Even saints experience spiritual dryness. Youāre not alone.
Dear Friend, Today we remember St. Romuald, whoādespite being known for his deep prayer lifeāalso experienced spiritual dryness. That always touches me deeply. Iāve been in that space too, more than once. People often assume that strong faith means constant consolation, but even the holiest among us go through deserts. What has always helped me in those moments is being surrounded by people who pour out their grace when mine feels empty.
Franciscan Media wants to be that kind of companionāto walk with people when prayer feels hollow and offer small reminders that God is still near. St. Anthony of Padua said, āThe Lord manifests himself to those who stop for some time in peace and humility of heart.ā Thatās what we strive to create: peaceful, humble encounters with grace. Support that ministry by becoming a monthly donor. |
Ela Milewska Director, Franciscan Media |
Saint of the Day for June 19: Romuald (c. 950 ā June 19, 1027) Listen to Saint Romualdās Story Here In the midst of a wasted youth, Romuald watched his father kill a relative in a duel over property. In horror he fled to a monastery near Ravenna. After three years, some of the monks found him to be uncomfortably holy and eased him out. Romuald spent the next 30 years going about Italy, founding monasteries and hermitages. He longed to give his life to Christ in martyrdom, and got the popeās permission to preach the gospel in Hungary. But he was struck with illness as soon as he arrived, and the illness recurred as often as he tried to proceed. During another period of his life, Romuald suffered great spiritual dryness. One day as he was praying Psalm 31 (āI will give you understanding and I will instruct youā), he was given an extraordinary light and spirit which never left him. At the next monastery where he stayed, Romuald was accused of a scandalous crime by a young nobleman he had rebuked for a dissolute life. Amazingly, his fellow monks believed the accusation. He was given a severe penance, forbidden from offering Mass, and excommunicatedāan unjust sentence that he endured in silence for six months. The most famous of the monasteries Romuald founded was that of the Camaldoli in Tuscany. Here began the Order of the Camaldolese Benedictines, uniting the monastic and eremitical lives. In later life Romualdās own father became a monk, wavered, and was kept faithful by the encouragement of his son. Reflection Christ is a gentle leader, but he calls us to total holiness. Now and then, men and women are raised up to challenge us by the absoluteness of their dedication, the vigor of their spirit, the depth of their conversion. The fact that we cannot duplicate their lives does not change the call to us to be totally open to God in our own particular circumstances.
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This Communion of Saints Life is change. But it is not antithetical to the life that came before; it is not a negation of that or an elimination of it. In some ways, it might be a building upon it. If we think about God calling us into the communion of saints, itās a deepening of relationship across time and space that we donāt always get to share in the same way in our earthly lives. āfrom Franciscan Mediaās Off the Page
with host Stephen Copeland, featuring Daniel P. Horan, PhD |
The Paraclete Reflect How often do we speak to the Holy Spirit? Do we expect the Holy Spirit to work in our lives just as the Son and the Father? Pray Holy Spirit,
Our bodies are your temple,
you graced us with your presence at our baptism and confirmation.
Yet, we still continue to seek you.
We ask for your assistance in our lives,
making us bold proclaimers of the Gospel.
Continue to lead us with your gifts,
so we might use them on our pilgrimage to our home in Heaven.
Amen Act Throughout the day, say a quick prayer to invite the Holy Spirit into whatever you are doing. Today's Pause+Pray was written by Martin J.P. Gianotti. Learn more here! |
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