Today I'd like to highlight one of the great Catholic figures of the twentieth century, Peter Maurin. He was born in May of 1877 in the south of France, one of 23 children—that's not a typo. He was educated by the Christian Brothers and, early on, became deeply inspired by the example of St. Francis.
In 1909, Maurin sailed for North America and for about twenty years lived a sort of radical Franciscan life, performing manual labor during the day, sleeping in any bed he could find, dining in skid-row beaneries. Any money he made, he spent on books or gave to those less fortunate.
During these years, Maurin was trying to develop a coherent Catholic social philosophy. The main problem with society, he felt, was that sociology, economics, and politics had all been divorced from the Gospel. The Gospel was a private concern of “religious” people and had no discernable effect on the way the political, social, and economic realms were run.
In a word, he thought that society had lost its transcendent purpose. Life had come to be organized around the drive for production and the search for profits, rather than around the real spiritual development of the person.
Maurin knew that the Church had an answer to this, and it was the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Maurin’s program was what he called “a personalist revolution,” which meant the building of a new world within the shell of the old, rather than waiting for social circumstances to change. The Christian should simply begin living according to a new set of values.
In 1932, Peter Maurin met a young woman in New York named Dorothy Day. For some years, Dorothy had been trying to find her path, a way of reconciling her new-found Catholic faith with her deep commitment to social action. With the arrival of Peter Maurin, she felt that her prayers had been answered.
He told her to start a newspaper which would present Catholic social teaching and provide for greater clarity of thought, and then to open “houses of hospitality” where the works of mercy could be concretely practiced. And this is precisely what she did. Together Day and Maurin founded the Catholic Worker Movement. They operated soup kitchens and bread lines for the poor, and invited homeless people to stay with them.
Peter Maurin and Dorothy Day remind us that we simply cannot love Christ without concretely loving those most in need. Love of Christ and love of neighbor coincide. Heaven and earth must come together.
GOD, give me the faith to accept that bad things do
happen to good people.
GOD, give me the strength to make a good home for my
family, to be inspired to share your love with them so
they will also love you, each other and themselves.
GOD, give the strength to turn the other cheek when
people make fun of me or my loved ones, of our clothes,
our goods, let me remember that it is our faith and love
that matters.
GOD, give me the strength to bite my tongue and not
say, « I told you so » or « I knew that would happen »,
help me offer prayers of support.
GOD, give me the strength to remember to pray when I
feel that all hope is lost, let me share this hope with others.
GOD, give me the strength to make changes in this
world in Your name, to right the wrongs I see, to
give justice and love to all Your children.
GOD, help me protect my family---give the strength
to help them withstand the trials You give them.
GOD, help me remember You every day, in everything I
do, in all those I love---You are there.
GOD, give me the strength to have faith in You even
when I don't immediately understand a situation and
to accept that all that You do is for our good, even if
I don't see it.
GOD, show me the path to being a better Christian,
wife, husband, mother, friend.
GOD, give me the strength to speak a universal
language and not be misunderstood; teach me
this universal language of the heart.
GOD, show me how to lead my loved ones in the right
pathway to You, give them the strength to withstand
the barriers and return to the right path.
GOD, give me the strength to forgive other, to love
them as You love me.
GOD, give me the strength to pray when I least feel
like it.
GOD, give me a sign from time to time that You are
there and haven't forgotten us.
GOD, give me the strength to help my family members in
new ventures and experiences, to help ease their way.
GOD, I ask these things of You , not out of selfishness,
but out of love and desire to serve You better and to do
a good Job at what you have sent me here to do.
To everyone, add your own « STRENGTHS » to this list.
Use it and share it with others. May you all gain the
strength you need.
A Balanced Life My life has been balanced with pleasures and trials, I've had many teardrops and thousands of smiles. I've soared to the moon and I've plunged to the sand, My life has been balanced by God's loving hand. I've had many friendships I've had a few foes, In the life of a Christian that's the way that it goes. Should I just accept only good from God's hands? No, I must endure whatever He plans. But I can be sure and you can be, too, All things work for best as God deals with you. ~Betty Purser Patten~ Gentle Whisper The young man had lost his job and didn't know which way to turn. So he went to see the old preacher. Pacing about the preacher's study, the young man ranted about his problem. Finally he clenched his fist and shouted, "I've begged God to say something to help me. Tell me, Preacher, why doesn't God answer?"
The old preacher, who sat across the room, spoke something in reply -- something so hushed it was indistinguishable. The young man stepped across the room. "What did you say?" he asked.
The preacher repeated himself, but again in a tone as soft as a whisper. So the young man moved closer until he was leaning on the preacher's chair.
"Sorry," he said. "I still didn't hear you."
With their heads bent together, the old preacher spoke once more. "God sometimes whispers," he said, "so we will move closer to hear Him."
This time the young man heard and he understood.
We all want God's voice to thunder through the air with the answer to our problem. But God's is the still, small voice . . . the gentle whisper. Perhaps there's a reason. Nothing draws human focus quite like a whisper. God's whisper means I must stop my ranting and move close to Him, until my head is bent together with His. And then, as I listen, I will find my answer. Better still, I find myself closer to God.
author unknown
February 13 - Jesus Calling Peace be with you! Ever since the resurrection, this has been My watchword to those who yearn for Me. As you sit quietly, let My Peace settle over you and enfold you in My loving Presence. To provide this radiant Peace for you, I died a criminal’s death. Receive My Peace abundantly and thankfully. It is a rare treasure, dazzling in delicate beauty yet strong enough to withstand all onslaughts. Wear My Peace with regal dignity. It will keep your heart and mind close to Mine. On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” … Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”
—John 20:19, 21 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
—John 14:27 |
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