Eucharist as Reconciliation

He's correct.  It is.Well, I learned something new.  I was reading my nephew's Facebook page and in commenting on this picture, he said " He’s often depicted with a dog, a cat, and a mouse drinking milk from the same bowl; a Eucharistic image of the reconciliation of natural enemies. "

He's correct.  It is.

Pope to hairdressers: Cut the gossip, highlight politeness

Pope to hairdressers: Cut the gossip, highlight politeness: VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Christian hairdressers, beauticians and barbers can live their faith by being kind and courteous to their clients and cutting out the gossip and petty chitchat, Pope Francis said.  The Pilot highlighted Pope Francis saying hairdressers should be like St. Martin de Porres.  St. Martin, as a barber was also the physician.  The job was diverse.  He is also known to be the Dominican St. Francis because of his love of animals.



You have no idea how many times I've gone by statues of St. Francis and wished I had paint with me to change Francis' habit to Dominican white and his skin to brown.

Dumb Bunnies

One of my favorite stories from the lives of saints is Saint Martin De Porres.  Legend has it that he  could talk to animals.  The story goes that the priory was becoming overrun with mice, so Martin had a talk with them and they didn’t bother the priory, anymore.  They were everywhere but they were never seen in the priory again.

I always thought that Martin laid out food for the mice in the barn.  Why go hunt for food in the priory when you can get it more easily in the barn?

That was until this year.  Rabbits are eating my flowers and vegetables.  I tried pulling the De Porres trick.  I leave lots of lettuce and vegetable scrapes out for the animals, so they’ll leave my garden alone.  They don’t.  So what’s wrong, St. Martin de Porres?

Br. Tonto Questions Cappa's Lenten Sacrifice

This is a Brother Tonto and Cappa Cartoon.  It looks like Cappa has given up "mice" for Lent.  There is a story about St. Martin de Porres regarding this same problem.  When the priory was overrun with mice, the prior turned to Martin for help.  The prior knew that Martin loved all animals, including rodents, and when the prior told Martin to find a way to rid the priory of the vermin, or he, the prior was going to kill them all.  

It is said that Martin called all the mice together, and explained the problem.  Martin told the mice to stay out of the priory, and especially to stay out of sight of the prior.  In return, Martin would feed them daily--in the barn.  It worked like a miracle.

St. Martin de Porres

How could anyone not like St. Martin de Porres?  What's there not to like?  He's the St. Francis Assisi of the Dominican Family.  He loves animals, cures, helps people, and exemplifies the virtue of humility.

There's a few stories that add to Martin's fame.  One of my favorites is the story about the rats.  It seems that the priory was overrun with rats.  The prior told Martin to set out poison to get rid of them.  Martin, of course, obeyed.  But he went outside and talked to the rats.  He told them about the poison and told them to stop annoying the prior and he would feed them every day, in the barn.  Both ends of the bargain were kept up.

To you Saint Martin de Porres we prayerfully lift up our hearts filled with serene confidence and devotion. Mindful of your unbounded and helpful charity to all levels of society and also of your meekness and humility of heart, we offer our petitions to you. Pour out upon our families the precious gifts of your solicitous and generous intercession; show to the people of every race and every color the paths of unity and of justice; implore from our Father in heaven the coming of his kingdom, so that through mutual benevolence in God men may increase the fruits of grace and merit the rewards of eternal life. Amen.


h/t for the prayer from Father Philip Powell, O.P.

St. Martin de Porres

Today is the Feast of St. Martin de Porres. One of my favorite stories about St. Martin is the one where he cut the hair of a friar too short. The friar called him every racial slur he could think of, insulting his intelligence, and whatever else he could think of. The prior happened to over hear and reprimanded the friar, but Martin said he didn't mind, everything the friar said was true. You see Martin had learned to offer up the crosses he met in the day. Every hurtful thing the friar hurled at Martin was used by Martin to bring himself closer to God.
I like the story, but I think with today's references. Martin would have been labeled a "sap." In letting people verbally abuse him he was enabling their abuse. He was not helping them advance on their path to God.
Complicated?
That's the meditation I like.