He was an Italian Roman Catholic priest, educator, & writer of the nineteenth century. While working in Turin, where the population suffered many of the ill-effects of industrialization & urbanization, he dedicated his life to the betterment & education of street children, juvenile delinquents, & other disadvantaged youth.Anno domini 1888, the year St. John Bosco died, is my very favorite Roman numeral, especially when carved, as into a cornerstone or a façade: MDCCCLXXXVIII.
Friends, today’s Gospel shows how the light of Christ affects our lives. Well, light is wonderful in the measure that it illumines and brightens and delights. But light can also be disconcerting. Think of how bad most of us look in direct light! I discovered this while filming theCATHOLICISM series. I much prefer the indirect light that you can produce indoors. The full glare of the sun reveals every flaw, imperfection, and peculiarity of your face.
"The Church is the unifying effect of the love of Christ for us. She can herself be considered a ;living sign, a Sacrament of unity & of love. To love is her mission."Little Flower Quote o' the Day
—Pope St. Paul VI (1897-1978, feast day: 26 September)
"If heavenly grace & true charity come in, there shall be no envy or narrowness of heart, nor shall self-love keep its hold. For divine charity overcomes all, & dilates all the powers of the soul."Saint Quote o' the Day
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)
"At the Vatican Council, there was the discussion about the world. I remember one of the bishops from Belgium arose & made the proper distinction between the two uses of the word 'world' in scripture. The word 'world' can mean the theater of the redemption, & in that sense it is good: 'God so loved the world.' But the world also means a spirit, an organization without God. So our Lord said, 'I have taken you out of the world. Therefore the world will hate you.' 'I pray not for the world,' He said. But there was a confusion. And the result is that today we have lost many of our faithful & our priests & our sisters, not because of Christological heresy, nor because of persecution. The Lord has been very good to us; the only test He gave us was: 'Will you become secular, will you leave?'"
—Venerable Fulton J. Sheen (1895-1979)
Friends, our Gospel for today is the parable of the sower and the seed. It has to do with the growth and development of the kingdom of God. We hear that Jesus began to teach by the sea and that a very large crowd gathered around him. This is Jesus speaking to the whole world.Video reflection by Jem Sullivan, Ph.D.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
He then presents the parable of the sower: A sower goes out to sow, and as he sows, some of the seed falls on the path, where the birds eat it up; some falls on rocky ground, where it is scorched in the sun; some falls among thorns, where its life is choked off; and some falls on rich soil, where it bears fruit—thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.
Keep in mind that Jesus himself, in person, is the seed sown. Jesus is the Logos that wants to take root in us. This seed is sown far and wide, through all sorts of means, but in you, let the seed be sown deep, where it can’t be stolen, scorched, or choked.
"Christ desires to be newly present to this contemporary world with all the explosive force of His Mystery of love. He wishes to meet the people of today through teachers who are true educators, drawn by Christ."Little Flower Quote o' the Day
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)
"God has given me the grace to understand the mysterious depths of charity."Saint Quote o' the Day
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)
"We must speak with our hands before we try to speak with our lips."
—St. Peter Claver (1580-1654, feast day: 9 September)
Friends, in today’s Gospel Jesus identifies us as his disciples. So what do we discover about ourselves? First, that we are a chosen race. As I’ve said many times, our culture puts a huge premium on choice, our choice, personal choice. We care, above all, about freedom, self-direction, and autonomy.Video reflection by Father David Baker: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
But the Bible is eminently clear that what matters above all is not our choice but God’s choice. We Christians, we followers of Jesus, have been chosen by God for God’s purposes. And this choice is not a matter of reward, as though we are being singled out because of our gifts. Just the contrary.
Your life is not about you. Your will nestles in an infinitely higher will. Your mind is an ingredient in an infinitely more capacious mind. And so the primary question of your life is not, "What do I want?" but rather, "What does God want?"
"Abortion isn't a lesser evil, it's a crime. Taking one life to save another, that's what the Mafia does. It's a crime. It's an absolute evil."Little Flower Quote o' the Day
—Pope Francis (born 1936, reigning since 2013)
"Do not imagine that love can be found without suffering, for we carry with us our human nature; & yet, what a source of merit it is!"Saint Quote o' the Day
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)
"It must be borne in mind that to proceed gradually is the law of life in all its expressions. Therefore, in human institutions, too, it is not possible to renovate for the better except by working from within them, gradually."
—Pope St. John XXIII (1881-1963, feast day: 11 October)
He was an Italian Dominican friar, Catholic priest, & Doctor of the Church. He was an immensely influential philosopher, theologian, & jurist in the tradition of scholasticism, with which is is also known as theDoctor Angelicus ["Angelic Doctor"] & the Doctor Communis ["Common Doctor"—read: "Universal"].Quoth Minute Meditations from the Popes:
God of wisdom, instruct me in Your ways. Help me dedicate myself to learning more about the Faith, so that like St. Thomas Aquinas my mind & heart may be united in Your love.Wikipedia-link Scholasticism
Friends, in today’s Gospel Jesus is accused of being in league with Satan. Some of the witnesses said, "By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons."communio, of one bringing things back together.
Jesus’ response is wonderful in its logic and laconicism: "If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand."
The demonic power is always one of scattering. It breaks up communion. But Jesus, as always, is the voice of
"The way to the heart very often passes through the mind. Today, throughout the length & breadth of the Church there is need for a new effort of evangelization & catechesis directed to the mind."Little Flower Quote o' the Day
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)
"My soul is at peace, for long ago I ceased to belong to myself!"Saint Quote o' the Day
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)
"Non nisi te Domine." ("Nothing but You, Lord.")
—St. Thomas Aquinas, Doctor of the Church (1225-1274, feast day: 28 January)
Friends, today’s Gospel recounts Jesus’ inaugural address in his hometown synagogue. Jesus reads words from the prophet Isaiah that he felt best summed up who he was and what his mission was. Therefore it behooves us to listen carefully.Ruach Yahweh, the breath of God, the spirit that hovered over the surface of the waters at the beginning of time, the life energy of God—this is what has seized and animated Jesus.
Jesus first says, "The spirit of the Lord is upon me." The
I believe God wants us to be happy. I believe God gave us this yearning for happiness that constantly preoccupies our hearts. It seems He has placed this yearning within each human heart as a spiritual navigational instrument designed to lead us to our destiny. God himself is the author of our desire for happiness. The philosophy of Christ is the ultimate philosophy of human happiness. It isn't just a way of life; it is the way of life. At the same time, the philosophy of Christ is one of self-donation. This is the great paradox of God's teaching. In our misguided adventures, we may catch glimpses of happiness as we live outside of the philosophy of Christ. You may even taste happiness for a moment living a life contrary to the philosophy of Christ, but these are stolen moments. They may seem real, but they are just shadows of something infinitely greater.†
"As people, we are meant to have human joys: the joy of living, the joy of love & friendship, the joy of work well done. As Christians, we have cause for further joy: like Jesus, we know that we are loved by God our Father."Little Flower Quote o' the Day
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)
"We can lean on nothing but Our Lord, for He alone is immutable."Saint Quote o' the Day
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)
"Another reason for praying the holy hour is that we need power. Power is born of silence & presence. As the Psalmist put it: 'Be still and know that I am God.' In Prayer we shrug off the burdens of the world. We come in & spend an hour with the Lord & talk to Him & listen & develop our senses of hearing & seeing & touching. Hearing: not doing all the talking, 'Speak, Lord thy servant heareth.' Not listen, Lord, thy servant speaketh. And the Lord does talk to us.
"Seeing: 'The things that are temporal are seen,' says Paul. We have a different vision before the Blessed Sacrament. Remember the priest & the Levite that passed by the wounded man on the road to Jerusalem. They did not want to see him because seeing created responsibility. There will be a shrinking from the Blessed Sacrament whenever there is not a good spiritual attitude in the soul. But when we heighten our spiritual vision, then we're doing something that the apostles had to do. They had to see beyond the veil of the flesh of our Lord in order to comprehend His Divinity. And we have to see behind the veil of the species of bread to see His Divinity as well. When we are used to seeing His Divinity through the species of bread, then we will be better at seeing the image of God in people.
"And finally, touch: touch is the mark of intimacy. Touch is communion. After many hours there begins to be a presence before the Eucharistic Lord, a deep sense of oneness with Christ. We are even reluctant at the end of many an hour to leave the Lord. Like the disciples of Emmaus we say, 'Stay with us Lord, the day is far spent."
—Venerable Fulton J. Sheen (1895-1979)
O Lord, Sts. Timothy & Titus taught the early Churches about the sanctity of family life. May they intercede for the members of my family to make them holy & filled with your peace.'Tis also the festival of Saint Paula, Abbess (347-404, of Rome; A.K.A. the Widow), one of the Desert Mothers: Saint-link ūna, Saint-link duæ, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Mothers.
Friends, in today’s Gospel, relatives of Jesus claim that he is mad. You know, in cases like this, the basic problem is always the fearful ego. Ego-addicts know that sometimes the best defense is a good offense. If you want to protect the ego and its prerogatives, you must oppress and demoralize those around you.Video reflection by Father Juan Molina, O.SS.T.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
There is a very unsubtle version of this method: you attack, put down, insult, and undermine those around you. This is the method of the bully. But the religious version is much subtler and thus more insidious and dangerous. It takes the law itself—especially the moral law—and uses it to accuse and oppress. “I know what’s right and wrong; I know what the Church expects of us; and I know that you are not living up to it.”
And so I accuse you; I gossip about you; I remind you of your inadequacy. Mind you, this is not to condemn the legitimate exercise of fraternal correction or the office of preaching. But it’s a reminder to not be sucked into the slavery of ego addiction. We must stay alert to this and avoid it at all costs.
"Marriage is a communion of life. It is the home. It is work. It is concern for the children. It is also joy & leisure in common."Little Flower Quote o' the Day
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)
"I know that love strengthens every vocation, that love is everything, that it embraces all times & all places, because it is eternal."Saint Quote o' the Day
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)
"The great battle the Church has to fight today is the affirmation of self. This stands in the way of God using us as an instrument. Look at the way the prophet Elisha handled a good woman who was suffering from considerable poverty. The wife of a member of the company of prophets appealed to Elisha:'My husband, your servant has died, & you know what a man he was. He feared the Lord, but a creditor has come to take my two boys as slaves.' Elisha said to her, 'How can I help you? Tell me what you have in the house.' 'Nothing at all,' she said, 'except a flask of oil.' 'Go out then,' he said, '& borrow vessels & pots from all your neighbors. Get as many empty ones as you can & when you come home, shut yourself in with your sons & pour from the flask into these vessels, & as they are filled, set them aside.' She left him & shut herself in with her sons, & they brought her the pots. She filled them, & when they were all full she said to one of her sons, 'Bring me another pot.' 'There is not one left,' he said. And the flow of the oil ceased. Why is it that some of us have more of Christ than others? Is it because Christ cannot get in? The more empty of self we are, the more he can fill us."
—Venerable Fulton J. Sheen (1895-1979)
Si Quæris Peninsulam Amœnam CircumspiceOne hundred eighty-two years ago to the day, 26 January 1837, Michigan was admitted into the Union as the twenty-sixth state of these United States of America. Under the protocols of the Missouri Compromise of 1820, Michigan's admission as a free state balanced Arkansas's 1836 admission as the slave state. The Michigan Territory's state constitution was approved by a convention in 1835, but Congressional approval was delayed until after the resolution of a border dispute with the State of Ohio (admitted 1803), which saw the "Toledo Strip" awarded to Ohio & what is now called the Upper Peninsula (U.P.) given to Michigan as compensation.
("If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you")
TueborThe Rebel Black Dot Song of Michigan
("I will defend")
One sentence determines Paul's theology: "I Am Jesus, Whom you are persecuting" (Acts, 9:5b). Jesus was mysteriously identified with people—the loving group of people Saul had been running down like criminals. Jesus, he saw, was the mysterious fulfillment of all he had been blindly pursuing.Scripture of the Day
Friends, today we reflect on the significance of the conversion of St. Paul. Paul’s encounter on the road to Damascus was an answer to this question: When would God gather the nations and through Israel bring his rule to the whole world? When Paul met Jesus he realized that the promises of God had been fulfilled, that the expectations of the prophets had been met—but in a most unexpected and extraordinary way.Video reflection by Monsignor John Halloran: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
He knew from his tradition that God, through Israel, would deliver the world from sin, gather the nations, and establish peace and justice everywhere. That was the hope. The usual version of that hope was something like an avenging military and political ruler like Solomon or David, or a great lawgiver and leader like Moses.
What Paul saw in Jesus was someone greater than Moses, Solomon, or David—and someone wholly unexpected. God is establishing his justice, his right order, his way, through a crucified and risen criminal, and now returned from the dead? Forgiveness, compassion, nonviolence, having no truck with the ways of death? This is God’s justice, and it judges all of the fallen powers and kingdoms of the world.
"Paul's conversion reminds us that a sincere change of heart is essential for the spiritual progress of individual Christians as well as for full unity among them. Only by a change of attitude & behavior toward one another can Christ's disciples remove the obstacles to such unity."Little Flower Quote o' the Day
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)
"I wish to give all to Jesus, since He has shown me that He alone is perfect happiness."Saint Quote o' the Day
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)
"There was a priest who had a high office in one diocese. He was removed from office principally because of alcoholism. He went to another diocese but continued to give scandal. He happened to come into a retreat when I was talking about the holy hour, & he made the holy hour from that time on. He died in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament a month or two later. He had been battling drunkenness for years. But he overcame it in the end because of the expulsive power of the new affection. He fell in love with the Lord. Why do we not have zeal? Simply because we're not in love. Once we're on fire we'll do anything. When we love the Lord, we want to be with Him. That is love's first effect."
—Venerable Fulton J. Sheen (1895-1979)
He became noted for his deep faith & his gentle approach to the religious divisions in his land resulting from the Protestant "Reformation." He is known also for his writings on the topic of spiritual direction & spiritual formation.Quoth Minute Meditations from the Popes:
O Lord, St. Francis de Sales spoke about how people can encounter You in the ordinary circumstances of their life. May his life & teachings call me to a greater commitment to spiritual growth.'Tis also the festival of Saint Felician of Foligno, Bishop & Martyr (circa 158-250), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperor Decius, a victim of the Decian Persecution; first bishop to receive the pallium: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Persecution, Pallium-link, & Wikipedia-link Pallium.
Friends, in today’s Gospel we read about crowds coming to Jesus for healing and deliverance. We hear that people brought the sick from all over the region, as well as those troubled by unclean spirits.Video reflection by Monsignor James C. Vlaun: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Now, I realize that we today might be a bit skeptical of such miraculous healings. But it’s hard to deny that Jesus was known as a healer and a miracle worker. And there is abundant evidence that the performance of miracles was a major reason why the first preachers were taken seriously.
Have there been miracle workers and miraculous places up and down the centuries? Yes indeed. But the Church has customarily done this work through its hospitals and clinics, through figures such as John of God, Catherine of Siena, and Teresa of Calcutta. But the Church also serves through its sacraments, which heal sin-sick souls.
This is the apostolic dimension of the Church’s life, and without it, it would no longer be the Church. Parishes, parish priests, missionaries, servants of the poor and sick—the whole apostolic life of the Church is represented here.
"If you nourish your life with personal & liturgical prayer, if you are supported by the advise of a spiritual guide, you will not be afraid to face the world. On the contrary, you will face it with a calm, positive, & open mind."Little Flower Quote o' the Day
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)
"I cherish the hope that one day Thou wilt swoop down upon me & carry me up until I am lost, a willing victim, in the fiery heart of the furnace of Love."Saint Quote o' the Day
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)
"Have patience with all things—but first with yourself. Never confuse your mistakes with your value as a human being."
—St. Francis de Sales, Doctor of the Church (1567-1622, feast day: 24 January)
The Protomartyr of Spain, was a deacon of the Church of Saragossa. He is the patron saint of Lisbon & Valencia. He was born at Huesca & martyred under the Emperor Diocletian.Wikipedia-link Archdiocese of Zaragoza
Known also for her charitable works, in 1883 she relocated with six other sisters to Hawai'i to care for persons suffering [from] Hansen's Disease on the island of Moloka'i.Wikipedia-link Moloka'i
Friends, today’s Gospel shows an angry Jesus healing a man with a withered hand. Whenever the Bible speaks of the divine anger, which it does a lot, it is talking poetically about God’s passion to set things right. God doesn’t go in and out of emotional states. He doesn’t fall into snits. He longs to establish justice on the earth and stands athwart those forces opposed to his purpose. This is precisely what Jesus does toward the Pharisees in today’s Gospel.Video reflection by Jem Sullivan, Ph.D.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The episode concerns the idea of justice. Now, what is justice? I love Plato’s simple definition: justice is rendering to each his due. It is fairness, or, to use more biblical language, “righteousness.” It means doing the right thing. To state it negatively, it is not to cheat, not to take advantage of, not to deny someone his rights.
A steady teaching of the Bible is that God stands for justice and wants us to stand for it too. Jesus says, “Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness.” These are words that have inspired social reformers from William Wilberforce to William Lloyd Garrison to Martin Luther King to John Paul II. Let’s reflect on them today.
"Sorrow is an isolated thing in the natural world. For Jesus, however, it is part of an encounter. Thus, those of you who are sick, who are unfortunate, who are dying may lack all things, but not Jesus on the Cross. He is with you. He is indeed with you."Little Flower Quote o' the Day
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)
"In the heart of the Church, my vocation is love."Saint Quote o' the Day
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)
"This mystery [the Assumption of Mary] is given to us so that… a divine light might be shed on our death."
—Servant of God Romano Guardini (1885-1968)
The over fifty-six million (56,000,000) abortions since the 1973 decisions ofRoe v. Wade & Doe v. Bolton reflect with heartbreaking magnitude what Pope Francis means by a "throwaway culture." However, we have great trust in God's providence. We believe that our prayers are heard.Quoth the missalette:
The Bishops of the United States have designated today as a day of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life & of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion.
Friends, in today’s Gospel Jesus calls us to recognize him as Lord. Acknowledging the Lordship of Jesus means that your life has to change. For many this is liberating good news. But for others, it is a tremendous threat. If Jesus is Lord, my ego can’t be Lord. My religion can’t be Lord. My country, my convictions, and my culture cannot be Lord.Video reflection by Sister Peggy Gorman, R.S.M.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The Resurrection is the clearest indication of the Lordship of Jesus. This is why the message of the Resurrection is attacked, belittled, or explained away. The author of Acts speaks of "violent abuse" hurled at Paul. I have a small taste of this on my YouTube forums. We all should expect it, especially when our proclamation is bold.
This reveals a great mystery: we are called to announce the Good News to everyone, but not everyone will listen. Once we’ve done our work, we should move on and not obsess about those who won’t listen. Why do some respond and some don’t? We don’t know, but that’s ultimately up to God.
The following readings are suggested from among the many options.Mass Readings—Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children
"You must understand that faithful service to Christ & His Church will not always earn you the world's praise. On the contrary, you will sometimes receive the same treatment as the Lord: rejection, contempt, & even persecution."Little Flower Quote o' the Day
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)
"Jesus, it seems to me you could not have overwhelmed a soul with more love than you have poured out on mine."Saint Quote o' the Day
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)
"Do not weep, for I shall be more useful to you after my death, & I shall help you then more effectively than during my life."
—St. Dominic (1170-1221, feast day: 8 August)