More Travel

Time to pack up the computer. Leaving for California this afternoon. Provincial Council Meeting tomorrow and the celebration of the feast of St. Gaspar del Bufalo.

Happy Feast to all!!

posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. on 12:59 PM link

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Crosses

In honor of the feast of St. Paul of the Cross, founder of the Passionists, here is a little stroke from the pen of St. Gaspar:

Let us joyfully carry the cross that God gives us: I am overflowing with joy all the more because of all our affliction. (2 Cor. 7:4) Do not think about the past; be at peace, very much at peace and even more so with regard to the present which promises further and more ample blessings. If suffering is a grace, which it truly is, this is a sign of those more mature merits for which God is disposing us.

Our lives, more or less, are like winter. In the springtime one sees the work that the winter has produced in the depths of the earth. Be courageous. These are the fruits that arise from the plant of the cross. Let us apply this image of winter to our souls.

Never lose hold of a sweet confidence in God: never lose serenity of mind in God. To pray, for example, for more suffering is not, in my judgment, something called for at the present time. Let us willingly suffer whatever God wishes. Let us repeat often: Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10) We are to do the will of God as it is done in heaven. So, make distant those feelings of anguish, I repeat, those fears, those perplexities. Why are you downcast, my soul (Psalm 42:6) Let us enjoy the peace which God grants to us and in his divine Heart let us find that feeling of calmness even in all the storms that surround us.

Letter of St. Gaspar del Bufalo to Mother Maria Nazzarena De Castris, January 1, 1834, Letter 2648

posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. on 12:56 PM link

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Moments of fun and grace

The image of baseball is for me a reminder of youth and days of fun. When I was located in the Bay Area I would often take my Day off at Candlestick Park and watch a Giants game. The experience would often feel like putting "years" between situations and difficulties at the parish. It would be true recreation, a real day off. Occasional days off I would have taken books or papers to read and reflect on, but you could not do that at the ball park. There are some games that are truly memorable, like the time my sister took me to the ball park for my birthday and ended up getting the whole section to sing happy birthday. I remember when Robby Thomson hit for the cycle. The Giants did not win that day but it was still exciting.

Well the Giants did not win this year. None of my teams won this year as I found myself rooting for Oakland, Boston and the Cubs at various points. But it was still a good year and there were good times. I did not make it to a game this year which is the first time that has happened in a long time. I had wanted to see the Giants play the White Sox here in Chicago only 18 blocks from here, but that became out of the question when I ended up spending the summer in Europe.

This was all brought to mind in opening mail today. (There is still a huge pile) A good friend and Precious Blood Companion has sent me an article from the local paper about one of the Giants players. The exeperience of exuberance and grace in the article brought back a flood of these fun memories.

Here is the entire article

Galarraga had taken a lead off of first base, but the pitcher barely acknowledged the threat. Galarraga hadn't stolen a base all year. He had stolen just four in the last four seasons. Old and big, he can be timed from base to base, as the scouts like to say, with a calendar.

But just as the pitcher released his pitch, and to the gasps of the sold-out crowd at Pac Bell, Galarraga broke for second. The opposing catcher was so flabbergasted, he stood with the ball in his hand and watched Galarraga reach second safely. We leaped to our feet and cheered. Galarraga's face lit up like a kid in his first sandlot game. His teammates in the Giants dugout howled.


St. Gaspar and our spirituality would often call us to celebrate the little victories. I would count this as one such moment of grace.

posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. on 11:43 AM link

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