Weekly Catholic Bible Study

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Oratory of Divine Love Reflection 749: Thank God! (2 Kings 5 : 14-17, 2 Timothy 2:8-13 & Luke 17: 11-19)

 

[Kings]

Naaman went down and plunged into the Jordan seven times at the word of Elisha, the man of God. His flesh became again like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean of his leprosy.

Naaman returned with his whole retinue to the man of God. On his arrival he stood before Elisha and said,
"Now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel. Please accept a gift from your servant."

Elisha replied, "As the LORD lives whom I serve, I will not take it;" and despite Naaman's urging, he still refused. Naaman said: "If you will not accept, please let me, your servant, have two mule-loads of earth, for I will no longer offer holocaust or sacrifice to any other god except to the LORD."
 

[Timothy]

Beloved: Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David: such is my gospel, for which I am suffering, even to the point of chains, like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. Therefore, I bear with everything for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, together with eternal glory. This saying is trustworthy: If we have died with him we shall also live with him; if we persevere we shall also reign with him. But if we deny him he will deny us. If we are unfaithful
he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.

 

[Luke]

As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee. As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him. They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying, "Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!" And when he saw them, he said, "Go show yourselves to the priests." As they were going they were cleansed. And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. He was a Samaritan. Jesus said in reply, "Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?" Then he said to him, "Stand up and go; your faith has saved you."

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Fellow pilgrims, one of the themes presented in the readings is the call to express our thanks and appreciation for favors and salvation we receive. This is seen with the Syrian Commander Naaman after finding himself cured of a skin disease, in spite his initial skepticism and feeling of being insulted by the attention he got and the means of his treatment (2 Kg 5:9-15). It is also seen in St. Paul’s acknowledgment of the life we gain by dying with the Lord and not denying him (2 Tim 2:11-13). It is also seen in the gospel with the action of the Samaritan who overcame the huddles of social ostracism, cultural and religious differences, to come back to thank Jesus after seeing that he and nine others were cured of their skin disease (Lk 17:14-15). 

 

Appreciation is a debt we owe to God and others. And gratitude shown to God is born in the hearts that take time to count up past mercies and blessings. We must strive to say prayer of thanks also, for clearly our prayer for the most part is that of petition and not much of thanksgiving. Prayer is our ACTS (Adoration, Contrition, Thanksgiving, Supplication). We must reconsider this, not so much because God needs our thanks but because we gain more when we appreciate what we have received like the Samaritan who not only was cured physically but spiritually too (Lk 17:19). 

 

Now, one way or means of thanking and expressing gratitude to God is through praises. When we sing hymns at Masses and praise God at individual moments, it is a wonderful way of thanking God, who then renews the strength of our soul as the Psalmist says: “Praise the Lord, my soul, all my being praises His Holy Name. Praise the Lord my soul, do not forget all the gifts of God who pardons all your sins, heals all your ills, delivers your life from the pit, surrounds you with love and compassion, fills your days with good things; your youth is renewed like the eagles” (Ps 103:1-5). The response says: “Sing a new song to the Lord, for he has done marvelous deeds…” (Ps 98:1) Also, we become far stronger spiritually if we build praise into our life, for, it is like walking with the Lord daily, which renews our inner self (2 Cor 4:16). So, we become healthier physically and psychologically by making ‘praises to the Lord’ a part of our lifestyle, since it turns on the light of God where there are darkness, weakness, and doubt. Thus, praises multiply our faith and unite us in spirit with the angels and saints, thereby putting Satan on the run and making us victorious.

 

Another way to thank God is to extend to others what has been done for us. This translates to being faithful and getting involved in positive actions and activities in our church and community. In this way we let the word of God manifest in our lives so that the chosen may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus (2 Tim 2:9-10). With this in mind, as the USCCB National Catholic Mental Health Campaign highlights “Mental Health” this Oct 11-12, 2025, the Sunday after World Day for Mental Health (Oct. 10), we in our local Catholic parish community must engage this important issue that impacts a lot of people worldwide. From depression and loneliness to behavioral and developmental disabilities, mental health is part of so many families and communities. Let us think of how to help, as we pray for better management of mental health in our world. Peace!

 

By Fr. Francis Chukwuma

 

Prayer: A Prayer of Thanksgiving: “O my God, I firmly believe that you are one God in three divine Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I believe that your divine Son became man and died for our sins and that he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all the truths which the Holy Catholic Church teaches because you have revealed them who are eternal truth and wisdom, who can neither deceive nor be deceived. In this faith I intend to live and die. Amen.”

 

Quote from a Saint: "Prayer is the best weapon we have; it is the key to God’s heart." - St. Padre Pio

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Questions for reflection:

1. “Appreciation is a debt we owe to God and others.” Why do you think that is?

2. Do you pray using the ACTS format? (Adoration, Contrition, Thanksgiving, Supplication)

3. What do we gain from giving thanks for God since He does not need our thanks?

4. How do you thank God?

5. How can praising God frequently aid in becoming stronger spiritually?

6. Have you experienced a time when the light of Christ brought you out of darkness?

7. How do you “extend to others what has been done” for you by God in your life?

--Benjamin & Kristen Rinaldo, CfP

Oratory of Divine Love Reflection 748: Human Life is Sacred (Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4, 2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14 & Luke 17: 5-10)

 

[Habakkuk]

How long, O LORD?  I cry for help but you do not listen!  I cry out to you, "Violence!"  but you do not intervene.  Why do you let me see ruin; why must I look at misery? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and clamorous discord.  Then the LORD answered me and said: Write down the vision clearly upon the tablets, so that one can read it readily.  For the vision still has its time, presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint; if it delays, wait for it, it will surely come, it will not be late.  The rash one has no integrity; but the just one, because of his faith, shall live.

 

[Timothy]

Beloved: I remind you, to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake; but bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God.

Take as your norm the sound words that you heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
Guard this rich trust with the help of the Holy Spirit that dwells within us.

 

[Luke]

The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." The Lord replied, "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.

"Who among you would say to your servant who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field,
'Come here immediately and take your place at table'? Would he not rather say to him, 'Prepare something for me to eat. Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink. You may eat and drink when I am finished'? Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded? So should it be with you. When you have done all you have been commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.'"

 

 

Now, we recall that this Sunday is Respect for Life Sunday when we recall the different life issues that confront us today. The issues, which come under the 5th Commandment of the Decalogue include Murder, Abortion, Cloning, Euthanasia, Physician-assisted suicide, Death penalty, War, Terrorism, etc. These involve the deliberate murder of an innocent person, who is an adult or a youth or a child or an embryo, which are gravely contrary to the dignity of human being, the golden rule and the holiness of God (cf. CCC, n.2261).

 

The Catechism also explained: “Human life is sacred because from its beginning it involves the creative action of God and it remains forever in a special relationship with the Creator, who is its sole end. God alone is the Lord of life from its beginning until its end: no one can under any circumstance claim for himself the right directly to destroy an innocent human being” (CCC, n.2258). Here are included fratricide, matricide, patricide, suicide, homicide, infanticide, etc. (Ex 20:13; Dt 5:17; Mt 5:21-22). They fall under the 1st of the sins that cry to Heaven – the blood of Abel (Gen 4:10; CCC, n.1867). So, with this in mind, we have to decide to be pro and not against all-life, in words and actions, and to pray for the lives still being destroyed daily unnecessarily.

 

Now, in the face of the atrocities against life and other difficulties experienced in today’s world, the Sunday readings remind us of the living faith that sustains and assists the Christian pilgrim. We see this in the answer given to the ‘pilgrim’ Habakkuk in his trials and sufferings (Hab 1:2-4), in the advice of St Paul to the ‘pilgrim’ Timothy, a young sickly Bishop (2 Tim 1:7), and also in the request of the overwhelmed ‘pilgrim’ apostles in the face of Jesus’ teachings (Lk 17:1-5).

 

At times, our immediate response in the face of Christian suffering is to lose hope and to entertain doubts in God (Hab 1:2-4), since we feel that God had disappointed us. Then Christian enthusiasm wanes and lukewarm-ness set in our spiritual and moral life. Some even downgrade to cursing God, the Church and everything religion; or engage in a fierce fight to destroy all religious principles and icons. Now, today’s liturgy calls us to consider in the presence of trials and temptations, that good always triumphs over evil eventually (Hab 2:4); that evil is punished at God’s own time and as he deems fit (Hab 2:3); that our faithfulness and trust in God sustains our life at difficult times, brings about the overthrow of evil, and wins us eternal life (Hab 2:4). Thus, we are exhorted to fan into flame the faith we profess (2 Tim 1:6), and to ask the Lord to increase our faith during life threatening moments we encounter daily, since only God gives the strength to suffer for the Good news (Lk 17:5; 2 Tim 1:8). God freely gives us the gift of faith, but we must nurture it and grow in it, in order to accomplish great works of faith for God. Peace!

 

By Fr. Francis Chukwuma 

 

Prayer:  Act of Faith “O my God, I firmly believe that you are one God in three divine Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I believe that your divine Son became man and died for our sins and that he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all the truths which the Holy Catholic Church teaches because you have revealed them who are eternal truth and wisdom, who can neither deceive nor be deceived. In this faith I intend to live and die. Amen.”

 

Quote from a Saint: “Must not be surprised when we hear of murders, killings, of wars, or of hatred…If a mother can kill her own child, what is left but for us to kill each other?” – St. Mother Teresa

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Questions for reflection:

1. Do you ever feel like you want to cry out like Habakkuk about what you see in the world? How do you keep yourself from falling into despair?

2. Have you ever struggled with the Church’s teachings on the life issues?

3. Has the Church’s teaching on life issues caused tension between you and your family or friends?

4. Does the inclusion of the death penalty as a life issue make you uncomfortable?

5. Have you “decide(d) to be pro and not against all-life, in words and actions, and to pray for the lives still being destroyed daily unnecessarily”? What does that look like in your life?

6. Do you have a living faith that sustains you? If you do, what do you do to maintain it? If not, what can you do to attain a living faith?

7. How do you respond to suffering in your life?

8. How do you nurture your faith so that it can grow, “in order to accomplish great works of faith for God”?

--Benjamin & Kristen Rinaldo, CfP

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Oratory of Divine Love Reflection 747: Don’t be Blind to Injustice (Amos 6: 1,4-7, 1 Timothy 6: 11-16 & Luke 16: 19-31)

 

[Amos]

Thus says the LORD the God of hosts:  Woe to the complacent in Zion!  Lying upon beds of ivory, stretched comfortably on their couches, they eat lambs taken from the flock, and calves from the stall!  Improvising to the music of the harp, like David, they devise their own accompaniment.  They drink wine from bowls and anoint themselves with the best oils; yet they are not made ill by the collapse of Joseph! Therefore, now they shall be the first to go into exile, and their wanton revelry shall be done away with.

 

[Timothy]

But you, man of God, pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. Compete well for the faith. Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called when you made the noble confession in the presence of many witnesses. I charge you before God, who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus, who gave testimony under Pontius Pilate for the noble confession, to keep the commandment without stain or reproach

until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ that the blessed and only ruler will make manifest at the proper time, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light,

and whom no human being has seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal power.  Amen.

 

[Luke]

Jesus said to the Pharisees: "There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man's table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores. When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.

And he cried out, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.' Abraham replied, 'My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented. Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established
to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.'
He said, 'Then I beg you, father, send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment.' But Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.' He said, 'Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' Then Abraham said, 'If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.'"

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With regards to the readings, we note particularly the gospel parable of the rich man and poor Lazarus (Lk 16:19-31). The parable has interesting perspectives: For instance, it tells us that since the name Lazarus means 'God is my help', the poor should never forget to seek the generous blessing of God with the type of humble trust shown by the poor widow, who Jesus commended and praised as having given the highest to the temple treasury (Lk 21:1-4). In other words, we have to trust and rely on God as we make contributions to our parish and to the 2025 Annual Bishop’s Appeal we have just embarked on. We must trust that God will always outdo us in generosity if we sincerely trust him enough by giving from the little (or much) we have been gifted with. It was this type of trust in God that actually merited Lazarus heaven. It was not because he was poor materially. For, the name meant to show one who lived out what that name meant; trusting in God as his helper, in the manner of St. Paul’s exhortation to all Christians in the 2nd reading, to live saintly life of faith “…pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take...your good confession in the presence of many witnesses” (1Tim 6:11-12). This is a life of trust in God.

 

Now, the Dives (rich Man) was not condemned because he abused Lazarus or beat him up, but because he was blind to the anguish of the needy, just as those Amos spoke of in the 1st reading, who were blind to the injustice of their society, which rewarded mean business men and women while the poor workers are laid off without consideration (Amos 6:4-7). We remember that the wealthy elite in the South (Jerusalem) lived a life of comfort and leisure in the cities and cared little about their brothers in the north being impoverished, killed and taken into exile, so, Amos prophesied that they would share the same faith as their brothers. In other words, the Dive was not condemned to hell because of any sin of commission but because of the sin of omission. Unfortunately, the rich man's brothers and sisters (5 brothers are seen in Lk 16:27-31) are still around in society today, passing by the needy, the injustices, the lies in the system, the pains and misery in their church and community, and refuse to do something.  So, each of us needs to answer this question: Am I one of the Dives’ brothers or sisters that pass by the needy?

 

Now, it could help us to see and to bear the burden of the poor and the weak among us if we are constantly conscious of our interconnectedness as brothers and sisters of the One Father “…God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see…” (1 Tim 6:15-16), who made each of us in his own image and likeness (Gen 1:26-27). This means that we must see God in us and in others and realize that in serving others we serve God himself. The rich man did not see God in himself or in Lazarus and ended up focusing only on his merely human self and became selfish instead of being selfless: that which enables one to see another’s needs. Peace!

 

By Fr. Francis Chukwuma 

 

Prayer:  “O Merciful God, extend Your healing touch to those who suffer from hunger and need. Bring comfort to their weary souls and grant them relief from their afflictions. May their bodies and hearts find restoration and strength through Your divine intervention. Guide me to be an instrument of your love and show me how to serve those in need.”

 

Quote from a Saint: “Live simply so others may simply live.”― St. Teresa of Calcutta

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Questions for reflection:

1. Do you feel like you contribute generously to your parish and your diocese? When was the last time you evaluated your giving? In what other ways do you support ministries and the needy?

2. Have you ever found yourself in a situation when you’ve had to rely on God to provide for your material needs? In what ways did He come through for you?

3. How does trusting in God and giving from the little that you have help you to orient yourself with God’s plan?

4. Do you think that someone who is rich can avoid being greedy? How does a person who has a good amount of money protect themselves from being attached to the things of this world?

5. Have you seen a “rich businessman” being rewarded while poor workers were laid off without consideration (or a similar situation)?

6. Are you one of the Dives’ (rich man’s) brothers or sisters that pass by the needy?

7. Who is the most selfless person that you know? What is it about them that makes them selfless? What can you learn from that person?

--Benjamin & Kristen Rinaldo, CfP

Oratory of Divine Love Reflection 746: Who Can Conceive What the LORD Intends?  A reflection on the Book of Wisdom and the Gospel of John (Wisdom 9 : 13-18 & John 13: 25-33)

 

[Wisdom]

Who can know God’s counsel, or who can conceive what the LORD intends?  For the deliberations of mortals are timid, and unsure are our plans.  For the corruptible body burdens the soul and the earthen shelter weighs down the mind that has many concerns.  And scarce do we guess the things on earth, and what is within our grasp we find with difficulty; but when things are in heaven, who can search them out?  Or who ever knew your counsel, except you had given wisdom and sent your holy spirit from on high?  And thus were the paths of those on earth made straight.

 

[Luke]

Great crowds were traveling with Jesus, and he turned and addressed them, “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion? Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him and say, ‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’

Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down and decide whether with ten thousand troops
he can successfully oppose another king advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops? But if not, while he is still far away, he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms. In the same way, anyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.”

 

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Now, the readings say that it is difficult to understand the thoughts and wisdom of God, for: “...as high as the heavens are above the earth, so high is my ways and thoughts above yours” (Isa 55:8-9). Yet, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (cf. Ps 111:10; Prov 4:7; 9:10). And this wisdom is life (cf. Jn 6:63); being that it helps make sense of life, as the 1st reading says (Wis 9:13-17). As we know, it does not make any sense in the human parlance, to deny oneself, to renounce one's family, possessions and other things precious to us, and to carry a cross after the manner of Jesus (Lk 14:25-27). Or like Paul asking Philemon to take back Onesimus, his former slave who stole from him, not just as a slave but now as a brother (Philem 10-17). Now, all this is God's wisdom, which can only make sense to the Christian who accepts the cross of discipleship, and sees all processions as God’s gifts that demands gratitude instead of being possessed as ends in themselves, unless one wants to end up in misery. Again, the workings of the mind of God are beyond the capacity of our human knowledge and they can only be lived out of our love for God.  

 

Now, we must note that the word ‘to hate’, which Jesus used (cf. Lk 14:26), means ‘love less’ in Aramaic. So, he meant that we have to love God above all else and 'love less' the things of the world. This gives us the freedom to carry on our mission as Christians, for when we want a dear thing, we must give up some dear things; for: “…those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples” (Lk 14:33). Also, Jesus is teaching us about our sometimes-unhealthy attachment to people, things and ideas, which prevents and obstructs us from being his disciples. A Christian needs to be free and open to the demand of the gospel, which may be against our usual comfort zone and inclinations; hence the radical nature of Christianity that demands that we set what we love free in love. As it is, when we are unhealthily attached to someone or somethings or some ideas, it removes our freedom and prevents the development of our full potentials as human beings and as Christians, whereas a healthy attachment would promote this growth. Thus, Paul set Onesimus free for him to reach his full potential as a Christian (cf. Philem 12-16).

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Now, we note that we are gradually coming to the end of Summer, having had Labor Day holidays. We are glad that some were able to have pleasant vacations, traveling to places of interest, to see wonderful sceneries, to be with friends and family, and to enjoy the dynamics and varieties that life and various places and seasons offer. So, we heartily welcome back all those who have been away, with gratitude to God for his mercies, protection, blessings and the fun times of the Summer. And as we enter the last quarter of the year, the -ember months, we pray for the energy to put into practice the good things we have gotten on our travels, in order to make life better for others, our parish, our families and our community, especially as the readings urge us to practice radical Christianity. God bless.

 

By Fr. Francis Chukwuma              

 

Prayer: “Father, we seek the strength to rise above worldly distractions and temptations, and the wisdom to discern Your path. This is a heartfelt plea for guidance in maintaining purity and aligning our hearts with Your will.”

 

Quote from a Saint: “Love of the world cannot be reconciled with love of God, and the man who does not separate himself from the children of this generation cannot join the company of the sons of God.” --St. Leo the Great

 

Questions for reflection:

1. Do you find these readings difficult to understand? When there is scripture that you do not understand, what do you do?

2. Does the fact that “to hate” means “love less” in Aramaic change your understanding of this passage?

3. Have you or someone you know had the experience of not understanding God’s plan for a situation but then everything works out for the glory of God?  

4. Does the idea of giving up everything to be a disciple of Jesus make you uncomfortable?

5. What are some methods that you use to separate yourself from worldly possessions (including people) so that they do not become more important than your relationship with the Lord?

6. How does life look different for a Christian who takes up their cross than for non-Christians?

7. In what ways do you practice radical Christianity at home? At your parish? In the world?

--Benjamin & Kristen Rinaldo, CfP

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Oratory of Divine Love Reflection 745: A reflection on the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Numbers 21 : 4-9 & John 3: 13-17)

 

[Numbers]

With their patience worn out by the journey, the people complained against God and Moses, "Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in this desert, where there is no food or water? We are disgusted with this wretched food!"

In punishment the LORD sent among the people saraph serpents, which bit the people so that many of them died. Then the people came to Moses and said, "We have sinned in complaining against the LORD and you.
Pray the LORD to take the serpents from us." So Moses prayed for the people, and the LORD said to Moses,
"Make a saraph and mount it on a pole, and if any who have been bitten look at it, they will live." Moses accordingly made a bronze serpent and mounted it on a pole, and whenever anyone who had been bitten by a serpent looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.

 

[John]

Jesus said to Nicodemus: "No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life."

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish
but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.

 

 

Fellow pilgrims, we celebrate the Exaltation of the Holy Cross instead of the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time. The feast united both the veneration of the cross celebrated in Jerusalem since the 4th century on Sept 14 and the one celebrated in Rome in honor of the discovery of the cross by St. Helena on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, who brought a piece of the cross back to the Basilica in Rome built for her by her son Constantine. This was celebrated on May 3. When emperor Heraclitus (575-641) recovered the precious relic of the cross that was captured by the Persians when they laid waste Jerusalem in 614, the recovery was also celebrated on May 3 until 1960, when Pope John XXIII suppressed the May 3rd feast, uniting it to the feast of the triumph of the cross in the Roman calendar on Sept 14, which Vatican II Council  made a solemnity when it falls on a Sunday.

 

We celebrate the triumph of the cross and venerated the cross on which our salvation was wrought. Jesus said that true life is found through a conscientious encounter with the cross, as the Israelites experienced on their journey to the promised land, seen in the 1st reading (Num 21:4-9). We read: “…and the Lord said to Moses: Make a seraph and mount it on a pole, and everyone who has been bitten will look at it and recover” (Num 21: 8). Jesus told Nicodemus that when he is lifted up, he will draw all men to himself (Jn 3:13-17). Thus, we look up to him, and then we are saved.

 

Also, celebrating this feast we recall the words of Jesus, who emphasized that true discipleship cannot rest only on temporary enthusiasm and impulse, but on giving up everything one has (Lk 14:33). This is the cross of discipleship, for the Christian disciple acts on a carefully considered involvement (Lk 14:28-32), carry one’s cross daily in living out the Christian life, following the way of Jesus who gave his life and became obedient to God, even to death on the cross (Phil 2:6-11). Thus, Jesus offers all his disciples the cross as he experienced it himself (Lk 14:27); for that moving journey undertaken by the Son of God to victory is also the way all disciples gain victory.

 

The cross is a paradox that is beyond human reason and philosophical logic for the worldly man, but for the spiritual and heavenly man, it is all about God’s will and wisdom (cf. Wis 9:13-18). Again, the idea of the cross is more than the wood of the cross. It encompasses the sacrifices we make as Christians as we follow Jesus, and these come in various sizes, shapes, and moments. It could be the minor demands in our daily lives, which are our daily martyrdom, or it could be major sacrifices that can be compared to losing one’s life. In the end, full and total commitment to God, in spite of our incapacity to capture all it holds or to understand His plans and will is what matter.

 

Now, these sacrifices are only possible through Christian love. Jesus did not embrace the cross with bitterness or complaints, rather he proclaimed forgiveness and new life, hence the cross was transformed from being a symbol of death to a symbol of life. For the disciple, the cross that comes to one is salvific when united to the cross of Christ. This is when one carries one’s cross without bitterness, resentments, and grudges, as we see in the life of everyday lived by our newest canonized Saints: St. Pier Giorgio Frassati and St. Carlos Acutis, who in their unique ways loved Christ and chose to serve him always in the service of common good, and in the spread of his Eucharistic love for all of humanity, in union with Christ. Peace.

 

By Fr. Francis Chukwuma 

 

 

Prayer: O Father, in the shadow of the Cross, we seek Your strength to carry our burdens. May the sacrifice of Your Son empower us in our trials and tribulations. Grant us the courage to face our challenges with faith, and let the love poured out from Calvary fill our hearts, guiding us to live boldly in Your grace. Amen.

 

Quote from a Saint: "Let us look to the cross and be filled with peace, knowing that Christ has walked this road and walks it now with us and with all our brothers and sisters." - St. Teresa of Avila

 

Questions for reflection:

1. What are the crosses in your life?

2. Do you embrace your crosses with bitterness and complaints, or do you suffer patiently? What are the benefits of suffering patiently?

3. When have you seen someone who did let themselves become bitter about the hardships in their life? What did that do to their relationships with those around them? What did that do to their relationship with Christ?

4. Do you know anything about saints Pier Georgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis? What were their crosses? How did their lives show love of Christ by spreading his Eucharistic love for humanity?

5. “[W]e recall the words of Jesus, who emphasized that true discipleship cannot rest only on temporary enthusiasm and impulse, but on giving up everything one has.” It is easy to be excited and full of enthusiasm for a short time, but how can we give up all we have to take on the cross of discipleship?

6. What do you consider to be the biggest cross of discipleship?

7. Why is the cross a paradox? How can we, as humans, begin to understand why God chose to save the world in this way?

--Benjamin & Kristen Rinaldo, CfP

Oratory of Divine Love Reflection 744: On the importance of friends (1 Samuel 18 : 6-9,  19:1-7 & Mark 3: 7-12)

 

[Samuel]

At the approach of Saul and David, on David’s return after striking down the Philistine, women came out from all the cities of Israel to meet Saul the king, singing and dancing, with tambourines, joyful songs, and stringed instruments.

The women played and sang: “Saul has slain his thousands, David his tens of thousands.” Saul was very angry and resentful of the song, for he thought: “They give David tens of thousands, but only thousands to me. All that remains for him is the kingship.” From that day on, Saul kept a jealous eye on David.

 

Saul discussed his intention to kill David with his son Jonathan and with all his servants. But Saul’s son Jonathan, who was very fond of David, told him: “My father Saul is trying to kill you. Therefore, please be on your guard tomorrow morning; stay out of sight and remain in hiding. I, however, will go out and stand beside my father in the countryside where you are, and will speak to him about you. If I learn anything, I will let you know.” Jonathan then spoke well of David to his father Saul, telling him: “The king should not harm his servant David. He has not harmed you, but has helped you very much by his deeds. When he took his life in his hands and killed the Philistine, and the LORD won a great victory for all Israel, you were glad to see it. Why, then, should you become guilty of shedding innocent blood by killing David without cause?” Saul heeded Jonathan’s plea and swore, “As the LORD lives, he shall not be killed.” So Jonathan summoned David and repeated the whole conversation to him. He then brought David to Saul, and David served him as before.

 

[Mark]

Jesus withdrew toward the sea with his disciples. A large number of people [followed] from Galilee and from Judea. Hearing what he was doing, a large number of people came to him also from Jerusalem, from Idumea, from beyond the Jordan, and from the neighborhood of Tyre and Sidon. He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush him. He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases were pressing upon him to touch him. And whenever unclean spirits saw him they would fall down before him and shout, “You are the Son of God.” He warned them sternly not to make him known.

 

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As I considered the relationship between David and Jonathan, I was reminded of Saint Aelred’s treatise on Spiritual Friendship. “Friendship is agreement on both human and divine affairs, combined with goodwill and affection.” “Whenever people are in perfect agreement about divine and human affairs and have the same desires along with goodwill and affection, then they have attained perfect friendship.” “For each party in his mind ought to esteem the same things—that is, their unanimity should be agreeable and dear to them; moreover, their subsequent actions in external matters ought to be well-meaning and pleasant.” “Further, a friend is called, as it were, the guardian of love—or, as some prefer to say, the “guardian of the soul” itself.” 

 

Friendship is essential for our faith life to thrive. It was the bond of friendship that motivated Jonathan to speak to Saul in David’s defense. His intervention brought about a reconciliation between the two – albeit a temporary one. As a faithful friend, Jonathan gave David unwavering and loyal support. Goodwill, affection, and faithfulness are traits our society desperately needs today. We need to discover words that will build people up rather than trash and tear them down. Alliances of love and support are few and far between. In the face of harassment and bigotry, we need to stand up for the dignity of every person. Yes, you and I are our brother’s keeper and our sister’s helpmate. Despite the odds against us, we can make a difference. Recall this quote attributed to Edmund Burke. “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

 

God is one but he is not a solitary reality; he is a communion of Persons. When God created man, he made men and women in his image and likeness. Since God is a communion of persons, he knew that it was not good for a man, or a woman, to live in isolation. God loves us and desires us to share his communion of love. Scripture tells us: "God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good" (Gen 1:31). God shared his vision of the world with us. With the eyes of love, we can see the goodness of every creature.

 

When van Gogh was beginning work on his masterpiece, ‘The Starry Night’, he was a patient in a mental hospital. During his confinement, he was not allowed to paint. However, he did have access to a window and through that window, he would gaze at the sky. He drew upon the impression the sky had left in his memory when he eventually took up a palette and brush. Van Gogh’s appreciation for the beauty he had admired motivated him to produce this awesome painting. In a letter to his brother Theo, he wrote: “Admire as much as you can, most people don't admire enough.” If we were to cultivate a heartfelt admiration for the people and world around us, we would discover the treasure God has entrusted to our care. Friends who stand by each other and encourage one another give a never-to-be-forgotten sensation of standing in the presence of God and participating in the never-ending dance of the Trinity. May we be found worthy of such friendship.

 

By Fr. Jerome Machar, OCSO

 

 

Prayer: “Dear Lord, I ask for Your guidance in building strong and lasting friendships. Help me find friends who will uplift and support me, and grant me the wisdom to be a true friend in return. Let my relationships be grounded in Your love and understanding, and may they reflect Your grace. Strengthen the bonds I have with others and help me nurture these connections with kindness and patience.”

 

Quote from a Saint: “God sends us friends to be our firm support in the whirlpool of struggle. In the company of friends, we will find strength to attain our sublime ideal.” --St. Maximillian Kolbe

 

Questions for reflection:

1. How important is it to you to have friends in your life?

2. Have you ever considered that “Friendship is essential for our faith life to thrive”?

3. Is there someone who you used to be friends with that you have fallen out of contact with? Should you attempt to reconnect?

4. Do you have someone who you would call a spiritual friend?

5. Does your parish/diocese offer small faith sharing groups or other opportunities to socialize with like-minded religious people?

6. Have you ever had to stand up for a friend like Johnathan did for David?

7. How did this strike you? “When God created man, he made men and women in his image and likeness. Since God is a communion of persons, he knew that it was not good for a man, or a woman, to live in isolation. God loves us and desires us to share his communion of love.” What feelings does it stir up? Bring this with you to your next time of prayer.

8. Do you think that you “admire enough”? When was the last time that you watched the sunset/or sunrise or gone outside at night to admire the stars that God placed?

--Benjamin & Kristen Rinaldo, CfP

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Oratory of Divine Love Reflection 743: Will God Know You? : A reflection on the Gospel of Luke (Luke 13 : 22-33)

 

Jesus passed through towns and villages, teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him,
"Lord, will only a few people be saved?”

 

He answered them, "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough. After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door, then will you stand outside knocking and saying, 'Lord, open the door for us.' He will say to you in reply, 'I do not know where you are from. And you will say, 'We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.' Then he will say to you, 'I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers!' And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you yourselves cast out. And people will come from the east and the west and from the north and the south and will recline at table in the kingdom of God. For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last."

 

 

Jesus is asked, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” Notice - Jesus did not answer the question; He did not come merely to satisfy peoples’ curiosity. He came to teach, to heal, to lead people into the Kingdom of the Father; He came

to lay down His life for our salvation. He was looking for faith not mere curiosity. In Jesus' response which is about the Kingdom, the master of the house is God the Father and in response to the plea he says, “I do not know where you are from” in fact, he says it twice. This poses a question: how could the master, God the Father, not know? God knows everything, everyone - there is no one unknown to Him.

 

The Psalms are very explicit about this. Ps 50: “I know all the birds in the sky, all that moves in the field belongs to me.” Ps 139: “O Lord, You search me and You know me, You know my resting and my rising...all my ways lie open to You.” But there is another way of knowing - that of recognizing - does our God know me, recognize me, you as a believer, a disciple, as one committed to Him at every moment? Do I, do you live in such a way that, in reality, we are strangers to God, unrecognized by Him who might say, “I do not know where you are from!” When Jesus, using a whip, cleansed the temple, turned over the money changers tables, He did it because He did not recognize, could not regard the people as God’s people, the people of the covenant. This sacred place of worship of His Father had become a marketplace, a place of greed and bargaining. Through Jesus' words, His action God the Father was crying out, “I do not know where you are from!” When Jesus took the leaders to task about the double standard of their lives - teaching, demanding obedience, conformity but not living what they proclaimed themselves, in no uncertain terms Jesus called them “hypocrites”,

“brood of vipers”. He did not recognize them as leaders, as the wise men of the Father’s people. Again the Father cried out through Him, “I do not know where you are from!”

 

What if - a big what if - the doors of the tabernacle opened with a bang and a voice exuding divine authority called out, “People, I question you concerning your lives, your practices, your pieties - your rosaries, novenas, actions. Monks, I question you, too, about your practices - your vigils, fasting, prayers. I ask all of you: are these truly coming from your hearts, from your graced convictions - do they express trust in Me - or are they more pretense than truth, mere formality, half-hearted attempts? Would I, as your Lord and God, be forced to say with great sadness, "I do not know where you are from!” I think it would be hard not to be shaken by this; we might be concerned about what we heard for a time and then conveniently forget - life can be like that - experiencing a temporary conversion. Or we can try to domesticate, to tame our Lord with excuses, watered down Catholicism and surely the Lord will gaze on us with sadness as the Father proclaims, “I do not know where you are from!” “Who are you?” How will that sit with you, with me? Will it sit at all?

 

God is love - should we not expect and welcome His love that encourages, enlightens, forgives and at times corrects so that we do live and want to live as His sons and daughters? In the prayer after Communion, we ask, “...graciously perfect and sustain us so that in all things we may please You” - we please our God by being known, being recognized by Him as His people, His sons and daughters. May the Lord, here and now, be able to say to each of us, “I know you well, You are mine. Come, share eternal life with Me.”

 

By Fr. John Denburger

 

Prayer: Act of faith “O my God, I firmly believe that you are one God in three divine Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I believe that your divine Son became man and died for our sins and that he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all the truths which the Holy Catholic Church teaches because you have revealed them who are eternal truth and wisdom, who can neither deceive nor be deceived. In this faith I intend to live and die. Amen.”

 

Quote from a Saint: “To the prospect of the Kingdom of God is linked hope in that glory which has its beginning in the Cross of Christ. The Resurrection revealed this glory — eschatological glory. … Those who share in the sufferings of Christ are also called, through their own sufferings, to share in glory”-- St. John Paul II, Salvifici Doloris

 

Questions for reflection:

1. How can people’s curiosity deepen into faith and why is that an important step to take?

2. How does the way that Jesus responds to questions teach and lead people to the Kingdom?

3. Would Jesus recognize you as being part of His kingdom?

4. Have you ever been concerned about how many people will be saved? Did it lead you to despair?

5. Think about your spiritual practices. Do they come from the heart or are they done as a formality? If they feel like they are a formality, what can you do to make them more heartfelt?

6. Do you struggle with the concept that correction can be an act of love?

7. Are there any double standards in your spiritual or personal life that need to be examined and changed?

--Benjamin & Kristen Rinaldo, CfP

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Oratory of Divine Love Reflection 742: Use Your Voice to Praise God : A reflection on the Book of Daniel (Daniel 3 : 52-56)

 

R.    Glory and praise for ever!
“Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers,
   praiseworthy and exalted above all forever;
And blessed is your holy and glorious name,
   praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages.”
R.    Glory and praise for ever!
“Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory,
   praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.
R.    Glory and praise for ever!
“Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom,
   praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.”
R.    Glory and praise for ever!
“Blessed are you who look into the depths
   from your throne upon the cherubim;
   praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.”
R.    Glory and praise for ever!
“Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven,
   praiseworthy and glorious forever.”
R.    Glory and praise for ever!

 

“Glory and praise forever!” That was our Responsorial psalm today. Everything has been made with a purpose from God. Everything given to you, has a purpose to glorify God with your lives. In our middle school classes are baskets that the kids can write religious questions anonymously, and I visit the classes every few months and answer all their religion questions.

 

MANY of their questions surround sexual morality.  Why is THIS wrong? And I explain that sexuality has two purposes, babies and bonding, and those two things take place properly in the context of marriage. To remove sexuality from marriage, or deny bonding by casually having sex with multiple partners, or do something to physically block the conception of a child from taking place, or destroying the life of that child AFTER it’s conceived, thus becomes sinful, because you’re DENYING what God has INTENDED sexuality for.

 

Likewise, the PRIMARY purpose of our voices, is FIRST to give glory to God, SECOND to promote and defend the faith, THIRD, to encourage and console others, and LAST, EVERYTHING else we use our voices for; the communication that’s part of our daily living.  THINK about that!

 

The PRIMARY purpose for our voices is to give praise and thanks to God! That’s what our ENTIRE responsorial psalm is today, a litany of praise. “Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers…blessed is your holy and glorious name…blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory…

 

How much time do you devote using your voice for its primary purpose, its secondary and third purpose, as opposed to its fourth purpose? I’m guessing it’s NOT proportional, and don’t feel too bad about that, because God doesn’t EXPECT it to BE proportional.

 

I spent five hours today taking care of the business of daily life, so I have to spend five hours praising God, five hours encouraging others, and five hours promoting the Catholic faith…ok, guess I can go without sleep today.  No.  But we DO need to devote SOME time to these.

 

One great detail that got left out of our first reading, is that after Nebuchadnezzar throws Daniel and his friends into the fiery furnace,  from WITHIN the furnace, he hears them singing and praising God!  When we’re in distress, that’s when we should ESPECIALLY praise God.

 

NOW think of all the times we use our voices for DISORDERED purposes. How often do we use our voices to cuss, to gossip, to demean and insult others, instead of encouraging and building them up? The reason I bring this up is that this sin so often gets overlooked. It’s not just what we DO with our voices that can be sinful, but also what we DON’T do with our voices.

 

The primary purpose of our voices is to give praise and thanks to God! If we don’t consciously take some time to DO that every day, the second and third purpose of our voices will NOT follow. NOW, the bright side, is that coming to Mass is the HIGHEST form of praise and thanksgiving to God.  So we all have THAT going for us.

 

But devote some time every day to praising and thanking God. Do it while you’re driving to work. Do it while you’re doing your daily mundane chores. You’ll be amazed at the effect it has on your disposition and your outlook on

life.  Try it.  And Blessed be God forever.

 

By Father Michael Sisco

 

Prayer: “It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to Your name, O Most High.” (Psalm 92:1)

 

Quote from a Saint: “‘Preach the truth as if you had a million voices. It is silence that kills the world.” – St. Catherine of Siena

 

Questions for reflection:

1. Have you ever considered what the primary purpose of your voice is?

2. Would you say that you routinely use your voice for the purpose for which it is intended?

3. What do you do to:

   1. FIRST to give glory to God?

   2. SECOND to promote and defend the faith?

   3. THIRD, to encourage and console others?

4. How often do you use your voice for disordered purposes?

5. Do you spend time building people up instead of bringing them down?

6. Do you praise God throughout the day while doing mundane things?

7. How could praising God throughout the day change your disposition and outlook on life?

--Benjamin & Kristen Rinaldo, CfP

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Oratory of Divine Love Reflection 741: Apostolic Pardon : A reflection on the Gospel of Luke (Luke 12 : 32-48)

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Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not be afraid any longer, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.
Sell your belongings and give alms. Provide money bags for yourselves that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven that no thief can reach nor moth destroy. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.

“Gird your loins and light your lamps and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival.  Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself, have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them. And should he come in the second or third watch and find them prepared in this way, blessed are those servants. Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”

Then Peter said, “Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?” And the Lord replied, “Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute the food allowance at the proper time?

Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so. Truly, I say to you, the master will put the servant in charge of all his property. But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, to eat and drink and get drunk, then that servant’s master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish the servant severely and assign him a place with the unfaithful.

That servant who knew his master’s will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely; and the servant who was ignorant of his master’s will but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating shall be beaten only lightly. Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”

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In our gospel reading we heard Jesus warning his listeners to be prepared for their own death because it could come at any moment, when they least expect it. He uses the examples of a master returning from a wedding feast, and a thief breaking in to steal. And he says, “You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”

 

At the risk of sounding legalistic, I would like to talk about some of the things involved in that moment when we “cash in our chips.” The first thing I’d like to mention is Purgatory. Purgatory isn’t some outdated teaching that sophisticated theologians nowadays no longer believe in. It is a de fide dogma of the Catholic Church. That means that doctrine is always going to be there, and it’s not going to change. Believing in it is not optional, it is required. When it comes to something like whether Mary died before she was assumed into heaven – that’s still an open question – we’re free to believe either way. But not Purgatory; that’s required. It doesn’t have to be an actual physical place, but it’s some form of purification. And from what Saints have written about it, it sounds like something we would want to avoid, if at all possible.

 

That brings us to the next topic: temporal punishment. The Church teaches that after we confess our sins in the sacrament of confession, those sins are forgiven, but there still remains the restitution for them that needs to be either worked off in this life or the next. That restitution is what the Church means by temporal punishment. Whatever temporal punishment remains at the time of our death will have to be worked off in Purgatory. And it makes sense that we ourselves would want to be fully purified before entering heaven. St. Catherine of Genoa said that when we die and see how wonderful heaven is, we will throw ourselves into Purgatory of our own accord in order to get every last spot and wrinkle and stench cleaned off.

 

And the Church makes it fairly easy to eliminate or lessen our temporal punishment while we are still alive. There are what we call indulgences. Indulgences are a way that the Church makes available for us to tap into the treasury of merit that has been stored up by the good deeds of Jesus and Mary and all the Saints down through the ages. These are divided into plenary and partial. Partial indulgences reduce our temporal punishment by days or years, whereas gaining a plenary indulgence wipes out all the temporal punishment we have accumulated. I’d rather not go into detail here on ways to gain partial and plenary indulgences. But a really good way to get a plenary indulgence is to fulfill the requirements on Mercy Sunday.

 

The item I’d mainly like to discuss is something the Church refers to as The Apostolic Pardon. It is also sometimes called The Apostolic Blessing. When a priest is called in to go to the bed of a dying person, he will ideally do four things. The first three are sacraments: Confession, Holy Communion, and Anointing. The fourth is The Apostolic Pardon. The wording of the Apostolic Pardon goes like this:

 

Through the holy mysteries of our redemption, may almighty God release you from all punishments in this life and in the life to come. May he open to you the gates of paradise and welcome you to everlasting joy.

 

Our Abbot, Fr. Gerard, is always very good about making sure each one of our monks has this before dying. But one cannot always depend on every parish priest doing it. Some priests are not aware of it, or just not in the practice of using it. So it is good to request it when you call a priest for a dying loved one.

 

Last summer Fr. John Vianney invited me over when his family and friends were visiting. As a few of us were sitting around a small table outside eating and visiting, this topic of the Church’s “free out-of-jail pass” happened to come up, and I was explaining how it worked. I don’t think anyone else at the table had heard of it before. Ruth Ann had been one of the people sitting at the table, and as it turned out, not long afterwards, her father became ill and died. She called for a priest and specifically requested the Apostolic Pardon. That was very, very comforting to her, and she wrote Fr. John Vianney, asking him to convey to me how much she appreciated how all that had come about. I remember pondering at the time how touching God’s love for Ruth Ann and her father was, that he would line up the timing of all that so perfectly.

 

However, knowing about the Apostolic Pardon shouldn’t make it easier for us to commit sins of presumption, thinking we have an insurance policy at the end of life that will wipe everything clean. Maybe that’s why the Church doesn’t publicize it more. There is no guarantee that we will have the luxury of seeing a priest right before we die. The best policy is to stay clear of sin, not get entangled in it, go to confession often, and be ready at all times.

 

All of this has been from the angle of “fear of punishment.” The best reason for avoiding sin is love – love of neighbor, and love of God. If genuine love reigns in our hearts, we will be well prepared for death.

 

By Father Stephen Muller

 

Prayer: St. Gertrude’s prayer for the holy souls in purgatory: “Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the masses said throughout the world today, for all the holy souls in purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen.”

 

Quote from a Saint: “Let us help and commemorate them. If Job’s sons were purified by their father’s sacrifice (Job 1:5), why would we doubt that our offerings for the dead bring them some consolation? Let us not hesitate to help those who have died and to offer our prayers for them.” – St. John Chrysostom

 

Questions for reflection:

1. Do you believe in the Church’s teaching about Purgatory?

2. Did you have to wrestle with accepting Purgatory?

3. Have you ever been challenged on the teaching of Purgatory?

4. What is your understanding of indulgences? Have you ever earned an indulgence?

5. Were you aware of the Apostolic Pardon? Do you know anyone who has received this?

6. “I remember pondering at the time how touching God’s love for Ruth Ann and her father was, that he would line up the timing of all that so perfectly.” Have you experienced God’s timing in a similar way? Have you ever learned about a spiritual practice at just the right time?

7. Why should we not treat the Apostolic Pardon as a “get out of jail free” card?

8. Do you think it is better to avoid sin out of fear of punishment or out of love for God and neighbor?

--Benjamin & Kristen Rinaldo, CfP