Hail and Blessed be the Hour and the Moment...

A Traditional Prayer to Obtain Favors

Hail and blessed be the hour and the moment
in which the Son of God
was born of the most pure Virgin Mary,
at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold.

In that hour vouchsafe, O my God,
to hear my prayer and grant my desires,
through the merits of our Savior Jesus Christ,
and of his Blessed Mother.

Amen!

"Do Not Be Afraid"?!

As the Nativity of our Lord approaches, God continues to send his holy angels with the exhortation, "Do not be afraid!"

In response to the part of us that might be tempted to imagine God as a legalistic judge who is trying to catch us being bad, we need to hear the reminder, "Do not be afraid!"  The Christ child waits for us to draw close to the manger in Bethlehem so that he can reach out and grab hold of our finger with his perfect little hand.

In response to the part of us that might think God just wants us to try to be a nice person (if and when we can), we need to hear the reassurance, "Do not be afraid!"  Mary and Joseph prove that the path of holiness is possible for anyone who is ready with a humble "yes" to the Presence among us, moment-by-moment and day-by-day.

In response to the part of us that might imagine God as somewhere "out there," indifferent to our worries and sufferings, we need to hear the invitation: "Do not be afraid!"  The Nativity scene calls us to lay our burdens before the Child in swaddling clothes, since he knows that we come not with gold, frankincense or myrrh, but only with our "issues."

In response to the part of us that might whisper we are not worthy to live in friendship with God, we need to hear the rebuke, "Do not be afraid!"  After all, Jesus is born to die not because we are already perfect but because the gift of his grace makes us absolutely perfectible.

In response to the part of us consumed by compulsive coping mechanisms and craven by disordered consumption, the God who IS simply smiles:  In the pre-verbal Word made flesh, whom Mary and Joseph carry forward into history, we encounter the reason for our hope; we then head out to share the conviction with all those we meet--"Do not be afraid!"

Guadalupe and Gaudete: An Advent Ode

Virgen de Guadalupe

God's merciful plan envisioned from eternity
longs to join heaven and earth in Her maternity.

Ancient people chosen in God's holy covenant,
salvation from slavery for a faithful remnant.

Then a singular grace precedes Paschal Mystery:
an Immaculate Heart transforms human history.

Beloved Daughter of the Father, Spouse of the Spirit,
Mother of the Son whispers Love so all can hear it.

Down the centuries God's kingdom continues to come,
until December roses cause distant hearts to hum.

Blessed Virgin identifies and sides with the least;
on behalf of all peoples, She slays the ancient beast.

United in spirit under Her motherly cloak,
siblings without borders break division's weary yoke.

Peace and healing come through Her dear Child, God's holy Word,
Multilingual voices sing praise with "Joy to the World"!

Who Chooses to be Poor?

"Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus,
Who...emptied himself, taking the form of a slave."
(Phil 2:5-7)

A recent CARA survey revealed that 50% of American Catholics said that a lack of effort is generally to blame for a person's poverty (vol. 23, no. 2, Fall 2017).

Maybe it's time for an Advent gut-check: Do I really think that people who have been born into generational poverty just aren't trying hard enough to get out?  Do I really think that there are no social structures in place which powerfully impact those living in poverty?  If so, then the myth of a "wealth and wellness gospel " has clearly taken root in my heart: My successes in life are all a result God's blessings in reward for all of my heroic efforts--me, his worthy servant.

The reality of God's self-revelation cuts against this attitude of blame and shame toward the poor.  After all, no one chooses to be born into poverty, except the Son of God.  

But why does the Incarnate God choose to be born poor?  Clearly it is not to provide a context for some amazing "rags to riches" story line of worldly success, since the King of Kings also chose to die stripped and dispossessed on a cross--which wasn't even his own.

Moreover, the Lord shows no disdain for the alleged "lack of effort" of the poor when he proclaims that: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor" (Lk 4:18)?  We might even have to admit that he shows a preferential love of the poor when he begins the Sermon on the Plain with, "Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours" (Lk 6:20)!

These not-so-subtle--and rather shocking--words from the Word made flesh should signal the

type of attitude we must have as disciples of Christ Jesus.  Ours should be an attitude of solidarity with the poor--an attitude of voluntarily divesting ourselves of riches, just as the Son of God himself did.

The temptation to think about the "worthy" and the "unworthy" poor may be a particularly appealing form of idolatry to Americans.  This is certainly a land of great opportunity, but the myth of the "American dream" implies that opportunity is equally available for all.  It assumes that wealth is a blessing, and yet conveniently ignores Jesus' blunt warning, "Woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation" (Lk 6:24).

Maybe American Christians find it difficult to prepare for the coming of an impoverished Savior because of our surfeit of earthly riches.  Maybe we are simply content with our finite consolations, and thus unable to open ourselves to the Infinite rewards which the kingdom of God can alone deliver.

Let's pray that this Advent brings a renewed spirit of evangelical poverty into our so-easily hardened hearts:  May we prepare anew to welcome that Child, "dressed in swaddling clothes," and then journey with his Holy Family empty-handed into exile.  After all, as Dorothy Day observed, "The Gospel takes away our right forever to discriminate between the deserving and the undeserving poor." 

Love sees such things, which is why Jesus says to each of us and to all: "Watch!"

Solidarity in Suffering

"Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?"
Who are you, sir?
"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting."
(Acts 9:3-5)

The Risen Lord Jesus clearly reveals that he is uniquely united to the suffering members of his body, the Church.

Given this painful fact, and given the Holy Father's call for a week focused on the plight of persecuted Christians, perhaps we should re-frame the three great Ignatian questions:

• What have I done for Christ, suffering with and in persecuted Christians today?
• What am I doing for Christ, suffering with and in persecuted Christians today?
• What will I do for Christ, suffering with and in persecuted Christians today?

Daily prayer seems like the least we could do, for these "least" among us. Perhaps it is a purposeful petition at a family meal, or maybe a decade of the Rosary per day for those who may be facing decades of suffering for the Name which is above every other name.  Or maybe it's a personal commitment to recite this prayer for persecuted Christians from the Knights of Columbus:

O God of all the nations,
the One God who is and was and always will be,
in your providence you willed that your Church
be united to the suffering of your Son.
Look with mercy on your servants
who are persecuted for their faith in you.
Grant them perseverance and courage
to be worthy imitators of Christ.
Bring your wisdom upon leaders of nations
to work for peace among all peoples.
May your Spirit open conversion
for those who contradict your will,
that we may live in harmony.
Give us the grace to be united in truth and freedom,
and to always seek your will in our lives.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Our Lady, Queen of Peace, pray for us!

Offering our own daily inconveniences, or health concern,s or fears and worries could be another way to show solidarity in suffering.  Giving alms for those who seemingly have nothing left to give would also have a tremendous ripple effect: www.ChristiansAtRisk.org.

Finally, consider checking out this link for the USCCB resource page and/or this link for the "week of awareness" resources from the Knights of Columbus.

After all, Jesus really wants us to take to heart this week of awareness--along with his Kingly reminder about what's really at stake:

"Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine,
you did for me."

 (Mt 25:40)

Pax et Bonum,
DDS

Missionaries of Christian Family Life

What if we looked at our Thanksgiving gatherings with fresh eyes--focusing less on the food and the football, and more on each family member's missionary mandate?

It may sound like a stretch but--especially for the Catholic faithful--the family should be less like a comfortable pillow and more like a living launching pad.  The family is one of life's greatest "goods," and it serves as the irreplaceable foundation upon which society is built; it is a "school of Christian love" which is ordered to the common good.  Yet the deepest purpose of the family lies in the ongoing formation and sending of missionary disciples of Jesus Christ into the world.

Thanksgiving Day is a uniquely American opportunity to express gratitude for the fellowship we enjoy with family members and extended friends.  Even where there may be differences or tensions among family members, it is an opportunity to show the special form of "accompaniment" that is possible only in families.  But maybe it is time for our gatherings to resemble the reconvening of missionaries who come together to be fed--physically, emotionally and spiritually--before resuming their adventures of sharing God's saving grace.

Some of the missionary disciples around our Thanksgiving tables may be weary from their labors, of course; others might gave grown lukewarm or disoriented regarding their task.  Yet this annual rite of nourishment and encouragement should provide an opportunity to "reboot" our commitment to bringing Christ the King into our increasingly weary world.

We need to be patient with our fellow missionaries, of course, since the terrain which we navigate has become increasingly hostile toward God's Truth, Beauty and Goodness.  And yet we should remain confident that we have Good News to share in our respective mission fields:  The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is the one from whom all of our blessings flow, as well as the one to whom we should direct our various acts of thanksgiving :)

Let's pray that each and every family may reclaim this deeper identity.  After all, "The mission of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit is brought to completion in the Church, which is the Body of Christ and the Temple of the Holy Spirit" (CCC, n. 737).

This Invitation Requires a Timely RSVP

The Wedding at Cana by Veronese

Life is choices.  Ultimately, the Lord of heaven and earth allows each of us the freedom to choose whether we will attend the eternal wedding feast.

The Bridegroom will be there, of course, surrounded by all those who were wise enough to accept the invitation.  The celebration will roll on and on.  Like a wonderful family reunion, brothers and sisters of all generations will gather around the Father's banquet table.

The only requirement for admission is our personal RSVP: In French, "répondez s'il vous plaît," literally means "Respond if it pleases you."  So the only question is whether it pleases us to accept the invitation or not.

No one else can answer the question for us.  No one can sign our name on the response card.  We are given a certain number of earthly days to accept or reject the invitation, but the clock is ticking.

At a certain point, if we dally too long, the Wedding Feast will go on without us.  If we ignore or disregard the invitation, the Bridegroom will respect our freedom and will have no alternative but to leave us on the outside looking in.  If we arrive late and knock on the door, His seemingly harsh words--"I do not know you"--will simply echo and confirm the "It does not please me to attend" which our lukewarm lack of response had previously indicated.

* * *

However, if it does please us to accept the invitation, we will enter into the most perfect of celebrations.  Face-to-face fellowship with our favorite patron saints and intercessors, as well as reunion with all of our loved ones who wisely kept the oil of faith burning in their lamps.  In the Father's house there are many rooms, indeed, and there is an "open table" for each of us. 

All of the glimpses of peace and joy we have experienced here on earth will open onto the total fulfillment of all our desires at this wedding feast.  Our hearts will overflow with the love shared by the Bridegroom and his bride.

But the request for an RSVP from the Bridegroom has a due date.  We may have until the 11th hour of our life to utter our "yes."  However, as an old joke painfully points out, some of us may well die at 10:30.

The party inside will be utterly glorious, whereas outside there will be only wailing and grinding of teeth.  Isn't this the "acceptable time" to embrace the "day of salvation" once and for all (2 Cor 6:2b)?!

All Our Favorite Saints and Holy Souls

"Death comes for us all, even for kings it comes."

+St. Thomas More, from A Man for All Seasons

Catholics celebrate All Saints Day to remind ourselves that we are not alone.  The journey is not too difficult.  Our deeply desired destiny does not exceed our grasp.

We have not only a "cloud of witnesses" cheering us on, but also a cohort of patron saints assisting our charge onward and upward.

So who is on your A-team?  If you had to choose your top five canonized saints, who would they be and why?  Perhaps they have changed over the course of your ongoing conversion to Christ--according to the different ages and stages of your life. Or maybe you have realized their fidelity to you, even when you have grown lax or lukewarm on your journey Home.

It's good to name and invoke our spiritual friends, to trust that they walk with us, and to open our eyes to the ways that they intervene for us right now, on behalf of our eternal forever.

Catholics celebrate All Souls Day to remind ourselves of those loved ones--friends and family members--through whom the love of Christ has shone into our lives.  

The Light of the World is reflected everywhere that the grace of Baptism has made a soul holy.  The Love of God reverberates in every human heart, created in the image and likeness of Trinitarian Love.  Therefore, every glimpse of light and love here below should help open our eyes to the fullness of life for which we were made.

Can you name those Holy Souls, now headed home to God, who have most deeply touched your life?  Can you see in them an image of the Risen Lord drawing near to you, much as he did with the two travelers on the Road to Emmaus?

The heroic and everyday virtue in your favorite Holy Souls are sign posts on the Christian path of discipleship.  Whether it's your grandfather's kindness, or your aunt's passion for justice; whether it's your childhood friend's grit and heroic perseverance, or your neighbor's piety: The people who have left an impact on us have done so to the extent that they were pencils in the very hand of God.

We need to picture our all-time list of Holy Souls and then become like them--for the sake of all those we meet.  This is how usher in the Kingdom of God which is already at hand.

This is our prayer :)

Repaying to God What Belongs to God

www.missio.org

"If something should rightly disturb us and trouble our consciences,
it is the fact that so many of our brothers and sisters are living without the strength,
light and consolation born of friendship with Jesus Christ,
without a community of faith to support them,
without meaning and a goal in life."
(The Joy of the Gospel, n. 49)

It disturbs me
that Jesus bled to death while nailed to a tree,
and yet we think that life is about trying to be a nice person.

It troubles my conscience
that we know our deepest identity lies in being children of our heavenly Father,
and yet we allow the world to indoctrinate us with inane alternatives.

It disturbs me
that so many people live in such existential misery here and now,
and yet we hesitate to share the Good News they long to hear.

It troubles my conscience

that so many Christians have heard Jesus' words, "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life,"
and then we quickly convince ourselves that there are lots of ways to the Father,
lots of truths, and lots of lives worth leading.

 

It disturbs me
that so many Catholics yawn their way through the miracle of the Mass,
and that even more are too busy with trivialities to be present to the Presence.

It troubles my conscience

that we are so eager to give so much to the various Caesars of our day,
and yet so willing to give so little to the God of all eternity.

World Mission Sunday is a poignant reminder that, when we meet our Maker, He will ask:  "Where are all of my children you were supposed to help bring home?"   Let's pray that we will be instruments of God's grace who help others live in friendship with Jesus Christ, with a community of faith to support them, with meaning and a goal in life--

DDS

A Proposal to Reduce Gun Violence and Womb Violence

If Catholics stood united in defending human dignity,
they could significantly impact the unfettered rights
demanded by both the pro-gun and the pro-abortion lobbies.

Neither the NRA nor NARAL will like this idea.  Catholics whose deepest allegiance lies with their preferred political party, rather than with principles of Catholic social teaching, will not appreciate it either.

But sometimes consensus-building and meaningful collaboration requires looking at old problems with fresh eyes. With the blood of our brothers and sisters continuing to cry out from the ground (Gen 4:10), isn't it time for some bold new beginnings?

Recent polls have shown an increasing openness to introducing reasonable limits to the "right to choose" both to abort the unborn and to bear arms: 81% of Americans favor restricting abortion to the first trimester, and 55% of Americans say that laws on gun sales should be more strict than they are now. 

If liberals who are opposed to "gun violence" really want to see reasonable restrictions on the right to bear arms, then they should be willing to accept reasonable restrictions on the violent act of abortion.  Likewise, if conservatives who are opposed to "womb violence" really want to see reasonable restrictions on abortion rights, then they should be willing to accept reasonable restrictions on gun ownership.

American Catholics are uniquely poised to be able to increase respect for human dignity by providing a united front in this two-pronged strategy.  Of course, to be consistently "pro-life" would require overcoming internecine culture wars--as well as pushing back against these two well funded and ideologically intransigent forces in the political American landscape.  Here are a few examples of how the potential compromises might play out:

• Ban abortions after the first twelve weeks of pregnancy, AND ban the sale of assault weapons, bump stock and semi-automatic firearms.
• Require parental notification for parents of minors seeking abortions, AND require a more uniform and rigorous process for background checks for all gun purchases.
• Create an informed consent process which includes access to ultrasound images for all first-trimester abortions, AND create a meaningful process for tracking fire arm purchases which would include a national data base.

Mother Teresa famously asked "if we accept that a mother can kill even her own child, how can we tell other people not to kill one another?"  The now canonized saint of Calcutta famously added that "we must give until it hurts," and so these parallel questions seem to follow: If conservative Catholics refuse to limit their rights to gun ownership, how can they tell other people that they should not have unfettered rights to abortion? If liberal Catholics refuse reasonable restrictions on abortion, how can they tell other people that they have to limit their rights to bear arms?

Of course, owning a gun and procuring an abortion are not morally equivalent acts. They are, however, equally divisive political topics these days.  Isn't this all the more reason to find common ground for political collaboration?

After all, "compromise" need not be a word connoting weakness or absence of principles; it could suggest "making a promise with others" in order to promote the common good and respect human life.

What Really Happens at Mass?

It’s such a simple question, and yet where should a committed Catholic begin, if asked to respond? 

It depends on the audience, of course, but in one way or another an adequate response would include a few most basic elements. Check out the three themes below, and consider what else should be included on the list:

1.      Heaven touches Earth, once again.

Whether it is an intimate gathering in a small chapel or a papal event celebrated with millions, the Mass invites us to celebrate with a “cloud of witnesses.”  All the angels and saints gather with Christ’s body on earth, the Church, and we are invited to participate in the eternal worship and praise of the Father, in the Son, with the Holy Spirit.

One of the times that I was most aware of this experience was several years ago at the annual pilgrimage to Washington, DC, for the March for Life. First there was the Vigil Mass for Life at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception; it was a “high” Mass with a 45-minute procession, incense and traditional hymns, and thousands of reverent pilgrims. Then the very next morning, we celebrated an equally stunning Mass at the nearby Verizon Center—this time, with praise and worship music, and a “youth rally” kind of feel.

Each of these events felt like there was so much more going on.  One of the high school students described it best on our bus ride home when he said, “Those Masses were the most joyful and the most peaceful I’ve ever felt in my life.”  Sure signs of the Holy Spirit at work!

2.      The Holy Spirit re-presents Christ’s passion, death and resurrection.

When Jesus said to the Apostles—and to us—“Do this in memory of me”, the context and message was obvious: Passover meal; “memory” as “memorial”; making oneself present at the event. In prayer, when I try to picture myself present at Jesus’ crucifixion, it is hard to imagine making it to the foot of the Cross with the Blessed Mother, Mary Magdalene and the beloved disciple. 

However, I am able to see myself present in the crowd, listening to Jesus’ last words. I can even imagine myself as one of the other apostles who initially fled after Jesus’ arrest, but then circle back incognito to draw closer to the Sacrifice:

• “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do” seems to be directed right at me. 
• “Today, you will be with me in paradise” sounds like the answer to the prayer I long to hear.
• “Behold, your son; behold, your mother” provides a glimmer of hope and hint of a path forward amid the devastation.
• "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me” seems to say even more about me than about Jesus’ intimate relationship with the Father. 
• “I thirst” makes me long to do something, anything, for the Lord. 
• “It is complete” hints at Jesus’ intentionality and reminds me of Jesus’ mysterious words and actions at the Last Supper. 
• "Father, into your hands, I commend my Spirit” seems to sum up Jesus’ whole life—“being for” the Father. 

3.      We encounter the real presence of Jesus in the most unique way.

Finally, and ultimately, there is the matter of the transformation of bread and wine before our very eyes. Eucharistic Adoration has helped deepen my experience of the Mass, and frequent participation in the Mass has helped me appreciate the ongoing presence of our Risen Lord in tabernacles and monstrances around the world.

Why? Because in the Eucharist I experience a peace which the world cannot give. I have experienced the Lord’s joy has filling me, so that my joy is complete. And I have seen the slow but steady transforming power of the Eucharist in my own life!

Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us—

DDS

The Only Way to Overcome the Enemy Which is Us

"Have in you the same attitude
that is also in Christ Jesus."
(Phil 2:5)

With cities and streets turned into killing fields, it is time we confront life's great "either/or" decision.  Either we adopt a radically different mindset, embrace a profound metanoia, literally the "new mind" of Christ; or we accept the inevitable consequences of our worldly mentality which is rooted in slavery to self and the relentless drive to impose one's will upon others.

"Though he was in the form of God, [Jesus] did not regard equality with God something to be grasped" (Phil 2:6). Grasping at equality with God is one way to define original sin. It also helps us see what the sin of idolatry looks like today: We set ourselves up as gods who have to power to decide when life begins and when life ends, whose lives are worthy to be lived and whose deserve to be eliminated.

"Rather he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness..." (Phil 2:7)  The Law of Love alone provides an antidote.  It guarantees that we fulfill ourselves only by pouring ourselves out on behalf of others. To put on the mind of Christ means that we look at life through the eyes of those who are suffering and those who are powerless, rather than through the eyes of those who must dominate and enslave others in order to feel more free.

"And found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross" (Phil 2:8).  The worldly mindset sees only "kill or be killed," and thus the cycles of violence swirl on.  The "will to power" is not just a quaint tag line of nihilists and anarchists, but it also includes the justification of "preemptive" strikes against anyone we fear. Christian humility accepts the fact that death is swallowed up by the Cross of Christ. It knows that obedience to the will of the Father never includes the killing or the silencing or the shaming of another.

"Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name" (Phil 2:9). Whenever the name of my country comes first, or the name of my tribe, or the name of my political party or my cause--we can rest assured that slavery to self has a strong grip on us. The only antidote is to name the temptation for what it is, a spirit of self-absorbed worldliness, and then to cast it out in the name of Jesus.

"That at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth" (Phil 2:10). Whether people "take a knee" in the name of defending liberty and protesting racial injustices, or whether people protest the taking of a knee in the name of love of country, it must be done out of a pure intention to put God first, others second and self third. Otherwise, it will merely perpetuate the worldly cycles of division and hatred and--ultimately--death. Ongoing Christian conversion of heart and mind "takes a knee" at the name of Jesus precisely because he alone reveals the way to the Father, which is the path of humility and obedience.

"And every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Phil 2:11). We have seen the enemy, indeed, but we praise God that he has shown us the Way forward-- so that the cycles of worldly violence, domination and condemnation might be broken once and for all.

Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us!
DDS

A Relatable Face of Holiness for Today

St. Vincent de Paul

Holiness looks like something. But is it possible that a 17th Century priest could speak to 21st Century questions about the meaning and purpose of life?

Known as the "Apostle of Charity" and "Father of the Poor," St. Vincent contributed to the internal reform of the Church in France through a simple formula: the faithful preaching of the Gospel; the intentional gathering of disciples of Jesus for meaningful Christian community and mutual support; and the radical commitment to serving the needs of the poor and the marginalized.

Faithful preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ--both in words and in actions--is the necessary starting point for a life of holiness. It not only comforts wounded sinners but also exhorts them to ongoing conversion of heart.  Faithful preaching of the Gospel resists the reduction of Christianity to a mere reflection of worldly wisdom or a mere repetition of universal religious claims--as if the Incarnation of God happens anywhere else but in Jesus Christ.

Meaningful Christian community and mutual support allows real relationships to flourish. This is the context in which people can let themselves be vulnerable and open their hearts to God's transforming grace. This is the place where authentic diversity of personalities and opinions can be held in tension, out of mutual respect. The human person is made for relationship with God, which sin has wounded and the grace of Christ has repaired, but it must be lived out in concrete, interpersonal relationships.

Radical commitment to serving the needs of the poor and the marginalized may be St. Vincent's most enduring legacy, and this may be the easiest point of entry for 21st Century Christians.  St. Vincent's Daughters of Charity, which he co-founded, and his Vincentian priests continue their work today. His designation as patron saint of all charitable societies keeps his smiling presence front-and-center for all who would serve the least, in the name of Jesus. But his abiding relevance for today might just be his simple, direct, hands-on approach to helping the people God placed right in front of him each day.

Notwithstanding heroic moments of Christian witness and/or martyrdom, most moments of holiness resemble small acts of kindness, offered out of love. This is because holiness looks like Someone--Jesus Christ--whose face we glimpse when we encounter the least and whose work continues in and through us when we serve those in need.

May St. Vincent intercede on our behalf that we might find everyday ways to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, care for the ill, and visit the imprisoned (Mt 25:35-36)!

Embracing an Evangelizing Catechesis

USCCB Catechetical Sunday Resources

It all starts with a joke: The junior high teacher asks the class, "Who can explain the difference between ignorance and indifference?"  After a long, awkward silence, a weary student responds, "I don't know, and I don't care."  Exactly!

The old educational adage is that students will never care how much the teacher knows until they know how much the teacher cares. In terms of teaching the Catholic faith, people will never care to learn more until they experience why they should care.

An evangelizing catechesis starts with helping people care. It begins with the awareness that, before we can hand on what we have received from the Apostles, we need to help people hear and respond to the Good News of Jesus--personally. We need to return to the basic proclamation of the Gospel, the Kerygma, so that baptized Catholics might encounter the life-changing revelation anew--personally.

An evangelizing catechesis helps people move from caring into life-long learning.  Once people care about how the love of God revealed in Jesus Christ directly impacts them, they care to embrace ongoing conversion of heart and thus walk the path of missionary discipleship.

An evangelizing catechesis is rooted in the first announcement or kerygma. In the words of Pope Francis (EG, n. 164):

• "In catechesis too, we have rediscovered the fundamental role of the first announcement or kerygma, which needs to be the center of all evangelizing activity and all efforts at Church renewal. The kerygma is trinitarian. The fire of the Spirit is given in the form of tongues and leads us to believe in Jesus Christ who, by his death and resurrection, reveals and communicates to us the Father’s infinite mercy. On the lips of the catechist the first proclamation must ring out over and over: 'Jesus Christ loves you; he gave his life to save you; and now he is living at your side every day to enlighten, strengthen and free you.' This first proclamation is called 'first' not because it exists at the beginning and can then be forgotten or replaced by other more important things. It is first in a qualitative sense because it is the principal proclamation, the one which we must hear again and again in different ways, the one which we must announce one way or another throughout the process of catechesis, at every level and moment..."

An evangelizing catechesis compels a response. Indeed, the more I open myself to embrace the message that Jesus loves me personally, that he gave his life to save me personally, and that he is living at my side each day, the more I want to learn about Him. Likewise, the more I learn about Jesus Christ, the more I am drawn into friendship with Him and so drawn into the mystery of Trinitarian love--into the very relationship of the Son with the Father through the gift of the Spirit.

In the 2017 Prayer for Catechists from the U.S. Bishops, we ask that the Church's heroic and evangelizing catechists might help more people care to know the Truth which alone sets them free:

O God, our Heavenly Father, you have
given us the gift of these catechists to be
heralds of the Gospel to our parish family.
We lift them up to you in thanksgiving
and intercede for them concerning their
hopes and needs.

May we be attentive to the presence of
your Word in them, a Word that lifts up
and affirms, calls forth and challenges, is
compassionate and consoles.

We pray that our parish family will always
be blessed with those who have responded to
the call to share in Christ's prophetic mission
as catechists. May we too be open to the
universal call to service that Christ addresses
to all of his disciples, contributing our gifts to
the communion of faith, the Church.
We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen!

A Fatima Centennial Self-Evaluation

What if the Blessed Virgin Mary asked me
to pray the Rosary every day?

The Mother of God's message at Fatima was meant to be personal. Not just for the three shepherd children to whom she appeared over a six-month period in 1917--the long-suffering St. Lucia and her recently canonized cousins, Jacinta and Francisco--but for me and for you.

So, here's a spiritual "gut check": How would you rate your level of knowledge and commitment on the following Fatima spectrum?

1_____________________________2____________________________3
Novice                                   Intermediate                                       Advanced
Aware                                       Fairly Familiar              Well-versed in the details
Not so interested                  Open to the implications                   Deeply devoted

If you are somewhere between a 1.0 and a 2.5, check out the brief overview below which outlines Our Lady's maternal messages at Fatima (and if you're closer to a 3.0, enjoy thinking about all the other key details we might include, given the 100 years of Fatima)! But wherever we might fall on the spectrum, this very public 20th-century miracle should provoke some deeper self-reflection during this centennial year.

Four Fatima-related questions for ongoing self-assessment:

1. Do I believe that Heaven is closer than imaginable? Jesus wants us to embrace his Mother as our Mother, and she always stands ready to intercede on our behalf. Isn't Fatima's evidence of Mary's ongoing maternal concern enough to open my eyes to life's deeper realities?
   
   
2. Do I believe that Hell is a real possibility? Presumption is still a sin, and assuming that all will be saved is just as problematic as thinking we can know who might be damned. Dorothy Day said that we only love God as much as the person we love the least. Isn't it time to consider whether I actually hope for the salvation of those whom I love the least--and whether I am actively concerned for those who are clearly very far away from God?
   
   
3. Do I understand why and how my sacrifices might contribute to the salvation of souls? The Law of Love revealed on the Cross shows us that it is in self-giving that we find self-fulfillment; it is in self-emptying that others are raised up. Isn't it time to start offering my daily sufferings and sacrifices for the salvation of souls?
   
   
   
4. Do I believe that praying the Rosary each day can change the world?  Twenty minutes is easily gobbled up skimming social media, surfing the internet, or vegging out in front of some show. Isn't it time to plan how/when I can commit to a daily Rosary--in the car, during a daily walk, or before resorting to screen time? 
   

 A brief review of Mary's messages during the six Fatima apparitions:

• "I come from Heaven" (5-13-17): Announced by a flash of supernatural light, the Blessed Mother asks the three children whether they will bear the sufferings that God sends them in atonement for the sins that offend God and for the conversion of sinners. She promises that the grace of God will strengthen them, and asks them to pray the Rosary every day to bring peace to the world.
  
• "The Fatima Prayer" & Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary (6-13-17): The beautiful Lady returns as promised, shares the prayer which is now included at the end of each decade of the Rosary (see below), and again urges the three children to pray the Rosary every day. The Blessed Mother also asks the children to promote devotion to her Immaculate Heart, as a path to lead the whole world back to God.
  
• The Vision of Hell and the Three Secrets (7-13-17): With reassurances that Heaven is their destiny, reminders of daily Rosaries, and the prediction of an October miracle, Our Lady proceeded to shock Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta with a vision of eternal damnation. She then commented: "You have seen hell, where the souls of poor sinners go. It is to save them that God wants to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart. If you do what I tell you, many souls will be saved, and there will be peace." In addition, the Blessed Mother shared the secrets of the message of Fatima, whose drama would unfold in the decades that followed--including the consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart.
  
• Delayed Visit & Promise of Basilica on the Site (8-19-17): Growing pressure from arrogant atheists and secular obstructionists caused increasing problems for the three children, and a local political figure prevented them from keeping their monthly appointment on the 13th. However, the Blessed Mother greeted the children a few days later with this message: "Pray, pray very much. Make sacrifices for sinners. Many souls go to hell, because no one is willing to help them with sacrifice."
  
• Prediction of Future Visions (9-13-17): With crowds continuing to grow, the Blessed Mother's message once again focused on making sacrifices and praying the Rosary. She also promised the children that, one month later on her final visit, they would have a vision of Our Lord, Our Lady of Sorrows and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, and St. Joseph with the Child Jesus.
  
• Miracle of the Sun Witnessed by at least 70,000 People (10-13-17): The children saw the visions promised in September; the massive crowd saw the rain stop, the skies open, and the sun become a whirling dervish. Even as many of the hardened cynics and skeptics feared the end of the world, the Blessed Mother reassured the children that the war would end soon. Perhaps the most stunning evidence of this supernatural occurrence was the fact that all who were present admitted that the "miracle of the sun" had dried their previously rain-soaked clothes and shoes.
  
  After revealing herself to be Our Lady of the Rosary, the Virgin Mary also told the children: "People must amend their lives and ask pardon for their sins. They must not offend our Lord any more, for He is already too much offended!"
  

A Closing Fatima Prayer:

Let's pray that we continue advancing along the spectrum of Fatima devotion, as we move ever closer to our personal and communal judgment days: "O my Jesus, forgive us our sins; save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls to heaven, especially those who are most in need of your mercy."

Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us--
DDS

P.S. Don't miss the Holy Father's announcement of a plenary indulgence through the end of this liturgical year.