SAINT OF THE DAY
WITH UNCLE EDDY
Navigating today’s world is tough and all of us could use a nudge in the right direction. Figuring out the right path to take at work, college, or in social situations is not always easy. Looking to the lives of the saints can give us the insights we need.
Written by Fr. John Bartunek, LC, Uncle Eddy’s Saint of the Day is a fictional series of letters written by a man who has been imprisoned for the Catholic Faith. Using the saints of the day as examples, Uncle Eddy pens a daily letter with spiritual advice to his many nieces and nephews.
St Bernardino of Siena
Dear Bernie, I daresay that the frustration and anxiety that you wrote about in your last note are completely unnecessary. The problem – I would bet my life’s savings on it, if my captors had not confiscated my life’s savings, that is – comes not from the circumstances that surround you on the outside (over-commitment, distractions, difficulties), but from carelessness on the inside. You have the secret weapon for conquering peace of mind and stability of life right inside you. It’s called your conscience. Do you really listen to your conscience, do you know how to tell when your conscience ...
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St Bernardino of Siena
Dear Bernie, I daresay that the frustration and anxiety that you wrote about in your last note are completely unnecessary. The problem – I would bet my life’s savings on it, if my captors had not confiscated my life’s savings, that is – comes not from the circumstances that surround ...
St Celestine V
Dear Celeste, You seem like you could use a bit of encouragement. You always were a supremely sensitive soul. At times when you were growing up I used to think that this entire world was, well, a bit, how should I say… hard-edged for you. In many ways, in fact, ...
St Eric of Sweden
Dear Rick, Nothing hurts like a vicious insult. On second thought, getting your head cut off might hurt even more, though the pain would go away sooner… Forgive me, nephew – such morose topics sometimes distract me here in my artificially lit cubicular prison, especially since getting my head cut ...
St Paschal Baylon
Dear Bill, If you have been skimping on your prayer time, you have probably also been skimping on your visits to the chapel. Am I right? Don’t get defensive! Take a deep breath, calm down, take it easy… This is normal. No one ever really taught you how to keep ...
St Peregrine
Dear Perry, I just read an article claiming that 70% of Americans list shopping among their top 3 forms of entertainment. God help us! Shopping for entertainment? I thought shopping was a nuisance, a necessary evil (taking time to go run errands and buy things, etc.). Since when has it ...
St Isidore the Farmer
Dear Doreen, Your last note has caused me some concern. Are you falling prey to the monstrous “me-ism” pervading today’s college campuses? Gauging by how many times you referred to yourself (your feelings, your plans, your problems, your opinions, yada yada yada), I would guess that you are. Perhaps you ...
St Matthias
Dear Matt, Did I detect a bit of vanity in that speech of yours? It truly is a great honor to receive a Rotary Scholarship, but is it great enough to justify your slighting the Holy Father? My gifted little nephew, if there’s one thing we can be sure of ...
St Glyceria
Dear Gladys, How fickle we are! Today we feel exuberant and ready to die before skipping our prayer commitments; tomorrow we feel depressed and can barely stir from the bed, let alone dedicate ourselves to read and pray over the Scriptures. Today we feel strong enough to overcome any obstacle ...
St Nereus and St Achilleus
Dear Nigel, Now is the time to correct your faults, my pusillanimous nephew – while they are still correctable. Remember what our Lord said, “The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones.” (Luke 16:10) So if you can’t stand up for Christian values ...
St Mamertus
Dear Mimie, I am glad you have finally been able to choose a major. As you know, I was lobbying for it to be philology, but I am not opposed to your choice of sociology. As your faithful uncle, however, I am obliged to warn you about sociology’s pitfalls, of ...
St Antoninus of Florence
Dear Anthony, Heaven will be full of surprises. Among them will be the truth about history. You and I, as history lovers, will be much gratified by the heavenly version of our favorite historical moments. You see, my dear nephew, no matter how hard we try, we simply can’t see ...
St Pachomius
Dear Paco, I was able to see the tape of your debate with the fundamentalists. Quite impressive. You obviously did your homework. Congratulations. Nevertheless, as your devoted uncle, I have to issue you a sincere warning: your vast knowledge of the faith will do absolutely no good to anyone (not ...
