Ten years ago today, my family and I were celebrating the Jubilee Year in the Umbrian town of Assisi. October 4th is the feast day of St. Francis, and there is an ancient tradition of celebrating the vigil of his death with prayer. It’s known as the Transitus of St. Francis.
Those two days in Assisi were some of the most memorable of all my travels in Italy. Almost 800 years after his death, I hope this little video gives you some insight into this holy man of God.
We’re looking at a new textbook series at work, and I decided that, if we were to switch, it might be a good idea for me to get back into the classroom and try it out myself. So, this year I’m going to teach a 4th grade class. Today was our first session, and I’m whooped. I forgot how much energy kids this age have. Trust me, it’s a lot 🙂
That being said, they are fun to be around, and me and my assistant can’t wait till next week. I know I’m going to be a bit more prepared. Anyone who works with this age group knows you can never have enough activities to satisfy them. Anyway, I’m really looking forward to being with them this year. I know I’ll learn as much as them.
We had a meet and greet with our new pastor this morning. I can already tell he’s going to fit in very well at our parish. Everyone on the staff had the chance to introduce themselves, tell him a bit about what he/she does every day, and then he had the chance to ask questions. Overall, I thought was great. Then he told us a bit about himself and began building a vision for the future. It marked a new beginning for our parish. It was exciting.
I hope you’re having a good weekend. I just got back from a quick trip to South Carolina, and today marks the beginning of my parish’s religious education year. Say a prayer for us 🙂
Over the past few days Pope Benedict has been in the United Kingdom. The purpose of the visit is to beatify Cardinal John Henry Newman (1801-1890). For those that don’t know, beatification is the last step in the process of being declared a saint in the Catholic Church.
I know, it’s a bit early for Nativity scenes, but let me explain 🙂 Use of our imagination is a key component of Ignatian Spirituality. It’s funny, as we get older most of us don’t daydream like we used to. Remember when you were a kid, and you could close your eyes and instantly transport yourself to some epic event, with you playing a key role? I’m not sure how it happens, but it seems to me that we become so focused on the reality of our lives that we stop dreaming.
At church this past Sunday, the recessional hymn was Lift High The Cross, one of my favorites. Since we don’t hear it so often, I’m assuming it was played in anticipation of today’s feast of the Triumph of the Cross. This feast is linked to one of my favorite memories. The event took place at St. Mary’s Seminary and University, where I was once a student. It involved the man in the photo to the left, Archbishop Dominic Tang Yee-Ming, SJ (1908-1995).
When he was named the apostolic administrator of Canton, China in 1950, it didn’t sit well with the Communist leadership, and it was even more so when he was consecrated a titular bishop in 1951. The government indicted him as “the most faithful running-dog of the reactionary Vatican” and imprisoned him without a trial or conviction on February 5, 1958. He spent the next 22 years in prison, seven of which were in solitary confinement.
Several months before 9/11/01, our two young interns sat me down to talk. In order to reach people their age, they said, “you have to get an AOL instant messaging account.” They also informed me that I had to come up with a screen name. Because I was venturing into this new world begrudgingly, I told them that if they really wanted me to do it, they would have to come up with a screen name for me. With that, they went back to their office to figure it out.
About ten minutes later, they came back to my office. One of them said, “we think your name should be seedthrower, since that’s a big part of what you do.” They also added the fact that I’m always concerned with what sprouted, and how its growing, but that I’m not supposed to keep looking back to check. Ouch.
Most people don’t know that the first recorded victim of the terrorist attacks on 9/11 was a Franciscan priest.
Fr. Mychal Judge was a chaplain with the New York Fire Department and raced to the scene of the World Trade Center as soon as he got the news.
As he was giving last rites to one of the many fire fighters who lost their lives that day, both were struck by falling debris or bodies, and killed instantly. A spiritual son of the author of the Peace Prayer, Fr. Judge lost his life while serving to his last breath.
In the Catholic tradition, today is Mary’s birthday. This beautiful Madonna by Fra Angelico captures the youthfulness of Mary when Gabriel appeared to her with some history-changing news. Despite her virginity, she would bear a son, who would be named Jesus. There had never been an announcement like it before, or since.
Several years ago, I heard a wonderful reflection on this passage (Luke 1:26-38). I usually don’t have a great memory for such things, but whenever there is a Marian feast day, I easily recall the words Fr. Gerard spoke that day.
Have a deep compassion for people. To be able to have a heart full of compassion, we need to pray.
Especially be kind, be loving to the poor.
We think we do so much for the poor, but it they who make us rich. We are in debt to them.
Do you want to do something beautiful for God?
There is a person who needs you.
This is your chance.
Mother Teresa