Feast of Saint Berard of Morocco and Companions

Good morning. In today’s Gospel from Mark (Mk 2:18-22) we read about conversion, a total conversion. Jesus talks about the need to put new wine into new wine skins, He suggests that for there to be anything less than total, would be a waste of time. “Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins are ruined. Rather, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins.” This process of total conversion is not an easy one; it requires a renouncing of those things that get in the way of freely giving of your self to the will of God. We are presented this challenge in the Sacrament of Marriage each and every day, and it is often difficult for us at times to separate ourselves from the things of secular society that can bring about the fracturing of the marital covenant. What is the challenge for all married couples is that of being called to a complete change of mind, body, and spirit in how we respond to the world. In marriage we are called to a complete conversion of the ‘I’ to a ‘We’. This idea of conversion from living solely for oneself to living for another is reflected in the writings of Pope John Paul II. He wrote in his general audience of November 21, 1979 that “from the beginning it obliges us to see the fullness and depth which are characteristic of this unity… the first man and the first woman must constitute the beginning and the model of that communion for all men and women, who, in any period, are united so intimately as to be one flesh…in fact, it bears within it a particular consciousness of the meaning of that body in the mutual self-giving of the persons.” This inspiring reflection on marriage by Pope John Paul reminds us that we are to arise each morning freely putting aside our own wants and desires, and choosing those things of mind, body, and spirit that will bring new life to and enrich our marriage. We live in a culture that downplays the importance of marriage, as married couples we need to give witness to the faith by the example of our lives. The Saints whose lives we commemorate today gave witness to the faith, paying the ultimate price of becoming the first Franciscan Martyrs. As Saint Berard and his Companions did not hesitate to give up their lives for You, may we likewise bear witness to You by example of our sacramental marriage. Let us begin anew today. Make a great day!

Today we recall the good lives, gifts, and works of Saint Berard of Morocco and Companions.