John 20: 24-29 The Feast of Saint Thomas, Apostle

Saint Thomas and Christ, Sculpted by Andrea del Verrocchio (1435-1488), Sculpted between 1467-1483, Cast bronze © Orsanmichele Church, Florence

Gospel Reading

Thomas, called the Twin, who was one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. When the disciples said, ‘We have seen the Lord’, he answered, ‘Unless I see the holes that the nails made in his hands and can put my finger into the holes they made, and unless I can put my hand into his side, I refuse to believe.’ Eight days later the disciples were in the house again and Thomas was with them. The doors were closed, but Jesus came in and stood among them. ‘Peace be with you’ he said. Then he spoke to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; look, here are my hands. Give me your hand; put it into my side. Doubt no longer but believe.’ Thomas replied, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him: ‘You believe because you can see me. Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.’

Reflection on the sculpture

Today we celebrate the feast of Saint Thomas the Apostle. Thomas has come to be known as "Doubting Thomas," yet there was much more to him than his doubt. The risen Lord’s face-to-face encounter with Thomas in our Gospel reading today dispelled all his doubts and led him to one of the most profound professions of faith in all the Gospels: "My Lord and my God." Thomas's declaration affirms Christ’s full humanity (my Lord) and full divinity (my God). Because we live only in hope of such a face-to-face meeting with the Lord, there will always be some element of doubt in our own faith. As Paul says in his first letter to the Corinthians, "Now we see as in a mirror, dimly." The questions and doubts of our reasoning are an inevitable part of seeing dimly. They are not enemies of faith; rather, they can lead to its deepening. If we face our doubts and our questions honestly, as Thomas did, and bring them to each other and to the Lord, we too can reach a point where we can make Thomas’ confession our own, ‘My Lord and my God’. Our late-15th-century sculpture by Andrea del Verrocchio beautifully captures the poignant interaction between Christ and Saint Thomas. The sculpture's expressive detail allows us to almost hear their profound dialogue. The Risen Christ stands in a regal pose, contrasting sharply with Saint Thomas’ agitated, nervous, and merely human state. Originally crafted to occupy one of the fourteen niches on the exterior walls of the Orsanmichele Church in Florence, the figures were cast without modeled backs, intended to be viewed only from the front. This artistic choice emphasises the frontal interaction, drawing the viewer into the intimate and transformative moment shared by Christ and Thomas. Born in Florence as Andrea di Michele di Francesco de' Cioni, Verrocchio trained under Donatello, whose influence is evident in his early works. Verrocchio established a highly successful workshop in Florence, which became a hub for aspiring artists. Among his most famous pupils were Leonardo da Vinci and Pietro Perugino, who would go on to become significant figures in their own right. Though Verrocchio was primarily known as a sculptor, he also painted. He died in Venice in 1488, leaving behind a legacy of artistic achievement that continued to inspire the trajectory of Renaissance art.

by Father Patrick van der Vorst

 

Pope who once advised learning from tattoos bans them in the Vatican

ROME – Back in 2018, Pope Francis famously insisted the church should not be “afraid” of the tattoos many young people sport, saying that priests actually can learn from them because they often communicate something important about the personality of the wearer.

“It’s important not to be scared. With young people, one should never be scared. Never,” he said at the time.

 

It turns out, however, that the pontiff’s seemingly benign view of tattoos doesn’t extend to his own workforce in the Vatican. New rules for employees of St. Peter’s Basilica issued June 29 specify that personnel may not have visible tattoos or piercings, and theoretically could be suspended if they do.

The new provisions were part of a twin set of new statutes released on Saturday, which the feast day of Sts. Peter and Paul, one governing the Fabbrica di San Pietro, meaning the administration of the basilica, and the other its “chapter,” referring to a body of retired priests who assist in liturgical and sacramental life.

 

Among other things, the new rules require basilica employees to “commit to adhering to principles of exemplary religious and moral conduct,” including not cohabitating outside of marriage. Employees must not have a criminal record, and must be both baptized and confirmed in the Catholic Church. They must also produce a letter from a parish priest testifying to their good standing.

The rules apply to all employees of the basilica, who include artistic experts and architects in addition to the so-called Sampietrini, meaning laborers who carry out routine maintenance and operations.

In addition, personnel are also barred from “taking part in activities, or attending rallies, which are inappropriate for a Vatican employee.” Most observers have taken that provision, at least in part, to refer to events such as the Gay Pride rally which was staged in Rome on June 15.

 

On another front, the new rules also address the chronic leaks which have beset the Vatican in recent years, and which have resulted in two separate scandals known as “Vatileaks.”

Personnel are required at the time of hiring to make a profession of faith or a loyalty oath, including the promise to maintain what’s known as the “secret of the office,” generally meaning confidentiality, before one of the superiors of the basilica.

Employees are also banned from giving interviews to media outlets without authorization, and from divulging any information covered by the “pontifical secret.” They may not invite outsiders into their workplace, and may not remove “original documents and photocopies or electronic copies and other archival materials.”

In what amounts to a fairly clear break with previous Vatican practice, the rules also discourage nepotism, barring the hiring of close blood relatives of current employees without the express consent of the cardinal in charge of the basilica.

The other set of new norms governs the basilica chapter, an institution which has existed in one form or another since the second half of the 11^th century. Originally, the role of the chapter was to oversee sacramental life in the basilica and to administer its property, including artwork, other goods, and even real estate donated to the papacy.

Today financial oversight has largely been turned over the administration of the basilica, while the chapter has come to focus more on liturgical and sacramental matters. It’s composed of a vicar and 34 members, mostly retired clergy, who traditionally have been granted a stipend and living quarters in addition to fees for specific services.

Among other things, the new provisions specify that the canons will become merely “honorary” once they reach the age of 80 and will no longer receive stipends, though they will be allowed to retain their title and to participate in liturgical and pastoral activity in the basilica. They also will retain the right to be buried in the chapel of the chapter.

The same rules apply to canons who have not taken part in meetings and liturgical events in the basilica for more than a year.

 

 "Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel" (1 Co 9,16)

SAINT PAUL

 

Matthew 8:1-4 Saint Irenaeus Bishop, Doctor and Martyr

Saint Irenaeus, Stained glass window by Lucien Bégule  (1848–1935), Installed in 1901, at Stained glass window at Saint Irenaeus Church, Lyon © Photo Gérald Gambier, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons

Gospel Reading

After Jesus had come down from the mountain large crowds followed him. A leper now came up and bowed low in front of him. ‘Sir,’ he said ‘if you want to, you can cure me.’ Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him and said, ‘Of course I want to! Be cured!’ And his leprosy was cured at once. Then Jesus said to him, ‘Mind you do not tell anyone, but go and show yourself to the priest and make the offering prescribed by Moses, as evidence for them.’

Reflection on the stained glass window

Today we celebrate the feast of Saint Irenaeus. He was a significant figure in early Christian history, born around 130 AD in Smyrna (modern-day Izmir, Turkey). Irenaeus was a disciple of Polycarp, who himself was a disciple of the Apostle John, thus providing Irenaeus with a direct link to the teachings of Jesus' earliest followers. Around 177 AD Irenaeus became the Bishop of Lyon, France. He played a crucial role in the early Church, both as a pastor and a theologian. One of Irenaeus' most important contributions to Christian theology is his work "Adversus Haereses" or "Against Heresies." Written around 180 AD, this extensive five-book treatise was a response to the rise of Gnosticism, a movement that posed a significant challenge to orthodox Christian beliefs. Gnosticism taught that salvation could be attained through secret knowledge and often depicted the material world as inherently evil, created by a lesser deity rather than by the supreme God. In this work, Irenaeus systematically refuted these teachings by emphasizing the continuity of the Old and New Testaments, the goodness of creation, and the importance of the Church's tradition and apostolic succession in preserving the true faith. In his battle against Gnosticism, Irenaeus underscored several key theological points that became foundational for orthodox Christianity. He affirmed the unity and goodness of God, countering the Gnostic belief in a dualistic cosmos with a malevolent creator of the material world. He also stressed the incarnation of Christ, arguing that Jesus, fully God and fully human, redeemed all of humanity and sanctified creation through his life, death, and resurrection. Moreover, Irenaeus highlighted the role of the Church in safeguarding apostolic teaching through a succession of bishops tracing back to the apostles themselves. By doing so, he reinforced the authority of the Church in interpreting Scripture and doctrine.

by Father Patrick van der Vorst

 Apologies to all...

Sorry folks that I have been absent ten days or so. I was involved in a car accident on 17th June. 

Thanks to my Guardian Angel I did not receive serious injuries but did suffer a broken wrist. I was breathalised at the scene but again, thankfully, was under the limit.

Today is the first day I have managed any typing. 

I do regret the  inconvenience to all my readers.

GENE 

 AN OPEN LETTER TO DETTERLING... 

Swashbuckling Mulligan

Detterling,

Enough! Enough! This has become so embarrassing. You have been beaten out of sight in your ludicrous claims that sodomy is not sin and yet you continue to post, often unintelligible, comments on the subject.

For example you have posted this:

Gene claimed that Jesus Christ condemned anal sexual intercourse [whether heterosexual or homosexual] and homosexuality. Challenged to produce evidence of this from the gospels, he failed completely to do so.

Absurd! How could Gene produce evidence from the gospels when there is none? And it is monstrous to suggest someone as erudite in this area as Gene would not be aware that Jesus is never quoted in the gospels on this subject. 

You claimed that because Jesus is not quoted we do not know what his views would be. Gene cogently demonstrated that if this was so then we would not know the view of Jesus on such depraved evils as abortion, paedophilia and bestiality. And I, and anyone else with a modicum of intelligence, must concur with Gene. Jesus is not quoted in the gospels on the heinous sins of bestiality, abortion and paedophilia for example. Does that mean we do not know what the views of Jesus would be on these evils?

Sodomy is a vile act. It plumbs the depths of depravity. Human nature and all decency recoils from it. And we don't know what the views of Jesus on this heinous sin would be?

Detterling proposing that homosexual acts are not sinful can cause great scandal. And woe to the scandal-monger from whom the scandal cometh.

So Detterling, let's put a little hypothetical scenario before you that may cause you to reconsider your support for all things regarding homosexual activity. It's a sharp and topical satire if you will. Herewith:

Let's fast forward a couple of years or so. It's a lazy, hazy, sunny Sunday summer afternoon on Tyneside. Delia has prepared a wonderful lunch specially for Detters. He's had smoky tomato, chipotle & charred corn soup, grilled yellow-tailed tuna on a bed of kale, stuffed belly of pork with apple sauce and honey-glazed roast potatoes. Dessert was rhubarb pie and vanilla ice cream - plus he downed a whole bottle of Dr Loosen Estate Riesling Beerenauslese Mosel, a fine German white wine he had recently discovered. All was finished off with freshly ground Blue Mountain Jamaican coffee.  

Detterling has withdrawn to the living room and is seated laid back on the settee his feet up on the coffee table. On the coffee table are two books; a fat biography of Pablo Casals and Gene Vincent's trailblazing work, Granny Barkes Fell in Woolworth's. Also on the coffee table is what looks like a publisher's bound typescript with the cover page reading: NANCYBOYS AHOY: a play in one act by Gene Vincent. Detterling is reading George Carey: the mind of a Theologian.

Young Sebastian, who has just turned eighteen, saunters into the living room. He walks over to the settee with that 'pimp roll' gait favoured by young black men. He's all spikey blond hair and has piercings through his right eyebrow, his left nostril, through each ear lobe and through his bottom lip. He's dressed in a lurid, multi-coloured T-shirt and a floppy shapeless hoodie proclaiming puzzlingly and anachronistically, 'The Ramones'. His baggy denim jeans have been slashed open at the knees.

He drawls, "Hey Pops. How is it going old man?"

"Less of the old man if you don't mind Sebastian. And it's going fine although I would like to be left in peace. I'm engaging with the theology of George Carey, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, and in my opinion one of the greatest theologians of the past two hundred years," replied Detterling a little testily.

"Oh! I see," said Sebastian, "It's 'Don't you rock me Daddy-O' as your generation would say back in the day."

"Precisely," responded Detterling.

"Sorry Pops. Can't do that. There is something I urgently need to talk with you about," said Sebastian. 

Detterling put down the George Carey tome and said resignedly, "Okay young man. Let's hear you."

Sebastian continued a little hesitantly. 

"Remember a few weeks back when I came of age and informed you that I was gay and would be now living the gay lifestyle? By the way, you responded to this information with support and enthusiasm about as convincing as Andrew Neil's hairline. Anyhow, it is now June, the Pride month,  and I, and some of my friends, will be heading down to London next weekend. We are meeting at a gay club, the Ankle Chain Club, which is located at the junction of Queensway and Mincing Lane. And a gay old time will be had by all. It goes without saying that there will be homosexual activity. Homosexual acts which I will be engaging in.

Two issues:

I am a Catholic and the Catholic Church teaches clearly and unequivocally that homosexual acts are grave sin. So how do I deal with this?

Also, I wish to know what you genuinely feel about my engaging in homosexual acts. Now Pops, I must be brutally honest with you. I feel that, despite the pinko/liberal claptrap you come out with on this subject, you would be totally abhorred at the thought of my engaging in what the Church describe as depraved sin."

Detterling looked aghast. He face turned puce. He tried to rise from the settee. He gave a few stertorous gasps and then fell back on the settee and collapsed dead as a doornail.

Mind! I don’t mean to say that I know, of my own knowledge, what there is particularly dead about a door-nail. I might have been inclined, myself, to regard a coffin-nail as the deadest piece of ironmongery in the trade. But the wisdom of our ancestors is in the simile; and my unhallowed hands shall not disturb it, or the Country’s done for. You will therefore permit me to repeat, emphatically, that Detterling was as dead as a door-nail.

Sebastian recoiled in horror. He made the Sign of the Cross and ran to the living room door calling upstairs, "Mum, come quick. It's Dad."

Delia was in the bathroom getting ready to take a shower. She came running down the stairs and into the living room wearing just trousers and bra. Her trousers were black stretch pants, shiny and skintight  showing the curve of her thighs and accentuating her voluptuous derriere. And what an enticing derriere! Her full breasts jiggled and bounced in her skimpy black bra. They wobbled and swung. Oh! my, how they swung!

"What on earth has happened?" she cried out. But she could see what had happened. Detterling was as dead as the aforementioned doornail.

"I was talking to him about my planned visit to the Ankle Chain Club in London. He suddenly went apoplectic and just fell back dead," choked Sebastian. 

"Should we call his parish priest Lucy Fer? She might pray the appropriate prayers after death?" asked Delia.

"Not a lot of point in that," responded Sebastian, as you know Dad did not believe in any afterlife - heaven, hell or purgatory."

"I guess you are right," agreed Delia. "However, tell you what. I have an idea. Sebastian please run upstairs to his study and fetch me down his Complete Works of Shakespeare. Also, while you are up there bring me down my mobile phone. It's in the bathroom." 

When Sebastian returned with the book and the phone Delia leafed through the Shakespeare until she found Cymbeline. "I'm going to sing Fear No More the Heat O the Sun," she announced, "as appropriate a valediction as I can think of." She steadied herself, threw her head slightly backwards and began to sing.

It was a soprano voice of great beauty and clarity, drawing out the longest note without even a hint of vibrato, a voice with a purity that one would have thought couldn’t possibly survive past the age of twenty, a voice so close to perfection it brought a mist to Sebastian’s eyes.

Fear no more the heat o’ the sun,

Nor the furious winter’s rages;

Thou thy worldly task hast done,

Home art gone, and ta’en thy wages:

Golden lads and girls all must,

As chimney-sweepers, come to dust.

Fear no more the frown o’ the great;

Thou art past the tyrant’s stroke;

Care no more to clothe and eat;

To thee the reed is as the oak:

The scepter, learning, physic, must

All follow this, and come to dust.

Fear no more the lightning flash,

Nor the all-dreaded thunder stone;

Fear not slander, censure rash;

Thou hast finished joy and moan:

All lovers young, all lovers must

Consign to thee, and come to dust.

No exorciser harm thee!

Nor no witchcraft charm thee!

Ghost unlaid forbear thee!

Nothing ill come near thee!

Quiet consummation have;

And renownèd be thy grave! 

"That was beautiful Mum," said an emotional Sebastian. 

"Another tribute that would be very fitting would be his favourite piece of music, The Lark Ascending by Ralph Vaughan Williams - the London Philharmonic recording. Sebastian could you organise that? The CD is beside the stereo on the sideboard," suggested Delia.

The music started to play:

 The Lark Ascending - Ralph Vaughan Williams (youtube.com)

When the music faded out Delia was then silent a few moments but presently made a video call on her mobile phone. The face of Gene Vincent came up on the screen. Delia began:

"Hi Gene, Delia here. I have some news. I wanted you to hear it right away. Dear Old Detters has gone. He passed away very suddenly but peacefully (God forgive me for this white lie about peacefully she mouthed silently). I know you would want to know immediately.

My bra? Oh! it's just that I was getting ready for a shower. No. I did not deliberately put my twin headlights on display. Do I what? Will I what? Oh! Gene Vincent you cheeky thing! You are a one!"

Loud laughter!

Detterling this little satire may seem flippant but its core message is very serious. Sometimes we can talk about things that are only abstract hypotheses and talk about them glibly. But when they become reality and near to home it's a very, very different story.

Best wishes,

Swashbuckling Mulligan