Why did God create? The Catechism today gives us a glimpse into the reason for our existence as we learn about God’s marvelous work of creation. Fr. Mike emphasizes that creation is ultimately a work of the Holy Trinity and a work of love that reveals the glory of God. He also reminds us that creation is not a work of the past; God is constantly forming and breathing new life into our lives and hearts. Today we read Catechism paragraphs 290-298.
On December 8, 1854, Pope Pius IX proclaimed the dogma of the Immaculate Conception in the apostolic constitution Ineffabilis Deus. A little more than three years later, on February 11, 1858, a young lady appeared to Bernadette Soubirous. This began a series of visions. During the apparition on March 25, the lady identified herself with the words: “I am the Immaculate Conception.”
Bernadette was a sickly child of poor parents. Their practice of the Catholic faith was scarcely more than lukewarm. Bernadette could pray the Our Father, the Hail Mary and the Creed. She also knew the prayer of the Miraculous Medal: “O Mary conceived without sin.”
During interrogations Bernadette gave an account of what she saw. It was “something white in the shape of a girl.” She used the word aquero, a dialect term meaning “this thing.” It was “a pretty young girl with a rosary over her arm.” Her white robe was encircled by a blue girdle. She wore a white veil. There was a yellow rose on each foot. A rosary was in her hand. Bernadette was also impressed by the fact that the lady did not use the informal form of address (tu), but the polite form (vous). The humble virgin appeared to a humble girl and treated her with dignity.
Through that humble girl, Mary revitalized and continues to revitalize the faith of millions of people. People began to flock to Lourdes from other parts of France and from all over the world. In 1862 Church authorities confirmed the authenticity of the apparitions and authorized the cult of Our Lady of Lourdes for the diocese. The Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes became worldwide in 1907.
Reflection
Lourdes has become a place of pilgrimage and healing, but even more of faith. Church authorities have recognized over 60 miraculous cures, although there have probably been many more. To people of faith this is not surprising. It is a continuation of Jesus’ healing miracles—now performed at the intercession of his mother. Some would say that the greater miracles are hidden. Many who visit Lourdes return home with renewed faith and a readiness to serve God in their needy brothers and sisters.
There still may be people who doubt the apparitions of Lourdes. Perhaps the best that can be said to them are the words that introduce the film The Song of Bernadette: “For those who believe in God, no explanation is necessary. For those who do not believe, no explanation is possible.”
Saint Scholastica’s Story (c. 480 – February 10, 542)
Twins often share the same interests and ideas with an equal intensity. Therefore, it is no surprise that Scholastica and her twin brother, Benedict, established religious communities within a few miles from each other.
Born in 480 of wealthy parents, Scholastica and Benedict were brought up together until he left central Italy for Rome to continue his studies.
Little is known of Scholastica’s early life. She founded a religious community for women near Monte Cassino at Plombariola, five miles from where her brother governed a monastery.
The twins visited each other once a year in a farmhouse because Scholastica was not permitted inside the monastery. They spent these times discussing spiritual matters.
According to the Dialogues of St. Gregory the Great, the brother and sister spent their last day together in prayer and conversation. Scholastica sensed her death was close at hand and she begged Benedict to stay with her until the next day.
He refused her request because he did not want to spend a night outside the monastery, thus breaking his own Rule. Scholastica asked God to let her brother remain and a severe thunderstorm broke out, preventing Benedict and his monks from returning to the abbey.
Benedict cried out, “God forgive you, Sister. What have you done?” Scholastica replied, “I asked a favor of you and you refused. I asked it of God and he granted it.”
Brother and sister parted the next morning after their long discussion. Three days later, Benedict was praying in his monastery and saw the soul of his sister rising heavenward in the form of a white dove. Benedict then announced the death of his sister to the monks and later buried her in the tomb he had prepared for himself.
Reflection
Scholastica and Benedict gave themselves totally to God and gave top priority to deepening their friendship with him through prayer. They sacrificed some of the opportunities they would have had to be together as brother and sister in order better to fulfill their vocation to the religious life. In coming closer to Christ, however, they found they were also closer to each other. In joining a religious community, they did not forget or forsake their family but rather found more brothers and sisters.
Saint Jerome Emiliani’s Story (1486 – February 8, 1537)
A careless and irreligious soldier for the city-state of Venice, Jerome was captured in a skirmish at an outpost town and chained in a dungeon. In prison Jerome had a lot of time to think, and he gradually learned how to pray. When he escaped, he returned to Venice where he took charge of the education of his nephews—and began his own studies for the priesthood.
In the years after his ordination, events again called Jerome to a decision and a new lifestyle. Plague and famine swept northern Italy. Jerome began caring for the sick and feeding the hungry at his own expense. While serving the sick and the poor, he soon resolved to devote himself and his property solely to others, particularly to abandoned children. He founded three orphanages, a shelter for penitent prostitutes and a hospital.
Around 1532, Jerome and two other priests established a congregation, the Clerks Regular of Somasca, dedicated to the care of orphans and the education of youth. Jerome died in 1537 from a disease he caught while tending the sick. He was canonized in 1767. In 1928, Pius Xl named him the patron of orphans and abandoned children. St. Jerome Emiliani shares the celebration of his liturgical feast with St. Josephine Bakhita on February 8.
Reflection
Very often in our lives it seems to take some kind of “imprisonment” to free us from the shackles of our self-centeredness. When we’re “caught” in some situation we don’t want to be in, we finally come to know the liberating power of Another. Only then can we become another for “the imprisoned” and “the orphaned” all around us.
Together with Fr. Mike, we examine some of the different explanations for God’s existence outside of the Catholic understanding, such as Pantheism, Dualism, Manichaeism, and Deism. Fr. Mike explains that while some understanding of man’s origin can be perceived through human reason and the natural world, we also need Revelation, as it answers many questions about creation we could never possibly hope to answer with reason alone. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 285-289.
Fr. Mike explores God’s role as “Creator” and the vital importance of understanding God as the Creator of all things: heaven and earth, seen and unseen. Together, we examine the questions of our origins, such as “Where do we come from?” and “Where are we going?” Fr. Mike emphasizes that man is created for a purpose because of the great and eternal love our Father in heaven has for every one of us. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 279-284.
13 ‘You are salt for the earth. But if salt loses its taste, what can make it salty again? It is good for nothing, and can only be thrown out to be trampled under people’s feet. 14 ‘You are light for the world. A city built on a hill-top cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp to put it under a tub; they put it on the lamp-stand where it shines for everyone in the house. 16 In the same way your light must shine in people’s sight, so that, seeing your good works, they may give praise to your Father in heaven.
When I was overseas, every day felt like Ground Hog Day. I was the Catholic priest for the Logistical Command and the area around it. It was a large area. We were in the rear with the gear. A couple of times a w eek, I would do a daytrip up to the war front. I had to drive up there, do my thing, and drive back. So don’t complain to me about your commute to Charlotte. Anyway, I was in my office and a soldier walked in. He was rather filthy as most soldiers are. The soldier said, “I was told to report to the chaplain.” Well, you found him. Good for you! Come on in and let’s have a chat. So, he was telling me about what had happened. He was infantry, and he and his friends had to take care of business up in the north. He was upset that he had been sent back to be a convoy guard. He wanted to stay with his buddies. I told him that I would feel the same way. But they want one of the best to be one of their guards. They are driving around and trying to avoid IED’s and all sorts of other nasty stuff on the road. They want one of the best to keep an eye out for them so that they can go home too when this is all over. The soldier said, “Yeah, okay . . . sir.” I asked him how long he would be here, and he said three days. Okay . . .for the next three days, I want you to sleep, get some ice cream and pizza, see a movie, and go to the pool. And those are not suggestions. “Yes sir.” Before you leave come back to see me. Three days later, the soldier came back to see me, and he looked totally different. . .so much better. I asked him if he was ready to go back, and he said, “Yes, sir.” I told him he had done a good job and to keep his eyes open so we could all make it home. The soldiers said, “Yes, sir” and thanked me for talking to him. The change in him was phenomenal. A smart officer where he had been saw that this soldier had combat stress or fatigue and sent him back to the rear. A classic way to deal with combat stress is to take three days of rest and refresh (R & R) and go back. He would have less problems in theater, be able to keep his mind in the game, and have less problems when he returned home. The Army would take soldiers out of the field so that they could rest. No matter how hard we trained them, they had to come out of the game to rest.
We are all in combat. We are fighting the devil constantly. We all need to take time out for our ourselves and to pray. That’s the most important thing. Jesus took His disciples aside and said, “Come away and pray.” We all need time to be alone with our Lord. We pray to refresh. The priest who preached at my first Mass said, “You will spend more time on your toes like a boxer, if you spend more time on your knees.” You cannot give what you do not have.” Mother Teresa’s sisters, who I had the pleasure of working with in Guantanimo Bay, spent at least two hours a day in prayer plus Mass. That’s how you keep your Savior near. It’s how people will see Christ in you. “Well, I work on Sundays.” “If I do a good deed on Sunday, do i still have to go to Mass?” If you are on your way to Mass and get called to an emergency, you have an excuse. But you cannot use that excuse every week. And I’m sure that people don’t have a health crisis every Saturday at 5:00 and Sunday at 9:30 and 12:15. No. “Well, I watch Mass on television.” Well, I watch cooking shows on television and I’m still hungry. I watch golf shows on television and I still stink at the game.
During marriage preparation, I give couples the key to a happy marriage. “What’s that, Father?” Pray the Rosary together each night before you go to bed. I didn’t get that on my own. . .I’m not that holy or bright. I got it from Bishop Sheen. I also advise couples to practice their faith. When couples come to me with marital problems, the first question I ask is, “Do you pray together?” “Do you go to church together?” Yeah, that’s the same reaction I get. You are carrying a cross that is heavy, and you can become weary. We think we are a lot tougher than we really are.
All of us have our crosses, and we all get weary. We need to spend time in prayer. . .lots and lots of time. Your work is not your prayer. Believe it or not, I have a degree in Philosophy. I learned in Philosophy 101 that work is not a prayer. Know why? They are different words with different letters. Work is not prayer. Work is a vocation. Work can be part of your prayer life, but prayer is different. Prayer is an act of love. Work is an act of love too, but it’s different. I know a priest who once said, “My work is my prayer.” Well, say goodbye to your vocation. I cannot give what I do not have, so I need to spend a lot of time in prayer.
We look for comfort in things that are not of God. Maybe it’s in a bottle, a pill, people, places, or things. It is important to spend time in prayer. I don’t care how busy we think we are or how important. One day I’m going to be heavy into real estate in a tiny house and another priest will be here. I won’t be cold in my grave, and another priest will be here to take my place.
Husbands, wives, mothers, and fathers take the crosses of everyone upon them besides their own. It’s called transference. In Scripture, when our Lord healed what did He do? He sighed and groaned as He took their pain upon Himself. You see the pain of everyone and their sins there on the Cross. You do that with your family and friends. You do that with the crosses people place upon you. This is why prayer is so necessary. It’s why the Sacraments are so necessary. We cannot do it by ourselves. We will fall and we will destroy ourselves. You must take the time, and that time is the best investment in yourself and those you love. It’s how you keep your edge. It’s how people will see Christ’s light in you. And by taking that time out, you will keep the flame alive.
We are the salt of the earth, and we can lose our Savior very quickly. Sometimes it happens slowly and more quickly at other times. That time away in prayer is so important. Never minimize it. Never say, “I have to go to work.” If you pray and become holy, your work will go much better and faster. So, tune out all the distractions to pray and to be alone with God.
Father’s Reflections. . .
I heard from reliable sources, and I have authenticated the message, that next Sunday is the Super Bowl. I’m thrilled about it. . . actually, I don’t care. I don’t want to watch millionaires play for millions of dollars. That really doesn’t excite me. “These guys are great! They are stars!” Really? If you were not at Terri Campbell’s funeral yesterday and you didn’t talk to the family, you wouldn’t know that Terri’s brother-in-law was a hero in the true sense of the word. Now you probably wouldn’t give this guy a second look. He has white hair and is beginning to get a stoop. But he was an F-4 fighter pilot in Vietnam. That alone is quite impressive. However, he was shot down over Vietnam and spent six years in the Hanoi Hilton. There is a real hero.
How will you apply this message to your life? _________________________________________
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Do you have questions about evangelization and sacramental prep? Dave and Mike answer questions on evangelizing to atheists and what sort of parameters exist for requirements in sacramental prep.
Mike Gormley and Dave VanVickle are back for a brand new season of the podcast. This episode, they welcome Sherry Weddell, the best-selling author of Forming Intentional Disciples. Sherry shares her extensive knowledge of evangelization and discipleship. She encourages everyone to discern what gifts they have been given in order to build the Kingdom of God.
Together, with Fr. Mike, we explore the nature of God as Almighty. Fr. Mike discusses three important points to keep in mind about the reality of God’s power. The first is that God’s power is universal. God rules over everything; it is an infinite power. He is loving, he adopts us as his sons and daughters and shows us his mercy. Fr. Mike concludes with a reflection on God’s mysterious power in relation to the reality of the problem of evil and suffering in our world. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 268-278.
