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 Friday, May 22nd, and the Gospel reading is John 21, 15-19, and the scripture to reflect on is John 21, 15.
Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?
Simon Peter answered him, Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.
How do you show your parents, friends, or even teachers that you love and care for them?
Do you give them hugs, write them notes, or do nice things for them?
We’ve talked about how we can show God our praise and gratitude the same way we show people that we love, but we can also show God that we love him in the same way, when we are kind to others and listen to them, when we respect others and are truthful to them, when we use our talents and gifts for good.
We are showing God that we love him.
Today’s Saint of the Day is St.
Rita of Cassia.
She was born 1381 and died 1457.
She is the patron saint of desperate situations.
Rita was born in an Italian village just outside of Cassina that was wrecked by constant funding.
She married Pablo and the couple had two sons before her husband was violently murdered.
Rita forgave the murderers and sought reconciliation, but her teenage sons stubbornly planned their revenge.
Rita prayed that God would prevent them from violence to the murderers.
Both of her sons fell ill, their hearts still full of hate, but before they died they repented their desire for revenge.
Alone in the world, Rita sought to enter the convent but was adamantly refused.
Legend hint of a miracle that changed the sister’s minds.
Perhaps that Rita was able to reconcile two funding families or that three saints miraculously led her to the barred doors into the convent into the chapel where the surprised sisters found her.
Whatever the miracle was, the sisters finally allowed Rita to enter.
As a religious, Rita desired to share everything with Jesus, deepened prayer with his desire before the crucifix.
One Good Friday, Rita felt a thorn from the crucifix’s crown.
The thorns of miraculously pierced her on her forehead.
The painful wound reminded her of the rest of her life.
Rita was canonized on May 24, 1900 by Pope Leo XIII, who proclaimed her the precious pearl of Umbria.
Every day this summer, take time to show God that you love him.
I know it’s summer and you like to have some time off, but maybe just clean the living room for your mom or give your dad a hug.
Every time you serve others, you serve God and love him.
Rita is rightly called the saint of the impossible because with God’s grace she didn’t just survive several near impossible situations, but she used them as stepping stones to holiness.
Immediately after her death, so many miracles were too a humble woman’s intercession that she became famous for her heavenly compassion for those who like her struggle with unbearable situations.
Let’s pray in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Dear God, thank you for all of your blessings.
We love you so much.
And thank you that I trust your love, even in desperate situations.
Help me to discover a new love for you in our daily lives.
Saint Rita of Cassina, 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 next week.
Scattering more flowers.
See ya!