Beauty and Art

Plato spoke frequently and with great conviction about the place of beauty and art in culture.  We can sum up his thoughts thus:  "If you wish to asses a culture, listen to its music."  If we look at our contemporary culture, what is it that is passed off as music?  Ear drum shattering noise, a beat that resounds deeply in the nervous system provoking all sorts of bodily gyrations, some of which border on disrespect for the dignity of God's masterpiece, or banal mediocrity that would not inspire a spider?  It seems we have settled for less, and then wonder why this growing violence in society. or why this lack of participation or even attendence at Mass?  "Where have all the flowers gone?"--a constant refrain in the '60's and '70's.  We could paraphrase it by asking "Where has all the beauty gone?"  Since God is Beauty itself, it's no wonder we have lost contact with God through the beauty of music and art than can so easily lead us to him. Very little of today's music is truly beautiful, and much of our visual "modernistic" art is tortured or devoted to exalting the most common of our functional "stuff." No wonder we can't find our way to God.
Eric Genuis, a gifted composer and deeply religious man, has returned the beauty inherent in music and allows it to touch the dry places of our hearts left barren by today's sacriligious substitutes.  It is as if the Holy Spirit has taken possesion of his soul by giving him the gift of being able to create melody after melody, arrangement after arrangement that profoundly affect the listener's soul so that God becomes tangible and audible in his music.  Eric and three other extremely talented musicians, a vocalist, a cellist and a violinist are making the rounds locally, giving free-will offering concerts in churches, and in prisons for the purpose of giving back something which is sorely lacking today:  HOPE.  For being touched again by Beauty, God, one's hope is restored.  A prisoner of 15 years stood up and shouted after hearing just one of Eric's compostions, "I had forgotten what it feels like to have hope."  You may learn more about Eric at www.catholicquest.com.
Bro. Rene

Deepening Our Prayer Experience

Monday was the memorial of St. Catherine of Siena, regarded as a Doctor of the Church since 1970, but lived in the 14th century as a Dominican Tertiary.  She was noted for her deep, mystical prayer life, her theological reflections and her bold and daring challenges to the Church of her times, even to the Pope.  Sometimes, hearing of these courageous and prayerful saints, we wonder how it all came together for them and wish that we could have even half their experiences in prayer.  What was their secret?
Besides a deep love of God and desire to make God the center of their lives, they took the steps necessary to prepare for a fruitful session of prayer.  As a preliminary step, they put themselves in God's presence, by clearing their minds of clutter, planning, looking ahead, and breathed slowly to calm their bodies, and hence, their minds...They asked for God's help to be open to God during prayer, and to come to love him as a result of this "visit" with him.  They gave thanks for the blessings of the day before, the night; they asked pardon for their transgressions and thus cleared the decks to fully reflect on God's word and let it touch them as God would have it  They took TIME to ready themselves for prayer without jumping right into it, a secret most of us neglect. Then, if using scripture, they read it slowly several times to allow it to penetrate, perhaps imagined themselves in the scene of the Scriptures they were using for prayer and spoke with God in a conversational style.  No rush, no clock watching, just full attention on the moment.  When done and it seemed like the "visit" was over, a prayer of thanks, even a Glory Be would end the session. 
Our fast-paced world can crush our prayer and mold it into another thing that needs to get done.  Is that how we relate to our friends or spouses?  How long would our relationship last if that's the way we treated it?
St. Catherine, let me learn from you and the other saints how to pray.
Bro. Rene

First Communions

Attending the First Communion Mass at Jesus Savior Parish in Newport, RI,  last evening,  reminded me that the next several weeks will see this event repeated in parishes across the country. as well as of my own First Communion 65 years ago.  It certainly was a solemn and special occasion, especially in those days when the Sisters took pains to make sure that we knew Who we were receiving and how important it was to remain close to the Eucharist for the rest of our lives. The white suits for the boys, the white dresses and veils for the girls, the photos, the little gift of a rosary or a white prayer book made it a day to remember. More importantly, we renewed our Baptismal promises, professing our faith and renouncing Satan, his pomps and works forever.  And we did this in French.  We then received the scapular and held it sacred.
 As I looked at the little children yesterday, I prayed that they understood what a treasure this privilege is, of being so intimately united with Jesus, and that they would be faithful to weekly attendance at Mass and grow in their appreciation of the Eucharist as they mature into adults.  It was also a reminder to me of what a gift we share each week, or daily, if possible. I asked myself if it had it become routine in my life, and pledged to give it the  solemnity and awe as it did on that First Communion morning.  Did those First Communicants have any idea what effect their special day would have on me, and perhaps you who partake of today's slice of bread?
Bro. Rene

Steadfast in the Faith

Tomorrow will be the Fifth Sunday of Easter which takes precedence over the memorial of St. Peter Chanel, the first Marist Saint and the Protomartyr of Oceania, so we'll devote a word or two to the inspiration he provides for all Marists today.
He felt the call to the priesthood at an early age in the post Revolutionary period of the early 19th century.  He was ordained a diocesan priest and was very successful in his first parish, but wanted MORE.  The Marist Fathers were in the process of seeking approval from Rome when he joined the Society of Mary, and when approval was given under the condition that they take on Oceania as their apostolate, he was among the first to volunteer. After three difficult years of evangelization on the island of Fotuna, he was clubbed to death for the faith.  Five months after his death, the whole island embraced the faith.  He was canonized in 1954 by Pope Pius XII.
Our present day world or secularism, lack of respect for life, and declining church membership offers a challenge that St. Peter Chanel would welcome and approach with the same zeal and faith that brought him to Fotuna.  Little did he know that his apparent failure to convert the local people, and his untimely death, would, with God's grace produce the effect for which he longed and worked so hard.  May his example inspire us when we think the odds are too great or our efforts to live our faith will have no effect on others.  Not so, says the life of St. Peter Chanel.
Bro. Rene

Built on a Rock

Excavations in LaValla on the the Bonner House, the house that Fr. Champagnat bought (with borrowed money) and repaired himself), as part of the renovations underway on it, have uncovered a huge rock at the base of the foundation.  The house itself is built of stone, as is customary in Southern France and much of Europe, but this rock sits in a key position for the stability of the building while also serving as well as a symbol of the Rock upon which the congregation of The Little Brothers of Mary is built: Jesus Christ.  St. Marcellin's faith in Jesus and Mary was as solid as this rock; and this foundation stone continues to support the congregation as it spreads throughout the world and deals with the many challenges that have been part of its 195 year old history. The discovery of this rock reminds us of how from almost nothing the dream of Champagnat, became a lasting, effective reality.  It reminds us too that if we build our dreams on the Rock of Christ, they too will become a lasting reality,
Bro. Rene

The Aftermath 2

I was able to copy a photo of the burned out dormitory at the Marist School in Byimana, but then was not able to write on the page, so I chose to start another one, so limited are my technological skills. Hence, two slices of bread today.

The fire has provoked positive responses, as tragedies seem to do, as alumni in Rwanda are collecting money to help the students replace their personal belongings; the Minister of Education has pledged to repair the building and provide new mattresses for the 260 students who lost theirs. Central Catholic students are responding with "mission" collections this week and next, and other friends of the Marist Brothers and of the Byimana school are making personal donations.
The alumni reaction is based on the reality that having slept in that dormitory themselves, they look upon it as THEIR home, and want to do what they can to repair it.  Home, family spirit.  That is a strong Marist quality that exists throughout the Marist World and again is brought to the fore by this loss.  Because of this spirit, the loss will turn into gain not only for the school, but for all who feel their Marist family connection.  Our family unity is spurred by this event to grow stronger.
Bro. Rene

The Aftermath

Following the Light

St. John loves to play on the themes of light and darkness.  His Gospel is fraught with them from the prologue to the end.  In chapter 12: 45, he has Jesus explain, "I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness."  Simple and direct. We might teeter a bit on the idea of believing when tragedy after tragedy hits daily all around the globe.  We're still reeling from the Boston Bombings, the West Texas explosion, the North Korean threat, and today's sad news from Rwanda that one of the dormitories of the Byimana Science School went up in  flames yesterday fills our Marist world with shock.  Providentially, the students had just gone to class when flames erupted in the ceiling of the building and spread rapidly.  The students and staff had only buckets of water to fight the fire, and soon had to abandon them as the roof collapsed and caused all the beds and belongings of 260 students to burn to ashes.  Efforts were successful in preventing the flames from destroying an adjoining dormitory, whose contents were removed and placed away from the burning dorm.  Fire trucks from Kigali, the capital, arrived two hours later, after the fire had burned down to smoldering ashes.  No one was injured, but school has been suspended indefinitely.  Ironically, this disruption comes just after the week of the Genocide Memorial which annually marks the anniversary of the start of the Genocide, 19 years ago, when more than just classes were suspended throughout Rwanda. Having lived at that school for four years, taught its students and supervised that dorm, this fire really hits home.
We can do our best to support and sympathize with other victims of tragedies, but when they affect part of YOUR life, it's a different story. In these instances, we are called to deepen our faith, believe that the LIGHT of Christ, which we solemnly acclaimed at the Easter Vigil, will prevail and that some GOOD will evolve to overcome the darkness.
Bro. Rene

Generous Host

Psalm 23, which is, perhaps the most popular of all the psalms,begins with the image of Jesus as shepherd, the Good Shepherd, but also contains another image:  the generous host. "You prepare a table for me/ in the presence of my enemies" (Ps 23: 5).  This gracious host also anoints the head of the guest with oil and fills his or her cup till it overflows. (cf. Ps 23: 5). Certain cultures, emphasize hospitality more than others, but it seems fairly universal that welcoming guests with food and drink is the norm.  A large element of our Marist culture is hospitality.  Marist graduates who have traveled the world  have found Marist hospitality everywhere and have been deeply touched by the familiar family spirit they found from continent to continent. We might say that we've all learned it from God, the most generous of hosts. As we have been welcomed by him, we have learned to welcome others. We might pray today that we will be good and generous hosts to those in need, to those who feel lonely and without a friend, by offering them a prayer, or a warm, welcoming word or smile.
Bro. Rene

Early flight might not allow a slice of daily bread to be cut from the loaf.

A few minutes allow for a reminder to give thanks to the Lord for all the blessings we enjoy each day. As we look at our lives, no matter what we might be undergoing, we can come to see that
ALL IS GRACE.
Bro. Rene

The Lord Is My Shepherd

The Fourth Sunday of Easter is called Good Shepherd Sunday since it presents the consoling and popular image of the Good Shepherd in the gospel. The image of the Good Shepherd appears throughout the Old Testament, Psalm 23, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want", being perhaps, the most familiar reference. Jesus refers to himself as the Good Shepherd, I am the Good Shepherd, I know my sheep, and mine know me." In the Book of Revelation, we read, "For the Lamb who is in the center of the throne will shepherd them and led them to springs of life-giving water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." (Rev 7" 17). St. Clement of Alexandria who lived at the end of the first century and into the second, describes, even that long ago, our timeless need for a good shepherd: "In our sickness w need a savior, in our wanderings a guide, in our blindness someone to show us the light, in our thirst the fountain of living water which quenches for ever the thirst of those who drink from it. We dead people need life, we sheep need a shepherd, we children need a teacher, the whole world needs Jesus!"
We might take time today to look at a picture of the Good Shepherd, pray Psalm 23 slowly and reflectively, and become aware of the loving care of Jesus for us. We might also pray that we in some ways become good shepherds for others as well as pray for those who have been appointed our shepherds, the Pope (with him, it seems we already have a man who sees himself as just that), our bishops and pastors. May we all be true to the love, guidance and protection of Jesus, our Good Shepherd.
Bro. Rene

In God is our Joy

It seems we are always looking to Jesus for peace, relief from stress, joy deep down in our hearts; this is certainly understandable and laudable, but do we ever realize that we can bring joy to Jesus by putting our total trust in him? Mary is our model in this. In accepting the invitation of Gabriel to become the mother of God, she placed her life, the unforeseen events, joys and pains that were to ensue in God's hands in total trust that somehow all would be well. St. Julian of Norwich made this phrase, "all will be well." her mantra. Fr. John Foley, SJ, wrote a stirring Easter hymn using these same words, :All shall be well, for on our Easter skies,/ see Christ the son of righteousness arise." By reflecting on this short verse, integrating it into our thinking, and trusting in God's forgiveness, providence and plan for us as Mary did, we can come to that level of trust which will keep our Easter Joy alive and well in our lives, and add to the Easter Joy Jesus himself experienced.
Bro. Rene

A New Beginning

Taking an old house built in 1840 and restoring it, bringing it back to life, exposing its simple beauty somewhat touches on the meaning of resurrection...that which had faded into a shadow of its former self is given a new beginning. It is a visual, a striking one at that, but not the whole picture.
A group of five "college kids" praying the luminous mysteries of the rosary,slowly, with scripture passages inserted before each Hail Mary, over a half hour period is a sign of a new beginning and gives hope for the future Church. It is not common, to say the least, to find such a picture on a college campus, even a Catholic campus, but it goes on all the time at Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio. A sophomore there is seriously discerning his vocation to priest, hood, religious life or marriage. His decision will bring new life to the Church as well.
Each time we enter into intimate union with Jesus at the Eucharist, we have the opportunity to make a new beginning, to allow Jesus to reconstruct the house of our soul, to raise our soul from the dust into which it might have fallen, to help as give visible witness to our faith, as did the rosary-prayers. If we look upon our relationship with Jesus as a "love story" and allow him to work through us, we too can be instruments in bringing about a new beginning...in our own lives, families, workplaces and parishes
Bro. Rene

Easty Does It

Peace and patience, trust in the power of the Holy Spirit, nourishment from the Holy Eucharist, wonder and amazement at what God can accomplish through us, if we just step aside and let him do it.  These qualities characterize the early Church as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles and are ideals we put before us in this Easter Season.  Anything that helps us feel less stressed, less pressured, more peaceful and serene, will, in the long run, make us more effective witnesses, as were Peter and Paul.  When we step back and accept our imperfection, yet, God's choice of us to carry out his plan; when we accept that his plan is better than ours anyway, then we can be at peace.  One of the most effective slogans used in AA is "Easy Does It".  Perhaps we can catch ourselves when we are stressed and anxious, and repeat this phrase.  It will help slow us down, and even laugh at our frenetic behavior.  Have and "Easy Does It" day!
Bro. Rene
I'll be in Wheeling WV and Pittsburgh till Monday.  Slices of Daily Bread might be scarce, but I'll see if God's plan allows me to have time and computer access.

Forgiving

Massachusetts, the whole country, the world, all are touched in some way by the Boston Marathon Bombing, another outrageous attack on innocent people, bringing about life-long, crippling injuries to some, death to others, and terrorist trauma to others.  Again it has happened. No warning, no way or predicting or protecting.  Total vulnerability.  Sadness, grief, and the ever present WHY? 
Ten years ago in Afghanistan, 19 year old PV1stC Evan O'Neill was gunned down in an ambush, attempting to protect his brother soldiers, asking about their safety with his dying breath.  Innocence obliterated again.  He would have been 29 today.
Almost 2,000 years ago, another young, innocent person, Deacon Stephen, was stoned to death for his firm belief in Jesus. His dying words were:  "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." (Act 8: 1a). Brave words. An echo of the words of the dying Jesus on the cross.   His story is told during the Easter season to remind us that followers of Jesus might have to follow him all the way to death; it's part of the  legacy.  As is forgiveness.  As we pray for the grieving and the deceased, then, let us also pray for forgiveness for those who have taken the lives of the innocent, over the centuries, even to today.
Bro. Rene

Longing For Jesus

A two-way street:  we long for Jesus, he longs for us.  When he walked this earth, he could not escape the crowds who sought him constantly, even by walking on water across the Sea of Galilee.Our longing to "belong", to fit in, to be sure of ourselves, could be a conscious or unconscious longing for what truly satisfies and gives meaning to our lives: a relationship with Jesus.  When all cover-ups are stripped away, this basic search remains. In the calmness of prayer we can find it, link into it and also discover that Jesus is longing to give us what truly satisfies:  himself. Through constant grow in love for Jesus and all those whose lives we touch, we can come to dwell in holiness in the protection of his loving arms wrapped around us, where there is no fear or anxiety, but only the peace we cannot find elsewhere.
Bro. Rene

Passing on the Legacy: Espus, NY

The Marist Brothers acquired the former estate of Colonel Oliver Hazard Payne on the banks of the majestic Hudson River in Esopus, New York in 1945 for $50.000.00, a lot of money then, but today merely a "dime."  Its nearly 300 acres and several buildings, including a magnificent renaissance mansion modeled after one Colonel Payne  saw on the Mediterranean, served as a juniorate, provincial residence, novitiate, retreat center and summer camp for various kinds of handicapped children and adults.  The once servants quarters, gatehouse and garages now serve as the novitiate, and spirituality center where retreats of all kinds, meetings and summer camps occupy this Center of Spirituality around the year.  The cemetery for the Marist Brothers also is located here.
Beyond the physical beauty and practical use of Colonel Payne's grand estate, there is a deeply spiritual aspect that serves to nourish all who come here and almost magically draws them back.  There is no accurate count of conversions, returns to the Church and active practice of the Faith and growth in the knowledge and love of Jesus that have occurred here, but since September of this current academic year alone, for example, 2,800 students or adults have been here for "the Esopus Experience" of one sort or another.  178 volunteers have thus far donated their time and abilities to help make this happen.  Programs are ever expanding to bring more and more people to this well-spring where the Marist Legacy, the Gospel are taught and experienced. Bayonne, New Jersey may be the administrative headquarters of the Marist Province of the United States, but Esopus is the heart pumping the spiritual blood into the veins of its members.  Students from Marist schools who have made retreats here come back as leaders of other retreats, or as Marist Young Adults and volunteers seeking to deepen their relationship with God and help others do the same.
There is no greater satisfaction that to see a person who was once part of a Marist program now working with youth and leading a retreat here, as happened yesterday when I reconnected with Chris Kaiser in the Retreat House dining room. The legacy is being passed on, the hard work of the brothers "making it happen" continues from generation to generation under the approving gaze of St. Marcellin.  Little did Colonel Payne know what a gift he was giving the Church when he built his estate from 1913-1915, as little do we know that impact we can have on others until years later.
Bro. Rene

God Is Good

Found a computer in Esopus, but time is short, so  tomorrow there will be a larger slice of daily bread.  Just remember today that God is good...all the time!
Bro. Rene

Seeking Serenity

In these post-Easter weeks, the Church presents readings from the Acts of the Apostles, "the Gospel of the Holy Spirit", as it is sometimes called.  We read of the miracles that helped spread Christianity through Peter and Paul, as well as of the opposition of the Jews to this new "Way".  Despite the jailings and beatings, there is a thread of serenity that connects these two great leaders that if not making us envious, gives us a model for our own lives where "imprisonments" and "beatings" besiege us as much as they did them.  Serenity is a gift, a sense of being safe and secure in the hands of God, that often accompanies prayer. St. Teresa of Avila describes it well and her words might be just what we need to hear today:
Let nothing disturb you,
Nothing frighten you;
All things are passing;
God never changes;
Patient endurance
Attains to all things;
Who God possesses 
In nothing is wanting;
God alone suffices.
This is how Peter and Paul kept their calm during there adventurous preaching. May we find the time each day for quiet prayer, allowing God to "possess us", so that in God alone we find the serenity that will see us through our hectic lives..
Bro. Rene
I will be in Esopus, NY for the next two days...Not sure if I will have internet access, so there may not be any daily bread until Monday. 

Extending the Marist Mission

A noteworthy aspect of this Easter Season is the reality that the Resurrection of Jesus, though accomplished and annually celebrated, is not finished.  It is a work in progress...to be carried on by us.  There is so much of ourselves that is still in the tomb and needs to be brought forth, even before we can think of helping our wounded world fully recover by becoming fully "resurrected", that is fully alive and a full actualization of its potential.  Yet, little by little, we see hopeful signs of this coming to pass.
Two of my former students in Rwanda, who came to our school with almost nothing, are taking our Marist Mission of reaching out to "the least favored", taking care of immediate needs, such as food and education, and in so doing, are introducing folks to Jesus, thus making him known, and, we hope, loved.  One of these men, although living in the United States and working as a civil engineer, has gathered friends into what he calls the "Tusome Group", which, using money from their own pockets, is trying to help the refugees from that war-torn area of the Congo on the border of Rwanda.  He's hoping to expand the membership and with a lot more financial help, provide jobs which will enable these folks to get back on their feet.  The other former student is in Burundi, almost a twin country just south of Rwanda, who wants to build a technical training school, again to help people find, and create jobs that will make them self-sufficient.  These two hope to collaborate and with the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, make their dreams come to reality.  They are living out the Easter Season, and helping people experience resurrection. How happy I am to see our Marist Mission taken so seriously by these two former students, and so many others.
Bro. Rene

Spiritual Fitness

"Fitness" is a growing global phenomenon, it seems.  Planet Fitness continues to expand, taking over former department stores which have gone out of business.  Workout World, Latitude, Gold's Gym, all offer the opportunity for exercise for small fees and are filled from early morning till late at night. Such care of the body is admirable and serves as a model for the all important care of the soul.  When a well known athlete, such as an Olympic Champion, after working hard for months and years to win the gold and then allows his or her body to get soft and flabby, it saddens and disappoints us and makes us wonder what all that hard work was for...yes, the medal, fame, etc. But there is life after the medals, so does one just sink into mediocrity? 
We have just completed a 40 day period of intense spiritual "excercise" and we are in the second week after the Easter climax.  Are we sluffing off, relaxing our spiritual efforts, getting spiritually soft and flabby?  Perhaps we don't have to maintain the high intensity of Lent, but it would be sad to sink back into nothing.
We might examine ways that will keep us spiritually toned, and, yes, continue to assert some discipline to keep us spiritually strong, even as we sometimes have to push ourselves into the gym.  Once there we are fine, and when we leave, we are glad we went.  So too with our spiritual lives:  keeping up our spiritual reading, time for reflection, a weekday Mass, the rosary, service to others, and the free smiles we can give to all.  These will help us keep our relationship with Jesus growing, which, after all is said and done, is the reason for keeping spiritually fit.
Bro. Rene

One Against Many?

A young man in his mid-twenties shared his goal with me of invading the business world, and like the first disciples, working for a change in the mindset of a large company away from profit, greed and exploitation toward a more human, eventually, Christian way of doing business.  Making huge profits would not fit into his pattern but making and selling products that would advance the well-being of others at affordable prices, would be his goal.  Or, if he were in government, again, the good of the nation, not personal aggrandizement would be his aim. This man's idealism may not be too far-fetched, for he himself has the intelligence, and soon the eduction, to make an impact.  His dilemma is the prospect of one man facing a huge corporation entrenched in its ways for decades. What does one do? How does one go about making a change?
Can we imagine the Apostles after the resurrection, with the commission of Jesus still ringing in their ears:  "Go, baptize, teach all nations...I am with you till the end of time." (cf Mt 28:29). They could have said, "Impossible, It just can't be done.  Yet they wasted no time after receiving the Holy Spirit, preached boldly, believed firmly, gave their lives selflessly, and made an impact whose ripple effect continues till this very day.  They did not do it alone; like Mary, they were overshadowed, empowered by the Holy Spirit and as a growing community of like-minded people, the ball began the roll that will stop only at the end of time.  My friend will find like-minded people in the business world, or in government, and in time, when they become the CEO's they will be able to make the changes they see as necessary. 
Today, wherever WE are, we can influence others by putting our faith into action, even in the smallest ways.  Just listening carefully to others, offering a word or a prayer of encouragement, spreading the joy, the magnetic joy of Easter, will have an immeasurable effect.  It worked for the Apostles; it will work for us.
Bro. Rene

The Annunciation of the Lord

Today's Solemnity, the Annunciation of the Lord celebrates the bending of two wills:  Mary's and Jesus'.  Mary answers Gabriel with the now familiar "Be it done according to your Word!" (cf. Lk 1:38) and Jesus is quoted in Hebrews 10:7 with "Behold, I come to do your will.", a simplification of Psalm 40: 8:  " To do your will, O my God, is my delight, and your law is within my heart."  This dual compliance with the will of God the Father brought about our salvation.  This year's post-Easter celebration of this Solemnity seems to make it hit harder, for we just celebrated the culmination of Jesus' mission, begun at the Annunciation with images of the cross and resurrection not only fresh in our minds, but referred to daily until Pentecost. This day helps us to see the whole picture and invites us to accept that pattern in our lives: to respond with an enthusiastic "Yes" to God's call, God's will, manifested today by an order from our "bosses", or to the requests of the needy or suffering. In putting themselves at God's disposal, even with a cross looming in the future, Jesus and Mary brought forth light and life.  This is the day to say the Angelus slowly, visualize the scene and make Mary's response our own.
Bro. Rene

Jesus, I Trust in You

The Universal Church celebrates Divine Mercy Sunday today, a feast extended to the whole Church by Blessed Pope John Paul II in 2,000 when he canonized St. Maria Faustina Kawalski, the nun whose visions and diary have led to this popular devotion to Jesus as the provider of mercy to all.  Masses, holy hours and pilgrimages attracting thousands, if not millions, world-wide will take place today as people reach out for the mercy so needed my us all.
This year, for example, the feast coincides with the 19th anniversary of the start of the Genocide in Rwanda.  As this country recalls the horror of those three months when a million of more Rwandans were killed, thousands from Rwanda and surrounding countries will pour into a spirituality center in Ruhango, a small town in the middle of Rwanda,  for Mass and the Divine Mercy Chaplet.  Last year there were 45,000.00 in attendance.  This year, even more are anticipated. A remarkable reversal of the events of 1994 and evidence of God's mercy.
The Mercy of Jesus Christ will be poured out at St. Anselm College in Manchester, NH, where 12 students will be received into full communion with the Church or be confirmed.  Several Central Catholic students will come of an evening with the Marist Brothers seeking Divine Mercy while giving careful thought to answering the call to become Marist Brothers. In Wheeling, WV, a group of students is on a TEC retreat (Teens Encounter Christ)...encountering the mercy of Jesus.  In Portsmouth, NH, a memorial is being held for the victims of the submarine Thresher disaster of 50 years ago, when all crew members perished when the sub sank to the ocean floor, crushed by the enormous pressure at the dept of 8,000 feet.  We commend their souls to the mercy of God.
 And, just looking at our world today with the situations in Syria, Iran and North Korea, where else can we turn except to the mercy of Jesus?  In all these situations the simple prayer, Jesus I trust in you, seems to make the most sense.
Bro. Rene





And

Unclenching Our Fists

This First Saturday, the last day of the Easter Octave, might find us searching for ways to keep the Easter Spirit alive during the remaining days of Eastertide. Again, it is Mary who shows the way.  Her betrothal to Joseph had set her on the track of the typical Jewish maiden until the visit of Gabriel and the invitation to become the Mother of God.  Gone went the plan for "normality."  Had she clung to her plan, history would have taken a much different turn. She opened her heart to receive and became the instrument for God's greatest gift to the human race, his Son, Jesus. 
The pattern is there for us to follow, and though we might accept it intellectually, we often discover that our hands are still tightly wound around our own plans, our own concerns and worries, earthly goods, and even temporal joys.   How will we spend our time today, tomorrow?  Are not these things a major part of it?  The clenched fist will never be able to receive what God wants to give us. Eastertide will continue to unfold its riches if we relax, unclench our fists, open our hands and hearts, letting go of what we cling to and accepting what God offers in love.  A life of trust in that love will bring Easter joy to full blossom.
Bro. Rene

Fed By Jesus

It is striking how often a meal becomes a significant moment with Jesus and his disciples. He feeds the multitudes as  precursor to the Eucharistic Meal, The walk to Emmaus ends with the recognition of Jesus "in the breaking of the bread," and after a night of futile fishing, Peter and the gang find Jesus cooking breakfast for them on the beach.  After the meal, Peter has a chance to reverse his three-fold denial with a three-fold affirmation of his love for Jesus. Food, food, and again, food.  But not just for itself, rather it is nourishment from a loving Jesus that transforms them into dauntless evangelizers, leaders and eventual martyrs. 
We gather weekly, even daily, for that same loving nourishment in the Eucharist which potentially can transform us into similar evangelizers, preachers, and martyrs, if not in body, then in spirit, as we lay our lives, our plans, our talents at the feet of Jesus for him to use touch the hearts of others. A meal, a conversation, an act of kindness, a word of concern, a sincere show of interest in the happenings in someone else's life, something simple,  can become the nourishment that feeds others as we have been fed by Jesus.
Bro. Rene

Being Human

One of the strongest characteristics of Pope Francis that has such universal appeal, is his "being human".  His warmth, his approachableness, his concern for others, his lack of concern for "what others think", his confidence in who he is, rather than what he does, and his sense that whatever he does, it's God acting through him.  This seems to have been the approach of Peter and the apostles after the resurrection.  They saw needs, and took care of them, they preached about Jesus, though warned not to, they healed, prayed, and praised God, confident that the words of Jesus, "I am with you till the end of the world", (cf Mt 28: 20) were true.   In our attempt to be an Easter People and live our Alleluias, these are the models set before us. If we all became like Pope Francis or Peter, Easter Joy and Peace would prevail.  Let's see how much of this we can bring to our day. Before we sleep, let us take a look back and see how we did, thanking God for making it all possible.
Bro. Rene

Neither Silver Nor Gold

In keeping the Easter Season alive, without being bogged down by our daily routine, the Church provides the stories related in the Acts of the Apostles of the marvelous power of the Holy Spirit so active in the early days of Christianity.  Compressed into one short book, it seems as if the Holy Spirit was more active then than now.  That might be true, but nevertheless, the Holy Spirit is still at work; miracles at all levels are happening. We need to open our eyes and hearts to see them.  The goodness in people, especially the young, who respond to invitations to help others, learn more about their faith, who give hours and hours of service as a result of a mass movement across the nation in schools which serves as a catalyst for life-long service.  We, like Peter, have neither silver nor gold to give in great abundance to help others, but we do have a huge ability to love and give from hearts whose capacity knows no limits.  How much can we love today?  How much of ourselves can we give?
Bro. Rene

Sunshine In The Heart

Two days after Easter Sunday:  the challenge of keeping alive that Easter Spirit, fostered by the luxury of taking time to participate in the liturgies,  getting in touch with the love Jesus has for us by reflecting on the gift of his love to us, and renewing our promise to follow him and shun Satan, his pomps and his works, is real and should remain, to some degree, part of our post-Easter lives, but it can get buried so quickly in the return to routine. Metaphorically, there was sunshine in our hearts on Easter, when in addition to the joy of singing alleluias in our brightly flowered churches, we sat down to a spectacular Easter Dinner with family or friends, or both.  The alleluia joy was felt in our homes and in our hearts. We can keep the song alive and the sun shining if we continue to pray, reflect, "teach and admonish one another, signing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in our hearts to God.  And whatever we do, in word in deed, we can do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."  (cf. Col 3: 15-17)   May we carry our Easter sunshine in our hearts wherever we go today and share it with everyone.
Bro. Rene

Clothed in Christ

Wisely, the Church takes a week to celebrate Easter Day, for it is too great an event to be limited to one one.  We celebrate the resurrection of Jesus himself by reading and listening to the various Gospel accounts, all basically similar, i.e. Jesus was not longer in the tomb, but alive, with variations in detail, as when different "eye witnesses" describe the same event.  It also must be remembered that the Gospels were written 30-40 or more years after the resurrection, so oral tradition played an important part in keeping the story alive.
In addition to the resurrection story, there comes our own:  our rebirth in Jesus which we received at our baptism and again renewed by the solemn repetition of our baptismal promises to reject sin, Satan and all his works and to live what we profess in the creed.  We are a new creation, we have "put on Christ".  "All of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. (Gal 3:27).
The Easter Vigil saw countless baptisms and receptions into full communion in parishes around the world.  I was delighted to witness the baptism of the daughter of one of my former Rwandan students in St. Benedict the Moor parish in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Easter Sunday.  A large community gathered from all of the country, as Rwandan classmates made the effort to be there for the spiritual birth of Ava.  One even came from Canada, and there was a large youth group from Belfast, Ireland, who were treated to a festive liturgy in the Afro-American style.  The loved it. How good it was to see the universality of the gift of baptism, offered to ALL.  Truly ALL of us have been clothed with Christ, a gift for which we can never say thank you enough.
Bro. Rene