Among my varied activities last week while I was in Toronto was a visit to Salt and Light TV. There I concelebrated Mass with Father Tom Rosica CSB, the CEO, and afterwards delighted in lunch and conversation with these dynamic young (and young-at-heart) people involved in contributing to the new evangelization through the new media (tv, radio, apps, blogs, etc.--you name it, they're into it!)
A few more photos follow:
When I had this blog entry ready for posting, I noticed that the Salt and Light TV blog mentioned my visit as one of many that take place regularly; to read about it, go to http://saltandlighttv.org/blog/
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SAINT MARY MAGDELENE DE' PAZZI
Today's liturgy allows for three possible optional memorials: St. Bede the Venerable, Pope St. Gregory VII and the mystic featured above.
Mary Magdalen of Pazzi, a highly gifted mystic, had made a vow of chastity at the age of ten. She entered the convent of the Discalced Carmelite nuns in Florence, because the practice of receiving holy Communion almost daily was observed there.
For five years her only food was bread and water. She practiced the most austere penances and for long periods endured complete spiritual aridity. Her favorite phrase was: "Suffer, not die!" Her body has remained incorrupt to the present day; it is preserved in a glass coffin in the church of the Carmelite nuns at Florence.
Purity of soul and love of Christ are the chief virtues which the Church admires in St. Mary Magdalen of Pazzi. These virtues matured her spiritually and enabled her to take as a motto, "Suffer, not die!"
Purity and love are also the virtues which the Church today exhorts us to practice in imitation of the saint. We may never attain her high degree of holiness, but we can at least strive to suffer patiently out of love for Christ. [— Excerpted from Pius Parsch, The Church's Year of Grace.]
O God, lover of virginity, who adorned with heavenly gifts the Virgin Saint Mary Magdalene de'Pazzi, setting her on fire with your love, grant, we pray, that we, who honor her today, may imitate her example of purity and love. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. +Amen.
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