Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration – Saint Joseph Monastery
Many people are amazed to discover that in the entire history of the Church
there have been only two ex cathedra teachings…
official teachings by the Pope exercising his authority as supreme pontiff…
(Most Church teachings have been defined by councils of bishops.)
and both of them had to do with Mary:
the Immaculate Conception in 1854
and the Assumption in 1950.
Mary’s earthly beginning and Mary’s earthly end,
which is the beginning of her eternal life.
Although the Assumption was not dogmatically defined until somewhat recently… the Church has believed in it for centuries.
Tradition holds that St. Thomas was absent when Mary died,
and once again he doubted, as He doubted the resurrection…
so the Apostles took him to Mary’s tomb.
There he witnessed her being assumed into heaven…
body and soul…into glory.
Some accounts even describe Mary dropping her girdle to him
as she passes up into heaven.
God, in his wisdom, chose Mary from eternity to be the mother of Jesus.
Because of the singular role she would play in the plan of salvation…
she was immaculately conceived…
preserved from all stain of original sin.
And so it was fitting that she was freed from the corruption of death,
which is the effect of sin.
Of course there is no Gospel text that records the moment of Mary’s Assumption.
For today the Church gives us the Gospel of the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth,
and Mary’s famous song of praise: the Magnificat.
As Mary experiences and reflects on the greatest moment of her life…
the moment when she is visited by an angel
who tells her she will conceive the Son of God…
she does two very human…natural…things:
First, she runs in haste to share her joyful news with her dear cousin Elizabeth.
How often we want to share our news with those we love.
And second, as she reflects upon her what has happened to her…
she produces a beautiful work of art…an exquisite poem of praise.
As the Holy Father Pope Benedict once wrote about the Magnificat…
"This marvelous canticle mirrors the entire soul, the entire personality of Mary."
The Magnificat shows us what a beautiful person Mary was…
how she rejoiced in God’s presence in her life…
how she trusted completely in His providential care.
Mary is the perfect woman of faith.
She is also the perfect mother…
and the perfect disciple.
Mary is the living example of the promises that clergy and religious make.
You take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.
I promise chastity and obedience to my bishop.
Mary is poor in spirit…a truly humble servant.
She is a pure, chaste, virgin.
She is obedient to God always.
Mary is everything for us!
The Feast of the Assumption is a sign of hope for the world!
If we hope to go where she has gone…
we must live as she lived!
As she received the joyful news of Christ’s presence in her life…
and took that news in haste to one she loved…
so we are to rejoice that Christ has come to us…
and bring His love and truth to the whole world.
Mary teaches us to take the love of Christ to others…
and to live our lives in constant praise of God.
Of all the lessons Mary’s life offers us…
I believe most profoundly of all she teaches us to trust!
As she replies to the angel at the moment of the Annunciation:
"Let it be done to me according to your word."
In the Magnificat she declares her trust in the great things the Lord has done…
in her life…
and in the lives of her family and her ancestors.
And of course it was not all good either.
As she saw her only son being ridiculed…tortured…and crucified…
she had to trust…somehow…someway.
In the midst of horror that made no sense.
In the midst of unimaginable sorrow for a mother to bear…
and excruciating pain for her son…
somehow she had to trust in the promise of the Resurrection.
And trust she did!
Mary never wavered in her fidelity to Christ.
Life is filled with challenges and difficulties.
Mary shows us that when nothing makes sense…
when all seems lost…
God is still with us!
When the cross seemed to be the death of her son…and our savior…
when it seemed everything was over and their lives meant nothing…
she trusted in the promise that He would rise and live again!
So must we trust…and hope…
that God does not ever abandon those who live for Him.
and that a life of eternal happiness awaits those who remain faithful servants.
That life is the joy of heaven…
where Mary already resides…
waiting for us to join her at the feet of her son Jesus.
In the meantime, she is right now by our side…
eager to share our joys and our sorrows.
As we come now to receive the body of the same Jesus
whom she once held in her loving arms…
may we love him as she did.
May we share Him with the world
and never fail to trust in His truth and love!
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Saturday, August 05, 2006
Homily Memorial of Saint John Vianney 4 August 2006
Vocations Day 4 August 2006
Thank yous, etc...
Dearest brothers and sisters in Christ…
Saint John Vianney would be most pleased with you today.
If he were here with us…
he would be overjoyed with all we have done here this day…
with the great love and affection you have shown our Lord.
Today, as a parish community, we have opened our doors
to those who came seeking to learn more about vocations in the Church.
We began the day with Mass.
We honored our Blessed Mother Mary with the Rosary…
and recalled Christ’s Passion with the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.
We stood watch hour by hour in prayer with Jesus
present in the Blessed Sacrament.
We have learned…discussed…prayed…and worshipped.
And now we come to the close of our Church Vocations Day…
as we gather to celebrate the Liturgy of Vespers.
Yes, Saint John would be very happy with us today…
because John Vianney was truly a priest of Jesus Christ!
John Vianney tended the flock entrusted to his care…
eagerly…willingly…lovingly…
and in heaven he has received the unfading crown of glory.
He is most popularly known as a confessor.
Estimates vary…
but we know that he spent at least 12 hours every day in the confessional…
hearing the confessions of people who came from all over France to see him,
not because of his own merit…but because the light of Christ
shown through his simple life and caring smile.
But there are many other facets to his life as well.
Despite his intellectual limits, by God’s grace he was a great teacher and preacher.
He was a man of deep prayer, who loved the Liturgy,
and spent time with the Lord present in the Blessed Sacrament constantly.
He was one who thought little of his own needs,
living on simple meals, sleeping little,
enduring temptations of the Devil,
witnessing to the sufferings of Christ,
and offering all for the sake of the flock he loved so dearly.
He was given the power to teach, to shepherd, and to sanctify the Body of Christ…
but never for a moment did he lord it over the people of his parish of Ars.
Instead, he gave his whole life for their sake.
Yes, John Vianney was truly a priest after the heart of Christ…
a priest who loved the Church.
He is an example to the flock…
especially to priests and to everyone aspires to the priesthood.
John Vianney’s life pointed the way to Christ.
For him, the priesthood was not about him but about Jesus!
This is the same question every priest and deacon must ask himself:
How am I leading the flock closer to Christ?
The essence of the qualities we admire in John Vianney
are an example to every baptized person.
We can all ask ourselves these questions:
What is different about people I have met since I have entered their lives?
How have I pointed the way to Christ and lead others closer to Him?
Every baptized person is called to a unique vocation…
to a unique mission from God.
Most people are called to married life.
Some married men are also called to the Permanent Diaconate…
a vital role of service in the Church.
And some men and women are called to a celibate vocation…
as religious brothers and sisters or as priests.
We are all called to be living examples of self-giving love…
and to point the way to Christ in a unique way.
It is incumbent upon each of us to seriously discern God’s call for our lives…
and to respond generously to whatever he asks of us.
In a world of distractions, it is often hard to hear the voice of God.
So, we have to work hard
to promote an atmosphere that is open to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
In our homes, a vocation in the Church ought to be a legitimate option…
right alongside firefighter, doctor, teacher, and every other child’s dream.
It is good to encourage each other in the discernment of our vocations
and invite others to consider priesthood and religious life.
Despite what the world tries to tell us…
despite the negative attitude many have toward the sacrifice of celibacy…
the life of one who serves the Church is a life of grace and joy…
a life rewarded both in heaven…and in this life as well.
I have already experienced that joy for myself
in the three months since my ordination as a deacon.
My journey began seven years ago when I entered college seminary.
I readily admit that there have been moments of tremendous joy
and times of intense trial…
days…like final exams…when I would rather do anything else…
and days when I could not possibly do anything else.
And on April 29th I placed my hands in the bishop’s hands…
and laid prostrate on the floor of Saint Columba Cathedral…
and yes, I cried a little.
Not tears of sadness…but tears of joy.
Because I was there, in the midst of a most beautiful liturgy…
surrounded by the people I love the most…
and I joyfully and humbly accepted the call of the Lord.
When the reality of ordination finally sank in during the days after…
I must admit it was a little frightening.
There is a lot to get used to.
Service to the Church is not something to be ever taken lightly.
But since that day, I had the singular joy and privilege of bringing into the Church
a sweet little girl named Molly Ann…
who turned her head just in time to have the baptismal water run in her eyes!
The reward has come already.
It would all be worth it just for that little girl, who claims Christ as her savior.
But there will be many more…baptisms, weddings, funerals…
And so, I thank God for the grace of my own ordination…
And to all those who are pondering priesthood or religious life, I say:
fear not…have faith…Jesus needs you right now!
May all we have celebrated to today in our Church Vocations Day…
inspire us to live the example of John Vianney’s humble service to God…
and to respond to our own unique vocation with love and fidelity.
Thank yous, etc...
Dearest brothers and sisters in Christ…
Saint John Vianney would be most pleased with you today.
If he were here with us…
he would be overjoyed with all we have done here this day…
with the great love and affection you have shown our Lord.
Today, as a parish community, we have opened our doors
to those who came seeking to learn more about vocations in the Church.
We began the day with Mass.
We honored our Blessed Mother Mary with the Rosary…
and recalled Christ’s Passion with the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.
We stood watch hour by hour in prayer with Jesus
present in the Blessed Sacrament.
We have learned…discussed…prayed…and worshipped.
And now we come to the close of our Church Vocations Day…
as we gather to celebrate the Liturgy of Vespers.
Yes, Saint John would be very happy with us today…
because John Vianney was truly a priest of Jesus Christ!
John Vianney tended the flock entrusted to his care…
eagerly…willingly…lovingly…
and in heaven he has received the unfading crown of glory.
He is most popularly known as a confessor.
Estimates vary…
but we know that he spent at least 12 hours every day in the confessional…
hearing the confessions of people who came from all over France to see him,
not because of his own merit…but because the light of Christ
shown through his simple life and caring smile.
But there are many other facets to his life as well.
Despite his intellectual limits, by God’s grace he was a great teacher and preacher.
He was a man of deep prayer, who loved the Liturgy,
and spent time with the Lord present in the Blessed Sacrament constantly.
He was one who thought little of his own needs,
living on simple meals, sleeping little,
enduring temptations of the Devil,
witnessing to the sufferings of Christ,
and offering all for the sake of the flock he loved so dearly.
He was given the power to teach, to shepherd, and to sanctify the Body of Christ…
but never for a moment did he lord it over the people of his parish of Ars.
Instead, he gave his whole life for their sake.
Yes, John Vianney was truly a priest after the heart of Christ…
a priest who loved the Church.
He is an example to the flock…
especially to priests and to everyone aspires to the priesthood.
John Vianney’s life pointed the way to Christ.
For him, the priesthood was not about him but about Jesus!
This is the same question every priest and deacon must ask himself:
How am I leading the flock closer to Christ?
The essence of the qualities we admire in John Vianney
are an example to every baptized person.
We can all ask ourselves these questions:
What is different about people I have met since I have entered their lives?
How have I pointed the way to Christ and lead others closer to Him?
Every baptized person is called to a unique vocation…
to a unique mission from God.
Most people are called to married life.
Some married men are also called to the Permanent Diaconate…
a vital role of service in the Church.
And some men and women are called to a celibate vocation…
as religious brothers and sisters or as priests.
We are all called to be living examples of self-giving love…
and to point the way to Christ in a unique way.
It is incumbent upon each of us to seriously discern God’s call for our lives…
and to respond generously to whatever he asks of us.
In a world of distractions, it is often hard to hear the voice of God.
So, we have to work hard
to promote an atmosphere that is open to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
In our homes, a vocation in the Church ought to be a legitimate option…
right alongside firefighter, doctor, teacher, and every other child’s dream.
It is good to encourage each other in the discernment of our vocations
and invite others to consider priesthood and religious life.
Despite what the world tries to tell us…
despite the negative attitude many have toward the sacrifice of celibacy…
the life of one who serves the Church is a life of grace and joy…
a life rewarded both in heaven…and in this life as well.
I have already experienced that joy for myself
in the three months since my ordination as a deacon.
My journey began seven years ago when I entered college seminary.
I readily admit that there have been moments of tremendous joy
and times of intense trial…
days…like final exams…when I would rather do anything else…
and days when I could not possibly do anything else.
And on April 29th I placed my hands in the bishop’s hands…
and laid prostrate on the floor of Saint Columba Cathedral…
and yes, I cried a little.
Not tears of sadness…but tears of joy.
Because I was there, in the midst of a most beautiful liturgy…
surrounded by the people I love the most…
and I joyfully and humbly accepted the call of the Lord.
When the reality of ordination finally sank in during the days after…
I must admit it was a little frightening.
There is a lot to get used to.
Service to the Church is not something to be ever taken lightly.
But since that day, I had the singular joy and privilege of bringing into the Church
a sweet little girl named Molly Ann…
who turned her head just in time to have the baptismal water run in her eyes!
The reward has come already.
It would all be worth it just for that little girl, who claims Christ as her savior.
But there will be many more…baptisms, weddings, funerals…
And so, I thank God for the grace of my own ordination…
And to all those who are pondering priesthood or religious life, I say:
fear not…have faith…Jesus needs you right now!
May all we have celebrated to today in our Church Vocations Day…
inspire us to live the example of John Vianney’s humble service to God…
and to respond to our own unique vocation with love and fidelity.
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