Saint of the Day – March 19 – Saint Joseph
Saint Joseph’s Story
The Bible pays Joseph the highest compliment: he was a “just” man. The quality meant a lot more than faithfulness in paying debts.
When the Bible speaks of God “justifying” someone, it means that God, the all-holy or “righteous” one, so transforms a person that the individual shares somehow in God’s own holiness, and hence it is really “right” for God to love him or her. In other words, God is not playing games, acting as if we were lovable when we are not.
By saying Joseph was “just,” the Bible means that he was one who was completely open to all that God wanted to do for him. He became holy by opening himself totally to God.
The rest we can easily surmise. Think of the kind of love with which he wooed and won Mary, and the depth of the love they shared during their marriage.
It is no contradiction of Joseph’s manly holiness that he decided to divorce Mary when she was found to be with child. The important words of the Bible are that he planned to do this “quietly” because he was “a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame” (Matthew 1:19).
The just man was simply, joyfully, wholeheartedly obedient to God—in marrying Mary, in naming Jesus, in shepherding the precious pair to Egypt, in bringing them to Nazareth, in the undetermined number of years of quiet faith and courage.
Reflection
The Bible tells us nothing of Joseph in the years after the return to Nazareth except the incident of finding Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:41–51). Perhaps this can be taken to mean that God wants us to realize that the holiest family was like every other family, that the circumstances of life for the holiest family were like those of every family, so that when Jesus’ mysterious nature began to appear, people couldn’t believe that he came from such humble beginnings: “Is he not the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother named Mary…?” (Matthew 13:55a). It was almost as indignant as “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” (John 1:46b).
Saint Joseph is the Patron Saint of:
Belgium
Canada
Carpenters
China
Families
Fathers
Saint of the Day – March 18 – Saint Cyril of Jerusalem
Saint Cyril of Jerusalem’s Story (c. 315 – March 18, 386)
The crises that the Church faces today may seem minor when compared with the threat posed by the Arian heresy, which denied the divinity of Christ and almost overcame Christianity in the fourth century. Cyril was to be caught up in the controversy, accused of Arianism by Saint Jerome, and ultimately vindicated both by the men of his own time and by being declared a Doctor of the Church in 1822.
Raised in Jerusalem and well-educated, especially in the Scriptures, he was ordained a priest by the bishop of Jerusalem and given the task during Lent of catechizing those preparing for Baptism and catechizing the newly baptized during the Easter season. His Catecheses remain valuable as examples of the ritual and theology of the Church in the mid-fourth century.
There are conflicting reports about the circumstances of his becoming bishop of Jerusalem. It is certain that he was validly consecrated by bishops of the province. Since one of them was an Arian, Acacius, it may have been expected that his “cooperation” would follow. Conflict soon rose between Cyril and Acacius, bishop of the rival nearby see of Caesarea. Cyril was summoned to a council, accused of insubordination and of selling Church property to relieve the poor. Probably, however, a theological difference was also involved. He was condemned, driven from Jerusalem, and later vindicated, not without some association with and help from Semi-Arians. Half his episcopate was spent in exile; his first experience was repeated twice. He finally returned to find Jerusalem torn with heresy, schism and strife, and wracked with crime. Even Saint Gregory of Nyssa, who was sent to help, left in despair.
They both went to the Council of Constantinople, where the amended form of the Nicene Creed was promulgated in 381. Cyril accepted the word consubstantial—that is, Christ is of the same substance or nature as the Father. Some said it was an act of repentance, but the bishops of the Council praised him as a champion of orthodoxy against the Arians. Though not friendly with the greatest defender of orthodoxy against the Arians, Cyril may be counted among those whom Athanasius called “brothers, who mean what we mean, and differ only about the word consubstantial.”
Reflection
Those who imagine that the lives of saints are simple and placid, untouched by the vulgar breath of controversy, are rudely shocked by history. Yet, it should be no surprise that saints, indeed all Christians, will experience the same difficulties as their Master. The definition of truth is an endless, complex pursuit, and good men and women have suffered the pain of both controversy and error. Intellectual, emotional, and political roadblocks may slow up people like Cyril for a time. But their lives taken as a whole are monuments to honesty and courage.
Saint of the Day – March 17 – Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick’s Story (c. 415? – 493?)
Legends about Patrick abound; but truth is best served by our seeing two solid qualities in him: He was humble and he was courageous. The determination to accept suffering and success with equal indifference guided the life of God’s instrument for winning most of Ireland for Christ.
Details of his life are uncertain. Current research places his dates of birth and death a little later than earlier accounts. Patrick may have been born in Dunbarton, Scotland, Cumberland, England, or in northern Wales. He called himself both a Roman and a Briton. At 16, he and a large number of his father’s slaves and vassals were captured by Irish raiders and sold as slaves in Ireland. Forced to work as a shepherd, he suffered greatly from hunger and cold.
After six years Patrick escaped, probably to France, and later returned to Britain at the age of 22. His captivity had meant spiritual conversion. He may have studied at Lerins, off the French coast; he spent years at Auxerre, France, and was consecrated bishop at the age of 43. His great desire was to proclaim the good news to the Irish.
In a dream vision it seemed “all the children of Ireland from their mothers’ wombs were stretching out their hands” to him. He understood the vision to be a call to do mission work in pagan Ireland. Despite opposition from those who felt his education had been defective, he was sent to carry out the task. He went to the west and north–where the faith had never been preached–obtained the protection of local kings, and made numerous converts.
Because of the island’s pagan background, Patrick was emphatic in encouraging widows to remain chaste and young women to consecrate their virginity to Christ. He ordained many priests, divided the country into dioceses, held Church councils, founded several monasteries and continually urged his people to greater holiness in Christ.
He suffered much opposition from pagan druids and was criticized in both England and Ireland for the way he conducted his mission. In a relatively short time, the island had experienced deeply the Christian spirit, and was prepared to send out missionaries whose efforts were greatly responsible for Christianizing Europe.
Patrick was a man of action, with little inclination toward learning. He had a rock-like belief in his vocation, in the cause he had espoused. One of the few certainly authentic writings is his Confessio, above all an act of homage to God for having called Patrick, unworthy sinner, to the apostolate.
There is hope rather than irony in the fact that his burial place is said to be in County Down in Northern Ireland, long the scene of strife and violence.
Reflection
What distinguishes Patrick is the durability of his efforts. When one considers the state of Ireland when he began his mission work, the vast extent of his labors, and how the seeds he planted continued to grow and flourish, one can only admire the kind of man Patrick must have been. The holiness of a person is known only by the fruits of his or her work.
Saint Patrick is the Patron Saint of:
Engineers
Ireland
Nigeria
Saint of the Day – March 16 – Saint Julian of Cilicia
Saint of the Day – March 16 – Saint Clement Mary Hofbauer
Saint Clement Mary Hofbauer’s Story (December 26, 1751 – March 15, 1820)
Clement Mary might be called the second founder of the Redemptorists, as it was he who carried the congregation of Saint Alphonsus Liguori to the people north of the Alps.
John, the name given him at Baptism, was born in Moravia into a poor family, the ninth of 12 children. Although he longed to be a priest, there was no money for studies, and he was apprenticed to a baker. But God guided the young man’s fortunes. He found work in the bakery of a monastery where he was allowed to attend classes in its Latin school. After the abbot there died, John tried the life of a hermit, but when Emperor Joseph II abolished hermitages, John again returned to Vienna and to baking.
One day after serving Mass at the Cathedral of St. Stephen, he called a carriage for two ladies waiting there in the rain. In their conversation they learned that he could not pursue his priestly studies because of a lack of funds. They generously offered to support both John and his friend Thaddeus, in their seminary studies. The two went to Rome, where they were drawn to Saint Alphonsus’ vision of religious life and to the Redemptorists. The two young men were ordained together in 1785.
Newly professed at age 34, Clement Mary, as he was now called, and Thaddeus were sent back to Vienna. But the religious difficulties there caused them to leave and continue north to Warsaw, Poland. There they encountered numerous German-speaking Catholics who had been left priestless by the suppression of the Jesuits. At first they had to live in great poverty and preach outdoor sermons. Eventually they were given the church of St. Benno, and for the next nine years they preached five sermons a day, two in German and three in Polish, converting many to the faith. They were active in social work among the poor, founding an orphanage and then a school for boys.
Drawing candidates to the congregation, they were able to send missionaries to Poland, Germany, and Switzerland. All of these foundations eventually had to be abandoned because of the political and religious tensions of the times. After 20 years of difficult work, Clement Mary himself was imprisoned and expelled from the country. Only after another arrest was he able to reach Vienna, where he was to live and work the final 12 years of his life. He quickly became “the apostle of Vienna,” hearing the confessions of the rich and the poor, visiting the sick, acting as a counselor to the powerful, sharing his holiness with all in the city. His crowning work was the establishment of a Catholic college in his beloved city.
Persecution followed Clement Mary, and there were those in authority who were able for a while to stop him from preaching. An attempt was made at the highest levels to have him banished. But his holiness and fame protected him and prompted the growth of the Redemptorists. Due to his efforts, the congregation was firmly established north of the Alps by the time of his death in 1820.
Clement Mary Hofbauer was canonized in 1909. His liturgical feast is celebrated on March 15.
Reflection
Clement Mary saw his life’s work meet with disaster. Religious and political tensions forced him and his brothers to abandon their ministries in Germany, Poland, and Switzerland. Clement Mary himself was exiled from Poland and had to start all over again. Someone once pointed out that the followers of the crucified Jesus should see only new possibilities opening up whenever they meet failure. Clement Mary encourages us to follow his example, trusting in the Lord to guide us.
Saint of the Day – March 15 – Saint Louise de Marillac
Saint Louise de Marillac’s Story (August 12, 1591 – March 15, 1660)
Born near Meux, France, Louise lost her mother when she was still a child, her beloved father when she was but 15. Her desire to become a nun was discouraged by her confessor, and a marriage was arranged. One son was born of this union. But Louise soon found herself nursing her beloved husband through a long illness that finally led to his death.
Louise was fortunate to have a wise and sympathetic counselor, Francis de Sales, and then his friend, the bishop of Belley, France. Both of these men were available to her only periodically. But from an interior illumination she understood that she was to undertake a great work under the guidance of another person she had not yet met. This was the holy priest Monsieur Vincent, later to be known as Saint Vincent de Paul.
At first, he was reluctant to be her confessor, busy as he was with his “Confraternities of Charity.” Members were aristocratic ladies of charity who were helping him nurse the poor and look after neglected children, a real need of the day. But the ladies were busy with many of their own concerns and duties. His work needed many more helpers, especially ones who were peasants themselves and therefore, close to the poor and able to win their hearts. He also needed someone who could teach them and organize them.
Only over a long period of time, as Vincent de Paul became more acquainted with Louise, did he come to realize that she was the answer to his prayers. She was intelligent, self-effacing, and had physical strength and endurance that belied her continuing feeble health. The missions he sent her on eventually led to four simple young women joining her. Her rented home in Paris became the training center for those accepted for the service of the sick and poor. Growth was rapid and soon there was the need for a so-called “rule of life,” which Louise herself, under the guidance of Vincent, drew up for the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul.
Monsieur Vincent had always been slow and prudent in his dealings with Louise and the new group. He said that he had never had any idea of starting a new community, that it was God who did everything. “Your convent,” he said, “will be the house of the sick; your cell, a hired room; your chapel, the parish church; your cloister, the streets of the city or the wards of the hospital.” Their dress was to be that of the peasant women. It was not until years later that Vincent de Paul would finally permit four of the women to take annual vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. It was still more years before the company would be formally approved by Rome and placed under the direction of Vincent’s own congregation of priests.
Many of the young women were illiterate. Still it was with reluctance that the new community undertook the care of neglected children. Louise was busy helping wherever needed despite her poor health. She traveled throughout France, establishing her community members in hospitals, orphanages and other institutions. At her death on March 15, 1660, the congregation had more than 40 houses in France. Six months later Vincent de Paul followed her in death.
Louise de Marillac was canonized in 1934 and declared patroness of social workers in 1960.
Reflection
In Louise’s day, serving the needs of the poor was usually a luxury only fine ladies could afford. Her mentor, Saint Vincent de Paul, wisely realized that women of peasant stock could reach poor people more effectively, and the Daughters of Charity were born under her leadership. Today, that order—along with the Sisters of Charity—continues to nurse the sick and aging and provide refuge for orphans. Many of its members are social workers toiling under Louise’s patronage. The rest of us must share her concern for the disadvantaged.
Saint Louise de Marillac is the Patron Saint of:
Social workers
Saint of the Day – March 14 – Saint Matilda (Maud), Queen
Sermon Notes – March 12, 2023 – God’s Love is Not Graded on a Curve
God’s Love is Not Graded on a Curve
Father Peter Fitzgibbons
March 11 – 12, 2023
Gospel: John 4:5-42
Jesus was traveling in Samaria when He encountered the Samaritan woman. Now, Jews did not travel to Samaria just like people here do not travel to Aquadale. Jews just didn’t go to Samaria. It was unclean. The Jews hated the Samaritans and called them “dogs” which was an egregious insult. Jesus went out in the middle of the day, and in the Middle East, nobody goes out past noon. Do you know why? It’s a little hot. Even on a winter day, it is warm. Trust me. But 1you know who does go outside past noon? The American army. Soldiers go out with 60 to 80 pounds of equipment strapped to them. It’s very slimming. The pounds just melt away. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, went outside during the hottest part of the day to seek and save what was lost. Why was the woman drawing water at the well during the heat of the day? Yes, they didn’t have fresh plumbing back then. . . I understand that. But why was she alone? American women travel by themselves all the time, and they don’t have to travel in groups. The woman at the well was alone because the other women wanted nothing to do with her. She was a fallen woman and not of good moral character. That’s why she was alone. Jesus, being God, knew that of course. But He came out to seek and save her soul. He wanted to bring her home to His heart. So, He gently tried to awaken her faith, and talked to her about the living water He would give; the water that would truly quench her thirst. At first, she did what so many do . . . she used intellectual arguments and blamed everything on someone else. When you get caught speeding and the officer pulls you over, what do you say? “They were doing it too!” And the officer says, “I’ll get them later. I’m only concerned about what you have done.”
Our Lord’s love is individual and not graded on a curve. “They are worse than I am!” But I’m talking to you! Jesus wants our souls, and He was concerned about the fallen woman’s relationship with God. People try to argue about hypotheticals, and they always have something to denounce. “The Church does this and that.” “This is bad and that is bad.” “You Jews say this.” “You Jews say that.” “You priests are perverts.” Uh, no. But thank you for the slander. I appreciate it because I know what you are doing. They always use something to deflect. They try to find excuses for their own bad behavior. Jesus told the woman the sins she had committed. Did He get mad with her? Did He scream at her? No. Jesus doesn’t get angry at us for our sins. He wants to take them away. When we sin, tears run down His face because we have turned our backs on His love. Did He yell at her, “You’re going to hell?” He never says that to anyone. But if we are in hell, we are self-made men.
Jesus had a breakthrough with the Samaritan woman. She had finally had enough of sinning. He awakened her faith while He suffered in His human nature. Even though He was hot and thirsty, He sacrificed His human nature for the salvation of a soul. That’s how much He loves us. That’s what our Good Lord does. He comes after us constantly. He never gives up. I’ve suggested this before, and I’ll suggest it again . . . read the poem, “Hound of Heaven.” No matter how bad you think it is that you’ve done, our Lord wants you back. You know the kind of people I used to work with? This is not even close. The fallen woman was not one of His people. But everyone is made in God’s image and likeness. As I said last week, innocence can be regained. He comes to all of us, if we let Him, to help us with our struggles and to draw us closer to Him . . . no matter what we’ve done . . . even if it is just to help with bearing our ordinary daily crosses. Although some people’s daily crosses are extraordinary, they are daily crosses.
I will tell you a story about a man who I miss. I never got to say goodbye to him because he died very quickly. He was admitted to the hospital and even though he wasn’t Catholic, he wanted to talk to a priest. So, I visited him, and we talked. He said, “Father, I’m not Catholic but a priest saved my life.” He told me that as a young man he was physically, sexually, and mentally abused. And like so many men of a certain age, he got a job offer from U.S. Government and the opportunity to travel. He was volunteered or voluntold, and he was sent to Vietnam for a year. While there, he saw the atrocities on innocent civilians that the North Vietnamese army committed. Because he thought it was time for some payback, he volunteered for a second tour in a Special Operations unit. And he gave the North Vietnamese a lot of payback. He did a lot of nasty things. When he came home, he had PTSD and drank like a fool. He spent a lot of time and effort in hospitals. A priest came and helped him. That’s why he wanted to talk to me. So, he got out of the hospital and got off the bottle. After many years, he was free from his crosses. He and his wife helped abused children. And that’s what he did for the rest of his life. When I met him, he was in the hospital, with ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease. On the last day I saw him alive, he was in the hallway in his new electric wheelchair equipped with head brace controls so that he could control them with his mouth. I said, “Cool wheels! When I come back next week, we are going to pimp this bad boy out! We’re going to paint flames on it and maybe hang some dice.” I never saw him again. He finally passed which was merciful because of the ALS. He didn’t have to ride that bus all the way to the end. This is the transforming power of God’s grace. I don’t think any of you could be as bad as that guy was. Is that man in Heaven? I’m pretty darn sure he is. God never stops working, and He never gave up on him. It took a long while, but our Lord picked him up and changed him. Our Lord comes to seek and save what is lost. Was the Samaritan woman’s case unusual? Yes . . . and no.
Father’s Reflections. . . .
I hold Mass at the local felon university (FU) or Albemarle Corrections Institute which is always interesting. Although they will disagree, I’m going to remind the prisoners that there are blessings even while in prison. 1) Your life expectancy has increased now that you aren’t doing what got you here. They got you off the drugs and alcohol you were consuming. 2) You are protected from your “friends” who may have eventually killed you or helped you die. 3) You get a well-balanced diet and a square meal, especially the fish or sewer bass. 4) You are eligible for vocational training unless you leave prison in a box. 5) You get medical and dental care. 6) You get psychological care. 7) While in prison, you have the time to reflect on the harm you have done and have the time to do penance. A lot of good things can come from being a guest of the state or a state employee living in a gated community. Just like the Good Thief from the cross, “I’m getting only what I deserve.” So, I’ll bring this up to the prisoners the next time I’m there. Luckily, I have a corrections officer with me. But there really are blessings in that place. I miss the old days when some of the prisoners worked with dogs to rehabilitate them for adoption on the outside. The prisoners grew to love these dogs and working with them was great therapy. But it was heartbreaking for the prisoners when they had to give up the dogs.
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” then “Menu” and then “Categories.” Sermon Notes are also available on the church Facebook page at facebook.com/ola.catholic.church. Click on “Groups” and then “Sermon Notes.”
The Catechism in a Year – Day 77 – The Kingdom of God
Fr. Mike explores Jesus’ mission of establishing the kingdom of God on earth, and who belongs in the kingdom of Heaven: all people. We see how Jesus identifies himself with the poor, lowly, and those who the world says are not important. If we do not welcome them, we cannot enter the kingdom. Fr. Mike challenges us to examine the fact that in order to gain entry into the kingdom, “one must give everything. Words are not enough; deeds are required.” Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 541-546.
Click on link to play video: https://youtu.be/-vwE0HOIAh8