It's been quite a spring, and now that the Year for Priests is finally concluded with the solemnity of the Sacred Heart last Friday, it is imperative that we continue to pray for the new springtime in our church, and for more priests devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. It is difficult being a priest today, but it is rewarding.
My former spiritual director, Monsignor Charles Pope of Washington DC, has an interesting article on the Archdiocese of Washington DC website's blog concerning appropriate dress for Mass. We have done a show on reverence in dress for feed my lambs, and, as the comments on Monsignor Pope's article attests, whenever a priest broaches the subject of dress, it creates quite a stir. So what is the proper dress for a person attending Mass? That's something that you know deep in your own heart. There are different varieties of dress and different circumstances such as the weather, the culture/country, and the financial situation of the family. But in each case, proper attire is something to strive for. Should we be happy that they are at least attending Mass? And what they are wearing has no bearing on worship? Yes and no. Yes, it's great that people are attending Mass instead of finding something else to do. But think about what you wear every day during the week for each and every thing that you do and place that you go, and then ask yourself, what are we doing at Mass?
If Mass is an act of worship of the God who loves us and died for us so that we could feast on his Sacred Body and Blood; if Mass is the wedding feast of the Lamb, and we are there to thank God for his death and resurrection, I would think that Mass is something special, something wonderful, something so totally amazing that it would require us to treat it as something different from a barbecue, or a sporting event, or a walk on the beach.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Thursday, June 3, 2010
The abuse scandals
I have been doing research for an upcoming show on the abuse in the Catholic Church. It saddens me to have to do the research and read about the moral failings and criminal activities of my brother priests and the alleged cover up by some of the bishops. There is anger over this issue, and rightfully so. The pain of the victims can only lead to a broken heart for those of us who love the priesthood. How can a man, ordained as a priest, as a man of God, who is to preach the Good News and to bring others to Christ, who is called to protect the innocence and the chastity of all God's people, especially the children, how can he violate that trust and destroy the chastity and the faith of these little ones who Jesus called unto himself?
Our Church needs pruning. Our Church needs holy priests who will live the message of the Gospel and not abuse others, especially our children. Our Church needs to make sure that this never happens again, and if it does, if an allegation is proven to be true, this priest must sit in judgment for his crime.
There are no excuses, but there is need for sanity. We need solutions that will protect our children. The argument that celibacy leads to sexual abuse is fallacious. Most of the cases of abuse of children have happened at the hands of married men. And women deserve better than the argument that if a priest were to be able to marry he would not abuse children.
Our Church needs pruning. Our Church needs holy priests who will live the message of the Gospel and not abuse others, especially our children. Our Church needs to make sure that this never happens again, and if it does, if an allegation is proven to be true, this priest must sit in judgment for his crime.
There are no excuses, but there is need for sanity. We need solutions that will protect our children. The argument that celibacy leads to sexual abuse is fallacious. Most of the cases of abuse of children have happened at the hands of married men. And women deserve better than the argument that if a priest were to be able to marry he would not abuse children.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Sunday Homilies
My Sunday homilies are now being posted on the Church website. If you would like to hear the homilies, please visit www.olvboston.com.
St Philip Neri
Today we honor a saintly priest who lived in Rome during the middle of the 1500's, when Catholicism was recovering from the Protestant Revolution, and when St Ignatius was beginning the foudnations of the Society of Jesus in Spain. He was a joyful priest, finding in his vocation the peace and joy of the Holy Spirit.
His is an example for all of us to know that whatever vocation is yours, find peace and joy in your work. Many people are miserable in their careers, but they stay in it, usually because of the money. Love what you do, as long as it builds up the Kingdom of God and does not lead to immorality. And pray for your priests. we need more priests to be cheerful in their vocation. In fact, this is the antidote the shortage of vocations. Young men will be attracted to serving God as a Catholic priest if they find other Catholic priests to be happy and joyful.
His is an example for all of us to know that whatever vocation is yours, find peace and joy in your work. Many people are miserable in their careers, but they stay in it, usually because of the money. Love what you do, as long as it builds up the Kingdom of God and does not lead to immorality. And pray for your priests. we need more priests to be cheerful in their vocation. In fact, this is the antidote the shortage of vocations. Young men will be attracted to serving God as a Catholic priest if they find other Catholic priests to be happy and joyful.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Mother's Day
Another year has gone by and we are celebrating Mother's Day, 2010. In this past year, motherhood is still disparaged throughout our society, and many news outlets are calling new pro-life measures in some states harmful to women. And with divorce and absent fathers, many women are trying to raise children on thier own and they are not getting much help. Even in the families where the fathers are present, many mothers are frustrated and exhausted.
God's original plan for motherhood was not to be this way. A mother is to be united with her husband the two shall become one flesh. Fathers are called to be a support for their wives, who are the mothers of their children. And mothers are, in the words of Pope John Paul II, the heart of the home.
The dignity and respect that we owe all women is immeasurable, especially in light of salvation history, when God, in the fullness of time, sent his Son, born of a woman. With Mary as the model for all mothers, we can see that society has fallen a long way away from the dignity of womankind.
During this month of May, let us turn to the Blessed Mother, and ask her for her intercession for an increase in respect for women and an increase in a culture of life where women will not turn to abortion but have loving fathers who are willing to be there for the children that are conceived. Mothers are a precious gift, for it is thorugh a mother that she becomes a co-creator with God, knitting a child in her womb and carrying her child for nine months, so that with each child born, our world is changed.
Let also pray for all mothers, both living and deceased on this Mother's Day.
God's original plan for motherhood was not to be this way. A mother is to be united with her husband the two shall become one flesh. Fathers are called to be a support for their wives, who are the mothers of their children. And mothers are, in the words of Pope John Paul II, the heart of the home.
The dignity and respect that we owe all women is immeasurable, especially in light of salvation history, when God, in the fullness of time, sent his Son, born of a woman. With Mary as the model for all mothers, we can see that society has fallen a long way away from the dignity of womankind.
During this month of May, let us turn to the Blessed Mother, and ask her for her intercession for an increase in respect for women and an increase in a culture of life where women will not turn to abortion but have loving fathers who are willing to be there for the children that are conceived. Mothers are a precious gift, for it is thorugh a mother that she becomes a co-creator with God, knitting a child in her womb and carrying her child for nine months, so that with each child born, our world is changed.
Let also pray for all mothers, both living and deceased on this Mother's Day.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
St Peter Chanel/St Louis de Montfort
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.
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 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.
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