Tag Archives: saint

Troubling Questions

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1 Mc 2:15-29
Lk 19:41-44

Today’s scripture readings raise troubling questions about our life of faith and about God.

The first reading from 1 Maccabees seems to not only justify, but to glorify violence against those who do not measure up to our standards of religious belief and practice.  Does this mean that we must we be intolerant extremists in order to be faithful followers of Christ? Of course not, although unfortunately there are those who believe we must.

Today’s Gospel is tough as well. Did God destroy Jerusalem because Jesus was rejected and crucified there? No. Jesus mourns the failure of Jerusalem to respond to his message. But Jerusalem was destroyed by the Roman army, not by God. God does not bring about evil.

So what lesson are we to take from today’s readings? The lesson is that our Christian faith demands not a lukewarm, but a strong, wholehearted response. The saint we honor today provides a very good example of the right kind of response.

Saint Elizabeth was born a princess of the Kingdom of Hungary in the castle of Sárospatak on July 7, 1207. She was the daughter of Andrew II of Hungary and Gertrude of Merania. At age four she was brought to the court of the rulers of Thuringia in central Germany, to prepare for marriage to the heir to the Thuringian throne.

At fourteen, Elizabeth was married to Ludwig IV of Thuringia. By all accounts, the marriage was a happy one and the couple had three children. When, shortly after her marriage, Franciscan friars came to Thuringia, Elizabeth learned about St. Francis of Assisi and started to live according to his ideals. She dressed in simple clothing and began to distribute her wealth to the poor. Her husband supported her efforts.

When Elizabeth was 20 years old her husband died of the Black Death while on Crusade. After his death Elizabeth left the royal court and devoted the rest of her life to the care of the poor and the sick. Born into a position of wealth and privilege, Saint Elizabeth could have lived a very comfortable life, but instead chose to use her position and resources to help others. She died at the age of 24, an example of how those with abundant resources can give a strong response to the call to live a fully Christian life.

- Sr. Mary Ann Strain, C.P. is a member of the Passionist Sisters’ Community in Union City, NJ.

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Nourished by Prayer

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Wis 18:14-16; 19:6-9
Lk 18:1-8

“Pay attention to what the dishonest judge has to say.” Even as unscrupulous and uncaring as he was the judge in today’s parable could not ignore this widow’s persistence.  She was not about to give up her quest for justice.  The judge finally acquiesced only because he feared her constant coming would wear him out. Justice and righteousness never even entered his mind.  How different it is for us and our prayers to God.

The words of Jesus in Luke’s gospel are as essential for our hearing today as they were for Jesus’ disciples listening to this parable. Jesus assures us in this scripture passage that God is nothing like the unscrupulous judge.  When we experience trials and adversity we have reason to hope in God, whose love is unceasing; it triumphs over all suffering and injustice that we may encounter in life.  God has chosen us to be his own and God listens to our every prayer with endless attention.

However, for our part, it is important to heed Jesus’ entreaty to pray always and nourish the gift of faith that has been given to us.  How good are we at nourishing this precious gift?  When Jesus returns in glory will he recognize this gift in in us?

Today, we remember St. Josaphat, Bishop and martyr who dedicated his life to prayer even as a child.  Ordained a Byzantine priest in 1609, he became a famous preacher and named Bishop of Vitebsk (Belarus) at a young age.  He worked tirelessly to bring about unity among separated Christians and Rome.  This eventually cost him his life at the hands of his adversaries.  He was canonized by Pope Urban VIII in 1643.  He is the first Eastern rite saint in the Church.

- Alice Smith has been a part of Holy Family’s women’s retreat ministry for many years. She lives with her husband on Cape Cod.

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Patron Saint of the Imperfect: St. Jerome

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Bar 1:15-22
Lk 10:13-16

Irascible! Confrontational! Bitingly sarcastic! Stubbornly considering his view and the truth as one and the same!  With such traits can one come out a Saint?  Yet that is today’s Saint, Jerome– Jerusalem’s Fifth Century biblical scholar!

How did this happen? The same way Peter, Paul, Magdalene and Theresa came out Saints.  The Babylon Exiles, Baruch tells us today, in the end lamented they failed to heed the Voice of God.”

Yes, the irascible, confrontational and sarcastic Jerome, when it counted, heeded God’s Voice.  For instance, upon his conversion to a serious Faith life Jerome went into the desert to study and pray where he endured hallucinations of all sorts along with many sexual temptations.  To ward off these personal and spiritual assaults he began studying Hebrew, finding it painfully arduous and grueling.  He wrote to a friend, “The effort it cost me, the difficulties I went through and the number of times I gave up in despair, only to take it up again are things to which those who lived with me can bear witness as well as I.”

Most of us familiar with Jerome’s amazing scholarship might be surprised by his sensitivity and compassion.  Evidently he was also listening to the Voice of his Lord within.  After leaving Rome to take up life and study in the Holy Land Jerome kept contact with his friends in Rome.  Fifth Century news from Rome reported the violence tearing Rome apart.  It caused Jerome severe personal anguish, “When I was told about the deaths of Pammachius and Marcella, the sack of Rome and the end of many brothers and sisters, I was overwhelmed and did nothing all day but think of the safety of each and everyone.”

Plunder by Aleric and the Visigoths brought more disheartening news.  Jerome listened closely to the Voice of the Lord in the news of Rome’s chaos. Listen as he embraces God’s Providence: “I cannot help them all but I grieve and weep with them.  Completely involved in the activities charity imposes on me, I have set aside my commentary on Ezekiel and almost all study.  For today we must translate the words of the Scriptures into deeds, and instead of speaking saintly words we must act them.”

God’s Providence has a way of purifying the irascible, the contentious and the sarcastic from the hearts of the Imperfect.  If we but hear the Voice of the Lord and harden not our hearts, Providence will have Its way and we too can become saints.

- Fr. Lucian Clark, C.P. lives with the Passionist Community, Union City, NJ.  He directs the Passionist Volunteers International with six Volunteers serving in Mandeville, JA.

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