EQUESTRIAN ORDER OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE OF JERUSALEM

Transcription

1 EQUESTRIAN ORDER OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE OF JERUSALEM Northern Lieutenancy of the United States The Squire Vol. 24 No. 1 Winter 2012 Most Rev. John R. Gaydos, KC*HS, Bishop of Jefferson City Spiritual Leader of the Northern Lieutenancy s October Pilgrimage Pilgrimages Change Lives Over a year ago I had been approached and asked to accompany the annual pilgrimage of the Knights and Ladies of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. As members of the Order, all of us are encouraged, in so far as we are able, to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land at some time during our life. During the Holy Year of 1975, when I was a young associate pastor in South St. Louis, I first went to Israel with two other young priests from St. Louis and a seminarian. At that time we rented a car and drove around. I realize now we had only visited a few of the high spots. There were forty-six of us on this pilgrimage. Twelve of us hailed from the Diocese of Jefferson City and the rest of the group included folks from Missouri, Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado. We were a diverse but very affable group and there was a great spirit of faith and camaraderie right from the very beginning. Just the list of places where we celebrated Mass brings back a profound sense of gratitude and awe. On our first full day we celebrated Mass at the Basilica of the Annunciation. In Galilee we had another very beautiful Mass in a Church constructed right over the ruins of what is thought to be the house of St. Peter in the town of Capernaum. We had Mass at the Cave of St. Jerome near the grotto where Jesus was born in Bethlehem, at the chapel of Dominus Flevit on the Mount of Olives where Jesus wept over Jerusalem for rejecting him and his Good News, and at the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu outside of Pilate s house where Peter denied Jesus. The absolute personal highlight was the privilege to celebrate Mass directly on the Tomb of Jesus in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. There was only space for three of us to enter the tomb for the Eucharistic Prayer. All of the others gathered around the opening to the tomb and we proclaimed the prayers as strongly as we could, in order to try to be heard outside. In addition to those places where we celebrated Mass there were other special devotional highlights. At Cana our married couples renewed their wedding vows. At the Church in the Garden of Gethsemane we observed a Holy Hour before the Blessed Sacrament and a service of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We also followed the Via Dolorosa through the streets of the Old City as we offered the prayers of the Stations of the Cross. This account cannot begin to exhaust all that we experienced as a group and as individuals in this pilgrimage of a lifetime. John Lang and his Travel Tyme Organization outdid themselves in all of the logistics and accommodations. We were very blessed to be accompanied to all of these shrines by Franciscan Father David Wathen, OFM. At the beginning of our pilgrimage he had told us that, among other things, we would be visiting the places where nineteen of the twenty mysteries of the Rosary occurred, including even Blessed John Paul II s newer Luminous Mysteries. And Father David was as good as his word. (If you re wondering, we couldn t visit the site of the last Glorious Mystery, where Mary is crowned as Queen of Heaven and Earth. That one will have to wait.) The Pilgrimage was a safe and secure experience and pilgrims from all over the world are flocking to the Holy Land on pilgrimage. Our presence gives encouragement to the struggling Christians and we were deeply heartened to see some of the good work that is being accomplished through the collaboration of the members of our Order with the Latin Patriarch. Do yourself a favor. Don t wait as long as I did. This pilgrimage changes lives. 1 Rev. Fr. David Wathen, OFM, KHS and Most Rev. John R. Gaydos, KC*HS

2 Our Pilgrimage Experience By Sir Thomas Reh, M.D., KHS and Lady Benedette Reh, LHS St. Louis, MO Sir Thomas Reh and Lady B. Reh at Cana in Galilee Folders filled with maps and memorabilia loaned by a past pilgrim, Google search articles about contemporary borders and capitals, The Pilgrim s New Guide to the Holy Land by Franciscan Fr. Stephen Doyle, and assorted books and pamphlets spilled over the kitchen table weeks before our departure for the Holy Land. We read, we savored, and we talked endlessly about the new places we would visit both familiar and unfamiliar. The day of departure we eagerly chatted with fellow travelers about how we came to be here and, thankfully, left behind the myriad worries and anxieties of foreign travel. We were part of the Northern Lieutenancy s October 2012 pilgrimage to the Holy Land and Rome. Mt. Tabor, site of the Transfiguration, breath taking in its physical beauty, was the first of many opportunities to listen. At Cana, in the small courtyard of a Church, we renewed our I Do s. In Nazareth, at the Church of the Annunciation, there was an instance of unfathomable clarity standing before the site of the Incarnation: a realization of God s incredible love and of Mary s incredible YES! And this was only the first day of our pilgrimage. Sir Deacon Jim Martin, KHS, conversing with Al Misdar students We were no longer touring the most holy and sacred sites of our faith. We were being challenged as pilgrims to renew, to reflect, to consider these visits in the wider context of our earthly journey. At the Jordan River, in Jerusalem in the Upper Room, at Gethsemane, on the Via Dolorosa, softly singing Jesus Remember Me through the ancient streets of the walled city, at Golgotha and the Holy Sepulchre, we became eye-witnesses and asked for the ability to flee the many distractions and enticements that enveloped us. Our pilgrimage ended in Rome, the Eternal City, where the fullness of our faith is manifest in its people, buildings, sights, and sounds. We had come full circle: from Peter to Benedict; from Mary, Mother of our Savior, to our Holy Mother the Church; from a journey made for a variety of reasons to the ultimate journey that takes us to the source of unfathomable love. There is no preparation that can account for that. As Knights and Ladies, we are afforded an extraordinary opportunity for spiritual growth. It is yours for the asking. 2 Christians in Israel The Numbers On Christmas Eve 2011 there were 154,500 Christians living in Israel, who constitute 2% of the population of the State of Israel according to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. 80.4% of the Christians in Israel are Christian Arabs; the remainder are mainly Christians who immigrated to Israel with Jewish members of their families under the Law of Return The towns with the largest Christian Arab populations are Nazareth (about 22,200), Haifa (13,800), Jerusalem (11,600) and Shfaram (9,300), as of the end of The rate of growth of the entire Christian population is 0.9% (Christian Arabs -1% and other Christians - 0.7%) compared with 1.7% in the Jewish population and 2.7% in the Muslim population. The size of the average household was estimated at 3.5 persons, slightly higher than the Jewish household (3.1), but a great deal smaller than the households in the Muslim population of 5.0 persons. Over the years, the Christian Arabs have had the highest rates of success in the matriculation examinations, both in comparison to the Muslims and the Druze and in comparison to all students in the Jewish education system. In the 2010 school year, 63% of the Christian 12th grade students earned a matriculation certificate compared with 46% of the Muslims, 55% of the Druze and 58% of the students in the Jewish education system. In the 2010 school year, there were 5,300 Christian students, constituting 1.8% of all students in the institutions of higher education in Israel. Source: Website of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs Requiescant in Pace With respect and affection, we call the attention of our fellow Knights and Ladies to those members of the Northern Lieutenancy who have died recently. In accordance with the privileges of the Order, His Beatitude Fouad Twal and the Grand Prior, Archbishop Naumann, will provide individual Masses for each of these recently departed: Br. Michael R. Collins, FSC, Ed.D., KHS Sir Jerome F. Doyle, KC*HS Sir Joesph Forshaw, III, KCHS Sir Francis J. Henggeler, KGCHS Sir Bernard A Hentzen, KHS Rev. Thomas Eugene Kramer, KHS Sir M. Joseph Lapensky, KHS Sir Maurice F. Perll, M.D., KGCHS Sir Robert T. Schweiger, KGCHS Lady Ruth Taylor, M.D., LGCHS

3 Most Rev. Joseph F. Naumann, KC*HS God and being true to oneself. Growing in Friendship with Jesus By Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, Grand Prior Northern Lieutenancy It is a custom for many at the beginning of a New Year to make resolutions for selfimprovement. For Knights and Ladies of the Holy Sepulchre, we are committed to strive for consistent growth in holiness. Sometimes holiness is confused with a saccharine piety. In truth, holiness is a striving for wholeness, a striving to live our baptismal our true identity. A holy person is one who experiences the peace and joy that comes from being close to I encourage each member of the Northern Lieutenancy to consider making a resolution for 2012 that will help you grow in your friendship with Jesus and in virtue. For many of us, this might involve making a commitment to strengthen your communications with God your prayer life. In this regard there are as many possibilities as there are members of the Lieutenancy. The first step in making a resolution that will be both challenging and achievable is to ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten you as to what is the most important step you need to take this year to enrich your prayer life and to develop the interior strength to grow in virtue. In making a helpful resolution for the coming year, you must first take into consideration the state of your current prayer life. Give thanks to the Lord for the graces that he has already given you to develop your current spiritual life and then ask the Holy Spirit to make clear to you how our Lord wishes to draw you closer to Himself in the coming year. Here are five suggestions of practices that you might consider: 1. Each week prayerfully read the Gospel for next Sunday s Mass. If you are married, this is a practice that you might consider doing together as a couple, helping each other prepare for Sunday Mass. 2. If you are not in the practice of doing spiritual reading on a daily basis, commit to 15 minutes a day of reading some book that provides food for your prayer life and/or helps you deepen your understanding of our Catholic Faith. If you are already doing daily spiritual reading, increase the time you devote to this practice of nourishing your soul. 3. Write on your calendar (or key into your I-phone) reminders to go to Confession at least monthly. Frequent and consistent use of the Sacrament of Penance is one of the best ways for rapid spiritual growth. 4. If you do not have one already, find a Spiritual Director with whom you meet regularly for guidance in how to develop a richer interior life. A Spiritual Director is like having a personal trainer for the soul. 5. Commit to a weekly hour of adoration or if an hour seems too daunting, to at least 15 minutes of adoration each week. 3 If you are already doing these five practices, then praise God and ask the Holy Spirit what is the next step for growth in holiness for you. The possibilities are limitless. If you feel fairly complacent in your spiritual life, then read Matthew 5: Make a commitment to pray daily for God s blessing on the most difficult person in your life and ask the Lord what you could do for the good of this problematic person. Or read Mark 10: the story of the Rich Young Man that is found also in Matthew s and Luke s Gospel. Ask the Lord to reveal to you what He is asking you to give up or let go of in your life in order to follow Him more completely and freely. Following Jesus Christ is a great adventure! We will never in this life be able to follow Him perfectly. There is always more potential for growth in our friendship with Him. Each New Year, actually each new day, offers us additional opportunities to draw closer to Our Lord and to follow Him more wholeheartedly. Save the Date Pilgrimage 2012 Holy Land and Rome Oct th 2012 Spiritual Leader; Most Rev. George Lucas, KC*HS, Archbishop of Omaha For information: Call Travel Tyme Annual Meeting Come to the Water Lake of the Ozarks Lodge of the Four Seasons Resort Sept th Reservations can be made:

4 Missouri s Lake of the Ozarks Being Readied to Welcome Knights and Ladies for 2012 Annual Meeting Work is progressing on the 2012 annual meeting of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, scheduled for September at the Lodge of Four Seasons in Missouri s Lake of the Ozarks. Planning has been underway since last summer. The Host Committee, under the capable leadership of Sir Larry and Lady Judy Lewis (KGCHS, LGCHS), has secured locations for all of the meeting events and activities and has lined up musical entertainment for the evening receptions and banquets that will feature some regional flavor. The committee is also working to provide recreational options that will add to the enjoyment of all attendees. More details on speakers and the program will be provided in a later issue. If you haven t done so already, mark your calendar, make your travel plans, and get ready to Come to the Water and have a great time with all of your old friends and make some new ones. Recommended Web Sites Learn more and be informed:

5 Eastern Iowa At the request of Most Rev. Jerome Hanus, OSB, KC*HS, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, 20 Knights and Ladies represented the Order at the Mass celebrating the 175th Anniversary of the founding of the Diocese of Dubuque on November 20th In a similar effort, Knights and Ladies participated at the request of the bishop at the annual Diocesan Chrism Mass as well as the annual mass of Priestly Ordination. The council is excited that their event with the bishop is set for this spring. At this special occasion time they will honor their Most. Rev. Jerome Hanus, as well as introduce new members, nominees and promotes. Lincoln NE Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz, KC*HS, recognized four members of the Equestrian Order with special papal honors on December 3rd in Lincoln. Sir Jack Crowley, KHS received the Benemerenti Medal, a mark of recognition of exceptional accomplishment and service to the church. Lady Marguerite Kellett, LGCHS, was recognized with the Cross Pro-Ecclesia Et Pontifice award which is bestowed to one who gives outstanding service to the Church. Lady Virginia Reese, LGCHS, was named a member of the Equestrian Order of Pope St. Sylvester. It recognizes lay-persons who, by their examples in business,professions and society, have lived exemplary lives. Sir Herbert Reese, M.D. KGCHS, now deceased, was also intended by the Holy Father to received this award too. Lady Marlene Benes, LC*HS, was named a Lady of the Order of St. Gregory. It is bestowed on the diocesan level as a special mark of favor of the Holy See for one who diligently serves the church on the local level. Bishop Bruskewitz closed the ceremony by stating that all were well deserving of the honors received and in some sense are representatives of so many religious and lay people in the Diocese of Lincoln. Omaha Creighton University in Omaha honored one of its own January 10th when Father Donald Shane, pastor of St. Robert Bellarmine in Omaha, received the school s Archbishop Daniel E. Sheehan Award. The annual award, established in 1981 and renamed in 2001 to honor the late archbishop, recognizes priests and brothers for their leadership in service to the church, society and Catholic education. Father Shane, who earned two degrees at Creighton, will receive the award during the annual Priests and Brothers dinner before the Creighton-Northern Iowa men s basketball game. News from Area Councillors In 2010, Father Shane was one of 10 recipients of the Distinguished Pastor Award given by the National Catholic Educational Association. Recipients of that annual award are chosen for their service in Catholic education, particularly their spiritual guidance of the school community and cooperation with parents and school administration. He also spearheaded the recent renovation of St. Robert Bellarmine Church. Father Shane, who grew up in Omaha, received a bachelor s degree in philosophy at Creighton before entering the seminary and a master s of arts in ministry at Creighton after he was ordained in He has been the pastor of St. Robert Bellarmine since 1998, and also has served these parishes: St. James, Christ the King, St. Cecilia and Ss. Peter and Paul, all in Omaha; Holy Trinity, Hartington; Immaculate Conception, St. Helena; Holy Family, Lindsay; and St. Mary, Schuyler. Western Iowa The Des Moines Diocese experienced an exciting year by celebrating its 100th Anniversary in November of Through the leadership of Most Rev. Richard Pates, KC*HS, and the hard work of many individuals who served on the planning committee, the Diocesan event was all encompassing and featured something for every age to enjoy. Highlights of the all day event included workshops, speakers, choirs, musicians, lunch and a dynamic youth rally in the afternoon. Over 6,300 people experienced the Centennial and it culminated with a beautiful Mass attended by thousands of people and a processional led by the Knights and Ladies of Western Iowa. Sir Ron Pogee, KHS and Lady Susan Pogge, LHS have been appointed as new Area Councillors for Western Iowa, succeeding Sir John Cortesio, KGCHS and Lady Barbara Cortesio, LGCHS, who loyally served for eight years. Many Knights and Ladies of Western Iowa attended the annual Bishop s dinner in December in Des Moines, Iowa. They will meet again on May 19, 2012, for the Holy Hour Service at St. Augustin s Church at 10:00 a.m. Rev. Msgr. Lawrence Beeson, KCHS will preside. Committees have been formed and plans are well underway for the 2013 Annual Meeting which will be held in Des Moines, Iowa. We hope that the Knights and Ladies of the Northern Lieutenancy have already marked their calendars for September 20-23,

6 EQUESTRIAN ORDER OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE OF JERUSALEM Northern Lieutenancy Squire Editors: Sir James Broski, KCHS Lady Suzanne Broski, LCHS 9299 S. Lark Sparrow Trail Highlands Ranch, CO PRESORTED FIRST-CLASS MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID ST.LOUIS, MO PERMIT # 4400 Rev. Fr. Michael Creagan, KHS. Chaplain for the Minneapolis, St. Paul, Minnesota Council. Chivalric Virtue: Gentilesse By Reverend Michael Creagan, KHS The late Sir Alfred Blasco (Knight of the Collar) wrote an excellent book titled The Modern Crusaders. In this work he outlines the important virtues of chivalry: Gentilesse, Charite, Courtoisie, Loyaute, and Largesse. A virtue is a habit that needs to be developed and practiced. It is important for us to be familiar with these chivalric virtues in order to practice them daily. Gentilesse is chief among the chivalric virtues. Sir Alfred writes, Gentilesse is the ability to suspend the reaction of rage, to calm the spirit, and to deal effectively with reality as it exists. (Blasco 83) Please take a moment now to open your Bible to Matthew 5:1-12. We immediately recognize this passage as The Beatitudes. In this portion of the Lord s Sermon on the Mount he is not speaking of different groups of people who will enter Heaven. Rather our Lord is telling us of the qualities that we need to have in order to enjoy blessedness. One of the beatitudes reads blessed are the meek. Meekness should not be equated with weakness. It is actually a virtue that requires great strength. According to author Peter Kreeft, for a knight meekness is the ability to use force and the gentleness to forgo it. Likewise it is not sitting on the sidelines when action is needed. Meekness requires a great amount of self-control or self-mastery. We might use the example of nuclear power. A nuclear bomb causes great destruction while a nuclear power plant can offer productive energy. The key is that the power plant is controlled. As knights and ladies we are called to practice this meekness, this self control even in the midst of anger or difficulty. Do I live the virtue of Gentilesse? How do I behave toward other people? How would the clerk at the grocery store describe me? We must strive to live Gentilesse each moment of the day. Our Lady, Queen of Palestine, pray for us! Reverend Michael Creagan, KHS Blasco, Sir Alfred The Modern Crusaders Mystic Island:Pen Rose,1998 6