Memorial of Saints (January 22)

Bl. Laura Vicuña was 10 years old when she defended her purity from the improper advances of a man - a hacienda owner in Mercedes, Chile. Educated by the Salesian Sisters since 8 years old, Laura learned to value holiness and chastity. After the incident with the hacienda owner, whom she and her mother worked for, they fled from him and from a possible life of concubinage. In 1904 A.D., Laura was beaten into unconsciousness when she refused to go back to the hacienda owner's house. She died a week later (died ca. 1904 A.D.).

St. Vincent Saragossa was a deacon martyred during the persecution of Christians under Dacian, governor of Spain, and under the reign of the Roman Emperor Maximian. Tradition relates his martyrdom as something gruesome - starved to death, racked and roasted on a gridiron. Vincent is the patron saint of Portugal (died ca. 304 A.D.).

St. Vincent Pallotti is the founder of the Society of the Catholic Apostolate - composed of priests, nuns and lay people. Known for his missionary spirit, Vincent organized trade schools for poor boys, worked among the poor, and was a sought-after confessor. St. Vincent brought back many to the Church (died ca. 1850 A.D.).

St. Anastasius was a soldier in the Persian army. Converted to Christianity, he left the army and was baptized in Jerusalem. He then decided to become a monk at Jerusalem in 621 A.D. Traveling to Palestine, he was arrested for preaching against pagan gods. Ordered to recant his Christian faith, Anastasius refused. Unshaken, he was tortured, strangled and then beheaded - the 69th martyr in the reign of King Chosroës in Bethsalre, Assyria (died ca. 628 A.D.).

St. Blesilla got married but her husband died seven months after. She contracted a fever but was cured. This experience led her to live a life of great austerity and holiness. She died suddenly at Rome when only twenty years of age (died ca. 383 A.D.).

St. Dominic of Sora was a Benedictine monk whose birthplace was in Foligno, Etruria, Italy. Nothing much is known of his life save for his building many monasteries in various parts of Italy (died ca. 1031 A.D.).

St. Berhtwald was also a Benedictine monk like Dominic of Sora. He became a bishop of Ramsbury in 1005 A.D. and was reputed to have the gift of visions and prophecies. He was also generous to Glastonbury and Malmesbury abbeys (died ca. 1045 A.D.).

St. Valerius of Saragossa was the bishop who educated St. Vincent the deacon. He was imprisoned because of the persecutions at that time in Spain and in the whole Roman Empire under Emperor Maximian. Nothing much is known of Valerius save for his return from exile (died ca. 304 A.D.).

3rd Sunday of the Year (B)

(Edited) Reflections (From) 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (B), January 22, 2012

Liturgical readings

Jonah 3:1-5, 10
Psalm 25
1 Corinthians 7:29-31
Mark 1:14-20

"Reform your lives and believe in the good news!"

The message of Jesus at the beginning of His public ministry, until the end of His earthly life is clear: a clarion call to reform and believe in Him and the Kingdom of God. Jesus continues the prophetic tradition of His people's faith - calling all Israel to turn away from their sinful ways and to turn back to God. In this mission, Jesus called others to join Him. The gospel passage mentions the first four: Simon (Peter), Andrew, James and John. It is amazing to see how they responded: "they immediately abandoned their nets". James and John did not only abandon their fishermen's nets; they also abandoned their father! What was in Jesus and His message that made these men respond in such a radical manner?

The Christian spirit of reform after biblical times has always sparked a revival, renewal and rebirth of Jesus' ideals in the lives of the people in history - both outside and inside the Church. When the faithful's ways of living are misdirected towards a lowering of moral standards, the Spirit of God calls again, in the person of many Saints along the continuum of history, to lead people back to the noble ideals Jesus represented. From St. Benedict in the 5th century to the Cistercians in the 11th century; from the desert monks and hermits of Egypt in the 3rd century to the Hispanic reformers of the 16th century (Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, Ignatius of Loyola); and from modern times: Frank Duff, Josemaria Escriva, Sr. Lucia of Fatima, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, and John Paul II.

All of the faithful are also called to follow the noble ideals of Christianity in whatever circumstances one's life and faith presents itself. Merely by a resolve to reform one's life, carry it out with patience and perseverance, and fidelity to it till the end, is already important. It may involve some sacrifice that allows God to purge bad habits and vices in one's way of life and work. That is the difficult part; but it is possible with God. Once the discipline is learned well, then the road becomes easier. It is a lifelong task (and a gift) - this continuous conversion of hearts and minds towards God. Believing in Jesus and His good news, will give lives direction, hope and meaning. Christ is the Truth, the Way and Life for us.

Lead, Kindly Light, by J. H. Newman

This prayer-poem by J. H. Newman, is an alternative to the hymn, "Lord Jesus Christ, Abide with Us", for Friday, in the Night Prayer section of the breviary. The poem has a somber tone because it equates night to the reality of death. But as the poem ends, it delivers a tone of hope, knowing that beyond death, the poet shall see a morning filled with smiling angels - a desire that has been rekindled in the poet's heart.

The poem is divided into three stanzas, with a rhythmic refrain of
"lead Thou me on" - in reference to God as Light.

Lead, kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom,
Lead thou me on;
The night is dark, and I am far from home,
Lead thou me on.
Keep thou my feet, I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me.

I was not ever thus, nor prayed that thou
Shouldst lead me on;
I loved to choose and see my path; but now
Lead thou me on.
I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,
Pride ruled my will: remember not past years.

So long thy power hath blest me, sure it still
Will lead me on
O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till
The night is gone,
And with the morn those Angel faces smile,
Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile.

In the first stanza, the poet prays to God to lead him through the dark night. Even though he knows he is far from home, he desires not to hurry, but to take one step at a time - which reveals the poet's wisdom of being careful in one's stride during the night.

In the second stanza, the poet confesses that he was very self-willed and full of pride. He chose the path he wished to tread on but now knows how sinful the path was - since He did not put God in the picture. In his realization, he asks God not to remember those past years, but now to lead him where God really wants to lead him - to the morning where angels smile.

In the third stanza, after the poet's realization of his self-seeking direction and pride, he feels that the Lord can bless him and lead him now over all obstacles during the night. And when this night has gone and the morning arrives, the poet anticipates the joy of seeing the angels smile - welcoming him back to his true home where the Light led him.

One lesson that can be learned from this poem is to have an attitude that is open to God's leading. Often, anyone's self-seeking direction and self-reliant attitude, can cause him, and others as well, to not see the Light clearly. Thus, even if one does not fall, one can "trip" or "stumble" more into the night. This is natural in youth and the ages before midlife. Once midlife has passed, many realize how important it is to trust more in God, especially when the "night" of old age is approaching. This trust can purify one's soul from residues of pride and self-reliance from the past. But what is most important is to understand that whether it is "morning" or "night", the Light of God should always be one's guide. He speaks to us in prayer, and in the Sacraments especially in the Eucharist. He is also the best guide in Confession. He is the Good Shepherd leading us to safe pastures in this life and towards the next.