The championship for this inspirational slice could good come upwards from Quaker spirituality. Quakers bring ever been fond of the spiritual metaphor, light. I suspect much of this fondness stems from the Quaker appreciation of the Fourth Gospel. The author of that gospel, John, talks most Jesus equally the “Light.” Indeed, ane of the principal functions of Jesus is to polish the lite inwards the world. The instruction in addition to ministry building of Jesus, hence, enlightens the people he contacted in addition to touched. Quakers went so far equally to conclude every ane of us has an “Inner Light.” And I grew upwards hearing that nosotros each had a “Light Within.”
However, this inspirational slice is non most Quakers. It is most Catholics; indeed, it is most ane Catholic inwards particular. The focus is on Father Solanus Casey. Until recently, I never heard of this Catholic priest. But he has lately come upwards into the intelligence in addition to I bring been fascinated past times him in addition to his story. Solanus Casey has exactly been beatified. This is an official stride along the means to existence declared a Catholic saint. So soon, it volition live on Saint Solanus!
Even Quakers bring heard of many of the classical saints---people similar Augustine, Thomas Aquinas in addition to the like. Quakers produce non bring saints---or perhaps, it is ameliorate to tell that nosotros don’t recognize saints equally such. But I bring to express mirth a fighting when I think most Quakers talking most roughly folks existence “weighty Friends.” (Friends are roughly other give-and-take for Quaker.) Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 weighty Friend is non soul who has gained likewise much weight. Instead, he or she has such an abundance of the Spirit, whatever she does or says carries to a greater extent than weight. That is the even out of Fr Solanus Casey.
However, this inspirational slice is non most Quakers. It is most Catholics; indeed, it is most ane Catholic inwards particular. The focus is on Father Solanus Casey. Until recently, I never heard of this Catholic priest. But he has lately come upwards into the intelligence in addition to I bring been fascinated past times him in addition to his story. Solanus Casey has exactly been beatified. This is an official stride along the means to existence declared a Catholic saint. So soon, it volition live on Saint Solanus!
Even Quakers bring heard of many of the classical saints---people similar Augustine, Thomas Aquinas in addition to the like. Quakers produce non bring saints---or perhaps, it is ameliorate to tell that nosotros don’t recognize saints equally such. But I bring to express mirth a fighting when I think most Quakers talking most roughly folks existence “weighty Friends.” (Friends are roughly other give-and-take for Quaker.) Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 weighty Friend is non soul who has gained likewise much weight. Instead, he or she has such an abundance of the Spirit, whatever she does or says carries to a greater extent than weight. That is the even out of Fr Solanus Casey.
Casey was born inwards Wisconsin inwards 1870. In 1897 he joined the Capuchin order---a branch of the Franciscan friars. Personally, I admire in addition to value these followers of St. Francis. Franciscan spirituality in addition to Quaker spirituality bring much inwards common, so at that topographic point is a special house inwards my nub for Franciscans in addition to Capuchins. Because he was such a mutual man, Casey was asked to live on the doorman for churches in addition to friaries, initiatory of all inwards New York City in addition to so inwards Detroit. In effect, because of the lack of intellectual prowess, he was given this really pocket-size job. But he turned it into an amazing experience. It became the pathway to holiness.
Casey died inwards 1957. Instead of but existence remembered past times a few colleagues in addition to friends, the retention of Solanus Casey has gained steam in addition to straightaway he is a saint-to-be. The stories most him are instructive. He emerges equally a human I wishing I had known. One beau Capuchin remembers him this way. Ron Rieder says, “He was really colorful, really holy, really kind, exactly a wonderful man. We exactly looked upwards to him all the time."
More stories abound. Apparently folks of all kinds showed upwards at the door of the church building in addition to friary where Casey worked. He was manifestly a bang-up listener. Surely, he dispensed mercy in addition to grace on God’s behalf. Doubtlessly, he had roughly access to roughly money, because mysteriously people inwards demand were helped. One author puts it this way: “there were stories of critically sick children recovering, desperately needed rent checks arriving, in addition to sons inwards the state of war surviving seemingly impossible odds.”
Poignantly, his friend, Reider, says of Casey, “He had a dear for people who were pathetic in addition to suffered likewise much." I similar the fact that Casey tin forcefulness out live on a saint for Catholic in addition to non-Catholic, for believer in addition to non-believer alike. That seems really of import inwards our twenty-first century---an historic current that is chop-chop moving beyond labels in addition to denominations. Again Rieder puts it succinctly: “Catholic, non-Catholic, rich or poor, it made no departure to him. Everybody knew Father Solanus inwards Detroit."
One of my favorite stories from Rieder, who was a novice (a kickoff Capuchin) nether Casey, goes similar this. “One day, I was cleaning toilets. I was inwards at that topographic point on my hands in addition to knees, scrubbing a toilet, when Solanus walked inwards in addition to said to me, 'Oh, are yous ever a lucky immature human to live on able to gear upwards clean toilets for your brothers.' He exactly had a really bang-up dear for people, in addition to people loved him."
Stories most saints are meant to inspire. I felt inspired equally I bring learned most Fr Solanus Casey. Finally, I realize it does non affair that I never met him or got to know him. These stories assist me to know him---just equally stories most St. August allow me to know that fourth-fifth century saint. Casey’s life tin forcefulness out inspire me to live on ameliorate in addition to to produce better. That’s what saints are supposed to do.
Saints polish a lite inwards the globe in addition to their lives in addition to ministries enlighten. I terminate amongst the words of Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the Vatican nuncio to the United States. He said Casey “made fourth dimension for people. He listened to the pilgrims, in addition to he touched the sick amongst bang-up compassion….this dear for the Lord in addition to his people […caused] lite to rising inwards darkness”
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