The message of today's Saint of the Day is simple: Pray. đ
Saint of the Day for May 13:
Leopold Mandic (May 12, 1866 â July 30, 1942) Listen to the Story of Our Lady of Fatima Here Between May 13 and October 13, 1917, three Portuguese childrenâFrancisco and Jacinta Marto and their cousin Lucia dos Santosâreceived apparitions of Our Lady at Cova da Iria near Fatima, a city 110 miles north of Lisbon. Mary asked the children to pray the rosary for world peace, for the end of World War I, for sinners, and for the conversion of Russia. Mary gave the children three secrets. Following the deaths of Francisco and Jacinta in 1919 and 1920, Lucia revealed the first secret in 1927. It concerned devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The second secret was a vision of hell. When Lucia grew up she became a Carmelite nun and died in 2005 at the age of 97. Pope John Paul II directed the Holy Seeâs Secretary of State to reveal the third secret in 2000; it spoke of a âbishop in whiteâ who was shot by a group of soldiers who fired bullets and arrows into him. Many people linked this vision to the assassination attempt against Pope John Paul II in St. Peterâs Square on May 13, 1981. The feast of Our Lady of Fatima was approved by the local bishop in 1930; it was added to the Churchâs worldwide calendar in 2002. Reflection The message of Fatima is simple: Pray. Unfortunately, some peopleânot Sister Luciaâhave distorted these revelations, making them into an apocalyptic event for which they are now the only reliable interpreters. They have, for example, claimed that Maryâs request that the world be consecrated to her has been ignored. Sister Lucia agreed that Pope John Paul IIâs public consecration in St. Peterâs Square on March 25, 1984, fulfilled Maryâs request. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith prepared a June 26, 2000, document explaining the âthird secret.â Mary is perfectly honored when people generously imitate her response âLet it be done to me as you sayâ (Luke 1:38). Mary can never be seen as a rival to Jesus or to the Churchâs teaching authority, as exercised by the college of bishops united with the bishop of Rome.
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The Nature of Hope Hope is not a feeling, sentiment, or affect. It is not a starry-eyed assurance, cheery conviction, or buoyant confidence. Nor is it passive optimism that, despite the situation, bullishly predicts, âItâs all going to work out.â It is beyond security and peacefulness. Hope cannot be bought or taught. It can only be received and awakened. Saint Francis instinctively knew this when, seeking discernment before the San Damiano crucifix, he prayed, âAnd give meâŠcertain hopeâŠ.â The seed of hope is planted by God and celebrates the gratuity of grace. It is a gift, a blessing that strangely breaks ground and sprouts only during times of desperation, despair, despondency, and disasterâwhen the soul is parched. âfrom the book Soul Training with the Peace Prayer of Saint Francis
by Albert Haase, OFM |
Are You Talking to Me, Lord? Reflect Weâve all had those days where nothing goes right. We donât hear the alarm; we canât find the keys; we forget to take the grocery list with us to the store. As the day goes on, we sink deeper and deeper into our bad moods. But what if instead of seeing these experiences as troubles, we see them as opportunities to listen to God? Pray Dear God,
Are you trying to tell me something in the frustrations of my day?
Is my missed alarm a sign I need more rest?
Are the forgotten list and missing car keys your way of pointing out
That I have too many distractions in my life?
Sometimes, it feels like the whole world is off-kilter,
but maybe thatâs you trying to get my attention. Act The next time you have a frustrating or annoying experience, reframe it to see what God might be saying through it. Today's Pause+Pray was written by Colleen Arnold, MD. Learn more here! |
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