9 October 2012 St John Leonardi, priest A pharmacist; became a priest and devoted himself to teaching catechism to children. Founder of the order, ‘Regular Clerks of the Mother of God’. Later, he founded what is now Institute ‘De Propaganda Fide’ for propagation of the faith and formation of missionaries. (Fr James Socias, ‘et al’ [Eds], “Daily Roman Missal”, 1989, p1665) In the House of Martha and Mary Now that Jesus had left Capharnaum, he had no settled home. So he generally relied for food and lodging on the hospitality of others. Thus, St Luke writes, “they entered a village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his words. But Martha was busy with all the details of hospitality.” (10:38-40) Two sisters, so widely differing in character, (Martha is ‘active’ and Mary is ‘contemplative’) and yet so closely united to each other. They are habitually united to God by intention and affection in all exterior work, even amidst the distraction and bustle of the world. The evening meal was being prepared but Mary sat at our Lord’s feet in sweet repose, feeding her soul with the Divine Word. Martha however, was engrossed on much serving. Seeing that her sister did not intend to help her, she thought a complaint is proper: “Lord, are you not concerned that my sister left me to do the work all alone? Tell her to help me." “The Lord in reply said to her: ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and upset about many things; one thing only is required. Mary has chosen the better part and she shall not be deprived of it.’” (Lk 10:40-42) Let us analyze the full meaning of these words: First, ‘you are anxious about many things’. Do we merit this reproach? We are fervent and zealous in other respects, but allow ourselves to be engrossed in matters alien to our work, do our duty in an excitable and self-seeking spirit, impatient of failure. Second, ‘one thing only is required’. Only one is ‘absolutely’ necessary: to work out our salvation; nobody can do it for us. Our state in eternity depends on it. Is it our first thought in the morning, our last at night? Third, ‘Mary has chosen the better part and she shall not be deprived of it’. Why did Jesus prefer Mary’s choice: contemplation? Because it will remain when action is over; an eternal source of joy in heaven as it was of happiness on earth. Contemplation reveals God’s infinite perfections and inflames us with love from which heroism springs. It inspires us to remember that Mary, not Martha, is who stood beneath the cross on Calvary. Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp627-9 The strength of love If you wish to get close to our Lord through the pages of the Gospels, I always recommend that you try to enter in on the scene taking part as one more person there. In this way (and I know many perfectly ordinary people who live this way) you will be captivated like Mary was, who hung on every word that Jesus uttered; or, like Martha, you will boldly make your worries known to him, opening your heart sincerely about them all no matter how little they may be. (cf Lk 10:39-40) Lord, why do you call it a ‘new commandment’? It was already laid down in the Old Testament that we should love our neighbor. You will remember also that, when Jesus had scarcely begun his public life, he broadened the scope of this law with divine generosity: “You have heard it said, ‘Love your fellowman and hate your enemy’. But I tell you, ‘Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, pray for those who persecute and slander you.’” (Mt 5:43-4) But, Lord, please allow us to insist. Why do you still call this precept new? That night, just a few hours before offering yourself in sacrifice on the cross, during your intimate conversation with the men who, despite being weak and wretched, like ourselves -- accompanied you to Jerusalem, you revealed to us the standard for our charity, one we could never have suspected: “as I have loved you” (Jn 13:34). How well the apostles must have understood you, having witnessed for themselves unbounded love. The Master’s message and example are clear and precise. He confirmed his teaching with deeds. Yet I have often thought that, after twenty centuries, it is indeed still a ‘new’ commandment because very few people have taken the trouble to practise it. The others, the majority, in the past and still today, have chosen to ignore it. Their selfishness has led them to the conclusion: “Why should I complicate my life? I have more than enough to do just looking after myself.” Such an attitude is not good enough for us Christians. If we profess the same faith and are really eager to follow in the clear footprints left by Christ when he walked on this earth, we cannot be content merely with avoiding doing unto others the evil we would not have them do unto us. That is a lot, but it is still very little when we consider that our love is to be measured in terms of Jesus’ own conduct. Ref: Cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “Friends of God”, 222, 223 Meditations on the Litany of Loreto ‘Mother of our Redeemer’ -- St Bonaventure calls Mary ‘the Mediatrix of our salvation’; and St John Damascene, ‘the Saviour in a certain manner of the world’. That is, the mediatrix of grace, as Jesus Christ is the mediator of justice. Firstly, because of the consent which she gave at the Incarnation of the Eternal Word; for by that consent, St Bernardine says, ‘she procured us salvation’. Secondly, through the consent by which Mary gave to the death of her Son for our salvation. O Mother of my Saviour, you once did offer the life of the Son to God; save me now by your intercession. Ref: “The Glories of Mary.” In “Documentation Service”, V:320-21 “We do not hesitate to affirm that we put great confidence in the Holy Rosary for the healing of the evils that afflict our times. Not with force, not with arms, not with human power, but with divine help obtained through the means of this prayer will the Church be able to confront the infernal enemy.” -- Pope Pius XII, Encyclical, “Ingruentium malorum”, 19 September 1951. (In Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “Two Months with Mary”, 1984, p50) • In the year 723, the night after the Saracep prince had unjustly ordered the hand of St John Damascenus to be cut off, Our Lady reunited it miraculously to his wrist, after this faithful servant had prayed to her for it with the design of continuing to write in defense of holy images. — John, Patriarch of Jerusalem, Life of St John Damascenus, in Surius. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com) • Miraculous Cure of St. John Damascene by Our Lady ,723 (restored severed hand). www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html) • St. John Damascene's severed hand restored by Mary (723). The hand had been cut off as the result of a plot by the iconoclastic Byzantine Emperor Leo the Isaurian. Because John resisted the Emperor's iconoclasm, the Emperor forged a letter, purportedly from John to the Emperor, offering to betray the Muslim-controlled city of Damascus to the Byzantine Emperor. The Emperor then delivered the forged letter to Muslim Caliph Abdul-Malek. The Caliph ordered John's hand removed as punishment for the "crime" of attempting to betray Damascus to the Christians. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm) • For an argument that the affair is legendary. Large collection of writings by and about, and icons of, St. John Damascene. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm) • Our Lady of Ephesus. Moscow, Russia. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html) • Blessed Virgin Efesina (Russia, 988). (http://www/mariedenazareth.com)