Beloved Family:
“From where did all these saints come?!” Since last Sunday, we have been celebrating Catholic Schools Week. There have been numerous special activities as part of the observance. For example, on Monday evening Fr. David and Deacon James joined families up at Acres of Fun for a skating party. For me, a particular highlight is the procession of saints that takes place at the Wednesday school Mass and carries over to the gym/Activity Center with a brief introduction of the name and patronage of each holy man and woman represented.
While we may typically associate such a procession with the beginning of the month of November, I believe this exercise serves as a wonderful reminder of the call to holiness that the Lord extends to each and every one of us, each and every day of the year. From where do saints come? They come from every country, every culture, every period of history. They come from our families! Some have lived mighty long lives; others have spent only a brief number of years on earth. Two examples are Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati (d. age 24, of polio) and Blessed Carlo Acutis (d. age 15, of leukemia), who will be canonized later this jubilee year.
We have the occasion, this weekend, to celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus—also known as Candlemas, because traditionally candles used in church as well as candles that can be carried home for private and family devotion are blessed during the Mass. I am reminded of the motto associated with the organization known as the Christophers: It is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.
I believe it is safe to say that the media—unless they have, God willing, a dramatic change of heart—will continue to generate news in such a way as to sensationalize the negative and broker in further fear and anxiety directed to the citizens of our country and of the world. Without turning a blind eye or deaf ear to the very real issues that demand our attention and prayerful action, I still believe that we have a choice: do I choose to stand for the light or do I choose to hide in the shadows?
Let us choose to be pilgrims of hope, in the days of this jubilee year and continuously.
Here is Pope Francis’ prayer for this occasion:
The Jubilee Prayer
Father in heaven,
may the faith you have given us
in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother,
and the flame of charity enkindled
in our hearts by the Holy Spirit,
reawaken in us the blessed hope
for the coming of your Kingdom.
May your grace transform us
into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel.
May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos
in the sure expectation
of a new heaven and a new earth,
when, with the powers of Evil vanquished,
your glory will shine eternally.
May the grace of the Jubilee
reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope,
a yearning for the treasures of heaven.
May that same grace spread
the joy and peace of our Redeemer
throughout the earth.
To you our God, eternally blessed,
be glory and praise for ever.
Amen
