Do Not Be Afraid — You are the Now of God
Message for Graduates from our Catholic Schools: You are also graduating at the time when the Church has a new Pope, our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV. Part of his first words in his new role were addressed to young people at his first Sunday appearance in Rome, which was also the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. He expressed, “To young people I say, Do not be afraid! Accept the invitation of the Church and Christ the Lord!”
Compassionate Continuity
The apostles were all different. They were not supposed to be the same. But Jesus called them all to one mission... that is to serve the Lord as He has made you, just as He had each of the apostles. While the apostles remained as individuals, they were to be one in Christ.
Going My Way – All Aboard!
As I continued to grow in my desire to be a priest, I began to appreciate more and more the central role the priest had in the lives of people, especially in regard to the meaning of life. As other professions, such as a doctor, teacher, lawyer or many others, had a significant role in people’s lives, it was always the priest and only the priest who had the ultimate answer to speak about life...
The Pope of Surprises
Pope Francis was a man who accepted himself, with all of the surprises as God made him, to the very end. In his final visit to the prison on Holy Thursday, he spoke words to reporters he has spoken on other occasions, “I often ask the question why them and not me.” In an early interview, when asked the question of who was he, Pope Francis responded in all sincerity, “I am a sinner.”
The Resurrection — The Hope that Does Not Disappoint
We are in the Jubilee Year of Hope as initiated by Pope Francis with the theme of Pilgrims of Hope and the words of St. Paul from his letter to the Romans, “Hope does not disappoint” (5:5), as its foundation. Hope is a wide-ranging word which can imply different meanings in different contexts. It is both a noun and a verb which always anticipates something positive. It is associated with optimism, positive outlook, drive, enthusiasm and success. However, the hope which we are engaged with as pilgrims of hope has to do with all of these positive elements but transcends far beyond it.
Holy Week Does Not Disappoint
We have come to the most solemn week of the Church’s liturgical year, which is Holy Week, and during this Jubilee Year of Hope. As we move through Holy Week and the Sacred Triduum, we are almost overwhelmed by the deep meaning and beauty of the liturgical celebrations. The wealth of what we celebrate gives us much to reflect on, not only during Holy Week but during the entire season of Easter.
The Rains and Clouds of Southern Florida
The song “April showers bring May flowers” does not have the same meaning in southern Florida as it does in other parts of our country. Nevertheless, we are getting ready for our rainy season when late afternoon clouds and heavy showers are almost a daily occurrence. They have already begun to appear slowly, and they do remind us, as does the song, of the positive attributes of rain...
Mary — Our Hope Who Never Disappoints
While all of the saints speak to us of holiness from different backgrounds and stages of life, which inspires us in our own lives and circumstances, Mary stands as the apex of what holiness is all about. If we could speak of a hierarchy among the saints, Mary stands at the top of the list. St. Joseph points to this in a particular manner. His role is unique within the Church because he is the husband of Mary...
The Lent of Pope Francis
The first example that Pope Francis gives us is that of prayer. He often speaks of the priority of prayer and reminds us of how it is the most important thing in which we are engaged. Again, he continually asks personally for prayer for himself, as well as for us to pray for each other. He reminds us of the importance of taking time to be alone in the presence of God and to listen to God as he truly speaks to us during this time.
The Journey of Hope
It was obvious that, in accord with the theme for the Holy Year, Pilgrims of Hope, all those present were on a journey. God created us and placed us in this world to make a journey to Him. We come into this world as infants, and grow through all of the stages of life, as on a journey, until we are taken into the fullness of life with God. That journey that we take is meant to be a happy one, even though we may face many difficulties, disappointments, sufferings and setbacks in life.
The Blessings of Frailty
Ash Wednesday reminded us in a very vivid manner of “the blessing of frailty” which we all share in our human condition. As the priest placed the blessed ashes on our forehead in the form of a cross, one of the formulas he may have used was “Remember that you are dust and unto dust you shall return.” We all live under the illusion of immortality. While we acknowledge that someday we are going to die, we live in a manner that many times denies this reality.
This Nation, Under God
Our Founding Fathers and our early presidents would have been appalled at the idea of our nation excluding God and religion, as they are essential to our existence. Indeed, the United States came into existence so that men and women could freely express their belief in God, who alone is the chief executive, lawmaker and judge of our country and our world!
God’s Plan from the Beginning
In the beginning, we see that God created the world. It did not come into existence by an accident but from the very being of God Himself. The account of creation in the Book of Genesis makes very clear that God created the world out of nothing, but with a purpose and order. We read of the creation of light, water and all of those elements which give and sustain life from God.
One Nation Under God, Indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for All
At this time, we offer our prayers for our migrant brothers and sisters who may be experiencing fear and isolation. We offer our prayers for our nation in regard to true immigration reform. We offer prayers for our president and leaders within this nation to implement such reform. We offer prayers for unjust nations from which people are fleeing due to situations which are in need of reform. Prayer is always our greatest resource, and it is continually God’s grace that makes a difference.
Hope and Marriage — You Can’t Have One Without the Other
Hope and marriage go together, as each of the spouses must have hope in each other as the foundation of their union. That hope is one in which each of the spouses believe in the power of God’s love in each other and find God’s presence in that. As Pope Francis has stated, “To hope, then, is to welcome this gift that God offers us every day..."
