Good Friday

Site 24: Jerusalem, Israel 

Today I want to share with you my visit to Golgotha, where Christ’s cross stood.  Below the altar you see in the center, is a hole through which you can touch the rock of the hill itself–the hill where Jesus died.  In the lit cases on either side of the altar, you can see the rock.

In the photos below, you’ll see the chamber where crosses were discarded after crucifixions took place.  The second of the two photos shows the holes in the top of the chamber

 through which the crosses were deposited.  It is said that Jesus’ cross was discovered amidst the heap of them because when ill people touched that one, they were healed of their ailments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can find today’s readings here: USCCB

January 24 – Saint Francis de Sales

I am unable to take you on a pilgrimage today.  Being in the midst of exams, going fuori Roma is not a possibility at the moment. More unfortunate still is the fact that the relics of Saint Francis de Sales were lost in the French Revolution.  So, we’re going to celebrate Saint Francis de Sales today staycation style right here in Rome.

This saint has quite a lot to teach us.  As we celebrate him I refer you all to exploring his writing, which he chalks full of quotable wisdom.  A few books you can start your search with are, Introduction to the Devout Life, The Catholic Controversy, or Finding God’s Will for You.

Saint Francis lived in the 16 and 17th centuries and left several significant influences on society.  He actively confronted protestantism with the Church teaching, and advocated commitment to living the Faith in the midst of common life.  Saint Francis de Sales is a doctor of the Church, and indeed his writing makes evident his great capacity to teach the Faith.

Here are a few gems of Francis de Sales wisdom that may inspire you to discover our celebrated saint a bit further:

Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength.

Half an hour’s meditation each day is essential, except when you are busy.  Then a full hour is needed.

Do not wish to be anything but what you are, and try to be that perfectly.

St. Francis de Sales, pray for us!

Christmas novena

Good morning everyone,

We’re in the last nine days before Christmas i.e., on the final stretch of our path to make straight before Christ arrives.   The Christmas novena may help you make a good last leg of the journey.   I share it with you now via the pray more novenas website.

Today is actually day two of the novena, so I apologize for sharing it with you a day late.  But no worries, we can still join in, and I think it would be worth our while.  So, let’s pray:

Opening Prayer

O Lord, Word of God, You, whose glory is complete, came to us in perfect humility as a child in the womb. Your love for us and humility is unsurpassed and brings us to our knees in prayer and worship.

Your incarnation forever changed the world.

All Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning is now and forever shall be, world without end.

Amen.

Day 1 – Joy

O Lord, infant Jesus, fill us with Joy! The birth of any child is a cause for joy and so much more is the birth of You our Savior. We pray in union with Mary, Your mother, for a greater joy this Christmas.

Day 2 – Humility

O Lord, infant Jesus, grant us great humility! You gave us the model of perfect humility in your incarnation, life and death. We pray for a greater Humility this Christmas.

Closing Prayers

We pray also for these intentions… (State your intentions here)

May Your Holy Will be done in my life and with these intentions.

We pray that the work of salvation that Your first coming began will reach fulfillment in each of us.

All Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning is now and forever shall be, world without end.

Amen

 

November 30 – St. Andrew apostle

Site 13: Amalfi, Italy

tomb of St. Andrew

Today brings us to Amalfi, Italy to celebrate the feast of Saint Andrew.  

Andrew was one of Jesus’ twelve apostles as well as the brother of Saint Peter.  The intersection of these two characteristics actually, is my favorite thing about Saint Andrew.  When Jesus approaches the Twelve in their boat on the stormy water of the Galilean Sea, Andrew calls his brother to come see.  This is actually the episode (Mt 14:29) when Peter walks on water by faith in Christ who enables him to do so.

But the lesser told story behind Peter walking on water is that his brother, Andrew, saw Jesus first. Andrew calls his brother to come see Christ approaching their boat.  The ensuing episode of Peter stepping out onto stormy sea water and treading it afoot like Christ does, is one of the many feats Jesus would perform in Peter’s life, ultimately founding His Church on Saint Peter.  Peter, receives a privileged gift from Jesus to walk so closely to Him that Peter becomes the first successor to lead the Church after Jesus—a huge esteem!  Andrew fulfills his role in God’s masterful plan by pushing Peter forward to shine in the role Christ calls him to.  By humility and selfless love, Andrew assumes the beauty of God’s role for him.  

Andrew is a good patron for all brothers out there, by his demonstration of selfless love.  Truly though, we are all brothers.  The people God places in our lives are His children, and when we see them that way, we open ourselves to the call God gives each of us to love them, our brothers.

Seaside Amalfi, where we ventured to find Saint Andrew’s tomb.

 

St. Andrew, pray for us!