Sunday, August 30, 2009

an update from katie in uganda



I know I've posted about Katie Davis and her work in Uganda before, but I just read a post from her that I had to share. It is incredible to even begin to think about what she does on a daily basis. I pray for her, and for God to inspire many others to join her.

Friday, August 28, 2009

she would know...

Without expectation, do something for love itself, not for what you may receive. Love in action is what gives us grace. We have been created for greater things - - to love and to be loved.

Jesus very clearly said: ‘Love one another as I have loved you.’ Small things, done in great love, bring joy and peace. To love, it is necessary to give. To give, it is necessary to be free from selfishness.

There is something else to remember—that this kind of love begins at home. We cannot give to the outside what we don’t have on the inside. This very important. If I can’t see God’s love in my brother and sister then how can I see that love in somebody else? Everybody has got some good. Some hide it, some neglect it, but it is there.”

—Mother Teresa

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

"Pursue Me" by Danielle Rose has arrived...



‘Pursue Me’— Final Recording From Danielle Rose Offered For Vocations.
8/24/2009 - 11:00 AM PST

FRANKLIN PARK, IL (August 2, 2009) - World Library Publications releases a new CD by contemporary artist Danielle Rose. Rose hopes to gift listeners with inspiration to follow God’s call in their vocation. Before leaving her career as a musical missionary and following God’s call to enter religious life in a Franciscan Charismatic Religious community, The Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, Danielle (now Sister Rose Thérèse, DLJC) had a desire to record one last CD to offer to those discerning their own vocation in the Church. To help sharpen the vision for each person, Danielle asked that this recorded collection be given as a free gift to help those discerning the priesthood or religious life. Vocation offices across the country will be offered complimentary copies to distribute for that purpose. In addition, 100% of the royalties from the sales of this CD will be directed to support vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

Danielle’s insight, prayerful discernment, and joy are reflected clearly in this project. Her music has an intimate quality that calls each person to the heart of God—to rest in the joy and peace that is present in that full awareness. Fr. David Toups, USCCB Secretariat of Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations endorsed the project saying, “Through the example of her own life, Sr. Rose Thérèse (Danielle Rose) models putting one’s gifts at the service of the Church. She represents the best of the ‘JP II generation’ who heard him proclaim over and again, “Be not afraid!” From Abraham to Mary to the disciple of today, she angelically sings of this call. These songs will inspire all discerning God’s call in their lives. May her consoling voice and lyrics encourage listeners to say a deeper ‘yes’ to the Lord.”

With a unique blend of southern gospel and bluegrass styles, produced by Jeff Thomas of Nashville, the songs feature Danielle’s pure delicate voice, often likened to Alison Krause. Stand out songs include: ‘Pursue Me,’ ‘Abraham’s Offering’, and ‘Gates of Heaven,’ an emotionally touching ballad, written by her father Dr
. Daniel Skorich and sung with her. In the lyrics he says good bye to his dearly beloved daughter as she leaves home to begin her new life path.

As a University of Notre Dame graduate, Danielle immediately began her work as a music missionary. Her wide popularity began with the release of ‘God Is’ from her debut album ‘Defining Beauty,’ which continues as a top selling album, followed by her 2-CD set ‘Mysteries,’ musical reflections on scripture based on the mysteries of the rosary, and ‘I Thirst’ musical reflections on the life of Mother Teresa. Often referred to as a contemporary mystic by those who have witnessed her ministry, Danielle has touched the hearts of young people in an extraordinary way through her gift of music.


Pursue Me is now available through World Library Publications or call toll-free at 1.800.566.6150. (note from Nicole- it is also available on amazon as well.) Those discerning a call to the priesthood or to religious life are encouraged to contact the vocation director in their diocese, or the vocation director of the religious community they are interested in exploring, to obtain a free copy. For media inquiries contact Lisa Bagladi, public relations manager, at bagladil@jspaluch.com or call 847.233.2749.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

kindness


Kindness


Before you know what kindness really is
you must lose things,
feel the future dissolve in a moment
like salt in a weakened broth.
What you held in your hand,
what you counted and carefully saved,
all this must go so you know
how desolate the landscape can be
between the regions of kindness.
How you ride and ride
thinking the bus will never stop,
the passengers eating maize and chicken
will stare out the window forever.

Before you learn the tender gravity of kindness,
you must travel where the Indian in a white poncho
lies dead by the side of the road.
You must see how this could be you,
how he too was someone
who journeyed through the night with plans
and the simple breath that kept him alive.

Before you know kindness as the deepest thing inside,
you must know sorrow as the other deepest thing.
You must wake up with sorrow.
You must speak to it till your voice
catches the thread of all sorrows
and you see the size of the cloth.

Then it is only kindness that makes sense anymore,
only kindness that ties your shoes
and sends you out into the day to mail letters and
purchase bread,
only kindness that raises its head
from the crowd of the world to say
it is I you have been looking for,
and then goes with you every where
like a shadow or a friend.

-Naomi Shihab Nye
Palestinian Poet

Thursday, August 06, 2009

a new friend

"In all your works, look to Heaven, to the eternity of life and of the soul, and orient yourself then much differently from the way that merely human considerations might suggest, and your activity will be inspired for the good." -St. Giuseppe Moscati


St. Giuseppe Moscati, 1880-1927

Giuseppe Moscati was born in Benevento, Italy, on July 25, 1880. He was born to virtuous Catholic parents being the seventh of nine children. His father was a lawyer and President of the Court of Assize in Naples. He was a very friendly and well-liked person. He was extremely intelligent, pious and prayerful.

He went to medical school at the University of Naples. He studied rigorously and frequented daily Mass. He suffered much grief when his beloved father died during his first year in medical school. He pressed on and graduated with a degree in Medicine and Surgery, summa cum laude, when he was only 23 years old in 1903. In 1906, he heroically saved many patients who could have died in the hospital when the roof was collapsing during the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. He also was known to save many during a cholera epidemic in 1911. Later that same year, he became holder of the Naples University Chair in Chemical Physiology. Around 1912 or 1913, he made a vow of chastity, consecrating himself to a life of celibacy. He then aspired to be a Jesuit but was discourage by the Jesuit priests who discerned that God's will was for Dr. Moscati to remain in the world as a physician. In 1914, the start of World War I, his mother died. He volunteered in the Italian Army and became a major. He cared for the wounded soldiers and helped them become good Catholics.

Dr. Moscati's philosophy for medical practice was to save souls by caring for the body. He believed that the health of the body depended upon the soul remaining in the state of grace. He is quoted in saying that "one must attend first to the salvation of the soul and only then to that of the body." Through his practice, he helped many lapsed Catholics to return to the Sacraments. His favorite patients were the poor, the homeless, the religious and the priests-all from whom he would never accept payment. He actually went as far as secretly leaving his money within a patient's prescription or under a patient's pillow.
One day he even refused payment from all his patients saying "These are working folk. What have we that has not been given us by Our Lord? Woe to us if we do not make good use of God's gifts!"

He was always good to his patients. When one of his patients complained about the strict diet the good doctor prescribed, Dr. Moscati replied "God make us suffer here in order to reward us in the heavenly Kingdom; by resigning ourselves to dietary restrictions, and suffering, we shall have greater merit in the eyes of the Almighty."

Professionally, he commanded the highest admiration and respect from his peers and his students. Some of his pupils would accompany him to Mass. He received communion everyday and had a great devotion to Our Lady, the Immaculate Conception.

Though he saved many, he knew that he himself would not live long. After doing his normal hospital rounds and visiting the poor and examining patients in his home, he felt ill, stopped work, went to his room, sat in his chair and expired. He died at the age of 46. Pope John Paul II canonized Joseph Moscati during the Marian Year of 1987-1988 on October 25, 1987. Dr. Moscati's feastday is November 16.

Taken from: http://www.savior.org/saints/moscati.htm

More stories about St. Doctor Moscati are available here.


"Remember that you must treat not only bodies, but also souls, with counsel that appeals to their minds and hearts rather than with cold prescriptions to be sent in to the pharmacist." -St. Guiseppe Moscati