Our Rebuilding God’s Church themes are: Rediscovering God, Healing Relationships with God and Others, Listening to God, and Following God. We are in the process of organizing our resources around these themes. So, for now, let me say that we begin to rediscover God when we allow God to be bigger than our own humanity. God is far beyond our ability to comprehend, beyond our experiences, and certainly beyond our biases and prejudices. May our resources help you rediscover the God who loves you more than you will ever understand. May you live each day in the profound mystery of his love.
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With profound gratitude,
Deacon Matthew Halbach, PhD President & Publisher,
Casimir, born of kings and in line to be a king himself, was filled with exceptional values and learning by a great teacher, John Dlugosz. Even his critics could not say that his conscientious objection indicated softness. As a teenager, Casimir lived a highly disciplined, even severe life, sleeping on the ground, spending a great part of the night in prayer and dedicating himself to lifelong celibacy.
When nobles in Hungary became dissatisfied with their king, they prevailed upon Casimir’s father, the king of Poland, to send his son to take over the country. Casimir obeyed his father, as many young men over the centuries have obeyed their governments. The army he was supposed to lead was clearly outnumbered by the “enemy”; some of his troops were deserting because they were not paid. At the advice of his officers, Casimir decided to return home.
His father was irked at the failure of his plans, and confined his 15-year-old son for three months. The lad made up his mind never again to become involved in the wars of his day, and no amount of persuasion could change his mind. He returned to prayer and study, maintaining his decision to remain celibate even under pressure to marry the emperor’s daughter.
He reigned briefly as king of Poland during his father’s absence. He died of lung trouble at 25 while visiting Lithuania, of which he was also Grand Duke. He was buried in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Reflection
For many years, Poland and Lithuania faded into the gray prison on the other side of the Iron Curtain. Despite repression, the Poles and Lithuanians remained firm in the faith which has become synonymous with their name. Their youthful patron reminds us: Peace is not won by war; sometimes a comfortable peace is not even won by virtue, but Christ’s peace can penetrate every government repression of religion.
When we search long and hard enough to know the source of our own lives and the source of life at the heart of creation, we discover that the whole creation is pregnant with God. To see, to contemplate and to be transformed so as to become what we love marks the path of Franciscan prayer. The problem today is that we love many things—our freedom, independence, financial wealth, status, power and whatever else our culture tells us will make us happy; thus, there is little room within us to fully embrace God.
God, in a sense, has to push through all the things that clutter our lives in order to dwell within us. Franciscan prayer calls us back to poverty, penance, conversion and a heart full of mercy, values and attitudes that are counter-cultural but life-giving. Only when we acknowledge our need for God can we begin to find God. Prayer begins in the poverty of the desert and is the cry of the poor person who is far from home and seeks the way to the source of life.
Each of us, throughout our lives, will encounter challenging times where we need someone we can turn to for help and support. It is in those times that we must remember that our faith offers us, in Christ, a constant shoulder to lean on.
Pray
Dear God, Thank you for always being by my side with a listening ear and a helping hand. Give me the strength to provide that same comfort for others in need. Amen.
Act
Reach out to someone you know is struggling. Be a listening ear or helping hand to that person.
Today's Pause+Pray was written by Susan Hines-Brigger. Learn more here!
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