Sainthood Is Our Goal

Here we are at the end of October and on the threshold of November. Children are excited about wearing their Halloween costumes while trick-or-treating, adults welcome the extra hour's sleep as daylight saving time ends, and All Saints Day falls on Sunday, as a great way to begin the month. The short, usually dreaded gray days of November, and the Advent waiting period of December call us to reflect on our mortality. Indeed, November is the month of the Holy Souls. We, like the trees, will one day go to rest, our eternal rest. The extra hours of daily darkness are useful in helping us look within at our attitudes toward life, our work, our relationships with others and with God. It is a necessary annual period of purgation and cleansing, akin to what we will be doing in Lent. Always, however, there is the HOPE that is born of Christmas, the triumph of light over darkness, "the light shone in the darkness and the darkness could not overcome it" (John 1:5). and the coming of renewed life in the spring. All Saints is an opportunity to look to the saints, especially our own patron saint, as models who have gone through this cycle successfully many times. It is a reminder that we are ALL CALLED TO BE SAINTS. Google provides easy access to a short biography, if needed. I recommend taking a look, and encouraging the family to do so as well.
May this weekend help us grow in grace and closeness to God,
Bro. Rene

Blessed Assurance

Just yeterday I was asked the question, "How long do I have to pray before I get an answer?" How many of us have asked the same question? However, I think we are really asking, "How long do I have to pray before I get the answer I WANT?!" The apparent "delay" might be there to help us come to understand that God is "in charge", not us. The purpose of prayer is to bring us into a union of love and harmony with God and his plans for each of us. "I know the plans I have for you" says the Lord, plans of fullness, not of harm, to give you a future and a hope" (Jer. 29:11).
And St. Paul gives us these reassuring words as well: "I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers nor hgigh, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.: (Romans 8:38-39). Have we no other choice, then, but to humbly silence our protests, whining and anxieties, to LISTEN to what God wants to tell us, and to find our peace by trusting this All-Good and All-loving God? God wants to hear from us, but also wants us to remember in his time, in his way, not ours.
Blessings,
Bro. Rene

Reading and Responding to Signs

Today the Church celebrates two Apostles, Sts. Simon and Jude, and the Marist Brothers remember it as the day in 1816 when the young Father Marcellin Champagnat encountered the dying 16-year old Jean Baptiste Montagne, an encounter which had a life-changing impact on Father Champagnat and the world. Shocked by the teenager's lack of knowledge of his faith, Champagnat reacted with the zeal of St. Simon and the Hope for which St. Jude is famous, to put into action an idea he had formulated while a seminarian: to found an order of teaching brothers. Jean Baptiste's ignorance of the faith was a sign to the young curate that the time to act on that idea was NOW. From then on, his life changed and the focus of his priesthood was centered on beginning and nourishing The Little Brothers of Mary, also known as the Marist Brothers of the Schools. It became his life's project, his mission. Little did he anticipate the struggles and stretching of his faith and talents his decision on that October day high up in the mountains of southern France would demand nor the enormous fruits it eventually would bear world-wide. We today are the beneficiaries of his courageous response to a dying boy's ignorance of his faith. If Champagnat did not see this as a sign, a call to action, you would not be reading about this event today, our Marist Schools would not exist, and I might simply be a college English professor.
With the closing of our General Chapter in Rome and the gifts of its insight and new leadership, and our own Provincial Chapter in November and new leadership in this country, this is certainly a time for ACTION. What signs are before us today? How will we as a congregation, and we as individual Marists (including lay Marists and all who read this) respond? I hope it's with the same zeal, courage and hope as St. Marcellin did.
May he and the Holy Spirit guide our reflection today.
Bro. Rene

Adopt a Priest

Following up on yesterday's suggestions, let me add two more:
1) Why not add our pastor or a priest friend to the list of people we pray for daily? Mentioning this person by name to God and keeping aware of his needs will tighten the spiritual bond between him and us, as well as keep us aware of the power of intercessory prayer.
2) We can help him by giving words of encouragement regarding his homilies, his efforts in the parish; express gratitude for his presence; offer to help, even without being asked; let our love be evident through our actions. St. Marcellin was always ready to commend the pastors where the brothers taught. He was also honest with them when he saw them not fulfilling their promises or treating the brothers poorly. He saw clearly and acted sincerely. Simple things done from the heart go a long way.
Blessings,
Bro. Rene

Helping our Priests to be Good Shepherds

Yesterday was "Priesthood Sunday" in the United States, a day set aside by the USA Council of Serra International to honor the priesthood, and to reflect upon and affirm its role in the life of the Church. I don't know if it was adverted to in your parish, but I'd like to offer these observations and suggestions, even if a day late.
There's no doubt that the priest, the pastor, plays a central role in the life of the parish. His leadership is key for indeed he presides not only over the Eucharist, but over the spiritual and temporal well-being of the faithful committed to his care. Without a deep relationship with Jesus, this cannot be done well. Without a contemplative dimension to his life, his actions will remain superficial and ineffective, his preaching, mere words. Fortunately, he is not alone. We, who also share in the priesthood of Christ by virtue of our Baptism, can and must be a support to him. Let us pray that the Spirit be at work in his life, let us pray that he listen to the Spirit; that rather than be a full time administrator, he be attentive to growth in holiness; that he give thoughtful and prayerful attention to his homilies; that he begin each meeting, each activity, each interview, with prayer so that what he says and does be what God wants. St. Marcellin Champagnat, St. John Vianney, good, holy and simple priests, followed this pattern. A good one for each of us as well.
Tomorrow, I will offer another suggeston. Let this be sufficient as a starter.
Peace all in the Spirit,
Bro. Rene

Perseverance

Another Friday and the edge of a weekend of a change in our Monday-Friday routine, a chance to rest and reflect, especially on Sunday, the Lord's day. There is a wisdom, not only physical and psychological in this two day "break", but especially spiritually, as we STOP to offer God worship, praise and thanks in a more prolonged way than we can during our busy week, and to spend some time taking our spiritual temperature. We can easily neglect our souls as we move from one event to another at a feverish pace. In so doing, we open ourselves to an inner fatigue which is prone to discouragement and emptiness. We subconciously sink into our little "pity pots" --poor me: "All the time and effort I spend helping others, trying to do good; no one appreciates what I do, and what I do does not seem to achieve the expected results. Why continue? Why not just 'shut down' and do nothing?" Dangerous territory, but a simple prayer from the heart: "Lord, I can't. You can. Please!" will help us turn the focus from ourselves, find our strength and encouragement in the Lord, and perservere in our efforts to live a solid Christian life. Let's be good to ourselves this weekend and take time with this simple prayer. It will make Monday brighter.
Peace,
Bro. Rene

Blessed Are the Peacemakers

In two sentences, St. James lays out a blueprint for thought and action to help us live out the oft-quoted beatitude, "Blessed are the peacemakers". "But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of paritality of bypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace" (Jas 3:17-18). It is the Holy Spirit who gives us the wisdom from above. Let us take a few moments to pray to the Spirit to fill us with the wisdom from which so many other gifts flow. The cacophany of our daily lives can easily drown out the peace, gentleness, mercy, genuineness and openess to all, which is part of our mission as followers of Christ. Allow The Holy Spirit to mute the noise, the worry and anxiety in our own hearts, and thus we'll be able to experience peace and help others find it as well.
I wish you wisdom and peace in the Holy Spirit.
Bro. Rene

Perspective

To rescue us from arrogance and pride, Jesus helps us to gain perspective by the challenging words, "Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more." (Luke 12:48) Our talents and gifts are GIVEN to us not for our own aggrandizement, but for the sake of others and ultimately for the glory of God. Our humble recognition that ALL IS GRACE, all is GIFT, will help us relinquish our own self-importance, keep things in proper perspective, and allow God to work more transparently through us. Let us join with St. Ephrem the Syrian as he prays: "Grant me, O Son of the Good One, that for which my mind yearns, and join to it that which is pleasing to your will. Grant that I may choose to do good and in no way deviate from your will....And whenever I begin something good, O lord, give me strength to complete it. Amen.
The day is young, what does God have planned for us today? Let us be attentive.
Bro. Rene

Remembering the Deeds of the Lord

Tonight our Juniors will mark the half-way point in their Central Catholic experience by assisting at Mass and receiving their class rings or pins. It is a time for them to look back and look ahead. These words from the Psalmist are fitting for them as well as for all of us as we reflect on who we are, where we are and where we are going:
I will meditate on all your work
And muse on your deeds.
Your way, O God, is holy;
What god is great as our God?
You are the God who works wonders;
You have made known your strength among the peoples.
Psalm 77: 11-12

Today the Church remembers St. Paul of the Cross, founder of the Passionist Fathers, Brothers and Sisters, whose mission is to help others remember the great love of God for us by sending his Son to die on the Cross for us and give us the possibility of new and eternal life. They do this by their preaching and retreat work. In light of this greatest of God's deeds, 0ur prayer, meditation and dealings with others, particularly with our Juniors today, can share in the Passionist mission.

May God's endless blessings continue to be with us all.
Bro. Rene

Courageous Evangelizers...All Of Us!

Today we remember St. Isaac Jogues and his Companions, The North American Martyrs, among whom was St. Rene Goupil, who was tomahawked to death for teaching children how to make the sign of the cross, something I myself did hundreds of times during my fourteen years on the Pine Ridge Reservation. These martyrs were courageous evanglizers, convinced of their mission to make Jesus known and loved, so much so that they gave their lives for it. Feeling a kinship with St. Rene, not only by bearing his name, but also in carrying on his mission, I pray to him daily for his intercession and inspiration in the mission we've accepted at Central. May he and the other Jesuit Martyrs we honor today pray for us and help us to accomplish it.

On another note, our Open House again manifested the love and loyalty of alumni and even prospective CCHS families for our school, its quality education and spiritual formation of its students. Our student Ambassadors were outstanding in their friendliness, hospitality, and unabashed expression of their love for the school. A constant stream of visitors, despite the bad weather, augured for a healthy enrollment next year. Let us give thanks to God for the abundant blessings we receive constantly.

Our condolences to Mr. Tom Salvo and his family as they grieve Catherine Salvo, their mother and mentor in genuine, simple, and loving living out of our faith. She was buried on Saturday.

More Than Many Sparrows

The Memorial of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque brings to mind the great love of Jesus for us expressed in the image of his Sacred Heart, promoted by St. Margaret Mary and her spiritual guide, St. Jean Claude de la Colombiere. In today's Gospel from St. Luke , Jesus gives us these reassuring words: "Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them has excaped the notice of God. Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. Do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows." (Lk 12: 6-7) Pope John Paul II reiterated Jesus' words, "Do not be afraid" as his favorite message to the world. Let us proceed into this day with confidence that God's love for each of us will take care of us in all our troubles and fill us with the inner joy that persists and carries us through our daily ups and downs.
A blessed day and weekend,
Bro. Rene

Prayer and Action

Today the universal church remembers the great mystic, St. Teresa of Jesus, AKA St. Teresa of Avila. Usually when we see the word, "mystic" we think of ecstacies or extraordinary supernatural experiences, and therefore, not for us. We forget that St. Teresa was also a very pragmatic woman, busily engaged in the founding of 16 monasteries in her lifetime, as well as a person whose experience in prayer lifted her to sainthood and has been a guided generations who yearn for closer union with God. St. Marcellin, also, by his life and example, shows that the two, action and contemplation are compatible and necessary for spiritual growth. The theologian, Father Karl Rahner after Vatican II insisted that "the devout Christian of the future will either be a 'mystic'...or cease to be anything at all." Wow! Here's where St. Marcellin's call to be aware of the presence of God often during the day, even by the simple reverent repitition of the name Jesus, while we are busy at work, gives us "loving knowledge and even radical fidelity to the demands of daily life," and helps us grow in faith, ope and love in self-surrender to God and our deepest longings to be united with him. In Psalm 130, we pray:

"I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
my souls waits for the Lord,
more than those who watch for the morning." Psalm 130:5-6

Reflecing on these words of St. Teresa might help us blend this yearning with our daily activity.
"Christ has no body now on earth, but yours,
No hands but yours,
No feet by yours.

Yours are the eye through which the compassion of Christ
must look out on the world.

Yours are the feet with which he is to go about doing good.
Yours are the hands with which he is to bless his people."

Peace,
Bro. Rene

Only In God

In praying to the Holy Spirit for what to say today, knowing that this is not an ordinary day, these verses from Psalm 62 leaped out as the substance of today’s Daily Bread:
Only in God is my soul at rest;
From him comes my salvation.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
My stronghold; I shall not be disturbed at all.
Trust in him at all times, O my people!
Pour out your hearts before him;
God is our refuge.
Bite into this, digest it throughout the day and find calm and peace.
Bro. Rene

Stepping Into The Unknown

Each day is a step into the unknown and thus an opportunity for further growth. Couples, for example, enter marriage thinking that they know each other, but as the years go by, they realize how much was unknown. A commitment was made, and on that promise, they help each other step by step become the persons they aspire to be. Our strengths, our limitations, our hopes, our disappointments, our daily discoveries, are like rungs on a ladder, necessary for the climb to the top. Let us remember that God is Lord in all: strengths, weaknesses, light and darkness, rung after rung, the known and unknown. God is committed to help us reach the fullness of our potential. “In God we trust.”
Bro. Rene

Perseverance

With the long weekend coming up, I thought I’d offer a word about perseverance. In Ephesians 6:18), St. Paul exhorts us to “Pray in the spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the holy ones.” A powerful reminder to pray, not only “at all times,” but in the spirit (Holy Spirit) and with alertness, that is, from the heart, conscious of what we are doing, not simply by rote. And, indeed supplications or intercessory (begging prayers) for the holy ones (members of the community, our families, etc.) are encouraged. With the extra time this weekend, we might be able to add a rosary or a few Hail Mary’s …or more conversational prayer, for our students, for one another, and the needs of our church, country, (Monday…Columbus Day) and world. It’s also reunion weekend, so many of our former students will be gathering in fun and gratitude for their Central experience. So many gifts we have received…so much for which to be grateful. All the more reason to power up our prayers, to persevere in faith and trust.
Bro. Rene

Fostering Vocations

Since we are hosting a very special event tonight, an evening with the Cardinal to cultivate vocations to the priesthood and brotherhood (a similar event will be held for young women in the future), I’d like to focus our prayer today on St. John Vianney, the Cure of Ars, patron of priests. He was a man of simple faith who loved his calling, and prayed constantly for the people of Ars and eventually for all who came to him for confession or spiritual advice. Today’s Gospel contains the familiar verse, “Ask and you shall receive, knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Lk11:9). Like St. John, let us not hesitate to ask for our own conversion of heart, and the conversion of those we teach, and yes, even that some of them might heed God’s call to the priesthood or religious life. Thank you for your prayerful support.
Bro. Rene

Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary

Greetings on this Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary, another opportunity to honor Mary our Good Mother and follow her advice. She constantly reminds us that praying the rosary daily is a means to remain faithful to prayer as she was faithful to her mission to bring forth Christ to the world. Reflecting on the mysteries of the rosary to the rhythm of the repeated Hail Mary’s is a way of pondering, as she did, the events which shaped her life, events all focused on her Son. Using this prayer daily, if possible, or frequently, will bring us closer in touch with Jesus. Whenever we pray the rosary, she is there with us. Let’s take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to be with her.
Much peace and joy,
Br. Rene

New role as Vice President for Mission Effectiveness

Dear Alumni and Friends,
In my new role as Vice President for Mission Effectiveness, I want to include you in my efforts to foster, enhance and solidify the Catholic and Marist mission and identity of Central Catholic. So many of you have spoken to me about the religious formation and values they have received during your high school years that have stayed with you and helped you mature into the men and women you are now, that I thought your might continue to profit from news of from our Marist World, and from a daily reflection that I have been sending to our Faculty and Board Members. The Mission of Central Catholic, to make Jesus known and loved, did not end with your graduation. No, it must continue throughout your adult and professional lives if indeed we are to accomplish our vision “to make the world a better place.” Daily headlines underscore the need for the message of Jesus and the dream of St. Marcellin to be lived effectively in the market place in order to counter balance the incursion of increasingly secular, material, and might I even say Godless, attitudes and values that are challenging us on every side. My hope is that a brief, daily paragraph might provide food for thought and influence our actions so that we not only remain connected with Central, but we continue to walk the road set out before us while we were here.

Since this is the inaugural contact with you, I will take the liberty of sending three paragraphs, the above, a news blurb, and a reflection for today.

The General Chapter of the Marist Brothers, held every eight years, is in progress in Rome at this very time. The delegates have elected a new Superior General, Brother Emili Turu, a Spaniard. Br. Sean Sammon, former Superior General, will return to the United States. Br. John Klein, former provincial of the United States Province, has been elected as a General Councilor and along with seven other brothers, will help in the governance of the Marist Brothers throughout the world. This General Chapter is addressing the inclusion of lay Marists as part of the Marist Family. This should be of increasing interest to all as it develops.

Daily Reflection: Today we honor St. Bruno, Founder of the Carthusians, monks whose entire life is spent in silence and solitude. This is a special call for a special few, but all of us are called to be contemplatives, that is, to be reflective people, not just machines on automatic pilot. St. Marcellin encouraged the early brothers to stop every hour to offer a short prayer and recall the PRESENCE OF GOD. When you were at Central, each new class began with a prayer, which was our way to continue this practice. Perhaps we can take a moment during the day, between meetings, appointments, or while driving to or from work, to offer an OUR FATHER, a HAIL MARY…or just recall how good God has been to us. God’s love and mercy will eventually transform us. God is always at our door. Let’s not be too busy to open it.

Blessings, Prayers, and Peace,
Bro. Rene