Oct 11 – Memorial for St John XXIII, Pope
Pope John XXIII born Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 28 October 1958 until his death in 1963. Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli was one of thirteen children born to Marianna Mazzola and Giovanni Battista Roncalli in a family of sharecroppers who lived in Sotto il Monte, a village in the province of Bergamo, Lombardy. He was ordained to the priesthood on 10 August 1904 and served in a number of posts, as nuncio in France and a delegate to Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey. In a consistory on 12 January 1953 Pope Pius XII made Roncalli a cardinal as the Cardinal-Priest of Santa Prisca in addition to naming him as the Patriarch of Venice. Roncalli was unexpectedly elected pope on 28 October 1958 at age 76 after 11 ballots. Pope John XXIII surprised those who expected him to be a caretaker pope by calling the historic Second Vatican Council (1962–1965), the first session opening on 11 October 1962.
John XXIII made many passionate speeches during his pontificate. His views on equality were summed up in his statement, “We were all made in God’s image, and thus, we are all Godly alike.” He made a major impact on the Catholic Church, opening it up to dramatic unexpected changes promulgated at the Vatican Council and by his own dealings with other churches and nations. In Italian politics, he prohibited bishops from interfering with local elections, and he helped the Christian Democracy to cooperate with the Italian Socialist Party. In international affairs, his “Ostpolitik” engaged in dialogue with the communist countries of Eastern Europe. He especially reached out to the Eastern Orthodox churches. His overall goal was to modernize the Church by emphasizing its pastoral role, and its necessary involvement with affairs of state. He dropped the traditional rule of 70 cardinals, increasing the size to 85. He used the opportunity to name the first cardinals from Africa, Japan, and the Philippines. He promoted ecumenical movements in cooperation with other Christian faiths. In doctrinal matters, he was a traditionalist, but he ended the practice of automatically formulating social and political policies on the basis of old theological propositions.
- Wikipedia
Jon 4:1-11
Lk 11:1-4
The Lord replied…
I love how Jonah goes back and forth with God in the first reading of today. After reluctantly going to Nineveh to preach repentance to the Ninevites, Jonah is settling down to watch what happens to the city. What is amazing is that he even argues with God and is unafraid to express this anger to Him.
When I first learned to pray as a child, one of the things that bothered me the most was the silence that greeted me when I tried to pray. I remember being in church and praying one day but was distracted by people walking past me. Despite how hard I tried, the silence where God’s voice should be was overwhelming.
This followed me for many years. As part of my search for a solution to this dilemma, I remember what a priest told me; that spiritual dryness was normal and the best strategy would be to pray through it; to tell God how we feel, despite our doubts and fears.
I learned, over time, for me that while God may not speak with most of us aurally, He does converse with us very richly. I experienced this rich conversation when I attended the Conversion Experience Retreat. I learned to listen with more than just my ears. Instead, I tuned into my feelings, to what I read, my thoughts or what someone else shared with me.
May we learn to be like Jonah and be unafraid to speak and connect with our God. What a rich life we would have!
(Today’s OXYGEN by Paul Wee)
Prayer: Father, help us to learn to listen to You and be connected with You. Help us to listen with more than our ears.
Thanksgiving: We are grateful Father, for Your everlasting love for us, and allowing us to connect with You. We thank You for your generosity!
OXYGEN 
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