November 28, 2024

Dear John,

Happy Thanksgiving! I want to always start by saying: We are so appreciative of our donors. There is no Franciscan Media without you! This is the 18th 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 136 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!

Today’s Saint of the Day reflection reminds us that we need to become better listeners to God’s word as it is transmitted to us through Scripture, in the Church, and with one another. To listen well, we need to pray for a spirit of humility—a spirit which St. James of the Marche embodied so well. Listening well to others is a pain point we would like to address in our Listening to God category of Rebuilding God’s Church. We would like to populate this category with resources that help people pray and listen to one another with greater humility. If you would like to learn more about Rebuilding God’s Church or donate, click here.

With profound gratitude, 

Deacon Matthew Halbach, PhD
President & Publisher,

Franciscan Media

Saint of the Day for November 28: 
James of the Marche

(1394 – November 28, 1476)

Listen to Saint James of the Marche’s Story Here

Meet one of the fathers of the modern pawnshop! James was born in the Marche of Ancona, in central Italy along the Adriatic Sea. After earning doctorates in canon and civil law at the University of Perugia, he joined the Friars Minor and began a very austere life. He fasted nine months of the year; he slept three hours a night. Saint Bernardine of Siena told him to moderate his penances.

James studied theology with Saint John of Capistrano. Ordained in 1420, James began a preaching career that took him all over Italy and through 13 Central and Eastern European countries. This extremely popular preacher converted many people–250,000 at one estimate–and helped spread devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus. His sermons prompted numerous Catholics to reform their lives, and many men joined the Franciscans under his influence.

With John of Capistrano, Albert of Sarteano, and Bernardine of Siena, James is considered one of the “four pillars” of the Observant movement among the Franciscans. These friars became known especially for their preaching.

To combat extremely high interest rates, James established montes pietatis—literally, mountains of charity—nonprofit credit organizations that lent money on pawned objects at very low rates.

Not everyone was happy with the work James did. Twice assassins lost their nerve when they came face to face with him. James died in 1476, and was canonized in 1726.

Reflection

James wanted the word of God to take root in the hearts of his listeners. His preaching was directed to preparing the soil, so to speak, by removing any rocks and softening up lives hardened by sin. God’s intention is that his word take root in our lives, but for that we need both prayerful preachers and cooperative listeners.

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