Dear John, Peace and good to you! As we move toward Thanksgiving, we are so appreciative of our donors. There is no Franciscan Media without you! This is the 15th day of our Rebuilding Godâs Church $125,000 match campaign. This campaign will run through Easter next year, which means we have 139 days left. If you are a recurring donor and you would like your donations to be redirected to this campaign, please email [email protected] and let us know that you want your donation matched. Thank you to those who have already done this! If you would like to learn more about Rebuilding Godâs Church, click here. Today we highlight St. Catherine of Alexandria. Catherine had a passion to discover the riches of God and his love for her. Godâs love frees us! Sharing Godâs love with others brings healing to ourselves and our neighbors. Seeking to know Godâs love is associated with our developing âRediscovering Godâ category of Rebuilding Godâs Churchâour future online adult evangelization experience. If you would like to learn more about these efforts or to donate, click here. |
Deacon Matthew Halbach, PhD
President & Publisher, Franciscan Media |
Saint of the Day for November 25:
Catherine of Alexandria (d. c. 310) Listen to Saint Catherine of Alexandriaâs Story Here According to the Legend of St. Catherine, this young woman converted to Christianity after receiving a vision. At the age of 18, she debated 50 pagan philosophers. Amazed at her wisdom and debating skills, they became Christiansâas did about 200 soldiers and members of the emperorâs family. All of them were martyred. Sentenced to be executed on a spiked wheel, Catherine touched the wheel and it shattered. She was beheaded. Centuries later, angels are said to have carried the body of Saint Catherine to a monastery at the foot of Mt. Sinai. Devotion to her spread as a result of the Crusades. She was invoked as the patroness of students, teachers, librarians and lawyers. Catherine is one of the 14 Holy Helpers, venerated especially in Germany and Hungary. Reflection The pursuit of Godâs wisdom may not lead to riches or earthly honors. In Catherineâs case, this pursuit contributed to her martyrdom. She was not, however, foolish in preferring to die for Jesus rather than live only by denying him. All the rewards that her tormentors offered her would rust, lose their beauty, or in some other way become a poor exchange for Catherineâs honesty and integrity in following Jesus Christ. Saint Catherine of Alexandria is a Patron Saint of: Lawyers
Librarians
Philosophers
Students
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The Living Presence of Love Francisâ biographers point out that when people met with him, or heard him preach, it was not simply a question of listening to words of peace and joy. Nor were people merely persuaded to reflect upon reasons for forgiving each other, doing penance or thanking and praising God. Rather, they were confronted with these realities in the person of Francis. They were in the living presence of forgiveness, peace, faith, and love, because Francis had integrated these values into his person by taking on the image of Christ on the cross. Francis became conformed to the Crucified to such a degree that at the end of his life he appeared like the Crucified with the wounds of Christ engraved into his flesh. âfrom the book In the Footsteps of Francis and Clare
by Roch Niemier, OFM |
Iâm Glad Youâre Here Reflect Gratitude. Itâs all the rage. Truly, thought leaders and self-help gurus from all walks of life and across the religious spectrum are touting the benefits and importance of being thankful more than ever. But thereâs something to it; itâs not just a fad. In fact, Iâm grateful right now, as I write this, and I hope you know how glad I am that youâre âhere,â albeit in this virtual space. The fact that those of us fortunate enough to write for Pause+Pray get to share our work with you is a gift. Your continued readership and feedback (yes, even the negative!) is a validation that prayer is ever more needed in our world today. Thank you. Pray Giving and gracious God,
In a plan we canât pretend to understand,
You have brought us all together through Pause+Pray
These past few years,
Writers, readers, brothers, sistersâall of us your children.
Thank you, Lord, for this quite unexpected and wonderful turn of events,
And I thank you personally, Lord, for all those who turn to this virtual space to heal, remember, celebrate, mourn, connect, and praise. Act One of the best things about gratitude is that it can be passed along. Take a few minutes to think of what or who you are thankful for in your life. Todayânot tomorrow!âfind a moment to share with another person what inspires gratitude in your heart. This might just motivate him/her to do the same! Today's Pause+Pray was written by Daniel Imwalle. Learn more here! |
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