Homily #147: "Imitate the Holy Family" (During a Time of Decline of Catholic Church in the West)

Audio for Sun., 10am Mass [#147b]

Audio for Sun. 5pm Mass [147c]

Audio for Sat. 5pm Mass [#147a]

 Homily #147:

Imitate the Holy Family 

(During a Time of Decline of Catholic Church in the West)

As we continue to celebrate Christmas today on the Feast of the Holy Family, I will focus on three ways to deepen our love for and imitate each member of the Holy Family: Jesus, Mary and Joseph.  Father prayed in the Opening Prayer or Collect of the Mass that we may imitate the Holy Family.

By living ordinary family life for 33 years, most of which was hidden from the public, God reveals that salvation not only comes through the Holy Family 2000 years ago back then, but salvation passes by way of every Christian family that adores the Newborn King today.  So goes the family, so goes the Church, and so goes the Church, so goes the world.  (The Church is the only institution capable of fighting and defeating evil.)  If we want peace in the world, if we want justice and the end to violence and lack of charity in people’s hearts, then let us ask the Holy Family to make our families holy. 

The Jesuit priest Fr. John Hardon, S.J., said that only heroic Catholic families will survive the spiritual devastation the Church is now experiencing.  And, unfortunately, diocese after diocese rafter diocese reports multiple disastrous declines at all levels of Catholic family life and faith formation.  I have seen the reports with my own eyes (for the English-speaking West): Infant baptisms in decline; First Communions and Confirmation in decline; marriages in decline; RCIA in decline; mass attendance in decline.  In such times of tribulation, the Church cries out, “Jesus, Mary and Joseph, help us!”  So let us now ponder each member of the Holy Family.    

I

First, let’s start with imitating the Boy Jesus in today’s Gospel.  Our love for this Holy Child, this Santo Nino, in the Temple, is deepened when we have a childlike trust to dare call God Our Father in the midst of the Church.  As we chanted in the Responsorial Psalm, “Blessed are they who dwell in the house of the Lord!”  God is Our Father when we first and foremost receive the 7 Sacraments of the New Temple, the Church, on a regular basis.  The Boy Jesus, even at age 12, was already aware and conscious, he knew that He was the unique Son of God the Father.  Jesus didn’t just somehow “discover” this at age 30.  When Jesus’ mother asked him, “Son, why have you done this to us?  Your father (Joseph) and I have been looking for you with great anxiety,” the Boy Jesus replied, “Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”  My. Father’s. House.  There are no words clearer words in Scripture to reveal that Jesus knew that he was not the natural son of Joseph and that Joseph rather was his earthly foster father.  

And while we are not the only-begotten Son of the Father as the Boy Jesus is, we are adopted sons and daughters of Our Heavenly Father, as we heard in today’s Second Reading: “See what love the Father has for you in calling us his children, for so indeed we are.”  And children of Our Father, we can invite our family members and extended family members if they have completed their Sacraments.  This is a great way to bring others to God.  We too invite others with the words: Do you know not that we too must be in our Father’s house worshipping him in the Sacraments?  With the help of the Holy Family, let’s reverse the mass apostasy or people leaving the practice of their sacraments today!  [We don’t want to be CEO Catholics—“Christmas-Easter-Only” Catholics, but Catholics who regularly frequent the Sacraments.]

II.

Second, let’s look at Mary.  Even though she didn’t fully understand what Jesus said, Mary still reflected on all these things that happened to her in her heart.  The Gospel of Luke says, “[A]nd his mother kept all these things in her heart.”  This heart of Mary, this pure Heart of the Immaculate One, deserves our attention and devotion.  You know, there’s a half-joke saying that Christmas is a time when Protestants start talking like Catholics all of a sudden because it is the one day in the year when they focus on Mary and the Nativity with love and devotion.  But to truly love the Bible, the Word of God, then we must imitate the Mother of the Word of God.  And one way to be like this Mother of the Eucharist is to come to church outside of Mass times and sit with Jesus in the Tabernacle for a few minutes.  Simply reflecting on the Eternal Word of God with the Blessed Sacrament in silent Adoration is a way to ponder the great things God has done for you in your own heart.  (Here at St. Catherine’s the Blessed Sacrament is exposed on Wednesday and Confession is available in the evening.)

Another way to grow closer to the mother of Jesus is to do a consecration or entrustment to her Immaculate Heart.  A consecration or entrustment means that something or someone is specially reserved for service to the Immaculate Heart.  Mother knows best, after all, and she knows how to make our gift most pleasing to the Baby Jesus.  Using sacramentals like a brown scapular or a miraculous medal or having a crucifix or picture of Jesus and Mary are other ways to consecrate ourselves to her heart.  St. Louis Marie de promoted that “To Jesus Through Mary” was the quickest way to holiness, to be saint! And of course, we can heed her call to pray the daily rosary as children of so great a mother with so loving a heart.

III.

Finally, let us imitate St. Joseph.  In the Gospels, Joseph was a righteous man who the Boy Jesus obeyed growing up in Nazareth.  Joseph too was righteous because he obeyed the 10 Commandments and followed God’s will through many trials.  Like him, let us too love God’s commandments and the precepts of the Church.  And just as Joseph was the silent strength and Guardian of the Redeemer and Protector of the Holy Family, we too, especially us men, are given an example of our call to defend and sacrifice.  [Depart from text with special appeal to men in congregation in light of current efforts to attack fatherhood and diabolical attempts to redefine the family according to God's plan for family.] His humility as the Patron of the Universal Church is also model for us to serve not just our families but those in need of help with not just words but with actions.  [One act of love surpasses a thousand eloquent words about love.]  Those of us who care for others that have no father figures, or those workers who provide food on the table, or caregivers of the poor and sick can follow Joseph the worker-carpenter.  St. Joseph is also called the Patron Saint of a Happy Death, which means that we can ask him for the grace to have a Christian death where we die in the state of grace.  It was said that both Jesus and Mary were present when Joseph died.  [Some mystics have said that Joseph’s dead body remains incorrupt and preserved over time in a hidden tomb under Bethlehem.]

In summary, we have looked at ways to imitate the Holy Family, Jesus, Mary and Joseph.  May we love them with tender heart-felt devotion in our own families, our parish family, and in the universal Family of God.  Let us ask for their intercession today and until the end of time.  Holy Family of Nazareth, pray for us.  Amen.

Homily #146: On Why It Is Necessary For Civilly-Married Catholics To Request Convalidation From the Church (Sermon for 14 Couples in Group Convalidation Ceremony)

(audio)

Dearly Beloved, as we gather on this glorious day, I’d like to tell this story. 

There was once a little girl walking home.  She looks down and sees a small teddy bear.  She picks up the toy and continues her walk.  As she walks, she meets Jesus.  And Jesus has a big smile.  He is also holding something behind his back. 

Jesus squats down to the little girl as says, “Beautiful child, what do you have there?”  She replies, “I found this toy on the ground.”  Jesus then says, “Can I make a trade?  I will take that little toy, and I will give you something even better.”

Not fully understanding why Jesus is asking this of her, she hesitates for a moment and says, “Do I have to?”  Jesus knows this, of course, and his smile becomes even larger.  He says, “Trust me.  My mother made it.  It’s my gift to you.”

Eventually, the little girl agrees to trade and finds out that she traded the small toy for an even larger teddy bear.  Then, seeing the love in his eyes for her, the little girl hugs him tightly and says, “I love it because the gift came from you, Jesus.”

Today, as we witness this great chapter of these couples convalidating their marriages in Jesus’ holy Catholic Church, Heaven too smiles down upon them.  But God does not give these servants of his just a large teddy bear behind his back, but rather God gives the gift of his very own divine life of grace, an abundance of grace overflowing and most pleasing to him that makes him smile, a total outpouring of blessing upon blessing not just upon the couple but upon their family tree.  In Heaven, we will one day see the beauty of their souls for saying “yes”.

In today’s First Reading from the Book of Genesis, it is written in the Word of God that the Lord cast a deep sleep on the man.  And while this man, Adam, was asleep, God removed one of ribs from his side, and from his side God formed the woman!  And the two become one flesh.  H’Adam exclaims, “Wow!  This at last is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh!”  Nothing else in creation is a suitable partner for me except this one!  She who will contribute to my salvation in this life and the next.  She shall be called woman.  Or as the Filipinos translate this Bible verse: “Ay, nako! Siya ay maganda!  Maganda!”  She’s beautiful.  God must be a genius!

And indeed so she is, but not just earthly beauty but more importantly maganda or beautiful in her soul.  She, like he, is filled with grace.  And there is nothin’ better in this life than being in the state of grace!  There’s no price you can put on that.  When we’re in the state of grace, eternal life in Heaven is ours as our inheritance. 

Marriage in the order of creation, in the beginning, was perfect with divine friendship.  Here, we see that God himself is the author of marriage, not the state.  The state did not create marriage.  It was not created by human beings but by God.  In the plan of the Creator, in the beginning, the two are one flesh.  There is a complementarity of the body. 

But, alas, as may know, Original Sin entered the world with the disobedience of Adam and Eve.  They lost grace and friendship with God.  Marriage therefore became under the regime of sin and marriage was in the grip of the evil one.

Yet, out of his great love, however, God sent his only begotten Son into the world to save us from our sins and to rise from the dead.  Jesus, the Second Adam, restored grace and friendship with God.  And like the First Adam, Jesus also slept, but when Jesus fell asleep, he slept the sleep of death…on the Cross.

Also, just as a rib came from the side of First Adam, so too the Second Adam, Jesus, the Son of God, was pierced on his side.  And out of Jesus’ side – his rib – flowed blood and water, which represent Baptism and the Eucharist.  Christ’s only suitable partner, the Church was given life at Christ’s side.  “Ang Simbahan ay Maganda.”  We, the Church, are His beautiful Bride!  As (the 2nd Reading from) the Book of Revelation Ch. 19 proclaims, “For the wedding day of the Lamb has come, his bride has made herself ready.  She was allowed to wear a bright, clean linen garment.  The linen garment represents the righteous deeds of the holy ones.”

And so we see why it is necessary for the baptized members of his holy catholic church to marry before the Church’s minister: to go to Heaven!  We do not want to have just human standards of what it means to be married, but rather we are what St. Paul calls being “marriage in the Lord.  In a few moments, you will be “married in the Lord” which is being “married in the Church.”  It is a marriage blessed and redeemed by Jesus Christ. 

I recently spoke to someone who had a convalidation done last year.  He said, QUOTE “I feel so happy.  I’m at peace with God.  My conscience is clear.  I can receive Communion now.” END QUOTE    This person saw how the Sacraments give grace to him.  God instituted marriage, but Jesus raised marriage a sacrament!  A sacrament is a sign instituted by Christ to give grace.  Repeat.  For those who are baptized and married in the Lord, it is not just 2 getting married, but now God is formally or officially included in the marriage.  Marriage is no longer a mere human contract for us in the Catholic Church, but marriage between two baptized persons in the Church is a true Sacrament of the New and Everlasting Covenant.  Whereas a civil contract is 50-50 and is give and take, a covenant is 100% where one gives to the other, just as Jesus gave himself 100% to the Church, and the Church gives 100% back to Jesus. 

Also, the presence of the Church’s minister and witnesses expresses that marriage is an ecclesial reality.  This is officially or formally an action of the Church.  Speaking of having correct form, this is the reason why the Church normally requires, if at least one person is Catholic, to marry according to form in the public liturgy of the Church (cf. Catechism 1630 ff).  Even though the rings will be blessed, the consent in your will is what makes the marriage.  The consent received by the Church’s minister is the official form.  The vows are formally received. 

You know, when one of the men here today that I was preparing was given the choice to move forward or not, he chose to convalidate.  I turned said to his bride, “He truly loves you for doing this.”  She replied, “Yes, I see it.”  She sees some good in this.  Some of the goods that come from a marrying in the Church are that the marriage is indissoluble which means that it is only dissolved with death.  Another good is fidelity of the couple, just as God is faithful to his people.  Another good is that it is open to life and love.  So all the paper work, all the Form As and Forms Bs that were completed, all the workshops and copies of this or that needed, all of those to prepare you for these goods of marriage.

In closing, let us turn to Our Blessing Mother Mary.  It was because of Mary that Jesus performed his first public miracle.  In moments when we have no wine of love, no wine of energy after a hard day’s work, no wine of sacrifice or wine or time or wine of finances to pay bills, say to her, “Mary, we have no wine.”  She will say, “Do whatever he tells you.”  Do whatever my Son Jesus tells you.  Then, may we have a childlike trust in Jesus who had even greater gifts to give us.  May Jesus continue to smile on us today, as we trust his plan for us, on our journey home to Heaven, to the marriage feast of the Lamb, where it is written, “Blessed are those who have been called to the wedding feast of the Lamb.”

My Dad's Christmas Visit 2018

Sample of My 9-Hour Sunday Mtg w/Parishioners for Marriages, Convalidations, Annulments, Sacramental Prep, Blessings (While Covering 3 Masses)

There are things that a deacon does outside of Mass that most people dont see. 

I can't get into specifics since I took an Oath of Confidentiality for some of these, but generally speaking this is how my Sunday looked.  This is not typical.

My purpose in writing this here is to encourage Catholics regularize an irregular situations where a marriage is not in good standing with the Church.

930am
Arrived with family in separate cars;
Helped visiting couples complete Form B for couples seeking convalidation; administered request for Dispensation for Catholic marrying non-Catholic which I later submitted to Tribunal

10am
Assisted visiting priest for Mass

1115-12pm
Signed Mass attendance cards for kids;
Prepared couple with their Form A seeking convalidation

12pm
Assisted another visiting priest for Mass

115-230pm
Signed Mass attendance cards (where I interact w young families);
Spoke to family of dad undergoing kidney dialysis;
Asssited RCIA marriage case of doubtful baptism and need to convalidate marriage before receiving Sacraments;
Asssited another parishioner filing a Lack of Form from previous civil marriage;
Counsled parishioner re: spiritual healing

3-430
Went home and ate late lunch;
Took care of kids

430
Departed for parish and waited for paperwork for civilly divorced couples seeking correct way to marry in Catholic Church

5pm
Assisted visiting priest at Mass

615-645
Spoke to former student about her mom's health/blessed her children;
Was asked to bless a car;
Ffup to listening to recently divorced man and counseled filing Lack of Form as well as ffup for baptizing his teenage son

7pm dinner w family followed by rosary

All Social Issues are Secondary to Priority #1 of Protecting Innocent Unborn Life in Womb Absolutely (Homily #145)

 

Audio for 12pm Mass

(8 minutes)

Audio for 5pm Mass

(9-10 mins)

Letter from parishioner to me about Homily #145b:

Was that you at 5 o’clock Mass On Sunday? I didn’t hear the introduction but I thought it was your voice. Although pro-life issues are pretty standard for sermons, I want to commend you on the presentation. The opening, relating the subject to voting, was powerful. But what I noted was the structure, the organization of this particular homily. The movement from point to point, the relationship between issues and comments, was noticeably good, better than many similar presentations. I looked for you after Mass, but it was dark. I was impressed, and so I need to comment on it. 

- M. 

Homily #145

All Social Issues are Secondary to the Number #1 Priority of

Protecting Innocent Unborn Life in the Womb Absolutely

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time

November 3, 2018

In leadership theory for time management, Stephen Covey distinguishes between something that is “important” versus something that is a “priority.”  Something may be important, but it is not a priority.   In other words, something that is important but not a priority does not need our attention right now.

In today’s Gospel, similarly, a scholar of the law asks Jesus which commandment is the priority over all the important commandments.  While all commandments are important for this scribe, some commandments were simply a priority over others.  Jesus summarized the priority as, first, love of God and then, second, love of neighbor.  Our Lord said, “There is no other commandment greater than these.” 

Love of God summarizes Commandments #1-3.  Love of neighbor summarizes Commandments 4 thru 10.  It’s by loving God first and foremost that we can then properly love our neighbor in an ordered way.  Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (cf. Proverbs 9) and right ordering of priorities.  It is written in today’s First Reading from the Book of Deuteronomy, “Fear the Lord, your God, and keep…all his statutes and commandments.”  If love of God is not in our hearts first, then the next priority about a correct love of neighbor will not make sense. 

Having reflected on love of God as the first priority, let us now look at love of neighbor.  Today, within the important social issues for love of neighbor, there is a hierarchy or similar ranking of social issues that are the priority.  This ranking by Jesus is important for us people of faith because this Tuesday is Election Day.  It is necessary for us to have a proper formation of conscience informed by the great Catholic social doctrine of the Church.  This is not partisian politics but just good theology and the sound moral teaching of the Church that comes from Christ.  While the Church does not publicly endorse specific candidates for office, the Church still has the duty to speak on moral issues that affect the salvation of souls. 

Thus, while the many moral social issues are important, many of them are not the priority.  This is called the Principle of the Hierarchy of Truths.  Just as Jesus taught in today’s Gospel that there is a ranking or hierarchy or correct order of moral truths, where God comes first and neighbor comes second, so too there are social issues today that are ranked more important than others.  According to Pope St. John Paul II in his encyclical letter The Gospel of Life (Evangelium Vitae), “First and fundamental among these is the inviolable right to life of every innocent human being” (EV 71.3).  To correctly love our neighbor, the highest priority above other important social issues is the absolute protection of innocent human life.  The key words here are absolute and innocent.  Absolute means 100% or no exceptions—all or nothin’.  Our own Declaration of Independence states that we hold these truths to be self-evident and that the Creator endows inalienable rights, among which life is listed as first, followed by liberty and happiness second.

It is not just simply human life that should be protected, but innocent human life that should be protected.  And not only is innocent human life protected, the Church teaches that innocent human life must be protected absolutely (cf. EV 54).  Absolutely means always and everywhere.  It is a moral absolute, not relative, under no circumstance may it be violated.  It is intrinsically evil, in and of itself.

Thus, all social issues are secondary to the number one priority of protecting innocent unborn life in the womb.  There are other important social issues, but these do not involve intrinsic evil and are not absolute.  Rather, they require what is called “prudential judgment” that depends on the circumstances or grey areas.  That is why they are secondary.  Prudential judgment social issues are definitely lower in rank and priority than the first priority of protecting the rights of innocent human life in the womb.  Prudential judgment is about the best decision where reasonable people can reasonably disagree.  While there are important social issues where Catholics may legitimately disagree with each other, there are priorities where all Catholics cannot support the harming of innocent human life in the womb.

Jesus said that when we receive these little ones in His name, we receive Him and the One who sent Him.  But if we reject these little ones, we reject Jesus and the One who sent Him.  St. Mother Teresa, the great servant of the poorest of the poor, used her hands to remember Christ’s words: You. Did. It. To. Me.  She also said that world peace begins in the womb when she received the Nobel Peace Prize.  For a resource on what you can do for the least vulnerable go to PriestsForLife.org.

In closing, normally, Jesus is harsh with the scribes and Pharisees, but to this scribe that had the right ordering of priorities Jesus praises as being not far from the kingdom.  May we too be like this scribe and love God first and then love our neighbor second.  And when we do love our neighbor, let us prioritize our neighbor’s right to life, from womb to tomb.  May the words of the Responsorial Psalm be ours, too: “I love you, Lord, my strength.”  O Mary, mother of the Baby Jesus, obtain for us the grace to receive the Gospel of Life anew.  Amen.

My Daughter Crowned Our Lady

Baptism of 2 Babies

Please pray for:

(96) Jackson
(97) Kainoa

who were baptized on Oct. 14, 2018.

Photos dated 12/18/2018:

RIP Bishop Richard J. Garcia of Monterey, California

Marriage of Qhianna Sanchez to Ariel Herrera

Pray For Priestly Vocations During Dark Time in the Church (Homily #144)

"Nine Baptized into the Royal Tribe of Christ" (Homily #143)

(photo by Eliza Grace Perez)

 

We lift up the following newly baptized:

87 Zachary

88 Jacob

89 Emani Daniel

90 Marolina Rose

91 Jordan Elijah

92 Xaris Rafaelle

93 Khalen Rhys

94 Aaliyah

95 Arianna

w/family of Baby Xaris

(courtesy of Carlo Perez)

"3 Ways Christ Heals Scandalized Ears & Tongues: Ephphatha! (Be Opened!)" [Homily #142]

(artwork source: studylight.org)

10am (audio)

Sat., 5pm (audio)

Homily #142: “3 Ways Christ Heals Scandalized Ears & Tongues: Ephphatha!”
23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
by Deacon Dennis Purificacion
St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church
Vallejo, CA, USA
Sept. 8-9, 2018

In today’s Gospel, Jesus healed a deaf man who could not speak.  He placed his finger in the deaf man’s ears.  And, spitting, touched the man’s tongue.  Jesus then said, “Ephphatha!” which means “Be opened!” 

Jesus touches our ears and tongues today.  Today, Jesus’s Catholic Church is experiencing an ongoing scandal, not just by some members of the body, but also by some members of the head of the body or the leadership.  During these trying times for the Church, many Catholics can easily be disillusioned into leaving the Church.  Or we can also be discouraged by news that stains the Church of which we are a member.  I mean, that fact that you are here at Mass supporting a Catholic institution makes you suspect in the eyes of the world.  Jesus heals in many ways, but I am going to focus on how Jesus heals through 3 [spiritual] ways during time of scandal:

I.

First, Christ himself heals though his word.  [He says,] “Ephphatha.”  For us Catholics who dearly love the Church and whose ears cannot bear what we hear in the media or whose tongues are made silent and left speechless, when we do not know what to say in the face of such evil, Jesus' healing words such as “ephphatha” are all the more true today.  [It is easy to fear what is happening today, but] as it is written in today’s First Reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, “Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong; fear not!  Here is your God!”  Daily reading of the Word of God keeps our mind focused on Christ the Healer. 

So, even in the darkness Christ shines brightly.  He himself prepared us for failure of [some in] church leadership.  Failure is nothing new in Church history, beginning with the 12 Apostles like Judas Iscariot.  Of course, this is not to make excuses for the victims of abuse, but rather with all the scandals and hurts that you and I may have experienced or seen or heard, whether true or unfounded, a simple message of hope emerges for all of us today: Do not abandon Jesus because of Judas!  Do not abandon the Church because of the successors of Judas!  Do not abandon God and the Sacraments because minsters of God in highest levels of responsibility have failed.  Remember, among the chosen 12 Apostles closest to Jesus, one who shared in the very ranks of Apostolic authority, one who had the power to perform miracles and heal in His name, betrayed Jesus and scandalized others.  And every age experiences failure.  Such is a time that we live in at the moment.

But we are Catholic because of Jesus, not because of the fallen members of the Church.  We are Catholic not because of church leadership, but we are Catholic because of Jesus.  We are Catholic not because of cardinals, priests and bishops, but we are Catholic because of Jesus.  We are Catholic not because of lay parish leaders who have hurt us (or given a bad name to the Catholic faith), but we are Catholic because of Jesus.  We are Catholic because of Him who is Love Incarnate!

II.

And speaking of priests, this leads to my second point: Jesus heals us through his faithful priests— his faithful priests.  Remember, out of 12 Apostles, 11 of them were faithful (and became saints).  Jesus says “ephphatha” over our scandalized ears and silent tongues through his faithful priests and ministers.  Today, 99% of our priests have been faithful.  [Update: For the USA, the percent of fidelity is in the upper 90-percentile range.  Note: CARA studies here and here.]  Thank you, Fathers, for your fidelities and sacrifices for us.  You know, it's said that priests are like airplanes.  When they fly no one hears anything, but when they crash and burn it’s all over the news.  We thank God for our faithful shepherds and pray God increases their holiness and service to the truth, so that the truth may be revealed through honesty and transparency as a response (cf. Bishop Jaime Soto statement), the truth that heals and sets us free, truth in charity, truth in love for the flock.  

III.

This leads to the third main point: Christ says “ephphatha” today through Mary and the saints.  Mary is both Mother and the first model disciple.  Entrust and consecrate ourselves to her and her Immaculate Heart, a Heart which the Bible says was pierced with a sword.  And pray the rosary.  She said, “In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph.” During the darkest times in the Church history (whenever scandal arose), God always sent saints to heal and reform His Church.  St. John Paul II, for example, who experienced both Nazi and Communist occupation in Poland said, “Do not be afraid!”  [This was his way to say “Ephphatha!”]  The 14-year-old Bl. Jose Sanchez de Rio’s last words before he gave up his life for Christ in Mexico were “Viva Cristo Rey!” (Long Live Christ the King!).  Mother Teresa said if we want to change the world, well go home and love your family.  And Ven. Abp. Fulton Sheen said, “Who is going to rescue the Church?  It’s not the bishops and the priests; it’s the laity who will help the Church.”  [Be a saint!]  Help the Church by being holy, by being in state of grace, by living in the state of divine friendship with Jesus your Love. 

Deacon Bobby Peregrino (one of my brother deacons) said, “Most…are aware of the ongoing scandal the Church is dealing with.  That is why more than ever, we are all called to greater holiness so that the Church will be judged not with its sinners but with its Saints.”  [*holiness that surpasses even the holiness of the saints of the past!]  I remember a conversation between a cradle Catholic & and new Catholic convert from RCIA.  The life-long cradle Catholic said, “I feel sorry for the new Catholics coming into the Church right now.”  But the newly baptized Catholic convert replied, “This makes we want to help the Church even more!  I want to be part of the solution.”  This new Catholic convert says “ephphatha” and not to abandon our Mother the Church in her hour of crucifixion.

So in summary, how are we to respond to scandal?  The three points [based] from today’s Gospel:  (1) First, Jesus himself heals through his word in Sacred Scripture: “Ephaphatha!” (so do not abandon Jesus and His Bride, the Church); (2) second, Jesus heals through his faithful priests; and (3) third, Jesus heals though Our Lady and his saints, including the laity.  We, too, are called to be instruments of Christ’s healing [as laity].  May Jesus open our ears and heal our tongues today, and may Jesus Christ always be the light during all forms of darkness out in the world and even within the ranks of the Church.  “Here is your God, coming with his vindication.  Look and behold the saving power of God.”  [Amen.]

Annual Deacon Retreat

Deacon Dennis Gorsuch, St. Claire's Church, Roseville, CA leads Benediction

 

I enjoyed a needed retreat with fellowship and community prayer time with my brothers and sisters in the diaconate community.

The first day was devoted to time with the Blessed Sacrament.  This is the other "Deacon Dennis" in the Diocese of Sacramento.  Here he is blessing us with the Blessed Sacrament.  Yes, his name is Dennis like me.

I remember lunch with Deacon Dennis and a certain Deacon Carl who was proud to tell me about his father who died in the Battle of the Philippines in World War II.  Deacon Dennis Gorsuch and I would joke with each other about how great a name we have in common.

The speaker for the retreat mentioned 3 areas of healing needed today in our time of scandal.

He focused on healing for the traditional 3 vows in the Church: healing sins against poverty; healing sins of abuse of power and cover-ups (which is related to why we have a vow of obedience); and healing for sins against chastity or celibacy.

I walked away from the weekend hoping to use the same talking points one day.

I am grateful the speaker acknowledged the crisis in the Church in his talk.  For me, since it was a big elephant in the room.

If he didn't say anything about the growing scandals, I personally would have perceived him as being part of the systemic problem so was grateful he said something.

Later that weekend, the Vigano bombshell happened.  In the past, I have done my utmost to avoid using my phone on retreats, but I didn't this weekend.  Something of this magnitude could not be ignored.

I couldn't not follow what was happening.  I think any clergy or Catholic for that matter not following the Vigano case in the capacity that they are able is either in indifferent denial or deliberately complicit.  There is no middle ground.

But back to more local matters.  This is a handful of the Solano deacons group.  Deacon Bobby Peregrino was elected on the diocesan deacons' council.

And here's a random photo with some of my classmates from the Class of 2014.

Right to left: Deacon Mark Honrick; Deacon Juan Moreno; Deacon David Leatherby, Jr.; and then there's me on the left.

Deacon Leatherby is part of the Leatherby Creamery family.  You can visit any one of his branches HERE.  I enjoy their crab sandwich, along with their ice cream.

I finished this book about military chaplains during the retreat.  

I am reading the one on Fr. Emil Kapuan now.

I am grateful for my time on this retreat.

Blog Name Change to "Queen's Servant"

Hail, Majesty, Queen of Heaven and Earth!!!!

Hail, our life, our sweetness and our hope!

Hail, Mother of Jesus!

* * *

For many months now, I have thought about changing the name of this blog site from "Mary's Deacon" to "Queen's Servant".  The website will remain the same, but the title change will take place.

This shift will emphasize the Queen's role and even downplay my own as her unworthy servant.  "Deacon" is commonly translated as "Servant."

Part of what motivated this came from listening to Bl. Anne Catherine Emmerich's "The Life of the Blessed Virgin Mary," especially her vision of Mary's coronation.

I credit my unworthy admission to the Order of Deacon to Mary.  I have not been a zealous son.  But the little I do is consecrated to her.

* * *

I am all thine, my Queen and my Mother, and all that I have is thine.

Brought Holy Communion to Hospital-Confined Mother Who Just Gave Birth

(photo courtesy of parents of Baby Joan Miriam; used with permission)

The Eucharist was so important for this couple.   

Even after going through the hardships of childbirth, they wanted the Bread of Life.

In the days of the early Church, the Eucharist was brought to those who were confined.

The Catholic Church continues this practice.

The readings from Sunday Mass (Ordinary Form in Roman Rite) were from Jn. 6.

In John 6, Jesus taught about feeding with His flesh. 

On this historic day, I also offered a few words 

Perhaps Baby Joan will one day see this post when she is an adult and know her parents' witness.

While with the couple, I told them that Jesus was present and shared their joys and trials.

The Church shares in the ups and downs of young families.

The item around my neck contained a "pyx" which holds the Blessed Eucharist.

After finishing the Communion of the Sick in Ordinary Circumstances, I then used a brief blessing for mothers after childbirth from the Book of Blessings.

* * *

On the way to the hospital, I actually passed by a local abortion clinic in my car.  As a deacon, blessings can be imparted as permitted by Church law.  So I made the Sign of the Cross over the abortion clinic with the Blessed Sacrament in the pyx and sung Tantum Ergo.   My hope was that conversions would take place.  

I was on my way to celebrate new life, by bringing the Bread of Life, and praying that an institution that kills new life may be brought to Him who is the Way, the Truth and the Life.  Choose life!

Then, on my way from the hospital to my car, a lady told me that her husband was in the hospital.  I then said a prayer with some words of comfort and then gave her a blessing.  In retrospect, I wish I had recommended the Chaplet of Mercy to her.

I am grateful for this opportunity to serve this unassuming family in their great moment of childbirth.

I remember my own experiences of having to stay at the hospital and how, on more than one occasion, as a new dad, I had difficulty getting someone to bring us Holy Communion to my wife who had requested the Eucharist.

Not all hospitals have chaplain services aware of what to do for Catholics, and the Catholic chaplain, if any, was not always readily available.  My wife and I once had a Baptist chaplain sent to our room out of what I guess was a misunderstanding on the part of the hospital staff.  

We repeatedly asked for a Catholic to bring us Holy Communion, and we were explicit in saying that the person didn't need to be a priest.  We just needed the Eucharist for the day, as we were in the state of grace and didn't need Confession at that moment.  

Out of 6 childbirth experiences, the 6th childbirth was when a priest was actually available, but for the other 5 childbirths the Catholics that brought us Holy Communion from the local parishes were lay people.

While deacons and commissioned laity can bring the Eucharist to the sick and homebound, the two sacraments that only a priest may administer are Anointing of the Sick and Confession.  These are gifts.  My wife received all three before the birth of our 6th child.  

I was grateful for the gift of the Eucharist, even on the journey of being confined in a hospital labor and delivery room.  As Jesus said, "I am with you always until the end of the world."  He is with us always and most especially in hospitals throughout the world through the Sacraments.

* * *

I hope our industrialized society has a greater understanding that when a woman delivers, there is a period of healing that needs to take place with her body.  She is not lickity-split ready to be her ol'chippery self as if it's business as usual.  Childbirth is taxing on a woman's body.

There is a certain wisdom with the Sacramental life of the Church.  And especially in the cases of labor, delivery and post-delivery care, the Sacraments strengthen and remind us that Jesus is present all the more during the mystery of the birth of a child.

* * *  

Thank you, Baby Joan, for letting me and Jesus's Church be part of your family history.

May you be a great saint in Our Heavenly Father's Kingdom!