Bl. Anne of St. Bartholomew (1549–1626) was born in Spain, one of seven children. Her parents died when the plague swept through Spain, leaving her an orphan at the age of ten. She then became a shepherdess tending her brother’s sheep. From a young age she had an extraordinary spiritual life, including being graced with many visions. In one of them the Blessed Virgin Mary told her she would become a nun, which was further encouraged by a vision of Jesus. When she tried to enter the monastery she was turned away for being too young. Years later, when her family tried to arrange her marriage, she finally entered the Carmelite monastery at the age of 21, the same one in which St. Teresa of Avila lived. St. Teresa chose Anne as her personal secretary and assistant, even though she had to teach Anne how to write. For five years St. Anne was the companion of St. Teresa of Avila, traveling with her and assisting her in the establishment of new foundations. It was in Anne’s arms that St. Teresa died in 1582. After Teresa’s death, Anne assisted in the foundation of several other monasteries in France, becoming prioress at three of them. She went on to found a monastery in the Netherlands where she remained until her death. After her death over 150 approved miracles (and more that have not been officially approved) were attributed to her intercession. Her feast day is June 7th.
I was talking to one of my fellow chaplains with whom I share an office at the VA. We call it the cell. So, I said to my cell-mate, “Hey Gary, you’re a bright guy, even though you went into the Air Force, you’re a bright guy.” He was too old for Girl Scouts, but he does have a master’s degree in Divinity. “Where are the green pastures that our Lord, the Good Shepherd, leads us to give us repose?” Gary said “Heaven.” That’s true. Then, I said, “Would you say that, before we get there, He leads us to heaven on Earth…to a place in His Sacred Heart?” That is Heaven. Our Savior’s heart beats with love for us, and our two hearts will beat as one in Heaven. The Good Shepherd calls us, not just to follow Him, but to be part of His Sacred Heart and to take our rest there. It is in our Lord’s Sacred Heart that we will find peace and rest for our souls.
Our Lord said in Matthew 11:30: “…my yoke is sweet and my burden light.” The sweet yoke is our crosses that are just for us and not for anyone else. In that lovely green garden and pasture where He gives us repose, He also gives us strength, courage, and consolation as we carry our cross. We carry our cross with the Good Shepherd, if we let Him, so that we are able to carry it for our redemption and the redemption of others. And sometimes, but not nearly often enough, we will find joy in it. We will find joy in carrying our cross.
The Good Shepherd would like to lead us to His Sacred Heart. Saint Augustine said, “Our heart is restless until it rests in thee.” We will find peace for our souls which is what our souls need, but we try to fill it with every person, place, or thing. In His Sacred Heart, we will find rest. We will find strength, and we will find contentment. We walk with our Lord by the way of the Cross. First He leads us to His Sacred Heart, and then He walks with us all the way through to our passion and death.
How will you apply this message to your life? Will you let Him help you carry your cross for your redemption and the redemption of others?
Father’s Afterthoughts:
I had a meeting with the Bishop the other day. Sadly, I’m still not a monsignor. I had to drive 50+ miles to hear that bad news. Anyway, I felt safer in Iraq while driving to Charlotte on Hwy 485. Those people are crazy! I was never so glad to see Walmart in Locust and Mecklenburg County in my rear view mirror. One thing we discussed at the meeting is that, in the next couple of months, the Bishop will probably reinstitute the Sunday Mass obligation. When he does, the Mass will be a bit longer than those I’ve been giving.
I really don’t like the word “obligation.” Are you are obligated to remember your mother’s birthday or remember her on Mother’s Day? If you have to be told that, you need to be taken outside with a few of the guys for a chat. We come here out of love. If we say, “Oh, I’m too tired” or “I’m too whatever,” we lose the opportunity to grow in love.
Also, keep in your prayers, Father Michael Kottar. He’s 57 years old and a great priest. Father Kottar has been diagnosed with bovine spongiform encephalopathy or Mad Cow Disease. There is no treatment, so please keep him in your prayers.
You can read all of Father Fitzgibbons’ sermons by going to https://annunciationcatholicalbemarle.com/ and clicking on “Blog” then “Categories” and then “Sermon Notes.” From a cell phone, click on “Blog” then “Menu” and then “Categories” (located at the end of page). There is also a search box if you are looking for a specific topic.
I have been meditating on the Gospel of the Good Shepherd. Where in the Gospel do we first hear about the Good Shepherd? You’ll find it in Genesis when God went looking for Adam and Eve. They had sinned and were trying to hide, but God looked for them to bring them back. Why did they run from God? They were “necked.” That’s naked for all you Yankees. They hid because they had sinned. They ran away from God, but God went after them. God goes after sinners, because He does not want us to succumb to the evil one. Adam and Eve were afraid, because sin causes fear. They were afraid of the One who loves us. Sin makes us stay away from the One who has the power to heal sin. “We’re going to be punished!” But, this is a great act of love as we see on the Crucifix. He asks us to partake of His love by receiving and asking for His forgiveness. If we run from God after we have sinned, it is an offense against God.
I have heard this statement from a number of priests and others: “I have to forgive myself.” Excuse me..WHAT?? That’s a sin right there. The sin wasn’t against you. You egotistical jerk! The sin was against God and no one else. That statement is blasphemous. It’s pop psychology, and it’s blasphemous. It’s your own fertilizer excuse…you know the word. It’s a fertilizer excuse justifying the act. “I have to forgive myself.” You cannot bring healing to yourself. That would require penance and divine forgiveness. Only God can absolve sin, and only God can heal it. Sin in this world is made manifest by fear. What do people do when they are afraid? They try to hide. They lay down conditions for coming back. “I’m not coming back to the Church until priests can get married.” Do you ask any of the professionals in your life if they are married? “I’m not coming back until Mass is in English, until Confession is face-to-face, or until people can marry whoever or whatever they want.” Really?
Sin causes fear and anger which distorts reality. So, people try to deny that they did anything wrong. “I didn’t do anything!” “It wasn’t that bad.” “You cops are all crooked.” “You priests are all perverts.” They try to deny what they’ve done by lashing out. When a dog is afraid, it may snarl at you. People try to deny their sin and will do anything but say “I’ve done wrong, and I’m sorry.” That fear changes your perspective and it changes your attitude.
I was driving up to the VA hospital the other day, and I always try to find the State Troopers and the Sheriff’s deputies. It keeps you aware, and it’s kind of fun to see where they might be hiding. I appreciate the art form. But, I can always tell where they are just by watching people in front of me slam on their brakes. Why are you afraid? Just do the speed limit. Come on! But, they are afraid. What are they afraid of? They are only afraid if they’ve done something wrong. But, God’s love casts out all fear…not self-love… but God’s love.
God is love itself. We see His love when we look at the Crucifix. We see that love portrayed at every altar, at every confession, at every hospital visit by a priest, at every marriage ceremony, and at every baptism and confirmation. This is God’s great love manifested. I’ll give you some homework for tonight. Read the poem, “Hound of Heaven” by Francis Thompson. Francis was a drug addict and alcoholic. He had fear, and he kept running and running afraid a great beast was going to kill him. Finally, he ran out of energy and said, “Fine, kill me. I don’t care anymore.” When he stopped, he saw that the beast was actually a puppy that wanted to kiss him. The last part of the poem is: “Whom wilt thou find to love ignoble thee, Save Me, save only Me?”
God is the Good Shepherd. But, we have to be willing to be led. Remember what the first sin was? It wasn’t by Adam and Eve, but by Lucifer who would not serve. It’s the same thing when we want to be led by God. We have to say, “I will serve.” “I will follow.” It is sinful to say, “I will not serve.” “I will not listen to you.” “I know what’s best.” We are all sinners, that’s why we are all here. He is the Good Shepherd and brings us home if we want to be led.
How will you apply this message to your life? Are you running from God? Are you fearful and angry? Stop running and let God lead you.
You can read all of Father Fitzgibbons’ sermons by going to https://annunciationcatholicalbemarle.com/ and clicking on “Blog” then “Categories” and then “Sermon Notes. From a cell phone, click on “Blog” then “Menu” and then “Categories” (located at the end of page). There is also a search box if you are looking for a specific topic.
The Fourth Sunday of Easter is known as “Good Shepherd Sunday” because the Mass reading is taken from the Gospel of John, where Jesus uses the imagery of a shepherd guiding and guarding his flock to describe His relationship with those He has redeemed: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (Jn. 10:11). The communion antiphon for this Mass reads, “The Good Shepherd is risen! He who laid down his life for his sheep, who died for his flock, he is risen, alleluia.” Good Shepherd Sunday is also recognized as the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, where the faithful pray that God will send them good and holy priests who, following the example of Christ, will lay down their lives for His sheep.
Today we read the epic story of how David defeats Goliath, a giant Philistine warrior. Fr. Mike points out that David’s heroic courage in this battle came from David’s faithfulness to God and to the small tasks entrusted to him as a shepherd. We learn that when we are faithful and courageous in small matters, we can face the giants in our bigger battles. Today’s readings are 1 Samuel 17 and Psalm 12.
