saint of the week

September 27^th Saint of the Week.

 

Hanging on my bathroom mirror is a piece of construction paper with the following etched in crayon:  If Ur stressed, just take a rest and today will be your best. 

This was a gift from my daughter on a particularly trying day.  It made me smile and realize that she knew exactly what I needed.

 

I have heard it said that 'we are each other's angels'.   Not the pudgy, little, Victorian cherubs that we see on calendars and stationary but rather, angels in terms of deeds.

The great thing about angels is that they do not stand around and wait for gratitude or applause.  They give what is needed out of love and that is their satisfaction.

 

September 27 is the feast of the archangels:  Michael, Raphael, and Gabriel.

Michael, as you know is the protector.  He cast Satan out of heaven. (So that shoots the idea that angels are pudgy and cute.  I picture Michael with bulging biceps and a spear).  During his Papacy, St. Leo had a vision of the daily struggle of good and evil that occurs in this world. He collapsed.  Eventually though, he wrote this prayer:

 

St. Michael, the Archangel, defend us in the day of battle. Be our safeguard
against the wickedness and snares of the devil, may God rebuke him, we
most humbly pray. And do thou, O prince of heavenly host, by the power of
God, thrust into hell Satan and all other evil spirits that prowl through the
world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen

 

In Christianity, Judaism and Islam, Raphael is known for healing.  It is believed that he stirred the waters in Bethseda (as mentioned in the New Testament).

 

Gabriel is God's messenger.  Most famous for his words to Mary, He appears repeatedly throughout the Old and New Testament.  Muslims believe that he gave the Qur'an to Muhammad.

 

So whether you are a pudgy little angel or one with bulging biceps know that Michael, Raphael and Gabriel are counting on you to help heal, witness to, and protect others in the name of God, even if you have to use crayons.

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saint of the week

Saint of the Week Sept. 21

 

Yesterday was my son's 11^th birthday.  He wanted ice cream cake.  Naturally we obliged.

Of course, he wanted the biggest piece.  Of course, so did I, but I gave it to him.  I was happy just to have a piece.

 

September 21 is the International Day of Peace.  I wonder how many people know that.

I wonder how many people are waiting for their lives to settle down so that they can have some peace.  How many times have I said, "Just give me a moment's peace!"

 

Yes, we all need peace.  Those living in the Middle East,  Dan fur, and Ireland know this all too well.  Maybe the idea of peace is so illusive that we give up on trying.  Peace really is not so elusive.  Before we can have any chance at obtaining world peace, we must be able to conjure and maintain peace in our homes.  Sometimes, I get glimpses of peace.  When my children are asleep and I gently kiss them goodnight, hiking in the woods, early morning prayer time, watchin g fireworks, playing in the snow, walking on the beach, and being alone in church.  Christ calls us to be peacemakers.  I would like to think that means that Jesus would like me to spend my life walking on the beach or hiking in the woods since that is where I find the biggest peace.  No, Jesus calls us to be peacemakers in the world.  We are to live in the world, but not be of the world.  We rely totally on God.  I saw a sign in front of a church that said, "Sorrowful people look back, worried people look around, faith filled people look up".  That is peace.

When everything around you is caught in the current, you have the presence of mind to say, "God, I place my trust in you." 

That is the biggest peace.

saint of the week

 

Saint of Week September 9, 2007

 

 

Sunday morning at INTERSECTION (Teen Bible Study), it was very hot.  Even though I had the fan on and the windows open, the second story of an aging brick building was not the place to be.  The room was quite full, which I am sure, added to our perspiration problem. 

It seemed however that everyone tolerated the warmness fairly well.  There was minimal complaint and generally earnest interest in the message, which was about discipleship.  Today's reading from Luke urged us to be fully committed disciples. 

 

St. Peter Claver was a fully committed disciple (I image you would have guessed that given the prefix of "saint" before his name!).  Born in 1580, he became a Jesuit priest and ministered to slaves.  For 33 years he ministered to the Negro slaves disembarking in Columbia.  Whenever a slave ship would come into port, he would enter the hold and begin ministering to the slaves.  He would provide drink, food and the gospel.  His ministry did not end there though, as he would then minister to them aft erwards in their places of residence.

 

I don't pretend to know much about slave ships but I image the ship's hold to be an infernally hot- putrid smelling-standing room only type of place.  I don't know if I am impressed more by his insight and creativity or his stamina.  Catholic Online says that St. Peter Claver converted some 330,000 slaves to Catholicism.

 

I guess that is what Jesus wants from us, stamina.  He wants us to have staying power.  He wants us to rise above the perspiration and distractions of this world to become fully committed disciples and love Him above all things, even air conditioning.

 

prayer for 9/11

Peace Prayer to the Blessed Mother

The greatest gift of The Blessed Mother is Her Love.
It is incumbent upon us, Her children,
to act towards each other
as valued members of the same family.

Holy Mother hear our desires, teach us your wisdom.
Let there be peace of understanding;
Peace of a calming of angers; peace of wisdom,
Peace of a willingness not to seek vengeance.

Let there be peace because we owe it to the children,
Peace because we owe it to the seventh generation.
Peace because we owe it to the parents,
Peace because we owe it to our ancestors.

Let there be peace so that there may be art,
Peace so there may be farming.

Peace so there may be dancing,
Peace so that utterly different peoples may compare their ways with interest.
Let there be peace among humans
So that there may grow to be peace between humans and trees,
Peace between humans and all living creatures,
Peace between humans and the land.

Let there be peace so that our ingenuity may undo our damage,
Peace so that we may solve riddles.
Peace so that we may reach the stars,
Peace so we may reach our own souls.

Let there be lasting peace;
Peace among men and women.
Peace among adults and children.
Let us move aside from the dictates of domination.
Let there be true peace.

 

We ask in the name of your Son, Jesus, Prince of Peace.

Amen