The Feast of St John Eudes. He was born and died in Normandy. He was ordained priest and spent many years preaching parish missions. He organized a congregation of nuns that grew into the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity, dedicated to the care of women rescued from a disorderly life, and a congregation of priests dedicated to the running of seminaries. He was active in encouraging devotion to the Sacred Heart, and to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
In his time the Church in France was corrupt and in many ways a source of evil rather than grace. The higher clergy were rich and privileged, and enjoyed and guarded their privileges (the country was run, and wars were waged, by a cardinal). The lower clergy were ignorant and the common people were poor, superstitious, and oppressed as much spiritually as materially. To this mix was added the poison of Jansenism, which taught that human nature was corrupt, original sin rampant, and perfection was both necessary for salvation and practically unattainable.
In such circumstances, setting up seminaries to ensure the proper education of priests becomes itself a revolutionary act, and the encouragement of devotion to the Sacred Heart – to the emotional core of Jesus – becomes not a sweet pious platitude but a defiant proclamation that the centre of God’s essence is his love, not condemnation.
Over and over again in the lives of the saints we find the Church sick and corrupt. Perhaps it must always be so, journeying in a fallen world and staffed by sinners who are as fallen as the rest of us and subject to worse temptations. And over and over again we find God’s grace acting through people like St John Eudes. They do not stand outside and complain or run campaigns, they go in and do things, removing the mould of worldly corruption and putting back, bit by bit, the leaven of grace. They will always be needed, until the world ends.
In today's Gospel [Matthew 22:1-14] we hear: ‘Come to the wedding.’
One can get the message of today’s parable without understanding all the details. The chance of a life-time was offered and refused—for frivolous reasons.
But invitations to that wedding are still being sent out. God invites everyone to the wedding feast of heaven. My parents accepted on my behalf when they had me baptized. The Christian life I endeavor to lead tells God that I am still interested. Even so, it is possible to make a poor preparation for that great event that will go on forever.
One does not go along to a wedding empty-handed. One brings a gift to show appreciation of the invitation and friendship. What gifts am I getting ready now for God?
WHALE SHARK SEASON on Isla Holbox is from (approx.) May 15 - Sept. 15. Whale sharks come to the northern tip of the Yucatán peninsula to feed and mate during the summer.
THE ART OF TRUTH, COMPASSION, AND TOLERANCE Twelve international artists paint for basic dignity and human rights. They tell the story of Falun Dafa, a spiritual discipline persecuted by the Chinese government. MACAY Museum, July 9-Sept. 30.
TURTLES AT ECO PARAÍSO Along miles and miles of virgin beach, our guests have had the wonderful experience of watching turtles be born, later to release them to the sea. The temperature defines the gender of the babies (for this reason, global warming is a serious problem for the survival of the reptiles). Visit Eco Paraiso Xixim to be an Ecological Tourist. 10 km North of Celestún. Tel. (988) 916 21 00.
BICENTENNIAL MENU Balam salad: combination of fesh lettuces, carrots, red peppers, Italian squash, cucumber, onion, and egg with a delicious house vinaigrette. National confetti: turkey breast stuffed with red prickly pear and guayaba with a pitaya and jamaica flower sauce, accompanied by cheese-stuffed chaya. Dessert: pitaya sorbet with jamaica flower sauce on a bed of corn and cacao. Bistro las Palomas in the Hotel Casa del Balam, Calle 60 x 57 Centro. Tel. 924 8844.
THE GAME OF LIFE: EL DIOS VERDE...FROM BRAZOS ABIERTOS Play The Game of Life As El Dios Verde. Two years ago Brazos Abiertos began a fascinating relationship with Dr. La Verne Abe Harris of the IDEA Laboratory at Purdue University where she is Co-Director. In 2008, Dr. Harris presented a proposal to our Board of Directors to create an educational online video game that would educate young people in the Yucatan about HIV/AIDS. Video games are a powerful way to appeal to young people and Dr. Harris' proposal has now turned into reality. After traveling to Yucatan in Summer 2008, experiencing the work of our TEAMM interns in the field, and learning about Mayan culture, Dr. Harris came back to the IDEA Laboratory with a concept for the game. She assembled a team of students and directed them as they fleshed-out the concept and produced the video game. The students called their Production team "Squeaky Ideas." Well, it's a wrap now and they call their production El Dios Verde (The Green God). Players take the role of an avatar in a cooperative game setting based upon Mayan themes. El Dios Verde is a Mayan superhero who must destroy the evil Virus Warriors by increasing his knowledge about HIV/AIDS. Along the way, Jaguar agents are encountered who guide him as he engages in question-based combat. As he defeats these "minions" you are rewarded with glowing green T-Cell jewels--collect six and you advance to the next level. This new online video game is an exciting development in the field of HIV/AIDS education for young people. We believe El Dios Verde will become a valuable educational tool for Brazos Abiertos as we continue with our mission in Yucatan. Muchas gracias to La Verne and to the “Squeaky Ideas” team. Los queremos mucho!
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