Dear John, Peace and good to you! I want to always start by saying: We are so appreciative of our donors. There is no Franciscan Media without you! This is the 16th day of our Rebuilding God’s Church $125,000 match campaign. Your donations help us unlock this match money! This campaign will run through Easter next year, which means we have 138 days left! If you are already a recurring donor, you can make your current donation double without having to increase your donation! If you want to put your current donation toward this “Rebuilding God’s Church” vision through Easter, all you need to do is email us at [email protected] and let us know that you want your donation matched. Thank you to those who have already done this! Today we highlight St. Columban, who prized chastity and discipline over most things. Chastity has to do with pureness of heart. As Jesus said, the pure of heart shall see God. When our hearts are pure, we more easily see God’s presence in the world around us and in the faces others. Seeking chaste hearts relates to our Rebuilding God’s Church category of Healing Our Relationships with God and Others. This category will eventually include resources like downloadable pdfs, videos, and webinars that will help you more fully embrace the love of God. If you would like to learn more about Rebuilding God’s Church or donate, click here. |
Deacon Matthew Halbach, PhD
President & Publisher, Franciscan Media
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Saint of the Day for November 26:
Columban (543 – November 21, 615) Listen to Saint Columban’s Story Here Columban (Columbanus) was the greatest of the Irish missionaries who worked on the European continent. As a young man who was greatly tormented by temptations of the flesh, he sought the advice of a religious woman who had lived a hermit’s life for years. He saw in her answer a call to leave the world. He went first to a monk on an island in Lough Erne, then to the great monastic seat of learning at Bangor. After many years of seclusion and prayer, he traveled to Gaul with 12 companion missionaries. They won wide respect for the rigor of their discipline, their preaching, and their commitment to charity and religious life in a time characterized by clerical laxity and civil strife. Columban established several monasteries in Europe which became centers of religion and culture. His writings include a treatise on penance and against Arianism, sermons, poetry, and his monastic rule. Like all saints, he met opposition. Ultimately he had to appeal to the pope against complaints of Frankish bishops, for vindication of his orthodoxy and approval of Irish customs. He reproved the king for his licentious life, insisting that he marry. Since this threatened the power of the queen mother, Columban was deported back to Ireland. His ship ran aground in a storm, and he continued his work in Europe, ultimately arriving in Italy, where he found favor with the king of the Lombards. In his last years he established the famous monastery of Bobbio, where he died. Saint Columban’s liturgical feast is celebrated on November 23. Reflection Now that public sexual license is becoming extreme, we need the Church’s memory of a young man as concerned about chastity as Columban. And now that the comfort-captured Western world stands in tragic contrast to starving millions, we need the challenge to austerity and discipline of a group of Irish monks. They were too strict, we say; they went too far. How far shall we go?
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Become the Womb of God Mary as the womb of God. How greatly honored is she who was chosen by the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit to be the dwelling place of God become human in Jesus Christ. And how greatly honored are we as human beings, not only because God became one of us, but because God chose one of us to be his womb for nine months of his human life. And, as Saint Francis reminds us, how privileged each one of us is that we, too, can become a womb of God by doing God’s will and bringing him to birth in our lives. —from the book The Simple Way: Meditations on the Words of Saint Francis
by Murray Bodo, OFM |
Prayers for All Eight Billion Reflect One of the most used words today is “divided.” And yet the word Catholic (from the Greek) means “through the whole” and “worldwide.” Today can you be honest with yourself about the divisions you hold onto, the judgments toward others, how you reject them? Pray God,
Today I will try to go big with my prayers.
Bigger than ever, to match your greatness.
While I have my own specific loved ones to pray for—
you know who, since you know all—
I’m going to include each and every one.
All eight billion.
One whole group: humans, our whole planet.
Yes, today I beseech you: Help us.
Help us all. Act Take a moment to look up John August Swanson’s painting Festival of Lights. It is a magnificent vision of the masses, united together, close, all holding light. Today's Pause+Pray was written by Maureen O'Brien. Learn more here! |
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