2024 May-June Liguorian Magazine

A Guide to Home Maintenance

JOSÉ ANTONIO PAGOLA

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HOW HOLY WOMEN C HANGED THE W ORLD HOW HOLY WOMEN C HANGED THE W ORLD

HOW HOLY WOMEN C HANGED THE W ORLD

WOMEN OF THE CHURCH

While many are aware of great female saints like Catherine of Siena and érèse of Lisieux, a view persists that women played a limited role in the development of Catholic traditions and institutions. In this innovative survey of Church history, Bronwen McShea demonstrates that faithful women have always been at the heart of the Church’s common life, shaping it and the course of entire civilizations.

She presents a wide array of saintly Catholic women from diverse social, ethnic, and national origins, showing that, in every age, women inspired by God with creativity, courage, and delity have helped save the Church from corruption and destruction.

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“ ere is a myth…that the Catholic Church is an institution of, by, and for men. e brilliant McShea explodes that myth.”

Robert George, Professor of Philosophy, Princeton University

“A much-needed gi to the Church to spark the imagination of women, young and old, to restore our understanding of the essential role women have in the Body of Christ.”

Carrie Gress, Author, eology of Home

“McShea combines her scholarly historical acumen with a penchant for bringing history alive in succinct and engaging prose. A marvelous tour through the history of the Church.” —Fr. Dominic Legge, O.P., Director, e omistic Institute

◆ ON OBEDIENCE

Adrienne von Speyr dives into the mystery of Christian obedience, bringing you into the heart of authentic Christian love. Profoundly misunderstood in our time, obedience is not just a vow for priests and nuns, but a free, creative, and open-hearted response of a perceptive child of God. Obedience ows through the very core of reality in all its breadth, and means, above all, listening. Only in obedience does joy, indeed life, become possible. With marvelous clarity, precision, and practicality, von Speyr reveals the widest expanses and the subtlest shades of Christian obedience, uncovering for all a new path to prayer and to Triune love OOP . . . Sewn So cover, $17.95

“A concise but remarkably exhaustive explication of obedience, the preeminent virtue at the heart of sanctity. A full range of mystical, theological, and practical insights will draw you to savor the pages of this rare book.”

Fr. Donald Haggerty, Author, Saint John of the Cross

“A great example of why the writings of von Speyr need to reach a wider audience. She links Christian obedience to the hope that faith brings, thus elevating all of the many natural exigencies that life imposes upon us into a new, higher register of supernatural ful llment. I cannot recommend it highly enough!”

Dr. Larry Chapp, Retired Professor of eology, DeSales University

◆ TOO SMALL A WORLD e Life of Mother Frances Cabrini

Acompelling, authoritative biography that chronicles the astounding life of a petite Italian-born religious sister who, with the heart of a missionary, conquered all odds to become the first American citizen canonized a Saint.

eodore Maynard traces Cabrini’s journey from her humble beginnings in northern Italy to her pioneering mission across the USA serving the poor and the sick on a massive scale, building schools, orphanages, and hospitals, and her founding of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. TSAWP . . . Sewn So cover, $18.95

“ e name eodore Maynard is enshrined in the Cooperstown of U.S. historians of the Catholic Church. One of his best works was this acclaimed biography of Mother Frances Cabrini.” —Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York

“ is book shows what can be done when just one person, despite incredible diculties, takes the call to be a saint seriously and changes America and many parts of the world.” —Teresa Tomeo, Radio Host, Catholic Connection

“ is astonishing masterpiece is one of the greatest accounts in Church history of a bold saint who built humble kingdoms of resurrection for hundreds of thousands. It will enthrall you!” —Kevin Wells, Author, Priest and Beggar: e Heroic Life of Venerable Aloysius Schwartz

May-June

Guide to Home Maintenance Popes deliver urgent pleas

Discernment’s

Importance

Manipulators of God’s Scripture are greater in number than ever before

Volunteers undertake dangerous desert missions of rescue, recovery

Thousand Candles Beseeching

“When did the Catholic Church adopt its belief in purgatory?”

real

Henri Nouwen: In My Own Words

Silence can be spiritually golden, writes a beloved Catholic author

AND THAT How Many Symbols for the Holy Spirit Can You Name?

Here’s a hint: An English monk re-lit the fire of Christianity in Germany

The Intercessor

“I have nothing but time. So I pay attention. That’s an intercessor.”

May-June Columnists

Fr. Philip Dabney, CSsR (“The Redeemer, Mary, and You”), has preached numerous parish missions and retreats. The gift he believes he offers is his love for his priesthood and the people of God. He once wrote: “I began my priesthood by offering my life to Christ, and he has filled my life with his people.”

Juliet Byington Holden (“Keep the Faith”) works with a foundation in St. Louis to connect critical resources with organizations and churches in the region, and after thirty years in the nonprofit sector, she has a deep appreciation for those who make straight the path for others.

Most Reverend Bruce Lewandowski, CSsR (“Plain Talk”), is auxiliary bishop, urban vicar, and episcopal vicar for Hispanic Catholics in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Bishop Bruce was formerly the pastor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and St. Patrick parishes in Baltimore.

Fr. Michael McAndrew, CSsR, has served for thirty-plus years in Redemptorist Hispanic ministry initiatives, youth ministry, bilingual parish missions, and farmworker ministry. He is an associate with the Catholic Migrant Farmworker Network, was director for a Campesino Ministry, and was part of the preparation team for the Redemptorist mission in Matamoros, Mexico.

Fr. Robert Pagliari, CSsR, PhD (“Holy Homework”), has served as a Redemptorist priest for forty-plus years, dedicating his life to an array of ministries, including teaching, parish administration, preaching, and editing. Liguori Publications updated Fr. Bob’s Holy Homework in 2022, a book that was first published in 2018.

Br. Raymond Pierce, CSsR (“The Lighter Side”), is a native of Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. His ministry is storytelling via email. Every week, he sends “Morning Smiles” emails of humor and personal stories to nearly 1,000 senior citizens.

Fr. Thomas M. Santa, CSsR (“A Word from the Publisher”), was named president and publisher of Liguori Publications in January, his second assignment as the company’s leader. Professed as a Redemptorist in 1973, his ministries have included retreat work and writing reflections for the Scrupulous Anonymous newsletter.

María Ruiz Scaperlanda (“Redemptive Living”) is an award-winning journalist and author of Catholic-based articles and books, including The Shepherd Who Didn’t Run: Blessed Stanley Rother, Martyr from Oklahoma and Rosemary Nyirumbe: Sewing Hope in Uganda .

Andrew Tran-Chung (“Social Media Perspectives”) is a seminarian for the North American Conference of Redemptorists. A senior, he plans to finish his studies at the seminary in the Bronx in June.

Catholic. Pastoral. Trusted.

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Fr. Thomas M. Santa, CSsR

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Unless noted, Scripture quotations are from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, DC. Used with permission.

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“Anyone who wishes to become a saint in this life must resemble the lily among thorns.”

ST. ALPHONSUS

LIGUORI

Liguorian is named after our founder and patron saint, St. Alphonsus Liguori (1696–1787). Doctor of the Church, bishop, patron of confessors, moral theologian, prolific writer, pastoral theologian par excellence, and founder of the Redemptorist Congregation. It is in his spirit and inspired by the charism he shared with us, “With him there is plentiful redemption for all,” that this magazine and all pastoral educational products of Liguori Publications proudly claim we always strive to be Catholic, Pastoral, Trusted. To learn more about the Redemptorists, visit Redemptorists.com

The SHAZAM Moment

Occasionally, when I sit in front of my computer to write these few words of reflection, I find myself resisting the task. There is no apparent reason for this resistance, but the feeling is nevertheless present. I think it is primarily the result of having to produce “more words.” I spend so much of my life speaking, preaching, writing, listening to conversation, and reading the words of others. There are some days I would prefer nothing more than a prolonged moment of silence. No words, no thoughts, just a blank stare, an unmeasured moment, an uncluttered experience.

I wonder sometimes, “Do words make any real difference?” I know they have great power. They can encourage and discourage. They can build up or tear down. Some words produce an experience that is unlike any other; for example, SHAZAM! Now, don’t you feel better already? Or how about ZAP, BOOM, POW! (If you don’t have a Marvel comic book character that comes to mind, you did not grow up enjoying this medium of expression!)

At the same time, silence is also important and necessary for people in their spiritual, emotional, and experiential life. The experience of silence is often healing, spiritual, creative, and life-giving.

Yet at times, silence can also be a weapon. Who has not experienced the pain, hostility, and anger of a steely glance aimed in our direction? Or perhaps even worse, the silence of being completely ignored as if you do not even exist? In such experiences, any word would be both welcomed and appreciated, even if hurtful. At the very least, such words would be the acknowledgment of presence, of relational awareness.

A Word From the Publisher

FR. THOMAS M. SANTA, CSsR

Pentecost, when the Spirit was made manifest, is the exclamation point of creation.

I find myself thinking about both words and silence. In a very real sense, the feast of Pentecost, May 19 this year, is a celebration of each. In some spiritual traditions, the manifestation of the Spirit of God is understood as a powerful word that is spoken by the Creator. In our Christian and Catholic tradition, we understand that the Word of God is Jesus, but the creative and life-giving action of the Creator is in the Spirit.

The silence of God that descended upon the earth after Jesus’ death is first broken open with the resurrection, and then dramatically smashed with the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. There is no thing and no one that can impede the creative action of God when the Word of God has been spoken and the Spirit has been made manifest. Pentecost is the exclamation point; it is the SHAZAM moment of creation. In this issue of Liguorian , we reflect together on the creative power of the Spirit of God in our world today. We celebrate inspired moments and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the people of God. Our columns and features present snapshots of the Holy Spirit at work in the world. While not the whole story, each shows how the dynamic power of the Word of God is made manifest to every person of faith who has the eyes to see, the ears to listen, the heart to act, and the courage to respond.

BLACKWHITEMOUSE DESIGN / SHUTTERSTOCK

One of the tools we can use to discern the Spirit of God at work in our individual lives or the larger community is called “See, Judge, Act.” In this practice, those who desire to discern the will of God pray to be granted the actual grace of “opening their eyes” to the bigger picture. This is a humbling mindset because it allows us to admit that our perspective is often selective. We easily see what we are accustomed to, and we ignore that which is new, challenging, or perhaps even unsettling.

Once we open our eyes and truly see, we can then judge and make an appropriate decision that encompasses more than our opinions or preconceived notions. This process is often much more creative and life-giving than we imagine. Finally, after seeing and judging, we determine to act, to put into practice what we have discerned. This practice is the polar opposite of how we often make decisions without spiritual discernment, which is “ready, fire, aim.” I think most of us will admit that is not a good action plan.

It is my hope that this Pentecost moment of grace is truly a SHAZAM moment for each of us. Perhaps, with the help of the Spirit of God, we might have the courage to see—ZAP!—the wisdom to judge—BOOM!—and the stamina and perseverance we might need to act—POW! a

“See, Judge, Act”—a discernment practice that taps into the Spirit of God— is better than “ready, fire, aim.”

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

GALATIANS 5:22–23

Readers’ Retorts :

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The opinions expressed don't necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors. Please state your name, and include the state you live in and your phone number. Names are withheld from publication upon request. The editors reserve the right to edit comments for length, clarity, and style.

Editor’s note: As you know, mail isn’t what it used to be. Literally. For many people, notes to family, friends, and others now take the form of text messages, emails, and posts on social media. At Liguorian , we get fewer letters via the US Postal Service than we used to, and these days we get comments on our websites, Facebook page (updated frequently), voicemail, and email.

As a result, we have named this page “Readers’ Retorts” because that title more accurately encompasses the feedback you send. At the top of this page, we list the ways to reach us. We love hearing from you and hope you continue to keep your comments coming, no matter how you send them.

Liguori Publications’ Facebook post of March 6 (right) displayed March-April’s cover and notes about this first Liguorian edition with Fr. Thomas M. Santa, CSsR, as publisher, including:

Looks great! Welcome back, Fr. Tom!

Lisa

(Facebook)

Here’s to Good Mothers

I read Kathleen Basi’s article in the March-April issue of Liguorian where, as a mom, she says: “Somehow I respond with petulance and resentment. With shouts and recriminations toward those I love most.”

As a priest, I have heard so many confessions of mothers still caring for “young ’uns” and crying because they have shouted at or spanked a child.

I always ask, “How many days of rest do you have in a month’s time?” The answer is almost always, “Not ever, Father.” I reply, “You are under a lot of stress, but I’m sure you are one of the good mothers. The bad moms don’t have your problems. They are out in the street, enjoying themselves, ignoring their children.” And I usually tell them how happy I am to meet another “good” mother!

Our moms need our understanding and support, especially single moms. And I congratulate Kathleen Basi for the advice she gave in her article.

Rev. Peter Voelker, CSsR (via mail)

Congrats from a Friend

I just finished reading my digital March-April Liguorian and wanted to congratulate you on a fine issue!

I like the fresh look and new content very much.

I hope all is well at Liguori.

Fr. Byron Miller, CSsR (via email)

Fiction that Stirs the Mind & Spirit Fiction that Stirs the Mind &

◆ MISSING, PRESUMED LOST

Fr. Gabriel returns to St Mary’s Abbey, but all is not well in the sleepy village of Sutton Westford. A former village boy turned property developer has returned to build houses on the grounds of a disused mine. A local opposition group campaigns to stop him, and he receives increasingly menacing threats. Then workmen make a gruesome discovery on the site — the skeleton of a child missing for 30 years.

Fr. Gabriel is called in to investigate, but the task seems impossible — how to uncover a secret carefully hidden for so long? Is the killer even still alive? Worse, as the tragic details emerge, Gabriel is tormented by the memory of his own daughter and the life that was stolen from her many years before.

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“More than a whodunit, this mystery is a meditation on what it means to be an outsider in the place you call home. Exposing the bitter class hatreds of the ‘40s, De Maria rips the ‘cozy’ label from the vintage village crime.”

T. M. Doran, Author, Toward the Gleam

"Catholic writer Fiorella De Maria deserves a wide audience." — Publisher’s Weekly

“A meticulously cra ed, smartly humorous mystery novel. A literary mystery with an erudite sleuth who may be even more concerned with souls than sleuthing.”

— Dorothy McLean, Author, Ceremony of Innocence

◆ EXOGENESIS

Out of the collapse of Old America rises Lantua, a glittering thousand-mile metropolis where drones patrol the sky and AI algorithms reward social behavior. Birthing and genetic quality are controlled through mass embryonic selection, with fetuses grown outside the body in artificial wombs—a technology known as “exogenesis”. But rebellion is brewing . . . Lantua struggles to control the Benedites, a rural religious people who refuse to obey one-child regulations. The Field Commander, a er overseeing forced sterilizations of Benedite teenagers, returns to choose one of three hundred embryos to be her child, only to come face to face with a secret that will tear her life apart and alter the course of her civilization.

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“ e nest dystopian novel I’ve read in years. A futuristic nightmare that is a worthy successor to Brave New World with an added ingredient missing from most dystopian novels—hope.” —Fiorella de Maria, Author, Fr. Gabriel Mysteries

“In this gripping story, Peco Gaskovski presents an emotionally loaded picture of oppressive governmental tyranny and the dark zenith of reproductive technology.”

Eleanor Nicholson Author, A Bloody Habit

“A deceptively gentle dystopia, like an iron st in a velvet glove, that shows how technological developments destroy essential elements of human life.”

—Ellis Potter, Author,  3 eories of Everything

◆ SEEING RED

A thriller set in an alternate America both familiar and unfamiliar—a darkening society that must contend with more than one cra y Odysseus. Six Extraordinary Designation Card recipients are hiding on an abandoned northern Michigan movie set, seeking to escape the controlling thumb of the state. An Academy-Award winning screenwriter discovers these people by accident and soon so does the state, setting in motion a deadly cat-andmouse game.

Seeing Red takes us from the forests of Michigan to Hollywood and back again, through a world of celebrities, strange fugitives and sinister figures lurking in the shadows. T.M. Doran presents a timely and gripping story in an era when human rights mean very different things to societies and individuals.

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“Doran’s novel is darkly— and consistently— funny. A sort of Orwellian ction noir set in Detroit. e ideas at the heart of this page-turner are dead serious, and I mean that literally.” — Augustine Wetta, O.S.B., Author, Humility Rules

“A sharply written novel, shimmering with mystery and edged with redemption."

— Peco Gaskovski, Author, Exogenesis

“Reminiscent of Fahrenheit 451 and Twilight Zone, where comfortable facades of day-today routine are ripped apart to reveal disquieting realities from which we'd rather squirm away.” —David Pinault,Author, Providence Blue: A Fantasy Quest

Spiritual Athleticism

Have you ever prayed 1,000 Hail Marys in one afternoon? Did you ever wake up at 3 am for a week straight to pray with an online community? What about a thirty-day silent retreat? Here’s a good one. Have you ever walked the Camino de Santiago?

Prayer challenges are gaining popularity. Whether they be three or thirty days long, prayers combined with increasing levels of difficulty, a reward system, physical exertion, and friendly competition are giving traditional novenas and retreats a run for their money.

Some critics and skeptics are quick to call this a fad. Not a few think it gimmicky, even a cheapening, of the spiritual life and the call to holiness. Maybe one shouldn’t be so quick to dismiss what thousands find to be spiritually rewarding. “No pain, no gain” spiritual athleticism has long been part of our Church’s tradition, and that’s good!

From time immemorial, pilgrims have journeyed on foot to the Holy Land. The Eternal City’s Scala Sancta see thousands each year on their knees, making their way slowly but surely to the top. Great fasts and silences mark the lives of hermits and cloistered monks and nuns. Runners from near and far dash toward the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe on the annual Carrera Antorcha. So much energy, so much effort, and so much enthusiasm, all in the quest for God.

Somehow, it makes sense. Athleticism goes with asceticism. They need each other. If athletes don’t train, they don’t improve. If they don’t improve, they don’t win. What discipline, self-control of exercise, and eating right do for athletes, prayer challenges can do for those who seek holiness and a more profound relationship with the Lord. Spiritual fitness means sacrifice.

MOST REVEREND BRUCE LEWANDOWSKI, CSsR

It’s all about what’s inside. Prayer challenges can turn us inward toward the heart, making us pay attention to our thoughts, feelings, desires, and passions. There, the ordered and disordered parts of ourselves come into focus. We become aware of interior struggles and conflicts. We remember the connection between our body and our soul. The challenge reveals our limitations. Conversion is possible; conversion happens. We rely on the generous help of the Lord.

Companionship is a hallmark of most prayer challenges. Why go it alone? Each participant urges the other on to more, to better, toward perfection. More than just cheerleading, embracing and sharing a prayer challenge opens us to genuine care and concern for one another. We encourage each other in the pursuit of God. Life is hard! Prayer challenges not only help us meet those difficulties but rise above them. These spiritual feats take the call of St. Paul to “run so as to win” (1 Corinthians 9:24). Keep your eye on the prize, life on high with Christ! Take the challenge! A

Prayer challenges keep our spirits in shape for a profound relationship with the Lord.

PEOPLE PRAY AT THEHOLY STAIRS, SCALA SANCTA, IN ROME, ITALY NOMADFRA/SHUTTERSTOCK

A Guide to Home Maintenance

POPES DELIVER URGENT PLEAS TO CARE FOR MOTHER EARTH.

FR. PAUL J. COURY, CS S R

“Then Job answered and said: ‘How can anyone be in the right before God?... He alone stretches out the heavens…He made the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the south; He does things great and unsearchable, things marvelous and innumerable’” (Job 9:1, 8–10).

How many of us have stretched out on the grass on a warm summer evening, looking at the billions of stars that dot the dark heavens, pondering like Job, “What is my relationship to all this wonder? How do I experience being connected or disconnected to the earth, people in this world, our Milky Way galaxy, or the entire universe?”

In his encyclical On Care for Our Common Home (Laudato si’), Pope Francis reflects on these types of questions and many more. On the feast of Pentecost, May 24, 2015, the Pope offered us the fire of a new spirit of fellowship with each other and our common home, the earth. He began his reflection by quoting the beautiful canticle of St. Francis of Assisi, “Laudato Si’, mi’ Signore,” which translates to, “Praise be to you, my Lord.” This canticle praises our sister, Mother Earth, and all beings that inhabit her.

The phrase “our common home” is abundant throughout the encyclical. It is not a novel phrase; in fact, it was first used by another environmentally conscious pope, Pope St. John XXIII. His 1963 encyclical Peace on Earth (Pacem in Terris) called all nations and peoples to enter into a dialogue about our common home. Although separated by fifty years, both popes challenge us to embrace generosity, rather than narcissism. Sharing, rather than greed. Simplicity in lifestyle, rather than consumerism. We can each examine our own lives and see how we have met or failed this challenge in our personal and corporate endeavors.

“O Lord, seize us with your power and light, help us to protect all life, to prepare for a better future, for the coming of your Kingdom of justice, peace, love and beauty!” (LS 246).

The Pale Blue Dot

The phrase “our common home” has also been applied in the secular world. For example, Carl Sagan (1934–1996), perhaps America’s bestknown astrophysicist, worked on the development of the Voyager 1 spacecraft. His reflection on the “Pale Blue Dot” image taken from Voyager 1 has brought many to tears over the last fifteen years. This famous image was taken as the spacecraft traveled past Neptune and turned to face earth one last time, more than four billion miles away. It shows a small, faint blue dot against a black sky. Our planet, that tiny blue dot, appears to be a lonely, isolated speck against the cosmic darkness. Can this image serve as a message to save ourselves? Can it help us understand our finitude and fragility? Can it encourage us to care for both the earth and each other? Perhaps Sagan’s reflection was one inspiration for Pope Francis’ own reflection on our common home!

“I urgently appeal, then, for a new dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet. We need a conversation which includes everyone, since the environmental challenge we are undergoing, and its human roots, concern and affect us all” (LS 14).

The Globalization of Indifference

The Pope clearly illustrates the degradation of our earth: through pollution, scarcity of clean water, and unequal distribution of food, wealth, and land. He cries out over the wildlife killed and forests destroyed, the poisoning of our air and weather systems. Can we stop this descent into greed, and instead embrace a future that includes a common love for, and protection of, the earth? What can we do about this “globalization of indifference”? Can we individually and corporately make a change? The fight against a globalization of indifference hearkens back to Dorothy Day’s work in developing the Catholic Worker Movement, caring for the poor people of New York City. It connects to Thomas Merton and his quest for world peace, and to St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta and her compassion for the poor and dying in our world. We need these types of men and women to raise our consciousness to a higher contemplative state that sees Christ in all people and creation!

“God wills the interdependence of creatures. The sun and the moon, the cedar and the little flower, the eagle and the sparrow: the spectacle of their countless diversities and inequalities tells us that no creature is self-sufficient. Creatures exist only in dependence on each other, to complete each other, in the service of each other” (LS 86).

We Are the World

Sometimes it happens that the most unexpected of people step forward to make a difference. During the 1980s, a great famine raged in Ethiopia. More than one million people died. A cry went out for worldwide compassion and help. In response, some four dozen of the most popular vocalists of their time gathered on March 7, 1985, and produced the

song “We Are the World” by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie. It sold more than twenty million copies, with proceeds going to aid Africa. It was truly a moment in time when a message of love and fellowship broke into the consciousness of our secular culture—would that this happened more often. If you listen to this song, you will feel a spirit of communal connection burst forth, inflaming your compassion once again. Pope Francis encourages us to blow on these embers of fellowship and create a great blaze once more.

“We must regain the conviction that we need one another, that we have a shared responsibility for others and the world, and that being good and decent are worth it” (LS 229).

Conversion to Gratitude

The Pope also challenges us to be people of conversion—a conversion to gratitude for all of God’s gifts. He calls for a conversion to graciousness as we interact with others, a turning away from our obsession with consumption, and instead, embrace the present moment with deep enjoyment and inner peace. He calls us to see life as a blessing!

Benedictine Br. David SteindlRast, strong at age ninety-seven, is well-known for his “Want to Be Happy? Be Grateful” TED Talk, and also has a beautiful website dedicated to gratitude (grateful.org). I encourage you to go to his website and listen to the five-minute video titled A Good Day. In this video, Br. David, like Pope Francis, empowers us to develop a personal ecology of being grateful. To wake up and thank God for our eyesight, our ability to hear and smell. To thank him for the fresh water flowing out of our faucet, the incredible colors and changing shapes in the sky, and for the magnificent uniqueness of every person we will meet that day. It is a call to treasure each person as a one of a kind creation of God. Just as the Pope

urges us, Br. David hopes to lead us to embrace the present moment with full awareness and intensity.

“Saint John Paul II stated that the special love of the Creator for each human being ‘confers upon him or her an infinite dignity.’ ….Each of us is willed, each of us is loved, each of us is necessary” (LS 65).

Call to Action

Pope Francis concludes his encyclical with a call for the 1.3 billion Catholic faithful—and everybody else—to ACT! If we could all act as one, act in unison, can you imagine how powerful this would be? His universal message calls on all the faithful, indeed all people, to “live wisely, to think deeply, and to love generously.” Pope Francis asks us to create a personal attitude of the heart and then live that attitude to the fullest!

“Inner peace is closely related to care for ecology and for the common good because, lived out authentically, it is reflected in a balanced lifestyle together with a capacity for wonder which takes us to a deeper understanding of life” (LS 225).

If we can live in a deep, loving communion with God, others, and all creatures, then we experience once again the beautiful image of God first imprinted within us at the moment of our own unique creation!

On September 21, 2023, Pope Francis followed Laudato si’ with the apostolic exhortation On Care for the Poor and the Earth (Laudate Deum). The Pope again condemns those who are not involved with healing our world, the billionaires and corporations that are hoarding and devouring the world’s resources. He challenges us to generate renewed action and commitment that will heal creation and care for the poor.

Papal documents, including those referenced in this article, may be read and downloaded at the Vatican’s website, Vatican.va.

Yes, we are being called by Pope Francis to share mutually with all creation. Be careful, answering this will change your life! It is a new set of eyes, given by God, that allows us to appreciate creation as it is and for its own sake, until the end of time when “Christ is all and in all” (Colossians 3:11). An authentic believer should be on the front line of such action “so that God may be all in all” (1 Corinthians 15:28).

YES, may praise be to you, my Lord! And let our love abound! Amen! A

Fr. Paul J. Coury, CSsR, a priest since his ordination in 1972, has ministered as a teacher, retreat director, formation director, and as a theological editor at Liguori Publications. He lives in Tucson, Arizona.

Definitions

An encyclical is the pope’s method of addressing the whole Church about a particular concern. The document usually points out certain challenges the Church needs to face and asks for appropriate action among faithful Catholics. Pope Francis has written two encyclicals.

An apostolic exhortation is a magisterial document written by the pope. Exhortations generally encourage or challenge faithful Catholics to practice a particular virtue or activity. Pope Francis has written six exhortations.

THE Discerning Word

FR. THOMAS M. SANTA, CS S R

We live in a culture and society that routinely assigns the written word great importance. Technology has only increased this importance, due to the ease with which the spoken word is digitally recorded. What once required a chisel and block, or a quill and paper, is no longer necessary. Perhaps that is an improvement, or perhaps a step back. It is much too early to tell. Regardless, the written word retains its place of privilege, and we understand that it is important, even if we do not always recognize or fully appreciate its ramifications.

MANIPULATORS OF GOD’S SCRIPTURE

ARE GREATER IN NUMBER THAN EVER BEFORE

To illustrate the perceived importance of the written word, ask yourself how often you have heard the saying, “Words have meaning and consequences.” Your answer may be surprising. Recall the infamous “it all depends on what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is.” The political career of the politician who made that statement depended on that one word, supposedly. While that was not the first time in politics that an outcome hinged on one interpretation, it was a memorable occasion.

As important as the written word is in modern society, that was not always the case. Before the invention of the first mechanized printing press around 1439, the written word was not available to most people. Other forms of communication were more important and accessible, such as the spoken word. “A man’s word is his bond” was an oft-repeated mantra. Or, as Scripture tells us, “Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No’” (Matthew 5:37).

Various forms of oral communication once were preeminent. Myths, parables, and just a good yarn were essential to ancient cultures and societies. Because written text was primarily accessible only to scholars and the rich (notwithstanding that many people were illiterate before the printing press made texts more accessible and affordable), oral communication and storytelling were essential in relaying both information and well-known stories. The ability to share a story, repeat what you heard, and pass it on to others was a skill both highly treasured and held in esteem. There is nothing worse than when a story loses its ability to convey emotions and other powerful imagery that encourages comprehension of the central message. Yet when a story is shared in a compelling manner and the listeners are attentive, there is perhaps nothing more powerful.

These ancient forms of communication illustrate an essential point in appreciating how human beings communicate: oral storytelling was the dominant form of communication for millennia. Until recently in human history, written communication was something only a select population was privileged to take part in. Although many generations have had access to the written word, added components of technology and globalization enable practically everyone to voice opinions in multiple ways, oral and written, potentially creating confusion for consumers. It certainly beckons us to proceed with caution.

All forms of words can be powerful, but they can be manipulated to become more or less so. One word by itself, spoken or written, generally has a well-defined meaning. On the other hand, a story, myth, or parable is open to interpretation, semantics of individual words dependent on the context.

Listen to the preacher who refers to a word in one part of Scripture, then points out several other passages with the same word, confidently proclaiming, “The word of the Lord.” It may be true that the particular word appears multiple times, but it seldom —if ever—has the same meaning in each reference. Remember, the context and content of the passage in which the word appears is important and necessary for proper

interpretation. Skilled manipulators of the written word can craft the text to teach any point they prefer.

An image, on the other hand, cannot be so easily manipulated, although technology is changing that, too. As the old saying goes, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” An image is intended to be interpreted and reflected upon. That is not to say an image cannot be deliberately manipulated as well; a specific intonation of the person who is communicating information about the image can make all the difference in the understanding of one who is listening.

The manipulation of words, intended or not, can also occur during translation. The interpreted meaning of the words used in a translation is important. This was a challenge when the biblical text was first translated into English from the official Greek and Latin texts. It had such huge consequences that those in power either resisted the entire effort in translation, arguably the Roman Catholic position for a period, or it was translated by Protestants and had an official seal of approval (the King James Version). The blood spilled and the struggle for a correct and acceptable translation of the Bible fills

the annals of both kings and popes.

As Catholics, we are partakers of the word. We celebrate the word; we listen to the word; we act on the word. Since the word is so powerful, does it not make sense that there might be a certain responsibility essential for those who present the word, particularly if they claim a Catholic understanding and perspective? One would think this is true, that those people have a responsibility to society—to think about the ramifications of the words they wield. While this may be a fair assumption, it is not always the case.

Consumers of the word need to be prepared and aware. This is critical and important for people who scroll the internet in search of clarity to a religious question. The sad truth is that there is much more peril than satisfaction and help. Far too often, it is possible to be victimized by the theological battles that permeate the internet. It is much too easy to fall prey to the false belief that you have discovered the truth, when in fact, you may have been manipulated— intentionally or not—into believing something untrue. The result of this kind of manipulated experience is nothing less than increased anxiety and confusion.

There is no official guide to the content and theological perspectives offered by dueling Catholic influencers.

Unfortunately, there is no official guide to the content and theological perspectives offered by dueling Catholic influencers. Generally, it is best to approach all social media content with a careful and discerning attitude. It is essential that the people offering the commentary are, in fact, the “theologian,” the “reverend mother,” the “Catholic apologist” that they claim to be. If they truly hold these credentials, their organization may be listed in the Official Catholic Directory , they may have an official website, or they may have published books about their area of expertise.

Story Teller by Gaganendranath Tagore

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

These are only a few ways in which you can verify their credentials and Catholic identity. If there is no certification that can be authenticated, it should serve as a warning to those who are trying to discern and learn about the Catholic faith.

It has always been necessary, but even more so today, to learn discernment. This essential skill has always been championed within the Church, particularly for those who are engaged in a spiritual quest or journey, looking to receive confirmation and act confidently in response to the perceived will of God, whether it be a call, invitation, or particular grace.

We should not be afraid to allow challenging cases of discernment into our daily lives. It is a necessary skill and practice in a world where the word is present in multiple ways, some of which are deliberately incorrect and manipulative. We don’t want to be a casualty of misinformation or another trophy in the theological battles raging around us.

The word, written and spoken, is precious, inspirational, and capable of animating the human spirit to great heights of imagination and belief. It takes discernment to fully understand God’s wisdom handed down to us. In this way, we build up the kingdom of God, not tear it down. A

Bible Versions Approved by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)

In the United States, the texts read at Mass are taken from the New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE), © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970, Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. All Rights Reserved. Scripture quotations in the products of Liguori Publications are typically taken from NABRE

Other USCCB-approved Scripture versions include:

• New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition, National Council of Churches

• The Psalms: Their Origin and Meaning, Alba House

• The Alba House Gospels: So You May Believe, Alba House

• Good News Translation (Today’s English Version, Second Edition), American Bible Society

• Contemporary English Version Book of Psalms, American Bible Society

• Contemporary English Version Book of Proverbs, American Bible Society

• Contemporary English Version New Testament, American Bible Society

• Contemporary English Version Children’s Illustrated New Testament, American Bible Society

• The Ecumenical Grail Psalter, GIA Publications, Inc.

• The Revised Psalms of the New American Bible , Catholic Book Publishing Company

• St. Joseph New Catholic Version New Testament and Psalms, Catholic Book Publishing Company

A Sampling of Catholic Influencers and Resources

• The Bible in a Year, Fr. Mike Schmitz (wherever you get your podcasts)

• The Second Breath Podcast, Greg Ghering (gheringmedia.com/ the2bpodcast)

• St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology (stpaulcenter.com)

• Word on Fire , Bishop Robert Barron (wordonfire.org)

• The Sunday Website at Saint Louis University, formerly the Center for Liturgy (liturgy.slu.edu)

We consumers of the word should be prepared and aware.

Fr. Thomas M. Santa, CSsR, is the president and publisher of Liguori Publications and the publisher of Liguorian.

Dear Padre,

Because it’s not in the Bible, our Protestant friends don’t believe in purgatory. When did the Catholic Church adopt this belief?

“All who die in God’s grace and friendship, but [who are] still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they [must] undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven” (Catechism of the Catholic Church , 1030). This process of purification is purgatory. The word purgatory may not appear in the Bible, but it does capture a truth found there. Scriptural imagery of figuratively passing through fire for spiritual refinement helped formulate the doctrine of purgatory in the patristic period (see 1 Corinthians 3:15). Forgiveness of sins after death is also suggested in Matthew 12:32 and 2 Timothy 1:18.

By the Middle Ages, purgatory had been defined at the Second Council of Lyons (1274), the Council of Florence (1439), and in the Decree on Purgatory at the Council of Trent (1563). The doctrine of purgatory is part of our Tradition and deposit of faith. At a weekly general audience in 2011, Pope Benedict XVI said “purgatory is like a purifying fire burning inside a person, a painful experience of regret for one’s sins. A soul stained by sin cannot present itself to God” (see Revelation 21:27).

The Purgatory Dante Writes about Features Gradations

Although theologically inconsistent with Catholic beliefs, Dante’s popular depiction of purgatory, from his work The Divine Comedy: Purgatorio, shows his understanding and opinion about the structure of purgatory. Beginning with a lower purgatory that contains the “worst” sins (according to Dante), one proceeds upward into a middle and upper purgatory before reaching the top of the mountain, which Dante calls “Earthly Paradise.” (See A Modern Reader’s Guide to Dante’s The Divine Comedy by Joseph Gallagher, Liguori Publications [804946]).

Do you have a question for the Padre?

Go to DearPadre.org to send your question and to learn more about “Dear Padre.”

“Dear Padre” is a longtime feature of Liguori Publications’ Our Parish Community Sunday bulletins. To find out about receiving these bulletins in your parish every Sunday, call 800-325-9521.

FR. BYRON MILLER, CS S R

OF PRAYER TO THE SOULS IN PURGATORY, RELIEF BY UNKNOWN ARTIST FROM THE 1800 S; VIENNA, AUSTRIA; PHOTO BY WRENATA SEDMAKOVA / SHUTTERSTOCK

Who Is Padre Migrante?

Padre Migrante, the name of this new column in Liguorian , means “migrant priest.” It’s not my name or nickname. “Migrante” is the Spanish word for the people I have been privileged to serve over the years in my priesthood: migrants. I appreciate the opportunity to present my experiences as a padre migrante in this magazine. I also have written about them through the years in blog posts on padremigrante.org. To introduce you to my work, let’s go back to my first migrant ministry experience.

In 1991, our Redemptorist General Chapter desired to form experimental communities of Redemptorists and laypeople who would live and work together. That April, Fr. Patrick Keyes, CSsR, and I proceeded to visit youth ministry programs in Europe. We met Redemptorists in Spain and Italy who were developing initiatives with university students and graduates.

Many of the young people were training to be lay foreign missionaries; however, our dream was different. We wanted to focus our ministry on poor young adults in the inner city of Denver. We received permission to open a house of welcome for youths, Casa San Alfonso, in Fr. Patrick’s parish. We rented a house in the neighborhood and set our opening date for Saturday, November 9, 1991. The day coincided with the founding date of the Redemptorists in 1732.

That morning, twenty people helped clean the house so we could move in. The house had four bedrooms, a dining room, kitchen, sitting room, and front room, which was our chapel. Around five o’clock that evening, we ordered pizza for our work crew, our first meal at the Casa. After eating, the young people announced they were going to a Quinceañera dance and would be back later. Three of the padrinos —mentors of the youth group—remained with us at the Casa. After cleaning up, we prayed Compline together and chuckled at the idea that the young people would return after the dance. Our friends left at 10 pm

Padre Migrante

FR. MIKE MCANDREW, CSsR

Fr. Mike McAndrew’s migrant ministry began in 1991 with the opening of a house of welcome for young adults in Denver. The community was a living experiment of Redemptorists and youths residing and serving together.

At 10:30 pm , thirty young people arrived with snacks, sodas, and a boom box. They took over the house, moving the table and chairs out of the dining room. The music and dancing began! “I think the youths like the Casa,” Fr. Patrick commented. By Monday, three young men moved in with us.

From the day Casa San Alfonso opened until the day it closed five years later, the community was a living experiment of Redemptorists and youths residing and serving together. Our Superior General believed the Spirit of God would bring new life to our Redemptorist Congregation if we allowed the poor to evangelize us. Our superiors took the risk of allowing us to welcome and invite young people on the margin of society and our Church to live with us. We were truly open to letting the Holy Spirit and young people show us the way. A

Book Excerpt

The Fire of the Spirit

WHERE DOES THE REAL STRENGTH OF BELIEVERS LIE?

JOSÉ ANTONIO PAGOLA

Christians today have much to be concerned about: people are giving up religious practice, they are increasingly less interested in God, Christian communities are aging. They are overwhelmed with problems and difficulties. What kind of future awaits the Church? What will become of the Faith in society tomorrow?

There are different reactions to these questions. There are those who long with nostalgia for the times when religion seemed to have a sure answer for everything. Some are drowned in pessimism: it is useless to patch things up, Christianity is breaking up. Others are looking for drastic solutions: security must be recovered, authority strengthened, orthodoxy defended.

But where does the real strength of believers lie? From where can the Church acquire new vigor and inspiration? It can only come from Jesus Christ. He is the one who can free us from spiritual inertia and stagnation. He can revive our faith and set our hearts on fire. Without him, everything shuts down. The gospel becomes a dead letter, the Church is reduced to just another organization, religious practice is frozen.

Our greatest sin is mediocrity. Our greatest pastoral problem is the neglect of Jesus and his Spirit. It is a serious mistake to attempt to substitute an organization, work, teaching authority, and different pastoral schemes for what can be only born of the gospel.

THERE IS NO CHURCH WITHOUT CHRIST, NO CHRISTIAN FAITH WITHOUT THE GOSPEL. Let us not deceive ourselves. If we do not allow ourselves to be revived and recreated by the Spirit of Jesus, we believers will not contribute anything important to modern society, so lacking in concern for the inner life, so incapable of the love that binds people together, and so much in need of hope.

I know that the gospel is good. It can free us from routine and conventional religion. It can rescue us from skepticism and superficiality. I know that the Spirit of Jesus is alive and acts in the hearts of people in different ways. It is never too late to welcome his good news. Jesus can change our lives.

People today have become accustomed to living without seeking an answer to the most important questions of their lives: Why have we been gifted with life? What is the meaning of all of this? How are we invited to respond? When people lose touch with their inner being and mystery, life degenerates into meaninglessness. People then go by impressions, living on the surface of things and events, getting no further than the appearance of life. This trivialization of life is the most significant root of unbelief for many people.

When human beings live without paying attention to their deepest yearnings, they lose respect for life, people, events, and experiences. But, above all, they become incapable of

listening to the mystery that lies at the heart of existence.

People today resist exploring profound realities. They aren’t prepared to take care of their inner selves. They begin to feel dissatisfied. They sense that they need something that everyday life does not bring them. In that dissatisfaction lies the beginning of their salvation.

Only the Holy Spirit can help us discover the “path to what is profound in us.” On the contrary, to abandon the Holy Spirit would be to “endure life without discovering and celebrating the mystery of Life.”

The Spirit can awaken in us the desire to struggle for real meaning and purpose. The Spirit can give us the courage needed to claim the stirrings of an inner life in us. The Spirit can make a different joy flourish in our hearts; it can enliven our inner life, it can kindle within us a love even for those toward whom we feel the least interest.

The Spirit is “a power that acts in us that is not ours.” It is God himself who inspires and transforms our lives. No one can say that the Spirit does not dwell within them. It is important not to extinguish the Spirit, but to rekindle its fire and to keep it burning to renew our lives. A

This excerpt is from José Antonio Pagola ’s Following in the Footsteps of Jesus: Meditations on the Gospels for Year B (see page 22). Convivium Press first published Pagola’s volume for liturgical Year A in 2010, Year B in 2011, and Year C in 2012.

Jesus Christ can change our lives. He can revive our faith and set our hearts on fire.

José Antonio Pagola wrote one of his many books, The Way Opened Up By Jesus: A Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew, in 2012. Born in Spain in 1937, he completed his theological studies in 1962 at the Papal Gregorian University in Rome and his studies in sacred Scripture at the Papal Biblical Institute in Rome in 1963. He also studied biblical sciences at the Ecole Biblique in Jerusalem. Pagola is a professor at St. Sebastian Seminary and at the Faculty of Theology of Northern Spain. He has dedicated his life to biblical studies and Christology and has done research on the historical Jesus for decades.

Head of Christ

Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn

GOOGLE ART PROJECT / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

LITANY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Pray this litany with your family, during silent meditation, or with a Bible study or prayer group!

Verse: Stir up our weak, small, vacillating faith. Teach all your sons and daughters, whether inside or outside your Church, to live, trusting in the unfathomable love that our Father has for his children. If the faith is extinguished in our hearts, it will soon die out also in our communities and churches.

Response: Come, Holy Spirit!

Verse: Let Jesus be the center of our Church. Let nothing or no one take his place or overshadow him. Do not be with us without drawing us to your gospel and making us your followers. Let us not forget your Word, or your commandment of Love. Let the world not forget you.

Response: Come, Holy Spirit!

Verse: Open our ears to listen to your appeals, those which reach us today from questions raised, sufferings, conflicts, and disputes of the men and women of our time. Keep us open to receive your power to generate the new faith which this new society needs. May we live in your Church more aware of what is emerging and what is dying out, with our hearts sustained by hope and not undermined by nostalgia.

Response : Come, Holy Spirit!

Verse: Purify the heart of your Church. Let truth prevail among us. Teach us to become aware of our sins and limitations. Remind us that we are like the rest: fragile, mediocre, and sinful. Free us from our arrogance and false complacency. Let us learn to live among (your) people with more truth and humility.

Response: Come, Holy Spirit!

Verse: Teach us to see life, the world, and above all, (your) people anew. Let us learn to see as Jesus saw those who suffer, those who weep, those who fall, those who live alone and are forgotten. If we can change the way we look at the world and people, we will also change the heart and the face of the Church. The disciples of Jesus will then reflect better the closeness, the understanding and solidarity he showed to those most in need. We will be more like our Master and Lord.

Response: Come, Holy Spirit!

Verse: Make of us a Church with open doors, a compassionate heart, and contagious hope. Let nothing or nobody distract or lead us astray from the project of Jesus building up a world that is more just and dignified, more loving and happy, and opening up ways to the kingdom of God.

Response: Come, Holy Spirit!

Following in the Footsteps of Jesus Meditations on the Gospels for Year B

JOSÉ A. PAGOLA

This publication offers a guide for reading Sunday Gospels and meditating Homilies every week for the Liturgical Cycle B.

Convivium Press

5.4 x 8.5; paperback 160 pages

A close familiarity with the words of the Gospels brings us into consonance with Jesus, inspires in us his love for the world, builds up enthusiasm for his project of the Kingdom of God, and infuses his Spirit in us. Without our scarcely noticing it, we become Christians. This personal meditation on the words of Jesus transforms us more than all the explanations, sermons, and exhortations which reach us from the outside. People change from within.

ISBN: 978-1934996270

Order from Amazon.com

The Beach of God

Ilook down at the edge of the water and say out loud to no one, “OK, just one more.” I bend over to examine and collect another beautiful red scallop shell, one of many spread out before me in the sand—each abounding in memories, like precious pieces of my life. For as long as I can remember, I have enjoyed wandering up and down beaches collecting shells—any shell, every beach, any season.

It dawns on me that I don’t know just how long I’ve been walking today, only that it’s been long enough to fill up both of my pants pockets with precious shells!

La Playa (the beach) is where I go to recall how to breathe deeper and reclaim my natural walking pace. There is no exercise ring to close, no deadline or timeline here. With each wave that crashes on the sand, encounters ebb and flow, back and forth eternally, like the high and low tides of each season.

Whether summer or winter, East Coast or West, there are always lessons to be learned and gifts to be discovered at the beach. Perhaps most important of all, tapping into the rhythmical breathing of the ocean connects me to the holy, to the universal sacred, and to our one Creator. This place makes God undeniable.

On this particular walk, as I struggle to fit just one more shell into my pocket, it becomes impossible for me to ignore the irony. There’s a part of me that deeply believes I should always be prepared for whatever life will throw at me. I am supposed to anticipate not only what I will want or need but also the needs and wants of those I love the most, especially the twenty-five-person tribe that is my family. And so I feel I must collect all the treasures on the beach. It’s the mentality, “If I don’t do it, who else is going to?” It can feel daunting, not to mention exhausting.

Redemptive Living

MARÍA RUIZ SCAPERLANDA

“I know what I have to do now. I got to keep breathing. Because tomorrow the sun will rise. Who knows what the tide could bring?”

Imagine if, instead, I meander the beach that is my life with the assurance God has already prepared it for me, personally. What if I trusted God with all the details of my life, down to the smallest details of which and how many beautiful shells I will encounter on my walk?

And when it feels difficult or even impossible to continue, I remind myself of the words of Tom Hanks’ character in the film Castaway, and I wonder what the tide that God sends will have in store for me. A

CHUCK (TOM HANKS) IN CASTAWAY

DR. KACIE CRISP / SHUTTERSTOCK

Soul Searchers

“The gentleman we are searching for is Mr. Thomas,” says Vicente Rodriguez, cofounder of Aguilas del Desierto (Eagles of the Desert), a search and rescue volunteer organization.

Sitting under the shade of a palo verde tree in the desert plain, north of Montaña de Agujas (Needles Mountain) in Ajo, Arizona, Rodriguez, eighty-one years old, says he is too old to walk and search, but is happy to travel with the volunteers and help in some capacity at the base camp.

Rodriguez reports, “We received information from his family in

Mexico that Mr. Thomas, seventyone years old, was walking with a group of migrants across the border into the United States. They were in Charlie Bell Pass in the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge. Mr. Thomas fell behind and could not go on. He was left in a cave in these mountains.” He adds, “We are trying to find his body and bring closure to his family.”

A nonprofit organization, Aguilas del Desierto comprises volunteers who rescue and recover men, women, and children lost in the deserts or mountains after crossing the US border from Mexico. On this cold

mid-December day in 2023, Ely Ortiz, cofounder of Aguilas, gives instructions to some thirty volunteers. He asks them to line up, standing forty to fifty feet apart. The group begins walking in a line heading east toward the Cabeza Prieta Mountains. If they find human remains, they must call the group leader using their walkie-talkie.

Above: Ely Ortiz (center), cofounder of Aguilas del Desierto, gives instructions to volunteers and supporters. AUTHOR PHOTO

Right: The difficult terrain of the desert is illustrated in this photo near Montaña de Agujas (Needles Mountain). AUTHOR PHOTO

DANGEROUS DESERT MISSIONS OF RESCUE AND RECOVERY

As the sun starts to rise above the mountains, the volunteers in yellow uniforms, each with a walkietalkie and a small backpack filled with food and water, slowly trek through their rugged, designated terrain. With eyes alert for remnants of human remains, they pass a dense jungle of Teddy-bear cholla, jojoba, sagebrush, dried brittlebush, and sometimes, the iconic saguaro cacti. Often, the volunteers navigate through uneven rocks in the arroyo, where overgrown palo verde and prickly bushes can cut and poke the skin. Luckily for them, rattlesnakes hibernate in December.

The volunteers walk toward the mountains until late morning. Once the left flank arrives at the foothills, Ortiz asks some to climb up and search inside the caves. He asks other volunteers to head farther south, where many small caves can also be seen. It is not uncommon to come across socks, empty water bottles, blankets, plastic food wrappers,

PETER TRAN

and medicine. During this search, in some of the higher caves, there is evidence that people have been there: smoothed ground, discarded wrappers, and pieces of clothing.

Volunteers come from California, New Mexico, and Arizona. “They are special people,” Rodriguez tells me. “Who wants to drive five to six hours to go on a search, walking all day in the heat or freezing weather? Who would want to come and find a dead person who smells of decay?”

Felician Sr. Maria Louise Edwards, president of Aguilas del Desierto, says most of the volunteers have family in Mexico and Latin America. They are landscapers, farmworkers, tree cutters, welders, florists, and truck drivers. They work regular jobs and devote their weekend to help search for missing people. “For us, everyone who is missing is family,” says Sr. Edwards, who has been with Aguilas since 2018.

Previously in mid-November of 2023, three priests—Fr. Esterminio

Chica of the Newark Archdiocese, Maryknoll Fr. Michael Don Bassano from New York, and Fr. Fergal Maguire, SSCC, from London—also volunteered in the search for Mr. Thomas. They attended a ten-week sabbatical program at the Redemptorist Renewal Center in Tucson, Arizona,

Founded in 2012, Aguilas del Desierto is a nonprofit organization dedicated to rescuing and recovering missing people lost in the desert near the United States and Mexico border. The volunteer organization aims to bring closure to families through rescuing and/or finding the remains of their loved ones.

The organization also works to save lives by raising awareness about the dangers of crossing the border through information campaigns and visiting migrant centers in Mexico.

To find out more about their mission and ways to support their efforts, visit their website, AguilasDelDesierto.org

and were offered the opportunity to participate in the search. Afterward, I asked all three to provide a reflection based on their experience.

“I have walked in the footsteps of important people in many places: the Holy Land, Rome, and Greece. However, nothing prepared me for the amazing experience of walking in the footsteps of migrants who were trying to cross the Arizona desert in search of a better life. They risked everything, even their own lives. I was deeply touched by walking the same arduous trail with the volunteers of Aguilas del Desierto and two brother priests, Fr. Mike and Fr. Fergal. We walked under the sun in search of the old man who collapsed in the desert and most probably died for lack of water and food. We did not find the remains of that elderly man named Thomas. Yet I was amazed by the commitment of the volunteers, who come from far away to give support to any migrant in need, and to find human remains of anyone who has died in the desert,” said Fr. Chica.

Fr. Bassano tried to put into words what he called the most “unforgettable and memorable journey” with the Aguilas team. “They are committed people who have hearts of compassion for migrants who are making an arduous journey through the desert.

volunteers

We stopped at a place where volunteers told us they had found the remains of several people. We prayed for those who had died and their grieving families. After five hours of walking, we headed back to the base camp. Since I was the oldest and slowest member of the group, a volunteer named Francisco accompanied me as we returned. I will never forget the compassionate people of Aguilas. The experience has touched my life and affected my ongoing awareness and commitment to be concerned about the migrant situation. It will take a while to digest all I have experienced on this journey. My heart is full of gratitude to God for the gift of these caring people who showed me that all people, including migrants, are our sisters and brothers who need our concern and solidarity.”

apart from each other, I could easily see how quickly you could get lost in such rugged terrain.

“As the line moved forward, I was reminded of many things I had forgotten. Water is heavy, cactus have vicious spines, and rocks in the desert are hard to navigate. It’s easy to gash your foot or twist an ankle. The sun is hot. It is often harder going down than climbing up, and a willing spirit is not always enough to overcome a weak body. I was also reminded of the generosity, dedication, faithfulness, commitment, and capacity of ordinary people to do extraordinary things.

“These are the people the Church needs today. People who live the gospel. They live out what Jesus explained in the parables of loss, [like] the good shepherd who goes out looking for the lost sheep.”

Fr. Maguire spoke about his search experience. “For me, the walk was arduous and hard going. The valley looked flat from the mountain but was full of peaks, steep ravines, and crevices that had to be carefully climbed and crossed. It was easy to lose sight of your fellow searcher, despite their florescent yellow jacket. It was scary when they disappeared down a gully, and a relief to see them reappear. Despite the fact we were only feet

FR. FERGAL MAGUIRE, SSCC, SPEAKING OF AGUILAS DEL DESIERTO VOLUNTEERS

“It was not just a physically hard journey for me, but also emotionally difficult, seeing discarded clothes, broken suitcases and backpacks, shoes too heavy to carry, empty water bottles and biscuit wrappers thrown on the desert floor,” said Fr. Maguire. “These were somebody’s belongings. Somebody’s son or daughter had left them behind. Did these people make it? Did they have to turn back, and did they make the journey home? Were they rescued? Did their dream of a better life come true? Or were their dreams burned down by the desert sun? I would never know. I saw crosses marking the spot where the migrants’ journey to a better life ended and their journey to eternal life began.”

According to Sr. Edwards, from its beginning in 2012 to 2023, Aguilas members recovered 157 bodies, rescued 778 people, and received 13,650

Three

for Aguilas del Desierto are, from left, Fr. Esterminio Chica of the Newark Archdiocese; Fr. Michael Don Bassano, MM; and Fr. Fergal Maguire, SSCC. PHOTO COURTESY OF FR. FERGAL MAGUIRE

contacts. She explains that when a loved one is missing, the family contacts Aguilas through social media, a phone call, or by filing a report on their website. When Aguilas receives a contact, if migrants are stranded alive in the desert, they will be asked to dial 911. The phone call reports their location, and a 911 operator sends that information to Border Patrol.

“We then ask that the missing person call us back and send us a picture with their cellphone, because it will contain their GPS location. We tell them to not move from that location because it hinders rescue efforts. We send the location and contact information to Border Patrol’s Missing Migrant Program. Most times, Border Patrol will rescue the person and report back to us. We can then inform the family,” Sr. Edwards tells me.

again, since they have a reasonable idea of where their loved one crossed the border and was last seen. Aguilas members then create a search grid and organize a search operation. A search is conducted if the person is missing for more than two weeks and presumed deceased.

Sr. Edwards says Aguilas works closely with the consulates, Border Patrol, Barry M. Goldwater Range, Tohono O’odham Nation, and other local law enforcement authorities. For migrants, seeking asylum along the border is a right under US and international law. According to the Pima County Southwest Border Information website, the total number of migrant arrivals in 2023 was more than 300,000. From 2019–2023, there was a total of more than 368,000 asylum seekers.

house until she finds her lost coin, and of course, the son who was lost, was dead, and was found. These people go out to the poor, the outcast, the sick, and the lost. They live the faith that Jesus calls us to live, and their faith is inspiring.

“I was sad for Mr. Thomas’ family; we didn’t succeed in finding him,” said Fr. Maguire. “One team member told me, ‘Sometimes we don’t find anything, sometimes we go out looking for one person and we find two or three. The important thing is that we go out and do all we can to find people in the vastness of the desert.’

“For the families of the lost, I hope it brings some consolation, knowing that someone is looking for their loved one. Perhaps what was lost will be found, and for me, the search is meant to find a more just and humane world, just as God intended.” A

She adds that if a family member calls, Aguilas asks them to call their country’s consulate because they have access to detention and hospital lists, while Aguilas does not. If the missing person does not appear on any list, the family calls Aguilas

Fr. Maguire told me he was moved by the volunteers’ sacrifice. “These are the people the Church needs today. People who live the gospel. They live out what Jesus explained in the parables of loss. The good shepherd who goes out looking for the lost sheep, the woman who sweeps her

Peter Tran, MRE, MDiv, is the assistant director of the Redemptorist Renewal Center in Tucson, Arizona. He is a former editor of the Union of Catholic Asian News at its main editorial office in Bangkok. During his years as a Redemptorist, his ministry was extensively in the field of pastoral care for refugees and migrants in the United States and at the Vatican.

“The important thing is that we go out and do all we can to find people in the vastness of the desert.”

—A MEMBER OF THE SEARCH TEAM

The Catholic Observer

YOUR INDEPENDENT SOURCE OF NEWS AND VIEWS ON THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

Items from The Catholic Observer, a new Liguori Publications partner, debuted in the March-April edition of Liguorian and continue here. This independent information source delivers updates relevant to Catholic readers through features, news, and in-depth articles about the global state of the Church. Liguorian will offer shorter news items, with links to longer versions included in the digital version of the magazine.

Catholic Charities Denied Property Tax Exemption

The charitable arm of a Catholic diocese in Wisconsin said it plans to appeal to the US Supreme Court a state Supreme Court ruling that it is not exempt from paying the state’s unemployment tax because it is not primarily a religious organization.

The state’s highest court ruled 4-3 that the work of the Catholic Charities Bureau and its subentities is “primarily charitable and secular” and therefore ineligible for the tax exemption.

“In other words, they offer services that would be the same regardless of the motivation of the provider, a strong indication that the sub-entities do not ‘operate primarily for religious purposes,’” Justice Ann Walsh Bradley wrote for the majority.

Religious organizations across the country filed briefs in support of the Superior-based Catholic Charities Bureau (CCB), and the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, a law firm representing the CCB, immediately said it would appeal to the US Supreme Court.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court said in its seventy-four-page ruling that the CCB and its sub-entities “neither attempt to imbue program participants with the Catholic faith nor supply any religious materials to program participants or employees.” “Although not required,” the ruling continued, “these would be strong indications that the activities are primarily religious in nature.”

But Eric Rassbach, vice president and senior counsel at Becket, said in an email to The Catholic Observer: “The Wisconsin Supreme Court got this case dead wrong. CCB is religious, whether Wisconsin recognizes that fact or not. We plan to appeal this decision to the United States Supreme Court to protect Catholic Charities’ good deeds.” Becket argues that the “deeply problematic” ruling violates both state law and the First Amendment guarantee of freedom of religion by penalizing faith-based organizations that care for people in need, regardless of their religious background.

Gary Gately is the founder and editor of The Catholic Observer, a subscription-based newsletter. Gately, a lifelong Catholic, is an award-winning journalist who has written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, the National Catholic Reporter, America: The Jesuit Review, Newsweek, The Baltimore Sun, The Boston Globe, the Center for Public Integrity, CNBC.com and United Press International. Please email news tips or suggestions to Garymichaelgately@ gmail.com.

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National Organization Pressures Biden to Keep His Promise to End the Death Penalty

President Joe Biden has not fulfilled his campaign promise to abolish the federal death penalty, putting the nation’s second Catholic president squarely at odds with Church teaching and dismaying death penalty opponents. When running for president in 2020, Biden pledged to introduce legislation to eliminate the death penalty at the federal level and “incentivize states to follow the federal government’s example.”

But anti-death penalty advocates say he has done neither, despite becoming the first sitting president to publicly oppose the death penalty. “In its campaign platform, the Biden administration made a commitment to end the death penalty—a welcome and appreciated move forward, especially following the constant executions during the last six months of the Trump administration,” Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy, executive director of the Catholic Mobilizing Network, a national organization working to end the death penalty, told The Catholic Observer.

Murphy added that the federal government continues to defend current death sentences, including those of black men sentenced by allwhite juries, those convicted based on flawed forensic evidence, those who are intellectually disabled or mentally ill, and those whose cases raise other serious constitutional issues.

More than 10,350 people have signed a Catholic Mobilizing Network petition urging Biden to “honor the sanctity of life” by commuting the sentences of all those on federal death row and supporting federal and state legislation to end the death penalty.

Pope Francis revised the Catechism of the Catholic Church in 2018 to state that the death penalty is “inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person.” The Catholic stance against the death penalty applies “even after the commission of very serious crimes” (CCC 2267).

Supreme Court Rejects Appeal of Parents Whose Trans Son Was Removed from Their Home

The US Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal from an Indiana couple who challenged the state’s removal of their teen from their home after they refused to use his chosen pronouns. The court did not explain its decision.

It comes as battles over trans rights play out in the courts and state legislatures nationwide. Pope Francis and US bishops have steadfastly condemned so-called “gender theory,” saying it seeks to erase differences between sexes and is incompatible with God’s will.

The state of Indiana began investigating the couple in 2021 because they would not refer to their son with female pronouns. The parents refused to accept their son’s selfdeclared female identity and sought therapy for what they considered underlying mental health concerns.

The Indiana Department of Child Services subsequently removed the child from the parents’ home and placed him in another home that “affirmed” his transgender beliefs.

The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty challenged the teen’s removal in lower courts, which affirmed the state’s decision. “With increasing frequency, governments run roughshod over parents’ religious beliefs on gender identity, including removing children from parents,” the parents’ appeal said. “These cases are sure to proliferate.”

The Supreme Court’s decision not to hear the case, the appeal said, “squarely conflicts with this Court’s precedents on parental rights, free speech, and religious exercise” and “increases governments’ power to remove children from fit parents, limits Free Exercise [of religion] defenses to removal of children, and puts speech that occurs in the home beyond the reach of the First Amendment.”

The parents said in a statement that the lower court decisions barred them from even speaking to their son about gender. “This is what every parent is afraid of,” they said. “We love our son and wanted to care for him, but the state of Indiana robbed us of that opportunity by taking him from our home.”

BOB KORN / SHUTTERSTOCK

Share Your Gifts

The internet today is very different from that of my childhood. Then, you had to consistently create content that you thought people would enjoy watching—you’d try repeatedly to create a viral video or post. Often, this led to people living and sharing inauthentic lives. Content creators would set aside creativity and authenticity to pursue likes and views. Inauthentic lives were trendy.

In school, I had classmates who were brilliant and creative. They had amazing ideas and created incredible projects—but others never truly recognized their gifts and talents. Slowly, they began to lose their spark and drive to express their unique creativity. Lack of peer support prevented them from sharing their gifts with others. Both content creators and my classmates possessed talents and gifts but lost their motivation to be creative because they chased fame and status, or they didn’t have the support and motivation to continue creating.

When I scroll through Instagram or YouTube today, I find videos and images of people who simply share what they love doing, rather than attempting to go viral. I’ve seen religious sisters show how to make Communion hosts, teachers talk about their struggles when dealing with students, priests like Fr. Mike Schmitz share ministry experiences, seminarians answer questions about their vocation, home cooks share recipes, and so much more. This type of content gets hundreds, if not thousands, of views—people desire authenticity. Today, it’s trendy to be yourself, to share what makes you, you.

Sometimes, I think we feel anxious when posting on the internet, whether it be related to our Catholic identity or our unique talents, because we imagine it won’t do any good. Maybe it’s simply difficult to believe in our own capabilities and potential. While social media receives a bad rap for hiding people behind screens, it allows us to create content that shares our identity as Catholics with anyone who comes across it. Even if it’s one person who sees your creation, you were courageous and authentic in taking that initial step to share who you are with others.

ANDREW TRAN-CHUNG

Your posts on the internet about your life as a Catholic can help others just like you.

You have amazing talents and gifts God has given to you. Discover which of your gifts can inspire others to grow in their faith, too. This week, I encourage you to share some of them with others through social media. It can be a video of your day, sharing photos of a community service project you’re working on, posting a video about how you relate with God, and so much more.

Sharing your gifts, experience, and faith with the world can inspire others on the internet who are just like you. When we do that, we’re taking part in creating a community that builds our Church. So don’t be shy, share your gifts—it will surely make your day and maybe even someone else’s! A

A Thousand Candles Beseeching

MARY ANN MCSWEENY

“We just got another call. The body’s already at the medical examiner’s,” my landlord tells me. He knows this because he owns the funeral home where I rent the upstairs apartment. “The guy fell off a ladder. Lived across the way. A carpenter.”

“Not Terry?” I ask. His eyes widen. “Yeah. How do you know him?”

“Oh, well,” I answer, a little vague with shock. “He was friendly, talked to everyone in the neighborhood.”

Later that day, I light a candle for Terry. The tiny flame’s eloquence reaches far beyond my gift of prayer. I write in my candle book: “Terry. RIP.”

Terry. His tireless good humor. The missing tooth. His love of being “in the know.” The inquisitive brown eyes. “You know that new lady on the corner? She’s a professional singer,” Terry had told me one day. “Said she got a hundred dollars an hour for singing.” He bit his bottom lip and shook his head in admiration at such an apparent scam.

I think of the bike he rode everywhere after his driver’s license had been taken away for driving under the influence. His boast that he had beaten his alcohol addiction and didn’t need AA. “Don’t even want the stuff anymore,” he said more than once, with an addict’s selfdelusion. I hoped he would stay straight and sober.

Terry’s garden. “D’ you like eggplant?” he asked me one time. “Sometimes,” I said. He chuckled in response. “Sometimes,” he repeated, and laughed again, like I was a comedian with a joke worth passing on. “Peppers? Tomatoes?” “Yeah, pretty much,” I replied. “I’ll give you some. The garden’s doing great.” But he never gave me any.

disappointed—in me? In the failure of the SWAT team?—and pedaled away.

His delight at having his license reinstated. His determination to do whatever it took to get his truck back. The cheerful toot of the horn of his shabby black pickup, the enthusiastic wave and in-love-with-life grin as he drove by the night before he died.

Last night. Terry. RIP.

I flip through my candle book, each name a different story.

Frank Grogan. My father’s first cousin and best childhood friend—a kindly priest whom my siblings and I nicknamed “Cousin Father.” He had been on his way to visit his only sibling on September 11, 2001, and was given an upgraded seat on United Airlines Flight 175 from Logan.

Tina. In her forties, she was climbing the stairs to work when her heart stopped and she was gone. Skin and long bones donated to the organ bank. Her shiny black and silver casket—a fitting tribute to the flamboyant side of her personality that reveled in Guinness beer, Manchester United, and Stewart Granger films—was closed at the wake.

His strolls in the neighborhood with his gentle golden retriever, Jasmine. Behind them would meander Seamus, his orange tiger cat. An Irish flag hung from Terry’s house.

I was out walking one day when Terry swooped across the street and stopped in front of me, straddling his bike. “Heard you had some excitement at the funeral home last night,” he said knowingly.

“We did?” I asked. I’d been sworn to secrecy about the SWAT team’s presence during the wake. “Yeah. The SWAT team. Did they catch him?” He stared at me, eyes avid.

“I don’t know anything,” I lied. “I heard they didn’t,” Terry sighed, and then shrugged, apparently

John. A colleague at work who took an early disability retirement because he had inherited Huntington’s disease.

“I’m praying for a miracle,” I told him. “Me too,” he said.

Deb and Joanie. Angels of mercy, a mother and daughter who drove twenty miles to bring me a package of medicine that UPS had delivered to their home accidentally.

Dad. Dementia. The only words he could say for the last several months of his life were, “I love you.”

People I know, people I’ve met in passing, sometimes people I don’t know but for whom someone asked me to light a candle. All of us ambushed by the stresses and tragedies of life, united by our care and compassion for one another. Small domestic flames ablaze with love, grief, worry, devastation—and the light of perpetual hope. A

Mary Ann McSweeny, a writer and educator, lives in Massachusetts. She holds an MFA in creative nonfiction with a concentration in spiritual writing from Fairfield University. Her short reflections about the Sunday Scriptures can be found at maryannmcsweeny.com. She co-authored meditation books with Rev. Warren J. Savage for Liguori Publications (Liguori.org).

Henri Nouwen: In My Own Words

This excerpt from Henri Nouwen: In My Own Words was taken from the author’s book With Open Hands . It offers insights about silence.

How We Avoid Silence

For many, silence is threatening. They don’t know what to do with it. If they leave the noise of the city behind and come upon a place where no cars are roaring by, no ships tooting, no trains rumbling; where there is no hum of radio or television, where no CDs or tapes are playing, they feel their entire bodies gripped by an intense unrest. They feel like a fish thrown on dry land. They have lost their bearings. Some people can’t study without a solid wall of music surrounding them. If they are forced to sit in a room without a constant flow of sound, they grow very nervous.

Noise as Normal

There was a time when silence was normal and a lot of noise disturbed us. But today, noise is the normal fare, and silence—strange as it may seem—has become the disturbance. It is not hard to understand that people who experience silence in this way have difficulty with prayer.

Source: Henri Nouwen: In My Own Words, compiled by Robert Durback , 2001 (825170). Available from Liguori Publications. Order from Liguori.org or call 800-325-9521.

Sounds of Silence

We have become alienated from silence. If we go to the beach or on a picnic in the woods, [our music device] is often our most important companion. It seems that we can’t bear the sound of silence. Silence is full of sounds: the wind murmuring, the leaves rustling, the birds flapping their wings, the waves washing ashore. And even if these sounds cannot be heard, we still hear our own quiet breathing, the motion of our hands over our skin, the swallowing in our throats, and the soft patter of our footsteps. But we have become deaf to these sounds of silence. When we are invited to move from our noisy world into this sound-filled silence, we often become frightened. We feel like children who see the walls of a house collapse and suddenly find themselves in an open field, or we feel as though we have been violently stripped of our clothing, or like birds torn away from their nests. Our ears begin to ache because the familiar noise is missing; and our bodies have become used to that noise as if it were a down blanket keeping us warm. We become like addicts who must go through the painful process of withdrawal. A

Robert Durback was a Trappist monk and an authority on and a friend of Henri J. M. Nouwen (1932–1996), a Dutch Catholic priest, professor, writer, and theologian.

PHOTO OF HENRI NOUWEN BY FRANK HAMILTON; IMAGE: PETER BOCKLANDT/SHUTTERSTOCK

Reddy’s Fall and Rise

While growing up, his wavy crop of crimson hair earned him the neighborhood nickname “Reddy.” Shay was always “ready” to help others, so the moniker was doubly appropriate. He was known as that “‘Reddy,’ willing, and able” Catholic kid.

When Shay left for college, he left those fine virtues behind. His freshmen classmates called him “Gin.” The girls assumed it was short for his ginger hair color. His his buddies thought it meant the gin that went down his throat—bottle after bottle. By the end of October, he was intoxicated more often than not, his taste buds rapidly liquefying into addiction.

When Shay was sober, he would reminisce about the Parable of the Sower. Shay used to assume his heart was fertile ground for his faith. But college tempted him to a different type of fertility. He met Shelly and focused instead on her shimmering blue eyes, welcoming her tender embrace.

Soon, Shay’s stellar grades sank below average. The late-night rendezvous of the exclusive threesome— Shay, Shelly, and gin—became a lonely twosome. Before Easter arrived, Shelly disappeared, Shay’s scholarship was in danger, and his liver was on the brink of decay.

Shay didn’t care. He was high on freedom, fun, and fermentation. But his foggy brain and blurry vision were his downfall, when, during spring break, he hit rock bottom, literally. Eight frat brothers, booze, and a view of the ocean from their dilapidated dwelling was cause for a dangerous dare: leaping across the fifteen-foot gap between their hotel balcony to the one next door.

FR. BOB PAGLIARI, CS S R, PHD

“Gin, you can do it! You can fly,” his antagonists prodded him. They told each other, “He’s drunk enough to try it. Let’s record it!” At 2:03 am , paramedics gathered Shay’s unconscious body from the bloodied sidewalk and rushed him to the ER. Two days later, he was stabilized by a medically induced coma.

The chief surgeon gave Shay’s distraught parents a gloomy prognosis. “Your son will regain consciousness in a few days, but he’ll wake up to a very different life. The fall fractured his arms and legs, broke his back, and severed the C2 cervical spinal nerve. He may not be able to breathe on his own or control his bowel movements. Shay’s ability to speak will be impaired. He will need 24/7 personal care for the rest of his life. We can give you contact information for a chronic care facility where you can place Shay when he is ready to be discharged.”

Shay’s parents immediately replied, “That won’t be necessary, we will take Shay home. We know it won’t be easy, but he is our son, and we will provide the care he needs for whatever quality of life he can achieve.”

As Shay’s body declined, his faith increased. He told visitors, “I chose to disable myself from looking at God, but God chose to re-able me, so I could see him more clearly.” He often told the Parable of the Sower, confessing that the thorns of laziness, lust, and liquor nearly choked him to death. Shay always ended on this positive note: “I broke my back on solid concrete, which turned into rich soil. That is where the grace which God has planted in all of us, especially in my mom and dad, can yield a hundredfold of love.” A

Holy Homework

Let’s offer a special prayer of thanksgiving this Mother’s Day and Father’s Day for all parents who love their children through hardships, challenges, and addictions.

Comments may be emailed to FatherBobPagliari@Yahoo.com

PARABLE OF THE SOWER, PIETER BRUEGEL THE ELDER, WIKICOMMONS

Did You Know...

That these symbols are some of the many associated with the Holy Spirit?

We Celebrate Pentecost May 19, 2024

“The Church is like a great ship being pounded by the waves of life’s different stresses. Our duty is not to abandon ship, but to keep her on her course.”

ST. BONIFACE (CIRCA 675–754) MEMORIAL: JUNE 5

The English Apostle of Germany

Saint Boniface , born in England, was a Benedictine monk and popular teacher and preacher during the early eighth century. He felt called to perform missionary work in Germany, where the tepid establishment of Christianity was being overthrown by local pagan cults. Making it his mission to restore Christianity to that country, St. Boniface was so successful in doing so that he became known as the Apostle of Germany.

He and some disciples chopped down an oak tree sacred to pagans and built a Christian chapel. Pagans martyred Boniface in 754. Oaks and axes are common symbols associated with him.

We Honor and Salute

In the Fifth Commandment, God tells us to honor our parents. Holidays in May and June help us do that. We also have formal opportunities during these two months to recognize, remember, and treasure soldiers who gave their last full measure of devotion while serving, and we salute Old Glory a couple of weeks later.

✰ Mother’s Day, May 12. Founded by Anna Jarvis, 1907.

✰ Memorial Day, May 27. A group led by General John A. Logan called for Americans to honor Civil War soldiers in 1868 on the first widely celebrated Memorial Day.

✰ Father’s Day, June 19. Founded by Sonora Smart Dodd, 1910 (after hearing about Anna Jarvis’ Mother’s Day).

✰ Flag Day, always June 14. President Woodrow Wilson established the first Flag Day in 1916.

Mary Is Humanity

In her introduction to The Reed of God , Caryll Houselander recounts how, as a child, someone she greatly respected told her “never to do anything that our Lady would not do,” for if she did, “the angels in heaven would blush.” Caryll avoided doing the simple pranks children often perform for a short period of their lives. But her “inoculation of piety” wore off quickly, primarily because she found it difficult to imagine Mary, the Mother of God, doing anything she liked. Quite simply, Caryll couldn’t imagine Mary doing anything.

This story speaks for many of us. In loving our Lady, we still think of her as someone who never does anything we do. To us, the Mother of God may mean only a pale statue, a bright picture, a tiny medal, or a great stained glass window. We forget that Mary, the Mother of God, was human. Yet, she is almost surreal; nothing about her is ordinary, not even the stable in which Jesus was born.

We don’t do this only with Mary, but with the saints as well. In his poem “Friends in High Places,” John Shea, a contemporary spiritual writer, pens: “We like them up there / as they shine in stained glass glory… / They live between us and God.”

His point is that we need to see the saints in their humanity. Otherwise, how do we bridge the immense gap between their heroic virtue and our weakness? We cannot hope to imitate them and model their holiness without first walking in their shoes and touching their skin. The same goes for Mary.

What makes us truly love a particular saint is the little human details we discover about their lives. I love St. Catherine of Siena because she loved her garden and gilded tiny oranges to humor a difficult pope. I love Pope St. John Paul II because of his love of nature and the simple gestures of affection he showed to people repeatedly. But it is our Lady, and no other saint, that we can truly imitate. She is not only human like the other saints—she is humanity. She did and does the one thing we all have to do: bear Christ into the world.

The Redeemer, Mary, and You

FR. PHILIP DABNEY, CSsR

In our world, torn by agonies and dissension, we need some direction for our souls. To this end, the imitation of our Lady is the answer. In contemplating her, we find intimacy with God. A

We find our intimacy with God by imitating our Blessed Mother.

AROUND THE TABLE

Spelt Cinnamon Coffee Cake

THIS DISTINCT FORM OF WHEAT WAS POPULAR DURING ST. HILDEGARD’S LIFETIME

Ingredients and Instructions

½ cup butter

2 cups brown sugar

2 cups spelt flour

1 tablespoon cinnamon

Mix together with fork until crumbly.

Set aside one cup of mixture; it will be used as a crumb topping.

Then mix together:

1 egg, well-beaten

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup buttermilk

Add this mix to the dry mixture and put all the dough that you have prepared into a greased nine-by-fifteeninch pan. Sprinkle a little brown sugar over the dough before adding the crumb mixture as your topping.

Set your oven at 400 degrees and bake the cake for twenty minutes or until you can stick a fork all the way through and have it come out clean.

Source: From Saint Hildegard’s Kitchen: Foods of Health, Foods of Joy, © 2010 Jany Fournier-Rosset (819513, Liguori Publications). To order, visit Liguori.org or call 800-325-9521. CHARLES

BRUTLAG / SHUTTERSTOCK

Desire to Aspire

The bakery was about to close. Many of the popular items had sold out in the first few hours, including my favorites. Disappointed, I moved to the door without a purchase and saw two young women tasting each slice in a flight of wedding-cake samples. Grumpy as I was, I love all things wedding, so I asked the women, “Which of you is the bride, and when is the big day?” The women looked at each other, looked at me, and declared in unison, “This cake is aspirational!”

As their meaning hit me, my laughter—and that of everyone else in the store— bubbled up and out. If you manifest with cake, then the man, the proposal, the wedding, and the marriage are sure to follow! Even without my favorite pastry, I got all the sweetness I needed out of that trip to the bakery. I’ve thought many times since about what it means to aspire to something, the things I aspire to, and what it will take to get there.

The common meaning of aspire is to aim for, or strive for, something new and better. Its root comes from the Latin word aspirare (to breathe upon). It makes sense, doesn’t it? From the beginning of time, our faith tells us that the breath of God brought Adam to life. We breathe new life into a project or idea that needs reviving. Rescue breathing has brought countless people back from life-threatening emergencies. A person who brings something new and different to what is stagnant is called a “breath of fresh air.” With a few deep breaths, we feel better.

I’ve thought a lot about aspiring to new heights after a year of significant depths, breathing new life into my life. Writing has always been an important part of my work, telling the story of nonprofit causes and needs that hide in the shadows. I’m striving to tell those stories and hopefully impact their outcomes more broadly. I also aspire to a more peaceful outlook on life. Encountering all that this life delivers—good and bad—with peace, seems like a healthier journey. But how to do it?

To achieve your goals, you have to breathe life into them.

The first step is to recognize that aspirations are a long game, more the wind that carries us to what we envision than the goal itself. For me, that means I keep telling each story that matters and breathing peacefully through each challenge. The act of storytelling and welcoming peace in each moment will become a life of peace and storytelling.

The second step is to remember that aspiring to something isn’t necessarily a solitary effort. The vision might be my own, but I don’t live in a bubble. Mentors, family, study, friends, faith in what can be—all are integral to picturing, to manifesting, something new, something better.

And just to seal the deal, there’s always cake, a candle, and a deep breath. Make a wish, friend, and keep the faith. A

The Intercessor

FRED HANG

Fiction DESIGN BY CATRIN HOMUTH

Ishould have missed her. The gritty shadows of the South Bronx almost hid her from sight. I had missed so many like her before. Even when I did see, I’d become accustomed to not noticing. There were too many—in the shadows, on the corners, in the doorways, on the subways. Sometimes even in the full light of day. If I moved fast enough and remembered to look busy, I could usually put them out of mind. If that failed, I’d try rationalizing. My few coins or dollars wouldn’t help that much. Might even do harm. What if they drank it away? What if they used it to shoot up? Keep moving. Plenty of organizations exist to help such people. I have a train to catch. I was running toward the 174th Street station when she first made contact. From her sidewalk level perch in an abandoned doorway, her fist slammed into my right knee.

“Attention must be paid,” she shouted, “attention must be paid.” Her voice, vigorous and insistent, grew in volume as she raised her fist toward me. “Attention must be paid.” Embarrassed and wanting to catch my train, I reached for a loose bill to silence her. Then I noticed her outstretched fist was tightly clenched and holding

As she opened her fist to receive my donation, the items she had been gripping flew into the air and quickly scattered in all directions on a strong winter breeze. Her stunned look gave way to a piercing cry of agony. It was the sound of loss so chilling, so stirring, that I could not move.

“Noooo!” she cried, springing from the doorway to retrieve her windswept treasures. What could possibly be so valuable that she’d ignore my handout and leave it on the street? I wondered. Her desperation to retrieve these items was so clear, I couldn’t ignore her. To my astonishment, I asked if I could help. She ignored me as she scrambled on her hands and knees for what appeared to be nothing more than newspaper clippings and grimy photographs. Helpless, foolish, and getting cold, I watched in stunned silence. After collecting a substantial handful of what looked like rubbish to me, she returned to her doorway and sat down, breathing heavily but wearing a satisfied smile. If I move now, I can still catch the train, I thought. I sat down, cautiously, across from her on the doorstep. She didn’t seem to notice as she began to carefully place the retrieved

clippings—one by one—between the pages of a large, threadbare book.

“Here,” I said, handing her the dollar bill. “You dropped this.” She glanced at me, took it, and kept filing. This would have been a good time to get up and leave. Instead, a question fumbled out of my mouth. “What’s that you’re putting in the book?” No answer.

“I have nothing but time. So I pay attention. That’s an intercessor.”

She continued placing the last of the clippings and photos between its pages. It seemed a random collection of soiled news articles, death notices, and human-interest items torn haphazardly from the local weeklies and The New York Times. Standing to leave, I said, “I’m sorry, but this is none of my business. I need to get going.”

“Coffee?” she asked. “Excuse me?” “Coffee. Want some?” she continued. “The Paraiso has the strongest and the cheapest on the block. I have a buck. I’ll buy.”

Feeling both awkward and strangely generous, I said, “No, no, there’s no need for that. I’ll buy you a cup of coffee.”

“They have the best plantains too,” she said with a wry grin. “Follow me.” Three doors down we stood in front of the Paraiso bodega, its windows choked with ads for cigarettes, liquor, Mega Millions, and New York’s finest “slice.” I ordered two coffees and a small tray of fried plantains. She motioned me to a small table in the back of the store, next to the men’s room, an unplugged ATM, and a temperamental ice machine. Before I could ask if she wanted milk or sugar, she dove into the plantains.

She carefully placed the clippings back into her book, which I noticed was an old King James Bible.

Not wanting to interrupt her feast, but uncomfortable with the setting and the silence, I said, “I’m Fred. A teacher. From the Midwest.”

“Babe.” She announced her name with her mouth full, chasing down the sweet fruit with a large gulp of coffee. “An intercessor.” Another mouthful of plantain. “From Scranton.” “Babe” looked all of sixty, her face overloaded with storied lines and sores the color of old wine. Her gray eyes were tired, her hands restless, but the residue of her smile would warm anyone fortunate enough to witness it. Long, silent pause, a few more gulps of coffee.

“Babe… you’re an… intercessor? What is that?” I was not certain I’d heard her correctly. She pushed the threadbare book across the small table in my direction, never taking her hand off the cover. “Attention must be paid, Mr. Fred. Never had the time before. Now I’ve got nothing but time. So I pay attention. That’s an intercessor.”

burn marks, possibly from a cigarette, Deevy said.

In full voice I read the next one as she slid it my way. This one was a short caption below the photo of a grieving family.

Friends and family of Eddie Polec, who was beaten to death with baseball bats at age sixteen, say their recovery will not begin until after the conclusion of the trial of seven youths.

“I’m not sure I understand what you mean, Babe. Can you tell me more?”

Babe had taken out three clippings and a photo from the book and laid them flat on the table. She picked up the one closest to her, handed it to me, and said, “Read.” I began skimming the article. Babe shouted, “Out loud! Read it out loud.”

Lt. John M. Clancy went into a burning building in Queens yesterday looking for survivors. Instead he fell through a floor to his death. He was the fourth firefighter killed on the job this year. He leaves behind a wife and three children.

“Here,” she said, handing me another. “Read this

Officers arrested a Bronx couple last night on child abuse charges after finding their three small children in a feces-strewn apartment, starving, suffering from severe diaper rash and possible burns, the police said. The children—two boys, ages four and one, and a two-yearold girl—had gone for several days without diapers and were badly blistered, said Officer Tim Deevy of the 48th precinct. The youngest had

May-June 2024 // Liguorian.org

Before she could hand me the next one, I stopped her. “Babe, why are you saving these? Do you know these people?”

She took the last gulp of coffee, leaned toward me with her arms on the table, and said, “I do. I know them. I never met them, but I know them. I know the 160 killed in that American Airlines crash in December too, and I know their families. Not by name, but I know them. If I don’t get their names, I imagine them. I see them in my mind. I try to pay attention.”

Two cups of coffee later, I learned Babe had recently become homeless—again. Three weeks before our encounter she’d been living in a shelter. She assured me she’d find temporary housing again, but said spending a few nights on the street now and then was just something she’d gotten used to. She’d lost her job as a high school English teacher three years earlier. After a few stints at substitute teaching, she could find nothing permanent and soon had to give up her small studio. What savings she had were used to help her mom, who’d suffered a long bout with Alzheimer’s.

Long ago divorced, her only son had stopped all contact when he learned about her sleeping on the streets. The most striking part of her story was its complete lack of bitterness or self-pity. The clippings and photos, she explained, were a large part of how she used her time waiting for the next bed, the next meal, the next break. The one thing she could count on now was time.

“So many would envy me if they knew. I’m time rich, Mr. Fred. Time rich.” There was that smile again. Savoring the last golden plantain, she continued, “Lots of folks are worse off than I am, Mr.

Fred. I find food, I’m not starving. Most nights I have a place to sleep. I only got

2. G

3. S (Mt 26:30)

4. X (Jn 4:5–7)

5. F (Mk 11:1–11)

6. P (Mk 12:41–44)

7. L

8. I (Deut 18:1)

9. A (Gen 14:14–16)

10. M (Ex 33:18–23)

11. O (Gen 9:20)

12. Y (Lk 1:13–20)

13. Q (Ps 137:1)

14. N (Lk 22:39–54)

When there are names, I say them

So many horrible things every day. intercede. I’m an intercessor. Because

Babe stood, her Bible full of clippings tucked safely under her arm. She said she wanted to give me something for my time. “Babe, please, no. I don’t need anything. I—”

“Shh, here. Take these.” She opened her Bible in three different places, taking a clipping from each opened section. She placed them in my hand as she closed hers tightly around mine.

“Something for the train ride home.” A

Fred Hang was an educational consultant/trainer for the Great Books Foundation (greatbooks.org). He was highly dedicated to the Redemptorists’ mission to the most abandoned. This work of fiction was printed originally in the November 2010 edition of Liguorian. It won a first place award for best essay in 2010 from the Catholic Press Association. While serving Catholics in Wisconsin in 2022, Fred Hang went to his eternal rest.

15. U (1 Sam 20:20–23)

17. C (Ex 32:20)

18. T (Jn 6:1)

19. J (Lk 16:19–31)

20. K (Mt 2:1)

21. B (Prov 31:10)

22. R (Mk 15:38)

23. W (Gen 2:9)

24. V (Acts 2:1–3)

25. H (Mk 4:30–31)

Crossword answers (puzzle is on page 45)

Bible Quiz

Rate yourself on your knowledge of Scripture. Match the first column with the second. Answers are on page 43.

1. This is more desirable than riches ______

2. Gospel that has no parables ______

3. After supper, Jesus and his apostles did this ______

4. Met Jesus at Jacob’s well ______

5. Riding a colt ______

6. Gave God all the money she had ______

A. Abram

B. A capable wife

C. The golden calf

D. A good name

E. Ishmaelites

F. Jesus’ entering Jerusalem

7. Gospel with the most chapters ______ G. John

8. Had no land within Israel ______ H. The kingdom of God

9. Rescued Lot and all his possessions ______

I. The levitical priests

10. Saw God’s back ______ J. Luke

11 . Called “a man of the soil” ______ K. The mag

12 . Was speechless for about nine months ______

13 Captives wept and hung up their harps here ______

L. Matthew

M. Moses

14 Jesus was arrested here ______ N. Mount of Olives

15 . Sign from Jonathan that David was in danger ______ 0. Noah

16 . Joseph was sold to these traders ______

17 Moses burned this ______

18 Sea of Galilee ______

19. The Rich Man and Lazarus gospel ______

20. They came from the East ______

21 . This is more valuable than jewels ______

22 Event that occurred when Jesus died ______

23 . Found in the Garden of Eden ______

P. A poor widow

Q. The rivers of Babylon

R. Sanctuary veil was torn

S. Sang a hymn

T. Sea of Tiberias

U. Shooting of an arrow

V. Tongues of fire

W. The tree of life

24 . Pentecost occurrence ______ X. A woman of Samaria

25 . Jesus likened this to a mustard seed ______ Y. Zechariah

QUIZ RATINGS

“Catholic Crossword” and “Bible Quiz” are produced by Gabriel Publications. Liguori Publications is not responsible for its content. Please direct questions or comments to Gabriel Publications at info@wordgamesforcatholics.com.

ACROSS

1 Saint who gave his name to an alphabet

6 Oil units (abbr.)

10 Native Americans

14 Lariat

15 Wife of Jacob

16 Middle Eastern bread

17 Rowed

18 The yoke of Jesus (Mt 11:30)

19 Hindrance

20 Compass pt.

21 Adam was made from this

23 ______ apso

24 Easy and Main

26 Catholic singer Perry

28 “Our Father who ______ …”

29 Airily

33 Sweet dessert

36 “______ to us a child is born”

37 Born

38 Is not (slang)

39 Detection equipment

41 Official records

42 CCL + CCCI

43 ______ of the Fisherman

44 Symbol of hope

46 Keep at a distance

48 Pistol

49 Exhort

50 Caused by an earthquake

54 “I will bless those who bless you and ______…” (Gen 12:3)

57 Nav. officer

58 Mrs. McKinley

59 Precious metals, to Pedro

60 Topping in a tub

62 Patriarch respite, perhaps

64 Republic in west Africa

65 “…______ through the valley of the shadow of death” (Ps 23:4)

66 Stupefy with drink

67 Scat queen

68 The daughter of Pharaoh found a baby here

69 Angry

1 Rosary starter

2 What you do not use in unleavened bread

3 Less common

4 A finish for Canaan

5 Firefighters’ equipment

6 “______ us, O Lord…”

7 “They shall ______ their swords into plowshares…” (Isa 2:4) 8 Vegas introduction

Bashful

Conclusion

Ike’s ex

LAX postings

Narrative of heroic exploits

Speaking

Alphabet string

Cain traveled this direction from Eden

41 Bible book about the early Christians

Admirable

Capital of Kenya

St. Therese of Lisieux is a patron of this country 50 White for a pope, black for no pope 51 “Ite, ______ est ” 52 Utterly stupid person 53 Class of Indian society 54 “____ let us adore him…”

Mountain range

Trundle

Monk’s room

Possess

Chou En-______

Air (comb.)

The Lighter Side

JThe Fight

My wife and I were sitting at a table at her school reunion. She kept staring at a drunken man swigging his drink as he sat alone at a nearby table. I asked her, “Do you know him?”

“Yes,” she sighed. “He’s my old boyfriend. He took to drinking right after we split up all those years ago, and I hear he hasn’t been sober since.” “My goodness!” I said. “Who would think a person could go on celebrating that long?” And that’s when the fight started!

Happy and Healthy!

I have been happier since I followed my doctor’s advice and changed my morning coffee to orange juice. He thinks it’s the natural sugars and Vitamin C, but I think it’s the vodka!

The Perfect Shot

A woman stands over her tee shot for what seems an eternity. Looking up, looking down, measuring the distance, calculating the wind direction and speed.

Finally, her exasperated playing partner asks, “What’s taking so long? Hit the darn ball!”

The woman answers, “My husband is up there watching me from the clubhouse. I want to make this a perfect shot.”

“Forget it, dear,” says her partner. “You’ll never hit him from here.”

If you have jokes or funny stories you’d like to share, please email them for consideration to Liguorianeditor@Liguori.org, or mail them to Liguorian Editor, One Liguori Drive, Liguori, MO 63057.

“It’s

a decent place, but I wouldn’t want to live here.”

Work Harder, Not Smarter

• I found a book titled How to Solve 50% of Your Problems. I bought two!

• Today, I melted an ice cube with my mind by staring at it. It took a lot longer than I thought it would.

• Just sold my homing pigeon on eBay for the twenty-second time.

• If you think you are smarter than the previous generation, fifty years ago an owner’s manual showed you how to adjust the valves of your car. Today it warns you not to drink the contents of the battery!

• People with siblings have better survival skills. They have had physical combat, psychological warfare, and sense suspicious activity.

• When I was a kid, there were two ways to die. One from natural causes, and the other from talking back to your parents!

• My mind still thinks I’m twentyfive, but my body thinks my mind is an idiot!

Br. Raymond Pierce, CSsR, gathered the jokes for “The Lighter Side.”

BILL

THOMAS

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Redemptorist Renewal Center

Phone: 520.744.3400 ~ 866.737.5751

Email: office@desertrenewal.org

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For nearly sixty years, the Redemptorist Renewal Center has been a harmonious sanctuary of contemplative prayer, study, and practice. The Redemptorist Renewal Center is located in the foothills of the Tucson Mountains and is available for group retreats, meetings, and seminars.

Also available throughout the year are private retreats, in which the individual person directs their own retreat experience. The Center is also home to the Hesychia School of Spiritual Direction.

Third Sunday OF ADVENT

7101 W. Picture Rocks Road, Tucson, AZ 85743 USA

“…Whoever has two tunics should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise.

Fourth Sunday OF ADVENT

Though he was in the form of God, [Christ] did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. PHILIPPIANS 2:6

LUKE 3:10–11

This Sunday is traditionally referred to as Gaudete Sunday, the Sunday for rejoicing. Although our appreciation of seasonal excitement often resembles that of a child who eagerly anticipates Christmas, it is meant to be more like the anticipation of an immigrant who is eager to catch sight of the Statue of Liberty, the symbol of freedom and the possibility of a new life. Freedom and new life are the real promise of Advent, a far greater promise than a coveted gift. Today, many lives are like parched land. Poverty and war have broken them, but this Sunday promises that hearts will be healed. God is faithful. The Gospels recount the marvels God accomplished in the lives of people through Jesus. Those who are blind see, those who are lame walk (Matthew 11:5); goods are shared with the needy, all are paid fair wages (Luke 3:11–14). And when we live in this way, there will be true rejoicing.

Control is an interesting obsession. It can creep up in little and big ways, affect our moods, and impact our relationships. It’s a sad irony that an effort to maintain control to avoid hurt can prevent the possibility of any intimate love or deep relationship. Whereas the involuntary loss of control is one way to express the reality of suffering, and true love is most evident in the voluntary surrender of control. In some ways, it’s the same action, but it requires our initiative and willingness to be vulnerable. Paul’s Letter to the Philippians highlights why Christmas is so important. He reminds us how God surrendered the absolute, full control of divinity to become vulnerable and enter into our messy world as one of us. To celebrate God as Emmanuel is a radical pronouncement of God’s love for us. In this last week of Advent, as we celebrate the “already, not yet” of Christ’s total surrender for us, let us reflect on where we stand as those who vow in baptism to follow the humility of God in our lives.

Daybreaks: Daily Reflections for Advent and Christmas by Fr. Daniel P. Horan, OFM, © 2017 Liguori Publications

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Daybreaks: Daily Reflections for Advent and Christmas by Sr. Dianne Bergant, CSA, ©2013 Liguori Publications

DISCOVER ANEW the wisdom and beauty of St. Alphonsus’ classic work, Visits to the Blessed Sacrament and Our Lady, in this new translation from the original Italian.

Through daily meditations and prayers, kindle your love of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and deepen your devotion to Mary through spiritually uplifting reflections.

This updated format of the classic devotional will draw you closer to Christ and his Mother. With meditations pertinent to all seasons of life, let St. Alphonsus Liguori help you grow in relationship and love with Jesus.

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