Oct. 1, 2010 Friday: St. Therese of Lisieux

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I'm going to read you passages from diaries of two different women saints. While I read it, I want you to listen for the similarities between the two.

The first diary reads:
"Jesus made me feel that there really were souls who have no faith, and who, through the abuse of grace, lost this precious treasure, the source of the only real and pure joy. He permitted my soul to be invaded by the thickest darkness, and that the thought of heaven, up until then so sweet to me, be no longer anything but the cause of struggle and torment..."

The second diary from a different woman saint reads:
"The people damned in hell suffer an eternal punishment because they experience the loss of God. In my soul I feel the terrible pain of that loss. I feel that God does not want me, that He is not God and that He does not really exist."

We hear something similar in both don't we? There is desire in both saints to stay with the persons who have lost the sense of God--persons who search in darkness for a light, a hope, and a meaning. Why would these two women desire to be present with someone who is undergoing suffering, tormenting trials, and painful doubts about the existence of God? They desire it because they both understood what Jesus spoke from the Cross when he said, "I thirst."

Jesus was the thirsty one who sought to quench his thirst for love of souls. How many millions of souls he foresaw from the Cross who, out of their indifference, would plunge into darkness because they ceased looking for God's presence and His Love. Jesus needed apostles who would go in search of these souls, to bring light of hope for them. And Jesus found two little women who answered his call. The first was St. Therese of Lisieux, and the second was Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Both sought to quench the thirst of Jesus by foresaking their own feelings of closeness with God for someone who needed that presence. What a great price they paid for this sacrifice. Mother Teresa wrote in her diary, "The sisters and people think that my faith, my hope and my love are profoundly fulfilling me, and that intimacy with God and union with His will, live in my heart. If they only knew...only blind faith moves me along, because the truth is that all is darkness for me. Sometimes the agony of desolation is so great and at the same time the living hope for The Absent so profound, that the only prayer I am able to recite is: 'Sacred Heart of Jesus I place all my trust in You. I will quench your thirst for souls.'"

Sometimes people ask me, "Father, I'm faithful to mass and my prayers. I don't know why I'm feeling like God is so far from me, as if He is silent?" I then ask them, "Have you at any time asked Jesus, 'Lord, I'm willing to suffer for someone. If you need me, I will do it for the love of you.'" And inevitably, that person will say, "Yes, Father. I forgot that I asked Jesus a while ago." Then I reply, "What a great privilege! You have joined the ranks of St. Therese and Mother Teresa in quenching the thirst of Jesus on the Cross." 

Sept. 30, 2010 Thursday: Imitation of Christ

Book 1: Chapter 11

ACQUIRING PEACE AND ZEAL FOR PERFECTION

WE SHOULD enjoy much peace if we did not concern ourselves with what others say and do, for these are no concern of ours. How can a man who meddles in affairs not his own, who seeks strange distractions, and who is little or seldom inwardly recollected, live long in peace?

Blessed are the simple of heart for they shall enjoy peace in abundance.

Why were some of the saints so perfect and so given to contemplation? Because they tried to mortify entirely in themselves all earthly desires, and thus they were able to attach themselves to God with all their heart and freely to concentrate their innermost thoughts.

We are too occupied with our own whims and fancies, too taken up with passing things. Rarely do we completely conquer even one vice, and we are not inflamed with the desire to improve ourselves day by day; hence, we remain cold and indifferent. If we mortified our bodies perfectly and allowed no distractions to enter our minds, we could appreciate divine things and experience something of heavenly contemplation.

The greatest obstacle, indeed, the only obstacle, is that we are not free from passions and lusts, that we do not try to follow the perfect way of the saints. Thus when we encounter some slight difficulty, we are too easily dejected and turn to human consolations. If we tried, however, to stand as brave men in battle, the help of the Lord from heaven would surely sustain us. For He Who gives us the opportunity of fighting for victory, is ready to help those who carry on and trust in His grace.

If we let our progress in religious life depend on the observance of its externals alone, our devotion will quickly come to an end. Let us, then, lay the ax to the root that we may be freed from our passions and thus have peace of mind.

If we were to uproot only one vice each year, we should soon become perfect. The contrary, however, is often the case -- we feel that we were better and purer in the first fervor of our conversion than we are after many years in the practice of our faith. Our fervor and progress ought to increase day by day; yet it is now considered noteworthy if a man can retain even a part of his first fervor.

If we did a little violence to ourselves at the start, we should afterwards be able to do all things with ease and joy. It is hard to break old habits, but harder still to go against our will.

If you do not overcome small, trifling things, how will you overcome the more difficult? Resist temptations in the beginning, and unlearn the evil habit lest perhaps, little by little, it lead to a more evil one.

If you but consider what peace a good life will bring to yourself and what joy it will give to others, I think you will be more concerned about your spiritual progress.

Sept. 29, 2010 Wednesday: The Feast of Archangels

Click to hear the audio homily
(Homily given at St. Michael's High School Mass)

Here is an interesting question for all of us: "What is your personal relationship with angels?"

Padre Pio frequently sent his angel to someone who needed help. For example, Father Alessio Parente was assigned to assist the fragile monk from the chapel to his monastic cell every day. But Father Parente had a habit of oversleeping. Often he wouldn't hear his alarm clock or, half awake, he would switch it off. "Every time I overslept," he says, "I heard a voice in my sleep saying, 'Alessio, Alessio, come down!' and a knocking at my door. Realizing I was late, I would jump out of bed and run out into the corridor to see who called me, but there was nobody there. I would race down to the church and there I invariably found Padre Pio at the end of Mass giving the last blessing.

"One day I was sitting by Padre Pio's side, feeling ashamed at my lack of punctuality. I was trying to explain to him that I never seemed to hear the alarm, but he interrupted me. 'Yes, I understand you,' he said. 'But do you think I will continue to send my guardian angel every day to wake you? You'd better go and buy yourself a new clock.'

On another occasion, an Italian girl, hearing of this saintly friar, sent her angel to ask for good health for her Uncle Fred. The girl then decided to visit Padre Pio. When she approached him, he joked with her: "Your angel kept me up all night, asking for a cure for your Uncle Fred!"

Do you ever wonder if your prayer is ever heard? If you prepare your hearts and minds through prayer, your angel will take them to Heavenly Father and you may hear your angel coming back with a message from the Heavenly Father for you. I named my guardian angel, St. Michael, and I ask him to do all sorts of things for me. I'm especially bad with my memory. I have countless number of people who ask me, "Father, please pray for Susan...for my uncle...for so and so..." Do you think I can remember all of their names? I ask St. Michael to remember them, and at mass I ask the Lord, "Lord I would like to offer this mass for all those that St. Michael remembers."

On other occasions, I ask St. Michael, "Please protect me while I'm driving, especially when I get sleepy." So I imagine flying beside my little Scion XB is St. Michael. Sometimes, I have to go to dangerous neighborhood or at night to anoint someone who is sick. Then I ask, "St. Michael, please stand by me and protect me from any persons or demons with evil intent." But just as our Archangels and guardian angels protect us from our enemies, we have to help defend those who are vulnerable from the evil in the world. And that could be standing up for someone who is getting bullied right here in our school. What would you do when you see someone being bullied or being pressured into doing something that they know is wrong? Ask St. Michael, St. Raphael, and St. Gabriel to protect you and to stand by you.

Sept. 28,2010 Tuesday: Imitation of Christ

Imitation of Christ: Book 3, Ch 29

HOW WE MUST CALL UPON AND BLESS THE LORD WHEN TROUBLE PRESSES

THE DISCIPLE:

BLESSED be Your name forever, O Lord, Who have willed that this temptation and trouble come upon me. I cannot escape it, yet I must fly to You that You may help me and turn it to my good. Now I am troubled, Lord, and my heart is not at rest, for I am greatly afflicted by this present suffering.

Beloved Father, what shall I say? I am straitened in harsh ways. Save me from this hour to which, however, I am come that You may be glorified when I am deeply humbled and freed by You. May it please You, then, to deliver me, Lord, for what can I, poor wretch that I am, do or where can I go without You? Give me patience, Lord, even now. Help me, my God, and I will not be afraid however much I may be distressed.

But here, in the midst of these troubles, what shall I say? Your will be done, Lord. I have richly deserved to be troubled and distressed. But I must bear it. Would that I could do so patiently, until the storm passes and calm returns! Yet Your almighty hand can take this temptation from me, or lighten its attack so that I do not altogether sink beneath it, as You, my God, my Mercy, have very often done for me before. And the more difficult my plight, the easier for You is this change of the right hand of the Most High.

Sept. 26, 2010: 26th Sunday Ordinary Time (C)

Click to hear audio homily

The other night I was coming out of Our Lady of the Lake hospital at from anointing someone. In the parking garage, parked next to my car was Fr. Mark Beard's car. I thought to myself, he must be here for one of his parishioners. Then it dawned on me who he came to visit. A parishioner told me that Fr. Mark has been visiting daily a 23 month old child who drowned and was now in the intensive care unit with little or no brain activity. I was also told that parishioners of this child's parent's parish held a rosary late in the evening at the church. The church was standing room only, and everyone poured out their heart, imploring Blessed Mother to intercede on behalf of that child. It was truly a moving experience for all who were there. A little 2-yr old child taught everyone there to look beyond their own wants and to seek the desire of the Heavenly Father.

Another person's suffering has a way of drawing us out of ourselves. Sometimes, another person's suffering reminds us how self-absorbed we are. How many of us frown, get frustrated, or even get angry when we are bothered or when we are asked to do something we don't want? I remember when I was a seminarian serving at a parish during summer. An elderly man from the parish invited me to his house in the evening. I thought we were going to chat or do something interesting, but instead, he only wanted me to watch with him, "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air" starring Will Smith. The entire 30 minutes, I was sitting next to him wondering, "What a corny and boring show! I could be doing something more constructive like reading a good spiritual book." I muttered to that elderly man that I had an appointment to attend to and left. And you know, all that elderly man wanted was a company for an hour, because he had no family members visiting him. How self-absorbed I was, only caring about my own wants! A seminarian friend of mine used to joke with me with all the histrionics, "What about me! What about my wants!"

Padre Pio ("St. Pio of Pietricina", 1887-1968) whose feast day we celebrated this week said, “The life of a Christian is nothing but a perpetual struggle against self; there is no flowering of the soul to the beauty of its perfection except at the price of pain.”   Padre Pio knew a lot about pain and suffering. For 50 years, he had the stigmata, the wounds of Christ--the palm of his hands, the feet, and his side bled. In fact, I brought the relic of Padre Pio to our church for veneration this week. This particular relic is a small piece of blood-stained gauze that was once wrapped around his side as he bled. The question is why did God give us a saint who suffered like Jesus? Perhaps Padre Pio's own answers offer a clue. A close friend asked him:


Father, what time during the day do you suffer the most?
– During the celebration of the Holy Mass.

Father, is it true that you suffer the torment of the crowning of thorns during the Holy Mass?
– And you doubt it?
During the whole Mass?

– And also before and after it. The crown is never taken away.


Father, at the Divine Sacrifice of the mass, do you take our sins on yourself?
– It is impossible to do it differently, as it is part of the Divine Sacrifice.

Why would a man take on the suffering of another? Would we so readily do it ourselves? We know we would do it for our own children or our spouse if they become ill. At such moments, we win the struggle against self-love and self-absorption, against our own desire for comfort, indulgence, and rest. Yet, Our Heavenly Father has given us the most perfect example in what His Son Jesus did and continues to do for us. At this Sunday mass, Jesus shows us how to win the struggle against self-absorption by self-giving love--to sacrifice for another. And how plainly he speaks to us at this altar--"My children, I am suffering for your sins; I am offering up my life for you. Do you see it?"

Look at what happens to the Rich Man in our gospel. We see a man who was self-absorbed, a man who never looked beyond his own wants. You can be rich or you can be poor and still be self-absorbed. "What about me! What about what I want!" Even in the netherworld, the Rich Man thinks only of himself. He asks Father Abraham to tell Lazarus to bring some cool water to quench his own thirst. Here is a man who never knew how to love--which requires winning a struggle against self-absorption. And like the Rich Man, some of us never taught our own children how to win the struggle against self-absorption; those children, even those in the church, never learned to self-sacrifice, hence did not learn how to love. 

Those people gathered at the standing-room-only church to pray the rosary for the 2-year old child learned something important that day. By praying for one another, they learned to love as Our Lord Jesus loved, to sacrifice self for another. 

Sept. 24, 2010 Friday: Imitation of Christ

Click to hear audio homily 

Imitation of Christ
Book 1: Chapter 25

ZEAL IN AMENDING OUR LIVES

BE WATCHFUL and diligent in God's service and often think of why you left the world and came here. Was it not that you might live for God and become a spiritual man? Strive earnestly for perfection, then, because in a short time you will receive the reward of your labor, and neither fear nor sorrow shall come upon you at the hour of death.

Labor a little now, and soon you shall find great rest, in truth, eternal joy; for if you continue faithful and diligent in doing, God will undoubtedly be faithful and generous in rewarding. Continue to have reasonable hope of gaining salvation, but do not act as though you were certain of it lest you grow indolent and proud.

One day when a certain man who wavered often and anxiously between hope and fear was struck with sadness, he knelt in humble prayer before the altar of a church. While meditating on these things, he said: "Oh if I but knew whether I should persevere to the end!" Instantly he heard within the divine answer: "If you knew this, what would you do? Do now what you would do then and you will be quite secure." Immediately consoled and comforted, he resigned himself to the divine will and the anxious uncertainty ceased. His curiosity no longer sought to know what the future held for him, and he tried instead to find the perfect, the acceptable will of God in the beginning and end of every good work.

"Trust thou in the Lord and do good," says the Prophet; "dwell in the land and thou shalt feed on its riches."[7]

There is one thing that keeps many from zealously improving their lives, that is, dread of the difficulty, the toil of battle. Certainly they who try bravely to overcome the most difficult and unpleasant obstacles far outstrip others in the pursuit of virtue. A man makes the most progress and merits the most grace precisely in those matters wherein he gains the greatest victories over self and most mortifies his will. True, each one has his own difficulties to meet and conquer, but a diligent and sincere man will make greater progress even though he have more passions than one who is more even-tempered but less concerned about virtue.

Two things particularly further improvement -- to withdraw oneself forcibly from those vices to which nature is viciously inclined, and to work fervently for those graces which are most needed.

Study also to guard against and to overcome the faults which in others very frequently displease you. Make the best of every opportunity, so that if you see or hear good example you may be moved to imitate it. On the other hand, take care lest you be guilty of those things which you consider reprehensible, or if you have ever been guilty of them, try to correct yourself as soon as possible. As you see others, so they see you.

How pleasant and sweet to behold brethren fervent and devout, well mannered and disciplined! How sad and painful to see them wandering in dissolution, not practicing the things to which they are called! How hurtful it is to neglect the purpose of their vocation and to attend to what is not their business!

Remember the purpose you have undertaken, and keep in mind the image of the Crucified. Even though you may have walked for many years on the pathway to God, you may well be ashamed if, with the image of Christ before you, you do not try to make yourself still more like Him.

The religious who concerns himself intently and devoutly with our Lord's most holy life and passion will find there an abundance of all things useful and necessary for him. He need not seek for anything better than Jesus.

If the Crucified should come to our hearts, how quickly and abundantly we would learn!

A fervent religious accepts all the things that are commanded him and does them well, but a negligent and lukewarm religious has trial upon trial, and suffers anguish from every side because he has no consolation within and is forbidden to seek it from without. The religious who does not live up to his rule exposes himself to dreadful ruin, and he who wishes to be more free and untrammeled will always be in trouble, for something or other will always displease him.

Sept. 23, 2010 Thursday: Padre Pio

If you ever had seen photos of St. Padre Pio celebrating mass, he is always gazing at the Host or the chalice with such rapt attention as if he was gazing at something so incredible before him. I bought a little booklet when I went to Padre Pio’s place in Italy this past June, and I want to read a little bit to you which will reveal the inner mystery of the Eucharist and the Sacrifice of Mass.


Someone asked him, “Padre, in what hour of the day do you suffer most?”

He replied, “During the celebration of Mass.”

“Padre, at what moment of the divine Sacrifice do you suffer most?”

He replied, “From the Consecration to Communion.”

“Padre, at what part of the Mass are you scourged?”

He replied, “From beginning to end, but more intensely after the Consecration.”

“Padre, during Mass are the pricks of the crown of thorns and the wounds of the scouring real?”

He replied, “What do you mean? The results are

certainly the same.”

“Padre, why do you nearly always cry, when you read the Gospel during Mass?”

He replied, “And it’s of little account to you that God converses with His creatures? And is contradicted by them? And is continually hurt by their ingratitude and incredulity?”

“Padre, during your Mass, the crowd makes a lot of noise!”

He replied, “And if you had been at Calvary where there was shouting, blasphemy, noise and threats! There was a lot of noise then!”

“Padre, why do you suffer so much at the Consecration?”

He replied, “I would like to weep torrents of tears and not just a few tears! Don’t you reflect on the tremendous mystery? A God, victim for our sins! And we are His butchers.”

“Padre, why don’t you give us a little of your passion? What can I do to alleviate your Calvary?”

He replied, “Alleviate? You would do better to say overload. It is necessary to suffer!”

“Padre, it is painful to assist at your martyrdom without being able to help you!”

He replied, “The Sorrowful Virgin too had to assist. Certainly for Jesus it was more of a

comfort to have a sorrowful mother rather than an indifferent one.”

“Padre, what did the Virgin do at the feet of Jesus crucified?”

He replied, “She suffered to see her Son suffer. She offered the sufferings and pains of Jesus to the heavenly Father for our salvation.”

“Padre, what is Holy Communion?

He replied, “It is all an internal and external mercy. An embrace. Ask Jesus to make Himself felt sensibly.”

“Padre, what does Jesus do at Communion?”

He replied, “He finds delight in

His creature...Communion is a fusion. Like two candles that melt together and are no longer distinguishable.”

“Padre, why do you cry when you receive Communion?”

He replied, “If the Church exclaims: ‘You did not disdain the womb of the Virgin,’ speaking of the Incarnation, what is to be said of us wretches?”

“Padre, what union will we have in heaven with Jesus?”

He replied, “Ah! The Eucharist gives an idea.”

“Padre, does the Most Holy Virgin assist at your Masses?”

He replied, “And do you imagine the Mother is not interested in her Son?”

“Padre, do the angels assist at your Masses?”

He replied, “In throngs.”

“What do they do?”

He replied, “They adore and they love.”

“Padre, who is closest to your altar?”

He replied, “The whole of Paradise.”



Through the experience of Padre Pio who was so united to Our Lord in His Passion, we can begin to see why we should be crying with sorrow and gratitude. Believe me, there are times when I celebrate mass without attention. How many souls are affected then by my indifference and lack of attention! What fruitfulness is there if Jesus wants to seek and heal one of his sons and daughters at mass, and yet his brother priest is refusing to carry the sacrifice of the Cross. Here I’m given the privilege to re-present the very suffering and redemption of All Loving God, and yet I’m distracted by profane and earthly concerns. Padre Pio would cry for me if he was concelebrating mass with me.

Sept. 22, 2010 Wednesday: From Imitation of Christ

Imitation of Christ
Book 4, Chapter 11

THE BODY OF CHRIST AND SACRED SCRIPTURE ARE MOST NECESSARY TO A FAITHFUL SOUL

THE DISCIPLE

O MOST sweet Lord Jesus, how great is the happiness of the devout soul that feasts upon You at Your banquet, where there is set before her to be eaten no other food but Yourself alone, her only Lover, most desired of all that her heart can desire!

To me it would be happiness, indeed, to shed tears in Your presence from the innermost depths of love, and like the pious Magdalen to wash Your feet with them. But where now is this devotion, this copious shedding of holy tears? Certainly in Your sight, before Your holy angels, my whole heart ought to be inflamed and weep for joy. For, hidden though You are beneath another form, I have You truly present in the Sacrament.

My eyes could not bear to behold You in Your own divine brightness, nor could the whole world stand in the splendor of the glory of Your majesty. In veiling Yourself in the Sacrament, therefore, You have regard for my weakness.

In truth, I possess and adore Him Whom the angels adore in heaven -- I as yet by faith, they face to face unveiled. I must be content with the light of the true faith and walk in it until the day of eternal brightness dawns and the shadow of figures passes away. When, moreover, that which is perfect shall have come, the need of sacraments shall cease, for the blessed in heavenly glory need no healing sacrament. Rejoicing endlessly in the presence of God, beholding His glory face to face, transformed from their own brightness to the brightness of the ineffable Deity, they taste the Word of God made flesh, as He was in the beginning and will remain in eternity.

Though mindful of these wonderful things, every spiritual solace becomes wearisome to me because so long as I do not plainly see the Lord in His glory, I consider everything I hear and see on earth of little account.

You are my witness, O God, that nothing can comfort me, no creature give me rest but You, my God, Whom I desire to contemplate forever. But this is not possible while I remain in mortal life, and, therefore, I must be very patient and submit myself to You in every desire.

Even Your saints, O Lord, who now rejoice with You in the kingdom of heaven, awaited the coming of Your glory with faith and great patience while they lived. What they believed, I believe. What they hoped for, I hope for, and whither they arrived, I trust I shall come by Your grace. Meanwhile I will walk in faith, strengthened by the example of the saints. I shall have, besides, for comfort and for the guidance of my life, the holy Books, and above all these, Your most holy Body for my special haven and refuge.

I feel there are especially necessary for me in this life two things without which its miseries would be unbearable. Confined here in this prison of the body I confess I need these two, food and light. Therefore, You have given me in my weakness Your sacred Flesh to refresh my soul and body, and You have set Your word as the guiding light for my feet. Without them I could not live aright, for the word of God is the light of my soul and Your Sacrament is the Bread of Life.

These also may be called the two tables, one here, one there, in the treasure house of holy Church. One is the table of the holy altar, having the holy Bread that is the precious Body of Christ. The other is the table of divine law, containing holy doctrine that teaches all the true faith and firmly leads them within the veil, the Holy of holies.

Thanks to You, Lord Jesus, Light of eternal light, for the table of Your holy teaching which You have prepared for us by Your servants, the prophets and Apostles and other learned men.

Thanks to You, Creator and Redeemer of men, Who, to declare Your love to all the world, have prepared a great supper in which You have placed before us as food not the lamb, the type of Yourself, but Your own most precious Body and Blood, making all the faithful glad in Your sacred banquet, intoxicating them with the chalice of salvation in which are all the delights of paradise; and the holy angels feast with us but with more happiness and sweetness.

Oh, how great and honorable is the office of the priest, to whom is given the consecration of the Lord of majesty in sacred words, whose lips bless Him, whose hands hold Him, whose tongue receives Him, and whose ministry it is to bring Him to others!

Oh, how clean those hands should be, how pure the lips, how sanctified the body, how immaculate the heart of the priest to whom the Author of all purity so often comes. No word but what is holy, none but what is good and profitable ought to come from the lips of the priest who so often receives the Sacrament of Christ. Single and modest should be the eyes accustomed to looking upon the Body of Christ. Pure and lifted up to heaven the hands accustomed to handle the Creator of heaven and earth. To priests above all it is written in the law: "Be ye holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy."

Let Your grace, almighty God, assist us, that we who have undertaken the office of the priesthood may serve You worthily and devoutly in all purity and with a good conscience. And if we cannot live as innocently as we ought, grant us at least to lament duly the wrongs we have committed and in the spirit of humility and the purpose of a good will to serve You more fervently in the future.

Sept. 20, 2010 Monday: St. Andrew Kim and Companions

The following is from the Office of Readings from today's feast day.

From the final exhortation of Andrew Kim Taegon, priest and martyr

Love and perseverance are the crown of faith

My brothers and sisters, my dearest friends, think again and again on this: God has ruled over all things in heaven and on earth from the beginning of time; then reflect on why and for what purpose he chose each one of us to be created in his own image and likeness. In this world of perils and hardship if we did not recognize the Lord as our Creator, there would be no benefit either in being born or in our continued existence. We have come into the world by God’s grace; by that same grace we have received baptism, entrance into the Church, and the honor of being called Christians. Yet what good will this do us if we are Christians in name alone and not in fact? We would have come into the world for nothing, we would have entered the Church for nothing, and we would have betrayed even God and his grace. It would be better never to have been born than to receive the grace of God and then to sin against him.

Look at the farmer who cultivates his rice fields. In season he plows, then fertilizes the earth; never counting the cost, he labors under the sun to nurture the seed he has planted. When harvest time comes and the rice crop is abundant, forgetting his labor and sweat, he rejoices with an exultant heart. But if the crop is sparse and there is nothing but straw and husks, the farmer broods over his toil and sweat and turns his back on that field with a disgust that is all the greater the harder he has toiled.

The Lord is like a farmer and we are the field of rice that he fertilizes with his grace and by the mystery of the incarnation and the redemption irrigates with his blood, in order that we will grow and reach maturity. When harvest time comes, the day of judgment, those who have grown to maturity in the grace of God will find the joy of adopted children in the kingdom of heaven; those who have not grown to maturity will become God’s enemies and, even though they were once his children, they will be punished according to their deeds for all eternity.

Dearest brothers and sisters: when he was in the world, the Lord Jesus bore countless sorrows and by his own passion and death founded his Church; now he gives it increase through the sufferings of his faithful. No matter how fiercely the powers of this world oppress and oppose the Church, they will never bring it down. Ever since his ascension and from the time of the apostles to the present, the Lord Jesus has made his Church grow even in the midst of tribulations.

For the last fifty or sixty years, ever since the coming of the Church to our own land of Korea, the faithful have suffered persecution over and over again. Persecution still rages and as a result many who are friends in the household of the faith, myself among them, have been thrown into prison and like you are experiencing severe distress. Because we have become the one Body, should not our hearts be grieved for the members who are suffering? Because of the human ties that bind us, should we not feel deeply the pain of our separation?

But, as the Scriptures say, God numbers the very hairs of our head and in his all-embracing providence he has care over us all. Persecution, therefore, can only be regarded as the command of the Lord or as a prize he gives or as a punishment he permits.

Hold fast, then, to the will of God and with all your heart fight the good fight under the leadership of Jesus; conquer again the diabolical power of this world that Christ has already vanquished.

I beg you not to fail in your love for one another, but to support one another and to stand fast until the Lord mercifully delivers us from our trials.

There are twenty of us in this place and by God’s grace we are so far all well. If any of us is executed, I ask you not to forget our families. I have many things to say, yet how can pen and paper capture what I feel? I end this letter. As we are all near the final ordeal, I urge you to remain steadfast in faith, so that at last we will all reach heaven and there rejoice together. I embrace you all in love.

Benedict XVI to youth of Scotland

• from Benedict XVI’s homily at Bellahouston Park, Glasgow this week on his visit to England:

Finally, I would like to say a word to you, my dear young Catholics of Scotland. I urge you to lead lives worthy of our Lord and of yourselves.

There are many temptations placed before you every day – drugs, money, sex, pornography, alcohol – which the world tells you will bring you happiness, yet these things are destructive and divisive.

There is only one thing which lasts: the love of Jesus Christ personally for each one of you.

Search for him, know him and love him, and he will set you free from slavery to the glittering but superficial existence frequently proposed by today’s society. Put aside what is worthless and learn of your own dignity as children of God.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus asks us to pray for vocations: I pray that many of you will know and love Jesus Christ and, through that encounter, will dedicate yourselves completely to God, especially those of you who are called to the priesthood and religious life.

This is the challenge the Lord gives to you today: the Church now belongs to you!

"Dear children! Today I call you, together with me, to begin to build the Kingdom of Heaven in your hearts; that you may forget that what is personal and – led by the example of my Son – think of what is of God. What does he desire of you? Do not permit satan to open the paths of of earthly happiness, the paths without my Son. My children, they are false and last a short while. My Son exists. I offer you eternal happiness and peace and unity with my Son, with God; I offer you the Kingdom of God. Thank you." Medjugorje message, August 2, 2010

from crownofstars.blogspot.com

Sept. 19, 2010: 25th Sunday Ordinary (C)

We are quite shrewd when it comes to finding a bargain or to getting the latest hot gadget. It is remarkable that people stood in lines for days to be the first ones to get their hands on the latest iPhone. It shows that ordinary people are capable of patience, perseverance, and sacrifice when the object they are pursuing is all worth it. I remember a couple of years ago when I was in line on my off-day at an Apple Store hoping to get an iPhone. I had scheduled spiritual direction in the afternoon, and I thought that I had plenty time to purchase a phone and head to the spiritual direction. But then two hours later and I was still five people behind in the line to get one. A thought came to my mind, "Should I persevere a little more here at the store and cancel spiritual direction?" An epic battle waged in my mind--'If I wait just 20 minutes longer I can get the new iPhone. I can reschedule spiritual direction. When am I going to come out here again?'--'Wait a minute, I'm putting iPhone over receiving God's direction of my life?' Then I tapped on the person behind me, "You have one better chance of getting your iPhone today," and I left for spiritual direction.

We know that we are capable of sacrifice and perseverance for something that we think will satisfy us. But are the very things that we sacrifice for worth it? A friend of mine who got the 3G version of iPhone was disappointed when he found out that only 6 months later the new 3GS version was announced. Worldly goods, by their nature, are always changing and evolving with our taste. Companies have big marketing departments to come up with compelling ads for us to change to a new model to upgrade so that their revenue stream will keep on flowing. I wondered what happens to all of our older computers, gadgets, and TVs that we discard for new models. I saw a PBS program recently on internet which showed Ghana as one of the Third World countries where digital trash is dumped.

This week, our staff at the church traveled to St. Martinville for a day of reflection at Our Lady of Sorrows Retreat Center (420 N. Main Street, St. Martinville, Louisiana). Our topic was "Prayer: Pray Lest You be Put to the Test!"  Fr. Michael Champagne lead the retreat. He spoke of the reasons we should pray. Prayer takes self-sacrifice, self-denial, and perseverance. But the reward is much greater than what worldly goods--power, money, sexual pleasure, athletics, cars, large homes, and other material possessions--have to offer. Prayer is a necessity. It gives us power. People would ask Mother Teresa, "Mother, you are one of the most powerful women in the world. What's your secret?" She would reply, "I pray." Prayer gives us intimacy with the Father, the source of power.

Prayer is the lifting of our minds and hearts to God. Just as a husband has to see his kids and wife face to face to remain intimate, we have to see the Father through prayer. It has to be scheduled and committed just as we make the commitment to be with family. It is God who gives us the love in our hearts to love Him back. Prayer is also petitioning or asking good things from God. St. Therese of Lisieux said prayer is a surging of the heart, a glance toward heaven. Yet many of us make boomerang prayer--a prayer that does not break the horizon of self, a prayer that is really directed toward self rather than toward God. "God I need this, I need that." It is not what I get out of it. How many children cease visiting their parents who have Alzheimer in nursing homes, because they are non-responsive? How many times do we stop praying because we feel God was not responsive?

Mother Teresa said to her sisters in the convent, "If you don't pray, you cannot stay." Fr. Champagne added, "If you don't pray, you won't stay." He commented how many priests and religious sisters have left their vocation because they did not pray. How many husbands and wives left their marriage because they did not pray? Prayer humbles us, admitting that we are dependent children of the Heavenly Father. When we don't pray, pride and self-love take over. Have you ever encountered persons who are filled with pride and self-love? It is not pleasant to be around them. They need prayer so they can humble themselves, to repent, and to change their hearts. Heavenly Father waits patiently and lovingly for us to turn to Him in prayer. 

Sept. 16 Thursday: Avoiding hasty judgment

"Now there was a sinful woman in the city who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee. Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment,
she stood behind him at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment.
When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner." (Luke 7:36-50) Today's Gospel

From Imitation of Christ, Book 1, Chapter 14

AVOIDING RASH JUDGMENT

TURN your attention upon yourself and beware of judging the deeds of other men, for in judging others a man labors vainly, often makes mistakes, and easily sins; whereas, in judging and taking stock of himself he does something that is always profitable.

We frequently judge that things are as we wish them to be, for through personal feeling true perspective is easily lost.

If God were the sole object of our desire, we should not be disturbed so easily by opposition to our opinions. But often something lurks within or happens from without to draw us along with it.

Many, unawares, seek themselves in the things they do. They seem even to enjoy peace of mind when things happen according to their wish and liking, but if otherwise than they desire, they are soon disturbed and saddened. Differences of feeling and opinion often divide friends and acquaintances, even those who are religious and devout.

An old habit is hard to break, and no one is willing to be led farther than he can see.

If you rely more upon your intelligence or industry than upon the virtue of submission to Jesus Christ, you will hardly, and in any case slowly, become an enlightened man. God wants us to be completely subject to Him and, through ardent love, to rise above all human wisdom.

Sept. 15, 2010 Wednesday: Our Lady of Sorrows

Thomas A Kempis (1380-1471) is well known for his spiritual writings some of which has been edited and assembled into the four books known as The Imitation of Christ. He also wrote extensively on Blessed Mother. Those writings have been compiled into four books known as The Imitation of Mary. On this Feast Day of Our Lady of Sorrows, I include here an excerpt from Book 2, Chapter 5: Mary's Communion with Jesus.
----------------
   I bless and praise and exalt you, holy Mary, my venerated Lady, for your pure and holy life that was so dear to God and the Angels--that life you spent with Jesus through long years of poverty and silence.
   It was tested by many sufferings and adversities; it is offered to all the followers of Jesus as an example to be devotedly imitated and also offered in a marvelous way to the universal Church until the end of time as a support in its trials.

   Be sorrowful now, my soul, with the sorrowing Virgin, the weeping Mother, loving Mary. If you love Mary, you should share her many sorrows with her, in order that she may help you in your sufferings.
   Stop for a moment, therefore, and learn from the Virgin Mary how to mourn, for her bitter tears can move your heart to its depths. See her at the foot of the Cross, racked by profound sorrow, this woman who on a day long past was filled with heavenly music at the manger.
   She is overwhelmed by the cruelty of the soldiers, this woman who at one time was honored by the royal Magi. She is covered with the blood of her Son, this woman who had been caressed by His candid gaze.
   See Him hanging on the Cross between two thieves, this Man Who had so often worked miracles among the people. Contemplate Him, turned almost into a leper by the destructive wounds, this Man Who had healed many lepers.
   Look at Him, overwhelmed by countless sufferings, this Man Who had rid the sick of their sufferings. Contemplate Him, conquered by death, this Man who had called dead Lazarus back to life. All joys are here turned into sorrows, everything sweet into bitterness.

   The radiant Star of the Sea is battered by many fearful storms, but her mind, which remains fixed on God, is not overcome by human malice. No, she stands upright by the Cross with unwearying patience, with persevering love, without fear of those who threaten her with death, without fleeing from those who curse her.
   She endures everything with peaceful soul and endeavors to stand beside her humiliated Son, giving no answer to her cruel enemies. She says no words of contempt, makes no sign of indignation. She only utters deep groans, weeps bitterly, grieves anxiously, shares closely in her Son's suffering, and is immensely afflicted.
   She does not grow angry with the crucifiers, but prays for the slanderers; she is saddened by those who deride and blaspheme Christ and she prays for them. Thus, she stands by the Cross in a sea of tears, and by her example of meekness brings a consoling patience to all in distress.

O all you who pass on the way to Calvary, look upon the sorrowful presence of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Look to the right of the Cross and see Mary, the Mother of Christ.
See to it then, devout soul, that you imprint these things on your heart. Be meek and courageous when the moment of temptation comes. Do not be troubled and do not despair if you are deprived of something you greatly love or if you are denied something you think necessary for you. The friend of Jesus are often tried by serious afflictions.
   After all, if God did not spare even His own Son but handed Him over to intense sufferings for the sake of us all, what claim do you have to better treatment? If Christ was not self-seeking but was obedient and ready to endure base and painful attacks, why do you fear fatigue and suffering?
   Why do you not rather embrace difficulties and hardships out of love for the crucified Jesus? If He stored up many afflictions for His holy Mother here on earth, if He allowed her to be often tried and to suffer greatly, how could you ever live without trials?

If you study all the friends of God, you will not find one who assailed the sea of this life without experiencing harsh trials. Take, then, from the sight of the crucified Christ and of His Blessed Mother, the example of unwearying patience, and you will never be afraid to endure sacrifices fo your salvation and for the recompense that will come to you from the infinite goodness of Jesus. If you act in this way, you will be able to enjoy the vision of His face for all eternity.

Sept. 14, 2010: Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Click to hear audio homily for the Feast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross

The Way of the Cross based on the Diary of St. Faustina: Divine Mercy in My Soul

Introductory Prayer:

Merciful Jesus, my Master, I desire to follow you in fidelity and imitate you each day with more perfection. For this reason I beg you, that through the meditation of your Passion, I may receive the grace of understanding each day with more perfection, the mysteries of the spiritual life. Mary, Mother of Mercy, always faithful to Christ, guide me through the steps of the sorrowful passion of your Son and grant me the necessary graces so that this Way of the Cross may be fruitful in my heart.


I STATION – Jesus is Condemned to Death.

Jesus to Saint Faustina: Do not be surprised that you are sometimes unjustly accused. I myself first drank this cup of undeserved suffering for love of you. (289). When I was before Herod, I obtained a grace for you, that you would be able to rise above human scorn and follow faithfully in my footsteps.(1164).

Saint Faustina: Jesus, we are sensitive to words and quickly want to answer back, without taking any regard as to whether it’s God’s will that we should speak. A silent soul is strong: no adversities will harm it if it perseveres in silence. The silent soul is capable of attaining the closest union with God. (477).

Merciful Jesus, help me accept each human judgment, do not ever allow me to judge you when judging my neighbor.

II STATION: Jesus takes up His Cross

Jesus to Saint Faustina: Do not be afraid of suffering, I am with you, (151 ). The more you will come to love suffering, the purer your love for Me will be. (279).

Saint Faustina: Oh Jesus, I thank you for the Little daily crosses, for opposition to my endeavors, for the hardships of communal life, for the misinterpretation of my intentions, for humiliations at the hands of others, for the harsh way in which we are treated, for false suspicions, for poor health and loss of strength, for self-denial, for dying to myself, for lack of recognition in everything, for the upsetting of all my plans. (343).

Merciful Jesus, teach me to appreciate the difficulties of life, sickness, each suffering, and with love take up my daily cross.

III STATION: Jesus falls for the first time.

Jesus to Saint Faustina: Involuntary offenses of souls do not hinder My love for them or prevent Me from uniting Myself with them. But voluntary offenses, obstruct my graces, and I cannot lavish My gifts on such souls. (1641).

Saint Faustina: Oh my Jesus, how prone i am to evil, and this forces me to be constantly vigilant. But I do not lose heart. I trust God’s grace, which abounds in the worst misery. (606).

Merciful Lord, keep me from any infidelity, even the smallest one, but voluntary and consent.

IV STATION: Jesus meets His Mother.

Jesus to Saint Faustina: Although all the work that come into being by My will are exposed to great sufferings, consider whether any of them has been subject to greater difficulties than that work which is directly Mine – The work of Redemption. You should not worry too much about adversities. (1643).

Saint Faustina: I saw the Blessed Mother (…), she came closet o me (…) and said these words: Be courageous. Do not fear apparent obstacles, but fix your gaze upon the Passion of My Son, and in this way you will be victorious. (449).

Mary, Mother of Mercy, be always with me, especially in suffering, in the same way that you were present in your Son’s way of the Cross.

V STATION: Simon Cyrene helps Jesus carry the Cross.

Jesus to Saint Faustina: I permit these adversities in order to increase his merit. I do not reward for good results but for the patience and hardship undergone for My sake. (86).

Saint Faustina: Oh, my Jesus, you do not give a reward for the successful performance of a work, but for the good will and the labor undertaken. Therefore, I am completely at peace, even if all my undertakings and effords should be thwarted or should come to naught. If I do all that is in my power, the rest is not my business. (952).

Jesus, that each thought, each word, each activitie may be done only for love of you. Purify my intentions.

VI STATION: Veronica wipes the face of Jesus.

Jesus to Saint Faustina: Know that whatever good you do for any soul, i accept it as if you had done it to Me. (1768).

Saint Faustina: I am learning how to be god from Jesus, from Him who is goodness itself, so that I might be called a daughter of the heavenly Father. (669). Great love can change small things into great ones, and it is only love which lends value to our actions. (303).

Lord Jesus. My Master, make my eyes, my hands, my mouth, my heart… merciful. Transform me into your Mercy.

VII STATION: Jesus falls for the second time.

Jesus to Saint Faustina: The cause of your falls is that you rely too much upon yourself and too Little on Me. (1488). You must know that on your own, you can’t do nothing. (639). You are not even capable of receiving my graces without my help. (738).

Saint Faustina: Jesus, do not leave me alone (..). You know, Lord, how weak I am. I am an abyss of wretchedness; I am nothingness itself; so what will be so strange if You leave me alone and I fall (1489). So You, Jesus, must stand by me constantly like a mother by a helpless child – and even more so. (264).

May I lean on your grace, Lord, so that I may not fall continuously on the same errors: and if I fall, help me rise and glorify your Mercy.

VIII STATION: Jesus consoles the women of Jerusalem.

Jesus to Saint Faustina: Oh, how pleasing to Me is a living faith! (1420). I desire that you would all have more faith at the present time (352).

Saint Faustina: I fervently beg the Lord to strengthen my faith, so that in my drab, everyday life I will not be guided by human depositions, but by those of the spirit. Oh, how everything drags man towards the earth! But lively faith maintains the soul in the highest regions and assigns self-love it’s proper place, that is to say, the lowest one. (210).

Merciful Lord, thank you for Holy Baptism and the grace of faith. I call you again. Lord, I believe, increase my faith!

IX STATION: Jesus falls for the third time.

Jesus to Saint Faustina: Know that the greatest obstacle to holiness are discouragement and an exaggerated anxiety. This will deprive you of the ability to practice virtue ( ...). I am always willing to forgive you. Every time you ask for it, you glorify my Mercy (1488).

Saint Faustina: Oh My Jesus, in spite of your graces. I see and feel all my misery. I begin my day with a battle and end it with a battle. As soon as I conquer one obstacle, ten more appear to take its place. But I am not worried, because I know that this is the time of struggle, not peace. (606

Merciful Lord, I give you everything that is my exclusive property, that is, sin and human frailty. I beg you, that my misery may be drown in your unfathomable Mercy.

X STATION: Jesus is stripped of His Garments.

Saint Faustina: Jesus was suddenly standing before me , stripped of His clothes, His body completely covered with wounds, His eyes flooded with tears and blood, His face disfigured and covered with spittle. The Lord then said to me: “The bride must resemble her Betrothed.”

Saint Faustina: I understood these words to the very depth. There’s no room for doubt here. My likeness to Jesus must be through suffering and humility(268).

Jesus, meek and humble of heart, transform my heart according to your Heart.

XI STATION: Jesus is nailed to the Cross.

Jesus to Saint Faustina: My pupil, have great love for those who cause you suffering. Do good to those who hate you (1628).

Saint Faustina: Oh my Jesus, you know what efforts are needed to live sincerely and unaffectedly with those from whom our nature flees, or with those who, deliberately or not, have made us suffer. Humanly speaking, this is impossible at such times more than others, I try to discover the Lord Jesus in such a person ad for this same Jesus, I do everything for such a people. (compare 766).

Oh purest Love, reign in all your plenitude in my heart and allow me to love more than what human measure allows me to. (compare 328).

XIV STATION: Jesus is laid in the tomb.

Jesus to Saint Faustina: You are not yet in your homeland; so go, fortified by My grace, and fight for My kingdom in human souls; fight as a king’s child would; and remember that the days of your exile will pass quickly, and with them the possibility of earning merits for heaven. I expect from you (…) a great number of souls who will glorify my mercy for all eternity (1489).

Saint Faustina: Every soul You have entrusted to me, Jesus, I will try to aid with prayer and sacrifice, so that your grace can work in them. Oh great Lover of souls, my Jesus, I thank you for this immense confidence with which You have deigned to place souls in our care. (245).

Merciful Lord, I beg you that not even one of the souls which you have entrusted to me, may be lost.

PRAYER AFTER THE WAY OF THE CROSS:
My Jesus, my only hope, I am grateful for this great book you have opened before the eyes of my soul. This great book is your Passion you have confronted out of love for me. From this book I have learned how to love God and souls. Inexhaustible treasures are stored in it (…) Oh Jesus, how few souls understand you in your martyrdom of love (…). Happy the soul that has understood the love from the Heart of Jesus (304).

from
www.piercedhearts.org

Sept. 12, 2010: 24th Sunday Ordinary (C)

Click to hear audio homily

What is a father? That's the question that was asked at the first meeting of That Man is You at our parish this weekend. Each of us can answer that question based on our own experience of our father. Then they showed us an example of a father: Dick Hoyt and his son, Rick.

After the video, there were some tears in our eyes. We watched a father who was told by a doctor that his newborn son had cerebral palsy and that he would spend the rest of his life in an institution. The doctor said to him that he should forget that Rick was ever born; he should send Rick to a state-run institution for the handicapped. He and his wife were horrified by the suggestion and said, "No way." The doctors kept saying that Rick would be nothing more than a vegetable. Dick and his wife couldn't imagine abandoning Rick and living a life without him, as if he had never existed. They said to themselves, no matter what was wrong with him, Rick was going to remain at home. They cried their entire way from the doctor's office. Back at home, they began to think about what it would cost to provide care for their son at home. They crunched some numbers, and realized that it wasn't going to be easy. Beginning that day, Dick and his wife began to plan the rest of their lives around Rick.

From the question "What is a father?" we can go further. "Who is Heavenly Father?" The reason we come to mass is to meet and worship Heavenly Father. That's the only essential reason. We come to meet Heavenly Father who wants to shower upon us His love. But sometimes we are blind to this, aren't we? I was told in another parish that a group of parents approached their parish priest for a dispensation from Sunday mass. The priest asked why, and the parents said that their children's soccer league made it a mandatory attendance to Sunday morning practice in order to be part of the league. We know we have made something our "false god" when we cannot say with honesty that we kept the First Commandment ""I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the LORD your God am a jealous God..." The same thing can be said for the Third Commandment, ""Observe the sabbath day and keep it holy, as the LORD your God commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God; you shall not do any work—you, or your son or your daughter..."

I told you that when Rick was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, his mom and dad decided, out of love, to make great sacrifices in order to plan the rest of their lives around their son. If you think about it, the reason why Heavenly Father sent his only Son Jesus into this world was because He wanted to plan the rest of His life around us. Therefore, He made the great sacrifice to allow His only Son to be sacrificed for us. And at Sunday mass we receive that outpouring of His love. If we realize that, we are beginning to see the Truth. I am guilty as anyone in this: how many of us skip Sunday mass because we were busy shopping, cutting grass at our home, watching football, taking kids to soccer game, or simply saying I'm too tired? Are these the things that keep us from knowing Our Lord Jesus? Are these the things that keep us from supporting church and community activities? In order to destroy the "false gods" in our lives, we first need to realize that we do not belong to us; Heavenly Father purchased us at a great price, so we belong to Him. We need to ask Our Father what keeps us from loving and following Him.

Going back to the video, what did we see in that video that made all of us, men, cry? We saw a father and his son in Ironman Triathlon. In the first part of competition, Rick (now 48 yrs old) was placed in a rubber boat and his dad (70 yrs old) swam, pulling Rick in the boat. In the second leg of the competition, Dick picked up his son lying in the boat and placed him in a specially fitted bike, and biked 112 miles. The third leg of the competition, Dick placed his son in a special wheel chair and pushed him, running the next 26 miles. Rick told his dad once, "Dad, when we were running, It felt like I wasn't disabled anymore!'' His dad said, "When we first started running, I was getting calls and letters from people with disabilities that were very upset with me and they said I was just out there looking for glory and dragging my disabled son to all these races. They didn't know that it was him dragging his old man to these races.” If an earthly father goes this far for his son, think about how far Heavenly Father sacrifices for us.

Sept 10, 2010 Friday: St Michael High School

The following homily was given to St Michael High School today:

I get asked frequently the following questions:

1. Father how do we grow closer to Jesus? through frequent reception of the Eucharist and daily prayer. We must embrace the scriptures and allow the events of Our Lord's life to be the pattern for us--a life of love and sacrifice for others.

2. Father, I don't understand why I'm suffering. Isn't God suppose to take away suffering?
When we know and believe Jesus as the Way, Truth, and Life, and to enter into the life of Trinity, like what happened to Jesus in Resurrection, our suffering, sinfulness, and death will be transformed into new life.

3. Father, I don't really commit serious sin. Do I still need to go to confession?
When we begin examine our lives frequently for sinful ways, we begin to realize that we can easily deceive ourselves, and we realize that we need to confess to priests who are servants of Jesus. We need to know that Heavenly Father is merciful and desires each of us to be united to His love and free of sinful ways.

Sept 9,2010 Thursday: Imitation of Christ

From Imitation of Christ, Book 3, Chapter 15

HOW ONE SHOULD FEEL AND SPEAK ON EVERY DESIRABLE THING

[Christ] MY CHILD, this is the way you must speak on every occasion: "Lord, if it be pleasing to You, so be it. If it be to Your honor, Lord, be it done in Your name. Lord, if You see that it is expedient and profitable for me, then grant that I may use it to Your honor. But if You know that it will be harmful to me, and of no good benefit to the welfare of my soul, then take this desire away from me."

Not every desire is from the Holy Spirit, even though it may seem right and good. It is difficult to be certain whether it is a good spirit or a bad one that prompts one to this or that, and even to know whether you are being moved by your own spirit. Many who seemed at first to be led by a good spirit have been deceived in the end.

Whatever the mind sees as good, ask and desire in fear of God and humility of heart. Above all, commit the whole matter to Me with true resignation, and say: "Lord, You know what is better for me; let this be done or that be done as You please. Grant what You will, as much as You will, when You will. Do with me as You know best, as will most please You, and will be for Your greater honor. Place me where You will and deal with me freely in all things. I am in Your hand; turn me about whichever way You will. Behold, I am Your servant, ready to obey in all things. Not for myself do I desire to live, but for You -- would that I could do this worthily and perfectly!"

Sept 8, 2010 Wednesday: Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary

Click for audio homily

A birth of a child is never accidental. In order for a child to be born, many generations of parents had to be in place. My pastor, Fr. Frank Uter, has a passion for tracking genealogy of his family. So far, Fr. Frank has found baptismal records dating back to 1500s in Germany on his father's side. Another way of seeing this family tree is that incredibly many people, events, and places were set in place in order for Fr. Frank to be ordained as a priest in Baton Rouge Diocese. If you think about it, it is mind boggling how God guided the lives of Fr. Frank's ancestors to bring His Son Jesus to the people of Baton Rouge the past 40 years through the hands of Fr. Frank. What kind of preparations God must have done to make this gift possible! (Picture: Fr. Frank showing the birthplaces of his parents and the churches of their baptism--Ireland and Germany)

When we hear from today's gospel the genealogy of Jesus, we appreciate anew the great preparation that Heavenly Father took to bring to birth Blessed Mother. To us she is a humble and unknown teenager in an insignificant town who said 'yes' to seemingly impossible request from Archangel Gabriel. The long line of genealogy that goes back to the time of Abraham shows us the dignity of Blessed Mother's heritage. The other day I was hearing confession of a teenage girl, and she was so distraught because she felt she was so worthless, insignificant, and alone. I had to remind her what great preparation that God the Father took to bring her to birth. I reminded her that she had a great mission on this earth; she is to make God's love, flesh. That's what Blessed Mother did when she said 'yes' to Incarnation. The Love of God was made flesh! Today's feast day reminds us that we too need to bring Jesus to those we meet. (Picture: Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary)

Sept 7, 2010 Tuesday: Imitation of Christ

From Imitation of Christ, Chapter 23
Four Things Which Bring Great Peace

[Christ] MY CHILD, I will teach you now the way of peace and true liberty.

• Seek, child, to do the will of others rather than your own.
• Always choose to have less rather than more.
• Look always for the last place and seek to be beneath all others.
• Always wish and pray that the will of God be fully carried out in you.

Behold, such will enter into the realm of peace and rest.

Sept 5, 2010: 23rd Sunday Ordinary (C)

Click to hear audio homily

The other day I was asked to bless a classroom full of people who came for a financial training class. So right before I gave the blessing I said, "You know the first time I got my very own credit card was when I arrived at college. When I walked down the college campus, there were several tables with offers for a free tee shirt when you signed up for a credit card. So I signed up and got my free tee shirt. When the card arrived with a $1,000 credit limit, I said to myself, I won't ever spend that much! Yet at the end of the month, a very large dollar figure stared at my face. How did that happen!" Many folks in that financial training class were asking themselves the same question. The instructor told me that some of the couples that took the class in the past had more than $30,000 in credit card debt on top of their mortgage payments. What was the summary of why people get into debt? "We buy things we don't need with money we don't have in order to impress people we don't like."

What's the solution to our out of control spending and mountain of debt? For the solution, you won't hear words like, 'indulge yourself because you deserve it' or 'go for it, you only have one life.' Instead you'll hear words like, 'sacrifice,' 'self-discipline,' and 'budgeting.' A very simple way of saying all this is, "You have to protect yourself from you." Meaning, you have some bad habits, and in order to change, somehow you have to keep yourself from doing the same thing, the same way.

Our Lord mentioned some similar concepts in our gospel today. He said, "Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion? Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him and say, 'This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.'" As he suggested, we have to count the cost if we want to reach a goal. But what goal did Jesus have in mind? Was Jesus talking about getting free of debt and building wealth on this earth? He was talking about a very different goal. He said, "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple...anyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple."

Well that sounds kind of extreme doesn't it? I cannot possibly make that kind of radical change or sacrifice to become his disciple, we say. The question is, why do we want to do this in the first place? Does the benefit outweigh the cost? Isn't that the way we normally think? For example: why do we want to get out of $30,000 of credit card debt? Because we are basically enslaved to the credit card company and we want to be freed from it so we can save our money. The First Reading from the Book of Wisdom tells us why we want to undertake great sacrifice to become disciple of Jesus. It says, "For the corruptible body burdens the soul and the earthen shelter weighs down the mind that has many concerns. And scarce do we guess the things on earth, and what is within our grasp we find with difficulty; but when things are in heaven, who can search them out?" This body we are given will die; the car we are driving will last only about 10 years; everything we acquire here on earth we have to give up. Yet we don't realize that, do we? How do we go from earth to heaven? Empty handed, with barely clothes on our backs. Hence Our Lord asks us to radically detach ourself from all our earthly loves. Just as "You have to protect yourself from you," in order to get out of debt and prepare for the future, we have to begin to learn that in Heaven the rules are radically different than here on earth. In Heaven, everyone lives on selfless love, kindness, patience, and gentleness. On earth many of us live for self-love. That's a bad habit that we have to give up--to surrender. We have Our Lord on the cross who shows us, day in and day, out how he surrendered himself in obedience to the Father out of love. As Jesus said to us today, "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple."

Novena to Mother Teresa (Day 9)

Ninth Day – Holiness is Jesus Living and Acting in Me (Sept. 3, 2010)

Thought for the day:

“Charity for each other is the surest way to great holiness.”

Ask for the grace to become a saint.

Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, you allowed the thirsting love of Jesus on the Cross to become a living flame within you, and so became the light of His love to all.

Obtain from the Heart of Jesus (here make your request).

Teach me to allow Jesus to penetrate and possess my whole being so completely that my life, too, may radiate His light and love to others. Amen.

Immaculate Heart of Mary, Cause of Our Joy, pray for me.

Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, pray for me.

Sept 2, 2010 Thursday: Novena mass for Mother Teresa (Day 8)

The following homily for the mass was given at St. Agnes for their Day 8 of novena of masses to Mother Teresa. FYI: Mother Teresa's Feast Day mass will be celebrated at St. Agnes Catholic Church (737 East Boulevard Baton Rouge, LA 70802) on Saturday, Sept. 4 at 10AM. 

The theme of Day 8 of the novena to Mother Teresa is Jesus Made Himself the Bread of Life and the Hungry One. Mother Teresa said, “Believe that He, Jesus, is in the appearance of Bread and that He, Jesus, is in the hungry, naked, sick, lonely, unloved, homeless, helpless and hopeless.”

So today we ask for the grace of a deep faith to see Jesus in the Bread of Life and to serve Him in the distressing disguise of the poor. While Our Lord is the King of Kings and we are the lowest of sinners, Our Lord bows Himself down to us, who are unable and unworthy to look up to Him. He comes to us, desiring to be with us and to invite us to His Feast. How great must be His desire to give us heavenly food to eat--the Bread of Angels--by coming down from heaven and giving life to the world! What a great love that He hides behind the appearance of bread! And what a great love that He hides behind the appearance of a poor person!

Mother Teresa writes in her Varanasi Letter to her sisters, priests, and co-workers to this great mystery. 

Jesus wants me to tell you again... how much love He has for each one of you – beyond all you can imagine. I worry some of you still have not really met Jesus – one to one – you and Jesus alone. We may spend time in chapel – but have you seen with the eyes of your soul how He looks at you with love? Do you really know the living Jesus – not from books but from being with Him in your heart? Have you heard the loving words He speaks to you? Ask for the grace, He is longing to give it. Until you can hear Jesus in the silence of your own heart, you will not be able to hear Him saying, "I thirst" in the hearts of the poor. Never give up this daily intimate contact with Jesus as the real living person – not just the idea. How can we last even one day without hearing Jesus say, "I love you" – impossible. Our soul needs that as much as the body needs to breathe the air. If not, prayer is dead – meditation only thinking. Jesus wants you each to hear Him – speaking in the silence of your heart.

In order to see Jesus in the distressed disguise of the poor, Mother Teresa urges us to see and hear Jesus say to us in our silent and intense prayer, "I thirst for your love." 

Novena to Mother Teresa (Day 8)

Eighth Day – Jesus Made Himself the Bread of Life and the Hungry One (Sept. 2, 2010)

Thought for the day:

“Believe that He, Jesus, is in the appearance of Bread and that He, Jesus, is in the hungry, naked, sick, lonely, unloved, homeless, helpless and hopeless.”

Ask for the grace of a deep faith to see Jesus in the Bread of Life and to serve Him in the distressing disguise of the poor.

Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, you allowed the thirsting love of Jesus on the Cross to become a living flame within you, and so became the light of His love to all.

Obtain from the Heart of Jesus (here make your request).

Teach me to allow Jesus to penetrate and possess my whole being so completely that my life, too, may radiate His light and love to others. Amen.

Immaculate Heart of Mary, Cause of Our Joy, pray for me.

Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, pray for me.