Cardinal Stickler to be commemorated

Instead of the usual half-hour of quiet prayer at 6.30 this morning, followed by Morning Prayers and Mass (Lauds and Eucharist), we had simply a half-hour of quiet prayer together. The community mass with take place this evening, with a special liturgy shared by all seven religious communities at the UPS. The occasion is the first anniversary of the death of Cardinal Alfons Maria Stickler. Cardinal Raffaele Farina will preside at that liturgy.

It is not clear to me why there will be this commemoration at the UPS, except that Cardinal Stickler was once Rector Magnificus, as was Raffaele Farina (back during my student days). It seems like the appropriate place and occasion, then, for a commemoration.

Don Stickler was rector at the time of the great organization of the several Salesian faculties and oversaw the move of the pontifical atheneum to the present site in Rome in 1966. He organized the faculty of classical languages here as well, before being called in 1971 to serve as librarian and archivist for the Vatican. His scholarly contributions are many (and he is said to have been a character and a half). John Paul II made him cardinal in the consistory of 25 May 1985, when he was already 74 years old. He died last 12 December, 2007; Pope Benedict XVI himself presided at the funeral, and I remember that a few members of our community went to that mass. Already then it was decided to do something to commemorate his contributions at the UPS; it has taken a year to organize it.

Besides all this, I am personally excited to be able to again see Don Raffaele. Okay, he is now Archbishop and Cardinal of Santa Romana Chiesa, but I still think of him as don Farina. Afterall, this is how I have known him for many years. Don Farina was rector when I received my Bachelor degree in 1979 and my doctorate in 1996. I had the joy of welcoming him to Bellflower when he came for a visit in 1983, and someone took some photos on that day, but who knows what happened to them. During my licentiate and doctoral studies, we had many long and friendly conversations. I have always found him warm, gentle and absolutely brilliant.

Raffaele Farina, Salesian, Cardinal, Scholar and Vatican Librarian

As for the nature of tonight’s commemoration, I am sure that things will become more clear to me once we have had the celebration.

At any rate, I have already eaten breakfast and shared the morning ritual of storytelling. It is still very dark right now, at 7.30 - but the sky is illuminated by lightning and the count from the lightening strike to the crash of the thunder is not very long. It is quite close: within 5 km.

This has been the story of the whole night past. Rome has been the scene of heavy rains, strong winds, lightening and thunder and more thunder crashing, booming or rolling in, depending of the distance. It was not easy to sleep and I unplugged everything in my bedroom during the night to be safe. Yet, even without being able to sleep, it was wondrous to stay under the warm blankets in the well heated room as I heard the world crashing around me.

But it is time to get on with the day!

St Paul and Benedict's advice for driver safety

This evening we heard a reading the pope's noon-time Angelus message from today during our evening prayer liturgy. This is a practice that the Gesù Maestro Community has been following during this academic year. Pope Benedict gives a wonderful explanation of the parable of the talents, and helps us reflect on what Jesus encourages us to assume as our attitudes. The parable teaches us that there is no room for fear in accepting the Lord's call and the Lord's gifts, according to the pope.

That is an outstanding message, really.

But I was also struck by what the pope had to say after the Angelus prayer. He spoke about the tragedy of death on the highways of the world because of the incredible number traffic accidents. I had not realized that today marked the U.N. World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. The pope is sensitive to these kinds of initiatives by the U.N. and other organizations, and he reminded the faithful in St Peter's Square at the noon prayer that it is important to remember "in a special way all of those who have died from car accidents."

Pope Benedict had words about the victims, but also important words for drivers. I quote him here:

Let us pray for their eternal repose and for the consolation of their families who are mourning their loss. Dear brothers and sisters, I implore everyone – drivers, passengers and pedestrians – to listen carefully to the words of St. Paul in today’s Liturgy of the Word: ‘Let us be awake and sober.’ Our behavior on the road, must be characterized by responsibility, attention and respect for others. May the Virgin Mary guide us securely along the roads and highways of the world.

What a great way to put it!

Funny, but I never thought that St Paul had anything to say to me when I am driving. Yet, when you really think about his story in the Acts of the Apostles, Paul’s own conversion to Christ happened after an incident on the road. So, in this year of St Paul, why not recognize that his words can be applied to our own journeys, on the road of life and on the highways of the world: be awake and sober! It certainly makes a lot of sense.

Thank you, U.N. for instituting this World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. Thank you, Pope Benedict, for putting the day in perspective for Christians. Oh, and thank you St Paul! Wow, you thought of everything… well, almost!

[Photo by REUTERS/Max Rossi (VATICAN) 16 November 2008, captured from Yahoo News Photos]

Special Sunday in Rome

Tutti in piazza!

Well, that was a shout that I used to hear in the 1970s, and it was political. It means literally "Everybody in the plaza," but this should be translated roughly, "Everyone get out into the streets!" This shout always had a political edge to it. It was a call to the young people to protest.

Today everybody got out into the plaza - St Peter's Square - to protest the treatment against the pope by the folks at the Sapienza. The piazza was full; via della Conciliazione was full… it was amazing to see! People came from all parts of Italy, north and south. Mayors hired buses to bring citizens; university students from all over were there in solidarity.

I was of half a mind to go down to Piazza S. Pietro to participate, and the weather itself was more than encouraging. The sun rose while we were at Sunday Mass, welcomed by a clear blue sky. There was news that there were buses from every part of the republic, and I could just imagine how crowded the metro would be, seeing that every Sunday there are thousands who already pack public transit to get to the Angelus of the pope in Piazza S. Pietro. So I listened to the morning broadcasts of Vatican Radio, and then at noon joined about 20 other Salesians to watch the television broadcast on RAI.

Pope Benedict gave a wonderful discourse for the Christian Unity Octave, and did not mention the University or the protests at all in his prepared statement. He noted that the Christian Unity Octave started a year ago, at the initiative of Fr Paul Watson, who founded a community in the Franciscan spirit for the Unity of the Church in England. These are the friars and sisters of the Atonement, who have a wonderful history. "The evangelizing mission of the Church," the pope said, "passes along the path of ecumenism, the path of unity of faith, of gospel witness and authentic brotherhood and sisterhood."

Then he led the Angelus prayer in Latin. The television cameras, however, kept panning the crowd. I remember the first Easter of John Paul II there were crowds all the way to the Tiber: today it seemed to me to be more people. Many young people from the Sapienza, and from all manner of schools and universities, all with banners and flags.

And so, after the prayer, the pope then spoke to the young people of the hot topic of the invitation and the protest and of his decision not to go to the Sapienza. He spoke, he said, as a "professor emeritus", urging the young to seek always the truth and to do all to protect the liberty of conscience of every person. His tone was conversational, but the words were profound. Very moving.

There is a text of his words posted on the Vatican website, but I realize that Benedict XVI actually spoke the words after the Angelus more spontaneously, and not everything is recorded… For instance, he said that he had dedicated time after Christmas to write his address to the unviersity, and he had done so with enthusiasm. This does not show up in the text printed on the Vatican website. Still, it gives you an idea of what was said.

Later in the afternoon there was a special mass at the Gesù that some of our students attended. This was to celebrate the election of the new Jesuit general: Adolfo Nicolas. He is a Spaniard who studied at the Gregoriana and who has been a missionary in Japan. He was elected yesterday at the General Congregation of the Jesuits, and is 71 years old. He is a European who brings an Asian perspective.

A number of our Japanese Salesians have had him as their spiritual director. Among these is our UPS student Naoki Tsujihe, who has frequented my courses this term in Salesian spirituality. Naoki attended the thanksgiving mass of Fr "Nico", as they call him in Japan. I am told that he works very closely with the Salesians in Japan to publish books aimed at the education of young people. Many of the young in Japan call him "Jinkaku-sha", which means "Man of Character". This shows very high regard in Japan.

Isn't that nice news!

Loud protests

The news in the city of Roma today (or rather, in these days) has been the loud protests on the part of some professors and some students at the Roman university called La Sapienza (the Wisdom) against Pope Benedict XVI. The rector magnificus of the university invited the pope to come and speak at the university for the beginning of the academic year, which is tomorrow. However, the protests have been loud and angry on the part of a handful who make all sorts of accusations against the Church, against "Joseph Ratzinger" as a person, against… From what I see in the US press, it would sound like all the University is against the visit. This is not true. There are very few, but they are also very vocal. And they seem to mouth the same rhetoric that has been going on for years from the extreme secularist parties who are called "laicist" here in Italy. When I hear their arguments against Papa Ratzinger, I wonder whether they have ever heard anything he has ever said.

Arguments? No let me rephrase that: diatribes. They are crude and vulgar, calling the pope a "scarecrow" and insisting on the supremacy of Reason. Really? Since when does Reason mouth crudities and insults in order to convince?

Since when? Since the French Revolution. The language of the protesters at the Sapienza sounds more like the partisan rage of the 1800s liberal radicals than something we would expect to hear in the 21st Century.

Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, made an announcement yesterday: given the present climate at the Sapienza, the pope has advised the rector magnificus that he will not be coming to the university tomorrow. This is to avoid putting any of the students at risk, said Bertone. However, the pope will send to the rector a copy of the discourse that he has prepared for the occasion.

Cardinal Bertone made the statement yesterday; it hit all the news media today, and has made a big impression, not only in Rome but throughout Italy.

A victory for the Left? A victory for liberty? All this is being said (more like ranted) by those on the extreme anti-clerical end of Italian society. However, other voices are being heard now as well. What will develop? We'll see tomorrow.

For my part, today I finished teaching the final classes in two subjects: Spirituality of Francis de Sales and Themes in Salesian Spirituality. Now I need to correct all the papers before heading back to Berkeley, a week from today.

Tivoli - hope among the poor

Offering the input for these days of ongoing formation among the Salesian Oblates of the Sacred Heart have afforded me the opportunity to read and reflect on Pope Benedict XVI's second encyclical, Spe Salvi. It is the theme that the sisters have wanted me to expound for them. I would have read the encyclical very quickly, but because of this I have had to spend time with it. It is simply written and invites meditation.

These days in Tivoli have been wonderful for me, and while I have been giving input to the sisters, it is I rather than they who have benefited most from these days. I was thinking this morning, during the mass as we prayed the psalms, that this has been a beautiful way to celebrate the days of Christmas.

During dinner yesterday, on of the oldest sisters, Sr Pia, came up to Sr Graziella and whispered something in her ear. At that point, Sr Graziella smiled and stood to make the announcement, to the effect that it was getting late for the baby Jesus so Sr Pia would sing him a lullaby. At that moment, Sr Pia (who is 92) pulled out the figure of the infant Jesus from beneath her apron -- it was the figure from the manger scene at the entrance of the chapel. She held the doll as if it were the baby, and gently rocked it while singing a Christmas lullaby. The rest of the sisters smiled or laughed (the laughs that come from joy not ridicule) and Sr Pia went through all the verses. At the final verse, all the women joined in with her to sing.

Yesterday and the day before as well, many sisters came to me to make their "end of the year confession," as they said. In the course of the conversations, they all spoke of the calling to live among the people of the little forgotten towns and to help in the most disorganized and poorest of the parishes. "Monsignor Cognata founded us for this," they told me. In fact, most of their houses are in the most hidden towns of southern Italy. They also have houses in northern Italy, but again, these are in the towns and not in the big urban centers. They are also in 6 different towns of Bolivia, which is the poorest country in Latin America. They live Salesian spirit in their total availability to the poor people and the poor Church. They work with families with few resources to help parents to educate their children, and they totally refuse any help from agencies that might be involved with the power structures (which in southern Italy have been tainted by corruption for a couple of centuries).

So today, my conference was a summary of the action steps for hope as found in Benedict XVI's encyclical, Spe Salvi. I was able to cover the chapters on prayer in that encyclical, so it followed well from the presentations of yesterday on Prayer in the Salesian tradition. I was very nervous about today's presentation, but the sisters responded during the discussion period with a lot of practical applications from their own community, from Bishop Cognata, and from their Salesian style. It all worked out well to conclude the series of conferences.

Afterwards, I head a couple of more confessions, then spoke with several older sisters in the house are are based precisely in this community. We spoke too of vocations. It seems that they have a number of young women who come and help out as volunteers for a while and these look at joining the community. The way of life is strenuous, the superior told me. "When you work with the poor," she told me, "you time is not your own. You are always on call. This is what surprises many of the young adults who come to us. They want to help, but they have a hard time with the constant demands."

Several of the other sisters confirmed this. "Still, there is a great joy in knowing you can make a contribution to give people hope," one of the sisters told me. "This is what it is all about: Spe Salvi - Hope will save us."

Wow! Sacred Scripture (and encyclical) in action!

I packed and walked about the old town, taking some photographs. We had dinner at 13.00, with some more singing and poems - also ways that in the Salesian tradition we used to conclude retreats. I remember as a young cleric that we used to do this too - but now we no longer celebrate at the final meal in my California province. At the meals I sat beside the mother general, and with the general councilors -- so I had a lot of questions and they schooled me along in the spirit of their institute.

Following dinner, there were the prayers in chapel and a few minutes to rest. I was able to spend a few more minutes with Sr Carmelina Mosca, the Mother General, who took me around the garden and day care center -- in an area of the compound that the sisters only recently acquired. From there we looked out on the town, she showed me the old paper mills that were abandoned when the economy went south, and spoke of the great history of Tivoli and of the great hopes for the future even during these last years of economic crises. And I was able to take her photo (here she is the children's garden).

When we left the garden, I was able to thank so many of the sisters for the days spent with them. We then loaded up cars and vans, and at 16.00 Sr Graziella was driving a group of us out of the courtyard to the road back to Rome…

It was dark by the time we pulled into the UPS, and made my way to my room to upload these reflections into the blog. Much more is going through my head at the moment and so perhaps I will revisit this theme in my entries. I have a few days to think of all these experiences now.

Tivoli - on Hope for Today

Yesterday evening I spent about a half hour planning (and drinking coffee) with Mother Carmelina Mosca (mother general) and Sr Graziella Benghini (counselor for lay associations)… and as we worked through the themes of the various talks, I commented that I had prepared a lot of material but that, after the first talk, I would probably revamp things.

"What is the theme of these days of ongoing-formation," they asked me. I was a bit stumped, because the theme had been given to me by Jesús Manuel Garcia as "Hope". This was not doubt a result of his thinking of the second encyclical of Pope Benedict XVI, Spe Salvi (issued 30 November). So my response to the sisters was simple "Hope".

"Yes," said Sr Carmelina, "but we need a title. Tell us again the themes of the talks."

Hmmm - I was a bit confused, so I just threw out the themes again: The Promise (la Promessa), the Covenant (L’Aleanza), Hope (la Speranza) all in the Salesian style (in chiave salesiana).

Hearing this, Sr Graziella formulated a title: La Promessa È La Speranza Che Si Realizza — The Promise Is Hope Fulfilled. Okay, that sounds good to me.

This morning, then, I gave an overview during a little homily during Morning Prayer, and after breakfast, I gave the first talk: Promise and Hope: Reflections from the Hebrew Scriptures. After the talk, we had a few minutes for discussion, and the comments of the sisters gave me an idea of how to proceed. In the afternoon (16.30), I offered the second conference on Hope in the New Testament. I got my ideas from Monica Hellwig’s article in Nuovo Dizionario di Spiritualità — the 2003 Italian edition of Michael Downey’s publication.

Two hours were not enough really to cover four columns in that article; but it made for a simple introduction. The sisters supplied the rest in a lively question and answer period after both talks. And… they related many things from this scriptural approach to the words of their own founder, Bishop Giuseppe Cognata. So… day 2 has gone very serenely and happily.

Tivoli - Old Town

Early in November, Jesús Manuel Garcia asked me to facilitate three-days of ongoing formation for the Oblate Salesian Sisters of the Sacred Heart in Tivoli.

Okay, okay - let me say that he did not ask me. Good Spaniard from Madrid that he is, he told me that I would be doing this. It was not an invitation, nor was it an order. It was more like information about my activities that I must accept just as I must accept the fact that yesterday it poured rain and today there was a sun that split the stones on the ground.

Of course, I laughed at this and told him that I had other plans for Christmas… but again on 30 Novemer he informed me that the Sisters were ready for me to come to facilitate the three-days of ongoing formation, and that I would be speaking to them on the theme of Hope. Hope, of course, is the theme of Pope Benedict XVI’s second encyclical, which was published on that very day of 30 November.

Yes, it was all set. He told the Sisters that I would be coming; he told the Sisters that I was very qualified to speak about Hope from a Salesian point of view; he told me that I was going to like it.

Well … if this approach sounds outrageous, then you have an insight, not only into the personality and administrative approach of Jesús Manuel Garcia, but also into how Isabel and Ferdinand were able to drive out the Moors; how Cortés was able to conquer México; how Generalísimo Francisco Franco was able to overcome the Communists; how president José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero today is able to rewrite the laws of Spain inspite of the protests of the opposition parties. In the case of doing the ongoing formation days for the Oblate Salesians, I realized that opposition would be useless, and so “I agreed”. More about all that later… this is only a blog.

In any case, a sister came to pick me up at 15.50 this afternoon – well, I was told it would be a sister, but there were three sisters. We made the trip to Tivoli; I met the mother general, Mother Carmelina Mosca, and together with suor Graziella we planned the time-table. Jesús had said three-days: it turns out to be four days…

The Oblate Salesians of the Sacred Heart belong to the Salesian Family. Their founder, Bishop Giuseppe Cognata, was a Salesian who had worked in southern Italy and in Rome before becoming Bishop of Bova. I have know of their existence since I was 12 years old, but this is the first time I have actually met any sisters of this Congregation.

In any case, everything began with Eucharist this evening at 17.30, over which I presided and preached (feast of St John the Evangelist). Following the Mass, I met quite a number of the sisters who are participating in these four days: young and old. The youngest sister here is from Bolivia and in her early 20s; the oldest is called Sister Pia, and she is 92. We chatted until supper at 19.30…

But I have some conferences to look over for tomorrow and I’ll continue this blogging after I have delivered those.

At St Peter's Square for the new cardinals

This morning I went down to St Peter's to assist at the public consistory for the creation of 23 new cardinals. Among the new cardinals is the Salesian Raffaele Farina, whom I can claim as a personal friend from my student days at the UPS (1990-1994), but also from several years earlier when he spent his sabbatical year (1984) in California and was a guest for a day at De Sales Hall. Of course, I already knew him in the sense that, as rector magnificus of the UPS, he had overseen my theology studies at the Crocetta and signed the diploma for my bachelor degree in theology. As a matter of fact, his signature is on all three of my degress from the UPS - Bachelor, Licentiate and Doctorate.

When the nominations came out a little over a month ago I was very happy to learn that (finalmente) Don Raffaele had been named to the cardinalate. So when tickets were offered, I immediately asked for one.

Tickets were to St Peter's Square, but the consistory took place inside the basilica. Those of us who were outside watched and heard all on giant screen televisions that were set up in the piazza. At first I was disappointed (of course) that I was not right there, but the sense of being seated in the crowd in the square and seeing all on the giant screens - things taking place a few hundred meters ahead of us -- well I was soon swept into it. There was a great feeling of participation by all in the piazza. We were really "there" after all.

Before the ceremony began, the big screens displayed a steady camera shot on the nave of the basilica. As the bells of St Peter's began to sound at 10.15, there was a zoom and a fade, and I recognized the camera techniques of RAI, and realized we would see what was being broadcast through Italy. The tremendous camera work made it all so close for us in the piazza, as we joined also in the responsory singing with the Sistine Choir (what a tremenous sound from that choir today! real improvement over how they sounded at the start of the 1990s!!!). And then I had a real surprise - a very pleasant one. The camera focused on don Pascual Chavez at least 5 times during the ceremony, including for an extended time during Pope Benedict's homily. I noted that there were no other shots on individuals in the church other than cardinals. Even though a Jesuit and a Franciscan were also receiving the red hat, there were not closeups on the Jesuit Superior General nor on the Franciscan Minister General. Just the Salesian rector major.

And there was a big enough Salesian contingent in the crowd too - for every time Don Chavez was seen and every time Cardinal Farina was named, there was a cheer. Big cheers also went for the former bishop of Loreto, Giovanni Lajolo, for the archbishop of Monterrey, Francisco Robles Ortega, and for the archbishop of Houston, Daniel di Nardo. There were drum beats and enthusiastic cheers for the archbishop of Dakar (Senegal) Theodore Adrien Sarr, and for the Chaldean Patriarch of Babylon (Bagdad) Emmanuel III Delly. These seem to figure in the news releases of the world press (or at least the USA press), but the television spotted Farina and Chavez. How cool is that?!

The exit from the basilica was solemn and festive at the same time, but I left and hurried to the metro to get home for dinner. I was starving. As I traveled home I noticed that it started to rain, and was caught in a downpour when I left the 80 express bus to make my way up Piazza dell'Ateneo Salesiano… I missed the soup, but made it for the main course… And there were chestnuts and barolo wine!!! Another treat on a very happy Roman day!

Tomorrow the cardinals will receive their cardinal's ring from Pope Benedict… that takes place at a mass, again in St Peter's. I have tickets for that too, but am not sure I will be able to go (and again, my tickets are for the square, not for the basilica).

Rome crowded for anniversary of John Paul II

Tomorrow will mark one year since the death of Pope John Paul II. Twice this week I have had to go down to the Vatican, including this morning. There are tens of thousands of pilgrims; the area is completely crowded, and the line-up to get into the basilica of St Peter's, or rather, to the grotto to visit the tombs of the popes is very long. In fact, I have not gone into St Peter's yet this year, because I haven't had the time to wait in line for two hours.

Of the statistics that I have heard: the normal amount of visitors to the tombs of the popes has been between 150 and 300 persons a day. Since the burial of John Paul II, the number on weekdays has averaged 15,000 people, while on weekends it has gone up to as many as 20,000 people. In fact, today there were many Italians in the lines. It seems that Italians are also making St Peter's the goal of pilgrimage again: to remember the "papa polacco", who won their affection, and to see "Papa Ratzinger", who speaks simply and seems to have won their respect as well. And that is a more interesting feat, since many Italians have still not gotten over the sufferings of the Second World War at the hands of the German Nazis after the fall of Mussolini's Fascist government.

So, it will be an interesting week ahead for the amount of pilgrims and visitors. To all appearances, the flood of pilgrims will continue through the Spring. In short, there have been as many visitors to St Peter's during this year since John Paul's death and Benedict's election as during the Great Jubilee of 2000.