So I gaze on you in the sanctuary

Psalm 63: 1-2
O God, you are my God, for you I long
For you my soul is thirsting.
My body pines for you
Like a dry, weary land without water.
So I gaze on you in the sanctuary
to see your strength and your glory.

This is from Morning Prayer today, and must say that it sums up how I feel at Mass this week. I cannot help but gaze upon the Christ-child in the Nativity set with amazement. God truly is with us. He is the living God!

But this goes daily, all year, with the Eucharist. I cannot help but be amazed at the love of God—a love so great that it cannot be expressed by human words. And that great love is crammed into something so simple yet extravagant as the Eucharist!

I leave on New Year’s Eve for a two week mission trip in Nicaragua with the seminary. Please pray for us all. Then I will spend a week on retreat, followed by three days in Washington, DC for the March for Life. Classes begin January 22. Please keep us all in your prayers.

Merry Christmas (because Christmas only began on December 25)!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Recently at Louisianna State University, a spokeswoman for a university department referred to the campus Christmas tree as a “Holiday Tree”. Needless to say this did not fly with many people, so the name isn’t sticking. However, it is a great example of just how much Christ is being removed from this season, so much so that Christians are becoming unable to publicly recognize the season which is meant to give them so much joy and hope.

In moving from saying “Merry Christmas” to “Happy Holidays”, you are doing a number of things. First, you are removing God from the season that He created! And in removing God from the season you remove Christ. And in removing Christ, you remove all public witness to, and may I be so bold as to say all hope for, salvation.

Second, in saying “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas”, you make other holidays as important as Christmas, the holy day when God was born of a virgin. You are saying that anyone’s “holiday” that they may make up is just as important as the birth of the world’s Savior! How can such a thing be said and believed!?

In removing “Merry Christmas”, we make it easier for us Christians, and the rest of the world, to forget the reason for the season. We make it easier to forget why we exchange presents and come together as a family over a meal on December 25 of all days. Worst of all, we forget one of the most beautiful sights eyes have ever seen—the Incarnation silently born in a manger, lovingly being gazed upon by his family and visitors.

Recently Pope Benedict said that Christmas without Christ is meaningless. I concur!

The whole world awaits Mary's reply

From A sermon of St Bernard

You have heard, O Virgin, that you will conceive and bear a son; you have heard that it will not be by man but by the Holy Spirit. The angel awaits an answer; it is time for him to return to God who sent him. We too are waiting, O Lady, for your word of compassion; the sentence of condemnation weighs heavily upon us. The price of our salvation is offered to you. We shall be set free at once if you consent. In the eternal Word of God we all came to be, and behold, we die. In your brief response we are to be remade in order to be recalled to life. Tearful Adam with his sorrowing family begs this of you, O loving Virgin, in their exile from Paradise. Abraham begs it, David begs it. All the other holy patriarchs, your ancestors, ask it of you, as they dwell in the country of the shadow of death. This is what the whole earth waits for, prostrate at your feet. It is right in doing so, for on your word depends comfort for the wretched, ransom for the captive, freedom for the condemned, indeed, salvation for all the sons of Adam, the whole of your race. Answer quickly, O Virgin. Reply in haste to the angel, or rather through the angel to the Lord. Answer with a word, receive the Word of God. Speak your own word, conceive the divine Word. Breathe a passing word, embrace the eternal Word. Why do you delay, why are you afraid? Believe, give praise, and receive. Let humility be bold, let modesty be confident. This is no time for virginal simplicity to forget prudence. In this matter alone, O prudent Virgin, do not fear to be presumptuous. Though modest silence is pleasing, dutiful speech is now more necessary. Open your heart to faith, O blessed Virgin, your lips to praise, your womb to the Creator. See, the desired of all nations is at your door, knocking to enter. If he should pass by because of your delay, in sorrow you would begin to seek him afresh, the One whom your soul loves. Arise, hasten, open. Arise in faith, hasten in devotion, open in praise and thanksgiving. Behold the handmaid of the Lord, she says, be it done to me according to your word.

**Taken from the Office of Readings, Dec. 20

Christmas Carols

Have you ever stopped to look at what you are singing when you sing a Christmas Carol? It wasn’t until now that I truly stopped to dwell on the words of them. I am not talking about those that are about Santa Clause, shopping, or fireside marshmallows. Rather, I am speaking of those that speak of Christ.

Silent Night, O Holy Night, Away in a Manger, O Little Town of Bethlehem, and so on. These give us a picture of that blessed night, expounding upon that of scripture so much. No, these are not to be a substitute for God’s Word. Rather, they are meant to be an aid to it.

Perhaps some time could be taken this year to meditate on the images provoked by some of these songs depicting the scene at the manger. But do not stop there. Ask yourself how you could witness to it, bringing it to life for all those you encounter day by day. The more we live out the true meaning of Christmas—the Incarnation of Christ—the more Christmas will come to find its true meaning again, and we will no long be saying, “Happy Holidays” or moving to name a Christmas tree a “Holiday Tree”.

Beauty only wets the appetite

I heard spoken a philosophical thought which I believe comes from one of the early Church Fathers—Beauty is not meant to be an end in itself; it is only meant to wet the appetite.

After hearing a wonderful song or seeing an exquisite painting, have you ever thought, “Wow! Now that was beautiful!” and then stood speechless? Do you then simply stop there or do you instead dwell upon it in order to find out just what it was that made you experience such a feeling?

During Advent and Christmas, we are presented with something very beautiful. In fact, it is one of the most beautiful sights ever recorded—the Incarnation. And these two seasons, especially Advent—the period of waiting—present for us an opportunity to stay speechless. This is the perfect time to gaze inwardly upon ourselves to find Christ in all his beauty. Now what words can one use justifiably to describe Beauty itself?

Looking beyond the beauty of the manger scene, you may find that “Christmas is Love itself born in silence in the comfort of a manger.” How can you bring this to life this liturgical year?

The Peacefulness of the Christ Child

What is it that makes Christmas appeal to us so much? For me it has to be the idea of the Christ-child sleeping in the manger ever so peacefully. In doing so, God has let down his guard on so many levels, making himself completely vulnerable, just like any newborn child. He has come to place his trust in us in a new way.

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, /The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head. /The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay, /The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.
The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes, /But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes. /I love thee, Lord Jesus! Look down from the sky, /And stay by my side until morning is nigh.

In so many hymns and carols, especially “Away in a Manger”, whose first two verses are listed above, we find depictions of a quiet child asleep as two loving parents look on and animals warm the surroundings. Is this what makes Christmas appeal to us so much? Is it because it appeals to our most peaceful, innocent side—that of a child?

The Advent and Christmas seasons remind us of the importance of the peaceful witness of the love of God, who so loved us to give us his only Son (John 3:16). And if these seasons are to be experienced for what they are meant to be and not what our culture is turning them to—times of shopping, money-making, movies, and food—then we must become much louder witnesses. We must become the witness that Christ is the example of in his own Nativity—the peaceful child sleeping in the simplest of places, not even raising a fuss. Only then will the world experience the joy that we feel when gazing upon the Christ-child.

Find Christ through his Church

Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we shall be satisfied.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long and yet you do not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father?’” (John 14:8-9).

We ask so often to see the Father, yet forget that he is right in front of us the whole time. Jesus Christ came and made manifest the Father. He who knows Christ knows the Father.

In a similar way, he who knows us Christians should know Jesus Christ. We must always strive to become Christ in all that we do so that the world may come to know Christ through the proper context—the Church. “And how are men to call upon him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14).

If we do not witness to Christ as much as possible, the world will never know him nor understand the Church he established. Otherwise, they will just see a group of hypocrites gathered to try and make themselves feel better. Who should ever want to be a part of such a group? I have been given this description of the Church before as an excuse to not attend Mass. But someone saying this should never be shunned. Rather, they should be witnessed to in word and deed. If we witness through even our simplest of actions, then such an explanation of the Church will cease to exist!

God made his Word flesh to show us how to live...

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth…” (John 1:14).

In the beginning God’s Word was given to humanity so that he may live a life pleasing to God. But man did not always follow the teachings and commandments he received. Thus, God saw fit that he would make His Word become flesh. And in doing so he came down to us in the form of Jesus Christ, who was both fully human and fully divine.

“Have this mind among yourselves, which was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, he did not deem equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself and taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men” (Philipians 2:5-7). God the Son emptied himself to become flesh for our sake, so that we may see and experience what it truly means to live as a human being.

God made his Word flesh, and so we must do the same. We are to put our faith in Christ into action, as we are made to live out good works. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).

Get behind me Christ?

“From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him and began to rebuke him, saying, ‘God forbid, Lord! This shall never happen to you.’ But he turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me…’” (Mt 16:21-23)

Have you ever turned Christ’s response around to where you are the one who says it to him? “Get behind me Christ! You are a hindrance to me and my enjoying life!” It seems like this is what our culture is saying. And it is so easy to say that ourselves. I know I have done it before.

For so many people, it seems as if God and religion in general have become taboo in almost ever facet of life. Bring up Christ in certain situations and see how a person may react. “Dude, why did you bring him up? Now I feel guilty!”

So many people say that ignorance is bliss. But then they turn around and want to know the meaning to life. How can you come to the meaning to life through an ignorance of your Creator and his wishes? He is the One who made you. Should he not know best what you are here for? So then how can we ever tell Him to get behind us?

HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION: December 8, Immaculate Conception

This Saturday (December 8) is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception and is a Holy Day of Obligation. It is this day that we celebrate what Pope Pius IX defined infallibly (this is dogma and cannot change): “The most Blessed Virgin Mary, in the first instant of her conception… in view of the merits of Jesus Christ… was preserved free from all stain of original sin.” Remember that Christ was around for creation, and even played a part in it as the second Person of the Trinity—God the Son. So his merits and power certainly were capable of redeeming Mary even before the Paschal event.

In Luke 1:28 the angel Gabriel, speaking on God’s behalf, addresses Mary as “full of grace” (or “highly favored”). In that context this phrase means that Mary is receiving all the special divine help necessary for the task ahead. However, the Church grows in understanding with the help of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit led the Church, especially non-theologians, to the insight that Mary had to be the most perfect work of God next to the Incarnation. Or rather, Mary’s intimate association with the Incarnation called for the special involvement of God in Mary’s whole life. (…) Moreover, this great privilege of Mary is the highlight of all that God has done in Jesus. Rightly understood, the incomparable holiness of Mary shows forth the incomparable goodness of God.

The greatest way of celebrating such a wonderful act of God, and such a holy person to have lived with us on earth, is to celebrate the Sacrament of the Eucharist. Thus, we are obligated as Christians, with this being such a noble and necessary truth to believe, to attend Mass on Saturday as if it were a Sunday. Remember, going to Mass Saturday night will only count as the Sunday Vigil, and will not fulfill your obligation for December 8. Going to Mass twice in a day, or twice in two days only means more graces for you! How could you resist such a gift?

**Remember, if you deliberately do not make a Mass for December 8 and another Mass for Sunday December 9, you put your soul in grave risk of mortal sin.

**Portion in italics is from http://americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1223

Welcome to Advent!!!

We have now begun a new liturgical season and a new Church year. The season of Advent is one calling us to presence—both in awareness and participation.

We are called to become aware of the coming presence of our Lord as he takes on human flesh. Just over 8 months ago, on March 25, we celebrated the Annunciation—the conception of the Son of God in the womb of Mary. And now as we draw closer to Christmas Day, we stop to meditate upon his presence in our lives.

In the same way, we are called to make ourselves become actively present. We are called to be present to Christ by presenting ourselves in prayer, both communally and personally. We are called to enliven our participation in Mass and also enhance our offering of self in prayer. As in any relationship, if we are to come closer to God, we must turn to him in conversation, both verbally (speaking ourselves) and silently (listening to the words he speaks to us).

We are also called to make Christ present to everyone we encounter day by day since Christ has come not only to dwell with us, but also in us (hence, the Eucharist). Thus, we are called this season to dwell more intensely on the words of Saint Paul: “it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

Peter's denial, our denial

In Matthew 26:69-75 we find the story where after Jesus has been arrested and put on trial Peter denies having ties to him. Then the cock crows just as Jesus had said would happen, reminding Peter that he was told he would deny Christ.

One of Saint Ignatius’ practices in prayer was to put himself into a scripture passage as if he were one of the characters. Have you ever put yourself in Peter shoes? Do you think that you ever deny Christ? Perhaps, for the sake of meditation and self-examination, we could change those who question Peter to Christ himself. Then, applying this to our own lives, we must ask in what situations this has or usually does happen. Are there any times where you purposefully try not to think of Christ so as to not “ruin the fun”?

I used to try and not think of Jesus at certain times or in certain places so as to not feel guilty. It was as if that guilt was a bad thing. But now it seems as if the guilt is a good thing because it makes me want to come closer to Christ and come to know myself better. Now I purposefully try to think of Christ in those times so that I may come to find him more often. And in finding him more often, it seems that I come to know him better. And in knowing Christ better, I know myself better.

O salutaris hostia

Our Church is full of so many beautiful Eucharistic hymns that I am just now discovering! Maybe it is that we are so used to seeing them or hearing them in Latin that we don’t pay much attention to the English version. But when the English is read, though it may not have the complete message, it is still full of so much to be reflected on. Last night during Adoration and Benediction, we sang O salutaris hostia, which is actually the last two verses of Verbum Supernum (The Word of God), written by St Thomas Aquinas. The hymn we sang is below with the English translation below it. Pray and meditate on it.


O salutaris hostia,
quae caeli pandis ostium,
bella premunt hostilia;
da robur, fer auxilium.

Uni trinoque Domino
sit sempiterna gloria:
qui vitam sine termino
nobis donet in patria. Amen.


O saving Victim, opening wide
the gate of heaven to all below:
our foes press on from every side;
Thine aid supply, Thy strength bestow.

To Thy great Name be endless praise,
immortal Godhead, One in Three!
O grant us endless length of days
in our true native land with Thee. Amen.


*Verbum Supernum can be found in its entirety at http://www.preces-latinae.org/thesaurus/Hymni/VerbumSup.html

Fools for Christ!!

I found this on the website for the national shrine of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos (Seelos.org), which is here in New Orleans.

"This life is full of obstacles, difficulties for one whose purpose is the close following of Christ. O how few start on this road of the following of Christ! And for this reason it may sometimes appear that the true Christian life is something excessive. Our poor human nature may even call it at times a stupidity to despise a pleasure for God. It is as if somebody said to us: ‘How stupid you are to deny yourselves all innocent pleasures which others enjoy without scruple of conscience. Do you only want to go to Heaven? O what a dry, uninteresting form of existence!’ To such whisperings of the devil, you must never pay attention." --Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos