Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
The papacy is a tremendous blessing to us. Pope Benedict XVI is a tremendous blessing to us, as Blessed Pope John Paul II was to us. It is interesting to think about the difference between the two, most especially in how they dealt with suffering and frailty. As a casual observer, when I witnessed Pope John Paul II, the word, "natural" comes to mind. It seemed that he handled the duties of the supreme pontiff with ease. So when his health declined, it was important for us to witness his suffering. It was the final lesson of a great teacher. Pope Benedict XVI, on the other hand, did not seem as natural, preferring the study of our faith and contemplation. He definitely was not as accessible and I believe that much of the "celebrity" status of the papacy was a tremendous burden and cross. So in the end, the word, "logical" comes to mind about how each of them dealt with the deterioration of health. One showed us how to suffer on the public stage. The other showing us that at the end of life, contemplation, prayer and penance need to be our focus.
READ MOREDear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Lent has officially begun! I can remember as a child that Lent was a time of misery and suffering because I no longer was able to watch television and eat candy. As a child, I perceived Lent as that time of year when we would have to give enjoyable things up. Many years later, I have a much different take on Lent. I realize now that my childhood understanding was only partially correct. There is much more to Lent than just "giving things up".
Lent is a hope-filled season that offers us a time to clean up our souls with Our Lord's help. As we "purge" our lives by getting rid of the stuff we don't need i.e., sin, we make room for Our Lord… we make room for love. If we do allow Lent to be a time for us to get rid of sin, then we can focus on what truly matters. We can focus on God. Through our penance and prayer, alms giving and other works of virtue and charity we come to experience the love of God for us precisely through the Cross of Christ. Lent is less about giving up sweets and more about focusing on Our Lord. Lent is a time to recall God's infinite love and mercy for us, as seen in the life, death, and Resurrection of Christ.
READ MOREDear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Can you believe that Ash Wednesday is this week? Fr. Greg and I just took down the Christmas tree?!?! Whether we are ready or not, Lent begins this Wednesday.
I was recently reminded of the Pope Alexander VII monument, one of the most haunting artistic masterpieces in St. Peter's Basilica. Created by Bernini, a skeletal figure representing death emerges from drapery at the bottom of the scene holding an emptying hourglass while Alexander fervently prays without noticing that his time is up. The story behind the image goes something like this… When Alexander VII was elected pope, he had his casket made and placed it beside his bed. He said, "I will be a good Pope, if I think of death." The same could be true for us—that we will be good Catholics if we think of death!
So the ashes we receive are our yearly reminder of death. Apparently, in the Middle Ages the dying were laid on the ground on top of sackcloth sprinkled with ashes. The priest would bless them with holy water, saying, "Remember that thou art dust and to dust thou shalt return." (Sounds familiar?) After the sprinkling, the priest asked, "Art thou content with sackcloth and ashes in testimony of thy penance before the Lord in the day of judgment?" To which the dying person replied, "I am content." The symbolism of mourning, mortality, and penance could not be more clear.
READ MOREDear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
As St. Paul reminds us…
"Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts. But I shall show you a still more excellent way. If I speak in human and angelic tongues, but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal. And if I have the gift of prophecy, and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith so as to move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
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