God's Holy Word

The Church honors St. Jerome today for his holiness and for his part in making Sacred Scripture available to "Everyman" by providing a translation of the Bible from Greek to Latin, the spoken language of the people at that time. His version, known as The Vulgate, is accompanied by many of his insightful commentaries on the meaning and application of the Word to everyday life.
"Your word is a lamp for my steps/and a light for my path," writes the Psalmist (Ps 119: 105) and St. Paul reminds Timothy (and us) to "Remain faithful to what you ahve learned and believed, because you know from whom you learned it, and that from infancy you have known [the] sacred scriptures, which are capable of giving you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work." (2 Tim 3: 14-17). What a treasure we have in God's Word, so available to us today in dozens of translations, each one of which helps to further our understanding and our integration of it into our prayer, our lives, our actions. And more so, it is a means to furthering of our union with God: "Jesus said, 'Whoever loves me will keep my work, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.'" (Jn 14:23). Even if we take one verse and munch on it throughout the day, how much more we could experience the presence of God within and not only have a lamp for our steps, but be a light for others.
Bro. Rene

Michaelmas

Catholics are familiar with St. Michael the Archangel, whose armored figure, complete with subduing sword, standing victoriously over the defeated Satan, is depicted on holy cards and in paintings and statues. Many churches add the Prayer to St. Michael at the end of the Mass, and Pope John Paul II urged all Catholics to recite it even when it and other prayers once said after Mass were dropped in 1970. In England his feast is referred to as Michaelmas Day, and there is even a spring flower called Michaelmas. Certainly, the huge number of people, schools and churches named after St. Michael attests to his popularity.
In 1969, two other Archangels were added to the liturgical calendar on this day, Gabriel and Raphael. All three appear in Scripture, Michael in the Letter of Jude, and in Revelation. Gabriel is the angel of the Annunciation, and Raphael appears in the book of Tobit as the guide to young Tobias and the "apothecary" whose suggested remedy for Tobit's blindness works. The Church teaches that angels are superior beings, somewhere between God and humans in the hierarchy of creation, who serve as messengers and defenders and who stand in worship before the Almighty, always ready to do his bidding. In Hebrew, Michael means, "Who is like God"; Gabriel, "God has shown himself mighty", and Raphael, "God has healed." Michael is the patron of policemen; Gabriel, of communications workers, and Gabriel, of travelers.
Pope Leo XIII composed the prayer to St. Michael which would be good to repeat often, especially today:
"St. Michael, the Archangel, defend us in the battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the other evil spirits who prowl about the world, seeking the ruin of souls. Amen." --Pope Leo XIII
Bro. Rene

Family Weddings

Weddings have become "big business" and perhaps rightly so, if taken in the correct context. The couple's exchange of vows before the altar is a sign of God's pledge of fidelity to us, to the Church. It is a visible sign of his union with his bride; as great as the love of the couple is for each other, it gives us only a glimpse of this divine, unconditional love God has for us. As such, ought it not be a memorable occasion highlighted by as much pomp and beauty as we can muster?
It also brings family together and stirs up wonder and appreciation for the rich treasure found in a family where love has been the source of happiness, the strength needed in adversity, and the energy behind our faith and hope. As meaningful toasts and tributes are made to the bride and groom, inevitably, the legacy of love passed on from grandparents and parents stands out as the foundation upon which this new marriage is based. It is not a difficult leap to see the connection between God who is love, and the love which binds the man and wife together for life. Joy and peace flow abundantly to all gathered to witness and celebrate the wedding. And from this union will eventually come new life, a sharing in God's creative powers. This is, indeed, Big Business.
It has been a special blessing on Saturday to be part of the wedding of the daughter of a former student to a man, who "gets it" as she does. Hence these reflections on marriage.
Bro. Rene

Vision

Central Catholic's administration, faculty and staff will be on retreat today, taking time apart to reflect on the theme, "We Remember, We Celebrate, We Believe." With this being our 75th anniversary, we are looking at our beginnings, our roots. Brother Florentius, founder of Central Catholic becomes the focus, naturally. His vision of a central high school for boys to supplement the already existing parish high schools for girls, is what brough Central Catholic into existence. This vision consisted in looking at the needs of his time, and coming up with a solution, in this case, as in most, bold, daring, and innovative. He looked at his current situation and beyond...into the future. He would break from the parish high school model into a central, or as we would say today, a regional school. He looked beyond the French-Canadian community to include all ethnic groups in Lawrence at the time and set the tone to which Central Catholic has adhered since. His vision took faith, energy, and a loving trust in God, Mary, and St. Theresa, whom he chose as patronnes of his new venture. From there, or mixed in from the inception of his idea, was ACTION. It is this combination we remember and celebrate.
This template serves as a model for our current leadership and teachers. It is also a model for all who seek to follow Marist spirituality. Looking at the needs of the times and responding appropraitely to them stems from our earliest Marist roots: St. Marcellin encountered the dying Montagne boy, who knew nothing about God, and almost on the spot began to implement the idea of founding a teaching order of brothers he had had in the seminary. Bold, daring, innovative. How his vision and action has blossomed into an Institute of 3,700 brothers in 79 countries!
As we pray and experience insights which will respond to needs we see around us, let us not hesitate, but believe in the example of these two great men.
Bro. Rene
P.S. I will be away until next Wednesday, and cannot guarantee a Daily Bread posting till Wednesday. Will try to find a computer.

St. Pio of Pietrelcina

Better known as simply "Padre Pio", St. Pio is one of the most popular saints of modern times. A simple Capuchin Friar, he was graced with extraordinary insight in the confessional, deep communion with God and for fifty years bore the stigmata (the wounds of Christ) in his hands, feet and side. He also bore the suffering of rejection and suppression as Jesus did, from his Capuchin superiors, who forbad him to celebrate Mass publicly. In humble obdience he complied, and offered his enforced seclusion for the repentance of sinners. He was beatified just two weeks after St. Marcellin was canonized in 1999, and himself canonized in 2002, though he was hailed as a saint by popular acclaim even in his lifetime.
As our Junior Class attends Mass in St. Mary's tonight, where they will be welcomed to leadership and responsiblity in our Central Community, it is fitting that this gentle model of holiness be held up as an example to them. He said many a time, "Pray, hope and do not worry", certainly a message for out time.
One of our seniors, whose growth in prayer and relationship with Jesus has been remarkable over four years, stopped in and said, to me, "I'm preaching now." I asked him what he meant, and he simply said, "I'm talking to my friends about God. We went on for an hour last night." Is this not our mission as Marists, and Catholics? Is this not what St. Pio did with his life, his writings and action? Talk about God. There is an audience for such talk. It is good to see that some of our students have gotten the message. We pray that our Juniors might accept that as part of their role as responsible leaders over the next two years. May we and they Pray, hope and not worry.
Bro. Rene

Last Day of Summer

A beautiful day, despite being the last day of summer. The first days of Autumn promise a continuation of summer weather. This is a good time to look back as well as ahead to gauge our spiritual Summer and Fall. For what should we give thanks? For what should we ask forgiveness? For what should we pray? Is there something we learned from our Summer experience that will help us live a better Fall? Are we going to enter Fall with a sense of regret or can we look at Fall as a needed preparation for out next Spring and Summer? In the spiritual life there is always a period of necessary purification before movement to the next level can occur. "Unless the grain of wheat fall into the earth and die, it cannot bear fruit." (Jn 12: 24). Death and resurrection are the pattern for spiritual growth. The seasons mirror this pattern and help us flow with it. The "textbook" is all around us, all we need to do is open it, reflect on it, and apply it to our everyday life.
Bro. Rene

Matthew

Matthew must be on the top of the list for the most popular names these days. If in doubt about a teenager's name, say "Matthew", and you'll most likely be right. Today the Church celebrates St. Matthew, AKA Levi, ex-tax collector, Apostle, Evangelist. What compelled him to leave his shekels and generously follow Jesus' crisp command, "Follow me"? Something had to have been churning within him; he may have been the brother of James, both called "the son of Alpheus" (Mk 3:18), and thus have had some contact with Jesus prior to the call to follow him. Whatever, his response was immediate and total.
Contact with Jesus can do that. A senior recently told me that through prayer and a retreat this summer, he had a profound experience of Jesus and the love Jesus offered to him. He had been a quiet boy, unsure of himself, down on himself, just going through the motions. The glow in his eyes, the smile on his face as he spoke so freely, showed me that there has been a radical change. He's happy, "in love" with Jesus, and open to whatever Jesus wants for him. He had a "Matthew Experience". Isn't it comforting to know that it still happens? Let us pray for it with an open and longing heart. It can happen to us as well.
Bro. Rene