Catholic Spirituality

for the Incarcerated

from the Order of Malta,

American Association

Advent 2012

AMessage from Fraʼ James-Michael von Stroeble, Knight Grand Cross of Justice

The rule of the Fraternity of theHospital of Saint John of Jerusalem wasto serve the sick and the poor. This an-cient tradition has been fulfilled by theKnights of St John through more thannine centuries of service, even whenthey were engaged in courageous battle.It continues today with the Knights andDames of the Order of Malta. This ruleis based on the command of our LordJesus to love our neighbors.

That command sounds sort of easy,if you like you neighbor. But what ifyou don’t like some of your neighbors?How can you ‘love’ them? Let’s face it,some of our neighbors do not make iteasy to even like them, let alone to‘love’ them. Sometimes they make usfeel the exact opposite.

The scriptures clarify this commandby telling us “Do to others as you wouldhave them do to you,” or “do nothing toanother that you would not want to bedone to yourself.” These are not onlythe words of our Savior, but are found inmany cultures and faiths.

The love Jesus spoke of, and stillspeaks of, is not the same as the per-sonal love we feel for our family andfriends, for our Church and country. It is

not that “warm fuzzy feeling.” Rather,it starts as the willingness to recognizethat the other person has rights, thesame as you do. It is to accept that theother guy might be of a different age,size, color, national origin, physicalcondition, educational level, socialbackground, and even might be a littlestrange or maybe a lot strange. It is toknow that he might not like you, andthat you might feel the same about him!

BUT in spite of the fact that you donot feel ‘friendly’ toward the person, ormight even feel unfriendly, it is yourwillingness to see him as anotherhuman, and if he needs help which youcan provide, you should do so. Thisdoes not mean giving him your canteenor anything which in fact might beharmful, even if he wishes it. But youshould not do anything against himwhich you would not want him to do toyou. Treat him like another child ofGod, even if he does not treat you thesame. You don’t have to hang aroundwith him, but you should pray for him.

The code of chivalry is the rule thatall good knights lived by and still liveby even to this day. The code requires us

ServingBrotherTo love thy neighbor (even if heʼs unlikable!)

CONTINUED, TOPOF PAGE 4

Dec 3-89 Is 2:1-5 Is 11:1-10 Is 25:6-10a Is 26:1-6 Is 29:17-24 Gn 3:9-15, 20 Bar 5:1-9

Mt 8:5-11 Lk 10:21-24 Mt 15:29-37 Mt 7:21, 24-27 Mt 9:27-31 Eph 1:3-6, 11-12 Phil 1:4-6, 8-11

Lk 1:26-38 Lk 3:1-6

Dec 10-16 Is 35:1-10 Is 40:1-11 Zec 2:14-17 12:1- Is 41:13-20 Is 48:17-19 Sir 48:1-4, 9-11 Zep 3:14-18a

Lk 5:17-26 Mt 18:12-14 6a, 10ab Mt 11:11-15 Mt 11:16-19 Mt 17:9a, 10-13 Phil 4:4-7

Lk 1:26-38 Lk 3:10-18

Dec 17-23 Gn 49:2, 8-10 Jer 23:5-8 Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a Is 7:10-14 Sg 2:8-14 1 Sm1:24-28 Mi 5:1-4a

Mt 1:1-17 Mt 1:18-25 Lk 1:5-25 Lk 1:26-38 Lk 1:39-45 Lk 1:46-56 Heb 10:5-10

Lk 1:39-45

Dec 24-30 2 Sm7:1-16 Is 52:7-10 Acts 6:8-10; 1 Jn 1:1-4 1 Jn 1:5–2:2 1 Jn 2:3-11 Sir 3:2-14

Lk 1:67-79 Heb 1:1-6 7:54-59 Jn 20:1a, 2-8 Mt 2:13-18 Lk 2:22-35 Col 3:12-21

Jn 1:1-18 Mt 10:17-22 Lk 2:41-52

Dec31-Jan6 1 Jn 2:18-21 Nm6:22-27 1 Jn 2:22-28 1 Jn 2:29–3:6 1 Jn 3:7-10 1 Jn 3:11-21 Is 60:1-6

Jn 1:1-18 Gal 4:4-7 Jn 1:19-28 Jn 1:29-34 Jn 1:35-42 Jn 1:43-51 Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6

Lk 2:16-21 Mt 2:1-12

Jan 7-13 1 Jn 3:22–4:6 1 Jn 4:7-10 1 Jn 4:11-18 1 Jn 4:19–5:4 1 Jn 5:5-13 1 Jn 5:14-21 Is 42:1-4, 6-7

Mt 4:12-17,23-25 Mk 6:34-44 Mk 6:45-52 Lk 4:14-22a Lk 5:12-16 Jn 3:22-30 Acts 10:34-38

Lk 3:15-22

Jan 14-20 Heb 1:1-6 Heb 2:5-12 Heb 2:14-18 Heb 3:7-14 Heb 4:1-5, 11 Heb 4:12-16 Is 62:1-5

Mk 1:14-20 Mk 1:21-28 Mk 1:29-39 Mk 1:40-45 Mk 2:1-12 Mk 2:13-17 1 Cor 12:4-11

Jn 2:1-11

Jan 21-27 Heb 5:1-10 Heb 6:10-20 Heb 7:1-3, 15-17 Heb 7:25–8:6 Acts 22:3-16 2 Tm 1:1-8 Neh 8:2-10

Mk 2:18-22 Mk 2:23-28 Mk 3:1-6 Mk 3:7-12 Mk 16:15-18 Mk 3:20-21 1 Cor 12:12-30

Lk 1:1-4; 4:14-21

Jan 28-Feb 3 Heb 9:15, 24-28 Heb 10:1-10 Heb 10:11-18 Heb 10:19-25 Heb 10:32-39 Mal 3:1-4 Jer 1:4-5, 17-19

Mk 3:22-30 Mk 3:31-35 Mk 4:1-20 Mk 4:21-25 Mk 4:26-34 Heb 2:14-18 1 Cor 12:31–13:13

Lk 2:22-40 Lk 4:21-30

Feb 4-10 Heb 11:32-40 Heb 12:1-4 Heb12:4-7,11-15 Heb12:18-19,21-24 Heb 13:1-8 Heb13:15-17,20-21 Is 6:1-2a, 3-8

Mk 5:1-20 Mk 5:21-43 Mk 6:1-6 Mk 6:7-13 Mk 6:14-29 Mk 6:30-34 1 Cor 15:1-11

Lk 5:1-11

Feb 11-17 Gn 1:1-19 Gn 1:20–2:4a Jl 2:12-18 Dt 30:15-20 Is 58:1-9a Is 58:9b-14 Dt 26:4-10

Mk 6:53-56 Mk 7:1-13 2 Cor 5:20–6:2 Lk 9:22-25 Mt 9:14-15 Lk 5:27-32 Rom10:8-13

Mt 6:1-6, 16-18 Lk 4:1-13

Feb 18-24 Lv 19:1-2,11-18 Is 55:10-11 Jon 3:1-10 Est C:12-25 1 Pt 5:1-4 Dt 26:16-19 Gn 15:5-12, 17-18

Mt 25:31-46 Mt 6:7-15 Lk 11:29-32 Mt 7:7-12 Mt 16:13-19 Mt 5:43-48 Phil 3:17–4:1

Lk 9:28b-36

Feb25-Mar3 Dn 9:4b-10 Is 1:10, 16-20 Jer 18:18-20 Jer 17:5-10 Gn 37:3-4,12-13a, Mi 7:14-15, 18-20 Ex 3:1-8a, 13-15

Lk 6:36-38 Mt 23:1-12 Mt 20:17-28 Lk 16:19-31 17b-28a Lk 15:1-3, 11-32 1Cor 10:1-6,10-12

Mt 21:33-46 Lk 13:1-9

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Mass readings for the summerWEEK MON TUES WEDS THUR FRI SAT SUN

SOVEREIGN MILITARY HOSPITALLERORDER OF ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM

OF RHODES AND OF MALTAHis Most Eminent HighnessFraʼ Matthew Festing

The Prince & Grand MasterMagistral Palace, Rome, ItalyMr. Jack E. Pohrer, GCM

President, American AssociationNew York, NY

His Excellency Fra' John T. Dunlap, KJKnight of Justice

His Eminence Timothy M. Cardinal DolanGrand Cross Conventual Chaplain

& Principal ChaplainDr. Robert J. Fredericks, KMOb

Chairman, Prison MinistryMr. Steven G. Caron, KM

Chairman, Editorial Board & PublisherFr. George T. Williams, SJ

Vice Chairman, Editorial Board; Editor& Magistral Chaplain

Address correspondence to:Order of Malta Newsletter

43 Essex StreetAndover, MA 01810

THE CATHOLIC CHURCHHis Holiness Pope Benedict XVI

The VaticanHis Excellency Carlo Maria ViganòApostolic Nuncio to the United StatesMETROPOLITAN ARCHBISHOPS INTHE ASSOCIATIONʼS SERVICE AREA

H.E. Robert J. CarlsonProvince of St. Louis (Established 1847)

H.E. Dennis M. SchnurrProvince of Cincinnati (Est. 1850)H.E. Timothy M. Cardinal DolanProvince of New York (Est. 1850)

H.E. Seán P. Cardinal OʼMalley, OFM CapProvince of Boston (Est.1875)H.E. Jerome E. Listecki

Province of Milwaukee (Est. 1875)H.E. Charles J. Chaput, OFM CapProvince of Philadelphia (Est. 1875)H.E. Francis Cardinal George, OMI

Province of Chicago (Est. 1880)H.E. John C. Nienstedt

Province of St. Paul and Minneapolis (1888)H.E. Jerome G. Hanus, OSB

Province of Dubuque (Est. 1893)H.E. Gustavo García-Siller, MSpSProvince of San Antonio (Est. 1926)

H.E. Allen H. VigneronProvince of Detroit (Est. 1937)

H.E. John J. MyersProvince of Newark (Est. 1937)

H.E. Joseph William Tobin, CSsRArchbishop Designate

Province of Indianapolis (Est. 1944)H.E. George J. Lucas

Province of Omaha (Est. 1945)H.E. Joseph F. Naumann

Province of Kansas City in Kansas (1952)H.E. Henry J. Mansell

Province of Hartford (Est. 1953)H.E. Thomas G. Wenski

Province of Miami (Est. 1968)H.E. Paul S. Coakley

Province of Oklahoma City (Est. 1972)H.E. Daniel N. Cardinal DiNardo

Province of Galveston Houston (Est. 2004)

A Seasonal Message from the Publisher

Dear Readers,On behalf of the Dames and Knights of the Order

of Malta, I extend our warmest wishes for the Adventand Christmas seasons to you, and to your colleaguesand loved ones!

The church year starts anew with the anticipationof the birth of Our Lord and Savior, the Light of theWord, Jesus of Nazareth. Following along with theseasonal bible readings, which appear on the next page,will bring you closer to the expectations expressed byOur Lord in His earthly ministry.

Jesus told us that meeting His expectations will beneither easy nor comfortable. In fact, as His kingdom isnot of this world, those striving to share in His eternaljoy will likely act in ways that non-believers may findodd. Fra’ James-Michael one of the senior Knights ofMalta in North America explains in this edition thatliving our Order’s lifestyle means even caring for andpraying for those whom you might think hate you.

People that you know may think this is simplycrazy! However, Jesus the Christ knows what is in ourhearts, beyond all of the barriers and defenses that webuild up to protect ourselves. He called each of us toact as a light to others, leading by our example. Byreally learning how Jesus wants us to live our lives,

you will be able to better reflect Hislight to all of those around you.

It’s true that each of us is far fromperfect. However, every day of the newyear provides us a freshopportunity to glorify God in the waythat we live our lives. Sisters and broth-ers, let’s commit to each other to liveeach day better than the last!

In closing out the year, I’d like toshare some of the feelings that I haverecently experienced:

Sadness.Our beloved “Nuns of Malta”lost their longtime chaplain, Fr. GeorgeAquilina. As you may recall, these nunsconduct our Church Without Walls Pro-gram, praying with and for prisoners inNorth America. Fr. Aquilina was a greathelp in establishing and maintainingyour link with the Nuns of Malta.

Please pray for the repose of hissoul, and that he will speedily be wel-comed to the house of Our Father inheaven. Also, your sending a note ofcondolence to the nuns addressed to

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TheAdoration of the Shepherds, by Rembrandt van Rijn (Holland) 1646

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

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It Was Bitterly Cold That Decembermorning; the wind was sharp and dry, from the north.Juan Diego wrapped his cloak around himself as he walked

Sister Christine Marie Vella at themonastery would be much appreciated.Their address: Jerosolimitan Nuns,Saint Ursula Monastery, Saint UrsulaStreet, Valletta VLT 1235, Malta EUJoy! Your friend and mine, our EditorFr. George Williams SJ was promoted toMagistral Chaplain in the Order ofMalta. This is a lifetime appointmentwhich officially makes him a memberof the Order’s membership category forpriests. His leadership in serving theimprisoned is a matter of pride for all ofus who love the Order of Malta.Pride. The Order of Malta has severalassociations in North America. Follow-ing the encouragement of our PrinceFra’ Mathew Festing, the Federal Asso-ciation has initiated a Prison MinistryCommittee that now joins with theefforts of the American and CanadianAssociations of the Order. We lookforward to their contribution and pledgeto work closely with them to get themost out of our combined efforts.Thankfulness. The fine people of theCongregation of the Marians of theImmaculate Conception of the BlessedVirgin Mary in Stockbridge, MA havebeen a key part of bringing “The Serv-ing Brother” to your doorstep over thepast few years. Their printing operationdoes a wonderful job, relishing the chal-lenge of reproducing artwork of themasters and crisply printed text for yourenjoyment. Their colleague BryanThatcher has also shared many wonder-ful observations on the relevance of TheDivine Mercy that Pope John Paul IIcharged the Marians with promoting.Please pray for the continued success of

their ministry.Amazement. The folks at our graphicdesigners, Invisible Man Studios, neverfail to create a look for each edition thatis more elegant than we imagine possible.They truly understand how the Orderseeks to serve you and are clearly moti-vated to deliver on that aspiration.Please pray that the Lord will continueto provide them both fresh inspirationand encouragement in their own spiri-tual growth.Gratitude.As a volunteer organization,our strong desire to serve you can some-times exceed our tangible resources. Ithank you, our readers, for your input, foryour forgiveness when we fall short, andfor your prayers that the Dames andKnights of the Order of Malta workingin concert with our Serving Sisters andBrothers and other volunteers willgenuinely reflect the light of Jesus Christto those that we come in contact with,most particularly poor, sick and outcastsouls.

As we celebrate the Order ofMalta’s 900th year of being establishedas an official religious order of theCatholic Church in February 2013,nothing is more important than keepingfaith with our founder, Blessed Gerard,and his confreres who cared for the sickand poor on the streets of Jerusalem.

With best wishes for the Advent andChristmas seasons,

Steven G. Caron, KMPublisher

to protect those who cannot protectthemselves, to help the helpless, to carefor those who need care, even awounded enemy. A good Christian isobedient to the Lord; he loves his neigh

bor, even if he doesn’t like him.And so we remember especially at

this time the song of the angels: “Peaceon earth to people of good will.”

Be of good will as by loving yourneighbor, you may find peace.

CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE

PUBLISHERʼS LETTER, CONTINUED

OurLadyofGuadalupePatroness of the Americas

by Father George

Sudoku Puzzle

Sudoku Directions Fill each squarewith the numbers 1-9. No number canappear twice within the same row, thesame column, or within the same frameof nine squares. ANSWERS ON BACK PAGE

What is a Serving Brother?

6 2 7 5 39 5 6

3 8 7 6 47 3 1 2

8 4 6 2 3

6 4 11 5 4 9 7

Give your brain a workout!

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Brain Teasers4 fathers, 2 grand-fathers and 4 sons wentto watch themovie.What is theminimumnumber of the tickets they need to buy?What kind of storm is always in a rush?Ababy falls out of a twenty-story buildingonto the ground and is unhurt. How?Why do people go to bed?

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The Order of Malta is one of the oldest institutions of Western and Christiancivilization. During its early history as a military force, the Knights of Maltarequired the support of many helpers. One such group of helpers was knownas “Serving Brothers.” These men assisted the Knights when called to fight,and also served the Chaplains in tending to the sick. While not members of theOrder, they fully embraced its values and lifestyle.

Anyone may spiritually participate as a Serving Brother or Sister by ac-tively participating in the life of the Roman Catholic Church, including regularattendance at worship services, keeping up with seasonal bible readings, say-ing the rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet, studying our Faith and stayingtrue to the admonitions of our Lord Jesus Christ, guided by the teachings ofthe Church.An introduction to the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Malta (SMOM)

The SMOM is an international religious order recognized by a decree ofPope Pascal II in 1113. Led by the Knights of Justice, who are professed Friars,its Grand Master holds the rank of Cardinal. Most of its 13,000 Knights andDames are not under vows, but are devoted to developing their spirituality,serving the faith, and caring for sick, poor and outcast souls.

In 1783, Benjamin Franklin presented the Libertas Americanamedal ofthe United States of America to the SMOM in thanks for the crucial help itprovided during the War of Independence. Over 1,800 Knights and Maltesesailors enlisted in the French Navy specifically to assist the American colonieswin freedom.

up the hill. All around him were thejumbled ruins of the great temple hispeople had built. On this spot his Aztecfathers worshipped their gods. Theywere powerful and proud people. Untilthe strangers from the East came andtore their whole world apart. Juan Diegowas old enough to remember the olddays and he felt the sadness andhumiliation of his conquered people.

As he neared the top of the hill, heheard a young woman’s voice call tohim: “Juanito!” And there, seeming tostep out of the rays of the morningsunlight was a young Indian girl, herskin as dark as Juan’s, her eyes the colorof chocolate, her hair straight and black.She wore traditional Aztec clothing likehis, and around her waist was a blacksash that meant she was pregnant.

She spoke to him in his own lan-guage: “I am the Virgin Mary, and I wishfor a church to be built on this hilltop.Here I will offer all my love and com-passion, my help and my protection tothose who will come to me with theirsorrows.”

She told him to go and tell the Span-ish bishop what he had seen. The rest ofthe story you may already know: howthe Bishop showed him no respect andthrew him out of his office; and howwhen Juan Diego returned to the Bishopand opened his cloak filled with freshroses picked in mid-December on thathilltop, they were both astonished to seethat the image of the beautiful youngwoman had been somehow imprintedupon the material of his cloak.

Now, nearly 5 centuries later, whatdoes this dark-skinned image of Maryhave to say to us?

A lot. Her voice calls to us throughthe centuries echoing with the voices ofall the other Juan’s and Maria’s in his-tory who have experienced oppressionand injustice.

Mary speaks for the outcasts: NativeAmericans, African slaves, and poor

immigrants; exploited and uninsuredworkers; undocumented aliens; womentrafficked and abused. She stands by theroad with a sign that says “Homeless,hungry.” She has never voted, can’t read,doesn’t have health insurance or theproper immigration paperwork. She works16 hours a day in a sweatshop makingclothing she’ll never wear. She is themother of prisoners; she is the mother ofthe powerless.

Guadalupe is a troublemaker. Sheshows up uninvited. She broke into ourNew World history, not with a Bishop’spronouncement, not in white virginalclothes, but in the brown skin of a peas-ant girl. The same kind of girl whosevoice is never heard in the hallways ofthe rich and powerful unless she isbusy vacuuming or dusting or cleaningtheir bathrooms.

This pregnant Maria knows what itis like to get up before dawn, make tor-tillas for her kids and then go to worklong hours at the factory.

Guadalupe reminds us how messythe incarnation really is. How at theheart of God’s mercy there is great sor-row and suffering. How in the midst ofour imperfect world there is such inde-scribable joy.

She points us to the liberating powerof Jesus Christ, who also stands through-out history with the poor and the op-pressed. She reminds us that her son toowas arrested, tried, convicted and exe-cuted by the state. She reminds us thatno matter how bad things seem to be,with God there is always hope for abetter future.

We pray that Our Lady of Guadalupe,the Patroness of all the Americas, willinspire us to live the Gospel of JesusChrist, wherever we are.

Father George T. Williams SJ, Editor of TheServing Brother, is Chaplain of San Quentin StatePrison.

In 1531, the Blessed Virgin Maryappeared on four occasions to a poorMexican named Juan Diego. On hiscactus fiber cloak, or tilma, she left amiraculous image of herself. Throughthe image, she evangelized the Indiansabout God and the necessity of endinghuman sacrifice. Amazingly, over thenext seven years, all human sacrificeended in Mexico, and millions con-verted to Christianity!

Just as then, her intercession isneeded now to end the human sacrificeof abortion, and the death penalty thatcome from the mentality of a culture ofdeath. Life is a gift from God! ThankGod that the Virgin Mary was pro-life!And she wants us to think of her as ourMother our Heavenly Mother. “I amnot only the Queen of Heaven, but alsothe Mother of Mercy and your Mother”(Diary of St. Faustina, 330).

St. Maria Faustina often prayed toOur Lady for her country:

“Most merciful Jesus, I beseech Youthrough the intercession of Your Saints,and especially the intercession of Yourdearest Mother who nurtured You fromchildhood, bless my native land. I begYou, Jesus, look not on our sins, but onthe tears of little children, on the hungerand cold they suffer. Jesus, for the sakeof these innocent ones, grant me the

grace that I amasking of You formy country.”(Diary, entry 286)

We can followher example bypraying for our owncountry today:

Despite thegreat wealth ofour land, todaymany many families are struggling tokeep their kids housed and fed. We canpray for them. Many of our own lovedones struggle to make ends meet. Mary,the mother of Jesus, the mother ofMercy incarnate, is one to whom we canturn in any circumstance, trusting in hermaternal compassion and powerful in-tercession. When we struggle with thestresses of life, let us ponder the attitudeof Mary the woman of Faith so thatwe can follow her example of trustfulsurrender to the Lord: “Here am I, theservant of the Lord; let it be done withme according to your word” (Lk 1:38).Then, just as the merciful Savior becameincarnate in Mary, so the mercy of Godcan become alive in us as well.

Message of the Divine Mercy, from Dr. Bryan ThatcherOur Lady of Guadalupe – Patroness of theAmericas

Bryan Thatcher, MD is the Director of the EucharisticApostles of The Divine Mercy, 10016 Park PlaceAve,Riverview,FL33569 (877)380-0727 eadm@marian.org

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Puzzle solutions

1)Just4.Allofthefathersaresons.Twoofthemaregrandfathers.2)Ahurricane3)Itfellfromafirstfloorwindow.4)Becauseitwonʼtcometothem.