Billy Collins

April is national poetry month. Billy Collins is one of my favorites.

Don't you think prayer/poetry is a good way to start the day?

Pornchai's Plea

If you don't follow the blog These Stone Walls, you should. The author is an incarcerated priest, Father Gordon Macrae. Recently, he posts abut Pornchai Moontri. Pornchai lived in Thailand until he was 11. He never went to school there, so he doesn't know how to read and write in Thai. He doesn't remember how to speak Thai, for that matter. But there's a good possibility that he may be deported there--not knowing anybody, nor having a prospects of employment, nor a place to live...the basic necessities. He doesn't know the language, anymore.

Can anyone help him?

Pornchai Moontri is incarcerated also. Please read his story, especially about his conversion. It would be ideal if some Thai religious affiliated group took him under their wing. He needs contacts to help him in Thailand, if and when he's deported. He speaks English well. He can read English and write, but he's much more fluent in math. He is excellent with his hands. He loves to do detailed carpentry. This schooner is an example of his work. He makes ships, boxes, statues, etc., and sells them. He really would be an asset, any where.

Any ideas, suggestions, or offer of help, please contact http://www.thesestonewalls.com/contact/

Mother Henri-Dominique Berthier, O. P.

You know how crazy I am about Pere Jean-Joseph Lataste, O.P., well he wouldn't be where he is today (becoming beatified June 3, 2012), were it not for Mother Henri-Dominique. She's the one who helped him.

Like myself, and many others, she fell in love with Pere Lataste's idea of a religious contemplative order, made up of ex-prisoners. Others who hadn't been in prison could join also, but being in prison, or not, no one could tell who was which. So Mother Henri-Dominique left her order, Presentation of Tours, to join the Dominicans.

It happened so fast. The Superior of the Sisters of the Presentation of Tours demanded their habit back. The Dominicans of Cette, France, immediately (two hours after her arrival), gave her the Dominican Habit. Undoubtedly, so Mother Henri-Dominique wouldn't feel so naked.

Their reasoning is important. The reason the Dominican Sisters of Cette put their habit on Mother Henri-Dominique so quickly was due to the fact that she belonged to the Third Order of St. Dominic. Yes! It seems that at that time, many religious privately made vows to the Third Order of St. Dominic. That title of tertiary was sufficient to authorize a Dominican habit. Also, the Provincial Prior, Pere Saudreau upheld the validity of Mother Henri-Dominique taking the habit.

It makes me wonder if belonging to the Lay Fraternities of Saint Dominic would be a ticket to the fast lane to heaven. Well, why not? If belonging to LFSD can get Mother Henri-Dominique clothes, just imagine what it'll do when St. Dominic sees us waiting in line at the pearly gate.

Another Example of Married Saints

Not quite saints, yet. The process of Beatification began in 2001. This couple is my generation. They lived in my times, my culture, my world. But their lives are so Christian. If they aren't saints, then no one can merit sainthood.

Marcello Inguscio was born in 1934. Anna Maria Ritter was born in 1938. He was Catholic; she was Waldensian. Both were musicians and interested in helping the sick. They met studying music and were reacquainted in a slum in Catania. They prayed together and dedicated themselves to volunteer work among the sick and elderly.

When they decided to marry, Marcello and Anna made an agreement. Marcello studied Protestant theology and Anna, Catholicism. Anna fell in love with the Eucharist. They married in 1968. Forty of their wedding guests were handicapped. And the newlyweds spent their wedding reception feeding the handicapped.

When they set up their house, it had a chapel, which became the ecclesial community Mission Church-World. The couple had two daughters, Marietta and Lucia. The girls thought it was normal to always have sick people as guests. Volunteership wasn't a hobby; it was a lifestyle.

Anna died of cancer in 1986. Marcello died of a heart attack in 1996. The Missione Chiesa-Mondo continues their work.

h/t Fr. Kevin Kraft, O.P. for his work on The lives of well married saints and holy people

Always Assume the Presence of Grace

It’s Easter morning, and I was distressed. I went to the tomb and Jesus wasn’t there.

Literally.

I’m referring to what happened to me in the sacristry. I was at 7:30 Mass and a man with his daughter approached me and asked what to do about his daughter receiving Communion and her celiac disease. I explained about the celiac wafers we have on hand and that Father would come shortly and talk to him. Father did come and I noticed that the man didn’t see him. He was still waiting for the priest.

I looked around the room and saw the problem. Do you know that there were three, 3, yes, three priests in the sacristry, and not one of them was in a Roman collar! So the man and his daughter were still waiting.

“Irked” describes my feelings. I bet the Protestant ministers were in Roman collars. But our Catholic priests were in civies. It’s Easter! Even the Walmart people were dressed in their best!

I was not in the proper mood to worship. Then, when Communion time came, I was shocked to see an acquaintance go up and receive the Eucharist. I know her to be virulently anti-Catholic. Her husband grew up Catholic, but married to her, he fell away. I have seen him for a month or so, at Sunday Mass—alone. But this morning, there she was, too.

I felt my blood pressure rise up, but I realized that I was not in the proper attitude to receive, myself, and went into prayer. By the grace of God, my attitude changed. I then saw two old friends, who had stopped going to church, in line to receive. And I also saw a slew of people, who I didn’t even know were Catholic, in the Communion line.

And I thought this was a good thing.

As Père Lataste would say, « J’ai vu des choses merveilleuses. »

eLumenate Introduces Father Lataste

eLumenate is a supplement to the Lay Dominican newsletter, eLumen. The Spring issue is devoted to my spiritual hero, Pere Marie Jean-Joseph Lataste, O.P.

Pere Lataste is going to be beatified on June 3rd. I am blessed to be going. Of course, I'll blog about the entire pilgrimage. Until then, you can read about Pere Lataste here.

He's noted for founding the Dominican Sisters of Bethany, along with Mother Henri-Dominique, O.P. He'll be beatified as the Apostle of Prisons because the Dominican Sisters of Bethany accept ex-prisoners. In fact, they have a "rule of discretion," which forbids questions and discussing a sister's background. There is no past in Bethany, only the present and future hope.

One of the best articles in this particular eLumenate, was written by a "cloistered brother" in New Jersey. He explained Latastian Spirituality.

"The spirituality of Pere Marie Jean-Joseph Lataste, O.P. upholds the dignity and humanity of those deprived of liberty. It also promotes a Christian response of the faithful to the poor and disenfranchised in a way the pre-dates and illuminates the social doctrine of the Church. Latastian spirituality is Dominican spirituality.

Pere Lataste's spirituality was informed by his Dominican vocation, nourished by the Christocentric mystery of the Paschal Lamb, and expressed in inclusivity and social concern."

Throughout the entire issue, is some nice art work. Also courtesy of a "cloistered brother."

Vote for the Archbishop

Go over to Time Magazine's site and vote for Cardinal Archbishop Timothy Dolan to be considered influential. There's a poll there tallying votes for whom should be considered. So if you think the President of USCCB, the Archbishop of New York, former Bishop of Milwaukee, and the author of numerous books is influential enough, go vote for him.