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!

January 1, 2009

From A Year With Blessed James Alberione, Compiled by J. Maurus:

1 January

Mary, Mother of God

"At the fullness of time God sent his only Son, born of a woman" (Gal 4:4).

From the womb to the tomb Mary assisted Jesus her son.  First she nourished him with her own milk, better, formed in her womb the adorable body of the Saviour.

She welcomed the baby Jesus in the manger, presented him to the shepherds, brought him to the temple on the day of purification, showed him to the Magi;  took him to Egypt to save him from the wrath of Herod, brought him back to Palestine and settled at Nazareth where the child grew up under her gaze, looked after by her in every way;  Mary was the perfect mother and Jesus the most perfect son....

But why did Jesus accept from Mary all these services?  Because he wanted to be like us in all things, save sin.

Mary, Mother of God

Octave of Christmas

From Saint and Thought for Every Day by Blessed James Alberione:

The new year begins today!  As a fitting "start" we offer ourselves to God in prayer and worship.  We celebrate on this octave day of Christmas the feast of the woman who had such an important role in our redemption.  We honor Mary as Mother of God, for she is the Mother of Jesus, the Son of God.

Because Mary is our Mother, too, we ask her to be with us and to help us spend each day of this new year with heaven in view.  

New Year

Begin the year with a constant eye on paradise.  We turn over the pages of life's calendar until we reach the last day, the so-called day of death but which I prefer to call:  a birthday, the day of entry into heaven.

Mary, the Mother of God

Admiration for Mary and imitation of her are not to be separated from her cult which should be just and holy in accordance with the Church's desire, a devotion that is both internal and external, private and public, leading to a profound veneration for her, to absolute confidence in her, and to filial love of her.

This veneration is founded on her dignity as the Mother of God and on the consequences inherent to it.  Thus, it does not mislead us to make her equal to God or a source of grace; rather, it impels us to glorify God in her for the privileges with which He has endowed her, and for her role of Dispensatrix of all graces.  Indeed, what veneration is there that is not to be rendered to her whom the Son reveres as His Mother, whom the Father lovingly contemplates as His beloved daughter, and whom the Holy Spirit considers the temple in which He delights to dwell.