St. Cajetan, Priest, (1547)
The Fourteen Holy Helpers
St. Hormisdas, Martyr, (420)
The Philadelphia Chapter of the Kosciuszko Foundation announces its third annual summer concert, taking place Sunday, August 19, starting at 3:00 PM, at the Ethical Society Building, 1906 S. Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, PA 19104.
This year’s concert is dedicated to Karol Szymanowski in the 125th year of his birth, declared the Year of Szymanowski by the Polish Sejm. On this auspicious occasion, the national Kosciuszko Foundation, headquartered in New York, joins the Phildephia Chapter in honoring this seminal figure of 20th century music by co-sponsoring the event.
The concert features noted virtuosi and Szymanowski scholars, Blanka Bednarz, violinist and Matthew Bengtson, pianist, performing a musical program drawn from a cross-section of Szymanowsk’s works, including Etudes op. 4, Myths for Violin and Piano op. 30, Masques op. 34 and Mazurkas op. 50.
Blanka Bednarz performs regularly as part of the Atma Trio and together with Sinfonietta Polonia, a unique orchestral training program based in Poznan, Poland. Closer to Philadelphia, Dr. Bednarz is Professor of Music at Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA, where she is also concertmaster of the Dickinson Orchestra.
Matthew Bengtson is a pianist, fortepianist and harpsichordist with a special interest in Karol Szymanowski’s music. His 2002 recording, “The Complete Mazurkas of Karol Szymanowski,” presents the subject of his doctoral dissertation, which was honored with the 2003 Stefan and Wanda Wilk Prize for Research in Polish Music.
Karol Szymanowski (1882-1937) is regarded as the father of contemporary Polish music. Active in many genres, Szymanowski composed four symphonies, the opera “King Roger,” (which I saw when it was performed in Buffalo in 1992) the ballet “Harnasie” and his choral masterpiece “Stabat Mater.” Today these works enjoy a growing appreciation throughout the world.
Doors will open at 2:30 for refreshments before the concert. Following the concert, the artists will greet guests as they enjoy coffee and Polish pastries from Julia Bakery. Tickets are available in advance for $35 ($15 for students) from Fred Wolanin at 267-987-5347 or 215-752-9270, or at the door for $40 ($20 for students). Convenient off-street parking is available at the Parkway Corporation garage at 1845 Walnut St for a flat rate of $12 with validation at the concert.
The Philadelphia Chapter of the Kosciuszko Foundation gratefully acknowledges support from the Cierpik Fund administered by the Kosciuszko Foundation, Swift Mailing Services and the Szyszko Family, Julia Bakery and the Parkway Corporation.
St. Maximus, Confessor, (662)
St. Claudia, Matron, (1st century)
St. Dometius the Persian, Martyr, (362)
Solemnity of the Transfiguration of our Lord
Saints Sixtus II, Felicissimus, Agapitus, and Companions, Martyrs, (258)
Saints Justus and Pastor, Martyrs, (304)
St. Romuald, Abbot, (1027)
St. Oswald of Northumbria, King and Martyr, (642)
Saints Addai and Mari, Martyrs, (180)
While he was praying his face changed in appearance
and his clothing became dazzling white.
Well that’s Jesus for you —“ all dazzling, all miraculous, and all powerful.
Consider all the displays of power exhibited by Jesus. He turned water into wine; healed; cursed a tree and it withered; and he raised people from the dead. Consider Jesus in the Jordan, with the Holy Spirit descending and the voice of the Father from heaven, much like at the Transfiguration, saying:
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
If there were any doubt, surely it was dispelled with His resurrection from the dead and ascension into heaven.
We could spend a long time focusing on Jesus’ power —“ and people’s disbelief. We could ask how disbelief is possible. Consider Peter’s words:
We did not follow cleverly devised myths
when we made known to you
the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,
but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty.
Eyewitnesses —“ you cannot do much better than that. Will disbelief continue even when there are witnesses?
I have trouble believing, you have trouble believing, he, she, and they have trouble believing. Those folks out there don’t believe at all —“ they deny believability.
Brothers and sisters,
Jesus’ display of His glory was not only for the benefit of believing —“ so that we would believe more strongly —“ but more importantly it was His promise to us.
This miracle is not about those who question belief, nor is it about forcing belief.
Rather, in Jesus’ changing appearance we are to recognize a foreshadowing of the way, and manner, in which we will change. His transfiguration is a promise to us.
That Jesus, transfigured on the mountain side, is a revelation of what we will be one day. His conversation with Moses and Elijah will be our conversation with our forbearers, the prophets, and the saints.
The Father speaks to us and tells us:
—This is my chosen Son; listen to him.—
When we listen to Him we become more and more like Him.
By our baptism we began a journey toward becoming more and more like Jesus. At some point we were confirmed, completing our baptismal journey. After that, we made some kind of decision to show up here each Sunday.
We come here to pray, to be forgiven, to listen to God’s word, and to receive Jesus.
As with the transfiguration, our communion changes us. We become that holy bread —“ the Body of Christ. We are changed. Over and over, we are changed.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, today is about more than a miraculous event some 2,000 years ago. It is about the on-going change we are to experience. It is about the miracle we experience when we stand here, shoulder-to-shoulder, praying as one. It is about our journey out of here and into the world, carrying with us the gift that changes us inside and out.
Today is about the promise of transfiguration.
Recognize and appreciate the transfiguration as God’s gift for each of us.
St. Peter reiterates this very point:
Moreover, we possess the prophetic message that is altogether reliable.
You will do well to be attentive to it,
as to a lamp shining in a dark place,
until day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
That will be the day we stand shoulder-to-shoulder before the throne of God. We will stand before God in garments of dazzling white, serving Him in union with the entire communion of saints. It will be the day Daniel prophesied:
His clothing was bright as snow,
and the hair on his head as white as wool;
his throne was flames of fire,
with wheels of burning fire.
A surging stream of fire
flowed out from where he sat;
Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him,
and myriads upon myriads attended him.
Be changed! Stay on the path to your transfiguration , and attend to the Most High and the Lamb.
Amen.
St. Dominic, Confessor, (1212)
Saints Ia and Companions, Martyrs, (360)
St. Molua, Abbot, (608)
Solemnity – Finding of the Body of St. Stephen, Proto-Martyr, (415)
St. Waltheof, Abbot, (1160)
St. Augustine of Lucera, Bishop, (1323)
A funny coincidence today.
I finally turned over the page in one of my wall calendars. It’s one of those typical Catholic art calendars you find in the backs of churches just prior to the new year.
This calendar, published by J.S. Paluch Company, Inc. is the 2007 Religious Art Calendar.
Each month features a painting and a brief prayer for vocations.
This was the prayer I read today:
Jesus, our brother, you entrusted to us the mission of your Church: to transform society through the power of your truth and love. Help us know how to encourage men and women to lead us through the ministries of priesthood, diaconate, religious life, and lay ministry. Amen.
Help us know how indeed… Or rather, brother Jesus, grant us forgiveness for our poor use of language and our political agenda.
By the way, the attribution for the prayer is the “Secretariat for Vocations and Priestly Formation of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops”.
The folks in Australia must be praying this one fervently. Per The Age: Catholic bid for married and women priests
A GROUP of nuns, priests and Catholic activists has revived the thorny issue of married and women priests, circulating a petition calling on Australian bishops to reverse the church’s opposition to a more inclusive priesthood and warning there are not enough priests to run local churches…
You can see how people can be easily led astray when the hierarchy of the Roman Church, particularly in the U.S., uses such lazy language. I can just hear little old Mrs. Smith saying one Sunday: “Did you see, the bishops asked us to pray for women priests. It’s in my calendar.”
St. Susanna, Martyr, (3rd century)
St. Stephen, Bishop, (257)
St. Theodota, Martyr, (304)