Hello everyone! Heyo! Welcome back to Scattering Flowers with Elise and Miles, a podcast where you read the daily Gospels and the Saint of the Day.
Let’s get started! Today is Monday, March 30th, and the Gospel reading is John 12, 1-11.
And the scripture to reflect on is John 12, 8.
The poor you will always have with you, but you do not always have me.
Yesterday was Palm Sunday, the start of Holy Week.
Jesus had been preparing his whole life and accepts what is about to happen to him.
Because of God’s plan, he loves us so much, he suffered and died for us, something we learn and focus on the whole upcoming week.
Today’s Saint of the Day, Saint Mary Euphrasia.
She was born 1796 and died 1869.
She’s the patron saint of travelers.
Rose was born during the French Revolution in an effort to escape the persecution of Catholics.
Her parents and siblings lived on an island off the coast of France.
Her father baptized Rose, since all the priests in the area had been hunted down and killed.
As she grew, she witnessed her father, a doctor, and her mother doing all they could help the poor.
After her father died, the family moved back to the mainland, and Rose was sent to a boarding school.
She was devastated when her mother died, and she only learned of it after the funeral.
When she left school, Rose joined the Sister of Our Lady of Charity.
There, she cared for girls and women in difficulty and took the name of Sister Mary.
Some years later, she became superior of the convent and helped to form the contemplative group of sisters called the Magdalens.
In 1835, Mother Mary Euphrasia received the Pope’s approval to establish a new congregation, known today as the Sisters of the Good Shepherd.
The new congregation had both contemplative and apostolic branches.
She served as the general superior of the new congregation in 33 years and oversaw its rapid expansion.
Even though sometimes it’s hard to think about Jesus dying on the cross and how he was mocked and suffered through beating and mean treatment, we shouldn’t be afraid to think of Jesus on the cross.
We can just remember that he did it all because he loves us.
As with many saints, Mother Mary Euphrasia’s childhood experiences had a great effect on her later ministry.
Because of her own suffering, grief, and loneliness, she could empathize with others.
She often said one person is of value than of the world.
Mother Mary Euphrasia’s compassionate love for others continues to be an inspiration for us all.
Let’s pray.
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Dear God, help us to remember to focus on you throughout this Holy Week and to be grateful for your love.
And help us to have the grace we need to truly see the value of each person created by you.
Say to Mary Euphrasia, pray for us.
Amen.
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Thank you so much for listening.
We’ll be back tomorrow scattering more flowers.
See ya!