The Good Catholic Life

Summary of today’s show: Music transcends words and beauty moves the soul. Catholic world-class musician and composer Eric Genuis has dedicated his life to bringing beautiful music to schools, churches, concert halls, and prisons and Scot Landry talks with Eric about his mission, which brings hope to the hopeless and beauty to those starving for beauty. Eric will be performing at St. William in Tewksbury on Monday, April 16, and St. Mary in Waltham on Tuesday, April 17. Listen to the show: Subscribe for free in iTunes Today’s host(s): Scot Landry Today’s guest(s): Eric Genuis Links from today’s show: Eric Genius’ website Information on Eric’s upcoming concerts locally Today’s topics: Catholic musician and composer Eric Genius 1st segment: Scot wished all listeners a Happy Easter and reminded them that Easter is eight days long until song. He asked Rick Heil how he celebrated Easter. He said he was with his parents and they went to Mass at Bl. Kateri in Plymouth with Bishop Dooher. They discussed the bishops’ homily. Rick said his mother and father sing in the choir at the parish and sang in many of the Triduum Masses. Scot said his family participated in all the Triduum liturgies at St. Agnes, allowing his kids to participate as one family for the first time. He said the St. Agnes choir was beautiful. He congratulated everyone who was a part of that. Scot said he ate dinner at his brother’s house and they started a new family tradition of kickball. Cardinal Seán’s Easter homily: Pope Benedict’s Easter vigil homily Scot said Eric Genuis is our guest today and said Rick Heil will be participating in the conversation today. Eric is a Catholic composer and musician and he will be coming to St. Williams, Tewksbury on Monday 4/16 and at St. Mary, Waltham on Tuesday 4/17, both at 7pm. The concerts are free but a free-will offering will be taken up. 2nd segment: Coming from the break, we hear an Eric Genuis composition called “Russian Ballade”. Scot read a quote from Jim Cavizel complimenting the work of Eric Genuis and the quality of his music: “What a pleasure to listen to not only a world class pianist and composer, but an artist whose music translates beyond its genre to lift the audience to belief and hope in the power of the human spirit. I have been honored to be present at several of Eric’s concerts. Every time with every unique audience nuance, those present felt the power of Eric’s music and his words clearly elevated people”. Scot welcomed Eric and asked him about his background. Eric has a degree in piano performance after growing up in Canada. He’d always promised God that he would never refuse to play anywhere based on money or availability of instruments. He;s played in school, churches, concert halls, prisons, and stadiums. He began to notice very early the impact of music. He said his music is classical in form with a modern feel. He’s always known theoretically about the effect of music, but when you see it and experience it it really moves the performer. Deciding to pursue music was a difficult decision in this culture, which views rap and Lady Gaga as music. But it’s not the same thing that will bring beauty and reflect human dignity. He knows that what he plays isn’t very popular in culture and he knew it wouldn’t be easy to make a living for his family, which includes 4 children now. But he and his wife feel strongly that this has to be done. He speaks to about 100,000 youth per year, performing for them. He sees that what the young lack right now is hope. They have no hope for their futures, economically, societally. They are suspicious of their parents’ generation. In this suffering, they are taking desperate measures to alleviate suffering and fear. These are young people who have been bathing in a very low level of entertainment, which isn’t really art anymore. Being entertained is reasonable, but it was never just that. We can sink to a low-level if we’re only seeking entertainment. It’s like eating only junk food. Scot said when he was young Madonna was big and it seemed that with every album she created it ramped up the debasement of herself and her audience. He remembers asking himself where it stops. Rick said it reflects the devaluation of life in our culture from previous decades to now and our pop culture descended on the same level. Eric with this age of instant communication, we’ve created the superstar celebrity phenomenon. He cited the Spice Girls, whose music was really very simple, yet it was constructed by record companies to become icons for young children and make billions of dollars. Now the girls who were fans of the Spice Girls are now young adults and he’s performing for them. He finds that music was used as a vehicle for commercialism and the creation of a product. He notes that many of the musicians can’t even carry a tune without computer processing. So if it wasn’t about music, it was about image. there’s now a machine that can take “star quality” that has nothing to do with music and propel them. Eric said he performs at colleges and many in his audiences have never hear a cello played live. He hears from parents who tell him they don’t know what to do about the music. Confucius once said if you want to know a nation’s morality, listen to the music. Plato said if given a choice to govern law or govern music, he would govern music because music moves men’s souls. He said there is a mysterious way of atmosphere being brought about with music without a word being spoken. He said his daughters with Downs can communicate a depth beyond words even though she can’t speak. The image and likeness of God within us speaks beyond words in us. Eric said the goal of his concerts is to entertain, but also to do much more. He tries to writes music wit the genius of a Bach or Mozart, but for the audience of today so it’s accessible to them. He goes into a school in the Bronx or a musically sophisticated audience and appeals to them both. This is the mystery of music that touches the soul. He was performing in New Mexico and he saw a grandmother who had brought her 15-year-old granddaughter, who was obviously upset she had to come. After the concert, the girl was in tears and gave him a hug and thanked him for moving her as she’d never been moved before in her life. This is the power and impact of music. Scot asked what parents and grandparents can do to help them expose kids to music that empowers the soul. Eric said his own parents came from Malta and came to Canada after the Second World War. They never studied music, but they wanted to expose their children to good things. For Eric, the music resonated with him. He practiced the piano and became obsessed with it. He’d play 7 or 8 hours per day. He knew very young that children had free time and knew that he’d never get the opportunity to play as much once he got into his 20s. He was exposed to all kinds of music. Being a parent now, he feels music is much more in your face than it was when he was a kid: Internet, iPhone, iPods, and it’s everywhere. So just banning the music just shuts off conversation and they find it anyway. They don’t learn how to make good choices and discern. Not everything new is bad. He doesn’t want his own children to be afraid of culture. Eric’s son comes to him with a song he likes. It could be something Eric doesn’t like, but he tries to understand why his son likes it. To reject the song would be to reject the son because he doesn’t understand the separation. So he asks what is it about the song he likes and then plays different styles of music for him that has the same qualities, whether from movie soundtracks or from Beethoven or from his own compositions. He asks him whether he gets the same feel from both. Then they talk about “colors” in music, which one has positive energy or negative energy. They talk about atmosphere, positive or negative. For his son, it’s not about he quality of music, but how it makes him feel. We can’t just dismiss this music that’s out there and we have to deal with it. Rick related how when he was in eighth grade, he was into heavy metal music when a teacher gave him Gustav Holst’s the Planets to listen to. He learned he wasn’t looking for negative energy, but for weightiness. Scot said as a parent who hasn’t had to have these conversations yet, hearing Eric go through the stages has helped him. 3rd segment: Coming back from the break, we heard another one of Eric’s compositions, Romanza Tranquilla. Eric said about his concerts that families are welcome. He wants people to bring their children. He doesn’t care if the children cry during the concerts or fuss. He is bringing violinists and cellists are extremely talented and gifted. The children will be moved by them. Bring your children to live performances. He will also be talking about the instruments. Scot asked Eric about his performances in prisons. Eric said he doesn’t look at his prison performances any differently from any other concert. He feels honored to perform before an audience that wants to hear him. He said prisons are the ugliest places on earth, without beauty. There is nothing beautiful about anything. It is strictly utilitarian. There is nothing beautiful about amy of the human interaction. There is nothing to inspire anything human in anyone. So he arrives with stellar soloists, some of the best musicians in the world, and the inmates can’t contain themselves. They are moved to cheers and one time a man rushed to the stage, wanting to embrace the violinist for the beauty of her music, but knew he couldn’t and just stood there shaking. If you want to change people on a deep level, bring God to these people, don’t use words, use beauty. Scot said he learned how beauty can lead you to understanding and knowledge of God, whether it’s art or natural beauty. Eric said beauty like nothing else moves. It’s the unspoken. Eric said sound is just a physical wavelength, but when you play it you affect people. He received a letter from an inmate who’d been in prison for 13 years how he was filled with and surrounded by hate. He had only been growing in hate in his time in prison. But after the concert, he kept the program because when he wanted to remember something beautiful he would look at it and have hope again. The music brings hope. Eric related a letter from a prison warden in Wisconsin who said the behavior of the inmates during and after the concert indicated it had a powerful impact on the inmates. Everyone who works in the prison noted the difference it had made to the prisoners, bringing the peace of the world into their lives. Eric remembers a young inmate, about 22, after the concert came up to him and said thank you for the 90 minutes of freedom. If it can do that for him, what can it do who are imprisoned in figurative ways in the rest of the world. Let’s give each other hope, not just this low stuff that we want to sell them. Eric said there is a great mystery between us and our Creator that we must tap into through art and music. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote about the Eucharist by writing poetry, Panis Angelicus, because the art and music transcends words. Scot asked what people can expect from a performance before the Blessed Sacrament in a beautiful church. Eric said it’s amazing because the Eucharist is the most beautiful art on the planet. He wants to being his best. He will be playing music and telling stories. There will be great music and world-class performances. The show ended with some of Eric’s music, a composition called “Here I Am.”

Summary of today’s show: On a special Thursday news edition of the show, Scot Landry, Susan Abbott, Fr. Roger Landry, and Gregory Tracy discuss the week’s headlines, including the Pilot special report on a Boston pilgrimage to Cuba; the retirement of three long-serving pastors; the sale of St. James in Wellesley; National Catholic Education Association convention in Boston next week; and a profile of the work of the diocesan archives. Finally, the panel took some time to discuss the importance of the Easter Triduum, especially Holy Thursday and Good Friday and the unique differences from all other liturgies. Listen to the show: Subscribe for free in iTunes Today’s host(s): Scot Landry and Susan Abbott Today’s guest(s): Fr. Roger Landry, executive editor of The Anchor, the newspaper of the Fall River diocese; and Gregory Tracy, managing editor of The Pilot, the newspaper of the Boston archdiocese Links from today’s show: The Anchor The Pilot Some of the stories discussed on this show will be available on The Pilot’s and The Anchor’s websites on Friday morning. Please check those sites for the latest links. Today’s topics: Visiting Cuba; retiring pastors; diocesan archives; the Triduum 1st segment: Scot wished Susan a blessed Triduum. He said what stands out for him today is that there isn’t a Mass today at the Pastoral Center. Susan said the Holy Thursday Mass of the Last Supper is worth waiting for. Fr. Roger said the Chrism Mass is traditionally held on Thursday morning. There can also be a Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper for those whom it would be impossible to attend the regular evening Mass, but that requires a bishops’ permission. Scot said part of the Holy Thursday observance is to process from the Church with the Blessed Sacrament to a place of reservation to hold vigil with the Lord. Scot wanted to start with the news this week, especially the Pilot’s special coverage of Pope Benedict’s trip to Cuba. “Cardinal O’Malley’s visit to Cuba builds on long connect to country”, The Pilot, 4/6/12 Greg said he and his wife, Donis, who wrote most of the articles, accompanied a delegation of Boston pilgrims who went to Havana to go to Mass with the Holy Father, but also visited cultural sites as well as the work of Caritas Cubana, the Church’s social service agency. Donis also wrote a story detailing Cardinal Seán’s long relationship with the Cuban people. When he was first a priest in Washington, DC, he worked closely with Cuban-Americans in serving refugees and others. Scot said the Cardinal talked a bout how conditions in Cuba changed significantly after 1998 when Pope John Paul II visited Cuba. The cardinal went to Cuba in 2003 for an apostolic visitation of the seminaries. “I found that of the 80 or so seminarians, 90 percent of them were converts who attributed their conversion to [Pope] John Paul II’s visit to Cuba,” he said. Scot noted that Raul Castro declared Good Friday to be a national holiday this year after Pope Benedict’s visit. Cardinal Seán said, “Hopefully the Church will be allowed a greater presence in the media — in Catholic radio, Catholic newspapers, and the like… and will be allowed to have a Church presence in schools and hospitals, something that today they are not allowed to do.” He added, “I think the Holy Father’s presence brought the world’s attention to Cuba, which is a good thing because it helps to put pressure on the government to continue to change and to allow greater freedom to the people of Cuba,” he said, “which is something we would all like to see.” Fr. Roger said being in the presence of Christ’s Vicar on earth is a powerful reminder that the reason for the Pope was Peter and the reason for Peter was Jesus and it’s all real. It’s a powerful reminder that the Christian story is all true and it’s not just history, but a present reality. He said it’s also curious that while Good Friday will be a civil holiday, we also heard that 42 Cubans arrested during the visit last week that they will remain in prison through the Triduum. “Boston-based group supports Church’s charitable works in Cuba”, The Pilot, 4/6/12 “Boston pilgrims see work of Church in Cuba firsthand”, The Pilot, 4/6/12 “Caritas Cubana works to help Cuba’s most needy”, The Pilot, 4/6/12 “For agency, travel is mission”, The Pilot, 4/6/12 Scot said he enjoyed the profile of the Educational Travel Alliance, which has been leading trips to Cuba for the last 10 years. He noted that the founder has personal reasons for this work. For Eizenberg, the trips are also closely linked to his personal experiences. He said the words of his mother, a survivor of a Nazi death camp, echo in his mind whenever he brings a group to Cuba. “She used to say, ‘We knew we were really in trouble when no one was coming (to Germany) anymore and we were left alone with them,’” said Eizenberg. “I don’t want that to happen to the Cuban people anymore,” he added. In the future Eizenberg is hoping to develop a campus ministry program facilitate student mission trips to Cuba. “Campus ministries go everywhere in the world to help people, but they don’t go to Cuba,” he explained. “We shouldn’t keep Cuba off the map,” he said. Greg said the more they got to know the travel organizers the more they realized that there was a story in their work and mission. Greg said his impression of Cuba is that it’s a country stuck in time. It’s essentially stuck in 1959, at the moment of revolution. “Cuba is unlike any other place we have taken anyone,” added Rice. “You feel like you are really touching people’s lives — be it the tour guides, the waiters, everyone — which is unlike anywhere else in the world since now society is so homogenized everywhere.” “By nature, the American people are very generous,” added Eizenberg, noting that people who go on his exchanges often come laden with everything from soaps and spices to nail polish and children’s toys — items that can be found on any U.S. store shelf but can be nearly impossible to obtain for ordinary Cuban citizens. Susan said thought it was interesting how Eizenberg said he was immediately hooked on Cuba and thought he could make a little difference. She said one doesn’t have to change the world, if you can change one person’s life. Greg said his group visited a senior center and brought little fun-sized candy bars to hand out and one of the women said these were extremely valuable. She said her grandchildren might see one of these per year if they’re lucky. 2nd segment: Scot noted the news of official appointments in the Pilot this week, including the granting of senior priest/retirement status effective June 5: Fr. Richard Crowley, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Middleborough, Fr. Francis Daley, pastor of Sts. Martha and Mary, Lakeville, and Fr. James Rafferty, pastor of St. Paul in Hingham. Fr. Rafferty received an award as a priest of the year on Tuesday after the Chrism Mass. Susan noted her work with Fr. Crowley and how much he has done in that parish, along with the other pastors. Scot said the parish in Lakeville is in a beautiful location. Scot said Fr. Jim Rafferty took some heat a couple of years ago for a decision he made about admission of child of a lesbian couple. Fr. Roger wrote an editorial at the time about how Fr. Rafferty took heat for this decision, which he believes was appropriate given that the child would have been taught at school that her situation at home was immoral. Fr. Roger said Fr. Rafferty was really looking out for the best interests of that child. Fr. Roger noted that Fr. Rafferty is looked up to by all priests, young and old, and has set a good example of being a pastor. Scot said he was impressed by the way Fr. Rafferty handled that situation. “After Vatican approval, archdiocese to sell St. James to the town of Wellesley”, The Pilot, 4/6/12 Also in the Pilot is Vatican approval of the sale of the former parish church of St. James to the town of Wellesley where they will build an athletic center. Scot noted that the parish had been in vigil for several years and he hopes that this will bring closure and help the town of Wellesley. There is a special insert in the Pilot this week for the National Catholic Education Association, which will hold its national conference in Boston next week. Susan said it’s a very large event over three days. It attracts national speakers and lots of attention. She said it’s convenient for the conference to come to Boston because they don’t get to travel for conventions lately. “Inner City Scholarship raises $2.7 million”, The Pilot, 4/6/12 Scot said the Inner City Scholarship Fund had it’s annual dinner to raise $3.7 million for Catholic school scholarships. Greg said they always want to do a story to acknowledge the work that they do. One of the students who receive help spoke at the dinner. In making the announcement Mr. Reynolds and Mr. Tucci also recognized Fortune Kalala, a senior at Central Catholic High School in Lawrence, who was the evening’s student speaker. Fortune, a scholarship recipient and honor roll student, moved to Lawrence when he was 13 from Mozambique where he had lived in a refugee camp with his family. After years of fleeing political unrest and civil war, Fortune began the 7th grade not knowing any English. After two years of hard work, he was accepted to Central Catholic High School and was able to attend because of a scholarship provided by the Inner City Scholarship Fund. In the Anchor this week is a profile of the Archives of the Diocese of Fall River. Fr. Roger said it’s part of a continuing series on diocesan agencies. He said the Archives keep the history of the diocese. Those records are very important for future Catholics to understand what happened in the past. Susan said Robert Johnson Lally, the archivist in Boston, has been extremely helpful for her when she researches her own topics. She finds the material to be gripping and amusing. Scot said he went through the archives once to read all the files used to plan the visit of Pope John Paul II to Boston in 1979. “Cardinal celebrates Chrism Mass, recognizes priests for service”, The Pilot, 4/6/12 3rd segment: This week’s benefactor card raffle winner is Joseph Szymanski from Boston, MA He wins the CD “The Truth” by Fr. Larry Richards and “The Stations of the Cross in Masterpiece Art,” a set of 6”x9” prints. If you would like to be eligible to win in an upcoming week, please visit WQOM.org. For a one-time $30 donation, you’ll receive the Station of the Cross benefactor card and key tag, making you eligible for WQOM’s weekly raffle of books, DVDs, CDs and religious items. We’ll be announcing the winner each Wednesday during “The Good Catholic Life” program. 4th segment: Scot and Fr. Roger discussed that the Triduum is a season of its own, inaugurating the Easter season. Scot said one of his favorite George Weigel columns, “Easter changes everything.” “Easter changes everything”, George Weigel, 4/2/12 In the Gospel readings of the Easter Octave, the Church annually remembers the utterly unprecedented nature of the paschal event, and how it exploded expectations of what God’s decisive action in history would be. No one gets it, at first; for what has happened bursts the previous limits of human understanding. The women at the empty tomb don’t understand, and neither do Peter and John. The disciples on the road to Emmaus do not understand until they encounter the Risen One in the Eucharist, the great gift of paschal life, offered by the new Temple, the divine Presence, himself. At one encounter with the Risen Lord, the Eleven think they’re seeing a ghost; later, up along the Sea of Galilee, it takes awhile for Peter and John to recognize that “It is the Lord!” (John 21:7). These serial episodes of incomprehension, carefully recorded by the early Church, testify to the shattering character of Easter, which changed everything: the first disciples’ understanding of history, of life-beyond-death, of worship and its relationship to time (thus Sunday, the day of Easter, becomes the Sabbath of the New Covenant). Easter also changed the first disciples’ understanding of themselves and their responsibilities. They were the privileged ones who must keep alive the memory of Easter: in their preaching, in their baptizing and breaking of bread, and ultimately in the new Scriptures they wrote. They were the ones who must take the Gospel of the Risen One to “all nations,” in the sure knowledge that he would be with them always (Matthew 28:19-20). They were to “be transformed” (Romans 12:2). So are we. Fr. Roger’s editorial this week examines the heart of Holy Week, which the Heart of the Christian faith and life itself. The heart is who Jesus is and what he’s trying to do. Pope Benedict notes that the people around Jesus at first acclaimed an idol of their own imagination rather the Jesus as the real Messiah and King. Jesus came to give witness to the truth. Jesus is the axis of truth on which everything depends. In being crucified, Christ becomes the power and wisdom of God. We need to recognize Jesus as the truth and not separate him from the truth that he taught. In our relativistic age, people reject the idea of truth. Scot noted that this Holy Thursday is a much bigger deal than Opening Day for the baseball season. Susan said these three days are the jewel in the crown of our liturgical year. We celebrate and remember the ongoing Eucharist in our lives. These aren’t holy days of obligation, but Susan said her church is packed at every service because how much richer Easter is when we’ve walked the walk with Jesus. Scot said some will ask why they’re not holy days of obligation. Fr. Roger said the Church would never dream of making something so significant mandatory. A practicing Christian would never be forced to go; they’re going to want to be there. That’s how it’s supposed to be for us as Christians. To call it an obligation would be to downgrade it. Scot noted that the Holy Thursday Mass has two significant differences: the washing of the feet of 12 men and that the Mass has no actual dismissal, but continues to a place of adoration. Greg noted that the connection to the Passover seder and how the least important person, usually the youngest child, would wash to hands of all those present. Jesus takes this last place and then goes further to wash feet, which in the Middle East feet are considered lowly and unclean. Fr. Roger noted that the Book of Revelations says were are cleansed in the blood of the Lamb, and Jesus takes on the form of a slave to wash us in his own Blood. Then he gives us the chalice of his Blood, where he continues his love to the extreme. He institutes the priesthood to continue to feed us and wash us across time and space. Like a parent for a small child, Jesus washes us and feeds us. Scot noted that on Good Friday, it isn’t a Mass, we hear the Passion from the Gospel of John, and we have the veneration of the Cross. We also pray profound prayers of petition for the world. Susan said we are a Church of sign and symbol and much of what we do doesn’t have words. We hear the Passion of the Lord and we kiss the cross, and it’s a powerful action. Scot said there will not be an episode of The Good Catholic Life on Good Friday and wished all listeners a Happy Easter. 5th segment:

Summary of today’s show: The Easter Vigil is the Super Bowl of liturgies in the Catholic Church calendar, with our most beautiful prayers and symbols and imagery, encapsulating all of Salvation History. For the first time this Easter, we will hear the prayers using the new translation of the Roman Missal, which restores the beautiful phrase lost over time. Fr. Jonathan Gaspar joins Scot Landry and Fr. Matt Williams to discuss the Easter Vigil and especially to chant the Exsultet, the Easter Proclamation, like you’ve never heard before. Listen to the show: Subscribe for free in iTunes Today’s host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Matt Williams Today’s guest(s): Fr. Jonathan Gaspar, Director of the Office for Divine Worship Links from today’s show: New Roman Missal section of BostonCatholic.org Today’s topics: The Easter Vigil Liturgy 1st segment: Scot and Fr. Matt discussed the topic for today’s show which will be the Super Bowl of liturgies, the Easter Vigil on Saturday evening. Fr. Jonathan Gaspar, the director of the Office for Worship will assist them with examining the Vigil Mass. Fr. Matt will be very busy on Good Friday and Holy Saturday, starting in Nahant and engaging in many service projects with the Hunger for Justice retreat for high school students. Fr. Matt said he has only been the main celebrant of the Easter Vigil liturgy once as a priest, because he’s either been a parochial vicar or head of the Office for the New Evangelization of Youth and Young Adults and it’s usually the pastor who celebrates. Also, tonight is the last opportunity for The Light Is On For You, to go to confession in any parish or chapel in the archdiocese from 6:30-8pm. The Light Is On For You Scot welcomed Fr. Jonathan to the show and said over the past year he;s been helping people adapt to the changes in the Roman Missal. Fr. Jonathan said all the texts of the Mass have changed and the Easter vigil is no different. He said the texture of the language is changed, phrases that were lost in the old translation have been restored, including language related to the work of Creation in preparing the liturgy./ Scot said the Mass is usually in two parts: Liturgy of the Word and Liturgy of the Eucharist. But the Easter Vigil is not just two parts. Fr. Jonathan said the Easter vigil is four parts: We begin with the Service of Light, the blessing of the fire in darkness outside of the church. This blazing fire scatters the darkness of night. This goes back to the second century and Eusebius refers to this in the fourth century, saying the Easter fire illuminated the city of Byzantium. The deacon or priest then proclaims the great praise of Easter. Scot talked about taking small children to the Easter Vigil, how they will love seeing all the different aspects. He suggested sitting in the back to see the events surrounding the lighting of candles. Then there is the Liturgy of the Word. There are seven readings from the Old Testament, which are the story of Salvation History, how the love f God for his people culminated in Easter; the Epistle from the New Testament; and the Gospel. Fr. Jonathan said it tells the story of how God remembers his covenant even when we have failed to love him. It tells the story of God calling us back each time, reestablishing his covenant. Finally the Father sends His Son to establish a new eternal covenant that will never be broken. Scot said you can’t walk away from the Vigil without being aware of God’s love for us. The third part of the Vigil is also different. It’s the celebration of the sacraments of initiation for candidates and catechumens. During Lent they have been preparing through prayer and examination of themselves to receive these sacraments. They receive the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and the Eucharist. This part also helps everyone renew their baptismal promises. In a beautiful way we relight our own candles. The water of the baptism is sprinkled upon the people, reminding us of the blood of the sacrifice of the lambs sprinkled over the people of Israel during the first Passover in Egypt. Scot said it also reminds us of our own baptism. Fr. Jonathan said a funeral liturgy is like a mini-Easter Vigil, from the way t he body is greeted at the door to the church and blessed and carried forward and clothed in baptismal gowns and the use of the paschal candle and more. Fr. Matt said the funeral is first and foremost a celebration of the paschal mystery of Christ. The fourth part is the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Fr. Jonathan said every Mass is a celebration of the special meaning that the Eucharist has on Easter, receiving the risen body and blood of our Lord. Fr. Jonathan said at the cathedral they have the blessing of the fire outside because the rubrics say it should be a roaring fire. Then they will hold a procession around the cathedral. CatholicTV will broadcast the Easter vigil. Scot said the Mass always has to start after dark. Fr. Jonathan said this goes back to the 2nd century. In the 7th century they started creeping back the vigil to Saturday morning, but in 1951 the Vatican released a new text for the vigil that required that it take place after dark and finish before dawn. In the Archdiocese of Boston, parishes cannot begin until after 8pm. How can Christ cast out darkness if the sun is still shining. The symbolism speaks volumes when done in a dark church. Fr. Jonathan said at the beginning of the Liturgy the priest blesses the fire. The fire represents purification, passion, and illumination. The first should represent our passion for evangelization. Dear brethren (brothers and sisters), on this most sacred night, in which our Lord Jesus Christ passed over from death to life, the Church calls upon her sons and daughters, scattered throughout the world, to come together to watch and pray. Ifwe keep the memorial of the Lord’s paschal solemnity in this way, listening to his word and celebrating his mysteries, then we shall have the sure hope of sharing his triumph over death and living with him in God. Then the Priest blesses the fire, saying with hands extended: Let us pray. o God, who through your Son bestowed upon the faithful the fire of your glory, sanctify this new fire, we pray, and grant that, by these paschal celebrations, we may be so inflamed with heavenly desires, that with minds made pure we may attain festivities of unending splendor. Through Christ our Lord. R. Amen. They then bless the candle, and the priest inserts some Greek letters and the numbers of the year. The priest then puts five spikes of incense. Incense is part of sacrifice and the incense signifies that the candle itself burns in praise. The incense is inserted in a shape of cross, representing the wounds of Christ. The candles is a symbol of the resurrected and glorified body of Christ. After the blessing of the new fire, one of the ministers brings the paschal candle to the Priest, who cuts a cross into the candle with a stylus. Then he makes the Greek letter Alpha above the cross, the letter Omega below, and the four numerals of the current year between the arms of the cross, saying meanwhile: 1. Christ yesterday and today (he cuts a vertical line); 2. the Beginning and the End (he cuts a horizontal line); 3. the Alpha (he cuts the letter Alpha above the vertical line); 4. and the Omega (he cuts the letter Omega below the vertical line). 5. All time belongs to him (he cuts the first numeral of the current year in the upper left comer of the cross); 6. and all the ages (he cuts the second numeral of the current year in the upper right comer of the cross). 7. To him be glory and power (he cuts the third numeral of the current year in the lower left comer of the cross); 8. through every age and for ever. Amen (he cuts the fourth numeral of the current year in the lower right comer of the cross). [Insert inscription diagram for candle, cf. Missale Romanum, p. 339] When the cutting of the cross and of the other signs has been completed, the Priest may insert five grains of incense into the candle in the form of a cross, meanwhile saying: By his holy (Insert incense diagram for candle, cf. Missale Romanum, p. 339] and glorious wounds, may Christ the Lord guard us and protect us. Amen. The candle is lit from the bonfire and the priest sings, and the deacon leads the procession of the people into the church, reminding us of the Israelites being led by God as a pillar of fire from Egypt through the darkness of the wilderness into the Promised Land. The church is the promised land, a sign of the eternal reward. Scot said he loves to see the church become lit up with the candles held by individual parishioners. It showcases the beauty of the churches lit only by candlelight, showing us how churches have traditionally been lit throughout the centuries. Fr. Jonathan said the new fire blessed in the bonfire is brought into the church by the paschal candle for all the individual candles and all the lamps of the church. The deacon sings a proclamation three times. This when the electric lights are turned on. At this point the Easter proclamation is chanted. Fr. Jonathan said it is an over-excited expresso not Easter joy. In the old liturgy the priests were still in the purple of Lent, while the deacon was in the Easter color of white or gold. He sings of the joy of the Paschal Candle, which tells the story of our redemption and the mystery of the Easter vigil. It probably goes back to the third or fourth century and it originated in or around southern Italy. The chant itself is an ancient chant. There is both a new text and new music this year and it’s the only time in the liturgy that Gregorian chant is permitted to be over the top. We heard a recording of the Exsultet made at St. Cecilia Parish in Boston: Exult, let them exult, the hosts of heaven, exult, let Angel ministers of God exult, let the trumpet of salvation sound aloud our mighty King’s triumph! Be glad, let earth be glad, as glory floods her, ablaze with light from her eternal King, let all comers of the earth be glad, knowing an end to gloom and darkness. Rejoice, let Mother Church also rejoice, arrayed with the lightning of his glory, let this holy building shake with joy, filled with the mighty voices of the peoples. (Therefore, dearest friends, standing in the awesome glory of this holy light, invoke with me, I ask you, the mercy of God almighty, that he, who has been pleased to number me, though unworthy, among the Levites, may pour into me his light unshadowed, that I may sing this candle’s perfect praises). (V. The Lord be with you. R. And with your spirit.) V. Lift up your hearts. R. We lift them up to the Lord. V. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. R. It is right and just. It is truly right and just, with ardent love of mind and heart and with devoted service of our voice, to acclaim our God invisible, the almighty Father, and Jesus Christ, our Lord, his Son, his Only Begotten. Who for our sake paid Adam’s debt to the eternal Father, and, pouring out his own dear Blood, wiped clean the record of our ancient sinfulness. These, then, are the feasts of Passover, in which is slain the Lamb, the one true Lamb, whose Blood anoints the doorposts of believers. This was the first section of the Easter Proclamation. Scot said he doesn’t recall hearing the beautiful imagery of the building shaking with the voices of the people. That’s how he envisions heaven to be: Heaven rocks because everyone participates fully. Fr. Matt said when you’ve been entering the spirit of Lent and the Triduum, there’s a sense of your heartbreaking for Him along with Our Lady. And then the Holy Light and the church lights up and the proclamation says there’s great hope in the Resurrection. It’s amazing how you enter into realizing that without Christ there is darkness, but with the Resurrection there is great hope and joy. there’s something that happens in you that lifts up your spirit. Scot said all of Creation sings aloud the triumph of the cross and all Creation on earth is to be glad. The Church is involved in that. Fr. Jonathan said every single word is packed with joy. He said musically you hear all those beautiful lines. He said parts of the chant sound like bells and he’s convinced that when the bells of Westminster Abbey were made, they had this chant in mind. Another line sounds like a trumpet. The music matches up with the imagery of the text. He said are not to be shy as Christians. We have mighty voices because of what we celebrate this evening. At the end of this section, it shows that tonight we celebrate the Christian Passover. For this next section, the music changes, and we hear longer notes for the great mystery that is being proclaimed: This is the night, when once you led our forebears, Israel’s children, from slavery in Egypt and made them pass dry-shod through the Red Sea. This is the night that with a pillar of fire banished the darkness of sin. This is the night that even now, throughout the world, sets Christian believers apart from worldly vices and from the gloom of sin, leading them to grace and joining them to his holy ones. This is the night, when Christ broke the prison-bars of death and rose victorious from the underworld. Our birth would have been no gain, had we not been redeemed. O wonder of your humble care for us! O love, O charity beyond all telling, to ransom a slave you gave away your Son! O truly necessary sin of Adam, destroyed completely by the Death of Christ! O happy fault that earned so great, so glorious a Redeemer! O truly blessed night, worthy alone to know the time and hour when Christ rose from the underworld! This is the night of which it is written: The night shall be as bright as day, dazzling is the night for me, and full of gladness. The sanctifying power of this night dispels wickedness, washes faults away, restores innocence to the fallen, and joy to mourners, drives out hatred, fosters concord, and brings down the mighty. On this, your night of grace, O holy Father, accept this candle, a solemn offering, the work of bees and of your servants’ hands, an evening sacrifice of praise, this gift from your most holy Church. But now we know the praises of this pillar, which glowing fire ignites for God’s honor, a fire into many flames divided, yet never dimmed by sharing of its light, for it is fed by melting wax, drawn out by mother bees to build a torch so precious. O truly blessed night, when things of heaven are wed to those of earth, and divine to the human. Scot said his favorite line was “to ransom a slave you gave away your Son! O truly necessary sin of Adam, destroyed completely by the Death of Christ! O happy fault that earned so great, so glorious a Redeemer!” Fr. Matt said the words before it are different from the previous translation because now they emphasis the love of God, love beyond all telling. Fr. Jonathan said these all come from St. Ambrose’s commentary on Scripture. His favorite line is “Our birth would have been no gain,had we not been redeemed.” Fr. Matt recalled the imagery of Christ breaking the prison bars of death. Therefore, O Lord, we pray you that this candle, hallowed to the honor of your name, may persevere undimmed, to overcome the darkness of this night. Receive it as a pleasing fragrance, and let it mingle with the lights of heaven. May this flame be found still burning by the Morning Star: the one Morning Star who never sets, Christ your Son, who, coming back from death’s domain, has shed his peaceful light on humanity, and lives and reigns for ever and ever. R. Amen. Scot encourages all listeners to come to the Easter Vigil at any parish in the Archdiocese. Fr. Jonathan said the morning star is the last star seen before the sun comes up. In Christian thought, Christ is the star that never sets.

Summary of today’s show: On Tuesday of Holy Week in the Archdiocese of Boston, Cardinal Seán celebrates the Chrism Mass with the priests of the archdiocese, blessing the holy oils used in sacraments for the next year and renewing their priestly vows. In a special broadcast from the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston, Scot Landry and Fr. Chris O’Connor, first, discuss the Mass and Holy Week with Fr. Jonathan Gaspar and the listen to and reflect upon Cardinal Seán’s homily to the priests, which each year is the one he prepares for with the greatest reflection and prayer. Listen to the show: Subscribe for free in iTunes Today’s host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Chris O’Connor **Today’s guest(s): Fr. Jonathan Gaspar Links from today’s show: Photos of the Chrism Mass Today’s topics: Cardinal Seán’s homily at the Chrism Mass 1st segment: Today the show is being broadcast from the Cathedral of the Holy Cross following the celebration of the Chrism Mass. He is joined by Fr. Jonathan Gaspar and Fr. Chris O’Connor. Fr. Jonathan said it’s always great to see so many priests turn out. Fr. Chris said many priests make a conscious decision to come from all over the Archdiocese in order to receive the oils used in sacraments and to renew their priestly vows. Many can’t come because they are needed in their parishes. Scot said it seems the Cardinal puts extra time and effort into his Chrism Mass homily. Fr. Jonathan said the Cardinal loves to preach, but he spends a great of time preparing for this one in particular, offering the priests a message of hope and encouragement. He said the Cardinal has spent many nights over the past few weeks in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament and at his desk writing his homily. Scot said Cardinal Sean said the Chrism Mass is a sign of unity across the archdiocese in the sacred chrism consecrated today to be used in every sacrament of baptism, confirmation, and anointing. Fr. Chris said all of those sacraments are connected to this Mass today. Another element of unity is the presence of Greek Orthodox Metropolitan Methodios. Both the Metropolitan and the Cardinal spoke of the need for Christian unity. Scot said there is a luncheon for priests after the Mass at the cathedral and each year two priests received awards for their service. Fr. Jim Rafferty and Fr. Dave Palmieri were the recipients this year. Scot noted that Fr. Rafferty received unfavorable press coverage for a pastoral decision a few years ago at St. Paul’s in Hingham and this was a chance to highlight his service and to reaffirm him as one who preaches the faith in season and out of season. Scot said Cardinal Seán also mentioned during his homily how many priests tell him they first had an inkling of their vocation from their childhood priests who mentioned the possibility for the call in their lives. Fr. Jonathan recalled his own childhood priest who planted the idea of a vocation in him as a boy. He said Cardinal Seán told priests that the first way to foster vocations was to just smile and show the joy of the priesthood. 2nd segment: Scot said the Chrism Mass is the second big event of Holy Week after Palm Sunday. In many places, Chrism Mass is on Holy Thursday morning, but in big dioceses they move it to another day because priests need to get back to the parishes for Holy Thursday evening for all the preparations that must be made. Fr. Chris said in Rome it will be held on Holy Thursday. He said Pope John Paul II used to publish a Holy Thursday letter to the priests of the world giving them something to reflect on. He’s hoping Pope Benedict issues such a letter this year. Scot said priests at this Mass renew their priestly promises from ordination. After 14 years as a priest, Fr. Chris reflected on the renewal and he recalled the words, “Lord, I am unworthy.” In the midst of our own brokenness, Christ continues to call us to minister to his people. It also brought him back to his ordination day, being with his brother priests and celebrating the gift of his priesthood. The only large gathering of priests for Mass like this is the ordination Mass. The Cardinal asked three questions of the priests to renew their priestly vows. Fr. Chris said the Cardinal also asked the priests to pray him as a priestly leader. At another point, the vicar general kepis up and reads the names of all the priests who have died in the past year. About 25 priests were named this year. Scot said he reflected on how every priest present knew that one day their name would be read in this Mass. Fr. Chris said all Christians need to be cognizant of their own mortality and death, but the proximity of Easter reminds us of the promise of eternal life. Now we will hear from Cardinal Sean’s homily for the Mass and we will stop periodically to comment on it: Good morning everyone. Your eminence, Metropolitan Methodius, Brother Bishops and Priests, Deacons, Fellow Religious, dear brothers and sisters in the Lord. I first learned about the great tradition of Boston when John Wright became our bishop when I was a seminarian and he would regale us with many stories about Boston. But my favorite story of his was about Mayor Curley. Once when he was running for mayor, he was opposed by one of his lieutenants, a big, garrulous red-haired Irishman who I think was the police or the fire chief at the time. When his opponent had a political rally he decided to go. When he got there, he asked to speak. He said, “You know, every great man in history has had a betrayer. Caesar had his Brutus, Washington had Benedict Arnold, and our blessed savior had Judas. And you know? They were all redheads. Once I was visited by a priest who was very discouraged. He thought he was a redhead… He said: “Bishop, I am the worst priest in the world.” I said to him, that is quite a distinction. I asked him about his ordination and first mass. I said, “Did you fight over who was going to be first in line at your ordination? Did you betray Christ for the collection? Did you chop off someone’s ears with a machete? Did you then run away and hide? I was of course comparing the worst priest in the world with the first priests in the world, the apostles. The vocation of the apostles begins with the joyful discovery of Christ, and with the reckless abandoning of their boats, their nets and their families, to follow the Lord. It wasn’t too long however, when they were soon in competition with each other and worried about their retirement benefits, like who was going to have the thrones on the right and the left. They spent most of the first Sacred Triduum locked in the Cenacle, while it was the women who followed Jesus through the Stations of the Cross and to Calvary. To me one of the most poignant scenes in the Gospels is the apparition of the Risen Lord on Easter to the 11 remaining apostles. They’re hiding out in the Cenacle with the doors bolted. Suddenly, Christ is in their midst showing them his wounded hands as if to say: “See how much I love you.” The reaction of the apostles certainly must have been one of very conflicted emotions. First of all, they were overjoyed to see that Jesus was alive and in their midst. Secondly, they would have felt a profound shame and embarrassment because of their cowardly behavior. The apostles did not surface even to bury Jesus’ body after the crucifixion. Had it not been for Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, Jesus’ body would have been cast into a common ditch to be savaged by vultures and dogs. But Jesus’ love and forgiveness is so great, He does not even remind them of how badly they have behaved, but instead gives them the gift of the Spirit so that these sinners could become wounded healers. I find immense consolation in the fact that the Gospels give us, not pious platitudes, but a gritty, realistic portrayal of our first priests, the apostles. They were ordinary men like ourselves, full of humanity and shortcomings and idiosyncrasies. They were entrusted however, to carry on the most important mission in the history of the world and despite all of their weaknesses, they did an extraordinary job. Scot said one the ideas that stood out to him was that the people entrusted by Jesus to spread the Gospel were not those who had the courage to follow the Way of the Cross and stand at the foot of the Cross. Fr. Chris said we only know for sure that the Virgin Mary and John the beloved apostle were there. He loved how he picked up on the flaws and foibles of the apostles because it shows that by Christ picking these flawed men we see that the Church’s ministry is about reconciliation. He reconciles them to himself in order to send them out to tell about the power of forgiveness. Scot said the cardinal has immense satisfaction that the Gospels give us a gritty, real, intense view of the apostles. Our Church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum of saints. Fr. Chris said it goes back to the incarnation, that Christ became human so we might become divine. Christ is present to us and offering us an opportunity to die to self, so we might live in him. That’s what he calls us all to, regardless of state in life. I’m sure that all of us at one point have felt a certain envy of the apostles. We imagine how wonderful it would be to be there and hear Jesus’ voice, to see his miracles, to experience the closeness, the companionship and joy of being in his presence. It is ironic however, that the apostles’ worst behavior came about while Jesus was still with them. They came into their own after the Pentecost experience. It’s then that they go out boldly to proclaim the gospel and to share with the world what they have received. Though we have not had the privilege of walking over the hills of Galilee in Jesus’ company, we have received the same Spirit that the apostles did on Holy Thursday, on Easter Sunday and on Pentecost. And now the mission must continue, despite our weaknesses and shortcomings and all obstacles. Christ is counting on us just as He counted on those simple fishermen to preach his gospel, calling people to conversion and discipleship, building a community of faith around the Eucharist. Like those first Christians in the Acts of the Apostles, we must be united in embracing the teachings of the apostles, fellowship and prayer, and the breaking of the bread. Holy Thursday is a very special day for us priests; indeed this very Chrism Mass is an extension of Holy Thursday. On that first Holy Thursday, Jesus washed the feet of his apostles and commanded them to love one another in the way that He loves us. He also commanded them to celebrate the Eucharist, “Do this in memory of me.” And later on that same evening, Jesus tells his first priests: “Watch and pray.” Today, 2,000 years later, Jesus is telling us the same thing: we must love one another, we must celebrate His Eucharist, and we must watch and pray. In Chapter 14 of the Acts of the Apostles, St. Luke reports how Paul and Barnabas gather the faithful at Antioch and they reported what God had done with them and how God had “opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.” Pope Benedict has lifted that beautiful phrase, “the door of faith,” “Porta Fidei,” for the name and theme of his letter announcing the year of faith beginning in the fall. It will mark the 50th Anniversary of the opening of the second Vatican Council, convoked by Blessed Pope John XXIII, and which also coincides with the 20th anniversary of the promulgation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, published by Blessed John Paul II. We are people of faith. Faith defines our identity and motivates our actions. Faith is our most precious gift. I am so grateful to have been born into a family of believers, the faith and example of my parents and grandparents and aunts and uncles was so life giving to me as child. And I am ever grateful to my uncle, Father Jerry Riedy, who baptized me into the faith. Scot said although priests today haven’t walked with Jesus in Galilee, they have received the same Spirit the apostles did on Pentecost. Christ is counting on these priests just as He did on the apostles. Scot said the Cardinal has a passion for gathering the people of God around the Eucharistic table each week, because it is where we show our love for one another. Fr. Chris said the early Christians did this to show their love for Christ. There is an equality at that table. All are invited and equal in the eyes of God. We receive communion, we are brought deeper into the mystery of God and are meant to share it with our brothers and sisters in the faith. Scot said Cardinal Seán later told the priests to open the door of faith to people and how grateful he is to his family for opening the door of faith to him. We are all called to show people the beauty of our faith in our lives. Fr. Chris said we learn by imitation and example and so when we see the example of those who love the Lord and willingly give their life in service to the Lord we see the love for Christ conveyed and that faith is infectious. Preparing these reflections today, I decided to consult my concordance of the Bible. I found that the word faith appears four times in the Old Testament. However, in the New Testament, which is much shorter, the term faith appears over 250 times and the word believe also appears over 250 times. It is impossible to read the New Testament without appreciating how important faith is. Faith means not being an orphan, having a father who is our God and having many brothers and sisters. Faith is a home where we dwell and move and have our being, where we discover how much we are loved and who we are. Faith is a relationship with Christ, a loving and trusting and enduring friendship. Indeed the mission entrusted by Jesus to the apostles is not first of all to announce the gospel, but first of all to believe in him. As priests we are called to be men of faith, teachers of faith and witnesses of faith. The epistle to the Hebrews tells us that faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen. After a beautiful passage celebrating the faith of our ancestors throughout salvation history, the author of Hebrews exhorts us: “Therefore since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus the origin and crown of all faith.” A few weeks ago I was invited to give the opening talk at a retreat for 75 young Jesuits here in Boston. A Jesuit Father who is a missionary in Siberia had organized the retreat and invited me. Afterwards, he presented me with a beautiful Russian icon of Our Lady. He told me that in Russia it is said: You do not choose the icon, the icon chooses you.” A very interesting perspective. Well, faith is born of a glance. Not so much ours, but that of Christ. The account of the vocation of the Apostles begins by the assertion Jesus looking at them. Jesus saw Andrew and Peter. Jesus saw the sons of Zebedee. Jesus saw Matthew. And having seen them, having fixed his gaze upon them, Jesus calls them to a life of discipleship. We should ask ourselves: “when did we become aware that Jesus had set his eyes on us?” When did we recognize His voice, and His invitation – “Follow me.” Each of us has our own vocational story. For each of us, there is a precise moment for each of us where we became aware that Jesus was looking at us. Certainly, there were many other moments: moments of enthusiasm, moments of definitive choice, and moments of decision to renew ourselves in the face of trials and difficulties and trials in our ministry. Even moments of remorse and shame when we had to cast ourselves on the mystery of our Lord’s mercy, like Peter in the courtyard of the high priest, when the Lord turns and fixes his gaze on Peter, who goes out and weeps bitterly. To be under the gaze of the love and mercy of Jesus and to put our eyes fixed on Him, this is faith and from that faith comes every call, every following and even our ministerial vocation which unites us to Jesus who with love, compassion and tenderness sees the crowd and is moved because they are like sheep without a shepherd. Seeing our people’s needs, Jesus sends us. Indeed as priests, we must persevere in running this course with our gaze fixed on Jesus, the origin and crown of all faith. It is our own Boston Marathon with many a Heartbreak Hill. It is a long distance run, not the frenetic sprint of the person anxious to be everywhere, who feels indispensable, who never has time for smile, who is not capable of listening, and who does not have the capacity for a profound silence. We need to witness the faith not by adopting the rhythms and times of this world, but rather by responding to the urgency of the gospel. “Faith comes through hearing” (Romans 10, 17) and it is as men of faith, that we must build our lives on the Word of God. There are so many demands on our time and attention, and our energy is not limitless. It requires discipline in the organization of our time to guarantee that each day we can be nourished by listening to the Word of God. Our celebration of the liturgy is also a crucial contact with the power that comes from God’s Word and from the Sacraments. Regardless of what one may feel about the new translation, the changes in the liturgy have been an opportunity for us to focus with greater attention to the words we are praying. The Chrism Mass allows us to glimpse the grace of belonging to a presbyterate. It is this in this presbyterate, united to Christ and one another that the gifts that we received by the imposition of hands can be stirred up and enlivened. Here all of our struggles and triumphs are melded into one. The hidden sacrifices heroically made by some of our brothers, the special graces, the pastoral genius, the tireless dedication come together to forge our presbyterate. We are a body that together regenerates itself. Together we share the responsibility to announce the Gospel and to build up the Christian community. You often hear the expression: “keep the faith.” But what we really need to do is not keep the faith, but spread it around. Our faith grows stronger when we share it with others. All of us remember fondly the priests who mentored us in the faith. Now it is our turn to share these treasures. We are earthen vessels bearing treasures. The world is being overcome with darkness. To me one of the most chilling phrases on Jesus’ lips are the words: “When the Son of Man returns will he find any faith on the earth?” In great part it depends on us. We who are Christ’s priests have a huge responsibility to announce his Gospel in season and out of season. Scot said this was news to him about faith and belief in the Bible. It’s important for the growth of the Church to understand that faith and belief are fundamental. Fr. Chris said we have to remember that faith is a gift from God to us, which we can accept or reject. It’s also important to remember how grateful the Cardinal was that his parents were believers that they imparted their faith to him. How grateful we should be to those in our lives who have imparted the faith to us. Sometimes when we’re lacking faith, the best way to grow in faith is to tell the Lord and then to pray. We become a better athlete by practicing the motions of the sport, and we grow in faith by acting in faith. Scot said the Cardinal said our faith grows stronger as we share it with others. We all have a huge responsibility to preach the Gospel in season and out of season. Fr. Chris quoted the First Letter of Peter, “be prepared to give a reason for your hope,” for why we believe. What are the highlights of our own faith conveyed in 3 minutes that we would give to someone who asked? I often tell the Jesuits that I’m a little envious of them, since they have 35 craters on the moon named after Jesuit fathers. We Capuchins only have a cup of coffee…. One of the best spots to drink a good cappuccino is the Piazza of San Eustachio in Rome. If you have ever indulged yourself at one of the cafés there, you may have noticed the lovely church which looks like many other Italianate churches, except for the fact that on top of the church where one usually expects to find the cross, there is a huge set of antlers. I am sure that there is some pious explanation for the antlers, perhaps some story about San Eustachio running over a deer and miraculously providing venison for 4000 orphans. However, if you ask the Romans why there are antlers on the top of the church you may hear the story that I was told. Apparently, a young Roman nobleman married a beautiful bride in that church, but soon after the marriage she absconded with the best man. Today the man would have gone on the Jerry Springer show. The husband was disconsolate, and in his grief and rage had the antlers placed on the roof of that church. In Italian, a man who has deceived by his wife is referred to as “cornuto” which means having horns. I am told that ever since the antlers went up, there are very few weddings in that church. Accordingly, for many Romans, the antlers on the church betoken defeat and sadness. During this year of faith we need to climb up and pull the antlers down and lift high the cross, the triumphant, life giving cross. Our people need us to be confident and joyful teachers of the faith. Cardinal Dolan spoke of going to a conference by Cardinal Wright on Evangelization, expecting a deep theological treatise. The message of the eloquent Bostonian was simply – smile! Pope Benedict constantly dwells on relationship of faith with joy. The word joy appears sixty (60) times in the New Testament. The very word Gospel means glad tidings. We are messengers of that joyful news. Scot said when he lived in Rome, he never saw the church the Cardinal referred to. Fr. Chris said he is going to Rome this summer and he’s planning to check it out. Scot said the Cardinal seemed to be saying that we should tear down anything distracting us from the faith and in its place to lift high the Cross. But the cross isn’t about grief. The cardinal referred to Cardinal Dolan speaking of the joy of having received the Good News and letting it permeate out hearts, even before the cross. Fr. Chris quoted St. Theresa of Avila: “Lord, save me from long-faced saints.” We should see the cross as something beautiful and life-giving. Showing the joy of the love of Christ attracts people and is an invitation to the gift of faith. The people need to glimpse our own faith. They need teachers who are witnesses. In our priestly support groups and circles of priests, we need to talk about Christ and our love for the mission that He has entrusted to us. It is because the Disciples on the Road to Emmaus are talking about Jesus, that the Risen Lord draws near and breaks open the Scriptures for them. That experience made their hearts burn within them. Cleopas and his buddy never finished that dinner – they got up from that table probably without even paying the check and ran back to Jerusalem with the waitress chasing them down the road. They were filled with joy, and wanted to share that joy and good news with their brothers – “we have seen the Lord and we recognized him in the breaking of the bread.” Pope Benedict XVI, in Porta Fidei, writes “faith grows when it is lived as an experience of grace and joy.” He warns us not to grow lazy in the faith, and urges us to focus on Jesus Christ, because “in him all the anguish and longing of the human heart finds fulfillment.” At the Chrism Mass, I like to make an appeal, a challenge to my priests and to myself. In the past, I have asked us all to work harder on our preaching. I have asked that every priest make a serious retreat each year – I had to go down to St. Petersburg last year to make sure Bishop Hennessey was not offering the enneagram and reiki. Actually we are very grateful for the wonderful work Bob Hennessey is doing on those retreats. I have asked that each priest develop a personal rule of life to assure the balance we need to pray hard, work hard and play hard. I have asked that each priest join a priest support group to be able to build a truly spiritual fraternity with a deep sense of shared mission. This year I would ask that each priest, myself included, to recommit ourselves to our own ongoing formation. Each of us is ultimately responsible for his own ongoing formation, which needs to be spiritual, human, theological and pastoral so that we might be the teachers of the faith our people need. Pope John Paul II wrote in Pastores dabo Vobis: “Ongoing formation aims at increasing the priest’s awareness of his share in the Church’s saving mission”. “The priest’s permanent formation appears not only as a necessary condition but also as an indispensable means for constantly refocusing on the meaning of his mission and for ensuring that he is carrying it out with fidelity and generosity. By this formation, the priest is helped to become aware of the seriousness and yet the splendid grace of an obligation which cannot let him rest, so that, like Paul, he must be able to say: “If I preach the Gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel”(1 Cor. 9:16). At the same time, the priest also becomes aware of a demand, which insistently comes from all those whom God is unceasingly calling to salvation. Scot said in the seminary it’s important to remind the seminarians that formation doesn’t end with ordination. Fr. Chris said none of us are finished products. The disciples on the road to Emmaus were on a journey and each priest has to grow theologically and pastorally. He said he was intrigued by the list of challenges the Cardinal gives each year to the priests for them to work on. It’s helpful to look on all of them and see where they’ve grown. One year is was about working on homilies. Another year was about taking a serious renewing retreat each year. Another year, they were to form a spiritual fraternity. This year it’s about ongoing formation. Fr. Chris said it’s a good reminder to all of his priests. Scot recapped the end of the Cardinal’s homily. For the Church, the Year of the Faith is to be the year of the New Evangelization. Our personal ongoing formation will help us as a diocese in our task of imbuing our pastoral planning with the new evangelization which means taking the Gospel to those who have grown cold, to reach out with a new ardor and with new methods, turning our parishes into communities of evangelizers where every parishioner feels a call to share their faith, to be a part of the mission to make Christ’s Gospel loved, and to promote a civilization of justice and love. I am very grateful to Bishop Arthur Kennedy for his willingness to help us to equip our people for the challenges of the New Evangelization and for promoting our ongoing formation. I know that it seems daunting but I am confident that this Year of Faith will be great grace for our Church if we priests take advantage of this time to renew ourselves in an ongoing conversion that is a response to Christ’s loving call. Spiritual writers speak of a second call, actually there are many moments when the Lord glances at us as He did to Peter, after Peter’s fall and what I call the “Last Breakfast” when the risen Lord, having examined Peter in his love, says “Follow me” again. As we renew our ordination promises may we recommit our lives to Christ, to our brothers and sisters, in the service of the Gospel whose Heralds we are. May the Lord grant each of us a faith that bestows confidence and courage, generosity and joy, as together we work to build up Christ’s Kingdom. Together we want to take down the antlers of sadness and defeat and weathervane of doubt and uncertainly and lift high the cross. What St. Francis calls the book that contains the greatest love story in the history of the world – and we priests are all part of that story. God bless you. Scot said it’s his sense that the Cardinal’s hope is that each parish will come alive and each Catholic will be motivated to share their faith. Fr. Chris said it’s an insight that originates with Pope Benedict XVI, who is always talking about this new evangelization, re-presenting the Gospel to those who have grown cold in the faith, re-introducing the idea that Christ is the life and the Resurrection. Scot previewed the liturgies of the rest of the week. He said beautiful images from these liturgies taken by George Martell can be found at http://www.flickr.com/bostoncatholic. Scot and Fr. Chris said the best way to prepare for Easter is to participate in all the liturgies and services of Holy Week. Fr. Chris reminded everyone that tomorrow night is the final light of The Light Is On For You for this Lent, where the sacrament of confession will be available in every church and chapel from 6:30-8pm.

Summary of today’s show: Seven years ago today, Bl. John Paul II died on the eve of the Feast of Divine Mercy, the devotion that he did so much to promote. Scot Landry and Fr. Matt Williams are joined by Fr. Kazimierz Chwalek and Mary Kay Volpone of the Association of Marian Helpers to discuss this great message of divine love, in which we are called to approach the fountain of Divine Mercy with great trust and through it renew the face of the world. Listen to the show: Subscribe for free in iTunes Today’s host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Matt Williams Today’s guest(s): Fr. Kazimierz Chwalek and Mary Kay Volpone of the Association of Marian Helpers Links from today’s show: Divine Mercy Congregation of Marians of the Immaculate Conception Today’s topics: Divine Mercy 1st segment: Scot welcomed everyone to the show. He noted that today is the seventh anniversary of the death of Blessed John Paul II. They recalled where they each were on that day. Fr. Matt recalls being on a Life in the Spirit seminar in Maine. The day he died was the feast of Divine Mercy. Today we will be talking about Divine Mercy with Fr. Kaz and Mary Kay from the National Shrine of Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. 2nd segment: Scot welcomed Fr. Kaz and Mary Kay to the show. Fr. Kaz said hearing about John Paul brings up all the wonderful memories. Mary Kay recalled hearing the news of the passing of John Paul, being with her nephews and nieces and explaining the importance of the moment and praying with them. Fr. Kaz said the Holy Father actually died at 3:37 pm our time, 9:37pm in Rome, not yet the feast of Divine Mercy. Fr. Kaz said they prayed for him during the hour of Divine Mercy of 3pm. He was in the church at the shrine praying when he heard. Scot said George Weigel has written that John Paul’s love for the Divine Mercy was one of the 3 things that defined his papacy. Fr. Kaz said when John Paul was a laborer during World War II and he used to pass by the shrine of Sr. Faustina’s convent and he was aware of the devotion even before he entered seminary. In 1965 many people wanted him to initiate the cause of Sr. Faustina as archbishop of Karakow, but the Church had banned the devotion. So at the end of Vatican II, he asked the prefect of the Holy Office what to do and he was told to begin. In November 1965, he initiated the cause. He asked one of his best theologians to write an analysis of the diary and the ban was lifted in 1978, six months before John Paul was elected pope. This allowed him to promote the cause, where before it would have been called favoritism. In 1980, he published his second encyclical on Divine Mercy, Dives in Misericordia, where he provided the theological ground for our understanding of divine Mercy without mentioning Faustina. Fr. Kaz was born in Poland and came to the US at 13. Scot asked him to describe how central to Polish Catholicism was the Divine Mercy devotion. Fr. Kaz said once the ban was put in place, the devotion died down and nobody really knew about it in most of Poland. Prior to the ban in 1958, it was promoted and spread, especially during World War II and was a consoling message of hope. In fact, the Marians of the Immaculate Conception brought it to the United States in 1941 and it was spread more widely here. The message was given to the Marians by Faustina’s spiritual director and they began to publish it immediately. The priest had asked the Lord that if he was able to get him out of Communist Poland, that he would do all he could to spread the message. Fr. Kaz said the Holy Father’s second papal trip was to Poland and at the time Fr. Kaz was a graduate student there. The atmosphere was still oppressive without freedom. Fr. Kaz said he will never forget the day on Pentecost when they televised the Mass nationally and John Paul cried out “Let the Holy Spirit come and renew the face of this land.” Fr. Kaz said the students left their studies and followed him for 7 days throughout Poland. Fr. Kaz had a sense of freedom. They were not afraid. This was the beginning of Solidarity. So what this message means is seeing how God works, how merciful He is, how much He cares for us. He can remove the shackles of slavery. Later on, out of that Solidarity movement came the whole collapse of European Communism. Mary Kay said the key points of the devotion are the feast, the image, the hour, the chaplet and the hour of great mercy. She said it’s not just a devotion but a message and way of life. It’s a way of trusting in the Lord and forgiving people. She said it was essential in Poland for people to learn to forgive after the Nazi oppression and then the Communist oppression. Fr. Matt said the Gospel proclaims the abundance of God’s mercy, so the Divine Mercy message through Faustina was not new. Yet, it beautifully unpacks and makes more accessible what we have received in the Gospel. Jesus is the first missionary. He was sent from the Father to redeem and save humanity. Fr. Kaz said the Lord in the messages wants us to know Him as He is. St. Faustina’s spiritual director talked about how much in reading the diary of St. Faustina, he rediscovered the great love and mercy of Christ. It highlights the teachings of our Church, like a spotlight on the Old Testament and New Testament. More than half the Psalms reference mercy, but we overlook it so often. Scot said too often people see God as a tough judge, and it is true that God is our judge, but He also loves us and is merciful and wants to carry our burdens for us. Fr. Kaz said God has given us the ability to know Him and His will and when we go contrary to the commandments we know there are consequences, like the law of gravity. Even though we know, we are weak, in Original Sin, so God gave us the incredible gift of his Son, who has already freed us for eternity. He gave its the power to overcome brokenness. 3rd segment: Fr. Matt asked how we help others rediscover the sense of sin that brings us to repentance. Fr. Kaz said in our hearts we brokenness and disillusionment. While we may not be aware of the nature of sin, God in his mercy wants to heal us. Someone going through hopelessness and despair, call upon God who will come and rescue them. God does not hold grudges. He loves us so much he will takes us home if we acknowledge our need for him. Mary Kay said St. Faustina wrote in her diary about souls striving for perfection. Jesus says there that we fall because we rely too much on our selves and not enough on him. But realize that God doesn’t provide just so many pardons. No matter how many times we turn to him with contrite hearts he will forgive us. It’s when we stop turning to him, that’s when we get in trouble. If the soul doesn’t allow even a little flicker of him in there, he will respect that choice. We have that choice to let him in. At the crucifixion, when Jesus’ heart is pierced and blood and water flow out, it means that there is nothing left to give. It is poured out for every single one of us. No one is ever lost. If someone needs prayers, pray for them because no one is ever beyond conversion. Fr. Kaz quoted, “I have opened My Heart as a living fountain of mercy. Let all souls draw life from it. Let them approach this sea of mercy with great trust (Diary, 1520). On the cross, the fountain of My mercy was opened wide by the lance for all souls — no one have I excluded!” Christ is our fountain so the minute we come to him in prayer, we ask him for healing for mercy and there is more. The Holy Spirit inspires us to pray. Once we are there in that moment, then he draws us to the sacraments. The person opens their heart even a little bit and the Lord comes in. It’s not just Confession, but also the Eucharist. The Eucharist is the fountain of His Mercy. Our Lady is also the one who brings Mercy because she intercedes for us. Scot asked about St. Faustina, who was born in 1905 and died in 1938. Mary Kay said Faustina was the third of ten children in a peasant family. Her family didn’t want her to enter religious life even though she felt a call at 7 years old. When she was 20 years old and attending a dance, she had a vision of the Lord standing before her and asking how long she was going to make him wait. She left the party, ran into a church, and asked for guidance. She was told to go to Warsaw. She got off the train and asked Our Lady for direction .She eventually ended up at the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy who took her in. She had little education and was a gardner, porter, and cook. A beggar came to the door one day and she gave him food. When she turned around she was gone. She started to see visions of Our Lord and write them in her diary. Her spiritual director, Blessed Michael Sopocko, had her examined by a psychiatrist and he later said that he was being so edified by the writings. Mary Kay said one of her favorite parts was Faustina talking about keeping control of an unruly tongue. At one time, she had tuberculosis and no one believed her. The other sisters thought she was stupid and careless and didn’t know about her receiving her messages, yet she thanked God for the daily crosses and harsh way she was treated. And today as a saint she’s interceding for those us who are struggling. Fr. Matt asked about the hour of mercy and how we can observe it. Fr. Kaz said as Catholics we used to have during Lent a remembrance of Christ’s Passion at 3pm. The Lord wanted us to remember him every day in His Passion. Wherever we are we should immerse ourselves in His Passion and to remember what He did for us. Otherwise we go about the day immersed in our present moment, but this life, this world, this moment is not everything. We can experience his love and extraordinary graces by meditating on his passion for as long as we can. He said the Chaplet of Divine Mercy is particularly important in turning to the Father and asking for graces and mercy for everyone around the world. The chaplet is a unique prayer given by the Lord to St. Faustina which grants unimaginable graces to those who recite, especially when recited before one who is dying. How to recite the Chaplet of Divine Mercy He said it’s especially useful to pray many chaplets while driving. It’s a powerful prayer because we turn to the Father. Scot said the chaplet is broadcast every day at 3pm on WQOM and CatholicTV does so as well. Fr. Matt said it can bring comfort to those praying for loved ones who are separated from the Lord, especially when they are dying and don’t have access to a priest. We can pray and the Lord has promised to come in His mercy to that person in the hour of his death. Fr. Kaz says to pray for the dying and trust in his mercy because they have the most need of trust and have it the least. Fr. Kaz said they often teach health care professionals, especially nurses, on the Divine Mercy because they are often the only ones who can pray for the dying. Scot said people are often familiar with the image of Divine Mercy with the motto of Jesus, I trust in you. It’s the promise we all can have to be able to trust in Christ. This was Jesus’ signature that he requested at the bottom of the image. Mary Kay said there are other versions of the image created by artists trying o capture exactly what St. Faustina saw. But instead of getting caught up on any particular image, we should ensure it captures our heart. This Friday begins the nine-day novena leading to the Feast of Diviune Mercy on the Sunday after Easter. Fr. Kaz said the Lord announced the feast before he asked for the novena and repeated it on numerous occasions His desire for this feast. The key element for the Lord was that it occur on the Sunday after Easter. The Eucharist is a key component of the novena as is a good confession. Divine Mercy novena Fr. Kaz said learning this message 33 years ago was the most exciting gift he’s ever received. It’s a message of renewal. Mary Kay said everyone is welcome to the Shrine of Divine Mercy on April 15. It takes place outdoors on the ground and they get between 10,000 and 20,000 pilgrims each year.

Summary of today’s show: For the past 25 years, Colbe Mazzarella has organized hundreds of people for a Good Friday Way of the Cross for Life through Boston, stopping at churches and in front of abortion clinics to pray for the end of the awful practice and offer reparations for their sins and those of our country and the world. Scot Landry and Fr. Mark O’Connell discuss with Colbe how the Way of the Cross has grown over the years into three simultaneous walks averaging about 400 people giving witness through the city. In preparation for Palm Sunday, Scot, Fr. Mark, and Colbe read and discuss the lengthy Passion narrative. Listen to the show: Subscribe for free in iTunes Today’s host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Mark O’Connell Today’s guest(s): Colbe Mazzarella Links from today’s show: Program #0028 for Friday, April 15, 2011: Vicar General and the Way of the Cross for Life Way of the Cross for Life website Way of the Cross for Life Meetup Today’s topics: Way of the Cross for Life 1st segment: Scot welcomed Fr. Mark to the show. On today’s show, we will be hearing and discussing the Passion narrative for Sunday, but first we’ll talk to Colbe Mazzarella, organizer of the Way of the Cross for Life. Scot said the US bishops have asked everyone to pray and fast for religious liberty and protection of conscience. If everyone hasn’t heard that yet, they could pray with us this prayer from the US bishops’ website. O GOD OUR CREATOR, from your provident hand we have received our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. You have called us as your people and given us the right and the duty to worship you, the only true God, and your Son, Jesus Christ. Through the power and working of your Holy Spirit, you call us to live out our faith in the midst of the world, bringing the light and the saving truth of the Gospel to every corner of society. We ask you to bless us in our vigilance for the gift of religious liberty. Give us the strength of mind and heart to readily defend our freedoms when they are threatened; give us courage in making our voices heard on behalf of the rights of your Church and the freedom of conscience of all people of faith. Grant, we pray, O heavenly Father, a clear and united voice to all your sons and daughters gathered in your Church in this decisive hour in the history of our nation, so that, with every trial withstood and every danger overcome— for the sake of our children, our grandchildren, and all who come after us— this great land will always be “one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. 2nd segment: Scot and Fr. Mark welcomed Colbe Mazzarella. Scot congratulated hero n the 25th year for the Way of Cross for Life. It started when she read a newspaper article about someone starting a similar walk in California. She told people what a good idea it is and when no one else started it she did. On Good Friday, they walk and stop and pray in front of several churches and abortion clinics, following three different simultaneous routes. They start at 9 am and usually end by noon and so people go on to a Good Friday service. They walk through Boston and Brookline and East Boston. Colbe noted how often as the people walk, praying not protesting, they get a good response from those who see them. Scot said the Good Friday connection helps people to acknowledge their own sinfulness, especially as it relates to the topic of abortion. They offer up reparation for our sins and the sins throughout the world. Colbe said reparation means “to repair” something bad that has happened, and abortion is something bad that is harming our whole culture. We need to make reparation as a whole nation. Scot asked how it’s different now from 25 years ago. Colbe said for her, she started pushing a stroller with her baby and now he’s a math teacher. Over the years, they’ve added reflections to the traditional Stations of the Cross that include a pro-life meditation that goes with each station. In Boston they start at Government Center. In Brookline they start at Planned Parenthood on Comm. Ave in Allston. In East Boston, the begin at Holy Redeemer. That walk ends at the Madonna Shrine. Colbe said attendance does fluctuate with the weather, but there’s usually 400 or so who are usually there. The East Boston walk is more of a neighborhood event. In downtown Boston they walk through the business district and end up at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross. The Brookline/Allston walk mainly follows the streets of Allston. Colbe said Most Holy Redeemer is mainly Spanish speaking, so the prayers alternate Spanish and English. It has a touch of Latin cultural flavor. You don’t have to sign up. Just show up at one of the starting points. Scot asked about the ups and downs of doing this ministry over 25 years. Colbe said having something that happens on a particular day every year makes it easier over something that’s more open-ended. Having people who are meeting on a schedule is very important, whatever volunteer ministry you lead. Colbe said the walk is a mirror of what Jesus did: walk through the city with some people they pass for them and some against. It also keeps Jesus’ suffering as something timeless, connecting the suffering of Christ with the troubles in own lives and our place. Fr. Mark ask if people are really against them and Colbe said they do hear awful things yelled at them. In response, they respond like Christ, silently and praying for the person. Scot asked what a difference it’s made in her children’s and grandchildren’s lives to make such a public witness of their faith. Colbe said it’s great to start when they’re young so they don’t see it as unusual. Her kids walk right up front holding the banner and later in life they’re used to stepping up. When they see someone being negative, they see one angry individual versus a large group of prayerful people. They’ve borrowed the Holy Thursday tradition of the station churches. At each church, they go inside and say two of the stations. They also have Bible readings, going verse by verse through Salvation History, from Genesis to Revelation. Some of the stops include the Paulist Center, St. Thomas More chapel (even though it’s closed now), St. Anthony’s Shrine, St. James in Chinatown, Holy Trinity, and the cathedral. At the cathedral they make the same two stations, but are led by Cardinal Sean. This year it’s in the downstairs chapel. They discussed the renovations that have happened in the cathedral, including the beautiful chapel. They also discussed the various languages prayed in the cathedral. Colbe said most people walk the whole route, but people do join along the way. 3rd segment: Now as we do each week, we look forward to the readings from this Sunday’s Mass. We will hear the Gospel of the Pasison Narrative read in four voices. Gospel of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ for Palm Sunday, April 1, 2012 (Mark 14:1-15:47) The Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were to take place in two days’ time. So the chief priests and the scribes were seeking a way to arrest him by treachery and put him to death. They said, “Not during the festival, for fear that there may be a riot among the people.” When he was in Bethany reclining at table in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of perfumed oil, costly genuine spikenard. She broke the alabaster jar and poured it on his head. There were some who were indignant. “Why has there been this waste of perfumed oil? It could have been sold for more than three hundred days’ wages and the money given to the poor.” They were infuriated with her. Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you make trouble for her? She has done a good thing for me. The poor you will always have with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them, but you will not always have me. She has done what she could. She has anticipated anointing my body for burial. Amen, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed to the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.” Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went off to the chief priests to hand him over to them. When they heard him they were pleased and promised to pay him money. Then he looked for an opportunity to hand him over. On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, “Where do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” He sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city and a man will meet you, carrying a jar of water. Follow him. Wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’ Then he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready. Make the preparations for us there.” The disciples then went off, entered the city, and found it just as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover. When it was evening, he came with the Twelve. And as they reclined at table and were eating, Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.” They began to be distressed and to say to him, one by one, “Surely it is not I?” He said to them, “One of the Twelve, the one who dips with me into the dish. For the Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born.” While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many. Amen, I say to you, I shall not drink again the fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” Then, after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will have your faith shaken, for it is written: I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be dispersed. But after I have been raised up, I shall go before you to Galilee.” Peter said to him, “Even though all should have their faith shaken, mine will not be.” Then Jesus said to him, “Amen, I say to you, this very night before the cock crows twice you will deny me three times.” But he vehemently replied, “Even though I should have to die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all spoke similarly. Then they came to a place named Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took with him Peter, James, and John, and began to be troubled and distressed. Then he said to them, “My soul is sorrowful even to death. Remain here and keep watch.” He advanced a little and fell to the ground and prayed that if it were possible the hour might pass by him; he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible to you. Take this cup away from me, but not what I will but what you will.” When he returned he found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” Withdrawing again, he prayed, saying the same thing. Then he returned once more and found them asleep, for they could not keep their eyes open and did not know what to answer him. He returned a third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough. The hour has come. Behold, the Son of Man is to be handed over to sinners. Get up, let us go. See, my betrayer is at hand.” Then, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a crowd with swords and clubs who had come from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. His betrayer had arranged a signal with them, saying, “The man I shall kiss is the one; arrest him and lead him away securely.” He came and immediately went over to him and said, “Rabbi.” And he kissed him. At this they laid hands on him and arrested him. One of the bystanders drew his sword, struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his ear. Jesus said to them in reply, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs, to seize me? Day after day I was with you teaching in the temple area, yet you did not arrest me; but that the Scriptures may be fulfilled.” And they all left him and fled. Now a young man followed him wearing nothing but a linen cloth about his body. They seized him, but he left the cloth behind and ran off naked. They led Jesus away to the high priest, and all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes came together. Peter followed him at a distance into the high priest’s courtyard and was seated with the guards, warming himself at the fire. The chief priests and the entire Sanhedrin kept trying to obtain testimony against Jesus in order to put him to death, but they found none. Many gave false witness against him, but their testimony did not agree. Some took the stand and testified falsely against him, alleging, “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with hands and within three days I will build another not made with hands.’” Even so their testimony did not agree. The high priest rose before the assembly and questioned Jesus, saying, “Have you no answer? What are these men testifying against you?” But he was silent and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him and said to him, “Are you the Christ, the son of the Blessed One?” Then Jesus answered, “I am; and ‘you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.’” At that the high priest tore his garments and said, “hat further need have we of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?” They all condemned him as deserving to die. Some began to spit on him. They blindfolded him and struck him and said to him, “Prophesy!” And the guards greeted him with blows. While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the high priest’s maids came along. Seeing Peter warming himself, she looked intently at him and said, “You too were with the Nazarene, Jesus.” But he denied it saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are talking about.” So he went out into the outer court. Then the cock crowed. The maid saw him and began again to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them.” Once again he denied it. A little later the bystanders said to Peter once more, “Surely you are one of them; for you too are a Galilean.” He began to curse and to swear, “I do not know this man about whom you are talking.” And immediately a cock crowed a second time. Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had said to him, “Before the cock crows twice you will deny me three times.” He broke down and wept. As soon as morning came, the chief priests with the elders and the scribes, that is, the whole Sanhedrin held a council. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. Pilate questioned him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He said to him in reply, “You say so.” The chief priests accused him of many things. Again Pilate questioned him, “Have you no answer? See how many things they accuse you of.” Jesus gave him no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed. Now on the occasion of the feast he used to release to them one prisoner whom they requested. A man called Barabbas was then in prison along with the rebels who had committed murder in a rebellion. The crowd came forward and began to ask him to do for them as he was accustomed. Pilate answered, “Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” For he knew that it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed him over. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas for them instead. Pilate again said to them in reply, “Then what do you want me to do with the man you call the king of the Jews?” They shouted again, “Crucify him.” Pilate said to them, “Why? What evil has he done?” They only shouted the louder, “Crucify him.” So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas to them and, after he had Jesus scourged, handed him over to be crucified. The soldiers led him away inside the palace, that is, the praetorium, and assembled the whole cohort. They clothed him in purple and, weaving a crown of thorns, placed it on him. They began to salute him with, AHail, King of the Jews!” and kept striking his head with a reed and spitting upon him. They knelt before him in homage. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak, dressed him in his own clothes, and led him out to crucify him. They pressed into service a passer-by, Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross. They brought him to the place of Golgotha — which is translated Place of the Skull — They gave him wine drugged with myrrh, but he did not take it. Then they crucified him and divided his garments by casting lots for them to see what each should take. It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. The inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” With him they crucified two revolutionaries, one on his right and one on his left. Those passing by reviled him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself by coming down from the cross.” Likewise the chief priests, with the scribes, mocked him among themselves and said, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also kept abusing him. At noon darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And at three o’clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Some of the bystanders who heard it said, “Look, he is calling Elijah.” One of them ran, soaked a sponge with wine, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink saying, “Wait, let us see if Elijah comes to take him down.” Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. Here all kneel and pause for a short time. The veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. When the centurion who stood facing him saw how he breathed his last he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” There were also women looking on from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of the younger James and of Joses, and Salome. These women had followed him when he was in Galilee and ministered to him. There were also many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem. When it was already evening, since it was the day of preparation, the day before the sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, a distinguished member of the council, who was himself awaiting the kingdom of God, came and courageously went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate was amazed that he was already dead. He summoned the centurion and asked him if Jesus had already died. And when he learned of it from the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph. Having bought a linen cloth, he took him down, wrapped him in the linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb that had been hewn out of the rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance to the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses watched where he was laid. Scot said when he prays this on Palm Sunday and Good Friday, it’s always difficult to shout as part of the crowd. But it drives home our own sin. Colbe said we do crucify Christ when we sin and so it’s only appropriate that we are the ones to voice that. Fr. Mark said most priests don’t preach a long homily after this, but usually emphasize the entry into Holy Week. But a few interesting parts include the line about the young man wrapped in a linen cloth, who some say was the author of the Gospel, St. Mark. It doesn’t say it’s Mark, but why is it in there? Other possible appearances of Mark might be the rich, young man and the young man who peers into the empty tomb on Easter Sunday. Scot noted that effects of nature, when true darkness falls over the land, earthquake, the veil in the Temple being torn in two. We could have been one of those shouting for the crucifixion, but we could also be the pagan centurion giving testimony, having witnessed the three hours darkness and the momentous events. Why is it just the single voice who reads this line? Colbe said it’s always fewer who see Christ for who he is. But we are often both those who call for the crucifixion, and also those who express our belief. Scot said thinks about how often we are faced with choosing Jesus or Barabbas in our life, i.e. something that is a replacement for Jesus. How often do we choose not-Jesus? It could be as basic as praying more or watching television? Listening to Catholic talk radio or sports talk radio. Fr. Mark said we could be Pilate, who finds his way out and not understanding the full consequences of what he does. Rick Heil, producer, said we could be Simon Cyrenean, the bystander called from the crowd to perform a minor but extremely important role. People are often willing to step up and help if only they’re asked. Scot said Judas comes off worst in this reading, but second worst in Peter. Eventually Jesus gives Peter a chance to repent, to choose Christ instead of himself three times, and then making him Pope. We can never do something that Jesus won’t forgive. Choose Peter’s way, not Judas’ way. Colbe said the biggest difference between Judas and Peter is Judas wouldn’t turn to Jesus, couldn’t believe in forgiveness. Scot said the Agony in the Garden often gets overlooked in this long narrative, but there are important choices in that scene. For instance, the apostles couldn’t stay awake and pray with Jesus for three hours. Sometimes we need to give our attention and best effort to accompany him in prayer. Let him accompany us. This was a gift to the apostles, to be in Christ’s presence in that moment. Fr. Mark said we should pledge to spend time during Holy Week with Christ in the garden. Perhaps that could include the Way of the Cross for Life.

Summary of today’s show: On our weekly headline show, Scot Landry and Susan Abbott discuss the news with Fr. Roger Landry and Antonio Enrique, including last weekend’s Catechetical Congress; appointment of a pastor for the Archdiocese’s largest parish; religious freedom rally in Boston and a day of prayer and fasting; the Pope’s trip to Cuba and Mexico; and asking inactive Catholics why they left. Listen to the show: Subscribe for free in iTunes Today’s host(s): Today’s host(s): Scot Landry and Susan Abbott Today’s guest(s): Fr. Roger Landry, executive editor of The Anchor, the newspaper of the Fall River diocese; and Antonio Enrique, editor of The Pilot, the newspaper of the Boston archdiocese Links from today’s show: The Anchor The Pilot Some of the stories discussed on this show will be available on The Pilot’s and The Anchor’s websites on Friday morning. Please check those sites for the latest links. Today’s topics: Catechetical congress; day of fasting for liberty; Pope in Cuba, Mexico; exit interviews for Catholics 1st segment: Scot thanked everyone for joining us on our Thursday news show. Scot said Susan looks more relaxed this week after last weekend’s Catechetical Congress and preparing for her office’s day of prayer. Susan said her office goes away three times per year for prayer. Filling in for Gregory Tracy today who was with the Cardinal on his trip to Cuba is Antonio Enrique. Susan said the Pilot did a great job reporting on the Catechetical Congress and had many nice photos. It was a wonderful day at Boston College High School last Saturday. They had an overflow crowd. They had prepared for 850 people and even more came. Bishop Richard Malone of Portland, Maine, celebrated the opening Mass, Fr. Bryan Hehir preached the homily, and the Black Catholic Choir provided the music. Susan said she read every evaluation and people were so pleased with the 27 English workshops, 12 Spanish, and 4 Portuguese. Scot said he noticed that half of the participants were Spanish-speaking. Susan said the Spanish community is growing and Pilar de la Torre works closely with the Spanish-speaking communities and has a very personal relationship with those 20 communities that Susan and her co-worker Susan Kay can’t have with 290 parishes. Antonio, as a Spanish immigrant, said he thinks catechetics is a very important value for the Spanish-speaking community. Those immigrants tend to be very committed to their faith and are a very close-knit community. Scot said he also learned the the word catechesis comes from the word “echo” and what we’re echoing is the teaching of Christ. Susan said it’s the Greek root for echo. We’re talking about a systematic echoing of the faith. Scot said he noticed catechesis and catechist being used a lot more today than when he was younger when it was called CCD or religious education. Susan said that comes from the publication of the revised General Catechetical Directory by the Vatican in 1997. Scot said a huge focus for the Holy Father in the upcoming Year of Faith is improving how we catechize. Fr. Roger said the holy Father is much aware of a catechetical illiteracy amount adults and young adults, so we have to give the world a gift of true knowledge. Pope Benedict has always stressed that our catechesis must not be just pedagogy, i.e. instruction in knowledge, but must also be mystagogy, i.e. leading people in a way of life. Catecheists must tech by example in the practice of the faith, not just by words. Pope BEnedict is doing this with his weekly general audiences in St. Peter’s Square. At the end of the article, Susan said she hopes continue to grow the congress: “”I live for the day when we have to turn people away, when we have to hold this at…is it still called Gillette Stadium?” she asked.” Another story in the Pilot this week is the official appointment of Fr. Kevin J. Deeley as the new pastor of St. Michael’s in North Andover. Over the past several weeks we have seen three priests assigned to the parish leaving for health reasons, retirement, and reassignment to a new parish. He is the brother of vicar general Msgr. Robert Deeley. Scot said St. Michael’s is the biggest parish in the archdiocese. Fr. Kevin Deeley was is returning from service as a US military chaplain. Antonio said Fr. Deeley had recently been filling in as a temporary administrator at St. Raphael’s in Medford while their pastor was in Rome on a sabbatical. The appointment is effective April 27. Another story in the Pilot covers the Stand Up for Religious Freedom rally at the State House in Boston. Scot was one of the speakers, as well as Massachusetts Citizens for Life Edwin Shanahan, Clarivel Marin de Dragas, and State Representative Jim Lyons of Andover. Antonio said the US bishops are drawing a line in the sand to protect our right to religious liberty and to protect our consciences from being forced to violate them. Antonio was recently at a meeting between Catholic press and the US bishops conference and they are seeing this as a very important moment in the history of our country. Scot said the bishops are trying to mobilize Catholic to be much more active in the public square. Fr. Roger said we’re still in the first quarter, to use a sports analogy. We’re getting organized and rallying our resources. We’re somewhat on the defensive at the moment against those trying to curtail our rights. But the offensive aspect includes education from the US bishops religious freedom committee, which will be issuing a document on the history of religious freedom in America. Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York has hinted at some of the content, referring recently to some of the great events in our history which were a direct outgrowth of religious faith. This education initiative will help Catholics to take the fight for their freedom and rights into the public square. Scot said the bishops are also also asking all people of faith to fast and pray for religious freedom tomorrow. “US Bishops set March 30 as day of prayer, fasting for religious liberty”, CNS, 3/22/12 Scot said Catholics need to get educated and speak up or those who are opposed to us will be the only voices in the public square. But we must also recognize the importance of times of quiet and fasting. Many of the big problems in the world have been solved by prayer and fasting. Susan said as we enter Holy Week, it’s a perfect time for such an initiative. US Bishops website resources for conscience protection, including specific prayers Scot said it’s always complicated in an election when the US bishops ask us to be active in the public square. Cardinal Dolan was on Fox News’ O’Reilly Factor the other night and was asked whether the bishops were asking Catholics not to vote for Obama, and the cardinal said the bishops don’t tell Catholics who to vote for. Fr. Roger said the cardinal said if they asked the people to vote one way, they’d end up motivating some to vote the other way. Instead, they are helping people build a properly informed conscience and once they are properly formed, the obvious vote can become clear. They are certainly hoping to bring clarity to all the various issues and to show that some issues are more important than others. 2nd segment: Scot said the biggest stories this week are the Holy Father’s apostolic visits to Cuba and Mexico. He said the Holy Father singled out Cardinal Sean to thank him for helping with the building of a seminary outside of Havana. Antonio said in Boston there is a group of friends of Caritas Cubana, the Catholic charitable organization in Cuba, which means a special connection. The Pilot sent a reporter and photographer to Cuba to accompany the Boston pilgrims for a special perspective on the trip, giving a personal view of the conditions in Cuba and how their charity was received. Scot said there were some wonderful photos accompanying the articles. “At Mass, pope recognizes Cubans’ struggles, calls freedom a necessity”, CNS, 3/27/12 “Pope calls for patience in fight to bring freedom to communist Cuba”, CNS, 3/26/12 “Pope asks Our Lady of Charity to protect, guide, help suffering Cubans”, CNS, 3/27/12 “In Mexico, pope says social change will come with revival of faith”, CNS, 3/26/12 “Pope arrives in Mexico as ‘pilgrim of faith, of hope, and of love’”, CNS, 3/23/12 Antonio said they hope to have some more stories in next week’s paper as well. They had hoped to show the reality from the perspective of the reporter as she encountered it, the crumbling infrastructure, the lives of the people, and more. Susan said the articles put a human face on the realities of Cuba. Scot said the Holy Father’s message had some political content but were also meant to stoke the fires of religious belief. Fr. Roger said the Holy Father focuses on curing us of the spiritual diseases of secularism and does that wherever he goes. In Mexico, despite the deep faith of the people, there is a trend among the elites to drive the people to live as if God doesn’t exist. Similarly in Cuba, where they have had two generations of official atheism. The Holy Father said we have to recognize that the atheism in Communism has failed. Fr. Roger said he was struck by the image of one of the Masses which included a huge statue of Christ the King. In the mid-20th century when the Mexican government was trying to exterminate the Church, theory of Viva Cristo Rey, All Hail, Christ the King was the cry of the martyrs. Pope Benedict was using this image to show that the Christian faith cannot be killed off. Christ is always persisting in all those places. Scot said there’s a move coming out in June about the Cristeros, the Mexican martyrs, called “For Greater Glory.” “For Greater Glory” on iMDB Scot noted that Fidel Castro requested a private meeting with Pope Benedict. Antonio said it’s impressive to see how Fidel, who took the Church out of Cuba with his revolution, went to see the Pope and reading the reports of the visit, he was struck by the question Fidel asked the Pope about how the Mass has changed from his childhood. Fidel is realizing how much the Church has changed since he was a boy practicing his faith. It shows the person behind the public persona and perhaps he’s reconsidering his life as he gets older. Scot noted that the Missionaries of Charity has a charism where one of the sisters prays for a particular priest every day. One Cuban sister was assigned to pray for Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger 25 years ago and they finally got to meet during this trip. Fr. Roger said this was a practice started by the Carmelites and Mother Teresa picked up many of the practices of the Carmelites. Fr. Roger said there was a Missionary of Charity in New Bedford who prayed for him every day. He said many cloistered nuns are co-workers in the ministry of the priests they pray for every day. Scot said many of the Pope’s addresses can be found at the website of Zenit.org. Scot said in another story John Hancock Financial gave a gift of $1 million to Pope John Paul II Catholic Academy in Dorchester to be given over five years. “John Hancock Financial Pledges $1 million to the Campaign for Catholic Schools”, 3/26/12 Scot said the editorial in the Anchor refers to an article that was in America magazine in which a program of performing exit interviews of Catholics who abandoned the practice of the faith was discussed. Fr. Roger said they found a consistency in the reason why the people gave up. Some were on nonnegotiable issues, such as teachings that cannot be changed, but it’s not just a rejection to he teachings. Sometimes people were looking for an explanation and a better way to understand it which wasn’t provided. Some people said when they asked for a conversation, instead they got back flat statements. “Why They Left”, America, 3/30/12 There were also negotiable issue the Church could do on: empty” homilies detached from daily life, uninspiring music, an insatiable focus on raising money, an inadequate response to the sexual abuse of minors, the sense that Church was simply a place to attend Mass lacking a true community spirit, an absence of consultation and transparency in Church administration, “arrogant” and “aloof” priests,, and so on. So the authors’ hope was that the Church could address what could be fixed in order to encourage people to stay. Scot said there’s a beauty in understanding where people are at and to help become formed, to gain understanding, to be enlightened. Susan said one of the saddest comments was that when they left the parish no one noticed, nobody called them, and nobody asked why. People wanted a community, wanted to be involved and couldn’t find a way. Scot asked all listeners to make people know that we care when we see them at Mass each week.

Summary of today’s show: For 17 years, teens from the North Shore have been spending their Triduum in a 3-hour fast and serving the poor and needy in Boston on the Hunger for Justice retreat. Scot Landry and Fr. Matt Williams interview organizers Chris Carmody and Andrea Alberti to see how 400 teens are challenged to move beyond their physical hunger to experience their spiritual hunger for Christ and then go out and serve Christ in those they encounter in a profound experience of the reality of Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Listen to the show: Subscribe for free in iTunes Today’s host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Matt Williams Today’s guest(s): Andrea Alberti, youth minister at St. Thomas Parish in Nahant and St. Mary High School, Lynn; and Chris Carmody, youth minister at Immaculate Conception in Salem and religion teacher at St. Mary High School, Lynn Links from today’s show: Hunger for Justice on The Good Catholic Life, April 2011 Hunger for Justice on Facebook St. Mary High School, Lynn St. Thomas Parish, Nahant Immaculate Conception Parish, Salem The Light Is On For You Today’s topics: Hunger for Justice 2012 1st segment: Scot welcomed everyone to the show. He noted it’s the last full week of Lent and said it’s a busy time for many in the Church. He said the catechetical congress last weekend was a big event preparing for Lent. Fr. Matt spoke at a breakout session on praying and ways of prayer. His talk focused on love as as not just a feeling, but as self-gift. Nor is faith a feeling. We don’t pray to make ourselves feel good or have faith because we feel God close to us. Instead, we exercise the disciplines of prayer. Scot said the Holy Father has been in Mexico and Cuba over the past few days. In the past 24 hours, the Pope met with Fidel Castro in a personal meeting at Castro’s request. Scot said the Missionaries of Charity have a ministry where they adopt a priest to pray for every day. Pope Benedict has met his spiritual godmother, a Cuban Missionary of Charity who has prayed for him every day for the past 25 years. The Holy Father then celebrated Mass for 700,000 people in Havana today. Scot said it recalls when Pope John Paul went to Poland and it is hope that it has a similar effect in Cuba, to bring freedom to the people. 2nd segment: Scot welcomed Chris and Andrea back to the show. Andrea said they’ve been holding the Hunger for Justice retreat for 17 years and about 70 total retreat experiences. Chris said the Hunger part of the retreat is a fast that starts about 5pm on Good Friday and ends after the Easter Vigil. The Hunger for Justice is the found in the service work for the homeless and they see the value and human dignity in people. This hunger for justice grows in the young people. Scot asked how they prepare the teens for the fasting, physically and spiritually. Andrea said the Triduum focuses on death to life. No matter how small their sacrifice, it can have a profound impact by uniting it to Christ. They mention St. Therese a lot. She said they tell them that when they experience physical hunger, it makes them more aware of the spiritual hunger in our hearts for the love of God. The teens are also getting sponsors who pledge money for each hour the participants fast. Chris said the Hunger for Justice that engages the entire parishes of all the kids who participate. They ask parishioners to donate food and other goods for the kids to give to the homeless. Andrea said they tell the kids that they should tell 25 people about the sacrifice they’re making, just tell 25 and people are so impressed by what they’re doing and the money will roll in. The kids get apprehensive about asking for money, but just by letting others know what they’re doing, people want o donate. Last year, they raised $18,000 and the year before $25,000. Fr. Matt asked what makes service so appealing to young people. Andrea said the youth want to help, to be engaged. The reason we don’t see them involved is because our expectations are so low. We need to challenge them. Ask an adult to fast for 30 hours and they’ll tell they’re too busy. But if an adult tells a teen that we see God’s plan ready in them, they will only be held back by their own self-doubt. Andrea said she wishes all the adults listening could see what she sees, including 300 to 400 kids fasting and serving for 30 hours. Fr. Matt said the Hunger for Justice brings a balance between the project they’re doing and Who they are doing it for. Chris said they are very deliberate in doing Christian service. It’s not just Christians doing service, but that Christ is at the center of what they do. When they bring food or donations to the homeless, they see Christ in them. The goal isn’t just to feed people or hand things out, but to serve the other and see Christ in him. Andrea said it’s the holiest days of the year in which Christ died for you and that inspires the kids to give everything for Him. Andrea said it’s not just a hunger relief program to raise money. It’s also identifying with, becoming one with the hungry and homeless. They tell the homeless that the kids have slept on the ground the night before, have gone without a phone. The kids get that they will go home and sleep in their bed tonight, but the guy they just met won’t be able to. the parents talk about how the kids come home profoundly changed. Chris said whatever they do, they always process what happened and reconnect it back to the Passion of Christ. The kids now understand what “offer it up” means. They understand that sacrifice of a meal is a sacrifice for other. The Hunger for Justice takes place in Lynn and Nahant next week. 3rd segment: This week’s benefactor card raffle winner is Patricia Hogan from Quincy, MA She wins an Audio Book CD: The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ by Anne Catherine Emmerich, read by Roger Basick, and a booklet: Meditations on the Stations of the Cross from Belmont Abbey College theology professor, Dr. Ronald Thomas. If you would like to be eligible to win in an upcoming week, please visit WQOM.org. For a one-time $30 donation, you’ll receive the Station of the Cross benefactor card and key tag, making you eligible for WQOM’s weekly raffle of books, DVDs, CDs and religious items. We’ll be announcing the winner each Wednesday during “The Good Catholic Life” program. 4th segment: Scot asked them to describe what happens on the week. Andrea said on Good Friday they gather at noon on Short Beach in Nahant. They prepare for the Veneration of the Cross by honoring the Cross in a less traditional way on the beach. Fr. Matt preaches the Cross to those present. She said many of those present are hearing it proclaimed so well for the first time. They then carry this very large cross up the main road in Nahant, taking turns holding it, praying the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary. They carry the Cross to the St. Thomas Aquinas parish in Nahant, where the community is waiting for them and they have the traditional Veneration of the Cross. This ends by 4:30pm. They travel to St. Mary’s in Lynn for a last meal together donated by local restaurants. After this last meal, they have an hour of getting to know each other and then they watch The Passion of the Christ, for the first time for many of them. Afterward, Fr. Matt goes into a healing service. They go from what Christ did for them and why to living life to the full. They gather in small groups to pray, claiming the cross for what they need in their life. At about 11pm, the students make their cardboard, makeshift homes for the night. Scot asked Chris about the carrying the Cross through Nahant and for how many of the students it’s their first public profession of faith and what they say about it? Chris said many are still nervous because it’s the beginning of the retreat. When they see positive reaction from people they see, they realize being public about your faith doesn’t have to result in persecution. They love to carry the Cross and begin to thrive on it. Andrea said those who watch the Passion for the first time are often very moved and there are often tears.It’s not so much the gore, but the realization of what Christ really went through for us and what that means for how we live our lives. He died for you, so are you going to go back to the way you were? Many of those who are most moved by it become the peer leaders for the next year. They express it in how they set the bar high for themselves and each other in how they live their faith publicly. Scot asked why there’s a healing service on the first day? Fr. Matt said on the Saturday morning, they stop at St. Anthony’s Shrine for confession where ultimate healing occurs. But they recognize that a lot of these kids are hearing the Gospel for the first time, having had the whole Gospel shrunk into one day and experienced it in three different ways. The message is that God so love the world. We were born to live, but Jesus was the only one born to die. So their hearts are confronted by the truth and it gives an opportunity to be able to say how do we now take that message and let the Lord love us in our lives? How do we begin with precision to bring that Gospel message in to our heart. For the most part they know what the typical struggles are and so the leaders ask who is struggling with a particular problem. Hands go up and the other kids in the small group will lay hands and pray over them. Andrea said Love heals. The understanding and experiencing the Gospel message and embracing it, experiencing God as loving father is powerful. The openness of the kids is amazing. Chris said it’s humbling to see them turn their struggles over to God. You can see it in their faces and attitudes and how they act after. It’s because of this prayer service that the service projects have real fruit on Saturday. They’ve let go of what was holding them back and they are able to focus on seeing Christ in others. They were able to let go of their baggage and let God work in them. Andrea said the kids get between four and five hours of sleep, which is more than most retreats, considering all these hundreds of teens. They know they will be working hard on Saturday morning and even harder on Saturday afternoon. They will be doing physically taxing labor. On Saturday, they split into three groups. One goes to Boston Common to hand out food to the homeless. Another third goes to Arch Street to hand out food and clothing. And the last group goes to Pine Street Inn. they will all eventually make their way to Arch Street where they will receive the Sacrament of Confession. Chris said his favorite part is seeing 300 youth and adults all going to confession. It’s a beautiful scene to see people receiving the sacrament. They also process what they’ve done, asking what it was like to serve the homeless and to hear the stories from the homeless. The students are often shocked by what they learn about the homeless. After they finish in Boston, they return to the North Shore where they help out at parishes, schools, shelters, food pantries, or camps. They do yard work, clean out messes, and all other kinds of hard work. They bring them all back together in Lynn where they process their experiences and they have a commissioning. They don’t want it to be a one-time event. They want to commission them to go out and serve Christ every day. This occurs about 5pm. ABout half the group stays at St. Mary and half goes back to their parishes to join the Easter vigil in their communities. Andrea said they see a response to the reality of sacrifice and love. They are hearing the sacrifice of Christ for them and they want to go do that for others. She’s inspired hearing kids who have an epiphany that the first food they will receive will be the Body of Christ. Scot asked what they’re supporting this year with the donations. Andrea said they are giving some to the Coalition for the Homeless in Lynn and Chris is going on a mission trip to Ecuador so the Hunger for Justice will be paying for some water filtration systems. Anyone who would like to donate, can send checks to Andrea Alberti or Chris Carmody at St. Mary High School, 35 Tremont Street, Lynn, MA 01902

Summary of today’s show: A new spirit of evangelization is moving across the Archdiocese of Boston and one reason for it is the Why Catholic program offered by the Office of Worship and Spiritual Life. In a series of six-week sessions spanning four years, small parish-based groups explore the Church’s teachings through prayer and Scripture and apply them to their lives. Scot Landry and Fr. Chris O’Connor talk to Mary Ann McLaughlin and Janet Benestad about the genesis of Why Catholic in Cardinal Seán’s vision for evangelization and how it grew out of the success of the similar Arise program. Listen to the show: Subscribe for free in iTunes Today’s host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Chris O’Connor Today’s guest(s): Mary Ann McLaughlin, co-director of the Office of Worship and Spiritual Life, and Janet Benestad, secretary for Faith Formation and Evangelization of the Archdiocese of Boston Links from today’s show: Why Catholic? Renew International Today’s topics: Why Catholic 1st segment: Scot welcomed everyone to the show and noted that it’s the last week before Holy Week. Fr. Chris said he had a big surprise birthday party with family and friends last Saturday. Scot was able to attend. Fr. Chris’ family and friends ribbed him about how he sounds on the radio. They also ribbed him about the facts he got wrong, including he was born in East Milton, not Dorchester. The seminarians are preparing for Holy Week. This Saturday they will be having a work day in the seminary, cleaning up. A handful will also be going to help the Missionaries of Charity prepare for Holy Week as well. The seminarians are also continuing with the Stations of the Cross and having a penance service this Thursday. The deacons will be practicing the Exulset, the Easter proclamation. Scot noted that both the text and music are changed this year. Fr. Chris said his vocation was fostered in experiencing Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil and seeing the story of Christ’s love played out for us. The churches should be filled to the rafters. Scot said the Holy Father has asked us all to celebrate a Year of Faith starting in October, especially asking families to study the Catechism. Today we’ll discuss the Why Catholic? program, which encompasses four years of study of the Catechism. 2nd segment: Scot asked Mary Ann McLaughlin about Why Catholic? She said the Office of Spiritual Development always had a focus on small groups to build up larger groups. She said when Cardinal Sean arrived in 2004, he almost immediately called in the Office and told them of his desire to bring Renew International to Boston. He was clear that we needed somebody who could provide materials in various languages. They brought in the Arise program, which was a three year program. Scot said the parishes that enrolled in Arise reported tremendous results both in numbers of participants and in what it was doing for the parishes. Mary Ann said every one had been scared about whether the program was going to work, given everything that had been going on in the archdiocese. Scot asked Janet Benestad to compare the implementation of a program like this in a big archdiocese with a small diocese, like the Scranton diocese she came from three years ago. When she arrived in Boston, Arise was already running and there was 10,000 people enrolled. Cardinal Sean had been prophetic in the desire for a program that helps people reflect on Scripture and share what was in their hearts. Fr. Chris told the story of someone who was drawn back in to practicing her faith through Arise programs. Scot asked Mary Ann about her sense of people who were reconnected to the Church through Arise. She said she heard that one of the Daughters of St. Paul was approached by a woman who had left the Church, but saw a sign for Arise and came back to check it out. Scot said Arise and Why Catholic? are both small groups that share their faith. Mary Ann said Why Catholic takes the teachings of the Church and aligning them with Scripture, giving people an opportunity to digest it all. Janet said many people who’d met in Arise groups wanted to continue their study and reflection in small groups and so they came up with the Why Catholic program. Mary Ann said the wonder of both Arise and Why Catholic, after your pray Scripture and read the Catechism, you leave the meeting with the desire to implement these beliefs in your life. Fr. Chris asked how many people are involved in Why Catholic, but Mary Ann said we won’t know for sure until the end of Lent. She said they have a rough estimate of between 7,000 and 10,000. Mary Ann said this program has been done in other dioceses here and in other countries. She talked to other dioceses and had heard of so much success elsewhere. She’s hearing from participants here that they like it even more than Arise. Scot noted that the Catechism often collects dust on many bookshelves, but a program like this helps to break it open for people. The Catechism has four sections and this is why Why Catholic is over four years. The sections are Prayer, the Creed, Sacraments, and Christian life. Each session starts with a section of the Catechism, a passage of Scripture, and then application of the teaching to our lives. Scot asked Mary Ann how often she encounters people who have never been taught to pray. She finds that people you least expect are grateful for any help in learning how to pray. However much accomplished we seem to be in the life of prayer, there are always new benefits to receive, new depths to lump. It has made a huge difference for people. Fr. Chris asked for an explanation of how knowing the Catechism can help the faith life. Mary Ann said knowing the Catechism is layer upon layer. You hear what the Church teaches, hear it again in Scripture, and then in faith sharing you hear people tell you what it’s like to experience it in their daily life. Finally, you decide how you will implement what you have heard over the next week. Mary Ann said the group gatherings are 90 minutes. They begin with an opening prayer, then a reflection, a question, Scripture, one or two questions to allow people to respond again, and then suggestions for how they can use what’s there over the following week. She said the books have imprimaturs and nihil obstat so people can trust what they’re reading. Mary Ann also told stories of Arise groups going as a group to other events like The LIght Is On For You for confession or other programs. Mary Ann said the cardinal had hoped that Renew and Arise would lead people to Cursillo, to allow people to deepen their lives in a new way. Scot noted that Cardinal Sean lived a Cursillo in the first year of his priesthood and speaks often of the transformative effects. Scot shared some of the sharing questions from the first several session of Why Catholic: How do I consciously walk in God’s presence? In what instances of my life have gone away to lonely place to prayer? How do I feel when I offer prayers of blessing to God? How and when have I learned to pray? Who are some saints who I pray to because of my spirituality and how have they helped me? How have we as a small group grown comfortable with vocal prayer? Fr. Chris said these small groups are helping parishioners to learn the faith stories and life stories of fellow parishioners they only knew to say hello to before. A program like this allows for a type of sharing and connection that we shows we are one body in Christ. Mary Ann said they have book after book of testimonies from people in Arise. Parents tell of going home and telling their children about their experiences and opening up a faith-based dialogue with them. She said the language groups have been remarkable. The Vietnamese came to the English training and then set up Vietnamese training on their own, She also heard that at Mass people were suddenly hearing Scripture and were moved by it. Mary Ann said many aspects are wide open. Groups can meet at church or in their homes, on any day of the week and any time of day. The flexibility allows them to meet the local needs. Some people prefer going to the church and others prefer going to their neighbor’s house. 3rd segment: Scot asked Mary Ann about the training resources available for those interested in starting a group in their parish. First, Mary Ann suggested they call her office at 617-779-3640. She said Renew International offers webinars for parishes who come into the program too late for the regular training. One leader gives distance training for up to 25 people at their computers. Training sessions take place regionally prior to each six week session. The Lent session is coming to an end and in October is when the next session starts. Mary Ann said the program is parish-based so parishioners would need to go through their pastors. The spiritual life happens within communities and Renew has always worked first through the bishop and then through the priests in the parish. As pastors begin to serve more than one parish, Renew sees the opportunity to bridge across parish lines in these small groups. They do have individuals calling asking them how to join a group. They encourage them to talk to their own pastor or to pair up with a neighboring parish. Scot said he believes for the parishes that haven’t done this, it’s because there haven’t been enough people to step forward to take the initiative with their pastors. Janet said these programs foster lay leadership in parishes. She encourages interested people to talk to the pastor and offer themselves to go to the training and do the work to bring it to the parish. Mary Ann said in the fall they will have a faith enrichment festival to allow all the parishes to come together for a prayer experience. She said she hesitates to give expectations, because you never know where things will go. Her experience is that she feels the Spirit moving in this archdiocese. This would never have happened on poor human energy. she’s heard from a parish that 49 new parishioners have joined Why Catholic. Scot asked Janet to Why Catholic in context of the Cardinal’s vision for the Archdiocese. She mentioned Catholics Come Home, Arise, his pastoral letters, and Why Catholic are all part of a program of extending an invitation to rediscover the Catholic faith. It’s in pryer that God speaks to us in the silence. To pray in this way is an evangelizing outreach. As the Archdiocese continues to restructure the ways we hand on our faith, our parishes or pastoral collaboratives might become bigger, but small groups help us to become more connected and to realize ever more that the Church isn’t just those we go to Mass with on Sunday, but so spans the world. Fr. Chris said it breaks down barriers and allows people to understand they are part of One Body in Christ. Mary Ann said those interested in Why Catholic, go to BostonCatholic.org and click on the Why Catholic logo at the bottom of the page (or lick the link at the top of this page.) Their office’s phone number is also 617-779-3640. Scot also reminded everyone that tomorrow night The Light Is On For You, every church and chapel in the Archdiocese will be open from 6:30 to 8pm. More information can be found at http://www.thelightisonforyou.org.

Summary of today’s show: Learning the Latin and Greek roots of English words isn’t just a road map to success, it’s a GPS, said one educator of The Latin and Greek Root Challenge. John and Maureen Riley of Wellesley have developed this fun program that helps children from kindergarten through eighth grade learn the Latin and Greek roots in a fun and engaging collaborative environment, leading to higher test scores and better vocabulary, not just in English, but in every subject, including science, math, health and religion. Scot Landry talks with the Rileys and Charlotte Kelly, principal of St. John the Evangelist School in Canton, about the Latin and Greek Root Challenge, how it works, the benefits it’s already exhibited, and how it’s spread to more than 20 schools in Boston and Chicago. Plus, see how Scot does when he’s asked to take the challenge! Listen to the show: Subscribe for free in iTunes Today’s host(s): Scot Landry Today’s guest(s): John and Maureen Riley and Charlotte Kelly Links from today’s show: The Latin and Greek Root Challenge Today’s topics: The Latin and Greek Root Challenge 1st segment: Scot welcomed everyone to the show. Today’s topic is the Latin and Greek Root Challenge which is being implemented in 5 Catholic schools. But first Scot discussed briefly Pope Benedict’s trip to Mexico and Cuba. The Holy Father arrived in Cuba a few hours ago. Cardinal Seán is also in Cuba to be with the Holy Father and two reporters from the Pilot are in Cuba covering the visit. Scot introduced John and Maureen Riley, the creators of the Latin and Greek Root Challenge. Charlotte Riley is principal of St. John the Evangelist School in Canton, which is implementing the challenge. Scot said he heard about the challenge from John in their meetings in the Pastoral Center about the Catholic Appeal. John said this is his wife Maureen’s brain child. He said a lot of educators and parents understand there’s a tremendous value to the classics, looking at the Latin and Greek heritage of the English language. Sixty percent of the words in English have Latin and Greek roots. Scot said it makes you wonder why we don’t spend more time on Latin and Greek in primary education. John said it used to be the case, but that faded away. In science, medicine, and law are even more rooted in those languages. John said they are trying to educate elementary school students and introduce Latin and Greek roots in a fun engaging and school-wide way that helps them understand the meaning of the roots to help them recognize words they might otherwise not know by breaking it down into its roots. Scot asked Maureen how she got the idea for it. Maureen said she’s always had a fascination with education and asked herself how the kids in the inner city schools ended up with lower test scores, but how the schools with Latin in their name ended up with higher test scores. At their children’s school, St. Paul’s Wellesley, discussed bringing Latin and Greek into the school, but she didn’t know these languages herself. She recalls seeing a movie about an inner city student who won a big spelling bee by learning how to break down words into their roots. With her own children, she was always going to their teachers to ensure the kids were being challenged. Maureen wanted to find some way to help all children. Finally she woke up one day with the idea for a board that would create a challenge for all the kids in the school. Charlotte said she sold by the Riley’s enthusiasm when she met them a year ago. They were already doing a vocabulary program and saw how this could fit in. They already teach Spanish in 5 through 8, but they could include this for every grade level. John said it was important for them from the outset that this be a school wide activity, that the kindergartners would get the same roots the middle school students get and it would build community in the school. Kindergartners are being introduced the whole concept of roots and that’s an important lesson at such a young age. Speaking to a first grade teacher, she told them that words come up in math and science and the students say they can figure out what they mean. There’s a magic and power to words. 2nd segment: Scot said there are 20 total schools in the pilot program, including 8 in Chicago. Four or five more schools have expressed interest for next September. Scot said they have a board in front of him with words on it, including roots of various words, like tele-, micro- and -scope, and tell them what the meanings are. Then they ask them for the subsequent words to make from them like telephone and television. John said they introduce the kids to the roots and their meanings and they ask them how many words they can identify with the root. Then they remind them of the meaning and then present a new word and ask them to define it based on what they’ve learned. Maureen said they also give them visuals, like telling them to imagine looking through a telescope to see things far away. Throughout the week, the teacher has a board to review the roots with photos and visuals to break down the meanings of each root. The children are encouraged to write in meaning of roots as they go. There are three different level workbooks for different grades to slowly go from easy to more difficult, from concrete learning to abstract learning. Charlotte said while many of the young teachers haven’t themselves had classics training, the teachers have picked them up enthusiastically and are now offering their feedback. She related a story of six and seven-year-olds children impressing other teachers on their ability to break down and construct new words. John said he and Maureen have 3 kids, 10, 8, and 6. They have been the test subjects and they really enjoy it, albeit at different levels. The kindergartner really dives into it. The second-grader and fourth-grader are showing how they can process at different levels and understand the complexity of the words. At middle school, the kids are independently looking up words online and going to the dictionary for words. Maureen said the kids get very creative in working on the words. She works every week with grade two. Each week, they do a quick review. She gives a root and they have to give back the meaning in unison and every week they have it down pat. They also do collaborative learning. They go around the class with a paper to come up with lists of words for that root. Scot said his experience of his kindergartner is that not all of them can read well at that age. How does it help a child learn to read by recognizing roots? Charlotte said they have a pre-K and K level that uses a simplified version that explains root words and the difference from a beginning sound. (T v. tele). Where they are beginning to read, the data shows high improvement across the board. As much as 18 percentage points by Grade 6. Maureen said one parent of a second-grader told her that in the grocery store the children point out Latin and Greek root words. They see a difference in the child’s vocabulary. Scot said kids are natural problem solvers and sleuths. John said part of the fun is that the kids view it as a game. The parents, teachers, and principals have given great feedback. They met the superintendent of the Chicago archdiocese this past summer. Maureen said they had been asked to present the program to Sister Mary Paul, the superintendent in Chicago. She told the sister that it’s almost as if when your child gets to 18 or 22 and going on the first road trip. You give them maps. Latin and Greek Roots are the maps. They don’t tell you exactly where to go, but the tools to get there. Sr. Mary Paul said it’s not a map, but a GPS system. John said most students, except for the youngest, get 3 roots per week over the 25-week program in a three-year cycle. They are also exposed to secondary roots on the constructed word lists that contain the primary roots. Each of those words on the list have other roots as well. They will eventually have a tremendous command of roots. Charlotte said in her 11 years at St. John’s they built up vocabulary programs, especially one from grade 3 to 8. They see this as an addition in order to be able to put words together. Scot asked how important is that these are also words that will help them get into college on the SATs and ACTs. Charlotte said this is a program you don’t to pass up at a reasonable cost. It raises test scores, but it’s also a lot of fun. During the school year kickoff, they had the parents play the root word game. This is a fun way to learn Latin and keep it from being boring. John said in the program development they have researched high frequency standardized exam test words with the goal of ensuring that there is also a value in giving them better scores, making it fun, helping them with their future careers, and score well on tests. Scot said on the SATs, the highest possible score is 800. The average score for those who studied Latin versus those who didn’t study language or studied a different language was much higher. Maureen said they are waiting for the best data on their programs which will be available after 3 to 5 years in practice. Scot said studying Latin helped him in his own studies in geometry. Charlotte said it’s helping them with the study of religion. 3rd segment: Scot said the excitement of learning Latin and Greek words has helped Charlotte’s student incorporate Latin into the fun of preparing for Lent. She said students have learned the Our Father and Hail Mary in Latin. She said it’s helped with vocabulary in religion classes, as well as in health and science classes. Charlotte said this program is a great marketing tool for the school and in their own marketing, they include the Rileys’ marketing materials as well. Maureen said her first dream is to get this program into every single inner-city school in the country to transform them and teach children the love of words. Where scores are dropping everywhere else, the kids using this program are getting better scores. Her second dream is to gather all the statistics to show that this makes a difference, to show that what they believe about it is proven scientifically. Scot pointed out that Maureen never studied Latin, but she was inspired in a way that is helping so many students to learn in a more enjoyable and quicker way. Maureen said she’d always believed that she would work in educating children some day and throughout this process, every time she encountered an obstacle she’d turn it over to God and they would overcome it. She credits God as the inspiration and the assistance of so many people that have helped them from other parents to teachers and principals to other volunteers. Scot said there are a million ideas, but it’s not easy to actually implement it. It’s not easy to get into schools and get onto budgets, whether Catholic or public schools. John said it’s been a rewarding and exhausting experience. He said this is a little bit of the American dream, to have an idea and promote it and encourage others to take it on to help others. It’s also been a labor of love, with a passion for the mission of educating children, especially in Catholic schools. He said Catholic schools are near and dear to their hearts, because they nurture the spiritual life of children. It’s been an adventure and they’ve questioned their sanity at times. Scot said everyone who starts anything gets to a point where they feel overwhelmed or question going on, but to get to the point where it’s implemented and successful, is a massive amount of work. John said you have to be reflective, to look ahead but to look back once in a while to see how far you’ve come. Look at how many children they’ve affected in two years and then look ahead to the potential impact in the future. Charlotte would tell other principals that this is a must have in their schools. She encouraged the Rileys to have a booth at the National Catholic Educators Association coming up in Boston in a couple weeks. Scot asked what makes it a must? Charlotte said it’s definitely vocabulary. After testing recently, they are finding scores to be up especially among those taking the high school placement exams. Some students always do even better than the others and it creates excitement around the dinner table. Maureen said they hope that it creates good dinner conversations in the family. The kids find it fun and so they play the root challenge and stimulate further conversation. John said a lot of parents haven’t been exposed to these languages and so they can benefit as well. John wanted to name a number of people who have helped from the beginning of their work and said how much they appreciate the effort and assistance from all of them.