Mercy, Poverty, Hope

The deacons of our parish -- there are eight of us! -- have been conducting a Divine Mercy Novena in preparation for tomorrow's celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday. Although other demands -- doctors' appointments, soup kitchen commitments, etc. -- have prevented me from attending every day, I have been able to pray the chaplet at home on those days I could not attend. Praying this novena has been a remarkable experience and has led me to ask some serious questions about how I conduct my own life. I expect it's had a similar effect on others who have taken part.

In addition to the novena, I've spent some time each day reading from St. Faustina's Diary in which the visionary wrote about her visits from the Lord, as well as her own thoughts, reflections and experiences. In it one encounters Jesus in a unique way as He opens His merciful heart for this young saint and for us, patiently explaining the depth of His mercy and how our God expects us, as Christians, to respond. I could probably spend pages and pages writing about some of these messages from our Lord, but one in particular struck a significant chord today: “You are to show mercy to your neighbors always and everywhere. You must not shrink from this or try to absolve yourself from it" [Diary, 742].

Meditating on this command from Jesus, I couldn't help but recollect all those times when I have been less than merciful, those times when I looked the other way rather than confronting another's need head-on. Sadly there were far too many instances, too many to count.

There's nothing new about this command; indeed if it were new we would have every right to suspect the validity of the visions and private revelations experienced by St. Faustina. True private revelation can do nothing but confirm and reinforce divine revelation as found in sacred scripture and apostolic tradition. And, of course, this same plea to mercy is stated explicitly in the Gospel: "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy" [Mt 5:7]. And we encounter it in greater detail when Jesus depicts the final judgment that we will all experience [Mt 25:31-46], a judgment focused on the mercy we have extended to each other.

As I reflected on Jesus' command, and on my own failure to obey it fully, I came to realize how grateful I am that we have a merciful, forgiving God, one who willingly forgives and forgets the sins of the repentant. In other words, our personal failure to extend mercy to others can be overcome by God's infinite mercy when we come to Him in true repentance. Without this gift of mercy and forgiveness none of us would be saved.

Of course, the temptation, then, is to become a bit presumptuous and assume that God's mercy will come through for us in the end, regardless of how we have lived our lives -- a very dangerous presumption. For the Christian, indeed for every human, life shouldn't be viewed as a gamble during which one lives as one likes and hopes for the opportunity to repent and receive forgiveness at the end. No, the Christian life should be seen and lived as an ongoing conversion, a journey in which we come ever closer to Christ allowing Him to conform every aspect of our being to His perfection.

We see this manifested most explicitly in the lives of the saints. Not long ago, while reading St. Bonaventure's The Life of St. Francis of Assisi, I came across a passage that describes one of those typical Franciscan events in which the saint fuses mercy and poverty and thereby teaches us how to live the Gospel, as Catherine Doherty urged, "without compromise."

Francis, you see, knew that because everything comes from God, nothing really belongs to us. And because we own nothing, our lives as creatures of God are essentially lives of poverty. Most of us simply haven't yet come to the point where we can accept this, at least not fully. We might accept it intellectually, but that's a far cry from living it. Francis also took Jesus seriously when He said, "...whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me" [Mt 25:40]. And so he believed that anything he had actually belonged to those in greater need, those "least brothers."

In the incident described by St. Bonaventure, Francis had been ill and was wearing a cloak over his habit as he and a companion traveled home. When they met a poor man along the way, Francis, neglecting his own need, gave his cloak to the man. "It is fitting," he said to his companion, "that we should restore this cloak to this poor man, for it is his, and I accepted it only until I should find someone poorer than myself." When his companion objected that Francis was neglecting his own health, the saint responded, "I should be accounted a thief by the great Almsgiver were I to withhold that which I wear from him who has greater need of it than I."

This, of course, was typical of Francis who, as St. Bonaventure wrote, "spared nothing, neither cloak, nor tunic, nor books, nor even the ornaments of the altar, but would give all these things to the poor to fulfill the office of mercy."

All of this reflecting has led me to question how I am called to "fulfill the office of mercy" in my life. Are we all called to be perfect imitators of Christ in the style of a St. Francis? Are we all called to live "the Gospel without compromise"? As I look around me here in my cozy den, I find I am surrounded by "things." They are things that give me pleasure, or make my life easier, or remind me of past accomplishments, but they are still just things. Are these and the other things of my life keeping me from following Jesus' call to mercy? Can I approach poverty in spirit without accepting material poverty? God does, after all, call us to perfection -- "...be perfect, just as your Heavenly Father is perfect" [Mt 5:48] -- but just how far does He want you and me to take this?

And so I am left with questions only God can answer. But I do know that the call to conversion is a call to abandonment. And abandonment to God's will demands that I first remove my own will from the equation. Only then can God work in my life and lead me on the path He has planned for me. Fortunately, God never stops calling and will continue calling me to conversion until I take my last breath. 

Praised be Jesus Christ!

Government Employees at "Work"

The video I've embedded below is of a Bach concert conducted in one of my favorite places in Rome, the Pantheon. Apparently the concert was scheduled to conclude at 6:15 p.m., but the Pantheon employees (who work for the Italian government) normally stop working at 6 p.m. Since this was a scheduled concert, one would think the employees would be willing to stick around for the extra 15 minutes, but, no, they force the musicians to stop the concert, turn off the lights and try to get everyone to leave. Naturally, the concert attendees wanted to stay and hear the remainder of the concert. If you understand Italian you will hear some of the comments from the crowd, "Vergognatevi, vergognatevi..." (Shame, shame...)

Hey, the way the feds are creating all those new government jobs, pretty soon this is how things will be run in our country as well.



And speaking of government programs, Diane and I got our first taste of Obamacare this morning. Diane, who suffers from severe back pain, has been receiving a specific treatment from a Pain Management doctor in Gainesville for several years. This is the only treatment that has ever worked for her and involves using RF energy to "burn" nerve endings in her spine. It's usually good for six months to a year, and has always been covered by our Tricare military retirement insurance. But this week we received a notice that it is now considered "experimental" and will no longer be covered. They went on to approve four visits to this doctor over the next 12 months, but no treatment! A lot of good that will do. Our doctor indicated that this has been happening more frequently in recent weeks and expects to see more of it, especially when it affects seniors. After all, why waste government funds on "old people"?

Fortunately we have a 90 day window to appeal and Diane's doctor said he will do so, and include all the relevant documentation showing that the treatment is proven and effective and hardly experimental. He also intends to take legal action if they don't accept his appeal. Way to go, Doc!

Get ready for Obamacare, folks; you're going to love it.

Women in the Early and Medieval Church

Régine Pernoud (1909-1998) was a French historian and medievalist who wrote some wonderful books aimed at the general reader. We are especially fortunate that Ignatius Press has been reprinting some of these books, making them available in English translation. I especially enjoyed reading Those Terrible Middle Ages: Debunking the Myths and The Templars: Knights of Christ, two books that provide the reader with a more fair and balanced (and honest) view of what life was really like during those remarkable centuries. Although I have not yet read any, I am told that her books on St. Joan of Arc are particularly good.

I have just finished reading another of her books, Women in the Days of the Cathedrals, also published by Ignatius but, unfortunately, now out of print. It is available, however, via some of Amazon's third-party sellers and I am sure used copies can be obtained via such used book resellers as abebooks and alibris. I recently picked up  my copy at my favorite Catholic book and gift shop, Sullivan's, on Main Street in Hyannis, Massachusetts.

It is a fascinating and surprising book, one that details the critical and largely underreported role of women in both Church and society during the Middle Ages. Indeed, it depicts women during this era as enjoying far higher status and wielding more influence in society than ever before and, in some ways, than at any time since. The book is filled with marvelous revelations, large and small, about the Middle Ages and those who lived during these interesting times, bits of information and profiles of remarkable personalities that you will be hard pressed to find anywhere else in popular historical literature. I truly enjoyed the book and especially recommend it.

Photo Contest

I have been pestered for several weeks now to post one of my photos that earned a prize in this year's photo contest sponsored by our local newspaper, the Villages Daily Sun. It earned a 2nd prize, a very generous award by the judges. Another photo received "mention" but no prize. Anyway, to stop my friend's nagging, I have included both photos below.

The first (the one that actually earned a prize) was taken on my birthday in 2008 while Diane and I were in Rome. We were wandering about in the Prati district when we turned a corner and saw this balcony covered with flowers.

I took the second photo in November 2005 while visiting Orvieto, a small, walled city in Umbria, well known for its beautiful duomo (cathedral church). The facade of the church is breathtaking. Because the piazza in front of the church is not very deep, and without my wide-angle lens (left back at the hotel in Rome) I could not capture the entire facade. I decided instead to get up close and photograph just a portion of the facade against the sky. It turned out well.

Defending Pope Pius XII

I keep getting comments from those who have no other agenda but to condemn the only wartime leader who worked tirelessly to save Jews from the Nazis, Pope Pius XII. And I'm getting a bit weary of having to defend this holy man from these phony charges. And so, I have decided to let others do so for me.

One of the more surprising defenders is Gary Krupp, a New York Jew who founded the Pave the Way Foundation with the goal of "removing obstacles between the religions" of the world. He is truly a remarkable man. Krupp grew up hating Pope Pius XII and then decided to investigate on his own to see exactly what this pope did or didn't do during the war.

Here's a link to a brief article about his defense of Pope Pius: Long Beach Man Creates Stir Defending Pope Pius.

And if you have the time, here's a link to an EWTN interview of Gary Krupp that I hope will change some minds: EWTN Interview. You have to listen to this.

If you want access to the many, many Vatican documents, click here: Pius XII Documents.

Krupp has other information on the subject available via his "Pave the Way" website -- scroll down and you'll encounter the links.

A Fitting Quote from a Founding Father

Here's one of my favorites from John Adams, the 2nd president of the United States:

"In my years of experience, I have come to the conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm, and three is a congress."

Seems like the man from Quincy, Massachusetts was not only very wise, but also quite the prophet.





 

Homily: Good Friday

I didn't preach this afternoon; our pastor did. Anyway, I was too busy acting as Master of Ceremonies to do any preaching. But I thought I'd share a Good Friday homily I delivered a few years ago. I hope it helps you come closer to Our Lord and perhaps leave you with a different appreciation of His Passion and Death.

___________________

“Preach the gospel constantly; if necessary, use words" -- so counseled St. Francis of Assisi. And whenever I listen to the passion story, I find myself thinking of this wonderful saint.

The great cathedral in Milan was filled with people who had come to hear Francis preach.  There were no electric lights in the 13th Century. It was growing dark, because Francis had arrived a little late. He climbed up on the high altar and placed a candle by the feet of Jesus on the Cross, illuminating His wounded feet. Then he placed one by His side, opened for us; then one by His pierced hand, pinned to the Cross; then by the other hand; and finally he placed one by the crown of thorns. Francis then walked out of the church.

What else is there to say? Unfortunately, I’m not saintly like Francis, so I have to use words when I preach.

Sometimes I think we’ve heard the passion story so often it has ceased to impress us. Or perhaps we belittle Christ’s sufferings, believing that because He was the Son of God it was somehow different for Him, that it wasn’t real, like human suffering. It’s important to be clear about this: Jesus’ sufferings were very real and more intense than anything you and I might endure. And they encompassed so much.

The agonizing hours He spent in the garden, all the while ignored by His three closest friends. And later to be abandoned by these and by virtually all whom He loved...even betrayed by one of them. He was arrested, tried and convicted for something He never did; falsely accused and subjected to a steady stream of lies. Insulted, taunted, repeatedly struck and spit on, flogged almost to the point of death. Then the King of Kings was painfully and ignominiously crowned with thorns. Finally came the shame of being condemned and executed like a common criminal. And as He died, He was forced to endure more taunts, insults and mockery.

And through it all, the Father kept His silence. Can we even begin to plumb the depths of Christ’s suffering? Yet all this suffering would have been wasted, it would not have redeemed a single soul, if Jesus had not endured it with love. It was not just Christ’s suffering that redeemed the world. It was His love – the love with which He bore and offered His sufferings to the Father for us.

There’s an awful lot of suffering in our world today. Just read the headlines. Watch the evening news. Or perhaps you need only look at those seated near you. Illness, the death of a loved one, a child who has strayed and turned his back on God, financial problems, family strife, addictions…all these sufferings are very real in our lives and in the lives of those we know. But have we learned to bear our sufferings as Jesus taught us?

Even though surrounded by darkness, the light of His love burned brightly and enlightened others. He prayed for His executioners. He welcomed the good thief to paradise. With one look of compassion he brought tears to the eyes of Peter. He died because He did the will of the Father – freely and out of love. He didn’t simply endure His sufferings. He suffered because of His great love for you.

Suffering that is merely endured does nothing for our souls except harden them. It just turns us inward and floods us with self-pity, the first and normal reaction to suffering. But self-pity is a cancer that erodes our faith, our courage, and our capacity to feel compassion for others…our capacity to love.

Thomas Merton once wrote that, “The Christian must not only accept suffering: he must make it holy. For nothing so easily becomes unholy as suffering.” Now I’m not suggesting that you imitate those who have an almost morbid love of suffering. From my experience, they tend to be dour, humorless people. No. Christ wants us to love. And love can cause the greatest suffering of all – heartbreak. But it also brings the greatest joy. And God wants us to be joyful. That’s why today is Good Friday, and not Bad Friday. It’s good because it’s the ultimate manifestation of God’s overwhelming love for you -- not some generic love, but a very personal, individual love.

And so today, as we approach to venerate the cross of Christ, let’s all listen to Jesus as He prays for His killers: “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” And when Easter arrives, let’s not return to our homes and take up where we left off, carrying the burdens of things we can’t forgive.

“Don’t cry for me,” Jesus told the women of Jerusalem, “Cry for yourselves and for your children.” Let us not then weep for Jesus. Rather let us follow the example of Peter, who wept bitter tears for his own sins. Then maybe we’ll be able to forgive those who sin against us.

God’s Peace.

Good Friday Reading

Countless books have been written on the Passion, Death and Resurrection or Our Lord Jesus Christ; and while I've read only a tiny percentage of them, I do have my favorites. Today I will focus on just one.

I realize it's a bit late to offer recommendations for your Good Friday reading since we're already in the midst of that holy day, but the book I have been reading this Holy Week is among the very best I have read. Written by A. G. Sertillanges, a French Dominican priest who died in 1948, What Jesus Saw from the Cross, is far more than a book. Indeed, one reviewer aptly called it "a retreat, a pilgrimage, and a holy hour -- all in one book!"

Father Sertillanges spent many years in Jerusalem, walking its streets and  meditating on the events of those final days of Our Savior's life on earth. It is a remarkable and very intense book that places you right alongside Jesus as He completes His redemptive mission in perfect obedience to the Father.

It is one of those classic books that was largely forgotten until Sophia Institute Press reprinted it in 1996. I try to find the time to reread it every Holy Week, and occasionally turn to it for homiletic inspiration throughout the year. I've also found it to be a wonderful source for Ignatian meditation on Our Lord's Passion.

You can purchase the book online directly from the publisher, or from Amazon. Buying directly from Sophia Institute Press might cost a few dollars more, but those dollars will help them to carry out their mission to "nurture the spiritual, moral, and cultural life of souls and to spread the Gospel of Christ in conformity with the teachings of the magisterium of the Roman Catholic Church."

Blessings on this Holy Day.

"Christian" Militia

Among the more prominent stories in the media these days is the news of the FBI raids on a self-proclaimed Christian militia group in the Midwest. It seems the members of this group, through their own unique interpretation of Scripture, believe they are called to be "Christian warriors" and have decided their enemy is the federal government, and in particular, law enforcement. According to the group's website, "We believe that one day, as prophecy says, there will be an Anti-Christ...Jesus wanted us to be ready to defend ourselves using the sword and stay alive using equipment." I especially like that "using equipment" phrase.

Apparently the group planned all kinds of nasty things, including the targeting of law enforcement personnel, and even their families. They allegedly planned to make 911 calls, kill any responding officers, and then set off bombs at their funerals. Nice "Christian" folks.

It all leads me to several conclusions. First, it shows the dangers inherent in individual interpretation of Sacred Scripture and why we need the Magisterium of the Church inspired by the Holy Spirit.

It also reminds me that Jesus didn't say, "Render unto Caesar..." for nothing. We are not called to be a lawless people. We are called to evangelize, to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to the world, and to do so peacefully, not with weapons or "equipment".

Most of what "Caesar" claims does not conflict with the claims of God. And when those conflicts do arise, we must courageously resist them by preaching God's Word. Look to the example of the martyrs, men and women who throughout the centuries chose to sacrifice their own lives rather then follow unjust laws that conflicted with Christian morality and the teachings of the Church.

I also resent the media's characterizaton of this and similar groups as "Christian" simply because they claim to be Christian. Although in their ignorance of things religious, I suppose the media can be excused if they misunderstand what Christianity actually teaches. After all, how many politicians claim to be and are considered to be Catholic even though they willfully and publicly disagree with the most basic, and long settled, Church teaching?

A Note to Gabriel

I received a comment on my recent post about Pope Pius XII.The person who wrote the comment obviously dislikes the Catholic Church and believes the phony charges against Pope Pius. He also is using my blog to push his anti-Catholic book, something I won't tolerate.

His comments follows:

Not everyone that has a different viewpoint from yours can be dismissed as "revisionist" or can be called historian in quotes, as if putting in doubt their credentials. You should ask yourself the question of why there are such divergent views. The public record of what Pope Pius XII did is, after all, public and therefore cannot be disputed. And it shows the pope was inactive during the Holocaust. If he did indeed do a lot of "discreet" work behind the scenes, then no historian yet knows what that was.

He followed this with links to his book and website.

Here's my less than charitable response.


Sorry, Gabriel, but you're wrong. Indeed, the "public record" shows exactly the opposite. And I resent your not so subtle accusations against the diplomacy of the Pope and the Church during World War II. The truth is, Pope Pius XII saved more Jews from the Nazis than any other person. What did Roosevelt do? What did Churchill do?

The Jewish people knew this and recognized Pope Pius XII for his courageous acts and the wisdom of his wartime diplomacy. Remarkable, too, that the Pope did all this, without an army, while surrounded by armed Italian fascists and German Nazis who despised him and the Church.

Indeed, The Jewish Community publicly acknowledged all that Pius had done.

In September 1945, Dr. Joseph Nathan — who represented the Hebrew Commission — stated "Above all, we acknowledge the Supreme Pontiff and the religious men and women who, executing the directives of the Holy Father, recognized the persecuted as their brothers and, with great abnegation, hastened to help them, disregarding the terrible dangers to which they were exposed."

In 1958, at the death of Pope Pius XII, Golda Meir sent an eloquent message: "We share in the grief of humanity. …When fearful martyrdom came to our people, the voice of the Pope was raised for its victims. The life of our times was enriched by a voice speaking out about great moral truths above the tumult of daily conflict. We mourn a great servant of peace."

Pope Pius XII — through his public discourses, his appeals to governments, and his secret diplomacy — was engaged more than any other individual in the effort to curb the war and rebuild the peace.

Documents show that Pius XII was in contact with the German generals who sought to overthrow Hitler. Documents also show that the Jewish community received enormous help: Pius XII’s personal funds ransomed Jews from Nazis. Papal representatives in Croatia, Hungary, and Romania intervened to stop deportations. The Pope called for a peace conference involving Italy, France, England, Germany, and Poland in 1939, in a last-minute bid to avert bloodshed.

Never were the Jews and the Vatican so close as during World War II. The Vatican was the only place on the continent where they had any friends. Pope Pius XII’s response to the plight of the Jews was to save as many as possible.

Early in the war, Albert Einstein, disenchanted by the silence of universities and editors of newspapers, stated in Time magazine (December 23, 1940): "Only the Church stood squarely across the path of Hitler’s campaign for suppressing truth...The Church alone has had the courage and persistence to stand for intellectual truth and moral freedom." Indeed, executing the directives of Pope Pius XII, religious men and women opened their doors to save the Jews.

And later, in 1944, Einstein again wrote, "Being a lover of freedom, when the Nazi revolution came in Germany, I looked to the universities to defend it, but the universities were immediately silenced. Then I looked to the great editors of the newspapers, but they, like the universities were silenced in a few short weeks. Then I looked to individual writers...they too were mute. Only the Church," Einstein concluded, "stood squarely across the path of Hitler’s campaign for suppressing the truth...I never had any special interest in the Church before, but now I feel great affection and admiration...and am forced thus to confess that what I once despised, I now praise unreservedly."

Even in the midst of the war the Pope's support and courage were acknowledged. The New York Times editorial (December 25, 1942) was specific: "The voice of Pius XII is a lonely voice in the silence and darkness enveloping Europe this Christmas...He is about the only ruler left on the Continent of Europe who dares to raise his voice at all."

The Pope’s Christmas message was also interpreted in a Gestapo report: "in a manner never known before...the Pope has repudiated the National Socialist New European Order [Nazism]...his speech is one long attack on everything we stand for...Here he is clearly speaking on behalf of the Jews."

Perhaps the rest of the world should interpret the Pope’s words as they were meant and, undoubtedly, correctly understood by the Nazis. From the beginning of his reign, the Nazis understood who Pius was. The day after his election (March 3, 1939), the Nazi newspaper, Berliner Morganpost stated its position clearly: "the election of Cardinal Pacelli is not accepted with favor in Germany because he was always opposed to Nazism."

The lies and attacks all began in 1963 Rolf Hochhuth portrayed Pope Pius as a Nazi collaborator in the play "The Deputy." (Interestingly, Hochhuth himself has been accused of denying the holocaust and of receiving KGB assistance in writing his play.) In contrast to the image suggested by this play, Vatican records indicate that the Church operated an underground railroad that rescued 800,000 European Jews from the Holocaust. After a careful study of available documents, whoever is interested in the truth will no longer condemn the actions of Pope Pius XII’s words and the Catholic Church during this tragic period. And, Gabriel, any historian -- even you -- can gain access to these documents at the Vatican.

You say that no one knows. If you actually checked the public record and removed your bigoted blinders, perhaps you'd actually see what the record states.

The foremost Jewish Scholar of the Holocaust at its height in Hungary, Jeno Levai, insisted some years ago that it was a "particularly regrettable irony that the one person in all of occupied Europe who did more than anyone else to halt the dreadful crime and alleviate its consequences is today made the scapegoat for the failures of others."

The Israeli diplomat and scholar Pinchas Lapide concluded his careful review of Pius XII’s wartime activities with the following words: "The Catholic Church under the pontificate of Pius XII was instrumental in saving lives of as many as 860,000 Jews from certain death at Nazi hands." He went on to add that this "figure far exceeds those saved by all other Churches and rescue organizations combined."

After recounting statements of appreciation from a variety of preeminent Jewish spokespersons, he noted. "No Pope in history has been thanked more heartily by Jews...Several suggested in open letters that a Pope Pius XII forest of 860,000 trees be planted on the hills of Judea in order to fittingly honor the memory of the late Pontiff ("Three Popes and the Jews" pp. 214–215)." Levai in his own book did not hesitate to argue that the attacks on the Pope’s wartime record are "demonstrably malicious and fabricated...The archives of the Vatican of diocesan authorities of Ribbentrop’s foreign ministry, contain a whole series of protests—direct and indirect, diplomatic and public, secret and open. The nuncios and bishops of the Catholic Church intervened again and again on the instructions of the Pope," he wrote. Their interventions were just as unsuccessful as the demands and threats of the British and American governments. Moreover, the delicacy of the matter was often heightened by the fact that such protests could put Jews themselves and their protectors at additional bodily risk.

Sorry, Gabriel, the record is there for all to see. But folks like you, who simply despise the Catholic Church, prefer to ignore it. And so you are a revisionist "historian" and I do doubt your credentials.

End of story...and end of discussion.

Find another venue to attack Pope Pius XII and plug your book, because you won't do it again here.

A Saint for Our Times

Every so often I will encounter someone who believes that the Gospels, and indeed the entire Bible, are really no longer relevant because, "...after all, they were written thousands of years ago. How can they possible apply to our lives in today's world?" These are the same people who actually believe that human nature has changed, or in their parlance "evolved", since those barbarous times that preceded our more enlightened age.

These folks are perhaps best typified by a high school English teacher I sat next to on a plane a few years ago. In the course of our conversation, when she mentioned that she was currently teaching a course in English literature to seniors, I asked what authors she focused on. "Stephen King," she replied, "and Philip Roth, and Virginia Woolf, and Norman Mailer, and J. D. Salinger, and Toni Morrison, and Jack Kerouac, and Elizabeth Bishop, and James Joyce..." As the litany continued I interrupted her and asked, "Oh, so this is a course in modern English lit?" "Oh, no, she replied, but I find that most of those old, dead guys like Shakespeare really have little to tell us today." I won't bore you with the rest of our conversation; but, as you might imagine, it was rather animated.

All of this leads me to several observations. First, a work of truly good literature, what we would traditionally call a "classic", is a classic because it is not a captive of its times. This is why these works continue to be read even after hundreds, and in some instances thousands, of years. They are timeless because they are able to grasp and unravel and depict those "permanent things" in ways that continue to enlighten us regardless of the times in which we live. This is why I am never bored, why I can always find enjoyment by just sitting down and reading one of Shakespeare's plays, or a Jane Austen novel, or an essay by T. S. Eliot.

My second observation relates to the continued relevance of Sacred Scripture. If we believe that Jesus Christ is the Incarnate Son of God, the creative Word of God, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, then anything He said is a priori relevant; indeed, His words must be the most relevant words ever spoken. And since Sacred Scripture is His Word, it too applies to all times and peoples. If we consider such works as  Hamlet and Moby Dick, the words of mere men, to be classics, then Sacred Scripture, the Word of God, must be the Classic Supreme.

My final observation relates to the actual subject of this post: the continued relevance of the saints, even those who lived in very different times and were products of very different cultures. Despite all their differences, despite their separation from us in time and culture, the saints all have this one thing in common: the saints lived the Word of God. In other words, their lives reflected God's will for them and for humanity. And so, because the lives of the saints reflect God's Word and will, their lives can be nothing but relevant to us.

I mention all this in order to introduce a saint whom many would no doubt consider irrelevant when viewed through the lens of our modern sensibilities. She wrote nothing. She left behind no words of wisdom. She knew no popes or bishops, and probably very few priests. She didn't socialize with the rich and famous; indeed, she was rejected and cast aside by almost everyone, even her own parents and the cloistered nuns she lived with for a time. Only the poorest, the outcasts, the imprisoned -- the little ones of Christ -- were drawn to her, as she was drawn to them. She was blind, hunchbacked, lame, ugly and a dwarf. She lived 700 years ago in Citta-di-Castello, a small Umbrian city in central Italy where she survived as a homeless beggar. But she was far more than all these things, because she was also holy. She lived the Gospel as very few have before or since. Her name was Margherita, but we know her as Blessed Margaret of Castello. (Margaret has been beatified by the Church, but not yet canonized.)

I was first introduced to Blessed Margaret 30 years ago when someone in my previous parish (I have forgotten who) gave me a copy of Father William Bonniwell's book, The Life of Blessed Margaret Castello. (Although first written in 1952 and reprinted in 1979, the book is still available in paperback. Click on the book's title to order it via Amazon.) At the time we were forming a pro-life group in the parish and, after reading the book, I recommended we name Blessed Margaret as our group's patron saint. That began my relationship with this remarkable woman.

I won't go into detail on her relatively brief life (she died at the age of 33), because those details are available elsewhere on the web. (Click here to read an abbreviated version of her life.) I do believe, however, that Margaret is perhaps the perfect saint for our times. Who can better represent modern society's unloved, the outcasts that the world would just as soon dispose of through abortion or euthanasia? Margaret was the daughter of a wealthy, well-connected couple who were horrified and embarrassed by the birth of their less than perfect child. Today, armed with such modern medical tools as amniocentesis and ultrasound, her enlightened parents would no doubt have aborted her. How many saints like Margaret have been lost to the world because of parents whose only measure of a child's worth is physical perfection? And speaking of physical perfection, Blessed Margaret's body remains incorrupt to this day and can be viewed in the church of Santo Domenico in Citta-di-Castello, the city where she lived her adult life.

I suggest that, in anticipation of her feast day, April 14, you and I pray her novena, asking her to intercede for our nation and our world, to soften the hearts of those who have embraced the culture of death. Here's a link to her novena on the web: Novena to Blessed Margaret of Castello. And there is also a wonderful DVD on Blessed Margaret that you can obtain here.

Blessed Margaret, pray for us.

Pope Pius XII: Hitler's Nemesis

The revisionist "historians" who seem so intent on defaming Pope Pius XII by falsely misrepresenting his role during World War II have in recent years been rebutted by some very reliable sources. One of the more interesting new books on the subject, written by Dan Kurtzman, is A Special Mission: Hitler's Secret Plot to Seize the Vatican and Kidnap Pope Pius XII.

(The photo below shows Pope Pius XII greeting the people of Rome during World War II.)


The book breaks new ground by bringing to light the hatred Hitler held for Pope Pius, whom he called a "Jew lover", and describing in detail the plot Hitler formed to occupy the Vatican, kill all the members of the curia, and take the pope prisoner. It's a fascinating read and presents a balanced picture of Pope Pius, his courage, and the difficulties he faced surrounded as he was by a ruthless enemy. I highly recommend it.

It you'd like to read a review of the book, click here: The Plot to Kidnap Pope Pius XII.

Another book on the same subject, written by Rabbi David G. Dalin, is The Myth of Hitler's Pope, and  chronicles how Pope Pius XII rescued Jews from the Nazis.

Two more books, written by historian Sister Margherita Marchione, PhD., provide irrefutable evidence of the extreme measures Pope Pius XII took in defiance of the Nazis to aid the Jews of Europe. Here are links to these books on Amazon:

Pope Pius XII: Architect for Peace

and

Did Pope Pius XII Help the Jews?

Finally, there is the wonderful book written by Eugenio Zolli, the Chief Rabbi of Rome during the wartime years. His book, Before the Dawn, describes his journey to Christianity and his conversion to Catholicism after World War II. Becoming a Catholic, Zolli, whose given first name was "Israel", took the Christian name of Eugenio to honor Pope Pius XII (Eugenio was the Pope's baptismal name) for all he did to save Jews during WWII. One could hardly find a better witness than Rome's wartime Chief Rabbi.


And for those of you who'd rather watch the movie than read the book, Ignatius Press offers an excellent DVD called, A Hand of Peace, detailing Pope Pius XII and his response to the Holocaust.

I think it's time we Catholics come to the support of this courageous and holy man who is being unjustly and viciously attacked by so many. But we can't do this unless we know the facts.

The Persecution of Christians: An Update

Periodically I try to provide a brief update on one of today's most under-reported stories: the tremendous increase in the persecution of Christians worldwide. Large numbers, often hundreds at a time, of Christians have been martyred or imprisoned or forced from their homes, literally hundreds of churches have been burned to the ground, and yet we rarely hear about it on the network news or read about it in the pages of our local newspapers. And because it's such a surprise to encounter reports in the media of this ongoing and growing tragedy, I believe it's important to bring these reports to your attention whenever I do encounter them. (The photo below shows Muslim extremists attacking and burning a church in Pakistan.)

The first is from the heart of the mainstream media (ABC News), and addresses the subject of the persecution of Christians in some detail. It is especially concerned with the persecution that takes place in Muslim countries. Click here to read the story: Christian Martyrs.

The second, from the online version of the magazine, American Conservative, was written by one of their regular contributors, Philip Jenkins. It focuses on the growing hostility between Christians and Muslims in areas outside the Middle East; for example, nations like Malaysia and Nigeria. Click here to read the article: Christians and Muslims.

Another story appears in the online version of Der Spiegel, a popular German magazine (sort of their Time) and also focuses on the persecution of Christians in nations where Islamic extremism has taken hold. Like the above articles it provides an in-depth look at this disturbing and grossly under-reported trend. Click here to read the article: Christianity's Modern-Day Martyrs.

These are not "happy" stories, and they certainly do not coincide with the politically correct policies of so many media organizations; but I believe the persecution of Christians has now risen to a level at which it can no longer be ignored. We will hear more of it.

Of course, mass murder and its accompanying mayhem is an extreme form of persecution. There is a much more subtle form, one that is perpetrated not by Muslims or Hindus or any other religious group. Indeed, it is carried out by some of the least religious members of society. It is the kind of persecution that is motivated by an extreme but increasingly popular form of political correctness, the kind that can be found in our own "enlightened" Western democracies. As I have mentioned many time before, this subtle form of persecution is now well advanced in many European nations and in Canada. But it's also making an appearance here in the good ol' USA. Stopping it will require a vigilant and active citizenry.

Hey, Jesus promised we would undergo persecution so we shouldn't be surprised when we encounter it. But even during persecution -- whether of the subtle or not-so-subtle form -- we are still called to preach the Gospel, to love our God and neighbor, and to defend the Church Jesus founded.

God's peace.

Ralph McInerny's International Catholic University

As the few, loyal readers of this blog know, Dr. Ralph McInerny -- philosopher, theologian, multi-discipline scholar, best-selling novelist, poet, and Professor Emeritus at the University of Notre Dame -- died on January 29 at the age of 80. Dr. McInerny led a remarkably full life, a life marked by many significant achievements. In addition to his many books, one achievement will remain with us long after his death. Dr. McInerny was the founder of the International Catholic University (ICU), a wonderful organization that offers a wide variety of self-study courses, plus two graduate degree programs, all designed for today's busy Catholic. I have taken a few of the self-study courses myself, and found the faculty and the course materials to be excellent. ICU also offers two accredited "distance studies" masters degree programs, in theology and philosophy, which are administered by the graduate school at Holy Apostles Seminary in Cromwell, CT. Perhaps if I can open up some free time in my busy life, I might just apply for one of these programs. After all, it's never too late to learn.

If you are interested, click here to read about ICU and its offerings.

I have included below a brief video made by Dr. McInerny, in which he discusses ICU and its mission.

Bug Fixed

The folks at Google fixed the bug and my blog's header is once again visible. My grumbling has ceased.

Blogger Bug

In case you're wondering what happened to my "Being is Good" heading with the clip from Michelangelo's painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, I've become the victim of a Blogger bug. For some reason that image was deleted and I am unable to upload any images to my blog. Apparently the powers at be know about this issue and are working to fix it. We'll see how long it takes. Grumble...grumble...

Grandchildren

I just realized that in the few posts I made during our trip up north, I included photos of only five of our seven grandchildren. And so, in an effort to appease the two neglected grandsons, I present you with Ezekiel and Phineas (wonderful biblical names), who are quite obviously rabid New England Patriots fans. And how about all that hair?

...and, of course, I must include another photo of the new baby, granddaughter Veronica. I especially like her one-eye-open smile.

...and, finally, here's one more of the four siblings who live on Cape Cod: (L to R) Eduardo, Pedro, Carlos and Camilla.

Here Comes the Total Secular State

It seems to me -- and, of course, I'm wrong more often than not -- that we are about to reach an important point in our nation's, and the world's, history. It's a point in time when we will have less time and opportunity to turn things around, to reverse course and avoid what appears to be inexorable movement toward a society in which the state dominates and controls every aspect of the individual citizen's life. Once the foundational elements of this movement are put in place -- and universal, government controlled health care is simply one of these elements -- it becomes virtually impossible to remove them. Ceding power is something that governments don't do on a regular basis. And as we become increasingly democratic -- i.e., driven more by the whims of the electorate than by the Constitution -- the popular feeding frenzy ensures the continued growth of federally generated and controlled entitlements. Social Security and Medicare will soon be bankrupt, but can you imagine any politician proposing major cuts in either program? Not hardly.

Let me give you an example. As a retired naval officer, I'm a member of a large organization called the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA). MOAA is really a lobby that ostensibly advocates a strong national defense, but actually focuses largely on compensation and benefits for active and retired military officers. Let me state that retired military officers are well compensated, and also receive fairly good health and other benefits. But MOAA seems willing to advocate for almost any benefit regardless of its long-term impact on defense readiness and costs. This is just the way of the world these days -- a sort of Ayn Rand Syndrome in which everyone places personal needs above the needs of the society. Personally, when I first put on a uniform in 1962 I did so because I wanted to serve and defend my country. I didn't make career decisions based on compensation, benefits or retirement income. I wasn't unhappy that all these things were part of the package, but they certainly didn't drive my decisions.

But today the desires of special interests always seems to outweigh the needs of the general interest; just as the immediate desires of the electorate always seem to outweigh the problems left to their descendants. Today immediate self-interest rules and so I see little hope that the citizenry will elect those willing to make the hard decisions needed to keep our nation from continuing its movement towards total state control. Congress might have sunk to its lowest approval rating in history -- closing in on single-digit approval -- but voters will still probably re-elect their own local representatives under the assumption that "our guy is different." Perhaps I'm underestimating the intensity of the public's hostility toward incumbents, but I think not. I suppose we'll see in November.

Interestingly, our current administration certainly seems unaffected by this public hostility and has continued its commitment to increased state control. In fairness, though, movement in this direction is nothing new and many previous administrations have abetted the process to some extent. But the Obama administration has moved with more determination and speed than any of its predecessors. I suspect the reasons behind the President Obama's single-minded focus are more ideological than political. In other words, I believe that his administration is willing to sacrifice political gain and longevity for what it believes are non-reversible ideological gains. And that's more than a little scary.

Unlike many of the conservative commentators and opinion makers, I am less concerned about the economic consequences of this movement toward state control. The economy is certainly important, but a nation can survive a collapse into poverty. No, my concern relates to the place of religion in our society and why the state will work hard first to control it and then to suppress it.

If you want to see growing state influence and control at work, you need not look far. Just glance to our north and see what has taken place in Canada. As Canada has become increasingly secular and, like much of Western Europe, cast aside its religious traditions, it has focused on a kind of ill-defined "tolerance" as its reason for being. Ironically, this tolerance is not universal and becomes almost violently intolerant of anyone who speaks out against any politically correct protected species. For example, to speak negatively about Islam or homosexuality is automatically labeled "hate speech" and becomes a criminal offense. And so, under the guise of democracy and tolerance what we really have in Canada is a budding totalitarian state, one already equipped with "thought police." Don't think it could happen here because of our First Amendment protections? Guess again. The courts have already gone a long way toward redefining the freedom of religion clause into a freedom from religion clause, and I expect they will continue in that same direction. The intent of the Constitution, and in particular the Bill of Rights, was to place restraints on the government, but it has "evolved" to the point that it now places restraints on the rights of the people -- and interesting turnabout since, in this country at least, it is the people who are sovereign, not the government.

All of this is motivated by the fact that the secular state cannot succeed without total authority. It cannot abide competing authorities, especially those that contradict its driving principles. And so one of the first things it must do is eliminate, or at least co-opt, religious authority. The Catholic Church is, of course, the most obvious target because of its hierarchical structure, its unchanging stance on moral issues, and the faith of its members. You can, therefore, expect increased attacks on the Church and especially on its leadership. The administration itself will not attack the Church directly; it will leave that task to sympathetic organizations and media outlets. And, believe me, it will have its effect, just as it has in Canada and in Western Europe. I'm afraid the faithful remnant grows ever smaller.

One of the more interesting elements of all this is the role many churches and their leaders play in plotting their own destruction. They hear all those wonderful humanitarian words emanating from the halls of government and jump to the conclusion that they and the government share a common belief. They believe the statists are motivated by the same Christian moral principles that motivate them. They then join in "partnerships" with government in which government is always the senior partner, the partner with the cash. And with this seniority comes control, followed by demands to set aside church teaching for the sake of political correctness. We're already seeing this with Catholic Charities in many dioceses as city and state governments demand that Church agencies ignore the Church's teachings on homosexuality and marriage when it comes to such issues as adoptions and hiring. Instead of maintaining their independence, many Christian churches have opted instead to take the easy money offered by the government. It's so much easier than preaching charity and truth to their congregations.

I suppose all that is the bad news, but as I said at the start, I'm wrong as often as I'm right. The good news is that no state that rejects its religious foundations can survive for very long. Without that foundation it will collapse. In this I am not wrong. And the real Good News, of course, is that Jesus Christ will triumph. We are not to be afraid of the world. We are called instead to preach the Gospel, to live the Christian life by loving God and our neighbor, and to turn to the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church for direction and for the graces that come only from its sacraments. We are truly blessed!

The Manhattan Declaration: A Call to Conscience

For some reason I thought I had already mentioned the Manhattan Declaration on this blog, but apparently it was one of those intended tasks that got lost amidst the aging gray cells and was never actually accomplished. Such things seem to happen more frequently these days. Well, better late than never I suppose. Anyway, I would guess that if you're not familiar with the Manhattan Declaration, you would want to know something about it.

The Manhattan Declaration is a 4,700-word declaration put together by a coalition of Orthodox, Catholic and evangelical clergy, leaders, and scholars in the U.S. It addresses common concerns about the sanctity of life, the importance of traditional marriage, religious liberty, and rights of conscience. The declaration was signed initially on November 20, 2009 and has since been signed by nearly a half-million others.

You can read the entire declaration (and download it) by going to this website: Manhattan Declaration.

I have included the brief summary section of the declaration below to provide an overview of its intent and scope. 

We, as Orthodox, Catholic, and Evangelical Christians, have gathered, beginning in New York on September 28, 2009, to make the following declaration, which we sign as individuals, not on behalf of our organizations, but speaking to and from our communities.    We act together in obedience to the one true God, the triune God of holiness and love, who has laid total claim on our lives and by that claim calls us with believers in all ages and all nations to seek and defend the good of all who bear his image. We set forth this declaration in light of the truth that is grounded in Holy Scripture, in natural human reason (which is itself, in our view, the gift of a beneficent God), and in the very nature of the human person. We call upon all people of goodwill, believers and non-believers alike, to consider carefully and reflect critically on the issues we here address as we, with St. Paul, commend this appeal to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.

While the whole scope of Christian moral concern, including a special concern for the poor and vulnerable, claims our attention, we are especially troubled that in our nation today the lives of the unborn, the disabled, and the elderly are severely threatened; that the institution of marriage, already buffeted by promiscuity, infidelity and divorce, is in jeopardy of being redefined to accommodate fashionable ideologies; that freedom of religion and the rights of conscience are gravely jeopardized by those who would use the instruments of coercion to compel persons of faith to compromise their deepest convictions.

Because the sanctity of human life, the dignity of marriage as a union of husband and wife, and the freedom of conscience and religion are foundational principles of justice and the common good, we are compelled by our Christian faith to speak and act in their defense. In this declaration we affirm: 1) the profound, inherent, and equal dignity of every human being as a creature fashioned in the very image of God, possessing inherent rights of equal dignity and life; 2) marriage as a conjugal union of man and woman, ordained by God from the creation, and historically understood by believers and non-believers alike, to be the most basic institution in society and; 3) religious liberty, which is grounded in the character of God, the example of Christ, and the inherent freedom and dignity of human beings created in the divine image.

We are Christians who have joined together across historic lines of ecclesial differences to affirm our right—and, more importantly, to embrace our obligation—to speak and act in defense of these truths. We pledge to each other, and to our fellow believers, that no power on earth, be it cultural or political, will intimidate us into silence or acquiescence. It is our duty to proclaim the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in its fullness, both in season and out of season. May God help us not to fail in that duty.

The declaration has received wide support from Catholic bishops and I would hope that after reading the entire declaration, you would take a moment to "sign it" online. I believe it sends a needed and meaningful message. You can view the names of US bishops and other religious leaders who have signed the declaration here. (Note March 27: The Manhattan Declaration folks have apparently revamped their website and I can no longer find the list of religious leaders who have signed. My bishops -- Bishop Coleman of Fall River and Bishop Wenski of Orlando -- have both signed.)

Coming Home

Diane and I leave for home tomorrow...finally. We've had a wonderful time visiting with our children. We sent my brother, Jeff, home to his Father. And we welcomed the latest addition to the family, Veronica Lynn. All wonderful things. But I'm once again tired of being up here in the Peoples Republic of Massachusetts. Every visit only reinforces our decision six years ago to move south.

I haven't paid a lot of attention to international or national news during our trip, preferring instead to take a vacation from the world. But today it's been hard to avoid all the craziness about healthcare. It seems our pro-death president and his congressional flunkies will likely get their way and give us a healthcare bill that has little to do with healthcare and a lot to do with increasing the federal government's power over the lives of its citizens. The bill is blatantly pro-abortion and will lead only to the deaths of millions of innocent, unborn children.

Ironically -- given that our president is African American -- abortion has been the leading cause of death in the African American community since the US Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision in 1973. Over 13 million black babies have been murdered in this country since abortion was made llegal. Although African Americans represent only 12% of the population of the United States, they account for 35% of the abortions performed in this country. Don't believe it? Well, you should, because these figures come from the US Government's Center for Disease Control. Abortion is decimating the African American family in the US. It is truly a form of genocide, and it's supported by virtuallly all African American "leaders." To my knowledge this is the world's first instance of a genocide supported by its victims. And so, all those folks who wax eloquently about our president's great intellect should ponder this fact. I have, and have come to the conclusion that this man is either insane or a complete fool.

Ah, well, when a people abdicates its sovereignty (and remember, we Americans have always held that the people, not the government, are sovereign) they get the kind of leadership they deserve. A people foolish enough to cede its rights to those it has placed in power will soon find themselves enslaved by corrupt, power-mad leaders.

How did Thomas Jefferson put it? “Periodic revolution...at least once every 20 years...[was] a medicine necessary for the sound health of government.” It would seem we're long overdue.

Jeff McCarthy's Funeral & Homily

We gave my brother, Jeff, a beautiful funeral on Saturday at my former parish on Cape Cod, Holy Trinity Parish in West Harwich. Fr. Ed Healey celebrated the Mass and I assisted and was privileged to give the homily. Four other deacons joined us in the sanctuary, something for which I am especially thankful. Three of Jeff's West Point classmates (class of 1962) also attended, including his roommate and a longtime family friend, Marsh Carter. Another classmate in attendance was General Dennis Reimer, USA (Ret), former Army Chief of Staff and good friend of my brother. But we were all particularly pleased that Jeff's son, Marshall McCarthy, was able to be with us. Marshall flew up from his home in Costa Rica and rekindled his relationships with his cousins whom he hadn't seen in 20 to 30 years. God turns all to good.

I have included my homily below for those who might be interested.
_________________________

Family separations are always difficult. Those of us who spent a lifetime or two in the military certainly know what family separations are all about. Of course, some separations are greater than others.


One of my former executive officers, Captain Collie Haines, had been a POW in North Vietnam. And as we left on a nine-month cruise, Diane noticed his wife hadn’t joined the other wives and children at the pier to wave goodbye. Later she told Diane, “No, I decided not to see the ship off. The last time I did that he didn’t come home for seven years.” Yes, some separations are greater than others.

And as those families watched that ship until it could no longer be seen, someone would inevitably sigh, “Well, they’re gone.” And you know something, that’s a little like dying. Indeed, it’s a lot like dying. Except, as we sigh, “Well, Jeff’s gone,” there are other voices waiting and ready to shout happily, “There, see! Jeff’s coming. He’s coming home.”

Now I realize it’s not always easy to accept this, because as a deacon I see my share of death and the grief that follows it. It’s at these times that I’m asked all sorts of questions. So many people are afraid of death; so many worry about what lies ahead. Sometimes they’re afraid of nothingness, but with God’s help I can usually help them ease that fear. Most, though, are simply afraid of coming face to face with their lives, of encountering all those mistakes, all the hurt they caused, all that sin, and finding it too much to bear.

But Paul, in our reading from Romans provides the antidote to this fear. Yes, we will be judged; but did you notice the question Paul asks: “Who will bring a charge against God's chosen ones?” You see, the wonderful thing is that Jesus Christ is on our side. That’s why Paul also says that Jesus “is at the right hand of God [and]… indeed intercedes for us.” Oh, yes, brothers and sisters, we will be judged, and all those foolish sins of ours will be evidence against us, but we’ll also have Jesus pleading our case.

Can’t you just imagine Jesus turning to the Father and saying, “Father, this is Jeff. And like every man he had his faults, but I’m pleading for him now. I want you to disregard all that weakness because I died for him. Instead of looking on his sins I’m asking you to look on his repentance, to look on me, your Son, as I die on the Cross for Jeff, paying the price for those sins of his.”

Yes, having Jesus as your defense attorney is about as good as it gets. How many lawyers do you know who will die for their clients?

Of course, we can make His job a lot easier by the way we live, by loving our God and bringing His love to one another. At the end of our reading, though, Paul lists the things that will never come between us and the love of God – among them neither life nor death. And so we’re not to worry; we’re to trust in God’s mercy, in His forgiveness, and in the love He had for us when He brought us into being.

As I mentioned earlier, Paul asks another question: “Who will bring a charge against God's chosen ones?” We are God’s chosen, you know – that’s right, you and I. And it’s one of those realities we really don’t think about often enough. Imagine the difference it would make in our lives if we’d just let this truth really sink into our hearts, if we would joyfully accept that God has chosen us, that we are precious in His sight – and not just some of us, but every last one of us. He wouldn’t have created us if He didn’t love us.

I’m convinced most of us would live our lives differently if we really knew in our hearts that we are chosen by God, that God has destined so much for us. And this brings me again to those who fear death. If we’re chosen by God and precious to God, then death means nothing less than going home to a loving, merciful Father. No wonder John writes in his first letter, “In love there can be no fear, but fear is driven out by perfect love.”

If death simply means our loving Father is calling us, and if we know that our Father chose us from all eternity, well, then, what’s to fear? And that’s why we’re here today. We’re not here to talk about the past. We’re not here to relive Jeff’s life…No, not today. That’s something we, his family and friends, can do for years to come.

You see, this funeral Mass is first and foremost an act of worship. It’s an act of praise and thanksgiving, where we praise God for His goodness and thank Him for His love and the gift of life, the gift of eternal life. This Mass is offered in intercession for Jeff McCarthy because we Catholics believe, and we believe this with all our being, that God hears our prayers for the forgiveness of the sins of our deceased loved ones.

This isn’t a time to praise another human being; on the contrary, it’s a time to praise God; for it’s the Good News of Jesus Christ that we celebrate today…

…the Good News that lies at the very core of our faith

…the Good News that tells us the Father loves us so intensely He sent His only Son to become one of us

…so intensely He allowed His Son to die for our sins, for the sins of those who put Him to death

…so intensely that through this redeeming death He gave us the gift of eternal life.

This is what we celebrate today. We’re here to give Jeff to the Father, to thank God for Jeff’s life, and to ask the Father to grant him a new life, a life far greater than the one Jeff shared with us, an eternal life of happiness. This is something we can believe in. This is something we can all hope for.

Just look again at Luke’s description of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. As they walked from Jerusalem, they were overwhelmed with disappointment. All they could think about was how was cruel and heartless the world was. With the death of Jesus, their hopes and dreams had shattered. Do you recall what they said?

“But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel…” Yes, they had set their hopes on Jesus – well, on the Jesus they believed Him to be – but His death turned what they thought would be a glorious future into despair. And so they had left Jerusalem to return to their old lives, their lives without Jesus, lives that now seemed empty and dark.

But then they met Jesus, didn’t they? Right there on that narrow road to Emmaus. He was so different from the Jesus they had imagined, not some earthly king, not some political liberator. No, they met the real Jesus, the risen Jesus, the Jesus who had destroyed death, the Son of God, the creative Word of God who created all that is. It’s this same Jesus who walks with Jeff today, who wants to walk with each of us.

For it’s only Jesus Christ who can give us the strength to struggle on with life when our hopes have been shattered. Notice the disciples didn’t realize their hearts were on fire when they were with Jesus. No, it was only later that they realized how Jesus had changed them by His presence, changed them by Word and Eucharist.

Our hearts too should burn within us as we meet Jesus even when, like the two disciples, we don’t always recognize His presence. And believe me, He’s with each of you today, just as we pray He’s with Jeff. He’s ready to walk with you, to share your grief, to bring you hope, and turn darkness into light.

You see, brothers and sisters, He’s always ready to share your burdens. Trust me, He can handle it. He can help you carry that cross. After all He’s had a lot of experience.

Praised be Jesus Christ!

A Post from New England

Our ongoing trip up north, and all the busyness that has accompanied it, have conspired to keep me from posting anything on the blog. And the weather has seemigly joined the conspiracy.

I apologize now for complaining about our cold winter in Florida this year. We've been here on Cape Cod for a week and already I'm tired of the weather. It's apparent, too, that my six years in Florida have spoiled me, because the temperatures here have actuallly been fairly mild for March: 30s at night and high 40s during the day. But it's still too cold for me. To make matters worse, it just started raining and the reports promise several days of the same.

None of this, however, has dimmed the new bright spot in our llives, a grandaughter named Veronica Lynn who was born on March 2 and weighed in at a healthy 7 lbs. 1 oz. She is our second grandaughter and seventh grandchild. We continue to be blessed with beautifull and healthy little ones. God be praised.

On Saturday we will celebrate the funeral Mass for my brother, Jeff, and then inter him with our parents, Martha and John McCarthy, in Chatham, Massachusetts. I am so pleased that Jeff's elder son, Marshall, will be able to attend the funeral. Marshall lives in a rather remote corner of Costa Rica -- Pavones on the Pacific coast, close to the border with Panama -- where he and his wife, Angela, own and operate a resort, Cabinas La Ponderosa. It's a lovely spot and I'm sure Marshall won't mind if I give his place a llittle publicity. If you like the idea of adventure in the tropics with some excellent surfing thrown in, check out the website.

Marshall arrives in Boston at midnight tonight, and I'll be there to meet him and drive him to Cape Cod. And so it promises to be a long night. We've been staying with our dear, old friends, the Greens, who also volunteered to shelter Marshall during his brief visit. What good and thoughtful friends!

So far we been splitting our time with our new grandaughter in New Bedford and our four grandchildren who live in Hyannis, and enjoying every minute of it. I've included a photo below that I took just a few minutes ago. Imagine not enjoyiing oneself with these four!

Early next week Diane and I will head west and visit for a few days with our other two grandchildren who live in North Andover, Massachusetts. Then, after a quick return visit to Cape Cod, we'll begin our drive south to the warmth of sunny Florida.

Blessings and God's peace...

Yesterday & Tomorrow

Our annual diaconal retreat was wonderful! Deacon Bill Ditewig, an old friend and a wonderful teacher, conducted the retreat. Deacon Bill teaches and directs the theology graduate program at St. Leo University here in Florida. His talks during our weekend retreat focused on the deacon and the Mass, and placed particular emphasis on the spirituality of the deacon's vocation of worship. Although I suppose I already knew most of the basic information Bill provided, his insights and ability to integrate that information with other elements of the deacon's ministry gave me a renewed appreciation of the deacon's role in the liturgy. I only wish we had been able to spend more time with him.

Tomorrow Diane and I head north to visit our children and grandchildren in Massachusetts. We have a new grandchild arriving any day now, a beautiful reason to celebrate. We are also going to participate in the funeral Mass for my brother, Jeff, and then inter him with our parents in Chatham, Mass. And so the joy of the trip will be mixed with sadness. But I am thrilled that Jeff's elder son, Marshall, will be attending the funeral. Marshall will fly up from his home in a very remote section of Costa Rica. My grown children are excited about once again spending some time with their cousin whom they haven't seen in many years.

Of course, my biggest concern regarding this trip relates to the weather. Leaving Florida for the frigid north, especially when another blizzard-like storm is predicted to hit over the next few days, is not something I would normally do. Only a new baby and a funeral could motivate me to make such a trip. Just my luck, Massachusetts will probably get hit with another two-feet of snow just as we arrive. Ah, well, I lived with snow and cold for most of my life. I suppose I can handle another few weeks of it.

Two feet of snow

Some recent polling statistics on Catholics. Here's some data that might depress you a bit, so if you'd like to remain bright and cheery, I suggest you read no further.

The Knights of Columbus and Marist College just released the results of a survey that focused on the age-group called American Millennials; i.e., young adults aged 18 to 29. According to the results of their extensive survey...

• 85% of Catholic Millennials (those 18-29) believe in God.
• 66% of Catholic Millennials say abortion is morally wrong, while 63% say the same of euthanasia.
• 82% of Catholic Millennials see morals as “relative.” The majority of practicing Catholics (54%) disagree.

If you want to read more, detailed results are available in a PDF PowerPoint file here: American Millennials. And if you don't want to read more, I don't blame you.

Blessings...