Don Marco

Pictured, the Madonna with Tobit and the Archangel Raphael and St. Francis.

Why have I pictured St. Raphael and Tobias? It is because I am reminded that sometimes Our Lord sends us a special friend to help us on our pilgrimage toward Heaven. In His blessed Providence He has given me one of His beloved to help me, His name is Don Marco, monk and priest. His wonderful spirituality has enlightened me and given me untold consolation. The meeting of the Archangel Raphael and Tobias is a signal grace and mark of true friendship. (I have often prayed for such an encounter as Tobias had, once, years ago I met a person who spoke to me in similar fashion - I never saw him again. Sometime I should tell the story.) I am so grateful to God for Don Marco's counsel. Here is a homily of his for this day, I hope he doesn't mind that I share it with you.

Homily for the Memorial of Blessed Marie-Joseph Cassant, Monk and Priest.

We celebrate today the memorial of Blessed Marie-Joseph Cassant,a Cistercian monk of the Abbey of Sainte-Marie-du-Désert beatified by PopeJohn Paul II on October 3, 2004. Father Marie-Joseph died on June 17, 1903;he was twenty-five years old. Solemnly professed for three years, he hadbeen a priest for only nine months. From childhood he wanted nothing else.³Where his treasure was, there was his heart also² (cf. Mt 6:21).

Bl. Marie-Joseph Cassant

In his last letter to his family, he wrote, ³For such a longtime we hoped against hope to be able to have the whole family together after my ordination so as to share the joy of being present and receivingCommunion together at my first Mass. The good Lord heard our deepest wishes. It now remains to us to thank him and to enter more and more deeplyinto the greatness of the priesthood. Let us never dare to equate the Sacrifice of the Mass with earthly things.²

Americans first learned of Father Marie-Joseph Cassant fromThomas Merton in The Waters of Siloe, first published in 1949. Merton wrotethat, ³On the afternoon of June 17, 1903, the body of Father Joseph Cassantwas lowered into its grave in the préau of Sainte-Marie-du-Désert. Someone had thrown into the grave a few bright handfuls of petals from the flowers that had been scattered before the Blessed Sacrament in the cloister procession that same day - for it was the octave of Corpus Christi.²

The American Trappist made a novena to Father Marie-Joseph and through his intercession received significant favours. Merton was not alone in invoking Father Marie-Joseph. Since 1903 more than 2200 persons from thirty different countries have attested to favours received through the intercession of Father Marie-Joseph. The catalogue of graces attributed to the young monk is impressive: conversions, reconciliations, cures, and comfort in uncertainties and doubts. Father Jacob and I went in pilgrimage to his tomb in 1982 and prayed that both of us might become priests.

Father Marie-Joseph¹s road to the priesthood was not an easy one. His parish priest judged him intellectually inadequate for theological studies. After tutoring him for fifteen months in French and Latin, he saw that the young Joseph was not suited for the diocesan seminary. He directed him instead to the Trappe of Sainte-Marie-du-Desert where the monks were ordained to the priesthood after a simpler course of studies, given that they had no pastoral responsibilities or outside ministry.

Joseph entered ³Le Desert² on December 5, 1894. Sister Thérèsede l¹Enfant Jésus et de la Sainte-Face, five years older than Joseph, had three years left in her Carmel of Lisieux. Their lives were in some ways similar. Although Thérèse had a stronger personality, both were led to find their strength in weakness. ³Gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may dwell in me² (2 Cor 12:9).

Frère Marie-Joseph was timid, fearful, and scrupulous at times,suffering from insecurities. It was by trusting obedience to his NoviceMaster, Père André Malet, that he began to grow in confidence in the Heartof Jesus. ³My grace is sufficient for you: for power is made perfect ininfirmity² (2 Cor 12:9). Confidence in the Heart of Jesus became his way.Echoing the words of the psalmist, he called the Eucharist ³his one happiness on earth.² ³What have I in heaven? And besides you what do I desire upon earth?² (Ps 72:25).

Even in the abbey, theological studies were not easy for Joseph.The monk charged with teaching him often humiliated him publicly for his stupidity, saying, ³ You are totally limited! It is useless for you to study. You will not learn any more. To ordain you would be a dishonour to the priesthood.² Father André, his gentle and patient spiritual father, was always there to encourage Father Marie-Joseph, to set him again and again on the path of confidence in the Heart of Jesus.

Father Marie-Joseph was ordained on October 12, 1902 at twenty-four and a half years of age. Already tuberculosis was ravaging his young body. His abbot sent him home to his family for seven weeks of rest,hoping that his health might improve, but it was too late for that. Upon returning to the abbey, Father Marie-Joseph was sent to the infirmary. His lungs were irreparably damaged, his breathing difficult. As infirmarian he was given none other than the theology professor who had so harshly berated him.

Father André remained close to his spiritual son, offering reassurance and comfort, helping him to trust in the love of the Heart ofJesus for him. On June 17, 1903, Father Marie-Joseph received HolyCommunion for the last time and, a few moments later, passed into the contemplation of Christ face to face. The beautiful collect composed for his liturgical memorial sums up his life: ³O Lord, Glory of the lowly, who inspired a burning love for the Eucharist in Blessed Joseph Mary, and led him into the desert through the Heart of Jesus; grant, we beseech you, that by his intercession and example we may prefer nothing to Christ, that he may bring us to life everlasting.

The memorial of Blessed Marie-Joseph Cassant, falling on this Friday in the month of the Sacred Heart, and on the day after SaintLutgarde, invites us to follow him along the path of confidence in the Heartof Jesus and burning love for the Eucharist. For Blessed Marie-Joseph
nothing equaled the Mass; the Mass became his life. At the hour of death his identification with Christ, priest and victim, was complete. Today,through Christ, with Him, and in Him, he makes priestly intercession in heaven for those who ask for it on earth.

"³In a world where there is so much noise, so much bewilderment,there is a need for silent adoration of Jesus concealed in the Host.Be assiduous in the prayer of adoration and teach it to the faithful.It is a source of comfort and light particularly to those who are suffering." -²Pope Benedict XVI, May 25, 2006

Blessed Marie-Joseph Cassant, pray for me a sinner. And thank you Don Marco for this homily - pray for me, for us.