Celebrate!

 

Happy and Blessed Feast of All Saints!

We are ALL called to holiness…All…All…All!

Celebrate Today – The “All-ness” of Our Call!

 

Thought for the day ... G. Giaquinta

Mary, we want to be saints like you and radiate divine love to all around us.

 

ALL SAINTS NOVENA DAY 9, 10-31-09, SAINTS ARE SELFLESS

If there is one word that describes Damien and encapsulates everything we have learned of his life, it is selflessness. Fr Damien never thought of himself. He gave every ounce of his time, energy, and love to care for those God placed in his charge. From the day he arrived on the island to the day he died himself from leprosy, he gave everything he had. The maximum love Bishop Giaquinta always spoke of was exemplified by Damien to the core. He worked, prayed, played with the children, said Mass and administered the sacraments until his life was completely spent in the love of God

How does this apply to us? As we study this remarkable life, it is clear to us that so often we forget that our lives are not our own, that we have been purchased with a price. We too easily spend our time as we choose, doing what we want when we want, pushing Christ to the side.

Prayer: Dear Lord, as we celebrate All Saints Day tomorrow remind us of all those who have gone before us who spent their lives completely in your service, and remind us to give ourselves more completely to create a world of All Saints, All brothers and Sisters

ALL SAINTS NOVENA DAY 8, 10-30-09, SAINTS ARE HUMBLE

If anyone had reason to boast, Damien did, he did so much good for so many in his care. I wish I could find the source again, but I am unable to. I read among St Damien’s writing how critically important humility was in his eyes. He said that he knew if he became proud, God would stop using him—so anytime anyone tried to give him credit, he refused it.

How does this apply to us? Pride is at times hard to avoid. I tend to feel pleased and important when I am complimented. I too easily forget that I have nothing that is not from God

Prayer: Dear Lord, Keep us ever mindful that everything we have is a gift from you, and to give You the glory when we are praised

ALL SAINTS NOVENA DAY 7, 10-29-09, SAINTS SUFFER

Damien suffered greatly during his life, both from the spiritual and emotional suffering mentioned earlier in this novena, as well as the physical suffering of leprosy itself. It is said that even in his last days of life, he continued to offer Mass and the sacraments, and build what the people needed—until he was too weak to stand. He undoubtedly took comfort in the suffering of Christ Himself on the cross, knowing the one that loved him and all of the people in the colony was not without understanding of what they were experiencing

How does this apply to us? It seems that daily we are taught to avoid suffering at all costs, take a pill, escape into a movie or silly tv show, anything to avoid the unpleasant.
If Christ Himself, the One we are to model our lives after, could not avoid suffering, how can we as His followers expect to avoid it.

Prayer: Dear Lord, the next time we must suffer with a twisted ankle, a common cold, being stuck in traffic or any number of things, help us to remember what you suffered and to avoid the tendency to complain. Help us to offer our sufferings for those who are in so much more need than we are.

ALL SAINTS NOVENA DAY 6, 10-28-09, SAINTS LONG FOR COMMUNITY

Practically since the day Damien arrived on Molokai, Damien longed for fellow priests to share his work and faith with, and most especially nuns to help teach and care for the children. For the longest time they were forbidden from coming by those in power who said it was for their own health and safety, but it seemed that it was for the selfish reasons of wanting to keep them where they were. Finally near the end of his life, Damien got to see his wish for community become a reality and he rejoiced greatly.


How does this apply to us? It can be too easy for many of us to avoid community, because we would rather do things ourselves or we do not wish to be held accountable.
Let us take a lesson from Damien knowing that community divides our work and multiplies our joy. He had reasons for sending his disciples out by twos.

Prayer: Lord, help us to seek out the company of believers who will help us to see you more clearly and be your light in the world.

ALL SAINTS NOVENA DAY 5, 10-27-09, SAINTS LONG FOR THE SACRAMENTS

Perhaps one of the boldest and most compelling aspects of Damien’s life was his longing for the sacrament of reconciliation. This was illustrated in the movie we watched in that no other priests would go to Molokai to hear Damien’s confession, so his Bishop agreed to go. For his own safety and the safety of his crew, the ship’s captain would not allow Damien to board the ship or the Bishop to get off the ship and go to the island. Damien’s desire to go to confession was so strong, that he got into a boat and shouted his confession in French as to make it private loud enough so that the Bishop could hear.

We found among his writing also a strong desire for the Eucharist:

"Were it not for the constant presence of our divine Master in our humble chapel, I would not have found it possible to persevere in sharing the lot of the afflicted in Molokai… The Eucharist is the bread that gives strength…It is at once the most eloquent proof of His love and the most powerful means of fostering His love in us. He gives Himself every day so that our hearts as burning coals may set afire the hearts of the faithful"

How does this apply to us? In reviewing both of these accounts it occurs to us that the sacraments are so readily available to us any time we should choose to partake in them, that we sometimes take them for granted and don’t have the extreme longing that Damien exemplified.

Prayer: Lord, renew the wonder in our hearts that the creator of the universe comes so very near to us in the sacraments. Remind us to be amazed at your desire to be close to us and to stay a long while with that amazement.

ALL SAINTS NOVENA DAY 4, 10-26-09, SAINTS FIGHT FOR WHAT IS RIGHT AND ARE PERSECUTED

In conjunction with meeting his parishioners needs, Fr Damien fought ceaselessly to end abuse and obtain resources. While common sense would dictate that this would result in consensus and accord, because so many of his direct requests go unanswered and public attention is brought to these issues, it caused embarrassment to those in power and brought persecution. False witness is brought against Fr Damien and he is accused of both excessive pride and sexual immorality.


How does this apply to us? To be painfully honest as we ponder these questions, we are made aware that in reality we have very rarely been persecuted for our faith. This should most certainly bother us because it should make us wonder if we have ever stood up for Christ in a non Christian environment. We challenge ourselves as well as each of you to take action this week to do one thing which might result in persecution—writing a letter about inadequate housing in your area, standing up at a pro life event, vocally stating that you don’t appreciate a joke or a popular movie of the day because of the moral implications

Prayer: Lord, help us expect and even welcome persecution because You said it was part of being a follower of yours, and through it we would inherit the kingdom of heaven

RE: [The Pro Sanctity Family Reflects] ALL SAINTS NOVENA, DAY 3, 10-25-09, SAINTS...

Thank you Dan and Joan! You two are witnesses of the Lord’s love and generosity to so many and in a multitude of ways! On behalf of the Pro Sanctity community thank you for living in the spirit of St. Damien! Teresa

 

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From: Dan and Joan Kash [mailto:djkash@cox.net]
Sent: Saturday, October 24, 2009 9:20 PM
To: psm@efanz.com
Subject: [The Pro Sanctity Family Reflects] ALL SAINTS NOVENA, DAY 3, 10-25-09, SAINTS...

 

Another aspect of St Damien’s life that astounded us was how much he cared for the people’s practical needs. Far from being limited to only spiritual pursuits such as the Mass, Sacraments and counseling, Fr Damien saw overwhelming physical needs and met them tirelessly. He planted food, he planted trees, he built houses, schools, and hospitals, he bandaged wounds, he dug graves, even building caskets for the dead with his own two hands.

How does this apply to us? It takes no time at all, especially in today’s economy and the practically limitless access we have to the media, to be made aware of the overwhelming human needs all around us. And perhaps it is nowhere clearer than in the book of James that it is our responsibility as Christians to meet these needs whenever we can: “If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and no food for the day, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it?”. (James 2:15-16) We may have financial resources, and if we do we should give them. If we do not, we could give our time volunteering at a shelter or a food bank, or offer to make a meal for a friend going through hard times.

Prayer: Lord, make me sensitive to the needs around me and help me meet them as an expression of your love


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Posted By Dan and Joan Kash to The Pro Sanctity Family Reflects at 10/24/2009 09:13:00 PM

ALL SAINTS NOVENA, DAY 3, 10-25-09, SAINTS CARE FOR PRACTICAL NEEDS

Another aspect of St Damien’s life that astounded us was how much he cared for the people’s practical needs. Far from being limited to only spiritual pursuits such as the Mass, Sacraments and counseling, Fr Damien saw overwhelming physical needs and met them tirelessly. He planted food, he planted trees, he built houses, schools, and hospitals, he bandaged wounds, he dug graves, even building caskets for the dead with his own two hands.

How does this apply to us? It takes no time at all, especially in today’s economy and the practically limitless access we have to the media, to be made aware of the overwhelming human needs all around us. And perhaps it is nowhere clearer than in the book of James that it is our responsibility as Christians to meet these needs whenever we can: “If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and no food for the day, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it?”. (James 2:15-16) We may have financial resources, and if we do we should give them. If we do not, we could give our time volunteering at a shelter or a food bank, or offer to make a meal for a friend going through hard times.

Prayer: Lord, make me sensitive to the needs around me and help me meet them as an expression of your love

ALL SAINTS NOVENA DAY 2, 10-24-09, SAINTS ARE AFFECTIONATE

As we were watching the film mentioned above, nothing struck us more profoundly than how often Damien was warned not to touch ANYONE who was known to have leprosy, and conversely how quickly he ignored that advice. He was ever shaking their hands in greeting, putting his arms around children, embracing and comforting those who were dying, administering the sacraments fully and without hesitation and the list goes on. He was putting aside his own health and safety without a thought to show Christ’s love in a tangible way.

How does this apply to us? How often do we become so busy and distracted in our daily lives that we neglect to express affection even to those who are closest to us—even though it does not put our health or safety at risk in the slightest? How ashamed we should be of this. How much of an effort we should make to give affection both to those closest to us and those who just need to know the touch of Christ with a note in the mail or a hand on the shoulder

Prayer: Lord, remind me to show your love today by being affectionate to those who need to feel your pure and holy affection for them.