Catholic News & Perspective

The Good News leads to seeing with eyes of faith

Mon, 11 Sep 2023 12:00:00 GMT

What really matters? Most of us have had an experience that causes us to ask this question. Our lives are filled with activity, much of it necessary, some of it surely not. On most days many of us feel we have little time for anything beyond a quick prayer, a fast-food meal, and then total collapse at the end of the day (yet statistics indicate we seem to find endless hours to watch television). And then something happens: a death or diagnosis of serious illness; a natural disaster that takes with it human life and property; unemployment or underemployment affecting physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. That “something” may happen to us, to someone near us, or to someone around the world, but in that moment, as circumstances suddenly change, our perspective is changed as well, and we may ask, “What really matters, after all?”

The Good News of Jesus Christ focuses our attention beyond the mundane, toward that which is of lasting value. When our lives are directed by our relationship with the God of Love, we order our actions, words and attitudes to reflect that Love. That is the real meaning of our life in Christ, and the call of disciples and stewards. By seeing with the eyes of faith, we gain holy perspective and realize that our stewardship of life, time and resources is the means by which we show Christ’s love in the world.

This article comes to you from Grace In Action ( Our Sunday Visitor ) courtesy of your parish or diocese.

Prayer conserves faith

Mon, 11 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT

“It is prayer that conserves the faith, without it faith falters!” — Pope Francis

Reflection : Prayer is a typical reaction to news of tragedies or violence. How has prayer in such times helped you stay focused on God’s vision for the world? How was your response to the situation shaped by how you prayed individually or with others?

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The saint who guided the Church through turbulent times

Mon, 11 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT

by Russell Shaw

If, as I expect, there is a reward in heaven for doing your duty, Pope Paul VI’s heavenly reward must be great indeed. For this was a pope who at the turning point of his pontificate not only did his duty but, thereafter, paid dearly for having done it.

Perhaps, in a general way, he saw it coming. Six weeks after he was elected pope, he wrote privately, “I was solitary before, but now my solitariness becomes complete and awesome. … My duty is to plan, decide, assume every responsibility, and guide others, even when it seems illogical and perhaps absurd. And to suffer alone. … Me and God.”

By the end, says Irish historian Eamon Duffy, “tribulation had become the element he moved in.” But even so, and despite bearing the weight of the papacy in troubled times, this sensitive, highly conscientious man was moved to write, “I am full of consolation, overcome with joy, throughout every tribulation.” Reading that, one recalls the words of another man named Paul: “For as Christ’s sufferings overflow to us, so through Christ* does our encouragement also overflow” (2 Cor 1:5).

Early life and ministry

Giovanni Battista Montini was born Sept. 26, 1897, in Concesio, a village near Brescia in northern Italy. His father, Giorgio, was a lawyer, journalist, Catholic Action leader and member of the Italian parliament. He entered the seminary in 1916 and was ordained a priest in 1920. In Rome, he studied at the Gregorian University, La Sapienza University, and the “Accademia” where promising young priests were trained for the diplomatic service of the Holy See.

In 1922, he began work in the Vatican. After serving briefly at the papal nunciature in Poland, he returned to Rome and took up duties in the Secretariat of State, where he was to remain until 1954. In 1937, with Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli as Secretary of State, he was named Sostituto for Ordinary Affairs — in effect, Assistant Secretary of State and papal chief of staff. When Cardinal Pacelli became Pope Pius XII in 1939, Msgr. Montini became the pope’s private secretary as well. Later, he was to express deep admiration for Pope Pius, whom he called a man of “great strength and fearless courage.”

Working at the heart of Vatican affairs during World War II, he headed an information office in the Secretariat of State that fielded requests — nearly 10 million of them in the end — for help in locating and assisting refugees and prisoners of war. During the German occupation of Rome in 1943, he directed Vatican efforts to shelter local Jews from Nazi efforts to round them up for shipment to death camps. Some 4,700 Jews were housed in convents, monasteries and other religious houses around Rome while another 12,000 lived at the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo.

In 1954, Pius XII named him to head the giant Archdiocese of Milan, with 1,000 churches, 2,500 priests, and 3.5 million Catholics, one of the world’s largest. In December of 1958, Pope John XXIII made him a cardinal.

Elected pope to succeed John XXIII

The following month, Pope John surprised everyone by announcing a new ecumenical council. Skeptical regarding the council at first. Cardinal Montini nevertheless emerged as a major figure at the Second Vatican Council’s first session in the fall of 1962. Elected on June 21, 1963, to succeed Pope John, he declared that the council should continue, presided over its next three sessions and then turned his attention to working for its implementation.

In the early years of his pontificate, Pope Paul enjoyed a number of notable successes. Besides bringing Vatican II to an upbeat conclusion, these included a historic meeting in Jerusalem with the Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, followed by steps toward healing the split between Catholicism and Orthodoxy, a dramatic 1965 visit to the United Nations in New York, where he issued an appeal for “No more war,” and an important 1967 social encyclical, Populorum Progressio , aligning the Church with the developing nations.

Open to transmission of life

Then came birth control.

Shortly before he died in 1963, Pope John established a commission on “population, family, and birth rate” to prepare for the Holy See’s preparation in an international conference. Early in the game, however, the commission added new members and expanded its mandate to include questions about contraception, including whether the recently introduced birth control “pill” was morally acceptable .

Maneuvering rapidly intensified within the commission — now universally known as the “birth control commission” — as well as among interested outside parties. In October 1966, Paul took some of the wind out of the sails of the forces pushing for approval of contraception by saying the matter involved issues that lay beyond the competence of the commission. Even so, in the spring of 1967 internal documents — misnamed the “Majority Report” (favoring contraception) and “Minority Report” (opposing) — were leaked to selected media in an obvious attempt to pressure the pope into deciding for change.

Then, on July 25, 1968, Paul VI issued the encyclical Humanae Vitae . “Each and every marital act must of necessity retain its intrinsic relationship to the procreation of human life” (No. 11), he declared.

Humanae Vitae has been praised as a prophetic document for having anticipated the destructive consequences of widespread acceptance of contraception including “conjugal infidelity and the general lowering of morality.” But the immediate reaction to the encyclical was a wave of dissent. The pope stood firm — and suffered for it.

In some ways, the encyclical could hardly have come at a worse time — at the crest of a cultural revolution, itself largely a revolution in sexual morality that swept through both society and the Church. In the United States and other Western countries, priests and religious in large numbers were abandoning the priesthood and religious life while new vocations plummeted. Mass attendance had begun to drop. Ordinary Catholics appeared alienated and confused. Matters reached the point that, in a homily on June 29, 1972, Paul declared that “the smoke of Satan has entered the temple of God.”

Spreading the Gospel to the world

These troubled years did include some papal highlights. One was the publication in December 1975, of Paul VI’s document on evangelization, Evangelii Nuntiandi . Here was a sophisticated yet inspirational message that set the stage for a renewed emphasis on spreading the Gospel to a world described as “buoyed up by hope but at the same time oppressed by fear and distress.”

But the pope’s last years were marked by sadness and tragedy, including the kidnapping by left-wing terrorists of Christian Democratic leader Aldo Moro, an old friend of his. Paul VI pleaded publicly for Moro’s release but to no avail. The terrorists killed him, and Paul, in his last public act, presided at his funeral. Soon after, while resting at Castel Gandolfo, he suffered a massive heart attack and died on Aug. 6, 1978. He was canonized by Pope Francis on Oct. 14, 2018.

In private notes, Paul VI once asked, “Am I Hamlet or Don Quixote?” The conflict this implied — between the idealist and the man tortured by uncertainties — was indeed part of his makeup. But his legacy can better be found in the closing words of Humanae Vitae — the encyclical about which he thought so long and which itself was the turning point of his pontificate. After speaking of “the work of education, of progress and of love” that lay ahead for him and others, Pope Paul concluded:

“Truly a great work, as we are deeply convinced, for the world and for the Church, since man cannot find true happiness — towards which he aspires with all his being — other than in respect for the laws written by God in his very nature, laws which he must observe with intelligence and love.”

This article comes to you from Our Sunday Visitor courtesy of your parish or diocese.

Big “T” traditions

Mon, 11 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Traditions are important to families. Singing the family birthday song, making grandma’s banana bread, praying in a special way at holiday meals — traditions are the foundation on which strong families are built. Likewise, the Church was built upon the rituals and traditions of the apostles and the early Christian communities. This body of ritual and teaching is called Tradition (with a capital T), and it serves as a unifying force in the Church today. This Tradition is so important that the teaching office of the Church, called the magisterium, safeguards it.

We believe that that sacred Word of God is found in both Scripture and Tradition. In fact, the Tradition of the Church was in place before the Gospels were even written. It’s true! We practiced our faith long before we wrote about our faith. The first Christians were already meeting together, mostly in homes, celebrating the Eucharist, sharing the teachings of the apostles and encouraging one another at the time the New Testament was written down. This was the beginning of St. Paul addressing his letters to these early Christian communities.

Those who argue that Scripture alone should be the source of Christian teaching fail to recognize that in the first several centuries of the Church there was no “Bible” in the form we have today. Early Christian communities read from the Old Testament writings, the prophets and from the letters from leaders like Peter and Paul. The earliest writings in the New Testament reflect the belief and practice of the early Christians as the Holy Spirit guided the Church

FAITH AT HOME

Traditions that are handed down through the generations serve not only as the foundation for our faith historically, but are also a vital part of our faith today. Especially through the family, called the “domestic church,” we pass the teachings of our faith on to the next generation, in the words we say, as well as our family rituals and the way we live our daily lives. Today it is important that children and adults alike learn and experience the teachings of our faith in context — in the Christian community of the parish and the home.

Cultivate your family’s faith at home by practicing Sabbath. Make it known that Sunday is a day devoted to family. Be intentional about planning a day of rest and renewal together. Begin with Mass. Prepare a meal together. Share prayers and conversation. Turn off the television (and the computer and MP3 player) and listen to each other. Leave room for silence. At the end of the day, thank God for your family’s blessings.

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September 11, 2023

Mon, 11 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Lk 6:6-11

The Pharisees are now actively looking for reasons to find error in Jesus’ ways. Jesus knows and moves forward demonstrating who he is by what he says and does. Jesus tells his critics that an observant Jew should know not to do the good that can be done, in this case healing, is evil.

We praise you Lord God for showing us what doing good is and giving us the grace to act in accord with your will.

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September 10, 2023

Sun, 10 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Mt 18:15-20

Jesus emphasizes the importance of reconciling a community member who has sinned. There are three stages: personal discussion; discussion with witnesses present; involving the local Church community. If none of these achieve the hoped for result, there may be nothing more they can do for their brother.

All too often, I stand in judgment of those who stray, and worse, I invite others to stand with me. Show me the way to reach out, to invite, to forgive.

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September 9, 2023

Sat, 09 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Lk 6:1-5

The disciples are not “gathering grain,” which is considered work and forbidden on the Sabbath. They’re hungry. The Pharisees assume the worst and confront. Jesus defends his disciples and reminds the Pharisees of the Mosaic law. David had the authority to interpret the law then. Jesus, Son of God, is the Lord of the Sabbath.

Every day is a gift, but Lord’s Day is the high point. It is on that day that we are nourished and strengthened to move forward through the days ahead.

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September 8, 2023

Fri, 08 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Mt 1:1-16, 18-23

Mary’s birthday is one of only three celebrated in the liturgical year placing Mary rightly in the company of John the Baptist and her son Jesus. The long form of Matthew’s Gospel today begins with the genealogy of Jesus through his birth. There are unusual and very human characters in the line of David paving the way for Jesus’ humble, human birth.

You’re wanting to dwell with us in human form says so much about your love for us. Thank you!

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September 7, 2023

Thu, 07 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Lk 5:1-11

Jesus teaches the crowd on shore from Simon’s boat. They depart and Jesus turns to Simon telling him to cast his net. It’s not the best time for fishing, but Simon obeys. He is overwhelmed by the results. Jesus draws the parallel between catching fish and evangelizing people.

Those first disciples left everything behind and followed you. May we have the courage to do the same.

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September 6, 2023

Wed, 06 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Lk 4:38-44

Jesus is received differently in Capernaum then in his hometown. Because of the people’s openness to him, he heals the sick beginning with Simon’s mother-in-law, teaches with authority and silences demons. Naturally, they want him to stay but he tells them that he must leave and proclaim the good news to all people.

How blest are we to be the daughters and sons of a loving and merciful God!

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September 5, 2023

Tue, 05 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Lk 4:31-37

Capernaum, a city on the north shore of Lake Galilee, is to be Jesus’ base during the time of the Galilean ministry. It is the Sabbath, and Jesus is in the local synagogue. He teaches in an authoritative manner, which amazes the people. Even more astonishing, Jesus reprimands a demon. He casts him out of the man demonstrating his power over evil.

O ur world seems to be controlled by all that is evil. We must remember that there is great strength in all that is good as created by you, O God.

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Work is intrinsic to Catholic stewardship

Mon, 04 Sep 2023 12:00:00 GMT

“Work is a fundamental aspect of the human vocation. It is necessary for human happiness and fulfillment. It is intrinsic to responsible stewardship of the world.”
—Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response
U.S. Catholic bishops’ pastoral letter on stewardship

When you meet somebody new, do you find yourself immediately asking, “What do you do for a living?” Jesus Christ worked as a carpenter. The “king of kings” and “lord of lords” may have had a callus or two on His holy hands. We are called to respect the dignity of workers, regardless of title, status or income. Work — whether vocation or a vocation — dignifies the human person. God gave each of us the gift of life and talents to bear for the Kingdom. We are obliged to contribute to the common good, whether we work for a paycheck, within the home or as a volunteer. Ideally, we must discern work that holds meaning for us. And we cannot confuse making a living with being alive.

“Lord Jesus Christ, bless the work of our human hands.” Amen.

Do you balance work and recreation? Does your job allow you to apply your God-given gifts and talents? Are you enthused about your work in the world? If not, check out the book “This Time I Dance:Trusting the Journey of Creating the Work You Love,” by Tama J. Kieves (J.P. Tarcher, 2003).

This article comes to you from Grace In Action ( Our Sunday Visitor ) courtesy of your parish or diocese.

A Parent’s Prayer of Stewardship

Mon, 04 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Lord, I give you thanks for creating me and redeeming me. I give you thanks for allowing me to participate in your creative action through my children.

Assist me in teaching my children that you are with them in all aspects of their lives including their finances.

Help me to always show my children through my words and action that I believe:

Divine Providence can provide.
Divine Providence did provide.
Divine Providence will provide.

Amen

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September 4, 2023

Mon, 04 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Lk 4:16-30

In Luke’s Gospel, this incident in Nazareth takes place at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. As is the custom of a teacher, Jesus quotes a great prophet, Isaiah. Things take a turn when Jesus tells the people that this Scripture passage is fulfilled in him, and like the prophets before him, Jesus is not accepted by his own people.

We pray for those whose are unable to hear you, to see you, to feel your presence, to believe in you.

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September 3, 2023

Sun, 03 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Mt 16:21-27

Following Jesus’ prediction of his passion and death and his exchange with Peter, Jesus tells his disciples about the cost and reward of discipleship. As disciples, their fate will be like his, but they are to go forward, take up the cross and follow. Just as Jesus will be glorified for his fidelity to the Father, so too will they find eternal freedom and joy.

We pray for the courage and determination to follow you no matter the cost. We pray, too, for all who suffer persecution for living out their faith in you.

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September 2, 2023

Sat, 02 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Mt 25:14-30

The time of waiting and watching demands action that is fruitful like the two who invest and double the money given to them by their master. Doing nothing during that time, like the servant who buries the money, will have consequences when the Son of Man returns.

We are thankful for all you have given us and strive to express our gratitude through all that we are and all that we do in our daily lives.

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September 1, 2023

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Mt 25:1-13

Constant watchfulness is again the lesson of a parable. According to Jewish custom, the groom goes to the bride’s house before the wedding to meet with the father-in-law. The bridesmaids are to make all necessary preparations to greet the groom. The groom unexpectedly arrives in the night. Some of the bridesmaids are prepared while others are not.

May our attention to constant conversation with you, speaking and listening from our hearts be first and foremost in our day to day lives.

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August 31, 2023

Thu, 31 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Mt 24:42-51

Jesus tells his disciples that they must be ready for the coming of the Son of Man. He uses stories to explain what he means. A homeowner remains watchful if expecting that a thief is coming. There are those servants who are vigilant and ready for their master’s return and there are those who while away the hours, mistreating others and wasting time eating and drinking to excess.

Lord, come and save us! But in the meantime, show us the way to be in the present preparing ourselves and one another for your coming no matter when.

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August 30, 2023

Wed, 30 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Mt 23:27-32

The fifth and sixth woes Jesus speaks against the Pharisees contrast the clean, white exterior with a decrepit interior. The purity the Pharisees espouse is not in any way a reflection of their inner moral compass. Through the seventh woe, Jesus addresses the fact that they are the descendants, physical and spiritual of those responsible for the death of the prophets.

You know each one of us better than we know ourselves. Help us to recognize, acknowledge and receive the light you bring to the darkness within our hearts.

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August 29, 2023

Tue, 29 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Mk 6:17-29

The potential for evil in human nature is revealed in the story. The cast of characters, particularly Herod and Herodias act out of weakness and vengeful hatred. Through the detailed story of John’s death, Mark prepares his readers for Jesus’ death.

May we all rather than succumbing to our sinful nature, find within ourselves the God-given integrity and courage to seek the truth and to act on it. St. John the Baptist, pray for us.

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August 28, 2023

Mon, 28 Aug 2023 07:01:00 GMT

Mt 23:13-22

Jesus criticizes the hypocrisy of some of the scribes and Pharisees by pronouncing woes on them. What they say and do may seem righteous, but their intentions are anything but. They “talk the talk” but do not “walk the walk” and worse still, lead many down the wrong path.

St. Augustine, we are blessed by the witness of you work, your life. Pray for us that we too guide others rightly to God.

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5 Marks of a Catholic family

Mon, 28 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT

excerpt from article by Dr. Gregory K. Popcak, OSV Newsweekly

Are Catholic families supposed to be different? What would that difference look like?

The Church considered these questions in earnest ahead of the 8th World Meeting of Families and the 2015 Synod on the Family. While I don't presume to offer definitive answers, considering the Church's writings on the matter, here are what I would like to suggest are the five most important differences that distinguish a family committed to living the Catholic vision of family life.

1. Catholic Families Worship Together: The Eucharist is the source of the deep love and intimacy Catholic families are called to live out. To celebrate this, Catholic families attend Mass together on Sundays and Holy Days (and at other times as we are able) and actively participate in the sacramental life of the Church. Also, recognizing that we sometimes struggle to love each other as we should, Catholic families regularly go to confession (recommended: monthly) to seek God’s healing, grace, and inspiration to love more and better.

2. Catholic Families Pray Together: Catholic families are called to love each other with the love that flows from God's own heart. We can only do this if we ask God – together – to teach us what this means. Therefore, in addition to both our individual prayer life and our worship with our parish communities, we gather together for family prayer each and every day. We use our daily, family prayer time to:

We treat family prayer, not as a duty or a chore, but as the key to true intimacy and joy in our home.

3. Catholic Families Are Called to Intimacy: Most importantly, the Christian life is a call to intimate communion (cf. Jn 17:21). Catholic families serve that goal by being schools of love (CCC 1657) where we learn how to love God and each other with our whole hearts, minds, souls, and strength (Lk 10:27). To do this, we constantly seek new ways to be even more open with and loving to each other as husband and wife, parents and children.

For instance, children are supposed to be the visible sign of the loving union between husband and wife. Catholic families live this out both in our openness to life and by working hard on the quality of our relationships with one another.

To do this, we cultivate marriage and parenting habits that make each member of the family feel loved and valued and practice all the virtues that help us live life as a gift (EV#92). For instance, we choose loving guidance approaches to discipline that teach virtue and good behavior instead of merely punishing wrongdoing. We schedule regular one-on-one time with each family member so that we can get to know each other's thoughts, feelings and heart's desires on the deepest level possible. And we take an active interest in all the things that each family member finds true, good and beautiful even when those interests doesn't come naturally to us.

4. Catholic Families Put Family First: Because our family relationships are the primary means God uses to help us become the people he created us to be, we treat family life itself as the most important activity in our week. We create and protect family rituals — like regular family dinners, time for prayer and worship, weekly game nights and "family days," and regularly scheduled times for communication and relationship-building — that give us regular time to work, play, talk and pray together. We hold these activities as sacred rituals of the domestic church and value them over all other activities that would seek to compete with them.

5. The Catholic Family Is a Witness and Sign: We recognize that God wants to change the world through our families. We actively participate in this plan in two ways.

First, we work hard to be witnesses of the love, joy and intimacy that every human heart longs for. We'll share this love in good times and bad, in sickness and health, for richer or poorer.

Second, we carry this love outside the home by serving our community in a manner that keeps our family together. We intentionally practice the corporal and spiritual works of mercy within our home and outside of it. We regularly talk about how we can do a better job of living out our family mission to be a sign of God's love in the world.

Again, I don't presume to offer the final answer to the question of what makes a Catholic family different, but perhaps these five "marks" can at least start the conversation. What can your family do to more faithfully live the Catholic difference?

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Simply stated: A Christian steward

Mon, 28 Aug 2023 05:00:00 GMT

“Who is a Christian steward? One who receives God’s gifts gratefully, cherishes and tends them in a responsible and accountable manner, shares them in justice and love with all, and returns them with increase to the Lord.”
— “Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response”

This article comes to you from Grace In Action ( Our Sunday Visitor ) courtesy of your parish or diocese.

August 27, 2023

Sun, 27 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Mt 16:13-20

Popular speculation about Jesus is that he is John the Baptist restored to life, Elijah returned, or Jeremiah. Jesus asks his disciple’s assessment and Peter speaks for them proclaiming Jesus to be the Messiah. Jesus blesses Peter for this confession of faith.

How blessed are we to be part of this holy Church established by Jesus and built by good and holy people.

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August 26, 2023

Sat, 26 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Mt 23:1-12

Jesus warns the crowds including his disciples to avoid the religious style and practices of the scribes and Pharisees. Listen but don’t imitate, he tells them. Their practices are showy and done in such a way as to call attention only to themselves.

We pray for our Church leaders, ordained and lay, that their words and actions hold true to you and to your mission.

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August 25, 2023

Fri, 25 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Mt 22:34-40

Jesus’ reply to the “test” question posed by the Pharisee who is knowledgeable about the law of Moses, is a powerful summation of the Ten Commandments. Jesus combines passages from both Deuteronomy and Leviticus, love of God and love of neighbor, the threads upon which the entire law of God hangs.

Jesus, thank you for guiding us to focus on that which is essential. All too often, we get caught in the web of that which is unimportant. Love is the key.

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August 24, 2023

Thu, 24 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Jn 1:45-51

Jesus continues to gather the community of disciples. Nathanial and Bartholomew are thought to be one in the same. Though Nathanial questions if anything good comes from Nazareth, once addressed by Jesus in a familiar way, he makes a powerful profession of his faith.

We are grateful for all those who have been chosen before us. We stand on their shoulders. It is because of their belief and by your grace, we have come to believe. St. Bartholomew, pray for us.

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August 22, 2023

Tue, 22 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Mt 19:23-30

Jesus’ teachings about wealth potentially being an obstacle to discipleship follow and build on his encounter with the rich young man. When possessions and achievements are more important than the desire to be in relationship with God it is almost impossible to enter the kingdom, like the camel going through the eye of a needle.

Jesus, I know that I am weighed down by what I have and concern about what I do not have; by what others think of my achievements. Free me from this burden. Holy Queen and mother of all, pray for us.

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Help your child grow in holiness

Mon, 21 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT

by JoAnn Paradise in Catholic Parent Know-How

How good is our God! How blessed are we his people! How sacred is the family, the place where God first gathers us, forms us, and then sends us out into the world so that his kingdom comes as his will is done. How grateful we are that we can experience his very presence in the sacraments, brought to you, of course, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

These are examples of how you can help your child grow in holiness each day:

• Pray with your child in the car, at the table or at bedtime.

• Pray for your child when you are apart.

• Read a short passage of the Bible at mealtime.

• Look for opportunities to be of service in your family, parish, and community.

• Examine your day with eyes of faith. Where is God in this day?

• Develop a disposition of gratitude by giving thanks for God’s blessings, no matter how small.

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August 21, 2023

Mon, 21 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Mt 19:16-22

No doubt, the young man is living according to God’s law, doing good by following the commandments. He tells Jesus he wants to do more. Jesus raises the bar to perfection, to give away his earthly possessions and depend completely on God for all that he needs. The young man is not able to accept that challenge.

Sadly, I see myself in this young man. “Don’t ask me to do that,” I say. Then I look to you who makes all things possible. St. Pius X, pray for us.

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Take the path to freedom and joy

Mon, 21 Aug 2023 05:00:00 GMT

When we hear the word “sacrifice” most of us think of giving up something, like the things we give up during Lent as a joining with Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. That is certainly part of what it means to sacrifice, but reflecting deeply on this word can help us to think more accurately about the ways in which we are called to live as stewards. To sacrifice means to make holy. In the Gospel of Matthew, we hear of the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Jesus took the little the people had and made of it a banquet. Their sharing of the bread and fish was certainly a sacrifice — they did not know what was going to happen with what they gave!

We are invited to give of our very selves, our lives, time, attention and resources. But we are called to more than simply giving from our excess. We see and hear much that tells us that we should hold on to what we have, that having much is a sign of success. Christ’s way tells us something different. We must cultivate within our hearts the willingness to give more fully than we might want, and to ask God to bless our sacrifice and make it holy.

St. Paul says it this way: “Do not conform yourself to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect” (Rom 12:2). In this way, living sacrificially — giving when we might think it difficult or impossible — is a way of freedom and joy, a way that leads to holiness and to sharing Christ’s love with the world through our stewardship.

This article comes to you from Grace In Action ( Our Sunday Visitor ) courtesy of your parish or diocese.

August 20, 2023

Sun, 20 Aug 2023 08:00:00 GMT

Mt 15:21-28

This is the second time within the month that the Gospel about the Canaanite woman is read. A non-Jewish woman comes to Jesus on behalf of her daughter who is possessed. The disciples want her to go away and Jesus rebukes her saying that his mission is confined to the Jewish people. Her faith is obvious and her need great. Jesus’ mission opens to all.

We are your people. We kneel before you with gratitude for being created, redeemed and sanctified.

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August 19, 2023

Sat, 19 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Mt 19:13-15

The children are “little ones” not referring to stature but to status. In the Jewish society of the time children did not have status or rights. Everything they receive is considered a gift, including that which is vital to them. And yet children are readily open to receive Jesus’ blessing. Their innocence, humility and trusting nature is what makes them open to God’s love.

Our hearts are hardened by the world. Our trust has turned to distrust. We pray that your love renews the child within us.

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August 18, 2023

Fri, 18 Aug 2023 08:00:00 GMT

Mt 19:3-12

The Pharisees test Jesus by questioning him about marriage and divorce. It is an invitation into the often-confusing ancient Jewish debate which seems to override God’s purpose for marriage. Jesus, speaking as authoritative interpreter of the law, cites passages from Genesis, which lay out God’s original intention for marriage.

We pray for those who prepare couples for marriage. May they be knowledgeable, wise and compassionate, leading the couples to a mature understanding of the covenant with God and one another.

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August 17, 2023

Thu, 17 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Mt 18:21—19:1

Peter speaks for the disciples in wanting to know what exactly is expected of them in terms of the number of times they are to forgive the offences of others. Maybe he feels the number he offers is generous but, in fact, Jesus’ correction points to that fact that as God’s mercy cannot be limited or restricted. He illustrates this point through the parable.

I find myself denying forgiveness to others because I feel they are not deserving. I forget willingness to forgive is as much for me as for the one who has offended me.

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August 16, 2023

Wed, 16 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Mt 18:15-20

Today’s Gospel acclamation from the Second Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians encapsulates the message in Matthew’s Gospel. As God reconciles the world to himself, we must reconcile with others. There is a reconciliation process presented: one on one, involving witnesses’ participation, involving the whole Church.

We must remember that the willingness to forgive and acting on it is an expression of love, of God and of our sisters and brothers.

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August 15, 2023

Tue, 15 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Lk 1:39-56

Elizabeth greets Mary with words of joy and thanksgiving for Mary’s presence but more importantly for her “yes” to God. Mary gives glory to God for all the blessings she has received. Both women exude humility and grace.

Dearest Mother, in the face of the unknown, you gave yourself fully to God. Watch over us now.

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A Mass Prayer for Families

Mon, 14 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Lord Jesus Christ,

Your gift of Eucharist is beyond us. It is beyond our imaginations, beyond our senses, beyond our ability to comprehend. Increase in us, your family, our desire to receive you, and share you in our lives. The Mass is central to our faith, Lord. It is where we will find you; may it be where you find us, always seeking to show you our commitment to live life as your children. Amen.

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August 14, 2023

Mon, 14 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Mt 17:22-27

The disciples seem to understand what lies ahead for Jesus. This second prediction of Jesus’ passion is followed by the tax collectors questioning Peter about Jesus paying the temple tax. In the end, Jesus pays the tax so as not to offend or cause scandal, but he does so in a most unusual way.

We look to you, Lord, as one in the world but not of the world. It is a difficult balance, so we lean on you to guide us in doing what is right. St. Maximilian, pray for us.

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Faith fact: "All who wander are not lost"

Mon, 14 Aug 2023 05:00:00 GMT

For every problem in life, there is at least one way out. Labyrinths have been a vital method of resolving problems for almost 2,000 years. Though originated in ancient Egypt and popularized in Greek mythology, many cultures include variations on the labyrinth pattern. Christians adapted labyrinths and included them in cathedrals as spiritual tools. A labyrinth differs from a maze in that one walks without hazard of wrong turns designed to confuse. A labyrinth leads one from beginning to end, cultivating a moving meditation. By putting one’s body in a walking motion to achieve a specific goal, the labyrinth allows an individual to focus and contemplate a problem or question while walking the labyrinth with the hope of arriving at more clarity by the end of the walk. Traditionally, labyrinths include four simple steps: Releasing, Receiving, Returning, and Exiting. Americans have rediscovered the labyrinth; more than 4,000 public and private labyrinths across the nation provide sacred paths to prayer, introspection, and quieted minds.

This article comes to you from Grace In Action ( Our Sunday Visitor ) courtesy of your parish or diocese.

August 13, 2023

Sun, 13 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Mt 14:22-33

Jesus truly is the Son of God. He fed five thousand people by miraculously multiplying five loaves and two fish. In today’s Gospel, Jesus demonstrates his power over nature by walking across the turbulent seas to rescue his disciples.

Save us, Lord, from all harm, especially that which we bring upon ourselves.

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August 12, 2023

Sat, 12 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Mt 17:14-20

The focus of today’s Gospel is not as much the healing of the boy as it is Jesus’ frustration with his disciples. They do not understand that even the smallest amount of faith, the size of a mustard seed, can have an enormous impact. The father’s approach with his words and action demonstrates just that.

I am weak and turn to you. You my God are my strength.

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August 11, 2023

Fri, 11 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Mt 16:24-28

Jesus has just predicted his suffering and death for the first time. This did not bode well with Peter and Jesus rebukes him. Now Jesus is telling his disciples that following him connects their fate to his. They must let go of themselves and let God guide them. Taking up their cross will lead them to eternal happiness.

“Let go and let God,” they say. That’s often easier said than done. St. Clare, like your friend, Francis, you were able to let go and follow. Pray for us that we may do the same.

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August 10, 2023

Thu, 10 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Jn 12:24-26

Just as a grain of wheat falls from the stalk to the ground to produce fruit, so must Jesus die and be buried to rise in glory. Jesus’ self-gift carries a message for the disciples. In a similar way, they are called to give their lives away. In so doing, they will flourish.

Persecution takes on many forms. Let us pray for all who are persecuted for their faith, spiritually, emotionally, physically. St. Lawrence, pray for us.

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August 9, 2023

Wed, 09 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Mt 15:21-28

Initially, Jesus does not respond to the Canaanite woman’s plea. His disciples urge him to send her away. When Jesus does reply it is to say his mission is only to serve the Jewish people. Undaunted, the woman persists displaying faith that so impresses Jesus that he heals her daughter.

All people are created by God and loved by God. There is nothing anyone can do to stop God from loving us.

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August 8, 2023

Tue, 08 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Mt 14:22-36

Jesus goes up the mountain to pray, instructing the disciples to travel ahead. The sea is rough, and they are afraid. Jesus comes to their rescue. Peter’s action demonstrates his love for Jesus but also his insufficient faith. At Gennesaret, the people react favorably to Jesus in contrast to his experience in Nazareth.

You comfort us when we are afraid and are lovingly patient with our limited trust in you. We believe you truly are the Son of God.

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Tips for smoother life transitions

Mon, 07 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT

excerpt from “Times of Transition” article by Emily Stimpson Chapman, OSV Newsweekly

[How] in the midst of perpetual transition, can young adults find the spiritual footing they need to move forward, not backward, in their journey to God?

The answer to that question starts with recognizing that change, in and of itself, is not a bad thing. According to Father Dave Pivonka, TOR, a 20-year veteran of Catholic youth and young adult ministry, major life transitions bring with them important opportunities for new beginnings and fresh starts.

Understanding anxiety

As young people embark on new phases in life, identifying old bad habits and cultivating an awareness of escape routes can help them circumvent the more common pitfalls of transitions. So too can identifying the source of any anxiety they might be experiencing about the changes in their life.

For example, one common source is fear of making the “wrong” choice.

As Pivonka explained it, many Catholic 20- and 30-somethings have bought into the idea that there’s always a right choice and a wrong choice — that God has exactly one thing he wants them to do, and if they don’t figure it out and choose exactly that, “God won’t bless their choice.”

“Many of these choices are actually quite neutral,” Pivonka continued. “But rather than make a ‘wrong’ choice, they end up making no choice at all.”

At other times, the anxiety that accompanies transition stems from having left God out of the decision-making process altogether.

“When our lives are in flux, it’s easy to become so focused on the immediate, tangible need that all the ‘spiritual stuff’ gets pushed to the back burner,” said Amy McEntee, executive director of the National Catholic Young Adult Ministry Association.

In other words, when there are new apartments to be rented, new office politics to master, new friends to be made, and someone isn’t even entirely sure where to find the grocery store or post office, the temptation is to focus on those problems and not on finding a faith community or nurturing one’s prayer life.

The same holds true for newlyweds and new parents. In the midst of all the changes that new spouses and new babies bring, old habits of prayer and the sacraments often fall by the wayside.

Unfortunately, prioritizing the immediate over the eternal leaves people without spiritual support when it’s most needed.

“When we put God in the equation, we know we’re not alone,” McEntee said. “And that’s probably the most important thing anyone needs to know when they’re struggling with change.”

In the midst of change

Over the last year, Allison Keegan learned that lesson firsthand. In less than 12 months, the 29-year-old Kansas native began a new job, moved to a new town, got engaged to a coworker, broke off her engagement to the coworker and left her new job in search of yet another one.

“It’s certainly been a lesson in humility,” she admitted. “It’s so tempting to look at this past year and feel like it was a waste, that I have nothing to show for it, that I’m no closer to my professional goals or vocational goals than I was a year ago.”

It’s also tempting, she added, “to lose confidence in my decision-making abilities. I really struggled to discern what feelings were from God and what doubts were just of the devil.”

Two things, ultimately, have kept Keegan from giving in to those temptations.

First, she learned that “cutting yourself off from the people or things you love because you’re having a hard time is a bad idea.”

Instead, she said, her most foolproof method for coping with the stress of her ever-changing situation became “focusing on other people and trying to do something for them. Going out of my way to help others got me out of my own world and helped me feel alive.”

Second, Keegan worked hard to not let her faith fall by the wayside in the midst of the upheaval. By keeping prayer, spiritual reading and the sacraments at the center of her life, as well as seeking out guidance from a spiritual director, Keegan regained her confidence about her decisions as she moved through the year.

“The Lord gave me the grace to adjust to all the changes and decisions I had to make,” Keegan explained. “I know he has a plan for me, and even in the midst of the mess, I’m still living in his plan.”

Sure footing

Keegan succeeded where so many others fail because of an active faith life and a strong spiritual support system. And if other young adults want to follow suit, Father Pivonka said, they need to take steps to secure the same.

“As you prepare for coming changes, you need to have a plan,” he explained. “Just like you map out a plan for where you’re going to live and shop and work, you have to map out a plan for your spiritual life.

“Write it down, share it with somebody and make it visible,” he said. “Hang it on your fridge if you need to. Just don’t shoot from the hip so that seven weeks into a new job or a new relationship you realize you haven’t prayed for two months and bad habits have already started to form.”

Father Pivonka also advises young adults to let go of the idea that there’s only one right choice about where to work and live or whom to date and marry.

“Don’t worry about making right or wrong choices and instead think about making good and bad choices,” he explained. “Go before the Lord, do the best you can to include him in the decision-making process, and then take the next step. Be free from that overwhelming burden of thinking that all your future happiness hinges on guessing God’s will.”

To that end, McEntee advises young adults to acquire prayer and discernment skills, just as they acquire financial management or housekeeping skills. She also stressed the importance of seeking out silence — quiet moments away from the noise of the television, radio and Internet — and taking time to reflect upon one’s choices and desires, as well seeking out a faith community where they feel at home.

“It’s not just about being able to say yes when your mom asks you if you’ve been to Mass,” she said. “It’s about finding people who can journey with you.”

It’s equally important, she added, to remember that finding that community might take a while. “Be diligent and don’t get discouraged.”

Perhaps the most important thing anyone in transition — young or old — can do, however, is simply to remember that change — and all the accompanying fear and anxiety — are part of life.

“We all go through it,” said Catholic therapist Dr. Peter Kleponis. “It’s not permanent, and it’s OK to make mistakes. We’re all on a learning curve. What’s important is that you pray, don’t try to go it alone and ask the Lord to strengthen your confidence.

“The confident person may not have all the answers,” he concluded. “But he’s OK with that. He knows he’ll find them eventually.”

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August 7, 2023

Mon, 07 Aug 2023 06:00:00 GMT

Mt 14:13-21

The miracle of the feeding of the five thousand is recounted in all four Gospels. Looking back, it reminds us of God feeding his people in the desert. Looking ahead, it is a preview of the Last Supper and our celebration of the Eucharist.

Dearest Jesus, we see you again and again thinking of and caring for others. Your selflessness is a gift.

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New parable: What good is it to profess faith without practicing it?

Mon, 07 Aug 2023 05:00:00 GMT

There was a woman drawn to the mystic. This woman lived a contemplative life of prayer and meditation. She burned incense and votive candles, walked labyrinths, prayed Rosary after Rosary, novena after novena. She wore scapulars and blessed medals. She kept holy water in her home, listened to sacred chant and read the writings of the mystic saints. This woman made every conscious effort to keep her life simple, and she avoided many of the snares of consumerism.

Yet this woman so consumed herself with all of her rites and rituals that she had no time or energy left for charitable works in the world. Sequestered away in her solitude, she failed to realize she spent many hours contemplating justice and peace, yet never actually engaged in efforts to support justice and peace. And because of her inaction, her prayers always felt a bit hollow and unanswered.

There was another woman blessed with a contemplative nature. This woman, too, expressed her soul through rites and rituals, sacramentals and prayers. She, too, read the writings and biographies of the mystic saints. She, too, lived a simple life rich with devotion.

Yet this woman recognized the need to be involved in the world more directly. She understood how to respond to the New Testament’s query, “What good is it . . . if someone says he has faith but does not have works?” (Jas 2:14)

She understood that she could not cloister herself from the world. This woman believed that contemplating justice and peace was not enough; she knew her call to holiness meant she must act for justice and peace. And because this woman’s direct experience of the world deepened her empathy, her prayers were fervent and bore much fruit.

This article comes to you from Grace In Action ( Our Sunday Visitor ) courtesy of your parish or diocese.

August 6, 2023

Sun, 06 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Mt 17:1-9

Peter, James and John are given a preview of Jesus, the Son of Man in his glorious kingship. He is joined by Moses and Elijah, representing the law and the prophets of the Old Testament. Peter is in awe and asks if they might remain in this state of being. Fear overtook the three when they saw the cloud and heard the voice of God.

All too often, ignorance and fear keep us from understanding what is and what will be. We pray for clarity and for the courage to walk in faith toward the truth.

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August 5, 2023

Sat, 05 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Mt 14:1-12

Herod is curious about Jesus, sensing similarities between Jesus and John. Matthew inserts the story of John’s death as a means of pointing out the parallels between John and the fate that awaits Jesus. Both were thought of as prophets and yet arrested and executed on the whim of a very weak and corrupt leader.

I pray for the courage to be willing to tell the truth, to confront wrongdoing and to stand strong in my faith no matter the consequences.

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August 4, 2023

Fri, 04 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Mt 13:54-58

In today’s passage from Matthew’s Gospel, the people’s astonishment is not wonder and awe but unbelief and rejection. Jesus is home preaching to those who know him or know of him and yet he is not accepted. Recognizing their lack of faith, Jesus does not perform miracles.

St. John Vianney, we ask your intercession for those who serve as catechists, those newly committed to the ministry and those who feel the stirring of the Spirit within but have not said yes to the call.

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August 3, 2023

Thu, 03 Aug 2023 12:00:00 GMT

Mt 13:47-53

There will be a final judgment when God’s kingdom comes. In the same way, the fish caught in a net are sorted, those who in their lives have done good things and those who have not will be separated to face reward or punishment.

Through word and sacrament, prayer and serving others, you open our hearts and dwell in us.

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August 2, 2023

Wed, 02 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Mt 13:44-46

Jesus tells his disciples that the kingdom is of such value that it must be pursued with great zeal, as illustrated in the story of the treasure and the pearl. They must be singularly committed to this pursuit.

Jesus, you told the disciples all that your Father told you. From you and through them, we too receive this good news.

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August 1, 2023

Tue, 01 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Mt 13:36-43

Jesus turns his focus to the disciples. He offers equivalencies in this agricultural comparison to the final judgment that help the disciples to understand the meaning. In the end, good will overcome evil and those who have chosen to do good “will shine.”

We need to understand that those messages at the heart of the stories told long ago are as relevant to us today as they were to the disciples. We pray to hear, to understand and to act. St. Alphonsus Liguori, pray for us.

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New parable: Small kindness makes huge difference

Mon, 31 Jul 2023 12:00:00 GMT

There was a woman with a watermelon. As she stood at her counter, slicing the melon, she saw the outdoor thermometer. The mercury had reached 90 degrees, and it wasn’t yet 9 a.m.

Watermelon was the woman’s favorite food, yet that day the fruit of summer saddened her. Her old dog had loved watermelon, too; and the woman missed her furry friend, recently deceased. The woman also had shared watermelon with an elderly man who had lived across the street, but he had been moved to a nursing home near his daughter, far away.

The act of carving the melon stirred the woman’s memory and made her melancholy. “I have too much of a good thing,” she said to herself. The fruit that had all her life symbolized the carefree joys of summer now seemed bittersweet. “What will I do with all this sticky, drippy, pink melon?”

Then, she heard the usual Friday morning roar as the lawn crew arrived with their mowers, blowers and weed whippers. Deeply tanned, covered in dust, grass clippings stuck to their sweaty skin, they worked quickly. The woman’s property was not an easy job, given her corner lot and steep banks. It occurred to the woman how delicious and welcome a slice of cold watermelon might be to these young men on a morning already so hot and getting hotter. She hesitated. Would they consider it some sort of bribe? Was it improper? Would they, like some children these days, grow suspect, having been taught not to accept gifts — especially food — from strangers? She censored her altruistic instinct. Fearing rejection or misunderstanding, she tossed watermelon rinds in the compost container and put the sliced melon into the refrigerator.

At her window, she watched the guys finish the mowing. One wiped sweat from his brow with his T-shirt; the other paused a moment in the shade of a maple. Maybe they don’t even like watermelon, she considered. Maybe they’re allergic. And the nonsense of her line of thinking struck her as she said aloud, “Who doesn’t like a cold slice of watermelon on a hot summer’s day?”

She grabbed two thick slices of melon and two paper towels. Based on their response, the pink fruit might have been gold.

This article comes to you from Grace In Action ( Our Sunday Visitor ) courtesy of your parish or diocese.

July 31, 2023

Mon, 31 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Mt 13:31-35

There are great possibilities with even the smallest beginnings. And so, it is with God’s kingdom. Jesus again uses that which is most familiar to the people, the mustard seed and yeast, to help them see and understand the power of God.

Sometimes, it is hard to believe without being able to see. Believing what we cannot see is the definition of faith. I pray for an increase of faith and the belief that your kingdom is “already but not yet.”

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The family of the Church exists also as the Communion of Saints in heaven

Mon, 31 Jul 2023 05:00:00 GMT

by Scott Hahn, OSV Newsweekly

The Church is a mother, a teacher and a family. We know this from Scripture, both the Old Testament and the New. The people of God are a household, a clan, a tribe. We have a familial form. Each of us stands in relation to the whole as a child to his mother.

The motif is so common in the Bible that it should lead us to ask: How real is it? Is it a metaphor, or is it more than that? Is it a mystery that opens us to something greater?

In baptism we are born again, and in the Eucharist we are fed. Thus, the Church does what a mother does: She gives birth and she feeds her children from her own substance.

In baptism, we join the assembly of those “who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be holy” (1 Cor 1:2). St. Paul continues that we are “called to be holy, with all those everywhere who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor 1:2).

“Sainthood” — sanctity, holiness — is our family name, our family identity and our family resemblance.

We live in a vast community with “all those everywhere” who share our calling. St. Paul addressed the Colossians as “holy ones and faithful brothers in Christ” (Col 1:2) — and he noted that he had heard of the love they had “for all the holy ones” (Col 1:4), meaning those who live not only in Colossae, but everywhere else on earth. And then the apostle went a step further. He went on to give “thanks to the Father, who has made you fit to share in the inheritance of the holy ones in light” (Col 1:12).

By “holy ones in light,” St. Paul could only mean the “saints” who had already died and now knew God’s glory in its fullness.

Our family — our Church — is not simply an earthly phenomenon, not just a fancy title for the Sunday congregation. It is at once earthly and heavenly. As the Letter to the Colossians shows us, it is an “inheritance” we already “share” with those who are already enjoying it for all it’s worth. We are family.

The New Testament consistently testifies to this bond between believers alive on earth and those who are more alive in heaven. We are mistaken, in a sense, when we refer to them as “the dead.” Their bodies may have died, but their souls live in Christ; and they are, in fact, more alive than we are, because nothing obstructs them from God. They are now “in light.” “At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. At present I know partially; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known” (1 Cor 13:12).

We are participants together. Thus, none of us lives merely alone with God. Together, as the Church, we bear God, bear Christ, bear the temple and bear all holy things. Christ did not come to create a loose association of individuals, each of them living faith as a relationship between “just me and Jesus.” Christ gave us the Church as a mother, and as a mother the Church still bears him — as “the firstborn among many brothers” (Rom 8:29).

This is the stuff of family life. The Church is a communion of saints, and that means it is a family first of all.

To be in God’s family is the deepest meaning of sainthood, and it’s the deepest meaning of salvation. For the two words are functional equivalents. Only saints are saved; and only the saved are saints.

Sainthood does not mean sinlessness. It means, however, that we’re working on the problem, and in a serious way. Pope Francis began his pontificate by urging: “Let us not forget this: God never wearies of forgiving us, never! ... The problem is that we grow weary, we do not want to, we tire of asking for forgiveness.” As Blessed Mother Teresa of Kolkata often said: saints are sinners who never give up.

Through the lives of the saints — through our lives — holiness touches upon all the things of the earth. “Behold,” Jesus said, “I make all things new” (Rv 21:5). He does this through our touch — yours and mine — through the touch of the saints who live in him — the saints who live in his family.

Scott Hahn is a professor of biblical theology at Franciscan University and is the founder and president of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theolog

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July 30, 2023

Sun, 30 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Mt 13:44-52

The parables of the treasure and the pearls emphasize the great value of the kingdom and the ardor with which one should pursue it. The parable of the fishnet tells that final judgment is integral to the coming of the kingdom. Jesus concludes by instructing the disciples in the relationship between the new he brings with the old, the Jewish tradition.

We pray for those today who cannot accept that which is new, a fulfillment and cling to the old ways. Both are good. We would not be here today without the ways of yesterday.

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July 29, 2023

Sat, 29 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT

The Raising of Lazarus

Jn 11:19-27

Martha and Mary

Lk 10:38-43

In 2021 Pope Francis named this day a memorial for all three siblings, Martha, Mary and Lazarus. In the optional Gospel readings from John and Luke, we see the deep love Jesus feels for this family. At the same time, we see the faith filled response of each to his presence and their developing belief.

Jesus, there are families who hold you in their hearts and their homes. We ask you to foster desire and belief in those who live without you.

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July 28, 2023

Fri, 28 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Mt 13:18-23

Jesus explains why the seeds prosper or fail. Seeds sown on the path, on rocky ground, among the thorns, will die. The soil is not conducive to seeds taking root. However, if the soil is rich and fertile, the seeds will grow. Jesus is speaking to the crowd about the spiritual disposition to hear the word of God and about that which gets in the way of their hearing God’s word and will.

Your law is perfect. Though some see it as restrictive, I see it as freeing. I am thankful to have it as a compass and guide on the journey.

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July 27, 2023

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Mt 13:10-17

Because of their spiritual dispositions the disciples can see and understand the mysteries that Jesus teaches. Theirs is fruitful soil. It is for those that are incapable of seeing, hearing and understanding that Jesus uses this method of teaching.

How blessed are we to have hearts disposed to your love, eyes that see and ears that hear you, God’s message to us.

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July 26, 2023

Wed, 26 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Mt 13:1-9

Jesus speaks to the crowd gathered from a boat on the shore. He tells them the parable of the sower contrasting seed wasted with seed that bares rich fruit. Jesus’ mission is to spread the love and mercy of the Father. Some people ignore him, others reject him. Those who hear his word and act on it will live in the love of God.

Sts. Anne and Joachim, pray for us, as we strive to lead and guide our children and grandchildren, by word and example, to a deeper relationship with Jesus .

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July 25, 2023

Tue, 25 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Mt 20:20-28

The mother of James and John makes a bold request of Jesus on behalf of her sons. The other apostles are indignant. None of them yet understand what it means to be great. Jesus is their model and if they are to follow him, they must do as he does.

We pray for all who are leaders in the Church, ordained and lay. May they come to understand that they are called by the greatest to be servant leaders. St. James, pray for us.

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The present of presence

Mon, 24 Jul 2023 12:00:00 GMT

What is the greatest gift we can give another person? When we really reflect on this question, our true response most certainly will be “presence.” To give another the gift of our attention, care and love is a present that is never outdated and is everlasting. Our presence is a share of ourselves, as Christ’s love is a share of the immense love of God. We who have been baptized into Christ offer that love to others through our presence as stewards of all we are and have and will be.

Through participation in the Eucharist, we are given all we need in Christ’s gift of presence with and for us. “Here people enjoy a unique union with Christ and, in him, with one another. Here, his love — indeed his very self — flows into his disciples and, through them and their practice of stewardship, to the entire human race” (“Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response,” p. 34). Our prayers, our gifts of time and talent, and our material resources are signs of our awareness that we are blessed beyond measure. Recognizing that we are “fearfully, wonderfully made,” the gift of self, our presence, is a true sign and blessing that cannot be diminished over time.

This article comes to you from Grace In Action ( Our Sunday Visitor ) courtesy of your parish or diocese.

Families change the world

Mon, 24 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT

excerpt from an article by Dr. Gregory K. Popcak, OSV Newsweekly

Catholicism teaches that the family is the building block of society, but we often fail to realize the practical significance of these words. The parenting methods we choose to employ in the family “school of love” become a kind of first catechism in building a just society, what Pope St. John Paul II referred to as a “civilization of love.”

In our book, “ The Corporal Works of Mommy (and Daddy Too) ” (Our Sunday Visitor), my wife and I note that works of mercy like feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, instructing the ignorant and all the rest of the corporal and spiritual works must take their place at the spiritual heart of the home if they are to be either credible or effective tools of social action. Promptly responding to a baby’s cry, cheerfully providing a drink for the little one who wakes us at night, patiently negotiating a teenager’s wardrobe, and gently instructing children in the path of virtue are not just “things parents do” to get through the day in one piece. They are powerful tools of social change. God wants to change the world through our families. When we turn our hearts toward them and their hearts toward us, we do just that.

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July 24, 2023

Mon, 24 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Mt 12:38-42

The scribes and Pharisees are aware of Jesus’ exorcisms and miracles but refuse to accept these as authentication of his claims. They do not ask; they challenge him by demanding a sign. Exasperated, Jesus reminds them about Jonah and the repentant Ninevites and the Queen of Sheba seeking out Solomon. They do not compare to him, the ultimate and final sign.

I look for signs all the time. You surprise me by placing them in the ordinary moments of my life. Thank you for blessing me with the ability to recognize them. Let us pray for those not willing to see and believe.

This content comes to you from Our Sunday Visitor courtesy of your parish or diocese.

July 23, 2023

Sun, 23 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Mt 13:24-33

Jesus tells about the reign of God through parables. In the parable of the weeds and the wheat, Jesus is talking about the final judgment. God alone knows what is in people’s hearts. He is the final judge, the harvester and the sifter. Then, using ordinary, though very small elements, mustard seed and yeast, he describes the ultimate fullness of the kingdom that is “already but not yet.”

Every once and a while, I catch a glimpse, feel a hint of your kingdom on earth, and I cannot imagine the enormity of what is to come.

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July 22, 2023

Sat, 22 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Jn 20:1-2, 11-18

Without entering the tomb from which the stone has been moved, Mary panics and runs to tell the others that Jesus’ body has been taken. Though a faithful disciple, she does not fully believe in all that Jesus had said. It is not until her encounter with Jesus in the garden and his calling her by name that she recognizes his voice and believes.

There are those times we do not recognize you in the ordinary of our lives, but you persist. St. Mary Magdalene, pray for us.

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July 21, 2023

Fri, 21 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Mt 12:1-8

Their journey takes the disciples through wheat fields. Because they are hungry, they reach for food that is accessible, the grains of wheat. According to the Jewish law, their action is considered forbidden labor because it is the Sabbath. The Pharisees jump at the opportunity to correct their actions. Jesus responds to their protestation in detail. Using examples, he interprets with authority the law as God intended.

How often do we lose sight of the vision when we get caught up in the details. When what we do in your name is at the expense of our brothers and sisters, we have lost sight of your vision.

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July 20, 2023

Thu, 20 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Mt 11:28-30

Through this beautiful invitation to discipleship, Jesus helps those who for so long have felt the law a burden to see they are promised rest and refreshment by following God’s law. Jesus responds to the Pharisees protestation in detail. Using examples, he interprets with authority the law as God intended.

Your law is a gift O God that leads and guides us to be all you created us to be.

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July 19, 2023

Wed, 19 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Mt 11:25-27

Jesus, after chastising those religious experts who have rejected him, rejected God, now turns to the Father praising those who are childlike, open to all that Jesus say and does in the name of the Father. Their innocence allows them to be open.

You bless us with open minds and hearts that lead us further into friendship with you.

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July 18, 2023

Tue, 18 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Mt 11:20-24

Jesus puts out a stern warning to the people in the Galilean cities. Their rejection of him, rejection of his Father will have consequences as has happened in the past. Are the mighty deeds he has done not enough for them to know him and to turn to him?

Rejection of you is so clear in this ongoing period of anger, repression and division. What will it take for us to realize there is nowhere to turn but to you?

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How we can see more clearly

Mon, 17 Jul 2023 12:00:00 GMT

Have you ever looked through a pair of binoculars and marveled at how close something in the distance can appear? This impression is even stronger when we gaze at the stars through a telescope or view images recorded from satellites that are many miles above us in space. Suddenly, we find ourselves able to focus on something that was previously unapproachable. The object was there, we just could not perceive it without help.

Perhaps this is a good image for us to consider when we think about our faith in Christ. Without the vision of faith, God seems distant and unapproachable. When we develop eyes of faith, we see the world and all who dwell in it, and then perceive God’s creative hand. We interact with others and recognize the presence of the Holy Spirit; we experience love, forgiveness and mercy through another or in a special way in the sacraments, and we know Christ in our midst.

When we keep our sight fixed on Christ, God is closer than we dare imagine. Such vision is a matter of faith, and of commitment. It is easy to lose this vision, due to difficult life circumstances or through simple indifference — we become numb to the glory of God and more readily see the things of the world, the activities of our lives, the mundane. Living in this way, we play it safe. When we are numb to God’s grace in our midst, the Gospel will not challenge us. We are more likely to be dissatisfied and unsettled in our lives, always seeking something that is beyond our grasp.
This month, think about how you might develop “binoculars” for your spiritual life — ways that will help you to fix your sight on Christ while keeping God’s love and the call to share it closely in your vision.

This article comes to you from Grace In Action ( Our Sunday Visitor ) courtesy of your parish or diocese.

Seeing God in family

Mon, 17 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT

God of love,

we are your creation;

each person uniquely reflecting something of you.

Open my eyes

to see the glimmer of your glory in every person,

be they family or stranger.

Amen.

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July 17, 2023

Mon, 17 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Mt 10: 34—11:1

What Jesus is saying in the final verses of his ministry discourse is difficult. His disciples are going off on his Father’s mission. They need to understand that there will be conflict and that for them and all those they encounter their loyalty to Jesus must be above all else.

Our family and friends are gifts to us, but we must embrace you as the source deserving of our love first and foremost.

This content comes to you from Our Sunday Visitor courtesy of your parish or diocese.

July 16, 2023

Sun, 16 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Mt 13:1-23

The parable of the sower and seeds is the first part of Jesus’ parables about the kingdom. To make his point clear, Jesus uses images drawn from everyday life. The disciples question this teaching method. Jesus reminds them that they may not need the message spoken this way because they have the understanding that others do not.

We witness the fruits of your word. Let us pray for those who hear but do not understand and for those who choose not to listen at all.

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July 15, 2023

Sat, 15 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Mt 10:24-33

Jesus tells his disciples that to become a disciple is to become like the master. He makes three points of encouragement each beginning with “Do not be afraid.” The kingdom of God will come, and the unbelievers will be revealed. Those who oppose you may destroy your bodies but not your souls. You will be judged by your fidelity to the mission.

“If you learn everything except Christ, you learn nothing. If you learn nothing except Christ, you learn everything.” St. Bonaventure

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July 14, 2023

Fri, 14 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Mt 10:16-23

Jesus continues to prepare the apostles for the mission by telling them what to expect. It will not be easy. Though they will encounter persecution, hatred and betrayal, they must remain confident in the Spirit who will give them what they need and vindicate them when God’s kingdom comes.

In this world where lies and falsehoods are the norm, I pray to always have the courage to speak the truth boldly. St. Kateri, pray for us.

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July 13, 2023

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT

Mt 10:7-15

The apostles’ mission is an extension of Jesus’ mission. They are to preach the coming of God’s kingdom and heal the sick. Their discipleship is a gift that they are to extend to others. To focus fully on the work, they must let go of their own needs. Theirs will be taken care of.

We thank you for calling us to journey with you. It is a gift that we must share with others by inviting them to join us with you.

This content comes to you from Our Sunday Visitor courtesy of your parish or diocese.