In the end, he gave the ultimate gift: his own life. When his jailers chose ten men at random to be starved to death in retaliation for an escape, St. Maximilian, who had not been chosen, volunteered to take the place of one of the ten.
Spiritual Warfare, the Chain of Command, and St. Equitius
Spiritual Warfare The concept of spiritual warfare reminds me of a quote widely attributed to Leon Trotsky. To wit: "You may not be interested in war, but war is interested in you." Now, there's no evidence that the old Bolshevik actually said it, but it's true. There's a battle raging, and we're all part of … Continue reading Spiritual Warfare, the Chain of Command, and St. Equitius
Whose Standard? St. Ignatius Loyola
Whose Standard Do You Follow? "Whose Standard?" That is the question posed by St. Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Jesuits. But first, would I be out of line to say that the Society of Jesus is not what it used to be? I don't want to be a Jebbie basher: I have studied under and … Continue reading Whose Standard? St. Ignatius Loyola
A Successful Failure? St. Bridget of Sweden
St. Bridget's success, and our “success” as Christians, consists in fidelity to Christ and in nothing else.
St. Philip the Deacon: Serving Tables and Serving the Lord
St. Philip the Deacon Serving tables was just a start for St. Philip and the other deacons. Today (6 June) is the feast of one of the stars of the Acts of the Apostles, St. Philip the Deacon. In addition to "the Deacon," he also bears the name St. Philip the Evangelist. We should not … Continue reading St. Philip the Deacon: Serving Tables and Serving the Lord
First Comes Marriage; Blessed Margaret Pole
The connection between our sexual conduct and our societal health is incontrovertible. At least it is for those who haven't invested in the so-called "sexual revolution. It is clear that the societal endorsement of sexual license directly undermines the institution of marriage. The breakdown of marriage in turn has a profoundly negative impact on children most immediately, and from there on everything and everyone else. First comes marriage and all the rest follows. When we put the cart before the marital horse, well . . .
Pentecost Persecution and St. Julia of Corsica
Christ sent the Holy Spirit down on his Church at Pentecost, the Church against which, he had promised Peter, the "Gates of Hell" would not prevail (Matthew 16:17) . . . but he had also promised persecution (Matthew 5:11). The Persecution was not long in coming. The same Peter who boldly addresses the wondering crowds on Pentecost will soon be writing to the early Christians: In this you rejoice, though now for a little while you may have to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold which though perishable is tested by fire, may redound to praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:6-7)
St. Thomas Aquinas on Miracles
Most of us have little expertise on miracles. And yet it's a topic that comes up often in Catholic discussions. Needless to say, a lot of confusion can ensue. It seems helpful to have something handy that is short, to the point, and clarifying. St. Thomas Aquinas has provided us with just that in his Summa Contra Gentiles.
Catching Flies With Honey: St. Mellitus of Canterbury
We can become frustrated when it seems that nobody is listening; we may find ourselves brimming over with vinegar, as it were. Perhaps if we stay calm, listen patiently, and try to focus on the love of Jesus (in other words, spread a little honey), we're more likely to have a fruitful exchange.
Why did Jesus ‘Take the Form of a Slave’?
Christ has broken our chains, but here's the catch: we need to be willing to shake them off, get up, and follow him. "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." (Matthew 16:24) . . .