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FEATURES

NOVEMBER 23, 2007 THE CATHOLIC HERALD

THE WORDTHIS WEEK

By Bishop David McGough

Solemnity of Christ the King 2 Samuel 5:1-3; Colossians 1:12-20; Luke 23: 35-43

‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” The prayer of the good thief is a vivid illustration of the faith that brings us to the celebration of Christ the King. St Luke’s description of Calvary describes the competing emotions that continue to strive for mastery of the human condition. There was the mockery of the religious leaders who jealously safeguarded their power and influence over the people. They could not see beyond the privilege of status, preferring to denounce the humility with which Jesus had questioned their many presumptions of power. The soldiers represented the power and pride of the Roman Empire, a power that ruthlessly eliminated any threat, however small, to its continuing expansion. The poverty of the crucified Lord inaugurated a kingdom of a different kind, the only kingdom that truly responds to the longings of the heart. The kingdoms of a sinful world struggle with each

other to satisfy our restless longing. The presumption of every earthly power is that it can, of itself, deliver the salvation for which we long. The crucified Christ proclaimed that sinful humanity can claim nothing for itself, that its only salvation is to entrust its poverty to the Father. Such was the prayer of the good thief as he entrusted himself to the only one with the power to raise up our broken humanity. Israel’s long history had questioned the foundations of power. The nation had come

to birth amongst the conflicting powers of the ancient Middle East. More than any other nation, Israel had been called to proclaim that the only lasting power was to be found in the God who had called her into being. While surrounding nations entrusted themselves to naked power, Israel looked to a God whose ways would be those of the shepherd rather than those of the powerful victor. David, the father of a line of kings, had been anointed to embody a power that shepherds rather than destroys. “You are the man who shall be shepherd of my people Israel, you shall be the leader of Israel.” Both

THE WEEKAHEAD

Divine Office Week I

Monday, November 26:Feria Dan 1:1-6. 8-20; Daniel 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56; Lk 21:1-4 Tuesday, November 27: Feria (Ire: St Fergal) Dan 2:31-45; Daniel 3:57, 58, 59, 60, 61; Lk 21:5-11 Wednesday, November 28: Feria Dan 5:1-6. 13-14. 16-17.23-28; Daniel 3:62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67; Lk 21:12-19 Thursday, November 29:Feria Dan 6:12-28; Dan 3:68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74; Lk 21:20-28 Friday, November 30: St Andrew Romans 10:9-18; Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11; Mt 4:18-22 Saturday, December 1:Feria Dan 7:15-27; Dan 3:82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87; Lk 21:34-36

David and his successors fell short of that power that seeks to safeguard and heal the longings of the heart. In Christ we see the power that comes from the Father, that is rooted in the knowledge of the heart, that is leading to the wholeness for which we long. This is the only kingdom that embraces our human condition, that truly promises salvation. The Letter to the Colossians exalts the harmony of the Kingdom revealed in Christ. As the firstborn of all creation, Christ is the unity to which every kingdom lays claim. He holds all things together in unity, a unity that is not imposed, but that springs from the longing of the creature to be one with the creator. We long for a perfection that the kingdoms of this world cannot deliver. In his death and resurrection Christ reconciled the divided kingdoms of human longing. It is in Him, rather than in ourselves, that perfection is to be found. There is only one power, one kingdom for which we truly long: the power to heal broken lives, to lead humanity to its true belonging. Today we acknowledge that Kingdom in Christ.

SAINT OFTHE WEEK

St Clement of Rome (November 23)

Clement is traditionally classified as the fourth pope (90-100). Although his contemporaries might not have recognised such a title, he was certainly a Christian leader who lived in Rome, and who sent an epistle to the Corinthians which demonstrates concern for events far beyond his own parish. As such he has been considered a vital figure in the development of the Roman ascendancy. He wrote his letter around 96 in an attempt to heal the dissensions among the Christians of Corinth. The burden of his message is that the Corinthians, formerly so exemplary in their faith, have become swollen with pride, and thus descended into jealousy, strife and disorder. The remedy lies in humility, self-abnegation, obedience, love and unity: “Let us forget our self-assertion and braggadocio and stupid quarrelling, and do what the Bible tells us instead.” It is clear from this epistle that Clement was familiar with books of the Old Testament, from which he quotes at length, using the Greek Septuagint. He also demon

St Clement: Tertullian claimed he was ordained by Peter

strates his knowledge of the Epistles of St Paul, as well as of Peter, James and Hebrews. The Palestinian historian Eusebius (c 264-340), claiming the authority of Origen (c185-c254), identifies Clement with the disciple who helped St Paul at Philippi (Philippians 4:3). Irenaeus (c 130-c 200) states

that Clement had heard some of the Apostles preach, and had conversed with them, while Tertullian, writing in 199, asserts that he had been ordained by St Peter. If he really was as close as this to the source of Christianity, his use of Isaiah chapter 53 to describe the Messiah assumes extraordinary pertinence: “He had

neither comeliness nor beauty; his appearance was mean, and inferior to that of other men.” Another tradition associates Clement with a Roman nobleman called Titus Flavius Clemens who was related to the Emperors Vespasian, Titus and Domitian, and held the consulship in 95 AD. According to the historian Dio Cassius (c 150-c 235), Titus Flavius Clemens was executed by Domitian for “atheism” (as Christianity was sometimes described). If it seems highly unlikely that St Clement had been a Roman consul, he may perhaps have lived in Titus Flavius’s household. There is also a story, albeit unrecorded before the fourth century, that Clement was banished by the Emperor Trajan (98-117) to the Crimea, where he was set to work in the mines. There he succeeded in laying on a miraculous supply of water, and preached with such success that the authorities finally flung him into the sea with an iron anchor about his neck. So Trinity House, the guild of English mariners founded in 1514, was dedicated to St Clement.

BISHOPS’ ENGAGEMENTS November 25 to November 30

Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor(Westminster) Sun – Tue: Attends Consistory of Cardinals, Rome. Tue: Attends Blackstone Dinner, Claridge’s. Thu: Meets with the Moderator of the Church of Scotland, Archbishop’s House, 4pm. Fri: Meets with Archbishop’s Council, Archbishop’s House, 9.30am. Archbishop Kelly(Liverpool) Sun: Solemn Mass for the Feast of Christ the King, Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King, Liverpool, 11am. Tue: Meetings and engagements, London. Wed: Breakfast meeting, Liverpool Hope University, 7.30am. Wed: Retreat and Lectures, St Alban’s College, Valladolid, until December 4. Archbishop McDonald (Southwark) Tue: Archbishop’s Council, Archbishop’s House, 10am. Wed: Attends Lecture by Bishop Antoine Audo, Heythrop Centre of Christianity Interreligious Dialogue, Kensington Square, 2 – 4pm. Thu: Blessing of new premises for Aid to the Church In Need. Fri: Meeting of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre. Sat: Investiture of Knights and Dames of the K.H.S., St George’s Cathedral, 10.30am. Archbishop Nichols(Birmingham) Sun: Civic Mass, St Chad’s Cathedral, 11am. Wed: West Midlands Bishops’ meeting. Thu – Sat: CCEE Meeting, Rome. Bishop Arnold (Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster) Sun: Morning prayer, Daughter of St Paul Day of Recollection, 9.30am; Mass, 3pm. Wed: CTNL meeting, Wiilesden Lane, 2.30pm. Thu: Mass Catholic Union, 5.30pm. Fri: Archbishop’s Council meeting, Archbishop’s House, 9.30am. Bishop Brain(Salford) Sun: Celebration of Mass, HMP Forest Bank, 9am. Tue: Meeting of Bishop’s Council, Wardley Hall, 11.30am; meeting of the Board of Administration, Wardley Hall, 2pm. Wed: Council of Priests, St John Bosco, Blackley, 10.30am; Faith and Justice meeting, St Boniface’s Hall, Salford, 7pm. Thu: Clergy Day of Recollection, Cathedral Church of St John the Evangelist, Salford, 10.30am. Fri: Private appointments, Wardley Hall, am; meeting of Bishop’s Council, Wardley Hall, 2pm. Sat: Union of Catholic Mothers’ Executive Committee meeting, Hinsley Hall, Leeds. Bishop Budd(Plymouth) Sat: Visitation, St Austell. Bishop Burns (HM Forces) Sun: Clergy meeting, Farnborough. Tue: Office pastoral visit, Aldershot. Wed: Apostleship of the Sea Trustees meeting, London, 10am; Meeting Ministry of Defence, London, 2.30pm; Fund raising reception, St Luke’s Centre, 6pm. Thu: St Luke’s Centre Board meeting, 10am. Fri: Reception, Bishop’s Oak, Farnborough. Bishop Conry(Arundel & Brighton) Sun – Fri: Clergy Retreat, Merville. Sat: CARJ meeting; Advent Service, Westminster Cathedral. Bishop Doyle(Northampton) Sun: Visitation, St Francesca Cabrini, Bedford. Mon: Crown Court Service, All Saints C of E Church, Northampton, 10.30am, followed by Civic Luncheon. Tue: Beds and Hearts Church Leaders’ meeting and lunch, St Albans, 10.30am. Thu: Staff meeting, Bishop’s House, 9.30am; meetings, Bishop’s House, 11am; Northampton Diocesan Planning Group, Bishop’s House, 2.30pm; meeting with Diocesan CAFOD Representative, 4.30pm. Bishop Dunn (Hexham and Newcastle) Sun: Attends The Eid Milan Reception, Islamic Centre, Newcastle, 2pm. Wed: Golden Jubilee Mass, St Anne’s, Sunderland, 7pm. Thu: Confirmations, St Joseph’s, Hartlepool, 7pm. Bishop Evans(East Anglia) Mon: British Catholic/Methodist Committee, London. Tue: Cambridgeshire Ecumenical Council, pm. Wed: Ongoing Formation Day for Clergy, Poringland, 11am – 3pm. Thu: Diocesan College of Consulters, Poringland, 3.30pm. Fri: Diocesan Personnel Board, Bury St Edmunds, 6pm. Sat: Parish Visitation, Southwold. Bishop Hendricks (Auxiliary in Southwark) Sun: Confirmations, Kennington Park, 10am; Confirmations, Purley, 6.30pm. Tue: Archbishop’s Council, London, 10am; Confirmations, Sutton Green, 7pm. Wed: Meeting with SW area Deans, Wimbledon, 10.30am. Sat: Induction of Parish Priest, Kingston Hill, 12noon. Bishop Hine(Auxiliary Bishop of Southwark) Sun: Confirmation, Our Lady’s Church, Whitstable, 10.30am. Tue: Archbishop’s Council meeting, Archbishop’s House, 10am; Confirmation, St Francis de Sales, Hartley, 7.30pm. Wed: Chairs meeting of Kent and Medway Schools Committee, The Hermitage, West Malling, 2.15pm; blesses new building, St Anne’s Convent, Sturry, 5.30pm; Confirmation, St Dunstan, Hersden, 7.30pm. Fri: Attends On-Going Formation of Priests event, West Wickham, 10am. Sat: Attends CAFOD Advent Service, Westminster Cathedral, 3pm. Bishop Hollis(Portsmouth) Sun: Day with Deacons, Park Place Pastoral Centre, Wickham. Mon: Trustees Stewardship Committee meeting, Bishop’s House, Portsmouth, 10am. Tue: Cathedral Chapter meeting, Bishop’s House, Portsmouth, 11am; Diocesan Education Council meeting, Bishop’s House, Portsmouth, 7pm. Wed: Co-ordinating Pastors meeting, Bishop’s House, Portsmouth, 10.30am. Thu: Diocesan Trustees/Finance meeting, Bishop’s House, Portsmouth, 10am. Fri: Solemn Profession of Sister Constance Neane, St Cecilia’s Abbey, Ryde, 10am. Bishop Hopes(Westminster) Sun: Ruby Jubilee Celebrations, Holy Family, West Acton, 11am; Young Adults of the West Mass and Faith Sharing, Most Sacred Heart, Ruislip, 6pm. Mon - Tue: Engagements, Archbishop’s House. Thu: School visit to Gumley House School, Isleworth, am. Fri: Archbishop’s Council meeting; engagements, Archbishop’s House, pm. Sat: Mass, Ealing Abbey, 6.30pm and 8.15pm. Bishop Kenney(Birmingham) Sun: Confirmations, SS Mary and Benedict, Coventry, 9.30am; Confirmations, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, 6pm. Mon: Mass for Vocations, Coventry, 7pm. Tue: Mass and School visit, Littlemore, Oxford, 9.15am; Catechists meeting, Henley-on-Thames, 6pm. Wed: West Midlands Bishops meeting, 10am; Clergy Day of Recollection for Priests, Oscott, 4pm. Thu: Clergy Day of Recollection for Priests, Oscott; Lecture, Keele University, 7.30pm. Fri: Visitation, Henley-on-Thames. Sat: Visitation, Henley-on-Thames. Bishop Lang(Clifton) Tue – Wed: URC/RC Dialogue meeting, Manchester. Thu: Sarum College Trustees meeting, Salisbury, 10am. Sat: Visitation, Holy Family, Swindon. Bishop Longley(Westminster) Sun: Celebrates Mass, Homerton Hospital, 11am; Celebrates Mass and Presentation of Maryvale Certificates, Westminster Cathedral, 5.30pm. Mon: Under 5’s Priests’ Group, London Colney, 4pm. Tue: Under 5’s Priests’ Group continued, London Colney; Cardinal Hume Centre Board meeting, Arneway Street, 3.30pm; Presentation of Bibles to Neo-catechumenal Community, Guardian Angels, 8pm. Wed: Pastoral visit, Homerton Hospital, 10am; Chairs the St Thomas More Annual Lecture, Allen Hall,

7.30pm. Thu: Visit to St Aloysius College, Highgate, 9.30am; Sundial Evaluation Committee meeting, Shipton Street, E2, 3pm; visits the Vincentian Order, Osterley, 7pm. Fri: Archbishop’s Council, Archbishop’s House, 9.30am; celebrates Mass for Prisoners’ families, St Patrick’s, Soho, 6.30pm. Bishop Lynch(Auxiliary in Southwark) Sun: Confirmations, Holy Innocents, Orpington, 12noon. Tue: Archbishop’s Council, Archbishop’s House, 10am; Mass for the 60th Anniversary of the Founding of the UCM, St Matthew’s, West Norwood. Wed: Mass for Confirmation Candidates, Bishop Thomas Grant School, 2pm. Thu: Independent Asylum Commission Hearing, Lambeth Town Hall, Brixton, 2pm – 6pm. Fri: Visitation to St Andrew’s School, Streatham. Sat: Day for Religious, St Peter’s, Vauxhall, 10am – 4pm. Bishop McGough(Birmingham) Sun: Visitation, St Teresa’s, Wolverhampton, 9am; Mass for Deceased Benefactors, Little Sisters of the Poor, Harborne, 3pm. Tue: Oulton Abbey Trustees, 10.30am; visits St Mary’s Primary School, Brewood, 2pm; Confirmations, Brewood, 7pm.Wed: Meeting with Anglican Bishops, Dudley. Thu: Visits St Joseph’s School, Burntwood, 2pm; Confirmations, St Joseph’s Burntwood, 7pm. Sat: CLASP Church Leaders meeting, 4pm; Advent Recollection, Oscott. Bishop McMahon(Brentwood) Sun: Pastoral Visitation and Confirmation, Brightlingsea. Mon: Attends meeting of the Council of St George, Windsor. Tue: Meetings/Interviews, Cathedral House. Wed: Pastoral Visitation, Wanstead. Thu: Attends Clergy Study Day, Chigwell. Fri: AGM of Diocesan Trustees. Sat: Attends CAFOD Live Simply Advent Service, Westminster Cathedral. Bishop McMahon(Nottingham) Mon – Fri: Arundel and Brighton Diocesan Retreat, Merville. Sat: Mass and Presentation of Papal Award, Corpus Christi, Clifton, 6pm. Bishop Malone(Liverpool) Sun: Celebrates Mass, RCIA Catechists’ Weekend, St Margaret Mary, Liverpool, 4pm. Thu: Confirmation, St Helen, Crosby, 7.30pm. Bishop Noble (Shrewsbury) Sun: Pastoral Visitation, Our Lady of Pity, Greasby. Tue: Board of Finance and Planning, 4pm. Wed: West Midlands Bishops, Lichfield, 9.45am. Thu: Interview morning, Curial Offices, am; Confirmation, Christ the King, Bromborough, with St Luke’s, Bebington, 7pm. Fri: Ceremonial Beginning of new Building Programme, Chester Catholic High School, 2pm. Bishop O’Donoghue(Lancaster) Sun: Visitation, St Monica, Blackpool, pm; Boarbank Hall Perpetual Profession. Tue: Extraordinary Chapter meeting. Wed: Diocesan Council of Priests meeting, am. Thu: Clergy Recollection Day, Brettargh Holt, pm; Presentation Evening, Corpus Christi Catholic Sports College. Fri: Vicars General meeting, am. Bishop Pargeter (Birmingham) Sun: Parish Visitation, St Anne’s, Birmingham. Tue: Visits St Gerard’s School, Castle Vale, 2pm; Confirmations, Castle Vale, 7pm. Wed: West Midlands Bishops meeting. Thu: Visits St Ambrose School, Kidderminster, 2pm; Confirmations, St Ambrose, Kidderminster, 7pm. Fri: Visits St Jospeh’s School, Droitwich, 2pm; Confirmations, Droitwich, 7pm. Bishop Roche(Leeds) Sun: Visitation, St Urban’s, Leeds, 10.30am. Wed: Meeting of Deans and Headteachers, Mount St Joseph’s, Leeds, 10.30am; Council of Priests, Hinsley Hall, 2pm. Thu: Board of Governors’ meeting, Leeds Trinity and All Saints College, Leeds, 10am. Fri: VGs’ meeting, Bishop’s House, 10am; Meeting with Deans of Dewsbury, Halifax, Huddersfield, Pontefract and Wakefield Deaneries, Bishop’s House, 12noon. Bishop Stack(Westminster) Sun: Parish visitation, Christ the King, Hemel Hempstead East. Tue: Church Leaders, Herts Ecumenical meeting, 10.30am. Wed: Opening of Foundation Unit, St Edmund’s Catholic Primary School, Edmonton, 2pm. Thu: Property Committee meeting, Archbishop’s House, 2pm. Fri: Archbishop’s Council meeting, 9.30am. Bishop Williams(Liverpool) Sun: Solemn Mass for the Feast of Christ the King, Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King, Liverpool, 11am; Confirmation, St Mary, Leyland, 5pm. Mon: Confirmation, St John Stone, Southport, 7.30pm. Tue: Visits Holy Angels RC Primary School, Kirkby, 9.30am; Healthcare and Hospital Chaplaincy meeting, St James House, Liverpool, 12.30pm; Confirmation, St Peter and St Paul, Crosby, 7pm. Wed: Visits St John Fisher RC Primary School, Knowsley Village, 9.30am; visits Our Lady’s RC Primary School, Prescot, 1.30pm; Confirmation, St George, Maghull, 7pm. Thu: Visits St Luke’s RC Primary School, Whiston, 9.30am; visits St Leo’s RC Primary School, Whiston, 1.30pm; Confirmation, St Peter and St Paul, Crosby, 7pm.

WALES

Archbishop Smith(Cardiff) Sun: Confirmations, Llantwit Major, 10am; Confirmations, St Mary’s, Newport, 6pm. Tue - Wed: Directors of Permanent Diaconate Conference, Hinsley Hall. Thu: Council of Christians and Jews, Cardiff, 7.30pm. Fri: Confirmations, St Aloysius, Gurnos, 7pm. Sat: UCM Cardiff Annual Mass, St David’s Cathedral, 2pm. Bishop Jabalé é(Menevia) Mon: Engagements, Curial Office. Wed: Engagements, Curial Office. Bishop Regan (Wrexham) Sun: Visitation, Overton; Youth Mass, Cathedral, 7pm. Mon: Education Team meeting, Curial Offices, 10am; TCC, Wrexham, 6pm. Wed: National Project Steering Committee meeting, London. Thu: Reconciliation sessions, St Joseph’s RC/Anglican High School, Wrexham, 1.30pm – 2.30pm. Fri: Reconciliation sessions, St Joseph’s RC/ Anglican High School, Wrexham, 9.10am – 10.10am; Pantasaph Friary Advent Retreat, 6pm. Sat: Pantasaph Friary Advent Retreat.

SCOTLAND

Cardinal O’Brien(St Andrew’s & Edinburgh) Sun – Mon: Consistory of Cardinals, Rome. Tue: Return from Consistory of Cardinals in Rome. Wed: Dinner with Helpers of ‘Opportunity International’, Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh, 6pm. Thu: Feast Day Mass, St Andrew’s High School, Kirkcaldy, 10am. Fri: Feast Day Mass for St Andrew’s Day, St Mary’s Cathedral, Edinburgh, 12.45pm; Evening with Religious of Archdiocese on ‘Culture of Vocation’, St Mary’s Cathedral, Edinburgh, 7pm. Dec: Anniversary Mass, Ukrainian Church of St Andrew, Dalmeny Street, Edinburgh, 11am; Advent Mass and meal organised by St Vincent de Paul, St Mary’s Cathedral Hall, Edinburgh, 2pm.

This listing was compiled by Gabriel Communications Ltd and also appears in the Universe and Catholic Times