“Smile! Your mom chose
life!”
~ from a bumper sticker
Life: Never take a breath for
granted.
A
parishioner told me that the 4 days of the Parish Mission were the highlight of
her 2012 year. It was inspiring that 904 people took the time to attend the
mission with Fr. Albert Haase, OFM, and the Concert of Praise with Tom Franzak,
(September 24-27, 2012), especially in a culture where time is at a premium.
The polls tell us that only 10% of a parish will attend a mission. We took Fr.
Albert Haase around Pittsburgh to see the sights as well as to St. Paul
Seminary to visit the seminarians. We also went to St. John Vianney Manor, the
retirement home for priests. The older priests there knew the importance of
having a Retreat Master visit, and some even asked to receive the grace of the
Sacrament of Reconciliation with him. On Wednesday of mission week there were 7
priest confessors who listened for 75 minutes to approx. 150 penitents who came
for confessions.
The
last night of the mission I travelled to Jefferson Hills to see a newly built
church, St. Thomas a Becket Parish, that Bishop Zubik dedicated on September
23, 2012. As I went into that new building, which has a seating capacity of 850
and which cost over $8 million, I was drawn to the “Lord’s Supper” mosaic on
the altar. It was taken from Sacred Heart Church in McKeesport. As I knelt
before the altar I looked at the Lord as he shared the meal, passing faith on
through the apostles, from century to century, generation to generation,
culture to culture, community to community, person to person, and has made
manifest Jesus’ enduring presence. With each participation of the holy
sacrifice of the Mass we are to grow in more perfect charity and reverence for
those who have gone before us, marked by the sign of faith, those on the
pilgrimage now, and future disciples of Jesus yet to be named, that trod this
holy path to the house of the Lord.
A Christian is literally a ‘little Christ’, endowed with the 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit:
1. Wisdom: (Latin: “sapientia”), to savor; taste; the fruit of deep spiritual experience; not book-learning
2. Understanding: A ‘eureka’ experience of spiritual insight; to stand under
3. Knowledge: Traditionally called ’The Science of the Saints’
4. Council: Right judgment; the ability to respond to a situation; to size it up; to discern alternatives and not simply react. (Spiritual directors and counselors are t rusted advisors who guide us on the spiritual path. It is important to remember that we “vote with our feet”
.
5. Fortitude: (Latin), strength; courage; lights a fire in the belly; transforms ordinary people into prophets who stand up for what is right and defend their convictions. Fortitude is inner strength that gives one determination, assurance and confidence to make decisions even if one has to stand alone.
6. Piety: (Greek: “eusebia”), Godliness; devotion. The Latin word, “pietas” means responsibility and a sense of duty and devotion, where one loves others, not because one has to or should, but because God loves us.
7. Fear of the Lord: Traditionally we think fear means anxiety, dread or trepidation. But in the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation, it is really the response of “wonder and awe” of God’s presence, action and manifestation in our lives. Fear of the Lord means fascination; e.g., “the fingernail of the baby”, “the texture of soil” “a full moon in autumn”; to see the world of microbes which exist, as seen through the lens of a microscope. “Fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” -Proverbs 1:7.
Jesus, in today’s gospel (Mark 10:2-16), gives a theology class of ‘Marriage 101’. Jesus upholds His teaching that marriage is an “indissoluble, holy, blessed, life-long commitment between one man and one woman.” Marriage, in any age and in every age highlights personal commitment and sacrifice. The significance of a life-long commitment is many times not particularly appreciated in a culture where ‘anything goes’ and ‘doing my own thing’ is the name of the game. In the Sacrament of Marriage, as in the Christian vocation of love, Jesus calls us to a self-giving, permanent and life-fulfilling commitment that Christ calls us to embrace. In any vocation we must work through the rough patches. We must continue to learn and sacrifice self for another as we participate in love, in its purist and most unselfish and divine form.
When I returned home to the rectory after spending time with Bishop Zubik, I encountered a 22 year old girl with her arm around the pole, standing near the street. She was busy texting. She looked to be about 8 months pregnant, and her little boy was at her side clinging to her leg as the traffic flew by. My heart nearly leapt out of my chest as I watched them from my window. I thought, “What greater visual aid could the Lord provide me with on this Respect Life weekend, than a pregnant woman with a child at her side?” “Discipline your children while they are young enough to learn. If you don’t, you are helping them destroy themselves.” ~Proverbs 19:18
