Apr

30

Pope St. Pius V

April 30, 2008 |

Not two days ago, I attended a lecture given by some Turkish diplomat representing the OIC. Yes, I know you’ve probably never heard of them. That’s ‘Organisation of the Islamic Conference‘. He began with a long history of Islam working in Europe through the Middle Ages and through to today, telling how Muslims in Europe are unable to integrate and find a ‘European identity’, while neglecting that Muslims have been able to coexist with Christians and Jews in Europe in the past. It appears that the new immigrants are unable to integrate, so his history of resident Muslims in Europe would be invalid for his debate. With visible resentment, he criticised the Church: the Church did not respond quickly enough to his liking to the Danish cartoon issue to condemn it, the Church began to dialogue with Islam in the Vatican II period only after someone called King Faisal initiated it, the Church has achieved reconciliation with the Protestants and the Jews and the Eastern Church but not with Islam. One woman was smart enough to point out that the Archbishop of Canterbury (we can also say that the Pope has) had already reached out and to ask him who actually represents Islam. At this, the man launched a long speech about respecting Islam and not insulting prophets, while hedging around and not finally answering the question; there probably is no answer. I don’t think scholarly bodies like this, who seem to be all wrapped up in themselves, are the best way to dialogue with our Muslim friends, who seem to have varied opinions on the ground level; but who then?

St. Pius V, a Dominican friar of the sixteenth century, several times prior, made bishop of Sutri in 1556 by Paul IV, inquisitor of the faith in Milan and Lombardy, was a staunch defender of the Church. Pious and austere as a monk, he made two meditations every day before the Blessed Sacrament, washed the feet of the poor and embraced lepers. He was committed to reform of the clergy and obliged bishops to remain in their dioceses and cardinals to live in simplicity and piety. He enfoced the discipline of Trent and supported missions to the New World. His greatest preoccupation was with the Protestants and the Turks. In England, he excommunicated Elizabeth and embraced the cause of Mary Stuart, supported the Knights of Malta and sponsored the fortification of European towns against the Turk. When his prayers for victory against the Turks were answered, he instituted the Feast of the Rosary on the first Sunday of October. He was canonised in 1712 by Clement XI.

In the news…
  • News from the homeland: 1800 Christians ‘reconverted’ to the Hindu faith. First, I would contest that Hinduism constitutes a ‘faith’. As for the claims of the Hindu activists that the Church is actively attempting to convert Hindus, we continue to deny that. The 1800, even if this number is accurate, are probably poor people who have been bribed into this. This is a popular practice in India during election time. Why not here, too?
  • This is what we dreamed of when we were children, watching Centurions, the animated cartoon with men in rubber suits bolted on gadgets and went flying in the air, or underwater, etc.
  • Here’s one of those tales of genuine heroism: a seven year old child protected her mother, takes six bullets through the right eye, jaw, chest, doctors says she will never walk and talk again, she unaccountably is able to walk and talk.
Scripture
I have yet many things to say to you: but you cannot bear them now. But when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will teach you all truth. For he shall not speak of himself; but what things soever he shall hear, he shall speak; and the things that are to come, he shall shew you. He shall glorify me; because he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it to you. (Jn 16:12-14)

Comments

Name (required)

Email (required)

Website

Speak your mind