S. Francis Caracciolo| Daily Meditation| Daily Quote by S. Padre Pio| Divine Mercy Reflection
Today in the Latin Calendar we celebrate the Feast Day of S. Francis Caracciolo, Confessor. A story about this Feast Day can be found
by Clicking Here.
Another Story:
“Zeal for Thy house has consumed me!”
Born in Villa Santa Maria, Italy on October 13, 1563, Francis Caracciolo was given the name Ascanio at his baptism. His mother was a relative of St. Thomas Aquinas. He lived a virtuous life as a youth and seemed inclined towards a religious vocation. When he was 22 he contracted a form of leprosy which he begged God to cure him of. He promised to follow what seemed clear to him as his calling to the priesthood immediately upon being cured.
He was cured instantly upon making the promise, and left immediately for Naples to study for the priesthood. On his ordination he joined the confraternity of The White Robes of Justice, who were devoted to helping condemned criminals to die a holy death, reconciled with God.
Five years after he went to Naples, a letter was delivered to him which was in fact addressed to another Ascanio Caracciolo, a distant relative. The letter was an appeal from Father Giovanni Agostino Adorno, of Genoa, to this other Ascanio to join him in founding a religious order. Reading the lettter he realized that the vision of Fr. Adorno was in total compliance with his own ideas for a religious institute and he interpreted this as a sign of God’s plan.
He responded to the letter and the two men spent a few weeks together in retreat to draw up the institutions and rule. The congregation was approved by Pope Sixtus V on July 1, 1588.
The congregation lives both and active and contemplaive life, perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament being one of the pillars of their life. They work with the sick, poor, prisoners and as missionaries. In addition to the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience, they have a fourth which forbids them to seek or accept ecclesiastical honors.
Upon making his profession, Caracciolo took the name Francis in honor of the saint of Assissi. He was noted for his ardent devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, often being found in ecstasy, and frequently repeating the words of the Psalm, “Zeal for Thy house has consumed me.” He died of a severe fever on the eve of Corpus Christi in Agnone, on June 4 in 1608, with his oft-repeated words on his lips. Those same words were found burned into the flesh of his heart when his body was opened after his death.
He was canonized by Pope Pius VII on May 24, 1807.
Daily Meditation
Our Only Concern:
Let our only concern be this: to love God and to please Him. Let us not be concerned about anything else, knowing that God will always have us in His care more than we can ask or imagine. -- S. Padre Pio
Quote by S. Padre Pio:
Rejoice, then, along with me at (the) outstanding benevolence of our good God.
Divine Mercy Reflection
Reflections on Notebook Two: 112-188
We now enter into Notebook Two of the six notebooks that make up the Diary of Saint Faustina. The reason for having more than one notebook is simply that when one notebook was filled by Saint Faustina she began with a new one. Therefore, there is nothing particularly different from one notebook to the other. However, for the purpose of this current book of daily reflections, each reflection will begin to be lengthened, starting here with Notebook Two, so as to help you, the reader, enter more deeply into the beautiful mysteries of faith and our shared spiritual life that have been revealed in these writings of Saint Faustina.
You are invited once again to take one reflection each day and to ponder it throughout the day. Try to pray the prayer for each reflection each morning, noon and evening. Allow each mystery reflected upon to become a source of wisdom and understanding for you.
Reflection 155: Facing Judgment with Grace
One painful experience you may face is that of the rash judgment by another. At times, others will look at you with judgment and disdain for reasons out of your control. Perhaps they will identify some small fault and magnify it in such a way that they use it as the lens through which they see your whole life. This can be quite painful and can evoke much disordered emotion. But it doesn’t have to. The only thing you can do in the face of rash judgment is to forgive and seek to offer Mercy. But how do you do this? It is only possible if you are first hidden within the Mercy of the Lord. If you allow your eyes and heart to gaze continually upon His Mercy, and if you allow Him to cover you with that Mercy, then one effect will be that the harshness of others will not enter into your soul. Instead, when pierced with this lance, your heart will pour forth the Mercy that our Lord has poured upon you in abundance (see Diary #791).
Reflect, today, upon two things: 1) Are your eyes fixed, intently, upon the Mercy of God? Does His Mercy cover you, shield you and hide you from the cruelty of the world? 2) If so, when you are an object of scorn or ridicule, do you allow the Lord to open your heart so as to pour forth His Divine Mercy? He wants to use your heart to be an instrument of His own sacred and pierced Heart. You allow Him to use you only when you first allow Him to consume you with His Mercy.
Lord, consume me with Your Mercy. May I find in You my dwelling place and may my heart become fully united with Yours. As my heart becomes one with Yours, dear Lord, use it as a source of Mercy for others. When pierced, allow it to pour forth Your grace in abundance. I give my heart to You for Your perfect purpose and Will. Jesus, I trust in You.
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