CatholicFamilyToday

Feast of Saint Polycarp

2012-02-23T06:08:00.001-06:00

Good morning. In today’s Gospel from the book of Luke we are told that if we wish to follow Jesus we can expect to suffer and we are to do so willingly. “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” In marriage this invitation by Our Lord to take up the cross is especially relevant. Often times in marriage we not only need to take upon our shoulders the pains and sufferings of our own life situations, but out of love and compassion for our spouse we often take upon our shoulders the pains and sufferings of the other. In marriage we come to feel with and for our partner, we come to rise above our own selves and take on our shoulders the cross of the other for the sake of the ‘we’, for the sake of the marital union. True love cannot be without this willingness to take up on our own shoulders the cross of the other partner. Marital love requires sacrifice and the willing gift of one’s self, the willing carrying of the cross for one another. This is the covenant we make, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love and honor all the days of our life. Marriage is a journey we take together to assist one another in following Christ, and anyone who wishes to follow Him must be willing to put aside their own wants and needs and be willing to take up that cross daily. This doesn’t necessarily have to always be about sackcloth and ashes. Doing more of what brings joy to each other is part of doing for one another. So, just do more of what works. Make a great day!

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

Ash Wednesday

2012-02-22T06:04:00.000-06:00

Good morning. “Remember, man you are dust and to dust you shall return.” This verse which is an extrapolation of Genesis 3:19 serves to remind us today to be humble in all that we do. That in all that we do, we do for God and what we do for others is that God may be glorified. The ashes we receive in the sign of a cross on our foreheads today remind us of the need for humility, the virtue that opens the door to salvation. In today’s Gospel Jesus reminds us to be humble, that we are not to be seen praying “pray to your Father in secret” or being charitable “when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing” or to be seen fasting “when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting.” One of the most important lessons to teach our children is the virtue of humility, to be aware that God is the source of whatever gifts they may possess. It is important that our children grow to appreciate the need for taking pleasure in whatever talents or gifts they may have but to always remember “but for the grace of God.” Humility is a difficult concept for children to understand as they are naturally inclined towards being boastful. They can best learn from our example. Being authentic and letting our children appreciate that even we struggle and we make mistakes is a valuable lesson for a child to learn. We should not hesitate to let our children know when we’ve made a mistake. As parents we should seize opportunities to provide examples of humility and provide opportunities to share in providing service to those less fortunate. And true humility involves appreciating fully the gifts one has been given and making the best of those gifts. The use of stories is a very useful way for children to learn about the importance of being humble. Stories such as Sarah, Plain and Tall or the The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery are wonderful ways of helping to instill in our children the importance of humility in their lives. Charlotte's Web by E. B. White was always one of our children’s favorites. In fact, it still is. We become the stories we read.

If you are concerned about the direction your children are going, look to the stories they are reading. Matthew Kelly, the well known Catholic Evangelist in The Rhythm of Life: Living Every Day with Passion and Purpose suggests that “the ideas we feed our mind today tend to form our lives tomorrow. …We become the stories we listen to. It doesn't matter if we get those stories from movies, music, television, newspapers, magazines, politicians, friends, or books-the stories we listen to form our lives. If you want to understand any period in history, simply ask two questions: "Who were the storytellers?" and "What story were they telling?" Winston Churchill, Francis of Assisi, Charlemagne, Napoleon, Charlie Chaplin, Adolf Hitler, Bob Dylan, Mother Teresa, Mahatma Gandhi, Abraham Lincoln, Marilyn Monroe, Nelson Mandela, and Jesus each told a story…We become the stories we listen to.” As parents the more important question should be what stories are our children listening to? What are they watching on TV? Where are they surfing on the Internet? And parents, what are they seeing us read? What are they seeing us watch? Sometimes the best way to learn something is when we don’t realize a lesson is being taught. What lesson might our children learn from us today? What’s our story? Make a great day!

Feast of Saint Peter Damian

2012-02-21T05:27:00.000-06:00

Good morning. Wow! Have you ever reread something and it was if you had read it for the very first time. I had that experience this morning. I read through the readings for today’s Mass and reading the scripture passage from the Book of James it really struck me; it was if I had awakened for the very first time. It struck me in reading this brief passage from James that each one of us, in any given moment make choices, and these choices lead to other choices, and if we allow it we become our choices. If we look to do good then good will follow; this sage advice is found throughout scripture and throughout various literary works, yet despite this, it seems to elude us. Our actions are guided by our thoughts. Our lives are products of what lies in our minds and in our hearts. “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” This seems such a simple uncomplicated way to be, and yet it seems to repeatedly escape us. This same idea, when expanded to include our married life seems so simple and uncomplicated that if followed would seem to be the solution to all marital strife and would certainly have a great many divorce lawyers scrambling for some other way to hustle a buck. If we looked to God for direction in all that we do, if we looked to our spouse, our marriage for all that we do surely only good would follow. And yet, we don’t always look to these things for how we make choices with our life. Yet, one has to wonder how different things would be if we would.

Although this concept of looking to do good seems like an easy concept to grasp, its implementation certainly isn’t. In order to do this we must be willing to give up several key notions that drive most every one of our lives, first, that it is all about me, and secondly, that life is all about being happy, all of which is driven by the idea of materialism. It is most unfortunate that we live in a world where we are bombarded with the commercial mantra that life is ‘all about me.’ This message is one that we are constantly surrounded by; it is what fuels things like Facebook, the cosmetic industry, I-Phones, and you name-it-anything-retail. It is what makes credit cards so attractive—“What’s in Your Wallet?” And yes, the divorce industry. As for being happy, our late pontiff, Blessed Pope John Paul II said it well: “Life is not just a succession of events or experiences: it is a search for the true, the good and the beautiful. It is to this end that we make our choices; it is for this that we exercise our freedom; it is in this - in truth, in goodness, and in beauty - that we find happiness and joy.” Life is not always a trip to Disney World. In every life some rain will fall. It is as simple as that. The problem is we live in a world where it is thought we should avoid suffering at all costs. That is why the pharmaceutical industry is so lucrative.

The solution is simple, but putting it into action is an entirely different matter all together; Jesus in today’s Gospel spells it out quite clearly, the answer is in Him. If we are looking for the good that is certainly what we will find; if God is what directs our life then everything else will simply fall into place. Sometimes we are too busy looking or listening to other things that we miss the guidance God offers us. If our life choices are directed by what is good, by what is good for my marriage, then only goodness can follow. So, who’s in your marriage? As we begin the season of Lent tomorrow perhaps we could make a special effort to listen and look for the direction God is calling us to and rise every morning and look to God and our marriage for direction to our choices. Make a great day!

Today we recall the good life, gifts, and work of Saint Peter Damian--Bishop and Doctor of the Church. Saint Peter Damian wrote of the need to listen and look for God in the ordinary events of our daily lives, which you can read about further in The Eremitic Life: Encountering God in Silence and Solitude .
Pope Benedict XVI suggests that Saint Peter Damian had much to tell us regarding the need to look and listen for direction in our lives. In his general audience of September 9, 2009, in reference to the life and teachings of Saint Peter Damian, he said: “This is important for us today too, even though we are not monks: to know how to make silence within us to listen to God's voice, to seek, as it were, a "parlour" in which God speaks with us: learning the word of God in prayer and in meditation is the path to life.”

Feast of Saint Eucherius

2012-02-20T06:45:00.003-06:00

Good morning. Everyday we encounter situations which might test our faith, and there are days certainly which without our faith we might find ourselves led to despair. There seems to be an ever increasing amount of challenges to the faith these days and like Saint Eucherius, whose life we join together to celebrate today we might be asked to stand-up for our faith.

Sometimes despite our faith, we don’t always experience the peace we are looking for, and there are times we feel all alone in the face of the difficulties we are facing. There are many different situations in life that challenge our faith. It is during these times we must like the father of the young boy in today’s Gospel ask for help: "Lord, I do believe. Help my unbelief."

As married couples it is important for us to be attentive and listen to our partner, and to be there for one another as a coach, to encourage and offer assurance, and to seek God’s help, especially when facing uncertain times. Praying together offers an opportunity to share openly each other’s struggles and uncertainties. If one is looking for a ‘soul-mate’ then joining one another in their journey with God is certainly the place to find them. Keep in mind that the couple that prays together, stays together.

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

Feast of the Seven Founders of the Servants of Mary

2012-02-17T08:45:00.003-06:00

Good morning. As a marriage and family therapist I deal daily with human suffering; hardly a day goes by that I don’t encounter in some way the anguish felt by a couple who struggle with rediscovering the sense of oneness they once had. They awaken one morning to a journey of self-inquiry of “What am I getting out of this?” They find themselves going from a relationship in which they were about giving of themselves to wanting for their self. It is no longer a love of self-giving but self-getting love. That sense of oneness only comes from there being a commitment to giving of self to the other. This is extremely difficult in a world where we are constantly bombarded with suggestions that life is all about me. Yet, in today’s Gospel reading from Mark we are clearly told by Jesus that the journey to the Kingdom requires that we carry a cross with us. Likewise, our first reading today from James notes that our faith must be actively lived out and so we must awaken each day to actively living out the covenantal exchange of our wedding day. Marriage is not always a reciprocal arrangement; we don’t always get back what we put into it. Make no mistake about it; the best of marriages do not escape the Cross of Christ! Sometimes, we need to step aside from asking “What am I getting out of this?” and, ask instead “What is my spouse getting out of this?” Blessed Pope John Paul II in his Letter to Families reminds us of this when he tells us that “When a man and a woman in marriage mutually give and receive each other in the unity of “one flesh,” the logic of the sincere gift of self becomes a part of their life.” We need to awaken each day to the question: “What can I do for my marriage today?” Make a great day!

Today we recall the good lives, gifts, and works of Saints Bonfilius, Alexis, Amadeus, Hugh, Sostenes, Manettus and Buonagiunta—Founders of the Order of Servites.

Feast of Saint Paul Shipwrecked

2012-02-16T07:01:00.000-06:00

Good morning. Today I awoke with a special feeling of appreciation for being married and having an appreciation for having a sacramental sense or understanding of what that actually means. This past week I was away from home on business and throughout the week it occurred to me that so many folks see things differently. As Jesus admonishes Peter in today’s Gospel reading, I find myself surrounded by so many reminders that the world in which I live likewise does not see things “as God does, but as human beings do.” Throughout the course of this past week as I was surrounded by lavish accommodations and as I sat enjoying Muscovy Duck Breast with Spicy Plum Sauce with my colleagues, it occurred to me that there was a longing for something far more meaningful. It occurred to me that my inability to relate to some of the events and surroundings of this past week was because I see things differently than some folks. I did encounter a great many wonderful people and I made some friends. It was indeed my pleasure to encounter a number of people who give so much of themselves helping others see their way through from various shipwrecks of their lives. We all encounter shipwrecks and I guess the difference is in how we choose to respond to those various challenges. The difference for me as I give some thought to the experiences of this past week is that I see things as a person 31 years married and that sense of who I am keeps me focused on something far more important than duck with spicy plum sauce. Despite how lavish the accommodations it could not measure-up with what I was longing for. I now am back home and no longer longing. I guess the difference for me as it was for Saint Paul, whose life we celebrate today, is in the direction we take and what guides the choices we make. As Saint Paul noted, if God is what directs our voyage, not one of us will be lost but only the ship. Make a great day!

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

Feast of Saint Claude de la Colombiere

2012-02-15T06:07:00.000-06:00

Good morning. Reach out, reach out and touch someone. This AT&T commercial which graced our TV screens and the sides of buses in the late 70’s offers much wisdom for married couples. The simple gesture of holding our partner's hand or cuddlng serves to build trust between us. Reaching out to our partner in a nonsexual way provides a sense of comfort and connectedness between us. Jesus in today’s Gospel demonstrates how His love provides healing for a blind man in a small town in Galilee, and Saint Claude, whose life we commemorate today touched many lives in his service to others. Let us imitate the life of Saint Claude through reaching out to others in service. Let’s strengthen our marriage by reaching out and touching our spouse today. Cuddle-up! Make a great day!

Today we recall the good life, gifts, and work of Saint Claude de la Colombiere.

Feast of Saints Cyril and Methodius

2012-02-14T05:24:00.000-06:00

Good morning. Happy Valentine’s Day! How often do we really truly let our spouse know how much we appreciate them? Do we always recognize how significant that other person is in our life? And, what is it we do to let them know it? It shouldn’t need to be Valentine’s Day to let our spouse know how much we appreciate them. In today’s Gospel Jesus gets frustrated with the Apostles as they seem to not appreciate the significance of His relationship with them. Like Jesus in the Gospel our spouse can sometimes feel under appreciated. Make every day Valentine’s Day, say or do something each day that tells your spouse how very special they are to you. Feed your marriage by having a date, a special moment for the just the two of you every day! When we let each other know how special they are and how much they are appreciated and we honor them we likewise honor God. Make a great day!

Today we recall the good lives, gifts, and works of Saints Cyril and Methodius. We likewise recognize Saint Valentine who is recognized as the Patron Saint of Love.

Feast of Saint Catherine Del Ricci

2012-02-13T04:10:00.000-06:00

Good morning. The recent death of singer Whitney Houston certainly gave many of us reason to pause and consider the tragedy of such a gifted person being taken from this life so prematurely. I don’t know that Whitney Houston’s death is at all related to her well known involvement with drugs, but the events of these past days has given us reason to consider the tragedy of how she as well as others struggle despite the enormity of the gifts they are given by our Creator; they seem unable to fully appreciate their God given gifts and seem unable to accept themselves. Many of the songs responsible for Whitney’s stardom talk of love and one in particular talks of accepting one self and suggests how easy love is to achieve. This particular song suggests that “the greatest love of all is easy to achieve.” Yet despite all she had going for herself, learning to love herself seemed to be beyond her reach as demonstrated by her tragic lifestyle of drugs and other self destructive choices.

In today’s Gospel we are reminded that Jesus came for each of us and He offers Himself to everyone, we need only ask. His love is easy to achieve—there for the asking. Despite this greatest love freely given to each one of us our brokenness often causes His love to allude us. Despite His being there for our asking some look for more, more signs, more assurance of the love He offers us simply for the asking. We likewise do this with each other, despite assurances that love is there for the asking, we sometimes fail to accept the love freely given by others. We often see this in marriage. Despite the love which is freely offered we sometimes look for more signs, more certainty that it is real. In marriage we offer ourselves to each other and promise our love and acceptance of one another completely for the remainder of our days. Yet, how often do we find ourselves looking for other signs or more assurance? We need look no further than in each other for it is in ourselves and in each other that we come to know and appreciate the “greatest love of all.” And they can’t take that away. Make a great day!

Today we recall the good life, gifts, and work of Saint Catherine Del Ricci. This holy woman offers a wonderful example of coming to know and appreciate the love Jesus offers us in the burning love and desire witnessed in her lived effort to do the will of God.

Feast of Saint Scholastica

2012-02-10T11:03:00.000-06:00

Good morning. I recall not too long ago a couple came to my office for marital counseling. On a Likert type scale that I use to have clients personally assess how various things are in their lives they rated their relationship fairly high. In fact, on a scale of 0 through 10 they both rated their relationship to currently be at an 8. “Wow!” I said. Upon further inquiry they indicated that they weren’t there for any particular problem or distress in their marriage but they were looking to make some improvements. One of the areas they were particularly interested in making improvements in was in the area of ‘communication’ which came as no surprise as that is a rather frequent request. (I’d venture a guess that 99% of the couples who come into my office indicate a desire to improve their communication.) Upon further inquiry the wife indicated that they had been to another therapist, and they had been to a marriage seminar at a posh resort in the hopes of improving their marriage. In response to my inquiries as to what they found to be helpful they indicated that neither situation was at all helpful toward what they were hoping for. She went on to explain that with the therapist they were made to feel there were problems where there weren’t, and at the seminar they were given ways to talk in ‘I-messages’ which prompted them both to begin laughing. She went on to indicate that they were given cue cards to practice using these ‘I-messages’, “I feel, because….” She said “that was really awkward, we don’t talk like that.” I said to them, “Yup, I don’t either; I guess that was rather uncomfortable?” “Yes, and rather silly, but we actually had some fun with it and we wound-up having a good time in spite of that.” We spent time working-on and discussing the importance of attentiveness and validation in their relationship and they were able to better appreciate that they knew how to do these things but that they needed to remind themselves to do them.

I was reminded of this session with this couple after reading the Gospel passage for today’s Mass in which Jesus engages in the use of a therapeutic technique or ritualistic process by which to heal this man of his deafness. He uses a combination of spit mixed with mud and proclaims the word "Ephphatha!" (That is, "Be opened!"); and the man is cured. This reading prompted my recall of this couple’s humorous story because as with so many instances of couples like this they were able to discover that they had the capability to fix the problem themselves. Research tells us that much of what makes for positive change in counseling is the clients’ own strengths and experiences along with a positive relationship with the therapist. In fact, the relationship with the therapist is 7 times more important than any technique. Much like in the experience with the man in today’s Gospel, where it was the man’s faith which cured him, this couple came to know and appreciate with but a small amount of coaching that they knew how to effectively communicate with each other and it didn’t require any special techniques, skills, or cue cards to make things better. Unfortunately, like this couple and like the man in the Gospel we sometimes feel a need for more specialized or dramatic things to appreciate Jesus’ healing presence.

Speaking of communication, there is a humorous story involving our saint for today, Saint Scholastica and her brother, whose life we commemorate today. She apparently made an effort to get her brother, Saint Benedict, to remain with her so they could spend the time talking but he seemed not to listen or hear what she was asking. So frustrated with her brother’s unwillingness to respond she turned to God in prayer as a way to get his attention. To read more about this story go here. Like this story of Saint Scholastica and Saint Benedict and the young couple we all need to remind ourselves to be more attentive to the needs of others and show them kindness and care. May the Holy Spirit fill our lives and help us to be more present to one another today and throughout our journey. Make a great day!

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

Feast of Saint Apollonia of Alexandria

2012-02-09T10:03:00.000-06:00

Like the woman in today’s Gospel story, who cries out for help most of us fit into a similar situation at some point or other in our lives. For most of us bad things happen, and continue to happen in our lives, and there are times when our cries to heaven seem to go unattended; our cries to God bring nothing but silence and we feel utterly abandoned. For most of us this would result in giving up or at the very least doing something different, perhaps run away; but for the woman in today’s story it meant facing the situation head on and with humility and respect she persisted on. For us the lesson is to persist in our prayer and to remain humble, but sometimes despite our prayers things remain the same. This Gospel story for most of us is I think a difficult one for we see a different side of Jesus than that which we are used to, and for many of us the idea of suffering is not an easy one.

We live in a culture that tends to run away from suffering. Unlike the woman in the story there are times when despite our persistence, and despite all the humility we might bring to the altar our suffering remains, and we are asked to bear our suffering for the sake of others. For many in our current day society suffering for the sake of others is a rather peculiar concept. As married couples we are called to a special type of suffering, as Blessed John Paul II noted in Familiaris Consortio, “Spouses are therefore the permanent reminder to the Church of what happened on the Cross; they are for one another and for the children witnesses to the salvation in which the sacrament makes them sharers.” The sacrifices we humbly endure as married couples serve as an offering for the ills of our present day culture, they serve as a reminder to a culture that shies away from suffering that God’s love conquers all. As married couples our witness of sacrifice and self-giving remind others that there is something far greater that awaits us, something far more fulfilling than the things of this world. As our Blessed Pontiff noted in his first visit to the United States in 1979, “The great danger for family life, in the midst of any society whose idols are pleasure, comfort and independence, lies in the fact that people close their hearts and become selfish.” Our Saint whose life we celebrate today offers us an example of sacrifice. Saint Apollonia gave the ultimate sacrifice for the faith. We live in a culture that struggles with the idea that there may not be any immediate reward or satisfaction for our self-sacrifice, that despite our suffering we persist in giving. I know as a husband and as a parent that the rewards are many. Let us persist in our prayers and in our giving. Make a great day!

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

Feast of Saint Jerome of Emiliani

2012-02-08T06:08:00.002-06:00

Good morning. Is the life we are living truly reflecting the best of who we are? Do we see our self or do we live our life in a way that manifests the dignity of who we are? Do we appreciate and respect the gifts we have been given? Do we help others better appreciate and respect their self? There are considerable lies and misrepresentations of the truth within the secular world in which we live. Deep within each one of us is a desire to know the truth. We are never satisfied until we find it. Each of us desires to know and experience truth, true love, true friendship, true kindness, and true…. In today’s Gospel Jesus informs us that it doesn’t so much matter what goes into a person but what comes out. We are constantly bombarded with lies, lies about what or who we are or need to be. If we focus on the person we can be and need to be then we are not so easily taken in by the lies and messages of a secular, materialistic world that constantly tells us we are lacking. If we appreciate the beauty and goodness of our spouse and our marriage then we become what we look for. There is a Chinese proverb that suggests that our thoughts become our words and our words become our actions. If we go looking for the negative in our self and in others then that is likely what I’ll wind up finding; however, if I go looking for the good then that is likely what I’ll find. Saint Jerome Emiliani whose life we commemorate today offers wonderful advice regarding how to reflect the best in our self and others. He said, “I urge you to persevere in your love for Christ and your faithful observance of the law of Christ. Our Goal is God, the source of all good.” If we search for God in our self and in each other that is Who we are likely to find. What are you looking for? Make a great day!

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

Feast of Saint Giles Mary-of-Saint-Joseph

2012-02-07T06:05:00.000-06:00

Good morning. We need not travel to Rome to St. Peter’s Basilica, nor do we need to travel to the banks of the Jordan River to find God. For those who can see and hear, for those who can trust their senses He is present to us everywhere, and that makes everything about us sacred. In the Gospel today Jesus challenges the Jewish leadership on the issue of tradition and in particular their being so ostentatious in their carrying out of Jewish tradition. Jesus suggested to the Pharisees that they often lost sight of what was truly important out of their felt need to impress or lord themselves over others. Their inflated sense of self prevented their appreciating the dignity and worth of others. How often do we do likewise? Do we treat things with an appreciation of its sacredness; do we treat one another as if we truly are aware of His presence? Do we fail to recognize the sacredness in one another?

In marriage we are called to love one another through honoring Christ in each other. We live in a world of secular lies and deception which would have us see one another as objects and this secular world encourages us to treat one another in this way. We need to remind ourselves to see the sacred in one another and lovingly challenge one another to be true to who we are with encouragement, openness, truthfulness, and forgiveness. It is easy to forget our own sinfulness and ignore the gifts God has given to others. Our Saint whose life we honor today had a healthy awareness of his own sinfulness and spent his life helping others in recognizing the sacredness in their selves. May Saint Giles Mary-of-Saint-Joseph intercede for all married couples for the help we need in recognizing God’s presence in our partner. What a difference it would be if we responded to each other as if the other were Christ. May each of us have the grace needed to assist each other in recognizing and embracing our own sacredness. May we better recognize the Thee in you and me. Make a great day!

Today we recall the good life, gifts, and works of Saint Giles Mary-of-Saint-Joseph.

Feast of Saint Paul Miki and Companions

2012-02-06T07:39:00.000-06:00

Good morning. Have you ever had one of those days when the forces seem to be moving in on you from every direction? Have you ever had a day when you feel there are just not enough of you; the children can’t seem to get enough of you? Well, for me, those days are past where our children are concerned, but for most parents those days do exist. As parents there are times we seem never able to attend to those things we desire to, no, instead the demands of our children always seem to come first. As parents there are times we seem to be like the Energizer Bunny; we just keep on giving. Throughout their lives our children reach out to us in need, hoping for us to respond. How we respond to our children’s needs, ultimately provides for them the ability to trust in a God who will respond to their needs. As parents we establish that sense of hope our children need to flourish and grow to believe in a greater good by the way we respond to their needs. Imagine what it must be like to not have such hope. That is exactly what it would be like if as parents we failed to respond to our children’s needs. As parents we respond even when we are weary and it seems we are unable to give anymore. As loving parents we enthusiastically and not so enthusiastically respond. This is not unlike our Lord in today’s Gospel. The crowds will not leave Him alone. They long to see Him to just touch His cloak in the hope that they’ll then be okay. In yesterday’s Gospel Jesus offers us parents the solution to being able to keep on giving, even when it seems we have no more to give; He tells us to take time for our self to pray. In yesterday’s Gospel we read where He went off to a secluded place to pray before going to the next village to preach and give of Himself more. As parents we too need to take the time to find solitude and seize occasional moments to have a conversation with our Father. Like the people in the Gospel stories we long for His presence in our daily lives. As we respond to our children, so too our Father in heaven is there to respond to our needs, to give us the strength we need when we are feeling weary. St. Paul in his letter to the Galatians offers encouragement for us parents. He said: “Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest, if we do not give up.” So too our Saint for today, Saint Paul Miki offers us an example to live by. He willingly went to his crucifixion aware that a far greater good awaited him. As parents we instill in our children a hope and an appreciation for something greater by our own example of perseverance and continued self giving. Keep giving, but take time to re-energize through prayer. Make a great day!

Today we recall the good lives, gifts, and works of Saint Paul Miki and his companions. “The only reason for my being killed is that I have taught the doctrine of Christ. I thank God it is for this reason that I die. I believe that I am telling the truth before I die. I know you believe me and I want to say to you all once again: Ask Christ to help you become happy. I obey Christ. After Christ's example, I forgive my persecutors. I do not hate them. I ask God to have pity on all, and I hope my blood will fall on my fellow men as a fruitful rain.” ~Saint Paul Niki

Feast of Saint Blaise

2012-02-03T07:38:00.000-06:00

Good morning. Today is the day in the church calendar when we turn our attention to ailments of the throat in celebration of the Feast Day of Saint Blaise. We know more about the devotion to St. Blaise by Christians around the world than we know about the saint himself. Saint Blaise is believed to have been a bishop of Sebaste, Armenia, in the early part of the fourth century. He suffered martyrdom under the Roman emperor Licinius. In today's Gospel we read of the martyrdom of Saint John the Baptist. Both Saint John the Baptist and Saint Blaise were beheaded for their convictions. I wonder some times whether I would have the courage to do likewise. We should all pray for the grace to stand up for our faith and to live daily our convictions.

We traditionally get our throats blessed on this day because Saint Blaise had saved a child from choking on a fish bone and because of this he is the Patron Saint of protection against ailments of the throat. We look to Saint Blaise to protect us against any problems involving our throat. We might today take this opportunity to look to Saint Blaise for assistance in matters involving our throats which we don’t normally consider. Perhaps we could call upon Saint Blaise for assistance in being gentler and kinder in the use of our words with our spouse and with others in our lives. We typically don’t hesitate to offer comments to our spouse regarding a particular dissatisfaction we may be experiencing in our marriage; yet how often do we take the time to offer a compliment? A well timed compliment goes a lot further towards making things run smoothly than a word of correction. Why not take note of when our spouse gets it right versus focusing so much on when it doesn’t go our way? All of us want and need to feel appreciated. If we don’t appreciate our spouse it could very well be that someone else will. Right now, think of something you could sincerely say to your spouse that would say they are truly appreciated. Are there things you can comment on that you haven't mentioned before? Through the intercession of Saint Blaise, bishop and martyr, may God deliver you from ailments of the throat and from every other evil. And, may you be gentler and kinder in your words today. Make a great day!

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

Feast of the Presentation--Candlemas Day

2012-02-02T05:56:00.000-06:00

Good morning. "When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him" (Luke 2: 22-40). There is no doubt that Mary and Joseph were not people of means as they offered up a pair of turtledoves yet what scripture tells us they were the best of parents. The Gospel from today’s Mass makes clear that they accepted their responsibility of parenting and that they were raising the Christ Child in accordance with Jewish teachings. All of what they were about was in fulfilling the mission of their child—our Savior.

Because of the words of Simeon upon seeing the Christ Child in the temple, "a light to the revelation of the Gentiles" the Feast of the Presentation has come to be known as Candlemas Day and traditionally candles are blessed on this day. Following Terce the priest blesses the candles while the congregation sings Nunc Dimmitis—the words spoken by Simeon upon seeing the Christ Child. The Holy Family serves as a model for all of us for how to best live our married lives and for how to be good Christian parents, which is why the Holy Family is the patron of this blog. The Church has always taught that parents are the primary teachers of the Faith. As parents we are to make our homes, in the words of Saint John Chrysostom, a “Family Church.” Our late pontiff, Blessed Pope John Paul II reminds us parents that we are the first teachers in their childrens’ lives and this task continues beyond the early years, this is not to be a task relegated to other significant persons in our children’s lives, and this role of teacher proceeds past the developmental years into their adult years. It is because of this that the Church prescribes as part of the Rite of marriage the question, “Will you accept children lovingly from God, and bring them up according to the law of Christ and his Church?”

For there to be a sacrament a couple must be open to God’s gift of life and accept the responsibility for their upbringing. Blessed Pope John Paul II continues to note that the family is an organic entity which attaches itself to those who have come before and it continues on with later generations. He further indicates that this is a task which parents share with our Creator: “If it is true that by giving life parents share in God's creative work, it is also true that by raising their children they become sharers in his paternal and at the same time maternal way of teaching. According to Saint Paul, God's fatherhood is the primordial model of all fatherhood and motherhood in the universe (cf. Eph 3:14-15), and of human motherhood and fatherhood in particular.”

The best way we can imitate the Holy Family in our lives is through making Christ the center of our family’s life. Ways of doing this are by praying together as a family and by attending Mass every Sunday. Other ways are through imitating the actions of the Holy Family by simplifying our lives; are the activities away from home taking away from spending time with God and our family? Is there time in our busy lives to just be quiet and still? Are we sharing meals together? How might we make Jesus the center of our lives, a light of revelation for our children? May Christ be our light. Happy Candlemas Day! Make a great day!

Nunc Dimittis by Arvo Pärt Nunc dimittis servum tuum, Domine,secundum verbum tuum in pace.Quia viderunt oculi mei salutare tuum,quod parasti ante facies omnium populorum,lumen ad revelationem gentiumet gloriam plebis tuae Israel. Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word in peace. Because my eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples, A light to the revelation of the Gentiles and glory of your people Israel.

Feast of Saint Brigid of Ireland

2012-02-01T08:57:00.002-06:00

Good morning. Once again we are on the eve of Groundhog Day. The movie Groundhog Day, a 1993 film starring Punxsutawney Phil and Bill Murray, has to be one of my all-time favorite movies, because almost daily I see variations of this classic comedy played out before my eyes in anything but a laughable way in the lives of the couples seeking marriage counseling. Like Bill Murray these couples awaken each morning living out their lives in a fashion which Albert Einstein is attributed to saying defines insanity. Like Phil, played by Murray, these couples live out their lives like couplets out of rhyme seemingly doomed to spend the rest of their lives reliving the same things over, and over, and over again. Does this sound like anyone you know? Well, then toss caution to the wind, stop the ‘insanity’, and dare to be different, that’s right DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT! This is not always easy, like the good folks of Nazareth in today's Gospel who were reluctant to listen to what the carpenter’s Son had to say, we likewise can be hesitant to step away from the ordinary. So, why not get an early start on Groundhog Day and dare to step outside the comfort zone, dare to love enough to be different. Saint Brigid of Ireland, whose life we celebrate today dared to be different. In a prayer attributed to today’s Saint, she prayed. “I'd like a great lake of beer for the king of kings. I would like to be watching heaven's family drinking it through all eternity." So let’s lift a pint to being different and dare to trust enough to do something different for the sake of our marriage. Make a great day!

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

I would like the angels of Heaven to be among us.
I would like an abundance of peace.
I would like full vessels of charity.
I would like rich treasures of mercy.
I would like cheerfulness to preside over all.
I would like Jesus to be present.
I would like the three Marys of illustrious renown to be with us.
I would like the friends of Heaven to be gathered around us from all parts.
I would like myself to be a rent payer to the Lord; that I should suffer distress,
that he would bestow a good blessing upon me.
I would like a great lake of beer for the King of Kings.
I would like to be watching Heaven’s family drinking it through all eternity.- Saint Brigid

Feast of Saint John Bosco

2012-01-31T05:19:00.000-06:00

In today’s Gospel there are two stories of healing, both involving faith and overcoming the fear of reaching out for love. In the first instance we read of a leader in the synagogue, a man by the name of Jairus, whose daughter is at the point of death. Jesus reaches out to Jairus in love and tells him not to be afraid, but to just believe. Jesus takes his daughter by the hand and she comes to life. The other story is about a woman with a chronic loss of blood who out of fear of being discovered secretly reaches out and touches Jesus’ cloak. It is faith which overcomes her fear and she was immediately cured. In both instances the power of our Lord’s love overcomes the fears and uncertainties life presented in the lives of these two people in the town of Capernaum. As we read in the Gospel of John, "There is no fear in love." In both instances extraordinary things resulted as a result of faith and love.

It now seems like so very long ago that she was first diagnosed. We for some time prior to her being diagnosed had some sense that things were not right. Then, what now seems so long ago, there would be numbness and fatigue, and occasionally she would lose the ability to walk, her legs just giving way from underneath her. There are times when her body just seems to take on a life of its own apart from any will on her part. There are increasingly, as the mysterious disease (MS) progresses, areas where feeling has seemingly left for good. There is treatment with possible delay of the disease progressing, but there is no cure. And, although she has decided not to let this defeat her there have been occasions of blue periods, and on occasion anger, and being without anyone or anything to blame, it just gets misdirected and soon forgotten. Life moves on.

Being in the afternoon of our life together, it is only natural that there have been times where concerns pop up for what this disease might mean for the feelings between us. Life’s challenges are no stranger, we’ve been tested before, life hasn’t always been everything we desired, but we’ve always managed and more situations than I dare count have been forgotten and we have grown in our love and appreciation for one another. We’ll see this through, thirty-one years and four children assure me of this. Like the woman in today’s Gospel, I’m certain if we reached out to God we could awaken to things being far different than they presently are; as a matter of fact they have become different, in our reaching out to our Lord and to each other our life together has and continues to grow way beyond our wildest imaginings. The promise we made to one another so many years ago has taken on a newer and deeper meaning. There will continue to be setbacks and difficult moments, and as we have before we will come to accept it all knowing we are there for each other. We’ll together keep our eyes on the prize, not knowing which of us will get to the finish line first, but as now we’ll be there for each other when the time comes. We can all take a lesson from today’s Gospel in learning to overcome our fear of loving and being loved. We likewise can look to the life of Saint John Bosco whose life is a shining example of how life lived out in faith and love can turn the supernatural “into the natural and the extraordinary into the ordinary.” Reach out to someone you love today. Make a great day!

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

Feast of Saint Hyacintha of Mariscotti

2012-01-30T06:53:00.000-06:00

Good morning. I’m guessing that most people when reading the tale from this morning’s Gospel tend to focus in on the mad man possessed by demons. Yet the story is really about the mercy Jesus extends to the man, the same mercy He extends to all of us. He likewise asks that we in turn extend the same mercy to each other. The Gospel for today as well as the life of Saint Hyacintha, whose life we commemorate today, offer each one of us hope in God’s mercy and a reminder that we are likewise called to be merciful with each other.

The goal of a virtuous life is to become like Christ. So too, in marriage we are called to be Christ-like in our life together. Pope Benedict XVI in an address on the occasion of the Fifth World Meeting of Families notes that Christ shows us the way to be loving and to be merciful, “for the Lord makes it possible for us, through our human love, to be sensitive, loving and merciful like Christ.” May we be loving and merciful in all that we do today. Make a great day!

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

Feast of Saint Angela Merici

2012-01-27T11:33:00.000-06:00

Good morning. Thank God for fairy tales, fables, and the like. They are a wonderful thing. They offer us so much in the way of life’s meaning. They offer understanding in a way that straightforward instruction could never offer us. Fables get to our inner core, they stimulate our imagination and provide for us an experience of life’s lessons we could not learn but by way of experience. It is for this reason, as we read in today’s Gospel, that Jesus used parables to instruct, to allow His listeners to not just hear the words but to experience the words. “With many such parables He spoke the Word to them as they were able to understand it.” In many ways I’m but a kid at heart and I truly enjoy fairy tales, fables and such. One such tale comes to me as I consider this morning, and I must admit it is one of my favorites. The story of Beauty and the Beast offers a delightful story of love. On the surface it presents to be a story of romance, but its lesson goes far beyond romantic love; it offers the reader an understanding of what true love is. It tells of love being a decisive choice, of its focus being the other person as person and not some disordered objectified imagining of the other. It offers us a glimpse of a relationship between two people where romance and friendship blossom into a full realization of each other. It becomes a sense of oneness with the other. We witness their uncertainty and fears of intimacy grow into a dance together where their meaning for one another becomes more than the sum of attraction, friendship, and desire; and even after one or the other occasionally stumbles their dance continues. These two individuals learn to surrender themselves and together they become the dance that they dance. They continue dancing despite and even knowing they will from time to time stumble.

Yes, fables, fairy tales, Proverbs and other stories offer us much in the way of life lessons. Some of my favorites are the lives of the Saints. The life story of Angela Merici has much to tell us. She, like many of the saints, overcame many life tragedies to live a good life, and eventually she became the founder of the Ursuline Sisters. We live in an age where much of what we and our families are exposed to offer disordered understandings of love and relationships. Our Saint whose life we commemorate today, Saint Angela Merici noted that “Disorder in society is the result of disorder in the family.” This is so true. Is it any wonder that marriages and families struggle as they do when the images of love, marriage, and family we are presented within the media are so distorted and confused? We can overcome this; instead of tuning in to Desperate Housewives or House, why not tune in to reading a book. Yes, that is why I love fairy tales, for their lessons are true, but we must bear in mind that such things do not just happen, we make them happen. May you decide to live happily ever after. Make a great day!

Today we recall the good life, gifts, and work of Saint Angela Merici. “Angela, simple of heart, be with me! Angela, filled with confidence in your mission, be with me!” ~Author Unknown

Feast of Saints Timothy and Titus

2012-01-26T05:59:00.000-06:00

Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul

2012-01-25T07:01:00.000-06:00

Good morning. There is an old folk hymn which talks about how despite the trials and tribulations we encounter in life we cannot help but continue to be joyful. The song, entitled How Can I Keep From Singing was made popular in the 60’s by folk singers such as Pete Seeger, Arlo Guthrie and the like. It talks of making fresh each day a sense of newness, of peace knowing there is a promise of a better life. It is one of those songs which one can’t shake once it gets into your head, and as I read today’s first reading from Acts this morning and the reminder from the Gospel for each of us to proclaim the Good News I just couldn’t keep myself from singing over and over in my head this joyful reminder of the opportunity each of us has to awaken each day to an opportunity for conversion. Each day we have the opportunity to awaken and turn our lives around, to say “YES!” to the grace available to us and to likewise direct that grace to our spouse. God’s presence is everywhere. He is present in each other and the more we are aware of this the more joy we are able to find in our self. What an immense joy it is in knowing God’s presence in our lives, of being aware of His presence in our spouse and sharing that presence with each other in each and every moment God makes available to us. Each and every day we have the opportunity to become sharers in God’s sanctifying power through making a difference in the life of our spouse and help them find the joy that rings out in knowing the goodness of having God in our life. Knowing this, how can we keep from singing? Make a great day!

Today we celebrate the Conversion of Saint Paul.

How Can I Keep From Singing My life flows on in endless song; Above earth's lamentation, I hear the sweet, tho' far-off hymn That hails a new creation; Thro' all the tumult and the strifeI hear the music ringing; It finds an echo in my soul-- How can I keep from singing? What tho' my joys and comforts die? The Lord my Saviour liveth; What tho' the darkness gather round? Songs in the night he giveth.nvers No storm can shake my inmost calm While to that refuge clinging; Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth, How can I keep from singing? I lift my eyes; the cloud grows thin; I see the blue above it; And day by day this pathway smooths, Since first I learned to love it; The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart, A fountain ever springing; All things are mine since I am his-- How can I keep from singing?

Feast of Saint Francis de Sales

2012-01-24T06:33:00.000-06:00

Good morning. Self-will, one has to wonder how many disagreements might be avoided if we were to ask first what is best for our relationship. This whole idea of being there for each other, of serving one another, and, in turn, serving God as well; what exactly are we thinking? Are we asking the impossible? I guess the less self-willed we were, it would be easier to avoid these disagreements. If we weren’t so strong willed it would be so much easier to do only those things which best serve each other. Yet, why is it that doing what is best for each other instead of responding to my own individual wants sometimes seems to be impossible? But certainly this is what we are called to do. We are called to serve each other, and, in turn, serve God in one another. Doing what is best for each other brings joy into our relationship, and so one would think it would be easier than it is to respond accordingly. In today’s Gospel we are reminded that doing God’s will is what we are called to do. Doing the will of God brings joy into our hearts and yet it is not always easy. It isn’t easy even when we know His will. Likewise, doing what is best for each other brings joy into our hearts and yet it is not always easy. It isn’t easy even when we know what is best. Saint Francis de Sales, whose life we commemorate today, spent his life attempting to discern and to do God’s will. His advice to those present and for us as he took his final breath was “Humility, humility, humility.” Make a great day!

Today we recall the good life, gifts, and work of Saint Francis de Sales.

Feast of Saint John the Alms-Giver

2012-01-23T10:07:00.003-06:00

Good morning. As you are reading this, in our Nation’s Capital there are hundreds of thousands of marchers who will be peaceably demonstrating against the scandalous tragedy of abortion in our country. My heart and my prayers are with them.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spent his life, and ultimately gave his life, reminding people that nobody should be excluded from the justice and equality we cherish as a nation. For well over 300 years citizens of this country have given of their lives to protect and affirm the “the sacredness of all human life.” At the heart of the Pro-Life March is that our nation declared 39 years ago that every woman had the right to abort her unborn child, and as recently as this past Sunday our President Barack Hussein Obama, in reference to abortion, declared that "government should not intrude on private family matters." These pathetic misdirected words are but a reminder that this society of ours has lost its moral compass, that we, as a nation, have become mired in a distorted sense of right and wrong. One of the basic tenets of this republic, the right to life has become twisted and reconfigured to exclude a segment of the populace—the unborn child. This is not the first time in this nation’s history that rights have been relegated based upon one’s status as a human being. We are not that far removed from the days of slavery, and even less so from the days of Jim Crow Laws. What is most alarming is that Abortion according to Centers for Disease Control data kills more black Americans than the seven other leading causes of death combined.

Our Saint for today, Saint John the Alms-Giver lived his life with a profound appreciation for the sacredness of life. He lived each day attending to the needs of those less fortunate than ourselves. He attended to the needs of others so they might live to enjoy life. Our secular society has long forgotten the importance of life. Life for far too many in this country is measured by the extent of pleasure one can obtain and in the words of President Obama, if it is a choice between pleasure and the burden of a baby for his daughters he would choose pleasure. He wouldn’t want his daughters “punished with a baby.” The felt entitlement to happiness and pleasure within our society has led us to the point that the very measure of life itself is contingent upon how it either contributes to or takes away from that felt sense of entitlement. This sense of entitlement to a life of pleasure seems limitless, to the point of redefining God’s influence in our lives. We have forgotten what the founding fathers well knew, that the right to life is not a privilege conferred by government, but by God. As a nation we have turned away from God.

The Gospel for this morning offers very clear words of warning for those who choose to turn away from God’s Love and for a nation divided (Mk 3:22-30). We have become so driven by this felt entitlement for pleasure that the love for our own individual pleasures, rather than God, has become the end, and our nation is divided and could quite possibly be on the path to destruction. Pope Benedict XVI, in a recent ad limina address noted “In America, that consensus, as enshrined in your nation's founding documents, was grounded in a worldview shaped not only by faith but a commitment to certain ethical principles deriving from nature and nature's God. Today that consensus has eroded significantly in the face of powerful new cultural currents which are not only directly opposed to core moral teachings of the Judeo-Christian tradition, but increasingly hostile to Christianity as such.” May we pray that the leadership of this country puts an end to abortion, and returns the right to life to include all—even the unborn child. May we return to a land where "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." And, let us pray for the safety of all those marching today, those joining together as a Voice for Life in our Nation’s Capital. Make a great day!

Today we recall the great life, gifts and work of Saint John the Alms-Giver.

Pope Warns of Threats to Religious Freedom in the USA

2012-01-21T13:47:00.000-06:00

Thursday, January 19, 2012
DIFFICULTIES AND HOPES OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN AMERICA

VATICAN CITY, 19 JAN 2012 (VIS) - Today in the Vatican Benedict XVI received a group of prelates from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (Regions 4 and 6), at the end of their "ad limina" visit. Extracts from his English-language remarks to them are given below.

"At the heart of every culture, whether perceived or not, is a consensus about the nature of reality and the moral good, and thus about the conditions for human flourishing. In America, that consensus, as enshrined in your nation's founding documents, was grounded in a worldview shaped not only by faith but a commitment to certain ethical principles deriving from nature and nature's God. Today that consensus has eroded significantly in the face of powerful new cultural currents which are not only directly opposed to core moral teachings of the Judeo-Christian tradition, but increasingly hostile to Christianity as such.

"For her part, the Church in the United States is called, in season and out of season, to proclaim a Gospel which not only proposes unchanging moral truths but proposes them precisely as the key to human happiness and social prospering. ... With her long tradition of respect for the right relationship between faith and reason, the Church has a critical role to play in countering cultural currents which, on the basis of an extreme individualism, seek to promote notions of freedom detached from moral truth. ... The Church's defence of a moral reasoning based on the natural law is grounded on her conviction that this law is not a threat to our freedom, but rather a 'language' which enables us to understand ourselves and the truth of our being, and so to shape a more just and humane world".

"The Church's witness, then, is of its nature public: she seeks to convince by proposing rational arguments in the public square. The legitimate separation of Church and State cannot be taken to mean that the Church must be silent on certain issues, nor that the State may choose not to engage, or be engaged by, the voices of committed believers in determining the values which will shape the future of the nation.

"In the light of these considerations, it is imperative that the entire Catholic community in the United States come to realise the grave threats to the Church's public moral witness presented by a radical secularism which finds increasing expression in the political and cultural spheres. The seriousness of these threats needs to be clearly appreciated at every level of ecclesial life. Of particular concern are certain attempts being made to limit that most cherished of American freedoms, the freedom of religion. Many of you have pointed out that concerted efforts have been made to deny the right of conscientious objection on the part of Catholic individuals and institutions with regard to cooperation in intrinsically evil practices. Others have spoken to me of a worrying tendency to reduce religious freedom to mere freedom of worship without guarantees of respect for freedom of conscience.

"Here once more we see the need for an engaged, articulate and well-formed Catholic laity endowed with a strong critical sense vis-a-vis the dominant culture and with the courage to counter a reductive secularism which would de-legitimise the Church's participation in public debate about the issues which are determining the future of American society. ... In this regard, I would mention with appreciation your efforts to maintain contacts with Catholics involved in political life and to help them understand their personal responsibility to offer public witness to their faith, especially with regard to the great moral issues of our time: respect for God's gift of life, the protection of human dignity and the promotion of authentic human rights".

"No one who looks at these issues realistically can ignore the genuine difficulties which the Church encounters at the present moment. Yet in faith we can take heart from the growing awareness of the need to preserve a civil order clearly rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition, as well as from the promise offered by a new generation of Catholics whose experience and convictions will have a decisive role in renewing the Church's presence and witness in American society. The hope which these 'signs of the times' give us is itself a reason to renew our efforts to mobilise the intellectual and moral resources of the entire Catholic community in the service of the evangelisation of American culture and the building of the civilisation of love"

AL/ VIS 20120119 (760)Published by VISarchive 02 - Thursday, January 19, 2012

Feast of Saint Sebastian

2012-01-20T13:07:00.000-06:00

Good morning. We read in the Gospel for this twentieth day of January from Mark’s Gospel how Jesus selected His Apostles (Mk 3:13-19). “He appointed Twelve, whom he also named Apostles…” It is interesting how the Apostles were so diverse in their various gifts and personalities; in fact, one of the select twelve would even come to hand over the Lamb of God for slaughter. Like the twelve Apostles each of us are given various gifts, but one we are all called to is that of hospitality. Although we celebrate today the Feast of Saint Sebastian, I find myself thinking about tomorrow being the Feast Day of Saint Meinrad, the Patron of our town and the Patron Saint of Hospitality. We likewise this coming Sunday will be celebrating the closing of a jubilee year for our small village here in the hills of Southern Indiana. Father Abbot Justin DuVall will fittingly join our former pastors and faith community in bringing to a close this jubilee year. This past year we celebrated 150 years since the town was born around the abbey on the hill the Benedictine Monks established in March, 1854. These Benedictine Monks who came from Abtei Maria Einsiedeln near the district of Schwyz, Switzerland, under the capable stewardship of Martin Marty, sold off land to establish the town of Saint Meinrad, Indiana in 1861 and the town was born and so too a long standing relationship and spirit of hospitality between the monks and the folks at the foot of the hill. Saint Meinrad Archabbey, a community of some 100 Benedictine monks which shares our town with us, prides themselves in the living out of Chapter 53 of the Rule. Saint Benedict says: "Let all guests that come be received like Christ Himself, for He will say 'I was a stranger and ye took Me in.” Yet, I always feel somewhat torn on this day every year as we find ourselves celebrating the feasts of two wonderful Saints.

In addition to it being the Feast Day of Saint Meinrad (Benedictine Ordo), tomorrow is also the Feast Day of Saint Agnes (Roman Ordo). My fondness for Saint Meinrad might be fairly clear given he is the Patron of our town and our parish community. May we continue to be invigorated by the example of faith and hospitality of our founders. I likewise have a fondness for Saint Agnes as it is a reminder of someone very near and dear to me (My Mother-in-law Aggie). Both Saint Meinrad and Aggie clearly reflected the gift of hospitality. Hospitality is a gift we are all called to and my in-laws Aggie and Butch, for me, were the epitome of hospitality. The one, Saint Meinrad, I’ll leave to you to read about further. The other, Aggie, likewise was quite gifted and lived daily the call to hospitality. In fact, Aggie and her husband, Butch, of 45 years when she passed 12 years ago both lived daily the virtue of hospitality. Aggie recently welcomed him home into the Kingdom at his passing on the Feast of the Epiphany.

Aggie never met a stranger, and she always had a pot of the world’s best coffee waiting for anyone who graced her doorway. Both of them always made sure anyone visiting their home was comfortable and when called for—fed. I know of only one instance of her ever shying away from welcoming someone at her door, and given that door-to-door sales person’s perpetual incapacity for understanding the word ‘No!’ there isn’t a person alive that could fault Aggie for it. Even in the uncertainty and confusion of Butch’s final days he likewise always made a point of attending to the comfort of visitors to their home. This gift of hospitality is one that most of us probably need to work harder at; I know I could take a lesson from both Aggie and Butch. It is something which as parents we need to work at instilling in our children. Given the estranged nature of our culture, we need to be about instilling in our children the gift of welcoming people into their lives, especially those so often discarded by others—the socially and economically marginalized, the elderly, the sick, and those with physical, emotional, and mental challenges. One way to instruct our children in the way of hospitality is to freely discuss the scriptures amongst our family, especially those that note our call to reach out to others. I know my wife has done well to teach our children, for she learned from the best; her mother and father taught her well. It is fitting that Butch was called home at the close of this Jubilee Year. Welcome home good and faithful servant. We miss you both! Why not share the lesson of hospitality from the Life of Saint Meinrad with your children today. Make a great day!

Today we recall the good life, gifts, and works of Saint Sebastian. And tomorrow we celebrate the Feast Days of both Saint Agnes and Saint Meinrad.

Continued prayers for Abbot Martin Werlen, OSB, Abbot of Abtei Maria Einsiedeln

Feast of Saint Fillan

2012-01-19T06:53:00.001-06:00

Good morning. “We all need to get away. There's one place that's on your way, McDonald's is your break today…” These words from the McDonald’s mid-nineties advertising program came to mind as I read from Mark’s Gospel of Jesus feeling the need to get a break from the admiring crowds. He is feeling overwhelmed by the throngs of people pressing in upon Him attempting to touch Him, as if He were a Teen Idol (Mk 3:7-12). People throughout Galilee and Judea have heard of His miracles. They come in from everywhere; they surround him and chase after him like paparazzi. “He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases were pressing upon him to touch Him.” Yet, amazingly the charm of this new-found hero of the Israelites will soon fade. As we read further in the story these same people will look upon Him differently. They will soon decide that maybe He wasn’t the one; maybe they had made a mistake in thinking He was their Messiah.

So often we see a similar type of story of disenchantment lived out with married couples. In the initial years all is well, the superficial attractions and youthfulness keep things vibrant and alive, but as the years go by interest and commitments fade. Some grow fearful for the loss of their youth. It would be my hope that every couple’s desire would be to grow old together. Unfortunately, we live in a culture that places more value on youth and beauty than maturity and wisdom. Like our youthfulness things change, marriages also change, they go through different stages.

It is most unfortunate that half of all couples never have the opportunity to live out their lives knowing the joy and goodness of the final stage of this journey we call marriage. For those couples who have the fortune of reaching this final stage there is an appreciation of a shared history together that hasn’t always been easy, but there is a sense of pride and shared peace in knowing that the years of dedication and commitment were well worth it. In slight alteration of the words of old Blue Eyes, “We did it our way.” As a couple we are able to look back upon our accomplishments, of family, friends and of building a life together. We have learned to appreciate our differences and we take joy in how we complement one another. Like Jesus in today’s Gospel, and our Irish Saint for today, Saint Fillan, who the people were enthralled with because of their miraculous deeds, in the initial years the glamour and charm of youth seem to be the draw, but over the years such things matter less and we grow to appreciate the real beauty each other offers and cherish how complex our partners truly are. Our children are grown and we are able once again to focus more on the marriage and upon one another. The joy and goodness we longed for back in the stormier times is now here.

From the beginning, marriage was meant to be a lifelong covenantal union. True love, that which sustains a lifelong union, does not depend on beauty or youthfulness; it is part of “for better or for worse.” Failing health and lost beauty don’t matter when you’ve chosen to love someone forever. Make a great day!

Today we recall the good life and works of Saint Fillan.

Feast of Saint Volusian of Tours

2012-01-18T03:14:00.002-06:00

Good morning. We all act based upon the beliefs that we have. If we believe that we can then we will. If we believe that something isn’t possible or if we believe it is out of our reach then it isn’t possible and it is out of our reach. If you believe life is only about now, then you’ve pretty well completed your journey. In today’s first reading we revisit the story of David and Goliath. David was told that he couldn’t take on the giant Philistine Goliath. Saul told David “You can’t do it!” David didn’t listen to Saul and the others. He knew with God’s help that nothing was impossible and he was victorious. It is told that our Saint for today, Saint Volusian of Tours was married to a hateful, spiteful woman but Volusian knew with God’s help he could endure it. His life as well as that of so many saints offers to us a wonderful example of how our faith gives us the strength we need to see our way through whatever trials life sends us. We all face many giants in our lives. There are numerous things we consider beyond our capacity to endure yet if we believe we can we will. There is a saying attributed to Henry Ford, “Whether You Think You Can or Can't, You're Right.” There are no Giants we cannot defeat with the help of God. Too often couples in what they view to be a hopeless marriage assume they have no choice but to either “Get out of Dodge” or live miserably ever after. This is just not true. The majority of marital troubles are solvable. You are the one who'll decide where to take your marriage. You can make a difference. You can do it. Make a great day!

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

Feast of Saint Anthony the Abbot

2012-01-17T05:58:00.001-06:00

Good morning. The art of parenting tends to be rather challenging and it certainly can be a topic for much disagreement. Nearly everyone has an opinion regarding the topic of parenting, and despite an overwhelming amount of research regarding parenting techniques which are effective the discussion continues. An area where there is considerable evidence is in the area of parental style and how a child comes to perceive their self. The research suggests that authoritativeness leads to a child’s development of positive self-regard whereas an authoritarian parenting style lends itself to a child having a poor self-regard. In today’s readings the idea of authority and how it is approached is discussed. In the first reading Samuel is in the process of searching for a suitable candidate to be King of the Israelites. Samuel has some reservations regarding whether having an earthly king is a good idea, he is fearful that such authority might be misused, but he obediently responds to God’s commands. In the Gospel for today Jesus suggests that proper use of authority requires the wisdom to see beyond the letter of the law. So it is with parenting; we are called to rule over our children but not as earthly kings, but as a heavenly king who is a servant to his family. We need only look to Jesus for an example to follow. Jesus came to serve; He is constantly reaching out to us, never gives up on us, and is never discouraging. We are called to be likewise in our parenting efforts. As parents our authority is given to us by God, and we will be asked to account for how we use it. We likewise have much to learn from the spirituality of Saint Anthony the Abbot whose life we commemorate today. Hardly any of us can leave what we are doing and go off to live in a desert cave, but we can make time to be more attentive to God’s presence in our lives. As parents we can take some time each day, perhaps a few quiet moments every morning to place ourselves in God’s presence to ask for direction in our tasks as parents, to ask Him to be with us in our parenting decisions. We can look to the words of Saint Anthony, “Wherever you go, have God before your eyes.” May we have the grace today to always seek God in all that we do. Make a great day!

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

Feast of Saint Berard of Morocco and Companions

2012-01-16T06:21:00.000-06:00

Good morning. In today’s Gospel from Mark (Mk 2:18-22) we read about conversion, a total conversion. Jesus talks about the need to put new wine into new wine skins, He suggests that for there to be anything less than total, would be a waste of time. “Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins are ruined. Rather, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins.” 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 your self 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 Saints whose lives we commemorate today gave witness to the faith, paying the ultimate price of becoming the first Franciscan Martyrs. As Saint Berard and his Companions did not hesitate to give up their lives for You, may we likewise bear witness to You by example of our sacramental marriage. Let us begin anew today. Make a great day!

Today we recall the good lives, gifts, and works of Saint Berard of Morocco and Companions.

Feast of Saint Hilary of Poitiers

2012-01-13T07:03:00.001-06:00

Good morning. Sometimes it just takes one to tango. We too often think it takes both partners in a marriage to make things better, but often the intentions or actions of one can make things better for both, and it all begins with desire. If our desire is for things to be better our actions will likely reflect our desire. But for our desire most of the good things that happen wouldn’t occur. If we desire a better marriage, then we will do what needs to be done to make it better. If however we are okay with where things are at we are not likely to take the action necessary to make things better. Just as in today’s Gospel the desire of those who brought the paralytic person to Jesus was what made the difference. It was their faith that moved Jesus to make the paralytic walk. And, just as in the Gospel, it doesn’t take any major changes to make things better. It doesn’t require any big changes to improve our marriage. It takes just a few minutes doing positive things for one another, and it all begins with desire. We need to just take a moment each morning to show our love in some small way and that small act will set the tone for the day. Begin each day by inquiring about each others plans and end each day asking how the other’s plans went. Do a small act of kindness each day. That small act of kindness each day will blossom into a richer and more rewarding life together. Our Saint for today, Hilary of Poitiers, is an example of the importance of small acts of kindness and its rewards for our lives. Improving our marriage doesn’t require any expensive weekend marital seminars, or costly trips to the marriage guru. No, all it takes is desire and a few minutes connecting with each other each morning and an act of kindness. Yet, why stop there? Why not take it one step further with an act of kindness for someone other than our spouse, perhaps a complete stranger and watch the goodness grow. Make a great day!

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

Feast of Saint Bernard Corleone

2012-01-12T08:10:00.000-06:00

Good morning. What is it we really need? What is it that will truly give us the joy and goodness we really truly desire? God knows, and when we let go of our incessant need to be in control we likewise know. We know what we have always known, that it boils down to trust. That is the lesson in today’s Gospel. The leper’s openness, his total trust in Jesus’ ability and willingness to heal him is the answer for each of us. It is this simple, honest sense of openness which allows us to have the joy and goodness which makes up a lasting marriage.

Echoing in today's Gospel is one of the most touching messages of Christ’s words to us. A message which God has provided since the beginning, that He will not forget us--we need only trust in Him. This same unfailing love, this same openness and trust is what we are called to share with one another in marriage and it is what will provide for the joy and goodness we desire. This total trust in God, this total trust in each other frees us from the anxiety about things and the fear of tomorrow that comes from feeling we need to be in control. There are two ingredients which provide for a lasting marriage, God and commitment to one another. May we come to trust in God as Saint Bernard whose life we commemorate today trusted in God’s mercy for his sinful lifestyle. May we always trust in His plan for us and may we strive to look to each other and all things in the light of our Creator’s wonderful loving plan for us. Make a great day!

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

Feast of Saint Theodosius the Cenobiarch

2012-01-11T06:04:00.000-06:00

Good morning. There are many things I have learned over the course of the last few days; doing God’s will, about sums it up. Even in reading this morning’s Gospel I’ve experienced a bit of an Epiphany. For those of you who regularly read my simple ramblings on a regular basis you’ve no doubt realized that I’ve not attended to my Blog over the course of these last few days, this has been due to my needing to be present to my wife and her siblings in attending to the last days and subsequent burial yesterday of my father-in-law. The words from today’s Gospel as well as the reading from the Book of Samuel and the words of Psalm 40 combine with things I have come to realize about the lessons from the life of my father-in-law, Butch, which I’ve previously not fully appreciated. “Here I am Lord, I come to do Your will.” Butch died last Friday evening, January 6, the Feast of the Epiphany.

In today’s Gospel we read where our Lord responded to all who needed Him despite His own tiredness. So it was with Butch, he so very often put his own children above his own needs, and twelve years ago now I was witness to his putting the needs of his bride Aggie above those of himself. For seven long, tiring months he put the needs of his dying wife above those of his own. For the better part of 81 years Butch was about putting the needs of others above his own despite his own tiredness. As a young lad his father passed away and at a very young age he was called to attend to the needs of his widowed mother and the family farm. He was not able to complete the education he dearly esteemed because he realized the needs of his family and the needs of the family farm were more pressing. Much like the young Samuel in this first reading for today Butch responded to the voice of God in his life to give of himself to those he loved and he likewise responded to the needs of the community and country he loved.

The lesson from this morning’s readings, the lesson from these past few days and these final months in the life of Butch, and the healing memories of Butch’s life bring hope. Our Dear German Shepherd, Pope Benedict XVI, in his book Seek That Which Is Above writes about how memories offer us hope. How the intention of Advent and the other seasons and “feasts in the Church’s calendar are events of remembrance and hence events of hope.” And so it is for the life and memories of Butch and of others who have gone before us, their lives and their goodness offer us hope and lessons for our own lives and encouragement to respond to God’s voice. So let us all listen and respond to God’s call in our lives, and let the memories of others bring us hope and encouragement to likewise give generously of ourselves. Thanks Butch! Make a great day!

Today we recall the good life, gifts and works of Saint Theodosius the Cenobiarch—a monk who lived his life for the faith community of Palestine.

Feast of Saint John Neumann

2012-01-05T05:38:00.000-06:00

Good morning. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” How often do we, like Nathaniel in today’s Gospel, make similar judgments? About ourselves? And, about others? Think of how often we arrive at conclusions about someone based upon what they do, or where they are from. In fact one of those things we so often ask people upon first meeting them is “What do you do?” How often do we consider who others really are? How often do we look at others and consider how God is manifested in their lives. When we do consider such, we come to realize that God manifest Himself in different ways with different people. Each one of us has very different journeys with God. In fact, no two journeys are the same. Philips answer to Nathaniel was “Come and see.” Like the Gospel story, what is important isn’t so much where it begins, but where our journey ends. This New Year let us make an effort to awake each day with focusing on where our journey is headed. Let us awake each day and consider how God will be manifested in the day that lies ahead. One doesn’t need to look far to realize how our Saint for today, Saint John Neumann, allowed God to be manifested in his life. How do others see God manifested in our lives? In our marriage? In our work? “Come and see.” Make a great day!

Today we recall the good life, gifts, and works of Saint John Neumann. “A man must always be ready, for death comes when and where God wills it.” ~Saint John Neumann

Feast of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton

2012-01-04T05:40:00.001-06:00

Good morning. What was it that so intrigued him that day? What did that man say that so captivated him to drop everything and take-off after Him? You have to know that whatever it was that transpired between the two of them it certainly developed a healthy thirst for more of whatever it was. It sure made a definite difference in the direction of the life of a simple fisherman named Andrew. This well known piece from the beginning of John’s Gospel offers some very encouraging news for us parents. This brief passage of history is encouraging because research upon research indicates that we, we parents, are the most powerful influence in how children go about making decisions regarding the direction of their lives. What a wonderful, yet awesome responsibility we as parents have. What a difference we as parents can make; like the man along the shore of Galilee, what we say or do can make a significant difference in lives of our children. When we ask our children “What are you looking for?” What will be their response? Hopefully as Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, she herself a parent instructs us, it will be to do the will of their Father. “What was the first rule of our dear Savior’s life? You know it was to do his Father’s will. Well, then, the first purpose of our daily work is to do the will of God; secondly, to do it in the manner he wills; and thirdly, to do it because it is his will. We know certainly that our God calls us to a holy life.” Seemingly Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton heard a similar message as Andrew as it led her to where God wanted her to go. May we and our children hear this same call to a holy life. Make a great day!

Today we recall the good life, gifts, and works of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton.

Feast of Saint Genevieve

2012-01-03T07:00:00.004-06:00

Good morning. Each of us starts out our marriage hoping for the best and never gives any consideration for the possibility of ever being lonely again. Yet each one of us struggles with establishing and maintaining a sense of closeness and understanding. Throughout our married lives we desire a relationship of intimacy, of oneness but like a butterfly in the breeze it often can tend to be quite elusive. Our effort at being one with our partner tends to be fleeting and sporadic. In today’s first reading from the First Book of John the author discusses our relationship with God, as with our relationship with God our tendency toward being prideful and selfish people often gets in our way of being one with one another. It is an understanding of our relationship from the perspective of seeing life through the eye’s of God that allows us to establish a common focus and establish a sense of oneness. If we work together as a couple toward developing a common purpose of serving together God’s design for us we are more likely to experience that sense of oneness. If we allow God to be the architect of our relationship we can avoid the tendencies toward being uncertain and fearful of intimacy and openness and enjoy the joy that awaits us in being one with each other. We can avoid the doubts, uncertainties, and loneliness that come with life if we allow for God to be in control of our marriage. Like our Saint for today, Saint Genevieve, if our focus is on God we are able to overcome whatever obstacles and challenges life throws at us. Oneness in marriage comes with having a common focus on God in our lives. Make a great day!

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

Feast of Saint Basil the Great and Saint Gregory of Nazianzen

2012-01-02T08:58:00.000-06:00

Good morning. Brrrr! Old Man Winter has arrived here in Southern Indiana, we have snow flurries and the wind is blowing to beat all and the New Year has arrived as well. Let us begin this Year of 2012 by striving to live simply and through witnessing lives of grace and love. A joyous and blessed New Year to all! As we venture forth upon a new year we are provided an opportunity for renewal. As John the Baptist reminds us in the Gospel for today repentance is only the beginning of renewal. As our Saint for today, Saint Gregory Nazianzen suggests we must go beyond repentance; we are all called to be active in our faith. “He wants you to become a living force for all mankind, lights shining in the world. You are to be radiant lights as you stand beside Christ, the great light, bathed in the glory of him who is the light of heaven.” Saint Gregory is someone I can truly relate to. His and my world view tends to be quite similar. He once said, “Let us never esteem worldly prosperity or adversity as things real or of any moment….” Beginning in October of this New Year 2012, on the 50th Anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council, we the church will venture forth on a Year of Faith. Yet, we do not need wait until then to begin spreading the news; we can begin now by truly embracing those needed changes in our lives, both internally and externally. As we look about us in this year 2012 it is clear there is much needed change and this change must begin with ourselves. We can begin by taking a personal inventory and asking ourselves in what ways we have failed to love, and in what ways have we failed to be a light for Christ. Are there things we need to change toward making “straight the way of the Lord?” Like Saint Gregory Nazianzen, let us begin this New Year with simplicity, and let us be messengers of grace and joy in all that we do. Perhaps the best place to begin is by asking ourselves how we might better show our love to our spouse and to those we encounter each day. What other things night we do to show the light of Christ in our lives? Make a great day!

Today we recall the good lives, gifts, and works of Saint Basil the Great and Saint Gregory Nazianzen. “Today let us do honor to Christ’s baptism and celebrate this feast in holiness. Be cleansed entirely and continue to be cleansed. Nothing gives such pleasure to God as the conversion and salvation of men, for whom his every word and every revelation exist. He wants you to become a living force for all mankind, lights shining in the world. You are to be radiant lights as you stand beside Christ, the great light, bathed in the glory of him who is the light of heaven. You are to enjoy more and more the pure and dazzling light of the Trinity, as now you have received – though not in its fullness – a ray of its splendor, proceeding from the one God, in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and power for ever and ever. Amen.” ~From a sermon by Saint Gregory Nazianzen on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

Feast of Saint Thomas Beckett

2011-12-29T07:02:00.000-06:00

Good morning. The Gospel this morning for the Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas is from the second chapter of Luke (Lk 2:22-35). Joseph being a righteous person and being good Jewish parents, the story tells of Joseph and Mary presenting their son at the Temple, a ritual required by Judaic law. Simeon, an Elder, upon blessing the Child Jesus, proclaims to Mary “and you yourself a sword will pierce.” It is here in the words of Simeon, and in the events of the nativity which we are presently celebrating that we come to see the beginnings of Mary’s role as Mediatrix, as sharing in the suffering of her son Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Much like our Blessed Mother, as parents we share in the trials and tribulations of our own children, it is part and parcel of being a parent. For most of us such sharing in the suffering of our children is not as considerable as that of Mary’s sharing in the crucifixion, yet nevertheless it is part of what we are called to in our roles as parents; all of us as parents experience a periodic piercing of the heart. None of us can begin to imagine what it was like for our Blessed Mother to stand there at the foot of her Son’s Cross, yet each of us as parents are called to do so in some way. As parents we are called to share in our children’s various sufferings, and although we make every effort to alleviate any suffering our children experience, sometimes we are left only being able to quietly hold them and, like Mary at the foot of the cross, offer to them an unspoken awareness that we share in their pain. We are reminded today in the words of Saint Thomas Beckett, whose feast day we celebrate, that we are all called to take up our crosses for a greater glory. “Remember how the crown was attained by those whose sufferings gave new radiance to their faith. The whole company of saints bears witness to the unfailing truth that without real effort no one wins the crown.” Like Mary, we share in our children’s journeys and this sometime requires us to share in their sufferings. As parents it is the most intimate and most loving thing we do, it is because the answer to all suffering is love. Some day, if as parents we have done our job our children will help us endure our suffering and be there to help us see our way through our final days. Today we recall the life of Saint Thomas Beckett and we celebrate the Fifth Day of Christmas, o' come let us adore Him. Make a great day!

Today we recall the good life, gifts and works of Saint Thomas Beckett, Martyr. “The whole company of saints bears witness to the unfailing truth that without real effort no one wins the crown.” ~Thomas Beckett

Simeon the Elder is filled with joy today, receiving into his arms the Eternal God as an infant. Begging to be released from the bonds of the flesh he cries: "My eyes have seen the salvation,which You have prepared for all the nations to see!"

Feast of the Holy Innocents

2011-12-28T07:47:00.000-06:00

Good morning. The Church today commemorates the Holy Innocents as it has done since the sixth century. This Feast recalls the mass slaughter of innocent children’s lives in response to the proclamation of Herod Antipas who was afraid that the new born king, Jesus, would disrupt or replace his rule of Judea. The Gospel of Matthew (Mt 2:13-18) notes, that following the visit with the Three Wise Men, King Herod, in an egomaniacal act of fury, orders the slaughter of all the baby boys under two years of age in and around Bethlehem in an effort to eliminate any potential threat to his reign over Judea. These innocent lives are honored yearly by the Church as martyrs on December 28. Things have not changed since then; people continue to fear the King born in a manger. There is not available any number regarding the amount of lives that were taken in response to this heinous massacre ordered by Herod, but it is quite likely that the numbers pale in comparison to the daily slaughter of human lives that are taken every day throughout the world in response to the threat of a new life. Much as Herod responded out of fear and uncertainty we daily extinguish innocent lives through abortion. It is estimated that in the United States 3500 babies are killed daily as a result of abortion. Much as Herod was aware that the taking of life from those “Holy Innocents” was wrong, we too know that the taking of 3500 innocent lives through abortion is just as wrong. No amount of legislation or government support, or calling it a “choice” will ever make it right. As then it is fear that puts aside any thought as to right and wrong, it is a decision driven by the darkness of the evil one. As Blessed Teresa of Calcutta indicated, "Abortion kills twice. It kills the body of the baby and it kills the conscience of the mother." It likewise has deadened the conscience of all of us; we must all pray daily to end abortion. The slaughtered infants of Judea were martyrs; although they were not aware of it they gave their lives as witnesses to the Truth. The 3500 slaughtered infants today who will give their lives are martyrs; although they are not aware of it like the Holy Innocents they give their lives as witnesses to the Truth. May all of us work and pray to end abortion. May the Holy Innocents pray for us! Make a great day!

Today we commemorate the Feast of the Holy Innocents.

Feast of Saint John the Apostle

2011-12-27T09:47:00.000-06:00

Good morning. In celebration of the Feast of Saint John the Apostle the Church has selected the Gospel reading for today that tells of the moment when John the Apostle realized the tomb was empty and that Jesus had risen as He had foretold. This reading from the Gospel of John helps us realize that Christ’s death led to the glory of His resurrection and that what happened for Him will likewise happen for us. We all will die, and we all will lose loved ones, but the promise of resurrection in today’s Gospel offers for us assurance that in the resurrection on the last day we will rejoin those we love and cherish in this life. The message of today’s Gospel is clear—we need not fear death. This may seem to be somewhat of an odd message for Christmas time, yet it is this victory over death for which the Infant Child in Bethlehem came to be. It is this message of His coming to us as man and living, and struggling, and suffering, and dying as we all do and will that we celebrate at Christmas. His victory over death began at His birth as it does for each one of us at our Baptism or re-birth in Christ. This assurance of victory over death is a message many struggle with in a culture which seeks to escape suffering at any cost and where many attempt to ignore the reality of death. Although this assurance of victory over death is hardly a message we tend to focus upon it is precisely this message we celebrate at Christmas and throughout the year every time we celebrate the Mass. It is this faith in the resurrection which Saint John came to know in today’s Gospel reading that enables each one of us to some day say “Let me go to the house of the Father.” Meanwhile let us enjoy the moments we have with our loved ones and live each moment with the love given to us in the Infant Child at Bethlehem. O’ come let us adore Him. Make a great day!

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

Feast of Saint Stephen

2011-12-26T07:59:00.000-06:00

Good morning. One thing about family and relationships is that they are certainly complex. Yet, one thing most all families have in common is an extensive history of shared experiences. This sense of sameness typically results in a bonding and sense of closeness. This sense of sameness plays a very important part in maintaining such things as making healthy life decisions and our religious beliefs. There is no doubt about it, our family is key in influencing our spiritual beliefs and healthy life choices. However, our families do not always determine the beliefs or values we choose to guide us through life, no there are other influences that come into play and they are not always the best. There is no doubt that parents play the most significant role in influencing the values and beliefs we use to navigate our way through life, but we don’t always find ourselves in a world which coincides with the values and beliefs that have been taught to us. We live in a world which tends to place more value on the things of man then of God. In today's Gospel we read about making such choices. It is in these moments where conviction determines the quality of the choices we make. As parents we can make the difference in determining the type of choices our children will make. There are times, much like that witnessed in the life of Saint Stephen whose life we commemorate today, where making good life choices is met with ridicule and scorn. As parents we need to ask whether we are adequately preparing our children to stand like Saint Stephen with the values and beliefs we want for them or whether they will give-in to the influences of others. As parents may we always give our children what is truly best for them, and may we instill in them the courage needed to always be true to themselves and to always make the right choices. Make a great day!

Today we recall the good life, gifts and works of Saint Stephen—the first martyr.

Feast of Saint John Kanty

2011-12-23T10:12:00.000-06:00

Good morning. “What, then, will this child be?” This question from today’s Gospel prompted by the miraculous events surrounding the circumcision of the infant child of Elizabeth and Zechariah is one which every parent ponders at the birth of a child. All present at the event, all the relatives, friends and neighbors wondered aloud “Surely the hand of the Lord is with this child.” Given the vantage we have, we know that to be true. In a couple of days we will travel to a small village about 4 miles south of Jerusalem, to the Town of David called Bethlehem to a cave being used as a stable to house oxen and sheep, and there we will find a child lying in a manger. The child’s parents, already weary from having just completed a journey of just over 101 miles from a town in the north called Nazareth, will surely wonder “What, then, will this child be?” It is quite a natural question for parents to think of when they hold a newborn child in their arms for the first time, what alone the Child of God. The parents are surely troubled and anxious as they are aware that “the hand of the Lord is with this child” in a very special way. Given the vantage we have, we know that to be true. Yet, despite our vantage we sometimes fail to see that with our own children. As parents we must remember that the hand of the Lord is with each and every child, from the moment of conception. God has a plan for every child, for our children. We sometimes fail to see that. There are designs from before they are even in our arms for each and every child to do something spectacular with their lives. God is with them. And as parents we have the awesome responsibility to make that spectacular happen. And we make it happen with love. But imagine if you will the young couple cuddled together in that cave in Bethlehem pondering what lies ahead for them as the parents of their child. Imagine—God became man. Imagine—love became one with us. That is the miracle of Christmas, God became in that small desolate village in the hill country of Bethlehem like us in all ways but our sinfulness. He became part of our lives, not just for a brief moment in history some two-thousand years ago, but now, here and now He is among us. He is among us in the person of our spouse and in the person of our children and in every person we meet. In each moment we exchange with another we have the opportunity to make that love that became one with us long ago in the Town of David to come alive once again. The life of Saint John Kanty, our Saint for today, shows us the way to Bethlehem and the love that became one with us. A story is told that once when John Kanty was having his dinner, a beggar came to the door. He got up from the table carried all his food out to the man and when Saint John Kanty returned to his seat he found his plate miraculously full again. In a couple of days we will celebrate that love becoming one with us. But Christmas is not but just a day on the calendar. It is more than one day a year, it can be every day, and it can be shared with everyone we meet. Christmas can be in every moment of every day. What, then, will this moment be? Make a great day! Merry Christmas!

Today we recall the good life, gifts, and works of Saint John Kanty. "Fight all false opinions, but let your weapons be patience, sweetness and love. Roughness is bad for your own soul and spoils the best cause." ~ Saint John Kanty

Feast of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini

2011-12-22T10:59:00.001-06:00

Good morning. God has a plan for each of us. In the reflection for today I’ve chosen to take a look at His plan for three different holy women as well as reflect upon the importance of discerning His plans for each of us. In today’s Gospel reading we return again to the hills of Judea to the house of Elizabeth and Zechariah, and in response to her cousin’s greeting Mary answers with the poetic words of the Magnificat. This hymn of praise reminds us of the words sung by Hannah in the Book of Samuel. Hannah who had been childless sings praise to God for the gift of a child. In both instances these holy women give praise to God and both understand completely the source of all goodness. Both humbly respond to God’s will and do so with all humility knowing that God is the source of all goodness. Both women possess a certainty that God oversees the normal course of their lives, and they both live their lives dedicated to doing God’s will. And so it is for each one of us, God has called each of us by name even before we were formed “in the womb” and again at our baptism to share His life and the mission of salvation. When everything else in our lives and in our marriage do not seem to make sense it is good to remind ourselves of this truth, it reminds us that there is a sense of purpose,a sense of meaning in the various situations and events that occur. Therefore, like our Blessed Mother, like Hannah, and like our Saint for today, Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini (Old Liturgical Calendar--1962 Missal, Celebrated on November 13 in the Current Liturgical Calendar) we are all called in some way to play a role in salvation history. Despite repeated disappointments Frances Cabrini continued to listen to the voice of God in her life and she responded to His will for her. It is of interest how God has called upon women throughout salvation history to participate in His plans for us in such significant ways. As it was for these holy women, we all are asked to respond in love to whatever God is calling us to in our lives. In marriage we respond in love to God’s will for us as we are called to gives ourselves totally to another. This calling does not end on the day of our wedding but requires daily discernment and with all things He speaks to us over time in the ordinary events, persons and situations of our lives. Like these holy women who humbly responded to God’s will, this daily discernment requires us to listen and surrender ourselves completely to God and to each other with love and trust. What does He want of me today? May our trust in His loving care for us give us the strength this day to do the work of Christ in our marriage and in all we do today. With these holy women let us open our hearts and minds to the Holy One so that we may listen and do His will in all things, and like Hannah let us rejoice in the gift of life. Make a great day!

Today we recall the good life, gifts, and works of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini. “We must pray without tiring, for the salvation of mankind does not depend on material success; nor on sciences that cloud the intellect. Neither does it depend on arms and human industries, but on Jesus alone.”

Magnificat My soul magnifies the Lord,And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. For He has regarded the low estate of His handmaiden, For behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with His arm: He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has put down the mighty from their thrones,and exalted those of low degree. He has filled the hungry with good things;and the rich He has sent empty away. He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy; As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to His posterity forever.

Feast of Saint Peter Canisius

2011-12-21T09:20:00.000-06:00

Good morning. As we near the completion of our Advent journey we look once again to the witness of Mary and her response to God’s call in her life. Our Blessed Mother after hearing from God’s messenger that her cousin Elizabeth was pregnant she traveled the four day journey to Ain Karim in the hill country of Judah to visit her cousin Elizabeth. We read in today's Gospel that Mary could not remain in the comfort of her home in Nazareth, no her willingness to do God's will led her immediately to reach out to someone in need, her cousin Elizabeth. In this simple act of kindness Mary and her cousin teach us about Advent, about hope and give witness to the kingdom and peace of Christ. This simple beautiful story of two pregnant women visiting with one another and sharing their experience of God with one another offers us a very luminous example of how each of us are called to share with others our own experiences of God. Just as these two women shared with one another their experience of God in their lives we likewise are called to leave the comfort of our homes and take the message of His salvation to others we meet. Like Mary and Elizabeth we do this in the everyday language of love, in our greeting of others. In the same way these two hill country women greeted one another, in the language of Beatitudes—“Blessed are you…--and gave witness to the Glory of God, we too are called to do the same. And, just as it was with Mary and Elizabeth, this call to give witness begins within our own families. The language of the Beatitudes offers us the words necessary for bringing comfort to others found in message of peace and salvation of the Child we shall soon visit in Bethlehem.

Too often however we are reluctant to share this Good News and that is just fine with our secular culture for they don’t want reminders of this event anyways in the public square. For many in our current day society Advent and the arrival of the Prince of Peace are not a welcomed part of the celebration; no, for many it is about “Black Friday” and the opportunity to engage in festive self-indulgence, not about an Infant destined to be our Savior. The best weapon the Devil has is our reluctance to share our experience of God. Yet, like the two women kibitzing in a small village in Judah we are called to share our own personal experiences of God. In but a few short days we will come together as family, as a faith community to commemorate an event which changed the world. We will recall the birth of a Child who changed the world forever, and we are called to do likewise. As Blessed John Paul II noted in Familiaris Consortio, “the Christian family is called upon, like the 'large-scale church,' to be a sign of unity to the world, and in this way to exercise its prophetic role by bearing witness to the kingdom and peace of Christ, toward which the whole world is journeying.” Our beloved departed brother in Christ, Pope John Paul II noted further in the same document that the family is the “most effective means for humanizing and personalizing society.” There is no better means by which to make this world a better place than from within our very family. So in what few days remains in this Advent season let His message of peace begin with each one of us now and in the New Year. Let us follow the example of Saint Peter Canisius whose life we celebrate today by giving witness to the Good News in our example and in our words. Make a great day!

Today we recall the good life, gifts, and works of Saint Peter Canisius. “If the princes and rulers of this world are privileged to make merry over the sons of their flesh, what a mountain of reasons we have for exulting over the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, our Savior!”

Feast of Saint Dominic of Silos

2011-12-20T09:28:00.002-06:00

Good morning. Ever since I can remember I’ve been told that good wins out in the end; going back before I was knee high to a grasshopper I can recall being given this instruction. However if you are anything like me you likely struggle at times with this adage of the good always winning in the end, because it certainly seems that the good don’t always win out in the end. It seems at times that those who evade the Cross at every turn in their lives are the ones who wind up at the top of the heap. Most all of us have likely at one time or another considered the idea that those who pursue their own gratification in life seemingly wind-up the happier for it. Yet, we are called to detach ourselves from the ways of the world, and this is where it gets tricky.

I was reading from Introduction to the Devout Life by Saint Francis de Sales the other day and if I understood him correctly he was suggesting that to make and live a vow of poverty as do religious is a higher calling. With all due respect I can’t help but take exception with Saint Francis on this point for it seems to me that it is a much more difficult matter for a person to be living in poverty apart from choice than to be doing so as a matter of choice. In fact the idea of not knowing, the uncertainty and the thought of being mortally vulnerable seems to me to present the real challenge. Not knowing from where one’s next meal is coming, or whether you’ll have a way to work, or whether you’ll be able to purchase needed medication seems to me to offer the bigger challenge. Granted it may have been a different matter for religious living in the 17th century but today’s religious for the most part hardly experience the arduous task of poverty as described by St. Gregory of surrendering one’s “entire liberty.” Saint Gregory notes that “to forsake what one has is a small thing, to forsake what one is, that is the supreme gift.” Either way it is this very point of forsaking what one is along with the manner in which one accepts their station in life that seems to me makes the distinction. Like the example offered in today’s Gospel by our Blessed Mother, it is the manner by which we accept things in life that makes the true difference.

We are all called to respond to God as Mary did, without hesitation and without reservation, and so we say Thy will be done, let “it be done to me according to Your word.” It is this type of trust and abandonment into the hands of God which we are called to in the Sacrament of Marriage. For this is certain—marriage does not escape the Cross of Christ! We are called to “forsake what one is”, to give of our self to our other. This when done in the manner exemplified by our Blessed Mother is the recipe for a happy marriage. As I reflect further, another adage from my youth which comes to mind is the humble truth that “home is where the heart is.” If in our marriage we awaken each and every day dedicating our marriage to God we will not wander from where we have been called to pursue Him. May we always look to home and hearth for true happiness and fulfillment. It is a matter of how we respond to our call to marriage which makes the difference, if we respond daily with a joyful and generous heart our marriage is certain to likewise be joyful and truly fulfilling. May we look to our Saint for today, Saint Dominic of Silos for direction in being simple and humble of heart, may all we do today and for our marriage be in response to God’s will for us. Make a great day!

Today we recall the good life, gifts, and works of Saint Dominic of Silos—patron of pregnant women.

Feast of Pope Saint Anastasius I

2011-12-19T09:32:00.000-06:00

Good morning. Today’s Gospel from the first Chapter of Luke is to a large extent about living our faith in God and trusting in His Divine Providence. Today’s Gospel offers us a brief glimpse into the life of Elizabeth and Zechariah, who we discover despite their late years will give birth to a son we will come to know as John the Baptist. As we recall from yesterday’s Gospel reading the Angel Gabriel offers an explanation for this unusual circumstance noting in his exchange with Elizabeth’s cousin Mary that “nothing will be impossible for God.” This idea of Divine Providence is certainly one which has tended to fall to the wayside in today’s secular and skeptical culture. No, current day society tends not to offer anything to happenstance; we tend not to trust in God’s providence. No most of us tend to want to take charge, to believe that we are in charge. We need only look at the Americanization of reproductive practices to realize that many of us do not put much stock in Divine Providence. Yes, we may pray with some regularity, and we may participate in the sacraments, but when it comes to taking charge of our lives we are reluctant to put things into God’s hands, we are a take charge people, we leave nothing to chance. Marriage in current day society is viewed to be more of an economic venture than a covenant with God and each other, and any offspring will absolutely be planned so as not to interfere with our happiness. I’m reminded of a conversation my wife had with someone once regarding children, and the suggestion that they only planned to “have one, but we’ll have a second one, just in case.” Financial sacrifice is not anything couples today sign-on for, no it is about living ‘well’ versus living ‘good’. The idea of accepting whatever children God might send our way is quite a foreign concept to most married couples today. No, I trust in the Lord—kind of! For trust—trust in God’s Providence we need only look to our Saint for today, Saint Anastasias, for an example of living life with faith in God and living free of the trappings of materialism. Likewise as we approach the celebration of God’s Gift of Salvation we can look to the Holy Family as an example of placing our trust in God. There is a great lesson for all married couples in the life of the Holy Family--God will provide for those who sincerely place their trust in Him. Lord, please be present to us this day as we place our trust in You. Make a great day!

Today we recall the good life, gifts, and works of Pope Saint Anastasius I.

Suspice Prayer

Receive, O Lord, all my liberty. Take my memory, my understanding, and my entire will. Whatsoever I have or hold, You have given me; I give it all back to You and surrender it wholly to be governed by Your will.

Give me only Your love and Your grace, and I am rich enough and ask for nothing more.

Feast of Saint Adelaide

2011-12-16T07:19:00.000-06:00

Good morning. Do you see what I see? Way up in the sky, little lamb, do you see what I see? A star, a star dancing in the night… Do you know what I know? A Child, a Child shivers in the cold…. In just a few days we will be celebrating the birth of this Child born into poverty, in a God forsaken place, at a time of great political turmoil. We find ourselves returning to a manger in a cave not far from a field where shepherds are watching over their flock under the night sky. As we view the crèche and we sing the hymns we find ourselves kneeling before a manger in the town of David and like the people of that day we are looking for Jesus and waiting for him to unveil his salvation. But it doesn’t and shouldn’t end there.

Jesus in today’s Gospel notes that John the Baptist “was a burning and shining lamp” and the people of the day had numerous writings of the old covenant which directed them to the Christ Who was present among them—yet, they failed to believe. Like the contemporaries of John the Baptist we find ourselves seeking His coming, we look to the manger, to choirs of angels, and to images of dromedaries, yet it cannot end there. For if our seeking ends there, we will fail in seeing that Jesus has something to say to us in our world today. Like those questioning, those listening and those wondering, and trying to determine if Jesus was the One, we too seek the Truth and sometimes we fail to see it amongst the hurt and pain we cause one another. Sometimes we fail to see the Truth amongst the greed and selfishness of “Black Friday’s”, primetime sex at the rate of nine scenes per hour, the sexually charged and degrading gangsta rap jive, and the socially disengaged climate of our current day society. We recognize ourselves amongst the shepherds filled with awe and wonder, we recognize ourselves amongst those listening to John on the banks of the River Jordan, and we likewise wait and hope for His Second Coming, we await a time in the words of Isaiah when the “calf and the young lion shall browse together” and “his dwelling shall be glorious.”

At least for a moment this time of year we can and we typically do recognize ourselves kneeling before that manger in that far away place and time, yet we cannot allow it to end there but we need to continue to seek Him in our actions here and now, in our marital relationship and in our interactions with our children, and amongst those we meet in our day to day lives. In the example given by our Saint for today, Queen Adelaide, we are sinners by nature, yet by the grace of God we can make His presence known here and now in our actions with one another today. “Sinner by nature and Empress by the grace of God.” O come, Lord Jesus. Make a great day!

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

Feast of Saint Mary di Rosa

2011-12-15T08:31:00.001-06:00

Good morning. Advent is a time of longing. We might say it is somewhat like that of betrothal or engagement for marriage. In both instances we long for love, and love we are told by the Gospel Writer comes from God—it is God. So it is with marriage. We come to love our other out of a longing to better know God, to know love; and in marriage we make every effort to love as God loves us, to be faithful, forgiving, patient, and enduring until death. As Saint Augustine tells us “our hearts are restless until they rest in God.” This is so true. As a marriage counselor I daily witness the restlessness of couples searching for a sense of joy and happiness which can only be found in a loving relationship with God being at the center of their marriage.

In today’s Gospel we are reminded of John the Baptizer’s role as being the one who points to the coming of the Messiah. John the Baptist reminds us that we must prepare for His coming by removing anything which might hinder or get in the way of having Christ be at the center of our lives. So too it is in marriage, as married couples we serve as reminders to one another to be about those things which better prepare us for His coming, not just at Christmas but at the Second Coming. Our job, like that of John the Baptist, as married partners is to help point the way to the Kingdom for each other and for our children. It is the love we have for one another which brought us to His altar and sanctified our relationship, and it is this same love which continues to sanctify our relationship throughout our married life and will help guide us to the Kingdom. The life and loving work of our Saint for today Saint Mary di Rosa offers an example how our lives are to point to His coming. How will we point the way today? Make a great day!

Today we recall the good life, gifts, and works of Saint Mary di Rosa.

Feast of Saint John of the Cross

2011-12-14T06:53:00.000-06:00

Good morning. It is that magical time of year again, and part of the magic is watching once again Frank Capra’s classic “It’s a Wonderful Life.” If by chance someone has yet to see this delightful movie about a young man named George Bailey, and a bumbling second class angel named Clarence, it is about a journey of a man named George who through the help of an angel named Clarence discovers just how significant his life is. Clarence, the angel played by Henry Travers allows George Bailey played by Jimmy Stewart to discover how life would be had he never been born. In the process George comes to the realization that all has meaning in the overall scheme of things in accordance with God’s plan. So it is in today’s readings, Isaiah reminds us that all is in God’s hands and Jesus in the Gospel for today reminds us that He came here for a reason, every bit the same as you, and me and George Bailey. In the eyes of God each one of us is important. We are each here for a reason and we each have a purpose, and each of us makes a difference in the lives we interact with.

Often we allow ourselves to become discouraged, we become entangled by the things of this world and lose sight of what is important. This is a large part of why as a family we every year take time to pause from the hurriedness of life and sit and watch this wonderful movie classic. This movie for me is among a handful of my top movies of all time, for its message is quite powerful. I encourage you and your family to take time this Advent season to likewise pause and consider the dignity and importance of each of our lives and to remind ourselves that our lives are intended for something far beyond the trappings of the skeptical, secular world we live in. As our Saint for today, Saint John of the Cross reminds us, “Live in the world as if only God and your soul were in it; then your heart will never be made captive by any earthly thing.” This Advent may we take time to appreciate the importance of our life, and take time to embrace with enthusiasm our friends, neighbors and family, for it is indeed a “Wonderful life.” If you don't already have the movie, why not pick-up a copy and start a Christmas family tradition of your own, a family viewing of It's A Wonderful Life. Make a great day!

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

Feast of Saint Lucy

2011-12-13T08:09:00.000-06:00

Good morning. “If we go into a darkened room and turn on the light, it doesn't matter if the room has been dark for a day, a week, or ten thousand years - we turn on the light and it is illuminated. Once we control our capacity for love and happiness, the light has been turned on.” These words by meditation instructor and writer Sharon Salzberg summarize the significance of today’s Gospel message. Once the light has been turned on it is on. In the Gospel today Jesus notes that it was those individuals who were regarded by the Jewish leadership as being outcasts and sinners who came to see the light, these ‘undesirables’ listened to His words and changed their ways. It doesn’t matter for how long they had been in the darkness. Today we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Lucy, and in some places the feast of St. Lucy is remembered in the celebration of the Festival of Lights. In the feast of Saint Lucy we recall that goodness triumphs over darkness. In looking to this idea of light and reflecting today upon its meaning for marriage, it occurs to me that sometimes the path to joy and happiness is difficult to find due to our own blindness to the role we personally play in our relational struggles.

It is not always easy to admit our own role in the disagreements that occur from time to time. Admitting our own wrongs is really hard at times because in doing so we have to acknowledge uncertainties we may have regarding ourselves. This can be particularly difficult for those of us who experience a great deal of negative self-regard, but when we bring ourselves to see our part in the events that darken our relationship we shine the light on the relationship, and allow for love to grow once again. As we prepare for the Birth of the Christ Child, the Light of the World, let us take charge of the capacity for love and happiness in our marriage, and turn the light back on again. The name Lucy derives from the Latin word lucere which means “to shine.” Saint Lucy despite persecution you did not fail to let your love for our Lord shine. Help us seek the courage we need to let our light shine today and to illuminate our marriage with love today and always. Happy Festival of Lights! Make a great day!

Today we recall the good life, gifts and works of Saint Lucy, Virgin and Martyr. Happy Feast Day to Rachel Lucille!

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

2011-12-12T10:13:00.001-06:00

Good morning. So many marriages fail. So many couples give-up hope and as a result so many families, so many children’s lives are shattered. This occurs despite the hope and dreams so many young couples have of saying “yes” for a lifetime. What could possibly cause these couples to give up on themselves, to turn away from the “yes” they proclaimed before God on their wedding day?

Today we read in the Gospel a message given to a young woman, a message which is likewise meant for us. God’s messenger assured the young Mary “Do not be afraid… for nothing will be impossible for God.” God assures each of us, as He assured the young woman who was to become the Mother of our Savior, and He offers the same assurance to every married couple that nothing is impossible for those who trust in Him and entrust themselves to Him. The assurance He offered to the “yes” spoken which changed the history of mankind is no less than that which He offers to each and every couple who likewise promise “yes” before Him on their wedding day. Just as the Lord was forever with the young Virgin from Nazareth, He is with us in our marriage.

If we commit our married lives to Him, He is with us and we cannot fail. Today as we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe let us recall the words of Our Mother to Saint Juan Diego, “Let not your heart be disturbed.” So too, let us put our trust in God and beseech the help of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Make a great day!

Today we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe for Married Couples

Beloved Lady of Guadalupe, Our Mother, we seek your help for our marriage and all couples who together say “yes” to God our Father. Relying on your help, we rest assured that nothing can trouble or affect us because you remain with us and we ask that you seek the graces we need for our marriage this day and always. Amen.

Feast of Saint Juan Diego Cuautlatoatzin

2011-12-09T09:41:00.001-06:00

Good morning. The key to happiness in marriage is humility. As the Psalmist tells us “You are my only good.” The key to life overall is recognizing that we should not expect anything, certainly not from God. Jesus in today’s Gospel reminds us of the need to recognize our own lowliness. When we are aware of our own lowliness, we no longer make demands on others or expect to receive anything from them. When we apply this to our marriage we come to recognize each other’s goodness. As a marriage counselor I have seen where recognizing our own lowliness can make an incredible difference in a marriage. Remembering to say “Thank you” and being humble enough to say “I’m sorry” can truly make a difference. We (our spouse and I) make the difference in the joy shared in our marriage, offering praise and accepting blame make the marriage prosper. Our Saint for today, Saint Juan Diego Cuautlatoatzin offers an example for us to live by; in response to the visit by Our Lady he responded, “I am a nobody, I am a small rope, a tiny ladder, the tail end, a leaf.” Yet this humble man’s tale of a visit with Our Lady of Guadalupe was responsible for the conversion of millions of Aztecs to Catholicism. Ten million in ten years! So too our embrace of humility and the resulting recognition of the goodness in each other can work miracles in our marriage like roses flowing from our tilma. Let us pray to Our Lady for a conversion of mind and heart regarding the Sacrament of Marriage.

Today we recall the good life, gifts, and works of Saint Juan Diego Cuautlatoatzin.

Feast of the Immaculate Conception

2011-12-08T06:33:00.001-06:00

Good morning. In responding to today’s celebration of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception I happened upon the following words by Martin Luther: “She is full of grace, proclaimed to be entirely without sin—something exceedingly great. For God’s grace fills her with everything good and makes her devoid of all evil.” We celebrate today this very belief regarding Mary, that being the Mother of our Savior she was gloriously special and that she was “devoid of all evil.” What is particularly of interest to me is the total trust she had in God; as we read in today’s Gospel she without hesitation says yes to the request presented to her by God’s messenger to be the Mother of our Savior. “May it be done to me according to your word.” Look at the difference between how we respond and that of Mary. Mary responded without hesitation and was quite willing to do as God bid her to do. How often do we respond this way?

On occasion I am asked to engage young couples in pre-marital discussions. I meet with the couples for a series of visits and amongst a questionnaire and a discussion of its tabulated outcomes we exchange in some informal conversation regarding their personal experience of marriage and family. Of particular interest to me as a Catholic marriage counselor is their personal experience of trust and their relationship with their faith. I’m especially interested in their understanding of God in their lives as this will likely be a crucial determining factor in the lasting success of their marriage. This is particularly true in light of the increasing secular influences of our day. There is so much pressure which surrounds young couples today to minimize or even dismiss the sanctity of marriage, to view it as but a contractual arrangement which will last as long as everyone is happy and content but open to change at the first indication of discomfort. It saddens me to see this, and it saddens me even more to have to deal with the shattered outcomes of divorce as a result of such a casual understanding of the sacrament of marriage.

Many of the problems couples face can be attributed to a lack of trust in God. When God’s messenger asked Mary to be the Mother of the Savior, it could not have been easy for her to agree to such an awesome responsibility. Yet, she responded without hesitation because she had complete trust in Almighty God. We are likewise called every day to say ‘Yes’ to God. We are reminded today with the celebration of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the victory of Grace over sin. Let this remind us that with God all things are possible and that He is with us even in the most difficult of situations. Are we willing to open our hearts as Mary did? Do we truly listen and discern what God is asking of us each day? Can you say ‘Yes’ to being the husband or wife God is calling you to be today? It isn’t always easy, because we are not always happy and content; but like Mary, God is with us. We just need to look to Him and ask for His help. “May it be done to me according to your word.” Make a great day!

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. We recall that Mary "...is full of grace, proclaimed to be entirely without sin—something exceedingly great. For God’s grace fills her with everything good and makes her devoid of all evil."

My soul magnifies the Lord
And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior;
Because he has regarded the lowliness of his handmaid;
For behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed;
Because he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name;
And his mercy is from generation to generation
on those who fear him.
He has shown might with his arm,
He has scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
and has exalted the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has given help to Israel, his servant, mindful of his mercy
Even as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity forever.

Feast of Saint Ambrose

2011-12-07T06:15:00.001-06:00

Good morning. The concept of a ‘yoke’ taken from today’s Gospel offers a fairly good understanding of how love is best understood in marriage. Jesus in today’s Gospel says, “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” This reading offers some understanding regarding marriage in two ways. First, a yoke is a device made for two to join together in carrying a load, and so it is in marriage two people come together and work together to deal with the tasks life brings their way. As a couple we join together to address the various things we encounter, and we likewise as a couple in the sacrament of marriage are called to join with our Lord in lightening our load. Life can be a burden but through love as understood in the sacrament of marriage and through our faith in God we can manage whatever comes our way. Saint Ambrose, whose life we commemorate today, assures us “The Lord is very near, there is no need to worry: the Lord is always near to anyone who calls on him in truth, with right faith, with firm hope, with perfect love.” So it is in marriage, the yoke that joins us together in marriage, our covenantal promise, and the yoke of faith which joins us with our Lord combine to give us an understanding of love at its best. Working together in marriage with God on our side makes dealing with life’s burdens seem like a walk in the park. Make a great day!

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

Feast of Saint Nicholas

2011-12-05T16:15:00.000-06:00

Good morning. I don’t know for certain what it is like being a shepherd, but I certainly know what it is like being a husband, and I know what it is to be a parent, and I likewise know what it is like being lost. There is absolutely no hesitation for me in arriving at a clear understanding of the message Jesus is trying to convey to His listeners in the telling of the Parable of the Lost Sheep from today’s Gospel. I know the fear of being lost, I’ve been there. I’ve been physically lost as a young Boy Scout wandering around in the forest failing in my first attempt to negotiate the use of a compass and map, and far more terrifying is that there have been times in my life when I’ve been lost spiritually. I’m grateful the Shepherd came looking for me. I totally understand the commitment on the part of the Shepherd to go in search of the lost sheep, I know that I would do likewise as a husband and as a parent. The faith I know and experience today is a commitment to Jesus Christ in the same way that I am committed to my wife, a commitment that is there regardless of what might presently or ever be going on in our life, it is a commitment affirmed in love. I may not always be loving, I may not always be appreciative, but my love is there all the same; it is there with all the certainty I have in knowing that the sun will rise tomorrow. It is that love which gives me the faith to believe, to believe in a God Who gives me cause to greet that sun every morning and it is the love which drives me to greet my wife every morning—no matter what. It is the same love which would move me to go searching for my wife or any of my children were they to be lost. I understand the sense of loss, the yearning for which Jesus describes in the Parable of the Lost Sheep, and I truly can appreciate the joy He knows in finding the stray. May we communicate to our spouse and our family the love of the Shepherd in all that we do today. In a manner similar to how God sent Saint Nicholas, we too are called and sent by God to give witness to His love. May the life of this good and holy man, Saint Nicholas, whose life we commemorate today serve as an example to us of the love we should have for each other. Make a great day!

Today we recall the good life, gifts, and works of Saint Nicholas of Myra. May the Good Lord, through the intercession of Saint Nicholas, bless Father John and the Faith Community of Saint Nicholas Parish in Santa Claus, Indiana.

Feast of Saint Sabbas

2011-12-05T06:58:00.001-06:00

Good morning. It is a wonderful feeling to wake-up and be aware of the gifts which God has bestowed upon us and to appreciate just how lucky we are to have all that we do have. In today’s Gospel Jesus approaches a paralyzed man and cures him of his paralysis. How often do we get up in the morning and see the “glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God”? Do we instead awaken with regrets and longing for things to be different? When was the last time we woke up and made our spouse aware of how much we appreciate their presence in our lives? Are we sometimes paralyzed like the man in the Gospel? I’m reminded sometimes of an old saying which is said of those who share similar defects and spend time together, "Oh, what a pair, a snail and a slug." Sometimes we become so wrapped up in ourselves we fail to appreciate the gift of the person we wake up next to. Oh how often we become absorbed in our own selves and we become paralyzed by our own selfishness; we become so caught up in our own selves that we find it nearly impossible to extricate ourselves from those things which hold us captive and prevent us from taking the risk of leaving the certainty and predictability of self-imposed paralysis. It can be risky sometimes to reach out to another, to risk the certainty and predictability of self. When we give to our partner it may indeed be at the risk of losing total control of our own wants and needs, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that we need to sacrifice our self in the giving. Rather, in giving we are affirming our self by removing ourselves from the need to dominate, and instead we can then truly appreciate the joy of a relationship based upon mutual self-giving. As we prepare for the coming of Christ this Advent season let us open our hearts to His love by freeing ourselves from the paralysis of our tendency for selfishness. Our Saint for today, Saint Sabbas, has much to teach us regarding living lives of self-giving. When we reach out to others in love the return is ten-fold. O come, Lord Jesus. Make a great day!

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

Feast of Saint Bibiana

2011-12-02T06:02:00.000-06:00

Good morning. It is difficult at times to see things from a Christian perspective. We are often blinded by a world that really struggles to see things from the perspective of the cross. We live in a world which truly struggles with understanding this idea of self-sacrifice, yet that is precisely what our Lord is calling us to. We are asked to look to each other with the understanding eyes of the Christ. Yet our relationships do not always reflect the total, committed, sacrificial love or the merciful understanding of our Lord. There are times we step aside from seeing things as ‘we’ and instead we look at our relationship from the perspective of “What am I getting out of this?” We often go from a self-giving love to a self-getting love. It is not always easy to see things with the eyes of Christ, we don’t always approach each other with the love and fairness we should. Like the blind men in today’s Gospel we need to look to Jesus for help, we need to cry out “Son of David, have pity on us!”

One thing which always strikes me about this passage and others like it, despite Jesus telling them “sternly” not to tell anyone, they go right out and disobey Him. How often do we do likewise? How often do we place into question our own trustworthiness? Trust must be a constant in a viable relationship. Reciprocal trust and trustworthiness is necessary to ensure a loving and lasting marriage. Son of David help us to be more self-giving and more trustworthy. Make a great day!

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

Feast of Saint Eligius

2011-12-01T04:36:00.000-06:00

Good morning. Marriage inevitably has its challenges. As married couples we must in times of uncertainty recall that God has called us to the sacrament of marriage and that the promise of His grace is there for the asking to see us through its challenges. Commitment and belief in His providence are at times essential for weathering the storms which we will with certainty encounter. At times the priorities of a secular world prove to be a challenge when placed alongside the priorities of God’s way. As noted in today’s Gospel if we trust in God and do His will He will not fail us. If we remain committed to each other and trust in God our marriage will not falter, as Pope Pius XI notes in his Papal Encyclical, Casti Cannubii, “…it is a law of divine Providence in the supernatural order that men do not reap the full fruit of the Sacraments which they receive after acquiring the use of reason unless they cooperate with grace, the grace of matrimony will remain for the most part an unused talent hidden in the field unless the parties exercise these supernatural powers and cultivate and develop the seeds of grace they have received. If, however, doing all that lies with their power, they cooperate diligently, they will be able with ease to bear the burdens of their state and to fulfill their duties.” If we look to God in our marriage we will be guided in making the right decisions and be provided the necessary graces for raising a healthy family and to keep and sanctify our marriage. If we remind ourselves to do God’s will and look to His divine Providence throughout the course of our marriage then like the house built on the foundation of stone our marriage will remain firm and will weather whatever storms may come our way. Make a great day!

Today we recall the good life, gifts, and works of Saint Eligius. “O Christ, let me confess Your Name with my last breath. In Your great mercy receive me and do not disappoint me in my hope. Open the gates of life for me, and let the prince of darkness have no power over me. Protect me by Your kindness, shield me with Your might, and lead me by Your right hand to the place of refreshment, the tabernacle You have prepared for Your servants and for those who revere You. Amen”

Feast of Saint Andrew the Apostle

2011-11-30T05:44:00.001-06:00

Good morning. The Gospels are fairly vague with regard to what transpired between Jesus and Andrew that first day but whatever it was it was enough for him to leave all things behind to follow Jesus. I always wonder what did Andrew see in that man, what did Jesus say to him that allowed Andrew to leave everything and not look back. Whatever Andrew saw or heard that day it was sufficient to move forward to a newness of life. The exchange between them must have truly been powerful for in just a brief time Andrew was convinced that he had found the truth, that he had “…found the Messiah, that is to say, the Christ.”

As we begin Advent we too can move forward to a newness of life; we can leave the past behind. The season of Advent is here to remind us that healing can come into our lives when we come to know that we can hand the past over to God and experience true forgiveness reconciliation, and newness of life. We can come to know what Andrew came to discover that first day long ago. We can come to know this in our marriage, in our family, and with others in our lives. We can move forward in those relationships through handing over the past hurts and disappointments to God.
Forgiveness is a gift we give ourselves. Be good to yourself today. Make a great day!

Today we celebrate the Feast of Saint Andrew the Apostle—“First Chosen.”

Feast of Our Lady of the Golden Heart

2011-11-29T06:59:00.001-06:00

Good morning. In today’s Gospel Jesus reminds us of the importance once again of being childlike. He is aware of what is in our hearts, and so it is with our marital relationships. What is important is not what is in our heads but what is in our hearts. Are our interactions with our spouse from the heart? Do we engage ourselves with our spouse as if they are the most important person on the face of the Earth? Are we careful of what we say to each other? Not that we shouldn’t be truthful with one another, but we need to consider the consequences of what we say to each other. While we need to be honest with one another it is likewise just as important to be respectful. Always speak from the heart. As the Proverb says if you guard what you say you guard your soul. “Those who guard their mouths preserve themselves; those who open wide their lips bring ruin.” When we speak from the heart we not only are attending to our own self but we likewise are being attentive to our partner’s well being. Just because the thought is there doesn’t mean it needs to be said. When we speak thoughtlessly or harshly we do harm to the spirit of our partner as well our own. We need to always make an effort to speak from the heart. Part of our effort in doing so is in keeping our own hearts in working order through daily prayer, by keeping our own hearts heart open to God’s love. When we allow God’s love to flow in our hearts we then better care for our partner’s heart through speaking from the heart and through careful listening, gentle understanding and loving attention to their thoughts and feelings. May Our Lady of the Golden Heart whose feast day we celebrate today intercede for all married couples that their hearts might be open to God’s love and that they might always speak from the heart. Make a great day!

Today we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of the Golden Heart.

Immaculate Conception Novena

Feast of Saint James of the Marches

2011-11-28T06:20:00.001-06:00

Good morning. As we begin Advent we read in Matthew’s Gospel of the faith of the Roman Centurion. As Christian parents we might ask ourselves how this story relates to our own day-to-day experience. It is of interest that this particular Gospel story makes an appearance today as we begin our Advent journey and we return to using with the Roman Missal, Third Edition, the words of the Centurion at 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.” This declaration of faith is not only a response to receive Jesus into our lives in the Eucharist but it extends beyond that particular moment when we respond to the invitation to receive the Body and Blood of Christ; it likewise is a renewal of our call to sanctity.

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. 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 James of the Marches, others may ridicule and challenge our response to God’s call to sanctity and our efforts at raising our children in the faith, but we need only ask and God will provide all the help we need. Make a great day!

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

Feast of Saint Catherine of Alexandria

2011-11-25T09:44:00.001-06:00

Good morning. Awhile back a friend of mine mentioned that the Wooly Worms didn’t have much fur on them and that their horses had not seemed to be developing much of a winter coat. Her suggestion was that these were signs of our likely experiencing a mild winter. In today’s Gospel Jesus points to the blossoming of the fig tree as being a harbinger of summer. Signs such as these surround our lives. There are signs all about us; frost tells us of the approach of winter, there are economic predictors, signs of health and signs of illness. There are signs that the freckled girl in your Algebra class likes you. My friend looks to the wooly worm. Too often however we tend to miss the signs of marital problems. It is often the case that when our wives feel neglected they engage in what we men refer to as “nagging”. We begin hearing such things as “Why don’t we ever…”, “Why is it you never…” Instead of hearing these comments from our wives as indications of their needing attention, we tend to interpret these remarks as “nagging.” Women, what you need to do is something different, because obviously the “nagging” doesn’t cut it. What you need to do instead is emphasize the positive. Catch your husband doing what you want him to do and let him know how much you appreciate them. Emphasize the positive! We tend to get far more mileage from praising our spouse than to criticize. It's far more efficient. Truth be known, my thirty years involvement in the counseling business has suggested that much like the wooly worm, there are no absolutely clear signs. This uncertainty suggests that we need to make a point to be attentive to what signs our spouse is sending us. Yet, I have learned that one clear sign of problems in the marriage is a sense of hopelessness which is why it is important, like the fig tree in the parable, to occasional offer blossoms of hope. We should arise each morning and think of ways to bring life into our marriage. Like a clear sky on a sunny morning offers hope of a beautiful day, we need to bring a ray of sunshine into our relationship with our partner. The life of our Saint for today, Catherine of Alexandria, offers us hope. Even while imprisoned and in the face of a horrendous death she remained hopeful. That she, and other saints and martyrs, was able to recognize great hope in death encourages us to live hopeful lives each day of our lives. How we choose to greet our partner each morning and live each day can make a world of difference. MAKE a great day!

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

Feast of Saint Andrew Dung-Lac and his Companions

2011-11-24T08:40:00.001-06:00

Good morning. Strewn amongst a variety of other things Father Anthony used to entertain the troops in his homily at last night's Thanksgiving Mass, he offered a challenge for everyone to consider what they were most grateful for, using the parable of the Thankful Leper from the Gospel to reinforce his point. His audience was the youth of the parish as this was one of several times throughout the year the parish has a liturgical gathering with a specific focus on the youth. He invited the young people to look about their room in the morning and to decide what amongst their various possessions they were most grateful for, and to ask themselves who should they be grateful to for their having that particular item. I thought at the time of reaching over and grasping a hold of Linda’s hand as it occurred to me that if I were to engage in this same exercise she would surely be the ‘object’ in the room that I’d be most grateful for, and of course the response to the second part of the exercise would be God whom I need to thank. As it turns out Linda fell asleep on the couch watching various taped Thanksgiving specials last night, It's A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
certainly being one of them, but all the same I paused this morning and offered thanks to the One responsible for all that I have to be grateful for. Thank you Father Anthony for the idea!

Ya know, spiritual exercises such as this seem to be quite effective in doing several things. For starters it brings me closer to God. This Blog, CatholicFamilyToday, is part of a spiritual ritual which I engage in daily and it not only works to bring me closer to God, it likewise brings me closer to my wife and my children. This reflection exercise which I engage in every morning in the quiet time before others awake not only allows me to become closer to others, it guides me in my work and it helps me be a more appreciative of everything that surrounds my life. It helps me develop a more healthy perspective. A very clear effect of this daily morning ritual of prayer, scripture and writing I engage in is that it broadens my outlook beyond just myself and it enriches my love for my wife and others, and it energizes me spiritually and emotionally, which is why I was not at all surprised in reading a recent article that indicated that a grateful outlook is good for our health. In the Science Section of Monday’s New York Times an article by John Tierney, A Serving of Gratitude May Save the Day notes that people who make a conscious effort to be more grateful tend to be “more optimistic” and “happier.” Of particular interest was that the research notes physical health benefits to maintaining a more grateful outlook. It is no wonder that the Bible is replete with scripture passages which note the importance of being grateful. The Psalmist reminds us, “Give thanks to the LORD for he is good, his mercy endures forever!” For more visit Open Bible Info.

Without a doubt a spiritually and emotionally healthy life requires gratitude, without it we are unable to appreciate His goodness in our lives and we would miss seeing the goodness in each other. A healthy marriage requires an attitude of gratitude. It is easy to allow our minds to become clogged with the problems we may face in our marriage and day-to-day lives, but a deliberate effort at maintaining a grateful attitude helps us stay clear of all the negativity waiting to fill our thoughts. It is all a matter of perspective. Each sunrise presents a new opportunity for growth in our marriage. “This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice in it and be glad.” A deliberated effort at focusing upon those things we should be grateful for in our marriages offers an opportunity to experience joy beyond our imagining. It’s all a matter of perspective. So, let us be thankful today. Have a blessed Thanksgiving. Make a great day!

Today we recall the good lives, gifts, and works of Saint Andrew Dung-Lac and his Companions who were martyrs for the faith. In addition to the numerous things we have to be grateful for certainly the 117 Vietnamese Martyrs and all the Saints and Martyrs whose lives have established a pathway for our own journey should be included. For this we are grateful.

The Tear in the Shade. I tore the new pale window shade with slightlymore than a half-inch tear. I knew the Lady would be shocked to see what I had done with such finality. I went outside to lose my worry there. Later when I came back into the room it seemed that nothing but the tear was there. There had been furniture, a rug, and pictures, and on the table flowers in purple bloom. It was amazing how they dwindled, dwindled, and how the tear grew until it filled the room.

Feast of Blessed Miguel Agustin Pro

2011-11-23T12:30:00.001-06:00

Good morning. Without a doubt life is a challenge. Nothing is predictable. Life can be a very frightening and uncertain journey for each of us. The 19th century philosopher, known as the “father of existentialism” Soren Kierkegaard suggested that “Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” This uncertainty we all face is certainly a major piece of the challenge married life faces in current day society. We live in a culture that truly challenges our capacity to be comfortable in embracing our own beliefs, in reliably accepting what is real. We are bombarded daily with media that is skewed and deceptively engineered to cause us to question what is truly believable. Repeatedly advertising attempts to create for us false needs, blinding us from appreciating what is truly good for us. Our highly commercialized and pluralistic society daily chips away at our understanding of what is authentically right and wrong; its impact on marital relationships is multiple, but foremost it diminishes people’s certainty regarding issues of trust and commitment. I’m reminded of Thomas Merton’s reflective words:

"This is not the official voice of Trappist silence, the monk with his hood up and his back to the camera, brooding over the waters of an artificial lake. This is not the petulant and uncanonizable modern Jerome who never got over the fact that he could give up beer (I drink beer whenever I can lay my hands on any. I love beer, and by that very fact, the world.) who This is simply the voice of a self-questioning human person, like all his brothers, struggles to cope with turbulent, mysterious, demanding, exciting, frustrating, confused existence in which almost nothing is really predictable, in which most definitions, explanations and justification become incredible even before they are uttered, in which people suffer together and are sometimes utterly beautiful, at other times impossibly pathetic. In which there is much that is frightening, in which almost everything public is patently phony, and in which there is at the same time an immense ground of personal authenticity that is right there and so obvious that no one can talk about it and most cannot even believe that it is there."

On the other side of this issue however there are couples who are able to face the challenges of our age, who not only do not allow their marriages to crumble but whose marriages actually thrive, who live daily lives which bring them much joy and goodness. These couples experience a deep sense of communion with each other and their children. What is the secret to this? The secret is in how we arise each day and choose to live our life. It is what it has always been, what the first reading from the Book of Daniel and our Lord in today’s Gospel reminds us of that the handwriting is on the wall—our help is in the name of the Lord! As the Psalmist reminds us “He shall sustain you.” If we begin each day placing our cares with God, this faith will provide us with the love and support needed to build and maintain the sense of openness necessary to entrust our entire self to each other and commit ourselves in a way that makes a lasting marriage possible. The handwriting is on the wall! In the words of Blessed Miguel Agustin Pro, whose life we commemorate today, “Heart of Jesus, I trust in Thee.” Make a great day!

Today we recall the good life, gifts, and works of Blessed Miguel Agustin Pro. “Long live Christ the King!” “¡Viva Cristo Rey!”

Feast of Saint Cecilia

2011-11-22T05:49:00.001-06:00

Good morning. In just a matter of days the Church will flip the page of theliturgical calendar to the season of Advent. The season of Advent is certainly atime of various thoughts and feelings; for some it is an anxious time, a time oflonging, for others it is a time of uneasiness and anticipation, for others it isa time of awe and wonder and for others it is a time of hope and a time of blessing as we await the arrival of the Christ at Christmas. Yet it is not just the arrival of the infant Jesus that we prepare for throughout the season of Advent, but it is likewise His coming to us at the end of time that we make preparations. Jesus clearly makes us aware of this in today's Gospel. Either way, whether it is Christmas or His second coming, we anticipate His arrival with joy. We shall sing longingly over the next few weeks “Come, Lord Jesus,” “Maranatha!” hoping for our Lord’s return in glory.

Not too long ago there was a fringe group of Christian believers who werecertain that the end of the world would occur on May 21, 2011. That you are reading this it would seem theircalculations were somewhat off. Of late there is another such prediction forDecember 2012 which is based upon the conclusion of the Mayan Calendar. Now, I have to wonder, if we truly believed in this prediction, if we firmly believed Jesus’ second coming was set for December 21, 2012 how different would our lives be? For that matter if we thought He were coming tomorrow, what would we do differently today? If we knew the end of time was imminent I’m certain we would make some necessary adjustments in our lives. Yet, He will be here tomorrow; in fact He is here with us today in everyone we meet.

This idea of the end of time, this second coming should have us makingpreparations daily for His arrival, for He is here amongst us. Our Saint for today,Saint Cecilia presents to us an example of readiness for His arrival. Saint Cecilia whose memory we celebrate today, when our Lord came for her, He found her waiting and ready to meet Him. May we likewise be ready! We should reflect daily on the sacredness of our lives, and consider our readiness to meet Him. As married couples we should consider every day how our marital relationship reflects our readiness for Christ. How do we help prepare our spouse for His arrival? Do we invite Jesus into our lives? Do we ask Him to share in our joys and in our sorrows? There is a prayer, attributed to Nicolaus Ludwig Zinzendorf which reflects well this need for us as married couples to invite daily Christ into our lives. The prayer is an old Lutheran prayer said before meals but would serve well to be spoken by all married couples “Come Lord Jesus, Be our guest, and let thy gifts to us be blessed." Whether it is Christmas, tomorrow, or December 2012 let us invite Him into our lives, into our marriage today. Come, Lord Jesus!Maranatha! Make a great day!

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

Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

2011-11-21T06:29:00.001-06:00

Good morning. We are reminded this time of year of the need to be grateful. Although given the trials and tribulations we may be struggling with it might sometimes be a bit of a struggle to truly feel as grateful as we should; upon reflection we really do have much to be thankful for. Today as we celebrate the Memorial of The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary we are reminded of the need to return to God all that we have to give as our Blessed Mother did. In the end there is no way we can truly repay God for the gift of our lives and our salvation. Our Blessed Mother offers to us a wonderful example of this gratefulness, as does the poor widow in today’s Gospel; both demonstrate for us the need to love with everything we have. We are called to this same type of love in the sacrament of marriage. In marriage we are called to give of ourselves totally as Christ did for us; and our ability to give of ourselves totally comes from our recognizing our dependence on God’s care for us. We are called in marriage to give of ourselves as God Became Man gave of Himself upon the cross. If we live each day with recognition of the need to live our lives for the common good of our marriage our lives will truly reflect the love witnessed by the cross. Blessed John Paul II in his Letter to Families reminds us of this “When a man and a woman in marriage mutually give and receive each other in the unity of “one flesh,” the logic of the sincere gift of self becomes a part of their life.” What will you give your spouse today? Make a great day!

Today we celebrate the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Feast of Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne

2011-11-18T08:55:00.001-06:00

Good morning. There are lots of books written on the subject of marriage and there are lots and lots of programs and week-end retreats offering opportunities for the renewal of one’s marriage. It seems to be a far too readily accepted practice that most of us busily attend to our lives and allow the demands and stressors of our workdays and family life to drain us and cause us to neglect our marital relationship. We too often allow the hectic demands of our life to take away from finding quiet moments to just be there for each other, to renew and re-energize each other. We too often fail to attend to the task of renewing our marital relationship.

Today in the readings we are reminded of the “Festival of Lights”, the renewal of the Temple in Jerusalem, with Jesus in the Gospel driving out the merchants and money changers from the temple. These readings remind us that we must be diligent in renewing ourselves and our marriage and our relationship with God. This task of renewal requires realistically assessing ourselves and our relationship with our spouse. This is no easy task. To truly assess our self and our marital relationship requires honest and humble judgment. True marital love as it was intended from the beginning requires us to humbly and honestly judge our own frailties and to accept those of our partner. For love to prosper in a marriage we need to frequently take a mental inventory of what changes we personally need to make.

A successful marriage requires humility which is a genuine appreciation of our own significance as it relates to the significance of others and our relationship with God. As the Psalmist reminds us, “What is man that you are mindful of him?” Rediscovering ourselves, our spouse, and a loving relationship in marriage requires a great deal of humility, a virtue which our Saint for today, Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne, suggests “requires the greatest amount of effort.” Most of us are inclined to look to our partner to change; we tend to be reluctant to honestly and humbly look inward to ourselves. As the website initiated by the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops ForYourMarriage suggests we should daily ask ourselves, “What have we done for our marriage today?” Despite all the pressures and demands we experience in our daily lives, we should not be too busy to take a moment each morning to ask ourselves “What can I do for our marriage today?” Make a great day!

Today we recall the good life, gifts, and works of Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne. “Humility is the virtue that requires the greatest amount of effort.” ~Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne

Feast of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary

2011-11-17T06:29:00.001-06:00

Good morning. As parents we look with eager anticipation to our children’s future, in watching them grow, yet a part of us clings to their innocence and we feel pulled to protect them from the reality of a world that might hurt them. It can be difficult at times to let go, to allow them to discover and learn for themselves how to safely maneuver in a world which sometimes awaits the opportunity to catch them with their guard down. Jesus in today’s Gospel is hesitant to enter into Jerusalem as He knows what awaits Him. So too as parents we have an awareness of what awaits our children in the world away from the safety of home, which is why as parents we need to do our best to nurture the faith as a means of providing our children the tools they’ll need to protect themselves. Nothing prepares a child better for safeguarding them from the secular world and living a good life than sound family living and Christian values set forth at home. One way to assure that our children are prepared for life is through providing opportunities to learn about the lives of the saints. Today’s Saint, Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, offers a wonderful model for all of living a life of justice and charity and attending to the common good. May the life of Saint Elizabeth inspire us this day to see Christ in everyone we meet and to do what we are able to reach out to the poor and needy with justice and charity. Make a great day!

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

Feast of Saint Gertrude the Great

2011-11-16T07:00:00.000-06:00

Good morning. It will soon be gift giving time. Why in just a few short days we will be getting together with family and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving—the day before ‘Black Friday.’ The stores will soon be filled with holiday shoppers all in the quest of the perfect gift. Yet the perfect gift is not to be found at Macy’s, nor Target, why not even at Wal-Mart. No, the perfect gift cannot be purchased. No, it is freely given. I’ve been giving this whole matter some thought here lately, prompted I suppose by the various Gospel parables regarding gold coins, talents, and such, regarding gratitude and appreciation for the gifts God has given us. Something else has prompted my giving thought to this whole thing of being grateful and that was a conversation I had the other day with someone while I was out splitting wood. This man approached me the other day and happened to mention what great children we have and it has given me cause to consider that thought even further. Without a doubt he is absolutely right in his assessment of our children, Linda and I are truly blessed. This has prompted my thinking about what has led to the goodness of our four children. It is not an easy thing to sum up but I’d say that teaching our children to have an appreciation of life as a gift and developing in them a sense of responsibility for being good stewards of the gifts God has given them has been crucial in their being the four wonderful people they are. At the base of it all has been the gift of our faith and our love. “The greatest of these is love.” Yes indeed! Love is everything. It is priceless. Jesus in today’s Gospel raises the question of how we as parents best use the gifts God has given us. Each day is a new gift from God, how will we choose to use it to reflect for our children God’s goodness? May our Saint for today, Saint Gertrude the Great, guide us. Make a great day!

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, fountain of eternal life, Your Heart is a glowing furnace of Love. You are my refuge and my sanctuary.

O my adorable and loving Savior, consume my heart with the burning fire with which Yours is aflamed. Pour down on my soul those graces which flow from Your love. Let my heart be united with Yours. Let my will be conformed to Yours in all things. May Your Will be the rule of all my desires and actions. Amen.

~ Saint Gertrude the Great

Feast of Saint Albert the Great

2011-11-15T10:48:00.001-06:00

Good morning. There is without a doubt considerable confusion and trepidation regarding the sacrament of marriage these days. Seemingly sound thinking and moral individuals find themselves questioning the values surrounding this sacrament which our Creator intended from the beginning of time to between one man and one woman, open to life, and indissoluble. We live in a time where there is much need for the love of God. In today’s Gospel we read of God’s desire to give His love. He knows of our wants and our needs and He very much wants to invite us into His life and have us walk with Him. Just as Jesus invites Zaccheus to dine with Him, He as well invites us to come to the table. We live in dark times, but we are reminded today with the commemoration of the life of Saint Albert the Great that we have lived in dark times before. He brought light to an age of darkness. Saint Albert assures us that we can find our way through the current darkness through going to the table and through fervent devotion to our Blessed Mother. “Let this ineffable, chaste thought accompany you to the Banquet of God and you will find in the Blood of the Son the nourishment of the Mother.” We should turn to our Blesssed Mother for guidance and turn to the example of the Holy Family for help in sustaining the sacrament of marriage. Christian marriage is the light needed in this time of darkness; we need to allow it to be a sign of God’s love. The love and life found within the Christian family needs to serve as a presence of God’s love and provide awareness to others that Jesus continues to be here with us inviting us to the table of life. As Blessed John Paul II indicated at the Fourth World Meeting of Families in Manila we need to demonstrate by our daily lives what a meaningful experience the sacrament of marriage can be despite the various obstacles and difficulties presented by the world. As Pope Paul VI reminds us in Apostolicam Actuositatem “It has always been the duty of Christian married partners but today it is the greatest part of their apostolate to manifest and prove by their own way of life the indissolubility and sacredness of the marriage bond.” There is no question that much evil exists in the world and we need to pray fervently for God’s grace for ourselves and all married couples. We need to pray for ourselves and our church and civic leaders to have the fortitude to stand for the truth, just as we read in today’s Gospel Jesus was confident in taking a stand and did not allow Himself to be led by the conventions of His day. He knew the truth and He spoke it freely. He is the Truth and He invites all of us to proclaim this truth and as married couples to live in the light of this truth. May we through the intercession of Saint Albert and through the loving care of our Blessed Mother be free today from the desires and falsehoods that belong to the darkness. We ask this as we ask for all things in Jesus’ name. Make a great day!

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

Feast of Saint Lawrence O'Toole

2011-11-14T06:56:00.000-06:00

Good morning. Our relationship with God is often like that of a fair weather friend. We are right there along side Him as long as things are going our way. In today’s Gospel Jesus cures a poor blind man. The blind man persistently calls out to Jesus and because of the man’s strong faith Jesus turns around and cures the man of his blindness. Too often, like a fair weather friend we look to God with a sense of entitlement. We take account of our lives as if things should balance out, “after all I’ve lived a good life, You owe me.” “I’m a good person!” Yet, how often do we say “Thank you!” How often do we express our gratitude to God for what we do have? Likewise how often do we express gratitude for our spouse? Do we express how appreciative we are for their gifts to us? How is your life better and more meaningful because your spouse is part of it? If we could learn to appreciate what we do have, and live our lives gratefully, we would then grow in our love for each other. Gratitude is like a gift our child makes for us, but it gets broken or lost along the way. It isn’t the gift we are grateful for; no we are grateful for the intent and the goodness of the child. So too it is with God, and so too it should be with our spouse, we are grateful for their goodness. It isn’t the actual gift, but the love behind their actions; our gratitude is for who God is and not for what He gives us. It should be likewise with our spouse, we should be grateful for who they are and not for what they give us. Blessed John Paul II notes in Familiaris Consortio that spouses should “profess their gratitude to God for the sublime gift bestowed on them of being able to live in their married and family lives the very love of God for people and that of the Lord Jesus for the Church, His bride.” Our joy should be in sharing our life with our spouse, the gifts we give one another are certainly cause for enjoyment and pleasure but ultimately our joy is in the goodness of our spouse themselves, and the opportunity to share whatever we have in the moment afforded to us. Make a great day!

Today we recall the good life, gifts, and works of Saint Lawrence O’Toole.

Feast of Saint Martin of Tours

2011-11-11T10:17:00.002-06:00

Good morning. I slept in a bit on this crisp autumn morning taking some time to just lay there in the warmth of the covers and listen to the jays and the crows as they searched about for their breakfast. As I made my morning coffee and put some eggs on to boil I couldn’t help but be amazed at the beauty of the burnt orange of the cypress tree and its stark contrast against the other trees and shrubs which have already surrendered their autumn attire. I stood there at the window for a moment in silence lest I missed anything. As I looked at the frost on the lawn I could almost feel the chill of it as it glistened in the rays of the morning sun. I thought back on this as I read the first reading from the Book of Wisdom and thought how similar my observations were to those depicted in the scripture passage. The author of our first reading suggests that looking at the complexity and grandeur of creation one cannot be left with any doubt as to their being a Creator who was responsible for all that surrounds us. Jesus in the Gospel for today reminds us that we must be attentive to His word and look for Him to guide us in all that we do and that if we but look for Him, He is present to us in each other and in all that surrounds us. It was evident in looking out over our property this morning that He is present in our lives and His gift of creation is truly glorious. This morning in particular I was reminded of His glory in our recalling today the birth of our first child. It was on a morning much like this one twenty-eight years ago God blessed us with a healthy beautiful girl. In just a few short months that little girl in the bassinet with dark black curls and yellow bow will be getting married. Happy Birthday Sarah! Let us all remind ourselves today of the greatness of life and the wonder of His gift of creation. Make a great day!

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

Feast of Pope Saint Leo the Great

2011-11-10T06:37:00.001-06:00

Good morning. As a marriage and family therapist I deal daily with human suffering, suffering which goes beyond the realm of what most of us typically perceive to be suffering. Most of us when thinking of suffering look to illness or physical frailness or pain. But the suffering that comes through the door of my office is not usually of a physical nature, but rather of an emotional or spiritual nature. Many couples come to me suffering from a sense of loneliness and uncertainty, a loneliness that comes from a felt absence of love or even more so confusion over what it means to love. This confusion is fueled by a culture that has little to no tolerance for human suffering or discomfort. The world we live in is not unlike that of the Pharisees of Jesus’ time, it is misguided regarding what it means to love. Jesus, in today’s Gospel passage, offers us some insight into where to find love, but as with the Pharisees His message goes unheard. He attempts to explain to the Pharisees that love is about the kingdom of God and that this kingdom “cannot be observed” but it must sought within us. For the Pharisees as with many in today’s world the kingdom is about worldly comfort and freedom from suffering. It is not a ‘Magic Kingdom’, but rather it is found in the cross, the cross of salvation. Jesus assures us that the kingdom is within each one of us but that it requires suffering, and reaching out beyond ourselves—even taking upon ourselves the pain and sufferings of others. As Blessed John Paul II notes in his Apostolic Letter, Salvifici Doloris (Salvific Meaning of Suffering),”… to share in the sufferings of Christ is…to suffer for the Kingdom of God. In the eyes of the just God, before his judgment, those who share in the suffering of Christ become worthy of this Kingdom.” This is what it truly means to love, to make known the kingdom through living a life of love. In the words of Saint Colette, “If there be a true way that leads to the Everlasting Kingdom, it is most certainly that of suffering, patiently endured.” To live a life of self giving and to share in the sufferings of others is to make known the kingdom—Thy Kingdom come. Make a great day!

Today we recall the good life, gifts, and works of Pope Saint Leo the Great. “Remember who is your head and of whose body you are a member. Never forget that you have been rescued from the power of darkness and brought into the light of the Kingdom of God.” ~from a sermon of Leo the Great

Feast of the Dedication of the Basilica of Saint John Lateran

2011-11-09T05:42:00.001-06:00

Good morning. In today’s Gospel we read of Jesus becoming quite impassioned over the merchants and money changers setting-up shop about the temple. He becomes enraged over the people using the House of God to profiteer. This was upsetting for Our Lord because the enterprise of the merchants and money changers took away from the purpose of the temple, a place where people come to visit with and talk with God. I’m reminded of times when I’ve been in church and tourist or others have disrupted my time with God, it can be quite unsettling. Thinking about this scene in the Gospel for today it reminds me of a billboard along my path to work which draws travelers’ attention to a place designated for prayer and communion with God, yet there is no mention of God. Anyways, as I got to thinking further about this scripture this morning it reminded me of how important communication is in our relationship with God, and likewise as married couples with one another. It caused me to think about how we sometimes allow things to disrupt our communion with our spouse, how we allow other things, other concerns to get in the way of taking time to be with our partner. We all could benefit from making a point of being more deliberate in our efforts to be present to each other in our marriage; we should all make a point of setting aside time to be with each other free of the distractions of our work, our families, and the other demands of our lives. Like our prayer time with God, there needs to be a place and time where we as a couple can be one with each other. Make a great day!

Today we celebrate the Dedication of the Basilica of Saint John Lateran.

Feast of the Four Crowned Martyrs

2011-11-08T06:48:00.001-06:00

Marriage is truly a gift, a gift from God as a way of becoming holy and knowing joy in this life. From the beginning God our Creator recognized our need for companionship and gave us the sacrament of matrimony. It is most unfortunate that many in current days look upon marriage as something other than the lasting sacrament it was intended to be, for when the “bad times’ and the “sickness” present themselves as they will, many look elsewhere for “good times” and “health.” It is most unfortunate that even amongst church leadership that the sacrament of marriage is looked upon with such fear. Many view marriage with much uncertainty and pessimism. Some folks even enter into marriage with pre-nuptial agreements just in case the “good times” don’t last (which by the way is forbidden by the Church). Marriage is viewed with so much reluctance and uncertainty that one would think they were parlaying a bet at the track; church leaders often emphasize providing programs and supports for divorced instead of needed programs and supports for married couples. We are in the midst of a ‘culture war’ and the sacrament of marriage is one of the key targets for attack. I just read yesterday where in Mexico City there is consideration for having marriage licenses become renewable every two years. People today frequently look to people married for any measurable length of time and shake their heads in wonderment as if they have achieved something beyond normal human achievement. Not so says Our Lord in today’s Gospel. Jesus assures us that nothing is impossible with God. He notes we never accomplish anything good but for God’s grace. People forget that with marriage comes sacramental grace and God’s help is always with us for the asking. God never withholds His assistance. Yes, marriage can truly be a gift; we just need to remember where the gift comes from. Make a great day!

Today we recall the good lives, gifts, and works of the Four Crowned Martyrs. Heavenly Father, as we recall the constancy of these martyrs in the profession of the faith, may we experience their kindness in recommending us to your mercy, and may these four stone builders intercede for all married couples in receiving your grace that all might have the proper foundation and supports needed for a lasting marriage.

Feast of Saint Willibrord of Echternach

2011-11-07T06:28:00.005-06:00

Good morning. Parenting is likely the most difficult thing we will ever attempt to do. Unlike any other job, there is no quitting time and the pay and benefits aren’t always there or consistent with the task. The responsibilities of parenting without a doubt are demanding. The Church makes it clear that we have a responsibility to raise our children according to God’s way and in the ways of the church. As parents we are responsible for initiating our children into living lives which honor God and attend to the common good of the community in which we live. Jesus in today’s Gospel makes it clear that it will not fare well for those parents who neglect their responsibility. In Luke 17:1 He notes that there will always be situations which might challenge one’s faith or even cause people to lose their faith but He is clear in His warning that the end result for anyone who is cause for someone to sin will be quite severe. “Things that cause sin will inevitably occur, but woe to the one through whom they occur.” As a parent we must set the standards and we need to be firm where it involves authority and living by the rules. Insistence on following the rules and applying them consistently are necessary if our children are to appreciate our authority and teachings. Children need love and it is through our example as parents they come to appreciate the true meaning of love as being about sacrifice and self-giving. One of the most important things we offer to our children is our own example. Too often parents take the position of do as I say, not as I do. While they instruct their children not to do certain things, they themselves suggest otherwise through their own actions. What is critical in being a good parent is living in a way that stands up against the secularism and materialism of current day society, even when it is at odds with what other parents allow in their homes. Most importantly as parents our lives should say to our children that there is a reason for living good lives, that true happiness rest in doing things God’s way. Make a great day!

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

Feast of Saint Charles Borromeo

2011-11-04T10:23:00.001-05:00

Good morning. Many likely aren’t going to want to continue reading this. Some may read this but not acknowledge it lest their enlightened, non-Christian Facebook “friends” take note. This is because we live in a phony, superficial world; we pretend things are different than they are, and we are forever portraying things differently from what they are. People seem to increasingly lack conviction. We fool ourselves and others into believing that we live more virtuously than we really do. It occurred to me that the steward Jesus talks about in the Gospel today reflects how many of us live our lives today. In case you haven’t had a chance to read it, it is the story of the dishonest steward whom the master commends for his dishonesty. He is praised for being so shrewd. It seems to me that this brief parable amply sums up the world we live in, a world in which people will lie, cheat, betray, and do whatever they feel they need to do to get what they want—wealth, position, fame, or sex. Unlike the George Soros or even the Gaddafis of the world, the more clever ones do so in a superficial manner, a less out-right way, sometimes even coming across as being virtuous. I couldn’t help but think about this in response to today’s Gospel and after reading an article yesterday on recently published research concerning the decline of morality amongst today’s youth. This article published in Our Sunday Visitor was at the very least alarming, and recommended reading for every parent. Now, getting back to today’s Gospel, what struck me was the last line where Jesus notes “For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than the children of light.” If I understand this correctly it seems that Jesus is suggesting that people of this world put more time and energy into pursuing wealth, position, fame, or sex than those of us who proclaim to be Christian pursue the Truth. If we pursued Jesus with the same amount of enthusiasm and commitment as those who pursue the things of this world one has to wonder how differently things would be. As parents, if our focus were more on the things of heaven versus the things of this world would 1 in 3 of our children suggest “they don’t know what makes something morally right or wrong?” Would 54 percent of our children say “they would be happier if they could buy more things?” If our televisions were ‘dead zones’ for Desperate Housewives and other soft-porn primetime viewing would “half of all abortions and half of all STD infections” be occurring in our children “between the ages of 15 and 24?” If we truly lived our faith would “the vast majority” of our children “contribute neither time nor money to charitable causes or community service?” Alarming as these figures are, we should not be at all alarmed as these are but reflections of our own life choices. How different it would be if we were more prudent in choosing the light versus things of this world. Our Saint for today, Saint Charles Borromeo, offers some helpful words in response to our pursuits: “If we wish to make any progress in the service of God we must begin every day of our life with new eagerness. We must keep ourselves in the presence of God as much as possible and have no other view or end in all our actions but the divine honor.” What’s your view? Make a great day!

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

Feast of Saint Martin de Porres

2011-11-03T06:27:00.002-05:00

Good morning. One only needs to be a parent to appreciate the words of today’s readings. In the first reading from Romans we are reminded that we do not live for ourselves, and in the Gospel reading we read the parable of the lost sheep. As parents we are reminded that we do not live for ourselves, our lives are not for our own benefit but that of our children so they might grow to be good God fearing adults. Ultimately we attend to our children for the Glory of God. We are not our own masters; rather God is the master of our lives and we are given the responsibility of attending to the immortal souls of those children He has entrusted to us. It is out of our love for God that we come to accept life and it is out of this love that we accept the responsibility of parenting and attending to our children’s well being. Much like the shepherd in the parable from today’s Gospel we do all that we are able to do for our children. We need only look to the Holy Family to understand this relationship with God and our children. As Pope Benedict XVI notes in Deus Caritas Est our love and care for our children is an extension of our own encounter with God. We likewise find in our Saint for today, Saint Martin de Porres, a wonderful example of the life of love we are called to. Love only becomes love when we give it away. Give some away today. Make a great day!

Today we recall the good life, gifts, and works of Saint Martin de Porres. “He loved men and because he honestly looked on them as God’s children and as his own brothers and sisters. Such was his humility that he loved them even more than himself…” from the homily of Blessed Pope John XXIII given at the canonization of Saint Martin de Porres.

Feast of All Souls

2011-11-02T06:28:00.001-05:00

Good morning. Today we celebrate All Souls Day, a day we recall the love and joy of all those who have gone before us. For some this may be cause for sadness, perhaps even despair, but for all of us as Christians it should be a day of hope; for Jesus in today’s Gospel gives us much reason to be hopeful. We are hopeful because the love of God has been poured out into our lives and we have the hope of one day joining those who have left this mortal life to spend eternity looking upon the face of God. Yes, we miss the joy of being with those family members and friends who have died, but we rejoice in their being in glory for it is only death that has died in them. And too, today is a day that we should reflect with appreciation those lives which have touched ours. It is in their lives we have come to see the love and goodness of our Creator. We should be especially appreciative today of the seeds of faith and hope which they have planted in our lives which provide for us expectation of one day joining them in the glory of heaven. Jesus assures us: “Everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.” Alleluia! Make a great day!

Feast of All Saints

2011-11-01T06:22:00.002-05:00

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. On this Feast of All Saints we are reminded that we are all called to holiness. I likewise am reminded of a series of articles on marriage and the Beatitudes written a couple of years ago by 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.

Have a joyful journey. Make a great day!

Feast of Saint Quentin

2011-10-31T06:19:00.002-05:00

Good morning. How often we assess a situation for what we are likely to gain from it. What’s in this for me? What will I get in return? We too often look to others from the position of me versus thee. In today’s Gospel Jesus reminds us we are to give without consideration for what we are to receive in return. “Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” The joy of giving to others is in the giving. This is not to assume that in marriage we are to expect just one spouse to carry the entire responsibility of giving. No, marital love is a mutual responsibility. If we greet each day with the intention of making each other happy, we’ll likely be happy in return. Make a great day!

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

Happy Birthday to my Companion and Bride of 30 years!

Feast of Saint Simon and Saint Jude

2011-10-28T08:13:00.001-05:00

Good morning. Today in the Gospel we read of the choosing of the twelve Apostles. The spreading of the Good News began with those first twelve. As parents it continues with us. As parents we are challenged to continue spreading the Good News with the daily instruction of our children. As parents we have the primary task of helping our children understand the difference of living a life of self-fulfillment versus a life of self-giving. Probably our greatest challenge is to raise our children in a way that they do not limit their faith to being a matter that is only lived out at a private level, but rather for them to live their lives in a way that it is clearly evident to all, that like the initial twelve they too are disciples of Christ. It is within the daily living as family our children come to know and appreciate what it is to love, to give of oneself for the common good, and it is within the family where they learn to spread this Good News in their lives outside their immediate family. If our job as parents is complete, and if society is to survive, our children will continue the task handed down to the twelve in today’s Gospel. As Blessed Pope John Paul II indicated in his Apostolic Exhortation, Familiaris Consortio, “the future of the world and of the Church passes by way of the family.” Make a great day!

Today we recall the good lives, gifts, and works of Saint Simon and Saint Jude.

Feast of Saint Frumentius of Ethiopia

2011-10-27T06:58:00.001-05:00

Good morning. If we want to forgive, we must live forgiveness. In today’s Gospel Jesus notes that He very much wants to protect us and to keep us from our sinful ways, to help us become more merciful and loving individuals, but He notes that so often we are unwilling to accept His help. “How many times I yearned to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings.” He offered Himself up that we might come to know how to love. To love for us means to do likewise, to do for someone knowing they may not love us in return. Just as our Lord gave of Himself for us knowing we would disappoint Him, we must do the same. In marriage we are called to give of our self as Jesus did. We are called to do for our spouse knowing that we may not always be loved in return. We are called to forgive our spouse knowing we may well be offended again. To forgive is to make a deliberate decision to release the offending person from whatever they did. We must! Jesus is very clear about this, He instructs us in no uncertain terms: “And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” It is not easy but through prayer we can find the strength to offer our forgiveness and our love. To forgive is liberating, it frees us from the anger, resentment and bitterness we feel when we hold a grudge towards others. Living forgiveness in marriage means instead of focusing on what draws us apart we look to what brings us together. This is not easy, and it is because of this that our Lord stands ready, like a mother hen, to take us under His wings and guide us and offer to us the strength to be merciful and loving. Make a great day!

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

Feast of Saint Quodvultdeus

2011-10-26T06:38:00.002-05:00

Good morning. How to get in through the narrow gate? Perhaps we need to rid ourselves of some things in order to fit through. I’ve heard that one of the fastest growing industries in the United States is the self storage business. America has become a nation of pack rats. I think that is really quite telling. I wonder if there’s a correlation between that and the decline in attendance at services on Sunday? Jesus in today’s Gospel indicates that we must enter through the narrow gate. Will our attachment to things prevent us from fitting through? Perhaps less is more, that sometimes we lack an appreciation for what is truly important. Perhaps if we could clear our homes and our lives down to the essentials we could better enjoy those things that truly are important. So often I sit in my office listening to couples squabbling over finances and at the root of it there tends to be an unwillingness to let go of personal wants over what is best for them as a couple. They tell of separate checking accounts because they are unable to agree on how their monies should be spent. Despite the repeated message throughout scripture that true happiness is found within ourselves, we continue to search elsewhere and fill our lives with stuff. We are forever reaching for the brass ring when what we really need is right before our eyes. While yearning for the brass ring we lose sight of what is really needed. It seems that Jesus is trying to tell us that we’ll only fit through the narrow gate if we appreciate what is really necessary for our journey. If we are forever focused on those things we really don’t need we’ll wind up not appreciating those things that truly are needed to get us through that narrow gate. What are you yearning for? Make a great day!

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

Feast of Saint Daria and Saint Chrysanthus

2011-10-25T06:09:00.001-05:00

Good morning. In the Gospel for today Jesus instructs us to live our lives in a way that like the yeast in the flour we transform the world about us. Just as a tiny bit of yeast unsettles the dough, our lives are to do likewise with those about us. We should live lives that unsettle the lives around us. People about us should see in us, in our married life, example of the lives they should be living. We are all called to holiness, and as married couples we should be about bringing people to a better understanding of Christ and how Christ should be present in their marriage. Our marriage should be Christ centered and serve as yeast in the lives of other couples. So many couples build their marriages on material things, on possessions and success, and when the charm of these things passes away or things happen to disrupt the ‘good life’ the marriage crumbles. Pope Benedict XVI offers some thoughts to consider regarding the direction of our lives: “We must change our idea that matter, solid things, things we can touch, are the more solid, the more certain reality. At the end of the Sermon on the Mount the Lord speaks to us about the two possible foundations for building the house of one’s life: sand and rock. The one who builds on sand builds only on visible and tangible things, on success, on career, on money. Apparently these are the true realities. But all this one day will pass away… And thus all things, which seem to be the true realities we can count on, are only realities of a secondary order. The one who builds his life on these realities, on matter, on success, on appearances, builds upon sand. Only the Word of God is the foundation of all reality, it is as stable as the heavens and more than the heavens, it is reality.” Is your marriage real? Make a great day!

Today we recall the lives of Saint Daria and Saint Chrysanthus, a married couple whose lives made a difference.

Feast of Saint Anthony Mary Claret

2011-10-24T06:22:00.002-05:00

Good morning. There are no restrictions to doing good. If it is the right thing to do then it should be done. This is an important lesson as parents we should teach our children. There will always be detractors in our lives who will attempt to detract us from doing the right thing. Just as Jesus in today’s Gospel there are always people who attempt to get in our way of doing the right thing. There are several things as parents to keep in mind toward teaching our children to always do the right thing. One thing is to praise our children whenever we see them doing the right thing. An approving glance or hug goes a long ways in reinforcing good behavior. Providing opportunities to make appropriate choices is helpful and it is important to begin early in guiding them in making good choices. The most important thing to remember is love. It is important to regularly let our children know how much we love and appreciate them. Give your child a hug today. Make a great day!

Today we recall the good life, gifts, and works of Saint Anthony Mary Claret.

Feast of Saint Ursula

2011-10-21T10:27:00.001-05:00

Good morning. Can we read the sign of the times? Well, it depends on what it is one is trying to read. When it comes to marriage, one can and the other usually can’t. When it comes to relationships and the state of things the man is usually the last to figure it out. In the Gospel today Jesus asks us if we are on a journey to where we need to be going or on our way to ruin. The devil is betting on the latter. In marriage, when we feel neglected or even rejected by our spouse, in response to the loneliness we feel we might be tempted to seek comfort elsewhere. This want for comfort can take us in various directions, including an affair. As I said men are generally the last to know that things are not going well, at least from the standpoint of the woman. What most couples fail to take into consideration is that men and women generally approach life differently. The problem that women typically run into in trying to awaken their spouse to the fact that things are not going well in the marriage is that they fail to realize that men do not view things in the same way. If you want to sway your man, you need to get inside his world. You need to approach him in a way that makes sense to him. Men don’t intend to be neglectful or annoying, we really do want to make our wives happy, it’s just that…well, it’s just that we’re men. First off, women make the mistake of thinking things can be corrected simply by talking it out. The problem with that is that men generally don’t have much use for talking, unless it involves things like politics, sports and so on, whereas women connect with each other through the use of conversation. Women, consider cuddling up with a bowl of popcorn and take-in the World Series with your man. Men, inviting your gal to go for a walk and intently listening and sharing with her is bound to really lift her day. In his book Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus: The Classic Guide to Understanding the Opposite Sex John Gray suggests that men can come to appreciate a women’s need for conversation by considering how good it feels to win a sporting event or complete a project at work. Men can go fishing, not say anything to one another all day and have a great time. Men for the most part connect through activities, by doing. There are various other areas where men and women tend to differ from one another, and Michele Weiner-Davis in her book Getting Through to the Man You Love: The No-Nonsense, No-Nagging Guide for Women reminds us that even male rhesus monkeys insist on hogging the remote control. It is important to be sensitive to these differences, and to keep a sense of humor about us in dealing with these differences. We cannot accuse God of not having a sense of humor when it comes to how he created men and women differently, but it is precisely these differences, these complementarities which make it work. It just helps to appreciate these differences and use them to our advantage in mapping out our marital journey. Make a great day!

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

Feast of Saint Maria Bertilla Boscardin

2011-10-20T06:10:00.001-05:00

Good morning. Today’s Gospel is hardly what we’ve come to expect from Jesus. It is somewhat brutal and in your face. He is rather harsh and plainly says we are either with Him or against Him. He says that He has come to bring division, division even amongst family members. We are told in today’s Gospel that some will oppose Him, even family members, and this will cause division if we choose to follow Him. The unfortunate part of all this is that it is true. There are times when choosing Jesus causes division amongst family and friends. Sometimes bringing up issues of faith can bring forth looks from friends and relatives as if you have three eyes, or an all too telling avoidance. One might think of various teachings of the church which one avoids discussing amongst one’s friends or relatives toward illustrating the message in today’s reading. Consider how church teachings and the influence of church teachings have greatly diminished in the area of family life. Consider how changes in what people choose to believe have been cause for division amongst families; this is particularly seen in areas involving the use of contraception, sexual activity outside of marriage, and church attendance. As parents it is our job to pass down to our children the faith, and in today’s world where we compete with an overwhelming anti-Christian message it can be a very daunting task. If we are going to be at all successful we will need to be prayerful and rely upon God’s grace amongst a culture that so strongly discourages any open display of one’s faith. Openly expressing one’s faith as a Christian is just not politically correct. Just try it, and see how quickly folks shy away. Unfortunately for far too many folks faith is something which is private and relegated for a brief part of their Sunday mornings (with a fair degree of inconsistency I might add) and other periodic occasions. Nevertheless, if we are to pass on our faith effectively to our children we cannot just rely upon what our children might glean from church attendance, as parents we must assume the primary role in teaching the faith to our children, and most of all we must live it. The most effective means we have of instructing our children is by example. If we want our children to live the faith we must live it. You cannot give what you do not have. How do our lives reflect our faith? Make a great day!

Today we recall the good life, gifts, and works of Saint Maria Bertilla Boscardin.

Feast of Saint John de Brébeuf, Saint Isaac Jogues, and Their Companions—Martyrs

2011-10-19T06:36:00.002-05:00

Good morning. There’s nothing like having a child home from college to remind oneself of how grateful we are to have been blessed with children. We go back and forth jokingly over whether he is a guest or not, especially when it comes to work needing done or helping himself to the refrigerator. Actually, when it comes right down to it, he and his three siblings are guests. The four of them have been loaned to us by a loving God for the purpose of instilling in them the necessary things needed to live meaningful and virtuous lives. As parents we have an obligation to form the consciences of our children in accord with human reason and the teachings of the Church. In today’s Gospel we are reminded that God calls each of us to be good stewards of His gifts to us, a sobering reminder to all of us parents that we are very much responsible for the children God entrusts to us. We are each called to be “faithful and prudent stewards” of the gifts He has entrusted to us. We are reminded that all human life comes from God and with all things we are given from God we revere them and care for them. This is especially true of the gift of life which we are asked to defend and care for from the moment of conception to natural death. Protecting the gift of life precedes everything we do for our children and for all whom we share our life with. As Pope John Paul II indicated in his Apostolic Exhortation, Christifideles Laici, “the common outcry, which is justly made on behalf of human rights-for example, the right to health, to home, to work, to family, to culture- is false and illusory if the right to life, the most basic and fundamental right and the condition for all other personal rights, is not defended with maximum determination… everyone has the mission and responsibility of acknowledging the personal dignity of every human being and of defending the right to life, some lay faithful are given a particular title to this task: such as parents, teachers, health workers and the many who hold economic and political power.” Let us be grateful today for the gift of life and may we have the grace to respond to our role as parents as “faithful and prudent stewards.” Make a great day!

Today we recall the good lives, gifts, and works of Saint John de Brébeuf, Saint Isaac Jogues, and their companions—martyrs.

Feast of Saint Luke the Evangelist

2011-10-18T06:27:00.001-05:00

Good morning. Today’s Gospel offers some helpful advice for young couples discerning marriage. It can be a real struggle at times to know whether the person you are dating is the right person for you. Jesus assures us that if we are prayerful and attentive, His divine wisdom will aid us in our decision making. There is a saying, it is unclear who to attribute it to, but it is as follows: “A woman’s heart should be so lost in God that a man needs to seek Him in order to find her.” I think this is wonderful advice for all young people to follow. If the person you are looking to spend the rest of your life with is a prayerful person you are certainly off to a good start in your discernment process. Much as Jesus instructs His disciples in today’s Gospel, when dating someone seriously you need to ask yourself how peaceful do you feel when you give some thought to marrying that person? The most important decision each of us makes in life is to walk with God. If we choose someone to marry, it needs to be someone who will walk together with us in that journey. It is important to know that this decision to marry is huge, but with careful consideration and prayer the Holy Spirit will help guide you for a life long journey which is forever changing. The two most important things you’ll need to pack for this journey are a firm sense of commitment and a solid relationship with God. Our late Pope John Paul II in his book Love and Responsibility offers some very solid advice regarding this decision to marry: “The essential reason for choosing a person must be personal, not merely sexual. Life will determine the value of a choice and the value and true magnitude of love. It is put to the test most severely when the sensual and emotional reactions themselves grow weaker, and sexual values as such lose their effect. Nothing then remains except the value of the person, and the inner truth about the love of those connected comes to light. If their love is a true gift of self, so that they belong to the other, it will not only survive but grow stronger, and sink deeper roots. Whereas if it was never more than a synchronization of sensual and emotional experiences it will lose its raison d’être [reason for existence] and the persons involved in it will suddenly find themselves in a vacuum. We must never forget that only when love between human beings is put to the test can its true value be seen.” Are you still wondering? Well, take the Love Test. Make a great day!

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

Feast of Saint Ignatius of Antioch

2011-10-17T06:46:00.001-05:00

Good morning. We live in an age of much confusion regarding the issue of success. I’m guessing if you were to ask most people to define success it would likely boil down to having money, position, and possessions. I know when I ask children that I see in counseling what they want to be when they grow-up their response more times than not revolves around being something which will enable them to make lots of money. Although I do remember once a little girl saying she wanted to be a smiley face when she grew up. We all tend to laugh at the thought of aspiring to be a smiley face, but she just might be onto something there. Today’s Gospel has Jesus telling us in no uncertain terms that it is a mistake to allow ourselves to become attached to things of this world. “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one's life does not consist of possessions.” Yet we do allow our lives to be driven by the lure of the good life, in fact I’ve come to realize that suggesting otherwise tends not to be politically correct. People very much try to avoid giving real thought to seriously living their lives for the Kingdom; the lure of a worldly kingdom is too much for most to seriously consider living out their daily lives void of attachment to things of this world. Our Saint for today, Ignatius of Antioch, however suggests we should “prefer death in Christ Jesus to power over the farthest limits of the earth.” Two extreme examples clearly demonstrate this worldly attachment. One is the trend toward having a future spouse sign a pre-nuptial agreement. If you truly have a relationship with money such as this, why get married? Why not marry your money? The second extreme example is that of abortion. How many of the 50 million abortions since 1973 have been performed for convenience, because the unwanted baby stood in the way of future plans or current opportunities? We know the answer. Now, another not so extreme, but rather common example is how many people miss going to worship God on Sunday because it interferes with their enjoying the good life? Well, according to the most recent edition of Our Sunday Visitor 51% of Catholics who attend Mass less than weekly list the number one reason for missing as being because they are “busy.” It’s a good thing God isn’t too busy for us. As Jesus repeatedly tells us, ‘our heart is where our riches are’ and to be truly happy, God must be the focus of our success. Perhaps we should all aspire to be smiley faces. Make a great day!

Today we recall the good life, gifts, and works of Saint Ignatius of Antioch. “I no longer take pleasure in perishable food or in the delights of this world I want only God‘s bread, which is the flesh of Jesus Christ, formed from the seed of David, and for drink I crave his blood, which is love that cannot perish.”

Feast of Blessed Marie Poussepin

2011-10-14T11:27:00.001-05:00

Good morning. As I look at my balding tires I can’t help but wonder if the simplicity of our life has the power to sustain us, does our effort to live good instead of well have what it takes, will our choice to follow Jesus and to live a life of sacrifice enable us to survive in a world that judges us to be fools? I sometimes find myself wondering along with the Prophet Jeremiah: “Why do the evil prosper?” I certainly did yesterday as I hydroplaned off the highway on my way to work. It is readings such as the Gospel for today that remind me that my balding tires in the overall scheme of things are inconsequential. Today’s Gospel reminds me that our response to life ultimately boils down to either choosing Him, or choosing the world. It is in choosing Him that I am able to look to those balding tires and appreciate what a gift they are. After all I have such sorry, pathetic excuse for tires because I choose Him; we choose to give up things of this world for Him. I’m reminded in today’s Gospel that He will provide; He has always looked after us. He assures us: “Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. Do not be afraid.” Silly as it sounds; my life finds meaning in those balding tires. It is in those things I do, and those things I give up to do what I do that I find meaning and purpose. It is in my choosing to live for Him, and in the love he gives me that I in turn give to others in my work, and in my marriage, and in my family. I find meaning and purpose in those silly balding tires. I’m reminded of the exchange between Peter Maurin and Servant of God Dorothy Day from the movie Entertaining Angels: As Dorothy takes their rent and utility money to pay for the first issue of The Catholic Worker, Peter tells her to trust that the Lord will take care of them. A staff member quips, “What if the Lord is busy this month?” Dorothy responds, “Then we’re fools.” To which Peter responds, “Fools for Christ.” Yes, the world likely judges us to be fools for choosing Him, for choosing to find Him in our gift to others. Others likely do find it foolish to place our priorities with God, our marriage and others over things of this world. Flannery O’Connor sums it up nicely: "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you odd." Make a great day!

Today we recall the good life, gifts, and works of Blessed Marie Poussepin.

Feast of Saint Edward the Confessor

2011-10-13T06:43:00.002-05:00

Good morning. In today’s reading Jesus cannot win for losing. As is always the case when people speak the truth their message is either welcomed or not. Those who speak the truth offer consolation to those who choose to listen, yet for others it is upsetting because the message is not consistent with what they wish to believe. It is upsetting to the Pharisee’s in today’s Gospel because for them to accept the message Jesus offers requires them to respond with humility and justice, virtues which were not their strong suits. Likewise for us as married couples, or for any of us, to respond to Jesus’ message we need to respond with humility and justice. Justice requires of us to respond to our partner with compassion and mercy, to give to them in ways that we would want them to give to us—the “golden rule.” The message which the Pharisees struggle with is that of mercy and compassion. Ways of living which they were not accustomed to embracing. We too find ourselves struggling with the same message. We too are asked to live lives of mercy and compassion, virtues our Saint for today, Edward the Confessor, was noted to embrace. To be merciful and compassionate is no easy order. Our inclination toward selfishness consistently gets in the way. To be merciful and compassionate in our marital relationship demands of us to be forgiving, not because our partner necessarily deserves it, but out of love and because forgiveness is necessary for any marriage to be successful. Humility is the key to it all, to forever keep in mind that without God in our marriage, without God in our lives we are nothing. For our marriage to be successful we need to remind ourselves that we are and all we have to give is due to God’s presence in our lives. His love is the source of the love we have to give to one another. So, in the words of the prophet Micah we need to act justly, be merciful, and walk humbly in our marital journey. Where are you walking to today? Make a great day!

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

Feast of Saint Wilfrid of York

2011-10-12T06:26:00.001-05:00

Good morning. We often become disappointed because others seem not to have the enthusiasm we would like them to have. All of us from time to time seem to only go through the motions with things. With most things enthusiasm comes and it goes, yet with things we truly believe in there is usually a passion that exist along with it. Jesus in today’s Gospel expresses dismay with the leaders of the Jewish community over their lack of enthusiasm in living out their faith; they just seem to go through the motions with no real passion for what they believe. They lacked any real enthusiasm for their faith; they lacked commitment to their belief in God. The same can often be said for couples in their marriage. Often, it is just another day, the same old thing day after day. It is the same old routine day after day. So, what’s the solution? Do something different! Break-up the monotony. Sometimes the simplest things can make all the difference, like a smile, or having artichoke hearts or cranberries in your salad, or someone letting you out into traffic—just those simple unexpected things. Dare to be adventurous, dare to try something different. It doesn’t need to be anything particularly outlandish or spectacular, just different. It doesn’t have to cost a dime, just merely our time. What is important is that you believe, that you believe in each other and that you believe in your marriage. There is a place that each couple can go, a magical place where we are able to go to with each other if we only believe. If we commit ourselves to making it happen. Just taking the time or showing the interest in wanting to share a special time or moment with our partner can transport us to a place beyond our imagining. So break free of the ordinary, dare to take your marriage to a level of extraordinary—just do something different. Make a great day!

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

Feast of Pope Blessed John XXIII

2011-10-11T06:21:00.001-05:00

Good morning. We should be on the outside everything we suggest to be on the inside and vice versa. Jesus, in today's Gospel, makes it quite clear that God the Father is not in the market for masquerading Christianity. Disingenuous and pretentious need not apply. He soundly scolds the Pharisees for being this way: "Oh you Pharisees! Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil. You fools!” As Christian parents there is a very important lesson to be learned here, we need to practice what we preach. If we want our children to grow up in the ways of God then we need to be about those things we suggest our children need to be about. We say to our children, “Be pure in your thoughts and deeds”…while we sit down for an evening of Desperate Housewives or some other soft-porn primetime program. We say to them “You shouldn’t drink”…while Mom and Pop down a few highballs or beers nightly. We say “Sex is for marriage” yet we make a visit to the Gynecologist for Susie just in case. We say to our children, “It isn’t right to lie or cheat” yet our tax-time rallying cry is “Well, everybody fudges a little.” What are we really "saying" to our children? Do our actions measure up with our instructions? Blessed John XXIII, whose life we commemorate today offers us some sound advice for all that we do either as parents or otherwise: “What counts the most in life is blessed Jesus Christ, his holy Church, his Gospel, truth and goodness.” If our words and actions are centered on Jesus, His Church, His Gospel, His truth and goodness, we can’t go wrong and our children are likely to grow up in the ways of God. Let’s practice what we preach! Make a great day!

Today we recall the good life, gifts, and works of Pope Blessed John XXIII.

Feast of Saint Francis Borgia

2011-10-10T06:13:00.001-05:00

Good morning. The America we live in today is not the America I grew up in. In my prayers I am reminded that things are not as they should be, there are many changes in what our society today values from the society I knew in my youth. Our society today is increasingly less friendly toward Christianity and many of the things we value as Christians are clearly under attack. Catholic hospitals and Catholic agencies are under attack, and without question the institution of marriage is under attack. Much of this is allowed to happen from within, within the very pews, the very churches where we go to pray. Today’s Gospel reminds us that evil is all about us, and the evil one is all too willing to accommodate us. We will become what we live. If God is at the center of our lives He will be reflected in all that we do. We both embrace our faith and live it or we embrace the falsehoods of the world, it cannot be both ways. It is our only hope; there is no real hope in a world that identifies marriage as being whatever one wishes it to be. It is in this real hope which our faith allows us to experience that enables us to truly love, to truly risk giving ourselves entirely to our partner in marriage and being open to life as we are called to be. Be hopeful! Make a great day!

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

Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary

2011-10-07T08:48:00.001-05:00

Good morning. We live in a culture where people frequently refer to the “common good.” Which I suppose is a good thing, but in some instances that common good is defined as what works for a given individual or sub-group. Often the common good can be so narrowly defined that instead of drawing people together it drives them apart. Increasingly there has developed a cultural mindset of individualism and selfishness—‘It’s all about me!’ We are reminded in today’s Gospel of the end result of such selfishness. “And house will fall against house.” This can be witnessed so clearly in current day marriages where personal desires and selfishness drives a wedge into the marriage and divides the house. Selfishness and looking to one’s personal desires instead of the common good can quickly erode the bond between a couple, and instead of serving one another and working together the focus turns to what I am getting out of this versus what we are getting out of the marriage. In marriage we need to look beyond what we may be getting out of it. We need to be willing to love even when it seems it is unilateral, we need to choose to love even when we’re not necessarily “in love” with our partner. Loving someone when they perhaps are less than lovable will lead the other to being lovable again. So, instead of looking to what’s in this for me, let’s ask ourselves what’s in this for us. Make a great day!

Today we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. May we come to follow the example of our Blessed Lady of the Rosary and live unselfish and holy lives.

Feast of Saint Mary Frances of the Five Wounds of Jesus.

2011-10-06T06:19:00.001-05:00

Good morning. There is definitely a lesson to be had for us parents in the Gospel reading for today. Certainly one message is that in our communication with God we need to be regular and persistent, but there is another message in there for us parents. Jesus says to us: “And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find.” Now, clearly we don’t always receive what we want, but it has been my experience that I have always received what I need. It may not always be what I thought I needed, but in the end God has never let me down. Much like children we do not always clearly know what is best for us, but God does. Herein is the lesson for us parents, we need to remind ourselves to respond to our children’s requests of us, much as God does with all of us, to respond in a way that is best. We need to respond in a way that teaches our children that happiness comes from time spent with those we love and not stuff. We live in a culture where the overindulgence of children has become a serious issue. We overindulge in the purchase of clothing, in electronic gadgets, in recreational activities. That chicken nuggets are the number one food on most children’s menu pretty well sums things up regarding who is making the decisions. Now, really, do you truly want me to believe that a seven year old has a need of a smart phone or that televisions are necessary assets to a child’s bedroom? Really? Overindulging our children at the very least sends the wrong message about what is important, and to the extreme results in serious behavioral and character issues. Let’s remember to give our children what they truly need today—LOVE. Make a great day!

Today we recall the good life, gifts, and works of Saint Mary Frances of the Five Wounds of Jesus.