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Friday, October 31, 2014
Conquer your most stubborn vices
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Blessing or Curse?
I was a speaker at a Catholic event on a Caribbean Island when a priest confided that he needed more prayer to stand against the demonic spirits that attack the island families. The night before the event a family knocked on his rectory door at a late hour to present their teenager to the priest because they could no longer restrain the child. Evil spirits were manifesting through the teenager evidenced by strange body contortions, superhuman strength and vile verbal abuse against the family and God. Father prayed deliverance prayers over the youth and the manifestations stopped. Father admitted it is hard for him to keep up with the caseload.
The island is situated along the route of an international drug-shipping route. Consequently, drug houses heavily populate the island—almost one per block. Teenagers and adults from every walk of life frequent these drug houses. Subsequently, many parents asked me to pray with them because their children, several per family, were struggling with drug addiction and worse.
Father ascertained that drug lords are heavily involved in the occult; and that in order to increase the addictive quality of the illegal drugs, satanic curses are placed on the drugs. He was told that satanic curses are also placed on certain music and video games to increase their seductive, addictive and destructive qualities.
Before I continue, please allow me to implore that every reader pray more for priests who are on the frontlines of these spiritual battles. People from every religion and even non-believers seek a Catholic priest when they want out of the grip of evil spirits. Unsuspecting and unprotected people (those who are not clothed in the armor of God per Ephesians Six) can be seduced by the devil’s empty promises. Eventually they become so tormented by their demonic liaison that they want out. The devil does not easily let go of his grip. In most cases he has permission to be there because a person has consented that he enter at the level of their free will.
For liberation the person must renounce evil, and often they need the assistance of a Catholic priest to expel the demon. The ordained priest has the authority of the Church behind his prayer to bind and cast demons but he can suffer because of this. Priests are spiritual fathers of God’s family. Most parents relate to the burden bearing we do for our families—tears of intercession that dampened our pillows at night, a pierced heart that cries out for the good of children entrusted to us. A priest does the same for the flock entrusted to his care. He needs to be strengthened by our prayers.
What is a curse?
According to Spain’s experienced exorcist, Fr. Jose Fortea, “A curse is an action that is done to harm another with the help of demons. There are specific curses to kill, to cause one to be possessed, to make things go bad in business, and to make someone sick, etc. …Curses are effective only if God allows them to have effect. The more one prays the more one will be protected against these things.”
The curse is very simply the absence of God or the corruption of creation. “Corruption of procreation” defines a curse in its most operative simple form. Curses are the absence of God. To the degree God is absent is equal to the affliction of the curse. (Pope Leo XIII Institute).
Are curses really effective?
Fr. Fortea explains:
…The first thing that has to be said is that whoever does the curse—as well as the person who may have asked for the curse to be done—will be the first ones affected by the demonic. Without a doubt, they suffer some type of demonic influence, possession, or sickness. The evil they wish on another will come back to them. A demon is never invoked in vain. But is a curse effective against the person to whom it is directed? This depends on the will of God. That is to say, it is the same as with accidents, illnesses, or misfortunes. During our time on earth, God allows us to experience both good and evil because this life is a period of trial, of purification. Of course, the person who prays and lives in God’s grace is protected. The more one prays and lives a spiritual life, the more one is protected (Fr. Fortea, An Interview with an Exorcist).
What can be done to counteract a curse?
Fr. Fortea advises, “If he is truly under a curse, the only way to remove it is to do just the opposite. That is to say, if a person has invoked a demon to do evil, then one has to invoke God to protect, help and bless him. Good is always stronger than evil.”Fortea’s advice echoes Christ’s teaching, “But to you who hear I say love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who maltreat you (Luke 6:27-28).” The Lord has given us the opportunity to bless or curse by the power of our tongue so vigilance is necessary.
Fr. Fortea suggests that his parishioners use the following highly effective weapons if one believes he is the victim of a curse. One cannot go wrong with these!
- Pray the Rosary
- Read the Bible
- Speak with God every day
- Attend Mass frequently, even daily
- Place a blessed crucifix and an image of the Blessed Mother in one’s house.
- Make the sign of the cross with holy water daily.
Most exorcists agree that objects can be cursed by some work of magic, voodoo, satanic rituals or witchcraft. Cursed objects are sometimes unknowingly ingested or they may be outside the person causing harm through touch or by keeping the cursed object in the home. Cursed objects must be found and destroyed, and thus the curse is broken. I have ceased to purchase artifacts from countries where voodoo and witchcraft are rampant.
Spiritual Protection
It is important to stress that the sacramental life is the most powerful protection and that God does not want us to be afraid—only vigilant, prudent and wise about the spiritual battle. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians instructs us to “put on the full armor of God” and then—confidence! In truth, the devil fears the Christian who knows his identity in Christ, filled with His Spirit! The Holy Spirit comes to our aid and makes us spiritually sensitive to discern our spiritual circumstance and how to be protected or liberated. God has given the Church every provision for spiritual warfare.
A Rome exorcist teaches, “Even demonic possession can become a school of holiness—not only for the tormented soul, but also for family and friends, who pray, suffer and sacrifice toward healing.” Often God is teaching us how to proclaim His victory in the midst of the darkness. God brings good out of evil situations but asks our cooperation in faith, hope and love. He instructs us to pray His blessing upon one another.
Blessings
The Catechism teaches, “blessings consist of prayer, scripture, and sometimes a special ritual sign (1668).”
The USCCB posts the following, “People are accustomed to seeing bishops, priests, and deacons blessing objects or persons in the name of the Church. Indeed the more a blessing concerns ecclesial and sacramental life, the more is its administration reserved to the ordained ministry. However, there are other blessings, like the ones contained in Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers that can be prayed by anyone who has been baptized, “in virtue of the universal priesthood, a dignity they possess because of their baptism and confirmation”. The blessings given by laypersons are exercised because of their special office, such as parents on behalf of their children” (www.usccb.org/).
Blessing is a constructive relationship whereby God’s grace flows through humanity, individuals, families, and institutions. Blessings further the miracle and the wonderment of creation. Blessings make God manifest, or present, in one’s life, in one’s body, in one’s home, in one’s institution. To the degree that God is present is the efficacy of the blessing.
The reciprocal, yet unequal in strength, is the curse. The original meaning of blessing from Genesis is one of the first echoes of creation. Blessings and curses present two sides of creation, and echo these two aspects. When in perfect relationship with God, the blessing received through one’s relationship with God overshadows all else.
Sample Blessings
- Numbers 6:24-26: The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace. This can be prayed in return for a curse.
- In your own words: Eternal Father, I confide to Your goodness those people who have cursed me or my loved ones. I implore You to cover them in the Precious Blood of Your Son Jesus. Graciously bless them with the light of truth and conversion to the glory of Your Name. Thank you for the infinite protection of Divine Love that surrounds me.
- St. Edmund: O, Lord, into Your hands and into the hands of Your holy angels, this day I entrust my soul, my relatives, benefactors, friends and enemies, and all Your Catholic people. O Lord, by the merits and prayers of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of all Your saints, keep us today from all evil and unruly desires, from all sins and temptations of the devil, from a sudden and unprepared for death, and the pains of hell. Enlighten my heart with the grace of Your Holy Spirit and never let me separated from You. Amen.
By Kathleen Beckman
Kathleen Beckman, L.H.S., serves as Co-founder and President of the Foundation of Prayer for Priests (www.foundationforpriests.org). She is an author, radio host and retreat director who frequently speaks to priests, seminarians, religious and laity in the United States and abroad. Often featured on EWTN TV and radio, Kathleen hosts the weekly program Living Eucharist, which airs internationally on Radio Maria. She serves as spiritual director, advisory board member and faculty for the Pope Leo XIII Institute, and the Magnificat advisory team. Her new book, Praying for Priests: A Mission for the New Evangelization, is available from Sophia Institute Press.Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Responding to Death
Grounding our life in the Eucharist gives us hope even in the face of death.
The inevitability of death can cause us to respond in different ways. Some choose to entertain themselves regularly so that they never have to contemplate their mortality.
Some choose to defy death by living on the edge, participating in extreme sports and daring expeditions and facing life with a seemingly defiant attitude that looks death in the face. A few are paralyzed with fear, assuming that every act or choice will bring their demise. We cannot in good conscience embrace these extremes: numbing avoidance, indifferent defiance, or paralytic immobility.
For the sinner and for the saint, there is a day coming in which we will leave this world for another. If we choose to believe that there is nothing facing us on the other side, then what we know and experience is all that is or will be. It is a sad state of affairs to find the end of life in view with no hope whatsoever of another journey that awaits us. There are two roads, and we choose one or the other every day: to believe there is something on the other side of the veil or not to believe.
But the fact that our lives have been truly grounded and resurrected in Christ Jesus and sustained by the Eucharist should give us a sense of hope in spite of death’s looming approach. Our state of mind, then, should be quite different from someone who has resisted the invitation of the Spirit throughout his life. And if we can believe the stories of the saints who have articulated insights from the world to come, then we can attain a great sense of peace.
Some of the saints would write and reflect upon the meaning of life with a skull on their desks. This constant acknowledgment of death wasn’t rooted in morbidity; rather, it grounded them in their mortality. Realizing that they were not immortal reminded them to live each day as if it were their last. Contemplating their mortality energized and enabled them to strive towards holiness, even when the odds were against them. People like St. Polycarp faced martyrdom, refusing to compromise his faith to gain an extra day, month, or year of his life. He knew that each day was a gift from God and that the immortality that awaited him was of greater importance than living this life without integrity. The saints show us that life is far more valuable than we might have previously realized, and as a result, we must not carelessly pursue things that rob us of grace and purpose.
Prayer Starter: How can I live each day as if it were my last?
This article is an excerpt from Why The Eucharist Matters by Chris Padgett, which is available from the Word Among Us Press.
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Angels & The Spiritual Life
God assigns us Guardian Angels as a most excellent provision to secure us in the covenant of His love, and to aid our fallen nature in overcoming self, the world and the devil. God knows we need such help! The Catechism quotes St. Basil about the Guardian Angels, “Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life (336).” The same section continues, “From its beginning until death human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession. Already here on earth the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united in God.” St. Thomas Aquinas states, “The angels work together for the benefit of us all.”
The Angels and the Spiritual Life
Throughout the whole course of life, the assistance of the angels given to the soul continues, and according to Origen, “not even sins can suppress it. They can only sadden the angel of the soul (Origen, Hom. In Luc, 35).” Since Origen teaches that we can “sadden the angel of the soul,” it seems proper that we can also gladden the angel of the soul by loving God and choosing to live according to His law of love.
Most Catholics are well aware that angels protect the soul from the ongoing attacks of the fallen angels, demonic spirits. Also, God has assigned a Guardian Angel to help us in His process of sanctifying the soul to become more Godlike. The universal call to holiness is a call to transfiguration or in the words of St. John the Baptist, “He must increase and I must decrease (John 3:30).” Angels help the soul to progress in the spiritual life.
We can consider a teaching that has its source in the Gospel itself, the spiritual life appears as an imitation of the life of the angels and a participation in their life. According to Jean Danielou, S.J., “…it reintroduces the soul into the angelic creation. But the fact remains that the ascension of the soul leads it even higher than the angels. The Christian mystery is the exaltation of humanity above the sphere of the angels. This mystery, which is true first of all of Christ Himself, is true of the whole human nature which He leads along with Him as a retinue.” Danielou quotes Hilary, “The angels, then, appear first of all as aiding the soul in its spiritual ascension. It is through the ministry of the angels that we have received the opportunity to ascend to the things on high; they are lever-bars, sent for the service of the those who are to receive the heritage of salvation, to raise them to the heights of virtue.”
Angelic Aid
Here’s a practical example of how I experienced my guardian angel’s help in my interior life. One day in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, I experienced the prompting of my guardian angel to consider how I could grow closer to God by asking the Lord for the grace of greater contrition for my sins. My angel seemed to remind me of how the saints exemplified great contrition for their sins even to the point of tears. I began to realize that I was confessing my sins every two weeks in the same way that I did when I first experienced the Sacrament of Reconciliation—long ago! I believe my guardian angel prompted me to desire to go deeper in the Sacrament of Reconciliation—to the root of the same sin pattern, and into deeper contrition for having offended God’s law of love. I believe my guardian angel helped me to grow in the area of fear of the Lord. Psalm 110:11 states, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To Him belongs eternal praise.” Fear of the Lord is the awareness that we are in His presence that is holy and just and that we are accountable to God for our motives, thoughts, actions and words. Fear of the Lord is a desire to live in harmony with the Lord’s righteousness and to honor Him in everything. I believe that my guardian angel aided me to grow in awareness of what offends God and what gives Him honor, and to experience much deeper contrition for sin, even to the point of tears. How cleansing those tears!
Growing in the virtue of fear of the Lord is one way to grow in the love of God that “casts out all fear (1 John 4:18).” Fear of everything but God is one of the most effective tactics of the demonic world. The demons aim to mock God by stunting the growth of the spiritual life of His people, to the point that the trajectory of the soul is not upward toward heaven but downward toward hell. My guardian angel helped me to understand this. Late in my life, and spiritual journey did I realize how very efficacious it is to have a real spiritual friendship and deep devotion to my good guardian angel! Now, I offer prayers of gratitude to God for my guardian angel often, and my angelic helper has become extremely tangible to my soul.
Angelic Affiliation
In his wonderful book, The Angels and Their Mission, Danielou helps us to understand the important role of the angels for our interior life, “…The soul is associated with the angels in its progress toward God not only in being assisted by them but also in that the spiritual life assimilates it to the life of the angels. This theme can be found already in the Gospel, where it is said that the “elect will be like angels of God in heaven (Matt.22: 30).” The perfect life is an anticipation of this final eschatological transformation. The spiritual life re-introduces the soul into heavenly familiarity with the angels.”
The soul is allied to the angels through its detachment from the life of sense. Our five senses can be portals of light or darkness, and that is why, in the Church’s ministry of healing, deliverance and exorcism, guarding the senses (what we see, hear, taste, touch and smell) is extremely important. Our spiritual life in this world should be in conformity with that which will follow, so that living in the flesh and finding ourselves upon the battlefield of this world, we ought not to live according to the flesh and join forces with this world, but we should already begin to conform with the life we hope for after that of this world. Therefore, Danielou writes, “That is why the Bride of Christ (Church) exhorts the soul to turn toward the powers of heaven, in imitation of their detachment, to attain the purity of the angels. This is the whole of the doctrine. Men are destined to participate after death in the life of the angels; the spiritual life makes them anticipate this condition.”
Prayer & Devotion to My Guardian Angel
Angel of God’s light, whom God sends as a companion for me on earth, protect me from the snares of the devil, and help me to walk always as a child of God, my Creator.
Angel of God’s truth, whose perfect knowledge serves what is true, protect me from deceits and temptations. Help me to know the truth, and always to live the truth.
Angel of God’s love, who praises Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, who sacrificed His life for love us, sustain me as I learn the ways of Divine love, of sacrificial generosity, of meekness and lowliness of heart.
Thank you, my heavenly friend, for your watchful care. At the moment of my death, please bring me to heaven, where the one true God, Who is Light, Truth and Love, lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.
By Kathleen Beckman
Kathleen Beckman, L.H.S., serves as Co-founder and President of the Foundation of Prayer for Priests (www.foundationforpriests.org). She is an author, radio host and retreat director who frequently speaks to priests, seminarians, religious and laity in the United States and abroad. Often featured on EWTN TV and radio, Kathleen hosts the weekly program Living Eucharist, which airs internationally on Radio Maria. She serves as spiritual director, advisory board member and faculty for the Pope Leo XIII Institute, and the Magnificat advisory team. Her new book, Praying for Priests: A Mission for the New Evangelization, is available from Sophia Institute Press.
Sunday, October 26, 2014
Today's Mass Readings - Sunday, October 26, 2014 with Reflections
1ST READING - Exodus 22:20-26
20 Thus says the Lord: “You shall not molest or oppress an alien, for you were once aliens yourselves in the land of Egypt. 21 You shall not wrong any widow or orphan. 22 If ever you wrong them and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry. 23 My wrath will flare up, and I will kill you with the sword; then your own wives will be widows, and your children orphans. 24 If you lend money to one of your poor neighbors among my people, you shall not act like an extortioner toward him by demanding interest from him. 25If you take your neighbor’s cloak as a pledge, you shall return it to him before sunset; 26 for this cloak of his is the only covering he has for his body. What else has he to sleep in? If he cries out to me, I will hear him; for I am compassionate.”
P S A L M - Psalm 18:2-3, 3-4, 47, 51
R: I love you, Lord, my strength.
1 [2] I love you, O Lord, my strength, 2 [3] O Lord, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer. (R) My God, my rock of refuge, my shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold! 3 [4] Praised be the Lord, I exclaim, and I am safe from my enemies. (R) 46 [47] The Lord lives and blessed be my rock! Extolled be God my savior. 50 [51] You who gave great victories to your king and showed kindness to your anointed. (R)
2ND READING - 1 Thessalonians 1:5-10
5 Brothers and sisters: You know what sort of people we were among you for your sake. 6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, receiving the word in great affliction, with joy from the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became a model for all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8 For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth not only in Macedonia and in Achaia, but in every place your faith in God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything. 9 For they themselves openly declare about us what sort of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God 10and to await his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus, who delivers us from the coming wrath.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked man, says the Lord, but rather in his conversion that he may live.
Matthew 22:34-40
34 When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, 35 and one of them a scholar of the law, tested him by asking, 36 “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” 37 He said to him, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the greatest and the first commandment. 39 The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”
| SABBATH | ||
BE A MODEL
The Gangnam style of dancing, popularized by the Korean, Psy, more than two years ago had the enviable reputation of being the first ever YouTube hit to pierce through the billion mark just a few months after it was posted. But the more remarkable phenomenon was the sheer number of young and not-so-young people who took to the same style of dancing.
It was a perfect example of mimesis — the very reality that Paul today, in the Second Reading, speaks about. The Greek word is related to mimicking, or imitating what is done by others.
People tend to mimic what they see, especially if they see them done by iconic individuals, media celebrities or just about everyone, who, by office, position or role, is considered a role model for young people.
I remember a classmate back in college who idolized a German priest. The missionary priest was a scientist, a musician, a polyglot and a storyteller, all rolled into one. My classmate not only got very enthused about science; he began at some point to mimic the priest’s style of speaking, his thick German accent, and his mannerisms and idiosyncracies. He became, literally and figuratively, a mimetes — an imitator through and through.
All this really points to the power we all have of influencing others in their thinking and behavior patterns, in their mentality and attitude, for better or for worse. Each one of us has that undeniable power of persuasion, not so much through what we say, as what they see us do. The hated scribes and Pharisees in the New Testament were notorious for what they eventually became — hypocrites who only talked but did not not walk their talk.
We are called to do better than the preachy scribes and the picky Pharisees. We ought to be cautious and conscious of what we are all called to become — a model for all believers! Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB
REFLECTION QUESTION: Who is your role model in your spiritual life?
Lord, thank You for the Apostles and saints who have gone before us. Their lives tell us that it is possible to follow You no matter what our circumstances are.
Blessed Contrado Ferrini, pray for us.
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Friday, October 24, 2014
Experience one of life's greatest pleasures
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Thursday, October 23, 2014
Healing Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
Please heal me. Heal in me whatever you see that needs healing. Heal me of whatever might separate me from You. Heal my memory, heal my heart, heal my emotions, heal my spirit, heal my body and heal my soul.
Lay your hands gently on me and heal me through you love for me. AMEN.
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
What Do We Express When We Venerate Relics?
“To venerate the relics of the saints is a profession of belief in several doctrines of the Catholic faith:
(1) the belief in everlasting life for those who have obediently witnessed to Christ and His Holy Gospel here on earth;
(2) the truth of the resurrection of the body for all persons on the last day;
(3) the doctrine of the splendour of the human body and the respect which all should show toward the bodies of both the living and the deceased;
(4) the belief in the special intercessory power which the saints enjoy in heaven because of their intimate relationship with Christ the King; and
(5) the truth of our closeness to the saints because of our connection in the communion of saints — we as members of the Church militant or pilgrim Church, they as members of the Church triumphant.” (Fr. W. Saunders, “Church Teaching on Relics”, © 2003 Arlington Catholic Herald)
Why Do We Venerate Relics?
Likewise, just as [others] were drawn closer to God through the lives of [holy people], so did they (even if through their remains) inspire others to draw closer even after their deaths.
This perspective provides the Church’s understanding of relics.” (Fr. W. Saunders, “Keeping Relics in Perspective”, © 2003 Arlington Catholic Herald)
“In all, relics remind us of the holiness of a saint and his cooperation in God’s work; at the same time, relics inspire us to ask for the prayers of that saint and to beg the grace of God to live the same kind a faith-filled life.” (Saunders)
“In all, relics remind us of the holiness of a saint and his cooperation in God’s work; at the same time, relics inspire us to ask for the prayers of that saint and to beg the grace of God to live the same kind a faith-filled life.” (Saunders)
What is a Relic?
A relic is something connected with a saint or blessed, including a part of their body (e.g. hair or a piece of bone), their clothing, or an object that the person used or touched.
Relics are classified as 1st Class – a part of the person’s body, for example: blood, hair, or bones; 2nd Class an article touched by the person or touched directly to part of his or her body; and 3rd Class something touched indirectly to the person, that is, to a 1st or 2nd Class relic, to the tomb, etc.
It is not the kind of relic or how big it is that is important, but rather the faith and prayer that the relic occasions. By the communion of saints, it is that person who is close to us, blessing and praying for us. (Fr. W. Saunders, “Keeping Relics in Perspective”, © 2003 Arlington Catholic Herald)
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Archangels and Guardian Angels
Last week, we began our discussion of angels, examining their role in sacred Scripture and even investigating the nine choirs of angels. This week, we focus our attention on the archangels and the guardian angels. Sacred Scripture identifies by name three angels, who are the great messengers of God — Sts. Michael, Raphael and Gabriel.
They are called archangels because of their important roles in God’s plan. St. Michael, whose name means, “one who is like God,” led the army of angels who cast Satan and the rebellious angels into Hell; at the end of time, he will wield the sword of justice to separate the righteous from the evil (cf. Rv 12:7-10). St. Gabriel, whose name means “strength of God,” announced to Mary that she had been chosen as the Mother of the Savior (cf. Lk 1:26-38). St. Raphael, whose name means “remedy of God,” cured the blind man Tobit (cf. Tb 5).
They are called archangels because of their important roles in God’s plan. St. Michael, whose name means, “one who is like God,” led the army of angels who cast Satan and the rebellious angels into Hell; at the end of time, he will wield the sword of justice to separate the righteous from the evil (cf. Rv 12:7-10). St. Gabriel, whose name means “strength of God,” announced to Mary that she had been chosen as the Mother of the Savior (cf. Lk 1:26-38). St. Raphael, whose name means “remedy of God,” cured the blind man Tobit (cf. Tb 5).
The angels are also our guardians. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “From infancy to death human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession” (No. 336). St. Basil (d. 379) asserted, “Beside each believer stands an angel protector and shepherd leading him to life” (Adversus Eunomium, III, 1). Most of us at an early age learned the little prayer to our guardian angel:
Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God’s love commits me here. Ever this day be at my side, to light, to guard, to rule and to guide.
Some of the saints were able to see angels, as St. Peter did (Acts 12:1-19), or to see their guardian angel, as St. Pio (Padre Pio) and St. Elizabeth of Hungary did.
Moreover, as Catholics, we remember the important role of St. Michael in defending us against Satan and the powers of evil. Toward the end of the 19th century, Pope Leo XIII (d. 1903) had a prophetic vision of the coming century of sorrow and war. In this vision, God gave Satan the choice of one century in which to do his worst work. The devil chose the 20th century. So moved was the Holy Father from this vision that he composed the prayer to St. Michael the Archangel:
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle! Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into Hell Satan and all the other evil spirits who roam about the world seeking the ruin of souls.
For many years, this prayer was recited at the end of Mass to bring about the fall of communism. All of the faithful should again invoke the aid of St. Michael to combat the great evils we see present in our world — abortion, euthanasia, terrorism, genocide, same-sex marriage and the like.
As members of the Church, we are conscious of the angels in our liturgical practices. At Mass, in the Preface before the Eucharistic Prayer, we join with all of the angels and saints to sing the hymn of praise, “Holy, holy, holy…” In the Eucharistic Prayer I, the priest prays, “Almighty God, we pray that your angel may take this sacrifice to your altar in Heaven.” In the Final Commendation of the Funeral Liturgy, the priest prays, “May the angels lead you into paradise; may the martyrs come to welcome you and take you to the holy city, the new and eternal Jerusalem.” Moreover, we celebrate in our liturgical calendar the Feasts of the Archangels (September 29) and Guardian Angels (October 2).
In our daily prayers and activities, we should be mindful of these servants of God who by His love keep our lives safe from harm and guide us on the path of salvation.
(This article courtesy of the Arlington Catholic Herald.)
By Fr. William Saunders
Fr. Saunders is pastor of Our Lady of Hope Parish in Potomac Falls and a professor of catechetics and theology at Notre Dame Graduate School in Alexandria. If you enjoy reading Fr. Saunders's work, his new book entitled Straight Answers (400 pages) is available at the Pauline Book and Media Center of Arlington, Virginia (703/549-3806).
Monday, October 20, 2014
The Most Important in the Kingdom
Reflections
Fr. Shay Cullen
PREDA
Fr. Shay Cullen
PREDA
Recently I was talking to a group of forty young boys who had been taken out of filthy jails and sub-human conditions in the so-called youth detention centers of Metro Manila. I told them, “You are the children of God and the most important in God’s family. That’s why you are here, you are free and have rights and dignity.”
They stared wide-eyed with incredulous looks of awe and bafflement. Jason, ten years old, jumped up, spread out his arms and began to spin around in a playful demonstration of “being free.” Everyone laughed and enjoyed the moment.
The boys between 9 and 16 are living happily in a beautiful home in the countryside and finding and experiencing their basic rights and joys that we, who have never suffered an injustice or been in conflict with the law or lost our freedom, take for granted and so hardly ever cherish and celebrate. You may never value it until it is taken away.
A large majority of the boys at the Preda Foundation’s New Dawn Home for Boys in conflict with the law are not convicted and not on trial. They are sent to get treatment and therapy and help for troubled lives. They are free to run wherever they want in the grounds. There are no guards, steel bars, wire cages and brutal treatment which they experienced in the jails and youth detention and so-called reformatory centers where they were locked up like animals without light, exercise, education or entertainment, affirmation or legal process.
It is the first time for them to experience such rights and respect and for them it is an amazing wonder. The Preda staff and I tell them the truth about themselves- “you are good, you have rights and dignity, you have had a hard life and made mistakes under the bad influence of adults but you can choose now to live another positive way.”
They listen with wide-eyed wonder and can scarcely believe this good news since they have hardly ever experienced being loved, wanted, valued, supported, fed and cherished. Instead they have been rejected all their lives and told they are a burden and pest to their family and society and deserve punishment and imprisonment. They might as well have been on death row.
Now at Preda this bad experience and negative conditioning is being turned on its head. Now they are told- “you are free here at the Preda New Dawn Home for Boy to stay or leave. Know that you are of importance, value and are good in yourselves. Do not believe or think of yourselves a bad, criminal or useless young people. You are God’s children and the most important in God’s family, Jesus said so.”
Hearing and knowing this good news, each one, free of fear, reprimand and punishment they can develop self-awareness, self-consciousness and begin to grow as persons. It is a vital part of being fully human and something they hardly ever experienced. They feel respected and valued and can have a dream to reach a positive goal. They are assured that they will be helped to achieve a better, happier life for themselves and their future families when they grow up. What attitudes they have today will be how they will treat others in the future. They must learn and grow for the better.
It takes time for all this to sink in, so conditioned are these 9 to 16 year-old boys. We have to undo the harm and negativity that has been heaped on them from childhood by parents, relatives and local authorities. They have been branded by parents and society as worthless thieves, drug dependents and social outcasts. But they are not.
Normally good children that are misunderstood and unloved and branded as bad will likely become what they are called. Adults and parents must be careful never to physically, verbally or emotionally abuse children. They will rebel and find ways to retaliate. They feel injustice like everyone else.
At times I challenge parents of troubled unruly and drug-taking children how is it that they were born innocent but have become like this? I ask them, “Why do your children take pain killers? Who is causing the pain? How have you treated and spoken to them as they grew up?”
Inevitably the parents will respond defensively. “It’s not us, he (she) never listens to us, has no discipline, never obeys, steals, takes drugs, seldom goes to school, is a computer games addict, does not come home and prefers to be with the street gangs.”
Some parents admit that they voluntarily turned their child over to the detention center. “To teach him/her a lesson,” they say. Punishment is no cure for troubled and hurt children. It hurts and alienates them all the more.
To parents like that I usually respond, “How is it then that your son is here at Preda for two months and has never run away, does not steal, not take drugs, is never violent, is helpful, does his duties, attends classes daily and respects the staff and other boys? Perhaps there is a problem in the home? With you he is a wild rebel. Here he is a normal respectful boy. Who needs to change, you or him?” And so the parents have to reflect on their family life and ask if there is a lack of loving parenting.
What inspires and motivates the youth is to know that their parents are willing to cooperate and attend parenting seminars and to accept and admit that they too have mistakes and are willing to reconcile with their child. The hope of family reconciliation and peace-making and acceptance back into the family is what motivates the boy to continue in the Preda home. The loss of love and friendship with parents and family is the greatest hurt and loss. Peacemaking and acceptance is the greatest gift.
shaycullen@preda.org
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