The Family Foundation School Catholic Community Bulletin
Pauca Verba (Latin for, “A Few Words)
Do you know that August 6th is the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord Jesus AND it is also the day of remembering the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan? And that a few days later, on the 9th of August, the bombing of Nagasaki, Japan?
What do you make of this? That the Transfiguration (Luke 9: 28-36) recounts Jesus on the mountain being displayed before the apostles in a bright whiteness so intense, he could not be looked at. Get it? If you don’t know about this Christ-event, check out the scripture citation!
Do you know that Nagasaki was a Catholic city? That the Urakami Catholic Cathedral, the largest church in Asia, was the hypocenter (target) for the bomb – which was dropped just as the morning Masses were being completed. Is this just coincidence?
READ THIS PIECE OF THE LETTER OF SAINT PETER!
“We were not following a cleverly written-up story when we told you about the power and presence of our Lord Jesus Christ – we actually saw his majesty with our own eyes. He received honor and glory from God the Father himself when that voice said to him, out of the sublime glory of Heaven, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.” We actually heard that voice speaking from Heaven while we were with him on the sacred mountain. Thus we hold the word of prophecy to be more certain than ever. You should give that word your closest attention, for it shines like a lamp amidst the darkness of the world, until the day dawns, and the morning star rises in your hearts.” 2 Peter 1:16-19
Think of the lies we’ve concocted and sworn by. Think of the lies that others tell and which surround us every day.” Think of the lies we buy into and sponsor through phony advertising and bad news reports. And we accept all of this! But we dismiss God’s word about who Jesus Christ is as just a fabrication (made up)! Go figure!!!!
July 31st was the Feast of Saint Ignatius of Loyola. Ignatius lived in the 16th c. As a knight, during a battle, he made a particularly foolish move and wound up seriously wounded. (Sound familiar!?) Anyway, during his long convalescence he had a marvelous spiritual awakening – a conversion – which led him to a profoundly deep sense of daily and moment-by-moment companionship with Christ. His prayers reflect that companionship. Do my own? Here is his prayer called “Suscipe,” which translates, “Take” or “Accept.”
Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty,
My memory, my understanding
And my entire will,
All I have and call my own.
You have given all to me,
To you, Lord, I return it.
Everything is yours; do with it what you will
Give me only your love and your grace.
That is enough for me.
But I must be very careful when praying a prayer like this! I must look at the words and phrases carefully and ask myself, “Do I know what I’m saying?” “Do I MEAN WHAT I’M SAYING? I may even feel nervous and unsettled. With Christ, something new is on the horizon – and with it – the promise of great PEACE and JOY!
August 15, the Feast of the Assumption of Mary is approaching. This year, the feast falls on a Wednesday, which means we will have Mass in our school chapel. The feast is called a solemnity – that is – it is equal in dignity to a Sunday.
One of the happiest moments of my life: when I was working in a cemetery cutting grass for the summer. I drove an hour to get to work and on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway wild sunflowers grew along the median, dividing the east – west traffic. On Our Lady’s Feast day I stopped my yellow Volkswagen on the shoulder of the parkway and darted across the parkway to pick orange and yellow sunflowers to put in church by Mary’s Shrine before work began. I have seldom felt so much love!
What about you? Offer your Mass on her feast day with tremendous love and visit her shrine. Her “Yes” to God was so deep and profound that death could not conquer it – she was taken up into heaven – body and soul. Death did not claim her. She is a sign of what is to come for us – we will all have our own Easter day. Great news in a world of abortion, war, drug wars and violent death.
What’s going on? If I am growing in Christ – others will know before I do. People will say, “You know, something is different about you lately?” What will the difference be that they discern? More able to take correction – fewer tantrums – more reliable – more generous – happier – more relaxed – more kind – less moody – more easy-going – a better student.
How do I get this for myself? Understand that life is not the same as “having fun” – “Let’s go to a party!” At some point I have to silence my mouth and simply listen to what others have to say. I have to pay more attention to what I’m doing – how I sound, how I’m coming across to others. I have to stop pretending not to see – and to pitch in and help – breaking through laziness, punishing resentment and indifference. All of this is the fruit of real prayer. Try being totally silent when getting ready for chapel in the morning. Know that God is near!
