Imprimatur Denied

Recently I sent a book and an accompanying note to Bishop Thomas J. Olmstead's office (bishop of Phoenix), requesting a review of the title "Mary and the Carmelite Saints", with the hope of receiving a nihil obstat / imprimatur.

I did this in keeping with the tradition of our Carmelite foundress St. Teresa -- who always allowed her manuscripts to be reviewed by Church authority, and who always encouraged absolute conformity to official teaching.

The bishop's office was kind enough to review the book, but did not provide the declaration.  Perhaps the Lord knows best what is needed...

Prayer To Our Lady Of Sorrows

St. Therese, Pranzini, and The Blessed Virgin

 

There is a well-known story of St. Therese of Lisieux and a criminal, Pranzini.

As a youth of 14 years, Therese had prayed for this "notorious" murderer, who was sentenced to death. Tenacious and unrepentant -- moments before his execution, he asked for a crucifix, which he took and kissed. Therese took this as a sign she had prayed for.

For more background, see:
https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2017/10/01/the-killer-and-the-saint-pranzini-and-therese/ 

There is, however, a bit more to the story.

Evidently this man, in spite of his dreadful crimes and wretched behavior, held at least a small devotion in his heart for the Blessed Virgin. It is said that on a couple of occasions, when passing by the local cathedral, he had stopped in to pay a short visit to her.

While not denying the value or efficacy of Therese's prayers, it was perhaps the intercession of the most Blessed Virgin at work in this instance also. Our Lady looked with love upon this pitiful soul: she would not allow one of her wayward children to perish for all eternity. And she helped obtain the miracle.

This account helps illustrate an important point. At many times and in many events in our life (often without our knowledge or understanding), Mary is there at work behind-the-scenes. Praying, helping, interceding for us...  In ways that only she can.

Epiphany Prayer

Merciful Father, You have called me to meet You in this word of the Gospel, because You wish that I may have life, You wish to give me yourself. Send, I pray You, Your Holy Spirit upon me so that I may let myself be led along the holy way of this passage of Scripture. May I, today, get out of my prison to set out on a journey to seek You. May I recognize the star that You have lit as a sign of Your love on my journey to follow it tirelessly, intensely, committing my whole life. May I, finally, enter Your house and there see the Lord; may I bend low humbly before You to adore You and offer my life to You, all that I am and all that I have. Lord, by Your grace, may I return by a new route, without ever passing through the old paths of sin.

The "Littleness" of God

I cannot fear a God who made himself so little for me!  

I love him!  Indeed, he is nothing but love and mercy.

-- St. Therese of the Child Jesus, LT #266

Mary Christmas...

A friend had this picture on Facebook. I stole it, and reproduced it here.  Love the message. 

There is also this wonderful history of male saints taking the name of "Mary":

• St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe
• St. Anthony Mary Claret
• St. Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort

There are probably others...

The Art of The Game...

Now realize that anyone who doesn't know how to set up the pieces for a game of chess won't know how to play well...

And oh, how permissible this kind of game will be for us; and how quickly, if we play it often, will we checkmate this divine King, who will not be able to escape, nor will he want to. . .

The queen is the piece that can carry on the best battle in this game, and all the other pieces help.  There's no queen like humility for making the King surrender.

Humility drew the King from heaven to the womb of the Virgin, and with it, by one hair, we will draw him to our souls.

-- St. Teresa of Avila, Way of Perfection, Ch. 16