Dad’s Lenten Blog

Thoughts during Lent

Category: Lenten Thoughts

  • Waiting

    Something struck me at Mass on Sunday. It was the Transfiguration gospel. It was when at that when at the top of the mountain Elijah and Moses appeared in front of Jesus, they began to speak to each other.

    We are not told of the conversation.

    Here’s the thing. There were no mortal souls in heaven. Every human being ever born from the beginning of time was waiting for the Resurrection of Jesus to enter to heaven. There is only one way to heaven and that is through Jesus Christ.  So all the souls of those who had  departed the earth were waiting , anticipating, hoping and I have to believe, praying. 

    So what could’ve been this conversation between Moses and Elijah and Jesus? Neither Moses or Elijah were in heaven. They must’ve known that Jesus’s mission was unfolding. That heavens gate would soon be opened.

    There was a famous visionary named Anne Catherine Emmerick in the 17th century who is had visions of the Passion of Christ. Much of Mel Gibson’s movie was based on those visions. 

    In one story I had read, Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane and, as we all know, in great anguish of about what was going to happen.

    She described her vision and said, “Jesus, in his great agony, turned and saw the multitude of souls on their knees, praying for Him.” I don’t know why that is always stuck with me when I picture Him there in the garden, but it has. He knew He would be abandoned by his closest friends and followers. The pain and burden about to placed on Him. Maybe that sight fortified Him in some way. 

    How many hundreds or thousands of years were those souls anticipating this moment not fully understanding its magnitude. From the simplest of people to the great prophets. Maybe Jesus told Moses and Elijah to go back and tell all the souls to prepare.?

    Where did Jesus go for three days between His death and Resurrection? We say, in the Creed, that after his death, he descended into hell. But it is not the hell of eternal damnation. It was the dwelling place for  those souls. 

    All the souls who had been waiting. 

  • What is that feeling?

    It’s not something you can really describe to someone. 

    The moment you receive Absolution from the priest in confession. 

    When he says ” and your sins are forgiven, in the name of the Father and the Son and Holy Spirit, Amen ” 

    Something changes inside of you. Is it a lightness? A feeling of gratefulness maybe?   A sense of peace?  But whatever it is, it is very real. 

    We call it a “Signal Grace”, because it is a clear and present sign of Christ in our lives. It’s not a physical sign, no, but every bit as much real. 

    We confess our sins. But it is not the “Sacrament of Confession”. It is the Sacrament of Reconciliation. I love that notion. It is our choice to sin, the things we have done or failed to do. And sin separates us from God. We all know that feeling. When your prayer life is low, when you just can’t seem to say a prayer. You go through the motions. 

    That’s why I love the beauty of reconciliation. By seeking out the confessional we are the ones who are trying to reconcile our lives with Him. Isn’t it amazing that He is always waiting for us, with open arms, with joy that we returned.

    I think that is why we have that feeling afterwards, we can feel His joy.

    One of my greatest memories is watching each of you go to confession and come out, one by one “with souls as white as snow” !!  Smiles all around. 

  • Lost and Found

    So many of us have them. 

    Stories.

    How did St Anthony help you.

    It seems on its face like superstition. But when you are in the moment. There is no superstition. Just anxiousness or desperation. You see, St Anthony is the patron saint of lost things. He is also patron of many other things including pregnant women, the elderly, the poor, and fisherman! But ever since I can remember my Mom always said if you lose something, ask St Anthony to pray for you. Ask his help! And if my mom or Dad lost something, always we prayed to St. Anthony.

    I have many stories of St Anthony and I know you have heard them multiple times. I have two for you today.

    When i was around 18 0r 19 I went to NYC on the train. I borrowed my dad’s Long Island Railroad Monthly Pass to take the train on a Friday night. But it was the first of the month and in those days it was a paper pass. I got home that night and when I woke up I realized I had lost my wallet. All my money and Dad’s pass. He was furious. It was a months $$ worth of  travel. I spent the next three days praying that maybe someone on the train would have turned it in. To no avail.  I went to church and knelt in front of the St Anthony statue and begged him for his help.   A day or so later, I’ll never forget,  my Mom called me and said that the mail had come. Someone put the wallet in a mailbox and it was mailed home. Pass and all. Coincidence? Maybe. But I knew St Anthony came through.

    I just turned 26 and was in Charleston working for the SBA after Hurricane Hugo. At that time there were no computers. I had a address book, like everybody else. In it, was all the contacts I had in my life. All my business leads, my family and friends, addresses and phone numbers. It also worked as my wallet, holding cash and a credit card.

    I had been in Charleston for 3 months and was coming home to Long Island for Christmas. I went to the mall to shop for some gifts. Somewhere that day, I had lost my address book. I freaked out. There was no backup. A disaster.

    I searched everyplace. Nothing. 

    From the moment I lost it and knew that it was gone, I started asking St. Anthony for his help. Every day. All day, I prayed.

    Imagine losing all of your contacts at once, with no hope of getting them back.

    The day before I was going home I called my Mom. I hadn’t said anything to my parents about this. She said to me “By the way, did you lose an address book?” 

    My heart just froze.

    “Yes!!!!! I lost it in Charleston!” Then Mom said “Well, some man called your Grandpa in Florida and said he found it in a parking lot and  it had a phone number for “Gramps” and would it be OK if he mailed it to my Grandpa.” My grandfather of course said yes.

    I could not believe it. I was so happy, relieved, thankful. 

    When I got home I got the package containing my address book from Gramps!!!!!! Credit card and money too.

    Though this particular story is long, its OK. It’s meant to be.

    You see, God’s graces come to us in many ways and many times through His saints. Maybe its just a little test of our faith? Little miracles often open our hearts.

    My middle name is Anthony. My Grandpa’s name is Anthony. And where did the package come from  Saint Antonio, Tx.

  • Front of the Line

    Sometime ago  I was  told the story of a woman who had visions while she was in Mass. She could see all the supernatural things happening as the Mass went on. Well, as you know, this is one persons experience and we do not have to believe it. But something she saw really affected me.

    It was during the Presentation of the Gifts. When the bread and wine and the offerings are brought to the priest. Of course we are usually singing the Offertory Hymn.

    But it was in this moment that she saw something extraordinary. Directly behind the people who bring up the gifts was a line of many, many angelic figures. It was the Guardian Angel of every person in that church.

    In the front of the line, a handful of these angels were joyful and looking towards the altar. In their hands were golden chalices. In those chalices were gifts of prayers and petitions of those individuals in their care that were in the church that offered them at this Mass. As the passed, the angels placed their chalices at the foot of the altar.

    In the middle of the line, were another handful of angels walking up to the altar. In their hands were much smaller chalices, likewise containing prayers. Their faces were stern as they looked toward the altar. As they passed, they too, placed their small chalices at the foot of the altar.

    In the back of the line is where most of the angels were. Something looked very different about them. They were empty handed. Their heads looked down ,with sadness, to the ground as they passed by the altar with nothing to offer.

    You see, the first Guardian Angels had chalices filled with prayers and petitions to offer Our Lord. The second group with smaller chalices only had a few tokens of prayer and petitions. But at least there was something. Then the last group, the bigger group, they had nothing to offer.

    How did this affect me? It was pretty profound! And I will say that, at almost every Mass now I will always try to tell my Guardian Angel to for offer this to Jesus. First, I thank God for all my blessings, which includes all of you.  Second, I try to recall my sins and ask for forgiveness. Third, I pray for or ask for whatever intentions are on my mind. And Fourth, I resolve to do better! And then I ask my Angel to place those on the altar.

    This just takes a few moments, and it has the effect of settling me into the Mass. Sometimes I’m distracted and forget and then the Offertory starts and I try to do a quick one. ( no ones perfect :-). 

    Whether it is truly happening or not, I just love the thought that my Guardian Angel is at the front of that line.

  • High up on the Altar

    Next time you go into Church take a close look at the altar. We are so fortunate that our Catholic Churches are usually filled with so many beautiful objects, paintings and windows. But take a look at the altar. What do you notice?

    In every church the altar is the centerpiece. All things seem to move toward it. It’s just a table where we celebrate Mass, right? No, it’s much more than that and there’s no better time than Lent to think about it. 

    For thousands of years since Moses led the Jews out of Egypt, the Jewish people would sacrifice an unblemished lamb during Passover. In the temple, the lamb was slaughtered on an altar. Afterward, the lamb would be eaten along with unleavened bread and wine, celebrating redemption and deliverance

    Sounding familiar?

    The altar in our Catholic faith is the centerpiece of Holy Mass. Why? Because on it we can participate in the sacrifice of Jesus. He does not go through His Passion again, no, in an incredible and supernatural way we get to be there with Him as if it were happening at that moment. His sacrifice of his body and blood on the altar at Mass is real. Instead of being delivered from captors, we are delivered from our sins.

    There is no statue, or sculpture, or painting, or stained glass window that can replicate the shear awe and beauty of that moment when, at the altar, the priest consecrates mere bread and wine into the Lamb of God. 

  • Now that is a sacrifice.

    I have always wondered about St Peter. Being a husband, a father and a provider I have always questioned how he could do it. The real sacrifice he had to make.

    I have always struggled, admired, contemplated and reflected on Saint Peter’s decision. So without quoting scripture, the story goes that he was out fishing all night and caught nothing. We fisherman know how that feels. And so he brings his boat ashore and is most likely putting up all of his equipment. And then Jesus walks up, looks at him and tells him to put out a little and put your nets in. If I was Peter, I would be like “I’m exhausted, there is no bite, I wanna go home and sleep!” But of course, Jesus must’ve been very convincing. So Peter obeyed him and put his nets back out. You know the story, the nets filled with so many fish that it almost sunk the boat.

    But it’s what happens next. Saint Peter recognizes that Jesus is something beyond words, something truly holy. “Depart from me Lord, for I am a sinful man.” These were Peter’s words. Jesus didn’t choose a highly exalted righteous educated man. He chose this working man, more than likely, rough around the edges. 

    “Come, follow me…. and I will make you a fisher of men.” And so Peter left his boat and nets and everything behind and followed him. Wait a minute…… what??? He left everything he worked for his whole life,  he left his wife and maybe his children??? His friends??  His home?? 

    Now that is a big decision. I can’t imagine the sacrifice. Not just for him but also his family. But I always come back to this. That sacrifice beared so much fruit. That “Yes, I will follow you”, though it must have been so hard, resulted in the foundation for Christ’s church on earth. So in your lives remember that even the smallest sacrifices will bear fruit whether you see it or not! 

    St Peter, Pray for Us!!

  • The Devil’s Advocate

    “Let me play the Devil’s Advocate.” Has that come up in a conversation?? I’m sure it has at some point. Taking the opposing side in an argument to make your point. It’s part of our vernacular now. While you guys were all growing up, I’m sure I brought this fun fact out at some point

    Every single person who lived on earth and made it to heaven is a saint. We are all called to be Saints. You’ve heard that your whole life. 

     But the church recognizes that a very few people have etched out lives of extraordinary heroic virtue that they can be declared a saint in heaven.    (Think Mother Theresa)

    For the church to recognize a saint in heaven. That person’s life must undergo the most incredible amount of scrutiny as well assistance of the supernatural (In the form of miracles) for the church to declare that a person is actually in heaven, which is sainthood.

    So, the Church in Her wisdom goes out and finds the most educated, holy, experienced, intelligent, priest or layperson from anywhere in the world. That person must be beyond reproach. Then the Church appoints that person as the Devil’s Advocate. Their role, almost like a prosecutor, is to prove that the person is not in heaven and therefore is not a saint. The positive proof must be overwhelming enough that the Devil’s Advocate cannot prove their case.

    It could take decades for the work to be done. Mother Theresa, was short at 19 years. Pope John Paul II set the record at 9 years. Why is this even important? Because the Church doesn’t create saints, God does. The Church just recognizes them. Of course, we don’t worship saints in heaven, we ask for their prayers. The Church doesn’t take that lightly! The wonderful thing about Cause for Sainthood, the process inside the Church which is some 1200 yrs old, is that all the cases are incredibly well documented, and most cases are truly amazing. 

  • That little red light

    I’m pretty sure no one every told me what the little red light next to the altar meant.  As much as my Dad loved talking about our faith, I don’t think that ever come up.  

    Somewhere along the line,  I learned that when you go to church before you go into your pew. You genuflect. Bend the right knee and bless yourself.  I kind of thought it was a sign of respect or tradition. 

    Then, as an adult I really read into the history and set up of the church and specifically the altar. That’s when it came together for me. 

    You see, when that little red light is on next to the altar, it means the Holy Eucharist is present in the tabernacle. 

    Now maybe, and I hope, all of you know, and recognize this, but to me it was an epiphany. I connected the dots. 

    That little red light meant the Jesus was there. Fully present, body, blood, soul and divinity. He was there in that golden tabernacle.  

    And for the first time in my life, I realized that my simple acknowledgment of that incredible supernatural fact was to genuflect. 

    So to this day when I walk into a church I look for the little red light.  And when I see it, I will genuflect as I enter and exit the pew. When I enter the pew my thought usually is as I try to look at the tabarnacle. ” I’m here, Lord”. And most time when I’m leaving,  I usually think as I look at the tabernacle “Thank you”

    Every once in a while, especially if your visiting a church during the week or many churches in Europe that attract tourists there is no light on. For me it almost a little disappointing. It almost a great expectation whenever I walk into a church. 

    I’m always looking for that little red light. 

  • Why the Crucifix

    Why the Crucifix?

    We all know that a cross symbolizes Christianity . We could write a book about the depth of its meanings. But why the crucifix? Why the depiction of a man who was clearly tortured, beaten and whipped, nailed hand and foot to a wooden cross with a crown of horrible thorns on his head and blood dripping from his side? Shouldn’t that elicit a morbid response from us or anyone. Why would we display such a thing?? 

    I have had the same one my whole life. As long as I can remember, it hung in my room as a child , came with me to college and every apartment I ever had.  For the last 30+ years it hangs over my and Mom’s bed. 

    When I see a crucifix, wherever it may be, I can honestly say that I always have a reaction. It’s different then seeing just a cross, which certainly carries beautiful meanings, but its different.

    Sometimes I’ll look at the crucifix and see our Lord hanging there and I am filled with gratitude, so thankful for my blessings. Its like when something great happens, maybe an answer to a prayer, I’ll look up to the one in my office or anywhere in our house and just say thank you from the bottom of my heart. 

    Sometimes, when I see the crucifix, it reminds me of the trials and tribulations in my life. Everyone has trials, everyone. And the cross that He is nailed to represents them. ” Please help me with….” , ” Please take care of…” , ” Please guide me with…”. Deep in my core I know that especially Jesus, hanging from this cross feels, knows all that is in my heart.  And this gives me some sense of peace.

    Sometimes, I’ll look up at our Lord hanging there and wonder what wound was caused by me? He suffered the Passion for all of our sins, for every human being that will ever exist. Which one was mine? Was it the nail in his hand?  Or maybe one of the thorns sticking into his scalp? My heart is filled with sorrow and remorse. How many times have I said to myself or outloud while looking at Him, “I’m so sorry Jesus. “

    But even in those moments there is a sense of peace that follows.  Just a fraction of a moment during a busy day maybe. But to me there is almost always a sense of joy and really hope. Because it didn’t end with Him hanging on the cross. No. He defeated death. He defeated death to save me.  To give me a chance to be with Him forever. There is no Resurrection without  his death on that cross. 

    What does the Crucifix mean to me? Love.  That he loves me and  all of you so much  that he gave his life so that we may be with Him in heaven. Forever.

  • Why some people bless themselves during Mass

    Of course, when Mass begins and ends we bless ourselves with the sign of the cross. But when we’re in mass do you ever wonder why some people bless themselves with the Sign of the Cross after the Act of Contrition. —-

    “ I confess to Almighty God, and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault; therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.”

    Well, I didn’t know this most of my life. But at that moment when the priest responds. “May Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.” We receive absolution for our venial sins. ( unlike confession which is a sacrament, this absolution translates to a plea for mercy!)That prepares us for receiving the Eucharist.

    Though it is not required as part of the liturgy of the Holy Mass. It is an optional response to God’s mercy as we recognize His unbounding love for us.

    So next mass you attend think about it and you’ll see many around you crossing themselves at that moment.

    I love this because it does brings me into the moment and I feel closer to Him.