March 5 John Joseph of the Cross b. 1654 d. 1734 bl. 1789 c. 1839.

Jack and Thom,
Good Morning, I love you
110308, 1142

This morning’s reading from Tobit 2:9-14, made me chuckle when I first read it and I couldn’t (didn’t) stifle my chuckle at the back of the church either. Listening to the readings from Tobit, it feels like we have an old man telling us his story. Like a grandfather would. Or, a father were there sons listening – except, of course when I am talking to myself.

I called to my wife and said: “Where did this goat come from?
Perhaps it was stolen! Give it back to its owners;
we have no right to eat stolen food!”
She said to me, “It was given to me as a bonus over and above my wages.”
Yet I would not believe her,
and told her to give it back to its owners.
I became very angry with her over this.
So she retorted: “Where are your charitable deeds now?
Where are your virtuous acts?
See! Your true character is finally showing itself!”


This is a conversation men and women, husbands and wives have ‘all the time.’ Even though Tobit was blind now for a couple of years – birds shat in his eyes as he slept – and, apparently increasingly grumpy. He was, it seemed, a righteous man throughout his life. A holy man. Maybe a bit self-righteous. All of that, we naturally believe, is easy to do when things go well for us. Maybe so – but things were ‘perfect’ for Adam and Eve.

Now that things have gone south for Tobit, his wife declares we’re seeing his true character. Post-Adam/Eve with sin and concupiscence, she’s right. Our true character, although created in the image and likeness of God, is to suffer the consequences of man’s separation from God. No wonder we’re all a bit grumpy.

This scene, I assure you, is played over and over in relationships. My advice from this interaction – NEVER doubt what your loved one tells you. No matter how incredible. No matter how grumpy you feel. ALWAYS receive what your loved ones give you in the most positive light.


March 5

John Joseph of the Cross b. 1654 d. 1734 bl. 1789 c. 1839.


St. John Joseph of the Cross was born in the beautiful island of Ischia, near Naples. From his childhood he was the model of virtue. He lived a life of prayer.

< I’d love to have more details of John Joseph of the Cross’s childhood virtue. Living a life of prayer is essential for our virtuousness. Prayer, a personal, even intimate, relationship with God. Remember your childhood. Remember your virtuousness? And since then, what’s happened? How do you rebound? >

In his sixteenth year John Joseph of the Cross entered the Franciscan Order of the Strictest Observance, or Reform of St. Peter of Alcantara.

< This virtuous boy, well, maybe in the 17th c. sixteen was on the cusp of manhood, chose the strictest of the Franciscans. His pursuit of virtue, I suppose, drew him to challenge himself with the most demanding of the religious he knew about. I didn’t live what anyone would call a virtuous childhood. Maybe an ordinary one vis a vis my religiosity would be the best someone who knew me then would say. So why the Jesuits? I was persuaded (then and now) that they are the Pope’s marines. The best and the brightest. Most importantly, the holiest. If I were to be a priest, that was the priest I wanted to be. I figured I needed all the help I could get to find my way along that path. Thus, the Jesuits. How are you choosing to be formed in your pursuit of service to God? >

Throughout his life he was given to the greatest austerity: he fasted constantly, never drank wine, and slept but three hours each night.

< Personal austerity. Fasting is one test. How do we go into Lent – prayer, fasting, almsgiving. … I can go along with the three house of sleep. It seems to have been my body’s natural inclination most of my life. The problem is what we do with the awake time. Even now, that’s a challenge for me. Not to mention avoiding the easiest avoidance tactic – sleep. >

Such was the edification he gave in his Order, that within three years after his profession he was sent to found a monastery in Piedmont.

< Nineteen years old and the Franciscans asked him to found a monastery because of his holiness. Remember when you were nineteen? What were people thinking of you? How were you being selected for service to God, to the community – in work or school? 1968, after a year in the novitiate, I was on a roll. Not the leader of my secundi class. Not a leader of the class either – by vote or by assignment. I was asked to lead the one ministry that interested me: Berkshire Farm for Boys. We did well. We did good. More importantly for me, I learned a lot about myself. >

John Joseph of the Cross became a priest out of obedience, and obtained, as it seems, an inspired knowledge of moral theology.

< Obedience. It was my (in hindsight I know false) belief that I could not live the life of obedience as a Jesuit. The life of obedience is essential to any vocation. >

With his superiors' permission John Joseph of the Cross built another convent and drew up rules for that community, which were confirmed by the Holy See. He afterward became Master of Novices. Sometimes later he was made provincial of the province of Naples, erected in the beginning of the eightheenth century by Clement XI.

John Joseph of the Cross labored hard to establish in Italy that branch of his Order which the sovereign Pontiff had separated from the one in Spain.


In his work John Joseph of the Cross suffered much, and became the victim of numerous calumnies. However, the saint succeeded in his labors, endeavoring to instill in the hearts of his subjects, the double spirit of contemplation and penance bequeathed to his Reform by St. Peter of Alcantara.

< Two essential ‘learning opportunities’ here. First, follow John Joseph of the Cross to not only live a virtuous life but to lead others, expect others, to live similarly. Second, when you do what is right and righteous, know that you will be the receiver [not victim, please, let’s not succumb to our culture’s victimology] of calumnies. Suck it up. Know your relationship with God and Church will sustain and, in the end, reward you. >

St. John Joseph of the Cross exemplified the most sublime virtues, especially humility and religious discipline.

< Humility. One of the seven heavenly virtues. Know thyself. Know thy place vis a vis God and Man. And when you boast, boast in God. … Today’s Fat Tuesday. Tomorrow starts our annual challenge to our personal religious discipline. What penance will you be doing for yourself? For the rest of us? For the souls in purgatory? What discipline will you improve for yourself – without, of course, letting anyone know what you’re doing except to see the quality shine through in your love of the Lord? >

John Joseph of the Cross also possessed numerous gifts in the supernatural order, such as those of prophesy and miracles.

John Joseph of the Cross’s great devotion was to our Blessed Lady, and he was urgent with his penitents that they also should cultivate this.

< Why is it do you think that a devotion to our Blessed Mother is seminal? Beyond a love of Mother: devotion! Not only giving Her our heart and soul, what we do and what we refuse to do, what we think, feel, say, do. In addition, what She says, how She lived, the place She holds herself and for us. We often need more than ourselves to get us over the hump into penitence and reconciliation and conversion. Let your first stop be to ask Mary for the help you need. >

Finally, consumed by labors for the glory of God, he was called to his reward. Stricken with apoplexy, he died an octogenarian in his convent at Naples on March 5, 1734. His feast day is March 5th.

< Sunday’s Gospel had, as the guest homilist we had said, the scariest line in he Bible. “I never knew you. Depart from me, you evil doers.” Jesus tells the story of the people who arrive at the pearly gates and proffer – ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’ This is not enough. These blessings and efforts are not sufficient. What matters? “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.” The question is not, ‘what do you want to be when you grow up?’ We are here to know, love and serve God. We must do the will of the Father in Heaven. Even Jesus struggled with this at the end. Remember his prayer in the Garden? If this cup can pass, please, take it away. But! “not my will, but yours be done.” Our life is created to be lived in obedience. Ya think God’s made that clear enough? First and Fourth commandments. And this punch line from Jesus. >


I love you,
Dad
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