June 6 2017 - St. Norbert - Rendering unto God what belongs to God

In the “Pledge of Allegiance” to the Flag of the United States of America, citizens of this country proclaim liberty and justice for all to be among our highest values.

Every culture in the world has functioned out of some understanding of justice. Justice preserves order and peace.  Justice ensures that individuals rights are respected, that we govern our affairs honestly, that we refrain from deceit, it protects the rights of the helpless and the lowly, it safeguards us from abuses of power by those in authority, it establishes the social order.  Without justice we would have anarchy, warfare between rival interests, oppression of the weak by the strong, the triumph of evil.  Justice is to be practiced by every citizen, and everyone who seeks to be a citizen of this country must pledge to uphold it.

In the gospel today, Jesus says, render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and render unto God what is God’s. He is certainly speaking here about Justice. Justice towards God, rendering unto God what is due to God is called the virtue of religion.  What do we give to God?  What do we owe to God? Our love, our devotion, our obedience, our reverence. In a sense, we are incapable of offering to God the infinite homage to which He is entitled.

But we seek to do our best, by acts of adoration, gratitude, penitence, and prayer. The Saints are those who have made this virtue of religion their life’s work.

For most of us, the spiritual life involves a growing realization of how important this work really is.

St. Norbert exemplifies this journey of faith. As a young cleric he was named personal chaplain to the Holy Roman Emperor Henry V. Though he was put in charge of dispensing alms to the poor, Norbert began to take on a lot of bad habits of the wealthy elite of the emperor’s court. As he grew in worldliness, his faith began to diminish.

A close brush with death caused Norbert to reexamine his priorities. He decided to give up his position in the imperial court and dedicate his life to the contemplation of Christ.

He was ordained a priest later that year. He renounced all of his worldly possessions and formed a religious order of like-minded men now known as the Norbertines.

Growth in this virtue of rendering God what belongs to God involves striving to enter into the spirit of filial love, obedience, and self-sacrifice Jesus had for the Father. Jesus is the supreme worshiper of the Father, who in His life and death glorified God to an infinite manner. Jesus, and the saints in imitation of Him, show this to be the purpose of our existence: to render unto God what belongs to God, to render Him everything, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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To God the Father Almighty, may every prayer of our heart be directed, for it is His will that all humanity should be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.

For the holy Church of God, that the Lord may graciously watch over her and care for her.

For the peoples of all the world, that the Lord may graciously preserve harmony among them, and deepen in them the virtues of justice and religion.

That the Norbertine Order and all those consecrated religious may inspire us to strive for greater holiness.

For all who are oppressed by any kind of need, that the Lord may graciously grant them relief, especially for the sick and victims of war and terror and natural disaster.

For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, for the deceased priests and religious of the diocese of Cleveland, for the poor souls in purgatory, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.

O God, our refuge and our strength, hear the prayers of your Church, for you yourself are the source of all devotion, and grant, we pray, that what we ask in faith we may truly obtain. Through Christ our Lord.

June 5, 2017 - St. Boniface - Martyr's Blood and Holy Spirit's Fire

Today is the fifth day in a row wearing red. We had three feasts of martyrs Thursday, Friday, and Saturday: the memorials of St. Justin Martyr, Saints Marcellinus and Peter, St. Charles Lwanga and the his Companion Martyrs. On Sunday, we wore red for the great feast of the Holy Spirit, Pentecost. And today, Ordinary Time begins with another martyr’s memorial, the bishop St. Boniface, who, at the age of 80 was preparing candidates for confirmation when they were attacked by barbarians and massacred, martyred for the faith.

The Red of the martyrs’ blood and the red of the Holy Spirit’s fire are certainly linked. The courage to lay down one’s life for Christ comes from the Holy Spirit. This is why Cardinals of the Church also wear red as part of their daily garb: from their desire to associate themselves with the Passion of Christ and a willingness to be martyred.

Red is the color of witness. The word ‘martyr’ doesn’t just mean someone who died for the faith. Martyr means witness. The martyrs witness to the fact that Jesus Christ died for our sins that we may be reconciled to God, and that mankind is meant to profess their faith in Him. For it’s not through political activism that we receive eternal life, nor even charitable works, but through His blood; as St. Paul says “through his blood we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.”

St. Boniface labored to spread this saving faith through northern Europe, to the Germanic parts of the Frankish Empire. He spread the true faith among Pagans, Barbarians, Germanic Tribes who worshiped the gods of Norse Mythology.

In a letter written to a Benedictine abbess, Saint Boniface wrote: “Let us stand fast in what is right and prepare our souls for trial…let us be neither dogs that do not bark, nor silent onlookers, nor paid servants who run away before the wolf.”

He was a bishop filled with the fire of the Holy Spirit, the zeal of the Apostles, and the truth of Christ.

Though we exchange easter white for ordinary time green, we recall that martyrdom red runs through the whole Church year. Fire, zeal, courage, and witness are needed now: in our bishops and priests and religious and in the lives of ordinary Christians.

As we prayed in the opening prayer: “may the Martyr Saint Boniface, be our advocate that we may firmly hold the faith he taught with his lips and sealed in his blood and confidently profess it by our deeds” for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That our bishops and clergy may be zealous in preaching and teaching the truth of the Gospel, and that our future bishop of the diocese of Cleveland may be a man of true faith and the Holy Spirit.
That St. Boniface, patron saint of Germany, may enliven the faith of the German people and those of Germanic descent who have made their home in this land.

For our young people beginning summer vacation, that they may be kept close to the truth and heart of Jesus.

In thanksgiving for good weather, for our parish festival, and the hard labor of so many good parishioners and volunteers.

That the love of Christ, the divine physician, may bring healing to the sick and comfort to all the suffering.

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

O God, who 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.

Pentecost 2017 - The Holy Spirit fills the Church

Today we celebrate the great feast of the Holy Spirit. In the Bible, the word “Spirit” is used about a thousand times, the Holy Spirit certainly left his mark on the inspired Scriptures. The word “spirit” is a translation of the Hebrew word ru’ach and the Greek word pnue’ma. These words refer to that which gives life to a body—the breath of life.

The body needs the spirit in much the same way a radio or mobile phone needs electricity. As long as electricity runs through the device it will work, when the electricity runs out, the device is unusable, except as a paper-weight.

Having “spirit”, the “breath of life”, is something we humans share with the animals and plants, the living beings. What separates us from the animals and plants, is that part of us that is immortal, the human soul. The soul is that part of us that goes before the judgment seat of Christ when we die, and waits to be rejoined with the body in the resurrection.

We also use the word “spirit” to refer to the purpose that unites a particular group, l’esprit de corps, as the French say. We speak of the “spirit of the American people,”, “team spirit”, “the fighting spirit of the United States Marines”.

St. Paul speaks of the Spirit of the Church in our second reading, but he’s not speaking of a club or group, he’s speaking about something entirely new in the course of history. The Church is not a club, but a living organism; not a building, but a body made up of baptized souls united and filled with the Holy Spirit.

A radio’s purpose is to broadcast news, music, entertainment. The Church’s purpose is to broadcast, as St. Paul says, “Jesus is Lord”. Lebron isn’t Lord, politics isn’t Lord, pop stars aren’t Lords, not even the Pope is Lord, money isn’t Lord, sex isn’t Lord, celebrity and power aren’t Lord. The Holy Spirit enables the Church to proclaim that Jesus is Lord, amidst all the noise and distraction of the world.

The Holy Spirit also animates the Church to engage in many kinds of service: we feed the hungry, we clothe the naked, we call sinners to repentance, and instruct the ignorant, we go out to the lost and forsaken, the addict, the imprisoned, and help them to know the comfort of God. And yet the Church is more than a secular charitable organization, She’s an organism of Love, concerned not simply for earthly welfare, but the eternal soul.

She speaks the truth when no one else will, when the world is against her, in and out of season. She comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable, speaks truth to power, and suffers for the sake of righteousness.

St. Paul also says the Holy Spirit produces many different kinds of spiritual gifts, what are known as the charismata, the spiritual charisms: some members of the Church are blessed with gifts for preaching, gifts for teaching, gifts for comforting, gifts for organizing, gifts for fundraising, gifts for hard-labor, gifts for grand visions, and gifts for minute details, gifts for healing. What is your unique gift? Is it being used to build up the Church?

There are also the seven Spiritual Gifts given to every baptized soul. In each and every member of the Church, the Spirit produces wisdom which helps us desire God over the things of the earth; Understanding, which helps us to grasp the divine truths of our faith, knowledge; which helps us to see God’s plan in the events of our life and use the things of creation in a way that will lead us to heaven; counsel, which helps us to judge how best to act in the circumstances that confront us in our daily life; fortitude, which helps us to remain sturdy against the temptations and challenges in the Christian life; piety, which fills us with love affection for God and enables us to experience joy in prayer and service; and fear of the Lord which helps us to be conscious that the eye of God is watching us always, helping us to be mindful that we will all face judgment for the choice we’ve made in our life.

The seven-fold gifts are given to every Christian, but to grow in them, we must nurture them through the practices of the spiritual life. This is why there are wise octogenarians and foolish octogenarians, young people who are wise for their age, and young people who…well, don’t have a clue.
What is animating your life? The Spirit of God or the spirits of the world. When we are cooperating with the Spirit of God he produces the good spiritual fruits of gentleness, self-control, meekness, patience, and temperance. When we are indulging in the spirits of the world there is recklessness, irascibility, perversion, addiction, greed, anger, envy, jealousy, pride.

How do we become so filled with these worldly spirits? Part of it is how we spend our time: inordinate time with entertainment, social media, insufficient time studying and praying with the Word of God, undue focus on selfish pursuits, rather than service. These things have spiritual consequences.
In the Gospel reading for Pentecost, Jesus speaks of the Holy Spirit through whom sins are forgiven. To be free from the spirits of the world, we must turn our souls over to God in the sacraments. In Sacramental Confession we name those spirits that we might be delivered from them.

In the solemn ritual of exorcism, in which a soul held captive by a demonic spirit is liberated through the power of Christ, before deliverance can occur, the demonic spirit must be named. The need for solemn exorcism is extraordinary and rare. But Christians must face and name the unclean spirits which seek the ruin of our souls, by naming them, by bringing them to Christ in Sacramental Confession, by turning away from the near occasions of sin, and by strengthening the weak parts of our souls through prayer and acts of charity.

On this great Feast of Pentecost, as the Easter Season comes to a close and Ordinary Time begins again, we recognize how the Holy Spirit wants to produce new a glorious effects in our lives. He wants to help us take up new modes of serving those in need, the physically poor and the spiritually poor. He wants to produce in us new charisms for the building up of the Church. He wants to deepen in us the seven-fold gifts. He wants to help us to be cleansed of the unclean spirits of the world. He wants to do all these things and more, that we may proclaim to all the world “Jesus is Lord” for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Friday - 7th Week of Easter 2017 - Do you love me?

On these last two weekdays of Easter, our Gospel passage comes from the epilogue and the very last chapter of John’s Gospel.  As I mentioned recently, Saint John’s Gospel has often been called, “the Gospel of Love.”  It should be no surprise that the final story of the final chapter of his Gospel is a conversation about love.

For Peter, loving Jesus means feeding his sheep. Each of the Gospels show how Peter is given a unique role in the Church, to be chief of the shepherd apostles: leading, governing, feeding the flock of Christ, the Church. Jesus prophecies that when Peter grows old, he too will stretch out his hands and lead him where he does not want to go. The Good Shepherd “will lay down his life for the sheep”, like Jesus Peter’s role as the shepherd of Jesus’ sheep will lead him to lay down his life, culminating in his martyrdom, stretching out his hands as he is martyred by crucifixion in AD 65.

Jesus asks this question to each of us: do you love me? By his death, by laying down his life like the Good Shepherd, for the Good Shepherd, Peter proves his love. And we are called to the same.

The Church celebrates two saints, Marcellinus and another Peter: two Roman martyrs mentioned in the Roman Canon, the first Eucharistic Prayer. Marcellinus was a priest, and Peter was an exorcist. They were arrested for the faith during the persecution of Diocletion and imprisoned. While in prison, they preached the Gospel, leading many of their fellow prisoners to be baptized there in prison.  When the prison guards caught on that the two saints were winning converts, Marcellinus and Peter were taken to a forest in the middle of the night in secret, forced to dig their own graves, and beheaded. However, one of the soldiers was so moved by their courage, that he converted to Christ, then told the Church where Marcellinus and Peter were buried, so they could be properly venerated.

“Do you love me?” Jesus asks. For Peter and the Popes that means leading, shepherding, governing, guiding the flock to be faithful to the Lord. For Marcellinus and Peter, it meant preaching the Gospel in prison when it would certainly result in their death. What does it mean for you, what does it mean for me?

Certainly it means being faithful to the duties and responsibilities of our respective vocations as priest, spouses and parents, religious, single. It certainly involves being courageous in sharing the Gospel with others and strengthening fellow Christians in the faith, works of charity in our community, fervor in prayer. And a love for Christ which imitates him in laying down our lives for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
 
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That the Spirit of Pentecost may be with the Holy Father Pope Francis and all the successors of the Apostles, that they may lead the Church faithfully in the way of the Good Shepherd.
For the imprisoned, that the Gospel of Christ may spread among them, that they may know the closeness of God and the healing of the wounds of sin.
For our young people beginning summer vacation, that they may be kept close to the truth and heart of Jesus.
That our parish festival may be preserved from inclement weather and may be an instrument for the strengthening of our parish and the spread of Christ’s saving truth.
That the love of Christ, the divine physician, may bring healing to the sick and comfort to all the suffering.
For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, for the deceased priests and religious of the diocese of Cleveland, for the poor souls in purgatory, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.
O God, who 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.

June 1 2017 - St. Justin Martyr - Defending the Faith

St. Justin the martyr was born in the Holy Land around A.D. 100.  He was the son of pagan Roman nobles who educated Justin well in poetry, history, science, especially ancient Greek philosophy.

While walking by the sea near the town of Ceasarea, he met an old man who spoke to him about the insufficiency of philosophy and urged him to study the Scriptures and the teachings of Christ. That conversation sparked the flame of faith within him, and so Justin converted around the year 130 and went to Rome where he opened a school.

Many of the early Christians were uneducated, but Justin believed that Christians should understand the faith as deeply as possible so that they could explain the faith when called upon.

Justin was also a great apologist: defending the faith and helping many pagans to see the errors of the false religions.

Only three of his written works have been preserved.  He defends Christianity as the only rational creed, and includes accounts of the Christian ceremonies of Baptism and the Eucharist, counteracting the distorted accounts from detractors of the faith which circulated at the time and to, of course, instruct non-believers. Particularly important his his 2nd century explanation of the Holy Mass, showing the celebration of Eucharist to be an unbroken practice from the Last Supper to the present age.

At his Roman school he debated a philosopher named Crescens.  When Crescens lost the debate, being no match for Justin’s grasp of the Truth, he denounced Justin to the authorities.  Justin was arrested and when given the opportunity to renounce the faith to save his life, he refused.  Justin was put to death as a martyr by beheading along with six of his students, five men and one woman, in 166.

In the Gospel today Jesus prays for those who will come to believe through the words of his disciples. This is the primary way unbelievers come to the faith, through our profession of the faith:  through our patient, gentle, yet convicted explanation of doctrine, through our defense of the faith, through our ability to justify our faith, rationally and clearly.

With the advent of the internet, publication of books, cds, lecture series, we have all these tremendous opportunities to study the faith, to learn the faith, in order to pass on the faith in a culture where the truth of the Gospel continues to be marginalized.

Through the example and heavenly intercession of Justin Martyr may we be bearers and defenders of the Christian faith to all we meet, witnessing to the saving power of Christ in our words and deeds for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For openness to the Holy Spirits gifts, that the Christian Church may be always bold and clear in spreading and defending the Gospel.

That the faith of the martyrs may give us courage in times of persecution.

For our young people beginning summer vacation, that they may be kept close to the truth and heart of Jesus.

That our parish festival may be preserved from inclement weather and may be an instrument for the strengthening of our parish and the spread of Christ’s saving truth.

That the love of Christ, the divine physician, may bring healing to the sick and comfort to all the suffering.

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

O God, who 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.

Tuesday - 7th Week of Easter 2017 - No vacation from vocation (school mass)

Last week, I was able to visit several of the academy classrooms, and we discussed one of my favorite topics: vocations.

In the Gospel today, Jesus talks about his vocation, his calling. He was called by his Father, to reveal the love of God and the truth of God on earth; Jesus was called to glorify His Father by accomplishing the work that the Father gave Him: to save us from our sins.

It shouldn’t surprise you to hear, that we have received the same calling from God; our calling, our vocation is glorify God by doing the work God has given us. That is true for every single person in this church, Catholic or non-Catholic, young or old.

We glorify God by doing the work he gave us to do. Throughout the school year, your work has been to learn, to pray—as our academy motto puts it: To inspire, to excel, to serve, in the Catholic tradition.

How have you done? Have you studied as hard as you should have? Have you prayed as devoutly as you should have? Do you inspire your classmates to be better Christians? Do you inspire your fellow parishioners? Did you excel in the tasks you were given? Did your heart grow by serving others?

Jesus was always faithful to the calling he received from the Father. Us, on the other hand, not always as faithful as we should be. Sometimes the call comes and we ignore it, sometimes we are so distracted by vain pursuits, selfishness, and arrogance, that we don’t even hear the call. Some of us hear the call, initially answer it, but hang up on God, finding sustained faithfulness too difficult.
But on the other hand, Jesus is glorified when we are faithful to the call we have received. And Jesus has been glorified in many of your good works, this school year, the times that you put being a follower of Jesus more important than anything else.

As the school year ends, and summer vocation looms near, we recall, once again, that there is no vacation from vocation. You have been called to glorify God, and we don’t simply take a vacation from that. Every single person in this church has a vocation: to pray daily, to obey the commandments, to attend Church weekly, to make your families places where Jesus is welcomed and celebrated, to forgive your enemies, and serve the needy.

This is true whether you are Catholic or non-Catholic, returning to the Academy next year, or going on to another destination. There is no vacation from vocation God has given us, to glorify Him through lives of faithfulness to his Divine Will for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Memorial Day 2017 - Lives worthy of their sacrifice

St. Thomas Aquinas said: "After God, man is chiefly indebted to his parents and to his country, and, therefore, just as religion must render worship to God, so, to a lesser degree, piety must pay honor to parents and to country."

So, love of country is a Christian duty, and from that comes the duty of gratefulness for the benefits that the citizen has received from the people and from the country in which he was born and reared. We are the inheritors of the blessings of freedom, and we have a duty to live in a grateful manner for those blessings.

Where Veteran’s Day, in November, honors those veterans who survived their time of service. The purpose of Memorial Day is to honor our war dead. Over a million and a half servicemen and women fought and died in our wars and battles over the many years: a million and a half men and women who put service before self for the country they loved, for ideals which serve as the foundation of freedom, for a better and more secure future for their family, friends, and even total strangers.

In the Church, we remember and honor the martyrs of our faith—those who laid down their lives for the Gospel, believing that faith in Jesus Christ leads to eternal life. “If the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church” as St. Ireneaus said, then something too can be said about the blood of our civic martyrs for the life and freedom of our nation. Our civic martyrs gave up their lives in order to obtain and protect the freedoms we often take for granted and blessed to wake up with every morning.

We are reminded today of our duty to be grateful for those who gave their lives for our freedom, and our duty to live lives worthy of their sacrifice. This duty involves remembering them and honoring them, yes, but most importantly utilizing those freedoms to grow in virtue, not to squander our freedoms on vain pursuits, but striving to develop our minds and characters to become worthy of their sacrifice, to live our lives, to raise our families, to educate our children, and to be responsible in our civic duty for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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Let us pray to our Heavenly Father, confident that He is generous to those who call upon Him with faith.

For Pope Francis, Bishop Thomas, and all the bishop may lead in faith and serve in love those entrusted to their care by Christ the Good Shepherd.

For our President and all elected government representatives, may the Holy Spirit grant them wisdom and guide them to promote authentic and lasting peace in the world, an end to terrorism, respect for religious freedom, and a greater reverence for the sanctity of Human Life.

For the lonely, the alienated, and the orphaned, that they will receive consolation from the closeness of the Lord.

For the protection of all those who serve in our nation’s military, and for our servicemen wounded in service.

For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, for the deceased members of our family, friends, and parish, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom for whom this mass is offered.

Gracious Father, hear the needs and prayers of your Church, grant us your grace, keeps us close to, and lead us to the glory of your kingdom, through Christ Our Lord.