Papal Greeting to Patriarch Bartholomew I

Posted on by Fr. Peter
“Men and Women Feel a Growing Need for Certainty and Peace”

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 30, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the Benedict XVI’s address upon receiving Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople in audience Saturday on the occasion of the solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul and the opening of the Pauline Year.

Holiness,

With profound and sincere joy I greet you and the distinguished party accompanying you, and I am pleased to do so with the words expressed in the Second Letter of St. Peter: “To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours in the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord” (2:1-2).The celebration of Sts. Peter and Paul, patrons of the Church of Rome, as well as that of St. Andrew, patron of the Church of Constantinople, offer us annually the possibility of an exchange of visits, which are always important occasions for fraternal conversations and common moments of prayer. Thus reciprocal personal knowledge grows; initiatives are harmonized and hope increases, which animates everything, to be able to attain full unity soon, in obedience to the Lord’s mandate.

This year, here in Rome, to the patronal feast is added the joyful occasion of the opening of the Pauline Year, which I wanted to call to commemorate the second millennium of the birth of St. Paul, in the hope of promoting an ever more profound reflection on the theological and spiritual heritage left to the Church by the Apostle to the Gentiles, with his vast and profound work of evangelization.I learned with pleasure that Your Holiness has also called a Pauline Year. This happy coincidence highlights the roots of our shared Christian vocation and the significant harmony of feelings and pastoral commitment we are experiencing. For this I give thanks to the Lord Jesus Christ, who guides our path to unity with the strength of His Spirit.

St. Paul reminds us that full communion between all Christians has its foundation in “one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Ephesians 4:5). May the common faith, the one baptism for the remission of sins and obedience to the one Lord and Savior, be able to express themselves fully as soon as possible in the communal and ecclesial dimension.”Only one body and one Spirit,” affirms the Apostle to the Gentiles, and adds: “As only one is the hope to which you have been called” (Ephesians 4:4). St. Paul indicates to us, moreover, a sure way to maintain unity and, in the case of division, to repair it.The decree on ecumenism of the Second Vatican Council, has taken up the Pauline indication and proposes it again in the context of the ecumenical commitment, making reference to the weighty and always current words of the Letter to the Ephesians: “I exhort you, therefore, I who am a prisoner of the Lord, to conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the vocation you have received, with all humility, meekness and patience, enduring events with love, seeking to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (4:1-3).

To the Corinthians, among whom discord had arisen, St. Paul does not hesitate to address a strong call for them all to remain in agreement, for there to be no divisions among them, and for them to unite in the same mind and purpose (cfr1 Corinthians 1:10).In our world, in which the phenomenon of globalization is being consolidated, yet, despite this, persistent divisions and conflicts continue, men and women feel a growing need for certainty and peace. However, at the same time, they remain lost, as if ensnared by a certain form of hedonist and relativist culture which casts doubt upon the very existence of truth.The apostle’s guidance in this matter is extremely helpful in encouraging efforts aimed at seeking full unity among Christians, which is so necessary in order to offer mankind of the third millennium an ever more resplendent witness of Christ, way, truth and life. Only in Christ and in his Gospel can humanity find the answer to its deepest hopes.

May the Pauline Year, which will begin solemnly this evening, help Christian people renew the ecumenical commitment, and may there be an intensification of joint efforts on the journey to the full communion of all Christ’s disciples. And as part of that journey, your presence here today is certainly an encouraging sign. For this I express again to all of you my joy, while together we raise our grateful prayer to the Lord.

Home Safe

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Greetings all. I made it home safe last night but I was so tired I did not feel like blogging. I drove over 800 miles in about 13 hours. Thanks for all the prayers and I will post some snaps soon.

On My Way Home

Posted on by Fr. Peter
I am leaving Canada this morning to start the long drive home. I ask for your prayers for my journey and for those I might encounter along the way. You can follow my trip on Twitter if you like.

Some Thoughts

Posted on by Fr. Peter
I am off on another journey today but I wanted to pen a few thoughts of my journey thus far. I am struck by the beauty of this place and can understand the draw of the Scottish people to this area as it looks much like the home they would leave behind. It was a harsh territory when they arrived and it is becoming that again.

As I was sitting in the kitchen of a cousin I met yesterday she remarked that there are no children left in the area all the young people are leaving. Well this is the same in most rural areas of out country I am afraid. Most if it is economic but some of it is because our culture teaches the young people that they need to have lots of money to be considered successful. I do not think this is true. There is more to life than money. Friends, family, culture, and of course religion all play in our life and we need to return to a simpler way of life. With the economy going south we are going to need to change the way we do most things. In a discussion this morning with my mother we were talking about hanging clothes on the line and how people don’t do that any more. Well I think we will start to see more and more of that sort of thing. Most people here have large piles of wood for the winter, that will become common place as well.

People are leaving and trying to find the promise land, the cycle continues.

Visiting Family

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Today was a very interesting day. I started out this morning heading towards Iona to visit the Highland Village Museum. Very nice place lots of history and it give you an appreciation for how difficult things must have been for the people when they first came here.

After leaving Iona I set off on what I am calling the dead relatives tour. I got on highway 4 and drove first through Big Pond then to Johnstown where my Great Grand Father is buried. I was unable to find his grave but the church is pretty. I said some prayers for my relatives and as I was leaving the church caretaker started to talk to me. He asked who I was and I told him I was the Great Grandson of Daniel Johnston and he said oh you want to go down the street about a mile and half and see Isabelle she will tell you all about the family. So I drove down the street and sure nuff there she was cutting the grass just like he said. So I introduced myself and she gave me a big hug and invited me in and we talked for about an hour. Turns out we are cousins! Amazing!

So I left her and went off exploring more and found more dead relatives. It was a good day and I took many pictures. As I mentioned in a previous post not way to upload them until I get home so watch for them. Okay going to settle in here and watch some tube and rest for tomorrow. Bog drive around the Cabot Trail in the morning.

Cape Breton

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Well I made it here in record time and the weather and the drive was not bad. I have a book on tape that I am listening too and it helps to pass the time.

I made a stop in Antigonish to try and find the grave of my great-grand mother and I was able to find it. I never knew here and have only seen a few snaps of her but it was a very emotional thing for me to see the grave stone. She is buried with her daughter and her son who was a priest here in Antigonish for years.

Saturday I plan to go out and discover more of my roots. My mothers family comes from this area of the world, mt Grand Father came from Halifax to Massachusetts many, many years ago. I had time to meet a cousin while in Halifax it was great to make the connection. He is my third cousin, if you can figure such things out.

So more tomorrow. I wish I could post some snaps but the camera I have only has a disk in it so I will have to wait until I return to the Village to make the transfer. I am not the best photographer in the world but I do the best I can.

Same Sex Marriage

Posted on by Fr. Peter
A few months back I wrote a entry about same sex unions in the US and I mentioned that the bishops of the Orthodox Church have been silent on the issue. Well, I stand ,or sit as the case may be, corrected. In August of 2003 they released a statement that is pretty much what one would expect regrading the church blessing the marriages and holding to the line that marriage is between one man and one woman. However, the statement says nothing about how the state should or can define marriage. The Orthodox Church will not bless same sex unions ok that’s okay with me, but don’t go telling the state what to do. I reiterate my point that the church should be out of the marriage business anyway.

I will pull one quote from the document as I think this is very pastoral in the way it is written (emphasis is mine)

The Orthodox Church cannot and will not bless same-sex unions. Whereas marriage between a man and a woman is a sacred institution ordained by God, homosexual union is not. Like adultery and fornication, homosexual acts are condemned by Scripture (Romans 1:24-27; 1 Corinthians 6:10; 1 Timothy 1:10). This being said, however, we must stress that persons with a homosexual orientation are to be cared for with the same mercy and love that is bestowed by our Lord Jesus Christ upon all of humanity. All persons are called by God to grow spiritually and morally toward holiness.

I believe our bishops are on to something here and something I preached on last Sunday. We need to treat all people the same way, as members of the body of Christ! Love the sinner, hate the sin.

If you wish to read the document for yourself you can find it here.

Halifax Day 2

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Well all went well yesterday. Conference is going well also. Good speakers and good times. Went to lunch with a few of the participants. It is nice to meet people from places like Rupert’s Land and Vancouver Island.

Had time to explore the city yesterday and I am going to try and do the same today. Big city with many people here but parking is great. I had no problem parking down town and it is not that expensive either.

Woke up this morning to a problem with the lap top. Seems the screen goes dead so I am in the computer lab writing this little missive before I head out for some chow. Okay that’s the update more latter on.

Parishioner in the News

Posted on by Fr. Peter
My oldest parishioner made the local news yesterday during the Annual Town Election. You can read the story here. She is 99 and has not missed an election since 1935. Recently she performed CPR on her daughter that had suffered a heart attack. This woman is amazing.

Halifax Day 1

Posted on by Fr. Peter
So the ferry ride was a little bumpier than I expected but I did not get sick so that is a good thing. I made it to Halifax from Yarmouth about a four hour drive. Nice roads no problems getting here the new GPS is great. I am staying in a dorm room at King’s College in Halifax and stealing wireless from somewhere. Supposedly the dorm has high speed but I cannot get it to work so here I am stealing it. Nice free is good.

The conference should be good. We had a wonderful Liturgy at an Anglican Church of Canada parish here in Halifax. Wonderful singing and the preaching was great. I thought it was closer to the college than it really was so I walked it. Nice night for a walk but it was like 45 minutes each way so I am bushed.

We had the first presentation tonight and to be quite honest I am not sure what he was talking about I am so tired. So it is off to do a little reading and then some sleep. More tomorrow if I can get a signal.

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