S18thh Sunday in Ordinary Time
As we honor Mary on this fest, I would like to share the history of this fest wih you.
Our Lady of the Angels, or of the Potinucula, is located sixi hundrd yards from the city of Assissium, in Italy. It was a desolate locality, and apparently an unsettled one where robbers and the lawlesness flourished. for the Benedictines who had lived at the monastery, they felt it was too hazardous to remain there. They abandoned the monastery, relocating to Mount Sabasiom which was a fortified monastery,
The original chapel is thought to date from the 4th century, and was built by holy hermits who had comefrom the Valley of Josaphat. It is said that they brought relics of the Blessed Virgin with them to the region when they constructed the chapel.
The history of the feast is inspiring. St. Francis of Assisi in the early days of his conversion, while he was still unertain as to what path to pursue, was praying earnestly for enlightenment beore the crucifix at the Church of San Damiano, when he heard within him the command of the Crucified: "Build up my house, for it is nearly falling down". Taking the words literally, Francis began to restore San Damiano and other dilapidated churches in and near Assisi. The most famous of these was theChurch of the Angels.
Some time after the restoration of this little chapel, an
angel told St. francis to come to the Church of Our Lady of Angels, or Portiuncula. There he found Our Lord, His Blessed Moher, and the Angels waiting for him. Our Lord commemded Francis, because of his zeal for the salvation of souls, and promised to grant him whatever he should ask in behalf of sinners. St. Francis asked for this great favoe: that all those who came to this Church to pray and tuly sorry for their sins, confessed them, should "Obtain in perpetuity a plenary indulgence" so that they would have nothing to account for when God called them. This was the great favor he asked, but Our Lord granted it to him through Mary.
When Saint Francis came upon the little, run down and abandoned chapel of Our Ladyof Angels, or Santa Maria degli Angelis, in the year 1208, It was almost completely hidden in shrubs and dense growth of bushes. Saint Francis entered the hidden church, which measured only twenty-two feet by thirteen feet, and saw the anvient fresco that had been placed above the main altar. It was an image of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin aurrounded by angels, Some say that this is why the chapel was named Our Lady of Angels. although there are also legendes that angels could be heard singing there.
As we honor Our Lady of the angels in this Church named in her honor, may we grow in our relationship with the Lord and follow the example of St. Francis in his love of Mary especially under the title of Our Lady of the Angels.
Tofay's Reading from the Book of Ecclesiastes quqstioned what we as mortals get from all the toil and strain tha we endure under the sun, when at death, we must leave everything behind for someone else to enjoy it, They did not work. for allthat wealth that they inherit. That is "vanity" in the sense of "worthlessness." What good is something if we cannot enjoy it?
It is different for those who toil for spiritual labor. Ther=ir recompense is being accumulate with God. Their rewards are awaiting them on the las day. Their spiritual treasures will never deprt from them. The Second Reading affirms this. We heard the advice of Saint Pau who said in his Letter to the Colossians that they need to seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the riht hand of God.
We know that life does not consist on the abundance of possessions then, how do e accumulate spiritual treasures in heaven? We accumulate spiritual treasures in Heaven by our acts of love towards others, by our acts of charity, through the goodness that we manifst towards our neighbors in the love of Jesus.
In the Gospel, Jesus gives us an example of a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest. A rich and meaningful life cannot be drawn out of abundance of material possessions. In the Gospel Jesus says, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. Forw wherre your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
It is obvious that possessions, although they are passing have a strange influence on the human mind. Once again, we should look at our lives and try to balance for ourselves, so the earthly treasures are not in our way to the Kingdom of God.
God bless all of us.
Fr. Dariusz
