October 9, 2024

Dear John,

In all the three spiritual resources below—Saint of the Day, Minute Meditations, and Pause+Pray—we find examples of resilience and Christian courage. Whether it be martyrdom with St. Denis of Paris, the painful stigmata St. Francis received, or the difficulties Adele Brise struggled with in her life, it’s plain to see that suffering often accompanies the holy and, in fact, inspires them to live out their examples of faith.

Although I sincerely hope you are not suffering in your life right now, if you are, please know that we at Franciscan Media are with you. We pray every morning together at 9:30, and we always pray for those who encounter our spiritual resources, whether it be St. Anthony Messenger magazine, our line of books, or our presence online.

If you enjoy these daily inspirations sent to your inbox every morning, we humbly ask you to consider making a donation to Franciscan Media today. Without your help, our work is not possible. And please know that we will continue to pray for you every day at morning prayer!

Peace!

Daniel Imwalle

Managing Editor

SAINT OF THE DAY

Saint of the Day for October 9: Denis and Companions

(d. 258?)

Listen to Saint Denis and Companions’ Story Here

This martyr and patron of France is regarded as the first bishop of Paris. His popularity is due to a series of legends, especially those connecting him with the great abbey church of St. Denis in Paris. He was for a time confused with the writer now called Pseudo-Dionysius.

The best hypothesis contends that Denis was sent to Gaul from Rome in the third century and beheaded in the persecution under Emperor Valerius in 258.

According to one of the legends, after he was martyred on Montmartre—literally, “mountain of martyrs”—in Paris, he carried his head to a village northeast of the city. Saint Genevieve built a basilica over his tomb at the beginning of the sixth century.

Reflection

Again, we have the case of a saint about whom almost nothing is known, yet one whose cult has been a vigorous part of the Church’s history for centuries. We can only conclude that the deep impression the saint made on the people of his day reflected a life of unusual holiness. In all such cases, there are two fundamental facts: A great man gave his life for Christ, and the Church has never forgotten him—a human symbol of God’s eternal mindfulness.

Saint Denis is the Patron Saint of:

France

Celebrate the

10th anniversary of this timeless classic

by Richard Rohr!

Delve into the teachings of the alternative way of St. Francis in

Eager to Love and the

companion guide!

Learn more!

MINUTE MEDITATIONS

‘I Have Done My Part’

Altogether Francis’s life and his relationship with the world—including animals, the elements, the poor and sick, women as well as men, princes, prelates, and even the sultan of Egypt, represented the breakthrough of a new model of human and cosmic community.

But ultimately, Francis attempted to do no more than to live out the teachings of Christ and the spirit of the Gospel. His identification with Christ was so intense that in 1224, while praying in his hermitage, he received the “stigmata,” the physical marks of Christ’s passion, on his hands and feet. His last years were marked at once by excruciating physical suffering and spiritual joy. “Welcome, Sister Death!” he exclaimed at last. At his request, he was laid naked on the bare ground. As the friars gathered around him, he gave each his blessing in turn: “I have done my part,” he said. “May Christ teach you to do yours.”

—from the book The Franciscan Saints
by Robert Ellsberg

PAUSE+PRAY

Our Lady of Champion

Reflect

There is only one Church-approved apparition of Mary in the United States. Our Lady of Champion, in gleaming light among autumnal trees, appeared three times to Adele Brise in Champion, Wisconsin, in 1859. One of the most moving facts about this vision is that Adele, when a child, was the victim of an accident that left her disfigured and blind in one eye. Despite this, Adele grew up to be a woman of profound faith. Ponder what situations in your own life have left physical or emotional scars, and how you have found your way to God in spite—or even because—of them.

Pray

Our Lady Champion,
You sweetened the autumn air, blessed the branches of hemlocks and maples
with your divine light and your crown of heavenly stars.
We drink in your words, “Go and fear nothing, I will help you.”
We turn to you now, as Adele did, with our childhood wounds
exposed to the balm of your love.
We bring everything to you, hiding nothing,
Because we know you are the mother, who knows our every need.
You are the Lady who appears everywhere—
even here in America, in the woods, to a young woman who adored you.
Our Lady of Champion, pray for our healing.

Act

Look up Our Lady of Champion to learn more about her miracles and the shrine that holds her peace.

Today's Pause+Pray was written by Maureen O'Brien. Learn more here!

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