Jesus is Risen! He is Indeed Risen!
Alleluia, Alleluia!
LOVE CRUCIFIED AROSE!
A joy-filled and blessed Easter to all!
EveryDay Saints
"EveryDay Saints" Series used with kind permission by artist Sara Drescher Braswell
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
On the Mystery of Suffering
On April 2nd, we celebrate Holy Thursday, the beginning of the holiest days in the Church's calendar. We stand trembling at the precipice, knowing full well what is coming for Our Lord and for His Mother, Mary.
That day is also the 10th anniversary of the death of St John Paul the Great.
And it is during these days that we turn our minds so often to the Mystery of Suffering.
Our own Holy Father Francis recently spoke about the suffering which John Paul endured. Elected young (age 58) to the papacy, a natural athlete in robust health, John Paul brought new life and vigor into Our Church. But it was his first words spoken on the balcony at St Peter's which forever touch our hearts, even now: BE NOT AFRAID!
He became a model for many when his health declined, and most especially during his last public appearance when he could not speak. Yet, he didn't need to; his courageous heart spoke volumes.
In a biography about Our Holy Father Francis, we also learn of a time in his life when there was great suffering. As a young man aspiring to the priesthood, he was stricken with an illness that affected his lungs. He had to have part of one lung removed, but it was the subsequent painful treatments which were virtually unbearable to him.
Many friends and family came to visit him. They tried to be upbeat and consoling, saying such well-meaning words as:
"You're going to be well soon."
"Everything is going to be alright."
"Don't worry...."
And so on.
Yet, Francis admits that none of these words offered any consolation or peace to him.
Finally, it was a nun who uttered the profound and wise words which made the difference. She said, "You imitate Christ."
Now, he had consolation. Now, he had something which would sustain him through the rest of his treatment.
This reminder, that through our suffering, when we join ourselves to the Crucified Christ, we may be able to find a peace, an authentic meaning and a purpose. And yes, often even joy.
Easy? No. No. Never. Never.
But as the great Fulton Sheen had said, "There is nothing worse than wasted suffering."
If you are suffering in any way--whether physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually, turn your eyes to the Crucified Lord. Sit at the foot of the cross, and spend time with Him. There, there, you will find a consolation that this world could never give. There, there, He will give you His love, His grace, and His peace.
That day is also the 10th anniversary of the death of St John Paul the Great.
And it is during these days that we turn our minds so often to the Mystery of Suffering.
Our own Holy Father Francis recently spoke about the suffering which John Paul endured. Elected young (age 58) to the papacy, a natural athlete in robust health, John Paul brought new life and vigor into Our Church. But it was his first words spoken on the balcony at St Peter's which forever touch our hearts, even now: BE NOT AFRAID!
He became a model for many when his health declined, and most especially during his last public appearance when he could not speak. Yet, he didn't need to; his courageous heart spoke volumes.
BE NOT AFRAID!
In a biography about Our Holy Father Francis, we also learn of a time in his life when there was great suffering. As a young man aspiring to the priesthood, he was stricken with an illness that affected his lungs. He had to have part of one lung removed, but it was the subsequent painful treatments which were virtually unbearable to him.
Many friends and family came to visit him. They tried to be upbeat and consoling, saying such well-meaning words as:
"You're going to be well soon."
"Everything is going to be alright."
"Don't worry...."
And so on.
Yet, Francis admits that none of these words offered any consolation or peace to him.
Finally, it was a nun who uttered the profound and wise words which made the difference. She said, "You imitate Christ."
Now, he had consolation. Now, he had something which would sustain him through the rest of his treatment.
This reminder, that through our suffering, when we join ourselves to the Crucified Christ, we may be able to find a peace, an authentic meaning and a purpose. And yes, often even joy.
Easy? No. No. Never. Never.
But as the great Fulton Sheen had said, "There is nothing worse than wasted suffering."
If you are suffering in any way--whether physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually, turn your eyes to the Crucified Lord. Sit at the foot of the cross, and spend time with Him. There, there, you will find a consolation that this world could never give. There, there, He will give you His love, His grace, and His peace.
BE NOT AFRAID!
St John Paul the Great, pray for us!
Monday, March 30, 2015
The Ragman
THE RAGMAN
By Walter Wangerin, Jr.
Even before the dawn one Friday morning I noticed a young man, handsome and strong, walking the alleys of our city. He was pulling an old cart filled with clothes, both bright and new, and he was calling in a clear, tenor voice:
"Rags! Rags! New rags for old! I take your tired rags! Rags!"
Soon the Ragman saw a woman sitting on her back porch. She was sobbing into a handkerchief, sighing, and shedding a thousand tears. Her knees and elbows made a sad X. Her heart was breaking.
The Ragman stopped his cart. Quietly, he walked to the woman, stepping round tin cans, dead toys, and diapers.
"Give me your rag," he said so gently, "and I'll give you another."
He slipped the handkerchief from her eyes. She looked up, and he laid across her palm a linen cloth so clean and new that it shined. She blinked from the gift to the giver.
Then, as he began to pull his cart again, the Ragman did a strange thing: he put her stained handkerchief to his own face; and then he began to weep, to sob as grievously as she had done, his shoulders shaking. Yet she was left without a tear.
"This is a wonder," I breathed to myself.
"Rags! Rags! New rags for old!"
In a little while, when the sky showed gray behind the rooftops and I could see the shredded curtains hanging out black windows, the Ragman came upon a girl whose head was wrapped in a bandage. Blood soaked her bandage. A single line of blood ran down her cheek.
Now the tall Ragman looked upon this child with pity, and he drew a lovely yellow bonnet from his cart.
"Give me your rag," he said, tracing his own line on her cheek, "and I will give you mine."
The child could only gaze at him while he loosened the bandage, removed it, and tied it to his own head. The bonnet he set on hers. And I gasped at what I saw for with the bandage went the wound! Against his brow it ran a darker, more substantial blood--his own!
The sun hurt both the sky, now, and my eyes; the Ragman seemed more and more to hurry.
"Are you going to work?" he asked a man who leaned against a telephone pole. The man shook his head.
The ragman pressed him: "Do you have a job?"
"Are you crazy?" sneered the other. He pulled away from the pole, revealing the right sleeve of his jacket-flat, the cuff stuffed into the pocket. He had no arm.
"So," said the Ragman. "Give me your jacket, and I'll give you mine."
The one-armed man took off his jacket. So did the Ragman - and I trembled at what I saw: for the Ragman's arm stayed in its sleeve, and when the other put it on he had two good arms, thick as tree limbs; but the Ragman had only one.
"Go to work," he said.
After that he found a drunk, lying unconscious beneath an army blanket, an old man, hunched, wizened, and sick. He took the blanket and wrapped it around himself, but for the drunk he left new clothes.
And now I had to run to keep up with the Ragman. He was weeping uncontrollably, and bleeding freely at the forehead, pulling his cart with one arm, falling again and again, exhausted.
I wept to see the change in this man. I hurt to see his sorrow. And yet I needed to see where he was going in such haste, perhaps to know what drove him so.
The little old Ragman - he came to a landfill. He came to the garbage pits. He climbed a hill. With tormented labor he cleared a little space on that hill. Then he sighed. He lay down. He pillowed his head on a handkerchief and a jacket. He covered his bones with an army blanket. And, he died.
Oh, how I cried to witness that death! I slumped in a junked car and wailed and mourned as one who has not hope - because I had come to love the Ragman. I sobbed myself to sleep.
I did not know – how could I know? – that I slept through Friday night and Saturday and its night too.
But then, on Sunday, I was awakened by a violence.
Light-pure, hard, demanding light-slammed against my sour face, and I blinked. There was the Ragman, folding the blanked most carefully, a scar on his forehead, but alive! And, besides that, healthy! There was no sign of sorrow nor of age, and all the rags that he had gathered shined for cleanliness.
Well, then I lowered my head and, trembling for all that I had seen, I myself walked up to the Ragman. I told him my name with shame, for I was a sorry figure next to him. I said to him with dear yearning in my voice: "Dress me."
He dressed me. My Lord, he put new rags on me, and I am a wonder beside him. The Ragman, the Ragman, the Christ!
A People for All Seasons
On Palm Sunday, we encountered the scene of the triumphant and celebratory crowd who gave vocal and public support for Jesus as he entered Jerusalem. We also know that just a few days later, many in this same crowd then turned their backs on Our Lord when He needed their love and mercy more than ever.
Perhaps we know such "fair weather friends;" and if we are truly honest with ourselves, perhaps we have been a fair weather friend ourselves at some point. It's easy to come around when everything is going well in someone's life.
But what about when things turn very dark, when there is real suffering or tribulations?
Where do we stand when negatively confronted about our Catholic faith, about our beliefs, about Jesus Himself? Are we "fair weather" friends then as well? Or, do we stand with Our Lord during these challenging moments?
In the great film, A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS, St Thomas More stands firm in his faith and does not back down, even when confronted by the King of England, even when his very life is threatened, even when his family is reduced to poverty, through imprisonment, and even unto his death by decapitation.
One of the most poignant parts in the film is when a long time friend of St Thomas tries to tempt him to sign an oath of allegiance to the King (who has made himself head of the Church of England so he can remarry once again, thus abandoning the authority of the Holy Father and the teachings of our faith). Thomas's response reverberates through the ages:
The Duke of Norfolk: Oh confound all this. I'm not a scholar, I don't know whether the marriage was lawful or not but dammit, Thomas, look at these names! Why can't you do as I did and come with us, for fellowship!
Thomas More: And when we die, and you are sent to heaven for doing your conscience, and I am sent to hell for not doing mine, will you come with me, for fellowship?
Are we a people for all seasons? At the end of this coming week, will we stand with Our Lord at the foot of the cross?
Perhaps we know such "fair weather friends;" and if we are truly honest with ourselves, perhaps we have been a fair weather friend ourselves at some point. It's easy to come around when everything is going well in someone's life.
But what about when things turn very dark, when there is real suffering or tribulations?
Where do we stand when negatively confronted about our Catholic faith, about our beliefs, about Jesus Himself? Are we "fair weather" friends then as well? Or, do we stand with Our Lord during these challenging moments?
In the great film, A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS, St Thomas More stands firm in his faith and does not back down, even when confronted by the King of England, even when his very life is threatened, even when his family is reduced to poverty, through imprisonment, and even unto his death by decapitation.
One of the most poignant parts in the film is when a long time friend of St Thomas tries to tempt him to sign an oath of allegiance to the King (who has made himself head of the Church of England so he can remarry once again, thus abandoning the authority of the Holy Father and the teachings of our faith). Thomas's response reverberates through the ages:
The Duke of Norfolk: Oh confound all this. I'm not a scholar, I don't know whether the marriage was lawful or not but dammit, Thomas, look at these names! Why can't you do as I did and come with us, for fellowship!
Thomas More: And when we die, and you are sent to heaven for doing your conscience, and I am sent to hell for not doing mine, will you come with me, for fellowship?
Are we a people for all seasons? At the end of this coming week, will we stand with Our Lord at the foot of the cross?
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
St. Joseph's Feast Day Recipe
Sfinge di San Giuseppe
THE STORY
Long ago, during famine in Sicily, the people prayed to Saint Joseph to end the drought and hunger that plagued them. They promised to honor him with a great feast if he interceded. Good Saint Joseph (patron of Sicily, fathers, husbands, carpenters, job seekers and others) took care of his people, and the people of Sicily kept their word.
The Sicilians honored him with a grand feast in his name. They built an altar (usually consisting of three tiers for the Holy Trinity) called the Tavola Di San Giuseppe, or Saint Joseph's Table. Since his feast day falls during Lent, much of the food was meatless, consisting of authentic recipes of the region. Basically, they cooked what grew in their area, such as fava beans and artichokes. There was always a great deal of homemade bread, often shaped into symbolic crosses, shepherd's staffs, or carpenter's tools. And the altar is gloriously decorated with pictures of St. Joseph and, of course, lilies (a symbol of his purity).
Sfinge di San Giuseppe Recipe
(Some recipes create a more “cream puff” kind of dessert. But this is the version I grew up with from my Sicilian mom. For the cream puff version, please search the web.)
Ingredients
Total Time: 55 minutes
Preparation
Mix the ricotta, sugar, vanilla, and eggs. Mix in SELF-RISING flour, beat until smooth. Heat oil to 370 degrees F (185 C).
Drop tablespoons of batter into the oil a few at a time, and remove the sfinge from the oil when they reach a golden brown. Drain them on absorbent paper. Sprinkle with confectioner's sugar, or cinnamon sugar or honey.
ENJOY!
Love and prayers,
Simple Soul
THE STORY
Long ago, during famine in Sicily, the people prayed to Saint Joseph to end the drought and hunger that plagued them. They promised to honor him with a great feast if he interceded. Good Saint Joseph (patron of Sicily, fathers, husbands, carpenters, job seekers and others) took care of his people, and the people of Sicily kept their word.
The Sicilians honored him with a grand feast in his name. They built an altar (usually consisting of three tiers for the Holy Trinity) called the Tavola Di San Giuseppe, or Saint Joseph's Table. Since his feast day falls during Lent, much of the food was meatless, consisting of authentic recipes of the region. Basically, they cooked what grew in their area, such as fava beans and artichokes. There was always a great deal of homemade bread, often shaped into symbolic crosses, shepherd's staffs, or carpenter's tools. And the altar is gloriously decorated with pictures of St. Joseph and, of course, lilies (a symbol of his purity).
Sfinge di San Giuseppe Recipe
(Some recipes create a more “cream puff” kind of dessert. But this is the version I grew up with from my Sicilian mom. For the cream puff version, please search the web.)
Ingredients
- 1 pound (450 g) ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup (100 g) sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla, and nutmeg if you like
- 6 eggs
- 2 cups (240 g) SELF-RISING flour
Total Time: 55 minutes
Preparation
Mix the ricotta, sugar, vanilla, and eggs. Mix in SELF-RISING flour, beat until smooth. Heat oil to 370 degrees F (185 C).
Drop tablespoons of batter into the oil a few at a time, and remove the sfinge from the oil when they reach a golden brown. Drain them on absorbent paper. Sprinkle with confectioner's sugar, or cinnamon sugar or honey.
ENJOY!
Love and prayers,
Simple Soul
A Hidden Life of Holiness: St. Joseph's Yes
Ah, St Joseph! Everyone's favorite. Don't you just love him? This week is also his feast day.
Mary's husband, Jesus' foster dad. Jesus is also referred to in the Gospels as "the carpenter's son." By doing so, we are recognizing and honoring the man who raised Jesus, who taught him a trade, taught him his Jewish faith, and who was an example of manhood to a young boy.
Still, so little is known about our dear Joseph! He is not quoted, and at one point when Jesus is older and begins his ministry, nothing more is ever said about Joseph's presence.
We often speak of Our Blessed Mother's obedience to God, and "Mary's Fiat": Her great YES. Yes, let it be done to be according to Your will.
But Joseph, too, freely offered his great YES to God, didn't he? God spoke to him in a dream, as we know, and it was Good Joseph's response and reaction to Mary's pregnancy that makes his YES resound through the ages.
I remember once being present at Mass when a young reader, who was nervous and seemed inexperienced, read the passage describing St Joseph. Instead of saying, he was "a JUST man," this young reader became confused and said, he was "JUST a man."
I smiled at that mistake, but then it struck me: Yes, St Joe was also JUST a man. A man who lived a life of hidden holiness, cooperated fully with God's grace in his life, but ultimately was a regular person, just like us.
Good St Joe, please pray for us. Pray that our hearts are always open to accept God's will, and then please pray that we will rely on God's grace, just as you did.
Did you ever hear the story of St Joseph's staircase? I hope you enjoy this video as well as the one from Father James Martin, SJ:
With love and prayers,
Simple Soul
Mary's husband, Jesus' foster dad. Jesus is also referred to in the Gospels as "the carpenter's son." By doing so, we are recognizing and honoring the man who raised Jesus, who taught him a trade, taught him his Jewish faith, and who was an example of manhood to a young boy.
Still, so little is known about our dear Joseph! He is not quoted, and at one point when Jesus is older and begins his ministry, nothing more is ever said about Joseph's presence.
We often speak of Our Blessed Mother's obedience to God, and "Mary's Fiat": Her great YES. Yes, let it be done to be according to Your will.
But Joseph, too, freely offered his great YES to God, didn't he? God spoke to him in a dream, as we know, and it was Good Joseph's response and reaction to Mary's pregnancy that makes his YES resound through the ages.
I remember once being present at Mass when a young reader, who was nervous and seemed inexperienced, read the passage describing St Joseph. Instead of saying, he was "a JUST man," this young reader became confused and said, he was "JUST a man."
I smiled at that mistake, but then it struck me: Yes, St Joe was also JUST a man. A man who lived a life of hidden holiness, cooperated fully with God's grace in his life, but ultimately was a regular person, just like us.
Good St Joe, please pray for us. Pray that our hearts are always open to accept God's will, and then please pray that we will rely on God's grace, just as you did.
Did you ever hear the story of St Joseph's staircase? I hope you enjoy this video as well as the one from Father James Martin, SJ:
With love and prayers,
Simple Soul
St. Patrick's Breastplate
Two of our great saints have feast days this week. One is St Patrick and the other is St Joseph.
As with St Valentine's Day, in the case of St Patrick, often the real great message of his life is obscured by what this day has evolved into--which seems to focus on green beer and corned beef. But, as Catholics, we know that there is so much more to this man. I confess that during times in my life when I experience darkness or anxiety, I receive immeasurable comfort and strength when I pray St Patrick's Breastplate. This powerful prayer seems to surround me with the spiritual armor needed.
Please share this prayer with others. This is the long version below: ST. PATRICK'S BREASTPLATE St. Patrick's Breastplate is a popular prayer attributed to one of Ireland’s most beloved patron saints. According to tradition, St. Patrick wrote it in 433 A.D. for divine protection before successfully converting the Irish King Leoghaire and his subjects from paganism to Christianity. (The term breastplate refers to a piece of armor worn in battle.) More recent scholarship suggests its author was anonymous. In any case, this prayer certainly reflects the spirit with which St. Patrick brought our faith to Ireland! St. Patrick's Breastplate, also known as The Lorica (the cry of the deer), was popular enough to inspire a hymn based on this text as well.
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
of the Creator of creation.
I arise today
Through the strength of Christ's birth with His baptism,
Through the strength of His crucifixion with His burial,
Through the strength of His resurrection with His ascension,
Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.
I arise today
Through the strength of the love of cherubim,
In the obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In the prayers of patriarchs,
In the predictions of prophets,
In the preaching of apostles,
In the faith of confessors,
In the innocence of holy virgins,
In the deeds of righteous men.
I arise today, through
The strength of heaven,
The light of the sun,
The radiance of the moon,
The splendor of fire,
The speed of lightning,
The swiftness of wind,
The depth of the sea,
The stability of the earth,
The firmness of rock.
I arise today, through
God's strength to pilot me,
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptation of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
afar and near.
I summon today
All these powers between me and those evils,
Against every cruel and merciless power
that may oppose my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom,
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul;
Christ to shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me an abundance of reward.
Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
[Note that people sometimes pray a shorter version of this prayer just with these 15 lines about Christ above. The conclusion follows below.]
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
of the Creator of creation.
When St. Paul referred to putting on the “Armor of God” in his letter to the Ephesians (6:11) to fight sin and evil inclinations, he could have been thinking of prayers just like this one! We may not wear combat gear in our daily lives, but St. Patrick's Breastplate can function as divine armor for protection against spiritual adversity.
And to learn more about how St Pat used the shamrock to explain the difficult doctrine of the Trinity, please click here.
(from http://www.ourcatholicprayers.com)
As with St Valentine's Day, in the case of St Patrick, often the real great message of his life is obscured by what this day has evolved into--which seems to focus on green beer and corned beef. But, as Catholics, we know that there is so much more to this man. I confess that during times in my life when I experience darkness or anxiety, I receive immeasurable comfort and strength when I pray St Patrick's Breastplate. This powerful prayer seems to surround me with the spiritual armor needed.
Please share this prayer with others. This is the long version below: ST. PATRICK'S BREASTPLATE St. Patrick's Breastplate is a popular prayer attributed to one of Ireland’s most beloved patron saints. According to tradition, St. Patrick wrote it in 433 A.D. for divine protection before successfully converting the Irish King Leoghaire and his subjects from paganism to Christianity. (The term breastplate refers to a piece of armor worn in battle.) More recent scholarship suggests its author was anonymous. In any case, this prayer certainly reflects the spirit with which St. Patrick brought our faith to Ireland! St. Patrick's Breastplate, also known as The Lorica (the cry of the deer), was popular enough to inspire a hymn based on this text as well. I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
of the Creator of creation.
I arise today
Through the strength of Christ's birth with His baptism,
Through the strength of His crucifixion with His burial,
Through the strength of His resurrection with His ascension,
Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.
I arise today
Through the strength of the love of cherubim,
In the obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In the prayers of patriarchs,
In the predictions of prophets,
In the preaching of apostles,
In the faith of confessors,
In the innocence of holy virgins,
In the deeds of righteous men.
I arise today, through
The strength of heaven,
The light of the sun,
The radiance of the moon,
The splendor of fire,
The speed of lightning,
The swiftness of wind,
The depth of the sea,
The stability of the earth,
The firmness of rock.
I arise today, through
God's strength to pilot me,
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptation of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
afar and near.
I summon today
All these powers between me and those evils,
Against every cruel and merciless power
that may oppose my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom,
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul;
Christ to shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me an abundance of reward.
Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
[Note that people sometimes pray a shorter version of this prayer just with these 15 lines about Christ above. The conclusion follows below.]
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
of the Creator of creation.
When St. Paul referred to putting on the “Armor of God” in his letter to the Ephesians (6:11) to fight sin and evil inclinations, he could have been thinking of prayers just like this one! We may not wear combat gear in our daily lives, but St. Patrick's Breastplate can function as divine armor for protection against spiritual adversity.
And to learn more about how St Pat used the shamrock to explain the difficult doctrine of the Trinity, please click here.
(from http://www.ourcatholicprayers.com)
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