VATICAN INSIDER: INSIDE THE BOLLANDISTS WITH FR. MICHAEL MAHER – CELEBRATED PRIEST ARTIST IS DISMISSIED FROM THE JESUIT ORDER: VATICAN NEWS SITE FEATURES HIS ART

The very good news today is, of course, Pope Francis’ return to the Vatican after 10 days and one surgery in Gemelli Hospital. He did go to St. Mary Major basilica where he prayed before the beloved icon of Mary, Salus Populi Romani. He also made a brief stop at the institute of the Sisters of the Child Jesus who are meeting in chapter, an institute just yards from the Vatican. Francis then entered Vatican City via the Perugino Gate and thanked the gendarmes there for their work.

This entrance to Vatican City is a three-minute walk from my house and is the entrance I use when I want to go to the basilica for Mass or have another reason for being in Vatican City.

VATICAN INSIDER: INSIDE THE BOLLANDISTS WITH FR. MICHAEL MAHER

My special guest in the interview segment of “Vatican Insider” this week is Jesuit Fr. Michael Maher. A native of Milwaukee, Father teaches history at Marquette University. He has a doctorate in history, two Masters in Theology and an undergraduate degree in Philosophy.

If that’s not enough, he is an expert on the Belgium-based Société des Bollandistes, Society of Bollandists, an association of scholars, and historians who, since the early 17th century, have studied the cult of the saints in Christianity. The society is named after the Flemish Jesuit Jean Bollandus. Father Maher talks about that work, about how to separate fact from legend in a saint’s life, the need for scholars to know ancient languages for this work, and what we can learn about societies from reading the lives of the saints. A riveting conversation about a unique institution! Part II next week.

I am unable to download the photos I took of a picnic last night with Fr. Maher and Fr. Tom Sherman on the indescribable rooftop terrace of the Gregorian University but once I solve that issue I will post those pix! In the meantime, here is Fr. Michael from two meetings we had a year ago in Rome:

IN THE UNITED STATES, you can listen to Vatican Insider (VI) on a Catholic radio station near you (stations listed at www.ewtn.com) or on channel 130 Sirius-XM satellite radio, or on http://www.ewtn.com. OUTSIDE THE U.S., you can listen to EWTN radio on our website home page by clicking on the right side where you see “LISTEN TO EWTN.” VI airs at 5am and 9pm ET on Saturdays and 6am ET on Sundays. On the GB-IE feed (which is on SKY in the UK and Ireland), VI airs at 5:30am, 12 noon and 10pm CET on Sundays. Both of these feeds are also available on the EWTN app and on www.ewtnradio.net ALWAYS CHECK YOUR OWN TIME ZONE! For VI archives: go to https://www.ewtn.com/radio/audio-archive and write the name of the guest for whom you are searching in the SEARCH box. Below that, will appear “Vatican Insider” – click on that and the link to that particular episode will appear

CELEBRATED PRIEST ARTIST IS DISMISSIED FROM THE JESUIT ORDER: VATICAN NEWS SITE FEATURES HIS ART

Thursday, June 15 – From Fr. Johan Verschueren SJ, delegate of DIR (Interprovincial Roman Houses and Works of the Society of Jesus): “We inform with a grieving heart that on June 9, 2023, Fr. General dismissed from the Society of Jesus Fr. Marko Ivan Rupnik (DIR / SVN). This was done in accordance with canon law, due to his stubborn refusal to observe the vow of obedience.”

As you will see in the Pillar story, there was no mention made of Fr. Rupnik being laicized. We do know that he has 30 days to respond to this punishment for his flagrant ignoring of the sanctions imposed on him by his superiors for sexual abuse of nuns.

What stunned many today was an article on the Vatican News website that featured Fr. Rupkik’s art for today’s Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus! Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus – Vatican News Just one day after he was dismissed from the Jesuit Order!

Why would so many people be stunned by this audacious move? In the event you have not been following Fr. Marko Rupnik’s case in recent months, reading the following will be an eye-opener:

A June 16 Pillar article frames the story: According to a statement from the Jesuits, Rupnik was dismissed for refusing assignments for his rehabilitation after dozens of the priest’s victims (many of them religious sisters) came forward to speak of the years of blasphemous sexual abuse to which he subjected them.

Reporting the news, many outlets noted that while Rupnik has been expelled from the Jesuits, the Society of Jesus did not say he had been laicized — meaning, they said, that he “remains a priest.”

Theologically speaking, everyone ordained a priest always remains a priest no matter what, since ordination imparts an indelible character. But it’s also true in this case that Rupnik also remains a cleric, despite his dismissal as an SJ, though that’s not to say he becomes a kind of wandering priest, unanswerable to anyone.

Canon law actually provides for situations like his that he enters into a kind of permanent/indefinite suspension from ministry unless and until he can find a bishop willing to incardinate him, or another religious order willing to take him.

You can read the whole story here.

 

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VATICAN INSIDER: INSIDE THE BOLLANDISTS WITH FR. MICHAEL MAHER – BASILICA TREASURY MUSEUM FEATURES EXHIBIT ON “CROWNED MADONNAS”

UPDATE ON POPE FRANCIS: An early afternoon bulletin today said,“Pope Francis rested during the night. The clinical picture is progressively improving and the post-operative course is regular. After breakfast he began to move and spent most of the morning in an armchair. This allowed him to read the newspapers and resume his initial work.”

VATICAN INSIDER: INSIDE THE BOLLANDISTS WITH FR. MICHAEL MAHER

My special guest in the interview segment of “Vatican Insider” this week is Jesuit Fr. Michael Maher. A native of Milwaukee, Father teaches history at Marquette University. He has a doctorate in history, two Masters in Theology and an undergraduate degree in Philosophy.

On the roof of the Jesuits Generalate –

If that’s not enough, he is an expert on the Belgium-based Société des Bollandistes, Society of Bollandists, an association of scholars, and historians who, since the early 17th century, have studied the cult of the saints in Christianity. The society is named after the Flemish Jesuit Jean Bollandus. Father Maher talks about that work, about how to separate fact from legend in a saint’s life, the need for scholars to know ancient languages for this work, and what we can learn about societies from reading the lives of the saints. A riveting conversation about a unique institution! Part II next week

IN THE UNITED STATES, you can listen to Vatican Insider (VI) on a Catholic radio station near you (stations listed at www.ewtn.com) or on channel 130 Sirius-XM satellite radio, or on http://www.ewtn.com. OUTSIDE THE U.S., you can listen to EWTN radio on our website home page by clicking on the right side where you see “LISTEN TO EWTN.” VI airs at 5am and 9pm ET on Saturdays and 6am ET on Sundays. On the GB-IE feed (which is on SKY in the UK and Ireland), VI airs at 5:30am, 12 noon and 10pm CET on Sundays. Both of these feeds are also available on the EWTN app and on www.ewtnradio.net ALWAYS CHECK YOUR OWN TIME ZONE! For VI archives: go to https://www.ewtn.com/radio/audio-archive and write the name of the guest for whom you are searching in the SEARCH box. Below that, will appear “Vatican Insider” – click on that and the link to that particular episode will appear

BASILICA TREASURY MUSEUM FEATURES EXHIBIT ON “CROWNED MADONNAS”

On May 31, the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Treasury Museum of St. Peter’s Basilica inaugurated an exhibition of paintings of “Crowned Madonnas” from different periods and origins.

The exhibit, located in the sacristy area of the basilica, runs to October 7. It features faithful pictorial reproductions of Marian images (statues, reliefs, mosaics, wall paintings and on canvas).

This first Vatican exhibition, curated by Pietro Zander, presents fifteen oil paintings on canvas by fifteen different dioceses of Italy. In subsequent exhibitions, a rotation with other paintings will follow, from other dioceses of Italy, Europe and the world.

During the exhibit, which showcases the deep devotion of these communities to the Mother of Our Lord, St. Peter’s Basilica will welcome visits and initiatives from the dioceses of origin of the paintings, promoting celebrations and special prayer meetings and cultural encounters.

 

VATICAN INSIDER: FR. MICHAEL MAHER, THE BOLLANDISTS AND THE LIVES OF SAINTS – INSIDE ROME’S SECURE VAULT FOR STOLEN ART

VATICAN INSIDER: FR. MICHAEL MAHER, THE BOLLANDISTS AND THE LIVES OF SAINTS

In the interview segment this week, my guest is Jesuit Fr. Michael Maher. Father is a native of Milwaukee, a scholar and an expert on the Belgium-based Society of Bollandists. Named after the Flemish Jesuit Jean Bollandus, the Bollandists are an association of scholars and historians who since the early 17th century have studied the lives of the saints. This week in Part II, Father and I talk about research, how to distinguish between fact and legend and the challenges that must be overcome in research such as knowing ancient languages or even penmanship, and the amazing, unique Bollandist library. By the way, as I mentioned last week in Part I, he is a friend of EWTN’s Fr. Mitch Pacwa (another celebrated Jesuit).

The following photos were taken on two different occasions when Fr. Michael, after a guided tour of the Gesu church and St. Ignatius Loyola’s living quarters, offered us some refreshments on the church’s rooftop terrace! The wonderful late afternoon Roman sun, then the setting sun opens onto the magic of Rome by night.

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As the sun sets

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And it’s nighttime in Rome –

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Soon, in a “coming attraction.” I’ll bring you some stunning photos of the Gesu church, and the rooms that St. Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, the Jesuits, lived in that are both adjacent to and part of the Gesu. After that visit, Father Maher was also our guide on a visit to the church of St. Ignatius.

IN THE UNITED STATES, you can listen to Vatican Insider (VI) on a Catholic radio station near you (stations listed at www.ewtn.com) or on channel 130 Sirius-XM satellite radio, or on http://www.ewtn.com. OUTSIDE THE U.S., you can listen to EWTN radio on our website home page by clicking on the right side where you see “LISTEN TO EWTN.” VI airs at 5am and 9pm ET on Saturdays and 6am ET on Sundays. On the GB-IE feed (which is on SKY in the UK and Ireland), VI airs at 5:30am, 12 noon and 10pm CET on Sundays. Both of these feeds are also available on the EWTN app and on www.ewtnradio.net ALWAYS CHECK YOUR OWN TIME ZONE! For VI archives: go to https://www.ewtn.com/radio/audio-archive and write the name of the guest for whom you are searching in the SEARCH box. Below that, will appear “Vatican Insider” – click on that and the link to that particular episode will appear.

INSIDE ROME’S SECURE VAULT FOR STOLEN ART

I could not post this on Facebook simply by clicking on the FB icon on this article so I offer the link to the entire story – one of the most interesting items you may well read all day! The title is the key to this fascinating story and, to whet your appetite, here are the first three paragraphs (the story has some fairly amazing photos as well):

“When a ceramic relief depicting the Madonna with Child was returned to the church of Scansano in Tuscany, Italy, after five decades of absence, the town threw a solemn celebration. The local bishop, priest, prefect, mayor, and law enforcement officials all attended. On a September morning in 2020, a crowd gathered. The torso-sized relief was propped up, surrounded by plants. A band blared nearby.

“The relief, by celebrated Renaissance sculptor Andrea della Robbia, had been stolen on a summer night in 1971, and had been missing ever since. “I was a kid, but I remember it there, on the altar,” mayor Francesco Marchi told the Italian publication La Repubblica. “I remember the dismay the day after the theft.”

“After Italian authorities found and seized the priceless artwork in Canada, but before it made its return to Scansano, the relief spent a few months in a little-known vault tucked away at the edge of Trastevere, a district of central Rome where, under normal circumstances, swarms of tourists would stroll among washing strung above their heads, climbing plants, and all manner of eateries. On the ground floor of an unremarkable orange, three-story building, behind a 20-foot wall, and under the 24/7 gaze of carabinieri surveillance, the Madonna sat among hundreds of Roman sarcophagi, Renaissance paintings, and legendary violins. Every item that finds itself in the vault has one thing in common: a brush with crime.” Inside Rome’s Secure Vault for Stolen Art – Atlas Obscura

VATICAN INSIDER: FR. MICHAEL MAHER, THE BOLLANDISTS AND SAINTS

VATICAN INSIDER: FR. MICHAEL MAHER, THE BOLLANDISTS AND SAINTS

I hope you can join me on “Vatican Insider” on what seems to be another scorching weekend in much of the northern hemisphere but don’t worry, just relax a bit, sip a cool drink and enjoy the news segment and then my special guest in the interview segment, Jesuit Fr. Michael Maher. A native of Milwaukee, he is an expert on the Belgium-based Société des Bollandistes, the Society of Bollandists who, as their website explains, “For almost four centuries … have been at the forefront of hagiographic research, that is, preparing biographies of saints and ecclesiastical leaders.”

We learn that the Society of Bollandists “is a unique institution renowned for its comprehensive and specialised library, with many ancient and rare works and manuscripts among its 500,000 volumes. Saints are inspirational, though some may belong more to the realm of folklore or even invention. For twenty centuries they have been influencing our world, our culture and our thinking in ways few people realise.”

Father Maher talks about that work, about how to separate fact from legend in a saint’s life, the need for scholars to know ancient languages for this work, and what we can learn about societies from reading the lives of the saints. A riveting conversation about a unique institution! He’ll be back next week for Part II of our conversation. (across from me in this photo)

Some additional photos taken during my first visit with Fr. Maher at the Jesuit Generalate in Rome. We are obviously on the rooftop of the Rome premises – some amazing views!

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IN THE UNITED STATES, you can listen to Vatican Insider (VI) on a Catholic radio station near you (stations listed at www.ewtn.com) or on channel 130 Sirius-XM satellite radio, or on http://www.ewtn.com. OUTSIDE THE U.S., you can listen to EWTN radio on our website home page by clicking on the right side where you see “LISTEN TO EWTN.” VI airs at 5am and 9pm ET on Saturdays and 6am ET on Sundays. On the GB-IE feed (which is on SKY in the UK and Ireland), VI airs at 5:30am, 12 noon and 10pm CET on Sundays. Both of these feeds are also available on the EWTN app and on www.ewtnradio.net ALWAYS CHECK YOUR OWN TIME ZONE! For VI archives: go to https://www.ewtn.com/radio/audio-archive and write the name of the guest for whom you are searching in the SEARCH box. Below that, will appear “Vatican Insider” – click on that and the link to that particular episode will appear.