PHILIPPINES
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FROM SEASON TO SEASON by Silas Henderson, O.S.B. The illustrations used throughout this book are adapted from elements taken from Medieval Illuminations and ceramic tiles. Cover and book design by Br. Martin Erspamer, O.S.B. and Mary E. Bolin Cover photograph by Br. Martin Erspamer, O.S.B. Detail from a Medieval stained glass window in the Cathedral of Saints Peters and Paul in Troyes, France. Š 2012 by Saint Meinrad Archabbey Published by One Caring Place/ Abbey Press St. Meinrad, Indiana, 47577, USA All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Publisher and Exclusive Distributor in the Philippines: Paulines Publishing House Daughters of St. Paul 2650 F.B. Harrison Street 1300 Pasay City, Philippines E-mail: edpph@paulines.ph Website: www.paulines.ph 1st Printing 2013 ISBN 978-971-590-745-3 Areas of Distribution: Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore Papua New Guinea, Thailand
at the service of the Gospel and culture
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Introduction In a conference given to her religious community on October 31, 1848, Saint eodora Guerin, speaking of the saints, told the sisters: “ey will be happy to pray for you, for like us they have been feeble, they have been tempted, they have been miserable. But they had recourse to God. God pardoned their offences and today they sing his mercies.” ese words, from the émigré foundress of Indiana’s Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, offers us a valuable insight into the lives of those men and women who have been honored by countless Christians throughout the ages. Representing every time and place, vocation and way of life, those whom we honor with the title of Saint or Blessed were men, women, and children, living lives comparable to our own. e witness of their faith, courage, perseverance, and dedication, however, offer us an invitation, and sometimes a challenge, to recognize that each of us is called to the same union with God that they enjoyed. As omas Merton once said, “e only thing necessary to be a saint is to want to be one.” is small book of quotations and reflections grew out of a collaboration with Abbey Press Publications, a “perpetual calendar” called From Season to i
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Season: A Year of Saintly Wisdom. î ˘at booklet in calendar-form remains the core of this volume. To these saintly thoughts and prayers (some of which have been replaced or corrected) have been added original reflections on the Solemnities and Feasts of the liturgical calendar of the Roman Catholic Church which fall on set days each year. I have also included meditations on a broad assortment of saints representing various backgrounds and vocations. My hope is that these extended meditations will complement and expand the words of the saints themselves. Because the quotations contained here were assembled over the course of many years, and represent a wide variety of books, articles, reflections, and church documents, it has not been possible to construct any comprehensive list of sources. In the new, original reflections contained in this volume, outside sources have been credited within the texts themselves. Extended quotations from recent popes, particularly Blessed John Paul II and Benedict XVI, have been drawn from the cited document or address as found on the Vatican website (www.vatican.va).
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Care has been taken in arranging the quotations contained in this book that a wide variety of saints/beati have been represented. Although there are frequent quotations from writers like Augustine of Hippo, Gregory the Great, and Bernard of Clairvaux, the words of other, lesser known individuals have also been included. Men and women from six continents, spanning nearly 2,000 years of Christian thought and prayer are represented here. It is my hope that these words of inspiration and wisdom will serve as a starting point for your own prayer and reflection on various aspects of the Christian vocation. Although these quotations are drawn from men and women representing the Roman Catholic tradition, I believe that all people of faith will recognize the truth in their words and can benefit from their admonitions, advice, and prayer. May God’s saints continue to watch over us and intercede for us all as we patiently and lovingly continue in His service. Br. Silas Henderson, O.S.B. Saint Meinrad Archabbey
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Table of Contents Mary, the Mother of God........................................................1 Mary, theHoly Holy Mother of God 1 Epiphany Lord......................................................................5 Epiphanyofofthe the Lord 5 Saint Rieuaulx..................................................................9 SaintAelred Aelredif of Rieuaulx 9 Saint Meinrad ..............................................................................13 Saint Meinrad 13 The of of Saint PaulPaul the Apostle ....................................17 The Conversion Conversion Saint the Apostle 17 The Presentation of the Lord........................................................23 23 The Presentation of the Lord Saint Balchita ..............................................................31 SaintJosephine Josephine Bakhita 31 The Peter the the Apostle ............................................37 The Chair ChairofofSaint Saint Peter Apostle 37 Saint John of God ........................................................................45 Saint John of God 45 Saint of the Blessed Virgin Mary Mary ........................53 SaintJoseph, Joseph,Spouse Spouse of the Blessed Virgin 53 The of the Lord......................................................57 57 TheAnnunciation Annunciation of the Lord Saint Teresa De Los Andes............................................................63 Saint Teresa De Los Andes 63 Saint Benedict Joseph Labre ........................................................69 Saint Benedict Joseph Labre 69 Saint Mark, Evangelist..................................................................73 Saint Mark, Evangelist 73 Saints Philip and James, Apostles ................................................79 79 Saints Philip and James, Apostles Saint Matthias, Apostle ................................................................85 Saint Matthias, Apostle 85 Saint Crist贸bal Magellanes and Companions ..............................91 Saint Crist贸bal Magellanes and Companions 91 The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary ..................................97 The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary 97 Saint Norbert of Xanten ............................................................103 Saint Norbert of Xanten 103 Saint Aloysius Gonzaga ..............................................................107 107 Saint Aloysius Gonzaga The Birth of Saint John the Baptist ............................................113 The Birth of Saint John the Baptist 113 Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles ..................................................117 SaintsThomas, Peter and Paul, Apostles 117 Saint Apostle................................................................121 Saint Thomas, Apostle 121 Saint Camillus deLellis ..............................................................127 SaintJames, Camillus de Lellis 127 Saint Apostle ..................................................................133 Saint James, Apostle 133 The Transfiguration of the Lord ................................................139 The Transfiguration of the Lord 139 iv
Saint Lawrence The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Saint Bartholomew, Apostle The Martyrs of September The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary The Exaltation of the Holy Cross Saint Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist Saint Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels Saint Ignatius of Antioch Saint Luke, Evangelist Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles All Saints’ Day Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed Dedication of the Basilica of Saint John Lateran Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini Blesseds Luigi and Maria Beltrame Quattrocchi Saint Andrew, Apostle The Immaculate Conception Our Lady of Guadalupe Advent/The “O” Antiphons Christmas—The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ Saint Stephen, The First Martyr Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist Holy Innocents
143 147 153 159 165 169 173 179 187 191 197 201 203 207 213 219 223 229 233 237 243 245 247 249
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January 1
Mary, the Holy Mother of God Mother of God, we salute you. Precious vessel, worthy of the whole world’s reverence, you are an ever-shining light, the crown of virginity, the symbol of orthodoxy, an indestructible temple, the place that held him whom no place can contain, virgin and mother. Cyril of Alexandria On January 1, the Octave Day of Christmas, we celebrate the oldest of the feasts in honor of the Virgin Mary in the Roman Church. Today, we solemnly recall the mystery of Mary’s divine maternity, celebrating the part she played in God’s plan of salvation. Beyond this, however, we also recall the circumcision and naming of Jesus on the eighth day after His birth (cf. Luke 2:21). Mindful that Mary treasured all these “Christmas” events, pondering them in her heart, it is fitting that on the Octave Day of Christmas and the World Day of Peace, we honor that “holy Mother… through whom we were found worthy to receive the Author of life. It is likewise a fitting occasion for renewed 1
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adoration of the newborn Prince of Peace, listening again to the tidings of the angels, and for imploring from God, through the Queen of Peace, the supreme gift of peace” (Pope Paul VI, Marialis Cultus, 5). Mary, by the grace of God, accomplished a goodness, nobility, and integrity, second only to her divine Son. This was the reason for her Immaculate Conception, so that from the moment she began to grow in the womb of her mother, Saint Anne, she had no contact, no influence, no result of original sin. This dignity, nobility, and integrity were God’s gift to her for the function she was to perform—to be the Mother of Jesus Christ, the Mother of God. This title, Mother of God, speaks to us both of her closeness to the Lord in life and of her closeness to Him now in heaven. This intimacy should make us confident of her intercession. “She is the Mother of God, Mother of the Church, and so too she is our mother, your mother, and mine, and she should play a special part in the lives of each one of us” (Cardinal Basil Hume, O.S.B.).
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January 2 We cannot yet behold Him as the only Son, abiding forever in His Father, so let us recall His coming forth like a bridegroom from his chamber. We are not yet ready for the banquet of our Father, so let us contemplate the manger of Jesus Christ our Lord. Augustine of Hippo
January 3 Look upon us, eternal Son of God, who took flesh in the womb of the Virgin Mary! All humanity, with its burden of trials and troubles, stands in need of You. John Paul II
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