“The Child Jesus invites us to the grotto and
teaches us that in order to accomplish good, it is
necessary to suffer.” -St. Gaspar del Bufalo
God’s Love is Greater Than Any Evil
G
“A large family is nothing to be desired if the children
are worthless. Godless sons are nothing to be proud
of. No matter how many children you have, don’t look
on them with pride unless they fear the Lord. Don’t put
much hope in their future or expect them to live a long
time. One child who does the Lord’s will is better than
a thousand who do not. It is better to go to your grave
with no children than to have children who are
Godless.” -Sirach 16:1-3
This week I went to the Little Sisters of the Poor to pay
my respects for Paul M. Jones, Sr., 95 years of age (no
relationship to me), who has, along with my mother,
been at the home for over 8 years. I buried his son,
Garret, who died of pancreatic cancer in 2000 and I
offered the funeral for his late wife, MaryLouise several
years ago. Paul was preceded in death by 3 sisters and
5 brothers, and is survived by 3 children, 12
grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. He was a longtime
mail carrier, and his route was on the North Side of
Pittsburgh. For almost 3 decades people waited for his
deliveries, especially around Christmas time.
Paul was a humble, faithful and gentle man, whose
whole life was invested in building a Godly and faithfilled
family. Nothing brought greater joy to his life than
to know that his children were following the path of the
Lord. “Acts of kindness and charity are as lasting as
eternity.” -Sirach 40:17. I was blessed to walk the
journey with Paul and I treasure the moments I shared
with him, especially at the Little Sisters of the Poor
Home. He used to love to sit in the hallways, gazing at
the world through the windows, seeing the light of the
new day, and bringing the light of faith to those who
passed through the corridors of the home. He would
inevitably offer a $5 or $10 bill, saying, “Enjoy yourself
today. Do something special. It will make me happy!”
The day before he passed, I went into his room to offer a
prayer and found him surrounded by his 3 children. Like
a child, he was resting quietly, waiting for his heavenly
Father to summon him home. What a grace and blessing
it was to walk the path with such a humble carrier of
God’s good news and love.
After spending time with Paul’s family, I continued down
the hall to visit Mom, who was sitting in the community
room in her familiar spot, next to her friend, the blue
parakeet. I conveyed to her that Mr. Jones had passed
and we prayed a “Hail Mary” together for the repose of
his soul. Before I check out of the home I usually stop to
see Stush, whose room is next to Mom’s. We always sit
and catch up on things. As I entered the room, the
nurse, Brandy was putting cream on his shoulder. He
was insistent that I not leave the room, as he had things
to discuss with me. The nurse finished her duties, and
she asked, “Fr. Jones, what parish are you at?” I told
her, “St. Joseph in Coraopolis.” She appeared
bewildered, and it was clear that she had no clue where
on earth Coraopolis was. Then Mr. Zubik piped up, “It’s
the next place closest to heaven!”
Recently, a couple came to register as new parishioners.
They were filled with joy and they told me that their son
had led them to join the parish family of St. Joseph. As
we gather this Christmas week to celebrate the Feast of
the Holy Family of Nazareth, I feel humbly blessed and
honored to serve this faith community. I am well aware
that I am far from perfect and less than holy, but I strive
to fulfill the responsibility that Bishop Zubik has
entrusted to me in the service of God’s people.
I feel humbly blessed to have been born into a family of
faith, with parents who were God-fearing, who had
hopes and dreams for their children and who guided us
on the path of knowing right from wrong. They stressed
the importance of ‘being a blessing to others’ through
our individual lives, desires, dreams and decisions, so
that we could pass a blessing to future generations to
come throughout our lives. They highlighted the
importance of not allowing any sin or scandal to get us
off the path that leads to Christ. Jesus himself said,
“Look! Here are my mother, my brother, and sister!
Whoever does what God wants him to do is my
brother, my sister, my mother.” -Mark 3:34, 35
With the recent tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary
school in Newtown, CT, and the horrifying attack that left
20 children, (12 girls, 8 boys) and 6 adults dead, one
cannot but think of the darkness, that fills the lives of
those families this holy season. A parent’s worst
nightmare is the death of a child. This massacre is not
unlike the Feast of the Holy Innocents, which recalls the
victims of Herod, who were innocently murdered during
the time of Jesus. Because of his maniacal desire to
wield his political power over newborns.
There have been many victims, under many regimes, in
many countries, over many centuries worldwide, of
staggering, uncountable suffering that it is incalculable.
Why does the Church celebrate the Holy Innocents, but
to remember that we believe in a God whose infinite
goodness will inevitably triumph over even the most
horrendous evil. We celebrate these holy innocents as a
pledge of the final victory of good over evil.
As I prayed before Sunday’s Mass, a 12 year old girl,
Casey came up to me and said, Fr. Rich, can we take up
a collection for the families of the Sandy Hook victims?
Out of the mouths of children...
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Somebody’s Knocking at the Door!
“The road the righteous travel is like the sunrise, getting brighter and brighter until the daylight has come. The road of the wicked, however is dark as night. They fall, but cannot see what they have stumbled over.” ~Proverbs 4:18-19
On November 27, 2012 I attended the 4th Annual St. Benedict Education Foundation Lecture at the Fred M. Rogers Center at St. Vincent College and Seminary in Latrobe, PA. The title of the lecture was “Liturgy and the New Evangelization.” There were priests invited from the outlying dioceses of Altoona-Johnstown and Greensburg, as well as Pittsburgh. It was hosted by Bishop Lawrence Brandt, (4th Bishop of the Diocese of Greensburg, PA). The featured speaker was Archbishop Wilton J. Gregory, (6th Archbishop of Atlanta, GA). The discussion moderator was Bishop Emeritus of Erie, Donald W. Trautman.
We owe a huge debt of gratitude to two Dominican sisters, who, in the 1950’s went door-to-door, asking families to send children to St. Carthage Grammar School in Chicago. They knocked at the door of the non-Catholic ‘Gregory family.’ These house - to - house visitors were the “first evangelizers”. God works in humble and hidden ways.
That ‘tap on the door’ resulted in Wilton Gregory, Jr. converting to Catholicism in 8th grade, going on to attend Quigley Preparatory Seminary South, Niles College, (now St. Joseph College Seminary) of Loyola University, and subsequently, St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, IL. He went on to be ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Chicago on May 9, 1973. While attending St. Mary of the Lake, he served on the faculty there. He also served as Master of Ceremonies to Cardinals John Cody and Joseph Bernardin, and was ordained Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago, IL on December 13, 1983. On Feb 10, 1994 Wilton Gregory was installed as the 7th Bishop of the Diocese of Bellfield, IL where he served for 11 years.
I fondly remember the introductory remarks that Bishop Trautman noted in giving the curricula vitae of Archbishop Wilton Gregory who, in November of 2001, was elected the President of the USCCB (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops). He earned a doctorate in Sacred Liturgy at the Pontifical Liturgical Institute of Saint’ Anselmo University in Rome. He offered strong, wise and decisive leadership during the crisis of the sex abuse scandal of Catholic clergy, when the bishops implemented the “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.”
On December 9, 2004, Pope John Paul II ordained Bishop Gregory as the 6th Archbishop of Atlanta. He has had a leading role in the US Church and particularly in African-American communities. Archbishop Gregory noted in his talk that he cannot thank his priests enough for their service, faithfulness and dedication to the Church. And there is no single thing he prays harder about than the proper placement of his priests in their pastoral assignments. He joyfully commented to his priests, “Don’t over function when the bishop comes, because nothing on earth is perfect.” He also noted that people “parish shop”, for effective preaching, good liturgical music, a sense of belonging and hospitality, encountering and contemplating God.
The conference made me think of the first evangelizers in my own life, who shared and spread the Good News of Jesus Christ; namely, my parents, Mary Jane Divita and David William Jones. Dad, who was Presbyterian, would often comment that their marriage was “two faiths, but one love.” Parents are not only primary educators of their children, but the “first teachers” in the ways of faith. One cannot underestimate the power of parents as practicing believers, nor the energy, enthusiasm and witness their lives can offer.
I am the 6th of 7 children – 4 boys and 3 girls. My first 3 siblings were adopted, the first naturally born child was born with Down Syndrome. The last three were naturally born. My father was a computer analyst for U.S. Steel for over 30 years and mom was a homemaker. Dad had us read the Bible together each night at 7:00 PM. He attended the First Presbyterian Church in Downtown Pittsburgh. The sermon, by Dr. John Huffman, which he heard in the morning, was the one he had his family listen to on Sunday evening. Mom took us to Mass at SS Simon and Jude Church in Scott Twp. where we sat in the 2nd pew every week. She had us dressed and ready 30 minutes early. After Mass we would remain in church to pray while the “Indianapolis 500’ flew out of the parking lot! Mom believed there were still more important things to give thanks for.
My brothers and I slept in bunk beds in one bedroom and my sisters, in another. I will never forget the impression of mom climbing the steps to pray, first with my sisters, then the boys. She would come into our rooms to lead us in our nightly prayers, which were both formal and spontaneous, but nonetheless, coming from a mother’s loving heart. Even on the occasions when we pretended to be asleep, she would say, “I know you’re tired but that’s ok. I’ll pray for you.” No matter how many errands that needed to be run, clothes that required washing or chores that had to be finished, praying with her children took first place, along with attendance at daily Mass.
The liturgy was a staple of mom’s life, so she chose daily engagement opportunities for prayer seeing that her Catholic children would have their ‘daily bread.’ Prayer was not optional or occasional, but normative, regular and daily. Even Jesus’ disciples begged him, “Lord, teach us to pray...”
-Luke 11:1.
At the age of 12, I began serving at Marian Manor Nursing home in nearby Greentree, PA. It was run by the Sisters of the Holy Spirit. Between the ages of 14-25, I worked at the home as a porter, in the greenhouse, waxing floors or cutting grass on the tractor. The administrator, Sr. Mary Berchmans, was a powerful evangelist in my life. Invariably and inevitably, she would check on me. She wasn’t so much concerned about my performance, but the depth of my formation and my prayer-life. She would ask daily, “Richard, how is your prayer-life going?” I responded each time, not really understanding the scope of her inquiry. Sr. Berchmans planted the seed early.
Time spent in prayer is time well spent. After 8 years of seminary formation, prayer, studies and apostolic works, when ordained to the Diaconate, I took on the sacred obligation and duty of the Universal Prayer of the Church, by praying the Breviary, the Divine Office. Living mindfully, through the hours of the day, Matins or Vigils - “The Night Watch” - The Midnight Hour, an hour to keep watch at night, vigilantly; Lauds or Morning Prayer - “The Awakening Hour”, prayed at sunrise, early morning or first hour of the day, the hour of joy; Terce or The Third Hour of the Day - “The Blessing Hour”, mid-morning hour, a mid-day pause; Sext—or Sixth Hour - “The Hour of Illumination”, mid-day hour when everything is illumined by the sun’s brightness; None or the Ninth Hour - “The Wisdom Hour”, mid-afternoon, the hour when day moves toward evening; Vespers, or Evensong - “The Twilight Hour”, time to move from the tumult of the day into the quiet of evening - a song of praise; Compline or Night Prayer - “The Great Silence” , the last hour of the day, to review the day by means of gentle evaluation of faithfulness. The single greatest request I get is for prayer. It’s no wonder it is my primary obligation and responsibility.
“We ought to praise God as much as possible in this life, for this activity will be our occupation for all eternity. If a person does not praise God in this way he will not be able to join the heavenly chorus. Let us sing the ‘Alleluia!’ by saying to one another: ‘Give praise to the Lord’. Prepare yourselves for giving praise to God in the glorified state and so, with all the choirs of angels in heaven we proclaim your glory and join in their unending hymn of praise.” ~St. Augustine
On November 27, 2012 I attended the 4th Annual St. Benedict Education Foundation Lecture at the Fred M. Rogers Center at St. Vincent College and Seminary in Latrobe, PA. The title of the lecture was “Liturgy and the New Evangelization.” There were priests invited from the outlying dioceses of Altoona-Johnstown and Greensburg, as well as Pittsburgh. It was hosted by Bishop Lawrence Brandt, (4th Bishop of the Diocese of Greensburg, PA). The featured speaker was Archbishop Wilton J. Gregory, (6th Archbishop of Atlanta, GA). The discussion moderator was Bishop Emeritus of Erie, Donald W. Trautman.
We owe a huge debt of gratitude to two Dominican sisters, who, in the 1950’s went door-to-door, asking families to send children to St. Carthage Grammar School in Chicago. They knocked at the door of the non-Catholic ‘Gregory family.’ These house - to - house visitors were the “first evangelizers”. God works in humble and hidden ways.
That ‘tap on the door’ resulted in Wilton Gregory, Jr. converting to Catholicism in 8th grade, going on to attend Quigley Preparatory Seminary South, Niles College, (now St. Joseph College Seminary) of Loyola University, and subsequently, St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, IL. He went on to be ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Chicago on May 9, 1973. While attending St. Mary of the Lake, he served on the faculty there. He also served as Master of Ceremonies to Cardinals John Cody and Joseph Bernardin, and was ordained Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago, IL on December 13, 1983. On Feb 10, 1994 Wilton Gregory was installed as the 7th Bishop of the Diocese of Bellfield, IL where he served for 11 years.
I fondly remember the introductory remarks that Bishop Trautman noted in giving the curricula vitae of Archbishop Wilton Gregory who, in November of 2001, was elected the President of the USCCB (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops). He earned a doctorate in Sacred Liturgy at the Pontifical Liturgical Institute of Saint’ Anselmo University in Rome. He offered strong, wise and decisive leadership during the crisis of the sex abuse scandal of Catholic clergy, when the bishops implemented the “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.”
On December 9, 2004, Pope John Paul II ordained Bishop Gregory as the 6th Archbishop of Atlanta. He has had a leading role in the US Church and particularly in African-American communities. Archbishop Gregory noted in his talk that he cannot thank his priests enough for their service, faithfulness and dedication to the Church. And there is no single thing he prays harder about than the proper placement of his priests in their pastoral assignments. He joyfully commented to his priests, “Don’t over function when the bishop comes, because nothing on earth is perfect.” He also noted that people “parish shop”, for effective preaching, good liturgical music, a sense of belonging and hospitality, encountering and contemplating God.
The conference made me think of the first evangelizers in my own life, who shared and spread the Good News of Jesus Christ; namely, my parents, Mary Jane Divita and David William Jones. Dad, who was Presbyterian, would often comment that their marriage was “two faiths, but one love.” Parents are not only primary educators of their children, but the “first teachers” in the ways of faith. One cannot underestimate the power of parents as practicing believers, nor the energy, enthusiasm and witness their lives can offer.
I am the 6th of 7 children – 4 boys and 3 girls. My first 3 siblings were adopted, the first naturally born child was born with Down Syndrome. The last three were naturally born. My father was a computer analyst for U.S. Steel for over 30 years and mom was a homemaker. Dad had us read the Bible together each night at 7:00 PM. He attended the First Presbyterian Church in Downtown Pittsburgh. The sermon, by Dr. John Huffman, which he heard in the morning, was the one he had his family listen to on Sunday evening. Mom took us to Mass at SS Simon and Jude Church in Scott Twp. where we sat in the 2nd pew every week. She had us dressed and ready 30 minutes early. After Mass we would remain in church to pray while the “Indianapolis 500’ flew out of the parking lot! Mom believed there were still more important things to give thanks for.
My brothers and I slept in bunk beds in one bedroom and my sisters, in another. I will never forget the impression of mom climbing the steps to pray, first with my sisters, then the boys. She would come into our rooms to lead us in our nightly prayers, which were both formal and spontaneous, but nonetheless, coming from a mother’s loving heart. Even on the occasions when we pretended to be asleep, she would say, “I know you’re tired but that’s ok. I’ll pray for you.” No matter how many errands that needed to be run, clothes that required washing or chores that had to be finished, praying with her children took first place, along with attendance at daily Mass.
The liturgy was a staple of mom’s life, so she chose daily engagement opportunities for prayer seeing that her Catholic children would have their ‘daily bread.’ Prayer was not optional or occasional, but normative, regular and daily. Even Jesus’ disciples begged him, “Lord, teach us to pray...”
-Luke 11:1.
At the age of 12, I began serving at Marian Manor Nursing home in nearby Greentree, PA. It was run by the Sisters of the Holy Spirit. Between the ages of 14-25, I worked at the home as a porter, in the greenhouse, waxing floors or cutting grass on the tractor. The administrator, Sr. Mary Berchmans, was a powerful evangelist in my life. Invariably and inevitably, she would check on me. She wasn’t so much concerned about my performance, but the depth of my formation and my prayer-life. She would ask daily, “Richard, how is your prayer-life going?” I responded each time, not really understanding the scope of her inquiry. Sr. Berchmans planted the seed early.
Time spent in prayer is time well spent. After 8 years of seminary formation, prayer, studies and apostolic works, when ordained to the Diaconate, I took on the sacred obligation and duty of the Universal Prayer of the Church, by praying the Breviary, the Divine Office. Living mindfully, through the hours of the day, Matins or Vigils - “The Night Watch” - The Midnight Hour, an hour to keep watch at night, vigilantly; Lauds or Morning Prayer - “The Awakening Hour”, prayed at sunrise, early morning or first hour of the day, the hour of joy; Terce or The Third Hour of the Day - “The Blessing Hour”, mid-morning hour, a mid-day pause; Sext—or Sixth Hour - “The Hour of Illumination”, mid-day hour when everything is illumined by the sun’s brightness; None or the Ninth Hour - “The Wisdom Hour”, mid-afternoon, the hour when day moves toward evening; Vespers, or Evensong - “The Twilight Hour”, time to move from the tumult of the day into the quiet of evening - a song of praise; Compline or Night Prayer - “The Great Silence” , the last hour of the day, to review the day by means of gentle evaluation of faithfulness. The single greatest request I get is for prayer. It’s no wonder it is my primary obligation and responsibility.
“We ought to praise God as much as possible in this life, for this activity will be our occupation for all eternity. If a person does not praise God in this way he will not be able to join the heavenly chorus. Let us sing the ‘Alleluia!’ by saying to one another: ‘Give praise to the Lord’. Prepare yourselves for giving praise to God in the glorified state and so, with all the choirs of angels in heaven we proclaim your glory and join in their unending hymn of praise.” ~St. Augustine
Monday, December 10, 2012
Mary Points The Way
Mary Points The Way
Pittsburgh is well known for its sports teams—sometimes hailed as “The City of Champions”. Throughout many years of championship titles and trophies, there is one play from a 1972 football game that stands out. The play was during the AFC playoff game with the Oakland Raiders at Three Rivers Stadium. That day, Bradshaw was throwing crisp and accurate passes with the Raiders’ defense batting them away with sharp accuracy. Bradshaw, in a desperation pass, hurled the ball, ‘threading the needle’ through Oakland’s unyielding defenders. The ball, seemingly headed for intended receiver, Frenchy Fuqua, rocketed its way down field. But Raider free-safety, Jack Tatum had other plans. Just as he smacked the ball toward the ground upon its arrival, out of nowhere appeared Steeler running back, Franco Harris, who scooped it up just as it was about to make contact with the ground.
As the surprised crowd reacted, #32 raced down the sidelines for a touchdown. Myron Cope, the voice of the Steelers named the catch as the “Immaculate Reception”. At Pittsburgh’s Greater International Airport this event has been immortalized and also at the Sports History Center in Pittsburgh’s Strip District. Being a native Pittsburgher, I have always enjoyed living in a city with such a rich sports history.
The Church, throughout history has had many titles for Mary, many of which are familiar and well-known such as Mother of God, Queen of Heaven, Handmaid of the Lord, Mother of our Savior, Queen of the Apostles. Some titles, however not as familiar, are just as beautiful: Mother of Consolation, Fountain of Salvation, Help of Christians, Gate of Heaven, Queen of Peace, Font of Light, Chosen Daughter of Israel, Cause of Our Joy and Pillar of Faith, Mother and Mediatrix of Grace, Mother of Good Counsel, Mother of Reconciliation, Seat of Wisdom, Temple of the Lord and The New Eve.
The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception stands in our nation’s capital in Washington, DC as the 7th largest church in the world. Mary is the Patroness of the United States of America. We invoke her intercession as we make our pilgrimage to God’s holy Kingdom.
“Through the centuries, the Church has become evermore aware that Mary, ”full of grace” through God, was redeemed from the moment of her conception. That is what the dogma of the Immaculate Conception confesses as Pope Pius IX proclaimed on December 8, 1854: ‘The Most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of Almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin.’” -IIneffabilis Deus. (C.C. #491)
No stain of Adam’s sin ever touched the Blessed Virgin Mary. This was a sacred privilege accorded her, in virtue of her role as Mother of the Messiah in order to make her a worthy dwelling for him. She is robed in the splendor of her stainless innocence and clothed with the beauty of Christ, and prepared to receive Him in her womb. Mary was redeemed by God through ‘prevenient grace’ (a scholastic term which means Mary was spared from sin crediting to her in advance of her Sons’ redemptive sacrifice so that she could ‘sinlessly’ bear the sinless Son of God.)
Through Christ’s redeeming Death and Resurrection, all believers have the stain of original sin washed from their souls through the living waters of Baptism. However, through our sinful choices, the residue of sin remains in our disordered desires and our concupiscence, that can easily derail us.
In the story of “The Creation”, in the first Book of the Bible, God asked Adam, “Why did you do it?” Adam said, “Don’t blame me, Lord, it’s not my fault. Eve made me do it.” Adam and Eve tried to hide, and Adam pointed the finger at Eve. Eve pointed the finger at the serpent, who tried to blame the sin on its upbringing. But God didn’t see things their way. Original sin means that Adam and Eve chose what they wanted and tried to hide their souls from God.
In our fallen, yet redeemed humanity, we attempt to do the same in our relationship with God. Sometimes we hide our souls from Him. We try to cover up our sin; we try to deny our sin; we try to blame our sin on someone or something else. We do not want God to see the truth about us and we ‘masquerade’ our failings through rationalization and self-deception.
Mary loved God so much that she remained completely visible to Him. She had nothing to hide. Her trust in God was totally perfect. She had knowledge of good and evil but she exercised her choice for good. The Feast of the Immaculate Conception reminds each of us that we can always make the choice for good in our own lives. It’s not easy but, through the grace of Baptism, we have divine assistance as we wrestle with evil.
When we die and stand before God with our souls naked, we need not be afraid; we need not hide; we need not deny or blame. When we choose what God desires for us, we are holy and made whole. Choosing God always brings peace of mind and peace of heart.
We can be de-sensitized to the power and presence of sin in our lives. But, in each and every century, Mary points the way for us. “Nothing will be impossible for God.” -Luke 1:37.Mary fully embraced the angel Gabriel’s message with no more fear, questions or anxiety, for she was pure of heart and immaculate of soul. The Lord wants to heal us from sin that threatens to tackle and destroy us, putting us into tombs of sadness, suspicion, bitterness, pride or fear. The polarities of human existence: light and darkness, grace and sin, peace and violence, plan and disruption, health and sickness and life and death are the landscape of our journey. No matter how destructive or hopeless a situation may seem, there is a possibility of a solution and redemption. “The Lord is always watching what people do; everything they do is as clear as day to Him. None of their sins are hidden from Him; He is aware of them all.” -Sirach 17:19-20
Like Adam and Eve, we can be afraid, ashamed, disgraced, defeated and sinful, or on the other hand we can choose to be like Mary—unafraid, overshadowed by God’s power, open to the Holy Spirit, victorious and undefeated. Let not our past record of failures, defeat or sin destroy our confidence in Mary’s powerful intercession and prayer, to seek her Son, Jesus’ will in our lives.
“The one thing Mary did and does is the one thing that we all have to do, namely to bear Christ into the world.” -Caryll Houselander, Writer and Poet (1901-1954)
Pittsburgh is well known for its sports teams—sometimes hailed as “The City of Champions”. Throughout many years of championship titles and trophies, there is one play from a 1972 football game that stands out. The play was during the AFC playoff game with the Oakland Raiders at Three Rivers Stadium. That day, Bradshaw was throwing crisp and accurate passes with the Raiders’ defense batting them away with sharp accuracy. Bradshaw, in a desperation pass, hurled the ball, ‘threading the needle’ through Oakland’s unyielding defenders. The ball, seemingly headed for intended receiver, Frenchy Fuqua, rocketed its way down field. But Raider free-safety, Jack Tatum had other plans. Just as he smacked the ball toward the ground upon its arrival, out of nowhere appeared Steeler running back, Franco Harris, who scooped it up just as it was about to make contact with the ground.
As the surprised crowd reacted, #32 raced down the sidelines for a touchdown. Myron Cope, the voice of the Steelers named the catch as the “Immaculate Reception”. At Pittsburgh’s Greater International Airport this event has been immortalized and also at the Sports History Center in Pittsburgh’s Strip District. Being a native Pittsburgher, I have always enjoyed living in a city with such a rich sports history.
The Church, throughout history has had many titles for Mary, many of which are familiar and well-known such as Mother of God, Queen of Heaven, Handmaid of the Lord, Mother of our Savior, Queen of the Apostles. Some titles, however not as familiar, are just as beautiful: Mother of Consolation, Fountain of Salvation, Help of Christians, Gate of Heaven, Queen of Peace, Font of Light, Chosen Daughter of Israel, Cause of Our Joy and Pillar of Faith, Mother and Mediatrix of Grace, Mother of Good Counsel, Mother of Reconciliation, Seat of Wisdom, Temple of the Lord and The New Eve.
The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception stands in our nation’s capital in Washington, DC as the 7th largest church in the world. Mary is the Patroness of the United States of America. We invoke her intercession as we make our pilgrimage to God’s holy Kingdom.
“Through the centuries, the Church has become evermore aware that Mary, ”full of grace” through God, was redeemed from the moment of her conception. That is what the dogma of the Immaculate Conception confesses as Pope Pius IX proclaimed on December 8, 1854: ‘The Most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of Almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin.’” -IIneffabilis Deus. (C.C. #491)
No stain of Adam’s sin ever touched the Blessed Virgin Mary. This was a sacred privilege accorded her, in virtue of her role as Mother of the Messiah in order to make her a worthy dwelling for him. She is robed in the splendor of her stainless innocence and clothed with the beauty of Christ, and prepared to receive Him in her womb. Mary was redeemed by God through ‘prevenient grace’ (a scholastic term which means Mary was spared from sin crediting to her in advance of her Sons’ redemptive sacrifice so that she could ‘sinlessly’ bear the sinless Son of God.)
Through Christ’s redeeming Death and Resurrection, all believers have the stain of original sin washed from their souls through the living waters of Baptism. However, through our sinful choices, the residue of sin remains in our disordered desires and our concupiscence, that can easily derail us.
In the story of “The Creation”, in the first Book of the Bible, God asked Adam, “Why did you do it?” Adam said, “Don’t blame me, Lord, it’s not my fault. Eve made me do it.” Adam and Eve tried to hide, and Adam pointed the finger at Eve. Eve pointed the finger at the serpent, who tried to blame the sin on its upbringing. But God didn’t see things their way. Original sin means that Adam and Eve chose what they wanted and tried to hide their souls from God.
In our fallen, yet redeemed humanity, we attempt to do the same in our relationship with God. Sometimes we hide our souls from Him. We try to cover up our sin; we try to deny our sin; we try to blame our sin on someone or something else. We do not want God to see the truth about us and we ‘masquerade’ our failings through rationalization and self-deception.
Mary loved God so much that she remained completely visible to Him. She had nothing to hide. Her trust in God was totally perfect. She had knowledge of good and evil but she exercised her choice for good. The Feast of the Immaculate Conception reminds each of us that we can always make the choice for good in our own lives. It’s not easy but, through the grace of Baptism, we have divine assistance as we wrestle with evil.
When we die and stand before God with our souls naked, we need not be afraid; we need not hide; we need not deny or blame. When we choose what God desires for us, we are holy and made whole. Choosing God always brings peace of mind and peace of heart.
We can be de-sensitized to the power and presence of sin in our lives. But, in each and every century, Mary points the way for us. “Nothing will be impossible for God.” -Luke 1:37.Mary fully embraced the angel Gabriel’s message with no more fear, questions or anxiety, for she was pure of heart and immaculate of soul. The Lord wants to heal us from sin that threatens to tackle and destroy us, putting us into tombs of sadness, suspicion, bitterness, pride or fear. The polarities of human existence: light and darkness, grace and sin, peace and violence, plan and disruption, health and sickness and life and death are the landscape of our journey. No matter how destructive or hopeless a situation may seem, there is a possibility of a solution and redemption. “The Lord is always watching what people do; everything they do is as clear as day to Him. None of their sins are hidden from Him; He is aware of them all.” -Sirach 17:19-20
Like Adam and Eve, we can be afraid, ashamed, disgraced, defeated and sinful, or on the other hand we can choose to be like Mary—unafraid, overshadowed by God’s power, open to the Holy Spirit, victorious and undefeated. Let not our past record of failures, defeat or sin destroy our confidence in Mary’s powerful intercession and prayer, to seek her Son, Jesus’ will in our lives.
“The one thing Mary did and does is the one thing that we all have to do, namely to bear Christ into the world.” -Caryll Houselander, Writer and Poet (1901-1954)
Sunday, December 9, 2012
The Path I've Chosen
“If you wish to make any progress in the service of God, we must begin everyday of our life with new ardor.” ~St. Charles Borromeo
The Path I’ve Chosen
In every life that is lived, there is a journey shared and a story told. In Christian faith, the backdrop of our story is our salvation in Jesus Christ. We do not make life’s journey alone as many accompany us along the way. There are countless lessons to be learned through the days, the weeks, the months and the years of our lives as they unravel through the stages of our journey that extend from birth - through family upbringing, classroom education, to our life’s vocation. The word ‘vocation’ is derived from the Latin, vocare, meaning, “to call”, which refers to a personal or collective summons by God. Everyone has a vocation or a calling from God to share in His saving purpose.
Our basic and primary call, is to that of faith and we respond to the love and the grace of God. No vocation happens in a vacuum. It is God who initiates the call and the human person responds in faith through God’s gratuitous grace. We, in turn, participate in God’s life which is totally gratuitous. It is nothing that we have earned, nothing that we deserve or nothing that we can accomplish without being beneficiaries of His love. “I have come in order that you may life—life in all its fullness.” ~John 10:10
We are called to be agents and instruments of His love, mediating it to others. Christian holiness, love and maturity cannot be mastered in a season, a decade or even in a jubilee year. It is the work of a lifetime, and then some. In every journey in life, through the varied landscapes of life, there are good times and bad times, plusses and minuses, virtues and vices, peaks and valleys, joys and sorrows, triumphs and defeats, successes and failures, twists and turns, laughter and tears, light and darkness. Life comes at us in surprisingly paradoxical ways, challenging us to embrace the Paschal path and to connect ourselves step by step with the truth of what it means to be fully human and fully Christian. This pilgrimage of faith recalls the deepest experience of human life: Resurrection’s victory over death, love’s victory over injustice and healing’s victory over pain.
Every person is inspired to make a difference along their journey, that makes a lasting impression, that leaves an indelible mark on the lives of others. No story or journey should ever be forgotten. It’s worth savoring, cherishing and sharing with others. “The glory of God is revealed in a human being who is fully alive.” ~St. Irenaeus of Lyons.
At a young age, I felt the hand of God in my own life, gently nudging and tugging at my heart. I was inspired by priests, religious mentors and models who had given their lives for Christ and His Church. Their example and witness excited and ignited a fire in me to explore more deeply a vocation to the priesthood. During my years in high school I explored the path to priesthood by spending more time in quiet solitude, reading and meditating on the Bible, attending discernment weekends and retreats, detaching from worldly attractions and strengthening my prayer life. Because I received great love from my parents’ example of faith and our family life, I learned to sacrifice and share that very love, which culminated in a desire to give that same love away, with a passionate desire to know Jesus Christ and follow Him, wholeheartedly.
In discerning the ebb and flow of my desires over time, I chose a particular way of life - giving up other alternatives such as a spouse and family, believing that sacrifices are necessary to love as God calls us to love. I discovered who I wanted to be and what I wanted to do with my life as Jesus laid claim to all my heart’s love.
In seeking this way of life I knew there would be challenges, vulnerabilities, constant demands and expectations as well as rewards. Because we are human beings first, we seek and long for relationships, for intimacy, acceptance and affirmation that lead to pathways of friendship and love. The priest’s love is all-inclusive. This mysterious love calls the priest to embrace celibacy, as a charism of the priesthood, which allows the priest a more wholehearted commitment to the pastoral care of all the faithful. The priest is called to holy, healthy and happy relationships, which includes parishioners and those entrusted to his care. Celibacy is a gift and a learned discipline. It is not an abstract or absent way of loving, but instead genuine and all encompassing.
As a priest, the greatest need is for loving interpersonal relationships that do not come to an end, but instead, extend unto eternity. As a priest, I long to unite with people and merge with their lives, joining them and accompanying them as my own person, independent and autonomous, in order to give myself to Christ’s Mystical Bride, the Church. And it is with respect, appreciation and gratitude that I accept this way of life to shepherd God’s people.
My father always said that no matter what you do in life you have to do it each day, so you’d better love what you’re doing and not just go through the motions. At the age of 18, Mom said, “Why don’t you give the seminary a try? Whether you’re called to it or not, God will show you the way.”
Every journey is marked by milestones. At age 33, the age that Christ suffered and died, I ran a marathon, and at age 50, the half-century mark, I began writing a book. Some priests build churches and schools; some are cardinals, bishops and monsignors; some are administrators, chancellors, school principals, college professors, high school teachers and Biblical scholars; some are missionaries, airport, hospital or prison chaplains; some work in the seminary, some are rectors of cathedrals, spiritual directors and some work with Canon Law; some are in religious orders; some are retreat masters or media personalities; others are composers, authors, poets and writers. My heart’s only desire has been to serve as a parish priest. “The priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus.” ~ St. John Vianney
May the Church be built up first and foremost always in the hearts of the people. On the day of my ordination I was configured to Christ, the High Priest, into whose image and likeness I must grow more and more each and every day of my life.
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