From the chapters On Charity by Saint Maximus the Confessor, abbot (Centuria 1, cap. 1, 4-5. 16-17. 23-24. 26-28. 30-40: PG 90, 962-967)

 Without love everything is in vain

Charity is a right attitude of mind which prefers nothing to the knowledge of God. If a man possesses any strong attachment to the things of this earth, he cannot possess true charity. For anyone who really loves God prefers to know and experience God rather than his creatures. The whole set and longing of his mind is ever directed toward him.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Many of you know about the Charity and Development Appeal, the CDA. It is our one annual appeal that supports so many in our community. What you may not know is that the CDA is often the basis for many of our organizations who help seniors, the homeless, those who have lost jobs, women who have been abused and of course, families in crisis.

The CDA is love and faith in action. Through the Charity and Development Appeal, your gift will go farther and help more people. It can help more than one parish, more than one program and more than one agency. I invite you now to make your pledge to the CDA. If you have already completed a pledge or made a gift online, thank you for your support! You do not need to complete a pledge card today.

As I was typing this column for the bulletin, I received a phone call to visit one of our parishioners in thehospital.

With most phone calls of this sort, there is usually a series of health problems associated with aging. I amhonored to be able to visit those who are ill and in need of God’s mercy and love… especially when I can celebrate the sacraments of Confession, Holy Communion, and Anointing of the Sick with them and their family. There is usually a beautiful peace and experience of God’s goodness that accompanies thesevisits.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

We all want to be happy! When I say happiness, I mean real fulfillment that brings real and lasting joy. Our Lord explains in the Beatitudes what true and lasting happiness is AND how we can live each day with true an lasting happiness. Our Lord is teaching us how to be happy! Our Lord is giving us - really offering us a pattern of life, a way of life that promises to make us truly happy. Below is an examination of conscience based on the Beatitudes. I hope they will help you find the peace and happiness you were made for by Our Merciful and Loving God.