His Word Today: Saint Ambrose

Good morning everyone,

A few years ago, I had a chance to visit the city of Milan, and while I was there, I also got an opportunity to kneel and to pray at the tomb of Saint Ambrose.

Aurelius Ambrosius (c. 340 – 397), better known in English as Ambrose was Bishop of Milan.  He became one of the most influential ecclesiastical figures of the 4th century. He was the Roman governor of Liguria and Emilia, headquartered in Milan, before being made bishop of that city by popular acclamation in 374. Ambrose was a staunch opponent of Arianism (a non-trinitarian Christological doctrine which asserts the belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who was begotten by God the Father at a point in time, a creature distinct from the Father and is therefore subordinate to him.  This belief is contrary to the belief held by the Church: that Jesus Christ is the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father ... (Nicene Creed).

May this holy man of deep and abiding faith continue to intercede for us, that we too might continue to grow in our belief that Jesus, the eternal son of God has the power to grant every one of our desires, if they are for our good, even to restore our sight (Mt 9:27-31) so that we can see as he does.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Saint Nicholas

Saint Nicholas
by Jaroslav Čermák
(1831-1878)

Good morning everyone,

Saint Nicholas of Myra (traditionally 15 March 270 – 6 December 343), also known as Nicholas of Bari, was an early Christian bishop of the ancient Greek city of Myra in Asia Minor (modern-day Demre, Turkey) during the time of the Roman Empire. Because of the many miracles attributed to his intercession, he is also known as Nicholas the Wonderworker. Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of sailors, merchants, archers, repentant thieves, children, brewers, pawnbrokers, and students in various cities and countries around Europe. His legendary habit of secret gift-giving gave rise to the traditional model of Santa Claus ("Saint Nick").

Nicholas' reputation for gift giving was born out of his awareness of great poverty and need - and his wish to demonstrate his deep belief that God is always close to his beloved children, always caring for them and for their needs.  Having read the words of Jesus in the scriptures: everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock (Mt 7:24), his deep concern for the wellness of the souls entrusted to his care provides us - even today - with inspiration to do the same.

Let us ask Saint Nicholas to pray with us today, to open our hearts to the needs of God's people and to inspire us to do what we can to lovingly respond to their needs.

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Hope

James Tissot
Jesus heals the blind and the lame on the mountain

Good morning everyone,

During this first week of the Advent season, the scriptures remind us that as we prepare our hearts for the celebration of Christmas, the Lord is already offering us the gift of hope.  Hope is the virtue that is made present when our hearts are encouraged so that we come to believe that something wonderful is being prepared.

Saint Matthew's account of Jesus' encounter with many who were lame, blind, deformed, mute,
and many others (cf Mt 15:30) gives us an opportunity to understand how such encounters were sources of hope for those who otherwise may have lost all hope.  If all of these who had been previously cast aside by their current-day society could have the gift of hope re-ignited in their hearts, perhaps the same can be true for those of our time who find themselves in similar situations.

And lest some of us might think that we are not counted among those who are being offered such precious gifts, Saint Matthew continues with his version of the miraculous multiplication of loaves and fishes (cf Mt 15:32-37).  All of us hunger for hope at some level.  Therefore these words are addressed to each one of us, but they also challenge us to open our eyes and to see that we are no better off than others; thankfully, the Lord is aware of our needs and willingly provides for our needs.

Have a great day.

His Word Today:Saint John Damasene

Good morning everyone,

Today the Church celebrates the liturgical memorial of Saint John of Damascus, also known as Saint John Damasene.   Born and raised in Damascus (Syria) either in 675 A.D. or in 676 A.D., he died at the monastery known as Mar Saba, located near Jerusalem on 4 December 749.

He wrote extensive work expounding the Christian faith, and also composed hymns which are still used both liturgically in Eastern Christian practice throughout the world and in Western Lutheranism at Easter time.   John of Damascus is considered to be one of the Fathers of the Eastern Orthodox Church. He is best known for his strong defence of icons. The Catholic Church regards him as a Doctor of the Church. He is often referred to as the Doctor of the Assumption due to his writings on the Assumption of Mary.

Today, let us  unite our prayer with the praises offered by Saint John of Damascus. With him, let us make Jesus' prayer our own: I bless you Father, Lord of heaven and earth,  for though you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, you have revealed them two little ones (Lk 10:21).

Have a great day.

His Word Today: Saint Francis Xavier

Good morning everyone,

If you ever have a chance to travel to Goa - located on the western coast of India - take the time to visit the Cathedral of Saint Catherine.  There, you will find the tomb of one of the most well-known Jesuit saints.  Today, we remember and pray with this great Saint who was born in Javier, a municipality located in the autonomous community of Navarre (Northern Spain).

Francisco Javier was born on 7 April 1506.  In his early 20s, while studying at the Collège Sainte-Barbe, part of the University of Paris, he met Ignatius of Loyola who was a fellow student who was 10 years his senior.  In fact, it was Ignatius who eventually encouraged Francisco to consider becoming a priest.  In 1534, Francisco was one of seven students who met in a crypt beneath the church of Saint Denis, located on the hill of Montmartre where they took vows to go to the Holy Land to convert infidels.  Francois began his study of theology in 1534 and was ordained a priest on 24 June 1537.  A few years later - in 1539, after long discussions, Ignatius drew up a formula for a new religious order: the Society of Jesus (known as the Jesuits). Ignatius's plan for the order was approved by Pope Paul III in 1540.

On many occasions, the gospels recount the fact that Jesus travelled to various locations, including Capernaum, where he met a centurion who pled with him on behalf of one of his servants (cf Mt 8:5).  In response to this need for help, Jesus opened his heart.  Francisco too was willing to open his heart and to respond to the call of the Lord to travel far and wide in order to share the good news of the gospel.  In fact, Francisco led an extensive mission into Asia, mainly throughout the Portuguese Empire.  He was influential in evangelization efforts, most notably in India.  He was also the first Christian missionary to venture into Japan, Borneo, the Maluku Islands and other areas.  He struggled to learn the local languages and faced much opposition in these other lands, and was not as successful in preaching the gospel there.  Francisco was about to extend his missionary preaching to China when he died on Shangchuan Island.

He was beatified by Pope Paul V on 25 October 1619 and canonized by Pope Gregory XV on 12 March 1622.  Even today, through his intercession, we ask the Lord to be present to those who continue the work of evangelization.

Have a great day.

Be alert

Happy New Year!  This first Sunday of the Season of Advent marks the beginning of a new liturgical year.  Like the secular celebration of New Year’s Day, this moment allows us to look back over the year that has passed, to stand still for a moment, and then to turn our attention to the year ahead.  The scripture passages we have just heard also point to the past, the present and the future.

Human beings exist on a linear plane.  We can easily look backward in time: we could rather easily point out the date of our birth, the date (and sometimes the time) when other significant events took place.  We could map out our entire existence to the present day.  Our story of faith is no different: the words of the prophet Jeremiah resound across the centuries to remind us that God’s people have been longing for His arrival for many centuries.  When human efforts seemed to be insufficient, the words of the prophet rang out: The days are surely coming ... when I will fulfill the promise ... when a branch will spring up ... when Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety (Jer 33:14-16).

These words of hope helped our ancestors in faith to look forward with renewed promise.  In our day, we too need to trust that similar words of hope are being spoken for our sake.  To continue the metaphor of the map, if we took the time, we might even be able to continue the timeline to include some of our hopes and dreams for the future, all the way to the point where our earthly existence will one day come to an end.  Looking to the future is not as easy as looking back at the past.  There is always an element of the unknown and although we may be excited about the possibilities that the future may hold, there is always an element of uncertainty about that which has not yet come to pass.

As Jesus looked into the future, he knew that his disciples would be uneasy: There will be signs, he said, distress among nations.  People will faint from fear and foreboding (Lk 21:25-26) but unlike those who have no faith, we have been entrusted with the great gift of hope, for Jesus has gone before us to pave the way, so we can stand up and raise our heads (cf Lk 21:28).

The secular world is based on living for the present moment.  Everything is based on tangible proofs of success.  According to this way of thinking, those who have more things are better off, but this was not the life that Jesus preached.  The treasure that we have inherited from him is the gift of hope, which cannot be measured by any amount of physical possessions.  The true gift of hope is the secret to this first Sunday of Advent because it is the gift of hope that helps us to look into the future and not be afraid.  Continuing the image of the map, hope allows us to look beyond the point of physical death.  Hope allows us to look through the doorway that leads from this world into the realm of heaven.

With the assurance of heaven as our inheritance, we can make Saint Paul’s words our own: May the Lord make you increase and abound in love ... and may he strengthen your hearts in holiness so that you may be blameless before God (1 Thes 3:12-13).

His Word Today: Beware

Good morning everyone,

On more than one occasion during his Pontificate, Saint John Paul II cautioned young people not to settle for second best, but rather to dream of a better world and to be courageous enough to be the artisans who would bring about the world that they envisioned.  Such belief in the resilience of the human spirit spoke loudly, especially to the hearts of youth.

Papa Wojtyła's words were not only meant for youth; they were addressed to all people, just as Jesus spoke words which were meant for all people to hear.  His warning, offered to the disciples is equally applicable to us in our day: Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy (Lk 21:34).  In other words, be on guard not to be lulled into becoming too comfortable with the world around you, not to allow your hopes to be dashed, not to grow complacent in the belief that you cannot make a difference.

In fact, we disciples must always be vigilant (Lk 21:36), on the lookout for and attentive to the invitation that is whispered by Jesus for us to be present to His people, to walk with them and to show them the way to a brighter future that is made possible because we have come to know Him.

Have a great day.