St. John Bosco - Jan. 31st

 

 Today, we celebrate the memorial of St. John Bosco, who was born of poor parents in 1815. When he was little more than two years old his father died, leaving the support of three boys to their mother, Margaret Bosco. John's early years were spent as a shepherd and he received his first instruction at the hands of the parish priest. He possessed a ready wit, and a retentive memory.

As a youth, it was common for him to perform tricks and acrobatic performances for other children. He would invite other boys to come and watch him perform tight rope walking and magic tricks, but only if they would promise to stay after the performance, so that he could teach them catechism, pray the Rosary or go to Mass with him.

After he was ordained a priest, he had the terrible experience of visiting prisons in which poor homeless boys were exposed to evil influences. He resolved from that moment on to care for poor homeless street boys when he was able.

One day after vesting for Mass, the sacristan drove out a ragged boy, who refused to serve Mass. Don Bosco quickly found the boy and befriended him. Over a period of time, he instructed the boy of the street, in the ways of the faith. And so began the beginnings of the “Oratory”.

In one year, he was helping 30 street boys and within 5 years, over 400 boys were taken in under his wing. He eventually began the Salesian religious order, which had as its purpose the taking care of young street boys and educating them in the Catholic faith.

Don Bosco was especially noted for his prophetic dreams and his ability to read hearts. He would often tell particular boys—the sins, they committed, and that, the boy needed to go to confession.

One of his most popular dreams involved seeing a large boat, which represented the Catholic Church. The boat’s helmsman was the pope, who was shot by enemies of the Church. However, a pope once again took over the helm, who guided the boat to two large pillars. On top of one pillar was Our Lady Help of Christians and on top of the other pillar was the Eucharist. Once the boat reached the two pillars and was anchored to each of them, the raging storm and small boats which were attacking the ship--- disappeared.

Many believe the pope, which fell wounded was Pope John Paul II, who guided the Church to the Eucharist and Our Lady.

Today, let us pray for young people, that they may receive the grace of a good Catholic education and be protected from the evils of the world.

And may we anchor our hearts to Jesus in the Eucharist and to the Blessed Virgin Mary, trusting that they will calm the storms of our life and protect Pope Francis from all danger.

4th Sunday, Year A - God Chose the Weak

 

In the second reading, St. Paul speaks to the Corinthians giving them hope, that God can use those who count for nothing, to become witnesses of Christ’s love and power.

“God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong, and God chose the lowly and despised of the world, those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who are something, so that no human being might boast before God.”

The first beatitude, “blessed are the poor in spirit”, is the door to the other beatitudes because we only begin to receive God's blessings when we appreciate our absolute need for them. It is only by God’s power and His providence, that we can do anything good. This beatitude reminds us the lowly have hope if they place their trust in God.

The Lord chose some of the weakest and most miserable men to become His apostles. For example, Matthew, was a tax collector, who was considered a traitor to the Jews for collecting taxing for the Romans. He most likely cheated people out of taxes. Peter, the first pope, and leader of the apostles, would deny Jesus three times. Peter, Andrew, James and John were mere fishermen, who the Lord called to found His Church. They were not experts in the scriptures. They were not priests or leaders of the Jewish people. Simon, was a zealot, which means, he wanted to forcefully remove the Romans from the occupation. St. Paul, was no angel either. He was responsible for the deaths of many of the early Christians and stood by, as St. Stephen was stoned to death. Yet, God chose Paul, to be bring the message of salvation in Jesus Christ, to the Gentiles, and to form churches. According to scripture, after His resurrection, who did Jesus first appear? A former prostitute, Mary Magdalene. Do you recall how the Jews looked down upon prostitutes and would even stone them to death when they were caught in the very act of adultery? And after her conversion, her love was so great, that she stood at the foot of the Cross and then attempted to anoint the body of Jesus after He was placed in the tomb that early Easter morning.

When Jesus was born, who were the first to discover the newborn king. Not chief priests, scribes or scholars of the law, but lowly shepherds, who lived out on the land.

When I was in high school, students would vote for one person, who would be considered the most likely person to succeed in the graduating class. Usually, the person was the one who was most talented, such as the ability to sing, to play a musical instrument, would excel in debate, to be the main character in the play, to receive the highest grades in the class, would excel in sports and letter in all of them. The person was usually popular and well liked among the other students and teachers. Often times, the person was chosen as the valedictorian for their academic achievements. It is beautiful to see how, at times, God gives special gifts to people at a young age and how they use their gifts for others.

However, in high school, there was also the least likely person in the class to succeed. Of course, there was no vote to see who he or she was, but it seemed everyone knew. The person likely had low grades, wasn’t involved in school activities, had few friends and sometimes, the person may have even got into trouble a lot. At times, the person came from a divorced family, had to work during high school sports and was unable to attend prom. Perhaps, he or she would even be involved in vandalism, drugs and went to underage drinking parties. Objectively, it would appear as though the person would end up in jail and or live a life of poverty.

Mother Angelica was someone, would have fallen into the category of being the least likely to succeed. Her parents divorced, she lived in a rat infested house, her mother had emotional problems and little Rita, and didn’t get good grades. Yet, God touched this young girl’s heart and called her to be His bride, as a religious sister, a Poor Clare nun of perpertual adoration, who would someday found the world largest non-profit Catholic television network called EWTN.

A young man, by the name of Donald Calloway, was atheist, drug addicted, and a high school drop out. His mother divorced two times and she remarried a third man. By the age of 13 he lived for pleasure. When his family moved to Japan, he connected with the Japanese mafia. The mafia filled his backpack with drugs and money to go to casinos. He was wanted by the Japanese government and American government. He was arrested and handcuffed by military police and kicked out of the country. In the US, he went to a rehabilitation center, but immediately failed after he got out. He wanted everything that had to do with pleasure, women seeking, drugs. For several years, he was almost perpetually high on drugs. At night he would look to the stars to find out, “What is the meaning?, “Why am I here?” “Where does the high live forever?” He wanted to feel good all the time.

One night, he didn’t want to go on living anymore. He picked up a book on the bookshelf. It was about Marian apparitions. The book talked about a beautiful woman, who would cause six children to drop to their knees when She would come, Our Lady of Medjugorje. He read the whole book in one night. This caused him to be interested in Catholicism. The first Catholic priest Donald ever met, invited him to attend Mass. After the priest celebrated Mass, the priest gave him a painting of Jesus. When he returned to his parents house, he took a good look at the painting of Jesus and noticed, Jesus had a kind and loving look on His face. He was surprised Jesus didn’t appear angry. It was the image was the Divine Mercy. He realized at that moment God loved him and he was wanted by God. Donald said, “All He wanted from me, was not a poetic prayer, but humility. To get on my knees and surrender my life to Him and I did.” He said, “I did so many bad things and hurt so many people, and yet, there is mercy for someone like me.”

When he became Catholic, he was baptized and all his personal sins and punishment due to his sins were washed away in the ocean of God’s mercy. He said there is in the world a whole ocean of mercy waiting for us. He wants everyone to know, “Jesus loves you and He came for you. No matter what shameless activity you have been involved in or how low you feel and how hopeless and pointless life may seem, God is madly in love with you. He’s longing for your friendship. He is panting for your heart. Give it to Him and trust in Him.” Donald Calloway would be ordained a priest for the Marians of the Immaculate Conception and today gives talks throughout many countries.

I would suspect Donald Calloway would have been the least likely person to succeed from his school, especially since he dropped out of and was a drug addict. But, God saw the misery of his soul, and through the gift of divine mercy, touched His soul through baptism and helped him to become a good Catholic and then an outstanding priest witness to God’s mercy. Now he absolves sins, offers the Holy Mass and gives Communion to the souls of those who come to receive Jesus into their hearts.

Recall the words of St. Paul in his letter to the Corinthians, “Consider your own calling, brothers and sisters. Not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many of noble birth. Rather, God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong, and God chose the lowly and despised of the world, those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who are something, so that no human being might boast before God.”

Fr. Don Calloway, Mother Angelica, Mary Magdalene, Matthew, James, John, Peter, Andrew and the other apostles, and all sinners, who try to be holy, we can say, “It is no longer I, who lives, but Christ who lives in me.”, thanks to God’s infinite and unfathomable mercy. We should never give up on anyone, because God certainly does not. Rather, He calls every person to holiness. They only need to fall in love with Jesus and follow the blue print to holiness, the beatitudes.
May, Our Lady, Mother of Mercy, She who is the refuge of sinners, and comforter of the afflicted, seek out the lost, to help miserable souls to come in contact with divine mercy of Jesus, who who loves us so much!

St. Angela Merici Jan. 27th

 

Today we celebrate the optional memorial of St. Angela of Merici, who was born in 1470 in Northern Italy. Even as a little child, she was honored as a little saint, because she loved purity and modesty, so much.

When she was 13 years old, Angela entered the third Order of St. Francis and soon afterwards, she took the vow of perpetual chastity, renounced all her possessions, and wanted to live only on alms. She practiced many austere penances, slept on the bare earth, and fasted almost continuously on bread and water. Sometimes Holy Communion was her only food over a period of several days.

One day while she was praying in a secluded place, she had a vision of a friend, who died not long ago. Her friend prophesied that Angela would be a foundress of a religious institute, which would be devoted to the education of the youth, which would do much good for the kingdom of God. The vision gave her a great incentive to lead a life of contemplation, but also to serve others.

She gathered a group of young women, who began to give children religious instruction to little children, to help the poor, and care for the sick. Often times great sinners, were among those she instructed. She encouraged them to be reconciled with God, and begin a new life.

Her virtuous conduct and knowledge of theology, caused many, to regard her as a saint. In 1516, to escape the honor given her, she went to another town, and to live absorbed in prayer. In 1524, she had an ardent desire to go to the Holy Land, just as St. Francis once did. She visited Jerusalem, Calvary, and the other Holy Places with great devotion and returned by way of Rome, in order to pray at the tombs of the apostles.

In 1535, her group of women became a religious congregation known as the Ursualines, named after St. Ursula. They began to spread rapidly, especially in America.

When she reached the age of 70, God revealed to her, the day and hour of her death. She received the last sacraments, and with great fervor was rapt in ecstasy. While pronouncing the Holy Name of Jesus, she died, the very hour, it had been foretold to her. She was laid out in the third order of St. Francis habit, holding a pilgrim’s staff, which she carried in the Holy Land. She was later beatified and canonized.

Angela’s life was a life in which at first seems insignificant, but rather its like the mustard seed planted that grows in to a large bush. It’s a reminder that our seemingly insignificant things that we do, bear much fruit in ways we sometimes cannot see.

May the Blessed Virgin Mary help us to live a life of virtue in imitation of Saint Angela Merici to draw all men to Jesus Christ, so as to bring about the Kingdom of God.

Saints Timothy & Titus - Jan. 26th

  

Today the Church celebrates the memorial of Sts. Timothy and Titus, who were friends of St. Paul. They went with St. Paul, as he went about to many cities speaking about Jesus and starting new churches. Both Timothy and Titus became bishops of the early Church.

St. Timothy’s father was not a Christian. His mother was Jewish. However, his mother, and grandmother of Timothy, eventually became Christians. Timothy studied scriptures from his early youth. He would accompany St. Paul, on his journeys.

Eventually put in prison and never wavering in his faith in Jesus, he was later set free. St. Paul consecrated Timothy, as bishop of Ephesus. As bishop, Timothy stayed in Ephesus to govern the church, oppose false teachers, and to ordain priests, deacons, and bishops. St. Paul wrote a letter to him, while Paul was a prisoner in Rome, and requested he come to see him, before he died.

Timothy practiced penance to such a degree, that he drank only water, rather than drinking wine, and so, Paul told him to drink a little wine. St. Paul wrote two letters to Timothy, which are now New Testament books. He was eventually stoned and clubbed to death, by a mob, because he opposed the pagan festival, in which the people would carry an idol in one hand, and a club in the other.

The other disciple, whom we celebrate, is St. Titus, who was likewise a friend, and disciple of St. Paul, as well. Paul ordained him Bishop of Crete, which is an island nation near Italy. The letter he wrote a letter to Titus, is now also a book in the New Testament.

Titus was a secretary of St. Paul, who sent him to the cities of Ephesus and Corinth in order to settle problems among the early Christians, and to solve problems of scandal. He was later sent to Corinth once again by St. Paul, to collect money for the poor Christians in Jerusalem. He lived to be an old man, and died a peaceful death in Crete.

Today, let us pray to Timothy and Titus, that God will inspire us, to imitate their faith and their holy example of discipleship, in imitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the first disciple of Christ.

 

Conversion of St. Paul - Jan. 25th

 

Today is the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul. As a great persecutor of Christians, he was responsible for the stoning of St. Stephen.

The conversion of any soul is a great act of God’s mercy. The Lord sees the misery of the person who is need of mercy. By misery, I mean their sins, their way of life, their heading in the opposite direction of heaven. But, out of love, God intervenes. He moves the heart of an individual to follow Jesus. The Lord initiates all conversions by His grace. This can be seen most clearly during Saul’s journey toward Damascus.

Out love for Saul, the Lord shocks him with a blinding light and a voice from heaven by helping him understand, that in every person he has been persecuting, is Jesus. On the road to Damascus, a great light suddenly shone around him. Blinded by the light, he fell to the ground, and a heard a voice saying, “Saul, Saul, Why do you persecute me?” Saul, eventually regained his eyesight, and became baptized. He changed his name to Paul, as a sign of his conversion to Christ. St. Paul went about the whole known world to spread the Good News. He became the apostle to the Gentiles.

The word “conversion” means to turn around and go in a different direction. Jesus helps Saul to turn around from persecuting others and to turn toward being a follower of Jesus, and a proclaimer of the Gospel.

Baptism is a gift of God’s mercy, because it washes away all sin, both original sin and personal sin and even washes away all purgatory time. Paul would eventually offer Mass, hear confessions, anoint the sick, and ordain men to the priesthood and ordain bishops.

Paul who was first a persecutor of Christians becomes an instrument of God’s mercy to bring many to salvation in Jesus Christ.

Don Calloway was a rebellious teen, whose parents were baptist, but never went to church. He got involved in drugs, alcohol and stealing and dropped out of school. While in Japan, he ran away from home and ended up homeless. After getting caught by the local authorities, he was saved by the US military and was taken to one of their bases. It was there he went to Mass for the first time. At the moment of the consecration, he suddenly had infused knowledge about the Catholic faith and wanted to get baptized and become Catholic. His mother had become Catholic, after she divorced her first husband and married a second man. Don Calloway knew was called to become a priest.

St. Paul would later offer Mass, hear Confessions, and anoint the sick. Since, he was an apostles, he was also a bishop and ordained both priests and bishops. Through God's mercy, he, once persecuted Christians, now became an instrument of mercy.

So too, Fr. Don Calloway became an instrument of mercy, offering Mass, hearing Confessions, doing baptisms, anointing the sick. He is now a Marian of the Immaculate Conception, which promotes Divine Mercy.

We are likewise called to conversion. At times, we too are blinded. We sometimes can persecute those around us, by way of our idiosyncrasies, by our sins, and by our faults. We can be blinded by our sinfulness, and how we are burdens to others.

We too are called to be an instrument of God’s mercy in the world. By overlooking the faults of others, forgiving injuries, doing charitable deeds for others, and especially praying for them. May we come to know our own faults and sins, and work to overcome them, so that we can turn away from sin and draw closer to Jesus.

Today, as prepare to receive Jesus in Holy Communion, let us beseech the Lord and His Holy Mother and ask them to help us, to know ourselves. When we receive Jesus in the Eucharist--- in the silence of our heart, we will hear the voice of the Lord, telling us how we need to change our life and hear how He wants to use us to bestow His mercy on those around us.

And we can respond as St. Paul, by having a true conversion of heart, in which we come to know the greatness of God’s love for us, and therefore respond by changing our lives to reflect our understanding, that the way we treat others, is the way, we treat Jesus.

Anniversary Roe vs Wade - Legal Protection of Unborn

 

Today, is a Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of the unborn. Yesterday, Jan. 22^nd was the 50^th anniversary of Roe vs Wade, which caused millions of Americans to perish in the wombs of their mothers. Thanks be to God, Roe vs Wade was overturned last year and at least 13 states ban abortion. Poor Kansas has our own liberal supreme court justices, a pro-abortion governor and shockingly the people of Kansas voted to reject limiting abortion. A truly sad situation for our state. Yet, we are not defeated, we will continue to pray, to fast and love. Abortion is truly diabolical. Its called a satanic sacrament.

In the Gospel, Jesus responds to the scribes who said He was possessed by Satan because Our Lord was driving out demons. How can they call such a loving action of Jesus, to free someone from an evil spirit, as though He had done something evil by doing it? A person who is lost in their morality cannot tell the difference between a good or evil action. They cannot distinguish between the two. Their mind is clouded by their sins.

Politicians and other people call evil good. They say its a loving thing for a mother to kill her baby. So that the mother can live a life of freedom.

There are some saints including St. Edmund Campion, who spoke about a day when God will illumine the conscience of every person, so they can clearly see their own sins. It is sort of like a mini judgment. It’s a way to help people come back to God and to live in accord with natural reason. Due to the alleged apparitions of Garabandal, some claim it will occur this year.

The feast of Presentation of Jesus in the temple gives us an insight. In the Gospel for that day, it states, Mary’s heart will be pierced so that the thoughts of many may be revealed. I think if God would do such a thing, by illuminating the conscience of all people in the world at one time.

It would be very painful to endure, to see ourselves as God sees us

it was be very painful to endure. However, it would be an opportunity for everyone to grow in holiness. To know clearly the difference between good and evil, clearly in one’s mind, would be a great grace. And see how our sins hurt God, others, and our self.

Today, let us ask the Virgin Mary, to pray for the people of our state and our country, that our consciences will moved to love every human being from the moment of conception until natural death and treat them, with the God given dignity, that each and every person has. And let us pray for all those who through difficult circumstances in their lives, that they find loving hearts to help them care for their unborn children and let us pray for those who made the terrible choice of allowing others to kill their own child. May Our Lady of Guadalupe, once and for all stop the massacre of the innocents.

Today, is a day of prayer and fasting for the unborn. May our penances rise to heaven, beseeching the Lord to bestow His mercy on us all.

3rd Sunday - Fishers of Men - Fr. Emil Kapaun

 

“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men”

This weekend’s Gospel, Jesus called Peter, his brother, Andrew, as well as James and John to become His followers. Their vocation call-- can inspire young men to hear the voice of Jesus calling them to become a priest.

One day, when Peter and Andrew were fishing, Jesus approached them and said, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They left their nets and their jobs and immediately followed Our Divine Lord.

And when He had walked a little farther, He saw James and John with their father, Zebedee. They too were fishermen by trade and were mending their nets, when Jesus called them. Surprisingly, they left their father and the hired men in the boat and began to follow Jesus too. Most likely their father, Zebedee wasn’t happy being left behind in the boat to take care of the fishing business with his hired hands.

All four of these men immediately left their jobs and their families and began to follow Jesus. But when Jesus calls, those who hear His voice-- can’t help but follow Him. They immediately perceived that to become a fisher of men-- was more important than to catch fish for a living. They recognized their call was to draw all men to Jesus. After their call they developed a three year personal relationship with Him, as they were with Him when He performed His public ministry, until He was crucified, died, rose from the dead and ascended into heaven. Then after that, they were commissioned to go and make more disciples of Jesus drawing more men, women and children to Our Lord.

Today, I would like to speak to you about a priest from our diocese, who said on the day of his ordination, “I am on the way to Calvary with Christ and there I shall draw all men to Him”.

Recall that Fr. Kapaun was born in Pilsen, Kansas and would later become a seminarian and a priest. After becoming a pastor, he received permission to become a chaplain for the US Army and would serve overseas during World War II and also in Korea. He was eventually captured by Chinese communists and would die as a Prisoner of War in Korea.

When Fr. Kapaun was in 8^th grade, as a class assignment, his class was told to begin a daily diary. His teacher, who was a religious sister, would ask the students to turn in their diaries and she would write comments in the diaries. The sister noticed Fr. Kapaun would frequently mention spiritual things, such as his joy of serving Mass two times in one day and also to serve benediction that same day as well. He would remark in his diary that he would go to confession sometimes twice a week.

And so, one day, she wrote these words in his diary. The sister said, “The Lord of the harvest is choosing His followers, many are called, but few are chosen, few answer His call. Is He calling you?”

Not much after that, a young girl asked him if thought about entering the seminary. In response, he replied, “When the sun rises from the west.” Even though at that particular time, he wasn’t interested in becoming a priest, a few years later, when he was a sophomore in High School, he came-- with the girl’s father-- to visit her-- while she was a young postulant at a religious order in a convent. He told her he was entering seminary in the fall. He asked her to pray for him-- because he said he wants to become a whole priest and not a half (priest).

Just before his ordination to the priesthood, he wrote a letter to a friend and his friend’s wife. He and his friend both had the same name. He wrote, “Emil & Vicky, I feel like the dickens. Maybe you do not realize fully what it means to be a priest, but I tell you—after I have studied all these years-- I am convinced that a man must be a living saint in order to dare to take that step. And that is where my worries come in. Gee whiz, I have a feeling that I am far, far from being a saint worthy to receive the priesthood. Think what it means! To Offer up the Living Body & Blood of Our Savior every day in Holy Mass—to absolve souls from sin in Holy Confession and snatch them from the gates of hell in which they would suffer for all eternity. These and a hundred or more duties and responsibilities make a person realize that the Vocation to the Priesthood is so sublime that the angels in heaven were not given a vocation to the Priesthood, no not even the Blessed Mother, who was never stained with sin—even She was not called to be a priest of God—and here I am called!!!”

After his ordination on the occasion of his first Mass he said, “I am on the way to Calvary with Christ and there I shall draw all men to Him”. Fr. Kapaun’s words would be prophetic, because of his virtuous life and because he died as a martyr, the process for his beatification and canonization has begun. Through his holy example-- while on earth-- and through his prayers from heaven, he is drawing many to Jesus Christ.

Many people ask Fr. Kapaun to pray for them, and there have been many reported miracles. The Vatican is currently investigating what some believe to be a miracle, with regard to a young man, by the name of Chase Kear. Chase is from Colwich, Kansas and while in High School, he received a severe head injury due to a pole-vaulting accident. Hundreds of people prayed to Fr. Kapaun, asking him to heal Chase. His doctors have said it is medically impossible that he would have recovered, especially since his skull was literally crushed. And yet, is completely fine today.

Is there a young boy-- here in the church, who believes Jesus may be calling him to become a priest? Young men and boys, listen to voice of Jesus, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” If you think Jesus may be calling you, talk to me or Fr. Aaron or any priest.

Finally, a short word to parents and to the people of the parish: If there is a boy you know that you think may have a vocation to the priesthood, by all means say something to him. Often times others can see the vocation within the boy, even though he may not see it himself. Pray for vocations, that those whom Jesus is calling will respond.

And may, Mary, the Mother of Priests, pray for them and keep them within Her Heart!

 

St. Agnes - Jan. 21st

 

Today we celebrate the memorial of St. Agnes. As a very young girl at the age of 12 or 13, she was killed because of her faith in Jesus. Because she was a Christian, and because the emperor hated Christians, a judge sentenced her to live in house of harlots. Agnes was a very pure young lady. A young man, attempted to have his way with her, but she told him she belonged to Jesus alone. And after she said this, the young man became suddenly blind. Agnes was then taken away, to be put to death, but was not afraid to die, because she knew Jesus awaited her arrival in heaven. When the executioner attempted to fasten a chain around her neck and hands, she willingly did it herself. The executioner was shocked at her willingness to die for Our Blessed Lord. She told the executioner, “Executioner, why do you delay?”

St. Agnes is the patron of young girls, and since her name means “lamb”, she is often pictured holding a little lamb. Her name is mentioned in Eucharistic Prayer I, the Roman Canon of the Mass.

St. Agnes was a weak young girl, but put to shame the emperor, who had tremendous power in the empire. She put to shame the young man, who became blind for looking disgracefully at her. And she put to shame the executioner, who was shocked because of her courage to die for Jesus.

Today, as we receive Our Blessed Lord in Holy Communion, all of us have the opportunity to grow in our faith, and to grow in purity like St. Agnes. Now, as we prepare to receive Jesus in the Eucharist, let us beseech the Blessed Virgin Mary, She who is the Virgin Most Pure, to obtain for us, the gift of faith and the gift of purity.

St. Sebastian - Jan. 20th

 

Today is we celebrate the memorial of St. Sebastian, who was a bodyguard of the emperor Diocletian. The Emperor became very hostile towards Christians and began a great persecution.

During the persecution, St. Sebastian assisted the suffering by consoling them in their afflictions and encouraging them to be faithful to Christ while they were imprisoned and tortured.

On one occasion, two brothers were arrested Mark and Marcellian. Their parents, who were not Christians, tried to persuade their sons to deny Jesus. As a result, St. Sebastian preached a long sermon encouraging them to endure being killed rather than to give up their faith in Jesus. The brothers were imprisoned in the home of a woman called Zoe, who was deaf and unable to speak, but miraculously heard the sermon of St. Sebastian, which caused her to want to become a Christian. Because she was cured, the parents of the two brothers decided to become Christian. The two brothers, their parents and St. Sebastian were taken before a judge and accused of being Christian, which was illegal.

Sebastian explained the truths of the Catholic faith to the judge which caused the judge to dismiss the charges and he too became Christian. However, a new trial was held and the new judge condemned all of them to death including the judge, who became Christian.

The emperor Diocletion requested that Sebastian come to see him. He asked Sebastian, if he was Christian and Sebastian courageously professed his faith in Jesus Christ. The emperor tried but was unable to make Sebastian give up his faith in Jesus and decided to kill him.

After tying him to a post, archers shot him with many arrows, such that they thought he had died. A woman by the name of Irene came to bury him, but was surprised to find that he was still alive. She untied him from the post, removed the arrows, cared for him in her home and treated his wounds. And with the help of God, he recovered.

Not long after he recovered his health, St. Sebastian went to see the emperor, who was shocked to see that he was still alive. Sebastian attempted to convince the emperor to stop the persecution of Christians, but the emperor became angry and ordered him to be clubbed to death. Sebastian died in the year 304AD. They threw his body in the main sewer of Rome. But at night, he appeared to a woman, named Lucia, and told her where his body was located and asked her to have his body buried in a tomb, in a cemetery where martyrs were buried.

About three hundred and eighty years after his death, when a disease was rapidly spreading through Rome, many people prayed asking St. Sebastian to stop the disease and it miraculously stopped. Centuries later, other cities had problems of the spread of disease and likewise prayed to him including the city of Milan in 1575 and the city of Lisbon, Portugal in 1599, which resulted in the miraculous ending of the diseases.

Today, let us pray to St. Sebastian to help us to stand up for our faith, never deny Jesus, and love our Catholic faith. St. Sebastian pray for us that we may courageously express our faith in Jesus!

Baptism of the Lord

 

Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Baptism of the Lord.

The need for baptism began all the way back from the very beginning when Adam and Eve at the forbidden fruit and committed the original sin. Due to their original sin, our first parents were driven out of paradise, lost sanctifying grace; heaven was closed; they would now suffer from disease, illnesses and die, where otherwise they would not have; they lost God’s friendship; their intellect was darkened and will was weakened and were prone to sin. Because Adam was the head of the whole human family, everyone would suffer from original sin, except for Jesus, the New Adam and Mary, the New Eve.

But God did not forsake mankind. He would give us a remedy for original sin and a way to restore friendship with Him and Jesus Himself would show us the way as He would be baptized in the Jordan River by John the Baptist.

Since, Jesus is sinless. Why did He want John the Baptist to baptize Him? There are at least four reasons. First, when Our Lord was baptized, it was the first public revelation of the Blessed Trinity. For thousands of years, the Jews believed that there is only one God, and they were right there is only one God. Yet, they could never have known there are three persons in one God, until Jesus came to reveal the Blessed Trinity. When Jesus was baptized, the event revealed He is His Son of the Father and that there is a third person, the Holy Spirit, who appeared in the form of a dove.

Another reason, Jesus was baptized, was to sanctify all water. The water poured on the head of Our Lord was made holy and therefore all water is made holy by His baptism.

The third reason why Jesus was baptized was to give approval of John’s baptism. Jesus wanted all to know that what John was doing was in accord with the will of the Father. He was baptized by John as an example for us, so that we too would choose to be baptized.

The fourth reason, Jesus allowed Himself to be baptized was out of humility, such that He allowed Himself to be numbered among sinners, though He was free from original sin and never committed any personal sin in His life.

John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance and not a washing away of original sin. However, the Baptism which Jesus instituted, when He told His apostles, to “Go therefore and baptize in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”,--was different then John’s Baptism. Though sinless, Our Lord took the sin of all mankind upon His shoulders, as He carried His Cross, to Calvary. He was crucified, resulting in the baptism of His bloody death. Out of love for us, He consented to His death, for the remission for our sins.

Through the waters of Baptism, we go down under the water, in order to die to sin, as Jesus died on the Cross. When we rise out of the water, sin is washed away and we rise to new life, which is a life of sanctifying grace and life of union with God.

We see in the Acts of the Apostles, the apostles did as Jesus told them to go out and baptize. Immediately after the Descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, Peter stood up and said, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the holy Spirit.” St. Luke then tells us about 3,000 were baptized that day.

The effects of baptism include: washing away of original sin; the complete forgiveness of all personal sins; for those who are old enough to have committed sin; the complete remission of all punishment due to sin; the restoration of our friendship with God; the gift of sanctifying grace in the soul; the Blessed Trinity comes to dwell within our heart; we share in God’s divine life; we become a child of God; a member of God’s family; a member of the Catholic Church; a member of the local church; we receive spiritual gifts such as faith, hope and charity; and the gift of being able to go to heaven when we die.

Baptism is the door to the other sacraments, so that we can receive Holy Communion, Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick, to be ordained a Priest and to go to Confession. It can also make Marriage (a sacrament) between two baptized persons.

Baptism puts a seal on our soul. It’s called an edible mark. This means once we are baptized, we are always baptized and so the sacrament cannot be repeated. And suppose, a baptized person would, God forbid, deny His Christian faith and become Muslim or Hindu or Jewish. Then he is still baptized. He can never remove his baptismal seal. He takes it with him to eternity.

Jesus made it clear baptism is necessary for salvation. He told His disciples, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved.” Although God has not made known to us any means other than Baptism for salvation, this does not mean God is restricted to saving by baptism.

Today, let us give thanks to God for the gift of our baptism. May we invite the non-baptized to be baptized because we desire that they will have the opportunity to go to heaven. And let us choose to live our life always rejecting Satan, and striving for virtue, so we may enjoy the glory of heaven, and our eternal union with the Blessed Trinity forever.

Epiphany - The Three Wise Men & Stewardship

 

Today, we celebrate the Epiphany, the day the three wise men discovered the Child Jesus with Mary and Joseph after following a star.

There is a tradition concerning the magi (wise men). They were pagans, non-Jews, yet they came to adore the newborn King and to offer Him gifts. Their names are Balthazar, Melchior, & Casper. Balthazar was from Ethiopia in Africa. He brought myrrh. A bitter perfume used in burial practices of Jews. It symbolizes the death of Jesus, and His body being anointed with myrrh for burial. Melchior was from Persia, which is modern day, Iran. He brought Frankincense, which comes from aromatic oil, used by Jews to offer sacrifice. It is a symbol of prayer and sacrifice. As the smoke of the incense rises, so our prayers rise to God. Casper was from Tarsus. He was European, whose gift was gold. Gold is for a king, and symbolizes the Divinity of the Child Jesus, the newborn King. It is believed all three, although from different countries, providentially met on their journey to Bethlehem. When they left their homes and families and set out to follow the star, they did not know how long their journey would be. Since they were not Jewish, they may not have realized they were fulfilling ancient Jewish prophecies, such as Isiah who said, “Caravans and camels shall fill you, dromedaries from Midian and Ephah all from Sheba shall come bearing gold and frankincense, and proclaiming the praises of the Lord.” The three wise men recognized their gifts, they laid their gifts at the feet of the Infant Jesus. Today, their bones are located in the Cathedral of Cologne, Germany.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17) As Christians its important to recognize the gifts God has given to us and to be thankful for those gifts. When we recognize every good gift comes from God, we will want to use our gifts for His glory and honor and for the good and love of our neighbor. Stewardship is “the grateful response of a Christian disciple, who recognizes and receives God’s gift and shares these gifts in love of God and neighbor”. For example: We can clean an elderly neighbor’s sidewalk after a snow storm or mow their grass in the summer. If a carpenter, we can build things to help others. If we have a good job, we can use our income to help the poor, the widows and single parents with children. If we can sing, we make others happy singing in the choir, or singing at the nursing home for the residents. To play the organ, decorate the church, to clean the linen, to bring up the gifts, to pray a Holy Hour every week, to mow the grass of the church, to water the flowers, to clean the church and the classrooms, to be a CYO leader, to teach PSR, to count the collection, to be a sacristan by setting up for Mass, to create the bulletin, to lector, to be part of an organization such as the altar society or the Knights of Columbus, where we meet together to do things for others. If we can have a contagious smile, we can make others happy by smiling at others. If we have the gift of gab, we can call lonely friends and relatives or visit them. If we enjoy sewing, we make blankets for pregnancy centers or altar cloths or a corpus Christi canopy, to be an altar server. If we have the gift of being called to pray for others, we can help many by our prayers. To volunteer to feed our neighbor’s cattle when they are sick or away. To do maintenance at the church or for others. To make food for funeral dinners and the serve the dinners. If we are a good cook, we make food for someone who doesn’t cook or can’t cook well. If we have the ingenuity to fix about anything, we can help others to repair things. If we have the gift of giving authentic compliments, we can be an encourager. Visiting the elderly at their home or in the a nursing care center. Tithing to the parish and donating to charitable organizations. All of these ways are stewardship. Where we give our time, talent and treasure. We first recognize the gifts God has given to us and share them with others for love of them and especially for the love of God. We can’t take our gifts with us to heaven, but our good deeds and our love, will go with us.

When we come to Mass, what gifts do we give to Him? Do you recall mentioning to you, every time we come to Mass we are give gifts to the Lord. Our works, our good deeds, our prayers, our sacrifices are to be offered with the bread and wine, which are then offered to God the Father, through Jesus, in union with the Holy Spirit. Every Mass, we should have the intention of giving not only our gifts, but our self to God. When the priest holds the paten with the host above the altar and says, “Blessed are you Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the bread we offer you: fruit of the earth and work of human hands, it will become for us the bread of life.” At this moment of the Mass, we are to offer our self to God and our gifts, sacrifices, works, good deeds. And then God gives Himself to us, in Holy Communion. We receive the true bread of Life, Jesus our Savior in the Holy Eucharist inside our heart. And that union with Jesus lasts at least 10 to 15 minutes according to some of the saints.

The wise men give us an example of searching for the Lord, finding Him, and giving back to Him, at least a portion to what He has given us. Do you want to be wise? Search for Jesus and when you find Him, prostrate yourself in adoration before the God, who loves us so much, He became one of us as a child, to one day, proclaim the Good News, to die on the Cross, to rise from the dead, to save us from our sins and be with Him in forever in heaven. Now that is an awesome God!

Today, and at every Mass, let us place on the altar our self, our gifts, our sacrifices, our talents, our time and our treasure and unite them with the bread and wine offered to the Father, through Jesus, in union with the Holy Spirit and then rejoice when the Lord gives Himself to us and may we prostrate our hearts before Him in humble adoration, knowing He is God and we are His people, the sheep of His flock. The wise men found Jesus in the arms of Mary. So if we want to be wise, we must remember that Mary is always with Jesus and to allow Her to help us to adore Her Son.

St. Charles of Sezze - Jan. 6th

 

Today is the feast of St. Charles of Sezze. He is an obscure Franciscan saint. But none the less his life was blessed by God in such a profound way, he is worthy of speaking about today.

He is the son of lowly country folks. He was born in Sezze Italy on Oct. 22^nd of 1613. At the urgent request of his grandmother, he was entrusted to her care and the boy acquired a great love of God and of prayer from the example and teaching of his devout grandmother.

When he went to school as a child, his studies did not meet with much success and so when school ended his parents put him to work in the fields with is brothers. From books he had not learned much but being out in nature, God gave him new light to understand heavenly things, such that his work was constantly mingled with prayer. He began to receive the sacraments more frequently and grew in zeal for Christian perfection.

Out of love and veneration for Mary, the Mother of God, he made a vow of chastity at the age of 17 and seems to have kept it unto death such that he is often pictured with lilies as a reminder of his purity.

When he was 20 years old, he fell dangerously ill. He decided to make a vow to God that if he would live, he would join the Franciscan order. At once his illness took turn for the better and two years later, he received the Franciscan habit. After his consecration to God through his vows, he advanced visibly in piety and virtues. He ardently desired to shed his blood for Christ and asked that he might be sent as a lay brother to the missions of India, but a new illness frustrated his desires caused him to not go.

He received remarkable enlightenment by God with regard to heavenly things and he would say Our Lord in His wisdom hides such things from the wise but reveals them to the simple, to which he belonged. Many would come asking him spiritual advice including several popes.

He read with delight the lives of the saints and related them to the others while at work. In the Franciscan church which he often visited, he used to study the pictures of the saints with a desire to imitate them.

He was a cook, gardener and door keeper for the brothers.

He worked heroically to help the stricken in the plague of 1656. He carried an image of St. Anne through the city, which resulted in an immediate end to the plague.

He often fervently adored Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament. One day as he passing by the doors of a church he noticed Holy Mass was being celebrated. He stopped and knelt at the door to watch the consecration and adore Jesus during the elevation of the Host during Mass. At that moment a ray of light like an arrow went out from the Sacred Host and impressed a wound in his left side. The wound would remain visible even after his death.

One time there was no wine, but through his prayers, water was changed into wine. He died Jan. 6^th, 1670, of natural causes. He was declared blessed in 1882 and canonized a saint in 1959. His body is in-corrupt.

St. Andre Bessette Jan. 6th

  

Today is the memorial of Saint Andre Bassette, who is especially known for his great devotion to St. Joseph. Andre was a religious brother of the congregation of the Holy Cross. He dreamed of building a great church in honor of St. Joseph, on Mount Royal in Montreal, Canada. The dream became a reality as St. Joseph’s oratory was eventually built there. He had the gift of healing and would take oil, which burnt in front of the statue of St. Joseph and anoint people with it. Many were healed by the oil, and through the prayers of Andre and St. Joseph. He attributed the answer to his prayers always to St. Joseph. He was a porter, who answered the door for the religious community, a messenger, and was assigned to scrubbing floors and washing windows. He was simple in his intellect and had a great sense of humor and deep humility.

Several families in Wichita recently came to understand the power of praying to St. Joseph. The father of one of the families, was required to work in another state for his employer, and so had to leave his family for several weeks on an irregular basis. He was greatly distressed, as he missed being with his family. After months of praying, he spoke to a priest and asked what he should do. The priest suggested the family pray to St. Joseph. In less than a week, he was offered a job in Arizona.

The second family had the same distress, requiring the father to be away from his family for several weeks as well. This especially affected the children. One of the children was recently diagnosed with a genitive disorder, and so the family had extra stress. The family prayed, asking God for help, but there was no answer to their prayers. The wife told a priest about the problem, with her husband’s job, and the priest recommended prayer to St. Joseph. In less than a week, the father was offered a job as well. And you guessed it, in the same state of Arizona. Surprisingly, the job was within 50 miles from the other family, whom they were friends, from the same parish.

In order for a blessed to become a saint, a miracle is required. The stunning recovery of a child who was involved in a traumatic street accident in 1999 was submitted to the diocesan tribunal in February 2005, the year when Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal celebrated its 100th anniversary. The report of this recuperation was submitted to the Vatican committees. Unanimously, the doctors, the theologians and then the Holy Father agreed that it was a scientifically unexplainable healing, and was attributed to Blessed Brother André because the child’s parents as well as friends of the family had addressed their prayers to him, hoping that the impossible might take place.

Andre Bessette was canonized in 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI. Sometimes, the Lord does not answer our prayers, because he desires to honor the saints. Today let us pray to St. Joseph. Ask him for something specific and perhaps, the adopted Son, of St. Joseph, will answer our prayers in order to honor His earthly father. St. Joseph, Pray for us, who have recourse to thee!

St. John Neumann Jan. 5th

 

There is the body of a bishop lying on a mattress with his head resting on a pillow underneath the altar of the church of St. Peter, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The body is enclosed in a glass case. He is wearing priestly vestments, a pectoral cross around his neck, and on his head is a hat, called a miter. He is also wearing white gloves with a ring on his finger. The bishop appears to be sleeping. Who is this person? Why is he in a glass case?

A boy destined to become a saint was born in 1811, in Bohemia. When he was about 10 to 14 yrs. old, he didn’t think much about becoming a priest, but when he was about 20 yrs old, he wanted to go to college and wandered, if he should be a doctor, a lawyer or to study theology. His mother, who was a devout Catholic, suggested he study theology. Theology is the study of God, and the Church. It would seem that his mother’s gentle suggestion resulted in the young man, becoming a saint in the United States.

He eventually went to seminary and graduated. He came to New York City, and was ordained. Years later, he joined a religious order called the Redemptorists, taking the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. He was ordained a bishop of Philadelphia. In the 1800’s, thousands of Catholics came to settle in Philadelphia from Europe. Back then, there were few churches or schools in Philadelphia. Within 2 yrs. he built 80 churches, and started the Catholic School system. Originally there were 500 children enrolled, within two years there were 9000. He developed “The Small Catechism” for children to be used in the schools.

He deeply loved the Virgin Mary and prayed to her beseeching Her intercession. His trip to Rome in 1854, for the proclamation of the dogma of Mary’s Immaculate Conception, which must had a tremendous impact on his life and his devotion to Mary.

He also had a strong devotion to the Eucharist, and prayed before the tabernacle often. He made popular “40 hours devotion”, whereby the Eucharist is adored for 40 continuous hours, by which people come to pray for an hour at a time. The 40 hours devotion is still popular today in Pennsylvania.

He had to do a lot of walking, and had to ride a horse to visit the sick, and prisoners, and to give confirmation to young people. However, all his traveling caused him to become ill.

One day, as he walked down the street, after picking up a chalice, at a train station, he collapsed, and died on the street. Because many people believed he was a saint, they decided to put his body in a wax dummy, which was placed below the altar in a glass case, in the church of St. Peter in Philadelphia.

He was a very holy man, who lived a life of humility, and self-sacrifice. He deeply loved God and neighbor. Today, many people travel to Philadelphia to pray at his tomb, and ask favors from him. Who is this man? Who is this American Saint? He is Saint John Neumann.

May all of us strive to become a saint, in imitation of St. John. Let us strive for holiness, and ask the Blessed Virgin to pray for us, that may we come to adore and love Jesus in the Eucharist, as he did. St. John Neumann, pray for us!

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Jan 4th

 

Today, we celebrate, the feast of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, who was a wife, widow, mother of five, and became the foundress of a religious order of sisters, called the Daughters of Charity.

Born in New York, Elizabeth’s mother died when she was only three yrs. old. As a child, she was inclined to contemplation of God, and her greatest joy was “reading prayers”. In 1794, she married William Seton. When William’s father died, the young couple took care of William’s seven half brothers & sisters. After William’s business failed, he became ill with consumption. And to prevent his death, they sailed to Italy, and stayed with the Felici family. After their arrival William died, leaving Elizabeth, a widow, with five children.

The Fellici family were devout Catholics. Elizabeth was Episcopalian. She was captivated by their kindness and generosity. They had a private chapel, which contained the Blessed Sacrament. She was drawn to the tabernacle, where she discovered her Lord waiting for her. Her great desire Jesus in the Eucharist was a strong force which lead her to become Catholic. To her sister-in-law, Rebecca, she wrote, “How happy would we be, if we believed what these dear souls believe: that they possess God in the Sacrament, and that He remains in their churches, and is carried to them when they are sick! The other day in a moment of excessive stress, I fell on my knees, without thinking, when the Blessed Sacrament passed by, and cried in agony to God to bless me, if He was there—that my whole soul desired only Him.”

Years later, after she made her first Holy Communion, she wrote, “At last… at last, God is mine, and I am His! Now let everyone around know—I have received Him!”

Having lost her mother at an early age, she took the Blessed Virgin Mary, as her mother. She asked Mary to guide Her to the true faith. Once she became Catholic, she had to endure the rejection of her family and friends, but now had the Blessed Virgin to console her.

After she became Catholic, the bishop asked Elizabeth to start a Catholic School in Baltimore, and found a religious order, called the Daughters of Charity. Later her and new religious sisters, and children, moved to Emmitsburg, Maryland. During her time in Emmitsburg, she would suffer the tragedy and heartache of losing two of her own children. One of which took vows as a religious sister in the religious order her mother had founded. Her two boys attended Mount St. Mary’s, boys’ school, which is now Mount St. Mary’s College and Seminary.

The sisters of her new order would travel several miles in the winter, and during the hot summer to attend Mass on the mountain, near the Boys School.

On the little mountain just above the seminary, she instructed children teaching them the Catholic faith.

Today, the grounds of the seminary and the Mount are made hallow, by the footsteps of a saint, & many seminarians--- who have sought her intercession as a mother, to help them to become holy and faithful priests.

May the motherly affection of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, inspire every Catholic school to educate children well in the faith. May her vocation as a wife, mother and founder of a religious community, help many young people to come and see if Jesus is calling them to married life, to motherhood or to religious life. And may St. Elizabeth Ann Seton help all of us to have a greater love for the Eucharist, and devotion to Mary.