Enjoy today's Saint of the Day, a meditation about Mary! đ
Dear John,
In September, we celebrate the feast of St. Pio of Pietrelcina, a man known the world over as Padre Pio. He's an interesting saint to understandâhe was very old world in his expressions of faith but he was also a 20th-century mystic who could bridge the two worlds together. In St. Anthony Messenger's September article, "Padre Pio: A Saint for All Seasons," it reads: "The greatest trial to which Padre Pio was subjected in life was excessive publicity, which nearly made him more of a martyr than a confessor. The greatest proof of his virtue comes from the people as they remember his life, make pilgrimages to his tomb, and ask for his intercession. Considering all the good he did and all the sacrifices he made for other people, Padre Pio should be regarded as a man full of glory." If you love stories of saints, please consider donating to Franciscan Media so that the holy lives of the men and women of faith can live on. Your gift will produce new resources for years to com. Donate today! Peace and all good! Christopher Heffron
Editorial Director |
Saint of the Day for September 12: Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary Listen to the Story of the Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary This feast is a counterpart to the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus; both have the possibility of uniting people easily divided on other matters. The feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary began in Spain in 1513 and in 1671 was extended to all of Spain and the Kingdom of Naples. In 1683, John Sobieski, king of Poland, brought an army to the outskirts of Vienna to stop the advance of Muslim armies loyal to Mohammed IV of Constantinople. After Sobieski entrusted himself to the Blessed Virgin Mary, he and his soldiers thoroughly defeated the Muslims. Pope Innocent XI extended this feast to the entire Church. Reflection Mary always points us to God, reminding us of Godâs infinite goodness. She helps us to open our hearts to Godâs ways, wherever those may lead us. Honored under the title âQueen of Peace,â Mary encourages us to cooperate with Jesus in building a peace based on justice, a peace that respects the fundamental human rights of all peoples.
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Discover the Beloved Saint Padre Pio in this updated classic! Meet Padre Pio: Beloved Mystic, Miracle-Worker, and Spiritual Guide |
Awaken to Prayer The journey of prayer for Franciscans is the discovery of God at the center of our lives. We pray not to acquire a relationship with God as if acquiring something that did not previously exist. Rather, we pray to disclose the image of God in which we are created, the God within us, that is, the one in whom we are created and in whom lies the seed of our identity. We pray so as to discover what we already haveââthe incomparable treasure hidden in the field of the world and of the human heart.â We pray not to âascendâ to God but to âgive birth to God,â to allow the image in which we are created to become visible. We pray to bear Christ anew. In prayer, therefore, we discover what we already have, the potential for the fullness of life, and this life is the life of Christ. âfrom the book Franciscan Prayer: Awakening to Oneness with God
by Ilia Delio, OSF |
Don't miss this updated classic about the Beloved Saint Padre Pio! Meet Padre Pio: Beloved Mystic, Miracle-Worker, and Spiritual Guide |
Every Breath Can Be a Prayer Reflect The apostle Paul advises, âPray without ceasing.â I suspect the apostle is speaking about a prayerful attitude rather than a constant succession of words. One way to make your life prayerful is to make every breath a prayer by affirming that God is as near as your last breath, your current breathing, and your next breath. Feel Godâs spirit enlivening and enlightening you with each breath. Pray Breath of life,
Breathe on me, breath in me, breath through me.
Let every breath remind me that you are near.
Let every breath bring me closer to you and my neighbor,
So that my breathing and yours are one.
Amen. Act Begin the day with the intention, âLet every breath be a prayer.â Pause to breathe deeply, feeling Godâs breathing in your, energizing and enlightening you. Take time to pause and breathe whenever you feel harried or anxious. Bring yourself back to Godâs presence calming and centering you with each breath. Today's Pause+Pray was written by Bruce Epperly. Learn more here! |
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