I just finished reading this wonderful book. From the first page I was captivated by the simplicity of the writing and the horror of the story. The book recounts the time that Fr. Bernard spent in the concentration camp of Dachau.
It is a beautiful account of humanity, humility and the best and worst of what we can do to each other. The horrors portrayed in this book had a deep impact on me. I always knew that life in a concentration camp was horrible but to actually read a first person account of the day-to-day life with all its moments was very eye opening.
The incredible hardship these men endured, and the constant ridicule and hunger they lived with is hard to imagine. Yet these men still managed to find Christ in all this mess. Some of the most amazing moments in the book come when these starved and barely alive men get to sneak in a small piece of the Eucharist, and are overfilled with joy that they can have their Lord with them in this suffering.
This book is incredibly important. It reminds us how the Nazis treated those who believed in Christ. The book is very graphic and truthful. I highly recommend it to everyone.
You can purchase the book here
Sick... Moloch would be proud.
I can unite in myself, in my own spiritual life, the thought of the East and the West, of the Greek and Latin Fathers, I will create in myself a reunion of the divided Church and from that unity in myself can come the exterior and visible unity of the Church. For if we want to bring together East and West we cannot do it by imposing one upon the other. We must contain both in ourselves, and transcend both in Christ.
Thomas Merton
My birthday is slowly approaching. And even though I don't expect to get anything if some people insist on getting me something and I know that some people do in fact insist, I present to you a list of items that you may consider so that I don't have to buy them myself and therefore save money for some baby food and diapers!
Books
DVD's
This is my wish list. I'm sure if I spend more time on the book section I would come up with many more titles, however, for now this will do.
Of course like I said I don't expect to get anything but if you decide to get me something from the list let me know so I can cross it off so that I don't get two copies of the same thing!
Please note that items that have a line though them are already purchased for me by some good soul! Thank you in advance and I will act very surprised when I get them.
Today is the feast of Saint Peter's Chair
Out of the whole world one man, Peter, is chosen to preside at the calling of all nations, and to be set over all the apostles and all the fathers of the Church. Though there are in God’s people many shepherds, Peter is thus appointed to rule in his own person those whom Christ also rules as the original ruler. Beloved, how great and wonderful is this sharing of his power that God in his goodness has given to this man. Whatever Christ has willed to be shared in common by Peter and the other leaders of the Church, it is only through Peter that he has given to others what he has not refused to bestow on them.
The Lord now asks the apostles as a whole what men think of him. As long as they are recounting the uncertainty born of human ignorance, their reply is always the same.
But when he presses the disciples to say what they think themselves, the first to confess his faith in the Lord is the one who is first in rank among the apostles.
Peter says: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God". Jesus replies: "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona, for flesh and blood has not revealed it to you, but my Father who is in heaven". You are blessed, he means, because my Father has taught you. You have not been deceived by earthly opinion, but have been enlightened by inspiration from heaven. It was not flesh and blood that pointed me out to you, but the one whose only-begotten Son I am.
He continues: And I say to you. In other words, as my Father has revealed to you my godhead, so I in my turn make known to you your pre-eminence. You are Peter: though I am the inviolable rock, the cornerstone that makes both one, the foundation apart from which no one can lay any other, yet you also are a rock, for you are given solidity by my strength, so that which is my very own because of my power is common between us through your participation.
And upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. On this strong foundation, he says, I will build an everlasting temple. The great height of my Church, which is to penetrate the heavens, shall rise on the firm foundation of this faith.
The gates of hell shall not silence this confession of faith; the chains of death shall not bind it. Its words are the words of life. As they lift up to heaven those who profess them, so they send down to hell those who contradict them.
Blessed Peter is therefore told: To you I will give the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth is also bound in heaven. Whatever you lose on earth shall be loosed also in heaven.
The authority vested in this power passed also to the other apostles, and the institution established by this decree has been continued in all the leaders of the Church. But it is not without good reason that what is bestowed on all is entrusted to one. For Peter received it separately in trust because he is the prototype set before all the rulers of the Church.
From a sermon by Saint Leo the Great, pope
Since the time of Christ the Chair of Peter has been filled. The Popes continue to guide the Church and will continue to do so untill Christ returns.
List of Popes
"It is to Peter that he says: You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church [Matt. 16:18]. Where Peter is, there is the Church. And where the Church is, no death is there, but life eternal"
Ambrose of Milan (Commentary on Twelve Psalms of David 40:30 [A.D. 389]).
No-one can fight properly and boldly for the faith, if he clings to a fear of being stripped of earthly possessions.
St Peter Damian
Today is a commemoration of St Peter Damian who is also Doctor of the Church. He lived in between 1007 - 1072.
He was a great reformer and was never afraid to speak his mind. He spoke out against scandals happening at the time in the Italian church.
He wrote about sexual misconduct amongst the clergy especially homosexuality.
St Peter Damian pray for us!