February 2025 – St. Juliana Catholic Church

St. Joseph of Leonissa

Feast date: Feb 04

Joseph of Leonissa, OFM Cap.; was the third of eight children born at Leonessa (Italy) on January 8, 1556.

At baptism he was given the name Eufranio.

Impressed by the example of Matthew Silvestri, who had left the medical profession to embrace the Capuchin life and whose holiness was evident, Eufranio was inspired to become a Capuchin. After overcoming family opposition, he was admitted to the novitiate and received the habit and the name Joseph and made profession on January 8, 1573.

On May 21, 1581, the Capuchin general vicar issued patents for preaching, the ministry in which Joseph would be engaged for the remainder of his life.

Relying solely on grace and with a mission crucifix always tucked in his cincture, Joseph negotiated the most obscure, mountainous regions of Umbria, Lazio and the Abruzzi in an intense and extensive mission of evangelization among those who were poor.

Joseph enjoyed such great success in preaching because of his intimate union with God which was cultivated by incessant prayer. He would pray and meditate on the road, while holding his crucifix. Assigned to Constantinople he was appointed as chaplain to some 4,000 Christian slaves who worked in the penal colony of Qaasim-pacha. He immediately went to work bringing the gospel and charitable relief to those who were languishing in inhumane conditions. Many times he offered himself as a substitute in order to obtain the release of a slave who was near death. His offer was never accepted.

When the plague broke out in the penal colonies, the Capuchins immediately took up the ministry of assisting those who were sick and dying. Two Capuchins, Peter and Dennis, died doing so. Although Joseph became ill, he and Brother Gregory alone survived to remain at the mission. After converting a Greek bishop who had renounced the faith, Joseph devised a plan which entailed approaching the sultan, Murad 111, to seek the recognition of the right of freedom of conscience for anyone who was converted or returned to the Christian faith.

When Joseph attempted to enter the sultan’s chambers, he was arrested and bound in chains. He was condemned to an immediate death by being hung on hooks. He was hung from the gallows with one hook through the tendons of his right hand and another through his right foot. Near death, on the evening of the third day, the guards cut him down.

Joseph quickly left Turkey and arrived at Rome where he and the converted Greek bishop presented themselves to Pope Sixtus V. Following Joseph’s return to Italy, in the autumn of 1589, he took up residence at the Carcerelle in Assisi.

In the aftermath of the Council of Trent, Joseph spent much time and energy catechizing. He began a ministry of evangelization among shepherds who lacked even rudimentary knowledge of the faith, prayer and the commandments. He would walk through the streets ringing a bell, reminding parents to send their children to catechism class.

When he became deathly ill, Joseph asked to be taken to Leonessa in order to pay his last respects to his relatives and friends. On Saturday evening, February 4, 1612, after beginning the divine office,which proved too difficult to continue, Joseph repeated his favorite prayer: “Sancta Maria, succurre miseris.” Joseph was beatified by Clement XII in 1737 and canonized by Benedict XIV in 1746.

Tuesday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 Hebrews 12:1-4

Brothers and sisters:
Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us
and persevere in running the race that lies before us
while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus,
the leader and perfecter of faith.
For the sake of the joy that lay before him
Jesus endured the cross, despising its shame,
and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God.
Consider how he endured such opposition from sinners,
in order that you may not grow weary and lose heart.
In your struggle against sin
you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 22:26b-27, 28 and 30, 31-32

R. (see 27b) They will praise you, Lord, who long for you.
I will fulfill my vows before those who fear him.
The lowly shall eat their fill;
they who seek the LORD shall praise him:
“May your hearts be ever merry!”
R. They will praise you, Lord, who long for you.
All the ends of the earth
shall remember and turn to the LORD;
All the families of the nations
shall bow down before him.
To him alone shall bow down
all who sleep in the earth;
Before him shall bend
all who go down into the dust.
R. They will praise you, Lord, who long for you.
And to him my soul shall live;
my descendants shall serve him.
Let the coming generation be told of the LORD
that they may proclaim to a people yet to be born
the justice he has shown.
R. They will praise you, Lord, who long for you.

Alleluia Matthew 8:17

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Christ took away our infirmities
and bore our diseases.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mark 5:21-43

When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side,
a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea.
One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward.
Seeing him he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, saying,
“My daughter is at the point of death.
Please, come lay your hands on her
that she may get well and live.”
He went off with him
and a large crowd followed him.

There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years.
She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors
and had spent all that she had.
Yet she was not helped but only grew worse.
She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd
and touched his cloak.
She said, “If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.”
Immediately her flow of blood dried up.
She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.
Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him,
turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who has touched my clothes?”
But his disciples said to him,
“You see how the crowd is pressing upon you,
and yet you ask, Who touched me?”
And he looked around to see who had done it.
The woman, realizing what had happened to her,
approached in fear and trembling.
She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth.
He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you.
Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.”

While he was still speaking,
people from the synagogue official’s house arrived and said,
“Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?”
Disregarding the message that was reported,
Jesus said to the synagogue official,
“Do not be afraid; just have faith.”
He did not allow anyone to accompany him inside
except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James.
When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official,
he caught sight of a commotion,
people weeping and wailing loudly.
So he went in and said to them,
“Why this commotion and weeping?
The child is not dead but asleep.”
And they ridiculed him.
Then he put them all out.
He took along the child’s father and mother
and those who were with him
and entered the room where the child was.
He took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum,”
which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise!”
The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around.
At that they were utterly astounded.
He gave strict orders that no one should know this
and said that she should be given something to eat.

– – –

Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Lesson From a Madman / Una lección de un loco

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The demoniac’s condition is pitiful. He walks alone among the dead scourging himself. He had been bound with many chains, yet not one could restrain him.

What caused him to run to Jesus “at once?” Did the man rush to Jesus in a desperate attempt for freedom? Or, were the demons who possessed him trying to strike a deal with God and escape further condemnation? The Scriptures aren’t explicit, but the rest of the story leads one to believe that the answer is both.

“What have you to do with me?” the demoniac asks. This strikes us as the plea of a desperate man. But don’t we similarly question God? “Jesus, please explain why you’re letting my life fall apart? God, are you going to do something, or let me suffer forever? Don’t you see me?”

Yet, the demoniac has an unrevealed insight about who Jesus is calling Him, “Son of the Most High God,” which confirms that the demons are also engaged in the conversation. They know that a reckoning is upon them and ask to not be tormented, “I adjure you by God, do not torture me!” It is very possible, however, that the man is begging for mercy for his cooperation with evil as well. We can relate as this is primarily why we go to confession.

Jesus sends both judgment and mercy. In His judgment, Jesus gives way to Legion’s request and allows the demons to drown in the unclean temple swine as a consequence of their disobedience. Why? They don’t want to leave the territory of the souls they led astray. Being in Greek territory, pagan idolatry was rampant and temples to demons parading as gods were plenty. This hideous scene is a demonstration of God, in His justice, leaving us to our sin if we so choose.

That is utterly terrifying. Do we really want to drown as a consequence of our sin? After reading this grotesque story, I certainly do not.

Yet, God’s mercy shines. Just as Legion didn’t want to leave the man (in verse eight Jesus repeatedly rebukes the demons who refuse to leave) Jesus wouldn’t give up the fight to free him. Jesus asks and calls the demon by name, not because He didn’t know it, but to take command and root it out. When Jesus offers us mercy, He goes to the root of our sin. He calls it out by name.

We don’t know what the man did to invite the demons into his life, but his anguish before our Lord displays his hunger for peace once again. To unhook the demons’ talons that had latched onto his soul he had to let Jesus wrestle on His behalf. Doesn’t overcoming sin, vice, or addiction sometimes feel like an endingless wrestling match? It can be. Today’s lesson from a madman is to be an absolute beggar before the Lord. Let Him go into the deep and fight for you.

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La condición del endemoniado es lamentable. Camina solo entre los muertos, azotándose. Había estado atado con muchas cadenas, pero ninguna podía contenerlo.

¿Qué lo hizo echarse a correr hacia Jesús? ¿Se apresuró el hombre hacia Jesús en un intento desesperado por liberarse? ¿O los demonios que lo poseían estaban tratando de llegar a un acuerdo con Dios para escaparse de una condena peor? Las Escrituras no lo especifican pero creo que son ambas cosas.

“¿Qué quieres tú conmigo?”, pregunta el endemoniado. Esto nos parece la súplica de un hombre desesperado. Pero ¿no le preguntamos a Dios de manera semejante? “Jesús, por favor, explícame por qué estás permitiendo que mi vida se desmorone. Dios, ¿vas a hacer algo o vas a dejarme sufrir para siempre? ¿No me ves?”

Sin embargo, el endemoniado tiene una idea no revelada sobre quién es Jesús llamándolo, “Hijo de Dios Altísimo”, lo cual confirma que los demonios también están involucrados en la conversación. Ellos saben que se acerca un ajuste de cuentas y piden no ser atormentados: “Te ruego por Dios que no me atormentes!” Sin embargo, es muy posible que el hombre también esté pidiendo misericordia por su cooperación con el mal. Podemos identificarnos con él, ya que esta es la razón principal por la que vamos a confesarnos.

Jesús envía tanto juicio como misericordia. En su juicio, Jesús cede a la petición de Legión y permite que los demonios se ahoguen en los cerdos inmundos del templo como consecuencia de su desobediencia. ¿Por qué? No quieren abandonar el territorio de las almas que extraviaron. Al estar en territorio griego, la idolatría pagana estaba desenfrenada y los templos para demonios que se hacían pasar por dioses abundaban. Esta horrible escena es una demostración de que Dios, en su justicia, nos deja con nuestro pecado si así lo elegimos.

Eso es absolutamente aterrador. ¿Realmente queremos ahogarnos como consecuencia de nuestro pecado? Después de leer esta historia grotesca, ciertamente no quiero yo.

Sin embargo, la misericordia de Dios brilla. Así como Legión no quería dejar al hombre (en el versículo ocho Jesús reprende repetidamente a los demonios que se niegan a irse), Jesús no se daría por vencido en la lucha por liberarlo. Jesús pregunta y llama al demonio por su nombre, no porque no lo supiera, sino para tomar el mando y erradicarlo. Cuando Jesús nos ofrece misericordia, va a la raíz de nuestro pecado. Lo llama por su nombre.

No sabemos qué hizo el hombre para invitar a los demonios a su vida, pero su angustia ante nuestro Señor muestra una vez más su hambre de paz. Para desenganchar las garras de los demonios que se habían aferrado a su alma, tuvo que dejar que Jesús luchará en su nombre. ¿Acaso vencer el pecado, el vicio o la adicción no se siente a veces como una lucha interminable? Puede ser. Hoy la lección de un loco es ser un mendigo absoluto ante el Señor. Déjalo ir a lo más profundo y pelear por ti.

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Former NPS Park Ranger, Catholic educator, and Youth Minister, Melissa Lucca now spends her days evangelizing family and neighbors as a stay-at-home mom. She holds an MA in Theology from the Augustine Institute and pursues personal study in her spare time. Melissa loves Ignatian Spirituality, Mother Mary, and rock climbing. If you don’t hear her and her kiddo laughing at home, then they are probably out on an adventure!

Feature Image Credit: bible.art/p/jj7zyGRqU9fRiU7Kpx93/mark-5:13-and-forthwith-jesus-gave

The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.

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Our Response to Jesus’ Unexpected Ways / Nuestra respuesta a los inesperados caminos de Jesús

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I cannot imagine what the wait for Jesus must have been like for the Israelites. A redeemer who was going to change everything for them: set them free from oppression, cast down the mighty and fill up the hungry. But we know the rest of the story, and how what people imagined was very different from how Jesus carried these things out.

In the Gospel, Simeon reveals: “Behold this child is destined for the rise and fall of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” (Luke 2:34-35)

Simeon’s words tell us how God shows up in your life might look very different than how you imagined. The question is, when life looks different than we imagined or is not what we felt we’ve been promised, are we going to grip so tightly to our own vision of life that we lose sight of God and His perfect plan?

The Jewish people imagined being set free from Roman oppression, but Jesus came to set them free from the oppression of sin and the devil and to lead them into a life rooted in love of God and one another. Some people listened to Jesus and changed their ways, but others felt what He preached was too much, too hard and walked away.

Our hearts are revealed in how we respond to what God offers in our life, whether it looks the same or very different from what we had planned. We can choose to rise or fall in faith. Do we turn toward God and follow Him or do we turn away from Him?

The outcome is based on if we limit ourselves to see things the way we want to see them. We need to let go of long-held habits that give us a false sense of control if the Lord is calling us to change. The infinite and all-powerful God is always trying to draw something deeper out of us than we could ever imagine with our limited minds. He asks us to trust in Him.

Simeon trusted, waited and was rewarded. We don’t learn whether Simeon is surprised to meet the Messiah as a baby. We only hear how he believes that he is holding the Messiah in his arms and he is thanking God for the opportunity. We see in him and in Anna hearts totally open, ready to receive whatever answer God was going to provide to their prayers.

The more we resist and say this could not possibly be how Jesus is showing up in my life, the more we will miss the opportunity to engage, learn and become more like Him. When we challenge Him on what He is or is not providing in response to our prayers, we must not refuse to listen to His response, but instead be ready to receive Him in the most unexpected ways.

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No puedo imaginar cómo debió ser la espera de los israelitas por Jesús. Un redentor que iba a cambiar todo para ellos: liberarlos de la opresión, derribar a los poderosos y saciar a los hambrientos. Pero conocemos el resto de la historia y cómo lo que la gente imaginaba era muy diferente de cómo Jesús llevó a cabo estas cosas.

En el Evangelio, Simeón revela: “Este niño está destinado a ser el ascenso y la caída de muchos en Israel, y ser una señal de contradicción (y a ti mismo una espada te atravesará), para que se revelen los pensamientos de muchos corazones” (Lucas 2,34-35).

Las palabras de Simeón nos dicen que la manera en que Dios se manifiesta en tu vida puede ser muy diferente a como la imaginabas. La pregunta es, cuando la vida se ve diferente a como la imaginamos o no es lo que sentimos que se nos ha prometido, ¿nos vamos a aferrar tan fuertemente a nuestra propia visión de la vida que perdamos de vista a Dios y Su plan perfecto?

El pueblo judío se imaginaba ser liberado de la opresión romana, pero Jesús vino para liberarlos de la opresión del pecado y del diablo y guiarlos a una vida basada en el amor a Dios y a los demás. Algunas personas escucharon a Jesús y cambiaron su forma de ser, pero otras sintieron que lo que Él predicaba era demasiado duro y se alejaron.

Nuestros corazones se revelan en cómo respondemos a lo que Dios ofrece en nuestra vida, ya sea que parezca igual o muy diferente de lo que habíamos planeado. Podemos elegir crecer o caer en la fe. ¿Nos volvemos hacia Dios y lo seguimos o nos alejamos de Él?

El resultado depende de si nos limitamos a ver las cosas como queremos verlas. Necesitamos dejar de lado los hábitos arraigados que nos dan una falsa sensación de control si el Señor nos está llamando a cambiar. El Dios infinito y todopoderoso siempre está tratando de sacar algo más profundo de nosotros de lo que podríamos imaginar con nuestras mentes limitadas. Nos pide que confiemos en Él.

Simeón confió, esperó y fue recompensado. No sabemos si Simeón se sorprende al encontrarse con el Mesías cuando era un bebé. Solo escuchamos cómo cree que tiene al Mesías en sus brazos y le agradece a Dios por la oportunidad. Vemos en él y en Ana corazones totalmente abiertos, listos para recibir cualquier respuesta que Dios les dé a sus oraciones.

Mientras más nos resistamos y digamos que no es posible que Jesús se presente así en nuestras vidas, más perderemos la oportunidad de participar, aprender y llegar a ser más como Él. Cuando dudamos de lo que Él está o no está brindando en respuesta a nuestras oraciones, no debemos dejar de escuchar su respuesta, sino estar listos para recibirlo de las maneras más inesperadas.

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Nicole Berlucchi is a faith and family blogger (www.nicoleberlucchi.com) and Catholic blog contributor. She has worked in a number of roles in the nonprofit world, but helping people realize their vision and make an impact, seems to be her sweet spot. Nicole owns Coley B. Creative, LLC, a marketing company providing support to small businesses. She is also the author Magnify Love: Unlocking the Heart of Jesus in Your Marriage and Your Life. A native of Philadelphia, she now resides in the Nashville area with her husband, Joe, and their four children. She’s a big fan of brilliant skies, salted caramel with chocolate, books and more books. She loves sharing her journey with Jesus so that others might: Come and see.

Feature Image Credit: Jozef Janssens, art.diocesan.com/stock-photo/simon-predicts-marys-suffering-at-presentation-in-the-temple-14384/

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