Good Article: Time To Admit It: The Church Has Always Been Right On Birth Control

An interesting defense of Church teaching from a secular source.  Doesn't really get into theology, but defends church teaching from the standpoint of Paul VI's Humanae Vitae:  That contraception leads to : General lowering of moral standards, A rise in infidelity, and illegitimacy, The reduction of women to objects used to satisfy men, and Government coercion in reproductive matters. (From Business Insider)

Time To Admit It: The Church Has Always Been Right On Birth Control

MICHAEL BRENDAN DOUGHERTY AND PASCAL-EMMANUEL GOBRY

Painting the Catholic Church as "out of touch" is like shooting fish in a barrel, what with the funny hats and gilded churches. And nothing makes it easier than the Church's stance against contraception.

Many people, (including our editor) are wondering why the Catholic Church doesn't just ditch this requirement. They note that most Catholics ignore it, and that most everyone else finds it divisive, or "out-dated." C'mon! It's the 21st century, they say! Don't they SEE that it's STUPID, they scream.

Here's the thing, though: the Catholic Church is the world's biggest and oldest organization. It has buried all of the greatest empires known to man, from the Romans to the Soviets. It has establishments literally all over the world, touching every area of human endeavor. It's given us some of the world's greatest thinkers, from Saint Augustine on down to René Girard. When it does things, it usually has a good reason. Everyone has a right to disagree, but it's not that they're a bunch of crazy old white dudes who are stuck in the Middle Ages. 

So, what's going on? 

The Church teaches that love, marriage, sex, and procreation are all things that belong together. That's it. But it's pretty important. And though the Church has been teaching this for 2,000 years, it's probably never been as salient as today.

Today's injunctions against birth control were re-affirmed in a 1968 document by Pope Paul VI called Humanae Vitae.  He warned of four results if the widespread use of contraceptives was accepted:

1. General lowering of moral standards
2. A rise in infidelity, and illegitimacy
3. The reduction of women to objects used to satisfy men. 
4. Government coercion in reproductive matters. 

Does that sound familiar? 

Because it sure sounds like what's been happening for the past 40 years. 

As George Akerloff wrote in Slate over a decade ago,

By making the birth of the child the physical choice of the mother, the sexual revolution has made marriage and child support a social choice of the father.

Instead of two parents being responsible for the children they conceive, an expectation that was held up by social norms and by the law, we now take it for granted that neither parent is necessarily responsible for their children. Men are now considered to be fulfilling their duties merely by paying court-ordered child-support. That's a pretty dramatic lowering of standards for "fatherhood."

Today's moral lodestar

How else are we doing since this great sexual revolution? Kim Kardashian's marriage lasted 72 days. Illegitimacy: way up. In 1960, 5.3% of all births in America were to unmarried women. By 2010, it was 40.8% [PDF]. In 1960 married families made up almost three-quarters of all households; but by the census of 2010 they accounted for just 48 percent of them. Cohabitation has increased tenfold since 1960. 

And if you don't think women are being reduced to objects to satisfy men, welcome to the internet, how long have you been here? Government coercion: just look to China (or America, where a government rule on contraception coverage is the reason why we're talking about this right now). 

Is this all due to the Pill? Of course not. But the idea that widely-available contraception hasn't led to dramatic societal change, or that this change has been exclusively to the good, is a much sillier notion than anything the Catholic Church teaches. 

So is the notion that it's just OBVIOUSLY SILLY to get your moral cues from a venerable faith (as opposed to what? Britney Spears?).

But let's turn to another aspect of this. The reason our editor thinks Catholics shouldn't be fruitful and multiply doesn't hold up, either. The world's population, he writes, is on an "unsustainable" growth path.

The Population Bureau of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations sees (PDF, h/t Pax Dickinson) the rate of population growth slowing over the next decades and stabilizing around 9 billion in 2050…and holding there until 2300. (And note that the UN, which promotes birth control and abortions around the world, isn't exactly in the be-fruitful-and-multiply camp.)

More broadly, the Malthusian view of population growth has been resilient despite having been proven wrong time and time again and causing lots of unnecessary human suffering. For example, China is headed for a demographic crunch and social dislocation due to its misguided one-child policy.

Human progress is people. Everything that makes life better, from democracy to the economy to the internet to penicillin was either discovered and built by people. More people means more progress. The inventor of the cure for cancer might be someone's fourth child that they decided not to have.

So, just to sum up: 

• It's a good idea for people to be fruitful and multiply; and
• Regardless of how you feel about the Church's stance on birth control, it's proven pretty prophetic.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/time-to-admit-it-the-church-has-always-been-right-on-birth-control-2012-2#ixzz2rzLGn8lk

Currently Reading: Tolkien: Man and Myth, a Literary Life by Joseph Pearce

Having read recently "On the Shoulders of Hobbits: The Road to Virtue with Tolkien and Lewis" by Louis Markos, I was inspired to read more about this great and misunderstood man (at least by the "literati").  

I had heard how after LOTR were voted the greatest books of the 20th C, how the literati and critics were "horrified".  Pearce offers several examples in chapter 1, and begins to examine how Tolkien is misunderstood because "myth" (and his writings, the meaning of his writings to the reader) is misunderstood.  Misunderstanding due to "mythunderstanding".

In chapter 2, Pearce gives some biographical detail which "influenced" Tolkien's writings (without getting into Psychoanalysis, which Tolkien and Lewis detested).  Most importantly, how Tolkien's mother passed on the Catholic faith which accompanied him his whole life.

Great Article: The belittling and bashing of the pontificate of Pope Benedict is accelerating by Steve Jalsevac

I really like this article.  I think the importance of Pope Benedict's Papacy will be seen over time (and in heaven). Article by Steve Jalsevac from Lifesitenews.com

Benedict did what he was called to do in his position as the earthly leader of the Catholic Church, no matter how much he was criticized both from within and outside the Church. He shouldered and embraced a very heavy cross and suffered a quiet type of crucifixion as a result of his exceptional fidelity and courageous writings and actions.
Immediately after becoming pope, Benedict began to take strong, long overdue and very necessary actions against moral corruption within the clergy, the religious orders and within Catholic aid agencies. He appointed many first-rate bishops and removed a large number of bishops who were a cause of scandal to the Church. He took actions on the liturgy and other issues that were not popular, but which he saw as essential to preserving Catholicism and Christian culture in what he knew would be very difficult years to come.
We should be extremely grateful for the pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI and the exceptional support that he gave to the life and family movements. The full story on all that he did has yet to be told.
The current, hateful Rolling Stone article is actually a testament to how effective Benedict was in correcting so many things that needed correction within the Church and in writing about and preaching truths that most others in the Church have avoided for too many years. I am aware that many within the Church, including priests and bishops, genuinely hated Benedict for undoing so much of the self-made, worldy "spirit of Vatican II" Church that they had created and nurtured since the 1960s.
Benedict was a genuinely very humble, quiet, selfless man, with an incredibly brilliant mind. Contrary to his often very meek demeanor, he was actually a man's man in how he took bold actions on so many things where others feared to tread. He was not perfect and made some errors and bad appointments here and there, but all in all he was an effective pope, despite his advanced age, physical weakness and the personal sufferings and public flaggelations that naturally came to him for daring to imitate the most manly man of all time, Jesus Christ.
Any leader who does what Christ would have done and said in such tumultuous times as today is certain to be ridiculed and hated, as was Christ himself. I am certain, after having personally met Benedict a number of times, that like Christ, gentle Benedict's response has been to love them all and to pray, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do". 

Homily: January 31 - St. John Bosco - "Father and teacher of the young"

On Monday, we celebrated the feast of our patron who worked with the young.  Today’s saint is also a patron saint of young people.

St. John Bosco was deeply concerned with the youth of his parish; many were being arrested for juvenile delinquency.  Once in prison, they learned more about crime, and would be back in jail soon after their release. 

So, he worked tirelessly with the young boys in his neighborhood, providing for them a solid education and formation in the faith.  “There are three things to stay on the path to Heaven, he would tell them, “Go to confession regularly, receive Communion often, and choose a regular confessor to whom you can unburden your heart.” 

Through his love and care, many of these young boys, not only were saved from a life of crime, many of them entered seminary and become good and holy priests.  And at least one of his boys became a saint, St. Dominic Savio. 

St. John Chrysostom, more than a thousand years earlier asked, “What is equal to that profession which is concerned with directing the soul and forming the mind and character of the young?”

St. Angela Merici, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. John Bosco remind us this week to take very seriously the passing on of the Christian faith to the young. 

In the opening prayer we prayed, “O God, who raised up the Priest Saint John Bosco as a father and teacher of the young, grant, we pray, that aflame with the same fire of love, we may seek out souls and serve you alone.” 

We ask ourselves, is my heart set on fire with love for souls?  Am I concerned about the souls of the youth of my neighborhood?  What am I doing to bring them to Christ?

This weekend is our parish youth retreat.  I ask your prayers for our young people, that they may have a powerful encounter with the Lord’s mercy and love for them, that will help to make them saints.

So we pray through Don Bosco’s intercession for the salvation of our young people from our culture of death, and that we may be diligent in working always for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Homily: Thursday - 3rd Week in Ordinary Time - "Any tendency to treat religion as a private matter must be resisted"

I heard recently of a priest who gave a very clear homily about a somewhat controversial church teaching.  Afterwards, several non-Catholics who happened to be attending Mass that day, approached him, and thanked him, because they never understood the Church’s position.  The priest also received, from several Catholics, members of his parish, letters complaining that the Church’s clear teaching turned people away from the Church, and they wrote letters to the bishop calling for the priest’s removal.

I thinksome lay Catholics, Priests, and even some bishops, sometimes fear our own faith.  They fear that teaching what Jesus taught turns people away from him.  That we have to water down the truth to make it more palatable, and then, maybe several years down the line, eventually, gradually teach the truth.  That in a sense, we need to hide the Church’s clear teaching, because it is too hard.

In the Gospel today, Jesus uses a very clear parable.  You do not light a lamp in order to hide its light.  Don’t obscure the light of revelation.

A few years ago, Pope Benedict spoke to a number of American bishops.   He said, “America's brand of secularism poses a particular problem: it allows for professing belief in God…but reduces religious belief to a lowest common denominator. Faith becomes a passive acceptance that certain things "out there" are true, but without practical relevance for everyday life. The result is a growing separation of faith from life…Is it consistent to profess our beliefs in church on Sunday, and then during the week to promote business practices or medical procedures contrary to those beliefs? Is it consistent for practicing Catholics to ignore or exploit the poor and the marginalized, to promote sexual behavior contrary to Catholic moral teaching, or to adopt positions that contradict the right to life of every human being from conception to natural death? Any tendency to treat religion as a private matter must be resisted.”

Our Catholic faith is beautiful, and illuminating, and clear.  It is attractive, especially in our culture which is dominated by moral and religious relativism—a culture which says, there is no truth, there is no right nor wrong, there are only your emotions. 

I am daily encouraged by our young people who, when the Catholic faith is presented to them in a clear manner, respond so positively.  They love to learn what the Church actually teaches.

Do not be afraid to share the light of faith, do not “hide your lamp” under a bushel basket or under the bed.  The clear light of faith is attractive to those who are looking for truth.

May we be faithful in bearing the light entrusted to us for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Homily: January 28 - St. Thomas Aquinas - "Brilliant light of the Church"

Among the great saints quoted in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, after St. Augustine, St. Thomas is quoted more than any other. 

Blessed John Paul II said “The Church has been justified in consistently proposing Saint Thomas as a master of thought and a model of the right way to do theology…

St. Thomas Aquinas is the patron saint of theologians;  All seminarians preparing for the priesthood become very familiar with his teaching.  Even after ordination, “it never hurts to brush up on a little Thomas”. 

Saint Thomas Aquinas is called the angelic doctor for a number of reasons: he was simple like the angels—he had single hearted devotion for service of God.  He was clear like angels, if you ever read Thomas’ theology, you will find he is very clear and understandable.  He is full of the praise of God, like the angels, and he is pure, he is free from distractions and passions.

You cannot read enough of Saint Thomas Aquinas.  And you would have a difficult time if you tried, again, not because it is hard reading, but because there is so much of it.

Pope John XXII, speaking about St. Thomas, said before his canonization that “his life was saintly and his doctrine could only be miraculous … because he enlightened the church more than all the other doctors. By the use of his works a man could profit more in one year than if he studies the doctrine of others for his whole life.”

One of the mottos of the Dominican Order, which Thomas exemplified is: “To contemplate the truth and to share with others the fruit of contemplation.”  Time spent in prayer, time spent in sacred study, time spent in adoration of Our Lord is to bear fruit in our life, and those fruits are to be shared with others.   

The secret to St. Thomas’ brilliance wasn't merely his brains, that he applied his considerable intellectual abilities to the field of sacred science.  His brilliance was that became infused with the light of Christ through contemplation of the truth.  That is why he shines is a brilliant light for the Church 900 years after his death.

He was able to share what he received with a mind, heart, and soul, open to the light of Christ.

At the end of a life totally dedicated to serving the Church, while praying before a crucifix, a voice asked Thomas what reward he wanted for his labors.  He replied: “None but yourself, O Lord.” 

To echo our opening prayer: God made Saint Thomas outstanding in his zeal for holiness and his study of sacred doctrine, may we understand what he taught and imitate what he accomplished for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Homily: January 27 - St. Angela Merici - Working for the spread of the Gospel

Angela Merici was born on March 21, 1474.  Out of love for Jesus, she consecrated herself to him before she was ten years old and persuaded her sister to do the same—promising never to marry and to live a life of prayer and service.  Around the age of 10 her parents and sister died suddenly, and so she moved to a nearby town to live with her uncle.

One day, during harvest-time, Angela was out in the field, alone, when she had a vision of heaven.  She saw angels and young women coming toward her singing and surrounded by light.  One of the young girls was Angela’s sister who had died, and she told Angela that God wanted her to establish a company of consecrated women. 

With her great love of the Lord, she was saddened by the ignorance of the children in her native Italy, especially their lack of religious training.  She took it upon herself to give regular instruction to the young neighborhood girls.  She was joined by women with similar ideals.

It wasn’t until the age of 61 that she, and 28 young women formed the Order of Ursulines, which became the first teaching order of the Church.   Members continued to live at home, wore no special habit, and took no formal vows, though the early rule prescribed the practices of virginity, poverty, and obedience. 

Angela died on January 27, 1540.  Her Congregation was dedicated to re-christianizing family life through solid Christian education, especially for young girls who were the future Christian wives and mothers.  The Company of St. Ursula spread throughout Italy and France and eventually through all of Europe.  They were the very first Catholic nuns to land in the new world. 

Before Cleveland was even a diocese, Father Amadeus Rappe, who would become the first bishop of Cleveland was chaplain to the Ursulines at Boulogne-sur-Mer in France.  In 1847, when he became the first Bishop of Cleveland, it was among his top priorities to establish schools.    He invited the Ursulines from Boulogne-sur-Mer to begin a foundation in Cleveland and to start the Catholic school system in north eastern Ohio. 

T

hough the Ursuline’s never served her at St. Angela Merici Parish, the very fact that we have Catholic schools here at all, is traced back to our parish patroness.

St. Angela knew the importance of passing on the faith, taking serious serious efforts in the lives of children to instill in them faith in Jesus Christ.  When she saw the ignorance of the children, she didn’t just wring her hands or complain, she was a woman of action whose efforts changed the Church history.  Instructing the ignorant is an act of love.

The Popes of the last 50 years have taught the importance of working for evangelization, of spreading the Gospel in a culture which is increasingly resistant.  But there are those who are hungry for the truth.  When I visit the school, I am encouraged by our young people who are so hungry for the truth, and appreciative when the truth is explained to them clearly, they want to know what it means to be Catholic, they want to know what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ.

May we all benefit from the prayers and examples of our patron Saint, for the work of the spread of the Gospel, for the glory of god and salvation of souls.

Currently Reading: The Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola - With Commentary: Joseph Tetlow

The Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius Loyola: With Commentary
by Joseph A. Tetlow

I ordered this book off of amazon after seeing it advertised in a few of Fr. Timothy Gallagher's books on Ignatian Spirituality ("Discernment of Spirits").

I've finished so far the first two parts and am pretty impressed.  Part I gives a wonderful biography of St. Ignatius and the formation of the Jesuits and the events in his life which influenced and informed his spirituality, particularly the writing of the Spiritual Exercises.

Subsequent parts go through the Four Weeks of the Exercises, summarizing and offering insights into the hours of prayer.  This would be a good introduction to the Exercises for someone who has never made them, a good companion for someone who is currently making them (either on the 30 day retreat or the home retreat), and a good review for someone who has already made them.

Homily: January 24 - St. Francis de Sales - Practical Piety

A young mother once wrote to St. Francis de Sales when he was Bishop and said, Bishop I’m trying very hard to live a good life, to be holy, but I can’t get to Mass every day because I have these seven children who are driving me crazy.  Francis de Sales wrote back to her and said “Madam, you should not go to Church every day; you become a Saint by being the best mom you can be.” 

Now he’s not saying here that you shouldn’t go to daily Mass.  But love and growing in holiness are very practical things; that a mother shouldn’t neglect her duties as a mother, in order to come to daily Mass.  Conversely, a mother shouldn’t be wrapped up in the world, that she neglects her duties as a Christian, either.

To serve the many people entrusted to his care, as a Bishop, St. Francis de Sales became a prolific writer—he writings comprise 26 volumes.  Two of his books have become spiritual classics, and continue to be published and read to this day: The Introduction to the Devout Life, and The Treatise on the Love of God, in which he offers profound advice for the person living in the midst of the world, who wishes to pursue a holy life.

He truly believed that all people, in all walks of life, are called by God to a devout life.  He often offered very practical suggestions for navigating through the temptations presented by the world and for making progress on one’s spiritual journey.  He spoke of the importance of prayer and value of the sacraments, but also the role of friendship and virtue.

The Lord gives us all opportunities to love every day.  Free time that we might selfishly devote to our own pursuits, that should generously be turned to his service.

St. Francis de Sales is the patron saint of authors and journalism.  He is the patron saint of spiritual directors; that they may give wise and practical guidance to those in their care.  He is also the patron of the deaf because he developed a method of teaching a young deaf person the catechism. 

I conclude with a simple, practical prayer, composed by St. Francis de Sales: “My God, I give you this day. I offer you, now, all of the good that I shall do and I promise to accept, for love of you, all of the difficulty that I shall meet. Help me to conduct myself during this day in a manner pleasing to you. Amen.”

Homily: January 21 - St. Agnes, virgin & martyr - "Belonging to Christ without hesitation"

Pope Benedict, in a reflection on Saint Agnes, said, “ Her martyrdom illustrates “the beauty of belonging to Christ without hesitation.”

When she was about thirteen years old, the son of the Roman governor became infatuated with her.  Agnes had given her heart to Christ—she was a consecrated virgin—she had consecrated herself to Christ for the sake of His kingdom.

When she resisted the governor’s son.  He then threatened her, and told her that he would accuse her of being a Christian.  This meant that she would face death, since it was against the law to be a Christian.

Her heart belonging to Christ, she did not hesitate in remaining true to her faith.  He accused her of practicing the Christian faith, and she was beheaded.

Of all the virgin martyrs of Rome, none was held in such high honor by the early church as Saint Agnes.  She has been honored since the 4th century.  Her name appears in the first Eucharistic prayer. 

Belonging to Christ without hesitation.  Too often we fear following Christ without hesitation.  Giving him a blank check with our life.

Martyrdom, for St Agnes, meant the generous and free acceptance of giving her own young life, in its entirety and without reservation, that the Gospel might be preached.  Also, she prepared for martyrdom by the conscious, free and mature choice of virginity, the choice to belong totally to Christ.

Agnes, still young, learned that being a disciple of the Lord means loving Him by putting all her life at His disposal.

When we are given the opportunity to witness to the Gospel, without hesitation, without fear, we are to boldly proclaim the Gospel with conviction.

Agnes teaches us that holiness does not depend on length of years.  Children understand, often better than adults, that following Jesus means to follow him with our whole hearts and minds and soul. 

With the help of Saint Agnes’ prayers and example may we come to see Christ’s glory in the eternal kingdom of heaven.

Homily: Sunday of the 2nd Week in Ordinary Time - Being a Light for the Gospel of Life

The Christmas season has ended, and we’ve returned for the time being to the green vestments, signaling our observance of Ordinary Time. So for a few weeks, before the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday, March 6, we observe Ordinary Time.  Now, when we say “Ordinary Time” we don’t mean that things are boring or that there is nothing extraordinary going on.  Ordinary Christian life is to be quite an adventure in itself.  So during this season, we focus on the adventure of ordinary Christian life.

This week there are a couple extraordinary things going on.  Firstly, every year, in the week preceding the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul on January 25, we observe a week of prayer for Christian Unity.

So, this week, Catholics around the world are to unite in prayer, not so much for unity among Catholics, but for unity among all Christians, whether they are orthodox, or protestant or Catholic.  The Lord prayed on the night before he died for the unity of his followers.  Modeling our own prayer after his, we pray this week for a healing of our divisions.  There are about 2 billion Christians, about 1.1 billion of those are Catholics and the rest are of other Christian communities: they are not united with us and we are not united with them.  There are many divisions over the interpretation of Scripture, over moral issues, over the structure of the Church and matters of doctrine.

We of course need to pray for the grace to love one another.  That hasn’t always been the case: protestants have persecuted Catholics, and Catholics, scandalously have persecuted Protestants.  There is still some hostility in some places of the world between Catholics and Orthodox.  This is a scandal.  If we cannot love one another, how can we show to the world, that Christianity is the True Faith—that the Church is God’s instrument of peace and salvation?

Yet, we not only pray for unity in our hearts, but unity of mind.  That we may “put on the mind of Christ Jesus” in rightly believing what the Lord wants us to believe.  That only 30% of Christians go to Church on the Lord’s Day is a scandal.  That the divorce rate among Christians is the same as our national divorce rate is a scandal.  That certain groups of Christians support same-sex marriage and abortion is a scandal.  So we are to work and pray for unity of faith, of right belief.

So, please, please pray this week for unity among Christians, for the ability to love and faithfulness to the Gospel of Life.

Another extraordinary thing, just this week, is that over half a million people will gather in our nation’s capital, for a March for Life.  Wednesday, January 22 is the anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court decision which legalized abortion.

Since the Roe vs. Wade decision in 1973, there have been over 50 million abortions, a crime against life which cries out to heaven.  As Catholics, we are committed to defending human life, providing support for women who are being pressured into abortion, and mercy and care for women who have.

This week, Pope Francis from Rome disparaged of our culture’s attitude of treating unborn children as easily discarded commodities.  He said, “unfortunately, what is thrown away is not only food and dispensable objects, but human beings themselves, who are discarded as unnecessary.  It is frightful,” he said, “even to think there are children, victims of abortion, who will never see the light of day.”

You may have seen this in the news.  One of the Bishops leading a group of the faithful at the March For Life is being called the unaborted Bishop.  45 years ago, his mother was being pressured by her doctor to have an abortion because of possible birth defects.  Doctor’s told her that her son would be a freak.  She and her husband chose life.

How many priests and nuns and bishops and geniuses and saints never saw the light of day? Over 50 million! That’s more babies than the entire population of Canada!

And this Wednesday, over a half a million people will  gather together, not just Catholics, but Proestants and Orthodox as well.  What a great act of Christian unity, yes?  And not only Christians, Jews and Buddhists, and Muslims standing together to witness to the dignity of life. 

Yet witnessing to life isn’t just for once a year. I am so amazed and inspired by those who week after week gather to pray in front of our own local abortion clinics, often in freezing weather, to pray for the conversion of hearts which will save the endangered child.  These warriors for life would be happy to be joined by you!

Also, on Wednesday, there will be a special Mass for Life at our diocesan Cathedral at 7pm with Bishop Lennon, to pray for the unborn and for life.  Please unite your prayers and penances on Wednesday with all those who pray for life.

In the first reading we heard the Lord speaking through Isaiah the prophet telling Israel that it is not enough that you are called a servant of the Lord, you are to be a light to all nations.  It is not enough for us privately hold our beliefs, but we are to be a light in our community to shine with the truth and light of Jesus Chris—that he may be known, seen, and experienced.

The Lord calls ordinary people to do extraordinary things.   That call, the call to holiness, is anything but ordinary.  We must not undervalue our faithful witness, and the power of our prayers. 

May we be extremely mindful this week of those moments which the Lord gives us to witness to the Gospel of Life, the truth which sets us free; ordinary moments in which the Lord calls us to speak extraordinary truth, and to love with extraordinary charity, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Homily: Saturday of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time - "I did not come to call the righteous but sinners"

In today’s first reading, the prophet Samuel is sent by the Lord to find and anoint Saul as leader of God’s people.  Before anointing him, Samuel sits down to share a meal with Saul.  Over the meal, Samuel tells Saul what the Lord expects of him: to be a good, just, and faithful commander and leader of God’s people.  Samuel kisses him, and anoints him.

In today’s Gospel, we hear a very similar story.  Jesus approaches Levi, a tax-collector.  A jew who, in the eyes of his fellow Jews was collaborating with the enemy, collecting taxes for the enemy Roman occupying force.  People are surprised when the Lord calls this man, a sinner to follow him—they are more surprised when the Lord goes to his house and shares a meal with him, and other tax collectors and sinners. 

Saul and Levi had many similarities.  Both were wealthy men.  Levi may have not been as powerful as Saul, but compared to his fellow Jews, he had much more political influence.  Both were called and anointed for the Lord’s work.  However their lives would end quite differently.  Levi, also known as Matthew, would spend his life in the Lord’s service and die a martyr’s death, glorifying the Lord.  Saul, on the other hand, would become trapped in self-hatred, envy, violence, the occult, and like Judas Iscariot takes his own life. 

Saul fails over and over again to entrust himself to the Lord, to admit his wickedness, and his life ends tragically.  Levi, repents of his wickedness, and his life ends in glory.

The stories of our lives are not much different.  The Lord calls us from a former way of life, fallen habits, attitudes, and behaviors, to repentance and to the embrace of a new way of life.

If we come to Church, if we come to Mass without acknowledging those areas of our life in which we need to change, in which we need to converted, in which we fall short of Gospel living, then we come to this meal in vain.

I heard an insightful saying this week, “Not going to church because it is full of hypocrites and sinners is like not going to the gym because it is full of people who are out of shape.”

Jesus came and established his church not for those who claim already to be saints, but who acknowledge 

their sinfulness and come to Jesus seeking help. The Church is like a hospital, precisely for people who acknowledge they are sick.

We acknowledge that we DO need help; we need the help of the sacraments, we need the help of God’s word, we need the help and prayers of fellow Christians in being more faithful.

Through humble examination of our life and actions in light of the Faith, may we come to repentance for our sins, and with firm amendment to change our lives, conforms ourselves in all things to Jesus Christ.  For the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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

The early Christians saw the desert as the place where we learn to deny ourselves and to love God above all things.  Christ himself went out into the desert to pray and fast.  Today’s Saint is often called St. Anthony of the Desert because as we prayed in our opening prayer, “he served God by a wondrous way of life in the desert.”

He was born of wealthy parents in upper Egypt in the year 251.  After their death he inherited their estate.   Attending Mass one day he heard the words of the Gospel, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor.  You will then have treasure in heaven” Anthony told his disciples in later years, that it was as though Christ had spoken the words directly to him.

Although organized monasticism did not yet exist, it was not unknown for Christians to abstain from marriage, divest themselves of possessions to some extent, and live a life focused on prayer and fasting.

So, Anthony gave away some of the family estate to his neighbors, sold the remaining property, donated the funds to the poor, placed his sister with a group of Christian virgins for her education, and became the disciple of a local hermit in the desert, and devoted himself to God.   This first period in the desert lasted around 13 years.  Even though he sought solitude with God in the desert, a group of hermits grew around him, and he became their spiritual father, or “abbot”, thus beginning monasticism as it is known today.

In the prayer over the Gifts at Mass today, we pray that, “released from earthly attachments, may we have our riches in God alone.”  If you wish to be perfect, go sell what you have and give it to the poor.  Earthly attachments, earthly pleasures, earthly pursuits are so dangerous in the spiritual life.  If we love our wealth, our heart does not belong fully to God as it is meant to.  If our life consists in amassing or holding on to earthly riches, then we are not living in the freedom for which Christ died to give us.

On this feast of St. Anthony, we are reminded of the invitation to embrace the Gospel with total commitment and so be filled with profound joy.  Inspired by grace to follow Christ with a free and pure heart, Anthony gave away all his possessions to the poor, and overcoming the weakness of the flesh by the strength of the spirit, he lived in deep communion with God in the austere solitude of the desert.  St. Anthony of the Desert, pray for us…for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Homily: Thursday of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time - Meaning of Ordinary Time

Now that the Christmas season is ended, we enter into a few weeks of Ordinary time before Lent beginning on Ash Wednesday, March 5

During Ordinary time we focus on our day-to-day discipleship of Christ.  It often feels strange to be wearing the color green for ordinary time during the middle of winter, with bare trees and the grey skies; oftentimes we are covered with a few inches or feet of snow.

It feels strange because the color green usually symbolizes the color of fresh leaves and grass, the color of life, it symbolizes growth, and vitality, and hope.

Whenever the theological virtue hope was depicted in paintings, she could easily be identified because she would be the lady in the green garments. 

Green during Ordinary Time is to remind us Christians that we should be working hard on spiritual growth during this time.

The season is called Ordinary Time, but it should really be called Ordered Time.  The word ordinary, has taken on the meaning of something that is boring, commonplace, mundane.

But this season is really about being ordered, orderly, regiment, and consistent in our spiritual lives. Consistent in our daily prayer, making sure that we pray EVERY day; regimented in our generosity and kindness towards those in need; steady in our daily imitation of Jesus, and continuous to being challenged to growing in holiness.

I mentioned that this is also a season of hope.  There’s another word which isn’t always used in a Christian context.  We often say things like I hope to see you again, I hope the browns do better next season, I hope you recover from your illness.  Christian hope, isn’t so much directed on good things we want to receive in this life, but preparing us for eternal life in heaven.  The person with true Christian hope remember that we aren’t just meant for this life, but that every day we need to be preparing for heaven: through prayer, generosity, self-sacrifice.

Sometimes, as it did for the people of Israel in the first reading, hope, means allowing our defeats to remind us that we are supposed to be focused on God’s will, not our own.

For in the end, this season is about growing in Christian discipleship—focusing day-by-day on being more faithful to the life Jesus calls us, imitating his attitudes, his actions, his love.

Homily: Wednesday of the 1st week in Ordinary Time

Since Monday we’ve been reading from the Old testament book of first Samuel.  Over the next few weeks, we’ll be reading a lot from what are called the historical books of the Old Testament up until Lent: I & II Samuel, I & II Kings.  They present the lives of some pretty important characters in salvation history.  Samuel, Saul, David, Solomon, Elijah, Elisha.  Many "human" characters, with many "human faults"; characters who we can sympathize with, people, who have moments of great trust in the Lord, but often times of great selfishness.

Today, we heard the powerful reading of the call of Samuel.  There was Samuel sleeping in the temple of the Lord, God’s call rouses him out of slumber, but then he goes back to sleep, multiple times.  He was not familiar with the Lord.  In fact, even the last time, the only reason he responded with those beautiful words, “Speak ,for your servant is listening” is because Eli, the priest, told him what to say.

It is often difficult for us to hear God—we are spiritually hard-of-hearing.  This can be for a number of reasons: our sinful attachments often clog our ears; sometimes we don’t hear God because of our “lack of familiarity” with the Lord, like Samuel; sometimes it’s because we don’t want to listen because we are afraid of what God might ask of us.

The Lord had an important Word for Samuel, calling his name, calling him to service.  Sometimes, people ask me how to pray.  I often encourage them to go to a quiet room or come to the Church, take your bible and find a passage you would like to pray with.  Read through it a couple times to familiarize yourself with the text.  Then, speak those words of Samuel, “Speak, O Lord, your servant is listening”. 

Samuel goes on to play a very important role in the history of Israel; when Samuel spoke, all of Israel listen, but only because Samuel first listened to God.

May we be open to the Word God desires to speak to us, calling us into service, calling us to imitate his Son Jesus Christ ever more deeply, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Homily: Tuesday of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time - Dispelling Darkness

From now until the beginning of Lent on February 10, our weekday Gospel readings will be taken from the Gospel of Mark. 

Without skipping any passages we’ll make our way from chapter 1 through chapter 10—beginning with his baptism, which we heard Sunday, up until his entrance into Jerusalem.  These 10 chapters comprise Jesus’ public ministry.

And so during these short weeks of Ordinary Time before Lent, we will read of healings and exorcisms, parables and teachings and miracles.

St. Mark’s original audience was the ancient Romans who were very much like modern Americans—very practical, pragmatic people who emphasized deeds more than words, action more than theory.  The Romans got things done, in fact they conquered the world!

So throughout Mark’s Gospel we are going to hear how Jesus is doing battle with the powers of evil; he is able to cast out demons, cure diseases, even tame the powers of nature.

His healings and exorcisms are proof that this man is worth following and through Jesus God breaks into human history to offer liberation and salvation from evil.  The greatest sign of this, in the Gospel of Mark, will be the Resurrection when Jesus conquers even death on a cross.

Mark, being the shortest Gospel, can be read in a single sitting without too much effort.  And if you’ve never read Mark from beginning to end these are good days for such a practice.

In our troubled, troubled times, unclean spirits abound, as in Jesus’ time.  They are very active in trying to deceive, confuse, tempt, manipulate, seduce, control, depress, harass, hurt, destroy, and damn us—working to break up marriages, corrupt young innocent hearts and minds, and destroy the Church. 

Satan and his demons are conquered by obedience to God.  Following his commandments, especially his command to confess your sins and to receive his body and blood, are paramount. We must put our trust in Jesus by making Him the first priority in our lives: more important than sports, more important than lazy Sunday mornings where everyone stays in their pajamas all day instead of going to Church.  If we want our parish, our school, our families, our communities to be liberated from the power of evil, we must fill them with the power of Christ. For how can we expect Jesus to cast out the evil of our lives, if we do not come to him to be saved. Or how can we expect the love of Christ to reign in the world, if we are engaging in bullying, foul language, violence, impurity.

We pray that God may banish all darkness from our lives, and use us as his instruments for conquering evil in the world for his glory and the salvation of souls.

Homily: January 13 - St. Hilary - Fisher of men

On this first weekday of the new season of Ordinary Time, we honor one of the great Fathers of the Church, St. Hilary, a bishop of the fourth century. 

As the Arian heresy spread rapidly through Europe, St. Hilary was devoted to defending the Catholic faith in the divinity of Jesus Christ.  He was ostracized by his brother bishops who accepted Arianism; he was even exiled from France to Turkey by the emperor for preaching the truth.  Yet, even from exile, he worked strenuously to bring the heretics back to the truth.  When he returned from exile, his people welcomed him back enthusiastically. 

Today in the Gospel, we heard Jesus tell Peter and Andrew, “I will make you fishers of men.”  St. Hilary and the great saints show us what the Lord meant.  That we, like the Saints, are to work to bring others to the truth, how to be faithful to the life to which Jesus calls us. 

We don’t have to be bishops to be fishers of men.  Blessed Mother Theresa drew others to Christ through her charity; as did our own patron, St. Angela, whose feast we celebrate in two weeks.  Yet, the saints show us that the Lord puts us in contact with people in order to draw them to the true faith.  St. Hilary did it through preaching, writing, debating, and suffering for his flock.  We might be sitting down with friends today and say, "you know, the priest at church today was talking about this very interesting saint, st. hilary..."

In the opening prayer, we asked, “O God, grant that we may rightly understand and truthfully profess the divinity of your Son, which the Bishop Saint Hilary taught with such constancy”.  Perhaps, so many of our own fellow Catholics are not coming to Church and are not involved in works of charity because they lack right understanding of the divinity of Christ.

John Paul II would often challenge young people: “ask yourselves if you truly believe that Jesus is Lord.”  Because if you truly believe this, that Jesus is God, and that he teaches with the authority of God, then you must change your life, your life must give witness to this truth.  We must have the courage to witness in some way to those we meet today that Jesus is Lord, that he is God, that he is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

We pray through the intercession of St. Hilary, that God may make us fishers of men, that we may work for a deepening of faith in Jesus Christ today and all days for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Homily: Feast of the Baptism of the Lord 2014

I wish you all a Merry Christmas.  For our secular culture, Christmas is long past, but for the Church we celebrate for an entire liturgical season.  On this final Sunday of the Christmas season, we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.  What’s the connection between Christmas and Baptism—between Christ’s birth and his Baptism? 

At Christmas, when Christ was born, we believe that God, who loves us so much, plunged himself into our world; the omnipotent God became one of us, sharing our humanity. 

At Christmas, God was plunged into humanity and shares our humanity; when we are baptized, we are plunged into the life of God; through the waters of baptism we became sharers in his divinity.

So this feast of the Baptism, is really like the crowning of all of our Christmas celebrations because it points to the reason why God became man at all.  God became man at Christmas and shared in our humanity 

precisely that we might become sharers in his divinity. 

Something so amazing it is hardly describable happens at baptism.  Yes, we are washed clean of sin, yes we are made members of the Church.  But we believe we become sharers in God’s very life.  Just like we receive biological life from our parents; through baptism we truly receive new supernatural and divine life.

When I visit down in the school, the kids are usually pretty excited to share the best gift they received for Christmas.  Yet, the gift of eternal life, which we receive through the Sacraments of the Catholic Church is the most important gift we can ever receive. 

Pope Francis quipped recently, “How many Christians know the date of their baptism?”  Most of us know the day and the hour of our birth, but Baptism is more important.  It is when we were born again. 

Today would be a good day, if you don’t know, to find out.  Dig up your baptismal certificate, notice the names of your parents, your godparents, the priest or deacon who baptized you.  Then mark the date of your baptism on your calendar, and make a special act of thanksgiving to God every year on the anniversary of your baptism, for the gift of faith and eternal life we have received through Jesus Christ.

Pope Saint Leo the Great would give special catechism lessons to the newly baptized.  He once said, "Christian, recognize your dignity and, now that you share in God's own nature, do not return to your former base condition by sinning. 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." 

Never forget! Recalling that we are baptized should bring us joy when we are sad, and strength when we are tempted. A powerful way to fight off temptation is to recall our baptism.  To say to ourselves, “wait, I’m a Christian, I’m not supposed to do that; I’m not supposed to talk like that, I’m supposed to act like Christ.” 

When we are Baptized we become Christian.  Christian is more than just a label; like belonging to a club; you can get kicked out of a club, or lose interest in a club; but once Christian, always Christian; we are Christians to our souls.  There are some who are fallen-away Christian, I know a few, and you probably do as well.  But, once a Christian, always a Christian. 

For Baptism is more than just a symbolic ceremony where we express our faith; in Baptism, as he does in all the Sacraments, God does something for us, that we cannot do ourselves.  He gives us eternal life.  That’s not something you can merely pick up at the grocery store or find at a garage sale.

You simply cannot reach out and grab and take for yourself the gift of eternal life and godliness.  That’s what Adam and Eve did to get us in trouble in the first place.  We simply cannot go to heaven by our own efforts.  That’s why we needed a savior.  And through baptism we receive salvation.

It is not until baptism can we truly call ourselves children of God.  Sure, when we are born we have something in common with the animals; we are creatures of God.  But in baptism we become children of God.  As we emerge from the waters of baptism, the Father says the same words as we heard in the Gospel today, “You are my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased”. 

The Father embraces us no matter what our former lives were like, no matter how cruel, or selfish, or self-centered, or perverted, baptism changes us and makes pleasing in the eyes of God.

One of the reasons we fall back into some of our sins, is because we forget the dignity of our baptism.  So, if we ever start feeling down on ourselves, when things in life aren’t going as we planned or hoped, maybe a troubled marriage, or not getting the job you wanted. At those low moments we are extremely vulnerable to sin, and it is extremely important at those times to recall the great dignity of our baptism and the great eternal destiny for which God created us.  We often fall into sin because we forget or ignore the great dignity of our baptism, and the great strength that comes from God through baptismal grace.

Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta said, "The devil may try to use the hurts of life and sometimes our own mistakes, to make you feel it is impossible that Jesus really loves you. This is a danger for all of us. And so sad, because it is completely the opposite of what Jesus is really wanting, waiting to tell you.  Not only that He loves you, but even more..He longs for you. He loves you always, even when you don't feel worthy.."

When we recall our baptism, we are recalling the embrace of God.  God embraces the sinner and gives them purity, God embraces the weak and gives them virtue, God embraces the doubtful and gives them faith, God embraces the dead and gives them life.

May we recall our baptism with great joy, and with great joy live out our baptismal call, in imitating Jesus in all things, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Homily: Saturday after Epiphany - "He must increase; I must decrease"

As we come to the end of the Christmas Season, we hear those powerful words of John the Baptist, words that are to be taken as a personal motto by every Christian, “He must increase; I must decrease”

We will experience peace and joy to the extent that we hand our lives over to God; that we die to our selfishness and self-indulgences, and give ourselves more and more to the work of Christ.  We experience the fullness of life only as we allow Christ’s attitudes and desires and behaviors to replace our own.

We see this evident particularly in the Blessed Virgin Mary, whom we honor on this Saturday morning; she who made herself low, who proclaimed herself to be the handmaid of the Lord.  In her receptivity to God, she did not attempt to interject her own willfulness, but humbly received the direction her life was to take from God.

For many in our secularized culture, Christmas has come and gone.  Christmas for many is an exercise in self-indulgence.  For Christians, Christmas is celebrated through an entire season in which we pray that the light of Christ illuminates our lives more and more deeply, dispelling the darkness of our self-centeredness, replacing it with God-centeredness.

Christ was born to die and bring us life.  We in turn must die to our selfishness to receive his life and his joy.  A deeper relationship with God comes from a readiness to give up everything else; to lose everything that Christ might be glorified in my life.

As we conclude this Christmas season, we do well to think of those areas in my life in which I still have much decreasing to do, much dying to do, and those areas in our life where Christ must increase.

The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which we celebrate this weekend, is to be a renewal of our own baptismal promises, where we renounce sin, and promise to live as children of light.  May we take seriously this call to decrease, so that in us, the light and life of Christ may increase for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Homily: Friday after Epiphany - "Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean"

This Sunday we conclude the liturgical season of Christmas with the great Solemnity of the Baptism of Lord Jesus.

Our readings this week have been preparing us, getting us to think about the importance of baptism and effects of baptism.  .

In today’s Gospel  When the man full of leprosy came to Jesus to be healed he said, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.”  And the Lord said, “I do will it” and the man was immediately cure of his illness.

Lord instituted the Sacrament of Baptism because he does wish to make us clean—not just from the skin disease of leprosy but the much deadlier soul disease of sin

People with leprosy were driven out of their community, alienated from their families because of their contagious, disfiguring disease.  And now healed, the man could be reconciled with those whom he was distanced from because of his disease. 

And in baptism what happens?  Baptism heals the division between man and God and incorporates man into a new family—the Church.

“Whoever possesses the Son has life” says St. John in our first reading.  In baptism we come to possess the Son through faith and Sacramental grace. 

We sometimes feel like lepers—alienated from our families, everything in our life going wrong, our hearts and minds disfigured by selfish attitudes.  Our lives can become so miserable when we lose perspective that we are preparing now for eternity, that we have received the gift of life in baptism, and that this life is about cultivating that gift of grace.

Many of us do not remember our baptism. Today is a wonderful day to reflect on the dignity of our own baptism, to consider the lives where the poison of sin still lingers, and to open ourselves to the continuing unfolding of baptismal grace in our lives that we may be led to deeper imitation of the Lord Jesus, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Homily: Thursday after Epiphany - Christmas Anointing

During this final week of the Christmas season, we have been reading the First Letter of St. John.  This beautiful letter was written by the Apostle John in his old age to those who had already come to believe in Christ.  It is a clear letter, a child could understand it, yet in it John provides profound insight into what it means to love God and have faith in Christ.

John aimed to make very clear that Jesus was truly divine; for the community of Christians had already begun to be attacked by false doctrines and heresies concerning Jesus.  These false teachings had already started to cause divisions in the Church. So, John the Apostle, writes to give the true teaching about Jesus—that the source of their division—“sin and false teaching” might be healed. 

In today’s passage we hear that true Christian faith consists in believing that Jesus is the Christ begotten by God, and we are to love him by keeping God’s commandments, especially in loving our brother.  John teaches the community here that a heart which clings to sin is often a heart which is resistant to clinging to truth.  He exhorts the community to allow the love of God to conquer sin and division in them—to allow God’s Spirit to unify them in faithfulness and obedience to God.

In the Gospel, we hear that Jesus returned from the desert “in the power of the Spirit”. The Spirit with which he was anointed is the same spirit which anoints the Church—the Spirit which anoints the head anoints the body as well.  Just as Christ was anointed to bring glad tidings to the poor and proclaim liberty to captives, so to have we been anointed: to proclaim to the poor and to the captives that Jesus Christ, God with us, is our liberty, he is our Good News, he is “the victory that conquers the world”, through him sins are forgiven, and the royal road to heaven been made clear. 

To truly live in the “Christmas Spirit” is to allow God’s Spirit to lead us in the ways of making known that Christ is Lord, that he is God-with-us.

May our hearts be free from all that keeps us from witnessing and testifying to the good news of the incarnation for the glory of God and the Salvation of souls.

Homily: January 7 - St. Raymond of Penafort

Today’s saint was a Dominican priest who lived about 800 years ago.  He was born into the Spanish nobility and had an excellent education.  By age 20 he was teaching philosophy; by the age of 30 he had doctorates in both civil and church law. In his early 40 he joined the Dominicans about a year after the death of their founder, St. Dominic.  About a decade later, he was summoned to Rome by Pope Gregory the IX to serve as the Pope’s personal confessor.  While in Rome, the Pope gave him the task of bringing together for the first time, in one volume, all of the laws and decrees of the popes and church council.  For this, St. Raymond is known as the Father and Patron saint of Canon Law.

At age 60, Raymond was appointed an Archbishop, though he became sick and resigned in hopes of getting some peace.  But, peace in retirement Raymond would not receive.  At age 62, he was elected as head of the Dominicans.  Raymond worked hard, visited on foot all the Dominicans, and reorganized their constitutions.

In his last 35 years, (by the way, did I mention St. Raymond lived to be 100?), he promoted the study of Hebrew and Arabic, so that the Dominicans in Spain could preach the Gospel to Jews and Muslims.  He encouraged St. Thomas Aquinas, one of his contemporaries, to write an explanation of the faith to help missionaries in their work.

The Opening Prayer mentioned St. Raymond’s mercy and compassion for sinners and for captives.  During the 13^th Century, Spain was partially controlled by the Muslims who enslaved many Christians, not only in Spain but across the Mediterranean in North Africa.  He set up an organization to liberate Christian slaves.

Also, in his work in moral theology, he wrote a book for confessors helping to set sinners free from the slavery of sin through the Sacrament of Penance.

St. Raymond poured out the 100 years of his life his in service to the Church, another hero of the faith and shining example on how we ought to live—may we all be so generous for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Homily: January 6 - St. Andre Bessette

Today is just the second time we are celebrating Holy Cross Brother Andre Bessette as a Saint, as he was just canonized on October 17, 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI at Saint Peter’s in Rome.  He was born in 1845, the 8^th of 10 children, yet both of his parents died, and he was orphaned at the age of 12, and he received very little formal education.  However, in 1870 he entered the novitiate for the Congregation of the Holy Cross and chose the name Brother Andre, after his childhood priest, Fr. Andre Provencal who encouraged him to enter the order.

For forty years, Brother Andre had the humble job of doorkeeper at Notre Dame College in Montreal, with additional duties as sacristan, laundry worker and messenger.

St. André often prayed with the sick, whom he met at the door, to St. Joseph as an intercessor. Soon many miraculous healings were attributed to his prayers and large crowds came to see him.

The opening prayer even made reference to Saint Andre’s devotion to St. Joseph to whom he always gave credit for the miraculous healings.

St. André's strong faith and devotion eventually led to the building St. Joseph's Oratory of Mount Royal— Canada’s largest church.

Andre died at age 90 on January 6, 1937, of natural causes and was buried in the Oratory. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II on May 23, 1982. In his homily that day, The Holy Father said this of Brother André:

"A daily crowd of the sick, the afflicted, the poor of all kinds-those who were handicapped or wounded by life-came to him. They found in his presence a welcome ear, comfort and faith in God. Do not the poor of today have as much need of such love, of such hope, of such education in prayer?"

Br. André liked to say, "When I first came to the college, I was shown to the door ... and I remained there for forty years!"  Yet, from that humble position, he brought God’s comfort to so many—he showed the loving face of God to so many.

We mustn’t discount the ways in which God wishes to use us in humble ways to bring his light to those in darkness today.

As we prayed in the opening prayer, may God “help us through his intercession to follow his example of prayer and love” for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Homily: Epiphany 2014 - Marky Mark and the light of Conversion

I came across a video on the internet—an interview on CNN between Piers Morgan and Marky Mark Wahlberg.  Many years ago, in the 1990s, Mark Wahlberg was in a band called Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch.  He was fairly successful, but he fell in with the wrong crowd; at the age of 13 he developed an addiction to cocaine, he joined a gang; he was arrested for assault and attempted murder, and spent some time in jail. 

Now, aged 42, Mr. Wahlberg has cleaned up his life, he’s involved in community service, especially working with kids from the inner city and he’s also a practicing Catholic.  In this interview with Piers Morgan he talked about his conversion and the importance of Faith.

Mr. Morgan said, you were into all of this drugs, and gangs and dark stuff, and then in prison, it looks like you had a sort of Epiphany.  In prison, Marky Mark, met a Catholic priest, who helped him turn away from drugs and crime—how in prison he realized that he had to make a choice. He called it a “personal choice”— either he would continue his life of drugs and crime, or making a choice for faith, to do the hard work and entrust himself to God.  His life was at a crossroads, one road leading to death, the other, for faith and life. 

He now attends Mass, if not daily, he goes into a Church every day in order to spend time in front of the Eucharist.

Piers Morgan, said, what do you pray for when you go to Church?  What does it bring you? Marky Mark said I like to start my day going to Church, it brings me a very clear focus on what is important, it helps me to be appreciate the blessings of my life—my four children—I need a reminder every day of what I need to stay away from.  I pray to be a good father, a good husband, a son, a friend, a brother and uncle, and good example to those who look up to me, and a good servant of God.

The Epiphany—the encounter with Christ changed him, yet knows that he needs to continue to practice his faith, to go to Christ daily in prayer and at Mass, for strength to be the man God made him to be.

One of the most powerful lines in all of the Gospels is the last line for this feast of the Epiphany, The wise men, went to meet Christ in Bethlehem, they went to do him homage.  They were filled with joy at meeting Christ and seeing Mary the mother with the Christ child.  And then the last line of the Gospel, “Having been warned not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.”

Archbishop Fulton Sheen said, “of course they go back a different route, you never come to Christ and go back the same way you came.”  The encounter with Christ changes you.

After the encounter with Christ in prison, Marky Mark new that he could not go back to the old way of drugs and crimes, so the new way forward, required hard work, lots of hard work and lots of faith.  But changing his route has made all the difference.

Piers Morgan was right when he said, “this Epiphany has changed you”.  Christ is the Epiphany.  And this Feast today is a celebration that Christ reveals himself, not just to the shepherds of Bethlehem, but to all those who seek him out; he is an Epiphany for the entire world, and the encounter with him is meant to change us.

Mark Wahlberg found Christ in prison, at a very dark place in his life.  Christ promises that all who seek shall find him.   Sometimes we need to hit rock bottom before we realize that we are supposed to be looking for him. 

Yet, when we seek him and find him, Christ dispels the darkness of our life.  He might not wave a magic wand and make our troubles disappear, but he pronounces our sins forgiven, and illuminates the path which leads not to death and self-destructive behavior, but to eternal life. 

Jesus shows us how to live in righteousness, he teaches us to pray, he teaches us how to live, he teaches us to receive his body and blood to strengthen us in holiness, to help us to know that he is with us in the particularly dark times of life. 

In our particularly secularized pagan culture, I think it is a wonder that a Catholic like Mark Wahlberg was able to sneak on to CNN and pronounce to all the world how Christ changed his life.  The encounter of Christ is meant to change us, that we can bring others to him.  We receive God’s comfort that we can go out and comfort others; we receive the Good News of the Gospel, that we can go out to share that Good News with others.

The Second Vatican Council expressed clearly and strongly the responsibility of every Catholic to evangelize—to work to build up the growth of the body of the Church.

So perhaps, to those family members that have stopped going to church, or to a neighbor who does not practice any faith, we could invite them back.  Some people do not respond well to direct confrontation, but a letter, written in your own hand, speaking of the importance of the faith, is so powerful.  A letter written to a child or grandchild that has fallen away from the faith because they’ve entered into an invalid marriage, or to a family member return for a second semester of college, to encourage them to become active in their school’s catholic ministry group and to remain strong against all the temptations that they face there.

As catholics we believe that our Church does possess the fullness of truth—Jesus who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life truly leads to the everlasting joy of the Father’s kingdom.

May we rejoice in that truth, live that truth, bear witness to the truth, and work to spread the light of that truth for the glory of God and salvation of souls.