Hello John,
Happy Friday! Thank you for your prayers Thursday as the Franciscan Media team gathered. Your support was felt and is greatly appreciated. In our own lives, we may encounter struggles with prayer or moments of uncertainty. Yet, as St. Thomas Aquinas teaches us, the intention to pray is itself a meritorious gift to God. Even if our hearts or minds wander during prayer, our sincere desire to connect with God is a testament to our faith and devotion. As we navigate life's journey, let us embrace the spirit of Franciscan optimismâa profound trust in God's providence and the interconnectedness of all creation. Let us find joy in the small moments of grace and extend kindness to those in need, knowing that God walks with us every step of the way. Together, let us pray for the strength to be beacons of hope and sources of inspiration for others, sharing our joy and love with the world. Will you prayerfully consider joining the friarsâ vital endeavor by donating today? To make a single gift or start a recurring gift, please visit https://www.FranciscanMedia.org/Newsletter or contact me directly at [email protected] or 1-800-488-0488. You are in my prayers. I hope you have a blessed weekend. |
Fr. Dan Kroger, OFM
Franciscan Media CEO and St. Anthony Messenger Publisher [email protected] |
Saint of the Day for May 24: Mary Magdalene deâ Pazzi (April 2, 1566 â May 25, 1607) Saint Mary Magdalene deâ Pazziâs Story Mystical ecstasy is the elevation of the spirit to God in such a way that the person is aware of this union with God while both internal and external senses are detached from the sensible world. Mary Magdalene deâ Pazzi was so generously given this special gift of God that she is called the âecstatic saint.â Catherine deâ Pazzi was born into a noble family in Florence in 1566. The normal course would have been for her to have married into wealth and enjoyed comfort, but Catherine chose to follow her own path. At 9, she learned to meditate from the family confessor. She made her first Communion at the then-early age of 10, and made a vow of virginity one month later. At 16, Catherine entered the Carmelite convent in Florence because she could receive Communion daily there. Catherine had taken the name Mary Magdalene and had been a novice for a year when she became critically ill. Death seemed near, so her superiors let her make her profession of vows in a private ceremony from a cot in the chapel. Immediately after, Mary Magdalene fell into an ecstasy that lasted about two hours. This was repeated after Communion on the following 40 mornings. These ecstasies were rich experiences of union with God and contained marvelous insights into divine truths. As a safeguard against deception and to preserve the revelations, her confessor asked Mary Magdalene to dictate her experiences to sister secretaries. Over the next six years, five large volumes were filled. The first three books record ecstasies from May of 1584 through Pentecost week the following year. This week was a preparation for a severe five-year trial. The fourth book records that trial and the fifth is a collection of letters concerning reform and renewal. Another book, Admonitions, is a collection of her sayings arising from her experiences in the formation of women religious. The extraordinary was ordinary for this saint. She read the thoughts of others and predicted future events. During her lifetime, Mary Magdalene appeared to several persons in distant places and cured a number of sick people. It would be easy to dwell on the ecstasies and pretend that Mary Magdalene only had spiritual highs. This is far from true. It seems that God permitted her this special closeness to prepare her for the five years of desolation that followed when she experienced spiritual dryness. She was plunged into a state of darkness in which she saw nothing but what was horrible in herself and all around her. She had violent temptations and endured great physical suffering. Mary Magdalene deâ Pazzi died in 1607 at age 41, and was canonized in 1669. Her liturgical feast is on May 25. Reflection Intimate union, Godâs gift to mystics, is a reminder to all of us of the eternal happiness of union he wishes to give us. The cause of mystical ecstasy in this life is the Holy Spirit, working through spiritual gifts. The ecstasy occurs because of the weakness of the body and its powers to withstand the divine illumination, but as the body is purified and strengthened, ecstasy no longer occurs. See Teresa of Avilaâs Interior Castle, and John of the Crossâ Dark Night of the Soul, for more about various aspects of ecstasies.
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Spend seven consecutive 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! |
God Appreciates Our Prayers Whatever struggles you may face with the rosary, never walk away feeling discouraged. If your mind wanders, if you donât feel the fervor, or if youâre very sleepy while praying, remember that the words you are reciting are biblical and holy. Simply pulling out your beads and saying the sacred words is giving something beautiful to God, even if your heart or mind is not as into it as youâd like. Moreover, as St. Thomas Aquinas taught, the intention to pray is itself the beginning of prayer. In fact, he wrote in his Summa Theologiae, âIt is not necessary that prayer should be attentive throughout; because the force of the original intention with which one sets about praying renders the whole prayer meritorious.â If we sincerely desire to give God our best in the rosary, but we lose attention and fervor, that foundational good intention is still a beautiful gift to God. So even if our performance of the rosary is not as great as weâd like it to be, that doesnât wipe out the foundation of a good intention. âfrom the book Praying the Rosary Like Never Before: Encounter the Wonder of Heaven and Earthby Edward Sri |
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! |
Finding Joy in the Journey Reflect In a world often overshadowed by uncertainty and turmoil, the spirit of Franciscan optimism offers a beacon of hopeâa reminder that even in the midst of lifeâs challenges, there is reason to rejoice and find joy in the journey. At the heart of Franciscan optimism lies a profound trust in the goodness of God and the inherent dignity of all creation. Franciscan optimism is rooted in a profound sense of interconnectednessâa recognition that we are all part of Godâs wondrous creation, bound together by love and solidarity. Itâs a belief that no matter how daunting the challenges we face, we are never alone, for God walks with us every step of the way. Pray God of the journey,
You invite us to cultivate an attitude of resilience and perseveranceâ
to approach lifeâs trials with courage and grace,
knowing that even the darkest night gives way to the dawn of a new day.
Help us answer the call to be beacons of hope and sources of inspiration for others
to share our joy, extend kindness to those in need,
and bear witness to the transformative power of faith and love.
Help us to be like St. Francis himself and be instruments of peace
and heralds of your enduring goodness in a world in need of hope and healing.
Amen. Act Consider how you can share your optimism with others, bringing light and hope to those around you through acts of kindness, compassion, and love. Todayâs Pause+Pray was written by Paul Lipowski. Learn more here! |
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