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The Church faced persecutions early on in its history. Saints Perpetua and Felicity are two well-known names among the martyrs. While we don’t know much about them, we do have Saint Perpetua’s diary that gives a few facts about their last days.
Psalm 19 uses a wide vocabulary to praise God’s Law. The Lord’s directives are essential for our lives. We need his words for access to the Spirit and to life.
Lent is a time to reboot our spiritual life. Jesus offers us a trinity of ancient practices—prayer, fasting, almsgiving—that not only do that but also strengthen the three important relationships in our lives.
Saint Mary Ann of Jesus of Paredes was a Secular Franciscan who lived a life of quiet prayer and penance. She established a clinic where she helped to nurse plague patients, but seems to have succumbed to the disease herself.
“They gave a dinner for him there, and Martha served” (Jn 12:2a). I had always sort of assumed that Martha learned a lesson about letting go of housework after her complaint to Jesus about Mary not helping out (Lk 10:38-42).
Saint John Joseph of the Cross entered the Franciscan community at the age of 16. A humble man, he was asked to serve his community in a number of leadership roles, including provincial minister. Yet he retained his simplicity throughout and retired to the quiet service of confessor.
In response to Jesus’ call, Levi gave up everything he had. We are all spiritually infirm. To a greater or lesser extent we all need to be converted to Jesus as Levi was.
Now that we are in the midst of the Lenten season, parishes will be offering several opportunities to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
God asks us to return to him with our whole heart, whole mind, and whole soul. He asks us to return to him with fasting, mourning, and weeping. It is in the challenges that God is most present.
While Saint Casimir was born into a noble family, and was himself in line to be king, he opted instead for a life of prayer, and as a youth vowed perpetual chastity.
