Our Saint of the Day, has acquired the reputation, together with Jude, as a saint of impossible cases. đ
Hello John,
Happy Wednesday! In a world where we often yearn for ideal circumstances to live out our faith, Saint Rita's life teaches us that holiness is not about waiting for the perfect conditions but about making choices that reflect our baptism and our growth as disciples of Jesus. Despite facing numerous challenges and imperfect circumstances, Saint Rita became holy through her steadfast cooperation with God's grace and the countless small choices she made along the way. Similarly, our faith reminds us that death is not an ending but a new beginning for our loved ones who have passed away. While physical separation may be painful, spiritually, we are never separated from them. They continue to watch over us, closer than ever, and await a joyous reunion when our earthly journey is complete. As we reflect on these truths, let us draw nearer to the Divine One, feeling the healing warmth of His love and allowing His light to melt away our fears and hurts. Let us embrace our baptismal vocation with courage and trust, knowing that God is with us every step of the way. |
| May God continue to bless your day, |
Fr. Dan Kroger, OFM
Franciscan Media CEO and St. Anthony Messenger Publisher [email protected] |
P.S., Will you prayerfully consider joining me in this vital endeavor by starting a recurring gift today? To start your gift or learn more about how you can support Franciscan Media, please visit https://www.FranciscanMedia.org/Newsletter or contact me directly at [email protected] or 1-800-488-0488. |
Saint of the Day for May 22: Rita of Cascia (1381 â May 22, 1457) Saint Rita of Casciaâs Story Like Elizabeth Ann Seton, Rita of Cascia was a wife, mother, widow, and member of a religious community. Her holiness was reflected in each phase of her life. Born at Roccaporena in central Italy, Rita wanted to become a nun but was pressured at a young age into marrying a harsh and cruel man. During her 18-year marriage, she bore and raised two sons. After her husband was killed in a brawl and her sons had died, Rita tried to join the Augustinian nuns in Cascia. Unsuccessful at first because she was a widow, Rita eventually succeeded. Over the years, her austerity, prayerfulness, and charity became legendary. When she developed wounds on her forehead, people quickly associated them with the wounds from Christâs crown of thorns. She meditated frequently on Christâs passion. Her care for the sick nuns was especially loving. She also counseled lay people who came to her monastery. Beatified in 1626, Rita was not canonized until 1900. She has acquired the reputation, together with Saint Jude, as a saint of impossible cases. Many people visit her tomb each year. Reflection Although we can easily imagine an ideal world in which to live out our baptismal vocation, such a world does not exist. An âIf only âŠ.â approach to holiness never quite gets underway, never produces the fruit that God has a right to expect. Rita became holy because she made choices that reflected her baptism and her growth as a disciple of Jesus. Her overarching, lifelong choice was to cooperate generously with Godâs grace, but many small choices were needed to make that happen. Few of those choices were made in ideal circumstancesânot even when Rita became an Augustinian nun. Saint Rita of Cascia is the Patron Saint of: Difficult Marriages
Impossible Causes
Infertility
Parenthood
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Spend seven days letting St. Anthony of Padua be your guide to finding yourself and your way to God. Through rich content, guided prayer activities and probing questions drawn from his preaching and the stories of his life, you will learn about this Franciscan Saint but, even more important, about your own spiritual life. Begins Thursday, June 6th! |
Death Is Not an Ending Our faith has a way of answering questions and helping us understand that their deaths and those of all our loved ones are not signs of an ending, but rather a new beginning for them. The separation is only physical, though that initially is very painful. Spiritually, we are never separated from them. Thatâs because the God we believe in and who revealed to us the truth about life, death and life eternal never separates people who love one another. God is love. Why would he separate loving people? They are closer than ever. We canât see them, but they can see us. They can hear us and they still watch over us; thatâs what mothers do! And our faith reminds us that there is a reunion waiting for us when we have completed our journey on earth. What a reunion that will be! âfrom St. Anthony Messengerâs âNotes from a Friar: A Motherâs Loveâ
by Jim Van Vurst, OFM |
Experience St. Anthony's gift of finding what is lost! Spend seven consecutive days letting St. Anthony of Padua guide you to finding yourself and your way to God! |
The Heart Is the Hearth Reflect Today, consider the tender insights that the Franciscan author Ilia Delio offers on Jesusâ words: âI came to bring fire to the earth and how I wish it were already kindledâ (Lk 12:49). She writes, âthe heart is the âhearthâ of the human person, the place where the kindling of the Spirit can take place.â Pray I draw nearer to you, Divine One,
feeling the healing warmth of your love from your infinite fire.
Yours is the most perfect light.
How it burns!
Melt away my deepest fears and hurts.
Let all darkness disappear as I let go,
staring into you. Act Find an image of the Sacred Heart today and see how the fire burns. Imagine that same fire within you.
Today's Pause+Pray was written by Maureen O'Brien. Learn more here! |
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