The Seven Storey Mountain by Thomas Merton

The Seven Storey Mountain by Thomas Merton is an autobiographical novel that is inspiring to any reader in search of God. The book is Merton's own search for God before he entered the Cistercian Order (The strictest branch - The Trappists). This book is an eye-opener for anyone discerning to enter religious life or the seminary. But it can also be a refreshing reading experience for those building their professional careers. Professionals and business people can achieve better balance from the reading experience.

An autobiography

The Seven Storey Mountain begins with the story written in the author's own words: his search for God beginning in the context of a university setting. Merton was a student first and then became a professor in the university where he graduated. He was not Catholic. But, in the course of his teaching career, life events have led him to seek God. The book will give details of this conversion experience. So, Merton found himself baptized in the Catholic Church. His first attempt in his search was with the Franciscans. This did not work out for Thomas Merton. Finally, after additional discernment, he finally entered the Order of the Cistercians of the Strict Observance. This is a monastic order that has a vow of silence in one of its vows. In his life as a Trappist monk, Thomas Merton authored many books. This book, The Seven Storey Mountain is one of them; it is his most popular auto-biography.

Poignant moments

The book has some poignant moments can deeply affect readers. One of which relates to his family. Merton tells the story of how his younger brother visited him one day to inform Merton of a decision to join the Air Force. Merton then tells the story poignantly of the meeting and of the time also when he heard the news of his brother's death in the war.

A modern Catholic classic

The Seven Storey Mountain could well be considered a modern classic that any personal library can have. It can be read and reread as many times as one wishes, because Merton writes very intelligently. He gives a lot of his insights and wisdom in his life-story. His reflections are naturally deep and integrated in his autobiography. The education-rich setting of a university and his life as a Trappist monk all contributed to the richness of his faith and wisdom. If one needs a break, a "retreat" from the secular concerns one is daily attending to, this book is refreshing break from the "rat race". For it will certainly provide many great reminders of what really are the essential things in life. If you need a great book to read and reread way up to your retirement and leisure years, this certainly is a must-have.

St. Anthony of Padua (Feast: June 13)

St. Anthony of Padua, Priest and Doctor of the Church, 1195-1231 A.D.

Introduction

There are three Franciscans who were given the title by the Church as "doctors" - men and women whose intellectual brilliance and sanctity was important in the development of Catholic doctrine and spirituality. These three Franciscans were St. Anthony of Padua (1195-1231 A.D.), St. Bonaventure (1217-1274 A.D.), and St. Lawrence of Brindisi (1559-1619 A.D.). Of the three, the most widely known is St. Anthony of Padua. Statues and paintings often depict him with the infant Jesus in his arms, because of a pious legend that says one of his friends glanced at the window of a house and then saw St. Anthony holding the child Jesus in his arms.

St. Anthony's popularity gave him the title of patron saint for Padua, Lisbon, Split, Paderborn, Hildesheim, children, travelers, married couples, women, animals and miners. His intercession is invoked against infertility, demons, fevers, wars, shipwrecks, and plagues.

Born Ferdinand de Bulhoes in 1195 A.D.

St. Anthony's baptismal name was Ferdinand de Bulhoes. He took the religious name Anthony, after St. Anthony of Egypt - the hermit-saint. It was in a chapel dedicated to St. Anthony of Egypt that Ferdinand, who now became Anthony, received the Franciscan habit in 1221 A.D.

Before joining the Franciscans, "Ferdinand de Bulhoes", who was from Lisbon, Portugal, joined the Augustinian monks of Coimbra at 15 years of age. He was at Coimbra for eight years, devoting himself to study and prayer. During these years, he acquired a thorough knowledge of Scripture.

Inspired by the Franciscan martyrs of Morocco

In 1220 A.D., when the crown prince of Portugal brought back from Morocco the relics of Franciscan missionaries who had been martyred, St. Anthony felt a strong desire to die for the faith. Thus, he soon joined the Franciscans and found himself embarked to Morocco on a mission to the Moors. However, before he could settle, he was afflicted with a severe illness and had to return to Europe. On the return trip, the ship in which he was on was taken off its course and had to land in Sicily. It was here in Sicily that he recovered his health.

A new assignment

There was soon a general chapter of the members of the Franciscan Order. At the end of the chapter, new assignments were made by the provincial ministers of the Order. St. Anthony was sent by his provincial to the lonely hermitage of San Paoli, near Forli, where he was assigned menial tasks such as washing dishes and pots after meals.

Became a brilliant and eloquent preacher

St. Anthony entered the preaching ministry by surprise. At an ordination ceremony for Franciscans and Dominicans at Forli, lack of communication suddenly found the ceremony without anyone to deliver the customary address. St. Anthony was told by his superior to go forward and say whatever the Holy Spirit might inspire him to speak. St. Anthony delivered a brilliant and eloquent address to everyone's surprise. Years of studying Scripture had truly prepared him to be used by the Holy Spirit.

"Hammer of Heretics" and "Wonder Worker"

Because of this show of talent and brilliance, St. Anthony was sent to preach throughout Italy and France. Wherever he went, crowds flocked, and many were converted by his knowledge of the Bible. He was soon recognized as a great scholar and became the first Franciscan friar to teach theology to other Franciscan friars. He was also appointed minister provincial of the Order. But he was released from this duty in 1226 A.D. to resume his ministry of preaching. He settled in Padua which he completely reformed. He also helped the poor and worked untiringly in his preaching against heretics. Thus he obtained the name, "Hammer of Heretics". He was also known as "the Wonder Worker" because of reported miracles - including the story of his preaching in the rain to crowds yet his audiences remained dry. All this work took its toll on his health and he died on June 13 at 36 years of age.

Canonized and declared doctor of the Church

St. Anthony was canonized a year after his death and declared a doctor of the Church by Pope Pius XII in 1946 A.D. Alms given to seek his intercession are often referred to as "St. Anthony's Bread". He is also known as an intercessor for the finding of lost articles. This belief is founded on the pious legend that tells of a prank played on him by a Franciscan novice, who took St. Anthony's books of Psalms and ran away with it. St. Anthony prayed for the return of the psalter, and the novice, who was struck by an alarming vision, brought back the book to St. Anthony.

Related resources:

• Dictionary of Saints, by John J. Delaney
• "A Year with the Saints" by Don Bosco Press, Inc.
• "Doctors of the Church" by Fink
• "Saints for Our Time" by Ransom

Solemnity of Corpus Christi (A)

(Edited) Sunday reflections: (From) years 2014 (A), 2015 (B), and 2016 (C)

June 22, 2014
Liturgical readings
Deuteronomy 8:2-3,14b-16a
Psalm 147
1 Corinthians 10:16-17
John 6:51-58

"Jesus is the Living Bread who came down from heaven."

The Jews in Jesus' time quarreled among themselves when Jesus spoke of his Body and Blood as nourishment. They did not understand that the Lord meant to institute a Sacrament and memorial of His mercy. (This memorial was instituted at the Last Supper before His death on the Cross). But for Catholics now, this truth of "the living Bread came down from heaven" as the Sacrament of Christ's Body and Blood is understood clearly as a sign that points to a reality beyond just the level of physical senses. It points to eternal life. This is what the Jews in the Lord's time failed to understand. They understood what He said from their established Jewish religion and the physical world in which they lived. But the Lord did not exclude them. He invited them to understand on the level of faith - faith in His Person, and His words and His deeds.

A good explanation of this mystery of Christ's Body and Blood comes from St. Thomas Aquinas. St. Thomas explains this mystery in very intelligible words. He said: Christ wanted to ensure the memory of the gift of himself (his words, deeds, and life) to abide with his followers forever. The Lord left his Body as food, and his Blood as drink, for all the faithful to consume in the form of bread and wine in the Eucharist. It is his Body and Blood which heals each and every one from all infirmities of soul. Christ, the Divine Physician, left this living sign, this continuous outpouring of his life, to heal and save all from their sins. If properly disposed to receive the Sacrament in the Eucharist, the faithful gain an increase of virtues and an abundance of spiritual gifts - giving health and strength to the soul once more.

This gift and Sacrament of the Lord's Body and Blood encourages all those carrying the weight of many secular concerns. The Sacrament lifts up tired spirits and renews all hopes. The faithful again have a renewed understanding that life is more than just the physical food and material things they monotonously work for each day. Faith can make us understand this: if the Lord fed 4,000 to 5,000 men in his time by multiplying a few loaves and fish, could he not do the same to about 1 billion Catholics in our present generation? It is the fulfillment of the promise that God will be with us until the end of time. And if each Catholic will be faithful to Christ, then each one becomes the Lord's Body and Blood to those who do not know Him - by the witness of His presence as a force that gives life to one's work and life.

Scripture quotes for reflection:
"Because the loaf of bread is one, we, many though we are, are one body for we all partake of the one loaf." (1 Corinthians 10:16-17)