13th Week of Ordinary Time 2024 - Friday - "I desire mercy"

 Earlier in the week, we considered how the prophet Amos was sent by God to the northern kingdom, particularly those with economic, social, and political power, taking them to task for their mistreatment of the needy, poor, and afflicted—enriching themselves at the expense of the vulnerable.

In today’s reading we hear about how the greedy merchants were eager for the religious feasts to be over so that they could return to their unethical business practices. They would “add to the weights, and fix their scales for cheating”. In other words, they would falsify the volume of their product and the price of the product, so that the buyer would be doubly cheated. 

This passage is certainly a warning from the word of God for all those engaged in business. However, Amos also describes how these sins against the poor were bringing destruction to the kingdom. Theft and exploitation and greed are antithetical to the order of God. 

In its section on the seventh commandment’s prohibition of theft, the catechism talks about how “those responsible for business enterprises have a responsibility to society for the economic and ecological effects of their operations. They have an obligation to consider the good of persons and not only the increase of profits.”

Now, most of us do not own our own businesses, but there is certainly a lesson here for all of us. You don’t have to own a business to be tempted by greed or covetousness or pure self-interest. Only thinking about yourself is bad for you and for everybody. Rather, the individual and society thrive when each of us aims at the highest good for ourselves and others. Christ-like sacrificial self-giving which alleviates the burdens of others and works for their betterment, is good pro omnibus et singulis—for all and for the individual.

Catechism says, “God blesses those who come to the aid of the poor and rebukes those who turn away from them: "Give to him who begs from you, do not refuse him who would borrow from you"; "you received without pay, give without pay." It is by what they have done for the poor that Jesus Christ will recognize his chosen ones.”

This is why in the Gospel, the Lord tells the pharisees to go and learn the meaning of the words, “I desire mercy”. 

When we engage in works of mercy-- coming to the aid of our neighbor in his spiritual and bodily necessities—instructing, advising, consoling, comforting, feeding, clothing, healing, and visiting the lonely, we transform lives and the fabric of our society. May we be found in all of our dealings to be honest, generous, and merciful for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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For all Christians, that we may heed the call to show mercy and compassion in our daily lives, recognizing Christ in the face of the poor and marginalized. Let us pray to the Lord.

That the values of the kingdom of God may guide our government leaders and legislators, our families, businesses, civil institutions, and all our domestic affairs. 

For those suffering from poverty and exploitation: may they find relief and support through the work and charity of the Church and people of good will, and for the conversion of the greedy and selfish.

That our parish may continue to respond generously to the needs of our neighbors. 

For the sick, the impoverished, the lonely, those suffering from mental illness, those most in need, and those near death: may God, through the loving mercy of the Precious Blood of Jesus, be close to them in their trials.

And that all those redeemed by the Precious Blood of Jesus may come to the glory of heaven, especially 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

First Friday Holy Hour - December 2022 - The privilege of discipleship

 

In the Gospel of Matthew, the Lord Jesus speaks about the privilege of discipleship, the privilege of being a Christian, rather than being born prior to his coming. He says, “blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”

The prophets longed to see what we get to see, and hear what we get to see. The prophet delivered promises to God’s people, but were not in their lifetimes able to witness the fulfillment of those promises.

In the reading from Isaiah today, the prophet lists a number of such promises: the deaf shall hear, the eyes of the blind shall see, The lowly will ever find joy in the LORD, and the poor rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

We are the deaf who are now able to hear the Word of God Himself. Whenever the Sacraments are celebrated, that is Jesus Himself saying this is my body, this is my blood, I baptize you, I confirm you, I absolve you, I anoint you. 

We are the blind who are now able to see God, kneeling now, before his very flesh and blood made present, made visible to us. 

We are the lowly, the ones who have responded to the Lord’s invitation to humble ourselves, to trust in God who is beyond human power and understanding. And we are now able to experience a joy that the prophets could never imagine, the indwelling presence of the Holy Trinity within the human soul through the grace.

And we are the poor who are able to rejoice like no other people, able to rejoice in the victory of God over the powers of sin and death. 

What an awe-filled mystery that we are able to participate in—to come here on a normal weeknight, to keep the name of God holy, as much of the world passes us by, the revere God in an increasingly irreverent world, to be in awe, in the midst of a board, overly stimulated generation.

May this holy hour deepen our faith, our hope, and our love, as we await the celebrate of Christ’s first Advent at Christmas, and the hastening of his final Advent at history’s end, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

September 27 2022 - St. Vincent de Paul - "I belong to God and to the poor"

 St. Vincent writes, “It is our duty to prefer the service of the poor to everything else and to offer such service as quickly as possible…Do not become upset or feel guilty even if your prayers are interrupted to serve the poor.”

While a young priest in Paris, St. Vincent encountered the hungry, the homeless, war refugees, neglected elderly men, women, and children, and those who had been spiritually abandoned. And so out of charity, he devoted his life to their care. He set up many houses for the poor, crippled and sick and personally cared for the patients who had the most contagious diseases. He would dress their wounds and nurse them back to health.

A wealthy friend helped Vincent form the Vincentians—a congregation of priests who took vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience and devoted themselves to work among the poor. Over time, Vincent established many confraternities of charity for the spiritual and physical relief of the poor and sick.  Out of these groups grew the Vincentian nuns or Daughters of Charity who have served in our own diocese since 1865.  

Almost 200 years after his death, an admirer and devotee of St. Vincent named Frederic Ozanam founded the Society of St. Vincent de Paul which is now a worldwide society made up of over 800,000 members, including a conference at our own parish, 

Here at St. Ignatius, members of the SVDP conference meets on 2nd and 4th Thursdays, but work together throughout the entire month, to meet the needs of those who turn to the assistance of the Church in our neighborhood, like assisting with utility bills, locating furniture and appliances, putting together bags of food for our neighbors, and visiting and praying with them. It is supported mostly by the generous donations of our parishioners. 

St. Vincent’s apostolate can be summarized in his saying: “It is not sufficient for me to love God if I do not love my neighbor…I belong to God and to the poor.”    

Through his intercession, may our love for God, neighbor, and the poor be ever more deeply kindled for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That all Christians may grow in charitable attentiveness to the needs of the poor in our midst.

That all those searching and longing for Christ may find him through the witness of His Holy Church.

That the work and ministry of all Vincentian organizations and charitable institutions may bear fruit for the spread of the Gospel.

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 Week in Ordinary Time 2022 - Wednesday - Poor, hungry, sorrowful, and hated

The beatitudes Jesus teaches, the way to attain holiness on earth that leads to beatitude in heaven, are a pretty strange set of teachings at first glance, no? Blessed are you when you are poor? No one wants to poor. Everyone tries to get out of poverty. Blessed are you who are hungry? In Jesus’ day, to go hungry was a sign that you were cursed by God. No one likes to be hungry. Blessed are you who weep? Holiness consists in sorrow? Poor, hungry, now sad? We seek to escape sadness, depression, and grief. And the last one is even more dramatic. You are blessed when you are hated, persecuted, and condemned as evil for being a follower of Jesus. 

Poverty, hunger, sadness, and persecution are roads to holiness. If there was ever a refutation of the so-called prosperity Gospel of modern day preachers, you simply have to read these four verses.

Jesus here refutes the idea that riches, and fat bellies, and earthly satisfaction, and a comfortable, peaceful life are signs of blessing and God’s favor. In fact, to prioritize these earthly pursuits over the seeking of holiness will leave you frustrated, exhausted, spiritually depleted, and possibly damned for all time. 

Each the beatitudes are lessons in the importance of recognizing that this earthly life is not the end all and be all of our existence, but that we are to live for eternity, to use the time we’ve been given to prepare for eternity. Part of that is learning to cultivate the attitudes, behaviors, and habits that truly benefit our souls—including detachment from earthly wealth, bodily pleasures, and social favor. And the other part is learning to be dependent on God and trust in God.

Before God we are to be poor, trusting that God will give us what we need to pursue our highest ends. Before God we are to be hungry, trust that God will feed us with what we need to have the strength to follow his holy will. Before God we are to weep—to weep for our sins, to weep for the time we’ve wasted in following empty pursuits and false prophets. And we are to do so all these things, even if it makes other uncomfortable, even if we are hated by our families and past acquaintances. 

This Gospel entails embracing a real different way of life than the way most of us are brought up with. But the saints who embrace the Gospel, embrace these teachings, show us, that it works. It is the road to true and lasting joy, and fulfillment. It’s the life we really long for, but are often too afraid to pursue, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For the grace to desire and pursue the holiness God desires for each of us.

For an end to indifference to God and human dignity in our government & educational institutions, businesses, and personal attitudes; and for a flourishing of the Gospel in our land.

For the poor, hungry, sorrowful, and persecuted, that they may trust in the Lord in their trials and know his love and strength. 

For all our departed loved ones and all of the souls in purgatory, and for N. 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

Holy Week 2022 - Monday - Love for Christ and Love for the Poor

 From time to time, you come across a critic of the Church who claims that the grandeur of our church buildings, our precious vessels and vestments, our art, are all a slap in the face to the poor and hungry. The critic claims that instead of spending money on art and architecture, the money should be given to the starving and homeless.

The critic usually ignores the fact that already the Catholic Church does more to aid the poor than any other private organization in the world, that many religious brothers, sisters, and priests take a vow of poverty and renounce everything for God, and that countless Catholic families and individuals do sacrifice much of their income for the needs of the downtrodden.

In the attitude of such a critic, one often detects a bit of the attitude of Judas in the Gospel today. When Mary of Bethany anoints Jesus with the precious anointment, Judas calls it a waste. Let’s ignore, for a second the fact, that Judas was a thief, and was stealing money from the community purse, and that he justified theft in order to satiate his greed. Judas sneers at Mary’s devotion, her act of love, because Judas was loveless toward Jesus. He derides the act homage as a waste of time and money because he does not actually know how to give of himself. He hides his selfishness behind this fake concern.

To the world, our observances of holy week, our acts of devotion during these High Holy Days of our faith, are a waste of time and money. Why buy easter lilies that will wither and rot? Why use precious incense and vestments? Why waste time and effort in processions, venerations, silent prayer and fasting? For the same purpose we build grand churches, because we love Christ. 

Our love for Christ does not diminish our love and care for the poor and downtrodden. As true love for Christ increases, love for others increases. For we are to seek to serve Him in the poor. You can’t love God and hate your brother.

Our service, our worship, our art and architecture, our holy week devotions, are all expressions of our immense gratitude for what the Lord has done for us, the immensity of what he suffered for us, the blessings he has bestowed upon us.

So the snarky critic of the Church’s lavish worship of Christ, needs to look at the whole—the whole life of the Church—how our lavish love for Christ actually fuels our other charitable endeavors. 

So we must not be embarrassed to express our lavish devotion in concrete ways, especially during holy week. Yes, there might be some Judas’ out there who will mock and deride us. But there are also those on the fringes who will be converted when they witness our devotions, hard hearts that will be softened when they see our love for him, who goes to the cross for us, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

 

That God may be pleased to increase faith and understanding in the catechumens and candidates who approach the sacraments of initiation in the coming Paschal Solemnity. 

That those in need may find assistance in the charity of faithful Christians and that peace and security may be firmly established in all places.

For strength to resist temptation, and the humility to sincerely repent of sin.

That through fasting and self-denial, we may be ever more conformed to Christ.

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

Mercifully hear, O Lord, the prayers of your Church and turn with compassion to the hearts that bow before you, that those you make sharers in your divine mystery may always benefit from your assistance.

September 27 2021 - St. Vincent de Paul - Care for the Physically and Spiritually Poor

 Born in 1582, St. Vincent was the son of a poor, but pious farmer in southwestern France. Vincent displayed great intellectual gifts from a young age, and even though it meant a great sacrifice for his family, his father payed for his education. Vincent proved to be a genius and mastered his philosophical and theological training, and was ordained a priest at the incredibly young ago of 20. 

As a charming young priest, Vincent made many wealthy friends; he became chaplain to a queen and moved through the comfortable and luxurious aristocratic spheres of society. His life took a dramatic turn, when travelling home from Marseilles to collect a substantial donation, he was captured by Turkish pirates and sold into slavery by Muslim slavers. He escaped prison after two years, with his slave master, who eventually converted to Catholicism.

Returning to Paris, everywhere he looked he saw the hungry, the homeless, war refugees, neglected elderly and orphans, and devoted himself to their care. He also had special care for the spiritually abandoned. He observed that many people didn’t know how to make a good confession. So, he preached a parish mission on the topic that was so spiritually moving, stirring so many people to repentance, that Jesuits from a nearby town had to help with all the confessions.

For Vincent, care for the poor and a vibrant spiritual life went hand in hand. His spirituality and devotion to the poor, attracted many young men and priests, and so he formed a new religious order called the Congregation of the Mission. Members patterned themselves upon Christ, took the Gospel to the rural poor, and helped educated priests in their practical duties. 

A wealthy friend helped Vincent form the Vincentians—a congregation of priests who took vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience and devoted themselves to work among the poor. Over time, Vincent established many confraternities of charity for the spiritual and physical relief of the poor and sick.  Out of these groups grew the Vincentian nuns or Daughters of Charity who have served in our own diocese since 1865.  

He also invited the wealthy women of Paris to fund his missionary projects.  He founded several hospitals, collected relief funds for victims of war, and even ransomed slaves from North Africa. 

He gave retreats to his fellow priests to help combat the spirit of worldliness which had made some of them lax in their spiritual lives. Many of them were inadequately trained, especially for hearing confessions. Priests can be needy too! So He and His Congregation helped to offer special training to make them better confessors.

Pope Leo XIII named him patron of all charitable societies.  This includes of course, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul founded in 1833, almost 200 years after his death, which was founded by his admirer and devotee, Frederic Ozanam. St. Vincent’s bones and heart are perfectly incorrupt, and can be visited in the Church of St. Vincent de Paul in Paris.

His apostolate can be summarized in his saying: “It is not sufficient for me to love God if I do not love my neighbor…I belong to God and to the poor.”    

Like St. Vincent, may we respond generously to those in physical and spiritual need for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That all Christians may grow in charitable attentiveness to the needs of the poor in our midst.

For the members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul as they celebrate the feast of their patron this week, for increased membership among their ranks and many blessings upon their charitable works. 

That young people will be blessed with good Christian example from their parents and fellow Christians, and that the word of God might be cherished, studied, and practiced in every 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, for the repose of Bishop Anthony Pilla, who will be buried tomorrow, 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

26th Sunday in OT 2019 - Living no longer for ourselves

In my bulletin column this weekend, I spend a few paragraphs on the life, spirituality, and lessons of the great Saint of the Poor, St. Vincent de Paul, for Friday, September 27, was his feast day, he who is known as the “Apostle of Charity”. St. Vincent devoted his life to charitable service to the hungry, the homeless, war refugees, neglected elderly men, women, and children, and those who had been spiritually abandoned. He set up many houses for the poor, crippled and sick, and personally cared for those with contagious disease during the plague.

Vincent’s early life is quite fascinating: he was the son of a poor, but pious farmer in southwestern France in 1581. Even though it meant a great sacrifice for his family, his father, knowing of the boy’s intellectual gifts and believing him to have a vocation to the priesthood, payed for his studies and encouraged his vocation. A genius, mastering his philosophical and theological training with ease, Vincent was ordained a priest at the incredibly young age of 20.

And, as a charming young priest, Vincent moved easily in among the higher echelons of French society, he even became chaplain to the queen of France. But, his life took a dramatic turn, when travelling home from Marseilles, he was captured by Turkish pirates and sold into slavery by Muslim slavers. He escaped back to Europe after two years, with his slave master, who eventually converted to Catholicism.

This time spent as a slave deeply impacted the young priest. He returned to Paris, and devoted himself to the poor. “It is not sufficient for me to love God if I do not love my neighbor,” he said, “…I belong to God and to the poor.”

Today, nearly, 360 years after his death, the relic of St. Vincent’s heart is still perfectly incorrupt— meaning that, after nearly four centuries, his heart has not decomposed as biological matter normally does. If you don’t believe me, you can see his incorrupt heart and venerate it yourself at the Church of St. Vincent de Paul in Paris. His heart, transformed by tireless service and charity shows the powerful effect that God’s love has, even on our bodies. Charity is a powerful medicine, perhaps the most powerful.

May our hearts, in time, become like his, but today, let us compare the heart of St. Vincent, with the rich man in today’s Gospel.

It’s certainly a provocative Gospel: Lazarus, covered with sores, being licked and harassed by dogs, longing to eat just the crumbs from the rich man’s table. The rich man, what would we say about his heart? For his cold heart, for his self-absorption, he is condemned to hell. He is tormented, he longs to quench his eternal thirst, but is unable, his pleading is unanswered.

Why exactly is the rich man sent to hell? It’s not simply because he was rich.  Nor are we told that he earned his money in an immoral way. He wasn’t selling weapons to terrorists or involved in human trafficking. It’s not because he directly refused to help Lazarus, either. He didn’t mock Lazarus or abuse him physically or emotionally. Rather, the rich man is condemned to Hell because he did nothing. There was a poor man at his gate and he did nothing. The rich man was so caught up in himself that he made no effort at all to help another who was struggling and dying at his front door. The rich man’s self-absorption made him deaf to Lazarus’ silent plea for help.

The Gospel is the remedy for self-absorption. We celebrate St. Vincent de Paul, and so many of the saints, because allowed God’s grace, the love of Jesus, to transform them. Many of the saints had periods of life where they were self-absorbed: St. Francis of Assisi and St. Augustine had downright sinful pasts. St. Paul murdered Christians. St. Mary of Egypt was a prostitute, St. Angela of Foligno, a vain, greedy, materialistic Adulteress. And really no saint is born a saint. Rather, each, in their own way, cooperate with God’s grace to transform their hearts—to be men and women, not just for themselves, but for others.

You’ve likely noticed that during Ordinary Time I like to use the Fourth Eucharistic Prayer. For one, because it contains a beautiful recap of salvation history: God fashioning creation to reflect his goodness, God coming to the aid of sinful man by sending prophets and finally his son, who preaches the Gospel and dies for our sins. And then, my favorite line: God sends the Holy Spirit, “that we might live no longer for ourselves but for him who died and rose again for us", echoing St. Paul's word to the oft self-absorbed Corinthians.

The rich man in the Gospel walled himself in to his mansion. He lived only for himself. He concerned himself not with the pleas of the hungry, but merely with feeding his own appetites. And in shutting himself off from the poor, he shut himself off from God.

So, how can we live no longer for ourselves but for Him who died and rose again for us? Like the saints, we are called to do something. And it’s different for each of us. Perhaps you are called to physical service, cooking meals and feeding the hungry. Perhaps you are called to spiritual service: to fervent prayer. Perhaps you have great fortitude for doing penances, fasting.

Our St. Vincent de Paul Society is in particular need at this time, not simply for donations, but for volunteers, we’ve had several past volunteers move from the parish, and we need folks to answer the calls for help in our neighborhood, To go to the homes of the needy, to assess their needs and bring them the food and clothing they need, to organize our St. Vincent de Paul collections, like blanket drive. We need men and women for this ministry. So please consider the call to do something.

Are you looking for a stronger, richer experience of God in your life? St. Vincent said, “Go to the poor: you will find God.” So, please consider joining our st. Vincent de paul. Send me an email or leave a message on the Vincent Paul voice mail.

Lazarus comes in many forms. He is the physically hungry, he is the widow whose family no longer comes to visit, he’s the infant in the womb in danger of being aborted for whom we pray during these 40 days for life, he is the abandoned child in need of a safe home in which to live, a foster home, or adoption; he’s the young college student who has been inculcated with the errors of our secular culture who needs to sit with someone who can clearly articulate the Truths of Our Faith; he’s the hardened sinner who needs our prayers and penances for the sake of his soul. What can you do to help Lazarus, there’s got to be something?
May we turn our ears to the cries of the poor, and answer those cries with charity, living not for ourselves, but for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

September 27 2019 - St. Vincent de Paul - "His heart was moved with pity"

“His heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned like sheep without a shepherd”. St Matthew gives us a glimpse into the heart of Our Blessed Lord, into the heart of God.

Our Lord, Man and God, sees the crowds coming to him; lost, broken, hurting, and crying out for their shepherd, and his heart is moved to “pity” over their existential loneliness.

There suffering is compounded because they do not know how close God is to them, they do not know that God draws close to those who suffer, who himself identifies with those who suffer throughout human history by becoming one who suffers, the one, in fact, who suffered most.

The vocation of the Christian, my task and yours, is to imitate the Lord in drawing close to those who suffer, and through compassion, to remind them, to reveal to them that God is close to them.

The saints, like St. Vincent de Paul, are so revered and honored by the Church, because they remind us of that great vocation, for they have so decreased their egos and their selfishness, through prayer, charitable works, and self-forgetfulness, that they become great instruments of God’s compassion.

In Paris, St. Vincent de Paul ministered to the homeless, war refugees, neglected elderly men, women, and children, and those who had been spiritually abandoned. He set up many houses for the poor, crippled and sick and personally cared for the patients who had the most contagious diseases. He would dress their wounds and nurse them back to health.

St. Vincent explained, “It is not sufficient for me to love God if I do not love my neighbor…I belong to God and to the poor.” 

We pray that we may respond generously to those in need for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
 
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That all Christians may grow in charitable attentiveness to the needs of the poor in our midst.

That all those searching and longing for Christ may find him through the witness of His Holy Church.

That the work and ministry of all Vincentian organizations and charitable institutions may bear fruit for the spread of the Gospel.

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

August 10 2018 - St. Lawrence of Rome - Laughing in the face of death

Today’s saint was a deacon of the Church of Rome in the mid 3rd century.  It’s hard to imagine the situation of the Church in Rome during the persecution, which lasted from 64 A.D. to 313 AD. We're talking about a state sponsored persecution lasting longer than America has been a nation. 

Earlier this week we heard about how the Roman Emperor Valerian passed a decree that Christian worship was forbidden unto death and that everyone was now forced to practice the pagan religion of the state.  And then, a second decree, a year later in 258 AD, that simply and coldly ordered all bishops, priests, and deacons be put to death. 

The Pope, Bishop of Rome, Pope Sixtus II, was arrested and killed on August 7th 258 AD. Today’s saint, the Roman Deacon Lawrence was arrested and killed four days later. Lawrence, like Sixtus is mentioned in the Roman Canon, the first Eucharistic prayer.

As a deacon in Rome, Lawrence was in charge of the Roman Church’s treasury, and had the responsibility of distributing alms to the poor.  When Pope Sixtus was arrested and killed, Lawrence knew that he would be next—he sold all of his personal possessions and gave them away to the poor widows, orphans, and beggars of Rome.

When the prefect of Rome heard this, he imagined that Church must have a considerable treasure hidden somewhere in the city.  He ordered Lawrence to bring the Church’s treasures to him.  So, Deacon Lawrence gathered a great number of blind, lame, maimed, leprous, orphaned and widowed persons. When the prefect arrived, Lawrence simply said, “These are the treasures of the Church.”

In great anger, the Prefect condemned Lawrence to a slow, cruel death. The Saint was to be slowly roasted alive upon an iron grill.  Lawrence however was burning with so much love of God that he almost did not feel the flame. He even joked,  "I'm done on this side! Turn me over” Among many other things, Lawrence is a patron saint of Comedians.

This feast’s Collect Prayer asks God to help us love what Lawrence: He loved serving the Church, He loved the poor, he loved the Lord. Because of his great love, he was able to have such courage in the face of death, even to laugh in the face of death.

May we, like St. Lawrence be filled with love for all that God loves and order our lives to reflect that we are made for a life beyond this life for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That all Christians may grow in their awareness of and charitable attentiveness to the needs of the poor in their midst.

That Christians persecuted for the faith may be courageous in their witness to the saving Truth of Christ. And that the witness of the martyrs may never be in vain.

For the Holy Father’s prayer intention for the month of August that any far-reaching decisions of economists and politicians may protect the family as one of the treasures of humanity.

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, deacons and religious of the diocese of Cleveland, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.

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.

Homily: Dec 6 2016 - St. Nicholas - The 3 loves of Sinterklaas

I mentioned yesterday that the second week of Advent is traditionally associated with love, with charity. Today’s saint is certainly known for his charity. As Bishop of Myra, in Turkey, he is known for his love for the poor, his love for the truth, and his love for Christ.

Perhaps one of the best-known stories about Nicholas concerns his generosity towards a poor man whose daughters were about to be forced into lives of prostitution, threw bags of gold through the poor man’s windows so he could pay for his daughter’s dowries enabling them to be married.

That story, likely, is the source for the legend of Saint Nick carrying bags of toys for all the good little girls and boys.

Bishop Nicholas was also a great lover and defender of truth. Nicholas stood up for the truth at the council of Nicaea. When the heretic priest Arius claimed that Jesus was not of the same substance with the Father, Nicholas corrected Arius….physically. There are pictures of Nicholas slapping Arius in the mouth for the foul errors spewing from it.

Thirdly, Nicholas is known for his love for Christ; he was arrested, imprisoned, tortured, and martyred in the 4^th century persecutions.

Historically, it was on this day that gifts were exchanged. It was only when Martin Luther began preaching against devotion to the saints, that gift giving became associated with Christmas; so perhaps we can blame the over-commercialization of Christmas on the founder of Protestantism.

In order to reclaim devotion to Nicholas, we, like him, should follow his example of love-the three loves of Sinterklaas. Give help to the poor today, bring someone in error to the truth today, and make an offering of your life for Christ today, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Homily: Sept 27 2016 - St. Vincent de Paul - Freed from slavery for service

St. Vincent was the son of a poor, but pious farmer in southwestern France in 1581. Even though it meant a great sacrifice for his family, his father, knowing of the boy’s intellectual gifts and believing him to have a vocation to the priesthood, payed for his studies and encouraged his vocation. Vincent was ordained at the incredibly young age of 20. He was a genius and mastered his philosophical and theological training. Though, his motives for ordination were not entirely pure. It is said that he had ambitions to secure a wealthy benefice, so he could help his family out of poverty.

So, as a charming young priest, Vincent made many wealthy friends, he became chaplain to a queen moved through the comfortable and luxurious aristocratic spheres of society. But while he was on his way down to Marseilles to pick up some old widow’s inheritance, he was captured by Turkish pirates and brought to Africa as a slave for two years.

That was the beginning of his conversion. He could have, like Job in the first reading “opened his mouth and cursed” the day of his birth. But his heart began to open, his faith began to awaken. He saw the miserable condition of the slaves.

Some time later, he was accused of stealing 400 crowns by an acquaintance. 400 crowns was an enormous amount of money back then. And Vincent could have used his genius intellectual gifts to prove his innocence. But he simply said, “God knows the truth. I didn’t steal it. If God can free me from captivity, God can free me from this.” Six months went by, and the acquaintance had denounced Vincent as a crook. But after six months, the real thief came forward, and everyone was edified by Vincent’s trust in God’s providence.

The final turning point in his priesthood was when he was hearing the deathbed confession of a poor peasant. His heart seemed to burst for the crying spiritual needs of the poor.  A wealthy friend helped Vincent draw together a group of missionaries who came to be known as the Congregation of the Mission, known later as the Vincentians.

Over time, Vincent established many confraternities of charity for the spiritual and physical relief of the poor and sick.  Out of these groups grew the Vincentian nuns or Daughters of Charity who have served in our own diocese for many years. 

Pope Leo XIII named him patron of all charitable societies.  This includes of course, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul founded in 1833, almost 200 years after his death, which was founded by his admirer and devotee, Frederic Ozanam.

Vincent’s spirituality can be summarized in his saying: “It is not sufficient for me to love God if I do not love my neighbor…I belong to God and to the poor.”    His heart truly belonged to God and the poor—and after 350 years, the relic of his heart is still found to be incorrupt.

May we learn to love others like St. Vincent, and recognized that our souls were purchased out of slavery of sin by the blood of Christ, so that our lives may be given wholeheartedly to the service of the Gospel for the glory of God and salvation of souls.