Kathryn Lopez
1. Paul Miki and the feast of true friendship.
2. Learning from a Heroic Seminarian and Martyr
3. What’s martyrdom all about?
4. From the Liturgy of the Hours, an account of the martyrdom of St. Paul Miki and his companions:
Our brother, Paul Miki, saw himself standing now in the noblest pulpit he had ever filled. To his “congregation” he began by proclaiming himself a Japanese and a Jesuit. He was dying for the Gospel he preached. He gave thanks to God for this wonderful blessing and he ended his “sermon” with these words: “As I come to this supreme moment of my life, I am sure none of you would suppose I want to deceive you. And so I tell you plainly: there is no way to be saved except the Christian way. My religion teaches me to pardon my enemies and all who have offended me. I do gladly pardon the Emperor and all who have sought my death. I beg them to seek baptism and be Christians themselves.”
Then he looked at his comrades and began to encourage them in their final struggle. Joy glowed in all their faces, and in Louis’ most of all. When a Christian in the crowd cried out to him that he would soon be in heaven, his hands, his whole body strained upward with such joy that every eye was fixed on him.
Anthony, hanging at Louis’ side, looked toward heaven and called upon the holy names—“Jesus, Mary!” He began to sing a psalm: “Praise the Lord, you children!”
(More here.)
5. I’m always joining novenas late. This one is to Blessed Jordan of Saxony. It’s on Day 2.
6. Ready for a festival of forgiveness?
7. Come home.
8. Sign up for Lenten reflections from Fr. Robert Barron in your inbox.
9.
It is foolish to pass one's time fretting,
instead of resting quietly on the heart of Jesus.
St. Therese of Lisieux
— Fr Patrick Brennan (@Pathound) February 6, 2015
10. My Thursday afternoon convent tea party. Go behind convent walls Sunday.
Sr. Marie Bernadette talks about the real sisterhood here.
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