Posts tagged Mary

It seems like often the saints exaggerate certain virtues, even to the neglect of other virtues. This perception is usually just the result of misrepresentation on the part of biographers or popular legend, but is important nevertheless.

Saint Thomas Aquinas, for example, lived his life surrounded by books. He seemed to accept material plenty as an inconsequential fact of life. It didn’t hurt him spiritually, but he didn’t shy away from physical comforts, as evidenced by his considerable girth and the aristocratic company he often kept. He was born into plenty and never felt the need to leave because to him the physical world was a tool, a lens through which the perceptive observer could see God. 

Saint Francis of Assisi, on the other hand, rejected the wealth and excess of his youth for radical poverty. This man, who loved life with unmatched zeal, saw the world of men as an obstacle. Whereas Thomas was never even tempted by lust, Francis refused to look at a woman when he spoke to her in order to avoid temptation. The early Franciscans were not allowed to own books, an unthinkable proposition for a Thomist. 

These characterizations are probably exaggerated as most saintly legends are, but the dichotomy has bothered me nevertheless. I identify with Thomas in that I love books and study, but I am nagged by the spectre of St.Francis- the unshakable feeling that my considerable possessions are keeping me from God. I think that my patron, St.Maximilian Kolbe, might have the answer.

The story of Kolbe’s death is well known. While imprisoned in Auschwitz, he volunteered himself for execution in the place of another man, and the already malnourished and frail priest survived two weeks of starvation before being executed by lethal injection on August 14, 1941, the day before the Feast of the Assumption of the Lady whom the great saint so loved. 

But Kolbe’s life was no less remarkable than the act that secured his place in history. For me, he represents the balance between the virtues of St.Francis and St.Thomas. Like Thomas, he loved study and embraced material items as tools for the glory of God. He was a Doctor of Philosophy at 20 and later on the community he founded produced the largest Catholic newspaper in Poland with the latest in modern printing technology. However, like Francis, he loved poverty and simplicity. Other than the press, the community at Marytown was a primitive affair. Even the visiting bishop ate from a simple wooden bowl. And of course, Father Kolbe was a Franciscan, so he had an explicit connection with that saint. 

St. Maximilian Kolbe, please pray for me that I may imitate you in the imitation of Christ. Please pray that I will find the same balance that you did, using modern technology for the glory of God while embracing the same Franciscan simplicity in which you lived your life.

(Source: acatholicvibe, via badwolfcomplex)

Holy Mary, 
Holy Mother of God, 
Holy Virgin of virgins, 
Mother of Christ, 
Mother of divine grace, 
Mother most pure, 
Mother most chaste, 
Mother inviolate, 
Mother undefiled, 
Mother most amiable, 
Mother most admirable, 
Mother of good counsel, 
Mother of our Creator, 
Mother of our Savior, 
Virgin most prudent, 
Virgin most venerable, 
Virgin most renowned, 
Virgin most powerful, 
Virgin most powerful, 
Virgin most merciful, 
Virgin most faithful, 
Mirror of justice, 
Seat of wisdom, 
Cause of our joy, 
Spiritual vessel, 
Vessel of honor, 
Singular vessel of devotion, 
Mystical rose, 
Tower of David, 
Tower of ivory, 
House of gold, 
Ark of the covenant, 
Gate of heaven, 
Morning star, 
Heath of the Sick, 
Refuge of sinners, 
Comforter of the afflicted, 
Help of Christians, 
Queen of Angels, 
Queen of Patriarchs, 
Queen of Prophets, 
Queen of Apostles, 
Queen of Martyrs, 
Queen Confessors, 
Queen of Virgins, 
Queen of all Saints, 
Queen conceived without original sin, 
Queen assumed into heaven, 
Queen of the most holy Rosary, 
Queen of Peace,

Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. 

Hail and thunder knock my heart cold from the sky

Mary seems so far away.

full of deceit and empty of

grace, I go to the place

blessed by those whose lives are pure

art, like a Caravaggio, like a pieta.

Thou liveth

amongst us, we broken

women and men. why hath thou

Blessed us?

is the fruit of our sins so sweet?

of thy desires I know nothing.

womb to tomb we are nothing but cells and dirt!

Jesus.

Holy - words like butterflies from the sky

Mary, I have no other hope. what is the

Mother of our depravity?

God. I cover my face. I try and fail to

pray. I am the damned and

for us damned there is no rest,

sinners until the earth rises in wrath.

now and then I am reminded that

at the hour of judgement,

of our glory, the last enemy destroyed is

death.

11/26/11

anovaoo:

“All my own perception of beauty both in majesty and simplicity is founded upon Our Lady.” - J.R.R. Tolkien

Could LOTR have a Marian message? http://consecration.com/default.aspx?id=45

(via fathershane)