From the Pulpit of My Life

Remembering the Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster

2012-01-28T21:27:00.000-08:00

I almost forgot that today is the 26th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. May those who perished rest in peace.

On the day of the Challenger disaster, my husband Jim and I sat in the hospital waiting room of Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago. There, our six-year-old daughter Catherine was having a cardiac catheterization elsewhere on the floor in preparation for an impending major surgery. To divert ourselves a bit we watched the news program which was showing the space shuttle launch. Things like that were still exciting for me then. We were horrified to watch the explosion in real time. I can still feel now the sorrow I felt then for the loss of lives.

New Year Resolution #6: Good-bye Facebook!

2012-01-21T23:27:00.000-08:00

The sixth New Year Resolution on my list is to abstain from Facebook for all of 2012. So I deactivated my account. Facebook had become a major distraction for me.

What motivated me to make the break once and for all was, ironically, a link to an essay that my niece Martha posted on Facebook, "The Facebook Eye." The gist of the article is that we who use social media have reconfigured our consciousness. Everything we do, say, or see is fodder for a photo, a check-in, an update, a link, or a note.

"Facebook fixates the present as always a future past." I had to read that statement a few times to really understand it, but then it was as if seeing my reflection in a mirror. I didn't like what I saw and decided to make the break so I could change.

I felt relieved and free just by the very act of deactivating my Facebook account. So far I have no regrets.

My other New Year Resolutions for 2012

1. Begin each day with cheerful actions and hopeful thoughts.

2. Finish writing my Christmas cards by Epiphany.

3. Begin a regimen that includes losing weight through diet and exercise.

4. Develop bi-browser skills.

5. Read certain books

New Year Resolutions and Pruning

2012-01-14T19:33:00.000-08:00

It is mid-January. Where I live in Northern California we have had a mild winter so far. My husband Jim thought it would be a good day to prune back some trees. He has been at it for hours.

My version of pruning is self-improvement, which is how I view the cultural and religious practices of making New Year and Lenten resolutions I have given myself until the end of the month to complete my list of New Year resolutions. So, I'm on track.

My resolutions revolve around my personal habits and goals, my relationshipswith others and with God. I don’t make many.

It seems common for people to resolve to live a healthier lifestyle by eating sensibly, perhaps to lose weight, and to exercise regularly. My husband and I have begun a regimen that includes losing weight through diet and exercise. This is #3 on my resolution list. We are near the end of our first week, and both of us have lost about 5 pounds. We expect reach our weight loss goals by Easter, but at a slower rate.

When I’mdealing with sinful habits, it’s no joke, I strive to keep the resolution. With this type of resolution I attempt to prune away my faults. These may be behaviors that impede my relationships or my mental or emotional health. The #1 resolution on my list is to begin each day with cheerful actions and hopeful thoughts. By phrasing it positively, rather than negatively, I point myself in the direction of developing virtuous habits to replace or at least minimize my faults and/or sins. I'll elaborate on this.

I am very introverted and serious. It's easy for me to live inside my head and forget about what is going on around me. These tendencies of mine can be perceived as unfriendly and even snobbish. It is an effort for me to be cheerful and friendly. I do, however, care about others and I want them to know this. So I intend to notice others, acknowledge them with a friendly smile or a kind word. These are simple gestures that I have found effective in communicating to others that I value or respect them, and that I'm open to knowing them better.

Although I have a great sense of humor and laugh often, my thoughts lean towards serious. I notice what's grim or sad or bad about the world in which I live. And those things weigh heavily on my mind. So it is good for me to remember often that there is hope and that hope will triumph. My dad used to repeat often, "As you ramble on through life, whatever be your goal, keep your eye upon the doughnut, not upon the hole." There is also the simple traditional prayer:

An Act of Hope
Oh, my God, relying on your almighty power and infinite mercy and promises, I hope to obtain pardon of my sins, the help of your grace and life everlasting. Amen.

There are other resolutions that don’t require quite the same level ofcommitment. One example is resolution #5 to read certain books this year. I maynot get to all of them, but I will finish some of them. I have begun reading Fully Human, Fully Divine: an Interactive Christology by Michael Casey, a Cistercian monk. I have read two other books of his so I feel confident this one will be equally inspiring.

I have set aside a stack of eight additional books that I hope to read by year's end. Four are books I started, but didn't finish. I don't like to leave things unfinished. Three others are short stories or collections of essays: In Defense of Sanity: The Best Essays by G.K. Chesterton edited by Dale Alquist, Essential Writings by Caryll Houselander, and El Llano en Llamas by Juan Rulfo, the latter in Spanish. The eighth book is Everything Is Grace: The Life and Way of Thérèse of Lisieux by Joseph F. Schmidt, FSC.

A rather frivolous resolution is #4 to develop bi-browser skills. I already use Firefox reasonably well, but I want to attain some level of skill using the Safari browser which has a few features I like.

Yes, I know I've left out my #2 resolution, to finish writing my Christmas cards by Epiphany. Done!

Kathleen Basi has written more on this topic at her blog. I encourage you to read what she has to say about New Year resolutions getting a bad rap here. Also, Kathleen is a gifted writer. Because of that fact alone, I find it a joy to read her essays.

Have you made any New Year resolutions? I welcome your comments.

A Winter Walk (?)

2012-01-10T12:21:00.000-08:00

Source: BirdwatchingJournal.com

The sunshine beckoned. It informed me that this was the moment for a springtime-like walk. So I disengaged myself from my work and headed outdoors.

Indeed, the weather here seems much more like spring than winter. The sky is clear and the sun shines brightly. Scores of robins are chirping and flying about. There cheerfulness accompanied me as I walked and soaked up some vitamin D the natural way.

Upon completing my walk I checked my pedometer. I had clocked 3500 steps, and I felt good about it. I have all afternoon and evening left to strive for my goal of 6000.

Now I return to my activity. I am the director of a Lay Carmelite Community of 14 members, and today I'm planning for our next community meeting.

Reflection on Baptism

2012-01-10T10:24:00.000-08:00

This is my first post of the New Year. It is an excerpt from a 2006 homily about the meaning of the sacrament of Baptism given by Pope Benedict XVI. As the year begins, it is good to think of the beginning of our lives in Christ.

If you are like me, you were an infant when you were baptized, so you don't remember the event. Consequently, also like me, you may take it for granted. Yet, it was a momentous event. It was the start of our spiritual journeys. It was the time when we were incorporated into God's family and began to enjoy the companionship of his friends who have helped us through the ups and downs of our earthly life, and who will be our companions forever. It was the beginning of our communion with Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, a companion and a brother who loves us beyond anything we can imagine.

“What happens in Baptism? What do we hope for fromBaptism? You have given a response on the threshold of this Chapel: We hope foreternal life for our children. This is the purpose of Baptism. But how can itbe obtained? How can Baptism offer eternal life? What is eternal life?

In simpler words, we might say: we hope for a good life, the true life, forthese children of ours; and also for happiness in a future that is stillunknown. We are unable to guarantee this gift for the entire span of theunknown future, so we turn to the Lord to obtain this gift from him.

We can give two replies to the question, "How will this happen?".This is the first one: through Baptism each child is inserted into a gatheringof friends who never abandon him in life or in death because these companionsare God's family, which in itself bears the promise of eternity.

This group of friends, this family of God, into which the child is nowadmitted, will always accompany him, even on days of suffering and in life'sdark nights; it will give him consolation, comfort and light.

This companionship, this family, will give him words of eternal life, words oflight in response to the great challenges of life, and will point out to himthe right path to take. This group will also offer the child consolation andcomfort, and God's love when death is at hand, in the dark valley of death. Itwill give him friendship, it will give him life. And these totally trustworthycompanions will never disappear.

No one of us knows what will happen on our planet, on our European Continent,in the next 50, 60 or 70 years. But we can be sure of one thing: God's familywill always be present and those who belong to this family will never be alone.They will always be able to fall back on the steadfast friendship of the Onewho is life.

And, thus, we have arrived at the second answer. This family of God, thisgathering of friends is eternal, because it is communion with the One whoconquered death and holds in his hand the keys of life. Belonging to thiscircle, to God's family, means being in communion with Christ, who is life andgives eternal love beyond death.

And if we can say that love and truth are sources of life, are life itself --and a life without love is not life -- we can say that this companionship withthe One who is truly life, with the One who is the Sacrament of life, willrespond to your expectation, to your hope....”

--Pope Benedict XVI
Homilyon the Baptism of the Lord
Sistine Chapel
8 Janaury 2006

I found this excerpt at Rocco Palma's blog, one of my favorites, here. If you are unfamilar with Whispers in the Loggia, I recommend that you get acquainted with it. He is an excellent journalist and well respected.

Joy to the World!

2011-12-25T15:42:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas! ¡Feliz Navidad!

O Antiphons: Ero Cras = Tomorrow I Will Come

2011-12-24T05:32:00.000-08:00

Emmanuel

Rex

Oriens

Clavis

Radix

Adonai

Sapientia

E R O C R A S

T O M O R R O W I W I L L C O M E.

O Antiphons: O Emmanuel! Lord our God!

2011-12-23T04:14:00.000-08:00

O Emmanuel,

king and lawgiver,

desire of all nations,

Savior of all people,

come and set us free, Lord our God.

O Antiphons: O Rex Gentium! O King of all the Nations!

2011-12-22T05:08:00.000-08:00

O Rex Gentium!

O King of all the Nations, the only joy of every human heart;

O Keystone of the mighty arch of man,

come and save the creature you fashioned from the dust.

O Antiphons: O Oriens! O Radiant Dawn!

2011-12-21T05:26:00.000-08:00

O Oriens!

O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice:

come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

O Antiphons: O Clavis David! O Key of David!

2011-12-20T04:55:00.000-08:00

O Clavis David!

O Key of David, O royal Power of Israel

controlling at your will the gate of Heaven:

Come, break down the prison walls of death

for those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death;

and lead your captive people into freedom.

O Antiphons: O Radix Jesse! O Flower of Jesse's Stem!

2011-12-19T01:35:00.000-08:00

O Radix Jesse!

O Flower of Jesse's stem,

you have been raised up as a sign for all peoples;

kings stand silent in your presence;

the nations bow down in worship before you.

Come, let nothing keep you from coming to our aid.

THE STORY OF THE JESSE TREE Jesse was the father of the great King David of the Old Testament. He is often looked upon as the first person in the genealogy of Jesus.

In Church art a design developed showing the relationship of Jesus with Jesse and other biblical personages. This design showed a branched tree growing from a reclining figure of Jesse. The various branches had pictures of other Old and New Testament figures who were ancestors of Jesus. At the top of the tree were figures of Mary and Jesus. This design was used mostly in stained glass windows in some of the great medieval cathedrals of Europe. The Cathedral of Chartres (which was dedicated in 1260) has a particularly beautiful Jesse Tree window.

Learn more about the Jesse tree here.

O Antiphons: O Adonai! O Sacred Lord!

2011-12-18T05:30:00.000-08:00

O Adonai!

O sacred Lord of ancient Israel,

who showed yourself to Moses in the burning bush,

who gave him the holy law on Sinai mountain:

come, stretch out your mighty hand to set us free.

O Antiphons: O Sapientia! O Wisdom!

2011-12-17T21:43:00.000-08:00

O Sapientia!
O Wisdom, O holy Word of God,

you govern all creation

with your strong yet tender care.

Come and show your people the way to salvation.

"Sophia, Divine Wisdom" by Mary Plaster 2003

Come, Lord Jesus, Come! Advent 2012

2011-11-28T07:24:00.000-08:00

The 2012 Liturgical season began at sundown on Saturday. It is a year of grace, a way of sanctifying each and every day and every moment within that day. Advent, the period of four weeks preceding the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas), is the first season in this holy year.

Perhaps I am off to a slightly late start in posting something about Advent. Today is second day of this holy season.

My liturgical calendar has this to say about the meaning and purpose of Advent:

The Church reads and sings about God's promises. We tell stories of many holy people: Mary and John the Baptist, Nicholas and Lucy. We strive for the time when God's love will be seen in all of us, when peace will come through people's acts of justice and love for each other. But, primarily we wait. We wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ, when all will be one, and the kingdom of God will flourish. This Son of God already came to us, born in the city of David. This is what we celebrate at the Nativity of the Lord, and in Advent, we ready ourselves and our hearts for this birth. But, we also wait for his coming again. We wait for his light to completely extinguish our darkness. (Source: Year of Grace 2012, Liturgical Training Publications.)

There are many resources available to help us prepare well. First, I recommend immersing oneself in the liturgical events of daily and Sunday Mass. Beyond that basic resource there are many devotions that help keep ones focus on the Lord and His coming.

I use an Advent wreath in my home. This website explains this tradition: The History of the Advent Wreath.

I also recommend the resources at this link: Christmas / Advent 2011 - Catholic Online

Loyola Press has Advent resources here:

Finding One's Way through The Catechism

2011-11-15T15:39:00.000-08:00

If one has never used the Catechism of the Catholic Church, (CCC), it can be intimidating. Julie D. who writes The Happy Catholic blog has posted the text of a talk she gave to an RCIA class. These adults are being initiated into the Catholic faith, so naturally, they might be unfamiliar with the CCC. Here is an excerpt:

I am not an expert on the Catechism, but I do know how to use it.

The Catechism can be a bit tricky to find your way around so I wanted to take just a couple of minutes to familiarize everyone with it.

Let’s start with what the word catechism means. A catechism is a summary of principles.

So, the Catholic Catechism is specifically designed as a reference guide. Some people call it the Catholic “rule book.” It is much more than that though.

“In the Catechism, we see the wealth of teaching that the Church has
received, safeguarded and proposed in her two thousand years of history. From Sacred Scripture to the Fathers of the Church, from theological masters to the saints across the centuries, the Catechism provides a permanent record of the many ways in which the Church has meditated on the faith and made progress in doctrine so as to offer certitude to believers in their lives of faith."

That is what Pope Benedict says about the Catechism ... and he should know.

You can read the rest here.

Saturday Evening Blog Post

2011-11-05T08:26:00.000-07:00

Every month Elizabeth Esther hosts Saturday Evening Blog Post for bloggers who want to share their favorite post from the previous month. I look forward to this monthly event because I get to "meet" other bloggers through reading what they post.

I have not been posting very much lately. But I did contribute my October 1st post about Saint Therese of Lisieux.

If you are reading this, I encourage you to go to Elizabeth's site and read what others have to say.

All Saints Day: A Great Cloud of Witnesses

2011-11-01T00:45:00.000-07:00

Mary, Queen of All Saints,

Pray for Us!

As a Catholic Christian, I believe in the immortality of the human soul. I also believe in the Communion of Saints and that I am in touch with and can communicate with the deceased and faithful disciples of Christ in and through this holy communion. We Catholics celebrate this relationship today.

The saints include, not only the official canonized saints, but also parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, children, friends, and neighbors. This is one of my favorite liturgical celebrations. It's a time that I sense that I am close to those people who have been near and dear to me, but "have gone before [me] marked with the sign of faith: "those who have shaped my thinking and character; those who have befriended me; those who have loved me and whom I have loved.

I have a great sense of hope thinking of the saints praying for me. I especially think of Mary, Queen of All Saints. She prays for all of us "now and at the hour of our death." With such an intercessor before God it seems unthinkable that dying will be dreadful. On the contrary, with Mary at my side, it will be, I imagine, a moment of peace.

Link to image source

Annotated Bibligraphy of the Saints

2011-11-01T00:30:00.000-07:00

I have been posting this every year on All Saints Day. Fr. James Martin has a new book out on the saints, so I have added it to the list.

Introduction

I compiled the following list of books about saints two years ago when I gave a workshop for religious educators for the Diocese of Sacramento called "Saints Alive!". The list has an intermingling of books that are for adults as well as those for children. They are listed alphabetically by authors and include a very brief summary of the book. I also included websites for information about saints.

This bibliography is a list of some fine books about the saints. Only those with which I am personally familiar have been listed. It is certainly not exhaustive, and I recommend that you do your own research and find books and other resources that appeal to you.

Saints Alive Annotated Bibliography

Amadeo, Diana M. Holy Friends: Thirty Saints and Blesseds of the Americas. Boston: Pauline Books & Media, 2005. [suitable for children to read]

Each entry consists of an attractive one-page illustration showing the saint in action. The biographical sketch of two to three pages gives the saint’s country of origin, the highlights of the saint’s life, and ends with information about the date of canonization or beatification, the date of the saint’s feast day, and a short intercessory prayer to that saint.

Bentley, James. A Calendar of Saints: the Lives of the Principal Saints of the Christian Year. U.K.: Little, Brown and Company, 1997.

This book contains brief biographical entries for every day of the year. These saints are from different periods of history and every walk of life. It has lavish illustrations, many in full color.

Burns, Paul. Butler’s Lives of the Saints: Supplement of New Saints and Blesseds,Volume 1. Collegeville, Minnesota: Liturgical Press, 2005.

This volume covers all those canonized or beatified since late 1999 to the end of 2003. Some are generally well known, like Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Padre Pio, and Pope John XXIII. Others are obscure and know only in a particular locale or by their religious congregation.

Craughwell, Thomas J. Catholic Cardlinks: Patron Saints. Huntington, IN: Our Sunday Visitor, Inc., 2004 [suitable for children to read]

This is a series of cards, linked together with a screw, that profile 48 saints, some famous, others more obscure, who Catholics have called upon when they were in need; for example, struggling in school or not sleeping well because of nightmares. There are saints for boys and girls (and adults) who like to draw, write, play sports, saints for anyone who likes dogs, cats, birds even whales!

Elie, Paul, ed. Contemporary Writers on the Saints. New York: Harcourt, Brace & Company, 1994.

This book is a compilation of a series of essays about particular saints, like St. Joseph, St. Perpetua, St. Jean de Brebeuf and more, written by such contemporary writers as Martin E. Marty, Kathleen Norris, and Avery Dulles, S.J., and more.

Ellsberg, Robert. All Saints: Daily Reflections on Saints, Prophets, and Witness for Our Time. New York: The Crossroad Publishing Company, 1997. Study Guide copyright 2004 by Robert Ellsberg.

Excellent compendium of a variety of holy people, not limited to those who are canonized, and including Mahatmas Gandhi, Julian of Norwich, Martin de Porres, and Mary Magdalen, to name a few. It was the winner of the 1998 Christopher Award.

__________. The Saints’ Guide to Happiness. New York: North Point Press, 2003.

In our contemporary culture there are many books that try to answer the question, “What is happiness, and how might we find it?” This book attempts to answer these questions by offering a series of lessons with the saints as our guides. These lessons are about living life, work, love, suffering, and more.

Gallery, Philip D. Can You Find Saints?: Introducing Your Child to Holy Men and Women. Cincinnati, Ohio: St. Anthony Messenger Press, 2003. [suitable forchildren to read]

This is a clever picture book in which children are invited to search for the saints using clues. For each search and picture there is a corresponding parent’s guide in a second part of the book. The authors emphasize the virtues of each saint.

__________. Can You Find Followers of Jesus?: Introducing Your Child to Disciples.
Cincinnati, Ohio: St. Anthony Messenger Press, 2000. [suitable forchildren to read]

This book is similar to the previous one. The focus is on realizing our place in God’s plan of spreading the Gospel message to all people. Mary, the apostles, St. Paul, Lydia, the Gospel writers, St. Patrick and Pope John Paul II and many others are featured.

__________. Can You Find Bible Heroes?: Introducing Your Child to the Old Testa- ment. Cincinnati, Ohio: St. Anthony Messenger Press, 1998. [suitable forchildren to read]

This book is similar to the previous two. The emphasis is on the Jewish culture into which Jesus was immersed. The holy people are the men and women whom Jesus and his friends would have considered heroes. Noah, Joseph, Moses, Orpah, Ruth, David, and Jesus himself are included.

Ghezzi, Bert. Voices of the Saints: A Year of Readings. New York: Image Books/Doubleday, 2000.

This is a unique book because it can be used in a variety of ways. Names are in alphabetical order, but it also has a day-by-day numbering system, notations with each entry that help the reader explore the lives in historical order, an index which highlights interesting themes, and a calendar of saints’ days. Each entry also contains and excerpt of the saint’s writings and/or a prayer by or about the saint.

Glavich, S.N.D., Kathleen. Saints for Children: Stories, Activities, Prayer Services. Mystic, Connecticut: Twenty-third Publications, 1997.

This book features the lives of twelve popular saints. It has an appealing account the saint’s life and good works. The author emphasizes the saints’ virtues and tells how they may practice these virtues in their own lives. The activities and prayer services are suitable for middle graders. There is a brief and simple explanation of the canonization process in the introduction.

Gordon, Anne. A Book of Saints: True Stories of How They Touch Our Lives. New York: Bantam Books, 1994.

This author portrays the humanity of the saints through stories of their everyday lives, and attempts to show that they were just a little different from ordinary people who also act with love and kindness for others.

Martin, S.J., James. Between Heaven and Mirth. New York: Harper One, 2011.

This book emphasizes joy and humor as integral to Christian life. Fr. Martin illustrates these traits in the lives of the saints.

___________. My Life with the Saints. Chicago: Loyola Press, 2006.

James Martin, a Jesuit priest, and an associate editor of America Magazine, has led, like you and I, a thoroughly modern life within the American culture of the United States. In this book he shows how at every step along the way special friends—the saints of the Catholic Church, have accompanied him. He persuasively shows how the saints can be our friends as well. This book has won the 2007 Christopher Award for books for adults and the 2007 Catholic Press Association First Place Award in Spirituality Books.

Rock, Lois. Saintly Tales and Legends. Boston: Pauline Books and Media, 2003.[suitable for children to read]

Beautifully illustrated book of folk tales and legends that inspire the imaginations of children and which explore a world of saints and angels, like St. Nicholas, St. Christopher, St. Germaine, and St. Bakhita.

Self, David. The Loyola Treasury of Saints. Chicago: Loyola Press, 2003. [suitable for children to read]

This book has a collection of engaging saint stories that demonstrate their virtuous lives of faith, courage, and compassion. Selections include saints from the time of Jesus to the present day. Many selections have sidebars with relevant factual information that illuminates our understanding. The artwork is outstanding. There is a section at the end with biographical notes and a calendar of saints.

The Sisters of Notre Dame of Chardon, Ohio. Saints and Feast Days: A Resource and Activities Book. Chicago: Loyola Press, 2004.

This book is a collection of single page biographies of saints that is organized by their feast day dates from September through August. Each biographical sketch is followed by up to five suggested activities and space for catechist notes. There are reproducible blackline masters at the end of the book.

Woodward, Kenneth L. Making Saints: How the Catholic Church Determines Who Becomes a Saint, Who Doesn’t, and Why. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1996.

This book explains in detail the process of canonization, the Church’s method of declaring someone a saint.

Websites

Catholic Forum: www.catholic-forum.com/saints/indexsnt.htm.

Catholic Information Network: Saints, Martyrs and Other Holy Persons www.cin.org/saints.html.

Catholic Online: www.catholic.org/saints/.

Catholic Pages Directory: www.catholic-pages.com/dir/saints.asp.

Catholic Saints, Blesseds, Angels, Incorruptibles: www.theworkofgod.org/Saints.

Roman Catholic Saints by Name: www.americancatholic.org/Features/Saints/byname.asp.

Saints in General:
www.monksofadoration.org/savesite/saintgen.html.

St. Augustine Blog: www.myspace.com.

Feast of St. Therese of Lisieux

2011-10-01T08:28:00.000-07:00

Today is the feast day of the widely beloved saint, Therese of Lisieux. Her religious name was Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face. St. Therese has been popular in Catholic circles for over a century. A great deal is known about her short life from her autobiography, The Story of a Soul. There is also a study edition of this book for those who want to delve deeper in their understanding of St. Therese's spirituality. Beyond autobiographical works are biographies and analyses of the saints life and spirituality. She is one of just three women who are doctors of the Church.

There are numerous photographs of St. Therese, because her sister Celine was an amateur photographer and also a Carmelite nun at the same monastery. I tend to like the photos that show her with a gentle smile, like the one at the upper right. There are also photos of her childhood and adolescence that are very captivating.

Two years ago I wrote about St. Therese here.

The Society of the Little Flower promotes devotion to St. Therese. They have a Facebook page with more links related to St. Therese or to Carmelite spirituality and more.

Frank Weathers has a post about St. Therese on his blog, Why I Am Catholic. He provides an excerpt and a link to The Science of Love by John C.H. Wu.

Here is a brief You Tube summary of St. Thesese's life.

I found the video at the Catholics Online website which has a thorough summary of Therese's life including many links to other sources of information. Reading this webpage would be a good introduction or preparation for reading The Story of a Soul.

Dare to Be a Saint!

2011-09-25T13:34:00.000-07:00

I witnessed a local bishop address some young people who were about to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. He asked, "Who wants to be a saint?" From my vantage point I could see the faces of all who would be confirmed. What I saw and heard were distinct silence, confusion, and embarrassment. No one raised his or her hand to affirm that, "Yes, indeed, I want to be a saint." Are you surprised?

I was not, but at the same time I felt disheartened and wished the scene had been different. I suspect that the bishop was used to similar responses to his question at most of the Confirmation ceremonies at which he presides. Yet, how wonderful it might have been to see the children express a wild enthusiasm to be saints!

When in Germany this past week Pope Benedict XVI challenged the young people to “dare to be glowing saints, in whose eyes and hearts the love of Christ beams and who thus bring light to the world.” What an eloquent and inspiring way to speak to the hearts of young people!

And what about the hearts of you and me who are seasoned Catholics?
arewe bold enough to be saints? Are we on fire with love of Christ? Are we glowing with joy in the Holy Spirit? Is there anything deterring us from daring to be saints?

Our Holy Father said "that saints are those who never give up in the spiritual life despite setbacks. 'Christ is not so much interested in how often in your lives you stumble and fall, as in how often you pick yourselves up again.'”

A holy priest, Fr. Donald Cunningham, who was my pastor years ago, once said, "A saint is a sinner who keeps on trying." It occurred to me then, that I could do that. I can keep on trying.

These are some ways to keep on trying, as suggested by blogger, Fr. John Zuhlsdorf:

Be good to people.
Say your prayers.
Go to confession.
Receive Communion well.
Believe what Holy Church teaches.
Trust in Christ’s promises.
Try to be virtuous.

Pope Benedict dares young people to be saints :: Catholic News Agency (CNA)

The Church, Our Mother and Source of Life

2011-09-16T07:58:00.000-07:00

Here is why leaving the Church is not a good idea. Fr. Barron explains that in spite of the sins and/or shortcomings of its members, "the Church is our mother, the place where we find the fullness of life."

From You Tube via Brent at his blog The Journey: Almost Not Catholic

We Are Catholic! Yes We Are!

2011-09-03T22:06:00.000-07:00

Deacon Greg Kandra posted this on his blog and encouraged those who watched to pass it on. I am very happy to do so. It brought a smile to my face and sure did make me feel proud to belong to the Holy Catholic Church. Enjoy!

Saturday Evening Blog Post

2011-09-03T07:15:00.000-07:00

Although I haven't been blogging this summer, I still wanted to participate in Elizabeth Esther's Saturday Evening Blog Post event. So I chose to post something I wrote in August of 2010: A Gentle Meditation on Belief.

Please check out the many other posts at Elizabeth's blog.

He Died on August 14th

2011-08-14T11:45:00.000-07:00

Several bloggers are paying tribute to Saint Maximilian Kolbe, a Catholic priest who offered his life to save that of another Auschwitz prisoner. This story never fails to bring tears to my eyes. The following You Tube video gives a brief sketch of what happened.

The man whose life was saved by Kolbe's heroic act was Franciscek Gajownicek. Wikipedia has a brief article about him and his subsequent life. Here is a link to that article.

Note: The bloggers where I read about this saint include Deacon Greg Kandra and Russ Rentler, M.D. You may enjoy reading their blogs.

Unitive and Procreative Significance Inherent to Marriage Act

2011-08-13T03:53:00.000-07:00

For my homepage I use myCatholic.com. It contains a variety of Catholic content, including excerpts from the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Today it had the following excerpts about marriage. I thank God that the Church upholds the true meaning of marriage. May it always be steadfast in this teaching.

Life in Christ: Catechism #2366

Fecundity is a gift, an end of marriage, for conjugal love naturally tends to be fruitful. A child does not come from outside as something added on to the mutual love of the spouses, but springs from the very heart of that mutual giving, as its fruit and fulfillment. So the Church, which is "on the side of life" teaches that "it is necessary that each and every marriage act remain ordered per se to the procreation of human life." "This particular doctrine, expounded on numerous occasions by the Magisterium, is based on the inseparable connection, established by God, which man on his own initiative may not break, between the unitive significance and the procreative significance which are both inherent to the marriage act."

Online Article Analyzes the British Riots

2011-08-11T11:15:00.000-07:00

Excerpts from an online British Newspaper article by Max Hastings with the title:

Years of liberal dogma have spawned a generation of amoral, uneducated, welfare dependent, brutalised youngsters

Here are a few excerpts that I gleaned. Read the entire article at the link below.

* The people who wrecked swathes of property, burned vehicles and terrorised communities have no moral compass to make them susceptible to guilt or shame.

* These kids are what they are because nobody makes them be anything different or better.

* A key factor in delinquency is lack of effective sanctions to deter it.

* So who is to blame? The breakdown of families, the pernicious promotion of single motherhood as a desirable state, the decline of domestic life so that even shared meals are a rarity, have all contributed importantly to the condition of the young underclass.

The social engineering industry unites to claim that the conventional template of family life is no longer valid.

* How do you inculcate values in a child whose only role model is footballer Wayne Rooney — a man who is bereft of the most meagre human graces?

How do you persuade children to renounce bad language when they hear little else from stars on the BBC?

* I never enjoyed school, but, like most children until very recent times, did the work because I knew I would be punished if I did not. It would never have occurred to my parents not to uphold my teachers’ authority. This might have been unfair to some pupils, but it was the way schools functioned for centuries, until the advent of crazy ‘pupil rights’.

I recently received a letter from a teacher who worked in a county’s pupil referral unit, describing appalling difficulties in enforcing discipline. Her only weapon, she said, was the right to mark a disciplinary cross against a child’s name for misbehaviour.

Having repeatedly and vainly asked a 15-year-old to stop using obscene language, she said: ‘Fred, if you use language like that again, I’ll give you a cross.’

He replied: ‘Give me an effing cross, then!’ Eventually, she said: ‘Fred, you have three crosses now. You must miss your next break.’

He answered: ‘I’m not missing my break, I’m going for an effing fag!’ When she appealed to her manager, he said: ‘Well, the boy’s got a lot going on at home at the moment. Don’t be too hard on him.’

This is a story repeated daily in schools up and down the land.

* So there we have it: a large, amoral, brutalised sub-culture of young British people who lack education because they have no will to learn, and skills which might make them employable. They are too idle to accept work waitressing or doing domestic labour, which is why almost all such jobs are filled by immigrants.

They have no code of values to dissuade them from behaving anti-socially or, indeed, criminally, and small chance of being punished if they do so.

They have no sense of responsibility for themselves, far less towards others, and look to no future beyond the next meal, sexual encounter or TV football game.

* My dogs are better behaved and subscribe to a higher code of values than the young rioters of Tottenham, Hackney, Clapham and Birmingham.

I fear that the U.S. could wind up like this in another generation or two unless we reverse many current trends.

Are Atheists Passionately Interested in Things of God?

2011-07-31T21:38:00.000-07:00

As promised in my previous post, I will post good links while I am taking a hiatus from blogging. Here is another choice You Tube video from Fr. Robert Barron. I found it on Francis Beckwith's blog, Return to Rome.

In this video Fr. Robert Barron suggests that atheists love listening to religious people. He likens many of them to King Herod, who, even after arresting John the Baptist, enjoyed listening to John's preaching, even when the Baptist was behind bars. I find that an interesting observation, and one that I hope is true of at least some atheists.

Why is this so? Fr. Barron explains it has to do with the infinite desires of the human heart which can be satisfied by God only, and that atheists know this at some level.

Catholic Understanding of the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist

2011-07-14T12:43:00.000-07:00

While I am still on a hiatus from posting, I felt so moved by Fr. Bob Barron's explanation of the Catholic teaching of the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, I want to share it with anyone who stops by for a peek at my blog. Share it with others!

Although I will continue to take a break from blogging, if I find any more gems like this, I will post them for your edification.

Summer Sabbatical

2011-07-07T17:15:00.000-07:00

I've decided to take a summer hiatus from blogging. I want to spend more time reading and working on knitting projects. I feel I need to minimize distractions, like blogging, in order to accomplish those and other goals. This also will give me time to reevaluate my motives for blogging and to consider my focus.
Actually, I think my blog lacks focus and I would like to find one.

Wishing you a peaceful, prayerful summer....

Happy Independence Day!

2011-07-04T08:05:00.000-07:00

Dear God, please bless America,

and mend her every flaw!

Saturday Evening Blog Post

2011-07-02T14:11:00.000-07:00

Every month I post something from the previous month on Elizabeth Esther's blog. It's supposed to be my favorite one from June. I had difficulty decided which is my favorite, but I decided upon this one: "Spiritual but not Religious?"

I suggest you visit Elizabeth's page to read a variety of essays from bloggers who love to write about topics near and dear to their hearts. Some are amusing; others thought-provoking, and at times even controversial. I enjoy reading other blogs.

Intimate Oneness With God

2011-06-29T04:50:00.000-07:00

This You Tube video by Jackie Francois is a truly remarkable catechesis about Catholic teaching on the Eucharist and Holy Communion. Her enthusiastic presentation is mesmerizing. Please enjoy and be renewed in your appreciation for Holy Communion.

H/T Fallible Blogma

Prayer for Aging

2011-06-24T18:20:00.000-07:00

Teach me, God, / to live out my days / focused on / all that is meaningful in life. / As unaccountable aches and pains / multiply, as memory and retention fade, / teach me to relate to my physical existence / with an ever-expanding recognition / of its transient nature; / teach me to relate to my soul / with an ever-expanding awareness / of her eternal nature / and ageless worth. ~ Rabbi Nachman

I found this quotation in an article, "Reflections on Aging Spiritually" by Romeo J. Bonsaint in the summer issue of Spiritual Life. I have been subscribing to this little journal for longer than I can remember. There is always at least one very inspiring article, and often many more than that.

A Night Prayer Hymn

2011-06-23T23:17:00.000-07:00

Crepuscular Rays at Sunset

This evening after a prayerful walk, I prayed "Night Prayer" from Liturgy of the Hours as I sat on the deck outside. The sun was setting. Shadows were falling over everything. The local critters were still chattering, but their noises were quieting down.

I began the prayer with this hymn. The lyrics captured perfectly my mood.

Now at the daylight's ending

We turn, O God, to you:

Send forth your Holy Spirit,

Our spirit now renew.

To you in adoration,

In thankfulness and praise,

In faith and hope and gladness,

our loving hearts we raise.

The gift you gave at daylight

This night you take away,

To leave within our keeping

The blessings of this day.

Take all its joy and sorrow,

Take all that love can give,

But all that needs forgiveness,

Dear Father, now forgive.

With watchful eyes, O Shepherd,

Look down upon your sheep;

Stretch forth your hands in healing

And close our eyes in sleep.

Come down, O Holy Spirit,

To be our loving Guest;

Be near us, holy angels,

And guard us as we rest.

We praise you, heav'nly Father:

From you all light descends;

You give us heaven's glory

When life's brief daylight ends.

We praise you, Jesus, Savior,

The light of heav'n above;

We praise you, Holy Spirit,

The living flame of love.

The lyrics were written by James Quinn, S.J.

Spiritual but not Religious?

2011-06-14T12:42:00.000-07:00

I first heard the statement, "I am spiritual but not religious," about a decade ago. It was spoken by the woman from whom I rented a room when I was in graduate school studying theology. Susan was a former Catholic, but when I knew her, practiced nothing in the formal sense. Her statement puzzled me, but I didn't probe.

Since that time I've heard the phrase "spiritual but not religious" more often, especially lately. And I still find it puzzling. Those who use the phrase tend to eschew "organized" religion in general and Catholicism in particular.

This week I came upon an essay in an online newspaper of the Brooklyn diocese that addresses this topic. I thought the author, Fr. Robert Lauder, had some very good points that address what former Catholics seem to dislike about Catholicism.

For those who decry the sinfulness of the Catholic Church he says,

Yes, there is sinfulness in the Church but there is also a great deal of good. The history of the Church is not merely a story that reveals the sinfulness in the Church but also a story that reveals the greatness of the Church and the sanctity of many who have lived Catholic lives. The Church is human but also divine because of its founder and because of the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Personally I have always had confidence in the Catholic Church precisely because it is The Mystical Body of Christ, where Christ is the head and the faithful are members; that is, incorporated into this divine Body. Additionally, Christ promised the presence of the Holy Spirit, as Fr. Lauder says, and that presence has been and will continue to be with us until the end of time.

For the modern atheists who think religion is evil, Fr. Lauder quotes Jesuit Fr. James Martin,

“Still, I would stack up against the negatives the positive aspects: traditions of love, forgiveness, and charity as well as the more tangible outgrowths of thousands of faith-based organizations that care for the poor.... Think too of generous men and women like St. Francis of Assisi, St. Teresa of Avila, St. Catherine of Siena, Mother Teresa, and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. .... Add to that list the billions of believers who have found in their own religious traditions not only comfort but also a moral voice urging them to live selfless lives and to challenge the status quo.”

I like the way Fr. Martin includes not only Catholics, but others of faith, who have done and continue to do good in this world for the honor and glory of God and the good of others, rather than for themselves.

Finally Fr. Lauder addresses the issue of Catholics who still profess to be Catholic but do not regularly attend Mass or receive Holy Communion. He intends to ask them two challenging questions, "What do you believe about Jesus? What do you believe about the Eucharist?"

He finds it baffling that Catholics who respond to surveys that they believe in The Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist will often say on the same survey that they rarely attend Mass. I don't get it either. If there's one thing I believe deeply it is that Jesus is present in a special way called Real Presence in the consecrated host that we receive in Holy Communion, and which we reserve in the tabernacle outside of Mass. Only illness can keep me from going to Mass to partake of this gift.

Read the essay here: The Tablet | Diocese of Brooklyn

Teresa Tomeo on You Tube

2011-06-09T16:26:00.000-07:00

Teresa Tomeo has been involved in Catholic media for quite a few years. Now she has ten minute episodes on You Tube. Check out the first segment, in which Teresa gives an overview of the intentions for this endeavor and some personal background on her faith journey.

Is There Salvation Outside the Catholic Church?

2011-06-09T15:07:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine, who is no longer Catholic, sent me a list of things she learned in Catholic school to which she objects because she can't find them in the Bible.

Here is one objection: I remember learning in Catholic school that if you weren't Catholic, you were going to hell.

This is my response: I actually have a copy of the catechism that was used in the 50s in the Archdiocese of Chicago, where my friend and I were educated in the Catholic faith. It gave very basic information in a question-answer format, and it was up to the teacher to fill in the details and to answer student questions.

The particular topic to which my friend is referring in the comment above is about the meaning of the part of the Creed that says, “I believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church.”

In the new catechism, published in the 90s, there are about six pages devoted to explaining the catholicity of the church and what that means. Each paragraph is numbered, so I’m talking in general about paragraphs 830 to 856 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

But the comment is really about the saying, “Outside of the Church there is no salvation.” Three paragraphs deal directly with that topic: 846, 847, 848. So, I will use bullet points to outline some of the main ideas. You can always look this up online.

It means that all salvation comes from Christ the Head through the Church which is his Body.
So, persons cannot be saved who, knowing the Church as founded by Christ and necessary for salvation, would refuse to enter her or remain in her.
But it needs to be understood, also, that, thanks to Christ and to his Church, those who through no fault of their own do not know the Gospel of Christ and his Church but sincerely seek God and, moved by grace, try to do his will as it is known through the dictates of conscience can attain eternal salvation. (See Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church # 171.)

Notice that there is nothing here that states a non-Catholic will go to hell. Look at the third bullet point closely. It even states there that it is possible for a non-Catholic to attain salvation. It talks about following “the dictates of conscience.” This leaves room for salvation to be extended to those who are not visibly members of the Church.

From a different part of the CCC is this powerful statement:

"Furthermore, many elements of sanctification and of truth" are found outside the visible confines of the Catholic Church: "the written Word of God; the life of grace; faith, hope, and charity, with the other interior gifts of the Holy Spirit, as well as visible elements." Christ's Spirit uses these Churches and ecclesial communities as means of salvation, whose power derives from the fullness of grace and truth that Christ has entrusted to the Catholic Church. All these blessings come from Christ and lead to him, and are in themselves calls to "Catholic unity." (See CCC #819.)

Bottom line, though, is that all salvation comes from Christ. Ideally it would come through membership in the Church Christ founded, because the Church is his body. The Church Christ founded is the Catholic Church. But that’s a discussion for another time.

The Reason for My Hope

2011-06-04T20:10:00.000-07:00

What is the reason for my hope? Earlier this week I blogged about that question here. Since then I have been considering this question. The answer came to me Friday morning at Mass while listening to the readings proclaimed by Fr. Timmons.

From Acts 18: 9-18 I heard this excerpt:

“Do not be afraid.
Go on speaking, and do not be silent, for I am with you."

From John 16: 20-23 this excerpt stayed with me:

“Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn,

while the world rejoices;
you will grieve, but your grief will become joy.
When a woman is in labor, she is in anguish

because her hour has arrived;
but when she has given birth to a child,

she no longer remembers the pain

because of her joy that a child has been born into the world.
So you also are now in anguish.
But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice,
and no one will take your joy away from you."

Why do I have hope? It's because God is with me. God accompanies me at all times in both grief and joy. I believe this with the certainty of faith.

Saturday Evening Blog Post

2011-06-03T15:22:00.000-07:00

In this month's edition of the Saturday Evening Blog Post hosted here by Elizabeth Esther, I have contributed What is the Reason for Your Hope? I hope several people will leave a comment about the reason(s) for their hope.

I look forward to this monthly link-around because I love to browse among the many contributors' blogs. Some have become favorites of mine. If you blog, I would encourage you to submit one of your favorite posts from May.

The Story of the Ugandan Martyrs

2011-06-03T14:34:00.000-07:00

Illustration of Saint Tarcisius, Marty

To be a martyr is to witness for one's faith to the point of death. In Catholic circles martyrdom is a sure sign of sanctity. In the early centuries of Christianity, when the Roman Empire ruled the world, many Christians suffered martyrdom rather than to worship the Emperor.

The notion of martyrdom first captured my imagination when, as a child, I read the story of Saint Tarcisius in a Catholic school reading textbook. Here was a young boy who loved Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament so much he preferred death rather than to allow the sacred mystery to be desecrated. The drawing of his mangled body in the arms of the soldier who rescued him touched my heart.

Many Christians throughout the centuries, even until now, continue to die for the faith. Today at Mass we remembered Saint Charles Lwanga and his companions who were martyred in Uganda in the late 19th century. I had known very little about them. Here is the tiny summary that appears in The Liturgy of the Hours for today:

Owing to religious hatred, many faithful Christians were killed in Uganda by King Mwanga during the years 1885 to 1887. Some of them had enjoyed the good graces of the king at his court, and some were even related to him. Among them, Charles Lwanga and his twenty-one companions, adhering steadfastly to the Catholic faith, were put to death, some by sword, others by burning, because they would not accede to the king's unreasonable demands.

St. Charles Lwanga & Companions

I've always been interested in knowing more about these 22 companions in martyrdom. Fr. James Martin posted a riveting story of the events that lead to the deaths of these martyrs. I trust you will find it as amazing as I did.

Read the article here: The Story of the Ugandan Martyrs

Pray for Vocations to Military Archdiocese- Update

2011-05-30T08:01:00.000-07:00

I published the first part of this post on my blog on 2009. Scroll down for today's update, via Rocco Palmo.

I saw the following news brief at the CNS website.

Civilians urged to help military archdiocese by praying for vocations

OSTERVILLE, Mass. (CNS) -- The civilian population can help the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services by "keeping us in your prayers for more vocations to the chaplaincy," said Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, who heads the archdiocese. He pointed out that there are currently 285 active duty Catholic chaplains, a number that does not begin to meet the needs across the globe. These chaplains bring the church's presence to each of the five branches of the service, and not just to the enlisted men and women, but also to their family members. Archbishop Broglio made the comments at a fundraising luncheon in Osterville in the Diocese of Fall River. Sponsored by the Knights of Malta, the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher and others, the event raised more than $12,000 for the military archdiocese. "Many people think the military archdiocese is funded by the U.S. government," he said. "But that's not the case," he said, noting that the separation of church and state doesn't allow for that and adding that the military archdiocese is "funded through the generosity of others."

Speaking as a veteran of military service, I can attest to the value of the Chaplains who served in the Air Force. They provided all the activities that I had in my home parish: Sunday and daily Mass on base, the Sacrament of Penance, and faith-enriching activities. It was in the Air Force that I first became a lector and an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist. I also served as a catechist, teaching the faith to young people whose parents were airmen and women. I also helped our chaplains when they offered retreats for the airmen. There were all kind of educational and social activities as well.

Air Force Retreat Group Chaplain: Fr. Paul Milcetich, O.S.F.S.

That's me in the back row on the right!

Folk Group practicing for Mass

My Seventh Grade Religious Education Class

They were a great group of kids!

Update:

Today I was reminded that those in the military are in need of spiritual support. According to Rocco Palmo at Whispers in the Loggia blog,

the Military church faces a dire shortage of Catholic chaplains these days -- some 275 clerics in all for a sprawling five-branch flock... so, along those lines, his customary diplomatic grace stretched to its limit, the Cleveland-born commander sounded a clarion call for more help to his confreres at last November's USCCB plenary, outlining the unique challenges the AMS and its pastors face:

Archbishop Timothy Broglio: USCCB Briefing on the Miltary Services from Rocco Palmo on Vimeo. Here is a link to the website of the Archdiocese for the Military.

What Is the Reason for Your Hope?

2011-05-29T13:22:00.000-07:00

Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts.

Always be ready to give an explanation

to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope,

but do it with gentleness and reverence.

Every time I read this writing from 1 Peter 3:15, I feel sheepish, because I can't figure out what to say or how to express my hope to others. I just have it, and it's a mystery to me that I can't articulate.

If you are reading this, are you able to express the reason for your hope? If so, and if you are willing, please write it in the comment section. I could benefit from your inspiration.

In the meantime, I will continue to mull over this. Also, you might like to read what Fr. Austin Fleming wrote on his blog, A Concord Pastor Comments.

Trusting in God

2011-05-29T12:57:00.000-07:00

Years ago, I clipped this prayer from a Catholic newspaper. I no longer remember which one. But I have kept it these many years. This morning I scanned it, so it's now on my computer. The words are particularly meaningful to me.

Isn't it true that we don't know our future? Over 100 people in Joplin, Missouri, had no idea their lives would end during the devastating tornado that struck the town last week. When life seems stable and tranquil it can be upended in seconds.

Don't we have times of confusion? They may be momentary or long-lasting. What to do? How to proceed? Where to find help?

Isn't it true, also, that we don't even know ourselves? I am a mystery to my very self. New insights keep coming; only God knows me through and through. This is true of others as well; even those whom I consider close. They are a mystery that gradually reveals itself, and yet they, too, are known completely by God only.

Am I following God's will? Like Merton, I desire to do so. Might there be times that God gets frustrated with me? Might God want to shake me and say, "Ruth Ann, you're not listening to me. Pay attention!" Yet, God gives me space and freedom. I need to do that for others.

Jesus tells us,

I am the way, the truth, and the life.

So, as the prayer says, if I desire and attempt to go the way, to seek the truth, and to live the life, I need not fear.

Today's Gospel reading from John 14: 15-21 also gives assurance,

I will ask the Father,

and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always,

the Spirit of truth....

I will not leave you orphans....

Conversion Stories: Brandon Vogt

2011-05-28T16:21:00.000-07:00

It so happens that several of the blogs I read are written by men and women who converted to the Catholic faith. Recently, I stumbled upon Brandon Vogt's blog, The Thin Veil. Brandon's blog user profile says: "I'm a 25-year-old Catholic bibliophile who writes on theology, technology, and social-justice. By day I'm a mechanical engineer, and by night I'm a lego-building, spitup-cleaning, bedsheet-tucking Dad and Husband."

His blog has a link to his conversion story, which blew me away! Not only did I appreciate the story itself, but also his style of writing. Meeting people, like Brandon, who are on fire for the Lord, is a joy, and it's also a motivation for us old-timer Catholics to be zealous for God. I encourage you to go to the link and find out for yourself. Fr. Robert Barron's Word On Fire - Conversion Stories: Brandon Vogt.

Did You Know Catholics Wrote the Bible?

2011-05-27T16:20:00.000-07:00

Just this week I mentioned to some Christian Facebook friends that Catholics wrote the Bible. One friend seemed shocked! Her words to me were, "I'm sorry, Ruth Ann, are you saying the Catholic Church wrote the Bible?" In response I said, "Yes!"

Still, I felt the need to clarify what I meant by that. Here is my explanation. What, exactly, is the Bible? The word Bible comes from the Greek word Biblia, which means a collection of books or a library. What is known as the Bible and looks like one book is actually many books bound together. They were not bound like that in the beginning. The holy writings that ended up in the Bible were among many writings that circulated within the Christian communities of the early Church. (Note: When I use the term Christian in this essay, I mean the followers of Christ in the early centuries during and after the death and resurrection of Jesus. These disciples of Jesus were first called Christians in Antioch. The Catholic Church of today traces its origins through the centuries back to Jesus Christ, his apostles, and the early Christian communities.)

The Bible has two major divisions, The Old Testament or Old Covenant and the New Testament or New Covenant. (The words Old and New Testament are Christian designations.) The 45 books in the Old Testament came to Christianity through the earliest Christians, who, like Jesus, were Jews. The Old Testament was composed over a period of many hundreds of years prior to the time of Christ. The 27 New Testament books were written by Christians of the first and second centuries, between approximately 45 AD and 150 AD. The Christians who wrote it were inspired to do so by God through the Holy Spirit. It was not, however, dictated word for word. So God truly is the author, and he used many writers over hundreds of years. Thus, we refer to the Bible, also called Holy Scripture, as the inspired Word of God.

As I mentioned above, there were many holy writings circulating around the early Christian communities. Over a long time the community decided which of these holy writings would be normative within Christianity; that is, would be used as guides for living the Christian life. From among the many available writings the 27 books of today's New Testament were those accepted by the Church communities as having such criteria as apostolic authorship, conformity to the rule of faith, or use in church worship. This list of books is called the Canon of Scripture. When was the New Testament canonized? The process took centuries.

So, this is what I mean when I say Catholics wrote the Bible. God is the author who inspired the human writers. Catholics revere the Holy Bible as God's revelation, God's holy truth. It is the revelation or manifestation of who God is and of God's divine plan of salvation for all mankind.

I'm fully aware that this is a very simple overview and so much more could be said. If you think of anything I've omitted or that needs elaboration, please comment.

2011-05-22T22:54:00.000-07:00

Kathy Schiffer, who blogs at Seasons of Grace, touches on a topic near and dear to my heart; that is, the compatibility of faith and reason. Faith and reason belong together as they are both sources of truth. Here are some excerpts from her essay on why it is wrong to separate faith and science as if they cancel out one another.

In rejecting religion as superstition or wishful thinking, Stephen Hawking attempts to create an “Us vs. Them” dichotomy between science and faith.

In reality, no such dichotomy exists—and we need not choose whether to believe in science, or to believe in God. History is replete with scientists who were also men and women of faith. Copernicus, Galileo, Sir Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein come to mind, since Hawking writes in the realm of astronomical physics. I would add to that esteemed list Sir Francis Bacon, Johannes Kepler, Renee Descartes, Robert Boyle, Gregor Mendel, Michael Faraday, and Max Planck.

Read her entire post here: On Two Wings: The Separation of Faith and Science.

My path to understanding the connection of faith and reason or faith and science began in my childhood, perhaps inspired by a children's librarian who noted my interest in science. Perhaps by having a mother who was a scientist and a father who was a man of faith. The two pieces of the puzzle of truth just grew within me together, and I never saw them as incompatible. I find it difficult to see why others don't "get it."

I didn't formally study science until my junior year of high school, but when I did, I excelled in it. I was chosen to participate in a science program for gifted students at the Illinois Institute of Technology. Science was thrilling for me. But so was faith. Every new scientific thing I learned about our created world simply deepened my excitement for also knowing its Creator. In my heart I would praise God for His awesome creativity. I might go as far as to say learning science was a mystical experience for me. It really was!

In college I discovered Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, the Jesuit paleontologist, and I connected with his spirituality. He was a man who integrated his science with his faith. I wrote my first college term paper about him. In so doing, I discovered his writings were, at that time, controversial in Catholic circles. But, more recently his ideas have been praised by both Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI.

I didn't become a scientist, because my leanings toward theology and spirituality were stronger. But I still love science.

Comparing Secular and Christian World Views

2011-05-21T07:57:00.000-07:00

How is the Christian world view different from the secular world view? Fr. Stephen explains at his blog Glory to God for All Things. Below is an excerpt. I added italics for contrast.

The secular man may believe that there is a God, but he also believes that the situation and outcome of the world are dependent upon the actions of human beings.

The Christian man believes that there is a God, and that all things are in His hands.

The secular man believes in Progress. Life changes, and with good human direction, it changes for the better. Every new discovery stands on the shoulders of every previous discovery. In this way, life improves and always improves for the better.

The Christian man believes that whatever man does may change his circumstances, but does not change man. A modern man is in no way superior to those who came before him. Goodness is not a result of progress.

The secular man believes in the power of human beings. Reason, applied reasonably to any situation, will yield a better outcome.

The Christian man believes in God, but he doubts the goodness of man. Human solutions are always questionable and capable of failure.

The secular man believes, ultimately, in the smooth path of progress. Even though there may be set-backs along the way, he believes that pursuing the path of progress will ultimately yield a better world – even a near perfect world.

Because the Christian man believes in God, he trusts that the outcome of history belongs to God and not to man. Thus, even the good things done by man are judged by a good God whose goal for us is always beyond anything we could ask or think.

The secular man, despite various failures, always believes that the next good is only another plan away. Compromise, negotiation, and a willingness to change will finally solve all problems.

The Christian understands the sinfulness of humanity. He knows that without God things will always fail and dissipate. Only through trust and obedience to God can the human situation improve – and such improvement always comes as a miracle from God.

The secular man does not believe in his own fallibility. He does not learn from history, but yearns repeatedly for a success where none has come before. What success he has known (in medical treatment of disease, etc.) is quickly translated into political terms. What is wrong politically can be eradicated as easily as malaria.

The Christian man knows that problems do not lie so much in the world as within himself. Unless man is changed by a good God, there will be a very limited goodness in the world. The secular man knows how to cure malaria, but he cannot manage to actually share that goodness with the world. The world (the third world) dies as it has always died. The secular man is powerless because he lacks true goodness.

Read the rest of Fr. Stephen's thoughtful essay here.

Getting Ready for the End

2011-05-19T14:39:00.000-07:00

The world may or may not end soon. Some think it might happen Saturday. What I always try to keep in mind is that regardless of when the whole world ends, my demise certainly will happen. There is no escaping from that inevitability. Moreover, I don't know just when that will happen.

My Catholic faith teaches that I will be held accountable for my life and how I have lived. And, if I have lived well, in accordance with God's will, I will be rewarded. But, if I have obstinately ignored God's will, I will be punished. So, if I care about that, and I do, then I need to be prepared for the inevitable.

Each day I try to prepare for my own end, by living well. With God's grace I more or less do that. Those who know me well know that I'm not perfect. I don't always do my absolute best. Actually, I'm not so sure I know what is my absolute best. What I try to do is to live a Christ-centered life. I pray daily, worship God every Sunday (or Saturday evening), and observe all of the ten commandments by loving God above all, and loving my neighbor.

I strongly believe that my love of God is no stronger than my love of neighbor. And my neighbor is everyone. Another way to look at it is to consider the person next to me is my neighbor.

Do I worry about all of this? No. I simply exercise faith, hope, and love as faithfully as I know how, trusting that God will supply all the graces I need.

The link is a short video explaining Catholic eschatological teaching: Catholic Teaching: The End of the World?

Sin and Scandal

2011-05-17T15:36:00.000-07:00

My heart sinks with every scandal that is publicized in the media. Yesterday it was the news of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who is accused of sexually attacking a hotel maid. New York City police and the victim's lawyer indicate the accusation is credible. Read the story here. Today it is the news that former Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, fathered a child with a woman on his household staff, although he was a married man. Maria Shriver calls it a "painful and heartbreaking time." Read more here. My heart goes out to the victims of both incidents, the hotel maid, Maria and her four children.

Sin and scandal have been around a long, long time. However, it seems to me that more and more people in whom we have placed public trust are disappointing us with their lack of integrity. Do we deserve better? I think so. God help us. I pray that men and women of integrity will have the fortitude to become leaders in our communities, states, and country. It is not an easy commitment to make.

7 Quick Takes Friday, set 2

2011-05-13T11:59:00.000-07:00

This is my 2nd time to participate in Jennifer Fulwiler's 7 Quick Takes event. I'm not sure all of mine are quick. But just read what you find interesting!

Catholics have a special devotion to Mary, the mother of Jesus, during the month of May. So today each of my Quick Takes is about Mary.

-1-

General Marian Resources

My favorite Marian website is at the University of Dayton. It's called The Mary Page. Here an excerpt from the Welcome Page:

Our goal is to gather and present information about the Virgin Mary and to lead people to a loving knowledge of her. Learning more about Mary, we develop a fuller knowledge of Christ, his Church and Christian life.

Here is a link to a sort of Table of Contents, which will take you to a variety of Marian information.

-2-

Biblical Resources

If you want to know about Mary in the Bible, The Mary Page is a good place to start. My favorite book about Mary in the Bible is Mary in the New Testament: a Collaborative Assessment by Protestant and Roman Catholic Scholars. This is a book by scholars, so it's not an easy read. However, I liked digging into it and I learned a lot. I also like Mary: Glimpses of the Mother of Jesus by Beverly Roberts Gaventa. Although it, too, is academic in nature, I found it to be easier than Mary in the New Testament.

-3-

Marian Poetry

There are many lovely poems honoring Mary. Here is one by the great poet, Gerard Manley Hopkins:

THE MAY MAGNIFICAT

May is Mary's month, and I
Muse at that and wonder why:
Her feasts follow reason,
Dated due to season-

Candlemas, Lady Day:
But the Lady Month, May,
Why fasten that upon her,
With a feasting in her honor?
Ask of her, the mighty mother:
Her reply puts this other
Question: What is Spring?
Growth in every thing-

All things rising, all things sizing
Mary sees, sympathizing
With that world of good,
Nature's motherhood.

Well but there was more than this:
Spring's universal bliss
Much, had much to say
To offering Mary May.

Gerard Manley Hopkins
Robert, Cyril. Mary Immaculate: God's Mother and Mine. New York: Marist Press, 1946.

You will find many others here.

-4-

Mary in History

I love Church history, and Mary is certainly intertwined with that. Some people think that Jaroslav Pelikans book Mary Through the Centuries: Her Place in the History of Culture is the best. I found it very interesting and informative. This book is more than informational, it also has color plates of Marian art from various centuries.

-5-

Marian Music

This morning I participated at daily Mass in the Carmelite Nuns monastery near my home, and we celebrated the feast of Our Lady of Fatima. Needless to say, the nuns sang some beautiful Marian hymns. Do you have a favorite hymn about Mary? Here is a You Tube version that combines "Gentle Woman," one of my favorite contemporary hymns with the classic "Silent Night," another beloved hymn.

I also like "Mary the Dawn" and "Ave Maria," and "Mary Did You Know."

-6-

May Devotions/May Crowning

In my childhood at Catholic school, we observed May devotions in the classroom by creating a May altar. On a table we placed a beautiful cloth and put the statue of Mary in the center. We surrounded Mary with vases of flowers from our gardens. We honored her with our prayers and songs. And on one day we crowned Mary with flowers. Learn more about this custom here.

-7-

A Personal Devotion of Mine

I was born in September on the feast day of Our Lady of Sorrows. So, since my childhood I have had devotion to Mary as Sorrowful Mother. There are many depictions of Our Sorrowful Mother or Our Lady of Sorrows. Some of them are gruesome, when they literally depict Mary with her heart pierced with seven swords. This was the image that was popular in my childhood, and it was upsetting to me at the time. I prefer images of the Pieta or others that show sorrow, but more subtly.

Our Lady of Sorrows

The Servite Sister, Joyce Rupp, has written an excellent book, Your Sorrow Is My Sorrow, which relates Mary's sorrows to our sorrows. Reading it helped me heal from some of my sorrows. Rupp is an inspiring writer.

So I've tried to give anyone reading this some resources about Mary. I hope you find some of them inspiring, interesting, and/or helpful.

Concupiscence: Tinder for Sin

2011-05-11T10:37:00.000-07:00

For all that is in the world,

sensual lust, enticement for the eyes, and a pretentious life,

is not from the Father but is from the world.

1 John: 2: 16

In this verse Saint John reminds us Christians that, although we have received all the graces of baptism: forgiveness of original sin and incorporation into the life of the Holy Spirit, we still have to deal with the consequences of sin as we live the Christian Life. Sensual lust refers to a disordered desire for physical gratification. Enticement for the eyes is the tendency to avarice or to covet. A pretentious life is one of arrogance or showiness, and it is a failure in humility that recognizes one's dependence on God. All of these are tendencies to sin, but they do not become sin unless we consent. The traditional term for these proclivities is concupiscence.

Trying to avoid these temptations to sin is a life long battle, because the Evil One is a clever strategist who knows our weaknesses and focuses on them with the intention to lead us away from God. You may, in fact, recognize in that the devil appealed to all three of the concupiscences when he tempted Jesus during his forty days in the desert. Like Jesus, we are fortified for the battle.

Through prayer and practicing virtues we are continually empowered by God's grace and can choose good over evil. In this way we further God’s Kingdom.

Practical Things My Mother Taught Me

2011-05-08T12:04:00.000-07:00

My mother, Mary Alice, taught me practical things; that is, how to do things. She didn't wait until I was "big enough." Instead she started me early, around five years of age for some things.

She showed me how to match my socks. Then roll them up, and pull back the top of one to make the pair one ball.

She showed me how to arrange my underwear drawer: socks in one corner, panties in another corner, undershirts in the middle.

Mother taught me to iron. First I learned on flat items, like handkerchiefs and pillow cases. Later I advanced to clothing, like shirts and blouses. Dresses and pants were even more advanced.

Before ironing we dampened the items with water. This was done by dipping our fingers in a bowl of water and shaking them over the item to be ironed. Then we rolled them up, and set them in the refrigerator for about an hour.
When they were ready, I plugged in the iron and set the temperature to match the fabric. It was hot enough when drops of water sizzled on the hot part.
Then I ironed out all the wrinkles. It was important to keep the iron moving so as not to burn the cloth.
When finished ironing the fabric had to cool and then be folded or hung on a wire hanger.
When not in use we put the iron in a vertical position. When finished unplug the iron.

My mother also showed me other household skills like dusting furniture, vacuuming carpets and rugs, scouring sinks and tubs, washing mirrors, and scrubbing floors.

She also taught me to bake. I learned from her to make and bake cookies from scratch and cakes from store-bought mixes. We had a Sunbeam Mixmaster with a variety of bowl sizes.

Whatever we made, we started by reading the directions from a recipe book or on the box.
If we wanted more or less than the recipe called for, then mother showed me how to calculate the measurements proportionately. Sometimes she wrote them in the cookbook for future reference.
We put down newspaper to cover our work surface, which was usually the kitchen table. We wore aprons to protect our good clothes.
Then we assembled and measured out all ingredients.
We mixed everything gradually and step-by-step, adjusting the speed of the mixer appropriately.
Angel food cake was a specialty. The ingredients had to be folded in carefully! We also used a special cake pan with a tube in the middle. I loved this.

Basic cooking skills came in handy as I grew older. Mother was a chemist and when I was seven she took a full time job. Our grandmother lived upstairs from us so there was someone to watch us after school. Mother used to leave notes for me with chores to do after school. This included going to the store to get milk or bread or some other necessity.

When I was twelve, mother decided I had the skills to get supper started for the family, and so I did.

These skills later translated into one of my best summer jobs, working in the lab with my mother as my supervisor. She showed me how to use the lab equipment and care for it. I learned from her how to do quality control using such glassware as pipettes, burettes, flasks, and more. I also handled Bunsen burners, desiccators, and sensitive balances.

My mother was very practical and had a scientific approach for doing many things. I'm grateful that she taught me how to do things. I wasn't helpless. It gave me confidence. I felt I could do anything to which I set my mind.

Happy Mother's Day, Mother!!!!

The Most Lovely of Mothers

2011-05-08T11:24:00.000-07:00

To Our Lady

Lovely Lady dressed in blue --
Teach me how to pray!
God was just your little boy,
Tell me what to say!

Did you lift Him up, sometimes,
Gently on your knee?
Did you sing to Him the way
Mother does to me?

Did you hold His hand at night?
Did you ever try
Telling stories of the world?
O! And did He cry?

Do you really think He cares
If I tell Him things --
Little things that happen? And
Do the Angels' wings

Make a noise? And can He hear
Me if I speak low?
Does He understand me now?
Tell me -- for you know.

Lovely Lady dressed in blue --
Teach me how to pray!
God was just your little boy,
And you know the way.

--Mary Dixon Thayer

Saturday Evening Blog Post

2011-05-07T12:50:00.000-07:00

In this month’s edition of the Saturday Evening Blog Post, hosted by Elizabeth Esther, I have posted two essays. The one from this blog is Thursday in Octave of Easter: Forgiveness. The one from my other blog is Letter 2 Honoring My Father's 92nd Birthday. I hope you enjoy reading them. I'd love to read your feedback.

If you blog, I encourage you to participate.

7 Quick Takes Friday, set 1

2011-05-06T14:13:00.000-07:00

This is my first attempt to participate in this Quick Takes endeavor. So, I'll keep my takes short and, where possible, put links for anyone who wants further information.

I am a slow reader, yet over the decades, I have devoured many books. Ever since childhood I have been attracted to books related to faith. So I've chose 7 that I like.

-1-

I have read lots and lots of books by saints and about saints. One that I am currently reading is All Saints: Daily Reflections on Saints, Prophets, and Witnesses for Our Time, by Robert Ellsberg. This book is a collection of biographical sketches for every day of the year. Each sketch also includes a quotation and references the source of the information. There is a Spanish version as well.

-2-

Church history, especially early Church history, is a strong interest of mine. I like The Early Church by Henry Chadwick. It covers the beginnings of Christianity from apostolic times until the Latin and Greek Churches parted ways.

-3-

It seems as though my thirst for books about spirituality and prayer is never ending. One that influenced me deeply is Ruth Burrows' Guidelines for Mystical Prayer. This book is written by a nun immersed in Carmelite spirituality. I would say it's for anyone who is a serious prayer, but maybe not for beginners.

-4-

When it comes to fiction, I am a reluctant reader. However, I was introduced to Mr. Blue by Myles Connelly when I was a sophomore in high school. One of the upper classmen told me I reminded her of the main character and that she thought I'd love the book. I do. I haven't parted with it all these decades. Mr. Blue is a sort of modern day St. Francis, says the back cover. I agree.

-5-

I love Mary, the mother of Jesus. It so happens that I was born on one of her feast days. In my spirituality I think of Mary as my mother and as our Sorrowful Mother. There are many books about Mary. The one I will include here is one that I read in college, The Reed of God by Caryll Houselander. Houselander gives a very human portrait of Mary. Her writing is exquisite!

-6-

Generally speaking I'm not into poetry, and I definitely don't write poetry. However, there is some poetry that I do like and read and reread. This is true of the poetry of Jessica Powers. She writes poems about God's love and mercy, Mary and the Saints, our dependency on God, nature, and more. I like Selected Poetry of Jessica Powers, edited by Regina Siegfried and Robert Morneau.

-7-

Brian Doyle writes about the heart in The Wet Engine: Exploring the Mad Wild Miracle of the Heart. The jacket says, "This startling, genuinely unique book moves like a freight train through the scientific, emotional, literary, philosophical, and spiritual understandings of the heart---from cardiology to courage, from love letters and pop songs to Jesus." Doyle was motivated to write it, because he had a son who needed open heart surgery. I am the mother of a daughter who was born with cyanotic congenital heart disease, so I can relate to everything in this book. His writing is amazing!!!

I Have Reservations

2011-05-06T12:24:00.000-07:00

Quoting Anglican Archbishop Rowan Williams:

I think the killing of an unarmed man is always going to leave a very uncomfortable feeling, because it doesn’t look as if justice is seen to be done in those circumstances. I think it’s also true that the different versions of events that have emerged in recent days have not done a great deal to help here. I don’t know full details any more than anyone else does. But I do believe that in such circumstances when we are faced with someone who was manifestly a war criminal, in terms of the atrocities inflicted, it is important that justice is seen to be observed.

I found this here, along with an analysis by Austen Ivereigh.

What are your thoughts and feelings on this topic?

A Catholic Understanding of the Bible

2011-05-06T11:25:00.000-07:00

Yesterday's Catholic New Service News Briefs had the following explanation concerning the inspiration and truth of the Bible. I thought it was clear and succinct.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- While Catholics believe the Bible is inspired by the Holy Spirit and that it is true, one cannot take individual biblical quotes or passages and say each one is literally true, Pope Benedict XVI said. "It is possible to perceive the Sacred Scriptures as the word of God" only by looking at the Bible as a whole, "a totality in which the individual elements enlighten each other and open the way to understanding," the pope wrote in a message to the Pontifical Biblical Commission. "It is not possible to apply the criterion of inspiration or of absolute truth in a mechanical way, extrapolating a single phrase or expression," the pope wrote in the message released May 5 at the Vatican. The commission of biblical scholars, an advisory body to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, met at the Vatican May 2-6 to continue discussions about "Inspiration and Truth in the Bible." In his message, the pope said clearer explanations about the Catholic position on the divine inspiration and truth of the Bible were important because some people seem to treat the Scriptures simply as literature while others believe that each line was dictated by the Holy Spirit and is literally true. Neither position is Catholic, the pope said. "An interpretation of the sacred writings that disregards or forgets their inspiration does not take into account their most important and precious characteristic, that they come from God," he said.

The gist of this is that Catholics understand the truth of the Bible holistically; that is, they interpret parts of the Bible in the light of the whole message, and smaller parts are understood in context. The most important characteristic of the sacred writings is that they come from God.

Listening to God's Voice: Do You Hear It?

2011-05-05T15:14:00.000-07:00

Today, if you hear his voice,

harden not your hearts.

Hebrews 4: 7b; see also Psalm 95: 7-8

This quotation appears often in the Liturgy of the Hours. I ask myself, "Where did I hear the Lord's voice today? How did I recognize the Lord speaking to me?"

I heard the Lord's voice in the readings from Sacred Scripture, God's holy Word, proclaimed at Mass this morning. First, I heard Saint Peter and the apostles declare, "We must obey God rather than men. ... We are witnesses of these things, as is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him." Then I heard "[God] does not ration his gift of the Spirit." Finally, I heard the Lord's voice in the preaching of the homily. Father told us how lavishly God gives his gift of the Spirit to everyone. I find it easy to discern the voice of the Lord at church. It's one place that I expect to hear it, so I am open and attentive. I am willing to ponder the meaning of the Lord's message in my heart. What does it mean for me?

Do I obey the Lord rather than men? What way does the Lord ask me to witness to the Gospel teachings in my daily life? Do I fully appreciate and use God's spiritual gifts?

Yet there are other times and places where I hear God's voice. I ate a picnic lunch on my porch, just me and the beautiful May surroundings of my front yard. His voice was in the tunes of the songbirds, the buzz of the bees, the gentle rustling of leaves. His Word was also spoken in the color green emerging from the tips of the pine tree branches and in the tall grasses and colorful wildflowers growing freely and abundantly on the hillside. He said, "Something new is emerging. Have hope." Like in church, I also expect to hear the voice of the Lord in creation, "For he spoke, and it came to be...." (Psalm 33) My heart responds with joy and gratitude for the beauty.

Lord, open the inner ears of my spirit.

So I can hear your voice.

Melt my hardened heart

So I can zealously fulfill your holy will.

Amen.

God's Dwelling Place

2011-05-02T00:29:00.000-07:00

Amen, amen, I say to you,

unless one is born of water and Spirit

he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.

John 3: 5

According to Fr. Tom Timmons, who celebrated Mass at the Carmelite Nuns Monastery chapel today, these words of Jesus to Nicodemus, a Pharisee, are about baptism. They mean that baptism is a necessary prerequisite for entering God's Kingdom or salvation. In baptism we become a dwelling place of God.

We are temples of the Holy Spirit, I learned as a child. The word temple was a stumbling block for me. I simply couldn't imagine myself as this thing, called a temple. Yet, I was able to understand the idea that I was, and am, a child of God and that his life is in me because I am baptized. I had and still have some awareness of God's presence within me.

Being aware of God's presence isn't necessary, though. The important thing is believing God is with us. Jesus was always affirming people because of their faith. I do believe, but not always enough. Lately, I have been encouraged by Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection. He practiced the presence of God in a simple way. He says it's easy. Sometimes, I think it is easy, but not always.

The idea that baptism is necessary for salvation sometimes disturbs me, because there are so many good people who have never been baptized. The Church seems to make some exceptions for those who have not been baptized. For adults baptism of desire and baptism of blood can substitute for water baptism. Many Catholic theologians hold the opinion that God wills to give salvation to everyone who doesn't refuse it. I hope they are right.

Friday in Octave of Easter: Set the World on Fire!

2011-04-29T12:55:00.000-07:00

Actress Nancy Murray as Saint Catherine of Siena

"'Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.' So said St Catherine of Siena whose festival day it is today." Stated by the bishop of London at the outset of his homily to the royal couple.

It was pleasing to hear the reference to a Catholic saint at an Anglican wedding ceremony. St. Catherine of Siena has long been one of my favorite saints. I learned of her life through reading her biography in my youth. Later I read The Dialogue, which is basically her mystical conversations with God. One statement I remember from her writings was in reference to the Lord's commandment to love your neighbor as yourself. She said that we, ourselves, are are own closest neighbor. That's the only time I've ever heard that. She was quite the woman!

Thursday in Octave of Easter: Forgiveness

2011-04-28T22:26:00.000-07:00

Forgiveness is an act that Jesus both taught and practiced. It is certainly an important part of discipleship. One of the petitions of the Lord's Prayer is, "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." When Jesus died on the cross, some of his final words were, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

If we live long enough we will experience the need to be forgiven as well as the need to forgive. Many is the time I have offended or hurt someone and needed to ask their forgiveness. It is difficult for me to muster up the humility to face someone and ask pardon. And just because I ask does not mean I will receive forgiveness. However, I cannot think of an occasion where my request for forgiveness has been denied.

On the other hand, I find it easier to forgive others who have offended or harmed me, even when the offender does not ask. I think it's my right, and as a Christian, I consider it a duty. In the Lord's Prayer Jesus didn't say anything about forgiving only when the other person repents. The Gospels don't record any of Jesus' persecutors repenting. Nevertheless Jesus asked his Father to forgive them. He mentioned their ignorance as a mitigating circumstance.

I'm not omniscient. I don't know the motives of others or their degree of knowledge. But I know the example of Jesus, and what God expects of me. I thank God for the grace to forgive others.

This morning my sister Joan posted this link on Facebook to an America Magazine article, "It Don't Come Easy" by John Coleman, S.J. It is a review of "Forgiveness: A Time to Love and a Time to Hate," a two part series, which aired on many PBS stations on Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. I watched both segments. Both the article and the series are excellent, and shed much light on this topic.

Wednesday in Octave of Easter: Emmaus

2011-04-27T17:13:00.000-07:00

The Road to Emmaus by Warner Sallman

In today's Gospel reading, Luke related the familiar story of Emmaus. It is a story that took place near Jerusalem on the same day Jesus rose from the dead. It is a story with many layers of meaning, and in the past decade I have grown to like it more and more.

In his homily this morning Fr. Tom Timmons said a few things that I hadn't heard before.

Jesus walked with the two disciples at their own pace. He walks with us at our pace.
When the disciples reached their destination, Jesus accepted their invitation to stay with them. He waits for us to invite him in. When we do, he will accept, and stay with us.
Jesus walks with us every day. Do our hearts burn with love?

Tuesday in Octave of Easter: Do Not Touch Me!

2011-04-26T16:30:00.000-07:00

"Do not cling to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father."

From John's Gospel, chapter 20: 11-18

Mary was standing outside near the tomb, weeping. Then, as she wept, she stooped to look inside, and saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Jesus had been, one at the head, the other at the feet. They said, 'Woman, why are you weeping?' 'They have taken my Lord away,' she replied, 'and I don't know where they have put him.'

As she said this she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, though she did not realise that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, 'Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?' Supposing him to be the gardener, she said, 'Sir, if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and remove him.' Jesus said, 'Mary!' She turned round then and said to him in Hebrew, 'Rabbuni!' -- which means Master. Jesus said to her, 'Do not cling to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to the brothers, and tell them: I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'

So Mary of Magdala told the disciples, 'I have seen the Lord,' and that he had said these things to her.

A meditation from Fr. Maurice Zundel from With God in Our Daily Life, as published in Magnificat Magazine, April, p. 291.

Christ says to human beings as he did to Magdalen who wanted to touch him after his Resurrection: "Do not touch me, because you cannot take possession of me, you must do so through the universal and the mystery of the Church, through the communal presence. Because if you want to seize me with your hands, you would reduce me down to your own size, and you would make an idol of me. If you really want to embrace me, you must do so in my openness to all of humanity. When your heart is open and expanded to the size of mine, then you will truly embrace me." ...

Do not be surprised at that. You know very well that we cannot reach the intimacy of the soul, the intimacy of a human being with our hands. If we extend our hand to you to feel your friendship, what do we feel in your hand? Is your friendship in your fingertips? Is that where your friendship resides? Where is your friendship? Is it at the end of your arm? Or is it in the deepest intimate recesses of your heart of flesh?

If your heart of flesh is the symbol of your tender love, you know very well that your friendship cannot be grasped with hands. Your friendship is wherever your person is, wherever your mystery is, this mystery that you reveal only when your are in the dialogue of light and love with God. Your friendship can be grasped only with friendship The one who really loves you with her own intimacy get in touch with your intimacy. Hence, her heart must be open to hear yours and, similarly, we have a hold on our Lord who is love, universal love, only if our heart opens out and becomes a heart without barriers like the Heart of our Lord.

The way I touch the risen Lord is in the Eucharist.

Graphic credit: James Reid woodcut

Monday in Octave of Easter: Lectio Divina: Matthew 28: 8-15

2011-04-25T14:07:00.000-07:00

Resurrection: from Easter banner at Carmelite Order website

For we Catholics, the celebration of Jesus' Resurrection lasts eight days, called and octave. Today we hear of another of Jesus' Resurrection appearances.

Filled with awe and great joy [Mary Magdalene and the other Mary] came quickly away from the tomb and ran to tell [Jesus'] disciples. And suddenly, coming to meet them, was Jesus. 'Greetings,' he said. And the women came up to him and, clasping his feet, they did him homage. Then Jesus said to them, 'Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers that they must leave for Galilee; there they will see me.' Now while they were on their way, some of the guards went off into the city to tell the chief priests all that had happened. These held a meeting with the elders and, after some discussion, handed a considerable sum of money to the soldiers with these instructions, 'This is what you must say, "His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep." And should the governor come to hear of this, we undertake to put things right with him ourselves and to see that you do not get into trouble.' So they took the money and carried out their instructions, and to this day that is the story among the Jews.

The Carmelite Order posts Lectio Divina meditations on the daily Scripture readings at their official website. Following is a link for today's Gospel reading: Lectio: Matthew 28, 8-15.

Easter 2011: He Saw and Believed

2011-04-24T00:30:00.000-07:00

From the holy Gospel according to John 20: 1-9

On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, "They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don't know where they put him."

So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there but did not go in.

When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his heard, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.

Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead.

The Lord is Risen as He Said! Alleluia!

Happy Easter!

Holy Week, 2011: Stations of the Cross

2011-04-23T07:35:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I participated in both the Stations of the Cross and the Good Friday Liturgy at the monastery chapel of the Carmelite Nuns in Georgetown. We used the revised version of the English translation of Saint Alphonsus' Way of the Cross. At each station the meditation begins with:

The Twelfth Station: Jesus Dies Upon the Cross

We adore you, O Christ, and we Praise you;

Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Mary and Saint John stand with Jesus.

At the twelfth station we meditated on Jesus' death.

...after three hours' agony on the cross,

Jesus is at length consumed with anguish,

and abandoning himself to the weight of his body,

he bows his head and dies.

Mary Magdalene kneels before the dying Jesus.

At the end of every meditation these words were pronounced by all:

I love you with all my heart,

and I repent of ever having offended you.

Grant that I may love you always,

and then do with me as you will.

Photo credit: I photographed the stations on the grounds of the Christ the King Passionist Retreat Center.

Holy Week, 2011: Good Friday: If You Were the Only One

2011-04-22T08:13:00.000-07:00

Decades ago, I stood in the center aisle of my parish church looking up at the huge crucifix suspended behind and above the altar. Dad, standing at my side, bent down a little to whisper, "If you were the only person in the world, Jesus would have died on the cross for you." Since that childhood moment, that message of love has remained with me.

Salvador Dali's painting of the Christ of St. John of the Cross

Dali's image of Christ suspended on the cross hung on the wall of my parents' bedroom. Sometimes I would stand and gaze at it in wonder. The view of Jesus looking down on the Earth from high above was unique. It reminded me that God sees all. I also saw the original painting at the Museum of the Art Institute in Chicago. Perhaps it was on temporary loan. Again, I studied it with intense awe. I won't say that this is my favorite image of Jesus on the crucifix, but it is very striking.

I associate this image with "The Prayer of Saint Francis," which was also on the same wall of my parents' bedroom, adjacent to the framed painting.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love.

Where there is injury, pardon.

Where there is doubt, faith.

Where there is despair, hope.

Where there is darkness, light.

Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,

grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;

to be understood, as to understand;

to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive.

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Amen.

In my childhood I often stood reading the prayer and pondering its meaning. In my little heart I wished very much to be the kind of person this prayer describes. What a different world this would be if all of us took it to heart.

As I kiss the crucifix on Good Friday, I will ask the Lord for the grace to be an instrument of peace.

Holy Week, 2011: A Modern Meditation on Discipleship

2011-04-21T07:52:00.000-07:00

Those of us who use Twitter will understand this modern meditation about following Jesus. I found it thought-provoking and prayer-provoking as well. Thanks to Fr. Christian Mathis who posted it on his blog, Blessed is the Kingdom.

Holy Week, 2011: Receiving Communion

2011-04-20T12:35:00.000-07:00

This morning I visited Deacon Greg Kandra's blog, The Deacon's Bench, where I found an interesting and thought-provoking essay about whether or not to receive Holy Communion in the standing or the kneeling position. According to Church law either position is acceptable and there is no preference. The essay generated many interesting and some impassioned responses which were well worth reading. This was my response:

This is quite an interesting topic of discussion. I tend to follow the idea of “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” As long as we’re not talking about sin, I think it does show respect to blend in with the locals.

In my parish we follow the U.S. norm of standing. Some receive in the hand, others on the tongue. A few people genuflect on one knee but then stand to receive the host, usually on the tongue, but not necessarily.

When I attend Mass at the nearby Carmelite Nuns Monastery, there is a Communion railing, so I kneel and I also receive on the tongue. The two seem to go together for me. Most of the Mass attendees do likewise. Yet, a few remain standing and receive in the hand.

So, I guess I’m “bi-functional” or something! I don’t feel holier or more reverent one way or the other.

Once I asked a Sister whose opinion I respect and who is, in my perception, a holy woman, “Is it holier to receive Communion on the tongue or in the hands?” She answered my question with a rhetorical question, “Do you sin more with your hands or with your tongue?”

This made me think. I don’t know about others, but I sin more with my tongue than with my hands. Bottom line, though, I don’t let myself get all discombobulated about this.

They only thing that bothers me is when someone INSISTS it HAS to be a certain way.

Holy Week, 2011: A Simple Way to Holiness

2011-04-18T12:23:00.000-07:00

Pope Benedict XVI

Last week, Pope Benedict, concluded a two-year series of general audience talks about the saints and doctors of the Church. In so doing, he mentioned that the saints have been very influential in his life of faith. He then spoke of the many saints who are not canonized and likely never will be recognized formally. These are the saints who are part of our every day lives. They live a normal life of goodness and faith.

According to our Holy Father, there are three simple rules for living a holy life.

"Never let a Sunday go by without an encounter with the risen Christ in the Eucharist; this is not an added burden, it is light for the entire week."
"Never begin or end a day without at least a brief contact with God" in prayer.
"And along the pathway of our lives, follow the road signs that God has given us in the Ten Commandments, read in the light of Christ; they are nothing other than explanations of what is love in specific situations." (Source: CNS)

Although simple, it does not follow that they are easy. They are simple because they are both clear and uncomplicated. But they are not easy in the sense of effortless. It really does take heroic virtue to follow these counsels.

To attend Mass and receive Christ in Holy Communion each and every week means rousing ourselves from sleep and traveling to church. It means making getting to Sunday Mass a priority over every other possible activity that beckons. Nevertheless, I know many people who do encounter Christ at Mass every week. I also know quite a few who attend daily Mass. These people are an inspiration to me.

I'm willing to consider daily prayer, both morning and evening, the easiest of the three recommendations. First of all, Pope Benedict implies that it may be brief. This could mean praying the Lord's Prayer in a heartfelt manner twice daily. The main thing is to turn both mind and heart to God in a loving way.

I find the last of the three points to be the most formidable, because there are ten of them! The Holy Father softens the challenge a bit by saying the commandments are ways of love. It has not been my tendency to see them that way. By keeping the commandments and avoiding violating them I demonstrate love of God and love of neighbor. Come to think of it, Jesus summed up the Ten Commandments as just that.

My Palms

2011-04-17T10:46:00.000-07:00

This is what I do with my palms.

I weave my palms and keep them in this vase next to my crucifix.

I learned to weave palms from a college friend, and have been doing it ever since. Although I think it's easier to learn from someone, one-on-one, here is a website that tells all about it, and gives tutorials. You Tube shows some videos, too. Just type "palm weaving" into their search engine.

God bless you during Holy Week!

Lent 2011, Day 36: He Touched Me

2011-04-15T14:16:00.000-07:00

She said, "If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured." Mk. 5: 28

Time and again I am fascinated and moved by the story of the woman with a chronic hemorrhage whose courage and faith saved her. She was so confident in Jesus' power and compassion! This is how I try to approach Jesus in Holy Communion.

These are the lyrics to a classic African American Sacred Song, which I find very beautiful.

He Touched Me

Shackled by a heavy burden,
'Neath a load of guilt and shame,
Then the hand of Jesus touched me,
An now I am no longer the same.

He touched me, O, he touched me,

And O, the joy that floods my soul.

Something happened, and now I know

He touched me and made me whole.

Since I met this blessed Savior,
Since he cleansed and made me whole,
I will never cease to praise him;
I'll shout it while eternity rolls.

He touched me, O, he touched me,

And O, the joy that floods my soul.

Something happened, and now I know

He touched me and made me whole.

Source: Catholic Classics Volume VII: African American Sacred Songs

Lent 2011, Day 29: Fasting

2011-04-06T12:33:00.000-07:00

It is well past the mid-point of Lent. I have reviewed my Lenten resolutions and have concluded that I've bitten off more than I can chew. I looked at my "progress" and noted that, yes, there is one resolution that I've kept consistently and on a daily basis. The others? Okay, I've been moderately consistent, but not on a daily basis. What to do? Admit I'm less than perfect, but continue to press on toward the goals I've set. Mitigate the rigor to a level that is realistic for me.

In the category of fasting, I have exceeded the age where fasting from food is required by Church law. So, instead of fasting from food, I am fasting from Facebook. I use the time away from Facebook for silence, solitude, prayer, knitting, reading, and writing.

I had thought I would also fast from reading other blogs, but I have been less successful in that endeavor. There are excellent blog posts that help inspire and motivate me on my Lenten journey, so I read them for encouragement. I will continue to try to avoid reading blog posts that deal with issues unrelated to Lent or to spiritual growth.

Heather King

This morning I read Heather King's post, which begins with these words of St. Peter Chrysologus:

There are three things, my brethren, by which faith stands firm, devotion remains constant, and virtue endures. They are prayer, fasting and mercy. Prayer knocks at the door, fasting obtains, mercy receives. Prayer, mercy and fasting: these three are one, and they give life to each other.

Fasting is the soul of prayer, mercy is the lifeblood of fasting. Let no one try to separate them; they cannot be separated . . .

I love this quote, which is an excerpt from a sermon that was in the Office of Readings last week.

King's blog post is an excerpt from her Patheos column, in which she interprets the meaning of St. Peter's words based on her experiences of Lent. The following statement rings true for me at some level, but maybe in a less hyperbolical form. "Fasting reminds us that our culture is one giant narcotic and if we don't pay attention, we can skate through our whole lives anesthetized, asleep, numb." I would say our culture is soft and comfortable, excessively so. Consequently we can cushion ourselves from suffering, ours and that of others.

But I have picked out just one of many good points in Heather King's essay. Check it out. It's very well-written and thought-provoking.

Lent 2011, Day 27: Pray and Read

2011-04-04T10:15:00.000-07:00

Saint Isidore of Seville

Today is the feast day of Saint Isidore of Seville. One thing I have learned about Saint Isidore is that he tried to compile all the knowledge available during his time in history into what, today, we would call an encyclopedia. Because of this, he is considered the patron saint of the Internet, which is a place where, today, we can learn about almost everything.

The following quotation is attributed to him, but the highlights are mine.

Prayer purifies us, reading instructs us. Both are good when both are possible. Otherwise, prayer is better than reading. If a man wants to be always in God’s company, he must pray regularly and read regularly. When we pray, we talk to God; when we read, God talks to us. All spiritual growth comes from reading and reflection. By reading we learn what we did not know; by reflection we retain what we have learned. Reading the holy Scriptures confers two benefits. It trains the mind to understand them; it turns man’s attention from the follies of the world and leads him to the love of God. The conscientious reader will be more concerned to carry out what he has read than merely to acquire knowledge of it. In reading we aim at knowing, but we must put into practice what we have learned in our course of study. The more you devote yourself to study of the sacred utterances, the richer will be your understanding of them, just as the more the soil is tilled, the richer the harvest. The man who is slow to grasp things but who really tries hard is rewarded, equally he who does not cultivate his God-given intellectual ability is condemned for despising his gifts and sinning by sloth. Learning unsupported by grace may get into our ears; it never reaches the heart. But when God’s grace touches our innermost minds to bring understanding, his word which has been received by the ear sinks deep into the heart. Book of Maxims ~ from by Saint Isidore

This quotation speaks to my experience of learning about God. I have learned to love God through both prayer and reading. The two feed into and complement each other. When I read something of a spiritual nature; e.g., holy scripture, the life of a saint, a text about prayer, it leads me to prayer. It leads me to wonder and awe for God and his goodness. But, as the saint says, if you can choose just one of these activities, then prayer is the better choice.

Your may learn a great deal more about this saint here.

Saturday Evening Blog Post

2011-04-02T11:25:00.000-07:00

The Saturday Evening blog post is hosted by Elizabeth Esther on the first Saturday of each month. Meander on over there to find out what it's all about and how to post your favorite from the previous month.

This time I chose to post "Be Holy."

Lent 2011, Day 24: Have Mercy, Tender God

2011-04-01T07:50:00.000-07:00

Psalm 51

Have mercy, tender God,
forget the I defied you.
Wash away my sin,
cleanse me from my guilt.

I know my evil well,
it stares me in the face,
evil done to you alone
before your very eyes.

How right your condemnation!
Your verdict clearly just.
You see me for what I am
a sinner before my birth.

You love those centered in truth;
in wisdom center me.
Wash me with fresh waster;
wash me bright as snow.

Fill me with happy songs;
let my bruised bones dance.
Shut your eyes to my sin;
make my guilt disappear.

Creator, reshape my heart.
God, steady my spirit.
Do not cast me aside
stripped of your holy spirit.

Save me, bring back my joy,
support me, strengthen my will.
Then I will teach your way
and sinners will turn to you.

Help me, stop my tears,
and I will sing your goodness.
Lord, give me words
and I will shout your praise.

When I offer a holocaust,
the gift does not please you.
So I offer my shattered spirit;
a changed heart you welcome.

In you love make Zion lovely.
Rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
Then sacrifice will please you,
young bulls upon your altar.

Source: Dominican Liturgy of the Hours

Rest in Peace, Sister Helen (Update)

2011-03-31T23:00:00.000-07:00

Sister Helen Hermreck, OSU - November 24, 1923 - March 27, 2011

Sister Helen served as pastoral minister at my parish from 1980 until she retired in 2005. After leaving us because of advanced age and declining health, she returned to the Ursuline Motherhouse in Paola, Kansas. This photo was taken when Sister celebrated 65 years of religious life. In all she was a Sister for 72 years.

Read more about Sister Helen and her life here.

Our parish, St. Patrick, Placerville, CA, will hold a memorial Mass followed by a reception in her honor on April 5th at 6 p.m.

Lent 2011, Day 22: Glorify the Lord with Me!

2011-03-30T14:46:00.000-07:00

God is ineffable. Nevertheless, we creatures try to describe the attributes of God, our Creator.

God is ...

infinite!

all-knowing!

almighty!

all-merciful!

love!

beauty!

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Lent 2011, Day 20: Athirst for God

2011-03-28T14:14:00.000-07:00

At this morning's daily Mass I heard and took to heart the words of today's Responsorial Psalm:

Athirst is my soul for the living God.

When shall I go and behold the face of God?

Psalm 42: 3

Often during these days of my retirement, I ponder these and similar words from Scripture that express my longing for God. Because of my age, I am aware that these are the waning years of my life. Yet, I have no idea of God's plan for when or how my life will end.

Does facing the end of life frighten me? Should it? Quite honestly, I've been looking forward to eternal life for what seems a long, long time. Before I understood the concept of sin, I understood the concepts of happiness and unhappiness, at least in a simple way. The following excerpt is from an essay I posted here about my first catechism class:

By the end of my first class session of religious instruction I had ... learned my destiny and the meaning of my life---the reason why God had made me. “God made me to show forth His goodness and to share with me His everlasting happiness in heaven.” Sister Mary Luke talked to us about heaven and about happiness. Heaven is where God lives, and when we get there we can see God face to face. And heaven is a place where it is happy all the time. This idea of being happy all the time certainly attracted me.

Next I learned that to get to heaven I must "know, love, and serve God in this world.” So, this was why I would be coming to catechism classes. This was the place to “know” about God. I didn’t yet understand there was another kind of knowing that would lead to the loving and serving part. But a new “vision” had emerged for me. This was faith. My faith came alive. Hearing the answers to all those questions about God resonated within me. I was sure it was true, and I accepted these truths with joy. Faith comes through hearing. (cf. Romans 10:17)

This desire for heaven doesn't mean I'm miserable in this life. Instead it means I'm conscious of the temporality of this life, and aware of being in exile. I yearn for something more, yet understand I'm participating in God's plan for me now. I trust God's wisdom as to when it will be time for me to see Him face to face. Patience is a virtue!!!

Send forth your light and your fidelity;

they shall lead me on

And bring me to your holy mountain,

to your dwelling-place.

Psalm 43: 3

Practicing the Presence of God

2011-03-25T23:01:00.000-07:00

A particular sentence from Letter 9, "To a Woman," in The Practice of the Presence of God clearly resonated with me! Brother Lawrence wrote, “Courage, we have only a short time left to live: you are nearly sixty-four and I am almost eighty.” He likes to be blunt doesn’t he!

A recurring comment from Brother Lawrence is how easy it is to practice the presence of God. As he puts it, “God does not ask a great deal of us: a brief remembrance from time to time, a brief act of adoration, occasionally to ask him for his grace or offer him your sufferings, at other times to thank him for the graces he has given you and is giving you.” And I agree, it is easy!

Here is one of several ways that I have been trying to integrate the practice of the presence of God in my daily routine: When I am driving, which is daily, I notice the power poles with the cross bars that are alongside the roads. They remind me of the cross on which Jesus died. It’s easy to whisper little prayers like:

Thank you, Jesus, for your merciful love.

Have mercy on me, Lord. Forgive my sins.

I adore you, O Christ, and I bless you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Please send your grace, blessings and mercy to _____________. (I fill in the blank with the intention of someone who is suffering, in harm’s way or who otherwise needs my prayers.)

Growing Old

2011-03-25T22:43:00.000-07:00

Reason Growing Dim

Does your reason now grow dim?

Do you now find it hard to think clearly?

Does logic seem like a hammer in your head,

Battering your soft brain into a pulp?

Perhaps age is weakening your mind.

Perhaps your reason is fading with the years.

Or perhaps you have seen the limits of logic,

And recognized how little logic can discern.

Whether age or wisdom is the cause,

Welcome the confusion of your thoughts.

Out of chaos God created the world.

Out of confusion truth appears.

Source: Celtic Praise by Robert Van de Weyer

Lent 2011, Day 17: Nothing Is Impossible for God!

2011-03-25T13:28:00.000-07:00


Icon of the Annunciation

For nothing will be impossible for God.

Luke 1: 37

     Today we celebrate the day Mary conceived Jesus in her womb by the power of the Holy Spirit. "The word was made flesh." (John 1: 14) How was such an event possible? By human standards it is hard to believe. Even Mary gently questioned the possibility. But the Archangel Gabriel helped her to understand by explaining that her cousin Elizabeth, who was past childbearing age, had also conceived a child.
     At daily Mass this morning our pastor said the most important words from the gospel reading are, "Nothing will be impossible for God." Of course! Isn't it a no brainer? If God can create something out of nothing, then he could easily use his power to give Mary a virginal conception.
     Moreover, God can do so many things that defy our human understanding. God can change bread and wine into his body and blood. He can walk on water, change water into wine, give sight to the blind, and raise the dead to life. In short, God can do miracles!

Lent 2011, Day 15: Recollection

2011-03-23T17:09:00.000-07:00

Teresa of Avila recommends a prayer practice that she calls Recollection. Briefly, Teresa says recollection is "prayer in which the soul collects its faculties and enters within to be with its God." She says imagine that God in near, not far away. Isn't this what our faith tells us? As persons of faith and baptized Christians we are temples of the Holy Spirit. (Compendium: Catechism of the Catholic Church, #147) Teresa taught this presence is like having heaven within us.

In recollection, we listen to what we are saying; that is, the meaning of the words we speak. We gently avoid thoughtless babble and distractions. Likewise, we listen to the one to whom we are speaking; that is, God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In the beginning this prayer takes personal effort, because we are trying to develop a habit of slowing down our thoughts and attending to God who is present within. Teresa strongly suggests closing ones eyes, because that is a means of closing off or withdrawing from exterior things.

The Prayer of Recollection is to be practiced often throughout the day. To me, this sounds very much like Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection's Practice of the Presence of God. Faithfulness to the practice of this way of prayer leads to deeper and deeper intimacy with God.

The books Saint Teresa of Avila wrote contain her spiritual teachings. Anyone who seriously aspires to intimacy with God would do well to read her books. Keep in mind, too, that Teresa is a Doctor of the Church.

Teresa's autobiography, Life, tells of her own spiritual development. Her spiritual teachings can be found in The Way of Perfection and The Interior Castle. The latter two books now have a study edition, which I recommend, because the author(s) present each chapter followed by interpretive notes and questions that help the reader apply Teresa's teachings to his or her own life. Both books also contain a glossary that helps clarify terms used in her writings.

Lent 2011, Day 13: Perfection

2011-03-21T16:18:00.000-07:00

From today's gospel reading, Luke 6: 36-38, we hear Jesus saying:

Be compassionate, as your Father is compassionate.

The evangelist was writing about Jesus' teaching that we love our enemies and do good to those who hate and persecute us. I find Luke's statement both attractive and possibly attainable.

The Responsorial Psalm of today is from Psalm 79.

Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.

Remember not against us the iniquities of the past;

may your compassion quickly come to us,

for we are brought very low.

Compassion is what I want from God in the form of his mercy and forgiveness of my sins, so it seems only fair that I would, in turn, give what I have received to others. Easier said than done, though. Yet I have to remember and believe that all things really are possible with God's grace, and he wants very much to give us his grace.

Deep down I have the appreciation that my salvation depends on applying Jesus' hard teachings in the nitty-gritty of my daily life, in my relationships at every level. I trust in the power of God's grace to strengthen me.

Lent 2011, Day 11: Joseph, a Hidden and Holy Life

2011-03-19T11:59:00.000-07:00

Today is the Solemnity of Joseph, the Husband of Mary.

Fr. Jim Martin tweeted, "Joseph led a hidden life--doing simple things not written about in the Gospels, but which formed Jesus. Hidden lives are holy lives." Isn't that how most of the holy people you know live their lives? That has certainly been my experience. Most of us live lives of obscurity and mystery. The goodness of which we are capable and give to others is known only to God. Fr. Martin highlights this aspect of Saint Joseph in the following video.

Many saints have had a deep devotion to Saint Joseph, especially the well-known Carmelite, Saint Teresa of Avila. She said, "I have never known anyone to be truly devoted to St. Joseph who did not noticeably advance in virtue, for he gives very real help to souls who commend themselves to him."

Holy Saint Joseph!

Pray for us.

Related: a post I originally wrote in 2009.

Lent, Day 10: Where Is My Home?

2011-03-18T22:07:00.000-07:00

Where is my home?

Is it the house where I live,

The garden where I sit in summer,

The country where I roam,

Or the church where I worship?

The place I call home

Is where my heart is at rest

When it turns to God in prayer.

So wherever I pray is home.

Source Celtic Praise: A Book of Celtic Devotions,
Daily Prayers and Blessings by Robert Van de Weyer.

Lent, Day 9: Happy Saint Patrick Day!

2011-03-17T08:07:00.000-07:00

Saint Patrick, Patron of Ireland

I attribute the fact that I have the Faith to the missionary efforts of St. Patrick and the many Irish missionaries who left Ireland to evangelize other countries. This image of the Saint is rich in symbolism. Following is what is written on the reverse side of the above image, which is on a greeting card.

Saint Patrick is shown here carrying a Celtic crozier and his Bible case. Draped over his arm is a bell used by Irish saints to summon God. At his right shoulder are the pagan stone of the Druids, whom he converted, and the holy fire the saint lit in defiance of the pagan priests. At his feet to the right are the Wee Folk, with a leprechaun repairing his shoes, worn our by all his traveling.

Patrick is shown after forty days of Lent driving the snakes out of Ireland. From out of his cloak on the left are emerging Saint Columbanus, the missionary, Saint Columba, the patron of poets, carrying his harp, and Saint Bridget, carrying a bucket of milk. The three are leading a parade of saints. On the island to the left is the holy hermit Saint Ciaran, who represents all the Irish hermits. In a small boat to the right Saint Brendan is setting sail for the Land of Promise, America. Rising above the saint is a mighty thunderhead cloud, the Judaic-Christian symbol of God's presence in the saint's life.

Source: Greeting card designed by Edward Hayes

The following prayer is from the lyrics on a recording, The Pilgrim, by Shaun Davey:

The Deer’s Cry

(St. Patrick’s Breastplate)

I arise today

Through the strength of Heaven

Light of the sun

Radiance of moon

Splendor of fire

Speed of lightning

Swiftness of wind

Depth of the sea

Stability of earth

Firmness of rock

I arise today

Through God’s strength to pilot me

God’s eye to look before me

God’s wisdom to guide me

God’s way to lie before me

God’s shield to protect me

From all who shall wish me ill

Afar and anear

Alone and in a multitude

Against every cruel

Merciless power

That may oppose my body and soul

Christ with me, Christ before me

Christ behind me, Christ in me,

Christ beneath me, Christ above me,

Christ on my right, Christ on my left,

Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down

Christ when I arise, Christ to shield me

Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,

Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me

I arise today.

Lent 2011, Day 7: God's Word Is Effective

2011-03-15T15:46:00.000-07:00

At daily Mass today I heard heard these words proclaimed:

Just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down

And do not return there till they have watered the earth,

making it fertile and fruitful,

Giving seed to the one who sows and bread to the one who eats,

So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth;

It shall not return to me void,

but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it.

Isaiah 55: 10-11

As I write, it is raining outside. I watch as the soil absorbs the raindrops, leaving the ground soaked. Year after year this process repeats itself. But the ground varies from year to year. Although the trees are standing where they were a year ago, each has grown. This is especially obvious in the pine trees, which are 15 inches taller than they were last year. Changes in the deciduous trees are more subtle, yet not absent. Tiny trees, seedlings, have sprouted. Yes, the landscape is changed. It has, indeed, been rendered fertile and fruitful.

Every liturgical year the divine inspiration of God's Word rains down upon my spiritual landscape. I try to listen, not only with my ears, but also with my heart and soul. Although I have heard these words many times before, I have changed since the last time they were spoken. I am nourished anew.

Newly inspired, I act. Highly motivated, I strive to do God's will in my daily life. And what might that be? I believe I clearly heard the answer made known in today's Gospel.

If you forgive men their transgressions,

your heavenly Father will forgive you.

But if you do not forgive men,

neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.

Matthew 6: 14-15

Lent 2011, Day 6: Be Holy

2011-03-14T17:05:00.000-07:00

Be holy,

for I, the LORD, your God, am holy.

Lev. 19:2b

These words, written in the Book of Leviticus, sound to me like the LORD is commanding that His people be a holy people. In fact, the LORD goes on to give the children of Israel a series of directives that spell out for them what holiness looks like. The series ends with a summary of what all the directives add up to, and it's the second of the Great Commandments of Jesus.

You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Lev: 19:18b

Like the Israelites, we Christians are called by God, through Jesus Christ, to be holy. In his Sermon on the Mount Jesus sets the bar for love of neighbor very high, indeed, when he says:

... love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you,

that you may be children of your heavenly Father.

Mt. 5: 44-45a

So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Mt. 5: 48

Reflecting on these words from both the Old and New Testaments leads me to the realization that God asks of me nothing less than perfect love, a love that is all-inclusive, and a love that will sanctify me. Such a moral imperative seems, at first, to be over-whelming. One might even ask, "Is he serious?"

I believe the answer is, "Yes, the Lord is serious." If I desire to be a disciple, then I have to respond. Fortunately, the Lord also provides models and the help of grace to live out these Biblical imperatives. The models are Christ himself, his mother, Mary, and the "cloud of witnesses" we call saints. They followed the divine imperative, to be holy.

Lent 2011, Day 5: Becoming Like God

2011-03-13T12:00:00.000-07:00

Said the serpent to Eve:

You certainly will not die!

No, God knows well that the moment you eat of it your eyes will be opened

and you will be like gods who know what is good and what is evil.

The tempter said to Jesus:

If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.

If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written:

He will command his angels concerning you

and with their hand they will support you,

lest you dash your foot against a stone

All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me.

Eve and Adam yielded to the serpent. Jesus resisted.

Because our first parents succumbed, there were consequences of their disobedience, not only for themselves, but for all of their descendants down through the millennia and to the present. This story of The Fall of mankind has been handed on to us as an explanation of how evil entered into the world.

When, as a child, I heard this story, I felt so indignant. How unfair that all of us should be punished for the sins of two people. In contrast, I now see this story differently. The tree would still have been in the garden. The serpent would continue to prowl about looking for and likely finding someone who is spiritually weak. I am convinced that had Eve and Adam resisted the serpent someone from a subsequent generation would have succumbed. That someone might be me.

Fortunately, the story didn't end with The Fall. God promised a Savior.

Jesus, the Savior, withstood the tempter and went on to fulfill his Father's will, to redeem everyone. Just as we are bonded with our first parents, we are also bonded with Jesus. In Adam and Eve we are weak. In Jesus, we are strong. We are wounded by concupiscence, and thus, inclined toward sin. We will always struggle to do good and to avoid evil. However, through baptism, we are saved by grace, uniting us to Christ, in whom we can resist the tempter.

Then the devil left him and, behold, angels came and ministered to him.

Lord, send your holy angels to minister to us in times of temptation.

Amen!

Lent 2011, Day 3: Prayer of the Heart

2011-03-11T17:29:00.000-08:00

This is one of several forms of the Jesus Prayer

In chapter 6 of her book, Tools Matter, Sr. Meg explains the Jesus Prayer, the traditional practice of ceaseless prayer in the Christian tradition. There are many forms of the Jesus Prayer. Here are some of them:

Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Jesus, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Jesus, have mercy on me.

Jesus, mercy.

Kyrie Eleison.

Jesus

Says Sister Meg:

When this prayer is practiced over time, it drops into the heart and becomes the prayer of the heart. ... The invocation of the Holy Name of Jesus, which continues our baptismal immersion, brings our attention to Christ and Christ, in turn, dwells in us. The prayer warms the heart and becomes an experience of Presence. [Tools, p. 93]

Through training and practice the Jesus Prayer can become a prayer of the heart. There are three stages:

oral prayer or prayer of the lips. This is the beginning stage where the prayer is said aloud.
mental prayer: Over a period of time one will pray without using the lips and say the prayer silently in one's mind.
prayer of the heart: At this stage prayer is no longer something one does, but something one is.

For a more thorough explanation of the stages of the Jesus Prayer and other aspects of this prayer go to this website.

The Jesus Prayer is a practice for those who are called to it, and not everyone is. Sister Meg has this to say about being called:

We know we are called to it if these four conditions are present: (1) we feel drawn toward the invocation of the Name; (2) we see that the practice produces in us an increase of charity, purity, obedience, and peace; (3) we find the use of other prayer practices becoming somewhat difficult; and finally (4) we find that the Jesus Prayer simplifies and provides a unity to our spiritual life. [Tools, p. 97]

I learned of the Jesus Prayer decades ago when I read The Way of the Pilgrim and The Pilgrim Continues His Way. The pilgrim went on a journey to learn to pray continually or ceaselessly. It is a beautiful story. The story so inspired me that I did begin this practice and found it irresistible.

Lent 2011, Day 2: We Need God's Help in Everything

2011-03-10T13:30:00.000-08:00

From the Opening Prayer in today's Mass we hear, "Lord, may everything we do begin with your inspiration, continue with your help, and reach perfection under your guidance."

This prayer resonates with me as I enter into the Lenten season.

The work that I have begun for Lent is changing my heart with the help of God's grace, to conform more closely to His. I have designed a program of prayer, fasting, and alms giving that I believe has been inspired by the Holy Spirit. Daily I take a step or two in the right direction.

In a previous post I mentioned some spiritual reading that I have chosen.

The fasting component of my Lenten plan is to completely refrain from participating in social media. By taking an extended rest from these information technologies, I hope to rest in the Lord; to turn my mind and heart to Him more often through out the day; to listen to His voice without it being downed out by many other lesser voices.

To fast from these media will not be easy for me. It is truly a sacrifice, and I expect to be tempted to make exceptions here and there. So, as the prayer from today's Mass stresses, I will depend on God's help to reach perfection in this endeavor.

Please pray for me.

Suggestions for Lenten Sacrifices

Lent 2011, Day 1: Today Is Ash Wednesday

2011-03-09T13:11:00.000-08:00

Remember, man, you are dust and to dust you will return.

This morning I began my 2011 Lenten journey by driving to Georgetown for Mass at the Carmelite nuns monastery. There were many more Mass attendees than usual. We received ashes after the homily. Fr. Timmon's the celebrant used the same prayer formula for applying the ashes to our foreheads as he did last year, "Remember, man, that you are dust and to dust you will return." After Mass I had an opportunity for confession, the Sacrament of Penance. So, I confessed my sins and received absolution.

I returned home instead of going to the fitness center. I was concerned about people seeing my ashes. Normally that does not concern me. But in the Gospel of today's Mass Jesus warned his disciples, "Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father." The Holy Spirit seemed to be telling me that it would be better not to flaunt my ashes in this instance.

The following is a revision of a meditation I posted last year on Ash Wednesday.

We're All Terminal

“Remember, man, you are dust and to dust you will return.”

My older cousin Rick and I were sitting at our kitchen table discussing Boolean algebra when I was in high school. Out of no where he said, “We’re all terminal.” I remember nothing about Boolean algebra, but his surprising statement I do.

“…you are dust and to dust you will return.”

The morning’s drive was different. Instead of sunshine and clear skies, fog shrouded the landscape. I turned on my car’s headlights as I drove down our driveway to Riverwood.

“Remember, man, you are dust….”

On my route to Georgetown I drove through Gold Discovery State Park. The Coloma Cemetery is hidden behind the historic St. John’s Catholic Church. A sign at the cemetery’s entrance states:

Here rest men and women who saw the beauty and value of this land and chose to remain and build our community. We welcome your visit and request that you show respect by being quiet and orderly. Preserve these graves and markers. Take photographs only. Do not make rubbing transfers of tombstones.

Desecration of a cemetery is a felony.

“Remember, man, you are dust and to dust you will return.”

I stopped for gasoline at the Georgetown station. There was no line, so I was able to fill up immediately. Then I swung over to El Dorado Savings bank to fill up on cash at the ATM. There was no line there either. My wallet now fattened up, I drove on to the fitness center."

Driving, I glanced left at Pioneer Cemetery. The deciduous trees are still barren. The liquid maples had been dramatically colorful last November. Autumn in northern California is so much more subdued than autumn in Wisconsin.

“Remember….”

I wasn’t with mother at the moment she died. But I sat with her during her hospitalization. She had peritonitis. It was terrible. The doctors did what they could surgically to clean the area. She was also medicated with the most potent of antibiotics. For awhile it even seemed she would struggle through it. But, at 80 years of age, with so many pre-existing medical conditions---diabetes and heart problems---beating this was too much for her.

“… to dust you will return.”

“Does she realize, in her delirium, that I am sitting here with her?” I wondered. “Can she feel me holding her hand?” She talked all the time, rambling, making not much sense. She was worried about money. Was her checkbook balanced? Where were the papers for this or that? “Mother, rest. Everything will be okay.” How many times I spoke those words to her, the daughter comforting the mother.

I thought I heard her say clearly, “I love you.”

They were the last coherent words I heard from my mother.

My brother John was with mother in her final moments.

“… you will return.”

Fifteen months ago I retired. When I announced my impending retirement to friends and co-workers, the constant refrain was, “What are you going to do?” My pat response, “I’m not going to do anything, I’m going to be.” I’m busy being on Retirement Lane!

Planning my funeral is one goal for this lap of my life. There are some aspects I feel certain of. I want to be interred, not inurned. Yes, I really do want to return to dust, but not by being incinerated. Must I have a reason? Well a million years from now my remains could be a specimen for some paleontologist.

“Remember, man, you are dust and to dust you will return.”

One thing I love about being Catholic is Catholic funerals. I'll stay Catholic as long as it means I can have a Catholic funeral. Okay, that's not the only reason, but it helps---especially if there's an Irish touch to it. I want the hymn, "O Loving God," sung to the tune of "O, Danny Boy."

I do NOT want a eulogy.

“… you are dust and to dust you will return.”