Monday, April 30, 2018

Happy Feast of Blessed Pauline!

Faithful readers may recall that on April 14, when we celebrated the anniversary of the beatification of Pauline von Mallinckrodt, we referred to the homily of Pope John Paul II during the beatification liturgy in 1985.  Several of you expressed interest in reading the entire homily. 

We thought that today, when the Church observes the Feast of Blessed Pauline (1817-1881), it would be appropriate to share an English translation of the homily.  Through the wonders of technology and the kindness of Sister Adalberta in Germany, we are able to share the text, which appeared in an article in the May 13, 1985 issue of L'Osservatore Romano. Click here to access the article. 

Here are some excerpts of the Holy Father's homily:

"The spiritual message of the new Blessed, Pauline von Mallinckrodt, can be summed up in a very relevant and concrete philosophy of life: to follow Christ unreservedly in unshakable faith; to love God and lovingly to dedicate oneself to the most lowly and poor, for the sake of Christ.
. . .
Hers was a conscious and courageous faith.  It allowed her to endure pain, bitterness and many trials, and it showed itself in her complete and unreserved love for Jesus Christ and his Mother Mary.  Full of confidence and trust she left herself in their hands.  Striving for God and his greater glory she grew in grace, for she constantly drew strength from prayer in the context of a profound eucharistic life.
. . .
Her plans were daring; but she knew how to wait in quiet and humble restraint for the time which God would choose.  Her work grew successful, though only amid continual struggles and difficulties.  The time of its greatest growth also saw the coming of a destructive storm, persecution under the laws of the Kulturkampf.  But here too Mother Pauline showed her interior openness to the will of God and was ready and able to encounter trials, and make her Way of the Cross.

The life of Mother Pauline is an example to us.  In answer to the anxious unrest of modern man she shows us a way to inner peace: by courageously and trustingly seeing God in one’s suffering brother and sister.  Thus her message has relevance today too, for the search for God is always relevant."

Happy Feast of Blessed Pauline!

Blessed Pauline, we pray to you:  Lead us to God!

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