Dear Friend, On June 25, we remember Blessed Jutta of Thuringiaâa woman of noble birth who traded earthly riches for a life of radical service to the poor. After the death of her husband, Jutta chose a path few of her status would consider: she became a Secular Franciscan, gave away her fine possessions, and embraced a life of simplicity, humility, and deep compassion. The townspeople laughed at her transformation, but Jutta saw the face of Christ in the lepers, the blind, the crippled, and the poorâoffering them not just care, but dignity and love. Her life challenges us in a powerful way. In a world often driven by accumulation and status, Jutta reminds us that the true riches of Godâs kingdom are found in surrender, simplicity, and selfless love. Her story is especially poignant for us today as we reflect on how we share our own blessings, however modest they may be. At Franciscan Media, we are honored to tell these stories of courage and conversionâstories that inspire us to live the Gospel in small and great ways. If youâve found meaning in Juttaâs witness or in our daily reflections, we invite you to donate today. Your gift helps ensure we can continue to offer spiritual resources that feed the soul and stir the heart. |
Patty Crawford
Director of Marketing |
Saint of the Day for June 25: Jutta of Thuringia (c. 1200-1260) Listen to Blessed Jutta of Thuringiaâs Story Here Todayâs patroness of Prussia began her life amidst luxury and power but died the death of a simple servant of the poor. In truth, virtue and piety were always of prime importance to Jutta and her husband, both of noble rank. The two were set to make a pilgrimage together to the holy places in Jerusalem, but her husband died on the way. The newly widowed Jutta, after taking care to provide for her children, resolved to live in a manner she felt was utterly pleasing to God. She disposed of the costly clothes, jewels, and furniture befitting one of her rank, and became a Secular Franciscan, taking on the simple garment of a religious. From that point her life was utterly devoted to others: caring for the sick, particularly lepers; tending to the poor, whom she visited in their hovels; helping the crippled and blind with whom she shared her own home. Many of the townspeople of Thuringia laughed at how the once-distinguished lady now spent all her time. But Jutta saw the face of God in the poor and felt honored to render whatever services she could. About the year 1260, not long before her death, Jutta lived near the non-Christians in eastern Germany. There she built a small hermitage and prayed unceasingly for their conversion. She has been venerated for centuries as the special patron of Prussia. Reflection Jesus once said that a camel can pass through a needleâs eye more easily than a rich person can enter Godâs realm. Thatâs pretty scary news for us. We may not have great fortunes, but we who live in the West enjoy a share of the worldâs goods that people in the rest of the world cannot imagine. Much to the amusement of her neighbors, Jutta disposed of her wealth after her husbandâs death and devoted her life to caring for those who had no means. Should we follow her example, people will probably laugh at us, too. But God will smile. Blessed Jutta of Thuringia is the Patron Saint of: Prussia
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St. Francis Could Let Go âSt. Francis could let go when the right time came and engage in new ways of thinking and structures of relationship,â Sister Ilia Delio says. âI think Francisâ notion of poverty, as much as it was material, was more of an emphasis on living without possessing. People possess. We possess our ideas, our judgments, our opinions. We grip them and hold onto them with a tight grasp, not letting them go for anything. So, one thing for me is to become conscious of where I grasp and to make every effort to let go, to live sine proprio, without possessing. We are a consumer culture, and we simply donât know what it means to live in the flow of letting go.â âfrom St. Anthony Messengerâs âContemplating the Nature of the Universeâ
by Stephen Copeland |
Cultivating Connection Reflect In Ephesians 2:19-22, the Apostle Paul wrote, âConsequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with Godâs people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.â In these bizarre times where the pandemic has forced most churches to limit their congregations to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, may we remember that we are still the Churchâmystically connected to God and to one anotherânot dependent upon a building to meet on Sundays. Of course, we miss gathering together, but maybe this is an opportunity to awaken to who we are, and who weâve always been, as the Body of Christ. Pray The Bride of Christâ
forced to close its doors
to serve in days
of isolation,
a reminder to us
that the Church
was never a building
to begin withâ
residing instead
within ourselves,
the fullness
of divine expression,
in the temple
that is our souls.
Help us become
who we areâ
even without homilies
and incense,
stained glass
and Sunday greetings,
and cultivate communion still:
to humbly break bread
and receive,
to drink the same cup
and believe we are one,
despite our differences
in an age
where division definesâ
but not with us,
your Church,
your bride.
We are one.
We are yours.
We gather
at your table. Act What can you do today to cultivate your connectedness with other members of the Body of Christ? Pray a line or two that resonated for you from this prayer every time you begin to feel isolated and disconnected. Today's Pause+Pray was written by Stephen Copeland. Learn more here! |
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