God's Word and Daily Life

By Rev. Fr. Bernard Holzer, aa

Last Sunday, September 7, Pope Leo XIV declared two young Italians, Pier Giorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis, Saints, reminding us that "we are all also called to be saints".

Pier Giorgio Frassati (1901-1925), a student from Turin, came from a wealthy family. He dedicated his faith to serving the poor and opposed the rising fascism in his time. He was a figure of courage and charity. He demonstrated that faith is not only about prayers but also about commitment to society.

Carlo Acutis (1991-2006), who died of leukemia at the age of 15, was one of the pioneers of evangelization on the Internet. He showed what could be done with the Internet, that God could be found online and that digital tools could be used to speak about Him. His relics will be in the Philippines next November.

These two young Saints of our time invite us not to waste our lives but to aim them upwards. "Not me, but God," Carlo loved to say. "If you place God at the center of each of your actions, then you will go all the way," Pier Giorgio would repeat.

For both, spirituality was never separated from action rather embodied in daily life. As Christians, we are not called to remain in our churches, but to be fully involved in social, economic, and political issues, especially today.

By Rion E. Margate

On August 27, the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of St. Monica, the mother of St. Augustine, bishop and doctor of the Church.

It is said that what made St. Monica a saint were her tears shed for the conversation of his son Augustine, who was once a womanizer and a heretic. St. Monica’s motherhood was her path to sainthood.

As the mother of Saint Augustine—who would later become one of the greatest Doctors of the Church—her life reminds us that the journey of a parent is often marked by both suffering and hope. Monica’s motherhood was not easy. She endured a difficult marriage with a pagan husband and bore the heavy sorrow of watching her son Augustine drift into worldly pleasures and heresies. Yet, she never abandoned her mission as a mother. Her tears and prayers became the language of her love, and her unwavering trust in God gave her strength to remain patient through many years of waiting. She did not impose faith on Augustine but interceded for him unceasingly, believing that God’s grace would, in time, transform his restless heart.

By Rion R. Margate 

Today is the Feast Bernard of Clairvaux, a reformer and spiritual author in the Catholic Church.

St. Bernard’s life remind us of the beauty of a heart fully surrendered to God. Known as the “Mellifluous Doctor” because of the sweetness of his words and writings, St. Bernard dedicated his life to deep prayer, love for the Blessed Virgin Mary, and zeal for the renewal of the Church. His devotion was not limited to personal piety but was expressed in his mission to lead others to Christ through the Cistercian reform, guiding monks, laypeople, and even leaders of the Church toward holiness.

For Catholics today, the devotion to Saint Bernard invites us to seek God not in half-measures but with our whole heart. In a noisy and distracted world, his example urges us to cultivate silence and prayer, to make space for God’s voice to guide our lives. His courage to correct errors and inspire reform challenges us to be witnesses of truth and love, especially when the faith is tested.

By Fr. Bernard Holzer, aa

Last week was the sad and painful commemoration of the eightieth (80^th) anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan.

 These days, numerous meetings at different levels are trying to find ways towards peace.

This summons all of us to build a safer world and foster a climate of peace. Our prayers are essential, as are the simple gestures of peace that we can make around us.

 As Pope Leo XIV told the survivors and all of us:

 “Though many years have passed, the two cities remain living reminders of the profound horrors wrought by nuclear weapons. Their streets, schools and homes still bear scars—both visible and spiritual—from that fateful August of 1945. In this context, I hasten to reiterate the words so often used by my beloved predecessor Pope Francis: ‘War is always a defeat for humanity.’”

 “In our time of mounting global tensions and conflicts, Hiroshima and Nagasaki stand as ‘symbols of memory’ that urge us to reject the illusion of security founded on mutually assured destruction. Instead, we must forge a global ethic rooted in justice, fraternity and the common good.”

 Let us pray – especially during the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - and let us act for peace!

By Fr. Bernard Holzer, aa

 Wars, injustice, violence, pollution, corruption, greed…

There is plenty to feel discouraged and desperate about. However, last Sunday, Pope Leo XIV met in Rome with a million young people from 146 countries.

 “Young people, he said, you are the sign that a different world is possible: a world of fraternity and friendship, where conflicts are not resolved with weapons but with dialogue.”

 And he added: 

“Yes, with Christ it is possible.” “With his love, he told them, with his forgiveness and with the power of his Spirit. My dear friends, united to Jesus, like branches to the vine, you will bear much fruit. You will be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. You will be seeds of hope where you live, in your families, among your friends, at school, at work, and in sports. You will be seeds of hope with Christ, our hope.”

 Let’s encourage the youth to build justice and peace.