Summer

This year summer begins today on June 21st, "the longest day" in the northern hemisphere.  It is also the jubilee celebration of several Marist Brothers, ranging from 25-75 years! We also celebrate the Memorial of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, a Jesuit noted for his purity of heart and passionate love of Jesus and others.  He died of the plague at the early age of 24 while attending victims of it. 
Summer is a beautiful season, a time of rest, vacations, summer courses, remote preparation for the rest of the year.  It is a pure time, a time of hope and renewal and, fittingly, the example of St. Aloysius and our jubilarians might help us begin this season with purity of intention and determination to move forward despite setbacks and disappointments. Evidently there is a radio station in Boston which begins each week with calls relating negative things that happened over the weekend.  What a destructive way to begin the week.  Let us not begin our summer on a sour note, but with the innocence and goodness of St. Aloysius and all who are dedicating their lives to goodness.  May this be a happy summer for everyone.
Bro. Rene