“Christ is Risen!!”
“He is Risen indeed!!!”
The traditional Easter Sunday greeting, shared among Eastern Rite Christians around the world.
May this be a blessed day for all!!
Happy Easter to All!!
Tag Archives: Feast
Feast of the Holy Innocents
“The innocents were slaughtered as infants for Christ; spotless, they follow the Lamb and sing forever: Glory to you, O Lord. Entrance Antiphon for the Mass of The Holy Innocents
On this December morning, we remember the. innocent baby boys who were slaughtered by the soldiers of King Herod of ancient Judea. He had been told that a young baby boy had been born in Bethlehem, who would be proclaimed “King of Jews.” Herod would not tolerate any challenger to his rule.
Today, in my morning prayers, I remember the children of Israel and Gaza. The new innocents who are being slaughtered, whether intentionally or not. Their surviving parents and siblings cry out in pain and loss.
I remember this quote from the BBC tv series “Doctor Who,” about the effects of war; “How many hearts will be broken? How many lives shattered? How much blood will spill until everybody does what they’ve always going to have to do from the very beginning…sit down and talk!”
I pray that the Holy Spirit will influence all leaders to “sit down and talk!” There has been too much blood, too much pain! In the name of the Prince of Peace; for the innocents who have died…TALK!!!
The Feast Day of Our Lady of the Angels (Portiuncula).
The Portiuncula (“Mary’s little portion) was a small chapel built on the outskirts of Assisi. Owned by a local Benedictine monastery, the chapel had deteriorated over the years. By the time of St. Francis of Assisi, it was a shell of it’s former self. Francis had gone through his time of conversion, and was going about the Assisi countryside, repairing these abandoned chapels, including the Portiuncula.
Many of us have a place of worship that means a lot for us. It is a place where we may feel the Presence of God more deeply. So it was with Francis, and his brothers. But, as important as the Portiuncula was to them, it did not prevent them from going out into the fields, towns, and villages. They went out proclaiming the Good News, by word and deed.
Eventually, this chapel would become very dear to Francis and his brothers. They prayed in it daily together; celebrated Mass together. I once saw an illustration of the chapel, with it surrounded by small huts, built by the friars.
We are all called to go out and meet with others. We are all called to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with all we come in contact with.
Feast Day of Saint Bonaventure, Franciscan
The man who would become to be known in Franciscan history as Bonaventure, was born in central Italy, in the town of Bagnoregio. There is some disagreement over the year of his birth, though many experts and scholars have agreed on the year 1217. The son of a physician and housewife, he was baptized with the name “John.” He grew into manhood, and desired to become a scholar. In 1234, at seventeen, he entered the University of Paris. Now a new religious order of men were making news in Europe, the Franciscans. Founded by Saint Francis of Assisi, the “Poor Man of Assisi,” his followers were making a name for themselves, for their poverty, their sanctity, and their evangelical zeal. Their preaching and lifestyle drew many young men to come and join them. Among them was John, who received the name Bonaventure when he was admitted into the Order.
Upon his entry into the Order, Bonaventure took up the study of theology. In either 1253 or 1254, he became a master of theology, and head of the Franciscan school in Paris, until he was elected as the Minister General of Franciscan Order in 1257. His time in that office was spent trying to keep the Order from splintering into different factions. He strove to maintain a moderate approach to poverty, while at the same time, taking full advantage of the learning, the scholarship of his times. Always, he strove to remain faithful to the teachings and example of Saint Francis.
In 1273, Pope Gregory X named Bonaventure a cardinal bishop, and drew on his assistance in preparing for the Second Council of Lyons. It was during this Council that Bonaventure became ill and died on July 15th, 1274.
Bonaventure would be canonized on April 14th, 1482; and on March 14th, 1588, he was declared a Doctor of the Universal Church. He was given the title: “Seraphic Doctor.”
“Here Begins the Prologue To The Life Of Blessed Francis
In these last days the grace of God our Savior has appeared in his servant Francis to all who truly humble and lovers of holy poverty.
In him they can venerate God’s superabundant mercy and be taught by his example to utterly reject ungodliness and worldly passions, to live in conformity with Christ and to thirst after blessed hope with unflagging desire.
He was poor and lowly, but the Most High God looked upon him with such condescension and kindness that he not only lifted him up in his need from the dust of a worldly life, but made him a practitioner, a leader and a herald of Gospel perfection and set him up as a light for believers so that by bearing witness to the light he might prepare for the Lord a way of light and peace into the hearts of his faithful.”
From the Prologue of the Life of Saint Francis (Legenda Maior) by Saint Bonaventure
Feast Day of All Saints
“God of our ancestors who set their hearts on you, of those who fell asleep in peace, and of those who won the martyrs’ violent crown: we are surrounded by these witnesses as by clouds of fragrant incense. In this age we would be counted in this communion of all the saints; keep us always in their good and blessed company. In their midst we make every prayer though Christ who is our Lord forever and ever. Amen.
From Catholic Household Blessings & Prayers.
Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael – Angels of the Lord
“Bless the Lord, all you his angels, mighty in power, fulfilling his word, and heeding his voice.” Psalm 103: 20
Feast of The Immaculate Conception the Blessed Virgin Mary
“Thank you, O glorious Virgin for it is through your merits that God is with us. O Mary! You are a throne in which sits the glory of the Father.”
Saint Anthony of Padua
Thanksgiving Day – 2017
I am on Cape Cod this Thanksgiving Day, with my wife, her mother and some of her siblings, nephews and nieces. After a wet drive from the South Shore the night before, this day has been sunny, clear, crisp and cool. In the morning we went to the local Catholic church, and attended a Thanksgiving Mass. My wife, Peg’s father passed away in October, so after Mass, we visited his grave.
As I write this, various members of the family have bringing their donations for this 
evening’s dinner. Food is being prepared, table cloths spread out, and the table has been set. With all this activity, I have begun to reflect on the meaning of Thanksgiving Day. Some trace it roots to the English Reformation, during the time when the Puritans had strong influence over the Church of England. Holy days were done away with; to be replaced by Days of Fasting during times of national tragedies, or stress, and Days of Thanksgiving for good harvests and national victories. The Pilgrims brought these practices with them to New England. Various colonies and then states would proclaim days of Thanksgiving. Abraham Lincoln would issue a presidential proclamation, establishing Thanksgiving as a holiday throughout all the states.
Thanksgiving Day was meant to be a time of both feasting, and prayer. But as with Christmas and Easter, Thanksgiving has fallen prey to commercial interests. Stores, car dealerships, you name it, sponsor special “Thanksgiving sales,” using the images of Pilgrims, Indians, pumpkins and turkeys to promote their wares. Groups of people have a different approach to the day. The Massachusetts town of Plymouth has a community parade celebrating the day; Native Americans hold a Day of Mourning.
May it be time to try to bring back the spiritual aspect of Thanksgiving? Whether you are a Christian or not; a believer or not; we all need to have time reflect on what good has happened in our lives this past year, if only to counter the negative experiences we may have had. As a believer, this day makes me aware that all Creation is gift; that our lives are gift; gifts from a loving God. Sometimes, circumstances may lead us to doubt that, but life is a gift, and God still cares for us, in wondrous and mysterious ways. And I am grateful for that.
As I walk around and see the woods and fields in autumn; when I look up into the evening sky, studded with stars, I am moved to thank God for the awesome beauty I am seeing. I close with a prayer from the writings of St. Francis of Assisi. Not exactly a Thanksgiving prayer, but I think it is appropriate for the day:
Most High, all powerful, good Lord,
Yours are the praises, the glory, the honor,
and all blessing.
To You alone, Most High, do they belong,
and no man is worthy to mention Your name.
Be praised, my Lord, through all your creatures,
especially through my lord Brother Sun,
who brings the day; and you give light through him.
And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor!
Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon
and the stars, in heaven you formed them
clear and precious and beautiful.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Wind,
and through the air, cloudy and serene,
and every kind of weather through which
You give sustenance to Your creatures.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Water,
which is very useful and humble and precious and chaste.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Fire,
through whom you light the night and he is beautiful
and playful and robust and strong.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Mother Earth,
who sustains us and governs us and who produces
varied fruits with colored flowers and herbs.
Praised be You, my Lord,
through those who give pardon for Your love,
and bear infirmity and tribulation.
Blessed are those who endure in peace
for by You, Most High, they shall be crowned.
Praised be You, my Lord,
through our Sister Bodily Death,
from whom no living man can escape.
Woe to those who die in mortal sin.
Blessed are those whom death will
find in Your most holy will,
for the second death shall do them no harm.
Praise and bless my Lord,
and give Him thanks
and serve Him with great humility.
(Canticle of the Sun)
Happy Thanksgiving!
Musings From St. Anthony's Walnut Tree 