, how can there be a priest who does not know how to enlighten? And what of him who is not enlightened? What of him who is evil!
 Blessed Dominic was holy and learned in doctrine. But someone may say: “I learn thoroughly that I may preach in a holy manner.” Today, because the office of preaching is an office held in great honor, our priests all desire to preach and they study sermon books and other subjects to edify all the people by their speaking. I may accomplish some good in the Church. But what follows? During his lifetime he repaired the house of God, that is, during the temporal course of his life. The life of a sinner is not a life but a death. Say therefore, “during his holy life,” that is, through his life and good example.
Beseech, beseech the Lord to send good and holy priests who will repair the house, that is, the whole Church which is on the verge of a great fall. And in his days he reinforced the temple and he made the foundation of the temple firm. The foundation of this temple is the state of perfection of some who are in the clerical state, that is, religious. Now a bishop ought to be perfect because he is in a perfect state of life. However, religious are in the state of perfection insofar as they take vows and oblige themselves to those things which lead to the perfection of life. We of the Order of Preachers are also numbered among the religious. How perfect the preachers should be you may learn from these words of scripture: The walls of the temple are lofty. [Brothers,] should we not in any art consider the name of the art and be ashamed, if the one who practices that art not live up to its name; for example, if a soldier be timid, if he should flee the battle. Therefore take heed of the name you bear.
 
 He attained glory in his dealings with the people. It is said of Blessed Dominic that in his relations with others he always showed a joyful and gracious spirit, hence all loved him with great affection. He desired to place his religious houses in the cities and to have contact with people so that he might be of profit to all. Hence he spent the day with his neighbor and the night he gave to God. He preached that love which enlarges the heart and makes all things easy. Broad indeed is your command; I run in the way of your commands, for you have given me freedom of heart. When someone asked him where one might find such beautiful expositions of doctrine he replied, “In the book of charity.”
 And you, [O brothers,] you desire to learn the scriptures, you desire to preach. Hold to charity and she will teach you. Hold to charity and you will understand charity. Since Blessed Dominic was totally given to charity toward his neighbor that by prayer, preaching and example he might draw his neighbor to eternal life, to this end he offered himself as an oblation to God in an odor of sweetness. Therefore the text continues: like fire and incense in the censer, that is, of the Holy Spirit and of charity toward neighbor and of tribulations, all of which ascended in the presence of God as a most sweet odor. And finally he became total charity and wisdom, and totally equipped with all virtues.
FR ALEJANDRO SALCEDO OP
St. Dominic’s Priory, May 24, 2012
“IN HIS RESURRECTION CHRIST APPEARED FIRST
 St. Vincent Ferrer was born in Valencia, Spain in 1350. Dominican Vincent, theologian, peacemaker, popular saint, and charismatic itinerant preacher proclaimed the Good News of Jesus throughout Western Europe. He supported his moving preaching with a life of poverty, prayer and penance. His moving preaching was confirmed by many sings. He died at Vannes, France in1419. His feast is celebrated on May 5.
Christ came forth from the tomb without opening it, just as he was born of the Virgin without harm to her virginity. Standing upon the sepulcher, Christ showed his glorious body with its wounds and scourging to all the holy patriarchs, who adored him on bended knee and said: “Glory to you, Lord, risen from the dead, and to the Father and the Holy Spirit.” This is the first point concerning the blessed resurrection of Jesus Christ which was accomplished on this day. The second is that it was manifested graciously and in a special manner to the Virgin Mary. It is the conclusion of numerous theologians that Christ in his resurrection appeared first to the Virgin Mary, his Mother. Ambrose says this expressly in his book On Virgins: “Mary saw the resurrection of Christ and was the first to see it.” The evangelists, however, make no effort here to present indisputable witnesses, because the testimony of a mother on behalf of her Son might not be given credence. But we are compelled to believe that he appeared first to Mary for three reasons.
First, on account of a divine command. Because in the passion of her Son Mary was to suffer distress more than all others, Christ promised his mother as a special privilege that she would give birth without pain and in a manner contrary to the general course of nature. Likewise he promised that in her death she would not experience the sufferings of this life. As Bishop Albert says, “Death is the culmination of as things terrible, for all at once the soul is completely uprooted, like a tree.” But all the sufferings of childbirth and death came upon her at the passion of her Son. Since Scripture said honor your father and do not disregard your mother’s groans and since Christ observed perfectly the law about honoring one’s parents, it follows that he appeared first to his mother who suffered distress more than all others.
Second, on account of her meritorious faith. It is held as certain and demonstrated clearly enough in the text that at the time of Christ’s passion all the apostles and disciples completely lost the Christian faith. Some doubted whether he was the true God and Messiah, although all considered him to be a very holy prophet. Only the Virgin Mary believed without wavering on that Holy Saturday, and so it was granted that an office in her honor should be celebrated on Saturdays in the Church of God. Since Scripture says the Lord appears to those who have faith in him, it seems that the reward for her faith was that he should appear to her first.
  Third, on account of her great love. It is certain that never has a mother so loved her son as the Virgin Mary loved Christ. What Christ himself has said shall take place: Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him.
For these three reasons it is obvious that Christ first appeared to the Virgin Mother, although the holy evangelists do not mention this explicitly.
Today we are commemorating a unique event, unparalleled in history. Nothing like this has ever been heard before Christ or after Christ. Lazarus was raised by Christ from the dead but he died again. Christ rose from the dead to die no more. He has risen from the world of the dead, with unearthly splendor and glory. Today we celebrate the triumph of life over death, hope over despair, light over darkness, goodness over evil.
Our Blessed Lord has conquered death; now he reigns in glory. He has redeemed us by paying his own blood as the price. He became obedient unto death; therefore, the heavenly Father raised Him from the dead and gave Him a name above every other name. He is the grain of wheat that fell on the ground in order to give existence to thousands and thousands of grains.
Jesus had declared: “By my own will I lay down my life, and by my own will I will take it up again.†And today we see him breaking the shackles of death and rising as the victor king. Thus tragedy has been turned into triumph, sorrow into joy.
Is it not foolish to appoint guards at the tomb lest the dead person should escape? Yet that was what the Jewish leaders did. It is apparent that the enemies of Jesus remembered that he whom they had killed had predicted He would rise again, and so they tried to preclude that while His own friends and disciples were not mindful of his prediction. Mary Magdalene came early in the morning, not to see the Risen Lord, but to offer spices and ointments at his tomb. She also wept thinking that it was stolen. She never thought that He was risen.
We believe and know that Christ is risen. Saint Paul says, “If Christ has not been raised, then empty too is our preaching; empty, too, your faith†(1 Cor 15:14). Saint Paul also wrote to the Romans that we who have received baptism in Christ, then we have also risen with Christ and will enter into the newness of life. If we died to sin and live in righteousness, we too shall rise like him in splendor and glory.
We certainly rejoice in the Lord’s triumph over death. Let the “ALLELUIAS†that resound in the Church today be an echo of the eternal song of praise that goes on in heaven and resounds in our hearts. Was not the Lord who said, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will build it?†He did exactly as he said. Conquering sins and death He rose on the third day. This is the fountain of our faith and the mystery of our salvation. If we follow faithfully in the footsteps of our Lord, we also will reach the glorious resurrection. The resurrection of Christ is the guarantee of our resurrection. This hope should encourage us to live a true and sincere Christian life. We should die to our sins of pride, hatred, selfishness, and dishonesty; and evil desires should not find any place in us anymore.
Let us also enter into a new life with Christ. Let us take up our crosses and follow Christ that has shown to us that the way of the cross is not the way of death, it ends not on Calvary but in the resurrection and eternal life. The example of Christ who sacrificed His life and the altar of self-denial encourage us to be ready to suffer in serving our own fellow men and women. Easter reminds us that death is not the end. For the one who lives in Christ, death has no terrors. For him or her, to die is gain because death is the beginning of eternal life.
FR. DIONISIO CABEZON, OP
St. Dominic’s Priory, Macau
The concept of death is as old as human beings. Man found death as a part of his daily experience. He experienced the death of plants, insects, animals and his own fellow men. Ever since, man’s reaction to death has taken different attitudes. Some were and are terrified. Some freeze at the thought that they will have to come face to face with death one day. Others tried to find ways to avoid it turning to the supernatural world or spiritual transformation looking for answers. Immortality has been a subject of fascination to humanity since the beginning of known history.
During these days of the paschal mystery our readings have been recounting and our liturgies portraying the last days of Jesus and the way his disciple responded to all these happenings. From the Upper room where Jesus bent down and washed the feet of this disciples, the agony of the garden, the arrest, the scourging, the carrying of the cross the crucifixion, to the death of Jesus and his burial.
When Jesus took his last breath on the cross, the disciple hearts shrank on fear and their faith in Jesus’ promises vanished with his last breath. Once again they came face to face with the reality of humankind, death. They had experienced it in their own flesh in one way or another. For them it was the end. Sad and disappointed the disciples and followers of Jesus hide or disperse and go back to their normal life. I do not think we can blame them for such response. The idea of Jesus fulfilling his promise of rising from death was just something at the back of their mind, something that they did not assimilate, something they could not believe because they had never experienced it. The disciples’ concern was centered mainly on Jesus’ death.
I would like to share with you the story of a child who began to read the Gospels. Like many other children, he became fascinated by Jesus life and deeds. Suddenly, he ran out of his room crying hysterically into the arms of his scared mother. He cried: “They killed him. They killed him.” His mother comforted him and then whispered to him, “now my dear son, go back and finish the story.” In our own personal lives; where have we stopped reading the accounts of God’s promises? We heard in the readings tonight an account of the creation of man and woman, the liberation of the Hebrews from Egypt, the promises of God’s future kindness to Israel, the new life that Jesus brings us through his resurrection. This was in God’s plan for mankind, but the highpoint in God’s plan for us was the resurrection.
This night is the most blessed of all as we heard in the Easter Proclamation. The same cross that was used as a sign of punishment, as a sign of shame, as a mean to take away life, has become a sign of victory, celebration and life. Jesus’ resurrection reminds us that there is life beyond the grave. Jesus’ resurrection reminds us that we have an immortal soul. Although our body will return to dust, as we were repeated on Ash Wednesday, our soul will live forever with God. It is under the light of the resurrection that the whole event, which has taken place these days make sense.
My dear brothers and sisters, if we really believe in the Resurrection of Jesus, if we really believe that the resurrection of Jesus is the final answer to the human quest for immortality, why are we so much worried about death? Should not we be more concerned about resurrection?
The light of the Easter candle reminds us of the sure hope that the Spirit of the Risen Lord continues to act in our lives and in our world. Easter is a time when we realize that what humankind has long for in the depths of our hearts has become a reality. Easter is a joy born on the belief that the death of Jesus is our ransom from death. Easter is the discovery of the secret of how Jesus lived his life, a life lived doing his Father’s will and bringing people to himself.
The word that tonight is being proclaimed to the four corners of the earth is a transcendent word that we cannot explain, however it is something that we can experience. As we rejoice in the Resurrection of Christ this Easter, let us not merely say Christ is risen, but “I shall rise.
May God bless each and every one of us and may the peace of the risen Christ be with you and your families. On behalf of Saint Dominic’s Priory Community and on my own behalf I would like to thank you all for coming and forming our community of prayer this evening and wish you all a Blessed Easter.
Fr. Alejandro, Salcedo OP
St. Dominic’s Priory, Macau
When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, ‘It is finished’.
And bowing his head, he gave up his spirit (Jn 19:30)
My dear sisters and brothers, as we contemplate Jesus dead on the Cross, let us reflect on his death and our death.
We open the daily newspapers, we watch reports on Television. We read and see death everywhere: in wars, in the streets, in schools, in hospitals, at home. Today we see death on Golgotha, the death we are re-living now: the death of Christ the Innocent One, the Lamb of God, the Son o0f God and the Son of Mary.
We are celebrating Good Friday. Properly speaking we begin today  the celebration of the Pasch: the passage of Jesus from Death to Life, from Good Friday to Easter Vigil.  Good Friday is the memorial of the death of Jesus on the Cross. For us believers, the death of Jesus our Redeemer is a victorious death,  a death motivated by God’s incredible love for us all: “God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him may not die but have eternal life†(Jn 3:16).
           “That whoever believes in him may not die� Yes, Jesus death, St. Paul tells us freed us not only from sin but also from death. Not from natural death, of course. We all – some sooner, some later -; we all shall die: “Man’s days are like those of the grass; like the flowers of the field it blooms; the wind sweeps over him and he is gone†(Ps 103:15-16). Jesus’ death freed us from a meaningless death.
The inescapable knowledge of our death puts us face to face with the meaning of our life and our death. What is the meaning of the life of Jesus and of his death on the cross? The meaning is Love! Someone said that when one loves someone his or her love is telling the beloved: “You shall never die.†God loves us, and therefore, we will never die. Jesus, God-Man, truly died physically; on the third day He rose from the dead. After him, we shall also die and be risen from the dead. His death and also our death because of him point to the resurrection. “I am not dying, I am entering eternal life†(St. Therese of the Child Jesus).
Do I accept my death? Do you accept your death? It is said that the young believe in death, but it happens to others; the old believe in death and in the approaching personal death. How about the adult? A person becomes an adult when he or she accepts for the first time his or her death.
We try to accept our death, part of our life, with hope, prayer, and above all, love – love of God and all neighbors. Truly, only love will accompany us when we die, that is, “the love we have accumulated through life†(S. Galilea).  Moreover, only our love accompanies our loved ones before they pass away: a compassionate love which does not allow our beloved sick and suffering to die earlier in their hearts than in their bodies, that is, to die a social death. Social death, or the death that may precede a biological death, is the death of those who feel totally alone and abandoned before dying.
Are we afraid of death? Partly, yes: it is natural to be a bit afraid facing our death or the death of our loved ones and also of those brothers and sisters who are crucified by forced poverty, violence, injustice and war. We are also believers, and our faith in Jesus tells us that death is not the end of life – only of this earthly life -, but a passage from Good Friday to Easter Sunday, a sort of “changing place from one room to another,†as Blessed Pope John Paul II told us before he passed away seven years ago.
Let us always remember that the death of Jesus on the Cross on Good Friday is a hope-filled death: “I am,†Jesus is telling us from his Cross, “I am the resurrection and the life.â€
My dear brothers and sisters, may we all have – when it comes – have a holy death. Let us together invoke the help of Mary, the Mother of Jesus and our Mother and, after her Son’s death on the Cross, Our Lady of Solitude, with the Holy Mary!
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinner
 now and at the hour of our death. Amen
FAUSTO GOMEZ, OP
Good Friday 2012
St. Dominic’s Priory, Macau
