"Redemptive Suffering" in Christianity's Earliest Writings

Being sick this past week has given me additional time to re-read Ignatius of Antioch's seven epistles (c.110 A.D.).  They are easy to locate online (free of charge). I have really profited from Dr. Kenneth Howell's new translation and commentary, Ignatius of Antioch & Polycarp of Smyrna.  One of the elements I have found most intriguing in his analysis of Ignatius's epistles is the presence of what later theology terms redemptive suffering.  

By "redemptive suffering," I mean the belief that the sufferings God allows into our lives, when accepted and lived with trust in His love for us, participate in the sufferings of the Crucified; and the grace we receive to participate in Jesus' sufferings are of benefit not just to us, but the entire Body of Christ.  In the past I shared my conviction that this belief is found in the writings of St. Paul and witnessed to both in our Eucharistic belief and our Blessed Mother's earthly life.  

Dr. Howell helps us follow this thread from Paul through the Church's earliest days.  Chapter two of his book is devoted to Ignatius's theology of martyrdom.  I have read two other translations of Ignatius's epistles, but no one before Dr. Howell pointed out the literal translation of Ignatius's Greek term, antipsuchon - "substitute soul."  To put it in context, here is Ignatius's usage in his epistles to the Smyrneans and Polycarp, respectively:  "My spirit and my bonds are your substitute soul"; "I and my bonds that you love are your substitute soul in every way."  Listen to Dr. Howell's commentary here, "[Ignaitus's] sharing in the passion of Christ serves to advance the spiritual welfare of those to whom he writes since he is their 'substitute soul' (antipuschon).  Since in his mind Ignatius's martyrdom began while still in chains, he is conscious that it is for more than his own salvation" (p.13-14).

I should also note how Ignatius witnessed to a "give-and-take" within the Communion of Saints, with all grace flowing from Christ Jesus, "Now pray for me as I need the love [emanating] from you in the mercy of God to make me worthy of the lot which I am set to obtain.  Pray that I may not be found unapproved."  And this truth extends beyond earth into the life of heaven, "My spirit makes you pure not only now but also when I attain to God" (Epistle to Polycarp).  

St. Ignatius of Antioch, participant in the sufferings of Christ on behalf of the Church (Col.1:24), pray for us!

New Year's Resolutions for the "Year of Faith"

On Oct. 11, 2012, Pope Benedict initiated the “Year of Faith.” It will conclude on the Solemnity of Christ King in November, 2013.  This year is significant since it marks both the 50th anniversary of the opening of Vatican Council II and the 20th anniversary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.  Benedict wrote an apostolic letter, Porta Fidei, in which he invites all of us to make a concentrated effort toward renewing its Faith in the Lord Jesus - in terms of personal union with Him and knowledge of His person and the Faith He imparted to the Church.

Both the Pope and the CDF (Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith) made suggestions for how we can best take advantage of this year.  On "St. Joseph Radio Presents..." (airing on EWTN and Sirius Satellite at 1p.m. and 11p.m. ET on Saturday, 1/5/13) Dr. Kevin Vost and I shared their main points and offered practical New Year's Resolutions for how we can put them into practice.  See what you think:

So far as I can detect, a unifying principle that seems to run through Benedict and the CDF's suggestions is to renew the faith of the entire Church through the renewal and reinvigoration of each individual member's relationship with Christ Jesus and that means putting ourselves into direct contact with Him.  I would suggest making a resolution to place yourself before Jesus in prayer at the beginning, middle, and end of each day.  Everything thing else the Pope and Bishops, or Dr. Vost and I, suggest can be placed into that matrix of at least three times of daily prayer.

Feed ourselves on the Bread of Life, Jesus present in the Eucharist, and the Word of God, Scripture and Tradition. 

1. Make Mass the most important part of the weekend.  Resolve to speak about it as a privelege instead of a chore (this has a big impact on little ears). 
2. Resolve to unite yourself with Jesus in the Eucharist one additional day each week. (Look at your morning schedule, locate the day it would be easiest, and put it on your calendar.)
3. Make a visit to Jesus in the tabernacle or Eucharistic adoration chapel when you are out running errands or on the way home from work.

Read Scripture everyday by ...

1. Having the Gospel reading used at Mass delivered via email each morning.  (Sign up at Daily Gospel) 
2. Have the Bible waiting for you on either the breakfast table for when you get up, or your nightstand for when you go to bed, and spend five minutes reading from the Gospels.  It's a daily opportunity for you to see and hear Jesus.  (Might I suggest a Bible with excellent study notes, such as the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: New Testament
3. When you exercise, either read the Bible or listen to it read aloud on your iPod.
4. Listen to an audio version of the Bible as you drive.

Memorize the Creed and make its recitation part of how you begin each day.

1. Incorporate it into your morning workout, strengthening your soul and mind along with your body.
2. Make it part of your morning shower or dressing routine, getting "your head on straight" before you head out into the world

Study the Catechism of the Catholic Church this year.

1. Portions of the Catechism can be emailed to you each day (Sign up here)
2. As with the Bible, keep the Catechism on your breakfast table or nightstand.   (Just three pages a day and you should have it completed within the year!)
3. Read the Catechism online for free.  (Here it is, all indexed with hyperlinks.)

Be inspired by how the saints lived and explained the Faith (by reading books written either by, or about them).

1. There are hundreds of these books that you can read on the internet or download for free.  (Check out the Christian Classics Ethereal Library)
2. Join Dr. Vost and I for our "radio book club" over this next year as we pick a different Christian classic to read and then discuss on-air once a month.  Our first book will be St. Patrick's Confession, and you can call in to discuss it with us on-air March 16th at 1:30 p.m., ET - (855) 447-6000.

Cultivate a deeper relationship with Jesus by seeing him through the eyes and heart of His Mother, Mary.  Pray the Rosary (Creed & Scripture) daily.

1. Make it part of your morning drive to or from work.
2. Take 15 min. to pray it with your family after dinner.
3. Incorporate it into your workouts.  Peggy Bowes has developed an entire plan to help you - The Rosary Workout

Share the Faith with others!

When your co-workers ask you what you did last night or over the weekend, simply honestly share what you have been studying or what Christian activities you participated in.

Here's My Number, So Call Me Maybe

Toll free: 1-800-447-6000.  That's the number for the radio show (EWTN) that Dr. Kevin Vost and I will be doing this Saturday from 1-2 p.m. ET about the Catechism of the Catholic Church.  If you've never read the Catechism please tune in and give us a call with your questions.  (If you're well-versed in the Catechism, then we hope you will call too and share some of your insights.)  This is the first of several monthly shows where we plan to take you through the Catechism one section at a time.  In the first show we will give you a quick overview (paragraphs 1-25) and then jump into how God reveals Himself to man (paragraphs 26-143).  Why not give them a read over the next couple of days and be ready to jump into the discussion?  Click here to access the material online.

Radio Show for 10/6/12

 
Thanks to everyone who was able to tune in.  Here are links to some of the things discussed on today's show:

The Shema and the Sign of the Cross

Things I Wish I Had Learned in Catholic School

Going Back to the Sources (Bible Study with My Son) 

Just Read It!

Gabbing with My Body About the Prophets

Book - Memorize the Faith! (and Most Anything Else)

Book - The God Who is Love: Explaining Christianity From Its Center

Links to Resources on Marian Apparitions

Lets start with the free stuff!  Give these websites a try:


Apparitions and Shrines of the Blessed Virgin Mary (that have been approved by legitimate Church authority), and 
Theotokos Books' page, Nine Major Approved Apparitions - click on each for good summaries

I would also invite you to scroll back through my blog posts over the past few days for information on how the Church approves Marian apparitions and my summaries of apparitions.


Now, if you're in the mood to fork out some dough, I recommend:
1) The Catholic Book Publishing Company's Dictionary of Mary
 (Revised, Expanded Edition)
2) Donal Anthony Foley's Marian Apparitions, the Bible, and the Modern World

Apparitions at Banneux and Beauraing

Beauraing (which I believe is pronounced Bo-reen) and Banneux (pronounced Bah-neh) are Marian apparitions you don't hear much about. Both took place after the much more well known apparition at Fatima.

Thirty-three apparitions took place in Beauraing, Belgium, between Nov.1932 and Jan.1933.  The apparitions were granted to five children, (Gilberte, Fernande, and Albert Voisin and Andree and Gilberte Degeimbreand) aged nine to fourteen, in the garden of a convent.  The Blessed Mother appeared to them clothed in a white dress and veil, a Rosary hanging from her right arm, and her garments emitting a soft blue light.  Sharp rays of golden light radiated from her face.  On multiple occasions her heart was manifested to the children - a golden heart and pouring forth golden rays of light.  (Our Lady of Beauraing is also known as Our Lady of the Golden Heart.)  Mary identified herself as, "the Mother of God, the Queen of Heaven."  She told them instructed them to "Pray always" and "sacrifice" for the conversion of sinners.  (This was only six years before the onslaught of WWII.)  She also requested that a chapel be built at that spot. The annual pilgrimage day to Beauraing is Aug.22nd.

Apparitions began taking place at Banneux, also in Belgium, not even two weeks after those in Beauraing.  Eight apparitions occurred in Banneux between January and March 1933 to an eleven year old girl, Mariette Beco.  Mary identified herself as the "Mother of the Savior, Mother of God," as well as "the Virgin of the Poor."  Mary assured Mariette of her prayers on behalf of her children and instructed Mariette to "pray ... pray much ... pray very much" and repeatedly beckoned her to a spring near Mariette's home.  The Blessed Mother said "This spring is reserved for all the nations - to relieve the sick," and she asked that a small chapel be built there. 

What's truly amazing is that Mary was appearing in Banneux at the exact time that elections were being held in Germany and Hitler was being voted in as chancellor.  The Blessed Mother's message of a spring of healing "for all the nations" flew in the face of the Nazi conception of the master race and its coming policy of extermination (see Foley's Marian Apparitions, p.297)