PADREGQ#301 October is a beautiful month, with many celebrations of some of our greatest saints. Oct 1, Carmelite sister St Therese of Lisieux, whom we honor as the Little Flower. Oct 4, St Francis of Assisi, a favorite among so many people. ( Everyone should preach the Gospel, some people should use words ) Oct 15, another Carmelite sister, St Therese of Avlia, whom we sometimes refer to as Big Therese. She was a declared a Doctor of the Church, along with St Therese of Lisieux, by Pope St. John Paul II. ( This is a prayer written in her breviary: LET NOTHING DISTURB YOU, LET NOTHING FRIGHTEN YOU, ALL THINGS PASS AWAY; GOD NEVER CHANGES. PATIENCE OBTAINS ALL THINGS, HE WHO FINDS GOD, FINDS HE LACKS NOTHING; GOD ALONE SUFFICES.) Oct. 7 is feast of the Holy Rosary. Growing up, DURING October, our family said the rosary every night together. Today, Oct 5, is Right to Life Sunday. As a family, we believe that all life is sacred, from the womb to the tomb. In regards to the sacredness of life, one of my favorite lines, at this time, is from Pope St John XXIII (feast Oct 11). When he visited the USA in 1979, he said: EVERY HUMAN LIFE IS UNIQUE AND UNREPEATABLE GIFT FROM GOD WHEN GOD GIVES LIFE, HE GIVES IT FOREVER. Recently, Pope Francis said EVERY CHILD THAT ISNT BORN, BUT IS UNJUSTLY CONDEMNED TO BE ABORTED, HAS THE FACE OF JESUS. As we think about the sacredness of life, we do not only refer to the unborn. My niece Erin, whose son Emmet has autism, sent me this statement in 2005. As I share this today, I think of all our special children who are Gods gift to their families and to our parish. We love them all. HEAVENS VERY SPECIAL CHILD: A MEETING WAS HELD QUITE FAR FROM EARTH, ITS TIME AGAIN FOR ANOTHER BIRTH SAID THE ANGELS TO THE LORD ABOVE, THIS CHILD WILL NEED MUCH LOVE. HIS PROGRESS MAY SEEM VERY SLOW, ACCOMPLISHMENTS HE MAY NOT SHOW, AND HELL REQUIRE EXTRA CARE FROM THE FOLKS HE MEETS DOWN THERE. HE MAY NOT RUN OR LAUGH OR PLAY, HIS TOUGHTS MAY SEEM QUITE FAR AWAY. IN MANY WAYS HE WONT ADAPT, AND HE WILL BE KNOWN AS HANDICAPPED. SO LETS BE CAREFUL WHERE HES SENT. WE WANT HIS LIFE TO BE CONTENT. PLEASE LORD, FIND PARENTS WHO, WILL DO THIS SPECIAL JOB FOR YOU. THEY WILL NOT REALIZE RIGHT AWAY THE LEADING ROLE THAT THEY ARE ASKED TO PLAY. BUT WITH THIS CHILD SENT FROM ABOVE COMES STRONGER FAITH AND RICHER LOVE, AND SOON THEYLL KNOW THE PRIVILEGE GIVEN, IN CARING FOR THIS GIFT OF HEAVEN. THEIR PRECIOUS CHARGE, SO MEEK AND MILD, IS HEAVENS VERY SPECIAL CHILD. .....Kevin is running cross country with Glenbard South shalom
Posted on: Thu, 02 Oct 2014 01:58:19 +0000