Dear Friend, Todayâs Minute Meditation reminds us that creation never hurriesâyet life always finds a way. As someone who recently moved back to North Carolina, I find healing and hope in watching the trees sway and the earth breathe. Thereâs a slowness to nature that teaches us something about grace: it unfolds. It doesnât rush. And yet it never fails to renew.
Thatâs what weâre trying to do at Franciscan Mediaâcreate space for people to rediscover the slow, sacred work of God in their lives. We offer reflections, prayers, and stories not for a quick fix, but for the long journey of faith. Because we believe resurrection still happensâonline, in silence, in broken hearts, and across digital timelines. If you want to help us tend this holy ground, please consider joining us as a monthly supporter. Thank you for walking this week with me. I am so grateful to serve you. |
Ela Milewska Digital Evangelization Strategist |
Saint of the Day for May 27:
Augustine of Canterbury (? â May 26, 605) Listen to Saint Augustine of Canterburyâs Story Here In the year 596, some 40 monks set out from Rome to evangelize the Anglo-Saxons in England. Leading the group was Augustine, the prior of their monastery. Hardly had he and his men reached Gaul when they heard stories of the ferocity of the Anglo-Saxons and of the treacherous waters of the English Channel. Augustine returned to Rome and to Gregory the Greatâthe pope who had sent themâonly to be assured by him that their fears were groundless. Augustine set out again. This time the group crossed the English Channel and landed in the territory of Kent, ruled by King Ethelbert, a pagan married to a Christian, Bertha. Ethelbert received them kindly, set up a residence for them in Canterbury and within the year, on Pentecost Sunday 597, was himself baptized. After being consecrated a bishop in France, Augustine returned to Canterbury, where he founded his see. He constructed a church and monastery near where the present cathedral, begun in 1070, now stands. As the faith spread, additional sees were established at London and Rochester. Work was sometimes slow and Augustine did not always meet with success. Attempts to reconcile the Anglo-Saxon Christians with the original Briton Christiansâwho had been driven into western England by Anglo-Saxon invadersâended in dismal failure. Augustine failed to convince the Britons to give up certain Celtic customs at variance with Rome and to forget their bitterness, helping him evangelize their Anglo-Saxon conquerors. Laboring patiently, Augustine wisely heeded the missionary principlesâquite enlightened for the timesâsuggested by Pope Gregory: purify rather than destroy pagan temples and customs; let pagan rites and festivals be transformed into Christian feasts; retain local customs as far as possible. The limited success Augustine achieved in England before his death in 605, a short eight years after his arrival, would eventually bear fruit long after in the conversion of England. Augustine of Canterbury can truly be called the âApostle of England.â Reflection Augustine of Canterbury comes across today as a very human saint, one who could suffer like many of us from a failure of nerve. For example, his first venture to England ended in a big U-turn back to Rome. He made mistakes and met failure in his peacemaking attempts with the Briton Christians. He often wrote to Rome for decisions on matters he could have decided on his own had he been more self-assured. He even received mild warnings against pride from Pope Gregory, who cautioned him to âfear lest, amidst the wonders that are done, the weak mind be puffed up by self-esteem.â Augustineâs perseverance amidst obstacles and only partial success teaches todayâs apostles and pioneers to struggle on despite frustrations and be satisfied with gradual advances. Saint Augustine of Canterbury is the Patron Saint of: England
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Creation Never Hurries I canât begin to understand it or explain it, but among the trees of Albright Grove, surviving so stubbornly the ravages of nature and of humankind, I felt some confidence and hope that things will be all right, in a way and on a scale that far transcends me and my lifespan. I still hold out hope that our species will finally learn to live peaceably among our nonhuman kin, rather than extinguish ourselves because we have failed in that learning. But, either way, the trees will flourishâlife will flourish. In time, cutover lands will become old-growth forests once again, and the broken and damaged webs of life will reweave themselves: Resurrection and redemption will happen. Creation will not hurry. Yet, as life thrives and evolves, God will accomplish everything. âfrom Franciscan Spiritâs âThe Wisdom of Treesâ
by Kyle Kramer |
Everyday Holiness Reflect In times of frustration and doubt we can feel unseen, forgetting the value of our small actions toward both people and the creatures of the earth. Pray Dear God,
when I feel invisible,
unworthy,
or unheard
in the clamor and uproar
of the world,
help me
return to the truth
of how precious
and alive
even the smallest acts are.
Thereâs holiness
in every action,
especially in
the gentle repetition
of caring
for all those we love.
Help us see
that everything we do matters.
And touches you. Act Say or sing this to yourself: âWhatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, that you do unto me.â Today's Pause+Pray was written by Maureen O'Brien. Learn more here! |
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