Blog Post

All Saints Day

Fr. Joseph Byerley • Nov 03, 2017

In celebration of All Saints Day, I am re-running a nice reflection from Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI on holiness and becoming a saint. Being a saint really is not all that complicated, according to Benedict XVI, who offers us a simple three-step recipe: Go to Mass on Sunday, begin and end the day in contact with God, and make decisions according to the Ten Commandments. The Pope Emeritus offered this simple guide citing Scripture and the Second Vatican Council, presenting us what is "the most essential" for reaching sanctity.

He said: "What is the most essential? Essential is that no Sunday be left without an encounter with the Risen Christ in the Eucharist -- this is not a burden but light for the whole week. Never to begin or end a day without at least a brief contact with God. And, in the journey of our life, to follow 'road signs' that God has communicated to us in the Ten Commandments read with Christ, which is simply the definition of charity in specific situations. I think this is the true simplicity and grandeur of the life of holiness: the encounter with the Risen One on Sunday; contact with God at the beginning and end of the day; in decisions, to follow the 'road signs' that God has communicated to us, which are simply forms of charity."

Everyone is called to holiness, the Pope Emeritus affirms. "How can we journey on the path of holiness, how can we respond to this call? Can I do so with my own strength?" he asked. "The answer is clear: A holy life is not primarily the fruit of our own effort, of our actions, because it is God, the thrice Holy, who makes us saints, and the action of the Holy Spirit who encourages us from within; it is the life itself of the Risen Christ, which has been communicated to us and which transforms us."

The former Bishop of Rome proposes another question: "Can we, with our limitations, our weakness, reach so high?" Recalling the line-up of saints presented by the Church in the liturgical year -- from every period of Church history, belonging to every age and state of life, he states that the saints are "the concrete faces of all peoples, languages and nations. And they are very different among themselves." And the Pope emeritus pointed to other "saints," who are also "road signs": "the simple saints, that is, the good persons that I see in my life, who will never be canonized. They are ordinary people, to say it somehow, without a visible heroism, but in their everyday goodness I see the truth of the faith. This goodness, which they have matured in the faith of the Church, is for me a sure defense of Christianity and the sign of where the truth is." It is this communion with saints, canonized or not, that enables us to cultivate a "firm hope of being able to imitate their way and share one day the same blessed life, eternal life."

Finally, Pope Emeritus Benedict concludes with an invitation to be open to holiness. "I would like to invite you to open yourselves to the action of the Holy Spirit, who transforms our life, to be, we also, pieces of the great mosaic of holiness that God is creating in history, so that the Face of Christ will shine in the fullness of its brilliance. Let us not be afraid to look on high, to the height of God; let us not be afraid that God will ask too much of us, but let us be guided in all our daily actions by his Word, even if we feel that we are poor, inadequate, sinners: He will be the one to transform us according to his love."

Since it is God who transforms us into Saints, let us let Him do it. We can all be Saints!

God bless you,

Father Joseph Byerley

By Fr. Francis 24 Mar, 2024
This year, as we enter our holiest week, we read the account of the passion from the Gospel of Mark. In a few days, on Good Friday, we will read the account from John. Among all the cruel and violent persons we hear about in Christ’s suffering last hours, perhaps it is easy to overlook those who were kind. At Bethany, Simon the leper offers him hospitality, and a (nameless to us) woman with an alabaster jar of perfumed oil anoints Jesus. Since Jesus will soon be executed as a criminal, with the possibility of no Jewish funeral rite or burial place, this was a tender moment of deep meaning. She put herself in danger to honor Him and His sacrifice. In Jerusalem, there was Simon of Cyrene who helped carry His cross, and Joseph of Arimathea who courageously asked Pilate for the body of Jesus and laid Him in a new tomb. All of these people, and perhaps more whom we do not know, were glimpses of light in a day of darkness. They were peace amidst the conflict; joy amidst the sorrow; celebration in the midst of tragedy. In other words, they are a sort of allegory to the hope of Easter that was present on Good Friday. So, why talk about this contrast, this dichotomy, today on Palm Sunday? Because this day itself is one of contrasts. Our liturgy, and Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, began with palm branches and songs of joy and praise for Jesus as King. He is welcomed into the city with shouts of “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” He will soon leave the city walls as the lowest of the low: a scourged, half-dead wreck of a man; a criminal set to be executed. In our Mass today, we will re-present His sacrifice, uniting our sins to those of the whole world and uniting our suffering to His. And, in the midst of all the horror, we will celebrate, for Christ will triumph over all of sin and death. There is a catchy little phrase that we might hear spoken of by Catholics – “we are not an either/or people, we are a both/and people.” It generally means that we have the critical reasoning capacity, and the faith, to hold two things in tension without being confused. So, for example, Christ is both divine and human; the kingdom of God is both present and not yet fully realized; the Eucharist is both the appearance of bread and wine and truly Christ’s body, blood, soul, and divinity. And, specific to our worship today, we are both an Easter people, and we live in a Good Friday world. That is to say, we believe that Christ’s death on the cross transformed all suffering and that by His resurrection, we have the promise of eternal life. But, we live in here and now, with all the suffering and evil still present in the world – a world in which we are called to be active witnesses to our faith.  Every moment of our lives gives us a chance to be one or other of the type of persons we encountered in the passion narratives. With God’s help, may we be like Simon and the woman at Bethany, Simon of Cyrene, and Joseph of Arimathea – signs of hope in a world that cries out for it.
By Fr. Allan 04 Mar, 2024
How do I hear God speak to me?
By Fr. Francis Kim 28 Jan, 2024
Too often, we define a prophet as one who sees into the future – a forecaster, or a psychic. But the biblical meaning of this role is someone who interprets the divine will. The prophet delivers God’s message to his/her contemporaries and advocates for adherence to God’s plan. In the first reading, we encounter Moses, God’s prophet who did marvelous deeds in fulfillment of God’s will – leading the Israelites out of Egypt, giving them God’s commandments, and leading them to the brink of the Promised Land. Moses relays God’s message of another, far greater prophet: I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their kin, and will put my words into his mouth; he shall tell them all that I command him. Further, God would hold accountable those who will not listen to his words. And God did, indeed, send the greatest prophet of all – his Only Begotten Son. In Hebrew, the word for this anointed one is “Messiah.” In Greek, it translates as the “Christ.” The angels confirmed the arrival of this Messiah in their message to the shepherds on the night of Jesus’ birth. The Father confirmed the anointing of Jesus at his baptism in the Jordan and again at his Transfiguration. When Jesus preached, he revealed what the Father wanted him to reveal. Whenever Jesus spoke or performed healings, he did so in harmony with God’s will: “His works and words will manifest him as ‘the Holy One of God’” (CCC 438). In today’s Gospel, we read of one such instance. When Jesus was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum, the people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. And that authority was further manifested when he drove out the unclean spirit from a man. The people were even more astounded that even the unclean spirits had obeyed him. The Church, too, continues to act publicly and authoritatively in the name of Christ. She exists to proclaim the Gospel message. In the name of Jesus, she calls down God’s protection against evil in the rites of initiation. What is the lesson for us in all of this? Perhaps the clue can be found in today’s psalm response: If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts (Psalm 95:7-8). We are constantly being bombarded with messages, with voices: from marketers and politicians; from friends and foes; from those who spew hate and from those who seek peace; from voices who want us to satisfy our own interests and from those who seek the common good. Let us listen to God’s prophets. Let us focus on those who have God’s words in their mouths. This will take prayer and discernment, but it is possible with God’s grace. In the midst of all the noise, may we always be attentive to the voice of God.
By Fr. Allen Lovell 15 Jan, 2024
“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” (John 1:14).
By Fr Dave Grover 25 Dec, 2023
We go to sleep on Christmas night to the reality that though “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (Jn 1:5), that darkness still exists when we wake up on December 26th. Awakening to this reality requires courage, spiritual audacity, and a stable full of radical hope, to believe Love is the greatest power in the world. It requires the compassion to risk relinquishing and reaching out beyond our own private, cherished security. It means the incarnation is not merely a doctrine or a once-a-year holiday but a view of the world from a divine perspective. It means incarnation and the salvation it embodies is a vocation, a task, and a responsibility. This is the fork in the road where faith as belief and faith as a way of being and acting in the world for the sake of love part ways. The light of Christ we receive is the light we are to enact as our daily practice in season and out of season. To take the name of Christ, to consider oneself a Christ-one, is to give our assent, as did Mary, to be bearers and birthers of the light in a world that is still broken, violent, dark, and difficult for many to live in. The reign of God, the Divine dream Jesus embodies and which we are called to help make manifest “on earth as it is in heaven” is characterized by justice, righteousness, mercy, and peace. The work of Christmas, the incarnation of love, is comprised of any and every thought, word, or deed that clears a path and makes a home for these modes of action and qualities of right relationships. Let us get to work. God needs our help. Let us as St Rose, seek the counsel of Jesus, and let Jesus’ counsel guide our actions, words and attitudes to others and for others. As your Pastor, with our Clergy, religious and staff I pray that the Blessings of Jesus and the Holy Family touch your family this Christmas! \ Fr. Dave Grover I share my THANKS to…. • Buildings and grounds: to Champion Company who brightened our main church main aisle. • Pete Powell for solving the roof leaks in St Francis’s church • Our School staff for helping our student s to present a wonder-full Christmas Pageant. • Our Maintenance and church Environment workers for the Christmas Beauty of our Worship space. • Our outreach, social action, St Vincent de Paul and you for all of your donations and gifts to give our neighbors the ability to provide Christmas joy and dinner for their families! Our Shared financial Responsibilities: St. Rose families- please be involved in supporting our parish at Christmas, by GIVING to the CHRISTMAS COLLECTION. Please make a committed, and even sacrificial gift, so as to help our parish services and ministries to thrive. Also consider your END OF YEAR CHARITIABLE DONATIONS. This is a good way to also support St. Rose Parish AND EARN a TAX DEDUCTIBLE CREDIT for 2023.
By Fr. Francis 16 Dec, 2023
John the Baptist is the last prophet before the coming of the Christ, and he is the first to recognize Jesus once He came. John fulfills Isaiah’s prophecy as that voice crying out in the desert: “prepare the way of the Lord!” His clothing of camel’s hair was traditional garb for prophets, and his diet of locusts and wild honey perhaps reflected either Jewish purity laws or a particular communal asceticism. As it was, it stood in stark contrast to the finery of the Jewish religious leaders and elders of that time, namely the Sadducees and Pharisees. Yet, John was drawing large crowds to the Jordan riverbank. Some likely came out of desire, believing he would lead them to the Messiah. Others perhaps came out of curiosity. John spoke like no one else, and called them to conversion, speaking with conviction. With such a following, it would have been easy for John to proclaim himself the Christ, and even easier for the people to believe him. Yet, his humility and holiness meant that John could not lie or mislead them. He made it clear that his message and baptism were both inferior to the one, as he said, who is mightier than I. John’s preparation of the way for Christ is a model for us, especially in this Advent season. He challenges us to consider whether we lead others to Jesus, or whether our actions are motivated by a need for attention and affirmation. Is our lived faith attractive to those who have none? This last question is especially important, for while we prepare to celebrate Christ’s birth, we also prepare for His Second Coming. And, as Saint Peter says in our second reading, “The day of the Lord will come like a thief.”  Peter helps us regain the sense of urgency regarding our preparations for the return of our king, when he says, “the Lord does not delay . . . he is patient with you . . . not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” Jesus is giving the whole world time for conversion; that we might play a part in sharing the Good News of Christ with the world, for the salvation of the world, is a great and weighty gift. And, now is the time. As we await the new heavens and a new earth, Saint Peter tells us we get to choose what sort of persons we ought to be. We are given these days to grow in holiness and devotion so that we will be eager to be found without spot or blemish before Him, at peace, when He comes. During this busy time of year, a time when we are doing so much to prepare for the coming of Christmas, let us make sure to heed the voice crying out in the wilderness – to prepare for the coming of the Christ, not just as a baby in Bethlehem, but His imminent return in glory as our King. Welcome to our Visitor
By Fr Allen 26 Nov, 2023
The Church, throughout the year, celebrates God’s actions in human history. We see God in the very creation of the universe, the world around us, and the material gifts we enjoy. Even when human beings turned away from our relationship with God to seek our own self-interest in material things God did not abandon us. We see that in the covenants and prophets of the Old Testament and, most especially, the incarnation of Jesus Christ. The annunciation by the angel Gabriel that the Blessed Virgin Mary would be the mother of the savior initiates the Kingdom of God, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15). The last Sunday of the Church’s liturgical year, the Sunday before the beginning of Advent, we celebrate the feast of Christ, King of the Universe. This is not government as experienced in human history. The pervasive discord and conflict we experience, globally and personally, is why Christ came into the world. Christ is here as the shepherd God promised through the prophets of Israel. The prophet Ezekiel gives us a vivid image of the mission of Christ the King as shepherd, “I myself will pasture my sheep; I myself will give them rest, says the Lord GOD. The lost I will seek out, the strayed I will bring back.” (34:15 – 16). Because Christ is present to us in each of the sacraments1 the prayers they contain are inspired by the Holy Spirit2 . The Eucharistic Prayer is the central part of the Mass, where Christ, breaking through time and eternity, comes among us. In the Mass for Christ the King the Eucharistic Prayer describes God’s kingdom, “an eternal and universal kingdom, a kingdom of truth and life, a kingdom of holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, love and peace.” By our baptism we are made citizens of the Kingdom of God. After our baptism we were anointed by God the Father, “with the Chrism of salvation, so that you may remain as a member of Christ, Priest, Prophet and King.3 ” An important question is, “if Christ has initiated the Kingdom of God, why is there so much evil and suffering in the world?” The answer is that you and I have work to do. As Christians we have an obligation as fellow workers with Christ in building the Kingdom of God. The great challenge for humanity is division. At the Last Supper, as Christ established His enduring presence in the world, He prayed for unity, “I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, are in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” (John 17:20 – 21). Our ability to be agents of unity, and peace, to those around us flows from our unity with Christ and His Church. The teaching and prayer of the Church calls us to, “lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” (Ephesians 4:1 – 5). As we take up Christ’s prayer for unity, we need to take Christ’s motto as our own, “The son of man came not to be served but to serve.” (Mark 10:45). Whenever we help those in need we serve God, “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40). This is the image of God that all human beings carry. This is the foundation of our unity with each other and with God. We may not influence world events, but our lives can make a difference. Christ is here to help us and speaks to us to guide us. Our world desperately needs the kingdom of God, a kingdom of holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, love, and peace. By our participation in the life of the Church we celebrate our citizenship in that kingdom. We must remember that we are also coworkers with Christ and have a responsibility to help build that kingdom.
By Sr. Miriam 11 Nov, 2023
"Keep your lamps trimmed and burning."
By Fr. Francis Kim 30 Oct, 2023
Frank Sinatra famously sang: “I did it my way.” This song remains one of his greatest hits, not only because of how well he sang it, but because of its meaning. We would all like to do it our way – to have everything go according to our own plans, like the self-made person in charge of his or her own destiny. We think this is possible because we’ve bought into two lies. The first is, “what we do, WE do,” rather than it being done through God’s grace and generosity. The second is that “self-reliance is freedom.” And perhaps, it is indeed true that we have ventured out on a career path and found success without the explicit assistance of others. Maybe, we single-handedly completed business projects or maintained a household without another human being to really help us. But, underlying these gains are the truths that God’s love is what sustains us and allows us to achieve goodness, and true freedom comes through communal life in Christ. Faith is what allows us to align “our way” with what God desires for us. Through marriage we join our way to that of a spouse and perhaps children. Through religious vows or a commitment to worthy causes, we join with the way of a community. As we continue to surrender ourselves to others for the sake of those we love and the greater good, we become more free in relying on God to guide us. He guides us in the way of compassion and love, as revealed by Jesus, His Son. Jesus reveals God’s way of love to us and invites us to join Him. For some, this is straightforward; Jesus said to Peter: Come after me (Mt 4:19), and to Levi: Follow me (Mt 9:9). Others like Bartimaeus, the blind beggar, hear Jesus’ voice and cry out to Him for pity. Our faith is a gift as we acknowledge our own need to see and follow Christ. Like Bartimaeus, we may not see clearly at first, but we can listen closely for Jesus, who never gives up on us. We, too, will find restoration, healing, and redemption. Bartimaeus joined a sizable group of others following Jesus. It is not easy and takes courage to do so, but we, too, are surrounded and supported by others: the community of disciples known as the Church. Jesus continues to heal and guide us, especially through the Eucharist that unites us to Him. We become more Christ-like in our compassionate caring for ourselves, others, and the world. Instead of being self-made, we are Christ-made, and our destiny is our redemption in Him as God’s way fully becomes our own.
By Sr. Miriam 07 Oct, 2023
The United States Catholic bishops began the Respect Life Program in 1973. Every October, they have tried to focus our attention on the breakdown of moral, social, and civil structures supporting human life in America. As a reminder, we are taught by our Church that: Every human being is created in the image of God and redeemed by Jesus Christ, and therefore is invaluable and worthy of respect as a member of the human family. Every person, from the moment of conception to natural death, has an inherent dignity and a right to life consistent with that dignity. Many of us are aware of the need to protect and respect life at the beginning of life and that is an important starting point. Perhaps a bit more challenging are those people whose lives have already begun. Look at these two writings: “Equally sacred, however, are the lives of the poor, those already born, the underprivileged, the vulnerable infirm and elderly exposed to covert euthanasia, the victims of human trafficking, new forms of slavery, and every form of rejection.” Pope Francis in Rejoice and Be Glad. 2018 “Whatever insults human dignity, such as subhuman living conditions, arbitrary imprisonment, deportation, slavery, prostitution, the selling of women and children; as well as disgraceful working conditions, where people are treated as mere tools for profit, rather than as free and responsible persons; all these things and others of their like are infamies indeed. They poison human society, but they do more harm to those who practice them than those who suffer from the injury.” Second Vatican Council, The Church in the Modern World, 1964. How am I called to respect life in my personal life as well as in the larger society? Why might it be difficult for me to respect life in the refugee, the imprisoned, victims of poverty or human trafficking? Take these issues to the Lord in prayer.
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