Striving for Sanctity

When we hear or read that "we are all called to holiness", most of us cringe and say, "Well, I'm no Mother Teresa, or Francis of Assisi, so I guess that call is not for me." But the call is "for me." Me, as I am, who I am, even with the parts I don't like about myself. God is not calling me to be someone else, but to accept and love completely the creation he made me, as he does. It would do us a world of good if we put ourselves in God's shoes and looked at ourselves with his eyes. He created us, he knows us better than we know ourselves, he doesn't reject what he has made, rather he loves these creatures of his with an everlasting and unconditional love. Accepting ourselves as God accepts us is the beginning of sanctity for we then we present him with our true self, not a false self, not a self that is an imitation of another. Once a very holy Sister said to me as I asked her help in learning to pray, "God does not relate to ghosts. You must present him with the real you, not a fake." As well as celebrating Wednesday of the first week of Advent, we are also remembering the Apostle Andrew who left his fishing nets to follow Jesus. If we can leave behind our false self, or our low esteem of ourselves, we can more readily follow Jesus and answer the call to holliness.
Bro. Rene

The Wolf and the Lamb

One of the most beautiful images from the Prophet Isaiah depicts peace and harmony between natural predators and prey: "Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb,/ and the leopard shall lie down with the kid;/ The calf and the young lion shall browse together,/with a little child to guide them." (Is 11: 6) Isaiah is describing the fullness of the messianic age, when strife and violence have vanished and all have learned to live in peace. Isaiah wrote 700 years before the birth of Jesus, and roughly 2,700 years later, this prophecy remains unfulfilled, yet we continue to repeat it each Advent, longing and hoping that some day it will come to pass. As things usually happen little by little, perhaps a start would be to recognize the wolf and the lamb within ourselves. Part of Advent is to take "the journey inward," to look inside of ourselves at the shadows and cobwebs that are part of our inner core. We discover what Saint Paul so aptly described: "...I do not do the good I want, but I do the evil I do not want." (Rm 7:19) The wolf and the lamb are definitely at odds with each other. Acknowledging this, we also realize that alone we have no power to resolve this inner conflict. Paul continues, "Miserable one that I am! Who will deliver me from this mortal body? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Rm 7: 24-25). We need the advent of "the child who will lead them", the coming of Jesus with his healing and the power of his love and grace to bring the harmony we lack but for which we yearn. Come, Lord Jesus, tame the wolf in me that it might become the guest of the lamb.
Bro. Rene

Stay Awake

"Stay Awake." Fitting words for a Monday morning. The first weeks of Advent keep nudging us to be alert, watch, stay awake, for the Lord is coming. Yes, the Lord is coming at the end of time, and is with us at all times. Each time we receive Holy Communion, Jesus is especially present and intimate with us. Each time we encounter others, the presence of God in them leaps out at us. We, in our busyness, however, often miss the gift. We do so much by rote, by habit, and in a hurry. It's amazing to see how our minds can be a million miles away, for example, at Mass with the switch to "And with your spirit." We can even have the card in hand, our mind drifts for a moment, and out comes, "and also with you." Did you notice? So with our intention to spend "more time" with God during Advent, by slowing down and trying to be aware of his presence during our ordinary routines, we slip and slide all over the place as pre-occupation and distraction push and shove us away from our Advent goals. The call to stay awake, be alert, is well-founded, well-placed and necessary to "keep us on task." And this is when we need to stop and ask for help to "stay awake" and perk up in God's presence. A simple prayer would be: God, help me to stay awake. Thanks. Amen.
Bro. Rene

Return to Me

We have begun the season of Advent. Much ado has been made about the translation of the Mass, which is being inaugurated today, but let's not allow that to become a distraction from the purpose of the season: to prepare for the coming of Jesus. The word advent comes from the Latin, advenire, to come to. As St. Paul closes his first letter to the Corinthians, he says, "Our Lord, come!" (1 Cor 16: 22). Evidently there is some ambiguity here, for the Greek can mean, "the Lord has come" or it can be an invitation to the Lord to come. Advent is about both. The first two weeks, until December 16th, the focus is on the Second Coming, the Last Judgement Time, for which no one knows the day or the year. Then from December 17th, we look forward to the birth of Jesus, already a historical event, but remembered again, as we do with birthday celebrations. The Church encourages us to set aside some time to reflect on the meaning and goal of our lives: to live a life of love here on earth, and to spend eternity in the bosom of God's love. We are reminded that "we have not here a lasting city," and we look forward to the time when Jesus will say, "Come, blessed of my Father and inherit the Kingdom of heaven prepared for you from the foundation of the world." (Mat 25: 34). We tend to stray from this path, so the words of the prophet Malachi help us to re-focus: "Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts." (Mal 3:7). In Tobit we read,
"When you turn back to him with all your heart,
to do what is right before him,
then he will turn back to you,
and no longer hide his face from you." (Tobit 13:6).
Praying over the rich texts of the weekday liturgies, some small sacrifice, as a simple meal once a week with the "savings" being given to a favorite charity, might help us make the necessary return and provide a place for Jesus in the inn of our hearts at Christmas. Lord, soften my heart and strengthen my will. Amen.
Bro. Rene

Being Vigilant

This final day in Ordinary Time is an opportunity to take a look back over the year (as we also do on New Year's Eve), and see between the ups and downs the pattern that lies behind these events: God's plan for our spiritual growth. Over the past few days, we, most likely, were able to be with family, to get up from the table as stuffed as the turkey that made its final gift of itself to us, and to enjoy the freedom to give thanks to God for all the blessings we have received. Some of us have learned that "prosperity" lies not in THINGS, but in relationships, in family, community and certainly in God. On the other hand, the frenzy and madness reported in some instances in Black Friday shopping, are startling, if not disconcerting. Is an X-Box worth pepper spraying other shoppers? Also as disconcerting to me is the media coverage of shopping news and retail sales that pushes aside reflection on Thanksgiving Day and the many aspects of it that need to be brought to our attention to keep its meaning alive. Youngsters will grow up thinking that it means turkey and bargain hunting during the night...and as it's going now...for a whole weekend! The "holiday season" is referred to as "the shopping season" and we'll be hearing over and over again, how many days are left; little or no reference will be made to preparing our hearts to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Are we being anesthetized by the pursuit of material goods? Jesus aptly reminds us: "Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy...Be vigilant at all times." (Lk 21: 34...36). Lord, keep me awake; keep my eyes open to see YOU and the values you taught us. May my eyes not be dimmed by the glitter being marketed by the hucksters of a Godless world. Amen

A Parable

Once upon a time, three children found a small cardboard box while they were playing near a pile of fallen leaves. Opening the cover they found two compartments, one with celery sticks, some of which had wilted leaves still on them, and carrots cut in the same short lengths as the celery. The other compartment had tongue depressers with writing on them. Before the children could read them they heard a voice mumbling, "Where's my box? I just had it. Where did I put it?" Turning they saw a scruffy old man wearing a dirty denim jacket and frayed levis. They hid while they watched him search for the box but laughed and teased among each other that this was going to be fun as the man paced back and forth kicking the pile of leaves. Suddenly, he fell to his knees and began to pray to God to help him find the box. "Lord God, please find the box for me, it has my only food for the day." Silence. Then they heard, "Lord, if someone has taken it, please forgive them; maybe they need it more than I." When these words reached the children, they threw the box toward the man, but kept the sticks with the writing and as they ran away, they heard, "Lord, bless those children and forgive them, for they knew not what they did." A good distance away, the children stopped to read the first stick, which said, "Sometimes joking and laughter can be at the expense of another." The second stick read, "Do you pray to find something that is lost?" The third, "When is the last time you prayed to forgive someone who has wronged you?" And the last read, "Have you ever blessed those who harmed or attempted to harm you?"
The children walked in silence to the man who was sitting on the pile of leaves eating his meager meal. They asked him to forgive them and thanked them for the lesson he had given them. He smiled, offering to share his food with them and told them to keep the sticks and let their message be written in their hearts.
Bro. Rene

We are blessed to have this excellent slice of Daily Bread contributed by Chris Sulllivan, an administrator totally devoted to our Marist Spirituality and to the mission of Central Catholic. I join him in wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving.
Bro. Rene

As a part of my Thanksgiving reflection, I, like so many others, spend time thinking about family and friends, the creature comforts I take for granted, and the gifts that have been bestowed upon me by my good God. And such reflections are good, and undoubtedly why our forefathers created a holiday to remind us how important it was to be grateful.
If anyone asks me, I would certainly tell them that I am a Christian. But I ask myself today, do I show them? Am I a reflection of God’s love for me to others? I’d like to think that I am, but an intense self-check reminds me of times when I have fallen short. I am reminded of a clever piece of advice shared with me this summer by Br. Richard Van Houten, FMS….”You can’t become a Christian by sitting in church for an hour each week any more than you can become an SUV by sleeping in your garage every night!”
The more I reflect, the more I realize that in my day to day journey I often forget that I have a Companion. My prayer this year has been to walk each day with the Lord, allowing him to be present, and, in turn, being present to him. I don’t want to be a passive Christian, but an active one.
My prayer:
Lord,
Let me walk this day with you …
Not just next to You, but WITH You.
Let me remember that you are alongside me all day, supporting me in my difficulties, and celebrating my successes.

Lord,
Let me walk this day with You …
Conversing with you nonstop, sharing my day, and reflecting you and your Love to others with whom we meet up and share parts of the journey of this day.

Lord,
Let me walk this day with You …
Then I can remember that nothing is going to happen to me today that You and I cannot handle together.

Lord,
When today is over, and I am resting my head wearily upon my pillow,
May I remember that we walked this day together, and that You loved me, and I loved You right back.
I will say good night to You, and I will rest, and You will stay beside me, that we might walk together again tomorrow. Amen

Happy Thanksgiving to each of you.
Chris Sullivan

The Bread We Need

Forty-eight years ago the world was reeling in the shock of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22. The unthinkable, the totally unexpected and unncessary had occured. To this day, those of us who were alive then can recall exactly when and what we were doing as the news hit us like an earthquake. And shake this world did, and has not recovered since. If anything, we have grown insensitive to the encroachment of evil as one atrocity after another forces us to harden our shell to prevent further trauma to our psyches. It appears that there is little shock expressed when bad news hits us; we tighten and continue on. Is this the way we were meant to be? Is this the life that God envisioned for us?
In the aftermath of the French Revolution a counter movement of damage control, repair, and re-creation took place in southern France where several religious congregations came into being with similar purposes: to educate, to rekindle the faith, to satisfy the soul's hunger for the bread that endures, The Bread of Life. Our own day calls for a re-founding of the congregations that arose to meet the need then. Or, (and there are) new congregations need to be started. It's not over, it's never over, as bad as things might look. There is a positive side. When our country was attacked in the Pacific, and threatened in the Atlantic, the nation rose up in defense. Young men in their late teens came forward; women took their places in the work force. We bonded and succeeded. And because of these "givers" we are able to worship freely and celebrate thanksgiving. As we break bread today and over this Thanksgiving Weekend, let us ask God to bless us with the strength and courage to do what we have to do to find the bread we need to restore life and hope.
Bro. Rene

Keeping the Marist Connection

Over the past few years Bro. Steve Milan has founded and fostered a program for Marist Alumni from our schools and retreats. As one student said, "it's such a good connection, why would anyone ever want to break it?" The testimonies of these young adults is most inspiring and I recommend their website so that you might relish their enthusiasm: www. MaristYoungAdult.com. There are videos and other attractions that will keep you busy for hours.
Yesterday and this morning I visited with Central grads from the '40's and '50's, and their enthusiasm about their Marist educational experiences matched those of today's young adults. They kept their Marist Connection even without a formal organization. It was etched in their hearts permantently.
Bro. Rene

The Presentation of Mary in the Temple

In the Eastern Church, this day is called The Great Feast of the Entry of the Mother of God into the Temple. The event, though not recorded in the New Testament, is described in the Protoevangelim of James, a non-canonical "gospel", one of many that were written to "fill in the gaps" left in the four canonical gospels. It is from this account that we have the names Anne and Joachim and the tradition that Mary, at the age of three, was presented to God as a return for their answered prayer to have a child. She was received with great jubilation and spent her youth there, learning the Hebrew Scriptures and growing in her union with God. Modern scholars of Mariology do not accept this story as fact and prefer to stress Mary's "ordinariness" as simply a young Jewish girl who grew up in Nazareth without the benefit of an education, even to being able to read. We don't know for sure if either view is correct, but the reverence the Eastern Catholics give this feast (one of the 12 holydays in their liturgical calendar), gives it at least some symbolic weight.
Mary's "Yes" at the Annunciation could be seen as beginning at the steps of the Temple, as she enters in complete openness to the presence of God and later herself becomes the Temple of God as she carries Jesus in her womb. The feast also presents us with the model of openness to God's inviting presence in our lives. We have received all from God, and in turn, like Mary, we are called to "pay forward" by giving of what we have received, of who we are, to others, and thus returning the gift of ourselves to God. Mary, may we become a faithful disciple like you and put our gifts at the disposal of others, especially as we give thanks this week for all we have received, and next week enter into the holy season of Advent. Amen.
Bro. Rene

King of Kings and Lord of Lords

Handel's Hallelujah Chorus hammers home with majesty and dignity the magnificent title given to Jesus in the Book of Revelation, King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Rev 17:14); today we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King, the final Sunday in Ordinary Time. The feast was introduced in 1925 by Pope Pius XI in his Encyclical, Quas Primas, to counteract growing secularism and disrespect for the authority and teachings of the Church. It was a call to the faithful to a change of heart and a return to Jesus Christ, as THE leader, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords of our hearts and lives. The need for such a change has increased dramatically since 1925. The title King, might evoke some negative reaction since not all Kings have been exemplary leaders. Yet, Jesus himself used the title and the term kingdom of heaven, but never intended to establish an earthly kingdom. When Pilate asked Jesus if he were a king, Jesus replied: " I am not an earthly king. If I were, my followers would have fought when I was arrested by the Jewish leaders. But my kingdom is not of this world." (Jn 18: 33b). In Mark 10: 43-45, Jesus describes the kind of leadership he represents: "Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all. for even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many." We expect our leaders, especially our Church leaders to follow this example, but in them and in ourselves we are disappointed as our sinfulness inteferes with this lofty goal. That is why it is necessary each year (each day) to renew our Christian Vocation to work for "a kingdom of truth and life, a kingdom of holiness and grace, and a kingdom of justice, love, and peace." (Preface of Christ the King). A big order. May our humble prayer today be for Christ reign in our hearts, for we cannot bring about his kingdom by ourselves.
Bro. Rene

Looking Up To The Mountains

Thousands of tourists have been to the mountains of New England in the past weeks, drinking in the foliage, which, unfortunately, has not been as spectacular as in other years. Looking to the mountains for help, for inspiration, for beauty is a long tradition. In Psalm 121 we read "I look to the mountains, / does my help come from there?" (Ps 121: 1). Another translation reads, "will they come to my aid?" And another, "from where shall my help come?" The answer is unanimous: "My help comes from the Lord, /who made the heavens and the earth." (Ps 121: 2). It is not the mountains themselves, but their Creator. Jesus and Mary prayed this same psalm and as is evident in their lives, knew that the source of all help is God. "For the Lord is a great God, the great King above all gods./ He owns the depths of the earth,/ and even the highest mountains are his." (Ps 95: 3).
In a week we will begin the four week period of Advent, a time when we prepare for Christmas, not by frenzied shopping, but by turning to the heart of the season, the coming of this God, the maker of heaven and earth, to dwell among us, to be "incarnate" (now used in the Sunday Creed), made flesh among us. Let us not stray from this truth and be caught up in foliage that disappoints, and actually makes more work for us by raking it up, or by mountains which are only the handiwork of God, as magnificent as they are. No, the Maker of all of this is more magnificent and knew no beginning nor knows no end. "Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth." May that be our mantra today and always.
Bro. Rene

Building On Our Ancestors

The life of Alfred J. Therrien, celebrated at an inspiring funeral Mass yesterday, reminded me of how one person's life can impact so many others and how God's plan along with human determination and effort can result in something so beautiful that words cannot describe it. On September 30, 1944, a mine exploded on a hill in Southern France killing one American and wounding Alfred, just a few feet away. The explosion took one eye completely and left the other with only slight vision, yet he was alive. His impairment did not stop him and upon returning to the United States, he went to St. Norbert's College and completed his four year degree with the help of a "reader" who became his closest friend. He married, had three wonderful daughters and became the grandfather of 10 exceptionally gifted grandchildren. Had he been a few inches closer to that explosion, none of this would have come about. His strong personality and convictions, his faith, and his formula for a happy life, were passed on to his children. I saw them alive and well in two of his grandsons who graduated from Central Catholic with whom I am very close.
We are today, the results of similar stories, of people who made us who we are through their struggles, their determination. Indeed this whole country was founded by stalwart men and women whose convictions led them to break away from the familiar, enter a new land, and overcome obstacle after obstacle to live in freedom. On Thanksgiving, we will remember the Pilgrims and the First Thanksgiving as well as the many since, not always celebrated in peaceful times, but always a reminder that despite the current situations, there are those who came before us and showed us that no matter what, we can and must move forward to LIVE! Let us give thanks for them build on their legacy
Bro. Rene

The Have's and the Have Not's

In preparing for Thanksgiving, our daily reflection today centers on the diversity of economic levels within our own school communities. The range goes from those for whom money is no object, lunches are plentiful, and the waste from their plates embarrassing, to those who have been "hiding" during lunch in studies or libraries "doing research" because they have no lunch and are ashamed to let other students know, or to ask to be part of a lunch program that will give them at least something. Happily, thanks to the generosity of a few donors, we at Central Catholic are able to distribute an average of 37 lunches per day, a sandwich, bottle of water, and thanks to a kind donor, an occasional snack to go with them. Not much, but better than nothing. The gratitude expressed by these students is overwhelming...not a one who does not offer a daily thank you. And these are the students who are holding down one, two, sometimes three part time jobs to help with household expenses, however, their own lunch not included! These too are the students who realize that the excellent education that is available to them is not to be wasted if they want to move up and spare their children from such an existence. We've seen them go on to college and graduate school and come back to work at the Lawrence Boys and Girls Club to help the next generation follow in their footsteps.
Just looking at this puts Thanksgiving in a better perspective. Sometimes the "have's" are missing the wealth that the "have not's" possess and appreciate: the willingness to work hard, the determination take nothing for granted and know that success will be theirs if they believe and work for it, and the sensitivity to be grateful for every gift and opportunity that comes their way. They are growing into fine human beings and citizens and are ripe for a spiritual awakening as well. One of these young men after making our Encounter reflected that he realized that not only is service to the needy a major component of a happy, Christian life, but at the heart of all of this, there must be a "connection to the Lord," which he is now concentrating on developing. No wonder the first beatitude is, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Mt 5: 2) and that Jesus, St. Elizabeth of Hungary, St. Marcellin and scores of others, had a special love for the poor. Lord, I am grateful for what I have, open me to receive from others what I do not even know I lack. Amen.
Bro. Rene

Feeding the Hungry

As Thanksgiving approaches, the cries of the hungry and those attempting to feed them are being heard louder than ever this year in cities around the country. At Central Catholic, we have been collecting food for three weeks. Students from Marist College will spend the weekend at Lazarus House sorting and readying the donated food for delivery on the Wednesday, November 23rd. This morning in the true spirit of giving, a student whose family cannot afford to provide him lunch every day, brought in nine cans from his own family to donate to those who have less. It reminds me of the widow's mite...she gave her last penny and Jesus commended her for that sacrifice. It is in such reaching down deep that the real meaning of the "giving" in Thanksgiving becomes evident. Let us hope and pray that more people will reach down deeper this year to meet the larger-than-ever need.
Bro. Rene

Sun of Justice

Jesus spent three years proclaiming the kingdom; a major part of his message flew directly in the face of the pharisees. Jesus advocated the spirit of the law as opposed to the letter of the law. St. Paul also was clear, "the letter of the law kills, but it is the Spirit which gives life."(2 Cor. 3:6). So often in following the spirit of the law, we are criticized as being "soft", of "giving in." Yet Jesus, being prophetically practical used the example of the donkey falling into the ditch on the sabbath, and the normal response of "working" on the sabbath to get it out. Often there are circumstances beyond our knowledge that color a person's actions and demand a mitigated response rather than the club of the law. In our prayer we need to call upon Jesus, the Sun of Justice, to illuminate our choices and our responses so that we make them in light of the Gospel. In our dealings with loved ones or strangers, we need his light to enlighten our hearts with the light of his love, and in all our decisions, we need his light of his will to be shed on our daily path. Lord, Sun of Justice, you are our light and our salvation. May we see your truth and wisdom so that our actions flow from the light of your love. Amen.

Seeing With the Eyes of Faith

Blessed Angela of Foligno, a wife, mother, Franciscan Tertiary and mystical writer of the 14th century (d. 1309) wrote then and for our time as well: "The more perfectly and purely we see, the perfectly and purely we love." The image of the half-full vs the half-empty glass is our modern equivalent of this truth. It depends on how we see. The blind man, Bartimeus, could not see physically, but saw clearly that Jesus could bring back his sight, while so many who could see Jesus, did not recognize him and the gifts he had to offer. Spiritual blindness prevents us from seeing the good even in what appears at first to be the opposite, as well as giving us hope to move ahead when all appears lost. St. Marcellin and Bro. Stanislaus were lost in a blinding blizzard, but with faith they prayed the Memorare, and suddenly a light appeared from a farm house that enabled them to find safety. Praying with faith that Mary would rescue them brought light to a desparate situation. Praying with faith in our own needs, in our own anxieties or desparate moments will help us to find the solution in what we might have considered the impossible. Praying with faith for people whose mannerisms might at first "turn us off" will help us to see the good behind those behaviors and help us to see them as God does and thus move beyond what we once considered repulsive. Seeing with the eyes of faith will help us with our mission to love all and bring them to new levels of love.
Bro. Rene

Advent Is Coming

Tomorrow is the Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time; next week, Christ the King, and the Sunday after Thanksgiving is the First Sunday of Advent. Does it seem possible? We are nearing the highest point of the Untamed Roller Coaster at Canobie...in a "second" we'll be speeding down to Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's. Can you hold on? Already Wal-mart is advertising Black Friday specials for 10 pm Thanksgiving night. What really matters, it seems, is the BUCK, not time with the family. We leave home to go out and buy presents for the people we left at home. Crazy??? Time to STOP and take stock.
I've planned a morning of pre-Advent recollection on Saturday, November 19th, BEFORE the roller coaster careens down the other side of the big hill. 9 am till 11:30 am in the CCHS chapel. Fr. Jerry Hogan, from St. Michael's in North Andover, Bridgette Bolduc, teacher, and Br. John Kachinsky, guidance counselor will give talks. Confessions will be available and we will close with benediction. A chance to step aside and catch breath, to be quiet, to be nourished so that these Big Three Holidays will make more sense. The morning is open to Alumni, Friends, and Faculty of CCHS. Br. Tom is conducting special Advent sessions for parents. Please let me know if you are Bro. Rene
P.S. I will be away so there will be no slice of bread on Sunday.

A Prayer for Veterans Day

Our best gift to our Veterans today is prayer. A Prayer for Veterans came from Kristy, a friend of Maureen Dougan, a teacher at Central Catholic. I thought it an appropriate way to help us observe Veterans’ Day.
Bro. Rene


O God our Creator and Father, we praise you, we bless you and we thank you for the vast numbers of men and women whom we honor today for their service in the military. They answered the summons to serve and protect our country, our values and our people and to help other nations in their struggles against oppression.

We ask for blessings on all these who have so valiantly served their country.
We ask for healing for the veterans who have been wounded, in body and soul, in conflicts around the globe.
We pray especially for the young men and women, in the thousands, who are coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan with injured bodies and traumatized spirits.
Bring solace to them, O Lord; may we pray for them when they cannot pray.
We ask for, echoing John Paul II, an end to wars and the dawning of a new era of peace,
as a way to honor all the veterans of past wars.

Have mercy on all our veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Bring peace to their hearts and peace to the regions in which they fought.
Bless all the soldiers who served in non-combative posts;
may their calling to service continue in their lives in many positive ways.

Give us all the creative vision to see a world which, grown weary with fighting,
moves to affirming the life of every human being and so moves beyond war.
Hear our prayer, O Prince of Peace, hear our prayer. Amen

Who Is Great?

Pope St. Leo I is also known as Pope St. Leo the Great, and for good reason. His outstanding leadership during his 21 year pontificate, 440-461 A.D. dealt firmly with the heresies proposed by the Manichaeans and Monophysites as well as with the invasions of the Huns and the Vandals. His famous confrontation with Attila the Hun is not only the subject of a classic painting by Raphael but also shows his courage and the power of his personality. The second confrontation with Geneseric kept the Vandals from harming the citizens of Rome, despite a two-week "sacking". He unified the Church which had been disorganized by the migrations of various tribes from the East, and his sermons inspired true piety in the faithful. He shares the title, "The Great" with only one other Pope, Gregory VII, although there is a strong feeling among many contemporary Catholics, that Blessed Pope John Paul II might also be listed as "The Great". We lived through his pontificate and can bear witness to the scope of his influence as Shepherd, charismatic leader and inspiring writer and speaker. His influence on the young is still being felt as seminaries increase membership due to his example and exhortations.
But what about "The Great" among us? Those of our Marist Family of consecrated religious and devoted lay people, who volunteer for missionary work, or those who devote themselves seflessly to youth right under our noses...tutoring before or after school, bringing teams to tutor at the Lawrence Boys and Girls Club, or to serve meals at Cor Unum. None of these are looking for recognition or titles, but certainly they are in the same league, in my estimation, to these great popes. Two such "Greats" were acknowledged last night at the Boys and Girls club for their many years of devoted, quiet, persistent service to those in need, academically, physically, and above all, spiritually. Contratulations to Ricky Nault and Billy Robertson whose names now adorn the Wall of Fame at the club among 64 other "Greats". God bless them, everyone!
Bro. Rene

From Living Stones

The Church Universal today celebrates the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica, the cathedral of the Bishop of Rome since the time of the Emperor Constantine, who donated his own palace, known as a basilica, to the Church. The Bishop of Rome, later known as the Pope, resided there for many years and used it and its replacement building as the official seat of his office. More than just a building, it reminds us that the Church is really a people, each one of us, called to build up an eternal temple of living stones, that is, of faith-filled disciples of Jesus, who not only believe his word, but put it into practice. We strive for this each day, consciously or unconsiously, in little ways, such as digesting this daily slice of bread, by attending Mass weekly or even daily, through whatever prayers help us draw closer to Jesus, and, as Marists, do this through Mary. Our prayer colors our dealings with each other and helps us forgive, reach out, and put our own agendas aside for the sake of helping another. May we renew our determination to become living stones in the temple of God's kingdom.
Bro. Rene

Encountering Christ

Today a bus load of seniors and juniors will head north to St. Methodius Retreat Center in Contoocook, NH (a new location for us) to spend two nights and two and a half days in an intense retreat experience known at Marist Youth Encounter Christ. These Encounters began in 1968 as an offshoot of the popular Cursillo Movement, which also still continues to flourish.
The Marist Brothers adopted the model developed especially for teens in Cleveland, and have utilized it with great success throughout the Marist United States. Encounters are held in Esopus, NY, Brownsville, TX, Miami, FL, Chicago, IL ( a slightly different version known as Kairos is used there) and now in Contoocook for Central students. Talks are given by students who have been preparing for several weeks, activities and small group discussions as well as prayer fill the days from morning till midnight. The effect has been profound over the years and students go deeper into their hearts, prompted by the speakers who share their stories and their Encounters with Christ, who is seen not as some distant figure, but in the faces and hearts of one another. A little bit of heaven is created and usually the students are reluctant to leave and return to their busy lives. A lot of what is acquired "sticks" and blossoms into service in the community and serving as retreat leaders for our other retreats for freshmen and sophomores...and on future Encounters. These retreats are at the heart of our mission, "to make Jesus known and loved", for that is exactly what happens. Our prayers, sacrifices and fastings will help this process. This is our "assignment" for these next two days.
Bro. Rene

The Favors of the Lord

With "morning light" returning for a time (at the expense of early darkness), we are reminded of God's unending favors to us that come to us through his Son, Jesus, our Light and our Life.
"The favors of the Lord are not exhausted,/ his mercies are not spent;/ They are renewed each morning,/ so great is his faithfulness." (Lam 3:22-23). What a Monday morning "fix" this is, as in a cup of hot expresso! And not just on Mondays, but every day. Our growth in the spiritual life comes through repetition of the same lessons, as the Great Teacher reviews his basic subject matter frequently, if not daily, for his slow learning students. Each day finds us in a "different space" so sometimes the lesson seems extremely pertinent, but at others, it goes in one ear and out the other, as with students in a classroom, or with children at home. Yet, teachers, parents, never stop. Over the years the lesson sinks in. So today the lesson is looking at the "favors of the Lord". We are all walking, breathing, seeing, hearing, understanding, communicating, loving, being loved. People are kind to us, we to them. These are the favors of the Lord so often overlooked, but manifestations of God's inexhaustible love. What other particular favors can you name, or do you need to recall to put you on the postive track for today and the rest of the week? May we all find many, and may we be alert and grateful when they come to us.
Bro. Rene

Seeking Wisdom

As November moves into full swing, with longer nights, falling leaves, cooler temperatures, and yes, even snow, we annually take stock of our lives in preparation for Advent. We remember the Holy Souls and the brevity of our lives reflected in the shortness of the day's light. The cycle of the year brings us to deeper realizations of what really matters in this life. This is called WISDOM...and it comes with age, experience, reflection. "Make us know the shortness of our life/that we may gain wisdom of heart," writes the Psalmist (Ps 90:12). We all look for it. Note that it is not simply intellectual knowledge, but that the heart is involved as well. The young seek it in their friends, in life outside the family and the familiar. We cringe that they will find it as we did, and not have to stray too far from what we have been trying to teach them. Our journeying with them, even if from a distance, also helps us grow in wisdom as we learn the limitations of our influence and ability to prevent or control. We learn, as St. Marcellin did, that love, patience, fidelity, presence, over time are what work. It takes us time to learn this, and often doubts enter in, tempting us to give up, or calling us to trust more in God. The road to wisdom is bumpy, dry, winding, and full of unexpected turns. When we remember that Wisdom is another name for God, particularly the Holy Spirit, then the quest becomes one of seeking and finding God, and loving God in total abandonment. "When you look for me, you will find me. Yes, when you seek me with all your heart." (Jer 29:13). "Those who love me I also love,/and those who seek me find me." (Prov 8:17). With such assurance from our loving God we can embrace with confidence the process of acquiring "wisdom of heart."
Bro. Rene

Marian Spirituality

For some, a spirituality with major components based on Mary's relationship with Jesus does not come easy. They can relate to God the Father, to Jesus, even to St. Marcellin with relative ease, but have little or no connection to Mary. Yet in striving to follow the Marist Way, or Marist Spirituality, they know that somehow they need to work on this, they need to acquire a better understanding of Mary's role in leading them to Jesus. After all, the Marist motto is, "All to Jesus through Mary."
One first step might be to look again at the Annunciation story and put ourselves in Mary's sandals. Would we take the appearance of an angel as part of the ordinary course of a day's events? Hardly. So, she must have been as startled as we would have been. And then, the message! Mother of God? Wouldn't we have asked, "How can this be?"...or even , "Why me?"
The point is to see that Mary in many ways is just like us. The difference might be in her total openness to take the risk and agree to the mysterious request. Did she fully understand the impilications? Probably not, but her experience of God, unblemished as it was by original sin, allowed her to put her total trust in him. Here's where we can begin. Can we say "yes" to the unexpected, to the demands of our daily routine, to the people whose opinions differ from ours?
If we can just start here, then we will be able to move that "yes" to the larger requests that God inevitbaly will present to us. The attitude of willingness to give up our own will to do the will of God so often manifested in our daily circumstances, our job, our family, is to walk the way of Mary, to embrace a Marian Spirituality.
Bro. Rene

Looking After the Sheep

Dear Readers,
The heavy snow broke branches on our property on Saturday night and left the whole street in darkness until last evening, Nov. 3rd. I left on Monday for San Antonio but had no access to e-mail. Hence the sudden and long "blackout".
Today, November 4th, the Central Catholic School Board will be on retreat to deepen their undestanding of our Marist Mission. A good day for this, since it is the Memorial of St. Charles Borromeo, Cardinal of Milan at the time of the Counter-Reformation, who used his law background as well as his deep personal commitment to the Church to bring about needed reform. It seems that in all ages, when the need reaches the critical point, the Holy Spirit finds people who will pick up the shepherd's crook and bring the sheep back into the fold. St. Marcellin was one of those in his day, and we, his followers are no less commissioned nor responsible than he. God sees the goodness that is in us and that we are able to admonish one another. (cf Rm 15:14), as St. Paul reminds us. He also says that he received the power and strength he needed for his mission by keeping his eyes focused on Jesus. This is the practice of all great leaders and reformers; it is the pattern for us as well. Unless the Lord is our shepherd, we will not be able to shepherd others. May we make Psalm 23 our prayer for today:
"The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want." Notice how all through the Psalm, the emphasis is on what HE does for us. Let us let him revive our drooping spirit and fill us with the love and strength that will enable us to walk in the reformer footsteps of Paul, Charles, and Marcellin.
Bro. Rene