The Good Catholic Life

Summary of today’s show: As Pope Benedict addresses each group of US bishops making their way to Rome this year in their ad limina visits, he is really sending a message to all Americans with his pastoral eye on what we need most. Scot Landry and Fr. Mark O’Connell take up one of the most recent addresses in which the Holy Father discusses the importance of marriage and family to society, the causes for its weakening today, and the prescription for its renewal among the generation of the young today. Listen to the show: Subscribe for free in iTunes Today’s host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Mark O’Connell Links from today’s show: Pope Benedict XVI’s Address to US Bishops, March 9, 2012 Today’s topics: Pope Benedict on Marriage and Family to the US 1st segment: Scot welcomed Fr. Mark back to the show. He said this has been a weather week for the ages. Fr. Mark said he has spring fever. Scot said he was outside at midday today at the Stand Up for Religious Freedom Rally at the State House in Boston today. It was put together in less than 48 hours and about 400 people showed. There were many good speakers. Scot spoke and reflected on Pope John Paul II’s first visit to Boston and how he spoke about religious freedom and the need for us in the West to defend that religious freedom and now we’re fighting for our own religious freedom here. Pope John Paul II could be our patron saint for religious freedom. Stand Up For Religious Freedom website Fr. Mark has been planning a meeting of the Catholic Lawyers Guild tomorrow. They’re having a Day of Recollection, an annual event during Lent. It will have the theme of the Book of Genesis. All Catholic lawyers and judges are welcome to come to the Pastoral Center, 66 Brooks Drive, Braintree, tomorrow morning. Catholic Lawyers Guild of Boston 2nd segment: SCot and Fr. Mark said they will be discussing an address by Pope Benedict to the US bishops who were visiting Rome as part of their ad limina visits. Dear Brother Bishops, I greet all of you with fraternal affection on the occasion of your visit ad limina Apostolorum. As you know, this year I wish to reflect with you on certain aspects of the evangelization of American culture in the light of the intellectual and ethical challenges of the present moment. In our previous meetings I acknowledged our concern about threats to freedom of conscience, religion and worship which need to be addressed urgently, so that all men and women of faith, and the institutions they inspire, can act in accordance with their deepest moral convictions. In this talk I would like to discuss another serious issue which you raised with me during my Pastoral Visit to America, namely, the contemporary crisis of marriage and the family, and, more generally, of the Christian vision of human sexuality. It is in fact increasingly evident that a weakened appreciation of the indissolubility of the marriage covenant, andthe widespread rejection of a responsible, mature sexual ethic grounded in the practice of chastity, have led to grave societal problems bearing an immense human and economic cost. Scot said of all the issues the Pope could talk about, he chooses this topic because the breakdown of the marriage covenant affects all of society. The rejection of the sexual ethic has led to immense societal problems. The fact that so many kids are being raised without both mom and dad has huge consequences for society. Fr. Mark said these ad limina addresses are not just for the bishops in the meeting but for all Americans and these are his first ad limina addresses to the US. SO this is what he’s holding up as the fundamental issue and the fundamental building block. Yet, as Blessed John Paul II observed, the future of humanity passes by way of the family (cf. Familiaris Consortio, 85). Indeed, “the good that the Church and society as a whole expect from marriage and from the family founded on marriage is so great as to call for full pastoral commitment to this particular area. Marriage and the family are institutions that must be promoted and defended from every possible misrepresentation of their true nature, since whatever is injurious to them is injurious to society itself” (Sacramentum Caritatis, 29). He’s calling us to be fully invested in this defense of marriage and family. Fr. Mark said the answer to the question of how to build the kingdom of God on earth is found in Familiaris Consortio and Sacramentum Caritatis and it is family. The family is the salvation of society. Scot said it’s not just doing things for kids, but the formation of the kids. It’s the parents’ responsibility, not schools or other societal issues. Sometimes parents have to heroically raise their kids as single parents, but the holy Father is saying we have to provide support for families stay together, not pull it apart. Society must help strengthen the family. Fr. Mark said the family is the natural institution created by God. In this regard, particular mention must be made of the powerful political and cultural currents seeking to alter the legal definition of marriage. The Church’s conscientious effort to resist this pressure calls for a reasoned defense of marriage as a natural institution consisting of a specific communion of persons, essentially rooted in the complementarity of the sexes and oriented to procreation. Sexual differences cannot be dismissed as irrelevant to the definition of marriage. Defending the institution of marriage as a social reality is ultimately a question of justice, since it entails safeguarding the good of the entire human community and the rights of parents and children alike. The Holy Father calls for a reasoned defense, not just a faith-based defense, of marriage. Fr. Mark noted that he’s not talking about the Catholic definition of marriage, but marriage itself. Marriage predates Christ’s raising it to the dignity of a sacrament. the Holy Father lists four basic things about the natural institution of marriage. The first is unity, meaning that marriage is exclusive between one man and one woman. The second is indissolubility, until death do we part. The third is procreation and education of children. Procreation is essential to marriage and education is formation. The fourth is the good of the spouses. The good of the spouse is not love per se, but for the other person’s good and vice versa. It’s selfless and other-directed, not selfish and me-directed. Fr. Mark said love is not an essential element of marriage. Arranged marriages are still marriages. Hopefully, they grow to include love. In our conversations, some of you have pointed with concern to the growing difficulties encountered in communicating the Church’s teaching on marriage and the family in its integrity, and to a decrease in the number of young people who approach the sacrament of matrimony. Certainly we must acknowledge deficiencies in the catechesis of recent decades, which failed at times to communicate the rich heritage of Catholic teaching on marriage as a natural institution elevated by Christ to the dignity of a sacrament, the vocation of Christian spouses in society and in the Church, and the practice of marital chastity. This teaching, stated with increasing clarity by the post-conciliar magisterium and comprehensively presented in both the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, needs to be restored to its proper place in preaching and catechetical instruction. In response to the bishops saying that it’s difficult to communicate the Church’s teaching now and we aren’t getting the job done in making young people understand marriage. One of the reasons it’s not being received by young people is they aren’t coming to church for the sacrament. Fr. Mark confirms here are far fewer marriages in the archdiocese over the past 10 years. While that’s bad, it also means that people who are coming to the Church really do mean it. Fr. Mark said we have to teach about the sacrament of marriage in many ways. Children should be hearing them from families, religious education, homilies, and the like. Pre-cana programs are more proximate preparation. In these programs the priest takes the couple from where they are and launches them on a higher road. The actual marriage ceremony itself must be an act imbued with God. After the marriage we also need to provide better assistance after the wedding ceremony, sometimes called enrichment programs. Scot said one of the reasons we don’t see this very often is there is often a dearth of well-formed couples who’ve been married for a long to help newly marred couples through the struggles and challenges they will face. Fr. Mark said people shouldn’t wait to be asked to help in their parish. Pastors need people to come forward and volunteer to assist. God will use your strengths and weakness in his service. Your weaknesses will often make what you do more accessible. Never feel your not good enough or holy enough. On the practical level, marriage preparation programs must be carefully reviewed to ensure that there is greater concentration on their catechetical component and their presentation of the social and ecclesial responsibilities entailed by Christian marriage. In this context we cannot overlook the serious pastoral problem presented by the widespread practice of cohabitation, often by couples who seem unaware that it is gravely sinful, not to mention damaging to the stability of society. I encourage your efforts to develop clear pastoral and liturgical norms for the worthy celebration of matrimony which embody an unambiguous witness to the objective demands of Christian morality, while showing sensitivity and concern for young couples. One, he wants to make sure marriage prep programs are up with the times. Scot said the Archdiocese of Boston has renewed its program called Transformed in Love. Fr. Mark was on the steering committee for this program. He said this program fulfills what the Pope is calling for. The bad news is that the program is not being used widely enough. It does have the emphasis on why Catholic marriage? But there are still a lot of poor programs in our archdiocese and other dioceses. If listeners know of a need for renewal of a particular program, Fr. Mark urges them to contact Kari Colella at the Archdiocese of Boston: Marriage Ministries of the Archdiocese of Boston Scot said one of the reasons people cohabit is they haven’t heard enough from Catholics around them that it is wrong. We’re not living our faith if we don’t help these couples. Sometimes they wouldn’t cohabit if someone offered assistance, perhaps helping them with money issues that they think they living together for. Fr. Mark said the biggest difference between marriage and cohabitation is that the latter has a big exit sign. It is not a covenant, not until death. Marriage is a full commitment to the other person until death do you part. Scot said there are studies that show that couples who cohabit before marriage are less likely to stay married successfully. Fr. Mark said people think that if they live together they have a better chance, but that’s not proven by the facts. Here too I would express my appreciation of the pastoral programs which you are promoting in your Dioceses and, in particular, the clear and authoritative presentation of the Church’s teaching found in your 2009 Letter Marriage: Love and Life in the Divine Plan. I also appreciate all that your parishes, schools and charitable agencies do daily to support families and to reach out to those in difficult marital situations, especially the divorced and separated, single parents, teenage mothers and women considering abortion, as well as children suffering the tragic effects of family breakdown. In this great pastoral effort there is an urgent need for the entire Christian community to recover an appreciation of the virtue of chastity. The integrating and liberating function of this virtue (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2338-2343) should be emphasized by a formation of the heart, which presents the Christian understanding of sexuality as a source of genuine freedom, happiness and the fulfilment of our fundamental and innate human vocation to love. It is not merely a question of presenting arguments, but of appealing to an integrated, consistent and uplifting vision of human sexuality. The richness of this vision is more sound and appealing than the permissive ideologies exalted in some quarters; these in fact constitute a powerful and destructive form of counter-catechesis for the young. the Holy Father’s central point is the need to recover a sense of charity. Scot said it means using the gift of sexuality in the way that God intended for your state of life: single, married, or ordained. Chastity in marriage is to be faithful to those four elements of marriage that Fr. Mark outlined earlier. Scot said it’s often mistaken for continence, which is refraining from sexual activity. Young people need to encounter the Church’s teaching in its integrity, challenging and countercultural as that teaching may be; more importantly, they need to see it embodied by faithful married couples who bear convincing witness to its truth. They also need to be supported as they struggle to make wise choices at a difficult and confusing time in their lives. Chastity, as the Catechism reminds us, involves an ongoing “apprenticeship in self-mastery which is a training in human freedom” (2339). In a society which increasingly tends to misunderstand and even ridicule this essential dimension of Christian teaching, young people need to be reassured that “if we let Christ into our lives, we lose nothing, absolutely nothing, of what makes life free, beautiful and great” (Homily, Inaugural Mass of the Pontificate, 24 April 2005). Let me conclude by recalling that all our efforts in this area are ultimately concerned with the good of children, who have a fundamental right to grow up with a healthy understanding of sexuality and its proper place in human relationships. Children are the greatest treasure and the future of every society: truly caring for them means recognizing our responsibility to teach, defend and live the moral virtues which are the key to human fulfillment. It is my hope that the Church in the United States, however chastened by the events of the past decade, will persevere in its historic mission of educating the young and thus contribute to the consolidation of that sound family life which is the surest guarantee of intergenerational solidarity and the health of society as a whole. I now commend you and your brother Bishops, with the flock entrusted to your pastoral care, to the loving intercession of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. To all of you I willingly impart my Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of wisdom, strength and peace in the Lord. The Holy Father speaks of marriage as fundamental in the way we form and prepare our young to lead our society. Fr. Mark said our voices are drowned out by the counter-arguments in every venue. The Pope is calling us to not be afraid of the truth. We need to be saying this or the truth will be silenced. Scot said the key message is to trust the Church’s teaching. Rejecting all authority makes you miserable. Jesus knew we need to be connected to God and let’s give thanks to the teaching magisterium which guides us in wisdom. Fr. Mark urged married couples to remember the grace of the sacrament which can be called upon in hard times. Marriage is two people gazing together at God who helps and leads. Marriage is not easy. This teaching is not easy, but the rewards are well worth it. 3rd segment: Now as we do every week at this time, we will consider the Mass readings for this Sunday, specifically the Gospel reading. First Reading for the Fifth Sunday of Lent, March 25, 2012 (Jeremiah 31:31-34) The days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers the day I took them by the hand to lead them forth from the land of Egypt; for they broke my covenant, and I had to show myself their master, says the LORD. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD. I will place my law within them and write it upon their hearts; I will be their God, and they shall be my people. No longer will they have need to teach their friends and relatives how to know the LORD. All, from least to greatest, shall know me, says the LORD, for I will forgive their evildoing and remember their sin no more. Second Reading for the Fifth Sunday of Lent, March 25, 2012 (Hebrews 5:7-9) In the days when Christ Jesus was in the flesh, he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered; and when he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him. Gospel for the Fifth Sunday of Lent, March 25, 2012 (John 12:20-33) Some Greeks who had come to worship at the Passover Feast came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me. “I am troubled now. Yet what should I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour?’ But it was for this purpose that I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it and will glorify it again.” The crowd there heard it and said it was thunder; but others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come for my sake but for yours. Now is the time of judgment on this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” He said this indicating the kind of death he would die. Scot said Jesus is trying to prepare his disciples for His death and resurrection. He’s trying to tell them that His death will produce the fruit that we hear at the end of today’s reading from Hebrews: He would become the source of eternal salvation. Fr. Mark said it will come through sacrifice. The first reading has more curses than blessings, but it is a blessing. Jesus prepares everyone for spiritual battle. The battle for religious liberty is a battle. The fight to defend marriage is a battle in service of God. Scot said little did the disciples know that Jesus was going to be glorified by becoming sin. He would take on all the sins ever committed and all those still to be committed. One of Scot’s favorite verses is “I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” It’s very personal. That’s the love that God has for us. Fr. Mark said the covenant is key. Jeremiah speaks of the Mosaic covenant and Christ sealed the covenant for us so that we are forever redeemed. Scot said Jesus uses dramatic language: speaking of “hating” life. Our lives are a blessing from God. What Jesus is saying is that we need to love the promises that Jesus made for us in the next life over what we have now. Fr. Mark said lifers walking with God. That’s what real life is. Scot encouraged listeners to renew our Lenten promises and renew our efforts in our fasting.

Summary of today’s show: In our regular Thursday news roundup, a new Catholic college is moving to the Archdiocese of Boston; palliative care is introduced as an alternative to assisted suicide; time is running out to show support for Choose Life license plates; a rally for religious freedom on Boston Common on Friday; new archbishop for Baltimore; Obama losing support from women; and Greg Tracy is going to Cuba. 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: St. Thomas More College; palliative care; Choose Life plates; stand up for religious freedom; Baltimore archbishop; going to Cuba 1st segment: Scot welcomed Susan Abbott back to the show. She’s planning this Saturday’s Catechetical Congress. It’s a gathering of 800 catechists and directors of religious education. Bishop Richard Malone of Portland, Maine, will celebrate Mass and be the keynote speaker. They will give out two awards for excellence in catechetical leadership and recognizing volunteer catechists nominated by their pastors. After lunch here will be a number of workshops in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. It’s going to be held at Boston College High School. 2nd segment: Scot welcomed Gregory Tracy and Fr. Roger Landry to the show. Scot said in the Pilot this week is a story about the move of Thomas More College, now in southern New Hampshire, that is moving to Groton, Mass., which is in the Archdiocese of Boston. Pilot reporter got a tour of the new land that the campus will be located on. Thomas More College of Liberal Arts It’s an old farm and they intend to keep some of the farm buildings. It’s about 35 acres, but it’s surrounded by dozens of acres of conservation land. They intend to preserve the historic buildings, but they will be able to build new buildings. The college will be able to grow from about 80 students to over 300. The college president said they will like Groton because they were very serious about the whole of the community. He also likes that students will be able to enjoy an historic New England town. They also hope to buy the former Sacred Heart church building, which is closed, and move it to the new campus. Scot said this is a win for the Archdiocese. Susan said she’s thrilled, especially because of the mission of the college. Scot explained where in the northwest corner of the Archdiocese Groton is located. The move is expected between 2014 and 2019. Fr. Roger talked about the college’s positive features and advantages, including a semester abroad program in Rome. Scot said another story is about the Women Affirming Life spring breakfast at which the speaker was M.C. Sullivan - a nurse, bioethicist, attorney and Director of Ethics at Covenant Health Systems in Tewksbury—who said the answer to the push for assisted suicide is better palliative care, which treats not just bodily pain, but also spiritual and emotional pain. The women at the breakfast were fired up. Susan said she was glad to learn of the difference between palliative care and hospice care. Hospice focuses strictly on the end of life, but palliative care can also be used for those with chronic illness. Greg said more and more people are coming out to stay this assisted suicide is not curative and isn’t really helping people. He said palliative care recognizes that quality of life is not solely about “fixing” or curing someone. Fr. Roger said the short-term focus in this fight is for those who are the end of life, but also for the fight against the legalization effort for November. The longer-term issue is about creating a culture of life, not just for palliative care, but also to provide companionship and compassion through presence for those who are suffering alone. Suicide Is Always A Tragedy Scot said another pro-life effort is the Massachusetts specialty license plate called Choose Life. Those who sponsor the plate effort have to give a bond to ensure to the state that enough plates will be issued. The organizers need about 600 plates in order to read their goal in the next few months. Fr. Roger said these plates are one of the best pro-life efforts we’ve been able to get through our Legislature the past few years. Thousands of people will see these plates as we drive around each day. He was one of the first to get the plate and he challenged many of his parishioners to get the plate as well and they have responded. Massachusetts Choose Life Plate Fr. Roger joked they might even be a get-out-of-a-ticket card with regard to being pulled over by state troopers. He said we should be grateful for the anonymous donor who put $100,000 of his own money for the bond and hopes he gets all of his money back. But even more important we can show we support life in a commonwealth that may not be as pro-life as we want it to be. Also in the Pilot this week is the announcement that Fr. John Delaney from St. Michael Parish in North Andover has been appointed as Pastor of Sacred Hearts Parish in Haverhill. Scot said St. Michael’s has had a lot of upheaval in recent months with three priests leaving for one reason or another. It is the largest parish in the archdiocese with the most activities of any parish. Greg said it’s a dynamic parish that is well-supported by the parishioners. Also in the Pilot is the obituary for Fr. John Fallon, who was 89 years old. He was ordained in 1946 and served in many parishes in southern and western parts of the Archdiocese, although he served in most parts of the Archdiocese, including Gloucester, Arlington, and Ayer. He served 9 parishes in the archdiocese. His funeral Mass was celebrated in the parish where he was baptized, St. Charles Borromeo in Woburn. Fr. Roger talked about the baptismal imagery invoked in the funeral Mass and the symbolism of being buried from the same parish where he ws baptized. Scot said in the Anchor was a story about Fr. Riley Williams who is serving in Rome where he wrote a book on the station churches of Rome. He also has a popular blog. Fr. Riley’s blog Other articles include the Legion of Mary of the diocese of Fall River celebrating its 60th anniversary, a profile of the Faith Formation Office in Fall River, Catholic Girl Scouts celebrating 100 years of scouting, and a new parish that brings togethers two other parishes in Fall River. Scot also read prize-winning pro-life student essays that were published in this week’s Anchor, including an essay by eighth-grader Althea Turley: I am lucky to walk, talk, and communicate normally with the people I love. I have spina bifida, and without spinal operations. my life would be dramatically different. My parents always loved me, regardless of my problems. Not all babies with birth defects are so lucky. Some never take their first breath. Six hundred ninety unborn babies with Down’s Syndrome were aborted in 2002, and that rate rises every year. Aborted babies will never experience the simple joys of life because a person rejected a wonderful gift. Only God should have the power to give or take a life as every human life is a gift and a miracle. Jesus “came so that all might have life and have it to the full.” Victims of murder, capital punishment, assisted suicide, and abortion have a right to life. They are unable to have it because of the choices of others. God should be the only One to make these decisions, yet some people give up hope rather than trusting in God. They don’t leave it up to the omniscient Father. Humans are fallible and make mistakes. Therefore, cancer patients who might live three more years may commit suicide because ofa doc-Il tor’s estimate of a month left to live. The same goes for abortion and capital punishment. A baby in a complicated pregnancy might not kill a mother, and a convicted criminal may be innocent after all. Life’s potential cannot be known. An aborted baby could discover cures for diseases or become a great world leader, but no one will ever know if he or she is deprived a chance at life. The disabled, poor, elderly, and sick are just as important as anyone else and should be treated with the same respect. This past Advent season. my classmates and I volunteered at a homeless shelter and served lunch to the less fortunate who were so appreciative of a single meal. As I was there. I realized the homeless people who seemed so different on the outside weren’t so different from us. We all have the same needs and hopes, and we are all God’s children. We are all important and all merit good lives. God is love, and He created us in His likeness, with the purpose of living a full, happy. and successful life. Humans need to realize this and let God choose when to terminate a life. We should put our faith in God and help others live lives God gives all His children. Susan said she was really impressed. She has the message and has made this her message. She’s not just repeating what she’s heard. There seems to be great commitment in this. Scot said this is a neat contest, in which the winners read their essays during a Mass with Bishop Coleman. Fr. Roger said they’ve been doing the contest for a decade and they change the theme each year. Fr. Roger said he loves seeing the perspective of the youth and the young have a great energy and hope and enthusiasm. Scot said the first place in the senior division was Eileen Corkery, a high school senior. 3rd segment: Scot said across the country tomorrow a lot of organizations are sponsoring local rallies at noon to stand up for religious freedom. A Boston rally will take place on the Boston Common on the corner of Park and Beacon Street. There will be five speakers from 12-1. Scot asked those who could take the time to join in so that our voices could be seen and heard. Stand Up For Religious Freedom Also this week, the bishop who is overseeing the US bishops’ religious freedom initiative, Bishop William Lori, has been appointed to become the next Archbishop of Baltimore. Fr. Roger said Baltimore was the first and only diocese in the United States soon after 1789. It’s the closest thing the US has to be a primatial see. That fact that we’re now in a very visible battle for religious freedom, most pundits thought Bishop Lori was most likely to be given the archdiocese. He is a native of the area. “New archbishop has become face of bishops’ drive for religious freedom”, CNS, 3/21/12 “Bishops disappointed with recent White House meeting on HHS mandate”, CNS, 3/21/12 “Another Catholic ‘swing vote’: Supreme Court gets the health reform law”, CNS, 3/21/12 [“Former government officials join religious leaders in conscience fight”, CNS, 3/16/12](http://www.catholicnews.com/data/briefs/cns/20120315.htm] Scot said another article shows that two former ambassadors to theVatican have joined the fight for religious freedom, Ray Flynn and Jim Nicholson. They have joined other former government officials to create a group called Conscience Cause. Greg said they intend to travel around the country speaking out about this issue from a different perspective from the bishops. Scot said another late-breaking story is related to the lawsuit filed by EWTN against the HHS mandate. Today the state of Alabama has joined EWTN in that lawsuit, claiming that the federal mandate is hurting the rights of all Alabamans. It’s a big development for a state government to join a lawsuit like this. Another story shows that President Obama’s approval rating among women voters has dropped. “Women’s support for Obama drops in wake of HHS mandate”, CNA/EWTN News, 3/13/12 Fr. Roger said he thinks the sense the Obama administration is projecting, that all women are lining up for their free contraception, is false. It’s awakened the vast majority of women for whom the National Organization for Women and Planned Parenthood don’t speak. Fr. Roger also thinks economic news is also important to women and that might be hurting the president as well. What Catholic women need to do is stand up and say what the President is trying to do doesn’t speak for their values when forcing them to pay for other women’s abortifacient pills. This is not the type of feminism they want to support. Scot said it seems like it could offend a lot of women when far-left groups claim they speak for all women. Susan said this is a hot topic among women she knows, who are saying that the administration isn’t doing this for them. Susan suggested listeners re-listen to last Friday’s show to hear an excellent argument. Scot suggested many women will want to sign on to the petition at WomenSpeakForThemselves.com. WomenSpeakforThemselves.com Program #0259 for Friday, March 16, 2012: US bishops on HHS mandate and religious liberty Greg said we can’t draw direct conclusions art o why the president’s approval rating dropped, but it must be related. It’s a little degrading to think that their vote can be purchased by contraceptions. Scot said next week Greg will be visiting Cuba to cover Pope Benedict’s trip. Greg said his group is traveling to Havana to participate in the Pope’s Mass there. He is traveling with a group called Caritas Cubana. Over four days they will visit many of the projects they are doing there. “Protests ramp up ahead of papal trip to Cuba; arrests decried”, CNS, 3/20/12

Summary of today’s show: Scot Landry and Fr. Matt Williams welcome Catholic musician and convert Sean Forrest who talks about his journey from a successful secular music career to the Catholic Church where he ministers to thousands of teens and adults every year. And if that wasn’t enough, in 2002 Sean started a new mission in Haiti, creating a model orphanage that local and international organizations say is the cleanest and most joyful in the country. When you hear Sean’s joy and faith expressed with such awe and excitement, you’ll want to know how you can take part. Listen to the show: Subscribe for free in iTunes Today’s host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Matt Williams Today’s guest(s): Sean Forrest and his remarkable mission to Haiti Links from today’s show: Movin’ With the Spirit: Sean Forrest’s website Sean’s Kickstarter project Today’s topics: Catholic musician Sean Forrest 1st segment: Scot welcomed Fr. Matt back to the show. They discussed his weekend which began with the Jesus in the North End young adult gathering. On Saturday and Sunday, he attended 10 CYO basketball games, and then on Monday was a retreat day for youth ministers. On Tuesday, he was in the North End again, begging restaurants to donate food for those attending the annual Eucharistic Congress for Youth and Young Adults. On Tuesday, Fr. Matt also posted on his Twitter a photo of himself with Boston Bruin Zdeno Chara, who he ran into in the North End. One of the restaurant owners is friends with Zdeno and introduced them and asked Fr. Matt to give him a blessing. Fr. Matt’s photo with Zdeno Chara After the break, we will hear a clip of one of Sean’s signature songs “Movin’ with the Spirit”. 2nd segment: Scot welcomed Sean to the show. Scot recalled that Sean spoke at the 2006 Boston Catholic Men’s Conference, where he was photographed by the Boston Herald and placed on the front page of the newspaper. Scot said many probably don’t know he wasn’t raised Catholic. Sean was born to Baptist parents who kept searching for the perfect church, which depended on how good the pastor was. As they got older, his brother Michael converted to Catholicism. Michael began challenging Sean with questions he couldn’t answer, like how he could know Pastor Bob was interpreting the Bible correctly. From there he began reading more and more. At the time, Sean was a fairly successful musician, and even dropped out of college because he was making so much money. He played for many influential people and making very good money. Then one Sunday morning he woke up with an epiphany. He has a song on the CD about it. He had been out partying the night before and he woke up to find his wife had already been up and out for a walk on the beach. He realized he’d been putting his wonderful wife second to networking with people in his business. That caused him to think that God didn’t put him here to play Jimmy Buffett songs and watch people drink too much while not being with his wife every day. So he stopped the partying, but he still needed to make a living. He was trying to live in the world, playing bars, while trying to follow Jesus Christ. Then he had a health crisis: a vascular seizure that crippled him on his couch that scared him tremendously. For six months, he went from doctor to doctor and was chronically ill. He started having anxiety attacks and thinking he’s going to die. He finally acknowledged God had his attention and it helped him break from that scene. Scot said one of his favorite songs is called “Righthand Land,” which talks about living life in the fast lane and needing to slow down to have contemplation and prayer. That seemed to be Sean’s life. As part of his suffering, Sean went to Medjugorje, even though he wasn’t Catholic yet. He had been invited by a friend to go. He saw things he now knows were supernatural, but due to the hardness of his heart he wouldn’t believe them. He finally heard a homily on the true presence in the Eucharist and he was blown away. After his conversion, Sean started working in youth ministry. He had been studying like crazy after that homily and a priest in Stratford, Connecticut, invited him to come work there, even though he wasn’t Catholic yet. He was so excited to become Catholic at the Easter vigil and the cradle Catholics around him didn’t understand his excitement. After about six months, Sean felt called to go out beyond the parish to speak to others about his faith and running confirmation retreats. (Sean said the youth ministry program is still going on strong in that parish.) In the first year, he did 15 retreats. The next year he did 50. That also gives him time to write music and let God use his past to help heal the present. Fr. Matt said like Sean he was influenced by Medjugorje and working in youth ministry. He asked Sean what it was like to welcome Our Lady into his life. Sean said he had to get past the feeling of betraying Jesus. but as he read the Church fathers, he saw how they all prayed to the Blessed Mother. He prayed to ask God to guide him. So he prayed a rosary and praying that God would stop him if it was wrong. He realized he was meditating on the life of Christ along with people from all over the world and that they were a large global family. This Easter vigil will be 15 years since Sean entered the Church. Scot said the Church is strengthened by all converts. After the break, we will hear Sean’s most recent song “Kay Mari (Hey oh)”, : 3rd segment: This week’s benefactor card raffle winner is Clare Walsh from East Bridgewater, MA She wins 2 items: An audio CD from Living His Life Abundantly: The Defense of Traditional Marriage Meditations on the Stations of the Cross, an inspiring booklet of meditations accompanying prayers that will enrich your Lent by helping you deepen your relationship with Love Himself, Jesus Christ. 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: Sean said Kay Mari is an orphanage in Haiti that he’s working with. He said the government and the UN tells him that it’s the cleanest and happiest orphanage they’ve seen in the country. Scot said Sean began his relationship with Haiti in 2002. Sean said he worked with the Haitian Health Foundation and it was his first experience. He went back but wanted to find something he could do since he’s not a doctor. He wanted to find orphans that he could help. It’s perhaps the poorest country in the world with more than 1 million orphans. He walked into an orphanage and there so many of them and so few caretakers. The children were so lacking in stimulation that they were pacing or banging their heads against the wall. They weren’t being held by anyone because there weren’t enough workers. Sean walks in and a little boy stands in front of him. He tried to pick him up, but the director told him not to touch because the boy had contagious scabies. He pulled away and started to walk away, but he turned back and saw the boy looking at him still, with lifeless eyes. He heard Christ tell him that He carried Sean’s sins to the cross, but he wouldn’t hold Him in this child because he was afraid of a little rash. So he put his arms around him and the boy latched onto him so tight. The other children saw this and they all ran to him. He tried to kiss as many of them as he could and hold them. He spent the whole day doing it. He never contracted any skin rash or anything. Sean decided he wanted to direct his resources toward helping these children. They built an orphanage with a Haitian-American team and as he traveled to speak and play, he would find people wanting to get involved and take part. Scot compared it to the ministry of Fr. Paul O’Brien and St. Patrick’s in Lawrence with the Cor Unum Meal Center, where they treat people with the dignity and love of Christ, the way Christ would do it. Scot said it makes him proud that Sean and other Catholics did an orphanage in the way that Jesus himself would set it up. Scot asked how the orphanage got funded and how they secured the land. Sean said one of his co-ministers in a summer camp he runs told him that she knew someone from Haiti whose parents owned some land. So they bought the land and that man has become a priest in Haiti (Fr. Louis in the Kay Mari video). When they first got to Haiti they were living in huts with no bathrooms and no running water. But he kept going back every three or four months and fundraising here in between. Conferences he was speaking at would hold a collection for him to raise $20,000 and other cases like that where in a couple of years they raised $175,000. Sean said he’s a professional beggar now, not for himself, but for these kids who will become the great generation for Haiti’s future. They’re empowering the Haitian people to evangelize and spread the faith on their own. Fr. Matt asked where in Haiti the orphanage is located. Sean said you arrive in Port au Prince, which is definitely the third world, even more so after the earthquake. The orphanage is four hours drive and about 60 miles. They drive up a little dirt road into the mountains into the most beautiful country. When they arrive everyone comes running out to welcome them with great joy. One time Sean arrived with a priest-friend from Kingston, MA. It’s so quiet there and while they were out walking they encountered a hut were an old woman who was laying in a bed and very sick. But when they saw the priest enter her hut, she threw her arms up in the air and asked, “How is that the servant of the Lord has found me here.” He gave her the anointing of the sick and she threw her arms around him weeping and he wept too. Sean loves to bring priests to Haiti. They don’t care about celebrities in Haiti. Priests are the rock stars. Sean said there are 14 children in the orphanage now. They’re expecting 3 more and the state has told them that they might have 20 more brought to them, so they’re being careful. There are 15 staff workers and they’re feeding and caring for about 70 people. Sean said the buildings are completed, they just need to tile it to keep down the dust. They have a chapel and a clinic and Sean said the church is very beautiful. They need pews, tiles, altars, and paint. They are also building a school which was funded with $400,000 from Mexico. They need to furnish and pay for housing for the teachers. To support the mission go to Haiti300.org. They need money to support the local economy and to buy goods, but they also need the donation of rosaries prayed for the orphanage. They also have a wish list of items they need on the website. Sean said they also bring mission trips every month so people can help and also spread the word, anything from hard labor to giving the workers a break by holding the kids. Scot said a few days ago, his Facebook news feed was full of people talking about this Kickstarter project to help him raise money to underwrite the cost of a new album. In four days they raised the goal. Sean has been producing albums on a shoestring budget, but a friend in the music business who puts on the annual Soulfest festival in New Hampshire told him that if God gave him a gift of music, he needs to get real about it. His friend told him about Kickstarter.com, a way to self-fund projects, and they went to Nashville where a Grammy-winning producer helped them record a great album. Sean said he now thinks he should set the goal at $50,000. Kickstarter gives people a chance to get on board with a pledge and get rewards like a t-shirt or even a concert in your own home. People are still giving because they want to take it to $100,000. Scot said he hears about Kickstarter projects from his business school friends about entrepreneurial goals, but hopefully this will encourage Catholics with ideas for projects to use this unique means of funding. Sean said it’s very humbling to see the response. It’s humbling to see people believe in what he’s doing. Even now he still has doubts in himself, but God keeps proving to him how he wants to use him to change hearts and do something in this world.

Summary of today’s show: With regular Tuesday co-host Fr. Chris O’Connor celebrating his 40th birthday today, it had to be time to do a priest profile of Fr. Chris. Scot Landry talks with Fr. Chris about his childhood growing up in Dorchester’s St. Margaret Parish, attending parochial schools and then Boston College High; going to seminary, including a year in Rome at the Pontifical North American College; and after ordination being selected for further studies and a ministry forming other men for the priesthood at St. John Seminary. Listen to the show: Subscribe for free in iTunes Today’s host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Chris O’Connor Today’s topics: Priest Profile: Fr. Chris O’Connor 1st segment: Scot said today is Fr. Chris’s 40th birthday, Scot will never forget it because he was born on the exact same day as Scot’s wife, Ximena. Fr. Chris was born at St. Margaret’s Hospital in Dorchester, which was also located in his parish of St. Margaret’s, which is now Blessed Mother Teresa Parish. Fr. Chris talked about going back as a priest to help in the maternity ward of St. Margaret’s after his ordination. Fr. Chris is the oldest of three with a sister and a brother. He grew up in St. Margaret’s and Fr. Peter Uglietto, now Bishop Uglietto, was the pastor. Fr. Tom Conway and Fr. Joe Hennessey were also there during his childhood. Fr. Chris said the parish is the central identity of people from Dorchester. When you asked someone they were from Dorchester, you were automatically asked what parish. He said their sports rival was St. Peter’s Parish, although they also competed to see how many priests and religious they would produce. Fr. Chris remembers that Fr. Conway had brought Mother Teresa to his parish where she prayed for vocations and within a year Fr. Chris was in the college seminary. They also recalled stories of Fr. Chris’ childhood in the parochial school. He believes part of the decline in the vocations to the priesthood is connected to decline in the number of religious because the sisters in the schools promoted vocations very strongly. Some of the sisters who taught him in school would share stories of heroic priests, would tell boys that they should consider the priesthood. They also taught the faith in ways not seen today: learning the Psalms by heart, for instance. They also taught the importance of the Eucharist. They also had customs like May processions, which formed an important part of the faith. Fr. Chris said the parish was mainly Irish and Polish, which happened to be his background. There is a whole Polish enclave in Dorchester, with Our Lady of Czestochowa parish in the neighborhood. When he was coming into his adulthood, he also started to see the first influx of families from southeast Asia. 2nd segment: Fr. Chris said both his parents were graduates of Catholic schools and they wanted him to go to Boston College High School. He had many good Jesuits etchers who formed him. Meanwhile, they had moved to Quincy and Sacred Heart Parish, which also produced so many vocations. Fr. Chris said he was helped to graduate by the underhanded tactics of his teachers in giving him a leg up on tests and the like in their tutoring. He graduated from BC High in 1990 and it was still primarily a Jesuit faculty. He recalls so many characters among the priests there. Being around so many priests throughout his youth and adolescence made the abuse crisis especially painful because he had so how hard the priests worked and how they were smeared by association with those who faltered. Unfortunately, now priests are far removed from young men these days because of the fallout from the scandal. Getting to know priests as real men helps boys picture themselves in that life, while only seeing them from afar makes them seem like other. Fr. Chris didn’t become a Jesuit because he didn’t want to end up in a classroom for his whole priesthood, but ironically he ended up teaching at the seminary. He went to the college seminary and he said there were many pivotal moments of formation there. He was in seminary for 8 or 9 years total. He attended the Pontifical North American College in Rome and at the time it was much more difficult to stay in touch with family and friends back home. Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York was the rector of the seminary at the time, and even then he radiated the joy of the Church. Cardinal Law did allow Fr. Chris to return to Boston to finish his seminary training and he was ordained in 1998. He had asked to serve in an inner-city parish with a school when he was asked for his preferences. He wound up at St. Mary Parish in Chelmsford, which was not inner city nor had a school, but it was a very large and active parish. It was so far from Dorchester, it was like being back in Rome. He served there for three years and he helped form a junior youth ministry program to complement the regular youth ministry that had been so successful. After Chelmsford, he was selected for further studies in philosophy at Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. He earned a Licentiate in philosophy in three years. He lived in an active suburban parish there while studying. He’d studied philosophy in the minor seminary and he was fairly successful in returning to it. He was happy to have had several years of parish experience seeing questions and wonder in people’s lives so he could explore those questions in the classroom through a philosophical lens. Scot asked what it was like to study at Catholic University in DC, where there are so many religious orders, the US bishops conference, the National Basilica, and more. Fr. Chris said there were many prominent scholars at CUA, plus elected Catholic officials who would come to speak very often. They would have visiting priests come in to lecture as well as prestigious professors. Fr. Chris said very often the secular study of philosophy attacks the faith, but at Catholic University, faith and reason are presented as compatible. He said young people going to study philosophy need to make sure their school is open to the honest pursuit of truth. Speaking of favorite philosophers, Fr. Chris said St. Augustine is at the top of his list. His thesis, however, was on the philosopher John Rawls. He examined Rawls’ assertion that people of faith should not bring that faith into their actions in the public square. John Rawls on Wikipedia Scot said the last four years in seminary is major seminary where you get a Master’s in theology. Before that they need a bachelor’s degree and study pre-theology. This course includes metaphysics, which considers the big questions of life. They also study ethics, epistemology (study of how we know), ecclesiology (the study of the Church). He also teaches that at the Theological Institute for the New Evangelization, which forms lay people. Fr. Chris has become vice-rector at the seminary, which added administrative responsibilities to his workload. The request that Fr. Chris study theology, especially ecclesiology, came from the current rector, Bishop Arthur Kennedy. Scot and Fr. Chris discussed what ecclesiology is. Fr. Chris is working toward his doctorate in theology. He is thinking of writing his dissertation on the role of the bishop as the principle of communion in the diocese. On the topic, he talked about how the coming pastoral collaborative in the Archdiocese will affect our understanding of what a parish is and the nature of the Church. Scot said Fr. Chris’s favorite questions for guests is who are their favorite saints. Fr. Chris said one of his favorites is St. Maximilian Kolbe. In the Franciscan church where Kolbe was a priest before being deported to Auschwitz is a painting of the saint. Nearby is a plaque that says Pope John Paul II prayed there often when he was archbishop of Krakow. St. Maximilian Kolbe on Wikipedia Scot asked Fr. Chris was the 40th birthday means to him. Fr. Chris said he has reflected on his own mortality, which good Catholics should do on occasion. In another sense, it’s just another day. He considers that as wonderful as this life is, there is a greater life to come in heaven. He said people worry that priesthood is a lonely life, but he’s never been lonely. He’s open to the many people that Christ brings into his life. Fr. Chris gives thanks to God for his family, who love him at his highest moments and weakest moments. He gives thanks for so many good lay friends, who challenge and encourage him. He appreciates the seminary faculty, nine solid priests who are all on the same page and supportive. He’s thankful for the seminarians. He wishes he had been as good as a seminarian as they are today. He wishes they could all be serving in parishes today as priests. He is also thankful for The Good Catholic Life, although he had at first been hesitant to take on another responsibility. Fr. Chris said one of his favorite shows was when they interviewed Fr. Joseph Fessio on Pope Benedict’s book last Lent. It was very cerebral and exhilarating. Fr. Fessio gave insight into how then-Fr. Ratzinger was like as a professor.

Summary of today’s show: St. Joseph was silent in Scripture, but spoke through his actions as the provider and protector of Jesus and Mary as chosen by God. Scot Landry and Fr. Philip Merdinger of the Brotherhood of Hope talk about St. Joseph on his feast day and the many ways he provides a role model to Christians, especially to Catholic men, whether they are single, married, or ordained, on how to truly live the Good Catholic Life. Listen to the show: Subscribe for free in iTunes Today’s host(s): Scot Landry Today’s guest(s): Fr. Philip Merdinger, B.H., founder of the Brotherhood of Hope Links from today’s show: Brotherhood of Hope Today’s topics: St. Joseph 1st segment: Scot talked about St. Joseph’s feast day and his impressions of the saint, the foster father of Jesus and spouse of the Virgin Mary. Our guest, Fr. Philip Merdinger, who is on the faculty of St. John Seminary and the founder of the Brotherhood of Hope, has given many retreats and talks on St. Joseph. Fr. Philip said he has been a priest for 47 years and was ordained for the Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey. After he had been ordained 10 years, he encountered the Charismatic Renewal and learned of covenant communities. They are people who pledge to live a particular Christian ideal in common. As a chaplain for one of these communities, he found a call to bring single lay men into deeper relationship to the Lord. They began households for single men in college or just out of college and out of it came the Community of Hope in 1980. In 1995, they were invited to Boston to make their primary house here. They now serve at Northeastern University and its surrounding schools, at Rutgers University, and Florida State at Tallahassee. The community of men became a community of religious brothers whose primary apostolate is to college students. Scot said most of the Brothers serve on secular college campuses. Fr. Philip said there are 19 of them, 3 of them priests. Scot said he encountered the Brotherhood about 8 years ago at an Advent retreat for Catholic men. Fr. Philip said they started their involvement in Catholic men’s conferences and retreats after he encountered the leaders of the Cincinnati Catholic men’s conference, the largest in the country for many years. Fr. Philip said he has since become a regular speaker at these conferences, of which there are about 50 in the country each year. Scot asked him about his devotion to St. Joseph. Fr. Philip said he came late to his devotion in his life, but in working in the men’s movement, it kindled his interest in St. Joseph because he is a model for men trying to bring their wife nd children to heaven. 2nd segment: Scot said we don’t know much about St. Joseph from Scriptures and we don’t even have any direct quotes attributed to him. Fr. Philip said St. Joseph is the man who speaks by what he does, not by his words. He said we start by acknowledging St. Joseph is a married man and he and his wife would have lived according to the customs and norms of their societies. He had a wife he cared for deeply. He had to learn two very difficult things most men don’t have to learn: That she had a child not by him and that he had to take her into her home and live a celibate life because she was consecrated and set aside for a separate purpose. What stands out is his character. Once he knew that this was the road he needed to walk, he walked it well. He took Mary into his home and legally made Jesus a descendant of Jesus, and he loved and cared for her and provided everything she needed. Scot said God chose how he wanted his own Son to be raised. God wanted Jesus to be raised in a nuclear family, with a mother and father who loved each other and loved him. Scot recalled Fr. Philip said in a homily once that everyone should think that God chose Joseph from all men who would be born to teach his Son what it means to be a man, to work in the world, to care for other people, to be a committed family member. Then Fr. Philip asked those present, What if God called you to raise Jesus, but in fact He does call us to raise our own kids with that same love. Fr. Philip said God gives to men a particular responsibility for their family that can’t be shirked. Think of how Mary was totally at peace entrusting herself to him during her late pregnancy as they traveled to Bethlehem. He’s ready to act for her and for her son. Joseph was a real father to Jesus. We know when Jesus was 12 and he was found in the Temple, Mary said, “Your father and I were looking for you.” Scot said Joseph, from the first moment of the angel’s message, his motivation was to protect Jesus and Mary from all of his being and was always open to however God was trying to communicate to him. Fr. Philip said Joseph was a just man, because his relationship to God’s law put him a place of honor. For any man, it’s their person relationship with the Lord that empowers them to be protector, provider, and governor. When Joseph is told to flee to Egypt, he leaves that very night. He takes the lead and takes action. A man can’t discharge his manly responsibilities unless he has a relationship with the Lord of Lords. Sometimes it’s not easy for me to have that relationship because men are doers, not thinkers. He encouraged men to seek that relationship with the Lord in order to discharge those responsibilities. Scot said we often hear “To Jesus, through Mary”, but for some men it might be worthwhile to consider that Joseph was also very close to Jesus as his father. For many men who struggle with providing and protecting their families or being a chaste man, St. Joseph might be the patron saint for them. Fr. Philip said the sudden departure from what they had built in Bethlehem because of the threat from Herod and the long road to Egypt and then to provide for his family, showed his trust in God who would provide for him. A man can come to trust the Lord in his personal relationship despite the enormous challenges. Trust is not easy for men. Scot said part of trusting might be praying to St. Joseph for humility. He said part of that humility is accepting a message from an angel in a dream. When we think God is leading us, we can pray to St. Joseph. Maybe he can help us to have the humility to accept suffering, like when Joseph and Mary heard the prophecy of Simeon was Jesus was 10 days old. Fr. Philip said part of being a man is to act when the time is right. Am I ready to have patience or am I ready to respond. Men often want someone to tell them what the right thing is to do and St. Joseph had that in abundance because of his relationship with God. Scot said imagine how Joseph and Mary felt when they lost 12-year-old Jesus during the caravan from Jerusalem. Then their sorrow or anxiety was replaced with joy on finding Jesus. What we learn here is that even the Holy Family had moments of anxiety and fear like we all have. Fr. Philip said Mary was not a happy lady: “Why have you done this to us?” And then Jesus responds in a way that must have been hard to understand: “I was in my Father’s house.” Then it says that Jesus returned with them and was obedient and Mary pondered these things in her heart. 3rd segment: Scot said the finding of Jesus in the temple was the last time we hear about Joseph, but our tradition is that Joseph died surrounded by Jesus and Mary after having raised Jesus. Fr. Philip said it’s a small-t tradition which reminds us of a crucial understanding for being a good Catholic, that the Son of God took flesh for us and his relationship in his family was like ours: Joseph would have cared for Jesus, would have held his hand in the synagogue to learn the Torah, would have taught him a trade. Joseph raised and cared for him. So it’s a lovely tradition that Joseph would have been surrounded in love by Mary and Jesus. Joseph is patron of the universal Church because he cared and protected for Jesus and the Church is the body of Christ. Scot said the Church is under attack in our culture today and so we turn to St. Joseph that we would have the strength to fight our battles well. Fr. Philip talked about the potential for this conflict to send us “into exile in Egypt” and how we should as St. Joseph to intercede on behalf our persecutors as well. Fr. Philip said when he was young, someone could just follow the practices of the faith, they could call themselves a good Catholic. But today it’s not enough anymore. We need to be able to defend the church, first in our own hearts, making these teachings our own. Scot said St. Joseph heard the voice of God and took action unquestioning. We need to be able to accept the Church’s teachings with an attitude that we want to obey the Church and if we’re not sure we understand, to give the Church the benefit of the doubt while we seek to understand. Fr. Philip said it’s obedient to the mind of Christ. He pointed out that it’s not just Church teaching, but it’s the mind of Jesus. Not something external coming from the outside, but something from the inside, in our hearts. Fr. Philip said doubt isn’t the problem. It’s when you just say No, I don’t care what Christ thinks. He said John Garvey, president of Catholic University of America, and Jim Towey, president of Ave Maria U, are excellent examples of Catholic lay leadership against attempts to restrict the Church. Scot discussed the Obama administration’s efforts to restrict the right to freedom of religion in favor of a manufactured right to free contraception. What’s at the root of that is that the idea that men and women today can’t control themselves and thus need free contraception in order to act irresponsibly and not bear the consequences. Fr. Philip said in the seminary, they encourage the men to understand that St. Joseph is a model for them of one who cares for the Church, just like the men will be if ordained as priests. They want to pray that they will become willing protectors of the Church, not just administrators or purveyors of sacraments. Scot asked Fr. Philip about he’s observing Lent. Fr. Philip said he’s been thinking more about the Cross and its central message.

Summary of today’s show: This week, the US bishops issued a new and passionate statement on the current debate over religious liberty precipitated by the Obama administrations rules mandating coverage for contraceptive care in health insurance. Scot Landry, Fr. Mark O’Connell, and Domenico Bettinelli consider the statement in a similarly passionate discussion, including the clarifications from the bishops on the 7 things that the debate is NOT about (despite media coverage to the contrary), the 3 things that the debate is ACTUALLY about, and 5 next steps the bishops have pledged to take. Listen to the show: Subscribe for free in iTunes Today’s host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Mark O’Connell Today’s guest(s): Domenico Bettinelli, Jr. Links from today’s show: USCCB website on conscience matters “United for Religious Freedom: A Statement of the Administrative Committee of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops”, March 12,2012 “Bishops Promise To Continue ‘Vigorous Efforts’ Against HHS Violations Of Religious Freedom In Health Care Reform Mandate”, USCCB “Religious Freedom and Protecting Healthcare for Women and Children”, Cardinal Dolan’s Blog “Amish, Ok. Catholics, No.” USCCBlog Today’s topics: The US bishops’ latest response on the HHS mandate and religious liberty 1st segment: Scot and Fr. Mark caught up on the last week. He was on vacation last week, but came back to crises in both the office and family. He’s looking forward to St. Patrick’s Day weekend. Most of Fr. Mark’s background is Irish. Scot read an article about St. Patrick from this week’s Pilot, giving the background on the Irish saint who is the patron saint of Boston. Scot said that to us in the Archdiocese of Boston and throughout the Church in the US, we look to St. Patrick especially, considering what Irish Catholics have done for the Church here over the decades. Scot said St. Patrick did not march in parades or drink green beer, but the Church does not discourage celebration. We just ask that in the midst of celebrating to say a prayer to St. Patrick for the Catholic Church. Fr. Mark said he has heard today from some people upset the Cardinal did not give a dispensation from Lenten abstinence for meat today, the day before St. Patrick’s Day. 2nd segment: Scot said he still hears from people wondering what the big battle is about between the US bishops and the Obama administration, so we will go through the document in detail. The Administrative Committee of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, gathered for its March 2012 meeting, is strongly unified and intensely focused in its opposition to the various threats to religious freedom in our day. In our role as Bishops, we approach this question prayerfully and as pastors—concerned not only with the protection of the Church’s own institutions, but with the care of the souls of the individual faithful, and with the common good. To address the broader range of religious liberty issues, we look forward to the upcoming publication of “A Statement on Religious Liberty,” a document of the Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty. This document reflects on the history of religious liberty in our great Nation; surveys the current range of threats to this foundational principle; and states clearly the resolve of the Bishops to act strongly, in concert with our fellow citizens, in its defense. One particular religious freedom issue demands our immediate attention: the now- finalized rule of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that would force virtually all private health plans nationwide to provide coverage of sterilization and contraception—including abortifacient drugs—subject to an exemption for “religious employers” that is arbitrarily narrow, and to an unspecified and dubious future “accommodation” for other religious organizations that are denied the exemption. We begin, first, with thanks to all who have stood firmly with us in our vigorous opposition to this unjust and illegal mandate: to our brother bishops; to our clergy and religious; to our Catholic faithful; to the wonderful array of Catholic groups and institutions that enliven our civil society; to our ecumenical and interfaith allies; to women and men of all religions (or none at all); to legal scholars; and to civic leaders. It is your enthusiastic unity in defense of religious freedom that has made such a dramatic and positive impact in this historic public debate. With your continued help, we will not be divided, and we will continue forward as one. Second, we wish to clarify what this debate is—and is not—about. This is not about access to contraception, which is ubiquitous and inexpensive, even when it is not provided by the Church’s hand and with the Church’s funds. This is not about the religious freedom of Catholics only, but also of those who recognize that their cherished beliefs may be next on the block. This is not about the Bishops’ somehow “banning contraception,” when the U.S. Supreme Court took that issue off the table two generations ago. Indeed, this is not about the Church wanting to force anybody to do anything; it is instead about the federal government forcing the Church—consisting of its faithful and all but a few of its institutions—to act against Church teachings. This is not a matter of opposition to universal health care, which has been a concern of the Bishops’ Conference since 1919, virtually at its founding. This is not a fight we want or asked for, but one forced upon us by government on its own timing. Finally, this is not a Republican or Democratic, a conservative or liberal issue; it is an American issue. So what is it about? An unwarranted government definition of religion. The mandate includes an extremely narrow definition of what HHS deems a “religious employer” deserving exemption—employers who, among other things, must hire and serve primarily those of their own faith. We are deeply concerned about this new definition of who we are as people of faith and what constitutes our ministry. The introduction of this unprecedented defining of faith communities and their ministries has precipitated this struggle for religious freedom. Government has no place defining religion and religious ministry. HHS thus creates and enforces a new distinction—alien both to our Catholic tradition and to federal law—between our houses of worship and our great ministries of service to our neighbors, namely, the poor, the homeless, the sick, the students in our schools and universities, and others in need, of any faith community or none. Cf. Deus Caritas Est, Nos. 20-33. We are commanded both to love and to serve the Lord; laws that protect our freedom to comply with one of these commands but not the other are nothing to celebrate. Indeed, they must be rejected, for they create a “second class” of citizenship within our religious community. And if this definition is allowed to stand, it will spread throughout federal law, weakening its healthy tradition of generous respect for religious freedom and diversity. All—not just some—of our religious institutions share equally in the very same God-given, legally-recognized right not “to be forced to act in a manner contrary to [their] own beliefs.” Dignitatis Humanae, No. 2. A mandate to act against our teachings. The exemption is not merely a government foray into internal Church governance, where government has no legal competence or authority—disturbing though that may be. This error in theory has grave consequences in principle and practice. Those deemed by HHS not to be “religious employers” will be forced by government to violate their own teachings within their very own institutions. This is not only an injustice in itself, but it also undermines the effective proclamation of those teachings to the faithful and to the world. For decades, the Bishops have led the fight against such government incursions on conscience, particularly in the area of health care. Far from making us waver in this longstanding commitment, the unprecedented magnitude of this latest threat has only strengthened our resolve to maintain that consistent view. A violation of personal civil rights. The HHS mandate creates still a third class, those with no conscience protection at all: individuals who, in their daily lives, strive constantly to act in accordance with their faith and moral values. They, too, face a government mandate to aid in providing “services” contrary to those values—whether in their sponsoring of, and payment for, insurance as employers; their payment of insurance premiums as employees; or as insurers themselves—without even the semblance of an exemption. This, too, is unprecedented in federal law, which has long been generous in protecting the rights of individuals not to act against their religious beliefs or moral convictions. We have consistently supported these rights, particularly in the area of protecting the dignity of all human life, and we continue to do so. Third, we want to indicate our next steps. We will continue our vigorous efforts at education and public advocacy on the principles of religious liberty and their application in this case (and others). We will continue to accept any invitation to dialogue with the Executive Branch to protect the religious freedom that is rightly ours. We will continue to pursue legislation to restore the same level of religious freedom we have enjoyed until just recently. And we will continue to explore our options for relief from the courts, under the U.S. Constitution and other federal laws that protect religious freedom. All of these efforts will proceed concurrently, and in a manner that is mutually reinforcing.  Most importantly of all, we call upon the Catholic faithful, and all people of faith, throughout our country to join us in prayer and penance for our leaders and for the complete protection of our First Freedom—religious liberty—which is not only protected in the laws and customs of our great nation, but rooted in the teachings of our great Tradition. Prayer is the ultimate source of our strength—for without God, we can do nothing; but with God, all things are possible. 3rd segment: Now as we do every week at this time, we will consider the Mass readings for this Sunday, specifically the Gospel reading. Gospel for the Fourth Sunday of Lent, March 18, 2012 (John 3:14-21) Jesus said to Nicodemus: “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God. In some parishes, where the RCIA candidates are present, sometimes they will use a different Gospel that goes along with the questions or Scrutinies put before the candidates. But most people will hear this Gospel. This is perhaps the most famous verse, John 3:16, and it is the perfect summation of the Gospels. Scot said that “believe” doesn’t just mean acknowledge his existence, but means those who “live the truth.” We have to be seen that we are living in God, not joust for God. Fr. Mark made it very clear that one doesn’t have to explicitly state belief in Christ to go to heaven.

Summary of today’s show: Scot, Susan, Fr. Roger, and Gregory catch up on this week’s headlines, including updates on the religious freedom fight with 7 lessons we’ve learned so far and a great ministry threatened by the new rules; pastor appointments and parish mergers; and how priests are using new media to enrich their faith lives, including something half of priests under 40 are doing; encouraging statistics about the Church; plus much more. 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: HHS mandate, appointments and mergers, priests using new media, encouraging stats on the Church 1st segment: Scot welcomed Susan Abbott, Fr. Roger Landry, and Gregory Tracy back to the show. Scot said Fr. Roger on Saturday received Scot’s daughter Ali for her First Communion. They discussed how beautiful and wonderful it is to celebrate the Sacraments for everyone, especially for those he knows are taking their sacrament seriously. Susan talked about how First Communions are a wonderful moment in the life of the Church. She said it may be their First Communion, it should only be the first of thousands of Communions. Greg Tracy then talked about his experience as the father of 10 to celebrate the First Communions of his first six children. 2nd segment: Scot said the editorial in the Anchor is the second of two parts dealing with the battle for religious liberty in the US, especially what we’ve been learning in the interplay between the Obama administration and the US bishops. The first thing Fr. Roger wrote is that we learned about this process is that the administration and many of its friends in the media are trying to make this about contraception, instead of religious freedom. Scot said they hope to make this a wedge issue to bring support from women who would be made to believe that their “right” to birth control is threatened. Fr. Roger discussed the real issue of Sandra Fluke, the 30-year-old political operative attending Georgetown Law, aside from Rush Limbaugh’s ill-considered insults, is that someone spending tens of thousands of dollars to attend school can compel religious believers to act against their conscience to provide her with birth control. Greg said the Obama administration claims to want to resolve this in a way that respects religious freedom, but in reality they show no evidence of wanting to have a real discussion with the US bishops. There is no compromise possible that continues to abrogate religious freedom. Greg said it’s like the administration is promising to say “please” but we’re not allowed to say No in any case. The third point in the editorial is that there doesn’t seem to be the will in Congress to protect religious freedom, so it will be up to the Courts to protect our rights. The Senate failed to pass the Blunt Amendment. The voting on that amendment also show us that Democrats voted against conscience rights 48-3 and Republicans favored it 45-1, so Republicans on Capitol Hill seem to be supportive of religious freedom. Fr. Roger said we have to confront the Democratic Party straight on. There’s something in the party trumping their respect for religious conscience. Scot said the claim can be made that the Democrat Party is being a shill for the special interest of Planned Parenthood. He noted that Planned Parenthood was a big part of the Dept. of Health and Human Services consultation on the services that would be covered under universal health care. The fate of the Susan G. Komen Foundation about a month ago shows that people have a right o be fearful of the political backlash from Planned Parenthood. Fr. Roger noted that 13 Catholic Senators voted against the Rights of Conscience Act, including Massachusetts Senator John Kerry. Scot noted that Democrats often supported the Church’s service to the poor, but they aren’t even on board with the Church when this issue threatens the services that the Church provides. When faced with a situation in which every single U.S. bishop wrote a letter decrying the consequences of the HHS mandate on Catholic and other religious institutions, these CatholiC senators - many of whom who have routinely cited their “conscience” to vote for bills in favor of abortion -still voted against the Church’s being compelled, as the legislation stipulated, to “provide, participate in, or refer for a specific item or service contrary to the provider’s religious beliefs or moral convictions.” Such a betrayal would probably even make Judas blush. Scot said another point is that it’s amazing how much power the Secretary of Health and human Services has been given over religious groups. Those who have examined the text of the PPACA have noted that it contains 700 references to the secretary “shall,” another 200 to the secretary “may” and 139 to the secretary “determines.” The HHS secretary has not only been given unprecedented power over what amounts to be one-sixth of the U.S. economy, but the authority to determine all sorts of things that no unelected official should have. Susan said she found this paragraph frightening. Greg said there are just so many problems we’ve encountered already, what will happen when it’s in full effect? How much more damage will it do? Fr. Roger’s last point is that people need to ask themselves and their legislators whether we want to elect the sort of people who do not respect religious freedom and who believe that free contraception trumps religious freedom. Fr. Roger said in a free country we get the leaders we deserve. We should never elect people who would use their office to take our rights away and get us to fund other’s newly-invented secularist pseudo-rights. As citizens, we have the power to correct these abuses, but we need to rise up and use that power. These are all lessons that, unfortunately, we’ve been learning the hard way. We need to ask candidates completely and substantively about these specific problems with specific answers, not vague assurances. Our votes have become enormously consequential. Scot said the bishops came out a wonderful new statement on this issue that he will discuss on the show with Fr. Mark O’Connell tomorrow. Bishops Promise To Continue ‘Vigorous Efforts’ Against HHS Violations Of Religious Freedom In Health Care Reform Mandate United for Religious Freedom: A Statement of the Administrative Committee Of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops There’s an article in this week’s Anchor about the Little Sisters of the Poor, an order that cares for people at the end of their lives who have no one else to care for them. Now they are having to reconsider whether they will still be able to serve people of all faiths and employ people of all faiths because of the onerous restrictions of HHS mandate. Greg said the Little Sisters of the Poor have a sense of vocation and service and it is a concrete example of the game of chicken that the administration is playing to see whether we’re really going to end our ministry. “HHS mandate threatens Little Sisters of the Poor elder care”, Catholic News Agency, 3/8/12 Greg said what we need to do is march a group of the Little Sisters down to Washington and have them confront some Senators to ask them why they won’t be allowed to continue their ministry. “Because the Little Sisters of the Poor cannot in conscience directly provide or collaborate in the provision of services that conflict with Church reaching, we find ourselves in the irreconcilable situation of being forced to either stop serving and employing people of all faiths in our ministry - so that we will fall under the narrow exemption - or to stop providing health care coverage to our employees,” the order said. “Either path threatens to end our service to the elderly in America. The Little Sisters are fervently praying that this issue will be resolved before we are forced to take concrete action in response to this unjust mandate.” … “If the federal government succeeds in enforcing this rule, what is to stop it from rationing health care to seniors or including euthanizing procedures on the list of required ‘preventive services’ as a way of eliminating the costs associated with caring for our aging population?” they asked. “Would health care providers like the Little Sisters of the Poor then be forced to cooperate in such practices?” “We wish to affirm that the HHS mandate is an unjust and dangerous infringement upon the natural and constitutional rights of Americans and that the only just solution is to rescind it. The Little Sisters of the Poor call upon Congress and the Executive Branch to reverse this decision as soon as possible and we pledge our prayers and sacrifices for the true good of our beloved country,” the order said. Susan said this statement comes from a group not prone to speaking out on politics or public policy. Scot said columnist George Weigel also wrote this week titled “Religious freedom: It’s not just Pakistan and China.” The need to defend religious freedom comes to the US. Scot turned to local news. Father Brian J. McHugh has been appointed as Pastor at St. Joseph Parish in Somerville. This appointment is in addition to his present assignments as Pastor at St. Ann Parish in Somerville and Pastor at St. Catherine of Genoa Parish in Somerville. He becomes the third pastor overseeing three parishes in the Archdiocese. He takes over for Fr. Henry Jennings who is retiring. Fr. Roger said a decision has been made in the Diocese of Fall River to close the oldest Portuguese parish in the country, St. John’s in New Bedford, and merge it with another parish. They had been slated to close in 2009, but the bishop gave them a chance to raise money to keep themselves open. Unfortunately they fell short in their efforts with support only from 17% of parishioners. Fr. Roger said it helps that the pastor of the welcoming parish has been pastor of the closing parish. It’s sad to see the church close. “New Bedford Catholic church to close and merge with another; church bills itself as first serving Portuguese in North America”, Boston.com, 3/13/12 Scot said the Pilot also has a nice story on the one-year anniversary of The Good Catholic Life. Greg said they wanted to make the story a little more personal rather than a straight just-the-facts story. They wanted to give a little bit of insight for those who may not have heard it before. In the Anchor this week is a story about priests using new media tools to enrich their faith, including smartphone apps, Facebook, Twitter, and Skype. There was a quote from a priest who noted how many young priests at a diocesan priests’ retreat praying on their smart phones. Fr. Roger said he thinks at least half of priests under 40 now pray the Liturgy of the Hours using apps on their phones rather than in a book. It makes it simpler because it’s always with them, they no longer have to worry about the ribbons and flipping back and forth, or switching books between seasons. They can concentrate on their prayer. Fr. Roger said he has his entire priestly library on his iPhone or iPad, including books in his Kindle app. He no longer has to break his back carrying a suitcase of books. He hopes the article helps to inspire laypeople to start taking advantage of the high tech means to keep the presence of the Lord throughout the day. Scot said the iMissal app reads the readings to you, which he likes to do on his way to work. The Anchor also profiles the Pro-Life Office of the Fall River diocese, including stories of how they have helped women considering abortion, not just telling them of the Church’s teaching, but treating them with compassion and giving them alternatives. He told one particularly touching story of lives changed by their work. Scot said another column by Msgr. James Moroney on the Collects of Lent is in the Pilot. He is writing each week on the opening prayers for Mass on the Sundays of Lent. Susan said he writes that we are halfway on the journey through Lent. He quotes Pope Gregory: Pope Gregory begins by talking about Lent itself, noting that no matter how much we are fasting, we should hunger more for the Word of God than for food! He then says later in his column: When Christ kneels to wash the feet of his Apostles and tells them to love others as he has loved them, we will remember those whom we have fed and clothed and loved in their poverty. Susan said Cardinal Sean often preaches on Holy Thursday on how we need to remember to love as God loves us, which is a high bar. His columns give us some good insight into the Sunday Mass. Scot said there is a column in the Pilot today giving the status of all the divisions in the Archdiocesan CYO March Madness basketball tournaments. He also noted a story giving a statistics on the worldwide Church. The Church’s total population has grown by 1.3%, which outpaces overall population growth. The number of bishops and priests and seminarians grew in the past year as well. There were 412,236 priests as of December 31, 2010 and 118,990 seminarians. The major increases were in Africa, Asia, and Oceania, while Europe saw the greatest decrease. “Vatican says number of Catholics, priests, bishops worldwide increased”, Catholic News Service, 3/12/12 Other headlines this week include: “Church must better explain teaching on sexuality, pope tells US bishops”, Catholic News Service, 3/9/12 “Noisy world is enemy of prayer, says Pope Benedict”,Catholic News Agency/EWTN News, 3/7/12 “Bishops urge diplomacy with Iran versus military action”, Catholic News Agency/EWTN News, 3/7/12

Summary of today’s show: Last October, Pope Benedict issued the motu proprio Porta Fideo (the Doors of Faith), declaring a Year of Faith to begin in October 2012, coinciding with the 60th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council. Scot Landry and Fr. Matt Williams dive into Pope Benedict's words, examining just what the Holy Father wants for us in this year, which is for the whole Church to rediscover the joy and abundance in Christ that leads the world out of the desert toward life. Listen to the show: Subscribe for free in iTunes Today’s host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Matt Williams Links from today’s show: Porta Fidei Today’s topics: The Pope’s declaration of the Year of Faith 1st segment: Scot welcomed Fr. Matt to the show and they discussed his recent blogging and video messages for Lent. They discussed the Mass readings from last week. In the first reading we see the giving of the Law to Moses and how God is teaching what it means to be human and live in this world. Israel’ responsibility was to be holy, a people unique to God alone, and be a light to others. But throughout the Old Testament, Israel looks to the other nations and wants to be like them. They fall into pagan worship and break the First Commandment. Then we see in the Gospel that Jesus cleanses the Temple in Jerusalem. The area was called the Court of the Gentiles and it had become a marketplace. They had lost sight of what it meant to be on holy ground. The Lord restores the proper order. Taken together, we see how when we stop going to Mass, we lose touch with God. If we don’t fall in love with Jesus, we will fall in love with something else or someone else. If we take a Sunday off, before we know it, we take another Sunday off. It’s easy to get separated and we begin to seek other gods. If we don’t keep worship of the Lord first and foremost in our lives, we’re putting something else ahead of him. Restoring worship of the Lord restores the order in our lives. Scot asked Fr. Matt about the leadership retreat for 57 high schools teens who will be leading the Hunger for Justice service retreat on Good Friday and Holy Saturday for several hundred teens. It was held at Immaculate Conception Church in Salem last weekend. They looked deeply into the cardinal virtues-prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance— in order to live a more disciplined life. The theme was “Cross” Training. God wants us to be disciplined, especially if we’re going to be leaders. It’s not enough to just avoid vice, but we also must strive for virtue. We also must live with discipline. Discipline leads to peace, happiness, and contentment. At the end of the retreat, they talked about creating a prayer discipline for themselves. They listed three levels of prayer life, which they called junior variety, varsity, and intramural. They included practices like the rosary, divine mercy chaplet, visiting the Blessed Sacrament and so on. They also created a Facebook group to create some accountability among themselves. They make a pledge on the page, saying they’re going to be “junior varsity” today for example and then checking back in later to see how they did. Fr. Matt said he’s enjoying his new work in social media. He’s getting a lot of good feedback from others and it’s become part of his daily routine. He looks forward to it and it’s very simple. They also discussed that The Light Is On For You tonight in every church and chapel in the Archdiocese. Find out more at http://www.thelightisonforyou.org and find a parish near you at http://www.pilotparishfinder.com. 2nd segment: Last October 2011, the Holy Father released a document called Porta Fidei (Door of Faith) announcing that a Year of Faith lasting 13 months would begin in October 2012 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council. The “door of faith” (Acts 14:27) is always open for us, ushering us into the life of communion with God and offering entry into his Church. It is possible to cross that threshold when the word of God is proclaimed and the heart allows itself to be shaped by transforming grace. To enter through that door is to set out on a journey that lasts a lifetime. It begins with baptism (cf. Rom 6:4), through which we can address God as Father, and it ends with the passage through death to eternal life, fruit of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, whose will it was, by the gift of the Holy Spirit, to draw those who believe in him into his own glory (cf. Jn 17:22). To profess faith in the Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – is to believe in one God who is Love (cf. 1 Jn 4:8): the Father, who in the fullness of time sent his Son for our salvation; Jesus Christ, who in the mystery of his death and resurrection redeemed the world; the Holy Spirit, who leads the Church across the centuries as we await the Lord’s glorious return. Fr. Matt said he loves the opening of the ritual of baptism, which welcomes the candidate into the church. He starts it at the front door of the church and asks the questions of the parents and godparents. Then they walk through the door into the sanctuary. The symbolism is so rich because baptism is the entryway into the Church. It is the root of all sacraments and the life of the Church. The parents are promising to raise the child in the faith and model their faith to them. When you think about it, when God reveals himself, he makes a gift of himself to his people. God makes himself to vulnerable, in a way. Faith is in many ways that reception of that gift of God’s divine life and it assimilates into our being and transforms our hearts. Ever since the start of my ministry as Successor of Peter, I have spoken of the need to rediscover the journey of faith so as to shed ever clearer light on the joy and renewed enthusiasm of the encounter with Christ. During the homily at the Mass marking the inauguration of my pontificate I said: “The Church as a whole and all her Pastors, like Christ, must set out to lead people out of the desert, towards the place of life, towards friendship with the Son of God, towards the One who gives us life, and life in abundance.”[1] It often happens that Christians are more concerned for the social, cultural and political consequences of their commitment, continuing to think of the faith as a self-evident presupposition for life in society. In reality, not only can this presupposition no longer be taken for granted, but it is often openly denied.[2] Whereas in the past it was possible to recognize a unitary cultural matrix, broadly accepted in its appeal to the content of the faith and the values inspired by it, today this no longer seems to be the case in large swathes of society, because of a profound crisis of faith that has affected many people. Scot said the Holy Father echoes that he’s been encouraging the Church to rediscover the journey of faith, but also to show how the church leads people out of the desert, i.e. depression, pain, toward the life of abundance in Christ. Not that we’d have every material thing, but that our life would be full of peace and joy, knowing we are where God wants us to be in this life. Fr. Matt said there was a time when as a society we were defined by our relationships with friends, family, colleagues, and the Lord. But very often today we are defined by our jobs, our degrees, our titles. The Holy Father is saying that we are defined by our relationship with the One, who reveals what it means to be human. We experience a joy, peace, life ,love, grace that the world cannot give. Even a spouse cannot give it because he or she is not God. Scot said he’s been reading a book by author Gus Lloyd called “Magnetic Personality.” The general thesis is that to help grow the Church and be all we’re called to be, we are supposed to be magnetic. He mentioned Sister Olga Yaqob, who powerfully attracts people to Christ through her positive attitude and the way she interacts with people. We’re supposed to be a person that is confident and encouraging and humble in our faith. That’s what the Holy Father is calling all of us to. Fr. Matt said Mother Teresa was not beautiful physically, but she was beautiful because the love of Christ radiated from her. We become magnetic by the joy in the life of abundance that comes from knowing Christ. Scot acknowledged that those of us in the Northeast culturally don’t often share the joy of our faith on our faces, but he challenged listeners to share the good that has been done in our lives by Jesus in a way that others want to have what we have. Fr. Matt said Preach always and when necessary use words. We may be the only Gospel some people ever read. In the light of all this, I have decided to announce a Year of Faith. It will begin on 11 October 2012, the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council, and it will end on the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Universal King, on 24 November 2013. The starting date of 11 October 2012 also marks the twentieth anniversary of the publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, a text promulgated by my Predecessor, Blessed John Paul II,[3] with a view to illustrating for all the faithful the power and beauty of the faith. This document, an authentic fruit of the Second Vatican Council, was requested by the Extraordinary Synod of Bishops in 1985 as an instrument at the service of catechesis[4] and it was produced in collaboration with all the bishops of the Catholic Church. Moreover, the theme of the General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops that I have convoked for October 2012 is “The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith”. This will be a good opportunity to usher the whole Church into a time of particular reflection and rediscovery of the faith. It is not the first time that the Church has been called to celebrate a Year of Faith. My venerable Predecessor the Servant of God Paul VI announced one in 1967, to commemorate the martyrdom of Saints Peter and Paul on the 19th centenary of their supreme act of witness. He thought of it as a solemn moment for the whole Church to make “an authentic and sincere profession of the same faith”; moreover, he wanted this to be confirmed in a way that was “individual and collective, free and conscious, inward and outward, humble and frank”.[5] He thought that in this way the whole Church could reappropriate “exact knowledge of the faith, so as to reinvigorate it, purify it, confirm it, and confess it”.[6] The great upheavals of that year made even more evident the need for a celebration of this kind. It concluded with the Credo of the People of God,[7] intended to show how much the essential content that for centuries has formed the heritage of all believers needs to be confirmed, understood and explored ever anew, so as to bear consistent witness in historical circumstances very different from those of the past. Scot said the Holy Father is saying that it’s a time for all of us to rediscover our faith. Lent is the often a time for us to refresh our faith and this Year of Faith is a way to do this in a special way. Fr. Matt said the Holy Father is challenging us to counter the faith fatigue so many of the faithful show. He said every time we reread the Catechism and the documents of Vatican II are inspired by the Holy Spirit and speak to us at this juncture in the Church’s life and give us new insights. We want this Year to arouse in every believer the aspiration to profess the faith in fullness and with renewed conviction, with confidence and hope. Scot said theHoly Father wants us all to say, “I believe” like in the new translation of the Roman Missal. We will say we believe in the fullness of the faith. It’s a time for us to ask ourselves if there are elements of our faith we don’t understand or disagree with and then with the help of the Lord to seek out understanding and to have the courage to say “I believe” in public, even if it’s unpopular. Fr. Matt said the more we dive into our faith, the more we can own it for ourselves. People often hesitate to being a witness because they don’t feel articulate. To a greater extent than in the past, faith is now being subjected to a series of questions arising from a changed mentality which, especially today, limits the field of rational certainties to that of scientific and technological discoveries. Nevertheless, the Church has never been afraid of demonstrating that there cannot be any conflict between faith and genuine science, because both, albeit via different routes, tend towards the truth. Scot said there are many non-believers who put a lot of faith in science and believe there faith and science are opposed. Pope Benedict tells us that faith and science work together as long as they seek truth. The technology of ultrasounds is a good example where our faith in the sanctity of life is supported by emerging science. 3rd segment: This week’s benefactor card raffle winner is William Wallack from Peabody, MA. He wins a Series of CD’s by Peter Kreeft from the Envoy Institute: · “How to Win the Culture War” · “Being Catholic in a Post-Christian World · “The Importance of Critical Thinking Skills and How to Acquire Them” AND · “The Logic of Relativism” 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: Moving on with the Holy Father’s words in the document Porta Fidei: The Year of Faith will also be a good opportunity to intensify the witness of charity. As Saint Paul reminds us: “So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Cor 13:13). With even stronger words – which have always placed Christians under obligation – Saint James said: “What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has not works? Can his faith save him? If a brother or sister is ill-clad and in lack of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled’, without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. But some one will say, ‘You have faith and I have works.’ Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith” (Jas 2:14-18). Faith without charity bears no fruit, while charity without faith would be a sentiment constantly at the mercy of doubt. Fr. Matt said faith is a supernatural gift oriented toward God. As we receive this Communion with God, the natural expression of encountering the God who is love is to mirror the one who is love. Faith must lead to acts of charity. Scot said faith isn’t just a set of beliefs. The beliefs give foundation to our actions that we are impelled to do out of love for God and others. Faith without charity is just asset of beliefs. Charity without faith is good action without proper roots in why we do it is like the seeds planted in shallow soil. Without deep roots, it’s easily uprooted. Fr. Matt said faith directs us to the Lord so charity without faith has only an earthly frame of reference. Faith and charity each require the other, in such a way that each allows the other to set out along its respective path. Indeed, many Christians dedicate their lives with love to those who are lonely, marginalized or excluded, as to those who are the first with a claim on our attention and the most important for us to support, because it is in them that the reflection of Christ’s own face is seen. Through faith, we can recognize the face of the risen Lord in those who ask for our love. “As you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me” (Mt 25:40). These words are a warning that must not be forgotten and a perennial invitation to return the love by which he takes care of us. It is faith that enables us to recognize Christ and it is his love that impels us to assist him whenever he becomes our neighbour along the journey of life. Supported by faith, let us look with hope at our commitment in the world, as we await “new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Pet 3:13; cf. Rev 21:1). Scot recalled Monday’s show with Fr. Andrew Apostoli. He had quoted Mother Teresa who said in serving the poorest of the poor, she didn’t just see the face of Christ in them, she saw Christ himself. “That the word of the Lord may speed on and triumph” (2 Th 3:1): may this Year of Faith make our relationship with Christ the Lord increasingly firm, since only in him is there the certitude for looking to the future and the guarantee of an authentic and lasting love. The words of Saint Peter shed one final ray of light on faith: “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while you may have to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold which though perishable is tested by fire, may redound to praise and glory and honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Without having seen him you love him; though you do not now see him you believe in him and rejoice with unutterable and exalted joy. As the outcome of your faith you obtain the salvation of your souls” (1 Pet 1:6-9). The life of Christians knows the experience of joy as well as the experience of suffering. How many of the saints have lived in solitude! How many believers, even in our own day, are tested by God’s silence when they would rather hear his consoling voice! The trials of life, while helping us to understand the mystery of the Cross and to participate in the sufferings of Christ (cf. Col 1:24), are a prelude to the joy and hope to which faith leads: “when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor 12:10). We believe with firm certitude that the Lord Jesus has conquered evil and death. With this sure confidence we entrust ourselves to him: he, present in our midst, overcomes the power of the evil one (cf. Lk 11:20); and the Church, the visible community of his mercy, abides in him as a sign of definitive reconciliation with the Father. Let us entrust this time of grace to the Mother of God, proclaimed “blessed because she believed” (Lk 1:45).

Summary of today’s show: The Sacrament of Confession liberates us from sin and is where God’s desire to heal our relationship with Him meets our desire to be healed. Scot Landry and Fr. Chris O’Connor talk with Fr. Wayne Belschner about confession and they discuss the Pastoral Letter and manual for confession written by Archbishop Robert Carlson when he was bishop of Saginaw, Michigan (available at thelightisonforyou.org). 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. Wayne Belschner, Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in East Boston Links from today’s show: “The Liberating Power of This Sacrament”, Bishop Robert J. Carlson “Jesus Christ, The Divine Physician: Pastoral Letter on Penance”, Bishop Robert J. Carlson The Light Is On For You Today’s topics: The Sacrament of Confession & The Light Is On For You 1st segment: Scot welcomed Fr. Chris back to the show after being away. On his spring break from the seminary, he went on pilgrimage to Povence, France, especially to Avignon, where a number of popes lived in the Middle Ages. Fr. Chris explained how the popes ended up in Avignon between 1309-1376 in the reigns of 7 popes.They were all French and we haven’t had a French pope since, Fr. Chris said. He also noted that it was St. Catherine of Siena who finally convinced the pope to return to Rome. Scot said after Pope Gregory IX moved back to Rome, there were also three other bishops who claimed to be pope and are called anti-popes. They welcomed Fr. Wayne Belschner to the show and asked him to give him his expert information. He said eventually when there were three popes, there was a council that deposed all three and elected one new one. Fr. Wayne recounted all the intrigue and murder and violence involved in the end of the Avignon papacy. Fr. Chris changed subjects to celebrating Life Teen Mass at St. Mary in Hanover and how great it was. He discussed his admiration for Fr. Chris Hickey, the pastor there. 2nd segment: Fr. Wayne talked about The Light Is On For You and how wonderful it is going. He said in the past Saturday afternoon before the anticipatory Mass is not the most opportune time for the penitents or for the priests. In his parish, they offer Mass during Holy Hours and before daily Mass. He’s hearing from other priests that The Light IS On For You is going very well. They discussed the progress of pastoral planning in East Boston. Fr. Wayne said they had a meeting of the parishes in the vicariate on Sunday. The people attending were shocked when they were told that in the 1960s and 70s, 70% of Catholics in Boston went to Mass and today only 15.8% go to Mass. As a church historian, Fr. Wayne said it’s amazing. It wasn’t just the upheaval of the 60s that caused it. Certainly parish closings can be a cause as well as the abuse crisis. Scot looks at it from the viewpoint of whether general religious practice across the US is down from that period of time. Fr. Chris said we have to be aware that there is a constant stream of secularization in society. We’re no longer cognizant of what’s in our faith and what’s important. Fr. Chris said we also have to be aware of our religious education programs. He had a priest tell him to look in a textbook and find one thing worth dying for. Fr. Wayne said at that meeting on Sunday, a young lady got up and pointed out that the people coming to all the programs like Arise and Why Catholic are those who go to church every Sunday and even they don’t know their faith. Scot said his theory is that there was a sense that many families outsourced religious upbringing of their kids an hour per week and the central role of the parent in forming faith was lost. He said he sees a lot of parents drop of their kids at religious education but never bring them to Mass. Twenty hours per year isn’t enough. Fr. Chris said even just going to Mass isn’t enough. Boiled down to the essence, that about 8 hours per year of religious instruction. Measure that against the hours of television and other influences kids receive. On the power of the Sacrament of Confession, Scot said Pope Benedict said during his trip to the US: “The liberating power of this sacrament, in which our honest confession of sin is met by God’s merciful words of pardon and peace, needs to be re-discovered and re-appropriated by every Catholic. To a great extent, the renewal of the church in America, and throughout the world, depends on the renewal of the practice of penance and the growth in holiness which the sacrament both inspires and accomplishes.” Fr. Wayne said he waits every week to hear that most important phrase: “I absolve you of your sins” because of its power. Scot said it’s not just that our sins are forgiveness, but we also receive grace to be at peace. Fr. Chris said in the opening prayer at Mass this past week, it said our consciences bring us down, but God’s mercy brings us up. He recalled his doctor telling him to carry 10 pounds of bricks in a backpack a day and then taking them to imagine what losing 10 pounds would be like. This is the same sense of liberation from sin. Fr. Wayne said when you go to your confessor, you let down the boulder down first and then drop the pebbles. When you go to confession, confess the big sins first and once those are gone, you feel the weight lifted and then confessing the venial sins is easy. Scot said his experience of confessing the smaller sins first shows how hard it is to finally confess the big one. Fr. Chris said he sometimes encounters people who say they haven’t been in years and don’t know what to confess. He tells them to think of what weighs on them most heavily and what separates them most from God’s love and love of neighbor. Fr. Wayne said those who are away from the sacrament, they put a lot of weight on what they don’t know how to do. He said people can just tell the priest they need help and they will love to do so. Scot moved on to the Pastoral Letter by then-Bishop Robert Carlson of Saginaw (now in St. Louis). One of the major purposes of the letter is the attempt to move us away from a guilt-centered notion of sin and the sacrament: sin means that we feel guilty, that God is angry, and the sacrament of Penance is about softening our guilt and God’s an ger. I want to move us toward a different notion of sin: sin means that something is deeply wounded in us, that we have weakened or ruptured our relationship with God, and the sacrament of Penance is where God’s desire to heal our relationship meets our desire to be healed. Scot said we need to focus on God’s desire for us to be healed, rather than our just punishment. Fr. Wayne said Jesus’ ministry was one of healing the person from the inside out. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is a moving forward. Where are we moving too? Fr. Chris said Pope BEnedict said the sacraments provide for us what we can’t provide for ourselves. Scot said Bishops Carlson is like many midwesterners in being very practical. He uses three analogies for confession: Every 3,000 miles or so, we change the oil in our car. There may not be any major problem with our engine. But slowly, over time, minor impurities have been build- ing up. If we leave those impurities unattended, they will eventually result in major (and costly) problems for our car. Every once in a while, we move the furniture and vacuum behind our couch. If we don’t get to it one week, it’s no big deal. If we don’t get to it the next week, it’s no big deal. If we fail to move the couch and vacuum behind it for six months, it will be filthy. The sacrament of penance is like an oil change for the soul. It’s like moving the furniture of your soul and getting to the places that escape everyday cleaning. … Let me add one more analogy: brushing your teeth. If you forget to brush your teeth tonight, it’s no big deal. If you forget to brush your teeth tomorrow morning, it’s no big deal. If you forget to brush your teeth for three months – or 10 or 15 years – there are going to be big problems! One person’s analogies may help or hinder another person’s understanding. So I want to encourage each of you to come up with your own analogies. What is an image that might help you to understand the sacrament of penance more deeply, and take advantage of its graces more frequently in your spiritual journey? Fr. Chris recounted how much work it is for his sister’s four boys to get their teeth brushed. They have a sign in the bathroom that says only brush the teeth you want to keep. Our soul is going to bring us to heaven and we want to keep it clean and holy and we do that by going to confession. Fr. Wayne said he watched the show “Hoarders”. Some of these people can’t even walk in their homes because they’re so cluttered. When we neglect confession, we become hoarders. We can’t unpack what we’ve gathered. Like the hoarders, we need help to get rid of what is cluttering up inside. Fr. Chris said regular confession is a wonderful thing. The saints have a keen insight that the more they went to confession, the more they would find ways to grow and to grow closer to the Lord. He said people often say that God hasn’t forgiven them, but God always forgives. It’s our own ability not to forgive ourselves. Scot said we can project our own lack of mercy toward ourselves for the sins we commit. Fr. Wayne said in confession we have to be sincere and authentic and have a desire to do that penance. Once we confess our sins, there has to be a change of life as well. Fr. Chris said sins are like cancer. They corrode the body. No one prays to get cancer in order to get chemotherapy and get healed. We don’t want to use confession in order to be able to sin again. Fr. Wayne said the more a priest goes to confession, the better confessor he becomes. Fr. Chris said we learn by example and it’s important to have examples of priests going to confession. Likewise, we can’t tell people confession is so important and then give them a small window for confession. We have to show confession is so important that every church and chapel will be open for confession on Wednesdays in Lent and Advent, 6:30-8. Fr. Wayne said it shows that this is important and serious. Fr. Wayne said he tries to assure the people in his parish who don’t want him to hear their confession that he won’t look at them any differently after hearing their confessions. Scot said Bishop Carlson talks about the root causes of sins: “What we tend to do when we go to confession is confess our sins – but not the root of the sin. So our sins are forgiven, but what caused us to sin has not been healed. We think that the sin is what the problem is. But it’s not. The problem is what’s been build- ing up in us in terms of our attitudes, our habits, our weakness, our human condition, that needs regular infusions of God’s grace. We need to look deeper, asking the Holy Spirit, ‘Come in. Probe my heart. Reveal to me what the real problems are. What are the things that lead to sin? What are the attitudes? Where do I need mercy most? Where do I need healing? What are the things in me at a deep level that need to be healed?’” At the root is often the seven deadly sins—pride, greed, envy, wrath, lust, gluttony, sloth— and he says: What am I struggling with? What are the actions? What’s underneath the actions – what attitudes or habits? What do I need to aim for? (Notice the opposites are basically fruits of the Spirit.) What do I want help becoming? Fr. Chris said the bishop also lists the corresponding virtues: humility, generosity, charity, meekness, chastity, moderation, and zeal. The bishop is showing that the Christian life isn’t just a list of don’t, but it is a list of do’s, showing us what will make us happy. Fr. Chris said he loves the quote from Christ who says a man who can be trusted in the little things, then he can be trusted in the big things. If we’re virtuous in little acts, then when the opportunity presents itself we will be virtuous in big things. Fr. Wayne said the sin is the exterior manifestation of what is inside us. What is driving that sin? We need to get at that root cause of the sin. Scot said pride is listed here first. Fr. Chris said pride was the first sin, that of Adam and Eve and sin starts with pride. Fr. Wayne said it’s the deadliest of the sins. Pride is the foundation of all the other deadly sins. Fr. Chris said lust is the most powerful of the sins, especially in today’s culture. We can combat the devil in the other sins, but we are too often powerless before lust. Fr. Wayne said when we are tempted by lust, we should pray to Mary to only have eyes for her and a heart for her Son. Scot read from the pastoral letter: Through the sacrament of reconciliation Jesus’ voice echoes down through the ages saying “Call them to me.” In his sacramental presence through the priest Jesus repeats his question to us: “What do you want me to do for you?” When we have unburdened our hearts we will hear him speak again, saying to us “Go in peace, your faith has made you well.” Scort said his favorite parable is that of the prodigal son, but we should focus on the father of the son, who loves him so much. Fr. Wayne said we all have been in all of the shoes of the people in that parable: the father, the son, and the brother. Bishop Carlson ends by telling people not to be afraid to go back to confession. Be humble. Every priest wants to help. Fr. Wayne said we can’t be afraid to go to confession.

Summary of today’s show: There are 7 corporal works of mercy and 7 spiritual works of mercy, and Fr. Andrew Apostoli, CFR, gives us practical advice for living them in our daily lives as Christians in his new book, “What to Do When Jesus Is Hungry: A Practical Guide to the Works of Mercy”. Scot Landry and Fr. Andrew discuss the book and delve into how to ensure we don’t fall afoul of St. James’ admonition: “Faith without works is dead.” Listen to the show: Subscribe for free in iTunes Today’s host(s): Scot Landry Today’s guest(s): Fr. Andrew Apostoli, CFR Links from today’s show: What to Do When Jesus Is Hungry: A Practical Guide to the Works of Mercy Today’s topics: The corporal & spiritual works of mercy 1st segment: Scot said according to the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus will judge us on the basis of whether or not we fed him when he was hungry, gave him drink when he was thirsty, welcomed him when he was a stranger, clothed him when he was naked, and visited him when he was sick or in prison. What we have done for others, he will tell us, we have done for him. The Catholic Church has traditionally called these six acts of kindness-along with a seventh, burying the dead — the “Corporal Works of Mercy.” In this down-to-earth yet inspiring guide, Father Andrew Apostoli, explains the Corporal Works of Mercy and illustrates multiple ways we can do them in our modern everyday life. Father Apostoli also outlines the lesser-known but equally important “Spiritual Works of Mercy”: counseling the doubtful, teaching the ignorant, admonishing the sinner, consoling the afflicted, forgiving offenses, bearing wrongs patiently, and praying for the living and the dead. And he offers many creative ways these too can be made part of our lives. As a founding member of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, Father Apostoli knows firsthand about the challenges and rewards of caring for those in physical or spiritual need. His order is dedicated to the works of mercy, and Father Apostoli brings to this subject a great wealth of spiritual and practical wisdom gained from personal experience. He welcomed Fr. Andrew back to the show. Fr. Andrews said it’s a pleasure to be back and thanked Scot for all he’s doing to broadcast the Gospel. We are challenged by the Holy Father to build the civilization of love in the new evangelization and the challenge in our country. Scot said they had a great conversation l;art summer on his book about Fatima, but this book “What to Do When Jesus is Hungry” is the instruction manual for how to live the Good Catholic Life. But first, Scot asked Fr. Andrew to share about the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. He said on April 28 they will be celebrating their 25th anniversary. It was a movement of the Holy Spirit. Eight Capuchin Franciscans from the New England province and New Jersey province felt the Spirit leading them to bring deep changes to bring them back to an earlier charism on which the Capuchins were formed. They now have 125 friars in 15 houses, including in Central America, Europe, and across the US. About half the community is in the New York metropolitan area. Fr. Andrew said their main charism comes from the original charism of St. Francis. By his own personal holiness led a deep life of prayer expressed, first, in his preaching. He restored a real deep sense of the apostolic life. From the time of St. Benedict to St. Francis, religious life had become monastic, but St. Francis brought back the idea of going out to preach among the people. Jesus sent out the apostles, telling them to take nothing for the journey, and so sent the friars out to be active in the world. So the CFR evangelize and care for the poor, just like St. Francis. He cared for lepers, he brought peace to society. He brought peace by having the third order seculars in his order promise not to take an oath of fealty and not to carry weapons. Scot asked how the CFR serve the materially poor here in the US, especially in the Bronx and New York area. Fr. Andrew said the friars always choose to go to poor places. There are poor everywhere, including in America. There are those who live on the fringes and are marginalized. He said serving the poor can be for everyone. Many parishes have food pantries, for example. Scot recalled the ministry of My Brother’s Keeper in Easton and the Cor Unum meal center in Lawrence. He asked Fr. Andrew about the genesis of this book. Fr. Andrew said he writes for Envoy magazine and the editor, Patrick Madrid, asked him to write about the works of mercy, what they are, how important they are, and how people can in a practical way live it out. A lot of times a person has a desire and doesn’t know what to do. The Holy Spirit inspires creativity among people and it gives them a chance to express their zeal for the spread of the Gospel. St. James says if you see someone who’s hungry, and wish them well but don’t do anything for their need, then your faith is dead. One of the signs that Christians are living the Gospel is a practical outreach to those in need. Scot said Fr. Andrew quotes Mother Teresa in his book who said that we can’t do anything for God in heaven, so He became a man for us to serve him in the poor, to take care of their needs. These are the people society doesn’t even want around. He noted that as many as 90% of children with Down syndrome are aborted when detected, but everyone who has one of these children says that they are so loving. Scot said Mother Teresa also said it’s a gift to serve Jesus in the distressing disguise of the poor. “We should not serve the poor like they were Jesus. We should serve the poor because they are Jesus.” The roots of all the works of mercy is that as much as we have served the poor, we have served Jesus. 2nd segment: Scot listed the seven corporal works of mercy: • Feeding the hungry • Giving drink to the thirsty • Sheltering the homeless • Clothing the naked • Visiting those in prison • Visiting the sick • Burying the dead In the book, Fr. Andrew says feeding the hungry takes precedence. He said that Jesus himself took a lot of concern about their need to eat. In the Gospel of John, chapter 6, Jesus asked the apostles to take care of the people’s need for food, and the little boy generously gave the fishes and loaves. We can’t feed everybody, but for those we can feed, we can also give them a special kind of love. He remembered Mother Teresa said she didn’t work with government feeding programs is that she had to give the poor what the government couldn’t, the love of Jesus. Scot said we can take for granted the number of people who go to bed hungry, including the in the US. In some places, there can be a lack of supply of food, for instance. In the book, Fr. Andrew said one practical way we can help feed the poor is to give to a food pantry or volunteer at a soup kitchen. He said someone has to provide all that food that is served. He said Fr. Solanus Casey set up a soup kitchen in Detroit to feed all the people that came to see him. People can help cook food or assist in the background, or even spend time with the people. At the Fr. Solanus Soup Kitchen in New York, the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal pray the rosary with those coming for food. Scot said Fr. Andrew said what the poor and hungry are often seeking the most is companionship to overcome the deep loneliness of homeless or poverty. Fr. Andrew said the friars of his community work at the shelter and they sit and talk with the men and they make you feel like you made their day by talking to them. One of the hardest imprisonments is solitary confinement and many of these people are in a kind of solitary imprisonment. We need to know we are loved and cared for. Another idea is identifying elderly in our neighborhood and do their shopping or take them to the market and spend some time with them. Scot said most of us live near the elderly and perhaps they might need some help. Fr. Andrew said a person may be able to get a few people together in the parish or prayer group and organize an effort to get food for three or four people. They may not have the means to get their food or able to get out or have a car. You don’t have to go to a foreign mission to help someone. He does caution when you do this work, do it joyfully. People you serve could start to call you constantly and become disruptive. You must be ready for this. St. Paul said, Decide how much you can give, and when you give it, give it cheerfully. It’s not just the recipients who benefit, but those who volunteer are also fulfilled as well. Scot said Fr. Paul O’Brien at St. Patrick Parish in Lawrence with the Cor Unum meal center says that they have a crisis of volunteers in the summer months. He said another idea is voluntary fasting where we offer up the savings based on the difference between what we would have spent and actually spent as a donation to a soup ministry. Fr. Andrew said for those who don’t have much money to give, then giving up something in a spirit of sharing can be a service to the poor. The fifth of the corporal works of mercy is visiting the sick. Scot said the sick are also often lonely, especially those in nursing homes and assisted living. Fr. Andrew suggests in the book that we can assist the families of the sick. He said sometimes we may hear of someone who is ill and in need and we can visit them or even just send a card or make a phone call, especially if the person doesn’t have family close by. It can not only be a spiritual benefit to the person, but being less lonely and in better spirits it can help them get better. Fr. Andrew remembers as a boy when his mother broke her leg that a group of Third Order Franciscans came to his house and took care of all the chores she couldn’t do and he was touched by their kindness. It had a profound effect on him. Maybe there’s a way to find the people through the parish who are sick and organize to help. It’s not that we should be pushy, but make a gentle invitation and offer to bring whatever they need. Scot said there are many people who are requesting Communion calls and those same people may also just want someone to come by and sit and talk. Scot said the chapter on visiting the imprisoned was moving. Fr. Andrew talks about a conversion of attitude he experienced. He said we never look down on the imprisoned because great conversions take place there. Maybe in some cases it was God’s divine providence to allow them to spend that time in contemplating their place in the world. He thinks a lot of those conversions last after they get out. In the book he says we can “visit” those in prison by our prayers and by supporting chaplaincies, especially if we can’t go there in person ourselves. He said he cautions people not to give out full names or addresses or contact information to prisoners. That’s why he suggest getting guidance form the prison chaplain. Keeping those cautions in mind, spiritual letter writing can be effective and fruitful. He said he heard that there was an extraordinarily high number of Catholics on death row because of so many conversions to the faith. Many of them turned to the faith because of what the Church offered to them as they faced their mortality. Archdiocese of Boston prison ministry The last of the 7 corporal works of mercy is burying the dead. Scot said we can’t for granted anymore that our kids who may not practice the faith will not make sure we have a Catholic funeral for us. We need to make sure we create mechanisms by which our wishes are carried out and followed through. Fr. Andrew said in the early Church there was an actual ministry of taking care of the dead and providing for their burial. He writes in the book of the importance of the wake to help the grieving deal with their loss. A priest or religious can come to the wake to lead praying the rosary and maybe to give a short talk. This can help people begin to let go of their sorrow and come to grips with it. Even Jesus wept at the death of Lazarus. It can take a few years for someone to let them go and people often need help or at least support to do that. Scot said it gives an opportunity to share how the deceased affected our lives. Many of the stories Scot has shared at wakes came as an inspiring surprise to see how their loved one affected another. Scot said Cardinal Seán often says the Church in Boston is good with their corporal works of mercy, but we need to take the spiritual works of mercy just as seriously. There are seven of those as well: • Instructing the uniformed • Counseling the doubtful • Admonishing sinners • Bearing wrongs patiently • Forgiving offenses willingly • Comforting the afflicted • Praying for the living, the sick, and the dead Scot asked Fr. Andrew where they come from. Fr. Andrew said they come from the life of the Church. Each one fulfills the life of a Christian. My love for Jesus and my love for my neighbor must find some visible expression. He ties in the works of mercy to building up the civilization of love. These works of mercy also motivate people. If I’m holding on to anger and am unable to get beyond hurt, it can block my love for Jesus. To forgive is a part of the Gospel. Listing it as one of the works of mercy almost serves the same purpose as an examination of conscience. Scot said two of the works sound harsh to modern ears: instructing the ignorant ad admonishing the sinner. The ignorant are just people who don’t know the love Jesus has for them. It’s not a put-down. Fr. Andrew said we’re not calling people names. It’s just people who don’t know the faith as they should. The truth will set you free, but if you don’t know the truth, how can it set you free? Over the past 60 years we have opened up a big gap in knowledge of the truth. We will fill in the knowledge that’s necessary for spiritual growth. Scot said in the chapter, Fr. Andrew tells us that we need to teach the faith to our children. Putting out children into religious education for one hour a week doesn’t work if the parents aren’t the primary teachers of the faith and modeling the faith to them. Fr. Andrew said if that home setting is not there, what they learn in religious education will sound empty and distant because they don’t experience it in their own home. That’s why parents need help in recognizing the truth. We need a good catechesis for the whole Church. Scot encourages everyone to read the book, especially for Lent. Fr. Andrew suggested asking for it at the local Catholic bookstore. Fr. Andrew is often seen on EWTN in various programs and has had several series on the network.