Feast of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz and Companions

Good morning. What God reveals to us cannot be changed by us. God’s plan for us, for life, for marriage is now as it was from the beginning. We know what is right, it is written in our hearts. In today’s Gospel Peter boldly proclaims the Truth, responding to Jesus’ inquiry that He is "The Christ of God." The same question put forth to Saint Peter long ago is today being asked of us, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" We are being asked today to reveal to the world His Truth, to live each and every day for the glory of God. We are being asked to stand-up for life, to stand-up for marriage, we’ll be asked in November to stand-up for these truths. Our standing-up for the Truth is not a position for or against anyone, or any political group, it is simply about Truth. There are even some from within the pews who falter in their response to the question posed in today’s Gospel. A reminder to Michael Sean Winters, it isn’t what the people at Dunkin Donuts or Shoney’s think, it is about Truth. 

Today we celebrate the life of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz. The life of Lorenzo Ruiz reminds us that in Baptism we are called to reveal to the world the Truth. This Truth will conquer the world and its culture of death. When Saint Lorenzo was asked by government, "If we grant you life, will you renounce your faith?," Lorenzo responded: "That I will never do, because I am a Christian, and I shall die for God, and for him I will give many thousands of lives if I had them. And so, do with me as you please." On November 6, 2012 we will be asked: “Will you renounce your faith?" What will be our answer? Let us proclaim the Truth: He is "The Christ of God." Make a great day! 

Today we recall the good life, gifts, and work of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz.



JOIN US IN 40 DAYS OF PRAYER LEADING UP TO THE ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 6

Feast of Saint Vincent de Paul

Good morning. The more things change, the more they stay the same. So it was with Herod, and so it is with us. We find Herod in today’s Gospel intrigued by this person Jesus of whom everyone was talking. Herod was drawn to Jesus out of concern for his own position amongst the people. How often we too are drawn to God for such similar reasons. How often do we do things because like Herod we view ourselves as being the center of the universe? Our tendency toward self-centeredness is the cause for a great deal of marital turmoil. 

 John Gottman, a noted author and researcher on marriage, notes that how we approach a discussion with our spouse determines how the discussion ends. If we approach our spouse from the position of viewing ourselves as the center of the universe, we’re likely headed for trouble. Gottman discovered that happy couples differ from unhappy couples in the way they initiate discussions. He coined the term, “soft-start-ups” as a way to increase the likelihood of having a successful discussion with our spouse. He suggests that if couples can approach their spouse in a positive manner, avoid assumptions, and make a point of being clear and polite throughout the process they will more likely complete their discussion in a mutually satisfying way. 

Saint Vincent de Paul, whose life we celebrate today, viewed humility as key to most of life’s situations. He felt that we should approach all situations and all our interactions with humility. “We ought always to consider others as our superiors, and to yield to them, even though they be our inferiors, by offering them every kind of respect and service. Oh, what a beautiful thing it would be, if it should please God to confirm us well in such a practice.” When one considers our meager position within all of creation and one considers that God became man for us we have good reason for humility. 

So often married couples find themselves in a rut, it isn’t that they mean to offend each other or to hurt one another’s feelings but over time we develop ineffective patterns of interacting that result in turmoil. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Too often we give little thought to how we initiate things with each other that we find ourselves in the midst of it before we give any thought to how we got there. The secret is to do something different. It matters little what it is we do differently, but the idea is to break the cycle of what we are most likely inclined to do and above all do it with humility. Make a great day! 

Today we recall the good life, gifts, and work of Saint Vincent de Paul. “The most powerful weapon to conquer the devil is humility. For, as he does not know at all how to employ it, neither does he know how to defend himself from it.”

Feast of Saints Cosmas and Damian

Good morning. What is it we really want? Do we sometimes find ourselves wondering that if we weren’t so busy we would be happier and more fulfilled? As I sit here writing this morning, I am distracted by the pitter-patter of the rain and I find I need to make a deliberate effort at focusing on the task at hand. Our lives are a great deal like this. Most of us live lives of distraction. Most of us, when we take the time to consider such things, find that our lives are cluttered with numerous matters which serve only to distract us from those things which truly do matter. In today’s Gospel Jesus encourages His disciples to avoid any such things which might distract them from fulfilling the mission He has sent them on. “"Take nothing for the journey, neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money, and let no one take a second tunic.” We are called to do likewise, yet we fill our lives with stuff, and we surround ourselves with gadgets and gizmos and various activities to the point that we find ourselves missing out on those things we truly do want to embrace and cherish. Each of us is faced with the very same choices the disciples faced, either we allow ourselves to be perpetually distracted by the things of this world or we can choose to center our lives in Christ. Most of the stuff that we surround ourselves with is out of a need to fit-in. Truth is, as followers of Christ we are not intended to fit-in, we’re meant to stand-out, others should in fact notice our being different, different in our marriage, different in our relationship with our children, different in every way; we should be different in such a way that those around us come to see that we are on a mission, a mission of love for Christ. We need to break through the clutter of our everyday lives and embrace life in such a way that we come to know and appreciate daily Christ’s presence in our lives. Cosmas and Damian, the saints whose lives we celebrate today, and all the saints have come to know of passion and purpose which comes from living a life centered in Christ. If Christ is indeed at the center of our lives than our lives will make a difference and we will stand out from the rest, and we will be happier and more fulfilled. The rain is letting up. Make a great day! 

Today we recall the good lives, gifts, and works of Saint Cosmas and Saint Damian.

Feast of Saint Vincent Strambi

Good morning. We discover within the Christian family who our Lord is and we find the will of God lived out. In today’s Gospel we come to see how important family life was to Jesus, and we especially obtain an understanding of the value His family had for Him and how they reflected who He was: "My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it." So too it should be with our own families, our family life should be a reflection of God in our lives and His will should be lived out in all that we do. 

Our family life in the recent words of our Pontiff should reflect “the voice of God, the voice of love speaking,” families should speak the “language of love” amongst themselves and with others. Our marriage and our family life should direct our attention and that of those we encounter towards heaven to which we are all destined. As family we need to be open “to the love of the Lord” and our lives should daily reflect His love for others. Again in the words of Pope Benedict, "It is in the family that we learn to live together, that faith is transmitted, values are strengthened and freedom is channeled to ensure that one day children will be fully aware of their own vocation and dignity, and that of others. The warmth of the home and domestic example can teach much more than words can say. This educational dimension of the family may receive particular encouragement in the Year of Faith, due to begin in a few months-time. For this reason, I invite you to revitalize the faith in your homes and to become increasingly aware of the Creed we profess". 

Too often in our current day culture it can be ever so easy to get caught-up in the snares of materialism, to the point of losing sight of what is truly important. It is easy to become entangled in the attractions of a culture which speaks to self-gratification and self-ennoblement. We need to look to the lives of the saints, such as Saint Vincent whose life we commemorate today. We especially need to heed the words of today’s first reading from Proverbs and stay clear of “chasing bubbles over deadly snares.” Jesus in today’s reading offers very clear direction for us and points to the family as the clear path to holiness. The family is where we begin our journey toward holiness and learn to become the best version of the person God calls us to be. Make a great day! 

Today we recall the good life, gifts, and work of Saint Vincent Strambi.

Feast of Saint Pacific of San Severino

Good morning. As I write this it is quite dark outside, and just minutes ago it was nearly as dark in the house, but with a flip of a switch I was able to see my way. In the Gospel of Luke from this morning’s Mass Jesus instructs that we need to be about letting our light shine, not to hide it under a vessel. He says we are to use the gifts God has given us; in fact He suggests that for those whom more has been given more will be expected. We know from yesterday’s readings that there are those who set out to keep our light from shining, there are ruthless individuals who do what they are able to bring us down and attempt to keep our light from shining. Jesus assures us that we have nothing to be afraid of. The light will expose those who do evil. Nothing remains hidden forever. The Truth will always find a way to shine through. 

The light that came as a result of my flipping the light switch came as a result of a series of things that leads back to other people who work hard to keep generators running and others who maintain the lines to our house, it doesn’t just happen. There is much time and talent behind the creation of that light. If those people stopped doing what they do there would be no light in my house right now. Our lives are no different than the light that came as a result of my flipping that light switch. It requires work to bring the light. 

As parents, it is our job to assure that our children are able to light their way through a world that can at times be quite dark. Each of our children are given particular gifts and talents and it is our jobs as parents to instruct our children in a way that they are able and willing to best put those gifts to use. The life of Saint Pacific, whose life we commemorate today, inspires us to take stock of our own lives, and encourages us to endure despite whatever obstacles we might face. As parents we have an enormous responsibility, yet at the same time as loving teachers of our children we are given the opportunity to make a difference; we are given the opportunity to send light into the darkness. As parents we light the way for our children. If as parents we persevere in our task of instructing our children with love, and with faith in Our Lord, we can make a difference. What will you do today to make the world a brighter place? Make a great day! 

Today we recall the good life, gifts and work of Saint Pacific.

Feast of Saint Matthew--The Apostle

Good morning. Our own individual response to the invitation put forth in today’s Gospel is crucial—“Follow me!” It made all the difference in the life of Matthew, the recipient of the invitation in the Gospel for today. For me it has meant spending the last thirty plus years as a marriage and family counselor. As I reflect on those two words, “Follow me!” I am given to wonder about the importance of those words in my own life, and the lives of other marriage and family counselors, and the significance our response indeed has upon the lives of those we serve. For me personally I see what I do as something more than a job. The idea of providing counseling for most people is likely to be as exciting as watching paint dry, nevertheless for me it is indeed something I feel quite passionate about. Although most might view what Marriage and Family Counselors do to be rather ordinary, it is likely due to their unawareness of the impact our involvement with people’s lives can truly have. They are not likely to see how the time spent with a battered woman and helping her better see that she is a gifted child of God not only changes her life but likewise allows her daughter to know and appreciate her own goodness. They are not likely to see how the time spent with a couple struggling with the question of divorce can lead to their children coming to know and appreciate the joy of marital commitment and fidelity. They are not likely to appreciate how spending time with an unemployed individual floundering for direction and struggling with issues of self-doubt can lead to his taking concrete steps to improving his life and the lives of others his life may touch. They are not likely to appreciate how spending time with a young student shackled with the label of being “ADHD” can lead to his coming to know and enjoy his God given gifts and talents. No, they are not likely to appreciate how the ordinary can significantly impact and enrich the lives of those we serve. As marriage and family counselors we embrace the lives of so many people; and much like the person whose life we commemorate today, we are followers of Jesus, we respond to His words “Follow me!” in the context of helping ordinary people pick-up the pieces of their not so ordinary lives. As marriage and family counselors we respond to His call to follow each and every day. May we always have the grace to follow Christ with wisdom and compassion. Make a great day! 

 Today we recall the good life, gifts, and works of Saint Matthew—Apostle and Evangelist.

Feast of the Korean Martyrs

Good morning. Saint Susanna U Surim, Saint Andrew Kim Taegon and all the martyrs of Korea give witness to the Glory of God. They offer to us an example of what we are all called to in the words of Jesus from today’s Gospel: “So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love.” Our lives should likewise reflect the loving mercy of our Lord. Our lives should be a sign for everyone that we have experienced the forgiveness of Jesus. These individuals, the Martyrs of Korea, provide a clear message that the Kingdom is what is to be pursued in life and not the treasures of this life. In reading further on these Martyrs of Korea, it was interesting to discover that initially the Korean Catholic Church had no ordained leadership. They were so isolated from the rest of Christianity that when the first Chinese priest made his way there in the late 18th century he was surprised to find 4,000 Korean Catholics already there. I have to wonder if we would possess the same fortitude to carry on without any spiritual leadership. 

So often in this culture of death we exist in we are inclined to view power, strength, and material things as that which will give our life meaning and purpose. So often I meet couples who struggle in their marriage as a result of not having those things and living the lifestyle society suggests is desired. All too frequently couples separate and justify their position suggesting that continuing to stay married would be untrue to their selves. They just were not happy; it just wasn’t working. “I love him, but I just wasn’t in love anymore.” Or, how often do we find people we presumed to be our friends throw us to the curb for the sake of advancing their own needs. The mantra for current western culture is to “Take care of number one!” Andrew and the other Korean Martyrs and the lesson of today’s Gospel make it clear that life is about much more than stuff and just attending to our own self. Our job is to love, no matter what and give glory to the true Number One. 

The love and mercy which connects all of us to God is what truly gives life meaning and gives us purpose to act. The same love which offered mercy and forgiveness in today’s Gospel calls us to do the same. We are called to look beyond the shallow offerings of a culture of death. May we find His love in each other this day and be merciful to each other. May we reflect the loving light of Christ, and may our actions today give glory to the real Number One. Make a great day! 

Today we recall the good lives, gifts and works of the 103 Korean Martyrs.

Feast of Saint Emily de Rodat

Good morning. Ask the typical American their view of love and marriage and the likely response will be something along the lines of love being a feeling (something that happens to us), and that it is about establishing a home and experiencing lots of fun together and being comfortable. And, somewhere in the mix of this one is likely to get a sense that as long as the couple are experiencing positive feelings for each other and their spouse fits a certain predetermined profile of a whatever it is a suitable spouse should be, then it is a “good marriage.” Ultimately, what one is likely to walk away with is an understanding of love and marriage as something which allows for each partner to achieve as much individual happiness as possible. What one is not likely to hear is that love and marriage is about something larger than themselves, that it essentially about new life and eternal life. One is not likely to hear that it is about something greater than themselves, or that it is about self-giving and sacrifice. There is not likely to be any description of love as we hear defined in today’s first reading from Corinthians, “Love is patient, love is kind…Love never fails…So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” 

This conversation regarding love and marriage is not likely to provide much in the way of any discussion of endurance, or commitment, or of forgiveness or acceptance of each other's faults. No, much like the Pharisees in today’s Gospel, there will be instead conversation of things needing to it fit with our expectations. It needs to be this way or that way. The typical description of love and marriage will likely suggest couple’s needing to fit one another’s needs like a hand to a glove, and should the marriage not play out as expected, well then the American way is to just start over. The typical description of love come true, of marriage American style will offer impressions of Snow White and “Someday my Prince will come.” Well, Jesus wasn’t the prince the Pharisees were expecting, but our Prince of Peace showed us the way to love. The saints, whose lives we honor today, Saint Alonso, Saint Januarius, and Saint Emily de Rodat likewise show us the true meaning of love. True love goes beyond what we expect it to be, it reaches beyond each other’s humanness and shortcomings, and it is hard work. Unlike the typical American view of love and marriage, if we start-out expecting it to be about life and eternal life, and about self-sacrifice in the pursuit of something greater, then you have a marriage built on true love. Make a great day! 

Today we recall the good lives of Saint Alonso de Orozco, Saint Januarius, and Saint Emily de Rodat.

Feast of Saint Joseph of Cupertino

Good morning. We live in a world filled with sorrow. Do you recall the last time you felt lonely and defeated? Who was there to lift you up? In today’s Gospel we read of a grieving widow and our Lord’s demonstration of compassion for her. “He was moved with pity for her and said to her, "Do not weep." What loneliness, what sense of desperation and uncertainty she must have felt. Our Lord heard her cry and He felt her pain and He was moved. 

Loneliness is a feeling each one of us experiences. Everyone at some point in our lives deals with feeling isolated and alone. Loneliness is a feeling each one of us has in a response to our deep desire for being connected, to being a part of another. We very much see this in marriage. There is a longing that exists; a desire for oneness that we experience that goes well beyond the knowing of any other. Yet, despite this desire for oneness with another there remains an uncertainty with each of us of connecting with another. We’ve all been hurt, rejected or betrayed at one time or another. So we stay isolated, lonely and hurting. Strangely we resist going where we are likely to feel comfort, because the certainty of the familiar, because the loneliness is more certain and predictable. Yes, instead of reaching out, we await the compassionate embrace of another, rather than risk rejection. 

From the beginning, God was aware of our need for connectedness. He knew our deepest desires, and in response to this He reached out, He felt Adam’s pain and He created for Adam a helper. “The LORD God said: It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suited to him.” Eve would complete him and provide him with real companionship. So it is in marriage, we are there to fill the void, to lift one another up when we are feeling lonely and defeated. 

Yet, we do not have to be alone to feel loneliness; it is possible to feel lonely even in marriage. Our saint for today, Saint Joseph of Cupertino knew the sting of rejection and isolation. He found comfort in prayer and trusting in God. Our Lord shows us an example to follow. He too prayed to the Father in times of loneliness and uncertainty. He likewise teaches us to reach out to each other, to feel one another’s pain and to lift each other up from our feelings of isolation and loneliness. Do something today to lift your spouse up, to make your special someone feel significant and wanted. Make a great day! 

Today we recall the good life, gifts, and work of Saint Joseph of Cupertino.

Feast of Saint Robert Bellarmine

Good morning. As I reflected upon the Gospel this morning, one which is fairly familiar and one which has become increasingly more familiar with the introduction of the new Roman Missal back in November of last year, the story of the centurion reminds us of our own need to invite Jesus into our homes. From Luke we read: “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof. Therefore, I did not consider myself worthy to come to you; but say the word and let my servant be healed.” For many folks the words of the new missal and in particular the words of the centurion repeated in the Invitation To Communion “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed” may seem odd as Jesus is coming to us in the form of food; yet, we are reminded by Saint Paul that we serve as a house for the Holy Spirit. For those of us who are old enough to have experienced the Latin Tridentine Mass, these words are quite familiar. “Domine, non sum dignus, ut intres sub tectum meum: sed tantum dic verbo, et sanabitur anima mea.” 

We are reminded in these words taken from the Centurion that not only are we called to provide a fitting home for God’s grace to dwell but we are as Christian parents are called to provide a fitting home for God’s grace to dwell in the lives of our children. As parents we not only are responsible for our own journey to sainthood but we are called as well to guide our children to sainthood. God expects this of us. It is a task which cannot be met by anyone other than a parent, it cannot be handed off to our children’s teachers, or our pastor; if we don’t do it, it will not be done. The greatest gift we have to give is to respond to God’s call to give life and to guide the life of those children in the way of our faith. It is our task to help our children to become the people God created them to be, to be the best version of their selves. In today’s Gospel we are reminded that we are “not worthy” of this task and we will from time to time make mistakes, but like the Centurion we call upon the Lord’s help. 

It is not always easy to parent a child in today’s world; like our saint for today, Saint Robert Bellarmine, we need remind ourselves of God’s ever present willingness to help us along the way. Saint Robert Bellarmine reminds us to humbly ask for God’s assistance in all that we do: “Take my yoke upon you,” you say. And what is this yoke of yours like? “My yoke,” you say, “is easy and my burden light.” Who would not be glad to bear a yoke that does no press hard but caresses? Who would not be glad for a burden that does not weigh heavy but refreshes?” Saint Robert Bellarmine and all the saints remind us that humility is the recognition that when things don't work, and they sometimes won’t, we must call upon God for His help and guidance. Let us invite the Lord to be within our homes and refresh our lives today and always. Make a great day! 

Today we recall the good life, gifts, and work of Saint Robert Bellarmine.

    O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being loved,
From the desire of being extolled,
From the desire of being honored,
From the desire of being praised,
From the desire of being preferred to others,
From the desire of being consulted,
From the desire of being approved,
From the fear of being humiliated, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being despised,
From the fear of suffering rebukes,
From the fear of being calumniated,
From the fear of being forgotten,
From the fear of being ridiculed,
From the fear of being wronged,
From the fear of being suspected,
That others may be loved more than I, O Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be esteemed more than I,
That, in the opinion of the world, others may, increase and I may decrease,
That others may be chosen and I set aside,
That others may be praised and I unnoticed,
That others may be preferred to me in everything,
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should, O Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

by Rafael Cardinal Merry del Val (1865-1930), the Secretary of State for Pope Saint Pius X
 

Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross

Good morning. Today we are reminded that we are all called to follow in the way of love—the love of the cross. In the Gospel for today we are reminded that our Creator, God the Father, sent His Son for our salvation. “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.” He gave His life so that we might have life and He continues to give this life to us for the asking. He is joined with us through His church forever and through marriage this love is expressed and revealed daily through us. For as we are reminded “no one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” The salvation of society is found in the cross. 

We need to remind ourselves that marriage as God intended from the beginning is at the heart of society. It is the first and most basic community to which every person belongs. If we are going to change anything, if we desire to eliminate the ills of our culture it must begin with marriage and the family. Many people speak of systemic change and then look about in all the wrong places. If we wish to make society better we need to begin at the very core of society—the family. As Blessed Pope John Paul II noted, "The future of humanity passes by way of the family" It is through marriage and the family His saving presence is made known. 

Much of the present ills of our society have to do with disordered sense of love which flies in the face of marriage and family. Society’s disordered understanding of love runs contrary to how marriage was intended from the beginning, that marriage is about life and it is for life.  We need to remind ourselves that the cross is about life as well. The daily sacrifice of one spouse for the other and for parent for a child, when truly lived in the shadow of the cross, reflects for all to see the love we are called to live. All the grand enticement social service programs just will not cut it, it must begin with at the core of it all—the family. If we are to indeed save the world, or even our little corner of it must begin with following Christ. We must make known the message of the cross in our marriage and in our family, for the love of the cross is made known in marriage. It is made real in marriage. I encourage you to help the Church by speaking to others about how you try to follow the way of love. Let me know. Make it real today. Make a great day! 

Today we celebrate the Exaltation of the Cross.

Feast of Saint John Chrysostom

Jesus was noted for attracting great crowds because He was a great story teller and he performed great miracles. Saint John Chrysostom, whose feast we celebrate today was noted for attracting great crowds for he was known to be quite a wonderful preacher, known for fervor and eloquence. Yet despite this, he was about much more. Jesus was more than a miracle worker. John Chrysostom was more than an eloquent speaker. Both challenge us to be more than the gifts God has given us. We are all called in our daily lives to give our gifts away, to love expecting nothing in return, in the words of Blessed John Paul II, in his Apostolic Letter Dies Domini to put into practice our gifts—“to truly put the Eucharist into practice in (our) daily life.” Jesus in today's Gospel calls each of us to love even our enemies. This means to love, but in a way different from what most of us expect; we are called to love expecting nothing in return. The love and fidelity we come to know of our Lord in the Eucharist is likewise given witness in the sacrament of marriage. As married couples we have the opportunity to give witness to the same love and fidelity which Jesus gives His church. In the words of Saint John Chrysostom: “young husbands should say to their wives: I have taken you in my arms, and I love you, and I prefer you to my life itself. For the present life is nothing, and my most ardent dream is to spend it with you in such a way that we may be assured of not being separated in the life reserved for us. . . I place your love above all things, and nothing would be more bitter or painful to me than to be of a different mind than you.” How does our marriage reflect the love and fidelity we find in the Eucharist? Make a great day!

Today we recall the good life, gifts, and work of Saint John Chrysostom.

Feast of Saint Ailbhe

Good morning. Marriage is a journey we make together toward helping each other on our path to holiness—to help one another get to heaven. Blessed Pope John Paul II reminds us that "The Lord wants you to be happy in a lasting way…It is told in the Book of Genesis: God created man and woman in a paradise, Eden, because he wanted them to be happy…The "Sermon on the Mount" marks out the map of this journey. The eight Beatitudes are the road signs that show the way. It is an uphill path, but He has walked it before us." On this Feast of Saint Ailbhe we are reminded like him and all the saints that we are all called to holiness. We take a look again today at the eight Beatitudes and I decided to share again a reflection upon the Beatitudes I've shared before based upon the writings of John Bosio. Jesus reminds us in today’s Gospel that a successful marital journey involves more than just doing what is right but that it requires an effort at living a life of holiness. In the Beatitudes Jesus offers us a script for having a joyful and lasting marriage:

Blessed are the Poor in Spirit: We are reminded that God provides for us all that we need. In this first of the eight Beatitudes we are reminded that we are dependent upon God for everything, and that a joyful marriage involves God in all that we do.

Blessed are Those Who Mourn: Every marriage involves hurts and disappointments, along the journey we are asked to let go of our own personal wants and ambitions. In every marriage there are times we hurt each other and we must learn to let go of these hurts and disappointments and learn to console each other and to turn things over to God.

Blessed are the Meek: Jesus calls us to respond to one another with humility, to let go of our own self and learn to accept and understand the wants and needs of our partner.

Blessed are Those Who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness: For married couples this means we must attempt to do God’s will. It means being true to our marital covenant and likewise being true to our daily promises to each other.

Blessed are the Merciful: Married or not married, we cannot go it alone and there are times we need another to help carry the burden. We are called to be accepting of each other’s limitations and shortcomings. Being merciful means to forgive knowing we are likely to offend again.

Blessed are the Pure in Spirit: In all that we do we should see in each other the love and goodness of our Creator. Are we open and pure in our interactions with each other? Do we uphold the dignity of each other in all that we do?

Blessed are the Peacemakers: “If you want peace, work for justice.” To maintain peace in a marriage we must give to each other what we deserve, to treat each other in a way which we deserve to be treated, to treat each other equally.

Blessed are those Who are Persecuted for Righteousness Sake: This journey to holiness we are called to make together in marriage not only requires us to turn to God and submit to His will, but it likewise requires us to live openly His will. We are asked to live in a way that His goodness and love is reflected in all that we do. We are asked to be open to life and to instruct our children in the ways of that same journey to holiness.

Make a joyful journey. Make a great day!

Today we recall the good life, gifts, and work of Saint Ailbhe.

Feast of Saint Paphnutius

Good Morning. There is probably no teaching given to us by Our Lord more important and more challenging toward living a good life than that of the Beatitudes. The Beatitudes, outlined for us in today's Gospel, ask more of us than simply following the rules. In the Beatitudes we are asked to strive beyond just doing the right thing. In marriage this translates into going beyond just fulfilling the do’s and don’ts of married life, beyond taking out the garbage as scheduled. It means reaching beyond the minimum requirements and making every effort to be that person whom our spouse fell in love with.

Pope Benedict XVI in a Homily presented to youth from Korazim, Mount of the Beatitudes offers us some very sound words to consider: “Because you are aware of another voice within you and all around you, a contradictory voice. It is a voice which says, “Blessed are the proud and violent, those who prosper at any cost, who are unscrupulous, pitiless, devious, who make war not peace, and persecute those who stand in their way”. And this voice seems to make sense in a world where the violent often triumph and the devious seem to succeed. “Yes”, says the voice of evil, “they are the ones who win. Happy are they! Jesus offers a very different message…His call has always demanded a choice between the two voices competing for your hearts even now on this hill, the choice between good and evil, between life and death.”

Yes, living the Beatitudes in our married life means waking up each and every morning and making the effort to be that person despite whatever else may be going on in our lives. The Beatitudes call us to live beyond the specific rules of marriage and they challenge us to be an attitude that takes us beyond just doing the absolute minimum. They challenge us to not only take out the garbage, but to do it with an attitude—to do it with love. So, choose your attitude! Make a great day!

Today we recall the good life, gifts, and works of Saint Paphnutius.

Feast of Saint Nicholas of Tolentino

Good morning. Disease and illness can rapidly take its toll. Spiritual illness can likewise ravish our souls. In today’s Gospel Jesus cures a man’s physical infirmity. He likewise reaches out to the scribes and Pharisees, attempting to bring to their attention their spiritual disease. He takes note of how they are constantly looking to find fault with those around them. Instead of looking for the good in others they are always on the prowl for what others are doing wrong. Jesus is suggesting that we focus more on people’s goodness, to focus more on what is right with others versus looking to find fault. We too are called to do likewise, to reach-out and to love completely and without reservation. Jesus offers us a way to find a boundless sense of joy and happiness through looking to the good in one another. It seems simple enough; simply love as He loves us—looking for the good in others. We should always try to look for the good in others and help each other eliminate the troubled areas of each other’s lives. Our saint for today, Saint Nicholas of Tolentino, was known for his reaching out to others in love and curing others of their illness. We too can do the same. Through reaching out to others and noting their goodness, we too can cure others of their spiritual and emotional illnesses. What’s the challenge in finding fault? We are all sinners. Each of us is the handiwork of our Creator, and God doesn’t make junk. Can we meet this challenge? Our goodness brings out the goodness in others. Can we look for the good in others today? Can we look for the good in our spouse today? Let me know what you think. Treat your partner as a new chapter for you to explore each day and let your partner know the good things you discover. Make a great day!

Today we recall the good life, gifts, and work of Saint Nicholas of Tolentino.

Feast of Saint Anastasius the Fuller

Good morning. Each of us could stand to change, yet most of us look to others to do the changing. In today’s Gospel from Luke we read about conversion and the need to look at things anew. Jesus talks about the need to put new wine into new wine skins, to do otherwise would be a waste of time. “Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled, and the skins will be ruined.” This process of total conversion is not an easy one; it requires a renouncing of those things that get in the way of freely giving of yourself to the will of God. 

We are presented this challenge in the Sacrament of Marriage each and every day, and it is often difficult for us at times to separate ourselves from the things of secular society that can bring about the fracturing of the marital covenant. What is the challenge for all married couples is that of being called to a complete change of mind, body, and spirit in how we respond to the world. In marriage we are called to a complete conversion of the ‘I’ to a ‘We’. This idea of conversion from living solely for oneself to living for another is reflected in the writings of Pope John Paul II. He wrote in his general audience of November 21, 1979 that “from the beginning it obliges us to see the fullness and depth which are characteristic of this unity… the first man and the first woman must constitute the beginning and the model of that communion for all men and women, who, in any period, are united so intimately as to be one flesh…in fact, it bears within it a particular consciousness of the meaning of that body in the mutual self-giving of the persons.” 

This inspiring reflection on marriage by Pope John Paul reminds us that we are to arise each morning freely putting aside our own wants and desires, and choosing those things of mind, body, and spirit that will bring new life to and enrich our marriage. We live in a culture that downplays the importance of marriage, as married couples we need to give witness to the faith by the example of our lives. The Saint whose life we commemorate today gave witness to the faith, paying the ultimate price of for the faith. As Saint Anastasius did not hesitate to give his life for You, may we likewise bear witness to You by example of our sacramental marriage. Let us begin each day anew. Make a great day! 

Today we recall the good life, gifts, and work of Saint Anastasius the Fuller.

Feast of Saints Donatian, Laetus and Companions

Good morning. Gosh, it’s darn difficult to be humble. In part because being humble is not something we receive much encouragement for. We live in a culture that prizes humility little. It can be difficult to be humble, to be in the words of Servant of God, Dorothy Day, “a fool for Christ.” Our world gives very little play to being humble, rather society prizes shrewdness and arrogance, and in the face of it, it is quite easy to walk away feeling the fool for it seems the arrogant of the world always wind-up on top. In fact, I would suggest, that if we are not feeling a bit out of step with the world around us, we likely need to change our cadence. Don’t be at all surprised if some of the arrogant are your fellow Christians. Be assured, humility is very much key to our salvation and Saint Paul in today’s first reading makes it quite clear that the wisdom of this world is viewed as “foolishness in the eyes of God.” Like Saints Donatian, Laetus and Companions we are each called to be fools for Christ, and like the saints we honor today we may be asked to suffer for His sake. These good and holy men were driven into the desert like cattle, mutilated, and left to die of exposure and starvation. 

The Apostle Peter, hardly someone we would consider to be a humble man, demonstrates well in today’s Gospel what it means to be humble. He clearly understands who Jesus is and who he is in relationship to our Lord. Humility is likewise the key to a successful marriage. As in the exchange witnessed between Peter and Jesus, in marriage we must be willing to forego ourselves for the sake of the other. We must be obedient to one another for the sake of the marital union. I cannot begin to tell you how many disagreements with my spouse have been due to my own arrogance and unwillingness to submit to her will. Jesus has set the perfect example for each of us to follow–in life and in marriage. He humbled Himself, “becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.” We are called to do the same in marriage. Rest assured, being the fool for Christ and each other, doing whatever it takes to please God and please our spouse will guarantee a successful marriage. Let me know what you think. Make a great day! 

Today we recall the good lives, gifts, and works of Saints donation, Laetus and Companions.

Feast of Saint Bertin the Great

Good morning. Each and every one of us is broken and in need of healing. In today’s Gospel we read about Jesus healing Simon’s mother-in-law and of others He healed. The power of His love healed. For love heals. Like Simon’s mother-in-law Jesus loves us as well, and we too are in need of healing. His love can likewise heal us. We read throughout the Gospels of Jesus healing people. He healed people of all walks of life, and what they all had in common was the need to be loved, to be loved unconditionally. Love heals. Love can heal our bodies and it can heal our spirits. Love can help us overcome the hurt we have inflicted upon ourselves and inflicted by others. Just as Jesus gave of Himself to heal the lives of others, we too are each called to give of ourselves. In fact, it is only in the giving of ourselves that we can find our self and heal our own brokenness. It is in giving of ourselves to others we can heal. For love heals. 

Jesus’ total self-giving love heals and makes us whole and we are each called to this same love. In marriage we are called to this self-giving love in a particular way. Blessed Pope John Paul II reminds us that we “cannot live without love.” In a three act play he wrote,The Jewelers Shop , he notes that without each other in marriage our lives are senseless, but that with God’s Grace the love we can offer to one another in marriage has the power to heal time and time again, to change each other and provide for happiness beyond our imagining. The giving of ourselves unconditionally to one another in marriage is essential to finding true joy and happiness in this life. As the life of Saint Bertin, whose life we celebrate today, and all the saints reveal love is essential to over-coming our brokenness. For love heals. Make a great day! 

Today we recall the good life, gifts, and work of Saint Bertin.

Feast of Pope Saint Boniface I

Good morning. Marital research shows that women bring up issues of conflict 80 % of the time. But no matter who starts it, how the discussion starts often will determine how things proceed. The devil is in the details. It occurred to me as I read the Gospel this morning, that the particulars of how couples argue makes all the difference, for it is true that the devil is in the details. And make no mistake about it there isn’t anything the devil enjoys more than a good argument. 

There can be no questioning that a healthy discussion is necessary for a healthy and lasting marriage, but how things are discussed can make for all the difference. How one starts the discussion can make for all the difference in how smoothly things go. It is generally thought that a “soft startup” makes for a much smoother and more productive time of things. ‘Dear, I know you’re watching the ball game, but at the next commercial would you mind taking out the trash?’ This is likely to result in a much better response versus a “harsh start-up” which might go more like 'Why are you sitting there watching baseball while I do all the work?' One can readily see the difference and see the likely end results. 

Couples should regularly look to the lives of the saints for guidance. We celebrate today the life of Saint Boniface I, as pope he was successful in negotiating various issues of his day. He along with numerous other saints offers us examples of how to prudently work through our differences free of ambivalence. 

One very important step toward avoiding unnecessary marital discord is to avoid putting off dealing with issues when they arise. Not dealing with issues when they arise can lead to resentment. Another thing to remember is to remain focused on the issue at hand and avoid drudging-up old issues. Leave the past right there, in the past. Make it a practice to leave the past in the past. If something has been forgiven, it should wiped off the record and not be brought up again. How do you successfully work through things with your spouse? Let me know. I’d really like to hear from you. Make a great day! 

Today we recall the good life, gifts, and work of Pope Saint Boniface I.

Feast of Pope Saint Gregory the Great

The deepest need each one of us has is to feel needed and loved. Because feeling needed and loved is our deepest need, our greatest fear is to feel not wanted. This is exactly what our Lord is put through in today’s Gospel reading from Luke. For the very first time publicly Jesus reveals Himself for Who He is. He reads to those gathered in the local synagogue in His hometown of Nazareth a scripture passage from the Book of Isaiah:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.”

He finished by proclaiming to those listening that "Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing." The problem is that Jesus is recognized only as the son of Joseph the Carpenter by those present in the synagogue, and they do not accept Him as being anything beyond that. Although they embrace His teaching, they reject the idea of His being the fulfillment of the Word. Their acceptance turns into rejection of Jesus, even in His own hometown of Nazareth. This would not be the last of it. He would repeatedly be rejected again and again even by His closest friends and relatives. How often do we likewise reject Jesus within others, or even within ourselves? 

Each one of us wants and needs to be accepted. Being married we need to be accepted by our spouse. We want and need our spouse to accept us and choose us above everyone else, no matter what. We expect our spouse and others we love to accept and support us even in times, like Jesus in today’s reading, where we advance things which they might find disturbing. We don’t expect our friends to dismiss us and reject us, even though we may at times disappoint them. We don’t expect them to advance themselves at our expense. We don’t expect those we love to use us for their own advantage and enjoyment.  No, we expect them to love and support us for who we are, as in the words of the late Fred Rogers: "It's you I like."

As is often the case with us, our saint for today, Pope Gregory the Great, was not everything the people of the time thought the Pope should be. “He was not a man of profound learning, not a philosopher, not a conversationalist, hardly even a theologian in the constructive sense of the term.” Nevertheless, with great humility Saint Gregory and many of the saints went on to do great things despite whatever limitations they might have. Despite our limitations each one of us are called to do great things with our lives, to fulfill His love in our lives, to "proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.”

Each of us, like Jesus, is called to give of ourselves, to fulfill the Scripture in our lives, and like Jesus we too can expect to be rejected. How often do we fail to support our spouse? Despite whatever limitations we might have, through love and acceptance we can encourage our spouse and others to fulfill great things. In marriage, we seek a lifelong companion who will allow us to feel needed and loved. What might we do today to help our spouse feel needed and loved? How often do we encourage our spouse to be who they are? Let us allow our spouse to know how much they mean to us. What can we do to be more supportive today? Let me know. I’d really like to hear from you. Make a great day! 

Today we recall the great life, gifts, and work of Pope Saint Gregory the Great.

Feast of Saint Giles

Good morning. To truly live life we must be willing to take some risks; we must be willing to put ourselves out there. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. In today’s Gospel Jesus makes it quite clear in the parable of the three servants and the talents that we must be willing to give of ourselves if we expect to be rewarded. The message of today’s Gospel is quite clear, as Christians we must be willing to put ourselves at risk. Marriage is worth the risk. In fact, if we fail to put ourselves out there, then we shouldn’t be at all surprised if our spouse fails to do likewise. 

Love requires some risk, some dying to self. Our saint for today, Saint Giles, and most all the saints have much to teach us about dying to self. Unfortunately we live in a world which tells us differently. It tells us to focus on me. The devil says to us: “Go get it, get all that you can, don’t worry about anyone else.” "If someone gets in your way of getting ahead, just throw them to the curb." No, for marital love to last, and for us to one day know the joy of the faithful servants, we must be willing to take some risks, put aside our selfishness, and be self-giving. 

Pope John Paul II notes in his Letter To Families that “Selfishness in all its forms is directly and radically opposed to the civilization of love… what is important is not so much individual actions (whether selfish or altruistic), so much as the radical acceptance of the understanding of man as a person who "finds himself" by making a sincere gift of self.” 

Jesus assures us that in order to have true life in Him we must escape life in this world, we must escape living in the world of I. So too in marriage, for it to be successful we must escape the world of I and discover the world of We. Selfishness will not gain us the Kingdom of God. What can we do to be less selfish today? Let me know. I’d really like to hear from you. Discover the world of We today. Make a great day! 

Today we recall the good life, gifts, and work of Saint Giles.