Social networking, better known as Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace, occupies the time of many of us throughout the day. The largest companies in the world utilize various social networks to reach consumers where they live, mainly on the Internet via PDAs, computers, and cell phones. So it seems natural that the Catholic Church would utilize these websites as well and they have. I was reading an interesting story about the Church in France. They have created a Facebook page that is being used to recruit men to the priestly vocation. The campaign is being pitched using the slogan "Why Not Me?" I think this is very smart. It is where the young people have gathered to communicate, like it or not and it allows someone who is discerning their vocation to do it asynchronously. I will be anxious to see how successful this campaign becomes and urge all of you to pray along with me that many men will respond to God's call to become priests. I also noticed another interesting story about France that involves reconciliation. The story is called "Praying People into the Confessional." It describes how St. John Vianney was able to attract thousands of sinners to Ars so that he would hear their confession. St. John Vianney in his early life was judged by some in the hierarchy to be rather limited in potential. As it turned out, he become one of God's most fervent warriors and continues to be honored with the naming of parishes and schools all around the world. Today is the feast day for St. Catherine of Siena. Did you know that she was the youngest of twenty-five children? Did you know that she joined the Dominican Third Order at the age of eighteen? Did you know that she was able to mediate a conflict between the papacy and the city of Florence? Her life is truly remarkable and she is one of my favorite saints.

I recently watched a movie about the lives of St. Francis and St. Claire. Both were born in Assisi, Italy. Although eleven years separated them, their paths crossed many times in the little town. Francis' father was a merchant who sold fabric. Claire's father was a wealthy nobleman. What struck me most of all was the way that Francis came to his calling. He was inspired by the reading of the Gospel at Mass and began to explore the Bible more. We always associate peace with Francis now but the movie explained that he began to greet everyone with "peace be with you" when he met someone. We know of course what an integral part of Mass that saying has become. I have always had a great love for Francis and Claire and I of course knew of their relationship. The movie, however, gave me a deeper insight into the lives of two very influential saints. When Francis took up his true vocation he renounced everything that was connected to his family's wealth. He even stripped naked to return the clothes he had on to his father. He truly was following Jesus' instructions that say "none of you can be my disciple without giving up all that he owns" in Luke 14:33. Francis realized that he had to rid himself of all worldly things if he was to truly understand the plight of the poor and serve them fully. This concept is the exact opposite of what most of us do in our daily lives. We have become a nation and world of collectors. He who dies with the most toys wins. How did we get here from there? What is truly important to you in your life? Is it more important to have a new car or the latest PDA rather than developing a deeper relationship with God? Why are we hording money when God tells us that He will take care of us? The answer for me lies in the fact that I am still maturing in my relationship with God. To allow myself to be cradled in God's loving hands and depend on Him for everything is truly the ultimate goal. I am walking the path but I am not there yet. Do you have the courage of Francis? Do you want to become a true disciple of Jesus? Look to the examples like Francis and Claire. The walk starts with one step. Are you brave enough to take it?

The newest attack against God is coming from a group called the American Humanist Association who would like to see the National Day of Prayer banned. They have asked that a National Day of Reason be added instead. I don't know about you but I use my reasoning skills every day. I have reason to believe that my Lord and Savior died on the cross and was resurrected so that I could live for eternity with my God in heaven. I have reason to believe that God cares for each and every one of us and longs to have us turn to Him on a daily basis. I have reason to believe that praying is a beneficial act, that has been proven using scientific experiments, and I am praying for the members of the AHA and Barbara Crabb. Who is she, you might ask. Well, Judge Barbara Crabb recently declared the National Day of Prayer unconstitutional. There was thankfully a response from Washington D.C. Rep. Randy Forbes (R-Va.) proved there's plenty that Congress can do, including exercising authority over justices that overstep their constitutional bounds. Together with the Congressional Prayer Caucus, Rep. Forbes hosted a press conference on Capitol Hill to formally protest Judge Crabb's ruling. Reps. Lamar Smith (R-Texas), the ranking member on the House Judiciary Committee, and Forbes also introduced a joint resolution that affirms the constitutionality of the National Day of Prayer. "Setting aside a day of prayer and thanksgiving is a national tradition that first began with George Washington. This is not an establishment of religion--which would be unconstitutional," Rep. Smith insisted, "but merely the acknowledgment of the role prayer has played in our nation's history... [A]nyone can choose to enjoy or ignore it." Just as Christians had to endure a day devoted to blasphemy, so should humanists have to enjoy the national Day of Prayer. And just so you know Judge Crabb, we are praying every minute of every day. We don't need a day declared for prayer but it is nice to remind people of the history of this country and how we have had prayer interwoven into the fabric of our country since the inception.

To be a Catholic today, you need a really thick skin. We can glory in the persecution on behalf of Jesus but we are only human and it does wear thin. I am talking very specifically about the ongoing sexual abuse situation in the Church and the apparent mishandling that has gone on for far too long. Predators are predators whether they wear a Roman collar or not. That the small percentage (less than 2%) of priests who obviously allowed the devil to lead them down this path are causing all priests to be viewed in this horrific light is very disheartening. I am equally sickened for the victims of these crimes. All of this is not about God's work. I recently read an article that stated that Munich's vicar general, who served under Archbishop Ratzinger at the time, has assumed "full responsibility" for the a predatory priest's reassignment. This case, which recently came to light, has caused Pope Benedict a considerable amount of discomfort. The vicar general has insisted that then-Archbishop Ratzinger was not informed of the decision. It may be true. I often wonder how in the world the Pope can command the entire universal church but I am sure that God is in control. We must demand that the predators be revealed. We cannot allow this to continue. There in now a case in the Diocese of Baton Rouge that was revealed last week. Bishop Muench was very quick to respond to the charges and has placed the accused priest on administrative leave. I know the priest personally and am having a tough time believing that he did such a thing. I am not God however and can not know what lies inside a man's mind. I am praying that it is not true. I am also praying for the person that made the charges. It certainly casts a different light on the situation when it hits so close to home. Our skin has certainly thickened in Baton Rouge.

In Ephesians 1:13 we learn, "...you have been stamped with the seal of the Holy Spirit of the Promise." We are blessed with the seal because we believe in Jesus Christ. We also know that our body is to be a temple for the Holy Spirit. Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians has often been called the most theology-driven book in the New Testament. Paul is urging us to to learn about the theology of the Church in order for us to learn how to act. He is encouraging us to think, study and then do and pray in the same manner.  In addition, Paul tells us that we must repent, be baptized, and obey God's commandments if we are to be sealed in the Holy Spirit. It is not an inactive Christianity that Paul is talking about. It is something that must be developed and nurtured. How are you doing with this part? Do you spend time learning about your faith or do you simply exist and expect it to be poured into you "magically?" There is a big difference between knowledge and information. Information is available everywhere and the Internet has made it even more so. Having bits of information does not make you knowledgeable. To have  knowledge you must read, write, talk, share and apply information. Only then will you develop the knowledge and be able to apply it to the situation when you need it. Are you reading about God? How often do you open His book, the Bible? We know that it allows us to speak directly to God yet it is not a daily habit for many people who consider themselves very good Catholics. Do you talk about God? Do you write about God? Are you taking the information about God and applying it so that you have a knowledge about your Redeemer? This is a great opportunity to develop a prayer partner or accountability partner relationship with someone who shares your faith. This type of relationship, if properly maintained (usually weekly), can bring you to new heights in your spiritual development. I am thrilled that the Lord has stamped me with the seal. I covet a deeper knowledge about God and His Church. Paul speaks to us from almost 2000 years agoand his words are just as relevant today. Turn the information you have at your disposal into knowledge that you can use to bring Jesus to others. Now is the perfect time to start.

Today I found myself focusing on wisdom from the Gospel of St. James. He tells us in 1:2-4, "My brothers, consider it a great joy when trials of many kinds come upon you, for you well know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance, and perseverance must complete its work so that you will become fully developed, complete, not deficient in any way." This passage describes my current journey. I am troubled and stressed. I am learning how to be patient and waiting on God's time. It is hard, maybe too hard. But it is causing me to work out new levels of my faith that I never knew I had. It is causing me to dip deeper and discover different ways to forge my relationship with God our Father. I am not sure that "great joy" is how I would describe my attitude but I am trying hard to get to "indifferent" joy. The saints knew how to turn a bad patch into a great occasion. Many of the stories I have read about saints have talked about how they turned a very bad situation into something that allowed God to work within them. It is a great example and I am trying to mimic that attitude. In addition, many saints offered up their pain and suffering for the benefit of others. I am also trying that. You will notice that I say trying and that is the truth. This proclamation from St. James is difficult but when you add our human tendencies and total dislike for anything that is hard or unpleasant, it is downright foreboding. The devil is of course adding digs and doubts at the worst times. The good news is, I am surrounded by the Sacred Heart of Jesus and I feel his presence in my life. I am allowing myself to be a better temple for the Holy Spirit and I know the journey will be beneficial. In the moment, it is just hard work. Then I remember what Jesus did for us. As we celebrate the fifty days of Easter and celebrate the event that forever changed the world, I am fortified by Jesus' sacrifice. I pray for perseverance for me and you.

Today we hear in the Gospel reading at Mass about a meeting between Jesus and his disciplines after He has been resurrected. The event centers on the apostle Thomas, mostly because he was absent when Jesus first appeared to the disciples and so he is unsure of what to believe. Thomas wants to see, touch and talk to Jesus himself. Wouldn't we all? Earlier in the Gospels we learn that Thomas has a twin. Some Biblical scholars have suggested that the twin of Thomas is really us. We are the other half of the doubting disciple. We also want to see Jesus in order to believe. The moral of the story of course is that we must have faith. Blessed are those that believe without seeing. That is certainly all of us who call ourselves Christian. No one has been able to see the physical Jesus in almost 2000 years. But we believe anyway. We do see Jesus at work in the world. We know He is present to us because we feel his presence. The Holy Spirit continues to guide us and live within us. But if we are honest, many of us are very much like the doubting Thomas. Is there anything really wrong with that? I don't think so. It pushes us to grow in our relationship with Jesus. It causes us to spend time with Jesus in prayer. In the end, we all long to be with Jesus in Heaven. Having the doubt can actually grow our spiritually but it must be tempered, like all things. We must not allow the devil to fill our heads with wild and sinful doubts. We must not push ourselves over the edge when it comes to our questioning. I know that Jesus loves to talk with us. He is pleased with our inquisitiveness. Again, it allows us to deepen our faith and grow as children of God. So today let us celebrate the Thomas in all of us. One day, we too will touch the hands that were nailed to the cross for us. One day, we will get to embrace Jesus as we stand face to face in Heaven. Still having doubts. Then push yourself to grow in your faith. Make yourself realize that God is in control and we need only to let go and turn our lives over to Him. Thomas certainly did this and remember, he had doubts too.

The attacks on Pope Benedict have risen to a ridiculous level. Mainstream talking heads on supposedly entertainment shows aimed at producing high ratings and even higher revenues have even jumped in the fray. What is being left out is the truth about certain incidents. I read a very interesting article that had a number of quotes from Pat Buchanan. He offers this response to the incidents in Milwaukee, "That diabolical priest, Lawrence C. Murphy, was assigned to St. John's School for the Deaf in 1950; before Joseph Ratzinger was even ordained. Reports of his abuse of the deaf children surfaced in the 1950s. However, under three archbishops, nothing was done. Police and prosecutors were alerted by parents of the boys. Nothing was done. Archbishop Weakland, who became archbishop in 1977, did not write to Rome until 1996. And as John Allen of National Catholic Reporter noted last week, Cardinal Ratzinger "did not have any direct responsibility for managing the overall Vatican response to the crisis until 2001. Prior to 2001, Ratzinger had nothing personally to do with the vast majority of sex abuse cases, even the small percentage which wound up in Rome. By the time Cardinal Ratzinger was commissioned by John Paul II to clean out the stable, Murphy had been dead for three years." If Mr. Buchanan can find this information, why can't the big news agencies with their billion dollar budgets. Is it because they do not want to? Mother Angelica has been talking about a "Great Plan" that has been set in motion to destroy the Church. It appears that this latest assault aimed at Pope Benedict is another attempt to bring the Church down. We know, because Jesus told us, that the church will never be defeated by evil in Matthew 16:18, "And I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." So what can we do at this point. If you are American and know your Constitution then you know that we have rights. Now freedom of the press is important but it must be held accountable as well. As citizens, it is our right to demand that they give us the entire story. Call or write them and let them know of your demands. If they do not agree, let them know that you will not be watching their programs. Before you turn it off, take some time to figure out who their major supporters (advertisers) are and target them with calls and email. Let them know why you are choosing not to watch anymore. It is important to ask for the truth and to hold the press accountable. Finally, pray about your decision and let the Holy Spirit lead you to the next step. This attack on our Church is very real and will not simply go away. We as Catholics must come to the defense of the Lord's Church the best way we know how. In the end, I believe that evil will not destroy the Church because our Lord and Savior told us so. Happy Easter!

Have you ever encountered a friend that you may not have seen for a while and they tell you that they no longer attend Mass on Sunday? It is an uncomfortable moment to be sure but what is the appropriate next step? I have found that many people are quick to find a reason not to attend Mass anymore. They frequently blame an insensitive priest for their current situation. Very often they say that someone said something to them that was very hurtful and made them feel unwelcome. I am writing on this topic today for two reasons. The first is to reinforce the reason for the Passion of Easter Sunday. The second is to confront the issues of the Church that are occurring around the world and have brought undue pressure on Pope Benedict. This past Sunday was not just an ordinary Sunday. We celebrated the event that forever changed the world as we know it. The Passion is about providing us with a second chance. The sin of Adam and Eve and all of our ancestors throughout the ages have been forgiven and wiped away becasue our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ died on the cross. His resurrection three days later allows us a new opportunity to start again. The second chance afforded us through Jesus' sacrifice is not something to be ignored. It is a terrific gift that we should accept graciously and immediately. I do not want to diminish the feelings of people who believe they have been hurt by the Church. We are created as sensitive beings and our feelings have value. But often we are very willing to allow one or two comments from someone deny us the opportunity to grow our relationship with God. I want to suggest to you that each of us is part of the Body of Christ and we all represent the Church. Practicing Catholics need to evangelize to those who have not heard the word and to those who are wayward. I represent the Church. I can apologize for the Church and so can you. If that is all it will take to bring someone back to the Church and open the possibility that they will achieve eternal salvation, why not offer a sincere apology. Tell them that you are sorry on behalf of the Church that someone said or did something that hurt their feelings. It just might bring them back to the Church. And the rest is up to God. Our work as a community must be to allow God to use as as His earthly vessels. Offering a contrite apology to someone is the least we can do.

Were you there when they crucified my Lord? This song is so haunting. It grabs a hold of your heart and does not let go. We of course were not there literally but can we imagine being there? It is one of the methods of prayer and meditation that is used during Ignatian retreats. You are instructed to place yourself at the foot of the cross during Christ's crucifixion. You are urged to place yourself in Mary's shoes. You are encouraged to be one of the soldiers or Jews standing by the cross. You are asked to be John or Peter. What did they feel at this moment? Did the immensity of the moment overwhelm them? How intense it must have been to have to stand by and watch as the Son of God was nailed to a tree. The Jesus we see on a modern day crucifix is not marred by the lash marks. His body does not appear as it would have on that day, bloody and beaten. That alone would have caused many of us to weep. But the ultimate sacrifice, what would you have done at that moment? Jesus knew his fate and yet He walked the walk anyway. He dies for our sins so that we may have eternal life with Him in Heaven. How can we not accept His gift? The love that Jesus exhibited for us is so overwhelming that I find it hard to even comprehend. It is part of the mystery of the Holy Trinity for me. So placing yourself at the cross on Good Friday more than 2000 years ago is a good thing to do when you are concluding your Lenten journey. It is appropriate as we contemplate the next part of our journey with God. We are not aware of what is to come but you know it is going to be blessed as long as you are committed to your relationship with Jesus. We may tremble at the vision of Jesus being nailed to the tree but we can revel in the promise of salvation through His sacrifice. Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Are you still allowing our Lord to be crucified? Are you the one doing the deed or are you doing His work instead? Are you bringing people to the cross so that they can know Jesus?