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