catholic family faith

Lord's Day Faith Chat - 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time - July 11, 2010

"Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers' victim?"  He answered, "The one who treated him with mercy."  Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."  (Luke 10:36-37)

All we need is love.  So sang the Beatles.  So we are reminded in this Sunday's Gospel reading. 

As I sit here contemplating this story of the scholar asking Jesus what is necessary to inherit eternal life and Jesus' response with the story of the Good Samaritan, I am reminded that Jesus' way is really very simple.  Everything Jesus teaches and does is centered in love.  All we need is love.

What exactly is love, though?  Is it a feeling, an emotion?  We say, "I love you," to family members and close friends.  Is it because we feel good when we're with them?  They make us feel good about ourselves when we're with them, so we like to be with them, we love them.

Is love an action?  We show our love through acts of kindness.  We express love in what we say and do for others.  We take part in projects to help others in our communities and in our world.

I would say that love does encompass emotion, feeling, and action.  Love goes beyond feeling and action, though.  Love is a state of being, a way of life encompassing both feeling and action and more.  True Love is at our core, impacting the way that we live - what we think, the words that we speak, and our actions in the world.

Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan in answer to the scholar's question, "Who is my neighbor?"  The story is also about love.  If love were simply a feeling or emotion, then the Samaritan, not knowing the robbers' victim, would not have felt the need to act.  He had no emotional tie to the victim, so there was no need for him to care about the victim. 

Yet he did care about the victim.  He stopped, bound his wounds, and took him to a safe place.  Because the Samaritan lived in a state of love, it was only natural for him to care for the victim.  He would have done the same for anyone.

When we allow Love - God - to fill us, we live in a state of perpetual care and compassion.  When we love God, that is, open ourselves to allow God to fill us to the core, we cannot help but truly care for our neighbor and our self.  When we are filled with Love, mercy and kindness flow naturally from our words and our actions.

I think that the reason we continue to have so much hurt and pain, violence, and war in our world is because we don't truly love.  While we say we love our family and friends and even do good works for our communities and world, our love isn't pure.  We allow ourselves to hold on to a bit of pride.  We want what's best for ourselves.  Even though we seemingly act with good intentions, in the back of our minds we are asking, "What's in this for me?"  We want to feel good.  We want to look good.  The problem is that if we even allow a little bit of pride to influence what we say and do, we are ultimately pushing love out. 

Jesus' story of the Good Samaritan is an example of pure love.  The Samaritan risked his own life and his reputation to take care of the victim.  The robbers could return at any moment.  His friends and family could shun him for caring for someone who is not one of them.  Even though those thoughts may have crossed his mind, he pushed them out and allowed Love to fill him.  In doing so, he was able to become Love for another.

It is true that all we need is love.  It really is that simple.  The difficult part is pushing aside our own pride to allow Love to fill us and empower us.  When we say, "I love you," let us mean not only that "I feel good when I am with you," but also "You are an image of God to me."  When we do good things for others, may we not ask, "What's in it for me?" but rather become Love for others.  All we need is to allow Love become our state of being, our very core.

 

Faith Chat Questions:

Adults/Youth:  Jesus tells us today to love God, our neighbor, and our self.  How will you love God this week?  your neighbor?  yourself?

Children:  Name a time in the past week or two when you showed love for a family member or friend.  What did you do?

Faith Response:  As a family, snuggle in with some snacks and watch a good movie.  After the movie, discuss the ways the characters did or did not exemplify love of God, love of neighbor, love of self.  (Watch a favorite movie, rent a new DVD, or check out http://www.usccb.org/movies/ for movie suggestions.)

Pray:  Christ Jesus, through the waters of Baptism you have called us to share your love and Good News with others.  Help us to keep our hearts and minds open for those opportunities.  Amen.

 

 

Beach Fun

It's summertime! One of the benefits of living in West Michigan is the beaches of Lake Michigan. Soft white sand. Sparkling, refreshing water, without salt. Cool breezes. Warm sun.

The beach can be a spiritual place. When we put ourselves in touch with God's creation, we experience God's own essence. There is something about sand and water and wind that calms and refreshes our spirits. Soft sand cradling us as we sit or lie on it reminds us of God's hands holding and comforting us. Feeling the bits of sand and wondering how many bits of sand there are on the beach and in the world reminds us of the vastness of God's power and creativity. The wind caressing our faces and skin reminds us that God's breath gives us life and is all around us. The water's waves rushing onto the shore reminds us of the life-giving refreshment of the water.

Make time to go to the beach this summer, whether it be an ocean shore, one of the Great Lakes, or a local lake. Refresh your soul and have fun with your family as you enjoy God's gifts of wind, water, sunshine, and sand.

For some Beach-Themed Activities & Crafts, check out FamilyEducation.com: http://fun.familyeducation.com/slideshow/activities/65770.html?page=1

Following Jesus Puzzle Fun

Do you and your family members like puzzles? Download these puzzles and have some fun.

Criss Cross Puzzle: Download FollowingJesuscrisscross.pdf (142.7K)

Word Search: Download FollowingJesuswordsearch.pdf (90.1K)

Check out Puzzlemaker at Discovery Education to create your own puzzles. http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/

Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, feast day June 11

On June 11th, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. 

In 1673 at Paray-le-Monial, France, Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-1690) began sharing private revelations that she received from God regarding the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In these revelations, Christ asked her to be His instrument to spread devotion to His Sacred Heart. 

Despite skepticism when she first began to reveal her visions, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque stayed faithtul to the instructions she received from Christ. As Novice Mistress at Visitation convent in Paray-le-Monial, she developed this devotion in her convent and in 1688 a chapel devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus was built. The devotion spread to other Visitation convents.

St. John Eudes also promoted the devotion to the Sacred Heart, and by 1672, all of the seminaries of his order were celebrating the feast to the Sacred Heart. In 1765, at the request of the bishops of Poland, Pope Clement XIII officially approved the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  In 1856, Blessed Pius IX extended this feast to the universal Church. 

In the early 1900's, with the approval of Pope St. Pius X, Fr. Mateo Crawley-Boevey, a priest of the Fathers of the Sacred Heart, began a campaign to bring the "entire world, home by home, family by family, to the devotion of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. For Fr. Mateo, the family was key to sharing Christ's love with the world through the devotion to the Sacred Heart.

There are five elements to the devotion of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

1. That people would worship and adore the Sacred Heart of Jesus as the source of love, mercy, grace, sanctification, and salvation for all.
2. That people would believe in the merciful love of Christ's Sacred Heart for all people.
3. That people would generously return Christ's love to Him.
4. That Christ's faithful would love Him more and more to make up for those who do not love Him.
5. That people would have a special love and reverence for the Blessed Sacrament.

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque communicated twelve promises from Christ for persons who practiced a devotion to the Sacred Heart. They are

1. They would receive all the graces necessary for their state of life.
2. They would have peace in their homes.
3. They would feel Christ's comfort in all their afflictions.
4. Christ would be their refuge throughout life and in death.
5. Christ would shower them with abundant blessings in all of their undertakings.
6. Sinners would experience the source and "infinite ocean" of mercy in the Sacred Heart.
7. Tepid souls would grow fervent.
8. Fervent souls would grow to high perfection.
9. Wherever the image of the Sacred Heart was displayed would be a place of honor.
10. Priests would receive the gift of being able to touch even the most hardened of hearts.
11. They would have their names written on Christ's Sacred Heart, never to be blotted out.
12. Those who receive Holy Communion on the first Friday of nine consecutive months would be granted the grace of final penitence.

Click here for some beautiful prayers to the Sacred Heart of Jesus: http://www.sacredheart.com/SacredHeartPrayers.htm

Sources of information:

• Encyclopedia of Catholic Devotions and Practices. Ann Ball, editor. Huntington, Indiana: Our Sunday Visitor Publishing Division, 2003.
• http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=443

 

Celebrate the Triduum with Pope Benedict XVI

Check out this website:  http://pope2you.net/

To hear the Triduum liturgies from the Vatican, click on the Celebrate Easter with the Pope icon.

Holy Week Pilgrimages - Walking in the Steps of Jesus

This week, Catholics and other Christians around the world are embarking on special journeys commemorating Jesus' passion, death, and resurrection. We call these special journeys "pilgrimages," as those who participate are pilgrims walking in the steps of Jesus.  Whether you take a physical journey or a spiritual journey of prayer, spend some time walking with Jesus during Holy Week.

VIA DOLOROSA - One of the most famous pilgrimages is the Via Dolorosa, the Way of Sorrows, in Old City Jerusalem.  You can experience the Via Dolorosa on the Internet by visiting these websites: 

http://www.holylandnetwork.com/jerusalem/via_dolorosa/via_dolorosa.htm - offers photos of the   stations along the Via Dolorosa and prayers to pray in conjunction with the stations

http://www.sacred-destinations.com/israel/jerusalem-via-dolorosa - I liked the photos and map on this website

EL SANTUARIO DE CHIMAYO - In the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, New Mexico, thousands of pilgrims visit El Santuario de Chimayo each year. This site, referred to as the Lourdes of America, is a simple adobe chapel, but is said to be a place of spiritual and physical healing.  On Good Friday, pilgrims walk from nearby villages to remember Jesus' sacrifice.  Many pilgrims begin a week-long journey on Palm Sunday, walking 100-miles from Albuquerque to Chimayo.

http://www.archdiocesesantafe.org/AboutASF/Chimayo.html - provides a basic introduction on El Santuario de Chimayo on the Archdiocese of Santa Fe website

http://holychimayo.us/ - the main website of El Santuario de Chimayo; click on "A Place of History" for the story behind the "holy dirt" of Chimayo

MOUNT ADAMS STEPS - In Cincinnati, Ohio, pilgrims "pray the steps" to Holy Cross-Immaculata Church.  This 150-year old tradition began with a promise to the Blessed Virgin Mary by John Purcell, the first archbishop of Cincinnati.  During a terrible storm at sea on a return voyage from Rome, Archbishop Purcell promised that, if he survived, he would build a church to honor Mary in Mt. Adams.  People pray in their individual ways as they climb the steps to the church.  Some say the Rosary, others read from prayer books, still others pray in their own words in conversation with God.  Children are encouraged to say a Hail Mary on each step and an Our Father on the landings.

http://mtadamssteps.com/mtadamssteps/index2.htm - offers a brief description of Mount Adams Steps

http://hciparish.org/ - the official website for Holy Cross-Immaculata Parish

PARISH STATIONS OF THE CROSS - Catholic parishes around the world pray the Stations of the Cross, especially on Good Friday.  This devotion includes reflections on the 14 Stations of Jesus' passion and death.

http://www.cptryon.org/prayer/child/stations/ - on-line Stations of the Cross, especially for children

http://www.usccb.org/nab/stations.htm - Stations of the Cross based on those celebrated by Pope John Paul II's on Good Friday in 1991

National Prayer Week, March 14-21, 2010

Each year, the Holy Childhood Association sponsors a National Prayer Week to encourage Catholic children and families to pray for missions throughout the world.

Prayer is a powerful mission ministry.  In fact, Pope Benedict XVI said that he counts on the prayers and missionary commitment of children.  "In my ministry, I also count on children's prayers and their active participation in the mission of the Church," the Holy Father said.

During the week of March 14-21, 2010, children and families are invited to share the following prayer for missions around the world:

Through our Baptism, we are called to share Your love and Your peace everywhere.  We are Your ambassadors, sent to bring the "Good News" of Jesus to all, beginning in our own communities and reaching "to the ends of the earth."

 

Fill our hearts with the love and peace of Jesus, especially as we meet Him in the Sacraments.  Help us to be examples of Your compassion and a source of Your hope to all, especially those who are poor, lonely, suffering and sick.

 

Give us strength to show others what it means to follow Jesus.  Help us to answer the call to be His witnesses, His missionaries.

 

We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who is Lord forever.  Amen.

 

For information about the ministry of the Holy Childhood Association, including on-line activities for children, check out www.hcakids.org.

 

For more information about the Pontifical Mission Society, go to www.onefamilyinmission.org.

 

"What Not to Wear" during Lent

As I was searching for some teen-related Lent activities, I came across this article on "What Not to Wear" Guide to Lent.  I've seen the show "What Not to Wear," and have even gotten some tips from the show.  (I'll admit, I'm more of a fashion geek than a fashion genius!)

Lent is an opportunity for us to take stock in what we're "wearing" in our lives.  While we might be called to look at what we are actually clothing our body with - are we dressing appropriately, modestly? - we are more likely to be called to consider the attitudes we're wearing.

Here's an excerpt from the article by Randy Raus:

"The approach taken by What Not to Wear actually helps both its victims and the audience make smarter fashion choices and often with the benefit of improving their self esteem. The show is a sort of educational program and I believe a method that when applied to Lent helps us grow in our faith. We may be able to truly look at what we are projecting by the attitudes we are “wearing” during the 40+ days of Lent and by eliminating some of the things in our spiritual closet help us to have a holy Lent."

For the guide about "What Not to Wear" during Lent, go to http://www.catholicyouthministry.com/a-what-not-to-wear-guide-to-lent.

Featured Website: iibloom.com

Sometimes it pays off just to surf the web.  I just found this website and it looks promising.  The following is an excerpt from their "what is iibloom?" page.

iibloom.com is a state-of-the-art online community for young adults. The purpose of iibloom is to consistently communicate what is relevant in our lives, while also providing a welcoming and inspiring community in which we can strengthen and solidify our Christian faith. iibloom.com has a mixture of mainstream, faith-based and user-generated content as well as hot topics for discussion.

iibloom.com helps you build a foundation in the Christian faith through traditional Catholic teachings, and invites everyone to participate in our online community. No matter where you are in your journey of faith - practicing, non-practicing or curious about your faith - iibloom.com is here to help.

iibloom.com is broken out into 3 different sections - invite, inspire and bloom.  Each section has a distinct purpose, yet consistently communicates our overall purpose.  Want to learn more?  Check out www.iibloom.com.

March for Life 2010

This past Friday, January 22nd, thousands of people (half of them under age 25) gathered in Washington, D.C., to mark the 37th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling that legalized abortion.  Many more participated in the pro-life demonstration through a Virtual March for Life.  To join your voice with the thousands speaking out for the dignity of human life, follow this link:  http://www.virtualmarchforlife.com/.