July 31, 2010
Happy St. Ignatius of Loyola Day.
One thought from the writings of Iggy the Basque Founder of the Jesuits:
He might ask you if you have a made a good Examination of Conscience Today?
How to do that?
1) Give thanks to God for the benefits received
2) Ask for the grace to know your sins and rid yourself of them
3) Give an account of your soul from the time you got up until the moment of the examen
4) Ask for pardon for your faults
5) Resolve, with God's grace, to do better.
...say an Our Father
I had to cut loose the person with whom I was negotiating the possibility of aThift Shoppe. I thought, at first, we had reached an agreement but further waiting and waiting and waiting and...a delay in receiving a copy of the lease just began to give me a bad feeling. Then, because of the wait, a thrift shop opens across the street from our convent. I don't want to be in competition with anyone. Now it's a wait and see game.
Sometimes obstacles are for a purpose and this trial will lead us somewhere, I am certain. In Spanish they say, vamos a ver, i.e., we'll see.
I still need one more volunteer Math teacher. Just asking for one and a half hours weekly for some advanced math work in the eighth grade. One day, morning, one and a half hours. To share with others what God has given to you.
Pax et Bonum!
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
July20, 2010
In my 37 years as a priest I have often dealt with the scrupulous conscience, particularly in the Sacrament of Penance. It is a difficult spiritual/psychological issue to deal with. Our seminary directors always gave us clear and precise ways of help the obssessively scupulous individual.
Recently I have been bothered by some thoughts that may be flirting with scrupulosity. Maybe this is so as I grow older and move closer to eternity. That means that sooner or later (and I hope it is later) I am going to die.
Here is what spiked my spiritual concerns. Recently as I was celebrating Mass, I carefully, as I always do, held the Sacred Host at the consecration of the Mass. Suddenly I wondered about the miracle of the Bleeding Host which happened centuries ago. Then I became concerned - have I ever celebrated Mass in a state of serious sin - I hope not!!! But have I!!! And if I did, what did that do to my soul? This is serious stuff, I am thinking. I shuddered at the very thoughts that I was having and how unworthy I am to stand at the altar and celebrate the Eucharist.
Every priest is unworthy. Vessels of clay, men called from among men, and sinful men at that, like the apostles, to celebrate from the rising of the sun to its setting these sacred mysteries.
Just before receiving Holy Comunion at Mass, the priest has a private communion prayer to recite in a low voice. It is his personal preparation. I have been given to also recite an Act of Contrition at that moment as well. My belief - an ancient one of the Church - is that if I have a serious sin my sincere Act of Contrition will deliver me from any perilous spiritual condition.
Priest of God, celebrate this Mass as it were your first Mass, your last Mass, your only Mass.
Pax et Bonum
In my 37 years as a priest I have often dealt with the scrupulous conscience, particularly in the Sacrament of Penance. It is a difficult spiritual/psychological issue to deal with. Our seminary directors always gave us clear and precise ways of help the obssessively scupulous individual.
Recently I have been bothered by some thoughts that may be flirting with scrupulosity. Maybe this is so as I grow older and move closer to eternity. That means that sooner or later (and I hope it is later) I am going to die.
Here is what spiked my spiritual concerns. Recently as I was celebrating Mass, I carefully, as I always do, held the Sacred Host at the consecration of the Mass. Suddenly I wondered about the miracle of the Bleeding Host which happened centuries ago. Then I became concerned - have I ever celebrated Mass in a state of serious sin - I hope not!!! But have I!!! And if I did, what did that do to my soul? This is serious stuff, I am thinking. I shuddered at the very thoughts that I was having and how unworthy I am to stand at the altar and celebrate the Eucharist.
Every priest is unworthy. Vessels of clay, men called from among men, and sinful men at that, like the apostles, to celebrate from the rising of the sun to its setting these sacred mysteries.
Just before receiving Holy Comunion at Mass, the priest has a private communion prayer to recite in a low voice. It is his personal preparation. I have been given to also recite an Act of Contrition at that moment as well. My belief - an ancient one of the Church - is that if I have a serious sin my sincere Act of Contrition will deliver me from any perilous spiritual condition.
Priest of God, celebrate this Mass as it were your first Mass, your last Mass, your only Mass.
Pax et Bonum
Sunday, July 18, 2010
July 18, 2010
It has been a month since my last blog.
On a number of occasions I was to sit down and "blog on", but then I got distracted and...
Well, here is some cautiously good news. The Thrift Shoppe may be, and I say "may be", closer to a reality. The landlady seems willing to come down $300. on the monthly rental fee. If her accountant is in agreement, the real estate office for the archdiocese will review the lease and give us the green light. I am cautiously hopeful. Prayers, please.
One person has stepped forword to volunteer for an advanced math program for our school children. I need another one or two volunteers. We are just looking for 0ne and a half hours a week, during school time, morning. This could benefit our students greatly. We are very heavy on programs for the slower students. We have nothing for an advanced child. And there are no funds to hire more personnel. Think of this as a way of giving back to God what God has given to you.
This is a special week for us at SMT. The Gospel Roads program by the Salesians begins today. These youth workers will be with us all week ministering to the poor, children, the handicapped, homeless, and doing some habitat. Please pray for them that they be safe in their work and their prayer. We are excited. They have dinner each night here at SMT. Stop by and say Hi and bring a dessert. These are really nice kids.
Finally, the men's group faithfully meets every Wednesday in the rectory at 7:15. They end promptly at 9:00. Come on out. Weekly attendance is not required. Just come in at will and join some guys who talk about God. By the way, these men are ordinary men, not overly pious, not wearing their faith on their sleeves. Just men being men in the best possible way. And I am grateful to some of these guys who will help with dinner for the Gospel Roads kids on Tuesday night.
Pray for me please.
Pax et Bonum
It has been a month since my last blog.
On a number of occasions I was to sit down and "blog on", but then I got distracted and...
Well, here is some cautiously good news. The Thrift Shoppe may be, and I say "may be", closer to a reality. The landlady seems willing to come down $300. on the monthly rental fee. If her accountant is in agreement, the real estate office for the archdiocese will review the lease and give us the green light. I am cautiously hopeful. Prayers, please.
One person has stepped forword to volunteer for an advanced math program for our school children. I need another one or two volunteers. We are just looking for 0ne and a half hours a week, during school time, morning. This could benefit our students greatly. We are very heavy on programs for the slower students. We have nothing for an advanced child. And there are no funds to hire more personnel. Think of this as a way of giving back to God what God has given to you.
This is a special week for us at SMT. The Gospel Roads program by the Salesians begins today. These youth workers will be with us all week ministering to the poor, children, the handicapped, homeless, and doing some habitat. Please pray for them that they be safe in their work and their prayer. We are excited. They have dinner each night here at SMT. Stop by and say Hi and bring a dessert. These are really nice kids.
Finally, the men's group faithfully meets every Wednesday in the rectory at 7:15. They end promptly at 9:00. Come on out. Weekly attendance is not required. Just come in at will and join some guys who talk about God. By the way, these men are ordinary men, not overly pious, not wearing their faith on their sleeves. Just men being men in the best possible way. And I am grateful to some of these guys who will help with dinner for the Gospel Roads kids on Tuesday night.
Pray for me please.
Pax et Bonum
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