Archive for November, 2007
Entry for Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Tuesday, November 27th, 2007
Praised be Jesus Christ, now and forever!
In the daily Mass celebration, I’ve been using some of Romano Guardini’s book, “Preparing yourself for Mass.” It’s a very helpful book. Today at Mass I preached on his second meditation, “Silence and the Word.”
Among his many observations, I particularly liked his point that truth is first found in silence. And in silence the truth is treasured, and then it’s able to be spoken by the person. Silence helps us to appreciate truth and the power of words.
I always enjoy the week before Advent, and the Advent season itself. It’s become a forgotten season, but it’s power-packed with opportunity and lessons. I’ll write more about that in future blog entries.
Please pray for our capacity and practice of silence, and for a greater appreciation of truth.
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Entry for Thursday, November 22, 2007
Thursday, November 22nd, 2007
Happy Thanksgiving! May you and your loved ones have a blessed and enjoyable celebration.
The United States is one of the few countries in the world that actually has a national holiday in which stops and gives public honor and thanks to God. Regardless of attempts to remove God from the holiday, there is a part of our human nature that seeks to give thanks. No one can remove that from the human person.
So, give thanks to God for all the wonderful blessings and graces you and your loved ones have received this year!
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Entry for Monday, November 19, 2007
Monday, November 19th, 2007
Praised be Jesus Christ!
Today I started making rounds with the local Legion of Mary group. A member or couple from the group visit the local hospital every day. I’ll be accompanying them every Monday. The groups are planning to rotate, so that I have the opportunity to work with each member and couple.
My priestly ministry to date (almost four months) has mainly been work with the sick and dying. It’s a powerful ministry that forces the minister to rely on God and trust in the sacraments.
I was reminded today, as I am whenever I am with the sick, that these brothers and sisters – those who suffer – are the treasures of the Church. They are one of our greatest gifts from God. I sometimes wonder, in our society, does the Christian believer know this and live by this truth?
Our society seems dead-set on denying suffering and ignoring its reality. The sick member of our society seems, at times, to become almost an outcast. As Christians, do we succumb to this temptation? Or do we stand up and proclaim what our faith teaches us: that every human person merits respect, and that the one who suffers is a graced member of our society who should be cherished and honored.
Please pray for the sick and dying. And pray for our society, that it might recognize all the treasures in its midst.
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Entry for Friday, November 16, 2007
Friday, November 16th, 2007
Blessed be God in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar!
Here at St. Mary, Help of Christians, we’re blessed to have Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. This means that any person, at any hour of the day or night, can come and adore Jesus Christ. They can come and make intercession, or offer prayers of praise and thanksgiving.
Perpetual Adoration reminds us all of the awesome truth that the Lord Jesus Christ, truly present in the Eucharist, is the summit and source of everything.
Everything that we do, and everything that we complete, relies and depends on him. It should be focused on him, and have his pleasure as its end. Only Jesus!
It would be interesting to end every meeting, and ask every apostolate in the Church: How is the Eucharist the summit and source of this work?
The proper understanding of the Eucharist can only deepen and enhance the work of the Church in its many avenues and elements. When we lose this Eucharistic outlook, we run the risk of becoming merely office workers or social workers or educators. We could end up spending all our time talking “about” Jesus (if we even do that much), and spend no time talking “to” Jesus. As disciples of the Lord Jesus, engaged in his work in the world, we should strive to have and maintain an Eucharistic outlook and focus.
Imagine saving the world, and losing our own souls. Please pray that all the disciples of Christ may deepen in their Eucharistic piety and devotion.
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Entry for Thursday, November 15, 2007
Thursday, November 15th, 2007
Blessed be God in His angels and in His saints!
November is the month when Catholics traditionally remember and make intercession for their beloved dead. In the parish, when we have ferial days (times when there are no feast days of saints, etc), I’ve been celebrating a Votive Mass for the Poor Souls. It one option offered to the priest, and I’ve been making use of it a lot. I make sure to explain it to the people, and they seem to appreciate it.
The whole observance, stemming from All Souls, November 2, raises a pretty important question: why pray for the dead?
Someone without faith could argue that it serves no purpose, and someone with faith could say that prayers are no longer helpful because the person is either in heaven or hell. Why pray for them?
I have a very long argument to submit to the person without faith, but I’m going to save that for another time. Instead, I’d like to address the Christian believer who argues against the pious practice of praying for the dead.
Besides the extensive direct and indirect mention of prayers for the dead in the Old Testament, we also have the historical testimony that Jesus himself, as a devout Jew, would have prayed for the dead. If he had refused or not observed the custom, it would have raised a heated debate. No such debate exists in the Scriptures.
Christian belief, following Jewish custom and confirmed by Jesus’ teachings on the afterlife, holds that the deceased person can be assisted by the prayers of the believers on earth. In particular, the person who – by the Blood of Christ – is being “purged” or “purified” of their venial sins or temporal punishment after death, can benefit and receive consolation from prayers and sacrifices offered on their behalf.
Because heaven is the dwelling place of the All-Holy God, no sin or defilement could withstand itself in his presence. For the soul that needs further purification after death, the existence of purgatory is that “cleaning up.” It is a further act of divine mercy, and our prayers on earth can be added to the Lord’s work of purifying these souls.
It can be compared to the shower we’re asked to take before diving into a swimming pool, or the washing of fruit before it can be eaten.
In addition to this month’s votive Masses for the dead, I was honored last night to celebrate the annual Memorial Mass of the local Knights of Columbus. The Knights observe the noble custom of annually praying as a group for the members of the various councils who have died.
As Catholics, we should not simply remember and honor our dead, but we are also called and able – by our common baptism in the Lord – to pray and offer intercession for them. It’s an act of mercy and charity on our part, and a reception of consolation and help on theirs.
Let us pray for the poor souls in purgatory, especially those who have no one to pray for them.
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Entry for November 13, 2007
Tuesday, November 13th, 2007
Praised be Jesus Christ!
Yesterday, I was reminded that I never know where the priesthood will take me. The parish was visited by Dr. Stefano Mocio, the Mayer of Orvieto, Italy. While I was in the seminary, I would often visit Orvieto (which is about an hour from Rome) with friends for weekend breaks. I have many fond memories of the city, and of the intense Eucharistic devotion of the city. It was in Orvieto that the Corpus Christi procession began, and where St. Thomas Aquinas wrote the prayers for the Corpus Christi Mass, including the famous “Tantum Ergo.”
It was a pleasant visit, and was certainly filled with many memories and stories.
This afternoon we had our priestly Deanery meeting. It’s rare to have over twenty priests in one room. It was good to see them all, and spend some time together.
Maybe we can combine these two experiences, and ask that prayers be offered that the Eucharistic devotion of priests might always be strong and zealous.
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Entry for Sunday, November 11, 2007
Sunday, November 11th, 2007
Blessed be the Holy Name of Jesus!
This was a beautiful and busy Sunday, and I loved it all! In the midst of the hustle an bustle, I know and feel God deepening my priestly vocation. I just hope to always stay docile to Him. Come, Holy Spirit!
Recently, on the “Attempts at Writing” page on my website, an article on the New Atheist movement was posted. Anyone who is interested might enjoy the column.
Please pray for priests.
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Entry for Saturday, November 10, 2007
Saturday, November 10th, 2007
Blessed be God’s Holy Name!
This morning I participated in the “Friends in Faith” ecumenical dialogue at First Presbyterian here in Aiken, SC. It was the first time I’ve ever spoken at an ecumenical gathering. I’ve attended a few, but have never been a speaker.
The subject of the dialogue was how each Christian body resolves a moral question. There was only myself from the Catholic Church, and a pastor from the Evangelical Lutheran Church who were speakers. There were various ministers from other traditions in the audience, but only myself and the Lutheran pastor spoke. It was a bit stressful, but everything seemed to go well.
I particularly enjoyed the question-and-answer session after the set speaking time. Several members of the audience asked very insightful questions. It was a good experience overall.
I think it’s always important to stress what the ultimate goal of ecumenical dialogue is (even if not the explicitly mentioned goal): to respond generously to God’s self-revelation. To seek conversion to the Lord as he has revealed himself, in his full and loving disclosure. To desire his grace, and work to respond to his love. The spiritual element cannot be forgotten without consequences. The Lord waits for a free and loving assent to himself and his benevolent will.
Ecumenism isn’t about being “nice,” or “tolerant,” or “pluralistic.” These might be a part of it, but principally it’s about seeking to understand and know the true God, and accept him. It’s about conversion to the Lord.
Please pray for all authentic ecumenical endeavors. Pray that the Lord of revelation might be taught, shared, and embraced by all.
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Entry for November 9, 2007
Friday, November 9th, 2007
Praised be Jesus Christ!
Last night, I joined a few of the men of the parish in a weekly open gym night of basketball. I’m not the best player (nor even a mediocre one), but I enjoyed the exercise and fellowship.
The evening of basketball reminded me of the Apostolic Exhortation “Christifidelis Laici,” translated as, “On the Vocation and the Mission of the Lay Faithful in the Church and in the World.” In the exhortation, Pope John Paul II responds to the concern of many Bishops that the emphasis on the role and activity of women in recent teachings has hurt the response of men to the apostolate and Christian service. John Paul wrote: “In reality, various sectors in the Church must lament the absence or the scarcity of the presence of men, some of whom abdicate their proper Church responsibilities, allowing them to be fulfilled only by women… Therefore, the coordinated presence of both men and women is to be pastorally urged so that the participation of the lay faithful in the salvific mission of the Church might be rendered more rich, complete, and harmonious” (#52).
It’s important for a parish to provide ministerial and recreational programs for the men of the parish, as well as for women. An emphasis on one, shouldn’t hurt the other. And vice versa.
My body is still feeling last night’s game. I didn’t realize how out of shape I am. Come, Lord Jesus. Please say a prayer for the men of St. Mary’s parish.
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Entry for November 7, 2007
Wednesday, November 7th, 2007
Praised be Jesus Christ!
Every Wednesday morning at the parish, the parochial school has its weekly Mass. I was blessed to celebrate that Mass this morning.
It’s always a little difficult to adjust the homily to reach young people, and especially so vast a range as first to eighth grade. So, I put the Holy Spirit to work. He seems to like when we do that.
I have been convinced for years, and I only deepen in my conviction that Catholic schools are one of the Church’s greatest hopes. It’s one of the few places left where young people can be imbued with a Catholic culture and way of thinking. It’s a place where the Catholic worldview can be presented and seen in its lived expression.
I believe that the Catholic school system is playing, and will only play a greater role, in the New Evangelization.
Please pray for the young people in the Catholic school system, as well as their teachers and mentors.
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