Dec. 17 Blessed Anthony Grassi. breski1 | December 17, 2007 Blessed Anthony Grassi Anthony’s father died when his son was only 10 years old, but the young lad inherited his father’s devotion to Our …More
Dec. 17 Blessed Anthony Grassi.
breski1 | December 17, 2007 Blessed Anthony Grassi Anthony’s father died when his son was only 10 years old, but the young lad inherited his father’s devotion to Our Lady of Loreto. As a schoolboy he frequented the local church of the Oratorian Fathers, joining the religious order when he was 17.
breski1 | December 17, 2007 Blessed Anthony Grassi Anthony’s father died when his son was only 10 years old, but the young lad inherited his father’s devotion to Our Lady of Loreto. As a schoolboy he frequented the local church of the Oratorian Fathers, joining the religious order when he was 17.
DECEMBER 18, 2010
DAILY PRAYER WITH REGNUM CHRISTI
[2]
-------------------------
JUST JOSEPH
_Father Edward McIlmail, LC_
_Matthew 1:18-25_
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother
Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was
found with child through the holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since
he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to …More
DECEMBER 18, 2010
DAILY PRAYER WITH REGNUM CHRISTI
[2]
-------------------------
JUST JOSEPH
_Father Edward McIlmail, LC_
_Matthew 1:18-25_
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother
Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was
found with child through the holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since
he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided
to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the
angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son
of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the holy Spirit that this child has been conceived
in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because
he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to
fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Behold, the
virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him
Emmanuel," which means "God is with us." When Joseph awoke, he did
as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his
home. He had no relations with her until she bore a son, and he named
him Jesus.
INTRODUCTORY PRAYER:Lord, I come before you humbly. As one who has
frequently fallen into sin, I am aware of my weakness. Your great
love, though, assures me that your grace can keep me on the path to
holiness.
PETITION: Lord, let me better imitate St. Joseph in the way I deal
with the people around me.
1. NO GLOATING Joseph was taken aback to learn that Mary was
expecting a baby. Here was a woman he always knew to be beyond
reproach. Legally he could have denounced her publicly. Yet he
didn't. He was ready to let the whole matter drop quietly, as if to
give Mary the benefit of the doubt. What a great virtue this is: to
think the best of others! It reflects a heart of peace and calm. How
many friendships have ended ― indeed, how many wars have
started ― because people assumed the worst of someone else.
Have I ever judged the motives of someone else, only to learn later
that things were not as they first appeared? To whom should I be
giving the benefit of the doubt?
2. ANGELIC EXPLANATION Notice that the angel appears to Joseph only
_after_ he decides to do the charitable thing and send Mary away
quietly. So it often goes in the spiritual life: God reveals more of
his plan to us only if we respond to a crisis with charity. It is as
if Jesus says, "Treat others well and you will begin to understand me
better." In a crisis, is charity _my_ first response?
3. JESUS' PORTAL This Gospel passage could be called a second
Annunciation. At the first Annunciation, Mary said "yes" to the
angel. Now, Joseph's "yes" was needed in order to ensure that Jesus
would have the appearance of an earthly father (and a reputable
lineage). Jesus often wants to come back into the world, so to speak,
to touch lives: through a work of charity, a word of kindness ―
or even a new baby. He counts on our help though. What help could
Jesus be asking of me so as to carry out his plans? Could I be
thwarting his plans because of laziness, stubbornness, or
selfishness? Is he asking me to cooperate with someone? With a loved
one? A classmate? A co-worker?
DIALOGUE WITH CHRIST: You wonderfully invite me to help you in your
mission to save souls, Lord. You respect my freedom, and you want me
to respond out of love. Let me appreciate that truth fully, and let
me be generous with you.
RESOLUTION: I will agree to one request (big or small) today to help
someone.
meditation.regnumchristi.org
DAILY PRAYER WITH REGNUM CHRISTI
[2]
-------------------------
JUST JOSEPH
_Father Edward McIlmail, LC_
_Matthew 1:18-25_
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother
Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was
found with child through the holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since
he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided
to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the
angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son
of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the holy Spirit that this child has been conceived
in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because
he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to
fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Behold, the
virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him
Emmanuel," which means "God is with us." When Joseph awoke, he did
as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his
home. He had no relations with her until she bore a son, and he named
him Jesus.
INTRODUCTORY PRAYER:Lord, I come before you humbly. As one who has
frequently fallen into sin, I am aware of my weakness. Your great
love, though, assures me that your grace can keep me on the path to
holiness.
PETITION: Lord, let me better imitate St. Joseph in the way I deal
with the people around me.
1. NO GLOATING Joseph was taken aback to learn that Mary was
expecting a baby. Here was a woman he always knew to be beyond
reproach. Legally he could have denounced her publicly. Yet he
didn't. He was ready to let the whole matter drop quietly, as if to
give Mary the benefit of the doubt. What a great virtue this is: to
think the best of others! It reflects a heart of peace and calm. How
many friendships have ended ― indeed, how many wars have
started ― because people assumed the worst of someone else.
Have I ever judged the motives of someone else, only to learn later
that things were not as they first appeared? To whom should I be
giving the benefit of the doubt?
2. ANGELIC EXPLANATION Notice that the angel appears to Joseph only
_after_ he decides to do the charitable thing and send Mary away
quietly. So it often goes in the spiritual life: God reveals more of
his plan to us only if we respond to a crisis with charity. It is as
if Jesus says, "Treat others well and you will begin to understand me
better." In a crisis, is charity _my_ first response?
3. JESUS' PORTAL This Gospel passage could be called a second
Annunciation. At the first Annunciation, Mary said "yes" to the
angel. Now, Joseph's "yes" was needed in order to ensure that Jesus
would have the appearance of an earthly father (and a reputable
lineage). Jesus often wants to come back into the world, so to speak,
to touch lives: through a work of charity, a word of kindness ―
or even a new baby. He counts on our help though. What help could
Jesus be asking of me so as to carry out his plans? Could I be
thwarting his plans because of laziness, stubbornness, or
selfishness? Is he asking me to cooperate with someone? With a loved
one? A classmate? A co-worker?
DIALOGUE WITH CHRIST: You wonderfully invite me to help you in your
mission to save souls, Lord. You respect my freedom, and you want me
to respond out of love. Let me appreciate that truth fully, and let
me be generous with you.
RESOLUTION: I will agree to one request (big or small) today to help
someone.
meditation.regnumchristi.org
Anthony’s father died when his son was only 10 years old, but the young lad inherited his father’s devotion to Our Lady of Loreto. As a schoolboy he frequented the local church of the Oratorian Fathers, joining the religious order when he was 17. Already a fine student, he soon gained a reputation in his religious community as a "walking dictionary" who quickly grasped Scripture and theology. For …More
Anthony’s father died when his son was only 10 years old, but the young lad inherited his father’s devotion to Our Lady of Loreto. As a schoolboy he frequented the local church of the Oratorian Fathers, joining the religious order when he was 17. Already a fine student, he soon gained a reputation in his religious community as a "walking dictionary" who quickly grasped Scripture and theology. For some time he was tormented by scruples, but they reportedly left him at the very hour he celebrated his first Mass. From that day, serenity penetrated his very being.
In 1621, at age 29, Anthony was struck by lightning while praying in the church of the Holy House at Loreto. He was carried paralyzed from the church, expecting to die. When he recovered in a few days he realized that he had been cured of acute indigestion. His scorched clothes were donated to the Loreto church as an offering of thanks for his new gift of life.
More important, Anthony now felt that his life belonged entirely to God. Each year thereafter he made a pilgrimage to Loreto to express his thanks.
He also began hearing confessions, and came to be regarded as an outstanding confessor. Simple and direct, he listened carefully to penitents, said a few words and gave a penance and absolution, frequently drawing on his gift of reading consciences.
In 1635 he was elected superior of the Fermo Oratory. He was so well regarded that he was reelected every three years until his death. He was a quiet person and a gentle superior who did not know how to be severe. At the same time he kept the Oratorian constitutions literally, encouraging the community to do likewise.
He refused social or civic commitments and instead would go out day or night to visit the sick or dying or anyone else needing his services. As he grew older, he had a God-given awareness of the future, a gift which he frequently used to warn or to console.
But age brought its challenges as well. He suffered the humility of having to give up his physical faculties one by one. First was his preaching, necessitated after he lost his teeth. Then he could no longer hear confessions. Finally, after a fall, he was confined to his room. The archbishop himself came each day to give him holy Communion. One of Anthony’s final acts was to reconcile two fiercely quarreling brothers.
Comment:
Nothing provides a better reason for reassessing a life than a brush with death. Anthony’s life already seemed to be on track when he was struck by lightning; he was a brilliant priest blessed, at last, with serenity. But his experience softened him. He became a loving counselor and a wise mediator. The same might be said of us if we put our hearts to it. We needn’t wait to be struck by lightning.
www.americancatholic.org/features/saints/saint.aspx
In 1621, at age 29, Anthony was struck by lightning while praying in the church of the Holy House at Loreto. He was carried paralyzed from the church, expecting to die. When he recovered in a few days he realized that he had been cured of acute indigestion. His scorched clothes were donated to the Loreto church as an offering of thanks for his new gift of life.
More important, Anthony now felt that his life belonged entirely to God. Each year thereafter he made a pilgrimage to Loreto to express his thanks.
He also began hearing confessions, and came to be regarded as an outstanding confessor. Simple and direct, he listened carefully to penitents, said a few words and gave a penance and absolution, frequently drawing on his gift of reading consciences.
In 1635 he was elected superior of the Fermo Oratory. He was so well regarded that he was reelected every three years until his death. He was a quiet person and a gentle superior who did not know how to be severe. At the same time he kept the Oratorian constitutions literally, encouraging the community to do likewise.
He refused social or civic commitments and instead would go out day or night to visit the sick or dying or anyone else needing his services. As he grew older, he had a God-given awareness of the future, a gift which he frequently used to warn or to console.
But age brought its challenges as well. He suffered the humility of having to give up his physical faculties one by one. First was his preaching, necessitated after he lost his teeth. Then he could no longer hear confessions. Finally, after a fall, he was confined to his room. The archbishop himself came each day to give him holy Communion. One of Anthony’s final acts was to reconcile two fiercely quarreling brothers.
Comment:
Nothing provides a better reason for reassessing a life than a brush with death. Anthony’s life already seemed to be on track when he was struck by lightning; he was a brilliant priest blessed, at last, with serenity. But his experience softened him. He became a loving counselor and a wise mediator. The same might be said of us if we put our hearts to it. We needn’t wait to be struck by lightning.
www.americancatholic.org/features/saints/saint.aspx