All Christians should have a patron saint. Your patron saint not only intercedes for you but also is a role model for you in your own faith formation and the way you live your life. Patron saints give us inspiration, encouragement, and – if we allow them – become our spiritual companions throughout our lives.
This is the time to crown our Blessed Mother, not just on the feast of her Queenship (August 22), but every day, and even several times a day. Crowning her Queen of our heart, Queen of the world will make a statement about who we stand for and with and reclaim ourselves for Christ the King and his Queen Mother, Mary.
A thirteenth-century Eucharistic miracle and a visionary nun have given us the feast of Corpus Christi and four cherished hymns written by St. Thomas Aquinas.
Violence, and then fire – an intriguing parallel between Pentecost and the George Floyd riots. But, unlike the violence and fire of an out-of-control plea for justice, the violence and fire of Pentecost were life-giving and transformative. They brought forth courageous men who went forth to spread the Good News to the ends of the earth. Many of them suffered martyrdom after having given witness to Christ. They were men and women of conviction who stood strong against hostility.
It’s always a good idea to count your blessings; it’s an even better idea to count them now in the midst of hardship and uncertainty. It will lighten the burden of COVID-19 and change your perspective.
Jesus rose from the dead. He conquered death and sin and in fact, he has conquered the world. The battle already has been won. No COVID-19 pandemic, no canceling of church services and sacraments, can put our Lord back into the grave and keep him there.
Turn your phone into a means for greater striving this Lent with the Magnificat Lent Companion App for iOS or Android. The price of the app is $2.99, but I’m giving away a limited number of free dowload codes. Enter by leaving a comment indicating “iOS” or “Android.” Offer ends Saturday, February 29.