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Commentary: As vital as it is that we remember the horrors of the First World War, we dare not forget that there is more to the world than just the tragedy of 1914-1918. Enjoy scenic Constantine!
Est. 2002 | "This was a Golden Age, a time of high adventure, rich living, and hard dying… but nobody thought so." —Alfred Bester
Within each of us there is a light. It is the light of God, & when it shines it reflects not only the wonder of God but also the greatness of the human spirit. We live in difficult times. I pray that we never become fearful, but rather we turn our focus to nurturing the light within us. I hope we allow that light within us to be nourished & to grow. Darkness has one enemy it can never defeat, & that is light. Let your light shine! The best thing you can do for yourself is to become (sic) the-best-version-of-yourself. The best thing you can do for your spouse, your children, your friends, your Church, your nation, & God is to become (sic) the-best-version-of-yourself.
The cruel, hot summerI'd already planned to feature a week of summer songs in the run-up to Labor Day, America's unofficial close to the summer & beginning of the fall, but added weight was accorded the exercise this morning when I observed a goodly number of fallen leaves lying on the grass. The heat persists & could well linger well into October, but the days are already grown noticeably shorter as we sit two-thirds of the way from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox. The world, quite apart from our culture, is taking note of the change of the season. But, in the words of Elwood Blues, "while we still can," let us revel in a few songs of summer, of endless possibilities limited only by our ambition.
led into the long, hard fall,
becoming the dark, killing winter
until spring replenished us all.
"Oh! At the summer place
We've got the space if you've got the time,
And the summer place
Is so far away it's another state of mind…"
"Lord, I know your whisperSamstag, 29. August
Though I've never heard the sound,
The wonder of invisible love…"
"I've lead an average life,
I've told the truth and I have lied,
But I need a few more years
To help build up the credit side.
"So I hope (Hope, hope, hope and pray),
And I pray (Hope, hope, hope and pray),
That the wages of sin aren't paid today…"
The last prophet of the Old Testament, the forerunner of the Messiah, was killed by a corrupted King who gave in to lust, pride, & grandiosity. John never stopped bearing witness to the truth. He had the eyes to see that Truth was fully revealed in Jesus, & was killed in retaliation [for] his beliefs. Because of this, the Christian tradition has hailed him as a martyr.Scripture of the Day
Although he excelled in his stiduies, his behavior becme unaceptable to his mother. Not only that he went into loose living with women, alcohol, & addicitons of all kinds, but he also got involved with a cult. (St.) Monica was a mother who never gave up. When Augustine was twenty-nine he not only embraced Christianity during an Easter celebration, but he decided to live a life of celibacy & devote himself to God.Scripture of the Day
"They tell me I'm too young to understand.
They say I'm caught up in a dream.
Life will pass me by if I don't open up my eyes,
Well, that's fine by me.
"So wake me up when it's all over,
When I'm wiser and I'm older,
All this time I was finding myself
And I didn't know I was lost…"
"You made some of my favorite records,
The sweet, sweet sounds that you cut will last…
Thank you for the records.
"I love the way you make your music,
You've got a lovely way with words,
The music plays,
In turn you turn your phrase,
Turn up the volume on the sweetest sounds I've ever heard,
Thank you for the records,
Thank you for the records…"
Monica's husband, Patricus, not only came home drunk each day but had a violent tamper & Monica was often the victim of his rage. Patricus was neither a faithful husband & therefore, Monica's life was full of trials.Huh. Odd that the bulletin focuses on Patricus, who repented & converted on his death bed thanks to his wife's years of prayer, & yet does not mention St. Monica's blessed son, the bishop & Doctor of the Church St. Augustine, whose writings are our principal source on her life & virtue.
The cruel, hot summerThis has been a very cruel summer. On 17 July, Formula One pilot Jules Bianchi (1989-2015) succumbed to injuries sustained nine months earlier, 5 October 2014, during the Japanese Grand Prix. Two days ago, on 24 August, IndyCar pilot Justin Wilson (1978-2015) succumbed to injuries sustained the day before, 23 August 2015, during the Pocono 500.
led into the long, hard fall,
becoming the dark, killing winter
until spring replenished us all.
triskaidekaphobia, n., \ˌtris-ˌkī-ˌde-kə-ˈfō-bē-ə\ fear of the number thirteenOn 22 June 2013, Allan Simonsen (1978-2013) died during the third lap of the 24 Heures du Mans (Wayback Machine). His G.T.E. Am.-class car was not on camera when he crashed, but the wrecked machine was later shown. I've seen drivers climb out of more badly mangled race cars, but in this sad case the damage was precisely what was required to extinguish a young life full of promise. The great race continued, in accordance with the Simonsen family's wishes, but as one of his fellow drivers remarked, the tragedy has "taken the fun out of it." That was a long, sad day.
"And how I loved how he lived,Dienstag, 25. August
How he was loved and admired,
A knack, a certain flair for life,
And how he had it wired!
He'd never give up, he wouldn't give in,
He had a wonderful way of living.
"There's not been a day, one hasn't gone by,
When I don't think about the day he didn't die.
"I really miss him,
He would have loved this,
I hope he can hear me…"
The saints were remarkable men & women, but surprisingly what made them remarkable was rarely anything too spectacular. What made them extraordinary was the ordinary. They strove to grow in virtue through the ordinary things of everyday life. If they were caring for the sick they were growing in humility. When they were educating children they were growing in patience. As Saint Thérèse of Lisieux said, "Do the little things with great love." There is nothing more attractive than holiness. Throughout history, whenever men & women of holiness have lived, the Church has blossomed. This is the answer to all of our questions & the solution to all of our problems: holiness of life. What are you willing to live for? Just before her death, (Saint) Joan of Arc wrote, "I know this now. Every man gives his life for what he believes. Every woman gives her life for what she believes. Sometimes people believe in little or nothing, & yet they give their lives to that little or nothing. One life is all we have, & we live it as we believe in living it & then it's gone. But to surrender what you are & to live without belief is more terrible than dying—even more terrible than dying young." What are you willing to give your life for?
St. Louis, King of France, was well known for protecting the French clergy from secular leaders & for strictly enforcing laws against blasphemy. Louis lead two crusades, the Sixth & Seventh Crusades. At the onset of the Seventh Crusade in 1270, Louis died of dysentery.'Tis also the optional memorial Saint Joseph Calasanz, Priest, Sch.P. (1557-1648), founder of the Piarists, formally the Order of Poor Clerics Regular of the Mother of God of the Pious Schools: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Sch.P.
St. Joseph Calasanz: A priest with university training in canon law & theology, respected for his wisdom & administrative expertise, he put aside his career because he was deeply concerned with the need for education of poor children. He formed teaching priests into a community. The community was recognized as a religious order ciole Pie (Religious Schools), also known as the Piarists.St. Joseph is Archdiocese of Boston-based CatholicTV's "Obscure Saint of the Month" for August. For whatever reason, I have a greater affinity for CatholicTV than for E.W.T.N., though I like & watch both.
One of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus, where Bartholomew's evangelical labors were expended in the East, he was identified with Nathanael. Along with his fellow apostle Jude Thaddeus, Bartholomew is reputed to have brought Christianity to Armenia in the 1st century. He is said to have been martyred in Albanopolis in Armenia.Scripture of the Day
Mary's queenship has roots in Scripture. At the Annunciation, (the archangel) Gabriel announced that Mary's Son would receive the throne of David & rule forever. At the Visitation, (St.) Elizabeth calls Mary "mother of my Lord." As in all the mysteries of Mary's life, Mary is closely associated with Jesus: Her queenship is a share of Jesus's kingship. We can also recall that in the Old Testament the mother of the king has great influence in court.Scripture of the Day
"One night there was a girl there,
For some reason she pulled up her chair,
She said, 'Why don't we go somewhere?'
So I passed her her coat,
That was all that she wrote,
That was it for the Radio Bar,
That was it for the Radio Bar."
Two of the most outstanding accomplishments of this saintly pope were the inauguration of the liturgical renewal & the restoration of frequently communion from childhood. He also waged an unwavering war against the heresy & evils of Modernism, gave great impetus to biblical studies, & brought about the codification of Canon Law. His overriding concern was to renew all things in Christ.I attended Mass this morning at Saint Pius X in Flint Township. As a frequent, almost daily recipient of the Eucharist, I am indebted to Pope St. Pius X.
"Now please a word here to the wise,
You need to read between the lines,
You've got to dot your T's and cross your I's
Cross your fingers when the print is fine,
You got to do is stay one step ahead,
They're wide awake while you're still in bed,
They count the money while you're counting sheep,
They're wide awake, they can't afford to go to sleep…"
Holiness is the wholehearted openness to the Love of God. It is visibly expressed in many ways, but the variety of expression has one common quality: concern for the needs of others. In John's case, those who were in need were plague-stricken people, ordinary parishioners, those preparing for the priesthood, prostitutes, & all Christians called the imitate the love of Jesus & His mother.We also remembered Saint Louis of Toulouse, O.F.M. (1274-1297), bishop: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.
Although he suffered from constant physical pain & illness & had to govern a monastery that soon housed several hundred monks & was sending forth groups regularly to begin new monasteries (he personally saw to the establishment of sixty-five of the three hundred Cistercian monasteries founded during his thirty-eight years as abbot), he yet found time to compose many spiritual works that still speak to us today. He laid out a solid foundation for the spiritual life in his works on grace & free will, humility & love.As a reminder, there are only thirty-six Doctors of the Church. Respect is due.
"And I thought you had gotten it through your skull,
About what's figurative and what's literal,
Oh, but just now you said, you literally couldn't get out of bed.
That really makes me want to literally smack a crowbar upside your stupid head!…"
"I bought you a light blue T-shirt last night,
Some band I couldn't stand, but their logo's alright…"
The philosophy of Christ is based on discipline, & it is discipline that our modern culture abhors & has rejected with all its strength. It is true that Jesus came to comfort the afflicted, but as (Servant of God) Dorthy Day, journalist, social activist, & alcoholic convert pointed out, he also came to afflict the comfortable. The saints make many modern Catholics uncomfortable because they challenge us to throw off the spirit of the world & to embrace the Spirit of God. Like Jesus, by their example the saints invite us to the life of discipline. Contrary to popular opinion, discipline doesn't stifle or restrict the human person. Discipline isn't something invented by the Church to control of manipulate the masses, nor it is a tool that unjust tyrants & dictators use to make people do things that don't want to do. All these are the lies of a culture completely absorbed in a philosophy of instant gratification. Discipline is the faithful friend who will introduce you to your true self. Discipline is the worthy protector who will defend you from your lesser self. And discipline is the extraordinary mentor who will challenge you to become (sic) the-best-version-of-yourself & all God created you to be. What are your habits? Are your habits helping you become (sic) a-better-version-of-yourself or are they self-diminishing?
Pontian was exiled to the mines of the Italian island of Sardinia during a period of Christian persecution. There, he decided to resign from this papal office & died a martyr for the faith. Hippolytus rebelled against the Church when Callixtus (saint, 14 October) became Pope. He, too, was exiled to the Sardinian mines, where he met Pontian. Pontian helped Hippolytus reconcile with the Church before he died a martyr.Scripture of the Day (Thursday)
In 1941, he was arrested & sent to the concentration camp at Auschwitz. On 31 July, in reprisal for one prisoner's escape, ten men were chosen to die. Father Kolbe offered himself in place of a young husband & father. He was the last to die, enduring two weeks of starvation, thirst, & neglect.Scripture of the Day (Friday)
Having completed the course of her earthly life, Mary was assumed body & soul into heavenly glory.Scripture of the Day (Saturday)
"Come on, girl, you're not even trying:
Your place is a mess and all your plants are dying,
You're lying around in those sweatpants,
You're staring off into the distance…
"Come on, girl, let's pull it together,
You can't just watch infomercials forever.
If you need a hand, why don't you take mine?
Let's get you out into the sunshine…
I hate to see you like this,
I hate to see you like this,
I hate to see you like this."
"There's a girl on the train
Beating on a window pane,
Reading People magazine
Just to help turn off her brain,
And I swear I caught her staring at me—
Maybe I've been staring at her, too…"
"She makes the Indy 500 look like a Roman chariot race now,Donnerstag, 13. August
(You look like an ace, now, you look like an ace,)
A lot of guys try to catch her but she leads 'em on a wild goose chase now,
(You drive like an ace, now, you drive like an ace,)
And she'll have fun, fun, fun, 'til her daddy takes the T-bird away,
(Fun, fun, fun, 'til her daddy takes the T-bird away)…"
Left a widow at twenty-eight, with four children, the broken-hearted baroness took a vow of chastity. Her mother, stepmother, sister, first two children, & now her husband had died. St. Francis de Sales became her spiritual director & she started the Congregation of the Visitation. St. Vincent de Paul served as her spiritual director after de Sales's death.Scripture of the Day
The foundress of the order of nuns "Poor Clares," in a little chapel outside Assisi, gave herself to God. St. Francis cut off her hair & gave her a rough hewn brown habit to wear, tied off with a plain cord around her waist. Her parents tried in every way to make her return home, but Clare would not.There is a matriarch in the parish, Margie, two of whose daughters are named Carla & Clare. I once teased Margie for naming Clare "Clare," instead of Clara, Clara being an anagram of Carla. Margie replied that Clare was named after today's great St. Clare of Assisi. I rejoined that Clara is just a different form of Clare, Santa Clara meaning the exact same in Spanish as Saint Clare does in English. Carla & Clara, Clara & Carla. Opportunities like that are rare & should not be missed.
"Hello, Harvey Wallbanger,
Saint Jameson's right next to me,
Thank you, Harvey Wallbanger,
Saint Jameson keeps helping me,
Thank you, stalled economy,
For all of my uncertainty."
When order by Emperor Valerian in 258 to give up the Church's treasures, he presented the poor, the crippled, the blind, & the suffering, saying these were the true treasures of the Church. He declared to the prefect, "The Church is truly rich, far richer than your emperor." This act of defiance led directly to his martyrdom.Scripture of the Day (Today)
I believe there is a direct relationship between happiness & holiness. This was my first serious observation of the Christian life as a teenager. I must also confess it was the reason I first began to explore Catholicism seriously. As simple as it may sound, I was aware of my yearning for happiness. I had tried to satisfy this yearning in other ways & had been left wanting. I had witnessed a peace & purpose in the lives of a handful of people I knew who were striving to live their faith, & I knew they had something I was yearning for. God calls each of us to holiness. He invites us to be truly ourselves. This call to holiness is in response to our deepest desire for happiness. We cry out to God, saying, "Show us how to find the happiness our hearts are hungry for," & God replies, "Walk with Me, be all I created you to be, become (sic) the-best-version-of-yourself." It is a natural & logical conclusion that we will never find happiness if we are not ourselves.Commentary: I doubt the Maker of Heaven & Earth would commit such a grammatical atrocity as Mr. Kelly's nonsensical "the-best-version-of-yourself." I can already sense your objection & no, I won't just let it go.
"Puddle of blood on the streets of gold,Freitag, 7 August
Don't try to buy my soul, it's already sold…"
As Jesus prayed, the first of three extraordinary things happened. His face became as radiant as the sun, as if He were a source of light. Suddenly, two men appeared beside Jesus. The disciples recognized them as two of ancient Israel's greatest figures, Moses & Elijah. A cloud descended on [the] mountain top, covering & enclosing them in a thick mist. In the Old Testament the presence of God is described as a cloud, with fire & light.Scripture of the Day (Thursday)
He repaired the rift between the sees of Rome & Carthage that had developed over the issue of baptism & re-baptism. The martyrdom of St. Sixtus was dramatic. Forbidden to hold services, he & his deacons continued to worship at the tomb of Saint Callistus. As the pope preached, soldiers broke into the chapel & beheaded Sixtus. Four of his eight attendants were also beheaded. Authorities executed another three later that day.'Twas also the optional memorial of Saint Cajetan (1480-1547), priest, co-founder of the Theatines, formally the Congregation of Clerics Regular of the Divine Providence: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link C.R..
St. Cajetan was an Italian Catholic priest & religious reformer, who helped found the Theatines, a group that would combine the spirit of monasticism with the exercise of the active ministry. He founded a bank to help the poor & offer an alternative to usurers (loan sharks). It later became the Bank of Naples.Scripture of the Day (Friday)
Dominic saw that the only way to preach orthodox doctrine effectively to these people was to be as poor as they were & to be thoroughly knowledgeable of Chrsitian theology. Founded the Dominican order, a religious community officially called the Order of Preachers.We also remembered Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop (1842-1909), co-foundress of the Josephites, formally the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart: Saint-link ūna, Saint-link duae, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link R.S.J..
"So they gathered the crippled, the wounded, the maimed,
And they shipped us back home to Australia,
The legless, the armless, the blind, the insane,
Those proud wounded heroes of Suvla.
"And as our ship pulled into Circular Key,
And looked at the planks where me legs used to be,
And thanked Christ there was nobody waitin' for me,
To grieve, to mourn, and to pity.
"But the band played 'Waltzing Matilda'
As they carried us down the gangway,
But nobody cheered, they just stood and stared,
And they turned all their faces away…"
According to tradition, the Virgin Mary appeared in a dream to two faith Roman Christians, the patrician John & his wife, as well as to Pope Liberius (r. 352-366), asking that a church be built in her honor on the site where snow would fall on the night of August 4-5. Liberius traced the outlines of the church in the snow & the first basilica was built on that site.Scripture of the Day
Then the boy's father cried out, "I do believe; help my unbelief!"
Patron of priests. He heard confessions of people from all over the world for sixteen hours each day. His life was filled with works of charity & love. It is recorded that even the staunchest of sinners were converted at his mere word.Urbi et Orbi | Project MERCATOR
He indeed died for all, so that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for Him Who for their sake died & was raised.Mass Readings
"Some glad morning when this life is over,
I'll fly away,
To a home on God's celestial shore,
I'll fly away.
"I'll fly away, o glory,
I'll fly away,
When I die, hallelujah by-and-by,
I'll fly away…"
"Remember when you couldn't waitBonus! Song of the Day
To show up early and find your place,
'Cause you didn't want to miss a thing
And your heart was open, ready for change.
Oh, those days!
You were never afraid to sing,
Never afraid to lift your hands,
Didn't care what people would think.
"You were on fire,
And church was more than a place,
And people were more than faces,
And Jesus was more than a name…"
Alphonsus Maria de'Luguori, C.Ss.R., was an Italian (sic) Catholic bishop, spiritual writer, composer, scholastic philosopher, & theologian. He founded the Congregation of the Most Holy redeemer (Redemptorists). A prolific writer, he published nine editions of his moral theology in his lifetime, in addition to other devotional & ascetic works & letters. Among his best known works are The Glories of Mary & The Way of the Cross, the latter still used in parishes during Lenten devotions.I know a Redemptorist priest, the Rev. Thomas Firestone, who is quite possibly the most consistently excellent homilist I've heard.
In any moment when you surrender to the will of God & choose to be (sic) the-best-version-of-yourself, you are holy. Any moment that you grasp as an opportunity to exercise virtue is a holy moment. But as quickly as this holiness can be found, it can be lost, because in any moment that you choose to be less than (sic) the-best-version-of-yourself, you have become distracted from living a holy life. There is nothing more attractive than holiness. This attractiveness has not only been demonstrated in Jesus, but is constantly demonstrated here & now in our own place & time: whenever someone goes out of his or her way to ease the burden of a stranger; whenever someone is honest; whenever someone lays down his or her life by working hard to support his or her family; whenever someone rejects the premise of modern culture. In his letter to the Thessalonians, Saint Paul writes, "This is the will of God: that you be saints" (1 Thessalonians, 4:3). God wants you to be holy. Your holiness is the desire of God, the delight of God, & the source of your happiness. To embrace who you were created to be & to become (sic) the-best-version-of-yourself is God's dream for you. Threfore, holiness is for everyone, not just for a select few, for monks in monasteries & nuns in convents; it is for you & me.Commentary: The nonsensically punctuated phrase the "best-version-of-yourself," here presented as the even more ludicrous "the-best-version-of-yourself," is the least attractive feature of Matthew Kelly's writing. You should, one & all, strive to be the best version of yourself, but Mr. Kelly's punctuation only makes sense when taking about something like adopting a best-version-of-yourself mentality.