Meditation of the Day -- From My Founding "Father"

Father Marie - Dominique Philippe, O.P. , February, 2006

The Good Shepherd

Christ, the Good Shepherd, knows the sufferings of all men, and has made all of them His own, taking them into His own Heart, as His own sufferings...

In Christ curucified, the mercy of the Good Shepherd, anxious for the safety of His sheep, sympathizes to the full with their lot, and carrying the injured sheep upon His blood-stained shoulders, far from contradicting the religious attitude of worship which is wholly directed toward the majesty of the Father, is joined to it and makes it more intense. For He suffers with His sheep, communicating to them salvation and love of the Father, in order to let this love consume all and take hold of all. It is in order to associate truly His sheep with the act of worship and sacrifice, it is in order that they may glorify the Father, that He shows such mercy to them. Christ's act of mercy is an act which does not stop at relieving the material sufferings of men, at getting rid of their punishment; it is not merely philanthropy, but a divine mercy, which rises up to God and His love. For this reason the apparent contradictions between acts of religion and mercy disappear and are transcended. Jesus comforts and helps His sheep, as the Good Shepherd, with a wonderful mercy and tenderness, in order to save them, and bring them into the presence of the Father, and that they may bring themselves into the Father's presence, together with Himself, and in Himself, that they may unite themselves with His filial worship, his sacrificial offering. Mercy allows this act of worship to extend still further, and to reach the heart of every man, bringing them all to the narrow gate and to the Father's house.

~ Father Marie - Dominique Philippe, O.P.

Father Philippe is a Dominican priest, a professor of philosophy and theology, and the Founder of the Community of St. Jean (John).
-

Comments

Post a Comment

Comments are moderated and are published at the blogger's discretion.

Blog Archive

Show more

Popular posts from this blog

The Spirituality and Miracles of St. Clare of Assisi

Image
August 11 is the memorial of St. Clare, one of my favorite saints. She was the first woman to follow the life of radical poverty practiced by St. Francis of Assisi and is the co-founder of the Poor Clares. Although I am not a Franciscan, I have had Franciscan friends, clergy, and spiritual directors instruct me on the beauty of St. Clare's spirituality. I have also learned a great deal from reading about her over the years. Clare and Francis (2007) is a film which depicts the fascinating story of her dramatic conversion and surrender to the will of God. St. Clare is the patron saint of television. She is also the patron of eye disorders, embroiderers, good weather, and telephones. The Contemplative Life The Lady Clare was born into a noble family in Assisi in 1193 and was admired for her great beauty. When she heard Francis of Assisi preach his Lenten homilies at the Church of San Giorgio, she was captivated by his words. At age eighteen, she heard him say: "When the
Read more

Saint Michael de Sanctis: Patron of Cancer Patients

Image
Today is the feast of Saint Michael de Sanctis, also known as St. Michael of the Saints, a Spanish Discalced Trinitarian priest, the patron of cancer patients. Michael Argemir was born on September 29, 1591 at Vic, Catalonia, Spain. At age 6, he told his parents that he planned to become a monk and began modeling his life after Saint Francis of Assisi. Michael’s parents died when he was about ten years old. He then served as an apprentice with a local merchant. During this apprenticeship, he continued his fervent devotion to the Lord, especially to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. At the age of 12, he joined the Trinitarian Friars at Barcelona, taking his vows at St. Lambert’s monastery in Saragosa four years later.  Shortly afterwards, Michael expressed a desire to join the reformed group of Trinitarians and was given permission to do so. He went to the Novitiate at Madrid and, after studies at Seville and Salamanca, he was ordained a priest. Twice he served as Superior of the hou
Read more

Saint Gerard of Brogne: Patron of Abbots

Image
St. Gerard was born to a noble family in Staves, Belgium, in 895. He descended from a royal line of military men and at first felt a share in this call to arms. He trained for the army and, as a page of the count of Namur, he was sent on a special mission to the French court. There, Gerard realized that he was being called to the monastic life. He stayed in France and joined the Benedictines of St. Denis, abandoning his noble birthright and all his worldly possessions. He spent eleven years in France as a monk before becoming a priest. Following his ordination, he left for Belgium in order to found a new abbey on his own estate of Brogne. He was its abbot for twenty-two years and during that period was instrumental in introducing St. Benedict's Rule into numerous houses in Flanders, Lorraine and Champagne.He became known for his engaging sweetness of temper, his strict observance of the Rule of St. Benedict and for the replacement of lukewarm religious practice with true piety.
Read more