From the Pastor's Desk...

Sunday, May 11, 2008

2008-05-07T20:32:00.002-04:00

The Whole Truth and Nothing but the Truth...

There is a positive trend regarding the Church these days according to David Hartline author of The Tide Is Turning Toward Catholicism (publisher: The Catholic Report). He credits the leadership of both Servant of God Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. Both were apostolic in bringing the teachings of Christ to the whole world. From them we heard and continue to hear the undiluted truth.

The truth is attractive; we are naturally drawn to it. It would make no sense to be given an incomplete and adulterated version of the truth out of a desire to make us feel better—to assuage our conscience. Jesus never compromised the way things are; He taught us all that we need to know even though many disciples walked away from Him because they found his words too hard.

This desire to announce the truth is shared by many Church leaders down to our own Archbishop. He has remained stalwart in teaching us the way it is. In giving us the truth, he has, among other things, specifically defended the sacredness of human life and the institution of marriage. Like the Pope, a bishop is the teacher and sanctifier in his diocese. How beautifully God takes care of us by giving us shepherds to guide us along the way of the Lord.

Hartline indicates that it is not only important to disseminate the truth faithfully, but it is also fruitful. In an interview with the Zenit news agency he said:

In a nutshell, wherever Church orthodoxy is taught the Church is flourishing. This extends to the young and old. In the book, I note that in dioceses where Church orthodoxy is emphasized, we see increases in seminarians and youth involvement in the Church.

...there are millions of converts who came into the Church in the last few years who were well versed in the teachings of their previous churches, some who were even proudly anti-Catholic. However in their quest to prove Catholicism wrong, many found the Catholic Church to be the one Jesus founded.

Often, converts approach me at the various talks I give and say three things kept them from Catholicism; the Eucharist, Mary and the papacy. When I asked what brought them into the Church they basically give the same answer, the Eucharist, the Blessed Mother and the Holy Father, or the magisterium.

...While there are hopeful signs in the United States and Latin America, and even glimmers of hope in Europe, the most vibrant areas of the Church can be found in Africa and Asia.

In 2006 alone, some 8 million converts came into the Church and 3,000 priests were ordained in Asia and Africa. Recently, a priest originally from Uganda was visiting the United States to raise money for his parish in Sudan. This visiting priest told me he was taken aback by some in the Western world who verbally attack the Church, some of whom were even members of the Church. He said such a thing would be unthinkable in much of Africa, since the Church, its teachings and graces, such as the sacraments, are embraced with awe, wonder and gratitude. (Zenit.org, Oct 24, 2007)

A very clear understanding of what the Church teaches—of what Christ teaches—wins converts. It does make a difference what we are taught and what we believe.

It is our right to receive the whole truth. May we always be given it. But also may we always look for it by reading the Catholic Catechism and the Bible.

Fr. Stanley

Sunday, May 4, 2008

2008-04-30T20:51:00.002-04:00

The Month of Mary, Mothers, and Children...

May is the month dedicated to Our Lady as well as to all mothers. It is the month when many of our children receive their first Holy Communion. This is the time in our area when so many flowers bloom with their sweet fragrances and glorious colors. This is one reason why it is appropriate to honor the Blessed Virgin now when we can use fresh flowers to adorn her image.

It has continually been taught that Mary is the model for all men and women to follow. Why? Isn't Jesus the Model? Of course, He is; our goal is to imitate Him. Mary is our help to accomplish this imitation. She is the best example of resembling her Son. Moreover, she is active in urging each of us to do the same.

Mary imitates Christ perfectly because of her humility. She completely forgot about herself in the face of the Divine Will. Her fiat — "...let it be done to me according to Your Will..." — sums up her whole life. Whatever God wanted, she wanted too. Whatever God would require of her, was her great desire to fulfill. We do not see much of her in the Bible because the focus was on Jesus. She was happy to fade into the background; no one should distract us from her Son. He is the center of each of our lives.

This is why Mary is the model for every person. She shows us that no one of us is more important than Jesus is. I am not number one; rather He is. Mary prays for us so that we have that humility which keeps God first.

So, in this month of flowers we honor Mary with bouquets and crowns. When we honor someone, like a soldier or sports team, we are recognizing their achievements and giving them our gratitude. We recognize Our Lady's humility and thank her for leading us to her Son.

Let us ask her for her continued help and prayers for not only ourselves, but also for our mothers and those who will be receiving their first Holy Communion. May they always know the protection and care of our Blessed Mother and know the joy of union with Jesus.

Fr. Stanley

Sunday, April 27, 2008

2008-04-23T22:30:00.002-04:00

An outstanding wife and mother..."

These were the words which Servant of God, Pope John Paul II, used to described Gianna Molla during her beatification ceremony in April 24, 1994. Ten years later on May 16 she was canonized a saint. Pope John Paul also described her as "...as a mother who, in order to give life to her baby, sacrificed her own in deliberate immolation." She died on April 28, 1962 at the age of 39.

Gianna Beretta Molla is the first married laywoman to be declared a saint (though there are many widows who are declared saints). She is also the first canonized woman physician—a professional woman who was also a working mother four decades ago, when this was unusual.

She was brought up in a devout Catholic household. She became a medical doctor, specializing in pediatrics. She was recognized for her exceptional loving care of her patients. This brought her to the attention of many people. She was strong in her Catholic faith and used her profession to bring health not only to the body but also to the soul.

Before her wedding in 1955, she wrote to her fiance, Pietro Molla: "With God's help and blessing, we will do all we can to make our new family a little cenacle where Jesus will reign over all our affections, desires and actions.... We will be working with God in His creation; in this way we can give Him children who will love Him and serve Him."

During her fourth pregnancy, she was advised to have an abortion because she had a large ovarian cyst. She would not consider ending the life within her, but had the tumor successfully removed. However, just before the birth, it was discovered that it would be difficult and possibly life threatening delivery. Gianna made her husband promise that if it were necessary to choose between saving her and saving the baby, he should choose the baby. On Good Friday 1962, she gave birth to a girl; unfortunately, she herself developed a fatal infection. After a week of suffering this painful inflammation, Gianna died. The date was April 28. As she lay dying, she repeated "Jesus, I love you." The new baby girl was named Gianna Emanuela and became a physician who specializes in Alzheimer's disease.

The miracle recognized by the Roman Catholic Church to canonize Gianna Molla involved a mother, Elizabeth Comparini, who was 16 weeks pregnant in 2003 and sustained a tear in her that drained her womb of all amniotic fluid. Because a normal term of pregnancy is 40 weeks, Comparini was told by her doctors the baby's chance of survival was "nil."

Through praying to Gianna Molla and asking for her intercession, Comparini delivered by Caesarean a healthy baby despite the lack of amniotic fluid for the remainder of her pregnancy.

Pope John Paul said that St. Gianna is a model for all mothers: "By holding up this woman as an exemplar of Christian perfection, we would like to extol all those high-spirited mothers of families who give themselves completely to their family, who suffer in giving birth, who are prepared for every labor and every kind of sacrifice, so that the best they have can be given to others."

Tomorrow evening, there will be a Mass in honor of St. Gianna. It is a pro-life Mass. We pray that we all live by the lesson of Jesus as our Saint did—that we are selfless in living life and selfless in protecting life from the moment of conception.

Fr. Stanley

Sunday, April 20, 2008

2008-04-16T19:56:00.003-04:00

Coming Home...

According to a report from Zenit.org, a Catholic reporting service, tens of thousands of Americans joined the Catholic Church during the Easter Vigil three weeks ago. It also reported:

Most of those coming into the Church through the RCIA program are adults, but in some instances children are part of both groups, usually as members of a family that enters the Church together. According to early figures from the 2007 Official Catholic Directory, last year almost 64,500 adults were baptized in the Catholic Church and nearly 93,000 came into full communion. These numbers are supplemented by the baptisms of infants that occur in parishes throughout the year. It is estimated that more than a million infant baptisms will take place in the U.S. during 2008.

The backgrounds of the people seeking to be baptized or to enter into full communion by receiving first Communion and/or confirmation vary, but many express the sentiment that they are coming home.

This rather uplifting story is in contrast to the Pew survey reported in the papers just a few weeks ago. This survey found a large number of Catholics leaving and only a so so number coming into the Church.

The key to understanding the great number of conversions is what the above Zenit report stated: the new members of the Catholic Church felt like they were "coming home." You feel at home here because there is at last truth; there is no longer uncertainty. There is love. The Church teaches truth because of love; she wants no one to live in darkness nor to be led astray. Because of truth, each person in the worldwide Catholic family can grow deeply in the spiritual life—in a personal relationship with God.

If you regularly watch The Journey Home on EWTN (8 pm on Mondays), you know that there are basically two outstanding factors (besides God's grace) that help people come to the Faith, and they are charity and prayer. New converts often refer to Catholics whom they had previously met as being truly kind and helpful. They also credit their conversions to the persistent prayers of these Catholic acquaintances as well as the prayers of others (in some cases the prayers of friends and family).

We as Catholics are called to help others know the truth of our Faith. Love requires this. We must also be ceaseless in prayer and untiring in charity.

Fr. Stanley

Sunday, April 13, 2008

2008-04-09T20:27:00.006-04:00

The Vicar of Christ...

This Tuesday Pope Benedict XVI will arrive in Washington D.C. Eventually he will be in New York on Thursday and return to the Vatican on Sunday after offering Mass in Yankee Stadium. We are happy and blessed to have His Holiness in our country and in particular in our area.

No doubt Pope Benedict will bring messages of truth for the President, for the bishops and priests, and for everyone. He will encourage each of us to live according to God's plan so that there will be real peace in the world. This peace starts with reconciliation with God and then emanates to all of our neighbors.

The Pope is called the Shepherd of Shepherds because he is the leader of the Church. Each bishop is a shepherd in his own diocese. All the bishops together with the Pope lead us to a deeper knowledge of faith in Our Lord.

The Pope is also known as the Vicar of Christ. A vicar is a viceroy, one who stands in the place of the king. He is the visible head of the Catholic Church on earth. Just as Jesus taught the truth to the people in Israel twenty centuries ago, each Pope from St. Peter to Pope Benedict has done and does the same in his papacy. What the Vicar of Christ teaches is nothing new; it is the same truth that was revealed by God through Sacred Scripture (the written word of God) and Sacred Tradition (the unwritten word of God). So, all the pontiffs have brought the same messages of truth through the ages. They have done this according to the times and circumstances of each place, addressing specific problems.

The major truth is the Commandment of love. First, we must love God above all, and then, our neighbors as ourselves. Jesus revealed the full extent of love by treating people as persons. There is no love when someone uses another for his benefit and treats that person as a thing. That is what happens in an abortion. It becomes expedient to think of that little innocent person as an inconvenient thing. Jesus Christ teaches us that all human beings are persons worthy of love. So the unborn is a person; the mother is a person; the father is a person; etc.

Pope Benedict will continue to convey this message of truth and love. Why? Simply because he is the Pope—because he is the Vicar of Christ. Moreover, because he loves us.

Let us pray for his safe journey and that his message falls upon open ears and open hearts.

Fr. Stanley

Sunday, April 6, 2008

2008-04-02T19:13:00.003-04:00

The Annunciation and Life...

Normally the Feast of the Annunciation is on March 25. This year it was moved to last Monday, March 31, because the 25th came within Holy Week. This feast commemorates Mary's "yes" to God regarding the conception and birth of His Son, Jesus. Our Lady is our model in terms of doing what God asks. Particularly, she is a model for all who conceive new life. Even though situations may be very difficult for a girl or woman to bring the life within her to birth, she will have a great strength obtained for her from Mary. She will also have help from a number of Catholic organizations who care for those pregnant women who are in difficult situations. Moreover, she will have peace.

Also, there is help for those girls and women who have had abortions. The Church is our Mother and has compassion on all of us. Here is what Servant of God, John Paul II said to these women in his encyclical Evangelium Vitae on the Feast of the Annunciation several years ago:

I would now like to say a special word to women who have had an abortion. The church is aware of the many factors which may have influenced your decision, and she does not doubt that in many cases it was a painful and even shattering decision. The wound in your heart may not yet have healed. Certainly what happened was and remains terribly wrong. But do not give in to discouragement and do not lose hope. Try rather to understand what happened and face it honestly. If you have not already done so, give yourselves over with humility and trust to repentance. The Father of mercies is ready to give you his forgiveness and his peace in the sacrament of reconciliation. You will come to understand that nothing is definitively lost, and you will also be able to ask forgiveness from your child, who is now living in the Lord. With the friendly and expert help and advice of other people and as a result of your own painful experience, you can be among the most eloquent defenders of everyone's right to life. Through your commitment to life, whether by accepting the birth of other children or by welcoming and caring for those most in need of someone to be close to them, you will become promoters of a new way of looking at human life. (no. 99)

If anyone is troubled because of an abortion or pressure to have an abortion, she should not hesitate to call me or check out www.goodcounselhomes.org or http://www.rcan.org/life/.

Fr. Stanley

Sunday, March 30, 2008

2008-03-26T18:50:00.001-04:00

Divine Mercy...

Eight years ago Pope John Paul II named the Second Sunday of Easter "Divine Mercy Sunday" during the canonization Mass of St. Maria Faustyna. Just over 70 years ago, Jesus appeared to St. Faustyna and told her that it was His desire that we celebrate this special feast of his Mercy on the first Sunday after Easter. Here is what He said:

On that day the very depths of my tender Mercy are open.

I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon these souls who approach the fount of my mercy [the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist].

The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment.

On that day all the divine floodgates through which grace flow are opened.

Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet.

The Feast of Mercy emerged from my very depths of tenderness.

It is my desire that it be solemnly celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter.

Our Lord has a tremendous heart. He desires intensely that we allow Him to forgive our sins. If we are separated from Him, it is not his fault but ours. Many willingly keep themselves separated from Him because they want to hold onto their own ways of doing things and their own plans and desires. Without realizing it, they miss out on so much love and so much peace.

Today, we will recite the Chaplet of Mercy twice: at 10 am in Polish (before the Polish Mass) and after the 11:30 am Mass in English. This will give most people the opportunity to participate together in this prayer of mercy. A good Confession before Easter and receiving Holy Communion today will merit complete forgiveness of your sins (as long as no serious sins were committed after that Confession).

May each of us avail ourselves of this wonderful gift. Moreover, may more and more people throughout the world know the Divine Mercy.

Fr. Stanley

Easter Sunday, March 23, 2008

2008-03-18T21:18:00.001-04:00

Easter, Spring, the Resurrection..

Easter is the greatest feast in the Church—actually it’s the commemoration of the greatest event in history. Without it all our faith would be in vain (1 Cor 15:14-17). Easter is the celebration of our redemption. On Good Friday Jesus made satisfaction for our sins, and this continues to happen in each and every Mass throughout the world. His Death conquered sin. He conquered the effects of sin: death itself when He rose on the third day. Through Baptism we become members of the Body of Christ. Therefore, we will share in His Resurrection provided that we remain living members and do not become dead members through serious sin. Yet, even when a person dies to the life of Christ, it can easily be restored to life through the Sacrament of Reconciliation or Penance. Confession is so readily available for us because Jesus loves us so much and does not want even one person to be lost because of serious sins.

The Resurrection took place after the Passover Feast which took place after the first full moon of spring. The word “Easter" is not a Christian term. It was the pagan name for a goddess of the dawn or spring. Because the old pagan rites of spring coincided with Our Lord's rising from the dead, "Easter" came to mean the celebration of the Resurrection. There is a good feeling that usually comes with the warmer weather and longer days of spring. This is really nothing in comparison with the joy of knowing that Christ lives and that we have everlasting life because we are united with Him.

May not one of us die through sin. May we each always be live members of the Body of our risen Lord.

Fr. Stanley Kostrzomb

Sunday, March 16, 2008

2008-03-12T19:52:00.000-04:00

Examination of Conscience—conclusion

8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

Have I lied?

Have I sworn falsely?

Have I plagiarized or been academically dishonest?

Have I gossiped?

Have I revealed secrets or confidential information without good reason?

Have I ruined the good name of others by spreading lies or maliciously revealing their faults and sins?

9. You shall not desire your neighbor’s wife.

Have I deliberately and consciously permitted sexual thoughts about anyone besides my spouse?

Do I guard my imagination and senses?

Have I watched shows, plays, pictures or movies that contain impure scenes with the deliberate intention of being aroused by them?

Am I responsible about what I read?

10. You shall not desire your neighbor’ goods.

Am I envious of the possessions, abilities, talents, beauty, or success of others?

You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Do I love my neighbor?

Is there anyone whom I do not love or refuse to love?

Have I wished harm or misfortune on anyone?

Do I forgive from my heart those who have hurt me?

Do I harbor hatred or grudges?

Do I pray for my enemies?

Have I ridiculed or humiliated others?

Do I seek to help others in need?

Do I love myself as God loves me?

Do I care for my physical, emotional, and spiritual health?

Do I forgive myself for my sins after bringing them to God in the Sacrament of Reconciliation?

Precepts of the Church

Have I deliberately missed Mass on a Sunday or Holy Day of obligation without a serious reason?

Do I go to confession at least once a year when I have serious sins to confess?

Do I receive Holy Communion, at least once during Eastertime?

Do I take part in the major feasts celebrating Our Lord, the Virgin Mary, and the saints?

Do I abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent (for ages 14 and over) and fast on one full meal on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday (for ages 18-59)?

Do I fast for one hour before Holy Communion (water and medicine allowed)?

Do I contribute to support the material needs of the Church?

See also: Knights of Columbus website, A Guide to Confession.

Throughout the year may we regularly and frequently make good examinations of conscience and good Confessions. This is the key to healing, happiness and authentic spiritual growth.

Fr. Stanley

Sunday March 9, 2008

2008-03-05T20:56:00.004-05:00

Examination of Conscience—continued from last week...

3. Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day.

Do I try to keep Sunday as a day of prayer, rest, and relaxation, avoiding unnecessary work?

Have I deliberately come late or left early from Mass without a good reason?

4. Honor your father and your mother.

Do I honor and respect my parents?

Have I deliberately hurt my parents?

Do I treat my children with love and respect?

Do I support and care for the well-being of all family members?

Have I neglected family duties?

Do I honor and obey my lawful superiors?

5. You shall not kill.

Have I deliberately harmed anyone?

Have I had an abortion or encouraged an abortion?

Have I attempted suicide or seriously considered it?

Have I abused drugs or alcohol?

Have I led anyone to sin through bad example or through direct encouragement?

6. You shall not commit adultery.

For the married:

Am I faithful to my spouse in thought and action?

Have I used artificial contraception, or been sterilized?

Was I married outside the Church without proper permission of the Church?

For the unmarried:

Have I engaged in sexual activity with anyone of either sex?

For all:

Have I deliberately viewed pornographic magazines, videos, or internet websites?

Have I done impure actions alone or with another?

Have I used impure language or told impure jokes?

Do I dress modestly?

7. You shall not steal.

Have I stolen or accepted stolen goods?

Have I deliberately destroyed the property of others?

Have I cheated anyone of what I owe?

Do I gamble excessively?

Do I share what I have with the poor and the Church according to my means?

Have I pirated materials: videos, music, software?

The conclusion is next week.

See also: Knights of Columbus website, A Guide to Confession.

Fr. Stanley

Sunday, March 2, 2008

2008-02-28T19:18:00.004-05:00

Confession and the Examination of Conscience...

The following is taken from the Knights of Columbus website, ‘A Guide to Confession.’ It is helpful to review this and to make thorough good confessions not only now during Lent but frequently throughout the year.

As followers of Jesus, we need to examine our lives and recognize our sinful thoughts, words, deeds, and omissions so that we can bring them to God for forgiveness. Such an examination of conscience should be done regularly, always with trust in God’s mercy and love and in the power of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We all sin, but we do not all acknowledge our sins.

Sin is the deliberate violation of God’s law. Mortal sin is a deliberate and free choice of something known to be seriously wrong that destroys our friendship with God and separates us from him (cf. 1 Jn 5:16-17). All of the following three conditions must be met for a sin to be mortal:

(1) it must be something serious;

(2) it must be done with sufficient knowledge of its gravity; and

(3) it must be done with sufficient freedom of the will.

Venial sin is a minor offense against God’s law that hurts our relationship with God but does not destroy it.

EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE

1. I am the Lord your God. You shall not have strange gods before me.

Do I seek to love God with all my heart and with all my soul and with all my strength (Dt 6:5)?

Do I put anything or anyone above God?

Do I pray daily?

Have I had any involvement with the occult, witchcraft, wicca, ouija boards, seances, tarot cards, new age crystals, fortune telling, or the like?

Have I put faith in horoscopes?

Have I received Holy Communion in the state of mortal sin?

Have I abused the Sacrament of Penance by lying to the priest or deliberately not confessing a mortal sin?

Have I denied a truth of the faith out of concern for the respect or opinion of others?

2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

Have I used God’s holy name irreverently?

Have I blasphemed God, the Church, Mary, the saints, or sacred places or things?

Continued next week...

Fr. Stanley

Sunday, February 24, 2008

2008-02-20T19:10:00.001-05:00

800 Million Are Hungry...

In one of his Angelus addresses last November, Pope Benedict spoke about the crisis of world hunger. Astoundingly, over 800 million people go hungry and suffer from malnutrition. Adults and children are dying of hunger. To address this tragedy, Benedict XVI stressed the need "to eliminate the structural causes linked to the system of government of the world economy, which allocates the greater part of the planet's resources to a minority of the population."

It comes down to the fact that, relatively speaking, a few have much while many have little and not even enough to sustain life. This tragedy is even more egregious when we realize the tons of waste in our society: the waste of food, the waste of clothing, the waste of equipment, and the waste of natural resources. The Pope sees and we see this as a great injustice. He said that there needs to be a change of attitude towards the use of resources on a world wide scale. Moreover, he indicated, as previous Popes have, that everyone has the responsibility to do something to alleviate hunger in the world.

Those of us who went to Catholic elementary school a few decades ago may remember “Mite Boxes” during Lent. We children would give up candy or something else each day from Ash Wednesday to Holy Week. The pennies that we saved as a result would go into our own individual cardboard boxes called “mite” (a mite was a small coin used during Jesus’ time). All of our Mite Boxes were collected before the Easter vacation. I am sure that at that time every Catholic school was able to send hundreds of dollars to the missions in order to feed the poor. We can do the same today by making little sacrifices; we can send the money that we would have spent on a dessert, drink, movie, etc. to a charity like Catholic Relief Services.

Pope Benedict concluded his address with: "Jesus taught his disciples to pray, asking the heavenly Father not for 'my' but for 'our' daily bread. Thus he wanted every man to feel co-responsible for his brothers, so that no one would be without what is necessary to live."

Fr. Stanley

Sunday, February 17, 2008

2008-02-16T21:35:00.002-05:00

Marriage...

Around Valentine's day each year, the Church recognizes and celebrates marriage. Today, February 17, is that day. God instituted it at the beginning of the creation of Adam and Eve. Man and woman He made them, and He said "Be fruitful and multiply...." From that time on men and women have been entering this vocation out of love and to have children.

You will not find a time or place in history when same-sex marriage was sanctioned. Spin a globe and pick virtually any place on earth at any previous time in human history; you will find that they do marriages one way: between men and a woman. There may be other differences but marriage has always required a husband and a wife. Why? Marriage teaches that men and women need each other and that children need mothers and fathers. A loving and compassionate society comes to the aid of motherless and fatherless children, but no compassionate society intentionally deprives children of their mom and dad. But this is what every same-sex home does—and for no other reason but to satisfy adult desire.

Because marriage between a man and a woman is God's plan, it is understandable why the following facts are true in the majority.

Marriage reduces the risk of poverty for children and communities.

Fatherless households increase crime.

Marriage protects children's physical and mental health.

Both men and women who marry live longer, healthier, and happier lives.

Children whose parents cohabit are at increased risk for domestic violence and child abuse and neglect.

Children whose parents divorced or never get married have lower grade point averages.

When marriages fail, ties between parents and children typically weaken.

I know that marriages often have difficulties—some serious. The reason is that we are human beings and are not perfect. Each person brings his or her weaknesses and shortcomings to the marriage. But, the special love of marriage truly does conquer adversity.

Marriage works by fostering commitment, trust, fidelity, and cooperation between a man and a woman.

God already blesses marriage. May each of us pray for and be of help to husbands and wives in their marriages.

Fr. Stanley

Sunday, February 10, 2008

2008-02-06T19:29:00.000-05:00

Evangelization - part v...

Here is the conclusion of the Oct. 26, 2007 address of Denver’s Archbishop Charles Chaput at St. John's University School of Law in Queens, New York. The talked is titled "Church and State Today: What Belongs to Caesar, and What Doesn't." It is well worth reading and saving:

“The early Christians staked their lives on the belief that God is our Father. They respected Caesar, but they didn't confuse him with God, and they put God first. They believed the Church is our mother. They believed their bishops and priests were spiritual fathers and that through the sacraments they were made children of God, or "partakers of the divine nature," as Peter said.

“It's time for all of us who claim to be "Catholic" to recover our Catholic identity as disciples of Jesus Christ and missionaries of his Church. In the long run, we serve our country best by remembering that we're citizens of heaven first. We're better Americans by being more truly Catholic—and the reason why, is that unless we live our Catholic faith authentically, with our whole heart and our whole strength, we have nothing worthwhile to bring to the public debates that will determine the course of our nation.

“Pluralism in a democracy doesn't mean shutting up about inconvenient issues. It means speaking up—respectfully, in a spirit of justice and charity, but also vigorously and without apologies. Jesus said that we will know the truth, and the truth will make us free. He didn't say anything about our being popular with worldly authority once we have that freedom. In the end, if we want our lives to be fruitful, we need to know ourselves as God intends us to be known—as his witnesses on earth, not just in our private behavior, but in our public actions, including our social, economic, and political choices.

“If pagan Rome could be won for Jesus Christ, surely we can do the same in our own world. What it takes is the zeal and courage to live what we claim to believe. All of us here tonight already have that desire in our hearts. So let's pray for each other, and encourage each other, and get down to the Lord's work.

This talk of Archbishop Chaput gives us great hope. The realization that the members of the same Catholic Church in the first few centuries faced a pagan world similar to ours. Yet, their love for Christ converted that world. We are doing the same today. Never lose your hope nor your zeal.

Fr. Stanley

Sunday, February 3, 2008

2008-01-30T22:14:00.000-05:00

Evangelization - part iv...

Here continues the Oct. 26, 2007 address of Denver’s Archbishop Charles Chaput at St. John's University School of Law in Queens, New York. The talk is titled "Church and State Today: What Belongs to Caesar, and What Doesn't." It is well worth reading and saving:

“Athenagoras, a Christian layman, told the Emperor Marcus Aurelius in the year A.D. 176 that abortion was "murder" and that those involved would have to "give an account to God." And he told the emperor the reason why: "For we regard the very fetus in the womb as a created being, and therefore an object of God's care."

“As this audience already knows, Christian reverence for the unborn child is no medieval development. It comes from the very beginnings of our faith. The early Church had no debates over politicians and communion. There wasn't any need. No persons who tolerated or promoted abortion would have dared to approach the Eucharistic table, let alone dared to call themselves true Christians.

“And here's why: The early Christians understood that they were the offspring of a new worldwide family of God. They saw the culture around them as a culture of death, a society that was slowly extinguishing itself. In fact, when you read early Christian literature, practices like adultery and abortion are often described as part of "the way of death" or the "way of the [devil]."

“There's an interesting line in a Second Century apologetic work written by Minucius Felix. He was a Roman lawyer and a convert. He's talking about a birth-control drug that works as an abortifacient. He describes its effects this way: "There are women who swallow drugs to stifle in their own womb the beginnings" of a person to be.

“That's what the first Christians saw around them in their world. They believed the world was snuffing out its own future. It was stifling future generations before they could come to be. It was slowly killing itself.

“Since we see similar signs in our own day, we need to find the courage those first Christians had in challenging their culture. We need to believe not only what they believed. We need to believe those things with the same deep fervor.

...continued next week

Sunday, January 27, 2008

2008-01-23T19:17:00.000-05:00

Evangelization - part iii...

Continued here is the Oct. 26, 2007 address of Denver’s Archbishop Charles Chaput at St. John's University School of Law in Queens, New York. The talk is titled "Church and State Today: What Belongs to Caesar, and What Doesn't." It is well worth reading and saving:

“I'm not a historian or a sociologist, so I'll leave it to others to fully evaluate Rodney Stark's work.* But Stark does address a couple of key questions: How did Christianity succeed? How was it able to accomplish so much so fast? Stark is not only a social scientist, but also a self-described agnostic. So he has no interest in talking about God's will or the workings of the Holy Spirit. He focuses only on facts he can verify.

“Stark concludes that Christian success flowed from two things: first, Christian doctrine, and second, people being faithful to that doctrine. Stark writes: "An essential factor in the [Christian] religion's success was what Christians believed. ... And it was the way those doctrines took on actual flesh, the way they directed organizational actions and individual behavior, that led to the rise of Christianity."

“Let's put it in less academic terms: The Church, through the Apostles and their successors, preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ. People believed in the Gospel. But they weren't just agreeing to a set of ideas. Believing in the Gospel meant changing their whole way of thinking and living. It was a radical transformation. So radical they couldn't go on living like the people around them anymore.

“Stark shows that one of the key areas in which Christians rejected the culture around them was marriage and the family. From the start, to be a Christian meant believing that sex and marriage were sacred. From the start, to be a Christian meant rejecting abortion, infanticide, birth control, divorce, homosexual activity and marital infidelity—all those things widely practiced by their Roman neighbors.

...continued next week

*“The Rise of Christianity" by the Baylor University scholar Rodney Stark

Sunday, January 20, 2008

2008-01-16T19:56:00.000-05:00

Evangelization - part ii...

Here continues the Oct. 26, 2007 address of Denver’s Archbishop Charles Chaput at St. John's University School of Law in Queens, New York. The talk is titled "Church and State Today: What Belongs to Caesar, and What Doesn't." It is well worth reading and saving:

“We don't usually think of Plato and Aristotle endorsing abortion or infanticide as state policy. But they did. Hippocrates, the great medical pioneer, also famously created an abortion kit that included sharp blades for cutting up the fetus and a hook for ripping it from the womb. We rarely connect that with his Hippocratic Oath. But some years ago, archeologists discovered the remains of what appeared to be a Roman-era abortion or infanticide "clinic." It was a sewer filled with the bones of more than 100 infants.

“If you haven't done so already, I'd encourage you to pick up a little book written about 10 years ago, "The Rise of Christianity" by the Baylor University scholar Rodney Stark. You'll find all of this history in its pages and more.

“But what does ancient Rome have to do with my topic tonight, the relationship of Church and State today?

“Let me explain it this way: People often say we're living at a "post-Christian" moment. That's supposed to describe the fact that Western nations have abandoned or greatly downplayed their Christian heritage in recent decades. But our "post-Christian" moment actually looks a lot like the pre-Christian moment. The signs of our times in the developed nations—morally, intellectually, spiritually and even demographically—are uncomfortably similar to the signs in the world at the time of the Incarnation.

“Drawing lessons from history is a subjective business. There's always the risk of oversimplifying.

“But I do believe that the challenges we face as American Catholics today are very much like those faced by the first Christians. And it might help to have a little perspective on how they went about evangelizing their culture. They did such a good job that within 400 years Christianity was the world's dominant religion and the foundation of Western civilization. If we can learn from that history, the more easily God will work through us to spark a new evangelization.

...continued next week

Sunday, January 13, 2008

2008-01-09T20:44:00.000-05:00

Evangelization - part i....

For the next few weeks, this Pastor’s column will consist of the talk given by Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver on our need to bear witness to the Faith. His address was given delivered Oct. 26 at St. John's University School of Law in Queens, New York. The talked is titled "Church and State Today: What Belongs to Caesar, and What Doesn't." I found it both inspiring and encouraging to read. So, I share it with you.

“I want to quickly sketch for you the picture of an anonymous culture. But everything I'm about to tell you comes from the factual record.

“This society is advanced in the sciences and the arts. It has a complex economy and a strong military. It includes many different religions, although religion tends to be a private affair or a matter of civic ceremony.

“This particular society also has big problems. Among them is that fertility rates remain below replacement levels. There aren't enough children being born to replenish the current adult population and to do the work needed to keep society going. The government offers incentives to encourage people to have more babies. But nothing seems to work.

“Promiscuity is common and accepted. So are bisexuality and homosexuality. So is prostitution. Birth control and abortion are legal, widely practiced, and justified by society's leading intellectuals.

“Every now and then, a lawmaker introduces a measure to promote marriage, arguing that the health and future of society depend on stable families. These measures typically go nowhere.

Ok. What society am I talking about? Our own country, of course, would broadly fit this description. But I'm not talking about us.

“I've just outlined the conditions of the Mediterranean world at the time of Christ. We tend to idealize the ancients, to look back at Greece and Rome as an age of extraordinary achievements. And of course, it was. But it had another side as well.

...continued next week

Sunday, January 6, 2008

2008-01-02T19:59:00.000-05:00

The Magi and Adoration...

This first Sunday of the New Year commemorates the visit of the three Magi to the infant Jesus. They were Gentiles, that is not Jews, and as such represented all peoples of every nation and language. The very neighbors of the Holy Family did not recognize the King in their town. The shepherds did see Jesus as the Savior and the Christ, but only after being told so by an angel of the Lord. The Magi by reason of their good hearts and openness to the truth had to have received inspiration from God to know that a star would lead them to a new King. They trusted that they would find Him and were not deterred by a long arduous journey. Nor were they dismayed at finding the King in a humble abode. They simply were filled with joy because their perseverance brought them to the greatest King of all. They were the first of the gentiles to adore our Lord and to give Him gifts. The gift of gold represented his Kingship; frankincense represented his holiness, that He was of God; myrrh indicated his death.

They did not have the privilege of knowing that all things, including themselves, were created by Him. He is Lord of all things in Heaven and earth. They were as yet unaware that his passion and death would be their Redemption and the Redemption of all mankind. But these wise men came from Persia which is modern day Iran and Iraq

These wise men probably did not know the mystery of the Blessed Trinity and that this was the Son of God, the second Person. He is Holiness itself. These three men from the East knew that there was something unique and very special about this Child. He was revealed to them as the Messiah, God made man. They responded accordingly by kneeling in adoration.

What a great example the Magi are for us. His Godhead lies hidden in the Blessed Sacrament. We were given the gift of faith to see what we fail to see with our eyes. The Magi teach us the joy that we should have before Our Lord in the Tabernacle. They teach us to give to Jesus the best gifts that we have which is the gift of ourselves. What a truly tremendous Gift we have in every tabernacle of every Catholic Church throughout the world. What a privilege it is to be able to come before Him often.

We are privileged in our parish to have Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament each Thursday. We are grateful to those parishioners who are there each hour so that the church can remain open for all to come and adore just as the Magi did. May we take advantage of this opportunity.

Fr. Stanley

Sunday, December 30, 2007

2007-12-26T19:36:00.000-05:00

Family...

Today is the feast of the Holy Family. The Son of God wanted his saving work to begin within an ordinary family. St. Joseph was the father according to the law and provided for Mary and Jesus. Mary with him took care of her Son. The three lived in service of each other, doing God’s will always. This family was the example par excellence what every family should be.

As technologies advance and economies grow, families become less and less a unit. While in the past the family meal was pretty much common place, now it is a rarity. There isn’t the time to take an adequate interest in each other or to enjoy each other. To have healthy children who have self worth and are happy, it is important for them to be with their parents (or parent in the case of a single-parent family) at home and outside of the home, sharing various activities.

An essential element in sharing time together is the time spent in prayer. Servant of God Pope John Paul II, in his apostolic exhortation on the family, had this to say:

Do you teach your children the Christian prayers? Do you prepare them, in conjunction with the priests, for the sacraments that they receive when they are young—Confession, Communion and Confirmation? Do you encourage them when they are sick, to think of Christ suffering, to invoke the aide of the Blessed Virgin and the Saints? Do you say the family Rosary together...? Do you pray with your children...at least sometimes? Your example of honesty in thought and action, joined to some common prayer, is a lesson for life and an act of worship of singular value. In this way you bring peace to your homes... (Familiaris Consortio, no. 60).

This takes time and devotion. May parents make this time, and may children cooperate with their parents. Moreover, may our government make it possible. Parents should not be compelled to give more and more of their time to work in order to make a decent living for their families. Nor should they be forced to do so in order to pay outlandish taxes. The government should protect and support the family unit, rather than making it more difficult to be together.

As we close 2007 and begin 2008, may the members of each family grow in their appreciation of one another. May they forgive and forget past injuries and begin anew always looking forward to being together.

Fr. Stanley

Sunday, December 23, 2007

2007-12-18T19:46:00.000-05:00

Hope...

Just three weeks ago on the first Sunday of Advent, Pope Benedict issued his encyclical Spe Salve (Hope of Salvation). “Hope” for most people means a desire for something good. It is often based on chance; that is, while there is a reasonable expectation that the desired good thing could happen, it may not happen. The hope of which the Holy Father writes is the theological virtue of hope. It, like faith and charity, is a supernatural gift of God. The virtue of hope enables us to firmly trust that God will give us eternal life and all the means necessary to obtain it. The Pope wrote:

...it consists in the knowledge of God, in the discovery of his heart as a good and merciful Father...

With his death on the cross and his resurrection (Jesus) has revealed to us his countenance, the countenance of a God so great in love as to communicate to us an indestructible hope, a hope that not even death can crack, because the life of those who entrust themselves to this Father always opens onto the perspective of eternal beatitude.

Because his Passion and Death on the Cross, we know not only that has Jesus opened the Kingdom of Heaven for us, but also that He gives each of us more than we need in order to get to Heaven. Without this faith, there is hopelessness. Living a life in which one hopes for better times or a nicer world is existing without hope. Jesus Christ gives us the true meaning of life. He gives us hope.

In just two days we will commemorate His birth. May each of us realize that He is the greatest gift of all—a Gift beyond imagining! May we live always in hope, and may more of our brothers and sisters do so too. May we all have the joy of hope.

Fr. Stanley

Sunday, December 16, 2007

2007-12-12T19:49:00.000-05:00

Joy...

We are nearer each day to the celebration of Jesus’ birth. Children have a great sense of joy, eagerly looking forward to Christmas presents and, as an added bonus, vacation from school. This joy is merely symbolic of the happiness of having Our Lord near us. Nothing can really compare to the joy of being in the presence of Christ.

Christian happiness is profound and everlasting. Worldly happiness leads to its own loss. It is transitory, unsustainable. When we have Jesus within our souls, we carry joy in our hearts and minds. This joy can help us in difficult times. Pain, discomfort, and contradictions cannot affect it. Jesus promised us: “Your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.” (John 16:22) This is true as long as we do not separate ourselves from the source of our happiness, Jesus.

The state of grace means that Jesus is with us; He is within us. We are members of the Church which is His Body. He is among us also as we pray with others. This is joy. Now, can you imagine the joy of encountering Him in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Confession? In merciful love, He takes away our sins. His love replaces the misery of bad deeds, words, thoughts, and desires. The penitent is at last free and filled with the Love of all loves. Then, imagine the joy of actually receiving his Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity in Holy Communion. He is one with us.

I ask, “Can you imagine the joy...” Of course, you and I can because we go to Confession and receive Him. Let us show and communicate this joy with others.

Today is called Gaudete Sunday meaning Rejoice Sunday because we are more than halfway through Advent to Christmas. That is why rose vestments can be worn. Rose is a liturgical color symbolizing joy. May this joy always be in our hearts.

Fr. Stanley

Sunday, December 9, 2007

2007-12-05T19:55:00.000-05:00

St. John the Baptist and us...

As we continue our spiritual reflection in preparation for Christmas, it is worth meditating on St. John the Baptist. He is a good example for us. St. John’s whole life was determined by his vocation, that is, to prepare the people to receive Jesus. He carried out this task without holding back; he gave up his life for this purpose. He did not consider himself, not his desires or comforts. He did not say that he was the cousin of the God’s Son or that he was the son of Zachariah of the priestly tribe. No, he said that he was the voice of one crying in the wilderness, one who was not worthy to unfasten the sandal straps of Jesus.

John teaches us that one’s vocation encompasses one’s entire life. To be fulfilled and happy each of us has to be devoted to working in that vocation well. I must be a good technician, for instance, a good secretary, a good sales rep, etc. In doing so, each of us pleases God and helps society. Moreover, most have a primary vocation of being a good husband and father, a good wife and mother, a good neighbor. Fulfilling this vocation certainly brings happiness to those closest to us.

Like the Baptist, we should want to bring others to Jesus. By being friendly and helpful to others, we are preparing an environment that can be receptive to God. Each of us can ask ourselves certain key questions. Do I desire to bring the people around us closer to God? Do I give good example in the workplace, at home and in public places? Do I speak about God to my relatives, friends and colleagues?

We should not make ourselves the center of attention. Without humility we cannot bring other to Jesus. What is important is that Christ should be announced, known and loved. Only He has the words of eternal life.

One most worthy way of imitating the zeal of St. John the Baptist is to invite someone to Church. We should not be hesitant to ask a friend, relative or coworker to come with us to Confession and to Mass. Sometimes such an invitation is much appreciated. This is something that we can always think about doing, not just now as we approach Christmas, but always throughout the year.

Fr. Stanley

Sunday, December 2, 2007

2007-11-29T19:43:00.000-05:00

Advent...

In today’s Gospel, Our Lord tells us to wake from sleep and to watch. We have to take time to consider what meaning our life has here and now. As we were reminded last week on the feast of Christ the King, Jesus gives true meaning to each of our lives. The Incarnation, God made man, effected a radical change to the universe. Jesus taught us what it means to be human—to be in the image and likeness of God. If we do not see this clearly, it is time to remove whatever interferes with our vision.

The Church gives us this Season of Advent to make a thorough and honest examination of conscience and to purify our souls through Confession so that each of us can welcome and receive our Savior. This is the time to see those things, attitudes, and dispositions that separate us from Him. We have to look deep down inside ourselves to confront the root causes of being lukewarm or cool in our relationship with Him. Through Confession, prayer, and penance, we are released from the hold of these bad influences and traps.

Just as we look for the causes of bodily sickness or a general malaise, we examine our hearts and souls to learn why we are not as close to Jesus as we should be. Carefully going over the Ten Commandments is necessary. Also, it is beneficial to consider the influence of the seven capital sins: pride, covetousness, envy, sloth, lust, avarice, and gluttony. How many of these are within our actions, our thoughts, our words, and the way we look at persons and things.

It is not easy to do this because we are leaving ourselves open to a realistic evaluation of ourselves. We have to let go of that often false, perfect self image. Most of us would like to see ourselves as selfless, noble, and good. We, however, have to see the selfish and bad things lurking inside. This is the only way to spiritual healing. Then, we bring these to Confession, and we are cleansed by Christ. His strength and love take the place of the corruption of sin.

When Christmas arrives, the new born King should find us with everything in order and with each of our souls ready to receive Him.

Fr. Stanley

Sunday, November 25, 2007

2007-11-20T21:41:00.000-05:00

Christ, the Center of Our Lives...

It’s no news that time certainly goes by quickly. Here we are on Thanksgiving weekend. The media and the world of commerce call this the traditional start to the holiday season. It used to be called the Christmas Season. But then, the secularists have removed God from the public square. Of course, they make a concession by allowing the expression of religion if it is kept behind closed doors. How can we relegate God to only a part of our world—to only a part of our lives? The answer is that we can’t. Believing in God involves a relationship, and that relationship is one of love. He personally loves each one of us, and our natural response is to love Him.

Today, the last Sunday of the Church year, is the feast of Christ the King. By confessing his kingship, we are professing that He is the center of each of our lives. Each of us will certainly die sometime. We will not just cease to exist and pass into nothingness. We will go on living although separated for a time from our bodies. We hope that we will have the real life of Heaven and not a deadly existence without God which is called hell. The fullness of life with God begins here on earth with Baptism and continues with keeping Him in our daily lives. We realize that true life, freedom and happiness consist in doing his will.

Most Americans thanked God a couple of days ago for the food and other things that they have. May they not put Him on the shelf until next Thanksgiving. As Catholics we keep the subject of today’s feast alive everyday: Jesus Christ is our one and only King.

Next Sunday, we will begin our preparation for the commemoration of the birth of our King. Advent is one more period of time for spiritual growth. We should ask how prepared are we to receive Him daily and to express our love for Him. May each of us be a faithful witness to our love for Him. Just as the early Christians were a leaven for the world, may we be a holy influence on our society today. Then, perhaps more and more will be getting ready to celebrate not the holiday season but the CHRISTmas Season .

Fr. Stanley