The Textbook for Life

October 28, 2011

Last week, on Oct. 20, the Universal Church celebrated the memorial of St. Paul of the Cross. He was born in the town of Ovada in Genoa, Italy on Jan. 3, 1694, and was educated in a school for boys run by a local priest. From an early age he developed an ardent love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament while attending Mass daily with frequent visits and time spent in front of the Eucharist in adoration. Once during time in front of the tabernacle as a young boy, a heavy bench fell onto his foot causing a wound serious enough to cause considerable bleeding. He responded by thanking the Lord for "the rose sent from God."

As a young man he turned down an inheritance from an uncle along with a marriage proposal and decided to follow his calling to the priesthood. He went on to start a religious order, called the Passionists, which exist today with more than 2,200 members. It is said the only book he used during his long life of over eighty years was the cross. Did not St. Paul say, "For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified" (1 Cor 2:2)?

I love to point out that when gazing upon a crucifix, one can see all of the virtues. What humility it took for the God made man to allow Himself to mount the cross. What patience it took to remain silent as a lamb sent to the slaughter. We can see perfect obedience to the Heavenly Father. It would be beyond the scope of this brief column to elaborate further, but what love it took for love incarnate though innocent, to die for guilty adoptive brothers and sisters. Jesus said, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me" (Mk 8:34). Dying to self for the benefit of others was the example that countless men and women have followed since that horrific but salvific death on a Friday afternoon.

I am edified and most grateful to our many benefactors who continually share with us their time, talent, and treasure. Only students of the cross step out of themselves to make time to volunteer, and to donate funds to ease the sufferings of the members of the mystical body of Christ. Whenever I get on my knees and ask for help, God sends me someone or a group of people who respond to the need at hand, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be open to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened" (Mt 7:7-8).

Please let me take this opportunity to thank once again those who support us with your prayers and penances, those who volunteer with their time and talent and those who support us monetarily for without you, there would not be a Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska. Next year, we will be celebrating our 80th year as an agency which was started during the Great Depression by Bishop Kucera. We are only here because of 80 years of love and support of those who read, study and live the textbook of the cross! May the souls of our deceased patrons rest in peace and may God bless you all!