Our Lady of the Rockies

Lord,

Help us to turn to each other and not on each other.

Help us to make better choices.

to love, not hate,

inclusion, not exclusion

in the Oneness of our Franciscan family.

by Reverend Joe Lowery

Popularity: 86% [?]

written by Jane East, SFO \\ tags: Billings, Capuchins, Council, Great Falls, Hands of Love, Havre, Helena, Lady Jacoba, Little Portion, Meditation, Missoula, Polson, Poor Clares, Prayer, Queen of Angels, Regional, San Damiano, Sheridan, Spiritual Assistant, St. Anthony, St. Charles Borromeo

November 17, 2008
St. Elizabeth of Hungary
(1207-1231)

In her short life Elizabeth manifested such great love for the poor and suffering that she has become the patroness of Catholic charities and of the Secular Franciscan Order. The daughter of the King of Hungary, Elizabeth chose a life of penance and asceticism when a life of leisure and luxury could easily have been hers. This choice endeared her in the hearts of the common people throughout Europe.At the age of 14 Elizabeth was married to Louis of Thuringia (a German principality), whom she deeply loved; she bore three children. Under the spiritual direction of a Franciscan friar, she led a life of prayer, sacrifice and service to the poor and sick. Seeking to become one with the poor, she wore simple clothing. Daily she would take bread to hundreds of the poorest in the land, who came to her gate.
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Popularity: 48% [?]

written by Jay Gilmartin, SFO \\ tags: Elizabeth of Hungary, Meditation, Saint of the Day

From the Cross of Christ: The Example of Obedience
by Pope John Paul II

“He humbled himself, obediently accepting even death, death on a cross!” (Phil 2:8). He humbled himself; he made himself obedient. These words which seem out of date today, when there is a whole systematic opposition to obedience, which is presented as a humiliation of one’s personality, a defeat of the intelligence and of the will, abdication of one’s human dignity. Autonomy, revolt, rebellion, are preached instead.

But it is certainly Jesus who gave us the example of obedience even unto death on the cross. All saints have passed through a test, sometimes even a heroic test, of obedience. As did Mary Most Holy, as did St. Joseph, who but obeyed the voice of God calling them to a sublime mission indeed but also to a disconcerting and mysterious one!

Why must you obey? First of all, because obedience is necessary in the general framework of Providence – God did not create us by chance but for a quite clear and distinct purpose: his everlasting glory and our happiness. All those who have responsibility over us ought, in God’s name, to help us to reach the goal willed by the Creator. Moreover, exterior obedience teaches us to obey the inner law of conscience, that is, God’s will expressed in the moral law.

And how should we obey? With love, also with holy courage, well knowing that obedience is almost always difficult. It costs sacrifice, it demands commitment and sometimes even entails heroic effort. We must look at Jesus Crucified! We must also obey with confidence, convinced that God’s grace is never lacking, and then the soul is flooded with immense inner joy. The effort of obedience is repaid with continual inner gladness.

Popularity: 59% [?]

written by Randy Heinz, SFO \\ tags: John Paul II, Meditation, obedience