In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.”
When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.
They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:  ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.'”
Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared.  Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.”
When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was.  When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy.  On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.  Matthew 2:1-12 (NIV)

Today we mark the end of the Christmas season – the Day of Epiphany.  We celebrate this day to reflect on the visit of the Magi – the wise men – to Jesus and the giving of their gifts. We reflect on the meaning of this visit of those wise ones to see Jesus.

Epiphany is about Jesus and his message being available and relevant to people of every age and race. Jesus isn’t just a Jewish prophet with an exciting message, but God made present amongst us and available to all of us to worship and follow. God’s love reaches beyond the everyday barriers of race and class; something the Magi didn’t quite get at first.

So Who Were the Magi?

We don’t know much about the Magi from Scripture. All Saint Matthew tells us is that they were “Magi from the East”. Some translations have “Wise men from the East”. The word in Greek refers to priests of the Zoroastrian religion. They came from Persia, the countries now known as Iran and Iraq, and they saw meaning in the movement of the stars. Their visit fits an Eastern pattern of great births being accompanied by momentous events in the sky. Certainly we know of a comet in 11BCE in Gemini with its head towards Leo, seen by many as a symbol of Judah.  We also know of planetary conjunctions in both 7BCE and 6 BCE which would have added to a sense that momentous happenings were on the way. The Magi would have noticed these things and taken them seriously. But who were they?

One commentator, Brian Stoffregen puts it like this;

“Originally in Persia, Magi were dream- interpreters. By Jesus’ time, the term referred to astronomers, fortune-tellers, or star-gazers.   They were horoscope fanatics – a practice condemned by Jewish standards. We might compare them to people in fortune – telling booths, or people on the “psychic hotline” or other “occupations” that foretell the future by stars, tea leaves, Tarot cards etc. They were magicians, astronomers, star-gazers, pseudo-scientists, fortune tellers..”

Another writer, Nathan Nettleton, puts it like this;

“They were the speakers of the sacred words at the pagan sacrifices. At worst, the term referred to a magician or sorcerer, or even a deceiver. Magi were people whose activities were repeatedly condemned and prohibited throughout the scriptures and were completely anathema to the people of Israel.”

Whilst in English we get the words “magic” and “magician” from Magi, the Zoroastrian religion forbade sorcery. They clearly were looking for a new king and had found meaning in the movement of the planets and stars which led them to come to Israel to greet the new-born king. They journeyed from their homes in Persia to Bethlehem in search of this baby. Instead of angels and visions, we have the image of the Magi following a sign in the skies – in nature – and for a long period of time. The magi see the intentions of God in the skies. This is not new: Psalm 19 tells us that the heavens themselves declare who God is, and that his handiwork is seen in created nature.  “We observed his star at its rising”. The magi know that there is something significant happening.

When did they come?

The Gospel of Saint Luke doesn’t mention the Magi and holds that the Holy Family returned to Nazareth after the presentation of Jesus at the Temple where he was circumcised. It’s probable that Saint Luke didn’t know of this episode in Jesus’ early life. Saint Matthew seems to place the visit of the Magi some time after Jesus’ birth. The Holy Family are in a “house” not in the
stable of the inn.  Herod kills all the newborn boys under the age of two years. So it’s likely that the Holy Family had stayed for some time in Bethlehem and the Magi came some time after Jesus’ birth, perhaps as long as two years after.

WHY did they come?

Clearly, the Magi were searching.  The Magi recognised much of the truth of Jesus, who he was and what he would become.  The magi had a general idea of this God and this King of the Jews, but they didn’t really know who or what they were looking for.  Bono and U2 were criticized some years ago by some supposedly orthodox Christians when they produced a song entitled, “I still haven’t found what I am looking for.”  I can’t see the problem with that especially given the spiritual depths in many of their songs. You see, the example of the Magi was that they were searchers, not really knowing what or who they were looking for.  They didn’t claim to have it all but they saw their lives as a journey of discovery. And in that they are an example to us. We don’t know it all. But if we like them are prepared to be diligent seekers, then like them we may be graced by God’s light, by our Epiphany.  When the wise men finally found Jesus, we are told that their first response was joy – “they were overwhelmed with joy”. That is what happens when we find Jesus. This is what awaits us at the end of the journey. Next, they paid him homage – they worshiped him and acknowledged Him as King. After the joy comes the worship. That means acknowledging Jesus as King. Jesus as the center. Jesus as Lord. And then, after joy and after worship, comes offering of their gifts. In response to who Jesus is and the joy He gives, we offer ourselves and our gifts to Him.

So my message for today is to dare, like them, to take the risk of seeking, and God may well bless us with our own Epiphanies which transform us as doubtless the Magi were transformed by what must have been a surprising experience for them as they knelt before the infant Jesus.

So how do you find Jesus? Maybe you can start out like the Magi – with a general idea of God, and a general idea that He is guiding you. Like the Magi, we need to turn to the scriptures. If you don’t read them, you will never really get the specific directions that God is trying to give you. Approach them with the right spirit, the right purpose. Ask for help along the way – the church, God’s people, are meant to help you along that way. The wise men knew when they needed to ask someone else for help. And pray. Ask God. When you find Jesus, rejoice. After all, He is God. Put Him in the center of your life. Ask yourself whether what you are doing honors him a King. Offer to him what you have, who you are.

Where can this Jesus be found?  He is with you now.  Won’t you seek Him?  Won’t you recognize Him?  Won’t you let Him fill YOUR life with joy?  Amen.

 

It’s that time of year again.  The time for all and sundry to argue the finer points of holiday greetings:  Merry Christmas versus Happy Holidays, and for the condemnation of using Xmas instead of Christmas.  At the risk of being seen as a non-Christian minister, or a politically correct one, and abandoning or at least not defending my faith and my Lord, I feel compelled for some odd reason, to offer a defense of the use of Happy Holidays and Xmas.  So here goes….

“Happy Holidays.”  Now really, what’s wrong with that?  It’s a pleasant wish that encompasses good wishes for an entire month and a half long season.  Granted, that “season” is usually meant to be the period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, and is usually understood to include only Christmas and New Year’s Day.   However, in that time period, what other holidays are there?  “Happy Holidays” is a collective and inclusive wish for the period encompassing Thanksgiving, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Winter solstice, Christmas Day (The Nativity of the Lord), Boxing Day and St. Stephen’s Day, St. John’s Day, the New Year and Epiphany, and it would take me forever to get through the list, if I could remember the list at all, just to give a pleasant hello to someone!  “Happy Holidays” is just easier!  Most of the aforementioned holidays ARE Christian holidays, though, so what’s wrong with “Happy Holidays?”

Leaving those “Happy Holidays” that are in the Christian calendar for a few minutes; let’s look at the ones that aren’t Christian holidays.  Granted, I don’t really consider the Winter solstice a holiday, so I could omit that one altogether and not feel too bad about it.  Kwanzaa is celebrated by our African American brothers and sisters and is not a substitute for Christmas, nor is it a religious holiday.  Wishing someone a happy Kwanzaa does nothing to deny Christianity, but it’s a holiday that I personally don’t celebrate, since I’m not African American.  I DO have many African American friends, however, and most certainly wish them all a happy and joyous Kwanzaa, as well as Christmas!

Hanukkah is a Jewish festival, celebrating a miracle that occurred way back in the 2nd century BCE.  Also known as the Festival of Lights, it is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple (the Second Temple) in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt.  The story of Hanukkah is alluded to in the book of 1 Maccabees and 2 Maccabees, but Hanukkah is not specially mentioned; rather, a story similar in character, and obviously older in date, is the one alluded to in 2 Maccabees 1:18,  according to which the relighting of the altar fire by Nehemiah was due to a miracle which occurred on the 25th of Kislev, and which appears to be given as the reason for the selection of the same date for the rededication of the altar by Judah Maccabee.  Now, 1 and 2 Maccabees are not considered canonical books by most Protestants, but are included in the Apocrypha, which IS in Catholic and Orthodox Bibles.  So while Hanukkah is not a Christian holiday, per se, it can be considered Biblical.  And since it celebrates the lighting of the rededication of the Temple and is celebrated with lights, and Christ is “the Light of the World,” Happy Hanukkah to my Jewish friends!

The day after Christmas is Boxing Day, which is celebrated in the Commonwealth countries.  The tradition of Boxing Day has long included giving money and other gifts to those who are needy and in service positions, and the European tradition has been dated to the Middle Ages.  Shouldn’t we, as Christians, do this year round, and not just during the “holidays”?

New Years Day:  Now, there’s a pagan holiday for you!  The Romans dedicated this day to Janus, the god of gates, doors, and beginnings. The month of January was named after Janus, who had two faces, one looking forward and the other looking backward.  It is from this Roman custom that we get the making of New Year’s resolutions:  looking backward, we resolve to not do something or other, and looking forward, we resolve TO do something or other.  Among the 7th century pagans of Flanders and the Netherlands, it was the custom to exchange gifts at the New Year.  So, I guess I’m asking, should we as Christians NOT celebrate the new year and not wish everyone a “Happy New Year”?  If this is the case, then we should certainly avoid making New Year’s resolutions, too.

And then, there are the religious holidays that most Christians don’t really celebrate, and some don’t even know about.  The Feast of Saint Stephen, who was the first Christian martyr on 26 December, the Feast of St. John who was the “Beloved Disciple” on 27 December, the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary on  8 December, and the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on 12 December have already been mentioned.

Finally, there is Epiphany, which is perhaps one of the most important holidays of the liturgical or church year.  It is the last day of the Twelve Days of Christmas of which we sing in the (often-denigrated) Christmas carol, and which is overlooked by most non-liturgical churches.  Epiphany, which falls on January 6, is a Christian feast day that celebrates the revelation of God the Son as a human being in Jesus Christ.  Western Christians commemorate principally (but not solely) the visitation of the Biblical Magi to the Baby Jesus, and thus Jesus’ physical manifestation to the Gentiles.  The early Christian Fathers fixed the date of the feast on January 6.  Ancient liturgies noted Illuminatio, Manifestatio, Declaratio (Illumination, Manifestation, Declaration) taken from  Matthew 3:13–17; Luke 3:22; and John 2:1–11; where the Baptism and the Marriage at Cana were dwelt upon. Western Christians have traditionally emphasized the “Revelation to the Gentiles” mentioned in Luke, where the term Gentile means all non-Jewish peoples. The Biblical Magi, who represented the non-Jewish peoples of the world, paid homage to the infant Jesus in stark contrast to Herod the Great (King of Judea), who sought to kill him.  In this event, Christian writers also inferred a revelation to the Children of Israel. Saint John Chrysostom identified the significance of the meeting between the Magi and Herod’s court: “The star had been hidden from them so that, on finding themselves without their guide, they would have no alternative but to consult the Jews. In this way, the birth of Jesus would be made known to all.”  The earliest reference to Epiphany as a Christian feast was in A.D. 361, by Ammianus Marcellinus.   St. Epiphanius says that January 6 is hemera genethlion toutestin epiphanion (Christ’s “Birthday; that is, His Epiphany”).  He also asserts that the Miracle at Cana occurred on the same calendar day, and it was on this day, too, that John the Baptist baptized Jesus in the Jordan River.  So on 6 January, after all the Christmas trimmings have been put away, the gifts exchanged, New Years resolutions have been made (and some broken already), and the kids are back in school, we can still say, with all feeling, “Happy Holidays.”

Honestly, don’t you think “Happy Holidays” is so much easier?

Now, What about that pesky “Xmas” that annoys so many people?

To begin:  Look around in your churches, my friends, especially those of you from a liturgical background, and see how many X’s you can find.

“Xmas” is a common abbreviation of the word “Christmas“.  The “-mas” part is from the Latin-derived Old English word for “Mass“, while the “X” comes from the Greek letter Chi, which is the first letter of the Greek word Χριστός, translated as “Christ“.  There is a common misconception that the word Xmas is a secular attempt to remove the religious tradition from Christmas by taking the “Christ” out of “Christmas”.  While “Xmas” is considered to be an informal abbreviation, and should never be used in formal writing, it is historically correct.

The word “Christ” and its compounds, including “Christmas”, have been abbreviated in English for at least the past 1,000 years, long before the modern “Xmas” was commonly used. “Christ” was often written as “XP” or “Xt”; there are references in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle as far back as AD 1021. This X and P arose as the uppercase forms of the Greek letters χ and ρ used in ancient abbreviations for Χριστος (Greek for “Christ”), and are still widely seen in many Eastern Orthodox icons depicting Jesus Christ. The labarum, an amalgamation of the two Greek letters rendered as ☧, is a symbol often used to represent Christ in Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox Christian Churches.

The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) and the OED Supplement have cited usages of “X-” or “Xp-” for “Christ-” as early as 1485. The terms “Xpian” and “Xtian” have also been used for “Christian”. The dictionary further cites usage of “Xtianity” for “Christianity” from 1634. According to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of English Usage, most of the evidence for these words comes from “educated Englishmen who knew their Greek”.

In ancient Christian art, χ and χρ are abbreviations for Christ’s name. In many manuscripts of the New Testament and icons, Χ is an abbreviation for Χριστος, as is XC (the first and last letters in Greek, using the lunate sigma); compare IC for Jesus in Greek.

Thus, really and truly, the use of the “X” isn’t taking Christ out of Christmas at all.  And instead of protesting the use of “X” during the  Christmas season, wouldn’t we ALL be better people, the world be a better place, and Christ be better served,  if we kept that “X” in our words and deeds every day of the year?  Should we not celebrate Him always, 24/7/365?

So, having said all of the above, Happy Holidays (all of them) to all of you, and may you keep Christ, not only in Christmas, but also in your hearts and minds and lives, every day and always.  Amen.

The Order of Preachers, Reformed is thrilled to announce that Rev. Brother Terry Elkington was ordained into the sacred order of the priesthood this past Saturday.  Immediately following his ordination, Fr. Terry made his Simple Profession as Dominican.  He is now The Reverend Brother, Father Terry Elkington, OPr.  Let us pray for God’s continued Grace in his life, and praise God for the things He is doing!  Thanks be to God!

This year, the joy of Christmas has been tempered by great sadness. The unfathomable horror of the shootings within an elementary school in Connecticut, have shaken us all to the foundations of our faith.

We can take some small comfort, in the knowledge that as Christmas passes we approach The Feast of the Holy Innocents within the Catholic church calendar. This year that is December 28,2012. This day commemorates a similar tragedy that occurred around the birth of Jesus. (The Catholic Encyclopedia states: “It is impossible to determine the day or year of the slaughter of the Holy Innocents. All we know is that the infants were slain within two years of the apparition of The Star to The Wise Men.)

When Jesus was born, King Herod became afraid that the ancient prophesy foretelling of the birth of a King of the Jews had come true. The Magi had entered his kingdom, telling of the star they had been following and inquired if Herod had knowledge of the birth. Herod consulted with his chief priests and teachers. “He sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” [Matthew 2:8]

But as we know, the Wise Men did not return to Herod- because as we know, Herod did not have worship in his heart. Warned in a dream not to return, the Magi traveled another route home. “When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious and gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old or younger.’ [Matthew 2:16]

I do not dare to compare the massacre of The Holy Innocents to those unfortunate targeted victims of a crazed gunmen, but we can take comfort in a quote of Saint Augustine as he commented in his day on the former. “The death of these children is precious in the sight of God. For already at the beginning of their lives, they pass on. The end of this present life is for them, the beginning of glory. Those who [Herod] cruely tore from their mother’s bosom, are now justly hailed as infant martyr flowers- the church’s first blossoms, matured by the frost of persecution during a winter of unbelief.”

We can interpret that these children from Connecticut, much like those Holy Innocents of biblical times, are now at peace in God’s loving embrace. “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for it is to such as these, that the kingdom of God belongs.” [Mark 10:14]

God did not cause these terrible things to happen. Mankind has been given his glorious gift of freewill. To accept and seek God, not for fear of God, but because of a desire to love God; to please God and be with God. When these horrific things happen, God to is saddened. He joins with us in his tears and invites us to lay our grief and burden at the foot of his cross. The only place in times like this, where it can be left.

In the history of all of Christmas, there is only one Christmas Carol know to have been written to tell of the grief of The Holy Innocents. The Coventry Carol, written sometime in the sixteenth century, reflects a mother’s lament for the death of her child.
“That woe is me, poor child for thee- and ever mourn and sigh.
For thy parting is neither say or sing. Bye, bye, lully- lullay.”

Most merciful God, we cry out to you through tears. Just now, we celebrate the glory of your birth and are abruptly silenced by the evil that is brought upon us. Only in reflecting upon your promise of eternal life, can we once again secure a sense of happiness in such chaos. We pray you accept and embrace these littlest innocent lambs of your flock, for they truly are too- Holy Innocents. Grant your grace and comfort upon all who suffer from this senseless act, the parents and families, the community and those who responded to help. Reassure us, in all our doubts and uncertainties, that your are God. Amen.

“Thy will be done”….

Most of us know those words come from our Lord’s Prayer.  Found in Matthew 6:9-13  they are some of the famous words spoken by Jesus during his Sermon on the Mount.  They are also probably the most known words.  As children, be us Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist or any other Christian denomination we all learned the Lord’s Prayers.  Whether one is a frequent church goer or hasn’t been into a church in many many years- we can still readily recall all the words of the Lord’s Prayer.  For those who seek a closer relationship with God or to strengthen their spiritual being- you really need pray nothing else but the Lord’s Prayer.  In fact Christ warns us, “do not be like the hypocrites… do not keep on babbling” [Matthew 6:5 and 6:7].  “This then, is how you should pray:” [Matthew 6:9 et al.] and Christ imparts to us his Lord’s Prayer.

But in a largely secular society, what is God’s will?

In high school and college, I knew I always wanted to be a priest.  But the feasibility of such a dream, was not a practical pursuit then.  Though my heart heard God’s call, there seemed to be other pressing family and personal demands. As such, I entered law enforcement and enjoyed a lengthy and proud career.  Nearing retirement, I could still hear God calling to me to become a priest.  I finished my studies and am happy to finally be in a position, I wanted my whole life to be in.  But God continued to speak to me, and let me in on a little secret-  I had been a priest serving God my whole life!

We are told in scripture: “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is to give, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.” [Romans 12:6-8] “Share with the Lord’s people who are in need.” [Romans 12:13]

Christ is telling us that we need not be deacons, priests, bishops or confirmed to a religious order to lead a religious life. Christ is telling us that those of us who are parents, teachers, shop keepers, laborers, police officers and firefighters and every other occupation- are also called by God to serve his people.  We meet them where we are at- together in that moment of time- which may be their moment of greatest need, and we become the means by which God accomplishes his will.  “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received, to serve others as faithful servants of God’s grace in all its various forms.” [1 Peter 4:10]

We must all come to realize that each of has a God given gift, that will be of benefit to someone else. These gifts, no matter how small or how insignificant they may seem- may be the most important thing someone is waiting for- praying for.  Perhaps it may be as simple as being that person who directs a lost motorist, angry that their GPS is not working- or we become the helpful stranger and warm smile to the frustrated shopper.  These are all acts of God’s intervention and care for us.  We may not know it then, but God is using us to accomplish his will. In a simple way. To ease someone’s burden, to brighten their day and just be a friend.

We are told; “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care- watching over them not because you must, but because you are willing- not pursuing a dishonest gain, but eager to serve- not lording over those entrusted to you, but being an example.”  [1 Peter 5:2-3]

Let us perform those Corporal Works of Mercy: to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, visit the sick and imprisoned and bury the dead.  Let us strive to fulfill the Spiritual Works of Mercy to instruct the ignorant, counsel the doubtful, admonish sinners, bear wrongs patiently, forgive willingly, comfort the sick and afflicted and always- to pray.

Christ reminds us: “Whoever does God’s will, is my brother and my sister” [Mark 3-35]  So let us live our lives as brothers and sisters of Christ!  Serving the children of God, not matter how simply. For by doing so- Thy Will Be Done!

Saint Albert the Great was born sometime between 1193 and 1206, to the Count of Bollstädt in Lauingen in Bavaria.  Contemporaries such as Roger Bacon applied the term “Magnus” to Albertus during his own lifetime, referring to his immense reputation as a scholar and philosopher.  Albertus was educated principally at Padua, where he received instruction in Aristotle’s writings. A late account by Rudolph de Novamagia refers to Albertus’ encounter with the Blessed Virgin Mary, who convinced him to enter Holy Orders. In 1223 (or 1221) he became a member of the Dominican Order, against the wishes of his family, and studied theology at Bologna and elsewhere. Selected to fill the position of lecturer at Cologne, Germany, where the Dominicans had a house, he taught for several years there, at Regensburg, Freiburg, Strasbourg and Hildesheim. In 1245 he went to Paris, received his doctorate, and taught for some time as a master of theology with great success. During this time Thomas Aquinas began to study under Albertus.

In 1254, Albertus was made provincial of the Dominican Order, and fulfilled the arduous duties of the office with great care and efficiency. During his tenure he publicly defended the Dominicans against attacks by the secular and regular faculty of the University of Paris, commented on St. John, and answered what he perceived as errors of the Arabian philosopher Averroes.

In 1260, Pope Alexander IV made him Bishop of Regensburg, an office from which he resigned after three years. During the exercise of his duties he enhanced his reputation for humility by refusing to ride a horse—in accord with the dictates of the Dominican order—instead walking back and forth across his huge diocese. This earned him the affectionate sobriquet, “boots the bishop,” from his parishioners. After his stint as bishop, he spent the remainder of his life partly in retirement in the various houses of his order, yet often preaching throughout southern Germany. In 1270, he preached the eighth Crusade in Austria. Among the last of his labors was the defense of the orthodoxy of his former pupil, Thomas Aquinas, whose death in 1274 grieved Albertus. After suffering a collapse of health in 1278, he died on November 15, 1280, in Cologne, Germany. His tomb is in the crypt of the Dominican church of St. Andreas   in Cologne,   and his relics at the Cologne Cathedral.

Albertus was beatified in 1622. He was canonized and proclaimed a Doctor of the Church in 1931 by Pope Pius XI. St Albert’s feast day is celebrated on November 15.

 

Blessed John Licci, born to a poor farmer, his mother died in childbirth. His life from then on, all 111 years, was a tale of miracles.  His father, who fed the baby on crushed pomegranates, had to work the fields, and was forced to leave the infant alone. The baby began crying, and a neighbor woman took him to her home to feed him. She laid the infant on the bed next to her paralyzed husband – and the man was instantly cured. The woman told John’s father of the miracle, but he was more concerned that she was meddling, and had taken his son without his permission. He took the child home to feed him more pomegranate pulp. As soon as the child was removed from the house, the neighbor’s paralysis returned; when John was brought back in, the man was healed. Even John’s father took this as a sign, and allowed the neighbors to care for John.

A precocious and emotional child, John began reciting the Daily Offices before age 10. While on a trip to Palermo, Italy at age 15, John went to Confession in the church of Saint Zita of Lucca where his confession was heard by Blessed Peter Geremia who suggested John consider a religious life. John considered himself unworthy, but Peter pressed the matter, John joined the Dominicans in 1415, and wore the habit for 96 years, the longest period known for anyone.

He founded the convent of Saint Zita in Caccamo, Italy. Lacking money for the construction, John prayed for guidance. During his prayer he had a vision of an angel who told him to “build on the foundations that were already built.” The next day in the nearby woods he found the foundation for a church called “Saint Mary of the Angels,” a church that had been started many years before, but had never been finished. John assumed this was the place indicated, and took over the site.

During the construction, workmen ran out of materials; the next day at dawn a large ox-drawn wagon arrived at the site. The driver unloaded a large quantity of stone, lime and sand – then promptly disappeared, leaving the oxen and wagon behind for the use of the convent. At another point a well got in the way of construction; John blessed it, and it immediately dried up; when construction was finished, he blessed it again, and the water began to flow. When roof beams were cut too short, John would pray over them, and they would stretch. There were days when John had to miraculously multiply bread and wine to feed the workers. Once a young boy came to the construction site to watch his uncle set stones; the boy fell from a wall, and was killed; John prayed over him, and restored him to life and health.

John and two brother Dominicans who were working on the convent were on the road near Caccamo when they were set upon by bandits. One of the thieves tried to stab John with a dagger; the man’s hand withered and became paralyzed. The gang let the brothers go, then decided to ask for their forgiveness. John made the Sign of the Cross at them, and the thief‘s hand was made whole.

One Christmas a nearby farmer offered to pasture the oxen that had come with the disappearing wagon-driver. John declined, saying the oxen had come far to be there, and there they should stay. Thinking he was doing good, the layman took them anyway. When he put them in the field with his own oxen, they promptly disappeared; he later found them at the construction site, contentedly munching dry grass near Father John.

While he did plenty of preaching in his 90+ years in the habit, usually on Christ’s Passion, he was not known as a great homilist. He was known, however, for his miracles and good works. His blessing caused the breadbox of a nearby widow to stay miraculously full, feeding her and her six children. His blessing prevented disease from coming to the cattle of his parishioners.  A noted healer, curing at least three people whose heads had been crushed in accidents, he was Provincial of Sicily, and Prior of the abbey on several occasions.

also known as James Griesinger

Memorial Day: October 11th

James was born at Ulm, and spent a fortunate childhood. He was thoroughly instructed both in his father’s trade of glass painting and in the practices of piety. He assisted his father in the making of stained glass, which was at the time a fine art in Germany, and he passed a sinless and happy youth in his native city. Wishing to make a pilgrimage to Rome, he asked his father’s blessing on the enterprise and set forth on his long journey, arriving in time to spend Lent in the holy city.

Having run out of funds, James enlisted with the army in Sicily. Here his pious nature received a rude shock from the soldiers with whom he lived. They were given to every manner of vice and resented any effort to change their lives. Disgusted with the corrupt morals and practices around him, James made haste to free himself as soon as his enlisted was up. He went into service with a lawyer, who soon entrusted him with his most important affairs and would gladly have adopted him as his own son. Having worked with this man for several years, James became anxious to return home to see his aging father, so he once more set forth on the road.

In Bologna, while he was praying before the tomb of Saint Dominic, an interior voice made known to him that his vocation was to be a Dominican. He sought no further, but went immediately to the prior to beg admission as a lay-brother in the Order.

James set for himself no extraordinary program of sanctity when he entered the Order, but resolved to keep the rule perfectly. He did this with great success. His humility and obedience were particularly remarkable.

James resumed his father’s trade of making stained-glass windows, and all his working time was devoted to making windows for the churches and convents that desired them. At one time, when he had a particularly large and elaborate window for firing in the furnace, the prior called for him to go out begging. Without a backward glance at his precious window, he went. He was gone all day, and it was only to be expected that his window would be in ashes when he returned, but God rewarded his obedience with a miracle-the window was more beautiful than he would ever hoped.

On another occasion, the prior, who had been telling a visiting bishop of James’ virtue, called him and told him to take a letter to Paris- a journey of some three weeks. James, bowing his head, asked only that he might first go to his cell to get his walking stick. The prior did not send him: he had only wished to try his obedience.

James was silent and recollected at his work, diligent and prayerful, and always ready to leave one kind of work for another when obedience called him, even though he had a craftsman’s regard for finishing for work well. His chief distinction was in keeping the rule perfectly, though he also performed a number of miracles.

Two windows made by Blessed James are still in existence; one in the chapel of the Bentivoglio palace, the other in the cathedral of St. Petronius in Bloogna.

Born: 1407 at Ulm, Swabia (modern Germany)

Died: 1491 of natural causes

Beatified: In 1825 by Pope Leo XII

On August 28,2012 two West Virginia State Troopers stopped a motor vehicle which had been operating recklessly on I-79 in Clay County.  The vehicle was occupied just by the driver who, the Troopers determined, was driving while intoxicated.  The subject was arrested, handcuffed and placed in the back of the Troop car.  A tow truck was requested for an impound.  Sadly, the events turned quite tragic after that. Deadly tragic.

As a retired police sergeant, and still a New Jersey police academy instructor, I will not seek to pontificate or comment critically on what went wrong. Suffice it to say- things went wrong.  We in the law enforcement community know, because we ourseleves make mistakes and find ourselves thankful the consequences were not as such.

But in horrific instances such as this, when we stare and wonder in disbelief- we are moved to remember the person- the quality of their character, that would move someone to become a policeman, a fire fighter, a soldier or paramedic/EMS professional.

Christ tells us: “Truly I tell you my friends, greater love has no one than this- that he would lay down his life for a friend.” (John 15:13)  How this is magnified when the “friend” is a stranger or, as in this case, society itself.

Christ also has taught us; “This is how we know what love is- that Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. We ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.” (1 John 3:16)

Both these scriptures encourage us to do the right thing. We must be willing ourseleves to make a scarifice for our brothers and sisters. Even the ultimate sacrifice.  Let us not forget those heros, unknown to us personally, who gave that sacrifice on September 11th.  Paying the full measure of their lives, in hopes of giving some aid and comfort to strangers.  At the very least, this is what we should be all willing to do.   “God demonstartes his love for us- even though we be sinners- Christ dies for us” (Romans 5:8)

After I became a police officer, freshly minted out of the police academy, my Department suffered the loss of Det. Richard McGilvery by gunshot in October of 1978.  Still probationary and adjusting to my fellow officers, I took comfort in the oath we swear as policeman: “to not turn from peril or presumption but to champion steadfastly in protection of the meek, weak and fearful.”

This then is the heart of Trooper Marshall Lee Bailey ( age 42 with 17 years of service) and Trooper Eric M. Workman (age 26 with just 20 months of service).   Without concern for their own lives, comfort and safety, they wore the uniform. They answered the call everyday- to be God’s servants of protection and freedom. While we pause to mourn their life, we must move forward in greater celebration of it.  Christ tells us: “… do not be afraid of those who kill the body, for after that they can do no more.” (Luke 12:4)

I close with a poem by Peter Hornback, known in police circles as  “The Final Inspection”.  I submit it in tribute to these fallen officers, and all others who have paid the sacrifice for my protection and freedom-

“The policeman stood and faced his God. Which must always come to pass. He hoped his shoes were shining as brightly as his brass.

“Step forward now, Officer. How shall I deal with you? Have you always turned the other cheek? To my Church, have you been true?”

“The Officer squared his shoulders, ‘No Lord, I guess I ain’t. Cause those of us who carry badges can’t always be a saint.

“But I never took a penny that wasn’t mine to keep. I worked a lot of overtime when my bills got far to deep.

“And I never passed a cry for help, though at times I shook with fear. And sometimes, God forgive me, I wept unmanly tears.

“I know I don’t deserve a place among the people here, they didn’t want me around except to calm their fear.

“But if you’ve got a place for me Lord, it needn’t be so grand. I’ve never expected or had too much, so if you don’t- I’ll understand.”

There was silence all around the throne where the saints had often trod. As the officer waited quietly for the judgement of his God.

“Step forward now brave Officer, you’ve borne your burdens well. Come walk a beat on Heaven’s streets- you’ve done your time in hell.”

May almighty God embrace the souls of all those who die for us in protection of our society and her freedom. May he make of us instruments of his justice among people and nations, so that His will be done.  Comfort those who mourn and give to us your blessing for peace. Amen.

“For he will command his angels to take charge of you and guard you in all your ways.” (Psalm 91:11)

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