Sanctify Your Work on this Feast of St. Joseph the Worker

St. Joseph working for the Holy Family
is a great model for our own families.

In honor of St. Joseph I'm reading Pope Saint John Paul II's Apostolic Exhortation, Guardian of the Redeemer. In Chapter IV, the saint reminds us that work is "an expression of love:"

Human work, and especially manual labor, receive special prominence in the Gospel. Along with the humanity of the Son of God, work too has been taken up in the mystery of the Incarnation, and has also been redeemed in a special way. At the workbench where he plied his trade together with Jesus, Joseph brought human work closer to the mystery of the Redemption....What is crucially important here is the sanctification of daily life, a sanctification which each person must acquire according to his or her own state, and one which can be promoted according to a model accessible to all people: "St. Joseph is the model of those humble ones that Christianity raises up to great destinies;...he is the proof that in order to be a good and genuine follower of Christ, there is no need of great things -- it is enough to have the common, simple and human virtues, but they need to be true and authentic."

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.

Want a Happy Family? Love Your Spouse!

The breakdown of the family is creating chaos in our society. As I consider the likely divorce of another member of my extended family, I can't help thinking how much easier life would be if we all just loved our spouses and our children enough to be faithful to our promises.

Loving families make happy children!

Sin seems pleasant at the time, but I know many folks who did what they wanted claiming "I have a right to be happy" and ended up even more miserable than they thought they were originally. Sin never makes anyone happy in the long run.

I'm re-reading St. John Paul II's 1994 Letter to Families. Here's a good paragraph for meditation and prayer today:

Experience shows what an important role is played by a family living in accordance with the moral norm, so that the individual born and raised in it will be able to set out without hesitation on the road of the good, which is always written in his heart. [Emphasis in original.] Unfortunately various programs backed by very powerful resources nowadays seem to aim at the breakdown of the family. At times it appears that concerted efforts are being made to present as "normal" and attractive, and even to glamorize, situations which are in fact "irregular." Indeed, they contradict "the truth and love" which should inspire and guide relationships between men and women, thus causing tensions and divisions in families, with grave consequences particularly for children. The moral conscience becomes darkened; what is true, good and beautiful is deformed; and freedom is replaced by what is actually enslavement. In view of all this, how relevant and thought-provoking are the words of the Apostle Paul about the freedom for which Christ has set us free, and the slavery which is caused by sin (cf. Gal 5:1)!

The synod on the family coming up next month has the potential to do great good, but could also be another flash point for spreading dissent and confusion like the release of Humane Vitae in 1968. No doubt the forces of evil are set to exploit and distort the outcome for their purposes.

The Vatican released a working document for the Synod in June. Read it here and please pray that the synod becomes a source of strengthening families that are so under assault today rather than one more opportunity for sowing confusion..

Are You Suffering Today?

Listen to the words of St. John Paul II:

Suffering "burns and consumes evil with the flame of love and draws forth even from sin a great flowering of good."

Think of the suffering of the cross and suffering of all the disciples as they mourned the loss of Jesus and then think of the great flowering of faith when the fire of the Holy Spirit came down upon them on Pentecost. If you are suffering today from physical, emotional, or spiritual pain, please don't waste it! Your suffering "consumes evil" when you make it a sacrifice on the altar of love -- especially through the intercession of the Blessed Mother.

Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us.