August 11 2021 - St. Clare of Assisi - The supreme good of knowing Jesus Christ

 

As a member of the Italian aristocracy, the beautiful Clare of Assisi lived in a castle, she had many suitors, in a sense she was the medieval equivalent of a Disney princess—set to live a life of luxury and comfort. Yet, through the preaching of il poverello, the poor Francis of Assisi, the Lord beckoned Clare to a life of radical holiness—of poverty, chastity, and obedience as a cloistered nun. Instead of marrying prince charming, and living in a castle filled with worldly luxury, she adorned her soul with virtue and holiness and love for the Savior within the cloister.

She took the words of St. Paul in our first reading today to heart: “I consider everything as a loss because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have accepted the loss of all things and I consider them so much rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him.”

It was counter-cultural when Paul wrote these words, it was counter-cultural for Clare, and it is certainly counter-cultural now. But the words remain true. The stuff of the world is rubbish compared to the love of Jesus Christ. Knowing Christ, loving Christ, is the supreme good, the highest good, above all else.  Everything we do must be aimed at pursuing this highest good.

Clare was joined in the cloister by a number of women whose hearts had also caught fire. Many, like her, were eligible to marry dukes and kings.  Princess Agnes, of Bohemia broke off her royal engagement  to the emperor Frederick II to join religious life with Clare.

Listen to these words written by Clare upon hearing the decision of Princess Agnes to join the monastery: “I am filled with joy and gladness, for though you could have enjoyed the magnificence, and dignity, and honor of the world, you have rejected all these things.  Keep in your heart the burning desire to unite yourself to the poor and crucified Christ.  What a wonderful and praiseworthy exchange!  To leave the things of time, for those of eternity, to possess a blessed eternal life.”

Clare found joy and holiness in the monastery, as have generations of consecrated religious after her. What a blessed vocation! As our culture becomes increasingly secular, many young people do not even consider a religious vocation. It’s harder and harder to do so when their families don’t even bring them to church. So whenever we can help young people hear the Lord calling them to follow Him we must. For the Lord has so much more to offer than the world ever could. 

May St. Clare be a constant reminder and intercessor for us, to seek that which is above, always and everywhere, and help others do the same, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For an increase in vocations to the consecrated religious life, that young people may hear the Lord calling them to radical holiness, and for the Poor Clares and all those consecrated religious under St. Clare’s patronage, for their sanctification, and that they may be a witness to the whole Church to seek the holiness for which we were made.

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

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

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

February 2 2021 - Feast of the Presentation - Light of Christ, Fill our Lives

 

Many of you know that I was able to live and complete my college studies in Rome. One of the first things I did when I got to Rome was to visit St. Peter’s Basilica. And if you’ve never been there, it is difficult to convey the grandeur and the beauty of that magnificent edifice. 

A few days after I arrived in Rome, it was on this day, the feast of the Presentation, that I was able to attend my first papal liturgy at St. Peter’s. And that too was quite the experience. For on the Feast of the Presentation, the consecrated religious of Rome go to St. Peter’s to renew their vows in front of the Pope. So as we made our way to the basilica the streets and buses were filled with nuns and monks and religious brothers and sisters in their habits.

And as we entered St. Peter’s I got to witness that “mostly controlled chaos” that the Italians are so well known for. But then, the music of the liturgy started and chaos was brought into order. And then to my great surprise, the lights of the basilica, that I didn’t even know existed, came on to full blast. And all the art, and ornamentation, and colors of the marble, were all illuminated, and it was quite breathtaking. 

And I remember thinking how not many years before that, the light of Christ was quite hard for me to see, in the angst of my teenage years. And now, there I was standing in St. Peter’s Basilica filled with light and truth and beauty, amidst all of these good religious men and women who were offering their lives to God, so grateful that the light of the Catholic faith was shining in my life.

I think today is a good day for reflecting on the many ways the light of Christ shines in your life, like Simeon thanking God for the Christ Child. Thank God today for the truth, the beauty, the goodness you’ve experienced. Thank God for the people, parents, grandparents, teachers, priests and religious, who shared the light of faith with you, and pray for them, especially those who’ve passed into eternity. Also, today ask God to help you see ways he might be calling you to share his light with others, with the next generation, with people in whose life the light of God has grown dim, with non-believers.

For the light that we are given, as Christ teaches in his sermon on the mount, is not meant to be hidden, but is to shine brightly before others, shared with others. 

In 1997, St. John Paul II designated the feast of the presentation as world day of prayer for those in consecrated religious life. So we will offer prayers for the consecrated religious who are such a great light in the Church. May we join them in responding more devoutly today to the Lord’s invitation to turn away from the darkness of error and sin toward the light of Christ, to bear that light courageously and generously for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For those consecrated to God by the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience that they may seek to live their baptismal promises more intensely and have the grace to persevere in their commitment to the Lord and serve with open hearts and willing spirits. We pray to the Lord…

In gratitude for the consecrated religious who have served this parish and our diocese, for an increase in vocations to the consecrated life. We pray to the Lord…

During this Catholic Schools week, for all young people, for their teachers and catechists and parents who are the first teachers of the faith, and that the truth of the faith may be learned, cherished, and practiced in every Catholic school and Christian home.

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

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

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

November 18 2019 - St. Rose Philippine Duchesne - Missionary to Native Americans

Today we celebrate St. Rose Philippine Duchesne, who came to this country as a missionary to the Native Americans.  Many people have never heard of her, for she was canonized rather recently, by Pope John Paul II in 1988.

She was born in France, just prior to the French Revolution.  Without telling her parents, at the age of 19, she entered the convent of the Visitation sisters.

As the French Revolution broke, hostilities towards the Catholic Church caused many convents to close, including that of St. Rose.  Yet that did not stop her from ministering to the poor, sick, and homeless.

When the Revolution ended, she attempted to bring her community back together, but she was unsuccessful.  So she and the few remaining nuns joined the young Society of the Sacred Heart, whose young superior, St. Madeleine Sophie Barat, became her lifelong friend.

From the time she was a young girl, Rose longed to go to America as a missionary among the Native Americans.  When the bishop of New Orleans in Louisiana came to convent looking for missionaries, St. Rose volunteered. She and 4 nuns made the 70-day sea voyage and worked for several years establishing parish schools in Louisiana and Missouri.

Finally, at the age of 72, in poor health, she began a mission at Sugar Creek, Kansas, among the Potawatomi tribe.  Their convent was a wigwam and they slept on the bare ground.  Let me say it again…at the age of 72!  They opened a school for the Indian girls, but she had great difficulty in learning the native language, and had to spend her time praying and caring for the sick. 

The severe winters and the lack of proper food sapped her health, and she died, thinking herself a failure.

She was the first missionary nun among the Indians, and courageously blazed the trail for a host of valiant women who were to follow her. She did not convert people by her speeches, she converted them by her prayers and her charity towards them.  A priest said of her, “her kindness was like water, pure and fresh, to which the Indians could come and drink.”  Her example spoke volumes to those she served, sewing the seeds of the Gospel through her kindness. 

St. Rose wrote, “we know that God does not require great achievements from us, but a heart that holds nothing back for itself.”  Through the Eucharist we celebrate today, where Jesus gives himself totally for our salvation, may we give our entire hearts to be poured out in service of those in need, hearts to be transformed by grace, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That all Christians may exercise courage and fortitude in laboring for the good of souls.

In thanksgiving for the consecrated religious whose selfless efforts laid the foundation of faith for so many in this country.

That our young people may have as their role models, Christians of magnanimous spirit and heroic charity.

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

For all who have died, for those whose names are written in our parish necrology and all the deceased members of our parish, for deceased clergy and religious, and for all the poor souls in purgatory for whom we pray in a special way during the month of November, 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