Ephesians 1:15-23 / Luke 12:8-12
Paul prays for Christians: May God enlighten your innermost vision.
An old Dakota cowboy told a newsman, “It’s going to be
a fine day. If geese were flying closer together, we’d have bad weather.” The
cowboy went on to say that he could predict weather better than electronic
equipment. “You must use your eyes and look at God’s radar. Furry calves mean
early winter; hairy caterpillars signal hard winter; gophers nestling in
prairie grass mean rain.” Then the old cowboy paused and mused, “Sometimes, I
think we don’t see anymore.” This can also be said about modern Christians when
it comes to their spiritual vision. It’s the grace Paul prays that the
Ephesians will receive.
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How clear is our own spiritual vision? “Nothing here
below is profane for those who know how to see. On the contrary, everything is
sacred.” Teilhard de Chardin
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Saint Paul of the Cross
Feast day October 20
Paul Francis Danei was born in Italy in 1694, the second of
16 children. Because of his father’s financial difficulties, Paul had to leave
school to help support his family. At age 15, he began to realize how much
Jesus suffered for him. In response, he prayed and did difficult things such as
sleeping on the floor and not eating foods he liked. He wanted to follow Christ
more closely and share in his passion and death.
At age 20, Paul joined the Venetian army that was defending
the faith. After a year, he went back to a life of prayer and penance. Then God
called him to form a group of men dedicated to preaching parish missions. These
men, called Passionists, would preach the mystery of Christ crucified—the
mystery of the Father’s love—in hopes that Christians would turn from their
sins and rededicate their lives to Christ. Paul developed a method for giving
parish mission talks that involved laypeople.
Paul received gifts of prophecy and healing from the Holy Spirit. He was so powerful when he preached and so gentle in confession that he brought many sinners back to the Lord. Paul once said, “England is always before my eyes, and if ever again it becomes Catholic, the benefit to the Church will be immeasurable.” Within 65 years, a Passionist named Dominic Barberi went to England to help reconcile John Henry Newman and others to the Catholic Church, aiding the revival of Catholicism there. Paul of the Cross died in 1775.
