When you have exhausted all possibilities, remember this: you haven’t.
Thomas Edison
Celebrating the Anniversary of Jean-Pierre Médaille’s Birth
Today the global Joseph family pauses to celebrate with gratitude the life and legacy of our founder and spiritual father, Father Jean-Pierre Médaille. Birthdays are gift times to highlight and honour the nobility and grandeur of one human life.
“Have only one desire throughout your life:
to be, and to become,
what God wants you to be
in nature, in grace, and in glory,
for time and eternity.”
IN NATURE: Jean-Pierre was born on October 6, 1610, the eldest son of Jean and Phélippe Médaille in Carcassonne, France. While we have no photographs or biography of this time, we can presume from parish records, that his home life was very stable, economically secure, and spiritually alive. He and his two brothers, Jean-Paul and Jean attended the local Jesuit College which combined classical learning with cultural and religious experience. This strong and balanced Jesuit educational milieu marked Jean-Pierre’s childhood and early adolescence providing a discipline that grounded him for significant spiritual and social influence in the world.
IN GRACE: Jean-Pierre Médaille was born with a destiny and unique purpose that he grew into and embraced wholeheartedly. Not yet 16 years of age, he entered the Jesuit novitiate in Toulouse, France. All throughout his formative years and up to his ordination of priesthood in 1637 (age 27), Jean-Pierre was described by his superiors as “having extraordinary talent”; “excellent, remarkable, penetrating, even sublime intelligence.” He was considered “wise, above average in everything, superior in philosophy and especially in theology.” Most of his four decades of apostolic ministry were spent travelling from diocese to diocese around south-western France preaching Parish Missions and promoting a spirituality that inspired the laity and engaged them on a path of holiness so much so that his obituary (Dec. 30, 1669) reported that “so great his reputation for holiness that here and there he was called the saint, the apostle.”
Under the inspiration of grace, with receptivity and astute psychology, he wrote the timeless wisdom of 128 Maxims of Perfection, 12 intimate Contemplations on the Life of Christ, and a profound Chapter on Transforming Union. As a gifted spiritual director to some widows and young women in Le Puy, he nurtured their desire to dedicate their lives in consecration to God and service to the dear neighbour – witnessing the birthing of the Sisters of St. Joseph in October 1650. Then ten years later comes another moment of graced inspiration - a Divine revelation he wrote down - The Eucharistic Letter. Coming into rebirth these two past decades, its message speaks prophetically to those women and men today who are seeking small faith-share communities to embrace Gospel living in simplicity and joy.
IN GLORY: During his lifetime he manifested in numerous personal relationships a pattern of self-emptying detachment and ever-deepening contemplation. The mantra, “Empty me. Fill me with your Great Love,” helped tame his egoic reactions. His receptivity to the flow of this transforming action of grace moved him so much that in his final contemplation on the mysteries of Christ’s life he concludes with: “This is the only desire of my soul. This is the most cherished expectation of my poor heart…” Having come to this heightened consciousness of the simplicity and unity of ALL at the centre, Jean-Pierre is already living in eternity. The One Thing necessary is Love. Jean-Pierre, the mystic, had found his heaven here on earth!
WHAT IS YOUR GIFT TO FATHER MÉDAILLE ON THIS HIS BIRTHDAY?
“It is time to bring the ‘gifts of our lives” in celebration of our spiritual father and in thanksgiving for the spirituality he imparted to us.
What gift do you bring?
(e.g. I live by this maxim;
I aspire to grow in this virtue;
I love the ‘little way’….) ”
If we were having a spiritual birthday gathering for our founder and spiritual father, what gift would each of us consider bringing? What would be our heart-sharing? What is the lasting memory of Father Médaille that lives on in you? The gift of our lives in the family of Joseph is what gives glory to God.
This year, I give thanks for the manner in which Father Médaille’s spirituality regards the dignity and destiny of every human person. He respects that there is “a particular way God calls each person.” He invites us to discern and discover that way. What serves me well these days, is his loving invitation and focused intention: “Rosemary, do what is yours to do.”
Happy Birthday Jean-Pierre, in the communion of saints!
-Sister Rosemary O’Toole, CSJ
Historical quotes taken from Words For Life, A Spirituality Study Inspired by Jesuit Priest, Jean-Pierre Medaille, S.J., His Writings and Experiences, Book One.
Vespers for the Birth Anniversary of Father Medaille posted on The Upper Room Home of Prayer website
World Teachers’ Day - October 5
World Teachers' Day is an international day held annually on 5 October to celebrate the work of teachers. It was established in 1994. To celebrate World Teachers' Day, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and Education International (EI) mount a campaign each year to help give the world better understanding of teachers and the role they play in the development of students and society. ~ Wikipedia
I googled, “The changing role of teachers” wishing to contribute a blog post for World Teachers’ Day. The search engine introduced me to Dr. Jayendrakumar. N. Amin and his informative paper entitled, “Redefining the Role of Teachers in the Digital Era.”
““Teaching is not just a job. It is a human service, and it must be thought of as a mission.”
”
In summary, his scholarly article points out that the 21st century educator’s role has shifted from being an “instructor”, who dispenses, in my words, prescribed packages of information, to assuming the multifaceted role of becoming, in his words, “the constructor, facilitator, coach, and creator of learning environments”.
The paper underscores that this transformation of the teacher’s roles from knowledge transmitter to facilitator and coordinator is both complex and challenging in our present changing world. World Teachers’ Day offers us an opportunity to acknowledge the contributions our teachers make to the betterment of society.
Today’s teachers, amid the daily barrage of misinformation, help develop the knowledge but more importantly the judgement and understanding young people need to be wise and contributing citizens.
““Some people change the world.
And some people change the people who change the world,
and that’s you.” ”
As a former educator, I urge all of us today, to pause, be thankful, and appreciate that the daily task of the classroom teacher is complex and challenging but paramount to the development of learners and society.
Let all of us today offer a virtual, resounding shout out to all teachers, thanking them for the multiple, often underappreciated roles they fulfill day in and day out.
-Sister Nancy Wales, csj
September 30 - National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
94 Calls to Action. How Are We Doing?
On Monday, September 30, we will celebrate the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This day provides an opportunity to consider what progress we are making in remedying the harm caused by the policies and practices of settlers, and in creating a climate of respect and friendship among all of us.
In December 2015, on the eighth anniversary of the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, a Canadian Government statement asserted that over 85% of the 94 Calls to Action involving the Government were completed or well underway. However, according to Indigenous Watchdog, only 11 of the Calls to Action were completed and 39 were “in progress.” At this time, seventeen years after the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s report, there are still many of the 94 Calls to Action that have not been completed.
I suggest that we look beyond the 94 Calls to Action in assessing progress on rectifying the imbalance concerning the wellbeing of Indigenous people in Canada. We still have indicators that all is not well in our quest to reconcile relationships between our Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations. However, in weighing progress on completion of the 94 Calls to Action, the prevalence of problems such as higher rates of incarceration, and reports of abusive treatment in hospitals of Indigenous persons contrast with indications that Indigenous members of our country are making significant progress as respected citizens, and that relationships between settlers and Indigenous persons are improving.
There are now many well-educated Indigenous persons who are writing books, teaching in schools and universities, negotiating land claims, providing health care services, exercising political power, and operating successful businesses. I am aware that churches no longer disparage the culture and spirituality of aboriginal people; traditional aboriginal practices are incorporated into the teachings and liturgical practices of Christian churches. Efforts to educate non-aboriginal Canadians about the history and culture of our native population have effectively improved respect and altered attitudes. Schools and colleges have been making consistent efforts to welcome Indigenous students and provide any services needed to support academic and social success.
We still have many hurdles to overcome in our quest to treat all aboriginal citizens with respect and to resolve issues such as economic disparity, settlement of claims for compensation of past wrongs, or ill-treatment of Indigenous patients in hospitals. But such issues are publicized now, regarded as unacceptable, and stimulate action to stop harm and promote justice. There is a welcome change in attitudes towards our Indigenous neighbours and a growing population of competent aboriginal persons who will no longer tolerate being treated as second-class citizens.
Let us celebrate National Day for Truth and Reconciliation wearing our orange shirts, attending local festivities, and extending friendship to our Indigenous neighbours.
- Sister Patricia McKeon
image: Denise Bossarte @dbossarte / Unsplash
