Who, Me?

Today's Gospel (Mt. 4:12-23) is a great reminder that God is constantly seeking to work through us -- yes, us -- normal, imperfect, confused, and sometimes sinful us. Just as Jesus called shepherds (talk about an easy job), fishermen (again, not anything very specialized or magnanimous), or even net-menders (BORING!), Jesus calls us to take up his work in spreading his peace, love, and joy to all we meet.

Even -- and maybe especially -- if you think you're the last person on earth qualified for the job.

This reminds me of a quote, often attributed to Nelson Mandela (in his 1994 inauguration speech), but I think it is actually originally the work of Marianne Williamson:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small doesn't serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,

we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

Jesus knew what he was doing. He knew that the traits these ordinary people had would come in handy. Shepherds care about the whole flock and also recognize every single sheep as valuable -- enough to leave the flock to defend a single sheep against a predator or to search out one that has gone astray. Fishermen know a thing or two about patience and perseverance. And Jesus famously said "I will make you fishers of men," knowing that the hearts (and salvation) of humans is the most important catch of all. And he would use the men who knew how to mend nets to work on mending the hearts of those who live in fear, doubt, anxiety, and grief.

We can make many, many excuses about why we are unworthy or the time is not right. Jesus called everyday, ordinary men (and even a few women -- a pretty radical invitation in his time) to drop what they were doing and follow him. 2,000 years later, he extends this invitation to you.

Yes, you -- who you are, what you do -- right now.

A Response: Homosexual Friends

This is a response to another good question:
Young Catholic looking for answers: how to come to terms with the fact that the Catholic Church is against homosexuality while seeking to support homosexual friends without preaching to them.

First of all, this is a complex and sensitive issue and it probably cannot be addressed in full in this forum. But hopefully this will be a start.

My short answer is you should treat your friends with the dignity and respect they deserve. The Church does not hate gays nor does it promote hate or prejudice against any group of people. Now, that does not necessarily mean that you have to endorse sin. The Church has determined that while homosexuals themselves are created in the same “image and likeness” of God as the rest of us (see Genesis 1:26), they are “intrinsically disordered” because of their inclination to homosexual attraction and sex, which is against natural law. Those who believe the Church is right about this determination should still love and respect their homosexual friends, but also call them to a chaste lifestyle – just as all Christians should be chaste outside of marriage (in the same way, if you had a friend who was a drug addict, out of love for him or her, you would try to help them find a way out of that lifestyle). We are to be witnesses of love to everyone we meet – whether they are saints or sinners. And believe me, we’re all sinners.

There are others who believe it is wrong to call gays “intrinsically disordered” because it is dehumanizing and hurtful language. Basically, the Church teaches homosexuals are incapable of loving properly. I’m not sure I agree with that assessment, but I am still processing my own prudential judgment (see previous post).

Because this is such a contentious and sensitive matter, this merits a longer response. Here goes:

To begin, because we are all created in God’s likeness and image (Genesis 1:26), every life has inherent dignity and sanctity (which is why the Church is against abortion, the death penalty, and war). And, just as Jesus, in his ministry, went to the margins to stand up for the inherent dignity and respect due sinners, tax collectors, lepers, and prostitutes, so also, we as a Church (institution) and as Christians (individuals) must also defend those who have been marginalized by society today. There is no question homosexuals face prejudice and disrespect; our responsibility is to promote their well-being as we would any other human being.

This brings us to an important distinction. The Church does not hate gays. The Church does not hate. Period. And it certainly does not condemn any group of people. It does condemn specific acts or certain beliefs (which the Church recognizes as incongruent with what is right and good), but the Church is not against being homosexual; rather the Church is against the act of homosexuality.

This is because the Church believes sex is covenantal, not recreational. It isn't something dirty or cheap or common. Instead sex is the pinnacle of the “language of love,” the greatest gift from God, in which a man and a woman, bonded together in life-long covenant (which is where marriage comes in) become co-creators with God. In the Church’s eyes, sex must be both life-giving and love-giving. I could spend the next few paragraphs explaining why, but I’ll save that for another post.

Because homosexual sex cannot be both life-giving and love-giving, the Church declares it against the natural law (“what God intended” -- incidentally, this is also why using contraception is forbidden, as well) – even going so far as to say it is “intrinsically evil." This is where the fundamental moral problem exists: if you believe homosexual love is “intrinsically evil” then homosexuals who practice that act get involved in grave sin. And this is where the Church speaks out against such sin. Increasingly, moral theologians question whether any act can be “intrinsically evil” – but again, that is for another post.

Whether you believe gays are “intrinsically disordered” or not, they deserve our respect, compassion, and love just as any other person does. The original question was how to support homosexual friends without preaching to them. This is a good habit to develop in any instance (like if a friend as a drug or porn addiction). In Matthew 7:1-5, Jesus warns us against judging others. St. Francis of Assisi is credited with saying, “preach the Gospel always; use words if necessary.” Our lives and the way we embrace solidarity, inclusiveness, peace, justice, hope, faith, and above all love, is the BEST way we can be Christ to and for others.

So this is the first step. And if you have more questions about what the Church teaches on homosexuality, educate yourself. Remember that an informed conscience is your responsibility. And so long as you see with love, think with love, speak with love, and act with love, you will continue to grow in your love relationship with God, which in turn will shape your relationship with others. And this is what it means to be Catholic -- and really, a good friend.

A Response: Disagreeing with the Church

This post is in response to the question about being a free-thinking Catholic (but sometimes contrary to what the Church teaches):

How do I come to terms with the fact that I may not agree with all of the tenants of the Catholic Church but still hope to worship and honor God?

First of all, kudos to you for actually thinking about such matters.

The short answer is yes, you may certainly disagree with church teaching but still desire to worship and honor God – even as a Catholic. How? By educating yourself and developing an informed conscience, and then prudently and prayerful discern what God desires of us. Primarily, this involves the development of the virtue of prudence which allows us, through insight and foresight, docility and caution, circumspection and acumen, to develop a conscience in such a way that we love what is good and right and do what is both good and right. This not a sneaky answer; the Church attests that our conscience is the “aboriginal Vicar of Christ” (Catechism of the Catholic Church #1778), which means in the same way the pope (as the Vicar of Christ) has authority over the Church, so also your informed conscience has ultimate authority as you seek to not only know but do what is right and good. Now, it should go without saying that the Church also seeks to not only love but to do what is good and right. But if your informed conscience leads you to another conviction, your prudential judgment should not be confused with dissent.

I jumped a lot of steps to give you a quick answer, so if you’re interested in learning more, read on:

Faith is about our response to God’s self gift (the source and summit of which is Jesus Christ). God desperately desires to be in a love relationship with us (as we see in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus), but equally desires this to be a freely chosen decision to be in relationship with God. In order to do this, we must make our faith our own, which involves informing our conscience and making careful, prayerful decisions about how to live.

Nowhere in its teaching does the Roman Catholic Church demand that every Catholic must believe everything it teaches. It does argue that, given its 2,000 year history, through the collection of saints and theologians (both lay and ordained) that its collective wisdom – and most importantly, through the use of Tradition and Scripture – that it deserves a position of authority when it comes to religious and moral matters. The Church requires assent to its teachings because its collective wisdom is so vast, rich, and deep – which is not so much a demand for submission as it is a recognition that the Church, instituted by Christ (see Matthew 16:18), will never be abandoned by the Holy Spirit (see John 14:15-20). The truth is even non-Catholics very often turn to the Catholic Church to find what bishops and saints have written on specific topics. So there is a degree of assent involved in being Catholic. In fact, in quoting St. Augustine, Pope John Paul II wrote, “If there is no assent, there is no faith, for without assent one does not really believe” (Fides et Ratio, 99). Accordingly, our moral deliberations begin with an openness towards, and even a preference to church teaching.

Of course this promotes unity within the Body of Christ (which we all make up; see 1 Cor. 12), which is part of God’s desire and eschatological vision for not just the Church, but the whole world (which is why the Church often makes claims for people even outside the Church). As I wrote in the previous post about praying for the unity of all Christians, following Jesus’ lead in John 17:20-23, at bottom, the Church is our source for unity, and this requires the humility and obedience of all its members. In claiming authority, the church conveys that by believing x and practicing y, we will not only maintain this desired sense of unity, but follow the path to human flourishing according to God’s desire.

Unity may require sacrifice and sacrifice may seem to conflict with freedom. But actually, the church remains insistent that the freedom of a believer is not compromised. We are free to choose – but that means making well-informed decisions, not whatever maybe easy, convenient, or comfortable. Instead, we are committed to pursue what is right and what is good with all our heart, mind, and soul. When we have used the virtue of prudence to decide what is right and good for ourselves we commit our freedom to what is right and good. This is not the same as submitting our freedom (or submitting our free will) because once we are convinced of what is right and good, we have no other choice, right?

When it comes to belief, we ought to trust in the collective wisdom of the Church. If they say Marry was born without sin (at the Immaculate Conception), we ought to trust that the Church, in pursuit of the Truth is not out to dupe us. In matters of morality, however, we are charged to first and foremost educate ourselves so we can make informed decisions. This means reading up on Church teaching to understand why it claims what it does.

Often those who disagree with the Church’s teachings don’t counter on theological or even ethical grounds, but rather on personal preference or on what may be more convenient, comfortable, or easy. If you are not quick to concur that Christians ought to be Pro-Life, the burden is on you to determine why life – in any instance – may be ethically terminated (as one example). That’s not easy to do. Quite honestly, the Church has thought long and hard about its position and strives to be as consistent as possible when it comes to defending the sanctity and dignity of life. When the Church is not consistent in this regard, it is the responsibility of the laity to call such discrepancies into question. Some wholeheartedly believe that the Church’s position on homosexual love is one such inconsistency. I will write about this in a future post.

Once we have educated ourselves (like reading what the Catechism teaches) and developed an informed conscience, we ought to prudently and prayerful discern what God desires of us. What does God desire? This returns us to the start: God desperately seeks to be in a love-relationship with us. Accordingly, our decisions ought to enhance and not diminish, discourage, or detract from this intimate relationship. In your question you noted that you might disagree with the Church but you still want to worship and honor God. There is nothing wrong with this – especially if you put your love relationship with God first in your life.

It all comes down conscience, which has been described as the sacred place where we meet God and hear God’s voice. This returns us to prayer, which you may also learn more about in previous posts. So you can see this is a lot more complex than mere opinion or preference. This is also why we start with the Church: because it has done so much of the work for us (theological explanation and prayerful discernment). But that doesn’t mean we end with the Church … at least in every instance. Yet in the end, prudential judgment should not be confused with dissent, because by following our informed consciences, we believe we are being attentive and faithful to the very voice of God. In this way, we seek to become the men, women, church, and world God desires us to be.

Praying for Christian Unity

From January 18 to January 25, we pray for Christian Unity.

Like many things, this is well-grounded in theory, but not yet in practice.

In John 17:20-23, we find Jesus' words quite compelling:

I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one. I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me.

And yet we fail to live up to this ideal, although it has had increasing support -- especially since Vatican II.

The great irony, of course, is the fact that the Eucharist, the source and summit of our lives, the great self-gift of God, is more a point of division than unity. The Eucharist is not only the culmination but the cultivation of Christian initiation. It is about communion, sacrifice, and the Real Presence of Christ (which we may call grace).

In the great Vatican II document Sacrosanctum Concilium, the Eucharist is described as the ritual we use to honor the moment Jesus (at the Last Supper) instituted the sacrifice of his body and blood to perpetuate the sacrifice of the cross through the centuries and to entrust his beloved spouse (the Church) a memorial of his death and resurrection [#47]. In light of this, we recognize the Eucharist as a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, and a bond of charity.

And yet, Catholics cannot receive during a Protestant service and Protestants are not invited to receive Communion at Mass. Clearly, we have a LOT of distance to make up before we can claim the unity Christ desires.

This week, let us focus on all the ways we are much more in common (and also in communion?) with one another rather than highlight what separates us.

But let us also pray not just in mere abstractions, but for practical and personal means to make unity reality.

Paraphrasing St. Francis of Assisi,

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace and unity!

[http://www.weekofprayer2008.org/]

Comments and Questions

Feel free to post your thoughts or questions here or in response to any other posting.

35 Years Ago Today

Today is a national day of penance for Catholics. Today we remember the Supreme Court decision to make abortion legal in our country. And we count the lives lost … totaling over 48 million legal, surgical abortions in the past 35 years.

But today should not be about blame. Instead, let us pray for peace in our community, country, and world.
Let us pray for peace in our hearts. We pray for peace in our lives. And we pray that we might better appreciate the gift of life we have been given.

In our country, every 24 seconds a mother decides that she cannot keep her child and carry it to full term. In the United States today, for every 100 children who are born, 31 children are aborted. This is nothing short of tragic.

People talk about choice. They talk about rights. They insist on population control and the persistent problem of poverty.

Mother Teresa, who knew poverty better than just about anyone else in the world – and certainly, through her work in India also recognized the demands of ballooning population – used her prophetic voice to address these concerns. She asserted,

"But I feel that the greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion, because it is a war against the child - a direct killing of the innocent child - murder by the mother herself. And if we accept that a mother can kill even her own child, how can we tell other people not to kill one another? How do we persuade a woman not to have an abortion? As always, we must persuade her with love, and we remind ourselves that love means to be willing to give until it hurts. Jesus gave even his life to love us. So the mother who is thinking of abortion, should be helped to love - that is, to give until it hurts her plans, or her free time, to respect the life of her child. The father of that child, whoever he is, must also give until it hurts. By abortion, the mother does not learn to love, but kills even her own child to solve her problems. And by abortion, the father is told that he does not have to take any responsibility at all for the child he has brought into the world. That father is likely to put other women into the same trouble. So abortion just leads to more abortion. Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching the people to love, but to use any violence to get what they want. That is why the greatest destroyer of love and peace is abortion. "

Mother Teresa is absolutely right when she says that love is the answer. Today has to be about more than pointing fingers and casting blame, whether on judges or politicians. Today has to be about a respect for life in all its forms, especially the vulnerable and voiceless. And respect for life means love.

Today has to be about helping people recognize sex as not recreational, but as covenantal.
Today has to be about realizing that the far majority of those who choose to abort their child feel like they have no other choice.
Today has to be about not only championing the right to life of the fetus, but also the children born into abject poverty, the single mothers who feel they are trapped into making desperate decisions in deplorable conditions.
Today has to be about the realization that making abortion illegal will not solve our problems.
Today has to be about love.

When we love God we will embrace this gift of life and make decisions so we can flourish, rather than focus on what might be comfortable or convenient.
When we love God we will love ourselves and our neighbors and we will work together to find a way to make abortions a rarity, reserved for only the most extreme cases, rather than a political device used to divide us and spread judgment and resentment.
When we love life – and love each other’s lives – we will begin to recognize life as sacred in concrete and personal terms, rather than in mere abstraction.

So you see, today is not about blame, it’s about responsibility. It’s about our responsibility to love. When we love there will be no need to talk about abortion.

Ways to Pray: With the Saints (Part 2)

So what do I mean by praying with the saints? You will grow tired of me repeating the line that "faith is personal but never private." This means that our faith carries public significance (especially in light of charity and justice), but it also means that we are not alone in our faith journey. Just as we come to Mass on Sunday to celebrate and worship as a community of believers in solidarity with one another, so also we are encouraged to pray together.

This can mean finding quiet time to pray with a friend or a loved one. It can also mean reading about the lives of the saints and finding a man or a woman whose life you'd like to emulate. Confirmation Candidates are encouraged to do this when they select a Confirmation name. We have the benefit of literally hundreds of saints from which to choose and elicit great beauty, truth, and goodness.

Reading the lives of the saints has led to numerous conversions. The story of St. Ignatius of Loyola is familiar to those who've attended Jesuit schools: Ignatius was a playboy, a young man of the court who engaged in swordplay and drinking for fun in 15th century Spain. In battle his leg was shattered by a canon ball and after he was captured by a neighboring French family, he was able to convalesce in a castle where he had lots of time to read. He asked for romance novels, but the only book on hand was The Lives of the Saints which served as the impetus to turn Ignatius' heart around. But before that book, there is no chance Ignatius ever thought he'd be a saint.

My guess is that we're a lot like Ignatius and we figure that we are a long way off from sainthood. So long as leave that work for others, we will prove ourselves right. But God calls each of us to the same intimate love relationship these saints witness. So, naturally, praying with them will bear great fruit in our approach to life. We may pray with them by asking for their intercession, but we may also pray with their words and find tremendous encouragement and meaning.

Here are some examples:

Eternal Word,
Only begotten Son of God,
Teach me true generosity.
Teach me to serve you as you deserve.
To give without counting the cost.
The fight heedless of the wounds.
To labor without seeking rest.
To sacrifice myself without thought of any reward,
Save the knowledge that I have done your will.
Amen.
(St. Ignatius of Loyola)

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.

I do not see the road ahead of me.I cannot know for certain where it will end.

Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.

But I believe that the desire to please You does in fact please You.

And I hope that I have that desire in all that I am doing.

I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.

And I know that if I do this, You will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it.

Therefore, I will trust You always though I may seem to be lost in the shadow of death.

I do not fear, for You are ever with me, and You will never leave me to face my perils alone.

(Fr. Thomas Merton)

Take, Lord,and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding,

& my entire will –all that I have and call my own,

You have given it to me.

To you, Lord, I return it.

Everything is yours;do with it what you will.

Give me only your love & your grace.

That is enough for me.

(St. Ignatius of Loyola)

Today may there be peace within.

May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.

May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.

May you use the gifts that you have received and pass on the love that has been given to you... May you be content knowing you are a child of God...

Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise, and love.

It is there for each and every one of you.
(St. Therese of Lisieux)

The goal of our life is to live with God forever.
God, who loves us, gave us life.
Our own response of love allows God’s life to flow into us without limit.
All the things in this world are gifts of God, presented to us
so that we can know God more easily and make a return of love more readily.
As a result, we appreciate and use all these gifts of God
insofar as they help us develop as loving persons.
But if any of these gifts become the center of our lives,
they displace God and so hinder our growth toward our goal.
In everyday life, then, we must hold ourselves in balance

before all of these created gifts insofar as we have a choice

and are not bound by some obligation.

We should not fix our desires on health or sickness, wealth or poverty,
success or failure, a long life or a short one.
For everything has the potential of calling forth in us
a deeper response to our life in God.
Only our desire and our one choice should be this:
I want and I choose what better leads to God’s deepening His life in me.
(St. Ignatius of Loyola)

Lord, Make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,

Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console,

To be understood as to understand,

To be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive,

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

(Attributed to St. Francis of Assisi)

Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O Good Jesus, hear me.
Within your wounds hide me.
Permit me not to be separated from you.
From the wicked foe, defend me.
At the hour of death, call me
and bid me come to you,
That with your saints
I may praise you.
For ever and ever. Amen.
(St. Ignatius of Loyola)

Christ has no Body now but yours.

No hands, no feet on earth but yours.

Yours are the eyes through which He looks Compassion on the world.

Yours are the feet with which He walks to do good.

Yours are the hands with which he blesses all the world.

Yours are the hands, Yours are the feet, Yours are the eyes, You are His body.
(St. Theresa of Avila)


Our hearts are restless until they rest in you, O God.
- St. Augustine

Do not wish to be anything but who you are and try to be that perfectly.
- St. Francis de Sales

You pay God a compliment by asking Great things of Him.
- St. Theresa of Avila

Aspire not to have more but to be MORE.
- Archbishop Oscar Romero

Both what you run away from – and yearn for – is within you.
- Fr. Anthony De Mello, SJ

Our daily lives are in danger of experiencing – actually do experience – cases of inner pollution. But contact in faith with the word of the Lord purifies us, elevates us and gives us back energy.
- Pope John Paul II

We cannot love God unless we love each other.
- Dorothy Day

Theirs is an endless road, a hopeless maze, who seek good before seeking God.
- St. Bernard of Clairvaux

Jesus is the light that allows the church to shine.
- St. Joan of Arc

Do not be afraid! Life with Christ is a wonderful adventure.

He alone can give full meaning to life,

He alone is the center of history. Live by Him!
- Pope John Paul II

Lord, help me not to understand so that I might believe,
but to believe so that I might understand.
- St. Augustine

We shall steer safely through every storm so long as our heart is right, our intention fervent, our courage steadfast, and our trust fixed on God.
- St. Francis de Sales

Your love for God is only as great as the love you have for the person you love the least.
- Dorothy Day

Go forth in peace, for you have followed the good road.

Go forth without fear, for he who created you has made you holy, has always protected you, and loves you as a mother.
- St. Clare of Assisi

Pray as if everything depends on God, but work as if everything depends on you.
- St. Ignatius of Loyola

Love God, serve God; everything is in that.
- St. Clare of Assisi

Let nothing trouble you.
Let nothing frighten you.
All things pass away.
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things.
Nothing is lacking to the one who possess God.
God alone suffices.
- St. Teresa of Avila

First do what is necessary, then do what is possible,
and before long, you will find yourself doing the impossible.
- St. Francis of Assisi

Love is the measure by which we shall be judged.
- Dorothy Day

We cultivate a very small field for Christ, but we love it, knowing that God does not require great achievements but a heart that holds nothing back.
- St. Rose Philippine Duchesne

Ways to Pray: With the Saints

One of the most vivid homilies I remember as a little kid was on All Saints Day in fifth grade. I remember our priest telling us about the lives of the saints and how they teach us to be faithful. But instead of putting the saints on a pedestal, our pastor explained that we are ALL called to be saints. Although St. Marcus of Milwaukee doesn't have the same ring to it as St. Teresa of Avila or St. Francis of Assisi, it is true that we are ALL called to a saintly life.

And it's also true that a saintly life is not out of our reach. Stories abound of countless saints who started as grave sinners, deep doubters, and even antagonists of the poor, vulnerable, and oppressed. But what each saint has in common is a moment of conversion when they turn their heart entirely to the Lord and decide to live by Him. We are called to embrace that same commitment -- even if we think we are unworthy or incapable. Few of the saints ever thought they were worthy of God's great plan for their lives. But, like Mary our ever-example of faithful discipleship, that simple "yes" to God's providence and plan is all we need.

The saints also share one more thing in common: an ardent prayer life. If nothing else, we can learn from the saints how we ought to pray. The saints have lived in various times and places and found different practices for how to connect with God. While not every saint will impact you, if you peruse the spiritual writings on a number of saints, you're sure to find some perspective, advice, or prayers which will resonate deep within your ache for God's peace and presence in your life.

The following saints seem to form the foundation for Christian Prayer and Mysticism (not sure what mysticism means? visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_mysticism):

St. Augustine

St. Benedict

St. Clare of Assisi

St. Catherine of Siena

St. John of the Cross

St. Francis of Assisi

St. Francis de Sales

St. Ignatius of Loyola

St. Teresa of Avila

St. Therese of Lisieux

Meister Eckhart

Thomas a Kempis

Thomas Merton

Henri Nouwen

Padre Pio

Edith Stein

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

Not everyone understands the role the saints play. We are called to be a community of saints, but these men and women have been recognized by the Church as "little mirrors" which show us a glimpse of heaven. Their example and insights offer us ways of applying theology to real life. In fact, it is no exaggeration to say the best theologians are saints for theology is something we do, not just believe.

So, while you may have been raised to pray to St. Anthony when you've lost something or implored the aid of your patron saint, it's important to recall that saints are not just those we pray to, but pray with.

And probably the most important thing to remember is that we're not called to be just like St. Francis of Assisi or Mother Teresa of Calcutta; we are called to be the best version of ourselves. The saints, through the narrative and prayers they have left behind, share great wisdom and grace with how to overcome doubt, fear, anxiety, pain, suffering, and great temptation to open our hearts and trust that God will lead us as He needs us.

Ways to Pray: Lectio Divina

A time-tested way to pray is called lectio divina, which calls Catholics to prayerfully sit with Scripture. This isn’t the same as Bible study and also differs from hearing the readings at Mass because it encourages you to sit with a specific passage and read it over and over, “ruminating” with it so that a specific word or phrase grabs hold of you and speaks to you.

The method of lectio divina varies, but follows a process like this:

1. Read the Word of God: we open Scripture, which isn’t like an encyclopedia, where we draw information or facts, but more like a love letter in which God speaks very personally to us. We look for a word, sentence, or phrase which resonates with us in the passage.
2. Reflect on the Word of God: we reread the passage once, twice, or even three times to let it “wash over us” and convey its rich meaning. We ask ourselves: how is God speaking to me in this moment? How does this passage relate to my life today?
3. Respond to the Word of God: look for ways this particular phrase, passage, or word raises a question or concern for us. Does it respond to a fear we have or encourage us to “let go and let God” in regards to a problem we face? We use this time to raise a prayer to God, to be still and silent and listen for how and where our heart is “tugged” in this passage.
4. Live the Word of God: ultimately, our goal is not only to read this love letter from God, but to let it mold and transform us so we are changed in and through the love we experience in the Word. Prayer is not only about tuning in and listening; prayer is about a lifestyle which makes us men and women of God, men and women for others, men and women of LOVE.


Some people have found it fruitful to open Scripture up to a random page to find how God might speak to them spontaneously in that moment. Others follow the readings of the day (http://www.usccb.org/nab/today.shtml). Below are a number of passages that have stuck out to me. Feel free to look them up and read the verses before and afterwards to get an idea of how God may speak to you through the Word today.

“Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone! Therefore, you shall love the Lord, your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength.”
(Deuteronomy 6:4-5)

“Be firm and steadfast! Do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord, your God is with you wherever you go.”
(Joshua 1:9)

“Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”
(1 Samuel 3:9)

“Into your hands I commend my spirit; you will redeem me, Lord, faithful God.”
(Psalm 31:6)

“My soul rests in God alone, from whom comes my salvation.
God alone is my rock and salvation.”
(Psalm 62:2-3)

“As iron sharpens iron, so man sharpens his fellow man.”
(Proverbs 27:17)

“For in fire gold is tested, and worthy men in the crucible of humiliation.
Trust God and he will help you; make straight your ways and hope in him.”
(Sirach 2:5-6)

“I have called you by name: you are mine.”
(Isaiah 43:1)

“For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare, not for woe! plans to give you a future full of hope.”
(Jeremiah 29:11)

“Those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars forever.”
(Daniel 12:3)

“You have been told what is good, and what the Lord requires of you:
Only to do the right and to love goodness and to walk humbly with your God.”
(Micah 6:8)

“One does not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.”
(Matthew 4:4)

“You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world.”
(Matthew 5:13-14)

“For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.”
(Matthew 6:21)

“Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself”
(Matthew 6:34)

“With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible.”
(Mark 10:27)

“Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life …
For my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.”
(John 6:54-56)

“If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it …
Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.”
(John 14:14, 27)

“It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you;
and I commissioned you to go out and bear fruit, fruit that will last.”
(John 15:16)

“In the world you will have trouble, but take courage. I have conquered the world.”
(John 16:33)

“We know that all things work for good for those who love God,
who are called according to His purpose … if God is for us, who can be against us?”
(Romans 8:28, 31)

“So be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us …
Live as children of light for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth.”
(Ephesians 5:1-2; 8-9)

“Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run in the race, but only one wins the prize? Run so as to win.”
(1 Corinthians 9:24)

“Whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.”
(1 Corinthians 10:31)

“Keep alert, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.”
(1 Corinthians 16:12-14)

“I give thanks to God at every remembrance of you, praying always with joy in my every prayer for all of you.”
(Philippians 1:3-4)

“I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.”
(Philippians 4:13)

“Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, as indeed you do …
Be at peace among yourselves … Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing.
In all circumstances give thanks … Test everything; retain what is good.”
(1 Thessalonians 5:11-22)

“If we walk in the light as He is in the light, then we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of His Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin.”
(1 John1:7)

“God is love.”
(1 John 4:8)

“I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will give you mighty inner strength through His Holy Spirit.
And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in Him.
May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love.
And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should,
how wide,
how long,
how high,
and how deep
His love really is.
May you experience the love of Christ,
though it is so great you will never fully understand it.
Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.”
(Ephesians 3:16-19)

Feel free to post and share additional passages you have found to be fruitful in your prayer life.

prayer: a beginning

What is prayer?
It’s more than listing our wants and needs for a Santa Claus god. It is more than reciting words we memorized long ago. Prayer is personal and takes practice.

Although there are many analogies for how to pray, the one I prefer to use links prayer with tuning a radio dial. Like radio frequencies, God’s presence constantly, if invisibly surrounds us. Without a tuner, those radio waves go unnoticed. Likewise, unless we “tune” our hearts into God, we miss the way He is at work in our life. In this way, prayer is a personal effort to connect with God in daily life.

There are many ways to pray and we will not try to cover them all here. Some prefer to pray alone; others find they pray best with a group or before the Blessed Sacrament. So long as you find it fruitful, there may be no wrong way to pray – but that doesn’t mean it’s easy.

The nearness of God is very often found in stillness. We learn about this from the story of the prophet Elijah who finds God in the “still, small voice” (1 Kings 19:11-12, King James translation). Although this phrase has become familiar to us now, it is significant in the Old Testament because gods were shown to be present (and powerful) in impressive if not frightening displays (like the Sinai theophany in Exodus 19). In the story of Elijah we discover that not only is Yahweh not bound to impressive pyrotechnics, but God's presence can be overlooked or missed completely if we aren’t earnestly attentive to it.

In this regard, prayer develops the habit of awareness and attentiveness to God’s grace, providence, and plan for our lives. Our busy, always-on-the-go lifestyles are not always conducive to finding time to be still and silent for prayer, which means we have our work cut out for us.

The most important thing is to carve out time to pray. If we don’t take time to connect with God, it will fall by the wayside along with a whole list of “shoulds” we far too often neglect. Those who have established strong and intimate prayer habits will suggest you find a few minutes where you can be undistracted and alone to dedicate yourself to slowing down and tuning in to God’s “frequency.” If you’re not a morning person, don’t choose the first five minutes you’re awake. If you fall asleep as soon as your head hits the pillow each night, don’t save your prayer for bedtime. Whether in the shower, on the way to school or work, or even at your desk, there are opportunities to be still and silent; we just have to look for them.

When you’ve found time to quiet yourself, think of something that brings you peace, which will help center yourself beyond the clutter of your to-do list, the noise around you, or the distracting thoughts which enter your mind. Some conjure up a religious icon in their mind (which is part of the reason the image of the Sacred Heart may be found on this page), others focus on a meaningful quote or a passage from the Bible, and still others insist on thinking about nothing at all. The idea is to find an insulated depth where not only you can be free to explore your thoughts and emotions, but also to be still and quiet enough to receive a response.

The latter is a key point. Many people believe prayer to be a one-way conversation with God where we may ask for strength, patience, the right words for a sticky situation, or to offer sentiments of praise and thanksgiving. Surely, this is not wrong, but it can be incomplete. Prayer is also about listening. Not for some booming voice or bright arrows to fall from the sky and point us in the right direction, but to be aware and attentive of that still small voice as God seeks to lead our hearts in the right disposition or direction.

This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to prayer, but hopefully it offers a starting point. Prayer centers us, grounds us, and pulls us out of the immediacy of a stressful, confusing, or overwhelming situation to nestle our hearts in the peace, love, and joy of Christ’s Sacred Heart. It offers us perspective and insight in addition to bringing forth our most sincere hopes and needs.

There are many ways to pray – in silence, reading, writing, listening to music, singing, walking, running, at church and in serving others; the list goes on.

And although it can often be overlooked or raced through, prayer is our lifeline, connecting us in real and revitalizing ways with our Lord and Savior. Like everything else in life, we will get out of it what we put into it.

Future posts will provide quotes, books, and further resources to help you cultivate a prayerful heart and a solid lifeline.

The real key is to follow the advice in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to “pray without ceasing” so that our every thought, word, and deed may be a prayer that brings us closer to God and one another.

Blessed to Be a Witness

In today's Gospel (John 1:29-34) we read about the Baptism of the Lord. This doesn't seem particularly special to us -- but that's because Baptism is the Sacrament of Initiation for us. Jews didn't practice baptism, so this event should stand out to us.

But why? For many Jews, John the Baptist's preaching signified the return of Elijah, which meant the coming of the Messiah was imminent. We recognize Jesus as the Messiah because we have the benefit of various historical accounts and 2,000 years of tradition. But this story is especially significant because of the devout Jews who were able to recognize Jesus as not only the Messiah, but the Son of God (before Jesus, Jewish tradition did not hold the divine nature of the Messiah, so this also an important development to note in Scripture).

It's easy for our attention to be drawn to the theophany during Jesus' baptism (the appearance of the Holy Spirit like a dove) but what we often overlook is the fact that if it weren't for John the Baptist's ministry, these Galileans would not have recognized Jesus as the Messiah. So although this scene might signify repentance and atonement in our minds, it's actually (through the theophany and John the Baptists' ministry) about Jesus being revealed for who he was and is: our Messiah and Lord.

We don't know much about John the Baptist, but we do know he took his calling seriously. Wearing camel hair and surviving on locusts and honey, we call to mind Isaiah, one of the greatest prophets of the Old Testament. The prophets are important figures because their voice calls us to a faithful relationship with God. As God's mouthpiece, they ought to be heeded. And there is no question that God used John the Baptist to pave the way for His Only Begotten Son. There is no question that God used John the Baptist to bring people to Christ and make sure Jesus' message of solidarity, justice, and love would be heard and would change the world.

When you hear this Gospel, ask yourself how God is using you to pave the way to bring people to recognize, receive, and live by His Son. How are you a witness of who Christ was and is for the people in your life?

let's get started

Why letters from a young Catholic?

If you haven't read it, George Weigel's Letters to a Young Catholic is a great book. It seeks to engage a younger generation with the central tenets of Catholic belief and practice. Even if you consider yourself a faithful Catholic, an “expert” on Catholicism, or content with your relationship to the Church, your eyes will be opened to new depths and riches of what the faith has to offer you.

Yet Letters to a Young Catholic is also decidedly one-sided, as books naturally are. Weigel shares his perspective (from his perch as a rather famous apologist and conservative theologian), but there is no opportunity for dialogue, push-back, or the chance to raise pertinent questions or objections to his claims.

This blog hopes to offer a forum not just to young Catholics but from young Catholics. It is not fully true to say we are the future of the Church for we are already the Church. And the Church needs to hear our voice. It’s intellectually lazy and morally irresponsible to blame the hierarchy for the Church’s failings if we do not embrace our role and responsibility as members of the Body of Christ. We share part of the sensus fidelium (the sense of the faithful) and as such, we witness the movement of the Holy Spirit at work in our church and world. Since we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matthew 5:13-14) ours is to be bold and shine!

There are lots of resources on the web, but that doesn't always result in building community. In addition to providing information and inspiration, serving as a safe place for respectful dialogue and discussion, we also hope to build a sense of community, since our faith is necessarily communal and public. At bottom, our hope is to facilitate real and lasting personal relationships with Christ and to build up our church with a sense of unity and fellowship (John 17:20-23).

So whether you’re in high school and still trying to determine what it means to be Catholic, in college and striving to make your faith your own, in your twenties and trying to reconcile the pressure, stress, and demands of the real world with your beliefs and values, or seeking to find ways to grow in your faith as you work, enter relationships, get married, or start a family, let us come together and to learn, grow, and discern how to be the men, women, church, and world God desires us to be.

We welcome your questions, comments, or ideas for content.
And of course, we welcome your prayers.