Teaching religion was forbidden in Poland... yet religion thrived. Why? Because it was a daily experience. It was a daily part of their lives, woven into every action and thought. The traditions and customs of Poland were woven into the daily fiber of life giving that life meaning and purpose. Those traditions and customs gave a foundation of faith and meaning to daily life.
There are so many beautiful Polish customs that lead us to God and remind us that we always walk with God. For example:
When we cut a new loaf of bread, it is the custom, before making the first cut, to take the knife and sign the loaf with a cross.
When a piece of bread is dropped on the floor, it is reverently and kissed because bread is a gift from God, “to dar Boze.”
Holy water is always kept in the house and at a font at the door and at the household shrine where the family gathers for prayer. The house is sprinkled with holy water in a time of sickness and storm and the bed is sprinkled before retiring.
Family prayer is essential. Gathering together for evening prayer and offering grace before and after meals is a way of including God in our daily activities.
Every home should have a “Holy Corner,” that is, a family shrine that becomes the focus of daily devotions and a constant visual reminder of God’s presence.
The Christmas Oplatek and Wigilia
Consecrating our homes with blessed chalk by writing the monograms of the Three kings…KMB…over the main entrance to our home.
Name’s Day – celebrating the saints’ day as our own special feast day
Decorating our homes and churches with greens for Pentecost Sunday.
Eucharistic Processions with the traditional four altars for Corpus Christi
Visiting the graves of our loved ones and lighting candles for All Souls Day.
These traditions, and many others are small in themselves… but like a few drops of water on a seed they can help our faith to grow… little by little!!! And little by little deep roots are formed to drink from the rich heritage and Faith of the Polish people.
There are so many beautiful Polish customs in daily life to remind us and our families of our loving God and of the protective presence of God in our lives if we use them to sanctify our time and environment.
So too with us… We live in an environment that has become increasingly hostile to our Faith and increasingly intolerant of our Polish culture. True, the Holy Spirit sends His guidance via the Church and our priests, but if we do not make use of the gifts of our heritage and if God is not part of our every day life… as it was for our Grandparents, then the seed of faith can’t grow and the stability of our families and nation are undermined!
What can we do? We can begin to revive some of these old customs… or even make new ones to simply remind ourselves daily of the existence of God in our lives. We need traditions that will be constant reminders of the love of God. We need to constantly plant seeds that will grow strong roots.
Friday, December 31, 2010
The O Antiphons
The “O Antiphons” refer to the seven antiphons that are recited (or chanted) preceding the Magnificat during Vespers of the Liturgy of the Hours. They cover the special period of Advent preparation known as the Octave before Christmas, Dec. 17-23. The importance of “O Antiphons” is twofold: Each one highlights a title for the Messiah. Also, each one refers to the prophecy of Isaiah of the coming of the Messiah.
O Sapientia: “O Wisdom, O holy Word of God, you govern all creation with your strong yet tender care. Come and show your people the way to salvation.” Isaiah had prophesied, “The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: a spirit of wisdom and of understanding, a spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord, and his delight shall be the fear of the Lord.” (11:2-3), and “Wonderful is His counsel and great is His wisdom.” (28:29).
O Adonai: “O sacred Lord of ancient Israel, who showed yourself to Moses in the burning bush, who gave him the holy law on Sinai mountain: come, stretch out your mighty hand to set us free.” Isaiah had prophesied, “But He shall judge the poor with justice, and decide aright for the land’s afflicted. He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked. Justice shall be the band around his waist, and faithfulness a belt upon his hips.” (11:4-5); and “Indeed the Lord will be there with us, majestic; yes the Lord our judge, the Lord our lawgiver, the Lord our king, he it is who will save us.” (33:22).
O Radix Jesse: “O Flower of Jesse’s stem, you have been raised up as a sign for all peoples; kings stand silent in your presence; the nations bow down in worship before you. Come, let nothing keep you from coming to our aid.” Isaiah had prophesied, “But a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom.” (11:1), and A On that day, the root of Jesse, set up as a signal for the nations, the Gentiles shall seek out, for his dwelling shall be glorious.” (11:10). Remember also that Jesse was the father of King David, and Micah had prophesied that the Messiah would be of the house and lineage of David and be born in David’s city, Bethlehem (Micah 5:1).
O Clavis David: “O Key of David, O royal Power of Israel controlling at your will the gate of Heaven: Come, break down the prison walls of death for those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death; and lead your captive people into freedom.” Isaiah had prophesied, AI will place the Key of the House of David on His shoulder; when he opens, no one will shut, when he shuts, no one will open.” (22:22), and “His dominion is vast and forever peaceful, from David’s throne, and over His kingdom, which he confirms and sustains by judgment and justice, both now and forever.” (9:6).
O Oriens: “O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.” Isaiah had prophesied, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shown.” (9:1).
O Rex Gentium: “O King of all the nations, the only joy of every human heart; O Keystone of the mighty arch of man, come and save the creature you fashioned from the dust.” Isaiah had prophesied, “For a child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.” (9:5), and “He shall judge between the nations, and impose terms on many peoples. They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; one nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again.” (2:4) .
O Emmanuel: God is with us “O Emmanuel, king and lawgiver, desire of the nations, Savior of all people, come and set us free, Lord our God.” Isaiah had prophesied, “The Lord himself will give you this sign: the Virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel.
According to Professor Robert Greenberg of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, the Benedictine monks arranged these antiphons with a definite purpose. If one starts with the last title and takes the first letter of each one - Emmanuel, Rex, Oriens, Clavis, Radix, Adonai, Sapientia - the Latin words ero cras are formed, meaning, “Tomorrow, I will come.” Therefore, the Lord Jesus, whose coming we have prepared for in Advent and whom we have addressed in these seven Messianic titles, now speaks to us, “Tomorrow, I will come.” So the “O Antiphons” not only bring intensity to our Advent preparation, but bring it to a joyful conclusion.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT :
Saunders, Rev. William. “What are the ‘O Antiphons’?” Arlington Catholic Herald.
O Sapientia: “O Wisdom, O holy Word of God, you govern all creation with your strong yet tender care. Come and show your people the way to salvation.” Isaiah had prophesied, “The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: a spirit of wisdom and of understanding, a spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord, and his delight shall be the fear of the Lord.” (11:2-3), and “Wonderful is His counsel and great is His wisdom.” (28:29).
O Adonai: “O sacred Lord of ancient Israel, who showed yourself to Moses in the burning bush, who gave him the holy law on Sinai mountain: come, stretch out your mighty hand to set us free.” Isaiah had prophesied, “But He shall judge the poor with justice, and decide aright for the land’s afflicted. He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked. Justice shall be the band around his waist, and faithfulness a belt upon his hips.” (11:4-5); and “Indeed the Lord will be there with us, majestic; yes the Lord our judge, the Lord our lawgiver, the Lord our king, he it is who will save us.” (33:22).
O Radix Jesse: “O Flower of Jesse’s stem, you have been raised up as a sign for all peoples; kings stand silent in your presence; the nations bow down in worship before you. Come, let nothing keep you from coming to our aid.” Isaiah had prophesied, “But a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom.” (11:1), and A On that day, the root of Jesse, set up as a signal for the nations, the Gentiles shall seek out, for his dwelling shall be glorious.” (11:10). Remember also that Jesse was the father of King David, and Micah had prophesied that the Messiah would be of the house and lineage of David and be born in David’s city, Bethlehem (Micah 5:1).
O Clavis David: “O Key of David, O royal Power of Israel controlling at your will the gate of Heaven: Come, break down the prison walls of death for those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death; and lead your captive people into freedom.” Isaiah had prophesied, AI will place the Key of the House of David on His shoulder; when he opens, no one will shut, when he shuts, no one will open.” (22:22), and “His dominion is vast and forever peaceful, from David’s throne, and over His kingdom, which he confirms and sustains by judgment and justice, both now and forever.” (9:6).
O Oriens: “O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.” Isaiah had prophesied, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shown.” (9:1).
O Rex Gentium: “O King of all the nations, the only joy of every human heart; O Keystone of the mighty arch of man, come and save the creature you fashioned from the dust.” Isaiah had prophesied, “For a child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.” (9:5), and “He shall judge between the nations, and impose terms on many peoples. They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; one nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again.” (2:4) .
O Emmanuel: God is with us “O Emmanuel, king and lawgiver, desire of the nations, Savior of all people, come and set us free, Lord our God.” Isaiah had prophesied, “The Lord himself will give you this sign: the Virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel.
According to Professor Robert Greenberg of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, the Benedictine monks arranged these antiphons with a definite purpose. If one starts with the last title and takes the first letter of each one - Emmanuel, Rex, Oriens, Clavis, Radix, Adonai, Sapientia - the Latin words ero cras are formed, meaning, “Tomorrow, I will come.” Therefore, the Lord Jesus, whose coming we have prepared for in Advent and whom we have addressed in these seven Messianic titles, now speaks to us, “Tomorrow, I will come.” So the “O Antiphons” not only bring intensity to our Advent preparation, but bring it to a joyful conclusion.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT :
Saunders, Rev. William. “What are the ‘O Antiphons’?” Arlington Catholic Herald.
The Oplatek
THE OPLATEK for the Polish people is the most important element in the Christmas celebration. It is part of the family rites at the Wigilia supper on Christmas Eve and is used by friends and neighbors at parties and gatherings during the holiday season.
The Oplatek is a small piece of bread-wafer often embossed with religious images of Our Lady and of scenes depicting the birth of Jesus. These designs are usually excellent examples of Polish folk art and are often preserved in Art Museums to show the unusually wide scope of the decorative arts of the Polish peasants.
The word Oplatek is taken from the Latin word "Oblatum" meaning sacred bread. In the past, this holy bread, or Bread of Love as Oplatek is sometimes called, was made with great ceremonies and rites. The choicest wheat was chosen and the workers wore liturgical robes and chanted hymns during the process.
The Oplatek symbolizes days of harmony, when what is to be forgiven is forgiven and what is to be forgotten is forgotten. The sharing of the Oplatek signifies that everyone in the universe is related - we are all God's children - we all have His Divine power.
The Oplatek, that Bread of Love, so frail and perishable, has for all Poles a mystical meaning which cannot be explained. At Christmas time it is even sent to absent members of the family and to close friends separated by distance, to draw them close in a spiritual union with their loved ones. To receive a piece of Oplatek is a special blessing. It says that the recipient is loved in a holy way and that the most choice blessings are prayed over them.
At the Wigilia Supper the rite of sharing and breaking the Oplatek is both simple and moving. The host and hostess first share and break the Bread of Love - the Oplatek - with each other and then with all the members of their family and guests. With the breaking, good wishes, blessings and prayers are exchanged and shared. It is a time of spiritual gift-giving. Sometimes the blessings take the form of spontaneous poetry - but this is often an art form reserved to the old.
A piece of Oplatek is often saved after Christmas to use in time of sickness. It is administered to the ill as a blessing-prayer for healing. It is a strong affirmation of the love of family and friends.
In some parts of Poland and among some Polish-Americans there is the custom of saving a few squares of the Oplatek and of creating religious ornaments with them. Some of them are made into stars and miniature cradles for the Baby Jesus. Others are made into tiny churches and complicated globes - often with a tiny figure of Jesus holding the cross in the inner circle of the world-globes to signify His rule over the universe.
Usually these ornaments were carefully hung by a thread from the ceiling. With the movements in a room it gently swayed to and fro and old timers often prophesied the coming weather from the direction in which these lacy ornaments moved.
Adam Plug remembered these Oplatek ornaments of his Polish childhood and wrote: "When father glued together a fine star enclosing a tiny cradle, he hung it to the ceiling by a thread. I knew for certain this was the same star which shone down upon Jesus in the manger. I rocked the little cradle on the thread with my childish breath, and really felt I was rocking the real little baby Jesus to sleep, singing Him a kolenda."
The Oplatek is a small piece of bread-wafer often embossed with religious images of Our Lady and of scenes depicting the birth of Jesus. These designs are usually excellent examples of Polish folk art and are often preserved in Art Museums to show the unusually wide scope of the decorative arts of the Polish peasants.
The word Oplatek is taken from the Latin word "Oblatum" meaning sacred bread. In the past, this holy bread, or Bread of Love as Oplatek is sometimes called, was made with great ceremonies and rites. The choicest wheat was chosen and the workers wore liturgical robes and chanted hymns during the process.
The Oplatek symbolizes days of harmony, when what is to be forgiven is forgiven and what is to be forgotten is forgotten. The sharing of the Oplatek signifies that everyone in the universe is related - we are all God's children - we all have His Divine power.
The Oplatek, that Bread of Love, so frail and perishable, has for all Poles a mystical meaning which cannot be explained. At Christmas time it is even sent to absent members of the family and to close friends separated by distance, to draw them close in a spiritual union with their loved ones. To receive a piece of Oplatek is a special blessing. It says that the recipient is loved in a holy way and that the most choice blessings are prayed over them.
At the Wigilia Supper the rite of sharing and breaking the Oplatek is both simple and moving. The host and hostess first share and break the Bread of Love - the Oplatek - with each other and then with all the members of their family and guests. With the breaking, good wishes, blessings and prayers are exchanged and shared. It is a time of spiritual gift-giving. Sometimes the blessings take the form of spontaneous poetry - but this is often an art form reserved to the old.
A piece of Oplatek is often saved after Christmas to use in time of sickness. It is administered to the ill as a blessing-prayer for healing. It is a strong affirmation of the love of family and friends.
In some parts of Poland and among some Polish-Americans there is the custom of saving a few squares of the Oplatek and of creating religious ornaments with them. Some of them are made into stars and miniature cradles for the Baby Jesus. Others are made into tiny churches and complicated globes - often with a tiny figure of Jesus holding the cross in the inner circle of the world-globes to signify His rule over the universe.
Usually these ornaments were carefully hung by a thread from the ceiling. With the movements in a room it gently swayed to and fro and old timers often prophesied the coming weather from the direction in which these lacy ornaments moved.
Adam Plug remembered these Oplatek ornaments of his Polish childhood and wrote: "When father glued together a fine star enclosing a tiny cradle, he hung it to the ceiling by a thread. I knew for certain this was the same star which shone down upon Jesus in the manger. I rocked the little cradle on the thread with my childish breath, and really felt I was rocking the real little baby Jesus to sleep, singing Him a kolenda."
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Mesoamerica, the New World, 1521: The capital city of the Aztec empire falls under the Spanish forces. Less than 20 years later, 9 million of the inhabitants of the land, who for centuries practiced human sacrifice to appease their gods, are converted to Christianity. What happened in those times that produced such an incredible and historically unprecedented conversion?
In 1531 a "Lady from Heaven" appeared to a humble
Native American, Juan Diego, at Tepeyac, a hill northwest of what is now Mexico City.
She identified herself as the Ever Virgin Holy Mary, Mother of the True God, of the Creator of all things, Lord of heaven and earth.
She asked for a church to be built on the site, and submitted her wish to the local Bishop. When the Bishop hesitated, and requested a sign, the Mother of God obeyed without delay or question and sent Juan Diego to the top of the hill in mid-December to gather an assortment of roses for the Bishop. After complying with the Bishop's request for a sign, She also left for us an image of herself imprinted miraculously on Juan Diego’s tilma, a poor quality cactus-cloth, which should have deteriorated in 20 years but shows no sign of decay 479 years later and still defies all scientific explanations of its origin.
Science still cannot explain the fact that the image is not in the fibers of the tilma, but hovers over it.
Modern microscopes have revealed that the pupils of her eyes contain images of what was in front of her in 1531, most especially the face of Juan Diego.
Her message of love and compassion, and her universal promise of help and protection to all mankind, as well as the story of the apparitions, are described in the "Nican Mopohua", a 16th century document written in the native Nahuatl language.
There is reason to believe that at Tepeyac Mary came in her glorified body, and her actual physical hands re-arranged the roses in Juan Diego’s tilma, which makes this apparition very special.
An incredible list of miracles, cures and interventions are attributed to Her. Yearly, between 18 - 20 million pilgrims visit the Basilica, making it Christianity's most visited sanctuary.
Altogether 25 popes have officially honored Our Lady of Guadalupe. His Holiness John Paul II visited her Sanctuary four times: on his first apostolic trip outside Rome as Pope in 1979, and again in 1990, 1999 and 2002.
The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is celebrated on
December 12th. In 1999, Pope John Paul II, in his homily from the Solemn Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, during his third visit to the sanctuary, declared the date of December the 12th as a Liturgical Holy Day for the whole continent.
During the same visit Pope John Paul II entrusted the cause of life to her loving protection, and placed under her motherly care the innocent lives of children, especially those who are in danger of not being born.
Am I not here, I, who am your Mother?
Are you not under my shadow
and protection?
Am I not the source of your joy?
Are you not in the hollow of my mantle,
in the crossing of my arms?
Do you need anything more?
Let nothing else worry you, disturb you.
In 1531 a "Lady from Heaven" appeared to a humble
Native American, Juan Diego, at Tepeyac, a hill northwest of what is now Mexico City.
She identified herself as the Ever Virgin Holy Mary, Mother of the True God, of the Creator of all things, Lord of heaven and earth.
She asked for a church to be built on the site, and submitted her wish to the local Bishop. When the Bishop hesitated, and requested a sign, the Mother of God obeyed without delay or question and sent Juan Diego to the top of the hill in mid-December to gather an assortment of roses for the Bishop. After complying with the Bishop's request for a sign, She also left for us an image of herself imprinted miraculously on Juan Diego’s tilma, a poor quality cactus-cloth, which should have deteriorated in 20 years but shows no sign of decay 479 years later and still defies all scientific explanations of its origin.
Science still cannot explain the fact that the image is not in the fibers of the tilma, but hovers over it.
Modern microscopes have revealed that the pupils of her eyes contain images of what was in front of her in 1531, most especially the face of Juan Diego.
Her message of love and compassion, and her universal promise of help and protection to all mankind, as well as the story of the apparitions, are described in the "Nican Mopohua", a 16th century document written in the native Nahuatl language.
There is reason to believe that at Tepeyac Mary came in her glorified body, and her actual physical hands re-arranged the roses in Juan Diego’s tilma, which makes this apparition very special.
An incredible list of miracles, cures and interventions are attributed to Her. Yearly, between 18 - 20 million pilgrims visit the Basilica, making it Christianity's most visited sanctuary.
Altogether 25 popes have officially honored Our Lady of Guadalupe. His Holiness John Paul II visited her Sanctuary four times: on his first apostolic trip outside Rome as Pope in 1979, and again in 1990, 1999 and 2002.
The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is celebrated on
December 12th. In 1999, Pope John Paul II, in his homily from the Solemn Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, during his third visit to the sanctuary, declared the date of December the 12th as a Liturgical Holy Day for the whole continent.
During the same visit Pope John Paul II entrusted the cause of life to her loving protection, and placed under her motherly care the innocent lives of children, especially those who are in danger of not being born.
Am I not here, I, who am your Mother?
Are you not under my shadow
and protection?
Am I not the source of your joy?
Are you not in the hollow of my mantle,
in the crossing of my arms?
Do you need anything more?
Let nothing else worry you, disturb you.
A Pillow for Baby Jesus
Long ago in Poland… in ancient Krakow… there lived an old widow named Helena. On the morning of Christmas Eve she went to the Dominican Church to watch the priests put up the Christmas crèche. She saw Father Jacek put the beautiful statue in the manger and she noticed that the baby Jesus had no pillow. She told the priest that baby Jesus should have a pillow and that the hay was too scratchy… But Father Jacek said the monastery had no money for a pillow and that the Holy Family was very poor and that is most likely the way Mary placed the little baby Jesus. All Helena could say was “I don’t think so!”
When Helena went home all she could think about was baby Jesus lying on that scratchy and rough hay and the more she thought about it the more angry she became. “What does Father Jacek know about how a mother would prepare for a baby? She said to herself. “Of course Mary had a pillow for the baby Jesus!” She answered herself.
She decided that she had to make supper and got out the fixing to make home made kluski (noodles) with cabbage. But as she was rolling out the dough she became angrier and angrier that the poor baby Jesus had no pillow and her kluski got bigger and bigger until she realized that she wasn’t really making the delicate noodles she had planned. Then she had an idea! She would make little pillows from the dough and stuff them with cabbage! After she had done that she decided that maybe if she stuffed the pillows with blueberries they would be softer and have a wonderful fragrance of summer…. So she made some little pillows stuffed with blueberries! And then she thought …
if I stuffed the pillows with cheese they would be ever so soft! And so she stuffed some of her little pillows with cheese!
After she had boiled all her little pillows she took them to the Dominican church for baby Jesus. Father Jacek was praying at the crèche and when he was shown the little pillows he became very excited! He said to Helena “Oh thank you so much! Here it is Christmas Eve and the monks have nothing for supper… how kind of you to think of us!”
Well… what could Helena say… she gave the little pillows to Father Jacek … thankful that she could help the poor monks who had given all their own food to the poor but so sad that the Baby Jesus still had no pillow. She looked at the beautiful little statue and through her tears she was sure that she saw the baby Jesus smile and give her a little wink! And she knew that she had given the a baby Jesus a pillow after all… a soft and beautiful pillow… her heart filled with love and charity!
Nobody remembers little Helena today… even though she invented the little pillows that we call pierogi and that everyone has at their Christmas Eve dinner… but she doesn’t mind… Father Jacek on the other hand later became the famous St. Jacek, St. Hyacinth in English, one of the patron saints of Poland and interestingly enough… the patron saint of pierogi makers! (As if it were his idea!)
The moral to this story is that all of us are called to prepare the way for Jesus… not with a soft pillow but with a soft heart… to comfort those who are lonely or sad… to take the time for someone who just needs to talk… to have compassion and patience on those who just need our time… these are the presents that we can prepare for the Baby Jesus… Like Helena, our charity and kindness will make Him smile!
When Helena went home all she could think about was baby Jesus lying on that scratchy and rough hay and the more she thought about it the more angry she became. “What does Father Jacek know about how a mother would prepare for a baby? She said to herself. “Of course Mary had a pillow for the baby Jesus!” She answered herself.
She decided that she had to make supper and got out the fixing to make home made kluski (noodles) with cabbage. But as she was rolling out the dough she became angrier and angrier that the poor baby Jesus had no pillow and her kluski got bigger and bigger until she realized that she wasn’t really making the delicate noodles she had planned. Then she had an idea! She would make little pillows from the dough and stuff them with cabbage! After she had done that she decided that maybe if she stuffed the pillows with blueberries they would be softer and have a wonderful fragrance of summer…. So she made some little pillows stuffed with blueberries! And then she thought …
if I stuffed the pillows with cheese they would be ever so soft! And so she stuffed some of her little pillows with cheese!
After she had boiled all her little pillows she took them to the Dominican church for baby Jesus. Father Jacek was praying at the crèche and when he was shown the little pillows he became very excited! He said to Helena “Oh thank you so much! Here it is Christmas Eve and the monks have nothing for supper… how kind of you to think of us!”
Well… what could Helena say… she gave the little pillows to Father Jacek … thankful that she could help the poor monks who had given all their own food to the poor but so sad that the Baby Jesus still had no pillow. She looked at the beautiful little statue and through her tears she was sure that she saw the baby Jesus smile and give her a little wink! And she knew that she had given the a baby Jesus a pillow after all… a soft and beautiful pillow… her heart filled with love and charity!
Nobody remembers little Helena today… even though she invented the little pillows that we call pierogi and that everyone has at their Christmas Eve dinner… but she doesn’t mind… Father Jacek on the other hand later became the famous St. Jacek, St. Hyacinth in English, one of the patron saints of Poland and interestingly enough… the patron saint of pierogi makers! (As if it were his idea!)
The moral to this story is that all of us are called to prepare the way for Jesus… not with a soft pillow but with a soft heart… to comfort those who are lonely or sad… to take the time for someone who just needs to talk… to have compassion and patience on those who just need our time… these are the presents that we can prepare for the Baby Jesus… Like Helena, our charity and kindness will make Him smile!
Gleanings: December
Contemplation is nothing else than a secret, peaceful, and loving infusion of God, which if admitted, will set the soul on fire with the Spirit of love.
~St. John of the Cross
Fight all error, but do it with good humor, patience, kindness, and love. Harshness will damage your own soul and spoil the best cause.
~St. John Cantius
Those whose hearts are pure are temples of the Holy Spirit.
~ St. Lucy
It is not the actual physical exertion that counts toward a man's progress, nor the nature of the task, but the spirit of faith with which it is undertaken.
~ St. Francis Xavier
Whenever anything disagreeable or displeasing happens to you, remember Christ crucified and be silent.
~St. John of the Cross
In some causes silence is dangerous.
~Saint Ambrose
He is not wise to me who is wise in words only, but he who is wise in deeds.
~ Saint Gregory
If it is "daily bread," why do you take it once a year? . . . Take daily what is to profit you daily. Live in such a way that you may deserve to receive it daily. He who does not deserve to receive it daily, does not deserve to receive it once a year.
~St. Ambrose
When in Rome, live as the Romans do; when elsewhere, live as they live elsewhere.
~ Saint Ambrose
The rich man who gives to the poor does not bestow alms but pays a debt.
~St. Ambrose
~St. John of the Cross
Fight all error, but do it with good humor, patience, kindness, and love. Harshness will damage your own soul and spoil the best cause.
~St. John Cantius
Those whose hearts are pure are temples of the Holy Spirit.
~ St. Lucy
It is not the actual physical exertion that counts toward a man's progress, nor the nature of the task, but the spirit of faith with which it is undertaken.
~ St. Francis Xavier
Whenever anything disagreeable or displeasing happens to you, remember Christ crucified and be silent.
~St. John of the Cross
In some causes silence is dangerous.
~Saint Ambrose
He is not wise to me who is wise in words only, but he who is wise in deeds.
~ Saint Gregory
If it is "daily bread," why do you take it once a year? . . . Take daily what is to profit you daily. Live in such a way that you may deserve to receive it daily. He who does not deserve to receive it daily, does not deserve to receive it once a year.
~St. Ambrose
When in Rome, live as the Romans do; when elsewhere, live as they live elsewhere.
~ Saint Ambrose
The rich man who gives to the poor does not bestow alms but pays a debt.
~St. Ambrose
Laughter is a Gift from God
An Irish farmer named Muldoon lived alone in the countryside with a small dog that he loved and doted on. After many long years of faithful companionship, the dog finally died, so the farmer went to the parish priest and said, “Father, me dear old dog is dead. Could you be saying a Mass for him?”
The priest replied, “I’m so very sorry to hear about your dog’s death, but unfortunately I can’t say Mass for the poor creature.”
Muldoon said, “I understand, Father, I do. I guess I’ll go to that new denomination down the road; no tellin’ what they believe. Do you think $500 is enough to donate for the service?”
The priest replied, “Why didn’t you tell me that your dog was a Catholic?”
* * * * * *
A priest was giving a lesson on the 23rd Psalm to a group of children. He noticed that Little Johnny seemed upset by the verse,
“Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life.”
What’s wrong, Johnny? The priest asked.
“Well,” replied Little Johnny, “I’m not worried about goodness and mercy, but I’m not sure I’d like Shirley following me around all the time.”
The priest replied, “I’m so very sorry to hear about your dog’s death, but unfortunately I can’t say Mass for the poor creature.”
Muldoon said, “I understand, Father, I do. I guess I’ll go to that new denomination down the road; no tellin’ what they believe. Do you think $500 is enough to donate for the service?”
The priest replied, “Why didn’t you tell me that your dog was a Catholic?”
* * * * * *
A priest was giving a lesson on the 23rd Psalm to a group of children. He noticed that Little Johnny seemed upset by the verse,
“Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life.”
What’s wrong, Johnny? The priest asked.
“Well,” replied Little Johnny, “I’m not worried about goodness and mercy, but I’m not sure I’d like Shirley following me around all the time.”
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