Open up your heart | Musings from Rome

Hello to all my blogolites. 

 

Rome is crying tears from heaven as the rain comes down hard.  Tim and I went to St. Peter's Square early in the morning and I am glad we did. 

As we entered the square I saw a lone figure in the distance.
 

 As I approached, I saw a man dressed in a burlap sack kneeling on the hard stone ground praying.

I suddenly noticed that he had no shoes on and that his feet were battered and worn.  It was clear that he had walked a lot of miles without shoes.

 

I watched him for quite a while.  People would walk by him or take pictures of him but he did not look at them. 

 

My first thought was that he was a beggar because there are a lot of those in Rome.  But he was not asking for money.  I saw a nun give him some coins and I wondered if I should do the same.  A number of thoughts crossed my mind:  should I give him some money? who was he? was this a scam? 

 

I decided to give him coins but hesitated. I was nervous to approach this man who was dirty and very different from me.  Then I thought of the readings from the Mass with the Cardinals yesterday and specifically "love one another". 

 

I made my move.  I approached him, held out the coins and he opened his hand.  The coins clang as they fell into his hand.  I thought that was the end of my meeting with him and began to turn and walk away.  But he thanked me and asked where I was from.  He told me he was from Assisi.  He pulled a pamphlet out of his bag and told me to love the poor.  He again thanked me and said May God bless you.  I walked away.

I must have broken the ice because after I left a group gathered around him and I could hear them asking questions.  He answered in a very gentle way.

 

If you open up your heart and mind, if you don't let the fear of the unknown limit you, the world expands.  Love your neighbor and God will love you.

Your Friend,

Jay

Working in World and Married to the Lord? Unique Secular Institute to Be Discussed on CatholicTV Talk Show

On October 5th, the Secular Institute of Missionaries of the Kingship of Christ (SIM), a unique secular institute of women will be discussed on the CatholicTV talk show “This is the Day”.

SIM members are consecrated to the Lord, and as such do not marry. Unlike the typical religious brother and sister, SIM members do not live in community nor do they have a shared mission/apostolate. Instead, each member of the SIM has her own unique job, while aiming to live out the spirituality of St. Francis of Assisi.

This is the Day airs at 10:30AM ET at CatholicTV.com and on CatholicTV cable outlets. The show is rebroadcast at 7:30PM and other times during the week.

Mary Lou Carr, a member of the SIM will discuss SIM and her role during an interview on This is the Day.

According to SIM, “Missionaries formally consecrate themselves to the Lord through the vow of celibate chastity and the promises of the Gospel counsels of poverty and obedience, as outlined by our SIM Rule and Constitution. Our vow of chastity is a sign of our commitment to orient our whole lives to the reign of God above all other things. Through poverty the Missionary prepares an annual budget as an expression of the commitment to allocate all resources according to Gospel priorities.”

Saints Series on CatholicTV Examines Mother Teresa, St. Francis and Other Saints

Beginning July 6th, CatholicTV will air a mini-series looking at the lives and spirituality of Catholic saints.

The series is entitled “The Saints Always Belong to the Present” (The Saints) and is hosted by Msgr. Anthony Mancini from the Diocese of Providence, Rhode Island.

In this series, Msgr. Mancini discusses short biographies of the various saints including quotes from prominent hagiographers. The program includes musical performances by the Gregorian Concert Choir of the Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul in Providence, RI; Msgr. Mancini is the founder and Director of the choir.

The Saints examines the lives and spirituality of St. Peter, St. Paul, Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, and St. Mary. In an engaging manner, Fr. Mancini shares the many ways in which the saints are relevant to our contemporary times, he also makes frequent references to scripture during the program.

Msgr. Anthony Mancini completed his studies for the priesthood at the Pontifical North American College in Rome and the Catholic University of America in Washington DC. He is the Administrator of Holy Cross Parish in Providence. In 1990, he succeeded the late Dr. C. Alexander Peloquin as Music Director at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, after having served as assistant conductor of the famed Peloquin Chorale. He also serves as Rector of the Cathedral.

After completing musical studies, Msgr. Mancini pursued sabbatical studies in 1994 at the Royal School of Church Music in London. The Gregorian Concert Choir has performed widely in the Northeast and in private audience for Pope John Paul II, as well as on radio and television.

The Saints will air during the weekly programming block “Catholic Saints and Lay People.” The Saints will air on CatholicTV.com and CatholicTV during the month of July and August.

The regular air times for the programming block Catholic Saints and Lay People are as follows (Eastern Time): Tuesday 11:30AM; Wednesday 5AM; Friday 8AM; Sunday 10:30PM