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Friday, July 31, 2009
July 31
St. Ignatius of Loyola
(1491-1556)
The founder of the Jesuits was on his way to military fame and fortune when a cannon ball shattered his leg. Because there were no books of romance on hand during his convalescence, he whiled away the time reading a life of Christ and lives of the saints. His conscience was deeply touched, and a long, painful turning to Christ began. Having seen the Mother of God in a vision, he made a pilgrimage to her shrine at Montserrat (near Barcelona). He remained for almost a year at nearby Manresa, sometimes with the Dominicans, sometimes in a pauper’s hospice, often in a cave in the hills praying. After a period of great peace of mind, he went through a harrowing trial of scruples. There was no comfort in anything—prayer, fasting, sacraments, penance. At length, his peace of mind returned.
It was during this year of conversion that he began to write down material that later became his greatest work, the Spiritual Exercises.
He finally achieved his purpose of going to the Holy Land, but could not remain, as he planned, because of the hostility of the Turks. He spent the next 11 years in various European universities, studying with great difficulty, beginning almost as a child. Like many others, he fell victim twice to the suspicions of the time, and was twice jailed for brief periods.
In 1534, at the age of 43, he and six others (one of whom was St. Francis Xavier) vowed to live in poverty and chastity and to go to the Holy Land. If this became impossible, they vowed to offer themselves to the apostolic service of the pope. The latter became the only choice. Four years later Ignatius made the association permanent. The new Society of Jesus was approved by Paul III, and Ignatius was elected to serve as the first general.
When companions were sent on various missions by the pope, Ignatius remained in Rome, consolidating the new venture, but still finding time to found homes for orphans, catechumens and penitents. He founded the Roman College, intended to be the model of all other colleges of the Society.
Ignatius was a true mystic. He centered his spiritual life on the essential foundations of Christianity—the Trinity, Christ, the Eucharist. His spirituality is expressed in the Jesuit motto, ad majorem Dei gloriam—“for the greater glory of God.” In his concept, obedience was to be the prominent virtue, to assure the effectiveness and mobility of his men. All activity was to be guided by a true love of the Church and unconditional obedience to the Holy Father, for which reason all professed members took a fourth vow to go wherever the pope should send them for the salvation of souls.
St. Ignatius of Loyola
(1491-1556)
The founder of the Jesuits was on his way to military fame and fortune when a cannon ball shattered his leg. Because there were no books of romance on hand during his convalescence, he whiled away the time reading a life of Christ and lives of the saints. His conscience was deeply touched, and a long, painful turning to Christ began. Having seen the Mother of God in a vision, he made a pilgrimage to her shrine at Montserrat (near Barcelona). He remained for almost a year at nearby Manresa, sometimes with the Dominicans, sometimes in a pauper’s hospice, often in a cave in the hills praying. After a period of great peace of mind, he went through a harrowing trial of scruples. There was no comfort in anything—prayer, fasting, sacraments, penance. At length, his peace of mind returned.
It was during this year of conversion that he began to write down material that later became his greatest work, the Spiritual Exercises.
He finally achieved his purpose of going to the Holy Land, but could not remain, as he planned, because of the hostility of the Turks. He spent the next 11 years in various European universities, studying with great difficulty, beginning almost as a child. Like many others, he fell victim twice to the suspicions of the time, and was twice jailed for brief periods.
In 1534, at the age of 43, he and six others (one of whom was St. Francis Xavier) vowed to live in poverty and chastity and to go to the Holy Land. If this became impossible, they vowed to offer themselves to the apostolic service of the pope. The latter became the only choice. Four years later Ignatius made the association permanent. The new Society of Jesus was approved by Paul III, and Ignatius was elected to serve as the first general.
When companions were sent on various missions by the pope, Ignatius remained in Rome, consolidating the new venture, but still finding time to found homes for orphans, catechumens and penitents. He founded the Roman College, intended to be the model of all other colleges of the Society.
Ignatius was a true mystic. He centered his spiritual life on the essential foundations of Christianity—the Trinity, Christ, the Eucharist. His spirituality is expressed in the Jesuit motto, ad majorem Dei gloriam—“for the greater glory of God.” In his concept, obedience was to be the prominent virtue, to assure the effectiveness and mobility of his men. All activity was to be guided by a true love of the Church and unconditional obedience to the Holy Father, for which reason all professed members took a fourth vow to go wherever the pope should send them for the salvation of souls.
Rare ritual vessel from Jesus era found in Jerusalem
JERUSALEM — An earthenware vessel from the time of Jesus Christ bearing a rare and mysterious inscription has been found at a dig in Jerusalem, a British archaeologist announced on Friday.
"It is possible that this type of vessel was used by Jesus to wash his hands before eating," said Shimon Gibson, author of the recently published "The Final Days of Jesus -- The Archaeological Evidence."
Similar ritual artifacts have been found in the past at the archaeological dig just outside Jerusalem's Old City, but what makes this one rare is the writing engraved on it.
The letters, either ancient Hebrew or Aramaic, are legible though the meaning of the 10 lines of text is yet to be deciphered, according to Gibson who heads the University of North Carolina team conducting the dig.
"It is very rare to find this kind of inscription in Jerusalem," he said.
The artifact was found near a ritual bath currently being excavated, Gibson said.
JERUSALEM — An earthenware vessel from the time of Jesus Christ bearing a rare and mysterious inscription has been found at a dig in Jerusalem, a British archaeologist announced on Friday.
"It is possible that this type of vessel was used by Jesus to wash his hands before eating," said Shimon Gibson, author of the recently published "The Final Days of Jesus -- The Archaeological Evidence."
Similar ritual artifacts have been found in the past at the archaeological dig just outside Jerusalem's Old City, but what makes this one rare is the writing engraved on it.
The letters, either ancient Hebrew or Aramaic, are legible though the meaning of the 10 lines of text is yet to be deciphered, according to Gibson who heads the University of North Carolina team conducting the dig.
"It is very rare to find this kind of inscription in Jerusalem," he said.
The artifact was found near a ritual bath currently being excavated, Gibson said.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Sunday, July 26, 2009
A band of friars lived up on top of a secluded mountain. They had hardly any money, so one day a small group got together, cut some lovely flowers out of the gardens, made them into bundles and went to the local marketplace, where to their happy surprise, they made fifty dollars!
They started selling flowers once a week and soon were making so much money, they hiked into town every day. In no time, they accumulated over $1,000 from their labors. But then the head friar got word of their business and was furious. He lectured the friars about the evils of money and forbid them from selling more flowers. But the group of rebellious monks refused to stop their lucrative trade and continued to clip the buds they nurtured and sell them in town.
Finally, the head friar had to hire a guard named Hugh to watch over the naughty friars and make sure they stopped this practice and after two years, the head friar let him go, figuring the flower-selling problem was over. After he was released, however, the friars started cutting the flowers again (and there were a lot of them by now), going into town and selling them as they had before.
Then, the head friar's assistant told his master that the flower selling had begun anew, and suggested they should hire Hugh again.
"You're right,” the head friar nodded solemnly, “Only Hugh can prevent florist friars.”
They started selling flowers once a week and soon were making so much money, they hiked into town every day. In no time, they accumulated over $1,000 from their labors. But then the head friar got word of their business and was furious. He lectured the friars about the evils of money and forbid them from selling more flowers. But the group of rebellious monks refused to stop their lucrative trade and continued to clip the buds they nurtured and sell them in town.
Finally, the head friar had to hire a guard named Hugh to watch over the naughty friars and make sure they stopped this practice and after two years, the head friar let him go, figuring the flower-selling problem was over. After he was released, however, the friars started cutting the flowers again (and there were a lot of them by now), going into town and selling them as they had before.
Then, the head friar's assistant told his master that the flower selling had begun anew, and suggested they should hire Hugh again.
"You're right,” the head friar nodded solemnly, “Only Hugh can prevent florist friars.”
Friday, July 24, 2009
David Bereit, Moderator StopTheAbortionMandate.com Webcast...
"Little did we know -- just 96 hours ago -- when first announcing the "Stop the Abortion Mandate" webcast that 36,187 pro-lifers would participate! And, little did we know, that when 36,187 pro-lifers all tried to converge on the same web event at the same time the servers would get slammed and some people would have a difficult time getting on. I suppose if there has to be a problem, that's a good problem to have -- 36,187 pro-life people motivated to get together and do something to positively impact our nation and stop this abortion mandate! For those who were unable to attend the live webcast,the event was recorded and we'll be getting that out to you shortly, hopefully in the morning. Thanks for showing the world that the pro-life movement is alive and well -- and growing by leaps and bounds. Let's press on in our efforts to keep abortion out of health care For Life, David Bereit"!
Thursday, July 23, 2009
"Help block one of the greatest threats to human life since the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision imposed abortion on America..."
Join the URGENT nationwide webcast event on Thursday,
July 23, to prevent Washington D.C. bureaucrats and abortion industry lobbyists from forcing YOU to pay for abortions.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
Monday, July 6, 2009
Thursday, July 2, 2009
AND IT'S RAINING...Saint Swithun FEAST DAY...Also known as Swithin
2 July
15 July (translation of relics)
Profile
Raised in an abbey. Priest. Chaplain to Egbert, King of the West Saxons. Tutor to prince Ethelwolf. Bishop of Winchester. Miracles associated with his relics. His shrine was destroyed during the Reformation. Almost 60 ancient British churches were named for him.
His patronage of the weather arose when monks tried to translate his body from an outdoor grave to a golden shrine in the Cathedral in 871. Swithun apparently did not approve as it started raining for 40 days. The weather on the festival of his translation indicates, according to an old rhyme, the weather for the next forty days:
Saint Swithun's day, if thou dost rain,
For forty days it will remain;
Saint Swithun's day, if thou be fair,
For forty days 'twill rain nae mair.
2 July
15 July (translation of relics)
Profile
Raised in an abbey. Priest. Chaplain to Egbert, King of the West Saxons. Tutor to prince Ethelwolf. Bishop of Winchester. Miracles associated with his relics. His shrine was destroyed during the Reformation. Almost 60 ancient British churches were named for him.
His patronage of the weather arose when monks tried to translate his body from an outdoor grave to a golden shrine in the Cathedral in 871. Swithun apparently did not approve as it started raining for 40 days. The weather on the festival of his translation indicates, according to an old rhyme, the weather for the next forty days:
Saint Swithun's day, if thou dost rain,
For forty days it will remain;
Saint Swithun's day, if thou be fair,
For forty days 'twill rain nae mair.
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