One of the saints we celebrate this week is St John of Capistrano. You probably are more familiar with him by his Spanish name, as mission San Juan Capistrano in Orange County, California was named after him by the Franciscan missionaries who brought the Catholic faith to the native people of California. John of Capistrano was born in the late 14th century. He was imprisoned during a war with a neighboring town. After his release from a lengthy imprisonment, he entered the Franciscan community in Perugia in Italy. After being ordained to the priesthood, he brought his gifts of preaching to countries all over Europe: Italy, Germany, Bohemia, Austria, Hungary, Poland, and Russia. Through his preaching, John tried to unify the Christians throughout Europe. One interesting fact related to mission San Juan Capistrano in California: it is around this date, October 23, that the swallows leave the mission as they make their way down to Argentina to leave the upcoming winter weather of the northern hemisphere.
Unity, in a sense, is a theme in Paul’s letter to the Roman’s today. Paul notes how through the disobedience of Adam, we were condemned and humanity was thrown into disarray. But, by the obedience of another man, our Lord Jesus Christ, humanity has been unified once again and the many are made righteous. In a modern world that is so badly divided, we are called to work toward unity, even in our little part of the world. It is hard work breaking down the barriers of division and brokenness. But it is work we are called to do.
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