On this eve of the feast day of two great Marian saints, St Peter Chanel and St Louis de Montfort, we can meditate on not only their lives but on the Blessed Mother herself. Our Lady called these two men to become priests, to bring her Son into the world through their sacred hands as they celebrated the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. These two saints were completely devoted to the Holy Eucharist as well as devoted to Our Lady.
St Peter Chanel, a Marist, became a missionary and traveled to the South Pacific, in particular, to the island of Futuna, where he was martyred, and where the Catholic faith, through his efforts, has blossomed. He is the patron saint of Oceania.
St Louis de Montfort wrote the treatise, True Devotion to Mary, and many people have used his formula for consecration to the Blessed Mother. In fact, he was very influential on the thought of the founder of the Marists, the Venerable Jean Claude Colin.
It is with great joy that I remember both of these saints tomorrow, April 28th, for it is the anniversary of my own ordination to the priesthood, and I know that just as Our Lady inspired these two saints to become priests of her Son, Mary has also invited me to become a priest in her order, the Society of Mary (Marist Fathers).
It is also a joy to know that in a few days we will be celebrating the Month of Mary. We are in need of her prayers. Let us turn to her during this month of May and ask for her intercession and her guidance as our Church is undergoing a purification. And let us pray that especially in this Year of Priests that our priests will be devoted to her Immaculate Heart.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
April Showers
It's been an interesting April so far, personally and professionally. Let's talk about something else, though. There has been a lot of press recently once again concerning the scandals in the church, and, as it does so many times, it has brought out the people who want to link the abuse with the church's teaching on priestly celibacy. This is a flawed argument. Celibacy does not cause abuse of children, as we see from so many other examples of abuse in our school systems, other groups, religious and secular, and even on our own families.
What we need at this time is prayer. Have there been problems with how the church has handled these cases, many from decades ago? It's easy to blame the church, yes. Has the church learned how to handle these problems in the last fifteen years? Again, yes. Many of these cases are cases that happened many years ago. That does not make them right, and we as Catholics have a right to be angry with the situation that has befallen our church.
But being angry must be productive. Arguing through your anger that priests must be allowed to marry and women must be ordained priests are simplistic. Demanding certain bishops and even the pope to resign is also not the answer. Putting policies in place that will protect our children is a given. There is no excuse for child abuse, whether it is at the hands of a priest or any other man, or even women for that matter. There is no excuse for covering up the sins and allowing the perpetrators to continue in their work.
The church is in the midst of being pruned. Our pope has asked for forgiveness in the name of the church and in the name of the bishops and priests who have been responsible for neglecting and harming the souls of the children. Do we have a right to be angry? Yes. Do we need to forgive? Yes.
The priesthood is a wonderful calling and many men have given thier lives in selfless service for the people of God. Celibacy is a beautiful gift of the Holy Spirit, and one that requires a strong spiritual life to succeed. Pray for your priests, especially that they be holy, faithful and chaste.
What we need at this time is prayer. Have there been problems with how the church has handled these cases, many from decades ago? It's easy to blame the church, yes. Has the church learned how to handle these problems in the last fifteen years? Again, yes. Many of these cases are cases that happened many years ago. That does not make them right, and we as Catholics have a right to be angry with the situation that has befallen our church.
But being angry must be productive. Arguing through your anger that priests must be allowed to marry and women must be ordained priests are simplistic. Demanding certain bishops and even the pope to resign is also not the answer. Putting policies in place that will protect our children is a given. There is no excuse for child abuse, whether it is at the hands of a priest or any other man, or even women for that matter. There is no excuse for covering up the sins and allowing the perpetrators to continue in their work.
The church is in the midst of being pruned. Our pope has asked for forgiveness in the name of the church and in the name of the bishops and priests who have been responsible for neglecting and harming the souls of the children. Do we have a right to be angry? Yes. Do we need to forgive? Yes.
The priesthood is a wonderful calling and many men have given thier lives in selfless service for the people of God. Celibacy is a beautiful gift of the Holy Spirit, and one that requires a strong spiritual life to succeed. Pray for your priests, especially that they be holy, faithful and chaste.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Easter Octave
The Resurrection!! Alleluia!!! Jesus is Risen!!!
God has been faithful to his promise. With the Resurrection of his Son, Jesus Christ, God has given us a great gift, and that is the gift of himself. He has reconciled the world to himself through his Son's obedience, and with the Resurrection, he has also given us the means to grow in his love through the sacraments. You are no longer bound and chained in sin. You have the ability to live in the freedom of the sons of God. This was all made possible through the cross, through Jesus' suffering and death.
As we celebrate this octave of Easter, let us live in the joy and peace of the Risen Lord. And let us also prepare oursleves to celebrate the great feast of Divine Mercy Sunday, the second Sunday of Easter and the final day of the octave. No matter your sinful life, no matter what you have done or are still doing, when you give yourself to the Lord and entrust yourself to his Divine Mercy, you will be cleansed and made new. See the Lord with a repentant heart and allow him to cleanse you, allow him to make you whole, allow him to give you the abundant life of living in the truth.
Our Lord is Risen! He has truly Risen!!
God has been faithful to his promise. With the Resurrection of his Son, Jesus Christ, God has given us a great gift, and that is the gift of himself. He has reconciled the world to himself through his Son's obedience, and with the Resurrection, he has also given us the means to grow in his love through the sacraments. You are no longer bound and chained in sin. You have the ability to live in the freedom of the sons of God. This was all made possible through the cross, through Jesus' suffering and death.
As we celebrate this octave of Easter, let us live in the joy and peace of the Risen Lord. And let us also prepare oursleves to celebrate the great feast of Divine Mercy Sunday, the second Sunday of Easter and the final day of the octave. No matter your sinful life, no matter what you have done or are still doing, when you give yourself to the Lord and entrust yourself to his Divine Mercy, you will be cleansed and made new. See the Lord with a repentant heart and allow him to cleanse you, allow him to make you whole, allow him to give you the abundant life of living in the truth.
Our Lord is Risen! He has truly Risen!!
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