Monday, August 26, 2013
Time indeed flies
Just dawned on me that in a week, #1 grandson, Calvin, will celebrate #1 birthday. Oh my!!! And here is my beautiful reminder I just received yesterday:
From the Deacon's Bench: a letter from a Priest to a new Deacon
Letter to a new deacon
August 25, 2013 By
One of the Redemptorist priests I met last week on retreat was Fr. John McKenna. He was excited to share with me the news that a friend of his from a previous parish was about to be ordained a deacon for the Diocese of Wilmington. (The deacon is Jim Mueller—one of nine men ordained Saturday.)
Over the weekend, Fr. John sent me a copy of a letter he wrote to Deacon Jim. Reading it over, I couldn’t help but think: “Every deacon should be blessed with a priest like this in his life.” With Fr. John’s permission, I share it here:
Dear Jim:
With God’s help I will be with you, your wife and family and a big contingent of the parishioners from Our Lady of Lourdes parish tomorrow for your ordination. Thank you for saying Yes to God’s gentle but persistent call and invitation. Thank you for your long hours of sacrifice to prepare not just for this day, but for your ministry. You have always been a blessing for the parish, and now you will be even more.
Once I was at a ceremony of final profession for two Redemptorists. The preacher began his homily, “ You have no idea what you’re in for!” From all of us, “veterans” there were roars of knowing laughter. I tell you the same. We who minister to God’s people get a special glimpse into peoples’ lives. We are with them in key moments of joy, sorrow, pain, and transitions. There will be blessings beyond belief as you are invited into the lives of people in deeper and different ways.
The entire article here: http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5003044309302849981#editor/target=post;postID=1921125220045125730
The 7th Commandment and Catholic Social Teaching
Read the Catechism in a Year
The Seventh Commandment: You shall not steal.
Why does the Catholic Church have her own social teaching?
Because all men, as children of God, possess a unique dignity, the Church with her social teaching is committed to defending and promoting this human dignity for all men in the social sphere. She is not trying to preempt the legitimate freedom of politics or of the economy. When human dignity is violated in politics or economic practices, however, the Church must intervene.
"The joy and hope, the grief and anguish of the men of our time, especially of those who are poor or afflicted in any way, are the joy and hope, the grief and anguish of the followers of Christ as well" (Second Vatican Council, GS). In her social teaching, the Church makes this statement specific. And she asks: How can we take responsibility for the well-being and the just treatment of all, even of non-Christians? What is a just organization of human society, of political, economic, and social institutions supposed to look like? In her commitment to justice, the Church is guided by a love that emulates Christ's love for mankind. (YOUCAT question 438)
Dig Deeper: CCC section (2419-2420) and other references here.
The feast of Our Lady of Czestochowa
Feast of Our Lady of Czestochowa
Today is the feast of Our Lady of Czestochowa (The Black Madonna) in Poland.
The Black Madonna was painted by St. Luke the Evangelist; and it was while painting the picture, Mary told him about the life of Jesus, which he later incorporated into his gospel. The next time we hear of the painting is in 326 A.D. when St. Helen found it in Jerusalem and gave it to her son and had a shrine built for it in Constantinople. During a battle, the picture was placed on the walls of the city, and the enemy army fled. Our Lady saved the city from destruction. The picture was owned by many other people until 1382 when invading Tartars attacked a Prince Ladislaus' fortress, where the painting was located. A Tartar's arrow lodged into through the throat of the Madonna. The Prince transferred the painting to a church in Czestochowa, Poland.
In 1430, the church was invaded and a looter struck the painting two times with his sword, but before he could strike it another time, he fell to the ground in agony and pain, and died. The sword cuts and the arrow wound are still visible on the painting. The miracles worked by Our Lady of Czestochowa seem to occur mainly on a public scale. During her stay in Constantinople, she is reported to have frightened the besieging Saracens away from the city. Similarly, in 1655 a small group of Polish defenders was able to drive off a much larger army of Swedish invaders from the sanctuary. The following year, the Holy Virgin was acclaimed Queen of Poland by King Casimir.
When the Russians were at Warsaw's gates in 1920, thousands of people walked from Warsaw to Czestochowa to ask the Madonna for help. The Poles defeated the Russians at a battle along the Wisla (or Vistula) River. Today, every school child knows the victory as "The Miracle on the Wisla." During World War II under German occupation, the faithful made pilgrimages as a show of defiance. That spirit deepened during the atheistic years of Soviet-enforced communism. Government attempts to stop the pilgrimages failed.
In the early 1980s, Walesa didn't drape himself in the Polish flag when he was leading the outlawed Solidarity movement; he placed an Our Lady of Czestochowa lapel pin on his jacket. Poles knew it to be a subversive message. Pope John Paul II, a native son of Poland, prayed before the Madonna during his historic visit in 1979, several months after his election to the Chair of Peter. The Pope made another visit to Our Lady of Czestochowa in 1983 and again in 1991.
Why is She Black?
There have been reports for centuries of miraculous events such as spontaneous healings occurring to those who made a pilgrimage to the portrait. It is known as the 'Black Madonna" because of the soot residue that discolors the painting. The soot is the result of centuries of votive lights and candles burning in front of the painting. With the decline of communism in Poland, pilgrimages to the Black Madonna have increased dramatically.
Prayers to Our Lady of Czestochowa
Today is the feast of Our Lady of Czestochowa (The Black Madonna) in Poland.
The Black Madonna was painted by St. Luke the Evangelist; and it was while painting the picture, Mary told him about the life of Jesus, which he later incorporated into his gospel. The next time we hear of the painting is in 326 A.D. when St. Helen found it in Jerusalem and gave it to her son and had a shrine built for it in Constantinople. During a battle, the picture was placed on the walls of the city, and the enemy army fled. Our Lady saved the city from destruction. The picture was owned by many other people until 1382 when invading Tartars attacked a Prince Ladislaus' fortress, where the painting was located. A Tartar's arrow lodged into through the throat of the Madonna. The Prince transferred the painting to a church in Czestochowa, Poland.
In 1430, the church was invaded and a looter struck the painting two times with his sword, but before he could strike it another time, he fell to the ground in agony and pain, and died. The sword cuts and the arrow wound are still visible on the painting. The miracles worked by Our Lady of Czestochowa seem to occur mainly on a public scale. During her stay in Constantinople, she is reported to have frightened the besieging Saracens away from the city. Similarly, in 1655 a small group of Polish defenders was able to drive off a much larger army of Swedish invaders from the sanctuary. The following year, the Holy Virgin was acclaimed Queen of Poland by King Casimir.
When the Russians were at Warsaw's gates in 1920, thousands of people walked from Warsaw to Czestochowa to ask the Madonna for help. The Poles defeated the Russians at a battle along the Wisla (or Vistula) River. Today, every school child knows the victory as "The Miracle on the Wisla." During World War II under German occupation, the faithful made pilgrimages as a show of defiance. That spirit deepened during the atheistic years of Soviet-enforced communism. Government attempts to stop the pilgrimages failed.
In the early 1980s, Walesa didn't drape himself in the Polish flag when he was leading the outlawed Solidarity movement; he placed an Our Lady of Czestochowa lapel pin on his jacket. Poles knew it to be a subversive message. Pope John Paul II, a native son of Poland, prayed before the Madonna during his historic visit in 1979, several months after his election to the Chair of Peter. The Pope made another visit to Our Lady of Czestochowa in 1983 and again in 1991.
Why is She Black?
There have been reports for centuries of miraculous events such as spontaneous healings occurring to those who made a pilgrimage to the portrait. It is known as the 'Black Madonna" because of the soot residue that discolors the painting. The soot is the result of centuries of votive lights and candles burning in front of the painting. With the decline of communism in Poland, pilgrimages to the Black Madonna have increased dramatically.
Prayers to Our Lady of Czestochowa
Sunday, August 25, 2013
A Saint of the French Revolution
St. Jeanne-Elisabeth Bichier de Ages
Feastday: August 26
1773 - 1838
Jeanne-Élisabeth Bichier des Ages
Jeanne-Élisabeth Bichier des Ages (July 5, 1773 – August 26, 1838) is a French saint, canonized by Pope Pius XII on July 6, 1947. She is commemorated August 26.
At the outbreak of the French Revolution, her father died. All the family goods were confiscated. She was imprisoned with her mother and had to struggle against lawyers in order to get back everything she could recover. She left the castle and retired in a country-house in the Poitou region. Since her childhood she was attracted by contemplation and she was consecrated to the Virgin Mary. Her wish was to consecrate her life to God in enclosure, but she did not tell her mother. During the Revolution she used to gather people and pray with them.[1]
Jeanne-Elisabeth Bichier des Ages was the founder of the Daughters of the Cross,[2] a religious order which is devoted to the care of the poor and the instruction of county children in the diocese of Poitiers, France.[3
1773 - 1838
Foundress of the Congregation of the Daughters of the Cross, a disciple of St. Andrew Fournet. Jane was of noble birth, but she committed herself to the service of others. Her congregation was designed for teaching and hospital service. She died at Le Pay, Poitiers, France, and was canonized in 1947.
from Wikipedia
At the outbreak of the French Revolution, her father died. All the family goods were confiscated. She was imprisoned with her mother and had to struggle against lawyers in order to get back everything she could recover. She left the castle and retired in a country-house in the Poitou region. Since her childhood she was attracted by contemplation and she was consecrated to the Virgin Mary. Her wish was to consecrate her life to God in enclosure, but she did not tell her mother. During the Revolution she used to gather people and pray with them.[1]
Jeanne-Elisabeth Bichier des Ages was the founder of the Daughters of the Cross,[2] a religious order which is devoted to the care of the poor and the instruction of county children in the diocese of Poitiers, France.[3
Reflecting on both the 50th anniversary of "I Have a Dream" and integrating New Orleans Catholic Schools via Nola.com
50 years after King's 'I Have a Dream' speech, New Orleanians reflect on integrating Catholic schools
'I Have a Dream' speech anniversary
On Aug. 28, 1963, the day a vast crowd gathered in Washington, D.C., to make an epic stand for equality and witness the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. deliver his historic "I Have a Dream" speech, Lawrence Haydel, Jr., was about to turn 15 in New Orleans.
He was too young to fully comprehend it then, but that year Haydel had played a distinct role in the civil rights movement that King and the March on Washington embodied. Haydel had just finished his freshman year as one of eight African-American students selected to integrate Jesuit High School.
For him, civil rights struggles were an all-day, every day routine, less profound than the historic endeavor King and many others understood it to be.
"All that stuff was on the radio, but I was so tired of that issue," said Haydel, now 64 and retired from running his own construction company. "I didn't pay much attention to it at all."
It was only after becoming an adult, Haydel said, when he reflected more on the march and King's speech and related it to his experience at Jesuit, that he started to see the broader meaning of his own personal experience.
As the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington approaches, Haydel and others who helped integrate local schools reflected recently on how their seemingly ordinary act -- attending school -- played a role in an extraordinary movement that helped change how people in our region saw and treated each other.
"I know that Jesuit has become a multicultural friendly place and accepting of all kinds of people, and I'm glad I was a part, hopefully a part, of making that happen," Haydel said.
"He paid the price, but he also opened a lot of doors," Haydel said of King. "And I walked through one of them. And I paid the price for that. And that made me a better person."
And more here: http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5003044309302849981#editor/target=post;postID=809624310764413303
He was too young to fully comprehend it then, but that year Haydel had played a distinct role in the civil rights movement that King and the March on Washington embodied. Haydel had just finished his freshman year as one of eight African-American students selected to integrate Jesuit High School.
For him, civil rights struggles were an all-day, every day routine, less profound than the historic endeavor King and many others understood it to be.
"All that stuff was on the radio, but I was so tired of that issue," said Haydel, now 64 and retired from running his own construction company. "I didn't pay much attention to it at all."
It was only after becoming an adult, Haydel said, when he reflected more on the march and King's speech and related it to his experience at Jesuit, that he started to see the broader meaning of his own personal experience.
As the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington approaches, Haydel and others who helped integrate local schools reflected recently on how their seemingly ordinary act -- attending school -- played a role in an extraordinary movement that helped change how people in our region saw and treated each other.
"I know that Jesuit has become a multicultural friendly place and accepting of all kinds of people, and I'm glad I was a part, hopefully a part, of making that happen," Haydel said.
"He paid the price, but he also opened a lot of doors," Haydel said of King. "And I walked through one of them. And I paid the price for that. And that made me a better person."
And more here: http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5003044309302849981#editor/target=post;postID=809624310764413303
Another special "weekend"
I really cherish my weekends because, in part, I grew up looking at weekends at that moment of refreshment and recreation from school and later from work. I always seemed to have busy weekends so I'm also very accustomed to wondering where in the world the weekend went when we reach Sunday evening.
Both of these statements are so true on this summer Sunday night. I longed for the weekend so I could put my secular job in the rearview mirror and embrace some time home with Wendy, but also so I could be actively involved in my passion, ministry related to being a Permanent Deacon for the Catholic Church in and of New Orleans. Friday night gave me that chance to relax with my bride a little bit as we enjoyed a nice dinner together, caught up on our week that was and watch a movie together. Saturday was all day ministry; out of the house before 7 AM and returning home past 4 PM. The event for this particular Saturday was Kairos team training as our team continues to prepare for a mid October retreat. As a member of clergy, I am the clergy lead for our team which includes a Methodist pastor and an Episcopal Deacon. Our training this weekend prepared all of us for the actual happenings of the retreat to be and to preview 8 of the special talks that will be offered at the retreat. We ended with a spiritual devotion that invited all of us to select our burdens and distractions and then give them over(lay them down) to Jesus at the foot of his cross. It was a very beautiful and spiritual devotion.
Working with the Kairos team is a challenging opportunity that blends the gifts and talents, and occasionally obstacles too, of volunteers and clergy from several different Christian denominations. We have volunteers from the Baptist, Episcopal, Catholic, Methodist, Evangelical, non-denominational Christianity and possibly a few more. It's a necessary but difficult challenge but it is a sacrifice that truly makes Kairos work. We show a great deal of love and respect for each other's beliefs without getting lost so much in that which is different and concentrating on bringing a loving caring message of Christ to the inmates who are, for purposes of this retreat, classified as un-churched. Our motto or theme is Listen, Listen, Love, Love and it works.
When I completed my Kairos responsibilities for Saturday, I returned home to find my wife having tackled many home chores while trying to juggle delivery men and repair men as we anticipated a new washer, faster internet service and new satellite TV features. Well, 1.5 out of 3 ain't bad! She was tired and frustrated so it just seemed to me that dinner and desert were in order. It was a nice change of pace! But bedtime would have to come early for me on a Saturday night because 7 AM Sunday Mass comes early.
Today I arose at 5:30 AM, got ready and drove to MHT to be the assisting Deacon at both 7 and 9 AM masses. This morning was also our registration morning for the 2013-14 session of CCD. It was good to see so many children and families around the Church today, some who have been away over the course of the summer. As soon as my last Mass was done, my wife and I drove to New Orleans for a day-long session of inquiry and instruction for the 42 men and their wives who are inquiring about our next class of Deacon candidates, a group that would not be ordained until 2018. At this stage today, these men are still inquiring and will not even make formal application until the spring of 2014. For a Deacon, and his wife, this is a great opportunity to not only be of help in the inquiry sessions, but to relive and remember being in that same situation when we approached Inquiry. For me and Wendy that would have been 2013, 10 years ago. It was a wonderful day to be with these men and wives as well as the candidates and Deacons who were there, like Wendy and I were, to be present and lend a word of encouragement or lead group discussions. A successful day done; we arrived home 6:30 PM.
So there is a degree of tiredness and the realization that work dawns anew tomorrow morning. Where did the weekend go? I will be ready for the challenge of Monday!
A quick side note; please don't misinterpret any thing as I've framed it above to indicate that I work all week(only) and am a Deacon for the Church on the weekend(only). In my day job, I am a manager, I can be involved in any number of things any day, all the time. Traditionally, I am at the office from 8-5, M-F, subject to change. Equally important, I am not a part-time Deacon or only a Deacon on weekends or Sundays. A Permanent Deacon is indeed ordained, indelibly marked; meaning a Deacon IS; as in he is a Deacon at home, at work, at play, 24-7, 365!!! A Deacon does, per a schedule but he IS all the time.
So this Permanent Deacon is one tired but spiritually fulfilled and recharged man. I'm going to wind down a little tonight spending time preparing for my next great adventure; our study of Revelation for the adult faith program at MHT. An I'm praying for a good night's sleep and a productive Monday after a wonderful special weekend!
Both of these statements are so true on this summer Sunday night. I longed for the weekend so I could put my secular job in the rearview mirror and embrace some time home with Wendy, but also so I could be actively involved in my passion, ministry related to being a Permanent Deacon for the Catholic Church in and of New Orleans. Friday night gave me that chance to relax with my bride a little bit as we enjoyed a nice dinner together, caught up on our week that was and watch a movie together. Saturday was all day ministry; out of the house before 7 AM and returning home past 4 PM. The event for this particular Saturday was Kairos team training as our team continues to prepare for a mid October retreat. As a member of clergy, I am the clergy lead for our team which includes a Methodist pastor and an Episcopal Deacon. Our training this weekend prepared all of us for the actual happenings of the retreat to be and to preview 8 of the special talks that will be offered at the retreat. We ended with a spiritual devotion that invited all of us to select our burdens and distractions and then give them over(lay them down) to Jesus at the foot of his cross. It was a very beautiful and spiritual devotion.
Working with the Kairos team is a challenging opportunity that blends the gifts and talents, and occasionally obstacles too, of volunteers and clergy from several different Christian denominations. We have volunteers from the Baptist, Episcopal, Catholic, Methodist, Evangelical, non-denominational Christianity and possibly a few more. It's a necessary but difficult challenge but it is a sacrifice that truly makes Kairos work. We show a great deal of love and respect for each other's beliefs without getting lost so much in that which is different and concentrating on bringing a loving caring message of Christ to the inmates who are, for purposes of this retreat, classified as un-churched. Our motto or theme is Listen, Listen, Love, Love and it works.
When I completed my Kairos responsibilities for Saturday, I returned home to find my wife having tackled many home chores while trying to juggle delivery men and repair men as we anticipated a new washer, faster internet service and new satellite TV features. Well, 1.5 out of 3 ain't bad! She was tired and frustrated so it just seemed to me that dinner and desert were in order. It was a nice change of pace! But bedtime would have to come early for me on a Saturday night because 7 AM Sunday Mass comes early.
Today I arose at 5:30 AM, got ready and drove to MHT to be the assisting Deacon at both 7 and 9 AM masses. This morning was also our registration morning for the 2013-14 session of CCD. It was good to see so many children and families around the Church today, some who have been away over the course of the summer. As soon as my last Mass was done, my wife and I drove to New Orleans for a day-long session of inquiry and instruction for the 42 men and their wives who are inquiring about our next class of Deacon candidates, a group that would not be ordained until 2018. At this stage today, these men are still inquiring and will not even make formal application until the spring of 2014. For a Deacon, and his wife, this is a great opportunity to not only be of help in the inquiry sessions, but to relive and remember being in that same situation when we approached Inquiry. For me and Wendy that would have been 2013, 10 years ago. It was a wonderful day to be with these men and wives as well as the candidates and Deacons who were there, like Wendy and I were, to be present and lend a word of encouragement or lead group discussions. A successful day done; we arrived home 6:30 PM.
So there is a degree of tiredness and the realization that work dawns anew tomorrow morning. Where did the weekend go? I will be ready for the challenge of Monday!
A quick side note; please don't misinterpret any thing as I've framed it above to indicate that I work all week(only) and am a Deacon for the Church on the weekend(only). In my day job, I am a manager, I can be involved in any number of things any day, all the time. Traditionally, I am at the office from 8-5, M-F, subject to change. Equally important, I am not a part-time Deacon or only a Deacon on weekends or Sundays. A Permanent Deacon is indeed ordained, indelibly marked; meaning a Deacon IS; as in he is a Deacon at home, at work, at play, 24-7, 365!!! A Deacon does, per a schedule but he IS all the time.
So this Permanent Deacon is one tired but spiritually fulfilled and recharged man. I'm going to wind down a little tonight spending time preparing for my next great adventure; our study of Revelation for the adult faith program at MHT. An I'm praying for a good night's sleep and a productive Monday after a wonderful special weekend!
How we treat animals addressed by the 7th Commandment
Read the Catechism in a Year
The Seventh Commandment: You shall not steal.
How should we treat animals?
Animals are our fellow creatures, which we should care for and in which we should delight, just as God delights in their existence.
Animals, too, are sentient creatures of God. It is a sin to torture them, to allow them to suffer, or to kill them uselessly. Nevertheless, man may not place love of animals above love of man. (YOUCAT question 437)
Dig Deeper: CCC section (2416-2418) and other references here.
Saturday, August 24, 2013
St. Louis writes a spiritual letter to his son; stresses obedience to the Catholic Church
Saint Louis' Letter to His Son
Office of Readings for St. Louis
From a spiritual treatise to his son by Saint Louis
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| Image source |
From a spiritual treatise to his son by Saint Louis
My dearest son, my first instruction is that you should love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your strength. Without this there is no salvation. Keep yourself, my son, from everything that you know displeases God, that is to say, from every mortal sin. You should permit yourself to be tormented by every kind of martyrdom before you would allow yourself to commit a mortal sin.
If the Lord has permitted you to have some trial, bear it willingly and with gratitude, considering that it has happened for your good and that perhaps you well deserved it. If the Lord bestows upon you any kind of prosperity, thank him humbly and see that you become no worse for it, either through vain pride or anything else, because you ought not to oppose God or offend him in the matter of his gifts.
Listen to the divine office with pleasure and devotion. As long as you are in church, be careful not to let your eyes wander and not to speak empty words, but pray to the Lord devoutly, either aloud or with the interior prayer of the heart.
Be kindhearted to the poor, the unfortunate and the afflicted. Give them as much help and consolation as you can. Thank God for all the benefits he has bestowed upon you, that you may be worthy to receive greater. Be just to your subjects, swaying neither to right nor left, but holding the line of justice. Always side with the poor rather that with the rich, until you are certain of the truth. See that all your subjects live in justice and peace, but especially those who have ecclesiastical rank and who belong to religious orders.
Be devout and obedient to our mother the Church of Rome and the Supreme Pontiff as your spiritual father. Work to remove all sin from your land, particularly blasphemies and heresies.
In conclusion, dearest son, I give you every blessing that a loving father can give a son. May the three Persons of the Holy Trinity and all the saints protect you from every evil. And may the Lord give you the grace to do his will so that he may be served and honored through you, that in the next life we may together come to see him, love him and praise him unceasingly. Amen.
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