ÑContra MundumÑ Volume IX, Issue 8 March 2007 The Congregation of St. Athanasius A Congregation of the Pastoral Provision of John Paul II for the Anglican Usage of the Roman Rite http://www.locutor.net our Blessed Lord teaches love of Selfishness God and love of neighbor as repre- senting the two commandments on for Lent? which all the Law and the Prophets ‘On Jordan’s bank the Baptist‘s depend. Now, love of God stands at cry’ and the Blessed Saviour’s warn- the very center of Christian teach- ing ‘unless ye repent, ye shall perish ing, and the totality which accrues as these’ both admonish us to con- to it also makes an absolute claim version, to turning inward. And the on every aspect of all our faculties: Lenten season now upon us provides heart, soul, mind, strength, so much us with more than adequate opportu- so that many believers will remain in nity to focus in upon ourselves as the constant denial and seek to qualify ones most in need of attention. its scope. “He can’t really mean it that absolutely?” Oh yes, He does! We cannot repeat enough to One might even venture that all sin ourselves that the reason for our comes from a failure to appropriate very existence centers upon the sal- vation of our own immortal souls. the entirety of God’s claim on us. Christian teaching answers in simple Also, however, in thinking about At very first a message like this and instructive terms one of man’s and in acting out the second great seems to us to hold two serious greatest questions: Why am I here? commandment, our love of neighbor, drawbacks: what about the merits And however much others may we do not consider sufficiently the assist us toward saving our souls, which come from our charitable kicker in the command: Thou shalt whether unknowingly by example actions toward others, something love thy neighbour as thyself. In or- and general prayer or knowingly by highly commendable? And doesn’t der to love your neighbor, you must kind and gracious direct assistance, such a message set a goal of perfec- love yourself first. That sets the stan- no one else but we ourselves can ef- tion unassisted, for we need others? dard against which and from which fect that salvation for ourselves. At Who indeed would deny the truth of our love of neighbor proceeds. The the Judgement, of which our Lenten those basic assertions? Yet, ‘being quality of our love of self follows readings, rites, and hymns make us men for others’ and the merits of directly from the quality of our love most highly aware, we stand alone Christian solidarity must first stand of God, and in turn our love of self before the Throne and account for in a healthy perspective to the prime informs our love of neighbor. our own actions and for the extent to demands of our faith, and in so doing which we have shown what God has they can then enhance the growth Our Holy Mother the Church, as asked of us. And what has God asked of that faith and practice, but ‘first Christ’s mystical body on earth, does of us? Three things: To know Him, to things first’. not abandon us to our own resources love and venerate Him, and to serve in carrying out the injunction to love Him. Only so, our Catechism teaches In all three synoptic gospels God, and ourselves, and our neighbor us, can we live with Him eternally. (Matthew 22, Mark 15, Luke 10) as ourselves. All of our Christian Page 56 Contra Mundum tradition: the Holy Scriptures, the husbands, brothers, uncles, and creeds and definitions of both silent neighbors may be quiet, gentle, and dogma and proclaimed teaching, the modest men, like St. , the best Mass and the sacraments and devo- portrait of him is found in the Lord tions, all support us in our respon- Jesus. Jesus is Son of Mary, but He sibility and direct us in the ways of was formed by St, Joseph. knowing, loving, and serving God. And all of our neighbors, including Think of the way small boys live the Holy Angels in Heaven, enter and play beside their fathers. Boys easily imitate what their fathers say into this communion, loving us as and do (sometimes to the fathers’ they love themselves. So we are far embarrassment!) Jesus would have from unassisted. heard and watched St. Joseph lead Do not spend this Lent asking the family’s morning and evening what you can do for others. Ask Joseph’s Day prayers and tell Bible stories. Joseph rather what you, in and of yourself, Monday, March 19, 2007 took Jesus to the synagogue where can do for God, entirely, and He will Solemn Mass & Sermon they sat together. Something is made give you the grace and overflowing 7:30pm of the fact that Our Lord learned His charity against which to see yourself chapel of St. Theresa of Ávila craft from Joseph. But there is much first and thence to do for others, ac- Church more to say! Our Lord’s Human cording to His will. West Roxbury Heart must have learned a proper attitude towards work and workers, “Seek ye therefore first the king- children, and they all gathered at 6am a love for the poor, for justice, and dom of God, and his justice, and daily for morning prayers, including for freedom, from the attitudes and all these things shall be added unto a sermon which the father gave. After conduct of His foster father. you.” (Matthew 6:33) the first day he asked me if I would like to lead the service and preach. It is a strange and wonderful ¶ The Revd. Dcn. Con- Would I like to? So we alternated thing, then, that what God needed nolly teaches linguisitics in Boston during my time there. for His Beloved Son was a father. College and serves primarily as It was not a role Almighty God Archdeacon at Holy Cross Armenian This story is a reminder of the would entrust to just anyone. And in Belmont. He as- fact that in so many countries in our what a shock it must have been sists frequently in the Anglican Use. world, even today, the man of the for Joseph, not only to discover he This is his second contribution to house provides leadership in matters is betrothed to one who would be Contra Mundum. of religion. Ben’s sermons were won- Mother of God, but also called to be derful both in terms of insight and “father” to a Child Who is God! Yet simple directness to his children, and Joseph’s role as father was never pre- I have an indelible visual memory of empted. Apart from some early an- A FATHER FOR these little ones, the eldest being no gelic encouragement (and advice on more than twelve, all still half asleep how to avoid King Herod!) no di- GOD’S SON and in their pajamas, kneeling into vine revelations told Joseph how to their chairs for prayer. father the Christ Child. And if Joseph or four days in May 1990 I We wonder what St. Joseph was waited for some sign from this Boy Ffound myself as a guest in the like. He dropped out of sight in the that He could do His growing up and home of Dr, & Mrs. Anene Benedict Scriptures after our Lord was twelve learning without any help, it never Uzuarkpunwa, in a city called Enugu. years old. By the time of the wedding came. Again and again when Jesus I was in Nigeria on a preaching in Cana, Jesus is called “the Son of had something to learn, or sought- mission, and billeted to this lovely Mary.” But although our fathers, counsel, we can easily see Him com- home. Ben and Rose had five or six ing to Joseph. Contra Mundum Page 57

Blessed Jesus, Who is Son of the rishioner Marysia Swanberg. Mass omniscient Father, never gave a sign is at 9am. that He already knew what St Joseph was advising, Because in a marvel- Confessions are heard in St, ous way, God was an ordinary son of Theresa of Ávila by the parish clergy an ordinary father, except that each, every Saturday from 3:00-4:00pm in in his own way, was God’s special the chapel. Fr. Bradford hears con- work. fessions on Thursdays before first WEEKDAY MASS IN LENT Fridays after the 4:00pm Mass. Next One day many years after Joseph scheduled is March lst had died, Our Lord Jesus spoke to Tuesday at 10am a crowd about prayer and the lov- Holy Week is April 1-8 ing goodness of God. He said “but Saturdays at 9am Easter flower envelopes will be if one of you asks his father for a available Sunday March 4th. Please loaf, will he hand him a stone? or in the Convent Chapel contribute to the cost of decorating for a fish, will he for a fish hand him the chapel for Easter. a serpent? or if he asks for an egg, will he hand him a scorpion? If you know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.” (Luke 1:9- 13) ,

That instruction came out of Our During Lent the Litany or Deca- Lord’s personal experience. Jesus logue begins Sunday Masses prior to had received good gifts from St. Jo- . Copies of these devo- seph. It was Joseph who was first to tions are provided in the chapel. inspire in the Boy Jesus the thoughts of His Heavenly Father. Good St. The Magnificat Lenten Compan- Joseph, by his life, by his faith, and ion, available for purchase at $3.00 by his love, is the man who left his per copy, contans meditations for STATIONS OF THE CROSS mark on the Son of God. every day of Lent. & BENEDICTION Fridays in Lent at 7:00pm ¶ a sermon by Father Bradford Many thanks to those who pro- chapel of ’s Day, 2005 vided for a reception following the Candlemas service February 2nd. St Theresa of Ávila Church People seem to enjoy this period West Roxbury after evening services. About forty March 2 Fr. Bradford, preaching attended the Mass. SHORT NOTES March 16 Dcn. Michael Connolly, Many thanks to Michael Lenten coin folders have been preaching Connolly for being our preacher at mailed to parishioners. Extra folders March 30 Fr. Romanus Cessario, Evensong on February 25th. The are placed in the rear of the chapel. OP, preaching Proceeds benefit the work of Catho- leader in this month’s parish paper special service lic Charities in the Archdiocese of is provided by Dr. Connolly. He will March 23 Fr. Bradford, preaching Boston preach at Stations on March 16th as Saint Mary’s Chapel, well. The Saturday March 10th Mass Boston College will be a year’s-mind Mass for pa- Page 58 Contra Mundum

their heroic witness to the Catholic younger brother William. Thereafter, Faith in the British Isles during and Robert studied for the priesthood in after the Protestant Reformation. Douai, France, together with another Here we continue brief mention of of his brothers, . The two some of these individual martyrs. were ordained together, celebrated their first Masses on the same day, Blessed ROBERT THORPE and returned to England together. Priest and Martyr (†1591) The third brother, William, entered Robert Thorpe, of Yorkshire, the Jesuit Order. Father Robert Sut- England, went abroad to study for the ton served in Staffordshire from priesthood at the English College in 1578 until his arrest in 1585. After Reims, France. Following his ordi- being banished from the country, he nation in Reims in April of 1585, he secretly returned. Captured a second SOLEMN EVENSONG returned to Yorkshire a month later to time, Father Sutton was sentenced to & BENEDICTION minister to his fellow English Catho- death for his priesthood and suffered Sunday, March 25, 2007 lics being persecuted under Queen execution by drawing and quartering. 5:00pm Elizabeth I. After nearly six years His brother, Father Abraham Sutton, chapel of spent serving the faithful in secret, rescued a portion of Robert’s body, St. Theresa of Ávila Church Father Thorpe was roused from his including a thumb presently kept as West Roxbury sleep early on Palm Sunday morning a relic at Stonyhurst College. Father Bradford, preaching of 1391 by Elizabethan agents who Reprinted from Magnificat, Issue: July, 2005, Vol. 7, No. 5, With permission of Magnificat® had come to arrest him. An informer USA, LLC, P.O. Box 822, Yonkers, New York had provided to them incriminating 10702. To order call 1-866-273-5215 or Web testimony: he had observed Father site: www.magnificat.com. All rights reserved. Thorpe the night before gathering palms to be blessed on Palm Sun- day. Blessed Thomas Watkinson, Saint of the the owner of the home where Father Thorpe had been found, was also ar- Month rested, and was later condemned to death for sheltering priests. Father Thorpe was executed by drawing and quartering for being a priest.

The Annunciation of the Blessed Reprinted from Magnificat, Issue: May, 2006, Mary Vol. 8, No. 3, and Page 203 With permission of Magnificat® USA, LLC, P.O. Box 822, Yonkers, Commonly called Lady Day New York 10702. To order call 1-866-273-5215 Monday, March 26, 2007 or Web site: www.magnificat.com. All rights (transferred) reserved. Low Mass & Sermon at 10am Blessed ROBERT SUTTON convent chapel Perpetua and her slave Priest and Martyr (c. 1545-1588) Felicitas (d.203) THE BRITISH Robert Sutton, of Burton-on- saint for March 7th, Vibia Trent, England (as distinguished A Perpetua of Carthage (north Af- MARTYRS from another beatified English rica), was martyred along with her martyr of the same name from Keg- slave Felicitas and several others in VER the years 200 men and worth), an Anglican minister, was 203. She was a young noblewoman’s Owomen have been beatified for converted to the Catholic faith by his Contra Mundum Page 59 wife, with an infant son, and her own Not only Christ was led into mother had been a Christian. Her fa- CHRIST’S the desert by the Holy Spirit, but ther was a pagan and tried to dissuade all the children of God who pos- her from her Christian faith. TEMPTATION sess the Holy Spirit are led in like manner. For God’s children are Her servant Felicitas was preg- AND OURS never content to sit down with idle nant and gave birth to a daughter T was by Christ’s own will that he hands, but the Holy Spirit ever while in captivity awaiting death. Iwas exposed to the temptation by urges them to undertake for God African-born Emperor Septimius the devil, as it was also by his own some great work. And this, as far as Severus (reigned 193-211) was try- will that he was exposed to be slain the devil is concerned, is to go into ing to suppress Christianity by mak- by the limbs of the devil. Had he not the desert, for in the desert there ing it illegal. He arrested this family so willed, the devil would never have is none of that wickedness which is group and several others and sen- dared to approach him. the devil’s delight. Every good work tenced them to be attacked by wild is as it were a desert to the eye of The devil is always more dis- beasts in the amphitheater. During the world and of our flesh, for good posed to attack those who are their captivity Perpetua experienced works are contrary to the desire of alone, because, as is said in Sa- powerful visions depicting heaven the world and of our flesh. cred Scripture, “if a man shall and the struggle with the evil one. prevail against one, two shall with- To give the devil such an op- We recognize their names in a stand him easily” (Eccl 4:12). That is portunity of temptation as this is not list of martyrs in the Canon of the why Christ went out into the desert, dangerous, for it is much more the Roman Mass. Their day has been as one going out to a battle ground, inspiration of the Holy Spirit, who is celebrated and recorded on early Ro- that there he might be tempted by the promoter of every perfect work, man and Syriac calendars since the the devil. Whereupon Saint that prompts us than the working of 4th century. Their story, in Latin, also says that Christ went into the desert the devil who hates them all. represents another early recorded for the express purpose of provok- St. , OP account of martyrdom (recall Poly- ing the devil. For unless the devil Meditations for Lent carp, 1st century, for example). The had fought, Christ would never have account is in part autobiographical, overcome him for me. contributed by her catechist Saturus The Congregation of Saint Ambrose gives other rea- (one of the martyrs) and by another sons too. He says that Christ chose Saint Athanasius, eyewitness. the desert as the place to be tempted The Revd. Richard Sterling Bradford, Chaplain Her faith is clear by this excerpt: for a hidden reason, namely that “What happens will be what God he might free from his exile Sunday Mass 10:30am desires. We are in the power of God, who, from paradise, was driven St. Theresa Convent Chapel not in our own power.” (See www. into the desert, and again that he 10 St. Theresa Ave. fordham.edu/halsall/source/per- did it for a reason in which there is petua.html.) no mystery, namely to show us that West Roxbury, Mass. the devil envies those who are tend- Fellowship and Coffee in Their burial place is beneath a ing towards a better life. later-built basilica of Carthage. the Lounge after Mass We say with Saint Chrysostom Rectory: Boston Catholic Men's Conference that Christ exposed himself to the Saturday. March 17, 2007 temptation because the devil most 767 West Roxbury Pkwy. Boston Catholic Women's Conference of all tempts those whom he sees Boston, MA 02132-2121 Sunday, March 18, 2007 alone... Tel/Fax: (617) 325-5232

617-977-0916 http://www.locutor.net Page 60 Contra Mundum St. Theresa Church and Convent Chapel, West Roxbury, MA 02132 Pine Lodge Road (off St. Theresa Avenue) Park either in the church parking lot or on Pine Lodge Road. The side door of the convent is open during the time of our services. Directions by Car: From the North: Route 128 to Route 109, which becomes Spring Street in West Roxbury. Spring Street ends at a traffic light at Centre Street in sight of the church. At this light bear left onto Centre St.. and immediately turn right at the next light onto St.. Theresa Ave. From the South: Route 1 north through Dedham to Spring Street. Turn right onto Spring Street then follow the directions above. From Dorchester and Mattapan: Cummins High- way to Belgrade Avenue to Centre Street left on St.. Theresa Ave. From Boston: VFW Parkway to LaGrange Street. Turn left onto LaGrange Street, crossing Centre Street and turn right onto Landseer Street. Turn left into the church parking lot. Directions by Public Transportation: Orange line to Forest Hills terminal. Bus to West Roxbury. #35 bus to Dedham Mall. #36, #37, and #38 also stop at St. Theresa’s. Commuter train to West Roxbury Station is a short walk to St.. There- sa’s. Departs from South Station, but no Sunday service is available.

Contra Mundum The Congregation of St. Athanasius 10 St. Theresa Avenue West Roxbury, MA 02132