John Janaro's Blog, page 20

Jesus Christ the King

We have reached the last Sunday of the liturgical year, wherein we honor the Kingship of Jesus Crucified, Risen, and Glorified.

Pope Francis shared these words with us.

Saint Cecilia and the “Gladness” of Music

"The Lord is our savior; we shall sing to stringed instruments in the house of the Lord all the days of our life" (Isaiah 38:10).

Yesterday was Saint Cecilia's Day, and I am sending out thoughts and prayers especially to all my musician friends. In many cultures this day is celebrated as “Music Day.” 

Saint Cecilia—who was another heroic young woman who loved Jesus and gave everything for Him—is the third century Roman martyr who “praised the Lord in song.” In iconography (such as we have here) Cecilia is often depicted carrying a musical instrument, in this case a miniature pipe organ. Her connection to music stems from an experience given to her by God, but she is something more than an abstract symbol. As the patroness of music, Saint Cecilia is, in the presence of God, the friend and helper of all musicians and singers. The music that the Lord gave her in the depths of her soul—which she alone could hear—resounds in the ancient chants and later musical compositions that enrich the liturgical prayer of the Church. It also echoes within all the music written by composers or recorded by music ensembles that raises us beyond ourselves and reminds us of the wonderful and inescapable longing of our hearts. Even in distant and/or obscure performances, music “tries to remind us” that we are made for God.

I would have liked to have written something more specific about music, but I don’t have the energy right now. It’s a topic that means so much to me that I would have to give it more thorough attention, and I don’t feel capable of doing this kind of work right now. Perhaps I will write something before Christmas or during the Christmas season, so “stay tuned.”

The Collect Prayer for this feast reflects that it “gladden[s] us,” and these words articulate the special joy of this day. It’s a feast day that brings us the gladness that music engenders within our hearts, and so much more. Music can be a beautiful instrument of God’s grace, and it also can express all the urgency of the human search for the Mystery that gives meaning to everything.

O God, who gladden us each year

with the feast day of your handmaid Saint Cecilia,

grant, we pray,

that what has been devoutly handed down concerning her

may offer us examples to imitate

and proclaim the wonders worked in his servants by Christ your Son.

Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

God, for ever and ever.

Amen. Saint Cecilia, pray for us!

Ukraine: A Thousand Days of Suffering… and Love

In this week’s General Audience, Pope Francis commemorated the 1000th day of Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine (which was Tuesday, November 19) by sharing with the whole Church and the world an extraordinary testimony that was sent to him by a young person in Ukraine. It refers specifically to the Pope’s frequent references to the terrible suffering inflicted on the Ukrainian people in these past 1000 days of war. The writer wanted Francis to emphasize that the suffering of Ukrainians is not simply a passive affliction. Through their faith in Jesus Christ, suffering Ukrainians are learning to love in more profound ways: to love God, one another, their country, and even—perhaps—to love their enemies and persecutors.

This student’s experience indicates the grace of God that is being poured out on Ukraine at this time, a grace that is sustaining the faith of many Ukrainians and shaping their mentality (even if only a few might speak as this student does). Perhaps we may hope that Ukraine might emerge from this terrible ordeal with a new kind of patriotism, a new way of understanding and experiencing their national identity as a form of love and solidarity that reflects the light of the Gospel, as a special commitment to a more human way of living born of the transformative reality of faith—a way of living that is a blessing for the whole world.

Here is the text of Pope Francis reading this great and moving letter:

I received a letter from a young Ukrainian university student. It reads: "Father, when, on Wednesday, you remember my country and are able to speak to the whole world on the thousandth day of this terrible war, I ask you not to speak only of our suffering but also of our faith. Although it is imperfect, that does not diminish its value, because it paints, with painful strokes, a portrait of the Resurrected Christ. There have been too many deaths in my life recently. It is difficult to live in a city where a missile kills and wounds dozens of civilians, and you are witness to so many tears. I would have liked to flee, would have liked to go back to being a child in my mother's arms, would have liked to remain in silence and in love, but I thank God because, through this pain, I am learning greater love. Pain is not only a road to anger, and despair, if based on faith, it is a good teacher of love. Father, if pain makes you suffer, it means that you love. And so, when you speak of our pain, when you remember our thousand days of suffering, speak of our thousand days of love, too, because only love, faith, and hope give a real meaning to our wounds."

Hong Kong’s Jimmy Lai and the End of the Free Press

The Orwellian nightmare of Hong Kong’s implosion continues…

What does the imposition of dictatorship on a free society “look like”? Hong Kong shows us, among other things, that legitimate actions are retroactively criminalized and nonviolent reasonable opposition figures are subjected to mass arrests and imprisonment. 

We have just seen the “miscarriage of justice” against the “Hong Kong 45.” Today, Jimmy Lai took the stand in his own defense in the other ongoing Hong Kong “Show Trial.” His “crime”? Publishing an independent newspaper, the Apple Daily, that was the trustworthy news source for millions of Hong Kong people during the pro-democracy movement (between 2014 and 2020). 

The newspaper was shut down by the Chinese Communist Party’s imposition of its “National Security Law.” As the head of an independent media organization (i.e. a “free press” as guaranteed by Hong Kong’s Basic Law), Jimmy Lai spoke with foreign leaders, including the USA Vice President and Secretary of State. Now he is accused of “colluding with foreign forces to subvert Hong Kong’s government.” 

The 76-year-old—who came to Hong Kong as a young man fleeing the madness of Chairman Mao’s “Cultural Revolution” (who came as a “refugee”)—built up his lucrative business from many years of hard work, during which time he also encountered Christ and converted to the Catholic faith. If convicted (or, rather, WHEN convicted), he faces life imprisonment. He once commented that he hoped prison would give him the time to read many books that he’s always wanted to read.

Pray for Jimmy Lai. Pray for Hong Kong. Pray for China—where 1/6th of the human race lives and suffers oppression, where the dignity of the human person is violated every day by the Fascist-Leninist PartyState.

November’s “Autumn Impressions”

“More Autumn Impressions” (mid-November 2024). 

I have been sharing the inspirations of Fall on social media since 2014, via photos, videos, and various explorations in digital art. I’ll never get tired of it!😉

Hong Kong: The “Politics of Suffering”

The “trial” has finally been brought to a conclusion, and the “HONG KONG 47” have all received jail sentences. What this ruling means is that legitimate, nonviolent efforts by the pro-democracy movement to participate in the political process in Hong Kong are now regarded as a “threat to national security.” It would seem that all hope is lost for a “self-governing” Hong Kong free from the harsh and heavy hand of the Chinese Communist PartyState. 

But suffering injustice with patience is the hidden strength of nonviolent resistance to dictatorship. I remember in 1983 when Communist Poland declared martial law and put the leaders of the “Solidarity” movement in jail. None of us could have imagined the changes that were soon to come. 

Let’s pray for people like Benny Tai and Joshua Wong (pictured above); let’s continue to stand with them, remember them, “co-suffer” with them (in whatever small ways we can). May justice and the dignity of the human person prevail in Hong Kong, Ukraine, Sudan, the Middle East, Russia, China, and in our own nations—through the wisdom and goodness and merciful love of God.

Open this LINK to learn more by reading the BBC article cited in the picture.

“My Words Will Not Pass Away”

As we approach the end of the liturgical year, we contemplate eschatology and the ultimate kingship of Jesus Christ who is Lord of history and Savior of the human race, who has poured Himself out in love and mercy so that we might find freedom from sin and its illusions, and fulfillment in sharing His eternal life with the Father and the Holy Spirit.

Pope Francis spoke beautifully at the Angelus of November 17 about the words of Jesus in the Sunday Gospel. Death and the end of all things can appear traumatic and terrifying, but Jesus has promised that He will remain with us. If we hold fast to Him, He will lead us through every trial to the fulfillment of the Kingdom where God will be all, in all. In His wisdom and goodness we will find—renewed and transformed—the meaning of everything in this present life that is shaped by His mercy and His companionship, all the mysterious ways by which He draws us to Himself.

Here are some of Francis’s words from the Angelus:

In the Gospel of today’s liturgy, Jesus describes a great tribulation: “the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light” (Mk 13:24). Faced with this suffering, many might think of the end of the world, but the Lord seizes the opportunity to offer a different interpretation, saying: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away” (Mk 13:31).

We can take a closer look at this expression: what will pass and what will remain.

First of all, what will pass. In some circumstances in our life, when we are going through a crisis or experience some failure, as well as when we see around us the pain caused by wars, violence, natural disasters, we have the feeling that everything is coming to an end, and we feel that even the most beautiful things pass away. Crises and failures, however, though painful, are important, because they teach us to accord everything its due weight, not to attach our hearts to the realities of this world, because they will pass: they are destined to fade away.

At the same time, Jesus talks about what will remain. Everything passes away, but His words will not pass away: Jesus’ words will remain for eternity. He thus invites us to trust in the Gospel, which contains a promise of salvation and eternity, and not to live under the anguish of death. For while everything passes away, Christ remains. In Him, in Christ, we shall one day find again the things and people who have passed away and who have accompanied us in our earthly existence. In the light of this promise of resurrection, every reality takes on a new meaning: everything dies and we too will one day die, but we will lose nothing of what we have built and loved, because death will be the beginning of a new life.

Brothers and sisters, even in tribulations, in crises, in failures, the Gospel invites us to look at life and history without fear of losing what ends, but with joy for what will remain. Let us not forget that God is preparing for us a future of life and joy.

“Do Not Go Off, Do Not Run In Pursuit…”

Jesus said, “The coming of the Kingdom of God cannot be observed, and no one will announce, ‘Look, here it is,’ or, ‘There it is.’ For behold, the Kingdom of God is among you.” Then he said to his disciples, “The days will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. There will be those who will say to you, ‘Look, there he is,’ or ‘Look, here he is.’ Do not go off, do not run in pursuit. For just as lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. But first he must suffer greatly and be rejected by this generation” (Luke 17:20-25).

Mother Cabrini: An "American Immigrant"

Francesca Cabrini (1815-1917) was the first "naturalized" U.S.A. citizen to be canonized (she was born in Italy). Immigrants of those days loved "Mother Cabrini," who took care of them and showed them the face of Jesus.

"Prayer is powerful! It fills the earth with mercy, it makes the Divine clemency pass from generation to generation; right along the course of the centuries wonderful works have been achieved through prayer" (Saint Francesca ["Frances"] Cabrini, feast November 13).

God our Father, who called Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini from Italy to serve the immigrants of America, by her example, teach us to have concern for the stranger, the sick, and all those in need, and by her prayers help us to see Christ in all the men and women we meet.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.

--Collect, November 13

Saint Josaphat: Sign of Hope For Ukraine

Today marks an important feast day especially for Ukrainian Byzantine Catholics, who are not only suffering along with all Ukrainians the ongoing brutal attacks of Russian aggression, but also face even now religious repression in every part of Ukraine that Russia illegally occupies. Saint Josaphat Kuncevic was the first modern Ukrainian Catholic martyr, but by no means the last.

Josaphat followed the Metropolitan Archbishop of Kiev and a group of Ukrainian and Belorussian bishops who entered into full communion with Rome in 1598. The “Union of Brest” preserved the Byzantine liturgy and the spirituality and practices of the Byzantine tradition while also recognizing the juridical primacy of the Bishop of Rome for the Universal Church. From this reunion were born what are today known as the Ukrainian Byzantine Catholic Church and the Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic Church.

At the beginning of the Seventeenth Century, the reunion was an occasion of great controversy among the population and clergy. Josaphat himself became a Byzantine Catholic Bishop and worked tirelessly not only in defense of the Papacy, but also to reform the clergy according to the great heritage of the Eastern Church and to catechize the common people and serve them. Many were drawn by his preaching as well as his humility and holiness, but others opposed him vehemently, preferring the benefits of patronage that local nobility gave to the orthodox churches.

Saint Josaphat sought Church unity with great fervor, but also great charity. He knew that his enemies were plotting his death, yet he remained among his people to guide them and, as much as possible, resolve disputes and overcome the violence of his enemies with the nonviolence of Christian love.

On November 12, 1623, he was put to death by a lynch mob of his enemies.

“You people want to kill me. You wait in ambush for me in the streets, on the bridges, on the highways, in the marketplace, everywhere. Here I am; I came to you as a Shepherd. You know I would be happy to give my life for you. I am ready to die for union of the Church under Saint Peter and his successor, the Pope” (Saint Josaphat).

Saint Josaphat, pray for us. Pray for the unity of all Christians. Pray for the reunion of Christians East and West. Pray for a just and lasting peace for the people of Ukraine, and a renewal of their fidelity to Jesus Christ and commitment to human dignity.