From the Pastor.... The Disappearance of Advent

     What ever happened to Advent? Weeks before the first candle of the Advent wreath is illuminated, display windows, restaurants, television and print advertisements (and even some homes) begin displaying Christmas decorations. Further, the concern about the "disappearance" of Advent pales in comparison to what our society has done to Christmas. Many seasonal displays and programs give the impression that we are merely celebrating a winter holiday, rather than the birth of Jesus.
     Let's start with our home. Even in a family whose celebrations have evolved to the point where little of the Christ-Child matters any more, the gentle suggestion to add an Advent wreath to the home's decor for the preceding weeks can deliver a subtle invitation to prepare inwardly.
     When the subject of Christmas parties (during the season of Advent) comes up among the neighbors, a fruitful response might be, "thanks for the invitation. I love Christmas gatherings! In our home we add to the joy by calling in friends for quieter and smaller gatherings that begin with some Advent prayers and lighting of the Advent wreath in the days before the actual arrival of Christmas. Do you know about this custom? The introduction of very subtle activities can begin to draw family, friends, and neighbors to Christ at Christmas, when the culture exercises its influence to distract attention away from Him. Why not return to the habit of sending only religious Christmas cards? A secular card is not going to impress people. It will not inspire them to ask questions or think about the important things, the way that a conspicuously beautiful Madonna and Child will do.
     It is not necessary to harangue those who skip the season of Advent altogether. Simply refuse to do it yourself. Observe Advent and others will notice. Shop, prepare feasts and gifts as you need, but do not let your house become a warehouse for sales items or a workshop for processing and packaging merchandise. Share gifts beyond your circle of friends. Remember the poor and the lonely.
     Without castigating those who do not or will not, feature religious symbols in your business, workplace or home (yes, as much in the public arena as possible). You will have the consolation of knowing that you have put out the message that Jesus is our Savior and He is coming again.

From the Pastor.... How do we understand the "end of the world"?

     We must be sure that the "end of the world" (as it is popularly called) will come and that certain signs have already been given. The ?rst sign (which Jesus spoke about) was the destruction of Jerusalem in the year 70, along with the Jewish Temple. When the Roman Army invaded Jerusalem, there was so much destruction and turmoil that the people must have thought the world was ending. Their world was ending and a new one was starting. It is the world in which we live, sometimes called the "last days" or the "end times". What we call "A.D.": the Year of the Lord.
     Jesus gives a list of them (in other places): wars, rumors of wars, persecutions of it's people, natural disasters. These things are happening now. Does this mean that the end is near? In a certain sense, the end is always near. These tribulations show us that the world is an unstable place, far from perfect. lts perfection is yet to come to pass. It will come to pass, but in God's time and according to His plan. The Catechism of the Catholic Church speaks of a new heaven and a new earth. The full restoration of creation can only take place when Jesus comes to establish fully His universal kingdom of justice, love and peace.
     What does this demand of us? (Some might think that it does not involve them. We will all be present for it.) It reminds us of the call to conversion which is incumbent upon all of us. The Book of Daniel speaks rather graphically about the final reckoning. "Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake; some shall live forever, others shall be an everlasting horror and disgrace." Jesus puts it a little differently, but with the same point. "The Son of Man, coming in the clouds with great power and glory...will gather his elect from the four winds. . . ."
     The tumult and injustice of the world will be conquered by Jesus when He returns in glory to judge the living and the dead. Evil, imperfection and sin will not have the last word. For this, we should be grateful.

From the Pastor.... Why pray for the dead?

     It is an ancient custom to pray for the dead. The Book of Maccabees tells us that the Jews were already doing it within 200 years of the coming of Jesus. The general, Judas Maccabcus, prayed for his fallen comrades who had all died in battle. lt was discovered that they had been wearing pagan amulets (which was a sin). Judas arranged for an expiatory sacrifice to be made on their behalf in the temple.
     It is clear from early inscriptions in the catacombs that the first Christians did the same. St. Augustine writes of his mother St. Monica. It seems that he and his brother were discussing, at her bedside, where she should be buried (she was near the end of her life). She interrupted her sons and said, "Never mind where you bury me. Remember me at the altar." St. Monica was a very devout Catholic who understood the power of the Mass for the living and the dead. (She lived in the fourth century.)
     To this day, the Catholic Church offers Masses for the dead. Any parish bulletin will list daily Masses along with the intention of the Mass. The intention is usually for someone who has died. Funeral Masses are offered not only for the consolation of the living, but also for the welfare of the deceased. Outside the Catholic Church this is often not the case. For example, when Princess Diana died, she had a grand funeral at Westminster Abbey. There were no prayers at the service for the repose of her soul. To help make up for this, Pope John Paul sent a telegram of sympathy to the queen in which he indicated that he would pray for the princess.
     The Church teaches that those who have died in God's grace and friendship, but who are yet perfectly puri?ed, are indeed assured of their salvation, but alter death they undergo puri?cation so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter heaven. (Cf. CCC #1030.) Puri?ed of what? Selfishness, defects in devotion, faults, attachments to venial sin, laziness, etc. (I recall the vision of the priest who appeared to a village girl who didn't recognize him. He said that he was in purgatory for celebrating many Masses perfunctorily.)
     There should be great consolation that we can help the dead with our prayers. A woman who had prayed for her husband's conversion for 30 years was distraught when he finally committed suicide. The parish priest (St. John Vianney) who had special gifts, told her that her husband was in purgatory. He repented before he hit the water. Never give up on anyone's salvation. Pray for the living and the dead..

From the Pastor...

Litany of the Saints

Lord have mercy,
Christ have mercy on us.
Christ hear us,
Christ graciously hear us.
God the Father, have mercy on us.
God the Son, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us.
St. Michael, pray for us.
St. Gabriel, pray for us.
St. Raphael, pray for us.
All you holy angels and archangels, pray for us.
St. John the Baptist, R. pray for us.
St. Joseph, All you holy Patriarchs and prophets, pray for us
St. Peter, St. Paul, St. Andrew, St. James, St. John, St. Mary Magdalen, pray for us.
All you holy apostles and evangelists, All you holy martyrs, pray for us.
All you men and women, Saints of God, make intercession for us.
Be merciful, spare us, O Lord! Be merciful, graciously hear us, O Lord!
From all evil, O Lord, deliver us. From all sin, O Lord, deliver us.
From anger and hatred, O Lord, deliver us.
Through your death and resurrection, O Lord, deliver us.
In the day of judgement, O Lord, hear us.
That you would forgive us and all those we love, O Lord, hear us.
That you would grant peace and unity to all, O Lord, hear us.
That you would give rest to those who have died,. O Lord, hear us.
That you would lift up our minds to heavenly desires, O Lord, hear us.
Son of God, O Lord, hear us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, Graeiously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb ol' God, who takes away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.
Say the Lord's Prayer (Our Father...) and The Glory Be (Glory Be to the Father... etc)

From the Pastor...

How can you spot a saint?

     Catholics recognize many "official" saints. Popular ones include St. Francis of Assisi (even many non-believers know who he is. The U.S. Postal Service had a stamp of him at one time). There is St. Anthony (a statue/picture of whom is found in nearly every parish church). He is often relied upon to find lost items. There is St. Therese. (How many people receive roses after asking for her special help?)
     Some saints are known for extraordinary mystical gifts. Padre Pio worked many miracles and had the wounds of Christ on his body for 50 years. World War II pilots never bombed the monastery. Many reported seeing this giant monk in the sky. Joseph Cupertino (much to his embarrassment) used to float up to the rafters when in church. St. Catherine of Siena had the hidden stigmata and nearly every other mystical gift. What makes a saint, though, is not extraordinary endowments of this type (or most of us would not be eligible). To be a saint means to be very holy and, ultimately, to share in God's life in heaven.
     How do we know whether we are saints in the making or how to spot the saints among us? St. Matthew (5.1-12) gives us a descriptive list of the qualities of these people. They strive to be like Jesus. They are poor in spirit (material wealth is not important to them). They bear their afflictions well (they bear wrongs patiently). They are gentle or meek (i.e., they are not disposed to anger). They are merciful (they are understanding toward other people's defects). They are pure of heart (which includes chastity according to one's state in life), etc.
     The thing is, while on earth, we have to strive to be holy. It does not come easily. We need the assistance of the sacraments, prayer, penance, etc. But we can grow in holiness and become more like Jesus (which is what we are supposed to be striving to do). The problem is that too many people have standards that are much too low. "I didn't kill anyone this week" (to say something like this in the confessional is to compare oneself with Al Capone, rather than Jesus). Many people seldom go to confession. Many are satisfied with a lackluster prayer-life. One woman even told me that a Catholic doesn't have to go to Church. (I don't know where she picked this up. You won't find it in the writings of any of the saints!) We need not only saints in heaven. We need "saints" (unfinished though they may be) on earth. The world is always a better place to the extent that there are holy people influencing it.
     Thursday, Nov. 1st, is the feast of All Saints. It is (fittingly) a holy day of obligation.

From the Pastor...

There is no salvation without the cross

      "Could you not spend one hour with me?" This is Jesus's request, originally made to three of His closest collaborators on the night before He died. (See Mt 26.40). Jesus makes the same request of us. The good news is that, as Catholics, we have a tangible way of doing this: spending the time before Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. With that in mind, everyone is invited to come before Our Lord during our annual "40 Hours" devotion. The Eucharist will be exposed in our chapel (at the south end of the Gathering Area). ....
     There is no salvation without the cross: the cross of Jesus and our participation in this mystery. What forms does the cross take in the life of the Catholic? Anything that involves saying "yes" to God when it is not easy to do so. What are some of these things?
     For example, someone who resists the temptation to forgo Sunday Mass is dying to his own desire to stay home or to treat the day as any other day. That is the mystery of the cross in action, on a practical level. Yet, many people miss Mass regularly because it is not convenient for them. Some, rather than reforming, will even complain that the Church has too many "rules".
     Going to the sacrament of reconciliation can be painful, certainly humbling. This would explain why there are many people who rarely use the sacrament. Yet, Jesus did not shy away from doing things that were not attractive or easy. We have no excuses, if we take Jesus seriously.
     Any gesture of mercy is a participation in the mystery of the cross. The cross is a sign of God's love for us sinners. How do we show mercy to others? One way is to bear wrongs patiently. Jesus did so on the cross (and throughout His ministry). Forgiving others is another example of demonstrating mercy. Are you having any difticulty here? Make the sign of the cross for strength.
     The cross is a sign of penance and reparation for sin. Do we live lives of penance? There are three traditional forms: prayer, fasting and almsgiving. These things ought to be part of the way we live even outside of Lent.
     Prayer itself can be a cross. It often carries with it difficulties, temptations, dryness. Yet, we cannot live without prayer.
     The cross is a sign of humility: God's humility. Do we try to practice this virtue? How do we handle correction or criticism? Do we always want to be noticed and highly regarded?

From the Pastor...

What difference does Jesus make in your life?

     Pastoral Column...
     What would be different about the way we lived if we stopped believing in Jesus? (Outside of not going to Mass'.) What decisions/changes would we make if we were to stop believing in Jesus? To say, "I would hold up a bank or commit adultery" is not a valid answer. There are many people who are not "religious", but who are, otherwise, "good citizens".
     Many people have a difficult time answering the question. Does Jesus make a difference and if so, how? I will give you a hint. A disciple is a "learner". Jesus said, "Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart." How do we learn from Him? We have to make the effort. It doesn't come automatically. We should read the Sermon on the Mount, and strive to emulate what is presented. What does Jesus say, for instance, about praying for one's enemies or forgiving others? What does Jesus say about the Christian's attitude toward material possessions? (Blessed are the poor in spirit.) What does He say about suffering patiently (blessed are the sorrowing). What does He say about anger? (Blessed are the meek.) Then there is Mt 5:23-24: "If you bring your gift to the altar and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift at the altar, go first to be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift."
     Jesus leads us to a whole new way of life. The problem is that many people do not apply it to themselves. They strive to be "good" people, but not specifically "Christian". Remember, Jesus told the rich, young man, "No one is good but God alone." We can't be "good" without God who is revealed to us by Jesus.
     Jesus calls people today, to be His disciples. He even calls some people to give up their homes, family, property, and so forth. Many in the Church have addressed this by living lives of voluntary poverty/celibacy. For example, There are many monks, nuns, and consecrated virgins, even today.
     Jesus is not talking only to priests, monks, nuns and single people who are celibate for the kingdom of God. He addresses Himself to everyone. Even the Catholic layperson, while living in the world and having a family and owning property, is never supposed to be entirely comfortable in his earthly circumstances. Everyone must have a spirit of detachment, regarding such things. Why? Our real home is heaven, and God must be first.

From the Pastor...

An Endangered Species

     The American bishops have designated the first Sunday in October Respect Life Sunday. Why? Because, there are 4,000 pre-born children each day (in our country) whose lives are purposely terminated while yet in the womb. And these deaths have the blessing of our nation's Supreme Court and law enforcement system, since Jan. 22, 1973. Over 50 million of our own people have not been permitted to complete the journey down the birth canal. ( And, of course, these children will never have any descendants.) The effects of such a large-scale loss of life are incalculable. (The most important aspect of ecology is human ecology. People are our greatest asset.)
     Anyone born after Jan. 22, 1973 is a survivor. To class pictures and group photos of people under 45 years of age, you can add (mentally) unfilled silhouettes totaling as much as 30% of the class. These unfilled silhouettes are the peers who were never allowed to be born. What are the local abortion statistics? We lose about a classroom full of children every year, from Madison and Geneva (19 and 22 babies were aborted in 2016, respectively).
     We must hold that human life is sacred. Why? Because not only were we made in the image of God, but God Himself took on our nature and became one of us. He started out smaller than the head of a pin, in His mother's womb. He went through nine months of gestation, birth, and all phases of human development. He grew into manhood.
     Pray the rosary (this is the month of the rosary). Fast (Fridays is especially selected as the day of penance, because Jesus died on Friday). Be willing to instruct the doubtful. Help pregnant women. Assist those who need healing because of post-traumatic stress caused by abortion. There are many helping services, including the Bethesda House of Mercy in the Cleveland area and Project Rachel. Use the Internet to locate them. Participate in Rosary for Life: every first Saturday, interested parties meet in the church parking lot at 7:30 and travel to Cleveland for Mass at the Benedictine monastery, followed by prayer before the abortuary on Shaker Blvd. (the deadliest street in the city).

From the Pastor...

The Ongoing Mess

     Different media outlets have been abuzz with stories pertinent to corruption in the Church. Corruption is a terrible thing. Unfortunately, it has always been with us. As far back as New Testament times, we have liars and hypocrites (see Acts 5.1-11), those who used religion for personal gain (Acts 8.9-24), conflicts among Church leaders Acts 15.36-41), disorder at worship ceremonies 1 Cor 11), various moral scandals (1 Cor 1-5), etc. Why? Because people are weak and we are all sinners in need of continuing reform. We all need guidance, strength to do the right thing, and the grace of God. We can all be saints, but we have to work on it. It doesn't happen automatically.
     This applies even to the clergy. Priests (and bishops) need to follow the moral laws and live lives of continuing conversion. Christians have to be careful about giving in to the secular culture, which has turned its back on God a long time ago. St. Paul reminds us (see 1 Cor 6.9f): "Do you not know that the unjust will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators [people who have sexual relations outside of marriage], nor idolaters, nor adulterers, ... nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God."
     Too many of our people (including some clergy) have been deceived by the world, and live lives that shut them out of God's kingdom. If a bishop has a priest in his diocese who is living an immoral life, he has to take action, even if the behavior is not a "crime" (e.g., sodomy with a "consenting adult"). The priest needs to be removed, and certainly, not promoted. If a bishop is living an immoral life, or he is allowing sins against the sixth commandment to go unchecked, among certain of his priests, the Holy Father needs to act.
     Finally, a bishop has to be careful not to rash judge any of his clergy. Allegations of misconduct need to be investigated and scrutinized. My home pastor was the victim of false accusations. He was treated as a pariah by his diocese for 16 years until his death, which took place a couple of weeks ago. Another priest, I know, counter sued and won the counter suit (because the accusations were false).

Saving Marriage

St. Paul speaks about the union of husband and wife, in the context of the great mystery of Jesus and His love for His Bride
      The divorce rate is nearly 50% in this country. Laurence Stone, a professor of family history at Princeton, says that such a thing is unprecedented in recorded history. (There are 1,000 annulments each week, processed through U.S. marriage tribunals.) A divorced person may have had good reasons for divorce (sometimes people are victims of divorce), but without a Church annulment, cannot validly remarry (if the estranged spouse is still alive).
      Many people are not even getting married. (I remember one time interviewing a cohabiting couple. ("Why are you living together outside of marriage?" "We don't want to be divorced.") Each year, it seems, there are fewer and fewer weddings. What accounts for this? Cohabitation and a developing mentality among a certain segment of our secularized society that settling down to marry and raise a family is somehow quaint or even amusing.
      In a word, the solution is faith: faith in God. As society becomes more secularized, many fall away from faith and their appreciation for what God has made diminishes accordingly. God is the author of marriage and the Lord of life. We cannot maintain an authentic civilization when many people relegate God, to irrelevance.
      As Christians and Catholics, we also need to believe in Jesus. Jesus is the Savior. He said, "where two or three are gathered in my name, I am in their midst." One cannot exaggerate the importance of prayer (couples can pray together), participation in the Eucharist and regular reception of the sacrament of penance. The weakest point in any marriage is that the people involved are sinners who stand in need of Jesus' saving work. He is the Savior of marriage.
      The widespread acceptance and use of contraception/sterilization has not been good for the state of marriage in our country. The generosity of the spouses in welcoming children is important for their relationship to grow. Fertility is a gift from God. The first thing He ever said, as a commandment to His new human creatures: "Go forth and multiply...." If a couple has fertility problems, the Church advises adoption. There are many orphans and unwanted children in our society, who need parents. What about those who are having marital troubles? Turn your marriage over to God. Get help. Visit the Blessed Sacrament. Read the Scriptures together. Receive counseling. Call a priest. He can be a good first point of contact to assist couples. Retrouvaille is a successful marriage recovery program.

The Glory of Mary

      Some years ago, I had the privilege of celebrating Mass at the purported House of Mary near the ancient city of Ephesus (in Turkey). There is an old tradition that she lived there before she departed from this world. Jesus had given her to the care of St. John who provided the house for her. The ruins of the house (which has since been rebuilt) were rediscovered according to the directions given by the German mystic Ann Catherine Emmerich. The house stands as a valuable relic, as there are no first class relics of Mary (i.e., bodily remains).
      That Mary was assumed into heaven is a belief that goes back many centuries. The feast had different names (e.g., the dormition). The Assumption was formally promulgated as a Catholic dogma in 1950 by Pope Pius XII. In the document promulgating this teaching, the Pope referred to the many cares, anxieties, and troubles that weighed down upon him during his pontificate, and at the same time the consolation he derived from Catholic devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Interestingly, World War II ended on Aug. 15, 1945. One can't imagine the number of prayers directed to the Mother of God to bring an end to the war. (Within eight blocks of the atomic explosion in Hiroshima, Japan, was a Jesuit church called "Our Lady's Assumption". The church and the four priests stationed there survived the explosion.)
      Our Lady's assumption into heaven is connected with her sinlessness, and the fact that she was redeemed ahead of time by her Son. Jesus and Mary are the only two people who are in heaven bodily (all the other saints have yet to rise bodily). Jesus and Mary are the progenitors of the redeemed human race: the new Adam and the new Eve.
      Wednesday, August 15th, is the feastday of the Assumption: a holy day of obligation.
See the Mass schedule

From the Pastor...

Labor not for the Food that Perishes

      Whenever we ask our Father to give us this day our daily bread, we are asking Him (among other things) for material sustenance, without which we could not live. He is the one who provides such things. Having said this, Jesus warns us about laboring for the food that perishes. This is not to suggest that we do not need to work. (St. Paul said, "He who does not work should not eat."); nor is it to suggest that we do not need to eat. The human body requires food. In fact it would be a violation of the 5th commandment for a person to starve himself voluntarily. (Starvation is a terrible way to die.)
      A good example involves the famous entertainer and comedian, Bob Hope. Why did he live 100 years? He lived a long time because the Lord permitted it, and Mr. Hope took very good care of himself (as many entertainers will do). Notwithstanding his regimen of exercise and diet, his life in this world eventually came to an end. Health is a blessing (with which we should cooperate), but even people in the best of health eventually die.
      Recognizing this, Jesus said that we need more than the food that perishes. We need the food that only He can give us. We need Him: His truth, His mystery, His gifts. It is possible for someone to be well fed, but spiritually malnourished or even starving. Only Jesus can fill the human soul with what it needs. As He Himself said, "Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."
Bob Hope was blessed with a wife who understood his need for something more than what the fruits of his career could provide. Delores Hope, a Catholic, prayed for her husband regularly. After retiring from show business, Bob became Catholic himself. He was baptized, received into the Church, made his first penance and First Communion. He died with a priest at his bedside.

From the Pastor...

      This month marks the 50th anniversary of Pope Paul VI's document Humanae Vitae. The document made several predictions about what would happen should artificial contraception be widely accepted and practiced. Women would be objectified. Marital infidelity would be adversely affected. The level of morality in the culture would deteriorate. Governments (such as ours) would try to impose contraceptive use as a condition for receiving foreign aid. The pope's predictions have all come true. If anything, they were understated. There is no doubt that the level of morality in our society has plummeted. The divorce rate has skyrocketed. Millions of children are unwanted. And, the more contraception, the more abortion (it is like fighting fire with gasoline). Planned Parenthood drums up its abortion business by first distributing contraceptives.
      Besides the moral and marital ill-effects of contraception, we have adverse medical effects. Recently, the largest and most comprehensive study on the link between oral contraceptive use and breast cancer, was conducted in Denmark. 1.8 million women were tracked in the new study, let by Lina Morch. The study found that women who used hormonal contraception had a 20 percent elevated risk for breast cancer, compare with those who had never used a hormonal method. It also showed that women who used hormonal contraception longer than 10 years saw their risk for breast cancer increase by almost 40 percent.
      If there is a good reason to postpone a pregnancy, the answer is Natural Family Planning. NFP has no ill-effects. It is safe and can also be used to help achieve a pregnancy.

From the Pastor...

      Presently, there is much fervor for the overturning of the disastrous Supreme Court rulings of Roe V. Wade and Doe V. Bolton. Together, these rulings have hamstrung the states in protecting pre-born children from the abortionists' suction machines. The reason for the fervor is the imminent appointment of a new Supreme Court justice. It is believed that the appointment of a pro-life justice will lead to a restoration of sanity, regarding people's respect for human life. If these Supreme Court decisions are overturned, there will still be much work to do in that the issue will revert to the states. Each state will have to put into effect laws that protect the tiniest among us. Some states will outlaw abortion, while others probably will not.
      Abortion, though, is actually a symptom of a deeper cultural malaise. The culture has come to accept the fallacy that sexual intimacy is merely for "recreation" and not for babies and marital bonding. Contraception has led to an immense breakdown in people's understanding of marriage and sexuality. Promiscuity is rampant. Sexual cohabitation outside of marriage is taken for granted by many, as if it is a good thing. Many marriages have been undermined, because of the cultural confusion. We are not even replacing ourselves, as a population, because the birthrate is below 2.1.
      What to do? People need to be informed about the sanctity of marriage and the Lord's purposes for human sexuality. We cannot allow ourselves to be indoctrinated by a secular culture that has little use for God or marriage as He designed it (an exclusive relationship between a man and a woman, until death). Please pray that people will wake up and embrace the truth.

From the Pastor...

      How to be an Apostle
      Why did Jesus give His apostles a share in His authority and power (i.e., to preach repentance, drive out demons, and heal the sick)? Because He was putting together His Church so that His work might continue. How does the work continue today? The apostolic work continues in the Church that Jesus founded. The bishops and the pope are the successors to the apostles. The priests are the collaborators of the bishops. What about the laity? Lay people are not merely "helpers" for the priests. Canon law states that anyone who is confirmed is "deputed to the apostolate". To be an apostle, in this sense, means to be sent on a mission. Everyone has a part to play in being instruments of our Jesus our Savior.
      How can "lay apostles" participate in the Church's mission of calling people to repentance? First, we must turn away from our own sins. The Mass's Penitential Rite reminds us of this. Also, we should make regular use of the sacrament of penance. A nightly examination of conscience is also recommended. We must pray for sinners, and lead others by good example. Sometimes we have to correct people. We do it out of love for them and a desire for their salvation.
      How do lay apostles "cure the sick"? The Church carries out this charge by caring for the sick (the hospital was invented by the Church), praying for the sick, and assisting them with the sacraments, especially the Eucharist. Everyone can and should be involved in the healing ministry of the Church.
      What about "expelling demons"? Living in a state of grace is necessary. The demons do not have much influence on holy people. The prayer to St. Michael is part of a long exorcism. The Lord's Prayer contains a petition for deliverance. The use of sacramentals (blessed religious articles) and holy water are other means to keep evil spirits at bay. Live the faith, and spread the faith. Satan's dominion cannot stand wherever the Lord's kingdom is present.

From the Pastor...

      Recently, Fr. Dwight Longenecker wrote an analysis as to why marriage is in crisis (see his website). He listed ten reasons. Included among them are the following factors. No fault divorce: it undermines the idea of having a lifelong marriage. When divorce becomes easy, quick and cheap, innumerable couples will pursue it (presently the divorce rate is 50%). Another factor contributing to the demise of lifelong stable marriage is artificial contraception. Says Fr. Longenecker, "this one is HUGE". Once sexuality was separated from procreating children, marriage becomes simply a vehicle for the couple's self-fulfillment and self-indulgence. In other works, contraception changes the chemistry of the marriage, such that the partners are more interested in seeking their own happiness. When the happiness is not there, one or both partners consider finding someone else who can provide this "happiness".
      Pornography wreaks havoc on marriage. The person's capacity to establish a mature, caring and loving relationship with a spouse becomes stunted. Promiscuity endangers people's ability to stay in lifelong, faithful unions. The more partners one has had, the more his capacity to sustain a permanent union is impaired. Cohabitation, or living together before marriage, makes for a shaky marriage. The reason is that the partners have colluded publicly to live immorally. The relationship sows seeds of distrust among the partners. "How can I trust this person not to have an intimate, sexual relationship with someone else (outside of wedlock) He is already doing it with me." (This is how the psychology goes.) This distrust does not bode well for what is required to maintain a good, stable marriage.
      Our Lady of Fatima is supposed to have said that Satan's last great assault will be against marriage and the family. We can see that he has already taken many casualties.

From the Pastor...

      What difference does the Holy Spirit make? He makes all the difference in the world. I can give many examples. One is what happened this weekend at our cathedral: four men were ordained priests. And to those who might think that such men are rare. There are more young men interested in serving the Church in this capacity than you might think. All in all, there are about 500 ordinations each year in the U.S. Why would anyone become a priest? (These men could easily have chosen different professions or "career paths".) Because the Holy Spirit impels him. Without the Holy Spirit, we would not have priests. We would not have the sacraments. We would not have missionaries or lay-activists. We would not even have a Church. For that reason, some people call Pentecost the birthday of the Church. Birthday means that the Church is alive. It is not merely an institution (although it has a structure); it has a life. The Church is a real, active, dynamic force in the world. This is thanks to the Holy Spirit.
      At a more fundamental level, We need the Holy Spirit to make it possible for us to live the Christian life, in whatever circumstances we find ourselves. The Holy Spirit makes it possible for us to put to death the misdeeds of the body ("sin"). The Holy Spirit prays in us when we pray. (See Romans 8.) In short, we can't live a spiritual life without the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit makes it possible for us to bear fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control....
      We must put aside all blockages to His influence. One is unforgiveness. We must forgive everyone who has ever hurt us. The Holy Spirit cannot make His influence felt, otherwise. We must repent of all sin. We need to utilize all the means of forgiveness (including the sacrament of penance). We need to pray. No prayer-life; no Holy Spirit-life. Acknowledge the Holy Spirit and have a devotion to Him. Pray the Glory Be. Sing the Come, Holy Ghost (every Catholic should know it). Ask for His gifts and graces. Jesus told us that such a request is especially potent: "How much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him" (Lk 11.13). We need to practice our faith and follow the teachings of the Church. As the Apostle John reminds us (1 Jn 4) there are many unholy spirits that influence the way people think. These spirits resist the Catholic teachings given to us by the Holy Father and the college of bishops.

From the Pastor...

      What is the proof that God loves us? Creation (which includes our own existence: that we were given parents, along with the world around us), Jesus, His Body and Blood in the Eucharist, forgiveness, the sending of the Holy Spirit, the Blessed Virgin Mary (our spiritual mother), God's desire to for us to share in his life forever ("heaven"), many of the people around us who do so much good for us, etc.... (God's love reaches out to us even when we are not in church.)
      How do we receive God's love? By opening ourselves to it via prayer, meditation, visiting the Blessed Sacrament, confessing our sins, receiving the sacraments with due preparation, listening to His word. by living a life of faith, and by being open to the people who reach out to us in love, support (etc.).
      How do we respond to His love? "You will live in my love if you keep my commandments." Christian charity is Christ-centered: "Live on in my love. It begins with recognizing His love for us; accepting it, and taking Him seriously. Besides, permissiveness is not love. He loves us sinners so much, that He doesn't want us to perish in our sins. He wants us to be able to live with Him for all eternity.
      Why not just love others? A columnist once wrote that it would be better for people to spend Sunday mornings helping in a soup kitchen than in going to church. The greatest lovers of neighbor, however, are those who love God first. Also, beware of putting limits on Christian charity, e.g., "I consider myself a charitable person because I don't hurt anyone." There is more to love than simply not hurting others. Charity is quite demanding. It may mean that we pray for people. It means that we are kind to people. We are patient with people. We forgive people. We respect people. We reach out to people. Etc.

From the Pastor...

      April 22nd is World Day of Prayer for Vocations. Jesus works much of his shepherding through the ministry of the Church. As such, He employs some people to be shepherds of His flock as priests or religious. Most of the sacraments require a priest's involvement. Certainly, there would be no Mass without priests. And without the Eucharist, there would be no Church.
      Our diocese is fortunate to have two seminaries (Borromeo and St. Mary's). These institutions provide for the formation of candidates to the priesthood. I went through four years of formation at St. Mary's (when it was located on Ansel Road in Cleveland). My ordination class is a total of 19. In those days (I was ordained in 1982), the numbers of ordinations were always in double digits. In recent years (since the 1990s), while we manage to have ordinations each year, the numbers are much lower (three to five, perhaps). Next month, new priests will be ordained. This is always good news. Please continue to pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life (nuns, monks...). We need shepherds because the Church must continue. The Church, of course, does not exist for herself, but to bring people to God and into the communion of saints.
      How do we understand the shortage of priests? Actually, it is a symptom of a bigger problem. We have a shortage of good, committed Catholics. When we consider that the second largest "religious group" in the U.S. consists of inactive Catholics, it puts things into perspective. If there is a vocations crisis, it begins in the culture. Priests (normally) come from good, committed Catholic families. A moral of the story is the importance of living the faith and bringing children up in the faith. If parents truly shepherd their children in the ways of the faith, it does make a difference. I am personally indebted to my parents for what they provided me over the years.
      Pray for families. And families, pray together. Let the Good Shepherd's voice be heard.

From the Pastor...

      How do we witness to Jesus' resurrection? (I.e., that Jesus is alive and continues to work in His Church today?) We witness to Him by participating at Mass each Sunday (which is the day of resurrection). We witness to the resurrection be putting our faith in the Eucharist. In the Eucharist, Jesus is present in a way unlike any other presence. John 6 also speaks of His body and blood leading people to eternal life (their own resurrection). The Eucharist is sometimes called the Easter sacrament for this reason. We witness to His resurrection by receiving His word. Every Mass has a liturgy of the word. The word we receive is not that of a dead religion, but that of the living Christ. We not only remember Jesus, but also, we hear Him speaking to us today.
      We witness to His resurrection by keeping His commandments (see 1 John). St. John says: "He who has this hope in Him keeps himself pure as He is pure." A pagan, for example, is a person whose hope is not in Jesus. The resurrection means nothing to him. There is no motivation for him to live a life of moral purity. As St. Paul indicates, lack of faith in God (a God who is living) is the basis for all moral deviance. If we should sin, we witness to our faith in the living Christ, by repenting. For this reason, Jesus laid the foundation of the sacrament of penance on the evening of the first Easter Sunday (St. John speaks about this. It was the gospel from last week.)
      We witness to the resurrection by praying. We pray because we believe that Jesus is alive. He hears us and brings our prayers to the Father. Pray every day. It is far more important than the many trivial things that people do that clutter up their lives and take up their time.
      We witness to the resurrection by living our faith when we are out in the world, with our families, co-workers, friends, associates, strangers. How do we conduct ourselves? We cannot be afraid of being different. We are not different just to be different (that is missing the point). We must be conformed to Christ. And if people notice that we are different, that is a good sign. You see, people cannot see Jesus, and they never will (before the judgment after death, barring a miraculous appearance). So, they have to see Him in us, His people, His Church.

Background of The Divine Mercy Devotion

    From the diary of a young Polish nun, a special devotion began spreading throughout the world in the 1930s.
    The message is nothing new, but is a reminder of what the church has always taught through scripture and tradition: that God is merciful and forgiving and that we, too, must show mercy and forgiveness. But in the Divine Mercy devotion, the message takes on a powerful new focus, calling people to a deeper understanding that God's love is unlimited and available to everyone - especially the greatest sinners. The message and devotion to Jesus as The Divine Mercy is based on the writings of Saint Faustina Kowalska, an uneducated Polish nun who, in obedience to her spiritual director, wrote a diary of about 600 pages recording the revelations she receive about God's mercy. Even before her death in 1938, the devotion to The Divine Mercy had begun to spread. The message of mercy is that God loves us-all of us-no matter how great our sins. He wants us to recognize that His mercy is greater than our sins, so that we will call upon Him with trust, receive His mercy, and let it flow through us to others. Thus, all will come to share His joy. It is a message we can call to mind simply by remembering ABC.
A- Ask for His Mercy. Go wants us to approach Him in prayer constantly, repenting of our sins and asking Him to pour His mercy out upon us and upon the whole world.
B- Be Merciful. Go wants us to receive His mercy and let it flow through us to others. He wants us to extend love and forgiveness to others just as He does to us.
C- Completely trust in Jesus. God wants us to know that the graces of His mercy are dependent upon our trust. The more we trust in Jesus, the more we will receive.    EWTN

From the Pastor...

    How do we know that Jesus is risen? What is the evidence?
    Let me spell it: C-h-u-r-c-h. The Catholic Church is the only church that can directly trace its roots back to the original apostolic community: to the people who ate and drank with Jesus, heard His preaching, and witnessed to the events of the first Easter. St. Paul, in 1 Corinthians, names names. "I receive what I hand on to you, that Jesus suffered, died, was buried and on the third day rose and appeared to Peter, James, 500 other brothers and, last of all, to me." Note, the prominence of Peter. Why? Peter was in charge of the Church. This is why John deferred to Peter and allowed him to enter the empty tomb first. Pope Francis is the 266th successor to St. Peter. Without the risen Christ, there would be no Church. Without the Church, we would have no way of knowing anything about the resurrection. Indeed, we would have no way of entering into it.
    The oldest person I ever knew, was a woman who lived to be 107. She spent the last 20 years of her life flat on her back in one of the area nursing homes. The high point of the week was when the priest or lay minister brought her Holy Communion. In John 6, Jesus connects reception of the Eucharist with rising from the dead. Imagine, this woman who had become a "sack of bones" regaining all of her vitality, taking on a spiritual body, a body no longer subject to the laws of physics, a body no longer subject to weakness and death! We must never forget that Jesus' resurrection is the principle and source of the future resurrection of the faithful Christian!
    The resurrection of Jesus should mean everything to us. It does to the Church. In fact, she celebrates Easter (at least on a smaller scale) every Sunday. At Sunday Mass we renew our baptismal promises, in the Creed. These are the saving truths, such that, if we embrace them and live them we are living a resurrected life, which starts here. It is the life of faith. Faith is something that we must work at, though. One observation made by a woman who converted to the Catholic faith I found to be quite insightful. She said, "I used to think that if I knew someone's religion, I could tell where he was coming from. I learned that this is not the case, because, for many people, their religion is merely a label." Labels aren't bad things, of course, but they had better reflect reality. Indeed. Let's be people of the resurrection, in name and in fact.
Happy Easter

From the Pastor...

    There are many practical effects of failure to believe in God's love:, distrust of God, failure to pray or live the faith, a psychological fear of God ("faith" without hope), scrupulosity, the attitude of "I practice my religion (e.g., go to Mass) because I have to" (heartless faith), a life without any real joy, etc. It is not good for anyone to dismiss the mystery of God's love as something that is unimportant or irrelevant or untrue.
    Even if God loves us, some think, what does it matter? We do not need His love (they think). The world can get on quite well without Him. Why? Because, they say, for example, the world has so many wonderful things made possible by technology. Our ancestors never dreamed of being able to travel to another part of the globe in only a matter of hours (aviation), or to speak with someone across the country or in another part of the world (modern communications). Now we have Skype. I am certainly not against these things. They can be used for great good. But don't get fooled. The world is becoming smaller and smaller, but it is incapable of saving us. It does not hold the key to the fulfillment of human existence. The world is good because God made it, but it isn't God. It can't take His place. It cannot save us from perishing.
    So, how does God, who loves us, reach out to us? He sent His only Son. (And He continues to send Him, in various forms.) People receive Jesus all the time. (Look at the countless Catholic Communion lines, throughout the world. And, at any given time, how many of our people are going to confession? Many Catholics still use the sacrament. They understand that they need God's mercy.)
    Jesus, not the world, is the one who saves us from perishing, which, ultimately means dying in our sins. In fact, Jesus (and only Jesus) offers us the gift of eternal life. The best physicians and scientists the world has ever known cannot give anyone the gift of eternal life, no matter how much good they do for so many.
    The question remains, then, what is our relationship with Jesus like?

From the Pastor...

    The third president of the U.S., Thomas Jefferson, was overly influenced by strange ideas about Jesus. He blacked out all of the passages in his Bible that had anything to do with supernatural manifestations: miracles and so forth. Surely, Jesus' Transfiguration on Mount Tabor was excised from his text. Jefferson was influenced by people who wanted a Jesus who was merely a teacher of "ethics", not the Son of God who died and rose from the dead.
    There are many people today who have the same idea. "I'm a good person. I don't need to go to church." It's interesting that, whether these people realize it or not, they decry practicing the religion, yet are actually holding on to its coattails. Remember, as Jesus said, "Only God is good". All goodness comes from God.
    I remember baptizing a baby, years ago, who looked up at me and smiled (the only time a baby whom I baptized ever did this). I entrusted him to his mother (who was a single mother). As time went on, it became clear that the mother had no interest in raising the child in the faith. To this day, the young man has never even made his First Communion. When confronted about her choice to raise the boy without religion, she said, I am raising him to be "good".
    How did the boy turn out? Pretty much as a product of the lax society in which we live. He became involved with drugs. He had a short career in the military and was cashiered because he got into trouble for something. He has had a scrape with the law or two. My point is, how can a person be "good" without God? It might work for one generation. It is only temporary. Besides, we are not merely called to be "ethical" people. We must be holy people; "heavenly" people; people of God; disciples of Jesus.

From the Pastor...

    What is the meaning of "and lead us not into temptation?" The petition means both: "Do not allow us to enter into temptation," and "do not let us yield to temptation." Why should we be concerned about temptation? Because our sins result from our consent to temptation. (We must distinguish between being tempted and consenting to temptation.) What are the sources of temptation for us? The world, the flesh, and the devil. The world means the anti-Christian influences that saturate the air we breathe (e.g., the influence of peers, writers, television shows, entertainment, etc.). The world tends to be full of itself. The flesh is not limited to sexuality, but includes anger, gluttony, covetousness, etc. The devil is often the most difficult one to detect because he generally hides himself. A directly diabolical temptation is strong (scary or seductive), and often out of character for the person subjected to it. The devil has an easy time with many people (he doesn't have to do much) because they live at the level of the flesh (self-gratification) or they are overly influenced by the world. When the world and the flesh are held at bay ("holiness"), Satan can show his displeasure by physical assaults (St. John Bosco, St. John Vianney, et al.).
    Why would the Lord allow us to be tempted? (Note, He Himself tempts no one.) We can learn where our weaknesses are. Also, it gives us a chance to demonstrate that we want Him and we will not allow anything or anyone to take His place. "No one can serve two masters." Besides, earthly life is a time of trial. Heaven is something that must be chosen.

From the Pastor...

    This Wednesday begins the penitential season of Lent. Ash Wednesday, all Fridays of Lent, and Good Friday, are days of fasting and abstinence from meat. (The age requirements are indicated in another part of this bulletin.) Ash Wenesday is not a holy day of obligation, but people are encouraged to come to Mass on that day. What about the other days of Lent? Everyone is encouraged to practice various forms of penance (e.g., different types of fasting), prayer, and the giving of alms (i.e., charity).

    The bishops of the U.S., in their 1966 document, state: "we strongly recommend participation in daily Mass and a self-imposed observance of fasting. In the light of grave human needs which weigh on the Christian conscience in all seasons, we urge, particularly during Lent, generosity to local, national, and world programs of sharing of all things needed to translate our duty to penance into a means of implementing the right of the poor to their part in our abundance. We also recommend spiritual studies, beginning with the Scriptures as well as the traditional Lenten Devotions (sermons, Stations of the Cross, and the rosary), and all the self-denial summed up in the Christian concept of "mortification."

    The parish will be providing opportunities for spiritual studies (Bible study on Monday nights, contemplative prayer-class on Tuesday evenings, and a study of the Catechism on Wednesdaynights), devotions (e.g., communal rosary before Masses and Stations of the Cross on Fridays after weekday morning Masses and at 7:00 p.m.), daily Mass, and confessions (Lent is an ideal time to turn away from sin and to make amends.) And do not forget about Eucharistic exposition each Wednesday, in our chapel, from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

From the Pastor...

One of the common errors concerning our faith is to consider that maybe Jesus is no different from any other religious figure who has a significant following. For example, I recently spoke to someone who told me that he no longer practices his Catholic faith because he has discovered Buddha. The question for our consideration is: why Jesus and not Buddha? (Or, why Jesus and not Mohammed, Socrates, Confucius, etc.?) In a nutshell, what puts Jesus above all the others is stated in our Creed: i.e., that He is God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubtantial with the Father, through Him all things were made. For us men and our salvation He came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and became man." Jesus is God made man, who has come to save us from perishing in our sins.

    What can we say about Buddha? Buddha is a mere mortal. Buddha promotes a "salvation" that is at odds with the salvation that Jesus offers. Buddhism teaches that one's "salvation" comes from liberating oneself from the world by achieving a state of perfect indifference to the world ("nirvana"). Jesus does not want us to indulge in a negative attitude toward the world, but to work to transform it. The world was created by God and is sustained by Him. As the gospel says, "God so loved the world that He gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life" (John 3.16).

    In sum, Buddha has no capacity to impart eternal life. And the same can be said for Mohammed, Socrates, Confucius, etc. Jesus is the only Savior given to the world. And the Church (which He founded) carries on His mission. So, don't be fooled by any religious fad that seeks to replace our Savior with a counterfeit.

Presentation of the Lord

The feast was first observed in the Eastern Church as "The Encounter." In the sixth century, it began to be observed in the West: in Rome with a more penitential character and in Gaul (France) with solemn blessings and processions of candles, popularly known as "Candlemas." The Presentation of the Lord concludes the celebration of the Nativity and with the offerings of the Virgin Mother and the prophecy of Simeon, the events now point toward Easter.
"In obedience to the Old Law, the Lord Jesus, the first-born, was presented in the Temple by his Blessed Mother and his foster father. This is another 'epiphany' celebration insofar as the Christ Child is revealed as the Messiah through the canticle and words of Simeon and the testimony of Anna the prophetess. Christ is the light of the nations, hence the blessing and procession of candles on this day. In the Middle Ages this feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, or 'Candlemas,' was of great importance. "The specific liturgy of this Candlemas feast, the blessing of candles, is not as widely celebrated as it should be, except of course whenever February 2 falls on a Sunday and thus takes precedence. There are two ways of celebrating the ceremony, either the Procession, which begins at a 'gathering place' outside the church, or the Solemn Entrance, celebrated within the church." From Ceremonies of the Liturgical Year.

WASHINGTON-Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York called on everyone "concerned about the tragedy of abortion" to recommit to a "vision of life and love, a vision that excludes no one". His statement marks the 43rd anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion. Cardinal Dolan chairs the Committee on Pro-Life Activities of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

"Most Americans oppose a policy allowing legal abortion for virtually any reason " though many still do not realize that this is what the Supreme Court gave us," wrote Cardinal Dolan. "Most want to protect unborn children at later stages of pregnancy, to regulate or limit the practice of abortion, and to stop the use of taxpayer dollars for the destruction of unborn children. Yet many who support important goals of the pro-life movement do not identify as 'pro-life,' a fact which should lead us to examine how we present our pro-life vision to others."

"Even as Americans remain troubled by abortion," wrote Cardinal Dolan, a powerful and well funded lobby holds "that abortion must be celebrated as a positive good for women and society, and those who cannot in conscience provide it are to be condemned for practicing substandard medicine and waging a 'war on women'." He said this trend was seen recently when President Obama and other Democratic leaders prevented passage of the Abortion Non-Discrimination Act, "a modest measure to provide for effective enforcement" of conscience laws.

"While this is disturbing," said Cardinal Dolan, "it is also an opportunity." Pro-life Americans should reach out to "the great majority of Americans" who are "open to hearing a message of reverence for life." He added that "we who present the pro-life message must always strive to be better messengers. A cause that teaches the inexpressibly great value of each and every human being cannot show disdain or disrespect for any fellow human being." He encouraged Catholics to take part, through prayer and action.    USCCB

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