Monastic Mumblings, a Friar's Journey

Fat Tuesday

Now we are entering the season of Mardi Gras (French for "Fat Tuesday"). It is the day before Ash Wednesday, and is also called "Shrove Tuesday" or "Pancake Day". It is the final day of Carnival, the Fast of Lent beginning on Ash Wednesday.

For many centuries people went to confession and were "shriven" of their sins, and then gathered all the fat (oil) in the house to use before the Fast of Lent descended. Thus began the party atmosphere and the tradition of pancakes, using the oil.

I think so much of modern life isn't interrupted by the sacred. How would the multi-colored Sunday Advertisements be centered around the theme of penitence and contrition and self-examination in the light of Christ. I don't think that would be very easy, so we, as humans focus only on the wild parties of Mardi Gras, forgetting this is also a day of Confession and preparation.

St. Matthias 24 February

Today we remember Matthias. The Greek Matthias (or, in some manuscripts, Maththias), is a name derived from Mattathias, Heb. Mattithiah, signifying "gift of Yahweh."

After the Ascension of Our Lord, His followers left Galilee, and returned to Jerusalem to choose a replacement to fill the place of the traitor Judas in the Apostolate. Two disciples, who had been with Him from His baptism by John to the Ascension, were chosen, namely Joseph, called Barsabas, and Matthias.

Both men appeared equally good to the assembled Apostles, so, as was sometimes done, when each candidate was of equally approved merit, lots where cast to determine God's choice.  Tradition says that Judas's misfortune filled St. Matthias with great humility, being concerned that he also might fall. He considered his calling to be purely of God and not of himself, especially concerning the way he was elected and numbered among the Apostles. Clement of Alexandria records one quote reputed to be from him in a sentence that the Nicolaitans ascribe to Matthias: "we must combat our flesh, set no value upon it, and concede to it nothing that can flatter it, but rather increase the growth of our soul by faith and knowledge".

After the first chapter of Acts, nothing certain is known of his life, however there is a tradition that he first preached the Gospel in Judea, then went on to Ethiopia where he preached among cannibals and eventually lost his life. He must have undergone great hardships and labors in the middle of such a dangerous place. Another tradition maintains that St.Matthias was stoned at Jerusalem by the Jews, and then beheaded, but perhaps this is confused with a Matthias who was Bishop of Jerusalem in the 120's. There is a great Podcast about St. Matthias at St. Jerome's Chapel. I would highly recommend listening to it. 

O Almighty God, Who in the place of Judas chose Your faithful servant Matthias to be numbered among the Twelve: Grant that Your Church, being delivered from false apostles, may always be ordered and guided by faithful and true pastors; through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Jesus, The Teenage Years

Some how, having three teenage kids at home, I never thought of Jesus as a teenager until I saw this poster.  I like it, and see Him as welcoming and expansive, His arms reaching wide, ready for the Cross.  How do others see this picture?

Seven Angels

As Lent approaches, I want to share one of the things I feel lead to be doing this year.

I will be saying an intentional Rosary for seven Pastors/Teachers in my life. Each of them have been contacted and knows this will be going on. I will do one each day for one person cycling through the week through out the forty days of Lent. 

Anyone else care to share what they may be doing?

Valentine 14 February 270

St. Valentine appears to have been a martyr from before 312, and his death is commemorated on the 14th of February. While it is believed he was martyred on that date, little is officially recorded about him. (A Valentine, priest of Rome, and a Valentine, bishop of Ternia, are both commemorated on 14 February, and now generally assumed to be the same person.)

He seems to have been buried on the Flaminian Way; and about 350 a church was built over this tomb, and later a catacomb was constructed underneath, containing the remains of many Martyrs.  This church, with its cemetery, was the first to greet the eyes of pilgrims coming to Rome to visit the tombs of the ancient heroes of the Faith, and therefore St. Valentine's fame grew, and spread through the world.

The Emperor of the time, named Claudius was having problems recruiting men to serve in his armies, because the men selfishly wanted to stay home with their wives and children.  Angry that his men were more loyal to their wives than to himself, Claudius decided to greatly restrict marriage!

Couples who were in love searched for someone who would help them get married, even in secret.  Valentine was a priest who would perform wedding ceremonies for these desperate young lovers. When a young couple came to him, he secretly united them in marriage in front of God's sacred altar. Father Valentine quickly became the friend of lovers in every district of Rome.

When Claudius heard what Valentine was doing he ordered him thrown into jail. It appears that Valentine was dragged from the altar where a young couple stood, ready to be married, and taken off to jail.

One of the main traditions that surround Valentine is the one concerning his jailer's daughter, Augustine. She was so kind to Valentine during his brutal imprisonment, that Valentine sent a  ‘Valentine’s Card’ (a short note) with a grateful "thank you” message for all that she had done.

Many asked the Emperor Claudius to release Valentine but Claudius refused to do so.  As a punishment for supporting marriage, Valentine was beaten to death with clubs and then beheaded.  Valentine laid down his life for others because he passionately believed in the sanctity of love and marriage.   His devoted friends buried him on the Flaminian Way.   The date of his tragic murder was February 14th AD 270.

The modern customs associated with Saint Valentine's Day undoubtedly had their origin in a conventional belief generally received in England and France during the Middle Ages, that on 14 February, (that is half way through the second month of the year), the birds began to pair. That is why in Chaucer’s Parliament of Foules we read:

For this was sent on Seynt Valentyne's day
Whan every foul cometh ther to choose his mate.

For this reason the day has been looked upon as specially consecrated to lovers and as the occasion for writing love letters and sending cards.

Almighty and everlasting God, who kindled the flame of Your Love in the heart of Your holy martyr Valentine: Grant to us, Your humble servants, a like faith and power of love, that we who rejoice in his triumph may profit by his example; through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Preparation for Lent

I know many of you that read this blog do not practice the time of introspection known as Lent that the more Ancient Churches, do but I would like to invite you, to consider it.

Soon it will be Ash Wednesday, and I am working on my Lenten discipline now, opening my heart to what the Spirit would guide me in this year. I know that part of my Lenten journey this year will be a response to the Novena I and a small group of people prayed for my brother last month. How can I follow Jesus, as He spends forty days in the desert? He invites us to walk along side, to look into our hearts, into the desert we find there. This isn't something I like to do, but like getting in shape physically, I feel better after it is done.

Does anyone reading this feel that taking a special set time for self-examination and repentance; for prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and for reading and meditating on God's holy Word is something valuable for today's Christian?

I certainly do, and as a mark of my mortal nature, before this community as well as my own, I do solemnly commit to the observance of a holy Lent.

This is a time for me to remember that He has created me out of the dust of the earth. I pray that I may remember also, that the ashes of Wednesday may be to me a sign of my mortality and penitence that I may remember that it is only by His gracious gift that I am given everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

update on brother

Thank you all so much for your prayers.

My Brother finally came home from the hospital on Friday. He is at home now with his family being cared for by hospice.  It was a terrible journey and we almost lost him several times, but now it looks like he will be comfortable and  be able to spend what time he has left with his wife, daughter and rest of  his family.

Thank you again for all your concern and prayers.

May all God's Angels and other Ministers of His grace protect and guide my brother in this, his final journey.

The Widow’s Mite

As He sat down opposite the treasury,
and watched the multitude putting their gifts into the treasury;
He saw a poor widow put in two copper coins.
And He called his disciples to Him and said;
Truly, I tell you this poor widow has put in more than all of them;
For they all contributed out of their abundance,
but she out of her poverty put in everything she had.
Gospel according to St. Mark 12: 41-44
Gospel according to St. Luke 21: 1-4

I wonder, did she ever know that He noticed her gift? Do we notice the gifts of others around us, be they ever so small.  I assure you, He sees each and ever tiny offering of love, especially those that escapes our coarse, hardened viewpoints.

Can anyone share a small gift that changed someone's life?

Doing what is needed

This may come as a surprise to those of you not living in Las Vegas, but there are more Catholic churches there than casinos. Not surprisingly, some worshippers at Sunday services will give casino chips rather than cash when the basket is passed. Since they get chips from so many different casinos,  the churches have devised a method to collect the offerings. The churches send all their collected chips to a nearby Franciscan Monastery for  sorting and then the chips are taken to the casinos of origin and cashed in.

This is done by the chip monks.

Presentation of Jesus in the Temple - Purification of the Virgin

Starting at the Feast of the Nativity (December 25) you come to February 2 as the Fortieth Day since the birth of Jesus. In those days, a Jewish woman stayed in semi-seclusion for 40 days after giving birth to a son, therefore on February 2 the Church celebrates the coming of Mary and Joseph with the infant Jesus to the Temple at Jerusalem to offer sacrifice, both on behalf of Mary and on behalf of Jesus as a first-born male. Joseph brings two turtledoves as a sacrifice, since they were a poor family. As they entered the Temple, they were greeted by the aged Simeon and Anna.

Many people feel that Simeon and Anna can represent the righteous waiting for Israel's redemption, and rejoicing that they lived to see the day of Jesus' presentation. Both of them are presented as elderly - Simeon waiting to die and Anna, 84 years old, wrinkled living in the Temple. Guided by the Holy Spirit, these two utter oracles concerning the redemption and consolation of Israel. Simeon's first oracle has become the Nunc dimittis, sung at Compline or night prayer by Monks and other Religious throughout the ages.

There is an old reading for this day that  contains the line (Zephaniah 1:12), "I will search Jerusalem with candles". This is how it also became known as  Candlemas, and is sometimes observed with a candle-lit procession.

Almighty and ever-living God, clothed in majesty, Whose beloved Son was this day presented in the Temple, in Substance of our flesh: grant that we may be presented to You with pure and clean hearts, by your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, Who is alive and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God now and for ever.