Today's saint 😇 was called "the little monk" by his family for his religious zeal.
Dear John, Good morning, good people! Let me first say: We are deeply appreciative of our donors. There is no Franciscan Media without you. This is the 22nd day of our Rebuilding God’s Church, $125K match campaign that will run through Easter of next year! Click here to make a donation. As we learn from Father Greg Friedman, OFM's Advent message, Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini, at the urging of Pope Leo XIII, embraced her mission to work with the poorest of New York City as a new century dawned. Leaving behind everything she knew, St. Cabrini listened to the will of God and followed that directive boldly and with love. At Franciscan Media, we are on the same mission: to rebuild a Church that has fallen into disrepair—just as Mother Cabrini did. And that mission is not possible without your support. With your help, we can make this happen. Peace to you this Advent season! |
Deacon Matthew Halbach, PhD
President & Publisher, Franciscan Media
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Saint of the Day for December 2:
Blessed Rafal Chylinski (January 8, 1694 – December 2, 1741) Listen to Blessed Rafal Chylinski’s Story Here Born near Buk in the Poznan region of Poland, Melchior Chylinski showed early signs of religious devotion; family members nicknamed him “the little monk.” After completing his studies at the Jesuit college in Poznan, Melchior joined the cavalry and was promoted to officer rank within three years. In 1715, against the urgings of his comrades, Melchior joined the Conventual Franciscans in Krakow. Receiving the name Rafal, he was ordained two years later. After pastoral assignments in nine cities, he came to Lagiewniki, where he spent the last 13 years of his life, except for 20 months ministering to flood and epidemic victims in Warsaw. In all these places, Rafal was known for his simple and candid sermons, for his generosity, as well as for his ministry in the confessional. People of all levels of society were drawn to the self-sacrificing way he lived out his religious profession and priestly ministry. Rafal played the harp, lute, and mandolin to accompany liturgical hymns. In Lagiewniki he distributed food, supplies, and clothing to the poor. After his death, the Conventual church in that city became a place of pilgrimage for people throughout Poland. He was beatified in Warsaw in 1991. Reflection The sermons preached by Rafal were powerfully reinforced by the living sermon of his life. The Sacrament of Reconciliation can help us bring our daily choices into harmony with our words about Jesus’ influence in our lives.
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Advent with the Saints: Frances Xavier Cabrini Much of the Catholic Church in the United States has grown through the faith of thousands of immigrants who came here over the centuries. Many of them arrived in the second half of the nineteenth and the first part of the twentieth century. Among them was Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini, who came from Italy at the direction of Pope Leo XIII. Although she had wished to become a missionary to China, she readily embraced the call to serve her fellow immigrants, beginning in New York City. Over thirty-five years, she oversaw the establishment of sixty-seven institutions to care for those who were poor, outcast, sick, orphaned, or in need of education. Mother Cabrini bore many of the same hardships as her fellow immigrants. Like many of them, she embraced her new homeland and became a citizen—and its first canonized saint. May we be as welcoming as our God to those who are strangers or in need during this holy season—and beyond. —adapted from the book Advent with the Saints: Daily Reflections
by Greg Friedman, OFM |
The Humble God Reflect In episode 4 of Franciscan Media’s Off the Page podcast, Sister Ilia Delio, OSF, discusses her book, The Humility of God: A Franciscan Perspective and the practical implications for a theology rooted in God’s humility. Pray Lord, you bent low, becoming human in the frail, vulnerable body of an infant.
You became human.
Who am I to judge another human?
You became small.
How could I turn a blind eye to the lowly?
You took on human suffering.
How could I not enter into the pain of others? Act If God’s trajectory is to “descend” and enter into human suffering, what does it look like for us to mirror this same trajectory with our lives? Consider this divine path of descent as you open your heart to listen to others and be with others today. Today's Pause+Pray was written by Stephen Copeland. Learn more here! |
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