Pentecost is the birthday of the Church, which Jesus Christ founded. It is worthy of the solemnity with which the Catholic Church celebrates it!
At the first Pentecost, 50 days after Jesus rose from the dead, the Body of Christ, the Catholic Church, received her soul, the Holy Spirit. Stated another way, just as Adam had the breath of life (his immortal soul) breathed into him, so now the Bride of Christ, the Church, receives the Breath of God’s life and love (the Holy Spirit) at Pentecost.
The human body lost its immortality as a consequence of Original Sin. The Mystical Body of Christ, the Church, also suffers from this infamous fall from God’s grace. The head of the Mystical Body is Jesus, while the soul is the Holy Spirit. Both Jesus and the Holy Spirit are immortal Divine Persons while we, the members of that Body of Christ, have a fallen human nature, which weakened our wills and darkened our intellects.
This doesn’t sound like a very fun existence. But wait! Before we get all down in the dumps about our plight, we should know we have a lot going for us. After all, we are celebrating Pentecost, the birthday of the Catholic Church, the Bride of Christ, which means we have reason for hope because we have two divine advocates pleading our cause: Jesus and the Holy Spirit. In addition, we have the whole court of heaven, the souls in Purgatory and the members of the Church here on earth praying for us. So, cheer up. We have plenty to be happy about!
So, what can we do to overcome our fallen human nature? Be the best we can be, with God’s help.
Have you ever heard of a CINO? That’s a Catholic-In-Name-Only. We have plenty of them in our country and in our world. In fact, they are probably a majority. We can be confident that there were no CINOs on that first Pentecost. They were all “pure-breds,” so to speak, Catholic to the core.
Jesus had 12 quality Catholics (the Apostles) upon whom He founded His Church. He had 120 quality Catholics present on Pentecost Sunday. That number increased to 3,000 by that very evening because of those first Catholics who knew that they were more than just CINOs. It is really heartening to be around informed Catholics who live and witness to their faith correctly. They are happy, engaging, enthusiastic, focused and alive! They are apostolic—that is, willing to do anything to keep spreading the faith authentically by their Christ-like lives.
The Mission Statement of Jesus is: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Mt 28:19). We are to fulfill this mission of Jesus.
The Catholic Church needs a rebirth of members who are more like the first Pentecost Catholics (not just more CINOs). It all has to do with being willing to make sacrifices and going the extra mile. It truly will be a ‘happy birthday’ for the Catholic Church when the growth in true Pentecost Catholics fully purges the Church of those who are Catholic in name only. May the effects of that first Pentecost be our inspiration to take an active role in carrying out Christ’s mission. “Day after day the churches grew stronger in faith and increased in number” (Acts 16:5).
Now the Spirit explicitly says that in the last times some will turn away from the faith by paying attention to deceitful spirits and demonic instructions…” (1Tim 4:1)
Have you heard of the New Age movement? If not, you might be familiar with some of its many different faces. Perhaps you have even had some personal involvement.
Have you heard of these things: spirit guides, a “personal angel,” channeling, Cosmic Christ, Reiki healing, universal energy, the occult, Course in Miracles, yoga, Wicca, spiritualism, or even that “you are god”? These are just a few terms that you may have come across, and none of them is compatible with Christianity.
New Age terminology is usually used in a very non threatening way; however, its practice has crept into every phase of our society, including medicine, religion, education, counseling and more. Many people involved in these beliefs and practices are not even aware of what they are really experiencing. If we do not know the origin of these things or their actual meaning, we might find ourselves involved in something that keeps us from growing in our Catholic faith or—even worse—we could lose our faith altogether!
The arena of “New Age” or “New Thought” is not new at all. Many of these techniques and beliefs have been around for centuries. They may have new titles or implications in our modern age, but pantheism (belief that God and the material world are one and the same) and divination (attempting to foretell the future through omens or supernatural powers) have always been at odds with Church teaching. If the Church teaches that these activities should be avoided because they are deceptive and dangerous to our faith, then why do so many Christians get drawn in? There are only two kingdoms: the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Satan.
We must know the teachings of the Church well in order to recognize the errors in New Age practices. If these techniques and beliefs were just “teachings” it would be bad enough, but when they are made available to people in vulnerable situations, such as medical events, the need for counseling, times of depression, or important decision-making, we really need to be prepared to recognize the New Age influence and reject it. “Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking
for someone to devour” (1Peter 5:8).
The Evil One often cunningly suggests alternatives to Christianity to meet our many needs. Being armed with the truth is our greatest defense. The Church has everything we need and is more effective and more fulfilling than anything offered by the New Age movement or any other activities of the Kingdom of Satan.
On Oct. 1 and 2, Father Mitch Pacwa and Johnnette Benkovic of EWTN will share their expertise and the Church’s wisdom to help us recognize the falsehood of the New Age movement. Please save the date! The conference, “Angels and the New Age,” will be held at North American Martyrs Church in Lincoln on Friday from 6:30 to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. For registration information, please watch this publication and your parish bulletins.
Ever wonder about what a priest does outside of his visible duties of celebrating Mass and administering the Sacraments? Ever thought about the challenges he faces spiritually and even physically in dealing with the behind-the-scenes challenges of parish life?
The summer novel selection for our One Book, One Diocese program is Georges Bernanos’ The Diary of a Country Priest, a fictional, but rather realistic, story of a zealous young priest in his first parish assignment as a rural pastor. He attempts to overcome a serious health issue, which proves to be not only a formidable cross to carry while trying to perform his parish duties, but also one that ultimately abbreviates his days of priestly service to God and His Church.
The even more significant challenge presented in this novel is the burden of trying to be at once a holy spiritual father, a faithful shepherd, a compassionate counselor, a passionate preacher, an effective teacher, a conscientious administrator and a confident leader—all of which were expectations of the parish priest in France a century ago (the setting for the story) and are also today in our own place and time. This make-believe diary provides insight into how difficult it is for priests to be, as St. Paul wrote, “all things to all people.”
As the Year for Priests has come officially to its end, it behooves all of us to continue to provide spiritual support for the clergy who bear a much heavier burden than most parishioners realize—a theme that is accentuated in The Diary of a Country Priest. Fortunately, our parishes typically are endowed with those who offer many additional forms of support for their parish priests, preserving for them the time, energy and other resources needed to perform their many priestly tasks effectively, and with significantly less stress.
The main character of this novel may not resemble our own parish priests, nor perhaps any whom we actually know. But he struggles through some of the same trials that many parish priests face, albeit in his own way and with the particular graces granted to him by the Lord. While never portrayed as a saint, this parish priest is presented as zealous, dutiful, selfless and Christ-like—qualities we wish to see in every priest.
Whereas biographies on saints, including those who were priests, are quite plentiful, this novel offers a different sort of look at priestly life. Keeping in mind that it is fictional and, as such, is meant to be a literary piece of entertainment, we can derive from it a renewed appreciation for the fact that each priest is called to serve God perhaps more in light of than in spite of his own particular weaknesses, personality quirks and personal failures. As Scripture reminds us, “With God, all things are possible.” And, as the final words in the life of the main character confirmed—for himself as well as for others—“Grace is everywhere…”
“Increase our faith!”
This imperative of the Apostles directed to Jesus was proclaimed at Masses celebrated on the first weekend of October. Jesus responded in such a way as to suggest that His followers had very little faith indeed, since all that would be required to uproot a tree is faith the size of a tiny mustard seed. Since we know Jesus was not given to insulting His followers, we can be sure that this image was meant as encouragement for them and for us all.
As Luke’s Sunday Gospel readings progress through this month, we notice several things pointed out by Jesus as necessary in order to grow in our faith. The first is gratitude. Only one of the ten lepers who were cured made the simple effort to thank Jesus for the favor, and the one who returned to show gratitude was the one least expected to do so, a Samaritan. Our deficiency in gratitude to God for all He has given us is one of the causes for our poverty of faith. So, when we ask God to increase our faith, we must include in our petition the desire for greater gratitude for all of the wondrous things He does for humanity, but most especially for His dear children of faith.
In the next Sunday’s Gospel passage, Jesus teaches his disciples of the importance of perseverance, especially in prayer. How often we tire of asking God for the same things over and over, sometimes wondering if He’s even listening—or, worse yet, coming to the conclusion that He doesn’t really care about me or my needs. Jesus reassures His listeners: “Will not God secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them? I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” The implication here, it seems, is that perseverance—especially in our prayer—will be one of the things our Lord looks for so as to recognize His faith-ful disciples.
The subsequent weekend’s Gospel message emphasizes the importance of the virtue of humility. The tax collector praying in the temple cries out, “O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” Catholics assume this posture of humility when participating in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Jesus simultaneously presents to His disciples words of caution and of encouragement: “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Becoming aware of our sinfulness is the precursor to being sorry for our actual sins. Thus the daily Examination of Conscience always has been considered a standard part of every serious Christian’s prayer routine.
Jesus’ lessons to us about gratitude, perseverance in prayer and humility stand as pillars of the spiritual life. If we, like the Apostles, want Jesus to increase our faith, we need to concern ourselves with growth in these fundamental principles of the Christian journey. Gratitude is based upon our recognition that literally everything that is good comes from God as a gift. Perseverance is the tell-tale sign that we have faith—at least in its elemental form. And humility reminds us that we are not worthy of the wonderful gifts with which God blesses us, bringing us full circle back to gratitude. Our prayer intentions should and must include the desire to grow in these basic virtues.
The simplest of prayers often can be the most far-reaching. We all stand to benefit appreciably by making the Apostles’ simple petition to the Lord our own: “Increase our faith!”
Jesus has a plan for each one of us, and it is a perfect plan. Our very existence impacts the world around us. But the extent and significance of that impact depends very much upon our outlook on life and how we choose to use the gifts with which God has blessed us.
I recently had the honor of meeting and visiting with a man of real conviction whose self-described mission in life is impressively well-defined—namely, to increase the number of souls who will spend eternity with God in heaven. What a noble goal! Imagine every Christian taking his stewardship of God’s gifts so seriously. The world would be a different place indeed.
This particular successful businessman I met came to a point in his life when he wanted to divest himself of the fortune he had made so as to make the greatest possible positive impact in society. As a longtime philanthropist, he considered a host of options, such as giving millions to research institutions that could perhaps find a cure for cancer or other diseases, which could prolong many people’s lives here on earth. But he figured that such gifts would be relatively inconsequential in the end, since merely a longer life would rarely impact the eternal destiny of a soul.
The settings in which this man felt he could make the most lasting—and even eternal—contribution were two: Catholic education and Catholic media. These two mediums seemed to hold the most promise for exerting a positive influence on the most souls over time. So, little time was wasted as Catholic schools were erected and Catholic radio stations established. From one man’s personal resources, solid Catholic formation now is being provided more broadly to young and old alike. This singular gift to the Church unquestionably will influence generations to come.
The crowning achievement for this Catholic man’s generous ambitions would be the establishment of a genuinely Catholic university—one steeped in the truths of Sacred Scripture and the Catholic Church’s storied traditions. In gratitude to Mary, the Blessed Mother of God, this new university’s very name (Ave Maria) would reflect the honor that the angel Gabriel gave to Mary for being open to receive Truth Himself: Jesus. Its students likewise would be offered that same Truth.
It was at a fundraising dinner for the new Catholic radio station in Baton Rouge that I enjoyed with hundreds of others the inspirational story this man had to share. He is none other than Tom Monaghan, founder of Domino’s Pizza and the aforementioned Catholic institutions. This man, raised as an orphan by religious sisters, in time came to appreciate the value of authentic Catholic education, whatever its source: Catholic schools, radio, newspapers, etc. With Catholic education and media as his preferred tools, Mr. Monaghan consciously chose to use whatever means God provided in his life to help build up the Kingdom of God here on earth so as to increase the eventual count of souls in heaven. Who can question the integrity and nobility of such an aspiration?
Not too many folks have tens of millions of dollars to invest in creating new Catholic universities or to invest in other worthy endeavors. But each one of us can become a difference-maker by placing the gifts God has given us at His disposal. Our time, our talents and our treasures become a blessed impetus for the growth of God’s Kingdom once we come to realize why they were given to us at all. Thanks, Tom, for sharing your gifts, and for making a difference for us all.
Editors Note: Our guest columnist is Msgr. Myron Pleskac, chaplain for the School Sisters of Christ the King
Having entered into my 77th year of life on this planet, I am now the senior member of the Diocesan Evangelization Committee. I am old enough to remember the days when the word, "evangelization," rarely, if ever, tumbled from the lips of Catholics. And if it applied to anyone, it was pretty much reserved for the priests; the proclamation of God’s Word was, in most cases, relinquished to them.
In the early 60s, right around the time the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council convened, the sleeping giant began to awaken. Organizations like the Christian Family Movement and Young Catholic Workers and other similar movements suddenly sprang up.
As a young priest, I was delighted to meet with couples and young people as they discussed the teachings of their Catholic Faith. A few years later, I was privileged to participate in the first Cursillo held in the diocese and after that took part in a Marriage Encounter weekend, which was then in its early stages in the diocese.
I cherish fond memories of these experiences, and particularly memorable is the fact that I was surrounded by Catholic laity who were hungering to ignite the flame of their faith. I fed off their enthusiasm. These were the first times I came to really understand that we priests can be inspired by the faith of our people. I had previously thought that it was I, a priest, who was supposed to be inspiring them. Happily, I learned that it works both ways.
Then, in September, 1996, a new form of evangelization was introduced into the diocese. It was called SINE (Systematic Integral New Evangelization). It had begun in Mexico City and was recommended to us by the Director for Evangelization for the Bishops of the United States. A team of lay men and women from Rockford, Ill. led the first SINE retreat for 60 people from three Lincoln parishes at Pius X High School.
The impact was electric. The retreats rapidly spread across the diocese, so that within a few years, more than 4,000 people representing most parishes in the diocese had made the retreat. Small communities were formed, many of which are still meeting regularly today. My own community is beginning its 15th year of weekly gatherings, and we are still meeting in the same home where it began back in 1996!
During our meetings, we offer prayers of praise to God, we share how God is working in our lives, we spend some time discussing aspects of our faith by using a spiritual book we have chosen, we pray for a variety of intentions, and we periodically perform a charitable activity on behalf of those in need or volunteer for some parish apostolate. The members of my community are my family.
SINE is now known as "Light of the World." Retreats continue to be offered in many of our parishes. If you know your faith needs a boost (and who among us is not in need of that?), then I suggest that you sign up for a Light of the World retreat. For places and dates, please call the Evangelization Office at 488-2040 or inquire at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
"Give thanks to God, bless his name; good indeed is the Lord." - Psalm 100
One of the saddest realities of modern American culture is that we tend to take so many things for granted. It would not be an exaggeration to admit that we are downright spoiled! One regrettable manifestation of this shameful state of affairs is that many of us fail to say "Thank you" as often as we should, especially to those most deserving of our appreciation.
Most of us have heard the term stewardship used considerably in recent times, especially in terms of offering a due portion of our time, talent and treasure to God and His Church as a way of demonstrating our recognition that all of the good things we possess comes from God. Indeed it is our duty to give a tithe (a tenth) back to Him in whatever way is suitable in the given circumstances. Our generosity toward God begins only after having fulfilled this duty to Him.
Unfortunately, we Americans have heard so many news reports claiming we are the most generous nation on the planet (in terms of foreign aid) that we easily can forget why that most certainly should be the case (even if, in reality, it may not be). God has blessed our land with an abundance of many things, along with the freedom to enjoy them. In what ways have we demonstrated our gratitude for such gifts? How have we proven our worthiness to continue enjoying them? These questions need to be answered as part of the spiritual self-assessment of any serious Christian who recognizes additionally the many spiritual gifts that have been given.
One of the simplest—and perhaps most effective—ways to show gratitude to God is by being generous with the most needy of His children, both near and far. Generously sharing and spreading our God-given wealth, both material and spiritual, is a measurable way of saying "Thanks" to the One who has shared His ‘wealth’ with us. Generosity toward others is a powerful manifestation of faith and it serves as an attractive Christian attribute that invites imitation and thus an increase in charitable works and growth in God’s Kingdom here on earth.
Seriously working to strengthen one’s spiritual life is itself a gift of gratitude to God as well as to those who have shared the gift of faith with us. Jesus appealed to His disciples on many occasions to be generous with the time given to prayer, their primary means for enjoying communion with the Heavenly Father. We are urged also to improve the quality of our prayer by listening attentively to God, especially through His Holy Word preserved for us in the Sacred Scriptures. At Mass, we respond to its proclamation saying, "Thanks be to God!" In other words, we recognize this heavenly message for the gift that it is. We realize we need the guidance and inspiration this gift provides. And so we say, "Thank you, Jesus!" But do we say it often enough?
As we celebrate Thanksgiving, we are reminded to be grateful for so many blessings in life. Gratitude in our hearts and on our lips is itself a gift, one meant to be shared. How many times have I said "Thank you" lately, especially to those who most deserve to hear it? The answer will provide at least a partial evaluation of just how grateful a Christian I really am.
We all recognize the standard societal way of announcing the arrival of a new child into our midst. We declare the gender of the baby on balloons, cigars, candy bars and, more recently, e-mail subject lines. And it just wouldn’t look at all right without the exclamation point!
We Christians are putting an exclamation point on the Advent season with the most anticipated arrival of a new baby in the history of humanity—namely, the arrival of Jesus.
His first entry into our midst was forecast by prophets as the world’s long-awaited source of hope and declared by angels as humanity’s much-anticipated cause for joy. While few, if any, balloons or cigars or the like will proclaim our Lord’s birth this Christmas, Christians everywhere are expected not only to keep Jesus as the focal point of Christmas Day, but to sustain this focus throughout the celebrations that add emphasis to our celebration of the Lord’s Incarnation.
The Solemn Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph comes right in the wake of Christmas this year. Many will still be making the rounds to visit and celebrate Christmas with relatives and in-laws Dec. 26. How appropriate to be with family that Sunday as we honor the Holy Family of Nazareth. The gifts we share—especially the gift of time—will no doubt be appreciated by those on the receiving end. It is a time for letting go (read: forgiving) of past hurts so as to enjoy the gift of family that the Lord has given to each of us, which oftentimes transcends blood lines and includes those whom we consider "adopted" family members.
On the Octave Day of Christmas we will honor Mary as the Mother of Jesus, and thus as the Mother of God. And because Jesus is our spiritual brother, Mary is our spiritual mother, leaving no believer without "family" during this special season of grace.
While many like to visit parents during the holiday time, some will only be able to "visit" their heavenly mother—that is, by honoring her at the Church’s special Holy Day Mass as we begin the New Year, requesting her motherly love and her heavenly intercession. The Catholic Church itself provides us all with a true spiritual family that expectantly welcomes each member as a cherished child of God.
The first two Sundays of January complete our Christmas celebrations with the Epiphany and the Birth of John the Baptist. Few feasts of the Church’s liturgical year better express our call to be evangelists of the Good News of our Lord’s birth.
While John the Baptist’s life mission was to prepare the local people for the Messiah’s arrival, the Wise Men signaled the universal call to salvation for all people, near and far. We disciples of Jesus were commissioned by the Lord Himself to spread the Gospel of salvation to the ends of the earth. Naturally, we start by living a holy life, affecting those nearest to us. But the way to put an exclamation point on our evangelizing efforts is to make them more deliberate by learning our Catholic Faith well, so that we can articulate it to those whose faith is weak or to those with little or no faith at all.
May our celebration of the upcoming Christmas Holy Days and holidays be an authentic proclamation of the joy we know because we are disciples of Jesus. Pretty much everybody knows that the babe born in Bethlehem two millennia ago was a boy. It is up to us to make sure that others around us come to know that He was—and is—so much more!
With regard to sports, one of the most predictable comments heard by coaches and commentators alike is that the victors oftentimes are those who performed the fundamentals of the sport the best. Attention to the fundamentals produces "winners" in the Catholic Church as well.
The Precepts of the Church are listed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church regarding the following practices: attendance at Mass, receiving the Sacrament of Penance, receiving Holy Communion, observing the days of fasting and abstinence, and the duty of providing for the material needs of the Church (CCC 2042-43). The prescribed observance of each is included as well.
These five traditional Precepts provide an age-old way of defining what it means to be a "practicing" Catholic, which is required in order to enjoy certain privileges in the Church, such as serving as a liturgical minister or being a sacramental sponsor. It is important to note that the Catechism outlines simply "the very necessary minimum" (CCC 2041) expected from all Catholics.
Current research on the behavior of baptized Catholics exposes two very regrettable realities of our day. First of all, most people who identify themselves as "Catholic" are essentially ignorant of what that means and tend to fashion a personal definition of Catholicism to suit their own purposes. Secondly, many of those who actually do fulfill the requirements to be considered practicing Catholics do no more than the bare minimum. Hence, they deprive themselves of many of the riches that the Church has to offer. The first group has more or less abandoned their ties with the Catholic Church. The latter group, doing as little as possible, is in real danger of losing their Catholic identity as well.
I am confident that the readers of this column share my concern for the "Catholics" just described. All of us know many people who fall into the aforementioned categories. A disturbing trend in our country is that, just in the last decade, many have quit practicing their faith altogether, oftentimes for no apparent reason other than their lack of enthusiasm for being Catholic.
We know that lackluster performances in sports (dare I mention the Holiday Bowl?) can leave us frustrated, unmotivated and disillusioned. When the basics of our Catholic Faith are approached without enthusiasm and zeal, leading to self-inflicted discontent, it is quite easy to abandon those fundamentals altogether, which has happened all too often in our families and in our parishes.
The solution? Take the high road! If we settle for striving for the minimum our faith requires, we will be mediocre Christians at best. However, if we make every effort to follow Jesus’ instruction, "Be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Mt. 5:48), we can expect great things to happen in our faith lives and we avoid the risk of losing our prized Catholic identity.
In short, knowing and performing the fundamentals of our Faith is enormously important, but there is more to it if we wish to be genuinely good Catholics. Much of it has to do with desire. As we know from sports, it is often the team that desires victory the most that takes home the prize. We must not only live our faith; we must love it as well, including all of its routine aspects. Those who love to be Catholic show it not only by being completely faithful to the fundamentals, but by demonstrating genuine enthusiasm with regard to all facets of our Catholic Faith. Only by avoiding minimalist tendencies will we ever have the benefit of all the blessings that bona fide Catholics enjoy.
If you are reading this sentence, it is probably because the column title got your attention, as well it should. We have seen the words "Mass" and "boring" closely aligned all too often in recent years, but we know intuitively that it should not be so. How often, though, have we thought to characterize ourselves as boring? Probably not often enough. Please read on.
The "One Book, One Diocese" winter selection of the Diocesan Evangelization Committee is "The Mass: Four Encounters with Jesus that will Change Your Life," by Dr. Tom Curran, PhD. My column title is also the heading for the Introduction in Dr. Curran’s book. The premise for such a seemingly presumptuous headline is that what is missing all too often in our participation at Mass is a genuine appreciation for what is happening there. "The Mass" is a wonderfully simple remedy to the common perception that we go to Mass to keep God happy. In actuality, it is we who would find true happiness if only we realized what privileged encounters are available each and every time we participate in the Mass.
Chapter One of the book, "I Once Was Blind, But Now I See," reviews for the reader so many things we have said or thought ourselves, or have heard others say about attending Mass. It all boils down to not knowing truly why it is that the Lord earnestly wants us there, and why we desperately need to be there.
Children typically attend Mass for one reason only: their parents expect it of them and provide the transportation. Without good catechesis, young people end up resenting the obligation of weekly Mass attendance. Unfortunately, many adults grew up without such catechesis themselves and consequently have become "Cultural Catholics" who give the age-old, but sadly vapid, reason for going to church: "I am Catholic, and that is what Catholics do on Sunday." It is no surprise that many from this group no longer attend Mass regularly.
Dr. Curran presents the Mass as four special encounters with Jesus: in the community, in the Word, in the Priest, and in the Eucharist. A chapter is devoted to each of these significant ways that Jesus comes to meet us at Mass. What he points out is that we have to do more than physically show up at the church in order to enjoy the benefits of these encounters. We need to understand and appreciate them. A deeper understanding of how Jesus is active at Mass can do wonders in making us more involved and engaged in the liturgy.
A study guide in the book provides several reflection questions for each chapter, making the 125-page paperback very user-friendly for discussion groups and families. Naturally, it will be beneficial also to those who simply wish to read it on their own. This book makes a great gift, too. I gave more than 50 of them away at Christmastime, and it received only positive reviews.
So, let’s not be bored—or worse yet, boring—at Mass. After reading and sharing with others new insights from "The Mass," we are sure to participate in the weekend liturgy on a whole new level. The upcoming Lenten season provides the perfect backdrop for getting together with fellow Catholics to reflect on how we might better profit from our encounters with Jesus at Mass. Hopefully, it will motivate us to bring others (back) to Mass as well.
Please contact a Catholic bookstore to obtain copies of "The Mass: Four Encounters With Jesus That Will Change Your Life."
Thanks to the "Theology of the Body" of Pope John Paul II, the Church understands more deeply than ever the meaning of the verse from Scripture: "God created man in his image; in the divine image he created him; male and female he created them" (Gn. 1:27). What God is saying here is that man and woman together present to the world an image of God’s love.
In John Paul’s way of thinking, the vocation of woman is to reveal God’s beauty to the world. Woman is made to be beautiful. Our culture’s emphasis on physical beauty is not entirely bad, but it often is shallow and misdirected. The deepest way a woman is beautiful is when she reveals to others their own goodness by teaching them the love God has for them. This is what the late pope termed the feminine genius, referring to how women naturally reveal the goodness of the human person, and thus the beauty of God.
What Blessed Teresa of Calcutta did for the poor every woman can do in her own environment, and certainly every mother should do in her home for her husband and children. What is done at home is perhaps the most fulfilling "work" of women, but there remains in every woman an emotional need to feel that her beauty is appreciated.
Thus, one of the best things a husband can do for his wife is to give real assurances now and then that she is still beautiful in his eyes, no matter how the world or culture might evaluate her. That is the real essence of a romantic gesture for most women. Affirmation of the wife’s beauty is a sign that she is appreciated not just as a cook and chauffer for the kids, but as a life-long intimate partner created to live in communion with her husband and to reflect divine beauty in the world.
Valentine’s Day has its roots in Christianity. There are actually several St. Valentines recorded as martyrs of the early Church. But what is it, we may wonder, about this Christian holiday that appeals to popular culture so much that they have embraced it as well? There does not seem to have been much association of the day with romance until Geoffrey Chaucer wrote a poem about marriage that included allusions to Cupid, long associated with the language of love. Since then, there seems to have been a conflation of Cupid and St. Valentine.
Consequently, Valentine’s Day came to be associated with the "courtly love" of the medievals. A man can show affection and committed love to his wife in a multitude of ways, and the romantic traditions associated with Valentine’s Day only begin to scratch the surface of the many expressions of love a husband can exhibit toward his beloved. Unfortunately, such expressions all too often remain somewhat hidden from the wife and, as a result, that love is not experienced with the force it should have. True Christian love always reveals itself to the person who is the object of that love.
There is no necessity to celebrate Valentine’s Day, as it is not a Holy Day of the Church. But for those who choose to observe it, it could be an opportunity to celebrate human love in all of its dimensions, including the romantic, which are part of God’s gift to husbands and wives in the ancient and blessed bond of marriage. May those expressions of love between husbands and wives be for our culture an authentic reflection and reminder of the love God has for each of us.
Even though the spring season does not officially begin for several more weeks, we have been given a taste of its sweetness with numerous warm weather days in recent weeks, making us long for the day when not only the snow piles have completely disappeared, but the threat of new ones being formed also has passed.
The Church season that corresponds with springtime is Lent. In fact, this special season derives its very name from the Anglo-Saxon word lencten, meaning spring. One of the characteristics of spring is the extreme nature of its weather patterns. The atmosphere gets churned up as warm air from the south pushes upon the cold fronts of the north, sometimes creating big temperature swings, as well as tumultuous storms with floods and tornados.
The Lenten season is meant to be disruptive to our spiritual routine, much as the spring season stirs up weather patterns. Too often we Christians (me included) fall into our usual commitments for Lent that may involve giving up a couple of things at table and adding a couple of things to our spiritual diet. The Church recommends these very things, so there certainly is no reason to change course entirely. However, our failure to challenge ourselves in spiritual things typically is simply the result of failing to make the effort to examine ourselves thoroughly before Lent arrive. In other words, we can easily settle for our ‘default’ Lenten routine if we have not taken the time to reflect seriously on what changes the Lord (and we) would really like to see.
As a result of our busy lifestyles, many of us are guilty of allowing spring to take us by storm without our ever stopping proverbially ‘to smell the roses.’ We take the beautiful changes in nature for granted simply because of the many worldly distractions we allow to rule our lives. For example, most people easily can identify the term "March Madness" with the proliferation of NBA basketball games on television. Many rejoice when the championship game finally arrives simply because they are wanting to engage in a some conversations that don’t include basketball.
While certain cultural obsessions are foisted upon us with little chance that we can avoid contact with them, Lent provides each Christian with the opportunity to stir things up by our own choice and in our own way in order to change ourselves and society for the better. For this to happen, however, we must give some forethought to what specific changes in my life are needed and what resources the Church provides to help me to effect such changes. The Catholic Church offers so many helpful ways for us to grow spiritually that we only have ourselves to blame if Lent is not fruitful for us.
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, March 9. Plan now to make this Lent the best 40-day journey of your life. Keep Jesus in the Eucharist at the center of your Lenten routine, and make God’s Holy Word part of your master plan as well. Include some serious prayer and sacrifice and you will have a recipe that is sure to be a winner. Now, enjoy the sweet taste of spring, and prepare to relish the great spiritual fruits of Lent!
People suffering from physical and emotional problems look to physicians or counselors to relieve them of their pain. They want to experience the good news that they are healed. Why not evangelize them with the Good News of Jesus, the Divine Physician? Jesus healed the blind, the lame, and the lepers who went to Him with faith (see Mt. 15:30).
To those who suffer, we can proclaim the Good News of Jesus’ love for them and His desire for their happiness. We can pray with them, asking Jesus to heal their illnesses. At Mass Jesus comes to us in the Eucharist. We can take people to Mass where they can experience Jesus healing their hearts, their souls, and even their bodies.
A special Healing Mass is celebrated quarterly at Blessed John XXIII Diocesan Center in Lincoln. People gather to pray for each other and to request Jesus’ healing touch. The prayers and Scriptural readings bring clarity and understanding. The touch of Jesus experienced during the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick brings His strength and assurance. The consecration of the Eucharist and the reception of Holy Communion bring Jesus’ sacramental Presence. People then can invite Him into the very source and place of their pain so that He might heal and comfort them.
At the Mass the congregation has the opportunity to call out to Jesus for healing infirmities. Jesus comforts and strengthens them. They leave the Chapel revived in faith and filled with joy from the powerful union of love with Jesus. Some physical healings may occur, or begin to occur, at Mass. Many feel a deep inner spiritual and emotional healing, which increases their faith in Jesus.
The Eucharist is exposed in the monstrance following Mass. A priest slowly processes with the Blessed Sacrament around the church, during which prayers for healing of a wide variety of physical, emotional, and spiritual ailments are recited, directing God’s healing grace to peoples’ specific needs. Those in the pews gaze at the humble loveliness of the Lord Jesus and often sense His peace entering into their hearts. Benediction provides participants with a profound blessing by Jesus as He pours out His powerful love. Gentle music, along with the sweet harmony of people softly chanting in tongues at a few key moments, brings the participants a soothing sense of Jesus’ consolation.
After Mass the St. Benedict prayer group, which sponsors the Healing Masses, hands out blessed water and salt for people to use in their homes, cars and offices, as well as at their meals. When used in faith, these sacramentals help people pray for God to remove demons, heal illnesses, and bring the peace of the Holy Spirit into their lives.
If we want to spread the Good News of Jesus to family and friends, we can take them to a Healing Mass and help them to ask Jesus to heal any and all wounds and pains they have. Jesus is waiting to heal, comfort and encourage them. The Mass brings them into closer contact with Jesus, the Divine Physician, Who dearly loves them and wishes to unite Himself more intimately with them.
The next Healing Mass is scheduled for Sunday, March 13, from 1 to 3 p.m. at Blessed John XXIII Diocesan Center, 37th & Sheridan Blvd., Lincoln. All are welcome.
We are invited into more intimate union with Jesus whenever we are with others, especially with those who share our faith. The most profound and obvious encounters with Jesus take place at Mass. Dr. Tom Curran’s book, The Mass: Four Encounters With Jesus That Will Change Your Life (our current One Book One Diocese selection) outlines four distinct ways that we come into contact with Jesus at Mass: in the community, in the Word, in the priest and in the Eucharist. This reflection examines the first of these four encounters—namely, meeting Christ in the community.
Dr. Curran identifies three attitudes that prevail among those gathered for the liturgy: uninterested spectator, critical observer, alert readiness. He spends little time with the first because of the obvious problems with such a contemptible disposition. Being merely a spectator suggests that one is not even participating, which casts suspicion upon one’s motivation for coming to Mass at all. The critical observer misses Christ’s appearances and is instead distracted: by who is seated ahead of him, by what the usher is doing, by when the Mass will conclude, by where the readings are in the missalette, by why the music director chose a particular song, by how the Lector pronounced a word, etc. This attitude invites multiple distractions that prevent us from encountering Jesus in precisely the place where we are called to meet him first at Mass—that is, in the community of the faithful.
Adopting a disposition of alert readiness for the ways in which Jesus shows up at Mass helps us to prepare our minds and hearts for the many graces Jesus has in store for each and every participant at each and every Mass. This begins with our reverent and quiet entry into the worship space, typically blessing ourselves with holy water that reminds us of the gift of divine life given to us through Baptism while honoring our triune God, signing ourselves in the name of the Holy Trinity. Our genuflection is our next sign of reverence that we share in common with other believers as a way to recognize that we are gathered not only in each other’s presence, but in the Real Presence of Jesus in the tabernacle. We come together with a common need for God.
We begin Mass with an acknowledgement of our common state of sinfulness. We beg for the Lord’s forgiveness together, acknowledging that the Church gathered at Mass is much larger than what we see with our eyes. It includes the Blessed Virgin Mary and all the angels and saints whose prayerful intercession we request during the Confiteor ("I confess…") and whose presence is often depicted in pictures, statues and stained glass. We then join those same angels and saints in giving glory and praise to God while praying the Gloria (except during Advent and Lent). Our awareness of the presence of these non-corporeal persons worshipping with us at Mass can help us to focus on what is important and be ready for further encounters with Jesus.
While our prayer with Christ in the community gathered at Mass continues throughout the celebration, being especially mindful of our meeting with Him through others will help us to be ever more ready to encounter Him more intimately as Mass progresses. Stay tuned!
The Word of God may well require something of me today it had not demanded yesterday; consequently, in order to perceive this demand, I must, in the depths of my being, be open and attentive to the Word.
-Hans Urs von Balthasar
This insight introduces Chapter Three of The Mass: Four Encounters With Jesus That Will Change Your Life by Dr. Tom Curran, which will provide the content for this reflection on how Jesus encounters us in The Word of the Lord. Whether we are listening to God’s Word at Mass or during our private reading of Scripture, the disposition needed to make this activity fruitful is that of openness and attentiveness. This rarely comes naturally, but Dr. Curran convincingly makes the case that it is well worth the effort required.
Most church-goers are familiar with the twofold structure of the Mass. The Liturgy of the Word consists of everything from the First Reading to the Prayers of the Faithful, which is then followed by the Liturgy of the Eucharist. It is good to note that the seated posture in which we enjoy most of the scriptural proclamation is one of active receptivity, not passive inactivity.
As Dr. Curran notes, "It’s easy to think of standing as an active and alert posture, and sitting as a passive and inactive posture." Rather, he points out, "It’s as if God is saying to us, ‘Please sit down, I have something to say to you’." Just as the Word of God is living and active (see Heb. 4:12), so must we be, especially at Mass. If we truly expect that Jesus has a message specifically for me each time I encounter His Word, we will tend to be more attentive to it.
Group Bible studies have become increasingly popular of late. New methods of explaining and presenting its structure and its teachings are not only well accepted, but have proven quite useful in helping readers to appreciate God’s Word. However, as Dr. Curran puts it, "If we relate to the Bible as a divinely inspired Owner’s Manual, we will not expect or seek an encounter with Jesus Christ when we read it." He adds, "We read the Bible to meet the Author, God Himself. That’s interaction! We can do this because Jesus Christ is the Word of God."
Think of reading the Bible (or hearing the Word proclaimed) like answering the phone, wherein you expect to hear a voice when you answer. We should expect to hear the voice of God in His Word, at once capable of revealing our sinful attitudes and healing our hidden wounds. We profit from having our ears and hearts open so that we can respond to God’s Word with gratitude ("Thanks be to God!"), be it comforting and consoling or convicting and challenging.
In the Responsorial Psalm, the Church personalizes our responses for us, putting them generally in the first person: "In you, Lord, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame" (Ps.31). Even if the emotions expressed in the Psalm do not reflect our own at the time, they are being experienced by many other members of the Body of Christ, with whom we are united at Mass.
Finally, we stand up in response to Jesus’ imminent personal message for us from the Gospel. We even bless our mind, our lips and our hearts before hearing what He has to say, signifying that we are ready and open to receive His Word. Copious faith and trust are required when we do not know what God has in store for us, but our posture and receptive disposition say, "Lord, I’m ready for whatever you have in store for me; bring it on!" More to come…
Although failure to observe the paschal solemnity would be a very grave offense, it would be still more dangerous to take part in the liturgy without sharing in our Lord’s passion…We can give authentic worship to the suffering, dead and risen Christ only if we ourselves suffer, die and rise again with him.
- Pope St. Leo the Great
These words introduce Chapter Four of The Mass: Four Encounters With Jesus That Will Change Your Life by Dr. Tom Curran, which will provide the content for this reflection on how we encounter Christ in the Priest, particularly during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
Dr. Curran begins with a personal anecdote describing when he and his buddies were viewing a questionable movie that had been taped over the film Jesus of Nazareth. At one point, the screen image broke up and the scene of Jesus being scourged at the pillar broke through for several seconds before the movie they were watching re-emerged on the screen. Shortly afterward, the movie was turned off because the viewers could no longer watch it without experiencing considerable guilt.
This example of how a properly formed conscience is meant to work in every Christian has its roots in the formation received at every Mass we attend, which is a re-presentation of the Paschal Mystery—that is, the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus. The mystery of God’s ability and willingness to suffer and die for our sakes is a foundational theme of the Mass, which takes us to the cross at Calvary through the timeless event of the Last Supper. Jesus continues to break through time by "showing up" (a recurring theme of the book) at Mass in the gathered community, in the Word, in the priest and ultimately in the Eucharist.
The Liturgy of the Last Supper that we just celebrated on Holy Thursday places a special focus on the presence of Christ in the Priest as he celebrates Mass. This point is given emphasis when the priest washes the feet of men representing the Twelve Apostles, but is no less evident in the prayers that the priest celebrant offers on behalf of the community or when he acts as alter Christus (another Christ) while reciting the very words of Jesus at the consecration. The divine power of the Holy Spirit is called upon by the priest first at the epiclesis, when the bread and wine are blessed, and again at the consecration when they are changed into Christ’s Body and Blood. Finally, at the anamnesis (remembering), we encounter Jesus the High Priest not only as we recall what He did for us, but also by entering presently into the Paschal Mystery that is made possible only through the ministry of a priest as he offers the Sacrifice of the Mass for us.
Dr. Curran notes, "By the power of the Holy Spirit, the priest makes Jesus’ own sacrifice on the Cross present at Mass." This miracle of God, accomplished exclusively through men who have received the Sacrament of Holy Orders, allows all in attendance to present themselves at the foot of the cross and to join their sacrifices with that of Jesus to make a perfect offering of praise and thanks to the Father. Because the offering of our very lives is signified in the Presentation of the Gifts to the priest, Dr. Curran explains, "To go to Mass is to face this dramatic moment when God calls you to be "all in" for His purpose for your life, to give yourself to Him once again."
As indicated by St. Leo in the opening quote, "authentic worship" is only accomplished when we unite our daily crosses to the redemptive suffering and death of Jesus. And that is precisely what can and should be accomplished every time we attend Mass. Tune in once more as we explore how Christ is really and truly present in the Eucharist, the focus of the final chapter of The Mass.
As the Easter season continues, we find ourselves rapidly approaching Pentecost. Have you been reading and listening to the daily Mass readings? The disciples who met Jesus and followed Him were devastated when the King they thought had come in power had died. They were stunned when He visited them and ate with them, and afraid when He told them to tell others about Him.
The early disciples encountered Jesus Christ in their daily lives. They were ordinary people. Peter witnessed Jesus walking on the water and then, lo and behold, Jesus invited Peter to walk on the water! Peter had denied Christ three times and all of the Apostles found it hard to wait and pray even one hour with Him in the Garden of Gethsemane. Yes, they were weak and afraid.
Then they came together in the Upper Room, waiting for the Spirit. Mary was with them when the room shook with the wind (breath) of the Holy Spirit. Many amazing things happened to the Apostles as tongues of fire settled upon them. They were no longer afraid and timid.
These men finally understood the teachings of Jesus. Peter went out and preached boldly and fearlessly about His Lord and King, Jesus Christ. The apostles’ hearts were on fire with love of God and neighbor. They gave anointed witness to those in their midst. People saw the authenticity of their witness and wanted what they had found.
As the Feast of Pentecost approaches, are we praying and waiting for the coming of the Spirit? The gifts the Holy Spirit gave us at Baptism and Confirmation are for strengthening the Body of Christ. Are we using those gifts? Are we docile to what He is asking of us? Are we gathering to learn our Faith so that we are prepared to share it with others?
Jesus commanded us: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age" (Mt. 28:18-20). This message is still being proclaimed by Jesus to every Catholic—indeed, to every Christian disciple.
People today are in great need of what Jesus offers through His Church. He is the Good Shepherd seeking out His many lost sheep. He offers forgiveness of sin, redemption and eternal life. He offers Himself in the Eucharist and in relationship with us, and He offers the power of the Holy Spirit to be active in our lives.
We need to respond to Jesus’ offer. He is waiting for us. There is a vacuum in the heart of each of us made by God and for God, and until we fill it with God we will not find peace. The Christian Faithful are to give form to the world from within by their prayer, their example and their magnanimous charity. What the soul does for the body Christians do for the world. Yet, while we must be in the world, we are not to be of the world.
Have you heard where the Holy Spirit is sending you as a disciple, as an apostle? There are people in the lives of each of us who are waiting to hear about Jesus and the peace He alone can give. How do we go about sharing Christ’s love with them?
First we develop our own relationship with Jesus through prayer, Sacraments, community, and study. Then we reach out in friendship and become ready for the opportunities the Holy Spirit gives us. He will bring people to us to love, to nurture, to lead to Him. The Holy Spirit will give us the courage and the love to invite these folks into a relationship with Christ and His Church.
Be not afraid. Many are waiting for what Jesus has to offer through you.
The One Book, One Diocese summer selection is entitled, A Life with Karol: My Forty-Year Friendship with the Man Who Became Pope by Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz. For those of us who aspire to be saints one day, getting to know Blessed John Paul II a little better can be at once a source of inspiration and a roadmap to holiness. From this pseudo-biography, the reader gains insight into the private man who took center-stage as a popular and active modern-day pope.
The structure of this work is somewhat different from what we are accustomed to when reading a typical biography. Cardinal Dziwisz serves as the editor of a narration about John Paul by Gian Franco Svidercoschi whose words are italicized throughout the work to help the reader distinguish between his voice and that of Dziwisz, the latter’s being characterized by normal type. These two "speakers" attempt to reveal some of the mystery behind the man by beginning their coverage of the major events of Karol’s life in Poland, followed by his years in the Vatican.
The millennial celebrations of the faith in Poland, his relationship with Cardinal Wyszynski, the building of the church in Nova Huta and his role in the Second Vatican Council are all part of the rich background in the making of this prominent philosopher, theologian, preacher, teacher and churchman who becomes arguably the most influential pope in modern times. During his papacy, John Paul’s major themes and events are brought to the fore, such as: his numerous encyclicals, his world travels, the World Youth Day event he established, the new ecclesial movements he inspired and approved, and the Third Millenium celebrations. Getting special attention is the assassination attempt on the pope’s life and his influence in the eventual fall of communism.
The book is informative while being enjoyable to read, as it does not take on a scholarly or technical tone. The author uses this work to pay tribute to the man whom he considered a father and a teacher to him. These churchmen not only shared an abundance of time together, strengthening their bond of friendship; they also shared a simple love for Catholicism, for their priesthood and for the Church. If the reader is looking for an unveiling of John Paul’s hidden weaknesses, quirks or peculiarities, he will be disappointed. But that is not to say there is not a lighter side to what is contained within the pages.
While most people are familiar with John Paul’s athleticism and his love for skiing as a young man, few are aware that he made more than a hundred secret expeditions outside of the Vatican to sneak away quietly to a mountain to hike, ski or simply to enjoy some prayer in the Great Outdoors. Dziwisz even confesses to cooperating in the schemes to sneak the Holy Father past the Swiss guards without detection. Both took delight in their successful secret escapades.
In the end, the reader will not be surprised to be reminded that this special pope hailed by many as John Paul the Great is very simply a man of God. He was in love with God and wanted nothing less than for everyone around him to share in that love. Hopefully, all who read this little book will gain not only a bit more understanding of the make-up of a great pope, but also will be inspired by his holiness of life. In what truly matters, the saints actually have no real secrets.
Once the Easter season is brought to a close with the celebration of Pentecost, the Catholic Church follows immediately with Sunday celebrations honoring the Holy Trinity and the Body and Blood of Jesus in the Eucharist (traditionally called Corpus Christi, meaning Body of Christ). This latter celebration should be for Catholics a glorious reminder of what sets us apart from other religions, even our Protestant brothers and sisters who share our faith in Christ.
Many of our parishes still practice the time-honored tradition of a Eucharistic procession after at least one of its Corpus Christi weekend Masses. While Eucharistic hymns are sung, parishioners and ministers of the Mass customarily lead the priest carrying the Eucharistic Lord in a monstrance (also called an ostensorium, or "showpiece") in a procession to three decorated temporary altars set up outside or around the church at which some prayers are said, followed by Benediction. A final solemn Benediction is done at the main altar of the church with special prayers before the Blessed Sacrament is once again reposed to the tabernacle. Simpler and more complex versions of this format are practiced depending upon local custom and circumstances.
This whole special celebration begins with characteristic adoration we offer at Mass. As Catholics we genuflect as we enter the church as an acknowledgment of the Real Presence of Jesus in the tabernacle. We kneel during the consecration at Mass as a humble posture of recognition that Jesus is really and truly becoming present miraculously through the words of the priest and the power of the Holy Spirit. We kneel, genuflect, bow or sign ourselves before receiving Communion to prepare ourselves to receive Jesus into our bodies and souls. We also adore Jesus throughout the Mass through our participation in the prayers and singing.
Benediction (meaning blessing) is a special way of receiving the blessing of Jesus directly from a consecrated host instead of through His minister, the priest or bishop. The humeral veil that removes the priests hands from direct contact with the monstrance holding the host brings emphasis to the fact that the blessing is being received as if Jesus were physically standing before us offering it Himself, because He actually is doing just that—through His sacramental Real Presence, however, instead of His bodily presence (enjoyed only by those in heaven). Through Benediction, offered in many parishes as part of First Friday devotions, we receive the same direct blessing from our Lord that the disciples received 2,000 years ago.
Catholics who truly believe that Jesus is present—Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity—in the Eucharist will make every effort to adore Him at Mass, during Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and in the tabernacle (in any Catholic church) as often as possible. A Christian college professor teaching a Comparative Religions course once had students of different faith backgrounds present their primary beliefs in a nutshell for the class. After a young Catholic man aptly described his faith the professor responded: "If I believed what you Catholics claim to believe, I would attend Mass and worship the Eucharist every day for the rest of my life!"
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (June 26) reminds us of our Catholic belief in the Eucharistic Presence of Jesus. The college professor’s simple reply to our Catholic claims should give us pause to reflect on what it really means to profess Catholicism.
Many Americans sang America recently as we celebrated Independence Day, more commonly known as "The Fourth of July." In this popular patriotic hymn, we proclaim our country to be a "sweet land of liberty" in which we hope to "let freedom ring."
Unfortunately, far too many of us have a limited or, worse yet, mistaken understanding of the "freedom" about which we sing. The final verse of America proclaims God to be the "Author of liberty," and it is to Him that we sing. Freedom is not simply a political autonomy that insulates us from foreign influence, but rather a divine gift to humanity that allows us to live according to God’s precepts. The song America is a prayer, fittingly ending with the invocation, "Protect us by Thy might, Great God, our King." A good king not only protects his subjects; he also provides laws that allow them to live with integrity in peace and harmony with one another.
A lot of us watched impressive pyrotechnic displays recently that solicited oohs and aahs from many a delighted spectator. The heart-stopping blasts and screeching whistles synchronized with colorful splashes of light left many of us in awe of the magnificent sensation that such a spectacle could repeatedly produce within us. Just as the "Wow!" factor of a fireworks display elicits from us an excited response, so should the gift of freedom from sin and its consequences bring forth animated gratitude to God for His mercy and kindness: "Wow, God! You are so good to give us laws that allow us the genuine freedom always to choose what is right and good for ourselves and for others!"
Another popular hymn, America the Beautiful, addresses its message directly to Americans themselves with the following proposal: "America… confirm thy soul in self control, thy liberty in law." Yes, the freedom God gives requires a degree of self control. All too many enlightened modernists summarily dismiss this virtue as irrelevant where freedom is concerned. Au contraire! In fact, this verse emphasizes that American liberty needs to be confirmed in law. In other words, for all to enjoy true freedom, regulatory laws must guide human activity so that we act in accord with God’s moral law that is inscribed not only in nature, but also in Divine Revelation—that is, in Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition.
All of this is to say that authentic freedom—because it comes from God and leads us to God—must be defined in God’s terms, not those of our secular culture. The freedom we truly cherish both as Americans and as Christians is the freedom to do what is right even when it is not what is popular or "politically correct." God is not only the author of freedom; He is the author also of truth, about which Jesus declared, "The truth will set you free" (Jn. 8:32). So, if we truly want to enjoy freedom, we must first seek truth. Jesus declared Himself to be the Truth. Hence, only if we seek and find Him will we be truly free.
When we Americans join together in this quest for truth in Jesus Christ, then not only will God bless America; He also will expressly "shed his grace on thee".
Many of us have read books that we had a hard time putting down. This year’s One Book, One Diocese fall selection is that kind of book. It is "unPlanned," by Abby Johnson.
This true story of a young lady who wanted to help women in crisis situations clearly demonstrates how easy it is for good intentions to be misdirected. Abby admits that she was duped by Planned Parenthood, her employer for eight years, as she progressed from simple college volunteer to acclaimed clinic director. She initially volunteered to help to make abortions rare, but instead she found herself an active part of the abortion industry. By God’s grace, her mind and heart were stirred when a series of events, including the witnessing of an abortion, helping her to realize what the business that employed her was really all about—namely, profit.
Abby’s superiors encouraged her to strengthen the financial viability of her clinic by increasing the number of abortions performed there, an aspect of their "services" about which she felt somewhat ill at ease. Abby had a number of disturbing experiences that opened her eyes not only to what was happening in Planned Parenthood, but also to a transformation that was beginning to take shape in her mind and heart. When she found herself directly participating in an abortion at her clinic, she immediately wanted no longer to have any association with any person or business that provided them, so she resigned her position as director of the local clinic. Her life from then on would never be the same.
Some readers may remember the media stir in late 2009 when Planned Parenthood took Abby Johnson to court (just a few weeks after her resignation), claiming that she had compromised client confidentiality. The case was quickly dismissed by the judge for lack of evidence, and Abby’s former employer has not accused or contacted her since.
Her allegiance has since shifted to the Coalition for Life whose prayerful and peaceful presence outside of her clinic had been instrumental in her change of heart. Her extensive public pro-life testimony continues to help convert the hearts of many who, like her, have been misguided by deceptions and falsehoods put forth by the abortion industry.
One of the most effective modern pro-life initiatives is the 40 Days for Life campaign during which pro-lifers fast and pray for abortion providers and their potential "victims." Their 24/7 presence for 40 consecutive days and nights at facilities that offer abortion services provides a visible witness of their peaceful and prayerful intentions while also giving sidewalk counselors the intercessory support they need in order to be effective. Those who cannot be physically present are asked to offer prayerful support from their own homes.
It was during a 40 Days for Life campaign being conducted just outside the gate of her clinic that Abby began her journey to "the other side." And the rest, as they say, is history.
A Catholic edition of Abby’s book that includes an Introduction by David Bereit of 40 Days for Life and a Foreword by Father Frank Pavone of Priests for Life is called the "Ignatius Press Edition" (2010). It may be purchased at local Catholic bookstores or online. The Introduction issues a warning: "Reading this book could be a life-altering experience!" Why not give it a try?
Many of us who live in rural areas of Nebraska are once again enjoying the marvelous miracle of nature as we watch the crops in the field grow. Abundant rains accentuate the productivity of fertile ground wherever it is found.
The Gospel passages proclaimed at Sunday Masses of late have featured parables that feature seed that is sown. Chapter Thirteen of Matthew’s Gospel is presented in three hearings. A couple of weeks back, Jesus’ parable of the four types of ground on which seed can fall accentuated the need to have "good soil" (faithful Christians) for the "seed" (His Word) to produce thirty or sixty or a hundredfold. Our minds and souls are the very ground that Jesus wants to make fertile so that His teachings might take root and bear spiritual fruits that offer authentic fulfillment to our lives.
The following week brought out the fact that wheat growing among weeds (faithful Christians living in the midst of pagans) not only can survive, but indeed can flourish. We often find that our faith becomes stronger when we respond to challenges, and even attacks, from those around us. Like wheat, we must be deeply rooted in order to survive. We must engage in the battle for truth lest we perish with the weeds.
Finally Jesus proclaims, "The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field" with such great perceived value that he who finds it "out of joy goes and sells all that he has" in order to possess it. The treasure is much like the aforementioned seeds in that it represents a great gift from God—His Word—that requires real sacrifice to obtain. Our spiritual efforts at receiving, studying, discussing, defending and sharing the great gift of Divine Truth found in Jesus naturally bear fruit in our lives. Fidelity and joy are just a couple of the fruits of being "fertile ground" for Jesus.
Natural Family Planning (NFP) Awareness Week spans the final full week of July. It purposely is situated around the July 25th date of the publication of the papal encyclical Humanae Vitae (On Human Life) by Pope Paul VI in 1968. The mindset of those who lived in the radical sixties did not provide fertile ground for receiving the Catholic Church’s reaffirmation of its age-old teaching that using artificial contraception is gravely sinful and that NFP is a divinely blessed gift from God to humanity.
Just as the seed of God’s Word has been all too often ignored, cast aside and even blatantly destroyed, so also the seed of humanity, planted and nurtured in and through the exquisitely designed system we know as human fertility, also has been neglected and abused. A newfound understanding of and appreciation for human fertility is the goal of having annually a week that heightens our awareness of this great gift we know as NFP.
The staff at the FertilityCare Centers in Lincoln and throughout the diocese (with ads that appear regularly in this publication) exist to provide the knowledge and training that couples in their childbearing years need in order to provide God with the fertile ground needed to sanctify His people and build up His kingdom. Learning about and using NFP is just one of many ways that we can help the seeds of God’s love grow.
Those who have visited St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome may recall finding inscribed on the west wall of the narthex of this immense building the names of hundreds of bishops from all over the world who had gathered there on November 1, 1950, to hear Pope Pius XII proclaim the new doctrine of the Assumption of Mary.
I was in high school when I heard the news that the Assumption of Mary was now one of the infallible doctrines of the Catholic Church to be celebrated each year on August 15. I was thrilled about this, not only because the Blessed Virgin Mary was very dear to me, but also because my high school was Assumption High School in Dwight, Nebraska, now blended into Aquinas High School in David City.
Theologically, the doctrine of Mary’s Assumption flows from the doctrine of her Immaculate Conception, which teaches that from the first moment of her conception in her mother’s womb, she had been preserved from Original Sin and its effects, one of which is bodily corruption after death.
Mary’s Immaculate Conception and her Assumption were two gifts that God bestowed upon her because of the special role she was to play as the Mother of the Redeemer. It is comforting to realize that God "custom built," so to speak, this woman who was destined to be the Mother of His Divine Son. All the more reason for us to honor her.
What practical applications can we make to ourselves as we celebrate Mary’s Assumption, body and soul, into heaven? Three possibilities come to mind.
First, Mary in no way earned or deserved these special gifts from God. Like all gifts, they were granted to her for no other reason than that He chose to bestow them upon her rather than someone else. We recall the gospel scene when an anonymous woman in the crowd cried out: "Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you," and Jesus responded: "Rather, blessed are they who hear the word of God and keep it." The fact that Mary mothered Jesus was His gift to her, whereas the fact that she always "heard the word of God and kept it" was her gift to Him.
Second, in celebrating the Assumption of Mary we are recalling the fact that when God called her in death, He called her to come to Him. She didn’t make that decision; He did. She was merely responding to His wish, His desire, which was exactly what she had always done in her life. When she told the waiter at the Cana wedding, "Do whatever He tells you," she was only urging him to do what she had done throughout her life—that is, obey. She is our mentor in that regard.
Third, once we comprehend that the sacred body of Jesus was taken from the body of His Holy Mother, we can better understand how fitting it was that her body was given a special place in God’s plan. We can also see how we always ought to treasure the almost infinite capabilities of this precise machine, known as the human body, and reverence it as God’s marvelous gift to us.
With this year’s Monday celebration of the Solemnity of the Assumption being non-obligatory for Catholics, this feast provides the perfect occasion for our voluntary Mass attendance that day to show our true love and devotion for the Blessed Mother and all that she offers us as a spiritual model and guide.
Evangelization: now there’s a word that many people do not understand and many are even afraid of!
Why? Most often it is because evangelization is not understood, and most folks do not feel they have developed a foundation firm enough to answer the questions of inquirers.
We really need not be afraid of this word, but we do need to learn about evangelization and just what it is because we otherwise will miss opportunities each day to share with others what God is doing in our lives. We are first and foremost sons and daughters of the Living God. Being a member of God’s family through Baptism is a most precious gift, and it can lead to quite an exciting adventure!
There are many kinds of evangelization: teaching, preaching, inviting someone to an event in the parish, meeting your neighbors, talking with someone on the job, sharing how God has answered your prayers, praying for those in need, offering understanding and truth to another…and the list goes on. A chance to evangelize could be presented to us at any minute of the day if we are open to the opportunities that the Holy Spirit offers.
One way to evangelize is to work at being a welcoming parish. This is happening at my parish, St. Michael Church in Cheney. This small parish always has been considered friendly, known by some as "The Little Church with a Big Heart." Today, our little parish finds itself growing rapidly, so it has become more difficult to know our fellow parishioners.
For this reason, the pastor put together a team of parishioners to visit the homes of newcomers and invite them to become active in the parish. He sends a note to each new family soon after they register. Then the home visitation team delivers information about the parish and personally extends a hand of friendship.
The new parishioners are invited to various events and told about the daily life of the parish. They are encouraged to become involved in some aspect of parish life and are given a Bible, a Catechism of the Catholic Church and a history book of the parish. The purpose of the home visit is to meet each family face to face and open the door to friendship and fellowship as they become part of the parish. Each home visit seems to be as meaningful for the visitors as it is for those being visited. The visitors have a renewed interest in meeting all the parishioners they don’t know and themselves have learned more about the goings-on in the parish.
Our relationship with Christ grows as our relationship with the Body of Christ grows. We bring Jesus to newcomers in the act of welcoming them to the parish and they return Jesus to us as we get to know them. Our parish home visits have been a blessing to all involved and it is something that many can do in their parishes informally as much as I am doing it at the behest of my pastor.
As we receive Jesus in the Eucharist and are "sent out" by Him to tell others the Good News, parishes are strengthened and the "joy of the Lord" is experienced. Happy visiting! Happy evangelizing!
Our pilgrims from the Diocese of Lincoln recently returned safely from World Youth Day 2011 held in Madrid. We were blessed to experience this momentous pilgrimage. Now it is time for us to process it.
One of the challenges of a World Youth Day pilgrimage is trying to experience the many Catholic opportunities available without rushing through them in such a way that the lasting benefits are lost. While most of us can appreciate this dynamic from our vacation experiences, what is at stake is so much greater with regard to a pilgrimage. There are so many graces to be gained… and to be lost.
As the leader of our diocesan group of pilgrims (110 strong), my responsibility of keeping track of pilgrims, communicating with guides and drivers, making quick adjustments in our schedule and handling crises could easily deny me the opportunity to get into "pilgrim mode" and thus deprive me of the graces that come from this proper spiritual disposition. The recent trip is my fifth World Youth Day, all of them having been experienced as an administrator and group leader. With eleven other capable priests in my group, I had the wisdom to establish a division of labor, allowing me to make this the most fruitful (and least stressful) of all of my World Youth Day experiences.
The ancient maxim that we need to "stop and smell the roses" is the true challenge of any pilgrimage. When there are so many beautiful things to see, sometimes we take advantage of the opportunity to take pictures quickly as we pass by and then process the significance of what we saw later. It is a useful way of handling the experiential overload involved when enjoying many new experiences in rapid succession. The guide books I bought at several Marian shrines will also help me to appreciate the blessing of being on holy ground at so many religious venues. But I also made a special effort to pray—really pray—at so many extraordinary Catholic sites.
The experience that we as Catholics have most often is the flip side of the coin. Our Catholic rituals as so familiar to us that we can either take them for granted or think they are not very special because they seem so ordinary. The Sacraments of Penance and the Eucharist are prime examples of this Catholic phenomenon. They are so accessible that we often fail to appreciate their value, or we forget that they are extraordinary encounters with Christ and, as such, are meant to be truly prayerful experiences. Our pilgrims had many opportunities to receive the Sacraments. Mass was celebrated daily as a group and various Confession times were also offered. It was quite a sight to see many of our pilgrims confessing to eight of our priests lined up along the front wall of St. Isidore Church in Madrid as we waited to go inside for Mass.
Our whole life is a pilgrimage. No matter what we experience as Catholics—be it on a particular pilgrimage or retreat, or simply from our weekly Catholic routine—we do benefit greatly from working to understand and appreciate the significance of our Catholic Faith—its beliefs, culture, prayers and rituals. The more we do so, the better Catholics we are sure to become.
Most people would describe the Rosary as a prayer aid commonly used by Catholics to practice Marian devotion—and that, indeed, it is. But it can also be a handy helper in the all-important task of evangelization. Let’s examine how this concept can be put into practice.
One of the benefits of the 20 mysteries of the Rosary is that they provide us with an overview of significant events of salvation history from a Christian perspective. Simply put, any informed disciple of Jesus can lay out a rather comprehensive synopsis of what we Christians believe in terms of the mysteries we reflect upon when praying the Rosary. Such an exercise prepares us for evangelizing, something that every Christian is expected to do.
The Joyful Mysteries revolve around the Incarnation—that is, the central mystery of our Christian Faith by which we recognize that God united Himself most intimately to humanity by becoming man in the person of Jesus Christ. In the Nicene Creed we profess our belief that Jesus is "true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father." While recognizing His divinity, we at once acknowledge His humanity, adding that "he suffered death and was buried." The fundamental mysteries upon which we meditate while praying the Rosary resurface each weekend as we profess the solemn dogmas of our Catholic Faith. This prayer thus provides a solid basis for sharing our faith with someone who does not yet enjoy this gift.
The Luminous Mysteries supply the groundwork for proclaiming our belief in the seven Sacraments of the Church that Jesus gave to us. The historical events upon which we meditate can and should reinforce our appreciation of the various ways in which we are privileged to encounter Jesus—namely, in the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist), of Healing (Confession, Anointing of the Sick) and of Service (Marriage, Holy Orders). Most Christians have access to only a couple of these grace-filled opportunities that Catholics can all too easily take for granted. The Sacraments are such a gift—a message worth proclaiming!
The Sorrowful Mysteries offer an abbreviation of our Stations of the Cross, which focus on the redemptive act of Jesus that demonstrates manifestly His radical love for us. In a sense, these mysteries contain the heart of the Gospel message of how far God is willing to go in order to provide for our salvation. Our meditation upon Jesus’ passion leads to sorrow for our sins, a prerequisite for receiving God’s gift of mercy. This basic religious truth becomes much easier to share with others once I have experienced this mercy in my own life.
The Glorious Mysteries complete our spiritual journey with the magnificent promise of eternal life for all who follow Jesus and Mary in their lives of fidelity to God. The spiritual gifts given at Pentecost provide all the members of Christ’s Holy Church with the graces necessary to be raised up with Jesus, Mary and all the saints into heavenly glory. This hope is what sustains us in times of difficulty. As evangelizers, we are to share with others the reason for this hope within us. This final set of mysteries provides just that!
And so, as we pray the Rosary, may our meditation upon its mysteries remind us of the simple message of salvation we are all called to proclaim. We just might be amazed at what an effective ‘evangelization team’ a Rosary and a devout Catholic can make. Let’s all give it a try!
Just look around. Some of the most visible ‘fruits’ of God’s creation are presently being gathered in. This familiar scene is worthy of our attention and reflection.
Many of us have regular opportunities to drive through the rural regions of our diocese. As we do so during this time of year, we doubtless witness the harvesting of the fields, a typical yet noteworthy event for Midwesterners who appreciate the significance of crops in our economy and the farming lifestyle in our local culture. For many, better than usual crop yields and prices are providing profits that cannot be taken for granted, since they so rarely are seen together.
In a familiar hymn we express our gratitude to God for these harvest-time gifts. We sing: "For the fruits of His creation… for His gifts to every nation… for the plowing, sowing, reaping, silent growth while we are sleeping, thanks be to God." We even thank Him for "future needs in earth’s safekeeping." In other words, we are grateful for the land itself, which will produce crops in the future that will provide for families who rely upon the fruits of the soil for their livelihood.
In the third verse we thank God "for the harvests of the Spirit." The third person of the Holy Trinity, the Holy Spirit, works quietly yet diligently, like so many in our rural workforce, in the hopes of reaping a bountiful harvest. As with farmers and ranchers, there are daily ‘chores’ to which the Holy Spirit attends, such as providing a steady inflow of grace into the souls of all who are living in friendship with Jesus. The Spirit also directs all of our actions, if we let Him.
The compliment that St. Paul bestowed upon the faithful of Thessalonica, which we heard in last weekend’s second Mass reading, was bestowed for "receiving the word in great affliction, with joy from the Holy Spirit, so that you became a model for all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia." It was precisely because Paul’s disciples endured with joy the trials that come from being faithful Christians that their behavior was noteworthy. Such authentic and lasting joy is a gift from the Holy Spirit that encourages us as believers and has the power to convert the hearts of those who have not yet welcomed God into their lives.
Our featured hymn also expresses gratitude "for the good we all inherit." On a natural level, we inherit much that is good from our parents and ancestors. Many in our diocese have inherited land passed down for generations that continues to provide for our families. The supernatural good we all inherit is the gift of faith and the Sacraments that help to sustain it. Unfortunately, just as the Prodigal Son squandered the inheritance of his father, so also we often do not take full advantage of the many opportunities available to us that can bolster our faith.
As we thank God for profitable crop harvests, which is ultimately good for everyone, we should thank Him also for the abundance of supernatural gifts we enjoy, perhaps most especially "for the wonders that astound us", but even "for the truths that still confound us." God never ceases to bless us. By our sharing of this profound and encouraging truth with others, we can build up God’s kingdom here on earth so as to prepare ourselves to continue enjoying it in heaven. For all that He continues to bestow on us from above, we exclaim: "Thanks be to God!"
November is known as the month of All Souls. We remember and pray with special devotion for the faithful departed: our loved ones as well as all others who occupy Purgatory. This time of commemoration and prayer can be a springboard for us Christians to grow in closeness to these special members of the Mystical Body of Christ.
Catholics traditionally divide the Mystical Body into three parts: The Church Militant, the Church Suffering and the Church Triumphant. We Christians on earth are "fighting the good fight" as we work out our salvation by loving and serving God in our respective vocations while militantly protecting our souls from the evils of sin and spiritual death. Those in heaven celebrate their personal triumph over sin and death, having been tested and found worthy of intimate union with God and eternal life with Him and all the angels and saints.
The Church Suffering is a bit harder to describe, since we cannot be sure who exactly belongs to this group at any given time. The fact that we pray for the dead signifies that we believe there are people temporarily residing in Purgatory who need our intercessory assistance to bring them to their heavenly reward. Catholic tradition holds that, while the souls in Purgatory can help others with their prayers, they cannot help themselves. They rely solely upon God’s mercy and our prayers. Unless and until the Church canonizes someone a saint, we cannot discern when any given soul from Purgatory completes the purification needed to enter heaven.
A laudable routine is to pray continually for the dead. Our prayers are never wasted. It reasonably can be assumed that if we pray for someone who is already enjoying heavenly glory that God will use our good deed not only to sanctify us, but also to assist other souls that may be in need of help—souls who perhaps have nobody to pray for them. Our very act of praying for the departed heightens our awareness of the spiritual world that is just beyond our senses to perceive, but is very much a force in our mortal lives. As members of Christ’s Mystical Body, we remain united in the Holy Spirit to the souls in Purgatory, as well as to those in heaven.
In the First Eucharistic Prayer at Mass we pray: "Remember, Lord, those who have died and have gone before us marked with the sign of faith…May these, and all who sleep in Christ, find in your presence light, happiness and peace." The Second Eucharistic Prayer includes this petition: "Remember our brothers and sisters who have gone to their rest in the hope of rising again; bring them and all the departed into the light of your presence." Prayer for the souls in Purgatory is not only a traditional Catholic practice; it is a tool necessary for growing in sanctity by staying connected with the departed who can help us with their prayers even as we help them.
Praying for the dead is one of the traditional Spiritual Works of Mercy that members of Christ’s Body can perform with great benefit to themselves and others. As we remember the Holy Souls in Purgatory this month, let us make it our aim to make our own souls more holy by staying in close spiritual contact with those nearing the end of their blessed journey to heaven.
As we prepare for the imminent introduction of the revised translation of the Roman Missal to be used at all Catholic Masses celebrated in English, an ancient Latin axiom, lex orandi lex credendi, helps us to appreciate the significance of the revision.
Translated literally, this phrase means: the law of praying is the law of believing. What this means for us when we gather at the Eucharistic liturgy is that how we pray actually affects what we believe. Put another way, what we say at Mass, as well as how we say it, impacts our faith.
Every word contained in the official prayers of the liturgy is important. Whether addressed to God or spoken to the people, liturgical words voice the faith of the Church. As we begin another new liturgical year with the onset of Advent, the Church is unveiling for us in the English-speaking world a new and improved translation of the theologically rich and beautifully poetic prayers of the Mass. Sadly, we have been subjected to a seriously deficient and inferior version of those same prayers for the past 40 years.
The recent decade-long "labor of love" by a host of English-speaking bishops, linguists, theologians and other professionals offers us an accurate rendering of the official Latin texts of the Mass. Besides being more faithful to the Latin, the new translation provides for much easier recognition of Scriptural references that are the source of so many of our liturgical prayers. Furthermore, we now will have just one official translation of the Roman Missal that will serve the entire English-speaking world, whereas previously there were multiple versions to accommodate a diversity of nationalities and cultures.
Liturgical worship, especially our celebration of the Eucharist, fulfills a basic human need, which is to find a way that we can adequately and appropriately express our love of God and our utter dependence upon Him. When we do this, we need to do it well. It behooves us, therefore, to participate in liturgical worship with the finest resources available. We will be better able to do this once we begin using this more authentic translation of the Roman Missal.
Remember, the way we pray affects the way we believe. While we normally may find ourselves to be resistant to change, we can trust that Holy Mother Church has our best interests in mind as she ushers in a new English translation of the Mass prayers. Perhaps our faith will be strengthened in the process of learning, and even studying, the newly revised texts. Such enrichment should result in a greater personal enthusiasm about the Mass in general.
We are sent out as apostles at the conclusion of each Mass. The new words of dismissal sound much like an official commissioning: "Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord" or "Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life." If we take such words seriously, we hopefully will attract new members to the Church while simultaneously attracting back to the fold those who have drifted away from the regular practice of the faith. The possibilities are endless!
The Church has provided for us a magnificent renewal of the Mass. It is now up to us to help stimulate an analogous renewal of the masses!
Catholicism is something in which every person reading this column undoubtedly shares an interest. Catholic or not, the Church that Jesus established two millennia ago continues to draw the attention of every serious Christian who desires to be connected in an authentic way with the community of believers of the First Century and their charismatic leader, Jesus.
What fascinates so many about the Catholic Church—namely, her teachings and her traditions—has been captured in large part in the recently released series, entitled simply, "Catholicism." The series was filmed in 50 locations in 15 different countries, emphasizing the truly "catholic" (universal) flavor of the Church. Father Robert Barron, the force behind the project, plays host throughout the series, focusing on Catholic saints, art, architecture, literature, music and rituals to bring to life the rich legacy of the Catholic Church and its members.
In a world that is increasingly skeptical about religion, particularly those institutional in nature, these 10 professionally-filmed, one-hour vignettes show how the world, along with the diversity of cultures that comprise it, has been and continues to be influenced by the presence of the Holy Spirit’s activity in the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. These lessons about Catholicism portray God’s Church in a truly positive and inspirational light.
George Weigel, the highly acclaimed biographer of Blessed Pope John Paul II, suggests, "Catholicism could well become one of the most significant efforts ever to advance what Pope John Paul II called ‘The New Evangelization.’ "
What many present-day Catholics lack is a fundamental understanding of and appreciation for their own Catholic faith. Father Barron’s presentations provide something of an antidote to this spiritual malaise. And he does it by bringing to light the splendor as well as the mystery of the Church’s multifaceted history and traditions.
Several parishes in our diocese are hosting a viewing of the "Catholicism" series, most of which include study guides for participants to enhance the learning experience. Some episodes have been aired on the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN), as well as some public television networks throughout the country. Eight of the 10 sessions will be shown over a period of two months at The Falls Reception Center in Lincoln beginning Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012. Parish bulletins and flyers provide more details. Please go to our webpage for information about sessions being held throughout the diocese: http://on.fb.me/vkPLqY.
One day in 1954, Father Luigi Giussani was traveling on a train. From his seat, he observed a group of young people engaging in conversations that were anything but Christian, dealing with secular subjects, including Marxism. It was at that moment that God gave him the grace-filled desire to introduce Christ into the hearts of young people.
He requested permission from his Bishop to leave his assignment as a seminary professor to become a teacher of religion for high school students. This was the beginning of a movement that became legendary not only in Italy, but all over the world. Initially, it was called "Student Youth" and was intended for high school students only, but as the students entered the adult world, their desire to center their lives on Christ continued, and in 1969 the movement became known as "Communion and Liberation" (CL) and was available to anyone who longed for Jesus to be the center of their lives. Today it is active in more than seventy countries in the world. And now it is coming to Lincoln, Nebraska!
Communion and Liberation is known as a "movement." There are many excellent movements in the Church, such as Cursillo, Charismatic Renewal, Magnificat and Focolare. Even our parish-based Light of the World retreats are something of a movement. All of these initiatives aid us in forming a personal relationship with Jesus, while they differ somewhat in their methods. As with other movements, the purpose of CL is to strengthen our relationship with Jesus, and it too has its own method, which includes a weekly meeting known simply as "School of Community."
A spirit of community is considered vital to the movement because we often find Christ in one another. The meetings begin with singing because music, along with all beauty, culture and the arts are viewed as God’s gifts to us, and Christ can be found through them. During meetings, there is a discussion of readings that center on Christ, with an emphasis on the reasonableness of the Catholic faith. The meetings conclude with prayer. Aside from the meetings, the movement encourages events such as retreats, vacations, cultural events, etc., which help to verify the reality of Christ in the beauty of the world.
Communion and Liberation has full papal approval. Blessed Pope John Paul II said of CL: "Today Communion and Liberation proposes an experience of faith that profoundly changes peoples’ lives, because it drives them to a personal encounter with Christ…Let your Movement go on announcing to everyone the beauty and the joy of the encounter with the Redeemer of man." In the homily he preached at Father Giussani’s funeral, Pope Benedict XVI said: "Father Giussani kept the gaze of his life, of his heart, always fixed on Christ. It was in this way that he understood that Christianity is not an intellectual system…instead it is an encounter, a love story; it is an event."
The first meeting of Lincoln’s Communion and Liberation initiative will take place Tuesday, Jan. 31, at 7:30 p.m. at Blessed John XXIII Diocesan Center (37th & Sheridan). All are welcome to come and learn more about it. For more information about this movement, go to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or www.clonline.org.
"Do you go to Confession once a year, or even less frequently? If so, you are missing out. In Confession we can experience one of the most powerful encounters with God available on earth. In this book, Dr. Curran unfolds the five sentences drawn from Confession that will bring you profound peace and spiritual resurrection. Going to Confession once a year will never again be enough."
- Tracey Rockwell, My Catholic Faith Press
The Diocesan Evangelization Committee has chosen "Confession: Five Sentences That Will Heal Your Life" by Dr. Tom Curran as the new One Book One Diocese selection.
Those who have read his book, "The Mass: Four Encounters With Jesus That Will Change Your Life," know that Dr. Curran’s style is very engaging, his outline is always creative and his insights are quite motivational. Those who are new to his writing, as well as those who have enjoyed it in the past, are in for a real treat!
The author outlines his book in three parts, entitled, "On Your Mark." "Get Set" and "Go!" The first part deals with preparing ourselves to receive the gift of God’s mercy. It begins with the simple concept of recognizing ourselves as sinners—that is, seeing ourselves like the blind and the deaf who were healed by Jesus and who are every bit as much in need of His healing touch. And that, Dr. Curran proposes, is the prescription for us all: Be healed!
Part Two deals with five basic parts of Confession, all of which are necessary to enjoy the full benefit of the Sacrament. Catholics learned these steps in some form during their catechism studies: Confession (I did it), Contrition (I am sorry), Petition/Absolution (Please forgive me), Satisfaction/Penance (I will do restitution), and Resolution (I promise to do better). Unfortunately, for many Catholics these steps have become little more than a routine that one goes through on occasion to make ourselves feel better. It is so much more, though, and this section of the book helps us to appreciate how the little sentences spoken in the confessional are important aspects of our everyday spiritual growth, and not just seldom-used memorized phrases.
The final part of the book reflects on our realization that, as the old adage suggests, practice makes perfect. Dr. Curran encourages the frequent use of Confession not because God is keeping track of the total number of times we go, but rather because of the great spiritual fruit that comes from preparing well to receive this gift from God, participating in the Sacrament humbly, and making heartfelt resolutions to improve spiritually. Many of us have a need to improve our mind-set about this great gift. The book cover suggests: "Many Catholics run from Confession. This book will have you running to Confession."
Make a resolution right now to purchase this edifying and motivational book for yourself and also to share it with someone else either by passing it on as a gift or by getting together with others to discuss its contents. The latest edition includes several discussion questions for each of the eight chapters. Reading this book will change your outlook on Confession—if you let it!
Jesus’ final request of His closest followers was: Go therefore and make disciples of all nations. The Good News shared with them was in turn to be shared with others. This message of Jesus has motivated Christians throughout the centuries to build up God’s kingdom on earth by sharing what has been given to them – namely, the Good News of salvation in Jesus Christ.
This "passing on" of the Good News, commonly called evangelization, is a duty of every follower of Christ. Pope Paul VI reminded the Catholic world of this focus in his 1975 encyclical, On Evangelization in the Modern World: "We wish to confirm once more that the task of evangelizing all people constitutes the essential mission of the Church" (n.14). He later adds, "The proclamation [of the Gospel] only reaches full development when it is listened to, accepted and assimilated, and when it arouses a genuine adherence in the one who has thus received it" (n.23).
Our previous pope, Blessed John Paul II, personally rose to this challenge first by living the Gospel message in his own life and then by bringing it to more than 100 nations around the globe. Recognizing the great need for evangelization in our day, he also often reminded Catholics to "proclaim the Good News on street corners and from the housetops" and to be ready to suffer for doing so, much as Jesus did for our benefit.
Pope Benedict XVI is now carrying the torch that his predecessor handed on to him, bearing a flame that burns with the power of the Holy Spirit to convert minds and hearts. Our Holy Father knows well that the message of Pope Paul VI in his encyclical On Evangelization still rings true today: "It must be said that the Holy Spirit is the principal agent of evangelization: it is He who impels each individual to proclaim the Gospel, and it is He who in the depths of consciences causes the word of salvation to be accepted and understood" (n.75).
Later this year, the pope will be gathering bishops and evangelization leaders from throughout the world to discuss how the Holy Spirit is guiding members of the Church to live and spread the Good News in our day. He recently created a new structure within the Vatican to explore ways to implement the "New Evangelization," a term that describes John Paul II’s emphasis on the personal and individual renewal within the members of Christ’s Church that must necessarily precede evangelization ad gentes—that is, "to the nations." The direction and emphasis of this new papal commission will be determined in large part by the fruits of this fall’s meeting.
We can participate vicariously in two ways. First, we can pray for the success of this important gathering. Second, we can and should continue to transform ourselves into the strongest possible Christians, of the sort that not only can explain and defend the Faith, but also of the sort that would be willing to die for it.
Developing such a character surely will be part and parcel to carrying out the New Evangelization that continues to take shape as its implications are studied in greater depth. May we all fire our faith with the Holy Spirit’s power that we might thus bear the fruits of successful evangelization in all aspects of our lives.
A recent directive from our President that violates our First Amendment right to the free practice of religion without interference from the government has given rise to an unprecedented response from Catholic leadership in our country, most especially from our bishops. There is no shortage of commentaries on the proper relationship between church and state as defined by the framers of our Constitution. But there also are plenty that speak specifically to what it means to be Catholic—really Catholic.
A sad state of affairs that has been a "monkey on the back" of the Catholic Church is that we have such a deplorably large number of folks in our land who identify themselves as Catholic while neither living according to Catholic teachings nor thinking with the mind of the Church. The Catholic Church is sometimes called a "sleeping giant" that has protected its turf perhaps a bit too sheepishly over the past couple of decades, but now it seems to be waking up. The sad reality it that current dangers to our institutions are in large part due to a weak Catholic identity.
Regrettably, many of our schools, hospitals, social service agencies and other Catholic organizations have sacrificed their Catholic identity to trends of modernity, to social pressure and to liberal ideologies. As Sacred Scripture reminds us in so many ways, we reap according to what we sow. Where authentic Catholicism is sown, the fruits are plentiful and desirable. Where Catholic identity is weak, or sacrificed altogether, confusion and dissension prevail.
Lent provides an apt setting for Catholics everywhere to examine whether or not they currently are living up to their religion’s high standards. In marriage vows, individuals commit themselves unconditionally to a spouse, stating: "I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad…all the days of my life." We priests often remind couples that this promise is something they need to fulfill on a daily basis, in big ways and in small ways. Catholics identify themselves as Christ’s spouse, His beloved Bride, His Church. As such, we need to reflect daily on how well we fulfill our promises to Jesus. Are we true to Him in good times and in bad, or just when things are going our way, or when my Catholicism is convenient and non-confrontational?
We are rightly incensed when prominent self-styled Catholics give a bad name to our religion while they flaunt their liberal, contemptuous, immoral convictions as somehow being compatible with a Catholic identity. Perhaps the most effective response to such crass displays of ignorance is authentic Catholicism. While we know that a biased media rarely brings faithful Catholics into the public view to represent us (and Jesus) accurately, such would not be a problem if they were to find it really challenging to locate anything but authentic Catholics.
As we fast and pray this Lenten season for the protection of our religious liberties and for our many other intentions, we can help to reinforce the Catholic playing field by being truly Catholic, worthy of the name. Our Reflection upon the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary, the Stations of the Cross, the Divine Mercy, reception of Confession and participation in the Sacrifice of the Mass all help us to recognize our sinfulness and to appreciate our reliance upon the gifts of Jesus. And the gift that encompasses all is our splendid Catholic Faith. May the way we daily live out our faith reveal how much we truly cherish this most wonderful of gifts.
The column title is sure to provoke in most readers the experience of flipping through television channels either to navigate through or to escape from a plethora of college basketball games. This experience is immediately preceded by a concentrated focus on the girls and boys high school state championship tournaments. If you love basketball, March is your month! If you don’t, then turning off the TV for this portion of Lent won’t be much of a penance (but I wholeheartedly recommend it nonetheless).
In our culture, obsession with sports is nothing new. In fact, it is part of what defines American culture. This sad reality comes with a price attached—one that true Christians can ill afford to pay! For many, spectator sports have become their god. One need only observe how many valuable resources—time, energy, money—are expended by those who have become fixated in this aspect of our culture. It’s real madness! And, regrettably, it doesn’t rear its ugly head only in March.
Mr. Webster defines madness in this context as "extreme folly." We should note that folly is defined as "a lack of good sense or normal prudence and foresight" or "a foolish act or idea." It certainly is not befitting a Christian to act with an extreme lack of good sense or to engage in extremely foolish actions or ideas. However, it would seem that just such imprudent choices are being made on a regular basis as we allow sports (or other mundane things) to interfere with what should be top priorities for us (e.g. faith, family, friends, etc.).
The expansion of sports offerings to children who can barely walk and talk, much less write their full name on a registration form, is itself a conspicuous sign that there is indeed a crisis of discretion, while simultaneously propagating the hysteria over sports. In recent times, formerly sacrosanct timeslots such as Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings that were protected for religious instruction and church services have been impinged upon by sports practices, games and tournaments.
To compound the insanity, young impressionable minds have been brainwashed into believing that the consequences of non-participation in such sporting events are far worse than any that could come from missing out on religious instruction or attending Mass. Sadly, many well-meaning parents are key contributors to this confusion of priorities. Our secularized, sports-crazed culture has enticed entire generations of willing participants to worship a host of false gods that readily are placed before the One True God—a serious offense against the First Commandment.
When will such madness come to an end? Not any time soon, to be sure. Nonetheless, as people of principle, we must begin making things right by putting our priorities in order. Such is the task of Lent. Only when our own religious priorities become non-negotiable will we cease to be part of the problem and begin to become part of the solution. Spiritually strengthened by our Lenten discipline, let’s march together out of the madness that surrounds us. Let’s be bold. And let’s be unabashedly Catholic! Our faith, our family and our friends deserve at least that much.
Don’t get mad. Get GLAD!
Leaving aside brand preferences for trash bags, this slogan from an old commercial serves as a useful bridge from our previous reflection of a couple weeks ago regarding the madness surrounding the men’s college basketball field that continues to narrow as the month wears on.
We know that, ultimately, only one team avoids the sadness of defeat altogether and takes home a much-coveted title: NCAA Men’s Basketball Champion! The resultant March Gladness is restricted to the winner, and is temporary at best. But we Catholics have our own source for a similarly seasonal celebration, one that annually commemorates an event of 2,000-plus years ago.
Every March 25, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation (transferred this year, by way of exception, to March 26). It is no coincidence that this feast day falls exactly nine months before we celebrate Christ’s birth on Christmas. Mary’s openness to the message sent to her by God through the angel Gabriel led ultimately to the birth of Jesus, which was a necessary precursor to the many events of a holy life that gained for us the gift of salvation. Now that is good news, and certainly a cause for gladness!
When Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth, her elation at being pregnant with Jesus was evidenced by her words: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior" (Lk 1:46-47). This spiritual euphoria is what every true Christian should experience when contemplating all the great things God has done, not just for Mary, but for each of us as well.
The event of the Annunciation is a climactic point of fulfillment of the most important Old Testament prophecy—namely, that God would send a savior into the world. While we all realize that there is more to the story, this is where the mystery of the Incarnation (God becoming man) began: at Nazareth, in Mary’s womb.
As we recite the Nicene Creed at Mass, we are directed to bow during these words about the Second Person of the Divine Trinity: "…and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man." When celebrating the Annunciation, as on Christmas, our usual bow is replaced with a genuflection, which slows us down during this crucial phrase to accentuate its significance for us. Yes, God really did humble Himself to the highest degree in order to save us from our sins and provide for us the possibility of entering heaven. Aren’t we glad He did? We are indeed, and our gladness is demonstrated in part by our posture of humility when we bend our knee before the Lord God as we profess and proclaim the doctrine of the Incarnation in the Creed.
And so, for us, the March Gladness that follows upon March Madness is not at all restricted. In fact, it must not be so! Our entire faith is grounded in the mystery of the Incarnation. Our joy should be as evident as that of Mary. Our souls internally should proclaim the greatness of the Lord, and our lives externally should rejoice and announce God as our Savior. Such is not the exclusive domain of Jehovah’s Witnesses or Evangelical Christians. It is—it must be—the very source of every Christian’s joy. Christ died and rose for us, and we are glad indeed! Let us not be afraid to show it.
Early in his pontificate, Blessed John Paul II, of happy memory, wrote an encyclical about God the Father entitled On the Mercy of God (Dives in Misericordia, 1980). It is from the first line that encyclicals receive their names, which in this case states: "It is ‘God, who is rich in mercy’ whom Jesus Christ has revealed to us as Father" (n.1). A purview of passages from this beautiful document can be at once instructive and inspirational as we reflect on the Divine Mercy that is so central to the Easter mysteries.
"In Christ and through Christ, God becomes especially visible in His mercy…Christ confers on the whole of the Old Testament tradition about God’s mercy a definitive meaning…He Himself makes it incarnate and personifies it. He Himself, in a certain sense, is mercy" (n.2).
"Jesus makes mercy one of the principal themes of His preaching" [e.g. the Prodigal Son, the Good Samaritan, the Merciless Servant, etc.]. "The Gospel writer who particularly treats of these themes in Christ’s teaching is Luke, whose Gospel has earned the title of ‘the Gospel of mercy’…Christ proclaims by His actions even more than by His words that call to mercy which is one of the essential elements of the Gospel ethos" (n.3).
"In the preaching of the prophets, mercy signifies a special power of love, which prevails over the sin and infidelity of the chosen people…Both physical evil and moral evil, namely sin, cause the sons and daughters of Israel to turn to the Lord and beseech His mercy…Mercy is the content of intimacy with their Lord, the content of their dialogue with Him…Mercy is in a certain sense contrasted with God’s justice, and in many cases is shown to be not only more powerful than that justice, but also more profound" (n.4).
"Mercy is an indispensable dimension of love; it is as it were love’s second name and, at the same time, the specific manner in which love is revealed and effected vis-à-vis the reality of the evil that is in the world" (n.7). The cross of Christ…is also a radical revelation of mercy…The cross is like a touch of eternal love upon the most painful wounds of man’s earthly existence…Love must be revealed above all as mercy and must also be actualized as mercy…Do not the words of the Sermon on the Mount: ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy,’ constitute, in a certain sense, a synthesis of the whole of the Good News?...The paschal Christ is the definitive incarnation of mercy, its living sign" (n.8).
"The Church lives an authentic life when she professes and proclaims mercy—the most stupendous attribute of the Creator and of the Redeemer…In reality the one who gives is always also a beneficiary…In this sense Christ crucified is for us the loftiest model, inspiration and encouragement…On the basis of this model, we must also continually purify all our actions and all our intentions in which mercy is understood and practiced in a unilateral way, as a good done to others…Society can become ever more human only if we introduce…that ‘merciful love’ which constitutes the messianic message of the Gospel" (n.14).
Hopefully, these snippets from Dives in Misericordia will inspire a more thorough reading of this document rich in theology, spirituality and practical insight. The sections devoted to Mary, Mother of Mercy, themselves would make such an effort worthwhile.
As the Easter season progresses, we get a glimpse into the life of the early Church as we listen to the Scriptures that are proclaimed at Mass.
The weekend Mass readings since Easter have highlighted the veracity of the claims that Jesus truly had risen from the dead. Some of the disciples recognized Jesus by hearing His voice, others by touching His flesh and yet others by seeing Him break bread. Today’s disciples witness the very same things at the Eucharistic meal, which encapsulates all of these Easter experiences and celebrates for all time Christ’s saving actions that are contained in what we refer to simply as the Paschal Mystery.
In the Church’s Code of Canon Law, the section on the Eucharist is introduced in this way: "The Most Holy Eucharist is the most august sacrament, in which Christ the Lord himself is contained, offered and received, and by which the Church constantly lives and grows. The Eucharistic Sacrifice, the memorial of the death and resurrection of the Lord, in which the sacrifice of the cross is perpetuated over the centuries, is the summit and the source of all Christian worship and life" (Can. 897). The next paragraph adds: "The faithful are to hold the Eucharist in highest honor, taking part in the celebration of the Most August Sacrifice, receiving the sacrament devoutly and frequently, and worshiping it with supreme adoration." (Can. 898).
When Catholics enter a Catholic church, they typically genuflect toward the tabernacle, if able, as an outward sign in their belief that Jesus is really and truly present—Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity—in the Blessed Sacrament contained therein. The gesture is repeated as Catholics depart from the church. This act of reverence acknowledging the Real Presence of Jesus in the consecrated host is always in danger of becoming routine, consequently sacrificing its potential to bolster our own faith and to attract others to a similar devotion.
One helpful way to avoid allowing this to happen is to make a concerted effort to make the usual sign of reverence in contexts during which Catholics often neglect to do so. Such occasions include: wake services held at church, Baptisms provided outside of Mass, wedding rehearsals, church cleaning, picture-taking sessions, choir practices, visits to unfamiliar churches, etc.
Many of these examples are the very times when there are non-Catholics present who might become intrigued, if not inspired, by our reverent genuflections and other forms of respect shown for the Real Presence of Jesus. We can help non-believers to discover, or even remind our fellow Catholics, what is really real about our Eucharistic faith. Jesus went out of His way after the resurrection to prove to His followers that what they were seeing was not a ghost. On the contrary, the visible Risen Christ was the very same Jesus with whom they had eaten and to whom they had listened earlier. That very same Jesus becomes present at the Mass and abides with us in our tabernacles. Nothing and nobody could possibly be more real!
By the way we act in our Catholic churches, especially as we approach a tabernacle or receive Holy Communion, we proclaim our belief in the Risen Christ hidden therein. In this way, we teach those around us not only what is really real in the visible world here below, but Who we will find to be the very same reality in the heavenly realm above.
The Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis serving the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops recently published a document entitled, Disciples Called to Witness: The New Evangelization. A couple of paragraphs from the Preface can help us to put our current situation into proper context and perhaps lead us to ask ourselves how we might better work on bringing Christ’s peace to the world, one soul at a time, beginning with our own.
"How often do we fail to realize that we are called to be Christ’s witnesses to the world? Do we realize that our Baptism, Confirmation, and reception of the Eucharist bestow on us the grace we need to be disciples? Are we like the disciples staring at the sky rather than inviting those around us to experience Christ’s love and mercy through the Church? How often do we reach out to our missing brothers and sisters by inviting them to join us at Mass or by asking why they no longer feel welcomed at the Lord’s Table? The answers to these questions underlie the evangelizing mission of the Church, especially in the call of the New Evangelization."
"New Evangelization" is a term coined by Blessed Pope John Paul II to describe the need to re-evangelize and re-catechize Catholics who live in Christian cultures (like our own), an idea which challenges the customary notion that evangelization targets only pagan populations in far-away places. The aforementioned document elaborates upon this concept. "The New Evangelization seeks to invite modern man and culture into a relationship with Jesus Christ and his Church. The New Evangelization strives to engage our culture and to help us draw our inspiration from the Gospel. The New Evangelization calls all Catholics first to be evangelized and then in turn to evangelize. While it is directed to all people, the New Evangelization focuses specifically on those Christian communities that have Catholic roots but have "lost the living sense of the faith, or even no longer consider themselves members of the Church."
The document also illustrates the very personal nature of the desired encounter with Jesus. "The New Evangelization is a call to each person to deepen his or her own faith, have confidence in the Gospel, and possess a willingness to share the Gospel. It is a personal encounter with the person of Jesus, which brings peace and joy. The New Evangelization provides the lens through which people experience the Church and world around them. The new Evangelization invites people to experience God’s love and mercy through the sacraments, especially through the Eucharist and Penance and Reconciliation" (Part I).
Other sections describe the historical context and focus of the New Evangelization, a "culture of witness" and the key components of outreach programs. Besides its evident value for personal reflection, this document could be the focus of a valuable study series for parish groups, especially those focused on the work of evangelization.
Another helpful resource is the Diocesan Evangelization Conference to be held in Lincoln September 7-8, 2012. It will feature Ralph Martin, president of Renewal Ministries and appointee to the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization and Sr. Ann Shields, a noted author and speaker often heard on Catholic radio. Make plans now to attend this exciting event that is sure to inspire greater commitment to the New Evangelization in our homes, in our parishes and beyond.
The Easter season ends in grand style each year with the celebration of Pentecost, often identified as the Church’s birthday. The significance of the role of the Holy Spirit in the birth of the Catholic Church cannot be overstated. Likewise, the Holy Spirit’s work in the Church in our day should not be underestimated. Our liturgical celebrations of Pentecost are not simply for memorializing an event of the past; rather, they empower us for the events of our present and future.
My previous column was entitled "Wanted: A New Evangelization." It focused on the challenges posed by the American bishops in their recent publication, "Disciples Called to Witness." We were reminded that it is we who need first to be evangelized before we can fulfill our commission from Jesus to bring the Good News to others. Many Catholics who live in our midst have "lost the living sense of the faith," the bishops noted, and it is our duty to restore it. New Evangelization begins right at home as we renew our own faith so that others might be drawn to (or back to) the Church that Jesus established for us.
In order for this spiritual reinvigoration of the Church to happen, Catholics will need to experience a new Pentecost in their lives, not unlike the one that the Apostles experienced.
Just as The Twelve were gathered together in prayer, open to the promptings of the Spirit, so must we adopt a posture of receptivity with regard to what God has in store for us. In a culture that is becoming increasingly hostile to religion and its free expression, Christians will need to be equipped not only with the truths of the Faith in order to defend the Church; they will also need to be fortified with the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, especially courage, to engage effectively in the battle.
Blessed Pope John Paul II, of happy memory, often spoke about "a new springtime of faith" that he felt was on the horizon as we embarked on the Third Millennium of Christianity. In effect, he was prophesying the onset of a new Pentecost to bolster the Church in our times. This new Pentecost would likely take the form of a collective renewal of faith.
Undoubtedly, our present Holy Father hopes to use the Year of Faith set to begin in October as a means to ignite the new springtime that his holy predecessor foretold.
With those same goals in mind, our Diocesan Evangelization Conference, set for Sept. 7-8, is entitled, "A New Pentecost for a New Evangelization." The title itself reflects what has been suggested above—namely, that openness to the gifts of the Holy Spirit allows us to be revitalized so that we can become catalysts for renewal in the Church. The presenters intend to provide for participants a renewed focus on our apostolic duty to evangelize.
The conference comes just before the world-wide Synod on Evangelization to be held in Rome. Dr. Ralph Martin, one of the American consulters chosen to serve on the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization, will be a conference speaker. He will join Sister Ann Shields in offering a host of ideas of how a new Pentecost can take shape in the Church and how each of us might be involved.
It is not by accident that the organization these popular speakers represent is called Renewal Ministries. Hopefully, they will help to spark a new Pentecost here in our own diocese.
The canonization ceremony for the first Native American to be declared a saint by the Catholic Church will be held Oct. 21, Mission Sunday. The "One Book, One Diocese" selection for this summer features the saintly young woman to be honored that day in a book entitled "Kateri Tekakwitha: Mohawk Maiden."
This book can be enjoyed by members of the family from the pre-teen years on up. A very accessible story was chosen to allow Catholics of all ages to become familiar with a local girl’s extraordinary rise to holiness in a rather ordinary fashion. The book can actually be read in just a few sittings as it simply illustrates various highlights from the life of Kateri’s mother before doing the same in regard to her saintly daughter. A holy parental influence is made clear as each woman’s tenacity develops into the virtue of courage.
Perhaps the most remarkable quality of Kateri is how unremarkable her actions typically were. The story revolves without fanfare around the life of a young girl who escaped from her anti-Christian tribe to find the freedom to live a life totally devoted to God. She was a product of the selfless and courageous work of missionary Jesuits (North American Martyrs) who literally gave their lives in a heroic effort to convert the ferocious Iroquois Indians. Not surprisingly, many of Kateri’s experiences with the Mohawk tribe mirrored those of the Jesuit missionaries. The purity she retained in trying circumstances earned her the nickname Lily of the Mohawks.
This biography is a bit different from most publications of the life of a saint, but it definitely captures the imagination as it takes the reader to a time and place very unfamiliar to us. The 17th Century was without any of the modern conveniences of our day, and the Native American culture and lifestyle of that era is something few of us can appreciate. This little book opens our eyes to the simplicity of living close to the land and the serenity of living close to the Lord.
What this selection lacks in details about Kateri’s life, it makes up for in enticing the reader to want to learn more about this gentle young saint and to delve deeper into one’s own spiritual life.
Many of the saints themselves were known to have read the writings of and books about saints who preceded them. Our own desire for sainthood can be richly enhanced by a continuous growth in familiarity with the saints of all times and ages. Kateri reached sainthood by the time of her death at the young age of 24, which should provide us with confidence in our own potential, especially considering the abundant spiritual resources at our disposal.
At the very least, reading about Kateri’s trials and challenges will help us to appreciate how generously God has blessed us with Catholic resources of every kind. We bear for life the onus of responsibility to use such gifts wisely and well, so as to be numbered also among the saints of God.
Those who have traveled lately through Nebraska, or anywhere in the Midwest, surely were able to detect noticeable variations in the health of the crops in the fields. With an early spring that allowed for early planting with generous rains that followed, many of us saw tasseled corn in June for the first time ever. But even as we marvel at the flourishing of many of our crops, we see also so many fields that are starved for rain. The roots of the plants cannot reach deep enough to find the moisture they need to sustain life. Indeed, some crops already have been declared "a total loss" with so much of the growing season yet before us.
Jesus often used rural images like this one to teach about spiritual realities. Relatively little insight is required to see a phenomenon present in the spiritual realm in our culture that is analogous to what we observe quite easily in the agricultural realm in our fields. Christianity has flourished in our land over the past couple of centuries. In fact, one can easily make the argument that our country’s Constitution was itself formulated upon Christian principles, with the assumption that Christianity would not only continue to be the predominant religion of the land, but also would be the guiding force for the establishment of laws and the development of culture in this place where religious freedom is allegedly a foundational right for all who choose to live here in the "land of the free."
Unfortunately, safeguards like the "blue laws" that once protected the Lord’s Day from becoming "just another work day" or "just another shopping day" have all but disappeared. In fact, if laws on the books seem to be rooted in the Ten Commandments or any other aspect of Judeo-Christian tradition, they are forthrightly challenged as to their legitimacy in our pluralistic society. Such shifts in our society have made it harder to make religious practice a normal part of everyday life. But we Christians simply cannot allow this trend to continue unchecked lest we become fearful of living as the evangelizing disciples that Jesus wants us—nay, needs us—to be.
The laissez-faire attitude of many Americans regrettably has led to a very casual approach to almost everything we do, including religious practice. When Christians are not even committed enough to attend church services on a regular basis as a minimal fulfillment of God’s command to keep the Lord’s Day holy, spiritual dehydration progresses rapidly.
Many of the plants in the fields are green and look quite good on the outside, but having been without water for so long, they may actually be on the brink of death. So also are people who have developed a cavalier attitude toward committed church attendance and prayer, not to mention following conscientiously the other statutes of God and His Church. Just as our crops still have to weather some hot days ahead—and perhaps even some rough storms—so also we Christians must combat a culture that is increasingly hostile to our beliefs, values and practices.
So, drink up! Our Catholic Church provides so very many wonderful spiritual resources. We need only to avail ourselves of them. If we are going to be able to "brave the heat", then we must first be active in satiating our spiritual thirst. Spiritual starvation must never be an option!
In a few short weeks, Catholics from throughout the diocese and beyond will gather in Lincoln for what promises to be an extraordinarily privileged event— the evangelization conference entitled, "A New Pentecost for A New Evangelization" featuring Dr. Ralph Martin and Sister Ann Shields. You might ask: Why is this particular event so special? For a partial answer, read on. For the complete response, come and see for yourself by signing up today!
Two principal things draw people to conferences: the subject matter and the presenters. With this conference, we have real winners on both fronts. It would be difficult to exaggerate how very pertinent to our times the topics are. Just as the power of the Holy Spirit set the Catholic Church aflame two millennia ago at that first Pentecost event, so also we must be empowered by the Spirit in our day in order to respond to the challenge of protecting and preserving the faith and morals of that same Church that Jesus established for our salvation.
The first two presentations to be made by Dr. Martin take up this challenge. A New Pentecost can only happen if we let it happen—nay, if we make it happen. The New Evangelization that Blessed Pope John Paul II recently introduced to the world is predicated on the fact that we need to re-invigorate our own knowledge of and commitment to our Catholic Faith before we can hope to actualize a much-needed transformation of our culture.
The two mid-conference talks, to be given Saturday morning by Dr. Martin and Sister Ann, respectively, focus on our need to unite ourselves intimately with God through prayer and service, a task best accomplished only after experiencing personal conversion in mind and heart. Our column title, "Opening Minds and Hearts," reminds us that we have to take the first step in our own self-improvement before God by disposing ourselves to His wisdom and grace. Only then can He accomplish His will and carry out His plan in our lives.
In the final two sessions, Sister Ann will help participants focus on our role as disciples in the 21st Century. She will reiterate the function of the New Evangelization in our times and help us to equip ourselves for the challenges—indeed, the battles—brewing on the horizon of our culture, which has become increasingly anti-Christian, anti-family and anti-life.
Dr. Ralph Martin and Sister Ann Shields are uniquely qualified to prepare us to meet the challenges before us. Both have extensive experience helping Catholics to fan the flame of the Holy Spirit living within them. Their credentials are too extensive to list here, but their ongoing work with Renewal Ministries is easily accessed online.
For more information about the conference, see the accompanying ad and registration form. View the full conference schedule at: dioceseoflincoln.org. I hope to see you all there!
A year ago, Pope Benedict XVI declared that the Catholic Church would celebrate a Year of Faith from October 2012 until November 2013. At the time it seemed that this affair was being announced so early that nobody would bother to take notice. But now its start is just around the corner—and plenty of folks have taken notice!
Now is a fitting time for each of us to take stock of our Catholic Faith. How well do I know its teachings? How well do I live its precepts? How connected am I to my parish? How often do I receive the Sacraments of Confession and Communion? How many of the Church’s resources do I use on a regular basis? These and a host of other questions can help us to assess areas of our faith life that could benefit by taking full advantage of the upcoming Year of Faith.
One of the advantages of the pope’s surprisingly early advertisement of this special year is that many Catholic leaders got busy early in developing resources to promote spiritual growth during the Year of Faith. Many of these resources are programs that will be promoted and sponsored by parishes. Others were developed specifically for use by small faith communities—established ones or newly-formed ones. Yet others possess the flexibility to be used individually or in group settings. In any case, there are many resources from which to choose.
We should begin thinking now about the particular areas of our faith that need improvement, and then pledge to do specific things that will foster growth where it is most needed. We could discover some common needs or interests that may be offered at the parish. Examples of such are: parish devotions, such as Eucharistic Adoration, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, the Rosary, etc.; a parish Bible Study; an Adult Catechism course or RCIA; prayers for the return of inactive Catholics; discussion groups for One Book, One Diocese selections.
We also can do some things individually to stimulate our spiritual growth. Making a parish retreat (Light of the World, 40 Hours, Parish Mission, etc.) or an individual retreat at Our Lady of Good Counsel Retreat House (Waverly) would constitute a tremendous personal vow that would reap abundant spiritual fruit. Other ideas include: committing to attend Mass on weekdays; arriving early to pray the Rosary in preparation for Mass; reading a daily devotion booklet; praying daily with the Sacred Scriptures; learning some new prayers; subscribing to a good Catholic publication; weekly acts of service to the needy; joining a parish organization.
As the Year of Faith coincides with the 50th Anniversary of the Second Vatican Council’s launch, our observance also could include reading some key documents that came out of that momentous meeting, such as the Constitutions on Divine Revelation (Dei Verbum), on Liturgy (Sacrosanctum Concilium) or on the Church (Gaudium et Spes, Lumen Gentium).
If we truly hope to join the Holy Father in observing the Year of Faith, we must plan now to set aside some of the time habitually spent on recreation (e.g. television, internet) for a more worthy cause—namely, our spiritual growth. Any and all genuine efforts in this regard surely will be rewarded with God’s copious graces. Make plans now for a fruitful Year of Faith.
O my God, I firmly believe that You are one God in three Divine Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I believe that Your Divine Son became man and died for our sins and that He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all the truths which the Holy Catholic Church teaches because You have revealed them, who can neither deceive nor be deceived. Amen.
One of the prayers that we were taught as children is known as the Act of Faith (shown above). It focuses upon three basic beliefs: God is a Holy Trinity; Jesus died for all sinners and will come again to bring people of faith to heaven; Jesus established the Catholic Church to protect and proclaim the truths of salvation. This succinct prayer really says it all!
In the Diocese of Lincoln, the Act of Faith is taught in the fourth grade. The fifth grade text is entitled, Credo: I Believe. Not surprisingly, its primary focus is the contents of the Apostles’ Creed, a prayer that was learned back in the third grade. As we know, this ancient prayer outlines the fundamental doctrines of Christianity and serves as a summary of the teachings handed down to us from the Apostles. Perhaps the most obvious "act of faith" is the public profession of what we believe, which takes place on a regular basis when Catholics pray together the Apostles’ Creed at the beginning of the Rosary or Divine Mercy Chaplet, or when they profess together the more detailed Nicene Creed at Mass.
One of the most noticeable changes in the recent new translation of the Nicene Creed is that the first Latin word of the prayer, "Credo", was translated correctly in the singular tense, "I believe" (replacing the inaccurate rendering, "We believe"). While we typically live out our faith in a public manner, faith itself (what I believe) is a rather personal thing. Thus, it is important for us to take individual ownership of each and every tenet of the creeds we tend to profess as a group. As we know all too well, on Judgment Day we will stand alone before God, and we will be held accountable for our actions based on whether or not they honestly reflected the faith we so often publicly professed.
Catholics are often criticized for not having accepted Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. The answer to the standard question posed by Jehovah’s Witnesses (and others) should be for every Catholic a resounding "Yes!" Those who recite the Act of Faith regularly reiterate their firm belief in the triune personhood of God, salvation in Christ and the establishment of one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. But, are we prepared to explain and defend such beliefs (especially the latter ones) in an articulate and convincing way? If not, then the upcoming Year of Faith can provide an impetus for us to review and renew our faith so that we can effectively and enthusiastically share it with others. After all, such is our duty as followers of Christ!
Jesus emphasized repeatedly that authentic disciples act as they believe. Jesus loathed the hypocrisy of many outwardly "religious" people of His day. He taught that an internalized and personal faith would betray itself in acts of mercy, love and service. Thus, all actions motivated by our belief in Jesus rightly could be considered "acts of faith." May they be many!
It seems fitting to begin celebrating the Year of Faith by having Catholics from throughout the diocese participating in a common Bible Study on that very theme. Thus, the Diocesan Evangelization Committee’s "One Book One Diocese" selection for this fall is "The Year of Faith: A Bible Study Guide for Catholics" by Father Mitch Pacwa, S.J.
In his Foreword for the book, Archbishop of Chicago Cardinal George sets the tone for readers: "Only a living relationship established through dialogue with God will prevent the world from becoming ever more closed in on itself. Without this relationship to God, we live in a prison of our own making. Father Pacwa’s book presents a formula for breaking out of self-imposed prisons. Scripture read in the community of faith opens our lives to a greater world called the kingdom of God. This kingdom is not a place but a person: Jesus."
Father Pacwa’s Study Guide is less than 100 pages long and includes an Introduction and six Chapters:
1. Belief in Jesus Christ;
2. Assent to the Creed;
3. Conversion;
4. The Witness of Charity;
5. Celebrating Faith;
6. Faith and the New Evangelization.
Each session begins with a quote from the Apostolic Letter Porta Fidei (Door of Faith) that Pope Benedict XVI wrote to introduce the Year of Faith that begins Oct. 11. A lesson pertinent to the chapter title follows with historical, scriptural and theological references that provide the substance for each session.
The Year of Faith celebrates several significant occasions. The first is the 50th anniversary celebration of the opening of the Second Vatican Council October 11, 1962. The second is the 20th anniversary of the publication of the "Catechism of the Catholic Church" on the same date in 1992. Finally, the bishops of the world will gather in Rome this month with theologians, experts and observers for the Synod on New Evangelization. All of these significant events highlight the saving content of our Catholic Faith that was established for us by Jesus and which has been preserved through the centuries by the Church that He established.
As one might suspect, each lesson is filled with teachings from Scripture, the Catechism and the Vatican II documents. In addition to discussion questions, suggestions to put each week’s lessons into practice are also offered at the end of each session. Whether we make our way through this inspirational selection by ourselves or with a group, we are sure to profit greatly from entering into the insightful considerations put together by Father Mitch Pacwa, one of the Church’s most well respected biblical scholars.
For more information, watch for flyers and bulletin announcements provided by your parish. Commit now to making this Year of Faith a grace-filled time of spiritual growth.
One of the more memorable insights of the late Archbishop Fulton Sheen is that people rarely dislike the Catholic Church for what it teaches, but rather for what they think it teaches. The sad reality is that Catholics themselves are largely responsible for misunderstandings because they do not know precisely what their own Church teaches or they are incapable of articulating it clearly. One of the purposes of the Second Vatican Council, convened fifty years ago, was to provide clarity with regard to the Church’s teachings and to update the way they are understood in the modern world.
The topic for the Catholic Coffee House sessions that are being held in Lincoln on the third Sunday of each month from October through February is: "Documents of the Second Vatican Council: Teachings and Reflections for the Year of Faith". Four primary documents will be summarized and discussed, beginning with the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen Gentium ("Light of the Nations") and continuing with the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, the Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, and The Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation. These are the documents most referred to as containing the essentials for Catholic life in modern times.
The first presentation deals with the nature of the Catholic Church that Jesus established. The proper vocation and mission of the people of God who make up the Church is made clear, distinguishing between those who are in "full communion" with the Church from those who are in "partial communion" or who have no real communion at all with Christ. One of the challenges of our day is the heresy of syncretism, or universalism, whereby so-called believers claim that there is no particular church that can lay claim to having the fullness of truth, or even more truth than others. This false claim has even made inroads into the thinking of some Catholics.
The heart of Lumen Gentium reminds us that the Church Jesus established is hierarchical and that the teachings of Jesus cannot be modified willy-nilly, as is done in so many self-made "Christian" denominations. In fact, the doctrinal and moral teachings of Jesus handed down by the apostles are infallible and, as such, cannot be altered. The Magisterium—the pope and bishops as a teaching body—have the solemn duty to preserve Christ’s teachings and to teach them faithfully.
Nonetheless, the laity have an important and essential role to fulfill in the Church, a role that is described in some detail in Lumen Gentium. Those who claim that the Catholic Church does not value its lay members clearly have not read this influential document of the Council. The work ends with a tribute to Mary, Mother of the Church, showing not only how she is a model of faith and discipleship for all believers, but also how the completion of her pilgrimage of faith allows her to assist us in ours.
Taking a closer look at what Vatican II really taught can help to clear up misunderstandings about Church teachings while we grow stronger in our faith. The documents of Vatican II are worthy spiritual reading, but also are rich in content for group discussions. Give serious consideration to using the Year of Faith as a time to gain familiarity with the official teaching documents of our Catholic Church given to us some fifty years ago at the Second Vatican Council.
One of the most encouraging signs of unity in the Catholic Church of late has come from the bishops of our country. They have provided a strong and consistent moral voice in defense of the right to life of the unborn, the sanctity of marriage, religious freedom and conscience rights, among other things. Their leadership undoubtedly will resonate in the outcome of ‘the Catholic vote’ in the current election. And that’s the way it should be.
In their Introduction to Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship (2007), the U.S. Bishops stated that the purpose of the document is "to help Catholics form their consciences in accordance with God’s truth." All too often Catholics have set the teachings of Jesus and His Church aside when selecting political leaders to represent them. This shameful (and sinful) practice is in large part responsible for the rapid decline of social justice and morality in our culture. Bishops have become increasingly aware of the weight of responsibility that is theirs in leading Catholics in the proper formation of their consciences by making Church doctrine clear and by applying Christian moral principles to the most pertinent issues of our day.
Naturally, priests and others who teach on Christ’s behalf (all of us, really) share in that responsibility of articulating the faith clearly, especially with regard to issues that are largely misunderstood by the general populace, even though they may require a delicate and sensitive treatment.
The evils of artificial contraception and abortion, for example, have not received enough attention from pulpits and other instructional venues. God’s plan for marriage as being exclusively between one man and one woman is a hot topic in our times because so many are ignorant about God’s law, natural law, legitimate human rights and their application to issues affecting the common good. Our obligation to teach unapologetically the truths of our faith has never been more serious or consequential than it is today.
In Forming Consciences, the bishops remind the faithful during election time that "a candidate’s position on a single issue that involves an intrinsic evil, such as support for legal abortion or the promotion of racism, may legitimately lead a voter to disqualify a candidate from receiving support" (n. 42). This directive is founded on the premise that some issues, such as abortion or same-sex ‘marriage,’ are weightier than others, such as tax reform policies. Thus, even though we would like to choose political leaders based upon a wide range of issues, the candidates’ differences on issues that involve intrinsic evils often abbreviates the process since authentic Christians cannot in good conscience support candidates who promote such evils.
The Conclusion of the aforementioned document reminds us: "Participation in political life in light of fundamental moral principles is an essential duty for every Catholic and all people of good will. The Church is involved in the political process but is not partisan. Our cause is the defense of human life and dignity and the protection of the weak and vulnerable." Hopefully, these reminders by the U.S. Bishops will help Catholics to "vote their consciences" that must necessarily have been first properly formed and instructed. The use of voter guides helps greatly in this regard. May God guide and bless all voters and candidates in this year’s election process.
Perhaps the best antidote to spiritual lethargy is gratitude to God for all that He has given us. To combat the challenges of our day effectively, apathy must give way to spiritual fortitude.
It would be impossible to exaggerate how much God has blessed us. He continues to do so on a daily basis in a wide variety of ways. God’s blessings influence our health, our work, our relationships, our friends and our families. We likely thank God at least occasionally for His help in these very areas of our lives. For Catholics, the Mass can be seen as the source of all blessings.
We verbally express gratitude to God at specific points in the Liturgy of the Mass. In response to "The Word of the Lord," we say, "Thanks be to God." We thank God for His Word because it provides a concrete and consistent message from on high about how we are to live our lives as disciples of Jesus. We often fail to appreciate the solid foundation upon which the teachings of our Catholic Faith stand. In stark contrast to other faith traditions, our teachings are supported by history, theology, Scripture and a host of other disciplines. For this we should be grateful, since it provides credibility to what we believe and how we live as Christ’s followers.
The heart of the Mass is the Eucharistic Prayer. In the Preface dialogue, just before entering fully into this indispensable part of the liturgy, the celebrant provides an invitation: "Let us give thanks to the Lord our God." The people respond: "It is right and just." And indeed it is! Effectively we are saying, not only does it make sense to thank God, we owe it to Him to do so.
Our gratitude disposes us for the other types of prayer found in the liturgy: contrition, adoration and supplication. A grateful heart is an open heart, disposed to receive the love and mercy of God.
We also bear in mind that the word "Eucharist" itself means "thanksgiving." While our gratitude for the gift of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist could never equal the magnitude of the gift itself, our efforts in this regard bear abundant spiritual fruits nonetheless.
At the conclusion of Mass we hear one of four dismissals:
1. Go forth, the Mass is ended;
2. Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord;
3. Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life;
4. Go in peace.
The imperative "Go" suggests that our faith cannot and must not be confined to the insides of our churches. Our faith is to be brought out into the world to transform it.
The second and third dismissals suggest that we speak and act in accord with our faith by announcing the Good News and by setting good example—namely, the kind that itself gives glory to God. The task of being witnesses to our faith in word and deed is a difficult and demanding one, but the Lord’s Church provides all of the guidance and grace we need to rise to the challenge.
It behooves us actively to seek out the resources we need to be effective apostles of truth. Such assets are available in great measure thanks to the stellar diocesan leadership we have enjoyed for the past 20 years from Bishop Bruskewitz, as well as from his predecessors. We are grateful that we can anticipate more of the same from Bishop Conley. Thanks be to God for them! Have a blessed and happy Thanksgiving.
The Four Marks of the Church that Jesus established (One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic) are defining characteristics listed in the Nicene Creed that is recited by the Catholic faithful at every Sunday and Holy Day Mass. The last of these is especially meaningful to us who are associated with the Diocese of Lincoln, as it recently welcomed its new apostolic leader, Bishop James Conley.
The ceremonial handing-on of the position generically referred to as The Catholic Bishop of Lincoln was really rather simple. At the Mass of Installation held recently, the Apostolic Nuncio (the pope’s representative) and Archbishop George Lucas (the Archbishop of Omaha) led Bishop Conley to his new seat in the cathedra, the special chair in the cathedral church that represents the bishop’s authority in the local Church. This apostolic authority and leadership is something that is passed on from one generation to the next, a venerable tradition in use in the Catholic Church since the time of the original 12 apostles.
Much of the authority of the Catholic Church’s teachings comes from the fact that its teachings are in line with the doctrines first proclaimed by Jesus to his apostles. They have been preserved, intact and unchanged, through apostolic succession—that is, the passing on of what Jesus taught, without alteration from one bishop to another. This tradition, along with Scriptural and theological support, gives many of the Church’s teachings the quality of infallibility, which means by definition that they cannot ever be changed.
Unfortunately, the many thousands of other Christian religions do not adhere to this necessary component of the one true Church, which is what accounts for the fact that they have a wide variety of beliefs that do not align with Jesus’ teachings—those found in Sacred Scripture or those passed down as a part Sacred Tradition from the time of the apostles. While some may claim to be "apostolic," that adjective simply does not ring true unless present-day teachings are in accord with the teachings of the apostles, as they are without fail in the Catholic Church.
This argument proves the authenticity of the Catholic Church as the one true Church that Jesus established and is one that can and should be used often to help non-Catholics understand and appreciate the simple logic that supports Catholic beliefs. While the hierarchical structure of the Catholic Church is unappealing to some, it should be for Catholics the very quality that gives us confidence in defending and proclaiming what we believe. The apostolic leadership provided by the Church’s bishops confirms that what we teach and believe to be true is in line with what Jesus’ own apostles taught and believed. Can it be any other way? Those who join congregations invented by mere humans simply cannot claim the divine authority passed on by Jesus to His apostles, and in turn by their successors to the leaders of our day, the bishops. But Catholics can.
What a gift it is to be members of the one true Church that alone can make an authentic claim to being apostolic. May this gift we have been given be shared generously with others.
The lights, trees, decorations and seasonal music that are all around us provide ample reminders that Christmas is coming. True Christians know that it is important to prepare for the coming of Jesus, and not just of Christmas. Advent exists to prepare us for His coming.
We can focus our reflections on this Advent theme in terms of the past, present and future "comings" of Jesus: in history, in mystery and in majesty. The most familiar Advent theme is one of preparing to celebrate the historical coming of Jesus. It was that coming that laid the foundation for the others as Jesus became man, walked among us, instructed us, fed us, and established a Church as the steward of His spiritual gifts.
The Christmas season, which extends well beyond Christmas Day, is the period designated for honoring the coming of Jesus in history. We are able to relate most easily to the historical events surrounding Jesus’ birth because they have been recorded in the Scriptures and celebrated for centuries.
Jesus’ coming in mystery is a bit more difficult to grasp, since we are dealing with spiritual realities, not just physical ones. The most familiar way that Jesus comes to us ‘in mystery’ is in the Sacrament of the Eucharist. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is the most profound context in which we can enter into and participate in the coming of Jesus in mystery. Immediately after the Consecration at Mass, participants profess together "The Mystery of Faith," an acclamation that brings together the historical life, death and resurrection of Jesus, His future coming in majesty, and His Sacramental entrance on the altar just moments earlier.
Jesus’ coming in mystery joins time to eternity, heaven to earth, and humanity to divinity. Those of us who are privileged to receive Communion at Mass allow this mystery that takes place at the church altar to become present also on the altar of our souls. The holy season of Advent is as much about preparing our souls spiritually for this wondrous miracle to transform us internally as it is about preparing our social calendars for the public celebration of Christmas.
Finally, as the early Advent readings remind us, Jesus will come again in majesty. Indeed, it will be another historical event, but very unlike His first coming to earth. Earlier He came in humility; later He will come in majesty. Earlier He came to establish the Church Militant and extend invitations; later He will fill out the heavenly Church Triumphant by means of the Last Judgment. The message we hear consistently from Jesus is that we must always be prepared spiritually for His final coming, not allowing ourselves to be unduly concerned with worldly realities while neglecting heavenly ones. Our salvation depends upon such awareness.
The traditional Advent prayers, "Come, Lord Jesus" and "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" are answered as often as we open our minds and hearts to receive Him—in Word and Sacrament. We should provide ourselves with ample opportunities to read, hear and meditate upon Sacred Scripture while striving to participate in Mass as often as possible. May our final days of this holy season reflect an authentic spirituality of desire for Jesus to come again, not only in final glory, but frequently ‘in mystery’ to sanctify our souls and to direct and fulfill our daily lives.
One of the busiest travel times of the year includes the days just before and after Christmas. The primary reason for this predictable annual phenomenon is that family members make special efforts at Christmastime to reunite in order to enjoy family bonds and traditions.
The Catholic Church capitalizes on this universal trend by placing within the Octave of Christmas one of its premier celebrations: The Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. To facilitate having families together at Mass for this special occasion, it purposefully is situated on the Sunday following Christmas. Just as Mary and Joseph’s primary focus during the very first Christmas celebration was Baby Jesus, so also our families attend to the Christ-Child each time we go to Mass and invite Him to be ‘born again’ on our altars and in our souls.
In our culture, young children are often the center of attention at Christmas, especially when it comes time for opening presents. We take special joy in sharing the anticipation and excitement that accompanies a child’s reception of new gifts, especially those about which ‘Santa’ was clued-up via a Christmas list or letter. How wonderful a thing (so goes a child’s thinking) that someone so very far away (i.e., Mr. Claus) not only knows what will make me happy, but also has the resources and generosity to provide such things for me on an annual basis. And to think that he does this for so many millions of people year after year!
All of us who are God’s children should follow this same childlike line of thinking every time we go to Mass and receive divine gifts from the ultimate ‘Santa’. Just as we adults often revert to childhood traditions and fancies when we are with our families around the holidays, so also are we well-served by entering into the celebration of Mass with anticipation and excitement for the amazing gifts that the Christ-child has in store for all of us, adults and children alike.
No Christmas tradition could be more significant than attending Mass together as a family. The unity that is shared with other members of God’s family at Mass is meant to be enjoyed by and with our earthly families. Mary and Joseph were drawn to Jesus in the same natural way that all parents tend to love their children. But as Jesus revealed Himself as their Lord and Savior, Mary and Joseph’s love for that child was transformed from a familial to a devotional love. This same transformation happens for us when we allow the Lord to reveal Himself to our families in Word and Sacrament. At Mass He becomes the center of our lives.
Acknowledging the insights of Blessed Pope John Paul II, Benedict XVI emphasizes repeatedly that the family is the flashpoint for evangelization. Families need first to be evangelized—that is, they need to be reminded how central Jesus and His teachings must be in order for them to flourish. Families need then to be evangelizers—that is, they must be guiding lights in the darkness of a misguided culture and beacons of hope in a civilization wrought with despair. Like the Holy Family, they need to be celebrated witnesses of genuine love and unity.
Whether or not we had the privilege of attending Mass with other family members on the Feast of the Holy Family this year, we can be reminded nonetheless of the importance of authentic family life for our Church, for our society and for the world. May the unity and love that Jesus, Mary and Joseph exemplify be ours, now and into eternity.
The Christmas season wrapped up recently with celebrations of the Epiphany and the Baptism of the Lord that emphasized various ways in which the Lord chose to reveal and manifest Himself as Messiah and Lord.
While we traditionally look at the events surrounding Jesus’ birth and public ministry, we realize that the Truth Made Visible did not suddenly come to be during that first Christmas night in Bethlehem. Rather, the revelation of God to humanity unfolded for centuries before the Incarnation and continued through the apostolic era. God continues to manifest Himself, but the revelations necessary for our salvation are believed to have ended with the completion of the New Testament writings.
The most authoritative document on this topic was published in November 1965 at the conclusion of the Second Vatican Council. The Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation (Dei Verbum) outlines for us how and why God manifested Himself to humanity. Chapter One begins, "It pleased God, in his goodness and wisdom, to reveal himself and to make known the mystery of his will." We should be equally pleased to receive such insights into God’s identity and plan for us. The document summarizes its content in this way:
"The works performed by God in the history of salvation show forth and bear out the doctrine and realities signified by the words; the words, for their part, proclaim the works, and bring to light the mystery they contain. The most intimate truth which this revelation gives us about God and the salvation of man shines forth in Christ, who is himself both the mediator and the sum total of Revelation" (n.2).
There are many valuable and essential truths about God that we not only can know, but also that we must know in order to accept and enjoy the wonderful gift of salvation offered by God. The document declares, "God graciously arranged that the things he had once revealed for the salvation of all peoples should remain in their entirety, throughout the ages, and be transmitted to all generations" (n.7).
The Church that Jesus established fulfills this need to preserve intact all that God reveals to us. It does so within the structure of the two pillars of Sacred Revelation: Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition. The document teaches: "Sacred Scripture is the speech of God as it is put down in writing under the breath of the Holy Spirit. And Tradition transmits in its entirety the Word of God which has been entrusted to the apostles by Christ the Lord and the Holy Spirit… The Church does not draw her certainty about all revealed truths from the holy Scriptures alone… Both Scripture and Tradition must be accepted and honored with equal feelings of devotion and reverence" (n.9).
This document goes on to explain how Sacred Scripture was inspired by God and how it is to be interpreted, followed by brief overviews of the Old and New Testaments, and it concludes with a synopsis of how Scripture is used in the life and activities of the Church. A related document of the Council is the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (Lumen Gentium), published a year earlier. Both works are well worth our time to read and study.
For a more complete understanding of the Church’s teaching on divine revelation, consider attending the Catholic Coffee House series presentation by Father Jeffrey Eickhoff at the Blessed John XXIII Diocesan Center in Lincoln Sunday, Jan. 20, at 6:30 p.m. This talk also can be downloaded later from the diocesan website: dioceseoflincoln.org.
One of the saddest realities of our day is that the vast majority of Christians do not make prayer a priority in their lives. The reasons why this is the case are quite extensive and varied. However, even though the trend not to pray regularly is very pervasive, it certainly is not inevitable. In fact, the record of Christians failing to pray in a consistent manner is so well documented that a multitude of books about prayer have been written specifically in response to this problem.
Perhaps one of the most comprehensive readable books on the topic of prayer in recent years is "Prayer Primer: Igniting a Fire Within" by Thomas Dubay, S.M. This book is the winter selection for the One Book, One Diocese program. The potential for improving your prayer life by reading this book is great, and such potential can be augmented significantly by sharing and discussing the contents with another person or within a group.
Father Dubay begins by reminding the reader why it is that we are inclined to pray and why it is that we must pray. Beyond fulfilling the basic practice of attending Mass regularly, we have a very basic need to commune with God at various times during the week, or even during a given day. It simply is not sufficient for us to rattle off a routine set of memorized formulaic prayers. While many such prayers certainly can be part of a daily routine, our prayer life cannot consist of these only.
Our author makes the case for praying first by setting forth a long list of probing questions for the reader to ponder. Then he follows up with short chapters on the primary types of prayer, along with helpful suggestions on how to incorporate these ways of praying into our spiritual routines. Here are some of the chapter titles: Why Pray?, Elegant Variety, Vocal Prayer, Meditation, Contemplation, Liturgical Prayer, Family Prayer, Prayer in a Busy Life, Problems and Pitfalls. Father Dubay’s wisdom and insight are invaluable!
Whether we use this book for personal growth or as the focus of a study group, we are sure to come closer to Jesus by making prayer a bigger priority in our lives. The Holy Bible, which is a wonderful prayer book in its own right, provides plentiful examples of the power of prayer in the lives of God’s people. Jesus instructs us to pray constantly and He, Himself was observed often at prayer. It behooves us as Christians to follow His instructions concerning prayer as well as His example. Reading "Prayer Primer" not only will help us to obey and imitate Jesus better, but to know and serve Him better as well. Sounds like a bargain at any price!
1996 was a very good year because in November of that year the spiritual process known as SINE (Systematic Integral New Evangelization) was introduced in the Lincoln Diocese. It had originated in Mexico City around 1960. A team from Rockford, Ill. was invited to lead a SINE retreat for 60 priests and laity at Pius X High School in Lincoln.
The spiritual impact of the retreat was astounding, leaving the participants with the desire to learn more about this process that begins with a retreat and has as its goal the strengthening of individual spirituality and parish life.
With Bishop Bruskewitz’s blessing, the SINE process and retreats began to spread across the diocese. In the course of several years, more than 70 parishes sponsored retreats led by trained leaders from the Lincoln Diocese. More than 5,000 people across southern Nebraska have taken part in these retreats.
Several years ago, the title of the process was changed from SINE to Light of the World (LOTW) in order to enable it more effectively to fit the culture of the United States. However, the basic format and teachings of the process remained unchanged. A team, including one member from Lincoln, is presenting a LOTW retreat this month to seminarians at the North American College in Rome, one of whom is studying for our diocese.
What is a Light of the World retreat? The handbook describes it thus: "The Light of the World process will help all people to have a living encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit… This process reaches out to all people and helps them to become active servants of God." The retreat begins on Friday evening and concludes Sunday evening. Participants return home each night.
The teachings presented in a LOTW retreat hold steadfastly to the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church. Special emphasis is placed on a renewal of the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist. Those who participate in the retreat have an opportunity after the retreat to join a small community designed to enable them to maintain a deep relationship with the Lord, the Body of Christ, the Church and their own parish.
The number of LOTW retreats in the diocese has decreased somewhat in recent years, but retreats in various parishes are still being held. Some of the recent interest is due to Pope Benedict’s declaration of this Year of Faith. In his Apostolic Letter he states: "I have spoken of the need to rediscover the journey of faith so as to shed ever clearer light on the joy and renewed enthusiasm of the encounter with Christ… This will be a good opportunity to usher the whole Church into a time of particular reflection and rediscovery of the faith… A Christian may never think of belief as a private act. Faith is choosing to stand with the Lord so as to live with him."
I humbly suggest that the LOTW process, and especially the retreat, fulfills beautifully the opportunity for the renewal of our faith during this Year of Faith. If you feel in your heart the need to do something to make your faith come more alive within you, I suggest you consider making a LOTW retreat. Contact the Diocesan Office of Evangelization, 402-488-2040, for further information.
Pope Benedict XVI has mirrored Blessed John Paul II in his ardent desire that all people, including future priests, truly "encounter" Jesus Christ. With that in mind, Fr. Austin Vetter, Spiritual Director of the Pontifical North American College (NAC), invited a Light of the World (LOTW) leadership team to Rome to present this kerygmatic retreat to seminarians.
A priest of the Rockford Diocese, Fr. Jon Bakkelund, had attended the NAC before his ordination and then attended a LOTW Retreat in Crystal Lake, Il. He found it to be a powerful experience and asked Fr. Vetter if it would be possible to offer a LOTW retreat at the NAC. He agreed to invite a team to offer such a retreat.
Msgr. Dan Hermes, Spiritual Director for the National Light of the World Evangelization Ministries, invited various team members to accompany him to Rome to give the retreat. The team included people from Crystal Lake, Rockford, and Lincoln. We arrived in Rome on Ash Wednesday and, after touring the NAC, enjoyed a walk through St. Peter’s Basilica. The sense of the Universal Church was palpable. Being in St. Peter’s and the anticipation of addressing future priests was an overwhelming experience, one of true joy and awe.
The seminarians were most welcoming, kind, and open to receiving the message of the kerygma (proclamation of the Gospel) along with the witness of life given by team members. Once we presented the kerygma the men expressed how significant it was for them to see it in action from witnesses of Christ’s love. They expressed that the experience of studying theology needed this integration of life witness; thus, they were truly touched by the message of the retreat. Renewing the Sacraments of Initiation in action was also a special moment for them. The experience was good preparation to see how a parish retreat might look once they were assigned to parish ministry.
Small "shepherding groups" were led by men who had been ordained as deacons, and the groups found their discussions to be very worthwhile. Working within the format of the small groups during the retreat was helpful, especially since they are presently forming Jesu Caritas spiritual support groups at the seminary and had no particular format to follow.
Testimonies at the end of the retreat were inspiring. Participants shared many experiences from the retreat that were beneficial for their spiritual life. Many stayed after the retreat to learn more about how to implement the process in their future parishes. These young men were a dynamic inspiration to us as a presenting team.
The homilist at our final Mass with the NAC seminarians cited Pope Benedict XVI in his call for a strong emphasis on New Evangelization for the Church and the call for all of God’s people— priests, religious, and laity —to encounter Jesus Christ, experience a conversion of heart, encourage brothers and sisters to live in Christ, and be prepared to tell others about Jesus and the power of His Holy Spirit.
Like St. Peter and St. Paul whose images stand prominently in front of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, may each of us take seriously our own call to bring the love of Jesus to the hearts of His people here and now. As our LOTW team left Rome, we felt we had encountered Jesus more fully ourselves—indeed, we felt blessed beyond words!
Whenever we recite the Apostles or Nicene Creed we profess our belief in the Four Marks of the Church: One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic. Our present focus on the election of a new successor to Peter, the first pope, highlights these fundamental characteristics of the Church that Jesus established, but most especially the apostolic quality which speaks to the papacy in a most noteworthy manner. Apostolicity thus will be the focus of the following reflections.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church declares plainly: "The Church is apostolic because she is founded on the apostles." Furthermore, "she continues to be taught, sanctified, and guided by the apostles until Christ’s return, through their successors in pastoral office… in union with the successor of Peter, the Church’s supreme pastor" (CCC 857).
While all of the bishops share in the ministry of teaching, sanctifying and governing God’s people, the pope, as Peter’s successor, has the particularly challenging task of effectively doing for the Church’s bishops what they are called to do for the priests, religious and laity. This duty brings to mind a seldom used title for the pope: Servant of the Servants of God. Just as Peter served his fellow Apostles, so also the pope serves, in so many ways, his fellow bishops throughout the world.
Many of the recent news stories have suggested that the new pope needs to be someone willing and able to reform the bureaucracy in the Vatican. Perhaps this improvement is needed. However, the essential role of the Supreme Pontiff must not be forgotten because of this or that particular need of the Church in our day.
As Peter’s successor, the pope holds the keys to the kingdom of heaven given to Peter by Christ as a sign of His authority and infallibility that safeguards the Deposit of Faith passed down from generation to generation through apostolic succession. The Church is able in effect to remain one, holy and catholic precisely because she is apostolic. The unity, sanctity and universality that Christ built into the Church that He established are enduring qualities because the Holy Spirit continues to influence and guide the apostles of our day—namely, the bishops in union with the pope.
The Catechism develops this notion further. "The whole Church is apostolic, in that she remains, through the successors of St. Peter and the other apostles, in communion of faith and life with her origin: and in that she is ‘sent out’ into the whole world. All members of the Church share in this mission, though in various ways" (CCC 863). At Pentecost, the Apostles, filled with the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, preached to people of all nations, generating the fruit of countless new disciples of Jesus. We are effectively the successors of those early disciples and, like them, we are called to pass on the teachings of Christ to the next generation of potential believers. This duty to evangelize thus makes us all apostles—those sent out—who share in the mission of Jesus to proclaim the Good News to all nations.
The apostolic nature of the Church hence comes full circle. Each of us is expected to share in the apostolic activity of the Church’s present-day apostles, the bishops. Each of us must witness to the saving power of Jesus’ death and resurrection. And each of us is united to the office of Peter and of his successor, the pope, through respectful obedience and prayerful support. May we all be worthy members and building blocks of Christ’s Apostolic Church.
The faithful of the Catholic Church, and many others besides, have been enjoying and marveling at the newness being brought to the papacy by Pope Francis. Our new Holy Father’s style is marked by a noble simplicity characteristic of various elements of Catholic Tradition.
We begin with the ministry of Jesus Himself, which distinguished itself with so very many meetings of our Lord with those of lowly estate: the poor, the widowed, the crippled, sinners, lepers and criminals. Jesus consoled them, forgave their sins and healed their wounds. He did so with simple words and gestures, always being careful to safeguard the dignity of those to whom He ministered. Noble simplicity.
We observe the same qualities in those who carried on the work of Jesus: the Apostles. They too proclaimed the Gospel message and taught the truths of our faith in an uncomplicated way, faithful to the style of the Master who prepared them for ministry. Filled with the Holy Spirit, they traveled to the ends of the earth to bring joy and peace to all peoples via a simple message accompanied by seven grace-filled Sacraments. Noble simplicity.
We boast an impressive cadre of saints who have preserved, strengthened and enlarged the Catholic Church for more than 20 centuries. Their courageous witness to our Lord’s way of love and forgiveness transformed many a hardened sinner into faith-filled disciples. In many cases, their simple proclamation of the Gospel cost them their lives. Nevertheless, these martyrs accepted their gruesome fate with dignified submission, just as Christ did. Noble simplicity.
We benefit from the grace of Sacraments that initiate us into God’s family, the Church (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist), that fortify us to live out our vocations in a fruitful manner (Marriage, Holy Orders) and that console and heal us in our sinfulness and infirmities (Penance, Sacrament of the Sick). Jesus instituted these sacred signs to give us grace to assist us on our journey to heaven. The rituals associated with the conferral of the Sacraments are all quite straightforward, while the effects often are miraculous and life-changing. Noble simplicity.
We enjoy assorted aspects of Catholic culture that are second to none in their capacity to inspire. A rich legacy of beautiful church architecture and religious art, coupled with a diversity of sacred music and untold volumes of educational and inspirational literature, provides bountiful spiritual enrichment to Catholics and others who surround themselves with such things. A mere opening of our minds and hearts to the inspired nobility that defines Catholic culture can shape us in positive and profound ways. Noble simplicity.
We delight in the beginnings of a pontificate that promises to feature noble simplicity. As we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection this Easter, may we witness many spiritual resurrections among the Catholic faithful as they strive to follow Pope Francis’ lead in the continued renewal of the Church. Jesus left us with apostles and saints, Sacraments and a Holy Church—among other things—to assist us along the path to holiness. Let us immerse ourselves daily in the noble and simple things that God and His Church have to offer. St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Too many headlines these days tout the decline of traditional marriage in our land. As a Christian people, it is incumbent on us to preserve, to provide and to promote the good things God has given to us and to the world. Marriage certainly is not the least among these blessings. In fact, it is one of the greatest of God’s gifts to humanity, so much so that He desires continuously to be a part of it.
One of the notable contributions of modern Catholic biblical scholarship is the expansion of covenant theology. This term encapsulates the notion that God’s relationship with His chosen people throughout salvation history is nuptial in character—that is, He relates to us as a spouse in a marriage-like covenant. The permanent nature of the marriage bond rests largely on the fact that God is a participating member in this covenant, always faithful and true to His word (unlike most humans).
Jesus had several purposes in mind when He established the Church. One of them was to provide a means to preserve the truths taught to and by the Apostles. Another was to create an institution from which the Sacraments could be dispensed. Thus the Catholic Church has the authority and the responsibility to provide regulations regarding marriages entered into by her members.
The essential characteristics of Christian marriage—permanence, fidelity, openness to children—are featured when a couple (including a Catholic) makes promises regarding these things before God, a priest and other witnesses to the vows. A valid marriage bond, as well as the grace of the Sacrament of Marriage (when both parties are baptized), is provided by God to every couple that includes a Catholic whose marriage is entered into according to the marriage norms established by the Catholic Church.
Some baptized Catholics who want to get married do so without the involvement of a priest. Such civil marriages are not recognized by God or by His Church. Catholics in these non-valid unions exclude themselves (sometimes unknowingly) from the privilege and grace of receiving the Sacraments of Penance and the Eucharist, while also excluding themselves from the honor of serving as a sponsor for Baptism or Confirmation, among other things. The consequences are more severe than some realize.
Many Catholics in such situations come later to the Church to have their marriages "regularized" by an exchange of vows before a priest in accord with Church norms. Once they have done so, the privileges formerly disallowed are restored. Just as spouses sometimes separate for a time to work things out and then are reunited, so also Catholics at times are separated temporarily from Jesus and the Church. When they return, Christ and the other members of His Mystical Body rejoice at the sacramental reunion of these Catholics with their spiritual spouse (the Lord, present in His Sacraments).
Naturally, it is ideal when Catholics follow Church norms from the start. This way, they deny themselves neither the graces of the Marriage Sacrament nor the other benefits mentioned earlier. Marriage in the Church is a way for Christ’s disciples to proclaim the Good News about marriage by including Jesus in the process. Christ established the Church as His spouse in order to provide us with the greatest happiness possible. Following His norms for marriage provides personal spiritual benefits and proclaims the Gospel to others. This time-tested course has provided centuries of marital success.
In the society in which we live, commitment is not nearly as highly valued as it once was. We live in a consumer culture in which much is wasted, from food to clothes to electronics. We discard and replace things once they no longer suit our desires. How wasteful we easily can be.
Sadly, the institution of marriage has fallen prey to our American way of thinking about so many less important things. Many folks nowadays have the tendency to treat marriage as a disposable commodity. If it does not work out exactly as planned, or if hardships befall the relationship, divorce is too often pursued as a quick, ready-made solution. But there’s always a price to pay—and sometimes it is much higher than people realize.
In a few short days, the Church will celebrate the Lord’s Ascension into heaven. For the Apostles and many of Jesus’ disciples this was a very difficult time. A rollercoaster of emotions filled them as they experienced dashed hopes from their friend being crucified, then remorse for abandoning Him once they realized He was alive, and finally unfettered joy at being reunited with their Lord and Savior. Jesus’ ascension meant that they would be separated once again.
But, not to worry! Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit as another advocate and guide. They would not be alone on their spiritual journey—not then, not ever! The Bridegroom would not abandon His Bride, the Church. In fact, the Holy Spirit would step in and more than compensate for the physical absence of Jesus. The Bride would enjoy Jesus’ nearness forever.
Everyone knows that marriage, too, can at times feel like a rollercoaster ride. Not only the emotions swing drastically at times, but even the way husbands and wives relate to each other changes over time. Nothing new here! What is new, unfortunately, is the way couples respond to such changes that challenge their resolve in the marital relationship. Sometimes spouses forget that they promised to be true to their love and commitment to one another "in good times and in bad." What is vowed in marriage is no more (and no less) than what Christ promises us—namely, faithful love throughout our lives. The marriage covenant is to mirror that divine love for the whole world to see and to imitate. Married couples are true evangelizers in this respect.
Couples blessed by valid sacramental marriages have the Holy Spirit’s special help that fortifies all of their natural abilities and provides the extra graces needed to withstand the typical daily challenges as well as the cultural attacks that make living out the marriage ideal difficult—oftentimes heroic—in our times. God provides plentiful actual graces also to those who presently do not enjoy these sacramental benefits but who desire nonetheless to be more closely united to Him. The Church and its priests are ready to help all to achieve this full sacramental communion.
God created the beautiful institution of marriage so that couples could make life’s journey with a partner who ‘completes’ them. The fulfillment of that goal is made possible and is made joyful by our Lord’s companionship along the way, for individuals and couples alike. May Jesus’ fidelity to us be mirrored by the commitment of spouses to each other. Dedication to God’s Church and His plan will bear fruit in fidelity to the marriage covenant itself. May we always embrace and pursue ideals that stem from a committed love for Jesus and one another.
"Day after day the churches grew stronger in faith and increased in number" (Acts 16:5). Pentecost is the birthday of the Church, which Jesus Christ founded. It is worthy of the solemnity with which the Catholic Church celebrates it!
At the first Pentecost, 50 days after Jesus rose from the dead, the Body of Christ, the Catholic Church, received her soul, the Holy Spirit. Stated another way, just as Adam had the breath of life (his immortal soul) breathed into him, so now the Bride of Christ, the Church, receives the Breath of God’s life and love (the Holy Spirit) at Pentecost.
Just as the human body lost its immortality as a consequence of Original Sin, so also the Mystical Body of Christ, the Church, suffers from this infamous fall from God’s grace. The head of the Mystical Body is Jesus, while the soul is the Holy Spirit. Both Jesus and the Holy Spirit are immortal Divine Persons while we, the members of that Body of Christ, have a fallen human nature, which weakened our wills and darkened our intellects.
This doesn’t sound like a very desirable existence. But wait! Before we get all negative about our plight, we should know that we have much working in our favor. After all, we are celebrating Pentecost, the birthday of the Catholic Church, the Bride of Christ, which means we have reason for hope because we have two divine advocates pleading our cause: Jesus and the Holy Spirit. In addition, we have the whole court of heaven, the souls in Purgatory and the members of the Church here on earth praying for us. So, cheer up. We have plenty to be happy about!
Have you ever heard of a CINO? That’s a Catholic-In-Name-Only. There are plenty of them around. In fact, they are probably the majority. But we can be confident that there were no CINOs on that first Pentecost. They were all "pure-breds," so to speak, Catholic to the core. Filled with the Holy Spirit, they demonstrated an evangelical Catholicism that in our day needs to be recaptured. It is no more than a rediscovery of our true identity as Christ’s disciples.
Jesus had 12 quality Catholics (the Apostles) upon whom He founded His Church. He had 120 quality Catholics present on Pentecost Sunday. That number increased to 3,000 by that very evening because of those first disciples who were not satisfied to be just nominal Catholics. It is really heartening to be around informed Catholics who are authentic witnesses to their faith. They are happy, engaging, enthusiastic, focused and alive! They are apostolic—that is, willing to do anything to keep spreading the faith genuinely by their Christ-like lives.
The Mission Statement of Jesus is: "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you" (Mt 28:19). We are to help fulfill this mission of Jesus.
The Catholic Church needs a rebirth of members who are more like the first Pentecost Catholics (not just more CINOs). We must be willing to make sacrifices and go the extra mile. It truly will be a ‘happy birthday’ for the Catholic Church when the growth in true evangelical Catholicism purges the Church of those who are Catholic in name only. May the effects of that first Pentecost be our inspiration to take an active role in carrying out Christ’s mission.
One of our human tendencies is that we like to give ourselves relatively high marks in self-evaluations. This is particularly true when it comes to rating our religious practices. After all, how many of us don’t consider ourselves to be "good" Catholics or Christians?
Matthew Kelly is a popular motivational Catholic writer and speaker who challenges his readers and listeners to become a "better-version-of-yourself." He does so by helping us first to know and appreciate our Catholic Faith and then to live it and share it. He has put his ideas in writing in two very easy to read books.
The first is Rediscover Catholicism in which Mr. Kelly gives an overview of the basics of Catholic beliefs and practices in an engaging style that generates in the reader a greater appreciation for the gifts that Jesus left for us in His Holy Catholic Church. The second is The Four Signs of a Dynamic Catholic in which the author identifies four typical qualities of "dynamic" Catholics.
The signs that are characteristic of a Dynamic Catholic, according to Matthew Kelly, are: prayer, study, generosity and evangelization. He singles out people who do not seek to do the mere minimum required to be considered Catholic. Rather, these dynamic Catholics strive to be the best possible disciples they can be, each and every day.
What this means is that prayer is a daily activity that takes priority over many superficial activities. Dynamic Catholics are lifelong learners, doing whatever they can to grow in knowledge and understanding of the Faith. These folks are known also for their generosity in time, talent and treasure shared with God and His Church. And, finally, their love for Jesus is evident in the various ways that they share their faith with others.
Most of us probably would like to be known as dynamic Catholics. So what is stopping us? We don’t want to stand out in the crowd. We’re too busy. We don’t have what it takes. These typical excuses cause us to be unmotivated to take a step forward in our spiritual life. Oftentimes this is the result of thinking we have to make radical changes all at once. Mr. Kelly suggests that we take one small step at a time, which will reap great spiritual rewards over time.
Begin with a commitment of just a couple minutes (or extra minutes) of prayer each day. Add just five pages of daily reading from a good Catholic book. Deliberately plan to incrementally increase financial support of the parish and charity until reaching a full 10% tithe, while also stepping up the time and talent offered to God. Finally, try to share your faith in some way just once each week. Any serious well-intentioned Catholic should be able to say, "I can do that!" All that is required to get started is the firm intention to improve. We all took baby steps in learning to walk, and then learned to run. We can surely do the same in beginning to live as dynamic Catholics.
Matthew Kelly claims that less than one out of ten Catholics could be described as "dynamic," but he proposes realistic ways to increase those numbers. Many Catholics are dutiful--that is, they attend Mass regularly and are active in their parishes. But the "New Evangelization" needed to revitalize the Church in our day requires that dutiful Catholics step up and become "dynamic" so that the Church may not only preserve its influence in society, but may also begin to transform it in radical ways.
The reform of the world must begin with the reform of individuals. Matthew Kelly provides us with helpful hints for moving forward in our quest for holiness--that is, by becoming the-best-version-of-ourselves. Hopefully, taking one small step at a time, we are all ready to say, "I can do that!"
It is safe to say that there is nothing on earth that compares to World Youth Day. It is a happening that has taken on a life of its own. And it has grown to epic proportions. The world will look on during the coming week as yet another World Youth Day unfolds in Rio de Janeiro.
The Family Life Office of the Diocese of Lincoln has organized a pilgrimage to every World Youth Day since it was hosted in Denver, with the exception of the one held in Manila, Philippines in 1995. We took 1,400 pilgrims to pray with Blessed Pope John Paul II in Denver in 1993. Many additional pilgrims from our area went on their own. In 1997, we took 230 pilgrims to Paris. Another 150 ventured to Rome during the Jubilee Year in 2000. We had some 550 young people board buses for the event in Toronto in 2002. We flew 150 to Cologne, Germany in 2005, 110 to Sydney Australia in 2008 and another 110 to Madrid, Spain in 2011.
Preceding the last four World Youth Day events, our pilgrims have participated in what is called Days in the Diocese. Before checking in for the six days of WYD activities, a prior six days is hosted in various dioceses in the vicinity. Pilgrims are housed in groups of two, three or four in the homes of local Catholics. It is typical for one or two parishes to host the pilgrims of a particular diocese. During their stay, pilgrims are introduced to the region with town and country tours while getting to know their host families. The parish typically hosts various events, such as picnics, concerts, sporting events, games and the like. Pilgrims also get together with the entire group on most days for Mass and other spiritual activities. Generally, this portion of the trip has the biggest impact on pilgrims where complete strangers turn into life-long friends. The generosity of fellow Catholics from abroad is special!
Our diocesan pilgrims are treated to a few days of touring before beginning the formal cultural and spiritual events that comprise World Youth Day. For example, a three-day stop in Rome preceded our overnight train ride to Paris. Dachau and Oberammergau (Germany) were stops on the trip through Bavaria en route to Cologne. A couple days on the north island of New Zealand, including a tour of Hobbiton, preceded our Days in the Diocese on the south island in Christchurch that led into WYD events in Sydney. Some prayerful days at the Marian shrine in Lourdes (France) were part of our route to being hosted in Toledo before proceeding to Madrid.
The itinerary for Lincoln Diocese pilgrims this year includes a couple days of touring in Sao Paolo, one of the largest cities in the world, followed by a trip to Aparecida, home of an enormous Marian shrine, while making our way to the historic town of Petropolis, just an hour north of Rio. Host families from St. Jude Parish will take care of our pilgrims for six days before they head to Rio. Events with Pope Francis include a welcoming ceremony, Stations of the Cross, a solemn prayer service with Adoration and Benediction, and the closing Mass on July 28.
Become a part of the inspirational spirit of WYD by tuning in to EWTN during the coming week. Please offer prayers for the 50 pilgrims from our diocese who are there with millions of young people from around the globe to celebrate our Catholic Faith. May the blessings of this amazing event spread all over the globe to build up Christ’s Holy Catholic Church.
The largest Marian shrine in the world is dedicated to Our Lady of Aparecida, located 170 miles west of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Most of the pilgrims from our diocese had the privilege of visiting this impressive shrine during our recent World Youth Day pilgrimage. Our group spent five hours at this incredible place of devotion that is little known to those outside of South America.
The image of Our Lady of Aparecida is in the traditional form of the Immaculate Conception. The original statue, which stands just over 2 feet tall, is a Black Madonna that was found in 1717 by three Brazilian fishermen who had prayed to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception for a good catch of fish. After having a run of bad luck, they cast their nets once more into the Paraiba River and dragged up a headless statue of the Virgin Mary. After recovering the head and reattaching it, they reportedly enjoyed the great catch of fish for which they had prayed, the first of many miracles attributed to the intercession of Our Lady under this new title.
The statue is unique, with Mary donning a very colorful garment not unlike that of the Infant of Prague, with just her face and hands showing. The first chapel in her honor was built in 1745, with another larger church built in 1834. The present basilica was built in 1955 and can hold up to 45,000 worshippers. It is truly a grand church, with many small chapels devoted to various needs, including a devotional Chapel of Candles, a Eucharistic chapel and several chapels used for Masses celebrated by pilgrims. We had the honor of having Mass in one of them during our brief visit.
In 1930, Pope Pius XI declared Our Lady of Aparecida the "Queen and Primary Patroness of Brazil." St. Peter of Alcantara retains his position as the co-patron of Brazil. The town where the statue of Our Lady of Aparecida is located was eventually named after the shrine. It continues to be an important place of pilgrimage and devotion, especially for Catholics from South America. Pope Francis had a special Mass and some visits with dignitaries at Aparecida just before launching World Youth Day activities in Rio de Janeiro July 25.
An important document on evangelization, simply known as "The Aparecida Document," was the fruit of the Fifth General Conference of Latin American and Caribbean Bishops held in 2007. Cardinal Bergoglio, then archbishop of Buenos Aires and now our pope, was the primary editor. That gathering of bishops sought to set a course of action for Catholic South Americans in response to a document produced earlier by Blessed John Paul II that served as a summary of the Synod on Evangelization for the Americas (which included the U.S.). Keep watch as our own diocese begins to study and promote ideas that originally were the fruit of these important meetings.
The Church is missionary by nature. All baptized Christians are called to be missionary disciples. May we all live up to this dignified calling as Mary, our mother and model, did so well. And may we respond to the encouragement of Pope Francis to live out our faith as authentic followers of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And may we not be afraid to proclaim, defend and share the precious gift of faith we have received as a gift in our every word and action.
Last week I had the wonderful opportunity to make a pilgrimage to Prague in the Czech Republic. During my four short days in that traditionally Catholic town, I found myself being given literally dozens of opportunities to evangelize. Please indulge me as I share a few examples to highlight the many different forms that authentic evangelization might take. I hope to show also how easy and rewarding this activity can be.
Air travel almost always provides several ready-made opportunities for sharing the love of Jesus with others. From the very moment we reach the airport we come into contact with many strangers. I like to strike up conversations, simply to open the door for the Holy Spirit to work His magic.
On the trip home from Prague, after sharing simple courtesies with the check-in attendant and proceeding to security, a security officer who recognized that I am a Catholic priest proceeded to inquire about some rules Catholics have to follow. He left very satisfied for having received an authoritative and sensible explanation regarding his query.
One lady boarding the plane enjoyed a short exchange with me after voicing a typical comment, "Oh Father, I feel so much safer with you aboard." I often reply by teasing that I’m not a pilot or a mechanic, should something go wrong, so I just pray for safe travels like the rest, including those who aren’t doing it for themselves. I usually have at least one stranger sitting to my left or right and I test the waters by introducing myself and inquiring about the nature of their travels. More often than not, they are disposed to conversing a bit and it isn’t difficult to bring religion gradually into the discussion. I often ask the Holy Spirit to provide and guide these significant one-time encounters. We should never underestimate the impact such a chance meeting might have.
During my group’s familiarization tour of Prague, the guide admitted to me that he used to practice the Catholic Faith, but had drifted away. A young Irishman in the group poured out his heart to me about his relationship problems and asked me for a priestly blessing once a rapport had been established quite simply by making myself available to him; by being approachable. A blind lady whom I helped onto a bus and into an empty seat struck up a conversation with me and ended up relating that she had stopped practicing Catholicism in favor of her own self-styled religion. A man I met at a classical music concert relayed that he left the Faith after marrying a non-Catholic. Each of these instances opened up the door to help a person who was confused, misinformed, feeling guilty, or simply was ignorant about the Catholic Church and her teachings. And all of us are capable of doing this, even while we continue to work at becoming better informed ourselves.
While it would be easy to write an essay about each of these encounters, they would likely be interesting to only a few. They are put forth here simply to emphasize how frequently such opportunities to evangelize present themselves and how important our conversations potentially can be.
Evangelization begins simply with a friendly disposition and often develops further when we have in our heart the real desire that each and every person we meet will eventually spend eternity in heaven. Start there and see what happens. The Holy Spirit has many exciting exchanges in store for each of us. We merely need to give Him permission to use us as effective cooperators in His divine plan.
The Diocese of Lincoln has a far-reaching reputation for its orthodoxy and for the fidelity of its clergy and laity to the teachings of the Catholic Church. Sometimes people from other dioceses who do not enjoy such a blessing note how lucky we are to live here. A fitting response to such a remark is: "While we have been blessed in many ways, we are careful not to forget that we too are subject to the effects of Original Sin here in our diocese."
One of the predicaments with which the Church presently is struggling is the decrease of commitment to weekly Mass attendance and regular involvement in the parish. This downward trend is a problem nationally, with weekly Mass attendance dipping down to the 25% mark. Thanks to excellent diocesan leadership, strong family values and God’s abundant grace, the commitment levels are significantly higher in the Diocese of Lincoln than in other parts of the country. Nonetheless, we have been experiencing a parallel decline locally, with our Mass attendance figures plunging from about 70% 10 years ago to around 55% presently. Such a rapid decline in commitment to what is most essential to our Catholic Faith is disconcerting, to say the least.
Many studies have been done over the past 30 years to try to identify the roots of this spiritual epidemic. The results point to a variety of factors that contribute to the contagion but, with the culture changing so rapidly, it is difficult to pinpoint the source of the problem and proffer a solution. However, there certainly are characteristics common to those who remain faithful to their Lord’s Day obligation. One of the most prevalent of these traits may be described as intentional discipleship. While most Christians would describe themselves as disciples of Jesus, the majority unfortunately do not bear witness to that claim. They do not practice the Faith dutifully; they do not follow the Commandments conscientiously; they do not serve their neighbors charitably; and they are not good stewards of the time, talent and treasure entrusted to them by God.
Intentional discipleship is measurable and noticeable. Intentional disciples not only go to church every Sunday; they also live out their beliefs in a variety of ways throughout the week. They are religious people, and everybody knows it. They are generous with all that God has given them. They stand up not only for what the Church teaches, but also for individuals who are suffering injustices (e.g. the unborn). They avoid participating in activities or events they know God does not approve of, and they let others know why they are refraining from them. They are strict with themselves while exercising patience and compassion toward others. They make an effort to learn the Faith well so that it can be applied to current issues and articulated for the benefit of others. They pray fervently for the needs of individuals, for the growth and health of the Church, and for moral solutions to global concerns. They carry out the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.
How do we measure up to this standard of Christian discipleship? Those who were not intentional disciples in Jesus’ day mistook his identity, misinterpreted His teachings and ultimately rejected Him altogether. There are more than enough Americans who self-identify as disciples of Jesus while rejecting His moral guidance and His love. What we need to reverse the toxic spiritual trend in our land is more intentional discipleship—in other words, the stuff of saints. Are you in?
Good morning (perhaps). It’s coffee time!
The Office for Evangelization is once again hosting a "Catholic Coffee House" series, which is set to begin Sunday, Oct. 20, at 6:30 p.m. at the Blessed John XXIII Diocesan Center in Lincoln.
The theme this year is: "Family and the New Evangelization."
One of the prominent themes repeated by our modern popes is that evangelization efforts these days must necessarily be directed toward the family. In cultures throughout the world where traditional family values and structures are under attack, moms and dads and their kids need to be formed and catechized about their essential role in God’s plan of salvation. They are first the objects of God’s love before they become conduits of that same love for others.
The topics for this year’s Coffee House series will address various relationships that are built upon divine and human love and how those relationships are interconnected. The first talk, entitled, "Sons of the Father in a Fatherless Society," begins with the sad admission that many children grow up these days in a fatherless home. Oftentimes, those who do have dads at home experience a fatherhood that reflects neither God the Father’s love nor the authentic human roles associated with genuine fatherhood.
Part of the remedy for this dire situation is to appreciate and experience a true filial relationship with God the Father that makes way for the possibility of total entrustment to Him. By entrusting ourselves to the perfect Father in heaven, we begin to see how God desires that we relate to our earthly fathers. Those with the privilege of fatherhood themselves can also develop a sense of how to relate appropriately to their own children.
The second session of our monthly series will focus on spousal love. Blessed Pope John Paul II was a master at describing expressly what this love should look like. He spoke often of how the total self-gift of one spouse to another formed the foundation upon which marriage and the family is built. He brought out the fact that, as spouses give themselves to each other, they come to a greater knowledge of themselves in the process, and of God as well.
In a culture in which the concept of love is so gravely misunderstood, it behooves us to revisit often what true love looks like, and God chose spousal love as the specific human relationship through which His own love could best be reflected and revealed.
Parental love will be the topic of the following session. As spousal love bears fruit in the gift of children, parental love comes into play. God the Father’s love for Jesus can and should be reflected in the love of parents for their children. The discipline exercised by the Father as well as the mercy offered to His adoptive spiritual children serve as models for the kind of relationship that is possible—and desirable—between human parents and their offspring.
Family prayer will also be highlighted in the series to underscore the important balance needed between individual and communal prayer. Prayer itself is a means of relating with other persons with whom we share a special bond, be they human, angelic or divine.
A final presentation will focus on how this new familial way of relating to God and to one another plays out in the New Evangelization. In other words, how should we respond to Jesus’ call for us to make disciples of all nations in light of our duty to love one another as God loves us?
If you are able, please consider joining us for this journey of faith and love, so as better to appreciate the dynamics of how God’s divine family (The Holy Trinity) relates to, and is reflected in, our own.
Modern culture and its teachers have warned us to be especially wary of anyone who offers us anything of value. It could be a trick. It may be a trap. So, beware!
Unfortunately, the fallout for such a disposition is that many people nowadays do not trust even the most trustworthy of persons. Their lives can become entrenched in fear and distrust.
Immediately after the angel Gabriel left the Virgin Mary announcing the Incarnation, Mary went “with haste” (Lk 1:39) to visit and help her older cousin Elizabeth, who was pregnant with John the Baptist. After the greeting of Elizabeth where she said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb” (Lk 1:42), Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior …”(Lk 1:46-47).
Just days before Christmas, before I left the office to visit our staff across the diocese with little gifts of appreciation, I had an ‘urge’ to take some cash along. I have learned by experience that when these ‘urges’ or inspirations occur I need to take note, for things usually happen.
Once along the way, I met briefly with a brother priest who suggested I pay a visit to a young woman. As it turns out, I knew her personally and had concelebrated her wedding Mass. She had recently lost her husband and youngest daughter in a motor vehicle accident. She now lives with one of her sisters who recently lost her husband to the ravages of cancer. Since they are both unemployed and Christmas was near, they were suffering. Their pastor had just left their home after giving them some money for gifts for their children.
After opening the door and greeting me, she soon opened a photo album which contained many of her family pictures, including those of her wedding. She picked out two pictures that I will always keep, one with her and her late husband standing in front of the altar and the tabernacle containing Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and myself at their side, and another of her daughters - including the youngest who died in the crash. Yes, there were tears…
She related that her surviving daughters wondered why God would have allowed this to happen. Needless to say, I spent considerable time with her explaining the mystery of creation, original sin, the incarnation, redemption, the very reason the Son of God came to us around 2,000 years ago. Life itself was born in time to die, so we who were dead in sin could live. I, of course, was only reiterating the very things her pastor had related. Before I left, I gave her and her sister a little badly-needed money.
How does our soul magnify the Lord? By giving the love of God to others, especially those in need. We owe a deep debt of gratitude to the Blessed Virgin Mary because without her “yes,” the incarnation would not have happened. Without Mary, there would not be Jesus. As for the two sisters, helping them was only possible in part because of the generosity of the faithful of southern Nebraska.
To our faithful benefactors I also owe a debt of gratitude, for around Christmas we helped many more people than we ever did before… with emergency services, food, clothing, grants for counseling, and toys for more than 4,000 needy children (over 1,000 more than last year). I know that because the love of God lives in your hearts, your generosity will continue. This is comforting for me to know because Jesus Himself said, “The poor you always have with you” (Jn 12:8).
Please know that we at Catholic Social Services will keep you, your family and intentions in our prayers this New Year and beyond!
Days ago, in the midst of a cold snap, before closing time I strolled through our lobby and noticed a young man with a specially trained dog. His doctor’s office suggested he visit us for assistance. He heated his tiny efficiency apartment by turning on his oven and opening the door.
A tearful case worker in our office gave him her own space heater. I offered to buy her a new one but she refused, explaining that she too must help in her own way.
Before long I knew most of the man’s story. He recently moved to Lincoln and was struggling with the side effects of his cancer-related treatments. He was wearing two tee shirts over a light jacket. “Father, I’m from Wisconsin and know how to ‘layer up!’” “How are you going to get home?” I asked. “I’ll wait for the next bus and take it home,” he replied. I knew it wasn’t good enough at 2 degrees (and a wind-chill of 20 below) and his labored breathing. After hearing we were there to help he said in a relieved tone, “Thank you! I don’t know what I would have done otherwise!”
Because of some generous donors, I was able to give him a warm winter coat with a hood in his size and, along with some food from our pantry, we loaded up one of our vans and headed to the pharmacy closest to his home. After paying for his medicines, we arrived at his apartment. His possessions included an old sofa, a small stand, a broken frying pan, one pot, three plates, one knife, one fork and several spoons. Because of the small size of his apartment, it didn’t take long for the space heater to do its job.
He was even more relieved when I said, “We’ll be back, with a table and chairs, a dresser and hide-a-bed, bed sheets, blankets and items for the kitchen. We will also help turn your gas on so you will have real heat!”
Needless to say, he was grateful and overwhelmed. I was grateful as well to Almighty God for sending him to us and decided to call his doctor’s office to thank them for their referral.
Lastly, I was grateful to all of our benefactors - for their prayers so we can continue this ministry of loving Jesus Christ who lives in the poor and needy; for their material donations, i.e., furniture, appliances, clothes, coats, house and kitchenware, etc; and for their cash donations which allow us to help with rent, utilities, grants for counseling etc.
I knew that if it wasn’t for our generous donors, this would never have happened.
As I left this young man, I was relieved that he would spend the evening safe and warm, with his needed medicines and a full stomach. Soon he would be able to sit at his own kitchen table and sleep on a mattress with the basic amenities that we all are tempted to take for granted.
Thank you all once again and know that we at Catholic Social Services pray for you every morning at 8:30.
Whenever family members die from physical ailments or accidents, invariably someone asks, “Why did God allow this to happen? Why did God permit this?”
Now, countless people, young and old are asking the same questions in the country of Haiti. The further one delves into these mysteries (with Divine Revelation to guide us with the assistance of the gifts of knowledge, wisdom and understanding) the more one can begin to appreciate the gravity of the fall of mankind in the garden after the creation of our first parents.
As beautiful as this world is, God did not create it as it is now. Before the fall, death, disease, trauma, suffering, etc. did not exist, but entered the world after our first parents decided to disobey God their creator. Created with Divine life in their souls, known as sanctifying grace, they were destined to be assumed into heaven after their earthly lives. But with their disobedience, all was lost, including sanctifying grace within their souls, their ticket to heaven. It is this graceless condition known as Original Sin that we inherit from our first parents.
Fortunately, we know the rest of the story. God, who could have left us in our sorry state with the gates of heaven closed, took on flesh from the Virgin Mary to die, so we who were dead in sin could live eternally and not temporally here on earth. Didn’t we just celebrate this mystery at Christmas time? With His passion, death, resurrection, and ascension, Jesus has re-opened the gates to the only place where perfect happiness exists, heaven and not here on earth.
It is no accident that the last day of the Christmas season is the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. Jesus Christ, true God and true man, who needed not baptism, sanctified the waters of our own baptism, when Original Sin was removed and the gates to the other sacraments were opened.
But until we go through the door of death with sanctifying grace in our souls, we as members of the mystical body of Christ suffer. Since we are all members of the same body of Christ, “If one member suffers, all suffer together” (1 Cor 12:26). This is why countless individuals all across the world are responding to the tragedy in Haiti. After hearing the news, I know that you too felt that inner pain.
Immediately after the earthquake, Pope Benedict XVI asked all Catholic charity organizations to respond. That is why Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska has started a relief effort. Many of you have already responded by donating through second collections across the diocese which will be forwarded to us, and others have sent checks directly to us with ‘Haiti earthquake fund’ in the memo of the check. All funds sent to us will be forwarded to the relief effort.
The response so far has been tremendous, evidence that when “One member suffers, all suffer together” (1 Cor 12:26). I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your generosity, allowing us at Catholic Social Services to help not only the needy of southern Nebraska but beyond! Please never forget that we at Catholic Social Services will keep not only the living and deceased Haitian earthquake victims but you, your family and intentions in our daily prayers!
I’m sure that our benefactors wonder from time to time what happens to individuals and families we assist. Reading and hearing some of these stories is often moving.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of my assignment is traveling across southern Nebraska meeting and talking with those in need and our generous donors who make what we do possible. Sometimes this involves offering Masses at different parishes across the diocese. Recently, before Mass somewhere south of the Platte River, a young woman who appeared to be in her late twenties or early thirties wanted to say a few words to me before Mass. This is not unusual. When people want to talk before or after Mass, it could be about anything from, “Father, could you bless this rosary?” or “Father, could you hear my confession?” to the desire to talk about some personal matter while wanting some spiritual advice.
My impression was that she was not a Catholic. She asked, “Are you the Catholic Social Services guy?” “Why, yes I am!” I answered. “I just want to thank you for everything that you have done for me and my children! For the last five years you have helped me with toys for my kids.” “Did we help you again this last Christmas?” I asked. “No, because I have a good paying job now and did not want to take anything away from another mom who needed help” she retorted. She went on to explain that CSS had done much more for her over the last several years while she was unemployed in terms of emergency services (help with rent, utilities, etc.) and wanted to further elaborate but Mass was about to begin. After thanking me a dozen times, she asked how she could start giving back in terms of volunteering.
This reminded me of a young married man who came into one of our offices wanting to donate a car. When asked how he learned about our St. Christopher Car program, he answered, “Several years ago Catholic Social Services gave me a vehicle and I wanted to return the favor to someone else!” After signing the title of his car to CSS he merrily went on his way.
Yes, there are some of Christ’s poor who cannot seem to raise themselves out of the cycle of poverty. There are many reasons for this. We need to remind ourselves that like everyone else, they too are created in the image and likeness of God. But there are many others who do, returning to us thankful to God and to our donors, and wanting to become donors themselves.
That said, I am allowed yet another opportunity to thank the generous people of southern Nebraska for their love for Jesus Christ, who lives in the poor and needy, which is manifested by their generosity. You are making a difference in the lives of many. When they thank me they are thanking you, and they want me to relay their thankfulness.
Please know that in addition to relaying the gratitude of these former clients, we at Catholic Social Services will keep you, your family and intentions in our prayers as we routinely pray for you every morning at 8:30.
Since CSS covers all of the area south of the Platte River, we receive calls from many locations across the diocese. It seems that over the last six months there have been an increase in house fires and accidents. All of the fires that we are aware of have destroyed the respective homes, tragically with some loss of family members in several. Sadly, there has been loss of life in the accidents as well.
It is edifying how in some of these cases the local communities have stepped up and helped. Since more help was needed, CSS was there to join in the effort with our available resources, including cash assistance and material items (including a vehicle).
You might have heard that some entertainers are holding benefit concerts for the earthquake victims in Haiti. Over the past six years, musicians here in the heartland have donated their time to benefit the poor in southern Nebraska. That said, if cabin fever is setting in and you cannot wait another six weeks for warmer weather, I have just the thing for you, something that will warm your heart – Trumpet Fest 2010!
I am excited to announce that this will be the seventh annual “Trumpet Fest” for Catholic Social Services, a benefit for poor and needy individuals and families who live in southern Nebraska. It is presented by Murray’s for Men of Stature.
Like past years, Trumpet Fest 2010 will highlight some of the areas finest trumpeters including Mac McCune, Darryl White, Dennis Schneider, Dean Haist, Barb Schmit, Tom Kelly, Kevin Murray and more. There will be solo performances, duets by Denny Schneider and Tom Kelly, and another with Darryl White and Kevin Murray. There will also be a family performance by Barb Schmit, her husband and children. There will even be performances by some of the most talented students around! Then to cap off the event, there will be a jam session that I cannot begin to describe, something guaranteed to warm your soul.
Trumpet Fest 2010 takes place Sunday, Feb. 7 at 3 p.m. in Pius X High School, Lincoln. Admission is free but hats will be passed for a free-will offering. All proceeds will be used to assist the numerous needy individuals and families that come to us on a daily basis. Visit www.cssisus.org for more details.
Let me take this opportunity to thank all of the musicians who will be performing, and all of our patrons who are planning to attend. For those who are on the fence, you can ‘kill two birds with one stone’: after hearing the performances of the above musicians, you will walk away amazed and entertained, and with the monies collected by the passing of the hat, you will help us continue to assist those who are in dire need.
Please know that we at Catholic Social Services will keep these musicians, and you in our prayers as we routinely pray for our benefactors every morning at 8:30. See you at Pius High School at 3 p.m. Feb. 7!
Last year, one of our donors asked me if he could volunteer on a regular basis after retiring, saying, “Father, I think I can give you at least 20 hours a week!” After retirement came a period of down time (which included some travel) after which his wife said, “John, when are you going to get a life? You better call Father Kubat!!” He is planning on wearing several hats but for now is concentrating in our food pantry, including our St. Andrew’s Mobile Food Pantry which we take on the road to numerous communities across southern Nebraska. Food is purchased and trucked to each location and, utilizing parish and community volunteers, those who come are greeted at the door with no questions asked and are individually assisted in picking out food for themselves and their families.
Recently at a mobile pantry, John came across an elderly woman with her middle-aged daughter. While helping them load up the food into their car they both started weeping. They explained that because they do not qualify for aid on paper, they are unable to find help at other pantries. At best they receive only small amounts. Since they were able to choose and receive all they needed and were greeted by warm and friendly volunteers they were overwhelmed to the point of tears. In John’s own words, “I can’t help but feel that those tears were not meant for my benefit only, but for those throughout our diocese who support this great work.”
Later this month on February 28th at the Cornhusker Hotel, Catholic Social Services will be holding our annual Celebration of Caring Banquet with the presentation of the Cor Christi (Heart of Christ) award. At this yearly banquet we celebrate God’s benevolence as reflected by His great love for us and what we have accomplished over the past year by His grace and the generosity of our generous benefactors across southern Nebraska and beyond.
This year, the Cor Christi award will be presented to Bob and Pam McCabe of Lincoln for their years of service for the cause of life. Whether it is rain or shine, hot or cold, ice or snow, Bob and Pam have been present outside of Lincoln’s abortion mill praying and offering counsel to the many women and men going inside. Over the years, they by the grace of God have been instruments in saving countless babies.
I hope you can join us on February 28th at the Cornhusker Hotel, where we will be celebrating the fact that all of us are created in the image and likeness of God. This is the reason we pray for the end to abortion and why we help and love Jesus who lives in the poor and needy. This is why the faithful of southern Nebraska has been supporting CSS for the last 78 years!
For those unable to be with us that evening, please pray for a holy and successful event. And remember that we at CSS, in addition to helping and praying for the needy across the diocese, will keep you, your family and intentions in our prayers as we routinely pray for our benefactors every morning at 8:30.
A wonderful collection of the writings of Blessed Mother Teresa has been compiled by Father Brian Kolodiejchuk M.C., entitled “Mother Teresa, Come Be My Light.” It contains her private writings, letters and correspondences, many of which were to her spiritual directors and other members of the clergy. Frequently did she request they be destroyed but thankfully, they have been preserved so we can gain a glimpse into the soul of this great contemporary light that lived among the poorest of the poor.
Her desire to help Jesus in the poor first appeared as a 12-year-old girl. This was one of the earliest and striking signs of her intense love of God, since most 12-year-old boys and girls do not have at the top of their “to do” list helping the poor and needy as a missionary. That said, her decision to enter the religious life as a nun came six years later as she admitted that until the age of 18 she “did not want to be a nun.”
She entered the Loreto order in Ireland and chose the name Teresa after St. Teresa of Lisieux. After boarding a ship bound for India she wrote a beautiful poem catching some of her sentiments. In it she wrote, “I’m leaving my old friends, Forsaking family and home, My heart draws me onward, To Serve my Christ … In return, I only ask of Thee, O most kind Father of us all: Let me save at least one soul – One you already know.” Little did she realize she would eventually baptize tens of thousands of souls and be responsible for saving innumerable sons and daughters of the Most High God.
On May 24, 1937 Gonxha Agnes Bojaxhiu became “Mother Teresa” as she professed her final vows as a member of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (otherwise known as the Loreto Sisters). Shortly after this she wrote the following in a letter to Father Jambrekovic: “Everything is for Jesus; so like that everything is beautiful, even though it is difficult.”
Remember, this was written before she started the Missionaries of Charity. This phrase described her entire life and work for the poor including offering up her feelings of desolation. Her life was beautiful because it was lived and spent entirely for Jesus.
Let us consider making this phrase a springboard and point of meditation for our Lenten prayers, works, joys, sufferings, thoughts, words, deeds, and acts of penance, because if we do them all and entirely for Jesus, they will become beautiful even though some of them will be difficult.
In my February Via Satoris letter I asked this question- “How can I adequately express my gratitude to our generous monthly Via Satoris members who are vital to Catholic Social Services since Jesus said, “The poor you always have with you (Jn 12:8)?” I now ask it in an even broader sense; how can I thank all of our benefactors for your spiritual, material, and financial support which allows us to help poor and needy individuals and families across southern Nebraska?
Please be assured of my prayers and penances for you which will be done with joy because like Blessed Mother Teresa, you are doing it all and entirely for Jesus!
Several years ago, after boarding a flight to a well-known domestic destination, fastening my seatbelt, and ensuring my tray table and seat were in the locked and upright position, I noticed during and after take-off that the young woman sitting next to me was anxious and disturbed.
After a simple “Hello,” I judged by her body language and the way she returned my greeting that she wanted nothing to do with a middle-aged man dressed in priestly garb. Before going on, let me be clear; the following as described has nothing to do with me personally, but everything to do with the powerful intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the office of the priesthood.
After sensing trouble in the soul of the young woman sitting next to me, I remember feeling sadness inside, and wondered what could be done during this brief flight. Thankfully, the baggage screeners didn’t mind I was ‘packing heat’- carrying a rosary. Some Catholics, like religious sisters carry them on their belts, visible to others around them which make them fast on the draw. I, like many others, carry mine in a ‘holster’ or a rosary pouch, truly concealed in my pocket. Since they are useless unless they are ‘un-holstered,’ and used, I pulled mine out and started to say a rosary for her as she kept looking down or out the window.
After reciting the rosary I turned to her and asked, “Did you notice that I said a rosary?” “Yes,” she replied. “I prayed it for you.” I said. After this, the flood gates opened and the tears started to flow. After a few moments of flood control, she told me she was a Catholic and opened the door to her soul, revealing the skeletons inside, including the one big one that was the source of the majority of her pain and sorrow. After a few moments, the closet of her soul was cleaned out as I recited the words of absolution, “I absolve you of your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit!” It was then that tears of joy replaced the tears of sorrow. After a few words of spiritual advice on prayer and devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, we parted ways.
For those who have not received this powerful sacrament for some time and for those who regularly receive it, I recommend a beautiful little booklet, which costs only a dollar, available at most parishes in the diocese and at our Chancery called, “The Little Catechism on Confession.” In it are sections on the love of God, the nature of sin, why Jesus started confession to a priest including scriptural passages relating to its origin, a useful examination of conscience and much more. Since Lent has started, it is a wonderful time to pick one up and read this short but useful aid. Let us remind ourselves that since confession is a sacrament, we receive God’s grace or Divine Life inward every time we receive it. This is why Blessed Mother Teresa received it weekly. Let us all imitate her for the same reason, for the forgiveness of sins and the reception of God’s graces. Let us also not forget to recite the most holy rosary daily. My prayer is that you have a blessed Lent and glorious Easter!
Remember the story related in Luke’s gospel concerning the 10 lepers?
Jesus encountered them on the road traveling from Samaria to Jerusalem. Once they saw Jesus, they fell at His feet and cried, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” Having pity on them, Jesus cured them saying, “Go and show yourselves to the priests” (Lk 17:14). Only one returned and thanked Jesus by ‘falling on his face’ at the feet of Jesus while giving Him thanks and praise. Jesus said, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?” (Lk 17:17)
While the vast majority of those we help are thankful for the assistance received at Catholic Social Services, occasionally we have clients who return to thank us either in person or by sending us a thank-you card or letter. Either way, these expressions of gratitude are truly and rightfully directed to our generous benefactors and ultimately Almighty God, who is the source of all charity.
Recently, a single mother came to one of our offices frightened and scared, not knowing where to turn or what to do. She was recently hurt on the job and since her worker’s compensation covered only a portion of her monthly bills, including her mortgage, she was in trouble. After using up her savings, she stood to lose her house.
I was told she was “doing everything right and not because of an unwillingness to work or for laziness, but because of an injury,” she was on the brink of disaster.
In a lovely and tenderly written thank-you card she said, and I quote, “I just wanna say thanks for your time, kind generosity for helping me with my mortgage situation in December. I go back to the doctor in March … and I hope to be released …. I need to look for a new job. Maybe I can come in sometime if you have time to proofread my resume … I just wanna say thank you for your warmth, time and help. I know that you get a lot of requests but I mean this from the bottom of my heart. Thanks for saving my house. I hope to give back by donating or volunteering, thanks so much!!!” She signed the thank you card by saying, “God bless you” followed by her name and the name of her daughter. The emergency services case worker who helper her was noticeably touched.
Notice her mention of donating back or volunteering. This is nothing new to Catholic Social Services. There are instances where past clients have later donated time and talent by volunteering, treasure by cash donations, donated clothes, or even larger items such as cars.
As mentioned above, the gratitude expressed in this thank-you note rightfully belongs to the countless benefactors of southern Nebraska and beyond! May this column be our thank-you note from us to you for helping us touch the lives of needy individuals and families who come to us on a daily basis. Never forget that we at Catholic Social Services pray for you every morning at 8:30!
Earlier this month, the Universal Church celebrated the feast day of St. Casmir of Poland, known as “The peace maker” and “The patron of the poor.” Born to King Casmir IV and Elizabeth of Austria, Casmir was the third of 13 children. He was educated by John Dlugosz, a canon of Cracow and a learned historian who excelled in the virtue of humility.
It is said that the common denominator of all saints is an intense love for the Most Blessed Sacrament and the poor. This saint was no exception. He was often seen at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass “rapt in a trance.” St. Casmir had a special devotion to the passion of Christ and frequently meditated on the sufferings of Jesus. He also had exceptional love and devotion to the Blessed Mother and often recited the hymn known to us as “Daily, daily sing to Mary.”
He excelled in the practices of personal prayer by rising during the night to pray, and penance by wearing a hair shirt. Have you ever pondered what wearing a hair shirt was like? I often wonder after each haircut since, despite the best efforts by the barber vacuuming the neck and collar, some hair fragments invariably fall under the shirt and onto the skin causing some itching and discomfort. There goes any miniscule merit of mine by even mentioning it here….
We know from the first letter of John the evidence of our love of God is our love for our neighbor. This was evident in the heroic actions of St. Casmir. He gave all he had to the poor and destitute and used his influence on their behalf with his father (the king of Poland) and his brother Wladislas (the king of Bohemia). His father most likely never tired of his requests on behalf of the poor since they were sometimes daily. Despite the pleas to become the king of Hungary, Casmir refused all offers of position and power. He also had the reputation of always being approachable to those in need. Although he never entered religious life he was committed, in practice, to a life of poverty, chastity and obedience- obedience to our Divine Savior.
In addition to his love for Christ and His presence in the poor, Casmir also had a ‘sweet spot’ in his heart for the sick and suffering. It is most likely from them that he contracted tuberculosis, which became a personal death sentence for him. He died at the early age of 26 in the year 1484. In addition to being the patron saint of Poland and Lithuania, he is venerated by young people as a model of purity.
How invaluable it is reading and studying the lives of the saints because from them, we can learn how they applied the tenets of the gospel in a concrete way.
Let us, like St. Casmir, meditate on the sufferings of Jesus Christ who died so we would live, especially during this holy season of Lent. Let us like him spend time each week in front of the Most Blessed Sacrament in prayer. We will then grow in our knowledge that Christ is present in our neighbor including those in dire need.
My prayer is that you have a blessed Lenten preparation for the glorious season of Easter, when we celebrate our Savior’s defeat of sin and death!
St. Casmir, pray for us!
St. Isidore was born in 1070 in Madrid. As a child, his destitute parents sent him to a wealthy landowner to work as a farmer. As Providence had it, this was his only job until his death at the age of 60.
Isidore married a holy woman named Maria Torribia (who herself is a canonized saint). Together they had a son who died suddenly as a child. Throughout his life, Isidore attended daily Mass, after which he worked in the fields. Through the work of his hands and divine intervention, he consistently produced greater yields in comparison with other farm workers who toiled nearby. It is no surprise that he is the patron saint of farmers and the United States National Rural Life Conference.
Like other saints, in addition to his intense love and devotion to our Divine Savior in the Blessed Sacrament, St. Isidore had a tremendous love for the poor which was reflected in his charity to those in need, especially the hungry. He was, on at least one occasion, the instrument of the division of food in the midst of a large group of beggars. It is also no surprise that St. Isidore was the unanimous choice for the patron saint for our new thrift store in Imperial.
On March 8 in Imperial, St. Isidore Gift & Thrift celebrated its grand opening. Present were Father Bernard Lorenz, who cut the ribbon at 11 a.m., Bill Sullivan, the store’s manager, other members of CSS and many wonderful volunteers from the Imperial area. We are grateful to Father Lorenz and the members of St. Patrick in Imperial for letting us use their old parish hall after they built a beautiful new one. After some minor modifications to the old hall and other preparations by the loving and dedicated volunteers, the grand opening occurred without a hitch. A good-sized crowd was greeted with refreshments. Many items were purchased - items large such as furniture and small such as kitchen items, and seemingly everything in between.
Donated items will be sold at affordable prices and the profits used to help the needy in the western region of the diocese. Even though we assist individuals and families all across the diocese, it was our dream to do more out west, which was one of the four elements or goals of our first-ever capital campaign, Expanding the Works of Mercy. After several years, with the powerful intercession of St. Isidore, we will be ready to purchase a building in downtown Imperial for a permanent site.
I would like to thank Father Lorenz, Bill Sullivan, other staff members of CSS and all the dedicated and generous volunteers who donated their time getting the store ready, and those who worked at the store on the day of the grand opening, and donors of material items who helped make this project a reality.
For those in the area, please keep St. Isidore in mind when donating items big and small, and consider volunteering. And of course, please keep us in your prayers. St. Isidore the Farmer, pray for us!!
On March 19th, the Universal Church celebrated the solemnity of St. Joseph, the spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, foster father of Jesus and patron of the Catholic Church. At Mass we were given two options for the gospel. The first was from the gospel according to Matthew concerning the birth of our Savior.
Often have I pondered what Joseph was thinking when he discovered that the ever blessed and virgin Mary was with child. How troubled he must have been knowing that his betrothed was expecting. On one hand he knew her to be holy, pure, chaste and virginal but after considerable thought without the supernatural guidance of understanding from the Holy Sprit, “Since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly” (Mt 1:19).
It was after this that an angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her” (Mt 1:20). Reading on we discover that Joseph responded promptly without fear and took his wife into his home and became the guardian of the Christ Child.
Isn’t it fear of losing something one is attached to that prevents one’s growth in holiness? It could be something sinful- or even something that is not sinful- that we are called to give up for a greater good. Recently I visited a group of teens at the home of John and Cindy Maher to discuss social justice and why we need to help the poor. I explained there are two reasons to do so.
First, after reading what Jesus said about the general judgment on the last day, one may be tempted to assist those in need because they ‘fear the loss of heaven and the pains of hell.’
‘But most of all because they offend thee my God…’ brings us to the second and best reason: because we love God and have the sure faith that Jesus lives in them. “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me” (Mt 25:40).
Like St. Joseph, we need to take heed of the words that were uttered to him by the angel of the Lord, the same words reiterated by the late Pope John Paul II, “Be not afraid!”
I pointed out that fidelity to the gospel because of fear usually does not work well, but when one truly loves God one acts out of love. Herein lies peace, the peace that only God gives, which is different from the peace that the world gives which cannot be explained.
I further explained that since starting as the director of Catholic Social Services, I have met numerous generous donors who reflect this peace in their faces, and monthly sign many thank you letters to other benefactors that I have not met. Even though I have not met them, I am confident that they too have found that peace in their great love which is expressed in the charity to the poor by their generosity to us.
To all of our generous supporters, thank you!! St. Joseph, pray for us!!
On Wednesday, Feb. 17, many of the faithful heard Mass and received ashes on their foreheads as they listened to these words uttered by the priest: “Remember, you are dust, and to dust you will return!” We were then instructed to ‘climb the holy mountain of Easter’ by an increase in prayer and penance over the 40 days of Lent. Now Holy Church asks us to celebrate in a special way the definitive victory over sin and death by our Lord Jesus Christ by His suffering, death and resurrection during the fifty days of the Easter season stretching from Easter Sunday to Pentecost.
The first days of the Easter season are Easter Sunday and the days of the Easter octave (eight days), all celebrated as solemnities, each day celebrated as if it were Easter. Hearing at Mass the appearances of the resurrected Jesus to His disciples and meditating on the resurrections itself, one is tempted to say, “If only I could have been at the tomb that Easter Sunday.”
One can easily forget that not only is the sacrifice of our Savior made present at Mass, so is His resurrection. So in this sense we are present at Calvary and the tomb on the first Easter Sunday at every Mass. That is why these words are found in each Eucharistic prayer immediately after the words of consecration- “Father, we celebrate the memory of Christ, your Son. We, your people and your ministers, recall his passion, his resurrection from the dead, and his ascension into glory” (Eucharistic prayer #1); “In memory of his death and resurrection, we offer you, Father, this life giving bread, this saving cup” (Eucharistic prayer #2); “Father, calling to mind the death your Son endured for our salvation, his glorious resurrection and ascension into heaven, and ready to greet him when he comes again, we offer you in thanksgiving this holy and living sacrifice” (Eucharistic prayer #3) and “Father, we now celebrate this memorial of our redemption. We recall Christ’s death, his descent among the dead, his resurrection, and his ascension to your right hand; and, looking forward to his coming in glory, we offer you his body and blood, the acceptable sacrifice which brings salvation to the whole world” (Eucharistic prayer #4).
Unfortunately, much is lost in translation to the vernacular languages. We are not recalling something in the past (like remembering a marriage that happened 50 years ago as we count our facial wrinkles) but recalling something by actually making it present and in this case, the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Therefore, at Mass, Jesus does not die and rise from the dead again, another time. Christ died and rose once and these events cannot be repeated but the one and only death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are made present. This is what the Mass is. Yes, we truly have something profound to celebrate!
I hope that many of you will be able to join us Friday, May 5 as we begin again our First Friday Fish Fries outside of Lent to benefit St. Gianna’s Women’s Homes. This will be Friday of the fifth week of Easter. Help us break in our new Fry Master which will help us enhance our fish fries! Hopefully, weather permitting, we will even have outdoor seating and some other surprises.
It is our prayer at Catholic Social Services that you have a blessed and holy Easter season!
I'll never forget the words of Bishop Bruskewitz during a luncheon on a hot summer day when I was a seminarian. He said, “Gentlemen, there are people out there, some of whom have not been born, whose salvation depends on whether you will be there as their priest.”
During the first six months of 2005, I assisted a priest in Mexico City while studying Spanish. I traveled there on weekends from Cuernavaca. It was a complicated three-hour journey, necessitating some walking, several buses, and navigating the massive Mexico City subway system. He was the only priest assigned to a parish with an estimated 70,000 people within its boundaries. Let us compare this to the Diocese of Lincoln with more than 90,000 Catholics with more than 140 active and retired priests. Needless to say, he was happy to have the help.
After a tour of the parish, I noticed a medium-sized hospital a few blocks away. Because of the demographics mentioned above, I understood why he didn’t visit it on a daily basis, attempting to see all who were admitted (the population is estimated to be 88% Catholic with the percentage to be even higher among the elderly). Every Sunday morning after filling a large pix with the Blessed Sacrament I was off to the hospital. The nurses, not having to worry about HIPPA, were eager to inform me which patients were the sickest and closest to death.
One such Sunday, I entered a room with a woman in her early 50s who looked like my sister Barbara. She was thin and struggled for every breath. She was in obvious respiratory distress, nearing the end of her life. She never thought of calling a priest but was relieved to see me. She was brought up Catholic but had fallen away from the practice of the faith and had not been to confession for many years. After she verbalized all of her sins, I raised my hands and said, “I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit!” I then anointed her and although still in distress, she was in peace. I recalled the bishop’s words.
There were many others like her. Some had received baptism with no exposure to anything of the faith until I walked in the room. Some of them left this world soon after my visit. One man’s heart stopped as I entered his room. As his nurse and I did CPR, we brought him back and after the reception of the sacraments, he died. Again I recalled the bishop’s words, “Gentlemen, there are people out there, some of whom have not been born, whose salvation depends on whether you will be there as their priest.”
During and after the homily by Msgr. David Hintz April 10 at the funeral Mass of Father Mark Tasler, I meditated on what the manifestation of Divine Mercy, the sacramental priesthood of Jesus Christ, is to humanity. Just imagine the many times Father Tasler offered the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, fed his parishioners the bread of Angels, absolved them of their sins, and anointed the sick preparing them for eternity.
Yes, the sacrament of Holy Orders like the other sacraments, is a manifestation of the mercy of God, making Christ present in the person of the priest. Please keep the happy repose of Father Mark Tasler in your prayers and remember, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” (Lk 10:2).
I bet you’ve heard the saying, “You can’t have your cake and eat it too!” Fortunately, there are exceptions to some rules as is the case for our first annual “That Takes the Cake! A Frosted Fundraiser for St. Gianna Women’s Homes.”
Soon after the board of advisors for St. Gianna’s met the first time, they came up with the idea of a cake decorating contest. I admit this was not the first thing that came to my mind. To come clean, it was not on my mind at all. But since we were in the season of Lent (and having had given up cake) it seemed like a great idea. The more the ladies talked about it, the more the metabolism of my saliva glands increased. It was the unanimous consensus of the board.
I am excited to announce that on Saturday, May 8, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Pius X High School on 60th and A streets in Lincoln, St. Gianna Women’s Homes will hold the first-ever “That Takes the Cake! A Frosted Fundraiser for St. Gianna Women’s Homes.” There will be a professional category where bakers around the area will be competing for awards and prize money. Those who attend will be voting for their favorite cakes and will have a chance to buy them via a silent auction. Votes will be cast by using dollar bills, and those voting may vote as often as they wish.
There will also be a celebrity category with many local celebrities participating. Those attending will be surprised who agreed to enter a cake. Like the professional category, those attending will be able to vote for their favorite celebrity cakes, and will have an opportunity to take them home via a silent auction.
There will also be a cake walk as many devoted women have agreed to bake their family favorites. This will be a perfect time to walk away with a cake for Mother’s Day- either from the professional or celebrity categories or from the cake walk.
Because it will be next to impossible to walk near beautiful and delicious cakes without eating any, we will have complimentary cakes to be eaten, along with something to wash it down. Yes, you can have your cake and eat it too!
I would like to thank the members of St. Gianna’s board for coming up with this idea and for their hard work and dedication: Jenny Ackerman, Nancy Bird, Amy Hamburger, Stephanie Johanns, Karen Largen, Lisa Marks, John McDermott, Pat Miller, Ginger O’Donnell, Cathy Reese, Dotti Romero, Jolene Ward, Sister Jacquelyn Darner, Greg Schleppenbach, and Deb Schulte. I would also like to thank all the ladies who have agreed to bake cakes for the cake walk and for all those who have helped in any way and are planning to help. And yes, we will be needing a few volunteers the day of the event. Those interested are invited to contact me at 402-474-1600.
As you have already surmised, this will be a family event. Tickets are $5 for an individual and $25 for a family. All proceeds will go to St. Gianna’s Women’s Homes, for women escaping domestic violence and abortion. We get so many calls for women in need that I received one while writing this column. Please help us assist them while having a little fun and remember, you can have your cake and eat it, too! St. Gianna, pray for us!!
Not long ago, while playing rummy with my mother and father, in the midst of the fray I said, “Dad, do you love me?” “No!!” he exclaimed, “Not while I’m playing cards, this is serious business!”
Of course my father loves me, even though he refuses to say so while playing cards, especially when he is losing.
I have an aunt who loved me tremendously but had a hard time verbalizing it. Whenever she thought I was blue, she would make spaghetti, cookies and pies for me. I loved looking sad in her presence because I soon would be enjoying delicious pasta complete with the trimmings. I would always thank and tell her I loved her and she would never say it in return. I knew she loved me and always received a great big hug and kiss.
Later, while on her death bed, suffering from intractable end-stage congestive heart failure, while struggling for every breath, I walked into her hospital room. She immediately rallied for a brief moment sat up and said in a loud voice, “Chris, when I get out of here, I’m going to Stoysich House of Sausage and will make you spaghetti!!!” Everyone in the room and I knew she would never leave the hospital and that death was near. I said, “Aunt Tina, I love you!” She said loudly, “Same!!!” This was the closest she could come to saying it. That said, I did not need to hear it, I knew she loved me. She died a holy death, having seen the priest before entering eternity.
Thanks to John the Evangelist, we know that “God is love” (1 Jn 4:8; 4:16) and not a feeling or an emotion. We also know that the evidence of our love of God is our love of neighbor (1Jn 3:11-4:21). And further, the evidence of our love of neighbor is whether we sacrifice ourselves for them, the barometer of selfgiving. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son” (Jn 3:16). “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom of all” (1 Tim 2:5-6).
Recently Russ Reinig, a past Cor Christi winner and co-founder of our food pantry, passed away into eternity. He was a long-time volunteer who even bought a pickup truck years ago to facilitate picking up food donations for CSS. Through the years I would see Russ in our food pantry, day or night, during and after hours. Why did he give of himself so selflessly? Because he loved his neighbor, especially the poor and hungry. Why did he do so? Because of his intense love of God.
Please keep the happy repose of this beautiful soul precious in God’s eyes in your prayers.
If you ever thought of volunteering for Catholic Social Services, please call us and remember, “Be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God (Eph 5:1-2).”
Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and all the souls of the faithfully departed through the mercy of God rest in peace, Amen!
As some of you know, our car program is under the patronage of the martyr St. Christopher. Since there are two martyr saints of the Catholic Church named Christopher, which one is it?
The first St. Christopher lived in the third century and was martyred during the reign of the Roman emperor Decius. Little else is known of his life. His name means ‘Christ-bearer.’ I have a first class relic and a beautiful statue of St. Christopher with the Child Jesus on his shoulder. He is said to have carried the child Jesus across a river and as the child grew heavier and heavier, St. Christopher was told, “It is because I am carrying the sins of the world.” He is the patron saint of travelers.
The other St. Christopher was born in Jalisco, Mexico. He was ordained a priest and was martyred along with 21 other devout priests and three lay Catholics during the early 20th century during an attempt by the government to stamp out the Catholic Church. He was martyred May 21, 1922 at the age of 57 as he forgave his killers. He was canonized by Pope John Paul II May 21, 2000.
Our St. Christopher Car Program is under the patronage of the St. Christopher who was martyred in the third century, the patron saint of travelers (some are tempted to think I named the program after this St. Christopher because I am named after him, but it providentially happened). We at Catholic Social Services are delighted to have such a powerful witness to the Catholic faith as the patron of this important program.
Recently, a man named Al Vybiral donated his mother’s beautiful 1999 Buick Lesabre custom four-door sedan that was driven mostly to Mass and to the store. As you can imagine, it is in great shape. He said the only defects were a back window that did not work and a non-functioning tail light. After repairing the tail light, he drove it to our office for the easy and simple transaction. Al remembered reading about our St. Christopher car program about a year ago and never forgot it. He had been driving the car until recently. Now, having purchased another car, he decided to donate it to Catholic Social Services.
I reminded him when someone donates a vehicle to us, it is either given away to someone in need, placed in our fleet, or sold and the profits used to fund our many programs.
Several weeks ago, after seeing the look on the face of the young women who received a car from us, I said to Curt Krueger (the manager of social services in the eastern sector of the diocese), “There is nothing like giving a vehicle away!”
But we can only give away vehicles that are donated to us. The “Cash for Clunkers’ program was a downer for us! Many perfectly good vehicles were crushed.
When you are at the point of purchasing a different vehicle, or if you have one you’re not driving, please prayfully consider donating it to Catholic Social Services. You will be killing two birds with one stone- making a deposit to your retirement account in heaven while getting a tax break in this life. St. Christopher, pray for us!!
During the first part of this Year for Priests, I was fortunate to visit Ars, France - the village where St. John Vianney was a parish priest. It was there I had the privilege of offering the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at the altar where his body lies.
St. John Vianney was born in Dardilly in 1786 during the French Revolution (which gave birth to the Communist Revolution and is sadly celebrated by many today). It was during this period of terror that a countless number of faithful Catholics were tortured, butchered and beheaded just for being Catholic. During this time the Catholic faith was outlawed and faithful priests were hunted down like dogs, suffered unspeakable horrors and were put to death. Faithful priests, like those in England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth in the 16th century, traveled the countryside in disguise, celebrating the sacraments in secret.
This was the milieu in which St. John Vianney was born and raised. His parents risked their lives and the lives of their children by hiding faithful priests. Mass was celebrated clandestinely as the faithful gathered secretly. Because of these challenges, St. John Vianney received his first holy Communion at the age of 13 and did not receive any formal education. It is easy to forget this when we hear of his difficulties learning Latin.
After many struggles and difficulties, he was ordained a priest August 12, 1815, and in Ars was the instrument of the salvation of an amount of souls only known to God, and continues to be such an instrument from his place in heaven. He spent hours on end hearing confessions. I heard a priest once say, “We have to keep our churches in a narrow range of temperature to avoid any complaints.” During the winter months, he would hear confessions 11 to 12 hours a day and up to 16 in the summer, all without heating and air conditioning. At one point in his ministry, he saw more than 300 pilgrims per day.
Like other saints, he possessed an intense love and devotion to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and to the poor. In his encyclical on St. John Vianney, Sacerdotii Nostri Primordia, Blessed John XXIII said, “This is how he taught his faithful how to pray: ‘You do not need many words when you pray. We believe on faith that the good and gracious God is there in the tabernacle; we open our souls to him; and feel happy that He allows us to come before Him; this is the best way to pray.’ ”
It was this intense love and devotion to the Eucharist that led to his love of neighbor with a special spot for those in need.
Let us be so resolved to spend time with our Eucharistic King each week knowing we will not ‘need many words.’ Just simply lift your heart to Jesus while in front of the Blessed Sacrament and he will guide you closer to God the Father in the Holy Spirit. Then the proof of your love of God will manifest itself by your love of neighbor especially those in need. St. John Vianney, pray for us!!
The question whether women can be admitted to the sacrament of Holy Orders continues to be raised, despite Pope John Paul II definitively saying in his apostolic letter entitled Ordinatio Sacerdotalis, “I declare that the Church has no authority whatsoever to confer priestly ordination on women and that this judgment is to be definitively held by all the Church’s faithful.”
Canon law states, “Only a baptized male validly receives sacred ordination” (can 1024). Further, the Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “Only a baptized man validly receives sacred ordination. The Lord Jesus chose men to form the college of the twelve apostles, and the apostles did the same when they chose collaborators to succeed them in their ministry … The Church recognizes herself to be bound by this choice made by the Lord himself. For this reason the ordination of women is not possible” (CCC 1577).
Are there any other reasons? Aren’t women smart, wise and hard-working enough, sharing the same dignity as men? Certainly. Some have argued that they are more sensitive and nurturing than men, something I wouldn’t disagree with. I would argue as a whole, women have a higher pain tolerance than men. How about natural courage? How many women and men were at the foot of the cross? These arguments, however, have nothing to do with the question at hand.
Once, while flying, I sat next to a woman who told me she was an Episcopalian priest. I asked her to define marriage. Thankfully she stated that marriage is for one man and one woman, because this constitutes another powerful argument. Yes, marriage is for one man and one woman (Gen 1:27; 2:24), something that Jesus the Eternal High Priest Himself re-iterated (Mt 19:4-6). In a beautiful vision, an angel said to John the evangelist, “Come, I will show you the Bride (referring to the Church, the mystical body of Christ), the wife of the lamb (referring to Christ Jesus the bridegroom)”(Rev 21:9).
St. Paul completes the connection in his letter to the Ephesians. In it, he exhorts wives to be subject to their husbands as the Church is to Christ, and husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the Church (this means that husbands are to mount the cross daily for their wives). Therefore, if the Catholic Church is the bride (feminine), and an ordained priest who stands in the person of Christ shares in this spousal relationship as the bridegroom Jesus Christ (male), it is necessary that candidates to Holy Orders be men. This is why the Church has no authority to admit women to the priesthood. It is about nuptials.
What about altar servers? On July 27, 2001 the Congregation for Divine Worship’s Letter on Altar Servers states that “no priest is obligated to have female servers, even in dioceses where this is permitted.” Why is this, since girls are as smart and capable as boys? Because many boys, myself included, first received their calling to the priesthood as altar boys, and when girls are allowed to serve, some boys fall away and lose interest.
Please pray for the young men who will be ordained to the diaconate May 28 and to the priesthood May 29. They are the ones who will forgive sins (Jn 20:23), offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass (Lk 22:19; 1 Cor 11:24) give us the Most Holy Eucharist, and anoint us on our deathbeds (Jas 5:14-15).
When special requests come to us for needed items, I always respond, “Start praying that God will provide.” Often after a short while God does so.
Not long ago, I received a call from an elderly couple from a small town in rural southern Nebraska who needed a vehicle that could carry a mobilized wheelchair. Their 23-year-old van, which was retro-fitted for a hoist, had broken down. It was the wife who used a motorized wheelchair. They lacked the funds to repair their van and needed help.
Soon after the death of Father Milton Thomas, we received word he had left his vehicle to Catholic Social Services. It was great news since his Buick Rendezvous had a wheelchair lift. It was an answer to our prayers. Father Thomas had been in the diocese for years, initially as a Crosier father and later as a priest of the Diocese of Lincoln. He was well known in the greater Hastings area for he had been the pastor of St. Ann Parish in Doniphan when the construction of the present church was started.
After informing them we had a vehicle that might work, they found a neighbor to drive them to Hastings. They were introduced to Mr. Tom Schik, who told them, “Here are the keys to your new vehicle, let’s go see it.”
“What was it like?” I asked the couple. “Mercy!” he informed me. “I was flabbergasted, floored and surprised!!” “It’s real schnazzy!” she added as I was on speakerphone. “I guess God has not forgotten us!” I was also told that it is a lot easier on gas compared to their old van. Oh, the power of prayer!
This is another reminder that in addition to the usual items that people donate to us (furniture, appliances, beds, mattresses, bedding, vehicles, clothing, house wares, knick knacks etc.), we are in need of other items that are used by handicapped individuals as well.
As a reminder, donated material goods are either sold in one of our four thrift stores (St. Francis Gift & Thrift in Auburn, St. Joseph Gift & Thrift in Hastings, St. Isidore Gift & Thrift in Imperial, and St. Louise Gift & Thrift in Lincoln) and the profits used to help individuals with emergency services (rent and utility assistance, help with medical expenses and many other items), or for grants for those who are un-insured or under-insured and in need for counseling services; or given away directly to individuals or families in need. Other material donations that are vital to us are perishable and non-perishable food items for our fixed and mobile food pantries all across southern Nebraska from Imperial to Falls City.
These, combined with cash donations from our generous benefactors, and most importantly, your prayers, allow us to help around 20,000 individuals across southern Nebraska annually. That said, please accept my heartfelt thanks to all of you and know that all of us here at Catholic Social Services will keep you, your family and intentions in our prayers. No matter how many times I hear sentiments of gratitude from those who you help us assist, I will never get used to hearing, “I was flabbergasted, floored and surprised!!”
In Eucharistic Prayer number one, after the consecration of the bread and wine into the very Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, in the section entitled “Commemoration of the Dead,” it says, “Remember, Lord, those who have died and have gone before us marked with the sign of faith, especially those for whom we now pray.”
How important it is not only to pray for the souls of the faithfully departed in Purgatory, but to have Masses said for their happy repose. Oh, how they are easily forgotten!
It is especially important to have Masses said for the souls in Purgatory because they need and want our help and the Mass is the most powerful and efficacious prayer because it is the re-presentation (not repeat) of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Savior (CCC 1362-1372; 1 Cor 11:26; 1163, 1166-1167; 1337).
On Memorial Day since childhood, I have prayed for the souls that ‘have gone before us marked with the sign of faith’ in a special way. I would go to the cemetery with my father and mother and visit the graves of many of my relatives on both sides of the family while praying for them. We would either attend Mass in the parish church or in the cemetery adjacent to the church.
This past Memorial Day, after talking to my mother and father on the phone, just before she left for the same cemetery to hear Mass with my sister Barb, I started making preparations for my yearly priestly retreat at the Waverly Retreat Center named after Our Lady of Good Counsel. I noticed my cassock was in need of repairs. There was a tear in the back and a button that needed to be replaced. After finding my sewing kit, I read the note taped to the top of the box, “Sewing Box,” followed by the contents, “Safety pins, thread, buttons, needles, tape measure, two scissors,” and lastly, “Joint effort of grandma and mom.” After reading this, I said even more prayers for my Irish grandmother who would be 108 if she was alive…. I thanked her for helping put together my sewing kit, an essential item for priests. For those of us who cannot sew, I can only say it is easier than sewing up people because there is no need to give an anesthetic and the stitches never need to come out…
For those who know individuals who do not believe in Purgatory, here are a few passages to remember (there are others to support the doctrine of Purgatory). Referring to Heaven it is stated, “Nothing unclean shall enter it” (Rev 21:27), who is completely purified
when their soul separates from their body? And, “Whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come” (Mt 12:32), referring to temporal punishment in the age to come, or the next life.
I would like to take this opportunity to not only thank our living benefactors who support Catholic Social Services but also our supporters who have, ‘gone before us marked with the sign of faith,’ in Purgatory and Heaven. Please remember to pray every day for the souls in Purgatory and more importantly consider having Masses said for the faithfully departed. Pray also that you have a priest present at your death, for Viaticum, confession, anointing and the Apostolic Pardon! Eternal rest grant unto them Oh Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them, may their souls rest in peace, Amen!!
What would Catholic Social Services do without our many dedicated volunteers?
Answering this question is easy – Catholic Social Services as we know it would not exist. Last year, Catholic Social Services was blessed to have 620 volunteers (of varied ages – school age up to seniors) who contributed 18,523 hours of volunteer time at a value of more than $153,000!!
As staggering as these statistics are, we are desperately in need of more volunteer help. I love to remind people that our diocese stretches east from the Iowa and Missouri borders to the Colorado border west, and north from the Platte River to the Kansas border south. This represents 24,000 square miles of territory, with nearly 20,000 people served annually all across the diocese, regardless of race, religion or ethnicity from a social and clinical services standpoint! This is why I am on my fourth set of tires!
To our many dedicated volunteers, please accept my most sincere gratitude and thanks. Without you, we would not be able to help the many poor and needy individuals and families who come to us on a weekly basis, in many cases in crisis. These equally-staggering statistics help one more easily understand why additional help is needed.
Writing a column like this is long overdue, for it answers a question that is frequently asked: “Father, what can I do to help?”
The possibilities are seemingly endless. We are in need of answering phones, filing, office and clerical work; helping in the accounting department; data entry; keeping our parking lots clean and tidy; helping at St. Gianna’s; helping at our First Friday Fish Fry outside of Lent (which benefits St. Gianna’s); cleaning, painting, gardening and yard work; helping in the food pantry; helping families to their cars with groceries; helping in our mobile food pantries (which stretch across the diocese); helping in our thrift stores (which involves sorting donations and working on the retail floor, being a personal shopper, picking up donations and delivering items as needed); keeping our vehicles clean; helping with maintenance, and many other items. Recently, some of our volunteers built shelving and remodeled a bathroom. The possibilities are truly endless.
For those who are interested, please call Curt Krueger (402-474-1600) for those living in the eastern part of the diocese covering Auburn and Lincoln; Tom Schik (402-463-2112) at our Hastings office; or Bill Sullivan (308-882-3005) who is at our Imperial location. The process is easy. It involves filling out a volunteer application and a form for a background check and you are off to the races.
In addition to thanking our many volunteers, be assured of the prayers of our staff for you and your families and intentions as well as my prayers as well.
Please also know that these words of our Divine Savior will apply to you in a special way after you enter eternal life, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much, enter into the joy of your master (Mt 25:23).”
In the 11 years since my ordination to the priesthood, I have had the privilege of getting to know many people, some of whom are now in nursing home facilities. Recently I visited an old man who because of adverse economic factors lost his job which led to the loss of his car and home. Now because of dementia, he is on the way to losing his mind.
During a recent visit, I was struck by the fact that he was not bothered by what he has lost because he knows that what he possesses, “an eternal weight of glory beyond comparison” (2 Cor 4:17), will not be taken away from him as long as he continues to cooperate with God’s abundant graces. St. Paul continues, “For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with human hands, eternal in the heavens” (2 Cor 5:1).
After walking into his room I noticed it contained only a few items including a rosary on his night stand. After asking if he wanted to pray the rosary with me, he answered enthusiastically by saying “Yes!!” I was struck with the love and devotion he exhibited as he kissed the crucifix and image of the Blessed Virgin Mary between each decade. After reciting the Most Holy Rosary, he wanted my priestly blessing and kissed my hands. He loves to kiss the hands of a priest because with them he is able to receive the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ in the Sacrament of the Eucharist, receive absolution of his sins with the sacrament of penance and receive the sacrament of the sick which he has received several times. It was evident that although he lacked earthly riches, he possessed true wealth, which was his sole concern. I must confess it was difficult for me to hold back the tears.
On Sunday, Sept. 26, the gospel talked about the “rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores” (Lk 16:19-20). As the story goes, both the rich man and Lazarus died. The former went to hell, because he lacked true wealth and the latter to the bosom of Abraham because he possessed it. Unfortunately the rich man’s wealth was only used for himself and not others. He did not love God and his neighbor as himself.
I would like to thank all our donors who help us spiritually with their prayers, materially with their donated items of furniture, appliances, clothing, houseware items etc. and financially with their cash donations which allow us to help the Lazaruses that come to us and their families. Your generosity is evidence that you too possess true wealth within, which is God’s Divine Life, the Blessed Trinity or Sanctifying Grace within your souls, your ticket to paradise. Unlike the rich man in the gospel passage outlined above, you do love God and your neighbor as yourself. Please be assured of our continued prayers for you, your families and intentions!
Every year, many wonderful items and trips are auctioned off at our memorial golf tournament. The proceeds are used to help needy individuals and families.
Several years ago, the Marks family purchased a fishing trip on beautiful Lewis & Clark Lake which borders Nebraska and South Dakota. When the time came to leave for some serious fishing and fun, Dave Marks, his son Anthony and I met Dr. Mike Schilmoeller, the sponsor of this package, in Omaha and headed north. I was not concerned about the rainy and windy conditions because we prayed for a holy, safe and successful trip with good weather.
After stopping for some delicious fast food we purchased the needed provisions including steak (in case our fishing proved unsuccessful). After unpacking we soon found ourselves in our cabins in bed. I continued to pray because the wind and rain continued. As it turned out, the wind blew and the rain fell all night. I tried to stay confident as I fell in and out of sleep.
Morning came fast and after Mass and a delicious breakfast, we drove to the lake to meet Scott Madison, our guide. I was elated that the wind and rain stopped. Mike and I decided to fish off one of the piers that juts out onto the lake as Dave and Anthony headed on the lake in Scott’s boat.
After throwing my line into the lake and setting it on the pier without securing it, Mike said, “Aren’t you worried that a big fish could pull your line in?” “Nah,” I replied, “That’s not going to happen.” Seconds later we saw my rod and reel fly off the pier and into the lake like a rocket. As I grabbed the guard rail I saw my line disappear like a torpedo in the water. I remember yelling “Did you see that fish pull my line into the lake?!?!”
After this humiliation I was reduced to using my Popeil Pocket Fisherman (“As seen on TV”). After casting it into the deep, a fishing boat came to the rescue and asked, “We heard a fish pulled your line into the lake, can we help?” “How did you hear that?” I asked, forgetting that sound travels well on water, especially if you are yelling....
I quickly reeled in my Popeil Pocket Fisherman because their boat was heading for it. While reeling it in, to my surprise, I snagged the line that was pulled in by the fish. Not only did we get the rod back, but also the fish that pulled it into the lake. In addition, I hauled another nice one in with the pocket fisherman. No more humiliation.
Mike quickly pointed out that what we went through is like fishing for men: “Never give up on anybody even if you think their soul is lost. God’s graces can find a way to get them back.”
In the end Mike and I caught three nice ones, which were added to Dave and Anthony’s 13. It was turf and surf with S’mores over a nice campfire. Soon it was morning and the trip back home. We did not care it was raining again for God gave us a beautiful day and reminded us that He never gives up on us. We have access to His graces to the end. I would like to thank the Markses for purchasing this trip which helped us assist those in need.
Recently, Oct. 15, the Universal Church celebrated the memorial of St. Teresa of Jesus (otherwise known as St. Teresa of Avila), the first woman who became a doctor of the Church.
We know she was an attractive woman with a beautiful personality such that many were drawn to her on a natural level. Those who lacked a proper understanding of the Catholic faith could not understand her refusal to marry while others who did understand knew her bridegroom was Christ Jesus. Many who were drawn to her on a natural level were led to a closer relationship with God on a supernatural level. She, along with St. John of the Cross, did much to reform the Carmelite order of their day.
Shortly after entering the seminary for the Diocese of Lincoln, I was inspired to read her collective works. It is remarkable the number of times she mentioned her distain at writing down her experiences, stating it was only under obedience that she did so. We will be eternally indebted to her humble obedience, for any one of us can read her writings.
As a mystic she experienced many visions of God, mostly intellectual. Her description of the soul with its seven levels or mansions is most helpful for those serious about growing in holiness. Much ink has been spilled in explaining how one may advance through these mansions with the ultimate goal of achieving spiritual union with God in this world. Although few on this side of eternity reach this level of perfection, we are all called to it. Why do so few reach the seventh mansion? It is because of their attachment to the things of this passing world- things that will be taken from us eventually anyway. We need to be reminded that being detached to the things of this world does not mean that we do not enjoy them, but if we desire them. The more we are detached to the things of this passing world, the more attached will we be to God.
I would like to thank all of our benefactors to Catholic Social Services for their spiritual, financial and material help which is a sign of their love of God, their detachment to the things of this world and their attachment to God. Because of their generosity one of our staff members received this word of thanks from one of our clients, "Hello there … just wanted to write a thank you from all my heart. You have been so helpful for the past year financially and emotionally. I thank God in my prayers every day for special people like you. When I felt like I had no hope left, you were there to lift me back up and keep fighting. Thank you, Thank you."
This was a thank you note from one of our clients who received help with her rent and money for gas. In addition to this we loved the presence of Jesus in her as she saw the face of Jesus in us.
Please know that we at Catholic Social Services will keep all of you, your families and intentions in our prayers as we routinely pray for our donors each and every day. St. Teresa of Jesus, pray for us!
The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of harvest to send out laborers into his harvest" (Lk 12:2). This is true indeed. The Lord Jesus has, is, and will call to the priesthood and religious life sufficient numbers of young men and women to the altar and convent but sadly, many go the way of the rich young man Jesus encountered as recorded in Matthew’s gospel.
It was the young man who approached Jesus, not the other way around. After Jesus answered his question on what was needed to enter life, Jesus asked him to sell what he owned and follow Him. Tragically, because the young man was unwilling to give up transitory treasures, he turned his back on true treasure and went away sad (Mt 19:16-22).
People often wonder how a man can give up marriage, children, money, and other items on the laundry list of material items usually thought of by men considering entering the seminary.
I love to tell people that after the surrender, Jesus gives us infinitely more than the finite things given up. In this vein, I like using the comparison of a small pebble with a mountain. We priests give up the pebble and God gives us the mountain.
Under the umbrella of Catholic Social Services is prison ministry. "Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world … for I was in prison and you came to me" (Mt 25:34-36).
Recently at one of the state prisons an inmate asked me if I would hear his confession. It’s a safe assumption that residents in prisons across the country are in for crimes worse than removing tags from mattresses.
After uttering the words, "I absolve you of your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (Jn 20:23)," I watched a man slowly walk away visibly moved, a man filled with joy beyond description. Here was a man in prison that was set free. Every morning I utter these words from the gospel canticle of Zechariah, "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; He has come to His people and set them free" (Lk 1:68). I thought, ‘If that is the only thing I do during my entire priesthood, it’s worth it giving it all up!’ Happily, these things frequently happen.
In addition to the sacraments of the Most Holy Eucharist and Confession that are celebrated in our prisons, there are bible studies and catechism classes offered. There are also volunteers that selflessly visit inmates and pray the Holy Rosary as well. A small part of our budget is used to purchase bibles and other materials to help in our prison ministry.
I would like to thank our benefactors, because, through your generosity we are able to minister to men and women who are serving time across the state. Please know that we are praying for you, your families and intentions.
Never forget these words of our Lord Jesus Christ who came to earth to set us free (Lk 1:68), "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of harvest to send out laborers into his harvest" (Lk 12:2).
In the prayers of the faithful across our diocese we pray frequently for farmers, ranchers and those who raise livestock. We must never forget to pray for their safety, for theirs is a dangerous profession.
Recently a father of a large family was injured while working on a farm. Until he heals he will be unable to earn a living so the family can pay its bills including rent and utilities. While assessing their needs we discovered they owned one vehicle with high miles. Since their eldest child had started college, they were in desperate need of a second car. Because of our generous benefactors, in addition to helping them with their rent and utilities, we were able to give them a car. I do not believe they mind the minor cosmetic imperfections of their new vehicle because she runs like a top and mechanically is in great shape.
Also recently we came across another young family with financial difficulties. The father of the family was considering quitting trade school even though he needed only a few more months to complete his degree. With this specific degree, his prospects for finding a good paying job are excellent. This is needed to support the family and eliminate their debt. The only thing needed to continue his studies was a car. I am also elated to say that because of a generous donor, we were able to give them a good, running, used vehicle. They did not mind at all the faded paint since the engine purred like a kitty!
There is nothing quite like giving a car away. They might as well be new, seeing the look on the faces of those who drive them off one of our lots. Who says tears and oil do not mix or go together? They sure do when someone in need is given a car or truck.
I was overjoyed once again last night, after talking to an elderly woman who invited me to her home to look at her vehicle. She told me that since she is now homebound, she wants to donate her car to us. When I visit her in person, I will tell her that when we accept a donated car, it is either given away to an individual or family, sold and the profits used to directly help the needy, or placed in our fleet for agency use. Every day, one of our staff uses an agency vehicle to pick up and take clients to their doctor or other appointments, pick up food, bread or other items that are donated to us, or drive to one of our satellite clinical offices where they meet with clients in need of counseling. Those who donate vehicles to us can deduct this from their taxes while making a deposit in their retirement account in heaven.
I would like to thank all of our generous benefactors who have donated vehicles to us through the years and encourage others to donate to us their car or truck that they do not need or are considering replacing. Please remember that we at Catholic Social Services will keep you, your family and intentions in our prayers as we regularly pray for you every morning at 8:30. St. Christopher, pray for us!
I can think of one thing worse than needing help desperately; that is being lonely and in need. It is those who are poor and alone who cry out to God more intensely. "Turn thou to me, and be gracious to me; for I am lonely and afflicted" (Ps 25:16). "Hear my prayer, O Lord; let my cry come to thee! Do not hide thy face from me in the day of my distress! Incline my ear to me … I am like a lonely bird on the housetop" (Ps 102:1-7).
In my years at Catholic Social Services I have witnessed many needy individuals and families who have come through our doors for help. There is nothing worse than being alone and in need. All over southern Nebraska people like this will feel even more abandoned during Thanksgiving and the Christmas Season.
Those who read Seedlings might recall the blind woman I wrote about last year who called asking for food. Even though she was legitimately in need, she really wanted company - someone to talk to, someone to visit with her because she was lonely. After my initial visit, one of our volunteers starting visiting and helping her on a regular basis, which led to her joining the Catholic Church. She subsequently died, but not before receiving the sacraments of Holy Mother Church along with the Apostolic Pardon. She definitely is not alone now. The Lord indeed hears the cry of the poor (Ps 34:6).
Recently another woman who is elderly called me in distress. Due to some disabling medical problems, she is unable to drive and shop for herself. She is a widow without children and her relatives live hundreds of miles away. After talking to her for over an hour I discovered that it is her loneliness that is causing her the most suffering. Like that blind woman mentioned above, one of our volunteers will be getting involved to help her, not just with her needs, but with love.
I am grateful to all of our volunteers who help us across southern Nebraska. Our volunteers help us with clerical work, answering phones, helping in our fixed and mobile food pantries, our Christmas programs, in our thrift stores, our furniture and appliance drives, help with maintenance and vehicle repair, gardening, our First Friday Fish Fries outside of Lent for St. Gianna’s and many other countless tasks that are not mentioned here. I would like to thank all of our volunteers that have helped individuals like the above. Please pray that other men and women who feel called to help those who are alone and in need contact us, for we can only help those in need as described above only if we have the manpower to do so.
As mentioned above, loneliness is felt more acutely during Thanksgiving and the Christmas Season. Please also pray for those men and women, young and old, who never contact anyone for help, that their cries for help are heard soon. "Turn thou to me, and be gracious to me; for I am lonely and afflicted" (Ps 25:16)." "Hear my prayer, O Lord; let my cry come to thee! Do not hide thy face from me in the day of my distress! Incline my ear to me … I am like a lonely bird on the housetop" (Ps 102:1-7).
After talking to her for a moment while hearing her story, I realized she was lucky to be alive.
She is fortunate enough to have a supportive family she can live with as they help her raise her small children. After receiving assistance from our emergency service department, including a food pantry complete with a turkey, along with the number of our clinical department for some needed counseling, she left with moist eyes; tears generated by love and gratitude.
Unfortunately there are more like her, victims of domestic violence and those women escaping abortion and in need of assistance. Because of the generosity of the faithful of southern Nebraska and beyond, our second and biggest site of St. Gianna Women’s Homes will be opening soon.
I am exited to announce that on Sunday, Dec. 5, Ellen Soukup will perform on stage at the Rococo at 140 N. 14th St., Lincoln. Hors d’oeuvres will begin at 6 p.m. with the concert starting at 7 p.m.
Those who have heard her sing will want to hear her again, those who have not are in for a treat. Back again this year will be Mary Odgaard and the famous Cantabella singers from Pius. Also, I am elated to announce that Mr. Kevin Murray from Murray’s For Men of Stature will be performing a trumpet solo as well. Proceeds will benefit St. Gianna Women’s Homes.
We are again fortunate and blessed to have as our media sponsor for this event Spirit Catholic Radio, that powerful instrument of conversion that can be heard by tuning in at 102.7 FM. Because of Spirit Catholic Radio, numerous individuals young and old and families are enriched as souls are won for Christ and His Mystical Body, which is the Holy Catholic Church. We are truly blessed to have them in our midst.
I would also like to thank in a special way the ladies of the Diocese of Lincoln who are members of the LDCCW who recently conducted a diocesan-wide diaper drive. Through their efforts and the generosity of those who participated, an astounding 47,000 diapers were collected for various pro-life agencies across southern Nebraska, including Catholic Social Services, at a value exceeding $13,000! We at Catholic Social Services and the other agencies who benefitted from this drive also would like to thank those who donated diapers and cash to purchase them. We are hoping and praying this will be a yearly drive, because we are always in dire need of them.
I would also like to extend a special thanks to Kay and Jerry Wessel, who helped coordinate and collect them.
Before saying goodbye to the woman mentioned above, I noticed two little boys in her van. One was a beautiful baby boy, fast asleep in a car seat. As you might imagine, she needed diapers as well. Thanks to the women of LDCCW and those who donated to the diaper drive, we have plenty not only for her but for women like herself all across southern Nebraska.
I am deeply grateful to all of our benefactors for through their prayers, material donations, and cash contributions we are able to make a difference in the lives of many individuals, young and old as well as families who come to us on a daily basis for social and clinical services. Please know that you and your intentions are in our daily prayers!
About one month ago, Father Paul York received word from his physician that he had acute leukemia with a poor prognosis.
He had been feeling tired and fatigued, which prompted a visit to his doctor. He decided to give a round of chemo a try. I had the privilege of getting to know him better after his retirement because he was in the same Jesu Caritas group with Father Larry Gyhra.
Jesu Caritas groups usually meet on a monthly basis for prayer and fellowship. Father York’s group had been in the habit of meeting where I live because it was also the residence of Father Larry Gyhra, a fellow member, during the last 10 months of his life. I often tried to meet up with them over their lunches because I loved Father Tvrdy’s dynamite soups and a brief visit with the group’s members.
Father York had a sweet spot in his heart for the poor which was manifested in part by his generosity to CSS.
Early one morning just days before his death, I paid a visit to Father York in the hospital. Seconds after walking into his room, he ripped off his oxygen mask and exclaimed, "Where is my check book? Where is it?" "Right over there," I answered. "Good, because there is a diaper drive going on and I wanted to make a donation."
He was visibly short of breath. He was referring to the diocesan-wide diaper drive the ladies of the LDCCW were conducting. After writing a check he continued, "Now, how are you doing?" "Fine," I retorted, "but how are you doing?" "I just finished making my funeral arraignments."
He was more interested in talking about others and their needs than those of himself. That was typical Father York. He died a holy death but not before thanking God for a lifetime of blessings, including his latest illness. He passed into eternity surrounded by prayerful family members and friends.
We will soon be celebrating Thanksgiving when many of us gather with family and friends while sharing a meal. My prayer is that all of us will pause during Thanksgiving and thank God the Father for giving us His only begotten Son, God the Son for dying on the cross for us and starting His Church in which we find salvation, and God the Holy Spirit who strengthens us with His seven gifts.
In addition to thanking God, I want to thank our many benefactors who through their prayers and generosity have helped us touch numerous lives across southern Nebraska, which will prompt them on Thanksgiving to thank God for the help they received through our hands which are your hands of charity. Please know and never forget that not only do we at Catholic Social Services keep you and your intentions in our prayers, but many of our clients do as well. Some of them have told me that they pray for our donors because they know well that the funds we use to help them come from you. Have a blessed and holy Thanksgiving!
Several weeks ago Jack Crowley, one of our board members, invited me to a Husker game. It had been years since I saw the Huskers in action at Memorial stadium. Needless to say, things have changed in the stadium over the years. It was amazing to see more than 85,000 excited people in one place.
Aren’t there a little over 90,000 Catholics in the 24,000 square miles of the Diocese of Lincoln? Do they not all exhibit even more zeal for the faith than a stadium full of fans on game day, albeit in the silence of their hearts, when they attend the holy sacrifice of the Mass? I thank God for the ones that do and pray that the ones who do not will some day.
Recently we celebrated the memorial of the 117 individuals who were brutally put to death in Vietnam between the years of 1820 to 1862, including Father Andrew Dung-Lac. These are among the 130,000 men, women and children who were similarly put to death, some by decapitation, strangulation and other unspeakable ways between the 16th and 19th centuries all because they were followers of Jesus Christ.
The above number is a conservative estimate of those who were butchered. It is likewise estimated there were even more martyred, not including the hundreds of thousands who suffered severe hardships for the same reason – being Christian. The above-mentioned Memorial Stadium in Lincoln could not have held them all.
For more than 20 centuries, countless men, women and children all over the world have suffered, died and continue to do so for the faith Jesus our King gave us through his apostles. This staggering number known in the intellect of God will be publically revealed on the last day when Christ the King comes on the clouds to judge the living and the dead.
Anyone who has read the lives of the saints can attest they all share two qualities: loving God with their whole heart, soul and mind, and their neighbor as themselves (Mt 11:37-39). Even though our many benefactors have not or will most likely not have to make the choice between their lives or their faith, the very existence of Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska is proof they love their neighbors as themselves.
As we continue our Advent preparation for the coming of the Christ Child into our hearts at Christmas time, let us remind ourselves that "Our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich" (2 Cor 8:9).
Let us go and do likewise, not only sharing our time, talent and treasure for the material needs of the poor but be even more concerned about sharing with others our most valuable treasure, our Catholic faith.
Please remember that by preparing adequately for the coming of the baby Jesus into our hearts at Christmas time spiritually, we will prepare ourselves for the second coming of Christ the King at the end of time, when our mortal bodies will rise from the dead to die no more.
Please also remember that we at Catholic Social Services will keep you and your intentions in our prayers. St. Andrew Dung-Lac and his companion martyrs, pray for us!
Immediately before typing these words, I returned a call from a worried young mother of two little girls. She is now in a new apartment after having escaped a domestic violence situation. She is elated to be starting anew, but is in need of furnishings for her new residence. I was told that she is in need of a table and chairs (so she and her girls can eat!) a sofa, end tables, lamps and a microwave oven for the kitchen. With much gratitude to our many benefactors who donate material items to us such as furniture and appliances, I was happy to tell her that someone would be calling her and the needed items would be delivered to her. Sometimes clients like this are in need of other things as well, such as assistance with rent or utilities to get them going or even food or other items that many of us take for granted.
Let me reiterate my gratitude once again to our faithful donors who help us spiritually with their prayers, materially with their in-kind donations of furniture, appliances, kitchen ware, household items, lamps, food, cars, etc, and financially with their cash donations so we can continue to help and love Jesus who lives in the poor and needy.
Since many more individuals and families are coming to us on a daily basis, we at Catholic Social Services have decided to hold a holiday dinner at our St. Joseph Center in Lincoln (23rd and O streets) Saturday, Dec. 18 from 4 to 7 p.m. All proceeds will be spent on emergency services across the diocese – from the Colorado border west to the Iowa and Missouri borders east, and from the Platte River north to the Kansas border south. The proceeds from this dinner will help us assist more of the needy individuals and families that come to us for help like the lady described above.
What is on the menu, you ask? There are two choices: first, roast pork with dumplings and sauerkraut; and liver and onions – all served with mashed potatoes and gravy. Also included are coleslaw, bread, dessert and, of course, everyone’s favorite, kolaches! All of this is for $10 plus tax at the door, and remember, it is all-you-can-eat!
I realize that not all people love liver and onions. I, for one, do, and like many, prefer that it be prepared a certain way. When planning for this event, Pat Walbrecht in our office mentioned she would like to prepare it with a tomato-and-bacon-based sauce. Since it was a new one for me, I was skeptical. Yesterday we at CSS were able to taste the new creation, and I must confess it was the best liver and onions I have ever tasted.
If you are daring, you can judge it for yourself Dec. 18! For those who will be coming, thank you, for those who cannot, thank you for your prayers for the success of this event because it will benefit needy individuals and families all across southern Nebraska!
