"Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,
and all things will be given you besides."
(Matthew 6:33)
Calendar
4 St. John Vianney
8 St. Dominic
10 St. Lawrence
14 St. Maximilia Kolbe
15 Assumption of BVM
23 St. Rose of Lima
28 St. Augustine
Dear Friends ~
The saints highlighted this month are among the most renowned of church history.
St. John Vianney, aka Curé of Ars, was the priest of the confessional; his dedication to saving souls was so exemplary he was declared the Patron Saint of Priests.
St. Dominic realized the desperate need for right preachers, properly schooled in The Word and in 1216 founded the Order of Preachers or Dominicans who are now spread worldwide.
Facing eminent death, St. Lawrence gave away church wealth to the poor before being roasted on a gridiron, ironically making him the Patron Saint of Chefs; he did comment through his horrific torture “to be turned over, he was done on that side,” and such bravery displayed is credited for the conversion of Rome.
St. Maximilian Kolbe was sentenced to Auschwitz for hiding Jews during World War II; there he was brutally beaten and eventually faced martyrdom when he offered to take the place of another prisoner sentenced to death.
The Assumption of The Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven is such a joyous feast day for the church for many reasons, but most significantly for we mortals, as was the BVM, it demonstrates God’s love, care and promised heavenly reward to those who freely choose to do His Will.
St. Rose of Lima is the first saint of the Americas, and a excellent example of the capacity to combine the desire for a completive lifestyle with the necessity for actively providing support for her family; by crafting fine lace and embroidery as well as by selling the flowers she grew in her garden where she lived as a recluse, she was a true contemplative in the world.
Debauchery in all its vile forms was the preoccupation of young St. Augustine who fought conversion adamantly while his mother, St. Monica, prayed incessantly begging God for his salvation.
The child of so many tears could not be lost and his mother’s prayers were finally answered with the help of St. Ambrose, and conversion finally took root in St. Augustine. He made tremendous reparation for his prior lifestyle by becoming a model priest, bishop, founder of a religious order and a brilliant Theologian whose prodigious writings recognized him as a Doctor of the Church.
Such tremendous escapades the saints of old have left us relaying the possibility that when Almighty God is the source of your passion, all things can be endured, and accomplished with His generous graces.
Read the lives of the saints, particularly your own namesake or one whose circumstances you can relate to or would like to emulate, then proceed in your goals with their inspiration and intercession. Whatever the saints did, so can you… as long as you do it with Almighty God.
“Too late have I loved you Lord!”
St. Augustine
Learn from St. Augustine’s mistake and don’t wait too late to find God,
because life is so much better with Him!
Assumption of The Blessed Virgin Mary
August 15th
In The Bible we learn that the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and told her how she was favored by God, and that “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.” (Luke 1:35) Mary was the perfect vessel, as would be required to carry Divinity in her womb, and while entrusted with Mothering the Son of God, we only get an inkling from Biblical accountings as to those early days of Christ’s life. We do however get glimpses into the love and respect they had for each other.
Mary was constantly involved in the ministry of Jesus, and He even performed His first miracle at Her request when He really wasn’t ready to “go public,” but He did so out of love and respect for His Mother. What torture she suffered to see Him ridiculed and rejected, but throughout all of Christ’s life, she stayed true to her promise to God that she was “The handmaid of the Lord” and whatever He Willed she would partake of without question. Her purity, humility, obedience, and love made her the perfect example of Motherhood for the world to honor and respect, and Christ emphasized that when from the cross, the last thing He did was to give her to all of us through the Apostle John when He said: “Woman behold your son, and to the disciple, Behold, your mother.” (John 19:26-27)
We do have a Heavenly Mother to turn to in our hour of need who can intercede on our behalf, and from all her apparitions throughout history we know she takes that role in heaven very seriously for she has pleaded with us time after time to repent and have faith in Almighty God. Apostolic tradition has handed down the rightness of one so pure and obedient to the Will of God, be taken up body and soul to Heaven to be reunited with The Blessed Trinity; she continues in honor and glory rearing Christ’s brothers and sisters, and, whether male or female, by copying her virtue and her unwavering faith, you too can make it to heaven. When you need a Mother’s love, she’s a prayer away.
THE MEMORARE
REMEMBER, O MOST GRACIOUS VIRGIN MARY, THAT NEVER WAS IT KNOWN THAT ANYONE WHO FLED TO THY PROTECTION, IMPLORED THY HELP, OR SOUGHT THY INTERCESSION, WAS LEFT UNAIDED. INSPIRED WITH THIS CONFIDENCE, I FLY UNTO THEE, O VIRGIN OF VIRGINS, MY MOTHER. TO THEE I COME, BEFORE THEE I STAND, SINFUL AND SORROWFUL. O MOTHER OF THE WORD INCARNATE, DESPISE NOT MY PETITIONS, BUT IN THEY MERCY HEAR AND ANSWER ME. AMEN.
Words To Make Your Own
The Bible is full of the most heart-felt and profound utterances you will find anywhere in the world, and you should gather those statements into your being that speak to your soul, and make them your own. Whatever individuals said to God, could very well be the exact emotional outpouring you feel but can’t find the words to express… so, use their remarks as your own… God will not consider it plagiarism! And, in reverse, whatever God said to individuals, He may very well say to you, especially in similar circumstances… so cherish His ardent responses as your own to give you strength, direction and comfort.
For the soul still learning to trust God and especially when His efforts aren’t as quick as desired, keep repeating in your heart:
Dear God, "I do believe; help my unbelief." (Mark 9:24)
When you have exhausted every avenue of action and you can do nothing more, remember like St. Paul that is exactly when God is working because you can’t, and tell yourself over and over:
“When I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Cor. 12:10)
The spiritual rollercoaster ride our lives can take from time to time are always best during the spiritual highs when our surety of God cannot be shaken; but, let the lows of despair take over and we so easily forget that sure trust in God. Call to mind those good times God came to your rescue and hold those treasures in your thoughts knowing that in the future you will no doubt again have occasion to rejoice with Him… reprimand yourself with:
“Why are you cast down, my soul, why groan within me?
Hope in God; I will praise Him still,
My savior and my God.” (Psalm 43:5)
"It is a great 
poverty
to decide that a
child must die
so that you may live
as you wish."
Saint (Mother) Teresa of Calcutta