The devil seems to be having a productive summer. The prayer warriors need to redouble our efforts. Of course, this world is not our world, which makes Heaven seem so much more wonderful. James 2-4 tells us, "Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. And let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." We are building great spiritual muscles right now and we must continue to be vigilant. Here is what the locals had to say. Following passage of legislation to allow same-sex marriage in the state, the Catholic bishops of New York expressed concern "that both marriage and family will be undermined by this tragic presumption of government." In a statement, the heads of the state's eight Catholic dioceses said they were "deeply disappointed and troubled" at approval of a bill that will "alter radically and forever humanity's historic understanding of marriage." The state Senate passed the measure 33-29 in an evening vote June 24, and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat and a Catholic, signed it into law later that night. Unless it is delayed by legal challenges, it will take effect in late July. The bishops said the true definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman "cannot change, though we realize that our beliefs about the nature of marriage will continue to be ridiculed, and that some will even now attempt to enact government sanctions against churches and religious organizations that preach these timeless truths." As Catholics, we know we are different. We know that God calls us to maintain His laws despite what the civil authorities legislate. At the end of times, all truth will be revealed and God's righteousness will reign. Kneel and pray today that our elected officials stop the assault on our moral beliefs.

The Catholic News Service is reporting that the U.S. Bishops have agreed to prepare a document on preaching for votes next year. Following a lively debate on the first day of their spring general assembly near Seattle, the U.S. bishops voted overwhelmingly to authorize preparation of a 50-page document on preaching for consideration in November 2012. St. Louis Archbishop Robert J. Carlson presented the proposal on behalf of the Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations, which he chairs, but said the document would be drawn up in consultation with various committees of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Archbishop Carlson said the document would be "at once inspirational and practical, ... grounded in the tradition of the church" and would aim to "adequately convey the purpose of the homily at Mass: the personal encounter with the Incarnate Word." The topic seemed to light a spark in the bishops, more than a dozen of whom spoke in favor of the proposed document. Describing himself as a member of "the first lost generation of poor catechesis," Bishop Alexander K. Sample of Marquette, Mich., said his generation of post-Vatican II Catholics had "raised up another generation that is equally uncatechized." Although some have expressed the sentiment that "the homily should not be a time for catechesis," Bishop Sample said "we cannot lose that opportunity to truly catechize and form our people" when they are gathered for Sunday Mass. Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, retired archbishop of Washington, said that even at bishops' meetings 35 years ago, "some would rise to say that we need to have something on sermons. People are looking for it and desperately need it," he said. "It is such an important part of our responsibility as bishops." But he said the topic of preaching was "so complicated and there are so many things we hope" to include in such a document that it is "sort of impossible" to get everything into a 50-page document. But, he added, "nothing is impossible with God." Bishop Stephen E. Blaire of Stockton, Calif., expressed hope that the document would "identify the major obstacles to good preaching," including time constraints, communication issues and cultural conflicts. Retired Auxiliary Bishop Peter A. Rosazza of Hartford, Conn., said he hoped the document would include information about "different preaching styles," such as those used by African-American or Hispanic preachers, while Bishop Salvatore J. Cordileone of Oakland, Calif., said he thought the document should focus not only on Sunday homilies but on sermons at funerals and weddings. "I've heard very few funeral homilies, and I've been to a lot of funerals," Bishop Cordileone said. "I've heard eulogies and I've heard some canonization nominations, but I have heard very few homilies." The vote in favor of the proposed document was 187-3. Later in the meeting, the bishops also overwhelmingly OK'd a modification of previously approved "priorities and plans" to allow four other committees -- Cultural Diversity, Divine Worship, Doctrine, and Evangelization and Catechesis -- to work with the consecrated life committee on the document. The document on preaching was first proposed in November 2005, when the bishops approved a motion to update "Fulfilled in Your Hearing," a 1982 document on preaching at the Sunday Mass. But drafting of the updated document was suspended in March 2007 after Pope Benedict XVI announced an upcoming synod on the Bible. Responsibility for such a document also passed to a new committee with restructuring of the bishops' conference around that time. "As originally approved by the bishops in November 2005, it is our intention that the document will focus specifically on preaching at the Sunday Mass, that it be around 50 pages in length, and that it be published in Spanish and English," Archbishop Carlson said. He said the homily offers "a privileged opportunity for ordained ministers to catechize the liturgical assembly, to treat the great themes of the Christian faith. With all the complexities of modern technology and changing social attitudes, our Catholics need to know the mind of Christ and the teachings of the church," the archbishop said. "Yet it is not enough to state correctly the truths of faith from the pulpit, but to propose them in such a way as to draw attention to their attractive beauty, wisdom and connection to Christ."

Celebrating the birth of the Church yesterday was an inspiring time. Pentecost is one of the three major celebrations of the Church; the other two being Christmas and Easter. Since the secular world has decided to commercialize the latter two, Pentecost does not get the worldly attention that the other two dates garner. That is probably what makes it special in the minds of many Catholics. It is the birth of the Church. It is the day we celebrate the Holy Spirit coming into the twelve apostles and moving them to begin their ministries anew. We know that after Jesus Christ was crucified, died, and was buried, the apostles were shocked and depressed. They were fearful and stayed locked in various places to avoid persecution. But then Jesus came to them and stayed with them. It was a time of rejoicing and rebirth. They were excited but did not realize that Jesus was soon to leave them again. Once Jesus assumed His rightful place in Heaven, the apostles again had to cope with moving forward without their leader being physically present. But this time something was different. The Holy Spirit had come to rest in them. They now had the added comfort of being blessed with God's goodness. It allowed them to become the leaders of the Church and to begin to spread God's message. If you are Catholic and have received the sacrament of confirmation, you have exactly what the apostles had. You are endowed with the Holy Spirit who provides you with the ability to act in Jesus' place on earth. The Holy Spirit is considered the third person of the Holy Trinity. The Holy Spirit is distinct, as a Person, from the Father and the Son, He is consubstantial with Them; being God like Them, He possesses with Them one and the same Divine Essence or Nature. The Holy Spirit provides the gifts of wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety (godliness), and fear of the Lord. The Holy Spirit's gifts make us attentive to the voice of God. We must be aware at all times that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Having the Holy Spirit within us allows us to know that we are never alone. It is a constant comfort. So as we celebrate another birthday for the Church, it is important to focus our attention on the Holy Spirit and the gifts we are given.

If you send your children to Catholic school are you confident that they are receiving catechetical instruction that is sound and correct? I ask this because I think that many people feel like once they write the check, they can leave everything else to the school administrators. I would urge you to take a closer look. This is not to promote suspicion or innuendo. I just think it is our responsibility to maximize the Catholic experience for our children. I would ask if the school has a chaplain? If so, how often does he or she come to school if they are not there everyday? I would encourage you to ask that the school have the bishop or chaplain bless the student's on a regular basis. What about having them bless their lockers since they hold everything that the student uses at school and frequently contain things they carry with them all the time. Ask if there are multiple opportunities for the students to have public worship? Ask how regularly the students attend communal events like Mass? While all of our Catholic schools are open to other denominations, it is important that we as the body of Christ make sure that our schools maintain true spiritual purity. It is important that the leadership not only adhere to Catholic doctrine but truly believe in those principles. Our Catholic schools must be beacons of truth in this world. Our Catholic schools should look and feel different. They should be challenging our children to be difference makers in the world. The world will continue to darken and the students that attend Catholic schools provide the light for the future. They must be reminded not to hide their light. They must be supported to go and light the world. Catholic schools have always been such a blessing. We must be vigilant as prayer warriors to ensure that they continue to serve as a tabernacle for Christ.

A perfect day is receiving Godly wisdom that helps to solve a problem that has been nagging at me. Sometimes God speaks with me directly. That can happen through prayer, reading scripture or meditation. Sometimes God sends me a sign. It can be something in a book or an email. It very often is through another Spirit-filled person. Having these life mentors involved in everything that you do can be very beneficial. But finding the right person, the one who is truly allowing God to use them as an earthen vessel, can be difficult. Many people are falsely presenting themselves to others as Godly. So how can we discern who to trust? Ask yourself, "Does this person truly love me? Does this person hope to gain something by being involved in my life? Does this person model what they are telling me? Does this person walk with God?" Allowing yourself to trust another requires Godly wisdom. So the obvious thing to do is to ask God for wisdom in all things. Ask God to send you a life mentor that can help you walk your path. Allow God to work within and through you for the benefit of others. Become a life mentor to someone that you think would reciprocate. The bottom line is that God will provide what you need. He will send you the person that will help you. Godly wisdom is not about this world. The decisions you make with Godly wisdom may not make sense to people who are consumed by this world. Very often, the decision you come to may not receive the approval you may seek from others. Take solace in knowing that God is speaking to you and He knows what is best for you. He will lead you down the righteous path and help you to attain eternal life. Pray for Godly wisdom and make your decisions based on the advice that you receive from God.

Catholic News Service reports that since the 1940s when acclaimed writer and contemplative Father Thomas Merton drew the world's attention to the Trappists' Abbey of Gethsemani in Nelson County, men have come from around the world to join in its ritual life of prayer and work. Father Merton died in 1968, and in the wake of his death, that interest has gradually waned. Now, for the first time in its modern history, the Abbey of Gethsemani is working to promote vocations to monastic life. And it's joining with other communities of monks and nuns to produce a coordinated campaign. Until now, "we never needed to," promote vocations, said Brother Luke Armour, Gethsemani's vocation director and choir master. Gethsemani is home to one of the largest Trappist communities in the United States. The monks there are working with 16 other Trappists communities around the country to educate people about monastic life and, perhaps, attract some people to such a life. Trappists are a branch of the Cistercian Order -- formally the Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance -- who adhere closely to the Rule of St. Benedict, a book of guidelines for monastic life. There are 17 Trappist communities in the U.S. Five are communities of women, called Trappestines. Representatives of 16 of these communities met in March at Holy Spirit Abbey in Conyers, Ga. -- near Atlanta -- to coordinate their efforts. Trappist Father Alberic Farbolin, a monk at the New Melleray Abbey in Peosta, Iowa, organized the meeting in Conyers in his role as the U.S. regional secretary for formation and vocations. The vocation campaign, he said, will meet some challenges but also will offer opportunities to reach people in ways the communities couldn't on their own. "The Cistercian monks and nuns in the U.S. have traditionally sought to promote vocations locally, each house going its own way," he noted in an interview conducted by email with The Record, newspaper of the Archdiocese of Louisville. The meeting in Conyers, generated "a good bit of energy and excitement," he said. "A number of interesting ideas surfaced at the meeting which I am now in the process of trying to implement." Among their first fruits is the website www.trappists.org. It includes a listing of all the communities in the United States, information about visiting the communities, writings from "a monk's diary" and "a nun's diary," and a question and answer section. The site serves at least two purposes in Father Farbolin's view. It serves "to engage and communicate with young adults on the Internet -- hoping to share with them an impression of who we are. It's also a means to easily connect inquirers with those monks and nuns who are assigned and trained to work with them in discernment. Our goal," he said, "is not to attract thousands to the website, but to engage that very small group whom God might be calling to live in this very unique and beautiful way." The Trappists hope to convey something about their lives, too, in the form of a DVD that's being planned. And they plan to raise awareness about their monasteries with a full-page ad in the vocations magazine, VISION Vocation Guide. Father Farbolin said the communities of Trappists in the United States range from about 10 members to 65. The Abbey of Gethsemani, founded by a group of Trappists from France in 1848, is home to 50 monks. The abbey saw its peak in membership, with 270 monks, in 1955. The youngest monk there today is 44. The eldest is Brother Camillus, 86, who's lived in the community for 71 years. Three men joined the monastery in 2010. Father Farbolin said New Melleray Abbey, where he serves, has seen a "falling off of inquiries" over the last 30 or so years. Those who have come "tend to be more mature, with careers behind them and a good bit of life experience." "The diversity of their backgrounds, nationalities, personal philosophies and family situations is really astonishing," he noted. "'Diversity' is a good single descriptor for the state of our initial formation programs these days." The abbey at New Melleray will see two men make solemn professions this summer, said Father Farbolin. An account of this process can be found in the "monk's diary" section of the website under April 6. Others who are in discernment with the Iowa abbey include a microbiologist who became a hermit and a man who studied law with President Barack Obama, he said. Such diversity is a hallmark, these days, of the Abbey of Gethsemani, too, said Brother Armour. A few of the monks came to the monastery from Kentucky, he said, but the majority came from all over the United States and the world, including, Ohio, New York, New England, Texas, Peru, Vietnam, the Philippines and Canada. Their ages, backgrounds and talents vary widely, too. Brother Armour, whose service as choir master at the abbey taps his skills as a musician, came from New York nearly 40 years ago. "When I came as an aspirant, I was shown great care. I have indelible memories," he said. "Now I'm in this chair (as vocation director); the roles are reversed. I take that role seriously and thankfully." He said he's also prepared to find new ways of doing his job and adapting to the needs of young people. During the conference in Conyers, the vocation directors discussed some characteristics of today's young Catholics. Some of their attributes will fit well with monastic life, while others will make engaging them a challenge, said Brother Armour. Young Catholics today tend to "value community, they need to feel welcomed by church and religious congregations," he said. "We need to extend a welcome."