Today's prayer is one of thanks for the creatures in God's sacred world. 🌏
Dear John, Every morning you receive this newsletter with three of our daily blessings, as we call them. But you may not know of our many other offerings. For instance, did you know that our website offers thousands of pages of information and inspiration? Or did you know about our more than 100-year old magazine St. Anthony Messenger? Or the books we publish? We here at Franciscan Media want to use every possible communication tool to help spread the Gospel in the spirit of St. Francis. But we can't do that on our own. We need your help. If you find these daily messages helpful, and would like to continue seeing more in the future, please consider making a gift to Franciscan Media. Donate today! May God give you peace! Susan Hines-Brigger Executive Editor |
Saint of the Day for January 17:
Anthony of Egypt (251 – 356) Listen to Saint Anthony of Egypt’s Story Here The life of Anthony will remind many people of Saint Francis of Assisi. At 20, Anthony was so moved by the Gospel message, “Go, sell what you have, and give to [the] poor” (Mark 10:21b), that he actually did just that with his large inheritance. He is different from Francis in that most of Anthony’s life was spent in solitude. He saw the world completely covered with snares, and gave the Church and the world the witness of solitary asceticism, great personal mortification and prayer. But no saint is antisocial, and Anthony drew many people to himself for spiritual healing and guidance. At 54, he responded to many requests and founded a sort of monastery of scattered cells. Again, like Francis, he had great fear of “stately buildings and well-laden tables.” At 60, he hoped to be a martyr in the renewed Roman persecution of 311, fearlessly exposing himself to danger while giving moral and material support to those in prison. At 88, he was fighting the Arian heresy, that massive trauma from which it took the Church centuries to recover. “The mule kicking over the altar” denied the divinity of Christ. Anthony is associated in art with a T-shaped cross, a pig and a book. The pig and the cross are symbols of his valiant warfare with the devil—the cross his constant means of power over evil spirits, the pig a symbol of the devil himself. The book recalls his preference for “the book of nature” over the printed word. Anthony died in solitude at age 105. Reflection In an age that smiles at the notion of devils and angels, a person known for having power over evil spirits must at least make us pause. And in a day when people speak of life as a “rat race,” one who devotes a whole life to solitude and prayer points to an essential of the Christian life in all ages. Anthony’s hermit life reminds us of the absoluteness of our break with sin and the totality of our commitment to Christ. Even in God’s good world, there is another world whose false values constantly tempt us. Saint Anthony of Egypt is the Patron Saint of: Butchers
Gravediggers
Skin Diseases
|
The Sacred Now We have become skilled at (and consumed by) emotional multitasking. It’s not just the tidy part that motivates us. We want the assurance that it brings. You know: Now that things are in order, I can enjoy life more. While we are focusing our energy on the perfect picture (or relationship or child or church or faith or life script), our minds are already into the future, and because of that, we cannot be Here. Now. Present. This sacred moment. Yes, sacred even in the uncertainty and the pain. And when we can see the gift of the child beyond the mess, we will respond from a place of generosity and hopefulness. —from the book Stand Still: Finding Balance When the World Turns Upside Down
by Terry Hershey |
Discover Franciscan solutions for modern ecological challenges in this updated classic by Keith Douglass Warner, OFM, Ilia Delio, OSF and Pamela Wood. Care for Creation: A Franciscan Spirituality of the Earth |
Pearl of Great Price Reflect This morning, I watched a hummingbird. Its tiny wings fluttered faster than I could see while its body hovered over one of my flowers. It used every bit of its power to find the nectar in that bud. It reminded me of Jesus’ description of the kingdom of heaven as a pearl of great price and how one sells all he has to buy it. Pray Dear Jesus,
The hummingbird used all it had to obtain the nectar in a flower.
Do I use all I have to find you and your kingdom?
Am I willing to give up whatever you ask—time, money, sleep—to get it?
If not, show me what I need to “sell” to find it.
Amen. Act Take a few minutes today to watch a bird as it searches for food. All its focus is on the task at hand. Then, spend a few minutes focusing on the kingdom of God and what that means to you. Today's Pause+Pray was written by Colleen Arnold, MD. 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 St. Francis. |
|
