July 2009

The Family Foundation School Catholic Community Bulletin

Pauca Verba (a few words)

Did you hear the gospel words today: “Jesus said to the apostles, ‘Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest awhile.’” This is what we do when we go on retreat. Admittedly we go with each other – but the retreat house is a quieter place, inviting reflection, deeper prayer, some time of silence, a bit of rest. Jesus knows what we need.

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Some of us here are working hard to get in shape. Young men especially like to ‘press’ and ‘pump’ and ‘lift.’ Some guys do it to impress themselves about themselves or to get attention. Some people enjoy the sensuality of themselves (hours of mirror time.)  Some just like being strong. Read on!

The Missionaries of Charity (founded by Mother Teresa of Calcutta) is made up of thousands of religious sisters and a much smaller community of brothers. The brothers do the hard work of lifting that the sisters often cannot do. They carry the dead to the morgue. They lift the dying up out of the streets, they pick up the elderly, the weak and the sick so they can be bathed. You need to be strong to do this kind of work. Get the connection?

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The Missionaries of the Poor are an order of Brothers founded by Father Richard HoLung. They do their work all throughout Africa, Central and South America and Asia. Their community rule states that after the morning prayers, each brother is to go out into the streets to find the most dirty, abandoned person they can find. “You are to clean up all the mess,” the rule says. In a telephone conversation I asked one of the brothers why there are no Americans in their rapidly growing order but many Africans and Asians. He answered, (to my shame) “You are too weak; you can’t do it.” This, to a country that makes Marines and Navy Seals! But what does this brother know???

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So much rain these days and weeks. Listen to part of Psalm 147: 8-11.

Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;

make melody to our God upon the harp.

He covers the heavens with clouds,

He prepares rain for the earth,

He makes grass grow upon the hills.

and with plants to serve man’s needs.

He provides the beasts with their food,

and to the young ravens which call upon him.

His delight is not in the strength of the horse,

nor his pleasure in warriors’ strength.

But the Lord takes pleasure in those who revere him,

in those who hope in his steadfast love.

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Saint Ita of Killeedy is the best-known Irish woman saint after Saint Brigid. The name Ita means: thirst for holiness. Her father found a wealthy “guy for her” and was opposed to her proposal to take a vow of virginity. She undertook the arduous pilgrimage by foot to the mountain of Sliabh Luachra, in the south-west part of Limerick – the site being pointed out by angels (why not?) – and there joined by other women from neighboring towns and clans. She started a school for boys many of whom eventually became recognized as saints – earning her the title: “Foster mother of the saints of Ireland.” She founded a monastery of men and women and insisted on keeping only four acres for the place – refusing all offers for larger property as property signified worldly power.

Saint Brendan once asked Ita what were the three works most pleasing to God, and the three works most displeasing to him. Ita answered, “Three things that please God most are true faith in God with a pure heart, a simple life with a grateful spirit, and generosity inspired by charity. The three things that most displease God are a mouth that hates people, a heart harboring resentments, and confidence in wealth.” She died in 570.

Her monastery, like so many in Ireland, was probably destroyed by the Viking invaders in the ninth century. Her grave is now in the ruins of a Romanesque church built on the site of the monastery, still a place of pilgrimage and often decorated with flowers. Her feast is celebrated throughout Ireland.