John Janaro's Blog, page 186

Athanasius: "Death Has Lost It's Power..."

On May 2 we celebrate the great Saint Athanasius of Alexandria (c. 293-373).

Athanasius was the courageous preacher and defender of the One God as a Trinity of persons, and the true incarnation of the Son—homoousios with the Father and the Spirit in His Divinity, fully united with us in His humanity born of the Virgin Mary.

Saint Catherine of Siena and My Roman Days

As the end of this month was approaching, I had a vague feeling that something was missing. It was like... "Something happens around this time, something special, what the heck is it?"

Then along comes April 29th.
SUNDAY , April 29, 2018.
Oh geepers, this is usually one of my favorite days.
Ah, but Sunday takes precedence over most of the saints' days in the current Roman Rite. That's why it's missing from my calendar.
Why it was missing from my brain I cannot say. How could I forget Kate? ...Kate my homie, from Romie!
April 29th is usually the day we honor the great Saint Catherine of Siena. Definitely one of the Captains of God's Girl Squad. Her remains are under the high altar of the church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva in Rome. (Well, most of her remains are there, but that's a long story.)
She is a great "presence" in Rome. Indeed, I believe she helped me a lot.
A quarter of a century ago, I lived in Rome. And when I say "lived in Rome" I mean literally in Rome, in a small palazzo on the Via Liberiana across the street from Santa Maria Maggiore. The bells of the great 1500 year old Basilica rang every quarter hour from early morning to around 21:00 in the evening (my fellow Americans, that means 9 PM). I can still hear them in my head.
I was working on a research project and living with some Italian friends in an 18th century building that would have been a museum if it were in the U.S.A., whereas in Rome it was just a building. I had lots of time flexibility, and I used it to explore the ancient neighborhoods.
Rome is a great city to walk in. And after a while you get used to things in a way you never would have thought possible: "Oh yeah, Trajan's column that's cool,...another Borromini church,...hey there Pantheon, ...hmm Colosseum, Colosseum, lots of cats and pickpockets over there..." But you don't get bored.
Rome is a great place to visit, and to live (if you're willing to put up with certain things). It's a great place to study. It's a great place to goof around. It's a great place to eat! It's even a great place to have an epic psychological meltdown (insofar as any place can be).
On all these things I speak from personal experience.

My Morning Offering (Slightly "Modified"

Praying, sleeping, or posing... Hey, I needed a picture, ok?God's ways are mysterious and vast, beyond our understanding. He is an awesome God, even in (especially in) His love.

And He is transforming us by drawing us into a participation in that love.

Who knows the deep connections of love that wind through the Mystical Body of Christ and reach out to all humanity?

When we say to God each day, “I offer you everything…” He gives over the energy of our small love in union with the Cross of Christ so that its power might sustain others.
When we give ourselves to God, He does with us what He wants.
I know that I must grow in the trust that really enables me to let go and give over everything to God.
When I offer my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings to God, it is usually accompanied by an unspoken list of preferences:
“O Lord, take my sufferingsand use them according to your will,but (if it is your will, of course)please don’t make them any worse;in fact, take away these sorrows and pains,enable me to use my talents,make me (just a little bit) successful,and—why not?—give me a few goodies,like maybe some more money(if it is your will, of course).”
We could call this "John Janaro's Modified Morning Offering."

My Morning Offering (Slightly "Modified"

Praying, sleeping, or posing... Hey, I needed a picture, ok?God's ways are mysterious and vast, beyond our understanding. He is an awesome God, even in (especially in) His love.

And He is transforming us by drawing us into a participation in that love.

Who knows the deep connections of love that wind through the Mystical Body of Christ and reach out to all humanity?

When we say to God each day, “I offer you everything…” He gives over the energy of our small love in union with the Cross of Christ so that its power might sustain others.
When we give ourselves to God, He does with us what He wants.
I know that I must grow in the trust that really enables me to let go and give over everything to God.
When I offer my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings to God, it is usually accompanied by an unspoken list of preferences:
“O Lord, take my sufferingsand use them according to your will,but (if it is your will, of course)please don’t make them any worse;in fact, take away these sorrows and pains,enable me to use my talents,make me (just a little bit) successful,and—why not?—give me a few goodies,like maybe some more money(if it is your will, of course).”
We could call this "John Janaro's Modified Morning Offering."

My Morning Offering (Slightly "Modified"

Praying, sleeping, or posing... Hey, I needed a picture, ok?God's ways are mysterious and vast, beyond our understanding. He is an awesome God, even in (especially in) His love.

And He is transforming us by drawing us into a participation in that love.

Who knows the deep connections of love that wind through the Mystical Body of Christ and reach out to all humanity?

When we say to God each day, “I offer you everything…” He gives over the energy of our small love in union with the Cross of Christ so that its power might sustain others.
When we give ourselves to God, He does with us what He wants.
I know that I must grow in the trust that really enables me to let go and give over everything to God.
When I offer my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings to God, it is usually accompanied by an unspoken list of preferences:
“O Lord, take my sufferingsand use them according to your will,but (if it is your will, of course)please don’t make them any worse;in fact, take away these sorrows and pains,enable me to use my talents,make me (just a little bit) successful,and—why not?—give me a few goodies,like maybe some more money(if it is your will, of course).”
We could call this "John Janaro's Modified Morning Offering."

My Morning Offering (Slightly "Modified"

Praying, sleeping, or posing... Hey, I needed a picture, ok?God's ways are mysterious and vast, beyond our understanding. He is an awesome God, even in (especially in) His love.

And He is transforming us by drawing us into a participation in that love.

Who knows the deep connections of love that wind through the Mystical Body of Christ and reach out to all humanity?

When we say to God each day, “I offer you everything…” He gives over the energy of our small love in union with the Cross of Christ so that its power might sustain others.
When we give ourselves to God, He does with us what He wants.
I know that I must grow in the trust that really enables me to let go and give over everything to God.
When I offer my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings to God, it is usually accompanied by an unspoken list of preferences:
“O Lord, take my sufferingsand use them according to your will,but (if it is your will, of course)please don’t make them any worse;in fact, take away these sorrows and pains,enable me to use my talents,make me (just a little bit) successful,and—why not?—give me a few goodies,like maybe some more money(if it is your will, of course).”
We could call this "John Janaro's Modified Morning Offering."

My Morning Offering (Slightly "Modified"

Praying, sleeping, or posing... Hey, I needed a picture, ok?God's ways are mysterious and vast, beyond our understanding. He is an awesome God, even in (especially in) His love.

And He is transforming us by drawing us into a participation in that love.

Who knows the deep connections of love that wind through the Mystical Body of Christ and reach out to all humanity?

When we say to God each day, “I offer you everything…” He gives over the energy of our small love in union with the Cross of Christ so that its power might sustain others.
When we give ourselves to God, He does with us what He wants.
I know that I must grow in the trust that really enables me to let go and give over everything to God.
When I offer my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings to God, it is usually accompanied by an unspoken list of preferences:
“O Lord, take my sufferingsand use them according to your will,but (if it is your will, of course)please don’t make them any worse;in fact, take away these sorrows and pains,enable me to use my talents,make me (just a little bit) successful,and—why not?—give me a few goodies,like maybe some more money(if it is your will, of course).”
We could call this "John Janaro's Modified Morning Offering."

My Morning Offering (Slightly "Modified"

Praying, sleeping, or posing... Hey, I needed a picture, ok?God's ways are mysterious and vast, beyond our understanding. He is an awesome God, even in (especially in) His love.

And He is transforming us by drawing us into a participation in that love.

Who knows the deep connections of love that wind through the Mystical Body of Christ and reach out to all humanity?

When we say to God each day, “I offer you everything…” He gives over the energy of our small love in union with the Cross of Christ so that its power might sustain others.
When we give ourselves to God, He does with us what He wants.
I know that I must grow in the trust that really enables me to let go and give over everything to God.
When I offer my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings to God, it is usually accompanied by an unspoken list of preferences:
“O Lord, take my sufferingsand use them according to your will,but (if it is your will, of course)please don’t make them any worse;in fact, take away these sorrows and pains,enable me to use my talents,make me (just a little bit) successful,and—why not?—give me a few goodies,like maybe some more money(if it is your will, of course).”
We could call this "John Janaro's Modified Morning Offering."

My Morning Offering (Slightly "Modified"

Praying, sleeping, or posing... Hey, I needed a picture, ok?God's ways are mysterious and vast, beyond our understanding. He is an awesome God, even in (especially in) His love.

And He is transforming us by drawing us into a participation in that love.

Who knows the deep connections of love that wind through the Mystical Body of Christ and reach out to all humanity?

When we say to God each day, “I offer you everything…” He gives over the energy of our small love in union with the Cross of Christ so that its power might sustain others.
When we give ourselves to God, He does with us what He wants.
I know that I must grow in the trust that really enables me to let go and give over everything to God.
When I offer my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings to God, it is usually accompanied by an unspoken list of preferences:
“O Lord, take my sufferingsand use them according to your will,but (if it is your will, of course)please don’t make them any worse;in fact, take away these sorrows and pains,enable me to use my talents,make me (just a little bit) successful,and—why not?—give me a few goodies,like maybe some more money(if it is your will, of course).”
We could call this "John Janaro's Modified Morning Offering."

My Morning Offering (Slightly "Modified"

Praying, sleeping, or posing... Hey, I needed a picture, ok?God's ways are mysterious and vast, beyond our understanding. He is an awesome God, even in (especially in) His love.

And He is transforming us by drawing us into a participation in that love.

Who knows the deep connections of love that wind through the Mystical Body of Christ and reach out to all humanity?

When we say to God each day, “I offer you everything…” He gives over the energy of our small love in union with the Cross of Christ so that its power might sustain others.
When we give ourselves to God, He does with us what He wants.
I know that I must grow in the trust that really enables me to let go and give over everything to God.
When I offer my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings to God, it is usually accompanied by an unspoken list of preferences:
“O Lord, take my sufferingsand use them according to your will,but (if it is your will, of course)please don’t make them any worse;in fact, take away these sorrows and pains,enable me to use my talents,make me (just a little bit) successful,and—why not?—give me a few goodies,like maybe some more money(if it is your will, of course).”
We could call this "John Janaro's Modified Morning Offering."