27th Sunday - Mary Model of Faith

 

The readings this weekend are about faith and the Blessed Virgin Mary is one who we can turn to, as a model of faith.

Sometimes our cross or various difficulties make us question and wonder about our faith in God. There are times when we all doubt. When something goes wrong we may, in a moment of foolishness, say “God doesn’t care.”, or ask “Does God exist?”

In the first reading today the prophet Habakkuk cried out to God, “How long, Lord, am I to cry for help while you will not listen?” And In the Gospel the apostles asked Jesus, “Increase our faith.” What answer did they both receive? God said to Habakkuk at the end of our first reading, “...the upright man will live by his faithfulness.” In the Gospel, Jesus said, “Were your faith the size of a mustard seed you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea’, and it would obey you.” We already have all the faith and we can always grow in our faith too. Faith is needed to help us overcome life’s problems.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us faith is “the theological virtue by which we believe in God and believe all that he has said and revealed to us” (CCC 1814). To better understand what this means in practice, we can look at the life of Mary, whose acceptance of God’s invitation to be the mother of His Son is a great witness for us.

The Virgin Mary’s faith was greater than any human person. She made promise to God to be a virgin and never have children, which means She would never have any relations with a man. And yet, an angel appeared to Her and said She would become a pregnant and would be the Mother of the Most High. Remaining firm in Her commitment to be a virgin, She responded in faith saying, “Be it done unto me, according your word.” Who would believe that one could become pregnant, and yet never have relations. And not pregnant with anyone, but He who is the Son of the most high.

In faith, She traveled to visit Her cousin Elizabeth believing the words of the angel, that despite her cousin’s old age, who was pregnant and needed help.

In faith, Mary believed Her soul magnified the Lord and that every generation would call Her blessed, because He who is mighty had done great things for Her.

And look at the faith She had when Joseph found out She was with Child and wanted to quietly divorce Her. Because of Her faith, She believed God would help Joseph to believe and God did, by sending an angel to Joseph in a dream, telling Him that She had conceived by the Holy Spirit and He was to name the Child, Jesus.

In faith, Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem, realizing they may not have an ordinary place to have the Child, if it would be His time be born. If faith, they believed God would take care of their needs away from home.

In faith, despite an elderly priest saying Her Heart would be pierced at the presentation of Jesus in the temple, She believed God would help Her endure Her future suffering, so the thoughts of many may be revealed.

In faith, Mary believed Joseph, when he told Her, an angel appeared to him in a dream, and that God wanted them to immediately leave and go to Egypt. In faith, She believed Joseph would need to find a job in a country, they didn’t know their language, but God would provide.

Again in faith, they believed the angel to return to their home country telling them that Herod was dead.

In faith, when Jesus remained in the temple at the age of 12, Mary believed She would find Her Son, though She searched for Him sorrowing for three days.

In faith, though Jesus did not work any known miracles for 30 years, during the time She lived with Him, yet, She believed would then work miracles during His public ministry.

By faith, Mary knew, Jesus can and would change water into wine to help the young couple at their marriage feast, during their first crisis of their marriage, when they ran out of wine.

In faith, She was not upset or disheartened when He was informed of Her presence outside a home and pointed to the crowd saying, “Whoever does the will of my heavenly Father, is my brother, sister and mother.” Out of humility, She knew Jesus was subtly pointing to Her as an example of always doing the will of His Father.

In faith, Mary would meet Jesus on the way of the Cross and then stand with Him as He endured His three hours of agony. Despite His death, She believed it was God’s will to allow it to happen and believed She would see Him again.

As She held Her dead Son in Her arms and helped place Him in the tomb, in faith, Mary believed Jesus would rise from the dead. And then was rewarded when Our Lord appeared to Her, first.

In faith, She understood She would be the Mother of us all, when John would take Her into His home and provide Holy Communion (the body of Christ, Her Son), for Her from the Holy Masses of John’s She attended. By faith, She believed by the power of the Holy Spirit, She would give Jesus, His body and blood, and by faith She believed Her Son would give Her, His body and blood in Communion at Mass through John, the priest.

In faith, with the Apostles, Mary saw Her Son, ascend into heaven and believed what He said, that He would return again on a cloud, the same way He went to heaven.

In faith, Mary waited and prayed for 9 days, in the upper room for the promised gift of the Holy Spirit.

In faith, She prayed for, encouraged, and gave advice to the Apostles and the early Church.

In faith, She went to Ephesus with John and lived with him there.

In faith, She returned to Jerusalem and believed Her Son would come to take Her to heaven, body and soul, as She said farewell to the Apostles before She fell asleep in the Lord.

And when She arrived in heaven, She did not need faith any longer, because it was through Her faith and Her hope, She passed from this life to the next. And now Her eternal and immeasurable love, shines for all in heaven and on earth, is a sign of hope for us, that some day we too, if we keep the faith, we will be with Her in glory.

Even though at times, if it seems God does not listen, or that God does not care, or that God does not answer our prayers, if we look at Mary, by faith, we believe God exists, God listens and God cares.

Like the prophet Habakkuk, we believe every upright person lives by their faithfulness. We believe, that as Jesus said, even if we have faith the size of a mustard seed, God will do marvelous things for us and through us.

By faith, we turn to Mary and ask Her for Her motherly intercession, because we believe Jesus cannot help but answer the prayers of His Mother, on our behalf.

So my friends, let us turn to Mary, as a model of faith, believe and trust, that as She who endured many dark and seemingly impossible situations, will help us and teach us, that God is with us, and will bring us to the joys of heaven. Amen.

St. Therese Oct. 1st

 

 Today we celebrate the glorious feast of St. Therese of Lissiex, who was born in Alençon, Normandy in France, on Jan 2nd 1873.

There were nine children in the family but four died young and the surviving five were all daughters and very close to each other. I think we could say Thérèse was almost a pampered little girl. Her father used to call her his Queen!

Tragedy struck the family when Thérèse was only four and a half years old. Her mother died of breast cancer on August 28^th, 1877. Little Thérèse was devastated. On the day of her mother’s burial Thérèse took her elder sister Pauline as a new mother. On October 2^nd, 1882 Pauline entered the Carmelite Convent at Lisieux. It was like losing her mother for a second time. Not long afterwards Thérèse became sick.. A miracle was necessary to cure her and it occurred on Pentecost Sunday, May 13th, the following year, 1883. The statue of Our Lady in her bedroom smiled to her, and she describes what happened, “All of a sudden the Blessed Virgin appeared beautiful to me, so beautiful that never had I seen anything so attractive; her face was suffused with an ineffable benevolence and tenderness, but what penetrated to the very depths of my soul was the ravishing smile of the Blessed Virgin. At that instant, all my pain disappeared…”

Thérèse writes beautifully of receiving her First Holy Communion on May 8^th, 1884, “Ah! How sweet was that first kiss of Jesus! It was a kiss of love; I felt that I was loved, and I said: “I love You, and I give myself to You forever!”

We could describe Thérèse as a cry-baby. The least criticism would make her cry and then she would cry because she had cried. Christmas 1885 was a turning point in Thérèse’s life. After Midnight Mass her father who was tired remarked that it was the last year she would be getting Christmas presents. She wrote, “Jesus desired to show me that I was to give up the defects of my childhood and so He withdrew its innocent pleasures. He permitted Papa, tired out after Midnight Mass, to experience annoyance when seeing my shoes at the fireplace, and that he speak those words which pierced my heart: “Well, fortunately, this will be the last year!”….

But Thérèse was no longer the same; Jesus had changed her heart! St. Therese said, “Forcing back my tears, I descended the stairs rapidly…I withdrew my slippers and placed them in front of Papa, and withdrew all the objects joyfully…. Thérèse had discovered once again the strength of soul…”

On the pilgrimage to Rome she understood that her vocation would be to pray for priests. “I understood my vocation in Italy and that’s not going too far in search of such useful knowledge. I lived in the company of many saintly priests for a month and I learned that, though their dignity raises them above the angels, they are nevertheless weak and fragile men. This is Carmel’s vocation since the sole purpose of our prayers and sacrifices is to be the apostle of the apostles. We are to pray for them while they are preaching to souls through their words and especially their example.”

Although Thérèse frequently calls herself a ‘little flower’ in Story of a Soul she had a strong personality. In 1887 when she was fourteen she asked permission to enter Carmel when she would be fifteen! Her father granted permission.

She solicited Bishop Hugonin for permission but he said he would give her an answer during their diocesan pilgrimage to Rome. As part of the pilgrimage they had the privilege of a Papal Audience on November 20th. They were warned not to speak during the audience. She wrote in her autobiography, “A moment later I was at the Holy Father’s feet. I kissed his slipper and he presented his hand, but instead of kissing it I joined my own and lifting tear-filled eyes to his face, I cried out: “Most Holy Father, I have a great favor to ask you…Holy Father, in honor of your Jubilee, permit me to enter Carmel at the age of fifteen!” --- “Well, my child,” the Holy Father replied, looking at me kindly, “do what the Superiors tell you!” Resting my hands on his knees, I made a final effort, saying in a suppliant voice: “Oh! Holy Father, if you say yes, everybody will agree!” He gazed at me steadily, speaking these words and stressing each syllable: “Go…go…You will enter if God wills it!” God did will it because on December 28th Bishop Hugonin gave her permission.

Having the vocation of a Carmelite, she felt she had other vocations within her also. Then she read 1 Cor 12-13 that all cannot be apostles, prophets etc. In 1 Cor 12:31 Paul wrote, “Set your minds on the higher gifts. And now I am going to put before you the best way of all.” Then in following chapter he explained how the most perfect gifts are nothing without love. Thérèse wrote “Charity is the most excellent way that leads to God. I finally had rest…I understood that the Church had a Heart and that this Heart was burning with love. I understood that love comprised all vocations, that love was everything, that it embraced all times and places, in a word, that it was eternal! Then in the excess of my delirious joy, I cried out: O Jesus, my love, my vocation, at last I have found it, my vocation is love!”

Thérèse reminds us we can all aspire to sainthood by doing the ordinary things extraordinarily well, e.g. by picking a pin up from the floor with love.

How did St. Thérèse live this little way? St. Therese describes it: “There is in Community a Sister who has the faculty of displeasing me in everything, in her ways, her words, her character, everything seems very disagreeable to me. Each time I met her I prayed to God for her, offering Him all her virtues and merits…I wasn’t content simply with praying very much for this Sister who gave me so many struggles, but I took care to render her all the services possible, and when I was tempted to answer her back in a disagreeable manner, I was content with giving her my most friendly smile. Ah! What attracted me was Jesus hidden in the depths of her soul.”

On Holy Thursday night 1896, Thérèse coughed up blood. It was the first summons to die. The following year she would die from TB. During her illness Thérèse underwent a great trial of faith. In her last months before her death in 1897, she felt that her work after her death would extend far beyond the publication of her journal. On July 17th she made her famous prediction, she said, “I feel that my mission is about to begin, my mission of making others love God as I love Him, my mission of teaching my little way to souls. If God answers my request, my heaven will be spent on earth up until the end of the world. Yes, I want to spend my heaven in doing good on earth.” Between August 22nd-27th her sufferings reached their peak and it was only around this time that her illness was diagnosed as tuberculosis. She suffered violently with every breath she took and felt like she was being stretched on spikes. The Little Flower died at the age of 24, on Thursday, September 30th. St. Thérèse of Lisieux, pray for us.

St. Jerome - Sept. 30th

 

 Today we celebrate the memorial of St. Jerome. He was born around the year 340 and died in 420. He was a priest and monk, who was a secretary to Pope Damasus. Towards the end of his life, he lived in a cave, next to where Jesus was born in Bethlehem. In the cave he translated the bible into Latin at the request of the Pope. He said, ignorance of scripture, is ignorance of Christ. In another words, if we don’t know scripture, then we won’t know Jesus.

We should all want to come to know Jesus, about His life, about how much He loves us and all the wonderful things, He has done for us. Every day, we should open the bible and read from the bible, especially about the life of Jesus. We don’t have to read much, just a short paragraph. And then think about the paragraph and think about Jesus, about His life, His miracles, His words, and His actions. We will be surprised at how much it helps us in our daily life. How much happier and more peaceful we will become. We may get ideas, perhaps to do good for others, to avoid sin, to grow in holiness. But most importantly, we learn more and more about Jesus, and to come to know that He loves us and is always with us.

Once I went to a classroom of first graders, and I asked them, “Did an angel ever appear to St. Joseph”. And a little boy said, “yes three times.” He then told me the three stories, about how an angel appeared to Joseph. How the angel told him to take Mary as His wife, the second, was to take the child into Egypt, so that Jesus wouldn’t be killed, and the third was to bring Mary and the baby Jesus back from Egypt to Israel. I said, “How do you knew these three stories, you’re only in first grade. He said, “I read the bible.”

If a first grader can read the bible, and remember the true stories about the life of Jesus, perhaps this little boy is teaching us a lesson.

Today, let us place an opened bible near our bed to remind us to read just a short paragraph each night. And let us remember that St. Jerome said, if we don’t know the sacred scriptures, we don’t know Jesus.

As Our Lady knew Jesus, who pondered His words within Her Heart, may we too think about the Word of God, so that we can come to know Jesus Christ, Our Lord.

Archangels Michael, Gabriel, Raphael - Sept. 29th

 

 Today, we celebrate the Feast of the Archangels. The bible helps us to know that there are seven archangels, but the bible only gives us the name of three, Michael, Gabriel and Raphael.

St. Michael, whose name means, “Who is like God”, is the angel, who led the good angels in heaven in a battle against Satan and the angels, which disobeyed God. During the battle in heaven, St. Michael, and the good angels, kicked Satan and the bad angels out of heaven. Praying to St. Michael is very effective when we are tempted by evil spirits. In some parishes, we pray the St. Michael prayer at the end of Mass, so that he will protect us and we ask him to especially intercede for us. St. Michael is the patron of police officers and soldiers, because soldiers and police protect people.

St. Gabriel, the archangel’s name means, “the power of God”. He appeared to Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist. Gabriel also appeared to the Blessed Virgin Mary and asked Her if She would become the Mother of Jesus. Every time we pray the Hail Mary, we are praying the words of the archangel Gabriel, who said, “Hail full of Grace! The Lord is with you!” St. Gabriel also most likely appeared to St. Joseph warning him to flee with Mary, and the baby Jesus into the desert because Herod wanted to kill Jesus. Gabriel is often prayed to help us to communicate with others and is the patron of communications.

St. Raphael is the archangel, who appeared to Tobias in the Old Testament. Raphael helped Tobias as he traveled, and he healed his father’s blind eyes so that he could see again. His name means, “the medicine of God”. He is the patron of travelers and will protect us as we travel. People ask St. Raphael to be healed and people will pray to St. Raphael for safety when they travel in cars and planes.

Today, if you are being tempted to do something sinful, pray to St. Michael. We can pray to St. Raphael to intercede for those in the hospital, and we can ask St. Raphael to pray for safety for all those who travel. If you want to grow closer to Mary or if you need help in communicating better ask St. Gabriel, and he will help you.

May the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Queen of the Angels, send these holy angels to be with us-- and watch over us-- as we journey to our home in heaven, where we will see billions and billions of angels adoring and praising God for all eternity.

St. Wencelaus - Sept. 28th

 

 Today is the feast of St. Wenceslaus. Born near Prague, he was the son of Duke Wratislaw. His grandmother, also a saint, St. Ludmilla taught him Christianity and once he learned Christianity, he always kept his eyes on heaven, never looking back. An anti-Christian faction murdered the Duke, his father, which resulted in his grandmother taking over the government.

In 922, Wenceslaus was declared as the new ruler due to a coup. As the new ruler, he encouraged Christianity. By the grace of God he was a man of utmost faith. He was charitable to the poor, by feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and giving hospitality to travelers. He wouldn’t allow widows to be treated unjustly and he loved all people, rich and poor alike.

Wenceslaus’ brother, Boleslaus, lost his heir to the throne, when Wenceslaus’ son was born. This caused Boleslaus to join a group of Czech dissenters. The dissenters lied to Boleslaus stating that his brother, Wenceslaus was conspiring to kill him.

On Sunday, on the feast of the dedication of churches, after attending Mass, he had planned to return to Prague. But his brother detained him. The next morning, when the church bells rang for Morning Prayer Wenceslaus said, “Praise to you, Lord; you have allowed me to live to this morning.” And so he rose and went to prayer. His brother followed him to the church door and said, “You were a good subject to me yesterday.” Boleslaus struck his brother’s head with his sword. Wenceslaus said to his brother, “What are you trying to do?” Wenceslaus seized his brother and threw him to the ground. One of the dissenters ran up and stabbed Wenceslaus in the hand. With his hand wounded, he let go of his brother and took refuge in the church. But two evil men struck him down at the church door and then another man rushed upon him and killed him with a sword. Wenceslaus saying the same words of Jesus on the Cross died saying, “Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.”

Today, let us ask the Blessed Virgin Mary to pray for all Christians who suffer from the sake of Jesus, especially those who suffer from the hands of their own relatives.

St. Lawrence Ruiz - Sept. 28th

 

Today is the memorial of Lawrence Ruiz and companions. He was from the Philippines, which is an island country in the ocean. Lawrence was married and had children. One day, he was accused of killing a man, but didn’t do it. Lawrence escaped by hiding in a boat with priests, who were going to Japan.

When he arrived and his travelers were arrested by people who hated Christians. Lawrence, the priests, and the other people who were with them, were told that if they would say they weren’t Christian, they would live. But Lawrence was not afraid to let others know He was Catholic, even though He knew would be tortured and killed.

This is what Lawrence told those who captured him. He said, “Had I a thousand lives, I would offer all them for (Jesus). Never shall I deny my faith. You may kill me, if that is what you want. To die for God, such is my will.”

Lawrence Ruiz was thankful that Jesus laid down His life in Jerusalem for him. He loved Jesus because Jesus suffered so much for Him and died for him. And because of His love for Jesus, He was willing to die for Our Lord. The greatest gift God has given us is that He laid down His life for us on the Cross, showing us how much He loves us. Today, may we be like Lawrence Ruiz and be thankful for our Holy Catholic faith and may we never deny that we are Christians, because we love Jesus, especially because Jesus went to Jerusalem to die for us.

St. Vincent de Paul

 

 Today, we celebrate the memorial of St. Vincent de Paul.

He was born of poor parents in France in 1580. As a child, he was taught by Franciscans. After four years of education, he was chosen by a lawyer to tutor the lawyer’s children. At the age of 19, he went to a university for theological studies and was ordained a priest four years later at the age of 23.

Five years later, on sea voyage, he fell into the hands of African pirates and was taken as a slave to Tunis, where he was purchased by an elderly Muslim. The slaver owner liked Vincent and attempted to convert him to Islam by having him listen to long lectures. He promised that if the young priest, would embrace the Islamic religion, he would receive his inheritance. Vincent was terrified that his faith might be corrupted in this alien environment, so he prayed for Divine protection, especially seeking the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. He was held captive for about 2 yrs, until he escaped by Divine Providence.

He then went to Rome, where he entered the order of the Brothers of St. John of God, which is a religious order, who served in hospitals.

Once when he was sent to hear a confession of a peasant, who lay dangerously ill, due to Father Vincent’s questions, the peasant realized he had been making sacrilegious confessions for many years. Upon his recovery, he openly declared if it weren’t for Fr. Vincent, he would be eternally lost.

In 1617, Vincent began to preach missions. And 8 years later, he laid the foundations of the Congregation of the Mission, the “Lazarites”. They were originally called Lazarites, because they began to occupy a priory named after St. Lazarus in 1633. Later, they would become known as the Vincentians, after St. Vincent. They would seek out to care for the sick in every parish.

During his life, the Jansenist heresy became very widespread, and even afflicted his own religious order. He therefore, ordered that all priests who holds the heresy, should leave the order.

St. Vincent’s predominant virtue was charity. His charity extended to all classes of persons, from forsaken children to the elderly. The Sisters of Charity also owe their foundation of their congregation to St. Vincent de Paul.

In the midst of the most distracting occupations his soul was always intimately united with God. Though honored by the great peope of the world, he remained deeply rooted in humility.

St. Vincent, the apostle of charity breathed his last in Paris at the age of 85, on Sept. 27^th, 1660. After his canonization, he was proclaimed the patron of all charitable societies.

Today, let us strive to imitate this holy saint, by attempting to always be intimately untied to God no matter what we do, and let us pray that Our Lady will watch over the Vincentians, that they may be faithful to the charism of their founder.

Saints Cosmas & Damien - Sept. 26th

 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints!

Today we celebrate the martyrs St. Cosmas and Damian, who lived about the year 300AD. Their names are in the Roman Canon of the Mass, in Eucharistic Prayer I. They were called “the money less ones” because they practiced medicine without charging fees. They were twin brothers, born in Arabia. A persecution began and they were eventually captured and beheaded. One legend has it that they defied death by water, fire, and crucifixion. While they were hanging on the crosses, a mob stoned them, but the rocks re-coiled and landed on the heads of those who tossed the stones. It is believed three of their brothers were martyred with them. After their death, miraculous healings were attributed to their intercession. They sometimes appeared to the sick while asleep, and would prescribe for them, or would cure their illness. The emperor Justinian I, attributed a recovery from a serious illness to the relics of Cosmas and Damian. They are patrons of surgeons, physicians and druggists.

With regards to martyrs in general, St. Augustine said, “In the glorious deeds of the holy martyrs, who everyone adorns the Church, we verify the truth, of what we have been singing, Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints! They are precious in our sight, and in the sight of him, in whose name it was done. The price paid for these deaths was the death of one man. How many deaths indeed this one man, bought by dying. When the soldier’s lance cut its way into His side, the price paid for the whole world flowed forth. The martyrs and all the faithful were bought with it, but the faith of the martyrs was also tested: their blood bore witness to their faith.” As we prepare to receive the Eucharist, let us offer our self to Him, on the paten, knowing the sacrifice of our self, will be precious in the sight of the Lord.

26th Sunday - Rich Man & Lazarus

 

In the Gospel today, we have the parable of the rich man and Lazarus the poor man. St. Augustine in a sermon speaks about this parable, he said, “...in the Gospel it said: “Father Abraham, send Lazarus, let him dip his finger in water and drip it on my tongue, because I am in agony in this flame!” How afraid we felt of something of the same sort happening to us after this life, and our pleading in vain for relief! There is no room, you see, for putting things right when this life is over. When an athlete’s beaten in the stadium, can he hope to compete outside the stadium in order to try again for the prize he has lost?

So what then? If we were afraid, if we were shocked and shaken to the core, let us change our ways while there is yet time, that is a fruitful fear. We beat our (chests) when our consciences prick us with our consciousness of sin. What we are beating is something inside—some bad, evil intention or desire; let it only burst out in confession, and there will perhaps be nothing left to prick our consciences. Let all our sins burst out in confession. So let none of us, brothers and sisters, be ashamed of confessing sins; to lie down signifies humility. Notice how they change places. When the painful difficulty of confessing has passed, there comes the rewarding refreshment of merits; the angels will come and carry up this sore-ridden man and lay him in Abraham’s bosom, that is to say in eternal rest.”

St. Augustine helps us to see this event in the context of Confession, by saying we should confess our failure to help the poor.

Jesus gave the apostles and their successors, the authority to forgive sins. When He appeared to them after He rose from the dead Our Lord said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” (John 20:21-23) By these words, Jesus gave them and the bishops and priests after them, the power and authority to forgive sins. From the beginning of Christianity unto today, Christians have always confessed their sins to a priest. It was not until the Protestant rebellion in the 1500’s some Christians, who left the Catholic Church, stopped confessing to a priest. Imagine that, for the first 1,500 years of Christianity, all Christians confessed their sins to priests.

The early Church fathers mention confessing sins to a priest. For example, in the year 248 AD, Origen said, "[A final method of forgiveness], albeit hard and laborious [is] the remission of sins through penance, when the sinner...does not shrink from declaring his sin to a priest of the Lord." St. Cyprian of Carthage in 251 AD, which is 1,750 years ago, said, "Of how much greater faith and salutary fear are they who...confess their sins to the priests of God in a straightforward manner and in sorrow, making an open declaration of conscience...” St. Augustine, whose sermon I just read, was born in 354 and died in 430, spoke about Confession. We can see Christians from the beginning up to today, have gone to confession to priests.

Here are some reasons why we should confess our sins to a priest. Most importantly, it is what Jesus commanded of the early Christians.  By hearing the priest say the words of absolution, we have certainty our sins are forgiven because the priest says so. Some say, they want to confess their sins to God alone. It is true, we should tell our sins to God everyday, and especially right after we have committed them. But, do we know God has forgiven us? Jesus wants us to confess our sins to God—through the priest. Jesus, in the priest, forgives our mortal and venial sins. The Church states we must confess our mortal sins to a priest. Since “God is everywhere”, He is also therefore especially in the priest, through sacrament of Holy Orders.

Only in Confession do we receive sacramental grace and there is a real washing away of sin. Through the sacraments, we come in contact with Jesus.

Something you may be unaware is that sacramental grace in Confession gives us extra graces to overcome sin. So the more often we go to confession, the easier it is to avoid sin.

It is good for us psychologically- (mentally healthy) to confess our sins to another person. When confessing our sins to a priest, it avoids the hiding of sins from our self. In confession, one confronts their own sins and is not so apt to hide them from one self. When we confess our sins out in the open, the sin, and the devil, loses its hold, and we gain power over the sin.

Confessing our sins to a priest helps us to grow in humility, by admitting what we have done. We avoid pride, the root of many sins.

By confessing, we become more sorry- It’s easy to say we are sorry when we are not in the presence of the person, whom we are apologizing, but it touches our heart even more, when we tell the person, who is (God) that we are sorry, when tell Him who we directly offended.

In Confession, we receive advice from the priest on how to overcome our sins. We can’t give our own advice when confessing our sins at home.

In Confession, we receive a penance. The priest gives us a penance to make up to a certain degree for our sins. Have you ever given yourself a penance, after you told God, you were sorry for sinning? Yet, penance makes up for our sins.

If we can’t do other sacraments our self- why do we think we can confess our sins and receive forgiveness by our self? Each of us can’t offer our own Mass, we can’t baptize our self, nor anoint our selves, nor preside at our own wedding. We can’t confirm our self. We receive sacramental grace, through the help of a priest.

Through Confession, we have greater peace. And it makes us feel good when we have done so. Many people say they feel a burden lifted after Confession. They feel free and happy.

I found a confession story on the Internet. It’s from an anonymous woman in Rochester, Minnesota. She said, “It had been 30 years since my last Confession.  I knew I needed to return to Confession, but I was afraid.  Where would I start?  It had been so long. But because I was also attending Mass and receiving the Eucharist I knew I needed to make a decision soon.  I knew it was wrong to continue to receive the Eucharist after being away from Confession for so long.  I was searching for the right opportunity, but my fear of going back to the sacrament was very strong.

  I knew this was the time God had chosen for me. I chose not to do a face to face Confession.  The priest was kind and helpful.  The burden of carrying my sins that I was ashamed to confess for so many years had been lifted.  It was a time of great thankfulness to God for providing the right opportunity for me.  God knows us so well.  Since that return to the Sacrament of Confession about 10 years ago, she said, I have been faithful in going to Confession on a regular basis.  I usually make my Confession every month or six weeks.  It has been a source of great healing for me from past sins.  It has lessened temptations and brought me closer to Jesus and my Catholic faith.  It has inspired me to reach out now to others to share my experience so others need not be afraid.  It is such a blessing to receive this sacrament each and every time.  We are so fortunate as Catholic Christians to have this great gift available to us.  The Lord is truly kind and merciful!”  From Anonymous, Rochester, MN.

My friends, if its been a long time since you have been to confession, don’t worry, the priest can help you. He can help you examine your conscience by going through the 10 commandments and asking yes or no questions, then if he misses something, you should tell him. Its a simple and easy way to go to confession and removes the fear that goes with it. Or you can make a list of sins, and bring it with you to confession, this way you don’t to try to remember everything.

Dear parish family, come to the sacrament of mercy. Once you regularly walk through the door of mercy every month, you will see how it will change your attitude and your way of life. You will become a happier person; a more kind and loving person, because you will have recognized, the poor man at your door step, was yourself all along, whose wounds to your soul needed to be healed by God’s mercy. Once, you confess your sins, your eyes will be open to see the needs of the poor and others around you.

And all you had to do, all along was allow Jesus to give your soul, His mercy through the priest, in Confession, and in return, at the end of your life, you will avoid the agony of the flames. Rather, your soul will be refreshed in the living water in the bosom of the Father’s house (heaven). Ask the Virgin Mary, the refuge of sinners to give you the grace to come to Jesus often to experience His loving and tender mercy.

St. Padre Pio - Sept. 23rd

 

Today is the feast of St. Padre Pio, who was born May 25^th of 1887 in Italy and given the name Francisco.  A very devout young boy at the age 5, he told his parents he wanted to be consecrated to God.  As a young boy he tended sheep with his peasant parents.  His family daily attended Mass and he served as an altar boy of his local parish.  As a young child he was known for taking on penances and his mother scolded him for sleeping on a stone floor.  He was able to see guardian angels, and he spoke with Jesus and the Virgin Mary. He was sickly as a child. At the age of 15, he entered the novitiate of the Capuchin friars at Morcone. He took the name of "Pio" in honor of Pope Pius I. On September 20, Padre Pio was hearing confessions when he felt pain in his hands and feet. He noticed the stigmata, the wounds of Christ, appearing on his hands and feet. The wounds smelled of roses. He was seen levitating in the air, and was capable of performing miracles.

One man who was born with one leg shorter than the other came to Padre Pio in Confession. When the Confession was over, Padre Pio took his fist and hit him on the top of his head. The man said, “Padre Pio, why did you hit me on the top of my head?” Padre Pio didn’t say anything and as the man walked away, he realized both legs were now the same length.

He bilocated (physically in more than one place at time).  He was falsely accused and forbidden from offering public Masses and hearing confessions, but he never complained. Three years later, he was exonerated by the pope.  Greater than the miracles and mystical event during his life was his greatest virtue, his silent obedience to the his superiors and Church representatives. He had the ability to read souls (to know the sins of people). His Masses would last often times hours at a time. When offering the Mass it was though he suffered the Passion of Jesus. He built a hospital for the sick in San Giovanni Rotondo.  He died Sept. 23^rd of 1968 and was canonized in 2000.  After his death his wounds disappeared and today he remains incorrupt. Padre Pio, pray for us!

St. Matthew - Sept. 21st

 

Today, we celebrate the Feast of St. Matthew, one of the 12 apostles, who followed Jesus. Born in Capernaum, he was the son of Alphaeus. In the Gospels of Mark and Luke, he is called “Levi”. He is the author of the Gospel of Matthew, which was originally written in Aramaic and then translated into Greek. Raised was raise as a Jew.

Before Our Divine Lord would call him to follow Him, he worked as a tax collector. Tax collectors were despised by many of the Jews, because they often cheated the people out of their money and because they worked for King Herod. Matthew most likely was very wealthy because he probably cheated many people out of money.

Through the eyes of mercy, and knowing full well of Matthew’s sinful lifestyle, Jesus saw the sinful misery of his life and chose Him to be one of His apostles.

One day, while Matthew was working at the customs post, most likely at a booth for collecting taxes on inter-regional trade, Jesus came up to him, and said, “Follow me”. Immediately understanding the love and mercy of Jesus, it brought him to full repentance.

Matthew was so excited, because Jesus asked him to follow him, that he invited Our Lord to eat supper at his house, and to meet his friends, who were tax collectors and sinners. Matthew must have been overjoyed, because He discovered that Our Lord believed in him.

Can you imagine all the great sinners that would have been at the feast? Most likely Matthew would have introduced Jesus to everyone and announced that He was going to change His life and give up cheating other people. And those who were the great sinners would have felt welcomed because Jesus did not disdain them, but rather came among them, to be with them. How many at the feast would later become baptized Christians because Jesus stooped down to their level to be with them, despite their sinfulness.

After Christ's Death, Resurrection, and Ascension, Saint Matthew is said to have preached the Gospel to the Jews for as many as 15 years, though it is uncertain where he preached. Some believe that it was in Persia or Ethiopia.

There is a tradition, that one of Matthew’s greatest miracles was to bring back to life the king's daughter. And because of this miracle, he converted the king and his wife together with the whole country to the faith of Christ. When the king died, his successor Hirtacus wished to marry the daughter of the former king; but she had made a vow of virginity. Since the vow had been taken through Matthew's influence, Hirtacus had Matthew killed while celebrating Mass. It was on the 21st of September Matthew's apostolic work was crowned with the glory of martyrdom.

Matthew is the patron of Accountants, bankers, bookkeepers, customs officers, money managers, stock brokers, and tax collectors. Today, may we turn to St. Matthew and ask him to help us to to follow Jesus. May his example of prompt and complete obedience inspire us to care not what others think, but do what we believe the Lord desires of us.

Who is the True Pope?

Mark Mallett discusses controversies about Pope Francis's election and Pope Benedict's resignation.

Click picture or this link: "Who Is the True Pope?"

Tuesday - Mary Always Did God's Will

 

 “My mother and my brothers are those, who hear the word of God, and act on it.”

Our Lord uses these words for a double purpose. The first purpose is to praise His Mother for always doing God’s will because She heard the Word of God and always acted on it. The Virgin Mary never once sinned in Her life and always did the Father’s will perfectly. When She heard the angel Gabriel speaking on behalf of God, She acted on it and said, “Be it done unto me, according to thy word.” And at that moment the Holy Spirit came down upon Her, Jesus entered Her womb and She became the Mother of God. Her whole life was a constant yes, Jesus, the Eternal Word. She most especially did God’s will, as She faithfully stood at the foot of the Cross. In Her Heart, She understood it was God’s will to be with Her Son in His great moment of suffering and to bear that pain in Her Heart. She acted on it by being faithful to Him in the most difficult manner possible, watching Her Son be tortured and killed on the Cross.

The second purpose for Jesus using these words is to let all know that anyone who hears the Word of God and acts on it, are His mother and brothers to Our Lord because they are imitating the Virgin Mary. Our Lord wants us to imitate His Mother in doing God’s will. He wants us to come to know God’s will and act on it.

We know God’s will by the ordinary duties of our state in life. For example its God’s will that spouses be the best spouse they can be; parents to be the best parents they can be; children to be the best children; brothers and sisters to do the best they can in their life; the same is true for those who have a job, to do our job to the best of our ability; at home to keep the house clean; to take care of our health; to also do God’s will in our spiritual life such as to daily pray; to attend Mass on Sunday; daily read scripture, to learn about our faith; to be a good Christian; for every Christian to be a faithful son and daughter of the Church by following the rules and teachings of the Church as the Church desires of us. To forgive others and to be a good disciple of the Lord following the way of life He points out to us.
God’s will is easily seen in the ordinary duties of our state of life. God wants us to do the best of everything for love of Him because by doing so, we are hearing the Word of God and acting on it.

Today, if we want to be the spiritual members of Jesus’ family (brothers, sisters and mothers of Jesus), let us do our best to act on the Word of God by following the example of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of the Eternal Word, always seeking His will and performing it with love, care, attention, no matter the sacrifice.

As St. Elizabeth Ann Seton used to say: “The first end I propose in our daily work is to do the will of God; secondly, to do it in the manner he wills it; and thirdly to do it because it is his will.”

25th Sunday Year C - Mary Mediatrix of All Grace

 

Is Jesus the only mediator between God and man, or can everyone mediate by their prayers?

In the second reading today, St. Paul said, “There is ….one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all.” However, he also indicates that anyone can mediate because St. Paul asked that, "….supplications prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings be made for all men".

So, how can there be one mediator-- if everyone can mediate by their prayers, intercessions and supplications? Pope St. John Paul II answered this question by saying, “Are not prayers a form of mediation? Indeed, according to St Paul, the unique mediation of Christ is meant to encourage other dependent, ministerial forms of mediation. By proclaiming the uniqueness of Christ’s mediation, the Apostle (Paul) intends only to exclude any autonomous or rival mediation, and not other forms compatible with the infinite value of the Savior’s work.”

By the words of Pope St. John Paul II we understand that anyone can mediate on behalf of others, yet He makes it clear Jesus has a unique mediation in which all others are dependent. This one mediation occurred when, as St. Paul states, “when Jesus gave Himself as a ransom for all.” No one, not anyone, not even Mary, could give themselves for us as a ransom for all. Only Jesus, who is God, paid the price of our redemption, by His death on the Cross.

Yet, Jesus has so willed-- that all of us participate in His one mediation, though in a small way, through our prayers, petition and supplications. Our prayers mediate on behalf of others to help them in their needs, whether physical, spiritual or emotional needs. Jesus wants us to pray for others and for our own needs that why He said, “Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and the door shall be opened.”

Many of us mediate, by our prayers for the sick, asking God to heal them or to help them to endure their suffering. We mediate by our prayers, when we pray for our families and loved ones asking God to help them stay close to Him. We mediate for peace in the world, for the poor, the homeless, for our soldiers, for the souls in purgatory, etc…

The Church also teaches that the saints in heaven, especially the Blessed Virgin Mary, can mediate on our behalf by their prayers, petitions and supplications. One example of the saints mediating in heaven is a current investigation of a purported miracle involving Chase Kear, through the prayers of Fr. Kapaun. Thousands of people asked Fr. Kapaun to intercede due to a pole vaulting accident that crushed his skull. Doctors said he most likely would not live and if he would live, he would be severely disabled. And now he is perfectly fine. If it is declared a miracle, then Fr. Kapaun will have mediated a special grace given by God, to the young man from Colwich. If future saints can mediate for us, how much more will Mary’s prayers, petitions and supplications help us?

The Blessed Virgin Mary mediates every grace given to us by God whether we know it or not, whether we ask it of Her or not. Mary never ceases to pray for Her children and She is the one through whom every grace flows. Pope Pius IX, quoted St. Bernard, who said, “God wills that every grace should come to us through Her.” Pope Benedict XV, stated, “It has pleased God to grant us all graces through the intercession of Mary”.

Because every grace comes to us through Mary’s intercession, She has the title of Mediatrix of All Graces. Though it is currently not on the Church calendar, Holy Mother Church established the Feast of Mary Mediatrix of All Grace in 1921 and Vatican II Council referred to Mary as Mediatrix in its document called Lumen Gentium. Pope St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict have both referred to Mary as Mediatrix.

So what does it mean to us that Mary is the Mediatrix of All Graces? If the prayers of the saints and our prayers can make a difference in the lives of others, how much more can Mary’s intercession make a difference, especially since She mediates every grace that comes to us from God. In another words, what ever we ask of God, we should ask it of Mary. The next time someone says, “Will you pray for me?” You can say, “Yes, I will pray for you, and I will ask Mary to mediate on your behalf, because every grace comes through Her intercession.”

Do we have problems in our marriage, ask Mary. Financial difficulties, ask Mary. A friend suffering from addiction, ask Mary. If we have trouble in our relationships, ask Mary. If we want to overcome a particular sin, ask Mary. If we need a job, ask Mary. If have health problems and need strength to endure them, ask Mary.

If you are a young person struggling with Algebra or some other class or teacher ask Mary. When I was in seminary I became very ill from a medicine I took. I had terrible abdominal pain and could not study for a Latin test that I had the next day. In the morning, I prayed to Mary asking her to help me on my test and consecrated it to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Just before the class, I studied six Latin words and memorized them. Then when I went to take the test, those were the only six words on the whole test and ended up getting an A+. While other seminarians stayed up late studying and tried to memorize many more words and didn’t do so well as I. Mary interceded for me.

If we have family members, who have fallen away from the Church, ask Mary. If we desire an end to wars, if we want peace among nations, if we anything, no matter what, we should ask Mary, especially by adding our petitions to Her petitions before we pray our daily Rosary.

“O Mary, Mediatrix of All Graces, we ask you to mediate by your prayers, petitions and supplications on our behalf. We believe every grace comes through you and from your Son, Jesus, the one mediator between God and man. We entrust all our needs, all our cares and concerns, all our worries, everything to you. O Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us, who have recourse to thee!”

Stigmata of St. Francis - Sept. 17th

 

Today is the feast of the Stigmata of St. Francis of Assisi. St. Bonaventure describes what happened to St. Francis. He said, “On the morning of the feast of the Exultation of the Holy Cross, as he was praying in a secret and solitary place on the mountain, Francis beheld a seraph with six wings all afire, descending to him from the heights of heaven. As the seraph flew with great swiftness towards the man of God, there appeared amid the wings the form of one crucified, with his hands and feet stretched out and fixed to the cross. Two wings rose above the head, two were stretched forth in flight, and two veiled the whole body.”

“St. Francis understood the vision as a revelation of the Lord and that it was being presented to his eyes by Divine Providence so that the friend of Christ might be transformed into Christ crucified, not through martyrdom of the flesh, but through a spiritual holocaust.” “The vision, disappearing, left behind it a marvelous fire in the heart of Francis, and no less wonderful token impressed on his flesh. For there began immediately to appear in his hands and in his feet something like nails as he had just seen them in the vision of the Crucified. The heads of the nails in the hands and feet were round and black, and the points were somewhat long and bent, as if they had been turned back. On the right side, as if it had been pierced by a lance, was the mark of a red wound, from which blood often flowed and stained his tunic."

We come to know through the biography of St. Bonaventure, that St. Francis was a great lover of the Cross and God rewarded him for his deep love by permitting him to suffer even more for Jesus. St. Francis gives us an example of how we should all have great compassion for Christ Crucified and be willing to suffer for Jesus no matter the cost, so that we may be transformed into an image of Jesus.

Today, let us ask St. Francis of Assisi to intercede for us and ask him to help us embrace our sufferings and crosses that we may even choose to love to suffer for Jesus in response to Our Lord’s great love for us.

24th Friday - Women Who Followed Jesus

In the Gospel today, the 12 apostles and some women followed Jesus when He want about preaching the Good News and the provided resources for His needs.

We know three names of the women, Joanna, who was the wife of Herod’s servant Chuza, Susanna, who we don’t know anything about, and Mary Magdalene, who the Gospel tells us, Jesus cast out 7 demons. It also states there were other women were freed of their infirmities and from demons.

Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. Some saints speculate that the seven demons which departed from Mary Magdalene were associated with the 7 capital sins: lust, anger, pride, sloth, intemperance, envy and greed. After being forgiven by Jesus and delivered from these demons, she tagged along Jesus and was at the foot of the Cross. Our Lord rewarded her for her deep repentance, faith and love by appearing to her first, even before the 12 apostles. Its believed she live a life as a hermit after Jesus ascended into heaven.

So there is hope for every sinner, that God’s mercy can triumph in the heart of every sinner and even make them a great saint.

Our Lady of Sorrows - Sept. 15th

 

Today is the memorial of the Our Lady of Sorrows. Each of Her seven sorrows was a moment She cried, because She loved Her Son Jesus with a motherly Heart.

Mary’s first sorrow. When the Child Jesus was presented in the temple, how great was the shock to Mary's Heart at hearing the sorrowful words, from holy Simeon, who said, “And a sword shall pierce your heart.”

The second sorrow of Mary. The flight into Egypt. Consider the sharp sorrow which Mary felt when, St. Joseph being warned by an angel, they had to flee by night in order to preserve her beloved Child from the slaughter decreed by Herod.

The third sorrow of Mary. Joseph and Mary’s loss of Jesus in the temple. For three days they searched for Him not knowing if He was dead or alive or captured by marauders. How dread was the grief of Mary, when She saw She had lost her beloved Son! And as if to increase Her sorrow, when She sought Him diligently among Her kinsfolk and acquaintances, She could not find Him.

The fourth sorrow of Mary. Mary meets Her beloved Son as He carried His Cross. Bearing His Cross, wounded, torn by stripes, crowned with thorns, streaming with blood. Consider the grief of the blessed Virgin thus beholding her Son! Who would not weep at seeing this Mother's grief?

The fifth sorrow of Mary. See the sacrifice of the body of Jesus hanging from the Cross with His Mother standing beneath Him. As She stood at the foot of the cross, pierced by the sword of sorrow, She turned Her eyes on Him, until She knew He lived no longer and had resigned His spirit to His Eternal Father. And to hear the words of Jesus, “Woman, behold thy son.”, would have struck Her Heart knowing John would replace Her beloved son.

The sixth sorrow of Mary. Consider the most bitter sorrow which rent the soul of Mary, when She saw the dead body of Her dear Jesus on laying on Her knees, covered with blood, all torn with deep wounds.

The seventh sorrow of Mary. Consider the sighs which burst from Mary's sad heart when She saw Her beloved Jesus laid within the tomb. She gazed a last time on the lifeless body of her Son, and when the great stone was rolled to the door of the sepulcher, oh, then indeed Her heart seemed torn from her body!

Have you ever wondered what Mary was thinking when She stood at the foot of the Cross. St. Bernard gives us an insight into Mary’s Heart. He said, “Perhaps someone will say: “Had she not known before that he would not die?” Undoubtedly. “Did she not expect him to rise again at once?” Surely. “And still she grieved over her crucified Son?” Intensely. Who are you and what is the source of your wisdom that you are more surprised at the compassion of Mary than at the passion of Mary’s Son? For if He could die in body, could She not die with him in spirit? He died in body through a love greater than anyone had known. She died in spirit through a love unlike any other since His.

My friends, all seven sorrows of Mary were moments, which She would have cried because of how much Her only Son, Jesus, suffered. Today, let us resolve to comfort the Sorrowful Heart of Mary by meditating on Her Seven Sorrows and entering into Her great love for Jesus.

Triumph of the Cross - Sept. 14th

 

 Today is the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The public veneration of the Cross of Christ originated in the fourth century, beginning with the miraculous discovery of the cross on September 14, 326, by Saint Helena, mother of the emperor Constantine. Out of an aversion to Christianity, pagans who worshiped idols had done all in their power to conceal the place where it lay, and where Jesus was buried. They heaped upon His sepulcher (tomb) a great quantity of stones and rubbish, besides building a temple to Venus. They also erected a statue to Jupiter in the place where Jesus rose from the dead.

Helena ordered the profane building to be pulled down, the statues to be broken in pieces, and the rubbish to be removed; and upon digging to a great depth, they discovered the Holy Sepulcher, and near it three crosses; also the nails which had pierced our Savior’s body, and the title which had been affixed to his cross.

By this discovery they understood that one of the three crosses was that of Jesus and that the other two belonged to the two who were crucified with Jesus. The title was found separate from the cross.

The three crosses were carried in procession to the bed of a woman, who was at the point of death. The touch of the first two had no effect, but when the woman was touched, with the last Cross, the woman suddenly got better. St. Helena wanted to check for herself if this was the True Cross, so she asked that a man, who was already dead and buried, be taken to the Cross. And when he came in contact with the Cross, he became alive.

St. Andrew Crete said, “The cross is something wonderfully great and honorable. It is great because through the cross the many noble acts of Christ found their consummation– very many indeed, for both his miracles and his sufferings were fully rewarded with victory. The cross is honorable because it is both the sign of God’s suffering and the trophy of his victory. It stands for his suffering because on it He freely suffered unto death. But it is also his trophy because it was the means by which the devil was wounded and death conquered; the barred gates of hell were smashed, and the cross became the one common salvation of the whole world. The cross is called Christ’s glory; it is saluted as His triumph.”

And let us not forget, that His Mother Mary stood beneath Her Son’s Cross. May we contemplate in our heart what She endured gazing upon Her crucified Son.