St. Andrew of Crete puts this feast day, celebrated since the 5th century, in perspective for us when he says: “[In the great play of salvation] today’s festival, the birth of the Mother of God, is the joyful prelude, while the final act is the union of the Word [of God] with human flesh.  Through Mary’s birth we are led away from slavery and toward the Truth. We are led away from darkness and toward the Light. Therefore, let all creation sing and dance and unite to make a worthy contribution to the celebration of this day. Let there be one common festival for saints in heaven and people on earth. Let everything join in festive celebration, for today, [through the birth of Mary] this created world is raised to the dignity of a holy place for [her Son] who made all things. The creature is newly prepared to be a divine dwelling place for her Creator.”

BISHOP BONAVENTURE, OFM -CATHOLIC FAITH RADIO PROGRAM-THE NATIVITY OF THE BLESSED MOTHER 

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Her Doctrine and Morals Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost 9 September 2012

The Sunday Sermon

Dear Friends,

In this life we often experience mystically or symbolically things that will take place on higher levels. The physical death that we see so very often in this life should waken our consciences to the terrible reality of the death of soul that takes place with the commission of mortal sin. The beauty and wonders of this life should excite within us a burning desire for the eternal beauty and wonder of eternal life in heaven. The pain, agony, and misery in this life should turn our thoughts to the suffering of the damned in hell or to the poor souls in Purgatory.

The occurrence in today’s gospel turns our thoughts to the Resurrection. It is interesting to note that the gospel tells us that Jesus had mercy on the widow mother (not so much the dead man). The dead man was given another chance in life, not because he deserved it, but rather because his mother’s misery touched the heart of God. Very often we receive a resurrection of sorts when we return from our sins to the life of grace. At this moment of our spiritual joy it would be good for us to recall the passages in today’s gospel. We who were dead in sin have done nothing to deserve or merit this grace. It is due to the prayers and sacrifices of others that God has had compassion on us and restored spiritual life to us so that we may begin again.

It is easy to become overwhelmed with the joy of clearing our consciences and forget to give thanks and praise to God; but perhaps even more often we forget to show our appreciation to those who truly love us and have seen us lost in the depths of sin and poured out their hearts to God in prayers and sacrifices on our behalf! More often than not we will discover that the saints in Heaven are there because of the prayers and sacrifices of others. The tears, prayers, and sacrifices of mothers and fathers greatly touch the heart of God. St. Augustine attributes his conversion to the merits of his sainted mother. If it were not for the constant prayers and tears of St. Monica, there never would have been a St. Augustine.

Pastors also as spiritual fathers often pray and sacrifice for their spiritual children and every penitent should realize the gratitude that they owe to their confessors and pastors. We also have religious orders dedicated to lives of prayer and sacrifice and have obtained many graces for sinners which will only be known in heaven. This listing of our spiritual benefactors that we owe so much gratitude to, will not be complete unless we also include our guardian angels, patron saints, other saints to whom we may have some spiritual tie to as well as relatives and loved ones who also may be interceding for us from eternity.

Returning to St. Augustine we learn that it is a duty for parents to offer these prayers and sacrifices for their children, and if they should fail in this their own salvation falls into jeopardy. This duty to pray and sacrifice for one another also applies to spiritual parents and in general to each and every one of us. We are all called upon to love one another and to be our brother’s keeper. We must seek and work for the salvation of all of God’s children. It is true that not all will be saved and perhaps even that it will only be a few, but if we neglect to love, pray and sacrifice for these souls we see going astray we may be found lacking on the day of judgment. To love our neighbor as we love ourselves implies that we pray and offer sacrifices for them as we would for ourselves. It may be that our greatest joy in heaven will be in the souls united with us to God in Heaven through the merits we have gained for them.

If we can think of no one personally that we should be praying and sacrificing for we can always make a general offering and prayer for sinners. A beautiful practice is to place all the merits of these prayers and sacrifices in the hands of our Blessed Mother, entrusting her to apply or distribute according to her good pleasure. Mary as our most loving and concerned mother, knows best where and how to make use of all our good works and prayers. Jesus could not refuse to show His mercy and kindness to the widow mother in today’s gospel, so much the more will He be inclined to show His mercy and kindness towards all whose cause His mother takes in hand.

May we always be grateful for the grace of penance and the restoration to spiritual life that has been merited for us by others, and let us never forget to do the same for each other.

No sooner, in fact, “is the Word made flesh” (John, 1:14) than he shows Himself to the world vested with a priestly office, making to the Eternal Father an act of submission which will continue uninterruptedly as long as He lives: “When He cometh into the world he saith. . . ‘behold I come . . . to do Thy Will. (Heb. 10:5-7) This act He was to consummate admirably in the bloody Sacrifice of the Cross:  “It is in this will we are sanctified by the oblation of the Body of Jesus Christ once.” (Heb.10:10)  Pope Pius XII, Mediator Dei #17

Almighty God did marvelous things in the soul of St. Rose. It appears that her parents gave her that name by divine inspiration, for it was symbolic of her entire career. As long as she lived, she bloomed like a sweet-scented rose in the garden of the Church, and in full bloom as she transplanted to Paradise. Before she was able to speak, Rose attempted to pronounce the sweet names of Jesus and Mary; and as soon as she had learned to walk, she asked to be taken to church and to other retired and quiet places to pray. When religious discourses were given, she would listen with great attention.

When Rose was only 3 years old, God showed how pleased He was with her in a most wonderful way. One of her maternal aunts died. The family were standing around the bier weeping aloud. Deeply moved by the sorrow of her relatives, little Rose went to the coffin, raised her eyes to heaven, and prayed silently. Then she placed her little hand on the body of her deceased aunt and called her by name. The dead woman immediately opened her eyes and reached out to embrace her little niece, who had raised her to life again.

The child entertained a great compassion for the poor; she always tried to save some food to give to the poor. One day when she left the house with some bread in her apron, she met her father, who asked her in curt fashion what she was carrying off now. The affrighted child opened her apron and fragrant roses were found in it.

When she was 7 years old, Rose retired to a little cell in her father's house. There she spent almost all her time in contemplation and in practicing rigorous penance. She prayed much for the conversion of sinners. Meanwhile our dear Lord was preparing her for an extraordinary mission.

Rose was not yet 10 years old when the Blessed Mother of God instructed her to join the Third Order of St. Francis. Shortly after, our Lord appeared to her on the Cross, wearing the crown of thorns on His head and bleeding profusely from all His wounds. Rose, aghast at the sight, called out: "O my Lord, who has reduced Thee to this state?" Our Lord replied, "My love, my deep love for men has done this." "But," asked Rose, "who has so pierced and torn Thee?" "The sins of men have done it," was our Lord's answer. "Sin, sin!" cried the saint, and she scourged herself to make atonement for the sins of the world.

By divine inspiration, Rose then took a cross in her hand and went up and down the streets and public squares of her city telling people of the terrible tortures our Lord suffered and of the heinousness of sin. Every now and then she would emerge from her solitude to entreat the people to do penance.

The town of Viterbo, which belonged to the Papal States, had revolted against the authority of the pope. Disregard for religion and moral degradation were the order of the day. But the sermons of this little missionary had marvelous results. the people came in crowds to hear her. The stone on which she stood was seen to rise in the air, and she was sustained there by a miracle while burning words issued from her lips. The greater part of the citizenry had already resolved to do penance and to return to the legitimate papal allegiance when Rose and her parents were repelled by the civil authorities.

The result was that she now had a wider field of activity. At Soriano and later at Vitorchiano, her preaching had the same blessed results. In the latter place, a sorceress had done much harm among the inhabitants. Fearing that after her departure this woman would undo the good effected there, Rose was desirous of her conversion. Her initial efforts failed. Then our saint had an immense pile of wood prepared in the public square; fire was set to it, and Rose stepped into the fire and mounted to the top of the pile. She remained untouched for three hours in the midst of the flames, singing the praises of God. The sorceress now cast herself at Rose's feet and was sincerely converted.

Meanwhile the rightful,authority of the pope had been re-established at Viterbo, and Rose could return. She was now 15 years old and anxious to enter the convent of the Poor Clares. As she had no dowry, she could not be admitted. "Well," said Rose, "you will not receive me while I am alive, but you will receive me after I am dead." She and several companions repaired to a secluded dwelling, where they intended to live as a community. The ecclesiastical authorities, however, did not approve of the plan, and Rose returned home. She died 2 years later, filled with the joyous desire of being united with her God.

Two and a half years after her death she appeared three times to Pope Alexander IV, who was in Viterbo at the time, told him to have her body removed to the convent of the Poor Clares. When this was done, her body was found incorrupt; and it has remained in that condition to this day. Miracles are constantly occurring at her tomb. Pope Callistus III canonized her in 1457.

ON THE OPERATIONS OF GOD IN MEN
1. Consider the marvelous operations of God in St. Rose. Entire cities that had fallen away from God and the Church and about whose conversion the greatest missionaries might have doubted, were won to a change of heart by means of a child, and a girl at that. It has often pleased God to reveal His might and wisdom by means of lowly and unimportant creatures. Thus at Milan in a trying period, when it seemed impossible to come to a decision regarding the choice of a bishop, an infant pointed out St. Ambrose as the chosen bishop; and his life story shows that none could have governed the Church at Milan in a more excellent manner. "But the foolish things of the world has God chosen, that He may confound the wise; and the weak things of the world has God chosen, that He may confound the strong. That no flesh shall glory in his sight. But that he who glories, may glory in the Lord" (1 Cor 1:27; 29; 31). -- Have you ever given thought to the fact that it is God who works through human beings?
2. Consider that the operations of grace which God manifests so extraordinarily in children are also effective, generally speaking, in adults. At such time God uses the natural powers and abilities of men in order to effect good. It is not man, however, who produces the good results, but God Himself. The Prophet speaks thus to the Lord: "For Thou hast wrought all our works for us" (Is 26:112). "God gives the increase" (1 Cor 3:7). Whatever good, therefore, is done by men, we must recognize as the work of God and thank Him for it. In like manner, we may not ascribe to ourselves the good that we do, nor think well of ourselves on that account, but we must rather give thanks to God who has done this good through us. -- Have you done this in the past?
3. Consider that in spite of the fact that God uses men to accomplish His works here on earth, He still leaves them free in their acts. If man resists, He gives him over to his own will. But he who submits himself as a useful instrument for anything God wants of him is "as the clay in the hands of the potter, who will fashion it according to his ordering" (Eccli 33:13). He will be an instrument of much blessing. Thus it was with St. Rose. When God called her to solitude, she withdrew to her little cell; when He sent her out, she went into the streets and the market places; when He commissioned her to teach others, she undertook the work; and when, despite the fact that He had formerly permitted her to work miracles, He opposed her pious design, she willingly withdrew. -- How often have we opposed the operation of God's grace, and instead of doing His holy will, used all our efforts to gain out own ends! Such a course is more apt to bring us to the curse of God than His blessing, and guilt instead of merit. May the intercession of St. Rose obtain pardon for us and her example convert us into more useful tools in the hands of God.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
O God, who didst deign to admit St. Rose to the company of Thy holy virgins, grant, we beseech Thee, that at her intercession and by her merits we may be cleansed from all guilt and may be admitted to the eternal presence of Thy majesty. Through Christ out Lord. Amen.

from: The Franciscan Book of Saints, ed. by Marion Habig, ofm., © 1959 Franciscan Herald Press

“All our tribulations were present to our merciful Saviour at the very first moment of His life and He resolved so firmly, ardently and steadfastly at that time to help us free ourselves from them and He so faithfully preserved this intention in His heart from the first to the last instant of His life, that all the most atrocious cruelties and tortures that wretched men, to whom Christ was so wonderfully good, caused Him to suffer while He was on earth, as well as all His prescience of the ingratitude, outrages and crimes with which we would repay His adorable mercy, were not capable of cooling even slightly the ardor and strength of His will to show mercy to mankind.”
The Admirable Heart of Mary by  St. John Eudes

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Blessed John of Perugia

Blessed John of Perugia

And Peter of Sassoferrato

Martyrs, First Order

The two Friars Minor, Blessed John of Perugia, a priest, and Peter of Sassoferrato, a lay brother, were sent to Spain with a large number of other friars by St Francis himself. There they were assigned to the kingdom of Aragon, where they built a small convent in the little town of Teruel, and reaped much fruit by their holy lives, their prayers, and their sermons on penance.

Their longing for the conversion of the infidels and the hope of obtaining the palm of martyrdom urged Friars John and Peter to go to the larger city of Valencia, which was governed at that time by the Moorish king Azotus. The friars began to preach in public that Jesus Christ is the true Son of God and that only through Him can we be saved. Azotus was a bitter enemy of the Christians.

Hearing of the activities of the friars, he had them seized and cast into prison. He used every possible means to force them to apostatize. But when promises and threats alike failed to shake their constancy, he condemned them to be beheaded. The friars thanked the king, praying fervently to God to enlighten their persecutor and in His mercy to grant him the grace of conversion to the true Faith. Then Blessed John of Perugia and Peter of Sassoferrato were beheaded. This occurred in the year 1231.

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A few years later James I, the Catholic king of Aragon, made war on Valencia. His army defeated the army of Azotus, who by this ill fortune and by the grace which the holy martyrs had won for him from God, recognized Mohammed as a false prophet, and Christ as the Savior of the world. King James rejoiced exceedingly when Azotus asked to be baptized. After his baptism Azotus offered the Friars Minor his former palace for a convent.

“When I was still an infidel,” he told them, “I caused your brethren to be executed at Teruel. I sincerely regret this crime and desire to make reparation for it. Accept my palace, in which the blood of many holy martyrs has been shed, and convert it into a convent.”

The palace was remodeled into a convent and, next to it, a church was erected in honor of the two martyrs. Pope Clement XI approved the public veneration which was paid to them.

*from The Franciscan Book of Saints, by Fr. Habig, OFM