August  2, 2019 

Thought for today: 

“I paint with shapes.” 

Alexander Calder - 

On suspended sculptures 

that  move with air - ‘Mobiles’ 

as Marcel Duchamp called them 

in 1932, Saturday Evening Post, 

February 27, 1865

ST.  ALPHONSUS MARY DE LIGUORI, 

Bishop and Doctor
Founder of the Congregation 

of the Most Holy Redeemer  

Alphonsus Mary de Liguori was born at Marianella, a sector of Naples, on September 27, 1696. 

Firstborn of an aristocratic Neapolitan family he completed his literary and scientific studies at home. He studied law and achieved his doctorate in civil and canon law at the age of 16. At the age of 20 he was already known as a brilliant lawyer in the Neapolitan courts.

The turning point in his life came in 1723 with the loss of an important case. 

This led him to leave the Tribunal and become a priest. 

He was ordained on December 21, 1726. 

He immediately began an intense apostolate in the poor sectors of Naples with the urchins and hobos, giving himself specially to the catechesis and moral formation of the most simple people, by way of the Evening Chapels. 

As a member of the Apostolic missions he also dedicated himself  to the preaching of missions in the surrounding areas of the kingdom of Naples.

At a point where his health was seriously endangered by his apostolic labors, he went off for a rest to Santa Maria dei Monti in the plateau above Amalfi. There he came in contact with the poor peasants and shepherds who were totally deprived of spiritual care. This experience gave birth, in the heart of Alphonsus, to the desire to found an Institute for the evangelization of the poor, scattered in the countryside and rural villages. The Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer was born at Scala on November 9, 1732.  

Alphonsus, along with his first companions, went from village to village, giving all of his human and spiritual gifts for the conversion of sinners. 

Preaching and prayer formed the heart of his missionary activity.

Where he could not reach people with the spoken word, he sought to do so through his writings. His 111 works went through many editions. The most important are: his Theologica moralia, The Great Means of Salvation, The Eternal  Maxims, The Glories of Mary, and The Practice of the Love of Jesus Christ.

In 1762 he was named bishop of Santa Agata dei Goti. As bishop, Alphonsus also gave all his missionary fervor. He especially worked for the formation of the clergy.

In 1775 he left his diocese and withdrew to Pagani, where he died on August 1, 1987 at the age of 91.

He was canonized by Gregory XVI on May 26, 1839. On March 23, 1871 Pius IX declared him a Doctor of the Church and on April 26, 1950, Pius XII proclaimed him Patron of confessors and moral theologians.

_________________________________________________________

From page 32 in Proper Feasts of the Congregation. No author is given.

August 1, 2019

Thought for today:  

"The past is no longer ours.  The future is not yet in our power.  We have only the present to do good."  

Saint Alphonsus Liguori

ST.  ALPHONSUS:

PATRON SAINT OF WHAT?

Those with arthritis ….

Those in wheelchairs ….

Those in their 80’s and make it to 91 ….

Those who are lawyers ….

Those who see the poor ….

Those who want simplicity ….

Those who had a tough dad and a soft mom ….

Those who want to practice loving Jesus Christ 

Those with great devotion to Mary ….

Those who can be scrupulous ….

Those who want to make a good confession ….

Those who want better sermons ....

Those who are Neapolitan Italian ….

Those who are Redemptorists ….

Those who write spiritual books ….

Those who use religious pictures and crucifixes ….

Those who want a balanced healthy Moral Theology ….

Those who pray the Stations of the Cross ….

Those who like Christmas songs ….

Those who spend time with Christ in the Blessed Sacrament …. 
Those who want to prepare for death ….

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2019

July 31, 2019

10 A.M.  APPOINTMENT

A high school junior had a     

10 o’clock appointment with God.

She was doing a term paper

on “Images of God.”

She wanted to know if God

had an image God liked.

She was there early - outside

the big door with her list in hand.

She went through her list: fire

water, baby, criminal on a cross.

Mom, dad, grandparent, brother,

sister, friend,  glass of cold water.

Mountain, valley, ocean, river,

outer outer space, inner inner place.

It was now 10:45 - and the door was

still closed and silence was everywhere.

At 11 another appointment arrived and God

opened the door and invited that person in.

  

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2019

ST.  IGNATIUS  OF  LOYOLA: 

MAY  YOU  LIVE  

IN INTERESTING TIMES 

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “St. Ignatius Loyola: May You Live in Interesting Times.”

“May You Live in Interesting Times.”  

St. Ignatius of Loyola didn’t say that. But I thought of that as I began looking at the life and times of St. Ignatius last evening.

Some say, “May You Live in Interesting Times” is the English translation of a Chinese curse.

St. Ignatius Loyola - 1491 - 1556 -  founder of the Jesuits -  certainly lived in interesting times.

When I looked up his dates and background last evening, I began noticing the interesting people who lived in his period of time and history

Martin Luther - 1483-1546 lived at the same time.

So too Henry VIII - 1491- 1546.

So too Pope Julius II - 1443-1513.

So too Michelangelo - 1475 - 1564.

May you live in interesting times.

During Ignatius’ lifetime a lot of interesting  things happened.

The Pope was the famous Julius II - who commissioned Michelangelo to draw up and design his tomb.  It was to be quite large.  It was to have 40 statues - one of which is Moses. Interesting.

Next time you go to Rome, check out at the church of St. Peter in Chains.  Go downstairs and you’ll find the famous statue of Moses by Michelangelo.  When I saw it, I noticed that one  had to put some coins in a box to get electrical lights to go on. Since then they have put in new kinds of bulbs.

Interesting.

The shrine was to originally have a window nearby for light - but that light was blocked when a building was put up next door.

SPEAKING OF MOSES

The Moses statue had Moses with 2 horns - based on a mistranslation of Exodus 34 - our reading for today. Interesting. Moses didn’t have horns - but they were to be light radiating out of his head.

For the sake of reflection we could compare Moses to Ignatius of Loyola.

In Michelangelo’s statue Moses has the tablets of the 10 commandments - which many people go by. In the paintings of Ignatius we see him writing - either the Exercises or his Rule.

I prefer Ignatius writings to the 10 Commandments.

We could also reflect upon Pope Julius II - who commissioned that statue of Moses to be part of his tomb.  We could compare him to Ignatius. This pope was took on the role of a soldier who lead papal armies into  some battles. Julius II is described as gruff and grouchy and didn’t have a sense of humor.  Comparing Julius to Ignatius,  Ignatius earlier life was that of a soldier - but he changed his life style.  Julius II didn’t change as life went on.

Both were vain and self-centered when young - but Ignatius was wounded by a 20 pound canon ball and went through a long period of healing - of his legs and his outlook on life.

Ignatius took on vows - for example of celibacy and Julius II had a mistress and at least 1 kid off to the side.

Looking back, they had interesting times - and I’m sure all of us would rather be Ignatius over Julius II, Henry VIII, Martin Luther. 

None of us will be Michelangelo or Moses - Martin Luther or King Henry VIII -but we can be like the saint in today’s liturgy: St. Ignatius.

It would be smart and wise to read about the life of St. Ignatius.  After all,  it was reading the lives of the saints that Ignatius was converted.

CONCLUSION:

I began by saying that the saying, “May you live in interesting times” might have come from a Chinese saying. May our times be a blessing to us - and not a curse.

Don’t watch TV.

JULY 31, 2019

Thought for the day:

"Whatever you are doing, that which makes you feel the most alive ... that is where God is."

Ignatius of Loyola