Our Minute Meditations encourages us to speak up for those who cannot. đŁ
Dear John, I spent a number of years in a salvation-focused religious tradition that was more about getting to heaven than it was about trying to create heaven here on earth. While I appreciated the traditionâs hopeful aim, I noticed that, for me, âheavenâ became a way to conveniently spiritually bypass issues in my life that needed to be dealt with for my own healing and growth. Todayâs Pause+Pray by Bruce Epperly reminds us that our work is here and that heaven will take care of itself. His prayer also challenges me to enter more deeply into the present rather than obsessing about what I want in the future, an anxiety that can become its own form of a salvation-focused religion that robs me of everything today has to offer. Itâs a joy to be a part of this Franciscan Media family and help create resources that hopefully influence your faith journey. Help us customize our resources to suit your needs better by donating to Rebuilding God's Church. Stephen Copeland Book Editor |
Saint of the Day for February 20:
Jacinta and Francisco Marto (Jacinta: 1910 â February 20, 1920 | Francisco: 1908 â April 14, 1919) Listen to Saints Jacinta and Francisco Martoâs Story Here Between May 13 and October 13, 1917, three Portuguese shepherd children from Aljustrel, received apparitions of Our Lady at Cova da Iria, near FĂĄtima, a city 110 miles north of Lisbon. At that time, Europe was involved in an extremely bloody war. Portugal itself was in political turmoil, having overthrown its monarchy in 1910; the government disbanded religious organizations soon after. At the first appearance, Mary asked the children to return to that spot on the thirteenth of each month for the next six months. She also asked them to learn to read and write and to pray the rosary âto obtain peace for the world and the end of the war.â They were to pray for sinners and for the conversion of Russia, which had recently overthrown Czar Nicholas II and was soon to fall under communism. Up to 90,000 people gathered for Maryâs final apparition on October 13, 1917. Less than two years later, Francisco died of influenza in his family home. He was buried in the parish cemetery and then re-buried in the FĂĄtima basilica in 1952. Jacinta died of influenza in Lisbon in 1920, offering her suffering for the conversion of sinners, peace in the world, and the Holy Father. She was re-buried in the FĂĄtima basilica in 1951. Their cousin LĂșcia dos Santos, became a Carmelite nun and was still living when Jacinta and Francisco were beatified in 2000; she died five years later. Pope Francis canonized the younger children on his visit to FĂĄtima to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first apparitionâMay 13, 2017. The shrine of Our Lady of FĂĄtima is visited by up to 20 million people a year. Reflection The Church is always very cautious about endorsing alleged apparitions, but it has seen benefits from people changing their lives because of the message of Our Lady of FĂĄtima. Prayer for sinners, devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and praying the rosaryâall these reinforce the Good News Jesus came to preach.
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St. Padre Pioâs daily example as a devoted follower of Christ helps guide readers through a reflective and prayer-filled Lenten season. |
Miracles Unfold Daily It is no coincidence that, by opening up our own hearts and asking our community of believers to join us, we began to witness the power of prayer. This living body of Christ, most of whom Iâll never meet, lifted up in prayer our newborn grandson and his familyâand in doing so, reminded me in a tangible way of God, who is with us in all things, but especially and always in our suffering. And thatâs precisely when we had the eyes to see the miracles unfolding daily. âfrom St. Anthony Messengerâs âLet Us Pray: God Is with Us in Our Sufferingâ
by MarĂa Ruiz Scaperlanda |
Your Work Is Here Reflect According to Acts of the Apostles, 40 days after Easter, Jesus ascended to heaven. As the disciples gazed upward, an angelic being challenged them, âMen of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven?â The Ascension massage is that we donât need to worry about heaven, or the afterlife. Our work is here. If we are faithful to God, heaven will take care of itself. Seek Godâs realm in this life. In the here and now, our kin need to us bring Godâs joy to the world. Pray God of heaven and earth,
Turn our eyes toward the needs of the world.
Give us wisdom in responding to our neighborâs needs.
Give us courage to work for justice.
Remind us that our work is here
And that our vocation is to be your companions
In healing the world.
Help us to trust the future to your hands
So we can bring heaven to earth today.
Amen. Act Today, open your eyes to the needs of persons around you whether in your immediate environment, your newsfeed, or the media. Pray for Godâs guidance in responding to the needs around you. Today's Pause+Pray was written by Bruce Epperly. Learn more here! |
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