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The women in Ignatius’ young life

A reflection on how the women surrounding St. Ignatius played a significant role and brought him closer to Mama Mary.

by Francis Xin, SJ

According to Oscar Wilde, “Every sinner has a future, and every saint has a past.” The same is true for Saint Ignatius of Loyola.

The Early Days Of Ignatius

Ignatius, originally known as Iñigo Lopez de Onaz y Loyola, was born in 1491 to a noble Basque family in northern Spain, near the town of Azpetia, in the Basque province of Quipuzcoa, in the old kingdom of Castile. He was the youngest of thirteen children. Iñigo never had much contact with his mother, Dona Marina, who may have died shortly after his birth. Consequently, Ignatius was turned over to a wet-nurse, Maria Garin, and spent his first years in her modest home rather than his father’s nearby castle, Casa Torre Loyola.

Each day, Maria would have taken baby Inigo up to Loyola. In time, the boy Iñigo went to the family’s Casa Torre and lived there until he was about 16 years of age. During those days, Dona Magdalena de Araoz, who was both his sister-in-law and the one who had taken the place of his mother, tried to describe for him what the fortress of Arevalo was like. Initially, Ignatius’ father steered him toward a church career. While still a young lad, he was tutored as a cleric, but when he seemed to show little interest in becoming a priest, his father sent him to Velazquez’s court at Arevalo where he served as a page and courtier from 1506 to 1517.

In August 1517, Ignatius was accepted as a courtier serving the Duke of Najera. He spent three years as a gentleman of the viceroy-duke’s household, and during most of this time, he remained in Pamplona. Later on, he joined the forces of the Duke, and became in charge of its defense.

In the spring of 1521, an invasion took place with the French occupying the city of Pamplona in Navarre. The Spanish garrison in the citadel stubbornly held out. Ignatius was foremost among the defenders and was severely wounded in the French bombardment of the citadel on May 20, 1521.

The Women In His Life

You may notice how the significant roles of women shaped the life of Ignatius. These women allowed Ignatius to experience motherly love while growing up. While very little is mentioned and written about the earlier years of St. Ignatius, I was led to contemplate and imagine how these encounters were like.

In Spain today, there is a simple chapel near the house of the mother of St. Ignatius, Dona Marina. As we know, his mother died very early. In the life of Ignatius, he had no mention of her at all. We cannot find any documentation of the relationship between them. Therefore, when he saw this chapel, he must have felt surprised or maybe even experienced anxiety. As I thought more about it, I was reminded of a song that goes:

”In the world only Mama’s dear, Child having Mama’s like a treasure, Close to Mama’s bosom, How happy you can’t tell; In the world only Mama’s dear, Motherless child is like a straw, Away from Mama’s bosom, Happiness nowhere to.find.

If Ignatius had a chance, perhaps he would have expressed his gratitude to his mother. He would have thanked her for the gift of life. If he could, he would have come close to her, looked at her with affection, and wiped away her tears of guilt for not being able to take care of him. In addition, as he knelt beside her, he would have shared how he was not deprived of experiencing motherly love through the women around him.

My contemplation takes me further to imagining how Maria Garin took on the role of a mother to Ignatius. As he was crying for food, his nursing mother, Maria Garin, ran to him and carried him to breastfeed him. As he started to walk, she followed him patiently to prevent him from falling down. At night, she spent time with him until he fell asleep.

The following day, she brought him up to Loyola and allowed him to enjoy the time with his friends and companions.As Iñigo ran, he probably stopped and looked up to his mother in heaven with a big smile, as if to tell her, “Please be happy for me. Though it is sad that you are not with me, your love is very much present in my childhood:’

Another female in Iñigo life was his sister-in-law, Dona Magdalena. She brought books to him and taught him to read and write. Though sometimes his naughtiness upset her, she remained patient enough and held his hand in teaching him. On another occasion, he approached her and asked her about the characters from the books he was reading, while she teased him, which made them laugh together. He remembered vividly how she spent most of their time together telling him the story of courtly life before he left for Velazquez’s court at Arevalo. He recalled how she did her best to help him prepare for the unknown life in the future.

As he served as a page at Arevalo Castle, he was amazed by everything surrounding him. He enjoyed accompanying his master on his travels and was loved by the hostess, Dona Maria. She treated him like her own son, and supported him to pursue his desires and dreams. She listened to his struggles and passions, and encouraged him to face challenges. In his ups and downs, she stayed beside him and accompanied him. When Dona Maria’s husband passed away, even if she was in pain and needed company, she chose to let Iñigo go to pursue the bright future ahead of him.

At this point, I would like to imagine that Inigo noticed his emotions and tried to calm himself. He stood up, looked at his mother, and embraced her with much affection. No words were spoken but tears were enough to express how blessed he felt. As he finished his recollection of experiences, the young Iñigo led his mother to the statue of Mother Mary in the same Chapel. Tears once more flowed as they both gazed at the Blessed Virgin.

Here before him was another Mother whom he knew more intimately through the women of his earlier years. Iñigo thought that it was through his mother, Maria Garin, Dona Magdalena, and Dona Maria that he as able to develop a relationship with the Blessed Mother. All this time, he was never deprived o fhte expereinc of tenderness, care, and love of a mother with the many mothers that came along his way. On top of it all, he had an Eternal Mother who looked after him. Without a doubt in his mind, the Blessed Mother petitioned with her-that he be placed under the banner of the corss, and enjoy the companionship with our Lord, Jesus Christ. Tears were not enough to express the gratitude welling from his heart.

The Legacy Of Women

In his book Ignatius of Loyola: The Pilgrim Saint, Cornelius Michael Buckley asserts that, “The primordial bonding between Iñigo and his mother, or rather the nonexistence of such a bonding, suggests the absence of the protective, liberating, fostering maternal presence that would have given him early direction, basic confidence, and would have opened up new objectives for him.” Ignatius may not have experienced the love from his own mother, but maternal love was never absent in his early life. He was well taken cared of by a nursing mother, Maria Garin, in his infancy; he grew up well under the care of his sister-in-law, Dona Magdalena in his younger years; and he was well supported to pursue his dreams by his hostess, Dona Maria, in his adolescence. All the affection he received was for his relationship with his unseen biological mother, Dona Marina, and with Mother Mary.

The Women In Our Lives

As I look back, my trust in Mama Mary as a religious was also fostered by my personal experiences with women in my life. When my mother was busy with her work to support our family, my maternal grandmother invited me to have my meals with her. When my father got sick and had to stay in the hospital with my mother who took care of him, my aunt was there to ask me to live with her in the meantime. When my high school teacher, Ms. Song, learned that I was having a hard time continuing my studies, she voluntarily supported me. When I expressed my desire to apply for a religious life, though my mother felt the pain of separation, she still opened her arms to let me pursue my desire. Right now, even if I am far from all of them who have been constant sources of consolation in my life, their love remains with me. Their selflessness and generosity reflect the same virtues of Mama Mary. Whenever I see the statue of Mama Mary, I know that she is here with me – just like my grandmother, my aunt, my teacher, and my biological mother – constantly nurturing and supporting me.

image-2 The women in Ignatius' young life

2022, April. The Women in Ignatius’ Young Life. Windhover, Vol 1, pp 6-9.

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Good Shepherd Sunday

4th Sunday of Easter 2021, April 25, 2021

The Word, Source: John 10. 11 – 18 Jesus — The Good Shepherd

11 I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

12 The hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them.

13 This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep.

4th-sunday-Easter-2021-Picture-2 Good Shepherd Sunday
Image from google.

14 I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me,

15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep.

16 I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd.

17 This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again.

18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again.This command I have received from my Father.

REFLECTION

It can be well assumed that Jesus was quite familiar with three ways of life, among others, in Galilee and Judea. There were fisherfolk and farmers and sheepherders. Each of these can be seen or heard about in one place or another in the Gospels. Of course, we recall well that the shepherds are the first to see the baby Jesus there in Bethlehem.

Our reading today and our subsequent prayer find Jesus portraying himself as a shepherd –
the Good Shepherd.
And different from the versions of farming and fishing – here he puts himself actively in the picture.

The image I have chosen above was found on Google on a site with a novena to the Good Shepherd.
What touched me deeply was that in the picture –
the hands and feet of the Shepherd still have the marks of the nails.

The reality, the cost of being our Good Shepherd.
We pray that we may be touched by this reality of God’s love for us in Jesus Christ.

MY PRAYER

Quiet yourself in God’s presence and pray Psalm 23 slowly, over and over.

The LORD is my shepherd;
there is nothing I lack.
In green pastures he makes me lie down;
to still waters he leads me;
he restores my soul.

He guides me along right paths
for the sake of his name.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of
death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff comfort me.*

You set a table before me in front of my enemies;*
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Indeed, goodness and mercy will pursue me all the days of my life;
I will dwell in the house of the LORD for endless days.

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2ND Sunday of Easter

April 11, 2021

THE WORD, Source: John 29.24-29 (excerpt from today’s Gospel)

The Risen Jesus and the Unbelieving Thomas
(Thomas was absent when Jesus first appeared to the disciples. John 20.19-23)

24 Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.

25 So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

Jesus-hands 2ND Sunday of Easter
Image from Google

26 Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you”.

27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”

28 Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

29 Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me?Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

A REFLECTION

(Today is Divine Mercy Sunday – for some a moment of special prayer and novena. Our emphasis will be on faith in Jesus Christ.)

For the early church – the church of the lifetime of the apostles – the core preaching was about salvation through faith in Jesus Christ relying on his death and resurrection. There would have been many stories about what Jesus said and did, and these would later be put together in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

There developed, too, inspired by the Holy Spirit that the gift of faith was not just for the Jewish people, but for anyone who would believe in Jesus Christ. There would have been many stories shared about Jesus Christ; what he said and what he did. But it would only be a later time that these will be written up as the Gospels we know today from Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. These were written beyond the lifetime of the apostles.

The role of faith is well emphasized in today’s Gospel reading.
Thomas lacking trust and faith says: “Unless I see, I will not believe.”

Jesus accedes to this demand, going so far as inviting Thomas to touch his wounds. And Thomas is struck by this gesture of Jesus.

We still believe, 2000 years later. We are given a great blessing by Jesus –
“Blessed are they who have not seen but have believed.”

It may be good today to remember those who transmitted the gift of faith to us – parents, parishes, schools, communities. The testimony of Peter and Paul are still part of our lives today. We believe – because they believed and shared that belief, that faith in Jesus Christ.

MY PRAYER

As always – try to be comfortable and quiet
Recall God’s presence before you and you before him
What grace or blessing would you ask for at this moment.

Perhaps I think of the many who have passed the faith onto me, the knowledge and love of Jesus
⦁ Lord, bless those who have blessed me with the gift of faith –

I consider how faith in Jesus changes my life – how I live with others –
my family, household helps coworkers, those who approach me for help – for whatever –

  • Forgive me, Jesus, for the many moments I have been unfaithful to your example –

like Thomas, I come and kneel before you –

  • Strengthen me in my life of faith – I want to believe –
  • Jesus, I kiss your hands – I love you – thank you for your life and death and resurrection –

My Lord and My God!

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The Word And A Reflection and Prayer

PALM  SUNDAY  2021

The  Word, John 12.12-16

Jesus’ Enters Jerusalem for the Passover

12 On the next day [Sunday], when the great crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,

13 they took palm branches and went out to meet him, and cried out: “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,[even] the king of Israel.

14 Jesus found an ass and sat upon it, as is written:

15 “Fear no more, O daughter Zion; see, your king comes, seated upon an ass’s colt.”

16 His disciples did not understand this at first, but when Jesus had been glorified they remembered that these things were written about him and that they had done this for him.

A  Reflection

The story of Jesus’ life for us rushes to its end. The great Passover feast of the Jews commemorating their freedom from slavery in Egypt is a highlight celebration even to this very day. But this Holy Week will be the story of the new freedom from sin one for us by Jesus.

Jerusalem is crowded – everyone wants to be there for the festival. People are delighted to see friends and visitors. Our gospel reading today is the reading used at the blessing of the palms before the Holy Mass. At the Mass itself we will hear one of the Passion narratives.

A simple note: Mondays Gospel will tell us of what happened that Saturday evening before the Palm Sunday event. Jesus was enjoying a “Thank You” dinner with Lazarus and Martha and Mary.

My  Prayer

  • Make yourself quiet and comfortable
  • Look at the picture again – perhaps imagine yourself there
  • Read the story again – maybe a number of times – want to be there –

 Pray with the joyful children – HOSANNA! HOSANNA!

 Pray with the adults – Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

Read again the Gospel – Recall that in a few days the cry will be “Crucify him!”      

Hosanna in the Highest – Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord!

Father Bill Kreutz, SJ, Loyola House of Studies, Scripture from the New American Bible                  

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The Word and A Reflection and My Prayer

5th Sunday of Lent, March 21, 2021

The  Word, John  12.20-33

The Hour of Jesus’ Glory  (excerpts)

23 Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.

24 Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.

25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life.

26 Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me.

32 And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.”

33 He said this indicating the kind of death he would die.

A REFLECTION

Our gospel story today is a jump almost three years from our story of last week when Jesus and Nicodemus spoke in the evening. Since that time Jesus and his disciples had spent much effort preaching and healing and forgiving throughout Galilee and Judea.

The background of today’s story is that Jesus went up to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. But before going there as we will hear at the end of the week, he joined Lazarus and his two sisters, Martha and Mary, for a special dinner. It was at that time that Mary would anoint the feet of Jesus.

After Jesus’ joyful entrance into Jerusalem, he spent much time in the temple precincts talking with the leaders of the Jews and others about his Father and the role that he himself would play that all might be saved. Sadly, his words were not accepted and in fact, rejected and ended with his death in Jerusalem just a few days later.

A Reminder

Prayer time need not be long . Setting aside short but dedicated prayer time -even just 10 minutes each day is already a good practice.

MY  PRAYER

  • Put yourself in a comfortable quiet position
  • Recall God’s presence with you and your presence before God
  • Read the passage again – even more than once if so desired
  • What grace do you ask for – desire – need – for yourself at this moment
  • Feel yourself present – intently listening to Jesus

The Lord’s glory is seen in his death that brings life like the seed that dies (vv. 23 – 24) Lord, help me to understand this in my own life

  • A father or mother who gives up their life for the sake of the children (vv. 25-26)
  • The soldier who fights the enemy to preserve his home country
  • The office mate who gives a personal time to visit or to call s sick friend
    • Lord, help me to understand what it means to give of myself even a part of myself for others –
    • Help me understand what it means to give myself- for my family and especially those in need     

Jesus lifted up – draws all to himself – for new life  (vv. 32-33)

Lord Jesus – help me to know and accept the Cross.

Lord Jesus – draw me to yourself !

Father Bill Kreutz, SJ, Loyola House of Studies                                                                   

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The Word and A Reflection and My Prayer

3rd  LENT  SUNDAY, March 7, 2021

THE WORD, Source:  John 2.13-25

Cleansing of the Temple.

13 Since the Passover of the Jews was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

14 He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the money-changers seated there.

15 He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen, and spilled the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables

16 and to those who sold doves he said, “Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!”

17 His disciples recalled the words of scripture,i “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

18 At this the Jews answered and said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?”

19 Jesus answered and said to them,“Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.”

20 Then Jews said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?”

21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body.

22 Therefore, when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they came to believe the scripture and the word Jesus had spoken.

23 While he was in Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, many began to believe in his name when they saw the signs he was doing.

24 But Jesus would not trust himself to them because he knew them all,

25 and did not need anyone to testify about human nature. He himself understood it well.

A REFLECTION

The first reading at Holy Mass today brings to us the 10 Commandments as given to Moses. These represent the human part of a mutual covenant of God and human beings –  He is our God and we are His People.

The Holy Gospel at our Mass, the cleansing of the temple – my Father’s House –can be seen as an allegory – the cleansing we need as we are God’s People. (At a later time, Jesus will be even more gracious – God is our Father and we are His Children)

We cleanse ourselves on three levels –

  • the Ten Commandments – focusing on self and family and community “which is greatest  commandment?”; love God and love neighbor as oneself –
  • “I give you a New Commandment ” Even at the Last Supper, “Love one another as I have loved you.”  – to love as Jesus has loved us – compassion, mercy, forgiveness

   St. Ignatius pointed out: Love is shown in deeds, not words.

MY  PRAYER

As you can imagine  –  it is time to cleanse your temple – an important Lenten activity

  • I sit quietly, in expectation –
  • I recall the Lord God is present with me as Jesus promised
  • I ask for the grace of the moment – to be cleansed –
  • How will I conform myself to the Ten Commandments; My conduct – my life – within my family and among others – I review the Commandments one by one –
  • How do I stand — loving God above all? How do I accomplish this? — loving others as myself –how do I fix my relationship with others?
  • Can I love as Jesus loves – compassionate, merciful,  forgiving – I desire this – I pray for this grace –

Create in me a clean heart, O Lord, and renew a right spirit within me – from Psalm 51

Father Bill Kreutz, SJ Loyola House of Studies Scripture from the New American Bible                                                                                     

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The Word, A Reflection and Prayer

3rd Sunday of the Year 2021, January 24, Source:  Mark 1.14-20

The  Word

Jesus Calls the First Disciples   

14 After John [the Baptizer]  had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God:

15 “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

16 As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen.

17 Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

18 Then they abandoned their nets and followed him.

19 He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets.

20 Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him.

3rd-Sunday-2021 The Word, A Reflection and Prayer
Image from Google.

A REFLECTION

It was just last week that we read the gospel about Jesus meeting two disciples of John the Baptist who wanted to talk with him. One of them, as we know, was Andrew. He in turn shared his experience of Jesus with his brother Simon. They were both fishermen. We recall that it was Jesus himself who gave Simon the name Peter. Perhaps, after this first experience, they all met a few times. Jesus knew who they were.

Today we hear that Jesus had begun his ministry of teaching and healing. And he desired that others would share that experience with him. So, he looked for those whom he knew – Peter and Andrew and the two brothers John and James. They were all fishermen.

Jesus called them and asked/invited them to journey with him, to learn from him, to share his ministry of Good News. And so, they all left their nets and their fishing boats and their families to go with Jesus. They were invited to share the ministry of Jesus.

MY  PRAYER

To get started in this time of prayer, put yourself in a quiet comfortable mode – Recall that God is always with us as promised. Ask for the grace to hear the call to ministry – and to accepted and live by it

What is the ministry of Jesus?

Pope Francis and others have put it like this Compassion, Mercy, Forgiveness, Healing,  Generosity, Kindness

>>   Reflect and pray over each of these – Do I bring these ministries of Jesus to others? Is there something holding me back? Anger? Resentment? Hurt feelings? Jealousy?…..

>> Ask for the grace to be a minister of blessing – as in each of the above- in the spirit of Jesus – Father give me the grace to know and to love and to share in the ministry of Jesus!

Father Bill Kreutz, SJ, Scripture from the New American Bible                                                      

                                                                                     

                                                                                   

                                                                                    

                                                                                   

                                                                                    

           

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The Word, a Reflection and Prayer

December 6, 2020, 2nd week of Advent

Father Bill Kreutz, SJ

The  Word

Reading 1    Prophet Isiah  40:1-5, 9-11

1 Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God.

2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her service is at an end, her guilt is expiated; Indeed, she has received from the hand of the LORD double for all her sins.

3 A voice cries out: In the desert prepare the way of the LORD! Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God!

4 Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill shall be made low; The rugged land shall be made a plain, the rough country, a broad valley.

5 Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed and all mankind shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

9 Go up onto a high mountain, Zion, herald of glad tidings Cry out at the top of your voice: Here is your God!

10 Here comes with power the Lord GOD, who rules by his strong arm; Here is his Reward with him, his recompense before him.

11 Like a shepherd he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs, Carrying them in his bosom, and leading the ewes with care.

advent2 The Word, a Reflection and Prayer

A  REFLECTION  and  PRAYER

How wonderful the words of encouragement – today’s first reading. We are all feeling a bit low – COVID 19 devastates us with such heavy news, bad news each day. Some, for sure, feel endangered and they are worried about their families and friends. Others carry the heavy burden of the many in the hospitals -doctors and nurses, laboratory and office staffand the many maintenance personnel and cleaners – all carry the burden.

This is a very hard time – we really need good news; Yet I am sitting here, thinking of bright lights and listening to beautiful choral Christmas music.

Is this the best that I can do – is this all I can do? I am not sure but like the Magi, I follow the Star. These bring peace and joy to my heart. Some say this is just romanticism, but I have a gift of faith, I believe; I am comforted by the words of the Profit Isaiah.

And I take heed to John the Baptist’s call to change my life – to be better in the spirit of the Lord – for others. Can I bring comfort and joy to others? a telephone or video chat, a greeting, an email – with some beautiful pictures attached; a kind thought, a prayer; a forgiveness in my heart for those who have hurt me – and a prayer for them.

Using the style of Ignatian imagination:

  • I close my eyes and imagine myself walking through the wards of a crowded hospital 
  • I stop at one bed and another and talk for a few moments with the poor patient, perhaps an old person, a young mother, a crying child; and with each I pray to Jesus for healing and comfort and a Hail Mary.

You may also want to use this method:

Walking along the street and encountering many beggars who are in need; a little girl selling flower: can I visit a poor family with only a simple parol hanging at the door, no Belen. What do I say to these people – what do I do?

This is my offering, my time – taking time in prayer for others

I really don’t know how it works – but Jesus does –

A personal response to John’s call for change –        

Come,  Lord Jesus,  Come!

                  

Scripture from the New American Bible, Images from Google Images

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The Word, a Reflection and Prayer

November 29, 2020

By Father Bill Kreutz, SJ, Loyola House of Studies, Scripture from the New American Bible

 R: Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.

2 O shepherd of Israel, hearken,
   from your throne upon the cherubim, shine forth.
3 Rouse your power, and come to save us.
R:  Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.

15 Once again, O LORD of hosts, look down from heaven,
and see; take care of this vine, and protect 16 what your right hand has planted the son of man whom you yourself made strong.
R: Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.

18 May your help be with the man of your right hand,
    with the son of man whom you yourself made strong.
19 Then we will no more withdraw from you;
     give us new life, and we will call upon your name.
R: Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.

A  REFLECTION  and  PRAYER

A beautiful Psalm 80 – a plea for God’s help.

The context of this cry of the Israelites that their Lord God come and save them is placed around 720 BC when the Assyrians defeated them in battle, devastated the land and took away men, women and children as prisoners to be slaves.

There was a realization that they had not been faithful to the covenant that Moses made on their behalf with God. The vineyard of the Lord was desolated – they cry out for help.

In our time, more than 2000 years later, the Church uses this Psalm in anticipation for the special coming of the Lord in the Christmas season. It would seem that only a spiritual message was to be communicated, a spiritual renewal to be asked for.

But now, November 2020, we do ask for healing and relief, we are overcome, devastated by the COVID 19 pandemic. We cry out for help. That may be our first thought.

Yet there are many others who need us to cry out to the Savior Jesus on their behalf:       

My thought today is that we pray for so many who suffer so much –

  • those caught in the drug wars in Mexico
  • the persecuted minorities in China, Myanmar, India and in areas of Europe, America and Africa
  • persecuted Catholics and Christians and other faiths
  • the jobless and the hungry because of this time of dislocation

As I consider those above, can I think of those nearby who suffer –

  •  workers not paid just wages
  •  abused staff and household helps
  • the many “little people” who suffer from the abuse of police and military

              Can we cry out for these –

It would be good to read this Psalm 80 each day this week and to take some time for reflective prayer –

The final thought – our mantra these holy days –

    Come, Lord Jesus, Come  – and save us –

And help us in your name to help save others –

Image from Google