Our Saint of the Day 😇 is remembered with honor in the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, and Germany!
Tara Hemelgarn Marketing Manager | Saint of the Day for April 22: Adalbert of Prague (956 – April 23, 997) Saint Adalbert of Prague’s Story Opposition to the Good News of Jesus did not discourage Adalbert, who is now remembered with great honor in the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, and Germany. Born to a noble family in Bohemia, he received part of his education from Saint Adalbert of Magdeburg. At the age of 27, he was chosen as bishop of Prague. Those who resisted his program of clerical reform forced him into exile eight years later. In time, the people of Prague requested his return as their bishop. Within a short time, however, he was exiled again after excommunicating those who violated the right of sanctuary by dragging a woman accused of adultery from a church and murdering her. After a short ministry in Hungary, he went to preach the Good News to people living near the Baltic Sea. He and two companions were martyred by pagan priests in that region. Adalbert’s body was immediately ransomed and buried in the Gniezno, Poland, cathedral. In the mid-11th century his relics were moved to Saint Vitus Cathedral in Prague. His liturgical feast is celebrated on April 23. Reflection Preaching the Good News can be dangerous work whether the audience is already baptized or not. Adalbert fearlessly preached Jesus’ gospel and received a martyr’s crown for his efforts. Similar zeal has created modern martyrs in many places, especially in Central and South America. Some of those martyrs grew up in areas once evangelized by Adalbert. | Save the Date for this Live Event, just in time for Mother's Day! Author and artist Holly Schapker, along with author and art historian Cecelia Dorger, will be discussing their newly released book: Universal Mother - A Journal for Finding Yourself in Mary, moderated by Maureen O'Brien. It's happening LIVE on our Facebook page on Wednesday, May 1st, at 12:30 PM Eastern Standard time. | Loving God Means Loving Creation We must foster a genuine and affectionate connection to our world before we can effect change within it. Before we can progress to the practical solutions in a way that will be sustainable and transformative, humanity needs an inner conversion—one that recognizes the innate value of the earth and our fundamental connection to all that exists within it and even outside of it. Unless we learn to weep for the suffering of a bee, we will not understand what it is to weep for the suffering of the earth. What St. Francis’ life can show us is that our actions on behalf of creation may be strengthened when we first experience a radical conversion of the heart—one that, like St. Francis, recognizes the innate value of the small things, the unloved things, and the forgotten things. In this way, his story can invite us to adopt an environmentalism that is motivated by our spiritual convictions and by the love that those convictions must naturally bring to the surface—an environmentalism of the heart. —from St. Anthony Messenger‘s “Loving Creation, Loving God“ by Carie Moore | Continue with your spiritual journey by joining us throughout the Month of May for Praying the Rosary! | Channel God's Goodness Reflect Sometimes we might feel a sort of separateness from God—as if God is far away, up in heaven, or just not here in our world in our daily life. But God is always right here with us no matter where we are or what we’re going through. God’s presence and connection to us is constant, and it’s a reminder that we can channel God’s love to one another in the here and now, as our faith calls us to do. Pray Lord, take my life and let me be your presence in our world. Let my hands be your hands to lift up and support. Let my voice be your voice to comfort and encourage. Let my eyes be your eyes radiating hope and love. Let my welcoming smile draw others to you. Let my whole being delight in everything you have made. And when you call me home, let my passing show that your will brings peace and joy and life eternal. Act Make a commitment to smile at the next person you see. It might seem like a minor gesture, but you never know what someone might be going through where a simple smile can make a world of difference. Today's Pause+Pray was written by Murray Bodo, OFM. Learn more here! | This newsletter is not free to produce! Please consider making a donation to help us in our efforts to share God's love in the spirit of Saint Francis. | Save the Date for this Live Event, just in time for Mother's Day! Author and artist Holly Schapker, along with author and art historian Cecelia Dorger, will be discussing their newly released book: Universal Mother - A Journal for Finding Yourself in Mary, moderated by Maureen O'Brien. It's happening LIVE on our Facebook page on Wednesday, May 1st, at 12:30 PM Eastern Standard time. | |