July 6: St. Maria Goretti

This is an old post that I copy into a new one each year, with slight modifications.  Much can be learned from St. Maria Goretti.

I highly recommend watching the movie on her life, found in the Amazon widget below.  Check with your local Catholic supply store first.  I'm pretty sure this video can be found at Grotto's gift shop for those who come there.  See also, the Fourteen Flowers of Pardon discussed below. Not only did she live a life of extraordinary virtue, especially for someone so young, but she teaches us that love can move mountains. She loved her attacker enough to forgive him before she died of the wounds sustained at his hands, and expressed desire for him to be someday be in heaven with her. Read on....

While working at home Thursday [of last year], I left EWTN on and was very much pleased with the 60 minute program, Fourteen Flowers of Pardon.

This documentary went through the virtuous life and death of St. Maria Goretti, and the many miracles worked through her.

Maria Goretti was not even twelve years old when she was viciously stabbed 14 times after refusing the advances of a 18-20 year old neighbor, Alessandro Serenelli (each resource varies on his exact age). He made two prior sexual advances without success.

The little girl had quickly built up virtue and wisdom, especially after her father died of malaria. Neighbors said she was obedient and always willing to do the most mundane of chores without complaint. She was devout, stopping in at the nearby parish to pray before the Blessed Mother on her way to the store to get things for her mother. It was on one such trip that she was approached by Alessandro. She boldly told the man who wanted to attack her virginity,

"No, it's a sin! I will not do it!"

On July 5, 1902 the little girl was mortally wounded. After getting stabbed 14 times, Maria Goretti died the next day, on July 6 after much suffering. During that time, this child of God prayed for her attacker and granted him forgiveness before she died.

Alessandro was sentenced to 30 years in prison, but was unrepentant until he saw Maria in a vision years into his incarceration, in 1910. She presented him with 14 lilies, which he said turned into white flames. Following this vision, he asked to meet with the bishop where he finally told the truth - that the little girl had never given in and that she had boldly protested his advances. This marked the beginning of one of the greatest miracles - the conversion of Alessandro Serenelli.

After serving 27 years he was released and went to the mother of Maria to seek forgiveness. Assunta Goretti said that if Maria had forgiven him, and he was forgiven before Christ, then she had nothing to hold over him. She too forgave Alessandro (both pictured at right). At one point, Assunta Goretti and Alessandro Serenelli approached the Communion rail together. He provided testimony leading to her beatification. While it is known for certain that Maria's mother was present at her canonization, accounts differ as to whether Alessandro was there or not.

Alessandro went on to eventually join a Capuchin monastery as a third order member. On his death bed in 1970 he wrote,

"I ask pardon of the world of the outrage done to the martyr Maria Goretti and to purity. I exhort everyone to keep away from immoral shows, from dangers, from occasions that can lead to sin."

There is something noteworthy here, and that is an apostolate based on Alessandro Serenelli called the Serenellians, which is dedicated to those who suffer from sexual addictions. They use his example and words to help reform their lives. Think about television today with all of the sexual content. Even the suggestive outfits worn by actresses today can make it very difficult for people to use self-control. Just going through a check-out line with cover photos on many popular magazines can be a source of temptation. Add to that the availability of porn on the web. Alessandro Serenelli nails it by saying it is necessary to "keep away" from it all. For some people, it is necessary to turn off the TV, or to stay off the internet.

There were many miracles attributed to St. Maria Goretti for her canonization. She is the youngest canonized saint ever. According to a priest-witness who was present in St. Peter's square, Pope Pius XII was moved to tears as he asked the crowd if they were ready to immitate this saint's life. The footage in the movie was spectacular, as were the many still photos of the family and people involved.



See also: Love's Bravest Choice.

References (recently edited with additional links):

St. Maria Goretti bio at MariaGoretti.org
Alessandro Serenelli bio at MariaGoretti.org
St. Maria Goretti at Catholic-Forum
St. Maria's Messenger (Magazine for girls 10-teens)
St. Maria Goretti - a role model for youth (by Pope John Paul II)
Sermon of Pope Pius XII from St. Maria's Canonization Mass
Writings of St. Maria Goretti and of Alessandro Serenelli

St. Maria Goretti - Pray for us!

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February 8: St. Bakhita

I see that Dawn Eden has written about St. Bakhita today and I recommend her post to you, along with the post of Terry Nelson, and Johnette Benkovic.

I was endeared and inspired by the life story of this saint some years ago when I saw a special about her on EWTN (see links at the bottom).  When I look at the many ways I have pitied myself for this or that, all I have to do is remember St. Bakhita and her thirst for God and acceptance of His will for her.  Learn about this saint.

Below this line, I offer something I wrote in 2008.

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If I never watched television again, I could never finish all of the material the Catholic Church gives to us through the biographies and writings of the saints. Our protestant brothers and sisters think that we "adore" the saints and Mother Mary, or they will even say that we practice idolatry and worship statues.

As I recently explained to a concerned relative: Only God may be adored in the true sense. But, do we not put pictures on our desks of family members and loved ones? Do we "worship" them because they are in the photograph or does it simply lift our thoughts to them, to make us smile, or to pray for them? Images of Mary in picture or as a statue can lift our thoughts to the life of Mary and the extraordinary virtue she exemplified. The way of life seen in Mary and the saints leads us directly to Jesus who is Virtue itself.

There are so many interesting saints that we can learn from, that along with reading Scripture daily, we should spend time reading biographies of the saints and their writings. One way to get familiar with them is to drop into a site that provides a calendar of saints and read a little each day. Share it with your family. Catholic Online has a nice section of saints, as well. If you like to see lots of Catholic News, you can get that, plus see who the saint of the day is at Catholic News Agency.

St. Josephine Bakhita was captured as a slave in Sudan, and suffered the many physical and emotional cruelties that went along with it. She recounts some of that here:

"One day I unwittingly made a mistake that incensed the master’s son. He became furious, snatched me violently from my hiding place, and began to strike me ferociously with the lash and his feet. Finally he left me half dead, completely unconscious. Some slaves carried me away and lay me on a straw mat, where I remained for over a month. ...

A woman skilled in this cruel art [tattooing] came to the general’s house…our mistress stood behind us, whip in hand. The woman had a dish of white flour, a dish of salt and a razor… When she had made her patterns; the woman took the razor and made incisions along the lines. Salt was poured into each of the wounds… My face was spared, but 6 patterns were designed on my breasts, and 60 more on my belly and arms. I thought I would die, especially when salt was poured in the wounds…it was by a miracle of God I didn’t die. He had destined me for better things."

This awesome saint teaches us about rolling with the punches and accepting them as the will of God. About her captors she said

"If I were to meet the slave-traders who kidnapped me and even those who tortured me, I would kneel and kiss their hands, for if that did not happen, I would not be a Christian and Religious today…"

St. Josephine is among the incorruptibles - a group of over 250 saints whose remains have not decayed. If you want to read more on them, they can be found in this book by Joan Cruz: Incorruptibles.





More on St. Josephine Bakhita:

• The Vatican on St. Bakhita
• Catholic Forum Profile
• DVD: Two Suitcases (video biography)
• St. Bakhita (book)

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St. John of the Cross - Carmelite, Confessor, and Doctor of Mystical Theology

Today is the feast day of St. John of the Cross, Carmelite priest, confessor and doctor of the Church.

Happy feast day to my Carmelite brothers and sisters in all branches!

Regardless of where we are in the spiritual life, revisiting what the great mystics say about beginners can serve as a very good examination of conscience. In the early chapters of the first book of the Dark Night of the Soul, the doctor of mystical theology goes through the difficulties experienced by beginners.  Here is Chapter 6 from the first book which discusses "The Imperfections of Spiritual Gluttony".

1. A great deal can be said on spiritual gluttony, the fourth vice. There are hardly any persons among these beginners, no matter how excellent their conduct, who do not fall into some of the many imperfections of this vice. These imperfections arise because of the delight beginners find in their spiritual exercises.


Many, lured by the delight and satisfaction procured in their religious practices, strive more for spiritual savor than for spiritual purity and discretion; yet it is this purity and discretion that God looks for and finds acceptable throughout a soul's entire spiritual journey. Besides the imperfection of seeking after these delights, the sweetness these persons experience makes them go to extremes and pass beyond the mean in which virtue resides and is acquired.


Some, attracted by the delight they feel in their spiritual exercises, kill themselves with penances, and others weaken themselves by fasts and, without the counsel or command of another, overtax their weakness; indeed, they try to hide these penances from the one to whom they owe obedience in such matters. Some even dare perform these penances contrary to obedience.


2. Such individuals are unreasonable and most imperfect. They subordinate submissiveness and obedience (which is a penance of reason and discretion, and consequently a sacrifice more pleasing and acceptable to God) to corporeal penance. But corporeal penance without obedience is no more than a penance of beasts. And like beasts, they are motivated in these penances by an appetite for the pleasure they find in them. Since all extremes are vicious and since by such behavior these persons are doing their own will, they grow in vice rather than in virtue. For through this conduct they at least become spiritually gluttonous and proud, since they do not tread the path of obedience.


The devil, increasing the delights and appetites of these beginners and thereby stirring up this gluttony in them, so impels many of them that when they are unable to avoid obedience they either add to, change, or modify what was commanded. Any obedience in this matter is distasteful to them. Some reach such a point that the mere obligation of obedience to perform their spiritual exercises makes them lose all desire and devotion. Their only yearning and satisfaction is to do what they feel inclined to do, whereas it would be better in all likelihood for them not to do this at all.


3. Some are very insistent that their spiritual director allow them to do what they themselves want to do, and finally almost force the permission from him. And if they do not get what they want, they become sad and go about like testy children. They are under the impression that they do not serve God when they are not allowed to do what they want. Since they take gratification and their own will as their support and their god, they become sad, weak, and discouraged when their director takes these from them and desires that they do God's will. They think that gratifying and satisfying themselves is serving and satisfying God.


4. Others, too, because of this sweetness, have so little knowledge of their own lowliness and misery and such lack of the loving fear and respect they owe to God's grandeur that they do not hesitate to insist boldly that their confessors allow them the frequent reception of Communion. And worse than this, they often dare to receive Communion without the permission and advice of the minister and dispenser of Christ. They are guided here solely by their own opinion, and they endeavor to hide the truth from him. As a result, with their hearts set on frequent Communion, they make their confessions carelessly, more eager just to receive Communion than to receive it with a pure and perfect heart. It would be sounder and holier of them to have the contrary inclination and to ask their confessor not to let them receive Communion so frequently. Humble resignation, though, is better than either of these two attitudes. But the boldnesses referred to first will bring great evil and chastisement on one.


5. In receiving Communion they spend all their time trying to get some feeling and satisfaction rather than humbly praising and reverencing God dwelling within them. And they go about this in such a way that, if they do not procure any sensible feeling and satisfaction, they think they have accomplished nothing. As a result they judge very poorly of God and fail to understand that the sensory benefits are the least among those that this most blessed Sacrament bestows, for the invisible grace it gives is a greater blessing. God often withdraws sensory delight and pleasure so that souls might set the eyes of faith on this invisible grace. Not only in receiving Communion, but in other spiritual exercises as well, beginners desire to feel God and taste him as if he were comprehensible and accessible. This desire is a serious imperfection and, because it involves impurity of faith, is opposed to God's way.


6. They have the same defect in their prayer, for they think the whole matter of prayer consists in looking for sensory satisfaction and devotion. They strive to procure this by their own efforts, and tire and weary their heads and their faculties. When they do not get this sensible comfort, they become very disconsolate and think they have done nothing. Because of their aim they lose true devotion and spirit, which lie in distrust of self and in humble and patient perseverance so as to please God. Once they do not find delight in prayer, or in any other spiritual exercise, they feel extreme reluctance and repugnance in returning to it and sometimes even give it up. For after all, as was mentioned,1 they are like children who are prompted to act not by reason but by pleasure.


All their time is spent looking for satisfaction and spiritual consolation; they can never read enough spiritual books, and one minute they are meditating on one subject and the next on another, always hunting for some gratification in the things of God. God very rightly and discreetly and lovingly denies this satisfaction to these beginners. If he did not, they would fall into innumerable evils because of their spiritual gluttony and craving for sweetness. This is why it is important for these beginners to enter the dark night and be purged of this childishness.2


7. Those who are inclined toward these delights have also another serious imperfection, which is that they are weak and remiss in treading the rough way of the cross. A soul given up to pleasure naturally feels aversion toward the bitterness of self-denial.


8. These people incur many other imperfections because of this spiritual gluttony, of which the Lord in time will cure them through temptations, aridities, and other trials, which are all a part of the dark night. So as not to be too lengthy, I do not want to discuss these imperfections any more, but only point out that spiritual sobriety and temperance beget another very different quality, one of mortification, fear, and submissiveness in all things. Individuals thereby become aware that the perfection and value of their works do not depend on quantity or the satisfaction found in them but on knowing how to practice self-denial in them. These beginners ought to do their part in striving after this self-denial until God in fact brings them into the dark night and purifies them. In order to get to our discussion of this dark night, I am passing over these imperfections hurriedly.

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St. Francis of Assisi and a lesson about prayer

Painting: St. Francis of Assis consoled by Angels | Badalocchio, Sisto (1581/85 - c. 1647)

On this, the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi let us suspend for a moment thoughts about his interesting relationship with animals and learn from him, something about prayer and devotion.

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Many in our secular society cannot imagine why a man or a woman would enter consecrated life.  It's even more unthinkable that they would enter a cloister or monastery with little or no chance of leaving their dwelling once they walk through the doors. 

Many Catholics today cannot understand this concept of being locked away in prayer.  They wonder what purpose it serves.  They think that such people could be contributing something greater to society by helping the poor, for example.  Through a worldly lens, a cloister makes no sense; however, through the lens of faith in God, it makes perfect sense.  Any bishop worth his salt, would want such a prayer powerhouse in his diocese, and the people would do well to provide them with support.

But prayer - even contemplative prayer, is not something meant only for a cloister or monastery.  People complained about how much time Mother Teresa spent in prayer, yet she probably did more to meet the corporal and spiritual needs of the poorest of the poor in a month than many do in a lifetime. She said,

"Jesus made Himself the bread of life to give us life. That's where we begin the day, with Mass. And we end the day with Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. I don't think that I could do this work for even one week if I didn't have four hours of prayer every day."

People often think of the prayer as the time when we ask God for something.  We call this the prayer of petition.  However, few consider the prayer of adoration, where we love God with our being, adoring him, strictly for His sake. A small child will often express love for a parent spontaneously with a hug, or for an extended period of time, just content to snuggle.  For those of you who are parents, you know how delightful this is, especially when the child looks for nothing, but wants only to express love for you.  This is pure because it seeks nothing.

Reparation is a word which is rarely heard today.  It needs to be taught.  Learning what the Church teaches about reparation motivates us to make prayers and acts of reparation.  Before I share a story about St. Francis and prayer, I want to offer this explanation from the Catholic Encyclopedia:

We are restored to grace through the merits of Christ's Death, and that grace enables us to add our prayers, labours, and trials to those of Our Lord "and fill up those things that are wanting of the sufferings of Christ" (Colossians 1:24). We can thus make some sort of reparation to the justice of God for our own offences against Him, and by virtue of the Communion of the Saints, the oneness and solidarity of the mystical Body of Christ, we can also make satisfaction and reparation for the sins of others.

St. Francis loved to suffer because he understood the redemptive qualities it could have when prayers and sacrifices were humbly offered with this intention. 

This story I am sharing comes from the Omnibus of the Sources for the Life of St. Francis, which is a collection of the most famous works by, and on, St. Francis, now bound in two volumes.  It comes specifically from the Legend of Perugia, No. 71.  While he is speaking about the religious brothers here, some of what he says applies to anyone, lay or religious.   Read carefully, emphasis mine in bold:

Eloquence and Prayer


(71) He also said: "There are many brothers who day and night put all their energy and all their attention into the pursuit of knowledge, thereby abandoning prayer and their holy vocation.  And when they have preached to a few men or to the people, and learn that certain ones were edified or converted to penance through their discourse, they are puffed up and pride themselves on the results and work of others.  For, those whom they think they edified or converted to penance by their discourse were actually edified or converted by God through the prayers of the holy brothers who are completely ignorant of it; God wishes it this way for fear it should be grounds for pride for them.  Behold my Knights of the Round Table: the brothers who hide in abandoned and secluded places to devote themselves with more fervor to prayer and meditation, to weep over their sins and those of others. Their holiness is known to God, but most often unknown to the brothers and to men.  When their souls will be presented to the Lord by the angels, the Lord will reveal the effect and reward of their labors, that is to say, the host of souls saved by their prayrs.  And he will say to them: 'My sons, see the souls saved by  your prayers; since you were faithful in small things, I will trust you with greater.'"

I think there is much to reflect on here, especially with how we approach our chosen apostolates.  While some can put too much into pursuing knowledge, to the near exclusion of prayer and silence before the Lord, we can also do the same with our "activism".  No matter how noble the cause, the saints have shown us our human efforts are no match for what it takes to really save souls. It all must be coupled with prayer. 

St. Francis of Assisi also had a great devotion to the holy angels. From the same "omnibus" (Celano, Second Life):

(197) Francis venerated with a very great affection the angels who are with us in our struggle and who walk in the midst of the shadow of death with us.  Such companions who were everywhere with us, he used to say, are to be venerated, such are to be invoked as our guardians.  He used to teach that their presence must not be offended, and that we must not presume to do before them what we would not do before men.

I leave you with Andrea Bocelli singing for the Holy Father... Fratello Sole, Sorella Luna

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Saint Bernadine of Siena on St. Joseph (Feast Day)

St. Joseph Statue at Assumption Grotto in Detroit

From Today's Office of Readings on this Feast of St. Joseph, Husband of Mary are the words of St. Bernadine of Siena, priest:

There is a general rule concerning all special graces granted to any human being. Whenever the divine favor chooses someone to receive a special grace, or to accept a lofty vocation, God adorns the person chosen with all the gifts of the Spirit needed to fulfill the task at hand.

This general rule is especially verified in the case of Saint Joseph, the foster-father of our Lord and the husband of the Queen of our world, enthroned above the angels. He was chosen by the eternal Father as the trustworthy guardian and protector of his greatest treasures, namely, his divine Son and Mary, Joseph’s wife. He carried out this vocation with complete fidelity until at last God called him, saying: Good and faithful servant enter into the joy of your Lord.

What then is Joseph’s position in the whole Church of Christ? Is he not a man chosen and set apart? Through him and, yes, under him, Christ was fittingly and honorably introduced into the world. Holy Church in its entirety is indebted to the Virgin Mother because through her it was judged worthy to receive Christ. But after her we undoubtedly owe special gratitude and reverence to Saint Joseph.

In him the Old Testament finds its fitting close. He brought the noble line of patriarchs and prophets to its promised fulfillment. What the divine goodness had offered as a promise to them, he held in his arms.

Obviously, Christ does not now deny to Joseph that intimacy, reverence and very high honor which he gave him on earth, as a son to his father. Rather we must say that in heaven Christ completes and perfects all that he gave at Nazareth.

Now we can see how the last summoning words of the Lord appropriately apply to Saint Joseph: Enter into the joy of your Lord. In fact, although the joy of eternal happiness enters into the soul of a man, the Lord preferred to say to Joseph: Enter into joy. His intention was that the words should have a hidden spiritual meaning for us. They convey not only that this holy man possesses an inward joy, but also that it surrounds him and engulfs him like an infinite abyss.

Remember us, Saint Joseph, and plead for us to your foster-child. Ask your most holy bride, the Virgin Mary, to look kindly upon us, since she is the mother of him who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns eternally. Amen.

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St. Agatha protected chastity unto red martyrdom; how far will you protect yours?

The Church gives us the saints that we may imitate their faith.  Many christians in early times died violent deaths, preceded by horrific tortures.  Christians in some parts of the world today continue to die as martyrs. 

Women defended their virginity and chasity unto such deaths.  St. Agatha, whose name is in the Roman Canon, is one such example.  She is often portrayed with her breasts on a plate because, as legend has it, she had them cut off on the order of a senator to whom she refused to give herself in exchange for freedom. Legend also has it that St. Peter appeared to her, and she was healed.  The tortures continued as she was put on a bed of hot coals where she begged Christ to end her misery, and he took her to Himself.

Stories like this, along with those of more modern day saints who defended themselves against impurity, like the young St. Maria Goretti, should make us pause and ponder: To what length am I willing to go to defend my own purity?

Unlike these courageous women, it is not a tortuous tyrant with whom we must contend, but our own passions and wilful ignorance. In our sex-saturated society today, we can be our own worst enemy by not taking the time to inform ourselves of God's laws.  How many Catholics today do not take the time to learn their faith so that they may lift the veil of ignorance on what is pleasing and displeasing to God?


We take a casual attitude toward's what we watch on television or see on the internet, and activities we engage in.  Many choose freely to disregard the 10 Commandments which forbid fornication and adultery (contrary to popular belief, Vatican II did not do away with the 10 Commandments).  Cohabitation is common among today's Christians,  including Catholics.  Priests who fail to teach these things from pulpit will someday stand before the Just Judge to account for this lapse. The apostles died a heroic death teaching and preaching the truths of the faith. 
Stand up to impurity, but guarding your own.  Do not yield to desires of the flesh, but to desires which please God unto death.  For most of us this death is that of a white martyrdom - a life led in heroic virtue in which we sacrfiice worldly desires for the love of God. 

St. Agatha, pray for us.

More:

• Prayers to St. Agatha

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St. Ambrose - the Honey-Tongued Doctor

Today is the Feast of St. Ambrose - the "honey-tongued doctor".  From NewAdvent.org, here is a section on his work: On the Duties of Clergy

Chapter 4.
The same care must be taken that our speech proceed not from evil passions, but from good motives; for here it is that the devil is especially on the watch to catch us.


14. If any one takes heed to this, he will be mild, gentle, modest. For in guarding his mouth, and restraining his tongue, and in not speaking before examining, pondering, and weighing his words— as to whether this should be said, that should be answered, or whether it be a suitable time for this remark— he certainly is practising modesty, gentleness, patience. So he will not burst out into speech through displeasure or anger, nor give sign of any passion in his words, nor proclaim that the flames of lust are burning in his language, or that the incentives of wrath are present in what he says. Let him act thus for fear that his words, which ought to grace his inner life, should at the last plainly show and prove that there is some vice in his morals.


15. For then especially does the enemy lay his plans, when he sees passions engendered in us; then he supplies tinder; then he lays snares. Wherefore the prophet says not without cause, as we heard read today: “Surely He has delivered me from the snare of the hunter and from the hard word.” Symmachus said this means “the word of provocation;” others “the word that brings disquiet.” The snare of the enemy is our speech— but that itself is also just as much an enemy to us. Too often we say something that our foe takes hold of, and whereby he wounds us as though by our own sword. How far better it is to perish by the sword of others than by our own!


16. Accordingly the enemy tests our arms and clashes together his weapons. If he sees that I am disturbed, he implants the points of his darts, so as to raise a crop of quarrels. If I utter an unseemly word, he sets his snare. Then he puts before me the opportunity for revenge as a bait, so that in desiring to be revenged, I may put myself in the snare, and draw the death-knot tight for myself. If any one feels this enemy is near, he ought to give greater heed to his mouth, lest he make room for the enemy; but not many see him.

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On EWTN tonight - St. John Bosco - the movie

[This is a repeat post from the past. I am reposting it here, with some addition info at the bottom because EWTN will air the first part of a movie on Saint John Bosco which is among my favorites... catch it if you can. I'm sure it is probably broken up into two parts].

Edit: Part 2 is airing tonite, so I would recommend watching it another time when you can see the first part. Do read my review below.

I can't remember when I last sat down to watch a movie. Normally, my day consists of work (job), prayer, managing my house, assisting my elderly mother, and endless "Grotto projects" including this blog. Ideally, I like to read before going to bed, but I needed a change in routine and borrowed a movie on the life of Don Bosco from the Grotto Giftshop (yes, they loan out movies - just ask).

This movie was outstanding. It was in Italian (with English subtitles, or dubbed English) and actor Flavio Insinna did an outstanding job. I had no idea the movie was over 3 hours long. I just remember getting up once at the intermission and diving right back into it.

It is an incredible story - the life of Don Bosco, who founded the Salesians. His profound charity is worth examining for our daily life. If you want to see how to deal with adversity, watch this movie because he had plenty of challenges in just trying to provide a home for homeless and deliquent boys. Some of those challenges were coming from the government while others from the local Church.

The movie also introduces us to important characters in the history of the oratory founded by Saint John Bosco and the Salesians, among whom is Saint Dominic Savio (pictured at right). Many other young men were inspired to pursue holiness in daily life and his oratory yielded many priests, religious, and secular order vocations. The heroic level to which the boys lived their lives through the inspiration and teachings of Don Bosco leaves us with much to contemplate and learn from. The importance of holy obedience is visible, but charity is at the forefront. I found myself thinking how interiorly, I was reacting like the boys in certain situations - wanting to confront the offenders, only to find myself humbled by the lessons this saint taught.

I highly recommend watching the movie tonight, and/or buying or renting this movie.
I have also read the Forty Dreams of Saint John Bosco. This is a fantasic read. I am currently reading the kindle version of the Life of Saint Dominic Savio by Don Bosco. These books, and the movie can be purchased by following the links in the carousel widget below.

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Teresa Benedict of the Cross (Edith Stein)

Today is the feast day of

Teresa Benedict of the Cross (1891-1942)

(Edith Stein)

nun, Discalced Carmelite, martyr

From the Vatican's website:
 

"We bow down before the testimony of the life and death of Edith Stein, an outstanding daughter of Israel and at the same time a daughter of the Carmelite Order, Sister Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, a personality who united within her rich life a dramatic synthesis of our century. It was the synthesis of a history full of deep wounds that are still hurting ... and also the synthesis of the full truth about man. All this came together in a single heart that remained restless and unfulfilled until it finally found rest in God." These were the words of Pope John Paul II when he beatified Edith Stein in Cologne on 1 May 1987.
Who was this woman?

continue reading about Edith Stein at vatican.va...



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The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

Note: The recommended links below are automatically generated by the tool, so they are not necessarily related content.

Feast of St. Teresa of Jesus (St. Teresa of Avila)

St Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) by François Gerard (1827)

From the Way of Perfection, Chapter 7.  This does not apply only to convents, but to any household, or even the workplace.

If one of you should be cross with another because of some hasty word, the matter must at once be put right and you must betake yourselves to earnest prayer. The same applies to the harbouring of any grudge, or to party strife, or to the desire to be greatest, or to any nice point concerning your honour. (My blood seems to run cold, as I write this, at the very idea that this can ever happen, but I know it is the chief trouble in convents.) If it should happen to you, consider yourselves lost. Just reflect and realize that you have driven your Spouse from His home: He will have to go and seek another abode, since you are driving Him from His own house. Cry aloud to His Majesty and try to put things right; and if frequent confessions and communions do not mend them, you may well fear that there is some Judas among you.

Please pray for all Carmelites today on this special feast day.

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The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

Relic of St. Damian at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral today and tomorrow

I regret not knowing about this sooner or I would have advertised it.  St. Damian was just canonized and already the Archbishop has managed to get a relic at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral tonight and tomorrow.  From the AOD website:

Tuesday, Oct. 13

7 p.m. Reception of Saint Damien's relic into the Cathedral

7:30 p.m. Vespers service in presence of the relic

7:50–9 p.m. Relic will be on display for silent veneration

9 p.m. Cathedral doors close

Wednesday, Oct. 14

The Cathedral doors will be open from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m. for silent veneration of the relic. Please note that veneration will be suspended during the following services.

7:15 a.m. Mass with His Excellency, Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron

1 p.m. Scripture service for priests and religious (open to the public), celebrated by Bishop Moses Anderson, SSE

3 p.m. Mass with the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, to be celebrated by Bishop Francis Reiss

7 p.m. Mass for the faithful of the Archdiocese, to be celebrated by Bishop Daniel Flores

The Cathedral is located at 9844 Woodward Avenue in Detroit, one mile north of West Grand Boulevard and one mile south of the Davison Freeway. For more information about Saint Damien, and the latest information on the relic visit, please visit the Archdiocese of Detroit Web site at www.aodonline.org/stdamien. If you would like to schedule a group visit to the Cathedral for the relic visit, please call (313) 883-2080.

To read much more, go to the Archdiocese of Detroit webpage for St. Damian

Te Deum Laudamus! Home

The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

A Painting of St. Bernadette by a Grotto Parishioner and Recent Posts on Te Deum Laudamus!

A painting of St. Bernadette by Assumption Grotto parishioner and artist, Jerome Rochon. I was asked to photograph the painting by Fr. Perrone who has made holy cards of the painting which will be available soon in the Grotto Gift Shop. It was intended to be done prior to Feb 11th, but better late than never.

Recent Posts on Te Deum Laudamus!

• Please participate: Weekly Holy Hour for US Catholic Bishops (Read and Reflect!)


• Video: Newsclip about Bishop Martino and the St. Patrick's Day Parade


• Pope Benedict on the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter


• Guest Comment on the Legionaries of Christ


• Update on Fr. Peter Kennedy and St. Mary's


• Catholic Prof Doug Kmiec... Catholic Judges and Abortion: Did the Pope Set New Rules?


• Pelosi, in her own words, reveals ignorance about Eucharist


• Bomb threat made against Archbishop Bathersby


• World Over Live on EWTN - Excellent Interview with Bishop Baker of Birmingham, Alabama


• Pelosi and the Pope; Cavuto and Archbishop Chaput on topic (Video)


• Pray for priest assigned to St. Mary's in Brisbane


• An Update on Pelosi Meeting with the Pope


• Bishop Martino threatens to close Scranton's Cathedral on St. Patrick's Day...


• Hack job in The Tablet attempts to intimidate priests


• NY Times: After Schooling by Pope, Pelosi Still Favors Abortion

And now, a video clip of an excellent dialogue between Laura Ingram and Bill O'Reilly on the meeting between Pelosi and the Pope.




Select posts in the Catholic blogosphere:

• Video: St. Michael's Abbey is sliding down a hill (AmP)


• Time Magazine Mocks Church's FOCA Stand (Creative Minority Report)


• James MacMillan: Tablet attack on Fr Tim Finigan is a 'disgrace' (Damian Thompson - UK)


• Enough is Enough! (Fr. Ray Blake cancels The Tablet in his parish)


• EWTN is in and with the REAL Church (Fr. John Trigilio)


• NYT: priest revives confession in his parish, liberal loser runs it down (Fr. Z)

Te Deum Laudamus! Home

The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

St. Francis de Sales on the Sacrament of Penance

Today is the memorial of St. Francis De Sales. His writings are profound and his book, the Introduction to the Devout Life (abridged) is probably the most well known. St. John Bosco founded the Salesians based on the spirituality of St. Francis De Sales.

I began reading one small chapter daily some time ago. I knew when I ran across his chapter, "The Sacrament of Penance", I would have to do a post on it as it is such a neglected sacrament these days.

Please do read this and if you can't now, come back to it, bookmark it and read his words several times yearly. It is one of the best pieces of spiritual advice on how to make a good confession that I've run across. And, anyone who thinks confession is only for confessing grave sins is sadly mistaken. These days, it is sometimes the priest who discourages confessing of venial sins and imperfections. Lets pray that priests will get back to basics on this as it is so fundamental to the spiritual life.

Below this chapter on the Sacrament of Penance will also be some links, and more information. In my sidebar I have a couple of Salesian priests under my section for blogging priests, religious and deacons. Let's see what they have posted today, along with some others!

If you struggle with this form of English, bear with it as you will find it worthy of the struggle. If someone has the more current text, please feel free to link to it in my combox. I am taking this from the online CCEL

CHAPTER XIX. On Confession.

OUR Saviour has bequeathed the Sacrament of Penitence and Confession to His Church, [49] in order that therein we may be cleansed from all our sins, however and whenever we may have been soiled thereby. Therefore, my child, never allow your heart to abide heavy with sin, seeing that there is so sure and safe a remedy at hand. If the lioness has been in the neighbourhood of other beasts she hastens to wash away their scent, lest it should be displeasing to her lord; and so the soul which has ever so little consented to sin, ought to abhor itself and make haste to seek purification, out of respect to His Divine Gaze Who beholds it always. Why should we die a spiritual death when there is a sovereignremedy available?

Make your confession humbly and devoutly every week, and always, if you can, before communicating, even although your conscience is not burdened with mortal sin; for in confession you do not only receive absolution for your venial sins, but you also receive great strength to help you in avoiding them henceforth, clearer light to discover your failings, and abundant grace to make up whatever loss you have incurred through those faults. You exercise the graces of humility, obedience, simplicity and love, and by this one act of confession you practise more virtue than in any other.

Be sure always to entertain a hearty sorrow for the sins you confess, however small they are; as also a stedfast resolution to correct them in future. Some people go on confessing venial sins out of mere habit, and conventionally, without making any effort to correct them, thereby losing a great deal of spiritual good. Supposing that you confess having said something untrue, although without evil consequences, or some careless words, or excessive amusement;--repent, and make a firm resolution of amendment: it is a mere abuse to confess any sin whatever, be it mortal or venial, without intending to put it altogether away, that being the express object of confession.

Beware of unmeaning self-accusations, made out of a mere routine, such as, "I have not loved God as much as I ought; I have not prayed with as much devotion as I ought; I have not loved my neighbour as I ought; I have not received the Sacraments with sufficient reverence;" and the like. Such things as these are altogether useless in setting the state of your conscience before your Confessor, inasmuch as all the Saints in Paradise and all men living would say the same. But examine closely what special reason you have for accusing yourself thus, and when you have discovered it, accuse yourself simply and plainly of your fault. For instance, when confessing that you have not loved your neighbour as you ought, it may be that what you mean is, that having seen some one in great want whom you could have succoured, you have failed to do so. Well then, accuse yourself of that special omission: say, "Having come across a person in need, I did not help him as I might have done," either through negligence, or hardness, or indifference, according as the case may be. So again, do not accuse yourself of not having prayed to God with sufficient devotion; but if you have given way to voluntary distractions, or if you have neglected the proper circumstances of devout prayer--whether place, time, or attitude--say so plainly, just as it is, and do not deal in generalities, which, so to say, blow neither hot nor cold.

Again, do not be satisfied with mentioning the bare fact of your venial sins, but accuse yourself of the motive cause which led to them. For instance, do not be content with saying that you told an untruth which injured no one; but say whether it was out of vanity, in order to win praise or avoid blame, out of heedlessness, or from obstinacy. If you have exceeded in society, say whether it was from the love of talking, or gambling for the sake of money, and so on. Say whether you continued long to commit the fault in question, as the importance of a fault depends greatly upon its continuance: e.g., there is a wide difference between a passing act of vanity which is over in a quarter of an hour, and one which fills the heart for one or more days. So you must mention the fact, the motive and the duration of your faults. It is true that we are not bound to be so precise in confessing venial sins, or even, technically speaking, to confess them at all; but all who aim at purifying their souls in order to attain a really devout life, will be careful to show all their spiritual maladies, however slight, to their spiritual physician, in order to be healed.

Do not spare yourself in telling whatever is necessary to explain the nature of your fault, as, for instance, the reason why you lost your temper, or why you encouraged another in wrong-doing. Thus, some one whom I dislike says a chance word in joke, I take it ill, and put myself in a passion. If one I like had said a stronger thing I should not have taken it amiss; so in confession, I ought to say that I lost my temper with a person, not because of the words spoken so much as because I disliked the speaker; and if in order to explain yourself clearly it is necessary to particularize the words, it is well to do so; because accusing one's self thus simply one discovers not merely one's actual sins, but one's bad habits, inclinations and ways, and the other roots of sin, by which means one's spiritual Father acquires a fuller knowledge of the heart he is dealing with, and knows better what remedies to apply. But you must always avoid exposing any one who has borne any part in your sin as far as possible. Keep watch over a variety of sins, which are apt to spring up and flourish, often insensibly, in the conscience, so that you may confess them and put them away; and with this view read Chapters VI., XXVII., XXVIII., XXIX., XXXV. and XXXVI. of Part III., and Chapter VII. of Part IV.,attentively.

Do not lightly change your Confessor, but having chosen him, be regular in giving account of your conscience to him at the appointed seasons, telling him your faults simply and frankly, and from time to time--say every month or every two months, show him the general state of your inclinations, although there be nothing wrong in them; as, for instance, whether you are depressed and anxious, or cheerful, desirous of advancement, or money, and the like.

[49] S. Matt. xvi. 19, xviii. 18; S. John xx. 23.

---

More on St. Francis De Sales, and on Confession

This may be updated with more links as they become available...

Words from Salesians on this saint:

• 
  Saint of the day: Francis de Sales by Fr. Stephen Leake, SDB

Confession

• Scriptural Basis for Confession (EWTN)
• The Physician of the Soul (This Rock)
• Confessing to a Priest (This Rock)
• Early Church Fathers on Confession (This Rock)
• Examination of Conscience by Fr. John A. Hardon
• Examination of Conscience by Fr. Robert Altier
• Examination of Conscience (Children) by Fr. E. Filardi

Confession Times at Assumption Grotto

Assumption Grotto is probably the confession capital of metro Detroit. The priests give of themselves generously. Regular confession is from 2:30 - 3:30 on Saturdays, and it is often little waiting at this time. That is because Grotto is a commuter parish and many parishioners take advantage of the Sunday confession times before the 9:30am and Noon Masses.

If you are in need of confession during the week, the priest who has the 7:00pm weeknight Mass will often hear confessions around 10-20 minutes prior to Mass. This too is usually low-volume with easy access. Just be in Church by 6:30 or so and watch for a priest to come. They come sometimes as late as 6:50, so just be there.

My advice is that if you have a long confession, or if it has been a while, or there is a complex issue, go on Saturdays when the priests have more time to give you. Sundays have long lines and the priests need to get through many people. The weeknight confession is also compressed for time. You can also call the rectory for an appointment any time.

And, priests at Grotto - that is the diocesan priests and the priests of the Order of Canons Regular of the Holy Cross who funtion there, always preach about the need to use confession frequently, even if only for venial sins and imperfections.


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The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

St. John of the Cross (observed on December 15th by Carmlelites this year)

A beautiful icon of St. John of the Cross by Lynne Taggart, who has created icons of other Carmelite saints

The Feast of St. John of the Cross fell on a Sunday, so we were notified at our last Carmel meeting, that we would be observing it on Monday the 15th.

St. John of the Cross, along with St. Teresa of Avila, founded the Discalced Carmelites. From the online Catholic Encyclopedia detailing the life of St. John of the Cross:

....Already at that early age he treated his body with the utmost rigour; twice he was saved from certain death by the intervention of the Blessed Virgin. Anxious about his future life, he was told in prayer that he was to serve God in an order the ancient perfection of which he was to help bring back again. The Carmelites having founded a house at Medina, he there received the habit on 24 February, 1563, and took the name of John of St. Matthias. After profession he obtained leave from his superiors to follow to the letter the original Carmelite rule without the mitigations granted by various popes. He was sent to Salamanca for the higher studies, and was ordained priest in 1567; at his first Mass he received the assurance that he should preserve his baptismal innocence. But, shrinking from the responsibilities of the priesthood, he determined to join the Carthusians.

However, before taking any further step he made the acquaintance of St. Teresa, who had come to Medina to found a convent of nuns, and who persuaded him to remain in the Carmelite Order and to assist her in the establishment of a monastery of friars carrying out the primitive rule. He accompanied her to Valladolid in order to gain practi cal experience of the manner of life led by the reformed nuns. A small house having been offered, St. John resolved to try at once the new form of life, although St. Teresa did not think anyone, however great his spirituality, could bear the discomforts of that hovel. He was joined by two companions, an ex-prior and a lay brother, with whom he inaugurated the reform among friars, 28 Nov., 1568. St. Teresa has left a classical description of the sort of life led by these first Discalced Carmelites, in chaps. xiii and xiv of her "Book of Foundations". John of the Cross, as he now called himself, became the first master of novices, and laid the foundation of the spiritual edifice which soon was to assume majestic proportions. He filled various posts in different places until St. Teresa called him to Avila as director and confessor to the convent of the Incarnation, of which she had been appointed prioress. He remained there, with a few interruptions, for over five years.....

In some circles, St. John of the Cross is considered with disdain. He was, and is even moreso today, very counter cultural (like many of the saints, and Mary, who have been stuffed into the closet because their words and examples would lead us to include Calvary, to pursue humility, virtue, sacrifice and other things also held in disdain today). In imitating Christ, we cannot simply focus on the Nativity and the Ressurection. Rather, our imitation of Christ must include the Cross. St. John of the Cross teaches us how to die to self, to recognize our worldly attachments so that we may purge ourselves with the grace of God, in pursuit of union with Him.

The world does not comprehend detachment, nor does it comprehend mortification or taming of the will.

In an era when Catholics willfully feed off of shows like Desperate Housewives, we need to step back and examine our every act. What else but our lower nature would attach itself to such things?

Rarely do we hear priests from the pulpit challenge us on what we watch and how we spend our time. Is it pleasing to God? Does it build virtue or fuel vice?

Taming the will or moritifcation went out of fashion decades ago, but does the concept apply today? Yes! More than ever. Our society is filled with examples of behavior whereby people follow their will the way a magnet sticks pulls to metal. When the will is in control, it means trouble. We want to eat as much as we want, to watch TV or be on computer, or play in numerous sports leagues or other activities, but we don't want to cut into these things. Do we spend even a fraction of that time with God, in silent prayer and reflection?

St. John of the Cross challenges us to examine our soul for attachments and gives us an understanding of why mortification is important. If we don't tame our will, our will tames us. If you have ever tried to lose weight, fought an addiction of some kind, or intemperate use of something, you know the power of the will when it is in control.

The best relationship we can have with Jesus Christ is one without boat anchors (attachments).

While St. John is writing the passage below in the context of religious life, there is much here applicable to ordinary people going about their day. It is from the Introduction to the Counsels to a Religious. Added emphasis in bold and [my comments in red]:

3. To practice the second counsel, which concerns mortification, and profit by it, you should engrave this truth on your heart. And it is that you have not come to the monastery for any other reason than to be worked and tried in virtue [are we not to be tried and worked in virtue in our everyday lives?]; you are like the stone that must be chiseled and fashioned before being set in the building. Thus you should understand that those who are in the monastery [or your home, workplace, parish, school, etc.] are craftsmen placed there by God to mortify you by working and chiseling at you. Some will chisel with words, telling you what you would rather not hear; others by deed, doing against you what you would rather not endure; others by their temperament, being in their person and in their actions a bother and annoyance to you; and others by their thoughts, neither esteeming nor feeling love for you. You ought to suffer these mortifications and annoyances with inner patience, being silent for love of God and understanding that you did not enter the religious life for any other reason than for others to work you in this way, and so you become worthy of heaven. If this was not your reason for entering the religious state, you should not have done so, but should have remained in the world to seek your comfort, honor, reputation, and ease.

St. John of the Cross gets at a key point in religious life - that you go there to surrender your all to God. However, out of pure love of Christ, we can work at these things in our everyday lives with those around us. In the same way that a religious offers it up, so should we.

While not all writings are applicable to lay people, many of them are indeed worth contemplating and mining for your state in life. Secular Carmelites, while fully Carmelite, are not bound by some of the same obligations as the priests and religious because when one is married, with children, has work responsibilities outside of the home, some things may not be practical. In a Carmel, one distances themselves from family. Those of us living in the world may ask ourselves, whether we are placing any one person above God. If we place God first, we give our very best to all of those around us, especially those who depend on us.

Here is one last excerpt, this time illustrating the beauty of his writing. It is from the first Chapter of the Dark Night of the Soul (paragraph 2), where St. John talks about the imperfections of beginners:

2. It must be known, then, that the soul, after it has been definitely converted to the service of God, is, as a rule, spiritually nurtured and caressed by God, even as is the tender child by its loving mother, who warms it with the heat of her bosom and nurtures it with sweet milk and soft and pleasant food, and carries it and caresses it in her arms; but, as the child grows bigger, the mother gradually ceases caressing it, and, hiding her tender love, puts bitter aloes upon her sweet breast, sets down the child from her arms and makes it walk upon its feet, so that it may lose the habits of a child and betake itself to more important and substantial occupations. The loving mother is like the grace of God, for, as soon as the soul is regenerated by its new warmth and fervour for the service of God, He treats it in the same way; He makes it to find spiritual milk, sweet and delectable, in all the things of God, without any labour of its own, and also great pleasure in spiritual exercises, for here God is giving to it the breast of His tender love, even as to a tender child.

The "Christ of St. John of the Cross" painted by Salvador Dali, first revealed in 1952.




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The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!