There's something in my eye...

This is a beautiful Gaelic song by Maria McCool. It will bring a lump to your throat and a tear to your eye. Is She a dream? Has She been there all along?

THANK YOU for sharing this, Mother Cait!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfngXJMyoS4

Areir 's me tearnnamh ar neoin
Ar a' dtaobh eile 'en teora seo thios
Do thaobhnaigh an speirbhean im chomhair
Dfhaig taomanac, breote, lag tinn
...Le haon ghean da mein is da clo
Da breithre 's da beol tanai binn
Do leimeas fe dhein dul 'na treo
Is ar Eireann ni neosainn ce hi.

Oh last night in strange fields as I roamed
Such a vision I passed on my way
A young woman so fair to behold
That in seconds my heart was astray
Oh she reached out a welcoming hand
But I knew that it never could be
And before I could kiss her sweet lips
She had vanished forever from me

Amen.

Daily Mass Readings
Sirach 48:1-14
Psalm 97:1-7
Matthew 6:7-15

Rest in Peace, Brother

I went on my first "wake call" for a Hibernian Brother this evening. Ed was in an auto accident earlier this week and died of his injuries. I wasn't going to go - I didn't know Ed all that well. However, our President wanted as many members to go to the wake to represent the Division; Ed was a longtime member and active in the Order. So with an end-of-week sigh, I reluctantly got on my jacket and tie, grabbed my tri-color sash, and went to the funeral parlor.

Ancient Order of Hibernians Division 15 was out in force for our fallen Brother! There were at least 30 Hibernians there, some "fully vested" in kilt and beret, all in the tri-color sashes of Erin. Two vested Hibernians with pikes guarded Brother Ed's casket as the rest of us lined the room. Our President said some words about Ed's devotion to God and his country, how he always had a joke and or a smile for everyone as they came into the Hall. As Ken went on, I couldn't help remembering Ed the day of my Hibernian initiation. After I made my pledge, before everyone cheered and congratulated me, I heard a loud ATTA-BOY! I turned around and there was this white-haired ruddy-cheeked gentleman with a broad grin. It was Ed, and I felt welcomed into the Division from that point on.

The President then led us in prayer and one by one, we prayed for our Brother and paid our respects. I was proud to be in the company of such great men. No, I didn't know Ed all that well. He was my Brother all the same, and I owed it to him to see him off. He would have done the same for me.

Rest Easy Brother Ed - May you enter the Glory of Heaven before the Devil knows you're dead.

Daily Mass Readings
2 Timothy 3:10-17
Psalm 119:157,160,161,165,166,168
Mark 12:35-37

Oddballs

I was just thinking about Deacon Joe, one of my Franciscan brothers I currently have the privilege of being in formation with. In one of our last meetings, Joe was musing a bit on why he loved the fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order. To paraphrase:

"It's because I'm an oddball when it come to this God business, at least in the eyes of the world. I come here because I enjoy the company of other spiritual oddballs."

I could not have said it better myself. Since I can remember, I've been something of a spiritual oddball myself. From my first CCD classes through today, I've always looked upon my relationship with God with intense awe, to be explored examined and experienced. It's not always felt like a good thing. The world frowns on such a thing. You want irony? I've intensely prayed to God to make His relationship with me LESS important, to make it easier to carry myself in day to day life; in short, praying intently to not want to pray intently. I don't have to do that anymore, as long as I have all the Church-y "weirdos" in my corner. I could be in worse company; St. Francis of Assisi himself was known as "God's Fool"!

Spiritual Oddballs of the world, UNITE!


Memorial of St Charles Lwanga and companions
Daily Mass Readings
2 Timothy 2:8-15
Psalm 25:2-5,8-10,14
Mark 12:28-34

Remember what we are memorializing...

In the midst of our celebrations this weekend, let us not forget those who made the ultimate sacrifice to make and keep our country free. Let us not forget those who give us something to celebrate every day; falling asleep and waking up as a free people.

God Bless and keep the Men and Women of the United States Armed Forces, past and present. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!

PEACE and all good,
Thomas

Daily Mass Readings
1 Peter 4:7-13
Psalm 96:10-13
Mark 11:11-26

A Bishop who gets it, and thoughts on the Church

Archbishop Emeritus Francis Quinn of the Diocese of Sacramento, as quoted in America Magazine:

"We should consider having a new ecumenical council with the unifying force of Peter and representatives of the entire church family, always respecting tradition and Sacred Scripture, studying more deeply the subjects of human sexuality; the healthy exercise of authority in the church; the needs of the poor and the suffering; the appropriateness of celibacy in the priesthood; the role of women in the church; the need for transparency; and the personal holiness of each one of us...The church is a living organism. Only lifeless things are static and unchanging. Well thought-out changes may be necessary at times like these. To strengthen our faith, we should take heart from the words of Carlo Caretto, who writes:

How much I must criticize you, my Church, and yet how much I love you! You have made me suffer more than anyone, and yet I owe more to you than to anyone. I should like to see you destroyed, and yet I need your presence. You have given me much scandal, my Church, and yet you alone have made me understand holiness.

Never in this world have I seen anything more compromised, more false, yet never have I touched anything more pure, more generous, or more beautiful. Countless times I have felt like leaving you, my Church; and yet every night I have prayed that I might die in your warm loving arms."

It is such a shame that bishops seem blind to this level oh insight until after they've retired. Please Lord, more Archbishop Quinns!!!

I could have written that quote from Carlo Caretto myself. It completely sums up my own wrestlings with the angels. I love my Church. Because I love it so much, I will support the views of insightful Bishops like Francis Quinn wholeheartedly, and try to not be cowed by those who think me a dissenter because of it.


Peace,
Thomas

Daily Mass Readings
1 Peter 2:2-5,9-12
Psalm 100:2-5
Mark 10:46-52

Dreams and Destinations

I’m pretty much in a mode of acceptance at this particular time; this is what my life is, and I need to make the most of it, instead of harboring pipedreams. Now don't get me wrong - there is nothing wrong with dreaming! However, when those dreams interfere with how I progress in day-to-day life, it becomes a liability.

I still can become a writer, lose weight and get fit, get involved in the Hibernian Youth Division, Knights Special Friends, and become a bagpiper. If it is either impossible to achieve (religious brotherhood/priesthood) – or something I simply am not prepared to work towards, is dangerous for me, or would cause an inordinate amount of upheaval in my life and the people around me (bodybuilder or marathoner, the diaconate), then I simply must let it go.

Another goal I have is of course continuing my journey as a candidate/novitiate to the Secular Franciscan Order. Today I had the privilege of witnessing and participating in a Mass of Profession for Kathleen, a fellow candidate to the Order. The Mass was celebrated by Father Matthias Wesnofske OFM Cap, the spiritual assistant to the Seculars in our Region. It was a true family celebration; members of our Fraternity led the procession, brought up the gifts, proclaimed the readings, and performed the beautiful music. Kathleen was vested in the Tau Cross, the habit of the Secular Franciscan Order, and made her promise to live the Gospel life of Jesus in the footsteps of our seraphic father, St. Francis of Assisi. AMEN!

It made me excited and anxious for my own profession, hopefully next year. If I've learned nothing on my journey, however, is that I've got to walk the path instead of simply dream of the destination.

Peace and All Good to Kathleen G. SFO!!!

Saturday in the Seventh Week of Easter
Daily Mass Readings
Acts 28:16-20,30-31
Psalm 11:4-5,7
John 21:20-25

First Communion

My son Patrick will be making his First Holy Communion this Saturday. Amidst all the preparation for the party, the clothes he's wearing, what we'll be eating, etc., it has been easy to forget what all the celebrating is about. Pat will be receiving the Body of Christ for the very first time, that he's seen everyone do at Mass time and again, wondering when it was going to be his turn.

I'm reminded of our older son James' First Communion. He dearly loved his teachers and Sister Margaret, the Director of Religious Education at our parish. He'd made his Communion in a Mass on his own - at the time he was in special needs religious education due to his PDD (Pervasive Developmental Disorder for the uninitiated), and did not receive with the mainstream class. We worried that he would have some kind of problem, either with the host in his mouth or something that was going on during the Mass. Things like that had happened before.

He seemed to do wonderfully. He sat attentively during the Mass, responded to the prayers, knew when to sit, stand and kneel. He got up dutifully to receive the Body of Christ for the first time without any prompting. However, when he returned to the pew we noticed tears streaming down his cheeks; James was openly crying. Very worried, Lori held him and asked what was wrong. James said, "Don't worry, Mommy. I'm OK, it's a GOOD cry. I'm just so happy!"

I was, and still am in awe of James...maybe even a little envious of him! He GETS it. A thousand-page book on Catholic theology could not convey the meaning of the Eucharist any clearer. My son became (and remains) my CCD teacher that day.

Pat is in the same vein, anxious to join the congregation in the sacred meal he has only been an observer of until now. He yearns to finally come to the Feast of Heaven and Earth at the Table of Plenty. May I and all of us keep that sense of awe that children have when we approach Jesus!

Peace,
Thomas

Daily Mass Readings
Acts 17:15,22-18:1
Psalm 148:1,2,11-14
John 16:12-15