From The Ashes...

From The Ashes...

In March 2005, St. Raphael's Cathedral in Madison, Wisconsin burnt down in an arson attack. On arrival Bishop Morlino tried to retrieve the Blessed Sacrament but it was too dangerous and he was not allowed to enter the wreckage. He found some Catholic fire-fighters and asked them to try and retrieve the Blessed Sacrament. They succeeded and this iconic image was capture by an onlooker. This scene has been reproduced in a a painting in the lobby of the Diocese's chancery.

This image reminds us of the importance of the Real Presence. It is Jesus, present in the Holy Sacrament of the Altar, that makes our church buildings holy and sacred. The Bishop was not concerned with trying to save ornaments or precious vestments but with finding the gift of unending love.

H/T to Fr. Z who included this image in a post about the Society of Jesus Christ the Priest.

Friday, October 15, 2010

Saints this Month: 15th October, Teresa of Avila

This is the statue of St Teresa outside the Convent of the Incarnation in Avila. It was in this convent that she and St John of the Cross were together for a few years, she as prioress and he as chaplain. Still today you can see relics of these two great saints in the convent museum, including some of their letters. Here too is a famous 'doodle' by St John, of the crucified Christ viewed from above. It was the inspiration for a painting by Salvador Dali called Christ of St John of the Cross which is now in Glasgow. This is one of Teresa's best-loved sayings:

Nada te turbe,
nada te espante;
todo se pasa,
Dios no se muda.
La pacientia todo lo alcanza.
Quien a Dios tiene nada la falta:
solo Dios basta.

Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing away:
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things.
Whoever has God lacks nothing;
God alone suffices.