Tuesday 1 March 2022
1 – Brother Alois, prior of the ecumenical community of Taizé, calls for peace in Ukraine
2 – Ukrainian and Russian Orthodox priests against the war
3 – More than surviving: A life after abuse
4 – The forgotten Egyptian martyrs of the third century
5 – Portrait of Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, voice of Africa in the Council of Cardinals
Brother Alois, prior of the ecumenical community of Taizé, calls for peace in Ukraine
Brother Alois, in a text published by La Vie, recalls the links between his ecumenical community and the former USSR, which Brother Roger, founder of the community of Taizé, visited several times before the fall of communism. In the spring of 2018, the Ukrainian city of Lviv had welcomed thousands of young Christians for one of the phases of the “pilgrimage of trust on earth” organized by the community. In this time of entry into Lent marked by the war in Ukraine, he invites young people not to despair, and recalls the strong ties between Christians of Russia and Ukraine, which are a foundation for the return to peace. “On our way to Easter, we are sustained by this hope: beyond the cross, through the Resurrection of Christ, God has opened for all humanity a way of life,” said the prior of the Taizé Community.
La Vie, French
Ukrainian and Russian Orthodox priests against the war
A deep crisis has shaken the Orthodox world for several years, with the proclamation of an autocephalous Church in Ukraine in 2019. The crisis has intensified since the beginning of the Russian offensive in Ukraine on Feb. 24. In protest against the lack of reaction from the Patriarch of Moscow to the invasion, some parishes remaining under his jurisdiction in Ukraine have deliberately omitted his name from Sunday liturgies. Metropolitan Onuphre, head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church which remains linked to the Moscow Patriarchate, issued a strong message affirming his loyalty to Ukraine and denouncing a “fratricidal war.” This AsiaNews article describes a “disoriented” Russian Orthodox Church, between support for the army and unease about a military operation whose violence surprises the Russians themselves. “There will never be love as long as we continue to destroy one another,” says a priest from a border parish.
Asia News, English
More than surviving: A life after abuse
Michael Vanderburgh, today executive director of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Dayton, Ohio, was sexually abused by a priest as a child. When he took a job as a fundraiser for his home Archdiocese of Cincinnati several years ago, he met Father Frank Massarella, who had been sentenced by the Church to a life of prayer and penance for crimes of abuse. Michael spent a lot of time with Father Frank, trying to understand him, his crimes, and what repentance means for a priest. “Frank was always very vulnerable and humble with me. He was very forthright in answering every question that I had, and he taught me a lot about the personal suffering that free will can choose,” Michael explains. Although he says he doesn’t think Father Frank really understood the severity of his crimes, he took his sentence of a life of prayer and penance very seriously. Michael suggests that the Church needs “ to more carefully define the proper roles of clergy and laity” so that we can “simultaneously embrace our shared humanity” and not “encourage superior or inferior treatment of anyone.”
The Pillar, English
The forgotten Egyptian martyrs of the third century
The Catholic World Report looks back at the martyrdom of a group of Christians in the Egyptian city of Alexandria in the year 262. The Roman Martyrology considers them to be nine, but in fact the exact number or their precise identity is not known. However, the reason for their martyrdom is well remembered: When an epidemic struck the city, a small group of Catholics devoted themselves to caring for the sick, following the precepts of Christ. However, Catholicism was still frowned upon at the time. The Christians involved were denounced at the end of the pandemic and executed, probably as scapegoats. An unjust sacrifice that hints at that of Christ, who also died unjustly as a scapegoat for the salvation of men.
Catholic World Report, English
Portrait of Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, voice of Africa in the Council of Cardinals
Swiss media outlet Cath.ch describes Congolese Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo as “an important figure in the Catholic Church in Africa” and “the most ‘papabile’ of African cardinals.” This article explains the major role that the Church, and thus Cardinal Ambongo as well, play in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), especially in mediating conflict. For Cardinal Ambongo “the Church has a prophetic mission” and so its involvement in politics is necessary, even though the Cardinal is aware that “the first vocation of our Church is to live and to announce the Gospel.” According to a source interviewed “the cardinal does not get up in the morning thinking about the throne of St. Peter,” but the author finds that Cardinal Ambongo is “simple, accessible, close to the poor,” a style similar to Pope Francis, making him a possible choice.
Cath.ch, French
And today we celebrate...