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“A great mystery,” says St. John Chrysostom, “is accomplished in our dead. A mystery of praise and of joy, when, summoned by the King of kings, the soul goes to meet her Lord, accompanied by Angels sent from heaven for the purpose! And thou—dost thou lament? When the bridegroom, to whom thou hast given thy daughter, carries her to a far country, thou dost not complain, provided he makes her happy; although her absence is a grief to thee, the sadness is tempered. And now, because it is not a man, a fellow slave, but the Lord himself that...

Franciscan Media Image: Altar of Saint Nikola Tavelić in church of St. Francis of Assisi, Šibenik, Croatia | photo by ignot Saint Nicholas Tavelic and Companions Saint of the Day for November 6 (1340 – November 14, 1391) https://wp.franciscanmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SODNov06.mp3 Saint Nicholas Tavelic and Companions’ Story Nicholas and his three companions are among the 158 Franciscans who have been martyred in the Holy Land since the friars became custodians of the shrines in 1335.Nicholas was born in 1340 to a wealthy and noble family in Croatia. He joined the Franciscans, and was sent with Deodat of Rodez to preach in Bosnia....

Franciscan Media Image: Saint Peter Chrysologus | it.wikipedia.org Saint Peter Chrysologus Saint of the Day for November 5 (c. 406 – c. 450)  Saint Peter Chrysologus’ Story A man who vigorously pursues a goal may produce results far beyond his expectations and his intentions. Thus it was with Peter ” of the Golden Words,” as he was called, who as a young man became bishop of Ravenna, the capital of the empire in the West.At the time there were abuses and vestiges of paganism evident in his diocese, and these Peter was determined to battle and overcome. His principal...

Thou art my portion, O Lord, Alleluia, in the land of the living, Alleluia, Alleluia.—Bring forth my soul out of prison, to confess to thy Name; in the land of the living, Alleluia, Alleluia.—Glory and honor be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, world without end, Amen: in the land of the living, Alleluia, Alleluia. Such is the opening chant for the departed, in the Mozarabic Missal. With the Greeks, in like manner, no word is of more frequent recurrence in the Office of the Dead, than the Alleluia. Moreover, both Greece and...

St Charles Borromeo – A Model for Clergy in Troubled Times Msgr. Charles Pope • November 4, 2018 • St. Charles Borromeo, by Orazio BorgianniSunday was the feast day of my patron saint, Charles Borromeo. The times in which he lived were not so different from the current ones, and leadership like his is sorely needed today. Although I am not a bishop as he was, I am a pastor. I pray that in some small way I may be like him.St. Charles Borromeo was born in 1538, a time when the Church was in the midst of perhaps...

I still believe there is a Faithful, praying remnant left in America to stay the Hand of Judgement. Otherwise Hillary would have won and Freedom would have been lost. We are promised that "Wherever two or more are gathered in my name, there I am in your midst." PLEASE join me in prayer not once but several times today. Just take a moment at your desk and silently ask for divine protection for America. 1) Pray that the GOP retains the House and senate. The do nothing establishment doesn't deserve victory but the alternative is far worse. 2) Pray that...

And the spirit and the Bride say: Come! And he that heareth, let him say: Come! —Surely I come quickly: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. While we honor the Church triumphant with our chants, and succor the Church suffering with our prayers, let us also turn our thoughts to the Church militant, during these days when the closing cycle presents her to us as about to complete her work on earth. Now the Church is our model; but especially at the close of our pilgrimage ought we to made her attitude our own. The above-cited dialogue, which will terminate the...

Franciscan Media Image: San Carlo Borromeo, cardinal of Milan | Wellcome Images Saint Charles Borromeo Saint of the Day for November 4 (October 2, 1538 – November 3, 1584)  Saint Charles Borromeo’s Story The name of Charles Borromeo is associated with reform. He lived during the time of the Protestant Reformation, and had a hand in the reform of the whole Church during the final years of the Council of Trent.Although he belonged to the Milanese nobility and was related to the powerful Medici family, Charles desired to devote himself to the Church. In 1559, when his uncle, Cardinal...

Franciscan Media Image: Saint Martin de Porres | St Dominic’s priory church in London | photo by Lawrence OP Saint Martin de Porres Saint of the Day for November 3 (December 9, 1579 – November 3, 1639)  Saint Martin de Porres’ Story “Father unknown” is the cold legal phrase sometimes used on baptismal records. “Half-breed” or “war souvenir” is the cruel name inflicted by those of “pure” blood. Like many others, Martin might have grown to be a bitter man, but he did not. It was said that even as a child he gave his heart and his goods...

November 3, 2018 Saturday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Phil 1:18b-26 Brothers and sisters:As long as in every way, whether in pretense or in truth,Christ is being proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Indeed I shall continue to rejoice,for I know that this will result in deliverance for methrough your prayers and support from the Spirit of Jesus Christ.My eager expectation and hopeis that I shall not be put to shame in any way,but that with all boldness, now as always,Christ will be magnified in my body,whether by life or by death.For to me life...

HAD WE ANGELS’ EYES, we should see the earth as a vast field sown with seed for the resurrection. The death of Abel opened the first furrow, and ever since, the sowing has gone on unceasingly the wide world over. This land of labor and of suffering, what treasures it already holds laid up in its bosom! And what a harvest for heaven, when the Sun of Justice, suddenly darting forth his rays, shall cause to spring up as suddenly from the soil the elect ears ripe for glory! No wonder that the Church herself blesses and superintends the...

Franciscan Media Image: Evening of All Saints’ Day at Malmi Cemetery, Helsinki, Finland | photo by Jori Samonen | flickr Solemnity of All Saints Saint of the Day for November 1  The Story of the Solemnity of All Saints The earliest certain observance of a feast in honor of all the saints is an early fourth-century commemoration of “all the martyrs.” In the early seventh century, after successive waves of invaders plundered the catacombs, Pope Boniface IV gathered up some 28 wagon-loads of bones and reinterred them beneath the Pantheon, a Roman temple dedicated to all the gods. The...

White Double of the First Class (with Octave) I SAW A GREAT MULTITUDE which no man could number, of all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne, and in sight of the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands: and they cried with a loud voice, saying: Salvation to our God! Time is no more; it is the human race eternally saved, that is thus presented in vision to the prophet of Patmos. Our life of struggle and suffering on earth is, then, to have an end. Our long lost race is...

November 1, 2018 Solemnity of All Saints Reading 1 Rv 7:2-4, 9-14 I, John, saw another angel come up from the East,holding the seal of the living God.He cried out in a loud voice to the four angelswho were given power to damage the land and the sea,"Do not damage the land or the sea or the treesuntil we put the seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God."I heard the number of those who had been marked with the seal,one hundred and forty-four thousand markedfrom every tribe of the children of Israel. After this I had...

October 31, 2018 Solemnity of All Saints, Vigil Reading 1 Rv 7:2-4, 9-14 I, John, saw another angel come up from the East,holding the seal of the living God.He cried out in a loud voice to the four angelswho were given power to damage the land and the sea,"Do not damage the land or the sea or the treesuntil we put the seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God."I heard the number of those who had been marked with the seal,one hundred and forty-four thousand markedfrom every tribe of the children of Israel. After this I...

Franciscan Media Image: Statue of Saint Wolfgang of Regensburg | main altar, Parish church in Metnitz | Raul de Chissota Saint Wolfgang of Regensburg Saint of the Day for October 31 (c. 924 – August 31, 994)  Saint Wolfgang of Regensburg’s Story Wolfgang was born in Swabia, Germany, and was educated at a school located at the abbey of Reichenau. There he encountered Henry, a young noble who went on to become Archbishop of Trier. Meanwhile, Wolfgang remained in close contact with the archbishop, teaching in his cathedral school and supporting his efforts to reform the clergy.At the death...

Violet   LET US PREPARE OUR SOULS for the graces heaven is about to shower upon the earth in return for its homage. Tomorrow the Church will be so overflowing with joy that she will seem to be already in possession of eternal happiness; but today she appears in the garb of penance, confessing that she is still an exile. Let us fast and pray with her; for are not we too pilgrims and strangers in this world, where all things are fleeting and hurry on to death? Year by year, as the great solemnity comes round, it has...

Franciscan Media Image: Detail | Vision of Alphonsus Rodriguez | Francisco de Zurbarán Saint Alphonsus Rodriguez Saint of the Day for October 30 (1533 – October 30, 1617)  Saint Alphonsus Rodriguez’s Story Tragedy and challenge beset today’s saint early in life, but Alphonsus Rodriguez found happiness and contentment through simple service and prayer.Born in Spain in 1533, Alphonsus inherited the family textile business at 23. Within the space of three years, his wife, daughter, and mother died; meanwhile, business was poor. Alphonsus stepped back and reassessed his life. He sold the business, and with his young son, moved into...

Franciscan Media Image: Saint Narcissus of Jerusalem | in Caractâeristiques des saints dans l’art populaire | photo by Internet Archive Book Images Saint Narcissus of Jerusalem Saint of the Day for October 29 (d. c. 216)  Saint Narcissus of Jerusalem’s Story Life in second- and third-century Jerusalem couldn’t have been easy, but Saint Narcissus managed to live well beyond 100. Some even speculate he lived to 160.Details of his life are sketchy, but there are many reports of his miracles. The miracle for which Narcissus is most remembered was turning water into oil for use in the church lamps...

Franciscan Media Image: Monastery Church: Altar of the crucifixion, Mecklenburg | Gaston Lenthe | (Longinus, Joseph of Arimathea, and Nicodemus) Saint Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus Saint of the Day for August 31 (1st century)  Saint Joseph of Arimathea’s and Nicodemus’ Story The actions of these two influential Jewish leaders give insight into the charismatic power of Jesus and his teachings—and the risks that could be involved in following him.Joseph was a respected, wealthy civic leader who had become a disciple of Jesus. Following the death of Jesus, Joseph obtained Jesus’ body from Pilate, wrapped it in fine linen...