Love of St. Paul: August 2010

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Colossians 2:1-3

all who have not seen me face to face,

that their hearts may be encouraged as they are brought together in love, to have all the richness of fully assured understanding, for the knowledge of the mystery of God, Christ,

in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

What strikes me most today

the idea that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are in the person of Jesus Christ. Our faith is not just a set of beliefs --> it is the Truth of the person Jesus Christ, Who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. His bride is the Church He founded when He handed the Keys of the Kingdom to St. Paul. And here in today's reading we have St. Paul passing on this Truth to us.

Awesome!

What strikes you most today?

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Sunday, August 22, 2010

Monday, August 23, 2010

Colossians 1:15-17

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things were created through him and for him.

He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

What strikes me most today

OK, first, just reading the word firstborn, I have to admit I thought of my firstborn who is now away at college. Today's picture is my youngest daughter with him. She misses him terribly. She was so excited this morning when she received an e-mail from him, telling her how much he missed her.

I also thought of my college son in the rest of the reading today. God is our Creator - he made the world where kids are attending college just as He made the world we raised our children in and continue to live in. That realization is such a comfort to a parent - God made the part of the world my son is in now, and God is just as present to my son there as He was here at home.

What an awesome God!

What strikes you most today?

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Monday, August 16, 2010

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Colossians 1:9-12

we do not cease praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding

to live in a manner worthy of the Lord, so as to be fully pleasing, in every good work bearing fruit and growing in the knowledge of God,

strengthened with every power, in accord with his glorious might, for all endurance and patience, with joy

giving thanks to the Father, who has made you fit to share in the inheritance of the holy ones in light.

What strikes me most today

OK, so maybe everything I am reading now makes me thinking of my son moving away to college. But if you reread the lines above, I really think it fits. My son is a young man. He's ready to move into a dorm, make decisions and choices (all right choices, I'm hoping, even though all the choices I made certainly weren't perfect!) So what is there left for me to do? First --> pray for him. Second --> be ready to give him good advice based on mistakes I've made and learned from. Thirdly --> try to be ready with financial support as needed. (I wonder if his order of these 3 would be the same as mine?)

As St. Paul says to the Colossians, our family says to our son, "We do not cease praying for you..."

What strikes you most today?

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Sunday, August 15, 2010

Monday, August 16, 2010

Philippians 4:4-5

Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice!

Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near.

What strikes me most today

Jeff Jr is packing up for college. Elizabeth is next - about to start her senior year and looking at colleges.

As we pack Jeff up, we come across so many old memories and photos. The photo above is our two oldest after they snuck into a bag of M&M's (which are supposed to only melt in your mouth, not in your hands or around your mouth!). We didn't find out until we wondered why they went to brush their teeth on their own without being asked.

They had had their own little party. I remember this evening well - they were so happy, just rejoicing in the chocolate stash they had discovered. And it was good to see them happy and rejoicing. They were and are the kindest children (OK, young man and young woman) you could hope to meet. And they were loving the present moment and enjoying their lives - the lives that are God's greatest gift to them. God wants us to be happy in this world and the next. And that is precisely my prayer for them. Happiness now and in Eternity - for all of us! Rejoice! The Lord is near!

What strikes you most today?

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Thursday, August 12, 2010

Friday, August 13, 2010

The Biggest Loser - Daris, age 25 - 346 to 178 pounds!

Philippians 3:18-21

For many, as I have often told you and now tell you even in tears, conduct themselves as enemies of the cross of Christ.

Their end is destruction. Their God is their stomach; their glory is in their "shame." Their minds are occupied with earthly things.

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

He will change our lowly body to conform with his glorified body by the power that enables him also to bring all things into subjection to himself.

What strikes me most today

The Biggest Loser is my wife's favorite show. I believe this show is so popular because we can relate to letting parts of our life get out of control. Today's reading reminds me of this - especially verse 19 above - read that one above again. Ouch! Unfortunately, I can relate to that. Too often I overeat, especially when stressed. What if instead of eating ice cream or pie or pretzels or chips and salsa or leftovers, what if I said a Divine Mercy Chaplet - it would take the same amount of time, but be good for my body and soul rather than bad to both, and no guilt! I usually have trouble sticking to ideas like that, but I'm going to remember that I can choose to turn to my God, my faith, the Church and Her teachings and practices (maybe even actually fasting one day - and not just eating two really large meals so the 3rd will be smaller!) If I prefer to be weak and give in to the temptation of overeating, I am acting like those in verse 18, who "conduct themselves as enemies of the cross of Christ." Big time OUCH!!!

In fact, I'm stressed enough that a Divine Mercy Chaplet may be too quick - I'm going to go pray a Rosary. We can also offer up sacrifices (like not eating late and praying a Rosary) for any intentions - I'm going to offer mine tonight for my children - that they grow ever closer to Christ, especially the one whose moving out to go to college in 6 days! Wow, thinking of that usually calls for about a pound of dry roasted cashews - I better start those Luminous Mysteries right away! Gotta go! Good night!

What strikes you most tonight?

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Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Philippians 2:28

"so that... I may have less anxiety."

What strikes me most today

The word "anxiety" jumped out at me as I finished the 2nd chapter of Philippians. I do get nervous/anxious about confession - so I went to a new priest this weekend. He was great - he told me none of the things I wanted to hear and all the things I needed to hear. And although I don't picture myself as an anxious person, the ways I deal with stress could be better (and at least he told me most people sin more when they are stressed - e.g. overeating, drinking, losing temper, withdrawing and ignoring family and loved ones, avoiding mass and prayer, etc.)
So I am hitting the Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplets now - trying to make them a habit - hopefully to decrease stress and anxiety, and give me alternate ways to deal with them when I need to.
And I really hate going back and telling the same sins over and over... so I really am going to try!

What strikes you most today?
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Monday, August 2, 2010

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Philippians 2:14

Do everything without grumbling or questioning.

What strikes me most today

I'm on call this week. There are 8 physicians in my group, so every 8th week we each take call for a week at a time. This is my week. That means that in addition to working all day, I can be called in at any time of night for emergencies. It is mostly the unknowing of how many phone calls and how many emergencies each day and night will bring that makes it so stressful.

So as this evening kept getting busier, I found myself grumbling and questioning (that's why this passage stuck out to me this evening).

I need to be more like Marcus Welby, MD (Robert Young), or his young partner Steven Kiley, MD (James Brolin). What a great show that was (Elena Verdugo as Consuela was one of my first crushes!)

I recall them absolutely loving the opportunity to help others. They did have times they were tired and frustrated and anxious - but what great docs they were. I need to offer up any fatigue or stress or anxiety for those who are suffering much more than I am.

I don't think God could have spoken any plainer to me than the words of Philippians 2:14. So I'll try to get back to post throughout the week - but "without grumbling or complaining!"

What strikes you most today?

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Sunday, August 1, 2010

Monday, August 2, 2010

Philippians 2:3-4

Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves,

each looking out not for his own interests, but (also) everyone for those of others.

What strikes me most today

Regarding others as more important than ourselves. I just finished reading the book, Man of God: Young at Heart (The Life of Blessed Timothy Giaccardo). He was the first priest of the Society of St. Paul, and vital to the early Pauline life. However, he was willing to offer his life as a sacrifice to help the Pious Disciples of the Divine Master to gain Papal approval. He died on January 24, 1948, just days after the Pious Disciples received the Papal Decree of Praise (This was January 12, 1948, just after Blessed Timothy celebrated his last Mass.) Although he was so important, he regarded the Sister Disciples more important, offering his life for them. What an inspiration for us!

What strikes you most today?

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Why?

Why a blog? Why St. Paul? Why do I think I have any business doing this?
We are all on a spiritual journey. We all want that journey to lead us to heaven, to eternity with God. For this journey, we need one another.
The journey so far has led me to read and learn about so many forms of authentic Catholic spirituality - Ignatian, Benedictine, Carmelite, Dominican, Franciscan, etc. My biggest problem was that I came to love each one tremendously. I began reading more and more, spending more and more time at the Daughters of St. Paul bookstore on Watson Road here in St. Louis. Who would have thought my greatest conversion story would take place in a bookstore? Mine was not quite as sudden or dramatic as St. Paul on the road to Damascus, but getting to know the Daughters of St. Paul affected me no less significantly.
The sisters are Eucharistic by nature. The first time I entered the chapel in their bookstore, the Blessed Sacrament was exposed and one of the sisters was on her knees, gazing at Christ, with an indescribably beautiful smile on her face. I had a glimpse of heaven. I knelt at one of the other kneelers and noticed on the wall behind the monstrance the words: "Fear not, I am with you. From here I want to enlighten. Atone for sin." I had that brief moment of absolute certainty that I was on the right path.
Over the last several years I have worked my way through as many books, CD's, DVD's and conversations with the Daughters of St. Paul that time has allowed. Time is at such a premium for all of us. Years ago we were told that with advances in technology we would have much more free time on our hands. We all know this has not been the case. Our lives are busier and more hectic than ever. Even if we are unable to find time to read good books, see enlightening movies or attend lectures and discussions, maybe we could all spend a little time on the internet supporting one another on our faith journeys. Many of you know more about many aspects of Catholic spirituality than I do.
Pope John Paul the Great called us all to a New Evangelization, to share the Gospel with the world. I am hoping we can all be St. Paul in this blog space by sharing Christ with one another and with others. St. Paul travelled to many foreign and often hostile regions to evangelize the world; we are fortunate to be able to use the internet to reach even farther and more quickly.
The idea of using today's means of social communication to spread the Gospel was given to Blessed James Alberione on the night between the centuries (December 31, 1900 - January 1, 1901). He was a 16 year-old seminary student adoring Christ in the Blessed Sacrament when a special light came to him from the Host. Following this, Blessed James Alberione became the founder of the Society of St. Paul priests, the Daughters of St. Paul, the Pious Disciples of the Divine Master, Sisters of Jesus the Good Shepherd, Sisters of the Queen of Apostles, and numerous institutes that are also part of the Pauline family.
So what is Pauline spirituality? In my experience, Pauline spirituality encompasses all the teachings of Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and love of all the other spiritualities and Saints of the Church. It is the members of the Pauline family who are the happiest people I know! It is loving God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit with all our hearts and souls, through the intercession of Mary, Queen of the Apostles, and St. Paul.
So why St. Paul? I can relate to St. Paul. We first meet him in the New Testament as a sinner. He has a thorn in his side that God decides is best not to take away. I sometimes wish I knew what that thorn was, but it's probably better I don't know. I like to pretend it is one of my many weaknesses or faults. If St. Paul could go from persecuting Christ and His Church to becoming the person responsible for spreading the Gospel and establishing the Church in foreign lands, the least I can do is start a blog. I have been especially inspired by my two favorite bloggers, Sr. Margaret Charles Kerry, fsp, and a Pauline Cooperator named Rae Stabosz. I believe Sr. Margaret and Rae are doing just what St. Paul and Blessed James Alberione would be doing with the internet.
In future blogs (which will be shorter than this first post!), I would like to share writings of St. Paul, Blessed James Alberione, and many others. I look forward to others sharing writings from other Catholic spiritualities and writers. An especially Pauline way of sharing is to point out to one another what aspects particularly speak to each of us.
Another Pauline trait is to pray for one another. My prayer is that we support one another on our path to holiness. Our goal is to glorify God in all that we do - so let's do it!