| "This is the disciple who is bearing witness to these things, and who has written these things; and we know that his testimony is true." John 21:24 |
| Holy Hour of Thanksgiving on the Occasion of Diaconal Ordination "Here, In This Place" October 5, 2006 Catacomb of Priscilla Rome, Italy The Rev. Mr. Jeffrey Kirby |
Brothers and Sisters, I’d like to offer a few reflections for our Holy Hour today. The late Pope, the Servant of God John Paul II, wrote in his
priestly memoirs that, as a student priest studying in this city, he began his experience of Rome with the catacombs.
Knowing his life and teachings, we can understand why the catacombs were the first, and perhaps, one of the more important sites of Rome
to our first Polish Pope. I’d like to give some thoughts that might help us to appreciate the catacombs as much.
While there are over sixty catacombs outside of the city limits of ancient Rome, Priscilla is one of only five catacombs opened to the public.
And for many reasons, perhaps it’s one of the most important.
Here in this place, in these catacombs of Priscilla, we’ve been able to see the oldest image of Mary; one of the oldest images of the
Eucharist; we’ve been able to see the scenes of Susanna, Daniel, Abraham, Jonah, and other Old Testament figures. We could see one of the
oldest images of the Magi adoring Christ. And, here in this place, these catacombs, we’ve been able to see the burial places of some martyrs
– among whom were popes – and the devotion of the Christian community towards them, especially in the practice of other Christians
wanting to be buried very near to them.
Here in this place, we’ve been able to experience – to borrow a term from St. Paul – the “household of faith”; we can see around us the
“cloud of witnesses” spoken of in the New Testament; we can behold Mary, who was given to us by Jesus on the Cross and to whom we
were given; we can see the Eucharist, the sacrificial meal which St. Luke tells us Jesus “greatly desired” to share with us; and, we can see
the early hierarchy taking shape, fulfilling its commission from Christ by exercising the “power of the keys” and “strengthening the brethren
in their faith.”
Here in this place, we see so-called “primitive Christianity.” We see a lived Christianity only a few generations after the Death and
Resurrection of Jesus Christ, who are intimately connected to the Apostles and their immediate disciples. A Christian way of life from which
we receive the New Testament. The New Testament was written by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, within a community of faith. Here, in
this place, we encounter not only an historic community from by-gone ages, but our own breathing community, which is united and an
extension of that early faith community. We are one body, and we are today only because they were yesterday.
Here, in this place, in prayer with our ancestors, we receive the “full Gospel,” which is a treasured inheritance of the Lord Jesus given to his
well-beloved Church, and to each of us who are disciples within it.
In 64 AD, when the city of Rome burned and the insane emperor Nero used the Christians as a scapegoat, violent persecutions against
Christianity began and continued for almost 300 years. When Nero began the persecutions, the Roman empire looked for the leader of the
Christians. Because the Christians spoke of Jesus in the present tense and of his activity among them, the emperor thought Jesus lived in
Rome and searched for him. We can only imagine what the emperor thought when he discovered that Jesus had been crucified as a criminal
three decades before in Palestine, a backwoods province in the vast empire. Learning of Jesus’ death, the emperor heard of a leader, called a
bishop, who led the Christians in Jesus’ name. He looked for Peter, the first bishop of Rome (in the fourth century, we would begin
identifying the office with the term “pope”). Not forgetting about the criminal Jesus, the emperor sought to crucify Peter, killing him in the
same manner as Christ. And Peter died on the Vatican Hill for the love of God.
Many others lost their lives because they refused to abandon the Christian faith. We call them “martyrs,” a legal term for witnesses in a
courtroom, because they stand as witnesses to us and humanity of God’s truth and enduring love for each of us.
Nero’s was the first wave of persecution, many others would follow. One of the bloodiest was Diocletian, to whom most of the martyrs
here in this catacomb lost their lives. When the Church was illegal, the Christians met here in the catacombs. Due to the Roman respect for
the dead, the Christians were able to have legal catacombs (although the Faith was illegal). They would meet here to offer worship, and study
the teachings of the apostles.
In 312 AD, the Edict of Milan gave tolerance to the Christian Faith. Pope Sylvester, the thirty-third bishop of Rome, and thirty-second
successor of St. Peter, was pope at the time. He was the first pope not to be a martyr for the faith, and he was reverently buried here in
these catacombs upon his death.
This is our history, these are our martyrs and saints. The faith they died for, and that the community here celebrated, is our faith. In the
mystery of Christ’s Church, they are with us now, like a zealous audience at a game show, feverishly cheering on the contestants. They are
with us, and we are continuing their celebration of the Lord Jesus.
Here, in this place, surrounding our Eucharistic Lord – who is our Good Shephard; in the presence of Mary – who is his mother and ours;
and in the company of the martyrs and saints – his witnesses and our friends, we experience our communion as the Church, the Body of
Christ, united amongst ourselves in Christ and forever united to Him, who is our Divine Head.
Here, in this place, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we realize how thin the veil of time really is, and how truly powerless death is in Jesus
Christ. In this place, united by prayer, we can almost feel the presence of our ancestors in the faith. They are here with us. In our own
prayer and actions, in our own worship of the Lord, we see their prayer and know of their worship. We understand that we are all one in
Jesus Christ.
Raised to heavenly triumph, the saints and martyrs are still with us. We thank them for their fidelity and example. We ask them to pray for
us, and to guide us closer to Jesus.
With all the martyrs and saints, in the company of the angels, let the Church pray together, “Our Father, …”
Brothers and Sisters, I’d like to offer a few reflections for our Holy Hour today. The late Pope, the Servant of God John Paul II, wrote in his
priestly memoirs that, as a student priest studying in this city, he began his experience of Rome with the catacombs.
Knowing his life and teachings, we can understand why the catacombs were the first, and perhaps, one of the more important sites of Rome
to our first Polish Pope. I’d like to give some thoughts that might help us to appreciate the catacombs as much.
While there are over sixty catacombs outside of the city limits of ancient Rome, Priscilla is one of only five catacombs opened to the public.
And for many reasons, perhaps it’s one of the most important.
Here in this place, in these catacombs of Priscilla, we’ve been able to see the oldest image of Mary; one of the oldest images of the
Eucharist; we’ve been able to see the scenes of Susanna, Daniel, Abraham, Jonah, and other Old Testament figures. We could see one of the
oldest images of the Magi adoring Christ. And, here in this place, these catacombs, we’ve been able to see the burial places of some martyrs
– among whom were popes – and the devotion of the Christian community towards them, especially in the practice of other Christians
wanting to be buried very near to them.
Here in this place, we’ve been able to experience – to borrow a term from St. Paul – the “household of faith”; we can see around us the
“cloud of witnesses” spoken of in the New Testament; we can behold Mary, who was given to us by Jesus on the Cross and to whom we
were given; we can see the Eucharist, the sacrificial meal which St. Luke tells us Jesus “greatly desired” to share with us; and, we can see
the early hierarchy taking shape, fulfilling its commission from Christ by exercising the “power of the keys” and “strengthening the brethren
in their faith.”
Here in this place, we see so-called “primitive Christianity.” We see a lived Christianity only a few generations after the Death and
Resurrection of Jesus Christ, who are intimately connected to the Apostles and their immediate disciples. A Christian way of life from which
we receive the New Testament. The New Testament was written by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, within a community of faith. Here, in
this place, we encounter not only an historic community from by-gone ages, but our own breathing community, which is united and an
extension of that early faith community. We are one body, and we are today only because they were yesterday.
Here, in this place, in prayer with our ancestors, we receive the “full Gospel,” which is a treasured inheritance of the Lord Jesus given to his
well-beloved Church, and to each of us who are disciples within it.
In 64 AD, when the city of Rome burned and the insane emperor Nero used the Christians as a scapegoat, violent persecutions against
Christianity began and continued for almost 300 years. When Nero began the persecutions, the Roman empire looked for the leader of the
Christians. Because the Christians spoke of Jesus in the present tense and of his activity among them, the emperor thought Jesus lived in
Rome and searched for him. We can only imagine what the emperor thought when he discovered that Jesus had been crucified as a criminal
three decades before in Palestine, a backwoods province in the vast empire. Learning of Jesus’ death, the emperor heard of a leader, called a
bishop, who led the Christians in Jesus’ name. He looked for Peter, the first bishop of Rome (in the fourth century, we would begin
identifying the office with the term “pope”). Not forgetting about the criminal Jesus, the emperor sought to crucify Peter, killing him in the
same manner as Christ. And Peter died on the Vatican Hill for the love of God.
Many others lost their lives because they refused to abandon the Christian faith. We call them “martyrs,” a legal term for witnesses in a
courtroom, because they stand as witnesses to us and humanity of God’s truth and enduring love for each of us.
Nero’s was the first wave of persecution, many others would follow. One of the bloodiest was Diocletian, to whom most of the martyrs
here in this catacomb lost their lives. When the Church was illegal, the Christians met here in the catacombs. Due to the Roman respect for
the dead, the Christians were able to have legal catacombs (although the Faith was illegal). They would meet here to offer worship, and study
the teachings of the apostles.
In 312 AD, the Edict of Milan gave tolerance to the Christian Faith. Pope Sylvester, the thirty-third bishop of Rome, and thirty-second
successor of St. Peter, was pope at the time. He was the first pope not to be a martyr for the faith, and he was reverently buried here in
these catacombs upon his death.
This is our history, these are our martyrs and saints. The faith they died for, and that the community here celebrated, is our faith. In the
mystery of Christ’s Church, they are with us now, like a zealous audience at a game show, feverishly cheering on the contestants. They are
with us, and we are continuing their celebration of the Lord Jesus.
Here, in this place, surrounding our Eucharistic Lord – who is our Good Shephard; in the presence of Mary – who is his mother and ours;
and in the company of the martyrs and saints – his witnesses and our friends, we experience our communion as the Church, the Body of
Christ, united amongst ourselves in Christ and forever united to Him, who is our Divine Head.
Here, in this place, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we realize how thin the veil of time really is, and how truly powerless death is in Jesus
Christ. In this place, united by prayer, we can almost feel the presence of our ancestors in the faith. They are here with us. In our own
prayer and actions, in our own worship of the Lord, we see their prayer and know of their worship. We understand that we are all one in
Jesus Christ.
Raised to heavenly triumph, the saints and martyrs are still with us. We thank them for their fidelity and example. We ask them to pray for
us, and to guide us closer to Jesus.
With all the martyrs and saints, in the company of the angels, let the Church pray together, “Our Father, …”
priestly memoirs that, as a student priest studying in this city, he began his experience of Rome with the catacombs.
Knowing his life and teachings, we can understand why the catacombs were the first, and perhaps, one of the more important sites of Rome
to our first Polish Pope. I’d like to give some thoughts that might help us to appreciate the catacombs as much.
While there are over sixty catacombs outside of the city limits of ancient Rome, Priscilla is one of only five catacombs opened to the public.
And for many reasons, perhaps it’s one of the most important.
Here in this place, in these catacombs of Priscilla, we’ve been able to see the oldest image of Mary; one of the oldest images of the
Eucharist; we’ve been able to see the scenes of Susanna, Daniel, Abraham, Jonah, and other Old Testament figures. We could see one of the
oldest images of the Magi adoring Christ. And, here in this place, these catacombs, we’ve been able to see the burial places of some martyrs
– among whom were popes – and the devotion of the Christian community towards them, especially in the practice of other Christians
wanting to be buried very near to them.
Here in this place, we’ve been able to experience – to borrow a term from St. Paul – the “household of faith”; we can see around us the
“cloud of witnesses” spoken of in the New Testament; we can behold Mary, who was given to us by Jesus on the Cross and to whom we
were given; we can see the Eucharist, the sacrificial meal which St. Luke tells us Jesus “greatly desired” to share with us; and, we can see
the early hierarchy taking shape, fulfilling its commission from Christ by exercising the “power of the keys” and “strengthening the brethren
in their faith.”
Here in this place, we see so-called “primitive Christianity.” We see a lived Christianity only a few generations after the Death and
Resurrection of Jesus Christ, who are intimately connected to the Apostles and their immediate disciples. A Christian way of life from which
we receive the New Testament. The New Testament was written by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, within a community of faith. Here, in
this place, we encounter not only an historic community from by-gone ages, but our own breathing community, which is united and an
extension of that early faith community. We are one body, and we are today only because they were yesterday.
Here, in this place, in prayer with our ancestors, we receive the “full Gospel,” which is a treasured inheritance of the Lord Jesus given to his
well-beloved Church, and to each of us who are disciples within it.
In 64 AD, when the city of Rome burned and the insane emperor Nero used the Christians as a scapegoat, violent persecutions against
Christianity began and continued for almost 300 years. When Nero began the persecutions, the Roman empire looked for the leader of the
Christians. Because the Christians spoke of Jesus in the present tense and of his activity among them, the emperor thought Jesus lived in
Rome and searched for him. We can only imagine what the emperor thought when he discovered that Jesus had been crucified as a criminal
three decades before in Palestine, a backwoods province in the vast empire. Learning of Jesus’ death, the emperor heard of a leader, called a
bishop, who led the Christians in Jesus’ name. He looked for Peter, the first bishop of Rome (in the fourth century, we would begin
identifying the office with the term “pope”). Not forgetting about the criminal Jesus, the emperor sought to crucify Peter, killing him in the
same manner as Christ. And Peter died on the Vatican Hill for the love of God.
Many others lost their lives because they refused to abandon the Christian faith. We call them “martyrs,” a legal term for witnesses in a
courtroom, because they stand as witnesses to us and humanity of God’s truth and enduring love for each of us.
Nero’s was the first wave of persecution, many others would follow. One of the bloodiest was Diocletian, to whom most of the martyrs
here in this catacomb lost their lives. When the Church was illegal, the Christians met here in the catacombs. Due to the Roman respect for
the dead, the Christians were able to have legal catacombs (although the Faith was illegal). They would meet here to offer worship, and study
the teachings of the apostles.
In 312 AD, the Edict of Milan gave tolerance to the Christian Faith. Pope Sylvester, the thirty-third bishop of Rome, and thirty-second
successor of St. Peter, was pope at the time. He was the first pope not to be a martyr for the faith, and he was reverently buried here in
these catacombs upon his death.
This is our history, these are our martyrs and saints. The faith they died for, and that the community here celebrated, is our faith. In the
mystery of Christ’s Church, they are with us now, like a zealous audience at a game show, feverishly cheering on the contestants. They are
with us, and we are continuing their celebration of the Lord Jesus.
Here, in this place, surrounding our Eucharistic Lord – who is our Good Shephard; in the presence of Mary – who is his mother and ours;
and in the company of the martyrs and saints – his witnesses and our friends, we experience our communion as the Church, the Body of
Christ, united amongst ourselves in Christ and forever united to Him, who is our Divine Head.
Here, in this place, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we realize how thin the veil of time really is, and how truly powerless death is in Jesus
Christ. In this place, united by prayer, we can almost feel the presence of our ancestors in the faith. They are here with us. In our own
prayer and actions, in our own worship of the Lord, we see their prayer and know of their worship. We understand that we are all one in
Jesus Christ.
Raised to heavenly triumph, the saints and martyrs are still with us. We thank them for their fidelity and example. We ask them to pray for
us, and to guide us closer to Jesus.
With all the martyrs and saints, in the company of the angels, let the Church pray together, “Our Father, …”
Brothers and Sisters, I’d like to offer a few reflections for our Holy Hour today. The late Pope, the Servant of God John Paul II, wrote in his
priestly memoirs that, as a student priest studying in this city, he began his experience of Rome with the catacombs.
Knowing his life and teachings, we can understand why the catacombs were the first, and perhaps, one of the more important sites of Rome
to our first Polish Pope. I’d like to give some thoughts that might help us to appreciate the catacombs as much.
While there are over sixty catacombs outside of the city limits of ancient Rome, Priscilla is one of only five catacombs opened to the public.
And for many reasons, perhaps it’s one of the most important.
Here in this place, in these catacombs of Priscilla, we’ve been able to see the oldest image of Mary; one of the oldest images of the
Eucharist; we’ve been able to see the scenes of Susanna, Daniel, Abraham, Jonah, and other Old Testament figures. We could see one of the
oldest images of the Magi adoring Christ. And, here in this place, these catacombs, we’ve been able to see the burial places of some martyrs
– among whom were popes – and the devotion of the Christian community towards them, especially in the practice of other Christians
wanting to be buried very near to them.
Here in this place, we’ve been able to experience – to borrow a term from St. Paul – the “household of faith”; we can see around us the
“cloud of witnesses” spoken of in the New Testament; we can behold Mary, who was given to us by Jesus on the Cross and to whom we
were given; we can see the Eucharist, the sacrificial meal which St. Luke tells us Jesus “greatly desired” to share with us; and, we can see
the early hierarchy taking shape, fulfilling its commission from Christ by exercising the “power of the keys” and “strengthening the brethren
in their faith.”
Here in this place, we see so-called “primitive Christianity.” We see a lived Christianity only a few generations after the Death and
Resurrection of Jesus Christ, who are intimately connected to the Apostles and their immediate disciples. A Christian way of life from which
we receive the New Testament. The New Testament was written by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, within a community of faith. Here, in
this place, we encounter not only an historic community from by-gone ages, but our own breathing community, which is united and an
extension of that early faith community. We are one body, and we are today only because they were yesterday.
Here, in this place, in prayer with our ancestors, we receive the “full Gospel,” which is a treasured inheritance of the Lord Jesus given to his
well-beloved Church, and to each of us who are disciples within it.
In 64 AD, when the city of Rome burned and the insane emperor Nero used the Christians as a scapegoat, violent persecutions against
Christianity began and continued for almost 300 years. When Nero began the persecutions, the Roman empire looked for the leader of the
Christians. Because the Christians spoke of Jesus in the present tense and of his activity among them, the emperor thought Jesus lived in
Rome and searched for him. We can only imagine what the emperor thought when he discovered that Jesus had been crucified as a criminal
three decades before in Palestine, a backwoods province in the vast empire. Learning of Jesus’ death, the emperor heard of a leader, called a
bishop, who led the Christians in Jesus’ name. He looked for Peter, the first bishop of Rome (in the fourth century, we would begin
identifying the office with the term “pope”). Not forgetting about the criminal Jesus, the emperor sought to crucify Peter, killing him in the
same manner as Christ. And Peter died on the Vatican Hill for the love of God.
Many others lost their lives because they refused to abandon the Christian faith. We call them “martyrs,” a legal term for witnesses in a
courtroom, because they stand as witnesses to us and humanity of God’s truth and enduring love for each of us.
Nero’s was the first wave of persecution, many others would follow. One of the bloodiest was Diocletian, to whom most of the martyrs
here in this catacomb lost their lives. When the Church was illegal, the Christians met here in the catacombs. Due to the Roman respect for
the dead, the Christians were able to have legal catacombs (although the Faith was illegal). They would meet here to offer worship, and study
the teachings of the apostles.
In 312 AD, the Edict of Milan gave tolerance to the Christian Faith. Pope Sylvester, the thirty-third bishop of Rome, and thirty-second
successor of St. Peter, was pope at the time. He was the first pope not to be a martyr for the faith, and he was reverently buried here in
these catacombs upon his death.
This is our history, these are our martyrs and saints. The faith they died for, and that the community here celebrated, is our faith. In the
mystery of Christ’s Church, they are with us now, like a zealous audience at a game show, feverishly cheering on the contestants. They are
with us, and we are continuing their celebration of the Lord Jesus.
Here, in this place, surrounding our Eucharistic Lord – who is our Good Shephard; in the presence of Mary – who is his mother and ours;
and in the company of the martyrs and saints – his witnesses and our friends, we experience our communion as the Church, the Body of
Christ, united amongst ourselves in Christ and forever united to Him, who is our Divine Head.
Here, in this place, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we realize how thin the veil of time really is, and how truly powerless death is in Jesus
Christ. In this place, united by prayer, we can almost feel the presence of our ancestors in the faith. They are here with us. In our own
prayer and actions, in our own worship of the Lord, we see their prayer and know of their worship. We understand that we are all one in
Jesus Christ.
Raised to heavenly triumph, the saints and martyrs are still with us. We thank them for their fidelity and example. We ask them to pray for
us, and to guide us closer to Jesus.
With all the martyrs and saints, in the company of the angels, let the Church pray together, “Our Father, …”