| Minute Meditations
St. Francis of Paola Francis of Paola was a man who deeply loved contemplative solitude and wished only to be the "least in the household of God." Yet, when the Church called him to active service in the world, he became a miracle-worker and influenced the course of nations. After accompanying his parents on a pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi, he began to live as a contemplative hermit in a remote cave near Paola, on Italy's southern seacoast. Before he was 20, he received the first followers who had come to imitate his way of life. Seventeen years later, when his disciples had grown in number, Francis established a Rule for his austere community and sought Church approval. This was the founding of the Hermits of St. Francis of Assisi, who were approved by the Holy See in 1474. In 1492, Francis changed the name of his community to "Minims" because he wanted them to be known as the least (minimi) in the household of God. Humility was to be the hallmark of the brothers as it had been in Francis's personal life. Besides the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, Francis enjoined upon his followers the fourth obligation of a perpetual Lenten fast. He felt that heroic mortification was necessary as a means for spiritual growth. It was Francis's desire to be a contemplative hermit, yet he believed that God was calling him to the apostolic life. He began to use the gifts he had received, such as the gifts of miracles and prophecy, to minister to the people of God. A defender of the poor and oppressed, Francis incurred the wrath of King Ferdinand of Naples for the admonitions he directed toward the king and his sons. Following the request of Pope Sixtus IV, Francis traveled to Paris to help Louis XI of France prepare for his death. While ministering to the king, Francis was able to influence the course of national politics. He helped to restore peace between France and Brittany by advising a marriage between the ruling families, and between France and Spain by persuading Louis XI to return some disputed land. Francis died while at the French court. Stories: The King of France, Louis XI, was slowly dying after an apoplectic seizure. He sent a messenger to Italy to beg Francis to come and heal him, making many promises to assist him and his order. Francis refused, until the king appeal to the pope, who ordered Francis to go. Louis fell on his knees and begged Francis to heal him. The saint replied that the lives of kings are in rhe hands of God and have their appointed limits: Prayer should be addressed to God. Many meetings followed. Though Francis was an unlearned man, those who heard him testified that his words were so full of wisdom that all present were convinced the Holy Spirit wa speaking through him. By prayer and example he brought about a change of heart in the king, who died peacefully in his arms. Comment: The life of Francis of Paola speaks plainly to an overactive world. He was a contemplative man called to active ministry and must have felt keenly the tension between prayer and service. Yet in Francis's life it was a productive tension, for he clearly utilized the fruits of contemplation in his ministry, which came to involve the workings of nations. He responded so readily and so well to the call of the Church from a solid foundation in prayer and mortification. When he went out to the world, it was not he who worked but Christ working through him—"the least in the household of God." Patron Saint of: Sailors
Presence "Come to me all you who are burdened Freedom I will ask God's help, to be free from my own preoccupations, to be open to God in this time of prayer, to come to know, love and serve God more.
In God's loving presence I unwind the past day, starting from now and looking back, moment by moment. I gather in all the goodness and light, in gratitude. I attend to the shadows and what they say to me, seeking healing, courage, forgiveness. Holy Thursday - Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper Reading 1 Ex 12:1-8, 11-14The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, Responsorial Psalm Ps 116:12-13, 15-16bc, 17-18R. (cf. 1 Cor 10:16) Our blessing-cup is a communion with the Blood of Christ. Reading 2 1 Cor 11:23-26Brothers and sisters: Verse Before the Gospel Jn 13:34I give you a new commandment, says the Lord: Gospel Jn 13:1-15Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come Conversation requires talking and listening. As I talk to Jesus may I also learn to be still and listen. I picture the gentleness in his eyes and the smile full of love as he gazes on me. I can be totally honest with Jesus as I tell him of my worries and my cares. I will open up my heart to him as I tell him of my fears and my doubts. I will ask him to help me to place myself fully in his care, to abandon myself to him, knowing that he always wants what is best for me.
I thank God for these few moments we have spent alone together and for any insights I may have been given concerning the text. Holy Thursday Unless I wash you ... (John 13:8)
What an astounding image the Lord gave his disciples—and us—of his love! The King of kings bends over us and humbly washes our feet. Such care and concern he shows for us, his people! This is the very nature of Jesus' love for us: it is so intense that it moved him to lower himself to take on the position of a servant for our sakes. "You will never wash my feet" (John 13:8). How many times have we echoed Peter's words and tried to keep Jesus from ministering to us? Maybe we have thought we don't deserve such love. Or maybe we have thought we don't need to be washed clean. But to each of us, Jesus says, "Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me." Unless we let him cleanse us and care for us, we will end up separated from him. Jesus wants to wash us, both in Baptism and in our everyday lives. He wants to help us and refresh us. Accepting that offer means quieting our hearts and minds so that we can recall his love and feel his presence. Of course we have duties and obligations that we must accomplish every day, but if we let our duties take precedence over Jesus, we will miss out on all that he can do for us. Today, we enter into the Easter Triduum, the great three-day celebration of our redemption. By spending extra time with the Lord at the various liturgies this weekend, we can give him the opportunity to wash our feet again. We can give him permission to move more freely in our hearts. And whenever we do that, we are changed a little bit more into his image. We are filled a little bit more with his love and power. We become his servants in the world, washing the feet of those around us. "Jesus, during these next few days, help me to come into your presence and let you wash my feet. I don't want my busyness to get the better of me. Instead, I want more of you. Help me to surrender the pride that won't let you minister to me. Come, Lord, and fill me with your love."
Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14
Model To Follow my2cents: Lent has led up to the Triduum, these 3 days, Holy Thursday, Holy Friday, and Glorious Saturday (Easter Vigil) and of course culminating in the reason for Christianity...Easter. At this culmination of events, we find ourselves travelling with Jesus, as is always the case for a follower, disciple of Christ. He is the master, and He teaches today. In Today's First Holy Scripture, God speaks of a salvation to be if they do what He says. Jesus will do this when He is found at the Last Supper. God says to Moses and Aaron how to perform a passover, a thing they shall do forever. Jesus comes in and does the same, only He becomes the sacrificial lamb that Moses and Aaron had to fend and put up for each family. God even tells them how they are to eat. Jesus tells them how they are to eat. And I shouldn't say "He told them" because what He tells them, He is telling us all to do. Our Lord tells Moses and Aaron: "This is how you are to eat it: with your loins girt, sandals on your feet and your staff in hand, you shall eat like those who are in flight." Jesus enters the world and shows what to do after eating. He tied up his garments at the waist, like girding the loins, with sandals perhaps as a servant, and a towel as a staff to show what to do. Eat like you are in flight. They were eating when He got up to do this to the shock of the followers whom they served as servants. Luke 22:27 says "For who is greater: the one seated at table or the one who serves? Is it not the one seated at table? I am among you as the one who serves." and Luke goes on to say: "It is you who have stood by me in my trials;and I confer a kingdom on you, just as my Father has conferred one on me, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom;". In 1Peter Ch.2 we read about servants and slaves "Masters, act in the same way toward them, and stop bullying, knowing that both they and you have a Master in heaven and that with him there is no partiality". This Kingdom we are eating of is Jesus. It is so in the Holy Eucharist. St. Thomas Aquinas said "The Eucharist is the Sacrament of Love; It signifies Love, It produces love. The Eucharist is the consummation of the whole spiritual life." The Psalms speak of a death, "Precious in the eyes of the LORD is the death of his faithful ones. I am your servant, the son of your handmaid; you have loosed my bonds." God said to be saved by the blood of the lamb, and eat the lamb with unleavened bread. Precious to Him are the faithful, the servants. The son of the handmaid, and Mary said " "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word."" Luke 1:38. What is going on today is NOT SYMBOLIC. What is going on today is a command from our God. Before we eat the lamb, the Eucharist, get ready. After we eat, get going. God said to do this (to Moses) as a perpetual institution, and Jesus said to do this eating His Body and Blood always until the end of time.  adrian
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