saint – Page 10

Christians: Let us be neither dogs that do not bark

Today’s first reading from the First Letter of Peter offers an exhortation to his hearers who are facing difficult times: be eager to stand firm. As the people who heard Peter so we too, today, need to remember that the Lord has an infinite amount of patience; in fact He never tires, but His adopted children need to recall that only He’s the matrix of the covenant’s fulfillment. God is present, stand firm.

Saint Boniface, the Englishman monk who became the Apostle to Germany, whose memory we commemorate today, also exhorted those of his time to stand firm because God is present. In the Office of Readings this morning I reacquainted myself with a rather curious set of images that Boniface delivered to the bishops of his time and place make connects very nicely with the Scriptures. Saint Boniface said, “Let us be neither dogs that do not bark nor silent onlookers nor paid servants who run away before the wolf. Instead let us be careful shepherds watching over Christ’s flock. Let us preach the whole of God’s plan to the powerful and to the humble, to rich and to poor, to men of every rank and age, as far as God gives us the strength, in season and out of season, as Saint Gregory writes in his book of Pastoral Instruction.”

Indeed, let the bark be heard.

Saint Pachomius

The Church gives us Saint Pachomius (+346), the Egyptian monk and abbot famous for being the “founder” of community-focussed monasticism (cenobitic) thus offering an new pattern of following Christ as a monk that up until Pachomius, one did alone. 200 years later Saint Benedict brought this version of monastic life in general acceptance in the west, drawing on what this sainted abbot first done. He’s known, too, for his writings titled “Koinonia” (in Latin, Communio). He wrote:

“Brothers, as long as you have breath
in your bodies, strive for your salvation. Before the hour comes in which we
shall weep for ourselves, let us practice virtue eagerly.”

The Church prays…

O God, Who didst raise
the blessed abbot Pachomius to the heights of doctrine and of virtue, grant that
we, by following his example, may seek before all else the bread of Thy Word: light
for our minds, and stillness for our hearts.

1 Year Anniversary of Beatification of Pope John Paul II

Today marks the first anniversary of the historic beatification of the iconic pope, John Paul II.

For many around the world, and for a long time, it is very true to say that the newly Blessed John Paul “has accompanied me through these years.” Indeed he has.

The Church prays this prayer at Mass on the feast day of Blessed John Paul II, October 22:

O God, who are rich in mercy and who willed that the Blessed John Paul II should preside as Pope over your universal Church, grant, we pray, that instructed by his teaching, we may open our hearts to the saving grace of Christ, the sole Redeemer of mankind.

Rome Reports has a recap.

Blessed Pope John Paul II, pray for us.

Saint Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort

The Church gives us an inspired, perhaps even truly brilliant preacher, as a model of grace. Saint Louis-Marie de Montfort was ordained a priest in 1700; proficient in the thinking of the Church Fathers on the Virgin Mary, Montfort’s mission was to preach on Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, in a period of time of great theological error in France. He’s famous for preaching on the Rosary and he created a series of meditations that led to a Consecration to the Blessed Mother. His preaching of Mary was really a work of preaching on the Paschal Mystery. The collect for the Mass tells us that Louis-Marie ‘walked the way of salvation and the love of Christ” by “meditating on the mysteries [God’s] love” which led to “the building up of [God’s] Church.”

Montfort was a Third Order Dominican and held a papally given title Missionary Apostolic. He was also a founder of three congregations, one of men and two of women. For some time now there’s been movement to have Louis-Marie to named a Doctor of the Church.

We are more aware of Montfort through John Paul’s adoption of one of Montfort’s phrases, Totus Tuus (totally yours).

Saint Mark

Shout for joy! with cries of gladness
Gather those who were dispersed.
Here the blind are given vision;
Here the comfortless find mirth.

In his faith, blind Bartimaeus
Shouted out his need to see—
Jesus, Light from Light, restored him,
Gave him sight, and set him free.

Each of us, in our baptism,
Has received the gift of sight
Through the Christ, our High Priest Jesus: Filled with joy, we seek God’s light!

Hymn text by J. M. Thompson

Saint George

The figure of Saint George is widely acknowledged across cultures. His cult, as it were, comes from Palestine; he is a heavenly patron among the Greeks and Latins. Since about AD 800 Saint George has been a patron of England and he is known elsewhere as one of the “14 Holy Helpers.”

Aside from legendary activity, George adhered to the Lord’s words and His person in that he’s known to have imitated the Passion as we see below in the opening collect for Holy Mass. No doubt his preaching, protecting and safeguarding the sacred Mysteries led people to Christ.

Let us pray that through Saint George’s intercession, and the power of the Lord’s Holy Name, the dragon of temptation and sin may be driven away by heavenly powers so as to be united in deeper communion with Christ.

And so we pray with the Church,

Extolling your
might, O Lord, we humbly implore you, that, as Saint George imitated the
Passion of the Lord, so he may lend us ready help in our weakness.

Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha

The Church, today, give us Blessed –soon-to-be canonized Kateri Tekakwitha today as a model of evangelization and the desire one has for Christ. Pope Benedict renewed our attention to Blessed Kateri in 2008:

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, Saint John Neumann, Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, Venerable Pierre Toussaint, and Padre Felix Varela: any one of us could be among them, for there is no stereotype to this group, no single mold. Yet a closer look reveals that there are common elements. Inflamed with the love of Jesus, their lives became remarkable journeys of hope. For some, that meant leaving home and embarking on a pilgrim journey of thousands of miles. For each there was an act of abandonment to God, in the confidence that he is the final destination of every pilgrim. And all offered an outstretched hand of hope to those they encountered along the way, often awakening in them a life of faith. Through orphanages, schools and hospitals, by befriending the poor, the sick and the marginalized, and through the compelling witness that comes from walking humbly in the footsteps of Jesus, these six people laid open the way of faith, hope and charity to countless individuals, including perhaps your own ancestors.

Saint Benedict Joseph Labre

Today’s feast of Saint Benedict Joseph Labre is a beautiful reminder of the humility with which we face God, our own humanity, and the world.

The Missal speaks of Benedict Joseph as a “Fool for Christ”: he met Christ with his whole self, the physical and psychological weaknesses and the desire to be in communion with his Savior. Benedict Joseph has much to teach.

The story of Saint Benedict Joseph is nicely painted by a friend, Father Mark here.

Let’s pray for all those who face life with difficulties, especially the mentally unstable and the homeless. That for the Grace of God, there we go through life.

On his birthday, let’s remember Pope Benedict.

Saint Joseph, our model

Today is a Solemnity in the Church with the feast of Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The Church prays:

Grant, we pray, almighty God, that by Saint Joseph’s intercession your Church may constantly watch over the unfolding of the mysteries of human salvation, whose beginnings you entrusted to his faithful care.

A magnificent prayer to pay attention to during lectio.

“Today is the day to celebrate fatherhood. To be a father is not an easy challenge – there are many difficulties that go with it. We can look to St. Joseph, who quietly – as I would say, one of the ‘silent fathers’ – handled whatever needed to be handled…it is important [that fathers] pray for discernment, to pray for patience, to pray for these qualities, which can make one a good father.”

Fr. Moses Hamungole

Head of Vatican Radio’s
English for Africa service

Several people and organizations to pray for today: my father, Edward Joseph, Pope Benedict XVI (Joseph), Brother Joseph at Portsmouth Abbey, the Cistercian abbey of Saint Joseph (Spencer, MA), the Archdiocese of Hartford (the Cathedral of Saint Joseph), the Dominican Province of Saint Joseph, and several other friends named Joseph. Let’s not also forget the Universal Church is under St Joseph, whose patronage she is.

Saint Gabriel Possenti of Mary, the Mother of Sorrows

I’ve always been impressed by the saints and blesseds of the Passionist order. So many have them exemplify what the Christian of today face, Saint Gabriel Possenti and in my opinion help us to strive to be holy.

Lord Jesus, crucified and risen, you taught Saint
Gabriel to cling to you alone as Lord and Savior and to find in your Mother a
refuge and companion along the Gospel Way. Through his prayers and
example, may we too, who honor him, share in the marvelous joys of friendship
with you and the Blessed Virgin and come to the Heavenly Father in eternal
glory, where you live forever and ever. Amen.