[Salvation]

St. Paul Center blog

A True Thanksgiving

Posted by Matthew Leonard on 11.21.12 |

The turkey is thawing. Cars are being packed. Houses are being cleaned. I guess I’ve finally grown up because everybody’s on their way to my house this year. For the first time the Leonard family is hosting Thanksgiving. So while I don’t have to drive hours on end to distant lands in a van full of restless children, all juice spills and unidentified food items must be removed from the floors and walls of my house. Then there’s the pressure of playing the perfect host. Let’s be honest. It’s always lot easier to be the special guest star than The Love Boat “Julie McCoy”, making sure everyone has a good time. Regardless, I love it.

Even though every family has it’s foibles, there are few things which bring more pleasure than celebrating with relatives and close friends. And no matter our particular situation at this moment in the year, don’t forget that we have a lot to be thankful for…especially as Catholics. While our country celebrates Thanksgiving once a year with turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce, we have the opportunity to celebrate a true thanksgiving every day with the most real food on heaven and earth - the Eucharist. In fact, the Greek word “eucharistia” means just that - “thanksgiving”. Because of the Eucharist, EVERY day can be a “Happy Thanksgiving”. So in the midst of all the frenetic activity surrounding this holiday weekend, make sure to take some time and be truly thankful with our Lord in the Mass.

And from all of us here at the St. Paul Center, God bless and Happy Thanksgiving!

Matthew Leonard
Executive Director

[Salvation]

Vultus Christi

Cecilia

By

Father Mark

 on November 22, 2012 11:50 AM |

Wishing a very blessed feastday to our Oblate sister Cecilia of Rome in Connecticut!

A Veiled Face

I never tire of looking at the statue of Saint Cecilia which lies over the tomb in her church in Rome’s Trastevere. Cecilia is lying on her side, looking almost as if she had been flung there. Her lovely face is hidden and her head is covered with the veil of virgins. The slash of the cruel blade across her neck is visible.

Faith

Even in death Cecilia declares her Catholic faith: the finger of one hand is extended, signifying her faith in the one true God. With three fingers of the other hand she confesses the Most Holy Trinity. Her knees are drawn up, making her look like a sleeping child. Her dress falls in graceful folds about her body. The whole composition is marked by purity and grace.

Found Incorrupt

In 1599, when Pope Clement VIII disinterred Saint Cecilia’s body, it was found to be incorrupt. The Pontiff engaged Stefano Maderno to carve Cecilia just as she was discovered. The artist inscribed his testimony on the statue’s base: “Behold the body of the most holy virgin Cecilia whom I myself saw lying incorrupt in her tomb. I have in this marble expressed for thee the same saint in the very same posture of body.”

A Masterpiece

Stefano Maderno was only twenty-three when he carved his Saint Cecilia; though he lived be forty, Saint Cecilia is his masterpiece. Reposing in death, Cecilia illustrates the truth of the psalmist’s words: “God gives to His beloved in slumber” (Ps 127:2).

Thérèse

Maderno’s Saint Cecilia reminds me also of the young Thérèse Martin who lingered before it while on pilgrimage to Rome with her father in 1887. Later on, Thérèse was inspired to write this prayer:

Cecilia, lend to me thy melody most sweet:
How many souls would I convert to Jesus now.
I fain would die, like thee, to win them to His feet;
For him give all my tears, my blood. Oh, help me thou!
Pray for me that I gain, on this our pilgrim way
Perfect abandonment that sweetest fruit of love.
Saint of my heart! Oh, soon, bring me to endless day;
Obtain that I may fly, with thee, to heaven above!

April 28, 1893