Lop Notes

17 December 2012

Dives in Misericordia: “The Paschal Mystery” (7, continued)

Chapter 5 of “Dives in Misericordia” (“Rich in Mercy”) is entitled “The Paschal Mystery.” It continues as follows:

“7. . . . The Paschal Mystery is the culmination of this revealing and effecting of mercy, which is able to justify man, to restore justice in the sense of that salvific order which God willed from the beginning in man and, through man, in the world. The suffering Christ speaks in a special way to man, and not only to the believer. The non-believer also will be able to discover in Him the eloquence of solidarity with the human lot, as also the harmonious fullness of a disinterested dedication to the cause of man, to truth and to love. And yet the divine dimension of the Paschal Mystery goes still deeper. The cross on Calvary, the cross upon which Christ conducts His final dialogue with the Father, emerges from the very heart of the love that man, created in the image and likeness of God, has been given as a gift, according to God’s eternal plan. God, as Christ has revealed Him, does not merely remain closely linked with the world as the Creator and the ultimate source of existence. He is also Father: He is linked to man, whom He called to existence in the visible world, by a bond still more intimate than that of creation. It is love which not only creates the good but also grants participation in the very life of God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. For he who loves desires to give himself.”

To access the complete document, please visit:

Pope John Paul II: “Dives in Misericordia”

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the many ways in which You call us to assist Your people with situations/issues facing them and for the guidance and other graces You give us during these times.

Christopher Closeup: A Reflection on the Sandy Hook School Shootings

“‘This world is as broken as it is beautiful.’

“Brooke White wrote that line as part of a tweet this morning in reaction to the senseless murder of six adults and 20 children at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut today. For me, that summed up the nature of our humanity and the world we live in, especially in light of this horrific situation.”

In a recent commentary, Tony Rossi, of The Christophers, reflected on the recent shooting deaths at the Sandy Hook Elementary School.

To access his complete post, please visit:

Christopher Closeup: “This World is as Broken as It is Beautiful” – A Reflection on the Sandy Hook School Shootings (14 DEC 12)

Reflection Starter from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

“Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time.” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

16 December 2012

Chanticleer: “Rejoice in the Lord Alway”

As our Sunday celebration continues, I offer this version of Chanticleer singing Henry Purcell’s “Rejoice in the Lord alway”:

Third Sunday of Advent

Today the Church celebrates the Third Sunday of Advent (aslo known as Gaudete Sunday). The assigned readings are Zephaniah 3:14-18, Philippians 4:4-7, and Luke 3:10-18. The Responsorial Psalm is from Isaiah 22 (Isaiah 22:2-6).

Today’s Gospel reading is as follows:

The crowds asked John the Baptist, “What should we do?”

He said to them in reply, “Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise.”

Even tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?”

He answered them, “Stop collecting more than what is prescribed.”

Soldiers also asked him, “And what is it that we should do?”

He told them, “Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages.”

Now the people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Christ. John answered them all, saying, “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Exhorting them in many other ways, he preached good news to the people.

Reflections on these readings and the observance of Gaudete Sunday:

Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Sundays Salesian: Third Sunday of Advent (December 16, 2012)

Msgr. Charles Pope: Finding Serenity and Joy is the Midst of Conflict and Sorrow. A Mediatation on Gaudete Sunday (15 DEC 12)

The Deacon’s Bench: Homily for December 16, 2012: 3rd Sunday of Advent (15 DEC 12)

Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio: Gaudete Sunday: What John the Baptist Teaches us about Humility and Joy

The Sacred Page: Rejoice! The Readings for the 3rd Sunday of Advent (12 DEC 12)

Word on Fire: Sermon 623 : The Message of John : 3rd Sunday of Advent

Dr. Scott Hahn: What Do We Do? (December 16th 2012 - 3rd Sunday in Advent)

The Word Engaged: Joy in the Diminishments (Third Sunday of Advent C)

Dr. Joseph White: How can we have a 'Joyful Sunday'? (15 DEC 12)

Dives in Misericordia: “The Paschal Mystery” (7, continued)

Chapter 5 of “Dives in Misericordia” (“Rich in Mercy”) is entitled “The Paschal Mystery.” It continues as follows:

“7. . . . Christ, as the man who suffers really and in a terrible way in the Garden of Olives and on Calvary, addresses Himself to the Father – that Father whose love He has preached to people, to whose mercy He has borne witness through all of His activity. But He is not spared – not even He – the terrible suffering of death on the cross: ‘For our sake God made him to be sin who knew no sin,’⁷⁵ St. Paul will write, summing up in a few words the whole depth of the cross and at the same time the divine dimension of the reality of the Redemption. Indeed this Redemption is the ultimate and definitive revelation of the holiness of God, who is the absolute fullness of perfection: fullness of justice and of love, since justice is based on love, flows from it and tends towards it. In the passion and death of Christ-in the fact that the Father did not spare His own Son, but ‘for our sake made him sin’⁷⁶ – absolute justice is expressed, for Christ undergoes the passion and cross because of the sins of humanity. This constitutes even a ‘superabundance’ of justice, for the sins of man are ‘compensated for’ by the sacrifice of the Man-God. Nevertheless, this justice, which is properly justice ‘to God’s measure,’ springs completely from love: from the love of the Father and of the Son, and completely bears fruit in love. Precisely for this reason the divine justice revealed in the cross of Christ is ‘to God’s measure,’ because it springs from love and is accomplished in love, producing fruits of salvation. The divine dimension of redemption is put into effect not only by bringing justice to bear upon sin, but also by restoring to love that creative power in man thanks also which he once more has access to the fullness of life and holiness that come from God. In this way, redemption involves the revelation of mercy in its fullness.”

75. 2 Corinthians 5:21.
76. Ibid.

To access the complete document, please visit:

Pope John Paul II: “Dives in Misericordia”

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for Your presence in the people, places, and events we meet/encounter each day.

Simcha Fisher on Taking Time for Daily Prayer

In a recent commentary, writer Simcha Fisher reflected on some reasons why people do not pray – and why they should re-think their position.

To access her complete reflection, please visit:

NC Register: Blog: Ten Silly Reasons You Won't Pray Today (and Why You Should Reconsider) (29 NOV 12)

Reflection Starter from St. Francis De Sales

“With the single exception of sin, anxiety is the greatest evil that can happen to a soul. Just as sedition and internal disorders bring total ruin to a nation and leave it unable to resist the enemy, so also if our heart is inwardly troubled and disturbed, it loses both the strength necessary to hold on to the virtues it has acquired and the means to resist the temptations of the enemy. We then use up our energies fishing in troubled waters, as they say.” – Saint Francis De Sales

15 December 2012

The Ventures: “Walk Don’t Run”

It’s time for a little something from The Ventures. In this video they are playing “Walk Don’t Run”:

Mass Shooting at Newtown, CT, Elementary School

It deeply saddens us to report on a tragic shooting incident at the Sandy Hook Elementary School (K-4), 12 Dickenson Drive,, Newtown, CT, that took the lives of twenty children and six adults (including the school principal and the school psychologist). In addition, the shooter, who had apparently killed his mother earlier in the day at their home, took his own life.

From throughout this region, school and other community leaders expressed their support for the people of Newtown during this ordeal, and a number of related vigils are being held.

May those who died in this tragedy rest in peace.

Media reports:

The News-Times: 28 dead including 20 children, gunman in Newtown shooting (15 DEC 12)

Hartford Courant: 28 Dead, Including 20 Children, After Sandy Hook School Shooting In Newtown (15 DEC 12)

WFSB-TV: 20 children among 27 victims in Newtown school shooting (14 DEC 12)

The News-Times: Principal, school psychologist ran to help (15 DEC 12)

ABC News: Newtown Teacher Refused to Unlock Door for Police Fearing Gunman's Trick (14 DEC 12)

CNN: Slain Connecticut principal remembered as energetic, positive, passionate (14 DEC 12)

CNN: Connecticut school psychologist was problem-solver, "proud parent" (14 DEC 12)

The News-Times: Reported shooter appeared 'troubled' (15 DEC 12)

NECN: Hundreds pack Conn. church for vigil after rampage (14 DEC 12)

Catholic News Service: Priests near school shooting quick to offer assistance (14 DEC 12)