July 30--St. Peter Chrysologus, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

Pope Francis has placed the mercy of God as key to understanding God’s love in our lives. This was also true of today’s saint, Peter Chrysologus, who lived from A.D. 406-450 and was bishop of Ravenna, Italy. St. Peter was appointed bishop of the emperor’s administrative center in Italy when he was 27-years-old, probably at the emperor’s request.

He earned the title, “Chrysologus”, which means “golden-worded” because of his effective preaching and practical sermons. He is even called the “Doctor of Homilies” because of his simple, yet theologically profound words. He once said, “Ordinary language is dear to simple souls and sweet to the learned.”

He also spoke about how mercy is one of the three things through which faith stands firm, along with prayer and fasting: “When mercy dries up, fasting suffers drought, for mercy is to fasting what rain is to the earth. The one who fasts may prepare his heart, cleanse his flesh, pull out his vices and sow virtues. But if he does not sprinkle his plants with streams of mercy, he does not gather his harvest. O faster, when your mercy fasts, your field fasts too.”

“Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you” (Ps. 33:22). This could be the motto of St. Peter Chrysologus, or even of Pope Francis. Jesus told us in the parable of the unforgiving servant: “Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?” (Mt. 18:33). He told the Pharisees: “Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’” He is also telling that to us! Pope Francis called an Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy for 2015-2016. That may be over, but the purpose of the Jubilee Year is not. We are all called to holiness and a supreme expression of holiness is mercy!

July 30--Bl. Solanus Casey, Religious

“It seems to me that were we only to correspond to God’s graces, continually being showered down on every one of us, we would be able to pass from being great sinners one day to be great saints the next.” These are the words of today’s saint, Bl. Solanus Casey. Bl. Solanus was born in Wisconsin in 1870 to Irish immigrant parents. He had many different jobs before he heard his calling: lumberjack, hospital orderly, guard in the Minnesota state prison, and street car operator. However, once he heard his call he tried to become a diocesan priest, but his academic limitations kept him from that. Instead, he was able to join the Capuchin Franciscans and become a “simplex” priest, or one who was not allowed to preach publicly or hear confessions.

Even with these limitations on his priesthood, he became known for his inspirational talks, which he was allowed to give, as well as his services for the sick. In Detroit he served as porter, a receptionist and doorkeeper, for his order. He died in 1957 and was beatified in 2017.

Limitations can hinder us, or they can free us. If we focus on our limitations as hindrances, then we get caught up in what we can’t do. We can descend into self-pity, “Oh woe is me. I can’t….” However, if we, like Bl. Solanus Casey, embrace our limitations, we can focus on what we can do. Bl. Solanus Case was “just” a porter, not a teacher, not an administrator, not a theologian. He embraced his limitations, which allowed him to serve in the unique way to which God was calling him. We are all called to serve God in our unique way, sometimes helped by our limitations.