John: 17, 1-2
After he had spoken these words,
Jesus looked up to Heaven and said:
"Father, the hour has come!
Give glory to your Son
that your Son may give glory to You,
inasmuch as you have given him
authority over all mankind,
that he may bestow eternal life on
those you gave him.
(Eternal life is this:
to know You, the only true God,
and him whom You have sent,
Jesus Christ.)
Sean's father died around 2:30 this morning. I picked up my Bible a few hours later and flipped through John's Gospel and stopped at a random passage...I think it's fitting. Lord, may your angels guide John to you and may the graces of the Holy Spirit be on his family in their hour of grief.
John, we loved you.
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March 10, 2008
St. Dominic Savio
(1842-1857)
So many holy persons seem to die young. Among them was Dominic Savio, the patron of choirboys.
Born into a peasant family at Riva, Italy, young Dominic joined St. John Bosco as a student at the Oratory in Turin at the age of 12. He impressed John with his desire to be a priest and to help him in his work with neglected boys. A peacemaker and an organizer, young Dominic founded a group he called the Company of the Immaculate Conception which, besides being devotional, aided John Bosco with the boys and with manual work. All the members save one, Dominic, would in 1859 join John in the beginnings of his Salesian congregation. By that time, Dominic had been called home to heaven.
As a youth, Dominic spent hours rapt in prayer. His raptures he called "my distractions." Even in play, he said that at times "It seems heaven is opening just above me. I am afraid I may say or do something that will make the other boys laugh." Dominic would say, "I can't do big things. But I want all I do, even the smallest thing, to be for the greater glory of God."
Dominic's health, always frail, led to lung problems and he was sent home to recuperate. As was the custom of the day, he was bled in the thought that this would help, but it only worsened his condition. He died on March 9, 1857, after receiving the Last Sacraments. St. John Bosco himself wrote the account of his life.
Some thought that Dominic was too young to be considered a saint. St. Pius X declared that just the opposite was true, and went ahead with his cause. Dominic was canonized in 1954.
I believe that when we search for "random" Bible passages, our angel is right there beside us, leading the way; this one was very moving.
The last time I saw John was when he visited Maggie for the first time at the hospital right after she was born. I'm glad I had that opportunity to spend some time with him.
Love and prayers to Barbara, Debbie and, most of all, Sean.
He seemed a kind and good man. I will say a prayer.
Thank you all for your thoghts and prayers and phone calls. It means a lot.
My love to his family and to Sean,Nora, and to you. You'll be in our prayers.
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