Be Not Afraid

There is no evil to be faced

that Christ does not face with us.

There is no enemy

that Christ has not already conquered.

There is no cross to bear

that Christ has not already borne for us,

And does not now bear with us.

-Blessed John Paul II, 1995

Shaking In Your Boots?

We all are after last Sunday’s readings! The consumerist culture that we live in makes it challenging for us to see our material possessions in the proper light, to renounce greed and to share all that is unnecessary for us.

Msgr. Charles Pope of Washington, D.C. reflects on this through solid “investment advice” from St. Basil the Great. For some enlightenment on where it is we should store up our treasures, check out his post on the Archdiocese of Washington blog. 

The Feast of the Transfiguration

On the Mountain of the Transfiguration, God speaks from the cloud, as he had done on Sinai. But now he says: “This is my beloved Son; listen to him” (Mk 9:7). He commands us to listen to his Son, because “no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him” (Mt 11:27). And so we learn that the true name of God is FATHER! The name which is beyond all other names: ABBA! (cf. Gal 4:6). And in Jesus we learn that our true name is SON, DAUGHTER! We learn that the God of the Exodus and the Covenant sets his people free because they are his sons and daughters, created not for slavery but for “the glorious liberty of the children of God” (Rom 8:21).

-Blessed John Paul II’s homily on Mt. Sinai, February 2000

At Last, Bone From My Bones And Flesh From My Flesh

When they unite with each other (in the conjugal act) so closely so as to become ‘one flesh,’ man and woman rediscover every time and in a special way the mystery of creation, thus returning to the union in humanity (‘flesh from my flesh and bone from my bones’) that allows them to recognize each other reciprocally and to call each other by name, as they did the first time.

-Theology of the Body, sec. 10.2

Blessed John Paul II’s Theology of the Body is one of the many gifts he gave to the Church during his pontificate. For a deep exploration of his writings, and what they mean for us in contemporary society, check out the Unites States Conference of Catholic Bishops site, Marriage: Unique for a Reason.

Papal Intentions for August

Pope Francis’s general intention for this month is, that “parents and teachers may help the new generation to grow in upright conscience and life.” Let us pray that they fulfill their vocations to be living witnesses to the faith.

The Holy Father’s missionary intention for this month is, that “the local Church in Africa, faithfully proclaiming the Gospel, may promote peace and justice.” In the face of many troubles, let us pray that the people of Africa find peace in spreading the Word of God.

Let us pray with Pope Francis, then, for the manifestation of the faith in our homes, in our schools, and especially in the African Church. For pastoral comments on these intentions, see the Vatican news site.

WYD 2016 Where Blessed John Paul II Felt At Home

At the largest closing mass for World Youth Day since 1995, Pope Francis announced that the next World Youth Day would be held in Krakow in 2016.

The Metropolitan Archbishop of Krakow, Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, welcomed Pope Francis’s decision with joy.

In this, he has responded to the desires of so many young people who have long wished to celebrate their faith in the country and the city of Karol Wojtyła, who set off for the Eternal City from Kraków in October 1978, and who, as John Paul II, Bishop of Rome, instituted World Youth Days.

Among the many pastoral initiatives of John Paul II, World Youth Days has undoubtedly been among the most successful, far-reaching and fruitful. The Blessed Pope, since the beginning, saw in young people the “morning watchmen (Isaiah 21:11-12), keeping vigil at the dawn of the Third Millennium” (Tor Vergata, 19 August 2000).

Blessed John Paul II often said that he felt very much at home in Krakow, where he served as Archbishop from 1964-1978. How appropriate is it, then, that his beloved young people will gather there soon after his canonization?

Blessed John Paul II, please pray for all of those who are returning from Rio, that the fruits of World Youth Day may settle rightly in their hearts. Please also pray for those who are already preparing for World Youth Day in Krakow, that they may be guided by your witness and your love for young people.

Total Dedication To The Service of God

After celebrating the feast of St. Maria de Jesus Sacramentado Venegas de la Torre, let us reflect on the words of Blessed John Paul II at her canonization:

St. María de Jesús Sacramentado Venegas, the first Mexican woman to be canonized, knew how to remain united to Christ during her long earthly life and thus she bore abundant fruits of eternal life. Her spirituality was marked by an exceptional Eucharistic piety, since it is clear that an excellent way to union with the Lord is to seek him, to adore him, to love him in the most holy mystery of his real presence in the Sacrament of the Altar.

She wanted to continue his work by founding the Daughters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, who today in the Church follow her charism of charity to the poor and the sick. Indeed, the love of God is universal; it is meant for all human beings and for this reason the new saint understood that it was her duty to spread it, generously caring for everyone until the end of her days, even when her physical energy was declining and the heavy trials that she had to endure throughout her life had sapped her strength. Very faithful in her observance of the Constitutions, respectful to Bishops and priests, attentive to seminarians, St. María de Jesús Sacramentado is an eloquent example of total dedication to the service of God and to suffering humanity.

St. Maria, during this week of your feast, please pray for us and most especially for the Church in Mexico.