Sunday Meditation: Sacred Heart of Jesus Month

While the secular world celebrates June as sodomy month, a sin that cries to heaven for vengeance; Catholics celebrate the Sacred Heart of Jesus. So here are a few quotes from the saints on which to meditate. The Sacred Heart graphically reveals to us the tremendous love of Jesus Christ for sinful men. May we express our gratitude by offering all our wounds to Him in atonement for our sins.

A Saint for Homemakers: St. Frances of Rome, Pray for Us!

Today is the feast of St. Frances of Rome who lived during the Great Western Schism (1378-1417) when there were two competing clerics claiming to be pope. Frances was a wife and mother, married at thirteen to a good man who never tried to curb her austerities and service to the poor. She was charming and kind and well loved, especially by the poor.

One of the amazing things about St. Frances were her visions and mystical experiences.  They included being escorted through hell and seeing the punishments inflicted on those who broke the commandments. 

The Bible tells us that fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and reading her words and the descriptions of her visions will certainly immerse you in the fear of the Lord! It's better to serve God out of great love for Him than out of fear, of course, but often that begins with recognizing his power and judgment of sin. And don't we acknowledge that when we pray the act of contrition?

St. Alphonsus Liguori, a Saint for All Liturgical Seasons

Today is the feast of St. Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church. Reading about him in Butler's Lives this morning made me realize I really need him for a friend and intercessor. I had to laugh when I read his statement, "By the grace of God I have never confessed having acted from passion." Would that I could make that statement. But now I have a friend in heaven to ask for help! I have no doubt he will respond to my request because he had such zeal to save souls. 

St. Bernard of Clairvaux vs. the Anti-Pope

St. Bernard of Clairvaux choking a demon!

Today is the feast of St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153), surely a saint for our time. He opposed anti-pope Anacletus II who remained on the papal throne until his death. Anacletus's anti-pope successor, Victor III, repented and resigned after two days and acknowledged the true pope, Innocent II. We are not the only ones living in confusing times.

Our First Act of Thanksgiving Must Be to God!

I hope the first thing you do today is go to Mass. Eucharist means "thanksgiving." What better way to celebrate Thanksgiving Day than to offer thanksgiving to God for His many blessings through the Sacrament of the altar He left us.  And to help you reflect on that I offer some thoughts from the saints. May Jesus Christ be praised!

"Would that I could exhaust myself in acts of thanksgiving and gratitude towards this Divine Heart, for the great favor He shows us, in deigning to accept our help to make Him known, loved and honored; He reserves infinite blessings for all those who devote themselves to this work."   --    St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

How Will You Honor St. John Vianney? How about Saying Thank You to a Priest!

Today is the feast day of St. John Vianney, patron of priests and, in particular, parish priests. At Mass this morning I was thinking about and praying for many of the priests who touched my life: those who celebrated Masses I attended, heard my confessions, advised me, blessed me, buried my relatives and friends, anointed me when I was sick...what a number!

I'm also praying today for the priests who scandalized me and my family: the dissenters who told me falsehoods about the faith, those who desecrated the Mass, the teachers who lied to my children...all the scandalizers. I'm praying for the "retreat master" at my supposedly Catholic college who condemned the "outdated" Church and told students not to bother going to Mass if they didn't get anything out of it. What a jokester he was and how he played to the crowd. And foolish as we were, we laughed and listened.

St. Thomas More: "I die the King's good servant AND God's first!"

Blood of St. John Paul II is contained in a phial embedded
in the crucifix at the relic shrine on the first floor.
 St. John Paul II, pray for us.

Did you think that quote was "The King's good servant, BUT God's first?" I did. That implies a criticism and break between God and state. More didn't believe that. He told his political enemies he hoped they would "meet merrily in heaven." I'm sure he offered his martyrdom for their conversion. He was a man of eminent charity.

I learned so much more about this great saint by visiting the exhibit at the St. John Paul II Shrine on Harewood Rd. in D.C. The exhibit continues until March 31st (this Friday) when it closes at 5:00 p.m. If you can make it before then GO, GO, GO! It's wonderful.

St. Patrick's Breastplate: A Surprise to Me.

I've always loved St. Patrick's Breastplate, but it seems I've been under a false impression. In the wee hours of the morning at adoration, I wanted to say the prayer so I looked it up on my phone. Lo and behold, I found that what I thought was the entire prayer is only the tail end of a much longer piece that resembles a litany.

On one website, I read that St. Patrick imitated the form of a druid incantation which reminds me of the way the Church has always taken pagan practices and transformed them.

A Saint for Our Time: St. Agatha, Virgin and Martyr

St. Agatha by Caravaggio

St. Agatha, one of the early Roman martyrs, lived during a time of tremendous sexual immorality. What is known of her is from the tradition of the Church. Wealthy and renowned for her beauty, many sought her in marriage, but she dedicated herself to God praying, "Jesus Christ, Lord of all, you see my heart, you know my desires. Possess all that I am. I am your sheep: make me worthy to overcome the devil."

A determined young woman, Agatha resisted the advances of a high Roman official, Quintian, who thought he could force her into an immoral relationship. When she spurned him he retaliated. As a judge, he sent her to a brothel where she refused the advances of the customers. Quintian had her tortured, her breasts cut off, and ordered her rolled in hot coals. Nevertheless, she prayed as she was dying, "Lord, my Creator, you have always protected me from the cradle; you have taken me from the love of the world and given me patience to suffer. Receive my soul."

Sunday Meditation: St. John Bosco, Our Parish Patron Saint

St. John Bosco: 1815-1888

Among modern saints (anyone recent enough to leave a legacy in photographs), St. John Bosco must be counted as one of the most fascinating. Even as a young boy his evangelical zeal set him apart from his peers. And yet he was all boy with a talent for running races, tightrope walking, and engaging in gymnastic stunts. He juggled and told stories and used all his talents to attract an audience of youngsters whom he taught the catechism. Like a magnet, he drew young people to him and carried a special love for them in his heart and a zeal for their salvation that carried over into his priesthood.

Italy at that time was suffering from internal struggles and many poor young boys were coming to the cities where they lived on the streets and often got into trouble. Don Bosco set about solving the problem by opening an oratory, a combination home, church, academic and trade school. He concerned himself about both their bodies and their souls and his mother soon moved in to help with the cooking and organization.

St. John Neumann, Pray for Us!

If you aren't familiar with St. John Neumann, fourth Bishop of Philadelphia, please remedy the situation at once. What a great saint! He himself was an immigrant to the United States where he exhausted himself in service to God's people. A gifted linguist, he was the perfect priest to be sent to America where multiple immigrant people often had no priest who could speak their languages. Neumann, on the contrary, was fluent in six languages including Italian and taught himself Gaelic so he could hear the confessions of the Irish immigrants in the coal-mining region of Pennsylvania who had no English.

St. John began as a diocesan priest, but desired the fellowship of community life and later entered the Redemptorists.

St. Louis and St. Zelie, pray for us.

What a joyful day for families! And a real first. Louis and Zelie Martin, the parents of St. Therese and four other nuns, were canonized in Rome today, the first married couple to be raised to the honors of the altar. How could they not be saints? They nurtured such a strong faith in their home that all of their children lived for Christ. Just think if all Catholic parents had the same commitment to God. How changed the world would be!

You can read about Louis and Zelie Martin here. They had nine children, but four died in infancy and childhood. They bore their tragedies with courage and without bitterness showering love on their remaining children. I love this icon of their family showing all the children both the living sisters and the young ones who died. We can be confident they all met merrily in heaven. What a consoling thought to know that no separation on earth is permanent. We work out our salvation here in fear and trembling, but there will be nothing but joy and celebration when we pass through the door marked death into our true home. St. Louis and St. Zelie, pray for us.

Happy Feast Day to all you Josephs Out There!

What a wonderful patron you have!

Thought for the Day from GKC

I love Chesterton. He always makes me laugh! So here's his thought for the day:

Jesus promised the disciples three things - that they would be completely fearless, absurdly happy and in constant trouble.

So...if you aren't fearless enough to proclaim the faith boldly when the opportunity arises.... If you aren't happy and able to "Rejoice in all things," as St. Paul says in Philippians 4:4.... And if you aren't in constant trouble for being a Christian....

Well...it's time to reflect on your faith and see if you are really following in the footsteps of the Master. Remember the saying -- If they brought you into court for being a Christian would there be enough evidence to convict you?

The Shrine of St. John Neumann

Today is the feast day of St. John Neumann, a wonderful model for what a bishop ought to be: humble, simple, zealous for souls, a teacher, a martyr for his flock. St. John Neumann was all that and more. I made a virtual visit to his national shrine in Philadelphia today, but I hope to go there for real this year. You see, one of my new year's intentions is to visit more shrines in the United States. What a wealth the country offers and some are only a few hours from my home in the Shenandoah Valley including St. John Neumann's. Two easy pilgrimage stops that could be made in tandem are the Shrine of St. John Neumann and the nearby Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa in Doylestown, a northern suburb (where I lived for several years as a teenager).

If you've never read St. John Neumann's short autobiography, I recommend it.

Thought for the Day from St. John Kanty

"John taught his students this philosophy again and again, 'Fight all error, but do it with good humor, patience, kindness, and love. Harshness will damage your own soul and spoil the best cause.'"

Who are the most difficult people in our lives? Can we treat them with the most gentleness and kindness? Can we speak of them with the most love? What a challenge! I think of how often I fail in this regard and pray for the intercession of St. John Kanty to help me do better. 

Lord, please give me an understanding heart. 

St. John Kanty, pray for us.  

Pope St. Damasus, on your feast day please intercede for Pope Francis

What better intercessor for the Holy Father than a pope saint. 

Thinking about Christmas Presents that will Keep on Giving?

Check out the videos at CatholicHeroesoftheFaith.com 



Read stories of the faith:

Blessed Imelda, Patroness of First Communicants

The Story of St John Bosco

There are even free resources for families. Check them out! Home schoolers, take advantage of this wonderful website and all it offers!

Happy Feast Day, St. Ignatius of Antioch

St. Ignatius died a martyr's death in the Roman Coliseum in 115 AD under the persecution of Trajan. He is one of the early Apostolic Fathers and, like St. Paul, wrote numerous letters to the early Church communities around the known world.

As the soldiers took him from Syra to Rome for execution he continued his letters and in one to the Romans urged the Christian not to hinder his martyrdom:

4:1 I write to all the churches, and I bid all men know, that of my own free will I die for God, unless ye should hinder me. I exhort you, be ye not an unseasonable kindness to me. Let me be given to the wild beasts, for through them I can attain unto God. I am God's wheat, and I am ground by the teeth of wild beasts that I may be found pure bread [of Christ].

4:2 Rather entice the wild beasts, that they may become my sepulchre and may leave no part of my body behind, so that I may not, when I am fallen asleep, be burdensome to any one. Then shall I be truly a disciple of Jesus Christ, when the world shall not so much as see my body. Supplicate the Lord for me, that through these instruments I may be found a sacrifice to God.

Let us pray that the Lord will give us bishops like St. Ignatius who loved Jesus Christ so zealously and served the flock so faithfully. We desperately need them!

St. Ignatius of Antioch, pray for us.

St. Padre Pio, Pray for Us! Rare Footage of the Saint

Thanks to my sister Carol for sending this link!

Three rare videos of the saint:

• at his monastery with the other monks
• celebrating his last Mass
• his funeral requiem Mass

Read about his life here.

St. Padre Pio, pray for us.