Learning to Fall: The Blessings of an Imperfect
Life, by Philip Simmons.
Bantam Books, 2000.
In this book the author who is 35 years old, husband and father, learned he had ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease, and was told he had less than five
years to live. He here presents in 12 essays, his search for peace and his growing relationship with mysteries of daily life. His essays are "an affirmation of life in the face of impending death." This book is for those ready to embrace "the way through loss to wholeness, richness, and depth never before envisioned."
"When we learn to fall, we learn that only by letting go of our grip on all that we ordinarily find most precious-our achievements, our plans, our loved ones, our very selves-can we find, ultimately the most profound freedom. In the act of letting go, we return more fully to them." The author 's aim is to provide
another lesson in the act of falling. "Accepting ourselves means accepting the whole package, the whole sour and sweet, lovely and larcenous mess that we are."
- Book review by Sr. Irene Hartman, OP: 2003
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Saint of the Week
St. Francis Borgia: 1510-72. October 10
Today’s saint grew up in an important family in 16th-century Spain, serving in the imperial court and quickly advancing in his career. But a series of events—including the death of his
beloved wife—made Francis Borgia rethink his priorities. He gave up public life, gave away his possessions, and joined the new and little-known Society of Jesus.
Religious life proved to be the right choice. Francis felt drawn to spend time in
seclusion and prayer, but his administrative talents also made him a natural for other tasks. He helped in the establishment of what is now the Gregorian University in Rome. Not long after his ordination, he served as political and spiritual adviser to the emperor. In Spain, he founded a dozen colleges.
At 55, Francis was elected head of the Jesuits. He focused on the growth of the Society of Jesus, the spiritual preparation of its new members, and spreading the faith in many parts of Europe. He was responsible for the founding of Jesuit missions in Florida, Mexico, and Peru.
Francis Borgia is often regarded as the second founder of the Jesuits. He died in 1572 and was canonized 100 years later.
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Greek is "diabolos," which means accuser. The greatest of all the fallen angels. He
opposes God and is completely evil. He is often called Lucifer which is a Latin translation of "light bearer" found in Isaiah 14:12, and also the accuser of the brethren in (Rev. 12:10), dragon (Rev. 12:9), the devil (Matt. 4:1), the tempter (Matt. 4:3), the accuser (Rev. 12:10), the prince of demons (Luke 11:15), the ruler of this world (John 12:31), See Isaiah 14:12-15 for a description of the fall of the devil.
A man was driving to work when a truck ran
a stop sign, hit his car broadside, and knocked him out cold.
A Passersby pulled him from the wreckage and revived him.
He began a terrific struggle and had to be tranquilized by the medics. Later, when he had calmed down, they asked him why he had struggled so.
He said, a bit sheepishly, "I remember the impact, then nothing. I woke up on a concrete slab in front of this huge, flashing sign. Turns out somebody was standing in front of the 'S' on the 'Shell' sign."
