“Duc in Altum,” or, A Lenten Meditation

 

From the latest column by The Rev. George Rutler, pastor of the Church of St. Michael in New York, in which Fr. Rutler summarizes what tradition holds about the deaths of the twelve apostles:

“Duc in altum.” Cast into the deep—or, take the plunge. Christ said it to his disciples (Luke 5:4). When they did as they were told…they left everything and followed him (Luke 5:11).

Andrew preached in Bulgaria and was crucified on an olive tree in Greece. Bartholomew preached in India and was crucified with his head downward in the part of Armenia that now is in the former Soviet state of Georgia. James, son of Alphaeus was stoned to death in Jerusalem, and James, son of Zebedee, was beheaded by the tetrarch Herod. His brother John, the only apostle known to have not died violently, was exiled to the island of Patmos by the emperor Domitian, later going to Turkey and dying in Ephesus during the reign of Trajan. Matthew died in Hieres near present-day Tehran.

Peter shared his remembrances with Mark and was crucified in Rome. After preaching in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Betania, Italy and Asia, Philip was crucified with his head downward in Hierapolis in eastern Turkey during the reign of Domitian. Simon the Zealot was the second bishop of Jerusalem, but is said to have also preached in Egypt and Persia where he was sawed to pieces. Thaddeus, who preached in Edessa and throughout Mesopotamia, was axed to death in Syria. Thomas preached throughout Persia and was speared to death at Calamene in India….

[T]hese men did not live superficial lives. They took the plunge and fulfilled the promise of the Master that they would become fishers of men.

Life is serious.

Duc in altum.

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  1. kelsurprise Member
    kelsurprise
    @kelsurprise

    I sang in the choir for a brief run some years ago, at Church of Our Savior, until scheduling got in the way and I found a parish closer to home.  I knew Fr. Rutler had since left there but didn’t know where he’d ended up so thanks much for both the column excerpt and the tip on where to find him.

    My mom met Father Rutler years ago on a visit here and was an instant friend and fan.   Just signed up for his newsletter and sent my mom the link.  I’ll have to make a point to get over to St. Michael’s now.

    Thanks for sharing!

    • #1
  2. Roberto Inactive
    Roberto
    @Roberto

    Somber thoughts, particularly in this age of ephemera thoughts worthy of consideration.

    • #2
  3. Randy Webster Inactive
    Randy Webster
    @RandyWebster

    I asked at work the other day if Lent meant anything to anyone not Catholic, and got no very clear answer.  Does it?

    • #3
  4. Mike Rapkoch Member
    Mike Rapkoch
    @MikeRapkoch

    You’re right Peter. Life is deadly serious.

    • #4
  5. Midget Faded Rattlesnake Member
    Midget Faded Rattlesnake
    @Midge

    Randy Webster:I asked at work the other day if Lent meant anything to anyone not Catholic, and got no very clear answer. Does it?

    Yes, especially to Orthodox Christians and the Protestant denominations that consider themselves more-or-less “reformed Catholics” rather than having broken radically with Catholicism (so, Lutherans, Anglicans/Episcopalians, and some others).

    The Orthodox observe somewhat different timing and rituals for Lent. It’s pretty common in the Lutheran and Episcopalian churches I’ve attended to observe customs similar to the Catholics’, such as the Lenten fasts (though there seems to be less replacing of meat with seafood while fasting), the imposition of ashes on Ash Wednesday, and so on.

    • #5
  6. St. Salieri Member
    St. Salieri
    @

    Randy Webster:I asked at work the other day if Lent meant anything to anyone not Catholic, and got no very clear answer. Does it?

    I was raised and embraced the Baptist tradition, but in college I began playing the organ regularly for Lutherans, as a Baptist I at first found the whole thing horrifying, but three years later I no longer felt at home in the Baptist faith, eleven years later I became and remain an Anglican, that was almost a decade ago, it was the Lenten season that began my massive rethinking of all things religious.  So Lent has both general, family (I married the daughter of a Lutheran minister), and massively important personal meaning for me.

    I look forward to both Advent and Lent almost as much as the season of Christmas and Easter.  A season to reduce, re-examine and refresh before a massive celebration of the the two most important cosmic events is of incalculable value, and to do it in the company of a community of fellow and faithful Christians, I know nothing better, it is a foretaste of the feast to come.

    • #6
  7. Mike Rapkoch Member
    Mike Rapkoch
    @MikeRapkoch

    Midget Faded Rattlesnake:

    Randy Webster:I asked at work the other day if Lent meant anything to anyone not Catholic, and got no very clear answer. Does it?

    Yes, especially to Orthodox Christians and the Protestant denominations that consider themselves more-or-less “reformed Catholics” rather than having broken radically with Catholicism (so, Lutherans, Anglicans/Episcopalians, and some others).

    The Orthodox observe somewhat different timing and rituals for Lent. It’s pretty common in the Lutheran and Episcopalian churches I’ve attended to observe customs similar to the Catholics’, such as the Lenten fasts (though there seems to be less replacing of meat with seafood while fasting), the imposition of ashes on Ash Wednesday, and so on.

    The “sacrifice” of meat is a funny thing. One Lenten Friday a number of years ago my brother and his wife went to dinner and she advised him he couldn’t eat meat. So, he said, “I sacrificed and had lobster.” Oh the suffering! O the humanity. My granddad would sometimes cook a steak, wave the sign if the cross over it, and declare “now you are a fish.”

    • #7
  8. Midget Faded Rattlesnake Member
    Midget Faded Rattlesnake
    @Midge

    Mike Rapkoch: The “sacrifice” of meat is a funny thing. One Lenten Friday a number of years ago my brother and his wife went to dinner and she advised him he couldn’t eat meat. So, he said, “I sacrificed and had lobster.” Oh the suffering! O the humanity…

    Well… there are always salmon croquettes

    • #8
  9. kelsurprise Member
    kelsurprise
    @kelsurprise

    St. Salieri: I was raised and embraced the Baptist tradition, but in college I began playing the organ regularly for Lutherans

    The choir director at my old church here in NY converted to Catholicism, but clearly still retained a few preconceived notions about how we stacked up against other faiths in his line of work.   Highest praise we ever got from him, after an Easter Sunday service?  “Y’all sounded so darn good today, Ida swore you were Methodists!”

    St. Salieri: I look forward to both Advent and Lent almost as much as the season of Christmas and Easter. A season to reduce, re-examine and refresh before a massive celebration of the the two most important cosmic events is of incalculable value, and to do it in the company of a community of fellow and faithful Christians, I know nothing better, it is a foretaste of the feast to come.

    Love this.

    • #9
  10. I Walton Member
    I Walton
    @IWalton

    Rutler’s “People I have known who are dead”, or perhaps “Dead people I have known”,  I don’t remember, and I gave the book to a friend, is masterful prose.  He can be heard on EWTN, and some lucky New Yorkers can hear his homilies.

    • #10
  11. Randy Webster Inactive
    Randy Webster
    @RandyWebster

    Midget Faded Rattlesnake:

    Randy Webster:I asked at work the other day if Lent meant anything to anyone not Catholic, and got no very clear answer. Does it?

    Yes, especially to Orthodox Christians and the Protestant denominations that consider themselves more-or-less “reformed Catholics” rather than having broken radically with Catholicism (so, Lutherans, Anglicans/Episcopalians, and some others).

    The Orthodox observe somewhat different timing and rituals for Lent. It’s pretty common in the Lutheran and Episcopalian churches I’ve attended to observe customs similar to the Catholics’, such as the Lenten fasts (though there seems to be less replacing of meat with seafood while fasting), the imposition of ashes on Ash Wednesday, and so on.

    I was raised a southern baptist.  We didn’t observe anything like Lent.

    • #11
  12. St. Salieri Member
    St. Salieri
    @

    Randy Webster:

    Midget Faded Rattlesnake:

    Randy Webster:I asked at work the other day if Lent meant anything to anyone not Catholic, and got no very clear answer. Does it?

    Yes, especially to Orthodox Christians and the Protestant denominations that consider themselves more-or-less “reformed Catholics” rather than having broken radically with Catholicism (so, Lutherans, Anglicans/Episcopalians, and some others).

    I was raised a southern baptist. We didn’t observe anything like Lent.

    Oh yes we do (at least we did growing up), they’re called revival services, one to two weeks of going to church from 7 to 10 pm and wallowing in the misery of our sins (for the unsaved) and our backslidden failures (for the saved). Lots of introspection, prayer, compelling sermons, and hymns about blood, death, redemption and lost sheep.

    It’s just Lent all boiled down and concentrated.

    All it is lacking is a good fish-fry with perogies.

    I mean no disrespect, I miss the revivals of my youth and think (while theologically I have a problem with a lot of the mechanics, the heart is in the right place) and the liturgical churches could learn something.

    • #12
  13. Randy Webster Inactive
    Randy Webster
    @RandyWebster

    St. Salieri:

    Randy Webster:

    Midget Faded Rattlesnake:

    Randy Webster:I asked at work the other day if Lent meant anything to anyone not Catholic, and got no very clear answer. Does it?

    Yes, especially to Orthodox Christians and the Protestant denominations that consider themselves more-or-less “reformed Catholics” rather than having broken radically with Catholicism (so, Lutherans, Anglicans/Episcopalians, and some others).

    I was raised a southern baptist. We didn’t observe anything like Lent.

    Oh yes we do (at least we did growing up), they’re called revival services, one to two weeks of going to church from 7 to 10 pm and wallowing in the misery of our sins (for the unsaved) and our backslidden failures (for the saved). Lots of introspection, prayer, compelling sermons, and hymns about blood, death, redemption and lost sheep.

    It’s just Lent all boiled down and concentrated.

    All it is lacking is a good fish-fry with perogies.

    I mean no disrespect, I miss the revivals of my youth and think (while theologically I have a problem with a lot of the mechanics, the heart is in the right place) and the liturgical churches could learn something.

    Yes.  I suffered through many a revival.  But they came at odd times.  They were never tied to the calendar.

    Don’t get me wrong.  When I was 18, I walked out of church and never looked back. Though it’s hard to shuck the morality you were raised on. I’m not even sure I’d want to.

    • #13
  14. Scott Wilmot Member
    Scott Wilmot
    @ScottWilmot

    When I hear the words, “Duc in altum“, I think of Pope John Paul II’s Apostolic Letter Novo Millennio Ineunte.

    Duc in altum! These words ring out for us today, and they invite us to remember the past with gratitude, to live the present with enthusiasm and to look forward to the future with confidence: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever” (Heb 13:8).

    I love #54 – it speaks to the privilege and the daunting task Christ gave to his Apostles (and to us):

    A new century, a new millennium are opening in the light of Christ. But not everyone can see this light. Ours is the wonderful and demanding task of becoming its “reflection”. This is the mysterium lunae, which was so much a part of the contemplation of the Fathers of the Church, who employed this image to show the Church’s dependence on Christ, the Sun whose light she reflects.38 It was a way of expressing what Christ himself said when he called himself the “light of the world” (Jn 8:12) and asked his disciples to be “the light of the world” (Mt 5:14).

    This is a daunting task if we consider our human weakness, which so often renders us opaque and full of shadows. But it is a task which we can accomplish if we turn to the light of Christ and open ourselves to the grace which makes us a new creation.

    Serious indeed. Blessed Lent!

    • #14
  15. Mike Rapkoch Member
    Mike Rapkoch
    @MikeRapkoch

    Midget Faded Rattlesnake:

    Mike Rapkoch: The “sacrifice” of meat is a funny thing. One Lenten Friday a number of years ago my brother and his wife went to dinner and she advised him he couldn’t eat meat. So, he said, “I sacrificed and had lobster.” Oh the suffering! O the humanity…

    Well… there are always salmon croquettes

    Why do you hate me?(-:

    • #15
  16. Aaron Miller Inactive
    Aaron Miller
    @AaronMiller

    Thanks.

    • #16
  17. Western Chauvinist Member
    Western Chauvinist
    @WesternChauvinist

    A friend and I were recently discussing the importance of imparting meaning to youngsters coming into the Church (my daughter is preparing for Confirmation this April). After sharing some things I’ve heard in the Chosen program our parish is using — “The best thing you can do for the people you love is to become a saint.” and “You were made for nothing less than Heaven.” [a share in the Divine Life] — she shared a thought that has stayed with me.

    “You are invincible until you’ve fulfilled God’s purpose for your life.”

    This is what makes for Christian courage so exemplified by the apostles.

    Life may be serious, but we needn’t be somber in living it (remember Justice Scalia). Christ has won the victory!

    Be not afraid. Be bold! Go forth making disciples — glorifying God by your life.

    Happy Lent, Peter and everyone.

    • #17
  18. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    St. Salieri: I was raised and embraced the Baptist tradition, but in college I began playing the organ regularly for Lutherans, as a Baptist I at first found the whole thing horrifying….

    It was all the coffee, wasn’t it?

    We get that a lot.

    • #18
  19. MJBubba Member
    MJBubba
    @

    Good, stout Lutheran coffee, in the big ancient percolator urn.

    (There is a little pot of decaf in that little coffeemaker to the left.)

    The coffee is not in the narthex;  you have to walk into the fellowship hall to get coffee.   That is because it is convenient for refills while attending Pastor’s Sunday School class.

    • #19
  20. Hustler46060 Inactive
    Hustler46060
    @Hustler46060

    Get holy or die tryin’

    • #20
  21. twvolck Inactive
    twvolck
    @twvolck

    We should note that some of these stories about the disciples are doubtful, and some are pretty clearly false.  The fourth century historian Eusebius, citing the second century author Hegesippus, who obviously knew a lot about the Jerusalem church, agrees that the second bishop of Jerusalem was named Symeon (Simon), but says he was the son of Clopas, a brother of Joseph, the husband of Mary, Jesus’s mother.  There is no reason whatsoever to think this Symeon was “Simon the Zealot,” one of the twelve.

    Also, James, the brother of Jesus was stoned in Jerusalem in 62 A.D. but he was not James the son of Alphaeus.  I suspect that the story of this second James being stoned is simply a confusion of one James with the other.

    The assumption that two people with the same name were actually the same person was pretty common after a couple of generations in the early church.  The two Philips, the Philip of the twelve and Philip the deacon, one of the seven chosen to allot food, who baptized the Ethiopian eunuch, were often confused, and still are.

    • #21
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