Sep 20, 2024 | SPIRITUALITY
Despite the fact that we live in Ruda Śląska, close to Zgoda, we only learned about Sister Dulcissima when our daughter Edyta fell ill. Father Peter, the pastor of our parish, then gave us relics, that is, earth from the grave of Sr. Dulcissima, the future saint, and so the sister came to live with us, in our family, and became our friend.
My daughter was diagnosed with stomach cancer, it was a difficult diagnosis for us, a huge blow, a shock. A new and difficult situation to accept. First we heard: stomach cancer, and after the stomach was resected, we learned that there was a metastasis to the liver. Edyta underwent three surgeries, eight chemotherapy treatments, many medical consultations. In these struggles with the disease, the experience of suffering, our daughter was always accompanied by Dulcissima. With her relics, Edith traveled to all the hospitals, to medical appointments and for examinations. Sister Dulcissima was with Edith, she was with us every day. Through her intercession we asked for health for our daughter.
It so happened that this year we wanted to celebrate our Friend’s 114th birthday in Birchwood. On the occasion of Sister Dulcissima’s birthday, it was possible to write a “gritty letter” to the birthday girl, because that’s what the sisters suggested, so I wrote one. It was a great event for me, I felt as if I had written a letter to Heaven. On her birthday we were at Mass in the convent chapel, and I put the letter to Dulcissima in a specially prepared large envelope just below the altar.
Then, within a short time, her daughter’s health began to improve. Edyta, together with her fiancé David, decided to get sacramentally married. Then we decided to invite our friend Sister Dulcissima to the ceremony. Sister was with us during the difficult moments, and we invited her to those happy moments as well. Edith and David’s wedding was special, because their guest was the future saint, it was such a tangible experience of the Holy Communion.
The Sisters of Birch gave the newlyweds an icon depicting Sister Dulcissima and St. Therese. Father Peter welcomed the servant of God Sr. Dulcissima as the most important wedding guest, placed a portrait of Dulcissima at the altar on a specially prepared place and at the end of the wedding mass blessed this beautiful gift. Sister Dulcissima was also with us at the wedding, taking the place previously prepared for her in the wedding hall.
We announced our visit to Birchwood for 15.09. When I arranged our meeting with the sisters, Sister Margaret was happy to inform us that on 16.09 is the day when Sister Dulcissima’s name day is. I was heartily pleased. It’s no coincidence, our friend invited us to celebrate together. Although we have had Sister’s relics for two years and Sister is with us every day, for her celebrations she invites us to her home in Birch.
Thank you Sister Dulcissima.
Joanna M
Ruda Śląska, 15.09.2024
Sep 20, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Saints Andrew Kim Taegon, Priest, and Paul Chong Hasang, and their Companions, Martyrs
Friday of week 24 in Ordinary Time
Gospel – Luke 9:23-26
“What gain, then, is it for a man to have won the whole world and to have lost or ruined his very self?” This is a discourse which is essential to the Christian life. How do you want to safe yourself? Often our desire is to gain the whole world. That means, we want to get the approval of others. But our life is not like that. Our Christian life starts with the desire to follow Jesus Christ. And this desire requires to make a specific space for Jesus because we started our journey with our desire to follow Jesus Christ. And from our desire to follow Jesus Christ, comes out the challenge to renounce ourselves. What does it mean to renounce ourselves? It’s about making space for others in the moments of Cross in our life. It’s about making decisions to accept others in the moments of Cross in our life. Renouncing ourselves is making space to the other in giving up our own space. This is the pain of the Cross. In our pain and in our suffering, we learn to find space for the other. Let’s reflect: Do I find space for the other in my suffering?
Don Giorgio
Sep 18, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Thursday of week 24 in Ordinary Time
Saint Januarius, Bishop, Martyr
Gospel – Luke 7:36-50
“For this reason I tell you that her sins, her many sins, must have been forgiven her, or she would not have shown such great love. It is the man who is forgiven little who shows little love”. Today’s reading asks us to mediate on an important element of our spiritual life. The confession and the forgiveness we receive in that sacrament. The woman came into the house of this Pharisee, and she waited behind him at his feet, weeping, and her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them away with her hair; then she covered his feet with kisses and anointed them with the ointment. She is not looking anyone else there. She sees only Jesus. It’s someone’s house. Doesn’t matter. She did what she came to do. This is what happens or what must happen when we go to the sacrament of Confession. It’s going to the feet of Jesus to cry over our sins. Others will be commenting or will be looking at you. But never mind, you must go to confession. And then in the words of Jesus we can hear how much He appreciates the gesture of thanksgiving by her. Here comes the second element. We must thank enough Jesus for the forgiveness we receive in the sacrament. Let’s reflect: Do I go to confession as if I go to cry at the feet of Jesus and do I thank enough for the forgiveness I receive in the sacrament?
Don Giorgio
Sep 18, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Wednesday of week 24 in Ordinary Time
Gospel – Luke 7:31-35
“They are like children shouting to one another while they sit in the marketplace”. These children sitting in the marketplace and shout between one another about their displeasures. This is a typical scene often in our reunions. Airing out our displeasures. “We played the pipes for you, and you wouldn’t dance; we sang dirges, and you wouldn’t cry.”. When there is no place for God in our life, we make this. We do this because we see only what is possible in our eyes. But God is greater than this. God is greater than our gifts. When we give ourselves to God, then there are not any more displeasure or discontent. Because we believe that God will take care of things. Also, when we don’t believe that we normally tend to blame others for failures. That also disappears when we trust in God. We accept our responsibility. Life is more that blaming the other. Lets’ reflect: Can I see the beauty of life entrusted in the hands of the Lord?
Don Giorgio
Sep 17, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Tuesday of the 24th ordinary week
St. Robert Bellarmine, Bishop, Doctor
St. Hildegard of Bingen, Virgin, Doctor
Gospel – Luke 7:11-17
“‘Everyone was filled with awe and praised God, saying: A great prophet has appeared among us; God has visited his people.’ Before the signs we see in our daily lives, we must praise God. We must acknowledge God’s presence in our lives. Often we do not praise enough. Every day we can recognize many of God’s signs in our lives. Most of them we don’t even see or recognize. But for the ones we do recognize, we must praise God. And not only that, but we must also spread the word to those around us. This is the work of evangelization. We recognize God’s presence in our lives, we praise Him for it, and then we spread the news of His presence to those around us. We must have open eyes to see the signs, we must have open hearts to give thanks for the signs, and we must have open minds to proclaim this good news in our lives. Let us reflect: Do I recognize, praise and spread the presence of God in my life?
Don Giorgio
