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!!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Annunciation
Now is the time we need to pray! Let's ask the Blessed Mother to intercede for us as we offer roasries for the life of the unborn.
The Annunciation is a most wonderful feast day. Tne joy that comes to you when you hear for the first time that you are going to have a child. There is, of course, a moment of terror; especially if the child is your first. How are you going to raise the child? What are your dreams and hopes for your child? Are you ready to be a parent? Yet, the news of conceiving is joyous, and it was joyous as well for not only Mary, but for all of heaven, as they waited for her answer, her "yes." Ask the Blessed Mother to pray for you as well as you begin or as you continue your life as a father or as a mother. And pray for your children every day.
The Annunciation is a most wonderful feast day. Tne joy that comes to you when you hear for the first time that you are going to have a child. There is, of course, a moment of terror; especially if the child is your first. How are you going to raise the child? What are your dreams and hopes for your child? Are you ready to be a parent? Yet, the news of conceiving is joyous, and it was joyous as well for not only Mary, but for all of heaven, as they waited for her answer, her "yes." Ask the Blessed Mother to pray for you as well as you begin or as you continue your life as a father or as a mother. And pray for your children every day.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Eight is Enough
Just watched the opening theme song from Eight is Enough on youtube. That was such a great show. I always identified with the show because I was also one of eight children. It was a great family drama/comedy that really highlighted relationships especially between brothers and sisters. They don't make shows like this any more.
As Holy Week approaches, it is a good time for us to reflect on the role family has in our own lives. Families are the domestic church, and it is here that we first hear about God, about Jesus Christ, and about sacrifice. At least, ideally, this is where we first hear about these things.
Sacrifice is very important in a family. We are born and immediately become selfish. We cry when we are hungry, when we are tired, when we need to be changed and when we just want to be held. As we go through the early years, we are still self-centered and want things to be our way. But our parents are responsible for teaching us that as a member of a family, you have certain chores and responsibilities that you are given. It is also through their love for you that they teach you discipline so that you can see that other people and other people's feelings, do matter. Sacrifice is when you realize that you are not to always get things your own way but that you are willing to take a back seat and allow someone else to have their way.
When sacrificing entails fasting and almsgiving as well, you learn to think of others while at the same time you deprive yourself of a good. It is here, when done with the right intention, that you grow in relationship with our loving God as well as learning to love others in our lives. And this is the message of the Gospel: Love God with your whole, heart, mind, soul and body and to love your neighbor as yourself.
As Holy Week approaches, it is a good time for us to reflect on the role family has in our own lives. Families are the domestic church, and it is here that we first hear about God, about Jesus Christ, and about sacrifice. At least, ideally, this is where we first hear about these things.
Sacrifice is very important in a family. We are born and immediately become selfish. We cry when we are hungry, when we are tired, when we need to be changed and when we just want to be held. As we go through the early years, we are still self-centered and want things to be our way. But our parents are responsible for teaching us that as a member of a family, you have certain chores and responsibilities that you are given. It is also through their love for you that they teach you discipline so that you can see that other people and other people's feelings, do matter. Sacrifice is when you realize that you are not to always get things your own way but that you are willing to take a back seat and allow someone else to have their way.
When sacrificing entails fasting and almsgiving as well, you learn to think of others while at the same time you deprive yourself of a good. It is here, when done with the right intention, that you grow in relationship with our loving God as well as learning to love others in our lives. And this is the message of the Gospel: Love God with your whole, heart, mind, soul and body and to love your neighbor as yourself.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Are we there yet?
It seems spring is finally around the corner, and with spring comes a fresh outlook. The warmer weather brings sunnier dispositions. As we continue our journey through Lent, there are many things we can work on in our spiritual life. Lent is a time for prayer, fasting and almsgiving. It is a time for you to spiritually renew your relationship with God and with your neighbor, and if you are married, your spouse. Ask yourself, is God first in your life? And if not, why not? When God comes first, it is not at the expense of your spouse, for your spouse will receive many benefits if they see that you are in relationship with our Creator. He has brought you and your spouse together, and he is the one who keeps you together, if you ask him to be a part of the marriage.
Last week, we ran an episode on theology of the body. This is a very important teaching from Pope John Paul II, concerning how we relate to each other, within marriage as well as outside of marriage. How do you view your body? And how you view your own body will in many cases determine how you view the body of members of the opposite sex, especially your spouse's.
We will never change the culture of death until we begin to change ourselves and transform our own marriages into a culture of life. Culture has taken away from you your self-worth because culture has decided that it knows the difference between good and evil, and it is opposite what our Catholic Church teaches. Know what our faith teaches, study it, pray about it, and then live it. It is the only true path to true freedom.
Last week, we ran an episode on theology of the body. This is a very important teaching from Pope John Paul II, concerning how we relate to each other, within marriage as well as outside of marriage. How do you view your body? And how you view your own body will in many cases determine how you view the body of members of the opposite sex, especially your spouse's.
We will never change the culture of death until we begin to change ourselves and transform our own marriages into a culture of life. Culture has taken away from you your self-worth because culture has decided that it knows the difference between good and evil, and it is opposite what our Catholic Church teaches. Know what our faith teaches, study it, pray about it, and then live it. It is the only true path to true freedom.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Labels
We have a tendency to hide behind labels. It is a normal security measure, for if you are able to label someone, you don't have to worry about meeting them where they are. You can be secure in feeling superior because you think differently than they do.
The use of labels will also affect our friendships as well. But, the highest form of friendship, that between a husband and a wife, will be affected by labels and by a difference in opinion in how to raise children. It could be something as simple as the kind of music and movies you allow your children to listen to and watch, or it can get more difficult in regards to books, especially books like Harry Potter. If you and your spouse are not on the same page, your children will sense it. How many times does a child play one parent off of another, without their even knowing it?
But it is a result of the lack of communication between a husband and a wife. It's not a critique or a condemnation. It's just an observation that is played out in many instances and is easily witnessed.
Love one another as I have loved you, says our Lord Jesus Christ.
The use of labels will also affect our friendships as well. But, the highest form of friendship, that between a husband and a wife, will be affected by labels and by a difference in opinion in how to raise children. It could be something as simple as the kind of music and movies you allow your children to listen to and watch, or it can get more difficult in regards to books, especially books like Harry Potter. If you and your spouse are not on the same page, your children will sense it. How many times does a child play one parent off of another, without their even knowing it?
But it is a result of the lack of communication between a husband and a wife. It's not a critique or a condemnation. It's just an observation that is played out in many instances and is easily witnessed.
Love one another as I have loved you, says our Lord Jesus Christ.
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