Better Days BroDcast

Link to Arirang News: https://youtu.be/eROyHoLBEjk Link to Firm Foundation song: https://youtu.be/ta-pL48u_w8 I was the resource speaker for the Holy Hour event of young people from Regnum Christi. The theme of the online presentation was “Laying Our Foundations.” This is an edited version featuring only the part where I was asked to share a reflection with around 50 other young people who were on...

Cyprian was an African who practiced law and taught rhetoric before his conversion to Christianity. His considerable talents and learning became, after his conversion and ordination to the priesthood, the reason for his being chosen as bishop of Carthage by the priests of that diocese. Music: SoundCloud

The feast of the Triumph of the Cross, as it is called today, focuses less on the occasions of its origin and more on the mystery of the Cross in the work of salvation. As in his meditation for May 3, De La Salle stresses the importance of carrying the cross of suffering daily out of love for Christ. Music from SoundCloud

De La Salle took his inspiration for this meditation from the liturgy of the feast as it was celebrated in his time, borrowing thoughts from the Lessons of the Nocturnes, the Collect, and the Gradual of the Mass. The celebration of Mary’s birthday probably began in the Near East. It was introduced in the West during the eighth century. Music from SoundCloud

The debate as to who composed the lyrics of the La Salle College school song, has occupied the hearts and minds of many over the years. (This podcast episode is an audio version of an article in Gateway (HK Lasallian Family Office)

Pay attention to Saint John’s manner of life and to his zeal. Reflect that like him, you are obliged to prepare the way for the Lord in the hearts of your disciples and to destroy the reign of sin in them. To obtain this grace from God, which requires great purity of heart, avoid the least sins, and for this purpose make use of the same means he did: seclusion from the world and a poor and peniten...

Saint Augustine labored as a devout bishop for his people, as the leader of a community of priests, monks, and nuns, for which he wrote the Rule of Saint Augustine, and as a profound theologian, writing and debating powerfully against the Manichean, Donatist, and Pelagian heretics. Music from SoundCloud.com

Saint Louis, King gf France was born at Poissy in 1214, and became heir to the throne at the age of 12, under the regency of his devout mother, Queen Blanche of Castille. At the age of 19, he married Marguerite of Provence and had numerous children by her. He was a wise ruler of his kingdom, an example of justice, mercy, simplicity, and peace.

Saint Bartholomew was called by Jesus to be among the first Apostles. He is also mentioned in the account of Jesus’ appearance to the Apostles by the side of the lake after the Resurrection. He came from Cana, which might explain why he asked: “Can anything good come from Nazareth?”

Saint Bernard was born near Dijon, France in the year 1090. At the age of 22, he became a Benedictine monk at Citeaux, the austere abbey of the Cistercian reform. He did not join alone, however, but brought thirty others with him, among whom were relatives, a testimony to his extraordinary influence on others even at that early age. The abbey flourished and sent out groups to make other foundation...

It gets harder each day to think about what to joyfully proclaim and thank God for, mainly because this is a totally different experience for us as we battle this pandemic. This pandemic has turned our world upside down. The answers may be found in Mary’s Magnificat and even your favorite style for breakfast eggs. Music from SoundCloud.com

In 1950 Pope Pius XII defined the doctrine of our Lady’s Assumption, saying that the Immaculate Mother of God was assumed body and soul to heavenly glory. This statement embodies the two bases for the doctrine: her Immaculate Conception and her dignity as Mother of God.

De La Salle reflects on Saint Cassian being a teacher and on his martyrdom by his students. He speaks of him as a patron for the Brothers, especially in his patience with students.

Lawrence was a martyr during the persecution of the Emperor Valerian, probably in the year 258, and became one of the most famous of all martyrs.

Saint Cajetan founded the Society of Clerks Regular. The group vowed to live entirely on Providence, even prohibiting themselves any asking for alms. In this De La Salle saw a model for the Brothers’ commitment to gratuitous teaching and total trust in God.

This feast was extended to the universal Church in 1457 by Pope Calixtus III to commemorate the victory of Saint John Capistrano over the Turks near Belgrade. It was earlier celebrated in the liturgy of the second Sunday of Lent.

In 1206, Pope Innocent III commissioned Saint Dominic and bishop, Diego, to the work of preaching against the Albigensian heretics in the South of France. After much hardship, with six companions in 1215, he organized the Friars Preachers, also called the Dominicans.

The feast celebrates the dedication of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, on the Esquiline Hill in Rome, the oldest church in honor of our Lady, dating back to the fifth century. The feast of Our Lady of the Snow is celebrated every August 5. Brother Rey Mejias FSC, a novice master based in the Philippines, is the featured reader for this meditation. Music is from Steff Daum (YouTube).

De La Salle found much inspiration in the founder of an apostolic order dedicated to education and vowing the highest regard for the Pope. Some elements of the Brothers’ Rule were adapted from the Rule written by Ignatius.

In the seeming disorder in the world now, there appears to be an “order-ing” in the things we do and value in life. This quarantine period has allowed us to return to ourselves again.

The feast of St Martha is celebrated every July 29. She is the sister of Mary and Lazarus of Bethany. Martha was the busy hostess when Jesus visited them in their home. She was not honored in the liturgy until about the fifteenth century. Brother Rey Mejias FSC is the guest reader for this particular meditation.

Saint Anne, the mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary, was honored, probably along with Saint Joachim, her husband, as early as the sixth century in Constantinople. Devotion in Rome can be traced archeologically to the eighth century.

There are just so many uncertainties during this pandemic. January. In the People continue to endure hunger, anxiety, and the ineffective response of some government officials. With all of these, many perhaps are now asking, When this will end? Are you with us, dear Lord? Why do you allow us to suffer too much? These are difficult questions to answer. Sometimes, I feel that the answers can just be...

James the Greater is the brother of Saint John the Evangelist, often singled out by Jesus for special favors, along with Peter and John. He was put to death by Herod around 42 A.D. He is the Patron Saint of Spain, probably as a result of a legend that his body was discovered through a star that appeared over a field. His shrine became known as Campostella (field of the star).

The devotion to Mary Magdalene in France was enhanced by the belief that her body, with that of Lazarus was brought to Provence in the 9th Century. In 1713, De La Salle, discouraged by the turn of events in his ministry, made a retreat in the monastery of Saint Maximin, near the grotto of Saint Mary Magdalen, about 30 miles from Marseille, France.