Overheard in the Sacristy

Same Lyrics, Different Tune
by Father Jonathan Morris

Istanbul, Turkey — If the Vatican had hired a high-profile New York public relations firm to help Pope Benedict XVI establish meaningful dialogue with Islam and move the world toward peace, it might have suggested a one-two punch: first Regensburg, then Turkey…

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,232820,00.html

Pope Benedict XVI and His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Batholomew I at Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom in the Patriarchal Cathedral Church of Saint George, Istanbul, Turkey, on November 30, 2006, the Patronal Feast of Saint Andrew the First Called Apostle.

The top photo shows the reception of Holy Communion by a server from the Patriarch.

Rather than another Far Side, Dilbert or Garfield desk calendar for the mother-in-law this year, may I be so bold as to suggest Benedictus, an elegant volume of meditations for each day of the year taken from the exhortations of Pope Benedict XVI. Published by Magnificat and Ignatius Press, the book contains 416 illustrated pages with 721 details of sacred art: well worth the US$19.95. Visit http://www.magnificat.net to order.

Today is the Feast of Saint Andrew the Protokletos (First-called) Apostle. I took the name Andrew at Confirmation decades ago when Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles + John Ward of blessed memory sealed me with Sacred Chrism and tapped my cheek proclaiming me a soldier of Christ. I knelt before him in the same spot in that tiny parish church where many years later I would be ordained a priest of the same Lord by the hands of Auxiliary Bishop + Carl Fisher of blessed memory.

Of historical interest: In 357 the Emperor Constantine (son of Constantine The Great) ordered that the body of Saint Andrew be re-interred in the Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople [modern Istanbul.] With all the magnificence and honor of the Byzantine Empire and the Great Church of Christ at Constantinople, Saint Andrew was returned to the City that had first heard the message of Jesus Christ from his lips. Thus he became in death, as well as in life, the founder of the Great Church of Christ in Constantinople. His relics are in Constantinople along with the Apostle Luke and Timothy, the disciple of Paul, in the Church of the Apostles.

We’ve had an unseasonal cold-spell this week in AZ. It’s perfect weather for some good Mexican hot chocolate or albondigas. It must be a one-dog-night because Oreo, my whippet mix, has calmed down from his usual hyper-self and decided to snuggle up to me to keep warm. Who’s keeping whom warm? Wish I had time to head up to Northern AZ where it’s snowing.

A word of felicidades to the Most Reverend Daniel Flores who was ordained earlier today as auxiliary bishop of Detroit.

A priest of Corpus Christi, TX, the former monsignor served as vice-rector of Houston’s St Mary’s Seminary for four years, as well as episcopal vicar for vocations in his native diocese.

Is it just my eyes, or is there a bit of a resemblance between the Bishop and that odd little fellow in the profile picture? Same ears.

Pope Benedict XVI kneels in the Chapel at ‘Mary’s House’ near Ephesus, Turkey, where the Virgin Mary is reputed to have lived and died.