Devoted to Scripture

The 20th century witnessed an enormous interest in the Bible among Christians of all denominations.  Catholic scholarship advanced and in the inclusion of Scripture courses in high school, adult groups, and a wider gamut of Scripture readings at Mass have helped familiarize Catholics with the Word of God and to develop a more biblical spirituality.
St. Jerome, who translated the Hebrew and Greek Scriptures into the then "vernacular", Latin, was responsible in his day for making God's word accessible to the common folk.  He loved Scripture that he devoted a major part of his life to this translation, known as the "Vulgate", even when nearly blind, having to depend on the eyes of others to help him.
A simple way to develop a similar love and devotion to Scripture would be to take the readings of the day, found in many publications or on line on the website of the United States Council of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), read them several times, and allow them to speak.  Scripture is LIVING, and inevitably, there's something there that pertains to our situation at the moment.  It won't hurt to look for a moment to hear God's message to you for this day.
Br. Rene

Serving The Least Favored

At the heart of our Marist Mission to make Jesus known and loved are "the least favored."  These are the poor who live on the margins of society, or to draw an analogy for today's Gospel, sit at the gate alongside Lazarus.  He was verily neglected, indeed, he was not even seen by the rich man who, clothed in fine purple,  dined at his sumptuous table.  His wealth caused blindness; it was only when he lost his wealth and found himself in Hades did he begin to see. Although we do not find ourselves wrapped in purple and gouging ourselves with gourmet delights, our complacency can cause a similar blindness.  However, to be true to Jesus, St. Francis of Assisi, and St. Marcellin, we need not only to sharpen our vision to see those in need, but we must do something about alleviating their needs, their ignorance, their poverty. Marists around the world, as well as in the United States are doing that in our schools, by providing tuition assistance to those who cannot afford it, by our mission collections, which directly help the poor, and by giving our students experiences in serving them, experiences, which in many cases continue to be a pattern for the rest of their lives.
Br. Todd Patenaude, writing from a poor orphanage/school in Jamaica, The Alpha Boys School, said  that we can all help with this particular work first by prayer, and then by financial contributions, either directly or by sending information about partnerships, grants, or foundations that assist such institutions.  We can all pray, and through our prayer  prevent the blinders which might creep over our eyes as we fill our lives and our days with our own concerns as well as help those in those in the Alpha School, or our other works among "the least favored."
Bro. Rene

Keep Praying For One Another

People are constantly asking for prayers and we usually agree to pray for them. The numbers grow over the years, and we might even lose contact with those who asked us.  The temptation is to "let them go", but I've found that to keep praying for them is best.  Once in awhile we bump into them, as I did in one case last night, and find that our prayers have been answered.  People forget, but God does not forget.  Our prayers remain efficacious as they reach the heart of the all-loving God.  We don't always have to know the results.
We might think of using the blanket intention, "for all those whom I've promised to pray for", but mentioning people by name, even when we no longer hear from them, keeps them in mind and reminds us of the relationship that once existed, and someday could easily be rekindled. 
Occasionally, someone tell us that they've been praying for us, and we react with, "oh, so that's why things have been going so well."  God, of course is the giver of all grace and all good things come from him, but our prayers are somehow in the mix too. So, just keep praying!
Bro. Rene

In The Footsteps of St. Vincent de Paul

Most parishes have a Society of St. Vincent de Paul, and most people know that it doles out food and clothing to the needy.  There is a "Poor Box" or a St. Vincent de Paul Box near the doors of the church, or a collection now and then to fill their empty pantry.  Indeed, St. Vincent de Paul has left a legacy that endures.  But his own life and the struggles he faced are little known and are just as astounding as his energetic service to the poor.
From peasant origins, he, after an initial education by the Franciscans, was hired as a tutor by a wealthy family, and was thus able to continue his studies, working his way to a university degree and eventually to ordination to the priesthood.  He was captured by pirates and for two years was a prisoner on a galley, and served as an oarsman in the despicable conditions aboard these ships.  Providentially, he escaped, returned to France and began his service to the poor, especially to these "galley slaves", then to the poor of the streets.  He founded the Sisters of Charity to care for the poor and the sick; he opened soup kitchens, shelters and hospices both in France and around the world.  Like Jesus, he served those who could not return anything to him except their gratitude.
Last night at Central Catholic, we heard one of our seniors describe her rise (so far) from poverty and extremely brutal circumstances to the threshold of a college education and a brighter life. Her moving story touched the hearts of donors to our Montagne Program, which, in the spirit of St. Vincent and St. Marcellin helps those who initially cannot return anything but their gratitude.  It is heartwarming to know that all who support this program and similar ones in all our Marist schools are walking in the footsteps of such great men. May their example continue to motivate us and those who benefit from our generosity to walk in their footsteps.
Bro. Rene

Confidence

We love to watch young people grow in self-confidence.  In a high school setting, as well as in a family, it is astounding at times to see the difference between a freshman and a senior.  Not only is there a physical change in height and weight, but also in the confidence those four years of experience bring. We've known that transition ourselves, and it is gratifying to see it happen in others.
Fr. Alfred Delp, S.J,. a German spiritual writer who was killed by the Nazis in 1954, describes confidence as "something that can be relied on in face of all doubt and reservation and appearances to the contrary."  Personal self-doubt diminishes significantly as we go through life and find that stretching beyond our limits and sometimes even forcing us to do something we dread, gives us a new self-reliance we never thought we had.  We all remember fearing to jump into deep water, even when someone was there to catch us.  Once we did it, we found it was fun, and we did it over and over again....eventually on our own.
Our confidence in God, Divine Providence, and the power of prayer grows as we leap into his arms, as the child into the water, and we find that with God's help, we can do it!  We trust a little, and that trust increases with each new leap. We learn to pray with not only confidence but with an expectation that God will hear our prayer and answer it. We grow in confidence that no matter what, God is always there and will care for us in ways that exceed our imagination.  Lord, may I grow in this trust and confidence that I may be a more supple instrument in your hands.  Amen.
Bro. Rene

The Power of Daily Prayer

From time to time we question the value of our daily prayer, which, sometimes seems dry, rushed,  or just part of a rote routine. This is a normal question, which should lead to a good look at the how and why of our daily prayer regimen. There is a value in keeping to our prayer schedule, no matter what the feeling or progress may be. Fidelity itself is a virtue.  But beyond that, daily prayer "calms the soul, gives joy and peace, softens, even removes anxieties and allows us to relax and experience the love God has for us." (Sacred Space p. 300).  It's the how that makes the difference.
For example.  Take a quiet moment and hear Jesus say to you,"Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest."  (Mt 11: 28).  He continues, "Yes, come for rest.  But stay for rest too.  Stop all feverish haste and be calm and untroubled.  Come unto me, not only for petitions to be granted but for nearness to me. Be sure of my help, be conscious of my presence, and wait until my rest fills your soul.
Rest knows no fear.  Rest knows no want.  Rest is strong, sure.  The rest of soft glades and peacefully flowing rivers, of strong, immovable hills.  Rest, and all you need to gain this rest is to come to me.  So come." (God Calling. p. 184).  If we prayed like this, how powerful and how nourishing would be our daily prayer.  We'd not want to miss it.
Bro. Rene

Kinship

Family Spirit is one of the key components of our Marist Spirituality, and it flows right from the Gospel:  "My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it." (Lk 8: 21).  The General Conference meeting at the Hermitage in France this month has been stressing the global nature of our Marist Family, not only with delegates from all the different parts of the world where we are located, but also by looking at the vision of St. Marcellin.  He wanted Marists to be in every diocese of the world, and now, 195 years after our founding, thanks to the huge number of Marist Alumni and lay colleagues, that dream is coming closer to reality.  Communication via our latest technologies have brought us closer together.  Just this morning, for example e-mails from two Ryans, one in Afghanistan and one at Penn State, brought their worlds into mine.  Through their written words I could see and hear them.  And we mustn't forget that our prayers and our attendance at Mass and reception of Holy Communion make us one with the Body of Christ, which is not only present in the Holy Sacrament, but in the Body of Christ throughout the world.  So, the two Ryans were with me at Mass, along with everyone who partakes of this slice of daily bread.  What a privilege to be brothers and sisters of Jesus and of one another!.  Let us celebrate our global kinship with joy as we go about this day.
Bro. Rene

St. Pio of Pietrelcina

 First an apology for yesterday's, "50 Years After" slice of bread.  When one of the brothers told me that it was only September, not November, I laughed at my BIG mistake.  I was focusing on the 22nd and, in truth, was wondering why there were no headlines or stories to mark the anniversary.  Well, we got a head-start.  I hope this is not a sign of early-onset Alzheimer's! As one reader put it simply, "we all make mistakes"...and so we do; I beg your indulgence and forgiveness.

 Everyone knows of, or has at least heard or Padrio Pio, whose simple, almost cloistered life could not be hidden from the world.  He died in 1968, but even while he was alive, people regarded him as a saint.  He spent hours in the confessional like St. John Vianney (the Cure of Ars), and had that same gift of being able to read souls.  Nothing could be kept from him.  He had the gift of healing, and people clamored to see him and receive his blessing, as the crowds did with Jesus. He prayed for the world daily and urged everyone to do the same.  This website provides his favorite prayers and some composed by him: padrepiodevotions.org.   It is worth looking at, especially today. When his body was exhumed in 2008, it was found to be perfectly in-corrupt, and sign of God's favor, a  conformation for believers and a challenge to disbelievers.  His simple life of prayer and willingness to suffer with Jesus for others, via his obedience to his superiors who forbade him to say Mass publicly, and the painful stigmata, the bearing in his body of the wounds of Jesus, along with his other gifts had made him one of our most popular saints.  St. Pio, please remember us in your love and prayers, have mercy on us, and help us to find the mercy of God and show it to others. Amen.

50 Years After

On this day in 1963, the nation and the world were stunned with the tragic assassination of President John F. Kennedy.  Those of us who were alive at that time can still tell others exactly what they were doing the moment the news spread through the country via radio and TV. Life stopped except in front of the TV or radio for the entire weekend and it seemed the entire nation did nothing on the day of the funeral except to watch it on TV. The eternal flame still burns at his grave in Arlington National Cemetery where millions have come to pay their respects. His youthfulness and vision inspired a generation; his inaugural address has become a classic, and the Peace Corps continues to carry out his vision to help the undeveloped countries of the world.
Five months before, another world figure and inspirational leader, Blessed Pope John XXIII, entered into eternal rest. His legacy, the Second Vatican Council, made an everlasting change in our Church. Both men, though human and not perfect, infused life into hearts, and with the eventual canonization of Blessed Pope John and the energy emanating from the Vatican through Pope Francis, another "New Frontier" is on the horizon: a world in which work a just distribution of wealth and inclusion of all will satisfy the hunger for what is now lacking, and bring the human family together in Christ.
Bro. Rene

Life Is Good

A bumper sticker on a car in front of me this morning reminded me of the simple truth, Life Is Good.  Yes, it is, even when as 75 years ago today, a hurricane, the worst on record, called The Hurricane of '38, battered New England. It's a memory and a collection of pictures now, but people have rebuilt, and despite the losses of 600 lives and in today's dollars, billions, life goes on.
On a smaller scale, two disappointing and painful varsity losses on the football field and volley ball court, still caused their sting and sent unhappy players to sleep with sadness, anger (at themselves) and a determination to put out even more effort in the games to come.  The volley ball team even asked me to pray with them before the next game!
Levi, the tax collector at the invitation of Jesus left his job, and followed Jesus, faithful  to Jesus despite the scorn of his fellow-tax collectors.  Thanks to his loss of occupation and discovery of the good side of life, we have his Gospel, which has brought life to countless numbers of believers over the ages, and the example of his own martyrdom: "He who loses his life in this world, will gain it." (Lk 17:33).
Yes, George Bailey learned the hard way that "it's a Wonderful Life; it surely is because God is good, and because he is, people are good.  We need only look at "the other side" when things apparently don't look so good.
Bro. Rene

Wise Advice

Human nature is human nature.   St. Paul's advice to Timothy remains timely and valid, even in today's age of sophistication and technology.  Paul writes:  Whoever teaches something different and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the religious teaching is conceited, understanding nothing, and has a morbid disposition for arguments and verbal disputes.  From these come envy, rivalry, insults, evil suspicions, and mutual friction among people with corrupted minds, who are deprived of the truth, supposing religion to be a means of gain.  Indeed, religion with contentment is a great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, just as we shall not be able to take anything out of it.  If we have food and clothing, we shall be content with that.  Those who want to be rich are falling into temptation and into a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge them into ruin and destruction.  For the love of money is the root of all evils, and some people in their desire for it have strayed from the faith and have pierced themselves with many pains.
But you, avoid all this, Instead,pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience and gentleness.  Compete well for the faith.  Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called.... (1Tm 6: 3-12).
In concert with Paul, Pope Francis is making news by calling us to a simpler, more direct living of the Gospel message.  He is raising eyebrows even as Jesus did in his day.  Let us not be shy nor fearful about doing the same.
Bro. Rene
There might be two slices of bread today...I don't know why yesterday's was not published.

"Be Persistent"

The author of Second Timothy advised bishops, teachers and parents to "proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching." (2 Tim 4:2).  Sound advice that we see lived throughout the Marist World in our schools and apostolates.  Cuba, for example, where the brothers are forbidden to run schools, has a vibrant apostolate with youth, creative, energetic, and ever-growing in effect and popularity.  Through youth groups and through the training of catechists, who in their fifties, have kept the faith passed on to them by their grandparents and parents despite the difficulties involved in a communist country, are passing the faith on to an eager generation who never heard about Jesus.  It is the Jean-Baptiste Montagne story lived over again on a larger scale.  There is even a Cuban novice!
In Haiti, a young brother just professed his final vows,  The Brothers and lay people in Aleppo continue their work with refugee children in a climate of war and impoverishment.  The lay Marist movement is growing around the world. The Marist charism prevails despite unthinkable odds.
And speaking of unspeakable odds and persistence, here at Central Catholic, a senior football player, Ryan Etter,  determined to return to the team after nearly losing two fingers in July, through hard work and persistence caught a pass by leaping with all his might and catching the ball with his now healed fingers, to  score his first ever varsity touchdown in the first game he was allowed to play since the accident.  Persistence pays off at all levels.
Bro. Rene

Fasting

Jesus recommends fasting along with prayer as a means of casting out evil spirits.   We often think of protesters fasting for causes, or prisoners on a hunger strike, or simply surviving for a time on bread and water, so the word fasting becomes distasteful and we avoid putting into practice.  But it can be simpler, and still effective, and, more importantly go unnoticed before the eyes of others.  We can abstain from certain foods, especially those we really like; go without seasoning (salt and pepper, for example); eating what we normally dislike; foregoing desserts; eating considerably less at meals.  While doing this, we feel some "pinch" as a reminder that we are in the tradition of the prophets, Jesus, his disciples and great saints of the past.  We are also giving ourselves the opportunity to grow in understanding of the poor and hungry, and become more disposed to share our bounty with them.  We can also experience a cleansing of our bad habits, increase our emphasis on the virtues of patience, generosity, hospitality, etc. and find joy in knowing that we have done something concrete for God.
Bro. Rene
Yesterday's slice of daily bread should appear today.

"Do Not Weep"

There is much weeping these days as more shootings take the lives of innocent people and leave their families in shock and sorrow.  Even those of us not directly connected with the murdered victims feel the urge to weep at the rampant disregard for human life we see so increasingly in our nation and world. The first recorded murder is found in the Book of Genesis when Cain killed his brother Abel out of jealousy, so the pattern is not new, yet even with the commandment, "Thou shalt not kill." and with the teachings of love that flowed so genuinely from the lips of Jesus, the killings go on.  Blessed Pope John Paul II referred to it as "a culture of death" from abortion to war, to mercy killing.
When Jesus and the disciples came across the weeping widow in the village of Nain, he felt her pain, and told her not to weep. No less today does he feel the pain of those who lose loved ones, especially random victims of violence, and repeats, "Do not weep."  As he raised the dead son to life and returned him to his mother out of pure compassion, so too can he raise our "dead" society and bring it back to life, for in raising that lad, he showed us that there is HOPE, even when it seems that all is done, over and buried.  May we hear him say to us, "Do not weep" as we look at our past, our mistakes, and proceed into the future with hope.
Bro. Rene
An important visitor arrived just before I could publish this for Tuesday, so this will appear on Wednesday.

Forming The Next Generation

Last evening, I attended Mass at St. Anselm College with three to four hundred young adult college students.  At least 100 of them were in the excellent choir!  Some were Central Catholic graduates, who filled in the pew where I was kneeling.  Danny Chomat, a graduate of Christopher Columbus High School in Miami, Florida, now a sophomore at the University of Notre Dame, recently addressed the freshmen during a retreat, speaking about the "transition of faith," that is the movement toward an adult faith which often means the inclusion of spiritualities from other religious orders, such as in in his case, the blending of Marist Spirituality with that of the Priests of the Holy Cross.  He realized that although he thought his own Marist
Spirituality was sufficient, he found room to add insights from the spirituality of the Holy Cross Fathers.  The students at St. Anselm's wil discover elements of Benedictine Spirituality which will help them grow in their understanding and living of our faith.
How encouraging it is to know that there are young adults "out there" who take their faith seriously enough to reflect on it and foster its growth.  What an incentive for those of us who have passed the young adult stage, to pursue further growth in our own faith by continuing to learn from others.  Our "elders" had an influence on us, and we, in turn, can have an influence on those younger than we, and, at the same time, learn from them as the share their insights with us.  Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to continue his work, and, as evidenced by what is happening, the Holy Spirit is as active now as in the early Church.  Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hears of your faithful, enkindle within us the fire of your love.
Bro. Rene

Lavish Love

We can get so caught up in our own worlds, our own expertise, our own desires, that like the Prodigal Son, we can wander away from the Father, either directly or in a gradual drift.  Before we know it, we experience "a famine" in our land, and a hunger that the things we once thought were important now fail to satisfy.  This is typical of our human nature and that's why the parables of the lost sheep, lost coin, or "lost" son, ring so true today. In all three cases, Jesus emphasizes the love and energy expended to find the one missing sheep, or coin, and with the return of the son, we see an even clearer picture of the Father's love.  At his son's request for his share of the inheritance, given usually upon the death of the father, he does not balk; he then lavishes his son with forgiveness, gifts, and love upon his return, and even bears the chiding of his eldest son for his kindness and compassion.  This is the Father who gives this same lavish love to us.  Where are we with our fears, indifference, and even rejection?  This is a day to sit back and experience through memory all the instances of this great, unending and unconditional love.
Bro. Rene

A Sign of Contradiction

The Cross has become the sign of victory over sin and death, a sign that unifies Christians all over the world, yet in the time of Jesus, it was an instrument of death, a painful and ignominious death. The cross itself is now a sign of contradiction, a sign of life over the death for which it was invented to cause.  As we celebrate the Exaltation of the Holy Cross today, we might remind ourselves that our lives as Christian Catholics are also, or should be, signs of contradiction:  our humility exalting the grace of God working in us; our wounds and sufferings bringing healing to the soul;  dying to ourselves, giving birth to eternal life.
We share this day with the Jewish community world-wide, which is celebrating Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, the holiest day of the year. Jews spend the day in prayer in the synagogue, asking pardon for the sins of the past year as they enter into a new year.  We also might look into our lives, confess our sins and see if we can live up to our calling to be signs of contradiction against the standards set by our ever increasingly secular society. Keeping our eyes on the Cross will help us focus on this vocation.
Bro. Rene

Clarity of Vision

Wooden beams and splinters.  Reminds me of the time in Pine Ridge when lightning hit one of our outhouses and shredded the 2 x 4's supporting the roof into a million (it seemed) toothpicks.  It was clear that there is a difference between a beam and a splinter!
Jesus challenges us in today's Gospel (Lk: 9: 39-42) to check the wooden beam in our own eye before chiding a neighbor for the splinter in his or hers.  It's so easy to criticize others for even minor "faults" and not see the major ones in our own lives. It takes perspective and humility to see with the clarity of vision Jesus had, which enabled him to see God's presence in people and see his presence in the actions around us. One of the first things we can do is admit that we don't have that clarity of vision, and ask for it.  Then we can ask for the strength, and even courage it takes to work on our own shortcomings, and then, if needs be, approach others in a more gentle and compassionate way, instead of coming on like a sledge hammer.
Bro. Rene

The Holy Name of Mary

How many times do we pray, "Hail, Mary", or "Holy Mary, Mother of God...etc."?  Mary's name is constantly on our lips, but today we take time to honor that name in a special way on this Memorial of The Holy Name of Mary.  Perhaps the two most powerful names in our Christian tradition are Jesus and Mary. Just repeating them over and over is a prayer that brings strength and peace.  As Marists, we are especially dedicated to that name, which in the Hebrew way of thinking, is the Person.  As Little Brothers of Mary, we are proud and honored to bear that name, and all who associate with us as Lay Marists can rightly carry that pride and honor.
It is fitting that on this day, three men are entering the Novitiate in Esopus, NY, as postulants.  Sam Amos, from Saginaw, Michigan, along with James Hodge and Jack O'Sullivan from Australia.  This is certainly a blessing for both provinces, and we not only thank Mary for the hand she played in their decision to enter, but also ask her to accompany them along with our prayers, as they begin their Marist formation.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Bro. Rene

Remembering 9/11

Twelve years ago at about the time I am writing, our world changed.  We can all remember exactly where we were and what we were doing on that fateful morning of horror and disbelief.  We continue to mourn for those who lost their lives, either as workers in the Towers or first responders.  The survivors and families of the deceased carry their heavy hearts even today, and boarding a plane at Chicago's Midway Airport yesterday surrounded by an army of TSA's reminded me that all of us still bear the consequences of this attack.
In 2009, Congress passed a bill inaugurating 9/11 as a national day of service.  We are all at work now, most likely, already doing some form of service.  We might join the nation and those who took the day off to do some extraordinary good deeds, by offering up what we do today for the victims of the tragedy and their families, as well as for our nation and our world.  Pope Francis has called for prayer and fasting for peace, especially in Syria, which presents an extremely complicated challenge that, it seems, would take a miracle to resolve. Bearing with the heat and humidity, doing our best at the tasks in which we engage, and praying to God, and  Mary, the Queen of Peace, with short prayers during the day, might help bring that miracle about.
Bro. Rene

Precious in God's Eyes

Isaiah tells us, "You are precious in my eyes." (Is 43:4). We were formed out of the dust of the earth yet have become "beloved dust" for God has chosen us to be vessels of the Holy Spirit, Temples for himself. Even though our lives in the time-line of world history are but a moment, the good that we do accumulates as an everlasting treasure in heaven. In baptism we were buried with Jesus so that we might share his resurrection, thus we live not alone, but Christ lives within us. All that we do becomes the extension of the works of Jesus. No wonder God takes such delight in us and blesses us over and over again with signs of his love and approval.
Yesterday as the entire student body of Marist High School in Chicago was seated in the Red Hawk Football Stadium, and countless alumni and friends sat in chairs before the altar where Cardinal Francis George presided at the liturgy of thanksgiving, one could not deny the presence of God and his delight at what this Mass represented: 50 years of "making Jesus known and loved"; 50 years of offering "all to Jesus through Mary, whose presence was made visible in the statue of Mary Our Good Mother, at the right of the altar. To hear the first reading confidently proclaimed by Kevin Shanahan, a senior and president of the student body, was to see how family and school had worked together to shape this young man and all of us in the image of Jesus. With humble gratitude, let us accept this new day as God's gift and use it to show others how precious we are in his sight.
Bro. Rene

Freedom From Slavery

As God sent his Son, Jesus, to free the world from the slavery of sin and death, so does he in every generation, it seems, raise up someone to continue that work...actually, the work of all who follow Jesus. St. Peter Claver, whom we remember today, stands out as an extraordinary example of one who took this mission to heart, spending his life among the African slaves who were brought to Columbia by the Spanish slave traders in the first half of the 17th century. He was not able to set them free from their masters, but his loving presence and care enabled them to find freedom in the knowledge and love of Jesus. St. Marcellin, in different circumstances, sought to free young people from the slavery of ignorance, a mission which continues today in 80 countries around the world. St. Peter Claver vowed to be the "slave of the African for ever" and was named the patron of the Missions to the Africans by Pope Leo XIII in 1896. The Church in Africa is thriving, youthful, and abounding in energy, as a people released from bondage. Today, the Church in Chicago, under the leadership of Cardinal George will celebrate the efforts of Marists for the past 50 years to educate its young people. It is a day for all of us to renew our baptismal promises to thwart the efforts of Satan, and to take up the call to live in the freedom of the children of God. Thus will the efforts to Sts. Peter Claver and Marcellin continue to bear fruit.
Bro. Rene

Building on Solid Ground

In today's Gospel, (Lk 14:25-33) Jesus challenges those who wish to be his disciples with bold renunciation, willingness to bear the cross, and careful, prudent study, tinged with fearlessness, before engaging in a project. Our mission of evangelization is so important that we don't want to risk its failure by recklessly jumping into it.
Fifty years ago, the Marist Brothers opened a new school, Marist High School, on Chicago's very Catholic South Side. It was built adjacent to cornfields and a cemetery. It was a risky location, but with the faith and daring that accompanied other Marist enterprises, Br. Pius Xavier Lyons proceeded with a "state of the art" building and a faculty composed of our "best" brothers, hand-picked to guarantee an immediate favorable reputation. The school has fulfilled and even exceeded those dreams, now at 1750 coed students and armies of successful alumni serving their communities with the Marist stamp of faith, humility, simplicity, boldness and daring. The challenges that Jesus gave his disciples 2000 years ago served Br. Pius well in 1963, and remain true today.

Across the Atlantic last night, Pope Francis boldly led a prayer vigil for peace in the Middle East, especially in Syria, doing exactly what he had asked Catholics around the world to do on September 7, pray and fast. He leads by actions that back up his words, he builds on the solid ground of prayer, fasting and action. He wins not only the admiration of even the secular press, but also models for us how not to build on sand, but on "terra firma." Who are we to hold back from doing the same? What can I do today in the years ahead to join him in living out the example set by Jesus?
Bro. Rene
Bro. Rene

Remembering Mary, our Good Mother and Others

Long standing Catholic tradition has dedicated Saturdays to the Blessed Mother, and First Saturdays, especially.   We take time each week to be with Mary in her pondering of the presence of Jesus within us and within others, and of the plan that Jesus had for him, for her and for us.  No one could have dreamed up such a marvelous plan, and as we look at our own lives, we realize that even in our wildest imagination, could we have dreamed up what so far has transpired in our lives, not only the events, but the PEOPLE who have become part of our circle, ever widening, ever expanding.  We are amazed at the extent of the immeasurable universe, yet, who has been able to count the number of people we've met, even in passing, or those who keep coming into our lives?  They bring Jesus to us, and we bring him to them.  Just that alone warrants weekly pondering and gratitude.
On this first Saturday, let us take a few moments to look and ponder with Mary at the grand parade of people who march along with us now, or who have been with us in the past, as well as those unknowns who will come our way in the years ahead.  To borrow a word from our teens:  AWESOME!
Bro. Rene
I will be in Chicago till Tuesday, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Marist High School with a bevy of people and friends.  A blessing to have this opportunity to reconnect and celebrate with them.  Not sure of internet access...so...it might be Wednesday before there'll be another slice of bread on your spiritual table.

All Things Are Possible

Already the first week of September is approaching its conclusion.  The usual refrain, "Thank God It's Friday", rings in our heads, but at the same time, we struggle with how fast the days have sped by since Sunday and Monday's Labor Day, which might even seem like a blur in the past.   We wonder how we will ever get to all the things we want to do...even today's agenda.  It is at times like this we need to be aware of our own weakness and God's strength and pray for trust, patience, and the openness to pray with Jesus, "Abba, Father, all things are possible to you...not what I will but what you will." (Mk 14: 36).  Each time we pray the Our Father, we say the same thing: "Thy will be done"...It will be done, and it will be good, for with God all things are possible.  With this thought in mind, let us proceed with joy and confidence into this day, and fret not over the quick passage of time, what will get done and what will not, and make the best of each of these precious moments God gives us.
Bro. Rene

Setting the Blaze

 Ignatius often ended his letters to Jesuits going to the missions with the expression ite, inflammate omnia—“go, set the world on fire.” This has become somewhat of a motto for Jesuit ministries and reminds us Marists of the zeal that inspired St. Marcellin to wish for our presence in every diocese of the world. He wanted everyone to have the opportunity to know and love Jesus and he wanted disciples who would make this possible.  Such a blaze of energy, love, and hard work is not possible without fuel for the fire.  This comes with daily prayer, frequent, if not daily attendance at the liturgy of the Eucharist and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, reflection or meditation on the Scriptures, and careful observance of the actions of those who serve as models for us.
Today at Central Catholic, 350 freshmen began the first day of their four-year opportunity for formation as Marists.  Already they learned about the prominence of Mary, our Good Mother, in Marist spirituality and schools, they prayed the Hail Mary, and asked Mary, our Good Mother, to pray for them.  They were surrounded by their teachers and over 100 student ambassadors who gave up the last of their vacation days to welcome them, help them find their way through the maze of hallways, and more importantly, to model for them the Marks of a Marist Student, which will be imprinted on them during their Central Catholic experience.  The blaze envisioned by Ignatius and Marcellin was ignited again today.  May we help it to burn brightly with our own prayers and example so that it becomes a fire that kindles other fires.
Bro. Rene

Active Contemplatives

Quiet prayer in solitude was a part of Jesus' day.  The evangelists mention frequently that he spent the night in prayer, or got up early, "At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place". (Lk 4:42) to find peace, serenity and direction.  The crowds were always after him, it seemed, clamoring for him to stay, to heal, to teach.  Short-lived was his solitude, yet he kept his mission before him.  "To the other towns I must proclaim the good news of he Kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent." (Lk 4:43)  He tried to balance as best he could the need to pray and be in tune with his Father, and yet be faithful to his mission to bring light to the people.
As Marists, our vocation is similar.  We are called to educate, to be prophetic, to be a light to our students and one another, but this mission soon runs dry if it is not nourished by moments of solitude, of reflection, of prayer, of simply being before God with open hearts and hands to receive what he wants to give us, what he sees as our real need.  In God's presence we learn patience as we wait for him to fulfill our longings in due time, in his time. He looks for our faith, our trust first, as he did with Abraham and then provides the answers to our requests.  Stop and allow God to BE with you, then proceed to today's mission.
Bro. Rene

Standing Tall

As Marists we are called to make Jesus known and loved to youth, especially the most needy and neglected, to nourish that knowledge and love, and to be guides, or watchmen who typically stand on a high place so they can see far into the distance to be able to foresee any imminent danger and be able to warn the people to prepare to meet the oncoming danger. St. Gregory the Great. whose memorial we celebrate today, was such a watchman, guiding the Church through perilous times, despite his poor health.  He set high standards of prayer and discipline for himself and serves as a model for us to accept the high standards Jesus proposed:  to be willing to carry our cross, if we are to be his true disciple, to welcome children, to forgive enemies, to name a few.  As Marists we are called to love all, and love them equally.  No one ever said that standing tall in the role of watchman, was easy, but there is no greater treasure we can lie up for ourselves than this.  "Well done, good and faithful servant, for you have been faithful...enter into the joy of your Master."  (cf. Mt 25: 31-46).
Bro. Rene

The Gift of Work

Labor Day.  In the USA, usually a time for that last fling over the weekend, irresistible sales, or a family barbecue.  Rain in New England certainly will put a damper on some of these plans, but the up side might be a little unexpected time to look back over the summer and review all the we accomplished, and what many surprises came our way. We might also look at the gift of work. When the first parents were expelled from the Garden of Eden, "work by the sweat of the brow" was one of the punishments for their disobedience.
Yet, what a blessing it is, not withstanding the beads of sweat nor the stress that are part of it.  It is a chance for us to share in the creative action of the Father "who made heaven and earth;" it is a chance to "be more human", as Blessed Pope John Paul II observed, for we use our minds, our physical strength, and our capacity to relate to others.  The inventions and methods for improving the quality of life over the years are the results of work, often hard work. We take so much for granted the electric light bulb, for example, forgetting the days and months of failure Thomas Edison experienced in developing it.  The buildings we live, work and worship in, we take for granted, but are the results of the work of others.
Labor conditions in many places are not ideal, so again the challenge remains to work for justice in the workplace.
Above all, we can and should give thanks to God for the ability to work, the think, to move our arms and hands.  So many people cannot do even that.  So whether by serving others by work or by waiting, let us give thanks to God and remain faithful to the tasks at hand.
Bro. Rene

Humble Service

One of the key virtues instilled in Marists is humillity; along with simplicity and modesty, it is symbolized as one of the three violets frequently used in Marist art.  The violet does not grow tall, it is simple and humble in comparison to other flowers, yet it brings such joy with its early appearance after a long winter, signaling that spring and summer are soon to follow.  It does good, brings hope in its own quiet way.  And if you know anything about violets, they have a way of spreading and "taking over" a garden bed.  Would that our life of humility would spread this way, but it can and does.
Doing good quietly, consistently, without fanfare or ostentation, has an infectious quality which inspires others to do the same.  Serving those who cannot pay back, inspires them, as well as onlookers, to do the same.  Jose Pagola reminds us that "It is necessary to learn things like this:  to give without expecting much in return; to forgive without requiring recompense; to be patient with disagreeable people; to help while looking only for the good of the other.
It is always possible to cut down on our own interests; to sometimes give up little advantages; to put joy in the life of someone in need; to give away some of our time without keeping it always to ourselves; to work with others in small freely given services."  (Following in the Footsteps of Jesus, year C, p. 128)
Indeed, "Blessed are those who live for others without any recompense. The Heavenly father will reward them."  (Pagola, p. 129).
Bro. Rene