Sunday, June 03, 2007

Right Order!

It is dusk on this Holy Trinity Sunday and the extreme heat continues.
The sky is a deep crimson, almost blood red, like the blood of Fr. Ragheed Ganni who, along with four Deacons, was found murdered in Mosul after Holy Mass.
These words from the Second Reading of today’s Holy Mass have lingered in my heart since very early this morning when, alone in the hermitage, I celebrated Holy Mass...alone that is in terms of other human beings on earth but, as at every Holy Mass, surrounded by the entire Heavenly Court: “ These sufferings bring patience...patience brings perseverance...perseverance beings hope...this hope is not deceptive, because the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given us.” [Rm. 5:3-4].
In his homily today when he canonized four new saints, three of whom are priests, our beloved Holy Father Pope Benedict noted the constant prayer of St. Father George Preca: “ Lord God, how much I owe You! Thank You, Lord God, and forgive me, Lord God.”
I have two days of notes to continue my commentaries on life in the Catholic Gitmo but they will have to wait for a day or so because I am reminded by the example of the new priest saints and the new priest martyr of the right order of things!
Lord God, Father, Son, Holy Spirit, how much I owe You!
Thank You, O Holy Trinity.
Forgive me, forgive those who hate so much they slaughter Your priests, deacons, their own co-religionists and fellow citizens, the unborn – ah Most Holy Trinity have mercy on the human family, teach us to love our enemies, to love one another.