Feb 17th - Seven Servites

 

Today, we celebrate the commemoration of the Seven Servites, a confraternity of religious men.

On the Feast of the Assumption, August, 15th 1233, these seven young men, with other members of the Laudesi, having confessed and received Holy Communion, were each and all making their thanksgiving after Mass. Each, unknown to those about them, fell into an ecstasy. Each seemed to himself surrounded by supernatural light, in the midst of which Our Lady appeared to them accompanied by angels, who spoke to each of them the words; “Leave the world, retire together into solitude, that you may fight against yourselves, and live wholly for God. You will thus experience heavenly consolations. My protection and assistance will never fail you.”

The vision faded, the congregation dispersed, only the Seven remained, each meditating what the vision might mean. Bonfilius Monaldi, as the eldest, broke the silence, telling what had befallen him, saying he was ready to obey Our Lady’s call. Each recounted the same experiences, and resolve. As Monaldi had been the first to speak, so it was decided that he must be the first to act; they looked to him for guidance. He decided to seek counsel of their director, James of Poggibonsi, who concluded that was no mere fancy of pious youths, but in fact, a call from their Mother, manifesting to them the will of God, to obey without hesitation.

Some of these men were engaged in business, some in offices of state, four had family ties, which it was not easy to break, especially since the Church suffers no married man or woman to enter into religion unless the other party to the marriage contract does so too. It is believed that the two wives who still lived became afterwards Tertiaries of the Order; at any rate the conditions were at the time fulfilled, all social and worldly arrangements were made; and by the eighth of September, the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, they were free to obey, they had stripped themselves of all that bound them to the world.

Meantime, and while waiting to know the further will of God, Monaldi and their director sketched out a plan of community life. They adopted a habit of gray wool, with a leather cincture, and found a house just outside the city walls, where they might pass much of their time in solitude and prayer, yet near enough to the city to give an example to those they had so lately left. All this was done with the approval of the Bishop; it was merely a question of certain men living a mortified life in community; he granted permission to James to live with them as their chaplain, to celebrate Mass in their oratory, and to reserve the Blessed Sacrament.

Their appearance drew a crowd of sympathizers, who, recognizing their great renunciation and sanctity, pressed to touch their garments, to kiss their hands and entreat their blessing. Suddenly, from the midst of the crowd, were heard the voices of children who cried: “See, the Servants of Mary.” The same exclamation was made still more wonderfully on the following thirteenth of January, when a child only five months old, spoke for the first time in crying said, “Mother, those are Mary’s Servants, give them an alms.” The child’s name was Philip Benizi, who afterwards became one of the greatest Saints of the Order and its superior general.

The community became instrument in helping the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows to be added to the Church calendar as they prayed often the 7 Sorrows of Mary.

The seven sorrows are as follows: 1 The presentation of Jesus in the temple (when Mary was told a sword would pierce Her Heart); 2 the Flight into Egypt; 3 the Loss of Jesus for three days; 4 Mary meets Jesus on the way of the Cross; 5 Mary stands at the Foot of the Cross; 6 Jesus is taken down from the Cross and placed in Mary’s arms and 7 Jesus is placed into the tomb.

Today, I would like to encourage you to learn and pray the 7 Sorrows of Mary, also called the Servite Rosary. Many special graces are given to those who pray it.

6th Wednesday - Healing the Blind Man

 

 In today’s Gospel, some people brought a blind man to Jesus, begging Him to touch and heal the man. Jesus did something that seems very unusual. He took some spit and placed it on the man’s eyes, and then laid His hands on the man. Jesus then asked him, “Do you see anything?” The man responded, stating that the people looked like walking trees. The man’s eyesight was partially restored, but not completely. A second time Jesus laid hands on the man, and then the man saw perfectly.

Usually, when Our Lord cured someone, it was almost always instantaneous. Why wasn’t this man able to see right away. Did Jesus not have enough power, the first time, and so had to do it again? No, of course not! Jesus is God and is all-powerful.

The reason why it was a gradual healing was because the man’s faith was weak. The healing therefore, depended upon the man’s faith. His faith had to grow in order for him to be healed completely. The more the man’s faith grew, the more He trusted Jesus could heal him, and the more, he was able to see. Recall that Jesus was not able to work many miracles, in His hometown of Nazareth, due to the lack of faith of the people.

St. Teresa of Avila said, “Give us light, Lord. Behold, we need it more than the man who was blind from birth, for he wished to see the light and could not, whereas nowadays, Lord, no one wishes to see it. Oh, what a hopeless ill is this! Here, my God, must be manifested thy power and thy mercy!” Today, as we prepare to receive Jesus in Holy Communion, let ask the Blessed Virgin Mary to obtain for us the gift of faith, that we may see the face of Jesus, Her Son, in the light of His love.

Feb. 14th - St. Valentine

 

Painting of St. Valentine Receiving a Rosary from the Blessed Virgin Mary

On Valentine’s Day many couples go out for a romantic dinner. Its a day some men will propose. Weddings at times are scheduled for Feb. 14^th. Children learn to create paper hearts and heart shaped candy and cards are shared between lovers, friends and family with a few words on the heart, such as “Be My Valentine” or “Sweet Heart” or “I Love You”. But where did this tradition come from and who or what is “Valentine”? Father Valentine was a priest of Rome who lived in the 200’s. He was well known for his sanctity. Intrigued by his fame, Emperor Claudius invited him to the palace. He offered Valentine his friendship and told him to adore the gods. But Father Valentine courageously and firmly stated it was a waste of time to worship the gods, since Jesus Christ had brought the only true hope and the promise of a better world. The Emperor was impressed by his faith and entrusted him to a Roman nobleman named Asterius, whom he ordered to convert Valentine. Asterius had a daughter who was blind since the age of two. Valentine prayed over her and the girl regained her sight which caused Asterius and his family to convert to Christianity. Due to many unpopular and bloody wars, the emperor had to maintain a strong army, but was having a difficult time getting soldiers to join his military. Claudius believed men were unwilling to join the army because of their strong attachment to their wives and families. To get rid of the problem, Claudius banned all marriages and engagements in Rome. Valentine defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When the Emperor heard about the conversion of Asterius and his family and Valentine’s actions of marrying couples, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. Valentine was arrested and put into jail. When leaving to be executed, Father Valentine left a farewell note for the jailer’s daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it “From Your Valentine.” He was dragged before the Prefect of Rome, who condemned him to be beaten to death with clubs and to have his head cut off. The sentence was carried out on February 14, 270. He was buried nearby and soon a church was built there in his honor. To bolster the reason for becoming the patron saint of lovers, an ancient English text by Geoffrey Chaucer said birds start mating on Valentine's Day. Over the years, the feast of Lupercalia, a pagan festival of love, became popular. It was a bloody, violent and sexually-charged celebration awash with animal sacrifice. During the festival, the names of young women were placed in a box and were drawn by the men as chance directed and then they would carry out horrid things. In order to put an end to this abomination, in 496, Pope Gelasius declared February 14 be celebrated as St. Valentine’s Day, the same day as the pagan festival. The festival eventually fell away and gradually, February 14 became a date for exchanging love messages, poems and simple gifts such as flowers. Priest and martyr, Father Valentine’s love of Jesus and love of neighbor caused him to be willing to risk his life and to even die, so others may share in their love. By his ministry to Christians, he could say, “It is no longer I who lives, but Christ who lives in me”. (Galatians 2:20) He lived the words of Jesus, “There is no greater love, than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13) As the apostle John, who rested on the chest of Jesus (near His beating Heart), said, “Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in him and he in God. We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us. God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him.” (1 John 4:15-16). Jesus’ supreme act of love was when He laid down His life for us on the Cross. His Heart was pierced causing blood and water to flow from His side (John 19:34) representing His love and mercy. At times, an image of the Heart of Jesus is placed in the homes of Catholic families, as a reminder of Christ’s love for us.