by Father Charlie Irvin
July 19, 2010
The priest is not an angel sent from heaven. He is a man, a member of
the Church, a Christian. Remaining man and Christian, he begins to
speak to you the word of God. This word is not his own. No, he comes
to you because God has told him to proclaim God’s word. Perhaps he
has not entirely understood it himself. Perhaps he adulterates it.
Perhaps he falters and stammers. How else could he speak God’s word,
ordinary man that he is? But must not some one of us say something
about God, about eternal life, about the majesty of grace in our
sanctified being; must not some one of us speak of sin, the judgment
and mercy of God?
-Karl Rahner
July 5, 2010
OUR NATIONAL HYMN
God of our fathers, whose almighty hand
Leads forth in beauty all the starry band
Of shining worlds in splendor through the skies
Our grateful songs before Thy throne arise.
Thy love divine hath led us in the past,
In this free land by Thee our lot is cast,
Be Thou our Ruler, Guardian, Guide and Stay,
Thy Word our law, Thy paths our chosen way.
From war’s alarms, from deadly pestilence,
Be Thy strong arm our ever sure defense;
Thy true religion in our hearts increase,
Thy bounteous goodness nourish us in peace.
Refresh Thy people on their toilsome way,
Lead us from night to never ending day;
Fill all our lives with love and grace divine,
And glory, laud, and praise be ever Thine.
June 28, 2010
Recently I came upon a letter to my mother which she saved, a letter written in 1961 when I was a new student at Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit. In it I quoted Roman Guardini who in his bookThe Lord wrote: "For the greatest things are accomplished in silence - not in the clamor and display of superficial eventfulness, but in the deep clarity of inner vision; in the almost imperceptible start of decision, in quiet overcoming and hidden sacrifice."
I then went on: "To me this rings with a wonderful truth and is why I want to be a priest who is not before the public eye bur rather a priest who instills in people this "almost imperceptible start of decision’ - a priest who works in quiet overcoming and hidden sacrifice. The world looks longingly at pomp and power and some men are moved only by that sort of influence. To me, this is not possible because I do not have the nature to be a great figure. I just don’t have the equipment to be one. I would much rather be a priest who moves others’ hearts. Here is real Christlikeness! Here is real love!"
- CEI
June 21, 2010
Is it not true that in Christ’s eye the lowly and obscure role can be
equally as glorious as a life of fame and renown among men? Real
humility and it’s companion, greatness, is the courageous ability
to go on putting forth all of your time and effort in spite of everything
that the world sees as failure.
The only difference between a saint and a sinner is that the saint
keeps on trying.
- CEI
June 14, 2010
"Thanks be to Thee, my Lord Jesus Christ,
For all the benefits which Thou hast given me,
For all the pains and insults which Thou has borne for me,
O most merciful Redeemer, Friend and Brother,
May I know Thee more clearly,
Love Thee more dearly
And follow Thee more nearly."
-St. Richard, Bishop of Chichester (1245-1253)
June 7, 2010
It helps, now and then, to step back and take the long view.
The Kingdom is not only beyond our efforts,
it is even beyond our vision.
We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction
of the magnificent enterprise that is God’s work.
Nothing we do is complete, which is another way of saying
that the kingdom always lies beyond us.
No statement says all that can be said.
No prayer fully expressed our faith.
No confession brings perfection,
no pastoral visit brings wholeness.
No program accomplished the Church’s mission.
No set of goals and objectives includes everything.
That is what we are about.
We plant seeds that one day will grow.
We water seeds already planted,
knowing that they hold future promise.
We lay foundations that need further development.
We provide yeast that produces effects far beyond our capability. We
cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation in realizing
that. This enables us to do something and to do it very well. It may
be incomplete,
but it is a beginning, a step along the say, an opportunity for the
Lord’s grace to enter and do the rest.
We may never see the end results,
but that is the difference between the master builder and the worker.
We are the workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs. We
are prophets of a future not our own.
[Note: This has been attributed to both Archbishop Oscar Romero and
to John Cardinal Dearden]
May 24, 2010
This prayer by Billy Graham recently arrived in my e-mail and I am moved to share it with you.
"Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, ’Woe to those who call evil good,’ but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem. We have abused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor’s possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Amen!"
May 17, 2010
If you are losing an argument or otherwise want to bring the "discussion" to a halt then try this. It usually ends all debate.
YOU MAY THINK THAT YOU HEARD WHAT I SAID, BUT I DON’T THINK THAT I SAID WHAT YOU HEARD.
May 10, 2010
A self-centered man speaks to be heard, anxious
that others be silent so he can bestow upon the
world his pearls of wisdom.
A humble man speaks so that others will talk with him.
He is silent so he can hear God speaking through others
and through all things.
May 3, 2010
[This poem was written my Mary Fairchild, about to
graduate from college.]
As I look toward the future
Bright hope conducts this prayer
For I know the plans You have for me
Were wrought with divine care.
Holy Spirit, lead me.
Let me run at your command,
Yet be still and know that you are God
When trouble’s close at hand.
Your Word will be a lamp for me,
A guide to light my way,
A solid place to set my feet,
A compass when I stray.
May I live my life to praise You,
Not for fortune, nor for fame;
May everything I say and do
Bring glory to your name.
May my eyes stay fixed upon You
As I seek the way that’s pure,
Tasting your love and goodness
Sleeping and rising secure.
Planted by your living streams
I’ll delight in all your ways,
Hidden by your sheltering wings
With new mercies for each day.
Even in a dangerous land
When storms threaten to destroy,
At the cross I’ll stand upon the Rock
My Strength, my Hope, my Joy.
Dear Lord, show me your favor,
At all times keep me blessed,
May your face ever shine upon me,
With peace and perfect rest.
Amen.
April 26, 2010
-St. Francis of Assisi
Most high, all powerful, all good Lord!
All praise is yours, all glory, all honor, and all blessing.
To you, alone, Most High, do they belong.
No mortal lips are worthy to pronounce your name.
Be praised, my Lord, through all your creatures,
especially through my lord Brother Sun,
who brings the day; and you give light through him.
And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor!
Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.
Be praised, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars;
in the heavens you have made them bright, precious and beautiful.
Be praised, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air,
and clouds and storms, and all the weather,
through which you give your creatures sustenance.
Be praised, My Lord, through Sister Water;
she is very useful, and humble, and precious, and pure.
April 19, 2010
The first ten amendments to our Constitution known as the Bill of Rights were
ratified effective December 15, 1791. The 10th Amendment reads:
"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution nor prohibited
by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."
I wonder how many Americans are aware of this fundamental right that is theirs?
And when did the Federal Government subsume unto itself those powers and rights that belong to the States?
-CEI
April 13, 2010
"For see, the winter is past,
the rains are over and gone.
The flowers appear on the earth,
the time of pruning the vines has come,
and the song of the dove is heard in our land."
Song of Songs, 2:11-12
[Ernie Harwell, the Hall of Famed "Voice of the Detroit Tigers,"
quoted this every year during the Opening Day game]
April 5, 2010
Holy Saturday: He Descended into Hell
By an Unknown Early Church Father
This Holy Saturday reading on the descent of the Lord Jesus into Hell is used in the Roman Church’s Office of Readings for Holy Saturday, with the accompanying biblical reading of Hebrews 4:1-13. The "harrowing of hell" and the rescue of Adam and Eve was a popular theme in early and medieval Christian poetry, liturgy and song. Note the parallels here between Adam and Eve’s sin, which lost paradise for us, and the passion of Christ, which won for us not simply an earthly paradise, but eternal life. While it appears that this comes from a Holy Saturday homily written in Greek dating back to the fourth century liturgy (PG 43, 439, 462f), the author of this text is unknown.
Something strange is happening - there is a great silence on earth today, a great silence and stillness. The whole earth keeps silence because the King is asleep. The earth trembled and is still because God has fallen asleep in the flesh and he has raised up all who have slept ever since the world began. God has died in the flesh and hell trembles with fear.
He has gone to search for our first parent, as for a lost sheep. Greatly desiring to visit those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, he has gone to free from sorrow the captives Adam and Eve, he who is both God and the son of Eve. The Lord approached them bearing the cross, the weapon that had won him the victory. At the sight of him Adam, the first man he had created, struck his breast in terror and cried out to everyone: ?My Lord be with you all?. Christ answered him: ?And with your spirit?. He took him by the hand and raised him up, saying: ?Awake, O sleeper, and rise from the dead, and Christ will give you light?.
I am your God, who for your sake have become your son. Out of love for you and for your descendants I now by my own authority command all who are held in bondage to come forth, all who are in darkness to be enlightened, all who are sleeping to arise. I order you, O sleeper, to awake. I did not create you to be held a prisoner in hell. Rise from the dead, for I am the life of the dead. Rise up, work of my hands, you who were created in my image. Rise, let us leave this place, for you are in me and I am in you; together we form only one person and we cannot be separated. For your sake I, your God, became your son; I, the Lord, took the form of a slave; I, whose home is above the heavens, descended to the earth and beneath the earth. For your sake, for the sake of man, I became like a man without help, free among the dead. For the sake of you, who left a garden, I was betrayed to the Jews in a garden, and I was crucified in a garden.
See on my face the spittle I received in order to restore to you the life I once breathed into you. See there the marks of the blows I received in order to refashion your warped nature in my image. On my back see the marks of the scourging I endured to remove the burden of sin that weighs upon your back. See my hands, nailed firmly to a tree, for you who once wickedly stretched out your hand to a tree.
I slept on the cross and a sword pierced my side for you who slept in paradise and brought forth Eve from your side. My side has healed the pain in yours. My sleep will rouse you from your sleep in hell. The sword that pierced me has sheathed the sword that was turned against you.
Rise, let us leave this place. The enemy led you out of the earthly paradise. I will not restore you to that paradise, but I will enthrone you in heaven. I forbade you the tree that was only a symbol of life, but see, I who am life itself am now one with you. I appointed cherubim to guard you as slaves are guarded, but now I make them worship you as God. The throne formed by cherubim awaits you, its bearers swift and eager. The bridal chamber is adorned, the banquet is ready, the eternal dwelling places are prepared, the treasure houses of all good things lie open. The kingdom of heaven has been prepared for you from all eternity.
March 29, 2010
“He is despised and rejected of men: a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief. . . He gave His back to the smiters, and His cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: He hid not [His] face from shame and spitting.”
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows. . . . He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him…”
“…and with His stripes we are healed.”
- Lyrics from George Frederic Handel’s The Messiah | Source: Isaiah 50 and Isaiah 53
March 22, 2010
"Life is like a voyage on the sea of history, often dark and stormy,
a voyage in which we watch for the stars that indicate the route.
The true stars of our life are the people who have lived good lives.
They are lights of hope. Certainly, Jesus Christ is the true light,
the sun that has risen above all of the shadows of history.
But to reach him we also need lights close by -- people who shine
with his light and so guide us along our way."
- Spe Salvi
March 8, 2010
Easter is 26 days from now. How can we make it "special" this year by
what we do over these next 26 days?
A suggestion. Each day ask yourself "What is being commemorated?"
and "What flows out of it?" In other words, what does it mean to me?
March 1, 2010
PASTORAL CONSTITUTION ON THE CHURCH IN THE MODERN WORLD: GAUDIUM ET SPES
PROMULGATED BY HIS HOLINESS, POPE PAUL VI, DECEMBER 7, 1965
Since all these things are so, the modern world shows itself at oncepowerful and weak, capable of the noblest deeds or the foulest; beforeit lies the path to freedom or to slavery, to progress or retreat, tobrotherhood or hatred. Moreover, man is becoming aware that it is hisresponsibility to guide aright the forces which he has unleashed andwhich can enslave him or minister to him. That is why he is puttingquestions to himself.
10. The truth is that the imbalances under which the modern worldlabors are linked with that more basic imbalance which is rooted in theheart of man. For in man himself many elements wrestle with oneanother. Thus, on the one hand, as a creature he experiences hislimitations in a multitude of ways; on the other he feels himself to beboundless in his desires and summoned to a higher life. Pulled bymanifold attractions he is constantly forced to choose among them andrenounce some. Indeed, as a weak and sinful being, he often does whathe would not, and fails to do what he would. Hence he suffers frominternal divisions, and from these flow so many and such great discordsin society. No doubt many whose lives are infected with a practicalmaterialism are blinded against any sharp insight into this kind ofdramatic situation; or else, weighed down by unhappiness they areprevented from giving the matter any thought. Thinking they have foundserenity in an interpretation of reality everywhere proposed thesedays, many look forward to a genuine and total emancipation of humanitywrought solely by human effort; they are convinced that the future ruleof man over the earth will satisfy every desire of his heart. Nor arethere lacking men who despair of any meaning to life and praise theboldness of those who think that human existence is devoid of anyinherent significance and strive to confer a total meaning on it bytheir own ingenuity alone.
Nevertheless, in the face of the modern development of the world, thenumber constantly swells of the people who raise the most basicquestions or recognize them with a new sharpness: what is man? What isthis sense of sorrow, of evil, of death, which continues to existdespite so much progress? What purpose have these victories purchasedat so high a cost? What can man offer to society, what can he expectfrom it? What follows this earthly life?
The Church firmly believes that Christ, who died and was raised up forall, can through His Spirit offer man the light and the strength tomeasure up to his supreme destiny. Nor has any other name under theheaven been given to man by which it is fitting for him to be saved.She likewise holds that in her most benign Lord and Master can be foundthe key, the focal point and the goal of man, as well as of all humanhistory. The Church also maintains that beneath all changes there aremany realities which do not change and which have their ultimatefoundation in Christ, Who is the same yesterday and today, yes andforever. Hence under the light of Christ, the image of the unseen God,the firstborn of every creature, the council wishes to speak to all menin order to shed light on the mystery of man and to cooperate infinding the solution to the outstanding problems of our time. (Preface,#10)
Feb. 22, 2010
Our church, indeed, has a triumphant face. But such triumph is but
drama and theater if we do not embody, day in and day out, year in
and year out, our witness to the poor and vulnerable in our midst: to
the vulnerable unborn, to children and youth who turn to us for
formation, to the hungry, to the homeless -- the abused, the
immigrant, the stranger and the powerless.
So long as our witness to them is powerful and prophetic, our
triumphant song and liturgy is pleasing to God.... If the preaching
of the Gospel is my preeminent obligation, may it be most visible in
our service, together, to the poor.
-Most Rev. William F. Medley at his installation as the Fourth Bishop of Owensboro, KY, on Feb. 10, 2010
Feb. 15, 2010
For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, "You shall love your
neighbor as yourself." But if you bite and devour one another take
heed that you are not consumed by one another. But I say, walk by the
Spirit, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires
of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit
are against the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to
prevent you from doing what you would. But if you are led by the
Spirit you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are
plain: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery,
enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party
spirit, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you, as I
warned you before, that those who do such things shall not inherit
the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;
against such there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus
have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by
the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us have no
self-conceit, no provoking of one another, no envy of one another.
-Galatians 5:14-26
Feb. 8, 2010
"You are not a human being in search of a spiritual experience.
You are a spiritual being immersed in a human experience."
-Teilhard de Chardin
Feb. 1, 2010
Today’s meditation is Andrea Bocelli backed by the Morman
Tabernacle Choir singing The Lord’s Prayer as you have never
heard it sung before. It’s one of the most sublime renditions I
have ever heard.
Jan. 25, 2010
A prayer of trust and surrender at bedtime
Lord of night, Creator of the stars and moon,
I thank you for the graceful gifts of this day.
I rest in you, my Divine Friend and my Companion,
Who watches over me while I sleep.
May the problems and pains of today be healed
As I surrender myself into your nightly care.
Bless, this evening, those whom I love and watch
over them in a special way.
Lord of the day and night, of life and death,
I place myself into your holy hands. Amen.
[Author unknown]
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