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The Sanctuary Series

A Compilation of U News Articles h on the g Depicted in the Murals & Statuary of Saint Ursula Church

Our Church, Alive inChrist, Led by the

O ver the main doors of St. Ursula Church, the large window pictures looking upward to an ascending . Directly opposite facing the congregation is the wall with the new painting of the Apostles. The journey of faith we all make begins with the teaching of the Apostles, leads us through Baptism, toward altar and the Apostles guiding us by pulpit and altar to himself pictured so clearly on the three-fold front of the Tabernacle. The lively multi-experiences of all those on the journey are reflected in the multi-colors of the pillars.

W e are all connected by Christ with whom we journey, He the vine, we the branches, uniting us in faith, hope, and connected to the Apostles and one another.

O ur newly redone interior, rededicated on June 16, 2013, was the result of a collaboration between our many parishioners, the Intelligent Design Group (architect), the artistic designs of New Guild Studios, and the management and supervision of many craftsmen and technicians by Landau Building Company.

I n March 2014, the Landau Building Company, in a category with four other projects, won a first place award from the Master Builders Association in the area of “Excellence in Craftsmanship by a General Contractor” for their work on the renovations at St. Ursula.

A fter the extensive renovation to the church, our community began asking questions about the Apostles on the Sanctuary wall and wishing to know who they were. We hope your curiosity and questions will be answered after reading the lives of these men and women and how they were changed forever after meeting Jesus Christ.

Father Garrett Dorsey Pastor St. Ursula Church 2014

© 2014 St. Ursula Parish Communications Committee. All Rights Reserved. “Map Key” to the Sanctuary Wall Mural Christ

St. Peter St. Paul

St. James St. Bartholomew the Lesser

This mural represents the St. passage of St. :5 St. Andrew “ the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear St. James St. much fruit.” the Matthew Greater St. Simon St. Thaddeus (the Zealot) (Jude)

St. Philip St. Thomas

St. John

The ... St. Mark St. Luke

lion ox

...whose symbols appear on the four end points St. Matthew of the , human refurbished I : The Peter

I n the Sanctuary behind the altar to the right of Christ is the Apostle Peter. Peter’s original name was Simon. He was the son of and was born in , a town on Lake Genesareth. The Apostle Andrew was his and the Apostle Philip came from the same town. Both Peter and Andrew were fishermen. When Christ met Simon, He said to him: “Thou art Simon the son of Jonah; thou shalt be called Cephas” ( Jn 1:42) – which is interpreted as Peter. After their first meeting, Peter and the other disciples remained with Jesus and accompanied him to , , through and then back to Galilee. Here, Peter once again resumed his occupation as a fisherman but soon afterwards was called by Jesus to become a permanent and fisher of men. P eter is noted in to have the greatest fidelity and faith. At times he exhibited unwavering faith, yet at other times his faith was greatly shaken. When Jesus asked the apostles, “Who do people say that the son of man is?” they replied, “Some say John the Baptizer, others , still others or one of the prophets.” Simon Peter answered the Lord with, “Thou art Christ, the Son of the living .” The Lord said to him, “Blest art thou, Simon son of Jonah! No mere man has revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I say to thee: That thou are Rock and upon this rock I will build my Church and the jaws of death shall not prevail against it. And I will give to you the keys of of heaven. And whatever you declare bound on earth, it shall be bound also in heaven; and whatever you declare loose on earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven.” ( Mt 16:13-19) T here was a time of conflict with Peter during the Passion of the Lord. After Christ was arrested, Peter denied knowing Jesus three times and afterwards he wept bitterly over his betrayal. After Christ’s , He appeared to Peter at Lake Genesareth where Peter three times affirmed his special love of Jesus. Peter had a long residence in Jerusalem but when I began to persecute the Church in Jerusalem Peter was cast into prison to be executed. Peter was freed in a miraculous manner, some say by an Angel. He then left Jerusalem and made extensive missionary tours to the East. He eventually travelled to for the last part of his life. St. Peter is credited with writing two biblical . Church tradition holds that he suffered martyrdom at the hands of the Roman Emperor . He was believed to have been crucified on a , but at his request was hung upside down because he did not believe his was worthy to be crucified in the same manner as Christ. In some pictures of Peter he carries the symbolic “Keys to the Kingdom” as a sign of his leadership in the Church. Peter is the patron of bakers, bridge-builders, butchers and fishermen among many others. The feast of St. Peter is celebrated in memory of the two Apostles Peter and Paul on June 29th. – Article submitted by Joanne Sekerak This article was originally published in the September 2013 Volume 1, Bonus Issue 1a of the Saint U News. Sources of Information 1) The Book of Saints – Lives of the Saints According to the Liturgical Calendar – Hoagland, C.P. ; 2) – http://www.newadvent.org/Catholic Encyclopedia, St. Peter, price of the Apostles; 3) Who’s Who in the Bible, The Essential Biographical Dictionary, copyright 1998, Publication International, Ltd. Lincolnwood, Ill.; 4) National Geographic – The Journey of the Apostles – March, 2012; 5) The Source Book, 2007 The Apostle II: Paul In the Sanctuary behind the altar to the left of Christ is the Apostle Paul. Paul was born as Saul (his Roman name) in 3 AD at Tarsus, Cilicia, located in what is today southern Turkey. He was the son of Jewish parents who were tent-makers by trade. Saul, who enjoyed the high distinction of , was brought up according to the strict influential party of the . The Pharisees were extremely zealous in their commitment to the Law. They would later oppose and persecute Jesus and His teachings and plot His death. Saul did not get to know Jesus during his early years since he travelled a lot. When he returned to Jerusalem he became a bitter opponent of Jesus and the new Christian religion. The young Saul was present at the stoning death of St. Stephen, the first , minding the cloaks of those who stoned him. From this gruesome introduction to the completion of his missionary journeys, the Church celebrates the conversion of St. Paul because of its extraordinary nature. B etween the years 34 and 36 AD, Paul travelled to Damascus to arrest another group of Christians. On his journey to Damascus he was knocked to the ground and struck blind by a heavenly light. The special revelation had a profound spiritual effect on him as he heard the words, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” His encounter with Christ would change his life and have a dramatic effect on . On regaining his sight, Paul was baptized and immediately began preaching. After a three-year period in Arabia where he assimilated his new faith, Paul journeyed with on his first missionary journey to preach in Tarsus, Damascus, Antioch and Cyprus. He then went on to preach in Asia Minor, Europe and , establishing communities of Christians among the gentiles. Because of his activity he suffered constant harassment among his enemies – enduring shipwreck, imprisonment and beatings. At the same time, he was greatly loved by those Christians to whom he ministered. Churches were set up, and as soon as the little Christian groups seemed strong enough, the apostle and his companions would move on. Between his missions he returned to Jerusalem four times. On his fifth return to Jerusalem Paul was arrested for provoking a riot and held as a prisoner for two years at Caesarea. Paul claimed his right as a Roman citizen to be tried in Rome and was sent by sea to Rome. On the way he was shipwrecked on the island of Malta. Paul was imprisoned (60 AD) in Rome for two years but was allowed to conduct his ministry among the Roman Christians and Jews who visited him. Of his final fate tradition says that he was beheaded south of the city, near the Ostian Way, probably during the persecution of Nero. In his letter to Timothy he wrote, “The time has come for me to go. I have fought the good fight; I have run the race: I have kept the faith. Now I await the crown of justice which the Lord, the just judge, will give to me on that day, and not only to me but to all who long for his coming.” (2 Tm 4:6-22). S t. Paul was a prolific contributor to the from his fourteen letters, largely written to churches he had founded or visited. Paul is the patron of authors, press, publishers and writers. His Feast Day is June 29th. – Article submitted by Barbara Wally

This article was originally published in the September 2013 Volume 1, Bonus Issue 1a of the Saint U News. Sources of Information 1) The Book of Saints – Lives of the Saints According to the Liturgical Calendar– Hoagland, C.P.; 2) Saint Paul – http://www.catholic-saints.info/patron-saints/saint-paul.htm; 3) Apostle Paul – Early Christian Church, – Questia, Your Online Resource; 4) National Geographic – The Journey of the Apostles– March, 2012; 5) 10 Interesting Facts about St. Paul – Loyola Press The Apostle III: James the Greater O n the Sanctuary wall to the right of Christ, fourth down, is the apostle James. James was born at Bethsaida in Galilee in the first century. His parents were and , and his brother was St. . There is some evidence that suggests James was a cousin of Jesus and may have been acquainted with Him from infancy. It is believed that his mother Salome, was the sister of Jesus’ mother, Mary. St. James was known as “the Greater” simply because he became an apostle of Christ before St. James the Lesser. James and John and their father, Zebedee, were fishermen by trade. James met Jesus on the same day as Simon Peter and his brother Andrew. They were fishing in Galilee, and had just come in from working all night and catching nothing. Jesus was speaking to a large crowd of people, and saw them come in with their two boats. He climbed onto Simon Peter’s boat and asked him to take the boat out into the deeper waters, and to drop their nets and catch fish. James must have watched in wonder as his partner Simon brought in nets loaded with fish he had caught at the command of Jesus. Was he shocked when he saw Simon and his brother Andrew walk away from this incredible catch at a word from this same Jesus? Jesus didn’t pass him by but, stopping by their boat, called James and John to do what Simon and Andrew had done. Without argument or discussion, James and John left their boat and even their father behind and followed Jesus. Jesus called James and John “Sons of Thunder,” because of their passion, their fire and their temper. Once, when they were received poorly by a town full of Samaritan unbelievers, they asked Jesus to rain thunder and lightning upon the place. Jesus rebuked them. Another time the showed their ambitious nature(s) when they asked Jesus for positions of honor in the kingdom which he came to establish. Jesus warned the two that they did not know what they were asking and used this opportunity to teach all of them that in order to be great, one must be a servant. James was with Jesus when he cured Peter’s mother-in-law and at the raising of Jairus’ daughter from the dead. James was one of only three apostles whom Jesus selected to bear witness to his Transfiguration. He was also one of the apostles called by Jesus to pray with him in the Garden. He followed Jesus loyally until His death. Within the time of the resurrection and James’ own martyrdom, he visited the Jewish colony and slaves in Spain to preach the .

A fter Jesus’ resurrection, it is believed that James lived another 14 years before his martyrdom. The book of Acts records that King Herod Agrippa I had James the Greater beheaded in Jerusalem around the feast of Easter, in the year 44 AD because of his affiliation with Jesus and the Christian religion. It has been said that when the apostle James was led to die, a man who had brought false accusations against him walked with him to the place of execution. He had doubtless expected to see James looking pale and frightened but, instead, saw him happy, bright and joyous like a conqueror returning from battle. The man became a convert and was then executed along with him. James was the first apostle martyred for his faith and the only apostle whose martyrdom is recorded in the New Testament. S t. James is the patron of Spain as well as the of hat makers, rheumatoid sufferers, and laborers. His feast day is celebrated on July 25th. – Article submitted by Sue Romanelli This article was originally published in the September 2013 Volume 1, Bonus Issue 1b of the Saint U News. Sources of Information 1) Dictionary of Saints, John I. Delaney, 1980; 2) , Ignatius Catholic Study Bible, 2001 Revised Catholic Edition; 3) The Book Of Saints, Victor Hoagland, C.P. ; 4) Who’s Who in the Bible, The Essential Biographical Dictionary; 5) Catholic Online; 6) thecatholicgiftshop.com; 7) Fr. Ryan Erlenbush: New Theological Movement.blogspot The Apostle IV: Philip O n the Sanctuary wall to the right of Christ at the bottom of the mural of the apostles is the Apostle Philip. Like the brothers Peter and Andrew, Philip was a fisherman and native of Bethsaida in Galilee. A disciple of , he was among those present when John first pointed out Jesus as the Lamb of God. Jesus called Philip to be a disciple as he was leaving following his baptism by John the Baptist with the words, “Follow me.” Philip’s immediate response was to go and find his friend Nathanael and tell him “We have found the one wrote about in the law, and about whom the prophets also wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of .” When our Lord formed the college of apostles, Philip was appointed one of the twelve, and from the several passages of , he appears to have been particularly dear to the Lord. A lthough Philip followed Jesus faithfully, he seemed to fall short of understanding the powerful implications of Jesus’ work. Just before Jesus performed the miracle of the loaves and fishes, he asked Philip how they could feed the crowd of 5,000. Philip responded by thinking of money, a material solution, rather than by turning to the power of God, as Jesus did. Amid the confusion of the , when Jesus spoke of denial and his death, Philip asked for a sign to bolster his faith: “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” The Lord answered,“He that sees me, sees the Father also.” Again, Philip’s words showed a lack of understanding of the true nature of Jesus. According to tradition, Philip was present with the apostles who spent ten days waiting in the upper room in Jerusalem for the coming of the at . S t. Philip did much to carry out Peter’s mandate to open the church to Gentiles and to other people traditionally shut out from Jewish society. As one of the leaders of the early Church in Jerusalem, he helped meet the material needs of the Greek-speaking widows in the community, thus extending the church’s social services to non-Jews. As an evangelist working the the Apostle Peter, Philip brought the Gospel to the mixed-race . On the road from Samaria, he encountered a royal eunuch from Ethiopia and led him to conversion. The eunuch returned to his homeland and spread the Gospel there. (:26-39) In his later years, Philip raised and trained four daughters to prophesy and preach. Thus Philip pushed the frontiers of , moving beyond his ’s role and his parish, to embrace a wide variety of people who were typically ignored by earlier evangelists. St. Philip teaches us to have an ardent love of God, and a great desire to see the Father. A fter the death of Christ, Philip preached the Gospel in Phrygia, Asia Minor. He died in 80 AD by at Hierapolis, Phrygia, at the hands of soldiers loyal to the Emperor . S t. Philip is usually depicted holding a basket of loaves (in reference to his presence at the multiplication of the loaves and fishes); the cross (affliction or trial regarded as a test of Christian patience or virtue). Other symbols associated with Philip are a spear with the , and a cross with a carpenter’s tool. S t. Philip is the patron saint of chefs, San Felipe Pueblo, and Uruguay. His feast day is celebrated on May 3rd. The meaning of the name Philip is “lover of horses.” – Article submitted by Jean McNally

This article was originally published in the September 2013 Volume 1, Bonus Issue 1b of the Saint U News.

Sources of Information 1) Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia; 2) Theopedia, Catholic Encyclopedia; 3) www..com; 4) New American Bible; 5) The Book of Saints, Victor Hoagland, C.P.; 6) Who’s Who in the Bible, The Essential Biographical Dictionary V : The Apostle Andrew I n the Sanctuary behind the altar to Christ’s left, third down in the mural is the Apostle Andrew. He was the brother of Simon and the son of Jonas. Andrew was born in Bethsaida on the northeast shore of the (Jn 1:44). A ndrew is not a Hebrew name, but Greek, and may be indicative of a certain cultural openness in his family, as noted by Benedict XVI in his book, The Apostles. In Galilee, the and culture were present. A ndrew and his brother Simon, whose name was later changed to Peter by Christ, were fishermen and the first to be called by Jesus. Andrew, first a disciple of John the Baptist, was a man searching. When John the Baptist pointed out Jesus saying, “Behold, the Lamb of God,” Andrew left John and followed Jesus. Andrew and the other disciple stayed with Jesus that day, and enjoyed precious moments of intimacy with Him. Many old manuscripts give him the title of “the first-called.” Andrew is prominent in all lists of the twelve apostles.

T he Gospel According to John reveals Andrew as the man who was constantly bringing people to Jesus, beginning with his brother Simon Peter, then the boy with the loaves of bread and fish, and also a group of Greek visitors who wanted to be introduced to Jesus. St. calls him the “Introductor to Christ.” The last mention of Andrew in the Bible is in the , chapter one, where he is listed as one of the witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection and His ascension into Heaven. St. Andrew, according to the early fathers of the church, preached the gospel in what is modern day Turkey, , , , Afghanistan and Greece. I t is generally agreed that Andrew was crucified by the Roman Governor, Aegeas, in Patros (Greece) and was bound by rope, not nails, in order to prolong his suffering. He was crucified on an “X-shaped” cross now known as St. Andrew’s cross. He is the patron saint of Greece, Russia, Romania, and Scotland. Both the flag of Scotland and of the Russian Navy bear the Cross of St. Andrew. The apostle Andrew is also the patron of fishermen, miners, butchers, and weddings.

A ndrew is said to have founded the church at and thus the family tie between Peter and Andrew make the Church of Rome and the Church of Constantinople sister Churches. After Pentecost, Andrew became the Apostle to the Greek world. His feast day is celebrated in both the East and the West on November 30th. – Article submitted by Deacon Rick Ernst

This article was originally published in the November 2013 Volume 1, Bonus Issue 1c of the Saint U News.

Sources of Information 1) The Apostles, Pope Benedict XVI, Our Visitor Inc., Huntington, IN 46750; 2) www.12apostlesofthecatholicchurch.com; 3) Encyclopedia of Catholicism, Richard P. McBrien Ed., Harper, San Francisco, CA; 4) www.ewtn.com/library/mary/andrew.htm VI : The Apostle Matthew

I n the Sanctuary behind the altar on Christ’s left, fourth down in the mural, is the Apostle Matthew. St. Matthew was one of the twelve chosen Apostles of Jesus. He was known as Levi, the son of Alpheus, who lived and worked in as a publican, or tax collector, for . According to the Catholic Study Bible, such tax collectors as Levi paid a fixed sum for the right to collect duties within their districts. Extortion was wide-spread in this profession as the tax gatherers could keep any amount they collected above the duties. Levi was to be named “Matthew” after Jesus called him with the simple words, “Follow Me.” S t. Matthew is credited with writing the first gospel account. His gospel account was written for his fellow countrymen to convince them that Jesus was the Messiah. He often draws attention in his writings of events in Jesus’ life that were prophesied in the Old Testament with references to and the Psalms. The shows not only that Jesus is the Messiah but works to define what kind of Messiah he is. In Amy Welborn’s guided discovery for groups and individuals titled: -28: Jesus’ Life-Giving Death, she states the following: Matthew’s gospel was intended to solve the problem of confusion and misunderstanding about Jesus’ identity and mission. At that time, not even the disciples, who were closest to him, understood who he was and what he came to accomplish. Matthew presents Jesus as the Messiah who exceeded all expectations. He is a savior in a wider, deeper, more spiritual sense than expected. He is the Son of God.

M atthew is said to have been witness to the Resurrection and into heaven. St. claims that Matthew preached the Gospel for fifteen years after the death of Jesus, and St. tells us that Matthew preached the Gospel among the Hebrews. Some historical scholars mention Ethiopia (not in Africa but south of the Caspian Sea), Persia, Macedonia and Syria as countries evangelized by Matthew. Matthew’s place and mode of death is a topic of disagreement. Some sources report his martyrdom but with no specific mode and others deny that he died as a martyr.

A ccording to the artists at New Guild Studio, St. Matthew is shown with a book in hand symbolizing that he is a student of the Bible and to show his connection to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. St. Matthew is the patron saint of tax collectors and accountants as well as the patron saint of Germany and Italy. His feast day is celebrated on September 21st. –Article submitted by Michelle Lakatos This article was originally published in the November 2013 Volume 1, Bonus Issue 1c of the Saint U News.

Sources of Information 1) The Catholic Study Bible – The Gospel According to Matthew Chapter 9:9; 2) The Catholic Encyclopedia (1913) Vol. St. Matthew; 3) Newadvent.org St. Matthew; 4) Matthew 26-28: Jesus’ Life Giving Death – A guide for Groups and Individuals – Welborn

The Apostle VII: John O n the sanctuary wall to the right of Jesus, third down, is the Apostle John. St. was a Galilean and the son, along with St. James the Greater, of Zebedee and Salome. Because he is usually placed after St. James in the lists of the apostles, John is generally considered the younger brother, perhaps as young as 18 at the time of Christ’s death. He was called to be an apostle by our Lord in the first year of His public ministry. With St. James, he is always listed among the first four apostles, reflecting not only his early calling but his honored place among the disciples. He is the other disciple of St. John the Baptist, along with St. Andrew, who follows Christ in Jn 1:34-40. In Mt 4:18-22 and Mk 1:16-20, James and John are called immediately after their fellow fishermen Peter and Andrew. T he author of five books of the Bible (the Gospel According to John, the First, Second, and Third Letters of John, and Revelation), St. John the Apostle was one of the earliest disciples of Christ. Commonly called St. John the Evangelist because of his authorship of the fourth and final gospel account, he is one of the most frequently mentioned disciples in the New Testament, rivaling St. Peter for his prominence in the and the Acts of the Apostles. Yet outside of the , John preferred to refer himself not by name but as “the disciple whom Jesus loved”. He was the only one of the apostles to die not of martyrdom but of old age, about 94, around the year 100 AD. L ike Peter and James the Greater, John was a witness to the Transfiguration (Mt 17:1) and the (Mt 26:37). His closeness to Christ is apparent in the accounts of the Last Supper ( Jn 19:25-27), at which he leaned on Christ’s breast while eating, and the Crucifixion (Jn 19:25-27), where he was the only one of Christ’s disciples present. Christ, seeing St. John at the foot of the Cross with His mother, entrusted Mary to his care, a duty John fulfilled after Christ’s resurrection until Mary’s death. He was the first of the disciples to arrive at the tomb of Christ on Easter, having outraced St. Peter, and while he waited for Peter to enter the tomb first, Saint John was the first to believe that Christ had risen from the dead. A s one of the two initial witnesses to the Resurrection, St. John naturally took a place of prominence in the early Church, as the Acts of the Apostles attest, and in which he appears alongside St. Peter himself. After Jesus’ Ascension and the descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, John, together with Peter, took a prominent part in the founding and guidance of the Church. W hen the apostles dispersed following the persecution of Herod Agrippa, during which John’s brother James became the first of the apostles to win the crown of martyrdom, tradition holds that John went to Asia Minor, where he likely played a role in founding the Church at Ephesus. Exiled to during the persecution of Domitian, he returned to Ephesus during ’s reign, and died there. S t. John is the patron saint of authors, editors, and scholars. His feast day is celebrated on December 27th. – Article submitted by Jim and Mary Kane This article was originally published in the December 2013 Volume 1, Bonus Issue 1d of the Saint U News. Sources of Information 1) Catholic OnLine; 2) National Geographic – The Journey of the Apostles – March, 2012; 3) The Book of Saints – Hoagland, C.P.

The Apostle VIII: Bartholomew I n the Sanctuary behind the altar to the right of Christ, second down, in the mural is a depiction of the Apostle Bartholomew. We see in the artwork by the principals at New Guild a magnificent weaving of the vine – Christ – with His chosen disciples – the Twelve (actually, eleven of the original apostles) chosen during Christ’s lifetime. Paul, who is also depicted here, was indeed chosen by Christ, but as he rode to Damascus to arrest anyone who belonged to the Way (). Each of the disciples holds either a scroll or a book. These represent that they were students of the Bible or of Christ. In , books or scrolls are significant of a person’s learning. The are based on ancient prototypes. Looking at each person depicted, one notices “light coming from within, but there is no particular light this represents an inner glow,” if you will, of each disciple perhaps in reflecting the glow of Christ within and around them. A point of interest—it is only Luke who “attributes to Jesus the bestowal of the name apostles upon the Twelve.” The Twelve will share in Jesus’ own mission of proclaiming the Kingdom and healing those in need. The commission to “teach” comes only after the resurrection. A mong the original twelve apostles, Bartholomew is mentioned by name as sixth in the three (Mt 10:3; Mk 3:18; Lk 6:14) and named seventh in a list in Acts (1:13). The name ‘Bartholomew’ comes from the bar-Tholmai mean- ing “son of Tholmai” or son of the furrows (perhaps a ploughman). Tholmai, an ancient Hebrew name, at least shows that Bartholomew was of Hebrew descent. A s with many of the apostles, we know little more than their names — but, even with Bartholomew, there is a question: is he the same as the Nathanael (also spelled Nathaniel) who the evangelist John lists as one of the Apostles of Christ? Most scholars believe he is indeed the same as Nathanael mentioned in John, introduced to Christ by Philip, who would also become an Apostle ( Jn 1:43-51). One may also infer that Philip and Bartholomew (Nathanael) were friends. I n the synoptic Gospel texts his name is coupled with that of Philip’s in Matthew and Luke and next to it in Mark, but perhaps of even greater significance – Philip shared the important “call of Christ” with Bartholomew/ Nathanael as John relates in his Gospel. Nathanael is present at the appearance of the risen Savior to the ten (of the Twelve) in the upper room where they hid in fear (Jn 20: 19) and at the second conclusion on the shore of the Sea of Tiberias at the end of the fourth Gospel. (Jn 21:2). Thus Nathanael/Bartholomew is among those commissioned to teach. N o other Apostle expressed greater belief in Christ than Nathanael upon their first encounter. When Philip went to find his friend Nathanael, “We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the prophets, Jesus, son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” In a jestful manner, Nathanael asks, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” (Jn 2: 45, 46). When Jesus meets Nathanael he called him “a true Israelite...There is no duplicity in him.” Jesus tells him further, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.” Nathanael’s faith-filled reply, Rabbi, you are the Son of God, You are the King of Israel. Nathanael/Bartholomew’s inner light was enkindled through his first encounter with Jesus. The Roman says he preached in India and Greater Armenia, where he was flayed and beheaded by King Astyages. Tradition has the place as Abanopolis on the west coast of the Caspian Sea and that he also preached in Mesopotamia, Persia, and Egypt. St. Bartholomew is the patron of tanners as reflective of his manner of death.Feast Day August 24th. –Article submitted by S. Janice Campbell, OSF This article was originally published in the December 2013 Volume 1, Bonus Issue 1d of the Saint U News. Sources of Information 1) The Catholic Study Bible – The Gospel references as well as footnote information; 2) Saint of the Day- Leonard Foley, OFM --Bartholomew; 3) newadvent.org/bible/mar003 htm#vrs18 St. Bartholomew ; 4) www.doctorsofthecatholicchurch.com: The Apostle by Otto Hophan, OFM, Cap; 5) Miriello, artist at New Guild

IX: The Apostle

O n the sanctuary wall to the left of Christ Thomas at the bottom of the mural, is the Apostle Thomas. Thomas was one of the twelve chosen apostles of Jesus. Born of Jewish descent in Galilee, Thomas, also known as Didymus meaning “The Twin,” was a carpenter by trade. He is best known for verifying the Resurrection of the Lord. He was known for his loyalty, courage, and practicality, but he is best remembered as “.” He was absent the first time the resurrected Jesus entered the locked room and visited the other apostles. When he heard of the event, Thomas told the others he would believe Jesus had risen only if he could see and touch the wounds in His hands and sides. When Jesus appeared eight days later and offered to let Thomas see and touch His wounds, Thomas showed his belief by proclaiming, “My Lord and my God.” Jesus replied, “Because you have seen me, Thomas, you have believed. Blessed are they who have not seen and yet believed.” (Jn 20:25-29) Thomas was a loyal follower of Christ. Jesus announced His intention to visit the recently deceased Lazarus in a few miles from Bethlehem. This trip would be dangerously close to Jerusalem for someone as unpopular as He was with the (a Greek word meaning council). The other disciples wanted to keep Jesus away for fear of being stoned, but Thomas rallied the other apostles to stay by Jesus, saying,“Let us go that we may die with him.” (Jn 11:16) L ater, prior to the Last Supper, Jesus said, “Do not let your heart be troubled, believe in God, believe also in Me. In my Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you, for I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way I am going.” Thomas said to Jesus, “Lord, we do not know where you are going, how can we know the way?” ( Jn 14:1-5) Jesus said to Thomas, “I am the way and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me.” ( Jn 14:6) A ccording to the Acta Thomae [this is an apocryphal writing—writings not approved for inclusion to the of writings in the Bible], the Apostles divided up the world for their missionary labors and India fell to Thomas. Bartholomew,[ a good friend of Thomas, was also an apostle to India.] Thomas reached Muziris, India in 52 AD and baptized several people who are known today as Thomas Christians. Thomas is said to have raised the first cross in India and performed one of his earliest miracles. There is a story which tells that Thomas offered to build a palace for an Indian King that would last forever. The king gave him some money which Thomas gave to the poor. Asked to show his progress, Thomas explained that the palace he was building was in heaven, not on earth. P atristic literature states that Thomas died a martyr east of Persia in 72 AD by the wounds of four spears pierced in his body by local soldiers. The feast of St. Thomas is July 3rd. He is the patron saint of the blind.

Dorenkott Dee Dee by Photo – Article submitted by Thomas Dougan

This article was originally published in the January 2014 Volume 1, Bonus Issue 1e of the Saint U News. Sources of Information 1) Wikipedia/; 2) www.catholic.org/saints; 3)National Geographic – The Journey of the Apostles – March, 2012

T A The Apostle X: he postle James the lesser In the Sanctuary behind the altar to Christ’s left, second down in the mural is the Apostle James the Lesser. James, son of and Mary, was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ. James the Lesser was identified as Jesus’ cousin (Mt 13:55, Mk 6:3) and also mentioned as such by in his history of the Jews, Jewish Antiquities. The name James is a variation of the name , as pointed out by Reverend Felix Just. There are several James of importance at the time of Christ – James being a “popular” name among Jewish boys at this time. The original Jacob was the grandson of . Jacob’s twelve sons became the of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. Among the apostles called by Jesus, there are two James distinguished by the modifiers “Greater” and “Lesser.” He is also labelled “the minor,” “the little,” “the less,” or “the younger,” according to tradition, as well as his being known as “James the Just.” I t may be worthwhile to take a brief look at the other James who are figures of importance. James the Greater, son of Zebedee, holds that designation because he was called as one of the first four disciples and also there is the presumption that he was taller or older than James the Lesser. A second James is identified as the son of Alpheus, the Apostle identified in Mt 10:3; Mk 3:18; Lk 6: 15; :13. According to Rev. Alban Butler in his Lives of the Saints Vol. II, “he is commonly held to be the same individual who is designated James the son of Alpheus and James the brother of the Lord (Mt 10:3; Acts 1:13).” He further states that he may even be identified with James, the son of Mary and brother of Joseph () Mk 15:40. Alban Butler also infers that the apostle who became of Jerusalem (Acts 15; Acts 21:18) was the son of Alpheus and brother “first cousin” of Jesus Christ. A fifth James at the time is identified as the father of Judas (Jude) (Lk 6:16; Acts 1:13). The last James to be looked at is James, the author of the first Catholic who simply identifies himself as “James, a servant/slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ” (Jas 1:1). The website Catholic.org identifies the apostle James with being the author of the first Catholic epistle. It is Butler who tells us that James and his brother Jude were called to Apostleship in the second year of Christ’s preaching. Yet the controversy continues as to which James actually authored the Letter of James, The Catholic Study Bible distinguishes the above-mentioned James as distinct and different. V arious historians , and Josephus record different aspects of James life – from his influential position as leader in Jerusalem marked as an apostle of Christ until his death. Josephus, in his book Antiquities of the Jews, dates James’ death at 62 AD because of the condemnation of the High Anani Ananus, yet Origen states that the impetus for James’s death was related to the Roman siege of Jerusalem. Eusebius records that James was consulted by certain scribes and Pharisees to help gain his support in “putting down” certain Christian beliefs. James instead upholds the teachings of Jesus Christ and is thrown off the parapet of the temple. The legend is that the fall did not kill James, and he prayed for the forgiveness of those who were out to kill him. He is then stoned and beaten by a final blow of a fuller’s club. James is pictured with a fuller’s club and variously with the symbol of a saw, following the tradition that he was sawn into pieces after his death. The feast day assigned to James shared with Saint Philip originally celebrated May 1st, then moved to May 3rd. He is patron of apothecaries; druggists; the dying; Frascati, Italy; fullers; milliners; Monterotondo, Italy; Uruguay. – Article submitted by Sr. Janice Campbell, OSF This article was originally published in the February 2014 Volume 1, Bonus Issue 1f of the Saint U News. Sources of Information 1) Catholic.org; 2) Lives of the Saints Vol. II – Alban Butler; 3) The Catholic Source Book, 2007

XI: The Apostle O n the sanctuary wall to the left of Jesus, fifth down, is the Apostle Simon, commonly called Simon the Zealot. Unfortunately, Simon is considered one of the more obscure apostles and there is not a lot of confirmed information about him – even the year, location, and nature of his death are not certain. He is only mentioned in the Bible in the passages of the Gospel and Acts in which a list of the Apostles is given, such as Lk 6:14-16: “Simon, whom he surnamed Peter, and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, Matthew and Thomas, James of Alphaeus, and Simon who is called the Zealot, and Jude of James, and , who was a traitor.” I t is possible he was called Simon the Zealot (Zelotes), or Kananaios (Kananites) to distinguish him from Simon Peter. Both surnames are a of the Hebrew qana, “the zealous.” The term zealot also has a couple of possible meanings. One line of thought indicates that St. Simon was called the Zealot because before his coming to Christ he was one of that particular sect or political party among the Jews called characterized by the zeal they possessed for the honor of God and the purity of religion. However, there is no proof that the Zealot party existed during Jesus’ life on earth. It is also said that after his conversion, St. Simon was zealous for the honor of Christ and showed a pious indignation toward those who professed the holy faith with their mouths, but dishonored it by how they lived their lives. I n addition, the and the Eastern Orthodox churches believe different things about St. Simon. For example, Roman Catholics believe that St. Simon was part of an evangelizing team with St. Jude, in Persia and Armenia or Beirut, Lebanon, where both were martyred in 65 AD. The Catholic Encyclopedia suggests that Simon the Zealot may be the same person as of Jerusalem or Simon the brother of Jesus. He could also perhaps be the cousin of Jesus or a son of Joseph from a previous marriage. The well-known Rev. Alban Butler in Vol. III Lives of the Saints states that his “title” of Simon the Canaanite rather distinguishes him from St. Simeon, the brother of , and his successor in the see of Jerusalem. Eastern tradition holds that it was Simon’s wedding that Christ and his disciples attended in of Galilee at which Christ turned water in six jars to wine (Jn 2: 1-11). Simon is called zealot because in seeing this miracle, he left his home, his parents, and his bride and followed Christ. R eports on where he traveled, as well as the location and nature of his death, greatly vary. Per the Catholic Online: One tradition states that he traveled in the Middle East and Africa. Christian Ethiopians claim that he was crucified in Samaria, while Justus Lipsius writes that he was sawn in half at Suanir, Persia. However, Moses of Chorene writes that he was martyred at Weriosphora in Caucasian Iberia. Tradition also claims he died peacefully at Edessa. Another tradition says he visited Britain – possibly Glastonbury – and was martyred in Caistor, modern-day Lincolnshire. Further, if he was – see note above (even though he was born in Galilee) – he may have suffered crucifixion as the Bishop of Jerusalem. Although the exact place of his burial is unknown, his are venerated under the Altar of the Crucifixion in the Vatican. I n art, Simon has the identifying attribute of a saw because according to legend, he was put to death by a saw. Roman Catholics venerate Simon together with St. Jude Thaddeus. Their feast day is October th28 . He is regarded as the patron of tanners. This article was originally published in the February 2014 Volume 1, Bonus Issue 1f of the Saint U News. Sources of Information 1) EWTN.com 2) Catholic Encyclopedia 3) Catholic Online 4) Wikipedia X II : The Apostle Thaddeus O n the Sanctuary wall behind the altar, to the left of Christ and fifth down (or second from the bottom) is the Apostle Thaddeus. He is the son of Cleophas (), also known as Alphaeus, and Mary, who stood at the foot of the Cross, and, therefore a brother of both Apostles Matthew and James the Less. Cleophas/ Alphaeus is also believed to be a brother of St. Joseph, and his wife a cousin of the Mary, making all three men cousins of our Lord Jesus. L ittle is known about his occupation before his call to apostleship. In fact, there is a wide disagreement among sources: each in turn list him as a farmer, a fisherman, a carpenter. Eusebius informs us (l. 3, c. 20) that St. Thaddeus was a married man before he was an apostle, and that two of his grandsons were (possibly ) that lived at least until the reign of Trajan (95 ad). Y ou may be more familiar with the name Jude of James, or Judas Jacobi (Lk 6:16; Acts 1:13). His brother James the Less was better known at the time, and it is believed that he was surnamed Thaddeus, from the , or Lebbeus, from the Greek translation of Matthew, (:3; :18) to differentiate him from Judas Iscariot. Indeed, in the , when he is mentioned, it is that he is not Judas Iscariot: “Judas (not the Iscariot) said, ‘Lord, what is this all about? Do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?’ ” ( Jn 14:22) T haddeus is from a Syriac word meaning praising or confession, and Lebbeus signifies a man of wit and understanding, or generosity, from the Hebrew “Leb” for “heart.” Equally, as Rev. Alban Butler notes, it could mean courageous, from the Hebrew word for lion. St. Bridget of Sweden (1303-1373) was a devotee, and was in fact told (in a ) by Jesus to turn to St. Jude with faith and confidence, and that in accordance with his surname “he will show himself to be the most willing to give you help.” And to this day he is a popular saint, known for his powerful intercession in times of desperate need. V arious writers from ancient times say that he preached the Gospel in Judea, Samaria, Idumeaea, Syria, Mesopotamia, and Lybia, and according to Eusebius, he returned to Jerusalem in 62 ad to assist at the election of his brother, St. Simon (of Jerusalem) as Bishop of Jerusalem. He is believed author (as usual, not all scholars agree) of The Letter of Jude in the New Testament, and because in it he stresses that the faithful should persevere in the environment of harsh, difficult circumstances, we call on his intercession. H e is often depicted with a flame above his head, to signify his presence in the Upper Room at the descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, and with a club because legend tells us he was clubbed to death in Persia, or Armenia under Persian rule, possibly with St. Simon the Zealot. In any case, he shares his Feast Day with St. Simon on October 28th. S t. Jude Thaddeus is patron of hospitals, and of desperate situations and lost causes. – Article submitted by Patrice Bilenski

This article was originally published in the March 2014 Volume 1, Bonus Issue 1g of the Saint U News.

Sources of Information 1) “The Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and Other Principal Saints”Rev. Alban Butler; 2) The Catholic Encyclopedia, NewAdvent.org; 3) St. Jude Network; 4) The Catholic Company; 5) St. Jude ; 6) Catholic Online; 7) StJudeNovena.org from workshop of Simone Martini of the Sun.” In Sun.”In the of of the Temple there, near harbor buried was sea and the Sebastopolis, at died where He Phasis. river Ethiopia, the of of mouth is,the at Hyssus interior the in meat-eaters and barbarians to Gospel the preached Georgia) andwasstoned todeathinColchis. The St. Matthiasevangelized. Matthiasfirstpreached theGospelinJudaea, thenin Aethiopia (inmodern-day –by thatthechoice lot–wasGod’salso indicates choice. A numberofauthorshave different ideasofwhere lot fell upon Matthias. And he was numbered with the from eleven which Apostles. Judas prevaricated, so that he might go heartto his of own everyone, place.” reveal And theywhich cast one lotsof these concerning two you them, Barsabbas,have and chosen, the who to was take surnamed a place Justus, in this ministryand Matthias. and apostleship, And us, praying,one of these they be said: made “Maya witness you, withO Lord, us of who his knows Resurrection.” Jesusthe went inAnd and they out appointedamong us, two:beginning Joseph, from who the was baptismit calledis necessary of John, that, until out theof theseday when men hewho was have taken been up assembling from had been with usnumbered throughout theamong entire us, time andthat thehe Lordwas chosen by lot for this ministry. ‘Let another take his episcopate.’ Therefore, documented in Acts 1, the only Jesus place so long in thatthe Bible he was where one of St. two Matthias identified is toreferenced: but take Jesus the did place not of name Judas divine him actionsIscariot as one up as of to t.thethe Ascension apostles.Matthias was of one Jesus. ofHowever, the first He towas follow one it Jesus. of was the because seventy-twoHe was witness he disciples, followedto all of Jesus’ apostles instead. is not pictured on the sanctuary wall; St. Paul is pictured with the signifying other eleven “gift of Yahweh.” Matthias, the apostle who took the place of Judas Iscariot, luckiest day of the year because Matthias was the saint who was chosen by lot to replace Judas Iscariot. the . The feast ofSt. Matthias is May 14 beheaded. been have to said is he which with battle-axe, a with Bible open an of symbol his thus – Rome St. Peter’sin in buried later was and beheaded Holy Spirit predicted by the mouth of altogether men Davidof about wasJudas, about who one was hundredthe leader andof those twenty): who apprehended “Noble Jesus. brothers, He the Scripture must be fulfilled, which the X T M III he significance of the choice of Matthias lies in that this is the first example of . It atthias is venerated, equally with the other apostles and his name is mentioned in the Canon of S ource The Catholic Source Book, 2007 Book, Source Catholic The s of : I T nformat This article was originally published in the March 2014 2014 March the in published originally was article This In those days, Peter, rising up in the midst of the brothers, said (now the crowd crowd the (now said brothers, the of midst the in up Peter, rising days, those In he Greek Matthias is a name derived from Mattahias, Hebrew Mattihiah, i on Volume 1, Bonus Issue 1h of the Saint U News. U Saint the of 1h Issue Bonus 1, Volume S T

1) The Catholic Encyclopedia th he . According to old tradition, St. Matthias’s Day is said to be the – tradition states that Matthias was stoned to death then then death to stoned was Matthias that states tradition – Synopsis of Dorotheus Synopsis of

A M ; 2) Wikipedia; 3) postle ( Acts The Catholic Source Book, 2007 atthias contains thistradition: “Matthias 1:15-17,20 b -26) T D M X IV : he isciple ary Magdalene A lthough is not depicted on the sanctuary wall her importance rests in that she was a faithful disciple of Jesus even at the cross and was the first witness to His resurrection. M ary Magdalene is one of the most appealing characters in the Gospels. Only a few details about her appear there, yet Christians know her as a woman of great love, desire, and unwavering loyalty. She was born at Magdala, near Tiberias, in Galilee. Just as we heard and read of many James’s – there are also a number of Marys and women’s actions that may be attributed to this Mary of Magdala. Mary followed Jesus after he cured her of seven demons. Many mistakenly associate her with the woman who washed Jesus’ feet with her hair – but this story is followed by the reference in Luke to a Mary Magdala “from whom seven devils had been cast.” A n account which first references a woman who feels genuinely close to Jesus is in Lk 7:36-50 A Sinful Woman Forgiven: Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And he went to the Pharisee’s house,

and sat down to eat. And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew Icons. Monastery by Copyright used with permission. that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know what sort of woman this is that touches him – that she is a sinner.” In answer to his thoughts, Jesus said to him, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. You gave me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. Therefore I say to you her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much, but to who little is forgiven the same little.” Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

U nswerving in her devotion, Mary was at the cross and observed Jesus endure this cruel method of Roman execution. Watching opposite the tomb where Jesus’ body was taken, she witnessed his burial by and he then rolled an enormous stone in front of the tomb, closing off and sealing the burial place. After leaving the tomb, she maintained a vigil through the Sabbath until the dawn of the next day and then returned with anointing spices. Atop the stone that had been rolled away from the entrance of the tomb sat a luminous angel – a truly frightening sight for the temple guards and for Mary. John’s Gospel says that Mary saw two other inside the tomb who asked her why she was crying. Mary then turned to see a man she thought was the gardener. She asked him to tell her where he might have carried Jesus’ body. But when Jesus spoke her name, Mary recognized his voice and called him Rabboni, meaning My Teacher. After Jesus told her to go tell the disciples what she had heard, Mary immediately ran to tell them, “I have seen the Lord,” the news of his resurrection and the things Jesus had told her. For further study, see Mt 27:56-61;

28:1; Mk 15:40-47; 16:1-9; Lk 8:2; 24:10; Jn 19:25; 20:1-18. A ccording to Roman Catholic tradition, Mary Magdalene spent the last 30 years of her life in seclusion in France. Mary Magdalene is the patron saint of the contemplative life, converts, glove makers, hairstylists, penitent sinners and people ridiculed. Her feast day is celebrated on July 22nd. – Article submitted by Mrs. Elaine Ashcom This article was originally published in the March 2014 Volume 1, Bonus Issue 1h of the Saint U News. Sources of Information 1) Peter, Paul and Mary Magdalene, BD Ehrman, 2006; 2) The Woman with Alabaster Jar, M Starbird, 1993; 3) The Bible, Luke 7:36-50.; 4) Wikipedia, 2014.; 5) The Book of Saints, V Hoagland, C.P.; 6) Who’s Who in the Bible T heFour Evangelists On each of the four ends of the crucifix are symbols of the evangelists – John, Mark, Luke and Matthew. According to The Catholic Source Book, numbers have great significance in the Bible. Four is the numberical signature of nature and creation – the four corners of the earth. So, even the placement of the symbols of the four evangelists at the four points of the cross is significant. The Gospel According to Luke ends with Christ’s commission to the twelve to preach in His name to alll the nations. (Lk 24:47, see also in Mk 16:15 “Go unto all the world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.” Also Mt 28:19) The symbolism used for each of the four evangelists dates back to the 5th century. :6-8 reads, And round the , on each side of the throne, are four , full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like a flying eagle. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all round and within, and day and night they never cease to sing, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is to come!” These symbols were first used by the Prophet (1:1-21). St. John is represented by the flying eagle, St. Luke is represented by the ox, St. Mark is represented by the lion, and St. Matthew is represented by the face of the man. T he symbol for St. John sits at the top of the crucifix and John is represented by the flying eagle. The eagle symbolizes skies, heaven, and spirit. The eagle represents John because of his lofty and “soaring” gospel (it is much more theological in nature than the other three). John, the evangelist whose work intently gazes on the eternal Word who shattered the darkness with his light, recalls the eagle that flies face into the sun. John is the patron of booksellers. His feast day is December 27th. T he symbol for St. Mark is to Christ’s right. Mark is symbolized by the winged lion which comes from St. Mark’s description of John the Baptist’s voice “crying out in the wilderness” upon hearing the Word of God (Mk 1:3). His voice is said to have sounded like that of a roaring lion. The lion also symbolizes the power of the evangelist’s word, the wings symbolize the spiritual elevation, while the halo is the traditional Christian symbol of holiness. Mark is the patron of notaries. His feast day is April 25th. T he symbol for St. Luke is to Christ’s left and he is represented by a winged ox. Luke begins his gospel (Lk 1:9) with an account of the priest, Zechariah, sacrificing in the temple. This is especially appropriate because in the Gospel of St. Luke, the priestly and sacrificial work of Jesus is emphasized. The ox represents the sacrificial aspect of Jesus’ ministry and the wings remind us that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is to travel throughout the world. Since he is portrayed as a winged ox, Luke is the patron saint of butchers. Luke is best known as patron of physicians– and also of brewers. His feast day is October 18th. F inally, beneath Christ is St. Matthew who is represented by the face of a man. St. Matthew is represented by a man because the Gospel highlights Jesus’ entry into this world, first by presenting His family lineage — “A family record of Jesus Christ, Son of David, son of Abraham” (Mt 1:1) — and His incarnation and birth: “Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about” (Mt 1:18). “This then,” according to St. Irenaeus, “is the Gospel of His humanity; for which reason it is, too, that the character of a humble and meek man is kept up through the whole Gospel.” Matthew is the patron of bankers. His feast day is September 21st. W hile each of these symbols focuses on the particular theme of each Gospel, only in penetrating all four gospel accounts do we fully encounter our Lord. – Article submitted by Matthew Stimmel SOURCES OF INFORMATION 1) catholicexchange.com/the-symbols-of-the-gospel-writers; 2) The Catholic Source Book, 2007

The Evangelist XV: Mark T he beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The preaching of John the Baptist. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: ‘Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way. A voice (like the roar of a lion) of one crying out in the desert: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.’ (Mk 1:1-3) And so begins the Gospel of St. Mark, as he likens St. John the Baptist’s voice to that of a lion, hence, the symbolism of St. Mark as the winged lion, one of the four living creatures surrounding the Throne of God. S t. Mark’s Gospel, one of the four canonical, and one of three synoptic (bearing similarity in sequence, wording, and many of the same stories), is the most concise, and believed to have been the first written of the gospels, (often telling Jesus’ ministry in more detail than either Matthew or Luke). Mark stresses Jesus’ message about the “mystery,” or open secret, “of the kingdom of God now breaking into human life as good news (Mk 1:14-15), and Jesus Himself as the Gospel of God (Mk 1:1; 8:35; 10:29). Jesus is the Son whom God has sent to recue humanity by serving and by sacrificing his life. (Mk 10:45)” Mark’s gospel lets us hear the words of the centurion at the cross when they realize whom they have killed: “Truly this man was the Son of God!” (Mk 15:39). Mark also shows us a human side of Jesus, laden with emotions: pity (1:44), anger (3:5), triumph (4:40), sympathy (5:36; 6:34), surprise (6,9), admiration (7:29; 10, 21), sadness (14:33-34), and indignation (14:48-49). Jesus also states, “Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours.” (Mk 11:24) T radition holds that the persons known as Mark, , and simply John, are one in the same: , who is mentioned in Acts (12:12, 12:25, 13:5, 13:13, 15:37, 15:39), once in each of three letters of St. Paul (Col 4:10; 2 Tm 4:11; and Phlm 1:24), and in the first epistle of St. Peter (1 Pt 5:13), in which St. Peter calls Mark “his son.” However, he is simply the son of Mary, a friend of the apostle St. Peter. Mark’s mother, Mary, was one of the original converts to Christianity, and it is in her house that many of the early Christians gathered [e.g., St. Peter returned to her house after an Angel of God released him from prison (Acts 12:12-13)]. T hough not one of the original twelve apostles, St. Mark (as well as St. Luke) was one of the original seventy-two Disciples of Christ who were sent out to spread the Gospel throughout Judea (Lk 10:1-20). When Jesus spoke: “Except a man eat my flesh and drink my blood, he is not worthy of me,” many of the seventy-two abandoned Christ, including Mark (Jn 6:51-67). However, tradition states that it was St. Peter who brought Mark back to Christ and St. Peter who baptized him. M ark, the cousin of Barnabas (Col 4:10; Phlm 1:24), accompanied Barnabas and Paul on various missionary journeys (Acts 12:25; 13:3; 15:36-39), and was once the cause of dissension between them, leading to Barnabas’ decision to abandon Paul when Paul refused to take Mark on his second apostolic journey (Acts 15:37-40). Papias, St. Origen, and other Roman historians described Mark as Peter’s disciple and his “interpreter.” He also acted as an aid to SS. Peter and Paul in Rome. Eusebius states that Mark recorded the sermons of St. Peter, leading to the writing of the Gospel According to St. Mark, which was written in Rome. St. Mark evangelized Asia Minor and founded the Church in Alexandria, Egypt. It is believed that he suffered a martyr’s death in 68 AD, having been dragged through the streets of Alexandria to his death. St. Mark’s body was removed from Alexandria to Venice where his holy relics are housed in the magnificent of St. Mark in Venice, Italy. St. Mark’s feast day is celebrated on April 25th. He is the patron saint of notaries, lawyers, Venice. – Article submitted by Janet Fisher This article was originally published in the March 2014 Volume 1, Bonus Issue 1g of the Saint U News. Sources of Information 1) New American Bible, rev. ed.: Mark: Introduction; 2) Catholicism.About.com; 3) Wikipedia; 4) New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia: St. Mark; 5) Catholic Online: Saints & Angels: St. Mark

The Evangelist X VI : L uke S ymbolically identifiable as an ox or calf, a sacrificial animal representing the Jesus made for mankind, St. Luke’s symbol is located on the large crucifix on the sanctuary wall at Jesus’ left hand. Fr.[ Felix Just writing for catholic-resources online gives the history of the symbols for the four evangelists which are referenced in Old Testament- referring to four heavenly creatures.] Sts. Iranaeus, Augustine and all assign the symbol of the ox to St. Luke. In art, Luke is represented by a winged ox because he begins his gospel with an account of the priest, Zachary (Zechariah), sacrificing in the temple. The ox represents Christ’s sacrifice...the wings represent that the Gospel of Jesus is to go to all the world. -from history of St. Luke Parish, Temple, TX L uke was likely born in Antioch, Syria, was Greek and a Gentile. He was a physician by profession and was likely educated at “the school of Tarsus and was possibly where he met St. Paul.” St. Paul referred to him as “the most dear physician.” (Col 4:14) S t. Luke is one of the most extensive writers of the New Testament, having both the gospel bearing his name and The Acts of the Apostles attributed to his quill. His style is only surpassed by the book of Hebrews and many scholars consider it the most literary of all the gospels. It is also historically accurate as well, “demonstrating an unusual commitment to accuracy, he appears to have fastidiously checked his facts, for example, archaeologists have confirmed many details that he reported in The Acts of the Apostles.” “L uke’s inspiration and information came from his close association with St. Paul and his companions.” Luke first joined Paul about the year 51 AD at Troas (Acts 16:10) and accompanied him into Macedonia. When Paul left Philippi, Luke stayed behind to encourage the Church there. (Acts 20:5) Seven years passed before Paul, , Mark, and Aristarchus returned (Phlm 24). It is suspected that while Paul was imprisoned in Caesaria Philippi for two years, Luke wrote his gospel. He was a constant companion of Paul’s during that time. Later, after everyone else deserted Paul during his final imprisonment in Rome, it was Luke who remained with Paul until his death which was about 67 AD (2 Tm 4:11) “only Luke is with me.” It is noteworthy that in the three places where is mentioned in the Epistles of St. Paul (Col 4:14, Phlm 24, Tm 4:11), he is named with St. Mark (the other evangelist who was not an apostle) – meaning they were not eyewitnesses to Jesus but heard it from eyewitnesses: Luke from Paul, Mark from Peter. Even though Luke’s gospel is one of the synoptic Gospels, Luke brings many unique/exclusive perspectives on Jesus. Luke in particular presents Jesus reaching out to Gentiles with the famous stories of The Good Samaritan (Lk 10:25-37) and The Grateful Leper (Lk 17:11-13), both exclusive to Luke. Luke demonstrates Jesus’ concern for social justice as in The Story of Lazarus and the Rich Man (Lk 16:19-31). Mercy and forgiveness weigh heavily in Luke’s gospel stories of Jesus. The Prodigal Son parable, as well as the story of the Sinful Woman who bathes Jesus’ feet with her tears, powerfully deliver to the reader God’s desire to welcome home the repentant sinner (Lk 15:11-32, Lk 7:36-50). In Luke we find the high esteem in which Jesus and the Church holds women, particularly the mother of our Lord and Savior. Luke is exclusively responsible for the scriptural parts of our beloved prayer, the Hail Mary: “Hail (Mary) full of grace” (Lk 1:28) “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.” (Lk 1:42) And it is Luke who wrote about the , the Visitation, the Nativity, the Presentation, the Shepherds in the Fields, and Jesus’ disappearance in Jerusalem! Reading Luke’s Gospel gives a good idea of his character as one who loved the poor, who wanted the door to God’s Kingdom opened to all, who respected women, and saw hope in God’s mercy for everyone. St. Luke is the patron saint of physicians and surgeons. His feast day is October 18th. – Article submitted by Dr. Jaconski This article was originally published in the January 2014 Volume 1, Bonus Issue 1e of the Saint U News. Sources of Information 1) New Advent: Biography of St. Luke 2) Loyola Press Online 3) Saints and Angels Catholic Online Our Patroness, XVII: Saint Ursula

W ith little clear historical information about her, it is remarkable

how well-known a figure in the life of the Church St. Ursulath truly is. Many legends bring her name into Catholic life, going back to the 4 Century, so it is not a surprise that a new Parish in Allison Park would be given her name in 1908, nor that two high stained-glass windows in our St. Paul , dedicated in 1907, would picture St. Ursula and St. Patrick side by side. I n modern times, Ursula has been viewed in Italy as the patron saint

of child care institutions, no doubt because of the thyoung women gathered around her for inspiration and protection in the 9 Century accounts of her trials, perseverance, and martyrdom. T he source for the most reliable of her life stories comes from Rev. Alban Butler’s Lives of the Saints. Briefly, Ursula and some other young

women, about a dozen, wished to live Christianth lives remaining single. Tribal leaders among the , a strong presence in 4 Century Western Europe, wished to marry them. Refusing marriage, these women traveled by some route by boat to Rome (perhaps by river and crossing the Alps). U pon their return, they clearly stated their dedication to remain single.

Photography by Dee Dee Dorenkott Dee Dee by Photography The result was their martyrdom, symbolized by the arrows held by Ursula, often shown in Christian art in this way.

I n the , Ursula was often described as a noble heroine, Prayer to St. Ursula learned and inspiring. A church was built in her honor near . In modern times, there is a large St. Ursula Church in Cologne, Germany. Woman – hero, I ask you to place before our God the needs A s Bishop David Zubik presided at the Rededication/Blessing of pressing on my spirit at this time. St. Ursula Church on June 16, 2013, he also blessed the statue of St. Ursula depicting her and her companions. Designed, and subsequently painted, by Ursula, you are the person of firm Suzann Miriello of New Guild Studios, the statue was carved by Edmund dedication, compassionate care, Rabanser in Orbisei, Italy – a town noted for wood carvers. Together they and a model of the search for truth. have given us a stunning and inspired work. See it in the alcove to the left I ask your prayers for me so of the altar. that I am inspired by your courage st S t. Ursula’s feast day is celebrated on . and guided by your spirit of wise – Article submitted by Rev. Garrett Dorsey choices, now and always.

Amen.

This article was originally published in the April 2014 Volume 1, Bonus Issue 1i of the Saint U News.

Sources of Information Lives of the Saints – Rev. Alban Butler OurLady of XVIII: Guadalupe S “ tanding by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son.’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.” (Jn 19:26-27)

A ccording to the Catholic Online, by this act, Jesus “intends to include all men and women in the ‘family circle’ of God. That is the mission of Mary, she is the first Evangelizer, committed to bringing every man, woman and child into the family by bringing the whole world to His Body, the Church, of which she is a sign.” I t was in her role as the first Evangelizer that Mary appeared to Juan Diego near Tepayac Hill in Central Mexico on December 9, 1531 and asked that a church be built there in her honor. Juan was a poor Aztec Indian who had converted to Christianity. Mary instructed Juan to travel to Tenochtitlan to tell the bishop what he had seen and heard. The bishop was non-committal after his visit. Juan Diego returned to Tepayac Hill and again encountering Mary, he asked her to send someone else to the bishop. She responded that she had chosen Juan and she sent him to the bishop again. At this second meeting, the bishop asked Juan Diego to ask Mary to provide a sign. Juan returned to Tepayac Hill and repeated the bishop’s request for a sign to Mary. Mary asked him to return the next day so she could provide the requested sign. U nfortunately, Juan Diego’s uncle had become seriously ill and he stayed to care for him. After two days, with his uncle near death, Juan Diego set out for a priest. When crossing Tepayac Hill, he encountered Mary. She assured Juan Diego his uncle would be fine and sent him to the top of the hill to gather roses as a sign for the bishop. It was winter and roses were not in season, yet at the top of the hill, Juan Diego found Castilian roses in full bloom. He picked them, wrapped them in his tilma (poncho made of cactus fiber), and brought them to Mary. Mary rearranged the flowers in his tilma and sent him to the bishop. P er the Catholic Online, “Juan once again came before the bishop and several of his advisors. He told the bishop his story and opened the tilma letting the flowers fall out. But it wasn’t the beautiful roses that caused the bishop and his advisors to fall to their knees; for there, on the tilma, was a picture of the Blessed Virgin Mary precisely as Juan had described her.” After showing the bishop where he had met Mary, which was the spot where the church would be built, Juan Diego returned to his uncle who was completely cured. The uncle told Juan Diego that a young woman in a glowing soft light came to him and told him she’d sent his nephew to the bishop with a picture of herself. She told him that she and her picture should be called “Santa Maria de Guadalupe.” In scientific examinations of the picture of Mary with very sophisticated microscopes Juan Diego is seen in the pupils of Mary’s eyes. J uan Diego was canonized in 2002, and his tilma is displayed in the Basilica of , Tepayac Hill, Mexico City, Mexico, the most visited Marian shrine in the world. The significance of Mary appearing as a young Aztec maiden points to the God who embraces all races and nations. A beautiful statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe stands in an alcove to the right of the altar at Saint Ursula. She is the Patroness of the Americas and Protectoress of Unborn Children. This article was originally published in the April 2014 Volume 1, Bonus Issue 1i of the Saint U News. Sources of Information: 1) EWTN.com; 2) Catholic Online; 3) Wikipedia; 4) www.sancta.org SAINT URSULA CHURCH

INTERIOIR LITURGICAL DESIGN

The architecture of Saint Ursula Parish Church draws on much from early Christian standards. Its basilica style with added transept gives it its cruciform shape, taking the principles of Roman architecture and marrying them with Christian guidelines. Many of the signifiers of the Gothic revival style are present, but there also exists elements of Romanesque, Gothic’s precursor, with its massive wall sections, small clerestory windows and beautiful wooden truss ceiling. W e employed color and decorative work to embellish the architecture. Using the strength of the existing elements such as beautiful woodwork and amazing terrazzo flooring, we introduced a color palette and design textures drawn from early Christian motifs, organic in nature, with themes of life and growth that heighten the sense of sacred intimacy of the space. The large open wall surfaces and plain, simple lines of the arches themselves to the strength of the decorative painting, bringing the space into a more visual equilibrium with the massive timber ceiling. Also, drawing from the enabled us to integrate the windows into the color strength of the interior walls. The colors and patterns heighten the sense of the sacred, enfolding the walls into the space. All of these individual elements, including the new pews with their rich dark stain and the stone (tile) flooring, were brought together symphonically to render the experience of the mystery of the worship space. A s there previously was no main arch signifying the transition into the sacred space of the Sanctuary, a front wall with a recessed Apse was developed to arc over the Sanctuary. The theme of the painting on this front wall is that of the , an image showing Christ as the living heart of the church. This is based on a passage in the book of John 15:1-25, which states in part: I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit. For without me, you are able to do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me, he will be cast away, like a branch, and he will wither, and they will gather him and cast him into the fire, and he burns. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, then you may ask for whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. In this, my Father is glorified: that you should bring forth very much fruit and become my disciples. This structure now afforded us a new and separate space for the Blessed Sacrament, allowing us to bring it back to the main axis of the church. This also created a new shrine space to balance with the Shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe. Here we have introduced a wood carved sculpture of St. Ursula, designed and carved specifically for the church.

~ New Guild Studio Acknowledgments

The St. Ursula Communications Committee began The Sanctuary Series in the Fall of 2013. We have been pleased at the support and enthusiasm expressed by so many people within our parish community for this effort. We would like to thank the following people for contributing to the success of The Sanctuary Series: ● All those who contributed to the writing and compiling of The Sanctuary Series, including: Elaine Ashcom, Patrice Bilenski, Sr. Janice Campbell, OSF, Fr. Garrett Dorsey, Thomas Dougan, Deacon Rick Ernst, Janet Fisher, Michael Jaconski, Jim and Mary Kane, Michelle Lakatos, Sue Romanelli, Joanne Sekerak, Matthew Stimmel, Barbara Wally, as well as several others who wished to remain anonymous. We realize the time it took to research and write these articles. ● The numerous people who volunteered to sponsor the color copies of each issue that were inserted into the bulletins

● Father Garrett Dorsey, Pastor, for his support of the project and writing the biography of our patron, St. Ursula ● Sister Janice Campbell, our chief editor, for reviewing and making suggestions on each biography that came across her desk ● Father Ernest Strelinski, Parochial Vicar, and numerous other volunteers for the hours spent filling bulletins with the installments of The Sanctuary Series ● Patrice Bilenski, a member of the Communications Committee, who provided her design expertise to each installment of The Sanctuary Series, to Dee Dee Dorenkott whose photography graces each with beauty and to Bob Manuel of PVA Graphix for the generosity of his time and expertise in color print reproduction; this series and other efforts of the committee would not have had the same visual appeal without their talent We hope you enjoy reading about the Apostles, who they were, what they did, and how the lives of these men and women were forever changed after meeting Jesus Christ.

The St. Ursula Communications Committee Easter, 2014