Learning to be Quick to Listen

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 a...

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 n...

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 j...

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 insis...

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 inform...

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 ...

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 w...

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 Vatica...

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 forgiv...

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 ...