Treasures from Our Tradition: Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls
This is the year of St. Paul, and so one of the most visited churches of Rome is also one of the most beautiful: the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. Like so many other churches, it was founded by the master-builder (or financier) Emperor Constantine about the year 315. Paul was martyred outside the walls of the City of Rome at a place called Tre Fontane, probably on June 29, in the year 65, perhaps the first anniversary of St. Peter’s crucifixion. Christians buried him in a quiet place about two miles away, and visited to pray. Constantine was running low on bricks, apparently, because the first church was tiny. In 386 it was demolished and today’s basilica begun. This vast and towering space looks much the same today as it did in the fourth century.
The centuries have not been kind to ancient Rome, but until the early 1800’s, St. Paul Outside the Walls survived beautifully, perhaps because it has been assigned for nearly a thousand years to Benedictine monks. It was therefore a vibrant place of daily prayer even through the centuries when Rome was a poor and nearly abandoned city. In 1823 a great fire resulted from a botched repair job to lead on the roof, and St. Paul’s was destroyed. It is said that the whole world contributed to its restoration. Even the Russian czar and the viceroy of Egypt gave alabaster, malachite, and lapis lazuli for the pillars and the tabernacle. Several of the precious mosaics were able to be restored, bringing the ancient basilica back to life. One of the great treasures of the basilica is a set of prison chains, said to have been worn by the Apostle in the last days before his martyrdom. Unlike other Roman churches, St. Paul’s stands in a garden-like suburban neighborhood, surrounded by stately palm trees, gardens, and parks.
Rev. James Field
© J. S. Paluch Co.
Spring 2018 Adult Education course offerings open for registration
The Adult Education center at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi offers courses in theology, scripture, spirituality, history, literature, and a variety of other topics. The classes are all tought by highly qualified people in their field.
Who takes these courses?
The courses are taken by any adult who wants to deepen their understanding of the Catholic Faith. Most are Catholic, but all people are welcome and often people who are not catholic take our courses because of their interest in the topic. Catechists, lectors, eucharistic ministers take our courses. Young people and retirees take these courses. There is something for everyone!
ONLINE REGISTRATION IS OPEN CLICK HERE.
You can also click HERE for a PDF list of the courses that will be offered. Brochures are available in the church also.
Take a look, invite a friend, expand your mind!
Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Schedule
On Monday, January 15, 2018 our nation will commemorate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Masses will be celebrated at 8:00 and 11:30 AM.
There will be no confessions, and the church offices will be closed for the day.
Treasures from Our Tradition: Ordinary Time
“Ordinary Time” began for us this week. On the old calendar, the feast of the Presentation, still more than two weeks away, was the last day of the Christmas season.
Sadly, Bethlehem is hardly a place of peace on earth these days. The ancient Christian community has been largely uprooted by political strife. The Church of the Nativity stands (barely) in remarkable disrepair and disorder in Manger Square. The roof is crumbling, the major doorways are blocked, the wiring is faulty, and the worship life is disrupted by quarrels among Eastern Christians.
The church was founded by the Emperor Constantine in 325, destroyed in a Samaritan revolt in 539, and rebuilt by the Emperor Justinian. When the area came under Muslim control in 638, the holiness of the church was respected, and in return Christians allowed Muslims to pray in the south aisle, a right still upheld. Earlier in that century, invading Persians were ordered to destroy all churches, but when they saw the magi carved over the doorway of the Church of the Nativity, they spared it out of respect for their ancestors who bore gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the same city.
The Crusaders restored and redecorated the church by the twelfth century, and it is their plan that survives. Down a few stone steps is a stone grotto with a silver star marking the place of Christ’s birth: when the star was stolen in 1847 it triggered an international crisis that exploded into the Crimean War. Since 1852, the church has been shared by the Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, and Armenian Churches. The Greeks are in charge of the grotto, but don’t enjoy the best of friendships with the Armenians. Catholics have the care of the Chapel of the Manger, and avoid the squabbles by a separate entrance to the Franciscan monastery church of St. Catherine.
Pray for peace in Bethlehem!
-Rev. James Field
Change to Mass Schedule in New Year
Starting this month we made a small change in our weekday Mass schedule:
The noon-hour Masses are now celebrated at 11:30 AM and 12:30 PM
(the 1:15 Mass will be eliminated).
So since Tuesday, January 2, 2018, the Mass schedule for Monday to Friday is:
7:00, 7:45, 8:30, 11:30 AM, 12:30, 4:30 and 5:30 PM.
The Pastor’s Corner
We are back to Ordinary Time and it is the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time. We hear about Samuel being called by the Lord, but it takes Samuel a while to know that it is the Lord calling him. In today’s Gospel, Andrew hears John the Baptist say “Behold the Lamb of God” as Jesus walks by. This causes Andrew to go to his brother, Simon Peter, and tell him that they have found the Messiah.
The good news about Jesus spreads from person to person. We hear how God them – some individually, others through another person. Each of them responds, willing to cooperate. God continues to touch our lives – what is your reaction?
On Monday, January 15, we celebrate the holiday in memory of Martin Luther King, Jr. His following of Jesus and Jesus’ message brought about his death, but what he did stills shines forth like a light in the darkness. His dream is still unfinished and his message continues to remind us that there is more to be done.
I want to thank our Security personnel, the police, the MTA, the TV channels, and the woman all involved in the return of our monstrance last week. We are all shocked when a church is violated or something is stolen. When it happens in your own church, it is happening “right here.” We read: “If you see something, say something.” That is true here at St. Francis too.
-Fr. Andrew Reitz, O.F.M.
Immigration Detention Visits
“I was in prison and you came to visit me… truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
Join our Immigration Detention Visits in Elizabeth, NJ.
We have visitation dates for 2018.
For more information and to participate, please email us: migrantcenter@stfrancisnyc. org, or call 212-736-8500, Ext. 377.
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