Memorial of Saints (November 14)

St. Lawrence O' Toole became a monk, was named abbot, and then made archbishop of Dublin. Lawrence was involved in the conflict between England and Ireland at the time. In 1175 A.D., while negotiating a treaty, an attack was made on his life. He survived the attack and perseveringly conducted further negotiations. He journeyed to Normandy and passed away on the way back (died ca. 1180 A.D.).

St. Alberic joined the Benedictines, became prior of the Utrecht cathedral, and was eventually named bishop of Utrecht. Noted for his learning, Alberic was also known for his successful missionary work among the Teutons (died ca. 784 A.D.).

St. Dyfrig became a monk and founded monasteries at Henllan and Moccas. Also known as Dubricius, tradition says that he became the first bishop of Llandaff. His two monasteries also attracted numerous disciples, and with this number, he was able to found many other monastic communities. Dyfrig died and was buried on Bardsey Island off the coast of Wales in ca. 545 A.D.

St. Nicolas Tavelic was a Franciscan who spent twenty years as a missionary in Bosnia. In 1391 A.D., together with three companion Franciscans, he went to Jerusalem to preach the gospel. Since Jerusalem was under Muslim control at the time, Nicholas and his companions were killed by the Muslims. St. Nicholas Tavelic is the first Croatian saint, and together with his companions, became the first martyrs of the Custody of the Holy Land (died ca. 1391 A.D.).

St. Joseph Pignatelli was a Jesuit who played an important role during the history of his Order - during the 1773 suppression and the 1814 restoration. Joseph journeyed to Russia to join the Jesuits that escaped the suppression of their Order through the political influence of Russia's Catherine the Great. Joseph eventually became master of novices, provincial of Italy, and a teacher in diocesan seminaries. Three years after his death, Pope Pius VII restored the Jesuit Order throughout the world (died ca. 1811 A.D.).

St. Sidonius was an Irish abbot who established several monasteries and labored hard for the evangelization of his peoples (died ca. 7th century).

"Called by Name" by Robert J. Furey

"Called by Name" by Robert J. Furey

Introduction:

Many books have been written on the theme of vocation or calling. This book speaks of a more specialized concept of vocation: calling. Author Robert J. Furey, a psychotherapist by profession, speaks about callings from the perspective of a counselor. He guides his readers to see how God, in His wisdom, personally asks each one of us to do something that only we can do. Furey encourages the reader to discover for himself that unique call or mission, that defines him and makes him more aware of God who calls him by his own name.

Callings equip us with courage and abilities

According to Furey, the mystery of God's call equips each one with the miracle of having the perfect combination of abilities to meet the challenges inherent in his specific call. Initially, as is usual in anything unknown or part of God's mystery, fear is present and felt in truth. But author Furey writes that once a leap of faith is made, courage miraculously materializes and the person's particular path in life becomes clearer. A specific direction emerges and looms before him. When that person discovers the calling's origin, he eventually realizes that it comes from God.

The book is sourced from many materials

This book by Furey comes from a number of sources. Although the concept of calling is often associated with the Christian faith, Furey draws also from other disciplines: psychology, philosophy, literature, medicine, anthropology, management studies, political science, biology, and history. However, with all these materials and sources he integrates in his work, he humbly states that the book is an explanation of the nature of calling, and does not presume to be the explanation. He further writes that the book is more of an introduction to the nature of calling rather than a conclusion. According to him, the final word on the mystery of God's call really belongs to the reader himself and to God.

The chapters of the book

Below is an outline of the chapters of the book. The book is easy reading. It is light and brief, spanning only 166 pages. For those privileged with time, it can be read in one sitting:

• Callings
• A Well-Known Secret
• Callings Denied
• Callings Found
• Hearing Your Calling, Seeing Your Vision, Finding Your Mission
• Conclusion

Final words by the author

Towards the end of the book, Furey writes with an inspiring thought:

"There are no small callings. Each one of us is called to make a great contribution. Each calling invites us to do wonderful things in our lives. Some visions lead to fame and fortune; others do not. But each calling is equally significant and necessary.

If we listen for our callings and live the missions we have been given, we will receive the power, courage, awareness, and passion to move the mountains that wait for us. All the while we will be moving closer to the force that calls us by name, closer to the force that sends the breeze."

The People Israel and the "Promised Land"

"The Promised Land" - A biblical history of the Hebrew people and their struggle for land.

The Hebrew people had their faith and their history intertwined. Much of how they struggled for land can be seen in biblical history. Other sources of their history are based on archaeological evidences. This article will focus on the former: their struggle for land according to the Scriptures.

The Fertile Crescent

From the earliest times, the Fertile Crescent was already the scene of a fierce struggle for land. This coveted area was periodically invaded by peoples from Arabia, Asia Minor, the Caucasian highlands, or Egypt - peoples who sought a strip of the good earth to call their own, or who fought to expand their territory, at the expense of others. Palestine by virtue of its geographical location was inevitably drawn into this incessant conflict. This little country, sometimes called Canaan, was the place where small nations fought for living space, and where big nations fought their wars. It was in this little country that the Hebrews came. Like other people in the ancient world, they were at first a landless people. Their faith in Yahweh, their God, led them to conquer land in order to fulfill their historical destiny. This led them to engage in conflict with many Canaanite natives. It was their faith in Yahweh that helped them win.

The Conquest of Canaan

In the book of Deuteronomy, the elevation of Joshua to leadership was a factor in the conquest of Canaan (see Deuteronomy chapter 34 and the book of Joshua). In Joshua 1:1-9, we see Yahweh summoning Joshua to lead Israel across the Jordan into the Promised Land - a land extending from the southern wilderness to the high Lebanon ranges to the north...even beyond to the river Euphrates (see Genesis 15:18). Joshua is told that this segment of the Fertile Crescent will be Israel's land if they follow one condition: that the "book of the law" (the Deuteronomic Law) must be obeyed and studied diligently (Joshua 1:7-9). This is the key to success. Obedience to Yahweh's commands will be rewarded with victory and prosperity; but disobedience will bring the divine judgment of suffering and failure.

The Geography of Canaan

Canaan was the original name of the land that was in dispute between many peoples. (Palestine became its later name.) The most striking topographical feature of this land is the central backbone of hill country lying between the deep cleft of the Jordan and the coastland of the Mediterranean. The hill country is cut, in the area of Mount Carmel, by a valley known as Jezreel (or Esdraelon), which gives access to the Jordan Valley. In ancient times, the main military and commercial highway from Egypt to Mesopotamia (present day Iraq) ran along the coast, then turned into the Valley of Jezreel and veered northward to Damascus (in present day Syria). Important fortified cities were located along this route - notably Megiddo, which guarded the pass leading from the southern coastal plain into the Valley of Jezreel. Many decisive battles, both ancient and modern, have been fought for the control of this strategic pass and for the fertile valley.

Israel's Conquest of Canaan

Joshua 1-12 sets forth the dramatic story of the Israelite conquest of Canaan. In this story, we see how Joshua, through the help of Yahweh, won the land in three swift, decisive military campaigns. The whole land was given to the invading Israel tribes in a holy war "because Yahweh, the God of Israel, fought for Israel" (Joshua 10:42). The thoroughness of the conquest is detailed in Joshua 11:16-23. This story is the view of the Deuteronomistic historian, from which the traditions of this bibical narrative are sourced from. The writer uses these traditions: tribal stories, cultic legends, and maybe material from the Old Epic tradition that is also found in the other books of the Bible - Genesis, Exodus, and Numbers.

Evidence from Archaeology

With regard to the situation in Canaan (Palestine), the archaeological picture is blurred. On one hand, there is clear evidence that some fortified cities were violently destroyed, as indicated by layers of ash. On the other hand, some fortified cities that Joshua took, according to what the bible says, were not destroyed. This archaeological period is said to be the transition from the Late Bronze period (c. 1550-1200 B.C.E.) to the Early Iron period (c. 1200-900 B.C.E.). According to Joshua 6:24, Jericho was burned to the ground. However, archaeological investigation shows that the wall which supposedly "came tumbling down" actually dates back to the third millenium B.C.E. (before the Common Era) and was destroyed in the middle of the sixteenth century. Though this archaeological evidence may blur our knowledge of what the bible says of Israel's conquest of Canaan, we must see that archaeological evidences are meant to shed light on the truth and not to prove or disprove the biblical record.

Related resources:

"Understanding the Old Testament", by Bernhard W. Anderson