My Ramblins' on the last day of 2008

I just can't believe that this is the last day of 2008 and a New Year is upon us. This year i started with this blog, not knowing how to start and even if i wanted to do this. I may not have been here with some regularity or rhythm. This has been a year of surprises in Politics, finances, and weather around this nation and around the global village.
Having followed the Church's Season's too, i want to share some meaningful passages of these past few days from the Liturgy of the Hours. Passages that reflect our faith in Christ, Col 2:4-15 -Reflections "I tell you all this so that no one my delude you with specious arguments. I may be absent in body but I am with you in spirit, happy to see good order among you and the firmness of your faith in Christ."
" See to it that no one deceives you through any empty, seductive philosophy that follows mere human traditions, a philosophy based on cosmic powers rather than on Christ."
" He canceled the bond that stood against us with all its claims, snatching it up and nailing it to the cross. Thus did God disarm the principalities and powers. "

From a sermon by Saint Leo the Great, Pope
"For every believer regenerated in Christ, no matter in what part of the whole world he may be, breaks with that ancient way of life that derives from original sin, and by rebirth is transformed into a new man."

St. Stephen Martyr

It has been awhile since I last blogged, and many national international events have occurred. I want to share Jesus' words to his disciples that are appropriate to our times.
Matthew 10:17-20 "Beware of people" who will persecute and you and haul you into court. But he moves quickly to God's work in all this: You will be led before governors..for my sake as a witness.""Do not worry,"he counsels,"about how to speak or what you are to say...For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you."

Acts 6:10 "but they could not withstand his wisdom and conviction."

And as a result of his zeal and plain speaking, Stephen was put to death. He too followed Jesus' command not to worry but let the Spirit give him the right words to speak.
We too should listen for the Spirit and do our best to speak as we think he is leading us.
As Stephen and Paul, we know that our lives are in God's hands and that he will never abandon us.

"Holy Spirit, help me discern and welcome the opportunities you give me today to proclaim Jesus, both in the way I live and the words as you inspire."

Feast of St. Elizabeth of Hungary - Patroness of the the Third Order Franciscans

St. Elizabeth of Hungary born 1207 to King Andrew and Queen of Hungary. She was given in marriage to Louis the Count of Thuringia and bore him three children. She erected a hospital next to the castle that she lived in. She cared for the poor, and the sick. She died in 1231 and was canonized. Also she is the Patroness of Nurses.(to be expanded)

Saint Elizabeth did every kind of good work.She recognized Christ in the poor of this world.

The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica

This the feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica, St. John Lateran commonly called, is situtated on the Caelian hill, Rome Italy. This is a celebration of everything the church is meant to be as the Body of Christ in this world. It can be the place where we meet Almighty God face-to face. It is rightly called St. John being named after the Evangelist. It is the Cathedral Church of the Pope in his role as the Bishop of Rome. It is also regarded as the "Mother Church" for Roman Catholicism, the first among all other churches and dioceses and cathedrals thoughout the world.

TheSolemnity of the Stigmata of St. Francis of Assisi

The Stigmata of our Holy Father Francis- from the beginning of his conversion our Father St. Francis had a very great devotion and veneration for Christ crucified and never ceased to preach this devotion till his death. While rapt in deep contemplation in the year 1224 on Mt. Alverna, Christ the Lord by a miracle imprinted the marks of his passion on the saint's body. Pope Benedict XI permitted the Franciscan Order to celebrate annually on this day the memory of this extraordinary even attested by reliable witnesses.

Franciscan Martyrs of the French Revolution

They are Fr.John Francis Burte, OFM Conv, Apollinaris Morel de Posat,OFM Cap., and Severin Girault,T.O.R. who along with many other martyrs refused to take the schismatic oath prescribed by civil law. They were unwavering in their loyalty to the Catholic faith. This upheaval of the 18th c. in France wrought havoc in all things sacred and profane and vented its fury against the Church and her servants. Some unscrupulous men came into power who concealed their hatred for the Church under the deceptive guise of philosophy. They wanted to uproot the Christian faith completely. It seemed like the early persecutions had returned. The Church became resplendent with bright new crowns of martyrdom. Fr. John Baptist Triquiere, a Conventual Friar who was renowned for his priestly zeal and Franciscan way of life openly declared himself a follower of St. Francis of Assisi and said "I keep faith with Christ till death."
Some of those martyred were beatified by Pope Pius XI and his successor Pius XII enrolled the rest among the blessed.
Prayer:
Lord, God, grant to us to pursue with fitting devotion the faith of blessed John Francis, Severin and their companion martyrs. They served your Church faithfully till the end and merited to receive the palm of martyrdom. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Patron of the Secular Franciscan Order - St. Louis IX of France

St. Louis, King of France, is a co-patron of the Secular Franciscan Order and TOR, Third Order Regular, along with St. Elizabeth of Hungary, 1214-1270. At the age of 12 yrs. he became king.
His mother, Blanche of Castile, ruled until Louis was 19. He and Margaret of Provence had 11 children to whom Louis gave excellent training. He was particularly noted for his spirit of penance, prayer, and love for the poor. In ruling France, he showed concern for the peace of his people and their spiritual welfare. He had a passion to free the Holy Land from the Moslems by leading a crusade but he died near Carthage.
Earlier in his life, Franciscans friars were among his instructors; eventually he became a Secular Franciscan. He fasted during Advent and on Fridays. He was generous in founding hospitals, building churches and promoting learning.
His greatest achievement was to rule his kingdom in the light of the Gospel. He always considered God's law superior to his own laws.
He died on his second crusade and was canonized in 1297.