Holy Christmas to everyone. As we celebrate the birthday of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I am reminded of the good things that are happening in a world filled with sadness and hurt. It is the times when God's angels perform the daily miracles that many people do not seem to notice. On a day like today, when so many folks return home to visit family there are also folks who have spent the day alone. For everyone who posted their Santa booty on their Facebook page, there are just as many that have no computer and received no presents. Just as people strive to have the perfect holly, jolly Christmas others struggle to survive. So as we celebrate the birth of Jesus during the Christmas season, let us put our action behind what we learned in the scriptures. We need to be doers and not just hearers of the word. St. James epistle is quite clear on this point. Just as Moses heard, he also acted. Just as Mary said yes, she also acted. The list is endless with people like Noah, Peter, Elizabeth Ann Seton, Dorothy Day, John Paul II, Mother Teresa, and hopefully you. If we all do one thing for someone in need, the world will begin to change. Instead of hearing the word and checking it off our list, let's put those ideas into action. Don't just light your candle but go light your world.
Finding St Anthony Among the Lost Items
Saint Anthony of Padua, though often associated with finding lost articles, was primarily known in his lifetime as a powerful and eloquent preacher. Originally a Canon Regular of St. Augustine, he was inspired to join the newly formed Franciscan order after witnessing the martyrdom of the first Franciscan missionaries in Morocco. His conversion to the mendicant life under St. Francis of Assisi transformed him, deepening his commitment to poverty, humility, and evangelical preaching. Gifted with profound theological knowledge and a captivating speaking style, he traveled across Italy and France, drawing immense crowds with his clear and passionate sermons, converting many and combating heresy with his unwavering faith and intellectual rigor. Beyond his public ministry, St. Anthony was a mystic who enjoyed profound spiritual experiences, most notably a vision of the Infant Jesus. This intimate connection with the Christ Child is a hallmark of his iconography, often depicting him c...