Thought for the Day – 9 October – The Memorial of St John Leonardi (1541-1609)
Dear brothers and sisters, St John Leonardi’s existence was always enlightened by the splendour of the “Holy Face” of Jesus, kept and venerated in the Cathedral Church of Lucca, becoming the eloquent symbol and the indisputable synthesis of the faith that animated him. Conquered by Christ like the Apostle Paul, he pointed out to his disciples and continues to point out to all of us, the Christocentric ideal for which “it is necessary to divest oneself of every self interest and only look to the service of God,” having “before the mind’s eye only the honour, service and glory of Christ Jesus Crucified.”
Along with the face of Christ, he fixed his gaze on the maternal face of Mary. She whom he chose patroness of his order, was for him teacher, sister and mother and he felt her constant protection. May the example and intercession of this “fascinating man of God” be, particularly in this Year for Priests, a call and encouragement for priests and for all Christians to live their own vocations with passion and enthusiasm. (Pope Benedict XVI, October 7, 2009)
What can one person do? The answer is plenty! In the life of each saint, one thing stands clear: God and one person are a majority!
What one individual, following God’s will and plan for his or her life, can do is more than our mind could ever hope for or imagine.
Each of us, like John Leonardi, has a mission to fulfill in God’s plan for the world.
Each one of us is unique and has been given talent to use for the service of our brothers and sisters for the building up of God’s kingdom.
St John Leonardi, Pray for us!
AnaStpaul 