Year III, Number 13

"The disciples were glad when they saw the Lord" (Jn 20:20). The face which the Apostles contemplated after the Resurrection was the same face of the Jesus with whom they had lived for almost three years, and who now convinced them of the astonishing truth of his new life by showing them "his hands and his side" (ibid.). Of course it was not easy to believe. The disciples on their way to Emmaus believed only after a long spiritual journey (cf. Lk 24:13-35). The Apostle Thomas believed only after verifying for himself the marvelous event (cf. Jn 20:24-29). In fact, regardless of how much his body was seen or touched, only faith could fully enter the mystery of that face. This was an experience which the disciples must have already had during the historical life of Christ, in the questions which came to their minds whenever they felt challenged by his actions and his words. One can never really reach Jesus except by the path of faith, on a journey of which the stages seem to be indicated to us by the Gospel itself in the well known scene at Caesarea Philippi (cf. Mt 16:13-20). Engaging in a kind of first evaluation of his mission, Jesus asks his disciples what "people" think of him, and they answer him: "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets" (Mt 16:14). A lofty response to be sure, but still a long way — by far — from the truth. The crowds are able to sense a definitely exceptional religious dimension to this rabbi who speaks in such a spellbinding way, but they are not able to put him above those men of God who had distinguished the history of Israel. Jesus is really far different! It is precisely this further step of awareness, concerning as it does the deeper level of his being, which he expects from those who are close to him: "But who do you say that I am?" (Mt 16:15). Only the faith proclaimed by Peter, and with him by the Church in every age, truly goes to the heart, and touches the depth of the mystery: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Mt 16:16).

How had Peter come to this faith? And what is asked of us, if we wish to follow in his footsteps with ever greater conviction? Matthew gives us an enlightening insight in the words with which Jesus accepts Peter's confession: "Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven" (16:17). The expression "flesh and blood" is a reference to man and the common way of understanding things. In the case of Jesus, this common way is not enough. A grace of "revelation" is needed, which comes from the Father (cf. ibid.). Luke gives us an indication which points in the same direction when he notes that this dialogue with the disciples took place when Jesus "was praying alone" (Lk 9:18). Both indications converge to make it clear that we cannot come to the fullness of contemplation of the Lord's face by our own efforts alone, but by allowing grace to take us by the hand. Only the experience of silence and prayer offers the proper setting for the growth and development of a true, faithful and consistent knowledge of that mystery which finds its culminating expression in the solemn proclamation by the Evangelist Saint John: "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father" (1:14).

Q. Dear Fr. Bannon,

I am writing to ask a question about a young man age 19, a friend of my son, that is struggling with his faith. He has previously shown many signs that he may be called to the priesthood. He has a beautiful heart, is living a chaste life and desires to help others.

Recently, he started to question if God exists and now is not sure that he even believes in him. How do I guide him back into the faith, and, is it possible that he still may have a vocation to the priesthood?

A. Dear Beth,

It would be helpful to find out what is provoking your son's friend, let's call him Thomas after the Apostle who had his own problems, to doubt about his faith in God. If he is intellectually inclined and a teacher of his has introduced him to Nietszche, it will be very different to the case of another whose religion teacher thinks his role is to shock and rock the faith of his students without giving the answers, or to the case of a young person who was pretty solid up to now but is beginning to fall under the influence of 'friends' who lead a very different lifestyle and ridicule his beliefs. At times a 'doubt of faith' is an excuse not to have to live its consequences. Still different too is the case of a curious mind that is not getting his questions answered, or someone who has been scandalized.

So the first step is to see if you can get to the bottom of the cause of Thomas' problem. The concrete way you will apply the principles I am going to mention will depend on the specific problem he has. Naturally you will have to engage him in some sort of conversation or discussion (yourself directly or through someone else if he is not going to listen to you).

The first step is to try to get him to be specific. What does he have trouble with? Why? I have often met young people expressing doubts about the faith, but when you try to find out what the problem is it turns out to be more a general or vague feeling than a specific doubt.

The second of course is to provide the information he needs. Sometimes this information can be gotten from Apologetics books, the Catechism, etc... Or sometimes a good biography of a convert or saint who struggled with the same questions will be best.

Third is to remember that faith is a gift from God, so pray for him.

Fourth is to remember that even though faith is a gift it is also a virtue, and we have to use it to develop it. So make sure you don't limit your help to simply addressing the intellectual side of things with him. Get him to pray to Mary (something simple that he is going to do, like 3 Hail Marys at night) for help in his search.

Fifth, follow up. If he has questions and is working through them, it might be an opportunity to reach not only him but his friends also. Earnest young people usually have great respect for adults who reach out to help them and push them to grow in their minds and souls. He may have a few other friends with similar struggles, and this might well be the chance to reach them too.

Could he still possibly have a vocation to the priesthood? Most certainly, if he works through this and his faith is strengthened. Matter of fact if he does have a vocation this may be the single most helpful thing to happen to him, so give him all the help you can. Difficulty is not really a problem, it is not the enemy; pampering and surrender to difficulty is. Christ did not spare himself difficulty or darkness in redeeming us, yet he won out. And we are reaping the fruits.

God bless. - Fr Anthony

Q. Hello. I'm 20 years old now and I have doubts about my vocation. Since I was a little child I have been thinking about becoming a nun. I remember that my mother laughed about it first time I told her (I was about 8 years old) and I felt hurt, because I was very nervous and it wasn't easy to tell her. Now I'm 20 and I'm still thinking of it... I've spent some time with a boy, to try... but I can't take it out of my mind. I pray every day and go to the church every at least twice or three times a week. But I'm afraid... It's only 1 year to get my university degree, but I'm not interested in it. I've never been, but my mother insisted. I don't want to deceive my parents, and I'm afraid of leaving all my past behind (My family have always given me all I wanted). Please, give me your advice. I feel kind of lost.

A. Dear Luna,

It seems to me that our Lord is taking care of you and being very insistent with you. And you also are making time for him by praying and going to church during the week. As well as that you are aware of your own weakness and the fact that it will not be easy to give up all the things you have received. So, while you say you feel kind of lost, there are really many things in place in your life. Here are some more steps you can take.

First you should make Jesus once and for all the center of your life; make your prayer a conversation with him, open your heart to see how much he has loved us by dying on the cross and rising from the dead to take away our sins. Begin to read the writings of some of your great Spanish saints so as to get to know him better. Give your heart to him.

Second, it seems to me it might be a good idea for you to finish off university if you only have a year to do. I say this because you don't mention any particular order you are interested in, and you might need that year to go visiting and prepare yourself to follow your vocation.

Third, if you see you have many possessions and may be attached to them, start doing without some things. Start putting aside what is superfluous. Among your possessions count the gift of time, and start using it more wisely: make time for regular daily prayer (if possible, Mass and daily Communion), start looking for ways to serve others. If you are going to university in Spain, you probably have friends who have left their faith - try to get them back, start a study circle or something like that to help them think through what matters in life... If you need contacts or people to get in touch with in order to do something like this, let me know where in Spain you live and I may be able to give you some names.

I hope these points help. Don't worry if others laugh at you, put God first, and you will see how he guides and blesses you.

Fr Anthony

Only the humble can adore the Living God and be exalted by him. Self-aggrandizement leads to turning in on oneself and blindness to God and others.

Gospel Passage: Lk 18:9-14

Jesus spoke the following parable to some people who prided themselves on being virtuous and despised everyone else: ‘Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood there and said this prayer to himself, “I thank you, God, that I am not grasping, unjust, adulterous like the rest of mankind, and particularly that I am not like this tax collector here. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes on all I get.” The tax collector stood some distance away, not daring even to raise his eyes to heaven; but he beat his breast and said, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” This man, I tell you, went home again at rights with God; the other did not. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the man who humbles himself will be exalted.’

1. Adoring before the altar of...

We all adore before some altar. The Pharisee adores before the altar of self. He spends his time in the Temple incensing his own self-perceived grandeur. We read ‘the Pharisee stood there...’ In other words, he stood in the center of his own universe, not in the Temple of the living God. For this reason ‘he said this prayer to himself.’ He prays, not to God, but to self. He adores not before the altar of God, but before the altar of self.

The tax collector adores before the altar of God, precisely by emptying himself of self. He ‘stood some distance away.’ In other words he gives God the first place in his adoration. He knows how much he needs light and strength from God, and how all goodness comes from God and not from him. He adores by emptying himself of his self-sufficiency and by trusting in God’s mercy and love. He adores in true humility, ‘not even daring to raise his eyes to heaven.’

Number 2097 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church sheds light on the true spirit of adoration:

To adore God is to acknowledge, in respect and absolute submission, the “nothingness of the creature” who would not exist but for God. To adore God is to praise and exalt him and to humble oneself, as Mary did in the Magnificat, confessing with gratitude that he has done great things and holy is his name. The worship of the one God sets man free from turning in on himself, from the slavery of sin and the idolatry of the world.

Conversation with Christ: Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me a sinner. You know how fallen and broken I am. You know how much I need your grace. You know how I often presume on my own strength and become self-sufficient and tend to trust in myself. Help me to empty myself of self and adore you in spirit and in truth. Teach me meekness and humility of heart.

2. Holding on and letting go...

Pride is based on holding on to something I have and becoming possessive of it for its own sake. The Pharisee thanks God for the virtues he imagines he has. He believes he is generous, just, pure, and charitable. He prides himself on these virtues, believing they make him good. He bases his self-esteem and value on himself, on what he believes he possesses. He holds on to these qualities as if he were their origin and foundation. He lives outside of reality and allows himself to be puffed up with his own self-conceit. He condemns others to further exalt himself. He is blinded to the truth that ‘he who exalts himself will be humbled’.

The tax collector lets go of all he possesses, even his own personal worth. He is detached and seeks to possess nothing for its own sake, but all for the glory of God and the good of others. He thanks God for his mercy and knows that he has no virtue without God’s grace. He bases his self-esteem and value on the Father’s love and mercy toward him. He holds on to nothing, because everything is a gift from God freely given to his unworthy servant. He lives in the truth and is content with weakness because his weakness opens him up to God’s grace. Begging mercy for himself, he has no time to judge others. He humbles himself and is exalted: ‘This man, I tell you, went home again at rights with God.’

Conversation with Christ: Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart more like yours. Thank you for all you have given me. Help me to know that all I have is from you. May I never be possessive and attached to the gifts and qualities you have given to me. May I give them back to you by using them for your glory and honor. May I humble myself to be exalted by you.

QUESTIONNAIRE

To help you to examine your life, in the light of the inspirations God just gave you in these moments you shared with him.

1. Do I adore God in spirit and in truth? Do I adore him as he deserves in his infinite greatness and majesty? Does my adoration help me to remain meek and humble of heart?

2. Do I turn to God in humility like the tax collector, repeating his words, ‘Lord have mercy on me a sinner?’

3. Am I possessive of anything, or am I rather grateful to God for all I have and use everything for his glory, to fulfill my mission in life for my true good and the good of others?

Adoration in Humility and Truth

Fr Patrick Murphy, LC

http://www.vocation.com/articles/category.asp?c=8

meditation

An apostle is great of heart and spirit. He knows that Christ calls him to do great things, so he has no time for hand-wringing, or unimportant things, or to be sidetracked by what is not essential. First and foremost an apostle has to have room enough in his heart for the whole world, since he has been sent to preach to the whole world. He has to make room in his heart for all man's needs, miseries, sufferings, and joys. The Church, the world and others' lives are for him the fertile ground in which he is called to toil. His spirit will always live up to the mission he has received. His aspirations, desires, and his ability to love and give of himself all need to be boundless. Generosity is the opposite to egotism, which makes you the center of life and turns others into mere objects of your pleasure, curiosity or power. Generosity leads to solidarity with all people, because nothing human is foreign to an apostle.

An apostle is tenacious, strong and steadfast. You have to be tenacious so as never to flag in your efforts; strong to see through your efforts to the end without faltering, until "everything is fulfilled"; steadfast so as not to fall prey to your whims or fickleness. At times the slow pace, the time and trouble it takes to achieve your goals will make the battle more difficult. You will persevere and acheive your goal only if you possess a firm and well-disciplined will, which is built on mastering your feelings and emotions.

The battle will be on-going. Final victory will not be won in a single day, week, or year. We will be fighting our whole life long. And so an apostle has to be absolutely convinced that work and patience are of the essence if he is to fulfill his mission. He has to be seasoned in applying tenacious energy, otherwise we easily give into laziness, cowardice, comfort seeking, false prudence, whining and sterile irritability. We are not naturally drawn to such an unforgiving and prolonged struggle, but this is the truth about life, it is a constant battle (cf. Job 7:11).

A beautiful image for prayer in the broad sense of the word appears in Genesis Chapter 3: "And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, 'Where are you?'" The scene suggests that before the fall, the normal evening activity for God, Adam and Eve consisted in familiar and intimate conversation, like a family meeting with God the Father. The image conjures up a sense of trust and openness that characterized man's original relationship with God, but was lost through original sin. After Adam stopped trusting in God and disobeyed him, he hides from God, and God must come seeking him out.

The salvation God offers in Christ entails reestablishing that familiarity. After sin had disrupted it, man found himself in quite a predicament. Since "man is by nature and vocation a religious being", he continued seeking a relationship with God, but unfamiliarity, confusion, distance, and distrust marred his efforts. Pagan religions, for example, replaced personal intimacy with God with empty ritualism and bargaining. In Christ, and through his Holy Spirit poured out into our hearts, we can once again enter into a real friendship with God, a state of intimacy and intercommunication with him, and prayer can allow us once again to "walk through the garden in the cool of the day" with the Lord.

The one condition, of course, is faith. Our conversations with God - our intimate, personal, ongoing exchange with him - take place in an atmosphere of faith. This is what makes it prayer rather than a regular conversation. When I call up my brother and wish him happy birthday it is part of my vital, personal relationship with him, but we don't call it prayer. I cannot see the God whom I address; I cannot hear his voice in the same way that I can hear yours - at least, not usually. In our interaction with God we must "walk by faith, not by sight". How does Christ's presence in the Eucharist differ from his presence in heaven? He is fully present in - body, blood, soul, and divinity - but in the Eucharist a veil separates us, a veil that faith alone can penetrate. In heaven we will no longer need faith to detect God's presence, but for now it is essential.

The ancients believed that the four elements of earth, air, fire, and water combined in various ways to construct the terrestrial realm of existence, while the "heavens" were made of entirely different stuff, a fifth and perfect element called ether. Analogously, on earth our communion with God is mediated always by faith, which is "the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen", while in Heaven our contact and union with God is un-mediated, or "immediate". St Paul tantalizes us when he describes this: "At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then [in heaven] face to face. At present I know partially; then I shall know fully, as I am fully known."

Upcoming Events & Retreats

(( Listed here are retreats directed by the Legionaries of Christ and Regnum Christi members. For a listing of diocesan activities and other events, click here to go to the vocation.com website ))

LEGIONARIES OF CHRIST

Manchester, NH, May 3-5, Evangelization Mission. Contact Adam Jeffries, (301) 365-3205. YTM2000@aol.com

Cheshire, CT, May 17-19, Test Your Call! retreat. Contact Br Shane Johnson, (800) 420-5409. vocation@legionaries.org

Atlanta, GA, June 6-17, "Come and See" Program. Contact Fr Patrick Murphy, (678) 428-6348. pmurphy@legionaries.org

Los Angeles, CA, June 6-17, "Come and See" Program. Contact Fr Thomas Maher, (509) 780-8130. tmaher@legionaries.org

Cheshire, CT, June 6-17, "Come and See" Program. Contact Br Shane Johnson, (800) 420-5409. vocation@legionaries.org

Edgerton, WI, June 6-17, "Come and See" Program. Contact Br Chad Wahl, (608) 884-8856. cwahl@legionaries.org

REGNUM CHRISTI consecrated women

Ottawa, May 19. Half-Day Retreats. Contact Lourdes Cano, (612) 205-7566. lcano@inteducators.org

Manchester, NH, May 3-5, Evangelization Mission. Contact Adam Jeffries, (301) 365-3205. YTM2000@aol.com

REGNUM CHRISTI consecrated men

Call Tony McDonnell for more information, (301) 365-3205. info@ytm.org

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