By Br. Edward Van Merrienboer, OP, coming from St. Vincent Ferrer Priory in River Forest, Illinois on the Memorial of Pope Leo the Great.
St. Leo the Great became pope at a hard time. There were heresies inside the Church, and the Roman Empire was divided. He inherited "a big headache," but he took the job seriously and worked hard to bring clarity and unity. In today's A Word of Hope, we look at St. Leo's life alongside today's short Gospel from Luke, where Jesus reminds his disciples that doing the work of the Gospel isn't about being praised. It's simply what we're called to do.
In this reflection:
👑 How a deacon on a mission learned he had been elected pope
⚔️ Heresy in the Church and division in the empire: the world Leo inherited
📜 Leo's famous Tome and why he's a Doctor of the Church
🙇 Luke 17: the dutiful servant who serves without seeking honor
🤝 Leo's steady, determined work for unity in the Church
📖 TODAY'S READINGS
Memorial of St. Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church (November 10)
• First Reading: Titus 2:1–8, 11–14
• Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 37
• Gospel: Luke 17:7–10
⏱️ CHAPTERS
00:00 Who Was St. Leo the Great?
00:37 A Church and an Empire in Turmoil
01:04 Why Leo Is a Doctor of the Church
01:36 Luke 17: The Dutiful Servant
02:15 Jesus' Warning to His Disciples
02:48 Leo's Determined Work for Unity
💬 REFLECTION QUESTION
Where in your life are you serving quietly, without thanks or recognition? How might St. Leo's example encourage you to keep going?
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