Monthly Archives: March 2015

O Lord, Hear My Prayer

Posted on by Fr. Joseph McLaughlin, O.Praem.

Today’s Word:

“O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you” (Psalm 102:2)

On This Date…

On March 24, 1980, Archbishop Oscar Romero was assassinated while celebrating Mass in a cancer hospital where he lived; he was 63 years of age, archbishop for just three years, and a voice for the poor and victims of violence. He had said, “If I am killed, I shall arise in the Salvadoran people.” On February 3, 2015 Pope Francis declared Archbishop Romero a martyr; he will be beatified in San Salvador on May 23, 2015.

On March 24, 1985, Abbot Norbert Calmels, O.Praem., died in Paris of cancer at age 76. He was Abbot General of the Norbertine Order from 1962 to 1982, and was at Daylesford Abbey for the abbatial blessing of Abbot Neitzel in 1971. During the last hours of his life, strengthened by the Sacrament of the Sick, he had “a childlike look of wonder turned toward the invisible.”

At Kenosis today Mr. Gabriel prayed, “O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you”. Archbishop Romero and Abbot Calmels were models of such prayer.

– Father McLaughlin

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Caring For Those With Whom We Live

Posted on by Fr. Joseph McLaughlin, O.Praem.

Today’s Word:

“…Joseph took his wife into his home” (Matthew 1:24a)

On This Date…

Saint Joseph with the Infant Jesus by Guido Reni, c 1635

Saint Joseph with the Infant Jesus by Guido Reni, c 1635

On March 19, 1925, the Feast of Saint Joseph, Msgr. Angelo Joseph Roncalli was consecrated a bishop; he became Pope John XXIII in 1958 and in 1962 added the name of Saint Joseph to the Canon of the Mass, the first change in the Canon in almost a thousand years.

On March 19, 1955, Abbot Bernard Pennings, O.Praem., was buried in DePere, Wisconsin on Saint Joseph’s Day. Abbot Pennings was pastor of Saint Joseph Parish in DePere from 1900 to 1955. He used to lay on the cold floor of Saint Joseph Church at night and beg Saint Joseph to intercede for the new and small Norbertine community in America.

On March 19, 2013, Pope Francis was inaugurated as pope; in his homily that day he called on people to protect children, the elderly, and those in need, citing Saint Joseph’s care of the Holy Family. Today he sent feast day greetings to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI whose baptismal name is Joseph.

In today’s Gospel we hear that Joseph “took his wife into his home”. Similar to Saint Joseph, we care for those with whom we live.

– Father McLaughlin

Rely on God in Prayer

Posted on by Fr. Joseph McLaughlin, O.Praem.

Today’s Word:

“The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob”                 (Ps. 46:8)

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Saint Patrick

On This Date…

On March 17, 461 AD Saint Patrick died in Ireland at age 76. He was born in Great Britain and was kidnapped at age 16 by Irish raiders, taken to Ireland, and forced into slavery as a shepherd. Enduring hard work and harsh climate, loneliness and poverty, Patrick learned to rely on God in prayer. After six years in captivity, Patrick escaped, made his way to the coast, and sailed for home. Later he had a dream in which he heard the Irish people say to him, “Come back and walk with us once more.” Patrick became a priest and bishop, and returned to Ireland where he spread the Gospel for 30 years, often in great danger. He died at the site of his first church.

On March 17, 1955 Abbot Bernard Pennings, O.Praem., the founder of Archmere, died in Green Bay, Wisconsin at age 93. Like Saint Patrick, Abbot Pennings was a missionary, serving as the leader of American Norbertines from 1893 to 1955.

At Kenosis today Mr. Gabriel prayed, “The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob”, words prayed and lived by Saint Patrick and Abbot Pennings.

– Father McLaughlin