I do not generally blog about single events but last night I witnessed an event that compels me to do so. As a new Deacon, I am always interested in efforts to keep our young Catholics involved in our faith. We know all to well that peer pressure, high school or college activities can tug at our youth and their practice of the faith. So when I hear of something that seems to be "working" I checked it out. I already have participated in many of the youth fests at St. Joseph's Abbey in Covington, LA and cherish the talks and Benediction service we hold most Monday nights at our own St. Jane's in Abita Springs.
Our neighbors to the south have a vibrant youth ministry and have begun something called Exalt Fest. Our Lady of the Lake Parish in Mandeville, LA held their latest Exalt Fest last night in conjunction with the Holy Spirit Novena. I went and was immediately touched by the hundreds of teens, pre-teens, young college age students, several moms and dads and maybe grandmas and granddads and others drawn to the praise and worship music that had the kids excited and lifting their hearts and minds in prayer. Oh yes, I enjoyed it although now older, I must admist, it was loud. But make no mistake; the young people, and all gathered, seemed to understand that this was an evening to be with God.
And make no mistake, it was a beautiful Catholic experience. The speakers drew everyone to Jesus, with emphasis too on the Holy Spirit and the Pentecost event. And when Jesus was presented in the Blessed Sacrament, carried by Fr. John in the monstrance, I witnessed hundreds of youth on their knees; not told to do it, they just knew to do it. Awesome! There was power, praise, awe, adoration, love, worship on display. We sang Tantum Ergo, and the kids knew it!!! And when Benediction was over, confession was made available. Again, many took advantage of the sacramental grace, many of them the youth.
I had to remind myself that this was a Saturday night, at the start of summer vacation, yet here were hundreds of young people spending their night with God. I also relaized that this was far from mere entertainement and good time rock and roll appealing only to emotion. Unfortunately, despite best efforts and sincere intentions, many other Christian attempts at praise and worship are just that, feel good experiences. Last night, Jesus was with us, body & blood, soul & divinity. And the Holy Spirit was called down upon us. When the three Priests present laid hands on us, these were consecrated hands. And when the music died down, many received forgiveness and healing through Reconciliation. It was a Catholic event and it reached deep down into the hearts, minds and souls of all; including our young people.
As Catholics, we must continue to explore the manner in which we feed our lambs, nourish their souls and keep them faithful to the teachings of Holy Mother Church. For our part, we should show our love for God and His Church in word and deed. And moms & dads, do not believe that letting them go to other youth groups or events that are not Catholic is necessarily good. Do they have the spirituality and maturity to discern what is good, holy and true. This is NOT meant as a slight to our Christian brothers and sisters. But if we are going to bring them up in the faith, let us do so. And as Church, if we do not feed them, demand that we do and get involved yourself. We are Church!
Last night I ran into good friends, old friends, teens I know from Church and shared a special evening with all of them. I even had a chance to pray with a young man discerning a call to the Priesthood. What an awesome moment that was.
Pray for our young people, for young Catholics. If you ever get a chance to "praise and worship" with them, do it!! It might just change your life and their young life too. Come Holy Spirit Come!!! May Jesus Christ be praised, now and forever!
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Friday, May 29, 2009
Pentecost Homily
In looking back at my homilies in formation, I came across this one from 2008 as I was navigating homiletics. I share it here as we prepare for Pentecost:
I’ve been around long enough to remember the TV show Perry Mason starring Raymond Burr in the lead role. Now Perry Mason was a great defense lawyer who, through the miracle of TV, never lost a case. His clients were always found innocent. And more remarkable, he always figured out who the real guilty party was!!! You could say he was a great advocate for his clients.
Now I hope all of us have never had the need for a defense attorney. But, if you did, I trust they too were a great advocate for you. All of us have had advocates in our lives; from our parents, teachers, mentors, school counselors, perhaps even social workers or other various professionals. In fact, society today encourages us to rely on many different advocates to improve our quality of life.
As people of faith, do we rely on “the” Advocate? Do we trust in the Comforter and Helper promised us by Jesus? Of course I am referring to the Holy Spirit!!!
On this Pentecost Sunday, the end of our Easter season and the birthday of the Church, we hear the account from Acts when the Holy Spirit comes to the Apostles and other followers of Jesus. And what a grand entrance He makes!!! We hear such vivid descriptive passages as “suddenly a noise like a strong driving wind” and “tongues as of fire”. Truly Jesus is delivering on His promises. He promised the sending of “another Advocate” and told his followers “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you”.
And what happens with this power? What happens when these followers receive the Holy Spirit? They become bold and courageously proclaim the Good News. Now filled with the power of the Advocate and the gifts of the Holy Spirit they too become premier defense attorneys. And like our example of Perry Mason, this Advocate, the Holy Spirit, emboldens the apostles and disciples to not only declare Jesus innocent of any sin but identify the guilty as well. Jesus took on the sins of the guilty and died for us. But he was not guilty of sin. The author of sin, the devil, is the guilty party. And the Holy Spirit gives us the courage to not only accept this truth, but to boldly proclaim this truth. We can look to St. Paul, in today’s letter to the church in Corinth, who proclaims that even declaring “Jesus is Lord” can only be done with the cooperation of the Holy Spirit.
I mentioned earlier that Jesus promised “another Advocate”. We hear Jesus declare in the Gospel of John that “it is better for you that I go, for if I do not go, the Advocate will not come. But if I go, I will send him to you.” Is Jesus saying to us that the other Advocate, the Holy Spirit is more necessary than himself, the Son of God and the original Advocate? Not really. When Jesus was on the earth, whoever “sees Him sees the Father”. But now Jesus has ascended to the Father and sits at his right hand so he left us the Holy Spirit. Whoever listens to the Advocate, listens to Jesus. What Jesus is to the Father, the Holy Spirit is to Jesus. The Holy Spirit does not take on flesh; his presence is not visible. He is not confined by time and space. What does this mean to you and me today?
It means the Holy Spirit of the early church, the Holy Spirit we learn of from the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit of that first Pentecost, is the same Holy Spirit working in our lives right now, today. The same Holy Spirit we know from times past is the same Holy Spirit called down at this and every Mass as the bread and wine become the Body & Blood of Jesus, this same Holy Spirit is alive and working in each of us today. So we confidently proclaim Come Holy Spirit!!!
So we are challenged in this week ahead to be more mindful of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Just this week, I would like to propose a little homework. Take time every evening this week and read a chapter or two from the Acts of the Apostles. This truly can be called the Gospel of the Holy Spirit. And review the 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit. They can most easily be found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 1831. Finally, add the prayer to the Holy Spirit to your daily prayer routine. And when you pray: “Come Holy Spirit fill the hearts of your faithful”, say instead come Holy Spirit fill MY heart; use your name. And when you pray: kindle in us the fire of your love, say instead kindle in me, the fire of your love, again use your name. Get comfortable with the realization that you and I can have an intimate personal relationship with the Holy Spirit just as we are comfortable with our intimate personal relationship with Jesus!!!
As we prepare to enter with the Holy Spirit into the liturgy of the Eucharist let us again recall the unique role as Advocate, comforter and helper the Holy Spirit plays in our lives. Yes, Perry Mason was a great advocate on TV, but the Holy Spirit is our true Advocate today, tomorrow and forever. Come Holy Spirit and kindle in me the fire of your love.
I’ve been around long enough to remember the TV show Perry Mason starring Raymond Burr in the lead role. Now Perry Mason was a great defense lawyer who, through the miracle of TV, never lost a case. His clients were always found innocent. And more remarkable, he always figured out who the real guilty party was!!! You could say he was a great advocate for his clients.
Now I hope all of us have never had the need for a defense attorney. But, if you did, I trust they too were a great advocate for you. All of us have had advocates in our lives; from our parents, teachers, mentors, school counselors, perhaps even social workers or other various professionals. In fact, society today encourages us to rely on many different advocates to improve our quality of life.
As people of faith, do we rely on “the” Advocate? Do we trust in the Comforter and Helper promised us by Jesus? Of course I am referring to the Holy Spirit!!!
On this Pentecost Sunday, the end of our Easter season and the birthday of the Church, we hear the account from Acts when the Holy Spirit comes to the Apostles and other followers of Jesus. And what a grand entrance He makes!!! We hear such vivid descriptive passages as “suddenly a noise like a strong driving wind” and “tongues as of fire”. Truly Jesus is delivering on His promises. He promised the sending of “another Advocate” and told his followers “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you”.
And what happens with this power? What happens when these followers receive the Holy Spirit? They become bold and courageously proclaim the Good News. Now filled with the power of the Advocate and the gifts of the Holy Spirit they too become premier defense attorneys. And like our example of Perry Mason, this Advocate, the Holy Spirit, emboldens the apostles and disciples to not only declare Jesus innocent of any sin but identify the guilty as well. Jesus took on the sins of the guilty and died for us. But he was not guilty of sin. The author of sin, the devil, is the guilty party. And the Holy Spirit gives us the courage to not only accept this truth, but to boldly proclaim this truth. We can look to St. Paul, in today’s letter to the church in Corinth, who proclaims that even declaring “Jesus is Lord” can only be done with the cooperation of the Holy Spirit.
I mentioned earlier that Jesus promised “another Advocate”. We hear Jesus declare in the Gospel of John that “it is better for you that I go, for if I do not go, the Advocate will not come. But if I go, I will send him to you.” Is Jesus saying to us that the other Advocate, the Holy Spirit is more necessary than himself, the Son of God and the original Advocate? Not really. When Jesus was on the earth, whoever “sees Him sees the Father”. But now Jesus has ascended to the Father and sits at his right hand so he left us the Holy Spirit. Whoever listens to the Advocate, listens to Jesus. What Jesus is to the Father, the Holy Spirit is to Jesus. The Holy Spirit does not take on flesh; his presence is not visible. He is not confined by time and space. What does this mean to you and me today?
It means the Holy Spirit of the early church, the Holy Spirit we learn of from the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit of that first Pentecost, is the same Holy Spirit working in our lives right now, today. The same Holy Spirit we know from times past is the same Holy Spirit called down at this and every Mass as the bread and wine become the Body & Blood of Jesus, this same Holy Spirit is alive and working in each of us today. So we confidently proclaim Come Holy Spirit!!!
So we are challenged in this week ahead to be more mindful of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Just this week, I would like to propose a little homework. Take time every evening this week and read a chapter or two from the Acts of the Apostles. This truly can be called the Gospel of the Holy Spirit. And review the 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit. They can most easily be found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 1831. Finally, add the prayer to the Holy Spirit to your daily prayer routine. And when you pray: “Come Holy Spirit fill the hearts of your faithful”, say instead come Holy Spirit fill MY heart; use your name. And when you pray: kindle in us the fire of your love, say instead kindle in me, the fire of your love, again use your name. Get comfortable with the realization that you and I can have an intimate personal relationship with the Holy Spirit just as we are comfortable with our intimate personal relationship with Jesus!!!
As we prepare to enter with the Holy Spirit into the liturgy of the Eucharist let us again recall the unique role as Advocate, comforter and helper the Holy Spirit plays in our lives. Yes, Perry Mason was a great advocate on TV, but the Holy Spirit is our true Advocate today, tomorrow and forever. Come Holy Spirit and kindle in me the fire of your love.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Come Holy Spirit
Past the halfway point of the Novena to the Holy Spirit, a quick refresher on the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Gifts: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, holy fear of the Lord.
Fruits: charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity.
Prayer to the Holy Spirit: Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your spirit, and they shall be created. And you shall renew the face of the earth. Amen.
Gifts: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, holy fear of the Lord.
Fruits: charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity.
Prayer to the Holy Spirit: Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your spirit, and they shall be created. And you shall renew the face of the earth. Amen.
Monday, May 25, 2009
She did it again!
Susan Boyle did it again; this is her last performance on Britain's Got Talent; she now is in the final. Her story is very inspiring and restores the human spirit. See my previous post a few weeks back.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2XEmMg2HEc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2XEmMg2HEc
Sunday, May 24, 2009
What a Week!
A Week in the Life of a Catholic Permanent Deacon
When I began my email updates and then this blog one of my goals was to help family, friends, fellow Catholics and all people of goodwill to learn more about the office of the Permanent Deacon. So I thought perhaps a walk through a very busy active week would help to explore the activities of a Deacon.
From the outset, please know that being a Deacon is not just about “what” we do but more about “who” we are.
Everyday always begins with prayer. As a Permanent Deacon I pledged to pray morning and evening prayer from what we call the Divine Office or Liturgy of the Hours. This is also referred to as the breviary. This prayer consists of antiphons, hymns, several psalms, a reading from Scripture, prayer intentions and the Our Father. At Morning Prayer the featured Gospel canticle is that from Zechariah from Luke 1:68-79 and the Evening Prayer Gospel canticle is the Magnificat, the words spoke by Mary at the Annunciation; Luke 1: 46-55.
We are encouraged to pray other hours of the day and I’ll try to do Night Prayer as well. Again, this is done every day without fail.
Until recently, I assist at daily Mass. Some shifts in my work day (yes I have a full time job) have greatly cut down on my ability to attend daily Mass. This past week, I was able to attend just once. During this past week, I had several administrative tasks to perform related to my prison ministry and I visited with the men at Rayburn on Wednesday night. I prepare a communion service and a homily and allow ample time to visit with the men one on one to assist with their spiritual needs. Every visit is a blessing; this past week no exception.
This capped off a very busy day. Taking advantage of a day off from work, I attended two meetings related to ministry. One meeting afforded me the opportunity to visit with other Deacons and our Priests from the West St. Tammany Deanery. We listened to several guest speakers who gave advice on parish ministries and finances among other topics. That afternoon, all the Deacons from my home parish met to work out schedules, assignments and other important tasks. I was given an opportunity to assist with another baptism and to work with a young couple on having their marriage blessed or sacramentalized. These opportunities to work directly with people and bring them closer to Jesus through His Church are always welcomed by the Deacon.
I had another meeting to attend at a neighboring parish that afforded me the opportunity to visit with two acolytes; men who are on path to be ordained Deacons next year. I also mentor three men who have just begun formation so I spent some time this week preparing for a mentoring session this coming week and a more personal visit I plan to arrange in June.
One of the absolute highlights of the week was preparing for my homily for the Feast of the Ascension, delivered today. I love the work that is necessary to prepare a homily. First, all preparation is grounded in prayer, including praying with the Scriptures. Next, I do my own exegesis; studying the meanings of the writings in context, and finally I draft an outline which hopefully, results in the final product. I also prepared my shorter homily for the Baptism I presided at this afternoon.
As in any given week, there was ample opportunity to have one on one time with several folks who, like all of us, are exploring their faith life and their relationship with God. I pretty much will drop anything to listen and share with others of the amazing love God has for each of us. Many weeks I am called to a home of a parishioner or the hospital or maybe a funeral. This past week brought no such events. But I did many other important things as a Deacon all week long. I went to work, assisted clients, cut my grass, feed my horses, went to lunch with dear friends, spent some time with my daughter, Elizabeth, even helped her find a summer job, told my wife Wendy I love her, watched my favorite TV show, called friends, had good friends over for a visit, went to coffee with folks from church. You see, being a Deacon is being you. I even spent some personal time with God for myself. I visited Him in Church before the tabernacle, I prayed to Him and I asked Him for courage and strength in understanding all that He wants me to do. Even after nearly 6 years of formation and 6 months after ordination, I still am being formed and I still am discerning His will for me.
By the way, since this is Sunday, the first day of a new week, I had a very beautiful experience. After preaching at the 11 a.m. mass, I baptized a beautiful baby, my second opportunity to preside. Little Addison was the first little girl that I was privliged to Baptize. I wish I could adequately explain the feeling when administering this powerful Sacrament.
So I hope this helps in giving some appreciation for a week in the life of a Deacon. All Permanent Deacons face similar weeks. Again let me stress that it is not as important to focus on what we do but that we have been called to sacramentalize service by our ordination and our office. Pray for vocations to this wonderful ministry and pray even more intensely for vocations to the Priesthood.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. Hebrews 13:8.
Deacon Mike.
When I began my email updates and then this blog one of my goals was to help family, friends, fellow Catholics and all people of goodwill to learn more about the office of the Permanent Deacon. So I thought perhaps a walk through a very busy active week would help to explore the activities of a Deacon.
From the outset, please know that being a Deacon is not just about “what” we do but more about “who” we are.
Everyday always begins with prayer. As a Permanent Deacon I pledged to pray morning and evening prayer from what we call the Divine Office or Liturgy of the Hours. This is also referred to as the breviary. This prayer consists of antiphons, hymns, several psalms, a reading from Scripture, prayer intentions and the Our Father. At Morning Prayer the featured Gospel canticle is that from Zechariah from Luke 1:68-79 and the Evening Prayer Gospel canticle is the Magnificat, the words spoke by Mary at the Annunciation; Luke 1: 46-55.
We are encouraged to pray other hours of the day and I’ll try to do Night Prayer as well. Again, this is done every day without fail.
Until recently, I assist at daily Mass. Some shifts in my work day (yes I have a full time job) have greatly cut down on my ability to attend daily Mass. This past week, I was able to attend just once. During this past week, I had several administrative tasks to perform related to my prison ministry and I visited with the men at Rayburn on Wednesday night. I prepare a communion service and a homily and allow ample time to visit with the men one on one to assist with their spiritual needs. Every visit is a blessing; this past week no exception.
This capped off a very busy day. Taking advantage of a day off from work, I attended two meetings related to ministry. One meeting afforded me the opportunity to visit with other Deacons and our Priests from the West St. Tammany Deanery. We listened to several guest speakers who gave advice on parish ministries and finances among other topics. That afternoon, all the Deacons from my home parish met to work out schedules, assignments and other important tasks. I was given an opportunity to assist with another baptism and to work with a young couple on having their marriage blessed or sacramentalized. These opportunities to work directly with people and bring them closer to Jesus through His Church are always welcomed by the Deacon.
I had another meeting to attend at a neighboring parish that afforded me the opportunity to visit with two acolytes; men who are on path to be ordained Deacons next year. I also mentor three men who have just begun formation so I spent some time this week preparing for a mentoring session this coming week and a more personal visit I plan to arrange in June.
One of the absolute highlights of the week was preparing for my homily for the Feast of the Ascension, delivered today. I love the work that is necessary to prepare a homily. First, all preparation is grounded in prayer, including praying with the Scriptures. Next, I do my own exegesis; studying the meanings of the writings in context, and finally I draft an outline which hopefully, results in the final product. I also prepared my shorter homily for the Baptism I presided at this afternoon.
As in any given week, there was ample opportunity to have one on one time with several folks who, like all of us, are exploring their faith life and their relationship with God. I pretty much will drop anything to listen and share with others of the amazing love God has for each of us. Many weeks I am called to a home of a parishioner or the hospital or maybe a funeral. This past week brought no such events. But I did many other important things as a Deacon all week long. I went to work, assisted clients, cut my grass, feed my horses, went to lunch with dear friends, spent some time with my daughter, Elizabeth, even helped her find a summer job, told my wife Wendy I love her, watched my favorite TV show, called friends, had good friends over for a visit, went to coffee with folks from church. You see, being a Deacon is being you. I even spent some personal time with God for myself. I visited Him in Church before the tabernacle, I prayed to Him and I asked Him for courage and strength in understanding all that He wants me to do. Even after nearly 6 years of formation and 6 months after ordination, I still am being formed and I still am discerning His will for me.
By the way, since this is Sunday, the first day of a new week, I had a very beautiful experience. After preaching at the 11 a.m. mass, I baptized a beautiful baby, my second opportunity to preside. Little Addison was the first little girl that I was privliged to Baptize. I wish I could adequately explain the feeling when administering this powerful Sacrament.
So I hope this helps in giving some appreciation for a week in the life of a Deacon. All Permanent Deacons face similar weeks. Again let me stress that it is not as important to focus on what we do but that we have been called to sacramentalize service by our ordination and our office. Pray for vocations to this wonderful ministry and pray even more intensely for vocations to the Priesthood.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. Hebrews 13:8.
Deacon Mike.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
In the Breaking of the Bread by Kitty Cleveland
A beautiful Eucharistic song by an amazingly gifted local talent from neighboring Mandeville, LA. Kitty Cleveland's music is special; God inspired. It will help your faith!!!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKiM4BshSds
Homily for Feast of the Ascension
Homily for Ascension Sunday May 23 & 24, 2009
Based on Acts 1:1-11 & Mark 16: 15-20
I’ve been looking for love in all the wrong places!!
This became a very popular song from the movie Urban Cowboy. Allow me to come clean and admit it; back in the day I loved the whole Urban Cowboy deal. Remember mechanical bull riding, line dancing, world famous Gilley’s and the worm in the tequila bottle. What’s that all about?
How often do we look for love in all the wrong places or happiness in things to good to be true? We look for wealth in casinos and lotteries, we look for health in the “too good to be true diets”, we are still searching for the fountain of youth, we look to take the edge off with an adult beverage, we look to accumulate friends without developing friendship, we look for our heroes in TV reality shows and on and on it goes. We stare into space, we daydream.
As people of faith, are we truly looking for the love of Christ, in all the wrong places? Will someone say to us why are you standing there, staring at the sky?
It is evident from today’s first reading from Acts of the Apostles and the Gospel of St. Mark that Jesus ascended; went up. It says specifically “lifted up” and “taken up” in these two readings. Both St. Mark and St. Luke, the author of Acts, would be very familiar with the Jewish teaching that creation has three levels: heaven above, the earth and the underworld below. They considered God as living above the heavens. All things pointed up.
God does not live in some remote location in the physical universe. We know that rockets and satellites and Hubble telescopes do not crash into God’s home.
The handpicked preacher of Pope John Paul II, Fr. Cantalamessa, puts it this way: “God is in heaven, and on earth and everywhere. He created the heavens so He cannot be contained by heaven. Heaven is a state of being more than a place. Heaven truly exists. You and I cannot describe it, anymore than a person blind from birth could describe red or green or blue.”
So what should we understand about the Ascension? First, it is the logical completion of the Resurrection. Heaven now contains the risen body of Jesus Christ. Second, Jesus Christ now sits at God’s right hand. We acknowledge this very fact at Mass when we say in the penitential rite “you plead for us at the right hand of the Father.” Third, we know that Jesus also tells us that He must ascend to the Father so the Holy Spirit can come and dwell with us in a special way. The Holy Spirit will give birth to the powerful witness that began the Church on Pentecost, the feast we celebrate next week.
But if I may quote yet another favorite song from my much younger days: “what goes up must come down.” Because Jesus has ascended do we conclude He is not present? No! Look at our Gospel acclamation today from St, Matthew: “I am with you always until the end of the world.” How? Most excellently in the Eucharist! Jesus Christ is truly present in the Eucharist, body, blood, soul and divinity. Yet we proclaim that Jesus, body, blood, soul and divinity is in Heaven. What does this mean for us? It means every consecration, every time you receive Him in Holy Communion; we partake in heaven itself, sacramentally. Earth receives heaven as heaven touches earth. The resurrected and ascended Jesus comes down to allow us to receive Him.
This alone is more than enough to encourage us to not stare at the sky or look for Jesus in all the wrong places. Yet, there is another command in today’s Gospel. We are called to proclaim the Gospel to every creature. The Gospel is proclaimed at Mass by a Deacon or a Priest. The Gospel must be proclaimed every day; every where by every one who believes in the resurrected and ascended Jesus. This can be done one-on-one, in small groups, large groups, in prayer and by our actions as a follower of Christ. As St. Francis said: “preach the Gospel always and when necessary, use words!”
So even though we honor the Ascension of Jesus, we rejoice in knowing we still see him in the sacred signs of the sacraments, the moments spent in Eucharistic Adoration and receiving Him in Holy Communion. We rejoice in the complete and liberating peace of every confession. And we rejoice in our encounters with Him in all our brothers and sisters that we assist, that we pray for, that lift us up in prayer and support as well.
Are you still intent at staring at the sky? Still planning on looking for love in all the wrong places? Look then to Jesus, who is love in all the right places!
Based on Acts 1:1-11 & Mark 16: 15-20
I’ve been looking for love in all the wrong places!!
This became a very popular song from the movie Urban Cowboy. Allow me to come clean and admit it; back in the day I loved the whole Urban Cowboy deal. Remember mechanical bull riding, line dancing, world famous Gilley’s and the worm in the tequila bottle. What’s that all about?
How often do we look for love in all the wrong places or happiness in things to good to be true? We look for wealth in casinos and lotteries, we look for health in the “too good to be true diets”, we are still searching for the fountain of youth, we look to take the edge off with an adult beverage, we look to accumulate friends without developing friendship, we look for our heroes in TV reality shows and on and on it goes. We stare into space, we daydream.
As people of faith, are we truly looking for the love of Christ, in all the wrong places? Will someone say to us why are you standing there, staring at the sky?
It is evident from today’s first reading from Acts of the Apostles and the Gospel of St. Mark that Jesus ascended; went up. It says specifically “lifted up” and “taken up” in these two readings. Both St. Mark and St. Luke, the author of Acts, would be very familiar with the Jewish teaching that creation has three levels: heaven above, the earth and the underworld below. They considered God as living above the heavens. All things pointed up.
God does not live in some remote location in the physical universe. We know that rockets and satellites and Hubble telescopes do not crash into God’s home.
The handpicked preacher of Pope John Paul II, Fr. Cantalamessa, puts it this way: “God is in heaven, and on earth and everywhere. He created the heavens so He cannot be contained by heaven. Heaven is a state of being more than a place. Heaven truly exists. You and I cannot describe it, anymore than a person blind from birth could describe red or green or blue.”
So what should we understand about the Ascension? First, it is the logical completion of the Resurrection. Heaven now contains the risen body of Jesus Christ. Second, Jesus Christ now sits at God’s right hand. We acknowledge this very fact at Mass when we say in the penitential rite “you plead for us at the right hand of the Father.” Third, we know that Jesus also tells us that He must ascend to the Father so the Holy Spirit can come and dwell with us in a special way. The Holy Spirit will give birth to the powerful witness that began the Church on Pentecost, the feast we celebrate next week.
But if I may quote yet another favorite song from my much younger days: “what goes up must come down.” Because Jesus has ascended do we conclude He is not present? No! Look at our Gospel acclamation today from St, Matthew: “I am with you always until the end of the world.” How? Most excellently in the Eucharist! Jesus Christ is truly present in the Eucharist, body, blood, soul and divinity. Yet we proclaim that Jesus, body, blood, soul and divinity is in Heaven. What does this mean for us? It means every consecration, every time you receive Him in Holy Communion; we partake in heaven itself, sacramentally. Earth receives heaven as heaven touches earth. The resurrected and ascended Jesus comes down to allow us to receive Him.
This alone is more than enough to encourage us to not stare at the sky or look for Jesus in all the wrong places. Yet, there is another command in today’s Gospel. We are called to proclaim the Gospel to every creature. The Gospel is proclaimed at Mass by a Deacon or a Priest. The Gospel must be proclaimed every day; every where by every one who believes in the resurrected and ascended Jesus. This can be done one-on-one, in small groups, large groups, in prayer and by our actions as a follower of Christ. As St. Francis said: “preach the Gospel always and when necessary, use words!”
So even though we honor the Ascension of Jesus, we rejoice in knowing we still see him in the sacred signs of the sacraments, the moments spent in Eucharistic Adoration and receiving Him in Holy Communion. We rejoice in the complete and liberating peace of every confession. And we rejoice in our encounters with Him in all our brothers and sisters that we assist, that we pray for, that lift us up in prayer and support as well.
Are you still intent at staring at the sky? Still planning on looking for love in all the wrong places? Look then to Jesus, who is love in all the right places!
Friday, May 22, 2009
Blessed Seelos moving toward canonization?
Please refer back to my homily in March about Angela Boudreaux and her approved miracled that led to Seelos' beatification. Mary Ellen's story below may lead to full sainthood for this holy dedicated priest:
By George P. Matysek Jr. gmatysek@catholicreview.org Go home and prepare to die.That’s what Mary Ellen Heibel’s doctors at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington told her May 11, 2004, after they discovered that the cancer that had attacked Heibel’s esophagus in 2003 and then a lymph node later that year had spread throughout her body.Given about six months, the longtime parishioner of St. Mary in Annapolis underwent a new form of chemotherapy at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore as a palliative treatment to extend her life. But doctors warned it would only postpone the inevitable.At the suggestion of a Pittsburgh priest, Heibel began praying a novena in 2005 to Blessed Francis X. Seelos – a 19th-century Redemptorist pastor of her parish who died of yellow fever in 1867 in New Orleans. One week after she began the novena at her parish, Heibel’s cancer disappeared. Gone were tumors in both lungs, her liver, back and sternum. When Dr. Michael Gibson, her doctor at Hopkins, called with the news, Heibel couldn’t believe it.“I was just so excited. I called everyone,” the 71-year-old mother of four remembered. “I never thought in a million years this would happen.”Told by her doctors that the unexplained healing could not be the result of her chemotherapy, Heibel is convinced that Blessed Seelos interceded on her behalf. “I know this had to be a miracle,” she said.Archdiocesan officials are now investigating whether Heibel might just be right. Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien opened an archdiocesan inquiry into the alleged healing with a May 19 Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore. The archbishop also appointed a group to investigate the case and listen to testimony from Heibel, Dr. Gibson and other witnesses.The commission’s findings will be sent to Father Antonio Marrazzo, Redemptorist postulator general in Rome, who will then take them to the Vatican’s Congregation of the Causes of Saints. If the healing is deemed miraculous, Blessed Seelos could be canonized by Pope Benedict XVI.“It calls to mind the blood, sweat and tears that have gone into the building of the church of Baltimore,” Archbishop O’Brien said before the May 19 Mass. “Blessed Seelos is typical of many priests and members of the faithful throughout the archdiocese who have taken their faith seriously and lived it faithfully and shared it with others in an inspiring way.” Cardinal William H. Keeler was also at the Mass.Father Gilbert Seitz, the archbishop’s episcopal delegate in the inquiry, said members of the investigative group include Dr. Larry Fitzpatrick of Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, who will serve as a medical expert; Capuchin Franciscan Father William Graham, promoter of justice; and Deacon Neil Crisp and Leslie Engle, notaries.Redemptorist Father John Kingsbury, pastor of St. Mary, said the possible healing is a “major breakthrough” in the canonization effort. Two miracles that occur after death are needed to become a saint in the Catholic Church. The first for Blessed Seelos was recognized when Pope John Paul II beatified the German Redemptorist in 2000. The second miracle needed for canonization could be the Heibel case.“We’re very happy that the archbishop has opened the investigation,” Father Kingsbury said. “I’m glad Mary Ellen was healed no matter what – and, if it’s Seelos and it helps his cause, it would be wonderful.”Born in 1819 in Bavaria, Blessed Seelos came to the United States in 1843 to minister to German-speaking immigrants. Ordained at the now-closed St. James parish in Baltimore in 1844, Blessed Seelos ministered in Pittsburgh before being assigned pastor of St. Alphonsus in Baltimore in 1854. While at St. Alphonsus, Blessed Seelos also ministered at St. James and St. Michael in Baltimore. He laid the cornerstone for St. Joseph in Fullerton.Blessed Seelos became pastor of St. Mary in Annapolis and novice master for Redemptorist seminarians in 1857, and two months later he became pastor of Ss. Peter and Paul in Cumberland and director of the Redemptorist seminary at the parish.During the Civil War, Blessed Seelos relocated his seminarians to Annapolis in 1862 and again became pastor of St. Mary. He visited President Abraham Lincoln in an effort to exempt seminarians from the draft. Because only priests could be exempt, Blessed Seelos arranged for Archbishop Francis Patrick Kenrick to ordain all 20 seminarians.Blessed Seelos worked in Detroit in 1865 and then was reassigned to New Orleans a year later, where he ministered for 13 months before dying at age 48 after ministering to victims of the yellow fever outbreak.Sitting on a bench next to a seated bronze statue of Blessed Seelos at St. Mary a few days before the archdiocese opened the investigation into her alleged healing, Heibel said she attends Mass, prays the rosary and prays to Blessed Seelos every day. She wears a relic, a chip of Blessed Seelos’ bone, around her neck. Many parishioners have been praying for her throughout her ordeal with cancer. “I think people were shocked when I was dying practically and came back to life so fast,” said Heibel, who retired last year as a self-employed antiques appraiser.Heibel said her strong faith is what’s sustained her through numerous health challenges in her life – including a kidney transplant, poor hearing and a bout with septic shock.“Every time I got sick, my faith increased,” she said. Heibel noted that other parishioners and other believers around the country have reported miracles through the intercession of Blessed Seelos. “I don’t know why they picked me out of the whole bunch to use,” she said with a laugh. “So many people have been helped by Blessed Seelos.”Click here to hear Heibel in her own words.May 20, 2009 Email to a Friend
By George P. Matysek Jr. gmatysek@catholicreview.org Go home and prepare to die.That’s what Mary Ellen Heibel’s doctors at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington told her May 11, 2004, after they discovered that the cancer that had attacked Heibel’s esophagus in 2003 and then a lymph node later that year had spread throughout her body.Given about six months, the longtime parishioner of St. Mary in Annapolis underwent a new form of chemotherapy at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore as a palliative treatment to extend her life. But doctors warned it would only postpone the inevitable.At the suggestion of a Pittsburgh priest, Heibel began praying a novena in 2005 to Blessed Francis X. Seelos – a 19th-century Redemptorist pastor of her parish who died of yellow fever in 1867 in New Orleans. One week after she began the novena at her parish, Heibel’s cancer disappeared. Gone were tumors in both lungs, her liver, back and sternum. When Dr. Michael Gibson, her doctor at Hopkins, called with the news, Heibel couldn’t believe it.“I was just so excited. I called everyone,” the 71-year-old mother of four remembered. “I never thought in a million years this would happen.”Told by her doctors that the unexplained healing could not be the result of her chemotherapy, Heibel is convinced that Blessed Seelos interceded on her behalf. “I know this had to be a miracle,” she said.Archdiocesan officials are now investigating whether Heibel might just be right. Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien opened an archdiocesan inquiry into the alleged healing with a May 19 Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore. The archbishop also appointed a group to investigate the case and listen to testimony from Heibel, Dr. Gibson and other witnesses.The commission’s findings will be sent to Father Antonio Marrazzo, Redemptorist postulator general in Rome, who will then take them to the Vatican’s Congregation of the Causes of Saints. If the healing is deemed miraculous, Blessed Seelos could be canonized by Pope Benedict XVI.“It calls to mind the blood, sweat and tears that have gone into the building of the church of Baltimore,” Archbishop O’Brien said before the May 19 Mass. “Blessed Seelos is typical of many priests and members of the faithful throughout the archdiocese who have taken their faith seriously and lived it faithfully and shared it with others in an inspiring way.” Cardinal William H. Keeler was also at the Mass.Father Gilbert Seitz, the archbishop’s episcopal delegate in the inquiry, said members of the investigative group include Dr. Larry Fitzpatrick of Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, who will serve as a medical expert; Capuchin Franciscan Father William Graham, promoter of justice; and Deacon Neil Crisp and Leslie Engle, notaries.Redemptorist Father John Kingsbury, pastor of St. Mary, said the possible healing is a “major breakthrough” in the canonization effort. Two miracles that occur after death are needed to become a saint in the Catholic Church. The first for Blessed Seelos was recognized when Pope John Paul II beatified the German Redemptorist in 2000. The second miracle needed for canonization could be the Heibel case.“We’re very happy that the archbishop has opened the investigation,” Father Kingsbury said. “I’m glad Mary Ellen was healed no matter what – and, if it’s Seelos and it helps his cause, it would be wonderful.”Born in 1819 in Bavaria, Blessed Seelos came to the United States in 1843 to minister to German-speaking immigrants. Ordained at the now-closed St. James parish in Baltimore in 1844, Blessed Seelos ministered in Pittsburgh before being assigned pastor of St. Alphonsus in Baltimore in 1854. While at St. Alphonsus, Blessed Seelos also ministered at St. James and St. Michael in Baltimore. He laid the cornerstone for St. Joseph in Fullerton.Blessed Seelos became pastor of St. Mary in Annapolis and novice master for Redemptorist seminarians in 1857, and two months later he became pastor of Ss. Peter and Paul in Cumberland and director of the Redemptorist seminary at the parish.During the Civil War, Blessed Seelos relocated his seminarians to Annapolis in 1862 and again became pastor of St. Mary. He visited President Abraham Lincoln in an effort to exempt seminarians from the draft. Because only priests could be exempt, Blessed Seelos arranged for Archbishop Francis Patrick Kenrick to ordain all 20 seminarians.Blessed Seelos worked in Detroit in 1865 and then was reassigned to New Orleans a year later, where he ministered for 13 months before dying at age 48 after ministering to victims of the yellow fever outbreak.Sitting on a bench next to a seated bronze statue of Blessed Seelos at St. Mary a few days before the archdiocese opened the investigation into her alleged healing, Heibel said she attends Mass, prays the rosary and prays to Blessed Seelos every day. She wears a relic, a chip of Blessed Seelos’ bone, around her neck. Many parishioners have been praying for her throughout her ordeal with cancer. “I think people were shocked when I was dying practically and came back to life so fast,” said Heibel, who retired last year as a self-employed antiques appraiser.Heibel said her strong faith is what’s sustained her through numerous health challenges in her life – including a kidney transplant, poor hearing and a bout with septic shock.“Every time I got sick, my faith increased,” she said. Heibel noted that other parishioners and other believers around the country have reported miracles through the intercession of Blessed Seelos. “I don’t know why they picked me out of the whole bunch to use,” she said with a laugh. “So many people have been helped by Blessed Seelos.”Click here to hear Heibel in her own words.May 20, 2009 Email to a Friend
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