Stop. Stop what you are doing and listen. For just a moment, be still and listen. What do you hear? If you’re like most of the country and you and your family have self-quarantined, then your house is probably noisy. Children carrying on, the sound of televisions, maybe radios or tablets playing music. Continue being still. Focus on what you can hear above the noise surrounding you. If you are trained in this practice, you may have heard a call to action, a mission for the day. You might have heard some encouraging words or some challenging ones. In both instances you were able to listen by first using your sense of hearing, being able to identify auditory sounds. In the second scenario, you were able to listen with your heart, an opportunity for your soul to be opened to God in the silence, where He waits for you and I. We have a unique opportunity right now to spend more time listening. For a lot of us this lent, we have given up more than we intended. What an opportunity we have been given to further walk with Jesus in closer communion and really feel his message of sacrifice, suffering, and redemption. Most schools are closed, more people are being temporarily laid off, businesses are being shut down, the world is being put on hold. We are being given a change to slow down, take stock of what’s important, and to rest. So what are you listening to? Are you listening to your family members with greater intent? Listening to your children as they play? Listening to their laughter, their dreams, their silly stories, their questions? Listening to your spouse more earnestly? What are you listening to in your neighborhoods? Perhaps you hear more families enjoying outdoor activities together. The sounds of laughter as children are playing, reveling in the extra attention of their parents, who would ordinarily be at work. Can you hear the sounds of the birds singing in the trees or the buzzing of the bees as they go about pollinating? These sounds are simple but would have easily been ignored during the hustle and bustle of our regular routines. In the midst of our uncertainty, we have been given an extraordinary gift. Let us not waste it. Furthermore, make use of this time to cultivate the ‘listening ears’ of your heart. God wants us to find Him. Now is our chance.
CHALLENGE: Use some time, allow yourself 10 minutes, and be still. Seek Him in the quiet. Allow yourself to be open to whatever He wishes to share with you. “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.” Luke 11:28.

Blessings to You and Yours!

If we could rewind time back to the days of early Christendom it might surprise us to see how these early disciples worshiped the Lord. Not long after the resurrection, the zeal of the faithful was palpable. They were ever eager to share the message of God with everyone and to increase the number of believers. The miracles Jesus worked, coupled with his teachings, his rising from the dead, and the sacred law gave way to a communal practice of honoring and praising God together, with friends and family. A family gathering became the usual way of honoring the law of keeping holy the sabbath. Being in the early advent of the church, and in fear of persecution, churches were not a possibility for them. Instead, they found ways to honor and glorify God right where they were with what they already had. It is here that this idea of a
‘domestic church’ was conceived. Christians have long maintained the idea that our homes are where we first discover God. The love of our parents, the sacrifices they made all for the good of the family, charity, sharing, forgiveness, etc. All of these Christian values on display within the home and among the people. The early church was born from this. These believers would gather their families and get together with other families to break bread and speak about the Lord. It was here that the Gospel messages would be proclaimed, the statutes and decrees of the Lord taught, instruction and encouragement to live out the Christian life would have been had, and children would have played and found friendship with other children with their same values and beliefs. Today, we would refer to this practice of communal worship of God, breaking bread, and instruction of God’s law, church. As we all face the next few weeks of social isolation, where attending our churches has been deemed unsafe, let us remember that our homes, our families, are where our faith practice begins.
CHALLENGE: Consider ways you and your family can honor God this week in your own domestic church, be it family prayer, lessons taught on the virtues of our faith, or spending quality time together in fellowship. May we all honor the Lord where we are and with the example of our lives.
Blessings to You and Yours!

“Amen, I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’, and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Mt 17:20. If we but have the smallest amount of faith, Jesus tells us, we will be able to move mountains. What are mountains? They are those overwhelming obstacles we all face that weigh us down and challenge us (addictions, illness, financial struggles, relationship problems, etc.). It is during these experiences of life, that we are invited to take up our cross and follow Jesus. His faith in the Father allowed him to walk the road of Calvary ever hopeful of the good that would come of His sacrifice and death. “If God sends you many sufferings it is a sign that He has great plans for you, and certainly wants to make you a saint.” St. Ignatius of Loyola. “The world offers you comfort, but you were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness.” Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. Suffering is a great paradox. Our physical bodies despise it, the culture we live in denies it, and yet God tells us to expect it and that through it we too will be transformed into something great. Believing in this transformation requires faith. Cultivating this great virtue takes daily commitment. Like most things, the more we practice deepening and strengthening of our faith, the better equipped we will be to putting it into practice.
CHALLENGE: Rev. David Ricken, Bishop of Green Bay and contributor to The Cardinal Newman Society shares some ides to help us increase our faith and make the most out of this Lenten season. While not all of these will be doable for all of us, see what may apply to you, what will challenge you the most, or an area you can improve upon and accept the call. Let us come to the Easter celebration this year with a gift for our Lord, our own increased faith in Him.
1. Participate in Mass. 2. Go to confession. 3. Learn about the lives of the saints. 4. Read the Bible daily. 5. Read the documents of the church. 6. Study the Catechism. 7. Volunteer in ministry. 8. Invite a friend to Mass. 9. Incorporate the Beatitudes into daily living.
Blessings to You and Yours!

Today, we celebrate the feast day of St. Patrick, missionary, teacher, Bishop of Ireland. He was filled with zeal for the Lord at a young age. He often spent hours upon hours in prayer while going about his daily duties. Born in Britannia, he was captured by Irish pirates and made to tend sheep as a slave in Ireland. He escaped some six years later and returned home. it was back home that he heard the calling of the Lord and dedicated himself to missionary work as a priest. he felt called to return to Ireland to convert the Druid people to Christianity. Legend tells us it is here in Ireland that the simple three-leaf clover became a powerful instrument of Divine inspiration, as Patrick, now Bishop, used the clover to illustrate the theological teaching of one God in three persons. The stem of the clover, giving way to three separate and distinct leaves. Patrick’s autobiography, Confessio, told of his trials, miracles, and triumphs while living amongst the Irish. He also penned several prayers that he would recite and that he shared with the early Christians to inspire hope and to praise God. May St. Patrick bless us this day and inspire us with the zeal to love, honor, and serve our Lord every day of our lives.
REFLECTION: St. Patrick’s Prayer
May the strength of God pilot us. May the power of God preserve us. May the wisdom of God instruct us. May the hand of God protect us. May the way of God direct us. May the shield of God defend us. May the Host of God guard us against the snares of the evil ones, against temptations of the world. May Christ be with us! May Christ be before us! May Christ be in us, Christ be over all! May Thy salvation, Lord, always be ours, this day, O Lord, and evermore. Amen.

Faith, hope, and charity. All are innately given to us by God. These theological virtues, when cultivated, enable us to encounter God more fully in our everyday ordinary lives. Furthermore, they give us the ability to continue on in the journey of life through good times and bad. The virtue of hope is one that can often be disregarded as folly or wishful thinking, but it in itself stems from Divine origin as Jesus so beautifully illustrated in His resurrection. It is hope in the resurrected Lord that allows us to hope for our own resurrection and share in the Heavenly Kingdom.
What are you hoping for this Lenten season? A renewed commitment to God? Quitting a bad habit? Encouraging friends or family members to grow in their own faith? Hoping is what helps to give our lives purpose. And Lent is a season built upon this virtue. We journey with the Israelites who had waited, longed for the Messiah. They had hoped that the prophecies would be fulfilled. Jesus was the gift of the Father, sent as was promised, to deliver God’s people. We journey along with the disciples as Jesus teaches them truths of the kingdom and bestows upon them the gifts of the sacraments to be shared with his faithful followers. We walk beside Jesus on His was to Calvary. We stand at the foot of His cross, hoping that the Lord will sustain us in our sorrow. And then we journey to the tomb of Jesus and we see through the eyes of Mary Magdalene the empty tomb, and our hope is restored, made anew. God has fulfilled His promise to His people.
REFLECTION: Pope Francis spoke on the virtue of hope in his weekly general audience back in 2017. Here are a few quotes from his speech to help inspire us to continue living these last few weeks of Lent with a renewed spirit of hope and the ultimate attainment of Heaven.
-“If fear or evil looms so large it seems insurmountable, remember that Jesus lives in you. And, through you, it is he, who, with his meekness, wants to subdue all enemies of humanity: sin, hatred, crime and violence.”
-“No matter where God has planted you, hope. Always hope.”
-“Never believe the struggles here on earth are ‘useless’. God never disappoints and he wants that seed he planted in everyone to bloom. God made us to flower, too.”

It is amazing how our world has changed literally overnight. More and more businesses are shutting down, schools are closing for several weeks, and we are being encouraged just about every where we look to hunker down and stay at home….for the next few weeks! Can this be real?
Several churches around the world are giving dispensations for folks to stay home and worship God as best you can within the communities of your families rather than the usual communal gathering. You may be wondering how to do this? There are several masses being televised across the globe. EWTN will be broadcasting as will several Youtube channels. You can find the readings for this weekend by doing a simple google search as well us by following EWTN or using an app such as Laudate. Gather your family around the TV this weekend and participate in Mass from your living rooms. As it is not ideal, making a spiritual communion is suggested during times when we are unable to physically be in the presence of Jesus in the tabernacle. You can also gather as a family and read the readings for this Sunday. Private devotions can also be done, as in a family rosary or a novena to St. Joseph, protector of the family, and make sure to pray for an end to this worldwide hysteria.
“Be still and know I am God” Psalm 46:10. Do not let your spirit be troubled by what is going on around us. Know that God has a plan and will use all of this for His greater good. He is every present and has everything under control. Trust Him and ask him to increase your faith.
CHALLENGE: Take some time to pause and “be still” over the next few days. Enjoy having your children with you. Enjoy the extra time you get to spend with your loved ones. Use these extra “off days” to spend time in prayer, remembering to continue surrendering to the will of God in your lives during the season of repentance and reflection.
Blessings to You and Yours!

Preppers. Men and women who feel the need to prepare themselves and their families for an impending danger of cataclysmic proportions. These individuals are hard at work collecting, building, re-purposing, and even engineering ways to uphold a standard of living, basic as it may be , when life as we know it ceases to exist. Whether by means of a natural disaster, world war, economic crash, or ‘zombie’ apocalypse, they men to have what it takes to survive and thrive. Over the past 10 years or so, it seems that every year brings a new calamity and with it the certain annihilation of the general populous. From H1N1 and swine flu, to SARS and now the Corona virus. Each of these threats encouraging the ‘prepper’ mentality to get your affairs in order and make sure you and your family are ready to face whatever is on the horizon next. What if we were able to use the prepper mentality and apply it to our spiritual lives? Lent is that catalyst. It is our “practice drill” that allows us to do a yearly run-through of our plan to safeguard our souls for the end times. And while the prepper may never face the day zombies attack, we are assured of a much greater threat. One we do not have to anticipate because it is already here. Sin, the greatest destructive force, destroying our souls and keeping us from a full union and friendship with God. The ‘end of the world’ may only be hypothetical for the prepper, but for us it is assured. Our earthly sojourn will end and we will face our final judgement with no more than we PREPARED for. So how are we preparing? Lent is the time to ask this question and reevaluate what’s working and not working in our spiritual lives. Do we make time for God daily? Do we attend mass weekly? Are we actively participating? Do we make God our first priority? Is our life an example of faith? Has our faith decreased because of a life circumstance? Can we allow ourselves to fully trust God? Have you been to confession and received the grace to be welcomed back from sin? Making God #1, taking time to talk to Him everyday, living out our faith via charitable acts and works of mercy, teaching our children and others the truths of the Gospels, receiving Holy Communion as often as we can, especially on Sundays. These are the ways in which we prepare for meeting our Lord at the end of our earthly pilgrimage. We cannot hope to endure the ‘end times’ without these preparations.
CHALLENGE: Embrace this season of Lent as your time to prepare for the certainty of our own ‘end times.’ Commit to the habit of daily meditation with the Lord. Consider signing up for a holy hour or begin attending daily mass. There are many apps available that will guide you through a mindful meditation, even give you daily scripture readings as well as reflections (Laudate). There is no escaping our ‘end time’ friends, let’s make sure we face it prepared!
Blessings to You and Yours!

Priests, prophets, and kings. These three vocations are what we are called to when we receive Baptism. While most of us will never rule a nation as a king, nor take the sacred vow of priesthood (continue to pray for vocations), we are all EXPECTED to become prophets. What does it mean to be a prophet? Hans Walter Wolff, a leading expert in biblical prophecy offered this definition: “…the people in our midst who inform us of the future implications of our present actions.” Since the beginning God has divinely inspired men and women to bring His message to His people. While He chose to impart private revelation to some, He instituted an endless age of prophets after the death of His son and the institution of the church, by which souls would be consecrated through Baptism to continue the mission of evangelization. As God’s people are diverse, so are the means in which they prophesy. While many took/take on the role in much the same manner as John the Baptist, preaching the word of God in the streets, others share God’s message through their good works, such as Mother Teresa. As baptised Catholics, and Christians alike, we are called to be a prophet in our own times. Whether through our words or deeds, we are to proclaim the truths of our faith and caution those who may be living a life outside of God’s grace. As we share in this missionary work we will inevitably share in the trials and tribulations experienced by prophets of old, especially Jesus. “Do not think I have come to bring peace on earth, I have not come to bring peace, but a sword…” Mt 10:34-36. Speaking about God and living out His message can be a lonely road to travel. Family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers may try to shame us, silence us, belittle us, or exclude us because of the message we bring. Let this not discourage us but assure us that we are doing the right thing. “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in his hometown.” Luke 4:24. Jesus, himself, was dismissed by the people of his hometown even to the point of chasing him out of the temple. If you are mistreated as a result of you living out your discipleship, rest in the fact that you are in good company.
CHALLENGE: Choose a saint to read about this week. Discover how they lived out their Baptismal invitation to share in the life of the Lord as priest, prophet, and king. Not only will you learn something from their example of faith, but you may also gain a friendly intercessor!
Blessings to You and Yours!

Fear, more often than not it is what motivates us and calls us to action. We go to work for fear of losing our jobs, we perpetually say ‘yes’ to projects and events for fear of being disliked or excluded, we overprotect our kids for fear of them being hurt, the list goes on. While non of these actions are necessarily bad, we should stop to reflect just why we respond this way and then seek out a better resolve. Blessed Padre Pio had a suggestion for dealing with fear, “Pray, hope, and don’t worry.” It seems simple enough in theory, but how does it translate to practical application within our daily lives? It all comes down to what we allow into our personhood. What we listen to, what we read can all have an impact on our Spirit. Now more than ever our world is globally connected and the amount of information available at our fingertips is staggering. Its impossible to watch the news, listen to the radio, check email or text messages, see billboards along the road, or read a magazine or newspaper without encountering some form of impending threat to our world, our country, our cities and neighborhoods. Whether war, disease, crime, or injustices we are ‘informed’ of these atrocities everywhere we turn. These uncertainties help to fuel an every growing pandemic of fear that has become as natural as the air we breathe. Blessed Padre Pio gives us a simple way to calm the storm of fear swirling around us and invite peace back into our lives. First, prayer. What does prayer require us to do? Focus on the Lord. In prayer we recognize that there is someone greater than ourselves who loves us and wants to take care of us. Prayer requires a certain element of trust as well. Trust that God is listening and that he will be beside us always to guide and protect us whatever may come. Second, hope. Jesus Christ is the definition of this word. The Father sent him in response to the hope of the prophets. That His resurrection would free them from captivity and allow them into Heaven. So Jesus is our redeemer as well. Lent reminds us of this. Because of Jesus we can now hope for Heaven as our eternal reward. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Jn 16:33. Lastly, do not worry. To worry implies a selfish act. When we begin to think about ourselves, “What will I do if…”, “What is going to happen to me”, “Will I be alright”? These are all very self-centered concerns. It is then we must exercise our faith and revisit steps 1 and 2, turning back toward God, keeping our gaze ever fixed upon Him, and let Him be in control. When we fully trust in God and place all our faith in Him, we will have peace that surpasses all understanding, and better yet, will be exalting the Father by living in Him and with Him.
CHALLENGE: Let go of fear today. Surrender to God and give him what is bothering you. Open up to a conversation with Him and give him all of your troubles. Ask him to walk with you in letting go and surrendering that you do not have all the answers, and to be at peace with that. Ask him to increase your faith and to allow you to trust in Him more deeply.
Blessings to You and Yours!

“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted” MT 23:1-12. Humility, one of the greatest virtues. The ability to recognize that there is one bigger than ourselves, God, and to live accordingly. As we reflect upon our own lives this Lent we may notice some darkness, some areas of sinfulness that we need to address. Admitting that we have made mistakes takes humility. Going to confession is a great act of humility, one rewarded 100 fold by the grace of God’s mercy and forgiveness. Many great saints down through the ages have spoken and written about humility and how it is essential to earning our Heavenly reward. Blessed Mother Teresa led a life of humility as she cared for the unwanted, undesired, ill and neglected people through her work with the Missionaries of Charity. Though she wanted no attention or reward for herself, she was sought after the world over by the poor and wealthy, famous and unknown alike. She often spoke about humility and its importance within our daily lives. She gave a list of 15 ways to grow more humble and she made the sisters within her order practice them. Consider these a “Best Practices” from a saint that lived among us and now intercedes for us.
Blessed Mother Teresa’s List
1. Speak as little as possible about yourself.
2. Keep busy with your own affairs and not those of others.
3. Avoid curiosity (as in things that don’t concern you).
4. Do not interfere in the affairs of others.
5. Accept small irritations with good humor.
6. Do not dwell on the faults of others.
7. Accept censures even if unmerited.
8. Give in to the will of others.
9. Accept insults and injuries.
10. Accept contempt, being forgotten and disregarded.
11. Be courteous and delicate even when provoked by someone.
12. Do not seek to be admired and loved.
13. Do not protect yourself behind your own dignity.
14. Give in, in discussions, even when you are right.
15. Choose always the more difficult task.
CHALLENGE: If you find yourself still searching for a Lenten goal, might I suggest trying to live out Blessed Mother Teresa’s road map to humility. If you already are working on a Lenten observance, perhaps you would be willing to supplement with this suggestion. We could all benefit from living a life rooted in humility. Just think what the chain reaction would be if we emphasized the virtue of humility more within our society. How much better our world could be!
Blessings to You and Yours!