Happy 332nd Birthday to Vivaldi!

A Venetian composer, violinist, and priest of the Baroque (the best!) era.  You can celebrate by listening to his most famous work, The Four Seasons, here (scroll all the way down for all the movements)

Catholic Olympians

In the spirit of the recent Olympics, there is good news to share.  You may be surprised to hear that a former US speed skater (Nagano Olympics 1998), Kirstin Holum, now Sister Catherine, is a nun at St. Joseph’s Convent in Leeds, England.

Twelve years ago, when she was Kirstin Holum, she was reaching for her skates instead. In 1998 she competed for the United States at the Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. After placing sixth in the 3,000-meter and seventh in the 5,000-meter speed skating races, the 17-year-old was recognized as a prodigy racing against older women in their prime.

Instead of continuing her speed skating career, she joined the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal, an order founded in New York in 1988. In September she arrived in England to work with the poor, with youth and to evangelize. She is a member of a community of four nuns — three American and one English — based in a house that, until last year, was owned and occupied by the Sisters of Mercy.

“I could have gone on” with speed skating, Sister Catherine told Catholic News Service in a Feb. 22 telephone interview. “I was thinking this (Vancouver, British Columbia) could have been my fourth Olympics, but I am so grateful the Lord led me to where I am now.” read more

Another surprise, which admittedly has little to do with Europe, is that the popular gold medal winning figure skater Kim Yu-na and her mother are recent converts to Catholicism.

At the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games held Feb. 12-28 in Canada, South Korea won six gold medals, six silver medals and two bronze medals, ranking seventh in the medal tally.

But the greatest star of them all was Kim who had  won numerous figure skating competitions, becoming a national “icon.”

Many youths thought her rosary ring was an engagement ring and media had to explain its usage and meaning.

Kim was baptized in May 2008, along with her mother. Since then, she has always worn a rosary ring and made the sign of the cross when competing. read more

Reluctantly, I Couldn’t Agree More

…only because society has made it practically impossible to live on a single income with a traditionally large family.

Speaking on the theme of “Family and Business, Vital Cells of Society,” at a meeting of the Catholic Union of Businessmen and Executives (UCID) in Rome last week, the cardinal noted that many of the societal problems today, especially those concerning children and youth, are a result of the fact that both parents work outside of the home.

He observed, “The self-realization sought by the woman in a job, in a career, in social success has as a cost the renouncement of the marriage and children.”

The Italian edition of L’Osservatore Romano reported that during his address the cardinal stressed that “domestic work deserves economic recognition” and that “numerous families deserve special reductions and financial facilities,” pointing to the examples of France and Germany where “families with three children pay €2,000 [$2,720] or €3,000 [$4,080] less” in taxes. read more

04.March 2010

Pope Sends Condolences to French Storm Victims

Benedict XVI said that he “commends the deceased to the mercy of God and prays that genuine solidarity will allow persons affected by this tragedy, especially those who have lost everything, to find the support and assistance they need.”

The Pontiff invoked “abundance of divine blessings for all persons sorely tried.”

A mix of unique conditions caused Sunday’s storm, which brought waves crashing over the sea walls along the French coast. read more

British Bishops Issue Statement for Upcoming Election and Papal Visit

“The principle of the common good requires that the essential dignity of every human life is upheld because our life is not our property to dispose of but a gift to treasure,” the bishops note. “When this principle is abandoned, then a zero has been introduced into the calculation of the common good. The abortion of the unborn, and euthanasia even when voluntary, are a fundamental denial of this principle, because both are concerned with exclusion from the human community, both are contrary to the common good. Both issues make clear that defense of the immeasurable value of human life is part of a ‘seamless robe ‘, which requires all such threats to be taken seriously and opposed.” read more

Good News for the Church in England and Wales!

The Church in England and Wales is currently experiencing a great deal of growth, as evidenced by the large groups who recently participated in Rite of Election ceremonies across the two countries.
Over the weekend of 21-22 February, those making this important step towards becoming Catholic numbered 797 in the Archdiocese of Westminster, 517 in Southwark and 306 in Brentwood, the Catholic Communications Network reported. In each of the cities of Nottingham, Plymouth, Leeds and Liverpool among others over 100 soon-to-be-Catholics participated in the ceremonies.
“The growing numbers of people coming forward to become members of the Catholic community give the lie to those who suggest that religion is gasping its last breath”, said Bishop Kieran Thomas Conry of Arundel and Brighton, where 180 participated. “On the first weekend of Lent, Cathedrals across England and Wales will have seen excited, nervous and happy adults and young people looking forward to full membership of the Catholic community, and a Catholic community delighted to welcome them”.
(courtesy L’Osservatore Romano)

Chopin

The Pope paid special tribute to one of his (and my own) favorite composers during his General Audience today:

Benedict XVI today recalled the 200th anniversary of the birth of Fryderyk Chopin, mentioning the musician when he greeted Polish-speaking pilgrims at today’s general audience.Chopin, born in Poland on March 1, 1810, is known to be one of the pianist Pope’s favorite composers.

Speaking in Polish, the Holy Father noted the celebrations of the Year of Fryderyk Chopin: “May the music of this famous Polish composer, who made such a great contribution to the culture of Europe and the world, bring those who listen to him close to God and help them discover the depth of man’s spirit.” (courtesy of Zenit)

St. Bonaventure

Pope Benedict XVI discussed the importance and legacy of St. Bonaventure during his General Audience today at the Vatican:

The Holy Father began his teaching by admitting a “certain nostalgia” while preparing the catechesis, as he thought back to his youth when he researched the life St. Bonaventure.

“His knowledge engraved not a little of my formation,” said Pope Benedict.

Among the “great Christian figures” that contributed to the “harmony between faith and culture” of the 13th century was Bonaventure, whom the Pope described as a “man of action and of contemplation, of profound piety and of prudence in government.” read more

3. March 2010

Appeal Accepted by ECHR

A five-judge panel at the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights accepted Tuesday an appeal filed by the Italian government to a November ruling that deemed crucifixes in public schools a violation of freedom.Arguing that the crucifix is a symbol of Italian culture, the government on Jan. 28 filed an appeal of the European Court ruling. The Grand Chamber’s acceptance of the appeal is the first step in the process; in the coming months, the chamber will give its ruling in a final judgement. read more

Russian Orthodox and Catholic Church Meet in Poland

Participants discussed steps for strengthening relations between Eastern European countries.

They decided to establish a working committee to develop a joint document on reconciliation between these nations, highlighting the contribution of the Churches in this effort.

Participants proposed setting up a bilateral commission, and discussed themes for future dialogue. They suggested also including members of the Orthodox Church in Poland as well as the Catholic Church in Russia to participate in this commission. read more

Pontiff Will Visit Spain for Jacobean Year

Benedict XVI will visit Santiago de Compostela this Nov. 6 for the Jacobeo Holy Year, and go to Barcelona the next day to consecrate that city’s church of the Sagrada Familia. read more

The Church Triumphs Over Communism Again

The Ukrainian Greek Catholics, in the successful founding of a University over eight years ago, stand as a strong symbol of the victory of God over the atheistic communists that had banned religious belief during the 45 year existence of the Soviet Union.

It’s that vision that has brought about the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv, the only Catholic university in the former Soviet Union and the first university founded by an Eastern-rite Church in full communion with the Holy See.

Founded eight years ago and built on a cornerstone blessed by Pope John Paul II when he visited in 2001, the Ukrainian Catholic University has been cited by many Roman Catholic leaders, including Pope Benedict XVI, as a portentous sign of a Catholic renaissance in the former Soviet republics, where political progress is fitful — and religious tolerance still not perfectly assured. read more

God Save the Queen!

Courtesy of the First Thoughts blog over at First Things

What would you guess is the most reproduced work of art in the world? A work of Islamic art? The Mona Lisa? Monet’s Water Lillies (which can be found in the dorm room of every college-aged female in America)?

The answer is likely to surprise you—unless you’re British

It’s an effigy of Queen Elizabeth created by sculptor Arnold Machin, who was hired by the Royal Mail to come up with the design for postage stamps.

The 1966 design is said to be so well-liked by the Queen that she has declined to have it updated and changed over the years, unlike her effigy on coinage.
It is still seen on almost every British stamp today and some 320 billion copies have been made over the last 40 years, making it the most reproduced work of art in history.

St. Damien of Molokai

Though he is a saint of the Americas, the island of Molokai in Hawaii, St. Damien was born Joseph de Veuster in Belgium.

But as conditions deteriorated in the Islands, Providence was preparing a response. Hawaii’s first case of leprosy is said to have been confirmed in 1840. On January 3 of that year, Joseph de Veuster was born in a tiny farming village in Belgium. He was the seventh of eight children. Despite poverty, his childhood seems to have been happy. He was pulled out of school at age 13 to work on the family farm, but five years later his father sent him off for more education to prepare for a future dealing grain.

Although Flemish-speaking Joseph quickly learned French, the language of his new school, he was beginning to consider a quite different destiny. Two of his sisters had become Ursuline nuns and his older brother—now called Pamphile—had joined a French religious order, the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary and of Perpetual Adoration of the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Pamphile dissuaded Joseph from pursuing a vocation with the Trappists and helped him gain admission to the Sacred Hearts Fathers at Louvain. Joseph took the habit as Brother Damien soon after his 19th birthday in 1859. Thanks to Pamphile’s tutelage in Latin, Damien convinced his superiors to allow him to study for the priesthood. read more