CACCLC Retreat 2014
Society of St. Vincent de Paul
Circle V Camp
Santa Barbara, CA
August 29 to September 1, 2014
Fr. Samuel W. Ward
Associate Director of Vocations
Archdiocese of Los Angeles
1
“Ever Ancient, Ever New. Ever Relevant?”
Who are the CACCLC Retreatants?
• How many were born in China?
• How many were born in the U.S.? (A.B.C.’s—
American Born Chinese)
• Born elsewhere?
• How many do not speak Chinese (Mandarin or
Cantonese) fluently?
• How many were baptized Catholics as infants?
• How many went to Catholic School? Catholic High
School or College?
• How many are converts? As children? As teens? As
young adults?
• How many are the only Catholic or Christian in their
family?
• Or your family is the only Catholic family in your
extended family?
• How many here are not Catholic? Were invited by a
friend?
• How many are living a retreat for the first time this
weekend?
• First time at CACCLC?
• How many are involved in some sort of ministry in
the Church? At your parish? At your college?
• How many are part of a Chinese Catholic community
in your parish?
2
For reflection, without raising your hand:
• How many have been away from the
Catholic faith at times in your life?
Recently?
• How many are here reluctantly or are
trying this out with skepticism?
• How many are searching for connections
in their lives? With God? With peers?
With other Catholic young adults? With
other Chinese Catholics?
• How many are here because a retreat at
this point in your life is exactly what you
need?
• What are your expectations this weekend?
Your hopes? Your fears?
• Are you open to new possibilities for your
life?
• Are you open to the Holy Spirit working in
your life in a new way?
• Thank God we are here!
3
List of Retreat Conferences:
Friday Evening
Introduction—Introducing the Theme & Getting to know the Retreatants
Saturday
Conference #1—Ever Ancient: “The Faith of Our Fathers” (And Mothers)
Conference # 2—Ever New: The New Evangelization & Catholic Young Adults
“Mass in Slow Motion”—A Catechetical Primer on the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
Mass Homily—“Don’t Squander What Has Been Given To You.”
Eucharistic Holy Hour & Benediction
Confessions during Holy Hour
Sunday
Conference #3—Ever Relevant: The Catholic Church in Asia & Implications for
Chinese Catholics in the U.S.
Conference #4—Ever Relevant? Part II—Making a Choice for Jesus and His
Church
The Holy Chinese Martyrs
Mass Homily—Discernment & Discipleship: Offering Ourselves as a Holy and
Pleasing Sacrifice to the LORD
Lectio Divina & Ignatian Spirituality—Contemplative Praying with the Scriptures
Monday
Conference #5—Prayer, Spirituality & Living the Catholic-Christian Faith:
Implications for Daily Life
Mass Homily—The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass & Confession: Encountering
Divine Mercy in the Sacraments
***Fr. Sam will be available for counseling/Spiritual Direction throughout
the weekend. Please see him to make arrangements when and where to
meet.
4
CACCLC 2014 Retreat
Schedule
FRIDAY
4:30 pm
Registration
6:30 pm
Dinner
7:30 pm
Intro & Icebreakers
9:00 pm
Evening Mass (optional)
SATURDAY
7:15 am
Morning Prayer (optional)
7:30 am
Wake-up Call
8:15 am
Morning Exercise
8:30 am
Breakfast
9:30 am
Talk #1
10:30 am
Small Group Discussion
11:30 am
Mass
12:30 pm
Lunch
1:30 pm
Workshops (3) 3:15 pm
Free Time
4:15 pm
Talk #2
5:15 pm
Small Group Discussion
6:00 pm
Dinner
7:00 pm
Group Pictures
7:15 pm
Lectio Divina
8:00 pm
Praise & Worship /
(Reconciliation)
10:00 pm
Night Prayer (optional)
Quiet Time
5
SUNDAY
7:15 am
Morning Prayer
(optional)
7:30 am
Wake-up Call
8:15 am
Morning Exercise
8:30 am
Breakfast
9:30 am
Talk #3
10:30 am
Small Group
Discussion
11:30 am
Mass
12:30 pm
Lunch
1:40 pm
Conference Call
2:00 pm
Large Group Activity
3:30 pm
4:00 pm
Talk #4
5:00 pm
Small Group
Discussion
6:00 pm
Dinner
7:00 pm
Evening hike (Leads
into
Eucharistic
Procession into
Adoration
8:00 pm
Taize & Adoration
Reconciliation
10:00 pm
Night Prayer
(optional)
Quiet Time
MONDAY
7:15 am
Morning Prayer
(optional)
7:45 am
Wake-up Call
8:30 am
Breakfast
9:30 am
Talk #5
10:30 am
Mass
11:30 am
Final Remarks /
Survey
12:00 pm
Final Small
Group
Discussion
12:30 pm
Lunch
Pack & Clean Up
6
CONFERENCE #1
Ever Ancient—
“The Faith of our
Fathers”
(and our Mothers)
7
Hymn:
Faith of our fathers! Faith and prayer
Shall win all nations unto thee;
And through the truth that comes from God,
Mankind shall then be free.
Refrain:
Faith of our fathers, holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death.
Faith of our fathers! We will love
Both friend and foe in all our strife:
And preach to thee too, as love knows
how,
By kindly deeds and virtuous life.
Refrain:
Faith of our fathers, holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death.
8
From The Confessions
of
Saint Augustine:
“Late have I loved you, O
Beauty ever ancient, ever
new, late have I loved you!
You were within me, but I was
outside, and it was there that
I searched for you. In my
unloveliness I plunged into
the lovely things which you
created. You were with me,
but I was not with you.
Created things kept me from
you; yet if they had not been
in you they would have not
been at all. You called, you
shouted, and you broke
through my deafness. You
flashed, you shone, and you
dispelled my blindness. You
breathed your fragrance on
me; I drew in breath and now
I pant for you. I have tasted
you, now I hunger and thirst
for more. You touched me,
and I burned for your peace.”
Painting of St Augustine
by Botticelli
9
Fr. Sam’s testimony:
“Late have I loved you, Lord.” I can identify with those
words. I am a Catholic priest now, but for the first 22 years of my life, I
was what you call a nominal Catholic. I was a believer but only a parttime practice of my faith. And I knew ever less about my faith. For the
last years of high school and the first years of college, I was a “C & E
Catholic.” You know what that means. Christmas and Easter. That’s
when I went to Church. I barely prayed and I had forgotten more about
my faith since my Confirmation in 8th grade than I remembered. If you
asked me at that time to define the Immaculate Conception, I would
have given you one of two answers: It either referred to when Jesus
was conceived (wrong, that’s the Annunciation in Luke 1:26-38) or to
an amazing touchdown catch by Franco Harris of the Pittsburg
Steelers against the Oakland Raiders in 1973—the so-called
“Immaculate Reception” (I always seem to relate things back to
sports!).
But even though it was later in my life that I really came to
know Jesus Christ in a more real and powerful way, it was not too late
for me. And here I am now as a Catholic priest, ordained for over 11
years and now Vocation Director for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. I
was barely going to Mass before and was pretty ignorant of my faith,
which I consequently never share with others since I felt so unprepared
and inadequate, and now I am leading a Young Adult Retreat for
Chinese Catholics! How did that happen? Surely it is a miracle of
God’s grace. And the preaching of the Gospel, the Good News of
Jesus Christ and his Holy Catholic Church, for the past 2000 years. Us
being here this weekend is the fruit of a missionary, evangelical, Spiritled group of Christian believers who have preached and taught and
shared the Gospel with men, women, and children of every time and
place, culture and language, “in season and out of season,” when it
was both “convenient and inconvenient” (cf. 2 Timothy 4:2), suffering
martyrdom and ridicule and persecution, all done for the love of Christ
and a zeal for the salvation of souls.
10
Jesus and the Great Commission
11
The Commissioning of the Disciples. (Matthew 20:16-20)
 “The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain
to which Jesus had ordered them. When they saw
him, they worshiped, but they doubted. Then
Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in
heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go,
therefore, and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to
observe all that I have commanded you. And
behold, I am with you always, until the end of the
age.”
o “I AM”: Jesus identifies Himself as YHWH (Yahweh
or LORD); see John’s Gospel:
 God reveals Himself to Moses at the Burning
Bush (See Exodus 3)
 “I AM the God of your father, the God of
Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of
Jacob.” (Exodus 3:6)
 God said to Moses, “‘I AM WHO I AM’…Say
this to the people of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me
to you.’” (Exodus 3:14)
12
“I AM the Bread of Life” (John 6:35)
“I AM the Light of the World” (John 8:12)
“Before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8:58)
“I AM the Door [or Gate] for the Sheep” (John
10:9)
 “I AM the Good Shepherd” (John 10:11, 14)
 “I AM the Resurrection and the Life” (John
11:25)
 “I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John
14:6)
 “I AM the True Vine” (John 15:1)
o Jesus’ name means “God saves.” (Luke 1:31)
o He is also Emmanuel, “God with us.” (Matthew 1:23)




The Commissioning of Moses (Exodus 3)
• God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of
Israel, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers, the
God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of
Jacob, has sent me to you’: this is my name for
ever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout
all generations. Go and gather the elders of Israel
together…I promise that I will bring you up out of
the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites,
[etc.; i.e.: to the Promised Land]. (Exodus 3:15-18)
13
The Commissioning of Abraham (Genesis 12)
• Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your
country and your kindred and your father’s house to
the land that I will show you. And I will make of you
a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your
name great, so that you will be a blessing”…Abram
went as the LORD had told him.; and Lot [his
nephew] went with him. (Genesis 12:1-2, 4)
o Notice how Abram (soon to be called Abraham,
“father of a multitude”, in Genesis 17:5) is called
to leave his own country and family for a new
calling (vocation), a new mission in life. He was
75 years old at the time!
 Think of the circumstances and decisions
that led you (and your family) to come to the
U.S.
14
The Commission of the Church at Pentecost (See Acts of the
Apostles 2)
• When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one
place. And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a
mighty wind, and [the Holy Spirit] filled all the house where they
were sitting…And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit…(Acts
2:1-4)
• Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed
them. “…Let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. For
these men are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third
hour of the day [9:00 AM]; but this is what was spoken by the
prophet Joel: ‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I
will pour out my spirit upon all flesh....” (Acts 2:14-17; see Joel
2:28ff.)
o Ever ancient.
• Peter continued, “And it shall be that whoever calls on the name of
the LORD shall be saved.” (Acts 2:21)
• After the Preaching of Peter at Pentecost, “Now when they heard
this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the
apostles, ‘Brethren, what shall we do?’ And Peter said to them,
‘Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus
Christ for the forgiveness of sins; and you shall receive the gift of
the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children
and to all that are far off, every one who the LORD our God
calls to him.’” (Acts 2:37-39)
o “Ever ancient, ever new. Ever relevant?”
• And [Peter] testified with many other words and exhorted them
saying, ‘Save yourselves from this crooked generation’. (Acts
2:40)
o Think about it, if that was wicked and crooked generation,
what can we say about our time and our culture today?
• So those who received his word were baptized, and there were
added that day about three thousand souls. And they devoted
themselves to the apostle’s teaching, and fellowship, to the
breaking of bread and the prayers. (Acts 2:41-42)
15
Discussion Questions:
1. What does the “Great Commission” mean
to you?
“Go therefore….”
Where do you need to take the
Gospel?
2. How does the Holy Spirit work in your life?
In other words, how relevant is the
Pentecost experience of the Apostolic
Church for you today?
3. Which of the “I AM” statements of Jesus
most resonates with you at this point in
your life? Why?








“I AM the Bread of Life” (John 6:35)
“I AM the Light of the World” (John 8:12)
“Before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8:58)
“I AM the Door [or Gate] for the Sheep”
(John 10:9)
“I AM the Good Shepherd” (John 10:11, 14)
“I AM the Resurrection and the Life” (John
11:25)
“I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John
14:6)
“I AM the True Vine” (John 15:1)
16
Holy Mass on Saturday—Mass in Slow Motion
“Don’t Squander What Has Been Given To You.”
1st Reading
1 Corinthians 1:26-31
“Consider your own calling…Not many of you were wise by
human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of
noble birth. Rather, God chose the foolish of the world to
shame the wise, and God chose the weak of the world to
shame the strong, and God chose the lowly and despised of
the world, those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing
those who are something, so that no human being might boast
before God. It is due to him that you are in Christ Jesus, who
became for us wisdom from God, as well as righteousness,
sanctification, and redemption, so that, as it is written,
Whoever boasts, should boast in the LORD.”
o The paradox of the Christian life.
o Humility is demanded of the true disciple.
o All have a chance; none are excluded based on
superficial criteria.
Psalm
33:12-13, 18-19, 20-21
“Blessed the people the LORD has chosen
to be his own.”
Gospel Matthew 25:14-30
The Parable of the Talents
• Not squandering what is given to you. To be a good and
generous steward. There are consequences for our
actions, whether positive or negative.
17
Conference #2
Ever New—The New
Evangelization and
Catholic Young
Adults
18
From the USCCB (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops)
Website:
"It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the
ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth.
But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the
largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so
that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade."
Mark 4: 31-32
What is the New Evangelization?
• The New Evangelization calls each of us to deepen
our faith, believe in the Gospel message and go forth
to proclaim the Gospel. The focus of the New
Evangelization calls all Catholics to be evangelized
and then go forth to evangelize. In a special way, the
New Evangelization is focused on 're-proposing' the
Gospel to those who have experienced a crisis of
faith. Pope Benedict XVI called for the re-proposing of
the Gospel "to those regions awaiting the first
evangelization and to those regions where the roots of
Christianity are deep but who have experienced a
serious crisis of faith due to secularization." The New
Evangelization invites each Catholic to renew their
relationship with Jesus Christ and his Church.
o Evangelization v. Catechesis
19
Why do we need the New Evangelization?
•
The New Evangelization offers hope. Jesus grants all
people rest and comfort from the world's burdens (Mt.
11:28) by offering us the hope of salvation and eternal life.
Through the “re-proposing” of the Gospel, the Church
seeks to comfort all those who are burdened. The New
Evangelization offers the gifts of faith, hope, love and new
life in Christ.
o “Come to me all you who labor and are burdened and
learn from me. Take my joke upon you and learn
from me; for I am meek and humble of heart, and you
will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and
my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
 Jesus speaks to us about His own Most Merciful
and Sacred Heart.
o “Those who hear you, hear me, and those who reject
you, reject me, and those who reject me rejects him
who sent me.” (Luke 10:16)
 The context of these words of Jesus is he has just
sent out 72 disciples in pairs to preach the
Gospel. Jesus says, “The harvest is plentiful, but
the laborers are few; pray therefore to the LORD
of the harvest to send out laborers into his
harvest.” (Luke 10:1-2)
 The call for new priestly and religious
vocations in the Church.
 And also the call to active lay ministry in the
Church.
20
The New Evangelization in the United States
The Church in the United States can be likened to the
mustard seed. The Church has been present in the Americas
since the first missionaries arrived in the 15th Century. Over
the past five centuries, the Church's foundation has sprung up
and taken root in the U.S., spreading her branches and
offering shade to the weary. This can be seen simply by
looking at the work of Catholic Charities on behalf of the
poor, the network of Catholic schools offering education
to millions, and the commitment of U.S. Catholics to the
Church's social justice teachings. However, there is still
work to do.
The 2008 Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate
(CARA) study “Sacraments Today: Belief and Practice Among
U.S. Catholics” provides a glimpse into the beliefs, practices
and attitudes of U.S. Catholics. According to the study, only
23% of U.S. Catholics regularly attend Mass once a week,
while 77% self-identify as proud to be Catholic. These
statistics point to the need for the New Evangelization.
The seed of the Church is present, but the message of
Jesus Christ needs to be re-sown and watered for those
who have already heard Christ's call, but who have not
been fully evangelized or catechized. Truly, the seed of
Christ's message has taken root and yielded much fruit in past
seasons. In the spirit of the New Evangelization, it is our hope
that [it] will yield even greater harvests for Christ in the future
so that all people can dwell in the shade.
21
APOSTOLIC LETTER “MOTU PROPRIO ”
OF BENEDICT XVI PORTA FIDEI: FOR THE INDICTION OF THE YEAR OF FAITH
1. The “door of faith” (Acts 14:27) is always open for us, ushering us into the life of communion with
God and offering entry into his Church. It is possible to cross that threshold when the word of God is
proclaimed and the heart allows itself to be shaped by transforming grace. To enter through that door is to
set out on a journey that lasts a lifetime. It begins with baptism (cf. Rom 6:4), through which we can
address God as Father, and it ends with the passage through death to eternal life, fruit of the resurrection
of the Lord Jesus, whose will it was, by the gift of the Holy Spirit, to draw those who believe in him into his
own glory (cf. Jn 17:22). To profess faith in the Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – is to believe in one
God who is Love (cf. 1 Jn 4:8): the Father, who in the fullness of time sent his Son for our salvation; Jesus
Christ, who in the mystery of his death and resurrection redeemed the world; the Holy Spirit, who leads
the Church across the centuries as we await the Lord’s glorious return.
2. Ever since the start of my ministry as Successor of Peter, I have spoken of the need to rediscover the
journey of faith so as to shed ever-clearer light on the joy and renewed enthusiasm of the encounter with
Christ. During the homily at the Mass marking the inauguration of my pontificate I said: “The
Church as a whole and all her Pastors, like Christ, must set out to lead people out of the desert,
towards the place of life, towards friendship with the Son of God, towards the One who gives us
life, and life in abundance.” It often happens that Christians are more concerned for the social, cultural
and political consequences of their commitment, continuing to think of the faith as a self-evident
presupposition for life in society. In reality, not only can this presupposition no longer be taken for granted,
but it is often openly denied. Whereas in the past it was possible to recognize a unitary cultural
matrix, broadly accepted in its appeal to the content of the faith and the values inspired by it,
today this no longer seems to be the case in large swathes of society, because of a profound
crisis of faith that has affected many people.
4. In the light of all this, I have decided to announce a Year of Faith. It will begin on 11 October 2012,
the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council, and it will end on the
Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Universal King, on 24 November 2013. The starting date of 11
October 2012 also marks the twentieth anniversary of the publication of the Catechism of the Catholic
Church, a text promulgated by my Predecessor, Blessed John Paul II, with a view to illustrating for all the
faithful the power and beauty of the faith. This document, an authentic fruit of the Second Vatican Council,
was requested by the Extraordinary Synod of Bishops in 1985 as an instrument at the service of
catechesis and it was produced in collaboration with all the bishops of the Catholic Church.
6. The renewal of the Church is also achieved through the witness offered by the lives of
believers: by their very existence in the world, Christians are called to radiate the word of truth
that the Lord Jesus has left us...
The Year of Faith, from this perspective, is a summons to an authentic and renewed conversion to the
Lord, the one Savior of the world. In the mystery of his death and resurrection, God has revealed in its
fullness the Love that saves and calls us to conversion of life through the forgiveness of sins (cf. Acts
5:31).
7. “Caritas Christi urget nos” (2 Cor 5:14): it is the love of Christ that fills our hearts and impels us to
evangelize. Today as in the past, he sends us through the highways of the world to proclaim his Gospel to
all the peoples of the earth (cf. Mt 28:19).
10. ...The example of Lydia is particularly eloquent in this regard. Saint Luke recounts that, while he was
at Philippi, Paul went on the Sabbath to proclaim the Gospel to some women; among them was
Lydia and “the Lord opened her heart to give heed to what was said by Paul” (Acts 16:14). There is
an important meaning contained within this expression. Saint Luke teaches that knowing the content to
be believed is not sufficient unless the heart, the authentic sacred space within the person, is
opened by grace that allows the eyes to see below the surface and to understand that what has
been proclaimed is the word of God.
22
“How can I unless someone teaches me?” (Acts 8)
• “But there was a man named Simon who had previously
practiced magic in the city and amazed the nation of
Samaria [to the north of Jerusalem], saying that he was
somebody great. They all gave heed to him, from the least
to the greatest, saying, ‘This man is that power of God which
is called Great.’ And they gave heed to him, because for a
long time he had amazed them with his magic. But when
they believed Philip [the Apostle] as he preached the good
news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus
Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Even
Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he
continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles
performed, he was amazed.” (Acts 8:9-13)
o See the effects of preaching the Gospel.
o Once captivated by the passing allure of magic, the
people are interiorly transformed by the grace of God.
o The witness of the conversion of Simon, one of the least
likely to heed the call of the Gospel, is able to be the
instrument of salvation for many more.
 St. Mary Magdalene
 St. Paul
 St. Augustine
 St. Francis of Assisi
 St. Ignatius of Loyola
 Fr. Donald Calloway, MHIC
23
Philip the Apostle &
the Ethiopian Eunuch
24
Philip the Apostle & the Ethiopian Eunuch:
“An angel of the LORD said to Philip, ‘Rise and go toward the south to
the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ This is the desert
road. And he rose and went. And behold, an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a
minister of Candice the queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of all her
treasure, had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning; seated
in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. And the Spirit said to
Philip, ‘Go up and join this chariot.’ So Philip ran to him and heard him
reading I Isaiah the prophet, and asked, ‘Do you understand what
you are reading?’ And he said, “How can I unless someone
teaches me.” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Now
that passage of scripture which he was reading was this:
‘As a sheep led to the slaughter or a lamb before its shearer is
dumb,
so he opens not his mouth.
In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who can describe his generation?
For his life is taken up from the earth.’ [Isaiah 53:7-8]
And the eunuch said to Philip, ‘About whom does the prophet say this,
about himself or about some one else?’ Then Philip opened his
mouth, and beginning with this scripture he told him the good
news of Jesus. And as they went along the road they came to some
water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What is to prevent me
from being baptized?” And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they
both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized
him. And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the LORD
caught up Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his
way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus, and passing on he
preached the gospel to all the towns till he came to Caesarea.” (Acts
8:26-40)
25
o What is going on here?
o There is fellowship, or more precisely, there is
communion. Relationship with another. Personal
encounter and interaction. Companionship.
o Evangelization—sharing the Gospel of Jesus
Christ with another.
 The heart.
o Catechesis—teaching another about Jesus, His
Church, and the Christian faith.
 The mind.
26
The idea of the desert in the Christian life.
• Retreats are about getting away for a while with Jesus,
literally retreating from our normal routine, to allow God to
encounter us anew.
• The desert (or wilderness) is often the place (metaphorically
and literally) where the believer has gone in sure of Christ.
o It is not only a place of temptation, but also of searching
and of purification (asceticism).
• Examples in Scripture:
o Think of the 40 years of the People of Israel wandering
in the desert, longing for the Promised Land.
o The Temptation of Jesus in the Desert for 40 Days (see
Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-13).
• The Mountaintop is another image of retreat or withdrawal
for a time, for a time of encounter with God or of
transformation:
o Elijah in the Cave (1 Kings 19:9-14)
 “Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the
LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a
great and strong wind rent the mountains, and
broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the
LORD was not in the wind; and after the
earthquake, but was not in the earthquake; and
after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in
the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.”
27
o The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-8).
 Jesus teaches his disciples, especially the
Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12).
o The Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-8;
Luke 9:28-36).
• Examples when Jesus withdrew alone to pray to His
Heavenly Father:
o Matthew 14:23—After Jesus had dismissed the
crowds, he went up into the hills by himself to
pray.
o Mark 1:35—And early in the morning, Jesus rose
and went to a lonely place, and there he prayed.
And Simon and those who were with him followed
him….
o Luke 5:16—Jesus withdrew to the wilderness and
prayed.
o Luke 6:12—The Calling of the 12 Apostles: In
those days Jesus went out into the hills to pray;
and all night he continued in prayer to God. And
when it was day, he called his disciples, and
chose from them twelve, whom he also called
apostles….
o Luke 22:41-44—The Agony in the Garden: And
Jesus withdrew from [the Apostles] about a
stone’s throw and knelt down and prayed.
28
By the way, what exactly is the “Gospel”?
• St. Mark begins his Gospel in this way:
o “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son
of God.” (Mark 1:1)
• The word “Gospel” comes from the Greek word eugelion,
where we get the word evangelical. The Spanish word
for Gospel is “evangelio.”
• Gospel as defined by the Glossary of the Catechism
of the Catholic Church:
o The “good news” of God’s mercy and love revealed
in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. It is this
Gospel or good news that the Apostles, and the
Church following them, are to proclaim to the entire
world (see CCC #571, 1964). The Gospel is handed
on in the apostolic tradition of the Church as the
source of all-saving truth and moral discipline (CCC
#75). The four Gospels are the books written by the
evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John which
have as their central object Jesus Christ, God’s
incarnate Son: his life, teachings, Passion and
glorification, and his Church’s beginnings un the
Spirit’s guidance. (CCC #124, 514).
29
Discussion Questions:
1. What is the New
Evangelization? After this talk,
do you understand what the
Church and the Popes are
calling us to do in the New
Evangelization?
2. What does St. Philip tell us
about Evangelization?
3. What can you do or are you
doing to advance the New
Evangelization?
4. What is the role of the
CACCLC in the New
Evangelization?
5. How can we engage other
Young Adults in the New
30
Evangelization?
CONFERENCE #3
Ever Relevant?—
The Catholic Church
in Asia
& Implications for
Chinese Catholics
in the U.S.
31
Pope John Paul II—Ecclesia in Asia: On Jesus
Christ the Savior and His Mission of Love and
Service in Asia: “…That They May Have Life, and
Have It Abundantly” (John 10:10)
Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhoration, November 6,
1999
• Where was Jesus born?
o Specifically, in a manger in Bethlehem in the
Holy Land.
o Where is the Holy Land?
 In Asia, or Western Asia, to be precise.
• Jesus is Asian!
o “…[H]e took flesh as an Asian!”
• “Because Jesus was born, lived, died and rose from
the dead in the Holy Land, that small portion of
Western Asia became a land of promise and hope
for all mankind. Jesus knew and loved this land.
He made his own the history, the sufferings and the
hopes of its people…And from this land, through the
preaching of the Gospel in the power of the Holy
Spirit, the Church went forth to make “disciples of all
nations” (Matthew 28:19).
32
• “With the Church throughout the world, the Church in
Asia will cross the threshold of the Third Christian
Millennium marveling at all that God has worked from
those beginnings until now, and strong in the
knowledge that ‘just as in the first millennium the Cross
was planted on the soil of Europe, and in the second
on that of the Americas and Africa, we can pray that in
the Third Christian Millennium a great harvest of faith
will be reaped in this vast and vital continent.’ [Address
to the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences
(FABC), Manila, January 15, 1995]” (EA #1)
• That in Asia “‘the issue of the encounter of Christianity
with ancient local cultures and religions is a pressing
one. This is a great challenge for evangelization, since
religious systems such as Buddhism or Hinduism have
a clearly soteriological [concerning salvation]
character’ (JPII in Tertio Millenio Adveniente #30).
Indeed it is a mystery why the Savior of the world,
born in Asia, has until now remained largely
unknown to the people of the continent…[I]n
Manila, the Philippines, during the memorable Tenth
World Youth Day celebrations, I reminded the Bishops:
‘If the Church in Asia is to fulfill its providential destiny,
evangelization as the joyful, patient and progressive
preaching of the saving Death and Resurrection of
Jesus Christ must be your absolute priority.’
33
• “‘Ecce natus est nobis Salvator mundi,
Behold the Savior of the World is born
to us,’ born in Asia!” (EA #2)
• “Particularly moving was the encounter of
the new Churches with the Ancient
Churches which trace their origins to the
Apostles [India for instance, which was
evangelized by St. Thomas]. We
experienced incomparable joy of seeing
the Bishops of the particular Churches in
Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia,
Mongolia, Siberia and the new republics of
Central Asia sitting beside their Brothers
who had long desired to encounter them
and to dialogue with them. Yet there was
also a sense of sadness at the fact that
Bishops from Mainland China could not
be present. Their absence was a
constant reminder of the heroic
sacrifices and suffering which the
Church continues to endure in many
parts of Asia.” (EA #3)
34
• Ever ancient, ever new.
• “The Synod was also an occasion to recognize the ancient
religious traditions and civilizations, the profound
philosophies and the wisdom which have made Asia what it
is today. Above all, the peoples of Asia themselves were
remembered as the continent’s true wealth and hope for the
future.
o Respect and acknowledgment that the Gospel builds
upon the good that is already there, and transforms and
purifies that which is not in conformity with the
demands of the Gospel.
o Vatican II and the Catechism of the Catholic Church on
the Church and non-Christians:
 “Those who have not yet received the Gospel are
related to the People of God in various ways.”
(CCC #839; Lumen gentium #16)
 The Jewish People.
 Muslims
 Non-Christian religions
 “The Catholic Church recognizes in other religions
that search, among shadows and images, for the
God who is unknown yet near since he gives life
and breath and all things and wants all men to be
saved. Thus, the Church considers all goodness
and truth found in these religions as ‘a preparation
for the Gospel and given by him who enlightens all
men that they may at length have life.’” (CCC
#843; LG #16; Nostra aetate #2; Evangelii utiandi
#53)
35
o “Outside the Church there is no salvation.”
 Restated positively, “it means that all salvation
comes from Christ the Head through the
Church which is his Body.”
 “Although in ways known to himself God can
lead those who, through no fault of their own,
are ignorant of the Gospel, to that faith without
which it is impossible to please him, the
Church still has the obligation and also the
sacred right to evangelize all men.” (CCC
#848; Ad gentes #7; cf. Hebrews 11:6; 1
Corinthians 9:16)
 Hebrews 11:6—“without faith it is impossible to
please him. For whoever would draw near
God must believe that he exists and that he
rewards those who seek him.”
 1 Corinthians 9:16—“For if I preach the
gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting.
For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I
do not preach the gospel!”
• “As well as a remembrance and a celebration, the
Synod was an ardent affirmation of faith in Jesus
Christ the Savior…They emphasized frequently that
the faith is already being proclaimed with trust
and courage on the continent, even amid great
difficulties.”
o All of you are the fruit of this work of
evangelization in China!
36
• Religious Realities (EA #6)
o Asia is the largest continent on earth.
o Home to nearly 2/3 of the world’s population.
 China & India account for almost ½ of the
total population
o A substantial part of the history and patrimony of
the human family comes from Asia.
o Cradle of the world’s major religions:
 Judaism
 Christianity
 Islam
 Hinduism
o Birthplace of many other spiritual traditions:
 Buddhism
 Taoism
 Confucianism
 Zoroastrianism
 Jainism
 Sikhism
 Shintoism
o Plus other traditional or tribal religions practiced
by millions.
37
• The Catholic Church has “the deepest respect for these
traditions and seeks to engage in sincere dialogue with
their followers. The religious values they teach await their
fulfillment in Jesus Christ.
• Cultural Realities (EA #6 cont.)
o The people of Asia take pride in their religious and
cultural values, such as:
 Love of silence and contemplation.
 Simplicity
 Harmony
 Detachment
 Non-violence
 The spirit of hard work
 Discipline
 Frugal living
 The thirst for learning and philosophical enquiry.
 Respect for life
 Compassion for all beings
 Closeness to nature
 Filial piety towards parents, elders, and
ancestors.
 A highly developed sense of community.
 In particular, the family is held as a vital source of
strength, a closely-knit community with a powerful
sense of solidarity.
 A spirit of religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
38
 A spirit of religious tolerance and peaceful
co-existence.
 A remarkable capacity for accommodation
and a natural openness to the mutual
enrichment of peoples in the midst of a
plurality of religions and cultures.
 This not to deny the existence of bitter
tensions and violent conflicts that have
and still do exist.
 Despite the influence of modernization and
secularization, Asian religions are showing
signs of great vitality and a capacity for
renewal, as seen in reform movements
within various religious groups.
 Many people, especially the young,
experience a deep thirst for spiritual
values, as the rise of new religious
movement clearly demonstrates.
 Is this your experience among your
family and peers, both here in the U.S.
and in China?
 All of this indicates an innate spiritual insight
and moral wisdom in the Asian soul, and it
is the core around which a growing sense of
“being Asian” is built.
39
• Economic realities (EA #7)
o Some countries are highly developed.
o Others are slowly developing.
o Others still find themselves in abject poverty.
o The rise of materialism and secularism, especially in
urban areas.
 With threats to traditional, social, and religious
values.
 Multinational business & conglomerations
o Rapid changes in some countries.
 Urbanization
 Large poor areas racked by organized crime,
terrorism, prostitution, and exploitation of poor
workers.
 Corruption
 Migration within Asia and out of Asia.
o Population growth
o “Clearly, the question of population is closely
linked to that of human promotion.”
o “But false solutions that threaten the dignity and
inviolability of life abound and present a special
challenge to the Church in Asia.”
o External influences
o Mass media
o Entertainment
o Poverty & the Exploitation of people
o The status of women
40
• Political Realties (EA #8)
o From Democracy to Theocracy in Asian
countries.
o Military dictatorships
o Atheistic ideologies
o From religious freedom to persecution for their
faith in various countries.
 “The Synod Fathers remembered in a
special way the people of China and
expressed the fervent hope that all their
Chinese Catholic brothers and sisters
would one day be able to exercise their
religion in freedom and visibly profess
their full communion with the See of
Peter.”
41
• The Church in Asia: Past and Present (EA #9)
o Persian merchants took the Good News to China
in the 5th Century.
o The first Christian Church was built there in the
early 7th Century.
o During the T’ang dynasty (618-907 A.D.), the
Church flourished for nearly two centuries.
o The decline of this vibrant Church in China but
the end of the First Millennium is one of the
sadder chapters in the history of God’s people on
the continent.
o In the 13th Century the Gospel was announced to
the Mongols and the Turks and to the Chinese
once more. But by the end of the 14th Century,
Christianity almost vanished from these regions.
Among other reasons:
 The rise of Islam
 Geographical isolation
 The absence of an appropriate adaptation to
local cultures.
 And perhaps a lack of preparedness to
encounter the great religions of Asia.
o Only the isolated Christian community in South
India survived these times.
42
• St. Francis Xavier, Jesuit Missionary
o Missionary successes in the 16-17th Centuries
o Pope Gregory XV founded the Congregation of
Propoganda Fide
o Missionaries were given new directives to respect and
appreciate local cultures.
o In 19th Century educational and charitable works went
hand in hand with the preaching of the Gospel, thus
reaching the poor and underprivileged in a more
effective way.
o New efforts were made at enculturation of the faith but
were not sufficient.
o The Church was also considered foreign in many areas,
and was often associated in people’s minds with colonial
powers.
o This was the situation up the eve of Vatican II (from
1962-1965).
o An new understanding of mission dawned in the Church.
o The Philippines is the only Asian country with a
Catholic majority.
o Signs of hope today:
 Reports of heroic witness, unshaken perseverance
and steady growth of the Catholic Church in China.
 The efforts of the Church in South Korea to offer
assistance to the people of North Korea.
 The humble steadfastness of the Church in
Vietnam.
 The isolation of Christians in such places as Laos
and Myanmar.
 The difficult co-existence with the majority in some
predominantly Islamic states.
43
Discussion Questions:
1. What does it mean for your
faith that Jesus is Asian?
2. What challenges do you
encounter as a Chinese
Catholic in living your faith?
As a young adult? What
support is there for you?
3. What elements of your
culture and family traditions
are difficult to incorporate
into your faith? Easy to
incorporate?
44
Discernment and Spiritual Obedience:
1. What do you like to do?
How do you spend your time? Your free
time? What are you passionate about?
What brings you joy? What energizes
you? Why?
2. What are you good at?
What talents do you have? How do you
use these talents? Do others recognize
these talents in you?
3. What is possible for you?
Do you have the time for these
activities? Do you need special training
or equipment for this activity? Do you
have the necessary finances to carry this
out? What obstacles do you face in this
task? How does this activity glorify
God? Build up His Kingdom? Make you
a better person? Make you a better
Christian, a better disciple?
45
Holy Mass on Sunday—22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time—
Year A
“Discernment & Discipleship: Offering Ourselves as a
Holy and Pleasing Sacrifice to the LORD”
1st Reading
Jeremiah 20:7-9
“You duped me, O LORD, and I let myself be duped; you were
too strong for me, and you triumphed.”
The Spanish translation of “duped” is “seduced.”
“All the day I am an object of laughter; everyone mocks me.”
What do the Beatitudes guarantee us: that we will suffer
and be persecuted for our faith.
“I say to myself, I will not mention him. I will speak in his
name no more. But then it becomes like fire burning in my
heart, imprisoned in my bones; I grow weary holding it in, I
cannot endure it.”
We try to run away, to flee from God.
But God is persistent, gentle but persistent. Wooing us.
Enticing us. Duping us in our foolishness. Seducing us
with His grace and mercy.
In the end, will we let Him triumph, to win our affections,
our hearts, our lives?
Psalm
63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9 (2b)
“My soul is thirsting for you, O LORD my
God.”
46
2nd Reading
Romans 12:1-2
Perfect spiritual worship: “to offer our bodies as a living
sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God…
“Do not be conformed to this age but be transformed by the
renewal of your mind…
“that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good
and pleasing and perfect.”
Gospel Matthew 16:21-27
1st Prediction of the Passion, Peter is rebuked, &
Conditions of Discipleship
Context: Peter has just confessed Jesus as the Messiah
and has his named changed, received the Keys of the
Kingdom, and the power to forgive sins.
Jesus now tells the Apostles what will happen to him in
Jerusalem—His Passion, Death, and Resurrection.
Peter challenges Jesus and is sharply rebuked!
Jesus sets out the “Conditions of Discipleship”.
The decisive question: “What profit would there be for one to
gain the whole world and forfeit his life?”
47
Conference #4
Ever Relevant? Part II:
Making a Choice
for Jesus and His Church
48
49
C.S Lewis is the great 20th Century Christian (Anglican)
Convert, Apologist & Professor of English Literature. Best
known popularly as the author of the Chronicles of Naria.
From “What are we to make of Jesus Christ?” in God in the
Dock.
• On the one side clear, definite moral teaching. On the other,
claims which, if not true, are those of a megalomaniac,
compared with whom Hitler was the most sane and
humble of men. There is no half-way house and there is
no parallel in other religions. If you had gone to Buddha
and asked him “Are you the son of Bramah?” he would have
said, “My son you are still in the vale of illusion.” If you had
gone to Socrates and asked, “Are you Zeus?” he would have
laughed at you. If you would have gone to Mohammed and
asked, “Are you Allah?” he would first have rent his clothes
and then cut your head off. If you had asked Confucius, “Are
you Heaven?”, I think he would have probably replied,
“Remarks which are not in accordance with nature are in
bad taste.” The idea of a great moral teacher saying what
Christ said is out of the question. In my opinion, the
only person who can say that sort of thing is either God
or a complete lunatic suffering from that form of
delusion which undermines the whole mind of man. If
you think you are a poached egg, when you are looking for a
piece of toast to suit you, you may be sane, but if you think
you are God, there is no chance for you. We may note in
passing that He was never regarded as a mere moral
teacher. He did not produce that effect on any of the
people who actually met Him. He produced mainly three
effects—Hatred—Terror—Adoration. There was no trace
of people expressing mild approval.
50
“Can Someone Lead a Good Life without Christianity?”
• The question before each of us is not “Can someone
lead a good life without Christianity?” The question is,
“Can I?” We all know there have been good men who were
not Christians; men like Socrates and Confucius who had
never heard of it, or men like J. S. Mill who quite honestly
couldn’t believe it. Supposing Christianity to be true, these
men were in a state of honest ignorance or honest error. If
there intentions were as good as I suppose them to have
been (for of course I can’t read their secret hearts) I hope
and believe that the skill and mercy of God will remedy the
evils which their ignorance, left to itself, would naturally
produce both for them and for those whom they influenced.
But the man who asks me, “Can’t I lead a good life
without believing in Christianity?” is clearly not in the
same position. If he hadn’t heard of Christianity he
would not be asking this question. If, having heard of it,
and having seriously considered it, he had decided that
it was untrue, then once more he would not be asking
the question. The man who asks this question has heard of
Christianity and is by no means certain that it may not be
true. He is really asking, “Need I bother about it?” Mayn’t I
just evade the issue, just let sleeping dogs lie, and get on
with being "good”? Aren’t good intentions enough to keep
me safe and blameless without knocking at that dreadful
door and making sure whether there is, or isn’t someone
inside?”
From “God or Rabbit?” in God in the Dock
51
• Saints & Martyrs of Asia (EA #9 cont.)
o Canonized and those known only to God.
o “They are the teachers and the protectors, the glory of
the Church in Asia in her work of evangelization.”
• Saints to know:
o St. Paul Miki & Companions, Martyrs—Japan (February 6)
o St. Peter Chanel, Priest, Missionary & Martyr—Oceania (April
28)
o St. Christopher Magallanes & Companions, Martyrs—
Mexico (May 21)
o St. Augustine Zhao Rong & 119 Companions, Martyrs—
China (July 9)
o St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein), Virgin &
Martyr—Germany [Auschwitz] (August 9)
o St. Andrew Kim Taegon, Priest and St. Paul Chong
Hasang, Lay Apostle, & 101 Companions, Martyrs—Korea
(September 20)
o St. Lorenzo Ruiz, Married & Lay Missionary, & Companions,
Martyrs—Japan/the Philippines (September 28)
o Born in Manila of a Chinese father and Filipino mother.
o St. Isaac Jogues and St. John de Brebeuf, Priests &
Martyrs, and Companions, Martyrs—North America (October
19)
o St. Andrew Dung-Lac & 116 Companions, Martyrs—Vietnam
(November 24)
o St. Francis Xavier, Priest & Missionary—Asia (December 3)
o St. Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin, Layman & Convert—
Mexico (December 9)
o Our Lady of Guadalupe—Mexico (December 12)
52
53
Holy Chinese
Martyrs
54
Holy Chinese Martyrs:
• St. Augustine Zhao Rong & 119 Companions, Martyrs—
China (July 9)
o Augustine Zhao Rong was one the Chinese
soldiers who escorted Bishop John Gabriel Taurin
Dufresse (from the Paris Foreign Mission Society)
to his execution. Moved by his patience, he asked
to be baptized, and in due course was sent to the
seminary and ordained a priest. He was arrested
and savagely tortured. He died in 1815.
o With him are celebrated 119 of his companions in
martyrdom in China between 1648 and 1930
(including Bishop Dufresse).
o Official persecution of Christians by the Emperor
ceased in 1842, but violent anti-religious
sentiments persisted, and in the Boxer Rebellion of
1900, Christians were particularly attacked and
publically condemned as “wicked and cruel” and
an estimated 25,000 thousands were killed.
(see RC Calendar App for IPhone for July 9.)
o The martyrs included priests, nuns, seminarians,
and laypersons.
o In Shanxi, eight Franciscan Missionaries of Mary
were beheaded. “Do not be afraid,” Sister Marie de
Sainte-Nathalie was heard to say. “Death is only
God who is passing by.”
(see Magnificat, July 2014, Vol. 16, No. 5. Yonkers, NY.
www.magnificat.com. ISBN 1521-5172)
55
o Christianity arrived in China by way of Syria in the
600’s. Depending on China's relations with the outside
world, Christianity over the centuries was free to grow
or was forced to operate secretly.
o The 120 martyrs in this group died between 1648
and 1930. Most of them (87) were born in China
and were children, parents, catechists or laborers,
ranging from nine years of age to 72. This group
includes four Chinese diocesan priests.
o The 33 foreign-born martyrs were mostly priests or
women religious, especially from the Order of
Preachers, the Paris Foreign Mission Society, the
Friars Minor, Jesuits, Salesians and Franciscan
Missionaries of Mary.
o Beatified in groups at various times, these 120 martyrs
were canonized in Rome on October 1, 2000.
o The People's Republic of China and the Roman
Catholic Church each have well over a billion
members, but there are over 12 million Catholics in
China. The reasons for that are better explained by
historical conflicts than by a wholesale rejection of the
Good News of Jesus Christ. The Chinese-born
martyrs honored by today's feast were regarded by
their persecutors as dangerous because they were
considered allies of enemy, Catholic countries. The
martyrs born outside China often tried to distance
themselves from European political struggles relating
to China, but their persecutors saw them as
Westerners and therefore, by definition, anti-Chinese.
56
o The Good News of Jesus Christ is intended to benefit all
peoples; today's martyrs knew that. May 21st-century
Christians live in such a way that Chinese women and
men will be attracted to hear that Good News and
embrace it.
o A year after these martyrs were canonized, St. John Paul
II addressed a group of Chinese and Western scholars,
gathered in Rome for a symposium honoring the 400th
anniversary of the arrival in Beijing of Matteo Ricci, a
Jesuit scholar and Chinese intellectual.
o After noting the positive contributions that Christianity
had made to China, especially in health care and
education, Pope John Paul II continued: "History,
however, reminds us of the unfortunate fact that the work
of members of the church in China was not always without
error, the bitter fruit of their personal limitations and of the
limits of their action. Moreover, their action was often
conditioned by difficult situations connected with complex
historical events and conflicting political interests. Nor
were theological disputes lacking, which caused bad
feelings and created serious difficulties in preaching the
Gospel….
o "I feel deep sadness for these errors and limits of the past,
and I regret that in many people these failings may have
given the impression of a lack of respect and esteem for
the Chinese people on the part of the Catholic Church,
making them feel that the church was motivated by feelings
of hostility toward China. For all of this I ask the
forgiveness and understanding of those who may have felt
hurt in some way by such actions on the part of
Christians."
o (Seehttp://www.americancatholic.
org/features/saints/saint.aspx?id=1914.)
57
Early 19th-century Martyrdoms:
A new period of persecution in regard to the Christian religion
then occurred in the nineteenth century.
While Catholicism had been authorized by some Emperors in
the preceding centuries, Emperor Kia-Kin (1796–1821)
published, instead, numerous and severe decrees against it.
The first was issued in 1805. Two edicts of 1811 were directed
against those among the Chinese who were studying to
receive sacred orders, and against priests who were
propagating the Christian religion. A decree of 1813
exonerated voluntary apostates from every chastisement, that
is, Christians who spontaneously declared that they would
abandon their faith, but all others were to be dealt with harshly.
In this period the following underwent martyrdom:
5. Saint Peter Wu, a Chinese lay catechist. Born of a pagan
family, he received baptism in 1796 and passed the rest of his
life proclaiming the truth of the Christian religion. All attempts
to make him apostatize were in vain. The sentence having
been pronounced against him, he was strangled on November
7, 1814.
6. Saint Joseph Zhang Dapeng, a lay catechist, and a
merchant. Baptised in 1800, he had become the heart of the
mission in the city of Kony-Yang. He was imprisoned, and then
strangled to death on March 12, 1815.
Also in the same year, there came two other decrees, with
which approval was given to the conduct of the Viceroy of
Sichuan who had beheaded Monsignor Dufresse, of the Paris
Foreign Missions Society, and some Chinese Christians. As a
result, there was a worsening of the persecution.
58
The following martyrs belong to this period:
7. Saint Gabriel-Taurin Dufresse, M.E.P., Bishop. He was
arrested on May 18, 1815, taken to Chengdu, condemned
and executed on September 14, 1815.
8. Saint Augustine Zhao Rong, a Chinese diocesan priest.
Having first been one of the soldiers who had escorted
Monsignor Dufresse from Chengdu to Beijing, he was moved
by his patience and had then asked to be numbered among
the neophytes. Once baptised, he was sent to the seminary
and then ordained a priest. Arrested, he was tortured and
died in 1815.
9. Saint John da Triora, O.F.M., Priest. Put in prison
together with others in the summer of 1815, he was then
condemned to death, and strangled on February 7, 1816.
10. Saint Joseph Yuan, a Chinese diocesan priest. Having
heard Monsignor Dufresse speak of the Christian Faith, he
was overcome by its beauty and then became an exemplary
neophyte. Later, he was ordained a priest and, as such, was
dedicated to evangelisation in various districts. He was
arrested in August 1816, condemned to be strangled, and
was killed in this way on 24 June 1817.
11. Saint Paul Liu Hanzuo, a Chinese diocesan priest, killed
in 1819.
59
12. Saint Francis Regis Clet of the Congregation of the Mission
(Vincentians). After obtaining permission to go to the Missions in
China, he embarked for the Orient in 1791. Having reached there,
for thirty years he spent a life of missionary sacrifice. Upheld by
an untiring zeal, he evangelised three immense provinces of the
Chinese Empire: Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan. Betrayed by a Christian,
he was arrested and thrown into prison where he underwent
atrocious tortures. Following sentence by the Emperor he was
killed by strangling on February 17, 1820.
13. Saint Thaddeus Liu, a Chinese diocesan priest. He refused
to apostatize, saying that he was a priest and wanted to be
faithful to the religion that he had preached. Condemned to death,
he was strangled on November 30, 1823.
14. Saint Peter Liu, a Chinese lay catechist. He was arrested in
1814 and condemned to exile in Tartary, where he remained for
almost twenty years. Returning to his homeland he was again
arrested, and was strangled on May 17, 1834.
15. Saint Joachim Ho, a Chinese lay catechist. He was baptised
at the age of about twenty years. In the great persecution of 1814
he had been taken with many others of the faithful and subjected
to cruel torture. Sent into exile in Tartary, he remained there for
almost twenty years. Returning to his homeland he was arrested
again and refused to apostatize. Following that, and the death
sentence having been confirmed by the Emperor, he was
strangled on July 9, 1839.
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16. Saint John Gabriel Perboyre, C.M., entered the
Vincentians as a high school student. The death of his
younger brother, also a Vincentian priest, moved his
superiors to allow him to take his brother's place, arriving in
China in 1835. Despite poor health, he served the povertystricken residents of Hubei. Arrested during a revival of antiChristian persecution, he was arrested, and, upon imperial
edict, strangled to death in 1840.
17. Augustus Chapdelaine, M.E.P., a priest of the Diocese
of Coutances. He entered the Seminary of the Paris
Foreign Missions Society, and embarked for China in 1852.
He arrived in Guangxi at the end of 1854. Arrested in 1856,
he was tortured, condemned to death in prison, and died in
February 1856.
18. Saint Laurence Bai Xiaoman, a Chinese layman, and
an unassuming worker. He joined Blessed Chapdelaine in
the refuge that was given to the missionary and was
arrested with him and brought before the tribunal. Nothing
could make him renounce his religious beliefs. He was
beheaded on February 25, 1856.
19. Saint Agnes Cao Guiying, a widow, born into an old
Christian family. Being dedicated to the instruction of young
girls who had recently been converted by Blessed
Chapdelaine, she was arrested and condemned to death in
prison. She was executed on March 1, 1856.
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Martyrs of MaoKou and Guizhou:
Three catechists, known as the Martyrs of MaoKou (in the
province of Guizhou) were killed on 28 January 1858, by order
of the Mandarin of MaoKou:
17. Saint Jerome Lu Tingmei
18. Saint Laurence Wang Bing
19. Saint Agatha Lin Zao
All three had been called on to renounce the Christian religion
and having refused to do so were condemned to be beheaded.
In Guizhou, two seminarians and two lay people, one of whom
was a farmer, the other a widow who worked as a cook in the
seminary, suffered martyrdom together on July 29, 1861. They
are known as the Martyrs of Qingyanzhen (Guizhou):
20. Saint Joseph Zhang Wenlan, seminarian
21. Saint Paul Chen Changpin, seminarian
22. Saint John Baptist Luo Tingyin, layman
62
23. Saint Martha Wang Luo Mande, laywoman
In the following year, on February 18 and 19, 1862, another
five people gave their life for Christ. They are known as the
Martyrs of Guizhou.
24. Saint John Peter Néel, a priest of the Paris Foreign
Missions Society,
25. Saint Martin Wu Xuesheng, lay catechist,
26. Saint John Zhang Tianshen, lay catechist,
27. Saint John Chen Xianheng, lay catechist,
28. Saint Lucy Yi Zhenmei, lay catechist.
63
Boxer Rebellion:
Of the martyrs belonging to the Franciscan family, there were
also eleven Secular Franciscans, all Chinese:
44. Saint John Zhang Huan, seminarian,
45. Saint Patrick Dong Bodi, seminarian,
46. Saint John Wang Rui, seminarian,
47. Saint Philip Zhang Zhihe, seminarian,
48. Saint John Zhang Jingguang, seminarian,
49. Saint Thomas Shen Jihe, layman and a manservant,
50. Saint Simon Qin Chunfu, lay catechist,
51. Saint Peter Wu Anbang, layman,
52. Saint Francis Zhang Rong, layman and a farmer,
53. Saint Matthew Feng De, layman and neophyte,
54. Saint Peter Zhang Banniu, layman and labourer.
To these are joined a number of Chinese lay faithful:
55. Saint James Yan Guodong, farmer,
56. Saint James Zhao Quanxin, manservant,
57. Saint Peter Wang Erman, cook.
64
The names and ages of the Chinese lay Christians
were as follows:
62. Saint Mary Zhu born Wu, aged about 50 years,
63. Saint Petrus Zhu Rixin, aged 19,
64. Saint Ioannes Baptista Zhu Wurui, aged 17,
65. Saint Mary Fu Guilin, aged 37,
66. Saint Barbara Cui born Lian, aged 51,
67. Saint Joseph Ma Taishun, aged 60,
68. Saint Lucia Wang Cheng, aged 18,
69. Saint Maria Fan Kun, aged 16,
70. Saint Mary Qi Yu, aged 15,
71. Saint Maria Zheng Xu, aged 11 years,
72. Saint Mary Du born Zhao, aged 51,
73. Saint Magdalene Du Fengju, aged 19,
74. Saint Mary Du born Tian, aged 42,
75. Saint Paul Wu Anju, aged 62,
76. Saint Ioannes Baptista Wu Mantang, aged 17,
77. Saint Paulus Wu Wanshu, aged 16,
78. Saint Raymond Li Quanzhen, aged 59,
79. Saint Peter Li Quanhui, aged 63,
80. Saint Peter Zhao Mingzhen, aged 61,
81. Saint John Baptist Zhao Mingxi, aged 56,
82. Saint Teresa Chen Jinjie, aged 25,
83. Saint Rose Chen Aijie, aged 22,
65
84. Saint Peter Wang Zuolong, aged 58,
85. Saint Mary Guo born Li, aged 65,
86. Saint Joan Wu Wenyin, aged 50,
87. Saint Zhang Huailu, aged 57,
88. Saint Mark Ji Tianxiang, aged 66,
89. Saint Ann An born Xin, aged 72,
90. Saint Mary An born Guo, aged 64,
91. Saint Ann An born Jiao, aged 26,
92. Saint Mary An Linghua, aged 29,
93. Saint Paul Liu Jinde, aged 79,
94. Saint Joseph Wang Kuiju, aged 37,
95. Saint John Wang Kuixin, aged 25,
96. Saint Teresa Zhang born He, aged 36,
97. Saint Lang born Yang, aged 29,
98. Saint Paulus Lang Fu, aged 9,
99. Saint Elizabeth Qin born Bian, aged 54,
100. Saint Simon Qin Chunfu, aged 14,
101. Saint Peter Liu Ziyu, aged 57,
102. Saint Anna Wang, aged 14,
103. Saint Joseph Wang Yumei, aged 68,
66
104. Saint Lucy Wang born Wang, aged 31,
105. Saint Andreas Wang Tianqing, aged 9,
106. Saint Mary Wang born Li, aged 49,
107. Saint Chi Zhuzi, aged 18,
108. Saint Mary Zhao born Guo, aged 60,
109. Saint Rose Zhao, aged 22,
110. Saint Maria Zhao, aged 17,
111. Saint Joseph Yuan Gengyin, aged 47,
112. Saint Paul Ge Tingzhu, aged 61,
113. Saint Rose Fan Hui, aged 45.
(See
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martyr_Saints_of_China.)
67
Discussion Questions:
1. Who is Jesus Christ for you?
2. Can you live a good life
without Christ and/or the
Church?
3. In your experience, what kind
of reaction does mention of
Jesus provoke in your peers,
family members, co-workers,
friends, etc.?
4. What is the future of
Catholicism for Chinese
Catholics—in the U.S., in
mainland China, in Taiwan &
Hong Kong?
68
Online Resources for Offline
Living:
1. What are the online and print
resources that you use in your
Catholic life and prayer life?
2. Please break into small groups to
list all resources that you know of
and/or use.
69
Conference #5
Prayer, Spirituality &
Living the CatholicChristian Faith:
Implications for
Daily Life
70
Distinctions about the Word:
o The WORD of God—Jesus the Eternal
WORD of God
o The Word of God—knowing the Bible and
the Teachings of the Church
o words about God—sharing the Good
News of the WORD and the Word of God
with others with conviction and
confidence.
The Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13)
71
Essentials of the Spiritual Life:
• Sunday Mass as priority
• Daily Mass, if possible, even 1-2 days a week
o Is there a noon Mass near your work or school?
• Regular Confession
o Monthly is an ideal
o At least every 2-3 months
• Daily Prayer
o In the morning
o During the day
o At night before bed
• Regular visits to the Blessed Sacrament
o Find Churches with Perpetual Adoration Chapels in
your area.
o Find Holy Hours with Exposition of the Blessed
Sacrament in your area.
• Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Saints.
• Magnificat monthly Missalette
o Daily Mass readings
o Daily reflections
o Morning & Evening Prayers
72
• Small community Prayer Group and/or Bible Study
• Regular Spiritual Reading
o (See list below for some ideas.)
• Who are your friends? How do you spend your free time,
whether alone or with friends?
o What are you priorities in your life? Currently? For
your future.
o Find faithful, active Catholic friends.
o Catholic friends on Social Media.
 This retreat is a great start if you don’t have any
yet.
• Cultivating a spirit of discernment in your life.
o Who are your confidants? Who can you talk to about
your hopes, dreams, and fears?
o Who do you trust? Are you able to be truly honest with
them?
o Will your friends tell you what you want to hear or tell
you the hard truths about yourself?
• Ministry in the Parish or Diocese
o CACCLC
o Parish Ministries
o Campus Ministry
• Works of Mercy and Charity
Serving God in the poor, the sick and the needy.
What opportunities are there at your college, in your
neighborhood?
73
Online Resources for Offline Living
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
CACCLC.org
USCCB Website (U.S. Bishops)
Zenit.com (Catholic news)
Mark Hart the Bibile Geek
Catholic.com
EWTN (TV & Website)
YouCat (Youth Catechism)
Life Teen
Word on Fire (Fr. Robert Barron)
• Catholicism DVD Series
Laudate app
Ibreviary (Liturgy of the Hours)
Verbum Dei
Hungry Catholic.tumblr.com
Catholic Answers (Apologetics)
Masstimes.org
Catholic Bible app
Opus Dei
Cross Radio
YouTube (Catholic videos)
74
• ECCCLC Website
• WCCCLC Website
• Lighthouse Catholic Media (CDs &
DVDs)
• Vatican.va
• Pauline Books & Media (Catholic Book
Store in Culver City, CA)
• Theology on Tap
• Give Us This Day monthly Missallete
• Magnificat monthly Missallete
• Catholic Digest magazine
• America Magazine (Jesuits)
• BadCatholic.com
• Chinacatholic.com
• Catholicscomehome.com
• Chastity.com
• Strangenotions.com
• Lifeaftersunday.com
• @Pontifex (Pope Francis on Social
Media)
• Spiritjuicemedia (YouTube Channel)
• Dynamiccatholic.com
• Badcatholic.com (Marc Barnes)
75
• Conversion Diary (Jennifer Fulwiler)
• National Catholic Register (Catholic
newspaper)
• Jackieandbobby.com (Jackie Francios
& Bobby Angel)
• Rome Reports (Magazine & YouTube)
• ImagineSisters.com
• Scott Hahn books (Theologian, Biblical
Scholar & Apologist)
• Ignatius Study Bible
• Immaculate Heart Radio
• Peter Kreft ((Apologetics books;
founder of Catholic Answers)
• Theology of the Body
• Papal Encyclicals & writings
• Our Lady of Peace Marian Shrine
(Perpetual Adoration)
• The Journey Home on EWTN
• Ignatius Press books
• Michael Barber (books on Scripture &
Apologetics)
• Jason & Crystalina Evert
76
• Fr. Benedict Groeschel books
• Jeff Cravins & the Great Adventure Series
(Bible Study program)
• FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University
Students)
• 3 minute retreat (Website & app)
• Living Faith Devotional
• Archbishop Fulton Sheen videos & books
• C.S. Lewis books
• Fr. Rueben Chen’s Facebook page
• Fr. Colin Wen’s Facebook page
• Tatoos on the Heart by Fr. Greg Boyle,
S.J.
• Franciscan University of Stuebenville, OH
resources
• NET Ministries (Catholic youth
evangelization)
• Institute of Advanced Catholic Studies
website
• “Catholic Stuff You Should Know”
podcasts
• Pandora.com (Catholic genre)
77
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Catholicism for Dummies
Valley Catholic newspaper (Bay Area)
401 Revolution Youth Camp
UCCC (UCSD)
Veggie Tales (DVDs for kids)
reddit.com/r/catholicism
NABRE app
Catholic Memes
Catholicmatch.com
Meetup.com (Catholic groups)
Catholic Underground
LAVocations.org
RadiateLA (L.A. Office of New
Evangelization website & social media)
RestoreLA (L.A. Young Adults retreats
& social media)
GK Chesterton
American Papist
Christopher West (Theology of the
Body)
K-LOVE (89.9 or 99.1 FM)
Praymorenovenas.com
78
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Newadvent.org
Salvationstory.com
UMDNewman.com
Spirit Daily
Lifeside News
Universalis.com & app
Chastity Project
Integrated Catholic
Rosary apps
Patrick Madrid (Apologetics)
Pope Alarm
Catechism email a day
Ken Hensley
“I Believe in Love” (St. Therese of Lisieux
reflections)
• Forming Intentional Disciples book
• Littleflower.org (St. Therese of Lisieux)
79
Good Catholic Books:
Catechisms:
Catechism of the Catholic Church
Compendium: Catechism of the Catholic Church.
Libreria Editrice Vaticana. (Washington D.C.:
USCCB Publishing, 2006). ISBN 978-1-57455-725-1.
United States Catholic Catechism for Adults, United States
Conference of
Catholic Bishops. (Washington
D.C.: USCCB Publishing, 2006). ISBN 157455-450-6.
Matthew Kelly:
Rediscover Catholicism: A Spiritual Guide to Living with
Passion & Purpose.
(Beacon Publishing, 2010).
The Shepherd: A Modern Parable About Our Search for
Happiness. (Beacon
Publishing, 2001). ISBN 1929266-07-3.
The Four Signs of a Dynamic Catholic: How Engaging 1% of
Catholics Could Change the World. (Beacon Publishing,
2012).
80
Scott Hahn:
Reasons to Believe: How to Understand, Explain, and
Defend the Catholic Faith.
The Lamb’s Supper: The Mass as Heaven on Earth.
Hail, Holy Queen: The Mother of God in the Word of
God.
Letter and Spirit: From Written Text to Living Word in
the Liturgy
Swear to God: Promise and Power of the Sacraments
A Father Who Keeps His Promises: God Covenant
Love in Scripture
Evangelizing Catholics: A Mission Manual for the New
Evangelization
Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., Living the Catholic Faith:
Rediscovering the Basics.
(Cincinatti: Servant Books,
2001). ISBN 978-1-56955-191-2.
The current Archbishop of Philadelphia.
Apologetics:
The Essential Catholic Survival Guide: Answers to Tough
Questions About the Faith, by the Staff at Catholic Answers.
(San Diego, CA: 2005).
(888) 291-8000 for Orders
Karl Keating, Catholicism and Fundamentalism: The Attack of
“Romanism” by “Bible Christians”. (San Francisco: Ignatius
Press, 1998).
George Weigel, The Truth of Catholicism: Inside the Essential
Teachings and Controversies of the Church Today. (New York:
Perennial, 2001).
81
Pope John Paul II:
George Weigel, Witness to Hope:
The Biography of Pope John Paul II.
The authorized and definitive biography
of Pope John Paul II, contained a comprehensive
reflection on the history of the 20th century.
Church History:
Thomas E. Woods, Jr., Ph.D., How the Catholic Church Built
Western Civilization. (Washington D.C.: Regency
Publishing, Inc., 2005). ISBN 0-89526-038-7.
Theology of the Body:
Christopher West, Theology of the Body for Beginners: A
Basic Introduction to Pope John Paul II’s Sexual Revolution.
(West Chester, PA: Ascension Press, 2004). ISBN 1932645-34-9.
82
Saints:
Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Therese of
Lisieux, 3rd Edition. (Washington D.C.: ICS Publications,
1996). ISBN 0-935216-58-8.
Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska:
Divine Mercy in My Soul, 3rd Edition.
(Stockbridge, MA: Marian Press, 2007).
ISBN 978-0944203-04-0.
Conversion Story:
Donald H. Calloway, MIC, No Turning Back, A Witness to
Mercy. (Stockbridge, MA: Marian Press, 2011). ISBN 9781-59614-210-7.
Priestly Discernment:
Fr. Brett A. Brannen, To Save a Thousand Souls:
A Guide for Discerning a Vocation
to Diocesan Priesthood.
(Valdosta, GA: Vianney Vocations,
2012).
ISBN 978-0-615-34551-2.
www.vianneyvocations.com
83
Word on Fire Ministries—Fr. Robert Barron
www.wordonfire.org
Catholicism DVD Series—
Ten 40 minute videos on
the Church, Scripture,
the Sacraments,
Saints, etc.
Magis Center of Faith and Reason—Fr.
Robert Spitzer, S.J.
www.magisreasonfaith.org
A great website with tons of videos on
Cosmology, Physics, Creationism, Darwinism
from a solidly Catholic view.
Located in Irvine, CA
84
Good Catholic Apps:
EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network)
The Bible
Live Streams
Program Schedule
EWTN News
Vatican News
U.S. Catholic News
World Catholic News
IMissal
Catholic Calendar
Daily Mass Readings
Daily Bible Verses
Collection of Catholic Prayers
Catholic News
RC Calendar
Daily Mass Readings
Saints of the Day
The Catholic Directory
List of Catholic Churches by location or address
Daily Mass Readings
Mass videos
85
IBreviary
The Liturgy of the Hours, including Morning Prayer
(Lauds) and Evening Prayer (Vespers)
Confession
Creates a Login account for privacy
Examination of Conscience
Prayers for the Sacrament of
Reconciliation
USCCB (U.S. Bishop’s Conference)
Daily Mass Readings
The Bible
ESNE (El Sembrador Nueva Evangelizacion)
Spanish programing
Limited English programing
Hope to expand to an English channel by the end of
2014
86
Mass on Monday—The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass &
Confession: Encountering Divine Mercy in the Sacraments
1st Reading
1 Corinthians 2:1-5
• St. Paul states, “For I resolved to know nothing while I was
with you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.”
• His power and effectiveness to preach comes only from
God, not from his own intelligence, eloquence or any other
human means.
o God of course uses us as human instruments of His
grace, but not for our own glory but Ad Dei Maiorem
Gloriam [AMDG, the motto of the Jesuits], “For the
Greater Glory of God.”
Psalm
119:97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102
“LORD, I love your commands.”
• Do you love the LORD’s commands, His Laws, His statutes,
His will for you in your life?
• Or do you love your own will more?
• Psalm 119 is the longest of the 150 Psalms.
o It is divided into 22 parts.
o God’s will, His law or His word are mentioned in every
section, as a constant refrain reminding us to conform
our lives to His life.
87
Gospel
Luke 4:16-30
Jesus fulfills Prophecy but is rejected in
his own hometown.
• In the synagogue in Nazareth, Jesus reads from the scroll
of Scripture:
• “The spirit of the LORD is upon me, because he has anointed
me:
o “Anointed” means Messiah in Hebrew or Christos in
Greek.
• “To bring glad tidings to the poor;
o “Glad tidings” means good news or eugelion in Greek
or Gospel in English.
• “He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives;
• “And recovery of sight to the blind;
• “To let the oppressed go fee;
• “And to proclaim a year acceptable to the LORD.”
• Then Jesus proclaims boldly, “Today this Scripture passage
is fulfilled in your hearing.”
• “And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the
gracious words that came from his mouth.”
o They loved Him, for now.
• But Jesus continued, because just as in the times of the
Prophet Elijah that did not believe him, so too will his own
people not readily accept Jesus when he takes them to task
for their lack of faith in Him.
o So soon they have been “filled with fury” at that same
Jesus they marveled at only a short time earlier.
88
Contemplative Prayer using Lectio Divina (Benedictine
Spirituality)
Lection Divina means “divine reading.” It is an ancient form
of praying with and meditating on the Holy Scriptures.
Psalm 46:11—“Be still and know that I am God.”
“Be still and know that I am God.”
“Be still and know that I am.”
“Be still and know.”
“Be still.”
“Be.”
Psalm 18:1-4
“I love you, Lord, my strength,
Lord, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer,
My God, my rock of refuge,
My shield, my saving horn, my stronghold!
Praised be the Lord, I exclaim!
89
Ephesians 1:1-2
“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the
holy ones who are faithful in Christ Jesus: grace to you and
peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
The Jesus Prayer—“Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on
me a sinner.”
• A very popular prayer of the Eastern Orthodox
Churches.
• The words of the Jesus Prayer are themselves
based on Scriptural texts:
o The cry of the blind man sitting at the side of the
road near Jericho, "Jesus, Son of David, have
mercy on me" (Luke 18:38);
o The ten lepers who "called to him, 'Jesus,
Master, take pity on us' " (Luke 17:13);
o The cry for mercy of the publican, "God, be
merciful to me, a sinner" (Luke 18:14).
• Or, as a way to combine various elements of prayer
and spirituality, one could use “The Jesus Prayer”
o While gazing at the cross or a crucifix.
o With eyes closed but grasping a crucifix.
o Before or after praying the Stations of the
Cross.
o During Eucharistic Adoration.
90
Ignatian Spirituality and Prayer
• Based on St. Ignatius of Loyola’s famous “Spiritual
Exercises.”
• Using the mind and senses so as to enflesh the Gospel
of Jesus Christ.
o You can imagine interacting with the characters of a
parable or story in the Bible, even becoming one of
them and thus entering into the scriptural scene,
using all of the senses. This, in turn, helps one look
at Jesus in scenes from your own life.
 So imagine the scene, using the details
provided from the scripture text, but also
supplying whatever else you imagine the scene
and scenery to contain.
 What do you hear, see, smell, touch?
 What emotions are you feeling?
 Are you central to the action or a mere
spectator?
• Do you want engage the action or not?
91
John 13:1-30—The Washing of the Disciple’s Feet
Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour
had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved
his own in the world and he loved them to the end.
The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the
Iscariot, to hand him over.
So, during supper, fully aware that the Father had put
everything into his power and that he had come from God
and was returning to God, he rose from supper and took
off his outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around
his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began
to wash the disciples' feet and dry them with the towel
around his waist. He came to Simon Peter, who said to
him, "Master, are you going to wash my feet?" Jesus
answered and said to him, "What I am doing, you do not
understand now, but you will understand later." Peter
said to him, "You will never wash my feet." Jesus
answered him, "Unless I wash you, you will have no
inheritance with me." Simon Peter said to him, "Master,
then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well."
92
Jesus said to him, "Whoever has bathed has no need
except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over;
so you are clean, but not all." For he knew who would
betray him; for this reason, he said, "Not all of you are
clean." So when he had washed their feet (and) put his
garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to
them, "Do you realize what I have done for you? You call
me 'teacher' and 'master,' and rightly so, for indeed I am.
If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your
feet, you ought to wash one another's feet. I have given
you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you,
you should also do. Amen, amen, I say to you, no
slave is greater than his master nor any messenger
greater than the one who sent him. If you understand
this, blessed are you if you do it. I am not speaking of
all of you. I know those whom I have chosen. But so that
the scripture might be fulfilled, 'The one who ate my food
has raised his heel against me.' From now on I am
telling you before it happens, so that when it happens
you may believe that I AM. Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever receives the one I send receives me, and
whoever receives me receives the one who sent me."
93
When he had said this, Jesus was deeply troubled and
testified, "Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will
betray me." The disciples looked at one another, at a
loss as to whom he meant. One of his disciples, the
one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at Jesus' side.
So Simon Peter nodded to him to find out whom he
meant. He leaned back against Jesus' chest and
said to him, "Master, who is it?" Jesus answered, "It is
the one to whom I hand the morsel after I have dipped
it."
So he dipped the morsel and (took it and) handed it to
Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot. After he took the
morsel, Satan entered him. So Jesus said to him, "What
you are going to do, do quickly." (Now) none of those
reclining at table realized why he said this to him. Some
thought that since Judas kept the money bag, Jesus had
told him, "Buy what we need for the feast," or to give
something to the poor. So he took the morsel and left at
once. And it was night.
94
Matthew 14:22-36—Walking on the Water and Healings at
Gennesaret
Then [Jesus] made the disciples get into the boat and precede
him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. After
doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.
When it was evening he was there alone. Meanwhile the boat,
already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the
waves, for the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of
the night, he came toward them, walking on the sea. When
the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were
terrified. "It is a ghost," they said, and they cried out in fear.
At once (Jesus) spoke to them, "Take courage, it is I; do not be
afraid." Peter said to him in reply, "Lord, if it is you, command
me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come." Peter got
out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus.
But when he saw how (strong) the wind was he became
frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save
me!" Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught
him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you
doubt?" After they got into the boat, the wind died down.
Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, "Truly,
you are the Son of God."
After making the crossing, they came to land at Gennesaret.
When the men of that place recognized him, they sent word to
all the surrounding country. People brought to him all those
who were sick and begged him that they might touch only
the tassel on his cloak, and as many as touched it were
healed.
95
Discussion Questions:
1. How was this Lectio Divina experience for you?
2. What did you experience?
3. What surprised you about it?
4. What were the challenges?
5. How can you apply this to your personal prayer
life?
96
Selected Bibliography
Faith of Our Fathers. Music: Henry Fr. Hemy, 1818-1888, and
James G. Walton, 1821-1905. Text: Frederick W. Faber,
1814-1863. Melody: Saint Catherine L.M. with Refrain.
St. Augustine. The Confessions of St. Augustine. See Book
10, Chapter 27. Revision of the Translation of Rev. J.M.
Lelen. (New Jersey: Catholic Book Publishing Corp., 1997).
ISBN 089942-169-5.
USCCB Website (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops). New
Evangelization: What is the New Evangelization?
http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/how-weteach/new-evangelization/
Benedict XVI, Apostolic Letter “Motu Proprio ” Porta Fidei: For
The Indiction of The Year of Faith, October 11, 2011.
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/motu_proprio/d
ocuments/hf_ben-xvi_motu-proprio_20111011_portafidei_en.html
97
Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition, revised
in Accordance with the Official Latin Text promulgated by
Pope John Paul II, contains Glossary and Analytical Text.
Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1997. (Washington, D.C.: United
States Catholic Conference, Washington D.C., Publication
no. 5-109, 1997) ISBN 1-57455-109-4.
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM
C.S. Lewis, “Man or Rabbit,” & “What Are We to Make of
Jesus Christ?” in God in the Dock: Essays on Theology
and Ethics. Edited by Walter Hooper. (Grand Rapids,
Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2000). ISBN
O-8028-0868-9
[These essays can also be found in C.S. Lewis, Readings
for Meditation and Reflection, edited by Walter Hooper.
(San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1992). ISBN 0-06065285-3.]
Pope John Paul II, Ecclesia in Asia: On Jesus Christ the
Savior and His Mission of Love and Service in Asia:
“…That They May Have Life, and Have It Abundantly”
(John 10:10). Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhoration,
November 6, 1999.
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_exhor
tations/documents/hf_jp-ii_exh_06111999_ecclesia-inasia_en.html
98
Church Documents Referred to in Ecclesia in Asia:
Pope John Paul II, Tertio Millenio Adveniente: On the
Coming of the Third Millunnium. Apostolic Letter.
November 10, 1994. Publication No. 042-7.
(Washington D.C.: United States Catholic Conference,
1997). ISBN 1-55586-042-7.
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_lett
ers/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_10111994_tertio-millennioadveniente_en.html
Lumen gentium: Dogmatic Constitution on the Church.
November 21, 1964. In Vatican Council II: Volume 1:
The Conciliar and Postconciliar Documents, New
Revised Edition. Gen. Ed. Austin Flannery, O.P.
(Northport, NY: Costello Publishing Company, 1998).
ISBN 0-918344-39-5.
http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_co
uncil/documents/vat-ii_const_19641121_lumengentium_en.html
Nostra aetate: Declaration on the Relations of the
Church to Non-Christian Religions. October 28, 1965. In
Vatican Council II: Volume 1: The Conciliar and
Postconciliar Documents, New Revised Edition. Gen.
Ed. Austin Flannery, O.P. (Northport, NY: Costello
Publishing Company, 1998). ISBN 0-918344-39-5.
http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_co
uncil/documents/vat-ii_decl_19651028_nostraaetate_en.html
99
Ad gentes divinitus: Decree on the Church’s Missionary
Activity. December 7, 1965. In Vatican Council II:
Volume 1: The Conciliar and Postconciliar Documents,
New Revised Edition. Gen. Ed. Austin Flannery, O.P.
(Northport, NY: Costello Publishing Company, 1998).
ISBN 0-918344-39-5.
http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_cou
ncil/documents/vat-ii_decree_19651207_adgentes_en.html
Pope Paul VI, Evangelii Nutiandi: On Evangelization in
the Modern World. Apostolic Exhortation. December 8,
1975. (Washington, D.C.: United States Catholic
Conference, 1976).
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/apost_exhortati
ons/documents/hf_p-vi_exh_19751208_evangeliinuntiandi_en.html
RC Calendar. App for IPhone for July 9.
Magnificat. July 2014, Vol. 16, No. 5. Yonkers, NY.
www.magnificat.com. ISBN 1521-5172
Scott Hahn, Evangelizing Catholics: A Mission Manuel for the
New Evangelization. (Huntington, IN: Our Sunday Visitor Inc.,
2014). ISBN 978-1-61278-773-2
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