The Society of Mary

Today marks several events of note in our Marist history. While in the seminary in 1815-1816, several young men, led at the time by Jean-Claude Courveille, bantered about his idea, based on an alleged vision, about forming a new religious order as another arm of reform initiated by the Jesuits several centuries earlier. It was to be called The Society of Mary and was to have four branches: priests (today's Marist Fathers), brothers, (today's Marist Brothers), sisters (The Marist Sisters), and a Third Order for lay people, (today known as The Third Order of Mary). Fr. Marcellin Champagat was the first to move on the idea, as we know, founding the Marist Brothers in 1817, not even a year after his ordination. Fr. Jean-Claude Colin, another one of these seminarians, forged ahead with the founding of the Marist Fathers and along with Jeanne-Marie Chavoin, founded the Marist Sisters, a teaching order. A second group of Marist Sisters, known as the Marist Missionary Sisters was founded much later by a group of laywomen, headed by Franciose Perroton, who left for Oceania on this day in 1845 to help the Marist Fathers (and Brothers) with missionary work in the South Pacific. After several years as lay missionaries, these women were asked to consider becoming a religous order, one which was finally approved in 1932. While these congregations share the common name, Marist, and a common Marial spirituality, they are four distinct and independent congregations, a fact often unknown.
This is also the anniversary of the death of Fr. Colin who died in 1873. On this date in 1880, the Marist Brothers opened an establishment in Rome, where our General Headquarters are located. Fittingly, Marists in the United States are praying for a group of brothers who have answered the call made by our then Superior General, Bro. Sean Sammon, to leave home and bring the Gospel "to the nations" (Ad Gentes). These men are following in the footsteps of the early missionaries and are concentrating on countries in Asia, where Marists have never ventured, or where, such as in China, our earlier work was suppressed by the Communist Government, but where there is now some leeway and tolerance for the presence of religious. Already, in Indonesia, for example, there are young men in formation to become Marist Brothers. Let us pray in thanksgiving for these and the earlier founders who dared to take creative initiatives "to make Jesus known and loved."
Bro. Rene

God's Plans For Us

As the Liturgical Year winds down and a new one awaits us in two weeks, (the First Sunday of Advent is November 28th), we begin to ponder the plan of God which ends in a transformation of the world as we know it into a world of everlasting union with God, where joy, peace and love prevail. Our mission as Marists calls us to be confident in this blueprint, and to take to heart, the words of Jeremiah: "The Lord says: my plans for you are peace and not disaster; when you call to me, I will listen to you, and I will bring you back to the place from which I exiled you." (Jer 29: 11, 12-14). "When you call to me": in prayer from the depths of our hearts, in persistent prayer, even when we don't feel closeness to God, or anything, for that matter. Our desire to pray, is the beginning of prayer, and sometimes all that we can offer as prayer. Our presence to God, the movment of our will towads God, these will lead us to an understanding that all that happens from day to day is an invitation to faith, trust and hope. God wants our good. When Jesus says, "Come to me", it is a invitation to be replenished, strengthened, comforted, and loved unconditionally. We have to "call", God says, and then he will listen. It's a simple plan; it leads to our personal transformation and union with him. Call to him and while he is still near, call to him and you will be heard. Call now, call many times during the course of this Sunday. Heed his plea, "Come to me."
Bro. Rene

The Right Thing To Do

One of the groups at the Marist Youth Encounter Christ retreat in Esopus two weeks ago came up with a refrain in their skit that rings in my head to this day: "Because it's the right thing to do." It became the benchmark for the group for the rest of the Encounter as everything they did was hailed as "the right thing to do." It made for a lot of fun, but oh, how true it is, how needed for our growth in the spiritual life.
Obedience. Perhaps the hardest virtue to put into practice. It demands letting go of our own will, and is especially trying when we think OUR way is best and our boss, our wife, our husband, think otherwise. It becomes even more complicated when we get into morals. Telling the truth might reveal our weakness or bring on consequences for our actions that we want to avoid. In the end, it is "the right thing to do" and ultimately verfies the old adage, "honesty is the best policy."
Getting up for Mass each Sunday, corraling the family, especially the young who have a hard time sitting still in Church, or even harder, teenagers in their rebellious stage, would be so easy to dismiss as "impossible." To accept and go with the challenge is "the right thing to do" in view of the third commandment and the prizes of nurturing our faith by joining the community of faith, hearing the Word of God and intimate union with Jesus at communion. As we approach Advent, a time of preparation and waiting for the coming of Jesus at Christmas and at the end of time, we might begin to examen our lives, our commitments, and start looking at what we can "clean up", what we can do to avoid the pre-Christmas frenzy foisted upon us by our "material world", and see how obedient we are to doing "the right thing."
Bro. Rene

A Brother's Life

Anyone who has been taught by "the brothers", with few exceptions, speaks highly of the impact this band of men has had on him or her, yet, the vocation of the brotherhood remains one of the hidden gems of the church. References are frequently made to priests and sisters, but rarely to the brothers. We've always been dwarfed by the sheer numbers of priests and sisters, yet our impact is unquestionably immearsureable. For example, at Central Catholic Class reunions around lunch, or wherever, the topic of "the brothers" always seems to dominate the conversation. "Remember when" stories are told and re-told at each gathering, and sentiments of long overdue gratitude are expressed. We trust that "the brothers" in heaven, can hear their former students now sing their praises for the education and the life-direction they gave their reluctant students.
In this context I announce the death of Brother Kenneth Marino F.M.S. who entered into eternal life suddenly Wednesday night. He was from Lawrence and taught here in the late fifties and finished his active days as librarian. He was a talented artist and musician, but suffered in the classroom. Through a life of ups and downs, he remained faithful to his vows and rightly deserves our gratitude and praise for the witness to the Gospel he leaves as his legacy. May he finally rest in peace.
Bro. Rene

Honoring Our Veterans

Our nation takes time today to honor the men and women of have served our country in the military: those valiant, generous, brave, and long-suffering citizens, some of whom have given their lives to preserve the values and freedom we treasure. The tales told by the living survivors of WW II are shockingly brutal. It's no wonder these veterans don't like to talk about them: beatings as prisoners of war, excruciating pain from wounds, heat or cold. Hours, days, floating in the ocean after their torpedoed ship went down. We cannot but listen in awe at the extent of their sacrificial service. Flags will fly, speeches will be given, music played, wreaths placed, stories told, memories stirred, hearts inspired, prayers offered. Yes, prayers offered, perhaps the most important piece of this special day. We pray in thanksgiving for those who survived and those who didn't; we pray for protection for those who are serving now; we pray for peace and the negotiations in process to achieve that end. We pray for the wounded, maimed, and those seeking work. It is sad to read of the plight of the returned service men and women who cannot find work. Yes, it's the same plight of civilians as well, but it seems an added hardship on those who gave up jobs and security to serve our country. It would seem that a priority in hiring them would be readily available. We might know people or have some influence in our communities to look into this and help these veterans find work. At least we can take steps to make this need known: another solid and lasting way to honor our veterans.
Bro. Rene

Encounter

As you digest today's slice of Daily Bread, please pray for the Central students and faculty members who will be on an Encounter in Whittinsville, MA till Wednesday. Here is a testimony from a young man who made an Encounter in Esopus last week. Pray that such amazing gifts might be given to our students. I will not be able to post anything on Wednesday, so you might want to re-read this one and keep us all in prayer. Thank you.

" I will certainly pray for you and those from Central Catholic who will be on the Encounter. I can honestly say that it was one of the greatest experiences of my life. I met so many great people, many of whom I am still keeping in touch with. Some are planning to come to New Jersey next month and we will go to the mall or even do something crazy, like snow tubing! It was such a humbling experience while, at the same time, such a relaxing and energy-infusing one.
I told people from the Encounter and my friends and girlfriend back home that I can't remember the last time I cried. I cried for 5 different reasons on the Encounter. I cried because of laughter (there was a lot of that). I cried because I was moved. I cried because I was happy. I cried because I was thankful. I even cried because of pain. (funny story involving an accidental swing of the ping pong paddle to my forehead... but that's another story)
It was no surprise to me how much love was at the Encounter. It seems like love and Esopus always go hand in hand. I have met so many great people over the years, from you and Br. Steve to countless friends from the special needs camps, retreats I've led, and now the Encounter. I wear the necklace from the Encounter all the time, and I have to say that it is one of my most cherished possessions. It represents not only the memories from the Encounter, but also all those that have been created over the years through various experiences. "
Bro. Rene

Ascending God's Mountain

The Psalmist asks, "Who can ascend the mountain of the Lord?/or who may stand in his holy place?"(Ps 24: 3), What would be my answer? Would I see myself worthy? He gives the straightforward answer: "Only those whose hands and hearts are pure,/ who do not worship idols/ and never tell lies" (Ps 24: 4). Our actions, the works of our hands and feet, our inner thoughts, our attitudes, our desires, our loves, all must be pure and transparent. No idols. What are my idols? Self? Power, money, control? Honesty, no lies...a hard lesson in these days when lying and hypocrisy are so rampant. Anyone who has climbed a mountain knows the challenges, the fatigue, the times when it seems we'll never reach the summit. But oh, the exhilaration of reaching the top: the view, the sense of accomplishment, the desire to dance with joy! Even more so, ascending this path laid out by the Psalmist which leads to the summit of God. Not to be achieved in one day, but the climb of our lifetime. May we re-focus on it today and not stray from the path.
Bro. Rene