In his various ministries, today's saint was loving, devout, and penitential. He was a sought-after confessor and preacher. 🛐
Dear John, Peace and good to you! I want to always start by saying: We are so appreciative of our donors. There is no Franciscan Media without you! This is the 17th day of our Rebuilding God’s Church $125,000 match campaign. Your donations help us unlock this match money! This campaign will run through Easter next year, which means we have 137 days left! If you are already a recurring donor, you can make your current donation double without having to increase your donation! If you want to put your current donation toward this “Rebuilding God’s Church” vision through Easter, all you need to do is email us at giving@franciscanmedia.org and let us know that you want your donation matched. Thank you to those who have already done this! The reflection for our Saint of the Day today speaks to our need to cooperate with God’s grace. We can do nothing without God. But we cannot start receiving God’s grace in a fruitful manner until we come to know, through faith, God’s love for us in Christ. God is always with us. Many people, however, need to rediscover God’s love and presence in order to cooperate with his grace. That rediscovery can take place in lost of different ways: through a kindness or smile, through the appreciation of nature, through reflection on God’s word and Church teaching. God can even be found anew in someone we dislike or disagree with. In these tense relationships, we especially need to be open to rediscovering God. Rediscovering Godis one of the categories of Rebuilding God’s Church that we hope to populate with digital resources that support you on your faith journey. If you would like to learn more about Rebuilding God’s Church or donate, click here. |
Deacon Matthew Halbach, PhD
President & Publisher, Franciscan Media
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Saint of the Day for November 27:
Francesco Antonio Fasani (August 6, 1681 – November 29, 1742) Listen to Saint Francesco Antonio Fasani’s Story Here Born in Lucera, Francesco entered the Conventual Franciscans in 1695. After his ordination 10 years later, he taught philosophy to younger friars, served as guardian of his friary, and later became provincial minister. When his term of office ended, Francesco became master of novices and finally pastor in his hometown. In his various ministries, he was loving, devout, and penitential. He was a sought-after confessor and preacher. One witness at the canonical hearings regarding Francesco’s holiness testified, “In his preaching he spoke in a familiar way, filled as he was with the love of God and neighbor; fired by the Spirit, he made use of the word and deed of holy Scripture, stirring his listeners and moving them to do penance.” Francesco showed himself a loyal friend of the poor, never hesitating to seek from benefactors what was needed. At his death in Lucera, children ran through the streets crying out, “The saint is dead! The saint is dead!” Francesco was canonized in 1986. Reflection We become what we choose. If we choose stinginess, we become stingy. If we choose compassion, we become compassionate. The holiness of Francesco resulted from his many small decisions to cooperate with God’s grace.
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Reverence for the Word When Saint Francis was in Damietta, Egypt during the Fifth Crusade, he spent over twenty days in the camp of the Sultan, Malek-al-Kamil, witnessing to Jesus Christ and trying to bring peace between the crusaders and the Muslims. While there, Francis was moved by the honor which the Muslims showed to the ninety-nine names of Allah. It confirmed for him the importance of reverence for God’s name, which he already held dear in his own heart and life. Reverence for God’s written words. Again and again, Saint Francis admonishes us to hold reverently the words of God which hold God himself in their mystery. Reverence for the words of God leads to reverence for the Word of God, who is Jesus Christ. —from the book The Simple Way: Meditations on the Words of Saint Francis
by Murray Bodo, OFM |
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Let’s Count Our Blessings Reflect God sends us blessings throughout the day, though we don’t always recognize them. In order to cultivate a gracious heart, let us first pray for our hearts to be opened. Pray Dear God,
your blessings
take many shapes,
but I do not always
welcome them.
In the busyness of the day,
give me eyes to see
the beauty around me
and a heart that
is open to its graces.
Let me share those blessings
with those around me.
Amen. Act At the close of day today, write down three blessings that lifted your spirits. Offer up this prayer again in thanks to the generous God who provided them. Today’s Pause+Pray was written by Christopher Heffron. Learn more here! |
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