Today's Minute Meditations and Pause+Pray celebrate the holiness of sport! đ
Hello John,
Today's Saint of the Day focuses on the importance of Saint Joachim and Saint Anne and their role as the grandparents of Jesus. It reflects on their heroism and holiness, highlighting their contribution to the religious traditions of their time, despite their obscurity in historical records. The narrative emphasizes their devotion to their faith, family, and the coming of the Messiah. As a nonprofit organization, Franciscan Media relies on the generosity of individuals like you to continue providing valuable resources, reflections, and spiritual content. Your support allows us to reach a broader audience. If you have found our content meaningful and would like to contribute, please consider making a donation to Franciscan Media. Donate today! |
Saint of the Day for July 26: Saints Joachim and Anne (c. 1st century) Saints Joachim and Anneâs Story In the Scriptures, Matthew and Luke furnish a legal family history of Jesus, tracing ancestry to show that Jesus is the culmination of great promises. Not only is his motherâs family neglected, we also know nothing factual about them except that they existed. Even the names âJoachimâ and âAnneâ come from a legendary source written more than a century after Jesus died. The heroism and holiness of these people however, is inferred from the whole family atmosphere around Mary in the Scriptures. Whether we rely on the legends about Maryâs childhood or make guesses from the information in the Bible, we see in her a fulfillment of many generations of prayerful persons, herself steeped in the religious traditions of her people. The strong character of Mary in making decisions, her continuous practice of prayer, her devotion to the laws of her faith, her steadiness at moments of crisis, and her devotion to her relativesâall indicate a close-knit, loving family that looked forward to the next generation even while retaining the best of the past. Joachim and Anneâwhether these are their real names or notârepresent that entire quiet series of generations who faithfully perform their duties, practice their faith, and establish an atmosphere for the coming of the Messiah, but remain obscure. Reflection This is the âfeast of grandparents.â It reminds grandparents of their responsibility to establish a tone for generations to come: They must make the traditions live and offer them as a promise to little children. But the feast has a message for the younger generation as well. It reminds the young that older peopleâs greater perspective, depth of experience, and appreciation of lifeâs profound rhythms are all part of a wisdom not to be taken lightly or ignored. Saints Joachim and Anne are the Patron Saints of: Grandparents Saint Anne is the Patron Saint of: Mothers
Women in Labor
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âRun So As to Winâ While collegiate and professional sports are big business, the Olympics feel like a purer celebration of sport somehow. Athletics, in fact, have roots in the New Testament. âDo you not know that the runners in the stadium all run in the race, but only one wins the prize? Run so as to winâ (1 Cor 9:24) is but one example. God loves a good contest. Truly, there is something noble about athletes who gather every four years to represent their countries. Sports, at its best, is an equalizer: Athletes are judged by how they competeâirrespective of skin color, political party, religion, net worth, or nationality. And as spectators, we are very much a part of this time-honored celebration. Letâs play. âfrom St. Anthony Messengerâs âAt Play in the Fields of the Lordâ
by Christopher Heffron |
Find a Deeper Relationship with Saint Clare! The feast day of Saint Clare of Assisi is August 11. Join us on a journey to celebrate this Franciscan saint. |
The Community of Sports Reflect Sports play such a big role in society. From children of young ages to professional athletes, sports serve as a form of entertainment. Aside from the enjoyment, though, sports also provide greater life lessons, such as teamwork, dedication, and sportsmanship. This yearâs Olympics is a perfect opportunity to witness each of those attributes on display. Pray Lord,
Watch over the athletes
As they compete.
May they be inspired to
Perform to the best of their abilities
And find joy in their endeavors.
Keep them safe and healthy. Act The next time you are watching a sporting event, say a short prayer for the safety of all those involved. Today's Pause+Pray was written by Susan Hines-Brigger. Learn more here! |
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