Reflections

[Atticus Pizzaballa]

Daily reflection from Fulton Sheen........

[Clipper]

I used to listen to him on the radio once in a great while, and my gram used to watch him on TV. A very wise man. When I was in Vietnam my grandmother sent me a prayer book that he had written specifically for military people who were serving in wartime. In later years when my dad was coming to live with us after my mom died we were going through a box of his old letters and post cards that my mom had saved. He sent post cards from all over while he was serving in the air force. It turns out that my gram had sent HIM the same book when he was serving during WWII. It is still around here in a box of his scrap book and things. I don't know what ever happened to my copy. His copy was stamped on the inside of the cover with a rubber stamp from the old Catholic Book Store. My mom was great for preserving things. When cleaning out their house I also found a Sunday Missal and a prayer book that my gram had bought for me when I was a kid. I guess she put it away when I had left home for the Navy.

The memory prompted me to get out my box of memorabilia and browse through it.

After all these years I still have the scapular and the rosary she bought me and had blessed at the Shrine at St Anne De Beaupre' when we took her and my dad's aunt back to their hometown of Notre Dame De LaSallette, Quebec one summer. I have a metal fruit cake can that holds my navy medals, some rank patches, my dog tags, some Hong Cong dollars, a few Japanese 100 Yen coins, and a couple of $1 Military Payment Certificates that we were paid with instead of green back dollars. It also contains my grandfather's pocket watch, my dad's Univac retirement watch, my fire department badge from Griffiss, my hat badge from Central NY Coach Lines, EMT Instructor patches along with the stuff from my grandmother and some other miscellaneous keepsakes. Just stuff that I told my oldest son I want him to have and keep when I die.

It seems as though as I age it doesn't take much to trigger old memories. The mention of Bishop Sheen reminded me of the book, and look where it led my mind from there.

[Atticus Pizzaballa]

That's a good thing Clipper. It is a shame that two dioceses are arguing over who gets the body. Sheen had been buried in New York, but his body needed to be moved to Peoria for his sainthood cause to progress. After years of legal back-and-forth, a pro-Peoria court ruling led to Sheen's remains being exhumed in June 2019 and moved to a crypt at St. Mary's Cathedral.Aug 18, 2021. The Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception is a cathedral of the Catholic Church located in Peoria, Illinois, United States. It is the seat of the Diocese of Peoria, where the Catholic televangelist and sainthood candidate Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen was born and raised, and ordained a priest. I can just imagine how he would handle all that mess. Cut me in half and each take a section!

www.catholicpeoria.com/Cathedral



celebratesheen.com/

His tomb

[Atticus Pizzaballa]

[Atticus Pizzaballa]

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[Atticus Pizzaballa]

[Clipper]

Thanks for posting these daily PB. I start my day reading from a couple of daily devotion books and this is a welcome addition to my daily readings. John 1 verses1-5 was the reading for today on one of my other daily reading sites.

What does John 1:5 mean? [⇑ See verse text ⇑]
Jesus' light came during a dark time, according to verse 5. Sadly, mankind didn't respond very well. The second phrase of this verse is sometimes translated as "the darkness did not overcome it," or "the darkness did not comprehend it." The original Greek word is katalmbano, which can mean "acquire," "grasp," or "lay hold of." Since light is associated with knowledge, this in part means that Jesus was not (is not) understood by the world. Many people who reject the gospel do so because they misunderstand it. This inability to see Jesus for what He truly is has more to do with a person's stubbornness than with their intellect (John 7:17). The evidence is there, but those who prefer darkness will not see it for what it is. This also has a sense of "seizing," as in taking possession. Of course, the world would physically "grasp" the person of Jesus (John 19:18), but it could not overcome the Messiah (John 19:19–20).

That time spent first thing in the morning seems to put my mind in a good place to start my day. I am not what one would call "religious" by any means. I DO however have a deep belief and deep devotion to the savior that rescued me from a life of addiction to alcohol and taught me that prayer has amazing power. Many years ago now (1976) AA taught me to truly believe in a higher power. The higher power I chose was Jesus Christ. AA didn't tell me that I should go to church. Right or wrong I find that my salvation is dependent on my relationship with God, and how I live my life. Not on church suppers, men's breakfasts, and collection plates. I just happen to be content with me, my bible, and prayer, trying to help others in need, minimize my own sins, finding solace in knowing the Lord to whom I am extremely thankful.

In reference to Bishop Sheens quote, I believe that God speaks to us many times daily. Sometimes a whisper and sometimes quite loudly. In fact I think that sometimes when we don't take the time to listen he gives us a not so subtle kick in the pants to get our attention.

[Atticus Pizzaballa]

[Atticus Pizzaballa]

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