Our President desires that the members of our honest Society bend their spiritual life to the various feasts of Holy Mother Church. Earlier this week, on those days designated for rogation, we met to pray the Rosary and the Litany of the Saints. For the occasion of the Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Iacobus and Iosephus discerned an opportunity for a somewhat more unique spiritual action, and, after submitting their plan to the President, did creatively commemorate Our Lord’s Ascension.

After hearing early morning Mass, these two hardy souls took a motorcar from Ithaca to Lake Placid, and embarked upon an actual ascent of Mt. Marcy, the highest peak in the state of New York, to plead to Our Lord for His help one last time, even as he rose into heaven, albeit liturgically. Although this mountain is not among the most challenging peaks in the Northeast, the 7 mile climb to the summit offered the hikers numerous occasions of suffering. Moreover, the hike provided an opportunity for the singing of various religious hymns, the recitation of the Rosary, and a brief foretaste of the coming pilgrimage to Chartres.

The pilgrims, having begun rather late in the day due to Mass and the long drive, summitted at approximately 6PM. Upon conquering the mighty peak, the same recited the Te Deum in Thanksgiving for their success, and then proceeded to the main event: a final Litany of the Saints. Returning to Ithaca very near to sunrise this morning, Iacobus and Iosephus finally slept after an exciting and rewarding day in the service of our happy Society.

I speak not of our present Holy Father, nor that recent Benedict who was so unenviably caught between Pope St. Pius X and my hero, Pope Pius XI, but of that Benedict who reigned from 1740 through 1758. According to the Catholic Encyclopaedia he has been considered by some the greatest scholar of all the popes.

Also, the same entry notes: “To go to the extreme limit of concession and conciliation seems to have been the principle that dominated all Benedict’s actions in his negotiations with governments and rulers, so much so, indeed, that he has not escaped criticism even from those within the Church as being too prone to settle difficulties by making concessions or compromises.”

There is another neat anecdote in the same: “He could be gay as well as serious. The Abbate Galiani once presented him with a collection of minerals saying: Dic ut lapides isti panes fiant (Command that these stones be made bread), and the hint was not lost. The miracle requested was performed and the abbé received a pension.”

He is remembered primarily for his great body of ecclesiastical writings, and his great erudition was not lost on the Catholics of the day, among who, intellectuals especially idolized him. Although some greater works can be found here, I really enjoy the encyclical Quod Provinciales - On Christians using Mohammadan Names - from which I quote:

In Our letter mentioned above, We designated that abuse as a cowardly concealment of the Christian profession, approaching infidelity. Since then, We have learned with great mental anguish that many people in that province continue to take Turkish or Mohammedan names despite the consideration of their eternal salvation. They do so not only in order to be immune and free from those taxes and burdens which have often been and continue to be imposed on the faithful of Christ, but also in order that neither they themselves nor their parents may be thought to have abandoned the Mohammedan sect, thereby avoiding the requisite penalties. For all this cannot take place without a pretense of the errors of Mohammed, even if the faith of Christ is adhered to in the heart, and this is at variance with Christian sincerity. It involves a lie in a most serious matter and includes a virtual denial of the Faith, most insulting to God and scandalous to their neighbors. It even gives the Turks themselves a suitable opportunity to rate all Christ’s faithful as hypocrites and deceivers, and accordingly to persecute them justly and deservedly.

2. Our sorrow and anguish is further increased by the fact that some of you yourselves, venerable brothers, and of you also, beloved sons, parish priests and missionaries, take no measures against so vile and hateful a pretense. In fact, some of you even connive at it; by being impressed by empty motives to find excuses for sins, you do not hesitate to allow those who take common Turkish or Mohammedan names and desire to be addressed by them, to partake of the Sacraments with no pang of conscience at all, to the public offense of the obedient faithful.

3. We who are entrusted with the care of all the churches and the supreme administration of the sacred Apostolate; in this capacity, We are obliged to lead all Christians back to the way of salvation and to present them to God pure and sincere, walking in the spirit and in truth without stain. We have heard Our Venerable Brothers, the Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church, who are general Inquisitors for evil heresy on this subject. In accordance with their advice, We first renew and confirm by Our Apostolic authority in this letter the praiseworthy canon of the council of your province of Albania, and We command that it be strictly observed. Also We extend the decrees of Our church by the same authority and uniformity to include your province; We equally strictly prohibit any of Christ’s faithful from daring to take Turkish or Mohammedan names in order to be considered Mohammedans, in any case, under any pretext, or in any conceivable circumstances.

4. Furthermore, venerable brothers and beloved sons, We ask and urge you in the Lord to think seriously about your ministry and the strict account you will have to give to the Eternal Judge Jesus Christ, the Supreme Prince of Pastors, for the sheep entrusted to each one of you; to this end, We urge you to take personal care by your good works that your election will be assured. Since it would be very careless and negligent on your part not to, do not fail to patiently convince, implore, and exhort the faithful of Christ in your Province to lead a good life among the nations. Urge them in all affairs to conduct themselves so as to be an example of good works in order that those who oppose them may be chagrined since they have nothing evil to say of them, and they cannot accuse them of being evildoers who for the sake of base gain profess one thing with their lips while believing differently in their hearts. But if they do not accept your warnings and Our commands, they must be compelled by the rod to follow the norm of Apostolic discipline. The sanctions and penalties provided for by your Albanian council and by Our letter mentioned above must be fully applied in their case: that is, they must be declared unfit to receive the Sacraments in their lifetime, and if they die unrepentant, to benefit from prayers after death. Insofar as it is necessary, We renew and reapply these penalties; We enjoin you to ensure their due execution. This should not be hard for any one of you, venerable brothers and beloved sons, for none of the schismatics and heretics has been rash enough to take a Mohammedan name, and unless your justice abounds more than theirs, you shall not enter the kingdom of Heaven.

That last line is pretty sassy! And Voltaire, whose works Benedict condemned, wrote of the great Pontiff:

Lambertinus hic est, Romæ decus, et pater orbis
Qui mundum scriptis docuit, virtutibus ornat.

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This comes from Diogenes and Bettinelli, but since its about my home diocese…

The only priest that Bishop William Lori of the Diocese of Bridgeport appointed to Bridgeport’s Sexual Misconduct Review Board has just been forced to resign after it was discovered that he had spent $200,000 in parish funds on various worldly pleasures with a good male friend of his.

Curious? Especially because Bishop Lori is one of the rising stars on the USCCB Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Abuse . And I always though that Bishop Lori would be the one to get the nod for Archbishop of Baltimore, in the grand tradition of Cardinal Egan. But then again, who knows these days?

“Taking our name from a childhood group of St. John Bosco…”

St. John Bosco, who was born on the sixteenth of August in the year eighteen-hundred-and-fifteen, began his high school studies at Chieri at sixteen years of age. The few years he spent there were some of the happiest in the young Saint’s life, and also the occasion for the founding of the Società dell’ Allegria.

In this school, Bosco quickly gained the affection of his classmates. They adored his company and his stories, but they also came so that John could help them with their lessons.

Finally, as in Morialdo and Castelnuovo, they just came for no special reason. It was like a club of their own and they started calling it Società dell’ Allegria, a most appropriate name because each one was expected to bring in only those books, topics or games that would add to the general cheerfulness. Everything contrary was banned, especially anything not in accordance with God’s law. Whoever cursed, took the Lord’s name in vain, or carried on improper conversation could not remain a member and was forthwith expelled. John was the acknowledged leader of all these boys. By common consent membership in this club was dependent upon two basic conditions: (1) the avoidance of every word and deed unbecoming a Christian; (2) the exact fulfillment of one’s duties whether scholastic or religious.

Among the members of the Società dell’ Allegria there were some who were truly exemplary in their conduct. Outstanding were William Garigliano of Poirino and Paul Victor Braja of Chieri. The latter, son of Phillip Braja and Catherine Cafasso of Brusasco, was born in Chieri on June 17th, 1820. As a young boy, he was taught at home by his paternal uncle, Canon Hyacinth Braja. Later he attended the local public school where he endeared himself to his teachers and became a model of diligence and piety to his companions. He was gifted with a remarkable memory and discernment, and his prudence was beyond his years. At ten he had already expressed a desire for study for the priesthood. He enjoyed repeating sermons he had heard. One day, urged by his relatives and friends he memorized a complete discourse. Then, on a platform in the presence of a numerous gathering, like a veteran orator, he declaimed so gracefully as to elicit the admiration and applause of those who had purposefully come to hear him.

Often he would advise his friends and relatives to shun fashion and luxury, reminding them of the oft-repeated warning of their pastor, Father Fosco, namely, that luxury was a snare of the devil. Remembering what he had heard, he knew how to say the right thing at the right time to his friends and often he would take on the task of consoling the afflicted.

Don Bosco wrote: “Garigliano and Braja took part in games willingly but never at the expense of their school work. Both were devout and reserved and constantly gave me valuable advice. Every Sunday, after the usual Church services, we would go to St. Anthony’s church where the Jesuits conducted excellent catechism classes. The illustrative episodes were so well chosen that we never forgot them. During the week the Società dell’ Allegria met at the house of one of the members for discussion on various religious topices. Attendance at these meetings was optional. Garigliano and Braja were the most diligent. We passed some time in pleasant recreation, in discussion of religious subjects, in reading spiritual books, and in prayer. We advised one another and mutually pointed out personal faults we had observed or had heard others mention. Unconsciously, we were putting into practice the wise admonition: “Blessed is he who has a mentor,” or that of Pythagoras: “If you have no friend who will correct your faults, pay an enemy to do so.” Finally, the Holy Spirit says: “Better is an open rebuke than a love that remains hidden. Wounds from a friend may be accepted as well as meant, but the greetings of an enemy one prays against” (Prov. 27, 5-6). Moreover, not only did we gather in friendly meetings, but we also went often together to Confession and Communion.”

As soon as they heard he was coming home for the summer, they hurried well beyond the village limits to give him a rousing welcome and escort him home in triumpt. This became a yearly custom from then on and never lost its enthusiasm. It was at this time, too, that John introduced among them also his Società dell’ Allegria. Only those who had distinguished themselves for good conduct were admitted, and in the fall, those who had misbehaved, particularly by cursing or bad talk, were dropped from the roll.

John thoroughly enjoyed the company of his chums and was happy mixing with them, but, nevertheless, he strictly observed the maxim in Holy Scripture: “There is an appointed time for everything…” (Eccles. 3,1). He followed a well-ordered routine and did not deviate a fraction from the rules he imposed on himself. He had a scheduled time for his meetings with his Società dell’ Allegria, for the tutoring lessons he gave to friends who asked fo his help, for performing those chores for the family sheltering him; for his private devotions, his attendance at church and his reception of the Sacraments. Naturally there was also time for recreation. How it was spent, we have learned from Canon Joseph Caselle who as a youth together with seven other youngsters was boarding with a local priest, a teacher in the Chieri municipal school. The building, owned by a certain Torta, faced the Pianta cafe.

“Practically every night,” Joseph Caselle recalled, “especially on Winter evenings after supper, John Bosco used to spend some time with us whenever his work allowed it. We would all wait for him in the hallway, or if the weather was good, in the courtyard. I can’t tell you how happily we swarmed around him when he appeared. And he, always full of fun, would start us off laughing with a joke. Always ready to oblige he would launch out with some charming and yet edifying story; he was able to keep us entranced for several hours without our being aware of it. Sometimes he would repeat some catechism lessons or explain them. Occasionally he would ask in a nice way if we had been to confession and were behaving ourselves. Just because we knew it would please him, we did receive the Sacramants more often than was then customary. So when we told him that we had been to confession, he was delighted, and he would encourage us to persevere in our good spirit. We were actually ready to do anything for him. No matter how late, we were quite reluctant to leave him.

Taken from the first volume of the American Edition of “The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco,” by Giovanni Battista Lemoyne, S.D.B.
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We knew Cardinal Zen was a fine choice when we first saw the pictures of him wearing gloves. But the good Cardinal recently bested himself, and deigned to say Mass according to the Traditional Roman Rite. This is days-old news, of course, but these pictures are definitely worth sharing.