Episode 5 - Year of my Mid Life

Episode 5

YEAR OF MY MID LIFE

- ADDING SAINT LAWRENCE TO TEAM MDJ

Some of the best storytellers on the plains of Kansas in the mid 50s, especially when it came making the lives of the saints come alive, were the beautiful nuns teaching at Holy Family Catholic School in (rural) Eudora, Kansas.  Ranked as one of the best storytellers about the heroic saints was Sister Maria Goretti (...who likes spaghetti) .  This 5’ nun could hold her 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade students spellbound as she recounted the heroic deeds of many saints who had gone before us.  Most intriguing to the students were those ordinary men and women who were so dedicated to Christ and His message that they were willing to undergo martyrdom, dying for their faith.

Once upon a time, about 200 years after Christ died on the cross and then rose from the dead, most of His followers were called Christians and they were hated and despised by just about everyone.  This prejudice against the Christians was especially true for about the first 300 years where non Christians, especially the Romans, would hunt, torture and kill these Christians just for fun.

At one time, a man named Lawrence of Rome was one of the Romans who would join in the torturing and killing of the Christians. Lawrence took part in one torture which took a dreaded Christian and tied various parts of his body to horses and then the horses would be directed to tear the body apart, limb by limb.  (This part of the story was especially intriguing to the minds of second grade boys).

After one of these murders, Lawrence was so moved by the faith of the tortured Christian that he left that line of work and became a Christian himself.  Not only did he become a Christian but he was ordained as one of the deacons in Rome. One one day the Romans killed the other six deacons of the church in Rome but left Lawrence for the last since they thought that he controlled all the money in the Church.  The Romans wanted all of the treasurers of the Church but Lawrence said that it would take three days to gather all of that the Church had and so the Romans agreed.

Meanwhile, the wise Lawrence decided to take all the monies and precious items in the Church and distribute among the poor and destitute of the city. Then on the third day when the Romans were expecting to receive gold, silver, coins they questioned Lawrence as to where these treasures of the Church were. At that point, Lawrence paraded the poor, the  destitute in front of the Romans announcing that these (people) were the jewels, the real treasures of the Church.  

Whether the Romans just failed to see the truth of Lawrence’s proclamation or maybe they just lost their sense of humor (since they were expecting hoards of gold and other fine things) they decided to put Lawrence to a long-protracting, torturous death over a slow fire on an open grill.  (Again, the minds of 2nd grade boys quicken).  

It is said that Lawrence talked to his captors and torturers through this long, painful ordeal.  About halfway through his martyrdom, Lawrence turns to his tormentors and exclaimed, “Well, I am done cooking on this  side ...so now you can turn me over on the grill”

After they flipped his body to start the slow cooking on the other side, the torture continued for several hours and our saint continued to talk to his tormentors.  St. Lawrence’s last words was a prayer that God would  eventually convert all of Rome to Christianity.

Of course, this story of the martyrdom of St. Lawrence could be told so much better by Sister Maria Goretti (who likes spaghetti) to just about any audience.

Again, here is a saint who knew suffering.  He knew pain. He has experience. Not only that, this Saint can teach us all about adding a little humor to situations that seem insurmountable.  (With God all things are possible).  Surely this man of God would play a valuable role on Team MDJ in this Year of my Mid Life and will make a welcome addition to the roster of the Intercessors.

Prayer to Saint Lawrence

O glorious Saint Lawrence, Martyr and Deacon, who, being subjected to the most bitter torments, didst not lose thy faith nor thy constancy in confessing Jesus Christ, obtain in like manner for us such an active and solid faith, that we shall never be ashamed to be true followers of Jesus Christ, and fervent Christians in word and in deed.   Amen.

Episode 4 - Year of my Mid Life

Episode 4

YEAR OF MY MID LIFE

- ADDING SAINT PEREGRINE TO TEAM MDJ

One of the favorite joys of my youth was to jump into the station wagon along with the rest of our family and ....(fist pumping in air) ...♪ ♫ See the U.S.A. ... in our Chevrolet... America is asking you to call” ♪ ♫. From one family vacation to another we never knew what wonderful adventure we would encounter.

Whether it was visiting Boot Hill of Dodge City (err... of James Arness) fame or visiting Mr. Ranger at Yellowstone National Park... we knew our summer vacation/camping trips across his great land of ours would always provide us with new things to be discovered.

At this time, one particular memory stand above the rest.  Traveling the roads of the Northern Michigan we were treated to the sights of huge billboards announcing coming attractions. As we approached Indian River, Michigan we kept seeing signs pointing this Catholic family to the National Shrine of the Cross in the Woods.  Imagine a 55’ cross carved out of one single redwood tree.  Upon that tree hung a 28’ bronzed image of the crucified Christ.  This monument sits on a hill at that shrine appropriately named Calvary.   

Conveniently located next to the National Shrine of the Cross in the Woods would be our beautiful campsite at Burt Lake State Park.  One would be hard pressed to find a better camping location and tourist attraction for this Catholic family.

One would think that sight alone could satisfy the appetites of curious Catholics but this is just one of many beautiful statues at that shrine although this crucifix would obviously be the largest. It is here that this Catholic youth was introduced to the life stories of those intercessors to the divine known by the names of  Blessed (now Saint) Kateri Tekakwitha, Our Lady of the Highway and ...St. Peregrine.

The statue of St. Peregrine was most intriguing since it depicted a man showing what looked like a horrific sore on this leg. None in our family knew that this Saint was given the title of “patron saint” of those with cancer.  Little did any of us realize what a role that cancer would play in the lives of various members of this particular family.

Since that first visit to that shrine more than four decades ago, my own family has had the privilege of visiting that shrine and drawing closer to the life of this saint.   Having lived more than six centuries ago might seem to distance this saint from us “modern day” Catholics until we realize that we continue to ask others to intercede to God for us and our friends who deal with the dreaded disease.

Before this man could be considered a man of God, he was first known ti be a rabble rouser, a gang member and an anti-Catholic.  At one particular Catholic rally in his town, Peregrine was hurling insult after insult to this a man named Father Philip (later to become known as Saint Philip).  Eventually Peregrine struck Father Philip in the face and, in turn, this godly man  Philip, offered his other cheek.  So impressed was this Christian persecutor known as Peregrine that he soon thereafter converted to Catholicism. Peregrine founded his own religious order of priests and he led others to Christ.  Over the years in his ministry, Peregrine developed cancer in his leg and was to have it amputated. On the night before his scheduled surgery the image of Christ came down from the crucifix as Peregrine prayed. The next morning he awoke to find that not only had his cancer disappeared but no surgery whatsoever was required.  This saint went on to live and minister for an additional twenty years since that night of encountering Chris. He died of natural causes at the age of 85.

This was not someone distanced from the disease  who only healed others with cancer but this saint actually had and lived with this disease himself.  He knew suffering.  He knew pain. He has experience. Surely this man of God would play a valuable role on  Team MDJ in this Year of my Mid Life and will make a welcome addition to the roster of the Intercessors.

Prayer to St. Peregrine Oh great St. Peregrine, you who have been called "The Mighty" and "The Wonder-Worker" because of the numerous miracles which you have obtained from God for those who have recourse to you. For so many years you bore in your own flesh this cancerous disease that destroys the very fiber of our being, and who had the recourse to the source of all grace when the power of man could do no more. You were favored with the vision of Jesus coming down from His Cross to heal your affliction. Ask of God and Our Lady, the cure of these sick persons whom we entrust to you.Aided in this way by your powerful intercessions, we shall sing to God, now and for all eternity, a song of gratitude for His goodness and mercy. Amen.

Episode 3 - Year of my Mid Life

Episode 3

YEAR OF MY MID LIFE

- ADDING SAINT BLAISE TO TEAM MDJ

Even when this Catholic boy was too young for his First Holy Communion, he can remember lining up after Mass to receive a blessing of the throats on February 3rd of each year when the Church celebrated the Feast of St. Blaise.  Parents even brought their babes in arms to the local priest to receive a special annual blessing of the throats, asking for the intercession of St. Blaise. In this special ritual blessing, two candles are blessed and held slightly open and pressed against the throat while a blessing is pronounced.

“Through the intercession of St. Blaise, bishop and martyr, may God deliver you from ailments of the throat and from every other evil. In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”

Whether or not a Catholic had a throat ailment on February 3rd  was not critical for receiving the special blessing because every good Catholic knew that we would most like need the intercession of the good saint in the upcoming months, especially since the feast day of the saint preceded the season of Lent and the consumption of more fish, especially the ones with the tiniest, sharpest bones. It also comes at a time in the midst of cold and flu season in this part of the world.

No faithful Catholic wanted to come down with a case of strep throat after February 3rd and have the fellow parishioners ask you if you had received the blessing of St. Blaise. Though getting this special blessing was never a guarantee that one was not going to get a throat ailment in the next 365 days, it was an indicator that someone other than ourselves could approach the Divine Healer on a regular basis and petition for special protection against any maladies of our throat.

Most Catholics are familiar with a story of a young boy who, with a fishbone stuck in his throat and near death, was brought to Saint Blaise who allegedly healed him. What some may be amazed to learn is that he is also considered the patron saint of wild animals primarily because of his treatment them and their maladies especially ailments of their throats. Like St. Francis of Assisi, St. Blaise was known to walk fearlessly with the wild animals living near the  cave where he fled to escape persecution as a 8th century Christian.

It is no wonder why this intercessor to the divine is a welcomed asset to the roster of Team MDJ in the “Year of My Mid Life”.

Episode 2 - Year of my Mid Life

Episode 2

YEAR OF MY MID LIFE

- BUILDING THE TEAM MDJ ROSTER - ST. MICHAEL

As previously revealed... this is the year of my midlife (believe it or not) ...which means that this humble human has every intention on walking upon this good earth quite a bit longer.  Though this midway mile-marker is cause for celebration and change, it is generally assumed that whenever anyone reaches this particular year of their “own” midlife (be it 40, 45, 50... or however many years old) ...certain challenges (maybe even mid-course corrections) must be expected. If not thoroughly prepared for the challenges that certainly will be thrown to body, mind and spirit, one might be tempted to try to tackle any or all of the presented challenges by themselves. Confronting challenges singlehandedly is pure foolishness. A team approach is needed and essential.

Caution:  Approaching any of these challenges without proper assistance and guidance can spell disaster for the mid lifer and create unnecessary diversions in the year in question.   Some foolish individuals attempting to meet these challenges without a strong team will likely stumble and fall flat on their face.  Typically,  anyone who has fallen prey to “pretty poor prior planning” usually resort to erratic, bizarre behaviors and actually create (for him/herself) what might be termed a “midlife crisis”).  So, first rule to avoid a crisis like this: “Once you have identified the onset of your own midlife year, make certain that you develop a solid team to assist and guide you through this critical year.”

Since the role of this team is to intercede for me on my behalf during this long 12 month season, the team roster of Team MDJ will ideally be filled with various personalities with strength and talent on both defense and offense, the team name most appropriately must be named “The Intercessors”.

By reading the first post in this series of the Year of My Mid Life, one can safely assume the first player drafted to “The Intercessors” would be none other than my own patron saint... Michael, the Archangel (....aka San Miguel). Michael brings to Team MDJ and to "The Intercessors" a wealth of experience battling the strongest of opponents and he always uses his shield to defend and his sword to root out obstacles as their challenges are presented to this mid lifer and the challenges that will surely arise.

Intercessory Prayer to St. Michael

Saint Michael the Archangel,

defend us in battle;

be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.

May God rebuke him, we humbly pray:

and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host,

by the power of God,

thrust into hell Satan and all the evil spirits

who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.

Amen.