14 October 2012 • Our Lady of the Rosary “La Naval de Manila” Quezon City, PHL. Moveable feast -- Second Sunday [14 Oct 2012] in October. (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html) St Callistus I, pope and martyr Known for his mercy and understanding of repentant sinners; fixed the discipline of the Sacrament of Penance. (Fr James Socias, ‘et al’ [Eds], “Daily Roman Missal”, 1989, p1666) Death of a tepid and a fervent person Sickness changes no one, but shows what he is (Thomas à Kempis, “The Imitation of Christ”); because it makes more difficult to disguise our character. How true this is in the death of a tepid person. What is he like in his last illness? As he always was: exacting, unmortified, complaining, impatient, engrossed in physical pains; thinking but little of his soul, of eternity. He shuts his eyes to danger, notwithstanding every warning. Speak to him of the happiness which death should be, of the merit he might gain by making a generous sacrifice of his life. Offer to pray with him aloud, or to read him some chapters of the ‘Gospels’, he doesn’t care; hardly listens. But tell him the news of the day, or of some wonderful medicine just discovered, he is all ears! Obviously, he meditates little upon God or the saints; shows no eagerness to make frequent Communions. His companions and visitors are grieved to see him in such dispositions. They may be thinking, ‘I should not like to be as he is in my last illness; what merit he is losing!’ We might do so too, and we would be right. If we would not be like him then, we must not be like him in health. If we want to know what dispositions we will die in, see what we are living in. If we are like those of this sick man, we will surely be no better than he is when our last illness comes. If reformation is needed, begin it now, while we are well and strong! In the case of a fervent person we will see that sickness indeed changes no one; but we see it under a different aspect. The more his brethren see of him, the more they esteem him. The virtues which his humility concealed are brought out now, and they see him as he is: a solid religious person, dead to the world and to himself, occupied above all with his spiritual concerns. When his illness becomes serious, he humbly inquires of his director what the doctor thinks of his state. If unfavorable, he immediately makes an offering of his life to God; the first to speak of the Sacraments. Throughout, his conduct is truly exemplary: patient, resigned, grateful for every service. His one thought is how to best use the time left to him. He maintains a constant union of his soul with God by pious affection. His greatest happiness is to receive him as often as possible in Holy Communion. Should he complain, it is that he can no longer recite his prayers, or read the Gospels, especially passages which concern the sick. But he makes up for it by asking his companions to read them aloud, and to speak to him of Jesus and Mary, of the happiness and joys of Paradise with which our Saviour promises to reward it. During such reading and conversation his soul appears to have a foretaste of the bliss of heaven. We would like this pleasing picture to be ourself one day. Live as a fervent person should live, and we will have our wish. As our life is, so will our death be. Lest weakness should overtake us at the last moment, and makes us unable to speak, write down now the affections we would like suggested to us, and the passages we would like read when we are on our deathbed. If we have not done so, let us do it at once. Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp643-5 The Sacrament of the Sick The ‘Anointing of the Sick’ is for the benefit of the whole person. We find this point demonstrated in the liturgical texts of the sacramental celebration: “Make this oil a remedy for all who are anointed with it; heal them in body, in soul and spirit, and deliver them from every affliction.” The anointing is, therefore, a source of strength for both soul and body. In her teaching on this sacrament, the Church passes on the truth contained in the Letter of St James: “Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will restore them to health; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven.” (5:14-5) This sacrament should be approached in a spirit of great confidence. We, too must believe in Christ’s healing love and reaffirm that nothing will separate us from that love. My dear brothers and sisters, you will find the crucified Lord in the midst of your sickness and suffering. As Veronica ministered to Christ on his way to Calvary, so Christians have accepted the care of those in pain and sorrow as privileged opportunities to minister to Christ himself. I commend and bless all those who work for the sick in hospitals, residential homes and centers of care for the dying. I would like to say to you, doctors, nurses, chaplains and all other hospital staff: Yours is a noble vocation. Remember that it is Christ to whom you minister in the sufferings of your brothers and sisters. Ref: Cf “Prayers and Devotions from Pope John Paul II”, 1984, p244 Meditations on the Litany of Loreto ‘Virgin most faithful’ -- “Blessed is the man”, Mary says, “who hears me, and watches daily at my gates” (Prov 8:34). Mary promises that all who serve and honor her shall be free from sin and obtain eternal life. She invites all to have recourse to her, promising them every grace that they desire. St Lawrence Justinian applies to Mary that other text of “Ecclesiasticus”, “her bands are a healthful binding” (4:31); and then adds, “wherefore bands, unless to bind her servants, that they may not stray in the fields of sin”. Mary binds her servants, that they may not enjoy too much liberty which would cause their ruin. O Mother of God, in thee do I place all my confidence; you must preserve me from falling any more into sin. My Lady, abandon me not, obtain me the grace rather to die than to lose the grace of God. Ref: “The Glories of Mary.” In “Documentation Service”, V:322 • Our Lady of “La Rochette”, near Geneva. A shepherd coming up to a bush, where he heard a plaintive voice, found there an image of the Blessed Virgin, which led to a church being built there. — Astolph, Historia-universalis B. Mariae Virginis. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com) • Our Lady of “Larochette” (near Geneva, Switzerland). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html) • Our Lady of “Larochelle”. Near Geneva, Switzerland 7th Century. (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html) • Our Lady of “Larochelle”, France (7th Century). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html) • “Notre Dame de La Rochelle”. France. 7th Century. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm) • Our Lady of the Fountain. (Italy, 1320) (www/mariedenazareth.com)