A Saint for Eliminating Human Trafficking
Human trafficking is one of the largest businesses in the world. People unscrupulously make money from enslaving others, even young children, and selling them for sex. According to the U.S. State Department’s annual report, in 2015 there were 6609 convictions for human trafficking and an estimated 20 million victims. How long will God tolerate this vile activity? How long will we?
I offer as a patron saint in the fight against trafficking Josephine Bakhita, who was canonized in 2000. The story of her life reveals why. When she was eight or nine and living with her prosperous family in the Darfur region of Sudan, Arab slave traders kidnapped her as they had her older sister earlier. When the girl didn’t speak, they named her Bakhita, which ironically means “Lucky One.” She was made to walk 600 miles barefoot to the market and forced to convert to Islam. Five times she was sold to owners who mistreated her severely. She was subjected to beatings and whippings, sometimes daily. She suffered having 114 patterns carved into her skin. Eventually a kind Italian official purchased her. Only then did her life improve. (more…)
What’s in a Name?
Names are important because they stand for who we are. It’s said that hearing someone say our name is the sweetest sound to us. And how embarrassing when we forget someone’s name or misspell it! Sometimes children hurt each other by making fun of their names. People have their loved one’s names tattooed on them. God says he has our name tattooed on the palm of his hand! (Isaiah 49:16) Names are important to God too, judging from Scripture. In Genesis he calls out names and the things come to be. He gives Adam the power to name the animals. God had a habit of changing people’s names: Abram became Abraham, Jacob became Israel, and Simon became Peter. The new name signified something about the person. (Did you ever notice how some people’s names fit their occupations like Dr. Tozzi the podiatrist and Dr. Bright the dentist.) Do you know what your baptismal name signifies?
In the past babies were named for saints who became their patrons. Some babies were named for the Church feast celebrated on the day of their birth, for example, Assumpta for the Feast of the Assumption and Josephat for St. Josephat. Some babies are named to honor a grandparent or other relative. Today babies are sometimes given unique or creative names such as Diamond, Apple, or Schylena.
When Moses encountered God in the burning bush, he asked God’s name and God revealed his personal name, I am who am, which we translate as Yahweh. Orthodox Jews have such reverence for God that they never speak or write God’s name. God even ordered us to treat his name with care (the second of the ten commandments).
Our most powerful petition is one in which we ask the Father for something in the name of Jesus. By the way, the name Jesus means “God saves.” Very appropriate, isn’t it? Jesus has many titles: Lord, Savior, Christ, Divine Physician, Sacred Heart, King of Kings, Good Shepherd, Lamb of God, and so on. Do you have a favorite?
After the resurrection, when Mary Magdalen failed to recognize the risen Lord, he pronounced her name, Mary, and instantly she recognized him. At the end of the world, God will call us forth to a resurrection ourselves. At that time hopefully our names will be written in the book of life. 
Receiving a new name may indicate a new stage of life. Some men and women religious are given a new name. So does the Pope. A woman usually takes on the name of her husband. In Revelation 2:17, God says that to those who conquer evil and keep faith, he will give a white stone on which is written a new name that no one knows except the one who receives it. What might your new name be?
Why did your parents name you as they did? What does your name mean?
I was going to add Carey Landry’s song “I Have Called You by Name,” but came across this delightful song that you might enjoy . . .
Just Who Are the Laborers?
Jesus’ exhortation in Sunday’s Gospel “ask the Master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest” usually is interpreted to mean pray for more priests, deacons, and women and men religious. But look at the context of his words. Jesus is sending out seventy-two disciples. None of these followers are priests or consecrated religious and probably most of them won’t be. Every person who believes in Jesus is called to labor for his cause. By our baptism we all assume the responsibility to spread the good news of salvation and bring others to Christ.
For too long the duties of the laity were limited to praying, paying, and obeying. We’ve forgotten that all Christians are also to be relaying. We are to continue the work of Jesus and tell people about the kingdom of God. A friend who went to Catholic school with me became a Jehovah’s Witness after two of them appeared at her door and spoke with her. Personal contact makes all the difference in the world! (more…)
Pray Always and Pray All Ways
At first glance St. Paul’s exhortation to pray always (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18) seems to be a mistranslation. Maybe what he really said was, “Pray a lot.” Praying ALWAYS is a mental impossibility. When I’m writing a book, for instance, my mind is 100% focused on the ideas I’m typing, not on God. The only way I can think of to pray always is to make all our daily activities a kind of prayer-in-action by consecrating our day to God by praying the Morning Offering.
We can, however, weave thoughts and words to God throughout the day in various ways. In addition to the customary morning, meal, and evening prayers, we can send “arrow prayers” to God at odd moments. We can pray while engaged in things that don’t require much thought like washing dishes, driving with cruise control, or weeding the garden. We can also adopt little tricks that trigger our mind to think of God. (more…)
Perseverance Pays Off!
Lately I’ve been receiving lessons on perseverance. The most dramatic one was the incredible victory of the Cleveland Cavaliers with odds against them. After a 52-year drought, they clinched the NBA championship to the delight of their many diehard fans. Closer to home, I could not get the DVD player to work with the new television equipment that was installed recently. Last night I tried one more time and bingo. . . it worked! The other day I was telling someone how difficult it was to market my books. I prefer spending my time writing. He said, “Don’t give up. Keep trying.” I came across this quotation: “If you do nothing to market your book, do you know what you’ll get? Nothing.” (more…)
