The deaths today's saint and his companions sparked a missionary vocation in Anthony of Padua and others. ❤️
January 16, 2025
Dear John,
One of my jobs here at Franciscan Media is to cultivate the entries for our daily Pause+Pray. And while I find the offerings inspirational and insightful, sometimes all I need to remember is the urging of the name—Pause+Pray.
We live fast-paced lives in a fast-paced world. The concept of taking a break can often seem foreign to us. But we need that time to reconnect with ourselves. Sometimes all it takes is a few minutes, but it's important. That was our thinking behind developing Pause+Pray. We wanted to offer something brief that would help you find a moment to stop, reflect, and pray in the midst of your busy life.
If you find these daily messages helpful and would like to continue seeing more in the future, please consider making a gift to Franciscan Media. Donate today!
Preaching the gospel is often dangerous work. Leaving one’s homeland and adjusting to new cultures, governments and languages is difficult enough; but martyrdom caps all the other sacrifices.
In 1219, with the blessing of Saint Francis, Berard left Italy with Peter, Adjute, Accurs, Odo and Vitalis to preach in Morocco. En route in Spain, Vitalis became sick and commanded the other friars to continue their mission without him.
They tried preaching in Seville, then in Muslim hands, but made no converts. They went on to Morocco where they preached in the marketplace. The friars were immediately apprehended and ordered to leave the country; they refused. When they began preaching again, an exasperated sultan ordered them executed. After enduring severe beatings and declining various bribes to renounce their faith in Jesus Christ, the friars were beheaded by the sultan himself on January 16, 1220.
These were the first Franciscan martyrs. When Francis heard of their deaths, he exclaimed, “Now I can truly say that I have five Friars Minor!” Their relics were brought to Portugal where they prompted a young Augustinian canon to join the Franciscans and set off for Morocco the next year. That young man was Anthony of Padua. These five martyrs were canonized in 1481.
Reflection
The deaths of Berard and his companions sparked a missionary vocation in Anthony of Padua and others. There have been many, many Franciscans who have responded to Francis’ challenge. Proclaiming the gospel can be fatal, but that has not stopped the Franciscan men and women who even today risk their lives in many countries throughout the world.
Openness to the world awakens us to constant reformation, believing that divine inspiration is found beyond as well as within our religious institutions. Living faith is growing faith. Even Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and so must we and our institutions as we trust that God will guide us through the twenty-first-century spiritual wilderness, showing us what we need to change, jettison, and affirm and reminding us that through all life’s changes, nothing can separate us from the love of God.
As it is written in Matthew 7:1–2: “Stop judging, that you may not be judged. For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you.” How often, though, are we quick to scold others—to judge them harshly? Are we not all sinners?
Pray
God of peace of mind and heart, Too often I fall into familiar traps: Judging others though I am no better. Catch me before I fall into these ugly patterns. Remind me that your son came for the redemption of all—not a select few. His love extended to everyone, to all sinners, like me. Let me only judge only my own actions, my own choices, and my own failings, for they are many. We are all, each of us, bruised but beautiful children of a loving God. Amen.
Act
When you feel tempted to judge other people, do a quick inventory of your sins. Then be quiet long enough to say a prayer of humility.
Today’s Pause+Pray was written by Christopher Heffron. Learn more here!
This newsletter is not free to produce! Please consider making a donation to help us in our efforts to share God's love in the spirit of St. Francis.
