Martyrs: Witnesses for Christ

"They loved Christ in this life and imitated Him in their death, and so they will rejoice with Him for ever." This is the Magnificat antiphon for the Protomartyrs of Rome, which is the feast day today. Martyrdom for the faith, the total self-gift unto death, seems to be unlikely in the place where I live, yet I know that there are Christians dying for the faith in other parts of the world. Their example calls to us to be firm in the faith in the face of any sort of opposition.

St. Cyprian, bishop and martyr, wrote of the inspiration that motivates martyrdom for faith in Christ: "I urge you to persevere courageously and steadfastly in your witness to heavenly glory, and to continue with spiritual courage, now that you have entered on the way that the Lord has graciously opened up for you, until you receive the crown of voctory. You have the Lord as your protector and guide, for He has said: Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the world.

"Let nothing else be now in your hearts and minds except God's commandments and the precepts of heaven: by their means the Holy Spirit has always inspired you to bear your sufferings. Let no one think of death, but only of immortality; let no one think of suffering that is for a time, but only of glory that is for eternity. It is written: Precious in the sight of God is the death of His holy ones. And again: A sacrifice to God is an afflicted spirit; a broken and humbled heart God does not despise.

"The Lord Himself is an example of all this in His own person. He teaches us that only those who have followed Him along His way arrive at His kingdom."

When I read these words this morning at the Office of Readings, I was encouraged to offer myself totally to the Lord, to follow Him completely, even though He has not (yet) asked of me the supreme sacrifice of my life. With models such as the Protomartyrs of Rome and St. Cyprian set before our eyes, I know that God will provide for us the grace to persevere in faith.

Pope Benedict XVI on the Consecrated Life

This link provides an excellent resource for the statements by our Holy Father on the Consecrated Life.
http://www.apostolicvisitation.org/en/materials/benedict.pdf

St. Paul and the Consecrated Life

As the Year of St. Paul is soon coming to its culmination, I think it is opportune to revisit our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI's message about the Consecrated Life as lived by St. Paul.

In this Pauline Year, I make my own the Apostle's words: "I give thanks to my God every time I think of you which is constantly, in every prayer I utter rejoicing, as I plead on your behalf, at the way you have all continually helped promote the gospel from the very first day" (Phil 1: 3-5). In this greeting addressed to the Christian community of Philippi, Paul expresses the affectionate remembrance he cherishes of all who live the Gospel personally and toil to pass it on, combining the care of their interior life with the effort of the apostolic mission.

In the Church's tradition, St Paul has always been recognized as father and teacher of those, called by the Lord, who have chosen unconditional dedication to him and to his Gospel. Various religious Institutes are named after St Paul and draw from him a specific charismatic inspiration. One can say that he repeats to all consecrated men and women a forthright and affectionate invitation: "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ" (1 Cor 11: 1). What in fact is consecrated life other than a radical imitation of Jesus, a total "sequela" of him? (cf. Mt 19: 27-28).

Well, in all this Paul represents a sound pedagogical mediation: imitating him in the following of Jesus, dear friends, is the privileged way to correspond fully to your vocation of special consecration in the Church. Indeed, from his own voice we can recognize a lifestyle that expresses the substance of consecrated life inspired by the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience.

For the entire text please visit:
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/homilies/2009/documents/hf_ben-xvi_hom_20090202_vita-consacrata_en.html

Finding Christ in Others

It is not uncommon that those who are mentally ill find their way to the door of the convent or the church office to seek help for their material and social needs. I once asked a Franciscan Friar if he thought that the Lord was indicating a particular focus for our community's apostolate by these visitors. He told me that if that were the case, then every Religious community and every parish would be getting the same message because the mentally ill come to all communities and parishes.

Following the Lord Who taught us to reach out to those in need, as Christians we want to assist those who come. Yet too often these individuals will only accept what they have predetermined to be in their own best interest, and will not allow any addressing of the root cause of their situation, which is their mental illness. They make choices for their lives that prevent them from finding proper housing and stability. This takes a large measure of patience on our part, and acceptance that we cannot help them until they allow us to do so.

Truly what is needed is a recognition of the crucified Lord in the mentally ill. He is present in them when they refuse our help, when they put themselves in jeopardy by their choices, when they avoid us and denigrate us for challenging their false view of themselves and the world around them.

Lord Jesus, in Your mercy and compassion, teach us to love as You love, without limit and without expectation of reciprocity, and grant us the wisdom we need to serve You in Your people.

Obedience to the Word of God

A deterrent in our present time to entering into the Religious life in the Church perhaps is an inadequate understanding about the vow of obedience that Religious Sisters make. I think that there can be a great fear of losing one's sense of self when being obedient. In our society we place a high value on our sense of self that develops during adolescence and into adulthood. One of my students recently quoted to me a popular ad on television that says: "I am the boss of me." The purpose of the ad’s message was to encourage young people not to get caught up in the risky behaviour being promoted by their peers, but she took it to mean that no one could tell her what was right or wrong. It is difficult to enter into obedience if we do not believe in the good of what we are being asked to do.

Pope Benedict XVI in his recent address to families spoke about the true meaning of Christian obedience. What he said is an excellent clarification of obedience as lived by vowed Religious as well.

The Word of God speaks to us of an obedience that is not mere subjection, nor simply an obeying of orders. Rather it arises from an intimate communion with God and consists in an interior vision capable of discerning that which comes from on high and is above everything. It is the fruit of the Holy Spirit which God grants without measure. (From Zenit news agency ZE090423072009-04-23)

When I read this, I was deeply moved by the profound understanding of obedience present in these sentences. When we are in a love relationship with God, obedience makes so much sense as the means to deepen the intimacy we have with God. By taking on His purpose for us, we find our most true self. We discover ourselves in our union with Him.

Vocation Message from Pope Benedict XVI

This coming Sunday, Good Shepherd Sunday, the fourth Sunday of Easter, is a day we pray especially for vocations to the priesthood and Religious life in our parishes. The Holy Father has written for us a message on this topic that demonstrates the vital importance of prayer for the gift of the priesthood and the special witness of consecrated persons among us.

Please pray fervently for this intention. Our Lord encouraged us to pray to the Lord of the harvest for labourers for the harvest, so we know that it is in accordance with His will that we have vocations and that we pray for them.

About the Consecrated life, our Holy Father says:
Once more, Jesus is the model of complete and trusting adherence to the will of the Father, to whom every consecrated person must look. Attracted by him, from the very first centuries of Christianity, many men and women have left families, possessions, material riches and all that is humanly desirable in order to follow Christ generously and live the Gospel without compromise, which had become for them a school of deeply rooted holiness. Today too, many undertake this same demanding journey of evangelical perfection and realise their vocation in the profession of the evangelical counsels. The witness of these our brothers and sisters, in contemplative monasteries, religious institutes and congregations of apostolic life, reminds the people of God of “that mystery of the Kingdom of God is already at work in history, even as it awaits its full realization in heaven” (Vita Consecrata, 1).

His complete message can be read at: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/vocations/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20090120_xlvi-vocations_en.html

The Bread Run

Bread is truly wonderful food. Jesus fed thousands of people by multiplying the loaves of bread given Him by the apostles. He even called Himself the Bread of Life. In the early Church, "breaking bread" was the term used for the Holy Eucharist and the risen Jesus made Himself known to the disciples at Emmaus by blessing and breaking the bread with them. So bread, even in its ordinariness, has the ability to evoke strong images for Christians.

I have not baked a lot of bread in my lifetime, but I really like its fragrance when it is fresh . So when I was asked to help at the Bread Run with a nearby parish, I readily agreed. It is a totally different way to serve than the daily work of teaching high school that I do. So every Wednesday, we go to the bakery at the end of the day and pick up all the bread that is left over. Then we go to the parish where many people gather to wrap the bread for the St. Vincent de Paul Society and the Inn from the Cold housing project. Many families and individuals come to get bread and they are always so joyful in receiving this kind gift from the bakery owners.

I have learned so much from this weekly experience. God is gracious and provides for us abundantly. More is received in the giving. There is much joy in working on a common task that benefits other people. Thank You, Lord Jesus, the true Bread who gives abundant life.