In Memoriam of Msgr Anthony La Femina- Book Review: Eucharist and Covenant in John's Last Supper Account

In Memoriam of Monsignor Anthony La Femina

Book Review: Eucharist and Covenant in John's Last Supper Account

Matthew Bellisario O.P. Jan 6th, 2020

Monsignor's Icon of the Year of the Eucharist 2004-2005

Some years ago, I was asked by my parish priest to help at an exorcism. My pastor told me that he would be assisting an exorcist, and needed another person to help, and so I accepted.

When I showed up to the church on the morning of the first session, I saw a silver-haired priest sitting in a chair in his cassock, holding his cane, discussing what was going to be taking place during the exorcism. This older priest welcomed me, and thanked me for taking part in what he called, “an important spiritual work of mercy.” That was how I met Monsignor Anthony A. LaFemina, who since that day, has been a great friend and spiritual advisor. In fact, I would not be a Third Order Dominican today if it wasn't for his wisdom and assistance. I owe much to him.

Early 1960s

Monsignor LaFemina was born on November 19th, 1933 in New Haven, Connecticut and was ordained in the Diocese of Saint-Jérôme, in the Province of Quebec in 1961. Monsignor LaFemina often spoke to me about being ordained in the Tridentine Rite and how the liturgical changes were difficult for many priests after the Council (he himself was present in Rome during much of the Council). After retiring in Venice, Florida, Monsignor exclusively offered the Tridentine Mass in his beautiful home chapel.

As a young priest, Monsignor LaFemina served as the parochial vicar at Sainte-Françoise-Cabrini, in Rosemère, from 1961-1963, and also as parochial vicar at Holy Family Parish, in Deux-Montagnes, from 1965-1969 (both in the Province of Quebec).  From 1966-1969, he worked as the vice-chancellor, pro-chancellor, and secretary of the diocesan tribunal of the Diocese of Saint-Jérôme.

Though not a religious, he always was drawn to St. Dominic and considered joining the Dominican Order at the outset of his priesthood. Though officially a Diocesan priest, he would stay close to the Dominican charism and was a lifelong Third Order Dominican.

During a difficult time in my life, when I desperately needed a change of employment, Monsignor gave me a prayer to say, to ask for the intercession of St. Dominic to find another job. Within a few weeks, I had found a better job. It was by means of Monsignor's introduction to Saint Dominic that the saint became a close and dear “friend" of mine. Monsignor said, "By hook or crook" St. Dominic would bring me into the Third Order. And this happened as Monsignor said it would after I obtained another job in another city, yet again by the intercession of Saint Dominic—being offered the job on his feast day!

Monsignor at Christ the King, Sarasota, Florida 2013

Monsignor was a faithful priest, exorcist, canonist, and iconographer, a rarity for a Roman Catholic priest. I went over to his home on many occasions where he showed me how to paint icons, which are available online and in the Diocese of Venice in Florida. The last icon on which he was working was, to my knowledge, never finished.

Most interesting to me was listening to Monsignor tell stories about his 25-year appointment in Rome. He knew who was appointed where, and by whom, and often gave insight into the workings of the Vatican. He was friends with Cardinal Raymond Burke and often spoke about his longtime friend, Fr. Stanley Smolenski, SPMA. Between the years of 1969-1995, he worked for the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, as well as the Pontifical Council for the Family.

In 1996, Monsignor LaFemina moved to the Diocese of Venice in Florida, where he was incardinated. There, he served as Administrator of St. Isabel Parish in Sanibel Island, and as Censor Librorum of the Diocese of Venice. In 2002, Bishop Robert Baker of Charleston appointed La Femina as the Director of the Office of Volunteers for the Diocese of Charleston, where he also served as the Exorcist. Monsignor subsequently retired in Venice.

Monsignor was a very active retired priest. He often conducted parish talks and continued performing exorcism cases, even until his final days. In fact, just weeks before his passing he was telling me about a case on which he was working. I was blessed to have him over to my house on many occasions, where he led a Catholic Men’s Group. Being a very learned priest he was able to teach us Thomistic Theology and answered questions on spiritual topics, canon law, and related topics. He loved to talk especially about the Blessed Mother of God, to Whom he always had great affection and devotion. Monsignor also cooked all but one of our Men's Group meals, cooking Italian food rivaled only by my Italian grandmother (and he made the best Chinese spare ribs). On our first men's group, I made Stouffer's lasagna, that was my last meal and Monsignor made dinner for every meeting after that. "Put more salt in the pot, it is taking too long to boil" he would say as he prepared his homemade pasta sauce.


Monsignor was also a close friend of Dorothy O'Neill Weimar, O.P., whom he considered a saint. Before his death, he collaborated with Fr. Stanley Smolenski on setting up a website dedicated to her cause. I encourage you to take some time reading through her journal entries, which offer deep spiritual insight into the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

Monsignor had a wonderful sense of humor but was not one to mince words. I often called him when I had questions about the crisis in the Church, about which he had great insight. Monsignor told me that, in all of his many years, he would never have imagined what was taking place in the Church today. Whenever I would grow concerned with yet another scandal in the Church, I would call him and he would call it for what it was, but also encourage me to: keep praying, keep frequenting the Sacraments, and live the Faith as it has always been taught—and to ask Our Lady for help.

One of Monsignor's final tasks, perhaps his most important, was writing his book on the Gospel of John, which was his favorite Gospel. He felt strongly that God called him to write this book. Monsignor told me that it took him over 20 years to write it! He had started it over from scratch, despite several years of work, after perceiving clearly what God was calling him to write about, the Most Holy Eucharist.

Monsignor once said, "God asked me to write this and I have done what He asked, what He wants to do with it now is His business." In tribute to him, what follows is a slightly edited version of the book review that I wrote back in 2013. This book is, in my opinion, theological wisdom that God wanted to be revealed to the Church in our time. His providential passing on Dec 27th, 2019, on the Feast of Saint John the Evangelist confirms my belief! (Note: The date given as Dec 30th on the diocesan website is not correct. I confirmed with an eye witness that he indeed died on the 27th.) May he rest in peace. I will miss him, his wisdom, his humor, and spiritual support which he offered in abundance.

Monsignor at First Communion, Christ the King 2019

Eucharist and Covenant in John's Last Supper Account

(A Theological Gift for Our Time)

Pope Pius XII wrote in `Mediator Dei', "Liturgical practice begins with the very founding of the Church." Monsignor Anthony La Femina's illuminating new theological work, 'Eucharist and Covenant in John's Last Supper Account' which sheds new light on this very fact, in examining the Johannine Last Supper Account, which until now has not been revealed. There has always been a problem that has separated the Synoptic Gospels from the Gospel of Saint John. One of the major problems has always been the absence of the institution of the Eucharist in the Gospel of John, which appears in every synoptic account and in Paul. Likewise, the mystery is reciprocal being that the synoptic Gospels and Paul do not mention the foot-washing in their Last Supper accounts. Many biblical scholars over the centuries have come up with a variety of opinions as to why this apparent problem exists, and even among the Church Fathers, there has been no unanimous interpretation of Saint John's Footwashing account. Monsignor's book begins by laying out this fundamental problem and proposes a solution to the problem: Jesus' death was indeed made present at the Last Supper, and John indicated this through his Footwashing analogy of the Eucharist.

This may seem to be a strange interpretation at first, and indeed it is "strange" being that Saint John's account of the Footwashing has never been interpreted in such a manner. Yet this theological gem gives a very convincing argument that Saint John did speak about the institution and nature of the Eucharist in his account of the Last Supper. It is hidden in analogy. The problem and the proposed solution is then built upon by explaining what type of analogy Saint John uses in his account. The book is nicely documented by easy to follow footnotes so that you can research further into each topic as you study the work. As the book progresses, you will learn many other interesting facts about the Church and the Catholic faith, as well as some of its Jewish roots, especially those that pertain to covenant.

One reason this work is important for our times however lies in the fact that the Church is now in a time of crisis when it comes to understanding and believing the doctrine of the Eucharist, and how it pertains to us. Of course, the Eucharist given to us in the Mass and the person of Jesus Christ are truly inseparable, they are one and the same. This is clearly and uniquely articulated in the book. There are however many other important theological topics that are covered as the book unveils this hidden account about the nature of the Eucharist of the Last Supper.

For example, do most Catholics really understand the role of Christ as the Messiah? Do they understand the meaning of Jesus' command to "love one another as I have loved you"? Do they truly understand Jesus' kingship which is "not of this world?" What about His title, "Son of Man?" Is the Father truly greater than the Son? These any many other important questions pertaining to the person of Jesus Christ are also clearly answered. As the book progresses one begins to truly understand the sacrificial nature of the Eucharist and how the Church actually takes its origin from Christ and the Eucharist. Monsignor states, regarding the Church, "...she is essentially eucharistic because her very origin is essentially bound to the Eucharist and can never be separated from it."

After reading this book you will clearly see how Saint John's Footwashing account flows along side by side with the Last Supper accounts. Monsignor indicates the similarities in circumstances, attributes and effects of the Eucharist in the synoptic and Pauline Last Supper Accounts and the Footwashing in the Johannine Last Supper Account. Moreover, one begins to understand how Saint John views the reality of the Eucharistic covenant. As Monsignor covers the Royal Investiture Tradition and the analogy used by Saint John of the Hittite vassal treaty, this all comes together nicely. After reading this work you truly begin to see the relationship between God the Father, Jesus the Son, and his "children of God."

There is much to be learned from reading this book. It will not only be an eye-opener for Catholics, but it will also give Protestants yet another Scriptural conundrum to wrestle with in regards to the Christ and the Eucharist. I highly recommend this work and I must say that this is not really a difficult work to read. Yet, if you are expecting one of those warm fuzzy books that you read before bed, this is not one of them. This is a scholarly work written however for every Catholic. This book is best read at the desk with your pencil and Bible close at hand. It is a theological work in the truest sense, and those that understand and appreciate older theological works that are rooted in Saint Thomas will really appreciate the amount of time and effort that went into this theological study.

In my copy, there is underlining on every page, and although I read the book in two days, I am now going back and rereading it again. This book may truly be the next colossal breakthrough in Catholic Scripture scholarship. With the mayhem brought upon us today by those who have sought to degrade and desacralize the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, this book contains the remedy to their errors. On one other note, the book's forward is penned by non-other than Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke. Whether or not you come away from this book convinced of Monsignor's premise, which is truly convincing, I guarantee you will not come away from it without seeing the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the Gospel of Saint John, and Scripture in general, in a new illuminating light. May Monsignor's theological work carry us into the new decade with a new appreciation for Jesus Christ in the Most Holy Eucharist. The book can be purchased here at New Hope Publications. 

The work that took him over 20 years to write!