Religious Figures and Church History
Benedict of Nursia
Benedict was born in the town of Norcia, Italy in 480. He went to Rome, where he studied rhetoric and law. At the age of 20, he went to Subiaco and settled in a cave that was difficult to access, seeking God in solitude and prayer as a hermit. In the region, he met a monk named Romano and spent three years there. During his time in Subiaco, his reputation for holiness and wisdom spread among the local inhabitants, who visited him constantly. With several disciples, he founded monasteries in the mountains of Subiaco. In 529, he took refuge in Monte Cassino, a mountain located midway between Naples and Rome. In 540, he wrote his famous “Rule,” which prescribes a life of prayer, study, and work in a community led by an abbot. Saint Benedict died on March 21, 547, shortly after the death of his sister. In 1964, Pope Paul VI declared him the patron saint of Europe.
Brother Roger and the Taizé Community
Taizé is a village in eastern France, home to a community of monks founded by Brother Roger. In August 1940, at the age of 25, Roger Schutz moved to Taizé. Born in Switzerland in 1915, he envisioned creating a community where reconciliation could be practiced daily. He wanted to realize this project in a region devastated by World War II, providing refuge to many. In 1949, seven brothers committed to a life together, embracing celibacy. As the community grew, it extended across five continents. The brothers belong to various Christian denominations and come from 25 different countries.
Saint Teresa of Ávila
Born in 1515 in Ávila, Spain, Teresa’s parents, Alonso Sánchez Cepeda and Beatriz de Ahumada, were Castilian nobles. She was the sixth of 12 siblings. Her brother Rodrigo, an Augustinian friar, and she had a special sensitivity to solitude and prayer. At the age of 20, she ran away to join the Carmelite convent of the Incarnation. A year later, she made her religious profession. Shortly after, she suffered a serious illness that nearly led to her death. She spent almost three years in bed and lost the movement of her hand. After recovering her health, with the economic aid of her brothers, she founded the convent of St. Joseph in 1562. Teresa led a renewal of the Carmelite order, known as the Discalced Carmelites because they wore sandals instead of shoes. Teresa tirelessly toured Spain, founding new convents. She had a close friendship with John of the Cross, with whom she founded the Discalced Carmelites. She died on October 4, 1582, and was canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1622 and 1970.
John Henry Newman
Born in 1801, John Henry Newman’s father, John Newman, was a banker, and his mother, Jemima Fourdrinier, was a pious woman who instilled in her children an interest in religion and reading the Bible. He was the eldest of six siblings. As a teenager, he faced two major setbacks: the family’s economic situation deteriorated, and his health declined. During his recovery, he devoted himself to religious reading. In 1824, he was ordained a deacon in the Anglican Church, and two years later, he became a parish curate in Oxford. In 1845, he converted to Catholicism, traveled to Rome, and studied theology. He was ordained a priest in 1847. In 1878, Pope Leo XIII named him a cardinal of the Church. He died in Birmingham on August 11, 1890. A century later, in 1991, Pope John Paul II acknowledged his virtues and gave a significant boost to his cause for beatification.
Pope John XXIII
Born on November 25, 1881, as Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, he began attending school in his village at the age of seven and stood out among his classmates. With financial aid, he entered the seminary of Bergamo at the age of 11. At 22, he was ordained a priest. He celebrated his first Mass at the Vatican and was received by Pope Pius X. In 1904, he was appointed secretary to the bishop of Bergamo, Monsignor Radini Tedeschi, with whom he shared crucial moments of his pastoral life. In 1914, the bishop of Bergamo died, leaving him disoriented. In 1915, he became a sergeant in the medical corps. In 1925, he was appointed bishop. At the age of 63, in 1945, he was appointed nuncio to Paris. In 1953, at 72, he was appointed patriarch of Venice. On October 19, 1958, Pope Pius XII died. On the 28th of that month, the dean of cardinals announced to the world the election of Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, who took the name John XXIII. He died on the afternoon of June 3, 1963, leaving a legacy as a good man and a dedicated pastor.
Life in the Monasteries
Monastic life was governed by a set of standards known as the Rule. Monasteries were typically located near a source of water. The practice of prayer and liturgy was the main activity of the monks. Additionally, monks performed several hours of manual labor each day. The community was led by an abbot, to whom all professed respect and obedience. Hospitality, brotherhood, and solidarity with the poor and disadvantaged were cultivated. Monasteries played a crucial role in preserving classical culture, education, and Church reform, becoming centers of civilization and culture.
The Mystery of the Church
The Church emerged on the day of Pentecost. It is important to note that the Church cannot be fully understood without explicit reference to the Three Persons of the Holy Trinity. The Church’s mission is to make Christ present in our history. It presents Christ as the savior of humanity: for the Church, Christ is the Church, and the Church is saving humanity. To express this mystery, theology has coined the following phrase: The Church is the sacrament of Salvation. This is reflected in magisterial documents: “The Church is in Christ like a sacrament, that is, a sign and instrument of intimate union with God and the unity of all mankind.” – “The Church is in this world, the sacrament of salvation, the sign and instrument of communion with God and among men.”
Francis of Assisi
Born in 1182 in Assisi, a small town in Italy, Francis’s father was a cloth merchant working in France. Francis had everything: money, friends, and popularity. He dreamed of becoming a knight and going on crusades. In 1202, during the war between the cities of Assisi and Perugia, he was taken prisoner for over a year. While imprisoned, he fell seriously ill. This experience led him to feel a calling to Jesus. Francis was invited to abandon his worldly possessions and live a life dedicated to the poor. In 1208, he believed he heard God’s call to rebuild His Church. He quickly undertook the reconstruction of some small churches in Assisi. He dedicated himself to caring for lepers and distributing his wealth to the poor. Before the Bishop of Assisi, he broke with his father and renounced his inheritance. His first companion was Bernardo di Quintavalle. A group of people attracted to his preaching of the Gospel and care for the poor and sick gathered around Francis. Francis himself only received the diaconate because he considered himself unworthy of the priesthood. The number of his followers grew significantly. In 1209, Pope Innocent III approved his way of life, giving rise to the Franciscan Order, or Order of Friars Minor. Blind and ill, he composed the Canticle of the Creatures. He died on October 3, 1226. Two years after his death, he was canonized by Pope Gregory IX.
Jesus and the Poor
Jesus’s attitude of acceptance towards the poor of his time is clear: – Jesus announces the good news to the poor. – Jesus says the Spirit of the Lord has anointed him to preach the good news of God’s kingdom to the poor. – Jesus identifies with the poor. – Jesus identifies with the poor and unfortunate of this world. Helping them is to bring about the kingdom of God in this world. – Jesus is always close to those in need. – Jesus is part of those in need. He welcomes and helps the weak, the simple, those considered impure, and defends those who have no chance in life, fighting for a fuller and happier existence.
Internal Reforms of the Church after the Council
– The Synod of Bishops was instituted, and much more autonomy was given to the Episcopal Conferences of each country. – Liturgical reform was promulgated and developed. – The social and political commitment of Christians was encouraged in his encyclical, laying the groundwork for the new Social Doctrine of the Church. – In the life of parishes, greater participation of all the faithful was called for. – The participation of the laity in the life of the Church was promoted.
The Ecumenical Commitment
– Living with authenticity the Christian faith, renewing the personal following of Jesus and the life of the Church in search of greater fidelity to the Gospel. – Considering non-Catholic Christians as brothers who believe in the same Jesus. – Working together in world evangelization and the pursuit of justice and peace. – Praying to God to help restore unity.