News from the Pope

God Is Young contains an interview with Pope Francis, who speaks with young people throughout the world. The book is being released in Italian, Spanish, German, French, Portuguese, Brazilian, Polish, Croatian, Slovak, Slovenian, Czech, and an English edition which will be available in time for the Synod on Youth in October. Here are some excerpts from the book.

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Praised be Jesus Christ! “He comes to us as one unknown, without a name, as of old, by the lakeside, he came to those men who did not know who he was. He says the same words, “Follow me!,” and sets us to those tasks which he must fulfill in our time. He commands. And to those who hearken to him, whether wise or unwise, he will reveal himself in the peace, the labors, the conflicts and the suffering that they may experience in his fellowship, and as an ineffable mystery they will learn who he is,” (Albert Schweitzer). Holy Week has come and as the quotation makes clear, we’re given a choice to engage and follow or sit back passively and watch the Lord pass by on His way to saving our souls. This week plays out the greatest story ever told, one that involves betrayal, heartache, redemption and hope. Of course, we can only receive what our hearts are open to receive. If we’ve generously lived Lent by sincere prayer, regular fasting, and true alms giving (and this week we have a great opportunity by sharing our material wealth with the long- suffering Christians in the Holy Land; that collection is taken up on Good Friday), then our hearts are ready for the remarkable graces that are about to flood our world. Even if we’ve cut corners and led a lethargic and listless Lent, it’s not too late to make this a truly holy week. A question worth considering is ‘When was the last time I went to confession?’ This is still our Easter duty and you’ll have ample opportunity to honor God by allowing Him to wash away your sins. And if you’ve forgotten to fast or flippantly foregone it Good Friday is a chance to redeem yourself and embrace Christ’s self-sacrificial love by living a day on bread and water. Maybe you know the story of the monk who was not allowed to eat meat for all of Lent (common to all Catholics until the 1960s). He decided to be ready for Easter and did his shopping early. He purchased a nice, juicy summer sausage and kept it locked in his room. However, as the week crept past the temptation became more and more compelling, and he gave in to his hunger pangs by eating the entire summer sausage at 3:00 p.m. on Good Friday. “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak!” Holy Week is an annual opportunity to really open our hearts to God’s love and ask Him to help us trust Him in everything. So many of us are willing to show God the areas that we’re proud of: our accomplishments, our contributions, and our good deeds. But when the Lord asks to enter the basement of our lives, we cower and tell Him we’re ashamed of the things we’ve locked down there. I know what this is like, as all human beings struggle with temptation and sin. But I’ve also come to know the freedom of allowing God into everything, especially the areas of our heart that cause us shame, guilt, and lead to profound loneliness. Jesus is passing by this week and for those who believe, He gives us the power to become more like Him in our ability to forgive and love people who are not easy to love. Another story I recently came upon was the one about 5 year old Sammy, who because of a sore throat stayed home from Mass on Palm Sunday. When the family returned from church they were carrying several palm fronds. Sammy asked what they were for... “People held them over Jesus’ head as He walked by,” his Dad responded. “Wouldn’t you know it,” Sammy complained, “The one Sunday I don’t go and He shows up.” This week changed world history and continues to do so in the hearts of people of faith. As the quote at the head of this article makes clear, Jesus has some tasks that He asks us to fulfill in our time and place. People who pray, fast, and share their life with others are the ones who most readily follow the Lord. Let’s pray for each other, especially this week, so that we may more and more abide by Jesus’ new commandment: “Love one another as I have loved you.”
May this Holy Week bring us and our fallen world to deeper faith and a fruitful spiritual life!
Your friend in Christ, Father Martin 

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Praised be Jesus Christ! We’re coming into the homestretch of Lent and usually about this time we need a little encouragement to continue (or to start) our Lenten sacrifices. Why do we have to sacrifice? Father Sedlacek asks me this almost every day, and though I tire of his belly aching, I point to the crucifix and try to keep my mouth shut. In all seriousness, what makes sacrifice attractive are the people who lived life generously. For example, I was reading about a boy named Frank Parater who went to Rome in 1919 to study for the priesthood. Sadly, tragedy struck just three months after he arrived, as he died of rheumatic fever. What nobody knew at the time was that Frank had written an “Act of Self-Oblation” just ten days after arriving in Rome (when he was in perfect health). It’s been in constant circulation ever since and is worthy of our attention today: “I have nothing to leave or give but my life, and this I have consecrated to the Sacred Heart to be used as He wills. I have offered my all for conversions to God of non-Catholics in Virginia (his home state). This is what I live for and, in case of death, what I die for. Death is not an unpleasant thing to me, but the most beautiful event of my life. Death is the messenger of God come to tell us that our novitiate is ended and to welcome us to real life. Melancholic or morbid sentimentality is not the cause of my writing this, for I love life here, the College, the men, and Rome itself. But I have desired to die and to be buried with the saints. I dare not ask God to take me lest I should be ungrateful or be trying to shirk the higher responsibilities of life; but I shall never have less to answer for- perhaps never be better ready to meet my Maker, my God, my All. Since I was a child I have desired to die for love of God and for my fellow man. Whether or not I shall receive that favor I know not, but if I live, it is for the same purpose: every action of my life here is offered to God for the spread and success of the Catholic Church in Virginia. I have always desired to be only a little child, that I may enter the kingdom of God. In the general resurrection I wish to always be a boy and to be permitted to accompany Saints John Berchmans, Aloysius, and Stanislaus as their servant and friend (all three died young). Do we serve God and man less worthily by our prayers in heaven than by our actions on earth? Surely it is not selfish to desire to be with Him Who has loved us so well. I shall not leave my dear ones. I will always be near them and be able to help them more than I can here below. I shall be of more service to my diocese in heaven than I could ever be on earth. If it is God’s holy will, I will join him on Good Friday, 1920, and never leave him more – but not my will, Father, but thine be done! Frank died on February 7th, 1920 and his cause for sainthood was opened in 2001. While I was in Rome each year on the feast of All Souls we made the trek to the cemetery of Campo Verano. There we prayed at the tomb of Frank Parater, asking for a share of his sacrificial spirit that we might serve God and His people as well in life as Frank had in death. Speaking of death, have you discovered the spiritual freedom accessible through fasting? While we’re only required to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, we really need to fast more often if we’re ever to experience the spiritual effects it wins for us and others. Fasting is a sacrifice that unites us more deeply to Jesus, who denied Himself so much that we might have eternal life. I’ve mentioned livethefast.org and I can vouch for their bread as substantial and up to the challenge of helping us fulfill our daily duties. At some point I’d like to share some recipes so you can make your own. The fact is, fasting and prayer are the two most effective weapons in the spiritual life. As a parish, let’s pray for the grace to imitate Jesus in His sacrificial life so that we will be open to the graces He wants to give. Who knows, maybe we can even talk Father Sedlacek into living more for Jesus!
Where there is great love, sacrifice is possible – please give us Your love, Jesus!

Your friend in Christ,
Father Martin 

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