St. Rupert
On March 27 the Catholic Church remembers the monk and bishop Saint
Rupert, whose missionary labors built up the Church in two of its
historic strongholds, Austria and Bavaria.
During his lifetime,
the “Apostle of Bavaria and Austria” was an energetic founder of
churches and monasteries, and a remarkably successful evangelist of the
regions – which include the homeland of the Bavarian native Pope
Benedict XVI.
Little is known about Rupert's early life, which is
thought to have begun around 660 in the territory of Gaul in modern-day
France. There is some indication that he came from the Merovignian
royal line, though he embraced a life of prayer, fasting, asceticism and
charity toward the poor.
This course of life led to his
consecration as the Bishop of Worms in present-day Germany. Although
Rupert was known as a wise and devout bishop, he eventually met with
rejection from the largely pagan population, who beat him savagely and
forced him to leave the city.
After this painful rejection,
Rupert made a pilgrimage to Rome. Two years after his expulsion from
Worms, his prayers were answered by means of a message from Duke Theodo
of Bavaria, who knew of his reputation as a holy man and a sound teacher
of the faith.
Bavaria, in Rupert's day, was neither fully pagan
nor solidly Catholic. Although missionaries had evangelized the region
in the past, the local religion tended to mix portions of the Christian
faith – often misunderstood along heretical lines – with native pagan
beliefs and practices.
The Bavarian duke sought Rupert's help to
restore, correct, and spread the faith in his land. After sending
messengers to report back to him on conditions in Bavaria, Rupert
agreed. The bishop who had been brutally exiled from Worms was received
with honor in the Bavarian city of Regensburg.
With the help of a
group of priests he brought with him, Rupert undertook an extensive
mission in Bavaria and parts of modern-day Austria. His missionary
journeys resulted in many conversions, accompanied by numerous miracles
including the healing of diseases.
In Salzburg, Rupert and his
companions built a great church, which they placed under the patronage
of St. Peter, and a monastery observing the Rule of St. Benedict.
Rupert's niece became the abbess of a Benedictine convent established
nearby.
Rupert served as both the bishop of Salzburg and the
abbot of the Benedictine monastery he established there. This
traditional pairing of the two roles, also found in the Irish Church
after its development of monasticism, was passed on by St. Rupert's
successors until the late 10th century.
St. Rupert died on March 27, Easter Sunday of the year 718, after preaching and celebrating Mass.
After
the saint's death, churches and monasteries began to be named after him
– including Salzburg's modern-day Cathedral of St. Rupert (also known
as the “Salzburg Cathedral”), and the Church of St. Rupert which is
believed to be the oldest surviving church structure in Vienna.
Jeremiah 7:23-28
23 But this command I gave them, `Obey my voice, and I
will be your God, and you shall be my people; and walk in all the way
that I command you, that it may be well with you.'
24 But they did not obey or incline their ear, but
walked in their own counsels and the stubbornness of their evil hearts,
and went backward and not forward.
25 From the day that your fathers came out of the land
of Egypt to this day, I have persistently sent all my servants the
prophets to them, day after day;
26 yet they did not listen to me, or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck. They did worse than their fathers.
27 "So you shall speak all these words to them, but
they will not listen to you. You shall call to them, but they will not
answer you.
28 And you shall say to them, `This is the nation that
did not obey the voice of the LORD their God, and did not accept
discipline; truth has perished; it is cut off from their lips.
Luke 11:14-23
14 Now he was casting out a demon that was dumb; when the demon had gone out, the dumb man spoke, and the people marveled.
15 But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Be-el'zebul, the prince of demons";
16 while others, to test him, sought from him a sign from heaven.
17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them,
"Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided
household falls.
18 And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Be-el'zebul.
19 And if I cast out demons by Be-el'zebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges.
20 But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace;
22 but when one stronger than he assails him and
overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted, and divides
his spoil.
23 He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.
Psalms 95:1-2, 6-9
1 O come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
6 O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!
7 For he is our God, and we are the people of his
pasture, and the sheep of his hand. O that today you would hearken to
his voice!
8 Harden not your hearts, as at Mer'ibah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness,
9 when your fathers tested me, and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work.
Lord, help us shake off all our sins and make ourselves a new heart and spirit
Thursday March 27 2025
3rd Week of Lent
Jer.
7:23-28; Ps. 95:1-2,6-9;
Lk.
11:14-23 (Ps. Wk. III)
Jeremiah was a prophet called by God to bring God’s Word to a sinful Judah (the southern kingdom). He served faithfully as God’s prophet (c.627-586 B.C.) and reached out to Judah during the reign of the last five kings.
Today’s passage (Jer 7:23-28) speaks about God’s “orders,” which are to “listen to My voice” and to “follow right to the end the way that I mark out for you” (v 23). Did the people of Judah listen? In the passage, it is said of the people that they “did not listen … have not listened … will not listen” (vv 24, 26-28). Furthermore, they “did not pay attention … have not paid attention … refused to face Me … turned their backs on Me … will not take correction … followed the dictates of their own evil hearts, have grown stubborn … behaved worse than their ancestors” and were insincere (vv 24, 26-28).
Lent is a grace-filled time for us to look at our lives in the light of God’s tender and compassionate love. How are we like the people of Judah? Are we willing to follow God’s “orders” – to listen to God’s voice and to follow right to the end the way that God has marked out for us (v 23)? Is there some sense of unwillingness? What is its source?
What is the positive outcome of following
God’s “orders”? God will be our God, we shall be God’s people, and we shall
prosper (i.e. it may go well with us; v 23).
Lord, help us shake off all our sins and
make ourselves a new heart and spirit (Ezekiel 18:31).
