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22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

8/26/2021

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Dear brothers and sisters,                              
                                                                                    
                                                               Madonna of the Chair
 
"Whatever is true…whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about all these things" (Philippians 4:8).
 
With St. Paul's recommendation in mind, I now officially introduce to you a lovely, gracious, and excellent painting that adorns the walls of our beautiful church, a replica of Raphael's Madonna of the Chair. This work is a replica of The Madonna de/la Sedia.(or Seggiola). The original is an oil on panel Madonna painting by the High Italian Renaissance artist Raphael, executed c. 1513-1514, and housed at the Palazzo Pitti collection in Florence, Italy. Although there is documentation on its arrival to its current location, Palazzo Pitti, it is still unknown who commissioned the original painting; however, it has been in the Medici family since the 16th century.
This replica was most likely created near the tum of the century. It is in a frame that is a facsimile of the original. The unknown artist's red wax seal is still intact and affixed to the back of the painting. The painting depicts Mary embracing the Christ child while sitting in a chair as young John the Baptist devoutly watches. The Madonna de/la Sedia is one of the most important of Raphael's Madonnas.
 
The Madonna de/la Sedia is Raphael's most humanistic form of the Madonna.12I Throughout Raphael's life, this humanistic representation of the Madonna occupied his mind. The Madonna de/la Sedia is the incarnation of a realistic mother and child, representing human motherhood.
The Madonna de/la Sedia balanced simplification and detail with the treatment of her embroidered shawl, the directness of the figures and the touching of the two heads (Madonna and Christ child).I4I Raphael dressed the Madonna in the Italian clothing of the time.15I Mary is depicted wearing a striped headdress, which falls behind her back and compliments her richly colored ornamental dress with fringe.
The colors play an essential role in this painting, from the green embroidered garment to the cerulean blue or the juxtaposition of the Madonna's red sleeve with the Christ child's orange drapery, which adds an extra element of enrichment and a vibrancy to the color palette.14 1 The warmer colors seem to suggest the influence of Titian and Raphael's rival Sebastiano def Piombo.
The Madonna de/la Sedia has been admired by many artists, poets, and engravers. It has been copied many times over and, historically, was considered one of the most revered of Raphael's Madonnas.18I There are a few enchanting legends connected to the Madonna de/la Sedia painting. One such legend is about a beautiful Urbino peasant girl, who was as good as she was beautiful, charitable, and pious, who gave her assistance to an ill hermit she had stumbled upon. The hermit rewarded the girl by blessing her and stating that she would be painted as the mother of God. Many years later, on a sunny day, holding her infant in the garden and with her toddler son playing at her knees, she was spotted by a handsome young man at her garden gate. That young man was Raphael Sanzio, who immediately said he would like to paint her as she sat there with her two sons, later represented as the original Virgin, Christ child, and St. John (Source: Wikipedia)
A book writer purchased this replica in Italy who then presented it as a gift to her publisher, Dan Raffensperger, of Continental Press. It was in Dan's office from approximately 1998 until he very generously donated it to Saint Peter in Elizabethtown in November 2019. Thanks to Bob Dolan for introducing me to Dan Raffensperger and providing the article on the Madonna of the Chair.
 
All things beautiful are a reflection of God.
 
Fr. Bernard, OP

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8/22/2021 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

8/20/2021

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Dear brothers and sisters,

                                              The Concluding Rites: “This Saying is Hard”

We conclude our biblical walk through the mass this week by taking a quick walk back through all the major components of the Sacred Mysteries. The central piece of the structure of Mass is the Eucharistic prayers. In the words of consecration said in the power of the Holy Spirit, the priest standing in the person of Christ, makes truly present the body and blood of Jesus Christ. Just like that! The faith of believers, the tradition of the Church, the authority and command of Jesus, all these come into play. If we lack faith, we would walk away like disciples of Jesus in John 6. Take and eat. Take and drink. This is my body. This is my blood. The words of Jesus are difficult to believe except we have faith. “This saying is hard’ who can accept it?”
 
Catholics have accepted it. We have lived and died for it for over two thousand years. For those with flagging faith, we pray their faith grows. We need that faith as we leave mass to bear witness to Jesus Christ we received sacramentally at Mass. The mass concludes with the words of the priest: Ite missa est- translated “Go forth, the Mass is ended.” Now we have been sent on a mission by Jesus, represented by the priest. He says literally, “go, you are dismissed, ” just as Jesus told his apostles somewhere else: “As the Father has sent me, even so I send you” (Jn 20:21). We wait for the concluding rites of Mass to hear those words of empowerment, of sending forth to bring the mysteries of Christ’s redemption into the world.
 
Let’s be people of thanksgiving, Eucharistic people. Believe the words of Jesus.
Fr. Bernard Oniwe, OP
 
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Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 8/8/2021

8/9/2021

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Father's Message
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Mailing Address:  
1840 Marshall Drive
Elizabethtown, PA 17
022

GPS Address:
904 Mill Road
Elizabethtown, PA 17022

Contact Us

Phone: 717-367-1255
Fax: 717-367-1270

Email: bulletininfo@stpeteretown.org



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  • Home
  • From The Pastor
  • Online Streaming
    • Mass Archives
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    • Welcome
    • Mass & Reconciliation
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    • St Peter Columbarium
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