December 23 2025 - He will turn the hearts of fathers to their children...

 

This last full day of Advent, we read from the very last verses of the very last book of the Old Testament. The book of Malachi was the last of the Old Testament prophets, and in our bibles, Malachi is the very last book before the New Testament.

Like Isaiah and Jeremiah before him, Malachi foretold how a Savior would come to redeem us and usher in the kingdom of God’s peace. In today’s passage we read Malachi’s prophecy of the events that would occur just prior to the arrival of the Messiah.

There would be a forerunner to prepare his way—a messenger to point out to God’s people that the Messiah is coming soon. And in the Gospel, we read about the birth of the forerunner, John, who would preach from the banks of the Jordan, calling Israel to repent, to prepare their hearts for the imminent arrival of the Savior who will restore and heal Israel, and bring justice.

And then the very last thing Malachi says, the very last verse of the Old Testament, is a prophecy about family: “He will turn the heart of fathers to their sons, and the heart of sons to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the land with utter destruction.”

The peace and restoration and justice the Messiah will bring will involve the restoration of families. The Messiah will restore the brokenness in the human family, and he will enable families to fulfill the vocation established by the Creator. Malachi is also clear that there are consequences when that order is rejected: “the land will be struck with utter destruction.”

Pope St. John Paul echoed Malachi’s prophecy when he gave his famous quote on the family. He said, “As the family goes, so goes the nation and so goes the whole world in which we live.” In other words, the quality of familial relationships directly impacts the well-being and future of nations and subsequently, the entire global community. Families are the building blocks of society; they are where values, traditions, and beliefs are instilled in individuals from their earliest days

Within the family children are to learn important virtues of love, respect, forgiveness, and diligence, which are crucial for fostering a peaceful society. While most, if not all of our cultural ills, can be traced to the breakdown of the family—to the many distortions of the order designed by the Creator. Family sins like abandonment, neglect, selfishness, violence, godlessness have ripple effects in the lives of children and society.

During Christmas time many families will come together. It is often clear when Christ is at the center of family life and when he is not. Whatever our family life is like, chaotic and dysfunctional, or blessedly peaceful and joy filled, we pray that we may do our part in contributing to the health and salvation of family life by bearing the peace, goodness, and love of the one born for us at Christmas, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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As we stand on the threshold of Christmas, awaiting the coming of the Savior who restores all things, let us place our prayers before the Father.

That Christmas may find us bearing the peace, goodness, and love of Christ in our homes and relationships.

For society and its leaders, that respect for the family as designed by the Creator may be renewed, and that public life may be guided by policies and decisions that protect and strengthen family life.

For those from broken or wounded families That Christ, born into the human family, may bring healing, consolation, and hope to all who suffer from abandonment, neglect, violence, or division.

For the faithful departed, that they may share in the eternal peace of God’s kingdom.

For the petitions in our heart and for…

Father of mercy, You sent Your Son to restore what sin has broken and to reconcile the human family to Yourself. Hear these prayers and prepare our hearts to receive Christ with faith and love. Through Christ our Lord.

July 29 2024 - Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus - Sibling Saints

 

We honor today three sibling saints who honored and served the Lord during his earthly ministry. In the household of Bethany, the Lord Jesus experienced the family spirit and friendship of Martha, Mary and Lazarus. Martha generously offered him hospitality, Mary listened attentively to his words and Lazarus, who promptly emerged from the tomb at the Jesus’ command, no doubt offered gratitude and friendship during Jesus’ later stay at Bethany.

These three saints offer several lessons in growing in sanctity. Like St. Martha, we are to serve others in practical ways, including generous hospitality. Like St. Mary, we are to listen attentively to the Lord, pondering his words, taking them to heart, spending time in his presence, particularly in Eucharistic adoration. And like St. Lazarus, we are to obey the Lord to come out of our metaphorical tombs and live in a state of gratitude.

St. Martha is a patron saints of homemakers and domestic workers. St. Lazarus is the patron of gravediggers. And St. Mary of Bethany, a model of listening to the Lord, is patron of spiritual studies.

In the Gospels, Jesus himself foretold a time when families and households would be divided over him. “From now on, five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. Father against son . …daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law” and so on. 

So many families in our modern-day experience division due to rejecting Jesus and his teachings. So we do well to, invoke Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus for our divided families. For these sibling saints show us that family unity is possible when there is mutual love and faith in Jesus. 

These sibling saints, enjoyed a real, personal, and human friendship with Jesus. In so many ways, this is exactly what Jesus wants with each of us. He wants us to know the sound of his voice, to spend time with Him, converse with Him, and trust Him in good times and bad. His light fills our lives when we draw close to him in prayer, service, and trust.

We grow in friendship with the Lord by inviting Him into the home of your souls every day and throughout the day. May these three sibling saints help us to deepen our Love for the Lord for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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For the Church, that like Martha, we may serve others generously and offer hospitality to those in need. Lord, hear our prayer.

For all who seek truth, that like Mary, we may listen attentively to God's word and spend time in His presence. Lord, hear our prayer.

For those struggling with doubt or despair, that like Lazarus, we may respond to Christ's call to come out of our tombs and live lives of gratitude. Lord, hear our prayer.

For families divided by disagreements over faith, that through the intercession of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, they may find unity in Christ's love. Lord, hear our prayer.

For all of us, that we may cultivate a deep and personal friendship with Jesus, inviting Him into our hearts and homes each day. Lord, hear our prayer.

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 human trafficking, natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for the unborn, 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.

Loving Father, we thank you for the example of Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, who showed us different ways to love and serve your Son. Grant us what we need to know the benefit of their heavenly intercession and follow their holy example. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Holy Family 2023 - Icon of the Domestic Church

 Of the four Evangelists, it is Matthew and Luke who provide the most details surrounding the family of our Blessed Lord.

Matthew’s Gospel begins with Jesus’ family tree going all the way back to Abraham, through King David, and the Kings of Israel, to Joseph, husband of Mary. Matthew, then narrates how the angel appeared to Joseph, and explains God’s plan to him regarding the mysterious pregnancy of his betrothed. Matthew then relates the good news of the Lord’s birth in Bethlehem and how the Holy Family was forced to flee to Egypt to escape the murderous design of King Herod.

St. Luke’s Gospel begins not with the Lord’s family tree, but God’s intervention in the life of Jesus’ extended family. Zechariah, of the priestly class, is visited by an angel who foretells the birth of John the Baptist to Zechariah’s wife Elizabeth. 

Luke then transitions from the Lord’s extended family to the Lord’s conception in the womb of his virgin mother overshadowed by the Holy Spirit in the house Nazareth. Out of concern for her kinswoman Elizabeth, Mary goes in haste out to the hill country—the Lord’s cousin John the Baptist leaps for joy in his mother’s womb. Mary and Joseph then journey to Bethlehem—Joseph’s ancestral home, where the Christ was born. 

So in those first few chapters, Luke portrays Mary and Joseph as a couple steeped in the tradition and religiosity of their people—people of strong faith with strong ties to their extended family. 

Why do Matthew and Luke spend so much time describing Jesus’ family? Why did they consider Jesus’ family important? Why don’t these Gospels just begin with Jesus’ public ministry—with his miracles and teachings? Many non-Catholics, after all, think that we Catholics are strange, or even idolatrous, for focusing so much on the Holy Family. But they are right there in the Gospels for a reason. 

The evangelists devote precious ink to these people because God wants us to know about Jesus’ family. God wants us to consider their faith, their traditions, their virtues, their love for each other. We come to meet and know and understand Jesus by meeting, knowing, and understanding his family. 

Jesus was born to a family of real humans, with real struggles, who found strength and support in their family bonds, just like we do. 

They also grappled to understand the mysterious workings of God in their life. Both Mary and Joseph had to come to grips with God doing unprecedented things in their lives. When they began their betrothal, little did they know that life would not proceed as they had planned. But they trusted God’s plan. They were faithful. They obeyed God’s plan. They surrendered to God’s plan.

And just because they were chosen by God for this unique role in salvation history, they still had to deal with real problems. Mary had to give birth in a filthy stable. But Joseph and Mary did their best despite their circumstances. Scripture does not record them complaining, making excuses, cursing God, berating the poor innkeeper for not having a room for them. Their focus on God’s will, their trust in God providence pierces through the real mess they were in. 

Talk about unideal…next week, on the feast of the epiphany, we’ll hear how Mary and Joseph receive word from the magi that King Herod wants their newborn son dead. And would be going to great lengths to murder him. And what do Mary and Joseph do? They go to the temple and offer thanksgiving to God for the gift of Jesus’ life. They fulfill and major religious obligation before going off to Egypt to keep their son safe.

In the Gospel today we hear how in the temple Mary and Joseph receive a prophecy about even more mysterious happenings yet to come. Simeon foretells how Mary’s heart will be pierced with a sword of sorrow. This child is going to move the heavens and the earth, but there will be sorrow, tremendous sorrow. But they accept even sorrow from God, trusting God, hoping in God’s promises. 

These are people of such tremendous faith, and we really can’t reflect enough upon the example of the holy family. Listen again to the Collect prayer for this Christmas Octave Feast of the Holy Family which calls us to look to them and imitate them—we prayed : “O God, who were pleased to give us the shining example of the Holy Family, graciously grant that we may imitate them in practicing the virtues of family life and the bonds of charity, and so, in the joy of your house, delight one day in eternal rewards.”

What virtues—what virtues of the Holy Family—does your family need to practice this year. Spouses, you should discuss that. What virtue do we need to practice as a family this upcoming year? What behaviors do we need to keep an eye on? How are we being called to be more like Mary, more like Joseph. What do they teach us about growing closer in love towards one another? 

If that’s not the sort of conversation you are used to having as a family, start there. I can guarantee Mary and Joseph and Jesus discussed God’s will, and how God had worked in their family history. You can guarantee that they prayed with one another.

Dear departed Pope Benedict XVI wrote about the importance of Christians families looking to and modeling their family life after the Holy Family. He wrote, “the Holy Family is the icon of the domestic Church, called to pray together. The family is the domestic Church and must be the first school of prayer. It is in the family that children, from the tenderest age, can learn to perceive the meaning of God, also thanks to the teaching and example of their parents: to live in an atmosphere marked by God’s presence.”

What it means that every Christian family is the domestic church means that non-believers should be able to learn what it means to be Christian—what it means to be a member of the Church—by looking at your family life. Look at how they pray together, look at how they forgive one another, look at how they are patient with one another, look at how they pass on the faith to the younger generation and seek together to understand the faith. Oh, THAT’s what it means to be Christian. That’s your vocation, dear families: to be icons of the Church. 

May the Holy Family aid all of our Christian families to live up to their vocation and help us all to be faithful to God amidst all of our trials for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

19th Week in Ordinary Time 2023 - Friday - Marriage Matters

 A few years ago, in 2016, Pope Francis issued a document called Amoris Laetitia, latin for “The Joy of Love”. Love, authentic love, brings authentic joy, particularly in the life of Christian families.

Love, practiced and cherished and striven for within the family, is to be a sign to the world of God’s love. Children are to learn that they are loved and how to love within a family. Spouses practice self-sacrificial love within the family.

The Holy Father issued this document on the issues of marriage and family because marriage and family matter. Doing what it takes for a healthy marriage, having a God-centered family, raising children according to the law of Christ, these things matter for the future of civilization and the salvation of souls. The Pope said, “The welfare of the family is decisive for the future of the world and that of the Church.”

We are seeing in our own day how faithless, disordered relationships, rampant promiscuity and unrestricted sexual license bring so much brokenness, so much sadness. Deviating from the plan of God yields joylessness and woundedness. 

Any priest who has worked on marriage annulments can attest to how selfishness, stunted maturity, attachment to worldliness, unwillingness to forgive, poor communication, and secular notions of happiness, all effect marriage negatively.

This is why the Catholic Church takes what the Lord teaches in the Gospel this morning very seriously. Where many of the Christian denominations water down, change, or simply ignore this teaching, the Catholic Church sees this morning’s Gospel as pivotal for civilization’s survival and our faithfulness to the Gospel.

So part of the Church’s mission regarding marriage is to help form individuals in the maturity—in the virtues and self-knowledge—necessary for happy, healthy, holy marriage. This is why we are constantly praying for families to cherish and study and practice and live out the word of God. This is why we take Christian education so seriously, which forms not just the intellect, but the whole person. This is why we try to instill a habit of daily examination of conscience—the daily examination that is needed to really get serious about rooting out selfishness, which is so devastating to family life.

Our culture tells us to abandon the institution of marriage, but the Church says, no. Marriage matters. Marriage is in fact vital for the future of humanity. And faithfulness to God's plan regarding marriage is possible. Because God is real and gives us grace. Pope Francis concludes Amoris Laetitia with encouragement and words of hope. He writes, “May we never lose heart because of our limitations, or ever stop seeking that fullness of love and communion which God holds out before us.” Each of us are certainly called to a life full of love. May each of us strive for that Christ-like love and self-sacrifice which brings joy and life to the world, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That all Christians may seek to be faithful to the Lord’s teachings and commandments concerning marriage and the family, that Christian families may be filled with love and joy.

For all married couples, that they may be faithful to the Gospel in every dimension of their married life and give all an example of God’s ever-faithful love.  

That the children of our parish and school may be blessed to know the grace of faith-filled families, that they may be shielded from the sins and errors of our culture.

For Pope Francis and for all the bishops and clergy of the Church: that they will be faithful to the preaching the truth of the Gospel especially in the face of secular pressure and persecution.  

That the sick, lonely, elderly, homeless, widowed, and all those experiencing trials or suffering of any kind may be strengthened by God’s love and know His comfort and peace.  

For those who have died, for all deceased spouses; that they may know the eternal peace and joy of the kingdom of heaven.  

January 27 2023 - St. Angela Merici - A woman of holy initiative

 Ever since hearing her story, I’ve been inspired by the story of St. Angela, especially her initiative. She was a woman of tremendous initiative, holy initiative. 

At the tender age of 10, she consecrated herself to the Lord as a third order Franciscan and vowed never to marry, but to live a life of consecrated virginity, prayer and service. Seeing how poorly catechized the young people of her neighborhood were, she took the initiative and took it upon herself to offer religious instruction to the young neighborhood girls—evangelizing them, catechizing them, opening them up to the life of grace. 

Heaven took the initiative in Angela’s life too. She was given a vision from the Lord, that she was to found an institution with other consecrated virgins to further devote their lives toward the religious training of young girls. These women had little money, but were bound together by their dedication to educating youth in service of the Lord and His Church. 

Around the age of 61, Angela took another initiative. With 12 other young women who vowed consecrated virginity, she formed the Order of Ursulines, the first religious order in the history of the Church dedicated primarily to teaching.

Angela's goal was to elevate family life through Christian education for women—the future wives and mothers. One of her favorite sayings was, "Disorder in society is the result of disorder in the family." 

The Company of St. Ursula spread throughout Italy and France and eventually through all of Europe.  They were the very first Catholic religious sisters to land in the new world.  

St. Angela’s holy initiative changed the world, and yet, it was her deep Christian faith and love that animated her, gave her courage, and enabled her to take bold steps to meet real human demands. 

Yet, listen to her humble words recognizing how we imperfect, limited humans are called to serve God. She says, “Do not lose heart, even if you should discover that you lack qualities necessary for the work to which you are called. He who called you will not desert you, but the moment you are in need he will stretch out his saving hand.”

Inspired by her holy example, may we take the initiative to grow in holiness through service, recognizing the needs that we are being called to address, recognizing our own limitations and our own need to trust in the Lord at all times for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

 

As we celebrate Catholic Schools Week, next week, we pray for all students in Catholic schools, that the Spirit of God may grant them the gifts of wisdom and understanding, and that teachers may share their knowledge with gentleness, patience, and competence. 

For parents, the first teachers of their children, that by their faith and love, they may be blessings to their families, and for a strengthening of all families in faith. 

In Thanksgiving for the Ursuline Order, for their efforts to instill faith in our Diocese over the decades.

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

16th Week of Ordinary Time 2022 - Tuesday - "My brother, and sister, and mother"

 

During the course of his ministry, the Gospels relate how the Lord Jesus met some resistance from his family members. John’s Gospel tells us how the Lord’s close relatives, his brethren, did not believe in him, even after stories of his miracles began to circulate. 

Matthew, Mark, and Luke tell us that in the course of his public mission, the Lord’s relatives send word for him, presumably for him to return home. And when he doesn’t, they venture out to retrieve him, likely thinking he was mentally unsound. He seemed to them to be busily engaged in throwing his life away in a kind of insanity.

Like their Lord, It has often been the case that, when men and women embarked on the way of Christ, their nearest and dearest could not understand them, and were even hostile to them. The Lord even taught that his followers should expect such resistance: a household will be divided he said, “father against son and son against father, mother against daughter.” When he said, “you will be hated by all because of me” that certainly included the possibility of one’s family.

Now thanks be to God when the members of our biological family are also Christians, and understand us, they understand that God is put first. Not family, not country, not the material things of the world, but God. Thanks be to God when our families are places where the Gospel is cherished and practiced. But that’s not always the case.

And, to be Christian is to put God before all others allegiances: “Whoever loves father or mother or son or daughter more than me” is not worthy of me. Even family, that most precious relationship, is to be secondary to fulfilling one’s duties as a Christian.

One early martyr purportedly said, “A Christian’s only relatives are the saints.”

“For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.” Those who do the will of the heavenly Father, in imitation and in union with the Lord Jesus, become members of a new family, a family which transcends space and time and biology and nationality. “A mother may forsake her child” scripture says, but the members of this new family are never forsaken by God. Not even death will sever them from the life and love of God, in fact, death becomes for Christians, a new beginning of intimacy and joy that eye has not seen nor ear has heard in this earthly life.

Today, may we live out that first allegiance to God, by seeking and doing the Father’s will in all things, shown to us and manifested so perfectly in the life of the Son for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That the families of our parish may cherish and practice the Gospel in all dimensions of their lives—practicing the forgiveness, generosity, patience, and faithfulness of Christ.

That our young people on summer vacation may be kept safe from the poisonous errors of our culture, and for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated religious life.

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

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

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

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2021 - Marriage in God's Plan

 
I mentioned to Cara, our Parish Secretary this week that the lazy days of summer have certainly come to an end here at Saint Ignatius.  RCIA is off and running, monthly Taize prayer services will be beginning this month, PSR is in session, the day school is already half way through its first quarter.  Our Clambake is coming up next Sunday, the basketball league is beginning sign-ups, weekly bible study is ongoing, , legion of mary and st. Vincent de paul continue to meet, our new monthly young adult group draws young catholics from across the diocese, we’re going to begin a repair project on our stained glass windows, and don’t tell our music director, but advent is only two months away.

And all this on top of the normal rhythm of parish life: the joy of celebrating daily Mass, confessions seem to be a bit more popular than when I arrived two and a half years ago, anointings, marriages, baptisms, parish staff meetings, even, really aren’t that bad. But, one of the highlights for me each month is our first Friday Eucharistic Holy Hour.

Last night, I had a wedding rehearsal, for one of our last weddings of the year and then we had our holy hour. And after a very long week, that holy hour really hit the spot. And realizing I hadn’t really come up with anything for my weekend homily, I so I asked the Lord what he might want me to preach on this weekend: both at our Saturday wedding and then for our weekend masses. And I began to see a little overlap.

Our first reading and the Gospel this weekend are readings chosen often by couples for their wedding Mass. I always think it’s rather profound that the era of livestreaming and twelfth generation iphones, couples choose for their wedding a passage from this 3500 year-old ancient text from the first book of the Bible, the book of Genesis. And in it, we find that the ancient biblical vision for marriage, God’s vision, is not outdated, it’s not a relic of the past we have yet to discard—like an embarrassing photo from our teenage years. It’s as relevant as ever, because it is truly God’s word.  

In this passage, our first reading, we read of the origin, the genesis of the first marriage in human history: a match made in the earthly paradise, in the Garden of Eden. 

Adam had been created first. And while working and laboring in the Garden, Adam experienced this deep longing: this longing not just for a friend, but a wife. The Creator acknowledged that this longing was by design—he says it’s not good for man to be alone…this longing for a wife was placed in the man’s heart by God from the beginning. It’s all part of the plan.  So God gets to work again, in order to complete his Creation. He puts the man into a deep slumber and creates a wife for Him.

Upon awaking from his deep slumber, the man let’s out this joyous exclamation when he glimpses his bride. He says, “AT LAST!” 

When I prepare couples for marriage, I meet with them for a minimum of six months, for many of them sometimes over a year. After all those years of dating and marriage preparation, their wedding day has “At Last” arrived—the day when two become one.

So what we have here in the very first book of the Bible is God’s Word teaching us that marriage is not a mere human institution, but has been established by God from the foundation of the world. “This is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife”—a holy longing placed in our hearts is fulfilled in the holy union of matrimony. 

This passage is of such great importance that Jesus quotes this passage verbatim in the Gospels. The Lord quotes this passage from Genesis in his explanation of why divorce is not possible and not part of the plan of God. In lawful, Sacramental marriage, like Adam and Eve, Bride and Groom become One—a new creation. They are joined together by God and cannot be separated.  What God has joined man cannot separate.

Most couples, when asked, “Why get married?” give a two-fold answer: “Because we love each other and want to start a family.” This answer is consistent with Church teaching that the purpose of marriage is twofold: unity and procreation—to be joined in mutual love and to bear children.

The Sacrament of Marriage is powerful because it helps couples be faithful to these two ends. That can’t be said for a couple who simply enters into a so-called civil marriage before a Justice of the Peace. Through the Sacrament of Marriage, celebrated according to Church law, God abundantly blesses husband and wife, giving them the strength they need to love and honor each other, for better, for worse, through sickness and health in an indissoluble bond. It also gives them special grace for the tremendously difficult role of being Christian parents, especially in the 21st century. 

Raising a Christian child now, in a culture which is increasingly hostile to our faith, is no doubt, one of the greatest challenges Christian families have ever had face. But through the Sacrament of Marriage, God’s special grace is there.

Additionally, the Sacrament of Marriage does something that most couples probably aren’t thinking of when they approach the priest for marriage preparation. The Sacrament of Marriage turns Christian Husband and Wife into a sort of living Sacrament—visible signs of Love. Christian husband and wife shows us that in this broken world, love is possible—love is real. 

This is why the Devil hates Christian marriage and does everything he can to pervert it, break it up, and undermine it as an institution. He hates it because it is a reflection of God. No wonder he wants to deface it and promote disrespect for it, to spread lies like “God never intended one man to love one woman for the rest of his life.” It’s a lie having its genesis with the Father of lies, who himself refused to love God for the duration of his life. The Devil doesn’t want us to believe in love, not true love, only in counterfeit, perverted substitutes: to settle for less.

Marriage matters.  It is bound up with God's plan for the world.  The self-giving generative love of husbands and wives shows the world that permanent, exclusive, faithful love is possible; and by God's permanent, exclusive, faithful love for us, we are saved.

If any of you are in a civil, non-Sacramental marriage, please give me a call, so we can work on rectifying the situation. Or if you and your spouse are having some marital problems and are looking for marriage help, I can share with you some resources that you will certainly find helpful if you give them a try. And if you are civilly divorced, please know that there continues to be a place for you in the Church, and I invite you to consider giving me a call to discern if it is appropriate to seek an annulment.

The Church needs strong, holy Catholic marriages and holy families—in which the Word of God is practiced and cherished. 

The month of October is traditionally devoted to the Holy Rosary. The Holy Father and the Bishops encourage us to pray the rosary daily during this month, and what better intention than to pray for marriages and families. Pray your rosary for those couples in irregular situations. Pray for spouses going through marital difficulties. Pray for the divorced, that they can know God’s healing and discern their role in the Church.

For each of us, celibate, married, or single, have a role in promoting happy, healthy, holy Christian marriage for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

15th Week in Ordinary Time 2021 - Monday - Family ties

 Chapter 10 of Matthew’s Gospel is a pivotal one. It began, as we heard last week, with the Lord tasking the 12 apostles with going out into the surrounding areas with the good news of the Gospel and the Lord granting authority to them to heal the sick and cast out demons.

Up until that point in the Gospel, the Lord has been the one preaching; he has been the one healing the sick and casting out demons. And now the authority and power that he has wielded, the work of the Father that he is doing, is now to be shared with ordinary fisherman.

Before the 12 depart to fulfill their mission, the Lord began to give what is called his missionary sermon—a teaching to his new missionaries, those being sent out. And this sermon is full of warnings.  

There are some towns that are going to welcome you, some towns are going to reject you. I’m sending you out as sheep amidst the wolves—a cheery thought. Everyone is going to hate you because of my Gospel. You are going to be persecuted, and from time to time, you’ll even need to flee from your persecutors. Where do I sign up?

Today’s Gospel passage concludes his sermon, but it includes what may be the starkest of warnings. His Gospel will even cause division in those closest of human relationships—family. This is a difficult teaching for many people. Family is so very dear to us. It’s a source of stability, support, and compassion. 

And yet, the Lord is clear today, that his Gospel might upset that for some families. When some family members accept the Gospel, and so do not, this will cause division. And this, the Lord acknowledges, is a heavy cross, a heavy price to pay. But family cannot give eternal life. Only he can. Which makes Him and His Gospel the highest priority.

Catechism # 2232 explains this teaching. It says, “Family ties are important but not absolute.  Parents and children must be convinced that the first vocation of the Christian is to follow Jesus.”

How blessed the family who supports each other in the Gospel. But not every family, especially these days, believes this. This is teaching is particularly challenging in an age where many family members are choosing lifestyles which are incompatible with the Gospel. 

The Lord understands how difficult this teaching is. And promises blessing to those who adhere to it. Blessed is the one who sets good example for his family members, who witnesses to the priority of the Gospel, the priority of eternal life.

This Gospel certainly elicits a choice, doesn’t it? To have conviction, to have principles, to love Christ above all else, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That our bishops and clergy may be zealous and clear in preaching and teaching the truth of the Gospel and for the continued recovery of Holy Father Pope Francis following his recent surgery, may the Lord’s comfort, healing, and peace sustain him.

That our young people on summer vacation may be kept safe from the poisonous errors of our culture, and that their families may be places where the faith is practiced and cherished.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, 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 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 and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.

Grant, we pray, O Lord, that your people may turn to you with all their heart, so that whatever they dare to ask in fitting prayer they may receive by your mercy. Through Christ our Lord.

Holy Family 2020 - What makes a family holy

 

A few years ago, on the Feast of the Holy Family, Pope Francis asked the world a simple question: “What makes a family holy?”

The Pope mentioned how holy families keep the faith amidst challenges and spread the faith to other families by setting good Christian example. And members of holy families support each other through challenges and are patient with each other. But at the top of his list, Pope Francis explains what makes holy families holy, is that they pray. And Pope Francis said,”.…I would like to ask you, dear families do you pray together from time to time as a family? Praying the Our Father together, around the table, is not something extraordinarily difficult: it’s easy. And praying the Rosary together, as a family, is very beautiful and a source of great strength!  And also praying for one another! The husband for his wife, the wife for her husband, both together for their children, the children for their grandparents….praying for each other.  This is what it means to pray in the family and it is what makes the family strong: prayer.”

There can be no real holiness, either for oneself or ones family, without prayer. And the peace, and healing, and blessing, and guidance for family members who seem to be making one bad decision after another, patience with one another, and respect for one another, these things will only be obtained when they are prayed for, regularly.

Often in the confessional, when someone confesses that they are losing their temper with a particular family member, I recommend adding special prayers at the very beginning of the day, before you begin to interact with them. To pray honestly to God, “Lord, help me.  I’ve been arguing with my spouse a lot, we’ve been getting on each other’s nerves, we don’t seem to be listening to each other, we don’t seem to be understanding each other, as we should. Lord help me. Help us.  Lord give me patience to love my spouse as I should, to listen as I should, to understand as I should, to serve as I should. Lord help me. And help my spouse and I to build a holy family, to emulate the Holy Family and Jesus, Mary, and Joseph”

When family members commit to praying for each other—praying for the grace to love each other as they should and loving God as they should, that’s a huge step in the right direction, and a huge step in opening the life of the family to the grace and peace God wishes to give you. 

In the Collect for this feast of the Holy Family, we asked God to graciously grant us the ability to imitate the Holy family in practicing the virtues of family life. And constant, regular, devout prayer for each other is one of those virtues of family life that we need to take seriously. 

For Prayer enables us to love as we should—to love God, to love neighbor, to love our family, and to love our enemy, as we are called to as followers of Christ. As prayer diminishes, love will soon follow. Why? Because prayer opens the soul to receive the help we need from God. Prayer acknowledges that I cannot love as I should by my own power. 

Notice, in the Gospel for this feast day, we see Mary and Joseph going to God to bless their family. Mary and Joseph go to the Temple to offer the prescribed prayers and sacrifices to thank God for the safe delivery of their child, to ask God to bless their child and their family, asking God to help them to be good parents, to consecrate their child to God’s purposes. There’s a powerful petition parents do well to offer to God daily: Lord help my children to be consecrated to your purpose. That’s a prayer that should begin when the child is still in the womb: a mother’s prayer: “God, I consecrate this baby to your Holy Will”.

Notice, too, that it was in the Temple, as Mary and Joseph were being faithful to the prescribed religious precepts, that God’s will was made known to them for their child. Similarly, for all families it is always in the context of the devout practice of our faith that God’s will is made known. As families practice the precepts of the faith, together, they are bound more closely in the bonds of love. But, as families fall away from the devout practice of the faith, their fractures begin to intensify—they turn away from God’s will, and begin to focus on what they think will make them happy and whole. But, the human recipe for wholeness, divorced from God, will always bring frustration, exhaustion, and unhappiness.

The family that prays together stays together. So, prays together in the home: before meals, before bed, maybe praying the angelus together at noon and six. Also, Pray for one another individually, privately, particularly at the beginning of the day. And pray together in church. I know husbands and wives who make a holy hour together every week, and can attest to the powerful blessings that flow from that hour kneeling in front of the blessed Sacrament together for their family. 

Families, too, that come up to church for confession together, unleash the power of the Lord’s mercy in their families. 

Speaking of confession. I just wanted to make sure that everyone knows that I resumed offering confessions in the church months ago. It’s been kind of lonely in their on Saturday afternoons and Sundays between masses. I also added confessions on Monday evenings at 4:45 prior to the 5:30pm Monday Latin Mass. I go to confession at least once a month. I strongly recommend monthly confession to every Catholic. Again, what makes a family holy? A family who prays. And that act of confession, where members humbly approach the sacrament to acknowledge their failures to love each other as they should and to practice those virtues of family life as they should, is so powerful. You are going to see a lot of growth in holiness and peace in that family who confesses often, versus the family that can’t or won’t admit its mistakes to God.

In his reflections, Pope Francis summarized what makes a family holy, when he said,  “The family of Nazareth is holy: because it was centered on Jesus.” Prayer, the precepts of our faith, the humble acknowledgment of sin, and striving for virtue help us to remain centered on Jesus and enable us to grow in the holiness God wants for each of us. May all of the families of our parish and in our neighborhood grow in holiness by the same means, and may all members of the human family become united to God the Father through His Son for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

22nd Week in OT 2020 - Wedneday - Welcoming Jesus into your home

Yesterday, we heard how the first thing Jesus does upon coming to Capernaum for the first time, in that first stage of his public ministry, he goes to a synagogue and casts out a demon. And so I reflected upon how the Lord desires to use us for that same purpose, of praying for those we come across throughout the day, praying for their deliverance of any demons or any evil they might be wrestling with in their lives. Also, I spoke of the need to place blessed and holy objects in your own home, to protect it from evil—holy objects, like crucifixes and images of our lady, to remind you to avoid evil. 

Today, we hear how after casting out the demon, the Lord makes his way to the home of St. Peter’s mother in law. Jesus enters a home—he enters many homes throughout his ministry. Again, one of the reason it is good to have those holy images and objects in our homes, is to have those constant reminders that we need to welcome Jesus into our homes. His presence should be felt there, by those who visit, in the way that we act and the way that we speak in our homes. 

When the Lord enters the home of Peter’s mother-in-law, he immediately brings healing and peace. So, too, when the Lord is a resident in our home through faith, the home is transformed. Constant arguments between family members, homes devoid of family prayer, are sure signs that Jesus needs to be welcomed more deeply into the home. For a Christian home is to be a refuge from the chaos and evil out in the world. 

The Lord later speaks of the home built upon the solid rock foundations of his teaching—it is able to withstand the winds of chaos and the calamities. 

Jesus would use the home of St. Peter’s mother-in-law as his headquarters, no doubt planning his ministry, his sermons, his visits. So too, the holy Christian home becomes a center for evangelization, where the members of the family plan together how they, as a family, will spread the word of God out in the world. They will pray together, study God’s word together, in order to be guided, inspired, and emboldened. 

The Lord stands at the door and knocks at the doors of many homes, but many in our culture, many swept up in worldliness, refuse him entry. So let us make homes for him and invite others to do the same, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

 

That Christian families may pray together, study the word of God together, and encourage one another to grow in virtue and holiness. 

For an end to indifference to God and human dignity in our government and educational institutions, businesses, and personal attitudes.

During this month of September, dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows, we pray for all those who grieve, and that we may grieve sufficiently for our sins.

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

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

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

19th Week in OT 2019 - Friday - Love and Marriage

A few years ago, already, in 2016, Pope Francis issued a document on the topic of “Love in the Family” called Amoris Laetitia, latin for “The Joy of Love”. Love, authentic love, brings authentic joy.

Pope Francis offered this document on the issues of marriage and family because marriage and family matter.  Doing what it takes for a healthy marriage, having a God-centered family, raising children according to the law of Christ, these things matter for the future of civilization and the salvation of souls. The Pope said, “The welfare of the family is decisive for the future of the world and that of the Church.”

We are seeing in our own day how faithless, disordered relationships, rampant promiscuity and unrestricted sexual license bring so much brokenness, so much sadness. When men and women seek marriage for selfish reasons, disaster ensues. They bring hurt to themselves and particularly to their children.

Any priest who has worked on marriage annulments can attest to how selfishness, stunted maturity, attachment to worldliness, unwillingness to forgive, poor communication, secular notions of happiness, all effect marriage negatively.

This is why the Catholic Church takes what the Lord teaches in the Gospel this morning very seriously. Where many of the Christian denominations water down, change, or simply ignore this teaching, the Catholic Church sees this morning’s Gospel as pivotal for civilization’s survival and our faithfulness to the Gospel.

Not all are called to Christian marriage. Some are called to celibacy for the sake of the kingdom of God. Some need to work on the selfishness in their hearts before seeking to enter into marriage, for marriage, as you know, requires great selflessness.

For those who are living the Christian life in an “imperfect manner” as the Pope calls it: those living together outside of marriage, those only civilly married, those divorced and remarried outside of the Church, Pope Francis explains that “following the divine pedagogy”, that is the teaching of Christ, “the Church seeks the grace of conversion for them”, the Church seeks to help people remedy their lives.

Pope Francis concludes Amoris Laetitia with these words: “May we never lose heart because of our limitations, or ever stop seeking that fullness of love and communion which God holds out before us.” Each of us are certainly called to a life full of love. May each of us strive for that Christ-like love and self-sacrifice which brings joy and life to the world, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That all Christians may seek to be faithful to the Lord’s teachings and commandments concerning marriage and the family, that Christian families may be filled with love and joy.

For all married couples, that they may be faithful to the Gospel in every dimension of their married life and give all an example of God’s ever-faithful love.

That the children of our parish and school may be blessed to know the grace of faith-filled families, that they may be shielded from the sins and errors of our culture.

For Pope Francis and for all the bishops and clergy of the Church: that they will be faithful to the preaching the truth of the Gospel especially in the face of secular pressure and persecution.

That the sick, lonely, elderly, homeless, widowed, and all those experiencing trials or suffering of any kind may be strengthened by God’s love and know His comfort and peace.

For those who have died, for all deceased spouses; that they may know the eternal peace and joy of the kingdom of heaven.

July 26 2019 - Sts. Joachim & Anne - Feast of the Grandparents

A few years ago, on the Feast of Saints Joachim and Anne, the grandparents of Jesus, Pope Francis said, “How important grandparents are for family life, for passing on the human and religious heritage which is so essential for each and every society!” Elsewhere he said, “Grandparents are the living memory of family. They pass on the faith, they transmit the faith, to us.”

I was blessed to grow up very close to my maternal grandparents. Maybe more than any of my cousins, I got to hear the stories of our family, and really come to discover what my grandparents valued most in life: faith, family, hard work, wine & food.

Some children are blessed to grow up near their grandparents, while others because of distance only get to spend time with their grandparents a few times a year.  Given the culture of the Holy Land, it’s likely that Jesus spent considerable time with His grandparents, even if they didn’t live in the same town.  They undoubtedly were a source of great human affection and examples of Jewish piety and devotion

For many years on Sunday, when my parents worked late the night before, my grandparents would drive miles out of their way to pick me up for Sunday Mass. I may have mentioned before, that I don’t know if I would have discovered my priestly vocation, without my grandparents.

The role of grandparents today is paramount in an age where there is a growing laxity in the practice of the faith: great effort is made for vacation, sports & leisure, but little effort is expended to pursue holiness. Grandparents can help to ensure that the Tradition and Faith is passed on to the younger generations, and help to guide their own children in responsible Christian parenting.

Grandparents, when you know there is something lacking in your children’s and grandchildren’s religious practice, don’t be afraid to remind your families of the importance of faith and prayer by your words and example.  When the grandkids come over, pray a rosary before the television goes on in the evening, make sure that prayers are said before family meals, teach the traditions, share the family stories, model the values, instill the faith.

In the Gospel, Our Lord explains the parable of the Sower to his disciples. Grandparents are in a very privileged position to plant and cultivate the most important seeds in a children’s lives, which is why Pope Francis speaks of the importance of grandparents for family life.

Through the prayers of Saints Joachim and Anne may we all come to a deeper knowledge of the role we have in spreading the Faith for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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In gratitude for the example of faith and the role of grandparents in the Church, we pray to the Lord.

For an increase in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life, and a strengthening of all marriages.

That our young people on summer vacation may be protected from all physical and spiritual harm, shielded from the errors and perversions of the world, and kept in closeness to God through prayer and virtue.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, for all those recovering from or undergoing surgery today, and for the consolation of the dying.

For all who have died, for our deceased grandparents, 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

3rd Week in OT 2019 - Tuesday - The family of Jesus

At the end of chapter 3 of Mark’s Gospel, we hear of Jesus’ relatives coming to Capernaum. Have they traveled from Nazareth to become his disciples? Not exactly. Mark tells us, they came “to seize him”.

For the ancient Jews, as for many non-Western cultures today, an individual existed only as part of an extended family unit, whose authority-structure, obligations, and customs governed every aspect of life. Any action by an individual was a reflection on the whole family, and any breach of family-honor could be met with severe discipline. Since Jesus’ foster-father, Joseph, was presumably no longer alive at this point, Jesus’ uncles and senior cousins would have considered him under their charge and answerable to them for his conduct.

And so, Jesus’ relatives come to Capernaum to bring him home. From their perspective, Jesus should be back in Nazareth making tables and chairs, not associating with throngs of sick and demon-possessed people, not to mention arousing the hostility of the religious leaders. Their action was probably motivated by a desire to protect him. They probably thought he was out of his mind, maybe even possessed by some evil spirit.

Pointing out his disciples and saying, “here are my mother and my brothers” would have been shocking in the cultural context of first-century Judaism. But it is an early indication in Mark’s Gospel of a principle that becomes clearer and clearer as the Gospel progresses: all earthly ties take second place to the kingdom of God.

Jesus isn’t rejecting his biological family, here. But, if they wish to claim membership in the kingdom of God, they will have to accept His Gospel, they will have to accept Him as Lord and Savior in order to be included in the family of the Church. And many of them do. Jesus’ “adelphoi” the Greek word for cousins and relatives, are mentioned in the book of Acts, gathered in prayer with Mary at Pentecost.

We who believe in Jesus and are baptized are not merely his followers, we are his family. For he has established the new covenant family of God—whose members are united in a bond of love and faith and loyalty and grace that is stronger than any blood relationship. The bonds of this new family are not severed, but endure, even death.

“Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother” The absolute priority in the heart of Jesus is to do his Father’s will. May at be ours as well, for the Glory of God and salvation of souls.
 
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That Catholics may live out their baptismal call with ever greater conviction, faithfulness and joy.

That those in civic authority may submit their minds and hearts to the rule of Christ, the Prince of Peace and Hope of the nations.

 That our parish families and the families of all of our school children will be places where the Christian faith is believed, followed, taught, and cherished.

For the students, teachers, staff, and alumni of St. Ignatius School and all of our Catholic Schools.
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.

Holy family 2018 - 3 Holy Family Lessons

The Solemnity of Holy Family gives us the opportunity to reflect on God’s plan for the family.  We could spend time today considering advice about making your family psychologically healthier, more functional, happier, etc.  In fact, our first reading from the book of Sirach gives a fair amount of advice on this topic: “he who obeys his father brings comfort to his mother; take care of your father when he is old even if his mind fails, be considerate of him.” Sirach is filled with such good practical bits of advice, and all of us would do very well to sit down with this wonderful book and consider how its advice could be applied to the concrete details of our life. 

St. Paul, too, in the second reading, gives some wonderful advice: Put on, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another.” Again, good advice for families, especially that last part.  Sometimes family members are the hardest to love; we come face to face with each other’s faults and vices; but when we fail to forgive one another and be patient with one another, our families fall apart.

These readings offer, sound advice; if you are a Christian or not, a member of Christ’s faithful or a person of no faith, you would be hard-up to disagree with any of that advice. 

But today, on this Holy Family Sunday, we need to go a little deeper than psychological advice. We need to consider what it means for the family to be holy, to be a place where family members can grow in sanctity.  So let’s look to the Gospel to the members of the Holy Family to learn how our families may become holy like theirs.

First, it’s easy to forget, that the Holy Family of Joseph, Mary, and Jesus, was a real family. We have all seen paintings and holy cards that depict them in a super-pious, unrealistic way. But they were real human beings, just like us, and they lived in the real world, the fallen world, just like us. The fact that Mary and Jesus were unaffected by original sin and that Joseph was a saint doesn't change the reality of their family life and their struggles.

In today's Gospel, we hear how Mary and Joseph were filled with “great anxiety”—they were worried sick—over the loss of Jesus.   We have all experienced “great anxiety” in relation to our families and relationships.  So being holy doesn’t mean we don’t have anxiety, challenges, struggles, or trials. 

Here’s the first lesson we can learn from the Holy family—HOW they endured their anxiety.  Mary and Joseph were filled with anxiety over the losing Jesus, but they did not lose faith or curse God.  Notice how Mary and Joseph don’t stand around blaming each other for losing Jesus.  They endured the anxiety together, and they went to look for the Christ, together. 

Husbands and wives, families, the lesson is clear isn’t it: in times of anxiety, fear, anger, uncertainty, sadness, frustration, helplessness, stick together and don’t lose faith.

In a way, God used their anxiety over losing Jesus for three days in Jerusalem in order to prepare them for a bigger trial.  About 20 years after this incident, Mary would have to undergo a greater trial of faith, she would have to witness her Son undergoing his Passion and Death. 
So again, A mark of holiness is the ability to undergo suffering with faith.  God allows sufferings to cross our paths, not because he likes torturing us, but because he wants to purify us, to help us grow in wisdom, to strengthen us for greater trials to come, to draw us closer and closer to his own suffering heart. A priest friend of mine often says, “everything prepares us for something else.” The suffering of yesterday and the suffering of today prepares us for the greater inevitable suffering of tomorrow. 
A second lesson. Notice, how Jesus responded to Mary.  He doesn't apologize for having gone off on his own without telling them. Instead, he simply says that they should have known that they could find him in the Temple, which he calls "his Father's house."
Jesus was not guilty of breaking the Fourth Commandment to honor your father and mother by going to His Father’s House.  Jesus was twelve-years-old, the age of adulthood in the Jewish Community.  And he made a choice to seek out His Heavenly Father’s House to attend to his heavenly Father’s business.
The second mark of holiness Jesus shows us is that our primary responsibility in life, our primary mission, is to find and follow God's call. Nothing, not even the strong, deep ties of family affection and loyalty, should interfere with doing God’s will. We sometimes experience a tug-of-war for our loyalty—God or family, God or country, God or place of employment.  Our primary loyalty is to God.

Prioritizing faith over worldly concerns is rarely easy. During the holidays, we know how easy it is to become overly concerned with the secular dimensions of Christmas, and the struggle of keeping Christ at the center of our celebrations. And throughout the year, there is the struggle of putting faith first. Sometimes the kids or one’s spouse aren’t always enthusiastic about coming to Mass or praying together throughout the week.  Sometimes one’s spouse might pressure you to disobey Church teaching concerning the use of artificial contraception.  But remaining faithful to our Heavenly Father is of the greatest importance.  In a sense, we are each members of two families, aren’t we? Born as children to biological families and born in baptism as children of God.  I know this is hard, but our greatest loyalty is to God. 

I’ve known several priests whose parents kicked them out of the house for entering seminary. Recall the story of St. Francis of Assis.  His father wished him to take over the family business.  Francis’ father publically disowned his son for turning away from the family business in order to follow God’s call. Sometimes children face tremendous pressure from parents wanting their children to be successful in the eyes of the world instead of the eyes of God.  But, Christian parents have as their vocation not just ensuring their children become psychologically well-adjusted, athletically competitive, or financially successful, but that their children know and follow Jesus Christ.

Finally, after discovering Jesus in the temple, St. Luke tells us that Mary “kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.” She examined the events of her life, the trials of her family, her experience of anxiety, her fervent searching for Christ, and pondered them in her heart.

Here a third mark of holiness: Meditating on God’s will, examining our life in the light of Scripture and the teachings of the Church.  Even the pagan philosopher Socrates knew that the unexamined life is not worth living.  We like Mary are to examine how God is working in our life.

Every day, we do well, to set aside time for this sort of prayerful reflection.  Without this sort of reflection and meditation we will never achieve the emotional or spiritual growth God wants for us. Without prayerful reflection we miss the life lessons God wants for us, and we fail to appreciate and give thanks for the blessings of God and seek forgiveness for our failings. You might consider in the new year to begin a spiritual journal, in which you reflect on your life in light of the Scriptures or the life of the saints. A family does well too, to discuss scripture throughout the week.

On this Holy Family Sunday let us commit to making our families holy by assisting each other in discerning and following God’s will for our lives, in bearing our anxieties, trials, and sufferings with faith, and encouraging each other in engaging in those life-giving practices of mind and soul for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

30th Week in OT 2018 - Tuesday - Wives be subordinate to your husbands

The passage from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians on wives and husbands is one of the options for the nuptial mass. Most priests preparing young couples for marriage ask their input on what readings they’d prefer at their wedding, and this reading is chosen…probably less than any of the others. That word “subordinate”---that wives are to be subordinate to their husbands—is tough to hear these days, for a lot of people, let alone young brides and their grooms.

And yet, we should be very careful before dismissing any passage of scripture as simply being a product of its time, for I assure you, that this passage contains timeless truth.

Paul says “wives be subordinate your husbands” and in the very next breath he emphasizes the converse “husbands love your wives”, in fact, he repeats this injunction several times, just to drive the point home, “husbands love your wives”.  This really sets the tone for marriage, as husbands sometimes need to be told simple truths multiple times…

When we think about the truly loving relationships in our lives, what characterizes them, is that they focus on putting the needs of others before ones own. Mothers and fathers make great sacrifices for their children; they so often put the needs of their children before their own. And the same principle is going to be important for a happy healthy marriage: put the needs of your spouse before your own. There is no place in marriage for selfishness.

That St. Paul says that husbands need to be the head of their families, is certainly true as well. Families need strong Christian men and fathers who are leaders of faith in their families. This doesn’t mean that their families exist to carry out their selfish whims. In the Church, all spiritual leadership is servant leadership. The Christian husband and father serves his family by being a strong leader in prayer and charity and teaching and blessing and protecting his family from sin and error and evil.

In fact, the attitude of servitude that is necessary for Christian husbands and fathers, St. paul says must that of Christ for the Church. Husbands, love your wives EVEN as Christ loved the Church, willing to die for her.

Strong Christian households with both husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, both strong in the faith, are needed now more than ever if the Church is going to be that mustard seed that grows to encompass all the birds of the sky, if it will be that batch of leavened dough that will spiritually feed the whole world, to borrow a few metaphors from our Gospel.

May our families be strong in the faith, rightly subordinate to the Word of God, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For newlyweds beginning married life together, that they may always have a true and generous love for each other; may they receive the rich blessing of children, and know the constant support of family and friends.

For all married couples, that they may be faithful to the Gospel in every dimension of their married life and give all an example of God’s ever-faithful love.

For all trouble marriages, that they may know the constant support of the Church, that they may be protected from discouragement and practice patience, mildness, reconciliation toward each other, and know the healing power of the love of Christ.

For all children who are impacted by the sad reality of divorce, that they may know the constant ever-faithful love of God.

That the sick, lonely, elderly, homeless, and all those experiencing trials or suffering of any kind may be strengthened by God’s love and know His comfort and peace.  We pray to the Lord.

For all those who grieve the death of a spouse, and for all the dead, for all of the souls in purgatory, the deceased members of our families and friends, for all 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.

25th Week in OT 2018 - Tuesday - Family of Jesus (PSR Opening Mass)

Dear children, you probably don’t remember this, because most of you were just a few months old, but on the day that you were baptized, the day that you were made followers of Jesus, your parents made a very important promise to God. They made a sacred promise.

They promised God not simply to feed you, to house you, to clothe you, to care for you when you are sick. Their promise to God has to do with why you are here this evening. At your baptism, they promised God that they would educate you in the practice of the Christian faith, they promised God to bring you up to keep God’s commandments as Jesus teaches us, by loving God and our neighbor.
Dear children, that is why you attend PSR even after a long day at school, even when there might still be homework to do, even though there might be friends waiting to connect with you on social media. You are here to learn the faith, To learn about different aspects of our faith like the Sacraments, the Holy Scriptures, the lives of the Saints. And you learn to keep God’s commandments: Commandments like love God with your whole heart, keep Holy the Lord’s Day.

What you do here at PSR is very important, but of course it’s not the whole story, is it? Learning about the faith and about God’s commandments really takes place at home. You really learn to love God with your whole heart by praying to Him with your family, you learn about keeping holy the Sabbath Day, by coming to Church with your family every Sunday and on Holy Days. You learn about the Sacraments by receiving them along-side your family, reading the scriptures with your family, learning about the saints, with your family.

In the Gospel today, Jesus speaks a bit about family. As he was going through Galilee preaching and teaching the Gospel, doing the will of His Heavenly Father, his relatives came to retrieve him, to bring him home, they thought he was out of his mind, and his life was in danger. In his day, his was expected to obey his older relatives, his older brothers and sisters. But then he spoke about his disciples. He pointed to his disciples, and said here are my brothers and sisters and mother. My true family is made up of those who do the will of God, who believe, who seek to follow the commandments.

We are to love our families, but Jesus is saying our church family is of the greatest importance. It is more important to be a practicing member of the Church than to be a practicing member of a sports team, a political group, a social group, a group of video gamers.

We come to PSR and to church because we seek to be good members of the family of Jesus. And so we begin this PSR school year asking God’s blessing on our students and our teachers, and we pray, pray, pray, that the faith you learn about here, may spread and by practiced into your family homes, that every Catholic family home will be a place where the faith is practiced, prayer is valued, charity is modeled, and God’s commandments are followed, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

July 26 2018 - Saints Joachim and Anne - Role of Grandparents

At one time, July 26 was the feast of St. Anne only, and devotion to St. Anne goes back to the early centuries of the Church; in the year 550, a basilica in her honor was dedicated in Constantinople.  It is only recently, with the new calendar that the two feasts of the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary have been joined.

In addition to being honored as the parents of the Mother of Our Lord, Saints Joachim and Anne are the patron saints of grandparents.  It’s good today, then, to reflect on the role that grandparents play within the Church.  Some grandchildren are blessed to grow up near their grandparents, while others because of distance only get to spend time with their grandparents a few times a year.  Given the culture of the Holy Land, it’s likely that Jesus spent considerable time with His grandparents, even if they didn’t live in the same town.  They undoubtedly were a source of great human affection and examples of Jewish piety and devotion. Jesus showed honor and respect to Joachim and Anne, and today we do the same.

I think of my own grandparents, who for many years on Sunday, when my parents worked late the night before, would drive miles out of their way to pick me up for Sunday Mass. I may have mentioned before, that I don’t know if I would have discovered my priestly vocation, without my grandparents.  The role of grandparents today is paramount in an age where there is a growing laxity in the practice of the faith: great effort is made for vacation, sports & leisure, but little effort is expended to pursue holiness. Grandparents can help to ensure that the Tradition and Faith is passed on to the younger generations, and help to guide their own children in responsible Christian parenting.

Grandparents, when you know there is something lacking in your children’s and grandchildren’s religious practice, don’t be afraid to remind your families of the importance of faith and prayer by your words and example.  When the grandkids come over, pray a rosary before the television goes on in the evening, make sure that prayers are said before family meals, teach the traditions, instill the faith.

On these feast of the grandparents, we’re reminded of grandparent’s special role and responsibility in forming the generations to come.  Through the prayers of Saints Joachim and Anne may we all come to a deeper knowledge of the role we have in spreading the Faith for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
 
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In gratitude for the example of faith and the role of grandparents in the Church, we pray to the Lord.

For an increase in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life, and a strengthening of all marriages.

That our young people on summer vacation may be protected from all physical and spiritual harm, shielded from the errors and perversions of the world, and kept in closeness to God through prayer and virtue.

For Pope Francis’ prayer intention for the month of July: That priests, who experience fatigue and loneliness in their pastoral work, may find help and comfort in their intimacy with the Lord and in their friendship with their brother priests.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, for all those recovering from or undergoing surgery today, and for the consolation of the dying.

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

May 25 2018 - Pope St. Gregory VII - Global war against marriage and family

The Collect for Pope Saint Gregory VII spoke of his fortitude and his zeal for justice. His fortitude was certainly manifest in the many problems he faced, as Vicar of Christ, at the end of the 11th century. In spite of much opposition, he worked for important Church reform: removing prelates and bishops who had obtained their offices by simony or bribery, suspending priests guilty of concubinage, fighting against the investiture of ecclesiastical benefices by temporal rulers.

For “causing such a stir”, as Pope Francis would say, Pope Gregory’s enemies arrested him during midnight Mass one Christmas eve, wounded him and had him imprisoned. He was rescued by the good people of Rome, who loved the Pope deeply for his holiness and concern for the Church. Later, The Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV forced Pope Gregory into exile and called for a new Papal election, where the anti-Pope Clement XIII was elected. The holy, courageous Pope Gregory died in exile, as the collect said, “rejecting evil, that the Church may be free to carry out in charity whatever is right.”

Though the lay investiture controversy has been resolved, the Church continues to face hostility from worldly powers for preaching the Gospel, particularly the truths contained in the Gospel today. Our Blessed Lord, in teaching about divorce, calls humanity back to God’s original plan for the family, as found in the first chapters of the book of Genesis.

Our Lord’s clear teaching is not popular in our culture today, but we continue to see the devastating effects the rejection of the biblical vision has on our society. Pope Francis has undertaken this topic repeatedly over the years, even speaking of gender theory and gender politics as a global war against the family.

He says “Today, there is a global war trying to destroy marriage… they don’t destroy it with weapons, but with ideas… we have to defend ourselves from ideological colonization.”

Pope Francis has received backlash for proclaiming the Gospel, as have many good priests and catechists at the local levels. Sadly, even many Catholics don’t see anything wrong with the legalization of same-sex marriage, or these gender ideologes which deny that humans come in two genders, male and female. We see Catholic politicians on the national and local levels acting as agents for error-ridden gender politics.

So, we pray for the fortitude of the Saints, like Pope Saint Gregory, to “reject” all of the evils and errors of our day: the moral confusion, the attitudes and ideologies that undermine the good of families and the health and holiness of Christian marriages.

Free from error, may we come to carry out in charity all that is right for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For the Holy Father’s prayer intention for the month of May that the lay-faithful may fulfill their specific mission, by responding with creativity to the challenges that face the world today.

That Politicians and government officials may look to the law of Christ to guide their work for the good of nations and the human race, especially for the protection of the unborn.

For all married couples, that they may be faithful to the Gospel in every dimension of their married life , and for troubled marriages, that all spouses may practice patience and authentic charity toward each other and their children.

For our young people beginning summer vacation, that they may be kept safe from the errors of our culture and kept in close friendship with Jesus through prayer and acts of mercy.

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

23rd Sunday in OT 2017 - Intervention

A few years ago, a television show premiered on A&E called “Intervention”. The show follows one or two participants who are abusing or severely addicted to drugs or alcohol. Their relatives and friends are interviewed who detail the effects the drug or alcohol addiction has had on the family—the sadness, the grief, the lies that often accompany addiction, the concern for the harm the addict is doing to themselves. A trained intervention specialist then prepares the family for staging an intervention, in which the family and friends gently confront the addict about their addiction. At the intervention, the addict is given a choice: enter a rehabilitation program or risk losing contact and financial assistance from their relatives. From what I’ve read, the show has had tremendous success in getting help for addicts and their families.

This method of loving confrontation is biblical. As we heard today, If your brother falls into sin, try to help them, confront them, if they don’t listen to you, bring another with you. A family effort is often needed in helping someone who has fallen into addiction, sin, or unhealthy behavior. Sometimes our Lord waits until two or three are gathered in his name, to make his power known.

The passage we heard today, in fact, immediately follows the parable of the lost sheep, in which Jesus tells us about the love of the heavenly Father, how the Father sends the Son to seek out the lost sheep, he’ll even leave behind 99 other sheep for a time, in order to search out and find the one lost sheep that have gone astray.

And one of the ways God seeks out the lost sheep, is through us: through family members who lovingly and gently confront those who struggle with addiction to drugs, gambling, pornography, internet shopping, video games, parents who act as watchmen over their children, as we heard in the prophet Ezekiel today. If a family member stops going to Church, ignores Church teaching, blasphemes in public, we have a duty to gently correct them.

The point of correcting people when they fall into sin isn’t to prove that we are holier than they are, the point is concern for their souls, and helping them to be the people God made us to be.
I’ve had some personal experience with this: In seminary, I volunteered at a drug and alcohol treatment facility for teenagers, and I would participate in group family counseling sessions, in which parents and relatives would gather, in a very gentle setting, they would share with their teenager how the addiction has brought harm to the addict and the family life.

Most priests are not trained intervention specialists or drug counselors, but for families facing these issues, the Church can help connect your family with those with this expertise.
God loves the sinner, God love the addict. In fact, many people I’ve known who have struggled with addiction have great intellectual gifts, have tremendously large hearts. Sometimes they turn to addiction because they feel emotions like grief so deeply they turn to other substances to numb their pain. Though they act in unlovable ways, the addict is a child of God, loved by God.

Intervention, fraternal correction, seeks to help people who sometimes become incapable of helping themselves, who have fallen into a cycle of hurting themselves and their families, who have started making self-destructive choices. Part of being pro-life, is to help people when they are making anti-life decisions, choices that are destructive to the spiritual life, emotional life, physical life, or family life.

In the Reading from Romans today, St. Paul teaches that all the 10 commandments, don’t commit adultery, don’t break the sabbath day, don’t commit murder, don’t steal or covet, can all be summed-up by the command: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence, love is the fulfillment of the law.”

Fraternal correction, confronting the sinner, the addict, is done out of love. Parents correcting their children when they act selfishly, spouses gently correcting spouses when they act selfishly, correction, also called, rebuke, is done out of love. Today’s Gospel is clear that we are to to help each other to become the people God made us to be.

In becoming the people God made us to be, it is also important to look to holy examples.  We of course first, and foremost, look to the example of the Lord. We read and reflect upon the Scripture stories of the Lord, we keep the great image of the Lord’s sacrifice before our eyes, the crucifix, so that we can know his love, and follow his example of patience, mercy, self-sacrificial love.

Second to Our Blessed Lord, we look to the example of humility and forbearance of His Blessed Mother. Her boundless charity and her lowliness are virtues to emulated by every Christian.
Thirdly we look to the example of the Saints. The Saints are our great teachers, Ordinary People, fishermen, farmers, widows, humble priests and religious, artists, ordinary people, who God calls to extraordinary holiness.

Beginning this Tuesday night, I will be showing over in the Harvest Room a video series called “Catholicism: The Pivotal Players”. This series explores the lives of some Ordinary People who answered the call to use their gifts and talents for the building up of the kingdom of God—people like Francis of Assisi, G.K Chesterton, Catherine of Siena, Thomas Aquinas, and Michaelangelo. I encourage you to attend this free adult-education opportunity.

If Jesus Christ has the power to break the bonds of death, he can lead those enslaved to addiction an sin to freedom.

May each of us be humble enough to be open to the correction we need to grow in holiness, that we may help others become the people God made them to be, that we may live in the freedom of their children of God and receive an everlasting inheritance for the Glory of God and salvation of souls.