Sunday, March 8, 2015

J.M.J. Any Catholic would conclude that one of the most vital endeavors in each parish is that of religious education. There's no argument: teaching the fullness of the Catholic Faith--whether to adults or children--is absolutely critical. If religious education suffers in a parish, the entire parish community will be adversely affected.

Reflect on Jesus' mandate: "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations" (Saint Matthew 28:19). Our Blessed Lord urged His friends to teach as He had done. Passing along our Catholic Faith is an important consideration in the mind of Jesus and--by extension--in the mind of the Church.

It is paramount that solidly Catholic materials are used in transmitting the Holy Gospel to peoples of all ages. Orthodox catechetical materials do wonders for those who use them; vague and heretical texts, videotapes and audiotapes do incalculable harm to students and teachers alike. The former materials accurately convey the Faith left to us by Christ; the latter misrepresent and distort the gems of truth that are Jesus' "last will and testament."

An example of a fine work is Outlines of the Catholic Faith, published by the Leaflet Missal Company (976 W. Minnehaha Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104; 800-328-9582; www.leafletonline.com). The revised edition, available in bulk quantities at special rates, offers a summary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church--the normative compendium of the Church's teaching. Only 88 pages, Outlines is very readable and is accessible to those of various ages and backgrounds.

How may this book be used in Catholic religious education?

First, students themselves, especially those at the high school age and above, will benefit from reading this book, if not in their religious education classes then surely as "outside reading."

Second, teachers of any level can check their material by studying Outlines, making certain that what they teach is informed by the mysteries of the Faith enunciated in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Third, parents will find this text valuable as a kind of supplement to the materials used by their children in their religious education classes. Moms and Dads will find that by adjusting the materials presented in Outlines to the level of their children, they can refer to various aspects of Church doctrine as a means of "shoring up" their children's understanding of the Catholic Faith.

Saint John Paul II, in his "Prologue" to the Catechism, hailed this long-anticipated work as "a sure and authentic reference text for teaching Catholic doctrine and particularly for preparing local catechisms." Students, teachers and parents will discover that Outlines of the Catholic Faith is a helpful addition to religious education materials and goes a long way to ensuring that the pearls of wisdom contained in the Catechism of the Catholic Church will be ever more appreciated by a larger audience intent on knowing, loving and serving the Lord Jesus Christ, Crucified and Risen.

Mary, Morning Star, pray for us!  

First Saturday, March 7, 2015

J.M.J. In our contemporary era, there are many competing images of women and womanhood. 

Who is a woman and with what is she to be involved? 

This question, although its answer may seem obvious, has received widely varying responses from diverse sources: Playboy Magazine, Planned Parenthood of America, the National Organization for Women and Saint John Paul II, to name a few. 

Playboy Magazine considers physically "attractive" women (in its estimation) to be akin to goddesses to be coveted for their ability to provide sexual pleasure. 

Planned Parenthood of America declares that the "abortion decision" is to be made by women alone, ignoring the facts that men are responsible for conception and that abortion unfailingly takes the lives of a third party--innocent preborn children. 

The National Organization for Women contends that women have been traditionally oppressed, especially because of their role as child-bearer. Therefore, they should now be aggressive in reasserting their "rights" to "reproductive freedom," among other equality issues. 

Finally, Saint John Paul II, in harmony with Sacred Scripture and the Apostolic Tradition, believed women to be holy daughters of the Creator who possess an intrinsic beauty and value because they, like men, have been fashioned in the imago Dei--"the image of God."

In the midst of these opposing viewpoints, we would do well to remember one simple but profound truth: the Almighty Lord, in the words of our Holy Father in his Letter to Women (June 29, 1995), has a "mysterious plan regarding the vocation and mission of women in the world." Each and every woman--regardless of her role as mother, wife, daughter, sister, religious, consecrated person, consecrated virgin--is remarkable and special in God's eyes. Saint John Paul II, in pondering the dignity of each woman, wrote: "Through the insight which is so much a part of your womanhood you enrich the world's understanding and help to make human relations more honest and authentic" (number 2). 

Where would we be without women? The astounding realization--but perhaps not too astonishing, upon prayerful reflection--is that we owe women our very physical lives. Our mothers and fathers conceived us and brought us forth. We did not exist until they provided the physical matter (the seed and the egg) and God furnished the spiritual matter (the rational, immortal soul). 

The Ever-Virgin Mother of God is the only woman hailed as both Virgin and Mother. She, more than any other person, cooperated freely in the inscrutable design of the Maker by yielding to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, thereby living with a zest to do good that is at once amazing and inspirational. Our Blessed Lady teaches us how to put aside our projects so that Christ can work in us His inimitable plan of salvation. 

As the Church praises God for Our Lady, we also offer our gratitude for women and womanhood. As the Holy Father expressed in his August 15, 1988 Apostolic Letter Mulieris dignitatem ("The Dignity of Women"), the Church "desires to give thanks to the Most Holy Trinity for the 'mystery of woman' and for every woman 'for all that constitutes the eternal measure' of her feminine dignity, for 'the great works of God,' which throughout human history have been accomplished in and through her" (number 31). 

The Madonna is, in the words of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council's Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (Lumen Gentium), the stellar example of "obedience, faith, hope and burning charity" (number 61) for all women, no matter their state in life. She reflects Christ and instructs all her daughters to do the same. Mary is the model for all peoples, but especially for women. 

When we recite the Holy Rosary, let us pray for women everywhere, that they may imitate Mary in her countless virtues. 

Where would we be without women? No Mary . . . no mothers . . . no wives . . . no sisters . . . no daughters . . . no women religious . . . no consecrated women . . . no consecrated virgins . . . how impoverished our world--and depleted Heaven--would be! 

(From The Catholic Servant, May 1998, page five. Used with permission.) 

First Friday, March 6, 2015

J.M.J. It may seem unnecessary to state that God our Creator wants us to be saved. Most of us have heard this truth since we were very young. 

But it is vital that we restate this important assertion. Why? Because over the last five centuries, there have been varying views as to God's desire for the salvation of His people. And these different perspectives are still around today. 

The famous word "predestination" comes into play here. 

For the Catholic Church, "predestination" means that God has given each human person a destiny: to share Everlasting Life with Him forever in Heaven. The Almighty wills that each person be saved. Yet, He does not force salvation on anyone who is unreceptive to it. 

The Protestant Reformer John Calvin (1509-1564) developed the contrasting notion that the Lord, before time began, in His Divine Foreknowledge selected some persons to go to Heaven and others to go to Hell. The concept of "double predestination" argues that one chosen to go to Hell is entirely incapable of altering the fate that God has assigned to him because of a "positive determination" to sin under which he is burdened and which he cannot suppress. 

The Catholic Church counters this position of Calvin by declaring that authentic predestination is part of Divine Providence. The stance championed by Calvin is heretical because it denies God's desire that we be saved and the Redemption carried out by Jesus on Calvary. Further, Calvin's erroneous understanding of predestination contradicts the justice and holiness of God and neglects the freedom of the human person to decide where he will spend eternity. 

Catholic teaching considers Saint Paul's Letter to the Romans (8:29-30) to be foundational for her doctrine of predestination. "For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the first-born among many brethren. And those whom He predestined He also called and those whom He called He also justified; and those whom He justified He also glorified." 

God does know where I will spend eternity, but He does not compel me to choose Heaven over Hell or vice versa. The Lord cooperates in the merits that lead to Paradise but only permits the sin that leads to Hell. 

The Council of Trent (1545-1563) taught that solely by a special revelation may one know with certainty his final destination. Nevertheless, spiritual writers have suggested eight signs in the lives of the just that point to God's special assistance. From this evidence, it may be concluded that the person endowed with one of these qualities is making progress on the road to the unceasing Kingdom of God. 

1.) An upright life marked by the frequent reception of the Sacraments and the presence of the three Theological Virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity and the four Cardinal Virtues of Prudence, Justice, Fortitude and Temperance. 

2.) A keen conscience that avoids sin and the "near occasion" (that is, persons, places, things and events) that leads to sin. 

3.) A patience in suffering born from the Love of God. 

4.) A relish for God's Holy Word as found in Sacred Scripture and the Apostolic Tradition. 

5.) A mercy towards those who are distressed in body, mind or spirit. 

6.) A genuine love of enemies that eschews revenge but instead forgives. 

7.) A humility that is modeled on the meek Sacred Heart of Jesus. 

8.) A filial devotion to Our Blessed Lady manifested particularly in the recitation of the Most Holy Rosary. 

The presence of these eight characteristics guarantee that one has opened his soul to God and yielded to the saving action of the Holy Spirit. But no one who possesses even one of these qualities can congratulate himself. Rather, he must thank the Almighty for the influence of His saving grace. 

Pastors, parents and catechists do well by teaching these "eight signs." Imagine the positive spiritual results if we strove to make these characteristics a part of our lives and encouraged those around us to do likewise! 

Yes, God our Creator wants us to be saved. We rejoice in this truth and do all in our power to cooperate with Jesus Christ so that His plan for our eternal happiness will be realized. 

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.

Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.

Saint Joseph, pray for us.

Thursday, March 5, 2015

J.M.J. On October 16, 2002, at the beginning of his twenty-fifth year as the Vicar of Christ as well as at the start of the Year of the Rosary, Saint John Paul II (1978-2005) bequeathed the five Luminous Mysteries to the Church. Here is the Holy Father's rationale as found in his Apostolic Letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae ("The Rosary of the Virgin Mary"): 

"I believe, however, that to bring out fully the Christological depth of the Rosary it would be suitable to make an addition to the traditional pattern which, while left to the freedom of individuals and communities, could broaden it to include the mysteries of Christ's public ministry between His Baptism and His Passion. In the course of those mysteries we contemplate important aspects of the person of Christ as the definitive revelation of God. Declared the beloved Son of the Father at the Baptism in the Jordan, Christ is the One Who announces the coming of the Kingdom, bears witness to it in His works and proclaims its demands. It is during the years of His public ministry that the mystery of Christ is most evidently a mystery of light: 'While I am in the world, I am the light of the world' (Jn 9:5). 

"(. . . .) This addition of these new mysteries, without prejudice to any essential aspect of the prayer's traditional format, is meant to give it fresh life and to enkindle renewed interest in the Rosary's place within Christian spirituality as a true doorway to the depths of the Heart of Christ, ocean of joy and of light, of suffering and of glory." (19) 

Our bishops, priests and deacons, who are our clergy, bring Christ--the Light of the world--to us. They deserve our gratitude. Moreover, they need our prayers and penances as they seek to increase in the likeness of the Risen Lord Jesus, their Model and Guide. 

The brief meditations that follow are to help us to intercede for our clergy as we pray the five Luminous Mysteries. 

Our bishops, priests and deacons rely on our prayers and acts of self-denial in their pursuit of sanctity. Let us not disappoint them. We hasten to entrust them to Jesus, the Prince of Peace, through Mary--their Mother and ours. 

Introduction (After making the Sign of the Cross to begin the Most Holy Rosary): 

O Most Blessed Trinity, we worship You in our every prayer. During this Most Holy Rosary, we ask You, through the Ever-Virgin Mary, to give Your grace to our bishops, priests and deacons. May this recitation of the Rosary assist them in loving and praising You more each day, becoming more like Jesus Christ the Great High Priest, serving Your precious People and building up Your Church on earth. 

The Apostles' Creed, One Our Father, Three Hail Marys, One Glory Be and the Fatima Prayer ("O my Jesus, forgive us our sins; save us from the fires of Hell. Lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy.") 

1. The First Luminous Mystery: Jesus is baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River (Mt 3:13-17; Mk 1:9-11; Lk 3:21-22) 

Lord Jesus, Your humility shows us how to surrender ourselves to Your Father's will in all things. Grant to our (Arch)Bishop N., our Pastor Father N. and our Deacon N. an abiding trust in You and in Your wise plan for their lives. May we and they have confidence in Your overwhelming love and mercy. Mary, Queen of Apostles, pray with us for our bishops, priests and deacons! 

The Apostles' Creed, One Our Father, Three Hail Marys, One Glory Be and the Fatima Prayer 

2. The Second Luminous Mystery: Jesus changes water into wine at the Wedding Feast in Cana at the behest of Mary, His Mother and ours (Jn 2:1-11) 

Lord Jesus, Your fidelity shows us how to persevere especially when unexpected obstacles arise. Make our shepherds courageous when encountering hurdles that must be crossed. May we and they be convinced of Your saving power. Mary, Queen of Martyrs, pray with us for our bishops, priests and deacons! 

The Apostles' Creed, One Our Father, Three Hail Marys, One Glory Be and the Fatima Prayer 

3. The Third Luminous Mystery: Jesus preaches the Kingdom of God with His call to conversion (Mt 3:17; Mk 1:14-15; Lk 4:14-22) 

Lord Jesus, Your fearlessness shows us how to proclaim You--crucified and risen--in our words and actions. Instruct our bishops, priests and deacons in Your path of charity. May we and they cherish You and Your Kingdom as their sole ambition. Mary, Queen of Confessors, pray with us for our bishops, priests and deacons! 

The Apostles' Creed, One Our Father, Three Hail Marys, One Glory Be and the Fatima Prayer 

4. The Fourth Luminous Mystery: Jesus transfigures Himself on Mount Tabor in the presence of Peter, James and John (Mt 17:1-8; Mk 9:2-8; Lk 9:28-36) 

Lord Jesus, Your honesty shows us how to confront evil and embrace the Truth. Fortify our clergy so that they will cheerfully bow to the inevitable sacrifices that Your Holy Gospel entails. May we and they always serve You without hesitation. Mary, Queen of Virgins, pray with us for our bishops, priests and deacons! 

The Apostles' Creed, One Our Father, Three Hail Marys, One Glory Be and the Fatima Prayer 

5. The Fifth Luminous Mystery: Jesus establishes the Sacrament of His Body and Blood as the sacramental expression of the Paschal Mystery--His Passion, Death, Resurrection and Ascension (Mt 26:26-29; Mk 14:22-25; Lk 22:19-20; Jn 6:22-58; 1 Cor 11:23-27) 

Lord Jesus, Your kindness shows us how to pardon freely those who have harmed us. Protect our priests, brothers and deacons through their worthy celebration of the Sacraments. May we and they adore you without ceasing. Mary, Queen of All Saints, pray with us for our bishops, priests and deacons! 

The Apostles' Creed, One Our Father, Three Hail Marys, One Glory Be and the Fatima Prayer, followed by the Hail, Holy Queen and the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be for the Intentions of the Holy Father 

Conclusion (Before making the Sign of the Cross to conclude the Most Holy Rosary): 

O Most Blessed Trinity, may we pray and do penance unceasingly for our bishops, priests and deacons as they seek to imitate Jesus Christ, the Source of Holiness. Enlighten them, O Lord, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit for the glory of the Father in Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen. 

V. Our Lord Jesus Christ, Pattern for the Clergy, 

R. Have mercy on our bishops, priests and deacons. 

V. Our Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Clergy, 

R. Pray for our bishops, priests and deacons. 

V. May the souls of our departed bishops, priests and deacons, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. 

R. Amen. 

Prayer for Vocations 

Dear God, You Who are the joy of our lives, grant us many holy bishops, priests and deacons who will place You and Your Kingdom above any other consideration. Stir up young men as candidates for the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Help us always to have abundant saintly clergy who will guide, teach, challenge and love us until we see You in Heaven. Amen. 

________________________ 

This pamphlet, which enjoys ecclesiastical approbation, is available from Eternal Life (902 W. Stephen Foster Ave., Bardstown, KY 40004) and may be obtained by calling 1-800-842-2871. Used with permission. 

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

J.M.J. Our Blessed Mother was outstanding in the practice of all the virtues. Concerning charity, Our Lady achieved, with the grace of God, new heights that had never been reached before and will never be attained by any other human person.

From the moment of Her Immaculate Conception, Mary of Nazareth had the supernatural virtue of charity, which is the last and the greatest of the three theological virtues mentioned by Saint Paul (see 1 Corinthians 13:13). Writing in The Catholic Encyclopedia (New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910), J. F. Sollier defined charity as "a divinely infused habit, inclining the human will to cherish God for His own sake above all things, and man for the sake of God."

The intense love Mary possessed--and still does in Heaven--for Almighty God is indescribable. The ardent charity she had for Her Divine Son, Who is truly God, is also impossible to note adequately. But a certain precision is possible.

In La Madonna (Mesi di Maggio) [Padua: Gregoriana, 1966], Passionist Father Giacomo Pesce observed: "Jesus was for Her, at the same time, Her Son and Her God; the divine love and the maternal love were not two loves in Her, but one love; that love had as its object the same Person, Who was God and man, Her Creator and Her Offspring." (page 286)

Our Lady loved Christ above all considerations. She gave Herself completely to Him. Mary not even once said "no" to anything He required. Rather, She, rooted in supernatural charity, did as Our Lord directed Her with great joy and confidence in Him.

This amazing love for Our Blessed Lord was also manifested in Her sincere charity towards Her neighbor. Mary spent Herself in loving, cheerful and extended service of all those whom She met.

The charity deep within Mary's pure soul is attractive to us. It inspires us to imitate Her in the practice of charity. By pondering carefully the charity of Our Blessed Mother, we can become more convinced in the splendor of that unspeakable love Mary had for God and others as well as in the divine call we have received to be charitable after the pattern provided to us by the Most Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary.

What was the source of Mary's charity? The Holy Spirit. What is the source of our charity? The same Holy Spirit.

If we are serious about being charitable, then we must avail ourselves often of the strength of the Holy Spirit coming to us through the Seven Sacraments. These Sacraments give to us the grace that they signify. The two Sacraments we receive most regularly, Penance and the Most Holy Eucharist, are storehouses of God's power. To have recourse to Confession and Holy Communion helps to ensure that we will enjoy charity in our souls, thereby allowing us to imitate Our Blessed Lady in Her remarkable charity.

When so much of the world is devoid of true charity and instead settles for a mean counterfeit that is far from genuine love, we must do our part to put charity where it does not exist. Saint Paul declared: "For the love of Christ impels us, once we have come to the conviction that one died for all; therefore, all have died." (2 Corinthians 5:14) Once we are constituted in charity, "we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us." (2 Corinthians 5:20)

Our Blessed Mother: a tower of ardent charity inviting us to love as She does.

Saint Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort, tireless disciple of the Mother of God, pray for us.

(Published on page seven of the April 2007 issue of Missio Immaculatae International. Used with permission.) 

Tuesday, March 3, 3015

J.M.J. Born in Philadelphia in 1858, Katharine Mary Drexel hailed from great faith and great wealth. Her uncle was the founder of Drexel University in Philadelphia.

Young Katharine professed Religious Vows and eventually established—in 1891, with ecclesiastical approbation and the assistance of Archbishop James O’Connor of Omaha—“The Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament for Indians and Colored People.” Today, this Religious Institute is commonly referred to as “The Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament.”

This zealous Religious was responsible for the opening of multiple schools, nearly sixty, including Xavier University in New Orleans.

God summoned Katharine to Himself on March 3, 1955 at the age of ninety-six.

Mother Katharine was beatified in 1988 by Saint John Paul II and canonized in 2000 during the Great Jubilee by the same Roman Pontiff. She is the second American born Saint, Elizabeth Ann Seton having been canonized in 1975 by Blessed Pope Paul VI.

Saint Katharine’s liturgical Memorial, that is her Feast, is today—March 3^rd.

In Sioux Falls, our newest parish is named after this remarkable woman.

In the official biography offered by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, which is present on the Website of the Holy See (www.vatican.va), we read:

"In her quiet way, Katharine combined prayerful and total dependence on Divine Providence with determined activism. Her joyous incisiveness, attuned to the Holy Spirit, penetrated obstacles and facilitated her advances for social justice. Through the prophetic witness of Katharine Drexel’s initiative, the Church in the United States was enabled to become aware of the grave domestic need for an apostolate among Native Americans and Afro-Americans. She did not hesitate to speak out against injustice, taking a public stance when racial discrimination was in evidence."

  

Furthermore, according to our source:

  

"Katharine left a four-fold dynamic legacy to her Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, who continue her apostolate today, and indeed to all peoples:

– her love for the Eucharist, her spirit of prayer, and her Eucharistic perspective on the unity of all peoples;

– her undaunted spirit of courageous initiative in addressing social iniquities among minorities . . . ;

– her belief in the importance of quality education for all, and her efforts to achieve it;

– her total giving of self, of her inheritance and all material goods in selfless service of the victims of injustice."

Mary, Our Mother and the Mother of Saint Katharine Mary Drexel, pray for us.

Monday, March 2, 2015

J.M.J. When we consider the earthly life of Our Blessed Lady, we are struck by Her attention to the marvelous ways in which God was moving in Her and around Her. Mary possessed a delicate soul that considered carefully what the Lord was doing in Her midst (see Saint Luke 2:19, 51).

Our Blessed Mother's prayer was steadfast. What is "steadfast prayer"? Let us ponder each word.

According to Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary, the adjective "steadfast" has two meanings: 1.) immovable; 2.) loyal. An apt synonym for steadfast is "faithful."

Seemingly there is an almost countless number of definitions of "prayer." A very helpful and disarmingly simple one is easily stated: "communication with God."

Therefore, one who is immersed in steadfast prayer is faithful in listening and speaking to the Lord. The person will not be deterred because of weariness or what appears to be discouraging results from his prayer.

Now it is easy to see how the phrase steadfast prayer applies to Our Blessed Mother. She was loyal in Her contemplation of God and all things divine. Not only did She spend innumerable hours in prayer but She also surrendered Herself completely to every period given to meditation. In other words, Her prayer was intense; it did not waver. Her desire to pray never slackened . . . She fixed Her will firmly on the path of prayer. Her Will was immovable.

There is a troubling current today that has gained adherents in some circles--in Religious Life and elsewhere--whose mentality is expressed in the declaration: "My work is my prayer." Often this assertion signifies that instead of parceling out moments for prayer during the day, one rather counts his apostolic work, which, sadly, may even push aside time necessary for prayer, as being his communication with God.

This attitude is erroneous and eventually harmful for the soul. True, our labors are to be like the incense rising to our loving Creator in praise and gratitude. Yet, each of us requires time daily earmarked specifically for prayer in which we hear His voice and respond without attending simultaneously to any other concerns--noble as they may be.

No human person worked with so much diligence as Our Blessed Lady. But no human person ever prayed as much and so devoutly as She did. Yes, She made Her work Her prayer. Yet, She still designated long periods to communicating with Her Lord.

To the end of Her life here on earth, the Ever-Virgin persevered in prayer. And now in Heaven, She continues with unceasing prayer for us and our intentions.

May we, like Mary, be steadfast in prayer? Yes! We can be loyal in prayer like Our Blessed Lady. Our intention to pray, like Hers, can be unshakeable. And when we pray, we can yield ourselves entirely to our conversation with God. We can avoid the fallacy of regularly omitting our prayer under the banner of engaging in work, even if becoming and legitimate.

Like Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Blessed Mary is our model in prayer. In Paradise She prays for us. On earth we pray that the Everlasting Life that She knows now in Heaven will be ours, too. At Fatima in 1917, Our Blessed Mother told little Francisco Marto (1908-1919) that he must pray many Holy Rosaries before reaching Paradise. He accepted the kind, maternal challenge to pray much and devoutly. Will we?

(Originally published in the June 2007 issue of the Missio Immaculatae International [English edition], page seven. Used with permission.)