Author Archives: Mike

September 2015 E-pistle

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Thoughts
Yesterday (9/14) was the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross. The cross is the supreme contradiction. The cross was to be shunned and avoided, yet Jesus embraced it and admonishes us to do likewise. It was symbol of cursedness and infamy and Jesus transformed it into symbol of love and salvation. The cross which was an implement of death has now conquered death and is the way to everlasting life.
Challenge
First, take time to reflect on Jesus’ Cross. God became man to suffer and die for us so that we might one day suffer no more and live forever with God. Imagine God’s love that he would empty himself of glory and suffer the most brutal death for us. Accept God’s love and salvation which he offers personally to you, his precious and beloved child.
Second, take up your cross and follow him. (1) Embrace “little crosses” each day – be pleasant to someone who is mean, forgive a transgression, don’t defend yourself when wrongfully accused, do the extra task without complaint, smile when you don’t feel like smiling, stay up a little later to pray even though you are tired. (2) Work toward embracing the big crosses – seek to accept, without complaint or resentment, suffering when it comes and unite your suffering to the suffering of Jesus on the Cross (yes, this is hard).
Go Deeper
+ Consider hanging a crucifix on the wall in various rooms in your house
+ The Catechism’s discussion of the cross – CCC 525-693.
+ Summary of the Church’s Jesus’ Passion and Death on the Cross
+ Videos by Bishop elect Robert Barron: Why was the Cross necessary? + on the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus
+ The Veneration of the Cross
+ Article on Redemptive Suffering: A Pope’s Answer to the Problem of Pain
+ Great CDs from Lighthouse Catholic Media: Glimpses Along The Way of the Cross + Three Days That Changed the World

August 2015 E-pistle

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Thoughts
On this Feast of the Assumption of Mary let us focus on hope. Mary hoped perfectly. She trusted that good would always come from the will of God. Mary hoped as she bore a son not of her husband, fled to Egypt as Herod sought to kill her son, and heard the words of Simeon that her heart would be pierced. Mary hoped when Joseph died and when Jesus left her house to begin his work. Mary hoped when Jesus was rejected by the people, tortured, and put to death. And Mary’s hope came to fruition – Jesus rose from the dead and opened the gates of heaven for us all. For her hope, Mary was preserved from death and corruption and was assumed body and soul into heaven.
Challenge
Let us seek to hope more deeply. We can start by affirming the truth that God loves us personally and perfectly and created us to live in eternal joy with him. Heaven is ours unless we reject it. Next, let us acknowledge our blessings with gratitude. Then let us resolve to accept suffering that comes our way and “offer it up” as prayer for others (especially the poor souls in purgatory). Lastly, let us decide to be hopeful, even if we don’t feel hopeful – “Jesus, I trust in you!”
Go Deeper
+ Read the Catechism on of theological virtue of hope – 1814-1821
+ Video: What is the Assumption
+ Consecrate yourself and your family to Jesus through Mary: Explanation
+Whenever you feel anxiety, pray over and over again in your heart “Jesus, I trust in You!”

 

July 2015 E-pistle

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Thoughts
Peace is elusive… mental, spiritual and physical peace. We recognize its necessity, but seldom find it. Christ says, “my yoke is easy and my burden light,” yet we feel weighed down. We tell ourselves, “if I just get through this, things will be better,” but another anxiety arises. Even in prayer or at Mass, we find ourselves distracted and restless. The reality is that God has everything under control. Despite the pain that comes our way, our eternal joy and peace is assured if we accept our Lord’s offer of salvation.
Challenge
First, seek to live in the present moment. We do not find God in the regrets of the past or the anxiety of the future. He meets us and walks with us in the now. Second, find mental and physical habits that help reduce stress and refocus you on what is important (e.g. quiet time for reflection/journaling, exercise, deep-breathing, etc.). Third, walk with God throughout the day, giving him your concerns (and your joys) and seeking to trust in him more.
Go Deeper
+ Have set times of prayer every day – a
for example when you wake [sample morning offering], in the middle of the day (maybe pray an Angelus or maybe just tell God how your day is going and ask Him to be with you the rest of the day) and at the end of the day [example of nightly examination of conscience, example of night prayer]
+ Keep a gratitude journal, maybe writing at least three things each night for which you are grateful (focusing on our blessings goes a long way to sooth our fears)
+ Love is the cure to anxiety – focus on loving God, your neighbor and yourself (Remember, you are a beautiful, beloved child of God!)
+ When you are walking or driving, pray the Rosary or Divine Mercy Chaplet
+Whenever you feel anxiety, pray over and over again in your heart “Jesus, I trust in You!”
+ Practice good habits: healthy eating, moderate alcohol, exercise, spending some relaxing prayer time before you go to sleep; less TV
+Use deep breathing as a way to alleviate stress in the moment
+Read a book on the life of an inspiring saint: [St. Therese, Padre Pio, St. Francis]
+Find time for leisure (if it stresses you out, it is not a good leisure activity)

June 2015 Epistle

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Thoughts
Humility puts my life into focus. Its goal is not to sour my own self-image, for I am beautifully created and beloved by God. The inward gaze of humility should be short and loving – I must struggle with sin until the day I die, but my Lord loves me and offers me salvation. The outward gaze of humility should be long and thrilling – How awesome is my God and how beautiful and worthy of my love is each of his children!
Challenge
Start by making a good examination of conscience and Confession (examples in the “Go Deeper” section that follows). After Confession, take some time to affirm in your heart the reality that you are completely forgiven! Next turn your focus toward God and neighbor. Summer is a wonderful time to appreciate God’s glory revealed in nature and to give thanks for family and friends. Pray little prayers of praise and thanksgiving. Try to speak less and listen more. Give into the will of another. Be patient. Forgive. Smile…Even when you don’t feel like it.
Go Deeper
+ Examinations of Conscience: by Fr. John Trigilio + based on the beatitudes + by Fr. John Hardon S.J. + for children + for young adults + by Fatima Network
+ Prayers of Praise: The Gloria + Te Deum + assorted short prayers to the Trinity + Prayers of love for God
+ Prayers of Thanksgiving: Thank You God + Prayer of Gratitude + Evening Acts of Thanksgiving + Prayer of Thanksgiving
+ Litany of Humility (This prayer is challenging, but powerful!)
+ Reflections on humility: by Marcellino D’Ambrosio Ph.D + St. Bernard’s 12 Steps to Humility + Pope Francis Palm Sunday Homily + Catholic Dads
+ Videos: Pope Francis Homily You cannot learn humility without humiliation + Kitty Cleveland – Walking in Humility (the story of her father’s cross of humility) + Reflection by Fr. Leo Clifford
+ “Every Little Prison (Deliver Me)” by Matt Maher – based on the litany of Humility: Song + Reflection on the song
+ Saints quotes on humility
+ CD/Mp3 from Lighthouse Catholic Media – The Forgotten Virtue: Pathway to Holiness

May 2015 E-pistle

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Thoughts
Mary is the Mother of God, the Mother of the Church and our Mother. Jesus spoke to all people of all times as He declared from the Cross, “Behold your mother.” From that moment onward, Christians have revered Mary above all others, save only God. From Mary’s special place over the apostles to her role as “mediatrix of all grace” for the Church today, Mary’s importance in our lives is profound.
Challenge
Since the late 13th century, Christians have dedicated the entire month of May to special devotion to Mary. Allow yourself to be wonderfully transformed by increasing your relationship with Mary. Take time to learn more about Our Lady and her role in our salvation. Read about the many Marian apparitions that have occurred in recent times. Pray some of the many beautiful prayers and devotional practices that unite us to our Mother and ask for her special intercession to her Son. You can find links to this information, these prayers and devotionals below.
Go Deeper
+ Quick explanation of why we pray to Mary
+ Quick overview of Devotion to Mary in May
+ Daily Devotions to Mary in the month of May
+ How to pray the rosary
+ Consecrate yourself to Jesus through Mary
+ Teachings on Mary
+ Pray the following Marian Prayers: Memorare, Salve Regina, Angelus,Regina Coeli, Magnificat
+ Make rosaries with your children
+ Nine Major Approved Apparitions of Mary
+ Various Marian Prayers and devotionals
+ Make a May Pilgrimage
+ Videos by Fr. Robert Barron: Lourdes: Mary the Immaculate Conception The Queenship of Mary
+ Great Marian Books and Cds

April 2015 E-pistle

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Thoughts
What a spiritually power-packed two weeks we just had – first Easter, then Divine Mercy Sunday! Christ took upon himself every sin we will ever commit and accepted our punishment for us. He stretched out his arms on the cross and bridged the gap that separated us from God. By rising, he conquered death and gave us eternal life. From his pierced side, all grace, forgiveness and mercy flow out to each of us washing us clean and imparting to us the very Divine Life of God
Challenge
First, let’s put on an “attitude of salvation.” Salvation is ours! Eternal joy in heaven is ours! Jesus offers it to us as pure gift. We can’t earn it. We need merely accept it. Let us from the depth of our souls say “Yes Lord, I accept your Salvation!” Lest we have any doubt of the unfathomable mercy and grace God has for us, let us also cry out, “Jesus, I trust in You!”
B, we just finished 40 days of penitential practices during the Lenten Season. Now let’s choose something to do every day during the Easter Season that will bring us closer to the joyful heart of our Savior (e.g. say a kind word to someone every day, avoid cynical comments, make a smile our default face even if we aren’t particularly happy, work at forgiving ourselves for past failures, pray the Regina Coeli or Divine Mercy Chaplet every day).
Go Deeper
+ Pray the traditional prayer for the Easter Season: Regina Coeli
+ Learn the basics of the Divine Mercy Message and Devotion
+ Pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy
+ So, what happened after Easter? Read the Acts of the Apostles
+ Meditate upon these Easter Homilies: St. John Chrysostem + Pope Francis + Pope Emeritus Benedict + St. John Paul II
+ Meditate upon the homily given on the first Divine Mercy Sunday by St. John Paul II
+ Video by Father Robert Baron explaining the meaning of Easter
+ Video: Chaplet of Divine Mercy (sung)
+ How is the date for Easter calculated?
+ CDs/Downloads by Lighthouse Catholic Media regarding Easter
+ Understanding the Salvation won through the Paschal Mystery

March 2015 E-pistle

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Thoughts
On March 19, we celebrate a very important day in the Church – the Feast of St. Joseph. We are invited for a day to put aside our Lenten penance and rejoice! We are called to honor the man chosen to raise our Savior Jesus Christ and to marry and care for the Blessed Mother of our Lord. We meditate upon Joseph’s heroic life, venerate his great virtue and pray through his intercession.
Challenge
Take time to learn more about St. Joseph. Read the passages in scripture referring to Joseph and of what saints and mystics have taught us about him. Meditate upon Joseph’s humble obedience to God’s will in spite of the hardship it would cause him. Speak to Joseph in the depths of your heart as one who has experienced what you have experienced – love, fear, joy, sorrow, hard work, domestic life, etc. Ask Joseph to intercede for your needs as a spouse and parent and in your daily work.
Go Deeper
+ Primary Bible Passages referring to St. Joseph: Matthew Chapters 1 & 2. Luke Chapter 2
+ Importance of devotion to St. Joseph
+ About the Feast of St. Joseph
+ Prayers to St. Joseph
+ St. Joseph: A theological Introduction
+ Quamquam Pluries – Papal Encyclical regarding devotion to St. Joseph
+ The Italian custom of a St. Joseph’s Day Table (tavole di San Giuseppe)
+ The Polish custom of celebrating St. Joseph’s Day (Dzien Swietego Jozefa)
+ Video: St. Joseph A Hidden Life
+ Devotion to St. Joseph as patron of a happy death
+ Pope Francis homily on St. Joseph
+ Lighthouse Catholic Media CD on St. Joseph

February 2015 E-pistle

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Thoughts
This Wednesday we begin Lent and have another great opportunity to prepare ourselves physically, mentally and spiritually for a new life in Christ. While it is true that we are called to “penitential” practices, the readings for Ash Wednesday remind us not to be “gloomy” but to focus on a God who is “gracious and merciful, slow to anger and rich in kindness!”
Challenge
Fast. Option 1: Fast from food in some way that leaves you physically unsatisfied. Option 2: Fast from complaining, criticizing or being cynical (which leaves you emotionally unsatisfied). Either practice will help remind you that only God can truly satisfy you for all eternity.

Pray. If you pray very little or not at all, add prayer into your daily routine. Prayer can be as simple as thanking God throughout the day for anything and everything. If you already practice many forms of prayer, do not over-burden yourself with more, but work on quality (e.g. lessening distraction, seeking to embrace a different form of prayer that you feel God is calling you to, but find difficult).
Give Alms. If you do not regularly give to your church and other charities, this is a great time to start some form of regular giving. If you already tithe, look for those occasions that God will place before you to give that little bit extra (especially to a specific person God places in your path). In giving alms, we come to recognize that God has given us everything and we seek to give back just a little bit in gratitude and to remind us that we need Him.

Go Deeper

January 2015 E-pistle

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Thoughts
As next week is the 42nd Annual March for Life in DC, this is a great time to meditate upon life. Life is valuable not just because here on earth we can experience love, joy, physical pleasure and intellectual satisfaction. While all of those are wonderful gifts from God, life is of the utmost value because through it we can come to know and be known; to love and be loved by Almighty God for all eternity. Each human life is uniquely, purposely and perfectly created by God: born or pre-born, smart or intellectually challenged, fit or crippled, sound or mentally ill. Even the adulterer, murderer and blasphemer are cherished by God. Murder is not the only crime against life! Hatred, cruelty, racism, disrespect, scandal, and apathy toward our neighbor promote death, as does our own intemperance, addiction, sloth, sexual impropriety, and other unhealthy life choices.

Challenge
Take some time to explore how you might better promote life in yourself, your relationships with others and in society. Go to confession if this self-examination reveals some serious past failures on your part. Forgive others (and yourself) for the failure to promote and protect life. Pray for the conversion of hearts of those who do not properly value life. Take some time to meditate upon God’s greatest testament to life’s value – The Second Person of the Trinity being born, living as a human, suffering, dying and Rising from the dead for you!

Go Deeper
+ Top 13 quotable quotes by Pope Francis on sanctity of life
+ Awesome video by Bishop Don Hying: What Does Pro-Life Really Mean?
+ Attend a local pro-life rally in Chicago on January 18
+ Watch the March for Life events on EWTN
+ Read the Encyclical Letter on human life Humanae Vitae (includes Catholic teaching on contraception)
+ Read what the Church teaches about Life And Dignity Of The Human Person
+ Great Emotional pro-life music videos: My Heart Beats Too + Mother’s Inspirational Video of Blind Baby Boy and news follow up
+ Lighthouse Catholic Media CDs regarding Defending Life
+ Priest for Life Website
+ Read what the Church teaches regarding embryonic therapy and biomedical research

December 2014 E-pistle

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Thoughts
When the leaders of the people asked if he was the long-awaited Savior, John the Baptist strongly denied it. He then revealed that the Savior was already present among them but that those asking did not recognize Him. Do we recognize Christ in the world around us? In our own life? In our neighbor, family and even our enemy? Do we recognize Christ in the Eucharist and in Scripture? In this busy time leading up to Christmas, do we recognize that God loves us so much that He became human in order to suffer, die and rise for us and that His presence among us is the reason for our joy?

Challenge
During these last two weeks of Advent and Christmastime try to focus on Christ. Let all of the decorations, carols, parties, presents, etc. be constant reminders that (1) Christ became man 2000 years ago, (2) that He seeks to come into your heart every moment of every day, and (3) that at the end of your life, Christ invites you to live with Him in eternal peace and joy.

Go Deeper
+ Go to Confession sometime before Christmas
+ Advent Resources
+ Catholic traditions for Advent and Christmas
+ Video Advent Reflections by Bishop Baker
+ Teach your young children about salvation history with The Jesse Box Diorama (great Christmas gift!)
+ Great Christmas movies for the family: The Nativity Story on YouTube or for purchase + Jesus of Nazareth + Mary of Nazareth + The Ten Commandments
+ Video Advent Reflections: Week 3 + Week 4
+ Advent and Christmas CDs
+ Jesus Christ the Person
+ Reflection on the O Antiphons
+ Family devotions surrounding the O Antiphons (Dec 17-24)
+ Quick Biblical thoughts on Christmas