Saying Thanks...

This is a beautiful morning, isn't it?  The sun is coming up and the sky is lovely with color.  The super moon is still visible in the sky as well.  It is so peaceful and serene as we begin our day.  Yet under all the serenity is the hurried rush and worry that we will not get "it" all done before the 25th and the celebration of this special day.  Lest we forget the real meaning of the day is the celebration of the birth of Jesus, the Son of God, let us take a quiet moment this day to say a thank you to God for loving us so much, even when we ignore Him, that He saw fit to send His Son to us.  Prepare ye the way of the Lord...

KM Donohue, OSU

St. Lucy

The story of St. Lucy is one of those legends that everyone enjoys.  Truth be told we do not know a great deal about her except that we know for certain that she was a brave woman who lost her life during the persecution of the Christians in the early fourth century.

Lucy, according to legend, had a vision of St. Agatha who assured her that her mother’s illness would be cured through faith.  She encouraged her mother to give her dowry money to the poor so that she could enter religious life.  The man she had been promised to became enraged and betrayed her faith to the town officials.  Lucy was condemned to death and her eyes were gouged out.  She is often depicted holding a plate with her eyes on it.  Lucy, whose name can mean "light" or "lucid," is the patron saint of the blind.

Let us take some time today to say Saint Lucy's Prayer:

Saint Lucy, you did not hide your light under a basket, but let it shine for the whole world, for all the centuries to see. We may not suffer torture in our lives the way you did, but we are still called to let the light of our Christianity illumine our daily lives. Please help us to have the courage to bring our Christianity into our work, our recreation, our relationships, our conversation -- every corner of our day. Amen

Sr. Pat Schifini, OSU

Our Lady of Guadalupe

Today we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patroness of the Americas.  It is a during this peace-filled season of Advent that we recall the appearance of Our Lady to Juan Diego.   Early one morning as he was making his way to Mass, Juan Diego hears beautiful birds and goes to explore.  He then comes face to face with an apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  The humble peasant famer is amazed at his conversation with Mary who chose him to carry message to the Bishop.

Mary appeared to him as a native princess and her words were sweet.  She instructs Juan Diego to ask the Bishop to build a Church on the site of her appearance, so that she could hear the petitions and heal the suffering of those who visit there.  Juan Diego was greatly troubled and went to speak to the Bishop who did not believe him at first.

Juan Diego recounts this to the Blessed Virgin Mary and asks for a sign so he could prove it to the Bishop.  The Blessed Virgin instructed him to climb to the top of Tepyac Hill and gather the wild flowers he sees and to keep them in his tilma until he reaches the Bishop.  He gathers the beautiful roses and places them under his cloak.  When he reaches the Bishop he opens his tilma and the roses fall to the floor.  On his tilma is the painted image of the Blessed Virgin as he first described her.  The Church was built and Juan Diego’s tilma is still preserved today in it.  Millions of people make pilgrimages to Mexico to see the miraculous tilma and to honor Our Lady of Guadalupe.  Let us pray this day for all who seek the protection of Our Lady of the Americas.  May she always continue to bless and protect us.

Pat Schifini, OSU

Immaculate Conception

Yesterday we celebrate the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  In teaching that Mary was conceived immaculate, the Catholic Church teaches that from the very moment of her conception, the Blessed Virgin Mary was free from all stain of original sin. This simply means that from the beginning, she was in a state of grace, sharing in God's own life, and that she was free from the sinful inclinations which have beset human nature after the fall.

Saint Teresa of Calcutta once prayed: “Mary, Mother of Jesus, give me your heart so beautiful, so pure, so immaculate, so full of love and humility that I may be able to receive Jesus in the Bread of Life, 
love Him as You loved Him, and serve Him as You served Him….”

Let us pray that we may always mirror St. Teresa’s fidelity and love as we approach the manger at Christmas.

Pat Schifini, OSU

Come to Me...

In today’s Gospel, Jesus said to the crowds: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves.   For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”  (Matthew 11: 28 – 30) I find this to be one of my favorite Gospels as it gives me so much comfort and hope.

In our world, there are many who are weary and burdened and have no one to share that burden with.  Each one of us can relate to these sentiments.  Jesus promises us true relief from our burdens if we go to him.  In our daily living, Jesus invites us to come and we need to make the decision to follow.  There is a certain commitment as we accept the invitation.  What does this response look like is it praying, studying the Bible, being present to others or doing random acts of kindness?

Let us take time during this Advent waiting to move closer to Jesus and accept his invitation to come.  He invites us as we are and helps us to grow into who he wants us to be.  Jesus’ invitation of love is for all and all we have to do is take the first step.

Pat Schifini, OSU

St. Nicholas

Advent is the time when Christians prepare to greet Christ—who came as a babe in a manger, who comes into our lives each day, and who will come again at the end of time. During this time people focus on getting ready to receive Christ by preparing their hearts and lives to make room for Jesus.  It is a time to live as Jesus would have us live. It is a time of longing in preparation of the great celebration of Christmas.  The Advent days pass all to quickly as we are pulled in many directions. 

Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Nicholas.  He truly is an Advent saint.

St. Nicholas became popular because he was a faithful follower of Jesus.  His life reflected the way each one of us is called to show God’s abundant love to others.  Growing up I recall this day as the day when we would receive a small treat or surprise. This modeled what St. Nicholas did so long ago when he left treats for children particularly those in need.  This Advent let us take our cue from St. Nicholas and remember that Christmas is a feast of love, hope, kindness and generosity.

Pat Schifini, OSU

Second Sunday of Advent

Advent is a time of preparation. We prepare to celebrate Christmas when we commemorate the first coming of Christ at the Incarnation some 2,000 years ago.  As I prayed today I kept recalling the song “Prepare the Way of the Lord.  It is a simple mantra that says, “Prepare the way of the Lord, prepare the way of the Lord, and all people shall see the salvation of our God.”  This is a perfect mantra for this busy Advent season. 

As I continued praying I was struck by the power of this simple song and it brought me back to the essentials of Advent.  Perhaps it is in the busyness that we need to take time to pause and reflect on what are we doing to prepare for Christmas.  I am not referring to what we are doing materially I am referring to spiritually.  We need to take time to pause and prepare spiritually for the coming of Christ at Christmas.  It may be as simple as just taking time to pray for someone in need or the needs of our world.  Let us embrace this season of Advent as a true opportunity to reflect more and be attentive to the God who loves us beyond all that we can imagine or hope for.

Pat Schifini, OSU