Blog Archives

Be Patient With Me

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

Today’s Word:

“Be patient with me” (Matthew 18:26)

On This Date…gertrud

On August 13, 1297, Sister Gertrude, O.Praem., a Norbertine nun, died at age 69, after leading her community in Germany for almost 50 years (chosen abbess at age 21). Her father died in the Crusades; her mother died when Gertrude was four and was canonized four years later (Gertrude attended the ceremony). Sister Gertrude was devoted to the poor and the sick, and also to prayer and the Holy Eucharist. Pope Benedict XIII approved devotion to Blessed Gertrude in 1728.

On August 13, 1932, Father Daniel Hurley, O.Praem., arrived at Archmere as the second member of the first faculty. Father Hurley became Archmere’s second headmaster in 1936 and served until he became ill in November 1945. He died in Wisconsin on September 25, 1963 at age 67.

In today’s Gospel Jesus tells a parable about a debtor who begged, “Be patient with me”. As leaders Sister Gertrude and Father Hurley displayed patience, models for us.

– Father McLaughlin

Celebrating Our Earthly Fathers

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

Today’s Word:

God so loved the world that He gave His only Son. (John 3:16)

On This Date…

isfrid

On June 15, 1204, Norbertine Bishop Isfrid died in Germany at age 90. He was born in 1115, and joined the Norbertine Order early on in its history. He became the superior of a Norbertine community in 1159, and later bishop in 1178.

Devotion to Isfrid as a saint was approved by Pope Benedict XIII in 1728.

On June 15, 1776, the members of the Delaware Assembly voted to end all connections with King George III of England. This “Separation Day” was the first big step toward independence.

delaware_seal

Today is Father’s Day. It was proposed by Sonora Dodd of Spokane, Washington to honor her father who was a Civil War veteran, and whose wife died in childbirth leaving him with six young children to care for.

Sonora Louise Smart Dodd

Sonora Louise Smart Dodd

Father’s Day was observed in Spokane beginning in 1910, and it was finally declared a national holiday in 1972 by President Richard M. Nixon.

Today is also Trinity Sunday. In the Gospel reading for today, Jesus says, “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son.” Jesus described God as a most generous father – a reminder to us to be grateful for our earthly fathers.

– Father McLaughlin

Greatness of Humility

Posted on by Fr. Joseph McLaughlin, O.Praem.
Today’s Word:

Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. (Matthew 18:4)

On This Date…

bl_gertrude

On August 13, 1297, Sister Gertrude, O.Praem., a Norbertine nun, died at age 69. As abbess of the convent, she led her community in Altenberg, Germany for nearly 50 years, having been chosen for the leadership role at age 21.

Sister Gertrude’s father had died en route to fight in the Sixth Crusade, and she was only four years old when her mother Elizabeth died at age 24. Her mother was canonized a saint four years later. Gertrude attended the ceremony.

Sister Gertrude was devoted to the poor and the sick. She spent her family’s inheritance for the building of her monastery’s church.

Pope Benedict XIII approved devotion to Blessed Gertrude in 1728.

1937_fr_hurley

On August 13, 1932, Father Daniel Hurley, O.Praem., arrived at Archmere. He was the second member of the first faculty to arrive. Father Hurley became Archmere’s second headmaster in 1936, serving until he became ill in November 1945. He died in Wisconsin on September 25, 1963, at age 67.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus says to his disciples, “Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.”

As exemplars of great humility, Blessed Gertrude and Father Hurley urge us to this same greatness.

– Father McLaughlin