Lived victory: our Lepanto moment
On October 7, 1571 the Holy League under direction of The Blessed Virgin Mary won the battle to save Lepanto and all of Christendom. Their weapon: the Rosary.
This is our Lepanto moment. The Holy League wasn’t an army. It was a coalition of forces brought together by Pope Pius V. Today, in prayer, we now are that coalition of forces fueled by the Holy Spirit and directed by Our Blessed Mother. We are facing a battle far greater than Lepanto. Do we believe?
These angelic times
September 29 is the feast of the Archangels Sts. Michael, Gabriel and Rafael. Then October 2 is the feast of our Guardian Angels. We are always surrounded by the angels, yet often feel that we are abandoned with no help in sight. Take heart with the example of St. Frances of Rome (1384-1440)! Although she wanted to be a nun as a young girl, she married at age 12 and lived out her vocation through her relationship with God with prayer. She watched 2 of her 3 children die and had to live with the prophetic knowledge of her daughter’s impending death. Just as we are called to do, she remained obedient to the magisterium in spite of great tribulation in the church and world. Without her faith, she might have become a bitter woman lashing out about the Pope and in continual need of shopping therapy. Instead, she joyfully set up a hospital in her home and purposefully sought out the most sickly people of Rome.
What do the saints teach us about work?
The world demands ambition and teaches that greed is good. Ambition is a vice leading to greed and other sins. Pope Francis says “Careerism is leprosy!” The saints teach us to focus on God in the smallest of tasks for it is His glory that makes them good. Through this, even the lowest of work is honorable and dignifies us, the walking-talking temples of His Holy Spirit.
Words of wisdom from St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Josemaria Escriva, Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection, Pope Francis, Servant of God John Arintero OP, St. John Paul II, and St. Walter of Pontoise (Patron of those suffering work-related stress)