October 6 2020 - St. Bruno - Athletes of the soul

 

The Christian Philosopher Svoren Kierkegaard said if he were a doctor he would prescribe as a remedy for all the world’s disorders, “silence”. St. Bruno, who we honor today would certainly agree. As the founder of the Carthusians, Bruno desired to provide a place for those who felt a call to withdraw from the chaos of the world in order to seek a deep, lively, joyful relationship with Jesus Christ.

St. Bruno said, “In the solitude and silence...God gives his athletes the reward they desire: a peace that the world does not know and joy in the Holy Spirit."  Interesting, isn’t it, that he called his monks athletes? Though the Carthusians withdraw from the chaos of the world, they are anything but inactive, they are training—like football players and cross country runners, who practice and train and build their endurance and fight against the limitations of the body, the monks take up the call to train their souls and fight against the spiritual evils that beset us. 

And something happens when you become serious about this spiritual training. Bruno says, you gain the peace and joy of the Holy Spirit, a peace and joy that nothing in the world can give.

Not all of us are called to join the monastery, but those of us, still in the world, can certainly attest to the fact, that when we have prayed as we should, and engaged in the works of mercy as we should, there is a deepening of peace and joy, isn’t there?

St. Bruno prescribed silence for his monks, for he knew that silence is that most excellent means for growing in deep union with God. Again, we know this to be true. When we turn off the distractions, and seek God in silence, there is an encounter with the whom who was waiting for us there, in the silence. For in silence, In silent contemplation, God is waiting to speak important, life-giving words to us. But that means we need to incline our ear to Him, by turning away from noise.

St. Paul, says he considers all as loss that takes him away from that supreme good. The Lord too, in the Gospel, tries to show the foolishness of the excuses we make for not praying, for not following him.

Just as the athlete needs to practice discipline in doing what is good and avoiding what is bad for his physical training, the Christian needs to practice greater spiritual discipline in seeking what is good for our souls and avoiding what is bad, that we may grow in the peace and joy of the spirit. 

May St. Bruno help us through his example and heavenly intercession to race into the silence to meet God, to practice the discipline we need to grow more deeply in sanctity, that we may become instruments to bring souls to Christ and Christ to souls for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That the contemplative religious orders of the Church may inspire all Christians to seek God in moments of prayer, silence, and solitude. 

That world leaders may look upon the Son of God, believe in him, and seek the peace and justice that only he can bring.

That our young people may take seriously the missionary call of Christ, that they will turn away from the evils of our culture to spread the good news of Christ’s eternal kingdom.

For all whose lives are marked by suffering may come to know the healing and peace of Christ.

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased clergy and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.

O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.

6th Week in OT 2018 - Monday - Facing trials joyfully

While still a young abbot, St. Bernard of Clairvaux said, “There are more people converted from mortal sin to grace than there are religious converted from good to better.” What St. Bernard noted among the monks of his community, could be noted of nearly every Catholic parish in the world. Many people in our pews have turned away from the great mortal sins of our world, many attend Mass regularly, yet deep spiritual maturity is never gained. Jesus’ call to radical holiness is brushed off by so many as too lofty or unrealistic, so it is never attempted.

St. James in his New Testament epistle insists that the Lord desires great sanctity for all of his followers, and so the epistle writer explains that deep conversion flows from repentance and humility. His is certainly a message we do well to reflect upon as we prepare for the beginning of Great Lent beginning this week.

James invites us to make an honest interior examination to see where we have not submitted our minds and hearts to Lord, where we are seeking our happiness in earthly things instead of heavenly ones.

Before an athletic event, athletes will psych themselves up for the game, they’ll push aside their worldly cares; in their minds, they’ll review the plays of the game, they’ll muster the energy they’ll need to persevere through the game’s most difficult moments; they’ll contemplate how they will outsmart their opponent, and recount the games’ basic maneuvers.

Well, we may not be physical athletes, but we are certainly called to be spiritual athletes. And reading through and reflecting upon the Letter of St. James is a wonderful way to do our “pre-gaming”, pre-Lenten preparations.

We hear James say today, “consider it all joy when encountering trials.” We are certainly about the encounter the great trial of the Church year, the Lenten season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, and we are to consider it a joy. That word “consider” means to adopt a certain frame of mind, an attitude.

Adopting the correct attitude toward our Lenten trials will help us to confront the major trials of life with the right Christian attitude. From St. James, we learn that the Christian faith means more than simply believing in God, but living out the duties and trials of life, faithful to all Jesus’ teaches and commands; faith demands an interior commitment to God that is expressed in concrete behavior.

May St. James assist us to seek the deep conversion and radical holiness to which we are all called for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For the Holy Father’s prayer intention for the month of February, that those who have material, political or spiritual power may resist any lure of corruption.

For those preparing for baptism and entrance into full communion with the Catholic Church this Easter, for their continual conversion to Christ and that of the whole Church.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, immigrants and refugees, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord