Blessed John XXIII

Today is the feast day of Blessed John the 23rd, who was the Pope who called for the Second Vatican Council, one of the most important events in the Catholic Church in many centuries.

The first session of the Second Vatican Council began on October 11, 1962.  While this linked article -which will give you more information about Good Pope John -lists his feast day as June 3 (the date of his death), October 11 is obviously also linked to him for the obvious association with Vatican 2.

(Once he's canonized in April, 2104, we'll see what the official, official date is!)

St. Ignatius of Loyola

Today is the feast of St. Ignatius, the founder of the Jesuit order. Have you noticed that some priests and most sisters have initials after their names? Those designate which order (group) they belong to. For instance, our pastor is Fr. David Fitzgerald, S.A. - which stands for "Society of Atonement" one of the many varieties of Franciscans (who were founded by St. Francis). The Jesuits are "S.J.", which stand for "Society of Jesus".

Would you like to learn more about St. Ignatius? Here's a nine minute video that will help!

 
Who Cares About the Saints?...Ignatius from Loyola Productions on Vimeo.

St. Aloysius Gonzaga

Most of us know the name "Gonzaga" as a small Catholic college with a basketball team that usually does well in the NCAAs. Today is the feast of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, an Italian Jesuit who died at age 23.
This article does a nice job of getting beyond the over-pious images that often dominate his story. I invite you to take a few minutes to read through it and learn a bit about one of our older brothers in Christ!
St. Aloysius Gonzaga, pray for us!

St. Josephine Bakhita

Today is the feast of St. Josephine Bakhita, a woman born in the 19th century in southern Sudan.  As her life is described here, she was a slave beginning at age 7, eventually accompanying her owner's daughter to Venice where she learned about and was attracted to Catholicism. Baptized at age 22, she eventually gained her freedom and became a religious sister.  

In the homily at her canonization mass, Pope John Paul II, spoke of the inspiration of her life:

"We find a shining advocate of genuine emancipation. The history of her life inspires not passive acceptance but the firm resolve to work effectively to free girls and women from oppression and violence, and to return them to their dignity in the full exercise of their rights."
                                       

St. Josephine Bakhita, pray for us!

St. Elizabeth of Hungary

Today is the feast of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, who lived, briefly, in the 13th Century. We like to assign descriptive titles to our canonized saints, but she was neither virgin nor martyr, doctor nor foundress (and definitely not bishop or apostle). The title we've put after her name is 'religious'- and yet, she wasn't a nun, either. And in that, I think she can be a model for many of us.

Elizabeth's father was the King of Hungary.  Okay, okay: few of us are truly princesses. However, many of us live, even in these troubled economic times, lives of security and comparative wealth. She chose to live simply and prayerfully, using her position to help those in need.

Elizabeth married young, at age 14 perhaps for a political alliance with a German principality. She loved Louis (Ludwig) deeply and they had three children together before he was killed in the Crusades. A widow at age twenty, her generosity to the poor earned the disapproval of her in-laws. It took the return of her husband's friends to restore her place and status as mother of the heir to the throne. (I wonder if her in-laws were greedy or perhaps truly concerned for the future security of their grandchildren, or both... so often in family feuds, it's not clearly one side or the other, is it?)

She joined the Secular Franciscan Order (adopting the lifestyle of Franciscans while continuing to live outside a religious community) and founded and worked in a hospital for the poor until her death in 1231- just before her 24th birthday.  (You don't have to wait until you get older to accomplish good things)

Taking into account the Gospel reading for today about ten gold coins and the upcoming Feast of Christ the King this Sunday, Elizabeth's example presents us with an opportunity for reflection on our own use of whatever 'power' and resources that have been entrusted to our care.

Elizabeth of Hungary, pray for us!

St. Teresa of Avila, Doctor of the Church

You can go to this page for some background on St. Teresa of Avila, a woman who lived, prayed and worked in the 16th Century-- living from the Protestant Reformation through the Council of Trent -- talk about interesting times!

She lived in a Carmelite monastery (convent), experiencing the gift of profound and mystical prayer, composing spiritual writings and leading the reform of the Carmelite order, all while maintaining a sense of humor.

And a prayer/poem from a bookmark discovered after her death:

Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things pass away:
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things.
He who has God
Finds he lacks nothing;
God alone suffices.

Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Today is the day we celebrate the birthday of Mary, mother of Jesus. (That means that exactly 9 months ago, we celebrated the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary!) Christians have celebrated the life of this important woman since the 6th century, choosing a September date to fit with the beginning of the Eastern Church's new year.

There aren't many historical facts known about Mary's birth and early life, although pious stories abound. Her parents were Joachim and Anna (or Anne), and her conception and birth were nothing out of the ordinary, with one big exception. We believe that at the moment of her conception, God preserved her from original sin.
Please click here for a previous post about the Immaculate Conception of Mary.

So, what do you get the Mother of God for her birthday??! I'm sure she'd be pleased with a prayer of thanks for her courage, strength and love in saying 'yes' to God. And if you're looking for an 'official' one...

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.

Blessed are you among women,
and blest is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners

now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

St. Mary Magdalene

Today is the feast of the "Apostle to the Apostles", faithful follower of Jesus, and the person blessed by being the first witness to his resurrection (see today's Gospel). And yet somehow over the centuries, she was mistakenly confused with the "sinful woman" of Luke 7:36-50, and for much too long was labeled a repentant prostitute! Most artistic representations of Mary of Magdala show her either washing Jesus' feet with her tears (see previous sentence to determine if that's an accurate depiction), or in a pose of deep repentance.

Regarding her past, Scripture only reports (Luke 8:2) that she was healed by Jesus of 'seven demons', which could have been a severe physical or emotional illness, and one might speculate that profound gratitude at this relief first led her to follow Jesus. So, whether it was flawed Biblical interpretation or an effort to downplay the role of women in the early Christian community (or the more modern misinterpretation of her as Jesus' secret wife!) - can you think of a saint more misunderstood by centuries of Christians?!?!

So today in her honor, let's focus on what Mary Magdalene REALLY represents: gratitude for the healing power of God that expresses itself in devotion and faithfulness, willingness to support the ministry of Jesus (by resources and by standing at the foot of the cross), and courage to profess and proclaim her faith and her faith-story.

St. Mary Magdalene, pray for us!

Philip Neri

"A joyful heart is more easily made perfect than a downcast one."

Think you have to be dour and remove yourself from this world to be saintly? Learn about the example of St. Philip Neri, whose feast day is today! Living in Italy during the 16th Century, Philip witnessed the Reformation and later influenced the Council of Trent with the resulting Catholic Reformation. He ministered by sharing daily life, regular life, with people, and helping them see the opportunities within themselves for positive transformation.
Nourished by an intense prayer life, he just as intensely participated in the joys and sorrows of the people, rich and poor, of his community. He eventually founded a new religious order, the Oratorians, named for the custom of daily prayer, songs and talks (orations).

Philip Neri, pray for us!

St. Anselm

Born in northern Italy, and living in France and England in the 11th Century,  Anselm was an influential scholar, Archbishop of Canterbury, and considered to be the father of the Scholastic movement. He is one of 33 men and women named as "Doctors of the Church".

It is from this quote of his that we come to one definition of 'theology' as "faith seeking understanding":

Nor do I seek to understand that I may believe, but I believe that I may understand. For this too I believe, that unless I first believe, I shall not understand.

 For someone whose writings could be technically precise and philosophically deep, he was also grounded in prayer and focused on the love of God. So, for our own prayer today, a prayer and a song from St. Anselm:

A Prayer Of Anselm 

My God, I pray that I may so know you and love you
that I may rejoice in you.
And if I may not do so fully in this life
let me go steadily on to the day
when I come to that fullness ...
Let me receive
That which you promised through your truth,
that my joy may be full.

A Song Of Anselm
Jesus, as a mother you gather your people to you:
you are gentle with us as a mother with her children;
Often you weep over our sins and our pride:
tenderly you draw us from hatred and judgement.
You comfort us in sorrow and bind up our wounds:
in sickness you nurse us, and with pure milk you feed us.
Jesus, by your dying we are born to new life:
by your anguish and labour we come forth in joy.
Despair turns to hope through your sweet goodness:
through your gentleness we find comfort in fear.
Your warmth gives life to the dead:
your touch makes sinners righteous.
Lord Jesus, in your mercy heal us:
in your love and tenderness remake us.
In your compassion bring grace and forgiveness:
for the beauty of heaven may your love prepare us.

St. Anselm, pray for us!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

A day celebrated by so many, based on a saint known by so few! As you enjoy your stew or Guinness or soda bread, take a few minutes to: Learn about St. Patrick

And for good measure, an Irish Blessing:

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.


St. Patrick, pray for us!

St. Katharine Drexel

Today is the feast of St. Katharine Drexel, born to a wealthy family in Philadelphia in the 19th Century, and now renown not for her wealth, but for devoting her wealth and her life to the concerns of Native Americans and African Americans.

Here is the description of St. Katharine's life from  the American Catholic website. And here is the description from a proud son of Philly about their "St. Kate".

Our Lady of Guadaulpe parish in Newton Grove, NC benefited from her foundation, and has a photo of Mother Katharine in their fellowship hall.

St. Katharine Drexel, pray for us!

American Saints

This week contains the feast days of two American 'firsts':

Today (January 4) is the feast day of Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first American-born saint. Socialite, wife, mother, widow, convert, founder of a religious order, teacher... this woman born (1774) just before the American Revolution epitomized what we might think of as the pioneering and adaptable spirit of our country at that time. She died in 1821.

Please click here for a brief or extended description of her life and work.

Tomorrow (January 5) is the feast of the first American Bishop to be canonized, Czech-born John Neumann.(1811-1860) He too was instrumental in building Catholicism in the United States, particularly the parochial school system in Philadelphia. A gifted linguist, he was able to minister to various immigrant communities in their native tongues.
Again, here are brief and extended biographies of the saint.

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and St. John Neumann, pray for us!

Nicholas and Lucy - Saints for the Season

Today, the process for canonization is a long and careful one.  Not so for the first thousand years of Christianity, when an individual's saintliness was popularly acclaimed after their life, and the legends and stories that arose make it difficult to discern the truth from the Truth! (what literally happened vs. what point they're trying to get across)

Two popular early saints around whom legends abound are celebrated in some cultures with special customs that are particularly fitting at this time of the year:

December 6: St. Nicholas (died c. 350)
St. Nicholas was a bishop in Asia Minor in the city of Myra in the 4th Century. We know he was present at the Council of Nicaea and vehemently opposed the heresy of Arius. And that prior to Constantine's ascendancy, he was imprisoned under the Diocletian persecutions. As Bishop, he was a well-loved and generous.

One story demonstrates his generosity and concern for the well-being of his people. A man with three daughters could not afford their dowries and was planning to sell them into prostitution (or slavery). Three times, Nicholas would throw a bag of coins through the family's window at night, anonymously providing the means for the daughters to marry. Another story is of sailors caught in a deadly storm who prayed for Nicholas' help. The Bishop was at the time attending the Council, but they saw a figure who looked like him who immediately calmed the tempest. Symbols from both of these tales are demonstrated in this painting by Tintoretto.

The Dutch, German and people in other northern countries celebrate St. Nicholas day by giving presents to children. Leaving a shoe out on the night of Dec 5 along with a note for St. Nicholas to deliver to the baby Jesus, boys and girls might wake up to find gold foil-wrapped chocolate coins, fruit or small toys - and hopefully not coal left by the Saint! (Sounds like "Santa Claus", doesn't it? Credit the arrival of the Dutch in NY, and the adaptation of old traditions in a new world)
St. Nicholas is the patron saint of  Bakers, Brewers, Brides, Children, Greece, Grooms, Merchants, Pawnbrokers, Russia, and Travelers

December 13: St. Lucy (died 304)
St. Lucy (Santa Lucia... know the song?) was born in Sicily, a pagan area, and was martyred in the Diocletian persecution. The legend is that her Christian faith led her to make a vow of virginity, but the pagan man to whom she was engaged was very displeased and reported her faith to the authorities. Tales report an abundant variety of tortures followed, from having her eye gouged out (but then her sight was miraculously restored), to burning her with fire (which kept going out), and finally stabbing her in the throat.

"Lucy", or "Lucia" means light, and her feast appropriately comes at the darkest time of the year. Before the current calendar was fixed, her feast day fell on the Winter Solstice, and the promise of light anticipates the birth of Jesus, the Light of the World. She is especially honored in northern countries which are especially dark and cold in December. In paintings she is usually represented carrying a pair of eyes on a plate or, as in this painting, sprouting like flowers on a stem!
Painting of St. Lucy by Francesco del Cossa

Here are some customs, courtesy of www.fisheaters.com (standard disclaimer: linking to a site does not imply endorsement of everything on that site)

 In Italy, torchlight processions and bonfires mark her day, and bowls of a cooked wheat porridge known as cuccia is eaten because, during a famine, the people of Syracuse invoked St. Lucy, who interceded by sending a ship laden with grain (much as St. Joseph also did for the people of Sicily).

Some of the loveliest St. Lucy's Day customs are Swedish: in Sweden, the oldest daughter of a family will wake up before dawn on St. Lucy's Day and dress in a white gown for purity, often with a red sash as a sign of martyrdom. On her head she will wear a wreath of greenery and lit candles, and she is often accompanied by "starboys," her small brothers who are dressed in white gowns and cone-shaped hats that are decorated with gold stars, and carrying star-tipped wands. "St. Lucy" will go around her house and wake up her family to serve them special St. Lucy Day foods, such as saffron buns and Lussekatter (St. Lucy's Cats), shaped into X's, figure-8s, S-shapes, or crowns.

And finally for you star-gazers, right around St. Lucy's feast are the Geminid meteor showers, which are sometimes called "St. Lucy's Light". She is the patron saint of the blind and those with eye disorders.

St. Frances X. Cabrini

November 13 is the feast day of the first American citizen to be canonized. Born in Italy in 1850, Frances Cabrini was refused admission to the religious order that had educated her (because of frail health), so she went to work in an orphanage. By 1880, she was named the  prioress (head) of a new order, the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart, and in her mind she was going to fulfill a childhood dream of being a missionary in China.

Again, things didn't go according to plan - she was asked to go west, not east - heading to New York City to care for the thousands of Italian immigrants who had no spiritual support. Arriving in NYC, their promised housing fell through, but Mother Cabrini was determined to stay.

By the time Frances died (in 1917), she had begun 67 badly needed schools, orphages and hospitals. These were located in the United States, Central and South America, Italy, France and England. In all [despite a fear of water], Frances crossed the ocean 30 times. After she died, her sisters fulfilled her dream and did missionary work in China. (Companion to the Calendar by Mary Ellen Hynes. LTP, 1993)

How does her story apply to us today? Consider this commentary from AmericanCatholic.org

The compassion and dedication of Mother Cabrini is still seen in hundreds of thousands of her fellow citizens, not yet canonized, who care for the sick in hospitals, nursing homes and state institutions. We complain of increased medical costs in an affluent society, but the daily news shows us millions who have little or no medical care, and who are calling for new Mother Cabrinis to become citizen-servants of their land.

She is the patron saint of immigrants.
St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, pray for us!

Doctor, doctor!

October 15 is the feast day of St. Teresa of Avila (1515-1582). She was a Carmelite nun, reformer and founder of convents and monasteries, author of classic spiritual works and in 1970, was the first woman granted the title of "Doctor of the Church".

     A quote attributed to St. Teresa...

           "From silly devotions

            and from sour-faced saints,

            good Lord, deliver us."

St. Damien of Molokai

Born in Belgium and a missionary in Hawaii long before its statehood, Damien de Veuster was also canonized on October 11. Volunteering to live with and minister to those affected by leprosy (Hansen's disease), he eventually died of the disease as well.

During a recent pilgrimage to St. Damien's tomb in Louvain, Belgium, Honolulu Bishop Larry Silva shared this reflection:

"We all have our Kalaupapas.... We can be critical of those people who chose to isolate people in Kalaupapa. But we have our little ways of isolating. It doesn't take oceans or sea cliffs to isolate people. ... We pass by our brothers and sisters each day and say, 'It's not my problem. It's not my business. I don't have time.' So we don't bother tending to their needs."

Another Reflection about St. Damien.

St. Damien of Molokai, pray for us!

Saint Jeanne Jugan

Yesterday in Rome, Pope Benedict XVI canonized (formally declared the sainthood of) five people, including one woman. Jeanne Jugan was born in France in 1792 and founded the Little Sisters of the Poor.

Growing up in difficult circumstances, Jeanne was always attracted to serving the poor, but it wasn't until she was 47 that her mission in life became clear. She carried an elderly, blind, sick woman in from the cold and gave up her own bed to take care of her. A few friends, and more elderly poor people came, and three years later the association of the "Servants of the Poor" was formed.  In order to support this growing ministry, Jeanne (now known as Sr. Mary of the Cross) took to regular begging, viewing the activity as a way to help the rich find solidarity with those in very different circumstances. (One wonders if she might become the patron saint of development directors!!)

The last 27 years of her life were lived in near-obscurity in the Motherhouse, after a local priest took credit for founding the order and forced her out of any leadership role. She never fought back to get the proper credit. She kept focused on what she termed the really important things: serving God by making the poor and elderly happy. Isn't this a bit astonishing? She passed up numerous opportunities to tell her side of the story, so as not to be a cause of division in the young order (now called the "Little Sisters of the Poor"). And yet, by the way she lived her life, she positively influenced the young novices more directly than she would have as the Superior of the Order.

Perhaps this quote sheds some light on her heroic patience and humility:
“Jesus is waiting for you in the chapel. Go and find him when your strength and patience are giving out, when you feel lonely and helpless. Say to him: ‘You know well what is happening, my dear Jesus. I have only you. Come to my aid ...’ And then go your way. And don’t worry about knowing how you are going to manage. It is enough to have told our good Lord. He has an excellent memory.”

St. Jeanne Jugan, pray for us!

Upcoming Opportunity

Here's something that looks interesting....

Justin Catanoso is a Pulitzer Prize-nominated business journalist, a university lecturer, and the author of the unique and compelling new book My Cousin the Saint: A Search for Faith, Family, and Miracles. In commemoration of All Saints Day, Justin is coming to St. Thomas More Church, 940 Carmichael Street, Chapel Hill, to speak about his sainted cousin on Sunday November 1st, 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM in the Church. My Cousin the Saint charts the parallel history of two relatives – Catanoso’s grandfather, Carmelo Catanoso, and his sainted cousin, Padre Gaetano Catanoso (Padre Gaetano Catanoso died in 1957 and was canonized in 2005). Catanoso confronts his own tenuous spiritual moorings in the process, and chronicles his lapsed faith, and his struggle to reclaim it. For more information, see http://church.st-thomasmore.org/speakers

Feast of St. Francis of Assisi - October 4

One of the most 'popular' of Christian saints is St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, creation, ecology and peace. Born in the late 12th century to a cloth merchant in the Umbrian town of Assisi in Italy, he enjoyed a privileged and adventurous life as a young adult.

After recovering from a long sickness, two significant events transformed his life. Encountering a leper on the road, Francis was moved to share his cloak and kiss the man's cheek. Then while praying in a run-down church, Francis heard Jesus speak to him from the  crucifix, asking him to rebuild his church. At first he took the words literally and went to work restoring the building. Gradually, he realized that he was being called to help the Catholic Church return to the simplicity and spirit of the Gospel. Francis financed his mission by helping himself to his father's merchandise, which did not go over well at all! In a dramatic and public encounter, Francis repaid his father and returned even the clothes off his own back, completing the transformation into a person of simplicity, humility and poverty.

At first derided for his counter-cultural lifestyle, he eventually began attracting other men who shared his commitment to serving the poor and living simply, the "Friars Minor". St. Clare of Assisi and Francis became great friends, and she established a community of women which later were known as the "Poor Clares". Francis rejected violence as ignoring the Gospel commandment to love, and had an ever-deepening awareness of the sacramentality of all creation. All people, all animals, all things were due respect as a reflection of the grace of God who is the creator of all.

Francis sought to conform his life completely to Jesus Christ, and two years before his death (at age 44) he received the 'stigmata' - the marks of Jesus' crucifixion, on his hands and feet. His holiness and influence was so apparent that he was canonized a mere two years after his death. Several favorite prayers or sayings have been attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, including the one which begins "Make me an instrument of your peace..." and this beautiful song of praise for all creation:

The Canticle of the Creatures
Most high, all-powerful, all good, Lord! all praise is yours, all glory, all honor, and all blessing. ...
All praise be yours, my Lord, through all that you have made, and first my Lord, Brother Sun, who brings the day; and light you give to us through him. How beautiful is he, and radiant in all his splendor! Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.
All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Moon and Stars, in the heavens you have made them, bright and precious and fair.
All praise be yours, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air and fair and stormy, all the weather's moods, by which you cherish all that you have made.
All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Water, so useful, humble, precious, and pure.
All praise be yours, my Lord, through Brother Fire, through whom you brighten up the night.  How beautiful is he, how playful! Full of power and strength.
All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Earth, our mother who feeds us in her sovereignty and produces diverse fruits, with colored flowers and herbs.
All praise be yours, my Lord, through those who grant pardon for love of you; through those who endure sickness and trial. Blessed are those who endure in peace, by you, Most High, they will be crowned.
All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Death, from whom no one among the living can escape.
Woe to those who die in mortal sin! Blessed are they She finds walking by your most holy will, for the second death can do no harm to them.
Praise and bless my Lord and give thanks to God, and serve God with great humility. -St. Francis of Assisi 

Of note:
St. Andrew the Apostle parish is served by the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement. This quote of St. Francis demostrates well the mission of their religious community:

In celebration of the Feast of St. Francis, there will be a blessing of animals this Saturday, October 3 in the courtyard outside the sanctuary at 10:00am. And while Francis may have tamed 'brother wolf', we ask that you bring your pets on a leash or in a cage, please!

And finally, the scripture that you will hear at the masses this weekend will NOT be the texts for the 27th Sunday of Ordinary time, but those for the Feast of St. Francis:

Sirach 50: 1-7

Psalm 16

Galatians 6: 14-18

Matthew 11: 25-30

(Background information on St. Francis of Assisi is from All Saints by Robert Ellsburg)