Do You Believe in Coincidence? I don't!

Mother Adele Garnier with
the Basilica of Sacre Coeur
in the background

We've had two deaths in our parish lately of two mothers/grandmothers and I decided to write cards today offering Masses for the repose of their souls tucking in a copy of a newsletter I get from an abbey in France, Saint-Joseph de Clairval. The inspiring little document always features a saint or blessed or holy man or woman. Many I've never heard of, but delight in being introduced to them.  The one I picked up first today spoke to me profoundly because of its focus on suffering and the encouragement to offer them in reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

The newsletter (dated April 12, 2015, I save them all) was dedicated to Mother Adele Garnier, a 19th century sister born in the Diocese of Dijon, France in 1838 who was deeply devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. She was instrumental in starting perpetual adoration at the Basilica of Montmartre, Sacre Coeur, in Paris.

During a long period of illness, she went to Lourdes and was inspired to offer the society she hoped to found to adoration in "reparation to the Heart of Jesus, under the protection of Mary Immaculate." As she wrote to Cardinal Guibert, the archbishop of Paris:

A Surfer Saint Coming?

I love this story:

Beatification cause opened for Brazil's 'Surfer Angel'

Holy men and women come from all sorts of backgrounds with all kinds of interests and quirks. Think of St. John Bosco who loved to walk a tightrope, juggle, and do magic tricks. He'd use those talents to attract the children and then teach them the catechism. St. Philip Neri was a great jokester and used humor to teach others and himself humility. He once went to a reception at a noble woman's home (She wanted to introduce him to her worldly relations.) with half his beard shaved off. He also gave some interesting spiritual direction. Once when a man asked if he could wear a hair shirt as a mortification, St. Philip told him yes if he wore it outside his clothes.The ridicule the man suffered did more for his humility than the penance of wearing the shirt next to his skin.

Now I wonder....is there a saint who loved to ride roller coasters?

The Kiss of Christ

I take Communion to a local nursing home on Sundays. I visit eight residents most of whom suffer from Alzheimer disease or dementia. One lady is often antagonistic and tells me not to talk to her. She often refuses Communion saying she isn't worthy. I respond that none of us is worthy, but Jesus loves her and is the doctor who wants to bring her healing. Sometimes she decides to receive and sometimes she doesn't. 

Last Sunday I met her son, one of four children, and he shared two of her poems with me. They were profound and, in fact, reminded me of Caryll Houselander's work.

What a gift it is to see these debilitated individuals in a different light, in their prime so to speak. The poetry he read to me was, not only beautiful, but contemplative. One was titled O Solitude, but could have been titled O Jesu. And as I was thinking today about how to reach her I thought, "I will take her a poem by Caryll Houselander."

And here it is. May God use it to bridge the gap between her current suffering and her past contemplation. She needs the love of Christ so very much (as we all do) brought in the Real Presence of Our Eucharistic Lord.

Please pray for her. I'll let you know what happens tomorrow.

The Kiss of Christ

Lo, there He hangs, ashened figure -- pinioned to the wood.
God grant that I might love him -- even as I should.  

I draw a little closer -- to touch the face divine.
And then He leans to whisper -- "Oh foolish child of mine.
If now I should embrace you -- my hands would stain you red.
And if I leaned to kiss you -- the thorns would pierce your head." 

'Twas then I learned in meekness -- that love demands a price.
'Twas then I knew that suffering -- is but the kiss of Christ. 

Caryll Houselander

Sunday Meditation: Words of Wisdom from Servant of God Elisabeth Leseur

I love reading the daily meditations in the Magnificat Missal. Yesterday's was from Elisabeth Leseur who spent many painful years of bedridden suffering. Here is something she wrote to a friend experiencing a "painful crisis."

I want to assure you of my profound compassion in the painful crisis that you are going through. I understand it thoroughly. But if the waves of suffering and bitterness are violent, do not let yourself go under, especially under the influence of a physical and emotional depression that is very natural after such a shock....Having come to Jesus to share in his sacrifices and his Passion, you have experienced this and continue to go through an agony similar to the one the Savior knew in Gethsemane....It is enough t ohave received these choice graces and to know at the same time the deep call, the mysterious vocation of suffering....

A priest said about a woman who was struggling with her feelings: "There are times whenyou have to take your heart, throw it at God's feet...and step on it." How hard that is, but how mysterious! At that moment, miracles of grace take place, and one hour of such suffering is equal to a life given over simply to doing the good.

Are you on the cross today? Do you have a sick and suffering child? Have you lost a loved one or have you been diagnosed with a serious illness? Are you in the midst of a confusing and worrisome dilemma with a family member that causes you to worry and lose sleep?

Oh, if I could only, in those moments in my life, remember to take my heart, throw it at God's feet, and step on it. Help me, Lord Jesus, to give you my heart and will that you might conform them to yours. "Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto thine."

Blessed Karl of Austria and Empress Zita, Please Intercede for Virginia

I can't imagine two more appropriate souls to intercede for our poor state as she sees a monumental battle between the forces of life and death. Terry McAuliffe is not only committed to the murder of unborn children and the destruction of traditional marriage, he is among the most corrupt politicians of our time. He has devoted his entire career to selling influence for campaign donations.. He earned his millions from corrupt deals (Read about just one here.) To think of him taking over the governor's house in a state that gave our nation many of our Founding Fathers is nauseating. But with Planned Parenthood and the Bloomberg Foundation and other outside sources pouring millions into his campaign (Three out of every four dollars is from outside.), he has a definite money advantage. But we can counterbalance that advantage with what McAuliffe will never have: our own prayers and the intercession of holy men and women. And so I offer two today to pray for Ken and Teiro Cuccinelli especially, but also for the entire pro-life Virginia ticket, namely

Blessed Karl of Austria and his empress Zita Catholic monarchs and parents of eight children

An Incredible Double Conversion Story

Claude Newman's conversion story is amazing. He was a prisoner on death row who received the blessing of visions from the Our Lady. And even more amazing is the conversion of a fellow prisoner, James Hughes, through Claude's intercession. Hughes saw a vision of his place in hell minutes before his execution. He was so terrified he immediately called for a priest.

Imagine if all of us saw the state of our souls and the punishment we deserved, how quickly we would repent and call on God to save us. I think that will be my prayer throughout the rest of Lent. Show me the state of my soul, Lord. Make me aware of those sins that are hidden deep in the recesses of my heart. Help me to repent and repent and repent. Claude's salvation came through the intercession of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. "O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee."

The Beatification I'd Like to See

We've heard a lot about the upcoming beatification of Pope John Paul II, the shepherd who oversaw the destruction of the faith for three decades. While I have no doubt he was personally holy, his actions during his pontificate were often baffling and imprudent. He rewarded dissenters and instituted policies (altar girls and Communion in the hand) that were rooted in disobedience. Why the rush to declare him a saint? But enough about that.

Pray for a miracle for this courageous woman who gives us an edifying example of forgiving your enemies and doing good to those who persecute you. Sr. Maria Seiquer is an example for our time. With more Christian martyrs in the last 100 years than in any other time in history, we need her spirit of love and forgiveness. Please pray for her intercession and especially that the Lord will grant the miracle to raise her to beatitude.

Who is that Mystery Monk?

On my last post, fellow blogger, Robert, who writes at "All the Clever Names Are Taken" left an off-topic comment asking about the mystery saint at his parish who no one had been able to identify for sure. The picture of the statue is on the left. 

A detective game always intrigues me so I thought I'd bite. My immediate thought as I examined the statue was that it had to be a monk who founded monasteries or a saint who built churches. So I started checking those saints and looking at their images.

The statue and painting below are two different depictions of the same saint. He is, in fact, a monk and he did build a famous monastery. In fact, he built several so it's no wonder he's shown holding a model of one.

I posted my guess in the comment section of Robert's blog so if you want to see who I think the mystery saint is go there.