Appreciating God's Grace

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Appreciating God's Grace

Be grateful, therefore, for the least gift and you will be worthy
to receive a greater. Consider the least gift as the greatest, the
most contemptible as something special. And, if you but look to the
dignity of the Giver, no gift will appear too small or worthless. Even
though He give punishments and scourges, accept them, because He acts
for our welfare in whatever He allows to befall us.
He who desires to keep the grace of God ought to be grateful when
it is given and patient when it is withdrawn. Let him pray that it
return; let him be cautious and humble lest he lose it.
Imitation of Christ:-- a Kempis Bk II Ch 10

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27 August – Bl Dominic Barberi of the Mother of God C.P.

Apostle to England – Passionist Priest, Theologian, Confessor,
Teacher, Spiritual Director, Writer, Missionary, Evangelist – born on
22 June 1792 at Viterbo, Italy and died at 3pm on 27 August 1849 at
Reading, Berkshire, England of a heart attack. Patronage – England. St
Dominic was an Italian, a member of the Passionist Congregation and
was extremely prominent in spreading Catholicism in England. He was a
very positive influence on and instrumental in, the conversion of
Blessed Cardinal John Henry Newman (1801-1890).

Dominic was born to a poor family of Italian farmers in 1792. He was
orphaned at the tender age of eight and an uncle and aunt raised him
in the town of Merlano. Young Dominic was not sent to school but
instead was taught to shepherd sheep. But the child always found time
to pray as he tended the sheep and he also diligently taught himself
to read and write.

When Napoleon closed all the religious houses in Italy, Dominic became
acquainted with several Passionists living in exile near his town.
During this time, Dominic experienced a divine message to join the
Passionists and one day go to England.

Dominic had promised God that if he were not drafted, he would become
a Passionist. Dominic’s uncle and aunt had also planned a marriage for
him. But just before the arranged marriage was to take place, he
slipped away and instead entered the nearby Passionist monastery at
Vetralla. Dominic studied eagerly, for he had a brilliant mind. He was
ordained in Rome on 1 March 1821. For the next 19 years he shared the
life and ministries of the Passionists in Italy but his heart was in
England.

Mission in England
In 1833, Dominic became a delegate to the General Chapter. In this
capacity, he was able to plant the seed to send missionaries to
England. By the time of the 1839 General Chapter, changes in the
Congregation were afoot. The new General Superior was the charismatic
Father Anthony Testa. By April of 1840, Father Testa decided that
Dominic should go to England, though he worried for Dominic’s failing
health. He sent him with three companions to Belgium to make a
foundation in that country with the hope that from Belgium the mission
to England could be realised. Dominic established the first Passionist
monastery outside of Italy in 1840, at Ere in Belgium.

Finally, the time came to establish the first Passionist residence in
England. Father Dominic and a companion went to England and obtained a
house at Aston Hall in Staffordshire. One of his first ministries was
the celebration of the 1842 Holy Week services.

While in Italy and later in Belgium, Barberi had always kept up a keen
interest in the Oxford Movement. In 1841 a letter by John Dobree
Dalgairns appeared in L’Univers explaining the position of the
Anglican High Church party. Barberi decided to respond to this letter
in the mistaken belief that it represented the views of the entire
faculty of Oxford University. (Dalgairns was an undergraduate when he
wrote the letter.) Barberi’s “Letter to University Professors at
Oxford” describes his long hopes for the conversion of England and his
belief that the men of Oxford would be instrumental in such a
conversion. The letter, through the help of Ignatius Spencer,
eventually ended up in the hands of Dalgairns, who was residing with
John Henry Newman at Littlemore. Barberi repudiated the Anglican claim
that the 39 Articles could be interpreted in a Catholic light. In
their continued correspondence Dalgairns and Barberi debated the
Catholic position and Dalgairns requested copies of the Passionist
Rule and Dominic’s ‘The Lament of England’. Eventually Dalgairns was
received into the Catholic Church by Barberi at Aston in September
1845.

In October of that same year Barberi visited Littlemore, where Newman
made his confession to him. Newman relates in his “Apologia” how
Barberi arrived soaked from the rain and was drying himself by the
fire when Newman knelt and asked to be received into the Catholic
Church. This event is marked by a sculpture in the Catholic Church of
Blessed Dominic Barberi at Littlemore. Two of Newman’s companions at
Littlemore were also received, and Barberi celebrated Mass for them
the following morning. Subsequently, Newman and Barberi always took
note of each other’s careers. Dominic felt immensely blessed to have
received the famous Anglican into the Catholic Church. “What a
spectacle it was for me to see Newman at my feet! All that I have
suffered since I left Italy has been well compensated by this event. I
hope the effects of such a conversion may be great.”

English vocations were few but Dominic was deeply consoled by the
arrival of Father George Spencer who received the habit on 5 January
1847. Spencer was a convert of some years and already ordained, when
Dominic came to England in 1841. Now as a fellow Passionist, he proved
a great comfort to Dominic and the Passionists. A little note of
interest – Venerable Ignatius Spencer of St Paul (1799-1864) born as
Hon George Spencer, was a son of the Second Earl Spencer. He converted
from Anglicanism to the Roman Catholic Church, entered the Passionist
Order in 1841 at the age of 31, scandalising some in the Victorian
society and spent his life working for the conversion of England to
the Catholic faith. He is also known as the ‘Apostle of Prayer for
England’ and the great-great uncle of Princess Diana (died 1997).

In August, 1849, Dominic was returning to Aston Hall from London.
About five miles from Reading, Dominic got desperately sick. He was
taken off the train to be attended by a doctor but there was not a
room for him at the small station of Pangbourne. Father Louis put him
back on the train for Reading. He died there from a heart attack at
3:00 p.m., 27 August 1849.

In the tradition of Blessed Dominic (he was beatified by Pope Paul VI
in 1963), Passionists would be aware that ecumenism is an essential
part of their heritage. At the time of the Second Vatican Council,
Passionists accepted with joy the call to engage in ecumenical
ministries. The “renewal” of the Congregation in the spirit of Vatican
II would challenge the modern Passionist to this ecumenical mission.

In his years in England Dominic established three churches and several
chapels, preached innumerable missions and received hundreds of
converts, not only Newman but others such as Spencer and Dalgairns and
many unknown by name.

https://anastpaul.com/2018/08/27/


“The door opened and what a spectacle
it was for me to see, at my feet,
John Henry Newman, begging me
to hear his confession
and admit him into the bosom
of the Catholic Church.”
--Blessed Dominic Barberi of the Mother of God C.P. (1792-1849)


“When his form came within sight,
I was moved to the depths in the strangest way.
The gaiety and affability of his manner,
in the midst of his sanctity,
was itself a holy sermon.”
Blessed John Henry Newman (1801-1890) speaking of
Blessed Dominic Barberi (1792-1849)


While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it
and giving it to his disciples said, “Take and eat; this is my
body.”…Matthew 26:26

REFLECTION – “Jesus Christ said over the consecrated elements, “This
is my body” you say “No. It is not his body!” Who then am I to
believe? I prefer to believe Jesus Christ.”…Blessed Dominic Barberi


Bible Quote:
Give in to God: resist the devil, and he will run away from you. The
nearer you go to God, the nearer he will come to you. Humble
yourselves before the Lord and he will lift you up. (James 4:7-8,10 )


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Prayer to St. Dymphna - Justice

Admirable St. Dymphna, how just you were to all whom you
encountered, and how careful you were to give every person
his due, and more than he might desire or expect. By your
power with God please come to assist us to be just to all we
meet, and even to be generous in giving everyone more than
strict justice requires. Amen.