​BE NOT AFRAID! - Jesus and Pope Saint John Paul II

We are finishing up a double novena, and I can't think of anything more inclined to renew our hope than the news that this past Sunday - World Mission Sunday - our Papa Francis canonized 14 new Saints for us! I am sure at least one of them, if not all 14, had no suspicion early on that this big day was coming. That means that we, in the midst of our littleness and weakness, could be the next candidates!

Or better yet, those intentions we keep praying for and those dreams we keep hoping for - they could be the next lucky winner in the not-yet-canonized-holy-ones' affectionate shower of roses begun by St. Aloysius, continued by St. Therese, and joined in these days by myriad would-be-saints in Heaven. I guess the best way to say it in modern parlance is that showering roses is trending!

Let's pray, then, for little Ava and all our other dear ones, that God our loving Father will indulge those eager saints and grant them - Tolton and Marcel to name just two - the petitions they are offering, the miracles they are begging for us today.

Short prayer:

Father Tolton, we ask you with Therese's confidence: obtain for us Ava's complete healing!

Longer prayer:

Father in Heaven, Father Tolton’s suffering service sheds light upon our sorrows; we see them through the prism of your Son’s passion and death. If it be your Will, O God, glorify your servant, Father Tolton, by granting the favor I now request through his intercession (Ava’s healing) so that all may know the goodness of this priest whose memory looms large in the Church he loved.

Complete what you have begun in us that we might work for the fulfillment of your kingdom. Not to us the glory, but glory to you O God, through Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord; Father, Son and Holy Spirit, you are our God, living and reigning forever and ever. Amen

And for all out other intentions:

St. John Paul II, give us your love of the Rosary and our Blessed Mother, and through her intercession, please grant all the petitions in our hearts and minds, and even those we have forgotten or don't yet know, especially those which occupy the most adorable Hearts of Jesus and Mary.

Blessed Mother of those whose names you can read in my heart, watch over them with every care. Make their way easy and their labors fruitful. Dry their tears if they weep; sanctify their joys; raise their courage if they weaken; restore their hope if they lose heart, their health if they be ill, truth if they err, and repentance if they fall. Amen.

And now, who are these new saints?!
We are thrilled to announce that among them are our compatriots, 3 Maronite brothers who were laymen, and a Canadian foundress! Not only that, but the canonization of one of them hinged on his obtaining the miraculous healing of a man mauled by a jaguar! Let's renew our hope big time because no matter what we're facing and praying for, I think it might be less than a jaguar-mauling!

But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's get to know these new saints in some kind of reasonable order with the help of EWTN (and you can read the whole article by clicking on EWTN!) -

The 11 Martyrs of Damascus:

Pope Francis canonized the Martyrs of Damascus, a group of 11 men killed in 1860 for refusing to renounce their Christian faith and convert to Islam. The martyrs, including eight Franciscan friars and three laymen, were attacked in a church in the Christian quarter of Damascus during a wave of religious violence.

The canonized Franciscan friars include six priests and two professed religious — all missionaries from Spain except for Father Engelbert Kolland, who was from Salzburg, Austria. 

Franciscan Father Manuel Ruiz, Father Carmelo Bolta, Father Nicanor Ascanio, Father Nicolás M. Alberca y Torres, Father Pedro Soler, Kolland, Brother Francisco Pinazo Peñalver, and Brother Juan S. Fernández were all declared saints. 

The three laymen were brothers — Francis, Abdel Mooti, and Raphael Massabki — known for their deep piety and devotion to the Christian faith. Francis Massabki, the oldest of the brothers, was a father of eight children. Mooti was a father of five who visited the Church of St. Paul daily for prayer and to teach catechism lessons. The youngest brother, Raphael, was single and was known to spend long periods of time praying in the church and helping the friars.

According to witnesses, the brothers were offered the chance to live if they renounced their faith, but they refused. “We are Christians, and we want to live and die as Christians,” Francis Massabki reportedly said. All 11 were brutally killed that night, some beheaded, others stabbed to death.
“They remained faithful servants,” Pope Francis said. “[They] served in martyrdom and in joy.” 

St. Marie-Leonie Paradis


St. Marie-Léonie Paradis (1840–1912), a Canadian religious sister,  founded the Little Sisters of the Holy Family, an order whose spirituality and charism is the support of priests through both prayer and by taking care of the cooking, cleaning, and laundry in rectories in “humble and joyful service” in imitation of “Christ the Servant.”

Born in the Acadian region of Quebec, Paradis also spent eight years in New York serving in the St. Vincent de Paul Orphanage in the 1860s and taught French at St. Mary’s Academy in Indiana, before founding her religious order in New Brunswick, Canada.

Paradis’ canonization was thanks to the miraculous healing of a newborn in Canada, thanks to her loving intercession.

St. Elena Guerra: An “apostle of the Holy Spirit” and mentor of St. Gemma!

St. Elena Guerra (1835–1914) was known for her ardent devotion to the Holy Spirit. Elena who founded the Oblates of the Holy Spirit, was instrumental in promoting the novena to the Holy Spirit under Pope Leo XIII in 1895. Her writings and spiritual leadership inspired many, including St. Gemma Galgani, a mystic and saint who was her student. 

For much of her 20s, Guerra was bedridden with a serious illness, a challenge that turned out to be transformational for her as she dedicated herself to meditating on Scripture and the writings of the Church Fathers. She felt the call to consecrate herself to God during a pilgrimage to Rome with her father after her recovery and went on to form the religious community dedicated to education.

During her correspondence with Pope Leo XIII, Guerra composed prayers to the Holy Spirit, including a Holy Spirit Chaplet, asking the Lord to “send forth your spirit and renew the world.

“Pentecost is not over,” Guerra wrote. “In fact, it is continually going on in every time and in every place, because the Holy Spirit desired to give Himself to all men and all who want Him can always receive Him, so we do not have to envy the apostles and the first believers; we only have to dispose ourselves like them to receive Him well, and He will come to us as He did to them.”

[Marcel and I want to add that the joy of the Holy Spirit we find in the Little Way where even if we dispose ourselves poorly, He will still come to us because He has mercy on our poverty!]

St. Giuseppe Allamano: spiritual son of St. John Bosco!

One of the most celebrated figures among the new saints is St. Giuseppe Allamano (1851–1926), an Italian diocesan priest who founded the Consolata Missionaries and the Consolata Missionary Sisters. Allamano, though he spent his entire life in Italy, left a global legacy by training missionaries who carried the Gospel to remote corners of Africa, Asia, and South America.

Allamano told the missionaries in the order he founded in northern Italy in 1901 that they needed to be “first saints, then missionaries.”

The medical miracle that led to Allamano’s canonization involved the healing of a man who was attacked by a jaguar in the Amazon rainforest. In 1996, a man named Sorino Yanomami, a member of the indigenous Yanomami tribe in the Amazon, was mauled by a jaguar and left with life-threatening injuries. 

As doctors treated his skull fractures, Consolata missionaries prayed in the hospital with a relic of Allamano, seeking his intercession. Miraculously, Yanomami recovered without any long-term damage, according to the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Causes of Saints.

Allamano, whose spiritual director was St. John Bosco, emphasized the importance of holiness in priestly life, telling his priests, “You must not only be holy, but extraordinarily holy.” His influence has endured through the orders he founded, present today in 30 countries across the globe.

* * *

I have tears in my eyes as I think of these 14 new saints and the joy our knowing them is bringing to our dear Holy Father JPII who gave us so many saints and beata.

I'm picturing these new guys and gals, in the company of their brother dear John Paul, having an earnest conversation with Fr. Tolton, explaining that he needs to help Ava now. Their hands are tied in her respect as we have been following the time-honored custom (made hilarious by our efficient American ways!) of invoking one particular holy one in order to advance his cause by getting his hands on this specific miracle for us. 

Hooray for the saints! Hooray for the miracles they procure! But hooray most of all for the Holy Spirit Who fills our hearts with His gifts of joy, peace, and love as we take our own humble places at the crowded table of the saints. Perhaps at today's feast we we'll be served, as little Therese so often was, the less appetizing dishes. Or like Marcel, maybe we'll find that Jesus has played a trick on us and mixed bitter sweets among the other chocolates. Well no worries there - isn't 70% cocoa still the sought after mix? We can find laughter in little Jesus' pranks by loving what He gives us, although I must admit that works best when we're all praying for each other.

Thank you again for joining us in our novenas or in your private prayers. We are finding what is supposed to be our cancer cross to be quite the stylish styrofoam cross with wheels once described by Fr. Groeschel of happy memory! 

Praise God, and may He be blessed in His angels and in His saints, especially these latest. 
We thank Him too for that saint-maker whose feast we celebrate today on the day God installed him as our Holy Father, and here are a few words to remind us why he is John Paul the Great.

The quote “Be not afraid” is from Pope St. John Paul II's inaugural Mass on October 22, 1978. The full quote is: 

“Do not be afraid. Do not be satisfied with mediocrity. Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch…. I plead with you--never, ever give up on hope, never doubt, never tire, and never become discouraged. Be not afraid!”

​Draw me, we will run!!!

"It is confidence and nothing but confidence that must lead us to Love!" - little St. Therese, Letter 197, to her sister Marie of the Sacred Heart, September 17, 1896

"These striking words of St. Therese of the Child Jesus say it all. They sum up the genius of her spirituality and would suffice to justify that she has been named a Doctor of the Church. Confidence, 'nothing but confidence,' is the sole path that leads us to the Love that grants everything." - Our Holy Father, Pope Francis in his "C'est La Confiance: On Confidence in the Merciful Love of God, Apostolic Exhortation For the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of St. Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face"

Each year on this day, October 19, my husband and I smile and he asks, "How many years ago was it?"

No, it isn't the anniversary of our marriage, but the anniversary of the best party we ever had - to date, that is, For on this date in 1997, Fr. JR responded to our request that he say a Mass in celebration of the conferral of the Doctorate of St. Therese with a resounding Yes, and then turned the tables by asking if we'd host a few students for pizza afterwards. He would provide the pizza, we the home and the soda (paper good, plastic cups, and warm welcome). 

We put out our wedding guest book for the first time since our wedding a mere 9 years before, and our joy was immense when the record later showed somewhere around 100 guests, including not only dozens upon dozens of college students accompanying our fine young Padre, but even the President and First Lady (of Christendom College, which meant no extra security needed but a great time had by all, since they have the party charism). What a feast!

The first major party we had after our wedding was on Easter Vigil just 8 months after the Nuptial Mass. Packed to the gills and memorable to this day, nearly 36 years later. The late, great Mike Paietta taught me how to do the Hostess Laugh (you start on a high note and cascade down an octave), to be used when a guest spills on your best wedding tablecloth or breaks one of your wedding champagne flutes accidentally. When the latter happened moments later, I was prepared, and thus the party was a sparkling success!

Then there was our Therese bash on October 19, 1997.

And finally there was the Nigerian graduation party to end all graduation parties. Bouncy house, abundant Mexican food from the fabulous Garden Market, and best of all, three wonderful graduates of Thomas Aquinas College with their parents and the siblings who could make it - which included Royalty: the King and Queen of Nigeria, we knew they secretly must be, wearing traditional colorful garb and smiles that eclipsed the sun; the parents of our Nigerian boy whose classmates had raised the $6,000 needed to bring them for this awesome occasion. And God miraculously provided what no one on earth could: the much-sought but oft-denied absolutely necessary visas!

Well, today being the anniversary of Therese's doctorate means that we are near (in this case poised on the Vigil of) World Mission Sunday. Pope Pius XI instituted this annual party in 1926 to support the missions, and just one year later, he who had the privilege of beatifying Sister Therese in 1923 and canonizing Blessed Therese in 1925, now had the joy of proclaiming her co-patron of the missions in 1927, on a par with St. Francis Xavier.

We here at Miss Marcel's Musings just can't get enough of this girl. So it was with awe and delight that we spent this time last year reading and writing about our current Holy Father's apostolic exhortation on our sis. It is full of gems, and after the remark about "It is confidence and nothing but confidence that must lead us to Love" being enough to earn her the Church's Doctorate and make her our teacher, in a sense, "on a par with St. Thomas Aquinas" (quotes are my own - this is not official, just wonderful), right beside that in joy-inducing truth is this passage:

"We would do well to delve more deeply into her message as we commemorate the 150th anniversary of her birth in Alencon (January 2, 1873) and the centenary of her beatification (April 29, 1923). Yet I have not chosen to issue this exhortation on either of those dates, or on her liturgical memorial, so that this message may transcend those celebrations and be taken up as part of the spiritual treasury of the Church."

Zowie!!!!

And now, as we anticipate our next great party, what has Our Holy Father so prophetically done? He has given us as the theme of this year's Mission Sunday a verse from Matthew's gospel that is sharper than a two-edged sword even while it makes our cup overflow! Swords and cups - sounds like a Catholic feast to me! Here is our theme:

"Go and invite everyone to the banquet!"

We are gearing up at the home of Miss Marcel, albeit in fits and starts, to celebrate our happiest moment since our marriage and the birth of our two sons. We are getting ready to welcome a daughter into our family when the adorable FDIL (Future Daughter in Law) becomes the SOS (Spouse of the eldest Son) in the early days of 2025 (Jubilee Year for the whole Church and Centenary of Therese's canonization) . . .

We have the great honor of hosting the wedding, and thus it is - quite accidentally and by the Providence of a very merciful God (you know Him well, I hope) - a sort of "destination wedding" for all those currently living in places less banquet-friendly, less surf and turfy, less sunny-in-winter than we happen to be. (And might I add that we pay a pretty penny in property taxes for the nonetheless unpredictable but generally pleasant weather?)

The truth is we are grateful we live here, we are beyond grateful (uber-grateful) for the impending nuptials of our eldest son and the best girl on earth, and we are hopeful that those invited will be able to attend. As with any such event, FDIL and I would have liked to invite y'all, but the wiser noggins of the Husband (mine) and husband to be (hers) prevailed, explaining that there are natural limits to these things, and as Solzynhenitsyn taught us, "Self-limitation is the key to happiness."

Understandably, however, distance, expense, and the Christmas holidays look to prevent many of our guestlist from attending. FDIL and I then have the reasonable (if not rational) desire to move heaven and earth to bring any potential "no's" into the "yes" camp on the RSVP tally. But this time, even before the menfolk intervene with masculine smarts, we have been realizing that there is a lot of experience, strength, and hope in the kitchy expression, "Let go and let God." Also in the tried and true saying of Our Lord (adapted for our use here) to let their yes mean yes and their no mean no. 

Which brings us to this 22nd chapter of the gospel of St. Matthew:

"And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying:

The kingdom of Heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, "See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast."' But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business . . . The king was angry . . . Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding feast is ready . . . Go therefore to the highways and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.'"

For those of us with soft hearts, there's nothing worse than an angry king, and in fact I've left out a few salient verses where the ellipses are . . . but the main point for our purposes is not what's missing, but who's missing. We're so sorry that some can't make it, but the question then arises, do we invite more, or have a smaller party?

Forgive me for my lack of etiquette. I know it usually isn't polite to talk about a party in front of a friend who isn't invited. But on the other hand, in the Catholic circles we are blessed to frequent, the etiquette shifts. It is a truth universally acknowledged, right up there beside "A single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife," that none of us hosting our children's wedding can invite all the beloved friends and even well-wishing bystanders that we would like to invite. There wouldn't be a venue large enough to hold you all!!!

Thus, in my musings today, I come to this remarkable fact:

While I have two brothers and two sons in the eyes of the squinty hearted, my true tally of brothers is, like my true tally of sons, much larger. So we may keep it quite anonymous when I say that yesterday one of my many, many brothers suggested a few changes to the upcoming wedding.

I suppose now is as good a time as any to do my Reveal. 
No, I'm not having another baby, Biblical and exciting though that would be.
So it isn't a question of boy or girl, but rather it's been a question of chemo or no chemo. 
Not that boys are like chemo (well maybe just a little!) but more like God's will is always wonderful, and by the graces coming from all your prayers (really, never underestimate the power of your prayers. As St. Andre said, When you say the Our Father your lips are next to God's ear!) - by the graces coming from all your prayers, I haven't been worried at all about what my cancer treatment will entail.

And we found out a few days ago that it will entail chemo. Which is good, because that will knock down the chance of recurrence a WHOLE LOT and also, because we're now with City of Hope, I look forward to a spacious and well-appointed infusion room with free wifi and nutritious snacks. Before you get too excited (if you're really nutrition conscious) or worried (yes, I did burn my fingers badly on a too-hot Pop-Tart last night, and yet here I am selflessly typing away, so it must not be fatal), let me say that I have seen and even sampled the nutritious snacks, and they manage to find the happy middle between kale salad and Lucky Charms. 

But back to our main narrative.
Due to this chemo-sitch, it looks like the wedding may be less of a fun party for me, and said brother was concerned that perhaps it would be a bad time to host such a lifetime event.

This brother (like all my others) is quite amazing and in his quest for truth, love, and the American dream, he doesn't actually spend a lot of time watching Lifetime (the TV channel) so I don't think he was really aware that this is the PERFECT Lifetime Event!! I think I may even need to write a movie about it, and then Hallmark and LIfetime can enter a bidding war (if they are different entities).

Can't you see me with a colorful turban or perhaps sporting a new mane of auburn tresses (perhaps not my own, but rented for the occasion), and if not feeling well, I could be lying on a chaise longue like La Signora Madeline Vesey Neroni – nee Stanhope of Barchester Towers, carried in by some of my many sons (though not the groom and best man, I think, as they will have other duties)?

I am so relieved that the bride and groom are full of prudence, because ever since they became engaged I've been wanting them to be married already, they are just so perfectly and clearly meant for each other.

Happily, wiser heads than mine have prevailed, and they have the perfect date set for their Two-Become-One day.

Speaking of wiser heads, not to get off topic, but I'm hoping that perhaps the potential side effect of "chemo brain" will do wonders for me. I once knew a fellow (in my extreme youth, say high school age) who had the difficult trait of seeming drunk when he was sober. His best friend used to joke, and there was a lot of truth in this joke, that when the fellow was drunk, he actually had the gift of seeming then sober! And similarly, since I feel like I already have chemo brain (being constantly in need of wiser heads to help with all decisions), I'm hoping the chemo itself might effect a change in my brain to what looks a lot like normal in other people. You can't stop a girl from hoping!

Which brings us back to parties and Therese.

Therese was very big on hope, and this expression of hers that it is confidence and nothing but confidence that must lead us to Love has so many possible applications.

First off, let's stop worrying that it's all well and good for her to say it, but we're, at least on occasion, fearful and timid as church mice, so how does this help us?

It helps us because THERESE CAN GIVE US HER CONFIDENCE!
She doesn't need it anymore because she is seeing God face to Face (her face snuggled right up to His) - but why let that wealth of confidence go to waste when we can just ask for it?

Dear little Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face,
our sister and our teacher,
please give us your confidence. Fill us up with it to overflowing. 
And then shower us with roses as a sign that you have heard and are answering this prayer and all our prayers.
Also go tell Venerable Tolton to obtain the miracle little Ava needs!
And wake up Marcel to get a miracle to heal Suzie if he wants to advance his cause.
And then, dear sister, please provide for all our other needs, so pressing and so urgent, and even those dear to our heart but less desperate. 
Bless all the missionaries in the world, and plead with the Harvest Master to send out more laborers. Obtain the grace of conversion and intimacy with the Good Shepherd for those who have so far eluded His saving crook.
Show us God's love, and teach us how to invite others to His Banquet.
And help our little banquets be reflections of His so that joy may be born in many hearts, and the peace beyond understanding which Jesus promised may flood the lives of all those we love.

I often hear about weddings to which I'm not invited because we live in a vibrant Catholic college community, and as Peter Deluca (a founder of Thomas Aquinas College) once memorably said, "We didn't realize we weren't founding a college, we were founding a people!"

Dr. Warren Carroll, founder of Christendom College (where we had the great grace to live and work for 14 years) said something similar, that the greatest achievement of Christendom was the multitude of Catholic marriages and families it produced.

The upshot is that when I hear about a wedding (often) that I'm not invited to (more often than not because one can't invite everyone, as mentioned above), I don't take it personally, and I may even be relieved because just as "one" can't invite everyone, so another "one" couldn't manage to go to every wedding, even if invited. Last summer was a personal best - so much so that I've lost count, but I know that back in June I attended two weddings in one day, between April and August my husband and I attended the weddings of three nieces, and all told, I think I was able to make about eleven weddings and had to decline two or three.

I'm feeling, then, a bit like a wedding expert, and I remember after our own (future) bride and groom had attended something like their 3rd friends-wedding in a month, I asked, "So what did we learn?"
It was a privilege to have the opportunity to share in the unique and unrepeatable joyful anticipation of "happily ever after" with so many couples, and an absolute blast to see each wedding with new eyes, wondering what aspects we might want to repeat, if possible, at our own festivities.

When FDIL asked me what wedding customs meant a lot to me (because let's face it, we could multiply traditions until the cows come home and still have a long night ahead), I responded with a clear and (for once) simple answer:

The wedding custom I'm attached to is the one where the couple gets married in the Church with a priest.

And then I really like the custom where the music (for dancing at the reception) isn't too loud and thus doesn't drive everyone over 22 away from the party.

We have the first of those covered, and the second is a dream we are working to attain.
We also have a great caterer (a dear friend who does this professionally), a spectacular choir director (another dear friend and professional who, come to think of it, sang at our wedding too) whose extended family forms the most beautifully angelic choir in the Western hemisphere (which, happily, is where the wedding will take place), and - did I mention this already? - a bride and groom and a priest! Oh, and a wondrous church in which they can marry in the Church!

I guess I'm rambling at this point, but what really makes me smile hugely is this:
My brother kindly suggested (and it was a good suggestion, and I'm grateful for it because it helped me clarify my thoughts) that we could have a very intimate wedding, and that would alleviate the stress of hosting-in-the-midst-of-chemo.

For some, reducing the guest list might be the right move. Just like for others, postponing the wedding might be right. Especially if news was coming back to the bride and groom that due to the location and the time of year, not everyone they hoped to host could make it to sunny southern California because they had appointments with snow-storms (and family) elsewhere.

For us? The conversation clarified me like butter. And then along comes dear Pope Francis and solidifies me into a soft and salty useful stick (I'm trying to stick with one metaphor here!) . . .

"Go and invite everyone to the banquet!"

Forgive me again if you don't receive your invitation, all ten of you who read this outpouring of my happy heart. Consider this your spiritual invitation to pray with us in January (we'll leave the date out so you can spend the whole month in union of prayer with us!) and celebrate the marriage with us wherever you are. All it takes is a glass of any liquid for a toast, and a hearty Cheers!

I really can't believe how good God is to us, and yet I do.
Our eldest son is 34 and has just this year found his help-mate and fullness of his vocation.
If you who read this now are unsure what God has in store for you, please remember to borrow Therese's confidence, because God is so good, He will hear your prayers and give you the mission He has planned for you with and among the people He has chosen for you.

It is confidence and nothing but confidence that must lead us to Love!

"If all weak and imperfect souls felt what the least of souls feels - that is, the soul of Your little Therese - not one would despair of reaching the summit of the mount of love. Jesus does not demand great actions from us, but simply surrender and gratitude." - St. Therese (from Story of a Soul)

Draw me, we will run!!!

P.S. October 19, which when it falls on a Sunday is World Mission Sunday, is also now in the new calendar the feast of the North American Martyrs, those heroic French Jesuits we mentioned as intercessors in our previous post. Here is an article on them by another Jesuit hero, Servant of God Father John Hardon. May the great Jesuits of yore pray for those who lead and convert us now.

Saints John de Brebeuf, Isaac Jogues, Anthony Daniel, Gabriel Lalemant, Charles Garnier, Noel Chabanel, Rene Goupil and John Lalande, pray for us!!!

"Truth exists. The Incarnation happened." - Dr. Warren Carroll

"Miracles exist. The sun danced at Fatima." - Miss Marcel

He asked her “Who are you?” She replied, “I am Teresa of Jesus. And who are you?” To which the child responded, “I am Jesus of Teresa."

*  *  *

Wouldn't you like to obtain today (or next week, or better yet last week) at least a hundred miracles?

This past Sunday I had the joy of speaking to about 80 confirmation students, and I asked them if they would like to SEE a miracle - they all would! - and if any would like to have a miracle (for themselves or someone they loved) - and many would like that too. I feel just the same!

How astounding that 107 years ago on October 13, 1917 there was a miracle in Fatima, Portugal that was seen and experienced by 70,000 people!

How were there 70,000 witnesses? Well, Our Lady had foretold the miracle to the three little shepherds of Fatima, the children she had been appearing to and who had asked her for a sign to show the grown ups it was true. Then thanks to the faith - as well as the unbelief - of the Portuguese people, thousands upon thousands trekked to the spot in October on the appointed 13th day.

I say thanks to their faith because that brought tens of thousands through terrible weather to the spot where Our Lady was appearing . . . and I say thanks to their unbelief, because some of that 70,000 lucky enough to witness the Miracle of the Sun had come to mock and deride . . .

Yet even the most secular and atheistic newspapers of the time, whose journalists had indeed gone to mock the spectacle (which they fully expected to be lots of people and no miracle) witnessed the event - or experienced it, would be a better word - and then wrote about the indisputable Miracle of the Sun which not only spun in the sky and shot out glorious colors of bright lights but also plummeted toward the crowds, frightening even the most hardened atheists among them into a posture on their knees crying out to God for mercy.

If any were determined or inclined or simply tempted to deny the miracle when the sun then returned to its normal place and appearance high overhead, they were confronted with the extra miracle that after hours of torrential rains, the mud, flooding, and puddles as well as the drenched clothing of the 70,000 observers were dry as the desert after the 10 minute spinning-sun event.

What I love is that even our own mocking and deriding newspapers are sometimes forced into admitting the truth of history . . . On November 18, 1951, thirty-four years later, the New York Times had an article under this headline:

PHOTOGRAPHS HELD PROOF OF MIRACLE; Vatican Newspaper Shows Pictures of Sun Dipping in Portugal in 1917 Vision of Virgin

​
One would like to say the result was universal conversion, but we're a stiff necked people, we are!

Nonetheless, what a beautiful gift and proof of the love of Our Lady, who wanted us to know we could believe she was, by God's designs, not only maternal but also powerful. Which is why we are delighted to begin the second half of our latest double novena with redoubled confidence and hope in Heaven's plan for us and the miracles ahead.

Before I forget, which I'm apt to instantly do, let me mention one of the miracles we've recently been praying for and would like to share with you so that you can join us . . .

Do you remember Leonardo DeFilippis? No, not the Renaissance inventor and painter, and no, not the Ninja Turtle, and no, not even the actor in Titanic. We're talking about the marvelous Catholic Leonardo who (from a bio we found online) "after years as a Shakespearean actor . . .embarked on a spiritual journey that led him to found a Catholic theater company, Saint Luke Productions, in 1980. Millions throughout the US, Canada, and Europe have seen his work as an actor, producer, and film director. Performance venues . . . have included churches, major theaters, civic centers, penitentiaries, schools, and cloistered convents. Leonardo also performed at World Youth Day in Denver and Rome. . .

"One of his most ambitious projects was the direction, production, and distribution of the feature film Thérèse. This was the first motion picture distributed solely by an independent Catholic film company . . . He continues to tour with Vianney and Maximilian: Saint of Auschwitz. His most recent drama, Tolton: From Slave to Priest, tells the remarkable story of America's first Black priest.

"On August 6, 1983, the Feast of the Transfiguration, Leonardo married his beloved wife Patti. They have been blessed with seven children and reside in Washington State."

HERE is a wonderful interview he did with Mother of Divine Grace (MODG) school. (Click on this bold "HERE" to read it.)

And now that you know who our Leonardo is, let me tell you about the miracle he's asking us to join him in obtaining. From a letter he wrote to a mutual friend:

"I want to ask for your fervent prayers. An MRI has revealed that our granddaughter Ava has an inoperable tumor in the back of her brain. It will only get worse that we know so far, and there is no cure for it . . . So we ask for your prayers that God will use Venerable Father Augustus Tolton to bring about a miracle. Little Ava is only 4 years old. Thanks for your prayers."

Here is the prayer to Father Tolton:

Father in Heaven, Father Tolton’s suffering service sheds light upon our sorrows; we see them through the prism of your Son’s passion and death. If it be your Will, O God, glorify your servant, Father Tolton, by granting the favor I now request through his intercession (Ava’s healing) so that all may know the goodness of this priest whose memory looms large in the Church he loved.

Complete what you have begun in us that we might work for the fulfillment of your kingdom. Not to us the glory, but glory to you O God, through Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord; Father, Son and Holy Spirit, you are our God, living and reigning forever and ever. Amen

And if you don't print it out, I'm sure some days you might just say, "Fr. Tolton, intercede to heal Ava please!" and that works too!

Our plan was to start the second half of our double novena yesterday, and we may be a day late and a dollar short, but we're ready!

Actually, this post did go up yesterday, and I was only a minute late (not a day), pressing "publish" at 12:01. It turns out that, by golly, the system we have set up works! If I publish by noon, the day's work goes out to subscribers a few minutes later. But alas, if I publish at 12:01, those who subscribe (that is, sign up to automatically get Miss Marcel's Musings by using the Subscribe button on the bottom of the page on a phone or on the right sidebar on a computer) will not receive the email until the next day. 

The good news is we officially started the second half of our double novena yesterday. The better news is that this morning we have been able to add in the exciting news that it is at last THE FEAST OF OUR HOLY MOTHER, ST. TERESA OF JESUS OF AVILA!!!!

For Carmelites, this is even a solemnity, and I figure that at Miss Marcel's Musings we are all at least honorary Carmelites because of Marcel's great desire to be one (a Carmelite), not to mention that his dearest sister and ours, St. Therese of the Child Jesus of Lisieux (we have to mention all these names to try to prevent confusion) aka The Little Flower, is a Carmelite. So happy solemnity, and may our holy mother join our littlest sister and brother in showering you with roses galore! That means miracles too!

In our latest  double novena, the first 9 days extended from October 5, feast of St. Faustina and Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos to October 13, this past Sunday on the anniversary of the Miracle of the Sun at Fatima,

Now the second half of this double novena started yesterday on the feast of Pope Saint Callistus, also the Vigil of our Holy Mother St. Teresa of Jesus of Avila, and goes to that day of days, October 22, feast of our beloved Papa, St. John Paul II.

Don't worry if you missed yesterday due to circumstances beyond your control. In fact, part of our official policy is to repeat as often as possible the words of Our Lord, Our Lady, Our Holy Mother Teresa, and my husband (sometimes known as The Wizard because he's REALLY smart, so you can trust him too, I promise) - 

Don't worry about anything!!!

If you want exact quotes, I refer you to the gospel of John, Chapter 14; the words of Our Lady of Guadalupe to St Juanito Diego and to us; the words of St. Teresa's bookmark, the book of Conversations (with Jesus, Mary, and St. Therese) by Marcel Van, and . . . well, it's hard to give you a reference for my husband's repetition of these words, but let's just say if you were a fly on the wall of our homes for the past 36 years, you would have heard "Don't worry about anything" on a nearly daily basis! Praise God for His infinite kindness as expressed through the words I need to hear endlessly!

So yes, please don't worry if you are late to the party, which in fact is renewed each day. And if you are late to the novena, no worries there either, we've got your back.

I've decided it would be wonderful to simply pray for all 70,000 of our very specific intentions, in honor of the spectators of the Miracle of the Sun! But rather than name them all (I am generously including yours in the 70,000 but without your explicit permission, I'd rather not name them in case you feel they're too personal to share . . .), let's order them as follows:

1. For Ava, for a complete miraculous healing of her brain tumor, and for an awesome long life of sanctity to follow, all through the intercession of Venerable Fr. Augustus Tolton.

2. For each and every one of our personal intentions, for ourselves, our loved ones, those who have asked our prayers, those for whom we've promised to pray, and those who need our prayers - that many miracles will flow from the largesse of our awesome God through the intercession of our brother Marcel Van, our sister St. Therese, our brother Venerable Tolton, and through the kind intercession also of the saints whose feasts began yesterday and go to October 22nd - and they owe me one, because it was precisely my desire to include all these names of our brothers and sisters that made my post publishing a literal minute too late! -

​St. Callistus, St. Teresa of Avila, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, St. Hedwig, St. Ignatius of Antioch, St. Luke and Dr. Conrad Baars, St. Peter of Alcantara, St. Jean de Brebeuf, St. Isaac Jogues, St. John de Lalande, St. Charles Garnier, St. Rene Guipil, St. Anthony Daniel, St. Gabriel Lalemant, and St. Noel Chabanel (North American martyrs), St. Maria Bertille Boscardin, Blessed Daudi Okello and Blessed Jildo Irwa (Ugandan martyrs), St. Paul of the Cross, Blessed Karl of Austria, St Celine (mother of St. Remigius), St. Mary Salome (one of the three Marys at the foot of the Cross), and St. Pope John Paul II, pray and intercede for us with our adorable little Jesus, our infinitely merciful Heavenly Father, and the Holy Spirit of Love!

3. Our final intention is that through these same Saints, and especially through the intercession of our Holy Father John Paul II, with the added intercession and assistance of Padre Pio and Don Dolindo, we might love the Rosary (and our Blessed Mother) as much as they did, and in fact we ask "a double portion of their spirit" from the Saints who have loved the Rosary and Our Lady the most!

We have the prayer above to Fr. Tolton for Ava (as well as any intentions you'd like to commend to him), and now in honor of our Holy Mother Teresa, here is another possible prayer for the novena. It's more of a bit of advice and a meditation, an expansion of that wisdom above, "Don't worry about anything," but I think it works well as a way to lead us to expect miracles and become saints. Here is her bookmark:

​Let nothing disturb you;
Let nothing frighten you.
All things are passing.
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things.
Nothing is wanting to him who possesses God.
God alone suffices.

Nada te turbe;
nada te espente;
todo se pasa;
Dios no se muda.
La paciencia Todo lo alcanxa.
Quien a Dios tiene,
nada le falta.
Solo dios basta.

And finally, I've been enjoying the simple prayer that St. Faustina taught us (that Jesus taught her):

Jesus, I trust in You!

and the prayer Jesus taught Marcel:

Little Jesus, I love You a lot!

​
We are very big here on liberty of the spirit in prayer, or as our Holy Mother said regarding prayer and union with God: "One must walk this road in freedom." Feel free then, please, to take any one of these or another prayer for your daily novena prayer, and take them all if you like, but only if it brings peace. 

​Draw me, we will run!

P.S. If you want to keep up with Ava's miracle, you will find the latest updates on these two sites:

Caring Bridge site for Ava

​GoFundMe site for Ava

P.P.S. We happen to have an extra copy of Marcel's Conversations at our house. (This is besides my original, my second copy, my husband's copy, and the copy I "crafted" into several smaller volumes for easy purse-fit and transport.) That means a feast day prize for someone who would like a copy of the book that perhaps repeats "Don't worry about anything" just a little less than the Bible does but more than any other book I know!

If you would like to win this book, contact me (at the "contact" button on this page) and it is yours! I only have one extra copy, but if there is more than one reader here who contacts me for it, I'll see what I can do about getting more. I hate to think any of you  are deprived of the greatest book on earth (after the Holy Scriptures and the Summa!) . . . and it's a feast, so we need gifts!

If you can't find the "contact" button or are shy or already have your own 3 copies of Conversations, might I suggest a cupcake, a hot mug of tea, a latte, or a glass of wine? There's no accounting for tastes, but the point is to rejoice and feast because you now have another mom in Heaven! 

St. Teresa of Jesus, our holy mother and beloved friend of Jesus, teach us to speak to Him always, and give Him a big, loud, smacking kiss for us today!

"How can there be too many children? That is like saying there are too many flowers." - Mother Teresa

And we here at Miss Marcel's Musings would like to add: How could there be too many novenas?

I suppose if you weren't enjoying them anymore, there might be too many novenas. But as to feasts, saints, and intentions, since these are never ending, why limit our prayers? Prayer is conversation, speaking our mind and heart to those we know love us, or those we hope love us, or those we are simply happy to love from our side - and praise God, this love is never unrequited when we involve the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of Love . . .

And thus we come to a marvelous double feast today which seems to Marcel and Miss Marcel to call for a super fun, super grace filled double novena.

Today is the feast of St. Faustina and the feast of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos. The first acted as one of Jesus' little secretaries to give us the message of Divine Mercy, and the second was a great missionary in the United States who LOVES to work miracles. He made a habit of allowing God's power to flow through him while he lived on earth, and now that he's in Heaven, FX is still going strong in the wonder-working department.

And guess what? I've counted and re-counted, and it looks to me like if we start a novena today in honor of these two dear ones who would like to become good friends of ours, we will end on October 13, the day of the Miracle of the Sun at Fatima!

Okay, and then - again I'm hoping my counting has not been in vain - if we then take a deep breath and begin the second part of our double novena on October 14, that means we'll begin on the feast of St. Callistus, pope and martyr, we will end on the feast of another Holy Father, the one we like to call Our Holy Father: Pope St. John Paul the Second!

There's also a double intention that goes with our novena. I've given it the old college try, and you who read here have surely been persevering in your prayers, but to be honest, I'm getting tired of praying for me! God has been answering our prayers with such kind mercy that I'd really like to share the abundance of His love and turn our attention to those children Mother Teresa mentioned at the outset.

Today is, in fact, the anniversary of the baptism of my second son. And when we get, in about 18 days (hence the double nine or a double novena) to the feast of St. JPII, that will be the day after the baptism of my FDIL (Future Daughter in Law!), and the day OF her First Holy Communion. 

In a striking turn of events which illustrated for all eternity God's sense of humor and fun, my second child (the one who was baptized 22 years ago today) was born twelve and a half years after my first child (the son who is happily offering us our FDIL). This meant that on this day, son #1 got to be the altar boy serving our Padre as he baptized son #2. What a fabulous trick God played on us, answering the prayers of So Many friends and relatives (and ultimately my mom and Aunt Joan's pilgrimage-to-Lisieux-request to St. Therese to give us another child) in such a perfectly timed but supremely unusual manner. . .

So. Some of you have kids. Some of you are kids! Some of you want kids. Some of you want help with the kids that our Heavenly Father has foisted on you! It's all grace, and these are all the stuff of special intentions, so let's do this together! Let's pray these back to back novenas for the children.

And since this is a double novena, I'll make it a double intention:

As well as praying for the children, let's pray for peace. Peace in our homes and hearts, peace in the hearts of all children, and peace in the world in which these children live.

First we'll have a Scripture quote and a couple of quotes from today's saints to edify and inspire us, then we'll suggest some possible prayers for the novenas (all optional to be used in the "liberty of spirit" recommended so convincingly in A Retreat for Lay People by our dear friend Monsignor Ronald Knox).

From the Blessed Trinity, as quoted by the prophet Isaiah:

"They shall not labor in vain, or bear children for calamity,
for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the Lord, and their children with them.
Before they call I will answer,
while they are yet speaking I will hear." (Isaiah 65:23-24)

From St. Faustina:

"The heat is so intense today that it is difficult to bear. We are all thirsting for rain and still it does not come. For several days the sky has been overcast, but there is no rain. When I looked at the plants, thirsting for the rain, I was moved with pity, and I decided to say the chaplet until the Lord would send us rain. Before supper, the sky covered over with clouds, and a heavy rain fell of the earth. I had been saying this prayer without interruption for three hours. And the Lord let me know that everything can be obtained by means of this prayer." (May 22, 1937; Divine Mercy in My Soul, Diary of St. Faustina)

From Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, C.Ss.R. (those letters mean Redemptorist, by the way, and that makes Blessed FX our dear brother because he is Marcel's brother in the order founded by our father St. Alphonsus Ligouri!):

"But often in the midst of this work I do something dumb and everything goes topsy-turvy. Nothing astonishes me more than the extent of the patience which the dear Lord displays in my regard. He even elevates me before the people and showers his benefits upon me . . ." (from a letter quoted in his biography, Cheerful Ascetic, as re-quoted in Magnificat, October 5, 2024)

*    *    *

How magnificent! How spectacular! How truly beyond our wildest dreams is this infinite love of God and its revelation in the words of Scripture and the saints!

First off, we have Isaiah reassuring us with God's own reassurance: 
Our dear Father, our brother, best friend, spouse of our souls and True Love Jesus, and the Holy Spirit Who is the love of the Father and the Son given to live in us - this Blessed and adorable Trinity says, 
"Before they call, I will answer."

Wow! If you are getting tired of novenas, no worries! God is answering them before we even begin! But just to remind ourselves that He has listened, we might give it a shot (praying each day) so that we don't forget - which I for one do instantly forget - WE ARE CHERISHED AND LOVED, and just as we want so many good things for our children (and insofar as we are children, which Jesus urges us to be in order to enter His Kingdom, we want so many good things for ourselves too), so Almighty God, our true Father, wants even more for our children and all children.

Then we get Faustina slipping in this business about the Divine Mercy Chaplet. Jesus told her it would obtain anything, and here she is proving Him, once again, right as rain! In case you are a little OCD (either compulsive, or Discalced Carmelite - either one works here), don't be afraid to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet just once and call it a day, or even abbreviate it to "Jesus, I trust in You!" because He doesn't mind the quick and simple prayers. I think that St. Faustina's three hours of uninterrupted chaplets serve to remind us to persevere in prayer, and that's what we're hoping to do in our double novena, but again, liberty of the spirit. St. Teresa of Jesus of Avila, our holy mother in Carmel (if not in compulsivity) so beautifully teaches, "Everyone must walk this path of prayer in freedom."

And what about Blessed Francis X. Seelos? Ah, how it makes my heart relax into a steady and safe beat when I hear the saints talk about how dumb they can be too! They weren't always perfect, and perhaps they were never perfect, and most importantly, they made mistakes just like we do! No need to be discouraged - this is another characteristic of childhood, and spiritual childhood fails in nothing when it captures this charming feature of the little ones we so strive to be before Our Lord. 

Here is St. Therese's take on the topic of mistakes from Her Last Conversations (or in this edition I'm quoting from, Novissima Verba):

Her sister writes: I spoke to her of my imperfections. She said to me:

"It happens to me often enough also to fail thus, but I am never astonished at it. I am not always able to put aside the nothings of earth as promptly as I could wish: for example, I am tempted to feel disquieted over some silly thing I had said or done. Then, I i enter into myself, and say: 'Alas, I am once more at the first step as before!' But this I say in great peace, without sadness. It is so sweet to feel oneself to be little and weak." (July 5, 1897)

If you wonder why, contrary to our common experience, our crazy sister Therese finds it so sweet to feel little and weak, I have a quick answer:

Because when we feel little and weak we can abandon ourselves, like the children we are, into the care of our Heavenly Father and our Mother Mary. We can't do it, they can, let's let them!

So here are my suggestions for (optional) prayers for our double novena:

1. Divine Mercy Chaplet - I've been falling down on this job lately, which isn't making me feel guilty, just eager to give it a shot. I think I might try this for the next 18 days, especially since our novenas will end on the day of Our Fearless Leader who gave us the Divine Mercy chaplet, feast, and image with full papal approval!

2. Or if I find myself at the end of the day (or even in the middle) with not a focused thought in my head and not a spark of energy to tackle a whole chaplet, maybe I'll try a decade, or even "Jesus I trust in You!" which phrase He loves to hear almost as much as "Jesus, I love You a lot!"

And since we're heading toward a special day of Our Lady on October 13 and then a special day of one of her specialist servants and sons, JPII after that on October 22, how about I give another double option - the favorite prayer to Our Lady for friends, and Our Holy Father's Marian mantra. And when I say "another double option" I mean these are ALL just options - and for us who tend to scrupulosity, in the spirit of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, his father founder and our loving guide St. Alphonsus, and Jesus Himself (all tenderness, gentleness, and indulgence), I mean to say we can choose just one of these options, and not feel guilty a single bit! Remember, we're nuts enough to keep multiplying novenas . . . no need to make them burdensome or painful! So - reversing the order and giving you the mantra first:

3. Totus Tuus!
 
or in our loose translation: 

4. I am all yours, Mother Mary, and all that I have is yours!

5. Blessed Mother of those whose names you can read in my heart, watch over them with every care. Make their way easy and their labors fruitful. Dry their tears if they weep; sanctify their joys; raise their courage if they weaken; restore their hope if they lose heart, their health if they be ill, truth if they err, and repentance if they fall. Amen. 

Happy feasting, and may the angels surround you and all the other children we're praying for!

Draw me, we will run!

HAPPY FEAST OF OUR LITTLE SISTER ST. THERESE!!!!!

If you're just joining us - or if you feel like you've been here forever - whether you're the worker who woke at dawn or the one who slept in til noon, welcome and happy feast!

We hold Jesus to His promises here, and today we're planning on a feast day celebration (an octave, or a triduum at least)  to reward us above anything we can ask . . .  but first we need to ask, according to the wishes of our dear brother, best friend, and the Spouse of our souls. I don't mean we have to ask what He wants us to ask, but simply that He wants us to ask, and the bigger the requests the better so our True Love can show off His love for us. Let's get to it, then, and finish our novena to St. Therese. We've been remembering all your intentions - even the ones you've forgotten! - so no worries, let's just pray. 

O Little Therese of the Child Jesus
Please pick for me a rose from the heavenly garden
and send it to me as a message of love.

O Little Flower of Jesus,
please ask God to grant the favors
I now place with confidence in your hands:
for Marcel to obtain a miracle for Suzie,
for us all to become great saints,
and for the countless other miracles we need
for ourselves, for those we love, and for the whole wide world.

St. Therese, help us to always believe as you did,
in God’s great love for us,
so that we may imitate your “Little Way” each day.
Amen.

And now for a word from our sponsor:

I feel my mission is about to begin; my mission of making others love God as I love Him: of giving them my Little Way. I shall send down a shower of roses. I want to spend my heaven in doing good on earth.  - St. Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, big sister of little Marcel Van

We have a lot of feasting to do, so I'm going to get down to business and offer a few roses from our sister Therese on this opening day of her festivities, and then send you on your little way. Tomorrow, October 2nd, is the feast of the guardian angels (thank you, dear friends!), and then the next day is Therese's feast again. My impression is that Holy Mother Church gave us two liturgical calendars (the old and new) so we could feast to our hearts' content. Cupcakes, anyone? Roses? Miracles?

On the miracle front:

This year has been a year of miracles for sure. I wish I could have a cup of tea with each of you and just listen to the litany of miracles you could recite for me, and if you weren't seeing them, I would love to laughingly point them out.

I can't wait till Heaven!

But then again, the point of the miracle we've been asking for lately is precisely to keep me from Heaven, or rather, in the words of St. Catherine of Siena which a dear friend now has as her motto under her signature (and so happily I get to read it frequently), since "All the way to Heaven is Heaven," we've been asking that I stay on this little way of Heaven with y'all, and that's precisely what's been happening.

I went to City of Hope! And guess what? It was really and truly, if not a city (since I went to the satellite office in South Pasadena), at least a medical building FILLED WITH HOPE!

I met the wonderful Dr. Paz (Dr. Peace, which makes me feel like I'm in a Trollope novel), and wow did he do his job well. He began with a friendly, "What can I do for you?" and before he ended with a kind and sincere, "Did I answer all your questions?" he ordered more tests and told me the words every blonde (and even those of us with recent highlights) wants to here: "There's a good chance you won't have to do chemo."

Hooray for Marcel and all the little miracles he and Therese procure to keep us from losing our minds and sometimes even from losing our hair!

I have been keeping up with a few of you in terms of the miracles we're asking on your behalf, and let me tell you, Heaven seems stingy (that's stinge-ee) lately, but I think we must be looking at it all wrong. I can't remember if I told the joke here recently, but I heard it in the Reagan movie and it sums up this life on earth. Our Holy Mother Teresa of Jesus of Avila said it this way after falling off the back of a cart (how they rode in the old days) and into the mud: "No wonder You have so few friends, if this is how you treat them!"

Reagan's words, the punchline of a joke, were from the mouth of a little boy whose father found him digging in a pile of manure on Christmas morning. When asked what he was doing, the boy replied, "I know there's a pony in here somewhere!" 

Sheesh, it's so true! When Mary and Joseph were the perfect parents of Jesus, what did the little imp do but make them search 3 days to find them in His Father's house?! And now when we're trying so hard to be what He wants us to be, or at least doing what He told us to and ASKING so we can RECEIVE, what does He do but hide, and sometimes it seems like He's hiding in a pile of manure, or at least dumping us in a mud puddle before He offers us a hand to lift us out.

Sorry for the vivid images that are so unfeastlike, but one of Therese's mysterious (to me) sayings, taken from her counsels to and reminiscences of her novices, goes like this:

"Do you know my Sundays and feastdays? They are the days when the good God tries me the most."

I don't know if she means that when God tries her the most, that's a feast day for her - and if that's what she meant I find it singularly unhelpful. Just for the record, I like a feast to be a feast and, I've said it before, I definitely like a kiss to be a kiss. Mother Teresa (and if you're young, that's St. Teresa of Calcutta to you, but some of us have photos with her, and we like to call her Mother, hahahaha).

As I was saying, Mother Teresa spread this terrible rumor that suffering is a kiss of Jesus. Can we just reframe that? I don't like to overquote Myth Busters, but let me just reject her reality here and substitute my own. A kiss is something delightful. A kiss is the symbol and reality used by God in Scripture (His love letters to us) and in life to express affection, sweetness, joy, and love. Let's not ruin that with this whole suffering business!

I do understand that suffering is inevitable. I've been in 12 step groups where some have said, "Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional." I disagree. It seems to me that pain and suffering both happen, just as it seems to me that God has made us for everlasting joy with Him in Heaven, and He's also intended for that Heaven to begin on earth. "All the way to Heaven is Heaven" comes from another Doctor of the Church, and since we can have Jesus with us - we do have Jesus with us - on earth, on the way to Heaven, so we have Him who is Heaven with us now, and so we have Heaven now.

And suffering? Well, darn if God didn't give us free will, and that does tend to get us into trouble. We - I use the royal we of the children of God - made a pretty silly decision in The Garden, and we're still paying for it. But the glorious Truth is that the Second Person of the Trinity became incarnate, He took on flesh, so that He could pay for us, and ever since then things have been much better. I like to look at it according to the sage advice God gave us through His consoling prophet, Isaiah:

Behold, I am doing something new! Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?—Isaiah 43:19
To get back to St. Therese, wonderfully enough Pope Pius XI who beatified and canonized her and called her the star of his pontificate (not just the rock star, but the guiding star) had a cute nickname for her. He called her "Omen Novum" and it's on a book she's holding in the huge statue of her that you pass as you walk (or drive) to the her Basilica in Lisieux. Shall we go see it together someday? My future daughter in law (talk about miracles of grace!) will be working at a wonderful Catholic pilgrimage company, and I bet we can set something up. Ah, Lisieux! Ah, Therese! Why are you an "Omen Novum"? What in the world did Pius mean?

It was in a speech the day after her canonization in the spring of 1925 that he coined the phrase, and he was saying she was a New Omen, a new sign of God's love for us, and a portent of His future gifts and graces. Having seen how many roses she had already sent - miracles, favors, and actual roses, thousands of which festooned St. Peter's for the canonization, and some of which had fallen at his feet after the homily - it wasn't a big prophecy for him to predict she'd keep sending them! But more than her miracles of healing, reconciliation, conversion, and so on, there is The Miracle of her Little Way. 

I never tire of repeating the story about her sister Celine who was chastised in the process of the Process. The Church officials interviewing and taking depositions from those who knew Therese were asking Celine why she thought Therese should be declared a saint. When Celine said it was so her Little Way of Spiritual Childhood could be shared with the whole world, they got exceedingly snippy and told her to STOP, cease, and desist such talk of a "new way" because that was exactly the kind of thing that sunk a cause. Celine, that "salad with vinegar" as Therese called her, snapped back, "Well then don't canonize her! If I can't talk about her Little Way, there's no point in talking about her at all!" My translation here is loose, but that was the gist of it.

Celine later said that the happiest day of her life - more so than Therese's beatification day or canonization day - was when Pope Benedict XV proclaimed Therese's heroic virtues and in his allocutio he offered her Little Way to the whole world!

I think she must have loved this "Omen Novum" bit too, then, because by this nickname Pope Pius XI again proposed her Little Way. In his speech he called her, "A new omen, a Word of God in our time." As our Heavenly Father reveals to us, "Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?" (Isaiah 43: 18-19) He even continues, "I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself, that they might declare my praise."

Sometimes I object to calling this life a valley of tears because when I was young I misunderstood and thought that meant I ought to resign myself to unhappiness.

Not so! Might I say that the cross is inevitable (by God's mysterious design), but unhappiness is optional? Yes, it is so often a wilderness or a desert where we find ourselves. Even a dark alley! But the good news is that God is there - He is here, with us - and He knows the way out of that dark alley, He knows where the path out of the wilderness is, He knows how to keep us on a straight track leading out of the desert instead of in circles . . . but even while we are in the desert, the wilderness, dark valley, He makes it a place of springs and delicious fruits. 

So, where was I?
Yep, dilly dallying and shilly shallying so as to avoid tallying up our miracles.
Miracle of complete healing from cancer for me?
Well, no, not yet, but I'm having so much fun that I feel a little guilty asking you to pray for me!
Or maybe I should put it this way:
Your prayers are so incredibly powerful that I can only see this as a time of blessings beyond imagining. Truly. 

As for the complete healings and miraculous restorations I've been praying for right back atcha, well, those are equally elusive and equally ongoing . . . Without going into details, I'll just say at last count I am praying for - hahaha, I don't have all day, and neither do you! I was going to count up how many miracles I'm praying for, and then I started and realized we'd never end!

Here it is, my miracle story for today. Well, let's make that two miracle stories:

1. We prayed for my dear and so dear father in law Paul for 0ver 60 years, that he would return to the sacraments and the Church. Let me clarify that the photo at the top is of me and taken in the last year, so I am (hopefully clearly) not over 60 quite yet (but golly, I'm getting close). But my mother in law prayed for Paul from the time she met him, I'm guessing, because they fell in love pretty instantly and she was a devout Catholic and he was fallen away. When their kids came along, they started praying because they knew and loved their parents first, and God a close second, and they wanted for their daddy what they had by the grace of God and the love of their mom. Then when friends, spouses, grandkids, etc., came along, we all prayed too. Who didn't love this man, and who didn't, by definition, want everything good for him - the chief of which was the grace of God and the beautiful sacramental life of the Church? And then (let's make it sound sudden, and it kind of was) on April 24, 2021, the Vigil of Good Shepherd Sunday, Paul Harold Andres said yes to Fr. Tom who had brought the sacraments to his sickbed. He received anointing and absolution, in the middle of which his beloved and so faithful, loving wife said aloud in her awe and joy, "WOW!" and at the end of which, as the priest was leaving, Paul said with his engaging smile and typical charm, "God bless you, Father!"

2. After seeing a good doctor and a bad doctor (God bless them both), I have found not only A FABULOUS DOCTOR but also a whole CITY of them. This is truly a miracle because if the bad doctor, we'll call him Dr. B, had exhibited just the tiniest bit more bedside manner and not sent me on my way with instructions to self-insert a port (okay, that's an exaggeration, but not by much!), we would now be in an infusion room for chemo I may not even need! Is this an indictment of the medical profession! NO WAY JOSE! (I'm not good at inserting accent marks in blog posts, so please read that as no way hoe-zay!)

As I've said before, I love doctors, nurses, hospitals, etc.
God just needed to remind me that, as Therese herself liked to say, "Everything is a grace."
This means that when she loved God her whole life without committing a mortal sin, that made her no better than Magdalene but simply covered with preventative grace, like the child whose father doesn't let go of her hand, and thus she is kept from running out into the street and getting hurt by oncoming traffic. 

So in my case, I have been showered with wonderful doctors in my life, starting with my dad and Uncle Mike, moving on to cousins, a brother, nephews, and that's not to mention all their friends and colleagues. And most of all, the great doctors who have not been relatives and only became friends after they treated me and those I love with the utmost kindness and compassion and professional expertise. And don't get me started on the nurses! What a profession and procession of angels!

It was good, then, for me to be reminded that no field is exempt from The Fall, and poor Dr. B gains my prayers but not my confidence.

Which brings us back to Therese!
"It is confidence and nothing but confidence that must lead us to Love!"
Let that be our byword, our watchword, our mantra!

Why is it nothing but confidence that must lead us to Love?
Because God is Love, and He loves us.
When an animal has been hurt, it hides away and licks its wounds. (Okay, this is good. Sometimes I bet there are animals that have been hurt and so they lash out and try to hurt back! Let's stay away from those ones, poor things!)
We have been hurt - sometimes we hurt ourselves - and our tendency is to hide away. You can see it in the beginning of the book of Genesis. It's a very old story, a very old history.

And yet what is God's attitude?
He is Love, and He loves us.
He comes looking for us, and like the Good Samaritan, He binds up our wounds.
Here we are, crouching in a corner or hiding under the covers, hoping to be left alone to cry or moan.

Therese is a new word of God for us, and that word is CONFIDENCE, that word is LOVE. 

Little Therese, we are so bad at confidence. Please give us yours. You don't need it anymore - you see Face to face what you believed on earth, what you taught and lived with so much hope. Give us your hope, give us your trust, give us your confidence in the good and merciful God who loves us without limit, who loves us exactly as we are right now. Wake up Marcel and little Jesus. They are asleep on Mary's lap, but they need to wake up and come quickly to our aid. You were a bossy little girl Therese, and when asked what you would choose, you chose all! Choose all for us and bring that basket of miracles near so we can feel them pouring over our heads and into our hearts and the hearts of all those we love, all who have asked for our prayers, all we have promised to pray for, and all who need our prayers. Thanks, sis!

Draw me, we will RUN!!!

BONUS ROSE FOR THE FEAST:

Last week I had the joy of speaking with Dr. Marcus Peters on the Catholic radio show "Ave Maria in the Afternoon." We talked about the similarities between Padre Pio and St. Therese and now there is a link to our 10 minute convo:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3mgvylWUJkk6GeypmEvz9O?si=vZuCpDLxQk-J7JZnrXN-PA

The highlights for me were the amazing pronunciation by the host of the name "Padre Pio" the first time he introduces the topic . . . and his first question to me: about whether my son Joseph was at Ave Maria . . . it turns out they were classmates in Theology Grad School!

It was fun to be on the radio, and fun that somehow my future daughter-in-law was the only one who could figure out how to hear it live as my husband drove me to a follow up appointment and I chatted away! May St. Therese, Padre Pio, and our guardian angels help us always to use this amazing modern technology to glorify God, Who is so very, very good to us!

Also I love that I couldn't hear the closing music warning me to wrap it up, and as a consequence I talked to the very last possible moment, which allowed me to end on Therese's invitation that we, too, ask Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament to remain in us as in a tabernacle.

If you haven't read it already, I highly recommend Something New with St. Therese: Her Eucharistic Miracle. Our friends at amazon will get it to you instantly on a kindle or computer or phone (and I think you must have one if you're reading this now!) if you click HERE, and they'll get it to you almost instantly in 3-D, that is, as a paperback book, if you click HERE. Thanks again to Mimi, our production designer and so much more, for creating the gorgeous cover, which boasts Therese as sacristan from a photo by Celine, but in this version in charcoal by Celine. This charcoal rendition was their oldest sister Marie of the Sacred Heart's favorite image of Therese, and she kept it in her cell until her own entry to Heaven decades after Therese had flown the coop. Enjoy!

“Jesus wants to make us holy at all costs . . . He offers you continual proof of this.” - St. Padre Pio

"Oh I beg you, become a Saint. God is begging this from you." - St. Therese, Last Conversations

​“I thank you very much for sending me yet more writings of our friend [Elizabeth of the Trinity] . . . If, after this valley of tears, I am to save my soul, I know she will have had a significant part in my success. Not all the learning in the world—not the inductions, the syllogisms, the mastering of arguments, the analyses, the syntheses, or the reading of great books will do any of us a bit of good unless we, in our own way, rise, if ever so little, toward the wisdom one finds bursting out from all her writings.” — Ronald P. McArthur, founding president, Thomas Aquinas College

*  *  *

Alleluia, sing to Jesus! Today is the feast of our dear spiritual father, Padre Pio, 56 years exactly (if I did the math right!) since his birthday into Heaven, and it happens also to be 22 years exactly since DJAEA (son #2, but the names have been shortened to initials to protect the innocent) had his birth into this life of exile. Not quite accidental since a planned c-section meant I got to choose the day, and the first feast of Padre Pio after he'd been canonized seemed a magnificent day to have a son.

We are finishing our novena to Padre Pio (Il Padre) and beginning our novena to St. Therese (La Petite Fleur; this is our chance to imitate those wonderful old books that bandy foreign words about like there's no tomorrow), and before I get lost in the wonders of Elizabeth and The Big Mac, the other two friends gracing our title above and our post below, why don't we say our prayers?

Concluding Prayer to The Padre

Dear Padre Pio, you promised to stand outside the gates of Heaven until all your spiritual children had entered. You know that we, like you and Jesus, want that group of spiritual children to include EVERYONE, so we ask you to bring all of us and all those we love, all those who have asked for our prayers, all those for whom we have promised to pray, and all those who need our prayers, under your fatherly care. Let us be your spiritual children despite our tendency to wander off, and with the help of your guardian angel and ours please bring us back always to your and Jesus' side until we can rest forever in our adorable Savior's sweet embrace. Please wake up Marcel (if he's sleeping) and ask him to wake Jesus (Who is almost always sleeping) and ask for the innumerable favors we need, including Suzie's instantaneous, complete, and lasting cure from cancer. Amen.

Novena to St Therese

O Little Therese of the Child Jesus
Please pick for me a rose from the heavenly garden
and send it to me as a message of love.

O Little Flower of Jesus,
please ask God to grant the favors
I now place with confidence in your hands: 
for Marcel to obtain a miracle for Suzie, 
for us all to become great saints,
and for the countless other miracles we need
for ourselves, for those we love, and for the whole wide world.

St. Therese, help us always to believe as you did,
in God’s great love for me,
so that we may imitate your “Little Way” each day.
Amen.

*   *   *

We are late to mention that yesterday was the 100th birthday of another spiritual father of ours, at least as dear to us as our beloved Padre Pio . . . And who is this mystery man?

He was called throughout his life by various names:
Ronnie, Ronald, Ron (no, I'm not talking about Reagan, God rest his soul, though I did love the recent movie with Dennis Quaid) . . .

More specifically, he was also "RPM," and eventually, to give it away completely, he was called Dr. McArthur, or formally, officially, and in print, Dr. Ronald P. McArthur.

Our favorite of his many names, though, is "The Big Mac," and believe it or not, despite my love of McDonald's fast food, it never occurred to me until now that this nickname may have been a play on words.

However the moniker started, it sure fit because RPM was a very tall man (I think 6 foot 6 inches was his wingspan in his prime), and yet there was something extremely down to earth about him (I think of "Mac" as a wonderfully working class kind of name) even if he was, according to his amazing wife Marilyn, never destined to be a carpenter as I think she said his father was.

Once I asked Mrs. McArthur how she felt when her husband said he wanted to start a college. I figured she must have had her hesitations, like the early Thomas Aquinas College benefactor who said, when approached in his office on a high floor of a sparkling Los Angeles skyscraper by two of the would-be-college-starters (later revered as founders), "You have about as much chance of starting a college as you do of jumping out of that window and flying!"

God bless hilarious and skeptical rich men! As the college's website states in its Brief History of the school, "From the very beginning, the College would rely on the generosity of many friends and benefactors. Among the first were oil magnate and philanthropist Henry Salvatori, whose initial $10,000 grant funded the College's incorporation on October 14, 1968." 

Right after Mr. Salvatori told Dr. McArthur and Mr. DeLuca (the last founder standing today) what he thought of their chances, he pulled his checkbook out of a drawer and began writing, saying as he wrote, "But everyone deserves a chance to fail." God rest his soul! Henry, don't forget us now either. You might well be looking down on us from above and saying we have about as much chance of getting to Heaven as we have of flying, but you're in a good place to know that all things are possible with God!

But what was Mrs. McArthur's reply, the persevering reader may wonder. Let me set the stage by saying Mrs. McArthur always struck me as even more no-nonsense than Mr. Salvatori apparently was. She is also an extremely direct person, and I say "is" because while she passed away nearly two years ago, I'm convinced we don't lose our personalities in Heaven, so I'm betting she's still very direct. In fact, right now I can hear her (in my imagination) telling me not to go around telling you that she's already in Heaven. Pray for her soul, I'm supposed to tell you.

Well, sure, we do always want to keep praying for those who have gone before us. Our dear Therese, whose novena we have just begun, loved to offer suffrages for the departed, and she prayed to the end of her life for her "firstborn," the notorious murderer Pranzini who had converted on the scaffold as a result of her prayers and sacrifices. She called him "very naughty" and wanted to help him for as long as he needed help.

And yet this same doctor of the Church, St. Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, also liked to say, "For those who love, there is no purgatory."

By this she meant that the love of Jesus - ours for Him but especially His for us - is more purifying than all the flames of purgatory, and by one simple glance He can cleanse us in an instant of all our sins, their effects, and their punishments, making us just as instantly saints ready for direct entry into Heaven and our place before the Face of God.

I also like to remind myself and others that Holy Mother Church, in offering us many opportunities to gain plenary indulgences (which similarly wipe away all our sins and their effects and punishments) extends to us the sweet privilege of offering these indulgences back to Her to apply to the souls in purgatory. Just using our common sense we can say it would be an unkind mother indeed who held out a treasure like this only to snatch it away each time we tried, by hook and by crook, to take it from her in order to help our friends! 

No, we can rest assured our Mother, the Church, is a kind Mother, the best Mother, and she has made this plenary indulgence gig very possible. When she says that just by doing the Stations of the Cross in a church, or by reading Scripture for half an hour, or by saying a Rosary in a family or in a church, or by praying before the Blessed Sacrament for half an hour - just by these simple acts plus "the usual conditions" (receiving Holy Communion, prayers for the Holy Father's intentions, and going to confession within 20 days before or after, and being detached from sin - which means asking God to detach us right then if we're not already) we can obtain a plenary indulgence for the dead EVERY SINGLE DAY, I gotta think this means we can actually obtain a plenary indulgence for those we love.

Hilariously (and yes, I do find almost everything funny these days, which I attribute to a magnificent influx of grace due to your prayers, so thank you!), lately I've been doing the Stations after daily Mass so I can grab that brass ring for a poor soul each day, and I pray like Fr. Aloysius Ellacuria did that my angel will hide me as I move through the church. It's a requirement for gaining this plenary indulgence that, if possible, you walk and visit each Station as you pray, but in case anyone does see me, I'm wondering if they're thinking it's very edifying that this dying woman is always saying the Stations!

Truth be told I'm no more dying than we all are (this life is terminal, they say, and I'm sure hoping they're right!), and my love for the Stations is based on the quick manner in which they get me that daily plenary indulgence! You don't have to say any exact formula of words as you move from one Station to the next, and although I love our Stations of the Cross with Our Sister St. Therese, I prefer to just look at Jesus in the image on the wall, say the title of the Station, make the sign of the cross, and think whatever comes to mind (that has some relation to the Station!), then move along. I insert little prayers like "We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee, because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world," and some in my own words, like, "Jesus, some people are really suffering today, please help them," but all in all, it's so quick and easy!

But there. Forgive me, I've still not told you what Mrs. McArthur said.
I asked her what she thought when Dr. McArthur decided he wanted to start a college.

She said, "I thought it was a great idea." 

I was stunned. I thought she, of all people, would be thinking of the practical side of the situation.

And she was, as it turned out.

He was a Catholic college professor in the 1960's, and he was thinking of abandoning his profession due to the failure of Catholic colleges to stay Catholic. Naturally, he'd need to find another profession, and he suggested to Marilyn that he might become a carpenter. She said he was terrible at carpentry! So when he suggested he might start a college, an endeavor we've gratefully seen occur many times over in recent decades but which was unheard of in the late 1960's, she thought, "Now there's something he could actually do!"

And so he, along with Marcus Berquist, Jack Neumayr, and Peter DeLuca, not to mention many, many other hardworking and hard praying men and women, lay, priests, and religious, and those generous benefactors we can never cease thanking (or begging from), did start a college!

With tears in my eyes I think of how this college changed my life and taught me first and foremost what riches God has given us in the Catholic faith, and second, how much fun you can have following the ten commandments.

I went seamlessly from high school days that were far from carefree (when you are allowed to do almost anything, life becomes very unhappy), where my friends and I could only think of the mall or the movie theatre for entertainment (if we weren't up to things I wouldn't want to repeat here!) to an immersion experience like no other. I was suddenly up to my neck in Catholic friends who had so many great ideas about what to do when we weren't reading great books that it's impossible to remember and name them all. Grunyon running anyone? Hiking? Singing? Making home movies more hilarious than SNL skits back in the day? Going on calls for Legion of Mary in Jon Syren's truck? Baking, dancing, eating, confessing (ah, the joys of a clear conscience, at least for the first thirty seconds or so, as our dear Fr. Steck liked to quip), laughing, teasing, joking, and sometimes taking naps to make up for the late nights eating popcorn in the dorm  . . . I can't say those were the best days of my life, because the days keep getting better, but I can say they were the beginning of the best days.

When I think of all we've been given, it's hard to ask for more. Ha, at least for thirty seconds! and then I remember all the needs of those I love . . . and so I thank God for His many good gifts, chief among which are the saints I have known, and then I shamelessly ask away!

If you want to read more about Dr. McArthur and St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, you can go HERE to my article on "Books and Friendship with the Saints."

If you want to read my latest article on Padre Pio and St. Therese (that came out today on Catholic Exchange!) you can go HERE.

And if you want to read some super fabulous sayings from Padre Pio, just scroll down in this post. But in order not to keep you if you've got to go get ready for a CT scan (oh! That's me! My two CTs were authorized - thanks to your prayers! - and will hopefully happen today) or a birthday party (me again for that mysterious DJAEA, whose link and mystery identity you can find HERE - and then you can have a birthday party in his honor too, or for Padre Pio's birthday into Heaven or for The Big Mac's big day yesterday), I will close now with our two simplest and favoritest prayers.

Let these be your novena prayers to Therese if you find the one above too long, She's always about little, and the beauty of her novena is that you can miss a day or two and call it a little novena! Over here at MMM we'll do our best to say nine days worth, and your intentions are definitely included.

Little Flower in this hour show your power!
Draw me, we will run!

Words of Padre Pio, taken from padrepiodevotions.org and their Words of Faith page:

Be of good cheer; abandon yourselves to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and let Him take care of everything.

You think you know my love for you but you don’t know that it is much greater than you can imagine. I follow you with my prayers, with my suffering and with my tears.

Oh my daughter, how beautiful is His face, how sweet His eyes and what a good thing it is to stay close to Him on the mount of His glory. We must place all our desires and affections there.

Place all your trust in the heart of sweet Jesus……Never abandon your faith and renew it always. Faith has never abandoned any man, and far less so will it forsake a soul that yearns to love God.

Every Christian soul ought to be familiar with this saying of the holy apostle St. Paul, “For me to live is Christ” (Philippians 1:2). I live for Jesus Christ, I live for His glory, I live to serve Him, I live to love Him. And when God wants to take our life from us, our sentiment and our feeling should be those of a person who at the end of his toil goes to collect his wages, who, at the end of the fight, goes to receive the prize.


By justice, Jesus Christ once risen should have ascended at once to the glory of the right hand of the Father. . .And yet we know very well that for 40 days He wanted to be seen as risen. And why? To affirm, as St. Leo says, by such an excellent mystery, the good news of our faith. . .These 40 days before our ascent to Heaven will pass for us too. Perhaps they will not be days, but months and years. I wish you, my brothers and sisters, a long and prosperous life full of heavenly and material blessings. But finally this life will come to an end. And then we will be happy, if we have assured for ourselves the joy of a happy transit to eternity. Then our resurrection will be complete. There will be no more danger of losing the grace of God. There will no longer be any suffering, no more death, but instead everlasting life with our Savior Jesus Christ in Heaven. May our Lord bless these wishes of mine which I am happy to have demonstrated to show how much I have your happiness at heart, how much I worry and unceasingly pray for it.

​*   *   *

Padre Pio, be a padre to us!

And if you didn't already come here from there, this link will lead you to a lovely Happy Birthday to Dr. McArthur!

Today is the feast of the Korean martyrs. In less than one hundred years, ten thousand Koreans were martyred for their Catholic faith until Christianity was declared legal in the 1880s.

In 1984, Our Holy Father Pope Saint John Paul II canonized St. Andrew Kim Taegon, the first Korean priest, St. Paul Chong Hasang, the lay apostle who went as a political interpreter to China and from there wrote to ask Pope Gregory XVI for an apostolic vicariate and apostolic vicar for Korea (which the pope granted and sent in 1825), and 101 more Korean martyrs. 

The stories of each of these martyrs is fascinating, edifying, and insanely awesome. St. Paul (the original) called this insane awesomeness "the foolishness of Christ." But what we here at Miss Marcel's Musings find particularly charming, and even adorable, is the way that Jesus came to the Koreans. It was not through the direct ministration of missionary priests or lay catechists. It was through books. And later, when baptism made complete Catholics out of the interested bookworms,  it was by writing that their plight was made known and help was sought, and finally it was by writing that the amazing St. Paul Chong presented his case to the judge who tried and sentenced him for his faith.

Please join us in praising and thanking our dear Savior, Jesus, the Word made flesh, for reading and writing and especially for the gift of Truth which is Himself. And may He be forever blessed in His angels and in His saints!

Here is the story of the Korean martyrs as told by the Vatican News Service:

AN UNLIKELY BEGINNING
When, around the year 1777, a small group of Korean scholars began to study Christian writings brought into their country from China, something happened that is difficult to explain as anything other than a work of God. A spark was ignited. Pondering the words, some were “cut to the heart,” like the crowds listening to the apostles in Jerusalem (cf. Acts 2:37). In 1784, one of them traveled to China, found a priest, and asked for baptism. When he returned to his country, the spark became a fire. Person to person, friend to friend, this new faith spread.

A Chinese priest was finally able to visit Korea in 1794. There, he found 4,000 believers! In fifty years, this community, poor in the sacraments but rich in faith, grew to 10,000. Korean authorities were not pleased by this “foreign” religion. The authorities’ cruelty was great, but the faith of these new believers was greater, for in them was a fire, a love and a life that did not have its source in man.

THE PRIEST
Taegon Kim, baptized Andrew at age 15, had that faith in him. It carried him 1,200 miles to Macau to study for the priesthood. The French missionary bishop who ordained him was filled with joy to see the zeal of this young Christian. After ordination in Shanghai, the first native Korean priest returned home.

To be a Christian in Korea was not for the fainthearted. Most of the men in Andrew’s family had been martyred. Christianity was outlawed. But Fr. Andrew, exhorting his fellow believers, articulated what many of them already knew in their hearts: “We have received baptism… and the honor of being called Christians. Yet what good will this do us if we are Christians in name only and not in fact?” To be Christian in fact in Korea meant to be ready at any moment to witness to Christ with one’s life.

Andrew did so in 1846. At age 25, this young priest was tortured and beheaded. Before he died, he exhorted his executioners: “If I have held communication with foreigners, it has been for my religion and my God. It is for Him that I die. My immortal life is on the point of beginning. Become Christians if you wish to be happy after death!”

THE LAY APOSTLE
The nephew of one of the most noteworthy Korean philosophers of his day, Hasang Chong, baptized Paul, knew even at age seven what honor he bore in being called Christian. In that year, his older brother and father died martyrs. Paul became a government interpreter, which allowed him to travel to China. In Beijing, he became a spokesman for his fellow Christians, even writing to the Pope to ask for an apostolic vicariate be established in Korea for the care of the faithful. In 1825, Pope Gregory XVI did as Paul requested.

There were too many martyrs in his family for Paul not to be aware that this fate likely lay in store for him, too. When he was finally tried in 1839, he handed a written defense of the faith to his judge. The judge was impressed: “You are right in what you have written, but the king has forbidden this religion, and it is your duty to renounce it.” Paul’s answer? “I have told you that I am a Christian. I will be one until my death.”

“THE HONOR OF BEING CALLED CHRISTIANS”
The martyrs numbered 10,000 in less than a hundred years. Most were laypeople. Some were catechists, others noblemen, still others housewives. One boy, Peter, whose flesh was so torn he could throw pieces of it at his torturers, was thirteen. A woman, Columba, was asked before she was tortured why she and her sisters did not marry. She answered, “In order to cherish our body and heart in all purity, to serve and worship God….” They knew the honor of bearing the name of Christian.

There was a fire in the hearts of these courageous believers. It was passed on person to person, heart to heart, and it continues burning: South Korea boasts the fastest growing Catholic population in the world. In 1984, Pope John Paul II canonized Fr. Andrew Kim, Paul Chong, and 101 of their companion martyrs.

* * *

Here is more on St. Paul Chong, and the stories of some of the other canonized Korean martyrs as presented by catholicculture.org. My guess is that this was translated from the Korean, and I am so grateful for those who passed these histories down to us. I will leave the translation untouched, and we ask God to bless the writer many times over for taking the time and trouble to record the lives of the saints.

Saint Paul Chong Hasang
St. Paul Chong Hasang (1795-1839) was one of the lay leaders who have participated in the establishment of the early Korean Catholic Church. He was also the second son of Chung, Yak Jong, a martyr who was killed during the Shin-Yu Persecution (1801). During this persecution, the Korea’s only priest, Chu, Moon Mo and many prominent leaders of the early Korean Catholic Church were martyred. After these incidents, it seemed impossible to reconstruct the devastated Korean Catholic community. It was St. Paul Chong Hasang who gathered the scattered Korean Catholic members and ignited their hearts with the raging flames of faith. Furthermore, he reorganized the structures and activities of the Korean Catholic church and initiated a movement for the Beijing Bishop to send priests to Korea.

To accomplish this mission, from 1816, he has crossed the China borders nine times, overcoming many dangers and fiercely cold weathers, totaling 2000 Km of round trips. He entered the China territory as a lowly servant to the Korean diplomatic members who have made their annual tributary missions to China to exchange gifts with the Chinese Emperor. By using these opportunities in Beijing, St. Paul Chong requested many times that the Beijing Bishop send priests to Korea. As many of his attempts failed, he directly pleaded the case to Pope Gregory XVI. Finally, on September 9th, 1831, the Pope proclaimed the legitimacy of the Korean Catholic Diocese to the World.

The followings are St. Paul Chong Hasang’s main achievements:

First, he was the leader of the early Korean Catholic Church during the persecution period, during which he provided the essential momentum to establish the Korean Catholic Diocese with progressive and worldly vision.

Second, he contributed greatly to the development of the Korean Catholic Church by dedicating his life to accommodating and assisting the priests who were sent to Korea after the establishment of the Korean Catholic Archdiocese.

Third, he was one of the seminary students of Bishop Imbert to become a priest. However, during the Gi Hye Persecution in 1839, the bishop and St. Paul Chong Hasang were martyred, unfortunately he was unable to actualize his dream of becoming a priest.

Fourth, he wrote a document declaring the position of the Korean Catholic Church that the Catholic faith is good for the nation but not a threat, the Sang-Je-Sang-Su. In this document, he firmly pleaded to the persecutors to stop persecuting Catholic members. The document, Sang-Je-Sang-Su, is a short writing of only two thousands words but, it is a well written Catholic doctrine explaining why the Korean government should not persecute Catholics.

Fifth, his martyrdom became the testimony of his faith toward Christ and through his eternal glory, he became the pinnacle of the Korean Catholic faith.

St. Paul Chong Hasang was martyred at the age of forty-five on September 22, 1839 during the Gi Hye Persecution. Two months later, his mother, Yu Cecilia, passed away during the imprisonment and the following month, his younger sister, Jung Hye was also martyred. The three martyrs were beatified on June 6th, 1925 and were canonized, declared as saints, on May 6, 1984 by Pope John Paul II.

The lives of a few more of these martyrs, from the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea.

Saint Kim Ob-I Magdalene (1774-1839)
Saint Kim A-gi Agatha (1787-1839)
Saint Han A-gi Barbara (1792-1839)

Kim Ob-I Magdalene and Han A-gi Barbara were arrested together in September 1836. It is not certain whether Kim A-gi Agatha was captured with them or at her own home. In any event, the three of them were taken into custody on the same day.

In prison they found themselves in the company of several other Catholics. They were Nam Myong-hyok Damian, accused of hiding the bishop's vestments, Kwon Tug-in Peter, accused of making and selling crucifixes and holy pictures, Pak A-gi Anna, who remained in prison despite the apostasy of her husband and children and Yi Ho-yong, Peter's sister Yi Agatha.

The first to be questioned was Pak A-gi Anna. In spite of the torture she remained unbowed.

"So what if my husband and son have apostatized! I choose to keep my faith and die for it," she lightly answered the police. Next was Han A-gi Barbara. No less brave than Pak A-gi Anna, her body was a bloody mess when they had finished with her. While Han A-gi Barbara was undergoing torture, Kim Ob-I Magnalene have witnessed her faith by explaining Catholic doctrine to the police commissioner.

Next Kim Agatha was called.
"It is true you believe in the Catholic Church?"
"I don't know anything but Jesus and Mary."
"If you could save your life by rejecting Jesus and Mary, wouldn't you reject them?"
"I would rather die than reject them."

And in spite of the tortures Agatha could not be persuaded to change her mind. Seeing this the police commissioner had them moved to prison. When the other Catholic prisoners saw Kim A-gi Agatha arriving they cheerfully greeted her.

"Here comes Agatha who doesn't know anything but Jesus and Mary," they said, congratulating her on her bravery.

Because of her inability to learn the doctrine and prayers Kim A-gi Agatha had not yet been baptized. She was the first to be baptized in prison during the persecution.

Baptism gave her new strength and with it she went on to overcome terrible torture and punishment.

After all the investigations and trials, death sentences were handed down on Nam Myong-hyok Damian, Kwon Tug-in Peter and Pak A-gi Anna on May 11, 1839. The next day Yi Kwang-hon Augustine and Pak H.I.-sun Lucy were also sentenced to death.

It took three more days of discussion before Kim Ob-I Magdalene, Han A-gi Barbara and Kim A-gi Agatha were given the sentence for believing in Catholicism and refusing to give up that belief.

Finally May 24, 1839, arrived. The events of that day are described by Cho Shin-ch'ol Charles as follows:

"On the appointed day ox carts, with crosses taller than the average person erected on them, were brought to the jail. When all was ready guards brought the condemned prisoners out and tied them to the crosses by the arms and hair. A foot rest was put under their feet and the signal given to depart.

When they arrived at the steep hill on which the Small West Gate is situated the guards suddenly pulled away the foot rests and the drivers urged the oxen to run headlong down. The road is rough, with many stones. The carts lurched, causing extreme agony to the prisoners who were hung on the crosses by their arms and hair. The execution ground is a the foot of the hill. The guards took the prisoners from the crosses and tore off their clothes. The executioners tied their hair to the wooden beam and proceeded to cut off their heads."

The nine martyrs received their crown at three o'clock in the afternoon, the same time as Jesus breathed his last on the cross several tens of centuries before. In accordance with the law the bodies were left at the execution site for three days.

In the court record of the time it is written:
"On April 12, Yi Kwang-hon Augustine, Kwon Tug-in Peter and others, in all nine criminals, were executed for following the false religion."

Bishop Imbert wrote as follow:
"With difficulty we reclaimed the bodies at dawn on April 27. We buried the bodies of the martyrs at a place I had prepared earlier. I would have liked to have dressed the bodies in fine clothes and anointed them with expensive perfume, in the European manner. However, we are poor and to dress the bodies in this way would have been a burden on the Catholics, so we just wrapped them in straw matting. Now we have many protectors in heaven. When the day of religious freedom comes to Korea, as I know it will, these bodies will be a precious heritage."

Saint Kim Ob-I Magdalene, Saint Kim A-gi Agatha and Saint Han A-gi Barbara were beatified on July 5, 1925 and together they were canonized on May 6, 1984 at Yoido, Seoul, by Pope John Paul II.

Saint You Chin-gil Augustine (1791-1839)
St. Yu Chin-gil Augustine came from a family of government officials. Among the Korean martyrs, he was one of three who held government posts and the father of the 13-year-old martyr, St. Yu Tae-ch'ol Peter, the youngest of the 103 Korean Martyr Saints.

He was known as a man of deep contemplation. Curious about the origin and meaning of natural phenomena, especially philosophical and religious truths on the origin of man he spent much of the night examining the texts of Neo-Confucianism looking for answers. However, the more he studied the classics the more dissatisfied he became with the Tae-geuk-eum-yang (traditional Korean explanation of reality). His search led him on to investigate the teachings of Taoism and Buddhism. What is the origin of the universe? Is it the Li (basic principle) that Neo-Confucianists talked about or is it the Kong (emptiness) of Buddhism or the Mu (nothingness) of Taoism?

In his youth he heard of the Catholics who had been arrested and killed. He began to wonder if the books they had studied could be of any help to him. One day he came upon an old chest hidden away in a corner of the house. Inside it was lined with sheets of paper on which words like "spirit of life", "spirit of understanding"” and "soul" were written. Such terms had not appeared in any of the books he had read. On tearing off the sheets and putting them together he found the parts of the book called the Cheon-ju-sil-ui (True Meaning of the Lord of Heaven).

The first Catholic writings had been brought into Korea by envoys or interpreters who had gone on official business to Beijing. Since Yu Chin-gil's family members had visited China as interpreters they were among those who brought back such books. However, during the persecution of 1801, when people were ordered to destroy all books on Western Learning, Yu's family used the book to repair a tattered storage chest.

Yu Chin-gil went over the torn pages a number of times. They touched on the questions that had bothered him. But the few torn pages were not enough to satisfy him. So in the hope of finding a complete copy he began to inquire as to where he could meet Catholics. One day he met Yi Kyong-on Paul who was the younger brother of Yi Kyong-do Charles and Yi Soon-I Lutgardis who had been martyred in 1801. They had a long conversation and found that they were of the same mind. Yu borrowed True Meaning of the Lord of Heaven and other books on Western Learning. He discovered the one who created and supervised the world. It was not the basic principle that Neo-Confucianists talked about nor was it the Kong of Buddhism or the Mu of Taosim. It is the Lord who resides in Heaven. Humans have not only bodies but also souls, so when people die their bodies are disintegrated but their souls are immortal and subject to the final judgement of God.

He got down on his knees and marveled.
"The true nature of humans is not to grow and get fat but to burnish their soul till it becomes bright and beautiful. This indeed is the correct truth." He felt as if the eyes of his soul opened and he began to see the sun shining through dark clouds.

He went back to Yi Paul from whom he learnt Our Father and Hail Mary as well as the Ten Commandments. Soon he was ready to enter the Church. Through a meeting of Western and Eastern thought, Yu Chin-gil solved the question that had troubled him most. He was introduced to Chung Ha-sang Paul and other Catholics.

At that time, following the persecution of 1801 when Father Chu Mun-mo, Chinese priest sent from Beijing, was martyred, there was not a priest in Korea. The Catholics who had survived were struggling to re-establish the Church and to have another priest sent in from China. Even though he had not yet received baptism, on the instructions of Chung Ha-sang Paul, he recited morning prayer and evening prayer each day and faithfully followed the Ten Commandments.

In October of 1824 the winter diplomatic delegation was preparing to go to China. Yu Chin-gil did not want to miss this opportunity, so he made every efforts to be included as an interpreter and to have the noble-born Chung Ha-sang Paul to accompany him disguised as a servant.

The delegation safely arrived in Beijing. Avoiding their companions, the two Catholics slipped off to meet the Bishop of Beijing. In Chinese, Yu asked him for baptism. The Bishop was delighted to receive visitors from so far away but felt he should question Yu Chin-gil to find out how much he knew about the teachings of the Church. Yu Chin-gil replied with the answers exactly as they were in the catechism. Why are humans born into the world? To know and honor God and to save their souls...” The Bishop was amazed that such zealous and well-instructed believer could come out of a Church that was being persecuted and had no clergy. "This is indeed a miracle of God,"” he exclaimed.

Yu Chin-gil was baptized during a special Mass. When the priest recited, "Receive and eat this. It is my body which will be offered up for you,"” he felt as if the blood of Jesus was flowing through his own veins.

He returned to his lodgings but was unable to sleep. He felt as though his heart was shining brightly in the dark room. He was moved by a deep religious experience. He knelt down and prayed.

"God, I thank you for the wonderful way in which You have led me to baptism. Send priests to our land so that the people there who live in darkness might have the joy of receiving the Eucharist. May this foolish servant, no matter what suffering or persecution is to come, give witness to You by offering my life in Lord's work of opening the eyes of our nation. Give me the deep faith, strength and courage that I need. Amen."

The Korean envoys learned from the priests in Beijing about practical sciences and Western inventions. In their discussions with the Western priests they became familiar with many aspects of Western learning. They were particularly surprised to learn that China was not the center of the world nor the most enlightened nation in the world. They were surprised to hear that humans were not created as nobles or commoners, but humans were all equal before God and all brothers and sisters in Christ, the Son of God. With words like equality, universal love and freedom ringing in his ears, Yu Chin-gil Augustine felt as if the teachings of the Chinese sages had come crashing down around him. It was as if he had heard the roar of thunder and seen Jesus rise from Golgotha. It was a sign of faith and a discovery of God. Even before he had set out for Beijing he had a faith that did not fear death, but after meeting the Western priests his understanding had deepened and his eyes had grown brighter.

Korean Catholics, because of their faith, were to lead a profound change in the consciousness of the Korean people. In a nation which did not know such a God, they were to sow seeds which would alter lives. This was due to their own love of truth and the providence of God. Yu Chin-gil, Augustine and Chong Ha-sang Paul asked the priests to see the bishop who welcomed them and asked about the need of the Church in Korea. Yu Chin-gil Augustine told him of the difficulties they had to overcome in order to meet the bishop. Their Church was in a pitiful state. For almost 20 years it was without a priest. Yu Chin-gil Augustine was fortunate in being able to come to China and receive baptism, but there were many catechumens in Korea who were unable to receive baptism and many Catholics who could not receive Confirmation, Confession, the Eucharist or the other sacraments. The bishop was moved by what they said. He replied regretfully that, because of the persecutions in China, priests could not go into that country freely either and so he had no one to send to Korea. However, if they wrote directly to the Pope explaining the situation the bishop would do all he could to support their request. Yu Chin-gil Augustine and Chong Ha-sang Paul took courage from the bishop's promise to help them. They returned to their lodging and composed the following letter requesting priests. Knowing that if this letter was discovered by the Korean authorities it would lead to another persecution, they signed it with the name "Ambrose".

Holy Father, With troubled heart we greet Your Holiness and seek your help. Since Fr. Zhou Mun-mo was martyred, the spread of the Gospel has been blocked by persecutions. About one thousand believers remain in hiding and can do little by way of witness or evangelization.

No matter how much truth the teaching of the Korean Church contains, if the Church continues in its present form that truth will be wasted. Because our brains are dull the teachings of the Church do not bear fruit and the grace of God is being blocked. Those dying from old age or sickness cannot receive the Last Rites and go to their graves in sorrow. Those they leave behind endure in grief and are tired of life. Sorrow and pain are gradually eating into our hearts. Therefore, despite the dangers involved, we have on a number of occasions asked the Bishop of Beijing to help us. The bishop sympathizes with us in our concern and would like to send priests to give new life to souls that have fallen into sin, but he has no one available.

Having explained the situation in Korea in this way, they suggested that there might be missionaries in Macao who could come to their assistance. They went on to state the way that the priests should come, if they came by boat, how many sailors they would need, what dangers to avoid, the best places to land and how to handle any officials they might encounter.

When they had finished the letter to the Pope they gave it to the bishop. The bishop, in turn, sent it to the representative of the Congregation for Evangelization in Macao, Fr. Umpierres, who translated it into Latin and sent it on to the Pope on December 3, 1826. On their return to Korea, Yu Chin-gil Augustine and Chong Ha-sang Paul gave a full report to Nam Myong-hyok and the other leaders. News of the letter they had sent to the Pope gave new hope and courage to the fragile Church. When Yu Chin-gil Augustine returned home good news awaited him. He now had a son whom he named Tae-ch'ol Peter.

Due to appeals by You Chin-gil Augustine and his companions, Pope Gregory XVI, on September 9, 1831, established Korea as a Vicariate Apostolate separate from Beijing and appointed Bartholomew Bruguiere of the Paris Foreign Mission Society as its first bishop. This initiative was due to the letter of 1826 which so moved the Pope.

Bishop Bruguiere, who had been working in Bangkok, Thailand, received news of his appointment as first bishop of Korea sometime after July 25, 1832. Unfortunately, in his efforts to enter Korea, Bishop Bruguiere fell ill in Yodong while traveling towards Korea and died on October 20, 1835. This news soon reached Korea. You Chin-gil Augustine and his companions were much saddened, but determined to keep up their efforts to help other priests to enter the country. Meantime, You Chin-gil Augustine acted like a priest and converted many prominent people and scholars. However he couldn't convert his own wife and daughters although his son followed him in faith. His 13-year old first son, You Tae-ch'ol Peter, became the youngest of the 103 Martyr Saints of Korea.

You Chin-gil Augustine was arrested at home in July of 1839. Many of his relatives begged him to renounce his religion, but he refused to do so. They reminded him of what would happen to his family, position and property, but You Chin-gil Augustine told them that it was more important to save souls than to take care of bodies, although he was sorry to cause trouble for them. The police chief interrogated. "As a government official, how can you adhere to a religion prohibited by the government? Reveal where the Catholics and the books are hidden.” You Chin-gil Augustine did not reveal anything, and so he was severely tortured on five occasions, and his flesh was torn apart.

The police chief asked You Chin-gil Augustine about Bishop Imbert and two other missionaries. Augustine told him that they came to Korea to teach Korean people about God and to help them save their souls. He said that the missionaries didn't seek their own glory, wealth and pleasure. The police chief questioned who brought them to Korea. You Chin-gil Augustine said that he did. The police chief then brought in Bishop Imbert and questioned them together. The bishop told You Chin-gil Augustine that the government already knew that Fathers Maubant and Chastan were in Korea.

However, You Chin-gil Augustine refused to reveal the names of the Church leaders in Korea. His legs were twisted and tied with ropes, and were bleeding profusely.

Police interrogation continued. "This is not the sort of crime a stupid and low class person like you could do on your own. Who among the Catholics masterminded this? Since you have abandoned the beautiful customs and ritual of your country and accepted the treacherous ways of the foreigner, even if you were put to death ten thousand times, would the punishment not be too light? This is a solemn interrogation. So answer carefully without any deceit." They stressed that since Catholic teaching was false, treacherous and anti-social, those who brought foreign priests into the country had committed treason.

However, You Chin-gil Augustine answered them calmly. "I have already told the investigating officers all that I did. Ten years ago I joined Chong Ha-sang Paul and his group in studying about the Catholic Church. When I reflected on what I learned, I realized that there are various sacraments and procedures in the Church which can be performed only by a priest. Since God is the supreme Lord of heaven and earth, we have to believe in Him and praise Him. The only crime I committed is to deceive the king since this teaching is prohibited in our country. I have already spent three months in jail. Among the Catholics I know, some have suffered the death penalty, some are held in prison and the rest have been scattered like the wind. Since I was born and have lived in the capital how could I know anything about the people in the country? If I have committed any great crime, I'm alone the responsible." The police chief asked again. "How did you come to break the law of the country and fall into these traitorous acts?" He replied, "How can you compare suffering the death penalty with going to hell after death? Which is the worse?" You Gin-gil Augustine did not want to argue with them further. So, he said. "I have nothing to say further. My only sin was to deceive the king."

After this, You Chin-gil Augustine was tortured on two further occasions. His flesh was torn apart and his bones terribly crushed. But his faith did not waver and he received the death sentence.

On September 22, 1839, You Chin-gil Augustine and Chong Ha-sang Paul were taken outside the Small West Gate in Seoul. On the way to the place of execution You Chin-gil Augustine showed no sign of fear. It was as if he had no interest in the things of the world and was lost in contemplation. With serene face he was beheaded. You Chin-gil Augustine was beatified on July 5th, 1925 and canonized on May 6th, 1984 at Yoido, Seoul, by Pope John Paul II.

Saint Kim Song-im Martha (1787-1839)
In the "Diary of the Persecution of 1839", Saint Kim Song-im Martha is referred to as Pup'yong House, a title referring to the fact that she was married to someone from Pup'yong.

Kim Song-im was a 50-year old pagan widow. Her husband was of a very uncompromising temperament and they did not thave a peaceful relationship. This was before Kim Song-im became a Catholic. The situation became so bad that she had no choice but to separate from her husband. She left quietly and went to live in Hanyang. There she met and lived with a blind man who made a living by telling fortunes. At this stage she was over fifty but she still had not learned about the Catholic faith.

One day she heard about the God and His Only Son, Jesus, from a Catholic who was living in the same house. With this encounter she began to believe in God and her faith grown eventually.

Life with her blind husband had been difficult but when he suddenly died Kim Song-im Martha's future looked bleak. Some Catholics came to her aid. Martha began working in the houses of the Catholic friends to repay their help. It was during this period that her faith grew deeper and she repented of her past sins, her inability to put up with her first husband and her subsequent living by superstition.

At times Martha felt deep sorrow but in her total dependence on the Lord she came through her depression. The concern and Christian example of the other Catholics made her realize and confirm how great is the love of God.

One day Martha was with Yi Magdalena, Yi Theresa and Kim Lucy talking about the persecution, the courageous martyrs and the happiness of Heaven. They were so deeply moved by the love of God that all decided to give themselves up to the government authorities to profess their faith.

They wanted to do mortification and sacrifice following the cross of Jesus Christ. The History of the Catholic Church in Korea says: "Voluntary surrender is not in accordance with the ordinary rules. However, it might have been evoked by divine grace, or God might have given His tacit approval to them, because the women were steadfast in their faith and wanting to be witness of God by being martyrs. There are other laudable examples in church history, such as St. Plollina, St. Aurelia and others."

By the end of March or in the beginning of April of 1839 these courageous women went to the police station and told the police to put them in prison because they were Catholics. To the unbelieving policemen they showed their rosaries. The police tied them up and put them in prison. Therefore, it can be easily understood that these pious women courageously endured all tortures and pains for the love of God.

The police chief interrogated the women.
"Do you believe that the Catholic religion is the true religion?"
"Of course, we do. Otherwise we wouldn't be here."
"Deny God."
"We can never deny God. Even if we have to die."
" Are you not afraid of tortures?"
"You are wasting time in persuading us to deny God. We surrendered ourselves for the sake of God. How can we deny Him? We will die if required by the law of the country, but we can never deny God."

They were repeatedly and severely tortured. The courageous women were sent to the higher court, where they were interrogated again.

"Do you still believe that the Catholic religion is the true religion?"
"Yes, we do. We worship God, and we are determined to die for Him."

The police chief tortured the women more severely than others to punish them for surrendering themselves. But they didn't succumb to him. They were finally sentenced to death.

According to the government Sungjongwon Diary, these four pious women and four other Catholics were beheaded outside the Small West Gate on July 20th, 1839. Martha was 53 years old when she was killed for her faith.

She was beatified on July 25th, 1925 and canonized on May 6th, 1984 at Yoido, Seoul, by Pope John Paul II.

Won Kwi-im Maria (1819-1839)
Won Kwi-im Maria was born in 1819 in Yongmori, Kyuanggun. She lost her mother when she was a child, and followed her father, who wandered around begging for food. When she was nine years old, one of her relatives, Won Lucy, who was a very devout Catholic, took her and taught her prayers and the catechism. She also taught Maria embroidery for her livelihood. Maria was very intelligent, genial and pious. Her aunt was proud of Maria's devotion and faithfulness. Maria was baptized at the age of 15. Soon after that she received an offer of marriage. But she refused to be married because she wanted to offer herself to God. The next year she put her hair up in a style which indicated that she was a married woman.

Maria was accused of being a Catholic by a neighbor and was arrested. She looked a little discouraged when she first was put in prison. But she thought that everything was according to God's Will, and regained her usual peacefulness. Mary was interrogated by the police chief.

"Are you a Catholic?"
"Yes, I am, as you say."
"Deny God, and you will be saved."
"I want to worship God and save my soul. If I have to die, I would rather die for God to save my soul."

Maria's legs were twisted and she was beaten with a cudgel. Many of her bones were dislocated, but her faith was not shaken.

According to the government document Sungjongwon Diary, Maria and seven other Catholics were beheaded outside the Small West Gate on July 20th, 1839. Maria was 22 years old, when she was crowned with martyrdom.

She was beatified on July 25th, 1925 and canonized on May 6th, 1984 at Yoido, Seoul, by Pope John Paul II.

Saint Kim Barbara (1805-1839)
Saint Kim Barbara was one of those who died of disease while in prison. According to Hyon Sok-mum Charles in the "Diary of the Persecution of 1839", over sixty people died of torture and disease in prison.

In fact, while the pain of torture was terrible, every day prison life was even worse and unbearable. There were many who bravely witnessed through all forms of torture, but finally gave in because of the hunger and thirst. Given no more than two fistfuls of rice a day the prisoners were often reduced to eating the dirty straw they lay on. Also, with a large number of people crammed into the small cells, it was inevitable that disease would break out and spread very quickly. Bishop Daveluy, who would himself later die as a martyr, wrote of the prison situation: Our Catholics were packed in so tightly that they could not even spread out their legs to sleep. Compared to the suffering of imprisonment the pain of torture was nothing. On top of everything else the stench from their rotting wounds was unbearable and in the heat typhoid would break out killing several in a few days.

People like Kim Barbara suffered the extremes of prison life. Those in prison worried most whether they would live long enough to claim the glory of martyrdom from the executioner's sword.

Kim Barbara was born to very poor family in Kyonggi Province. Her family was Catholic, but not very devout. At the age of thirteen Kim Barbara was sent as a servant to the wealthy Catholic family of Hwang Maria. It was there she spiritually met God and her devotion for Jesus grew. She was forthright and diligent, inscribing in her heart the teachings of the Lord. Very much aware of the Lord's grace in her life, she was determined to remain a virgin.

One day her father came to tell her that a match had been made for her with a young Catholic man.
"It is a very good match and we have already agreed to it so you must now prepare for marriage," he told her.
"It is my wish to preserve my chastity for the Lord."
"If husband and wife are both believers there are no obstacles for a faithful life and this match will be advantageous for you, so do not be so obstinate," her father responded and she had no choice but to agree to the marriage.

However, it turned out that her husband was a pagan and all her efforts to convert him were of no use. She had several children of whom she only managed to baptize a daughter. Differences in faith created many difficulties between the couple and these problems were never resolved. After her husband's death she was able to devote herself to prayers and good works.

With the arrival of foreign priests in the country she was able to lead a more fervent and happy spiritual life. Barbara was arrested in March, 1839, and subjected to torture, but she refused to apostasize or reveal the name of other Catholics. During the three months of her prison life she suffered from torture, hunger, thirst and disease. On May 27th, 1839, Kim Barbara died of typhoid fever lying on the dirty mat of her cell at age of thirty-five. She was beatified on July 5th, 1925 and canonized on May 6th, 1984 at Yoido, Seoul, by Pope John Paul II.

Saint Kim Rosa (1784-1839)
In June 1839, Cho Pyong-ku who had a pathological hatred for Catholics took control of the Korean government. On July 5th, a decree came down to completely eradicate the Church. The first to be martyred after this decree were eight Catholics who were already in prison. Of these Kim Rosa was the first to have been arrested.

Kim Rosa was born in a non-Catholic family in 1784, Hanyang. She was married, but she and her husband subsequently separated. After the separation Kim Rosa went to live with a Catholic relative and this was her first contact with the Church. Although it was late in her life she happily applied herself to learning the doctrine. She was intelligent and could communicate well so she was able to make others understand the value of her belief. She taught her mother and older brother the truths of the faith helping them to repent of their past. Thus the family was able to live in harmony, practicing the teaching of the Church.

Kim Rosa lived according to her faith, examined her conscience frequently, repented her sins and prayed constantly. She had high respect for priests and did all she could to help them. She was a model to other Catholics.

On January 16th, 1838, in the middle of the night, the police surrounded her house but she did not show any concern. Happy that at last her time had come, she went to prison calling on the names of Jesus and Mary. She never betrayed her faith, but testified to all in the prison. Even the guards were impressed by her attitude. However, she could not avoid the fury of the government. When she first appeared before the judge he displayed all the instruments of torture before her and said,

"Criminal Kim Rosa, before we use these instruments to break your leg and lacerate your flesh, give up your God and report the names of other Catholics."

"Judge! I cannot give up my God. He is the Creator and Father to all of us. He loves virtue and punishes sin, so how could I abandon Him? Harming others is also a sin. A long time ago I decided to shed my blood for these truths. Do as you please."

"Listen to me, criminal. Your religion's doctrine has been forbidden by our king, yet you still insist on belonging to that Church?"

"My body is now in the hands of the king but before that it belonged to God. We are all God's sons and daughters. How is it that Your Excellency does not know this simple fact?"

The judge was furious and had her tortured before sentencing her to death. The sentence was carried out on July 20th, 1839. She was fifty-six years old. Kim Rosa was beatified on July 5th, 1925 and canonized on May 6th, 1984 at Yoido, Seoul, by Pope John Paul II.

*  *  *

Names of some of the martyrs killed in the persecutions in 1791, 1801, 1827, 1839, 1846, and 1866, 103 of whom were later canonized to sainthood May 6, 1984 by Pope John Paul II. In a break with tradition, the ceremony did not take place in Rome, but in Seoul.

1. Martyrs from the Shinyu Persecution (1801) 신유박해(辛酉迫害)
   • Zhou (Chu) Munmo, Chinese, Korea's only priest at the time
   • Charles Yi Kyongdo
   • Lutgardis Yi Sooni
   • Chung Yakjong, father of Paul Chung Hasang
2. Ulhae Persecution (1815)
3. Chonghae Persecution (1827)
4. Martyrs from the Gihye Persecution (1839) 기해박해(己亥迫害)In the Gihae Persecution, the French Bishop Imbert and two other missionaries priests, Maubant and Chaston were martyred, as well as Paul Chung Hasang, one of the most successful lay leaders of the Korean Catholic Church, in addition to hundreds of other faithful.
   • Paul Chung Hasang , (1795-1839), who worked tirelessly as a lay leader to helped establish the early Korean Catholic Church, traveling back and forth to China many times to rebuild the church after the Shinyu persecution, and finally gaining official recognition for the Korean Church from Rome on Sept. 9, 1831. He studied for the priesthood under Bishop Imbert, but was killed before becoming a priest. (103 Saints)
   • Cecilia Yu, mother of Paul Chung Hasang, died in prison in 1839 (103 Saints)
   • Elisabeth Chung Junghye, younger sister of Paul Chung Hasang. (103 Saints)
   • Peter Yi Hoyong Peter (103 Saints)
     
   • Nine faithful hung on crosses and then beheaded May 24, 1839:
   1. Magdalene Kim Obi (1774-1839). (103 Saints)
   2. Agatha Kim Agi (1787-1839). Baptized in prison 1839. (103 Saints)
   3. Barbara Han Agi (1792-1839). (103 Saints)
   4. Damian Nam Myonghyeok, a leader of the Catholic Church beginning from the 1820's (103 Saints)
   5. Peter Kwon Tugin (103 Saints)
   6. Anna Pak Agi (103 Saints)
   7. Augustine Yi Hwanghon (103 Saints)
   8. Lucy Park Huisun (103 Saints)
   9. Agatha Yi Sosa, sister of Peter Yi Hoyong Peter (103 Saints)
   10. Augustine Yu Chingil (1791-1839), one of just a few government officials in the Catholic Church, father of Peter Yu Taecheol, baptized in 1824 in China, executed September 22, 1839. (103 Saints)
   11. Peter Yu Taecheol, a thirteen-year old boy, youngest of the 103 Korean Martyr Saints.
   12. Ignatius Kim Jejun, father of Andrew Kim Taegon, executed September 22, 1839 (103 Saints)
   13. Bishop Laurent-Marie-Joseph Imbert, the first bishop assigned to Korea, arriving in 1837 (103 Saints)
   14. Father Philibert Maubant, French Catholic Priest (103 Saints)
   15. Father James Honore' Chastan, French Catholic Priest (103 Saints)
   • Among 8 Catholics beheaded on July 20, 1839, the first group to be martyred after Cho Pyongku issued a decree that the Church be completely eliminated.
   1. Martha Kim Songim (1787-1839)(103 Saints)
   2. Magdalena Yi (103 Saints)
   3. Theresa Yi Mae-im (103 Saints)
   4. Lucy Kim (103 Saints)
   5. Maria Won Kwi-im, beaten badly and tortured (103 Saints)
   6. Rosa Kim (103 Saints)
   6. Martyred September 21-22, 1839
   • Barbara Kim (1805-1839) died of disease while in prison. (103 Saints)
5. Killed in the Byeongoh Persecution (1846) Martyrs from the Byeongoh Persecution included the first Korean-born Catholic priest, Andrew Kim Taegon, and nine other believers.
   • Andrew Kim Taegon, Korea's first native priest, son of Ignatius, also a martyr (103 Saints)
6. Byungin Persecution (1866-1871), sometimes called the Great Persecution, under the rule of Daewongun, was the final and most severe persecution under the Joseon Dynasty. 9 foreign missionaries were killed, along with an estimated 8,000 Korean Catholics.
   • Bishop Anthony Daveluy (103 Saints)
   • Father Peter Aumaitre , French Catholic Priest (103 Saints)
   • Beheaded March 7, 1866
   1. Bishop Siméon François Berneux (1814-1866), French Catholic Bishop, appointed 4th Bishop of Korea in 1854 (103 Saints)
   2. Father Peter Henricus Dorie, French Catholic Priest (103 Saints)
   3. Father Ludovicus Beaulieu, French Catholic Priest (103 Saints)
   4. Father Justin de Bretenières, French Catholic Priest (103 Saints)

List of the 103 Korean Saints

1. Peter Yi Hoyong (이호영 베드로/회장) November 5, 1838 / Hyungjojeon Prison
2. Protasius Chong Kurbo (정국보 프로타시오/공인) May, 1839 / Pochung Prison
3. Agatha Kim Agi (김아기 아가타/과부) May 4, 1939 / Outside
4. Anna Pak Agi (박아기 안나/부인) May 4, 1839 / Outside Seosomun
5. Agatha Yi Sosa (이소사 아가타/과부) May 4, 1839 / Outside Seosomun
6. Magdalene Kim Obi (김업이 막달레나/과부) May 4, 1839 / Outside Seosomun
7. Augustine Yi Kwang-hon (이광헌 아우구스티노/회장) May 4, 1839 / Outside Seosomun
8. Barbara Han Agi (한아기 바르바라/과부) May 4, 1839 / Outside Seosomun
9. Lucia Park Huisun (박희순 루치아/동정궁녀) May 4, 1839 / Outside Seosomun
10. Damien Nam Myong-hyok (남명혁 다미아노/회장) May 4, 1839 / Outside Seosomun
11. Peter Kwon Tugin (권득인 베드로/상인) May 4, 1839 / Outside Seosomun
12. Joseph Chang Songjib (장성집 요셉/환부) May 6, 1839 / Pochung Prison
13. Barbara Kim (김 바르바라/과부) May 7, 1839 / Died in prison
14. Barbara Yi (이 바르바라/동정녀) May 7, 1839 / Died in prison
15. Rosa Kim (widow) (김 로사/과부) July 1839 / Outside Seosomun
16. Martha Kim Songim (김성임 마르타/과부) July 1839 / Outside Seosomun
17. Teresa Yi Mae-im (이매임 데레사/부인) July 1839 / Outside Seosomun
18. Anna Kim Changkeum (김장금 안나/과부) July 1839 / Outside Seosomun
19. John Baptist Yi Kwangnyol (catechist) (이광렬 요한/공인) July 1839 / Outside Seosomun
20. Magdalene Yi Yong-hui (이영희 막달레나/동정) July 1839 / Outside Seosomun
21. Lucia Kim (김 루치아/동정녀) July 1839 / Outside Seosomun
22. Maria Won Kwi-im (virgin) (원귀임 마리아/동정녀) July 1839 / Outside Seosomun
23. Paul Chong Hasang (정하상 바오로/회장) September 2, 1839 / Outside Seosomun
24. Maria Park K'unagi (박큰아기 마리아/부인) September 3, 1839/ Outside Seosomun
25. Barbara Kwon Hui (권희 바르바라/부인) September 3, 1839 / Outside Seosomun
26. John Pak Hujae (박후재 요한/상인) September 3, 1839 / Outside Seosomun
27. Barbara Yi Chong-hui (이정희 바르바라/과부) September 3, 1839 / Outside Seosomun
28. Maria Yi Yonhui (이연희 마리아/부인) September 3, 1839 / Outside Seosomun
29. Agnes Kim Hyoju (김효주 아녜스/동정녀) September 3, 1839 / Outside Seosomun
30. Francis Ch'oe Hyong-hwan (최경환 프란치스코/회장) September 2, 1839 / Died in prison
31. Lawrence Imbert (Korea's 2nd Bishop) (앵베르 라우렌시오/주교 September 1, 1839 / Saenamteo
32. Peter Maubant (priest MEP) September 1, 1839 / Saenamteo
33. Jacob Chastan (priest) September 1, 1839 / Saenamteo
34. Augustine Yu Chin-gil (유진길 아우구스티노/회장, 역관) September 2, 1839 / Outside Seosomun
35. Magalena Ho Kye-im (허계임 막달레나/부인) September 6, 1839 / Outside Seosomun
36. Sebastian Nam Yigwan (남이관 세바스티아노/회장) September 6, 1839 / Outside Seosomun
37. Juliet Kim (virgin) (김 율리에타/궁녀) / September 6, 1839 / Outside Seosomun
38. Agatha Chon Kyonghyob (전경협 아가타/궁녀) September 6, 1839 / Outside Seosomun
39. Charles Cho Shin-ch'ol (조신철 가롤로/역관) September 6, 1839 / Outside Seosomun
40. Ignatius Kim Chejun (catechist) (김제준 이냐시오/회장) September 6, 1839 / Outside Seosomun
41. Magdalene Pak Pongson (widow) (박봉손 막달레나/과부) September 6, 1839 / Outside Seosomun
42. Perpetua Hong Kumju (widow) (홍금주 페르페투아/과부) September 6, 1839 / Outside Seosomun
43. Columba Kim Hyo-im (김효임 골롬바/동정녀) September 6, 1839 / Outside Seosomun
44. Lucia Kim (김 루치아/과부) September 1839 / Died in prison
45. Catherine Yi (이 가타리나/과부) September 1839 / Died in prison
46. Magdalene Cho (조 막달레나/동정녀) September 1839 / Died in prison
47. Peter Yu Tae-Chol (유대철 베드로/소년) October 1, 1839 / Died in prison
48. Cecilia Yu Sosa (유소사 체칠리아/과부) November 3, 1839 / Died in prison
49. Peter Ch'oe Ch'ang-hub (catechist) (최창흡 베드로/회장) December 9, 1839 / Outside Seosomun
50. Barbara Cho Chung-i (조증이 바르바라/부인) December 9, 1839 / Outside Seosomun
51. Magdalene Han Yong-i (한영이 막달레나/과부) December 9, 1839 / Outside Seosomun
52. Benedicta Hyon Kyongnyon (현경련 베네딕타/여회장) December 9, 1839 / Outside Seosomun
53. Elisabeth Chong Chong-hye (virgin) (정정혜 엘리사벳/동정녀) December 9, 1839 / Outside Seosomun
54. Barbara Ko Suni (고순이 바르바라/부인) December 9, 1839 / Outside Seosomun
55. Magdalene Yi Yongdeog (이영덕 막달레나/동정녀) December 9, 1839 / Outside Seosomun
56. Teresa Kim (김 데레사/과부) January 9, 1840 / Died in prison
57. Agatha Yi (이 아가타/동정녀) January 9, 1840 / Died in prison
58. Stephen Min Kukka (catechist) (민극가 스테파노/회장) January 1840 / Died in prison
59. Andrew-Chong Kwagyong (catechist) (정화경 안드레아/회장) January 3, 1840 / Died in prison
60. Paul Hohyup (허협 바오로/군인) January 1840 / Died in prison
61. Augustine Pak Chong-won (박종원 아우구스티노/회장) January 1, 1840 / Danggogae
62. Peter Hong Pyongju (홍병주 베드로/회장) January 1, 1840 / Danggogae
63. Magdalene Son Sobyog (손소벽 막달레나/부인) January 1, 1840 / Danggogae
64. Agatha Yi Kyong-i (이경이 아가타/동정녀) January 1, 1840 / Danggogae
65. Maria Yi Indog (이인덕 마리아/동정녀) January 1, 1840 / Danggogae
66. Agatha Kwon Chini (권진이 아가타/부인) January 1, 1840 / Danggogae
67. Paul Hong Yongju (catechist) (홍영주 바오로/회장) February 1, 1840 / Danggogae)
68. John Yi Munu (이문우 요한/복사) February 1, 1840 / Danggogae
69. Barbara Ch'oe Yong-i (최영이 바르바라/부인) February 1, 1840 / Danggogae
70. Anthony Kim Song-u (김성우 안토니오/회장) April 9, 1841 / Died in prison
71. Andrew Kim Taegon (김대건 안드레아/신부) September 16, 1846 / Saenamteo
72. Charles Hyon Songmun (현석문 가롤로/회장) September 9, 1846 / Saenamteo
73. Peter Nam Kyongmun (catechist) (남경문 베드로/회장) September 1846 / Pochung Prison
74. Lawrence Han Ihyong (catechist) (한이형 라우렌시오/회장) September 1846 / Pochung Prison
75. Susanna U Surim (우술임 수산나/과부) September 1846 / Pochung Prison
76. Joseph Im Ch'ibaeg (임치백 요셉/사공) September 1846 / Died in prison
77. Teresa Kim Imi (김임이 데레사/동정녀) September 1846 / Pochung Prison
78. Agatha Yi Kannan (이간난 아가타/과부) September 1846 / Died in prison
79. Catherine Chong Ch'oryom (정철염 가타리나/부인) September 1846 / Died in prison
80. Peter Yu Chongyul (catechist) (유정률 베드로/회장) February 7, 1866 / Pyungyang
81. Simon Berneux (Korea's 4th Bishop) March 7, 1866 / Saenamteo
82. Justin de Bretenières (priest) March 7, 1866 / Saenamteo
83. Peter Henricus Dorie (priest) March 7, 1866 / Saenamteo
84. Bernard Ludovicus Beaulieu (priest) March 7, 1866 / Saenamteo
85. John Nam Chong-sam (남종삼 요한/승지) March 7, 1866 / Saenamteo
86. John Baptist Chong Chang-un (catechist) (전장운 요한/상인) March 9, 1866 / Outside Seosomun
87. Peter Choi Hyong (catechist) (최형 베드로/회장) March 9, 1866 / Outside Seosomun
88. Mark Chong Uibae (catechist) (정의배 마르코/회장) March 1, 1866 / Saenamteo
89. Alex U Seyong (우세영 알렉시오/역관) March 1, 1866 / Saenamteo
90. Anthony Daveluy (Korea's 5th bishop) / March 1866 / Galmaemot
91. Martin Luke Huin (priest) / March 1866 / Galmaemot
92. Peter Aumaitre (priest) / March 1866 / Galmaemot
93. Joseph Chang Chugi (priest) (장주기 요셉/회장) March 1866 / Galmaemot
94. Luke Hwang Seoktu (황석두 루카/회장) March 1866 / Galmaemot
95. Thomas Son Chason )손자선 토마스/농부) March 1866 / Gongju
96. Bartholomew Chong Munho (정문호 바르톨로메오/원님) December 3, 1866 /Supjeongi
97. Peter Cho Hwaso (조화서 베드로/농부) December 3, 1866 / Supjeongi
98. Peter Son Sonji (catechist) (손선지 베드로/회장) December 3, 1866 / Supjeongi
99. Peter Yi Myongseo (이명서 베드로/농부) December 3, 1866 / Supjeongi
100. Joseph Han Jaegwon (catechist) (한재권 요셉/회장) December 3, 1866 / Supjeongi
101. Peter Chong Wonji (정원지 베드로/농부) December 3, 1866 / Supjeongi
102. Joseph Cho Yunho (조윤호 요셉/농부) December 3, 1866 / Supjeongi
103. John Yi Yunil (catechist) (이윤일 요한/회장) January 1, 1867 / Gwangdeukjeong

DRAW ME, WE WILL RUN!!!

St. Catherine of Siena is the one who said, "All the way to Heaven is Heaven," and Blessed Fra Angelico painted the picture of her words. As to who took the picture of his photo, well, you know life is good and God is crazy generous when you realize the best way to put a clear image on your blog is to use the photo you took yourself when you were in France last Christmas. WOW! Thank You Jesus!!

But now we must ask the question of the day: Why is it Heaven all the way to Heaven? 

That's a bit like asking, "How do I love Thee? Let me count the ways . . ." (a question originally asked by Elizabeth Barrett as she was falling in love with Robert Browning, or perhaps it was asked by Elizabeth Barrett Browning as she thanked the good Lord that he scooped her up quite literally and married her because God is bigger than anything).

1. I love Thee (and Heaven is paved with Heaven along the way) because You came to us in the Incarnation, stayed with us in the Blessed Sacrament, and want to live in the closest intimacy with us until the day we see You without any veils! (for more details, check out this book: Something New with St. Therese, Her Eucharistic Miracle)

2. I love Thee because You gave us St. Therese to teach us her Little Way to Heaven which consists of sleeping in Your arms while You lift us there. (Phew. I couldn't do all those stairs, but surrendering myself like a child in Jesus' arms, while sometimes a challenge, takes my breath away in a much more pleasant fashion!)

3. I love Thee because You have given us so many cool saints who catch our hands and drag us to You on the days we've forgotten to climb into Your arms! 

Like St. Joseph of Cupertino, whose feast day was yesterday. He was such a cool guy! Not the sharpest knife in the drawer, not the brightest bulb in the pack, and yet, it was thanks to him that many of us got through school in one piece (and with some peace). 

Here's what our patroness St. Therese says about him. Her sister Celine (Sister Genevieve of the Holy Face) was complaining as Therese was dying, "God will not be able to take me immediately after your death because I won't be good enough." 

Therese replied:

"It makes no difference; you remember St. Joseph Cupertino, his intelligence was mediocre, and he was uninstructed, knowing perfectly only this verse of the Gospel: 'Beatus venter qui te.' [Blessed is the womb that bore Thee.' Luke 11:27] Questioned precisely on this subject, he answered so well that all were in admiration, and he was received with great honors for the priesthood, along with his three companions, without any further examination. For they judged after hearing his sublime answers that his companions knew as perfectly as he did. 

"Thus I will answer for you, and God will give you gratis all He will have already given me."
(Her Last Conversations, July 12, 1897)

I'm pretty excited to get there (to Heaven) and have Therese answer for me, though knowing me I'll probably interrupt her! But I'm guessing my fate might be much like Celine's. Therese promised her and the others to come back and get them quickly. (Well, maybe she didn't promise Pauline/Mother Agnes, knowing she'd have several decades of work ahead of her, all of it regarding Therese.) But God's timing - which I admit is perfect - is so different from ours. You know that old saw about a single day and a thousand years . . . and it turns out that Therese didn't answer for Celine (when Celine met their True Love and ours) for another 52 years, no kidding!

Let's see, 52 years from now I'll be 102. I am thinking lately of joining the YLI, a wonderful Catholic organization that stands for Young Ladies' Institute. Believe it or not (and I am totally serious, though also laughing!), once when my husband and I looked over their literature, we found that most of these young ladies lived well into their 100s. We were saying goodbye (through the pages of their national member magazine) to women who were 104, 109, and so on! We have a wonderful group of these women (nowhere near that old, as far as looks can show) in our parish, and they have invited me to accompany them on an annual visit to the seminary for lunch with the seminarians. I am so thrilled! And clearly this means my chances for many decades left in exile are increasing by the minute (both mine and God's).

If you've been praying for me in our triple novena with our longer prayers, or (please feel free in your prayers!) by simply blurting out occasionally, "Marcel, get a miracle for Suzie!" (or if you are praying as we like to do, as Therese and Marcel and Jesus have taught us, by a sigh of love or a glance toward Heaven or a glance at Jesus here on earth in the Blessed Sacrament), thank you!!!

Your prayers are really working. I am either getting more cancer, or staying the same, or it's disappearing!  All of these are great options because none of them rule out a miraculous cure, and as you may have guessed, we're all about helping Marcel here. You might be thinking he ought to help himself, but we are of a different mind.

In a word, we are little. Pathetic is another word for it, but that has such a derogatory ring that we prefer little. And for little ones, there is only Jesus to save us. So, we are counting on Jesus to give Marcel a miracle whenever He damn well pleases (okay, that seems funny to me, but feel free to read "dang" if that offended you) - and Jesus our sweet Savior is welcome to use me as the miracle if He would like to . . . but no rush! I'm meeting so many great people and still looking forward to some form of treatment that will require other people to bring dinner to me and my family. This is a great gig!

Meanwhile the first visit with an oncologist on Tuesday was excellent. It taught us some things we are not looking for and prepped us for our second opinion with City of Hope. Then the PET scan (sorry to shout PET but that's what they do) was cancelled, but that's good too because I got to have a banana nut muffin with a friend yesterday instead of fasting from carbs, and I am writing this blog post instead of getting ready to drive too far for a procedure that might not be necessary. 

Yes, there is a reason I have been called Pollysuzanna, and I'm sticking to it! Glad, glad, glad, and grateful, grateful, grateful. Not to mention smiling! How could I not be when I have so many people praying for me? I am experiencing what others have before me: as our wonderful Fr. Chung stage whispered to me (complete with Korean accent) in church the other day, and had to practically shout when I couldn't understand: "Prayer works!"

How could it not? God is so good, so mighty and so merciful. We obtain from Him as much as we hope for, and I'm hoping a whole lot. Those saints who take our hands and drag us, even when we're kicking and screaming, even when we're distracted by all the shiny things in the dust, even when we are trying to yank free to get a gelato, they are absolutely adamant about this - God loves us and wants us to ask for everything so we can help Him to give us everything. As Therese said to her friend and novice Marie of the Trinity, we insult God by not expecting great things, whereas we bring Him tremendous joy by asking for the moon! (Okay that's a loose translation, but it's exactly what she meant!)

For those who would like a reprise of our novena prayers in the longer form, here they are, and please remember I'm including all your intentions too!

Blessed Mother of those whose names you can read in my heart, watch over them with every care. Make their way easy and their labors fruitful. Dry their tears if they weep; sanctify their joys; raise their courage if they weaken; restore their hope if they lose heart, their health if they be ill, truth if they err, and repentance if they fall. And through the intercession of your littlest son, Servant of God Marcel Van, may Suzie be miraculously healed from her cancer, and may all our other needed and desired miracles be granted. Amen!

*  *  *

O Saint Padre Pio, holy bearer of the Wounds of Christ, accept us this day as your spiritual sons and daughters and keep us always on the Little Way by your intercession. And do thou, O our Spiritual Father, stay there at the Gates of Heaven until all of your spiritual children have entered through, even and including us. Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

​Dear Padre Pio, I recall your promise to the Lord, “Lord, I will stand at the gates of heaven until I see all my spiritual children have entered.” Encouraged by your gracious promise, I ask you to accept me as a spiritual child and to intercede for my prayer requests, including getting Marcel Van to intercede to heal Suzie's cancer completely and miraculously. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever, world without end, Amen.

Draw me, we will run!

Padre Pio - or St. Padre Pio as we now call him - was one funny guy. He was happy because he was in love with Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, and as we can all say of ourselves too (praise God!), they were even more in love with him!

Here he is laughing, and he's laughing because we are not asking him to give us miracles today, but merely using him as a messenger to wake up his little brother, Servant of God Marcel Van. I think Pio's plan is to tickle Marcel, but he might just give him a friendly poke with one (now ungloved) finger. Can't you picture it?

They both will then start talking to Our Blessed Mother because Marcel is asleep on her lap. He isn't shown here in the photo of Our Lady of Grace (the favorite Marian image of Pio's in San Giovanni Rotundo), but that's because Marcel wasn't in Heaven when the picture was taken for Pio's Capuchin friary. Now, though, you can't bet your bottom dollar Marcel knows the comfiest place to take a nap, and that's always on Mary's lap.

Why don't we turn to Our dear Mama Mary with them? We can use the same novena prayer we've already been using and launch into our part-two-of-three which will lead us directly (in 9 days) to September 23, Padre Pio's feast day . . . and just to make sure Pio doesn't feel too ignored (he sure has enough miracles to his credit, but we like to go with the underdog), let's add (just today, or each day if you feel like it) the prayer asking Padre Pio to be our spiritual father. This way if it seems kind of boring to just keep asking Marcel to heal Miss Marcel's cancer, we can spice it up by asking Pio to be our dad. He's a great father, and while I don't have time now to go into details, I've enjoyed both reading and telling about his kindness and compassion before, so here are a couple of links to learn more. The first essay is by me, and the second by our dear friend and children's book author (and substack-don-dolindo writer) Maura McKeegan:

THE REAL FACE OF PADRE PIO

PADRE PIO, PURGATORY, AND PLENARY INDULGENCES

And now for our novena prayers:

​Blessed Mother of those whose names you can read in my heart, watch over them with every care. Make their way easy and their labors fruitful. Dry their tears if they weep; sanctify their joys; raise their courage if they weaken; restore their hope if they lose heart, their health if they be ill, truth if they err, and repentance if they fall. And through the intercession of your littlest son, Servant of God Marcel Van, may Suzie be miraculously healed from her cancer, and may all our other needed or desired miracles be granted. Amen!

*  *  *

O Saint Padre Pio, holy bearer of the Wounds of Christ, accept us this day as your spiritual sons and daughters and keep us always on the Little Way by your intercession. And do thou, O our Spiritual Father, stay there at the Gates of Heaven until all of your spiritual children have entered through, even and including us. Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

​(And just for good measure :)

Dear Padre Pio, I recall your promise to the Lord, “Lord, I will stand at the gates of heaven until I see all my spiritual children have entered.” Encouraged by your gracious promise, I ask you to accept me as a spiritual child and to intercede for my prayer requests, including getting Marcel Van to intercede to heal Suzie's cancer completely and miraculously. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever, world without end, Amen.

Draw me, we will run!

P.S. I haven't been miraculously healed yet, but I sure have been sustained and refreshed by all your prayers! Thank you!!!

I am asking Our Lord to divert some of the many graces and roses pouring down from Heaven back to all your own special intentions, but rest assured (on Mary's lap) that I also have asked Him to keep me pain free. I am so grateful for His and your kindness!!

I will have a PET scan on September 19, and it will be fun to see what they find. St. Therese says in her wonderful Letter 197, "Let us stay away from all that sparkles." Apparently that is what we want to do in the PET (again, no actual pets will be harmed in the making of the film) scan, namely, stay away from all that lights up . . . but we'll see!

I think Marcel might very much want to make it worse before he makes it better, so that he'll have a bigger miracle to advance his cause, so that he can be more officially recognized as the Apostle of Children and the Second Little Flower (in other words, so he can help lots more people when they come to know him and start asking too) . . . or perhaps our little brother is just waiting for the right moment and when we see the scan results we'll just be all clear and good to go!

​I'll keep you posted, and meanwhile, Our Lady of Sorrows is hiding behind the Sunday today, so be sure to cheer her up with a Hail Mary and a cupcake! She is happy to know that Jesus' Resurrection and our little Easter have taken precedence over her sadness. What mom wants to make her kids sad? Praise God for her maternity, and Happy Sunday!

A recap of last week's episode, just like you might find at the beginning of a two-part Adam West Batman, or better yet, at the start of the next installment of your favorite K-Drama (Crash Landing on You!) . . .We are in the midst of our annual TRIPLE NOVENA:

1. Starting Sept 6 (32nd anniversary of our clothing in Carmel) we pray for 9 days leading to the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Sept 14).

2. Starting Sept 15 (Our Lady of Sorrows) we pray for 9 more days leading to the Feast of St. Padre Pio (Sept 23).

3. Starting on Padre Pio day (Sept 23) we pray for 9 days to the FEAST OF ST THERESE our patroness and sister, and the sister of Servant of God Marcel Van who needs a miracle (and we're setting one up for him) to be officially recognized as Blessed.

I forgot to mention in the previous post which announced our novena that this is a VERY SPECIAL NOVENA INDEED! Do you remember Calvinball? Calvin (of "and Hobbes" fame) got to make up rules as he went along. And so too do we!

Rules: 

1. You can start any day you like.
2. You can miss as many days as you like.
3. Just in virtue of reading this or hearing about it in any way, your intentions are included.

So don't think of yourself as late, or conversely (if you were early) don't worry that I'm repeating myself . . . but simply rejoice in this beautiful "Old French Prayer for Friends" on this joyful feast of the Nativity of our Blessed Mother. Here we go:

FIRST NOVENA PRAYER (back by popular demand, a fan favorite)

Blessed Mother of those whose names you can read in my heart, watch over them with every care. Make their way easy and their labors fruitful. Dry their tears if they weep; sanctify their joys; raise their courage if they weaken; restore their hope if they lose heart, their health if they be ill, truth if they err, and repentance if they fall. And through the intercession of your littlest son, Servant of God Marcel Van, may Suzie be miraculously healed from her cancer, and may all our other needed or desired miracles be granted. Amen!

That is our triple novena . . .

SO WHAT IS OUR TRIPLE FEAST?

1. Birthday of Mary! (September 8, long ago - remember, a lady never reveals her exact age)

2. Profession (union with Jesus) of St. Therese, the Little Flower (September 8, 1890, Lisieux, France)

3. Profession (union with Jesus) of Servant of God Marcel Van, the Second Little Flower (September 8, 1946, Hanoi, Vietnam)

Two final questions:

Why are we saying a triple novena?
and
Who the heck is Servant of God Marcel Van?

I will answer the first (why are we saying a triple novena) in three parts:

1. Because it's fun to link these amazing dates together and have the chance to importune little Jesus three times in a row. I especially like that we step on Padre Pio's broad shoulders to climb up to Therese's feet in the third part of our novena.

2. Because Miss Marcel, who is Suzie (ack! the curtain is pulled back! Shades of the Wizard of Oz!), i.e. me, has a little breast cancer that has suddenly become interesting by spreading to some nearby "but we were just minding our own business!" lymph nodes - same slow growing, low grade, non-aggressive (friendly, we like to call it) cancer, which being by definition very slothlike and lazy (lazy is good; see Marcel's Conversations, and since I can't remember exactly where, you'll just have to read the whole book!) ought not to have traveled even this short distance.

3. And finally we are saying our triple novena because we all need LOTS of miracles, and  our buddy Marcel Van, who is merely a Servant of God - the very lowest ranking of those in the queue for canonization - needs a miracle, so why not get together and make it happen?

Which leads us to our second question and answer:
Who the heck is Marcel Van anyhow?

It has come to my attention that a little bio of Marcel is in order because many kind people are happy to pray our prayer to Marcel but may be wondering, as a kind friend recently expressed it, "I'm saying that prayer to Marcel Van for you but who is Marcel Van?" or as it was expressed even more endearingly some years ago by another dear friend upon being presented with a picture of Marcel, "Oh! I love him! . . . Who is he?"

There are two ways to answer this question.
One way is to blather on indefinitely. 
The other is to give you links so you can go find out what I've already said in my previous blathering.

How about we do a little bit of both?

So first, the facts of Marcel Van:

Vietnamese. Catholic from birth. Born 1928 in Hanoi, entered the Redemptorists when he was about 16, became a lay brother. He was never a priest but he was fully in the Order, living in a community of Vietnamese novices taught by French Canadian missionaries who brought St. Alphonsus' Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer to Vietnam in 1925.

Marcel was in the south of Vietnam in the early 50s when all hell started breaking loose, and he requested permission to go back to the north so someone would love Jesus amidst the Godless communists there. Once back in the nearly evacuated Redemptorist community in Hanoi, Marcel was soon arrested on a trumped up charge and spent the next several years in communist camps, finally dying of love in the camps in 1959 at age 31. Just as St. Therese died of love but it looked like tuberculosis (that was another cause but not the deepest cause), so Marcel died of love but it looked like beriberi, or from another perspective, martyrdom (since the beriberi was due to horrible living conditions in the camps where he was because of the communists hatred of his Faith). 

Marcel's first postulator (main one working to show he was a saint) was Cardinal Francis Xavier van Thuan, another amazing Vietnamese holy one. So holy that he died before he got very far with Marcel's cause, zipped straight to Jesus, and now has his own cause for beatification and canonization. Delightfully, Cardinal van Thuan has moved ahead of Marcel in the ranks and is now called "Venerable" because his heroic virtues have been examined, discussed, and formally recognized and approved.

That is Marcel's story in a nutshell except for one MAJOR and ESSENTIAL fact:

When he was a boy in the minor seminary, Marcel read St. Therese's memoir Story of a Soul. He asked her (like we might) to be his big sister. He felt, just like we might, that she said yes, and so he was filled with joy - just like might happen to any one of us when we connect with a new saint.

Except.
Unlike most of us, Marcel then heard a voice.

Okay, I hear voices too, but they say, "Mom, when's dinner?"

This voice said to Marcel, "Van!" {his name before he entered the Redemptorists and was called, in religion, Marcel.

"Van! My dear little brother!"

In his own words, from his Autobiography:

Then I glanced round to see if there really was someone calling me . . . I heard again the same voice, gentle as the passing breeze, which called, "Van! My dear brother!" I was stunned and a little troubled, but I remained calm as usual, and guessed immediately that this voice which called me was a supernatural voice. I then let out a hurried cry of joy: "Oh! It's my sister Saint Therese!" The reply was not long in coming:

"Yes, it is really your sister Saint Therese who is here . . . I have come here in reply to your words which have echoed in my heart. Little brother! You will be personally and from now on my little brother, just as you have chosen me, personally, to be your big sister. From now onwards our two souls will be separated no longer by any obstacle as they formerly were. They are already united in the sole love of God. From this moment I will let your know all my beautiful thoughts on love, that which has occurred in my life and has transformed me in the infinite Love of God. Do you know why we are meeting today? It is God Himself who has arranged this meeting. He wished that the lessons of love which He has taught me in the secret of my soul are perpetuated in this world, and, for that, He has deigned to choose you as a little secretary to carry out the work He wishes to entrust to you." (Autobiography, 590)

Now perhaps you can see why I'm crazy about this daring duo:
Little St. Therese, Doctor of the Church and universal patron of missionaries on a par with St. Francis Xavier himself . . . and little Marcel Van, her Vietnamese spiritual little brother, most remarkably unremarkable in his littleness and just-like-usness - these two have a message for us, and a mission. Their mission is to spread the love of God and make Him loved. Their message is that He loves us infinitely in all our pathetic humanness, our woundedness, our poverty, our "but how could I ever be a saint, I'm just an idiot with 800 faults more obvious to me and the rest of the world every single day" or worse yet our, "But then again I guess I do have some rather wonderful qualities that make me better than every one else, so of course God would love me . . ." Yes, He does! From the top of your head to the fullest extent of your toes! HE LOVES YOU INFINITELY and wants you to be happy with Him both IN THIS LIFE OF EXILE and in the next REAL LIFE of Heaven which lasts FOREVER!

So on this day of September 8, Mary Immaculate was born.
On this day of September 8 many centuries later, little Therese Martin pronounced her vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience as a Discalced Carmelite nun, which means that she became one with Jesus like those who say their wedding vows become one in virtue of those vows. (Which is why Holy Mother Church won't let people write their own vows. She wants us to get it right and actually do what we intend: namely become one with that other person through the awesome power of the words we say with understanding and free consent of our will.)

Then on this day some decades later, Marcel Van pronounced his vows as a Redemptorist brother and thus became one with Jesus on the same day as his sister, mentor, and ideal, St. Therese. 

He tells us (again in his Autobiography, though my favorite book - bar none - is his Conversations with Jesus, Mary, and Therese):

"The eighth of September. What a happy day! I see written there a double memory, which will attract my attention each year. It is first of all the birthday of the Mother of God and at the same time the day when my sister St. Therese celebrated her spiritual marriage with Jesus, her spouse of love. Since the day when I got to know the book The Story of a Soul, I have always wished to resemble Saint Therese, and I said to myself, 'If the day of my profession could coincide with that of the profession of my sister, how happy I would be!' Today this wish has become a reality, and it is once again a favour that Jesus wished for his friend. Yes, my Father, that is Love. When one loves there is no difficulty, no matter how big, that cannot be overcome; above all when one is dealing with a friend as powerful as is my friend Jesus. . . Indeed, in the presence of this infinitely magnificent Love and its immense kindness, it felt as if my soul was immersed in a state of extreme intoxication. . ." (859)

If you would like to know more about Marcel Van, you can find a few of my articles about him by clicking HERE

or read at the website of our favorite translator of Marcel's writings into English, Jack Keogan HERE

Don't forget to pray, hope, and don't worry (in the words of our friend Padre Pio), or if you are tired, don't forget to take a nap. It's a feast day of Our Lady and a special anniversary for Therese and Marcel, so help God to spoil you with your favorite treat, put your feet up, lay your head back, and may the peace beyond all understanding, the Holy Spirit of Love and sweetness, envelop you and fill you with joy!

Draw me, we will run!