Our Lady of Lourdes & St Swithun's

MENUMENU
  • Home
  • Our Parish
    • Welcome & Intro

      Welcome to our Parish

      Welcome to Our Lady of Lourdes & St Swithun … Read more...

    • Photo Galleries

      Parish Photo Galleries

      Enjoy the photos from our Facebook page for our … Read more...

    • Parish Cinema

      Parish Film Shows

      Our Parish Cinema invites you all to watch films … Read more...

    • St Swithun’s School

      St Swithun’s Catholic Primary School

       A Message from Headteacher, Mr Andrew … Read more...

    • Meet Our People

      Meet Our People

      • Our Parish Council
      • Our Parish Musicians
      • Parish Finances
    • Parish Groups
      • Ascent Group
      • The Beacon Project
      • Hear God’s Voice
      • Living Rosary Group
      • Portsmouth University Catholic Society
      • Parents and Toddlers
  • Masses & Services
    • Masses & Services

      Masses & Services

      We welcome you to our Parish. Here is a list of our general … Read more...

    • Daily Services

      Daily Services
      Use our Daily Services Calendar to get an actual view of the Services for a day. Click here

    • Daily Readings

      Daily Readings

      Deepen your knowledge of the scriptures. Gain peace and … Read more...

    • Reader Rotas

      Parish Rotas

      Readers' Rotas Readers Rota 7th Jan to March 31st … Read more...

  • Sacraments
    • The Sacraments

      Sacraments

      All Sacraments are an encounter with Christ, who is himself … Read more...

    • Sacrament Programmes

      Sacrament Programmes 2017-2018

      The 2017-18 Sacrament Programmes at St Swithun’s are … Read more...

    • Baptism Preparation Programmes

      Baptism Preparation Programme 2018

      Baptism Preparation March to April 2018 for St Swithun's … More...

    • Catechism of the Church

      Sacraments – Catechism of the Church

      The Catechism of the Catholic Church promulgated by Pope … Read more...

  • Faith
    • Fr. Marcin’s Blog

      Father Marcin’s Blog

      Catch up on the latest blog posts from Fr. … Read more...

    • Monthly Devotions

      The month of April is dedicated to the Holy Spirit

      To believe in the Holy Spirit is to profess that … Read More...

    • Daily Meditations

      Daily Meditations from Father Marcin

      Read. Reflect. Daily Meditations from Fr. Marcin … Read more...

    • Saint of the Day

      Saint of the Day

      Enrich your daily spiritual life! Learn about the lives of … Read more...

    • Spiritual Events

      Spiritual Events and Retreats

      Deepen your experience of God's presence & peace … Read more...

    • Resources

      Resources

      Spreading the good news! Explore our curated list of … Read more...

  • News & Events
    • Sacrament Programmes

      Sacrament Programmes 2017-2018

      The 2017-18 Sacrament Programmes at St … Read more...

    • Parish News

      Parish News

      Keep up to date with parish news & Father Marcin’s … Read more...

    • Parish Events Diary


      Join our friendly, active congregation in parish activities and functions.
      Read more…

    • Parish Cinema

      Parish Film Shows

      Our Parish Cinema invites you all to watch films about … Read more...

    • Fr. Marcin’s Blog

      Father Marcin’s Blog

      Catch up on the latest blog posts from Fr. … Read more...

    • Photo Galleries

      Parish Photo Galleries

      Enjoy the photos from our Facebook page for our … Read more...

  • Newsletters
    • News around the area

      Newsletters from around the Area

      Other Church Newsletters from around the … Read more...

    • Portsmouth DIocese News

      St John’s RC Cathedral Newsletters

      Portsmouth Diocese E-News Please find … Read more...

    • Parish Newsletters

      Parish Newsletters

      Keep up to date with parish news with Father … Read more...

    • St Swithun’s School News

      St Swithun’s Primary School Newsletters

      St Swithun's Primary School … Read more...

  • Contact
    • Parish Locations

      Our Parish Locations

      Come and join our friendly congregation who … Read more...

    • Parish Register

      Parish Register

      New to the Parish? Want to enrol in Parish … Read more...

    • Contact Us

      Contact

      Our Lady of Lourdes and St Swithun Parish, … Read more...

You are here: Home / Archives for Catechetica in briciole

Blog Topic: 40th Anniversary of Death of Pope John I

This year 2018 will be 40th anniversary of death of Pope John I, this is why I would like to invite You – Dear Friends for a short thought about him, wishing You and myself this year that a smile will accompany us many times. His call was humilitas (humility). During his short pontificate, Pope John Paul I conquered the world with a smile. Pope Francis has just approved the decree on the heroism of his virtues. We can expect beatification this year.

John Paul I died on 28th September 1978, just 33 days after taking the papal office. He was less than 66 years old. The last one to see him was his personal secretary, Father John Magee at about 19.30. The Pope was tired and complained of chest pain, but he did not want to call a doctor. Before they said goodnight to each other, he assured Fr. John that he was feeling better. Every morning at 5.10 Sr. Vincenz Taffarel left a cup of espresso in front of the papal bedroom. The Pope would drink it on the way to the chapel. The coffee was intact this morning. An alarmed nun knocked at the door, but she did not get an answer. The Pope was dead. He died the previous day, most likely of a heart attack.

Albino Luciani (it was his true name, before he became a pope) was a modest man. Even after death. The sudden death caused speculation about the reasons. The trailblazers of the Vatican’s secrets made a well-selling detective story in Dan Brown’s style from that death. Who was this predecessor of Saint Pope John Paul II?

“May God forgive you for what you have done to me,” said the Pope elect to 110 cardinals shortly after the election. August 26 at 18.24 (1978) white smoke announced to the world the successful conclusion of the short conclave. An hour later, on the balcony of the Basilica of St. Peter appeared a new Pope who for the first time in the history of the Church assumed a double name: John Paul. Albino Luciani gave a signal in this way that he wants to follow the path of his predecessors. He wanted to speak to the assembled, but the papal ceremony chose that there was no such custom. He spoke only with his smile. He was later named “the pope of a smile”.

At the beginning of the pontificate, he was the first pope to resign from imposing the tiara. From that time, the “coronation” disappeared from the church dictionary, which was replaced with the words “inauguration of the pontificate” He proclaimed himself to set the following goals: to renew the Church by continuing to implement the Second Vatican Council, renew canon law, emphasize the proclamation of the Gospel, promote the unity of the Church, but without diluting the doctrine, promoting dialogue and encouraging the world to build peace and social justice. He managed to deliver 11 homilies and speeches, 4 Wednesday’s catecheses, 5 times he spoke on the Angel of the Lord (Angelus). In these few speeches he struck a simple, direct catechetical style. He dedicated the last Wednesday catechesis to the virtue of love. He based the considerations on the child’s prayer: “My God, I love You with all my heart, above all things, the Infinite Good and our eternal bliss, for love of you I love my neighbour as myself and forgive all resentments. Lord, make me always love You more.” The Holy Father compared love of God to the wonder of the Promised Land. He probably did not suspect that his journey was approaching its destination this subject, and delivered speeches. In 1969, Pope Paul VI transferred him from Veneto to Venice. In 1973 he became a cardinal.

What kind of shepherd was he? He served in the difficult times of the post-conciliar confusion. He was attached to traditional forms of piety and catechesis. He warned against revolutionary changes in the Church. He was distressed over the crisis of the hierarchical priesthood. He wrote in a letter to the priests: “After the Council the Church is to be renewed, as the house used to be renewed – some of the equipment will be replaced, the walls painted, the floors cleaned. Unfortunately, some would like to let everything go with smoke, without an answer to what this house can replace – in the name of a proclaimed love for the Church, which does not exist, but it is just the creation of the future or imagination.” Bishop Luciani emphasized the necessity of good catechesis. He was close to poor people, he initiated many charitable works, he was characterised by a simple style of living. But he also taught that “it is not the Church’s task to lead people to earthly paradise, to a perfect community.” The Church must take care of the poor, but it cannot narrow down its mission. “The Church is to lead to the inheritance of Heaven” – he emphasized. He often warned against Marxism, seeing in it the “weapon of disobedience” of the Christian faith. He valued obedience to the Church, especially to her teaching office. As a bishop, he required obedience.

We can find opinions that Luciani was a progressive who advocated the use of contraceptives. Some of his statements before the appearance of “Humanae vitae“ of Pope Paul VI show that he expected a change in the Church’s approach to this issue.

Albino Luciani came from a large family. Canale d’Agordo – this was his hometown (northern Italy). His father was a worker. He believed more in socialism than in God. His mother was a woman of deep faith and tempered the leftist aspirations of her husband. Albino was their firstborn son. He was born in 1912. He was so weak that the midwife baptized him at home immediately after birth. Albino owes his upbringing in the faith to his mother. Years later, as a bishop, he strongly emphasized the importance of religious education and good catechesis.

At the age of 11, Albino joined the lower seminary, then went to the higher in Belluno. He was ordained on 7th July 1935. He worked for 20 years in his native diocese, first as vicar, then vice-director of the seminary, and finally a curia employee. He took a PhD in dogmatic theology at the Gregorian University in Rome. He also wrote the catechism “Catechetica in briciole” (“Crumbs of Cathechism”), of which he had three renewed publications. The young priest was in favour of the traditional form of catechesis. He wrote: “In religion there are very important, delicate and difficult truths. What is wrong in this, that they are contained in precise formulas and are asked to be remembered by children? The following phases are better and natural: 1. The formula is well explained; 2. A formula taught by heart; 3. The formula is practiced.” Sounds old-fashioned? Before-conciliar? Yes, but it does not necessarily mean that there is something unwise about this approach. Today, after years of post-conciliar experiments, many catechists return to hastily abandoned principles.

The next 21 years of Albino Luciani‘s life filled the episcopal ministry. Pope John XXIII first appointed him a bishop in the diocese of Vittorio Veneto and personally ordained him in the Basilica of St. Peter in Rome on 27th December 1958. Luciani, as a bishop, participated in all the sessions of the Second Vatican Council. He did not play a significant role. He wrote modestly that he cannot match the “eagles of theology.” His great concern, however, was to convey the Council’s inspirations to the priests and the faithful of his diocese. He wrote letters on..

But as soon as Pope Paul VI issued an encyclical letter on the ethics of birth control, Luciani wrote a pastoral letter in which he called for the adoption of this magnificent and prophetic teaching. Some bishops in the West reacted differently.
The Patriarch of Venice often spoke in defence of family and marriage. During his episcopate in Italy, divorce was legalised, and abortion a few years later. The future Pope protested against these changes and called on Catholics to resist. In 1974, Italy held a referendum on divorce. In Venice, there were two Catholic student’s organizations in line with Marxism, which supported the right to divorce. The patriarch’s reaction was determined – he cancelled the Church assistant and forbade the priests to support these organisations. When Italy allowed abortion in 1978, Luciani reminded that no human rights can replace the law of God. He appealed: “True compassion in human hardships and difficulties is not to kill the one who is the fruit of the fall or human’s suffering, but to elevate, comfort, support, feel shame because of the weakness of human passions: kill him – never!”

Anyone wishing to get to know Pope John Paul I better, should reach for the book “Ilustrissimi. Letters to famous characters.” This is a collection of articles that appeared in the letter “Messagero di Sant Antonio”. They were in the form of letters to famous figures from history and literature (eg Dickens, Chesterton or Pinocchio), in which he addressed current problems. These texts reveal the Pope’s talent, perhaps not so much in writing as catechetical. Pope John Paul I often drew attention to the demoralization spread by the ’68 generation. And in a common sense, he asked people not to be crazy about the fashion promoted in the media.

What did John Paul I leave in his spiritual testament? Above all, the child’s joy of faith. And the pattern of a good-hearted shepherd, but firm in the name of love and truth. When he left Veneto’s Diocese for Venice’s Diocese, he said to the diocesans: “As a soul’s shepherd, I am convinced of this basic assumption: we cannot do good to someone if we do not love him first. I have always felt before God that I would fail to fulfil my task if I have not tried to love you sincerely … I tried to do it, however limited by my abilities, but honestly … “.

With love, friendship and prayers – Fr Marcin

Filed Under: Daily Thought, Father Marcin's Blog, Resources Tagged With: Albino Luciani, Catechetica in briciole, Humanae vitae, Ilustrissimi

Signup to Receive Parish e-News

Keep up to date with parish news & receive Father Marcin’s thought-provoking Newsletter each Sunday.


(Your details are safe under the Data Protection Act 1998).

St Swithuns Facebook Feed

... See MoreSee Less

Link thumbnail

Getting St. Peter’s Sermon Right | Word on Fire

wordonfire.org

3 hours ago

View on Facebook
·Share

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Google PlusShare on Linked InShare by Email

  • Likes: 0
  • Shares: 0
  • Comments: 0

Comment on Facebook

stswithuns.org.uk/newsletter-NL_22042018 Mass today at 8:30am, 10:5am and 1pm (in Polish) at St Swithun's Southsea today - Come and join us. ... See MoreSee Less

Link thumbnail

Newsletter: 22nd April 2018 - 4th Sunday of Easter St Swithuns

stswithuns.org.uk

4 hours ago

View on Facebook
·Share

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Google PlusShare on Linked InShare by Email

  • Likes: 2
  • Shares: 1
  • Comments: 0

 

Comment on Facebook

DAILY MEDITATION - I Lay Down My Life 22 April 2018Fourth Sunday of EasterJohn 10:11-18Jesus said: "I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them. This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd. This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again. This command I have received from my Father."Introductory Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for this opportunity to be with you in prayer. My heart is ready to listen to your words of eternal life so that I may choose to follow you more closely on the path of true love.Petition: Lord, may I be faithful to your will in my life.1. I Lay It Down: The Father entrusted Christ with a mission. Christ was to bring about our salvation through a life of unlimited self-giving, even to the point of giving his own life. Being God, he could repay the Father for our sins; being man, he could identify with our fallen humanity and raise its dignity so that we might become the Father’s children. Christ was the perfect bridge between fallen man and an infinitely holy God. His mission of bridging this chasm came about through freely accepting the will of the Father. Our Lord would receive nothing in return, and yet he was faithful even to the point of death.2. On My Own: Jesus was not ordered to give himself for our sins. He offered himself. Freedom is best used when it willingly embraces God’s will, whatever the cost might be. We have to remember that Jesus knew what lay beyond his preaching and his miracles: the road to Calvary. He spent many nights in prayer on the Mount of Olives in preparation for his hour. He foretold his fate to his disciples and continued forward towards this end despite their misunderstanding. And in the end, when the hour came, he proved faithful. When the hour of darkness sought him, he stepped forward to say, “I am he.” Christ never flinched in front of God’s will. He felt its weight. Sorrow flooded his heart. An easier path tugged at his humanity. But he proved that love is stronger than death, that true freedom can defeat sin and master it.3. A Life of Love: Perhaps offering ourselves to God frightens us. What will he ask? What will I have to leave behind? Will I be able to do it? However, fear vanishes when we live out of love, like Christ. We need to remember that the Father asked him to die for us, and look at the fruits this bore! Taking on our humanity, he left behind the splendor of his divinity and raised us to a new level. He did the impossible by bearing the weight of all our sins. He trusted in the Father to give him strength. Today we might be asked to die more to our self-love, to leave behind a vice we have been struggling with or to trust that with grace we can live a truly Christian life in a world hostile to Christianity. In the end, if we love Christ, we will not be frightened because he has already shown us the way –– and he has already conquered.Conversation with Christ: Lord, give me the courage to be a faithful Christian at all times and in all places, with whomever I meet and in whatever I say. Help me to give testimony to who you are.Resolution: I will offer one concrete act of self-mastery for love of Christ today.#dailymeditations www.stswithuns.org.uk/event/dr-22042018 ... See MoreSee Less

5 hours ago

DAILY MEDITATION - 

I Lay Down My Life             22 April 2018

Fourth Sunday of Easter

John 10:11-18

Jesus said: I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them. This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd. This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again. This command I have received from my Father.

Introductory Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for this opportunity to be with you in prayer. My heart is ready to listen to your words of eternal life so that I may choose to follow you more closely on the path of true love.

Petition: Lord, may I be faithful to your will in my life.

1. I Lay It Down: The Father entrusted Christ with a mission. Christ was to bring about our salvation through a life of unlimited self-giving, even to the point of giving his own life. Being God, he could repay the Father for our sins; being man, he could identify with our fallen humanity and raise its dignity so that we might become the Father’s children. Christ was the perfect bridge between fallen man and an infinitely holy God. His mission of bridging this chasm came about through freely accepting the will of the Father. Our Lord would receive nothing in return, and yet he was faithful even to the point of death.

2. On My Own: Jesus was not ordered to give himself for our sins. He offered himself. Freedom is best used when it willingly embraces God’s will, whatever the cost might be. We have to remember that Jesus knew what lay beyond his preaching and his miracles: the road to Calvary. He spent many nights in prayer on the Mount of Olives in preparation for his hour. He foretold his fate to his disciples and continued forward towards this end despite their misunderstanding. And in the end, when the hour came, he proved faithful. When the hour of darkness sought him, he stepped forward to say, “I am he.” Christ never flinched in front of God’s will. He felt its weight. Sorrow flooded his heart. An easier path tugged at his humanity. But he proved that love is stronger than death, that true freedom can defeat sin and master it.

3. A Life of Love: Perhaps offering ourselves to God frightens us. What will he ask? What will I have to leave behind? Will I be able to do it? However, fear vanishes when we live out of love, like Christ. We need to remember that the Father asked him to die for us, and look at the fruits this bore! Taking on our humanity, he left behind the splendor of his divinity and raised us to a new level. He did the impossible by bearing the weight of all our sins. He trusted in the Father to give him strength. Today we might be asked to die more to our self-love, to leave behind a vice we have been struggling with or to trust that with grace we can live a truly Christian life in a world hostile to Christianity. In the end, if we love Christ, we will not be frightened because he has already shown us the way –– and he has already conquered.

Conversation with Christ: Lord, give me the courage to be a faithful Christian at all times and in all places, with whomever I meet and in whatever I say. Help me to give testimony to who you are.

Resolution: I will offer one concrete act of self-mastery for love of Christ today.

#dailymeditations http://www.stswithuns.org.uk/event/dr-22042018
View on Facebook
·Share

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Google PlusShare on Linked InShare by Email

  • Likes: 2
  • Shares: 1
  • Comments: 0

 

Comment on Facebook

DAILY MEDITATION - 21ST April 2018:Today, we have just read in the Gospel Jesus' allocution about the Bread of Life, which is Himself, offering us his body as nurture for our souls and for our Christian life. And, as it usually happens, we have to contemplate two different —if not opposite— reactions, from those who are listening to him. His language is too hard for some, too incomprehensible for their mentality, closed to the Lord's saving Word; St. John says, somewhat sadly, that «after this many disciples withdrew and no longer followed Him» (Jn 6:66). It is the same evangelist who gives us a clue to help us understanding the attitude of these persons: they would not believe, they would not be willing to accept Jesus' teachings, which were, so often, inexplicable for them.But, on the other hand, we can see the Apostles' reaction, led by St. Peter: «Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We now believe» (Jn 6:68-69). It is not that the twelve are smarter, or even better, nor do they understand the Bible any better; but they are indeed more modest, more trusting, more open to the Holy Spirit, more docile. Every now and then, we can spot them in the Gospels when making mistakes, unable to understand Jesus, arguing over who is more important and even daring to correct the Master when he announces them his Passion; but they are always faithful, by his side. Their secret: they truly loved Him.St. Augustine expresses it this way: «Good habits leave no trace in our soul, but good loves do (...). Truly, this is all love is about: to obey and believe whom you love». In the light of this Gospel we may wonder: where have I placed my love? what faith and what obedience have I to the Lord and to what the Church teaches? What kind of docility, simplicity and trust do I live with regards to God's things?#dailymeditations www.stswithuns.org.uk/event/dr-21042018 ... See MoreSee Less

1 day ago

DAILY MEDITATION - 21ST April 2018:

Today, we have just read in the Gospel Jesus allocution about the Bread of Life, which is Himself, offering us his body as nurture for our souls and for our Christian life. And, as it usually happens, we have to contemplate two different —if not opposite— reactions, from those who are listening to him. 

His language is too hard for some, too incomprehensible for their mentality, closed to the Lords saving Word; St. John says, somewhat sadly, that «after this many disciples withdrew and no longer followed Him» (Jn 6:66). It is the same evangelist who gives us a clue to help us understanding the attitude of these persons: they would not believe, they would not be willing to accept Jesus teachings, which were, so often, inexplicable for them.

But, on the other hand, we can see the Apostles reaction, led by St. Peter: «Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We now believe» (Jn 6:68-69). It is not that the twelve are smarter, or even better, nor do they understand the Bible any better; but they are indeed more modest, more trusting, more open to the Holy Spirit, more docile. Every now and then, we can spot them in the Gospels when making mistakes, unable to understand Jesus, arguing over who is more important and even daring to correct the Master when he announces them his Passion; but they are always faithful, by his side. Their secret: they truly loved Him.

St. Augustine expresses it this way: «Good habits leave no trace in our soul, but good loves do (...). Truly, this is all love is about: to obey and believe whom you love». In the light of this Gospel we may wonder: where have I placed my love? what faith and what obedience have I to the Lord and to what the Church teaches? What kind of docility, simplicity and trust do I live with regards to Gods things?

#dailymeditations http://www.stswithuns.org.uk/event/dr-21042018
View on Facebook
·Share

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Google PlusShare on Linked InShare by Email

  • Likes: 3
  • Shares: 0
  • Comments: 0

 

Comment on Facebook

stswithuns.org.uk/st-swithuns-catholic-primary-school-are-looking-for-teachers ... See MoreSee Less

Link thumbnail

St. Swithun’s Catholic Primary School are looking for Teachers - Thursday 26th April 2:00pm

stswithuns.org.uk

1 day ago

View on Facebook
·Share

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Google PlusShare on Linked InShare by Email

  • Likes: 3
  • Shares: 0
  • Comments: 0

 

Comment on Facebook

Load more
View on Facebook
  • The month of April is dedicated to the Holy Spirit
    Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy.
    Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy.
    Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy.
    Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy.
    Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy.
    Amen.
    (St. Augustine)


Keep up to date with parish news & receive Father Marcin’s thought-provoking Newsletter each Sunday.

Signup to Receive Parish e-News


(Your details are safe under the terms of the Data Protection Act 1998. The information provided on this form will be held in confidence and used for the purpose of parish communications and no other purpose).

Latest Parish News & Updates

  • Newsletter: 22nd April 2018 – 4th Sunday of Easter 21st April 2018
  • Newsletter: 15th April 2018 – 3rd Sunday of Easter 14th April 2018
  • Newsletter: 8th April 2018 – Divine Mercy Sunday 7th April 2018
More

105 Waverley Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO5 2PL. | Phone: 023 9282 8305 | Contact Us | Terms of Use


Copyright ©2018 · Our Lady of Lourdes and St Swithun Parish - part of the Diocese of Portsmouth. 
Portsmouth Roman Catholic Diocesan Trust registered charity 246871.
Website design by Coding & Consulting