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God doesn’t hear prayer that is addressed to making us look good. If we want to get through to him it has to be on his wavelength–that is, in quiet and in secret.
María Natividad Venegas de la Torre (1868-1959) had a choice. She could treat the soldiers entering her hospital with the same disrespect that their government showed Catholics. Or she could meet them with courtesy and hospitality.
Saint Albert Chmielowski was a talented painter and a Secular Franciscan. In mid-life, he founded the Brothers of the Third Order of Saint Francis, Servants to the Poor, who worked with the poor and homeless. Known also as the Albertine Brothers, this community was renowned for depending completely on alms.
We are called to love our neighbor not because the neighbor is good, not because we are good, but because God is good and wants everyone to enjoy his goodness.
Anthony of Padua is often called upon when we have lost something–our keys, wallet, homework, etc. Yet he was also an outstanding preacher. He spoke in a way that allowed ordinary people to understand the extraordinary mercy of God.
An Augustinian monk who was inspired by the martyrdom of Franciscan missionaries, Saint Anthony of Padua joined the Franciscans hoping to be a missionary. But God had other plans for him. He became one of the outstanding philosopher/theologians of the Order.
Jesus urges his followers to forgo the retaliation permitted by the Old Testament and thus interrupt the cycle of revenge. Doing violence to others solves nothing even when the violence is in response to injustice.
Was Anthony’s faith when he died in 1231 the same as when he became a Friar Minor in 1220? In many ways yes, but in other important ways no.
Blessed Jolenta of Poland and her husband assisted many from their means. Once widowed, and with two of her three daughters married, Blessed Jolenta and her third daughter entered the Poor Clares. She eventually became an abbess.
Anthony’s retirement as provincial minister lasted less than a year. He spent most of that time writing sermon notes for the feasts of major saints.
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