Today's Pause+Pray should soothe a weary heart. ❣️
February 20, 2024
Hello John,
Did you know... Padre Pio had a wonderfully succinct way of evangelizing. One of his most famous quotes, in fact, is, “Pray, hope, and don’t worry.” How amazing is it that a 20th-century saint has advice that applies to 21st-century Christians?
The saints lived in service to the Good News. At Franciscan Media, so do we. Enjoy today's newsletter!
Saint of the Day for February 20: Saints Jacinta and Francisco Marto
(Jacinta: 1910 – February 20, 1920 | Francisco: 1908 – April 14, 1919)
Between May 13 and October 13, 1917, three Portuguese shepherd children from Aljustrel, received apparitions of Our Lady at Cova da Iria, near Fátima, a city 110 miles north of Lisbon. At that time, Europe was involved in an extremely bloody war. Portugal itself was in political turmoil, having overthrown its monarchy in 1910; the government disbanded religious organizations soon after.
At the first appearance, Mary asked the children to return to that spot on the thirteenth of each month for the next six months. She also asked them to learn to read and write and to pray the rosary “to obtain peace for the world and the end of the war.” They were to pray for sinners and for the conversion of Russia, which had recently overthrown Czar Nicholas II and was soon to fall under communism. Up to 90,000 people gathered for Mary’s final apparition on October 13, 1917.
Less than two years later, Francisco died of influenza in his family home. He was buried in the parish cemetery and then re-buried in the Fátima basilica in 1952. Jacinta died of influenza in Lisbon in 1920, offering her suffering for the conversion of sinners, peace in the world, and the Holy Father. She was re-buried in the Fátima basilica in 1951. Their cousin Lúcia dos Santos, became a Carmelite nun and was still living when Jacinta and Francisco were beatified in 2000; she died five years later. Pope Francis canonized the younger children on his visit to Fátima to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first apparition–May 13, 2017. The shrine of Our Lady of Fátima is visited by up to 20 million people a year.
Reflection
The Church is always very cautious about endorsing alleged apparitions, but it has seen benefits from people changing their lives because of the message of Our Lady of Fátima. Prayer for sinners, devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and praying the rosary—all these reinforce the Good News Jesus came to preach.
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Francis came to view his whole life as a prayer. As we will discover in our reflections on Francis’s “Canticle of Creatures,” prayer joins us as healing partners with all creation. In a world where everything fits together seamlessly, every thought, word, and act can bring healing and beauty to the world. All creation praises its Creator. All things find their origin and completion in God’s love.
The meek are blessed precisely because they recognize their dependence on the generosity of God and creation, and out of their dependence, the humble commit themselves to be Christ to others, claiming their vocation as God’s companions in healing the earth. The privileged become blessed in prayerfully letting go of their sense of superiority and seeing themselves as united with humanity and all creation, sharing their possessions and working for a world in which everyone has a fair chance to enjoy the fruits of this good earth.
Philippians 4:8 counsels us to think about things that are commendable, excellent, and worthy. The quality of our thoughts can bring joy or sorrow to our lives. Writing from prison, the apostle Paul recognizes that he can be dominated by either regret and negativity or by joy and gratitude. Paul chooses the latter. Regardless of the circumstances, we have the freedom, as Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl asserts, to choose our attitude toward the events in our lives. Let us—in this time of conflict, incivility, and global uncertainty—choose hope and follow our highest values, and we will contribute to the healing of the world.
Pray
Creative and loving God, Awaken us to the wonders of life. In the midst of chaos and uncertainty, Help us choose hope and love, So that we may become beacons of hope to the world around us. Amen.
Act
Today, be aware of your thoughts and your responses to those around you. Without shame or judgment, reflect: Do my thoughts and responses contribute to justice and beauty? Do they aim at healing and wholeness? In what ways can I embody my highest self in my relationships with others? And then, try doing it!
Today's Pause+Pray was written by Bruce Epperly. Learn more here!
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