Saint Angelus of Jerusalem

5 MAY 2013. Today the Church remembers a twelfth century martyr and convert from Judaism, Saint Angelus of Jerusalem.

Saint Angelus was born into a Jewish family in Jersusalem in A.D. 1185. He was one of two twins, the other twin was named John. In their youth, both brothers were baptized as Christians when their mother converted to Christianity.

However, Angelus and John endured the misfortune of their parents dying while they were young. Afterwards both brothers entered the Carmelite Order at the age of 18. At the time, both already spoke Greek, Latin, and Hebrew.

At about the age of 26 Angelus was ordained a priest in Jerusalem. Afterwards he traveled throughout Palestine. In his travels, a number of miraculous cures were attributed to Angelus. So many, in fact, that he became famous. Seeking to avoid his fame, Angelus withdrew to a hermitage on Mount Carmel, until he was instructed by Christ in a vision to leave Mount Carmel for Italy to preach against the Albigensians, Bulgars and other heresies.

After arriving in Sicily, again Angelus began attracting crowds for miraculous cures attributed to him.

It was in Sicily that Saint Angelus received his martyr's crown. He was attempting to convert a Cathar Knight named Berenger who was living in incest with his sister. Angelus converted Berenger's sister and convinced to her to leave her brother. But, this enraged Berenger who attacked Angelus with his sword, striking him five times, in front of the Church of SS Filippo e Giocomo in Licata. Angelus died from the wounds suffered in the attack four days afterwards and was buried in the Church of SS Filippo e Giocomo. The year was A.D. 1220. As he lay dying, Angelus prayed for the pardon of his killer.

After his death, his tomb became a sight of pilgrimage, and the Carmelite Order has venerated Angelus as a Saint since at least A.D. 1456. Pope Pius II later approved his cult.

Saint Angelus, pray for us!

Christ, our Light in this Darkness

15 APRIL 2013.

Shhh . . . .
The stillness in the aftermath still cries,
broken legs and feet and arms lay strewn about,
as the survivors hold each other dear.

Dear, dear child, once a fan of flighted men,
who whizzed by in colored bright array,
taken from this life, flying to God,
now joined to the angels in heaven, evermore.
Amen.

Our darkness draws us near in the town of bruins,
mighty bears that cannot tear down,
the stillness and sadness that brings us with tears to this town.

Where, O god, is your love in this moment?
Where does your countenance hide?

Ahh . . . . .
there you are in full display.
One helping the other to find their way.
Another comforts another in need.
Some just cry and pray.
Each the face of Christ our Lord,
made present in the terrible reality of this day.

We love you Lord and we know,
that the evil spirit that spawned this death,
cannot overcome the love and mercy
with which You hold us so very tight.
In the darkness, is Christ:
our One True Light.

Christ in the presence of all who give aide,
and Christ in the presence of all who pray.
Christ in the love that is poured out with blood,
for those who toil to love others today.

We love you Lord; You will bring us through,
this dark night and day yet to be born,
tears will still flow and questions to be addressed,
but your Love, O Lord, will see us till the end.

Praise God for His mercy on all who hurt,
He hears their prayer and needs and pains;
provides comfort and grace and the forgiveness of sin,
to all who need a loving friend.

Amen.

Blessed Margaret of Castello

13 APRIL 2013. Today the Order of Preachers celebrates Blessed Margaret of Castello, a Lay Dominican and virgin, who is the patroness of the unwanted and abandoned.

Blessed Margaret was born at Citta de Castello, Italy in 1287. Blind from birth and abandoned by her parents at an early age, she faithfully placed her trust in God and lived under the Rule of Penance of the Order of Saint Dominic. She had great compassion for the poor and especially cherished the mystery of the Incarnation. She died at theage of thirty-three on 13 April 1320.

Blessed Margaret, pray for us!

There is no sin which God cannot forgive.

Are we often weary, disheartened and sad? Do we feel weighed down by our sins? Do we think that we won’t be able to cope? Let us not close our hearts, let us not lose confidence, let us never give up: there are no situations which God cannot change, there is no sin which he cannot forgive if only we open ourselves to him."

Pope Francis, Homily of the Easter Vigil Mass, 30 March 2013.
 IMAGE: The Telegraph, 2013. 

Easter ANNO DOMINI MMXXIII

31 MARCH 2013. A happy and blessed Easter to all who find these pages. May the love that has shone through the depths of man's darkness and death, to reveal the light of salvation in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus the Christ, provide for all who come to Him the refreshment of forgiveness and mercy in this Easter season and always!

Trust in the Lord, His mercy endures forever.
Trust in the Lord, He is without equal.
Trust in the Lord, whose love is without end,
never changing, without limit or redress.
Rest in the Lord,
Take refuge in Him,
He is the true and only solace of the world!

Franciscus PP. - The Holy Father's choice of his name and Poverty in the Church

16 MARCH 2013. In the Holy Father's own words, why he chose the name Francis, following in the footsteps of Saint Francis of Assisi:

Some people didn't know why the Bishop of Rome wanted to call himself "Francis." Some though of Francis Xavier, Francis de Sales, even Francis of Assisi. I will tell you the story. At the election I had the archbishop emeritus of Sao Paulo next to me. He is also prefect emeritus of the Congregation for the Clergy, Cardinal Claudio Hummes [O.F.M.]: a dear, dear friend. When things were getting a little "dangerous," he comforted me. And then, when the votes reached the two-thirds, there was the usual applause because the Pope had been elected. He hugged me and said: "Do not forget the poor." And that word stuck here [tapping his forehead as shown above]; the poor, the poor. Then, immediately in relation to the poor I thought of Francis of Assisi. Then I thought of war, while the voting continued, until all the votes [were counted]. And so the name came to my heart:: Francis of Assisi. For me he is the man of poverty, the man of peace, the man who love and safeguards Creation. In this moment when our relationship with Creation is not so good—right?—He is the man who gives us this spirit of peace, the poor man … Oh, how I wish for a Church that is poor and for the poor!

Prayer of Thanksgiving for Pope Francis

Dear Lord, gracious God.
In Your love and benevolence, 
You have delivered a humble and trusted servant,
to serve Your bride on earth, as the servant of servants.
Thank you for the gift of Pope Francis 
for the people of God.
May the Holy Spirit always guide and protect him, and
may the Mother of Christ, our Lady, always watch over him
and give him the blessing of her prayers to Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Novena Prayer for the Conclave

1 MARCH 2013. From this date until the election of a new Pope, I would ask that all readers pray this novena prayer for the faithful election of the new Pope in a spirit of docility to the Divine Will of God:

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Father, send down your Spirit over the conclave. Let the Holy Spirit inspire the hearts of the Cardinals, that they may choose the man most pleasing to You, as Successor of Peter and Your Vicar on earth. May Mary, Your Mother and Mother of the Church, be our advocate.

Amen.

AUTHOR: Mr Mark Miraville, Professor of Theology and Mariology at the Franciscan University of Steubenville.
IMAGE: Photo of 2005 Conclave.

Blessed Alvarez of Cordoba

19 FEBRUARY 2013. Being the season of Lent, the regular observance of memorials is more limited, so we say that today the Order commemorates Blessed Alvarez of Cordoba.

Blessed Alavarez was born at Zamora, Spain in about A.D. 1350. He entered the Order of Preachers in 1368, where he preached throughout Spain and Italy. He established the Priory of Scala Caeli at Cordoba, where he promoted regular religious life. He is credited with spreading the practice of the Way of the Cross throughout Western Europe by his preaching and contemplation of the Lord's passion. He died at Cordoba on 19 February 1430.