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The Georgia Bulletin
March 1,1979
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The Pope Urges
You ask, “What has happened to
Lent?” Going to some small extent
without food does not, you think, mean
much at a time when so many of our
brothers and sisters are victims of war or
disasters and are undergoing such
suffering, both physically and morally.
Fasting concerns personal
asceticism, which is always necessary;
but the church asks the baptized to mark
this liturgical season in yet another way.
For us, in fact, Lent must mean
something: it must show the world that
the whole people of God, because it is
made up of sinners, is preparing in
penance to relive liturgically Christ's
passion, death and resurrection. This
public collective witness derives from the
spirit of penance of each individual, and
it also leads us to deepen this inward
attitude and to strengthen our
motivation for it.
Going without things does not
consist only of giving away what we do
not need; sometimes it also consists of
giving away what we do need, like the
widow in the Gospel who knew that
what she was giving away was already a
gift to her from God. Going without
things is to free oneself from the
slaveries of a civilization that is always
urging people on to greater comfort and
consumption, without a thought even
for the preservation of our
environment, which is the common
heritage of humanity.
Your ecclesial communities call
upon you to take part in “Lenten
Campaigns,” and in this way they help
you to direct the exercise of your spirit
of' penance by sharing what you possess
with those who have less or have nothing
at all.
Are you perhaps still standing idle
in the market place because no one has
called you to work? The vineyard of
Christian charity is short of workers; the
church is calling you to it. Do not wait
until it is too late to help Christ in prison
or without clothing, Christ persecuted or
a refugee, Christ who is hungry or
without a roof. Help our brothers and
sisters who lack the bare necessities to
escape from inhuman conditions and to
reach true human advancement.
All of you who are resolved to give
this evangelical witness of penance and
sharing, I bless you in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit.
The Pope Acts
Have you ever been to a wedding
and not done the Polka? And do you
know the origin of that famous boogie?
Of course you do. It is the lively place in
Eastern Europe called Poland.
Every Polish heart loves a wedding.
And John Paul II is no exception. He
could not resist the tearful request of
peasant girl Vittoria lanni when she
asked for the solemn and exclusive aisles
of the Pauline Chapel. Gladly the Pope
smiled and the beautiful bride met her
garbage collector prince squarely in front
of the Shoes of the Fisherman.
And so Lent began for the Vicar of
Christ as he put words into action. His
Lenten message asks that we step
forward (Polka Style) and “help our
brothers and sisters who lack the bare
necessities.” He gives the example.
As he warmly changed the world of
Vittoria with this unique liturgical
service, so must we. The Pope tells us
that the vineyard of Christian charity is
short of workers. Do not wait to step
out. Liven the prisons, the persecuted
and the poor and banish the tears in eyes
of Christ’s suffering as they wait in the
wide halls of the powerless and the
forgotten.
Get your Lenten Campaign going
and share what you possess with those
who will accept the surprise of your gift.
Vittoria and Mario polkaed into
the night and the wedding liturgy
pronounced in the name of the risen
Bridegroom, served to bring
indescribable joy where there was only
the bare necessities.
They lived happily ever after.
-- NCB
Resound
MILLEDGEVILLE - Beautiful memories
are always fondly recalled, especially when
people care enough to take that extra step, to
reach out and enable someone to feel that they,
too, are very special. The Have-A-Heart Bingo
Party sponsored by the Atlanta Archdiocesan
Council of Catholic Women on February 12
served to touch the hearts and lives of over 425
Central State Hospital patients. This was quite a
grand undertaking and the resulting success was
certainly evident on the face of each individual
enjoying the festivities.
We are indeed grateful for their friendship.
Through their efforts they have proven that the
heart indeed IS the universal symbol of love.
Miss Jane M. Haddock, CAVS
Coordinator, Volunteer Services
(USPS) 574 880)
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Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta
Most Rev. Thomas A. Donnellan - Publisher
Rev. Monsignor Noel C. Burtenshaw -- Editor
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Marian Movement Gathers At Inverness
Teresa Gernazian
Drawn by a mutual love of the Blessed
Virgin Mary, fifty priests, and religious, lay
people and children numbering close to 400,
gathered together in Inverness, Florida on
February 20, 21 and 22. People flew or drove
in from all over and the Atlanta group was over
thirty.
The event was sponsored by the Marian
Movement of Priests, a world-wide movement
led by Father Stefano Gobbi from Milan, Italy.
Father Gobbi, who was not present, is the
recipient of inner messages from our Blessed
Mother. The messages have been translated into
45 languages and Pope Paul VI gave his
approval to this apostolate on several occasions.
Patterning their spirituality after Our Lady’s
requests at Fatima, which are a reaffirmation of
her Son’s Gospel requests, lay associates are
welcomed into the movement and provide
prayer support for the priests.
So there we were at Our Lady of Fatima
Church in Inverness, brought together by our
common denominator, our simplistic and
childlike love for Jesus’ mother. And what
blessing He showered on us. Fifty priests
concelebrating the Masses; all night Eucharistic
vigils; rosary processions; and opportunity to
venerate the International Pilgrim Virgin Statue
(the one we welcomed in Atlanta in October)
and an array of prominent national speakers ...
Father Robert J. Fox, columnist for several
Catholic papers and author of twelve books;
Father Phillip Higgins, C.S.C., Spiritual Director
of the Fatima Apostolate; Father Thomas
Larkin, SS.CC., long-time promoter of Sacred
Heart devotions and Louis Kaczmarek, escort
for the statue. We were also honored to receive
one homily from Father Albert G. Roux,
Spiritual Director of the Marian Movement of
Priests in the United States.
One by one, speakers brought home the
seriousness of the times. Fr. Fox stressed the
wildfire growth of the errors of communism,
with its spirit of atheism, that is taking a firmer
and firmer hold on the world. “Our country is
no longer Christian,” he said. “No country that
has laws protecting the murder of millions of
innocents is Christian in its government.”
When Father Roux gave us his homily, he
welcomed us as any loving father would his
children. Five attitudes are necessary for living
our consecration to Jesus through the
Immaculate Heart of Mary, he told us.
Humility ... we must be little. Ready to listen.
Ready to leam. Silence ... we must stifle the
voices of the external world as much as
possible. Prayer. . . pray always, because when
we pray we check the activity of the enemy,
which »s Satan. Go to Mass and Holy
Communion as often as possible. Pray
especially the rosary, the prayer of the humble.
Love ... if we have love in our hearts, we will
cut the darkness of hatred in the world. And
our last attitude is suffering ... we can make
our sufferings a powerful instrument in the
hands of our mother, as she presents them
perfumed with her purity to her Son, Jesus, so
that we are a part of the completion of His
salvific mission.
The homilist at our final Mass was lovable,
jolly, down-to-earth Father Larkin, who has
travelled everywhere, zealously promoting the
Sacred Heart devotion. “God picks the weak,”
he said in his homily on the Feast of the Chair
of St. Peter, citing all Peter’s mistakes. “Yet
Christ made Peter the rock of His Church,” he
concluded.
Our “little bit of heaven” at Inverness was
graciously made possible by Father James
Cottrell, Pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Parish
and his wonderful, hard-working teamsters. My
friends and I stayed with A1 Rozier, 79-year old
widower, who recently completed his
manuscript, “A Convert Prays the Rosary.”
Everything unfolded beautifully on this trip: I
even got to meet Father Fox for the first time,
gratefully receiving an autographed copy of his
latest book, “A World at Prayer.”
Our common denominator, our love for
the Blessed Virgin Mary, had brought us all
together - and as one might expect - it was a
spiritually fruitful assembly. (For those wishing
more information about this Movement or to
obtain a copy of the book “Our Lady Speaks to
Her Beloved Priests,” please write Marian
Movement of Priests, c/o Father Albert G.
Roux, St. Charles Rectory, St. Francis, Maine
04774. Since the book is not sold
commercially, a donation of $4.00 is
suggested.)
Working Women
By Sheila Mallon
There were over 300 people present at the
Cathedral of Christ the King last Saturday for
the Council of Catholic Women’s annual
Recognition Day. This is a day at which the
ACCW recognizes the “Working Women” of the
Archdiocese. Those wonderful ladies who are
the backbone of their parishes and their
womens groups are gathered together on this
day and recognized and honored.
This day is also used to recognize the
outstanding Catholic young people of the
Archdiocese. Names are submitted by their
parishes and they are then considered by a
panel and one is chosen to receive a Savings
Bond from the ACCW.
The most difficult part of the task is
choosing one name from the many outstanding
young people whose contributions to the
Church and Community are so many and
varied.
Some have tutored in a one to one
program for disadvantaged students; others
have planned Fast A Thons for the St. Vincent
DePaul; there are those whose volunteer work
in hospitals and nursing homes are truly an
example of Christian love. There are many who
have served faithfully on the altar, lead and
participated in Folk Groups, are members of
Parish Councils or are Eucharistic Ministers. We
could go on and on with all the areas these fine
young men and women are involved in and the
beautiful example they set not only for their
peers but for all of us.
The women and young people who were
honored in this special way were joined by their
families and friends, pastors and teachers who
were there to proudly share their joy.
Truly when we live in a time of such
worldliness and selfishness it is uplifting to look
at the lives of our brothers and sisters who are
truly trying to live as Christ asked us to. To do
this is not at all easy as we all know. It takes
committment, self discipline, time and perhaps
especially in the case of our young people, it
takes courage.
I have thought of that a great deal this
week because of a chance remark someone
made to me. We speak to our children a great
deal about how they should live. We expect
much from them and are disappointed when
they don’t muster up to our expectations. We
tell them about the lives of the Saints and give
them books to read like “Profiles in Courage”
which make much of the valor of the
“honorable, courageous” choices which others
before them have made.
A young man I know was recently faced
with such a decision. He was aware of a
situation of dishonesty where he worked. He
could have kept silent but he knew that what
was going on was wrong and spoke out gently
and firmly. He has lost his job for his trouble
and since he has a family to support it has
proved to be a terrible hardship.
The gentleman I spoke of said that he
should not have “rocked the boat”, that he
should just have accepted the situation and
“learned to live with it”, that “this is how life
is.”
I would hope instead, that all of us might
be less willing to compromise our ideals. That
more of us would have the courage of our
convictions and be willing to accept the
responsibilities of a Christian life.
Certainly it is more difficult this way at
times but then Jesus never promised that it
would be easy but he did promise that God
would give us the strength to cope with
whatever comes. I hope that that young man
will only remember that and forget the advice
of a not too wise man.
Prayerfully Yours
Rev. David E. Rosage
THE MASS AND
CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY
John 17: 21-23
We know from personal experience what a
source of joy and comfort it is to be
surrounded by a loving family. How precious
are those close friends who love us like brothers
and sisters. Our friends and family are special
gifts from God. We are social beings and we
need the encouragement and support of those
who care about us. We need to be loved.
Jesus knew how badly we would need one
another. At the first Eucharist in the Upper
Room he prayed fervently that his followers
would be so closely united in love that they
would become a closely knit community - his
special family, his Body.
Community can be formed only when we
are first united with Jesus in love. A
community is founded on love. It cannot be
formed solely on laws and regulations. The
highest level of love is union. Jesus pleaded
with his Father that such a community could
be formed among his followers. “That they
may be one as you, Father, are in me, and I in
you; I pray that they may be one in us that the
world may believe that you sent me. I have
given them the glory you gave me that they
may be one as we are one -1 living in them, you
living in me - that their unity may be
complete.” vv. 21-23.
The Holy Eucharist is a means of
strengthening and building community. Just as
Jesus prayed, we do pray at each Eucharistic
celebration for this unity in a loving
community. In the Eucharistic Prayer II
together with the whole Church we pray:
“May all of us who share in the body and
blood of Christ be brought together in unity by
the Holy Spirit.”
The Holy Spirit is the source of love. He is
the builder of community, the source of unity;
hence we implore his aid in Eucharistic Prayer
III. “Grant that we, who are nourished by his
body and blood, may be filled with his Holy
Spirit and become one body, one spirit in
Christ.
Again in Eucharistic Prayer IV we beg the
Holy Spirit to form us into a family of love.
“Lord, look upon this sacrifice which you
have given to your Church; and by your Holy
Spirit, gather all who share this bread and wine
into the one body of Christ a living sacrifice of
praise.”
Be assured that the prayer of Jesus and
ours will be answered if we are receptive to the
working operations of the Holy Spirit within
us.
To continue your contemplation we
suggest:
I Corinthians 12: 12-26 “The body is one
and has many members . . .”
Ephesians 4: 1-6 “Make every effort to
preserve the unity which has the Spirit as its
origin and peace as its binding force . ..”
What One Person Can Do
The Christophers
EARL CAMPBELL, ALL-AMERICAN
In 1977, when the University of Texas
defeated traditional rival Oklahoma by the
score of 13 to 6, it was Earl Campbell, the
Texas halfback, who scored the winning
touchdown. He twisted and fought for every
one of the 123 yards which made him the day’s .
leading ground-gainer. The senior All-American
was on every-one’s list for the Heisman Trophy.
Publicity is a key factor in determining
the Heisman winner, and the TV and radio
broadcasters were ready as the jubilant Texas
team poured into the locker room. Texas had
just unseated powerful Oklahoma, the team
that appeared up to that game destined to
become the 1977 national champions.
“Where is Earl Campbell?” reporters
asked. “He’s in the shower,” a player
volunteered. The reporters passed the time
talking with the excited players. Finally,
Campbell came out fully dressed. He politely
answered a few questions and then excused
himself. “Earl, where are you going?” a
teammate yelled.
Earl smiled, “My mom came up for the
game, she’s waiting outside for me right now. I
want to visit with her before we have to leave.”
And that was that. No campaigning, no
grandstanding, no useless words. Earl Campbell
showed he was a man who let his actions speak
for themselves. And they did. He won the
Heisman Trophy as the best college football
player in America that year.
We don’t all try for the Heisman Trophy,
but we can learn from Earl Campbell that giving
honor is superior to receiving it.
For a free copy of the Christopher News
Notes, “Happy Are They,” send a
self-addressed, stamped envelope to The
Christophers, 12 E. 48th St., New York, N. Y.
10017.