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Home , Robert Bellarmine

Ascension of the Lord / Seventh Sunday of Easter May 17, 2015

The Power of God By Janel Esker

t’s intriguing what qualifies as power makes people feel more powerful. Our • What is my mission in life? in our world. People debate about democratic process is marvelous, but Ithe right to carry concealed weapons. the campaigns to determine who gets • Why am I afraid to share my faith with Whether such a right keeps people presidential power are, sadly, messy and others? safer is in question, but certainly it undignified. We have the ability to wield power, but we often forget that ultimate Sunday Readings power belongs to God. Our Ascension readings remind us that no human May 14 (Thursday) power can compare with “the surpassing The Ascension of the Lord, greatness of his power for us who Solemnity (Holy Day of Obligation) believe” (Ephesians 1:19). As if Jesus’ Acts 1:1–11 / Ephesians 1:17–23 or Incarnation and resurrection weren’t 4:1–13 or 4:1–7, 11–13 / enough of a display of God’s power, now Mark 16:15–20 Jesus ascends to heaven to his glorified Acts 1:1–11 place with the Father. God’s mighty Lord, are you at this time going to actions make our guns, authority figures, Risen Lord, restore the Kingdom to Israel? As they and defenses seem weak. were looking on, he was lifted up, and a Perhaps we forget God’s great power cloud took him from their sight. because it’s not as visible as our human your resurrection and Ephesians 1:17–23 displays of power. Yet God continues May the eyes of your hearts be to work mighty deeds—we know of ascension give witness enlightened, that you may know what is amazing miracles that can be ascribed the hope that belongs to his call. only to God’s power. But also, God’s to God’s power. May power works in us—the Church. We Ephesians 4:1–13 or 4:1–7, 11–13 have to be open enough to let God work We are one body and one Spirit; we through us, and that can be a challenge. my life bear witness to were called to the one hope of our call; But Jesus promised to be with us one Lord, one faith, one baptism. always. If we trust in his very real power God’s love, compassion, Mark 16:15–20 moving through us, we’ll be amazed Go into the whole world and proclaim at what can be accomplished in our forgiveness, and peace. the to every creature. friendships, families, neighborhoods— even in our world. † Amen.

Liguori Publications l Liguori.org Bellarmine, the Church and against Galileo about the earth-centered versus sun-centered Proclaiming the model of the universe. Because the two men were friends, Bellarmine was able to Gospel in Difficult approach Galileo and suggest the need Times to distinguish hypothesis from proven truth. He advised Galileo to be patient By Mary Lee Barron, PhD, RN in publishing. Galileo did not take his he sixteenth century was a friend’s advice, lost his professorial post, particularly difficult time in the and was placed under house arrest. TCatholic Church. Consider the Bellarmine was a mediating influence at many Catholic reformers and God Galileo’s trial. Bellarmine’s early works provided during that period: Ignatius of in defense of the Church might be Loyola, , Teresa of Ávila, considered polemic, but his middle years , and . Robert were often pastoral. In his final years, Bellarmine was an important theologian he wrote devotional works aimed at of the Counter- era. ordinary Christians. Bellarmine believed Robert Francis Romulus Bellarmine that the writing of his class works, The (Bellarmino) was born in 1542, in and apologetics and has been Ascent of the Mind to God and The Art of Tuscany, to a noble family of modest described as the most complete defense Dying Well, helped him grow closer to means. His uncle was Marcello Cardinal of Catholic teaching ever written. God as he prepared for death. Cervini, a leader in the Counter- Clement VIII commissioned Bellarmine Robert Bellarmine died in in Reformation who later became Pope to write two of Catholic 1621 at the age of seventy-nine. He was Marcellus II. At eighteen, Robert joined doctrine. The first, an instruction canonized in 1930 and named a doctor the Jesuits and enrolled in the Roman manual, was used by Jesuit missionaries of the Church in 1931. † College (now known as Gregorian all over the world. It was published University) to study philosophy. in 1598 and translated into sixty-two Bellarmine suffered poor health much . The second was in of his life. He was known as the “boy use for 300 years. In all of his posts, preacher” to many who heard his early To Robert’s amazement, the pope sermons. His Jesuit superiors, Francis appointed him a cardinal and assigned Bellarmine was Borgia and , recognized him to head an archdiocese (unusual for his gifts. Bellarmine studied and later an order priest). Later, he was recalled known for his taught at the prestigious University of to Rome and became head of the Vatican Louvain. In 1576, he was appointed library, where he continued to write in kindness, fairness, “Chair of Controversial Theology,” which defense of Catholic doctrine. included participating in theological In all of his posts, Bellarmine was and generosity— disputes that divided the Christian known for his kindness, fairness, and church. During this time, Bellarmine generosity—especially to those in need. especially to those wrote Disputations on the Controversies Bellarmine was also in the forefront of the Christian Faith. The document is during the famous controversy between in need. considered an important text of Catholic the Church and Galileo. He argued for

Mon. Easter weekday Thurs. Easter weekday WEEKDAY Acts 19:1–8 / John 16:29–33 Acts 22:30; 23:6–11 / John 17:20–26 Tues. Easter weekday Fri. Easter weekday READINGS Acts 20:17–27 / John 17:1–11a Acts 25:13b–21 / John 21:15–19 May 18–23 Wed. Easter weekday Sat. Easter weekday Acts 20:28–38 / John 17:11b–19 Acts 28:16–20, 30–31 / John 21:20–25

May 17, 2015 Copyright © 2015 Liguori Publications, One Liguori Drive, Liguori, MO 63057. 1-800-325-9521. Liguori.org. Editor: Luis J. Medina. Designer: Mark Bernard. Reflection Questions and Prayers from: Hopeful Meditations for Every Day of Easter Through Pentecost, Rev. Warren J. Savage & Mary Ann McSweeny, Liguori Publications, 2013. Scripture quotations in this publication are from the New American Bible, revised edition, © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, DC. For licensing information, call 1-800-488-0488. All rights reserved. Distribution May 17, 2015 rights granted only to license holders. BHW001