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April 21
St. Conrad of Parzham (1818-1894)Juan Evangelista Birndorfer (Conrad) was born on December 22, 1818 in Venushof (Parzham), near Passau (Bavaria).In 1832 he lost his mother, and two years later the father.In 1837 he tried to study with the Benedictines of Metten (Deggendorf), but progress in their education were minimal.On May 19, 1841 came and professed in the Secular Franciscan Order.The year 1849 was transferred to the convent as a postulant Altötting.The September 17, 1851 the Capuchin habit dressed as lay brother in the convent of Laufen, issuing religious profession on October 4, 1852.From 1852 until his death was a porter at the convent of Altötting.He died on April 21, 1894 in Altötting.The canonization process began without delay, concluding in 1930.Pius XI beatified on June 15, 1930, and included it in the catalog of Saints on May 20, 1934.I am always happy and content in God. I warmly thank all that is of beloved Father in heaven, whether pain or joy. He knows very well what is best for us, and so I am always happy in God. I strive to love him very much. Ah, this is very often my only uneasiness I love him so little. Yes, I would be just a seraph of love, I would like to invite all creatures to help me to love my God.(St. Conrad of Parzham)GOALKEEPER OF PROVIDENCEJohn the Evangelist, the second youngest of twelve children, was born in Venushof (Parzham) on December 22, 1818, his parents were Bartolome Birndorfer and Gertrude Nieder-Kindlbach Mayerinn of rich and pious peasants Rott Valley. After attending primary school in Weng, was orphaned at age 16. In this situation, together with the work in the field, sought to strengthen their spiritual life accommodating the pace that marked the Bavarian popular devotions. In fact he liked to participate in the popular missions, processions and pilgrimages, and was enrolled in many groups, fraternities and pious unions. Never ceased to attend Mass, I can get to travel a long distance. Also knew all the churches and shrines in the region.Devotion always accompanied him, being a true living synthesis of all forms of popular piety in Bavaria. Even while working in the field, while giving back to the grass with a rake or throw the I throw hay, prayers rose to heaven. As noted by the wife of a blacksmith Birnbach, "the young man had not been educated Birndorfer to be a farmer, he was not fact but of prayer, penance and almsgiving." But he was a responsible worker. However, little is known of his secular life, and almost nothing of his childhood, because, as he writes his earliest biographer Wolfgang Beyer, "he never spoke of himself." You will be remembered as the "angel of Venus." The sky shone through his eyes. His teammates avoided in his presence, conversations were ambiguous and when I approached said, "Shut up, Johnny coming".At the age of nineteen years tried unsuccessfully to study at the school of the Benedictines of Metten (Deggendorf). In 1841 he professed the rule of the Secular Franciscan Order. At age 31, in 1849, he became a Capuchin brother tertiary Altotting and in 1851 began his novitiate as a lay brother in the convent of Laufen. There was tasked to help the gardener and the gardener of the convent, but after a month, a cold, which became acute bronchitis forced him to bed. Thus began that annoying cough bronchial asthma tormented him for the rest of his life. In the ordeal left the novitiate already a cappuccino finish, so a witness could say, "It was a cappuccino with all your soul and with all the body."His commitment and ideal are well documented in the eleven purposes "made with reflection" in the novitiate, before the profession, inspired by the sense of a man strong and concrete, vivid portrait of the beloved Capuchin spirit and assimilated by Brother Conrad. Those purposes seek God's presence, silence, the meaning of the crosses, retirement, brotherly love, mortification of the tongue and eyes, punctuality in the choir, delicacy and discretion with women, and obedience and devotion to the Virgin inside. A pounding "want" refrain from holiness, reminded again and again the will of faith, obedience and service underlined retrospectively by the Poverello of Assisi in his Testament. It is bare and fleshless purposes that allow a correct reading of many facts and events in the life of Brother Conrad of Parzham after his religious profession (October 4, 1852), when he was sent back to Altötting with the office of porter the convent of Santa Ana (now called S. Conrad), where they remained until his death on April 21, 1894.Brother Conrad, goalkeeper for forty-one years next to the famous shrine of the Virgin, the destination of many pilgrimages, became the benchmark for all kinds of people, especially the poor, destitute, afflicted and children. At the sound of campanillo he ran, opened it, smiled and leaned on the misery. He gave without measure and without judgment, knowingly ignoring the smallest economic laws. He was because people were poor, and hoped the petitions of the poor as alms expects a calling. No one saw him sad or nervous. He was always ready and willing, at all hours of the day and at any time or season. People called him the "holy goalie" and his holiness, made heroic loyalty and a strong Eucharistic and Marian devotion, the simplicity of everyday life, was wrapped in silent prayer and constant charity. So he, also influenced by nature shy and reserved, spoke little, short sentences, but so full of spirit and turned frequently compungían hearts. Their usual words were: "In Gottes Namen, on behalf of God," or "Wie der liebe Gott's will, as the good Lord willing." Brother Conrad's sentences could form a small anthology of short sentences.That was his way of preaching, advising and comforting. It applied to himself the words of the Rule of St. Francis, "with brevity of speech." But the silence was more eloquent than words. His treasure was his secret prayer and silence, as he wrote in a letter dated October 3, 1873: "Let us lead a life far in truly intimate and hidden in God, because it's so beautiful stop with the good God, if we We really picked up, nothing shall prevent, even in occupations that our vocation entails, and we will love much silence because a soul full of talk will never reach a truly life within. " Brother Conrad became methodical and orderly like clockwork: every day at the same time making the same gestures and gave the same steps. Fidelity steel. Always came first on the night prayer and got the privilege of helping Gnadenkapelle first Mass in the Chapel (thanks) and communicate every day, at a time when this was unusual.Brother Conrad was always moving. His face seemed transfigured as he left private prayer, preferably made under the staircase of S. Alejo, who was a small room where he could see the altar of the church and see the shrine. Similarly showed bright when it came time to distribute the food to the poor came to the kitchen and cook's brother, noting that Brother Conrad got the scoop on all the pots, complained jokingly, "lute pans, if not, take all ". He smiled and replied: "All that is given to the poor returns back inside with abundance." It was the best Capuchin tradition, reflecting the shining example of the Poverello.A Brother Conrad liked to read the Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis or some other devotional book like The Meditations on the Passion of Christ Martin von Cochem cappuccino, or the Mirror of the virtues of Augustine Ilg. He used to say: "The cross is my only book, a glance at the cross teaches me at all times as I have to behave." His spirituality, clear and essential, it concentrates all autobiographical in these words: "My meaning of life consists mostly of suffering and love in contemplation and in worship, contemplate and admire the nameless love for us poor creatures. I was never the bottom of this love of my God, because nothing hinders me, so I'm always intimately united with my love, and my many occupations I am often so closely connected with it that I speak, and with the confidence that a child has with his father expose my needs, my prayers, that worries me ... I'm always happy and content in God. I warmly thank all that is of beloved Father in heaven, whether pain or joy. He knows very well what is best for us, and so I am always happy in God. I strive to love him very much. Oh, this is very often my only uneasiness I love him so little. Yes, I would be just a seraph of love, would like to invite all creatures to help me to love my God. "He was short in stature in recent years and crept all bent over, his head almost completely bald, except a thick white beard and a crown of hair at the nape. This is represented in the iconography, with the cross in hand or in the act of distributing charity to the poor. It was the second saint of Germany (the first was St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen) after the Protestant Reformation.His cause for canonization was extremely fast, despite all the documentation collected could only be sent to Rome in late 1919 because of the war. Pius XI, who in 1924 favored the process of "holy goalie", proclaimed him blessed in 1930 and 20 May 1934 he enrolled him in the catalog of saints. This trip so fast and straight processing of the case may have seemed the result of "political will" determined, but was, instead, as the Pope said, "The Divine Art of Our Lord to prepare, arrange or combine things so to draw out facts, events and meetings happiest. "But the miracle of the saint's humble figure Parzham brother remains: a life without drama, straight, simple, smooth, almost bottomless, like a wild flower to everyone. He is an imitable model, of course, very easy, no special reliefs. It's a good Bavarian peasant, but gaudy colors of the Bavarians, lean and without the complicated joy of baroque piety. Brother Conrad split with the Catholic Patriotic, it did not find any reference to the country, no nationalism. He represents the proposal of a simple message in the "terrible everyday", which acquires ever deeper tones and intimate and requires prolonged listening and piercing eyes.His feast is celebrated on April 21 and is copatrón Capuchin province of Bavaria and Hungary, and patron of youth organizations, the Seraphic Work of Charity and Catholic youth of Würzburg.
April 20
God wants to conquer for himself making us prove extremely abundant sweetness and consolations in all our devotions, in the will, as in the heart. But who does not discover the serious dangers threatening such love to God? It is easy for the poor soul clings to the accident of devotion and love of God, without worrying about nothing or almost nothing of that devotion and love that substantial, they are the only ones that make it beloved and pleasing to God.
Before this great danger, our sweet Lord come quickly with loving concern. When he sees that the soul is well grounded in love, and who has fallen and attached to it, seeing it as apart from earthly things and occasions of sin, and has attained sufficient basis to stay in his holy service without these rewards and those sweets of sense, wanting to take her to a greater holiness of life, takes away the sweetness of affection, which so far has seen in all his meditations, prayers and other devotions yours, and what is more painful for the soul in this situation is to lose the facility for prayer and meditation and being left in the dark in an overall dryness and painful. [...].
My God, how easy it has been deceived! What the poor soul called abandonment is not nothing but a singular and very special care with her heavenly Father. This step is only theirs the beginning of contemplation, dry at first, but soon, if faithful, for he shall be brought to the contemplative meditative state, you will become soft and tasty.
(January 9, 1915, to Raffaelina Cerase - Letters. II, p. 291)
April 19
Let us pause a bit in the virtue of love of God. What is this love? Before giving an answer to this question, we must be aware that one is the substantial love of God and love another accidental, and the latter in turn is in love distinguished accidental accidental sensitive and spiritual love. Having made this distinction, we turn now to answer the above question.
The substantial love of God is plain and simple act of choice, with which God will put before all other reality, because of his infinite goodness. He who loves this way God loves with the love of charity substantial. But if this love God joins substantial softness, smoothness if it contains and keeps all of it at will, then we have accidental spiritual love. If this descends gently in addition to heart and feel with ardor, sweetness, we then love accidental sensitive.
(January 9, 1915, to Raffaelina Cerase - Letters. II, p. 291)
April 18
Three things you must get away from you. The first of which you have to protect, is to litigate, to discuss, if you behave otherwise, peace goodbye, goodbye love! Wanting to remain clinging arrogantly own view is always the origin and source of discord. Before this cursed vice, St. Paul exhorts us to remain at one with the same affection.
Beware also of the love of vainglory, vice of the devout people. He pushes us, without us realizing it, to always appear more than others, to earn the esteem of all. Paul also warned his beloved Philippians when he said: "Do nothing from vainglory."
This great saint, filled with the Spirit of the Lord, saw the full extent of the evil that might entail for this damn service to those Christian saints, if they could penetrate their minds, and, therefore, wanted to warn them: "Do nothing from vainglory '.
In this accursed vice, true rottenness, real moth, the devout soul, you oponle contempt of that pride. Do not want to hear many things about you: low self esteem, considering all better, is the only remedy to preserve us from this vice.
Finally, we must take care of something else no less dangerous than this vice, because it contains within itself the germ unfortunate division. The last thing we need to guard against is that of always putting the very useful to others, because the advantage of putting himself to the others always and necessarily tends to rupture of the beautiful bond that is charity; link which must always unite Christian souls, and that charity, in the words of St. Paul, is "bond of perfection."
(November 4, 1914, to Raffaelina Cerase - Letters. II, p. 217)
April 17
All your life you will spend in accepting the will of the Lord in prayer, work, humility, thanking the good Lord. If you come back to feel that impatience is installed on you, immediately resorted to prayer, remember we are always in the presence of God, we must take account of each of our actions, good or bad. Above all, turn your thoughts to the humiliations that the Son of God suffered by our love. The thought of the sufferings and humiliation of Jesus I want the ordinary object of your meditations. If you practice this, as I'm sure you do, soon you will experience healthy fruit. Such meditation, done well, will serve as a shield to defend against impatience, but the sweet Jesus I command you work, you put in some distress, want to make you a target of contradiction.
(6 February 1915, Anita Rodote - Letters. III, p. 54)
April 16
How can I tell the new victories of Jesus in my soul these days? I'm just telling what happened to me last Tuesday.What a great fire burning in my heart I felt that day! But I also felt that this fire was ignited by a friendly hand on the one hand divinely jealous. [...].
After Mass, I amused myself with thanking Jesus.Oh, how soft was the conversation I had with paradise that morning! Was such that even trying to tell all, could not get it, there are things that can not be translated into human language, without losing the deep sense and heavenly. The heart of Jesus and mine, allow me the expression, merged. There were already two hearts that beat, but one. My heart had disappeared like a drop of water that dissolves in the sea. Jesus was heaven, the king. The joy in me was so intense and so deep that I could not help more, tears filled my most delicious face.
Yes, my father, the man can not understand that when paradise is poured into a heart, this heart afflicted, exiled, weak and mortal, can not endure without mourn. Yes, I repeat, the joy that filled my heart was this that made me mourn length.
This visit, believe me, comforted me at all.
(April 18, 1912, Father Agustin de San Marco in Lamis - Ep. I, p. 272)
April 13
I ask you kindly do not waste time thinking about the past. If you were well spent, give glory to God, if I, detestémoslo and trust in the goodness of our heavenly Father. Furthermore, I urge you to quiet your heart with the comforting thought that your life in that part not well lived, and is forgiven by our sweet God.
Away from your heart with all your might the troubles and concerns, because otherwise all your pious practices will be little or nothing fruitful. Be assured that, if our spirit is troubled, are more frequent and direct assaults of the enemy, often take advantage of our natural weakness to achieve their goals. We are very alert at this point, of no small importance to us. Once we realize that we are falling into despair, us fan our faith and abandon ourselves in the arms of God the Father, always ready to welcome us if we turn to him with sincerity.
(9 February 1916, Father Basil of Mirabello Sannitico - Letters. IV, p. 191)
April 12
It's diabolical concern that fills your mind with respect to the position he has entrusted to you obedience and the innumerable consequences of which, because of it, you have come. Continue to obey, and you'll have secured the best prize that can promise a soul that loves Jesus. You must not admit any confusion in your mind for any reason, and that at least that "I mean". I understand that the soul in which God dwells, always fear offending God in every step, and this fear becomes unbearable if it relates to the fulfillment of his duties. But that soul is comforted, because it is precisely this fear that will never crumble in failure, if you decide to move on. My brother, if you stay up depends on us, surely the first blow would fall into the hands of the enemies of our salvation. Always trust in divine mercy and we will experience increasing goodness of the Lord.
Those practices, but in itself good, try to remove more and more of you, because if it is true that in the past everything has gone according to God's heart, can not think the same about the future. It is true that the priest, now more than ever, should be accessible to all, but my brother, to do this would require a large collection of virtue. In addition, we know that the world is always evil, and we should not give reason to judgments wicked.
(9 February 1916, Father Basil of Mirabello Sannitico - Letters. IV, p. 191)
April 11
Think of the great neglect he suffered our Lord in the Garden of Olives, and notes in this beloved Son, who asks the Father some relief, but knowing that the Father does not bestow it, and not think about it or decide to ask and, like I never wanted this relief, bravery and courage revived with the work of our redemption. In moments of extreme demoralization, you also asked the Father in heaven that will comfort, comfort you, and if he does not place it, not think about it, but arm yourself with courage and resumes the work of your salvation the cross, like you've never had to lose her and like I never could see the horizon serene. What do you, my little one? You need to see and talk to God in thunder and winds. Should see the brambles and the fire of thorns, and to continue, my little one, you must remove your shoes and give up entirely to your will and your whims.
(December 6, 191.7 to Antoinette Vona - Letters. III, p. 828)
April 9
My daughters, you must resign yourself to what we have inherited from our parents, Adam and Eve. Self-love never dies before us but with us to the grave.My God, what a disgrace, my daughters, for us poor children of Eve. It is necessary to suffer their assaults permanently sensitive and secret practices while in this miserable exile. But why? Perhaps to have to become discouraged and give up the value and way to heaven? No, dearest daughters, take courage; to us simply will not consent to a dear, deliberate, firm and permanent.
And this virtue of indifference is so excellent that our old self, and emotion and human nature as the natural faculties [apparently missing the end of the sentence, ndr] could not even our Lord, who, like son Adam, though free from all sin and all belonging to it in its sensitive part and according to the human faculties, it was by no means indifferent to the contrary, he wished not to die on the cross, being quiet indifference to that kind of death spirit, inflamed by the power of grace, in addition to himself, since he is the man of grace, the new man.
(September 25, 1917, to Raquelina Russo - Letters. III, p. 505)
PRIEST TO THE NEW YORK TIMES: "I AM HAPPY AND PROUD OF MY VOCATION"
Letter from a missionary in Angola
LUANDA, Monday, May 24, 2010 (ZENIT.org). - "I'm just a Catholic priest. I am happy and proud of my vocation. I live for twenty years as a missionary in Angola. " So begins a letter to the Uruguayan Martin Lasarte Salesian missionary sent to the New York Times no response. In it, explained the work quiet for the most disadvantaged in most of the priests of the Catholic Church, however, "not news".
In the letter sent to ZENIT by Father Martin Lasarte said that the April 6 sent to the Daily News and since then has obnetido response. It expresses his feelings in the wake that have attracted media abuse by some priests while surprising how little interest in the media raises the daily work of thousands and thousands of priests."It gives me great pain that people should be signs of God's love has been a dagger in the lives of innocents. No word as to justify such acts. There is no doubt that the Church can not but side with the weak, the defenseless. Thus all measures be taken for the protection, prevention of the dignity of children will always be a top priority, "he says in his letter.However, he adds, "is a curious little story and lack of interest by thousands and thousands of priests who are consumed by millions of children, adolescents and disadvantaged in the four corners of the world.""I think your source of information is not interested that I had to be transported by road in 2002 undermined many malnourished children from Cangumbe to Lwena (Angola) because neither the government and NGOs were available were not authorized, you had to burying dozens of small deaths among war refugees and returnees, who have saved the lives of thousands of people in Moxico by one medical station at 90,000 square kilometers and with the distribution of food and seeds, we have the opportunity education in schools 10 years and more than 110,000 children ... "he says."It is of interest, he adds that other priests have had to relieve the humanitarian crisis of nearly 15,000 people in the barracks of the guerrillas after their surrender, because the food did not reach the government and the UN."And then lists a series of actions, often at risk or loss of life, by colleagues who are ignored by the media."It's not news that a priest of 75 years, Father Robert, in the evening tour the city of Luanda healing the street children, leading them to a shelter, so that detox from gasoline, which alphabetizes hundreds of prisoners ; that other priests, like Father Stefano, having houses of passage for kids who are beaten, abused and even raped or seek shelter. Nor Maiato Frei with 80 years pass from house to house sick and comforting the deseperados "."It's not news that over 60,000 of the 400,000 priests, men have left their land, their family to serve his brothers in leper colonies, hospitals, refugee camps, orphanages for children accused of witch orphans of parents who died with AIDS in for the poorest schools, training centers, care centers or HIV-positive ... especially in parishes and missions by motivating people to live and love. ""It's not news that my friend, Father Mark Aurelius, to save young men during the war in Angola, has Kalulo transported to Dondo and returning to his mission has been gunned down in the road, that Brother Francis, with five women catechists, to go to help the most remote rural areas have died in a road accident, dozens of missionaries in Angola have died from lack of health relief for a simple malaria, others have jumped in the air, to Because of a mine, visiting his people. In Kalulo Cemetery are the graves of the first priests who came to the region ... None of them 40 years. ""It's not news to accompany the life of a priest 'normal' in their day to day in their difficulties and joys silently consuming his life for the community it serves.""The truth is that we try to be news, but simply to bring the Good News, the news that began quietly in the night of Passover. More noise a falling tree that grows a forest, "he stresses."I do not intend to make an apology for the Church and priests, he adds -. The priest is neither a hero nor a neurotic. It's a simple man, whose humanity seeks to follow Jesus and serve his brothers. There is misery, poverty and frailties as in every human being as well as beauty and goodness in every creature ... "."Insisting on a persecutory obsessed and losing a topic overview creates truly offensive cartoons of the Catholic priesthood in which I am offended," he says.He concludes:
"I only ask journalist friend, seek truth, goodness and beauty. That will make noble profession. "
April 4
By the obedience of Jesus meant the heavenly Father this most holy name be proclaimed and believed by all creatures: "Every language - says the apostle - confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father". Is it not precisely this that is verified in the present moment, when everywhere is worshiped the cross? Also on the last day, the damned and the demons, in view of the great glory of Jesus and experience His infinite power, should take part in this proclamation.
We too, if we are followers of Jesus face all the battles of life, participate in their triumphs. Yes, I conclude with St. John Chrysostom, we firmly believe that the divine Redeemer is adorned with so lofty glory, and therefore live their glory, imitating his example and follow your wishes. Otherwise, we would use anything to believe, if it does not correspond to our actions.
(November 4, 1914, to Raffaelina Cerase - Letters. II, p. 217)
March 3
Sometimes I wonder if souls do not feel chest burn with fire divine, especially when facing him in the sacrament. This seems impossible, especially if it is a priest, a monk. Perhaps the souls who claim they do not feel this fire, do not feel it because maybe his heart is bigger. Only with this benign interpretation I can not apply the shameful label of liars.
There are times that I presented to the mind the severity of Jesus, and that's when I suffer bitterly, I start to consider their jokes and this fills me with joy. I can not not leave me this sweetness, this happiness ... What is, my father, what I feel? I have so much trust in Jesus, even if he saw hell open before me and find me on the edge of the abyss, not become suspicious, I do not despair, trust him.
Such is the confidence that inspires me his meekness. When I get to see the great battles against the devil, with God's help, I passed, so many that you can not count them.
Who knows how many times my faith would have hesitated and my hope and charity would have been weakened, if he had reached out to me and my intellect would have been obscured, if Jesus, eternal sunshine, I had not lit!
I also acknowledge that I am entirely the work of his infinite love. Nothing has denied, indeed, I have to say that has given me more than I asked.
(December 3, 1912, Father Agustin de San Marcos in Lamis - Letters. I, p. 316)
April 2
I hope that the humiliation of the Son of God and the glory that came from the same are the subject of your daily meditations. Consider the anonadamientos the divine Word, the "which - in the words of St. Paul - being the form of God ',' dwelling in him bodily fullness of divinity," humble oneself not considered vile thing to us, to rise to the knowledge of God.
This divine Word, by his full and free will, self-abasement wanted to be like us, hiding the divine nature under the veil of human flesh. St. Paul says so humbled the Word of God who came as to annihilate: "He wiped himself taking the form of a servant". Yes, my sister, he wanted to hide so his divine nature he assumed in all the similarities of man, submitting even to hunger, thirst, fatigue, and, to use the same expression of the Apostle of the Gentiles: "Such to us, having suffered like us, except sin. "
But where, later, there was the ultimate humiliation was his passion and his death, which, being put to human will to the will of his Father, endured many indignities to suffer the most infamous death, and death cross. "He humbled himself - according to Paul - obedient unto death on the cross." This obedience, for the dignity of that was due, at work than I ordered and spontaneity to obey the Father of heaven, because it was not prompted by fear of punishment, it is the only begotten of the Father, nor seduced by the interest in reaching an award, it is God in all things equal to the Father, it pleased both the eternal Creator, who praised "giving it a name - says the apostle - that is superior to any other name."
(November 4, 1914, to Raffaelina Cerase - Letters. II, p. 217)
