June 15 - St. Germaine Cousin

June 15 is the feast day of St. Germaine Cousin, a simple and pious young girl who lived in Pibrac, France in the late 1500s. Germaine was born in 1579 to poor parents. Her father was a farmer, and her mother died when she was still an infant. She was born with a deformed right arm and hand, as well as the disease of scrofula, a tubercular condition.

Her father remarried soon after the death of her mother, but his new wife was filled with disgust by Germaine's condition. She tormented and neglected Germaine, and taught her siblings to do so as well.

Starving and sick, Germaine was eventually kicked out of the house and forced to sleep under the stairway in the barn, on a pile of leaves and twigs, because of her stepmother’s dislike of her and disgust of her condition. She tended to the family's flock of sheep everyday.

Despite her hardships, she lived each day full of thanksgiving and joy, and spent much of her time praying the Rosary and teaching the village children about the love of God. She was barely fed and had an emaciated figure, yet despite this she shared the little bread that she had with the poor of the village.

From her simple faith grew a deep holiness and profound trust in God. She went to Mass everyday, leaving her sheep in the care of her guardian angel, who never failed her. Germaine’s deep piety was looked upon with ridicule by the villagers, but not by the children, who were drawn to her holiness.

God protected Germaine and showered his favor upon her. It was reported that on days when the river was high, the waters would part so that she could pass through them on her way to Mass. One day in winter, when she was being chased by her stepmother who accused her of stealing bread, she opened her apron and fresh summer flowers fell out. She offered the flowers to her stepmother as a sign of forgiveness.

Eventually, the adults of the village began to realize the special holiness of this poor, crippled shepherdess. Germaine's parents eventually offered her a place back in their house, but she chose to remain in her humble place outside.

Just as the villagers were realizing the beauty of her life, God called her to Himself. Her father found her body on her bed of leaves one morning in her 22nd year of life.

Forty-three years later, when a relative of hers was being buried, Germaine’s casket was opened and her body was found incorrupt. People in the surrounding area began praying for her intercession and obtaining miraculous cures for illnesses.

11th Sunday in Ordinary Time

The creative power of our triune God never ceases to amaze me. God who created the entire universe, created us as well. He didn’t just create us like the earth, the sun or the moon, he created us in his image. He made promises to us. He made covenants with us. He has proved His love for us over and over and over again since the beginning of time as we know it. All three of our readings today reveal how, in God’s eyes, we are “special possessions” dearer to God “than all other people”; proven beneficiaries of “his love for us” and recipients of His Divine compassion and mercy. God sees the potential of each and every one of us who long to serve him.

In today’s Gospel Jesus sees a crowd of ordinary people who are “troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd.” Recognizing that he cannot reach out to all these people himself, Jesus sends out his twelve, “hand picked” disciples to carry on his ministry. He commissions them to proclaim “The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand,” and to “cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons.”

The disciples were ordinary people just like the people in the crowd. He called them not for what they were but for what he knew they could become. Jesus calls all of us as well. At our baptism we are anointed to become “a kingdom of priests, a holy nation,” just like the children of Israel. Jesus knows that none of us is perfect. That is the point of our second reading from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans 5: 6-11, “while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” And he expects us to make sure that his message of love, his message about the Kingdom of Heaven is present in the world. We are God’s “laborers for his harvest.”

Oh God, Father of all Mercies,

Provider of a bountiful harvest,

Send your graces upon those You have called

To gather the fruits of Your labor;

Preserve and strengthen them 

in their lifelong service of you.

Open the hearts of us, Your children,

That we may discern Your Holy Will;

Inspire in us a love and desire 

to surrender ourselves to serving others

In the name of Your son, Jesus Christ.

Amen

Corpus Christi Sunday

In the worlds of both the Old and New Testaments, bread was a vital part of everyone’s diet. The bread in those days was not like the bread we eat today. It was made from course, ground barley. To our palates it probably would not taste very good (like cardboard). It was either shaped like a stone or flat like a pancake and baked in an oven, over a fire or under ashes. When people ate bread, they broke their portion off with their hands often using it like our eating utensils toady. In scripture bread signifies food in general. It still does.

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. And the focus of today’s readings is the Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Christ. In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, we are taught that “The Eucharist is "the source and summit of the Christian life" (CCC 1324). In our first reading from the Book of Deuteronomy, Moses reminds the Children of Israel how God sustained them during the 40 years they wandered in the desert. Now, as they wait on the plains of Moab, preparing to cross the Jordan River and enter into the Promised Land, Moses wants them to remember the covenant God made with them. Once they cross the river, they no longer will need manna because God, is leading them "into a good country, a land with streams of water, with springs and fountains welling up in the hills and valleys, a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, of olive trees and of honey ..." (Dt. 8:7-8). So, Moses charges them to remember, "that not by bread alone does man live, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of the LORD" (Dt. 8:3).

Thousands of years later, God made a new covenant with the world. St. John tells us in his Gospel "the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father's only Son, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). In today's gospel, John 6:51-58, Jesus, the Word made flesh, told the children of Israel and he tells us "I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world." Unlike perishable manna, the bread Jesus offers, "endures for eternal life" (John 6:27). The children of Israel ate manna "but they died" (John 6:49). Those of us who eat the living bread offered by Jesus will not die because the Word made flesh sustains both spirit and life (John 6:63).

Participation in Eucharist is the core of our Christian life because every time we receive Jesus in the Eucharist, we are infused with his Spirit and become one with him. Jesus says, "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him" (John 6:56). Through the mystery of the Eucharist, in the elements of bread and wine, Jesus is a very real presence in our lives. When we receive Eucharist, Jesus dwells in us individually and communally. Our communion with Jesus Christ makes us a community, one body. St. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 10:16-17, "The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because the loaf of bread is one, we, though many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf." We become the Body of Christ in our world. Let us all pray that the world can recognize the presence of Jesus in us as we strive to fulfill his mission.

Lord Jesus Christ,

you us to be your body

for the life of the world.

Nourish us here with your word of life,

give us your body to eat

and your wine of joy to drink,

so that we may become more like you

and learn from you how to live

not for ourselves only

but for God and for the people around us.

Make us of one mind and heart,

that the world may recognize

that you are alive in us.

Be our Lord, now and for ever.

Amen.

Presence of the Trinity

“It seems to me that I have found my heaven on earth, because my heaven is you, my God, and you are in my soul. You in me, and I in you – may this be my motto. What a joyous mystery is your presence within me, in that intimate sanctuary of my soul where I can always find you, even when I do not feel your presence. Of what importance is feeling? Perhaps you are all the closer when I feel you less.”

~ Elizabeth of the Trinity​

Holy Trinity Prayer

God for us, we call you “Father.”

God alongside us, we call you “Jesus.”

God within us, we call you “Holy Spirit.”

Together, you are the Eternal Mystery

That enables, enfolds, and enlivens all things,

Even us and even me.

Every name falls short of your goodness and greatness.

We can only see who you are in what is.

We ask for such perfect seeing—

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be.

Amen.

~ Richard Rohr, OFM

Trinity Sunday

Today we celebrate The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity.  Our belief in the doctrine of the Trinity is the most distinguishing characteristic of Christianity and of people who identify themselves as Christian (Christ centered people).  It is the essence of our faith.  The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us “The mystery of the Most Holy Trinity is the central mystery of the Christian faith and of Christian life.  God alone can make it known to us by revealing himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit” (CCC 261).  

In today's first reading from Exodus, God the Father revealed Himself to Moses saying, "The LORD, the LORD, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity" (Exodus 34:6).  God our Father is the source of life.  God our Father is generous.  And God our Father is loving and compassionate.  God promised Moses and all of us that "I will work such marvels as have never been wrought in any nation anywhere on earth, so that this people among whom you live may see how awe-inspiring are the deeds which I, the LORD, will do at your side" (Exodus 34:10). 

It is because of the loving and compassionate nature of God "that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life" (John 3: 16).  God our Father loves us so much that He sacrificed Jesus so that "that the world might be saved through him" (John 3:17).  In the Letter to the Ephesians, St. Paul tells us that "In love," God our Father "destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will..."(Ephesians 1:4-5).  God our Father continues to shower us with his love by sending us the Holy Spirit to strengthen and sustain us.  The Holy Spirit lives in us, guides us, enlightens us and "bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God" (Romans 8:16). 

As children of God, we are called to practice the same love God bestows on us.  Just as God so generously pours love into our hearts, we are expected to pour our God given love out on others and in today's second reading from 2 Corinthians 13, St. Paul tells us how to do it.  "Brothers and sisters, rejoice.  Mend your ways, encourage one another, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.  Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the holy ones greet you.  The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you" (2 Cor.13:11-13).  By sharing God’s love, we are building God’s community here in Peachtree City and in the world.  And finally, we are building God’s kingdom, a kingdom of love. 

O God Most High,
in the waters of baptism
you made us your sons and daughters
in Christ, your only-begotten Son.
Deep within us is the cry of the Spirit,
who calls out to you, “Abba, Father.”
Grant that, obedient to our Savior’s commission,
we may become heralds of the salvation you offer
and go forth to make disciples of all people.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.

AMEN

Courage

 

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”

― Winston S. Churchill