The following was written by a poster on the Catholic Answers website (catholic.com). I started twice today to convey the same message in my own journal, but I just couldn't say it as well as this poster.
How many times have we failed to take action - when action was clearly called for?
"Be still, and know that I am God" - is not a recommendation to lead a life of complete passivity. "Let God do it - or let anyone else do it -just leave me in peace and quiet. Besides, I'm not equipped to take action."
There is, unhappily, instructive precedent for this attitude. One thinks of the prophet Isaiah saying, when God appeared to him:"Woe is me, I am doomed! For I am a man of unclean lips...yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!" The prophet Isaiah was well aware of his own sinfulness, and he shrank back into himself, telling God that he shouldn't be the one sent.God sends an angel with a burning ember to press against the lips of Isaiah. Feeling cleansed, Isaiah says:"Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send?" "Who will go for us?" "Here I am, Lord. Send me."
Contrast this - with the words of the prophet Jeremiah, when God calls him to speak to His people, Israel."Ah, Lord God!" I said, "I know not how to speak; I am too young." Well, perhaps he was young - but God would speak to His people through the man He had chosen - Jeremiah.
Moses said to God - when God told him that he was to go to Egypt,to lead God's people out of their bondage:"Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and lead the Israelites out of Egypt?" All Moses wanted to do was to tend the flock of sheep that he was responsible for. Yet the divine Shepherd called to a human shepherd to help Him save His people from the grip of the Egyptian Pharaoh. God replied to Moses, when Moses expressed his fears: He answered, "I will be with you...
Both Moses and Jeremiah were understandably worried. Neither had a gift for speech. Why was God calling to them? Didn't He - Who knows all things - know what imperfect 'instruments' they would be? Shouldn't He find someone else? God said to Jeremiah, when Jeremiah pleaded not to be sent - because he was too young: But the Lord answered me, Say not, "I am too young." To whomever I send you, you shall go; whatever I command you, you shall speak. Have no fear before them, because I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord.
We have already seen how God comforted Moses, in his fears: God answered,"I will be with you...When we hear an inner call to take action - to relieve suffering, to give counsel, to stand by those who need support, to give of our time and our wealth - how many times have we said, shrinking back:"There's been a mistake. Surely You don't mean me, Lord? The next time I hear this inner call, please, God, have mercy,and give me the grace to say, with Isaiah:"Here I am, Lord. Send me."
Now, on the lighter side, I was listening to a program on EWTN radio this evening and caught the following:
We all know that God provided manna in the desert for the Israelites to eat and sustain them for all of their wandering years. They wandered for so long they became quite creative with the manna. Several recipies have been handed down to this day....mannana nut bread, mannana cream pies, manna cotti.......
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Friday, April 25, 2008
I don't know which way is "up" today!
I'm suffering from a bit of vertigo today. I've had it on and off for a couple of weeks now, but it really got bad last night. I was seeing 2 or 3 of everything. Then I got really nauseous. I've been really woozy all day. I hope it wears off tonight. I have to work tomorrow.
What really bothers me is that I missed Mass today. I have tried to go to Mass at least 6 days a week (it's hard to find a Mass on Saturday morning before 8am, and I'm at work by then) since Easter last year, and I miss the intimacy of being with Christ when I can't receive him in the Eucharist.
But that doesn't mean I have to miss the Word. I can read it from several different sources. I was given a copy of "Magnificat" magazine by a lady at St. Anne's the other day, and I really like it. But my favorite is "Word Among Us" magazine. Their meditations are on line for free and a good source of inspiration for me. I'd like to post what is there today, because I have often given up on people who have disappointed me and I feel the meditation for the day was speaking directly to me.
St. Mark
When we see “Saint” in front of someone’s name, we may think they got that way by themselves. But St. Mark, whose feast day we celebrate today, tells a different story. He might have been completely forgotten if someone else hadn’t believed in him.
Mark was the son of Mary, a widow in whose house the early Christians often gathered (Acts 12:12). Although not one of the twelve apostles, it’s likely that he was one of Jesus’ followers. Mark accompanied his cousin Barnabas and Paul on their first missionary journey, but for some reason, he left them prematurely (13:13). When it was time for Paul’s next trip, he didn’t want to take Mark along. In his eyes, Mark had deserted the cause of the gospel (15:38).
Fortunately, Barnabas didn’t give up on him. While Paul went on to Syria with Silas, Barnabas took Mark to Cyprus (Acts 15:39-41). A second chance was all Mark needed. Tradition tells us that Mark went on to Rome, became Peter’s interpreter, and later wrote his Gospel based on Peter’s preaching. Paul eventually forgave Mark, commending him for his service and calling his companionship a “comfort” (2 Timothy 4:11). Tradition also holds that Mark founded the church in Alexandria and was martyred there.
What if Barnabas had rejected Mark because of his early failure? He might never have become Peter’s “son” in the faith (1 Peter 5:13). What’s worse, he might never have written his Gospel—which means that Matthew and Luke might not have written their Gospels either! If Barnabas hadn’t shown Mark a little compassion, who knows what kind of Bible we would be reading today?
The lesson here is that we should never give up on anyone. We’re not just individuals. We are family, and we need each other. God’s grace and love can cover “a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8)—and not only sins but desertions, weaknesses, failures, and individual quirks as well. Our willingness to mend relationships can make a difference not only in our lives but in eternity. We never know who the next Mark might be, so let’s keep encouraging and building up our brothers and sisters!
“Father, help me to see the gifts in others, and not their shortcomings. Show me how to love, encourage, and inspire them to serve you better!”
Psalm 89:2-3,6-7,16-17; Mark 16:15-20
What really bothers me is that I missed Mass today. I have tried to go to Mass at least 6 days a week (it's hard to find a Mass on Saturday morning before 8am, and I'm at work by then) since Easter last year, and I miss the intimacy of being with Christ when I can't receive him in the Eucharist.
But that doesn't mean I have to miss the Word. I can read it from several different sources. I was given a copy of "Magnificat" magazine by a lady at St. Anne's the other day, and I really like it. But my favorite is "Word Among Us" magazine. Their meditations are on line for free and a good source of inspiration for me. I'd like to post what is there today, because I have often given up on people who have disappointed me and I feel the meditation for the day was speaking directly to me.
St. Mark
When we see “Saint” in front of someone’s name, we may think they got that way by themselves. But St. Mark, whose feast day we celebrate today, tells a different story. He might have been completely forgotten if someone else hadn’t believed in him.
Mark was the son of Mary, a widow in whose house the early Christians often gathered (Acts 12:12). Although not one of the twelve apostles, it’s likely that he was one of Jesus’ followers. Mark accompanied his cousin Barnabas and Paul on their first missionary journey, but for some reason, he left them prematurely (13:13). When it was time for Paul’s next trip, he didn’t want to take Mark along. In his eyes, Mark had deserted the cause of the gospel (15:38).
Fortunately, Barnabas didn’t give up on him. While Paul went on to Syria with Silas, Barnabas took Mark to Cyprus (Acts 15:39-41). A second chance was all Mark needed. Tradition tells us that Mark went on to Rome, became Peter’s interpreter, and later wrote his Gospel based on Peter’s preaching. Paul eventually forgave Mark, commending him for his service and calling his companionship a “comfort” (2 Timothy 4:11). Tradition also holds that Mark founded the church in Alexandria and was martyred there.
What if Barnabas had rejected Mark because of his early failure? He might never have become Peter’s “son” in the faith (1 Peter 5:13). What’s worse, he might never have written his Gospel—which means that Matthew and Luke might not have written their Gospels either! If Barnabas hadn’t shown Mark a little compassion, who knows what kind of Bible we would be reading today?
The lesson here is that we should never give up on anyone. We’re not just individuals. We are family, and we need each other. God’s grace and love can cover “a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8)—and not only sins but desertions, weaknesses, failures, and individual quirks as well. Our willingness to mend relationships can make a difference not only in our lives but in eternity. We never know who the next Mark might be, so let’s keep encouraging and building up our brothers and sisters!
“Father, help me to see the gifts in others, and not their shortcomings. Show me how to love, encourage, and inspire them to serve you better!”
Psalm 89:2-3,6-7,16-17; Mark 16:15-20
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
What's in a name?
Here are two great Saints.
St. Stephen, 1st Martyr for Christ
At that time, as the number of disciples continued to grow, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said, "It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table. Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task, whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." The proposal was acceptable to the whole community, so they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and the Holy Spirit.... Now Stephen, filled with grace and power, was working great wonders and signs among the people. Certain members of the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen, Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and people from Cilicia and Asia, came forward and debated with Stephen, but they could not withstand the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke. Then they instigated some men to say, "We have heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God." They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, accosted him, seized him, and brought him before the Sanhedrin. They presented false witnesses who testified, "This man never stops saying things against (this) holy place and the law. For we have heard him claim that this Jesus the Nazorean will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us." All those who sat in the Sanhedrin looked intently at him and saw that his face was like the face of an angel. Stephen preaches to the Sanhedrin, concluding: "You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always oppose the Holy Spirit; you are just like your ancestors. Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They put to death those who foretold the coming of the righteous one, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become. You received the law as transmitted by angels, but you did not observe it." When they heard this, they were infuriated, and they ground their teeth at him. But he, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." But they cried out in a loud voice, covered their ears, and rushed upon him together. They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him. The witnesses laid down their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul. As they were stoning Stephen, he called out, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he fell to his knees and cried out in a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them"; and when he said this, he fell asleep. - Acts 6:1-15, 7:51-60
St. Gerard Majella
Gerard was born in 1726 in Muro, a little town in Southern Italy. He was blessed with a mother, Benedetta, who showed him the overwhelming love of God which knows no bounds. He was happy because he was close to God.
Gerard was twelve years old when his father died and he became the family breadwinner. He was apprenticed to a local tailor and was bullied and beaten by the foreman. After four years apprenticeship, and just when he might set up as a tailor on his own, he announced he was going as a servant to work for the local Bishop of Lacedonia. He was advised by his friends not to take the job. However, the angry outbursts and endless nagging which prevented other servants from staying more than a few weeks were nothing to Gerard. He was able to turn his hand to anything and worked for the bishop for three years until he died. As long as Gerard believed he was doing the will of God he would accept anything. Whether he was being bullied at the tailors or taken for granted by the bishop didn't matter; he saw suffering as part of his following of Christ. "His Lordship wished me well," he would say. And already, Gerard was spending hours with Jesus present in the Blessed Sacrament, the sign of his crucified and risen Lord.
In 1745, aged 19, he returned to Muro where he established himself as a tailor in his own right. His business prospered but he didn't make much money. He gave practically everything away. He would set aside what was needed for his mother and sisters and then give the rest to the poor or as Mass offerings for the souls in purgatory. There was no sudden startling conversion for Gerard. It was just a steady growth in the love of God. Then during Lent of 1747 he resolved to be as completely like Christ as it was possible to be. He undertook most severe penances and actually sought out humiliation, pretending to be mad and happy to be laughed at in the streets.
He wanted to serve God totally and applied to join the Capuchin friars but was not accepted. At the age of twenty-one he tried the life of a hermit. He so wanted to be like Christ that he jumped at the chance to take center stage for a Passion Play, a living tableau in Muro Cathedral.
Redemptorist Life
Then, in 1749, the Redemptorists came to Muro. There were fifteen missioners and they took the three parishes of the little town by storm. Gerard followed every detail of the mission and decided this was the life for him. He applied to join the mission team but Father Cafaro, the superior, turned him down on account of his health. He so pestered the missioners that when they were leaving the town, Father Cafaro suggested to his family that he be locked in his room.
In an incident that has found an echo in the hearts of young people ever since, Gerard knotted the sheets off his bed and, climbing out of the window, followed the band of missioners. It needed a rigorous march of twelve miles for him to catch up with them. "Take me on, give me a try, then send me away if I'm no good," said Gerard. Father Cafaro couldn't do much about such persistence but give him a try. He sent Gerard to the Redemptorist community in Deliceto with a letter that read: "I'm sending you another Brother, who will be useless as far as work is concerned...."
Gerard fell absolutely and totally in love with the way of life Alphonsus, the founder of the Redemptorists, had mapped out. He was thrilled to find the love of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament was central and the love of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, was also considered essential. (As I do.)
He took his first vows on July 16, 1752, which he was delighted to learn was the feast of the most Holy Redeemer as well as the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. In another note of irony, I was baptized in Fresno California at Our Lady of Mount Carmel church. From that day, except for a couple of visits to Naples, and his time in Caposele where he died, most of Gerard's life was spent in the Redemptorist community of Iliceto.
The "useless" tag didn't last long. Gerard was an excellent worker and during the next few years he was at different times, garderner, sacristan, tailor, porter, cook, carpenter, and clerk of works of the new buildings in Caposele. He learned fast--visiting the workshop of a woodcarver he soon beame adept at carving crucifixes. He was a treasure in the community but he had only one ambition--to do the will of God in everything.
In 1754 his spiritual director asked him to write down what he longed for more than anything else. He wrote: "to love God much; always to be united with God; to do all things for the sake of God; to love everything for God's sake; to suffer much for God. My only business is to do the will of God."
The Great Trial
True sanctity must always be tested by the cross, and it was in 1754 that Gerard had to undergo a great trial, one that may well have merited for him the special power to assist mothers and their children. One of his works of zeal was that of encouraging and assisting girls who wanted to enter the convent. Often he would even secure the necessary dowry for some poor girl who could not otherwise be admitted into a religious order.
Neria Caggiano was one of the girls thus assisted by Gerard. However, she found convent life distasteful and within three weeks had returned home. To explain her action, Neria began to circulate falsehoods about the lives of the nuns, and when the good people of Muro refused to believe such stories about a convent recommended by Gerard, she determined to save her reputation by destroying the good name of her benefactor. Accordingly, in a letter to Saint Alphonsus, the superior of Gerard, she accused the latter of sins of impurity with the young daughter of a family at whose house Gerard often stayed on his missionary journeys.
Gerard was called by Saint Alphonsus to answer the accusation. Instead of defending himself, however, he remained silent, following the example of his divine Master. In the face of his silence, Saint Alphonsus could do nothing but impose a severe penance on the young religious. Gerard was denied the privilege of receiving holy Communion, and forbidden all contact with outsiders.
It was not easy for Gerard to give up his labors in behalf of souls, but this was a small penance compared with being deprived of holy Communion. He felt this so keenly that he even asked to be freed from the privilege of serving Mass for fear that the vehemence of his desire to receive would make him seize the consecrated host from the very hands of the priest at the altar.
Some time later Neria fell dangerously ill and wrote a letter to Saint Alphonsus confessing that her charges against Gerard had been sheer fabrication and calumny. The saint was filled with joy by the news of the innocence of his son. But Gerard, who had not been depressed in the time of his trial, was not unduly elated in the hour of his vindication. In both cases he felt that the will of God had been fulfilled, and that was sufficient for him.
The Miracle Worker
Of few saints have there been so many wonderful events recorded as of Saint Gerard. The process of his beatification and canonization reveals that his miracles were of the widest variety and profustion.
He frequently fell into ecstasy while meditating on God or his holy will, and at such times his body was seen raised several feet above the ground. There are authentic records to prove that on more than one occasion he was granted the unusual miracle of being seen and spoken to in two places at the same time.
Most of his miracles were performed in the service of others. Such extraordinary happenings as the following begin to seem commonplace when one reads his life. He restored life to a boy who had fallen from a high cliff; he blessed the scanty supply of wheat belonging to a poor family, and it lasted until the next harvest; several times he multiplied the bread that he was distributing to the poor. One day he walked across the water to lead a boatload of fishermen through stormy waves to the safety of the shore. Many times Gerard told people of secret sins on their souls which they had been ashamed to confess and brought them to penance and forgiveness.
His miraculous apostolate for mothers also began during his lifetime. Once, as he was leaving the home of his friends, the Pirofalo family, one of the daughters called after him that he had forgotten his handkerchief. In a moment of prophetic insight Gerard said: "Keep it. It will be useful to you some day." The handkerchief was treasured as a precious souvenir of Gerard. Years later the girl to whom he had given it was in danger of death in childbirth. She remembered the words of Gerard, and called for the handkerchief. Almost immediately the danger passed and she delivered a healthy child. On another occasion the prayers of Gerard were asked by a mother when both she and her unborn child were in danger. Both she and the child came through the ordeal safely.
Death and Glorification
Always frail in health, it was evident that Gerard was not to live long. In 1755 he was seized by violent hemorrhages and dysentery and his death was expected at any moment. However, he had yet to teach a great lesson on the power of obedience. His director commanded him to get well, if it were God's will, and immediately his illness seemed to disappear and he left his bed to rejoin the community. He knew, however, that this cure was only temporary and that he had only a little over a month to live.
Before long he did have to return to his bed, and he began to prepare himself for death. He was absolutely abandoned to the will of God and had this sign placed on his door: "The will of God is done here, as God wills it and as long as he wills it." Often he was heard to say this prayer: "My God, I wish to die in order to do thy most holy will." A little before midnight on October 15, 1755, his innocent soul went back to God.
At the death of Gerard, the Brother sacristan, in his excitement, rang the bell as if for a feast, instead of tolling it for a death. Thousands came to view the body of "their saint" and to try to find a last souvenir of the one who had helped them so often. After his death miracles began to be reported from almost all parts of Italy, attributed to the intercession of Gerard. In 1893, Pope Leo XIII beatified him, and December 11, 1904, Pope Pius X canonized him as a saint.
The Mothers' Saint
Because of the miracles God worked through Gerard's prayers with mothers, the mothers of Italy took Gerard to their hearts and made him their patron. At the process of his beatification one witness testified that he was known as "il santo dei felice parti"--the saint of happy childbirth. This devotion has become very popular in North America, both in the United States and Canada.
Thousands of mothers have felt the power of Saint Gerard through the League of Saint Gerard. Many hospitals dedicate their maternity wards to him and give medals and prayer leaflets of Saint Gerard to their patients. Thousands of children have been named after Saint Gerard by parents who are convinced that it was his intercession that helped them to have healthy children.
Both of these stories were taken from on-line sources. I'm sorry, but I can't remember exactly which sites. However I think I found them at newadvent.org.
I am extremely blessed to have been named after these two great saints. I think St. Stephen is guiding me each day to look for our Lord and live the life He expects me to live. I can only hope to be as holy and filled with the Spirit as my patron Saint.
I only recently found out that I was given my middle name of Gerard because of a promise my mother made to our Lord and St. Gerard. Mom had 3 healthy boys already, then suffered 3 miscarriages. She prayed for St. Gerard's prayers to Jesus that she could carry her next child to term. She promised if a healthy child was born, she would name the child after St. Gerard. Here I am.
St. Stephen, 1st Martyr for Christ
At that time, as the number of disciples continued to grow, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said, "It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table. Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task, whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." The proposal was acceptable to the whole community, so they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and the Holy Spirit.... Now Stephen, filled with grace and power, was working great wonders and signs among the people. Certain members of the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen, Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and people from Cilicia and Asia, came forward and debated with Stephen, but they could not withstand the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke. Then they instigated some men to say, "We have heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God." They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, accosted him, seized him, and brought him before the Sanhedrin. They presented false witnesses who testified, "This man never stops saying things against (this) holy place and the law. For we have heard him claim that this Jesus the Nazorean will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us." All those who sat in the Sanhedrin looked intently at him and saw that his face was like the face of an angel. Stephen preaches to the Sanhedrin, concluding: "You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always oppose the Holy Spirit; you are just like your ancestors. Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They put to death those who foretold the coming of the righteous one, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become. You received the law as transmitted by angels, but you did not observe it." When they heard this, they were infuriated, and they ground their teeth at him. But he, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." But they cried out in a loud voice, covered their ears, and rushed upon him together. They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him. The witnesses laid down their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul. As they were stoning Stephen, he called out, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he fell to his knees and cried out in a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them"; and when he said this, he fell asleep. - Acts 6:1-15, 7:51-60
St. Gerard Majella
Gerard was born in 1726 in Muro, a little town in Southern Italy. He was blessed with a mother, Benedetta, who showed him the overwhelming love of God which knows no bounds. He was happy because he was close to God.
Gerard was twelve years old when his father died and he became the family breadwinner. He was apprenticed to a local tailor and was bullied and beaten by the foreman. After four years apprenticeship, and just when he might set up as a tailor on his own, he announced he was going as a servant to work for the local Bishop of Lacedonia. He was advised by his friends not to take the job. However, the angry outbursts and endless nagging which prevented other servants from staying more than a few weeks were nothing to Gerard. He was able to turn his hand to anything and worked for the bishop for three years until he died. As long as Gerard believed he was doing the will of God he would accept anything. Whether he was being bullied at the tailors or taken for granted by the bishop didn't matter; he saw suffering as part of his following of Christ. "His Lordship wished me well," he would say. And already, Gerard was spending hours with Jesus present in the Blessed Sacrament, the sign of his crucified and risen Lord.
In 1745, aged 19, he returned to Muro where he established himself as a tailor in his own right. His business prospered but he didn't make much money. He gave practically everything away. He would set aside what was needed for his mother and sisters and then give the rest to the poor or as Mass offerings for the souls in purgatory. There was no sudden startling conversion for Gerard. It was just a steady growth in the love of God. Then during Lent of 1747 he resolved to be as completely like Christ as it was possible to be. He undertook most severe penances and actually sought out humiliation, pretending to be mad and happy to be laughed at in the streets.
He wanted to serve God totally and applied to join the Capuchin friars but was not accepted. At the age of twenty-one he tried the life of a hermit. He so wanted to be like Christ that he jumped at the chance to take center stage for a Passion Play, a living tableau in Muro Cathedral.
Redemptorist Life
Then, in 1749, the Redemptorists came to Muro. There were fifteen missioners and they took the three parishes of the little town by storm. Gerard followed every detail of the mission and decided this was the life for him. He applied to join the mission team but Father Cafaro, the superior, turned him down on account of his health. He so pestered the missioners that when they were leaving the town, Father Cafaro suggested to his family that he be locked in his room.
In an incident that has found an echo in the hearts of young people ever since, Gerard knotted the sheets off his bed and, climbing out of the window, followed the band of missioners. It needed a rigorous march of twelve miles for him to catch up with them. "Take me on, give me a try, then send me away if I'm no good," said Gerard. Father Cafaro couldn't do much about such persistence but give him a try. He sent Gerard to the Redemptorist community in Deliceto with a letter that read: "I'm sending you another Brother, who will be useless as far as work is concerned...."
Gerard fell absolutely and totally in love with the way of life Alphonsus, the founder of the Redemptorists, had mapped out. He was thrilled to find the love of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament was central and the love of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, was also considered essential. (As I do.)
He took his first vows on July 16, 1752, which he was delighted to learn was the feast of the most Holy Redeemer as well as the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. In another note of irony, I was baptized in Fresno California at Our Lady of Mount Carmel church. From that day, except for a couple of visits to Naples, and his time in Caposele where he died, most of Gerard's life was spent in the Redemptorist community of Iliceto.
The "useless" tag didn't last long. Gerard was an excellent worker and during the next few years he was at different times, garderner, sacristan, tailor, porter, cook, carpenter, and clerk of works of the new buildings in Caposele. He learned fast--visiting the workshop of a woodcarver he soon beame adept at carving crucifixes. He was a treasure in the community but he had only one ambition--to do the will of God in everything.
In 1754 his spiritual director asked him to write down what he longed for more than anything else. He wrote: "to love God much; always to be united with God; to do all things for the sake of God; to love everything for God's sake; to suffer much for God. My only business is to do the will of God."
The Great Trial
True sanctity must always be tested by the cross, and it was in 1754 that Gerard had to undergo a great trial, one that may well have merited for him the special power to assist mothers and their children. One of his works of zeal was that of encouraging and assisting girls who wanted to enter the convent. Often he would even secure the necessary dowry for some poor girl who could not otherwise be admitted into a religious order.
Neria Caggiano was one of the girls thus assisted by Gerard. However, she found convent life distasteful and within three weeks had returned home. To explain her action, Neria began to circulate falsehoods about the lives of the nuns, and when the good people of Muro refused to believe such stories about a convent recommended by Gerard, she determined to save her reputation by destroying the good name of her benefactor. Accordingly, in a letter to Saint Alphonsus, the superior of Gerard, she accused the latter of sins of impurity with the young daughter of a family at whose house Gerard often stayed on his missionary journeys.
Gerard was called by Saint Alphonsus to answer the accusation. Instead of defending himself, however, he remained silent, following the example of his divine Master. In the face of his silence, Saint Alphonsus could do nothing but impose a severe penance on the young religious. Gerard was denied the privilege of receiving holy Communion, and forbidden all contact with outsiders.
It was not easy for Gerard to give up his labors in behalf of souls, but this was a small penance compared with being deprived of holy Communion. He felt this so keenly that he even asked to be freed from the privilege of serving Mass for fear that the vehemence of his desire to receive would make him seize the consecrated host from the very hands of the priest at the altar.
Some time later Neria fell dangerously ill and wrote a letter to Saint Alphonsus confessing that her charges against Gerard had been sheer fabrication and calumny. The saint was filled with joy by the news of the innocence of his son. But Gerard, who had not been depressed in the time of his trial, was not unduly elated in the hour of his vindication. In both cases he felt that the will of God had been fulfilled, and that was sufficient for him.
The Miracle Worker
Of few saints have there been so many wonderful events recorded as of Saint Gerard. The process of his beatification and canonization reveals that his miracles were of the widest variety and profustion.
He frequently fell into ecstasy while meditating on God or his holy will, and at such times his body was seen raised several feet above the ground. There are authentic records to prove that on more than one occasion he was granted the unusual miracle of being seen and spoken to in two places at the same time.
Most of his miracles were performed in the service of others. Such extraordinary happenings as the following begin to seem commonplace when one reads his life. He restored life to a boy who had fallen from a high cliff; he blessed the scanty supply of wheat belonging to a poor family, and it lasted until the next harvest; several times he multiplied the bread that he was distributing to the poor. One day he walked across the water to lead a boatload of fishermen through stormy waves to the safety of the shore. Many times Gerard told people of secret sins on their souls which they had been ashamed to confess and brought them to penance and forgiveness.
His miraculous apostolate for mothers also began during his lifetime. Once, as he was leaving the home of his friends, the Pirofalo family, one of the daughters called after him that he had forgotten his handkerchief. In a moment of prophetic insight Gerard said: "Keep it. It will be useful to you some day." The handkerchief was treasured as a precious souvenir of Gerard. Years later the girl to whom he had given it was in danger of death in childbirth. She remembered the words of Gerard, and called for the handkerchief. Almost immediately the danger passed and she delivered a healthy child. On another occasion the prayers of Gerard were asked by a mother when both she and her unborn child were in danger. Both she and the child came through the ordeal safely.
Death and Glorification
Always frail in health, it was evident that Gerard was not to live long. In 1755 he was seized by violent hemorrhages and dysentery and his death was expected at any moment. However, he had yet to teach a great lesson on the power of obedience. His director commanded him to get well, if it were God's will, and immediately his illness seemed to disappear and he left his bed to rejoin the community. He knew, however, that this cure was only temporary and that he had only a little over a month to live.
Before long he did have to return to his bed, and he began to prepare himself for death. He was absolutely abandoned to the will of God and had this sign placed on his door: "The will of God is done here, as God wills it and as long as he wills it." Often he was heard to say this prayer: "My God, I wish to die in order to do thy most holy will." A little before midnight on October 15, 1755, his innocent soul went back to God.
At the death of Gerard, the Brother sacristan, in his excitement, rang the bell as if for a feast, instead of tolling it for a death. Thousands came to view the body of "their saint" and to try to find a last souvenir of the one who had helped them so often. After his death miracles began to be reported from almost all parts of Italy, attributed to the intercession of Gerard. In 1893, Pope Leo XIII beatified him, and December 11, 1904, Pope Pius X canonized him as a saint.
The Mothers' Saint
Because of the miracles God worked through Gerard's prayers with mothers, the mothers of Italy took Gerard to their hearts and made him their patron. At the process of his beatification one witness testified that he was known as "il santo dei felice parti"--the saint of happy childbirth. This devotion has become very popular in North America, both in the United States and Canada.
Thousands of mothers have felt the power of Saint Gerard through the League of Saint Gerard. Many hospitals dedicate their maternity wards to him and give medals and prayer leaflets of Saint Gerard to their patients. Thousands of children have been named after Saint Gerard by parents who are convinced that it was his intercession that helped them to have healthy children.
Both of these stories were taken from on-line sources. I'm sorry, but I can't remember exactly which sites. However I think I found them at newadvent.org.
I am extremely blessed to have been named after these two great saints. I think St. Stephen is guiding me each day to look for our Lord and live the life He expects me to live. I can only hope to be as holy and filled with the Spirit as my patron Saint.
I only recently found out that I was given my middle name of Gerard because of a promise my mother made to our Lord and St. Gerard. Mom had 3 healthy boys already, then suffered 3 miscarriages. She prayed for St. Gerard's prayers to Jesus that she could carry her next child to term. She promised if a healthy child was born, she would name the child after St. Gerard. Here I am.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Today my thoughts turned to something completely inane—the television show “Extreme Makeover—Home Edition.” I cry every week while watching this show. I cry at the tragic events that befall these families. It is a deep, profound sorrow that reaches down to the depths of my heart. I feel as though their troubles are my own. I don’t know these people personally, but my grief for them is as sincere as if they were my own family.
And at the end of each show, I cry with tears of real joy as they (almost always) praise God for the intervention of the designers and builders. Another thing that impresses me about the show is the compassion of the families’ friends and neighbors in helping get the homes built in 7 days. This show is a testament to faith and works in action. But, why do I cry? And why is my grief so severe? And why are my tears of joy so overwhelming, almost to the point of embarrassment?
Could it be that we truly are the Body of Christ? That we are all somehow joined mystically to one another through Jesus Christ by our baptism? It seems so simple to me sometimes, but I know that it is much more complex than this. I think the key to understanding some of these principles is using the free will and the gifts of intelligence and reasoning that God gave us to recognize when the Holy Spirit is speaking to us and listening prayerfully to His advice.
Romans 12: 5 - 16
So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; he who teaches, in his teaching; he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who contributes, in liberality; he who gives aid, with zeal; he who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honor.
Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord.
Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
Contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.
Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; never be conceited.
And at the end of each show, I cry with tears of real joy as they (almost always) praise God for the intervention of the designers and builders. Another thing that impresses me about the show is the compassion of the families’ friends and neighbors in helping get the homes built in 7 days. This show is a testament to faith and works in action. But, why do I cry? And why is my grief so severe? And why are my tears of joy so overwhelming, almost to the point of embarrassment?
Could it be that we truly are the Body of Christ? That we are all somehow joined mystically to one another through Jesus Christ by our baptism? It seems so simple to me sometimes, but I know that it is much more complex than this. I think the key to understanding some of these principles is using the free will and the gifts of intelligence and reasoning that God gave us to recognize when the Holy Spirit is speaking to us and listening prayerfully to His advice.
Romans 12: 5 - 16
So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; he who teaches, in his teaching; he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who contributes, in liberality; he who gives aid, with zeal; he who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honor.
Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord.
Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
Contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.
Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; never be conceited.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Signs
Signs. I don’t ask for them, but I see them. Coincidences seem to abound in my life lately. I can’t remember all of them, but they are there.
And those I do remember are so profound that I can’t stop thinking about them and meditating on them. As profound as they are, they are also very subtle.
I was driving Mom home from LA on Tuesday the week before Easter. I was really tired and my mind was starting to wander. Mom asked me if I would say the Divine Mercy chaplet with her, as it was the 3 O’clock hour. I said yes with a sigh, thinking, “OK, I’ll do it out of respect for Mom”, but I really don’t feel like it. I’m soooo tired.” And so we began—“In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” Then we recited the Our Father, a Hail Mary, and the Apostle’s Creed. Mom began the first Praise—“Eternal Father, I offer you the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your Dearly Beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ…” To which I was to have replied “In atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.” But just as Mom had said “Our Lord Jesus Christ” we drove by a meadow where there were several sheep grazing with small lambs in attendance, and I immediately thought of the Lamb of God. Here we were, offering the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of the Lamb of God to the Father, and I get a visual! I was so taken aback by the revelation that I stumbled on my response to Mom and she had to remind me what it should be! I felt the tears welling up in my eyes. But at the same time, I felt rejuvenated and committed to reciting the chaplet with as much love for our Lord as I could muster. It also reminded me that I should get to confession as soon as possible and apologize to God for sinning through my own fault, in what I had done and in what I had failed to do.
The 4 days immediately preceding this drive with Mom, Marilyn the girls and I had been in New York for a short sightseeing trip and to see a couple of Broadway plays. As we were walking along 5th Avenue in the morning on the way to Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, we passed by a young man who was obviously cold. I thought, “Dear God, if this guy is still out here when we pass this way again, I’m going to give him my gloves.” Talk is cheap. Strike one. Not only that, but by the time Mass was over, I had already forgotten to look for him on the way back. Strike two. Later on in the day, we were walking back to the hotel for the evening after a long day of sightseeing, and I saw a woman bundled up against the cold, looking almost dead lying on the sidewalk. Many people were walking by very quickly, appearing not to notice her. It was like she was just part of the landscape. But did I do anything? For a fleeting moment, I thought I should see if she was all right and maybe buy her a cup of soup or something. But did I? No, I picked up my pace to try to catch up to the girls, who were crossing the street about 50 feet in front of me. Strike three. From this point on in the trip, I really felt bad about my obvious lack of compassion. For all of my noble thoughts of loving my neighbor as myself, I showed a complete disdain for what Christ called the Greatest Commandment. I think that both of these unfortunate people were placed in my path for me to recognize as Jesus, and I failed our Lord’s test.
So on Tuesday, when I saw those lambs in the meadow, I was so sorry for having failed Christ that I almost cried and didn’t feel worthy enough to be speaking to Him. At the same time I felt so overwhelmed with gratitude because even though I had denied Him (3 times! ---another coincidence?) earlier that week, He was letting me know that He loves me and will afford me His perfect mercy if I just ask. In fact, I feel like crying now just writing about it. I hope He gives me the opportunity to serve Him again and I hope I am up to the task next time.
And those I do remember are so profound that I can’t stop thinking about them and meditating on them. As profound as they are, they are also very subtle.
I was driving Mom home from LA on Tuesday the week before Easter. I was really tired and my mind was starting to wander. Mom asked me if I would say the Divine Mercy chaplet with her, as it was the 3 O’clock hour. I said yes with a sigh, thinking, “OK, I’ll do it out of respect for Mom”, but I really don’t feel like it. I’m soooo tired.” And so we began—“In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” Then we recited the Our Father, a Hail Mary, and the Apostle’s Creed. Mom began the first Praise—“Eternal Father, I offer you the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your Dearly Beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ…” To which I was to have replied “In atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.” But just as Mom had said “Our Lord Jesus Christ” we drove by a meadow where there were several sheep grazing with small lambs in attendance, and I immediately thought of the Lamb of God. Here we were, offering the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of the Lamb of God to the Father, and I get a visual! I was so taken aback by the revelation that I stumbled on my response to Mom and she had to remind me what it should be! I felt the tears welling up in my eyes. But at the same time, I felt rejuvenated and committed to reciting the chaplet with as much love for our Lord as I could muster. It also reminded me that I should get to confession as soon as possible and apologize to God for sinning through my own fault, in what I had done and in what I had failed to do.
The 4 days immediately preceding this drive with Mom, Marilyn the girls and I had been in New York for a short sightseeing trip and to see a couple of Broadway plays. As we were walking along 5th Avenue in the morning on the way to Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, we passed by a young man who was obviously cold. I thought, “Dear God, if this guy is still out here when we pass this way again, I’m going to give him my gloves.” Talk is cheap. Strike one. Not only that, but by the time Mass was over, I had already forgotten to look for him on the way back. Strike two. Later on in the day, we were walking back to the hotel for the evening after a long day of sightseeing, and I saw a woman bundled up against the cold, looking almost dead lying on the sidewalk. Many people were walking by very quickly, appearing not to notice her. It was like she was just part of the landscape. But did I do anything? For a fleeting moment, I thought I should see if she was all right and maybe buy her a cup of soup or something. But did I? No, I picked up my pace to try to catch up to the girls, who were crossing the street about 50 feet in front of me. Strike three. From this point on in the trip, I really felt bad about my obvious lack of compassion. For all of my noble thoughts of loving my neighbor as myself, I showed a complete disdain for what Christ called the Greatest Commandment. I think that both of these unfortunate people were placed in my path for me to recognize as Jesus, and I failed our Lord’s test.
So on Tuesday, when I saw those lambs in the meadow, I was so sorry for having failed Christ that I almost cried and didn’t feel worthy enough to be speaking to Him. At the same time I felt so overwhelmed with gratitude because even though I had denied Him (3 times! ---another coincidence?) earlier that week, He was letting me know that He loves me and will afford me His perfect mercy if I just ask. In fact, I feel like crying now just writing about it. I hope He gives me the opportunity to serve Him again and I hope I am up to the task next time.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
My first post on my new blog
“It’s a miracle!”
These words are uttered every day somewhere in the world. A miracle is when something fantastic or impossible happens that cannot be explained by science, and the only explanation appears to be the intervention of a divine power. So why do some people have to find a “miracle” in a piece of toast or the way light shines through a window? Why can’t some people believe in the presence of God on Earth without seeing a human image?
Every time there is a story about someone seeing a vision of Jesus or the Virgin Mary in unusual circumstances, millions of people travel thousands of miles to see for themselves. In one recent news story, a woman was sure that she could see the countenance of the Virgin Mary in her toast. In another story, a woman (and thousands of other people) were praying in front of a house that they swore bore the resemblance of the Holy Mother of God in the way the light was shining through a window.
I am elated that so many people are searching for the answer to the question “Is God out there?” Let me set these people straight. Neither God, nor Jesus, nor Mary will appear to us in off-the-wall ways. The Virgin has appeared only 4 times that are recognized by the Roman Catholic Church, and to many other holy people in private revelations. In all instances, she appeared as herself, not in breakfast food or construction materials. And she spoke! She spoke to warn us to repent, to remind us that God loves us, and that if we will just trust in her Son, He will fill us with more joy than we can imagine!
And when the saints who have been blessed by the presence of Christ Himself, the message has always been the same—“Love one another.”
God (Jesus) is in every one of us. Jesus said so Himself when He said, “What you do for the least of My brothers, you do for Me.” He doesn’t need to show us His presence in quirky ways. Look at your fellow man. Look into your soul. He is there.
All God wants us to do is believe without seeing. It is called “faith”. My feeling is that if you fail to see or feel God in your heart and in the world around you, you’re not looking very hard.
I have experienced many miracles first-hand. You may not agree with my interpretation, but I feel they were miracles nonetheless. Let me recount a couple of (in my opinion) big-time miracles and a couple that served as gentle reminders from the Holy Spirit that God is alive and well and residing within each of us together with His Son.
When I was a teenager, and questioning the existence of God (as I am sure most teenagers do), I had dreams of falling from great heights. Just before hitting the ground and certain death, I would wake up in a cold sweat from the nightmare I imagined death would be. The same dream came often and I was spending a lot of time worrying about death. The last time I ever had the dream, I started the fall. An angel appeared next to me and asked why I was afraid. I told the angel I was afraid to die. My angel said “Recite the Our Father with me.” We prayed the Our Father together. I remember thinking that I wouldn’t have time to finish before hitting the ground. But for some reason I had plenty of time. Just as I said “Amen” my angel lifted me up and we began to soar. Then I woke up and instead of being afraid, I was sad the dream had to end! It was such a revelation. Now, almost 40 years later, I truly believe that God was letting me know that he is alive and well and waiting for me—I just have to remember to “keep the faith”.
In 1987 His Holiness Pope John Paul II visited San Francisco. I really wanted tickets and I was disappointed when I found out they were sold out almost as quickly as they became available. So I resolved to just watch the hoopla on TV and pray for those who, like me, were unable to attend. I was at work the evening before his Candlestick Park appearance when Marilyn called me. She said that some last minute tickets had become available and that our neighbor Darlene had a ticket for me if I would agree to drive her and some of her friends to the Mass at Candlestick. Evidently, one of Darlene’s friends had agreed to drive, but got ill at the last minute and she called me out of desperation. Of course I accepted the offer. I expected, since these were late-release tickets that they would be in the “nose-bleed” section of the stadium. Imagine my surprise when we were directed to the playing field, no more than about 100 feet from the Holy Father! These were prime seats. The first thought I had when I knelt down to thank God for this opportunity was (Matt 20:16) “So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.” When the mass was ended (it was a beautiful celebration, by the way), “Il Papa” exited the stadium by walking right past me. If I had been about 5 feet closer, I would have been able to actually touch him!
I consider my family the biggest miracle in my life. I truly feel that before the beginning of time Marilyn’s soul was created by God to be joined with mine at this time in history. It is not coincidence that I have very few childhood memories that Marilyn does not play a part in, yet I didn’t meet her until I was 19 years old. And if I had not fallen in love with Marilyn and we had not been joined in the holy Sacrament of Matrimony, Alicia and Sarah would not have been given to us as gifts from God for our trust in His Providence.
There are times that I have been complacent in my duties as a Catholic. There was quite a long period of time that I had not been to confession. No particular reason, I guess I just didn’t feel the need to. I was driving to Bakersfield from Stockton one Sunday night a while back and, as was my routine, I was listening to a talk-radio-station out of San Francisco. All of a sudden, I am getting static on the radio in an area I generally should have been able to get reception in. I started fiddling with the dial, and the only station that would come in clear was EWTN radio. The program was Father Groeschel’s “Sunday Night Live”, and he and his guests were talking about the Sacrament of Reconciliation. I thought, “I’ll listen to this stuff until I get around Fresno and get my other familiar talk-radio channel to listen to all the way into Bakersfield.” When I got to Fresno, again the only channel that would come in was EWTN and it was another program talking about the Graces received by going to confession. The next day, all of my familiar channels were available again. But I have never been one to ignore subtle hints (like being hit over the head with a sledgehammer), so I found the nearest church offering confession on Monday and took advantage of the Sacrament. I have been going regularly ever since.
If you’re looking for “physical” miracles, try this one on for size. While out of town recently, I dislocated my finger at work. After the doctor re-set it and put it in a splint, he said it should be able to be functional within a week or so. After two weeks, it was still twice the size of the other fingers, and I couldn’t move it without a lot of pain. The doctor said that it should have been a lot better by then. He suggested physical therapy. For some reason, none of the physical therapists in the town I was in would see me, because it was a finger injury—I guess that’s a specialty all its own—go figure. Anyway, I went to mass that evening and turns out the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick was administered just before Communion. I mentioned in my prayers to Jesus just before I was anointed that it would be nice if my finger could just stop hurting and move properly. I received the Eucharist, the mass ended and I went back to the hotel. When I woke up the next morning, my finger was (and is, by the way) still swollen and bent slightly to the right. But it did not hurt and bends normally. Praise be to God.
I have been trying to attend daily Mass for the last couple of months. I have missed a few days (when I went to Quito, for instance—however I did see many churches there and offered prayers often while in those magnificent structures), but generally I’ve been attending the 5:30 pm Mass. The church I was attending has perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, so I actually would arrive at the church about 4:30 and spend an hour meditating and saying the Rosary and Divine Mercy until the mass would start. The church is in a very bad part of Bakersfield—a lot of gangs and crime—so a gate that requires an electronic key to enter protects the chapel where the Blessed Sacrament is exposed. I do not have a key. One night a few weeks ago I had to work late, so I missed the mass at 5:30. On my way back to the hotel, I thought, “I should go to the chapel and say my prayers and apologize to Jesus for missing his Word today.” I heard a faint voice say to me “No, go to dinner and back to the hotel. The gate will be locked and it will just be a waste of time.” Another, stronger voice then said, “What will it hurt to try? There is still the grotto with the Holy Family that you can visit and say your Rosary.” The second voice was much more convincing, so I went to the chapel. There was only one car in the parking lot, and, as I thought, the gate was shut and locked. I got out of my car and walked up to the gate. Just then, a man came out of the chapel and I asked him if he would mind letting me in. He said, “Of course not. The woman who is supposed to be relieving us called a few minutes ago and said she was going to be late. My wife and I were just praying that someone would show up earlier because we have somewhere to go, as well, and we really didn’t want to be late.” I feel I was “called” by Jesus to come and sit with him until the lady who was scheduled could show up.
How about every time the priest says the words of consecration at mass which turns bread and wine into the very body, blood, soul and divinity of Christ? This isn’t a miracle?
Like I said before, throughout my life I have had experiences like these. They cannot be and I don’t believe they are coincidences. They are miracles—not “fire and brimstone, part the Red Sea-type miracles—but miracles nonetheless.
I thank God for all He has given me and try to pay particular attention to remembering His humility in becoming Man solely to suffer and die for our salvation. I also thank Him for the hope that His Second Coming promises.
These words are uttered every day somewhere in the world. A miracle is when something fantastic or impossible happens that cannot be explained by science, and the only explanation appears to be the intervention of a divine power. So why do some people have to find a “miracle” in a piece of toast or the way light shines through a window? Why can’t some people believe in the presence of God on Earth without seeing a human image?
Every time there is a story about someone seeing a vision of Jesus or the Virgin Mary in unusual circumstances, millions of people travel thousands of miles to see for themselves. In one recent news story, a woman was sure that she could see the countenance of the Virgin Mary in her toast. In another story, a woman (and thousands of other people) were praying in front of a house that they swore bore the resemblance of the Holy Mother of God in the way the light was shining through a window.
I am elated that so many people are searching for the answer to the question “Is God out there?” Let me set these people straight. Neither God, nor Jesus, nor Mary will appear to us in off-the-wall ways. The Virgin has appeared only 4 times that are recognized by the Roman Catholic Church, and to many other holy people in private revelations. In all instances, she appeared as herself, not in breakfast food or construction materials. And she spoke! She spoke to warn us to repent, to remind us that God loves us, and that if we will just trust in her Son, He will fill us with more joy than we can imagine!
And when the saints who have been blessed by the presence of Christ Himself, the message has always been the same—“Love one another.”
God (Jesus) is in every one of us. Jesus said so Himself when He said, “What you do for the least of My brothers, you do for Me.” He doesn’t need to show us His presence in quirky ways. Look at your fellow man. Look into your soul. He is there.
All God wants us to do is believe without seeing. It is called “faith”. My feeling is that if you fail to see or feel God in your heart and in the world around you, you’re not looking very hard.
I have experienced many miracles first-hand. You may not agree with my interpretation, but I feel they were miracles nonetheless. Let me recount a couple of (in my opinion) big-time miracles and a couple that served as gentle reminders from the Holy Spirit that God is alive and well and residing within each of us together with His Son.
When I was a teenager, and questioning the existence of God (as I am sure most teenagers do), I had dreams of falling from great heights. Just before hitting the ground and certain death, I would wake up in a cold sweat from the nightmare I imagined death would be. The same dream came often and I was spending a lot of time worrying about death. The last time I ever had the dream, I started the fall. An angel appeared next to me and asked why I was afraid. I told the angel I was afraid to die. My angel said “Recite the Our Father with me.” We prayed the Our Father together. I remember thinking that I wouldn’t have time to finish before hitting the ground. But for some reason I had plenty of time. Just as I said “Amen” my angel lifted me up and we began to soar. Then I woke up and instead of being afraid, I was sad the dream had to end! It was such a revelation. Now, almost 40 years later, I truly believe that God was letting me know that he is alive and well and waiting for me—I just have to remember to “keep the faith”.
In 1987 His Holiness Pope John Paul II visited San Francisco. I really wanted tickets and I was disappointed when I found out they were sold out almost as quickly as they became available. So I resolved to just watch the hoopla on TV and pray for those who, like me, were unable to attend. I was at work the evening before his Candlestick Park appearance when Marilyn called me. She said that some last minute tickets had become available and that our neighbor Darlene had a ticket for me if I would agree to drive her and some of her friends to the Mass at Candlestick. Evidently, one of Darlene’s friends had agreed to drive, but got ill at the last minute and she called me out of desperation. Of course I accepted the offer. I expected, since these were late-release tickets that they would be in the “nose-bleed” section of the stadium. Imagine my surprise when we were directed to the playing field, no more than about 100 feet from the Holy Father! These were prime seats. The first thought I had when I knelt down to thank God for this opportunity was (Matt 20:16) “So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.” When the mass was ended (it was a beautiful celebration, by the way), “Il Papa” exited the stadium by walking right past me. If I had been about 5 feet closer, I would have been able to actually touch him!
I consider my family the biggest miracle in my life. I truly feel that before the beginning of time Marilyn’s soul was created by God to be joined with mine at this time in history. It is not coincidence that I have very few childhood memories that Marilyn does not play a part in, yet I didn’t meet her until I was 19 years old. And if I had not fallen in love with Marilyn and we had not been joined in the holy Sacrament of Matrimony, Alicia and Sarah would not have been given to us as gifts from God for our trust in His Providence.
There are times that I have been complacent in my duties as a Catholic. There was quite a long period of time that I had not been to confession. No particular reason, I guess I just didn’t feel the need to. I was driving to Bakersfield from Stockton one Sunday night a while back and, as was my routine, I was listening to a talk-radio-station out of San Francisco. All of a sudden, I am getting static on the radio in an area I generally should have been able to get reception in. I started fiddling with the dial, and the only station that would come in clear was EWTN radio. The program was Father Groeschel’s “Sunday Night Live”, and he and his guests were talking about the Sacrament of Reconciliation. I thought, “I’ll listen to this stuff until I get around Fresno and get my other familiar talk-radio channel to listen to all the way into Bakersfield.” When I got to Fresno, again the only channel that would come in was EWTN and it was another program talking about the Graces received by going to confession. The next day, all of my familiar channels were available again. But I have never been one to ignore subtle hints (like being hit over the head with a sledgehammer), so I found the nearest church offering confession on Monday and took advantage of the Sacrament. I have been going regularly ever since.
If you’re looking for “physical” miracles, try this one on for size. While out of town recently, I dislocated my finger at work. After the doctor re-set it and put it in a splint, he said it should be able to be functional within a week or so. After two weeks, it was still twice the size of the other fingers, and I couldn’t move it without a lot of pain. The doctor said that it should have been a lot better by then. He suggested physical therapy. For some reason, none of the physical therapists in the town I was in would see me, because it was a finger injury—I guess that’s a specialty all its own—go figure. Anyway, I went to mass that evening and turns out the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick was administered just before Communion. I mentioned in my prayers to Jesus just before I was anointed that it would be nice if my finger could just stop hurting and move properly. I received the Eucharist, the mass ended and I went back to the hotel. When I woke up the next morning, my finger was (and is, by the way) still swollen and bent slightly to the right. But it did not hurt and bends normally. Praise be to God.
I have been trying to attend daily Mass for the last couple of months. I have missed a few days (when I went to Quito, for instance—however I did see many churches there and offered prayers often while in those magnificent structures), but generally I’ve been attending the 5:30 pm Mass. The church I was attending has perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, so I actually would arrive at the church about 4:30 and spend an hour meditating and saying the Rosary and Divine Mercy until the mass would start. The church is in a very bad part of Bakersfield—a lot of gangs and crime—so a gate that requires an electronic key to enter protects the chapel where the Blessed Sacrament is exposed. I do not have a key. One night a few weeks ago I had to work late, so I missed the mass at 5:30. On my way back to the hotel, I thought, “I should go to the chapel and say my prayers and apologize to Jesus for missing his Word today.” I heard a faint voice say to me “No, go to dinner and back to the hotel. The gate will be locked and it will just be a waste of time.” Another, stronger voice then said, “What will it hurt to try? There is still the grotto with the Holy Family that you can visit and say your Rosary.” The second voice was much more convincing, so I went to the chapel. There was only one car in the parking lot, and, as I thought, the gate was shut and locked. I got out of my car and walked up to the gate. Just then, a man came out of the chapel and I asked him if he would mind letting me in. He said, “Of course not. The woman who is supposed to be relieving us called a few minutes ago and said she was going to be late. My wife and I were just praying that someone would show up earlier because we have somewhere to go, as well, and we really didn’t want to be late.” I feel I was “called” by Jesus to come and sit with him until the lady who was scheduled could show up.
How about every time the priest says the words of consecration at mass which turns bread and wine into the very body, blood, soul and divinity of Christ? This isn’t a miracle?
Like I said before, throughout my life I have had experiences like these. They cannot be and I don’t believe they are coincidences. They are miracles—not “fire and brimstone, part the Red Sea-type miracles—but miracles nonetheless.
I thank God for all He has given me and try to pay particular attention to remembering His humility in becoming Man solely to suffer and die for our salvation. I also thank Him for the hope that His Second Coming promises.
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