"Christian, Recognize Your Dignity!" counsels Pope St Leo the Great

Today is Pope St Leo's feast day!  And in this article, I share one of my favorite quotes from Christian history... an exhortation from Pope Leo the Great -- who really walked the talked!  And I describe it in the context of a dramatic showdown between Pope Leo and the notorious Attila the Hun. Here's a little teaser:

Attila the Hun was busy ransacking the countryside and most of Italy. His plan included the sack of Rome. Attila hoped to add it to his real estate holdings, thinking it a surefire way to impress his then-girlfriend, whom he was intent on adding to his collection of wives.

So, it would seem, Leo was in trouble, seeing that he and Attila were somewhat at cross-purposes -- Leo, wanting to protect Rome and keep its citizens alive, and Attila looking to attack and plunder the city.

Talk about a tough ministry assignment for Leo! Given the mounting evidence of the other cities and towns that had fallen under Attila's bulldozing ways, I'd say that Leo might be down to his last prayer. But prayer is exactly how Leo approached the situation.

Pope Leo promptly committed his papacy to the patronage and protection of St. Peter, the apostle and first pope.

What's more, Leo had arranged a meeting with Attila outside of the city.

A meeting?!

Hmmm . . . can you picture the pope's secretary fretting just a bit over this?

Um, uh, Holy Father? A meeting with a bloodthirsty murdering barbarian might be a tricky bit of diplomacy to pull off, you know . . .  Let's recall that Mr. Attila delights in burning churches, killing clergy, raping and maiming townspeople just for sport! He's devastated the countryside! Oh, and by the way, Your Holiness, Attila is a savage terrorist whose nickname is the "Scourge of GOD"???

Get the rest of the story. 

Among Women Podcast #78: Be An Amazing Catechist!

Among Women 78 is all about passing on the faith to children. Lisa Mladinich joins me for an animated discussion regarding the true heart of the catechist, as well as the tricks of the trade, as we break open her new catechist's field guide, Be An Amazing Catechist, Inspire the Faith of Children.


Plus our "Blessed are They" segment examines the life and times of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne.

SQPN's annual giving campaign is now underway!

Pope in Spain Re-cap

I admit that I did not follow Pope Benedict's trip to Spain last weekend as closely as I did his visit to the UK. Mostly, it was because the coverage in a foreign language, and sadly, I am not a Spanish speaker.  However, I still like to check things out, so here's a few places where you can catch the happy recap, and read the texts of the Holy Father's homilies, plus see video or hear audio:

The Official Papal Visit Website

Catholic TV
(Note: even if I cannot understand the language... I could not help be moved by the beauty of the processional hymns offer at that first day's Mass at the Cathedral de Santiago.)

My favorite quote of the event?  It's gotta be this one, though long, from the homily at SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA, (humble apologies for the weird spacing that I could not correct):

God exists and he has given us life. He alone is 

absolute, faithful  and unfailing love, that infinite 

goal that is glimpsed behind the good, the true and 

the beautiful things of this world,

admirable indeed, but insufficient for the human heart. 

Saint Teresa of Jesus understood this when she wrote: 

“God alone suffices”.

Tragically, above all in nineteenth century Europe, the conviction 

grew that God is somehow man’s antagonist and

an enemy of his freedom. As a result, there was an attempt 

to obscure the true biblical faith in the God who sent into the

world his Son Jesus Christ, so that no one should perish but 

that all might have eternal life (cf. Jn 3:16)...

The author of the Book of Wisdom, faced with a paganism in 

which God envied or despised humans, puts it clearly:

how could God have created all things if he did not love them, 

he who in his infinite fullness, has need of nothing (cf. Wis

11:24-26)? Why would he have revealed himself to human beings

 if he did not wish to take care of them? God is the origin

of our being and the foundation and apex of our freedom, not its

opponent....

This is why we need to hear God once again under 

the skies of Europe; may this holy word not be spoken in

vain, and may it not be put at the service of purposes other 

than its own. It needs to be spoken in a holy way. And we must

hear it in this way in ordinary life, in the silence of work, in 

brotherly love and in the difficulties that years bring on.

Europe must open itself to God, must come to meet him 

without fear...

The cross, which is the supreme sign of love brought to its extreme and 

hence both gift and pardon, must be our guiding star in the night of

time. The cross and love, the cross and light have been synonymous in 

our history because Christ allowed himself to hang there in order to give us 

the supreme witness of his love, to invite us to forgiveness and reconciliation, 

to teach us how to overcome evil with good. So do not fail to learn the lessons 

of that Christ whom we encounter at the crossroads of our journey and our 

whole life, in whom God comes forth to meet us as our friend, father and guide.

Blessed Cross, shine always upon the lands of Europe!

...

The Europe of science and technology, the Europe of 

civilization and culture, must be at the same time a Europe open to 

transcendence and fraternity with other continents, and open to the living 

and true God, starting with the living and true man. This is what the Church 

wishes to contribute to Europe: to be watchful for God and for man, based 

on the understanding of both which is offered to us in Jesus Christ.

Dear friends, let us raise our eyes in hope to all that God has promised and offers us.

In Each of Us, Christ: "Christ in you, the hope of glory"

Over at Amazing Catechists, an amazing line up of catechists are writing on this same topic this month: "In Each of Us, Christ."  Lisa Mladinich, the founder of AC, tells the story of how we came to be writing on that subject here.

Anyway, each catechist is writing about that subject according to their column's specialty -- mine being "You and Me and the CCC", (the Catechism), I tackle the subject using the CCC's text and scripture.

Here's a sample:

Baptism is both your identity and your destiny.  It tells you who you are, where you came from, and where you are going.  It defines where “home” is and where you belong.  It sets the course for the rest of your life – and eternity – if you embrace it.

But you don’t have to take my word for it. 

Oh, there's so much more, here. 

Angels Watchin' Over Me... (yeah, for real!)

Happy to be over at Faith and Family Live today, unpacking the Church's teaching on angels. Here's a little snippet:

Drawing on Scripture, the Church has long taught the existence of guardian angels who personally attend us. In referring to the angels given to each child, Jesus said: “See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you that in heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven (Matthew 18:10)”.  (See also: Psalm 34:7, Luke 16:22 and Psalm 91:11.)

Just dwell on the second part of that verse, and let’s reflect for a moment … in heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father …

Whatever I am doing at this very moment, my guardian angel, who is with me, is beholding the glory of God. The attention of our guardian angel is supernatural, and it takes place simultaneously on earth and in heaven. And while your angel is taking in both views, what do you think it is doing? 

Interceding for you. 

Read the entire article. 

Image credit 

This makes me think... "this autumn day...."

God's World

by Edna St. Vincent Millay

(1892-1950)

O world, I cannot hold thee close enough! 

   Thy winds, thy wide grey skies!

Thy mists, that roll and rise!

Thy woods, this autumn day, that ache and sag

And all by cry with color! That gaunt crag

To crush! To lift the lean of that black bluff!

 

World, World, I cannot get thee close enough!

Long have I known a glory in it all,

   But never knew I this:

   

 Here is such a passion is

As stretcheth me apart, -- Lord, I do fear

Thou'st made the world too beautiful this year;

My soul is all but out of me,-- let fall

No burning leaf; prithee, let no bird call.

~~~~~~~~~~~

To those of you who listen to the Among Women Podcast, I thought I'd treat you to some of the last autumn images that we have around these parts before all the leaves fall.

The photos above and below were taken by my handy little iPhone camera during one of my many walks down our country lane... over to the horse farms and back.

And yes, I really do live down a country lane in New England.

yes, that's the sky's reflection in a little pond...

Granite stone walls are a fixture everywhere here.

Have a beautiful day, wherever YOU are in God's world!

The Fun Quotient: Puppet edition

And just in case you are freaked out by puppets as some kiddos are, here's a puppet-free video:

A letter to seminarians... One from the Pope, and the one you should write

I'm over at Summa This, Summa That sketching out the gems I've found in Pope Benedict's Letter to Seminarians, released in the last few weeks. Here's a snippet from "How To Grow a Priest":

Just over two weeks ago, on October 18, Pope Benedict released his Letter to Seminarians. The Letter’s introduction begins with his recollections of his own priestly dream.

When in December 1944 I was drafted for military service, the company commander asked each of us what we planned to do in the future. I answered that I wanted to become a Catholic priest. The lieutenant replied: “Then you ought to look for something else. In the new Germany priests are no longer needed”.

Okay, so, we all know how that worked out.

Go read the rest.

image credit

Two women who've made a little bit of history of their own

This is not a political blog, nor am I making any political statements here.  Among Women is a continual conversation about women and their relationship to God, and to each other, to their families, their work, their Church, and their world.  In that spirit, let me share an interesting interview that took place early on Election night before many of the returns were in, (but one that I only just caught up with in my own personal digestion of the news cycle.)

Two former vice presidential candidates, Geraldine Ferraro, a Democrat, and Sarah Palin, a Republican, sit side by side for the first time ever to discuss the most recent election cycle.

Watch the video here. 

I'm a woman who remembers the 1984 election that I voted in, where Ferraro was a candidate. I remember also how novel and new and, at times, awkward it was for some folks to adjust to the idea of a female candidate. It seems Palin's candidacy in 2008 was so much more accepted, and yet, some of the old stereotypes, and dirty politics, still prevailed.

Anyway, I think this most recent election cycle has shown us many women participating actively in the civil discourse we need on a variety of topics, as well as women who courageously stepped up to run for office. And that's a good thing.  Keep it up, ladies!

So here's kudo's for all those women who use their intelligence and their good influence for the sake of others, whether its in the political arena, or in the home or business! It's good to see more women working to make the world a better place.

Among Women Podcast #77: A Special Edition on Prayer featuring AW listeners!

Among Women 77 is a "Special Edition" on the subject of Prayer.  A departure from our usual format, Pat spends time unpacking introductory material on prayer from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, with a teaching on prayer as "gift", "covenant" and "communion".

Then AW listeners share their thoughts on the role of prayer in their lives.

With music from the Daughters of St. Paul Choir, classical guitarist David Estrem and harpist Cheryl Ann Fulton.

For All Souls... let us pray, let us remember, let us sing this truth...

Note: Please try to ignore the obnoxious commercial message in the first video, and just focus on these moving lyrics, courtesy of this site...

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future, as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,
And all is darkened in the vale of tears,
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.
Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay
From His own fullness all He takes away.

Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord.
When disappointment, grief and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

Be still, my soul: begin the song of praise
On earth, be leaving, to Thy Lord on high;
Acknowledge Him in all thy words and ways,
So shall He view thee with a well pleased eye.
Be still, my soul: the Sun of life divine
Through passing clouds shall but more brightly shine.
~composed by Jean Sibelius



Okay, let's hold that thought...

And let it continue...

~composed by Andrew Lloyd-Webber

This makes me think: For All the Saints, Let Your Life Song Sing...

Catholics understand the saints to be full participants in the mediatorship of Jesus. Their participation no more subtracts from his ministry than the glory that shines upon them subtracts from his glory. It is all his, forsooth.  there is one fountainhead from which we all have drunk and from which we bear refreshment to parched souls...

To ask one of the saints for his prayers is of one seamless piece with our asking each other to pray for us.  The precincts of the Divine mercy cannot be parceled out with addition and subtraction, with my siphoning off this bit of Jesus' priesthood when I venture to pray for you, and you pocketing that much of his merit when you lay your life down for me with such generosity day after day (one is thinking of one's spouse here).  There is only gushing superabundance here, immersing us all, filling us all, and sweeping us along in the tide of that amplitude overflowing from the Father himself.

---Thomas Howard, On Being Catholic, (Ignatius Press, 1997).

And then, there are times when we are reminded that there are even saints among us...