Opening Prayer
Lord, I focus on the Foundation of the Twelve as the cornerstone of the kingdom of Christ and the standard for our faith. I recognize that our access to Your divine majesty begins with the belief delivered through the Apostles and preserved by the Church. Let the light of Your countenance be imprinted upon my soul, as it was upon those who first witnessed Your glory.
I ask for the grace to submit my mind to the authority of Your living truth, avoiding the private tastes and fancies of the world. Help me to build my life upon the firm rock of Your Word, ensuring that my spiritual edifice will not fall when the storms of life arise. May I remain united to You as a branch to the vine, drawing life from Your presence alone.
Amen.
John 1:45-51
45Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith to him: We have found him of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets did write, Jesus the son of Joseph of Nazareth. 46And Nathanael said to him: Can any thing of good come from Nazareth? Philip saith to him: Come and see. 47Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him: and he saith of him: Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile. 48Nathanael saith to him: Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered, and said to him: Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. 49Nathanael answered him, and said: Rabbi, thou art the Son of God, thou art the King of Israel. 50Jesus answered, and said to him: Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, thou believest: greater things than these shalt thou see. 51And he saith to him: Amen, amen I say to you, you shall see the heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.
St. Bartholomew
St. Bartholomew often talks about the implicit submission of the mind. Bartholomew’s narrative is one of transferring features from the Model (Christ) to his own soul. We often pick and choose among the “Teachings of the Twelve“. The saint reminds us that the Church is the Pillar. The spiritual paper cuts of religious doubt are healed by following the bishop as you would the Apostles . We must remain sound and complete in the Catholic faith.
Apostolic authority demands an “implicit submission of the mind” to the Church’s living teaching office. We must refuse the temptation to be “cafeteria Catholics” who pick and choose truths according to personal fancy; rather, we must accept the faith delivered by those whom God sent. This submission is the only necessary token of a true, stable, and ecclesial faith.
“The Gospels deserve our careful attention. John’s voice is sweeter than thunder. We must scrutinize the Word more closely than any athletic champion or musical harmony.”
— St. Bartholomew
Mary and the Magisterium
The Church is essentially one, built on a firm apostolic foundation. Mary was the heart of that first community, the steady presence around which the Apostles gathered to receive the Spirit.
- Do I "accept whatever is put before me" by the Church, or am I "arguing and examining"?
- Is my faith "the cornerstone of the kingdom" in my life?
Closing Prayer
Lord, thank You for the foundation of the Apostles. Keep me safe within their teaching.
Amen.
