Really. So many of us seek God’s will above all–even above
God.
We use him as a Magic 8-Ball, going to prayer only to figure
things out and not to worship. We treat his will like a scavenger hunt set up
by a sadistic leprechaun who sends us signs and then laughs (or rages) when we
miss them. We obsess over ourselves and our skills and our desires and our
future and call it prayer.
Stop seeking God’s will and start seeking God. Because if
you run after the Lord you will find yourself in his will.
I spend a lot of time making decisions–with no home and no
steady employment, there are a lot of decisions to be made. Want to know how I
do it?
I spend serious time in silent prayer every day. Then I live
my life.
I trust that God is either going to form my heart to desire
what he desires, or he’s going to stop me before I do something dumb, or he’s
going to fix it afterward. I try not to lose peace over confusion or
uncertainty, because I know that God delights in me. If I’m earnestly trying to
live in his will, he’s not going to punish me for getting it wrong.
It’s entirely possible that I’m going to go to my judgment
and find God standing baffled before me, wondering why on earth I thought I
ought to be homeless and unemployed for the sake of the kingdom. There’s a
reason people don’t live this way, and perhaps I’ve gotten it totally wrong and
I was really supposed to be an accountant in Idaho or something.
Still, I expect to see pleasure mixed in with the
bafflement. “Oh, but honey, well done! It was a weird life you chose, but you
tried so hard. You got it wrong, but you sure were seeking me.”
I think he delights in my efforts, however ridiculous they
might be, and I find great peace in that. I can’t mess up discernment so badly
that I ruin his plan for me, because ultimately his plan is for my holiness. If
I’m seeking him, he’ll accomplish that, whatever odd paths it might take.
So if you find yourself stressing out about figuring out
God’s will, stop seeking God’s will and start seeking God. Spend serious time
in silent prayer every day and trust that he loves you. He’ll do the rest.
Meg Hunter-Kilmer – Meg is a hobo missionary. After 2 Theology degrees from Notre Dame and 5 years as a high school religion teacher, she quit her job in 2012 to live out of her car and preach the Gospel to anyone who would listen. 50 states and 25 countries later, this seems to have been a less ridiculous decision than it initially seemed. She blogs at www.piercedhands.com
We are a child of God and He calls us to live out that call,
to be his son or daughter. We should be
different from those who don’t know or follow God. We should be empowered by our relationship
with God. So often we are not. We, as mere humans, seem to want to settle
for less than God has given us. We are
often anxious and afraid and weak and seem to lack direction in our lives. We claim to be “saved” but more often than
not, we are lost. While writing these
words I can’t help but to think about the Apostles right after Jesus ascended
to heaven, leaving them on their own for the first time in three years. They too were lost and afraid and weak and
lacked direction. But, they did what
Jesus told them. They went up in to the
Upper Room and prayed. Perhaps their
going in to the Upper Room was a way of hiding from the authorities that they
were afraid of. But it was in the Upper
Room that they came together as a community, along with the Blessed Virgin
Mary, and prayed. They prayed for nine
days (our first novena) and something very powerful, something very
life-changing happened. The Holy Spirit
fell upon them. They received what Jesus
had promised them. It changed them
permanently. It empowered them. It gave them strength and power and
direction.
That same Holy Spirit has been given to us to so that we
might be empowered and strengthened and given direction. It is what can help us to live fully as a son
or daughter of God. That same Holy
Spirit gives us so many gifts and fruits to make our lives empowered by God so
that we can be the person that God has called us to be. We just need to be open to that Spirit and
ASK it to empower us and to work within us.
The Spirit has been given to us in Baptism and Confirmation but so often
it just lies dormant within us waiting for us to learn about its power and ask
to be open to and to be filled with its power.
One of the best ways to learn about the Spirit and to really desire the
Spirit to be at work in our lives is by going to a Life in the Spirit
Seminar. These are offered in many
parishes around the world. Another great
way is to experience the video series, The Wild Goose by Father Dave
Pavonka. This is available for purchase
as DVD or Blueray. You can also watch it
on Youtube. Both of these are great
tools to opening ourselves to the power of the Holy Spirit. The scriptures and our Catechism also tell us
a great deal about the Holy Spirit. I
would like to share a few scriptures with you to hopefully make you desire a
better openness to the Holy Spirit.
In John 14: 16 Jesus tells us, “I will ask the Father, and
he will give you another helper who will be with you forever. That
helper is the Spirit of Truth.”. In verse
26 Jesus says, “The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my
name, will teach you everything and make you remember all that I have told you.”
St. Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians (1:17-20) says, “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation,
so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be
enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the
riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power
for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty
strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and
seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms…”
St. Paul also adds in Ephesians 3: 16-20, “I
pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power
through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts
through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may
have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and
high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses
knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now
to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,
according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the
church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
Besides POWER, the Spirit gives us many fruits. Catholic
tradition follows the Vulgate version of Galatians in listing 12 fruits: charity, joy, peace, patience,
benignity (kindness), goodness, longanimity (generosity), mildness
(gentleness), faith, modesty, continency (self-control), and chastity.
The Spirit also gives us many gifts. We traditionally talk about the seven gifts
of the Holy Spirit. In the Book of
Isaiah 11:2-3, the Gifts of the Holy Spirit are described. In the passage the
gifts are considered ones that the Messiah would have possessed. Through Jesus,
we also receive the Gifts of the Holy Spirit in the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Wisdom helps us recognize the importance of others
and the importance of keeping God central in our lives.
Understanding is the ability to comprehend the
meaning of God’s message.
Knowledge is the ability to think about and explore
God’s revelation, and also to recognize there are mysteries of faith beyond us.
Counsel is the ability to see the best way to follow
God’s plan when we have choices that relate to him.
Fortitude is the courage to do what one knows is
right.
Piety helps us pray to God in true devotion.
Fear of the Lord is the feeling of amazement before
God, who is all-present, and whose friendship we do not want to lose.
The Spirit also gives us other gifts, sometimes known as
Charisms which St. Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians, tells us are
given for the building up of the whole Church.
These include, the word gifts
of wisdom, knowledge, prophecy, preaching and teaching. There also are Gifts of powerincluding healing, miracles and exorcism. There are also service gifts such as pastoral care, alms giving, leadership and
administration. Further gifts included the
prayer gifts like intercessory
prayer, singing in tongues, being filled and guided by the Spirit, and to
contemplate and worship God.
These lists of gifts and fruits and charisms are only some
of the things that the Holy Spirit can do for us and through us. His power is amazing. Looking at what the Spirit can do for us
helps us to see how the Spirit can and will empower us to be God’s
children. Be open to God’s Holy
Spirit. Learn about the Spirit. Invoke the Holy Spirit in all that you
do. Become alive in the Holy Spirit. It is God’s precious gift to us. It empowers us to be His children.
Prayer to the Holy Spirit for Universal Renewal
Holy Spirit,
fulfill in us the work begun by Jesus.
Let our prayer on behalf of the whole world
be fruitful and unwavering.
Hasten the time when each of us
will attain a genuine spiritual life.
Enliven our work that it may reach all human beings,
all who have been redeemed
by the Blood of Christ and all His inheritance.
Take away our natural presumption
and uplift us with a holy humility,
with reverence for God and selfless courage.
Let no vain attachment impede the work of our state in life,
nor personal interest divert us from the demands of justice.
May no scheming on our part reduce love
to our own petty dimensions.
May all be noble in us; the quest and the respect for truth,
and the willingness to sacrifice even to the cross and death.
And may all be accomplished
in accord with the final prayer
of the Son to His heavenly Father
and in accord with the grace
that Father and Son give
through You, the Spirit of love,
to the Church and to her institutions,
to every soul and to all peoples.
Amen.
War is an absolutely terrible thing and should be avoided
whenever possible. Unfortunately it
isn’t always possible to avoid. Freedom
is a very special gift that needs to be upheld.
Often the only way to do this is to fight for it and to have a strong
military to defend it. The United States
has been so instrumental in winning freedom and protecting freedom, not only
within its own boundaries, but also in foreign lands. It has been a strong military that allows
that. Technology certainly plays an
important role in a strong military but at the heart of our strength is the
individual soldier. Armed Forces Day is
a day for us to stop and honor those who are serving our country in the five
different branches of the Armed Forces.
We are honoring our own brothers and sisters, sons and daughters and
neighbors. These are people who have
volunteered to serve their country (us) and to fight and even perhaps to die
for us. They most certainly follow Jesus’
words where He said, “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down
his life for his friends.”
We have three special days every year to celebrate our
soldiers. This Saturday, May 18th
is Armed Forces Day. On this day we
honor all who presently serve our country within the five branches of the
Military; The Army, The Air Force, the Navy, the Marine Corp and the Coast
Guard. At the end of this month we will
have Memorial Day when we honor all those soldiers who have given their life
for their country. In November we have
Veteran’s Day. That is the day that we
honor all who have served their country.
I am very proud to be a United States Vietnam War Era Veteran. I enlisted back in 1969, right after
finishing college. For me, it was a way
for me to show my love for the country that has given me so much. It was an honor to serve, even though it was
an unpopular war. I work with a number
of young war veterans (from the Middle Eastern wars) who suffer from PTSD, but
all of them tell me that it was an honor for them to serve their country. This week we should honor all those who
currently serve.
Armed Forces Day was first announced on August 21, 1949 to
declare one day to celebrate all of the five branches of the military. This stemmed from the unification of all
military branches under one agency, the Department of Defense. In a speech announcing the creation of the
day, President Truman “praised the work of the military services at home
and across the seas.” He said, “It is vital to the security of the
nation and to the establishment of a desirable peace.” The first official Armed Forces Day took
place on May 20, 1950, and was themed “Teamed for Defense.” In honor of the
special day, B-36 Bombers flew over state capitals, a march was led by more
than 10,000 veterans and troops in Washington, D.C., and over 33,000 people
participated in a New York City parade. In
1961, John F. Kennedy declared Armed Forces Day a national holiday. It’s
celebrated on the third Saturday of every May.
An excerpt taken from an article written in the New York
Post on May 17, 1952, sums up Armed Forces Day’s utmost importance, “It is our
most earnest hope that those who are in positions of peril, that those who have
made exceptional sacrifices, yes, and those who are afflicted with plain
drudgery and boredom, may somehow know that we hold them in exceptional esteem.
Perhaps if we are a little more conscious of our debt of honored affection they
may be a little more aware of how much we think of them.” In 1963 President John F. Kennedy said, “Our
Servicemen and women are serving throughout the world as guardians of
peace–many of them away from their homes, their friends and their families.
They are visible evidence of our determination to meet any threat to the peace
with measured strength and high resolve. They are also evidence of a harsh but
inescapable truth–that the survival of freedom requires great cost and
commitment, and great personal sacrifice.”
On Armed Forces Day 2018, President Donald Trump said, “On
Armed Forces Day, we pay tribute to the extraordinary men and women who serve
our Nation with valor and distinction in all branches of the military.
This annual observance honors their steadfast service in preserving our
Nation’s peace, preserving our freedom, and defending our founding principles. Throughout our history, in times of war and
peace, our service members have served with bravery, skill, and unwavering
devotion to duty. There is no fighting force that rivals that of the
United States military. The precious liberties all Americans enjoy are
possible because, every day and without exception, our Armed Forces
relentlessly and tirelessly carry out the critical mission of protecting our
country, our freedoms, and our way of life.”
He continued, “On this day, and every day, we owe a debt of gratitude to
our service members stationed at home and those deployed around the
world. All across America, we enjoy the blessings of liberty because our
Nation’s finest men and women willingly accept the call to service. We
proudly salute our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen, and
recognize the families who serve alongside them for their courage and
commitment.”
What is a good way to honor them? That certainly varies from individual to
individual. For me, whenever I see a
soldier in uniform I thank them for their service. Whenever possible I try to do little things
like pick up their check in a restaurant or offer to sit down with them and
have a coffee or a beer together. I go
out of my way (it took a while for my wife to get used to this) to go and try
to talk to a soldier. All of this
usually brings a smile from the soldier, and certainly makes me feel good. I also try to go to our local airport to
welcome home soldiers when I know one is scheduled to come in. I support and work with a local Long Island
group called Boots on the Ground who sends out care packages oversees to the
soldiers. One of my ministries is to
meet with soldiers who are suffering from PTSD. I make sure that they go to a trained
therapist, but I also meet with them for coffee and breakfast and lunch and
spend time talking with them. There are
so many out there who are hurting and even contemplating suicide. You would be surprised how just spending a
little time with them, can help them (and it makes me feel good). I also pray every day for our soldiers. I believe strongly in the power of
prayer. This is something everyone can
do.
So this Saturday and all next week (and basically every day
after), let us honor our soldiers and thank God for them and ask Him to protect
them. God is good.
Catholic Prayers for our soldiers:
Priest (or leader): Let us pray for our brothers and
sisters as they go forth with courage and determination to face the forces of
violence, weapons of destruction and hearts filled with hate.
RESPONSE: THROUGH THE DARKNESS BRING US TO THE
LIGHT.
Deacon or Reader:
For our Commander-In-Chief, President N.N., and our political and military
leaders that they may tirelessly seek peaceful settlements to international
disputes; we pray to the Lord:
That the Lord may preserve the members of our Army, Navy,
Marines, Coast Guard and Air Force from all harm; we pray to the Lord:
That even in war, we may keep clearly before us the defense
of all human rights, especially the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness; we pray to the Lord:
That the families, relatives and friends of our military
members may be strengthened in this time of concern and anxiety; we pray to the
Lord:
That the Lord may help families with men and women in the
armed forces to cope with daily challenges in the absence of their loved ones;
we pray to the Lord:
That our homeland will be preserved from violence and
terrorism; we pray to the Lord:
That the nations of the world will seek to work together in
harmony and peace; we pray to the Lord:
That the hearts of all men and women will be moved to pursue
true peace and justice; we pray to the Lord:
That violence may be overcome by peace; that weapons of
destruction be transformed into tools of justice, and hate give way to true
charity; we pray to the Lord:
That grateful for and inspired by those veterans who have
given their lives for our country we may bravely face the challenges ahead; we
pray to the Lord:
Priest (or leader): Lord God, Almighty Father,
creator of mankind and author of peace,
as we are ever mindful of the cost paid for the liberty we possess,
we ask you to bless the members of our armed forces.
Give them courage, hope and strength.
May they ever experience your firm support, gentle love and compassionate
healing.
Be their power and protector, leading them from darkness to light.
To you be all glory, honor and praise, now and forever.
In the RCIA
program, the period following the reception in to the Church is known as a
period of Mystagogy. Mystagogy is a time
where the mysteries of the Church are revealed to the new Catholics. It is revealed through their experience of
the Sacraments and through all that the Church offers them. Although teaching is involved, experience and
sharing about that experience is the way the mysteries are revealed. The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
(Chicago, 1988) manual states: “. The purpose of the mystagogy is to enable the
newly baptized to draw from their sacramental experience a new sense of the
faith, the Church, and the world”. As a
leader in the RCIA program in my parish, I try to encourage our Neophytes to
experience as much as they can, the resources that the Church offers them. Truly, I believe that this is good for all
the people of the Church as well.
Those who
have gone through the RCIA program have experienced at Easter NEW LIFE. They are, in a spiritual sense, born
anew. I have truly seen, throughout the
years, a big change in them. They are
more alive in the faith. We established
Catholics have also been enlivened by experiencing all that Lent and Easter has
given us. Our faith should truly be
renewed. I believe that a period of
mystagogy is appropriate for us too. We
need to experience all that the Church offers us, and there is so much. We are constantly called to grow in our faith
by using the sacraments and other tools that the Church gives us. When we grow in our faith we become more of
who God wants us to be. When we do that,
we become happier, more fulfilled and more at peace. We can grow in our experience of all that
the Holy Spirit gives us by receiving the Spirit’s gifts and fruits. Literally, we can set the world on fire.
I would like
to share some of my thoughts on how to do this.
I thought that I would do this in a list format. Sometimes it is good to have a list of some
of the things that the Church can offer to us so that we can grow in our
faith. Here is a list (certainly not a
full one) of things that will help us to grow in our faith:
TWELVE STEPS TO HELP US GROW IN OUR
FAITH
1 – Go to
mass at least every Sunday. The mass
is the Summit and Source of our faith.
In the mass we hear God’s Word proclaimed and explained and we receive
the most precious gift of His Body and Blood.
We pray together and experience community and are sent forth. I attend daily mass because I believe it can
do more for me than anything else.
2 – Pray. When you are in Love with someone,
communication is a natural expression of that Love and a way that Love can
grow. Prayer is communication with God. There are so many ways to pray. I love praying the Liturgy of the Hours. It is now so easy to do and so available by
placing an app on your smart phone. I
use the ibreviary app. It is a no cost
app. Try it out, you will be glad that
you do. I would suggest at least praying
Morning prayer and Evening prayer.
I also like
to use what I call “gut” prayer. This is
totally spontaneous and can be done at any time. It comes from deep within us, our “gut”. Sometimes my gut prayer is filled with praise
and thanksgiving. Often it is filled
with “why me God?” And “why are you
allowing this to happen?” It is a
prayer of honesty and truth and feelings.
3 – Eucharistic
Adoration. This is also a form of
prayer, but it goes beyond regular prayer.
It is a time to adore the Lord as he is present to us in His Risen Body
in the Eucharist. It is certainly a time
for prayers of thanksgiving and praise but can also be a time for prayers of
supplication. I go to Eucharistic
Adoration at least once a week.
4 – The
Sacrament of Reconciliation. St.
Paul tells us that we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God. All means all. Christians too sin. Even the Pope goes to confession. There is no doubt that when I do something
that I know is wrong, or more often, fail to do something I know that I should
have done, I immediately ask for God’s forgiveness. However, it is very freeing to regularly
confess our sins to a priest and to hear him give us God’s forgiveness.
5 – The
Rosary. I love praying the
rosary. I try to do it every day. In the rosary you can meditate on the
mysteries of God’s touch to mankind. The
rosary is meant to be a meditative prayer where we literally focus on many of
the stories from the scriptures about our salvation. I look at it as a mini-course on God’s love
and action.
6 – The
Bible. The Bible is a special gift
that the Church has given to the world.
In it we hear God’s Word and receive direction and support for our
lives. Every liturgy that the Church
does has at least one reading from the Bible.
We should listen closely to it at every liturgy but it also should have
a special place in our homes. The Catholic
Church has given us the Bible and it is up to the Catholic Church to help us
understand it. I highly recommend using
a Catholic study guide; My favorite is The Word Among us. Going to a good Catholic Bible study is
great (stay away from Protestant ones as they can misinterpret the Bible). There are many online resources to help us
(see last page).
7 – Charity
and Service. Every Christian is
called to be a person of action. We are
called to feed the poor, heal the sick, visit the lonely and those in prisons
etc. Every parish has some sort of
ministry to help us do that. Check it
out and become involved. Put your faith
in to action.
8 – The
Blessed Virgin Mary. The Lord
literally gave His mother to us to help us in our journey towards Him. Since the very beginnings of the Church Mary
has been held in high esteem and has helped the Church and all Christians in
many ways. It is good to learn about
Mary and to ask her intercession in your life.
She loves you as her own son or daughter.
9 – The
Saints. The Saints were all ordinary
people just like you and me. They
struggled with the same things we struggled with and they were able to grow so
close to Jesus and follow Him that the Church assures us that they are in
heaven. They intercede for us in prayer
and they love it when we ask them to do so.
Try to learn as much as you can about the Saints and learn from them how
to follow the Lord.
10 – Go
on a Retreat. A retreat is simply a
time set aside for you to get away from the normal distractions in life and to
draw closer to the Love that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit have for you. Some retreats have themes, and some are
simply quiet time with the Lord. Try
one, you will love it.
11 – Visit
Holy Sites. Throughout the world
there are places that one would consider a Holy Site. It might be one because of its history and
what happened there, or it could be just an ordinary place that has been set
aside for people to visit and grow closer to God. I have been fortunate to visit many Holy
Sites throughout the world, including the Holy Land, Rome and several places
where Mary has appeared. I have one Holy
Site nearby, The Shrine of Our Lady of the Island that I love to visit and
spend time with the Lord.
12 – Be
Proud to be Catholic. The more you learn
about the Church, the prouder you will be.
Yes, the Church is not perfect (the priest sex scandal shows us that),
but it is something that Jesus Himself started and maintains. No other organization on this planet has
lasted as long as the Church has. It is
an instrument of God’s grace. Let your
pride in the Church show. Tell others
about it.
There are so many other resources that the Church offers us that we should take advantage of. I have compiled a partial list of some important Internet Resources and include that here. There are also so many great books out there that you could (should) read. Perhaps another time I will look in to that. May our good Lord bless you in your walk with Him.
CATHOLIC INTERNET
RESOURCES
CATHOLIC WEB SITES
SITES EVERY
CATHOLIC SHOULD USE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THEIR FAITH:
The
Vatican: www.vatican.va
(choose English in the menu at top right)
I Know of a Cure for Everything: Salt Water – by Deacon
Marty McIndoe
I have lived almost
all of my life on an island, surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Long
Island Sound. I feel very blessed by
that. I almost feel as if the sea is so
much a part of me that I can’t fully live without being near it. Every year my wife and I usually try to
escape to warm weather for the months of January and February. Two years ago we spent the time in the
southwest traveling around Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and inland Southern
California. We absolutely loved it and
appreciated the beauty of the southwest.
However, I really felt like I was out of place. I was no where near any large body of salt
water. It just didn’t seem right to
me. I was out of place, literally. This year we did our winter getaway in the
south and in Florida and stayed almost all of the time in timeshares that were
on the beach, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf of Mexico. I felt so much more at home than I did on our
desert trip. There is a real comfort and
awe when we look out on the ocean. For
me, I see and feel God in the beauty and immensity of the ocean.
I came across a
quote from Isak Dinesen (also known as Tania Blixen author of “Out of Africa”)
from her “Seven Gothic Tales” which consisted of the following dialogue:
An old seaman says
to his unhappy foster-son, “I know of a cure for everything: Salt water.”
“Salt water?” I
asked him.
“Yes,” he said, “in
one way or the other. Sweat, or tears, or the salt sea.”
I couldn’t help but
to see the truth in that statement. The
cure for everything is Sweat or Tears or the Salt Sea. I would like to share some thoughts about
that with you. First of all, it is
interesting to see the history of man’s use of salt. The Hebrew Scriptures (The Old Testament)
value salt so much that it was considered to be able to be used as a gift to
God as a “covenant of salt” (Lev. 2: 13; II Chron. 13:5; Num. 18:19). It was
also used in sacrifices by the Israelites (Ezek. 43:24 and Gen. 31:54). Belief in its preservative and healing
properties led to its use to dry and harden the skin of newborns (Ezek.
16:4) and to prevent umbilical cord infection. The Egyptians and the Persians
considered it such a special commodity that it could only be handled by their
royalty. The ancient Romans paid their
soldiers their wages in salt (Latin word is “sal”) from which we today get the
word “salary” and the expression, “worth his weight in salt”. Salt had been used for over 3500 years as a
preservative for meats and a flavoring for food. It is still seen as a sign of hospitality and
friendship in the Middle East. In Mark
Chapter 9, verse 50 Jesus says, “Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace
with each other.” St. Paul’s tells us in Col. 4:6:”Let your
conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know
how to answer everyone.” Jesus also
called His followers to be the “salt of the earth”. Salt is
all about preservation and healing and peace.
The Church has a
special prayer for the blessing of salt.
After the blessing, the salt is often placed in Holy Water, or sometimes
used by itself. This prayer, from the
Roman Ritual says, “Almighty God, we ask you to bless this salt, as once you
blessed the salt scattered over the water by the prophet Elisha. Wherever
this salt (and water) is sprinkled, drive away the power of evil, and
protect us always by the presence of your Holy Spirit. Grant this through
Christ our Lord. Amen.” Salt
is also seen as a means of driving away evil or preserving one from evil
corruption.
Salt is found
naturally in the sea, in our tears, and in our sweat. All three of these can help to heal us. As motivational speaker Rita Schiano tell us,
“Tears are God’s gift to us. Our holy water. They heal us as they flow”. Tears come to us from our very being. They are responses to hurt and loss as well
as happiness and gain. Tears can be shed
from earthy stimuli such as movies and can also be shed from spiritual stimuli
such as God’s Word or the touch of Christian love. They are an expression that sometimes can
speak louder and clearer than words.
They bring us healing in so many ways.
Sweat is a result of
our hard work. The Catholic Church has
always stressed the importance of work in our lives. The Protestant Churches are also known for
their work ethic. Work is not only
necessary for civilization to flourish, but it brings a sense of purpose and
often healing to the individual. It also
helps us to accomplish our dreams. Colin
Powell tells us, “A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes
sweat, determination and hard work.”
We find our happiness in working hard for our dreams whether it be as
simple (yet profound) as a man or woman working hard to support their family,
or a researcher finding the cure for cancer.
Work, and sweat, are part of who we are called to be.
The Sea is a special
gift to us from God. Our scientists tell
us that life itself originated there.
For us, it is a place to enjoy in so many different ways whether it is
swimming and fishing or simply gazing out towards its majesty. As John F. Kennedy told us, “We are tied
to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch
– we are going back from whence we came.”
The Sea can truly be a healing influence in our lives.
In writing this
article, I hope to make you think and pray about the healing influence of the
Sea, Sweat and Tears. I am including
some quotes for you to think about and pray about and see how the Lord may be
speaking to you. I hope that you find
some quiet time to pray and think about these quotes. May our good Lord bless you and bring you His
healing love. May you come to better
realize the healing gifts given to us in Salt Water: the Sea, Tears or Sweat.
QUOTES TO PONDER AND
PRAY ABOUT:
THE SEA:
“The sea does not
reward those who are too anxious, too greedy, or too impatient. To dig for
treasures shows not only impatience and greed, but lack of faith. Patience,
patience, patience, is what the sea teaches. Patience and faith. One should lie
empty, open, choiceless as a beach—waiting for a gift from the sea.” ― Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Gift from the Sea
“I felt once more
how simple and frugal a thing is happiness: a glass of wine, a roast chestnut,
a wretched little brazier, the sound of the sea. Nothing else.” ― Nikos
Kazantzakis, Zorba the Greek
“The sea always
filled her with longing, though for what she was never sure.” ― Cornelia Funke,
Inkheart
“My soul is full of
longing
for the secret of the sea,
and the heart of the great ocean
sends a thrilling pulse through me.”
― Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
“We are like islands
in the sea, separate on the surface but connected in the deep.” ― William
James
“Hark, now hear the
sailors cry,
Smell the sea, and feel the sky,
Let your soul & spirit fly, into the mystic.
– Into the Mystic” ― Van Morrison
“How foolish to
believe we are more powerful than the sea or the sky.” ― Ruta Sepetys, Salt to
the Sea
“The sea, the sea,
the sea. It rolled and rolled and called to me. Come in, it said, come in.” ―
Sharon Creech, The Wanderer
“In still moments by
the sea life seems large-drawn and simple. It is there we can see into
ourselves.”
― Rolf Edberg
At sea, I feel
comfortable and I come to rest. Laura Dekker
He that will learn
to pray, let him go to sea. George Herbert
SWEAT:
“It’s easier to
bleed than sweat, Mr. Motes.” ― Flannery O’Connor, Wise Blood
“When people tell me
they can’t afford to join a gym, I tell them to go outside; planet Earth is a
gym and we’re already members. Run, climb, sweat, and enjoy all of the natural
wonder that is available to you.” ― Steve Maraboli, Unapologetically You: Reflections
on Life and the Human Experience
“Most times, the
leader’s ornament isn’t the smiles you see on their faces during the time of
victory. It is the sweats we don’t see when they were struggling behind the
scenes.” ― Israelmore Ayivor, Leaders’ Frontpage: Leadership Insights from 21
Martin Luther King Jr. Thoughts
“The sweet smell of
success comes on the back of the stench of hard earned sweat.” ― Anthony
T.Hincks
“Success is
continually a relative of sweat.” ― Bharath Mamidoju
“The pain in your muscles
and the sweat in your brow after doing a work the hard and honest way make you
feel proud of yourself!” ― Avijeet Das
“And Sir, it is no
little thing to make mine eyes to sweat compassion.” ― William Shakespeare,
Coriolanus
“In the sweat of thy
brow shalt thou earn thy daily bread: it was not a curse upon mankind, but the
balm which reconciled it to existence.” ― W. Somerset Maugham, Of Human Bondage
“True blessing comes
in the dress of sweats, never delaying to wave bye to the excuses and procrastination.
True blessing lies in hard work!” ― Israelmore Ayivor, Daily Drive 365
“The thickest sweats
produce the sweetest life. A hard work surely brings unheard happiness. Dig up
your gold.” ― Israelmore Ayivor, Mine Your Gold: How to Dig Up and Optimize
Your Hidden Greatness
TEARS:
“Tears shed for
another person are not a sign of weakness. They are a sign of a pure heart.” ―
José N. Harris, MI VIDA: A Story of Faith, Hope and Love
“Cry. Forgive. Learn. Move on. Let your tears water the
seeds of your future happiness.” ― Steve Maraboli
“Heaven knows we
need never be ashamed of our tears, for they are rain upon the blinding dust of
earth, overlying our hard hearts. I was better after I had cried, than
before–more sorry, more aware of my own ingratitude, more gentle.” ― Charles
Dickens, Great Expectations
“Listen to God with a broken heart. He is not only the
doctor who mends it, but also the father who wipes away the tears.” ― Criss
Jami
“The sea is nothing but a library of all the tears in
history.” ― Lemony Snicket
“Beauty of whatever
kind, in its supreme development, invariably excites the sensitive soul to
tears.”
― Edgar Allan Poe
“Tears are words the
mouth can’t say nor can the heart bear.” ― Joshua Wisenbaker
“My eyes were glued
on life and they were full of tears.” ― Jack Kerouac, Atop an Underwood: Early
Stories and Other Writings
“Tears are the noble
language of eyes, and when true love of words is destitute. The eye by tears
speak, while the tongue is mute.” ― Robert Herrick
Recently my husband came home from a Friends of the Library
sale. My city library sells donated books every few months, and you pay only a
measly two dollars for whatever you can stuff inside a paper grocery bag. The
money goes toward buying new books for the library, essential when our city has
slashed the new book budget to zero.
In my husband’s bag was a book he thought I might like
because it’s about Catholicism. On the back cover are quotations from many
prominent Catholics—that is, Catholics who are prominent in a worldly sort of
way, such as politicians and actors. One quotation struck me immediately. I’m
not going to mention who said it, but it read “When my mom asked if I wanted to
be a nun, I said I’d rather be a priest . . . The nuns were always wonderful,
but the power was with the priest.”
When I see something like that, I don’t know whether to
laugh or cry. I did, however, read it aloud to my husband, and he burst into
laughter. So maybe mirth is the more appropriate response to something so
ridiculous.
If you think priests have a lot of power, read that quote to
your local parish priest and see what his reaction is.
I guess the woman who said it had no idea what she was
talking about. Does she not know why Catholic priests wear Roman collars? It’s
because the collar is a symbol of slavery.
That’s right: Roman Catholic priests are slaves.
That is, they are slaves of Christ.
Ironically, that is where power—in a supernatural
sense—resides, but since this woman is a politician, she seemed to be talking
about worldly power.
If I had the opportunity, I would ask her who she thought
had more worldly power: her parish priest or Mother Teresa. After all, Mother
Teresa won the Nobel Peace Prize. She addressed the United Nations.
When’s the last time your parish priest did that?
Besides, worldly power means nothing to God, except in how
it is wielded.
True power comes from conforming to God’s will, and you
don’t have to be a priest to do that.
I got into this a bit in my novel Nearer the Dawn. A
man who has turned away from his atheism to make an act of faith lies prone in
adoration on a mountainside when he encounters God:
Here, with his nose in the dirt, he had never felt so
elevated. Before, he had considered the walls of a church those of a prison or
insane asylum. Now he realized the barriers he had seen were of his own
construction, designed to keep him banished outside rather than let him in. At
last here was Everything he had been searching for, Everything he was created
for, the fulfillment of his hunger. This was not only the destination but the
road that led everywhere, the key that opened all treasures. Here was the
ecstasy that eternally satisfied that longing desire not only to be loved but
to love fully and completely. And here was true freedom, for only by binding
himself with the One he was free to be transformed, crowned with glory. No
wonder he had never been able to do it alone. Relying on his own capabilities
was like trying to operate on a single ohm, but now he was plugged into a Power
Source mightier than all the suns of the universe, for here life overflowed
with more abundance than he had thought possible.
Being a priest is wonderful, but it is God who crowns us with power and
glory. The power, in other words, comes by being a saint.
Our Lord knew that life could be difficult at times, as well
as joyful. We were created not to be a
person just to ourselves, but rather a person who reacts with other
people. This way we have someone to
share the joyful moments with as well as someone to help us in the difficult
moments. In our relationships with
others we often form communities. These
communities can be a source of sharing great joy as well as a support for times
when life is difficult. Communities can
take on different forms. I recently was
contemplating the gift of community at a time when very good friends (and
members of one of our communities) lost their daughter. It was most difficult for our friends, but
the gift of community really came forth.
I would like to share with you some of the ways that I have experienced this
community in action. My hope is this
will help you to better appreciate the gift of community in your own life. The old adage; “it takes a village to raise a
child” is an old African proverb but certainly relates to all of us today. I would change that a little to say, “it
takes a community to raise and support a Christian”.
My first experience of Christian Community happened in
1972. My wife and I started going to a
Catholic Charismatic prayer meeting.
That experience brought me to know Jesus and His Church and the gift of
community. The prayer group was one
where I experienced joy, teachings and support.
We met every week and I looked forward to going every time. We prayed together in the church and often had
a teaching there; afterwards many of us would go over to the diner across the
street just to socialize. Because of my
relationship with that prayer group, and with Jesus, my marriage became what it
really needed to be. My wife and I grew
in our relationship as we grew in our relationship in the prayer group and our
relationship to Jesus and His Church. My
wife and I had difficulties having children and this weighed heavily upon our
relationship. The prayer group was a
great support to us and I believe it was through the prayers there that we
received the miracle of our daughter.
The prayer group always shared with us our pains as well as our
joys. It was quite a gift.
We continued in weekly prayer groups until the early 1980’s
when we were invited to join a prayer community called “My people”. This continued in the same way as the prayer
meeting, but with closer ties of friendship.
We prayed together and we did things to have fun together. The friends that I mentioned earlier are part
of that community. All of us watched our
children grow in to adults and then watched as our children had children. It was a source of great joy. At the same time there were many
difficulties, from run-away teenagers to car accidents to deaths of spouses to
all sorts of things that happened.
However, we were able to experience it all together. We were able to lend support to each
other. Over and over again, God used
this community to bring His loving support to us.
Over the 40 years that this community has existed, some
members retired and moved away (down south).
Every year we have a community retreat and most of those who moved away
come up for that retreat here on Long Island.
In some ways it was as if they never left. We were, and are, all one community. Those of us who still live on Long Island
still meet regularly for our community prayer meeting. We also maintain other social ties to one
another. Last month, when we heard about
the sudden death of one couple’s 45 year old daughter, we were devastated. However, the community pulled together to
support them in so many ways. Even those
who moved away came up from the south to be there for the funeral. We stayed with the family at the funeral home
the whole time they were there. We were,
literally, “there for them”. I could
tell how much it was a support to them.
I also noticed at the funeral another example of
community. Our friend’s daughter was an
EMT for a local ambulance company. They
too came out in great numbers each day of the funeral. They also provided a funeral dinner for
everyone after the last service. Their
support was encouraging to all of us and especially to the parents. We saw that many parishioners from our
friend’s parish came too. The funeral
mass was quite full. After the mass, the
hearse drove past the hospital where our friend’s daughter worked in the
Emergency Room. It seemed that every
worker in the hospital came outside to give her their last goodbye. It was amazing to see how such a tragic loss
of a young woman could also show so much good from the people around her. Community is quite a gift that God uses to
support us.
We can find community in our families, in our local parish,
in our work, in our neighborhood, in our volunteer agencies…….in so many
different places. Sometimes we need to
work on building these communities into something that God can use to help us
all experience life with its joys and with its sorrows. Anything that is good, takes a little work.
I would ask you to look around at the communities that you
are part of and give thanks to God for them.
Perhaps you can find ways to grow closer to each other in these
communities. Perhaps you can see in your
family and in your co-workers ways to grow in community. Church groups can be a fantastic way to
experience community. My wife and I,
besides belonging to the “My People” charismatic community also belong to the
Teams of Our Lady group in our parish.
We cherish those monthly meetings with them and the gift of community
there. I cannot picture life without these
communities. Proverbs 27:17 tells us, “As
iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another”. We
really need community to bring out the best in us. Hebrews 10;25-25 tells us, “ And let us
consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in
the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the
Day approaching. “
When we are in community we can experience better what it
means to be “the people of God”. 1
Peter 2:9-19 tells us, “But you are
a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession,
that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his
wonderful light. Once you were not a
people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but
now you have received mercy”. Community
is also where we all can experience being the “body of Christ”. Matthew 18:20 tells us that, “For
where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” I Corinthians 12:12-13 says, “Just as a body,
though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with
Christ. For we were all baptized by one
Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we
were all given the one Spirit to drink”.
My friends, let us all drink of the one Spirit and use all the gifts that God gives to us, especially the gift of community.
First of all I must apologize to my readers. I haven’t written or added to my blog in quite a while. This is because I had a bad cold, closed on a new house and moved in to the new house in the midst of celebrating Christmas.
We start off our New Year with a Holy Day celebrating the Blessed Virgin Mary as the mother of Jesus (God). It is such a great way to start. The readings of this mass are filled with blessings. The first reading gives the Blessing of Aaron found in Numbers 6: 22-27. In this we hear, “The LORD bless you and keep you! The LORD let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! The LORD look upon you kindly and give you peace!” What a beautiful blessing for the New Year. In the responsorial psalm we hear, “May the Lord bless you in His mercy”. Again, such a wonderful blessing. In the second reading St. Paul tells us that Jesus came to us, born of a woman, to ransom us so that we might receive adoption as sons of the Father. We can now call our God, Abba, Father. What a blessing it is to know that we are God’s children. In the Gospel we hear of the shepherds rejoicing at the site of the new born King. We also hear a phrase that is almost identical to one we heard last Sunday (finding of the 12 year old Jesus in the temple) about Mary where it tells us that Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. We also hear of the naming of Jesus.
Personally, I cannot think of a better way to start the New Year than to hear these readings and receive the presence of the Lord in the Eucharist. God richly blesses us, over and over again. He has blessed us so much in sharing His mother with us. The love that Mary has for us is amazing. She cares so much for us and wants us to grow closer to her son. She wants to bring us His healing love and forgiveness. Starting the New Year knowing that God calls us His children and blesses us and gives us His own mother is the most important way to start anything. This year I pray that we all grow in our knowledge of God. I pray that we all grow in our knowledge of how God continues to work through the Blessed Virgin Mary, His mother. I pray that we all grow in the knowledge of our call to be children of God, for so indeed we are. I pray that we can be like Mary and ponder all of the wonderful gifts, and even the difficulties, that God has chosen to give us. May this be a New Year that we all grow closer to God.
So many of our Saints have had a close devotion to Mary. One of the most loving is Saint Louis de Montfort. I would like to end with a prayer that he gave us:
My powerful Queen,
you are all mine through your mercy,
and I am all yours.
Take away from me all that may displease God
and cultivate in me all that is pleasing to him.
May the light of your faith
dispel the darkness of my mind,
your deep humility
take the place of my pride,
your continual sight of God
fill my memory with his presence.
May the first of the love of your heart
inflame the lukewarmness of my own heart.
May your virtues take the place of my sins.
May your merits be my enrichment
and make up for all
that is wanting in me before God.
My beloved Mother,
grant that I may have no other spirit but your spirit, to know Jesus Christ and His divine will and to praise and glorify the Lord, that I may love God with burning love like yours.
Amen. St. Louis de Montfort
Even though we, as Catholics, are called to seek peace in all things, I believe it is important for us to reflect and celebrate our Veterans. We must thank them for their service and thank them for the freedom that we, and so many other people in the world, enjoy. Many of our soldiers are good Christians who often have been called to die for others. Jesus says that there is no greater gift than that. If you search our listing of Catholic Saints, over five hundred of them were soldiers, including the Peace loving St. Francis of Assisi.
Veteran’s Day, November 11th, was first known as Armistice Day because it remembered the Day that WWI ended and it remembered all the soldiers who gave so much in that war. In 1954 the name was changed to Veteran’s Day so that it would remember all the soldiers of all the wars. War is an absolutely terrible thing, but unfortunately it happens too often. With all of the evil in the world, there must be some people who will fight to keep freedom going. We in the United States of America should be very proud of our veterans and all that they have accomplished. We should pray for them. In honor of Veteran’s Day I would like to share with you a poem that tugs on my heart. I am a Vietnam Era veteran (though I was never in combat, just support) and this poem is written by a Vietnam veteran who was involved in heavy fighting. He is now a Catholic Priest and is pastor of a parish adjacent to mine.
Msgr. Charles Fink went in to the U.S. Army right after college and after training was sent to Vietnam where he was a rifleman and often a point man (most dangerous position). He was in Vietnam for one year and saw a considerable amount of battle. He lost many of his fellow infantrymen. He himself was wounded. His time in Vietnam helped him discern his calling to the Priesthood. He went in to the seminary after Vietnam and after being there for a while a nun came to talk. She talked about the Vietnam War and said things about soldiers in the war that Fr. Fink found upsetting. He said that she said things that were simply untrue and basically reflected what much in society thought at the time. He was so angered by her talk and her untruths that he went up to his room and wrote a poem entitled, “Bury me with soldiers”. In honor of all veterans from all the wars, I want to share that poem with you (permission given to me by Msgr. Fink).
BURY ME WITH SOLDIERS
I’ve played a lot of roles in life;
I’ve met a lot of men.
I’ve done some things I’d like to think
I wouldn’t do again
And though I’m young, I’m old enough
To know someday I’ll die.
And think about what lies beyond, And
Besides whom I would lie.
Perhaps it doesn’t matter much;
Still if I had my choice,
I’d want a grave amongst soldiers when
At last death quells my voice
I’m sick of the hypocrisy
Of lectures by the wise
I’ll take the man with all his flaws
Who goes, though scared, and dies.
The troops I know were commonplace;
They didn’t want the war
They fought because their fathers and
Their father’s fathers had before.
They cursed and killed and wept –
God knows they’re easy to deride –
But bury me with men like these;
They faced the guns and died.
It’s funny when you think of it,
The way we got along.
We’d come from different worlds
To live in one, where no one belongs
I didn’t even like them all and,
I’m sure they’d all agree.
Yet, I would give my life for them,
I hope. Some would for me.
So bury me with soldiers, please
Though much maligned they be
Yes, bury me with soldiers, for
I miss their company.
Please remember to thank our Veterans for their service and pray for them. So many veterans today suffer so much from what they have experienced. They need our love and our prayers.
I am fortunate to live in the North East United States where we experience four seasons every year. Each season brings with it new sights and sounds and something special to bring us a better experience of life. It seems that there is always a change in the air going on. We usually take these changes of seasons for granted, but I remember one year when I lived in central Texas when I didn’t experience theses changes and it really bothered me. Somehow, grilling outside for Christmas while wearing shorts didn’t do much for giving me the Christmas spirit. I know that many people live in areas where there is little or no change in seasons and probably deal with it well, but I did not. I am used to seasons and I really enjoy them.
We are now in our fall season. The air is clean and crisp and refreshing. The trees are changing their leaves from green to various shades of yellow and red and brown and gold. Fall flowers such as mums are bringing new colors in to the neighborhood. The smell of fall candles and cinnamon and spices fill the house. The sky seems to be a brighter shade of blue. We spend more time inside with our families and friends. Life is good.
When winter comes we feel the sharp cold air, but it seems to refresh and awaken us. Most of the trees and flowers are bare now, but there are still some evergreen trees and bushes that remind us that life goes on. When snow falls it is one of the most beautiful sights to see. Children can be seen snow sledding and ice skating. There is nothing like coming in from the cold to sit around a nice fireplace with a roaring fire. After a while, we tire of the cold and ice but then we see signs of spring coming.
With spring comes a feeling of new life. The trees that seemed to be dead are now coming alive again. Flowers are pushing up from the ground with seamless effort. You hear the sounds of birds chirping in the trees. The air has a fragrance of flowers. The earth seems to be awakening from its sleep.
In summer we have the warm breezes touching our skin. The flowers that bloom are filled with so many different and bright colors. Many of our activities of enjoyment are found outside. We have our times for walks and our times for going to the beach or to the pool. The children are thrilled because they are on their summer break and can really enjoy the summer life.
Just as the seasons of the earth bring us new experiences and help us to live out a fuller life, the Church, in its great wisdom, offers us seasons to do the same thing. The earth gives us four seasons but the Church gives us six. The whole Church year revolves around the Church seasons. Let’s take a brief look at these six seasons and how they help us to experience God’s love better. These seasons are also filled with their own colors and sights and sounds.
The first season of the Church year is Advent. It starts in the late fall, timed to give us four weeks to prepare for the great feast of Christmas. The color for this season is violet (with one Sunday of Rose). Advent is a quiet season of joy where we anticipate and prepare for the coming of Jesus. We look towards the coming of Jesus both at Christmas two thousand years ago and His Second Coming at the end of time. It is a time of anticipation and readiness. Advent ends on December 24th.
The second season of the Church year is Christmas. It starts on December 25th and lasts until the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus. This is a season of joy and celebration and merriment. It is a time where we all give out gifts to remember the great gift given to us at Christmas, Jesus. It is a time of the smells of evergreens and baking and a time when families spend more time with each other. The color for this season is white.
When Christmas ends, we begin the third season, the season of Ordinary time. The color of this season is green. Ordinary time is a split season. The first split is right after Christmas for about four to eight weeks. It is a time when we listen to all of the stories about Jesus. It is a time for us to learn and grow in our knowledge of Jesus. It ends with Ash Wednesday.
The fourth season is the season of Lent. This season starts with Ash Wednesday and ends with Holy Thursday morning. The color of this season is Violet. It is a time for prayer and repentance in preparation for the celebration of the Easter mysteries. It is a special time for our RCIA groups to be ready for coming in to the Church at the Easter Vigil. It is a time of serious prayer and reflection and growth in our love of Jesus.
The fifth season is the Paschal Triduum. Its colors are white and red depending on the day. This season is only three days long but reflects the very act of what our Church was founded upon, the Death and Resurrection of Jesus. The first day is Holy Thursday (White) when we celebrate the institution of the Eucharist and the priesthood. The second day is Good Friday (Red) when we remember the death of Jesus on the cross. The Church does not celebrate any Sacraments that day. The third day is Holy Saturday with its Easter Vigil. The vigil mass is the highest mass of the Church year. It is one that is filled with so many sights and sounds, readings, candles, water, incense etc. The RCIA candidates come in to the Church that evening. It is a time of GREAT JOY. The liturgies of all three days of the Paschal Triduum are celebrated as ONE continuous liturgy that commemorates the passion, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The sixth season of the Church year is the Easter Season. It is a fifty day celebration that begins at the Easter Vigil and concludes on the Feast of Pentecost. The color of the season is white. We spend fifty days looking at the readings about the resurrected Jesus. The Easter Paschal Candle, lit at the Easter Vigil, burns for all liturgies during this season. Jesus is the Light of the world. He is the Resurrection and the Life. We spend fifty days celebrating this. This is what the Church is all about. We are a resurrection people.
The second part of Ordinary season starts on the Monday after Pentecost and goes until the Feast of Christ the King when the calendar of seasons starts all over again. We hear all of the stories of Jesus during this season.
It is interesting that the seasons of the earth seem to join in with the liturgical seasons. The late fall and early winter of Advent gives us a little glimpse of the stillness and waiting of Advent. The beauty of the winter white proclaims the birth of the savior. The beginning harshness of winter at Lent calls us to penance and the Spring season reflects the life and light of Easter. Just as we can enjoy the seasons of the year, the seasons of the Church can help us better experience all that Jesus has done for us and how we should respond to His love.
How To Achieve Constant Prayer – by Matthew Leonard
Did you know that every part of our life is meant to be powered by prayer…everything!
Is that even possible?
Since “with God all things are possible” (Mt 19:26) , the answer is a resounding “Yes!”
How?
Well it starts with what we call “finite prayer.”
A finite prayer is one that has a beginning and an end. It’s active prayer. Examples would the rosary, a litany, or any spontaneous prayer.
But while it has starting and a stopping points, finite, active prayer is meant to lead us to something deeper – habitual, or constant, prayer.
Constant prayer is the name of the game, the golden goose of the spiritual life.
Quoting the ancient monk Evagrius Ponticus, the Catechism states “we have not been commanded to work, to keep watch and to fast constantly, but it has been laid down that we are to pray without ceasing” (2742, italics mine).
Of course, we’re all familiar with St. Paul’s admonition to “pray constantly” in 1 Thessalonians 5:17. As a kid I remember thinking, “Seriously, Paul? Not only are people going to think I’m nuts as I walk around muttering to myself, but multi-tasking is not natural to my gender.”
But before we knock Paul off of his high horse (again), let’s take a moment to see what we he means.
Constant prayer is not an act of prayer, so to speak. Otherwise we’d never be able to focus on our duties in life. It might even be dangerous! (Forget about texting, I’ve nearly wrecked my car on several occasions while attempting the rosary on the freeway.)
So what is Paul talking about?
He’s referring to a permanent attitude, one rooted in trustful surrender and merging of our will to God’s. It’s an inner peace that accepts whatever happens as God’s good will for our life.
Now don’t think he means we just sit back and do nothing. Rather, he means we have to develop an attitude of cheerful compliance founded on the knowledge that what God wants us to experience in life is best.
How do we attain this peaceful, permanent attitude of constant prayer? Again, primarily through finite prayer.
You see, constant prayer is fed by acts of finite prayer which operate on the “surface” of the soul.
Think of constant prayer as glowing embers down in your soul. They’re always hot, but not enflamed, so to speak.
Finite prayers are like little gusts of wind that come down, blowing across these embers, igniting a fire of love in our hearts that bursts into flame.
Finite prayers feed the flame so that we develop a life of constant prayer.
Of course, the reverse is also true.
Constant prayer feeds and fuels our acts of finite prayer so they become more focused and fruitful. And when we can establish a state of constant prayer, submitting ourselves gladly to God’s will, everything we do becomes an act of prayer.
God bless!
Matthew
P.S. Matthew is leading a pilgrimage to the Holy Land with Jim Caviezel, star of The Passion of the Christ! We’ll also be joined by Fr. Don Calloway and John Michael Talbot! It’s going to be epic! CLICK HERE for details! HOLY LAND
P.P.S. If you’d rather go to Italy, Matthew is heading there on pilgrimage, too!
Join him in March 2019 for a time of deep spiritual renewal and amazing adventure in Rome, Assisi, Orvieto, LaVerna, and much, much more! CLICK HERE for details! ITALY
Consuming God’s Word – by Deacon Marty McIndoe
When I was growing up my father was very concerned about healthy eating. He had read several books about nutrition from Adele Davis and used the mantra “You are what you eat”. Adele Davis, and many nutritionists of the 1950’s and 60’s, used this phrase taken from Victor Lindlahr’s 1942 book of the same name. I heard that phrase over and over again. Dad grew almost all of our own food in his garden and went to local farmers to get eggs and chickens. Mom bought very little from the grocery store. The whole idea was that processed food and non-organic food was bad for you. Only wholesome, organic food should be ingested. It was a lot of work, caring for the garden and canning and freezing foods for the winters. I do think it was worth it. I am a pretty healthy person. We all know that the more we eat healthy food, the healthier we will be.
The Scriptures have some interesting things to say about eating God’s Word. Jeremiah 15:16 says, “When I found your words, I devoured them; your words were my joy, the happiness of my heart, because I bear your name, LORD, God of hosts”. In Ezekiel 3: 1-3 it says, “He said to me: Son of man, eat what you find here: eat this scroll, then go, speak to the house of Israel. So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat. Son of man, he said to me, feed your stomach and fill your belly with this scroll I am giving you. I ate it, and it was as sweet as honey* in my mouth. Then he said to me, Son of man, go now to the house of Israel, and speak my words to them”. And again in Revelation 10: 10 it says, “I took the small scroll from the angel’s hand and swallowed it. In my mouth it was like sweet honey, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour”. Psalm 119: 103 tells us, “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” Now I really don’t think that we should start tearing pages out of our bibles and eating them, but I do think that we should look in to these words of scripture telling us to consume His Word.
God’s Word that is given to us in the scriptures is a very precious gift. It is not given to us to put on to a shelf and look at only occasionally. It is a gift for us to use and consume every single day. Pope Benedict says to us, “We must rediscover a taste for feeding ourselves on the word of God, faithfully handed down by the Church, and on the bread of life, offered as sustenance for his disciples (cf. Jn 6:51). Indeed, the teaching of Jesus still resounds in our day with the same power: “Do not labour for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life” (Jn 6:27)…Belief in Jesus Christ, then, is the way to arrive definitively at salvation.” How true this is! The mass reflects this perfectly, first we feed on the Liturgy of the Word, and then we feed on the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The two go hand in hand; both the Word and the Eucharist our needed for our spiritual growth. We need both of them. For the Eucharist, we need to go to our church and receive it from our priests but we cannot take it home with us. God’s Word is different. We do receive it in church, but we also can receive it in our home with our own hands. With smart phones we can literally take it with us wherever we go.
Having God’s Word on a book shelf or even on a smart phone isn’t enough. We quite literally have to consume it and consume it often. Pope Francis tells us, “Be constantly nourished by the Word of God.”. He also says, “I would like so much for all Christians to be able to comprehend ‘the surpassing worth of knowing Jesus Christ’ through the diligent reading of the Word of God, for the sacred text is the nourishment of the soul and the pure and perennial source of the spiritual life of all of us.” We all need to be nourished, and to use my dad’s mantra, “You are what you eat” think about what you put in to yourself. Think about what you read and what you watch on TV and what you see in movies. Is this wholesome food, or junk food?
I challenge you to also think about your families. Family life seems to be hit hard by today’s society. In some ways it seems to be disintegrating in to nothingness. Bringing God’s Word in to your family for nourishment is so important. The family consumes so much junk from society; it is time to give it the good wholesome nourishment of God’s Word. Again Pope Francis tells us, “A Bible for every family! …Not to place it on a shelf, but to keep it at hand, to read it often, every day, both individually and together, husband and wife, parents and children, maybe in the evening, especially on Sundays. This way the family grows, walks, with the light and power of the Word of God!”
My friends, we are truly called to consume God’s Word and yet we often ignore it and often consume “junk food”. I believe that we can change the Family, the Church and the World if we consume God’s Word every day. If you are not already doing this, start it as soon as possible. There are many resources out there to help you. As Catholic’s we should make sure that we use Catholic resources to help us. I personally like THE WORD AMONG US and MAGNIFICAT for looking at the scriptures of the day. Don’t be afraid to do some prayerful reading of the Bible on your own. Use a good Catholic bible with footnotes to help you in this. Make sure that you ask the Holy Spirit to lead you and guide you. It is the same Holy Spirit that inspired the Bible. Consuming God’s Word involves both prayer and study. St. Pope John Paul II tells us, “Pray and learn to pray! Deepen your knowledge of the Word of the Living God by reading and meditating on the Scriptures”. It is certainly time for us to grow with good nourishment remembering that “You are what you eat”.
Death is something that all of us must face some day. It is not an option. It is something that we all have in common, no matter what our station is in life. In my 38 years of diaconal ministry I have ministered to many who are close to death. Some people are fearful of death and try to avoid it no matter what the cost. Others seem to welcome it and even embrace it. I hope that when my time comes, I too will be able to welcome it and embrace it. It seems that when we have lived a life of faith and especially of trust in Jesus, we naturally can welcome and embrace death for it is our ultimate act of faith and trust.
A couple of weeks ago a close friend of mine called me and told me that one of his very good friends, Peter (not his real name) was near death. My friend told me of how close he was to Peter and how this man had helped him in his faith journey and even in meeting his wife. Now Peter was dying from cancer and had some questions about the death process. My friend asked me to come with him to visit Peter and hopefully answer his questions. I, of course, said yes and went with him that day. When I went to this dying man’s home, I was greeted by his wife and grown children. They were there to support him. As soon as I went in to Peter’s room, I could tell that he was weak and probably would die fairly soon. The cancer had taken all of the strength out of him, but his mind functioned very well. The first thing that we did was to pray for a moment. He then asked me how long this process of dying would take and what to expect. I had the sense that he had hoped the time would be short, but that he was also unsure of the process of dying.
Now I knew from my friend that Peter was a man of faith. He was a good Catholic that had attended things like Christian Awakening weekends and Charismatic prayer meetings. My friend told me that Peter had invited him to a Christian Awakening weekend many years ago and it was at that weekend that my friend met his future wife and also met Jesus in a new and real way. That weekend was instrumental in making my friend in to the good Catholic man that he is today, thanks to the Peter’s invitation. Peter’s faith had carried him through many difficulties in life. Now, his faith and trust in Jesus had to carry him through the death process.
Since Peter’s first question was how long it would take for him to die, I answered him by telling him that none of us can really know. Doctors can give estimates during fatal illnesses, but these are at best only an estimate. I told him that the timing was in God’s hands, BUT, in my many years of ministering to the dying, I found that those who had told their families and had told God that they were ready to die seemed to die quickly. This man seemed very happy to hear that. I then went through with him our Catholic teaching on death and what awaits us (for further information see my previous article by clicking the link below). The dying man seemed to find peace in what I said. I then told him that if he were ready to die, he should first tell his family members who gathered around him and then tell God that he was ready. Peter put a small smile on his face. We then all prayed together around him, including a Hail Mary. I told him that I would stop by again in two days.
The next day my friend called me to tell me that his friend had died, in peace. I truly believe that he had made peace with his family and had told God that he was ready. I know in my heart that this man had accepted, and even embraced and welcomed death. His struggles with cancer were now over and he was in the arms of God’s love and mercy. Death is hard on those who are left behind. My friend is a really great man and strong in his faith but I knew that this death was hard on him. I do see how God helped my friend in this. The day that Peter died, my friend was out on a long bicycle trip with another friend that we have in common. Because both of them have difficult schedules, this day trip was planned about two months before. My friend received the call of Peter’s death in the middle of the bicycle trip. Fortunately our other friend was with him and this helped tremendously. He too is a man of faith and a good Catholic. The beauty of the weather and their journey through a park and along the ocean brought comfort to my friend. Plus he had a good friend, a man of God with him. God put all of this together.
My friend was asked to do the eulogy and was a little nervous about it. He took a day to work on it and the next day I called him and asked him out to breakfast. I knew that his wife was away on retreat that weekend and that he was all alone. We had a great breakfast and talked a lot about the deceased. I then went with him over to his house to listen to the eulogy that he had written. He did a great job on the eulogy and was thankful to me for spending the time with him that day. It helped bring him strength and comfort. My friend knew the power of God working through the friends that he had. It truly helped him with this difficult time and made him strong enough to deliver a great eulogy.
Death is difficult on all who go through it. However faith in our Lord and the ability to trust in him (I love the Divine Mercy picture of Jesus that tell us JESUS, I TRUST IN YOU) can bring us true freedom where we can accept and embrace and welcome death when it is our time. It also gives us the ability to deal with loss when a loved one dies. God is so good. He is the God of LIFE and peace and comfort and strength.
There’s a show on television called Air Disasters, and some time ago they ran a segment on the September 25, 1978 PSA crash in San Diego.
I remember that day very well. Like everybody else, I saw the news coverage on television. On approach to the airport, the PSA jet had collided with a Cessna flying in the area. The jet’s right wing caught on fire, and both planes crashed. Everyone on the planes, along with seven people on the ground, perished.
[SIDENOTE: The photo above is of the actual plane going down. The collision was so loud it was heard on the ground, and a photographer aimed his camera upward and took that picture.]
But what I didn’t know, until my sister phoned me, was that a friend of mine had been on board the PSA jet. He was only 26 and was on his way to San Diego to open a photography studio.
I debated whether or not to record the Air Disasters show. I wasn’t sure I wanted to know what my friend went through those last terrifying seconds of his life. After I did record it, it sat in my DVR a couple of days before I got up the courage to watch it.
A lot of things, I saw, went wrong that day. I discovered several factors had contributed to the crash. For example, an imminent collision alarm had gone off in the control tower but was ignored because the alarm had been sounding when there was no problem. The PSA pilot had seen the Cessna but then had lowered his seat, which took it out of his line of vision. The Cessna was flown by a student pilot who was learning to operate by instruments only, and so he was wearing a helmet that allowed him to see nothing but the control panel. And for some inexplicable reason, he had changed course. The radio transmission from the PSA pilot was a bit garbled, but it sounded to the air traffic controller like the pilot had said he had already flown past the Cessna. The combination of these incidents led to a terrible disaster.
Something else went wrong that day, horribly wrong. It wasn’t something that caused the crash. It was something that happened after the crash, or rather, something that didn’t happen after the crash. As ashamed as I am to admit it, not once did it occur to me to pray for the soul of my friend.
I had been raised Catholic, attended Catholic elementary school, and in fact was teaching in a Catholic high school at the time. I knew about Purgatory. I knew how important it is to pray for our deceased friends and relatives.
Why, oh why did it not occur to me to pray for my friend? You’d think all the news coverage, including a photo of the plane going down, wing afire, on the cover of Life magazine, (yes, that picture above is the one) would be enough to kick-start me into a rosary, at least. Yet somehow, it wasn’t. Why not?
Well, I’ll tell you why. That is what happens when you become a tepid Catholic.
If you’d asked me back then, I would have told you I was a great Catholic. I put in my hour at Mass every Sunday. I put money into the collection basket. Hey, I even taught in a Catholic school!
Yet the rest of the time I pretty much ignored God, except, of course, when I wanted a personal favor. My rosary was packed away in a drawer. I couldn’t remember the last time I had been to Confession.
In Luke 17:10 Jesus has some harsh words for those who do the bare minimum, calling them unworthy servants. In Revelation 3:16, He even states that He spits lukewarm souls out of his mouth. (The Douay-Rheims version uses the word “vomits” instead of “spits.”)
I thank God that He eventually wacked me over the head with a spiritual 2 x 4, and I finally came to my senses. Prayers and Masses were offered for my friend and other souls for whom I should have pleaded.
I don’t know if such things work retroactively. But, if my prayers were too late for my friend, I am certain they were applied to other members of the Church Suffering.
Let’s not forget those who have passed on before us. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” (Matthew 5:7) And let’s be useful, not worthless, servants who live our faith daily through prayer and sacrifice.
July 4th is a special day for the United States. It is the day that we celebrate our Independence and the beginning of our country. Back in 1776, when the Revolutionary War was being fought, a Franciscan priest named Father Junipero Serra was active in forming what would become the State of California. He accomplished so much there that he is known by the Church as a Founding Father of the United States, the Father of the California Missions, as well as the Patron of Vocations, Apostle of California, and Evangelizer of the West,. On July 1st we celebrate the Feast Day of Father Junipero Serra. He is the first Saint to be canonized by a Pope inside of the United States (Sept. 23, 2015) at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C. Father Junipero is special to the United States, as well as the world wide Church. Throughout the world his feast day is celebrated on the day that he died, August 23rd, but here in the United States we celebrate his Feast Day on the day that he entered the United States, July 1st (1769). That is how special he is to the United States.
On November 24th, 1713 Miguel Jose Serra was born to Antonio Nadal Serra and Margarita Rosa Ferrer in the town of Petra, on the island of Majorca, Spain. His parents were simple farmers. Miguel was so sickly when he was born that he was baptized that same day at St. Peter’s Church. Fortunately he became stronger and lived, although he was always extremely small in stature (5’ 2” as an adult). He attended a local Franciscan school and at the age of 18 was taken by his parents to Palma to study in the field of philosophy held in the Franciscan monastery of San Francisco. He later became a Novice at the Convento de Jesús outside the walls of Palma on September 14, 1730, and made his profession on September 15, 1731. He was ordained a priest around December 1738 and obtained his doctorate in theology in 1742 from the Lullian University, Palma. He was called to the Duns Scotus chair of theology at the same university and taught Philosophy and then left the easy life of a beloved priest and professor in 1749 to become a missionary to the Indians in the New World.
Fr. Serra landed in Vera Cruz, Mexico on December 7, 1749. Although horses were available for the friars, Serra chose to walk the 250 miles between Vera Cruz and Mexico City. They reached San Fernando College on January 1, 1750, spending the previous night at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. During this walk an insect bit his left leg which later became infected. This infection plagued him for the rest of his life, often to the point of almost losing his life. This seemed to be one of many crosses that he bore. Other crosses were inclement weather, military leaders and the politics associated with that, and Native Americans who were not happy with his converting their family and friends. His leg infections often kept him from walking or even standing, yet he had the will to continue spreading the Gospel. He spent the first 18 years in the New World in central Mexico and the Baja Peninsula before coming to modern day California in 1769. His zeal to preach and convert and start missions is almost legendary. The first mission that he founded in California was in San Diego in 1769. This was also almost the last as there was no food and everyone wanted to return to Mexico. Saint Junipero began a novena to St. Joseph, and sure enough a supply ship appeared. That enabled them to continue their mission journey and more missions were founded (Monterey/Carmel (1770); San Antonio and San Gabriel (1771); San Luís Obispo (1772); San Francisco and San Juan Capistrano (1776); Santa Clara (1777); San Buenaventura (1782) and twelve more were founded after Serra’s death). It is believed that he personally baptized at least 6,000 people and confirmed 5,000. During his lifetime, the Churches that he founded baptized 101,000 people and performed 28,000 marriages and 71,000 funerals. Throughout his time in the California area, he showed amazing zeal for Evangelization which seemed to be fed by his large amounts of prayer.
Saint Junipero was not only concerned about the spiritual well being of the Native Americans but also for their quality of life. He taught them life skills such as sound methods of agriculture, cattle raising, and even arts and crafts. He fought for their rights and protection with the Spanish military and government producing what could be called a Native American Bill of Rights. This would be used to become the first legislative action in California. He was so very loved by the Native Americans that he served. When he died, a large number of them came to pay their respects. He is buried at Mission San Carlo Borromeo, Carmel.
In the 1940s, a movement began to have him canonized. Pope John Paul II beatified Serra in 1988. Unfortunately this was not without objection by some Native Americans of that day who complained that Father Serra robbed the Native Americans of their culture and treated them poorly. The Church, in studying his life determined that Father Junipero Serra deserved to become a Saint.
What does the life of Saint Junipero Serra teach us today? First of all, we should emulate his great zeal for spreading the Gospel. Secondly, we should use his example of fighting for the rights of those who are looked down upon in society. Thirdly, we should work to help better the life of those who don’t have what we have. There certainly are more things that we can learn, but don’t let us forget the example Father Junipero Serra set in depending upon the Lord for all things through a serious prayer life. As a “founding father of the United States” let us call upon Father Junipero to join us in praying that this great country may turn more and more to God. In God we Trust. God bless America.
Ecclesiastes 3:8 Tells us that there is “A time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. “ Unfortunately there have been too many times for war and too many lives lost in war. Also, sadly there are too many lives affected by the losses of war. This includes not only parents, wives and children and other family and friends but also numerous innocent refugees. As General William T. Sherman has said, “War is Hell”.
This weekend our country pauses to celebrate Memorial Day. For many people it is a day off from work and a day to get together with family and friends and of course, to have a barbeque. I don’t see these things as wrong as long as we take the time to remember what this National Holiday is all about. Memorial Day is supposed to be a day of solemn remembrance of all of our soldiers who died serving the United States Armed Forces. It originally was celebrated following the Civil War and in 1971 became a National Holiday. Many people visit cemeteries to visit deceased soldiers. Many people also confuse it with Veteran’s Day when we remember all veterans. Memorial Day is to remember only those who died serving our country.
For Catholics, this should be a very special day. We should honor those who gave their life in service to others and remember Jesus’ words in John 15:13, “No one shows greater love than when he lays down his life for his friends.” It is also a day for us to pray for the deceased. We as Catholics know how important this is. There are many deceased soldiers out there that have no one to pray for them. We can step in and do this. It is also a day for us to look at all ways possible to work for peace rather than war. It is better for everyone to have a time of peace and not a time of war. It is also a time for us to help the poor and refugees who so often are adversely affected by war.
We as Catholics should be very concerned in promoting family life and teaching our children good values. Memorial Day (and the whole weekend) is a great time to go, as a family, to a Memorial Day parade and to go, again as a family, to visit a National Cemetery or visit a soldier’s grave in a regular cemetery. There is nothing better than going as a family to visit a deceased soldier father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, etc. and talk about him or her to our children. It is also a great time to pray for that deceased relative and talk to our children about praying for the dead.
In summary, no matter what you do this weekend, please do not forget to remember and honor our deceased soldiers. When you have that great family Memorial Day Barbeque, stop and remember and pray. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops shares with us a prayer from “Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers”:
God of power and mercy,
you destroy war and put down earthly pride.
Banish violence from our midst and wipe away our tears,
that we may all deserve to be called your sons
and daughters.
Keep in your mercy those men and women
who have died in the cause of freedom
and bring them safely
into your kingdom of justice and peace.
We ask this though Jesus Christ our Lord.
R/. Amen
Pentecost is traditionally seen as the birthday of the Church. Pentecost is the day that the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles and disciples assembled together in the Upper Room. They had been praying for 9 days after Jesus ascended in to heaven. They had gone in to the Upper Room with sadness because the Lord was no longer with them. They were weak and unsure or what to do. They prayed their novena and the Spirit came and filled them and they left the Upper Room in joy and in strength and with a sense of purpose that they never had before. The Church was truly born that day. As we celebrate Pentecost we must look at the life of the Holy Spirit within our own lives. We should give thanks and praise for all that the Spirit has given us and we should also be resolved to be more open to the Spirit and its gifts and fruits. Reading the book of Acts is a great place to start.
The scriptures tell us that the Blessed Virgin Mary was present in the Upper Room with the Apostles and disciples praying for and receiving the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. You can picture Mary gathered there with all of her son’s friends. At first she must have been disappointed in the Apostles for the way they had abandoned her Son at the cross. She was probably concerned that all that Jesus had done was now in jeopardy due to the lack luster Apostles. Yet, she was there with them, praying with them and most likely praying for them. She must have looked upon them as a mother looks upon their children, encouraging them and hoping and praying that they would become what God called them to be. How joyous she must have been seeing the power of the Holy Spirit coming down upon them and empowering them. I am sure she was a proud mother looking at the growth in her children. She herself is the spouse of the Holy Spirit. She knew the Holy Spirit and was now empowered again to be part of the birth of new life, the new life that the Church was called to be. We can never separate Mary from the great day of Pentecost. Her being there was part of the plan and action of the Spirit to make the Church the true Body of Christ.
How beautiful it is that this year we celebrate the Feast of Pentecost on Sunday and then the next day celebrate the NEW memorial feast of Mary Mother of the Church. The title Mary Mother of the Church goes back to the beginnings of the early church. We first see it written down by Saint Ambrose of Milan (340-397). He was appointed Bishop of Milan in 374. Over the ages the title has been used in many places.
In recent times, Pope Paul VI, himself a former Bishop of Milan, closed the third session of Vatican II using words similar to St. Ambrose saying, “For the glory of the Virgin and our consolation, we proclaim Mary the Most Holy Mother of the Church, that is, the Mother of the whole People of God, both the faithful and the pastors.”
In 1981, shortly after his assassination attempt, Pope John Paul II had a mosaic of Mary Mother of the Church installed on a building facing St. Peter’s Square as a tribute to her intercession in saving his life. In 1987 he repeated this title in his encyclical Redemptoris Mater. Pope John Paul II also had a monastery built in the Vatican dedicated to Mary Mother of the Church (1990). Presently Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI lives in this monastery. In 1997 Pope John Paul II devoted a Wednesday general audience to the title, Mary, Mother of the Church.
Although many Popes and Bishops and ancient writers used the title Mary, Mother of the Church, the Church’s calendar did not have a universal memorial feast celebrating that title. Some countries celebrated the feast, but it wasn’t until this year that a Universal feast was set. Pope Francis declared that the Monday after Pentecost would be celebrated as Mary, Mother of the Church. I pray that we learn to celebrate by remembering the very close link between Mary and the Holy Spirit. We also need to see the motherly love of Mary for the Church. Mary is our mother.
The gospel reading set for the new feast is John 19:25-31. This gospel reading contains the familiar story of Mary and John at the foot of the cross. “When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.” We can see how Jesus shared His mother with John, and by extension, with us. We need to take Mary in to our home. She can help us grow closer to her son Jesus and she can help us be open to the Holy Spirit and receive its fruits and gifts. Thank you Jesus for sharing your mother with us. Happy Pentecost, and Happy Birthday. God is good.
I was fortunate to have parents who saw that Scouting could be very beneficial to the formation of a child in to an adult. I was in Scouting from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts to Explorer Scouts (in High School). I learned a lot from them to help build my character. One of the primary things that they taught me was to BE PREPARED. This helped me in school, family and social life, in business, in being an Army soldier and especially in being a good Christian. I would like to look at BEING PREPARED as a Christian.
The question is, what are we supposed to be prepared for? There are several things but I find three that stand out the most. First of all we must be prepared for the LAST DAY. That last day may be when Jesus comes again, or more likely it will be when we die and go to meet him. We have a judgment to experience when we see Him face to face. All that we do as a Christian should lead us to be ready for this judgment. I am so happy that our God is a merciful God, but he is also a JUST God. Everything that we have said and done (and thought) or failed to do, will come before us; and we must answer for that. If we live out the words of Jesus and His Church, we should be prepared. The Church gives us the tools to prepare for this judgment. Those tools are the Sacraments and the Scriptures and prayers and examples of the Saints. We should use them to the fullest.
The second thing that we need to be prepared for is our battle against evil. For those of you who fail to believe in evil and the battle that we fight, you are sadly not prepared. The Church has always, from the very beginning, recognized the power of evil in the world. Our first Pope tells us: “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith.” 1 Pet. 5:8-9. Unfortunately today, too many people dismiss the devil and demons and evil as old fashioned and untrue. The devil and his demons are real, and we need to fight them. The war is already won in Jesus, but Satan still continues to battle and tries to confound us. He attacks us in our weaknesses. We must use the tools that Jesus and the Church gives us to fight him. St. Paul tells us, “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Eph. 6:11-17. These words of St. Paul are so much more than words of wisdom; they are words to lead us in our battle with evil. Do you hear the battle cry?
The third thing that we need to be prepared for is sharing the Good News. This is what we are supposed to be doing as Christians. It should be so much a part of us that it just comes naturally. I will spend more time on this topic on another post, but it is so important that it needs to be placed in context with this post. Probably the best way we share the Good News is by being a good Christian.
Being a good Christian is hard enough on its own, but when you have the legions of evil and darkness trying to keep you from being a good Christian, it becomes even more difficult. However, God knows the battle we fight and if we use the tools He gives us, we overcome easily. I would like to share with you some of the ways that I have found to use these tools. First of all, You MUST make them part of a daily routine. Just as you start out the day by washing and grooming, the tools need to be sharpened and put to use. I find that my morning routine is most important.
Daily I wake up at 6:30 (even though I am retired and could sleep) and I first say a rosary carefully meditating on each mystery. I then go to the local YMCA for my morning workout (the physical body and spiritual self are very connected). I then go to daily mass early enough to sit in front of the Blessed Sacrament for 15 to 20 minutes. I then carefully pay attention and serve at mass asking the Lord to strengthen me to be the person He wants me to be. I see the Eucharist as such a precious gift to strengthen me for the journey and the battle. I then go home to eat breakfast with my wife (she also attends daily mass with me) and then I do my morning prayer (Liturgy of the Hours). The rest of the day I intersperse other prayers. These prayers vary from spontaneous forms of praise to the various hours of the Liturgy of the Hours. Every Tuesday I do Exposition and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Each evening my wife and I pray together. All of this is a life giving experience for me. I never see it as a burden. I find my strength in this routine.
Throughout the day I love to give thanks and praise to God for the many beautiful things that happen. I love to see Him in the beauty of creation and the gift of other people. I also try to do a lot of spiritual reading such as the Bible as well as books from great Christian authors. In the evenings I “surf” many Christian/Catholic websites. I also try to continue my learning through the New Saint Thomas Aquinas Institute and ClaritasU. As I read this over it sounds like all I do is “religious” things, but that isn’t true. I enjoy many aspects of life and do many activities from going out with the guys to the local pub for beer, to visiting with friends with my wife. However, the “religious things” are what help to make me who I believe God calls me to be.
I know that Jesus wants us to live an abundant life (John 10:10) even though the thief (Satan) would love to snatch it away from us. When I immerse myself in prayer, the sacraments and good study, my life is abundant and Satan doesn’t have a chance to snatch it away from me. I am prepared; are you?
We find the Stations of the Cross in just about every Catholic Church. Walking and praying the Stations of the Cross has been a popular Catholic devotion from the earliest of times. It is especially popular during the season of Lent. Did you know that the first Stations of the Cross were made by the Blessed Virgin Mary and that what we have today followed the pattern that she set up 2000 years ago? Our earliest traditions tell us that St. John took the Blessed Virgin Mary out of Jerusalem to Ephesus to protect her from the dangers in Jerusalem. Tradition tells us that Mary, after Jesus’ ascension used to walk the path that He had walked on His way to the Cross. When she moved out of Jerusalem she could no longer walk on that very path.
St. John built for her a House on a hill just outside of Ephesus (modern day Turkey). I was fortunate to be able to visit that home and it was an earthshaking spiritual experience for me. When Mary lived there she decided to walk out a path remembering the way of the cross that Jesus and she walked in Jerusalem. She set up stones and markings on trees to commemorate Jesus’ walk. Mary would walk along that path with its Stations of the Cross just like she had walked it on the actual streets that Jesus had walked. It was a special devotion for her.
One of the Church’s modern mystics and visionaries was Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich who was born in 1774 and died in 1824. She had numerous visions of Jesus and Mary and in her writings she recalled her visions, “Behind the house, at a little distance up the hill, the Blessed Virgin had made a kind of Way of the Cross. When she was living in Jerusalem, she had never failed, ever since Our Lord’s death, to follow His path to Calvary with tears of compassion. She had paced out and measured all the distances between the Stations of that Via Crucis, and her love for her Son made her unable to live without this constant contemplation of His sufferings. Soon after her arrival at her new home [in Ephesus] I saw her every day climbing part of the way up the hill behind her house to carry out this devotion. At first she went by herself, measuring the number of steps, so often counted by her, which separated the places of Our Lord’s different sufferings. At each of these places she put up a stone, or, if there was already a tree there, she made a mark upon it. The way led into a wood, and upon a hill in this wood she had marked the place of Calvary, and the grave of Christ in a little cave in another hill. After she had marked this Way of the Cross with twelve Stations, she went there with her maidservant in quiet meditation: at each Station they sat down and renewed the mystery of its significance in their hearts, praising the Lord for His love with tears of compassion. Afterwards she arranged the Stations better, and I saw her inscribing on the stones the meaning of each Station, the number of paces and so forth. I saw, too, that she cleaned out the cave of the Holy Sepulcher and made it a place for prayer. At that time I saw no picture and no fixed cross to designate the Stations, nothing but plain memorial stones with inscriptions, but afterwards, as the result of constant visits and attention, I saw the place becoming increasingly beautiful and easy of approach. After the Blessed Virgin’s death I saw this Way of the Cross being visited by Christians, who threw themselves down and kissed the ground.”
Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich’s writings were published about 50 years after her death. At that time Mary’s House in Ephesus was unknown to the western world. Two priests, Fr. Julien Gouyet and Fr. Eugène Poulin were so intrigued by the descriptions of Mary’s house in Emmerich’s writings that they went in search of it. The house was found using the descriptions from the visions. It was located in the center of old ruins of a monastery. The foundation of the house dated to the first century and Hebrew inscriptions were found on its stones. Even the hearth was located at the exact location of Emmerich’s visions. Although unknown to the western world, the locals celebrated the place for as long back as they could remember. They called the place “Panaghia-Capouli” which meant “The Door of the Holiest.” Perhaps more remarkable to us today is the fact that the locals had an annual pilgrimage that took place each year on August 15th, which was not declared the Feast of the Assumption of the Immaculate Virgin Mary until 1950. Today, some use the name “Panaya Kapulu” to describe the house on the hillside. Even though the majority of the locals are Muslims, they continue to celebrate and honor Mary there.
Our local guide told us that about ten years ago there was a terrible brush fire on the mountain where Mary’s house is. They said that the town people (Muslims) gathered to protect Mary’s house from the fire, even leaving their own houses in harms way. Fortunately they were successful.
I hope that each Friday of Lent you are able to pray the Stations of the Cross. When you do, say a special thank you prayer to Our Lady.
NOTE: There are several traditions about Mary’s house and about the location of her Assumption. The Church has not ruled on this.
THE FOURTEEN STATIONS OF THE CROSS
1. Jesus is condemned to death
2. Jesus takes up his Cross
3. Jesus falls for the first time
4. The Virgin Mary meets Jesus
5. Simon of Cyrene is made to help Jesus bear the Cross
6. Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
7. Jesus falls for the second time
8. Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem
9. Jesus falls for the third time
10. Jesus is stripped of his garments
11. Jesus is crucified
12. Jesus dies on the Cross
13. Jesus is taken down from the Cross and laid in the arms of Mary
14. Jesus is laid in the tomb
