Learning to be Quick to Listen

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 huma...

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 propose...

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 forwar...

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 l...

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 ment...

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. Trappis...