The Family Foundation School Catholic Community Bulletin
PAUCA VERBA
Yesterday, November 1 was the Feast of All Saints. November 2 is always the Feast of All Souls. We pray for those who have gone before us in death. Remember especially those who die suddenly, with no time to prepare. Pray for those who die without repentance.
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Saint Dominic Savio – died at the age of 15. He said, “If I do not become a Saint, I am doing nothing.”
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This past week reminded us that we are entering the cold time. There was snow and ice. The air was windy and cold. The leaves are gone. Many birds have flown to warmer places. Animals will soon begin to hibernate.
God brings changes that are often unsettling. God changes water to ice. God changes the warm summer weather to a time of cold. Where there were flowers and green grass only a short time ago – now there’s snow. But these seasonal changes serve to remind me that God can change us too! The Word of God, Jesus Christ, shows us God’s Will; He is the Way, leading us from misery to peace and happiness.
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Tuesday is the Feast of Saint Martin de Porres. (1575-1639) Martin was born in Lima, Peru, the natural son of Don Juan de Porres, A Spanish hidalgo (lower Spanish nobility) and Ana Velazquez, a freed black slave from Panama. Juan was disappointed to find that his son had inherited his mother’s features and complexion, and when Martin was eventually baptized at the age of almost four, he was entered in the register as “son of an unknown father.” In refusing publicly to acknowledge Martin or his younger sister as his own, Juan was consigning them to the category of “illegitimate,” a formidable disadvantage in Lima society at that time.
You can find the rest of the story in the November volume of Butler’s Lives of the Saints in our school library. Or find his story told beautifully on pages 478-480 in Robert Ellsberg’s book, All Saints. It is an amazing account of God’s love discovered and shared! I would especially recommend knowing and loving this wonderful saint to those of us who were abandoned as children, those who grew up in foster homes or who have been adopted or by God’s grace, managed tremendous challenges that even threatened our survival. St. Martin de Porres, pray for us.
“Once, in the kitchen, one of the monks was surprised to discover a dog, a cat, and a mouse, all eating simultaneously from the same bowl that Martin had provided – an image of the “peaceable kingdom,” that flourished in Martin’s presence.”
There is a very beautiful bronze statue of Martin in the Church of Saint Vincent Ferrar on Lexington Avenue in New York City. Perhaps someday you will visit there. On a sunny day, visiting this church is like stepping into a jewel box or a kaleidoscope.
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Who is left on the margins of this community? Who is left friendless around here? There are people in our school-community who remain unloved. What about it?
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Young Christian man: Visit the statue of Our Lady each day – even twice a day. If you can’t handle looking at Her face for very long – maybe that suggests something about you and women. On the other hand, maybe you like being by her image: the one called, Most Pure. Does that tell you something about what you really seek, but are afraid of – “What will the others think?” Stop worrying about these things and get strong like a soldier.
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Pope John Paul II told the depressed young people of Kazakhstan, “You are one of God’s thoughts. You are one of God’s heartbeats.” Contrast the other “Who am I?” messages we’re sent: You are what you drive. You are the credit cards you have. You are the music you move to. You are who your friends tell you are. You are what you wear. You are how much fun you are. You are the things you own and parade. You are your looks. You are how funny you are. You are how much power you exercise over people. You are your athletic prowess and the awards you covet. You are your body. You are your sexual scorecard.
