Thoughts on prayer

 

Why Pray?

Why should I spend an hour in prayer when I do nothing during that time but think about people I am angry with, people who are angry with me, books I should read, and books I should write, and thousands of other silly things that happen to grab my mind for a moment? The answer is: because God is greater than my mind and my heart and what is really happening in the house of prayer is not measurable in terms of human success and failure. What I must do first of all is to be faithful. If I believe that the first commandment is to love God with my whole heart, mind, and soul, then I should at least be able to spend one hour a day with nobody else but God. The question as to whether it is helpful, useful, practical, or fruitful is completely irrelevant, since the only reason to love is love itself. Everything else is secondary. The remarkable thing, however, is that sitting in the presence of God for one hour each morning—day after day, week after week, month after month—in total confusion and with myriad distractions radically changes my life. God, who loves me so much that he sent his only son not to condemn me but to save me, does not leave me waiting in the dark too long. I might think that each hour is useless, but after thirty or sixty or ninety such useless hours, I gradually realize that I was not as alone as I thought; a very small, gentle voice has been speaking to me far beyond my noisy place. So, be confident and trust in the Lord. Henri Nouwen

Thoughts on the Eucharist

 

The Catholic Belief in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist

 

In Catholic theology, the Eucharist is not merely a symbol but a profound mystery of faith where bread and wine become the actual body and blood of Jesus Christ. This belief, known as the doctrine of the Real Presence, is central to Catholic worship and has been upheld since the early Church.

The roots of this doctrine are found in the Scriptures. During the Last Supper, Jesus took bread and wine, gave thanks, and said, "This is my body... This is my blood" (Matthew 26:26-28). Catholics believe that through the words of consecration spoken by the priest during Mass, Jesus' presence becomes real and substantial, though the appearances of bread and wine remain.

The Real Presence is celebrated and encountered most intimately in the Eucharist, particularly during the Mass. Catholics believe that receiving the Eucharist nourishes the soul, strengthens the bond with Christ, and unites the faithful more deeply with the Church, the mystical body of Christ. This sacrament is viewed as a source of spiritual sustenance, providing grace and aiding in the transformation of the believer's life.

The Church teaches that the Eucharist is the "source and summit" of Christian life, a phrase from the Second Vatican Council. It means that all the Church's activities and ministries are grounded in and directed towards the Eucharist. It is a celebration of Christ's sacrificial love and His ongoing presence in the world.

Ultimately, the Catholic belief in the Real Presence underscores the profound mystery and beauty of God's willingness to be present among His people, offering His life to sustain and transform theirs. This doctrine invites the faithful into a deeper relationship with Jesus and calls for a life of holiness and service inspired by the sacrificial love of Christ.

Give us this day, our daily bread…

Thoughts on spiritual development

 

Luke 18: 35-43

Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus heals a blind man. The Lord asks, “What do you want me to do for you?” The man replies, “Lord, please let me see.” Jesus tells him, “Have sight; your faith has saved you.” Taking this story as their inspiration, many of the Fathers of the Church said that it is through Christ’s power and presence that we are able to see the world aright. The problem is that we pretend we are not sinners; we become blind to our blindness. Often the most important step in one’s spiritual development is an awakening to just how lost one is.   Dante’s Divine Comedy opens with the line, “Midway on the journey of our life I awoke to find myself alone and lost in a dark wood, having wandered from the straight path.” Dante’s adventure of the spirit, which will take him from hell to purgatory to heaven, can begin only when he wakes from a slumber of complacency and self-righteousness, only when he comes to the painful realization that he stands in need of grace.   The breakthrough of God’s grace is sometimes a harsh and dreadful thing, especially when it cracks open the defensive shell of our self-righteousness. Bishop Robert Barron

Thoughts on biblical love

 

Acting in God’s Name

The first questions are not “How much do we do?” or “How many people do we help out?” but “Are we interiorly at peace?” . . . Jesus’ actions flowed from his interior communion with God. His presence was healing, and it changed the world. In a sense he didn’t do anything! “Everyone who touched him was healed” (Mark 6:56). . . .  When we love God with all our heart, mind, strength, and soul, we cannot do other than love our neighbor, and our very selves. It is in being fully rooted in the heart of God that we are creatively connected with our neighbor as well as with our deepest self. In the heart of God we can see that the other human beings who live on this earth with us are also God’s sons and daughters, and belong to the same family we do. There, too, I can recognize and claim my own belovedness, and celebrate with my neighbors. Our society thinks economically: “How much love do I give to God, how much to my neighbor, and how much to myself?” But God says, “Give all your love to me, and I will give to you, your neighbor, and yourself.” We are not talking here about moral obligations or ethical imperatives. We are talking about the mystical life. It is the intimate communion with God that reveals to us how to live in the world and act in God’s Name. Henri Nouwen

Thoughts on reconciliation

 

The Tradition of the Catholic Church on Reconciliation

 

Reconciliation, also known as confession, is a sacrament deeply rooted in the Catholic Church's tradition, offering believers a path to spiritual healing and renewed relationship with God. This sacrament is based on the teachings of Jesus, who granted the apostles the authority to forgive sins, as reflected in the Gospel of John (John 20:23).

The process of reconciliation involves several steps: contrition, confession, absolution, and satisfaction. Contrition is the heartfelt sorrow for one's sins and the resolution to avoid sin in the future. This is followed by confession, where the penitent verbally discloses their sins to a priest. The priest, acting in the person of Christ, then grants absolution, declaring the sins forgiven. Finally, the penitent performs satisfaction, often a penance such as prayers or actions that help to repair the harm caused by the sin.

Reconciliation is not just about forgiveness; it’s a transformative journey. It provides an opportunity for Catholics to reflect on their lives, recognize their failings, and experience God's boundless mercy. The sacrament reinforces the importance of accountability and personal growth, encouraging believers to strive for a more Christ-like life.

The Catholic Church views reconciliation as essential for spiritual well-being. It fosters a sense of community, as the penitent's return to grace is a moment of joy for the entire Church. It also underscores the belief in God’s infinite mercy and the transformative power of His grace.

In a world where mistakes and shortcomings are inevitable, reconciliation offers a path to redemption and renewal, reaffirming the Church’s mission to bring God's love and forgiveness to all believers.

When was the last time that you went to confession? 

Thoughts on end times

  Jesus and the End of the World

 

In this Sunday's gospel, (Mark 13, 24-32) Jesus seems to tell us that our world as we know it will come to an end. However, in other places and in more positive terms he tells us our world is not just all going to be annihilated. Rather there will be a new heaven and a new earth. The great questions and/or mysteries about all of this we perhaps can summarize in the questions: when will this take place, how will this happen, and why? Jesus does not give us clear answers to such questions. For him the main issue is that we be ready, be prepared for it when he comes.

And how does one go about this? Again I do not believe his answer is overly clear except to say that we will be ready if we are living lives in the manner he has lived his. Succinctly he is the way, the truth and the life. We should recall that in many places in the gospels he provides parables and stories that simply emphasize be ready, be prepared.

Should these kinds of thoughts be unsettling or disconcerting. Everything is one day coming to an end. Our following Jesus example can be very challenging and difficult. For me the great consolation and encouragement in all of this is what he tells us at the very end of Matthew’s gospel (20, 28) And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the world. We will not undergo this ordeal alone; he will always be there laboring with us.

 

Jim Blumeyer, S.J.

Thoughts on the death penalty

 

The Catholic Church's Stance on the Death Penalty

The Catholic Church has a well-defined and evolving stance on the death penalty, rooted in the sanctity of human life and the principles of justice and mercy. Traditionally, the Church permitted the death penalty in cases where it was the only way to effectively defend human lives against an unjust aggressor. However, this position has undergone significant development in recent years.

Under the leadership of recent popes, including St. John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis, the Church has increasingly called for the abolition of the death penalty. This shift emphasizes the belief that modern society has the means to protect itself without taking a human life. In his 1995 encyclical Evangelium Vitae ("The Gospel of Life"), St. John Paul II asserted that the necessity of the death penalty is "very rare, if not practically non-existent."

Pope Francis has taken a definitive stance against capital punishment. In 2018, he revised the Catechism of the Catholic Church to state that the death penalty is "inadmissible" in all cases. He emphasized that it is an attack on the dignity of the person and that the Church is committed to working towards its global abolition. This teaching reflects a deeper understanding of the value of human life and the possibility of redemption and rehabilitation for every person.

The Church's position is grounded in a respect for the inherent dignity of every human being, regardless of their actions. It calls for a justice system that emphasizes rehabilitation over retribution and promotes a culture of life and mercy. This stance challenges Catholics and all people of goodwill to advocate for policies that respect life and to work towards a society where the dignity of every person is upheld.