The Memorial the Church presents to us on November 21st is not to be confused with the Feast we celebrate on February 2nd, the Presentation of Jesus. The Presentation of Mary at the Temple foreshadows that of the infant Son she would bring there years later with Joseph, her husband.
The October 4th feast day of Saint Francis of Assisi (1182 – 1226 A.D.) offers an opportunity to reflect on some of those who supported him in his ministry. While numerous male followers flocked to join Francis’ Friars Minor, here we will consider some of the holy women who played significant roles in his story.
These days I increasingly hear about people, including some priests, who believe they are called to a ministry to "stuck souls." The idea is that there are souls who, upon their deaths, are stuck in this world. They are not able to move beyond to the next life due to some attachment. Thus, they need assistance.
Sanctity can reveal itself in many ways, as evidenced by even a quick glance at the lives of the saints. The story of Blessed Bartolo Longo, who will be canonized on October 19th this year, is a case in point. It reveals not a straight path toward sainthood, but rather a circuitous route paved with inherently dangerous implications for the fate of his soul.
During these early weeks following the death of Pope Francis, the May 1st Feast of Saint Joseph the Worker provides a particularly fitting opportunity this year to turn to the Holy Father’s own teaching on the beloved, saintly foster father of Jesus.
Daily I receive emails from people around the globe crying out for help saying, "Help me! I can't find an exorcist." My heart goes out to these suffering people who cannot find an exorcist, whom they believe they must have to solve their problems.
Five years ago, I saw the burning of Notre Dame Cathedral as a symbol of what was to come. It meant destruction, but not a total one. It was an injury that created sorrow on the streets of Paris and around the world.
If the challenge of living a virtuous life appears an ever-mounting uphill climb, given the state of our world, we are not alone in the struggle. This overview suggests an intercessor who may appear unlikely at first but truly understands modern challenges to a good life.
“May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world … for I bear the marks of Jesus on my body.” (Gal 6:14 – 17)
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