"Praise and bless my Lord, and give thanks, and serve him with great humility."

The internet is vast. Much of it is a vast wasteland of useless information, idle chat and pornography. Yet, as all media, it is a valuable to way to get the word out. One of the joys of having a blog is to be able to direct interested people to places on the web that are good and edifying. To that end, I was deeply gratified this morning to find that Fr. Raniero Cantalmessa, O.F.M. Cap has an English-language website. This son of St. Francis is the preacher of the papal household, who belongs to my own, what another of my mentors, Deacon Owen Cummings, would call community of the heart. Like the books on Scripture by His Eminence Carlo Maria Cardinal Montini, SJ, Fr. Raniero's little books are treasures; his preaching is Spirit-filled.

In this day, when it is so much on the outs, Fr. Raniero remains a Catholic charismatic, who sees the charismatic renewal as way to evangelize those Catholics, especially in Latin America and Africa, who are drawn to charismatic forms of Protestantism. He also sees it as a powerful form of ecumenism. So, to my old and dear charismatic friends, Catholic and non-Catholic alike, you have a friend in high places, who has the ear of the Holy Father, who is a learned theologian, Church historian, and student of the Church Fathers. In other words, he has credibility.

If you want to wade into Fr. Cantalmessa's works, I recommend Sober Intoxication of the Spirit: Filled with the Fullness of God. I also recommend his little book entitled: Eucharist: Our Sanctification. If nothing else visit his website.

Prayer for a day in late Summer:

"Most high, all powerful, all good Lord! All praise is yours, all glory, all honor, and all blessing. To you, alone, Most High, do they belong. No mortal lips are worthy to pronounce your name.
Be praised, my Lord, through all your creatures, especially through my lord Brother Sun, who brings the day; and you give light through him. And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor! Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.
Be praised, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars; in the heavens you have made them, precious and beautiful.
Be praised, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air, and clouds and storms, and all the weather, through which you give your creatures sustenance.
Be praised, My Lord, through Sister Water; she is very useful, and humble, and precious, and pure.
Be praised, my Lord, through Brother Fire, through whom you brighten the night. He is beautiful and cheerful, and powerful and strong.
Be praised, my Lord, through our sister Mother Earth, who feeds us and rules us, and produces various fruits with colored flowers and herbs.
Be praised, my Lord, through those who forgive for love of you; through those who endure sickness and trial. Happy those who endure in peace, for by you, Most High, they will be crowned.
Be praised, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death, from whose embrace no living person can escape. Woe to those who die in mortal sin! Happy those she finds doing your most holy will. The second death can do no harm to them.
Praise and bless my Lord, and give thanks, and serve him with great humility."

San Francesco d'Assisi's Canticle of the Sun