This image shows two sisters working together in a kitchen to prepare a meal.

Dear Sisters: On Family -a Letter from St. Macrina the Younger

Dear Sisters: On Family — a Letter from St. Macrina the Younger  

Dear Sisters, 

Verily I tell you, family is not a mere listing of names inscribed in earthly records, but a sacred ministry of service. I had ten siblings in my family. As the eldest, I needed gifts of endurance and courage. At the age of twelve, I was betrothed to a youth of noble character who learned the laws of men. Yet, before our union could be sealed, the Lord called him to the heavenly kingdom. Instead of grief, my heart was filled with peace, for I understood that my beloved was not dead, but called away by God. As a faithful bride awaits her absent husband, I vowed to stay true and remained in my mother’s home. My mother looked after my soul and I looked after her body. She instructed me in the Wisdom of Solomon and the Psalms. Her toils became my own. I cooked and managed her accounts. I cared for my younger brothers and sisters, and I watched Basil, who liked wandering off in the cliffs like a young eagle testing its wings. Many hours I spent in holy discourse with George, for a tree bends when it is young. Peter, the youngest, knew me as a father, mother, and teacher since he was born when Father passed. 

When Naucratius, in the flower of his youth, died in a hunting accident, we were all devastated.  He was endowed with gifts of beauty, strength, and speed, and was a favorite brother of mine.  In his twenties, he chose a life of solitude and service on the banks of the Iris River. He fed the  

old and the feeble of the area with the fish that he caught at sea. It was one of these fishing expeditions that claimed his life. I bottled up my grief and prayed for the courage to comfort my family. Had our father still walked among us, his faith would have been our anchor. It pained me to see my mother drop to the floor like a “noble athlete hit by an unexpected blow.” As with my beloved husband, the Holy Spirit again showed me that young Naucratius was still living. “The soul is not extinguished in death but is transformed, like a seed planted in the earth that grows into new life.” I conveyed that it was better to rejoice in the blessings that she had than to grieve over the ones that were missing.  

Since my brothers were grown and departed our home, I was moved by divine inspiration to speak to our mother of a new calling; after all, a fallen wall can be rebuilt. I proposed that we surrender our worldly inheritance in Cappadocia, our luxuries and earthly comforts, to establish a monastery on our remote property in Annisa. There we might devote our days to prayer and service to the village poor, living as Christ taught us.  

My mother, a saint walking among us, freed all of our servants from their work so that they might dwell with us in the monastery as sisters in Christ. We fashioned our new life as a living tribute to our departed brother and the infinite love of our Savior. “God’s providence transforms what seems evil into what is good and directs all things toward the ultimate good.”

A little food, and a peaceful head. This truth I had impressed upon Basil after he returned home from all of his studies in Athens, puffed up with worldly knowledge. He demanded his silk robes and golden rings and called for his gold-trimmed chariot and Arabian steed so that he could parade into town to display his learning before the town elders. He wanted to rest his head in his stately bed, to dine with a banquet of meats, dates, and pomegranates. He summoned silverware and his chalice for wine. I was moved to remind him that we had surrendered such earthly trappings in exchange for heavenly treasures when we moved to Annisa. I reproached him, “One who sleeps full while their neighbor is hungry is not one of us.” It would do him well to stop reading books by pagan authors and study the Christian authors in our fine library. By God’s grace, these words touched his heart, and he forsook Athens for Egypt and Syria, seeking the deeper wisdom of monastic life. 

Never had I regretted my service to family, even in times of tribulation. The strength God granted me to uplift our household in times of loss was the same divine power that fortified me during the great famine of 369. I knew not how we would provide for our people, but by God’s grace, we had abundant food, and no hungry soul was ever turned from our gate. Peter helped me find abandoned children, fed them, and gave them a secure place to rest. He was instrumental in establishing a separate quarter of the monastery for men. In this way, there was a place for all who sought respite or refuge.  

Therefore, beloved sisters, remember that family is a divine action. Serve first those whom God has placed in your immediate care, for the grace earned in such service will help you serve your neighbors, your village, and your country. When weakness assails you, or discouragement darkens your path, call upon the Holy Spirit. He shall make you a handmaid of the Lord, and fill you with the spirit of helpfulness, haste, and humility. 

At your eternal service, 

Your sister Macrina

Modern Musings: Finding Family Unity in Today’s World 

St. Macrina’s life was a testimony to family unity. She kept her family together by serving her mother and working on projects with her brother Peter, such as founding one of the first dual monasteries. St. Macrina was the abyss of the women’s side and Peter ran the men’s quarters.  Family unity is harder to achieve today than in the past. First, families used to live in close  proximity, sometimes even in the same household. Families today are more likely to live in different cities, states, or even countries due to job opportunities, education, or lifestyle choices.  Although technology has helped connect families across lots of distances, overreliance on technology has also caused superficial connections i.e. sending a text instead of giving a phone call. Our busy lives have also caused long work hours and scheduling conflicts. The rise of mobile devices has created a new norm of families reclining to their own spaces and devices for entertainment, whereas before families would watch a show together on one television set.  Also, families were larger back then, with multiple generations often living together, creating natural opportunities for bonding and shared caregiving roles. Because of the decline of intergenerational living, nursing homes, senior living communities, and independent living are more common, reducing interaction between generations. 

So how can you foster family unity today? 

Here are 9 ways to build strong families: 

  1. Prioritize Quality Time 
  • Regular Family Meetings: Schedule time to check in on each other’s lives, share concerns, and celebrate milestones. 
  • Meal Times Together: Dedicate at least one meal a day to sit down together without distractions like phones or TV. 
  • Plan Activities: Organize family game nights, hikes, or movie nights to spend quality time together. 
  1. Embrace Technology Wisely 
  • Video Calls with Distant Family: Use video platforms to regularly connect with relatives who live far away. 
  • Shared Digital Spaces: Create a family group chat for daily updates, encouragement,  or sharing photos and memories. 
  • Set Screen-Free Zones: Establish areas or times (like dinner) where everyone disconnects from devices to focus on one another.
  1. Serve Each Other in Practical Ways 
  • Acts of Kindness: Surprise a family member with a simple act of kindness or charity, like making their favorite meal or helping with chores for example.
  • Share Responsibilities: Take turns with household tasks or support a family member’s workload when they’re overwhelmed. 
  • Be a Listener: Sometimes, the greatest act of service is giving your full attention to a family member who needs to talk. 
  1. Engage in Community Service Together 
  • Volunteer as a Family: Participate in activities like serving at a soup kitchen, cleaning up parks, or helping at a local charity. 
  • Support a Cause: Choose a cause important to your family and work together to make a difference, such as organizing a donation drive. 
  • Random Acts of Kindness: Spread kindness in your community, like delivering baked goods to neighbors or writing thank-you notes. 
  1. Celebrate Traditions and Create New Ones 
  • Maintain Rituals: Celebrate holidays, birthdays, or milestones with special traditions that bring everyone together. 
  • Create New Memories: Start simple traditions, like a weekly gratitude practice or a family recipe night. 
  • Honor Cultural Practices: Teach and participate in rituals or traditions that connect with your family’s heritage. 
  1. Cultivate Empathy and Understanding 
  • Express Gratitude: Regularly thank each other for the roles they play in the family.
  • Resolve Conflicts Thoughtfully: Practice active listening and open communication to address disagreements respectfully. 
  • Encourage Vulnerability: Create a safe space for family members to share their feelings without fear of judgment. 
  1. Grow Spiritually Together 
  • Pray or Meditate Together: Build a spiritual connection by sharing prayer, meditation,  or devotions. 
  • Study Together: Read religious texts or other meaningful literature and discuss how they apply to your family’s life.
  • Practice Gratitude: Reflect as a family on the things that you’re grateful for, reinforcing positivity and togetherness. 
  1. Build a Shared Vision 
  • Set Family Goals: Work together to set goals for the household, whether financial,  personal, or relational. 
  • Support Dreams: Encourage and assist each other in achieving individual goals, like career aspirations or personal growth. 
  • Collaborate on Projects: Tackle projects together, such as redecorating a room or planning a vacation, to help strengthen teamwork. 
  1. Teach and Learn Together 
  • Skill Sharing: Teach each other skills, like cooking, driving, or DIY crafts.
  • Educational Activities: Visit museums, attend workshops, or read books as a family to expand knowledge and bond. 
  • Mentor Younger Generations: Encourage older family members to share their experiences and wisdom with younger ones. 

Historical Postscript: The Life of St. Macrina the Younger: 

  • Macrina the Younger was born in 327 Caesarea, Cappadocia (What is known as  modern-day Turkey) 
  • Her parents are saints: St. Emmelia (known as the Mother of Saints) and St. Gregory the Elder 
  • Her brothers are saints: St. Basil the Great, St. Gregory of Nyssa, and St. Peter of  Sebaste
  • Two out of the three Cappadocian Fathers (influential theologians of the 4th century living in Cappadocia) were her brothers. In fact, many argue that she should be  considered the 4th Cappadocian 
  • She founded a monastery at Annisa (by the Iris River), which influenced her brother St.  Basil the Great. He shaped his monastic rules based on his sister’s monastery
  • Macrina was the firstborn of ten children 
  • She stayed with her mother throughout her entire life; her mother claimed she never  stopped bearing Macrina for she carried her always 
  • Her feast day is July 19 
  • She is venerated in the Eastern Orthodox Church and Roman Catholic Church
  • What we know of St. Macrina comes from the writings of her brother St. Gregory of  Nyssa. He wrote Life of Saint Macrina and On the Soul and Resurrection, a dialogue  with Macrina 
  • She was named after her paternal grandmother, St. Macrina the Elder, who preserved  the teachings of St. Gregory Thaumaturgus 
  • She received extensive education in scripture and sacred writings, particularly the  Wisdom literature of Solomon 
  • She was betrothed at age 12, but remained unmarried after her fiancé’s death,  dedicating herself to Christ 
  • She was instrumental in the conversion and spiritual formation of her brother Basil after  his return from Athens 
  • She established one of the first double monasteries, housing both men and women in  separate quarters 
  • She developed innovative monastic practices that influenced Eastern monasticism
  • She is known for her theological discourse on the soul and resurrection
  • She practiced extreme asceticism while maintaining remarkable charity toward others
  • She developed a unique form of communal monastic life that emphasized both work and prayer 
  • She demonstrated exceptional administrative skills in managing the family estate and  monastery 
  • She survived persecution under Emperor Valens, who opposed Orthodox Christianity
  • She provided theological education to countless disciples who sought her wisdom
  • She is renowned for her healing ministry and care for the sick 
  • She established schools for orphans and children of the poor 
  • She developed methods of manuscript preservation and copying 
  • She interpreted scripture with profound insight, particularly the Psalms
  • She practiced and taught contemplative prayer 
  • She died in 379, the same year as her brother Basil 
  • She is respected for her role in developing Christian understanding of death and  resurrection 
  • She is commemorated for her influence on both male and female religious life

Further Correspondence: St. Macrina’s Patronage and  Associations 

St. Macrina the Younger is not traditionally associated with a specific patronage in the way that some saints are (e.g., St. Anthony for lost items or St. Francis for animals). However, her life  and legacy might make her an inspirational figure for particular groups or causes: 

Possible Patronages or Associations 

  1. Theologians and Scholars: 

○ St. Macrina played a significant role as a theologian, deeply influencing her brothers, St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory of Nyssa, in their theological work.  She is often recognized for her wisdom and contributions to early Christian thought. 

  1. Older Siblings:  

St. Macrina was the eldest of ten siblings. She cared for them and instructed them in religious studies. She often reprimanded St. Basil when his ego was puffed up from his studies. She uplifted St. Gregory when Emperor Valens stripped him of his position as a Bishop of Nyssa. 

○ As an educator, especially for her brothers, St. Macrina might be seen as a model for teachers and mentors, particularly in faith and moral instruction.

3. Ascetics and Monastics: 

○ Her commitment to a life of prayer, fasting, and asceticism makes her an inspirational figure for those who pursue a monastic or ascetic lifestyle. 

  1. Family Unity and Service: 

○ St. Macrina never left her mother’s side. She helped her with housework,  finances, and child-rearing.  

  1. Women in Leadership Roles: 

○ As a woman who profoundly shaped the spiritual and intellectual lives of others,  she serves as an example for women in leadership, particularly within religious and educational contexts. 

  1. Charity

○ St. Macrina’s monastery was widely known for its generosity. They fed the country during a famine, picking up those laid out on the side of the road and children abandoned by their parents.

 

copyright 2025 Janet Tamez

Edited by Angela Lano

Mother Seton, Elizabeth Ann Seton at Emmittsburg, Maryland

What are you looking for?

“The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, ‘What are you looking for?’” John 1:38

 

My favorite hymn when I was a child was, Here I Am, Lord. I loved the rhythm and the simple prose, and I thought the sentiment behind the words was lovely even if I didn’t quite understand their importance. As an adult, the song continues to be my favorite hymn, and it brings tears to my eyes every single time I hear it. Though I still love the music and the words, it’s the deeper meaning that gets to me now. Jesus asks us to serve, and we need to respond like Samuel and the Apostles, ready to answer and do His will.

Awaiting God’s Call

This month, we celebrate the feast day of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, our first American-born saint. Two of my three daughters graduated from Mount St. Mary’s in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Emmitsburg was the home and final resting place of Mother Seton. Mother Seton to Emmitsburg moved in 1809, where she founded the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph’s, the first community for religious women established in the United States. It was in Emmitsburg where she also began St. Joseph’s Academy and Free School, the beginning of Catholic education in the United States. 

Before becoming a nun, Elizabeth was a wife and mother. She was not Catholic but was very religious. While nursing her sick husband in Italy, she learned about Catholicism from friends who lived there and was intrigued by the Church and its sacred traditions. The more she learned and attended Mass, the more she felt called to become Catholic.

Hearing God’s Call

Years, later, she heard the call to become a nun, and later, she heard the call to found the order and the school in Emmitsburg. 

Mother Seton wrote, “We know certainly that our God calls us to a holy life. We know that he gives us every grace, every abundant grace; and though we are so weak of ourselves, this grace is able to carry us through every obstacle and difficulty.”

Many generations before Mother Seton, Jesus asked Andrew and John, “What are you looking for?” (John 1:38) They immediately followed Him, asking where He was staying. Then they sought others and encouraged them to join as well (Andrew’s brother, Simon, John’s brother, James, and Andrew’s friend, Phillip). Without hesitating, they answered Jesus’ question with their actions. 

Jesus still asks this question, but so many fail to hear it or understand from whom it comes. So many of us spend our lives searching for meaning, for happiness, for belonging when Jesus openly and willingly offers us all that and more. When faced with Jesus’ question, we look for the answer in other people, in media and entertainment, or in addictions, and often overlook the most basic, most obvious places—Holy Scripture, the Mass, the Church. It was in the Church, at Mass, and through the sacraments that Mother Seton heard the call to convert, to become a nun, to serve, and to teach.

Answering God’s Call

We, too, are being called. We can hear God’s voice each time we attend Mass, go to Confession, or seek the Lord in Adoration. He is calling out to us to help Him build His Kingdom, to serve, to teach, and to bring others to Him.

Listen for the voice of Jesus in your daily life. Shut out the noise and the distractions. Be alert and awake. He is asking, “What are you looking for?” All you need to do is answer in the same way Mother Seton did, “Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will,” (1 Samuel 3:8, Psalm 40:9). “Speak, for your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:10).

Let us pray, “Oh my God, forgive what I have been, correct what I am, and direct what I shall be” (St. Elizabeth Seton). Amen.

 

copyright 2025 Amy Schisler

Edited by Heather Gaffney

Our Luminous Eucharist

Our Luminous Eucharist

St. Pope John Paul II, in his 2002 apostolic letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae, added five new mysteries to the traditional Rosary. He called them “luminous,” and referred to them as Mysteries of Light, because they “demonstrate the light of God manifested through Jesus.” (1)

‘”… It is during the years of his public ministry that the mystery of Christ is most evidently a mystery of light: ‘While I am in the world, I am the light of the world’ (Jn 9:5).'” (2)

The culminating mystery is titled Institution of the Eucharist. We’ve just finished celebrating that fifth luminous mystery on Holy Thursday, to open the great Triduum of Easter 2024.

From the beginning of the church, many saints, theologians, and mystics throughout the world have devoted themselves to private prayer before the blessed sacrament in adoration and discernment.

The scriptural words of Jesus about his body and blood are clear and specific, but even during his earthly lifetime, many of his followers abandoned him because they were so difficult to accept (John 6:53-66). 

As John A. Harmon S.J. has demonstrated, knowledge of the properties and development of doctrines about the body and blood of Christ have evolved over time. (3).

The thirteenth century was a period of flourishing growth for both.

At the University of Paris, St. Albert the Great (1200-1280), the mentor of St. Thomas Aquinas, was translating Aristotle and “… established the study of nature as a legitimate science within the Christian tradition.” (4) 

Blessed Carlos Acutis’ list of eucharistic miracles includes no less than twenty-three that occurred between the years 1194 and 1297.

Ten are bleeding hosts, including two of the most reliable, Santarem, and Bolsena which was witnessed by St. Thomas Aquinas and Pope Urban IV. One is St. Clare’s remarkable defense of her convent against barbarian invaders with prayers and the blessed sacrament exposed in a monstrance. (5)

Today, April 6, is the traditional feast day of a more obscure thirteenth-century abbess who has been almost — but not quite — forgotten by history.

Although her feast been celebrated for more than 150 years (6), her name does not appear in the Proper Calendar for the Dioceses of the United States of America (7) nor on an extensive list of historical saints at Catholic Online (8).

She’s known, however, in Galway Cathedral (9); to the students of Saint Ignatius High School in Cleveland, Ohio (10); Our Sunday Visitor’s Simply Catholic in Indiana (11); EWTN; (12) the Encyclopedia Britannica (13); and she appears in Catholic Encyclopedia (14).

At his General Audience at St. Peter’s Square in Rome on November 17, 2010, Pope Benedict XVI spoke about this humble woman, who was orphaned at the age of five and raised by Augustinian nuns.

“… She is little known but the Church is deeply indebted to her, not only because of the holiness of her life but also because, with her great fervour, she contributed to the institution of one of the most important solemn Liturgies of the year: Corpus Christi …

“She is St. Juliana de Cornillon, also known as St. Juliana of Liège …

“When Juliana was 16, she had her first vision which recurred subsequently several times during her Eucharistic adoration. Her vision presented the moon in its full splendour, crossed diametrically by a dark stripe. The Lord made her understand the meaning of what had appeared to her. The moon symbolized the life of the Church on earth, the opaque line, on the other hand, represented the absence of a liturgical feast for whose institution Juliana was asked to plead effectively: namely, a feast in which believers would be able to adore the Eucharist so as to increase in faith, to advance in the practice of the virtues and to make reparation for offences to the Most Holy Sacrament …” (15)

The Vision of Saint Juliana of Mont Cornillon (b. c. 1191-1193, d. 1258) Philippe de Champaigne (1602-1674), Barber Institute of Fine Arts, University of Birmingham Public Domain, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Juliana kept her visions secret for twenty years before she began to speak about them, first with two close friends who shared her devotion, and then her confessor, Canon John of Lausanne.

Her bishop, Robert de Thorete, established the first liturgical feast of the Body and Blood of Christ in his Diocese of Liège in 1246. (16) With support from St. Thomas Aquinas, Pope Urban IV established Corpus Christi as a solemn liturgical feast for the entire Roman Catholic Church in 1264. (17)

But Our Lord first entrusted his mission to one solitary woman, on her knees in adoration before his luminous presence. St. Juliana persevered through many obstacles for over forty years, and she lived to see it fulfilled.

You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.

Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house.

Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” Matthew 5:14-16 (18)

St. Juliana of Liège, pray for us.

(Lüttich is the German spelling of French Liège) Insert: Kath. Pfarrkirche St. Gordian und Epimachus, Merazhofen, Stadt Leutkirch im Allgäu, Landkreis Ravensburg Chorgestühl, 1896, Bildhauer: Peter Paul Metz. Unmodified Photo: by Andreas Praefcke, CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

 

©Copyright 2024 by Margaret King Zacharias

Feature image: Map of Liège (Belgium) in the 16th century engraved on copper by Julius Milheuser in 1627 and published

by Johannes Blaeu in Amsterdam in 1649, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Images of St. Juliana of Lieges: 

St.-Juliana-at-Blessed-Sacrament-with-Moon-Champaigne-sainte-Julienne-Barber-Institute-Birmingham.jpeg

St.-Juliana-of-Kath.-Pfarrkirche-St.-Gordian-und-Epimachus-Merazhofen-Stadt-Leutkirch-im-Allgau-Landkreis-Ravensburg-Chorgestuhl-1896-Bildhauer-Peter-Paul-Metz.jpeg

Notes:

  1. https://www.nationalshrine.org/blog/a-guide-to-the-luminous-mysteries-at-the-

basilica/#:~:text=Instituted%20by%20Pope%20John%20Paul,of%20God%20manifested%20through%20Jesus.

  1. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252575/the-reasons-st-john-paul-ii-gave-for-adding-the-luminous-mysteries-to-

the-rosary

  1. https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/history-of-eucharistic-adoration-development-of-doctrine-in-the-

catholic-church-4086#

  1. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Albertus-Magnus
  2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eucharistic_miracle
  3. https://www.galwaycathedral.ie/news/saint-month-st-juliana-

liege#:~:text=Juliana%20was%20canonised%20in%201869,of%20Liège%2C%20pray%20for%20us.

  1. https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year-and-calendar/proper-calendar
  2. https://www.catholic.org/saints/stindex.php
  3. https://www.galwaycathedral.ie/news/saint-month-st-juliana-

liege#:~:text=Juliana%20was%20canonised%20in%201869,of%20Liège%2C%20pray%20for%20us.

  1. https://www.ignatius.edu/news/june-2022/st-juliana-s-line-through-the-moon
  2. https://www.simplycatholic.com/st-juliana-of-liege/
  3. https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/st-juliana-of-cornillon-6285
  4. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Feast-of-Corpus-Christi
  5. https://catholicism.en-academic.com/18765/St._Juliana_of_Liege
  6. https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/audiences/2010/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20101117.html
  7. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juliana_of_Liège
  8. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feast_of_Corpus_Christi
  9. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/5

 

 

 

 

Saint Joseph: A Man for All Women

Saint Joseph: A Man for All Women

Forget all your impressions and expectations of the “leading man” or “action hero.” Only one man can truly be described as the “strong, silent type.” For all the winning generals in history, it was a humble carpenter who outwitted the evil King Herod, putting an end to the plan to disrupt salvation history. For all the outstanding preachers and theologians who so deftly interpret the word of God, just one groom waiting for his betrothed to enter his home understood so clearly and personally God’s messages to him and the world. For all the loving husbands past and present, one cherished his wife’s purpose and mission so much he made it his own. Out of all the devoted fathers who ever lived, only one was chosen to successfully raise and protect the Savior of the World.

That’s why St. Joseph, spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, foster father to the Son of God, and head, provider, and protector of the Holy Family is not just a man’s man, but a woman’s man―at every stage, difficulty, and season of her life.

Scripture presents St. Joseph as a man of faith and action. In Meet Your Spiritual Father, author Mark Miravalle lists 13 “major New Testament references” to his life (pp 25-26). St. Joseph’s success in all these life and death missions can be boiled down to a knowledge of Scripture and love of God, which gave him the willingness and confidence to act. Unlike the young Samuel who did not know the Lord and therefore, did not recognize His voice when He repeatedly called him (cf. 1 Samuel 3:7), God’s word through His messenger angels provided clarity to St. Joseph to respond immediately (cf. Mt 1:20-25, Mt 2:13-15).

St. Joseph, therefore, is a great intercessor, leading women to clarity for action and to delve into the Word of God. He brings devotees ultimately to know and hear God’s voice. The Litany of St. Joseph provides no fewer than 24 roles and wonders this great and underappreciated man is known for, all of which are beautifully and comprehensively detailed in Fr. Donald Calloway’s book, Consecration to St. Joseph.

St. Joseph was the strength center of his family. Women―single and married, with children and without, who are providers, protectors, and caretakers―are also often expected to be the strength center of their lives. In the most supportive of environments, parenting takes wisdom, patience and many other virtues that few of us have even on a good day. Many mothers are the head of the family. St. Joseph, ever the provider and protector of the Holy Family, listened for and heeded the Divine messages he received. He knew that the Father would lead him; he just needed to listen. It could only be Joseph’s unyielding devotion to the Lord and study of scripture that led him without hesitation to listen to the angel who spoke to him in a dream, understanding its significance to mankind (cf. Matthew 1:21-23).

Single women who desire to be married can ask for St. Joseph’s intercession to find a good man. God chose Joseph specifically for Mary. He wants to choose a good man for each woman, but He wants to be asked. Single women can ask St. Joseph to pray on their behalf to the Holy Spirit to reveal and discern when the right man comes along. St. Joseph saw Mary’s grace-filled and sinless soul, and his prayerful intercession can help women see themselves as the beautiful and pure souls that God created.

Women who are without fathers, either through abandonment or death, can find comfort in St. Joseph. God entrusted him to care for the Blessed Virgin and the Son of God. If he can take care of them, he can take care of every girl feeling the loss of her father. Any girl or woman who misses her father can ask St. Joseph to be her foster father and help lead her to the Father of us all.

Aging raises uncomfortable issues―added dependence on family and strangers, financial strain, and health difficulties. Thoughts, not just of dying, but how we will die become more prominent. These are frightening thoughts as we relinquish more control over our daily lives. St. Joseph lived his life with chastity and dignity. Pray for his guidance entering later years, to look upon a life with humility and benevolence, seek the peace of Jesus Christ with the assistance of a strong confessor, and to prepare for a happy death.

St. Joseph, pray for us women.


Copyright 2024 Mary McWilliams

Photo: Stained glass window of Mary & Joseph by Valentine D’Ogries. Photo by Mary McWilliams

References:
Consecration to Saint Joseph. Donald H. Calloway, MIC. 2020, Marian Press. Stockbridge, MA.
Meet Your Spiritual Father: A Brief Introduction to St. Joseph. Mark Miravalle. 2015, Lighthouse Media, Sycamore, IL & Marian Press, Stockbridge, MA.

Roses and Ashes

Gather ye Rose-buds while ye may,
Old Time is still a-flying:
And this same flower that smiles today,
Tomorrow will be dying.

 Robert Herrick, “To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time” 1648

In a rare, but not unprecedented, synchronicity this month, St. Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday will fall on the same day. These two dates last came together in 2018, and they will do it again in 2029. According to the Fayetteville Observer, this convergence seems to happen approximately three times in every one-hundred-years. The Twentieth Century also recorded three occurrences, in 1923, 1934, and 1945. (1)

The origins of our contemporary St. Valentine’s Day celebration are hidden in history. Even Roman Catholic sources record an astounding variety, of what can perhaps best be regarded as legends. He may have been a priest, a bishop, and/or a physician. It’s unclear whether the stories that have been combined under this saint’s name include the life one man, or the lives of two.

There is some evidence that, on an actual occasion, a prisoner named Valentine left a letter for his jailer’s daughter signed, “from your Valentine.” He’s said to have healed the child of her blindness; we all prefer to believe he did. He may well have converted her to Christianity. He might have converted her father, too. Plausible evidence does exist that a man named Valentine was imprisoned and martyred for his Christian faith. Other tales suggest that the little girl, and possibly her father, died with him. (2)

One fact is clear, that the official liturgical calendar of the United States makes no reference to a saint’s feast on February 14. On the USCCB website, it’s marked only with a purple dot indicating a day of Lent. There is no alternate reading for a saint’s feast day. (3)

Another mystery is how a saint, whom most legends report died as a martyr for his Faith, came to be a symbol of chocolate, flowers, and every other sort of indulgent romantic concupiscence.

Ash Wednesday, on the other hand, is a reminder of the death we all will experience. The Latin counsel memento mori, “remember you will die,” dates back to the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates, from sometime before his death in 399 B.C. (4).

The use of ashes as a symbol of penance and anointing for death by the Hebrews is documented in the Old Testament books of Esther 4:1, 484-465 B.C.; Job 42:6, 700-500 B.C.; Daniel 9:3, circa 550 B.C.; and Jonah 3:5-6, circa 500 B.C. (5)

Eleanor Fortescue-Brickdale, Illustration from The Book of Old English Songs and Ballads, Circa 1920; Public
domain, via Wikimedia Commons

A solemn recognition of Ash Wednesday has been practiced since the earliest days of Christianity. The words, “For you are dust, and to dust you shall return,” from Genesis 3:19 (6), have been spoken through millennia in both the Eastern and Roman Catholic churches. They are still used for Ash Wednesday services in many Protestant churches today, as well. 

But the question remains. What meaning can we discern from this mysterious union of love with death, that seems to appear as a trinity in multiple centuries?

For one answer, we might turn again to scripture, and discover that Song of Songs is the only one of three writings classified by biblical scholars as ‘Wisdom books’ that appears in Protestant bibles. Our Catholic Bibles contain all three, with the Book of Wisdom and the Book of Sirach included (7). Here is another trinity.

The Song, also called Canticle of Canticles, is a romantic poem that evokes all the sensual joys of earthly lovers, as metaphors that describe God’s desirous love for us. In Christian churches it is read as allegory (8). The determination of the bride to reach her lover, and the strength of their bond, represent the Sacrament of Matrimony on earth and Christ’s love for His Bride, the Church, in eternity.

When the cross of ashes, death, and dust is marked on our foreheads again this year — and the day wavers from joy, to penance, and grief — may we remember the powerful lover who awaits us, and continue to sing the Canticle:

“… Set me as a seal upon your heart,

as a seal upon your arm;

For Love is strong as Death …

Deep waters cannot quench love,

nor rivers sweep it away …

 … You who dwell in the gardens,

my companions are listening for your voice–

let me hear it!

Swiftly, my lover,

be like a gazelle or a young stag

upon the mountain of spices.”

Song (Cant.) 8:6-7, 13-14 (9)

John William Waterhouse, Gather Ye Rosebuds While Ye May; 1909, Public domain, via Wikimedia
Commons.

© Copyright 2024 by Margaret King Zacharias

Featured Photo: John William Waterhouse, Gather Ye Rosebuds While Ye May,1908, Public domain, via
Wikimedia Commons.
Footnotes for Roses and Ashes and Sources for Further Reading
  1. https://www.fayobserver.com/story/news/live-wire/2018/02/06/live-wire-when-was-last-time-ash-wednesday-and-valentines-day-were-same-date/15307391007/#
  1. For a few different perspectives, see:
https://www.catholic.com/magazine/online-edition/will-the-real-st-valentine-please-stand-up
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Valentine
https://www.catholiceducation.org/en/culture/catholic-contributions/history-of-st-valentine.html
  1. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021424.cfm
  2. https://dailystoic.com/what-is-memento-mori/#:~:text=Memento%20Mori%20—%20(Latin%3A%20remember,but%20dying%20and%20being%20dead.”
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Socrates
  1. https://catholicstraightanswers.com/what-are-the-origins-of-ash-wednesday-and-the-use-of-ashes/
  1. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/genesis/3
  1. https://www.artesianministries.org/bible-study/why-are-catholic-and-protestant-bibles-different/
  1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Song_of_Songs
9. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/songofsongs/8

Everyday Holiness

Everyday Holiness

When I received the news that my first published short story had not only been accepted, but also chosen as the opening gambit for a travel writing anthology that included pieces by several well-known authors, my first thought was, “I have to call Mom and tell her I got the lead. She’ll be so excited.”  And then I remembered.

The woman who nurtured my first crayon scribbles, and typed my long-procrastinated school term papers on an old manual typewriter, had already been absent for fifteen years by then. Even now, thirty-four years after her death, I still get the same urge to call and tell her, whenever there’s happy family news.

Anyone who has ever lost a beloved family member, or cherished friend, understands.

This past week we’ve celebrated two special liturgies that traditionally open the month of November. They encourage us to honor all the saints in heaven, and to remember our beloved dead.

The Roman Catholic liturgical calendar gives a rhythm to our lives, alternating ordinary days with special feasts and dramatic seasons: Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter and Pentecost.

But we don’t just remember our lost loved ones on the Solemnity of All Saints or at a Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed.

The simplest things can suddenly trigger a memory: the smell of a favorite family meal simmering in the kitchen; a glimpse of the lamp burning late into the night while a parent stays up late to pay bills; a toddler’s smile greeting us in the morning over a crib rail; the precious small gift from a thoughtful friend who somehow always knew just what we needed, and when.

Amidst many speeches that marked my oldest son’s baccalaureate ceremonies, the university dean who spoke at his academic awards assembly made a particular point for the new graduates. His words held a wisdom that has remained with me.

“It’s not this ceremony that’s important,” he said. “Or that splendid certificate that you’re about to receive. We’re celebrating all the mornings over the past four years that you got out of bed and went to class, all the nights you studied in the library instead of partying, all the papers you wrote with extra care, everything you did that led up to this day. Yes, today you’ll be ascending the stage, you’ll hear lots of applause, and your families are gathered here to celebrate with you. But it’s those ordinary days, the good choices you made one after another, the habits you established, that are your most important awards. They’re what you’ll take with you wherever you go for the rest of your lives.” (1)

In our Mass readings this weekend both liturgies contrast humility and charity with arrogance and entitlement.

Today’s Memorial of St. Charles Borromeo incorporates an Alleluia verse that is also used to celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus:

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, For I am meek and humble of heart.” Matthew 11:29ab. (2)

In the Gospel reading, our Lord advises us “. . . do not recline at table in the place of honor . . . when you are invited, go and take the lowest place . . .” Luke 14:1, 7-11. (3)

Readings for the Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time contrast a mother’s affectionate care and a child’s implicit trust, in the Responsorial Psalm 131: 1,2,3, with Our Lord’s condemnation of arrogant scribes and Pharisees, in the Gospel from Matthew 23: 1-12. (4)

St. Charles Cares for the Plague Victims of Milan by Jacob Jordaens (1593-1678), St. James Church, Antwerp, Belgium, public domain via Wikimedia Commons

St. Charles Borromeo was born in a castle on the shores of Lake Maggiore. His father was a Count of Lombardy whose aristocratic family’s shield bore the motto, “humilitas.”

His mother was Margherita de Medici, whose younger brother became Pope Pius IV. (5).

The paintings featured here commemorate St. Charles Borromeo’s assistance to the poor during a famine in Milan; and his refusal to leave the city after an outbreak of the plague. He remained behind in his own episcopal see while many other bishops and clergy fled. He stayed to pray for his people as their archbishop, and administered the sacraments to plague victims.

Even while he was serving as a papal representative to the Council of Trent, and performing as a leading figure in the Counter-Reformation, St. Charles Borromeo never forgot his family motto, humility; or the Jesus who washed his own apostles’ filthy feet.

Both of these paintings, and many more found in museums and churches across Europe (6), document St. Charles Borromeo’s devotion to the humble Virgin Mary. Her vivid presence in so many of his portraits reveals the close relationship they shared in his charitable work, in his intercession for the people of Milan, and in his dedication to the universal Church.

This November — while we’re preparing for Thanksgiving and the Solemnity of Jesus Christ, King of the Universe — may we, too, remember to practice the extraordinary virtues of ordinary everyday holiness.

©Copyright 2023 by Margaret King Zacharias

Feature Photo: Intercession of Charles Borromeo Supported by the Virgin Mary by Johann Michael Rottmayr (1656-1730) in the collection of Karlskirche, Vienna Austria, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Notes:

  1. Personal communication.
  2. (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110423.cfm).
  3. (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110423.cfm).
  4. (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110523.cfm).
  5. (https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03619a.htm)
  6. (https://www.christianiconography.info/charlesBorromeo.html).