Welcome to OneLife Ministries, an on-line ministry of Brian Kenneth Wilcox Ministries. This site is designed to lead you prayerfully into a heart experience of Divine Presence, Who is Love. I hope persons of varied wisdom paths will find inspiration here.
You are invited to join Brian at his groups on Facebook : Brian Kenneth Wilcox; Sanctum of Prayer; Love & Light; Christian Spirituality. Brian is on YouTube with videos pertaining to spirituality. Brian is on Tweeter. For details or booking of events, you can contact Brian at briankwilcox@yahoo.com .
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Enter this sanctuary time by settling down, becoming quiet, and breathing deeply some breaths. Remind yourself you are in the Presence of Love. This place you are entering, within, is the inner Temple, where you are One with God. You may wish to use a mantra, or prayer phrase, follow the breathing in-and-out, or witness the arising and falling of all around you as the manifestation of universal-Spirit. Enjoy these moments of quietly settling and come out when you are ready.
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But I will be glad, even if I am executed, pouring my life out like a liquid offering to God, just like your loyal service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy with me.
*Philippians 2.17
Teaching
Father Damien was canonized St. Damien in 2009. Father Damien was born in Belgium, 1840. After a mission given by the Redemptorists, he joined the Fathers of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary and took the name Damien. He was sent on a mission to the Hawaiian Islands, in 1864; Father Damien was ordained a priest in Honolulu that same year.
SAINT DAMIEN OF MOLOKAI (1840-1889)
On the island of Molokai, the Hawaiian government had set up a leper colony, in 1858. The colony was known as a living graveyard, for there was no cure for the disease. Once persons contracted the disease, they were taken to the island by force and never again saw family. There was no food brought to the island either, and these lepers were supposed to fend for themselves even though as the disease progressed one lost nearly all fingers and toes.
In 1873, at his own request and with the permission of the bishop, Father Damien decided to minister in Molokai as resident priest. He knew that having served on the island, he would never be allowed to leave the island, due to the contagious nature of the disease. From the 600 lepers there at that time, there was often more then one funeral daily.
For a long time, Father Damien was the only one to help them. He dressed their ulcers, helped them to erect cottages, and he built many buildings. He dug graves and made coffins.
Father Damien was a thorn in the side of the government, constantly begging on behalf of the lepers. Instead of funerals being a sad occasion on the island, he turned them into a happy occasion with processions, torch-bearers, music, bands, and choirs.
The priest taught the people their value with God. Then, when people came to the island, they were given a royal welcome.
In 1885, 12 years after he first came to the island, he noticed the first symptoms of the disease in himself. He noticed this, for he no longer felt hot water on his feet. He continued to help for as long as he could, but he died 3 years later.
Pope John Paul II beatified him on June 4th 1995, saying, “He showed forth Christ’s tenderness and mercy for every human being, revealing the beauty of that person’s inner self which no illness, no deformity, no weakness can totally disfigure. He offered the lepers, who were condemned to a slow death [his very life]...; he became a leper among the lepers; he became a leper for the lepers. He suffered and died like them, believing that he would rise again in Christ, for Christ is Lord.”
Father Damien is now known as Blessed Father Damien. He was canonized a saint in the Roman Catholic church, in 2009.
Responding
How can your life be a living gift to the Divine for the blessing of others? What spiritual gifts are you given to use to serve others?
*Story of Father Damien based on "Father Damien of Molokai was a Good Samaritan." Homily by Father Tommy Lane. See www.frtommylane.com .
*OneLife Ministries is a ministry of Brian Kenneth Wilcox, SW Florida. Brian lives a vowed life, as an Associate of Greenbough House of Prayer. He lives with his two doggie friends, Bandit Ty and St. Francis and serves as a jail Chaplain. He is creator and administrator of the Facebook sites Sanctum of Prayer, Christian Spirituality, and his business site Love & Light. His personal Facebook page is Brian Kenneth Wilcox.
*You can order his book An Ache for Union from major booksellers.
