St. Stephen's Day

This past Sunday, December 26th, was a big day for me. It was my 30th Birthday. I started the day with going to Mass, then the Browns game, then a little surprise party with friends and family. It truly was a wonderful day and I am thankful for everyone who helped make it so special.

Now that I am 30, I guess Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy would say that I am at least three-fourths of a man. If you don't understand what I am talking about here just go to youtube.com and type in "I am forty, I am a man."

As mentioned, I started my day by going to Mass. But instead of going to our normal parish, I attended St. Stephen's Parish on West 54th Street in Cleveland. It is beautiful church, one which I have family ties to. My father's grandparents were parishioners there many decades ago. But the real motivator behind us going to celebrate Mass there was the fact that December 26th is St. Stephen's Day. And since my birthday falls on that feast day, my parents gave the middle name of Stephen to me on that winter day back in 1980. (As a side-note, my older brother Mark's middle name is Steven. By having three older brothers I grew used to "hand-me-downs" but a middle name?? At least my parents gave me the "ph" version... aka "the right way" to spell it.)

St. Stephen was a deacon who is the first recorded martyr (a person who dies for his or her beliefs) of the Church. The story of Stephen is told in chapters six and seven of the Acts of the Apostles. He was stoned to death for professing his belief in Jesus. In Act 7: 59-60 we read, "As they were stoning Stephen, he called out, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.' Then he fell to his knees and cried out in a loud voice, 'Lord, do not hold this sin against them'; and when he said this, he fell asleep."

Jesus taught "Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad for your reward will be great in heaven." (Mathew 5: 10-12) He is telling us that when we live the Christian life and boldly witness to Christ and his Church, we will be rejected by a world that is so often focused on worldly things. In other words, Christ is saying that "following me won't be easy but it will be so worth it!"

St. Stephen and the other martyrs of our Church provide an excellent example of what it means to truly live out the beatitudes that Jesus taught in the 5th chapter Matthew's gospel. And like Jesus himself who forgave those who crucified him, St. Stephen prayed for those who were taking his life. His devotion and willingness to forgive those who were killing him makes me pause and think about what I would do in that position. I pray that I can have the courage and compassion that St. Stephen showed the world.

Questions for reflection:

1) Would you be willing to die for your faith? Why or why not?

2) How do you feel when people discuss faith in social settings?

3) Are you comfortable sharing your faith with others?

4) In what ways have you been persecuted for your beliefs?

5) How do you think you could obtain the courage needed to stand up for your beliefs in difficult situations?

6) Who has hurt you?

7) Have you forgiven them? If not, why not?

Pray: Lord, thank you for the example of St. Stephen. Grant that we always strive to be true disciples of Your Son even though that will require rejection and persecution. Help us to know you are always with us and let us be filled with your Spirit so we can forgive those who have hurt us. St. Stephen, pray for us. Amen.

I'll Be Home For Home For Christmas

So I have sort of been reading this little, blue book. It is titled, "The Little Blue Book: Advent and Christmas Seasons 2010-2011". Creative, huh? This little, blue book was given out to parishioners of my parish at the start of the Advent season (the four weeks leading up to Christmas). It has a reflection for everyday leading up to Christmas as well as the couple weeks that follow December 25th.

The passage from the other day struck a chord with me because of the intent of this blog. As stated above, one of the major goals of this blog is to reach "Christmas and Easter Catholics." So I hope this blog is indeed being read by at least a few "Christmas and Easter Catholics" who might be feeling compelled to grow deeper in their Catholic faith. And if you are one that truly is a Catholic that attends mass on Christmas and Easter, this is the one week that you could say in all honesty that you intend to go to mass. Let me be the first to say, "welcome back!"

The passage in the book from this past Sunday, December 19th, was titled "The House Church." Here is what is said:

On October 4, 1943 in the middle of World War II, Bing Crosby recorded, "I'll Be Home For Christmas," one of his most famous Christmas songs (surpassed only by his "White Christmas" and "Silent Night"). The song became emblematic of the separations caused by the war.

"Wars" in families can cause separations too.

Christmas is six days away. Make plans to to come home to your family, even if it involves some forgiveness.

Come home to your Church, even if that involves some forgiveness- perhaps in both directions.

No home, no Church is perfect. It's simply a place where imperfect people treat each other with a kindness that no one has to earn.

At Christmas time we belong with our family, and with our Church- it's the birthday feast of the Son of God who called everyone his brothers and sisters.

"I'll be home home for Christmas." There's a beautiful ring to those words. May it be our song this Christmas season.

Leave The Light On Inn-side Your Heart

The spokesman for Motel 6, Tom Bodett, is known for saying, "We'll leave the light on for you." I always thought it was a bit hokey but my buddy Jimmy was always fond of the catch phrase. Regardless, Mary and Joseph certainly could have used a Motel 6 that day that they came into Bethlehem.

However, scripture tells us that they didn't have such luck. In the second chapter of Luke's gospel, we read that after Mary gave birth to Jesus, "she wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." (Luke 2: 7)

A few years ago, a priest named Fr. Sal who was assigned to our parish reflected on the scene inside that inn during his homily. Prior to that, I had not given much thought to the inn outside of acknowledging the fact that there was no vacancy.

Fr. Sal, however, pondered who was in there and what were they doing. Were they dining and enjoying good drink? Perhaps the conversation amongst the guests was lively and entertaining. Maybe the guests at the inn played music and sang. It is safe to presume, that those who stayed at the inn that night slept comfortably, safe from the elements.

It sounds like a nice night but they had no idea what they were missing. Circumstance would have it that just beyond the walls of the inn, the most important, most amazing, and most miraculous event in the history of man-kind was happening.

They missed it. They missed the prophecy being fulfilled. They missed the coming of God. They missed the virgin birth of our Lord Jesus. Certainly, they had a wonderful night; but they missed it.

We just started the second week of Advent and I have already attended two "Holiday" parties and I have a couple more scheduled in the upcoming weeks. If I am not careful, I too will miss it. This is a wonderful time of year for many reasons. The sights and sounds. The tastes and smells. Enjoying the company of friends and family. We should enjoy it all.

However, we need to make sure we don't miss it.

Questions for reflection:

1) In this season of giving gifts, reflect on what gifts have you received throughout your life from God.

2) Jesus, the Son of God, was entrusted to his humble, human parents. What have you been entrusted with? Whom have you been entrusted with?

3) The Magi offered gifts to Jesus. How can you give of your talents, treasures, and time to give glory to God?

I pray that you keep your CHRISTmas preparations centered on Christ and make room INN your busy days for Jesus.

John's Black Friday Shoes

Jesus rose from supper and took off his outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and dry them with the towel around his waist. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Master, are you going to wash my feet?" Jesus answered and said to him, "What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later"... ....You call me 'teacher' and 'master,' and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do." (John 13: 4-7, 13-15)

In the gospels of Mathew, Mark, and Luke, we read about how Christ instituted the Eucharist during the Last Supper just hours before he would be handed over to the authorities and crucified. In John's gospel, however, the focus is put on Jesus washing the feet of his apostles. Jesus tells them (and us) "you should also" wash the feet of others. In this teaching, Christ commands us to be humble, to serve, and know that true love does not exist without sacrifice.

But, you might be thinking to yourself, this is a reading we typically reflect on during our Holy Thursday celebrations. Why bring it up on "Black Friday?"

I admit I have never participated in the "Black Friday" insanity. I hear it can be a fun time and that there are some great deals out there if you are willing to wake up early and fight the crowds.

However, last year's "Black Friday" will be a day that I'll never forget. I was fortunate enough to help lead a group of teenagers from our parish in assisting with the Labre Project through John Carroll University. St. Benedict Joseph Labre was born in 1748 and is the patron saint of the homeless. In short, the Labre Project is focused on bringing friendship to the homeless of Cleveland. The friendships are more important than the warm meals and clothes that are used to help make the initial connections. They go out every Friday night but sometimes they need help from outside the campus community. On holidays and other parts of the year, many students are home and unable to assist so there are opportunities for other groups to plug-in.

Watching the young people of my parish minister to these homeless men and women was very inspiring. At one point, I saw one of our teenagers take her gloves off and give them to woman who was living under a bridge and had no gloves on despite the freezing temperatures.

During another portion of the evening, we met a man named John who, along with his wife, had just gotten off the streets and were living on the third floor of a house on the west side of Cleveland. John only had one arm and he and his wife had very little outside of the comfort of living indoors for the first time in while. When it was made clear to us that John was in need of some shoes, a group of us walked to the John Carroll van which was parked on the street. Even though it was snowing out, John walked barefoot with us to the street. And while he was probably well into his 50's, John exhibited the joy of a child on Christmas morning in anticipation of getting new shoes.

When some of the JCU students found shoes that would fit him in the van, he immediately sat down in the tree-lawn to put them. However, due to him having only one arm, he struggled in trying to put them on. Upon seeing this, a girl named Kaitlyn that was from our parish knelt down in front of him without hesitation. As Kaitlyn took his shoes and slid them on John's feet, I stood there in complete awe. For I think it was at that exact moment, I felt like I was witnessing what Jesus had done 2,000 years ago in that upper room. While she was not washing his feet, the parallels between what I was seeing and we read about in St. John's gospel left me in a near state of shock where I could barely even move because it was such a beautiful and powerful experiene. Kaitlyn, like Jesus Christ, completely humbled herself to kneel on the side of a busy street to help put shoes on this man whom she had only known for a short period of time. And while I can't speak on behalf of John, I can only assume that gift of the shoes he received pales in comparison to gift of love that was given that night.

So as we start this season of preparation leading up to celebration of Christ's birth, I hope you don't get too caught up in "Black Friday" deals or any of the other noise that comes during this time of year. Once you look beyond the lights, the bells, the trees, the cookies, the parties, and gifts, you will see a very humble God. A God who humbled Himself enough to come into this world as a tiny infant in a manger. He would grow up to be a teacher, a healer, and a redeemer. And just like how His life started, Jesus showed perfect humility in the the final hours of his life.

Kaitlyn, ten other teenagers, three other adults, and myself will partnering with the students who organize the Labre Project once again this evening. I don't know the names of who we will meet this time but I do know that in serving them, we will be serving our Lord. (Matthew 25: 40). Now that is better than any other deal you can find on Black Friday!

The Labre Prayer
Saint Benedict Joseph Labre, you gave up honor, money and home for love of Jesus. Help us to set our hearts on Jesus and not on the things of this world. You lived in obscurity among the poor in the streets. Enable us to see Jesus in our poor brothers and sisters and not judge by appearances. Make us realize that in helping them we are helping Jesus. Show us how to befriend them and not pass them by. Saint Benedict Joseph Labre, you had a great love for prayer. Obtain for us the grace of persevering prayer, especially adoration of Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament. Saint Benedict Joseph Labre, poor in the eyes of men but rich in the eyes of God, pray for us. Amen.

Five Questions with Fr. Joe

Drum roll please....

Here is the first instalment of "Five Questions with Fr. Joe." Thank you to those who have submitted a question and thanks to Fr. Joe Mamich for his responses. The subject matter covered vocations, the Bible, the forgiveness of sins, Saints, and Christ's message to the world. Enjoy!

1) What is a good, non-threatening way to talk to a young man or woman about their call to holy orders? Did anyone ever approach you when you were younger? How?
This is easy! Just approach the person. When I was younger, people did in fact approach me and say things such as “hey, have you ever thought of being a priest” or “as a teen, you seem to have an active faith life; have you ever thought about being a priest?” It might seem weird at first to approach someone and say something like this, but it’s worth a shot. Most of the priests that I know, mention being asked a question similar to that…and for others, one person’s question began a lifetime of priestly ministry!

2) How do we answer skeptics questions regarding the discrepancies in the Bible? (i.e. If the Bible is without error, why do the gospels at certain points conflict?)
As Catholics, we say that the Bible is true in matters of faith and morals. By the power of the Holy Spirit, the writers were kept free from error in these matters. As Catholics, we do not believe that the Bible is meant to be taken literally, as if it was a social studies book, but seen as a book of truths for faith and morals. As you mentioned, there are incidents within the four Gospels that offer differing accounts of the same event. One of the main reasons for this is because each one of the Evangelists were writing from his own perspective. In much the same way, if four people were to witness an accident; all four would have a different perspective on the same event.

3) In this day of age, it is very difficult to have a serious relationship without being intimate. The fact is morals in society have changed drastically. So can we be forgiven for having premarital sex?
I think we need to define what we mean by “being intimate”. Very commonly, this is used to refer to sexual relations, but “being intimate” really means much more. It’s about sharing one’s life, love, hopes, and dreams with another person. It’s not just about physical intimacy. While it seems to be true that society’s norms have changed, yet what Jesus asks and expects of us as Catholic-Christians has not. We are called to respect the dignity of ourselves and others by seeing physical intimacy as the outflow of the emotional intimacy that married couples are called to possess. In terms of being able to be forgiven for premarital sex; of course, we can. There is only one sin that cannot be forgiven…that is a sin against the Holy Spirit. Premarital sex is not that.

4) In the Apostles Creed we profess our belief in the "The Communion of Saints." What is, or who are, The Communion of Saints and why they such a big deal in the Catholic faith?
As you said the Communion of Saints is a big deal in the Catholic faith. This term refers to the “holy men and women of all places and times” (Opening Prayer from All Saints Day). These are the believers who have been faithful to Christ – both on earth and in heaven – that help to urge us on our own journey through life. As Catholics, we believe that Baptism brings a person into the body of Christ. As such, we join with this group of believers, or as we find in Hebrews, “this great cloud of witnesses”, that try each and every day to live out Christ’s commands to love God and our neighbor as he taught. Therefore, the Communion of Saints is somewhat like a team – in which all of us are teammates – striving towards one goal – unity with God forever in heaven.

5) Lots of people watch the Super Bowl. Not everyone reads the Bible. If Jesus had a commercial during the Super Bowl I bet he would tell us all something really important but he would have to be concise. If Jesus had a 30 second commercial during the Super Bowl, what would he say?

This is a really good question and a very applicable one to our lives. While it’s hard to imagine what Jesus would want to say, I believe it would be something very simple. He would probably invite those watching to “come and see” how he lives, what he does, and how he makes a difference in people’s life. Then, he’d probably encourage us to remember two things – love God above all things and your neighbor as yourself. And finally, end the commercial by saying, what you have seen…go…and do likewise…for this will secure your place in heaven! Something along those lines – simple yet when lived truly – so profound!

If you have questions for Fr. Joe, please send them to me at blog.of.daniel@gmail.com

Would you please pass the gratitude?

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4: 4-7)

"It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praise to your name, Most High. To proclaim your love in the morning, your faithfulness in the night, With a ten-stringed harp, with melody upon the lyre. For you make me jubilant, Lord, by your deeds; at the works of your hands I shout for joy." (Psalm 92: 2-4)

We are coming up on that one day of the year where we get together with friends and family to load ourselves full of turkey while we watch the Detroit Lions typically lose on national television. Thanksgiving!

But Turkey Day, as some call it, is more than just, well, turkey. It is also more than plotting out your Black Friday plan of attack. It is more than watching the Macy's parade and pulling the wishbone. It is, of course, about giving thanks.

It is the one day where schools and business are closed and the Government is shut down just so we can reflect on the many blessing in our lives and be thankful. This notion of gratitude, however, didn't start with Pilgrims and Indians.

The scriptural passages above are just a few of the many examples in the Bible where we are reminded of the need to give thanks to God. Furthermore, every time we celebrate mass the priest says, "Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God" and then the congregation responds, "It is right to give Him thanks and praise."

However, the sad reality is I think we all have some major room for improvement in this area. We often dwell on what is going wrong in our lives and first take that to prayer. We tend to take all sorts of things, big and small, for granted. We fail to realize that even through the hardships we endure that God is working miracles and bestowing grace upon grace on us.

I once received an email that talked about someone who had died and entered into heaven. This soul was getting the grand tour by one of God's angels. The angel took him to huge room packed full of other angels who answered phones and frantically wrote down notes. It was explained to the man that this is where prayer request come in to. Typically the nature of these prayers ranged from request for improved health, success with a job interview, help with broken relationships, and other desperate pleas for divine intervention. The man was then shown a much smaller room where just two angels sat in silence waiting for the phones to ring. The man asked what this room was all about and the angel explained that this is where the prayers of thanksgiving come to.

When I first became involved with youth ministry, we would have the teenagers write down on a weekly basis things they were thankful for. Sometimes they would write down just one thing while other times they would list two dozen different things. What they were thankful for ranged from the big things (family & friends, their faith, God's forgiveness, their senses, the Sacraments, free will), to the practical things (clean drinking water, a warm home, clothes to wear) to seemingly small things (strawberry ice cream, a new video game, an extension on an English paper). There were no right or wrong answers. The point of the exercise was to just get the teenagers to recognize all the wonderful blessing that have been given to them.

In this week leading up to Thanksgiving Day, I challenge you to do the same. You can make a long list of things or just keep a post-it by your computer and add one thing every day. See how many you can come up. Perhaps you will give start to forget about the things you don't have and will find yourself being grateful for things you never appreciated before. We become happier people when we are mindful of all we have been given. Again, there are no write or wrong answers, just be truly appreciative of it. Furthermore, feel free to post a comment to this blog post with just one thing you are thankful for. Lets see how many things we can come up with.

In closing, I just want to THANK you for reading this and for just being you. I pray that you have a great Thanksgiving Day and many amazing days of giving thanks year round.

A "Divine" Nudge

Some times God whispers to us. I have heard some people talk about experiencing gentle tugs on their heart strings that lead them to new chapter in their life and relationship with Christ. I can relate to that. God truly can be subtle.

Other times, he is not so subtle.

Two weeks ago, I had one of those experiences where I felt like screaming, "Okay God, I get it! I will do it."

It was two weeks ago that I was opening some mail, paying some bills, and just cleaning the top of our desk off when I found something. It was something I had seen before. It was a thin, cardboard CD case. The kind that free CD's or demo a CD for a garage band usually come in. But there was something much more timeless recorded on the CD within this case. This was a CD of The Rosary and The Chaplet of Divine Mercy.

For those of you not familiar with The Rosary or The Chaplet of Divine Mercy, they are what I guess one would consider to be more structured, or organized, prayers that are part of our Catholic faith. And if you knew anything about my prayer life up until two weeks ago, you would have known that it was anything but structured or organized. I am not sure if it was just because I was inexperienced with these beautiful prayers or perhaps intimidated by them, but the end result was I simply did not pray them on a regular basis. It wasn't my thing. I liked to "free-style" in my prayer time.

I thought to myself that maybe I should give it a shot. I had seen this CD around the house before and thought to myself that maybe it keeps popping up for a reason. I had heard wonderful stories about both The Rosary and The Chaplet of Divine Mercy. I should at least try to pray The Chaplet of Divine Mercy. After all, that is the shorter of the two. I can do that during my morning commute. No biggy. Just put the CD in the car and I will pray The Chaplet of Divine Mercy tomorrow morning.

The next day, October 5th, I drove to work and listened to a CD. The one I listened to, however, was a Best of The Counting Crows CD that I also recently found in my house. I figured I'd start that Chaplet of Divine Mercy some other day.

Then, at 9:04 a.m., my wife emailed me. She sent me a forward of a "Saint of the Day" email that automatically gets sent to her. She does this on occasion if it is saint that I have particular interest in or devotion to. The Saint of the day on that day was St. Faustina.

So who exactly is St. Faustina?

St. Faustina was born in Poland in 1905 and joined the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy 1925. Thirteen years later, on October 5th, 1938, Faustina died of tuberculosis. She was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2000. That day was the 72nd anniversary of her death.

But here is the kicker... St. Faustina was the holy servant of God who gave us the Chaplet of Divine Mercy! In the years before her death, she had visions in which God's mercy was revealed. An inner voice taught her to pray The Caplet of Divine Mercy on Rosary beads and Jesus Christ said to her, "Say unceasingly this chaplet that I have taught you. Anyone who says it will receive great Mercy at the hour of death."

Now some people might view the rediscovery of the CD with The Chaplet Divine on eve of the anniversary of St. Faustina's death as a coincidence. But as our Pastor, Fr. Walt, frequently reminds us, there no coincidences.

But, if you still think it was a coincidence, let me tell you about the email I received at 9:42 a.m. Just 38 minutes after that first email about St. Faustina I received one from my friend Amy. The subject line simply said, "Chaplet of Divine Mercy?" Amy had recently found out that a family member had passed away and she was emailing me and several other people to ask us to pray a Chaplet of Divine Mercy for her.

Within the hour, I was in my car and heading to a meeting about 25 minutes away. After finding that CD and receiving those emails all within a twelve hour span, I was pretty darn sure that God wanted me to pray the Chaplet. I put the CD in and prayed the Chaplet of Divine Mercy by myself for the first time in my life. On the way back from the meeting, I prayed it again. I have since began praying it during my drive in during the morning. The thing is, it only takes me about ten minutes to do so I have learned I have plenty enough time to pray The Rosary as well on my way into work.

I, like any novice, stumble with the words at times. I get distracted. My mind can wonder. But I keep praying. Every day I seem to get more drawn into these prayers. These are prayers that I feel the Holy Spirit grabbed me by the hand and led me to. For two weeks I have been walking into my office with different sense of peace, calmness, and trust in God for what the day might bring.

Maybe you don't know how to pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy but you can click on this link and learn how. Maybe you don't have a CD to guide you on praying The Rosary or The Chaplet of Divine Mercy but here is link where you can order one for free. Maybe you did not receive two emails related to this Chaplet but you did read about it in a blog. Maybe all our souls can benefit a great deal if we allow ourselves to get out of our comfort zones as it relates to our prayer life. I think God gave me a good shove two weeks ago... let me give you a nudge.

Questions for reflection:

1) How is your prayer life?

2) Are you willing to get out of your comfort zone?

3) Have you recognized God calling to you to do something new?
4) In what ways have you maybe been deaf to His voice?
5) Are you willing to pray The Rosary or Chaplet of Divine Mercy just once a week?

Pray: For the sake of His sorrowful Passion have mercy on us and on the whole world.

St. Faustina, pray for us.

Five Questions with Fr. Joe

Hello Readers of The Blog of Daniel,

I am excited to share with you that there will be a new component to The Blog of Daniel. Fr. Joe Mamich has agreed to aid in the success of this blog by participating in a monthly question and answer section.

Fr. Joe is the Parochial Vicar at St. Basil the Great. He grew up in Strongsville and graduated from Padua High School in 1997. Fr. Joe was ordained on May 13, 2006.

This new Q&A section is for you! This is your opportunity to asks a priest any question that you want. Whether you are seeking advise, looking for clarification on Church teaching, or anything else, here is your opportunity. I will compile the questions and ask him five questions each month and post his answers.

Furthermore, if you want to ask a question anonymously, we can arrange that. Just email your question to me either from an existing email account or, if you don't want me know who you are and what your question is, you can create a different email account in very little time. Just get me the questions at either DBender45@yahoo.com or blog.of.daniel@gmail.com and I will ask that question to Fr. Joe.

I think you will come to find that Fr. Joe is very approachable and has a lot of insight to share. Don't hesitate to ask any thing you want.

All For Her Son,
Dan

"Do you believe in miracles?!?!"

As the final seconds ticked away in the epic upset by the United States hockey team over Russia in 1980 Olympics, broadcaster Al Michaels asked, "Do you believe in miracles?" As the buzzer sounded and the crowd in Lake Placid, NY went crazy, Michaels answered his own seemingly rhetorical question by scream an impassioned, "YES!" into the microphone. The 4-3 upset of the number one seeded team in the tournament came just days after the Soviets beat the American squad 10-3. This was more than a game. The Cold War era upset gave Americans a shot of renewed national pride in the midst of challenging economic times. To many it was, and still is, perceived as a miracle.

This past weekend, I traveled to South Bend, Indiana to watch my beloved Notre Dame (which means "Our Lady" in French) Fighting Irish take on rival Michigan. The Wolverines of Michigan led 21-7 at half-time. Notre Dame, however, showed tremendous resolve in their second half comeback and scored 17 unanswered points to take a 24-21 lead late in the fourth quarter. Then Michigan answered with a drive that resulted in a touchdown. Notre Dame trailed 28-24 with 26 seconds remaining. I wondered to myself if Notre Dame might have one more miracle in store. Could the Irish some how eek out a victory? The game ended when quarterback Dayne Crist's last second pass soared over the hands of all his receivers standing in the end zone. The Michigan fans cheered and I felt that all to common agony of defeat. No miracle on this day.

Or so it seemed.

I quickly exited the stadium and began speed walking across campus. My destination, The Basilica of the Sacred Heart. It is a beautiful church that is a must see for any visitor of the campus. One half hour after every home football game, mass is celebrated in the Basilica but space is limited so you better move quick to get a seat. Fans dressed in green t-shirts and Fighting Irish jerseys fill the pews. Dads in sweatshirts hold their daughters who are wearing ND cheerleading outfits and have shamrocks painted on their faces. Heck, they even let more than a few Michigan fans in! It is a site to be seen for sure.

The mass was done wonderfully and the University choir provided angelic music just like every other time I have been there. The priest spoke on the gospel which was the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15: 11-32). Then during the presentation of the gifts, two University of Michigan fans brought forth ordinary bread and wine which soon after became our spiritual food and drink; the body and blood of Jesus Christ. Thinking about those Michigan fans who I never met and maybe never will, while receiving the Eucharist (one bread), made me really think that we truly are "one body." Also, every time we attend mass and receive the Eucharist, we are part of the miracle which Pope John Paul II called "the source and summit of our faith."

Jesus was all about miracles. His whole life was miraculous. Do you know anyone else born of virgin and in their dying just happen to destroy death? He turned water into wine, made the blind see, walked on water, calmed a storm, made the dead come back to life and did so much more.

After mass, I went to pray at the Grotto which is right behind the Basilica. If you ever saw the movie "Rudy," this is the place Rudy lit candles and prayed that he would be admitted into Notre Dame.

What many people don't know is that the Grotto is actually a replica of the Grotto in Lourdes, France. That brings me to my next point on miracles. Here is what you need to know about Lourdes:

On February 11, 1858, the first of a series of heavenly apparitions appeared to a poor, illiterate fourteen year-old girl, Bernadette Soubirous, in a Grotto cave on the outskirts of the small town of Lourdes. During the apparitions, Bernadette was asked by Mary to "pray for sinners" and instructed to dig in the ground for a spring of water, "to drink and wash of it," to go tell the priests "to build a chapel" and to "have the people come in procession." On March 25, at the request of the local pastor, the apparition identified herself to Bernadette saying, "I am the Immaculate Conception," the then recent Marian Dogma proclaimed by the Church in 1854. This was a Dogma that a girl like Bernadette would not have had knowledge of at that point in time. Physical miracles began to take place from the water and the apparitions drew crowds of thousands who prayed the rosary with Bernadette.

Lourdes has continued to be a place of pilgrimage for the faithful. Hundreds of thousands of people go there each year and the physical miracles continue to take place. These are miracles that doctors and scientist have tried to rationalize but can not give an explanation other than divine intervention has taken place.

This short video explains more about the Marian apparitions, the life of now Saint Bernadette, and the miracles of Lourdes.

The story of St. Bernadette and the miracles that have taken place at Lourdes might leave many of us longing for an explanation. However, I think it should leave us searching for an increase of faith. For as St. Thomas Aquinas said, "For those with faith, no explanation is necessary. For those without faith, no explanation is possible."

You should know that as I knelt in front of Grotto, I prayed for you. I prayed to God that the readers of this blog should have their faith grow and grow. I prayed that you may recognize the miracles happening every day in your life. And lastly, I thanked God for the miracle that you are.

And to answer Al Michaels, yes, I believe too.

Sola SCRAPtura

Imagine you are eleven years old. Your new best friend moved into your neighborhood just a couple of months ago. Much like Forest and Jenny, you guys are like peas and carrots.

One day, while your friend is over at your house playing, you come across a scrapbook that you have not seen in a long time. This scrapbook contains many pictures and other keepsakes that chronicle your first two years of life. You overcome your early adolescent embarrassment and see this as a way to make up for lost time with your new friend by telling a bit more about your life.

You open the book and begin laughing immediately. It's not the site of your father holding you as a newborn that is so funny; it is his mustache (since shaved off) and snazzy (now out-dated) shirt that causes the laughter. The laughter only escalates as you turn the page and see your older brother and older sister wearing their "I'M THE BIG BROTHER" and "I M THE BIG SISTER" t-shirts. Your mother approaches with a smile to watch you and your friend flip through the remaining pages of the scrapbook which she had compiled several years ago when you were still in diapers.

Eventually you come to a picture of yourself on your first Christmas. You tell your friend, "that's me sitting on Santa's lap down at the mall." Your mom giggles and says, "No, that is actually you sitting on Uncle Steve's lap. One Christmas at grandma's house, he put on a Santa outfit and we took pictures of him holding all the kids."

You had seen that picture many times before but had no idea that was Uncle Steve! All of a sudden you realize that you were mistaken but now have a deeper appreciation of that picture knowing where it was taken and who was all there at that time.

Towards the end of the scrapbook you see yourself in a picture with your brother at a water park. You begin telling your friend that your family goes to that same water park every summer. At this point, your mother interjects and tells you something you had never known before. She says, "Your Dad took that picture of you guys. I had just left with your sister to go the ER. She feel down and hurt her wrist. While you guys kept playing in the water, she was getting x-rays done and ended up getting a cast put on her arm that day."

Once again, you are taken back a little. You never knew your sister even broken her wrist even though you had seen the picture several times throughout the years. Had your mom not been standing by, you would have never know who took the picture or where the rest of the family was.

Your mom put together that scrapbook. She was able to help you understand the significance of the pictures and tell you about things that are not photographed and put in the book. Your mom gave you deeper insights while clarifying the areas where you were mistaken for what you thought you had seen.

In very much the same way, our Holy Catholic Church helps us understand the Bible and offers knowledge of matters not covered explicitly between Genesis and Revelation.

Our Protestant brothers and sisters unfortunately subscribe to the teaching of "Sola Scriptura" which means "Scripture Alone." It was one of the main issues that divided Christians during the Protestant Reformation of the 16th Century. They will not believe in things like purgatory or Mary's Immaculate Conception based on the fact that those things are not explicitly described in the Bible.

But if we call to mind the illustration of the scrapbook, not everything that happened is documented in there and any single individual might misinterpret what they believe to be true by just looking at the scrapbook itself. Catholic teaching does not diminish the fact scripture is sacred and is indeed the word of God Almighty. "Sacred Scripture is the speech of God as it put down in writing under the breath of the Holy Spirit." (CCC81). We as Catholics simply recognize that there is sacred scripture and there is also sacred tradition. The Catechism goes on to state, "the Church, to whom the transmission and interpretation of Revelation is entrusted, 'does not derive her certainty about all revealed truths from holy Scriptures alone. Both Scripture and Tradition must be accepted and honored with equal sentiments of devotion and reverence." (CCC82)

According to professor and writer Peter Kreeft, here are six reasons to reject "Sola Scriptura":

1) No Christian taught it until 16th Century

2) The first generations of Christian did not even have the New Testament

3) Without one Catholic ("Catholic" means "Universal") Church to interpret Scripture authoritatively, Protestantism has divided into over 28,000 "churches" or denominations.

4) If Scripture is infallible, as traditional Protestants believe, then the Church too must be infallible too, for a fallible cause cannot produce and infallible effect, and the Church produced the Bible. The Church (the first bishops, the Apostles wrote the New Testament, and the Church (later bishops) defined its cannon.

5) Scripture itself calls the Church "the pillar and the foundation of the truth" (1 Timothy 3:15)

6) Scripture never teaches "sola scriptura" and therefore, "sola scriptura" is self-contradictory.

If you were showing your scrapbook to your friend, you ought to be thankful towards your mother for compiling it and explaining it further. If you have ever cracked open a Bible in an attemptto grow closer to God, you ought to thank the Holy Catholic Church, another "Mother" of sorts.

Click here to obtain more insight on the Catholic response to "sola scriptura."

Something about Mary

On my bucket list of things to do in this life is to take a trip to Mexico. Well, I actually already have vacationed in Mexico but some day I would love to travel to Tepeyac, Mexico. That is where the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe is located.

Here is a quick history of Our Lady of Guadalupe. In December of 1531, our Blessed Mother appeared on a hill top near what is now Mexico City. She appeared to a simple indigenous peasant named Juan Diego. Speaking in the local language, Nahuatl, the Lady asked for a church to be built at that site in her honor. Juan Diego knew this was our Lord's mother. Diego told his story to the bishop who instructed him to return and ask the Lady for a miraculous sign to prove her claim. The Virgin told Juan Diego to gather some flowers from the hill. It was winter and no flowers bloomed, but on the hilltop Diego found flowers of every sort, and the Virgin herself arranged them in his tilma or cloak. When Juan Diego opened the cloak in front of the bishop, the flowers fell to the floor, and in their place was the Virgin of Guadalupe, miraculously imprinted on the fabric. The tilma is on display at the Basilica in Tepeyac, Mexico for the faithful to see. Above is a picture.

The tilma has maintained its structural integrity over nearly 500 years, while replicas normally last only about 15 years before suffering degradation. The icon repaired itself with no external help after a 1791 ammonia spill that did considerable damage, and in 1926 an anarchist bomb destroyed the altar, but left the tilma unharmed. To say there is something special about this image of Mary would indeed be an understatement.

Our priest mentioned at mass today that Our Lady of Guadalupe is the Patroness and Protectress of the unborn. That makes sense since I had heard a story a few years ago about pro-life activists who pray outside abortion clinics and bring images of Our Lady of Guadalupe with them. Often times, women would change their mind about aborting their child after seeing the image of the Virgin Mary.

When I first heard these amazing stories, part of me got hung up on the idea that this image of Mary was in such a location. I thought that the image of our Lady of Guadalupe was more appropriate for a refrigerator magnet in the home of some old Catholic widow than outside a place where innocent babies are killed.

However, after further reflection I concluded that the image of Our Lady outside an abortion clinic makes perfect sense. It makes sense for two reasons.

The first reason, to be blunt, is that Mary had an unexpected pregnancy herself. In the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke we read that Mary "was greatly troubled" when she he heard the angel Gabriel tell her that she will bear a son. Mary had much reason to be troubled. She, like many women who have abortions, was not married. She was betrothed to Joseph which is similar to being engaged in our world but Mary had not been intimate with a him or anyone else (Luke 1: 34). Telling Joseph and her family that she was pregnant would be an extremely difficult thing to do. They would probably not understand what was told to her by the angel. Shame would be brought on to her and her family. Beyond that, I am sure Mary knew that the consequences could be server and may even result in her being stoned to death.

Women considering abortion can look to Mary when they feel overwhelmed and helpless. When the anxiety of not knowing what their future holds or the fear of their personal reputation being damaged, they can look to a woman who can say, "I know, I have been there too." Mary's willingness to say "yes" and humble herself can be an example for not only those women considering an abortion but for all of us too. She could have said "no" but amidst the feeling of being troubled she said "I am the handmaid of the Lord" and surrendered to His will.

The second reason why Mary's image makes sense for being outside an abortion clinic is for the sake of the women who are walking out of the clinic following the termination of life within them. Those women might be thinking they made the best decision they could have. They are only fooling themselves. If they come to realize the reality of their decision, they will feel an array of emotions ranging from regret, extreme sadness, guilt, and despair. They might wonder what their child would be doing or how old they would now be had they chosen life. They will feel the indescribable grief a mother feels when her child dies. Mary felt that grief. She saw her son bloodied and lifeless. She probably thought things like "had he not died, my son would turn forty today."

Mothers who have lost children to disease, violence, accidents, and even abortion can turn to our heavenly mother. Mary's prayers can help obtain that needed comfort. Her example of perseverance during difficult times can inspire broken and despairing mothers to continue on and work for a better tomorrow. Those women walking out of an abortion clinic ought to realize that Jesus doesn't know a sin too big that it can't be forgiven.

Mary, mother of God, pray for all women who have been effected by abortion or are considering an abortion. Pray for the innocent children who have been aborted. Pray for the conversion of all those who provide abortions. May our prayers create a culture of life in our cities, our country, and around the world. In your Son's name we pray... Amen.

A response to Ann Rice… and the rest of the world

Do you know who Ann Rice is? I didn’t until last week.

I was checking a major news website and saw the headline. Just four words that saddened and perplexed me: “Ann Rice leaves Christianity.” I had two insatiable questions running through my head: 1) Who is Ann Rice, and 2) Why would she do that?

I was overwhelmed with curiosity and within a second, I had pulled up the entire article. I then learned the answers to my questions.

First of, Ann Rice is an author. One site described her as "legendary." To be honest, I never read her work. Perhaps had she written for Sports Illustrated I would have known her work a little better. She is best known for writing Interview with a Vampire. She grew up in a Catholic household then became an atheist and then converted back to Christianity a decade ago. In 2008, Rice even wrote a book titled Called Out of Darkness: A Spiritual Confession.

Her reasoning for leaving Christianity was that she refuses to be “anti-gay,” “anti-feminist,” “anti-science” and “anti-Democrat.” She went on to say, “It’s simply impossible for me to belong to this quarrelsome, hostile, disputatious, and deservedly infamous group.” Rice added, “My conversion from pessimistic atheist lost in a world I didn’t understand, to an optimistic believer in a universe created and sustained by a loving God is crucial to me. But following Christ does not mean following His followers. Christ is infinitely more important than Christianity and always will be, no matter what Christianity is, has been or might become.”

Hmmmm. Okay, a lot of different ways I can go from here. I honestly believe there is an element of truth and candor in her statement. (Especially the part about a loving God creating and sustaining the universe) But beyond that, I feel there is an overwhelming shadow of confusion in her logic.

As a card-carrying member of this infamous group I can get enraged at the fact that I was called “hostile” but that would actually confirm her rational. Furthermore, it would make me liable to judgment myself (Matthew 5:22).

I could dismiss it. Take the “you can’t win them all” attitude and brush her reasoning to the side. The problem there is that I am expressing indifference towards her soul and salvation. That would be rather un-Christian of me. We are called to make disciples of “all the nations” and that “everyone who believes in Him might not perish.” None of the six billion people on Earth are unworthy of God’s love and should be dismissed when they express their beef with Church teaching. It is times like this when we need to turn off the TV, roll-up our sleeves, start talking, and start praying.

I will take a more holistic view at her statement shortly but I first want to offer an admittedly quick and incomprehensive response to her hang-ups with Christianity. And since I am Catholic and believe whole-heartedly that Catholicism was instituted by Christ himself and is the fullness of Christian belief, I will respond as a Catholic would to these statements.

1. “Anti-gay” A few years ago a friend asked me, “don’t Catholics hate gays?” The answer to that question is NO. If an individual Catholic does hate anyone who is gay, they are committing a sin. Catholics should not hate anyone. The only thing we hate is sin. Sinners, however, ought to be loved. The challenge is to separate the sin from the sinner. If we hated sinners, we’d pretty much hate everyone because we all fall short of the bar set for us by Jesus Christ. So, to clarify, Catholic teaching isn’t to hate anyone who has homosexual desires or who has acted on those desires in their life. However, we do need to recognize that homosexual acts (much like premarital or extramarital sexual acts) are sinful.

The Church teaches in the Catechism that homosexual acts are sinful. “They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life… under no circumstances can they be approved.” (CCC 2357). The Catechism also acknowledges that it is not an easy road for someone to live a chaste life with deep-seated homosexual tendencies. We are taught, “[Men and women who have homosexual tendencies] must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God’s will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord’s Cross the difficulties they may encounter.”

Maybe you aren’t Catholic and don’t put any credence in “Catholic Church teaching”. Ann Rice might call that a man-made law, not something from God. So, how else do we know homosexual acts are sinful? Scripture is one place to look to. 1 Timothy 1:10, 1 Corinthians 6:10, and almost all of Genesis chapter 19 tell us of the gravity homosexual acts. It truly is God’s law.

Notice that I have been saying “acts” and not “desires?” As a married guy, I still find other women attractive and that is natural. It is what it is. Problems would ensue, however, if those attractions turned to lust and then to adultery. Whether we are married or single, male or female, heterosexual or homosexual; we are all called to live lives of chastity which frequently means denying our impulses.


2. “Anti-feminist.” Often times Catholics are accused of worshiping a woman, Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ. Also, Catholicism is often accused of oppressing women. So which is it?

The truth is neither.

Catholics worship Jesus Christ who is God Incarnate. We venerate His mother and recognize that her willingness to do God’s will in her life was paramount to the plan of our salvation.

And Mary is just one of the women that we hold up as examples of holiness in our Church. Literally hundreds of women have been canonized by the Catholic Church. Many religious sisters actually ran hospitals and schools long before most women entered the work force. The Church continues to speak out against atrocities against women in places like China, the middle-east, and parts of Africa.

But one thing that the Church believes that Ann Rice may take issue with is that men and women are different. We believe that men and women are suitable partners for each other and equals but that there are obvious differences. From anatomy, to communication styles, to strengths and weaknesses, men and women are different. I think most married couples can relate to that.

The other thing that I would suspect Ann Rice might be referencing when saying Christianity is “anti-feminist” is the Pro-Life teachings taught by the Catholic Church and a good number of the protestant faiths. This is an issue I am so grateful to the Catholic church for standing firm on and I am sure will be explored in future posts. Not only do we recognize that all life must be defended but the Church also knows that women who have abortions very frequently feel emotional and physical pain for years to come. The Church cares for the souls of those women. The only times I think you will see what Rice believes to be “anti-feminist” is when there is a practice or belief that is in opposition to the family or to life. To sum it up, we are both pro-life and pro-woman.

3. “Anti-science.” I am going to quote right from the Catechism on this one. “Though faith is above reason, there can never be any real discrepancy between faith and reason. Since the same God who reveals mysteries and infuses faith has bestowed the light of reason on the human mind, God cannot deny himself, nor can truth ever contradict truth.” (CCC 159). In other words, God welcomes scientific exploration for in seeing the beauty and complexity of the world He created (from vast galaxies to microscopic strands of DNA), we come to a deeper understanding of how amazing our Creator truly is.

The Catechism goes on to say, “methodical research in all branches of knowledge, provided it is carried out in a truly scientific manner and does not override moral laws, can never conflict with the faith.” For example, most every form of stem cell research is alright. But embryonic stem cell research (which is dependent on the destruction of human life) is not acceptable because that overrides moral law. In other words, science should help us understand God’s creation, not become little gods ourselves.

4. “Anti-Democrat.” A few months ago I read a quote by an evangelical preacher who spoke about the intersection of religion and politics in America right now. He said, “the problem is that Republicans think God is on their side all the time and Democrats think God does not choose sides.” After recalling conversations I have had with friends over the years on both ends of the political spectrum and reflecting on that comment for a while, I found there to be a lot of truth to that statement. This pastor gave an example in stating that while God may not be a Republican, He certainly is pro-life.

The reality is that there are elected officials from both parties who try to govern by Christian principals. There are also those politicians who we need to pray for... a lot!

There are planks in the Democratic platform that oppose Church teaching: We have touched on the issue abortion thus far. Historically, even Catholic Democrats (eg. Ted Kennedy, Nancy Pelosi, Joe Biden) have championed the cause of the pro-abortion movement. Regardless of whether Ann Rice or anyone else will admit it or not, that is simply wrong. Another issue that is making a lot of headlines recently is same-sex marriage. This is another issue that Democrats differ with Church teaching more frequently than their Republican counterparts. We can get into more topics in time but I did want to give a couple quick examples of where the Catholic Church, the Church founded by Jesus Christ (Son of God… the same God who is the author of life and created man and woman for each other) are in opposition with the Democratic Party. Before I move on, let me mention again what that pastor said, God isn't always on the side of the Republicans (e.g. death penalty).

So now that I have responded to some of the specific reasons why Ann Rice left Christianity, I want to address what I believe are some of the bigger picture issues that are in play.

First off, I want to examine her claim that, “following Christ does not mean following His followers. Christ is infinitely more important than Christianity and always will be, no matter what Christianity is, has been or might become.” I have to disagree.

No individual person can rival Jesus Christ because He was both human and divine. I think Ann Rice and I can agree on that. Having said that, the Church was actually instituted by Jesus Christ himself. In Matthew (Mt 16: 18-20). Jesus said to St. Peter, “You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.” And so in time, St. Peter became the first in a long line of popes and the other apostles became our first bishops.

We know that without Jesus, there would be no church. There would be no followers.

On the flipside, God chose to work through ordinary fishermen and tax collectors to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. Without them, perhaps only a few thousand people would have ever heard of Jesus Christ. God used sinners like you and me to witness to his message of love and life eternal. Those early disciples and their followers were so filled with the Holy Spirit that they risked their own lives to practice the faith and proclaim the gospel. They passed down teachings to the next generation and that generation to the next. A persecutor of early Christians, Saul who became St. Paul, became the greatest evangelizer the Church has ever seen. Guided by the Spirit, Christ's "followers” proclaimed the message of hope to all corners of the world. Like it or not, the Church is “the pillar and foundation of truth” (1 Timothy 3:15) and we ought to thank God for those who stared death in the face with the joy knowing that they would be rewarded in heaven (Mt 5:10). Furthermore, we must recognize that we have an obligation to preserve and pass the faith on to future generations.

When I first read Ann Rice’s remarks, I thought about the definition of a Christian. In the broadest form it is one who practices Christianity or someone who is a follower of Jesus Christ. A slightly different variation I heard recently is that a Christian is “a little Christ.” That makes sense since we don the W.W.J.D bracelets and try to follow the example of our teacher and savior.

Well, if we are truly to be “little Christs,” we must be prepared to face the rejection and persecution that our Lord faced. Peter Kreeft, a writer and professor at Boston College wrote in You Can Understand the Bible that Jesus was, “hated and rejected. He never fit people’s prejudices, categories, ideologies, or set agendas.” I believe that Ann Rice wasn’t prepared to be hated and rejected by the people she knows who perhaps have certain prejudices, categories, ideologies, or set agendas themselves.

Today, I implore you to pray for Ann Rice and everyone else who has distanced themselves from the Church. Pray that she and others may come to know that walking the Christian walk is not always an easy walk but, nonetheless, a walk that is so worth walking. Pray that they come to appreciate the wonderful and beautiful teachings of the Catholic Church. Pray that Pope Benedict XVI, all the priests, bishops, and deacons in the pillar of truth remain faithful to ministering in love and in truth. Pray that all who hold and teach the Catholic faith be filled with the Holy Spirit so that all of God’s creation may come to know how much they are loved by God. Thank God for those who have returned to the faith and invoke the prayer of St. Monica whose prayers helped her own son, St. Augustine, return to the Church after a number of years of being away.

We are all loved so much that Christ bore our sins and died on the cross so that we may live. We are also loved so much that Jesus Christ built His Church so that we all would know how know Him, love Him, and serve Him. He built His Church on a followers just like you and me so that sinners just like you and me can be reconciled to God. Followers and sinners like Ann Rice.

No Worries

The news has been hard to watch for quite a while now. And I am not just talking about Jim Donovan’s sports report here in Cleveland.

The headlines have been dominated by the grim economic news we have been hearing for a few years now. Countless stories of foreclosures, job loss, and lost savings have been ubiquitous in both the local and national news. If glancing over your bank statement does not indicated that we have a ways to go before we are out of the recession, just turn on the TV.

People are spread thinner than they have been in recent memory. Financial stress is only magnified when trying to balance the demands of work and home life. I know I certainly can use more time and money and there are people much worse of than myself.

It’s times like these where our stress can lead to despair. It’s times like these where we must look to the words of Christ and the Saints to receive comfort. It’s times like these where we should listen to the words of Bobby McFerrin, Timon, and Pumbaa.

I will explain.

Bobby McFerrin’s biggest hit was on the soundtrack for the movie “Cocktail.” I remember listening to a cassette tape of that soundtrack in my parents’ house years ago and trying to sing along to McFerrin’s fun-loving song of optimism, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” One part of that song I really like is:


“In your life expect some trouble / But when you worry / You make it double / Don't worry, be happy!”

Timon and Pumbaa, the meerkat and warthog that the lion cub Simba meets in “The Lion King” would concur with Bobby McFerrin. They had a “trouble free philosophy” called “Hakuna matata” which is a Swahili saying meaning “There are no worries.”

If the wisdom of Disney characters and a one-hit wonder haven’t given you solace about all that is going on in the world, then look to one of the more contemporary Saints of the Church. St. Pio of Pietrelcina, or as he is more commonly known, Saint Padre Pio, was an extraordinary man who lived from 1887 until 1968. That was not that long ago in the grand scheme of things. (Google his name some time to read about spiritual gifts he received such as stigmata, levitation, and bilocation).



Padre Pio took the notion of not worrying and added additional encouragement to pray and hope. His appeal to “Pray, hope, and don’t worry” is often quoted and is a message that I think can be applied to any situation where our first inclination is to worry.

Padre Pio’s sentiment is true to the gospel. Check out Matthew 6: 16-19:


Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? So do not worry and say, 'What are we to eat?' or 'What are we to drink?' or 'What are we to wear?' All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.

I am not trying to diminish the reality of the issues facing so many people. I know that things can seem overwhelming. The reality is that sacrifices will be made and family budgets will be altered. Even if the economy improves there will always be struggles in your life and lives of others.

The thing though that we ought to remember is that we should never despair. Like the gospel said, seek first the kingdom and God and He will provide for you. God knows your needs and like any loving father, He desires to provide for you. Trust in his providence.

So when things seem overwhelming, you should pray, hope, and don’t worry… and be happy.

Hakuna matata and God Bless.

Married with Children

The Church was packed today. Standing room only at noon mass. Not a common sight for July. Maybe a common sight for Christmas or Easter but not the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time.

The pews were packed because of the man we call Fr. Walt. He is the pastor of my parish and has been there since I was in Junior High. Fr. Walt married me and my wife. He married several of my friends. He baptized my nieces and nephew. Fr. Walt said the funeral masses when two of my friends died during my junior year in college. I was privileged enough to travel with him to Honduras on one of his many missionary trips to the Central-American nation. Fr. Walt is a dear friend of mine and a man whose dedication to serving God by serving others is an inspiration to me and many others.

So many people came to that specific mass because we were celebrating the 40th anniversary of Fr. Walt’s priestly ordination. Throughout his ministry, Fr. Walt touched the lives of probably all those people. He laughs with us. He mourns with us. He prays for us.

Many people outside of the Church don’t understand the priesthood. They can’t comprehend why someone would deny themselves an opportunity to marry and have children of their own. And in an over-sexed society, the vow of celibacy can be viewed as strange, unnatural, bizarre, or unhealthy.

And sadly, the sex abuse scandal within the Church has led the general public to view these holy men as guilty until proven innocent in many ways. I will never attempted to justify the hurtful actions and abuses of power that occurred in those situations but I must make it clear that it was a smaller percentage of priest involved than what you would led to believe by the media. Hundreds of holy and committed priest wrongfully came under skepticism as a result of the actions of others.

Indeed, the priesthood is a vocation that presents different challenges and crosses to carry that I can not fully understand. But it is also a vocation that God calls some to and grants them the necessary graces to handle all that is presented to them.

Earlier this week, I heard a talk on the radio by Fr. John Corapi. He is an amazing speaker whose journey to the priesthood is a story in itself. I would encourage you to research his website, www.fathercorapi.com, when you have time. His talk tried to shed some light on the life of a priest and debunk some of the prevailing thoughts in society about married priest, women priest, and so on.

Fr. Corapi told a story about when he was preparing to become a priest and met a beautiful woman who piqued his interest and she was attracted to him as well. He said while the encounter was brief, he momentarily experienced a sadness knowing that he would never marry a woman and have a family of his own.

He continued on to say that his sadness was short-lived and he was almost immediately reminded that in his vocation to the priesthood, he would be taking the Church as his bride and that he would have many, many spiritual children to provide for. That is why priests who have the qualities required to be good husbands and fathers are good priests.

In both the Old and New Testament, God’s love for his people is explained through the comparison of a husband and wife in marriage. In the last book of the Bible, The Book of Revelation, we read about the “wedding of the Lamb” which is the marriage of Jesus and the Church. In the same way that Jesus Christ did, priest for two millennia have been taking the Catholic Church as their bride.

Priest view all of us, regardless of age, race, educational background, net worth, etc., as children of God and therefore sheep in need of a shepherd. In same way that Christ ministered to the sick, the lame, the poor, and the sinners 2,000 years ago, our priest selflessly tend to our physical and spiritual needs. They are there for all the major events in our lives. They are also there for the everyday events and pray for our souls daily. They are there to celebrate daily mass as well as Holy Days. They are there when we bury a loved one and are there to baptize our children. We need the sacraments and we need priest to receive the sacraments. Priests serve as holy examples of how to live the Gospel by their sacrifice and commitment. Priests are teachers, missionaries, and martyrs.

I am so thankful for Fr. Walt and priest like him. Their commitment to their bride and their children is a blessing beyond our comprehension.

St. John Vianney is the patron saint for all priests. Ask him to pray that the priests you know and priests around the world will remain faithful in their vocation and that they will continue to reveal Christ’s love to others by their actions. Pray for men of all ages who are discerning God’s call to the priesthood. And lastly, know that as you are praying for them, they are praying for you.

Do you believe in love?

It was lunch time on a Monday. I sat sipping my Coke and watching Sports Center on the TV at Panini's. The TV was muted and music played throughout the restaurant. I casted a blank stare towards the scores at the bottom of the screen.

Anyone who saw me waiting on my sandwich would have thought I was actually interested in whether the Astros won or not. I did not care to be honest. My mind was elsewhere.

I was replaying the events of the weekend in my head. I had just finished a weekend-long retreat for young adults. I was in a great place. I was on what many call a "Spiritual High." The time between Friday night and Sunday afternoon was transformative to say the least. The time devoted to prayer was put on the back-burner for too long. It was good to spend some need time in conversation with God. I met some amazing people. I heard some great talks from priests and young adults that dealt with Mary's role in our salvation and how we can call on our heavenly mother in prayer. I gained a new appreciation and understanding of the rosary. Time was spent celebrating the sacrament of reconciliation, in adoration of the Eucharist, and discerning scripture.

The Sunday of the retreat was Pentecost Sunday. Leaving the retreat I was pretty certain I was feeling the way the Apostles felt after receiving the Holy Spirit. I wanted go out into the world and scream about the goodness of God. But there I was, waiting on lunch and watching ESPN.

I wondered to myself what I would say if someone was to ask me, "what is your faith all about? In ten words or less, what do you believe? Why?" I ponder that question while I waited on my lunch. It's a question that we really ought to think about. In 1 Peter 3: 15 we read, "Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope." What was my explanation?

Then, I noticed a familiar voice filling Panini's. It wasn't God. That would have been cool. No, it was Huey Lewis (of course accompanied by his band "The News"). Huey Lewis and The News had a hit in the early 80's called "Do You Believe In Love." And as I heard the chorus of that song a few times, it sort of hit me, that is the ultimate question! Do you believe in love?!?

I thought of all the things that Catholics do and believe that the secular world just "doesn't get." Not eating meat on Fridays during lent. Praying the Rosary outside abortion clinics. Doing Catholic-aerobics (sit, stand, kneel, repeat) every Sunday morning. What is that all about? It's all about love.

Now it will take some time to connect the dots on this and I probably won't fully accomplish that in this post but hopefully in time you will see how all those things are rooted in love.

Now I am not talking about romantic-comedy love. Not talking about how people in Green Bay love the Packers. Not talking about that feeling you had on your first date.

I am talking about real, pure, unconditional love. A love that Huey Lewis can not fully comprehend. A love that was willing to sacrifice His own life so that we might live.

God is love! Don't take my word for it. Check out 1 John 4:8, "Whoever is without love does not know God, FOR GOD IS LOVE."

I think Jesus reaffirms my believe that it all about love. In St. Matthew's Gospel we are told of how the Sadduccees gathered and tested Christ by asking him which commandment in the law is the greatest. Christ one-upped those guys and told him the two greatest commandments. "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
So we are called by Love (if God is love and Jesus is the Word made flesh then Christ is love) to love. Love God and love all of God's creation.

And just to be clear, you don't command someone to feel, you are commanded to an action. We called to the action of loving God and loving neighbor. It's easier said than done. True love, as Christ showed us on the cross, requires sacrifice.

So all those things that I did on retreat were rooted in love. All those Catholic beliefs and rituals, they all lead to love.

So to answer Huey's question, I do believe in love. Do you?

About this Blog

My name is Dan, and this is my blog. A lot of people call me Danny (especially if they met me before I had braces). But my birth certificate, drivers licence, marriage certificate, and basically every other important document states that my name is Daniel.

There is a Daniel in the bible you know. Right between The Book of Ezekiel and the The Book of Hosea, you will find The Book of Daniel. And since this blog will focus on my faith journey as a "Cradle Catholic," I have taken a tongue-in-cheek approach to naming it.

Before I give my reason for starting this blog, let me first start with why I am qualified to blog on matters of the Catholic faith. Well, let me first start by saying why I am not qualified. I am not a priest or deacon. I don't have a masters degree in theology or a doctorate in philosophy. Heck, I went to public school K-12. I have not read the Bible in its entirety and come to a deep, deep understand of everything that scripture has to offer. I have not conquered sin and vice in my own life. In fact, in many ways, I struggle living a life a virtue. There is much room for improvement in my own prayer life. I cannot give a comprehensive explanation of all the Church teaches. I have sinned much in my life and I know that the temptation to sin will always present itself to me.

So why am I qualified to speak on such matters? The best answers I can give is that I have been baptized and by sharing the message of Christ's love with others, I am living my baptismal call. For two thousand years, the Spirit has led sinners like myself to witness to the truth of Jesus Christ. Many martyrs, saints, popes, priest, bishops, nuns, deacons, fathers, mothers, and teachers among others have passed down the faith. The "Apostolic" nature of the Catholic faith is a beautiful thing that we have all benefited from and are called to participate in.

That is where the why comes in. Why blog about this? Well, truth be told, I am new to this blogging thing. I mean, I have read a few but never blogged myself. I don't even have a Facebook account. I never Tweeted or received a Tweet. I feel like I am jumping from t-ball to the big leagues in this whole social media thing. But to answer the question, I truly feel that this is something that God has called me to do. As mentioned, I know that we are all called in some way to spread the good news of the gospel and in this day and age, why not use all the technology available to do that.

I often find myself reading something impactful that I feel compelled share with everyone I know but can never find a way to interject it into conversation. I sometimes hear a homily at mass that speaks to my own fears and gives me peace. A peace I know that others are looking for. And some times I will read a bible passage that comes alive in my heart and I want the world to know that God has great plans for each of our lives.

This blog will give me a way of sharing all that goodness, all that love, all that hope.

I intend to be honest in my posts. I hope this blog is inspirational and thought-provoking. I hope that people of different faith perspectives read this blog. Above all, I pray that this blog is a way for me and anyone who reads it, to grow closer to the Lord and come to a deeper appreciation and understanding of the Catholic faith.

A few notes to mention:

First, I don't have all the answers. If something on this blog leaves you with questions, seek out a priest and talk to him about it. Even if you aren't Catholic or have stopped practicing the faith. Go talk to a priest. They won't yell at you. They won't judge you. They will offer their wisdom in a compassionate and loving manner. Let me know if I am wrong on that, I'll buy you lunch to make up for it. Priest become priest so they can minister to God's children. They would rather discuss God's mercy or His call to service over attending a Finance Council meeting any day. Make a priests day and go talk to him about where you are and what you are struggling with.

Second, unlike the Pope, I am fallible. I might write something that some fact-checker type could dispute in an effort discredit the message. Having said that, I will try always to clear and accurate with anything I write. I will try to reference any sources I use. But at the end of the day, The Book of Daniel is inspired word while The Blog of Daniel will be one guy's take on things. The local diocese does not oversee this blog. I doubt anyone in Rome is keeping tabs on me. The point being, don't complain to them if you don't like something I write.

Third, this is my first stab at blogging. Anticipate technical errors. Be ready for the post to vary in style and length. Don't set your watch by when I post; it might be daily, weekly, monthly. Time will tell how this goes so.

Lastly, know that if you are reading my blog, I will be praying for you. I will pray that you can come to know God and his plans for your life. I will be praying that you make more time for prayer yourself. I will be praying that you too answer His call to make disciples of all the nations. I will pray that you experience eternal life with God the Father. Please pray for me too.

Ad majorem Dei gloriam,
Dan