Another interesting article about Sacred Relics...

The article shown below about Relics was recently published by La Stampa, which I believe is an Italian-based magazine. It makes some really good points about the Church's Devotion to Holy Relics, although I don't agree with the article's use of the word, "worship"... which the Church obviously doesn't do when it comes to anything else but God. I think it was just a matter of poor translation.

NOTE:  I believe the relics pictured

in the article are those of St. Januarius,

Bishop & Martyr (d. circa 305).

First Saturday Parish Rosary at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 2/1/2014

It was just a smaller group that came together yesterday evening... but, none the less, our parish's monthly Rosary Meeting was still very meaningful; we prayed fervently, and as we prayed for peace, we couldn't help but think of Russia and threats being made against the Winter Olympics by terrorists.  May there be peace during these international games and we prayed that no harm will come to the athletes and tourists who go to participate in the festivities.

At the same time, we paid special honor to an obscure Beata - Bl. Helena Stollenwerk (d. 1900, left photo) - the German co-founder (with St. Arnold Janssen, d. 1909) of the Sister Servants of the Holy Spirit.  The lesson we learned from the life of this holy woman was to be open to God's plans for us.  In her life, Bl. Helena yearned to serve the Lord by being a missionary in China, but she never got the opportunity.  In fact, a few years after she founded her congregation, she was asked to leave it in favor of joining a new contemplative branch of the congregation that St. Arnold also founded - the Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration.

Despite a measure of sadness and disappointment, she bowed to God's Divine Will and did as she was asked; sacrificing her life's dream of becoming a missionary... yet invigorating the fledgling congregation with her deep faith and profound love for our Eucharistic Lord.  I think we can all identify to a certain degree with the interior struggle and dismay that Bl. Helena must have gone through.  But we can also find hope in knowing that if we trust in God, as she did, all will work out for the good of our souls and others.

In the end, it was encouraging to see several parishioners - including a new participant with a walker apparatus - approach the makeshift display altar to pray to Our Lady and Bl. Helena, whose precious relics were displayed for viewing.   I could sense the faith and the near-urgency that these people gave off as they made their private prayer petitions.  God bless them and may our Blessed Mother and the Bl. Helena intercede for them.

Our next Rosary for Peace Devotion will be offered on Saturday, March 1st, 2014.  All are welcomed to participate.

Saint of the Month - February 2014: Saint Maria Katharina Kasper

St. Maria Katharina Kasper

A Handmaid of the Lord

Feast: February 2nd

On May 26th, 1820, a little blessing descended upon the humble Kasper family of Dernbach, Germany. The blessing was in the form of a newborn baby who they named "Katharina", and from a tender age, she showed signs of being truly sent from Heaven.

Young Katharina grew into early adulthood being naturally devout, kind, and generous in spirit.  In her later years, the future foundress once admitted, "I had a preference for religion and reading and did not care for anything else." Motivated by her deep faith in Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary, she resolved to consecrate her life completely to God. This consecration was practiced through charitable service of the poor, and also through the care of the sick in her community in which she established a pious reputation for being a go-to person whenever one was in need of help or prayers.

Katharina's example attracted four close companions, and together, they formed the nucleus of what eventually evolved and grew into a religious congregation - the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ.  The small group of women established a "little house" and pronounced religious vows on August 15th, 1851, after which they elected Sr. Maria (Katharina Kasper) as the mother-general of the newly founded congregation.  In their humble dwelling the "handmaidens" welcomed widows, orphans, and the infirm; caring for them and assisting with their various needs. The following prayer, offered by the foundress gives us a brief glimpse into the goodness of her soul:

"Give me, O Lord, a strong will

and perceiving zeal to live and work

according to all the principles of

our Holy Faith."

~ St. Maria Katharina

Guided by Mother Maria’s strong, capable leadership and faith the little community quickly grew and expanded its charitable ministry to include the Christian education of children. The congregation was officially recognized by the Church in 1870, and when Mother Maria died on February 2nd, 1898, the Poor Handmaids were successfully operating throughout Germany, Austria, England, Holland, and North America.

"Let us thank our loving God

continuously.  Nothing is a matter

of pure chance; everything comes

from the Most High." 

~ St. Maria Katharina

Mother Maria Katharina Kasper was declared a Saint during a Canonization Ceremony in Rome on October 14, 2018, and her Feast is lovingly observed by the Poor Handmaids on February 2nd of each year.  May the Lord grant them, and the entire Church, the benediction of St. Maria Katharina's charism and intercession.

A Reflection

“Whatever you do to the least of my brethren, you do it unto me.”  ~ Words of Jesus, Mark 25:40

A Short Prayer

Dear St. Maria Katharina, pray for us that we, like you, may come to clearly recognize Jesus, hidden in the guise of the sick and the needy of the world.  Amen.

NOTE:  This post was originally published in February 2014 but was updated in October 2018 to reflect St. Maria Katharina's current status as a Saint.