Saint John Bosco

This is a good memorial to celebrate as we begin Catholic Schools Week, Saint John Bosco. Saint John was born in 1815. Once he was ordained to the priesthood he dedicated himself to the education of the young, founding congregations which would instruct youth in both the arts and the Christian life. He died in 1888 (Magnificat, 414-15). The entrance antiphon also speaks well of the saint that we celebrate: "Let the children come to me, and do not stop them, say the Lord; to such belongs the kingdom of God" (Mk. 10:14). Saint John welcomed the children, the youth like our Lord and taught them the ways of faith and how to live the Christian life. Catholic Schools, Religious Education, Youth Ministry, etc, are important components of the mission of the Church. Our young people are not only our future leaders in the church, but they are also the church of today. As priests, religious, catechists, we need to do our part to make our young people feel welcome and instill in them the Catholic faith and how to live holy, moral, dedicated, and committed lives. Let us turn to Saint John Bosco, for his prayers and intercessions, that we may carry out our ministry to the young people with strong faith and great zeal, energy, and enthusiasm. God Bless You!!!

The Beatitudes!!!

One of our guides for living is what we will listen to this weekend. Our gospel is: Matthew 5:1-12a, the Beatitudes. Jesus went up the mountain, he saw the crowds, and he began to teach them. According to one of the homily helps, "the Beatitudes are much older than the gospel. Jesus uses Beatitudes to instill hope in people whose lives have given them little to hope for" (Saint Anthony Messenger Press, Jan. 30). The structure says it all: "The first part of each Beatitude describes a serious condition of diminishment ranging from poverty to persecution. The good news, however, is found in the second part of each Beatitude" (SAMP, Jan. 30). The Beatitudes are a way of life and they give us hope. As Pope Benedict XVI says, "The individual beatitudes are the fruit of Christ looking upon his disciples. The Beatitudes express the meaning of discipleship... What the Beatitudes mean cannot be expressed in purely theoretical terms; it is proclaimed in the life and suffering, and in the mysterious joy, of the disciple who gives himself over completely to following the Lord" (Magnificat, 403-4). The Beatitudes are a wonderful teaching for us and a way of life. Pray that we may have the grace to live the Beatitudes each day and be an example to others. Have a blessed weekend!!!

Saint Thomas Aquinas

The saint that we celebrate today, Saint Thomas Aquinas, has appeared several times in my life. My senior year in high school was spent at St. Thomas Aquinas in Overland Park, Kansas. In the major seminary, the chapel where we gathered was the Aquinas Chapel. Of course, we read a lot of Saint Thomas Aquinas in the seminary, so his intercession and presence helped us as we grew in faith and knowledge. Saint Thomas Aquinas was a learned man and well written. He was also a man of great faith and prayer. Perhaps that is why he is a doctor and saint of the church because we can learn a lot from his example. Saint Thomas Aquinas, intercede for us. God Bless you!!!

Saint Angela Merici

This has been a special memorial for me to celebrate because of the religious order that Saint Angela Merici founded. Saint Angela founded the Order of Ursulines, following the charism of Saint Ursula. This Order was founded for the education of girls and for the missions. Education is an important ministry for the Ursuline Sisters. During my late grade school years and all of junior high, I had Ursuline Sisters at the Catholic Grade School that I attended. I am grateful for the leadership of the Ursuline Sisters and those who taught me. I also think about those years as we prepare to observe Catholic Schools Week next week. As the opening prayer for Mass noted: "Lord, may Saint Angela commend us to your mercy; may her charity and wisdom help us to be faithful to your teaching and to follow it in our lives." May this be our prayer today and everyday. Saint Angela Merici, intercede for us. Have a blessed day!!!

Saints Timothy & Titus

We all need people to assist us in our lives. We need people to be confidants, that we can turn to in time of need or to help us in the mission. For Saint Paul, those people were Saint Timothy and Saint Titus. According to the commentary, Saint Timothy was the confidant of Saint Paul. "Timothy was the inseparable companion of the work and sufferings of the apostle. He was his confidant at all times. Titus was the negotiator, the one Paul sent to clear up misunderstandings, reconcile differences; the one, too, on whom the apostle could count to organize a new Church" (Magnificat, 355). Each one of us, no matter how young or old we are, have a part, a role to play when it comes to continuing the mission of the church and living the Good News each day. Let us pray that Saint Timothy and Saint Titus will intercede for us and help us help one another as we live as the body of Christ and build up the Kingdom of God in our midst. God Bless You!!!

Conversion of Saint Paul!!!

This feast concludes the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. We have prayed that all may be one in Christ. We pray for unity and peace among all people. The way for that to happen means that we need to have a conversion of heart. That is why the Lenten call is so important, "Rend your hearts, not your garments." Conversion comes from within. As the commentator writes, "Being converted is simply meeting yourself for the purpose of going to the very end of your being. Conversion means a willingness to see the truth of things and conform one's conduct to it" (Magnificat, 340). Conversion is a life-long process. We are always growing in faith and holiness. It takes time for people to experience that conversion, but today would be a good day to begin because we look to the example of Saint Paul as a model. Saint Paul, intercede for us and help us to find and grow in the gift of conversion. Have a blessed day!!!

Saint Francis de Sales

The Church holds up for us a number of saints this week. We begin this new week with Saint Francis de Sales. Saint Francis was born in 1567. After being ordained a priest, he worked diligently to restore Catholicism to his own country. He was chosen bishop and showed himself to be a true pastor toward his clerics and the faithful. Saint Francis strengthened their faith by his writings, works, and example. He died in 1622 (Magnificat, 329-330). The opening prayer for Mass said that Saint Francis was given the spirit of compassion to help all in their journey to salvation. We pray for that example as well, that we may be a people of compassion and help our brothers and sisters to live their life and their faith to the fullest. Saint Francis de Sales, intercede for us! Have a blessed day!!!