Author: olacatholic416

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Saint of the Day – January 27 -Saint Angela Merici

Saint Angela Merici’s story (March 21, 1474 – January 27, 1540)

Angela Merici has the double distinction of founding the first of what are now called “secular institutes” and the first teaching order of women in the Church.

Born in Desenzano, Italy, she was orphaned in her teens. As a young woman, with her heart centered on Christ, Angela joined the Third Order of St. Francis and embraced austerity. In a visionary experience, she felt called to found a “company” of women.

Angela was invited to become a live-in companion for a widow in the nearby town of Brescia. There she became the spiritual advisor of a group of men and women with ideals of spiritual renewal and service to those in need. While on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 1524, Angela was struck with blindness. She proceeded to visit the sacred shrines, seeing them with her spirit. On the way back while praying before a crucifix, Angela’s sight was restored.

At age 60, Angela and 12 other women began the Company of St. Ursula, named for a patroness of medieval universities and venerated as a leader of women. This constituted a new way of life: single women consecrated to Christ and living in the world rather than in a monastery. With Angela as their “mother and mistress,” Company members did not live in community, wore no special clothing, and made no formal vows.

Angela Merici died in Brescia, Italy, in 1540. Clothed in the habit of a Franciscan tertiary, her body was interred in Brescia’s Church of Saint’ Afra. Four years later the Company’s Rule that Angela had composed, prescribing the practices of chastity, poverty and obedience, was approved by the pope.

In the early 1600s, Companies that had expanded into France were re-organized into the religious Order of St. Ursula, to teach girls. Angela’s words continue to inspire the Ursuline nuns’ mission of education, a mission that spread worldwide. The Company of St. Ursula also continued to exist and is federated worldwide today with members in 30 countries. Angela Merici was canonized by Pope Pius VII in 1807.

Reflection

As with so many saints, history is mostly concerned with their activities. But deep Christian faith and love sustain one whose courage lasts a lifetime, and who can take bold new steps when human need demands.

Saint Angela Merici is a Patron Saint of:

Educators/Teachers

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Saint of the Day – January 26 -Saints Timothy and Titus, Bishops

Saints Timothy and Titus’ Story (d. c. 95)

What we know from the New Testament of Timothy’s life makes it sound like that of a modern harried bishop. He had the honor of being a fellow apostle with Paul, both sharing the privilege of preaching the gospel and suffering for it.

Timothy had a Greek father and a Jewish mother named Eunice. Being the product of a “mixed” marriage, he was considered illegitimate by the Jews. It was his grandmother, Lois, who first became Christian. Timothy was a convert of Paul around the year 47 and later joined him in his apostolic work. He was with Paul at the founding of the Church in Corinth. During the 15 years he worked with Paul, he became one of his most faithful and trusted friends. He was sent on difficult missions by Paul—often in the face of great disturbance in local churches which Paul had founded.

Timothy was with Paul in Rome during the latter’s house arrest. At some period Timothy himself was in prison (Hebrews 13:23). Paul installed him as his representative at the Church of Ephesus.

Timothy was comparatively young for the work he was doing. Several references seem to indicate that he was timid. And one of Paul’s most frequently quoted lines was addressed to him: “Stop drinking only water, but have a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent illnesses” (1 Timothy 5:23).

Titus has the distinction of being a close friend and disciple of Paul as well as a fellow missionary. He was Greek, apparently from Antioch. Even though Titus was a Gentile, Paul would not let him be forced to undergo circumcision at Jerusalem. Titus is seen as a peacemaker, administrator, great friend. Paul’s second letter to Corinth affords an insight into the depth of his friendship with Titus, and the great fellowship they had in preaching the gospel.

When Paul was having trouble with the community at Corinth, Titus was the bearer of Paul’s severe letter and was successful in smoothing things out. Paul writes he was strengthened not only by the arrival of Titus but also “by the encouragement with which he was encouraged in regard to you, as he told us of your yearning, your lament, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more…. And his heart goes out to you all the more, as he remembers the obedience of all of you, when you received him with fear and trembling” (2 Corinthians 7:7a, 15).

The “Letter to Titus” addresses him as the administrator of the Christian community on the island of Crete, charged with organizing it, correcting abuses, and appointing presbyter-bishops.

Reflection

In Titus we get another glimpse of life in the early Church: great zeal in the apostolate, great communion in Christ, great friendship. Yet always there is the problem of human nature and the unglamorous details of daily life: the need for charity and patience in “quarrels with others, fears within myself,” as Paul says. Through it all, the love of Christ sustained them. At the end of the Letter to Titus, Paul says that when the temporary substitute comes, “hurry to me.”

Saints Timothy and Titus are the Patron Saints of:

Relief from Stomach Disorders

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Saint of the Day – January 24 – Saint Francis de Sales

Saint Francis de Sales’ Story (August 21, 1567 – December 28, 1622)

Francis was destined by his father to be a lawyer so that the young man could eventually take his elder’s place as a senator from the province of Savoy in France. For this reason Francis was sent to Padua to study law. After receiving his doctorate, he returned home and, in due time, told his parents he wished to enter the priesthood. His father strongly opposed Francis in this, and only after much patient persuasiveness on the part of the gentle Francis did his father finally consent. Francis was ordained and elected provost of the Diocese of Geneva, then a center for the Calvinists. Francis set out to convert them, especially in the district of Chablais. By preaching and distributing the little pamphlets he wrote to explain true Catholic doctrine, he had remarkable success.

At 35, he became bishop of Geneva. While administering his diocese he continued to preach, hear confessions, and catechize the children. His gentle character was a great asset in winning souls. He practiced his own axiom, “A spoonful of honey attracts more flies than a barrelful of vinegar.”

Besides his two well-known books, the Introduction to the Devout Life and A Treatise on the Love of God, he wrote many pamphlets and carried on a vast correspondence. For his writings, he has been named patron of the Catholic Press. His writings, filled with his characteristic gentle spirit, are addressed to lay people. He wants to make them understand that they too are called to be saints. As he wrote in The Introduction to the Devout Life: “It is an error, or rather a heresy, to say devotion is incompatible with the life of a soldier, a tradesman, a prince, or a married woman…. It has happened that many have lost perfection in the desert who had preserved it in the world.”

In spite of his busy and comparatively short life, he had time to collaborate with another saint, Jane Frances de Chantal, in the work of establishing the Sisters of the Visitation. These women were to practice the virtues exemplified in Mary’s visit to Elizabeth: humility, piety, and mutual charity. They at first engaged to a limited degree in works of mercy for the poor and the sick. Today, while some communities conduct schools, others live a strictly contemplative life.

Reflection

Francis de Sales took seriously the words of Christ, “Learn of me for I am meek and humble of heart.” As he said himself, it took him 20 years to conquer his quick temper, but no one ever suspected he had such a problem, so overflowing with good nature and kindness was his usual manner of acting. His perennial meekness and sunny disposition won for him the title of “Gentleman Saint.”

Saint Francis de Sales is the Patron Saint of:

Authors
Deafness
Journalists
Writers

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Sermon Notes – January 21, 2024 – “Your Worst Can Be Your Best”

“Your Worst Can Be Your Best”

Father Peter Fitzgibbons

January 20 – 21, 2024

Gospel: Mark 1:14-20

In the Gospel, Holy Mother Church tells us how our Lord called the Apostles.  If you look at the resumes of all twelve of the Apostles, they are a bit thin.  Their CVs describing their education were even thinner.  I think our Lord could have done a little better, right?  They were a bunch of fishermen and none of them had a Ph.D.  The apostles He chose were not the brightest people in the world, and they had a hard time understanding what our Lord was telling them.  But He did not call them because of their titles or the letters they had before or after their names.  He called them for what they could become and how He would use them to bring His love to the world.  They saw all of the miracles our Lord performed; some were recorded but a lot were not.  They saw all of this, but none of them except John showed up at the crucifixion.  So, what happened?   Eleven of the twelve Apostles cooperated with our good Lord, and they were transformed so that they could bring His love to the world and make known His salvation.   They were transformed so that they could let all people know about the wonderful love of God and the way of redemption.  He transformed them.  He gave them words that could not be disputed.  He gave them courage although it is true that they all ran away when the Romans came for Jesus.  But He gave them the courage to endure their martyrdom.  The Lord gave them these gifts because they allowed and cooperated with His transforming love. 

 It’s the same for all of us.  God calls each of us by name and asks us to be His disciples.  It’s not just “Hey, you” in the plural sense of the word.  He calls you, and you, and you, and you to become fishers of men and to bring His love to the world by being lovers of Him.  Your love for Him opens your soul, and that transformative love affects others.  Remember, you are called by our Lord to be evangelists.  The gift we have been given by our faith is meant to be given to others.  “Will you bring My love to the world?  Will you open your heart to Me?  Will you allow Me to transform you so that you can be My witness and show people My love in the deepest and darkest corners of the earth?”  Let people know about His love and especially about His forgiveness of your sins which is the greatest demonstration of His mercy.  God said, “Do not worry about what you will say. You will be given wisdom.”

 Sometimes He uses our talents and abilities.  You might be thinking, “I don’t have a talent nor do I have the education that Father Fitzgibbons has.”  I don’t even have the education I’m supposed to have.  Don’t even go there.  I am not the best and brightest in the diocese.  I haven’t been made Monsignor even after 40 years in the priesthood.  I must be doing something wrong.  Regardless of your accomplishments in this life, the simple love of God can touch another person.  By being holy, the power of God within us transforms others.  It’s not a conscious act like the folks down at the courthouse who yell, “Jesus saves!”  You don’t have to do that.  Just try to live a good, holy life.  Do the routine spiritual things routinely.  People will notice and wonder what it is about you that they like.  You have a sense of peace and holiness.  You are a living tabernacle because you have Jesus in your soul.

 I have a master’s degree in divinity, but Saint Theresa of Calcutta did not.  She didn’t have a master’s or Ph.D. in theology.  She didn’t have any of that.  But look at what she did.  Look at the courage of that 5’ nothing woman.  She got right up in the faces of both the President and Vice President of the United States and wagged her finger at them.  Oh yeah!  You’re in deep trouble.  You had to do something really bad when some little old nun wags her finger at you and goes, “Uh-uh-uh-uh.”   She should have had a ruler . . . thunk!”  There are many other examples, and that could be any one of us.  Even if you think, “I don’t have that many gifts. I’m not that talented.”  Yes, you are.  “Well, I have a lot of faults.”  Even they can be your best example.  Look at every 12-Step Program.  What does it say in their “Big Book”?  “You will neither regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it.  Your past can be the best thing to help others recover.”  Where did they get that?  They got it from Bill Wilson and Robert Smith, co-founders of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).  Sister Ignatia Gavin played a vital role in the founding of AA, and Father Edward Dowling was a great spiritual advisor to Bill Wilson.  Your worst can be your best.  We all have that one talent.  I don’t have many talents.  It was funny when Abbot Placid Solari of Belmont Abbey and I were doing the funeral for Mike Snyder, the dichotomy was amazing.  Abbot Placid is like Pa Kettle on Valium and then there is me who is like Richard Pryor on speed.  It’s like the Alpha and Omega.  But Abbot Placid can reach people I can’t, and I reach those he can’t.   

 Whatever part of the Body you are in, all of us are equal and have the same goal . . . to bring others to Christ.  The one talent we have in common is our ability to love and to respond to love.  If we respond to God’s love, He will transform us, and we will become temples of the Holy Spirit.  We will be living and moving tabernacles of God’s presence going out to the world.  And how can that not have an effect on the world?

Father’s Reflections . . .

 I can have fun anywhere.  On Friday, I was making my rounds in the Emergency Department at the VA hospital.  I went into a room and was talking to a patient.  I asked him where he was from, and he said Chicago.  Really.  What happened to you?  He said, “I was hit by a car.”  I asked him if it was a mob hit.  Just asking.  He started laughing and said, “Please don’t make me laugh.  It hurts!”  You know a guy, right?  “Yeah, I know a guy.”  I love my job!

 You may have seen the baby bottles at the back of the church.  We are collecting money for the Pregnancy Resource Center.  They take money, checks, Venmo, and cryptocurrency like Bitcoin or whatever you’ve got.  Put it in the collection basket, and we’ll work it out. 

 How will you apply this message to your life?_________________________

You can read all of Father Fitzgibbons’ sermons by going to annunciationcatholicalbemarle.com and clicking on “Blog” then “Categories” then “Sermon Notes.”  On a cell phone: click on “Blog” and then “Menu.”  Scroll to the bottom and click on “Categories.”  Sermon Notes are also available on the Church’s Facebook page at ola.catholic.church.  Click on “Groups” and then “Sermon Notes.”

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Saint of the Day – January 22 – Saint Vincent Pallotti

St. Vincent Pallotti was a Catholic priest who founded the society of the Catholic Apostolate (SAC), commonly known as the Pallottines, around 150 years ago. Born on April 21, 1795, Pallotti was canonized in 1963. His commitment to his apostolate led him to start orphanages, night schools and technical institutions that exist even today. Besides, he had special compassion for prisoners, soldiers and the sick. He was also the spiritual director of several Roman Colleges.

The society founded by Pallotti has numerous institutions in 46 countries across the globe. In India, the Pallottines have premier educational as well as institutions of higher learning in Maharashtra, Goa, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Jharkhand, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. The Nagpur Pallottine Society, which manages St. Vincent Pallotti College of Engineering & Technology, is a part of this International Society.