Beato

Today I would like to yield this cyberspace and share with you the words of Blessed Solanus Casey, the first Capuchin friar born in the United States to be elevated by the Roman Catholic Church to the honor of blessed for his sanctity and virtue. July 30 is the feast day for Blessed Solanus, which is why I wish to share his words of wisdom with you today. God willing, he will one day soon be canonized and become the first man born in the U.S. to be recognized by the Church worldwide as a saint. 

Who is Blessed Solanus? There are many others who can tell the amazing story of Father Solanus better than I can. For starters, visit this portal to the Solanus Casey Center and the Father Solanus Guild. 

Whether he was offering consolation, encouragement, or instruction, Father Solanus’ writings bear the warmth of God’s love and glow with wit. Indeed, his simplicity of expression, unencumbered by formalism, allows the light of God to shine through his words. 

Bro. Leo Wollenweber (d. 2012), a Capuchin friar of the Province of Saint Joseph in the midwest U.S. who was Father Solanus’ secretary in the early 1940s, published some of those words in the book Meet Solanus Casey: Spiritual Counselor and Wonder Worker (Cincinnati: Franciscan Media, 2002). Brother Leo was also vice postulator of the cause for canonization for Father Solanus. The following is a sample of Father Solanus’ words of wisdom. 

Holiness of Life 

Inasmuch as individuals or humanity as a whole turn away from God to seek peace elsewhere, in just so much will they be restless, disappointed, and discouraged. 

We must be faithful to the present moment, or we will frustrate the plan of God for our lives.

Disregard for the claims of justice, under whatever pretext, has always been the manifestation of (to say the very least) shallow thinking—or rather a betrayal of real thinking. 

Be blind as possible to the faults of your neighbors, trying at least to attribute a good intention to their actions. 

God is constantly planning wonders for the patient and the humble. 

This poor sinner Solanus, who more than anyone else gives me the most trouble. I consider it a mercy that we need examine one conscience only! 

Jesus is no crank! He knows we are poor sinners, and He understands when we fail. 

Faith and Confidence in God 

Confidence is the very soul of prayer. 

Shake off excessive worry and show a little confidence in God’s merciful providence. 

Worry is a weakness from which very few of us are entirely free. We must be on guard against this most insidious enemy of our peace of soul. Instead let us foster confidence in God, and thank Him ahead of time for whatever He chooses to send us. 

Church and Sacraments 

God could have founded the Church and left it under the supervision of angels that have no human faults and weaknesses. But who can doubt that as it stands today, consisting of and under poor sinners—successors of ignorant fishermen—the Church is a more outstanding miracle than in any other way? 

Frequent Communion brings peace into a family and into the soul. It also fosters faith in God and heavenly relationships with all God’s dear ones in heaven. 

As manifested in the lives of the saints, if we strive and use the means God has given us, we too can ascend to great sanctity and to an astonishing familiarity with God—even here—as pilgrims to the Beatific Vision. 

Crosses and Sufferings 

We want to be Christians—spouses of Jesus—risen and glorified, of course, but without getting too near the Cross. 

How merciful the good God is, always “fitting the back to the burden”—if not vice-versa, as is often the case. 

The world is full of misunderstanding, but God often uses its mistakes to correct us and to give us the right outlook on life and its eternal destiny. 

My pain was excruciating, and though I tried to thank God for it, my principal prayer was: “God help me!”

We should make a virtue of earthly deprivations, by offering them all to our heavenly Father in union with Jesus, who said: “The Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” 

Mary and the Saints 

Mary is the Mother of God, and by His divine wisdom, power, and merciful condescension, the Blessed Mother of redeemed humanity, therefore our Blessed Mother also. 

How pleasant the glorified memory of the saints in heaven must be, who have finally triumphed over the world, the flesh, and the devil. 

Death, Heaven, and Eternity 

Life is the vestibule to eternity. 

Death is the climax of humiliation, when we must finally give up all and turn all over to God. 

Heaven—where love of God and our neighbor is the life and very soul of society and association, where hopeful faith has merged into eternal charity. 

Courage, therefore, and with the soul’s eye fixed on the goal of eternity, struggle on. 

Gratitude and Appreciation 

Gratitude is the first sign of a thinking, rational creature. 

To know and appreciate is to advance in the one science necessary: sanctity. 

Be sure, if the enemy of our soul is pleased at anything in us, it is ingratitude of whatever kind. Why? Ingratitude leads to so many breaks with God and our neighbor. 

Humanity’s outstanding weakness seems to be a thoughtless want of appreciation for the uncountable blessings by which Almighty God is always surrounding it. 

Rightly ordered charity is that I should never forget that the primary purpose of my creation and existence as a rational creature is to recognize and know, to appreciate and love—with an intelligent, personal, and grateful love—my God, my Creator, my Redeemer, my Sanctifier.