As I've recounted many times, in 2010 when Kenosis: Teen Disciples for Love and Life was just beginning, the young people chose their two patrons: St. Maximilian Kolbe and Bl. Chiara "Luce" Badano. Today is the feast day of the latter. If you don't know anything about Bl. Chiara, you can read a short reflection here. You can also watch a documentary about Bl. Chiara here. Bl. Chiara "Luce" Badano, pray for us!
"I have been able to celebrate Holy Mass in chapels built along mountain paths, on lakeshores and seacoasts; I have celebrated it on altars built in stadiums and in city squares... This varied scenario of celebrations of the Eucharist has given me a powerful experience of its universal and, so to speak, cosmic character. Yes, cosmic! Because even when it is celebrated on the humble altar of a country church, the Eucharist is always in some way celebrated on the altar of the world. It unites heaven and earth. It embraces and permeates all creation. The Son of God became man in order to restore all creation, in one supreme act of praise, to the One who made it from nothing." -- St. John Paul II
When we began Kenosis: Teen Disciples for Love and Life five years ago, one of our early meetings centered on choosing two patron saints for the group. Each of the high school students was asked to report on a particular saint, mostly young saints or those from the 20th century. The teens then voted on which two they would like to see as our patrons. And so St. Maximilian Kolbe and Bl. Chiara "Luce" Badano became the patron and patroness of Kenosis. St. Maximilian Kolbe has been called a martyr for the family because he offered his life for one particular family. He offered his priestly fatherhood so that another man could continue to live his vocation as husband and father. Today is St. Maximilan Kolbe's feast day, and Deacon Greg Kandra has a great link to the biography of the man he died to save, Franciszek Gajowniczek. He lived to be 93 -- 53 years after St. Maximilian Kolbe saved his life. Learn more about him here.
Divine Mercy Sunday this year has been called the "Day of Four Popes" since Pope Francis, with Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI present, canonized Pope John Paul II and Pope John XXIII. But now, we can begin calling it the "Year of Five Popes." Pope Paul VI will be beatified this year, likely in October.
Pope Paul VI and the future Pope John Paul II (source)
That's going to be a beautiful moment! Here was a man whose last encyclical was written 10 years before his death. It was "Humanae Vitae." The persecution and defiance and anger directed toward him after it was written must have been deflating. The theologians he trusted to examine the issue of whether or not the birth control Pill is contraceptive turned their backs on him, leaked their opinion to the press, and wrote their own version of papal teaching without the pope.
Everything Pope Paul VI predicted would occur with widespread contraceptive use has happened, in ways and scope greater than was probably imagined.
But his beatification is not meant to be a "he told us so" kind of a moment. Rather, it will be a celebration of a man who gave his life to defending the Church. He was a "white martyr," a man who loved greatly and who put the Church, his spouse, before himself. There is certainly much we can learn from him today.
In just 13 hours, the canonization Mass for John Paul II and John XXIII will begin in Rome. What an exciting moment! Bl. John Paul II died on the eve of Divine Mercy Sunday (liturgically it was already Divine Mercy Sunday because Evening Prayer had been said) nine years ago. St. Peter's Square filled with pilgrims who held tearful vigil, waiting for the great doors of the papal apartment to be shut and the lights to be extinguished as a sign that their beloved papa had gone to his eternal home. And when he did, the chanting began: Santo Subito! Sainthood now! Nine years is a relatively short time to pass between one's death and his canonization. St. Peter's Square is filling once again (just take a look at #2popesaints on Twitter for some updates) with pilgrims who are holding joyful vigil waiting for the banner of John Paul II's face to be unfurled from the balcony of the great basilica as a sign that the Church has great confidence that their beloved papa is in his eternal home. I was at John Paul II's beatification and can only imagine the excitement of standing in the Square for his canonization. There is something so beautiful about the public recognition of someone's courageous holiness. It's a special thanksgiving to God for the life of a man who transformed the world in ways we may not fully realize.
Bl. John Paul II will be Saint John Paul II in just four days!! Chastity Project has this list of "21 Awesome Facts You Didn't Know About JP2" on their site. It's a fun read! Among others:
9. He pulled a couple James Bond moves to evade the secret policeWhen he was a bishop in Poland during the communist reign, the secret police were constantly keeping tabs on him and trying to study him (by the time he became pope, they had amassed 18 cartons of reports on him.) Once, when the archbishop needed to have a secret meeting with Karol, Karol’s chauffeur pulled a little traffic weaving stunt which cut off their pursuer’s line of sight; Karol swapped cars without them knowing, and was able to meet with the archbishop in peace. The government also bugged the bishops’ residence with listening devices, which Karol knew about and so he played off of it. He would talk extra loud when he wanted them to hear something, and would save the private conversations for his secret wilderness excursions.
Almost two years ago, I shared the story of Chiara Corbella Petrillo, a young Italian wife and mother who, like St. Gianna Beretta Molla, gave her life for her son. Her story is fascinating and heartbreaking, but little is available in English. I just came across a new article, however, written by a woman who speaks both English and Italian, and who was present at a recent event with Chiara's husband. If you're interested in learning more about how a woman with a modern day Job experience responded with peace and joy, then be sure to read this.
Three years ago when Kenosis: Teen Disciples for Love and Life began, the high school students chose two patrons -- Bl. Chiara "Luce" Badano and St. Maximilian Kolbe. Today is the latter's feast, and in his honor, a quote from him: "No one in the world can change Truth. What we can do and and should do is to seek truth and to serve it when we have found it. The real conflict is the inner conflict. Beyond armies of occupation and the hetacombs of extermination camps, there are two irreconcilable enemies in the depth of every soul: good and evil, sin and love. And what use are the victories on the battlefield if we are ourselves are defeated in our innermost personal selves?"
The woman whose miraculous healing paved the way toward Bl. John Paul II's canonization has shared her story. Floribeth Mora was healed of a brain aneurysm after watching the late Holy Father's beatification on television in her Costa Rica home. Doctors say her cure is inexplicable. You can read a brief account of her incredible story here.
The Vatican officially announced today that Pope John Paul II will be canonized by the end of 2013, although a date has not yet been set. It is expected that he will be canonized at the same time as Pope John XXIII. Considering that a million people attended the beatification, I cannot imagine what St. Peter's Square will be like for two papal canonizations! Stay tuned for information about the date, when it is announced. More information is available here.
It's the feast of St. Joseph the Worker and the second anniversary of Bl. John Paul II's beatification. It was such a blessing to be there for the big event (which you can read about here, here and here). This is a great opportunity to send out the friendly reminder that Bl. John Paul II's canonization is not yet approved. One Catholic media figure used Facebook and Twitter to announce a definite Oct. 20, 2013 date, but there is no documentation about this. Let's just review what has occurred, with the help of Vatican journalist Andrea Tornielli (emphasis mine):
It all happened in great secrecy, with maximum confidentiality. In January, the postulator of the cause, Mgr. Slawomir Oder, submitted a presumed miraculous healing to the Vatican Congregation for the Saints for a preliminary opinion. As it is known, after the approval of a miracle for the proclamation of a blessed, the canonical procedures include the recognition of a second miracle that must have occurred after the beatification ceremony. Two doctors of the Vatican council had previously examined this new case, and both gave a favourable opinion. The dossier with the medical records and the testimonies was then officially presented to the Congregation, which immediately included the examination in its agenda. In the past few days it was discussed by a committee of seven doctors, the council (presided over by Dr. Patrick Polisca, Pope John Paul II's cardiologist), Pope Benedict XVI's personal physicians and now Pope Francis's. The medical council also gave a favourable opinion, the first official go-ahead by the Vatican, by defining as inexplicable the healing attributed to the intercession of the blessed Karol Wojtyla. This is the overcoming of the first fundamental hurdle, given that the alleged miracle must now be approved by theologians and then by the cardinals and bishops of the Congregation, before being subjected to the Pope for the definitive "yes". In any case, the approval of the council is considered the most important step; in fact, neither the theologians nor the cardinals are involved in the clinical evaluations concerning the case.
So, the cause is still underway, but not yet approved, and certainly not on the calendar. Could it be on October 20, 2013? Certainly. But let's not forget that right now it's a could, not a will. In other words, hold off on the plane tickets for now. We might have to wait awhile. In fact, wouldn't it be beautiful if the canonization plans were officially announced at World Youth Day this July?
Since first learning of St. Drogo, I've been a fan. His name alone is rather incredible. Then, of course, one learns that he is the patron saint of coffee makers ... and of ugly people. His brief biography says that while on pilgrimage he was "stricken with an unsightly bodily affliction." Several years ago, friends and I doing pro-life work for the summer decided to ask for his prayers. We were rather mystified by this man with the odd name and the even odder patronage.
Whenever I tell people that I like St. Drogo, they either tell me, "You're not ugly!" or say, "God doesn't make ugly people, so why do they have a patron?" My early requests for his prayers were not due to poor body image, but rather an interest in a saint who is largely unknown. But the second common response to my praise of St. Drogo (who I still maintain was responsible for some iced coffee brought to my fellow pro-life walkers and I on a hot June day several years ago during our 1,300 mile journey on foot throughout the Northeast) is one that is interesting. Does God make ugly people? Do unattractive people exist? Why do they need a patron? These are great questions. God, who is all Beauty, does not create that which is not beautiful. If we view someone as unattractive, it is not their lack of beauty, but our inability to perceive it. Still, we have sin, which means we have suffering, which means we have all sorts of marks, wrinkles, blemishes and other signs that point to less than perfection. But can these be beautiful? We look at Mother Teresa in all of her wrinkles and leathery skin and say, "How beautiful!" We see it in her eyes, in her smile, in her aged, wrinkled hands holding a child dying in Calcutta. Even her wrinkles and her tired eyes are beautiful, because in them we see signs of her selflessness, her love and her faithfulness. The existence or not of "unattractive people" isn't necessarily the only reason for a patron, however. Unattractiveness, even if only perceived and not real, can also be felt. It's no secret that nearly every woman in the United States of America could point you to her "flaws" faster than her beauty. A zit. A wrinkle. A big nose. A crooked nose. Stringy hair. Frizzy hair. Little eyes. Big eyes. A double chin. Sunken eyes. You get the picture. But what if we could learn to see ourselves how others see us? What if we could see ourselves how God sees us? Surely it would be different. One is seeing through eyes of love, wonder and gratitude. The other is seeing with eyes of criticism, anger, frustration and fear. What's the difference? Here's a fascinating glimpse:
How do we begin to see beauty even in ourselves? It begins with seeing beauty as a gift from God and not as our own endeavor, the amount of money we sink into Cover Girl or the number affixed to our dress tag. If we see God as beautiful, and then see ourselves as made in his image and likeness, then the stage has been set for a healing in beauty. It takes time -- maybe even a lifetime -- but it's a gift that we can come to recognize, to receive and for which to be grateful. Perhaps St. Drogo can accompany us on this journey, realizing beauty where we thought only ugliness was to be found.
"... [A]fter the Our Father, the Hail Mary is the most beautiful of all prayers. It is the perfect compliment the most high God paid to Mary through his archangel in order to win her heart. So powerful was the effect of the greeting upon her, on account of its hidden delights, that despite her great humility, she gave her consent to the incarnation of the Word." -- St. Louis de Montfort
Wow! This left me a bit speechless. Fr. Boniface Hicks, OSB, has the most amazing insights and stories, this time about St. Joseph and his attitude toward Mary's conception of Jesus. Quoting a piece doesn't do it justice, but to begin the journey:
Let us turn now to the Scriptures to see how the drama of St. Joseph's life unfolds. Throughout the ages, the "Masters of Suspicion," as Bl. John Paul II names them, read the Annunciation to St. Joseph with the suspicion that no one, even St. Joseph, could have sufficient purity of heart to see the mystery of God's love in the unexpected pregnancy of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This presumption colors the interpretations of key biblical passages, supposing that St. Joseph saw Mary as an adulteress. Modern Scripture scholarship and the Doctors of the Church help us to reread these passages in the light of truth. The passage in question comes from St. Matthew's Gospel and we hear it each year on the Solemnity of St. Joseph: "Joseph, her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly." (Mt 1:19)
First, we need help with two Greek words—namely the verb "deigmatizo", translated here as "expose to shame" and "apoluo" translated here as "divorce." While we cannot go into all the details, a valid re-translation of this passage is proposed by the Jesuit scripture scholar Fr. Ignace de la Potterie, "But Joseph, her spouse, who was a just man, and who did not wish to unveil (her mystery), resolved to secretly separate (himself) from her." (Mary in the Mystery of the Covenant, p. 39)
" St. Joseph was called by God to serve the person and mission of Jesus directly through the exercise of his fatherhood. It is precisely in this way that, as the Church's Liturgy teaches, he "cooperated in the fullness of time in the great mystery of salvation" and is truly a "minister of salvation."(21) His fatherhood is expressed concretely "in his having made his life a service, a sacrifice to the mystery of the Incarnation and to the redemptive mission connected with it; in having used the legal authority which was his over the Holy Family in order to make a total gift of self, of his life and work; in having turned his human vocation to domestic love into a superhuman oblation of self, an oblation of his heart and all his abilities into love placed at the service of the Messiah growing up in his house."(22)" -- Bl. John Paul II, "Redemptoris Custos" #8.
As I've recounted many times, in 2010 when Kenosis: Teen Disciples for Love and Life was just beginning, the young people chose their two patrons: St. Maximilian Kolbe and Bl. Chiara "Luce" Badano. Today is the feast day of the latter.
When we began Kenosis: Teen Disciples for Love and Life five years ago, one of our early meetings centered on choosing two patron saints for the group. Each of the high school students was asked to report on a particular saint, mostly young saints or those from the 20th century. The teens then voted on which two they would like to see as our patrons. And so St. Maximilian Kolbe and Bl. Chiara "Luce" Badano became the patron and patroness of Kenosis. 
Almost two years ago, I shared the story of Chiara Corbella Petrillo, a young Italian wife and mother who, like St. Gianna Beretta Molla, gave her life for her son. Her story is fascinating and heartbreaking, but little is available in English. I just came across a new article, however, written by a woman who speaks both English and Italian, and who was present at a recent event with Chiara's husband. 
It's the feast of St. Joseph the Worker and the second anniversary of Bl. John Paul II's beatification. It was such a blessing to be there for the big event (which you can read about here, here and here).
"... [A]fter the Our Father, the Hail Mary is the most beautiful of all prayers. It is the perfect compliment the most high God paid to Mary through his archangel in order to win her heart. So powerful was the effect of the greeting upon her, on account of its hidden delights, that despite her great humility, she gave her consent to the incarnation of the Word." -- St. Louis de Montfort
