Saints and Sons

Aunt Catherine....

2011-10-30T12:15:00.001-04:00

Good Morning

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This morning I went to OLG to check out the ministry fair and get in on the free pancake breakfast for stewardship. The coffee was good; there’s not much harm that can be done to pancakes; and the sausage paddies were cold. Maybe a dozen people from the 0700 Mass took advantage of the food fare. The visiting Vincentian missionary got his breakfast; the in residence priest chortled by with his fat-buttoned cassock and his biretta. [With a pastor from South America and a newly ordained American from the diocese this menagerie of priests makes me feel like I’m in some foreign church.]

The OLG ministry fair was nicely set up in the gym – neat as a pin. There were six women in small clusters talking to each other. There was one other person there like me strolling around to look at the posters. At least the last time St Paul did its ministry fair, each ministry was staffed by at least one person, usually more than two.

There’s no doubt that the parish will raise the couple of million being sought to expand the physical plant and improve the grounds. I walk through an event hoping to be recruited, even greeted. Almost never the former; rarely the latter. Must be something about me!

I also see the dozens of little ways to improve the event. So why don’t I volunteer? I am not participant at the parish I’m registered for now that it’s a bus ride and 40 minute walk to the church. That’s just the current reality, not an excuse. Never have I been grounded with any degree or sense of permanence or prospect of sticking around: thus, why participate; I’m passing through.

And to stick around is only to accumulate more negative outcomes by my presence.

This morning, on the walk back from OLG, I considered my decision to stay put in my current shack for two years as a major commitment to time and place. That’s barely three percent of my current life. Two years is nothing! Now. Used to be a very long time. It’s the same as looking at my body, touching my midsection, and still seeing, as Susan Crowley said to her mother, ‘the big fat Billy Nolan.’ The inertia of my life is to pass through. Maybe this round will be different?

My Aunt Catherine died Thursday night. I found out from my father, her older, by three years, brother, Friday evening. Been a winnowing year for the Nolan Sibs – Frank, the oldest. Arthur, the youngest. And Arthur’s wife only a couple months after him. Now Catherine. Of the original nine there’s now my father, Helen, Mary, and Walter, who, my father says, “has his own health issues” and may not get to Catherine’s wake. My cousin David also died this year. (Of the 32 cousins, the oldest has died (making me now the second oldest) plus six others, including my brother Jimmy in 1967 at the age of five.)

Aunt Catherine and Uncle Jimmy were the closest family to ours growing up. Their oldest two were about the same age as me and my brother and the four of us (plus the younger three there) spent lots of time playing together. Uncle Jimmy died 1964 with their youngest child in utero. Aunt Catherine raised her brood herself, with lots of help from her sister Helen (two peas in a pod their entire lives) and the rest of the clan pitching-in in their way.

Aunt Catherine is a model of motherhood and aunthood. She personifies family and clan: the epitome of Nolan. I have more than a few feeloughts of her that are embedded in my soul, that are essential parts of who I am. I feel a great loss, a deep sorrow – and have greater gratitude for who I am because of her.

I am a lector at next Sunday’s mass. In the end-of-liturgical-year theme, my reading is from 1 Thes 4 (13-14 here) - We do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, about those who have fallen asleep, so that you may not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose, so too will God, through Jesus, bring with him those who have fallen asleep.

Grieve AND hope. Both solidify the presence of Aunt Catherine in my being. Also, in the participation of the wake and funeral, we renew our family ties, sharing our grief and hope. No doubt Aunt Catherine is among the All Saints whom we celebrate Tuesday. More/better reason to be the nephew she would be proud of.

The story of Aunt Catherine’s last months/days/hours is beyond the lesson JPII gave us as he lived his pontificate to the minute he stepped across the threshold; and the lesson the Church gave us as we lived with him, an aging man, Papa, our saintly pope. My cousins, Aunt Catherine’s siblings, et al. as well as the woman herself lived her life/their lives/our lives in a way that is more than lesson, it is life, it is holiness, it is The Way.

I wish that I could look forward to anything resembling Aunt Catherine’s experience. For myself. With my father. (It did not happen with my mother, either, who died a dozen plus years ago.) There’s no talk about the pending realities of my father’s death and mine. (Though, at 86, he’s likely to die first. Although, one son has already died before him. ) Not even the slightest talk with him or my brother. At least there are wills in place. Of course, not talking is wholly a function of my not talking regardless of the people possibly on the other side of the conversation. I do not recommend to anyone this state of affairs. And yet, I do not have the gumption to get into another state….

Please pray for my aunt. Do pray for your family’s deceased. Doing so minimally makes their presence in your life more real, more lasting, more effective, more holy.

AMDG
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Oct 31 Alphonsus Rodriguez, S.J. b. 1532 d. 1617 c. 1888

2011-10-26T14:39:00.000-04:00

Good Morning,

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October 30

St Alphonsus Rodriguez b. 1532 d. 1617 bl. 1885 c. 1888

Lay brother. One of my friends in the novitiate was a brother. A DJ from Providence. Vocations of all types come any time from any where. Be open to your call – always. One of the holiest men at the novitiate was one of the brothers in the infirmary. He made that rotation a personal and religious joy. I guess I could be an acceptable brother at this late stage?

Alphonsus Rodriguez was born in Segovia, Spain, on July 25, 1532, the son of a wealthy merchant. It makes a difference in one’s life who your parents are, what resources they have for your upbringing and how they can open doors into your future. [Rejecting one parent altogether is one way to cut your nose to spite your face. It lessens your opportunities not to mention disses the gifts God has given you.]

Alphonsus Rodriguez was prepared for First Communion by Blessed Peter Favre, S.J., a friend of Alphonsus' father. I do not remember who ‘prepared’ me for my first communion. It was what I did. All first graders did it. Everyone in my family went to communion and this was my turn to join them. I am sure that the good sisters at St Patrick’s school drilled us in the mystery and the faith and the facts of the Sacrament. I am sure that we practiced not only the entire ceremony but also in the particulars of receiving the host on our tongue as we knelt at the altar rail. I feel the same reverence and piety in the procession to get the host in my hand. But I experience a greater piety when I kneel down and receive it on my tongue. Ora pro me.

Alphonsus Rodriguez was introduced to the Jesuits in his home from his earliest childhood. I don’t remember a priest ever coming to our home. I do remember Aunt Monica! Sister Anita Rosaire! The woman was the personification of holiness, of Church, of religiosity. If I have a vocation it is mostly due to her. If I am religious, Aunt Monica gets much of the credit. Every Catholic home should be visited by the priests and religious of the parish and community. But Alphonsus Rodriguez grew up with the nascent Society of Jesus in his home!

Bl. Fr. Peter Favre, S.J. was an influence on Alphonsus Rodriguez’s faith formation. Alphonsus Rodriguez’s father brought this Jesuit priest, this friend of the family, into their home. Both of these men must have made a huge impact on the boy’s religious education, his prayer, his piety. [Rejecting one parent also loses you all the friends and contacts that God gave to the parent to give to you!]

While studying with the Jesuits at Alcala, Alphonsus had to return home when his father died. In Segovia he took over the family business, was married, and had a son. Of course Alphonsus Rodriguez studied with the Jesuits. By the time he was of age, the Jesuits were part of his spiritual DNA. I came to the Jesuits by chance. (God’s chance? Was my father kept in Portland so I’d have to go to Cheverus? God’s plan plays out in his way, his time. Except, of course, for that free will thing.]

Alphonsus Rodriguez’s son died, as did two other children and then his wife. He must have felt like Job! How did Alphonsus take care of his family and community as well as his relationship with God while his children and his wife were taken away from him? Would it not be worth our while to know that. The fact that he came through this is certainly encouraging. How did he do it? How did he help his children and wife bear up with their losses. How does he help us do it?

At the age of twenty-six he married Mary Francisco Suárez, a woman of his own station, and at thirty-one found himself a widower with one surviving child, the other two having died previously.

Alphonsus sold his business and applied to the Jesuits. His lack of education and his poor health, undermined by his austerities, made him less than desirable as a candidate for the religious life, but he was accepted as a lay brother by the Jesuits on January 31, 1571, 39 years old….

Lack of education? Raised by a wealthy family, initially educated by Jesuits. A man who successfully took over the family business. But to be a Jesuit priest still today requires the man to be educated enough to be eligible for Holy Orders plus to be an educator of the children of the rich; to establish the best universities. So the Society accepted this (high society/rich) man as a lay brother. Alphonsus Rodriquez so wanted to be a Jesuit, to travel the Society of Jesus as the path to be closest to Jesus, that he accepted the role of lay brother.

Alphonsus Rodriquez practiced austerities – to the extent that he harmed his health. We should practice austerities, to better purify ourselves in our pursuit of oneness with God.

Alphonsus Rodriquez underwent novitiate training and was sent to Montesion College on the island of Majorca. There he labored as a hall porter for forty-six years. I wish I stuck in any one place for four years which would then become twenty-four and maybe a lifetime of service. Might this be the place: this ‘new’ apartment? Sticking it out has its own merits.

Alphonsus Rodriguez exerted a wondrous influence on many. Not only the young students, such as St. Peter Claver, but local civic and social leaders came to his porter's lodge for advice and direction. Look for the holy man among you! He’s there. In plain sight. Open your eyes and see. Listen. Be brave and approach. Ask for advice and direction. Discern. Then do. Find your own Alphonsus Rodriguez!

Obedience and penance were the hallmarks of his life, as well as his devotion to the Immaculate Conception.

I left the novitiate because I could not see myself being obedient. Probably my worst decision in my life. Obedience is the hallmark of Love – love for God, love of self, love of all of our loved ones. Disobedience is a rejection of love.

Probably Alphonsus Rodriguez’s penance, including his austerities, had to do first of all to his sins of disobedience. I wish I were more sincere with my penance. I wish I were more austere. Ora pro me.

Alphonsus Rodriguez experienced many spiritual consolations, and he wrote religious treatises, very simple in style but sound in doctrine. We read some passages from his work. I recommend Simple! Simple being not elite or academic or intellectual. The man spoke about his relationship with God. How do you relate with God? Alphonsus has some suggestions.

Alphonsus died after a long illness on October 31, 1617, and his funeral was attended by Church and government leaders. He was declared Venerable in 1626, and was named a patron of Majorca in 1633. Alphonsus was beatified in 1825 and canonized in September 1888 with St. Peter Claver.

AMDG
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Oct 31 St Erth 6th c.

2011-10-24T13:27:00.000-04:00

Good Morning

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October 31

St Erth 6th century

Sixth century is the 500’s – about a century after Patrick died. Erth took his missionary journey back to England from whence Patrick came.

St Erth was an Irish missionary to Cornwall, England. As the bird flied, it’s 200 miles from Cork to Cornwall. If he trudged to the narrowest neck between Ireland and England then down to Cornwall, it’s about twice that. How does a guy decide to be a missionary? How did he pick Cornwall? Did he just get tired of walking? Did he get to the southwest tip of England and decide far enough?

Erth evangelized the local area.

So, what do we take away from this bio blurb? That our Church needs Irish missionaries? Is the downward trend of religiosity in America due to the loss of FBIs?

AMDG
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Oct 30 John Slade d. 1583

2011-10-24T13:07:00.002-04:00

Good Morning

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How to win repeat business – notice when a regular is not there and mention you missed him when he eventually shows up. Watch Cheers’ reruns for more lessons.

October 30
Bl John Slade d. 1583 bl. 1929

Martyr of England. Almost redundant with Catholic of England, especially in the sixteenth century. And then, for the Irish – moreso.

He was a native of Manston, Dorchestershire, and was educated at Oxford.
With fifty words for the bio, it’s understandable that they jump from birth to college. No mention of parents or family; no mention of childhood influences; no mention of the foundational developmental experiences of youth. Without knowing something about these how do we bring the lessons to our children? [OK, I admit. This information is available in the causes for sainthood. I’m not the guy with the talent to reach into the Latin texts. If I win the lottery I’ll sponsor someone to do that.]

John Slade denied King Henry VIII’s supremacy in religious matters.
Now that’s separation of Church and State! A separation Henry VIII and his successors abolished – in part to get the Church out of the State business.

John Slade was arrested for not taking the Supremacy Pledge. There’s a difference. Which was it? In the end, it would not matter.

John Slade was hanged, drawn, and quartered at Winchester. Alls he had to do was take the pledge. Say a few words. Admit that the King was in charge of his country’s religious life, too. That loyalty and faithfulness were inseparable. How can you be loyal to your family and faithful to your God and the One True Church when the former rejects the latter? A martyr of England was killed by England. A martyr to your faith within your mother’s household is being killed by your mother – NOT your rejecting her.

John Slade was beatified in 1929.

AMDG
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Oct 28 St Jude - his epistle

2011-10-23T14:29:00.003-04:00

Good Morning

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Going from the bio of Jude to his letter as copied from the USCCB website.

THE LETTER OF JUDE

This letter is by its address attributed to “Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and brother of James” (Jude 1). Since he is not identified as an apostle, this designation can hardly be meant to refer to the Jude or Judas who is listed as one of the Twelve (Lk 6:16; Acts 1:13; cf. Jn 14:22).

[So our US bishops disagree with so many others that the author of this epistle is the Jude Thaddaeus the Apostle? Does it matter who the author is? But of course it does. But how?]

The letter is addressed in the most general terms to “those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept safe for Jesus Christ” (Jude 1), hence apparently to all Christians.

[Is not all scripture addressed to all? However, the specific intent of the author, in addition to whom the author actually is, helps us better understand the Word that is meant for us. Knowing more helps us love more and do better.]

But since its purpose is to warn the addressees against false teachers, the author must have had in mind one or more specific Christian communities located in the unidentified region where the errors in question constituted a danger. The errors envisaged seem to reflect an early form of gnosticism, opposed to law, that points rather to the cultural context of the Gentile world.

[The Catholic Encyclopedia online gives us 12,600+ word about gnosticism. Ya think it’s an important heresy to know about? Da! Not only for its historical and contextual benefit but because gnosticism is embedded in our world too. Know it so you can see it when it rears its beautiful, seductive head. Know your own faith so you can not only reject gnosticism but also refute it…]

From Catholic Encyclopedia online: A more complete and historical definition of Gnosticism would be: A collective name for a large number of greatly-varying and pantheistic-idealistic sects, which flourished from some time before the Christian Era down to the fifth century, and which, while borrowing the phraseology and some of the tenets of the chief religions of the day, and especially of Christianity, held matter to be a deterioration of spirit, and the whole universe a depravation of the Deity, and taught the ultimate end of all being to be the overcoming of the grossness of matter and the return to the Parent-Spirit, which return they held to be inaugurated and facilitated by the appearance of some God-sent Saviour.

Between Jude and 2 Peter, most scholars believe that Jude is the earlier of the two.

This little letter is an urgent note by an author who intended to write more fully about salvation to an unknown group of readers, but who was forced by dangers from false teachers worming their way into the community to dash off a warning against them and to deliver some pressing Christian admonitions.

The letter is justly famous for its majestic closing doxology (24–25).
24. To the one who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you unblemished and exultant, in the presence of his glory,
25. to the only God, our savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord be glory, majesty, power, and authority from ages past, now, and for ages to come. Amen

[Must admit – didn’t ring any bells for me. I suppose because I’ve maybe read Jude’s letter twice in my life: plus the rare times it’s used at Mass.]

Address and Greeting.

1. Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and brother of James, to those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept safe for Jesus Christ:
2. may mercy, peace, and love be yours in abundance.

Occasion for Writing.

3. Beloved, although I was making every effort to write to you about our common salvation, I now feel a need to write to encourage you to contend for the faith that was once for all handed down to the holy ones.

[Contend for the faith, i.e., The Faith, handed down once for all – all people, all time. A gift. Accept it. Embrace it. Assimilate it. Live it. Contend for it!]

4. For there have been some intruders, who long ago were designated for this condemnation, godless persons, who pervert the grace of our God into licentiousness and who deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

[It would seem that godless, perverts, licentious, and deniers of Jesus would be easy enough to recognize and reject. Obviously not. Not then and not now. One reason to read the Bible, the Fathers, today’s teachers – read, meditate, study, do our own writing. To know the Truth to be better able to recognize the devil, The Untruth.]

The False Teachers. [And what happened(s) to them. So, don’t be like them!]

5. I wish to remind you, although you know all things, that [the] Lord who once saved a people from the land of Egypt later destroyed those who did not believe.

[Pharaoh’s unconquerable army wiped out. Whose side are you on? Hellfire and brimstone? Or a matter of fact reminder that there are chaff as well as wheat, goats as well as sheep.]

6. The angels too, who did not keep to their own domain but deserted their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains, in gloom, for the judgment of the great day.

[I will remember Carol Kay affectionately and admiringly forever. The woman introduced me to a love of literature unbounded. She got me to read and read some more: with relish. My favorite paper as an undergrad argued that Satan was the “hero” of Paradise Lost: contrarian that I was (is?).]
[Where will you stand on Judgment Day? Or, better, on every judgment day?]

7. Likewise, Sodom, Gomorrah, and the surrounding towns, which, in the same manner as they, indulged in sexual promiscuity and practiced unnatural vice, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.

[Anyone for indulging in sexual promiscuity? Of course! And a few unnatural vices for variety? Sure! And the example of Sodom and Gomorrah – a punishment of eternal fire? Or worse, an eternity separated from the One Who loves you? Ah, there are choices. See the Charley Brown comic I’ve framed. There are choices and every choice has its consequences. It’s a package deal. Jude reminds us of the entire package. Pascal’s wager if you will….]

8. Similarly, these dreamers nevertheless also defile the flesh, scorn lordship, and revile glorious beings.
9. Yet the archangel Michael, when he argued with the devil in a dispute over the body of Moses, did not venture to pronounce a reviling judgment upon him but said, “May the Lord rebuke you!”
10. But these people revile what they do not understand and are destroyed by what they know by nature like irrational animals.
11. Woe to them! They followed the way of Cain, abandoned themselves to Balaam’s error for the sake of gain, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.
12. These are blemishes on your love feasts, as they carouse fearlessly and look after themselves. They are waterless clouds blown about by winds, fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead and uprooted.
13. They are like wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shameless deeds, wandering stars for whom the gloom of darkness has been reserved forever.

[How heroic are those who scorn lordship and revile glorious beings? When we see merit in the evil doers, Jude suggests other images – blemishes on your love feast; waterless clouds (especially wanton over the desert), waterless clouds blown about by winds; fruitless trees – twice dead and uprooted (and thrown on the fire!); wild waves of the sea; wandering stars for whom the gloom of darkness has been reserved forever. Love the metaphors and similes! Picture yourself as any one of these when you consider joining the followers of Cain and Balaam.]

14. Enoch, of the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied also about them when he said, “Behold, the Lord has come with his countless holy ones
15. to execute judgment on all and to convict everyone for all the godless deeds that they committed and for all the harsh words godless sinners have uttered against him.”
16. These people are complainers, disgruntled ones who live by their desires; their mouths utter bombast as they fawn over people to gain advantage.

Exhortations.

17. But you, beloved, remember the words spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ,

[How do you remember what the apostles said? Read the Bible. Attend Mass. Talk about them with your friends. The apostles are a source of strength only to the degree that you know them. Talk with them. Listen to them.]

18. for they told you, “In [the] last time there will be scoffers who will live according to their own godless desires.”

[We live by God’s will – like Jesus did – or by our own godless desires. There are two choices; mutually exclusive choices.]

19. These are the ones who cause divisions; they live on the natural plane, devoid of the Spirit.
20. But you, beloved, build yourselves up in your most holy faith; pray in the holy Spirit.

[Pray. Pray Always. Pray in the Spirit who has been given to us by Jesus.]

21. Keep yourselves in the love of God and wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.

[So how do we keep ourselves in the love of God? The commandments are the place to start. The original ten. Love the law. Embrace the law. Then Jesus’ commandments: “Love one another as I have loved you.” Love God with your whole heart! In a way similar to how you love your lover – do everything within your imagination to please her. Lover your neighbor as yourself. Keep yourself in the love of God.]

22. On those who waver, have mercy;

[The Quality of Mercy is NOT strained! Forgive seven times seven; seventy times seven. Do unto others as you would have them do onto you…..]

23. save others by snatching them out of the fire; on others have mercy with fear, abhorring even the outer garment stained by the flesh.
[Not only be merciful, be proactive. Reach into the fire and pull them out. What is ‘the fire?’ e.g., the scorn of ‘friends’ when you exhort someone to do good and right. Step up, into the fire, snatch your brother/sister from the fire. If they were a child about to touch the hot stove? If they were about walk into a burning building would you not snatch them away?]

Doxology.

24. To the one who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you unblemished and exultant, in the presence of his glory,
25. to the only God, our savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord be glory, majesty, power, and authority from ages past, now, and for ages to come. Amen.

AMDG
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(with the Jets-Chargers game on)

Oct 28 Jude the Apostle

2011-10-23T12:45:00.001-04:00

Good Morning

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The Tate Street strip – A community not of students, though hundreds walk by during the week. Look at me and you’ll see someone who is not unlike most of the people who I’ve seen at Tate Street Coffee and at the NY Pizza. I admit that I’m more comfortable sitting in the EUC and on its patio than I am on the strip. Regression? Failure to grow up? Ora pro me.

St Jude elicited thoughts of St Rita and of St Monica. His bio blurb got me to read his letter and the USCCB’s letter on domestic violence. And I’ve written as I’ve read….

October 28

St Jude Thaddeus
Patron of Desperate Cases

(St Rita is also the Patron Saint of impossible cases. Her feast day is May 22nd.)

Googling (my edition of Word does not recognize this common gerund.) St Jude made it apparent that many/most bios begin by telling us who St Jude is not. How’d you like to be famous for not being Judas Iscariot? Did the early fathers put Jude’s letter into the canon in part to give the man his independent due?

St. Jude, known as Thaddaeus, was a brother of St. James the Less, and a relative of Our Saviour. He was a son of Cleophas, and Mary, sister to the Blessed Virgin. St. Jude was one of the 12 Apostles of Jesus.

St Jude Thaddaeus. Made me think of Thad Matta and the many good times I had in Columbus. Resurrected the feeloughts that running away from Columbus (the lien actually) was among the biggest mistakes I’ve ever made. The cost of that stupidity lingers. Running away is as bad as (worse than?) being an ostrich. I have a litany of runnings away. Escape is a powerfully reinforced maladaptive behavior. I advise against both escaping and avoiding. I know too much about the failures as well as the deceptive and costly successes of both. Ora pro me.

St Jude Thaddaeus, a brother of St. James the Less. I suppose it’s better to be known as an Apostle’s brother (and Jesus’ cousin,even if more than once removed) than NOT Judas Iscariot. But right up to the Garden at Gethsemane they were all a tightly knit band of men. Jesus called each of them. Jesus calls each of us, too. We have at least one thing in common with Judas. See how easy it is to be pulled away from Jude and to the infamous Judas? Come back with me to the holier man. (though, does Judas teach us more?)

Ancient writers tell us that Jude Thaddaeus preached the Gospel in Judea, Samaria, Idumaea, Syria, Mesopotamia, and Lybia. How would Jude respond to the Arab Spring? (His letter hints at how he might, personally, (as opposed to generally as a Catholic who walked(s) with Jesus.), respond to the horrors of “liberation”.

St. Jude Thaddaeus returned to Jerusalem in the year 62, after the martyrdom of his brother James, and assisted at the election of an other brother, St. Simeon, as Bishop of Jerusalem. Politics is family. We should, like my brother does, go all in for one another – not only in times of aspiration but also times of need. Deo Gratias.

St. Jude Thaddaeus is the author of the epistle to the Churches of the East, particularly the Jewish converts, directed against the heresies of the Simonians, Nicolaites, and Gnostics. My agnostic friends, take a gander at this letter.

Simonian? The Simonians used magic and theurgy (a system of beneficent magic practiced by the Egyptian Platonists and others; the working of a divine or supernatural agency in human affairs), incantations, and love-potions; they declared idolatry a matter of indifference that was neither good nor bad, proclaimed fornication to be perfect love, and led very disorderly, immoral lives. In general, they regarded nothing in itself as good or bad by nature. It was not good works that made men blessed, in the next world, but the grace bestowed by Simon and Helena on those who united with them.

Nicolaites? a sect mentioned in the Apocalypse (2:6-15) as existing in Ephesus, Pergamus, and other cities of Asia Minor, about the character and existence of which there is little certainty. Irenaeus (Against Heresies I.26.3 and III.11.1) discusses them but adds nothing to the Apocalypse except that "they lead lives of unrestrained indulgence."

Reading. Meditating. Wandering feeloughts. And learning something new each time, too. Simonians. Nicolaites. Theurgy. A blurb in Revelations. Starting with a bio and meandering across the Catholic landscape…. Join me? Take your own trip….

Jude Thaddaeus describes the heretics by many strong epithets and similes, and calls them wandering meteors which seem to blaze for a while, but set in eternal darkness. The source of their fall he points out by saying, they are murmurers, and walk after their own lusts; for being enslaved to pride, envy, the love of sensual pleasure, and other passions, and neglecting to crucify the desires of the flesh in their hearts, they were strangers to sincere humility, meekness, and interior peace. [Remember, my best writing is not mine at all. I am not using quote marks out of laziness not to hide my unabashed copying of other people’s work online. E.g., this paragraph and the next one and more are from Alban’s bio of Jude.]

This apostle exhorts the faithful to treat those who were fallen with tender compassion, making a difference between downright malice and weakness, and endeavouring by holy fear to save them, by plucking them as brands out of the fire of vice and heresy, and hating the very garment that is spotted with iniquity.

Jude Thaddaeus puts us in mind to have always before our eyes the great obligation we lie under of incessantly building up our spiritual edifice of charity, by praying in the Holy Ghost, growing in the love of God, and imploring his mercy through Christ.

This Apostle is said to have suffered martyrdom in Armenia, which was then subject to Persia.

Jude was the one who asked Jesus at the Last Supper why He would not manifest Himself to the whole world after His resurrection. (Jn 14:19-31. I suggest you put yourself at the Last Supper and get into the entire discourse that John gives us.)

In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me, because I live and you will live. [The world sees Jesus because we live in Him and He in us.]

20. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you.

21. Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him. [The impeccable logic of our faith. Love the law, “my [i.e., Jesus’] commandments.” Love one another as I have loved you. Love God with your whole heart and mind. Love your neighbor as yourself…. Love Jesus, i.e., GodFatherSonSpirit because He is One, and He loves us. We are capable of love only because God loves us always no matter what. He is the source of all love. The ones who love us, reveal themselves to us. If we love a person, we reveal ourselves to that person. Offering ourselves vulnerably, needing from our loved ones what God gives us – unconditional love: loving us no matter what.]

22. Judas, not the Iscariot,* said to him, “Master, [then] what happened that you will reveal yourself to us and not to the world?” [Put yourself at the Last Supper – not knowing that it is the last one: though it really wasn’t nor ever shall be a Last supper. Put yourself into the discussion of the men at Passover. What topic is on your mind? What questions would you throw out there to your friends? To your leader? Let these questions inform your prayer.]

23. Jesus answered and said to him, “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. [A straightforward description of how lovers operate, yes? If not keeping each other’s word, can you then be lovers?]

24. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me.

25. “I have told you this while I am with you.

26. The Advocate, the holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name—he will teach you everything and remind you of all that [I] told you. [Father Creator, Son Redeemer, Spirit Teacher. One Person. Our lover is creator, redeemer, and teacher. Let it be so.]

27. Peace* I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.

28. * You heard me tell you, ‘I am going away and I will come back to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I.

29. And now I have told you this before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe.

30. I will no longer speak much with you, for the ruler of the world* is coming. He has no power over me,

31. but the world must know that I love the Father and that I do just as the Father has commanded me. Get up, let us go.v [Jesus reiterates this message directly to His Father during his Agony in the Garden. Not my will but yours. “I love the Father” means that ‘I do the Father’s will,’ ‘do what the Father has commanded me.’ Get up, let’s go!]

Little else is known of his life. Legend claims that he visited Beirut and Edessa; possibly martyred with St. Simon in Persia.

Jude is invoked in desperate situations because his New Testament letter stresses that the faithful should persevere in the environment of harsh, difficult circumstances, just as their forefathers had done before them.

I like knowing why saints are picked to be patrons of whatever. I still don’t know why St Catherine is patroness of fire fighters. Though her being the patroness of there being no fires is why I call upon her to protect my niece. Ora cum me.

AMDG
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John Dat d. 1798 c. 1988

2011-10-23T10:48:00.000-04:00

Good Morning

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[date and time coincidence. Maybe I should pick 1023 as the lottery number?}

Writing isn’t writing isn’t writing. And, though not mutually exclusive, when I write in one forum/medium, I am less likely to put the effort into another: although some of the same feeloughts belong in more than one. I’m obligated to writing in each of the forums (fora?), but as you can see with the dates on the blog, writing is one of many obligations I don’t do so well with. Ora pro me.

October 28

St John Dat d. 1798 c. 1988

It is unlikely that John is Dat’s given-at-birth name. Though it is likely his baptismal name, it may be an Anglicized Jean since it is more likely that it was a French missionary who baptized him. The absent, important parts of his bio [important as in Little Prince important] in the online blurb would fill in the development of the man’s faith and holiness. The speculation is worthy of a short story but not particularly strong meditative value. If you had 40 words to summarize a saint’s life to inspire the faithful what would you write?

That this native Vietnamese was a martyr, beheaded three months after being arrested in 1798, his ordination year?

That he was canonized by JPII in 1988?

What about whether he was born Catholic? Being a Vietnamese convert in the 18th century was almost an invitation to martyrdom. That would tell us something about the man’s calling. It would tell us more about God’s persistent love and allure under the worst of circumstances. (Think England since Henry VIII.)

Convert or not, why did the man become a priest? A choice that tweaked the nose of the mighty! In deferential southeast Asia. Why does a man do such a thing? How are we called to do similar things – to respond to God’s love; to serve God’s children with the one true faith regardless of family, friends, and the anti-Catholicism of the community and culture and power brokers.

Many – almost all - Catholics lived a full life in 18th century Vietnam. John Dat could have chosen to do the same. He chose instead to stand out. To stand up.

In addition to God’s love, how did his family and friends, community of Catholics, support this almost unimaginable response to God’s call? The support he was given put these Catholics (and, likely nonCatholics) at risk as well. More evidence of the Hand of God. More lessons for our being better Catholics.

What forty words would you write about John Dat? About yourself?

AMDG
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Mark, bishop of Jerusalem d. 156

2011-10-21T13:17:00.000-04:00

Good Morning

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St Mark d. 156
October 22

Mark, sixteenth bishop of Jerusalem, was the first bishop of Jerusalem not of Jewish descent.

Being the bishop of Jerusalem during the first couple of centuries AD was hazardous to your health. The Apostle James and his brother Simeon were the first two. Mark’s immediate predecessor, Judas, was among the Christians massacred in 134 by Barchokebas.

About that time, Emperor Adrian leveled the old Jerusalem and built a city down the road as the new capital but forbade Jews from living there. Mark was chosen by the Gentiles to govern our Church in this new Jerusalem.

Mark was a very learned and holy man. He was bishop for twenty years. He died a martyr in 156.

AMDG
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Pope John Paul II, d 2005 b. 1920

2011-10-21T13:02:00.000-04:00

Good Morning

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John Paul II d. 2005 b. 1920
October 22

The man is a modern hero. Poet. Thesbian. Theologian. Skier. Anti-Communist. Saint.

The Diocese of Nashville named its new high school (its second) after him before he died. The effect of his holiness and inspiration reached into the tiny community of catholics in middle tennessee. The other high school in the diocese is named for a bishop of the diocese. Before 1992, there was a high probability that John and Thommy would go to one or the other of these high schools; likely one to one and one to the other as was their familial development pre-1990.

Karol Wojtyla was elected Pope 10/1978, a mere 33 days after JPI was elected. The Popes of my lifetime, my personally remembered lifetime, make for a Robert Ludlum novel qua history. John XXIII, Paul VI, JPI, JPII, Benedict XVI. I know I knew of Pius XII sometime during my life but I have no memories of him today.

John Paul II, born in Cracow, Poland, May 18, 1920. In the eighth grade I did a history paper on Poland – a Catholic Country; 95% active Catholics. Being Catholic in Portland, Maine was relatively rare and often associated with the (doubly) unwanted French Canadians in the community.

He made his First Holy Communion at age 9 and was confirmed at 18. Nine years from first communion to confirmation in the 1930’s Poland. At St Paul’s parish, second graders, 8/9ish, receive first communion; eighth graders are brought to confirmation. Would it be better to wait longer? My confirmation was fifth grade at Sacred Heart in Portland after first grade first holy communion. Do we need a universal practice for these sacraments of initiation? Our practice for each of the three sacraments of initiation has evolved and varied since the beginning. Is this not best left to the Bishop? Or, better, the parents?

Well, not the parents exclusively: even as Domestic Church. These sacraments are an initiation into The Church. The decision should be aligned: Pope – Bishop – Parents.

Karol Wojtyla went from high school to university – not seminary but a school for drama! Wouldn’t it be inspiring to know how this saint’s holiness evolved? We should have that information. Parents’ letters? His own writings? Biographers who got a chance to talk to people who knew him.

In 1942, aware of his call to the priesthood, he began courses in the clandestine seminary of Cracow, run by Cardinal Adam Stefan Sapieha, archbishop of Cracow. At the same time, Karol Wojtyla was one of the pioneers of the "Rhapsodic Theatre," also clandestine.

What about John Paul’s life makes the clandestineness of his early twenties important to us today? To his vocation? To his subsequent life. Certainly, his papacy was one of visible father for us all.

Ordained in 1946 in Cracow. How much of JPII’s life at 26 was Church and how much was Polish-war? Being clandestine at 22, I bet, helped him survive, thrive in wartime eastern Europe as a priest of great promise.

JPII did his doctoral thesis on the weeks John of the Cross. I wonder if Jim Kinn’s interest in John of the Cross had anything to do with JPII? John of the Cross is a mystic worth the effort to read him, to pray with him, to find a contemplative place with him.

The CatholicOnline bio mentions his guidance by Cardinal Sapiehak then mentoring by the French Dominican, Garrigou-Lagrange. It does matter into whose hands you place yourself. Do not believe it is only chance that brought the people who are in your life. Choose wisely. First, choose to be guided. Second, choose the kind of people like JPII did.

AMDG
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Oct 21 Domestic Violence Coalition

2011-10-21T11:58:00.000-04:00

Good Morning

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Three months hiatus? That’s a story for another time, other media – see fictional autobiography and correspondence with brother and father.

I am grateful for the continuing hits on the blog. I apologize for disappointing anyone who was looking for more from me.

This morning I read NCR article about the Interfaith Domestic Violence Coalition. If you are not contributing time, talent, or treasure to their cause, get on with it! If you are, I request that you give more.

NCRonline published my brief reply to IDVCs efforts as reported in their article. The Interfaith Domestic Violence Coalition identifies training and education of clergy, religious leaders, and small faith communities to better respond to victims of domestic violence. Amen to that! I am sad that they believe that their time is best spent by meeting monthly to discuss and promote federal (state and/or local) legislation as an important source for the solution for their cause. Sure, it'd be great to get more Government money. NOT! Because, with the money comes government regulations and values which are, explicitly these days, anti-religious. Please, come directly to your friends in faith for the additional support you want.

NCR asked for a website as part of my submission. I put saintsandsons into the blank. Then I checked my blog. I figure I owe anyone who might check this website because of today's reply to NCR more than pre-August 2011. This is a start; restart; one day at a time.

AMDG
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John and Beningus d. 707 #5 p 7-20

2011-07-28T08:29:00.003-04:00

Good Morning
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July 21

John and Benignus d. 707

Twin Benedictine monks of Moyenmoutier. They were trained by St. Hiduiphus (Feastday, June 23rd, also d. 707).

Hiduiphus was a monastic founder and husband of St. Aye. He was the count of Hainault, in Belgium, and a courtier in the royal household of Austrasia. When St. Aye entered a convent, Hiduiphus became a monk at Lobbes Abbey, Belgium, which he had co-founded.

John and Thom, not twins but, at one time anyway, world’s best brothers.

It does matter by whom you are trained. If you were raised Catholic after 1994 you’d have had a better chance of getting a better and Catholic training and education.

I wonder why the spouses Hiduiphus and Aye were distinguished to be sainted. They apparently had a marriage that was unusual not only compared to our times but to their own. Aye decides to enter a convent? Did she decide or was there something else involved? When she cut out of the marriage to enter a convent, Hiduiphus founded a monastery. Would that your parents split in such a holy fashion.

Ora pro nobis.

AMDG

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July 20 John of Pulsano d. 1139 #4 p 7-20-11

2011-07-27T10:02:00.000-04:00

Good Morning
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Take a look at my entry written on 7-21-08. Not much has changed for me since then – except the inertia of atrophy.

It’s July and it’s hot and humid. My two two-mile walks got my sweat glands pumping. I’m a sweater. That seems to be more common with age or with lethargy and/or with heatandhumidity. I’ve also picked up some new pains. Why are my middle digit on both hands and both feet routinely painful. There’s an absence of flexibility but my fingers and toes get more normal [not the new normal] with flexing and squeezing a Spalding. Then there’re the ravages of gravity that easily wins over the absence of adequate exercise, especially strength exercise. [And with all the time on my hands – moreso on my tush – I should be exercising and countervailing gravity and atrophy. ‘Should be’ – with all due deference to Albert Ellis – should be enough to get me off my tush. Alas, not yet so. Ora pro me.

July 20

John of Pulsano d. 1139

Born in Matera in the Kingdom of Naples, he entered the Benedictines near Taranto. Twelfth century Catholicism: Naples: Benedictines. Putting this man into context vis a vis Church, Faith, St. Benedict, and the Kingdom of Naples assumes that you should know enough about all of these from your education and from your personal study.

[One of the tenets of Ignatian Spirituality and Cursillo is personal study. Daily increments of knowledge to solidify your foundation of faith and the framework of religion.]

We got Catholic History in Catholic grammar school – including some biography of great saints like Benedict. Of course, I got plenty of Church History in Cheverus H.S., especially Jesuit History, some of which was naturally important as a contrast to the Benedictines et al.

My favorite history course ever, History of the Western World, was taught at Fairfield University in the summer of 1968. Much of the History of the Western World is Church History. Most of my study of Church History since then has been via biographies, mostly biographies of the saints.

John of Pulsano was disliked because of his austerities. Think about this a second. John of Pulsano’s “austerities” were extreme compared by his brethren at Taranto to the ‘normal’ Benedictine habits of the day. Read Benedict’s rules, they are a meditation and exhortation worthy of adoption by us normal people. In modern view, they are ‘extreme’. John of Pulsano took Benedit’s rules to heart and to an ‘extreme’.

So, the Beneditine monks of Taranto did not like John of Pulsano because he lived the Benedictine Rule in such a way as to, shall we say, put them to shame. His expectations of himself, might we say, made the other monks feel uncomfortable? Inadequate? Whatever.

They looked at how John of Pulsano lived his Benedictine vows and disliked him. It seems to me that such living is worthy of being disliked: such living should make others uncomfortable. Would not that be a good thing for them?

John Pulsano then joined the community of St. William of Vercelli (1085-1142) for a time.

[About 1119, William of Vercelli had attracted so many followers that a monastery was built on Monte Vergine under the rule of St. Benedict known as the Hermits of Monte Vergine (Williamites). William of Vercelli’s austere rule was obviously an attraction for John of Pulsano. The austerity of William’s rule led to dissension among his monks. To restore peace, William of Vercelli left under the protection of Roger I of Naples who built a monastery for him near Salerno.

William of Vercelli founded monasteries – with austere Benedictine rule – throughout Naples. It seems to me that a leader is best when he has followers simpatico with his ‘rule’. One attracts similar people by one’s modus vivandi. When there is dissension among the followers, it seems to me that the more austere are the ones who leave to begin again. Partially the story of my ‘abbot’ career.]

John of Pulsano left William of Vercelli’s monastery to preach at Ban.

John of Pulsano spent time as a hermit in Sicily, where he was imprisoned (The reason for which I did not look for this time either.).

John of Pulsano escaped from prison in Sicily and went to Capua.

In his later years, John founded a monastery at Pulsano.

John of Pulsano kept moving – looking for better opportunities, finding a better fit for his modus vivandi, being ‘fired’, imprisoned, retreating into hermitville. A lifetime on the move. How much did John of Pulsano change? He was famous for preaching, prophecy, and miracles.

I project no small part of my life onto this saint’s moving around. NO, I am not famous for anything – tho, I do preach ok, I am prophetic in an OT sort of way, and, in a few small instances, I’ve been around when a miracle occurred. I doubt if I’ve gotten better with time. But, a tad wiser – maybe too late. Still, I am given adequate time to do whatever it is I’ve been put here to do. And I am still here. Please pray for me so that I do something approximating what is the will of God for me.

7-21-08

When you are at the peak of your game, when your personal and professional discipline are at the best and getting better, then it will not be unlikely for you to be the odd man out.

Lead or follow but always be true to your vocation, God’s will, God’s calling you in our faith and family….

AMDG

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July 15 bl John Fernandez, S.J. d. 1570 #3 p 7-20-11

2011-07-27T09:59:00.002-04:00

Good Morning:
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July 15

Bl John Fernandez, S.J. d. 1570

I found this reference while perusing Saints and Angels’ daily calendar. I looked up John Fernandez in Joseph Tylenda’s Jesuit Saints and Martyrs to get more than the three sentence version. I did not get any more on John Fernandez but there is a longer blurb about the efforts of Bl Ignatius de Azevedo’s efforts to evangelize Brazil.

Fr. Azevedo was born in 1526, joined the Jesuits in 1548, and was ordained in 1553. In 1565, Fr Azevedo was the procurator for India and Brazil – probably because the source for Jesuit missionaries for these places was the Ibernian peninsula. Having undertaken a two plus year review of the efforts in Brazil, in 15769, Fr. Azevedo reported to the Jesuit Father General, Francis Borgia [a biggie among Jesuit saints], that the mission was thriving but was in need of more men.

Fr. Borgia sent Fr. Azevedo to recruit missionaries from among the Jesuits in Spain and Portugal. [Remember the sixteenth century colonization and exploration efforts of these two powerful countries. The Jesuits were supported by the States as well as the Church in their evangelization forays – for obvious reasons.]

Fr. Azevedo recruited seventy men – few were priests; most were scholastics and novices, some in their first weeks of novitiate. In 1967, if a Fr. Azevedo type came to Shadowbrook to recruit missionaries for the Jesuits, no doubt many of the novices and scholastics there would have jumped in with both feet. If being ‘unable’ to speak another language was not a barrier to traipsing off with the Church’s marines, I would probably have volunteered.

I remember how gung-ho we all were in our initial moments of expressing our vocation, tentatively confirmed by being accepted into the novitiate and given our very own Jesuit cassock. I wonder how many of the priests at Shadowbrook would have said yes to such an invitation. Being wiser and more prone to proper discernment, I bet, like in 1769, few would have gone. Each must be true to his own calling – and not cast aspersions upon others’ choices.

Fr. Azevedo gave his recruits five months of training before they got passage with a convoy of ships headed to Brazil, including one carrying the new Portuguese governor of the colony. Fr. Azevedo and 43 recruits were on the Santiago. They left Lisbon June 5, 1570.

First stop, Madeira on June 12th. They stayed in port until the end of the month.

Next stop, Canary Islands. Rumor had it, the waters were infested with French Corsairs. The governor decided to wait for safer waters. However, the captain of the Santiago had important cargo and decided head on. Fr. Azevedo told his recruits the dangers; a few decided to change ships.

On its way toward La Palma in the Canaries, the Santiago encountered pirate ships under the command of the French Huguenot, Jacques Souri. The Santiago’s crew took up arms. The Jesuits did one of three things: took over the crew’s regular duties, gathered on deck with Fr. Azevedo to pray, or went into the hold to pray. The corsairs easily came along side of the Santiago, boarded her, and overcame any resistance.

When the Huguenots saw Fr. Azevedo standing on deck holding a painting of the Virgin Mary, they directed their hatred toward him - - you have to recall the enmity between the Huguenots and the Catholics, between the French and the Portuguese and Spanish; all of which would be heightened in conflict at sea and upon seeing the Catholic priest standing before them saying: “You are my witness, I am dying for the Catholic faith and the Holy Roman Church.” The Huguenots gladly accommodated him.

The Huguenots then slaughtered and threw overboard the other Jesuits: one of whom was the Santiago’s captain’s nephew who asked permission to join the Jesuits upon his experience with them on this journey – when the Huguenots came down into the hold, this John put on a cassock and was martyred with the others

How do we know all this about the actual slaughter of the Jesuits for our faith by the Huguenots? John Sanchez was spared martyrdom because the pirates needed a cook and pressed him into their service. When the pirates docked at the Huguenot stronghold in the corsairs’ home port, John Sanchez escaped and made his way back to Portugal.

John Fernandez is a Jesuit martyr who died with Blessed Ignatius de Azevedo and companions. Born at Braga about 1547, Portugal, he entered the Jesuits June 1569, and soon thereafter set out with the other Jesuits for Brazil. They were all slain by the Huguenot captain of the ship near the Canary Islands.

Pope Pius IX beatified these martyrs in 1854. I wonder what made this the time for the beatification of Jesuits/Portuguese/Spanish/New World missionaries? What story did these men tell to the Church in the late nineteenth century? To Pius IX? To the Jesuits reconstituted? To their homelands? To their missionary lands?

The Jesuits celebrate the martyrdom of these ‘Brazilian Martyrs’ on January 19.

AMDG

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July 14 William Breteuil d. 1130 #2 post 7-20-11

2011-07-21T12:51:00.000-04:00

Good Morning
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The Yankees won today after losing two to Toronto. We’re still one game down in the loss column to the Red Sox but appear to be a lock for the wild card if not the division championship. Today, we have the third best record in the majors.

The Sox are on ESPN now as I put on a grilled cheese. Time for a break from writing.

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I had an idea for the ‘children’s liturgy of the word’ and emailed the lady leader of that ‘ministry’. It took a few days to get a response suggesting a time to meet before she went off on vacation; but I could not accommodate. I emailed and said I’d call back upon her return. Her return to my call came several days later. I agreed to meet between Masses on Sunday and said to call me back if she could not make that time, which was the time she’d suggested the first time. [not the smartest message.] I waited the entire hour. About ten minutes before the next Mass I saw her daughters and husband arrive. I saw her hustle into church right at the start of Mass. We did not get to meet. I have not heard back from her. I’ll take it as a sign. Oh well….

Poverty makes the world smaller. Debt squeezes that tiny space.

July 14

William Breteuil d. 1130

Benedictine abbot of Breteuil, near Beauvais, France. He rebuilt the monastery after it had been nearly destroyed by the Normans.

William saints are not uncommonly abbots. Those of us with that name should learn what it means to be an abbot. Moreso, what it takes to become, to be selected to be, an abbot. Servant leader par excellance.

Metaphorically, my dearest William-sons (boys), your 'Norman' destroyed your monastery. It is up to you to rebuild it. Like William of Breteuil, it will take your prayers, it will require your relationship with God and Church to be renewed, it will also require others to help carry the stones, to help hew the rocks, to help make the windows; not to mention the support of family [those within the Monastery] with faith and Church. Oro pro te.

AMDG
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return of sorts - Bl Kateri Tekawitha July 14

2011-07-20T12:15:00.001-04:00

07-16-11
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I return to my saints and sons blogging after five month’s hiatus from regular submissions.

My thanks to those who have taken a minute or two to read my muddlings.

My apologies to those who were expecting me to be more persistent in my almost daily additions.

Up until today, my entries to this blog were specifically and purposively addressed to my sons. [Alas, the name of this blog: saintsandsons – the day’s saint(s) eliciting a message from dad to sons.]

I pick up my writing in response to the day’s saint(s), still addressed to Jack and Thom but to these names as my projection of my feeloughts of sons, not necessarily to particular persons; i.e., to help me be in a framework of having an audience qua sons. No doubt, I will slide into feeloughts about these particular boys (yes, at 24 and 22 they are still boys) [see, I just did it.]. I ask your forgiveness for anything that you experience as negative to them in particular. These writings are about me; for me; by me – selfish me blogosphering out from my dwindling world. Ora pro me.

Of course, in reference to the saints, my sources are Angels and Saints, the Catholic Encyclopedia, Butler, et al. from my googling and the myriad of saint books around my abode. I’m not going to use quote marks – in part out of laziness but also not inconsistent with all the other writers who are writing the exact same passages without quotes. I assume the primary source for the lives of the saints in their much abridged form would be the Acta. Would that I read Latin or that all of the saints’ Acta were translated into English.

Videbimus.

Ora pro me.

July 14

Bl Kateri Tekawitha
b. 1656 d. April 17, 1680 (24 years old!)

Kateri is Anglicized Catherine, my mother’s name. I have no doubt that my mother would have a devotion to this blessed were she to have learned about her here on earth. This woman should be part of any anthology of heroic women.

Kateri was born near the town of Auriesville, New York, in the year 1656, the daughter of a Mohawk warrior. 1656? How’s your mid seventeenth century American history? How well do you know what was happening in the Hudson River valley during the last half of the seventeenth century? Indians. French, Dutch, and English settlers. Catholic missionaries. All of that background helps understand the heroism and sanctity of this woman.

I wonder if every Mohawk man were also a warrior? It does matter whether one’s father is a warrior or not. My father was a sailor in WWII – one of the Greatest Generation: a service about which he has rarely spoken. My brother flew in Air Force fighter jets to defend us and our country: a service about which he has said more than my father about his but that’s not saying much.

A warrior is a very different father than a man who is not a warrior. The child’s place in the family and the tribe/clan/community is also affected by the fact that her father is a warrior. There is a big difference when your father goes off to work at the local hospital and you can easily and reasonably expect him to be home for dinner versus when he leaves in the morning to be a jockey in a fighter jet or on a warship and he may not return for months, if at all. There is pride in having a warrior-father. There is also trepidation attenuated by faith, hope, and love.

Kateri’s mother was a Christian Algonquin who had been captured by the Iroquois and saved from a captive's fate by the father of Tekakwitha, to whom she also bore a son. When Tekakwitha was about four years old, her parents and brother died of small-pox, and the child was adopted by her aunts and a uncle who had become chief of the Turtle clan.

Kateri was four years old when her mother died of smallpox. The disease also attacked Kateri and transfigured her face. The only disfiguration I have from smallpox is the mark on my arm up near the shoulder from the immunization. But I have seen the pox-marks caused to victims of smallpox; it’s damn ugly. For Kateri, imagine the combination of losing your mother and being disfigured for life with the reminder of the disease that took her away. Simplify it – try if you can (I can’t) to imagine being a four year old girl, daughter of a warrior father who you’d barely known as the one who went out defending your tribe and coming home with food when he’s been especially skillful or lucky, a four year old girl toddling around the tribe’s camp without your parents!

How does a four year old deal with such a loss? What did she learn from her parents? From her tribe? At four years old, Kateri was adopted by her two aunts and an uncle.

It does take a village! Well, it does take an extended family. We are not here alone – from birth through childhood and old age to dying – and we need our family, we depend on having one another.

[Thus, those parents who do not properly take care of their children are excoriated. Let’s flip that around. Parents who raise their children with love are blessed: as are their children. Siblings who care for one another are blessed. My brother is the best brother in all the world! I have always admired how my father and his siblings love one another and each other’s children. I think we cousins have followed in that model fairly well. Those children who take good care of their aged parents are also blessed. Honor your father and your mother does not have an expiration date. Alas, were my boys also my sons, so far I would be extremely disappointed. Maybe less than they are of me qua father. That is not to say that I am a hotshot son myself. Ora pro nobis.]

As a child, Kateri would circle the cornfield praying the Hail Mary, a prayer her mother taught her. Kateri’s uncle was also the tribal chieftan. The Chief opposed, as he must have as the chief, the new Christianity that infiltrated his tribe and infected his niece.

In 1667 the Jesuit missionaries Fremin, Bruyas, and Pierron, accompanying the Mohawk deputies who had been to Quebec to conclude peace with the French, spent three days in the lodge of Tekakwitha's uncle. From them she received her first knowledge of Christianity, but although she forthwith eagerly accepted it in her heart she did not at that time ask to be baptized. Some time later the Turtle clan moved to the north bank of the Mohawk River, the "castle" being built above what is now the town of Fonda. Here in the midst of scenes of carnage, debauchery, and idolatrous frenzy Tekakwitha lived a life of remarkable virtue, at heart not only a Christian but a Christian virgin, for she firmly and often, with great risk to herself, resisted all efforts to induce her to marry.

Kateri became converted as a teenager. Kateri was baptized at the age of twenty and incurred the great hostility of her tribe. I was baptized as an infant. Thus, my ‘conversion’ was mostly my journey of faith. A faith planted at inception and nourished in an Irish Catholic family – mother, father, all my extended families. My faith was further nourished by Catholic Schools, even when we lived in very non-Catholic Portland Maine.

[Thus it might be easier to be understanding of my boys’ unconversion. Their being ripped from my life at an early age, they continued to have the pro forma Catholicism of their mother as well as excellent Catholic schools through eighth grade. Unfortunately, their pfcm raised them with non/anti Catholic caregivers. In the non-Catholic/AntiCatholic cities of Nashville and Greensboro, their mother not only went non-Catholic again (her third plus change in religion/lack thereof) but she also sent them to an anti-Catholic/antiReligions high school wherein they incurred the great hostility of her tribe and that of the school community. As much as their mother is responsible for these tragedies, the boys have their piece of the action as well. I pray to St Monica, as well as my great aunt Monica for their re-conversion to the one True Faith. Once a Catholic, Always a Catholic. Closing one’s eyes and sticking one’s fingers in one’s ears does not change one iota of Truth.]

When she was eighteen, Father Jacques de Lamberville arrived to take charge of the mission which included the Turtle clan, and from him, at her earnest request, Tekakwitha received baptism. Thenceforth she practiced her religion unflinchingly in the face of almost unbearable opposition, till finally her uncle's lodge ceased to be a place of protection to her and she was assisted by some Christian Indians to escape to Caughnawaga on the St. Laurence.

[It is possible and expected for each of us to be unflinching in our faith and religion in the face of almost unbearable opposition.]

Here she lived in the cabin of Anastasia Tegonhatsihonga, a Christian Indian woman, her extraordinary sanctity impressing not only her own people but the French and the missionaries. Her mortifications were extreme, and Chauchtiere says that she had attained the most perfect union with God in prayer.

[Find for yourself the proper Catholic home/community in which you can live the sanctity available to you.]

How does a teenager convert? At eighteen in 1674, Kateri was a woman in her society. She, unlike teens today, or even today’s college students, made an adult decision. She made the decision to reject the religion of the tribe and the tribe excoriated her. Kateri persisted in The Faith.

No doubt my mother, Catherine, had many challenges to her faith – growing up sans father, in the depression, through the war, with her marriage and children, post divorce and annulment. I have less than no doubt that she embraced her faith, our faith, throughout those trials and tribulations.

[The boys’ being cut off from my family, my mother, my aunts and uncles and cousins was an act of purposeful detriment for them. Were they not cut off from family and faith they would be much better off vis a vis faith, Church, and religion today. Rejecting God and leaving The Church to imitate one’s mother or accommodate one’s schoolmates is a perilous choice. However, Augustine and Monica et al. prove to us there is much hope for their redemption.]

Although Kateri had to suffer greatly for her Faith, she remained firm in it. Kateri went to the new Christian colony of Indians in Canada.

[Unfortunately, my boys had an opposite experience and so far an opposite outcome. They were not brought to a Catholic community. Their unconverted mother took them to an anti-Catholic community and put them in an anti-Catholic school and home. Alas, they are young and have the time necessary to remake the right decisions.]

When one suffers, period, a community of faith is necessary to not only offer up the suffering but to also shore up one’s beliefs in the One True God of Love and His Church.

In the Canadian Catholic Community, Kateri lived a life dedicated to prayer, penitential practices, and care for the sick and aged. The new faith community nurtured Kateri’s faith and devotions and piety as well as her decision to not marry. This is how one person lives a daily Catholic life. Let us often ask Blessed Kateri, as well as my mother, Catherine, to pray for us to live our faith more like they did.

Every morning, even in bitterest winter, Kateri stood before the chapel door until it opened at four and remained there until after the last Mass. She was devoted to the Eucharist and to Jesus Crucified.

I have had multiple periods in my life when daily Mass was a routine. Going to the first Mass was one way to get me out of bed in the morning. Each hour I spent at Mass, every minute I was in church, the less likely I was to be doing something wrong during that time – plus getting some residual benefits.

Bitterest winter? How about Portland Maine walking from Alba Street to St Patrick’s Church? After having walked a morning paper route that took me almost that far and before trudging on to Cheverus H.S. Or the morning Mass in Columbus, OH. It wasn’t a matter of snow and cold: getting out of bed is my challenge.
A devotion? Find a greater purpose for one’s life. Give over oneself to the greater good.

Kateri apparently had not only great devotions but also a balance within them. Jesus Crucified? The Crucifix to help the imagery and the focus. A large swatch of my Ignatian spirituality includes a devotion to Jesus Crucified.

To a devotion to the crucifix, Kateri also had a devotion to the Eucharist. The real presence of Jesus. To Jesus feeding us His Bread of Life. We all must find our devotions to not only express our Love of Jesus but to also nurture and sustain that love.

Kateri died on April 17, 1680 at the age of twenty-four. She is known as the "Lily of the Mohawks".

Kateri was declared venerable by the Catholic Church in 1943 and she was Beatified in 1980. Bl. Kateri Teckakwitha is the first Native American to be declared a Blessed.

Blessed Kateri is the patroness of the environment and ecology as is St. Francis of Assisi.

AMDG,

wtn
(1636)

Mar 25, 2011 letter to editor

2011-03-25T12:32:00.000-04:00

In the March 23, 2011 News-Record op ed “public radio provides ‘sense of place,’” the general manager of listener sponsored, Wake Forest University owned WFDD pleaded her case for continued tax payer funding for NPR. Tax payers should not be asked to pay for a ‘sense of place’ at a privately owned radio station.

The manager’s own numbers make the case for defunding “public radio”. In the fall of 2010, WFDD had 92,000 listeners: less than 4% of their service area’s population.

Defunding NPR would cost WFDD $171,000 per year. Let their few listeners pony up the $1.86 more per listener per year to make up the loss from tax payers. Or, cut this ten percent of their operating costs.

The manager states that public radio’s technological and programmatic interconnectivity is so fragile that this loss from taxpayers to WFDD is “the equivalent of removing a weight bearing wall” from a house.

Business with few consumers that cannot cut 10% of its costs or raise $1.86 per year per customer is a straw house built on sand.

Defund NPR. Let public radio rebuild its house with brick on a rock foundation: fundamental capitalism not an entitlement to a sense of place.

Ash Wednesday 2011 begins

2011-03-09T09:34:00.000-05:00

Jack and Thom,
Good Morning, I love you
110309, 0957

Ash Wednesday, 2011. I woke up at 0445, having slept through the alarms at 0415 and 0430. Still, that left me plenty of time to get to 0645 Mass and be the second reader. Next thing I knew, it was 0607. Speed showering should be an Olympic sport!

I listen to Mike and Mike in the morning and can keep time with them fairly easily. In and out of the shower. Sport coat and tie for the reader role. Out the door at 0623.

It’s six miles to St Paul’s. Speed limit is 35. There is light traffic at 0635ish but there was enough traffic for me to have to wait at the end of our driveway – for traffic from the left and a car from the right before I burst out in front of the next car coming from the right. There’s the redlight at Old Battleground. Another redlight at Battleground. Short stops at each, the clock ticking. The next two lights are right turns – being out in front of the short traffic line, I sprinted from light to light. Even with a mustang, maxing speed on a city street, for stretches of about a half mile, how much can be ‘cut’ from a 12 minute drive?

I pulled into the St Paul parking lot at 0636 on the radio clock. There were maybe ten cars there. I was there way ahead of the congregation that would more than half fill the church by 0650. But, as reader, I’m suppose to be there early enough for the liturgical coordinator to know all the spots are covered. I was there before the second reader. (The other reader, marine sergeant was unloading his three children (2 to 5) from their suv when I was walking crossing the parking lot.)

We did our pre-Mass clarification of roles between we ‘extraordinary ministers’ (v. deacon and priest). I was comfortably in my seat reading for the umpteenth time today’s excerpt from 2nd Corinthians. Our pastor has a way of moving through the Mass with a speedy fluidity. He’s like a bowling ball rolling downhill. … The marine did he reading. He lead the responsorial psalm. He stepped back from the ambo. Did the short pause thingy. As he stepped toward the stairs off the altar area, I stood up. Our priest also stood up and whisked across the altar to the altar on his way to the ambo. Father rolled right into the Gospel.

After Mass our liturgical coordinator nudged me out of my rosary meditation to explain to me that Father thought the marine had done the two readings. Oh? How does that happen? How did he not know that the ‘second reading’ was the Responsorial Psalm and not the reading from Corinthians? First, the priest is focused. He’s got a rhythm for the Mass. He really doesn’t have to listen to the words – or even the reader’s lead and people’s response of the psalm. Second, his sermon was drawn totally from the Gospel. The other (three) readings were irrelevant to his role this morning. [Not to mention that one of the prayers of the faithful picked up one of the key lines from the Epistle.]

Oh well. Father did a comedic mea culpa re: cutting me off from the reading. I’m sure he’ll restrain his impulse to get on with it for the other Masses today.

Oh well. I did my part. Plus, I had the blessing of spending a week with the reading. We are ambassadors of Christ. Be reconciled with God. He made him sin who did not know sin. Do not receive the grace of God in vain. In an acceptable time I heard you. On the day of salvation I helped you. This is a very acceptable time. This is the day of salvation. Amen.

The rest of today is getting ahead on my faith formation classes and project preparation. I Then get ready for the weekend. All the while, fulfilling today’s fast and abstinence expectations – of me for me beyond the modern era relaxed rules. That on top of yesterday’s beginning of the process. One bagel for breakfast. A few cups of coffee while I was immersed in the laptop.

Til soon,
I love you
Dad
0931

March 6 Fridolin d. 540

2011-03-08T14:38:00.000-05:00

Thom and Jack,
Good Morning, I love you
110308, 1413

With too much time not doing what I’m suppose to do, I might as well get the saints part of this caught up past today. After Fridolin, the next saint meeting my criterion is the 12th. I’ll knock off past this weekend before this weekend. From Baltimore I’m on my way to Chincoteague for a ‘same time next year’ experience that’s more a ‘same time next century’ opportunity. Videbimus.

March 6

Fridolin d. 540

Fridolin was a Benedictine abbot, an Irishman venerated as “the Apostle of the Upper Rhine.”

Fridolin traveled to France and settled in Poitiers, rebuilding the monastery of St. Hilary which had been destroyed by Vandals.

Fridolin then became a hermit on the Rhine. There Fridolin built the abbey of Sackingen.

< Another example of doing the hermit thing before setting out to serve God in community. >

Fridolin was called “the Wanderer’ because of his many evangelizing trips in the region.

< Growing up we had the FBI priests – our foreign born Irish, the overflow of Irish priests. Today, the state of the Church in Ireland saddens us all. Ora pro nobis. >

Catholicencyclopedia online

In accordance with a later tradition, St. Fridolin is venerated as the first Irish missionary who laboured among the Alamanni on the Upper Rhine, in the time of the Merovingians.

< Of course it was easy in the sixth century, to be the first to evangelize an area. However, today, you always have the chance to be the first to evangelize among your friends and much of your family. Evangelize by living a Catholic life as well as preaching what you practice. >

Fridolin belonged to a noble family in Ireland (Scottia inferior), and at first laboured as a missionary in his native land.

< The Apostles of Ireland evangelized clans from the top down. Their persuasive powers as well as the appeal of Christianity to the Celts is proved by the number of nobles who became priests in this new religion. >

< To go first to your native land is a high risk endeavor. Being a prophet in your own land carries its challenges. But. That’s what we’re called to do. To evangelize with our lives. When you live under your mother’s apron, that’s the place you get to demonstrate Truth. >

Afterwards crossing to France, Fridolin came to Poitiers, where in answer to a vision, he sought out the relics of St. Hilarius, and built a church for their reception.

< Whether we’re blessed with a vision or simply discernment, pray that you will see what God is calling you to do. Find His will in your life through prayer and spiritual guidance. >

St. Hilarius subsequently appeared to him in a dream, and commanded him to proceed to an island in the Rhine, in the territories of the Alamanni. In obedience to this summons, Fridolin repaired to the "Emperor" Clovis, who granted him possession of the still unknown island, and thence proceeded through Helion, Strasburg, and Coire, founding churches in every district in honour of St. Hilarius.

Reaching at last the island of Säckingen in the Rhine, he recognized in it the island indicated in the dream, and prepared to build a church there. The inhabitants of the banks of the Rhine, however, who used the island as a pasturage for their cattle, mistook Fridolin for a cattle-robber and expelled him.

< Expect it to be a common experience that when you live your Catholicism that you will be seen as a ‘cattle-robber’ – someone who is a threat to the essential false beliefs of those around you. >

On Friodlin’s production of Clovis's deed of gift, he was allowed to return, and to found a church and monastery on the island.

Fridolin then resumed his missionary labours, founded the Scottish monastery in Constance, and extended his mission to Augsburg.

Fridolin died on 6 March, and was buried at Säckingen.

And yet….

Not a single ancient author mentions Fridolin, the life has no proper historical chronological arrangement, and the enumeration of so many wonders and visions awakens distrust.

Consequently, most modern historians justly reject the life as unauthentic, and as having no historical foundation for the facts recorded, while the older historians believed that it contained a germ of truth.

So, we learn from the oral traditions of our bards and seanachie’s and druids and priests and ….

I love you,
Dad
1435

News-Record front page article: Brain injury made Summers impulsive, defense says

2011-03-08T13:47:00.000-05:00

Jack and Thom,
Good Morning, I love you
110308, 1344

Read today's paper and the blog Doug Clark wrote about it. Then, see the comment/response I made that Mr. Clark posted -

RE: Jennifer Fernandez March 8, 2011 article ‘brain injury made summers impulsive, defense says.’

Psychiatric analysis injected into the determination of a person’s criminal guilt or innocence is a volatile mix of intellectual integrity and emotional reactivity.

Caveat: I, of course, did not see nor read the testimony in this trial. However, my career in psychology and psychiatric hospital management has more than once immersed me in the vortex that is the criminal prosecution of brutal crimes.

The psychiatric testimony reported in this case would exonerate most criminals. The logic argues backwards from the person’s actions to causal attribution to a psychiatric disorder. The statement that “'normal brains and normal minds don’t do these things” is both a tautology and an oxymoron.

This approach would then argue that every person who has had head trauma (do you remember all the times you’ve bumped your head?), has learning disabilities, experienced epileptic seizures, abused alcohol, been abused as a child, and/or lived in foster care are out there committing violent crimes.

Besides, none of these mental illnesses/challenges alleviates responsibility for our impulse control. Not one of these absolves us from knowing and acting on what is right and wrong.

I love you,
Dad
1346

p.s.
obviously, I have too much on my hand today. ora pro me.

Rep King's hearing about Muslim-American terrorists and their protectors and apologists

2011-03-08T13:41:00.001-05:00

Thom and Jack,
Good morning, I love you
110308, 1337

See the columns by Herbert in the Times and Robinson in the Post plus the Times' editorial: plus the editorial in today's Times.

One theme of their rant is that to investigate Muslim-Americans terrorists and those who do not turn them in is UnAmerican.

Here's my opinion, posted also on Mr Robinson's website.

Creating a Straw Man that we are acting as a “religious persecution - and it's un-American and wrong” does not help us eradicate radical Muslim terrorism in our homeland.

Rep. King, unlike Mr. Robinson and our ‘frisk granny’ TSA, better has our safety and security at heart. He will magnify where the terror is. He won’t let terrorists in the USA hide behind women and children and the good works of others.

We must remember that part of our Declaration of Independence where our forefathers castigated “our British brethren.” “We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity…. to disavow these usurpations [by the crown]” Today we call upon Muslim Americans to disavow the acts of Muslim terrorists.

Until we eliminate all Muslim terrorists: “We hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.” We are at war in 2011 with Muslim terrorists.

What do you think?

I love you,
Dad
1342

March 5 Kiernan the Elder d. 530

2011-03-08T13:22:00.000-05:00

Jack and Thom,
Good morning, I love you
110308, 1245

Our homilist Sunday evening – a friend of our pastor, a theology professor at Notre Dame, the Chairman of the (THE) Seminary in Nigeria – was more long winded than Msgr. S. on Saturday. He actually gave three maybe four excellent sermons in one.

I got caught up in his aside about parents as Catechists, as The Catechists. Of course, I said to myself. My teaching in our faith formation ‘program’ is simply and only as an adjunct to what the parents are doing. With any luck I contribute something that supplements and seals what they are teaching.

I also believe that our parental role qua parent-catechist is never ending. Ya think? As you become an adult, the role is supplemental to what you are doing for yourselves. It’s being part of the family, clan, church.

March 5

Kiernan d. 530

The “first born of the saints of Ireland,” sometimes listed as Kieran Saighir or the Elder.

< Isaac Jogues and companions were America’s first martyrs. Or, more precisely, the first martyrs in North America. Fr. Jogues and his Jesuit confreres came to us, went to the Indians, from France. First born of the saints of USA are Elizabeth Ann Seton, Katherine Drexel, and (soon to be canonized?), Kateri Takewitha. Three women. Two ‘Catherines.’ Remember your Grandmother always. Pray for her as well as call upon her to pray for you – which, I bet, she does anyway or because she’s not asked. >

He was a native of Ossory, and after living for a time as a hermit, he is believed to have been consecrated a bishop by St. Patrick, taking his place as the first bishop of Ossory.

< Having a period as hermit is a worthwhile ’40 days in the desert’ before assuming your ministry/service/vocation. I’m glad I had the novitiate. I wish the gifts given stuck better. Fortunately, mother church gives us lent. An annual renewal of our hermetical opportunity. >

Legends attribute remarkable miracles to Kieran.

< remarkable miracles. Redundant, ya think? Embellished by our bards and seanachie’s? duh! Imagine what it was like to be Kieran. A saint in his own right. Blessed by God with His miraculous powers. And yet, there was Patrick. Oh yeh, March 17th is coming. Erin go Braugh! >

Brigid-Undertheoak.blogspot.com I recommend you enjoy this blog of our Irish saints.

Saint Ciarán of Saighir, one of the 'twelve apostles of Ireland.’

The Twelve Apostles of Erin, who came to study at the feet of St. Finian, at Clonard, on the banks of the Boyne and Kinnegad Rivers, are said to have been St. Ciaran of Saighir (Seir-Kieran) and St. Ciaran of Clonmacnois; St. Brendan of Birr and St. Brendan of Clonfert; St. Columba of Tir-da-glasí (Terryglass) and St. Columba of Iona; St. Mobhí of Glasnevin; St. Ruadhan of Lorrha; St. Senan of Iniscathay (Scattery Island); St. Ninnidh the Saintly of Loch Erne; St. Lasserian mac Nadfraech, and St. Canice of Aghaboe.

OSSORY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

[INAUGURAL ADDRESS delivered by the RIGHT REV. DR. MORAN, Bishop of Ossory, at the first Meeting of the Ossory Archaeological Society, 7th January, 1874.]

Foremost among the subjects to engage your attention will be the lives of the patron saints of this diocese. It was thus that St. Jerome, St. Augustine, St. Cyprian, and so many other great ornaments of the Church applied themselves to record the lives of the holy men who went before them in the paths of faith ; and who will say that your labour will be fruitless whilst you preserve the memory of your fathers who enriched our country with the inheritance of divine faith, and left the bright examples of their piety to mark out for their children the paths to heaven ? Since history, as Cicero defines it, is " Magistra vitae," surely the lives of the saints must be the noblest branch of history, for they point out the heroism of Christian life, and are the most instructive school of the Gospel virtues.

The life of our chief patron, St. Kieran, leads us back to the " Preparatio Evangelica," so to say, of our nation, and to the first dawn of the Christian faith in this country.

In the mysterious ways of Providence, the first gifts of this Celtic nation were offered to the Cross of Christ upon the shores of the sister-island. When the Roman general, Maximus, withdrew his legions from Britain in 383, to win by the sword the imperial diadem of the West, its provinces were left defenceless, and became an easy prey to Irish and Pictish adventurers.

Modern research has placed it beyond the reach of controversy, that towards the close of the fourth and the commencement of the fifth century, many Irish settlements were made on the coasts of the present Cumberland and Lancashire, whilst at the same time the greater part of Wales became an Irish colony. The brave British chieftain, Cunedda, indeed, soon freed North Wales from the dominion of the intruders, but in the south the Irish continued to hold sway; and we find the son of an Irish chieftain, named Brecan, whose name still remains attached to Brecknockshire, ruling there with undisputed sovereignty from 410 to about 450.

St. Ninian was the apostle of these Irish colonists. They proved docile to the sweet yoke of Christ, and many famous monasteries sprung up amongst them, one of which, in after times, was known as "the Glastonbury of the Irish." Prince Brecan, of whom I have just spoken, is styled a saint in the Welsh Triads, and twenty-four of his children, or grandchildren, received the same honours. We should not be deceived by the title of " Apostle of the Picts," which from early times has been awarded to St. Ninian, as if that would restrict his labours to the inhabitants of North Britain, for we must hold in mind that the name given by British writers to the Irish settlers at this time was Gwddyl Ffichli, i.e., "the Gaelic Picts."

I will not discuss the merits of the various theories which have been advanced regarding the chronology of St. Kieran's life. No one at the present day will seriously maintain that he lived to an age of three hundred years, or that for one hundred and fifty years he discharged the duties of the episcopate in this island.

To me it seems sufficiently proved, that it was through the preaching of St. Palladius that our Saint, when he had attained the age of manhood, was awakened to the knowledge of Christian truth, and it seems equally certain that it was in the year 432 that he proceeded to Rome, and received there the saving waters of baptism. As we read in his ancient Life, "Kieran set out for Rome of Letha, for it was made known to him by heaven, that it was there he would receive divine instruction, and be promoted to the highest dignity, because Rome was the fountain of the faith." (MSS. British Museum, Egerton, 91).

This same ancient record further attests that he remained in Rome for thirty years, leading a life of heroic sanctity, and emulating in that corrupt capital of the decaying empire, the virtues and austerities of the fathers of the desert. How eventful were these thirty years for the Christian world! St. Sixtus III., and, after him, the Great St. Leo, ruled the Church of God. With what joyous acclamations was the news received in Rome, that the Council of Chalcedon had restored peace to Christendom!

Terror and dismay took the place of joy, when it became known that Attila, with his countless hordes of Huns, had crossed the Rhine, and vowed the destruction of the empire. And how must the degenerate citizens have trembled, whilst the venerable Pontiff, arrayed in his sacred robes, went forth from the defenceless capital to confront their merciless enemy ! But with what triumph did they welcome him, on his return from the banks of the Ticino, when his words of peace had rolled back the tide of invasion, and saved themselves from utter ruin!

It is probable that St. Kieran left Rome early in the year 461. It was in that year that Genseric, with his Vandal army, pillaged the city, and led away its noblest families into slavery, and it was only through the prayers of St. Leo that the Basilicas were honoured as inviolable sanctuaries, and that the lives of the citizens were spared.

St. Kieran received the episcopal consecration at the hands of that great Pontiff, and returning to Ireland, hastened to the territory of Eliach, where he erected for himself a cell in a dense wood, on the brink of a spring-fountain which was called Saiger. There his sanctity and miracles soon gathered a large number of disciples around him, and in the presence, and with the blessing of St. Patrick, he, in 462, laid the foundations of his great monastery, which continued for centuries a centre of learning and piety, and diffused throughout Munster and Leinster the blessings of religion.

The reader of the Saint's life will be, perhaps, surprised to find recorded in it many things performed by the badger and the wolf and other wild animals. We owe to a distinguished antiquarian among our citizens the suggestion, that these were merely the names borne by some of the religious brethren of our Saint's monastery; and this suggestion is confirmed by the fact, that similar names were at the same period familiar in the monasteries of Gaul and Italy.

The labours of St. Kieran were not confined to Ireland. He passed several years on the western coast of Britain, and, as we learn from Blight's "Churches in West Cornwall," his memory is still cherished there. Four ancient Cornish parochial churches bear his name : these are Perran-zabuloe, or St. Piran-in-the-sand ; Perran-arworthal ; Perran-uthnoe, situated near the coast opposite St. Michael's Mount, and styled in the taxation of Pope Nicholas " Ecclesia de Lanudno;" and St. Kevern, or Pieran, which in Domesday-book is called Lanachebran.

St. Kieran's holy well is also pointed out on the northern coast of Perran-zabuloe. The parish church of St. Keverne stands in the district called Meneage, which terminates at the Lizard Point, the southernmost land of England. The name Meneage is supposed to mean, in the old Cornish dialect, " the deaf stone," and the reason given for it is, that though there are several mineral veins or lodes in the district, on trial they have been found to be of no value, and hence are called deaf or useless.

Tradition tells that St. Kieran inflicted on the inhabitants, as a punishment for their irreligion, that the mineral veins of the district would be un-productive, and the old proverb is still handed down, "No metal will run within the sound of St. Kieran's bell."

Penitential austerities were the characteristic virtue of St. Kieran; though the richest gifts were made to him, all were distributed among the poor. His only meal each day was at sunset, and consisted of a little barley bread and undressed herbs. His drink was from the fountain; the bare ground was his bed; and skins and sackcloth were his only garments.

There is not in the whole range of Irish hagiology a sweeter scene than that of the Saint's death, as described in the ancient Irish documents. Knowing that the time was come for St. Kieran's repose, St. Finnian, of Clonard, hastened to be with him in his last moments ; for, although our Saint in his declining years had enrolled himself among the disciples of St. Finnian, yet it was from him that St. Finnian had learned the first lessons of heavenly wisdom.

Thirty bishops also came to Saigher, all of whom had been trained by St. Kieran in piety, and had received the sacerdotal ordination at his hands, These being assembled around him, he said to them:

" 'My brethren, pray with me to God that I may not stand alone before His judgment seat, but that His holy saints and angels may be with me ; and pray that my path unto the King may not be through darkness, and that His smile may welcome me.' And turning; to his religious; he blessed them, and bequeathed them to God and to Mochuda : he exhorted them to uphold piety, to love their monastery, and to guard themselves against the son of malediction, that their days of blessing might not be shortened." And then raising his eyes to heaven, he prophetically added : "

For a time will come when evils shall prevail, and the churches shall be demolished, and the monasteries be reduced to a wilderness, and sacred truth shall be corrupted into falsehood, and holy Baptism be tinged with corruption, and each one will seek not what is his own, but what does not belong to him."

"He then went at their head into the Regies, or church of the monastery, where he was wont to celebrate, and there at the altar he offered the holy sacrifice, and having partaken of the Body and Blood of Christ, and received the last sacrament of Extreme Unction, he asked the brethren to inter his body in a secret place, which none but themselves should know, close to the spot which was hallowed by the relics of St. Martin, and where the remains of the holy men who preceded him had been laid.

And now, having perfected his victory of abstinence and penance, and attained his triumph over the demons and the world, the choirs of angels came to meet the soul of Kieran, to give to him the greetings of heaven, and to conduct him to God. At midnight he breathed his last, but so many were the lights that burned around him, that night seemed changed into day. His remains were wrapped in precious linen, and for seven days hymns and canticles were chanted in thanksgiving to God for the mercy shown to him, and earth seemed to breathe the fragrance of heaven ; but his soul was in bliss, in the company of St. Patrick and St. Martin and the other saints of God."

I love you,
Dad
1320

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

2011-03-08T12:38:00.000-05:00

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
1234

Catherine of Siena, Patron Saint of Fire Prevention?

2011-03-06T15:31:00.001-05:00

p.s. [to letter to niece]
Why is Catherine of Siena a Patron Saint of Fire Prevention?

Try these ideas….

From the Prayers of Saint Catherine –

My Nature is Fire
(Prayer 12)

In your nature, eternal Godhead, I shall come to know my nature. And what is my nature, boundless love? It is Fire, because you are nothing but a fire of love. And you have given humankind a share in this nature, for by the fire of love you created us. And so with all other people and every created thing; you made them out of love….

A Poem of St Catherine’s -

O, abyss! 0 eternal Godhead! 0 deep sea!
What more could you have given me than the gift of your very self?
You are a fire always burning but never consuming;
you are a fire consuming in your heat all the soul's selfish love;
you are a fire lifting all chill and giving light.
In your light you have made me know your truth:
You are that light beyond all light
who gives the mind's eye supernatural light in such fullness and perfection that
you bring clarity even to the light of faith.
In that faith I see that my soul has life,
and in that light receives you who are Light…

From St Catherine’s biography –

Catherine's frustrated parents tried to marry her against her wishes. She responded by cutting off all her hair, which infuriated her parents. To discipline her, they made her the servant of the house, responsible for all the chores. She was showered with insults and humiliation, but she rejoiced at being able to serve her family, as if they were the "Holy family" of God. One day while turning the spit of the fire, she reportedly fell into ecstasy and rolled in the ashes, yet she revived unharmed….

< Unlike St Catherine, your family supports your vocation – with the understandable trepidations. But, you and St Catherine have in common the fire of your vocation. One day, you will find yourself in the bowels of a fire. May St Catherine be one of those who make sure you emerge unharmed. >

From St. Catherine’s biography

During the summer of 1370 she received a series of special manifestations of Divine mysteries, which culminated in a prolonged trance, a kind of mystical death, in which she had a vision of her being in Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven,….

< There are other similar experiences described for St Catherine’s experiences as actually being in the fires of Purgatory and Hell; and, of course, returning unscathed. I do not doubt that being in the midst of a fire is like being in hell. May St Catherine be one of those who make sure you always emerge from those times unscathed. >

110306
wtn

Mar 3 Foila 6th c.

2011-03-06T15:17:00.000-05:00

Thommy and Jack,
Good Morning, I love you
110306, 1433

Picking up from the Fergna entry….

Three priests. In the same way that there’s been a plethora of schools and parishes in my life, the number of priests who have come and gone are more numerous than I can count; many more than I remember. I hope that you have a priest or more who are (have been) important to you. And I hope that those importances are positive.

I only have two priests on my list that are in the negative column. Not, with wiser hindsight, their fault but because of my frailties. The first was the chaplain at the Newman Center when I first arrived at Alabama. He was a gazillion years old and tenaciously held onto the pre Vatican II church.

The second summer of my experiences with him led me to stop going to church. Of course it was his fault. Duh! Because he wouldn’t remove the altar rail from the chapel.

The second one, also the chaplain at the BAMA Newman Center, 1982. I blame him for the absence of pre-cana instruction and adequate due diligence. He could have prevented the non-marriage I endured. Alas, if I had done the simple questioning – did you get your annulment? – I cannot imagine how much better the world of bill Nolan would have been. You can put that priest in your negative column by proxy if you wish. Your lives would have been better if he’d done his job.

Anyway, be sure you have a priest in your life. Be sure to have a [redundantly, Catholic] spiritual adviser, too.

This week, our first readings have been Sirach, aka Ecclesiasticus. If you only take five minutes to read the Bible, flip open to Sirach. The book is full of maxims, like Proverbs, any one of which is worth a morning meditation. Then there’s the description of Wisdom [or you can read any of Andrew Greeley’s stories qua novels]. The origins and excellence of Wisdom. Divine Wisdom displayed in nature. The practice of Wisdom in our every day life.

One of the advantages of going to daily Mass is the tidbits of the Bible we get every day – and often the priest’s mini-homily enhances our reflections. Reading the readings before Mass, and formulating my own homily-to-self, is one way to have another half hour when I’m not doing something wrong. A few examples from this week:

Come to our aid, O God of the universe,
look upon us, show us the light of your mercies

< A personal prayer of petition. A worthy mantra. A morning request to start the day. Come to our aid, God. Is there anything else a guy could ask for? …. God of the Universe. Duh. A brief consideration of the Universe makes is clear that we must have a God of the Universe. The God of the Universe is our One True God. …. God, even better than Santa Claus, looks upon us, always and everywhere. Anyone with any insight whatsoever knows we need mercy. We might as well ask for it daily, at the beginning of the day, prophylactically. >

Hear the prayer of your servants,
for you are ever gracious to your people;
and lead us in the way of justice.
Thus it will be known to the very ends of the earth
that you are the eternal God.

< When we pray like this, ‘hear the prayer of your servants, for you are ever gracious to your people,’ we’re not telling God anything He doesn’t already know. It’s a reminder for ourselves. … ‘lead us in the way of justice.’ There is no one else better to follow in the way of justice. Why would we consider any second choice? … How will God be known to the ends of the earth? By how we walk in the way of justice. Just do it. >

At God’s word were his works brought into being;
they do his will as he has ordained for them.
As the rising sun is clear to all,
so the glory of the LORD fills all his works;

< Say it and it is so. Try that trick why don’t you. And, once created, are your creations doing always what you ordained? One of the sermons this week pointed out that our first parents – ole Adam and Eve – had everything. Ev. Ry. Thing. And still, they chose to separate themselves from God, to disobey Him, to act contrary to His love, to be selfish, to put themselves on the ‘I know best and I will know more’ pedestal. How much harder is it for us to love God always? … For anyone who has eyes to see, even the blind, as in the rising of the sun, the glory of the Lord fills all His works. Amen. >

Anyway, try some Sirach with breakfast. [to break the fast of your current antifaith?]

March 3

Foila 6th century

Co-patroness of Kil-Faile and Kil-Golgan parishes in Galway, Ireland, the sister of St. Colgan, 2-20
Grandma’s family tree goes to County Galway, the beautiful West of Ireland! I could put the story of Jack’s and my train ride across England and visit to Dublin. But, I’ll redo that another time.

I love you,
Dad
1508

Mar 2, Fernga d. 637

2011-03-06T15:15:00.000-05:00

Jack and Thommy,
Good Morning, I love you
110306, 1406

Sunday to Sunday writing? Well, blog writing anyway. No excuse though. There once was a goal to be a month ahead, anticipating the saints ahead of paper columns. I need to get back on the paper writing and recatchup with the saints. I’m officially way behind on both.

It’s hard to believe it’s been a week since I dropped Catherine Drexel into the mix and resolved to add all Catherine saints to the regular entries. Most of the week has been writing, though. Some of it pretty good stuff. Some of it back and forth with Uncle Ken about Kelly’s graduation. I’m glad to hear you’re both planning to attend. [too bad you haven’t had similar events for her to attend. I could, you know, make a difference in those outcomes.]

First Friday, March 2011. The Mass attendance goes up noticeably. I wonder how many children today have the First Friday piety drilled into them by our Catholic Schools? Certainly it’s not done by our CCD programs. Laying the foundation makes a difference. Not only does making those devotions become an important habit but there is truly a visceral negativity when it is missed.

Same for First Saturdays and our devotion to our Blessed Mother. [Knowing her will help you know what/who a mother should be; help you, if this is your vocation, identify who should be the mother with you of God’s gift f children.]

St Paul’s pastor has a way with his sermons – his cadence is hard to get into but beyond that the substance of his homily hooks you. And plays itself back to you for ongoing reflection.

And then there’s Msgr S. I’m guessing he’s grandpa’s age. I admire the tenacity of his faith – he is, I am sure, a rock for many of us to stand on. However, the man is past his prime as a preacher – if he ever had a prime. He started his sermon yesterday, first Saturday, with a story about a child once saying outloud at the beginning of one of his sermons, ‘you talk too much.’ That was the understatement of the day!

Yesterday’s sermon was longer than the rest of the Mass. And, of course there’s no shutting him up – he’s priest, he’s a msgr, he earned his stripes as pastor at several parishes along the way, he’s 80+ years old, we’re grateful to have a priest to fill in. If only he’d tell one of his wonderful stories and stick to one of his ‘let’s get back to pre-vatican II’ rants it might be tolerable. Oh well….

Fr Scherer continues to say Mass at St Paul’s. He is visibly deteriorating Mass to Mass. Please pray for him. It’d be better for each of you to give him a visit.

March 2

Fergna d. 637

Fergna was a relative of St Columba. No doubt it’d be something to be related to someone like Columba! The closest I’ve gotten so far is Aunt Monica, aka Sr. Anita Rosaire. I’m sorry you did not get a chance to know her. She could help you understand me. She could help you be faithful Catholics.

Fergna succeeded Columba as abbot of Iona. That’d be like being elected president after Washington. Some shoes are impossible to fill. Still, the job has to go to someone. Being a relative to the great saint of Iona would not have been sufficient to be elected his successor. We all, now, follow someone into the job we take. Let Fergna be one of those people you consult when it is your turn to follow in another person’s foot steps. [I could teach you a few things not to do!]

Undertheoak

Fergna was born, probably after or about the middle of the sixth century, having been a member of the community in Columba's time.

Fergna is called Virgnous, by Adamnan, who describes him as being a youth of ardent piety.
< Are you a youth of ardent piety? Such piety would not only bring you closer to God and your faith and your vocation, it’d fill some of your blank hours. >

Oengus the Culdee and the Calendar of Cashel designate him, by an epithet meaning "white" or "fair."
< I think it’s cool how our Celtic heritage comes up with nicknames. >

I love you,
Dad
1430

Mar 3 Katherine Drexel b. 1858 d. 1955 bl. 1988 c. 2000

2011-02-27T12:41:00.001-05:00

Jack and Thommy,
Good morning, I love you
110221, 1212

Presidents’ Day. Actually, officially, Washington’s Day. I grew up with both a Washington’s Day and Lincoln’s Day, although the latter was never an official federal holiday. Today, we simply have the day off with banks closed and big sales. Presidency Day might make some sense, given the prestige and honor we give the office. But, presidents’ day? Not all presidents are created equal. Few of us can name the presidents, not even how many we’ve had in only 235 years of presidents. But Washington ranks up there in a pantheon of his own!
1218

110227, 1101
Picking up again almost a week later. Now two weeks since I’ve written anything for the blog, for myself, for whatever hope I have of the right people reading my missives. In the past two weeks a plethora of people have continued to stop by. Thank you. I not only owe you the feeloughts that have not made it into electronics but also my thanks for coming by. I do not understand the increasing number of people [well, the increasing number of hits] who come by/return. Not only is what I write undeserving of anyone’s attention – except Thom’s and Jack’s – it’s not accomplished much that I know of. Except: I did not expect anyone to be stopping by. I am humbled and amazed by and appreciative of everyone’s excursion into this space.

Two weeks. A very long time. I set a recent record in rejection in these two weeks. But, it’s like the lottery. With a lottery ticket in your pocket, you can imagine you’re a millionaire. No tickey no laundry. No winning if you don’t buy the ticket. In baseball, a .300 hitter is a hall of famer, an all star – and he’s also making an out seven of ten at bats! The same in the job hunt/consultation business. Without an application out there, without submitting a proposal, there is no chance of getting on board. It’s not whether you’re down, weighted down, knocked down. Everyone gets put down – even Jesus! As we come up on Lent, remember the stations of the cross. Down three times. And up each and every time. And he knew where he was going – Golgotha. For us, of course. To take away our sins. Got up on his own: while being lashed, spat upon, cursed, etc. Got up with the grace of God. As we too must, can, will.

Yesterday, I got a voicemail from my cousin. She’s going to Florida in March and was organizing a visit on her way back. It took almost to the end of the message to get the message. All along the way I was thinking the call was about her mother. Not this time. I called her back and we talked for almost a half hour orchestrating a drive by visit. She’ll be going north on route 95. We agreed she’d call when she had a guess as to when she’ll be on 95 east of Raleigh.

And.

Also, today, I got an email about my father’s return trip from Florida to Chicago. According to the email, not from him, he’s going to visit his brother in Florida then he’s going to stop in Charlotte [about 90 minutes from my place] to visit the niece of his dead wife then head on to Chicago.

When I talked with my cousin I also seriously thought about ridding myself of the stuff in my place. There’s more here than I’ll ever use again. The having it all is a privilege and a burden. It’s also a gift for y’all – come by anytime and have at it. I’d like to have the cleaner slate, too.

Organizing our third grader faith formation class to provide a dinner [and gifts] for the families our parish is hosting for a week has been as/more rewarding as the privilege to teach the class, to participate in the faith formation the children. The enthusiasm of the children and their parents has been a blessing to be part of. My class preparation – my studying the lesson, my getting immersed in the references, my whittling a 60 minute lesson down to 50 minutes – is a weekly cursillo-style study. It is a blessing to be given the few minutes a week with these children.

Tonight I’ll be a Eucharistic Minister. Our parish Liturgy coordinator sent out an email to a few of us doing a particular role which is evolving as our pastor/LC continue to evolve. I appreciated the extra effort the LC put into the email reminder. The number of people it takes for just one Mass to go well for celebrant and participants, for individuals and congregation and parish in mindboggling. And the work it must take, the preparation, the learning, the prayerful mindset for the parish’s LC as well as the LC for each liturgy: behind the scenes is where the action is!

Monday on my way into the 9:00 Mass, the LC for the Mass asked me if I were going ‘to do the reading for tomorrow.’ I demurred: without an explanation. I had a reason – I did not want to be the person taking over someone else’s usual slot without that person having had the discussion with the LC that she was being replaced. The Tuesday I did it, the hand of God put the woman and me together with the substitute LC before Mass. She was asking a question about which communion antiphon was to be used. The sub was put in the embarrassing situation of trying to explain to her that the LC had gotten me to do the reading. And, no, the LC hadn’t spoken to the woman. Thank God for the pre-Mass conclave. But, no thanks, I don’t want to be part of that. [oh by the way. The LC has decided my name is Jim. I told her my name, she wrote it down correctly on her assignment sheet for that Tuesday, but now she greets me with a hi, Jim.]

I’ve read a book a day now for over a week. From Vince Flynn [read his pre 9/11 books and wonder who else was ahead of our intelligence community.] to C.S. Lewis. I should be reading more psychology, management, et al. It is not time to punt on my professional development. My writing has also increased – this bio related as well as professional musings about family therapy and institutional decisions and their institutionalization contrary to the original intent.

March 3

Katherine Drexel b. 1858 d. 1955 bl. 1988 c. 2000

When I pulled up this saint – not because she’s a biggie but because I know someone who knew her personally – I had to ask myself why have I not before included in my routine selecting the Catherine saints. If I’m going to do William, Thomas, Kenneth, Joseph, John why not Catherine Mary? I’ll let y’all analyze that. But, Catherine is now in.

Sister Sandra and her sister began Project Respect in Nashville. I was given the opportunity to provide some support for her ministry. The ministry began as an after school reading/tutoring program for children in Nashville’s poorest [blackest] community. Not only did this post retirement pair of sisters bring Christ and Church to the children, families, community they brought an effective service. It was a blessing for me to help them raise money – which somehow was easy. Just put one of them in front of a benefactor to tell the story of the ministry, and, voila, a check was written. Sister Sandra was invited by the City schools to apply for a grant to expand the service. In the midst of the discussion of what she’d do with the grant money, she was told that, of course, she’d have to secularize the space and not include prayer or references to faith and all that. Sister Sandra simply stopped what she was doing and began to gather up her few materials. Cool, calm, collected, peaceful and polite, Sister Sandra began to leave. In horror, one of the participants asked her what she was doing. She kindly explained that Project Respect was a Catholic ministry and she would continue to provide as much service as she could without the city’s money if the city’s money was contingent on secularizing her service. The committee backed down – choosing to look away at this egregious violation of federal/state/local law so that the children in the community would get this service.

I did spend time helping with the tutoring as well. Helping with homework. Teaching math skills. Beginning and ending each session with a prayer of petition and thanksgiving. After the children left and we were cleaning up, it was wonderful to hear the sisters talk about their lives of service – remember, these were seventy year old black women in Nashville Tennessee – each with advanced degrees and academic and community accomplishments as well as their service to church and community. Learning at the feet of gracefilled women. Deo Gratias.

Vatican.com

Katherine Drexel was born in Philadelphia. Her father was a well known banker and philanthropist. Both parents instilled in their daughters the idea that their wealth was simply loaned to them and was to be shared with others.

When the family took a trip to the Western part of the United States, Katharine, as a young woman, saw the plight and destitution of the native Indian-Americans. This experience aroused her desire to do something specific to help alleviate their condition. This was the beginning of her lifelong personal and financial support of numerous missions and missionaries in the United States.

The first school Katherine Drexel established was St. Catherine Indian School in Santa Fe, New Mexico (1887).

Later, when visiting Pope Leo XIII in Rome, and asking him for missionaries to staff some of the Indian missions that she as a lay person was financing, she was surprised to hear the Pope suggest that she become a missionary herself.

After consultation with her spiritual director, Bishop James O'Connor, she made the decision to give herself totally to God, along with her inheritance, through service to American Indians and Afro-Americans.

Her wealth was now transformed into a poverty of spirit that became a daily constant in a life supported only by the bare necessities.

On February 12, 1891, Katherine Drexel professed her first vows as a religious, founding the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament whose dedication would be to share the message of the Gospel and the life of the Eucharist among American Indians and Afro-Americans.

Always a woman of intense prayer, Katharine found in the Eucharist the source of her love for the poor and oppressed and of her concern to reach out to combat the effects of racism.

Knowing that many Afro-Americans were far from free, still living in substandard conditions as sharecroppers or underpaid menials, denied education and constitutional rights enjoyed by others, she felt a compassionate urgency to help change racial attitudes in the United States.

The plantation at that time was an entrenched social institution in which the colored people continued to be victims of oppression. This was a deep affront to Katharine's sense of justice. The need for quality education loomed before her, and she discussed this need with some who shared her concern about the inequality of education for Afro-Americans in the cities. Restrictions of the law also prevented them in the rural South from obtaining a basic education.

Founding and staffing schools for both Native Americans and Afro-Americans throughout the country became a priority for Katharine and her congregation.

During Katherine Drexel’s lifetime, she opened, staffed and directly supported nearly 60 schools and missions, especially in the West and Southwest United States. Her crowning educational focus was the establishment in 1925 of Xavier University of Louisiana, the only predominantly Afro-American Catholic institution of higher learning in the United States at the time.

Religious education, social service, visiting in homes, in hospitals and in prisons were also included in the ministries of Katharine Drexel and the Sisters.

In her quiet way, Katharine Drexel combined prayerful and total dependence on Divine Providence with determined activism.

Her joyous incisiveness, attuned to the Holy Spirit, penetrated obstacles and facilitated her advances for social justice.

Through the prophetic witness of Katharine Drexel's initiative, the Church in the United States was enabled to become aware of the grave domestic need for an apostolate among Native Americans and Afro-Americans. She did not hesitate to speak out against injustice, taking a public stance when racial discrimination was in evidence.

For the last 18 years of her life she was rendered almost completely immobile because of a serious illness. During these years she gave herself to a life of adoration and contemplation as she had desired from early childhood. She died on March 3, 1955.

Katharine left a four-fold dynamic legacy to her Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament , who continue her apostolate today, and indeed to all peoples:

– her love for the Eucharist, her spirit of prayer, and her Eucharistic perspective on the unity of all peoples;

– her undaunted spirit of courageous initiative in addressing social iniquities among minorities — one hundred years before such concern aroused public interest in the United States;

– her belief in the importance of quality education for all, and her efforts to achieve it;

– her total giving of self, of her inheritance and all material goods in selfless service of the victims of injustice.

Katharine Drexel was beatified by Pope John Paul II on November 20, 1988

At Katherine Drexel’s death there were more than 500 Sisters teaching in 63 schools throughout the country.

Because of her lifelong dedication to her faith and her selfless service to the oppressed, Pope John Paul II canonized her on October 1, 2000 to become only the second recognized American-born saint.

I love you,
Dad
1240

Feb 27 Bl John of Gorze d. 975

2011-02-13T12:54:00.000-05:00

Jack and Thom,
Good Morning, I love you
110213, 1227

The last February saint for saints and sons; a 27th saint.

February 27

Bl John of Gorze b. ~ 900 d. 975

From Angels and Saints we get that John of Gorze was born into a wealthy French family at Vandieres. Y’all weren’t born into wealth, but the resources given to you growing up certainly put you in the top 5% of family income. Money as a motive, even in business, is the wrong starting point. I’m not sure if it helps or not. I felt more free without a lot of money: without a lot of stuff. Jesus told the rich guy it is as hard as getting through the eye of a needle with a camel for a rich person to make it to heaven. John of Gorze seems to have risen above his rich beginnings.

John of Gorze renounced his wealth. Generically, we are admonished to renounce anything that we believe – through proper discernment of a properly formed conscience [would that proper weren’t a necessary redundancy] – interferes with our pursuit of heaven, of fulfilling God’s will.

John of Gorze made a pilgrimage to Rome. When seeking your vocation, where do you go to discern? A pilgrimage to your parish church? A chapel? A grotto? Notre Dame? How do you put yourself sufficiently in the presence of God to hear His will for you?

John of Gorze became a Benedictine monk at Gorze. In 960, John of Gorze was elected abbot of Gorze.

More information. This from Wikipedia entry via Google page. [Given the source, take the information with the proper grain of salt. Look at the cited references for yourself.

Saint John of Gorze (Jean de Gorze, John of Lorraine) (ca. 900—March 7, 974) was a Lorraine-born monk, diplomat, administrator, and monastic reformer.

John of Gorze was born at Vandières near Pont-à-Mousson to parents who were wealthy and well-known in the area. His father had married late in his life to a woman much younger than he. They had three children together. John's parents were able to provide for his education, and he studied at the Benedictine monastery of Saint-Mihiel in Metz.

At the age of twenty, he had already formed relationships with powerful figures of the region, including Count Ricuin of Verdun, and Dado, bishop of Verdun.

He became a Benedictine monk at the Gorze Abbey in 933 after renouncing his wealth as an administrator of landed estates and making a pilgrimage to Rome and Monte Cassino.

Having found no monastery with a strict enough discipline, John had formed relationships with like-minded men, such as Einald, formerly archdeacon of Toul. In 933, Bishop Adelbero of Metz (929-962) had asked John and Einald to restore and reform the decayed monastery of Gorze. Einald became abbot and John became his principal assistant. The number of monks at Gorze increased, and the Gorze reform movement spread to other monasteries.

He is reputed to have had a photographic memory, and also developed a bookkeeping system and capital investment policies (Dennis K. McDaniel, John of Gorze: A Figure in Tenth-Century Management).

It was claimed that the murmur of his lips reading the Psalms resembled the buzzing of a bee.[1]

In 953, he was sent as ambassador for Emperor Otto II to the Caliph Abd-ar-Rahman III of Córdoba for two years. The purpose of this mission was to stop the attacks made by Andalusian adventurers from their base at Fraxinet. John of Gorze arrived in 953-954 with his companions at Córdoba with a letter from Otto as well as valuable gifts.

The caliph's ambassador, Hasdai ibn Shaprut, met with this emissary. The caliph, fearing that the letter of the German emperor might contain matter derogatory to Islam, commissioned Hasdai to open the negotiations with the envoys. Hasdai, who soon perceived that the letter could not be delivered to the caliph in its present form, persuaded the envoys to send for another letter which should contain no objectionable matter. ("Vita Johannis Gorziensis," ch. cxxi., in G. H. Pertz, Monumenta Germaniæ, iv. 371). An English translation of his account is published as ‘Niceties of diplomacy (953-56)', in Christians and Moors in Spain, trans. and ed. Colin Smith, Warminster, 1988, vol. I, pp. 62-75.

John, who contacted local Mozarabs, met Bishop Recemundus, who was acquainted with Islamic learning. When John returned to Lorraine, he brought with him manuscripts from Spain that made that duchy a center for the diffusion of Muslim learning and science.[2]

He became abbot of Gorze in 960 upon the death of Einald of Toul. He died of natural causes.
His feast day is February 27. John (Jean), abbot of St. Arnulph (Saint-Arnoul) at Metz, wrote a life of Gorze.

Sources
• Jean, Abbot of Saint-Arnoul, La vie de Jean, abbé de Gorze. Présentée et traduite par Michel Parisse (Paris, Picard, 1999).

I love you,
Dad
1253

Feb 24 Bl John Theristus 1129

2011-02-13T12:25:00.000-05:00

Jack and Thom,
Good Morning, I love you
110213, 1213

Churning through the February Saints. If my goal is to be a month ahead, I’m three weeks behind myself.

When there is a conflict of service obligations, how does one choose. Family v. Church is not really a choice when confronted with the choice. I wish I could do both. Ora pro me.

See saintsandsons entry on Feb 25, 2008 for previous entry about Bl John Theristus. I have no new information about him after today’s quick scan through google. [I don’t like the bing formatting et al. Plus, I don’t believe there are no more sites via that search engine.]

February 24

Bl John Theristus 1129

Bl John Theristus or “Harvester” was a Benedictine monk who was responsible for a miraculous harvest.

Bl John Theristus’ harvest was literal and miraculous. How are you harvesting what you sow? More importantly, how are you harvesting what God sowed in you? What kind of soil are you? How are you transforming you to being ‘good soil’ all the time?

Bl John Theristus’s mother was a slave. God blesses each of us with His Love: with the theological virtues of Faith, Hope, and Love. Regardless of who you mother is. Regardless of whether your mother supports our faith or nurtures the soil that you are for God’s seeds. You are your responsibility.

For a twelfth century saint, we really don’t have much in the tertiary sources.

John’s mother was Calabrian, captured by the Saracens, and brought to Sicily as a slave. John Theristus was born in Sicily as a slave.

As a child, John Theristus escaped and returned to Calabria where he became a monk.

I love you
Dad
1223

Feb 22 Bl John the Saxon d. 895

2011-02-13T12:09:00.002-05:00

Jack and Thom,
Good Morning, I love you
110213, 1148

Happy Sunday. We had a raucous faith formation class today – how much the cappuccino contributed to my enthusiasm, I dare say quite a bit. It was a fun class. The students’ enthusiasm about our GIHN service is contagious and heart warming.

At St. Paul’s, third graders are eligible to be altar servers. Here I was telling the class that this is a service they can do soon – like at ten or fifth grade – but I was wrong. They can do that now. So, let’s see if we can recruit some from our faith formation classes.

Our various ministries operate in parallel universes. The opportunities for synergy are low hanging fruit.

Saturday – NC bounced back from Duke and beat Clemson. I was more interested in the Ohio State v. Wisconsin game. Two years – ish in Columbus made me a fan of the Buckeyes and Thad Matta. Wisconsin has beaten OSU six times straight at Wisconsin. And did it again yesterday.

I also picked up a book yesterday and finished it off in the wee hours of today. I’m not only a binge eater but a binge reader. Binging is not something I recommend. Moderation and all that….

February 22

Bl John the Saxon 895

I might have more sympathy for England and the Church of England under the onslaught of Danes in the 8th and 9th centuries if our home of Ireland weren’t so often and so viciously under the occupation and threat of England, into the 20th century.

But, in the 9th century, King Alfred the Great invited Bl John the Saxon, a monk in a monastery in France, to go to England and help restore the Christian faith in the wake of the severe and destructive invasions by the Danes.

John the Saxon was appointed abbot of Athelingay by Alfred. John the Saxon served with vigor and distinction until his murder one night by two French monks under his care.

I wish I knew more about this story of these French monks’ betrayal of their abbot. I suppose a lesson is that in the midst of a restoration, watch your back.

I love you,
Dad
1202

Feb 20 Colgan d. 796

2011-02-13T11:27:00.002-05:00

Jack and Thom,
Good Morning, I love you
110211, 2232

A peculiar Friday. Up and out in time for the nine o’clock at St Paul’s. Time enough to pick up coffee on the way to drink while I worked in ‘my’ classroom after.

Our Ubergeros led the liturgy again today. Maybe our pastor is out of town? Fr. Scherer returned us to yesterday’s reflection on his problem with intercessory prayer because after Mass yesterday he and the deacon talked about it. The deacon suggested that maybe, being the deferential deacon that he is, maybe intercessory prayer is part of God’s Plan and not a request for an exception to it. As Fr. Scherer [he’s got to be about 75ish] said, you never stop learning, gaining wisdom, absorbing other people’s piety/holiness.

Today is the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, a world day of prayer for the sick. Recall Bernadette and her relationship with her family, her friends, her priest, her community and with Mary. Remember the promises Mary made to us via Bernadette. And pray for the sick often – sick of body, mind, heart, soul, intellect, emotion. We are sick in many ways. Me, for example. I’m blimping out! There are several sicknesses woven into this devolution. Ora pro me.

At the end of Mass, sauntering out along the aisle behind the last rows of pews, minding my own business, zoned in on getting plugged into my laptop, work to do, curious about the latest post-Mubarak resignation news and commentary, there was Marge at the baptismal font, the focal point of the church’s center aisle funneling of exiting traffic, our 9:00 Mass Liturgical Coordinator (she reminds me of Aunt Helen, she even has the same Long Island accent; but she’s at least four inches shorter and probably the same age), pointing her haggardly crooked finger at me. At me? There were three people following behind me. I couldn’t figure out why me.

I pointed to my chest and mouthed ME? In her in charge Ms Benign Napoleon way kept pointing and nodding her head yes. She asked me if I’d be willing to be a reader at Mass. Sure. I’m not going to be here next week but I want to be sure we have everything covered. What Mass do you come to? [I’m surprised she hasn’t that logged in her mind; or, maybe she was being polite. Marge is in charge of everything, it seems around our nine o’clock liturgy and obviously knows everything and everyone – she certainly talks to everyone, her forceful voice piercing any preMass silence.]

I told her to tell me what Mass she’d like me to read for and I’d be there. Next Tuesday? Ok. Then she asked for my first name. I’ve been on her liturgical team as a reader for the 5pm Mass twice now. Oh well. I told her. After she confirmed again next Tuesday, she said to my walking away back, “I’m surprised you didn’t talk to me before this.” I kept walking because when I looked over my shoulder at the comment, Marge was already in a conversation with someone else. Maybe I’ll follow up on that remark.

Maybe, probably, Marge’s asking me is a follow up to the encounter I had Wednesday evening. The woman I passed on the way out after adoration – who was going in to the Respect Life Committee meeting – is Marge’s liturgical coordinator protégé. She’s there every nine o’clock. Bet you a nickel she’s the one who suggested to Marge to ask me to read. Whatever.

Next Tuesday is the sixth week of ordinary time. February 15th has no biggie nor a William, Thomas, John, Kenneth, or Jesuit. But a couple of Irish: Berach and Farannan. (see previous entries for Feb 15th.)

Reading 1
Gn 6:5-8; 7:1-5, 10

When the LORD saw how great was man’s wickedness on earth, and how no desire that his heart conceived was ever anything but evil, he regretted that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was grieved.

< Concupiscence run amuck! The inertia of evil. God’s Glorious creation with free will gone arie. He’s not talking about starting over here. This is it. Done. Finis. The grand experiment in infinite love over. … God regretted he had made man on the earth. I kinda know how he felt. I too have periodic pangs of regret over my creations of men on the earth. Regrets about my creating other disappointing outcomes but the greatest pain comes when I regret my creations from what I thought was from and for love, forever love, a fulfillment of sacrament and sacrifice, of a vow forever no matter what. Maybe the regret is over being duped et al. but the story of God’s regret is also similar to mine. There are Noahs in my life. I am the waiting and forgiving father vis a vis prodigal sons. >

< God’s heart was grieved. Oh Good Grief! In the depths of regret and grief what should a man do? In the image and likeness of God – or is it just projecting back onto Him? – we should do like He did/does. >

So the LORD said: “I will wipe out from the earth the men whom I have created, and not only the men, but also the beasts and the creeping things and the birds of the air, for I am sorry that I made them.”

< Regret, Grief, Sorry; I am sorry I made them, I am sorry I did any of it. With the disappointment of man, all of creation tastes like ashes in my mouth. Everything else I did pales, withers, decomposes, in the throes of my regrets and grief and sorrow about the creations of my love. So, would that I could erase it all. Not necessarily to start over again just wipe it all out from the earth, from my feeloughts, from existence. Alas, I am not God. I am really not the creator, not even of my love. Once created, you are created by God for His purpose. Perhaps it is His will that I regret, grieve, sorrow and find my salvation through that briar patch. >

But Noah found favor with the LORD. Then the LORD said to Noah: “Go into the ark, you and all your household, for you alone in this age have I found to be truly just.

< It only takes one. Fortunately for us, God sent His only begotten Son to be our One for once, for all, for ever. Deo Gratias. >

Of every clean animal, take with you seven pairs, a male and its mate; and of the unclean animals, one pair, a male and its mate; likewise, of every clean bird of the air, seven pairs,
a male and a female, and of all the unclean birds, one pair, a male and a female.

< I didn’t remember the “seven” pairs of clean vs. the one pair of “unclean.” It’s remarkable that all of our re-enactments of the Noah and the Ark stories only includes the “unclean” pairs. What’s that tell you about us? >

Thus you will keep their issue alive over all the earth.

< Not only does God choose to sustain His creature Man, but he empowers man to sustain his accompanying animals and creeping critters, and birds. >

Seven days from now I will bring rain down on the earth for forty days and forty nights, and so I will wipe out from the surface of the earth every moving creature that I have made.”

< Regret. Grief. Sorrow. God preserves the one just man and his household. He permits man to keep alive the creatures of the earth. But, let’s try to get it right this time. Not quite the garden of Adam and Eve – Noah wasn’t granted a mulligan for mankind. Let not wickedness and evil take over your heart. >

Noah did just as the LORD had commanded him. < Is not this the definition of the Just Man? Noah definitely got off to the right start. Unlike Adam, do as God tells you to do. Thy will be done. >

As soon as the seven days were over, the waters of the flood came upon the earth. < When God says He’s going to do something, y’all better believe him. >

The lector at daily Mass also leads the responsorial psalm.

Ps 29:1a and 2, 3ac-4, 3b and 9c-10 Responsorial Psalm

R. (11b) The Lord will bless his people with peace.
Give to the LORD, you sons of God,
give to the LORD glory and praise,
Give to the LORD the glory due his name;
adore the LORD in holy attire.

< Give to the LORD Glory, Praise; Adoration. In what you do, in what you say, in your very existence praise, adore, and glorify our God. >

R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.
The voice of the LORD is over the waters,
the LORD, over vast waters.
The voice of the LORD is mighty;
the voice of the LORD is majestic.

< The LORD has a BIG VOICE. He speaks from clouds. He speaks from burning bushes. He speaks in the wind. He speaks in His creation. He especially speaks to us in the people He gives to us. Listen for God’s majestic voice in the whispers of friends and strangers. >

R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.
The God of glory thunders,
and in his temple all say, “Glory!”
The LORD is enthroned above the flood;
the LORD is enthroned as king forever.

< Say, Glory! Say it with umph! Say it with meaning! Say Glory! with all your heart. Do not boast in yourself, boast in God, let your very existence glorify the Lord. Our king forever! With power over heaven and earth; and the power of His Love freely and forever given to us. >

Mk 8:14-21 Gospel

< obviously, I don’t have the Gospel at Mass.

February 20

Colgan 796

Angels and Saints tells us that Colgan was a friend of Bl. Aleuin. I hope that you are also known for your friends who are called Blessed.

Colgan was called “the Wise.” What are you called? I pray that “wise” is among your monikers.

Colgan was also called “the Chief Scribe of the Scots.” [The Irish were also called the Scots in the eighth century; although, the Scottish were also called the Scots. Could be that Colgan also led a monastery in Scotland. Whatever.] One of the contributions of the Irish to civilization is our having copied the holy books and many of the essential secular tomes throughout the ages, especially during this early period. Some would argue, that this contribution alone ‘saved western civilization.’ We Irish are known to be writers – Amen to that and Deo Gratias.

Colgan was the Abbot of Clanmacroise, in Offaly, Ireland. The leader servant of the community; both secular and religious. When you lead, be aware that you are responsible for leading the spiritual as well as material/secular well-being of the people God has given to you. Think Abbot. Remember the many Irish Abbots; and the Williams too.

Foila is the Co-patroness of Kil-Faile and Kil-Golgan parishes in Galway, Ireland, and the sister of St. Colgan. Thought you’d like to know that too.

I love you,
Dad
2327

Feb 19 Odran d. 452

2011-02-13T11:26:00.000-05:00

Jack and Thom,
Good Morning, I love you
110210, 2052

So. I went to the ‘open to all’ meeting for our sister parish in manta. A program our parish has sponsored since 2001. According to the leader of the group [it’s not a committee, it’s not a task force, it’s a group of people with an amalgamation of interests in support of this far away – Manta, Ecuador – community. I’m below the median age of the group of people in attendance tonight.

The Leader said that about one fourth of the parish supports the mission, one fourth are opposed to our spending money there rather than closer to home [that’s why any money is raised outside of the general funds of the parish, according to the Leader] and the other fifty percent ‘indifferent.’

The parish [this one-fourth of the parish, for all of us] supports 135 grammar school children at $120/year and 10 ‘university’ students at $180 a year (which pays for half the cost of their transportation to school for the year).

I went to the meeting, open to all, at the suggestion of one of the group’s active members with whom I spoke about the possibility of involving faith formation students, especially my third graders, in the mission. She told me that historically children have not been involved, certainly not the faith formation ministry as a whole. She indicated that it wasn’t something that the Leader thought made sense, too many barriers, including language.

I introduced myself to the Leader before the meeting started. I was there four minutes early, there were three people already in the room The other nine participants arrived over the next six minutes and the meeting started about ten after. One guy arrived after we started.

We went through the usual hellos including ‘why brought you here tonight?’ I told him. He graciously welcomed me, was glad I was there, and invited me to join and participate in the meeting.

In the introduction to the agenda – after an opening prayer (a big plus in my book; doubled that when we did a closing prayer too) – the Leader said “this is what we did last year. It worked pretty well. I don’t think there’s any reason to do anything different this year.” I was very quiet throughout the meeting. The Leader did nothing to elicit my participation or my idea, i.e., the reason I came – to see if there were a way for the faith formation students to participate in this mission.

The Leader’s, therefore, the group’s plan for 2011.

1. Scholarships. Renew the 135. The Leader explicitly told them that given our economy, not to expect any more. This is a February to April effort. Last year it was August before we had the 135 covered.

2. Our teens leader has said she is interested in leading a trip to the parish there to work on some environmental problem like pollution by a major industry there. There are three or four teens who have expressed interest in making the trip to the parish – not necessarily for this geopolitical purpose. Anyway. This year’s trip would be led by the parish teen leader. (good luck with that)

3. Craft sale. Two years have been successful – raising about $1,000. The Leader remarked that better marketing, including higher pricing, would improve this activity.

4. Christmas card signing. An annual event. Everyone in the parish is invited to sign huge cards.

5. Christmas gift. An annual event. Last year it was a jacket for each child. This requires raising money. As someone new to the parish, I was not solicited. I’m an avid bulletin reader and don’t remember a solicitation there either. But, every year, the children each get a present from St. Paul’s.

6. Angel tree. Many of the tags on the tree are specifically for the children we sponsor in Manta. By word of mouth, the supporters of the mission find out what color tag are ‘ours’ and they take those off the tree. Each year, all the tags allocated to the mission are taken. [In addition, individual sponsors, not all of them, send a gift to their child.]

7. Chili cookoff. Also a relatively new fundraiser. This led to the best discussion (only discussion) of the night. There’s the coordinator of the event and there’s needing many hands to help. Getting enough volunteers for all the many pieces is a challenge, especially for a person who is new to the parish, the group, or the activity. [There appears to be great individual memory for how to make an activity successful but no institutional memory. The chili cookoff does have a template with all the activities listed and the gantt chart laid out. All’s that’s missing are the people and getting the volunteers and ensuring everyone shows up and does their small part. Generalizing from this, there was the discussion (between Leader and one guy) about completing the template for each of the activities. And, for each activity, develop the volunteer recruiting and follow up system.] (I must admit, it was the absence of institutionalized memory and routines that was not only apparent it was exactly how the Leader described the group – not a group that’s hierarchical or with people in charge by a group of people who come together for the sister parish. It’s an organic rather than an organized group. Which, to give everyone their due, has done a lot for the children of our sister parish in Manta for ten years now.]

8. Soup Bowl Sunday. St Paul’s Teen Group does this each year and the money goes to the sister parish. In the lassaisez faire leadership model, our Leader leaves it to the Teen leader to take care of it – and then, like tonight, complains because some details were skipped, there wasn’t an announcement from the pulpit, and, thus, there wasn’t as much giving this year as last. I was at the Mass he talked about. Not only was there no announcement, there were only four or six teens rather passively holing their bowls soliciting contributions. Not to diss the teens. They were doing their part. Anything not done that would have been better is in part the absence of adult coaching and the absence of the template that would include ensuring the pulpit announcement and coaching the bowl holders. Teaching well off teens to beg is not easy.

Under challenges for 2011 was included a need for coordinators.

The Chili cookoff is listed as our major fundraiser. The person who filled in in a pinch two years ago, did it last year and will do it this year. She now has a good idea of what needs to be done. What she needs – more volunteers.

As a brief next to last agenda item, we had “need to improve awareness of sister parish program: photos/bulletins/board/parish activities/website. The Leader’s new ‘number one’ also made the general statement that if anyone has any marketing/PR ideas to get them to Leader. I guess that was an opportunity for me to suggest faith formation as a marketing channel. Or to volunteer to brainstorm with a PR subgroup – marketing, as a hospital ceo, is a second nature skill and interest. But, alas, I didn’t. I waited to see if the Leader would draw me in. Involvement of the faith formation students would involve that many families. Certainly make them all aware of the mission.

Videbimus. But. I’m not likely to read out again. He has my name from the hello at the beginning. I wonder if, in addition to the sponsors (less than 135 families) is the mission has the names and contact info of the one fourth of the parish who are involved/interested. He did not ask for the contact info from me.

February 19

Odran 452

Odran was friend and chauffer for St Patrick. According to tradition, he drove Patrick’s chariot.
That sounds like a great job! When I began working for Behavioral Healthcare Corp., I was doing several projects for the CEO. When it became necessary for me to have business cards it also was important [to some] that I also have a title. I suggested “Ed’s Gofer.” That was rejected. I became a vice-president that day. But the job was fantastic. Ed’s Gofer. What project did this new start company need done. Bill, you’re it. Get it done.

Odran died when he changed places with Patrick in the vehicle just before an ambush by pagans was sprung. Odran, friend and martyr.

Undertheoak.

From all we can learn, Odran became devotedly attached to the Irish Apostle. Odran was a constant personal attendant on Patrick’s missionary travels. Odran became a servant to St. Patrick, whom he served in the capacity of charioteer.

On St. Patrick's return from Munster, about the year 451, the Irish Apostle entered Hy-Failge territory. Here were two powerful chieftains ruling at the time: one was a wicked Pagan, Failge Berraide, who entertained a implacable hatred against St. Patrick, because he had destroyed the idol, known as Crom Cruach, an object of adoration among the Gentile Irish.

The other chief was named Failge Ros, who had conceived a great love and reverence towards the holy man. As the former had frequently boasted, that he would take the Apostle's life away, whenever the opportunity might be afforded ; the present stage of his journeying, which brought him along the highway, not far from Failge Berraide's Castle, seemed favourable for this son of Belial's purpose.

That district was then ruled over by the merciless pagan, Failge Berraide. This wicked man's design was basely to take away by assassination the life of our great Irish Apostle. Failge Berraide resolved on arresting the progress of the Christian Religion, by effecting the destruction of its greatest promoter.

Patrick’s charioteer, Odhran, had some prevision of the consequences likely to ensue. Odran concealed his knowledge concerning it from St. Patrick, whom he induced to occupy the driver's seat in the chariot, whilst Odran himself should have some short time for rest. The holy Apostle most readily assented.

They had passed from Birr, and were travelling along an ancient road, which bore in an eastern direction, north of the Slieve Bloom mountains, where their enemy lay in wait. Failge met the travelers on their journey. Rushing against Odran, whom he mistook for St. Patrick, the furious chief transfixed him, with a stroke of his lance. Horrified at the sight thus presented, the Apostle was about to pronounce a malediction on the murderer, when the dying Odran prayed it should rather descend on a very high tree, that grew on an adjoining hill, called Brig-damh. Yet, for his Satanic perfidy, the murderer was struck dead immediately afterwards; and as a just punishment for his grievous crime, his soul was buried in hell, while angels were seen bearing that of Odhran to heaven, where he joined the array of purple-robed martyrs.

St. Patrick furthermore announced, that the posterity of that wicked Foilge should wane, and lose power, in the principality; while, Foilge Ros and his posterity should rule therein, which prediction was fulfilled.

Orthodox Hymns of Saint Odhran

Troparion of St Odran tone 5

No task was too humble or too dangerous for thee,/ O Martyr Odran,/ for in thy station as a servant/ thou didst render the ultimate service/ giving thy life for thy master and Ireland's Enlightener./ Pray that we may have the courage to hold nothing back,/ that at the last Christ our God will not withhold His mercy from us.

Kontakion of St Odran tone 3

We salute thee, O Martyr Odran,/ ever seeking to follow thee in service to Christ's holy Church/ and praying for grace to shun the imperfect way of Ananias and Sophia,/ that we may give all we have in selfless devotion/ to Him Who holds all creation in His hands.

I love you,
Dad
2154

Feb 18 William Harrington b. 1566 d. 1594

2011-02-10T11:49:00.000-05:00

Thom and Jack,
Good Morning, I love you
110210, 1057

Duke was down double digits most of the first half. It wasn’t until 9:32 remaining in the game that they took their first lead. Cameron was beserk! In any game, only one team wins. Last night Duke was the better team. The way they won, I’d bet now that Duke wins the return trip to Chapel Hill.

Today we had our hubergero duo officiating at Mass. ‘You are a priest forever….’ and deacons, too, are forever. For some guys, forever is a very long time. Each had their personal story about St Scholastica – not the saint herself, St Benedict’s twin sister, but someone and someplace named for her. We have Scholastica High School.

From this morning’s Mass –

Gn 2:18-25

The LORD God said: “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a suitable partner for him.”

< First, God made animals and birds whom man named. ‘But none proved to be the suitable partner for the man.’ So, we have a Biblical admonition against bestiality. >

So the LORD God cast a deep sleep on the man, and while he was asleep, he took out one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. The LORD God then built up into a woman the rib that he had taken from the man.

When he brought her to the man, the man said: “This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one shall be called ‘woman,’ for out of ‘her man’ this one has been taken.”

That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one flesh.

< “God said” not subtle. When E.F. Hutton talks, people listen. So, when “God said,” I suggest we listen. This proclamation got my attention. “God said, ‘It is not good for man to be alone.’” and pets are not the answer. The first answer to ‘aloneness’ is marriage. To the same degree that man should not be alone, woman is “flesh of man’s flesh” and should also not be alone. “This is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one flesh.” And, thus, woman is clung to, reciprocates the Hug of God. Be not alone. So, what does say about those of us alone? That question hung with me through Mass. How is it different to be by oneself vs to be alone? We are created man for woman and woman for man. We are created from one flesh to come together to be one flesh. In the same way as we are created by God to return to God. Ora pro nobis. >

R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
in the recesses of your home;
Your children like olive plants
around your table.

Gospel

Mk 7:24-30

Soon a woman whose daughter had an unclean spirit heard about him. She came and fell at his feet. … she begged him to drive the demon out of her daughter. He said to her, “Let the children be fed first. For it is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.”
She replied and said to him, “Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s scraps.” Then he said to her, “For saying this, you may go. The demon has gone out of your daughter.”
When the woman went home, she found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.

< Fr. Scherer, after his aside with his Scholastica story, preached about intercessionary prayer. Is not our prayer suppose to be – not my will but your will, give me the grace to do your will. But, Jesus did tell us to ask what we wanted in His name. This gospel tells us to be persistent when we ask Jesus for what we want. >

February 18

William Harrington b. 1566 d. 1594

Yes, an English Martyr. Look back to Dec 20, 2010 for a litany of English Martyrs.

William Harrington was born at Mt. St. John, Yorkshire.

William Harrington confirmed his vocation for the priesthood after meeting St. Edmund Campion, a guest in his father’s house in 1581. It does matter with whom you hang. You never know whom you’ll meet. Seven steps to Kevin Bacon is also a game to play with your vocation. Bring yourself closer and closer to the persons who God has sent to bring you closer to him. Choose wisely.

Though the family did not persevere in the Faith, the youngest son never forgot Campion's example. Choose the model of the saints, canonized and in your life, to discern your vocation.

First, the man discerns his vocation. Then he has to figure out how to pursue it. Fortunately, Church and churchmen and the record of English Martyrs before him, showed William Harrington a path to the priesthood. He had to leave family and friends and country to find the place for his training and preparation for his English Mission vocation.

William Harrington went abroad, first the seminary at Reims, then to the Jesuits at Tournai (1582-1584) and would have joined the order had not his health broken down and forced him to keep at home for the next six or seven years. Persistence! Perseverance!

William Harrington was ordained at Reims, France, in 1592.

William Harrington returned to England to work in the English mission. Arrested in London in May 1593 for being a priest, William Harrington was hanged, drawn, and quartered at Tyburn, After nine months of suffering at Tyburn, after having given proofs of unusual constancy and noblemindedness in prison, at the bar, and on the scaffold.

Only [???] a year in service to God and family/country/community before being caught fulfilling God’s will. Whatever your vocation, doing God’s will is one way to get you hung, drawn and quartered - maybe not literally like the English Missionaries but you are exposed to family, friends, community who are not in sync with your proper discernment of God’s will.

William Harrington was only twenty eight when he was sent back to God. Twenty eight. A full life, in spite of his family's opposition, in spite of his illness. Be true to our faith and live your full life like William Harrington.

I love you,
Dad
1145

Feb 18 John Pibush b. ~1560 d. 1601 bl. 1929 [see also saintsandsons 2-18-09]

2011-02-09T20:31:00.000-05:00

Jack and Thom,
Good Morning, I love you
110209, 1957

On the way out of the Church tonight, a woman on her way in stopped to say hello. She also very kindly thanked me for how I “proclaimed the Word” at Mass on Saturday. There’s no way of knowing what difference it makes to read, literally, two or three sentences to the congregation: to the individuals listening to the Word proclaimed. This past Saturday it apparently made a difference to one person in addition to me. Deo Gratias.

In this coming Sunday’s (2-13) NY Times Magazine, online today, there’s an article ‘The Irish Affliction’ claiming to be about the effects of the sexual abuse scandal in Ireland. No doubt our having the Twelve Apostles of Ireland plus Columba and Patrick – and Brigid and Maeve et al. – would be a plus for us, both in Ireland and in our Church universal. One question the article addresses is ‘how much Vatican dominate’ the Irish Church should be? Of course, grandpa would remind us that we are the Roman Catholic Church, so get over yourself, Whitby was fourteen hundred years ago. At the same time, if a bishop is king in his diocese, does not universal mean as much the assimilation of each of our differences without losing the uniqueness?

Ken wrote me a note after the funeral for Uncle Frank: “Your effort to be at my Dad’s services was greatly appreciated and a real tribute to the ‘Nolan’ family. The last few years have been difficult but the support of family and friends at the end made the farewell a beautiful sendoff. …. Love, Ken Chris, and family.” Amen and Deo Gratias. The sendoff is important for the senders than the sendee. I hope you have a plan for yourselves. Oro pro vobis.

February 18

John Pibush b. ~1560 d. 1601 bl. 1929

[see also saintsandsons 2-18-09]

The dates tell you the man’s story in a nutshell – English Martyr. This John was the son of a Thomas. Solid English names y’all have. And Irish. And original with the Apostles. Find yourselves in the namesakes and patron saints and family members who have proceeded you.

At about twenty, John Pibush came to Reims on 4 August, 1580. John Pibush received minor orders and subdiaconate in September, and diaconate in December, 1586. John Pibush was ordained on 14 March, 1587. About two years later, John Pibush was sent on the English mission on 3 January, 1588-9.

That’s about how it worked at that time. The twenty year old arrives in exile at the Catholic seminary in northern France. Remember when you were twenty – you were still in town tied to your mother’s apron strings. [and still?] Try to imagine going off on your own, pursuing your faith and vocation, contrary to the wishes of family and against the law of the land. Not on your own so much when you arrived into the community of the faithful, especially of men with the same English mission calling. Man up. Discern your vocation. Make it so.

The training for priesthood requires not only a grounding in academics but a maturity of faith and person. Today, a college graduate and then some; someone past adolescence with a degree of maturity of life and spirituality.

The brief period from ordination to being sent on the English mission is not hard to understand. Reims and the other English seminaries across the channel were training bases for Englishmen dedicated to returning home as soon as possible to serve faith, family, community, and country. Whom do you aspire to serve? What is the foundation of your service? Better, Who is the foundation of your service?

John Pibush made it about four years before he was arrested at Morton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, in 1593. We never know how much time God gives us to serve. Some of the English martyrs were caught and killed within days of their return home. Some after twenty plus years. You do not have a promise of tomorrow. Let tonight be a full dedication to service to your vocation.

He was sent to London, where he arrived before 24 July 1593. The Privy Council committed him to the Gatehouse at Westminster, where he remained a year. How will you stand up under the withering imprisonment of those who oppose you because of your faith? The get out of jail free card is to renounce our faith and Jesus’ followers. Better that you stay in jail and be happy in the confidence of your faith than risk your immortal soul and the happiness on earth we are promised for sticking close to our faith, one another, Jesus.

After that year in prison, John Pibush was then tried at the Gloucester Assizes for being a priest. John Pibush was not sentenced but was returned to Gloucester gaol. John Pibush escaped the Gloucester gaol on 19 February (1594-5).

The next day John Pibush was recaptured at Matson and taken back to Gloucester gaol. John Pibush was then sent to the Marshalsea, London. In London, John Pibush was again tried for the same crime at Westminster on 1 July, 1595.

The man would not quit! No matter what. What made him so strong in living his faith, proselytizing our religion? God loves you! It’s the secret of A Father’s Love. How can you deny someone who loves you unconditionally, infinitely, no matter what? It is a miserable existence for those who reject that love.

John Pibush was sentenced to suffer the penalties of high treason at St. Thomas's Waterings. John Pibush, in the meantime, was to be returned to the Marshalsea. However, by the end of the year he was in the Queen's Bench prison, where John Pibush remained for more than five years. The sentence was carried out after one day's notice.

Add them up. The years in prison. His persistence in faith. His constant sacrifice of himself for the Love of God and Church and family and country. No matter what anyone said – there is no greater crime than treason, a secular version of a sin against the Holy Spirit. John Pibush professed his loyalty to the Crown, his love of country, AND his One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Faith.

I love you,
Dad
2030

Feb 18 Colman of Lindisfarne d. 676

2011-02-09T17:53:00.000-05:00

Jack and Thom,
Good Morning, I love you
110209, 1705

I’m headed to St Paul’s for Wednesday adoration of the Blessed Sacrament – and, the opportunity of confession. An opportunity I pass up too often but also fulfill more than before. Well, not way before, when it was a weekly routine with my mother; then an expected and ordinary part of being in Catholic School; or later, an altar boy; it was an essential part of my piety of vocation discernment; an ordinary and expected pause in my weekly novitiate life - - for fourteen years, in the beginning, weekly confession was what I did. The move to Tuscaloosa put a kink in my reception of the sacrament - - not at first but quickly. The chaplain at the Newman Center was a million years old and resisted Vatican II with all his will and authority. I scouted the few parishes in Tuscaloosa for a priest I could talk to. I gave up on that. Confession became a report to God via the sacrament regardless of priest. Not particularly psychologically gratifying but, hey, that’s when faith kicks in. Fortunately, I found a Jesuit in Birmingham…. 1970ish is a long time ago. Here in Greensboro, since 2002, there is the confessional at OLG; the semi-annual communal confessions with a bevy of priests to choose from; Fr Scherer, counselor and confessor; for the year he was at St Paul’s Fr. Benjamin; now, well, there’s Wednesday’s with our pastor and the anonymous options always available. Not weekly but often; more than monthly; less than necessary. Ora pro me. And you?

From Saturday to now? Lector on Saturday evening. Half my faith formation class was at the Mass. I hope that I did not embarrass them. I hope that I was a hint of a future opportunity of service for them. Tracy S. was the other lector. I knew her but it took me until we were into the Eucharistic Prayer that I remembered - - she was the liturgy coordinator who help our class participate in the candle procession during advent. Now I won’t forget. Her daughters are altar servers: make a parent proud.

Superbowl Sunday. I picked the Packers. But, if you had asked me to bet at the two minute mark with the Steelers on their thirteen and with only one time out down six, I still would have bet the mortgage on the Steelers’ winning. I also picked the over – I figure listening to Tony Dungy is a good idea.

Monday, Tuesday, until now? One book read. Two tv shows watched. More writing on my fictional autobio. After going to St Paul’s it’s a straight shot to Cameron. It always amazes me when someone is kind or generous to me. The ticket to tonight’s game surpasses both kindness and generosity. Let it snow!

February 18

Colman of Lindisfarne 676

Colman of Lindisfarne (known for where he wound up) was born in Connaught. We must tell ourselves that where he is born is important to whom he is. It’s important that I, and your grandfather, were born in New York City. It tells another story that you were born in Nashville. It’s a story about you and your parents and your clan….

Colman of Lindisfarne (there are over a hundred Colmans in the Irish martyrology.) was a disciple of Columba. We should know Columba by now. We should know what it means to be a disciple of Columba. From Connaught to Columba tells us about Colman’s fundamentals. So does your city of birth and those you’ve followed and learned from tell about you. You have a the entire rest of your life to choose where your eulogy will say where you are “of” and under whom you were “disciple.” Choose better.

So famous were his virtues and learning, Colman became a bishop. Respond to the gifts God has given you and develop extraordinary virtue. Be famous for your virtue with whomever you hang, wherever you go. You also have more than your fair share of IQ points. You should be famous in your circle and beyond for your learning. Learning is a lifetime vocation and one for which you still have time to show the light you’ve been given. For both virtue and learning, you have been given extraordinary resources and talent. To underutilize either is a grievous dissing of God’s generosity.

As bishop (beginning in 661) Colman of Lindisfarne defended the Celtic ecclesiastical practices at the Synod of Whitby. We should know about Whitby. We should know about King Oswy who introduced the Roman rites into Ireland. What does it mean to you that Colman, a bishop, opposed King and other Saints/bishops and is still today, a disciple of Columba, an honored saint? How do you lead from your properly formed conscience, contrary to the current ecclesiastical and secular winds AND remain a saint?

Colman refused to accept the decision to adopt Roman Rites vs the Celtic ones - - might we allude to the present day’s debate about the Vatican’s imposition of their translation of the Missal on the version used in the United States? Does one holy Catholic and apostolic Church mean conformity for these details? It did at Whitby. It seems to be so today as well. I suggest we need more Colmans in our American Episcopal leaders.

Between the years 665 and 667 St. Colman founded several churches in Scotland, and, at length, accompanied by thirty disciples, sailed for Ireland, settling down at Innisboffin, County Mayo, in 668.

Colman led a group of Irish and English Monks to the Isle of Innishboffin, near Connaught. Colman settled many of these monks in Mayo, where he is remembered today as founding the diocese and an abbey there. Imagine, County Mayo, the Diocese of, over fourteen hundred years old! That’s Tradition.

I love you,
Dad
1752

Feb 17 Fintan d. 603

2011-02-05T13:07:00.001-05:00

Thom and Jack,
Good Morning, I love you
110205, 1146

First Saturday – remember to say the rosary.

Today’s the feast of St. Agatha, among other things the patron saint for the prevention of fire. That part of Msgr’s meandering homily got me to thinking about what to get Kelly for her graduation from firefighter’s school. St. Florian is the world wide patron saint of firefighters. Maybe a statue of Agatha and medal of Florian for a gift? Wouldn’t it be great if Kelly is perpetually prepared to fight fires for us and St Agatha arranges that she never has a fire to fight!

Any other suggested presents for her graduation?

[Sure, her graduation elicits feeloughts about yours. But that’s for a conversation not a posting.]

February 17

Fintan d. 603

Fintan was a disciple of St Columba. Know about Columba, one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland. Then search for a teacher for yourself with comparable qualities.

Fintan was a hermit in Clonenagh, Leix, Ireland. When disciples gathered around his hermitage he became their abbot. How did Fintan become their abbot – their mentor, their leader, their father confessor, their servant of God? How is it that people gathered around him to learn, to be his disciples? What is it that you do to draw others to you? And through you to Christ? Ah. That’s the secret. We are not in the business of drawing people to ourselves. But, through us, to Jesus. Like today’s epistle – we do not boast in ourselves but boast in God. Not a subtle difference.

A wonder worker, Fintan was known for clairvoyance, prophecies, and miracles.

So, work wonders. Do what is unexpected. Be righteous. Be committed to Jesus. Look into people’s hearts and find Jesus there; draw Him out; serve him.

Be a prophet – not the fortune teller kind but like an Old Testament guy, minding his own business, following the commandments, being pious, trying to live a holy life. And whamo! God calls. Go tell my people they’re screwing up and if they don’t straighten out, watch out. Your baptismal water, oil, blessing, grace, and vows call you to be God’s prophet.

Work miracles. Do good by doing right, that’s a miracle. Be loyal to faith and family, that’s a miracle, too. [Remember the song in Fiddler? Wonder of wonders, miracles of miracles…. Sung by Motel, the tailor, the lowly tailor.]

Fintan also performed very austere penances. I suggest you start with ordinary penances. To do penance puts you in the right mindset – vis a vis God and self. An extra prayer – say, for your father. A brief fast – say, instead of eating lunch, say the rosary. Do a good deed, a random act of kindness, a duty not met, something you pass forward…

From brigid-undertheoak.blogspot.com

Saints and Angels gives us the penny version. Undertheoak gives us the whole enchilada; well, much more to chew on. Saint Fintan of Clonenagh 17 February.

Fintan, the prayerful. Will you be remembered as ‘a prayerful person?’ The current News Herald has a blurb from the Pope about the essential importance of our prayer life. Daily prayer. Frequent prayer. In a saintly way, constant prayer. But first, routine prayer – morning prayer, evening prayer, grace at meals. From such dollops of prayer, a feast of saintliness is served.

We have this verse about Fintan:

Fiontain the generous
Never ate during his time
But bread of barley corn
And water of earthy clay.

Fintan, a man of austerity. A man of penance. How do you emulate this great saint?

A very ancient vellum book . . states that Fiontain of Cluain-eidhniach, chief of the monks of Erin, in his manners and life resembled Benedictus, head of the monks of Europe.

< To whom are you compared? Benedict? Who is the Benedict of your calling? Are you compared favorably to the very best person in your arena? Are you talked about as the one who brings the best of the best to your work? To your relationships? If not yet, how will you get there? Try one of Fintan’s strategies, starting with loving God with all your heart. >

Colgan styles him "Fintanus Stationarius de magno Cluaineadnach;" the epithet of stationarius being applied to him from his praying, like many others of our early saints, with his arms extended in the form of a cross.

< I did that for a while, praying with arms extended like a cross. That while being in my privacy during my pious stage in high school; and again, privately, in my room or in the chapel in the novitiate. It’s not easy. It’s a penance. It’s a reminder – if Jesus had His arms held out like this for Him, nailed into the wood of the cross, and it hurts me this much, how much more did He choose to suffer for me. Try it. In humility not to show off. >

St. Fintan received his early education from a holy priest by whom he was baptized. While yet a boy, he was visited by St. Columbkille, who, on that occasion, foretold St. Fintan's future distinguished career.

[St. Columbkille is Scotland’s most revered saint and, in Ireland, he is honored second only to St. Patrick. A missionary, St. Columbkille is credited with taking Christianity to Scotland. His memorial day is June 9. The correct pronunciation of Columbkille puts the accent on the first syllable. The pronunciation then becomes “column kill”. Born of royal bloodlines in northern Ireland on December 5, 521, his proper name was Colum MacFehlin MacFergus. The name Colum means dove. As a young boy he spent much time in church and soon the suffix “cille,” the Gaelic word for Church, was added to his name. He was called “Colum-cille”—Dove of the Church. Well educated, he was a man of great faith who could have become a king but instead chose a life of service to God. After ordination, he worked among the poor in his native Ireland and was famous for his works of charity. When he was 42 years old, he was exiled from Ireland and sent to the territory known as Scotland with 12 companions. There he spent the next 34 years establishing churches and schools, and staffing them with many disciples who were attracted by his ardent penance, fervent prayer, sincere preaching, and deep confidence in God.]

< Is it chance that holy men cross our paths? And how do you respond to the chance? Do you even recognize them as holy? It is your prayer, it is your study of the saints that will help you see the saintliness of the people who come into your lives. It is this foundation that will help you discern whom to follow. The more you ‘see’ the sanctity of our saints and holy men and women, the better you will see past the clothes, the station, the hype and find the presence of Christ in their hearts – or His absence. >

Fintan later entered the Monastery of Tir-da-glass (now Terryglass, Co. Tipperary), where St. Columba then presided over a famous school. St Columba again. Know the man. And know his followers. More importantly, learn how his disciples, those who sought him out to learn – and what they sought to learn, how his disciples found him.

Fintan served a novitiate here. Then he and a few, two, some say three, companions, being anxious to find a retired place where they might devote themselves to the service of God, consulted St. Columba, and, accompanied by him, they came to Clonenagh.

< First, be humble and serve your novitiate. Put your lives in the hands of a Columba. Then, when you have properly discerned your vocation, the next step on your path to God, Consult your spiritual director and the other people God has given you to consult – e.g., father, grandfather, uncle. Do not be surprised if those sent to you also accompany you on your journey – actually and spiritually. The more the merrier; the more the better. >

At Clonenagh, St. Fintan and his companions passed a year, but, finding their solitude greatly broken in upon, they determined to abandon the place, and directed their course to the Slieve Bloom mountains, again accompanied by St. Columba.

< Be persistent in your pursuit of your vocation. Fintan discerned that his service to God was to be a hermit. Apparently, he did this so well that people heard about him and sought Fintan out to learn from him. The law of unintended consequences? You become very good at what you seek to be your life’s vocation and lo and behold God sends people to you. Now what? Do you stay and take on this new calling? Is it truly God’s will or a distraction, a play to your pride by the devil? How do you know? >

Fintan, looking back upon Clonenagh, saw a multitude of angels hovering over it. His disciples seeing him sorrowful, asked the cause. Fintan replied: "Because I see the place we have left filled with the angels of God, and these angels unceasingly minister between it and heaven". "One of us", Fintan added, "should return and abide there for the future".

< Do you constantly look for signs of God’s calling you? Especially when you are sure you have it right and you are off on the way, accompanied by your mentor, encouraged by those who love you. Do you look to God constantly and pray, Not my will but yours be done? Then, are you prepared to do God’s will. To surrender yourself to someone Greater than you? To give of yourself in a way God says is uniquely your duty? >

Whereupon Fintan said: "Whomsoever, O Father, you direct to return, he will instantly obey". Columba replied: "Go you in peace to that spot, O holy youth, and the Lord be with you. It has been divinely revealed that for you it shall be the place of your resurrection."

< Not my will, but yours. Plus, Fintan listened to Columba. Look around in your life. Who is your Columba? If you do not have someone in his place in your life, go quickly and find one. >

St. Fintan accordingly retraced his steps to Clonenagh and established himself there. This was about the year 548.

Great numbers flocked to this place to serve God under the guidance of St Fintan, amongst whom was St. Comgall, afterwards the founder of the famous Monastery of Bangor, who passed some years under his direction.

< You are known by those who come to you. How are you prepared to serve those God sends to you? It is impossible to know who your Comgall will be. You can be sure that you will have the responsibility for more than one other person in your life. Treat them all as future Comgalls. >

< This morning, Saturday, first Saturday, Feb 5, 2011, I was at mass at SPX and remembered a Saturday morning at St Henry’s. We had come to the first Saturday Mass, contrary to your ‘let me sleep in preferences. (and no small bit of weekly whining, reinforced, unfortunately by your mother’s questioning me in front of you, why do you make them do this?) We were in the back of the Church, a pew picked by Jack. Nothing memorable about the Mass. After the Mass was over. A man, sitting a couple of pews behind us. Someone I had not noticed. A man none of us knew; had never seen before; and I never saw again. After I genuflected to say good-bye to God, the man tapped me on the shoulders. “Your sons will never forget what you’re doing for them.” (I thought – yeh, they’re so happy with this weekly piety! A memorable piece of their childhood.) The man also said something about not having a father when he grew up. Then he repeated, “your sons will never forget what you’re doing for them.” I hope you haven’t forgotten. Ora pro nobis. >

The discipline observed at Clonenagh was very rigorous; the fasting and abstinence were so severe that St. Canice [Kenneth, another of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland] of Aghaboe and other holy men remonstrated with St. Fintan on the subject. Yielding to their representations, he relaxed the rigor of his rule in favor of his community. But, Fintan, himself, adhered to his former mode of life.

< This turn of events is not uncommon with our saints. We draw people to us by our purity, our extreme if you will. Be perfect as My Father is perfect. That’s what Jesus expects of us. [no matter what your mother says about the impossibility and unreasonableness of expecting and pursuing perfection.] So, Fintan had the grace to find a path to perfection – and perfection is extreme. You do not become the best by pursuing less than the best. You do not fulfill your purpose without setting your eyes on God – not higher aspiration, ya think? And Fintan listened. Fintan learned that expecting others pursue perfection on his road did not work for everyone. He listened to Kenneth and his other holiest of disciples and friends. Fintan modified his rule for others – not the goal of their perfection but the path to follow in their pursuit. No half measures. Just not Fintan’s necessarily. >

Fintan also had a saintly brother, Finlugh. Like them, I hope you remain the worlds’ best brothers.

I love you,
Dad
1302

Feb 5 My response to Gail Collins' Planned Parenthood Under Siege

2011-02-05T11:36:00.000-05:00

Editor:

RE: Gail Collins’ February 4th column, The Siege of Planned Parenthood.

Ms Collins accurately asserts that “planned parenthood doesn’t use government money to provide abortions.” However, the truth is that money is fungible. Planned Parenthood takes my tax money and their accountants show that it is used for basic medical care. However, the tax money floats the organization’s abortion boat.

Let Planned Parenthood supporters replace the lost government funds with their own money. Then, let us all join together to assure that public, church, and charitable systems provide adequate health and medical services, not abortion, to the women and children who need it.

I agree that 20% of low-income teens in Texas having a baby deserve community effort to stop that. The abortion of the Forty One percent of pregnancies in New York City requires a greater effort.

Feb 5, Gail Collins' column: Planned Parenthood Under Siege

2011-02-05T11:34:00.000-05:00

OP-ED COLUMNIST
The Siege of Planned Parenthood
By GAIL COLLINS
Published: February 4, 2011

As if we didn’t have enough wars, the House of Representatives has declared one against Planned Parenthood.

Maybe it’s all part of a grand theme. Last month, they voted to repeal the health care law. This month, they’re going after an organization that provides millions of women with both family-planning services and basic health medical care, like pap smears and screening for diabetes, breast cancer, cervical cancer and sexually transmitted diseases.

Our legislative slogan for 2011: Let Them Use Leeches.

“What is more fiscally responsible than denying any and all funding to Planned Parenthood of America?” demanded Representative Mike Pence of Indiana, the chief sponsor of a bill to bar the government from directing any money to any organization that provides abortion services.

Planned Parenthood doesn’t use government money to provide abortions; Congress already prohibits that, except in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother. (Another anti-abortion bill that’s coming up for hearing originally proposed changing the wording to “forcible rape,” presumably under the theory that there was a problem with volunteer rape victims. On that matter at least, cooler heads prevailed.)

Planned Parenthood does pay for its own abortion services, though, and that’s what makes them a target. Pence has 154 co-sponsors for his bill. He was helped this week by an anti-abortion group called Live Action, which conducted a sting operation at 12 Planned Parenthood clinics in six states, in an effort to connect the clinic staff to child prostitution.

“Planned Parenthood aids and abets the sexual abuse and prostitution of minors,” announced Lila Rose, the beautiful anti-abortion activist who led the project. The right wing is currently chock-full of stunning women who want to end their gender’s right to control their own bodies. Homely middle-aged men are just going to have to find another sex to push around.

Live Action hired an actor who posed as a pimp and told Planned Parenthood counselors that he might have contracted a sexually transmitted disease from “one of the girls I manage.” He followed up with questions about how to obtain contraceptives and abortions, while indicating that some of his “girls” were under age and illegally in the country.

One counselor, shockingly, gave the “pimp” advice on how to game the system and was summarily fired when the video came out. But the others seem to have answered his questions accurately and flatly. Planned Parenthood says that after the man left, all the counselors — including the one who was fired — reported the conversation to their supervisors, who called the authorities. (One Arizona police department, the organization said, refused to file a report.)
Still, there is no way to look good while providing useful information to a self-proclaimed child molester, even if the cops get called. That, presumably, is why Live Action chose the scenario.

“We have a zero tolerance of nonreporting anything that would endanger a minor,” said Cecile Richards, the president of Planned Parenthood. “We do the same thing public hospitals do and public clinics do.”

But here’s the most notable thing about this whole debate: The people trying to put Planned Parenthood out of business do not seem concerned about what would happen to the 1.85 million low-income women who get family-planning help and medical care at the clinics each year. It just doesn’t come up. There’s not even a vague contingency plan.

“I haven’t seen that they want to propose an alternative,” said Richards.

There are tens of millions Americans who oppose abortion because of deeply held moral principles. But they’re attached to a political movement that sometimes seems to have come unmoored from any concern for life after birth.

There is no comparable organization to Planned Parenthood, providing the same kind of services on a national basis. If there were, most of the women eligible for Medicaid-financed family-planning assistance wouldn’t have to go without it. In Texas, which has one of the highest teenage birthrates in the country, only about 20 percent of low-income women get that kind of help. Yet Planned Parenthood is under attack, and the State Legislature has diverted some of its funding to crisis pregnancy centers, which provide no medical care and tend to be staffed by volunteers dedicated to dissuading women from having abortions.

In Washington, the new Republican majority that promised to do great things about jobs, jobs, jobs is preparing for hearings on a bill to make it economically impossible for insurance companies to offer policies that cover abortions. And in Texas, Gov. Rick Perry, faced with an epic budget crisis that’s left the state’s schools and health care services in crisis, has brought out emergency legislation — requiring mandatory sonograms for women considering abortion.

A version of this op-ed appeared in print on February 5, 2011, on page A17 of the New York edition.

Feb 4, Today's epistle

2011-02-04T11:05:00.001-05:00

Jack and Thom,
Good Morning, I love you
110204, 1100

The reading from Hebrews this morning continues the theme – how to be a disciple of Jesus.

February 4, 2011
Friday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Heb13:1-8

Let brotherly love continue.
Do not neglect hospitality,
Be mindful of prisoners as if sharing their imprisonment,
and of the ill-treated as of yourselves,
Let your life be free from love of money but be content with what you have.

Jesus has said, I will never forsake you or abandon you.
Thus we may say with confidence: The Lord is my helper, and I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?

Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you.
Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.

I love you,
Dad
1104

Feb 15 Farannan d. 590

2011-02-04T10:51:00.000-05:00

Jack and Thom,
Good Morning, I love you
110204, 0930

Yesterday was a quiet day. I got four solid hours of comfortable quiet and nonstop typing on several projects. I recommend the library at St. Paul’s for comfort and quiet. Thursday morning is library work day. There were four ladies – maybe my age, probably younger – diligently [and Quietly] putting up returned books and tapes/discs, progressing along the re-arrangement and expansion of space. The ladies were friends doing their work of love for the parish, for the parishioners – children and adults. There are many hands taking care of us – invisible hands, the hands of angels, the hands of God.

Then I spent the afternoon writing. It’s what I do. I can think and I can write; I wish I could also fast. [I also suggest Herman Hesse’s works.]

February 15

Farannan 590

Angels and Saints doesn’t give us much on this Irish saint. But probably all that we know about the man.

Farannan was a disciple of St. Columba (see below for brief Columba notes). Whom you follow determines where you go and how you wind up there. Choose wisely. Choose a Columba.

Farannan was an Abbot and, later, hermit. Maybe that’s like being a hospital ceo then becoming a recluse? Farannan ended in Allernan, Sligo. Maybe Sligo or Galway or Mayo – Nolan and Gavin families; there must be one who’d put up with me? Or you guys? Ora pro me.

St Columba b. 521 d. 597
(Catholic Encyclopedia online)

St Columba was The Abbot of Iona. One way to have your name associated with a place’s reputation – There is no Iona without Columba – in not only do good and excellent work but also stick with it for your body of work for your life. It’s counter culture – the average ‘life’ of a hospital ceo is less than five years. Be the guy who stays twenty five years. Do well and do good.

Columba was a royal of the Clan O’Donnell. He was born Colum meaning dove. A man who took his gifts and talents and resources and gave it all back to God, to us.

When sufficiently advanced in letters Columba entered the monastic school of Moville under St. Finnian who had studied at St. Ninian's "Magnum Monasterium" on the shores of Galloway.

< The pedigree is important. I am grateful for the gift of mine: Jesuits, Paul Weisberg and Paul Siegel: not to mention my father who rose to the top of his career. I hope I have done them proud. >

Columba at Moville monastic life and received the diaconate.

< The church has its progression of leadership. We recently had six deacons ordained in the Charlotte Diocese. We were blessed at St Paul’s by Mike Martini. He told us his story in his first Mass as deacon. His deaconate vocation started twenty years ago: TWENTY. With the full support of his wife and son. Also with the encouragement and support of deacons and priests along the way. I hope his first sermon is a taste of things to come. >

In Moville, Columba’s sanctity first manifested itself by miracles. By his prayers, tradition says, he converted water into wine for the Holy Sacrifice.

< Small steps. St. Teresa’s little way. For a saint of Columba’s stature small steps began with miracles at the beginning of his most holy life…. >

Having completed his training at Moville, he travelled southwards into Leinster, where he became a pupil of an aged bard named Gemman.

< Our vocation must be discerned properly, carefully, in loving devotion to God, family, faith, Church. Then along the way we must find those who will nurture our vocation and stick with them. It’s always an happy awakening when God sends us, like the Bard Gemman, into our lives. Our responsibility is to appreciate the people God has given us – including sons and father – and absorb the grace they bring us. >

On leaving Gemman, Columba entered the monastery of Clonard, governed at that time by Finnian, a remarkable, like his namesake of Moville, for sanctity and learning.

< Follow the bouncing ball. Columba did not wander randomly around Ireland. Columba followed the will of God, the vocation he heard with his entire being, and pursued it all with a laser fulfillment of the opportunities/people available to us. >

At Clonard, Columba imbibed the traditions of the Welsh Church, for Finnian had been trained in the schools of St. David.

< Remember this lesson. Columba sought his relationship with God via all the avenues available to him. He did not diss or avoid ‘the Welsh Church’s’ traditions. He assimilated them into his own piety and spirituality. This gave him much more to give to his disciples. >

Here also Columba became one those twelve Clonard disciples known in subsequent history as the Twelve Apostles of Ireland.

The Twelve Apostles of Erin, who came to study at the feet of St. Finian, at Clonard, on the banks of the Boyne and Kinnegad Rivers, are said to have been St. Ciaran of Saighir (Seir-Kieran) and St. Ciaran of Clonmacnois; St. Brendan of Birr and St. Brendan of Clonfert; St. Columba of Tir-da-glasí (Terryglass) and St. Columba of Iona; St. Mobhí of Glasnevin; St. Ruadhan of Lorrha; St. Senan of Iniscathay (Scattery Island); St. Ninnidh the Saintly of Loch Erne; St. Lasserian mac Nadfraech, and St. Canice [Kenneth] of Aghaboe.

About this same time Columba was promoted to the priesthood by Bishop Etchen of Clonfad.

Another preceptor of Columba was St. Mobhi, whose monastery at Glasnevin was frequented by such famous men as St. Canice, St. Comgall, and St. Ciaran. A pestilence which devastated Ireland in 544 caused the dispersion of Mobhi's disciples, and Columba returned to Ulster, the land of his kindred.

The following years were marked by Columba’s foundation of several important monasteries, Derry, Durrow, and Kells. Derry and Durrow were always specially dear to Columba. While at Derry, Columba went to Tours. Thence he brought a copy of those gospels that had lain on the bosom of St. Martin for the space of 100 years.

Columba left Ireland and passed over into Scotland in 563. Bede simply says: "Venit de Hibernia . . . praedicaturus verbum Dei" (H. E., III, iv); Adarnnan: "pro Christo perigrinari volens enavigavit" (Praef., II).

Columba was in his forty-fourth year when he departed from Ireland. He and his twelve companions crossed the sea in a currach of wickerwork covered with hides. They landed at Iona on the eve of Pentecost, 12 May, 563.

The island, according to Irish authorities, was granted to the monastic colonists by King Conall of Dalriada, Columba's kinsman.

It was a convenient situation, being midway between Columba’s countrymen along the western coast and the Picts of Caledonia. He and his brethren proceeded at once to erect their humble dwellings, consisting of a church, refectory, and cells, constructed of wattles and rough planks.

After spending some years among the Scots of Dalriada, Columba began the great work of his life, the conversion of the Northern Picts.

Together with St. Comgall and St. Canice (Kenneth) he visited King Brude in his royal residence near Inverness. Admittance was refused to the missionaries, and the gates were closed and bolted, but before the sign of the cross the bolts flew back, the doors stood open, and the monks entered the castle. Awe-struck by so evident a miracle, the king listened to Columba with reverence; and was baptized. The people soon followed the example set them, and thus was inaugurated a movement that extended itself to the whole of Caledonia.

Opposition was not wanting, and it came chiefly from the Druids, who officially represented the paganism of the nation.

< There is always opposition to change. Especially by those threatened with the loss of status, power, influence, ego. Beware of those people. Be sure you have someone watching your back. I know of what I speak. It seems that the most likely to resist change, to be the subterfuge for improvement and good news, are those previously responsible for the ‘spiritual’ well being of the people. This applies culturally as it happened to Columba. This also applies to any organization in which you bring change. Identify the Druids in the organization and watch out for them. >

The thirty-two remaining years of Columba's life were mainly spent in preaching the Christian Faith to the inhabitants of the glens and wooded straths of Northern Scotland.

< Find your vocation. Find your place. You and God and the people around you stick it out. >

The preaching of the saint was confirmed by many miracles, and he provided for the instruction of his converts by the erection of numerous churches and monasteries.

< Follow the lives of the missionaries. See how they brought salvation to the country. Identify how that also applies to any organizational change. Miracles? Sure! There’s always low hanging fruits. Make big changes easily – something never done there before – a miracle! Then plant your new religion throughout the organization. Put your people in place as the new priests and teachers and providers of the goodies at your disposal. Columba came from a royal family. Leading, redirecting, changing people’s minds and wills were all in his DNA. As they are in yours, by the way: from your father and grandfather fersure; your grandmother was always the president of one parish organization or another. Read. Study. Learn. Emulate. >

When not engaged in missionary journeys, Columba always resided at Iona. Numerous strangers sought him there, and they received help for soul and body.

< Have a home base. First and foremost, a foundation in God. Second, a place where people know where to find you. Let them come to you. Let your light shine for them, to draw them, to show them in your regular life that what you say is doable. >

From Iona Columba governed numerous communities in Ireland and Caledonia.

< This reminded me of Dr. Frist, Sr. and Dr. Fist Jr. (Tommy). They started HCA. They got the KFC franchise idea from their founder and applied it to healthcare. I worship the ground Dr. Frist walked on. He was a great man, a holy man, a wise man. Tommy was the man in charge by the time I joined HCA. He too was brilliant and kind. When I was asked before the LBO, ‘what’s it like working for HCA?’ I answered, is it appropriate to say that a $20 billion dollar company is like a family business. We lived the spirit of Dr. Frist – good people beget good people. And, the success of a hospital is based on three reasons – administrator, administrator, administrator. That’s Humbling! Not to mention the expectation to lead and succeed. >

Columba is said never to have spent an hour without study, prayer, or similar occupations.

< Today’s NH has a column elaborating on the place of prayer in our life: The Necessary place of prayer. It is not by accident that Columba was extraordinarily successful and constantly prayerful. >

Columba wrote 300 books with his own hand, two of which, "The Book of Durrow" and the psalter called "The Cathach", have been preserved to the present time.

St. Columba was tall and of dignified mien. Adamnan says: "He was angelic in appearance, graceful in speech, holy in work" (Praef., II). His voice was strong, sweet, and sonorous capable at times of being heard at a great distance.

He inherited the ardent temperament and strong passions of his race.

< me too? I confess, I hope so. >

It has been sometimes said that he was of an angry and vindictive spirit. But the deeds that roused his indignation were wrongs done to others, and the retribution that overtook the perpetrators was rather predicted than actually invoked.

Whatever faults were inherent in his nature he overcame and he stands before the world conspicuous for humility and charity not only towards has brethren, but towards strangers also.

He was generous and warm-hearted, tender and kind even to dumb creatures. He was ever ready to sympathize with the joys and sorrows of others. His fasts and vigils were carried to a great extent.

His chastity of body and purity of mind are extolled by all his biographers. Notwithstanding his wonderful austerities, Adamnan assures us he was beloved by all, "for a holy joyousness that ever beamed from his countenance revealed the gladness with which the Holy Spirit filled his soul". (Praef., II.)

Columba was not only a great missionary saint who won a whole kingdom to Christ, but he was a statesman, a scholar, a poet, and the founder of numerous churches and monasteries.

I love you,
Dad
1049

Feb 3, today - a thank you

2011-02-03T12:04:00.000-05:00

To Whom it may concern:

You, who've clicked on. Thank you for visiting.

In addition to your click for stopping by, please take a moment and leave your own comment.

Thanks
bill
110203, 1204

Feb 15 Berach, d. 495 (and his mentor, Kevin, as an aside)

2011-02-03T12:01:00.000-05:00

Thom and Jack,
Good Morning, I love you
110203, 1119

February 15

Berach d. 595
(Angels and Saints, Catholic Encyclopedia Online, UndertheOak)

Berach was raised by his uncle, St Freoch. Berach was of the tribe of Cinel Dobtha. Most of his life was spent in the Diocese of Elphin. Being raised by an uncle… being part of a clan. When we lived on Boynton Street in Portland, my Aunt Julia and cousin Marty lived with us for about a year. When we first moved back to NYC, we lived with my Uncle Walter and his family for a while so that Ken and I could start school at the beginning of the year but my folks hadn’t yet found us a place to live. Be forever the best brothers in all the world….

Berach’s sister, Midabaria, grew up to be a saint. St. Midabaria, was abbess of a nunnery at Bumlin (Strokestown), of which she is venerated as patroness.

His first teacher was Saint Daigh of Iniscaoin, County Louth, and it was while a student there that Saint Berach worked one of his most famous miracles.

Daigh sent him to a certain mill in Magh Muirtheimhne with a sack of wheat to grind it, and he found a woman and a boy of the people of the territory before him at the mill, they having with them a sack of oats to grind it ; and Berach asked of them their turn of the mill, but they did not give it to him, and they put together the oats and the wheat into the mill, and a division was made between them in the mill through the miracles of God and of Berach, so that the wheat was on one side and the oats on the other side without the admixture of the meal of the one with that of the other.

In his early days, Berach spent some time there and performed many miracles.

For these reasons, Daigh sent Berach to learn from St. Kevin. (See below for an excursion into Kevin’s life.) It does matter to whom you give your loyalty, from whom you learn, who you imitate. Find yourself a Kevin. Discern thoroughly, choose wisely.

He spent seven years at Glendalough at the end of which Saint Kevin took Saint Berach to Bishop Etchen for ordination. Afterwards Saint Berach had a vision that he was to leave the monastery of Saint Kevin and follow a deer which would lead him to the site where he was to found his own hermitage.

Berach built his church at Cluain Coirpthe since known as Kilbarry where Berach is the patron saint. St. Berach built an oratory at Cluain where he was made Abbot. Berach’s holy life attracted pilgrims to Kilbarry from all parts of Ireland.

Orthodox Hymn of Saint Berach:

Troparion of St Berach tone 1
Disciple of our Father Kevin,/ teacher of Orthodox piety and radiance of all Connaught, O Father Berach,/ by thy life and example thou didst bring many souls to Christ./ Wherefore we pray thee to intercede for us that our souls may be saved.

< An ancient prayer which we should take to heart today. By our life and example is how we not only make our own way to God but we also bring many souls to Christ. >

St Kevin – an aside as mentor St Berach

Kevin, according to tradition, was born at the Fort of the White Fountain in Leinster, Ireland, of royal descent. He was baptized by St. Cronan and educated by St. Petroc.

< Y’all were baptized by Kevin O’Connell, S.J., now a missionary pastor in Amman. You were educated, formally, for grammar school, by the Dominican Sisters. Unfortunately, your education since Overbrook, as well as in your mother’s house post-divorce, has been contrary to our Catholicism. Let Kevin, saint and today’s priest, help you be faithful. >

Kevin was ordained, and became a hermit at the Valley of the Two Lakes in Glendalough. After seven years there, he was persuaded to give up his solitary life. He went to Disert-Coemgen, where he founded a monastery for the disciples he attracted, and later moved to Glendalough.

Kevin made a pilgrimage to Rome, bringing back many relics for his permanent foundation at Glendalough. He was a friend of St. Kieran of Clonmacnois, and was entrusted with the raising of the son of King Colman of Ui Faelain, by the king.

Many extravagant miracles were attributed to Kevin, and he was reputed to be 120 years old at his death. His feast day is June 3rd.

I love you,
Dad
1159

Feb 3, Sundays' readings

2011-02-03T11:13:00.000-05:00

Thom and Jack,
Good Morning, I love you
110203, 1016

This past Sunday our lesson for the Third Graders was Choose Love. Choose. Love. This is a humbling endeavor for anyone, especially me, a sinner. Then comes the implications of that choice – personified in one student’s reaction to Jesus’ admonition to Love your Enemy. The student took the oppositional stance that ‘not me, I hate my enemies. I’ll come back to that challenge for me; and for the student.

Do you remember the previous week’s (1/23) Gospel? Jesus called Peter and Andrew, James and John – all of whom responded immediately, at once. Jesus called them, calls us, to be fishers of men. And what does that mean? What does Jesus expect of us who Love him?

This week (1/30) our Gospel started us into several Mathew’s passages with the Beatitudes.
Poor in Spirit
Mourn
Meek
Hunger and thirst for Righteousness
Merciful
Peacemaker
Persecuted for our Righteousness
Insulted and persecuted because of our relationship with Jesus

The Law of Love: Ten Commandments + Beatitudes.
Summed up in John13:34: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.

The Lesson emphasized choice. You can lead a horse to water and all that. Or you can be stubborn as a mule and not drink of the living water of life. God gives us His Love. God is Love. God loves us. So, choose to accept that love or not. Choose to return that love or not. Life is better when we choose to be loved and love in return. Choose the Gift!

Learning to Forgive. What does it take to Forgive? A necessary, though not sufficient, ingredient for forgiveness is Love. Love as God Loves us. We get the story of Joseph of the Multicolor Dreamcoat. After being sold into slavery, Joseph forgave his eleven brothers when they came to Egypt begging for food, unbeknownst to them, to Joseph himself. Is being dissed by my sons, ignored by them worse than being sold into slavery by them? I suppose not. Yes, love, the secret of a father’s love, is the only relevant, redeemable response. Ora pro nobis.

Living the Law of Love. How do people in our parish do this? It’s a four page list of ‘ministries.’ So, as third graders, what can we do too? There are about a dozen ways for third graders individually or us as a class to live the law of love. More importantly, how do we do that every day? With family, friends, school mates, neighbors, people we play soccer, gymnastics, piano, ballet et al with. How do we bring God, Jesus, into our every day? The range of examples that the children have is humbling. Letting them see how they, in their everyday going about their lives, live the Law of Love, seeing their eyes open with insight and their humble pride, was more than enough reward for being able to participate in their faith formation.

Love your Enemy. ‘Not me, I hate my enemy.’ So, now we get a half dozen third graders discuss the two options and the effect of their choice on themselves, on our relationship with God, in our sphere of influence.

I’m a lector for February 6th. After class this past Sunday, I looked ahead to my reading for next week. I imagined reading to my students – eight and nine year olds. And if I’m ‘preaching’ God’s word to the children then I must moreso live the Word.

2/5/11
Isaiah58:7-10
Share your bread with the hungry
Shelter the oppressed and the homeless
Clothe the naked
Do not turn your back on your own
Remove from your midst oppression, false accusation, and malicious speech
Satisfy the afflicted

Mt5:13-16
You are the salt of the earth
You are the light of the world
Your light must shine before others
That they may see your good deeds AND
Glorify your heavenly father.

Clear enough?

2/12/11
Sirach15:15-20
If you choose, you can keep the commandments
Choose:
Fire or water
Life or death
Good or evil
To none does God give license to sin

Mt 5:17-37
Whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.
I say to you whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment.
Whoever says to his brother, Raqa (Idiot!), will be answerable to the Sanhedrin.
Whoever says ‘you fool’, will be liable to fiery Gehenna.
Everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Whoever divorces his wife, unless the marriage is unlawful, causes her to commit adultery.
Whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Do not swear at all. Let your yes mean yes and your no mean no.

Take the time to read and reflect on the weekly readings….

I love you,
Dad
1111

Feb 3 St Blaise, today

2011-02-03T10:14:00.000-05:00

Thom and Jack,
Good Morning, I love you
110203, 0946

Today is the feast of Saint Blaise – the blessing of the throats: with a final punchline “and all diseases. Amen.” We all pray for freedom from disease, illness, injury, any and all disabilities. Today is the day we get a blessing praying to St. Blaise to intercede for us.

Responsorial Psalm, Ps 48:2-3ab, 3cd-4, 9, 10-11

R. O God, we ponder your mercy within your temple.

< On this day of our prayer for freedom from all disease, we ponder God’s mercy here in Church. All diseases. Of the heart and mind and soul as well as the body. Ora pro me. … I saw today at Mass the father of one of my third graders. He had been very sick starting around Christmas – putting no small pall over the family’s holydays. I was rewarded to see the family rally around him and the extended family rally around them and the community rally around them. Within God’s temple, the miracles of healing come in many ways. >

As your name, O God, so also your praise reaches to the ends of the earth. Of justice your right hand is full.

< Reading poetry is a skill. The poet moves words around to make our mind pay closer attention. To make us take an extra moment to digest the words and cipher the meaning. As God’s name reaches the ends of the earth, so also will His praise. The only way God’s name gets anywhere is for us to bring His name – including his healing. To the extent that we bring God’s name with us, so too will God be praised – not us, but God. >

Gospel Mk 6:7-13

Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two
and gave them authority over unclean spirits.

< There are unclean spirits per se and, at the time, there was the belief that unclean spirits were the cause of disease et al. So Jesus sent the Twelve out to heal. A fitting Gospel for the feast of St. Blaise. >

He said to them, “Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them.”

< We are sent forth to do God’s work, to bring His name, to show to the world our duty to praise Him. And to keep moving, don’t pick a fight, plant the seed, let the next Apostle come and renew the effort. >

So they went off and preached repentance.

< The source of our healing is repentance. Diseases, illnesses, how more starkly can we be reminded that we are not the masters of the universe, not even the masters of ourselves. Repent. Put yourself in the position with God that mimics this morning’s prayer to St. Blaise, bishop and martyr, to protect us against all illnesses of the throat and all other diseases. >

The Twelve drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

< Let us too drive out demons – from ourselves, from our family, from our friends. Let us anoint the sick with our holy oil so that we and they may be cured. Body, mind, spirit, and heart. >

I love you,
Dad
1013

Feb 2 The Presentation of the Lord

2011-02-03T09:43:00.001-05:00

Thom and Jack,
Good Morning, I love you
110202, 1111

The Presentation of the Lord
Feast of the Purification of Mary
Candlemas Day
(see also February 2, 2008)

Groundhog Day
Birthday of friend and mentor

It all came together when I was at Mass earlier. I wondered what was up with the stack of candles at he side of the altar – tomorrow’s the feast of St Blaise. I was a little slow on the uptake – checked the missal and saw it is the Feast of the Presentation. The other feasts rolled over my memory like a riff: Purification of Mary, Candlemas; and, oh by the way, Groundhog Day, and, yeh, Ed’s birthday, too. [and I thought September 15th was a big day in my life!? Which, of course, it is – my father’s birthday, my best friend’s birthday, the almost birthday of Jack – ya know, if we had waited only two hours, it was, after all a C-section.]

The Presentation of the Lord. Forty Days after Jesus’ birth – as per all the Jewish laws and rituals. I immediately went to each of your baptisms. I’m sure the little water on your birth-day counted, just in case. But, your mother and I had agreed [and this agreement she actually went through on] – born in Nashville and baptized in New York City, at the same church where your father was baptized on August 14, 1949. My memories and feeloughts of those days, connected inexorably with your births, are potent and labile still. I teared. Tears of joy and regret.

The Presentation of the Lord in the Temple has been a feast of meditation for me since I can remember praying. There’s the rosary decade. It is a biblical scene with potent imagery and fulfillment of prophecies as well as replete with characters for men and women, boys and girls, of all times, in all ages - - a Catholic feast and meditation. Read Luke. Read the references to the OT. Immerse yourself in the actual day, two thousand years ago. Let yourself absorb the history and the actuality of the day. See the world for the point of view of each participant. [E.g., what about the guy who sold Joseph the doves?]

The possibilities will carry you for days – and each year when we come back to the feast, it will be a new experience because you bring something new to the day. After becoming a father, the day changes radically.

The Purification of Mary. This angle on the day takes more being in the mindset of the day. There was no ‘purification’ ritual or considerations about your mother. But, if Jack were born in Jesus’ time, he would likely not have survived the birth. The umbilical chord was across the exit and would likely have strangled him. If he survived that, the ravages of your mother’s herpes filling her vagina would have likely done you in. Thank God for modern medicine. Timing does count.

Candlemas Day. This picked up some extra meaning and meditation for me today because I’m guiding a group of third graders in the mystery and symbolism of Light vis a vis themselves and Jesus. The lesson for our next class is built around candles [and light houses]. I am humbled every week by the wisdom, knowledge, piety, and holiness of this group of third graders. One of them gave me a candle for a Christmas present. Think about the candles in the Church every day – at the altar, at the tabernacle, the Easter candle; plus, in December, the Advent candles; in many churches the racks of candles for us to light to ask God for something or someone. Each of these uses of candles are worthy of their own meditations.

[Once upon a time, we had two candles, on the altar, lit for Mass. We lit the ‘six’ candles on the level above the altar for High Mass. It was a skill to use the pole with the wick in it to reach up to light the candles way above our head. Today, we have the six candles on stands beside the altar. What’s with that?]

Groundhog Day. Our watching the movie over and over and over again is among my favorite feeloughts – which I renew at least once or twice a year when I re-watch the movie. Unfortunately, we don’t get a mulligan over and over etc. Our lives are on a linear sleigh ride. There’s no erasing the past. There’s no learning from the past and getting to go back to the day of the mistake and prevent it. We live with our mistakes. That’s the test. That’s the cross. That’s the beauty of the prodigal son/forgiving father. Remember, the secret of a Father’s Love is that a father’s love is forever – no matter what.

I sent Ed a ‘happy birthday’, ‘happy groundhog day’, ‘go steelers’ text (he’s from pittsburg and a steelers fan - - all of us yankees brought our hometown team fandom with us when we came south. [y’all, unfortunately, only got Vanderbilt. Though, being a UT fan in Nashville was a chance to share in victory more often on the gridiron. Until the Titans and Predators came to town – too bad we only shared those opportunities at the whim of your mother.]

[Catholic Encyclopedia online]

According to the Mosaic law (Leviticus 12:2-8). I frequently wonder “why do we need THAT law?! Why is it a LAW? There must have been a reason at the time. Some one(s) had to make it up. The rest of the folks had to nod their heads in acquiescence. And, after a while, I guess it all comes under “Tradition.” That which holds us all together in our common beliefs and rituals. Our common compliance for the good of all. For the greater good. Ad majorem Dei gloriam. AMDG – we put that on our papers right below our name and the date. And why do we need all the details? Whether in the minutiae of rules or the plethora of Wisdom sayings. Well, maybe some of us need more guidance than others? Maybe the Law of Love is not sufficient? Given concupiscence we should know that we need all the help we can get. And then, and then, we have to be humble and accept we are creatures….

Forty days after the birth of Christ Mary [and Joseph!] complied with this precept of the law, she redeemed her first-born from the temple (Numbers 18:15). In the OT, the child was ‘redeemed’ from the temple. It was assumed that the birth of a child was the Gift from God. And the parents had to ask for the child back. We on the other hand, bring you to God, we speak for you, for us, for family and faith, that we give you to God, dedicate ourselves, your parents and you, to God in our individual and familial lives. [I wish your parents were in accord on this premise. I’m sorry they weren’t.]

Blessing of candles and procession. Do you know why our altar candles must be beeswax? And then we have the canticle of Simeon: Lumen ad revelationen gentium et gloriam plebis tuae Israel.

I love you,
Dad

My comment on NY Times editorial re: state abortion wars: new criteria to justify/legalize abortions

2011-01-30T14:26:00.000-05:00

RE: Two Abortion Wars: State Battles Over Roe V. Wade, January 29, 2010

I disagree with the Times’ support of any “viability standard.” Whose, pray tell, viability are we talking about? Still, if we accept the premises of the “viability argument,” the Times must accept that we will continuously argue about ‘how many weeks.’

The Times now proposes horrific new justifications for abortion: “severe fetal anomalies” and “a tragic fetal diagnosis.” Using the Times’ “logic,” it is permissible to restrict, maybe ban, ‘abortion’ after “viability” of a human person. Except, the Times now wants to permit abortion, i.e., killing people (albeit 24 or 36 weeks old; or, logically, 24 months or 36 years old) with, generically speaking, undesirable disabilities.

The slippery slope of “abortion rights” is starkly before us.

Americans must respond with all our might to oppose outrageous legalization of terminating life because the person has a “tragic diagnosis.”

NY Times Editorial - Two Abortion Wars: State Battles Over Roe v. Wade 1-30-11

2011-01-30T14:24:00.000-05:00

The Two Abortion Wars: State Battles Over Roe v. Wade
Published: January 29, 2011

Away from Washington, another ominous anti-abortion battle is accelerating in the states. Anti-abortion forces have been trying to take advantage of the 2007 ruling in which the Supreme Court upheld a federal ban on a particular method of abortion.

In 2010, more than 600 measures were introduced in state legislatures to limit access to abortion and some 34 secured passage, according to tallies by Naral Pro-Choice America and the Center for Reproductive Rights. November’s elections made the outlook even bleaker.

Twenty-nine governors are considered solidly anti-abortion, up from 21 before the election. In 15 states, both the legislature and the governor are anti-abortion, compared with 10 last year. This math greatly increases the prospect of extreme efforts to undermine abortion access with Big Brother measures that require physicians to read scripts about fetal development and provide ultrasound images, and that impose mandatory waiting periods or create other unnecessary regulations.

Such restrictions, combined with a persistent atmosphere of intimidation and violence, have taken a grievous toll on the fundamental right protected by Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that recognized a woman’s constitutional right to make her own child-bearing decisions. Eighty-seven percent of counties have no abortion provider, according to the Guttmacher Institute.

For the moment, most state legislatures are preoccupied with budget crises, so the next abortion battles are still taking shape. However, there are at least two areas where anti-abortion forces will be active in 2011.

The first is the fight over health insurance. The second is the expanding effort to ban later abortions.
Reigning Supreme Court precedent restricts the government’s ability to bar abortions prior to the point considered to be the earliest a fetus could survive outside the womb, around 22 to 26 weeks after conception.

Nebraska enacted a law last year directly challenging the viability standard. The statute, which went into effect in October, bans abortions 20 weeks after conception. It includes a very narrow exception for a woman’s life and physical health, and lacks any exception for the discovery of severe fetal anomalies. Copycat laws are now pending in other states.

About 90 percent of abortions take place in the first trimester, but that does not excuse some states’ efforts to require women to continue pregnancies after a tragic fetal diagnosis or pregnancies that result from rape or incest. The objective is to provide the Supreme Court’s conservative majority with a new vehicle for further tampering with Roe v. Wade’s insight that the decision about whether to terminate a pregnancy is best left to women and their doctors pre-viability.

Americans who support women’s reproductive rights and oppose this kind of outrageous government intrusion need to respond with rising force and clarity to this real and immediate danger.

A version of this editorial appeared in print on January 30, 2011, on page WK7 of the New York edition.

February 13 John Lantrua d. 1816 bl. 1900

2011-01-27T14:15:00.000-05:00

Jack and Thom,
Good Morning, I love you
110127, 1357

In Google, second page for Bl John of Triora, is the 2008 entry on saintsandsons.

February 13

John Lantrua of Triora b. 1760 d. 1816 beat. 1900

John Lantrua, an Italian, joined the Franciscans when he was 17. Our recognition of our vocation comes when it comes. The call to do God’s will never stops. Be sure you are asking the right question – not, what do I want to do? Not, what does mommy want me to be? But, What is God’s will? Or, as Jesus prayed at Gethsemane, not my will but yours be done.

This is not a once in a lifetime question. The finding of Jesus in the Temple, he was 12, right? His parents were stunned. They also did not fully grasp his answer to them – don’t you know I’m suppose to be about my father’s business? Mary and Joseph told the boy to get His blessed ass in gear and come with them back home. Luke makes a point that not only did Jesus go with Joseph and Mary, he was obedient to them – that’d be the Fourth Commandment.

So. 12. 17. 21. 23. 61. Pick an age, any age. The question is constant. You are the one responsible for proper discernment. Who knows, you may be tapped to become a Franciscan. You may be called to go to China to convert those not introduced to Jesus. You may be called to stay in GSO and withstand antiCatholicism to convert yourselves and those in your personal circle.

John Lantrua volunteered for the Chinese missions when he was 38 (1798). See, you never know who will get your attention for the next responsibility you have qua Catholic, son of God.

Then, like John of Lantrua, you may find the vocation meant for you and wind up being arrested, imprisoned, and strangled to death in 1816. No doubt your faith and your piety and your proselytizing will result in psychological arrest, imprisonment, and strangulation. Day in and day out. how are you preparing yourself to be Catholic in the best of times and in the worst of times?

Ora pro nobis.

I love you,
Dad
1413

February 9 Cronan the Wise 8th c.

2011-01-27T13:02:00.000-05:00

Thom and Jack,
Good Morning, I love you
110127, 1111

A week since last blogging? What have I been up to? Dithering in a much more unproductive way, I am sure. Besides, what do you care what I have been doing? How much do I matter to anyone in the communion of saints? To my family? To those who bump into my circle of impact? Barely a grain of sand on the beach; under the heel of those who saunter by.

“I’ll see what I can do.”

Gee, thanks for that. It’s a coward’s way of saying ‘not only no, but hell no.’ It’s disingenuous. It’s a lie. It’s a cover-up for the decision to not do what is the right thing to do. I’ll try would be better. But “I’ll try” elicits Yoda’s infamous retort, “there is not try. There is either do or not do.” Don’t dishonor yourself with the blather. Man up! Even if it is to choose wrongly, be a man and stand by your choice. Let words be meaningful. Listen to yourself when you say such inanities. You are better than that! God didn’t create such a wimp. Your father certainly didn’t instill those words in your repertoire. Duh! It does matter with whom you align. It does matter whom you seek to please. It does matter whom you wish to emulate. Good luck with that.

And, as Cicero said in his Cataline orations – we will pass over what else you said.

I’m between jobs.

I’m thinking about getting certified.

I’m still in the same place.
Oh yeah, that one is true on every level. Except that the same place isn’t a static phenomenon. To not be progressing, to not be improving, to not be seeking, to not be pursuing, leaves things and you getting worse off each and every second. I know from which I speak.

Ora pro nobis.

And then, after being dissed by ‘I’ll see what I can do,’ I pondered the continued ignoring from the editor of NH. “I’m reviewing them…” “I’ll get back to you soon…” Alas, soon has come and gone, several times. C’est la vie. Certainly, it’s much of my life. When you are on the side of holding others in abeyance, remember that their soon is yesterday. It’s a bear responding in other people’s timeframe. It means that we take the responsibility for their feeloughts. Maybe, that’s too much to ask. Maybe, it’s too much to give.

If this is what waiting for an answer of ‘come join us’ is like in this world, how much torture is Purgatory? Ora pro nobis.

February 9
(Talk about dithering. It’s January 27th real time and I’m only on the 9th of Feb for saints of the day. The rationale can be that I won’t be a viewpoint in the NH. That also speaks to my lack of discipline on several dimensions. Pursuing publication is underdone. Taking the time each day to ponder and write on a saint or two is also not going as planned. At bedside and at chairside in my prayer space are a plethora of saint books. It really is a simple matter of opening the computer and typing away. Oh well. I’m much more of a binge and purge kind of guy than a steady, disciplined anything…. Ora pro me.)

Cronan the Wise 8th century

Saints and Angels give us two lines. Brigid-UndertheOak.blogspot.com gives us Canon O’Hanlon’s elaboration.

Cronan the wise was a bishop of Ireland. Today, the bishops of Ireland are under fire for the ‘priest-abuse’ atrocities. Probably not a saint among that bunch today. I bet that if Cronan the Wise heard of a priest in 8th c. Ireland abusing children, he’d have his penis cut off and hung on a stake near his house. Our bishops – yes, OUR, i.e., Catholic, yes, we share in the communion of saints – in Ireland, Belgium, Germany, the USA, and elsewhere I have no doubt, were complicit in the epidemic of atrocities because (a) they were more interested in defending Church than Children or (b) they were prisoners of their role as defenders of the Church canons and Church independence vis a vis secular government (c) they were dependent on expert opinion which years ago told them that child abuse is something that can be cured or, at least, under the right circumstances, manageable or (d) all of the above. Ora pro nobis.

Cronan the Wise systematized canon law in Ireland. No doubt we could use a Cronan the Wise in Ireland today. In the Vatican today. In our Church we live in a parallel universe with the secular “real” world.

We have the still percolating, maybe worsening, situation with our Bishop of the Phoenix Diocese. In today’s NY Times, one of their lead columnists did a story on the De-Catholicizing of St Joseph’s Hospital because, almost two years ago now, the hospital supported the mother’s and father’s decision to terminate their pregnancy in order to save the mother’s life. [I admit that I frame the situation to my bias. Bishop Olmstead et al. would state the situation very differently.] How much would the systematizer of canon law be also a pastoral bishop? A moral theologian [not a moralistic one].

And then we have a much longer story about Cronan the Wise from UndertheOak. Most of which tells us about how confusing is our ‘record’ of Irish saints named Cronan or Mochua.

O'Hanlon believes that our Saint Cronan/Mochua flourished within the County Waterford area, where he first embraced the monastic life under Saint Carthage at Rathan. Cronan the Wise is said to have been the first, who made his religious profession, under St. Carthage, in the famous monastic establishment of Rathen.

Deriving every advantage from the training of this great saint, Cronan made considerable progress in virtue. It does matter under whom you learn – regardless of the content of the learning. The substance of learning is the virtue gained: personal and professional. Choose more wisely, please.

Cronan the Wise was placed by St. Carthage, over an establishment, near Rathen. This place is called Cluain Dachran. When we grow in virtue and demonstrate what we are able to contribute, we will be called upon to give more, to lead others. First, it is a vocational choice whether or not to step from minion to leader. For some, this is not the right choice. Discern wisely. Ask – Is this God’s will for me? Second, when we are tapped to do the next step in our career, realize that it is a qualitatively new responsibility. New competencies and greater virtue.

Apparently, we have a consensus that Cronan the Wise was probably martyred by the Danes of the Swords, County Dublin. Martyred along with the slaughter of his entire family/clan. Love those Danes…. (consensus but not unanimity)

I love you,
Dad
1236

Nicholas Kristof's take on St Joseph Hospital in Phoenix

2011-01-27T12:19:00.002-05:00

We are now a couple of years into this "story" and maybe it won't go away soon. Not before we find a reconciliation for the couple, the hospital, those of us Catholics in Healthcare, and the local Bishop. (is local bishop a reduncancy or an oxymoron?)

The Story has made it big time in the NY Times now. Catholic News Service, America Magazine, and many other Catholic publications have been on the many angles of this story from the beginning. But today, we get Nicholas Kristof's comment. [and mine among the comments on the comment.] Go see the vituperation in the comments there, especially from "former Catholics." Ora Pro Nobis.

OP-ED COLUMNIST
Tussling Over Jesus
By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF
Published: January 26, 2011

The National Catholic Reporter newspaper put it best: “Just days before Christians celebrated Christmas, Jesus got evicted.”

Yet the person giving Jesus the heave-ho in this case was not a Bethlehem innkeeper. Nor was it an overzealous mayor angering conservatives by pulling down Christmas decorations. Rather, it was a prominent bishop, Thomas Olmsted, stripping St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix of its affiliation with the Roman Catholic diocese.

The hospital’s offense? It had terminated a pregnancy to save the life of the mother. The hospital says the 27-year-old woman, a mother of four children, would almost certainly have died otherwise.

Bishop Olmsted initially excommunicated a nun, Sister Margaret McBride, who had been on the hospital’s ethics committee and had approved of the decision. That seems to have been a failed attempt to bully the hospital into submission, but it refused to cave and continues to employ Sister Margaret. Now the bishop, in effect, is excommunicating the entire hospital — all because it saved a woman’s life.

Make no mistake: This clash of values is a bellwether of a profound disagreement that is playing out at many Catholic hospitals around the country. These hospitals are part of the backbone of American health care, amounting to 15 percent of hospital beds.

Already in Bend, Ore., last year, a bishop ended the church’s official relationship with St. Charles Medical Center for making tubal ligation sterilizations available to women who requested them. And two Catholic hospitals in Texas halted tubal ligations at the insistence of the local bishop in Tyler.

The National Women’s Law Center has just issued a report quoting doctors at Catholic-affiliated hospitals as saying that sometimes they are forced by church doctrine to provide substandard care to women with miscarriages or ectopic pregnancies in ways that can leave the women infertile or even endanger their lives. More clashes are likely as the church hierarchy grows more conservative, and as hospitals and laity grow more impatient with bishops who seem increasingly out of touch.

Catholic hospitals like St. Joseph’s that are evicted by the church continue to operate largely as before. The main consequence is that Mass can no longer be said in the hospital chapel. Thomas C. Fox, the editor of National Catholic Reporter, noted regretfully that a hospital with deep Catholic roots like St. Joseph’s now cannot celebrate Mass, while airport chapels can. Mr. Fox added: “Olmsted’s moral certitude is lifeless, leaving no place for compassionate Christianity.”

To me, this battle illuminates two rival religious approaches, within the Catholic church and any spiritual tradition. One approach focuses upon dogma, sanctity, rules and the punishment of sinners. The other exalts compassion for the needy and mercy for sinners — and, perhaps, above all, inclusiveness.

The thought that keeps nagging at me is this: If you look at Bishop Olmsted and Sister Margaret as the protagonists in this battle, one of them truly seems to me to have emulated the life of Jesus. And it’s not the bishop, who has spent much of his adult life as a Vatican bureaucrat climbing the career ladder. It’s Sister Margaret, who like so many nuns has toiled for decades on behalf of the neediest and sickest among us. Then along comes Bishop Olmsted to excommunicate the Christ-like figure in our story. If Jesus were around today, he might sue the bishop for defamation.

Yet in this battle, it’s fascinating how much support St. Joseph’s Hospital has had and how firmly it has pushed back — in effect, pounding 95 theses on the bishop’s door. The hospital backed up Sister Margaret, and it rejected the bishop’s demand that it never again terminate a pregnancy to save the life of a mother.

“St. Joseph’s will continue through our words and deeds to carry out the healing ministry of Jesus,” said Linda Hunt, the hospital president. “Our operations, policies, and procedures will not change.” The Catholic Health Association of the United States, a network of Catholic hospitals around the country, stood squarely behind St. Joseph’s.

Anne Rice, the author and a commentator on Catholicism, sees a potential turning point. “St. Joseph’s refusal to knuckle under to the bishop is huge,” she told me, adding: “Maybe rank-and-file Catholics are finally talking back to a hierarchy that long ago deserted them.”

With the Vatican seemingly as deaf and remote as it was in 1517, some Catholics at the grass roots are pushing to recover their faith. Jamie L. Manson, the same columnist for National Catholic Reporter who proclaimed that Jesus had been “evicted,” also argued powerfully that many ordinary Catholics have reached a breaking point and that St. Joseph’s heralds a new vision of Catholicism: “Though they will be denied the opportunity to celebrate the Eucharist, the Eucharist will rise out of St. Joseph’s every time the sick are healed, the frightened are comforted, the lonely are visited, the weak are fed, and vigil is kept over the dying.”

Hallelujah.

NY Times comment - St Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix. Response to N. Kristof's column in today's paper

2011-01-27T12:08:00.000-05:00

NY Times on line
January 27th, 2011
11:18 am

Bishop Olmstead was right. The doctors and the hospital were right.

What is most important is that the mother and father decided to do the right thing. They are the ones who get our prayers and condolences. they are the ones upon whom we should focus. This was an excruciating, personal, moral, salvific choice they made - for themselves, for their child, for their family, and, in a real way, for the rest of us.

Unfortunately, the Catholic Bishop, the Catholic Doctors, The Catholic Hospital did not come to One right decision for the Catholic couple and the many couples who will come after them.

The Bishop's error was doing Monday morning quarterbacking without finding a moral and supportive answer for the couple. The Doctors and Hospital apparently erred by not finding the doctors who subsequently pontificated that, yes, both mother and child could be saved.

Now, we Catholics are still left without the unified pastoral guidance we deserve from our Catholic leaders. My conclusion is that the mother and father followed their properly formed conscience (no 's', the couple's conscience) (an assumption I grant them because they deliberately chose a Catholic Hospital and refused an abortion prior to admission). Since the mother did what was right, it is up to everyone in authority in our Church to articulate the Catholic Moral justification for the actions she and her husband took. And, we must respect that regardless of our personal preference for the right answer - whether we be bishop or layman, Catholic or not.

P.S.
The civil debate that Mr. Kristof articulates - what role and rights do Catholic Hospitals have in a secular society - is probably portentous in the era of Obamacare. Personally, I put the question this way. Do I, as a Catholic, have a protected right in our country, to refuse to do acts that for me are Mortal Sins? I believe that our freedom of religion protects me.

Many argue that it is their right to legislate or regulate to require me to commit the sin they call a right of their own: e.g., a pharmacist must dispense abortion pills; a nurse must assist at an abortion; a hospital must provide all the 'reproductive health' services that are legal.

Will our country permit the provision of Catholic Healthcare? I sure hope so.

(The original on line has all of my misspelllings!)

Catherine of Genoa and Benedict XVI on Purgatory

2011-01-20T14:51:00.000-05:00

Jack and Thom,
Good Morning, I love you
110120, 1342

Yesterday I fell onto a blurb about a recent comment by Pope Benedict on Purgatory. On Sunday, I tried to explain purgatory to my class of third graders – very inadequately, I know. And, my version was one remembered from childhood, maintained to this day: more place than process.

In the midst of this transcript that follows, the Pope reminds us: “Dear friends, we must never forget that the more we love God and the more constantly we pray, the better we will succeed in truly loving those who surround us, who are close to us, so that we can see in every person the Face of the Lord whose love knows no bounds and makes no distinctions. The mystic does not create distance from others or an abstract life, but rather approaches other people so that they may begin to see and act with God’s eyes and heart.”

So, come with me through a transcript of 1/12/11 remarks by the Pope on Catherine of Genoa.

Saint Catherine of Genoa b. 1447 d. 1510
Catherine of Genoa, known above all for her vision of purgatory.

< What vision have you had that a) brought you closer to God and b) for which you will be known? A vision you will write about. A vision you will share with one another, your family and friends, your own, if you are so blessed, children. >

Catherine was born in Genoa in 1447. She was the youngest of five.

< I guess she comes by ‘Catherine of Genoa’ honestly. Since the ‘of place’ usually connotes the place where the person made the greatest contribution and usually the place where the person died, you would guess that Catherine was born, served, and died in Genoa. >

Her father, Giacomo Fieschi, died when she was very young. Her mother, Francesca di Negro provided such an effective Christian education that the elder of her two daughters became a religious.

< I cannot imagine the effect of losing a parent at a very young age. I do know the experience of ‘losing’ my young children before our time…. Fortunately for Catherine and her sisters, their mother gave them an effective Christian/Catholic education. Would that you had received the same from your mother. >
When Catherine was 16, she was given in marriage to Giuliano Adorno, a man who after various trading and military experiences in the Middle East had returned to Genoa in order to marry. Married life was far from easy for Catherine, partly because of the character of her husband who was given to gambling.

Catherine herself was at first induced to lead a worldly sort of life in which, however, she failed to find serenity. After 10 years, her heart was heavy with a deep sense of emptiness and bitterness.

< Catherine’s story of humanness evolving into mystic saintliness is not only one of inspiration but one of hope – that we, too, will find our own way to answer God’s continuous call and gift of Love. >

< Ten years before the cumulative burden of an unserene marriage weighed heavily on her increasingly empty and bitter heart? 1982 to 1994 – twelve years. Ora pro me. >

On 20 March 1473 went to the Church of San Benedetto in the monastery of Nostra Signora delle Grazie, to make her confession and, kneeling before the priest, “received”, as she herself wrote, “a wound in my heart from God’s immense love”.

< Go to Our Lady of Grace, or any of our handful of Catholic Churches, and immerse yourself in the sacrament of reconciliation. On Wednesday nights, 1730 – 1900, St. Paul’s has confessions and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. >

< The experience of Love, redundantly, true love, pierces our heart, wounds our heart, purifies our heart. I pray that you too will allow yourself to receive God’s immense love. >

Catherine of Genoa’s penitential experience came with such a clear vision of her own wretchedness and shortcomings and at the same time of God’s goodness that she almost fainted.

< We are who we are. Creatures. Imperfect. In the presence of one who loves us, we experience sharply, deeply our own failings, our shortcomings, our sins, all that makes us unworthy of the GIFT of Love. Pray that you too will experience Love, especially God’s Love. >

The experience of God’s Love and the knowledge of herself which it brought moved Catherine of Genoa’s heart. Catherine of Genoa saw starkly in the mirror of God’s Love the empty life she was leading and of the goodness of God.

< When we are loved, we cannot but help acknowledge the goodness of the GIFT and the Giver. Then, simultaneously, we see ourselves under the light of the Gift of Love. We see ourselves as Love sees us. >

This experience prompted the decision that gave direction to Catherine of Genoa’s whole rest of her life. She expressed it in the words: “no longer the world, no longer sin.”

< Start with ‘no longer sin.’ When we are loved, strike that, When we let ourselves experience the Gift of Love regardless of the source, we necessarily experience a will to conversion. We resolve that we never again will do anything to hurt the person who loves us so much, loves us so freely, loves us without condition. In the case of God, we resolve that we will no longer sin. (Read Dulles’ work on freedom and the choice of doing what we ought as the source of freedom and the via veritatis.) >

On arriving home Catherine of Genoa entered the remotest room. At that moment Catherine of Genoa received an inner instruction on prayer and became aware of God’s immense love for her, a sinner.

< We are sinners. Jesus came for us because that’s how much, infinitely, God Loves us. To acknowledge our sinnerness is to also be aware of God’s love. To be aware of God’s Love is also to be in communication with God, to be praying, to have our personal instruction on prayer. Start at any point on the circle. Experience God’s Love. Admit our sinfulness. Talk with and listen to God – pray. >

After her confession, Catherine of Genoa began the “life of purification” which for many years caused her to feel constant sorrow for the sins she had committed and which spurred her to impose forms of penance and sacrifice upon herself, in order to show her love to God.

< Once we acknowledge that we are loved, we have the natural and overwhelming desire to make up for – do penance for – our sins against the One Who Loves Us. We wish to reciprocate the purity of the Love received with our own, more worthy, purified love. To the degree that we tap into our responding love, we are driven to feel sorrow and express our love with our efforts to make up for the sins of our past. >

< The parable of the Good Father, aka Prodigal Son, shows us a different model. Come home to your father who is waiting patiently and prayerfully for you and we will kill the fatted calf and get on with celebrating the rest of our loving lives together. C’est moi. >

On this journey Catherine became ever closer to the Lord until she attained what is called “unitive life”, namely, a relationship of profound union with God.
Catherine of Genoa was nourished above all by constant prayer and by Holy Communion which she received every day, an unusual practice in her time.

< Prayer plus the greatest prayer the Church offers us, Mass. Fundamental building blocks for all of us. >

The place of Catherine of Genoa’s ascent to mystical peaks was Pammatone Hospital, the largest hospital complex in Genoa, of which she was director and animator. Hence Catherine lived a totally active existence despite the depth of her inner life.

< Life, service, in a hospital, regardless of role – volunteer for a while regardless of your sense of vocation elsewhere – inherently, in the service to the sick, brings us closer to God. Catherine of Genoa is one of many saints who show us that mysticism, constant contact with God, ‘prayer in action,’ is a doable proposition with the proper commitment. Even if you take a couple of steps in St Catherine’s footsteps in service at a hospital, you will find yourself with a deeper inner life, wherein you will find God’s grace. >

In Pammatone a group of followers, disciples and collaborators formed around her, fascinated by her life of faith and her charity. Indeed her husband, Giuliano Adorno, was so won over that he gave up his dissipated life, became a Third Order Franciscan and moved into the hospital to help his wife.

Catherine’s dedication to caring for the sick continued until the end of her earthly life on 15 September 1510.

Dear friends, we must never forget that the more we love God and the more constantly we pray, the better we will succeed in truly loving those who surround us, who are close to us, so that we can see in every person the Face of the Lord whose love knows no bounds and makes no distinctions. The mystic does not create distance from others or an abstract life, but rather approaches other people so that they may begin to see and act with God’s eyes and heart.

Catherine’s thought on purgatory

Catherine of Genoa’s first original passage concerns the “place” of the purification of souls. In her day it was depicted mainly using images linked to space: a certain space was conceived of in which purgatory was supposed to be located.

Catherine, however, did not see purgatory as a scene in the bowels of the earth: for her it is not an exterior but rather an interior fire. This is purgatory: an inner fire.

The Saint speaks of the Soul’s journey of purification on the way to full communion with God, starting from her own experience of profound sorrow for the sins committed, in comparison with God’s infinite love.

Here too is another original feature in comparison with the thought of her time. Catherine of Genoa does not start with the afterlife in order to recount the torments of purgatory — as was the custom in her time and perhaps still is today — and then to point out the way to purification or conversion. Rather Saint Catherine of Genoa begins with the inner experience of her own life on the way to Eternity.

“The soul”, Catherine says, “presents itself to God still bound to the desires and suffering that derive from sin and this makes it impossible for it to enjoy the beatific vision of God”. Catherine asserts that God is so pure and holy that a soul stained by sin cannot be in the presence of the divine majesty.

We too feel how distant we are, how full we are of so many things that we cannot see God. The soul is aware of the immense love and perfect justice of God and consequently suffers for having failed to respond in a correct and perfect way to this love; and love for God itself becomes a flame, love itself cleanses it from the residue of sin.

With her life St Catherine teaches us that the more we love God and enter into intimacy with him in prayer the more he makes himself known to us, setting our hearts on fire with his love.

In writing about purgatory, the Saint reminds us of a fundamental truth of faith that becomes for us an invitation to pray for the deceased so that they may attain the beatific vision of God in the Communion of Saints.

Moreover the humble, faithful and generous service in Pammatone Hospital that the Saint rendered throughout her life is a shining example of charity for all and an encouragement, especially for women who, with their precious work enriched by their sensitivity and attention to the poorest and neediest, make a fundamental contribution to society and to the Church. Many thanks.

< I read and reread and read again these last several paragraphs by Pope Benedict viz. St Catherine of Genoa. No comment I might add would add a dollop of usefulness or meaningfulness or any other –ness. I suggest you read Catherine of Genoa. I suggest you go to the Vatican site and read the full text of the Pope’s brief presentation to the audience. I suggest that you open yourself to the Love God is offering you – directly and via your father and grandfather and uncle and cousin etc. et al. It is, Catherine of Genoa and Pope Benedict seem to be telling us, it is in our experience of God’s Love that we will lovingly strive to purify our hearts, to live our Catholic lives, to become what God is calling us to do/be. >

I love you,
Dad
1445

0210 William of Maleval d. 1157

2011-01-20T13:33:00.000-05:00

Thom (and Jack)
Good morning, I love you
110120, 1225

Thom, that was a surprise. Thank you.

I moved to GSO because your mother up and took y’all from Nashville to GSO to pursue her selfish nonparental interests. I moved because I believe that sons are given to two parents and it is necessary for both sons and father for us to be together in order to fulfill our created purpose. I moved for us to be together not separated. I moved and stayed and was involved – in spite of hurdles placed by your mother – because of my responsibility as father. A responsibility I have become more attuned to as I’ve become more attuned to my duties as a son.

Y’all were put in an anti-Catholic high school. I funded your college efforts in GSO. I put time and effort into being present on each of the multiple campuses y’all have attended. I have stayed in GSO because you are here.

Unfortunately, the shroud y’all have put over your lives, the veil between son and father has been perfectly effective until chance (?) stepped in today. We live within a mile-ish of one another. But I do not see y’all at Mass. I do not see y’all at the usual restaurants. I do not see y’all at the cinemas or theaters. In the same circles (?) but mostly travelling in circles that don’t intersect.

Until today. It was good and sad to see you today. I, like the father in the ‘prodigal son,’ like Monica to Augustine, I am always here for you and have many gifts God’s made available to you via me at your disposal. Like the boxes of stuff for you at my place – here/there any time for the asking. Not even asking, just be there.

I love you with the secret of a Father’s Love.

[p.s., your mother has done less well by you than her mother did for her son. Beware that you don’t find a woman for your life that matches that accomplishment and trend. In too many of the unconscious ways, I, like everyman, weddinged [not married in my case] my mother. My unconscious receptors connected the wrong sockets – matching up to wrong/deleterious aspects of the next generation’s persona. …. If I had done a simple due diligence, an adequate social history; if I had exercised will and freedom rather than inertia and hedonism we all would be much better off today. I’m sorry for you more than for me; I am very sorry for boffus.]

Yesterday, in preparation of our one parish one book discussion, I brought up several articles by Avery Dulles on Freedom. I recommend that saintly Jesuit to you. His writings are eloquent and clear and readily understandable. A tremendous talent. [I had one occasion during my novitiate to meet Fr. Dulles – holiness, wisdom, and brilliance emanated from him. In 1968, as we in the novitiate were on the cutting edge of the post-council [Vatican II] Holy Spirit breath of fresh air sweeping through the Church, I wound up in the presence of a man who [among many Jesuits] had an invisible hand on the workings of the Council.

I suggest that your read Dulles’ work on freedom – personal freedom. I also suggest you pick up JPII’s Veritas Splendor, a much denser piece, but foundational in the understanding of freedom. Freedom requires Truth. I’ll come back to my notes on that.

February 10

William of Maleval d. 1157 bl. 1202
(In Catholic encyclopedia online he’s referred to as “the Great.” Getting from death to beatification in forty five years tells us he had an impact on 12th c. Church.)

This saint, among many, but since he’s a William, he’s particularly relevant to us, led a dissolute early life. The two bioblurbs I’ve consulted do not have the details of the dissoluteness. Imagine the magnitude of it, commensurate with, I assume, his high social standing, because he went to the Pope for reconciliation. The Pope included in the penance a pilgrimage to the Jerusalem.

Both SPX and St Paul’s parishioners recently made pilgrimages to the holy land. Each person who went obviously was blessed with a transformative experience. It is on their face. It is in their voice. No doubt it filled their hearts and souls. I am also confident it will reinforce their Catholicity, their holiness.

William of Maleval also was married in his early life. Again, neither bioblurb elaborates on that or what happened to his wife (and family?). No matter what happens in ‘later life,’ e.g., William of Maleval’s becoming a hermit, the impact of wedding and marriage – and all the life experiences included for those to occur – these event have a forever effect on your entire life – for good and for bad. [Although, last night I was listening to a few women tell about the ‘perfectness’ of their marriages, the total devotion they and their husbands share.] Maybe it’s just me and my refusal to ‘get over it.’

Eugene III ordered William of Maleval to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land as penance for his sins. Yesterday I also read a very short blurb about Pope Benedict’s recent comments about purgatory. In a recent audience and talk about Catherine of Genoa, Pope Benedict XVI elaborated on The Mystic’s and his own understanding of purgatory as a process not a place. An experience of unworthiness to see the Face of God and the pain of being separated from Him. Purgatory is a purification process – one we should begin here on earth, with our own pilgrimage. If not to Rome or Jerusalem, to the nearest Church and wade through the muck to find the pure grace filled center of our souls.

About 1153, after maybe two years in Jerusalem, William of Maleval returned to Italy, near Pisa. He lived as a hermit. After periods of penance it seems maybe the inclination toward hermit-ness would be strong; it is in me. And yet, like for the more saintly among us, from whom we should take the lead, William of Maleval soon after, about 1155, became head of a monastery.

It’s risky for people to call someone to lead them who’s recently had a deep, penitential experience. William of Maleval tried to reform the monks on Monte Bruno.

William of Maleval left the monastery and once more took up the life of a hermit near Sienna. I can dig that. I’d rather let those who would not follow to their own devices and go off by myself to commune with God.

But, unlike me, William of Maleval was a holy man. His holiness and way of life attracted a group of followers who later developed into the Hermits of St William, later absorbed into the Augustinian Canons.

In his later years, William was noted for his gifts of prophecy and miracles.

I love you,
Dad
1331

0207 Tressan d. 550

2011-01-18T12:30:00.000-05:00

Jack and Thom,
Good morning, I love you
110118, 1110

It’s a dreary day outside. Inside, in a familiar and friendly workspace I’m alone but not – posters elicit feeloughts of people and places and purpose; symbols [like the flag and crucifix] elicit more powerful and purposeful feeloughts. Then there are the symbols connected to the specific purpose of this room and my reasons for being here to get work done – later. St Expectus ora pro nobis.

February 7

Tressan d. 550

In Angels and Saints we get the cursory blurb.

Tressan was an Irish missionary. It seems almost redundant to say Irish Missionary when referring to one of our saints: to any of the Irish priests. Growing up we had the FBI – foreign born Irish. Maybe in 550’s as well as the 1950’s there were an abundance of priests, too few flocks to fleece in Ireland so they went abroad. I cherished the spirit and the accent of our own FBIs – Mass felt more at home and more catholic.

Tressan left his native country to assist the spread of the faith in Gaul (modern France). Where do you go to spread our faith? How do you daily spread the gift of faith indelibly imprinted on your soul? Pay it forward. Tressan went to Gaul. [All Gaul is divided into three parts. So Caesar began his treatise about his conquering of Gaul. My sophomore year in high school we translated the entire thing. Caesar wore a white scarf at the head of his legions to show his men and his foes where he was – upfront outfighting all takers.]

Why Tressan went to Gaul, before he was ordained a priest, to be a missionary is not explained in this brief bioblurb. Read on, from brigid-undertheoak.blogspot.com, I expect we’ll get the scoop.

Tressan received ordination from the hands of St. Remigius, the Apostle of the Franks. How did Tressan hook up with the numero uno honcho of the Catholic Gauls? When you follow your vocation, remember to look for the best to follow and imitate – starting with Jesus and his Apostles. I wonder if there is an Apostle for Greensboro? Stop off at St Bernard’s. It wasn’t so long ago that Catholicism was brought to GSO. It does matter that you know your roots. It does matter with whom you associate. It matters more whom you follow and imitate. Discern properly and choose wisely.

A brief aside for St Remigius. b. 437 d. 533 [ninety six? In the sixth century? Wow.]

Remigius is the Apostle of the Franks, Archbishop of Reims. Remigius’ father was Emile, Count of Laon. Remigius was born with many advantages, which he apparently took full advantage of. How are you doing with the advantages, talents, gifts, and graces you’ve received?

Remigius studied literature at Reims and soon became so noted for learning and sanctity that he was elected Archbishop of Reims in 458, at 21. Extraordinary talent plus the charism of sanctity. How do you weave your sanctity with your talents? Your piety with your learning? Your holiness with your foray into our secular, anti-Catholic world?

Remigius’ chief aim was the propagation of Christianity in the realm of the Franks. Which, maybe, included recruiting FBIs like Tressan?

From brigid-undertheoak.blogspot.com

Saint Tressan of Mareuil 7 February

Brigid has Tressan’s feast on February 7th [in 2009. Maybe it’s changed? It doesn’t matter. It matters when our Church celebrates Easter but not the feast of St Tressan.]

The earliest biographic material on Tressan testify to his humility, sanctity and miracles. I suppose that we should start with humility. Obedience. God’s law engraved on our hearts. Our purpose to know, love, and serve God. There is One greater than us [many many greater than I], who created us, who Loves us, to whom we owe the honor of respect and reciprocal love – both the first and fourth commandment, ya think?

Sanctity and miracles. It’s a miracle to be sanct, ya think? Sanctity is a gift to be embraced, osmosed, lived. Like the priest said, the first decision is whether to be – i.e., live – catholic. Whether or not to be holy. Whether or not to respond to the grace that the sacraments filled our hearts with. From there, life is one miracle after another.

St. Tressan had six holy brothers, viz. : Saints Gibrian, Helan, German, Veran, Aleran, Petran, and three sisters, Fracla, Promptia, and Posemna. All of these were very devout persons, who despised the things of earth, that they might aspire only to those of Heaven.

Maybe we don’t aspire ONLY to the things of Heaven. Let us aspire to the things of Heaven FIRST. Imagine growing up within a family of ten children, all devout. I wish we were able to give you two devout parents and the nurturing of y’all’s mutual devoutness. You have the responsibility to be devout first to God, to be Catholic. With this foundation, you have the opportunity to share devoutness with one another [being the world’s best brothers] then in concentric circles spread that devoutness to family across miles and generations as well as into the future.

Tressan apparently was inspired by the words of God first spoken to Abraham: "Go forth out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and out of thy father's house, and come into the land, which I shall show thee."

Afterwards, Tressan sought a secret place for his dwelling, where he might more freely serve God in solitude. We do have the tradition, exemplified by John the Baptist and then by Jesus – to go off in solitude, mano a mano with God, in preparation for the next big step in our lives. Don’t rush ahead. Stop and pray. Re-affirm with God: not my will but Your will be done. And then seek His blessing and the strength of righteousness.

Wishing to lead the life of a pilgrim, Tressan went to France, taking along with him six brothers and three sisters. Talk about a family sticking together. You have two. Stick together. I promise you it is better for you and everything you do to be nearby one another.

But, Tressan, being simple-minded and ignorant to a degree, this pious man was regarded as an idiot; and, when resolved to earn his livelihood, by some kind of menial service, he retired to a village. A native of the place, finding him to be an Irishman born, and quite ignorant of the Frankish language, set him to the humble occupation of tending swine.

Perhaps Tressan came by Humility with honor. We all, being Irish born in our ancestry, should remember the kindness of those who recognized our humility (and sanctity?) rewarded us with our first job. Whose graciousness we honored with our labor.

Tressan was in France A.D. 509. Faithful to his charge, and mindful of his Apostolic mandate, "Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear," the lowly swineherd carefully governed all the movements of his soul. Remember man that you are dust…. Even the swineherd rises above dust but not very far – be humble in your profession for it is the honor of your work that raises you above dust and sanctifies the labor. Jesus kept telling us ‘do not be afraid.’ Our English version of ‘fear’ is not the same meant by our biblical forebears. Fear God and Do Not Be Afraid.

At this same time, St. Remigius lived in that part of the country. Are our encounters by chance? I suggest you assume that all whom you meet not only are Jesus but were sent to you by God for some greater purpose for your salvation.

Tressan was an illiterate man . Tressan was also a very religious and a very good Christian. We are all illiterate to the degree that although we ‘know it all’ we have much to learn. It is what we do know and what we do with it that matters. We know that we are baptized and confirmed Catholics. What are you doing with that? Humbly? Holy?

A church, dedicated to St. Martin, happened to be in the village of Murigny. Not losing sight of his herd, Tressan would steal towards the doors of the church, while he endeavored to learn all he could regarding the sacred rites. How are you putting yourself in position to learn all you can about our faith, regarding our sacred rites?

Then, miracle of miracles - the Lord was pleased with Tressan’s efforts. God miraculously rewarded Tressan’s holy thirst for knowing, by filling his mind with a knowledge of letters. Do your best to be who you are created to be and God will reward you too. It’s a miracle!

Tressan had unwittingly excited the prejudice of neighbors in that place known as Ay. Just your existence can piss people off or turn them against you. On top of that humility and sanctity have a way of engendering opposition and efforts to suppress you – your faith, your holiness, your relationships with those aligned with the seal of the Holy Spirit on your soul.

When St. Remigius visited a village nearby, these peasants accused the poor swineherd, for having caused their vineyards to be injured, their fields and meadows to be grazed and trodden down, through his neglect. St. Remigius was not the bishop, to hear a one-sided accusation, without sifting its truth. He sent a messenger for Tressan to appear.

When Tressan appeared before the Bishop, the holy prelate, fully convinced of his innocence, consoled him with gentle words, while he drove the malignant accusers away from his presence.

The Acts of Tressan give us a look into the heart of the Irish, even the saintly Irish. This is who we are. After Remigius cleared Tressan of the false accusations, Tressan stood on an elevated spot, known thenceforward as St. Tressan's Mount. Looking towards Ay, in the spirit of prophecy, he exclaimed : "You, who have falsely accused me to the high priest of our Lord, shall pass out of this life, when you have lived to the age of thirty years, nor will your worldly substance increase; thus, it shall be better, that you receive punishment here, rather than suffering without end, in the other world." The Almighty was pleased to make good these words of his faithful servant; and, to the time when his ancient Acts were written, the people remarked, how the descendants of St. Tressan's accusers never lived beyond the thirtieth year, that they were obliged to subsist by manual labor, to be in want, and even to beg for the necessaries of life. [We hope, of course, that the second half of Tressan’s prophecy holds true – that the people of Ay, having served their punishment in this world, get a free pass through purgatory to heaven.]

Tressan returned the swine to their owners. Tressan thenceforth devoted himself entirely to God's service.

After some years, having acquired sufficient learning, Tressan went to the town of Laon, in the province of Picardy. The Bishop of Laon, who admired the humility, good dispositions, and progress Tressan had made in learning, got Tressan ordained priest by St. Remigius.

In Tressan, St Remigius found a truly good subject. Tressan fasted and prayed almost continuously, while he crucified the flesh, with its vices and concupiscences. He avoided all snares of the enemy; he despised the things of this world. Tressan gave alms to the poor, and spent much time in vigil. So closely did Tressan adhere to God's law and to the works ordered by Christ, that he might be regarded as being with him, both in soul and body.

I suggest that you reread the previous paragraph frequently. You’re not going to find a more succinct admonition for being a good and faithful servant.

After his ordination, Tressan chose for a place of residence Marville, where a church had been dedicated to St. Hilary, Bishop of Poictiers. Tressan preached with great zeal. I wish our priests would get some of this zeal in their preaching.

Tressan’s manner of life was extremely simple. KISS!

One day, having celebrated the Matins, Office and Mass, in the church of St. Martin at Murigny, and while returning to Mareville, he felt wearied, and he sat down on the side of a dry hill, from which water had never flowed. Fixing his staff in the ground, the wearied saint fell asleep ; but, on awaking, he found the staff had grown into a tree, which was covered with a bark and green leaves. At the same time, a fountain of most delicious water ran from the root of this tree, to the very foot of the mount.

When the holy priest, Tressan, witnessed this, he drank from the well, and he asked of the Almighty, that no injustice or turpitude should there occur. It was regarded as a "holy well," while several persons, troubled with tertian and quartan agues, came thither, drank of its waters, and were cured.

After the Lord had manifested these and other wonders of His glory, through this humble servant, Tressan was seized with a fever. He then called various priests and clerics around him, confessing that he was a sinner and an unworthy priest, having offended God, and having injured his fellow-men. Lying on the bed, in his last agony, he was consoled by his visitors, while with great humility and contrition; he received the sacraments of reconciliation.

Then Tressab cried out : according to that saying of the Prophet David, "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." Then he added : "Meditation on death is the beginning of wisdom."

< A substantial portion of Ignatian Spirituality is a meditation on death. If we make our strategic plans by beginning with our endpoint, why not our spiritual strategy. The endpoint is our death – our judgment day, our standing before Peter and Jesus and the pearly gates. And remember, our death will come in God’s time, not ours. At any moment. Just like you had ‘no control’ over your creation, your birth, your parents, you have none whatsoever over when you will face God in the end/at the beginning. Meditation on death IS the beginning of wisdom.>

I love you,
Dad
1229

0212 Thomas Hemerford, John Nutter, John Munden d. 1584

2011-01-18T11:02:00.000-05:00

Thom and Jack,
Good morning, I love you
110117, 2227

February 12

Thomas Hemerford, John Nutter, John Munden all three d. 1584

A year ago on this blog I wrote ....

Imagine these men’s vocation. Called to be a priest – in their home such a vocation without kneeling to the queen of the house would be traitorous. Regardless of the monarch’s whim, will, power, perfidy, these men followed their vocation – a road that they knew would circle around again, back home, with the hope that their efforts of caring for their own and their people’s Catholicism would also find a time, place, change of the monarch’s heart – or else, exile or martyrdom….

Thomas Hemerford didn’t last long as a priest in England. Was it worth it? It? His vocation – his pursuit of his vocation, his giving himself to God’s will, not his monarch’s not his own – he made God’s will his own will. Sure beats making the homeland monarch’s will his will….

Thomas Hemerford was arrested soon after his return, condemned for being a priest, a Catholic with the will to profess his faith regardless of the monarch’s condemnation. He was hung drawn and quartered at Tyburn…..

Thomas Hemerford was a native of Dorsetshire. Thomas Hemerford was educated at Oxford. However, Thomas Hemerford had to then study for the priesthood at the English College, Rome. He was ordained in Rome in 1583.

Thomas Hemerford returned to England, where he was swiftly arrested. Condemned for being a priest, he was hanged, drawn, and quartered at Tyburn with four companions. He was beatified in 1929.

John Nutter was from Lancaster and was ordained at Reims in 1581.

John Munden, a native of Dorset, was ordained at Reims in 1582.

John Nutter and John Munden were martyred at Tyburn with three priest companions. Both were beatified in 1929.

Simple enough. Memorable I hope.

I love you,
Dad
2238

0207 William Richardson d. 1603

2011-01-18T10:59:00.002-05:00

Thom and Jack,
Good morning, I love you
110117, 2153

A rainy night – I love listening to the rain on the skylight [words aren’t coming to me as quickly or as creatively as they once did]. I turn off the heat pump to stop the rushing white noise – my ND sweat shirt and pants keep me plenty enough warm.

When you get a Mass card for Grandpa’s brother, send it to him asap; he’s soon on his way to Florida until March. After his two stays in the hospital, he’s weakened by the atrophy of bedrest – man, do I know that feeling. But, he’s walking around the house, doing the treadmill, getting out for errands so he’ll be in shape for six weeks on the beach. The clock is winding down…

Still spinning around my head and prayers – Mark, purgatory, communion of saints, vocation. Mostly vocation. If the call is a continuing and developmental experience with God, not only does that apply to you – thus my Monica like hope and persistence – does it not also apply to me? If Grandpa and Uncle Frank are a reasonable threshold, there’s at least another 20+ years in these bones. That’s longer than some careers. What is God calling on me to do now? For this stretch of the journey? Plenty of time to pay it forward….

Tonight was two in a row for exercise. It’s a bummer remembering what I could do only a short while ago. And if it’s one week per one day of atrophy, man, I’ll need all those twenty years to undo what I’ve done to myself. But, two days in a row is good. Eat right, exercise, and live like an ant, never like a grasshopper.

February 7

Bl William Richardson 1603

William Richardson, not the governor of New Mexico, former ambassador to the UN, and general trouble shooter for democratic presidents. Until he took up with Obama’s agenda and win no matter what pursuit of their elitist and purist [and failed but victorious-so-far] agenda, I’d say I was a fan of the Mexican American [thus Catholic, I bet] leader of New Mexico.

Blessed William Richardson, as you should have guessed already, is a Martyr of England.

William Richardson was born in Sheffield. William Richardson studied for the priesthood at Valladolid and Seville, Spain, receiving ordination in 1594. In order to follow his vocation, not unlike many people, starting with the first disciples, William Richardson had to leave home. It is not unlikely that you’ll have to do the same to truly discern your vocation. I read an article in the recent News Herald by a bishop who, as a young man struggling with the potential of being called to the priesthood was given this advice - - first, you have to decide if you’re going to be a Catholic, the rest is easy.

William Richardson – I’m not sure if he were born Catholic, though if he weren’t I’m betting the bioblurb would have said so – throughout his life in persecutorial England had to renew his choice to answer the call to be Catholic. Public tortures and hangings and Catholics being drawn and quartered for being good Catholics I suspect made him think twice – like twice a day – whether he was going to respond yes to the call to be Catholic, to the indelible mark of the Holy Spirit on his soul.

And you think being Catholic is a tough choice? A choice made by you? A done deal unraveled? The secret of a father’s love is that a father’s love is forever, no matter what; because it is a Gift of The Father’s Love.

William Richardson was sent back to England, where he used the name Anderson. He was called and then he was sent. The question is not ‘what do you want to be when you grow up?’ THE question is, ‘what do you believe God is calling you to be, to do?’ Will you be faithful to who you are, to your creator, to the gift of your creation?

William Richardson was soon arrested and executed at Tyburn by being hanged, drawn, and quartered. And what were the English afraid of? Their lashing out against priests and lay Catholics was ferocious not because they were strong, confident, and right. Your rejection of your baptismal call and your confirmation is not because you are smarter now or because you are holier or because you have properly discerned a new way.

Oro pro vobis.

I love you,
Dad
2218

0206 St Mel d. 487

2011-01-17T12:41:00.000-05:00

Jack and Thom,
Good morning, I love you
110117, 1143

I recommend brigid-undertheoak.blogspot.com for your inquiry into the lives of Irish Saints. And her original source, John O’Hanlon’s Lives of the Irish Saints.

February 6

St Mun 5th century
Saint Mel of Ardagh is how brigid-undertheoak brings the saint to us.

So, Mel is a real name with an extraordinary history. Another something new I’m learning today. But Mel Brooks? I bet the saint had a good sense of humor. He must have to hang with Patrick – someone in Patrick’s contingent must have made people laugh.

From brigid-undertheoak.blogspot.com and catholicireland.net

Today the Irish calendars commemorate a saint very much linked to Saint Brigid, Bishop Mel of Ardagh.

Mel is also linked to Saint Patrick, with a number of sources claiming that he is the nephew of the apostle to the Irish, being the son of his sister Dareca. This woman was reputedly a mother to no less than seventeen early Irish bishops and saints, which has led some scholars to speculate that she may have been a mother in the spiritual rather than the biological sense.

St Patrick came to Ardagh, now a picturesque village in Co Longford, where he established a church. Mel, however, seems to have worked as a travelling missionary and evangelist.

Saint Mel figures most prominently in the life of Saint Brigid by being the bishop who conferred not merely the veil of the religious life upon her but, 'intoxicated by the spirit of God' bestowed the rite of episcopal ordination.

O'Hanlon's Lives of the Irish Saints for an account of Saint Mel's life:

This renowned saint is classed among the primitive fathers of our Irish Church. He was a contemporary, and, it has been asserted, a near relative to the great Apostle, St. Patrick.

At the very dawn of Christianity in our island, an illustrious champion and preacher of the Gospel had been already prepared, for a strenuous encounter, with the spirit of darkness. He is named Mel. A special Life of this holy man is not known to exist.

The recorded actions of the holy Bishop Mel, the special patron of Ardagh diocese…. He seems to have been born, in the earlier part of the fifth century. It is said, Saint Mel was a nephew to the great Irish Apostle Patrick, and whose sister Darerca is named as Mel's mother.

St. Mel built a famous monastery at Ardagh. He exercised the jurisdiction both of abbot and of bishop. Among other celestial endowments, our saint received the gift of prophecy, whereby he was enabled to predict future events.

Mel’s prophetic gift was exemplified in St. Brigid's case soon after he had arrived in Ireland from Britain.

Mel foretold the greatness and sanctity of that holy virgin, Brigid, while yet carried in her mother's womb. Some time subsequent to St. Brigid's birth, St. Mel administered to her the Sacrament of Confirmation. In conjunction, probably, with his disciple St. Machaille, Mel likewise bestowed the religious veil on that youthful spouse of Christ. Afterwards, the greatest friendship existed between our saint and the future abbess, as recorded in St. Brigid's Life. St. Brigid seems often to have visited St. Mel, when she resided not far from Ardagh.

At one time, the king of that district entertained both Mel and Brigid; and, a remarkable miracle was wrought by the illustrious abbess, at a banquet, given in their honour. The kindness of St. Mel, interceding with the king for a supposed transgressor, on this occasion, pleasingly illustrates the holy bishop's character. St. Mel and St. Moelch are stated to have accompanied the abbess, to a synod, which was held at Tailten, in Meath.

It is said, that St. Mel wrote the Acts, virtues and miracles of his uncle, St. Patrick, while this latter holy man had been living for, the great Apostle of Ireland is supposed to have survived our saint five years. For his death, a.d. 466 has been assigned. Mel departed this life, at Ardagh, however, about the year 487 or 488.

Mel is regarded, as the first bishop over the see of Ardagh, and, he has been constantly venerated as the special patron saint of that diocese.

The Catholic cathedral in Longford is dedicated to St Mel, as is the nearby diocesan college. A crozier believed to have belonged to St Mel was found in the 19th century at Ardagh, near the old cathedral there. It is now kept in St Mel's College.

From CatholicEncyclopedia Online --

St. Darerca, of Ireland, a sister of St. Patrick.

Much obscurity attaches to her history, and it is not easy to disentangle the actual facts of her history from the network of legend which medieval writers interwove with her acts. However, her fame, apart from her relationship to Ireland's national apostle, stands secure as not only a great saint but as the mother of many saints.

When St. Patrick visited Bredach, as we read in the "Tripartite Life," he ordained Aengus mac Ailill, the local chieftain of Moville. Whilst there he found "the three deacons," his sister's sons, namely, St. Reat, St. Nenn, and St. Aedh.

St. Darerca was twice married, her second husband, Chonas, founded the church of Both-chonais, now Binnion, Parish of Clonmany, in the barony of Inishowen, County Donegal. She had families by both husbands, some say seventeen sons, all of whom, according to Colgan, became bishops.

From the "Tripartite Life of St. Patrick" it is evident that there were four sons of Darerca by Chonas, namely four bishops, St. Mel of Ardagh, St. Rioc of Inisboffin, St. Muinis of Forgney, County Longford, and St. Maelchu.

St. Darerca had two daughters, St. Eiche of Kilglass and St. Lalloc of Senlis.

Her first husband was Restitutus the Lombard, after whose death she married Chonas the Briton.

By Restitutus she was mother of St. Sechnall of Dunshaughlin; St. Nectan of Killunche, and of Fennor (near Slane); of St. Auxilius of Killossey (near Naas, County Kildare); of St. Diarmaid of Druim-corcortri (near Navan); of Dabonna, Mogornon, Drioc, Luguat, and Coemed Maccu Baird (the Lombard) of Cloonshaneville, near Frenchpark, County Roscommon. Four other sons are assigned her by old Irish writers, namely St. Crummin of Lecua, St. Miduu, St. Carantoc, and St. Maceaith.

St. Darerca is honoured on 22 March, and is patroness of Valencia Island.

I’ll come back to this later for more stream of consciousness.

I love you,
Dad
1239

The Gospel of Mark and St Expectus?

2011-01-17T11:36:00.002-05:00
Thom and Jack,
Good morning, I love you
110117, 1045

MLK day. I have my experiences connected to Rev. King. TV news and newsreel. I have personal memories of the Montgomery bus strike plus many friends who were in the city at the time. I have personal memories of the Selma Bridge march plus my own walk across it many years later and the ‘nigger’ sign over the restroom at the train station there. I have personal memories of the ‘Dream Speech’ and multiple repeat memories because of people who are much closer to the King story. I have personal, formative memories of the assassination, April 4, 1968: memories that I play over and over for my own edification. 1968 is, I know, twenty years before your time, ancient history. But that year – from the novitiate: King gets killed, Robert Kennedy gets killed, and the Chicago Convention runs wild – if that year is formative for me, there has to be some genetichormonal dump into your DNA as well as the few effects I’ve had on you qua parenting. Think of the conversations we’re missing, the opportunity costs…. Ora pro nobis.

Yesterday, Sunday, our celebrant was Msgr. Shreck. No joke. A professor from the seminary in Columbus filling in for his colleague and our pastor who’s in the holy land. I went to his discussion of Discipleship in the Gospel of Mark. Being the shortest Gospel it’s one I’ve read from cover to cover more than a few times. After listening to Msgr., I wondered if I’d really read Mark. I also wondered if I’d simply forgotten everything I’d been taught, every homily I’d heard, everything I’d read, every insight I might have had along the way.

Or, is it just a matter that we learn something new every day? Except, what Msgr. said was Mark 101 – as I discovered when I perused the commentaries I have on the Gospel. Or, maybe, in this week the Church dedicates to prayer for vocations, it was a renewed insight meant for me to use – for myself? For y’all? For my students? For someones else?

In the era of Mark’s writing, it was the responsibility for an individual who wanted to pursue ‘a career’ to seek and find his Master and hope that the Master agreed to take him on as an apprentice. But, Mark makes it clear that Jesus turned that practice on its head, 180 degrees. Jesus called the disciples He wanted. He called – and they followed! He picked His own disciples. He chose the Apostles.

Jesus making the choice, God making the call, continues to be, was forever it seems, the case today. You were Baptized. You were called by God, Father-Son-Spirit. You have been chosen. Not forced into Catholicism by your parents but You have been called by Jesus to follow Him. The Holy Spirit is indelibly marked on your soul. Confirmed by you and the Bishop. Renewed and reinforced by Reconciliation and Eucharist. You are called now and forever. Vocation is a formative process, evolving process – what you are called to do to fulfill who you are, how you may best serve God, may change as you become a better Catholic.

Msgr. asked us to ponder why did Mark make the disciples/Apostles out to be so slow on the uptake? Why did he make the point that they all abandoned Jesus in the Garden? Not to mention the Peter story. Late first century the persecution of Christians reached a pinnacle of ferocity. We had many martyrs and saintly heroes of the faith. We also had more than a few people who folded under the pressures of persecution. Mark made it clear for them – for you – that even those who rejected Jesus, there is always the opportunity for reconciliation. Think Apostles, think Peter. You are constantly being called to follow Jesus. Your ‘no’ today can become a ‘Yes!’ anytime.

Last night, after the Jets’ win, I reread Mark with a different eye, a renewed hope in my heart.

Then I discovered that there is a St Expectus! Or, like St. Christopher, Expectus is totally a creation of our own needs.

St Epeditus

At one time there was much talk of a Saint Expeditus, and some good people were led to believe that, when there was need of haste, petitioning Saint Expeditus was likely to meet with prompt settlement.

It is more than doubtful whether the saint ever existed.

There is a story which pretends to explain the origin of this "devotion" by an incident of modern date. A packing case, we are told, containing a body of a saint from the catacombs, was sent to a community of nuns in Paris. The date of its dispatch was indicated by the use of the word "spedito", but the recipients mistook this for the name of the martyr and set to work with great energy to propagate his cult. From these simple beginnings, it is asserted, a devotion to St. Expeditus spread rapidly through many Catholic countries.

As far back as 1781 this supposed martyr, St. Expeditus, was chosen patron of the town of Acireale in Sicily, and pictures of him were in existence in Germany in the eighteenth century which plainly depicted him as a saint to be invoked against procrastination.

I love you,
Dad
1135

Feb 6 Martyrs of Japan 1597

2011-01-12T14:45:00.001-05:00
Jack and Thom,
Good morning, I love you
110112, 1413

February 6
More Martyrs of Japan.

John Soan de Goto 1597

Japanese martyr of Japan. He was only nineteen at the time of his crucifixion at Nagasaki with many companions.

You are past nineteen. Are you living your faith, bringing our faith, our relationship with Jesus and Church, to the people in our community who, not so much unlike sixteenth century Japan, are anti Catholic? Well, maybe not a monarchical inspired persecution but a social and political anti-Catholicism and anti-religion.

Thomas Danki 1597

Thomas Danki is a Japanese martyr. No doubt Thomas Danki wasn’t born with the name Thomas. Like Thom (and me), he took on the name – to be known as – Thomas at baptism.

Thomas Danki was a native layman. You are native laymen. How have you decided to serve your fellow countrymen? How have you decided to serve our God? How have you responded to your vocation? With whom have you surrounded yourself?

Thomas Danki entered the Franciscans as a tertiary and served as an interpreter for the Franciscan missionaries in Japan. Thomas Danki became Catholic and to fulfill his vocation he joined the Franciscans. You should at least know Francis very well; let yourself be inspired by St Francis; let yourself be inspired by Thomas Danki.

Thomas Danki was arrested by authorities and crucified at Nagasaki with twenty-five other companions. He was canonized in 1886 and is counted as one of the companions of St. Paul Miki.

Michael Kozaki 1597

Michael Kozaki was a Martyr of Japan.

Michael Kozaki was a native Japanese catechist who served as a hospital nurse and was arrested for being a Christian. The fact that he was native Japanese is important. We are often called to catechize our confreres, our neighbors and friends who do not believe the One True Faith as we do.

Michael Kozaki not only reached out to his fellow Japanese, he brought his son with him into the fray, into the joy of giving what we believe to others. His son, in obedient response as well as his response to his own vocation which he found by not only being open to his own heart but to his father’s guidance.

Michael Kozaki was crucified at Nagasaki with his son and other companions.

Thomas Kozaki 1597

Thomas Kozaki was a Japanese martyr.

The son of St. Michael Kozaki, Thomas Kozaki was a boy of fifteen who aided the Franciscan missionaries. Along side his father, Thomas Kozaki probably went along to help his father, to be with his father, to be cool with his father in service to the Franciscans who came to them with the message of our Catholic faith.

Thomas Kozaki was crucified at Nagasaki with twenty-five other companions, including his father. Age has no meaning in the importance of our faith. If a country – or community or a school – will be anti-Catholic when faced with the Catholicism of a fifteen year old, then know that your faith not only affects you but everyone around you. Unfortunately, some will be threatened by the Truth – to the degree that they will seek to have you crucified: literally or metaphorically. How prepared is your faith for this challenge?

Matthias of Meako 1597

Matthias of Meako is a Martyr of Japan.

Matthias of Meako is a native Japanese. Matthias of Meako became a Franciscan tertiary. We have a Franciscan group here in GSO. Check them out. They may be exactly what the doctor ordered.

Matthias of Meako was not listed by Toyotomi Hideyoshi as one of the twenty-six Catholics to be slain as examples. However, he took the place of one of the designated martyrs and was crucified with St. Peter Baptist and companions in Nagasaki. Are you prepared to sacrifice yourself for someone else? Give of yourself for another person? Enough to give them a phone call? How much have you developed your faith, hope, and love of God and Family and Church and Community?

Matthias was canonized in 1862.

Peter Shukeshito 1597

Peter Shukeshito is a Japanese martyr.

Peter Shukeshito is a native Japanese Catholic. You are a native Nashvillian Catholic; a GSO resident Catholic. Right?

Peter Shukeshito was a devoted Catholic who remained a layman but served as a Franciscan tertiary, catechist, and an assistant to the Franciscan missionaries. How do you serve? How do you live out your live out your faith? How do you teach your faith to yourself and others.

Peter Shukeshito was arrested with the group of martyrs surrounding St. Peter Baptist, he was crucified near Nagasaki.

I love you,
Dad
1444

Feb 6 Paul Miki, S.J. 1597

2011-01-12T14:12:00.000-05:00
Jack and Thom,
Good morning, I love you
110112, 1338

Brother Paul Miki is a saint I have a personal connection to. In the novitiate, one of my classmates came to us from Watertown MA via Japan. Tom was a sergeant in the army [our secundi also had an army sergeant], stationed in Japan. He came back to the New England Province, with his desire to serve as a missionary in Japan because he was from New England and the Province promised that if his vocation was affirmed in the formation process, they would support his return to the Jesuit missions in Japan. At the time, our Father General had spent substantial periods of his Jesuit life as a missionary in Japan. Support for the Japan mission was worldwide.

February 6

Paul Miki, S.J. d. 1597 b. 1627 c. 1862

Paul Miki was the son of a Japanese military leader. In the sixteenth century, not unlike being the son of an Irish Chieftain? The son of a Japanese military leader becomes a Catholic?! Becomes a Catholic Priest? A Jesuit? A missionary in his home country where the monarchy, the military, and the religious of every ilk were anti-Catholic. Who was this man?

Paul Miki was born at Tounucumada, Japan.

Paul Miki was educated at the Jesuit college of Anziquiama. How did he get to a Catholic College? Certainly the Jesuit college in a mission country would target the elite of the country. The bioblurb in the Jesuit Saints book doesn’t give us much more about Paul Miki’s journey from the son of a Japanese military leader to a Jesuit university? To Catholicism.

Paul Miki joined the Jesuits in 1580. Formation would have been another eight to ten years. That’d give him about ten years as a point person – where else would the son of a military leader be? Who else would the persecutors target?

Paul Miki became known for his eloquent preaching.

Paul Miki was crucified on Februay 5, 1597 with twenty-five other Catholics during the persecution of Christians under the Taiko, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, ruler of Japan in the name of the emperor. Let us not forget! Let us not let anyone ever forget.

While hanging upon a cross Paul Miki preached to the people gathered for the execution: “The sentence of judgment says these men came to Japan from the Philippines, but I did not come from any other country. I am a true Japanese. The only reason for my being killed is that I have taught the doctrine of Christ. I certainly did teach the doctrine of Christ. I thank God it is for this reason I die. I believe that I am telling only the truth before I die. I know you believe me and I want to say to you all once again: Ask Christ to help you to become happy. I obey Christ. After Christ’s example I forgive my persecutors. I do not hate them. I ask God to have pity on all, and I hope my blood will fall on my fellow men as a fruitful rain.”

Among the Japanese laymen who suffered the same fate were: Francis, a carpenter who was arrested while watching the executions and then crucified; Gabriel, the nineteen year old son of the Franciscan's porter; Leo Kinuya, a twenty-eight year old carpenter from Miyako; Diego Kisai (or Kizayemon), temporal coadjutor of the Jesuits; Joachim Sakakibara, cook for the Franciscans at Osaka; Peter Sukejiro, sent by a Jesuit priest to help the prisoners, who was then arrested; Cosmas Takeya from Owari, who had preached in Osaka; and Ventura from Miyako, who had been baptized by the Jesuits, gave up his Catholicism on the death of his father, became a bonze, and was brought back to the Church by the Franciscans.

They were all beatified in 1627. Then, soon after the return of Catholic missionaries from two hundred years of banishment, they were canonized as the Martyrs of Japan in 1862. Their feast day is February 6th.

When missionaries returned to Japan in the 1860s, at first they found no trace of Christianity. But after establishing themselves they found that thousands of Christians lived around Nagasaki and that they had secretly preserved the faith. Beatified in 1627, the martyrs of Japan were canonized in 1862.

I commend to you both Paul Miki and Pedro Arrupe, the Father General when I was a novice.

I love you,
Dad
1405

P.S.

One of the online blurbs about the Martyrs of Japan started this way:

“Nagasaki, Japan, is familiar to Americans as the city on which the second atomic bomb was dropped, immediately killing over 37,000 people. Three and a half centuries before, 26 martyrs of Japan were crucified on a hill, now known as the Holy Mountain, overlooking Nagasaki.”

I do not get the connection. The atomic bomb saved hundreds of thousands of lives to end a most vicious continuation of vengeful fighting by the Japanese. Maybe we should agree that Nagasaki is a place to put the label “Never Again.” - Never again let anyone mount a surprise attack on our innocent and at peace civilians and military in Hawaii or anywhere on American Soil – including Manhattan! Let us bravely bring our faith to anyone and everyone and be prepared to be crucified – literally and figuratively – for bringing Jesus and The One True Faith.

Feb 4 Modan 6th c

2011-01-12T13:33:00.002-05:00
Thom and Jack,
Good morning, I love you
110112, 1325

February 4

Modan 6th century

Modan was the son of an Irish chieftain. A Ri or a High Ri. I’d say that Grandpa as pater familias in abstentia is a modern version of our clans chieftain. I’m sorry that we have our own clan diaspora. (and windows wants to capitalize diaspora but not God?)

Modan labored in Scotland, preaching at Stirling and Falkirk, until elected against his will as abbot of a monastery. We think we know our own vocation. Our own prayer, our own piety, our own efforts to fulfill our baptismal vows and vocation. And then God not only knocks on our door, calls us from a voice in our sleep, but whops us across the side of the head with an election to a leadership position within our Church or community. Serve God and let the chips fall where they may.

Eventually, Modan resigned and became a hermit, dying near Dumbarton. My last resignation felt the same way. Let me just be a hermit then die. And then, here I am, obviously with more expected of me. Ora pro me.

I love you,
Dad
1332

Feb 3 Blaise 316

2011-01-12T13:22:00.000-05:00
Jack and Thom,
Good morning, I love you
110112, 1225

Ice still on the side streets. Schools closed. And the parish is “closed.” No Mass, no adoration tonight, no activities. Let’s all just cool it, be safe, wait for the ice to melt and the temps to stay above freezing for a couple of days in a row. … And, not only are the Hospitals talking care of the people needing care, Starbucks, Panera, and Jake’s diner are all opened. What’s the difference between a diner and a restaurant? At the diner the waitress calls you ‘sweetie’ and not sir.

What’s with putting the “rectory” off campus, separate from the Church, the school, and the ‘activity center?’ Rectory is, traditionally, the residence of the Pastor AND, on the ground floor, the parish office. Now, we’ve separated the priest from the Church and where all the parish ‘activities’ are happening. What’s that all about? It does create a disconnect, it does facilitate to making “priest” a job versus a vocation, it does make us more protestant.

Anyway, the first chance I had to go by the parish office to get a Mass card for my Godfather, the parish offices were locked up tight. BUT, there were about a half dozen cars lined up in front of the ‘staff entrance.’

Question. To whom do I mail the Mass card? Frank has four children, my cousins. I’m ‘close’ to two of them. Frank is also my father’s older brother. Do I send five cards? Ask for five Masses? [The first of which won’t be until several months. If the Mass is ameliorative for purgatory, does Frank have to wait until the parish can get his name on the calendar or does he get credit in advance?] Do my prayers for Frank help his swift ascent into the bosom of Abraham? I hope so. I believe so.

So I ask y’all, again, to pray for Frank, his brothers and sisters, his children and grandchildren and his greatgrand children. I found a postcard last night that I also hope will prompt your not only praying for Frank but also do the duty of good grandchildren – call Grandpa, up your frequency of contact in renewed awareness of his age and health: not to mention you duties as sons in the light of the death of your GrandGodfather. Ora pro nobis.

February 3
St Blaise d. 316ish
Patron of Throat Illnesses
Patron Saint of Wild Animals

We don’t know much about St Blaise. I do know that the rite of the blessing of our throats is one of my most memorable, ingrained in my psyche, rites of my Catholic piety. The blessing of the throat and our prayer to St. Blaise once a year for protection from the illnesses and injuries of the throat is as much a ‘necessity’ of my piety as holy days of obligation, whether or especially?, they are obligations any more. I feel like I would miss something in my piety if I did not go to Mass on Feb 3 and get my throat blessed; like I feel I’ve missed something, done a disservice of omission when I do not go to a first Friday or first Saturday Mass….

St Blaise, Bishop of Sebaste in Armenia. St Blaise didn’t make it into Jerome’s martyrology but showed up soon after in other ‘records.’ Most of the accounts have his martyrdom in the reign of Licinius and were assimilated into veneration of the saint in the Church liturgy.

Both the encyclopedia and Angels and Saints remark that what we know about St Blaise’s life is more legend [tradition?] than verifiable fact. The legend of his life that sprang up in the eighth century tell us that he was born in to a rich and noble family who raised him as a Christian. I wish they’d share more of the Acta with us.

According to the legend Blaise was a physician at Sebaste before he was raised to the episcopal see. There are many routes to the priestly vocation. Or one to a religious order, even as a tertiary. Do not ever stop answering God’s call, “Here I am, Lord. What do you want of me?”

At the time of the persecution under Licinius he was taken prisoner at the command of the governor, Agricolaus. After becoming a bishop, a new persecution of Christians began. He received a message from God to go into the hills to escape persecution. Men hunting in the mountains discovered a cave surrounded by wild animals that were sick. Among them Blaise walked unafraid, curing them of their illnesses. Recognizing Blaise as a bishop, they captured him to take him back for trial.

So we gain a patron of wild animals. Go figure!
While in prison he performed a wonderful cure of a boy who had a fishbone in his throat and who was in danger of choking to death.

We have our English martyrs of recenter memory. But do not ever forget about the persecutions by the Romans of the early Christians. The Jews are not the only ones with claim on the “let us never forget.”

Recent statements by Benedict XIV remind us of the threats to Catholicism in our world today. The recent CNS online: Once again he denounced recent attacks on Christians in Iraq, Egypt and Nigeria and expressed concern about the recent renewal of Chinese government restrictions on Catholics there. Condemning the murder Jan. 4 of Salman Taseer, the governor of Punjab in Pakistan, the pope said the country must overturn its blasphemy law, which makes insulting the Prophet Mohammed or the Quran punishable by death.

And: Discussing threats to full religious freedom in Western democracies, the pope expressed concern about efforts to push religion to the margins of public life and about situations in which citizens are denied the right to act in accordance with their religious convictions, "for example where laws are enforced limiting the right to conscientious objection on the part of health care or legal professionals." Not unlike Jack’s biology teacher prohibiting religion from an ethics paper?

After suffering various forms of torture St. Blaise was beheaded. Blaise became one of the most popular saints of the Middle Ages. The actual reason for the unusual veneration has not yet been made clear. Wouldn’t it be great to understand what was it that made this saint popular then? Care to speculate? What was it about the Middle Ages – you remember them from history?
One ground was that according to the legend he was a physician and wonderful cures were ascribed to him; for this reason the faithful sought his help and intercession when ill. Numberless churches and altars were dedicated to him and many localities (Taranto, Ragusa, the Abbey of St. Blaise in the Black Forest, etc.) claimed to possess some of his relics. He was also one of the Fourteen Holy Martyrs.

Our collective piety turns us to the Saints we need for the intercessions that will help us with what we need most. In the Middle Ages, the medical profession was not as effective as they are today. Still, having a physician on our spiritual side in times of illness seems to be a worthwhile piety. Question: is a physician saint more able to intercede for our physical needs as any other saint?

May God at the intercession of St. Blaise preserve you from throat troubles and every other evil.

Saint Blaise, pray for us that we may not suffer from illnesses of the throat and pray that all who are suffering be healed by God's love. Amen

I love you,
Dad
1317

Feb 3 Caellainn 6th c

2011-01-11T17:35:00.002-05:00
Thom and Jack
Good morning, I love you.
110111, 1728

February 3

Caellainn 6th century
(pronounced Kay-lin)

Brigid-undertheoak.blogspot.com will likely have much more information about this saint – and every Irish saint – on the saint’s feast day. Also, pick up her reference, John O’Hanlon’s Lives of the Irish Saints.

Caelliann is listed in the Martyrlogy of Donegal , and a church in Roscommon is named in her honor.

That’s all I know, too. Neither the name nor the places elicit any comments from me.

I love you,
Dad
1735

Feb 1 John of the Grating d. 1168

2011-01-11T17:22:00.000-05:00
Jack and Thom,
Good morning, I love you
110111

We had 110101, really 1111? Now it’s 110111, really 11111? We don’t have to wait on November eleventh this year to have that special day, all elevens.

Over a week ago was my last entry. Been a busy week on the edge of everything. On the edge of zero cash – which is an improvement over the negative zone I was in during my trip to long island. Counting each dollar, down to the precise eight needed to cover a check that was kiting until I scrounged up some coins. That’s not counting the debt over my head like a scimitar or a guillotine. Lesson? Learn from your father better than he did from his father.

Your challenge is that you are your father’s sons. And to know yourselves, you need to know your father too. Not your mother’s version of your father – that was a mistake I made too. I grew out of that before your age but it’s still a lingering engravement in my mind. Not your memories shaped by her and the vagaries of pre-inductive reasoning cognitive development phases. You were given two parents for many reasons – one includes so that you can become whom you were created to be and do what you were created to do.

I’m reading Pathfinder. Thanks to Jack, I’m an avid Orson Scott Card fan. Thanks to the Rhinotimes, too but that’s irrelevant to this story. I was in the library last week and there it was on display in the Youth section – as if a thirteen year old is going to glom onto Rigg. It’s very different reading a book that is not mine and which I have to give back to the community. I’ll get my own version when it comes around as a almost 700 page paperback or limps onto the discount list. Until then – however you get your hands on it, I recommend it to you. I also recommended it to Grandpa today – oh by the way, he’s not heard from y’all in too long. Wait much longer and you might regret missing him.

It’s been a curious week of opportunity. Advocacy work for the department of mental health. QI guru for the department of public health. Both experiences are worth novels never mind their own short stories. The “advocate” role has been institutionalized into the mental health hospitals and the leaders, with a straight face cannot fathom why they are still at step one, investigations of complaints, rather than already in the process of eliminating the role altogether. I’m going to see if they let this gadfly near the data and help them go the road not traveled. The public health arena is just now beginning to propose that quality improvement should be an essential management culture. Go figure! It’s been the modus operandi, the modus vivandi in hospital industry for the entire time I’ve worked in hospitals. That’s a scary thought! And now it’s got the backing of the governor and the division director as a cost cutting or service enhancement without added costs strategy. Not a pursuit of excellence!

Then there’s the conversation with the developmental disabilities campus. In the state city of Butner – that’s a phenomenon worth exploring. A city created by public works, sustained by public institutions. How do the residents make it into ‘normal society’ when everyone on the campus is invested in the status quo ante? Empowerment for the public sector worker not the residents! Oh well, Videbimus. I’m just a grump not even a gadfly. Not only, as my cousin said during the viewing, am I beginning to look more and more like my father [beware for yourself], I am sounding like him! Uncle Arch was truly the archetypical spokesperson for the Nolan Clan! The rest of us pretend to be more educated and civilized.

Then there was four visiting teams winning on wild card weekend.

Last night Auburn won the national championship for the first time in 53 years. As an SEC fan, I cheered for them. As a BAMA alum, the cheers provoked a visceral heartburn. If UNCG is 191st in the universe of universities, where is Auburn? Top of the world in football. For one year in a row. Congrats. Roll Tide Roll!

I’m about ten days behind on my February Saints. I have more material on Brigid: one helluva gal! but, I’ve not heard word one from the News Herald. Being ignored seems to be my plight in life. So, I have this forum and the thousand or so people who’ve read, or pinged, my giggerish. Let the ignoring be shouted down! The ole nose versus face thing. Like I told Grandpa, it’s the bishop’s paper for which he has a purpose. But one would think that the editor has a responsibility to be direct rather than ignore my response to HER request. C’est la vie.

If I’m not going to be published in the News Herald, I have greater reason to start submitting to the other dioceses in the country. Let the chips fall where they may. If I target the News Herald and submit to more and more dioceses, maybe I’ll get published. The nice thing about the internet is that it’s a free voice – until the Democrats’ FCC puts its grip around the throat of free speech. Videbimus.

Also, if the News Herald isn’t interested in my writing, there’s less reason for me to be a month ahead on the saints. Except, the submissions to the other papers would argue for similar timing.?

February 1

John of the Grating d. 1168

I looked for more info than Angels and Saints of the Day gave me. The OSV encyclopedia had exactly the same info. A dictionary of saints gave a couple more tidbits. John of the Grating is not a biggie so we get a paragraph or two. I’ve gotten to the point where I’m not delving into Butler’s anymore. The modern era of google has made me lazier than I was before – of course laziness is some one else’s fault, not mine! Grandpa says that Dr Kinn told him, for each day in the hospital, it takes a week of exercise to get the body’s stamina and muscle strength back to status quo ante. If that’s true, and I have no reason to doubt him, it’ll take a year+ of weeks for me to catch up again to where I was two years ago. Except that it must be for such long periods the relationships are very different. I’m full of digressions after a week.

John of the Grating was born of poor parents and received a good education. Think about that for a minute or three. Your parents were not poor and you got what kind of education? It was expensive – the most expensive elementary school in Nashville and the most expensive high school in GSO. But did you receive a good education? An education that fostered goodness? After you left the good Dominican Sisters, I would argue that the education you got was less than good.

The endpoint of sainthood does not depend on the relative wealth of your parents. Some would argue that poverty of parents is a plus in the pursuit of sanctity. I’d argue it is irrelevant. It is the ‘goodness’ of the education that fosters a saintly pursuit. For example, how is it a fostering of our ultimate purpose to be told that your faith is not only irrelevant by anathema in a high school assignment to write about ethics in science?

John of the Grating was accepted into the Cistercians at Clairvaux by St. Bernard. Cistercians are probably better known in USA as Trappists – that’d be Thomas Merton as saintly man better known to more, I’d suppose than Bernard. I got introduced to St Bernard, not as a dog, but by my freshman latin teacher – latin, English, and homeroom freshman year and latin teacher my sophomore year at Cheverus, Bernard Murphy, S.J. He made a point of telling us that the pronunciation of his name was the same as the saint’s. Of course, in the Jesuit way of things, knowing about the saint to whom he was given at baptism was a way to get to know the curmudgeon.

Clairvaux and Bernard were a second wave beginning for the Cistercians. (St Robert started his move to begin the Cistercians in 1098; Bernard came along in 1112.) And at the beginning substantial renewal of a renewal order, the selection process is much more crucial. John of the Grating must have shown early on the characteristics St Bernard was looking for. We do ‘know’ about people by where they choose to go to pursue their vocation and with whom they study. How are you doing on that scale?

John of the Grating helped establish monasteries and became an abbot before he was elected to be bishop of Aleth. The encyclopedia made a point of John of the Grating ousting the Moamoutier Augustinian monks from the cathedral and replacing them with canons regular. In other words, he got the Augustinians out of the income stream that he wanted for himself, his purposes, his monasteries, and his Order. Go figure. Besides, it’s much easier to pursue your own agenda when you have your own team in all the key positions and you can lavish rewards on them. Our friends the monks and their abbots have a lot to teach us about management and leadership. Read Bernard’s rules. Learn more than you could possibly be looking for.

I love you
Dad
1718

0204 John deBritto, S.J. 1693

2011-01-04T14:18:00.002-05:00
Jack and Thom,
Good morning, I love you
110104, 1340

And yet another John. This one a Jesuit. And not an English Martyr.

February 4

John DeBritto, S.J. b. 1647 d. 2/11/1693

John deBritto was born in Lisbon. John deBritto was dedicated at birth to St. Francis Xavier. It does matter for whom you are named. It does matter to whom your parents dedicate you. It is important for you to be enmeshed in the family of clan and faith. You were not given to your parents by accident.

John deBritto was brought up in court. He was a noble friend of King Pedro. How’s your Western History circa 17th c.? The Court at Lisbon was riding high. So was the Church. So was the Society of Jesus. Look it up.

John deBritto entered the Society of Jesus in 1662, at fifteen. I sometimes wonder what would have happened if I’d been accepted into the junior seminary after junior high school. Would it have been better to have been in Catholic NYC rather than protestant Portland ME at that time? Would I have learned the life of obedience sooner? Have I learned it yet?

In September 1673, John deBritto reached Goa. You can be sure that the biography of this Jesuit has all the details of his progression through vows and the selection of his mission field. He was following in the foot steps of the saint to whom he was dedicated.

Before taking up his work he spent thirty days in the Exercises of St. Ignatius. Before he finished the initial phase of his novitiate he had his first thirty days retreat. The second time Jesuits typically do the full Exercises is at the beginning of the year of their ordination. It would make sense for missionaries to undertake this renewal before launching into their new world. I recommend that you, too, avail yourself of the Spiritual Exercises. The full thirty days of course are best. The shorter versions are also inspirational.

John DeBritto apparently entered the Kshatriyas, a noble caste. The Jesuits were very much in accord with St Patrick’s approach to missionary work. Bring our faith and religion to the people to whom we are proselytizing. Be respectful of the culture. Communicate in the ways of the people to whom we are preaching. Oh by the way, going top down, converting the nobility is more efficient, never mind offering better accommodations.

John DeBritto’s dress was yellow cotton; he abstained from every kind of animal food and from wine. Blend in for the people. And stand out for Christ.

Early in 1674, John DeBritto traversed the Ghauts on foot and reached Colei in the Cauvery Delta, where he perfected himself in the language. I told you that the Jesuits had all the details. They make it easy for the encyclopedia to give us some flavor to what was the lives of our saints. Are you willing, like John DeBritto, to cross mountains, to walk barefoot, to bring our faith to those for whom you are sent to proselytize? E.g., should you be so blessed, your own children?

In 1684 John DeBritto was imprisoned in Marava, and, though freed by the king, he was expelled from the country. See, it paid off, starting off with the nobles. He had a friend in Court. Always handy.

In 1688 John DeBritto was sent to Europe as deputy to the triennial Congregation of Procurators. Resisting urgent attempts to keep him in Portugal, and refusing the Archbishopric of Cranganore, he returned in 1691 to the borders of Madura and Marava. Sounds like a Jesuit to me. The special vows of obedience don’t inure to the bishops; sometimes not even to the Pope or their own superiors. Still, John DeBritto would not have gone anywhere qua Jesuit without the permission of his superiors, whether willingly given or reluctantly.

Having converted Teriadeven, a Maravese prince. John DeBritto required him to dismiss all his wives but one. Among them was a niece of the king, who took up her quarrel and began a general persecution. John DeBritto and others were taken and carried to the capital, Ramnad, the Brahmins clamouring for his death. Thence he was led to Oreiour, some thirty miles northward along the coast, where his head was struck off, 11 February, 1693.

Think John the Baptist? Some stories are perennial. We assimilate our religion to the culture of the time and place. AND, there are absolutes, there is Truth, we have Right and Wrong. At some point, to be Catholic is to be obedient even to those Laws of God with which we wish to disagree or ignore, those rules of Church with which we take personal issue. Be we king or pauper, He is Lord, Father, and the Truth and the Way and the Life. Get with the program. Don’t lose your head over it; but if you must, John DeBritto is a story to remember.

John DeBritto led many to conversion during his life, established many stations, and was famous for his miracles before and after his death. He was beatified by Pius IX, 21, August, 1853. Some punchline to a life, huh? What will be yours?

I love you,
Dad
1406

0204 John Stone d. 1539

2011-01-04T14:17:00.000-05:00
Jack and Thom,
Good morning, I love you
110104, 1300

How many English martyrs are there? Google it. Check the Catholic Encyclopedia. There are lists. And still, not enough reminders to clutch onto our faith no matter who or what oppresses us. Oro pro vobis.

February 4

John Stone b. 1509 d. 1539

Almost nothing is known of John Stone's early years or of his life and activities as an Augustinian. We do know that his early life led him to the Augustinians. Where is your early life leading you? Especially since you don’t know what early is. For me, 30 is early. I bet that for John Stone, who probably didn’t turn thirty, he figured his adolescence was his early life. At 21 and 23, you are in the late stages of very early life. Or, it’s the day before you get leveled by a wayward truck. Is your life preparing you for the Augustinians? For Heaven?

The Parliament of England in 1534 approved a law known as the Act of Supremacy. This Act proclaimed King Henry VIII the supreme head of the Church in England. The “supreme head.” Who’s in your head as supreme? God? Jesus? Spirit? The clover leaf? Are you a Papist? You better be. That’s what’s engraved on your soul. Any one who tells you differently ranks up there with the persecutors of England circa 1534.

John Stone was a doctor of divinity. We are each responsible for knowing our faith, our religion. It’s a constant learning process of tradition and scripture. A personal responsibility under the guidance of our Holy Mother Church. The recent article in America about the Magesterium is instructive – our bishops are there to teach us, and teaching is not mandating. Or the article recently about the nuns creating their own cadre of theologians. Learn, always, about our faith.

Circa 1538, an official of the King arrived in Canterbury to close all the monasteries and to obtain the written assent of every single Friar to the provisions of the Act of Supremacy. At the Augustinian house where John Stone was a member all the other Augustinian Friars signed the document. But, John Stone refused.

Be certain of this – if a person opposes your faith, that opposition is not likely to dissipate or fade away or be withdrawn. Our faith is also a rejection of others’ fundamental beliefs that some cannot withstand when they look into the mirror or into their soul. When the ‘supreme’ in your life declares your faith anathema, know that they will persist in persecuting you; know that they will unceasingly try to suppress your faith through whatever punishments they can imagine.

And all around you, people will acquiesce. Just like all the friars except John Stone signed their support of the Act of Supremacy. What’s the big deal, right? No harm no foul – especially no harm to me and no foul to the supreme. But John Stone knew better. You can imagine every other friar telling John Stone to just sign the parchment! Not only for his sake but for theirs.

John Stone was arrested and thrown into prison in the Tower of London. The supreme is serious about squashing the recalcitrant in their dominion. When you stand with your faith, be prepared by prayer and fasting, by faith and hope, most importantly by your love of Jesus and His Bride, the Church,

John Stone remained firm in his refusal to accept the King as head of the Church. While in jail, John Stone spent many hours in prayer.

Under the pressure to renounce the fundamentals of life, spend many hours in prayer. Many HOURS. And the only way that will be your salvific response is if you spend hours now in daily prayer. HOURS. Each day. The discipline of prayer will build the foundation and framework of your life as Catholic in this anti-Catholic environment.

Listen to the Word of God speaking to your. In your prayer. In the daily liturgy. In your persistent reading of the Bible and our other sources of wisdom . God is speaking to you to be of good heart – regardless of the persecutions – and to remain steadfast in our belief, which is necessary to be of good heart. Round and round in faith.

John Stone is probably the Austin Friar of whom Bishop Ingworth complained on 14 December, 1538, that "at all times he still held and still desired to die for it, that the king may not be head of the Church of England". It is harder to will to live for our faith. To live in the midst of people who demean our faith and our religion. To live in the midst of loved ones who reject us for our faith. Like in the movie Patton, at the beginning, the speech to the troops – let some other sonofabitch die for his country, to win, to let the Kingdom spread on earth, we must live our faith.

When in prison before his martyrdom "after an uninterrupted fast of three days, he heard a voice, but without seeing the presence of anyone, calling him by name and exhorting him to be of good courage and not to hesitate to suffer with constancy for the truth of the opinion which he had professed". John Stone listened to the exhortation to be of good heart and to remain steadfast in his belief, even if it meant death. From this point on, John Stone felt great strength.

John Stone was tried and convicted of treason in 1539. Right after Christmas of that year, a slow procession passed through the streets of Canterbury. The prisoner John Stone was being taken through the city to a hill outside the city walls. Okay, simple enough. See the Crucifixion.

John Stone was hanged, drawn and quartered. Because he was considered a traitor, his head and body were put on display at the entrance to the city. Because he was considered a martyr, this display did not frighten so much as it strengthened our faith, then and now.

I love you,
Dad
1336

John Boste, priest to John Speed d. 1594

2011-01-04T14:15:00.000-05:00
Jack and Thom,
Good morning, I love you
110104, 1227

St. John Boste b. 1544 d. 1594

His feast day is October 24th. Since he is tied to John Speed, Durham Martyr, feast on 2-4, and is also a John, what the hey, I picked him up for today too.

The encyclopedia notes that John Boste was born of a good Catholic Family. I wonder if that would be said of me? Of you? In your family? A good Catholic, personally?

But then the encyclopedia says that John Boste was received into the Church in 1576 – when he was 32! How much of his first 32 years was he an Augustine to his mother’s Monica? Or in the reverse for you – born a Catholic to a mother then and now not one. God works in mysterious ways. And, as the country song says, the secret of a Father’s Love is that it is Love without end, no matter what.

Before being received into the Church, John Boste studied at Queens College, Oxford, 1569-72, where he became a fellow. Imagine John Boste’s life in academia in England in mid 16th c. once he converted to Catholicism.

John Boste resigned his Fellowship in 1580. I bet resignation has multiple meanings for the man and the situation. How much of the change was his initiative or his acquiescing? How much of the resignation was forced on him: a simple choice, renounce the conversion of give up the job? How often have you already be put in a similar situation, by yourself, by your family, by your friends, by your colleagues/peers? And it will not ever stop, not in NC, not in GSO, not with half your family. John Boste models for you the right answer.

John Boste went to Reims, where he was ordained priest, 4 March, 1581, and in April was sent to England. You know this route. You know how this situation might mirror your own. Know that you are by far not the first one confronted with the challenges to your faith, your piety, your religion: and your duty to fulfill your purpose.

John Boste landed at Hartlepool and became a most zealous missioner, so that the persecutors made extraordinary efforts to capture him. And John Speed, Fr. Boste’s companion, knew all this, too. Be the point person, be the assistant, be the follower, but be the best Catholic man of your baptism.

At last, after many narrow escapes, he was taken to Waterhouses, the house of William Claxton, near Durham, betrayed by one Eglesfield, 5 July, 1593. John Boste zealously served the English Catholic of Hartlepool for a dozen years before he was outed. You could try to hide your faith from your family, friends, peers but you know, too, that you will ultimately be found out, be outed. You’re not likely to be taken to the Tower here in the 21st c. So, why hide it at all? Why reject it in compliance to the pressures of dis-believers? Is conformity that valuable to you? Is assuaging the feelings of people who are wrong so important? Especially when the option is to lead them to the one and True faith?

The place where John Boste was betrayed is still visited by Catholics. We have all kinds of shrines to remind us of the hand of God in our lives. It seems to be an odd choice, a place of betrayal. “Not my will be done, but Yours.” A lesson for all of us who will be betrayed one time or an other. A lesson for all of us who will be asked to betray ourselves, our faith. John Boste, at Claxon’s house is a lesson for all of us.

From Durham John Boste was conveyed to London, showing himself throughout "resolute, bold, joyful, and pleasant", although terribly racked in the Tower. To the extent that you are resolute in your faith, you are at risk to be terribly racked. Let John Boste be a strength for you.

Sent back to Durham for the July Assizes, 1594, John boste behaved with undaunted courage and resolution, and induced his fellow-martyr, Bl. George Swalwell , a convert minister, who had recanted through fear, to repent of his cowardice, absolving him publicly in court. From pillar to post, literally and figuratively, those who wish you to recant will persist in their persecution. You too should be undaunted, courageous, resolute. By your own faith you will be a source of strength to others similarly challenged. Or, in your persecution, you will find the John Boste in your life whom you need to strengthen yourself, to recant your recantation.

John Boste recited the Angelus while mounting the ladder. Know your prayers. Sear them into your soul. Imprint them into your DNA. Let them be the sinew of strength to call upon when it doesn’t look like it could be worse. Let prayer be available to you as autopilot in your closeness and dedication to God. John Boste knew he would be hung, drawn and quartered. But did not know how heinous that could become.

John Boste was executed with extraordinary brutality; for he was scarcely turned off the ladder when he was cut down, so that he stood on his feet, and in that posture was cruelly butchered alive. Sure it’s bad when you are ridiculed, ostracized, or more subtly rebuked for your faith, the faith of your father. Picture John Boste standing there, having been hung, standing on his feet, cruelly butchered alive. You can resist whatever is sent against your faith….

In 1970, John Boste was canonized by Pope Paul VI among the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales, whose joint feast day is kept on 25 October.

I love you,
Dad
1259

0204 John Speed d. 1594

2011-01-04T14:13:00.002-05:00
Jack and Thom,
Good morning, I love you
110104, 1208

About an other hour of writing time before I have errands to run then proposals to put together. February fourth continues a string of Johns…. Two English Martyrs and one Jesuit India martyr.

February 4

Bl John Speed d. 1594
Aka John Spence

It was not uncommon for our priests in sixteenth century England to adopt pseudonyms. They had to do their duty, follow their vocation in peril for their lives – in peril from friends and family members alike. To hide in plain sight because those who are closest to them would just as likely turn them in, the ultimate rejection of their familial bond and the unity of their initial faith. Or, in your case, turned in, turned away, by some who are family but not now or ever Catholic. How far must you go to be true to the One True Faith? Further than the English martyrs?

John Speed, a layman, used to escort St. Fr. John Boste from one Catholic house to another. As in sixteenth century England, today you don’t have to be a priest or a particularly pious Catholic to be identified as an outlier, an outcast. Providing the simplest service to our Church, to Catholics or to people serving Catholics will identify you as someone to be ostracized.

John Speed was offered inducements to ‘act like the rest of us,’ to conform to the prevalent, the majority religion. You are faced with the same challenges in protestant, anti-catholic GSO. John Speed is a man to help you be the person you were baptized to become, to remain constant in our faith.

John Speed is one of the “Durham Martyrs.” Durham. Remember your faith tradition when you drive by Durham NC or when you get wrapped up in a Duke game.

I love you,
Dad
1226

0203 Joihn Nelson d. 1578

2011-01-04T14:12:00.000-05:00
Jack and Thom,
Good morning, I love you
110104, 1121

February gets off to a John-start. John a prolific English language name. It also seems to be well worn in our western languages. A derivative from the Hebrew meaning God is Gracious, Yahweh is Merciful. The name itself carries an obligation once you know who you are. Plus, it carries a weight that you cannot fully fathom because it was given to you from your Grandfather’s name. You got the blessing of being named after both of your Grandfathers. And thus, the privilege of bringing out the best of them in you.

John Ed got to play with you – we have some great pictures. I occasionally wonder that if he lived another, say, five or, jeeze, ten years, how much difference would he have made in the possibilities for your parents. His absence was not contributive to the demise of our relationship but, maybe, his presence would have helped us overcome our divide. “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood….”

February 3
Bl John Nelson, SJ b. 1534 d. 1578

You know this story by now. The better question is how well you’ve assimilated it. How important it is to be reminded of it.

John Nelson went to Douay in 1573. That’s thirty nine. So, you never know when you will wake up to your calling or how your vocation changes during your lifetime. Never stop listening to the call from God to do what you were created to do.

What was life like for John Nelson before he turned 39? How did approaching the “mid-life” crisis of ‘40’ play into his new awakening? In the Jesuits’ saints book, there are more details but not many. Each of these incomplete biographies are worth their own short stories. Let the possibilities play gracefully on your heart.

Two of his four brothers followed his example and became priests. Some of us are older brothers and some not. We older brothers have an obligation to our younger siblings. You’ll have to ask Ken and Grandpa about how well you think I’ve done with my responsibilities. Jack, you have the benefit of your brother, parents, and Grandfather to give you the feedback in your fulfilling your duties. Alas, do you have the wisdom to seek it. And not only from us but from our faith, the stories of older brothers in the Gospels and in our long tradition of faith – the older brothers through our history. How do you pursue what is your duty? How do you know you are fulfilling your purpose?

John Nelson was ordained priest at Binche, in Hainault, 11 June, 1576. To get ordained this quickly as a Jesuit means he came to Douay with substantial training in philosophy and theology. Since we don’t have the date of his entrance into the Society, it’s possible that it wasn’t until he returned to London that he was accepted in to the Order.

John Nelson was sent on the English mission on 7 November 1576. “Was sent” reminds us of our vow of obedience – which we took at Baptism, renewed at Confirmation, and will take again as we proceed through the sacraments. It is a vow of love, is obedience. It is a vow of service.

John Nelson returned to his England after his self exile to pursue his vocation. To look ahead to ordination and to return home must have also included his awareness that he returned to the mouth of the Lion and the likelihood of gruesome martyrdom.

John Nelson appears to have labored in London.

His apprehension took place 1 December, 1577, "late in the evening as he was saying the Nocturne of the Matins for the next day following", and he was committed to Newgate as a suspected Papist. Papist. No more derisive label possible for a priest in England of the 16th c.: nor for a young man in GSO 2011. Let John Nelson’s faith and fortitude strengthen you.

John Nelson’s arrest and its issue had been foretold by a demon he had exorcised a week before. Yes, Virginia, there is a devil, the evil one, satan. He does take possession of our souls, if we’re unlucky enough. The fact that John Nelson was an exorcist tells us more about him. The selection of priests to perform this ritual is not willy nilly. I spoke with a priest when I was in the novitiate who was an exorcist. It’s a hellacious responsibility! It tortures the soul. It requires a man who believes whole heartedly in the presence of Jesus and His powers to cast out evil spirits. The ultimate in channeling requires faith substantially greater than that of a mustard seed. A willingness to put your immortal soul on the line!

The High Commissioners in a few days by cross-examination induced John Nelson to say that the queen was a schismatic. This constituted high treason under the legislation of 1571. Speaking truth to power has its risks. And rewards – up to and including the reward of martyrdom. To do what is right has its benefits and its costs. John Nelson must have known them, must have witnessed the consequences of getting caught long before he headed off to Douay. Call upon this man to help you be responsible for your faith and religion regardless of whomever tries to lead you in some other direction.

John Nelson was providentially enabled to say Mass in Newgate, 30 January, 1577-8, and two days later he was brought to the bar and condemned. Thenceforward John Nelson was confined "in a most filthy underground dungeon", doubtless the Pit of the Tower, preparing by prayer and fasting for his end. We are all given the opportunity to attend Mass, every day, any one of which may be the eve of our death. From John the Baptist, heck, from the prophets of the Old Testament, we are reminded to pray and fast in preparation for our end, our beginning face to face with Jesus.

John Nelson was cut down alive, and his last words, when the hangman plucked out his heart, are reported to have been: "I forgive the queen and all the authors of my death." When The Evil Ones reach into your heart, are you strong enough to maintain your faith and, AND, offer your forgiveness to those who insisted that you were the one in the wrong, that you have been baptized and confirmed into the wrong, treasonous faith. The faith of your father, the one True Faith.

I love you
Dad
1207

110104 notes to sons

2011-01-04T10:39:00.002-05:00
Jack and Thom,
Good morning, I love you
110104, 1011

Happy New Year!

I’m mobile for the first time this year. I got back from Frank’s funeral about 2030 Friday. In time to welcome the new year at the stroke of twelve in GSO. I wrote a letter to Grandpa – who continues to have a computer only as a boat anchor in his basement – that details the trip to and from Rockville Center. Continue to pray for Frank and, in his grief as well as recuperative efforts, Grandpa.

On Saturday I had four readings to do. Coincidental. I signed up for the 10 a.m. Mass for Mary Mother of God. No longer a holy day of obligation, though I continue to feel obliged. As often as I argued once that our Church has too many obligations I now wonder if we don’t have enough ‘obligatory guidance.’ I wonder if we lifted obligations because people stopped feeling obliged or stopped caring about fulfilling our obligations. A slippery slope leading to, in America, the second largest religious group being ‘lapsed Catholics?’

But, I had only one reading to do at the ten. The coordinator for that Mass had found someone to accept the second reading assignment. For the vigil of the feast of the Epiphany, our liturgical coordinator knew that the person doing the second reading was not going to show – no call, no sub, no show. That gave me both readings – profound for us Gentiles, difficult to proclaim, easier to read in silence – and the responsorial psalm. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve sat in the nave and railed to myself about one person taking on so many roles. It’s a defect in our system. We have a plethora of volunteers. Too many people let the system fall to the default mode and don’t make the outreach that the coordinator for the morning Mass did.

So we prepare for and deliver the readings. Then the priest preaches on the Gospel with no reference to the other two readings. Go figure. Disheartening. Why make all that effort to deliver the Word in a way that resonates with the congregation and then be ignored in the sermon? Don’t get me wrong. Fr Allen is an excellent homilist. But Isaiah and Paul deserve some inclusion in the homily, don’t you think?

By Sunday I was burrowed in my cave, life strewn around mumbling at me to pack it up, get organized – again, it’s a new year, what other excuse do you need. So I wrote for the day. And for another day yesterday.

But today. January 4th. Feast of Elizabeth Ann Seton. In honor of Aunt Monica, I got my ass to Mass. Now to panera’s. Later to the library to work on my next project.

Aunt Monica. At Frank’s wake, there was a picture of Frank with Monica. If you want to imagine what Monica looked like, pull up pictures of Mother Seton in her most modern garb. Or vice versa. I was surprised that my cousin Larry, the youngest of all of us cousins, had his memories of Monica. I had guessed that Monica died before he was born. Obviously not. He had stories of his father, my uncle, Grandpa’s brother, Arch, taking him and Elizabeth to visit Aunt Monica – aka Sr Anita Rosaire – at the convent, retirement home, infirmary in Westchester. His memories, when he was maybe five-ish, seem to be clearer than mine of the same period in Monica’s life. I do remember, and still have in a box, her letters, her wit, her encouragement, her fundamental holiness. Ora pro nobis.

I love you
Dad
1039

101229 John the Apostle and other feeloughts

2010-12-29T19:27:00.000-05:00
Jack and Thom
Good morning, I love you,
101229, 1902

Feeloughts about y’all, your baptisms, the feast of one of your patrons. (for John Kenneth John Nolan.) I’m going to start this blog with Catholic Encyclopedia entry on John the Apostle. It’s cold and I’ve been sitting in the ‘low temp’ for a couple of hours. I have another hour and a half before I must leave. Besides, I can’t wait much past eight thirty to make my decision about going to my Godfather’s wake and funeral. Videbimus. Ora pro eo.

December 27

St John the Apostle
Patron of Asia Minor

New Testament accounts

According to the usual and entirely probable explanation John and James the Greater (the sons of Thunder) became for a time disciples of John the Baptist, and were called by Christ from the circle of John's followers, together with Peter and Andrew, to become His disciples (John 1:35-42).

These ‘first four’ recognized something in John the Baptist and went to him to find the Messiah. They were close, very close. No doubt they did what John the Baptist preached – they repented to make the way of the Lord, the one whose sandal straps John the Baptist could not touch. Even if He were his cousin. … And you? We have many priests and prophets today pointing us to Jesus – in faith and religion Have you chosen a John the Baptist who will guide you to the One True Church? Or are you hanging with another type of person? Choose wisely. Use John the Baptist as your guide in your selection.

After the second return from Judea, John and his companions went back again to their trade of fishing until he and they were called by Christ to definitive discipleship (Matthew 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20).

Be patient. Choose wisely. Know that Jesus is calling you. Find The Way to Him. Read the calling of the apostles, especially the Apostle whom Jesus loved – because He loves you as much. Understand and imitate what John the Apostle did.

The conclusion is drawn that John was than James. With two brothers, one is the younger. Thom is the younger. Ken is the younger – actually the middle brother of three. We, too, had a James: who died in November 1967 – a cold, blustery time in New York City and in the Berkshires at Shadowbrook. But I digress.

Peter, James, and John were the only witnesses of the raising of Jairus's daughter (Mark 5:37), of the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1), and of the Agony in Gethsemani (Matthew 26:37). John was a witness from the beginning. He saw a girl raised from the dead. John saw the Transfiguration. [I’m sure he didn’t think he was on an LSD trip – tho that could explain the book of revelations?] John was called to come closer and pray a little while with Jesus at Gethsemani. And still, John does not record his believing until he stepped into the cave and saw.

Only John and Peter were sent into the city to make the preparation for the Last Supper (Luke 22:8). According to the general interpretation, John was also that "other disciple" who with Peter followed Christ after the arrest into the palace of the high-priest (John 18:15).
When you put the John passages together, it looks like he and Peter were something of a pair. Little brother kind of thing? Apprentice/mentor? When you pair off, and it’s an inevitable thing to do, choose as wisely as John did. Be sure your sidekick is like Peter.

At the Supper itself his place was next to Christ on Whose breast he leaned (John 13:23, 25).
John alone remained near his beloved Master at the foot of the Cross on Calvary with the Mother of Jesus and the pious women, and took the desolate Mother into his care as the last legacy of Christ (John 19:25-27).

I’m too cold and my mind is too much on driving to New York….

I love you
Dad
1926