January 17 2025 - St. Anthony of the Desert - "If you wish to be perfect..."

 “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.”

At first glance, this can seem like a simple command regarding material detachment. But in Catholic spirituality, these words hold a much deeper meaning related to Christian Perfection and the call to complete love of God and neighbor. Jesus’ invitation involves more than the external act of selling possessions; it is an invitation to radical interior freedom and total surrender to God.

All Christians—whether lay, consecrated, or ordained—are called to strive for perfection. Vatican II powerfully re-emphasized this in its document Lumen Gentium (Chapter 5, “The Universal Call to Holiness”), reminding us that holiness is not reserved for a select few but is a vocation for everyone.

Lumen Gentium states, “The Lord Jesus, the divine Teacher and Model of all perfection, preached holiness of life to each and every one of His disciples of every condition. He Himself stands as the author and consumator of this holiness of life [teaching] "Be you therefore perfect, even as your heavenly Father is perfect" Indeed He sent the Holy Spirit upon all men that He might move them inwardly to love God with their whole heart and their whole soul, with all their mind and all their strength and that they might love each other as Christ loves them.”

This is what Christian perfection consists of, growth in charity—growth in love. All of the virtues find their fulfillment in the virtue of charity. And this growth in charity changes us, transforms us, unites us more closely to God who is love.

St. Anthony, whom we honor today, at the age of 19, heard the Lord’s call to Christian perfection, and sought it in the solitude of the desert. He went to the desert because it is a place without material attachments and earthly pleasures that could distract him from the ultimate pursuit.

Like St. Anthong, all Christians are called to pursue perfection through Interior Detachment from material things, deepening in our life of prayer, practicing virtues like fortitude, temperance, patience, and humility, learning to rely ever-more wholly on God’s grace, and striving daily to be faithful to God in all things and loving our neighbor with Christ-like love. 

May St. Anthony be a constant reminder to strive for that Christian perfection for which we were made, the perfection which brings us the joy and fulfillment we most deeply long for, perfection for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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For the Church: that all the faithful, inspired by the universal call to holiness proclaimed by Vatican II, may strive for Christian perfection by growing in love of God and neighbor.

For the poor and the marginalized: That our acts of charity, grounded in the virtue of love, may bring them hope and remind us that true holiness includes concrete service to our brothers and sisters in need. 

For an increase in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated religious life, the sanctification of all marriages, and a deeper devotion to charitable service amongst all people.

For those oppressed by hunger, sickness or loneliness, that through the Holy Spirit’s manifold graces, they may find relief in both mind and body, and rejuvenation in spirit. 

For all who have died: that they may now share in the eternal joy of heaven, beholding the fullness of God’s love and perfection.

Heavenly Father, You call each of us to holiness. Hear these prayers we offer in faith. Through the example of Saint Anthony and by the power of Your Holy Spirit, lead us further along the path of Christian perfection. We make these prayers through Christ our Lord. Amen.

First Friday Holy Hour - January 2025 - The Most Holy Name of Jesus

 As we gather in the stillness of this evening, we come to adore in the Eucharist, the same Jesus whose Holy Name we have honored throughout this day—He who was named on the eighth day, in fulfillment of the law and in anticipation of our salvation.

In the Eucharist, we encounter Him personally, intimately. Christ is truly here, body, blood, soul, and divinity, just as He was in the manger, just as He was on the Cross, just as He will be in glory at the end of time. And before Him, we echo the words of St. Paul: “At the Name of Jesus every knee should bend… and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

This morning I shared how liturgically, the Holy Name of Jesus is reverenced by the priest, every time the name of Jesus is mentioned, the priest is instructed to give a slight bow of the head. Well, now in his presence, we do not simply bow, we kneel, for he is truly here.

Throughout the centuries, the name of Jesus has been used for prayer. Both in our public prayer, liturgically, and also in our private prayer. The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains, “The invocation of the holy name of Jesus is the simplest way of praying always”

This insight highlights that prayer does not always require long or elaborate formulas. At its heart, prayer is a loving communion with God, and sometimes the simplest forms of prayer are the most powerful.

Simply to recite the name of Jesus, gently and slowly can be a powerful mode of prayer. Repeating the Holy Name in our hearts fosters an interior silence and calm that opens us to God’s presence. And that is a prayer that can be prayed in the car, in line at the grocery or doctor’s office, or when we have to spend time with someone who really gets under our skin. Jesus. Jesus.

 In the midst of anxiety, stress, or temptation, simply reciting Jesus’ name recollects us and reminds us of His mercy, power, and abiding love.

This evening, before the Blessed Sacrament, I invite you to spend some time simply gazing at the Eucharist and reciting the name of Jesus.

To quote again St. Bernardine of Siena, that great preacher of the Holy Name—St. Bernadine said, “Glorious name, gracious name, name of love and of power! Through you sins are forgiven, through you enemies are vanquished, through you the sick are freed from their illness, through you those suffering in trials are made strong and cheerful. You bring honor to those who believe, you teach those who preach, you give strength to the toiler, you sustain the weary” for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

January 3 2025 - The Most Holy Name of Jesus

 

On this 10th day of the Christmas season, we celebrate an event taking place on the 8th day of the Lord’s earthly life. As we heard in today’s Gospel, “When eight days were completed for his circumcision, the child was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel.” 

The Name of Jesus is repeated almost a thousand times in the New Testament.  St. Paul even describes the reverence that is to be given to the Holy Name of Jesus. at the Name of Jesus every knee should bend; in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

We reverence his name because we reverence, and show highest respect and honor to Him. Liturgically, this is observed, whenever the priest pronounces the name of Jesus in the prayers, he bows his head.  His name is not just reverenced liturgically, though. The second commandment forbids us from taking the name of the Lord in vain. 

We are to use the name of Jesus in prayer, in worship, always with respect and love. 

The devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus spread particularly in the 15th century St. Bernardine of Siena. The great preacher Saint Bernardine was moved by stories of the apostles healing in the name of Jesus, demons being cast out in the name of Jesus, the forgiveness of sins comes through the name of Jesus, the name of Jesus makes heaven exult and hell tremble. The name that contains his power and help. The name, which recalls that God comes in the flesh to save us.

He was also concerned with the resurgence of paganism. 15th century Italy saw a concerning resurgence of the cult of apollo, the pagan Greek god of the son. So St. Bernardine took the three Greek letters, Iota, Eta, Sigma, IHS, which are the first three letters of the name of Jesus in Greek, and emblazoned them on vestments and sacred vessels and banners, to replace the false pagan worship with the authentic worship of the true Son of the Father. At the time, there was also deep political division between two groups: the Guelphs and the Ghibellines. St. Bernardine urged people to adopt the IHS rather than the banners of these two groups.

St. Bernadine said, “Glorious name, gracious name, name of love and of power! Through you sins are forgiven, through you enemies are vanquished, through you the sick are freed from their illness, through you those suffering in trials are made strong and cheerful. You bring honor to those who believe, you teach those who preach, you give strength to the toiler, you sustain the weary”.  Not only did St. Bernadine speak these beautiful words, but many miracles occurred giving testimony to the power of the Holy Name.  

In a time of political division and secular godlessness, we do well to invoke the powerful name of Jesus, to emblazen it in our churches and homes and on our hearts, that the true God may be made known, and worshipped, and loved, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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We bring forth now our prayers of petitions.

For the conversion of all those who have turned their hearts from Christ, for those who have fallen into serious sin, for a strengthening of all of the faithful in virtue. And that through the Holy Name of Jesus, God may bring the faithless to believe in His Son and increase the faith of those struggling to believe.

For Christians who are persecuted throughout the world, especially those who face martyrdom, that they may have a faith that is constant and pure.

For those oppressed by hunger, sickness or loneliness, that through the mystery of the Nativity of Christ, they may find relief in both mind and body. 

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

January 01 2025 - Mary, the Holy Mother of God - Blessings in the New Year

 

Yesterday, at morning Mass, I considered how December 31 is a good day for looking back on the year—a good day for considering how God has been with us throughout in the joys and challenges of the year. 

So, as a little spiritual exercise yesterday, I went through my 2024 calendar, day by day, week by week, month by month, and considered the ways I experienced God and the ways God called me to service in the last year, and recalled some of those joys and challenges. 

Throughout 2024, there were masses, holy hours, anointings of the sick, rcia sessions, meetings with the grieving, funerals and burials, weddings, meals and visits to parishioners’ homes, meetings regarding our capital campaign and church sound system and other maintenance related issues. There were staff meetings, marriage and other sacramental preparation meetings, meetings where I offered spiritual direction, and meetings where I received spiritual direction, meetings for annulments, planning meetings, and then all of those wonderful parish events like our clam bake, Lenten simple soup dinner, and parish picnic. Events with the school, family gatherings, gatherings with brother priests, diocesan meetings, events, and liturgies. I was reminded how I climbed to the top of the bell tower for the eclipse on  April 8, and attended a friend’s music recital at Cleveland Institute of Music on April 24, how I had the great honor of sitting on jury duty, and the amazing Italian dinner I had with a priest friend prior to his reception of his doctoral degree. There was my 15th anniversary of priestly ordination, and the week in Indianapolis for the National Eucharistic Congress. 2024 was certainly a year of grace and  blessing. I even improved a little on my golf game, making my first eagle on the 9th hole over at little met. 

I really do recommend a similar exercise. Go through your past year. Consider the blessings. Thank God for the blessings that were evident, and the challenges, which in retrospect, could perhaps be considered as blessings in disguise.

Our readings on this Holy Day all speak of blessing. Our first reading from the book of Numbers contains a literal prayer of blessing. Aaron the brother of Moses was instructed to pray words of blessing over the people of Israel. Our psalm, sings to God asking God to extend his blessing upon us and to the end of the earth. Just like you can go through your personal calendar, one could flip through the pages of the bible to consider how God has blessed his people in every age—forming Israel, teaching and forming his people, corrected them, and preparing them for the birth of the Messiah.

On this Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, on this octave day of Christmas, we celebrate how God has blessed us, answering that petition for worldwide blessing through Mary, the Mother of Jesus. He has made Mary a blessing to all people—for the role she has played in our salvation and the role she continues to play, both in example and also as the most powerful of heavenly intercessors. We are blessed, we are better, for knowing her faithfulness and her love in bringing about the greatest blessing possible. 

As we prayed in our Collect prayer, “Through the fruitful virginity of Blessed Mary, God has bestowed on the human race the grace of eternal salvation”. There is no greater blessing than that, no greater gift, the grace of eternal salvation. And today the Church universal thanks God for her, through whom eternal salvation Himself was born. 

And as we celebrate how God made Mary a blessing for all people, on this first day of the calendar year, we consider how we, too are to be a blessing for others, every day this year. 

Again, going through my calendar, wasn’t just an examination of the record of events of the last year. Honestly, it was very moving to consider how many times God used others, yourselves included, to bless me, to shape me, to encourage and strengthen me, to correct me, and to simply show me the depths of His love and goodness. 

The saints recommend, not simply a yearly examination, but a daily examination—to grow in awareness of God’s presence and God’s blessing. At the end of the day, before bed, sit in a nice chair with the tv and social media off, and consider the conversations, the lessons, the unexpected joys and the mistakes. Thank God for the blessings and ask God’s mercy upon your faults. And to conclude, as priests and consecrated religious do, sing or recite a song to Mary, the salve regina, regina coeli, or a simply hail mary.

Like Mary, we are meant to contemplate the mystery of God in our hearts, that we like her may serve God as blessings for others for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

December 31 2024 - The Eternal Word accompanies us through time

 December 31 is a retrospective day for many people.  A day to look back on the experiences of the year: to recall God’s blessings and interventions in our lives and to give thanks and to look forward that next year be better than the last.  

Pope Benedict XVI wrote: “It is our duty, as well as a need of our hearts, to praise and thank the Eternal One who accompanies us through time, never abandoning us, and who always watches over humanity with the fidelity of his merciful love.”

How has the Lord accompanied us through 2024?  Three hundred sixty-five days this year, Jesus has offered himself to us—in his teaching, in his Sacraments, most especially in the Eucharist.  365 days he has offered to forgive our sins, and invited us to make a new beginning in the life of grace—turning to him for strength in times of temptation, turning to him for guidance in times of confusion. In the darkest moments of 2024, he was there. Did we turn to him? Did we turn to the Christ, or did we turn to the voices and empty promises, of those St. John calls in our first reading, the anti-christs.

“Many anti-christs have appeared” John writes. What constitutes an anti-Christ? Any person, any philosophy, any institution who stands in opposition of Christ and the good news he offers, would be considered an anti-Christ. 

And just as many anti-Christs appeared in the early Church, anti-Christs are in abundance in the modern day. And the modern anti-christs continue to oppose Christ by swaying us to be selfish, to ignore God’s commandments, to hold on to grudges, to snub the poor. They seek to convince Christians to leave the Church, to dismiss godly wisdom, and persuade non-believers to look elsewhere for salvation. But they only offer the short term salvation of instant gratification, rather than authentic salvation that endures unto eternity. 

As we conclude one year and enter another, we do well to reflect upon and give thanks for the blessings of the year. But we also pray to God to gird us to continue the spiritual battle ahead and our Gospel mandate. 

Whatever may happen in 2025, Christ’s “light shines in the darkness; the darkness has not (and will not) overcome it.” 

Again, let us praise and thank the Eternal One who accompanies in time, and let us face today and tomorrow with the grace and truth he brings, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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Mindful of God’s faithfulness, let us offer our prayers and petitions with grateful hearts:

For the Church That all believers may enter the new year with renewed faith, bearing witness to Christ’s light in a world often darkened by selfishness and division. 

For those who lead and govern, that in 2025, government and civic leaders may be guided by the wisdom of God, promoting policies that uphold the dignity of every human person and protect the common good.

For all who have experienced hardship this past year That those who have suffered loss, disappointment, or confusion may find in Christ the healing and hope

For protection from modern “anti-christs”, that the Lord may strengthen us to recognize and resist voices that entice us toward selfishness, grudges, and neglect of the vulnerable, so we may remain steadfast in the truth of the Gospel.

In thanksgiving for God’s blessings, that our hearts may overflow with gratitude for the ways the Lord has accompanied us, forgiven our sins, and offered His grace throughout this past year.

For those struggling with illness, addiction or harmful habits: That they may find healing, support, and freedom in God’s grace, and discover the lasting peace Christ desires for them.

That those who have gone before us in faith may rest in the eternal embrace of our Merciful Father.

Presider: Loving and eternal God, you have guided us through the days and seasons of this past year. Hear our prayers as we entrust to you all our joys, sorrows, and hopes for the year ahead. May your grace strengthen us in the truth of Christ, whose light shines forever. 

December 30 2024 - Sixth Day of Christmas - The allurement of the physical world

 During the Octave of Christmas, our first readings are taken from the first Letter of Saint John. 

In his old age, the apostle wrote to his spiritual children to guide them in growing in Christian maturity—that the life and light and “love of God might be perfected” in them.  Like his Gospel, this letter is profound, yet simple.  Mysterious, yet clear enough for a child to understand it.  

John begins his letter speaking of the Incarnation—"what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we looked upon, and touched with our hands.” By taking on our human flesh, the one born for us on Christmas was able to be heard, and seen and touched. 

God who is love, according to his loving plan for our salvation, took on the flesh, entering the material physical world. And yet, in today’s readings, John speaks of the continued dangers of the physical world—how the flesh can lead us away from God if gone unchecked. He writes, “For all that is in the world, sensual lust, enticement for the eyes, and a pretentious life, is not from the Father but is from the world.” 

Remember, John is writing to Christians because he wants Christians to know and love God. But he is honest that there are certain elements to living in the world that can hinder us.

Not everything that looks good is good for us. In fact, everything in the world has been contaminated. Everything can become an occasion for sin, if we allow our selfishness to prevail over our desires for godliness. 

The world is enticing and seductive. Love of the world keeps us from loving God. Love of the things of the world keeps us from the Christian perfection God desires for us. Thinking ourselves entitled to the things of the world is a pretension deadly to the spiritual life.

Especially as we enter into a new year, we do well to identity an object or an activity or habit or a pastime, that we need to love less, that we may love Christ more. 

To love Christ more: that is the gift God offers to each of us at Christmas. To love him more than the passing enticements of the world. And to allow that love to animate our lives, to form the way we treat others, to deepen our conviction for spreading his Gospel, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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Trusting in God’s loving plan and mindful of the call to draw closer to Christ, let us bring our prayers before the Lord:

That all Christians may recognize and turn away from any worldly attachments that hinder our relationship with Christ, and embrace a deeper conversion this new year.

For those who do not yet know the love of God: That through our witness and service, they may come to hear, see, and touch Christ’s presence alive in our midst.

For those struggling with illness, addiction or harmful habits: That they may find healing, support, and freedom in God’s grace, and discover the lasting peace Christ desires for them.

For the faithful departed: That through God’s mercy they may enjoy eternal rest, beholding at last the glory of the Incarnate Lord.

Loving Father, you sent your Son into the world so that we might experience the fullness of your love. Hear our prayers, and by your grace, help us cast aside anything that keeps us from you. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

December 27 2024 - St. John, Apostle and Evangelist - So our joy might be complete

 

Yesterday, the Church celebrated the first martyr of the Church, the deacon St. Stephen. Today we celebrate the only one of the faithful apostles not to be martyred, yet one who loved Christ from the depths of his soul, St. John the evangelist, the patron of our Diocese.

And for his feast today, we read two passages of his writings: his Gospel account of running with St. Peter to the empty tomb and also the beginning of his first New Testament letter.

Like the prologue of his Gospel, which we read on Christmas morning, the prologue of his first epistle describes the incarnation of Christ—how the Eternal Word made his dwelling among us. 

St. John laid his head on the breast of the Lord at the last supper, and did you notice how John echoed the Lord’s Last supper discourse in his opening lines? John explains that the reason he is writing is so that our joy might be complete. Here John echoes the Lord’s teaching explaining why it is so important for us to remain united to him as branches to the vine. We are to remain united to Him by following his commandments, by loving one another, so that his joy might be in us, and our joy might be complete.

And now in the opening lines of his letter, John claims that he is writing for the same purpose. John sees his vocation as apostle and evangelist for the purpose of helping souls become and remain united to Christ, that life and joy might full our lives. John writes so that we may know Christ, and believe in Christ, and understand his teachings, and obey his commands, so that the life of Christ may animate us. 

During Advent we considered the Church’s mission: to help souls prepare for Christmas. Now, we might consider the Church’s Christmas mission: to help souls draw near to the one born for us, to love him and be ever-more united with Him.

Therefore, we do well to invoke St. John to aid us in our Christmas mission: to help us, like him, to proclaim the Word-made-flesh with integrity and courage, to grow in loving union with the Word through prayer and charity, to help us run with great effort in the Christian life, that we may come to see his glory, that the Lord’s joy might be in us, and our joy might be complete for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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We bring forth now our prayers of petitions.

For the Church of Cleveland under the patronage of St. John, apostle and evangelist, for Bishop Malesic all the clergy, religious and lay faithful, that together we may witness faithfully and tirelessly to the truth of the Gospel

That the birth of the Prince of Peace may bring renewed unity and healing for the people and leaders of our nation; and for the protection of our armed forces, police and firefighters, and all those who risk their lives to preserve our security and freedom. 

For those burdened by illness, depression, joylessness, mental distress, or any other difficulty: that they will experience the tenderness and compassion born for us on Christmas. 

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