Quote for the Day

Posted on February 22, 2010 by Deacon Bob

“Clearly, what God wants above all is our will which we received as a free gift from God in creation and possess as though our own.”  — St. Joseph of Cupertino, OFM Conv.

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The Case for Humility

Posted on February 20, 2010 by Deacon Bob

Great reading from St. Irenaeus in the Office today. He makes the case for humility. An excerpt, my English translation:

“He commands us to follow him, not because he has need of our service, but to give us salvation. To follow the Lord, in fact, is to participate in salvation, just as to follow the light means to be surrounded and infused with brightness/clarity….

“And so it is with our service to God; it adds nothing to God, and on the other hand, God does not have need of the service of men; to those though that serve him and follow  him, he gives life, incorruptibility and eternal glory. He apportions his benefits to those who serve him because they serve him….

“The glory of man consists in persevering in his service. While God has need for nothing, man has need of communion with God.” — St. Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Lib IV, 13

Attention Deacons! Just in case we start having an ego problem. We are merely the messengers. God gives salvation to his people. We help others follow.

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New saints are on the way

Posted on February 19, 2010 by Deacon Bob

The Holy Father announced today, in a very formal gathering of cardinals at the Vatican, that six individuals will be canonized on October 17, 2010. Among them is Blessed Andre’ Bessette from Canada.

Those of us from Holy Cross Parish in Dakota will remember well our former pastor, Fr. Frisch, often mentioning Blessed Andre.

Alfred Bessette was born in Saint-Gregoire d’Iberville, Quebec, a town about 30 miles from Montreal. His father was a carpenter and his mother educated the children. When Alfred was nine years old, his father was killed in a lumbering accident and his mother died a few years later of tuberculosis. He was sent to live with his sister and husband. Alfred was poor in health and had difficulty doing manual labor. He exhibited early in life an intense spirituality,praying before a crucifix and speaking of the faith with his friends. He imposed penances on himself, drawing the concern of his family members because of his poor health. He left Canada when he was 20 years old, working in the United States, and returned to Canada in 1867.

Alfred joined the Congregation of Holy Cross in Montreal in 1872 and took the name Brother Andre. He was given the task of porter at Notre Dame College in Cote-des-Neiges, Quebec. He was porter for forty years. He had a special devotion to St. Joseph. Many people claimed to have been cured of diseases through the prayers of Brother Andre. His reputation grew and he was known as the miracle worker of Mount-Royal.

Andre Bessette died in 1937, at the age of 91. A million people filed by his coffin and his remains lie in the oratory to St. Joseph that he had arranged to be built. His body is in a tomb below the main chapel, and his heart is preserved in a reliquary in the oratory.

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Holy Father’s Words on Lent

Posted on February 18, 2010 by Deacon Bob

Pope Benedict offered a homily yesterday at the Basilica of St. Sabina on the Aventine hill in Rome. He concluded with these words:

“Dear brothers and sisters, Lent enlarges our horizons, orients us to eternal life. On this earth we are on a pilgrimmage, ‘we do not have here a lasting city, but we go forth in search of the one in in the future’ says the Letter to the Hebrews (Heb. 13:14). Lent makes know to us the passing nature of earthly goods and enables us to renounce what we must and free us to do what is good. We open the earth to the light of Heaven, to the presence of God in our midst. Amen.” (Original in Italian; my English translation.)

If you read Italian, you can read the original at:

http://www.vatican.va/news_sevices/index_news.htm

Follow the links to the news bulletin (Sala Stampa) for Ash Wednesday.

I like that closing thought, i.e., that in renouncing what we must and freely doing good, we open the world to the light of the Divine Presence in our midst.

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What is Fasting all about, anyway?

Posted on February 17, 2010 by Deacon Bob

It took me a long while to figure this out in my life, even though it is so simple.

Fasting, which we are obligated to do on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, and encouraged to do each Friday of the year, is not about pain or discomfort.  We are not trying to inflict distress on ourselves so as to win God’s favor in some way or another.

No.  Fasting is an opportunity for us to exercise our wills.  To master what controls us.

Again, in case this slipped by you, fasting is an act of the will that strengthens the will to pursue what is true, good and beautiful.  We fast from food to strengthen us against the devil.

In St. Peter’s epistle, he describes the devil as a roaring lion that seeks someone to devour.  The devil wants to control our will, to weaken it.  He knows that a strong and well-oriented will deprives him of any food, any place to stay. He despises the flesh because Jesus took on our flesh and redeemed it.  So the devil wants to corrupt our flesh again, to take up residence in our bodies and devour them. He wants to unleash undisciplined passion.

Fasting gives us the chance to exercise and develop our will. That is what we choose when we fast, not pain or distress. The devil flees when the will is properly used, when it is well-practiced.

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Quote for the Day

Posted on February 17, 2010 by Deacon Bob

“For many are those who love beauty. But beauty is not in externals; true beauty consists in the splendour of wisdom.” — St. Bonaventure, OFM

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Wisdom of God in Creation

Posted on February 16, 2010 by Deacon Bob

It is interesting that we end the current stretch of Ordinary time in the Office of Readings with St. Anthanasius writing about the Wisdom of God. His explanation of Wisdom, as revealed in the Book of Proverbs (Proverbs 8: 1-5, 12-36) is a wonderful treatise on how God has revealed himself in the created order. The medieval theologians were quick to point out that we can come to know that God exists just from thinking and reasoning about the natural world. We may not know much about God from natural philosophy, but we can only come to conclude he exists if we honestly think about all that is around us. Revelation, especially in the person of Jesus Christ, brings us a fullness of understanding.

Here is an excerpt from St. Anthanasius’ Discourses Against the Arians (Disc. 2, 78. 81-82; PG 26, 311.319) my translation to English:

“The Wisdom of God manifested himself and the Father through his own image, impressed on all created things. Because of this fact, one can say Wisdom was created. Consequently, that same Wisdom, who is the Word, became flesh, as St. John affirmed. He destroyed death and freed all humankind; he clearly manifested himself, and by means of himself he manifested the Father, from whence comes his words:  I wish ‘that they come to know you, the one true God, and he whom he has sent, Jesus Christ.’ (John 17:3)”

God is not created. God did not create his divine Son or the Holy Spirit.  The Trinity exists from all eternity. “To be” is in the very nature of God. Yet, as St. Anthanasius says, God has left his image in his creation.  We recognize his Wisdom in all he created. In that sense, the divine image is created; his Wisdom came to be. His divine Son, Jesus Christ did take on human flesh, become a man, took our human nature. In his divine person, Jesus the Wisdom of God is uncreated and eternal; in his human nature, he took on all our characteristics, except sin.

In short, God’s presence, his Wisdom which is imprinted on all he has created, should remind us of just how beautiful our world really is; how marvelous is all of creation; how much we need to care for and be good stewards of the natural world.

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Thoughts While Practicing the Exultet

Posted on February 15, 2010 by Deacon Bob

Being the new deacon of the parish, and having a passable voice, I am singing the Exultet this Easter Vigil. In the old days, i.e., back in seminary days, I was a member of a Combo singing second tenor, member of a Cantor Schola and later, a member of the North American College Choir. As I said, “the old days” when I wasn’t so old.

So here I sit with a great recording of the Easter Exultet on i Tunes, a script from which to read, and singing aloud as best I can. You see, I am alone tonight, so no one can hear. I realize how out of shape my vocal chords are as after a single run through they are aching. 

I think the idea will be to sing it once a day throughout Lent. Maybe not Good Friday. Wouldn’t seem appropriate that day. With a few weeks’ work, my cords will be in good working order.

Actually, I am looking forward to singing the Lord’s praises in the candlelight. A cappella. I hope to fill the church with the sound, “Rejoice, heavenly powers! Sing, choirs of angels! Exult all creation around God’s throne! Jesus Christ, our King, is risen!”

In that ancient song of praise, we enter into the heavenly chorus — we pilgrims of the earth.  What joy there is in our Church!

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The Maternity of the Church – World Day of the Sick

Posted on February 11, 2010 by Deacon Bob

From the homily today of the Holy Father on the World Day of the Sick, my translation of his Italian original:

“The maternity of the Church is reflected in the caring love of God, of which the prophet Isaiah speaks: ‘As a mother consoles a son, so I will console you; in Jerusalem you will be consoled’ (Isaiah 66: 13). A maternity that speaks without words, that arises within hearts a consolation, a intimate joy, a joy that paradoxically lives with a sorrow, with suffering. The Church, as Mother, carries deeply within her the dramma of humantity and the consolation of God, holds both together throughout  the journey of history. Through the centuries the Church demonstrates the signs of God’s love that continues to work great things in the lives of humble and simple people. Suffering accepted and offered, a sincere and accepted sharing, are they not miracles of love? …. Through all of this we live with a joy that does not forget suffering, but rather embraces it. In this way, the sick and all the suffering in the Church are not just the focus of attention and care, but first and foremost the central persons in the journey of faith and hope, witnesses of the greatness of love, of the paschal joy that flowers from the Church and from the Resurrection of Christ.” — Benedict XVI

http://212.77.1.245/news_services/bulletin/news/25121.php?index=25121&lang=en

Let us think about the Pope’s comment about the sick. They are not only the focus of our care and concern, but also the key players, the real witnesses to the divine truth, to divine love. It is in them that God most readily shows Himself, and his plan for salvation.

Let us reverence them, then, in our efforts to lift them from their suffering in today’s world.

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The Diaconal Voice of Christ

Posted on February 10, 2010 by Deacon Bob

I ran across a beautiful paragraph  in reading a talk given by Archbishop Roberto O. Gonzalez Nieves, OFM, Archbishop of San Juan de Puerto Rico backon February 19, 2000 on the identity, functions and prospects for the permanent diaconate.  Here it is:

“When he is ordained, a deacon is commanded by his Bishop, the successor of the apostles to preach the Gospel. This brings about a change deep in his being. The deacon’s physical breath is now inspired by the Holy Spirit so that what he will preach and teach will not sound like a mere human voice. From that moment on, the deacon’s preaching and teaching must be the voice of Christ, true God and true man.”

I think that is a  wonderful paragraph to use as a source of meditation….”the deacon’s physical breath is now inspired by the Holy Spirit…. the voice of Christ….”.

To read the entire address, log on to:

www.vatican.va/roman_curia

then click on “congregations” followed by a click on “clergy”, then on “Jubilee 2000 deacons”.

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The Church’s Message of Hope

Posted on February 9, 2010 by Deacon Bob

The Holy Father spoke to the Scottish bishops during their ad limina visit a few days ago. He accented how the Church’s teachings, especially in the area of family and human life, must be presented in a positive manner that inspires hope and ennobles the human person, rather than being presented in such a way that it is perceived as a series of prohibitions.

The Holy Father has frequently spoken of hope and human dignity.

Here is an excerpt from his English text:

“…. grapple firmly with the challenges presented by the increasing tide of secularism in your country. Support for euthanasia strikes at the very heart of the Christian understanding of the dignity of human life. Recent developments in medical ethics and some of the practices advocated in the field of embryology give cause for great concern. If the Church’s teaching is compromised, even slightly, in one such area, then it becomes hard to defend the fullness of Catholic doctrine in an integral manner. Pastors of the Church, therefore, must continually call the faithful to complete fidelity to the Church’s Magisterium, while at the same time upholding and defending the Church’s right to live freely in society according to her beliefs.

“The Church offers the world a positive and inspiring vision of human life, the beauty of marriage and the joy of parenthood. It is rooted in God’s infinite, transforming and ennobling love for all of us, which opens our eyes to recognize and love his image in our neighbour (cf. Deus Caritas Est, 10-11 et passim). Be sure to present this teaching in such a way that it is recognized for the message of hope that it is. All too often the Church’s doctrine is perceived as a series of prohibitions and retrograde positions, whereas the reality, as we know, is that it is creative and life-giving, and it is directed toward the fullest possible realization of the great potential for good and for happiness that God has implanted within every one of us.” — Benedict XVI, 5 Feb. 2010

That last sentence is jam packed with substance and meaning.  It goes to the root of our theology of the human person and our relationship with God and one another.

Those of us ordained to preach the Word must do so in a way that underscores the goodness of each human person, all the while putting forth the unblemished Truth of our faith and inspiring our people of follow closely that Truth.

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Benedict XVI on the Rights of Children

Posted on February 8, 2010 by Deacon Bob

I’d like to bring your attention to an address the Holy Father gave today to the plenary meeting of the Pontifical Committee on the Family. His whole address can be found at the Vatican website (see link to the lower right), but it is only in Italian at this time. Here is an excerpt in English, my translation:

“Your Plenary Assemby has for its theme: ‘The Rights of Children’, chosen in reference to the 20th anniversary of the conventions approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations, in 1989. The Church for centuries, on the example of Christ, has promoted the dignity and rights of minors and, in many ways, has cared for them. Unfortunately, in various cases, some of its members, acting against this duty, have violated such rights — behavior that the Church does not now fail, nor will fail in the future, to deplore and condemn. The tenderness and the teaching of Jesus, who considered children a model for us to imitate in order to enter the Kingdom of God (cf. Mt 18: 1-6; 19: 13-14), have always constituted a pressing obligation to nuture a profound respect and concern for the children in our midst. The strong words of Jesus against any who would scandilize one of these little ones (cf. Mk 9:42) obliges us to never diminish this respect and love. Therefore the Convention on the rights of children has been accepted favorably by the Holy See, in that it contains positive statements regarding adoptions, health care, education, disabilities and the protection of little ones against violence, abbandonment, sexual exploitation and child labor.”

The Holy Father is speaking directly here about the problem of child sexual abuse. I suspect we will hear more from him in the near future regarding all of this.

God bless all our children.

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Quote for the Day

Posted on February 8, 2010 by Deacon Bob

“That is what an experience of sickness can do. It can bring us into contact with ‘poorness of spirit,’ which knocks away all other props and makes us realize that all good things are from God.” — William Debiase, OFM

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Rushing Here and Rushing There – (for what reason, pray tell?)

Posted on February 6, 2010 by Deacon Bob

Human activity. Motion. Moving from place to place, or even at times spinning one’s wheels, but gotta have that movement. The discomfort of inactivity. The pain of rest.

I am accused by some in my family of being a cynic.  Perhaps I am. I have often and regularly said to myself and others, “Why do we have to keep going here or there? Let’s stand still for a while. Let’s see what or who comes to us.”

Last night, my wife and I were at a quaint coffee shop to have a light supper and listen to some live music. Music was pretty good… country, bluegrass and folk music. Food was okay, even though they forgot to bring me the chili I had ordered. My attention though repeatedly was turned to a man at the next table, staring at his laptop. His eyes were tired and wide. His right leg constantly was jiggling up and down. He was scribbling numbers on his tablet as he scoured the Internet. I suspect he was doing some online trading. After a couple of hours, he began looking at, well…. ahem, let’s just say photographs he probably wouldn’t want a cleric to see. 

He couldn’t be still. His mind undoubtedly was a whirl of motion, activity, just as his body was as he sipped one Mellow Yellow after another, scribbled and wrote and jiggled.

The Second Vatican Council wrote in Gaudium et Spes, “Human activity, since it derives from man, is ordered to man. Man, in fact, when he works, not only modifies things and society, but also perfects himself.” GS 35

Which leaves me with the question, “Is our incessant activity oriented toward perfecting ourselves and others, or does it lead to our degradation and diminishment?” 

I fear the latter is too often the case.

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Quote for the Day

Posted on February 4, 2010 by Deacon Bob

“From God’s perspective, one hidden act of repentance, one little gesture of selfless love, one moment of true forgiveness is all that is needed to bring God from his throne to run to his returning son and to fill the heavens wit sounds of divine joy.” — Henri J. M. Nouwen, The Return of the Prodigal Son, pg 116

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