On the Prophet Jeremiah, St. Augustine, Mother Teresa, and St. John of the Cross’ Dark Night
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Last week’s post speaks on the theme of Mary’s
Assumption into heaven and speaks of it as a dogma
together with three other Marian dogmas. A special
feature also for last post was a scriptural study
on the prophet Isaiah and his book. That study
tells us of the structure of the book and how Isaiah’s
prophetic leadership in 8th B.C. also created a
following of disciples who continued his tradition
of prophecy. Finally, last week’s post featured the
person of St. Basil the Great, “the Father of Eastern
Monasticism”. To review the information from last
week’s post, you can
Lectionary Readings.
- Pope Benedict XVI’s Reflection on
‘The Narrow Gate’ - On Blessed Teresa and the Campaign
for Her Canonization - Preacher says Mother Teresa
Experienced a “Dark Night” - Saint John of the Cross on the
Dark Night - Lectionary Reading for the
22nd Sunday of the Year in Ordinary Time, Year C - Augustine of Hippo and his
Mother St. Monica - Books and a Film in Honor of
the Feast of St. Augustine - General Presentation of the
Prophet Jeremiah and His Book
The holy father’s reflection on the gospel that speaks
of ‘the narrow gate’ has modern appeal. He speaks of
a ‘passport’ or ‘id’ necessary for us to be able to
enter that narrow gate. All of us, he says are equally
given the opportunity to enter through the narrow gate
but a ‘passport’ or ‘id’ which tells of our humility,
imitation of Christ’s commitment, being merciful, goodness
of heart, and deeds of service to our brothers and
sisters will ensure our entry through the narrow gate.
It is demanding and so not all of us can enter through
it. But if we become friends of Christ and friends of
His Cross, then He will permit us to enter into eternal
life.
A Catholic lay association in India is declaring this
year, 2007, as the year of canonization for their Blessed
Teresa of Calcutta. They are launching a two week prayer
campaign in preparation for her death anniversary on
Sept 5. It has been ten years now since the death of
Mother Teresa - who already earned the title “the living
saint” during her lifetime. Sainthood indeed may not be
far for this kind and holy missionary nun, who is already
reported to have wrought many miracles ever since
her beatification by Pope John Paul last October 2003.
Father Cantalamessa, the official preacher of the
papal household, likens Mother Teresa’s experience of
the absence of God in her prayer life like a unique
“dark night of the soul”, since she lived in our own
contemporary age - the age of the media. Mother Teresa
felt afflicted by the feeling of God’s absence in her
life - an affliction that is heroic - a kind of martyrdom.
The experience protected her from being a victim of the
media and from the temptation of exalting herself -
even if she was well known and achieved global adulation
from many peoples. This experience of Mother Teresa is
not new in Christian experience and should not surprise
or scandalize. St. John of the Cross writes much about
this spiritual experience called the dark night. Mother
Teresa’s “dark night” though is unique, since she lived
in the age of the media, according to Father Cantalamessa.
For those who have gone beyond the beginnings of prayer
into the more advanced stages and states of prayer, St.
John of the Cross identifies and recognizes a spiritual
experience he symbolically calls “the dark night”. Though
the experience is complex and beyond concrete definition
except through poetical images, symbols, and religious
identifiers, authors Peter Slattery and Thomas H. Green,
SJ, makes available to the modern reader a way of
understanding this religious experience called “the dark
night”. In their writings, the authors quotes St. John
of the Cross as saying that there are usually three signs
that will tell the person that he is undergoing the dark
night. This article briefly and as simply as it can do
so, tells what these three signs are, and what kind of
prayer St. John of the Cross recommends to use during an
experience of the “dark night of the soul”.
Lectionary: 22nd Sunday Year C
Passages from the Wisdom literature of the Bible teach us
very valuable lessons in life. For the 22nd Sunday of the
Year, there is a reading taken from the book of Sirach -
considered as one of wisdom books in the Bible. The
passage teaches us a great lesson in humility - one which
will help us find favor with God. In the letter to the
Hebrews, we read of a passage teaching us of the significant
images and symbols of our faith: Mount Zion, the heavenly
Jerusalem, myriads of angels in festal gathering, and the
assembly of the first-born enrolled in heaven. These images
were familiar to the people of Israel and attracted them
to God. We too are invited to be drawn to God - through
Jesus - as God had drawn His people to Mount Zion and made
a covenant with Him. Lastly, in the gospel of Luke, the
theme of humility is echoed again as in the passage of the
book of Sirach. In this gospel passage, Jesus teaches us
through a parable that we are to take a low place or seat
in any social gathering as an act of humility. This will
ensure us that we will not be disgraced if we take a special
seat or place and then the host asks us to take a lower
place because a higher dignitary has arrived. We may even
win the esteem of our fellow guests when the host asks us
to come up and take a higher place in the social gathering.
“For everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled and he
who humbles himself shall be exalted.”
Last August 27 and August 28, the Catholic Church celebrated
the feast of Sts. Monica and Augustine - the mother and son
team who influenced not only the Christians of North Africa
during their time, but until now influences the Catholic Church
through Augustine’s teachings [quoted the most of all the
saints in the Catechism] in his many books and writings and
in the rule he composed for his monastic communities. Matching
in popularity with St. Francis of Assisi, St. Augustine came
to be known as one of the “sinner-turned-saints” whose conversion
was as dramatic as the Poverello from Assisi. Through the many
prayers and tears of her mother St. Monica, Augustine turned
from his worldly ways and converted to Christianity - impressed
so much by the sermon of St. Ambrose and hearing a voice telling
him to reform his unchaste ways. After his baptism, he started
to form a community through his family, with his mother St.
Monica and his brother Navigius and sister Perpetua. He was
also joined by his friends. Eventually he became bishop of
Hippo and achieved so much in this role that contributed to his
being made doctor of the Church.
Books and a Film on St. Augustine
Featured on this page are books and a film in honor of
one of the greatest theologians and eminent doctors of the
Church, St. Augustine of Hippo. Through the ardent, incessant
and sincere prayers of his mother St. Monica, Augustine turned
away from a worldly life and converted to a life in imitation of
Christ. A book on his life and other inspiring and outstanding
books including the lives of other saints can be seen in this
page and browsed for further review.
General Presentation: Prophet Jeremiah
Of all the prophets in the Old Testament, the prophet Jeremiah
may be the most human and the most configured to the “suffering
servant” image of Christ. Called by God to prophesy at a young
age, his gentle disposition and affectionate nature had to deal
with his call to ‘tear down, knock down, destroy, and overthrow’
- to admonish kings and to deal with false prophets. The sufferings
he endured because of this, purified him of everything that was
unworthy in him, and eventually helped in his prophecy of a new
covenant that would not be ‘written in stone, but in human hearts’.
This prophet of the new covenant is one that will endear much
to Christians because his religion is directed inward - with a
law of God’s love written in every human heart.
