Lord, give thine angels every day
Waldtraud
command to guard us on our way,
and bid them every evening keep
their watch around us while we sleep.
-John Mason Neal
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May 19th - Pope St. Peter Celestine
This was a saint remarkable for running from glory during his life. He is
called the Phoenix of the Church, and was truly unique in his role: a
solitary religious suddenly placed on the Throne of St. Peter who
spontaneously abdicated from that glorious situation even though none
disputed his position.
Miracles illustrated his life, simplicity illustrated his soul. He was born
in the Abruzzi, Italy, the eleventh of twelve children of peasant parents.
Seeing his inclination to piety, his mother saw to it that he received a
good literary education.
In his daily prayers Peter used to receive the visit of Angels, Saints and
the Virgin Mary. He recounted everything with simplicity to his mother.
Later, he became a hermit and the fame of his sanctity spread.
He built a church, Santa Maria di Collemaggio, in Aquila, whose consecration
was made by the Angels. He founded a monastery on the top of Mount Morrone,
and later these monks would become known as Celestines. However, fleeing
glory, he did not remain there, but after it was established, retired to a
more solitary place.
In 1274, Peter went to Rome to defend his foundation that had been
threatened. With the help of a miracle, he received the approbation of Pope
Gregory X for his religious Order. As he prepared to say Mass before the
Pontiff, he had the desire to have his dignified, but poor and simple
vestments that he had left behind. Immediately Angels appeared and delivered
them into his hands. After receiving the approbation, he retuned to his
solitude.
Upon the death of Nicholas IV, the see of Rome remained vacant two years and
three months. Finally, on an inspiration, the Cardinals assembled at Perugia
proposed Peter's name, and he was unanimously elected.
Alarmed at hearing this news, Peter betook himself to flight in the company
of one of his monks, but was intercepted. He returned to Mount Morrone,
where the Kings of Hungary and Naples came to implore him to accept the
Papacy for the good of the Church. Peter agreed. This hermit who had
hesitated to say the Holy Mass was elevated to the Supreme Priesthood on
August 29, 1294.
When he was still a young man, he had considered himself unworthy of
celebrating Mass, and he only changed his mind after hearing a Divine Voice
that convinced him. "I am not worthy of offering the Holy Sacrifice," he
protested. The Voice replied: "And who is worthy of such a thing? Celebrate
it, despite your unworthiness, but offer it in fear."
In the Pontifical See, Peter conformed himself to the will of God, but could
not stop thinking that this was not his vocation. He continued his former
austerities and lived in solitude among the crowds that surrounded him.
Finally, he decided to abdicate. When his decision became public, many
vigorously opposed the motion, but no solicitations or motives could change
his resolution. Therefore, on December 13, 1294 clothed in full pontifical
vesture, he read before the Cardinals this act of his great renunciation:
"Inspired by many legitimate reasons, desiring a more humble state and a
more perfect life, fearing to compromise my conscience and seeing my
weakness and incapacity, considering the malice of men and yearning for the
rest and spiritual consolation I enjoyed before I was raised to this
position, I, Celestine V, Pope, do hereby freely and voluntarily renounce
the Sovereign Pontificate and abandon the dignity and position to which I
was raised."
And then Peter returned to his solitude to die.
Comments of the late Prof. Plinio Corr�a de Oliveira: (died 1995)
The first fact that strikes our attention when we hear this report is the
innocence of St. Peter Celestine's life when he was a boy. He had constant
contact with the Angels and reported every single thing to his mother, who
would also accept it naturally.
We can imagine the scene, a simple peasant woman, cleaning the house,
washing the family's clothes or kneading dough to make bread, listening to
the narration of the boy about his relations with the Angels. It is a
charming dialogue of the innocence of childhood with the benevolence of
motherhood.
Second, it is also interesting to notice how the solitary and saintly life
of a hermit attracted the masses. Many persons sought out Peter to ask
counsel and orientation in their lives. He was a man who turned his back on
the values of the world, showing that they were worth nothing to him, and
retired to a solitary place to speak only with God. This caused a frisson of
admiration in the multitudes that went to visit him, ask his advice and pray
for him. St. Peter did not need to wear the clothing of the layman or go to
night clubs to attract people, as monks and priests have done since Vatican
II. He did the opposite. He abandoned everything, which from a pagan
perspective seems madness, and was rewarded by the grace of God and
attracted large crowds.
Third, he built a church and when he had completed it, the Angels were so
pleased that they came themselves to consecrate it. No human hand was
necessary, but Angels made the consecration of his church. This shows how
blessed the work of those solitary hermits habitually was.
In Rio, there was a hermit who lived on top of the Hill of Glory [Outeiro da
Gl�ria], called this because he build a small chapel to Our Lady of Glory
there. He also lived alone in that magnificent place. It was a site of grace
and peace with a sole hermit praying to Our Lady, irradiating a supernatural
ambience over the whole small Rio de Janeiro of times past. When we see
priests and religious men today coming and going on motorcycles and we
compare them to the life of that simple hermit, it grates on our souls.
Fourth, the scene of St. Peter preparing to say Mass for the Pope is also
impressive. He had probably been provided with beautiful vestments to wear.
But to the general surprise of those assisting at his Mass, he appeared
clothed in his very simple vestments. He said his Mass, and at the end, the
Pontiff may have commented: "So, Friar Peter, you preferred to wear your
simple vestments. I didn't know that you brought them with you." His answer:
"Your Holiness is correct. I did not have them, but the Angels brought them
to me." The Pope, amazed, remarked: "Oh, I see." No wonder his fame for
holiness was widespread, and that the Cardinals chose him to be Pope.
Fifth, the scene of the Kings of Hungary and Naples insisting that he accept
the Papacy is also interesting. In his relation with those Kings, St. Peter
Celestine had the simplicity of a man who did not need anything from them.
Different from an opportunist who would be thinking of the advantages he
could obtain, St. Peter had nothing to ask of them. Certainly he respected
them very much, but the mention of the name of a King or Queen directed his
thoughts first to the King and the Queen of Heaven, not toward any earthly
interest.
Sixth, I imagine that on that first evening after his abdication from the
Papacy, after the last committee of ecclesiastics and nobles had left him
and the last clatter of horse hooves faded away in the distance, he
re-commenced his solitary dialogue with God, a dialogue that would last
until his death. It was for him the prelude to Heaven.
See Images at:
http://www.traditioninaction.org/SOD/j218sd_PeterCelestine_05_19.html
Saint Quote:
No tongue can express the greatness of the love which Jesus Christ bears to
our souls. He did not wish that between Him and His servants there should be
any other pledge than himself, to keep alive the remembrance of Him.
-- Saint Peter of Alcantara
Bible Quote:
You have not chosen me: but I have chosen you; and have appointed you, that
you should go, and should bring forth fruit; and your fruit should remain:
that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
(John 15:16)
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The Angelic Trisagion:
Holy, holy, holy Lord God of hosts! The earth is full of Thy Glory! Glory
be to the Father, Glory be to the Son, Glory be to the Holy Ghost. Amen.