September 2014 by St. Anthony Messenger

THE POPE’S RIGHT-HAND MAN

ST. ANTHONY SEPTEMBER 2014 • $3.95 • FRANCISCANMEDIA.ORG

Big Stone Gap Best-Seller to Big Screen Simple Ways to Share Your Faith Holiness and Humor From Pain to Purpose Praying Artist

Messenger

REFLECTION

usic gives color to the air of the moment. —Karl Lagerfeld

CONTENTS

ST. ANTHONY

❘ SEPTEMBER 2014 ❘ VOLUME 122/NUMBER 4

Messenger

COVER STORY

ON THE COVER

30 Big Stone Gap on the Big Screen

Ashley Judd, as Ave Maria Mulligan, heads up an all-star cast in the film adaptation of Big Stone Gap.

Adriana Trigiani’s best-selling novel reflects her faith. The book is now a major motion picture. By Beth Dotson Brown

Photo by Antony Platt

D E PA R T M E N T S

F E AT U R E S

14 The Pope’s Right-Hand Man

2 Dear Reader

Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga leads Pope Francis’ advisory council on Church reform. And, by the way, he has a Franciscan habit. By John Feister

3 From Our Readers 4 Followers of St. Francis Ignatius Maternowski, OFM Conv.

22 Simple Ways to Share Our Faith Evangelization is not a strong suit for many Catholics. Here are some practical steps to remedy that. By Martin Pable, OFM Cap

6 Reel Time

10 Church in the News 20 Live Well

We’re overworked and overstressed. Sister Anne Bryan Smollin shows us how laughter can boost our spirits. By Christopher Heffron

The death of their son drove this couple to establish a place of comfort for others who grieve. By Jerri Donohue

8 Channel Surfing Oprah’s Master Class

36 Why So Serious?

42 From Pain to Purpose

Calvary

Sleep and Rest

28 Editorial A Compassionate Nation

40 The Spirit of Francis

Stripping Off Worldliness

54 Ask a Franciscan Few Pro-life Homilies

56 Book Corner Almost Home

48 The Praying Artist

58 A Catholic Mom Speaks

Painter Stephen B Whatley reveals the redemptive spirit that shapes his life and art. By Erin Brierly

‘Because I Said I Would’

60 At Home on Earth Kiss the Flowers

61 Backstory

ST. ANTHONY M

DEAR READER

essenger

Jerusalem’s Via Crucis Every Friday afternoon at 3 p.m., several Friars Minor and many pilgrims assemble in the courtyard of a Muslim school in Jerusalem’s Old City to begin the Stations of the Cross. That school is built on the probable site of the Fortress Antonia, where Pontius Pilate condemned Jesus to death, and near the Dome of the Rock mosque. Across the street from the school is the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum, a graduate school founded in 1924 for Scripture study. It contains a chapel for the second station (Jesus accepts his cross). Seven other stations are commemorated along the Via Dolorosa (Sorrowful Way) until the group reaches the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where the last five stations are celebrated. In the year 400, the pilgrim Hegeria reported that she had participated in a procession in Jerusalem to commemorate Jesus’ passage to Calvary. The number of stations varied over the years until 1731 when Pope Clement XII fixed it at 14, allowing all churches to have them. Since the days of Ottoman rule, a kawas (official hired by the Christians) has accompanied the pilgrims. The friars use a portable loudspeaker for outdoor stations. Franciscans have promoted the Stations of the Cross devotion around the world. Our new column on Pope Francis and St. Francis of Assisi begins on page 40. For more on it, see this month’s “Backstory” on page 61.

Publisher/CEO Daniel Kroger, OFM Chief Operating Officer Thomas A. Shumate, CPA Editor in Chief John Feister Art Director Jeanne Kortekamp Franciscan Editor Pat McCloskey, OFM Managing Editor Susan Hines-Brigger Associate Editor Christopher Heffron Assistant Editor Daniel Imwalle Editorial Assistant Sharon Lape Advertising Fred Limke

Printing Kingery Printing Co. Effingham, IL

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ST. ANTHONY MESSENGER (ISSN #0036276X) (U.S.P.S. PUBLICATION #007956 CANADA PUBLICATION #PM40036350) Volume 122, Number 4, is published monthly for $39.00 a year by the Franciscan Friars of St. John the Baptist Province, 28 W. Liberty Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-6498. Phone (513) 241-5615. Periodicals postage paid at Cincinnati, Ohio, and additional entry offices. U.S. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: St. Anthony Messenger, P.O. Box 189, Congers, NY 109200189. CANADA RETURN ADDRESS: c/o AIM, 7289 Torbram Rd., Mississauga, ON, Canada L4T 1G8.

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2 ❘ September 2014

St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o rg

FROM OUR READERS

A Question of Direction Remembering St. Anthony Messenger and the salesman who came to the house when I was a youngster, I subscribed for myself and my four grown children. As the saying goes: “Nothing stays the same.” First, it was the June 2013 article “Sister Simone Campbell: Nun on the Bus,” surely a group pushing the Church envelope. In the “Church in the News” section of St. Anthony Messenger, you report that the Vatican bluntly rebuked the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR). Then, in the “St. Hildegard of Bingen: 12th-Century Feminist” article, you interview a former president of LCWR. I question the direction that St. Anthony Messenger is going. It doesn’t look good to me. In my opinion, you are not doing a good job separating

What’s on Your Mind? Letters that are published do not necessarily represent the views of the Franciscan friars or the editors. We do not publish slander or libel. Please include your name and postal address. Letters may be edited for clarity and space. Mail Letters, St. Anthony Messenger 28 W. Liberty St. Cincinnati, OH 45202-6498 Fax 513-241-0399

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the lambs from the goats. The Church needs unification, not diversification. Dan O’Connor Mystic, Connecticut

Absolutely Outstanding! I have two words about Alicia von Stamwitz’s article, “St. Hildegard of Bingen: 12th-Century Feminist,” in St. Anthony Messenger’s July issue: absolutely outstanding! Do I hear a hint of women in Catholic ministry? They were involved in St. Paul’s writings! What a great idea! Someone a long time ago said this: “Stronger than all the great armies is an idea whose time has come.” That time is now! Upon reading the “Church in the News” section, I have a comment regarding the blunt language voiced by Cardinal Gerhard Müller and his troubles with reforming the LCWR. Cardinal Müller: Why don’t you join Pope Francis and help him reform the Vatican? Jim Hahn Arlington Heights, Illinois

Morals at the Movies Christopher Heffron’s July article, “Hollywood and Holiness,” did achieve the goal of discussing morality (or lack thereof) in today’s pop culture. However, Mr. Heffron has missed the fact that movies with positive or religious messages for Christian audiences are making a strong comeback. Just look at the Kendrick brothers’ movies (Facing the Giants and Courageous). Also, Fireproof, Heaven Is For Real, God’s Not Dead, and Son of God are movies that had great theatrical success. I think that this is a signal that there is a large interest by today’s public in movies that demonstrate strong moral values. Barbara Lynch Euless, Texas

Stop Promoting the Gay Lifestyle I have always tried to be a good Catholic and abide by what the Bible teaches us. So I was really disappointed with St. Anthony Messenger for allowing Christopher Heffron’s article “Hollywood and Holiness” to be published, since it references Ang Lee’s 2005 film Brokeback Mountain. I have no problem with gay people as long as they keep it to themselves. The more you promote the gay lifestyle, the more they want. Now they have equated marriage between man and woman to that of man and man, and woman and woman. I believe that anything supporting gay people should be kept out of Catholic magazines. Would you not agree that there is plenty of hypocrisy within the Catholic Church? Pope Francis reacted to this topic to Brazilian reporters in 2013 by saying, “Who am I to judge?” He should have followed that up with what the Scriptures teach. Jerry R. Villa Carlsbad, New Mexico

Justified Disobedience? Your July issue makes me fear for your reputation. The “Book Corner” column featured a review of the book Why the Catholic Church Must Change, which claims the Church’s teaching on abortion, homosexuality, and women’s ordination should change. In Alicia von Stamwitz’s article, “St. Hildegard of Bingen: 12thCentury Feminist,” Sister Joan Chittister, former head of the LCWR, said that St. Hildegard’s disobedience of her bishop was justified. Is the LCWR’s defiant attitude toward the Vatican justified as well? Richard Fister Elsmere, Kentucky September 2014 ❘ 3

F O L L O W E R S O F S T. F R A N C I S

Friar-Chaplain Was ‘Quiet Hero’

ather Ignatius Maternowski was the only Catholic chaplain to die on D-Day. Last June, Provincial James McCurry, OFM Conv., praised Father Maternowski, a confrere, for exemplifying “goodness and self-sacrifice above the call of duty,” reported Catholic News Service. Father Ignatius died in Gueutteville, France, on June 6, 1944, after being shot by a German sniper. He had parachuted with the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division. After Army Captain Maternowski landed safely, he began searching for a building that could be used as a field hospital. He found one that was soon overcrowded with wounded soldiers. Wearing chaplain insignia and a Red Cross armband, he sought out a German counterpart to see if they could set up a larger field hospital to treat the wounded from both sides. Father Ignatius was shot on his return from that mission. During a commemorative ceremony in Gueutteville, Father McCurry, head of Our Lady of Angels Province (formed from the union of Immaculate Conception and St. Anthony of Padua Provinces) recalled the

Father Ignatius Maternowski, OFM Conv.

chaplain’s love for charity, as well as freedom and justice. “His quiet heroism is the stuff of legend,” said Father McCurry. Father Ignatius was only 32 at the time of his death. Born in 1912 in Holyoke, Massachusetts, he was in the first graduating class (1931) from St. Francis High School in Athol Springs, New York. He entered the Order of Friars Minor Conventual in 1932 and was ordained six years later. He ministered one year as an assistant pastor and three years as a missionary preacher. Originally buried near Utah Beach, Father Ignatius was reburied four years later in his province’s section of Mater Dolorosa Cemetery in South Hadley, Massachusetts. He was posthumously award a Purple Heart. St. Francis High School has set up a memorial to Father Ignatius. Bishop R. Richard Spencer, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, gave the invocation at a June 6 ceremony attended by President François Hollande, President Obama, and many other world leaders. The bishop celebrated Mass the next day at the American cemetery at Normandy’s Omaha Beach.

STORIES FROM OUR READERS Learn more about St. Anthony and share your story of how he helped you at AmericanCatholic.org/ Features/Anthony. PHOTO BY ASHOKA JEGROO/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Traveling with St. Anthony

4 ❘ September 2014

A few months ago, we had guests from western Canada visiting us in New York City before boarding a cruise ship for further travels. Upon arrival, while taking the subway from the airport to our house, they left their most crucial bag, containing all the travel documents, phones, and personal items, on the train. Everyone, including me, considered the bag gone. Although I was among the doubters, I started to pray to St. Anthony, repeating my prayer throughout the day. The next day, I got a call from a man whose wife got the bag from a pair of tourists who found it on the train. Among the travel documents there was my telephone number written, just in case. I was ecstatic, and I knew right away who was behind it. So I smiled and just said, “Thank you, thank you, St. Anthony.” —a reader from New York City

St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o rg

Click here for more information about this province and the Archdiocese for Military Services.

ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA

Wide Horizons Passports as we know them did not exist in Anthony of Padua’s time. If they had, his would have been fairly full. Born as Fernando in Portugal, he changed his name to Anthony when he became a Franciscan. He ministered for a short time in Morocco. When he worked in Italy, that country did not have a national government. The same is true for his work in France. Anthony was linked to Padua only in the last year of his life. Following Jesus in the spirit of Francis of Assisi stretched Anthony’s world tremendously. –P.M.

PHOTO BY FRANK JASPER, OFM

Members of the new Our Lady of Angels Province serve in parishes, schools, nursing, and many other ministries in the United States, Costa Rica, and Ontario, Canada. One friar recently served as a military chaplain, and another friar is a contract chaplain at Langley AFB in Hampton, Virginia. The Archdiocese for the Military Services (AMS) was established in 1985. Already in 1917, Cardinal Patrick Hayes of New York City was appointed as head of chaplains. This archdiocese is responsible for all US Catholic chaplains for the 1.8 million Catholics at 220 military installations of the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. Approximately 25 percent of the military is Catholic, but only eight percent of the chaplains are Catholic priests. AMS also coordinates Catholic chaplains in 153 VA medical centers. (The Conventual Friars came to the United States in the 1850s to care for Polish immigrants in Texas. Immaculate Conception Province was established in 1872 in Syracuse, New York. St. Anthony of Padua Province began in 1906.) —Pat McCloskey, OFM

tal Digi as Extr

To learn more about Franciscan saints, visit AmericanCatholic.org/Features/Saintofday.

S T. A N T H O N Y B R E A D

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Send all postal communication to: St. Anthony Bread 1615 Vine St. Cincinnati, OH 45202-6498

September 2014 ❘ 5

PHOTO BY FRANK JASPER, OFM

The National Shrine of St. Anthony is located in Cincinnati, Ohio. Consecrated in 1889, it includes a first-class relic of St. Anthony and serves as a center for daily prayer and contemplation. The Franciscan friars minister from the shrine. To help them in their work among the poor, you may send a monetary offering called St. Anthony Bread. Make checks or money orders payable to “Franciscans” and mail to the address below. Every Tuesday, a Mass is offered for benefactors and petitioners at the shrine. To seek St. Anthony’s intercession, mail your petition to the address below. Petitions are taken to the shrine each week. To post your petition online, please visit stanthony.org, where you can also request to have a candle lit or a Mass offered; or you may make a donation to the Franciscans or sign up to receive a novena booklet.

REEL TIME

W I T H S I S T E R R O S E PA C AT T E , F S P

Calvary

Cesar Chavez The Lego Movie Heaven Is for Real Moms’ Night Out Ida

6 ❘ September 2014

PHOTO FROM FOX SEARCHLIGHT

New to DVD

Brendan Gleeson and Kelly Reilly are winning critical praise for their work in the Irish drama Calvary. Father James Lavelle (Brendan Gleeson) is hearing confessions in his small parish church on Ireland’s west coast. A man begins to speak on the other side of the screen and tells of horrific abuse he suffered as a child at the hands of a priest years before. The man tells an innocent Father Lavelle that he is going to kill him on Sunday and to meet the man at the shore. Father Lavelle talks it over with his bishop (David McSavage), and they agree that the man was not making a formal confession, so it’s OK to speak about it. Father Lavelle knows who the man is and asks the bishop if he should report this threat to the police. But the bishop, strangely, tells the priest that it is entirely up to him. Father Lavelle, who was ordained after his wife’s death, must also deal with a grown daughter, Fiona (Kelly Reilly), who arrives from a rehab clinic in London, as well as his parishioners’ problems which range from domestic abuse to adultery. Lavelle must face his growing fear when his beloved dog is killed and left on his doorstep, and the church burns down. Each day brings him

inexorably closer to his personal Calvary. He tries to run away, but returns. Calvary, written and directed by John Michael McDonagh, is a profound, dark parable of innocence and trust betrayed. While screen violence is always regrettable, here it makes visible the violence against body and soul perpetrated on children whose innocence has been—and continues to be—stolen through the horrors of sexual abuse. Gleeson’s Father Lavelle is a good man and totally believable, as is the victim who cannot find peace. The main themes of the film are faith and forgiveness. Calvary is worthy of Oscars. Not yet rated, R ■ Graphic violence and sexual references.

The Giver After a global disaster, the people who are left behind are organized into sterile communities. They receive daily injections to suppress their emotions so that there is no discord—only a superficial, bland existence St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o r g

The Giver, which stars Oscar winner Jeff Bridges and Brenton Thwaites, addresses issues such as family and personal freedom.

When the Game Stands Tall Football coach Bob Ladouceur (Jim Caviezel) leads the De La Salle High School team of Concord, California, that has had an 11Fr anciscanMedia.org

CNS PHOTO/COURTESY TRISTAR PICTURES

where everyone is the same. There is no such thing as diversity, color, music, or love. Babies are artificially conceived, born, and then assigned to families until it is time for them to receive their assignments for life. There is no variety: even the weather is always the same. Jonas (Brenton Thwaites) is about 17 when he is chosen by the chief elder (Meryl Streep) to be the receiver of memory from the Giver (Jeff Bridges). He no longer has to obey the rules. He can now experience pain. Jonas discovers history from the Giver and learns that those who survived “the Ruin” generations before gave up their freedom in return for stability. He reads The Plan for Sameness and realizes that he must escape with a baby, Gabriel, whom his family had been given to nurture. The Giver is a fine cinematic interpretation of Lois Lowry’s 1993 dystopian novel from which newer books and films seem to be derived, such as The Hunger Games and Divergent. Oscar winner Meryl Streep is chilling in the film. The story, directed by Phillip Noyce, deals with complex emotions and social realities. For a Catholic Christian audience, theological themes abound, especially life, human dignity, and freedom, as well as faith, hope, and charity. The Giver is one of the most meaningful films of the year. Not yet rated, PG-13 ■ Mature themes, peril, and threatened medical execution.

season, 151-game winning streak (1992– 2003). As the team prepares to go up against a formidable opposing team, Coach Ladouceur deals with a heart attack and the growing unhappiness of his wife, Bev (Laura Dern), who says he doesn’t spend enough time with the family. The players face their own family and school challenges as they learn to navigate life. Coach Ladouceur, who started out at the school as a religious-studies teacher, works to build character by teaching and living Christian virtues rather than revving up aggression and a competitive spirit. When one of the team members is killed, the coach is a rock of support. The idea of When the Game Stands Tall, inspired by Neil Hayes’ 2003 book, is better than its well-intentioned screen interpretation. Caviezel’s Coach Ladouceur is very stoic. He doesn’t yell or badger his players. There is goodwill in the film, but little humor. Unfortunately, the coach’s quiet approach doesn’t translate as well to the screen. Not yet rated, PG ■ One act of gang-related violence, smoking, some mature themes.

Actors Michael Chiklis, left, and Jim Caviezel portray high school football coaches in the film When the Game Stands Tall.

Catholic Cl assifications A-1 A-2 A-3 L O

General patronage Adults and adolescents Adults Limited adult audience Morally offensive

■

The Catholic News Service Media Review Office gives these ratings. See usccb.org/movies.

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Find reviews by Sister Rose and others at CatholicMovieReviews.org.

September 2014 ❘ 7

CHANNEL SURFING

WITH CHRISTOPHER HEFFRON

UP CLOSE

Sundays, 10 p.m., OWN One of the most powerful moments of Oprah’s Master Class happened in the first season. The late author and poet Maya Angelou looks into the camera and says in her warm but authoritative voice, “When you learn, teach. When you get, give.” That is a timeless lesson, and this show is bursting with them. Though in its fourth season, Master Class hasn’t lost any of its emotional potency. The format is minimalistic and deeply moving: handpicked by Oprah Winfrey herself, each season offers a handful of actors, athletes, journalists, and philanthropists who are masters of their crafts. Without a moderator or the invasive Q&A format, the masters tell their stories directly into the camera in their own words—every tragedy and triumph. A recent episode featured Whoopi Goldberg, who opened up about her struggles with drug addiction and learning disabilities. Another focused on surfing legend Laird Hamilton and how he falls back on faith to combat fear. Master Class celebrates triumph over adversity, inner strength, and a belief in a higher power. Channel surfers should give this terrific series a chance because, though our school days may be long gone, in life we never really leave the classroom.

Monumental Mysteries Fridays, 9 p.m., Travel Channel Did you know that Al Capone played banjo in Alcatraz’s inmate band? Or that the Leaning Tower of Pisa was nearly destroyed by Allied forces during World War II? Travel Channel’s Monumental Mysteries, an entertaining and informative program, peers into the mysteries of some of the world’s most famous structures. The result is an often stimulating television experience. Hosted by the affable Don Wildman, the success of this series is twofold. First, it takes a journalistic approach to the structures and their historical significance. Second, it encourages viewers to slow down and consider their surroundings. Whether Wildman is examining the legacy of the Egyptian pyramids or delving into the bloodied history of our own national monuments, this series is a romp through some of history’s greatest mysteries.

Lockup

Saturdays, 9 p.m., MSNBC Not for the faint of heart, MSNBC’s Lockup is nevertheless a powerhouse documentary series about life in some of our nation’s most dangerous prisons. The field producers should be commended for putting the audience front and center as they peer into prison gang politics, seemingly endless violence, and the struggle for order and peace. Faith plays a role in this series, as inmates and the guards who monitor them often cite prayer as a source of light in an often dark world.

Oscar winner Whoopi Goldberg is one of the personalities featured in Oprah’s Master Class. 8 ❘ September 2014

St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o r g

Oprah’s Master Class

Gardens of Hope and Inspiration Thomas Kinkade’s peaceful gazebo artwork inspires a crystalline sculpture of hands clasped in prayer

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CHURCH IN THE NEWS

❘ BY DANIEL IMWALLE

Pope Francis to Visit United States in 2015

CNS PHOTO/PAUL HARING

Meeting of Families.” According to the Philadelphia Archdiocese, official confirmation of the papal visit can be expected about six months prior to the event. The archdiocese said in a statement that it is “heartened and excited” by Father Lombardi’s comments. Not only will Pope Francis’ visit to Philadelphia be a first for him, but the trip will mark his first time in the United States since he was elected pope in 2013. Initiated by St. John Paul II in 1994, the World Meeting of Families will bring together an audience from all over the world, with its focus being the strengthening of the sacred bonds of family.

Pope Francis greets Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Philadelphia, right, during his general audience at the Vatican March 26. The pope accepted the US bishops’ invitation to attend the September 22-27, 2015, World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia.

10 ❘ September 2014

ment, on July 25, Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said the pope has indicated “his willingness to participate in the World

Catholic Charities of Baltimore, the largest social service provider in Maryland, plans to provide aid to 50

CNS PHOTO/VICTOR ALEMAN, VIDA-NUEVA.COM

Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput announced on July 24 that Pope Francis has accepted the offer of the US bishops to attend the September 2015 World Meeting of Families, reported Catholic News Service (CNS). The bishops extended the invitation to the Philadelphia meeting during their annual spring assembly, held in New Orleans this past June. Speaking before his homily at the opening Mass of the Tekakwitha Conference in Fargo, North Dakota, Archbishop Chaput said, “Pope Francis has told me he is coming. The pope will be with us the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of that week.” The archbishop, who is Native American, extended the invitation to participants at the Tekakwitha conference, which brought together Native American Catholics with the goal of reinvigorating their faith. Along with the archbishop’s state-

Agency in Baltimore Responds to Immigration Crisis

A woman holds her children during a Mass in Los Angeles July 20 honoring immigrants. Tens of thousands of unaccompanied migrant children have crossed the US-Mexico border. St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o rg

N E W S B R I E F S N AT I O N A L A N D I N T E R N AT I O N A L

CNS PHOTO/TIM RUE

EWTN Global Catholic Network will open a new television studio at the Christ Cathedral in Orange, California, according to Catholic News Agency. Once known as the Crystal Cathedral, Christ Cathedral will house the new studio by the end of 2014. Kevin Vann, bishop of the

unaccompanied immigrant children from Central America, reported CNS. In the past year, the issue of unaccompanied children illegally crossing into the United States has fueled an already-fiery immigration reform debate. Speaking with the Catholic Review, the archdiocesan newspaper, Catholic Charities executive director William J. McCarthy said, “Most of the responses I’ve received are from supporters.” In fact, the first response McCarthy received was in the form of an e-mail which was supportive of the agency’s decision and included a pledge of $200 to help the cause. Maryland Gov. Martin J. O’Malley held a meeting with 50 faith leaders on July 21 to discuss Fr ancisca n Media .org

Diocese of Orange, said that the studio will enable the network to reach millions more viewers in a variety of languages. EWTN is the largest religious media network in the world, with a viewership of over 230 million television households spanning more than 140 countries. World Youth Day 2016 now has an official logo, reported L’Osservatore Romano. Designed by Monika Rybczynska, the logo reflects the location of WYD (in Krakow, Poland), as well as the youth participating in the event, and WYD’s theme: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”

CNS/COURTESY OF WYD KRAKOW 2016

On his recent album, “Hypnotic Eye,” rocker Tom Petty penned a song that deals with the Catholic Church’s sex-abuse scandal and its victims, reported the Huffington Post. The song, titled “Playing Dumb,” is a bonus track on Petty’s new album, released July 29. Speaking about the Catholic Church with Billboard magazine, Petty said, “I’m fine with whatever religion you want to have . . . [But] if I was in a club, and I found out that there had been generations of people abusing children, and then that club was covering that up, I would quit the club. And I wouldn’t give them any more money.”

Tony Palmer, a close personal friend of Pope Francis and bishop with the Evangelical Episcopal Churches, died suddenly on July 20 after a motorcycle accident in his native United Kingdom, reported Religion News Service (RNS). Palmer had recently brought a special message to an evangelical prayer meeting in Africa from Pope Francis, calling for Christian unity. Palmer met Pope Francis (then Archbishop Jorge Bergoglio) in Buenos Aires in 2008, as Palmer was seeking permission to collaborate with charismatic Catholics there. For more Catholic news, visit AmericanCatholic.org.

their state’s role in and response to the crisis. With McCarthy in attendance, there seemed to be general agreement among the leaders that the children should be connected with family members or with social service providers such as Catholic Charities. In Los Angeles, the issue received special attention during a Mass on July 20 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. The Mass, held annually, recognizes immigrants in the United States and their plight, reported CNS. Los Angeles Archbishop José Gomez presided over the Mass, along with a number of bishops and priests. Catholics from all over Southern California attended the Mass, and listened to firsthand

accounts of Central Americans who had recently crossed into the United States. “By our kindness, let us teach our neighbors how to be kinder. By our hospitality, let us teach our neighbors how to have compassion for others,” Archbishop Gomez said.

Pope Offers Prayers for Malaysian Airlines Flight Victims Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 was shot down in eastern Ukraine on July 17, claiming 298 victims. Of those who perished, 108 were en route to Melbourne to attend the International AIDS Conference, a gathering for policymakers, individuSeptember 2014 ❘ 11

Pope Welcomes Former Prisoner

Following the crash, the Vatican press office released a statement saying, “The Holy Father, Francis, has learned with dismay of the tragedy of the Malaysian Airlines aircraft downed in east Ukraine, a region

CNS PHOTO/AZHAR RAHIM, EPA

als with HIV, and those committed to ending the pandemic. Sacred Heart Sister Philomene Tiernan, on her way to Sydney, where she was on staff at a Catholic girls’ school, was also killed.

CNS PHOTO/L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO VIA REUTERS

Freed Sudanese Christian Meriam Ibrahim met with Pope Francis at the Vatican on July 24, following international outcry and a harrowing ordeal in her home country of Sudan. According to Religion News Service, Ibrahim, who had been imprisoned and sentenced to death for refusing to renounce Christianity, gave birth to her daughter Maya while behind bars. Under Sudanese law, Ibrahim is considered Muslim since her father practices Islam, despite the fact that she has practiced Christianity her whole life. Thanks to a campaign by Christian lobby group Family Research Council and a joint effort by the United States and Italy, Ibrahim was released and flown to Italy for her meeting with Pope Francis. According to Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi, the pope “thanked her for her faith and courage, and she thanked him for his prayer and solidarity.”

Children in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, hold flowers and a placard during a candlelight vigil July 18 for passengers and crew of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17. 12 ❘ September 2014

marked by high tensions. The pope raises prayers for the numerous victims of the incident and for their relatives, and renews his heartfelt appeal to all parties in the conflict to seek peace and solutions through dialogue, in order to avoid further loss of innocent human lives.”

Pope, Latin Patriarch Call for Cessation of Violence in Holy Land As violence has continued to intensify in the Holy Land, Pope Francis reached out to both Israeli President Shimon Peres and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to plead for peace. According to CNS, the pope personally contacted each leader by telephone on July 18 to share his “very serious concerns about the current situation of conflict.” Pope Francis’ calls to leaders in the Holy Land came a day after an Israeli ground invasion of the Gaza Strip. According to a Vatican communique from July 18, not only was constant prayer needed, but “those who have political responsibilities on the local and international levels [should] dedicate themselves to bring an end to all hostilities, striving to foster a truce, peace, and a reconciliation of hearts.” According to Rome Reports on July 27, referring to the conflict in the Holy Land (as well as those in Iraq and Ukraine), Pope Francis told the thousands attending the Sunday Angelus, “My dear brothers and sisters, never resort to war! Never war! I think of all the children who are robbed of their hope for a better life and a decent future.” Also calling for peace was Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal of Jerusalem. Talking with CNS, Patriarch Twal said that the Israeli military cannot avoid harming civilians when Hamas missiles are targeted. “We have hundreds and hundreds of killed people, innocent people, 80 percent innocent,” he said, including “mothers, children, students.” Patriarch Twal echoed Pope Francis’ plea for peace, “We ask you to pray for us, pray for this peace.” A St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o rg

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The Pope’s

Right-Hand Man

CNS PHOTO/MAX ROSSI, REUTERS

Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga leads Pope Francis’ advisory council on Church reform. And, by the way, he has a Franciscan habit. BY JOHN FEISTER

S We all know the pope (above). Cardinal Rodriguez (opposite) was asked by Pope Francis to lead an international council of cardinals charged to reform the Curia.

14 ❘ Sep tember 2014

OME HAVE CALLED HIM the vicepope, but Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga is quick to dismiss that. “No, no, I’m not—no, there is no vice-pope,” he tells St. Anthony Messenger good-naturedly during an interview in greater Los Angeles. “There is only one pope!” That doesn’t mean Cardinal Rodriguez is not at Pope Francis’ right hand. Soon after the pope was elected, he asked Rodriguez Maradiaga to lead a group of eight cardinal-advisors who would help the pope lead reforms in various parts of the Church, starting with the Church’s central governance, the Roman Curia. The two Latin American bishops have a long and close friendship. After all, Cardinal Rodriguez, archbishop of Tegucigalpa, Honduras, was once president of CELAM, the federation of South American bishops’ conferences. More recently, he worked closely with the future pope—then Cardinal Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, Argentina—at the Fifth Latin American Episcopal Conference in Aparecida, Brazil, in 2007. At that conference, many ideas were refined that would echo in Pope Francis’ charter exhor-

tation, “The Joy of the Gospel.” Bergoglio was head of the writing commission, notes Cardinal Rodriguez, and thus served as principal writer of the council’s historic document aligning the Church with the poor, with concern for the environment, and with missionary zeal. Rodriguez was a member of that commission. And both, obviously, were members of the conference itself. “We spent a lot of time together discussing and writing. And, of course, there are beautiful ideas [in both documents].” But, regarding “The Joy of the Gospel,” says Rodriguez of Pope Francis, “he did it by himself.” Nonetheless, he remains a constant advisor to the pope, leading the Council of Cardinals, as we’ll see below. Yet, “all of us cardinals are his counselors,” he insists. “He listens to the counsels and he provokes our interventions as well. He asks questions (and, of course, it’s a lovely way of being near to him).” The pope, no doubt, is relying on Rodriguez’s brilliance. Somehow, between all of his attention to the faithful in Honduras and now far beyond, he finds time to exercise many talents, including as a classical pianist and a smallSt A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o r g

CNS PHOTO BY PAUL HARING

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Sep tember 2014 ❘ 15

plane aviator. He taught chemistry, physics, and music at Salesian colleges for 15 years in his early career. He has a degree in clinical psychology and psychotherapy, speaks six languages, and was a dean of theology.

A Salesian Franciscan? Beyond the brilliance, though, is Cardinal Rodriguez’s commitment to the poor. His country of Honduras, where 50 percent of people live in poverty, is the second poorest in Central America, and rife with violence (a key rea-

PHOTO BY FATHER GINO CORREA, OFM

(Below) Father Jeff Scheeler, OFM (left), minister provincial of our own St. John the Baptist Province, poses with Cardinal Rodriguez, clothed in his Franciscan habit, at a gathering of Franciscan provincials, where Rodriguez spoke of “the Franciscan papacy.”

CNS PHOTO/L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO VIA REUTERS

Cardinal Rodriguez is actually at the pope’s left hand in this October 2013 photo of the new Council of Cardinal Advisors, most of whose members are Vatican outsiders, from (l to r) Italy, Chile, India, Germany, Honduras, United States, Australia, and Congo. The purplesashed bishop is secretary to the council. A ninth cardinal, the Vatican secretary of state, was added in July 2014.

son why so many Honduran children are seeking refuge in the United States). He has been a tireless supporter of justice for people in poverty, even serving, since 2007, as 16 ❘ Sep tember 2014

president of Caritas Internationalis, a global confederation of 164 Catholic organizations working on behalf of the poor, including our own Catholic Charities USA and Catholic Relief Services. “Did you know I am a Franciscan?” he asks as we walk a conference-hall corridor, looking for a spot to sit for a quick interview—he’s on the move constantly, it seems. Clearly, his love for the poor would make him Franciscan in spirit, but, even as a Salesian, he is an official affiliate member of the Order of Friars Minor. “I didn’t know that the minister general had the privilege of affiliating me, but in 2004 he wrote me,” offering him the brown robe. “I said yes!” he says with a smile. “Why?” he asks, eager to tell the story. “Because Jon Bosco [the Salesian founder] wanted to be a Franciscan, and his spiritual director didn’t let him, because he said, ‘You need to be with the young,’” Cardinal Rodriguez recounts. “But all the time he was a member of the Third Order [Franciscans]. But I am OFM. I was given my habit and everything!” Rodriguez is a member of the Franciscans because of his relationship with friars of the Immaculate Conception Province (New York City). The friars minister in Honduras, where Rodriguez has been archbishop since 1993. Cardinal Rodriguez has been in the news in recent months for his comments on the role of the international financial system in perpetuating the plight of poor people worldwide. St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o r g

His, as well as the pope’s, criticism of the world’s economy has not been without controversy. At a recent speech in Washington, DC, during a Catholic University of America conference on Catholicism and Libertarianism, Rodriguez defended the pope’s critique of unregulated capitalism, where the poor become “mere waste and rubbish.” This anti-poverty expert listed plenty of statistics as evidence, including the fact that 850 million suffer from hunger, 2 billion lack medicine, 1 billion lack clean drinking water, while a minority of us live in economic well-being. “These facts,” he says, “are the background of Pope Francis’ view on the situation of the poor in today’s asymmetric, distorted global economy. This economy kills. That is what the pope is saying.”

Working with Pope Francis Cardinal Rodriguez’s prominent role in worldwide news, though, is as head of the pope’s advisory council of nine cardinals. During the days before the papal conclave, there was much talk about reforming the Curia. “And so,” Rodriguez explains, “there were propositions saying that it would be necessary that the pope would have, like, a council of cardinals

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who do not live in the Vatican but come from different continents. That would provide another perspective, not only what was given by the official channels, but also listening to the grass roots. And this is the reason why, as soon as he became pope, he wanted to implement this idea.” It didn’t take long for the new pope to turn to his respected friend. It seems the pope had been setting up this council in his own imagination before the conclave—Bergoglio, at least among the cardinals, clearly was known to be a front-runner. “I was asked by him, ‘Listen, I am going to start this council of cardinals. Would you want to be the coordinator?’ and I said, ‘Whatever you wish, Holy Father.’ And this is the reason.” The Council of Cardinal Advisors, which includes Boston’s Cardinal Seán O’Malley, has met five times since Francis became pope, including its inaugural meeting before the papal visit to Assisi in October 2013. The wide range of topics the group is exploring includes financial reform of the Church’s governing body (the Curia), the Vatican bank, limiting careerism in the Curia, and possibly establishing a Congregation for the Laity. The council’s first major recommendations are expected in

Sep tember 2014 ❘ 17

An expert on the World Bank, Cardinal Rodriguez called the world financial system “a new idolatry” at this June forum at Bread for the World headquarters in Washington, DC. Rodriguez is president of Caritas Internationalis.

CNS PHOTO/BOB ROLLER

the coming months (future meetings are this month, December, and February).

far from the Church, those who suffer. That’s the way.”

‘Rebuild My Church’

Love One Another

Asked what he thinks will be the most important reform, Rodriguez tells St. Anthony Messenger, “The most important reform started when he was elected pope, choosing the name of Francis.” He goes on to tell a story familiar to St. Anthony Messenger readers, how St. Francis The real reformation was “given the mission to help restore the Church”; how, in the beginning, the Poverello is not changing thought it was about only the chapel of San structures, “it’s Damiano, but came to understand his mischanging the spirit sion was to restore the life of the Church everyinside the Church.” where. “Pope Francis was elected in a time where —Cardinal Oscar there was a big, I would say, sadness in the Rodriguez Maradiaga Church because the scandals, then the Vatileaks, and then the sadness of the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI,” says Rodriguez. “And so, at that moment of real depression, Our Lord, through the Holy Spirit, was given to the Church Click here to see a PBS this new pope that is full of l a t Digi as interview with and pages enthusiasm of restoring the r Ext about Cardinal Rodriguez. Church.” The real reformation is not changing structures, says the cardinal, “It’s changing the spirit inside the Church, going back to the missionary enthusiasm and especially, as our father Francis did, embracing Lady Poverty in order to go to the excluded, to those who are 18 ❘ Sep tember 2014

It’s a way, indeed, that has captured the world’s imagination. The step for Catholics everywhere, says Rodriguez, is to follow the example of the pope. “When he says, ‘I want a Church for the poor,’ it means that we cannot be just listening to that, but putting it into practice.” There are poor people everywhere, spiritual and physical, even in “this great nation,” the United States, the Honduran observes. We must not close our eyes to the poor, but, rather, engage in practical acts of service. Simple as that may seem, it is a shortcoming for most of us. “So many times people forget this,” says the cardinal. “That’s why Pope Francis is calling us to the fundament of our faith, which is the love of the neighbor.” There’s time for one more question in this short interview between appointments for this global leader. I ask him how someone even busier, his friend Pope Francis, gets through the day. “Well, he has the power of prayer,” observes Cardinal Rodriguez, an hour of prayer every morning and another every evening. “He never misses that. He’s always in symphony with Our Lord,” says this musician. “This is the secret.” A John Feister is editor in chief of this publication. He holds master’s degrees in humanities and theology from Xavier University, Cincinnati. His most recent book is Thank You, Sisters. St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o r g

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LIVE WELL

❘ BY COLLEEN MONTGOMERY AND JIM BRENNAN

Sleep and Rest

ne of my favorite things when Colleen would come home from college was to make her breakfast, though most times I’d have to wait until late morning for her to wake. Now married and in the workforce, she stayed over at our house recently and told me she’d be gone before I woke the next morning. “What time are you getting up?” I asked. “Five o’clock.” “Five o’clock? Is this the same young woman who used to sleep until noon when she lived at home?” Health experts agree that Americans aren’t getting enough sleep—an important ingredient to our wellness. Ilene M. Rosen, associate professor of clinical medicine at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, says, “We want to get people to think of sleep as important as diet and exercise.”

20 ❘ September 2014

Sleep Restful sleep restores the body and the mind, as well as strengthens our immune defenses, which allows us to better fight infection and illness. Studies have noted substantial amounts of tissue repair and muscle growth that occur while we sleep. Additionally, adequate sleep can improve our cognitive function, concentration, reaction time, and retention of new information. The optimum amount of sleep is seven to eight hours per night. Studies have linked fewer than seven hours with serious health issues including coronary artery disease, anxiety, depression, and accidents because of fatigue. Lack of sleep has also been linked to a shift of hormone levels that control appetite and cause obesity. Listen to your body! Tiredness is a healthy body’s way of telling you it needs to restore.

St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o rg

To hear Jim Brennan’s tips on organic gardening, click the button on the left.

Sleeping Pointers Stick to a sleep schedule—even on the weekends. Be mindful of what you eat and drink before you go to bed. Overeating can cause discomfort, and drinking too much before bedtime can lead to interrupted sleep. Avoid stimulants like nicotine and caffeine in the latter part of the day. Alcohol may make you feel sleepy, but it can disrupt sleep later in the night. Physical activity can help you fall asleep faster and sleep more soundly, but exercising too close to bedtime can energize you and keep you awake. A cluttered mind hinders sleep. Reducing stress by keeping organized, managing priorities, and delegating responsibilities helps quiet the mind at the end of the day. Create a bedtime ritual: read, take a hot shower, listen to soft music, pray, or meditate.

Rest Rest rejuvenates your body and mind, regulates your mood, and is linked to improved learning and memory function. Relaxation isn’t just about resting the body, but giving the mind a break as well. Make time during each day to rest.

Having Trouble Sleeping?

1 2 3

Naps should be limited to 10-30 minutes, or skip naps altogether if they interfere with nighttime sleep.

4 5

If you work the night shift, use window shades, sleep masks, or earplugs.

If you don’t fall asleep in 15 minutes, go to another room and do something relaxing. Avoid electronic devices such as smartphones, high-definition televisions, or iPads near bedtime. They emit blue light waves that tell the brain it’s time to be awake.

If you have sleep-related problems, tell your doctor or see a sleep specialist.

MAN SLEEPING © MONKEY BUSINESS/PHOTOXPRESS; SMARTPHONE © ALEKSS/FOTOLIA

Restful Tips Sit or lie in a comfortable position. Close your eyes and breathe deeply through your nose, concentrating on a prayer. Try this for five minutes—optimally 15 to 20. If your mind wanders, shift your thoughts back to your prayer. Raise your shoulders up toward your ears and hold for five seconds. Roll one shoulder at a time, five to 10 times, and then roll both together. Return to your breathing. Try this before bedtime to bring yourself to a calm state. Jim Brennan writes about health and fitness from Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Colleen Montgomery is a registered clinical exercise physiologist and certified wellness coach. They collaborate on this column.

When you lie down, you need not be afraid, when you rest, your sleep will be sweet. —Proverbs 3:24

Fr ancisca n Media .org

September 2014 ❘ 21

Simple Ways to

Share Our Faith Evangelization is not a strong suit for many Catholics. Here are some practical steps to remedy that. B Y M A R T I N PA B L E , O F M C A P

T IS NO SECRET that only one-third of baptized Catholics attend Mass on any given Sunday. I always say: if you had a business and you were losing twothirds of your customers, you would not just wring your hands in dismay. You would take action. In truth, every pope since Paul VI has urged Catholics to become more evangelizing, more willing to share the treasure of their faith with those who are searching for something to believe in and give meaning to their lives. Pope Francis keeps telling us: the Church must move out of the sanctuary and into the streets; otherwise it will become “a sick church.” The pope, and every conference of bishops in the world, have called the laity to be in the forefront of this ministry: first, because their Baptism calls them to it; and second, because they have the most direct and immediate connections with those whom Jesus called “the lost sheep” (Mt 10:6; Jn 10:16). Most Catholics feel incompetent to evangelize, however. They are not sure what it means, and they don’t know how to do it. The good news: many are willing to learn, and the skills

22 ❘ Sep tember 2014

can be taught. For years I have been teaching a four-hour course to lay Catholics in various parishes on how to evangelize.

What Is Evangelization? First, we need to understand what evangelization is not. Many Catholics have stereotypical images of “in-your-face” evangelists: “Do you know the Lord Jesus as your personal Savior?” “Are you saved?” Such invasive approaches are neither necessary nor helpful. Catholic evangelization begins with living one’s faith before talking about it. We need to be prayerful people who nourish our faith by reading Scripture and participating in the Sunday Eucharist. We are devoted to our families St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o r g

PHOTO BY BILL WITTMAN

and conscientious in our work. We treat people with dignity and respect. We share our time and resources with the less fortunate. We don’t engage in negative speech or backstabbing. We try to create a positive and peaceful attitude in our environment. This is what Pope Paul VI called “the wordless witness of your life.” Next, we need to consider the people we are trying to reach. One distinction I like to make is between the “unchurched” and the “dechurched.” The former have never (at least as adults) been part of a church community. They are atheists, agnostics, and secularists who feel no need for belief in God or in anything spiritual. The de-churched once belonged to a Fr anciscanMedia.org

church or synagogue but have dropped out. These include nonpracticing Catholics, Protestants, Jews, etc. Another distinction I find helpful is between “satisfied” and “seekers.” The satisfied are either unchurched or de-churched, and are content to be where they are; they want nothing to do with religion or Church. As such, they are not receptive to evangelization. Seekers, on the other hand, also may be either unchurched or de-churched; but they are not wholly satisfied. They have some desire, some sense of loss about being “spiritual loners.” This group is most open to being evangelized. However, they almost never make the first move to connect or reconnect with a church. But, if some-

Evangelizing to the disenfranchised has more to do with actions than words—and those words shouldn’t be invasive or in-your-face. An active faith is a lived faith.

Sep tember 2014 ❘ 23

one extends a hand to them, they will reach for it.

We Listen

We Share Our Own Story

The first step in evangelizing is not talking, but listening. All kinds of scenarios can be imagined. Someone confides a worry about health problems. A parent is upset about a son or daughter’s behavior. A spouse is troubled by tensions in the marriage. Someone is worried about rumors of downsizing in the company and possible layoffs. Someone is grieving the loss of a loved one or a broken relationship. A teen is feeling left out of the peer group. Instead of dispensing easy advice or pious clichés, we listen carefully and respond in an empathic, nonjudgmental manner. Perhaps we ask a few questions to clarify the situation, so that the person feels understood and accepted.

I always tell people that they do not need to have an abundance of biblical texts handy in order to evangelize or share their faith. If they do, so much the better. Their greatest resource, however, is their own spiritual experience. All of us, if we think about it, have had experiences when we knew we were in the presence of God; were touched, helped, encouraged, or healed by God; were brought up short or deeply comforted by hearing or reading a Scripture passage or listening to a Christian song. Often, the encouragement or help came

through a person; yet we were convinced it was really God who brought it about. That is what we share with the one who has opened up to us: “You know, I’ve been through something like that in my own life. And what helped me most was my faith in God (or Jesus).” Then we share briefly what happened. Someone taught me a simple formula for this: “Once I was . . . Then God did . . . Now I am.” At one point in my life, I was discouraged . . . or afraid . . . or worried . . . or feeling guilty . . . or going through a heavy loss . . . or feeling depressed. . . . We describe the situation as briefly and honestly as we can. Then we respond with, “God did something (often through another person/persons). I read or heard a passage from the Bible that spoke to me powerfully about God’s love and care for each of us. Someone listened to me and promised to pray for me—and I felt a new confidence. I was at Sunday Mass and we were singing this beautiful song that spoke to me personally, and I knew God was with me. I had some serious health problems and I asked friends at church to pray for me; my doctor prescribed the right medication and now I’m feeling great.” The beauty of this approach is its simplicity and noninvasiveness. We do not argue. We do not boast. We do not “talk theology.” We do not try to “solve the problem.” We simply share our experience. When finished, we give the other person a chance to respond. Perhaps this is as far as he or she is willing to go at this point, which is fine. That person has had a good experience of being listened to and

A good evangelist needn’t be a Scripture scholar. Sometimes the best way to reach out to a seeker is to share your own personal faith journey.

PHOTO © ANDY DEAN/FOTOLIA

24 ❘ Sep tember 2014

St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o r g

understood. We have given him or her something to think about.

We Invite

If the person seems open, we can move to the third step. We invite (not pressure) the other to take a next step. “What do you think of this?” we might say. “Have you ever thought of praying about your problem?” We might invite him or her to an activity at our parish, such as a lecture, a Bible study, a concert, a children’s play or program, the parish festival. We might even invite the person to Sunday Mass, especially if he or she is a nonpracticing Catholic. As part of the invitation, always promise to meet the person at the church. We can’t expect people to come to a strange place on their own. It is wise to exchange phone numbers if possible. Sometimes seekers will have questions, like “Why does the Church do or teach this or that?” If you have the answer, by all means give it. If not, promise that you will find out and will get back to them. Don’t be ashamed to say, “You know, that’s a good question. I guess I’ve never really thought about it. I’ll find out and get back to you” (another good reason to exchange phone numbers or e-mails).

Initiating Faith Conversations The method I’ve described has been called relational evangelism. It takes place in the context of natural situations where people encounter one another face-to-face, often by chance. It follows a simple, three-step process: listening, sharing your faith story, inviting. It provides an easy entrée for people who are seeking a spiritual connection. It assumes, however, that the seeker will initiate the conversation by sharing a problem or concern. Sometimes faith sharing will require a more assertive approach. I have met Catholics who do not hesitate to initiate spiritual conversations, though not in a heavyhanded way. They will say to one or several people, “We had a special program at Mass last Sunday,” then go on to describe it. Or, “Our church had an Fr anciscanMedia.org

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tal Digi as Extr

CNS PHOTO/GREGORY A. SHEMITZ, LONG ISLAND CATHOLIC

Research has found that at least one-third of de-churched Catholics would like to reconnect with the Church, but they are reluctant to make the first move.

interesting speaker the other night. . . .” “Did you read that article (or watch the TV program)?” about some spiritual topic. The purpose of these gestures is not to make converts or fill up our empty pews. It is simply to open doors, to let others know that our faith has made Click here for more on a positive difference in our evangelization. lives, and that God’s love and saving help are available to them as well. Above all, we share our faith because it is a gift entrusted to us by the Lord Jesus. It is an act of faithful stewardship.

A Treasure to Share

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

We Catholics keep hearing that we need to move beyond our reticence and our habit of keeping our faith to ourselves. We are called to be more mission-driven, more willing to risk some degree of discomfort in order to further the message of Christ. But we have not been empowered, not taught that there are ordinary, simple ways ANSWERS TO PETE AND REPEAT to share our faith. Perhaps we have not realThere is a flower on the tree. ized that many people, while The words school bus are above the not practicing any particudriver’s head. lar religion, are nevertheless A stop sign can be seen behind the bus. searching for some higher purThe road has lane markers. pose, for something to believe There are lines on the school bus roof. in. We need to be convinced The bus steps have caution tape on them. that our Catholic faith is a The front tire now has lug nuts. treasure that we are able to A windshield wiper has appeared on the share with such seekers. front window of the bus. Despite all the Church’s problems, Catholicism contin-

26 ❘ Sep tember 2014

ues to have an appeal, almost a fascination, for many people. This is true even of nonpracticing Catholics, and even with the scandals and failures of the Church in our time. While some want nothing more to do with the Church, many have just lost their connection. The faith still slumbers within them and may be reawakened. Research has found that at least one-third of de-churched Catholics would like to reconnect with the Church, but they are reluctant to make the first move. They are waiting for an invitation, or a sign that they will be welcomed. Our lay Catholic faithful, baptized into Christ, confirmed by the Holy Spirit, empowered by sharing in the Eucharist, are in a privileged position to open the doors of welcome. In the words of St. Francis of Assisi: “We have been called to heal wounds, to unite what has fallen apart, and to bring home those who have lost their way.” At the end of the Gospel of Mark, Jesus calls the disciples together before his ascension into heaven. First, he “rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart” because they had not believed those who saw him risen from the dead. Yet he solemnly commissioned them: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature” (16:14-15). What confidence the Lord Jesus had in these fragile men and women. He has not changed. He has the same confidence in us. A Martin Pable, OFM Cap, is a priest-psychologist who has been active in Capuchin ministries for many years. One of his special interests is evangelization, and he has developed a number of parish programs on this topic. St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o r g

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EDITORIAL

A Compassionate Nation A humanitarian crisis at our borders calls for humane attention. The Statue of Liberty’s pedestal has a bronze plaque inscribed with Emma Lazarus’ sonnet called “The New Colossus.” That poem praises the ideal of open immigration embodied in America’s history. The concluding lines of Lazarus’ poem read: “. . .Give me your tired, your poor,/Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,/The wretched refuse of your teeming shore./Send these, the homeless, tempesttossed to me,/I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” Far from welcoming the “poor huddled masses” and the “wretched refuse” of the world, though, our nation’s immigration laws truthfully have been selective and increasingly restrictive, dependent upon our labor needs.

Reaching Crisis Levels Today there are record numbers of children arriving in the United States unaccompanied by any parent or guardian. The numbers have been growing since 2011, but are now at a crisis point. They are expected to exceed 70,000 children by the end of 2014, according to US Customs and Border Protection, with 52,000 coming from Central America. Apprehensions of “unaccompanied alien children” (the official government term) increased by 92 percent compared to this time last year. These kids come to border entry points, not trying to evade border controls. They are seeking to escape the violence of their home countries in Central America. The United States is a compassionate nation. Most Americans seem to realize that there must be care and concern for the immediate needs of these children. What should the nation do? President Barack Obama plans to send these children back to their home countries as humanely as possible. To that end, he requested congressional approval for $3.7 28 ❘ September 2014

billion in funding. He continues to propose the following steps for immigration reform: strengthening our borders; allowing foreigners to earn citizenship by serving in the military, paying taxes, and obeying US laws; and streamlining immigration processes to speed up hearings and protect families. He also wants to crack down on employers hiring illegal aliens.

Against Our Best Instincts? Our Church leadership favors immigration reform while recalling the right and duty of the government to protect its borders. Pope Francis, in a July 14 statement, expressly asked Americans to care for the children who have crossed illegally into the United States. Yet, the pope does not claim that the United States should stop enforcing its borders. Nor does he demand the United States accept illegal immigration. Pope Francis seeks “urgent intervention” and calls on the international community to press countries to reform their social situations, by assisting them, so parents will not expose their children to the dangers of traveling north to Unaccompanied Central the United States. American Minors There is a humanitarian Apprehended at Border, 2014 issue at stake here. Something must be done; otherwise, this nation will be Hondurans Salvadorans going against its best 38% 30% instincts. How can ordinary citizens help? First, we can support Guatemalans the many religious and secu32% lar organizations trying to provide humanitarian relief SOURCE: US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION to the children already here. Second, we can encourage just immigration reform by urging our representatives to break the congressional gridlock on this issue. We need to protect the rights and the dignity of every human being—not make political points out of this crisis. After all, we are a nation of immigrants. —Daniel Kroger, OFM St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o rg

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The Life and Times of Margery Kempe Elizabeth MacDonald

Globally recognized as an ecumenical teacher, Richard Rohr started out—and remains—a Franciscan friar. The loving, inclusive life and preaching of Francis of Assisi make him a recognizable and beloved saint across many faith traditions. He was, as Rohr notes, “a master of ‘making room for it’ and letting go of that which was tired or empty.” Francis found an “alternative way” to follow Jesus, one that disregarded power and privilege and held fast to the narrow path of the Gospel. Rohr helps us look beyond the birdbath image of the saint to remind us of the long tradition founded on his revolutionary, radical, and life-changing embrace of the teachings of Jesus.

It was perhaps England’s darkest hour. The roots of the Protestant Reformation were in place. It was a time when unauthorized preaching was against the law, and there was a death penalty in place to stop heresy; even Catholic priests were being burned alive. Margery Kempe was born into this world. She dared to follow her truth, and the calling she knew came from Jesus Christ himself. But she paid mightily for it, and she was repeatedly arrested, put on trial, even threatened with death. Kempe’s only lifeline was her wit, determination, and a few influential friends who believed in her cause. You will be riveted by this tale of a woman who is credited with dictating the first autobiography in English, The Book of Margery Kempe. It is an account of a rare and courageous woman, a saint of the Anglican church, who dared to stand up for what she believed in.

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28 W. Liberty Sreet, Cincinnati, OH 45202 1-800-488-0488

Big Stone Gap ON THE

Big Screen Adriana Trigiani’s best-selling novel reflects her faith. The book is now a major motion picture. BY BETH DOTSON BROWN

30 ❘ Sep tember 2014

PECTATORS GATHER on a small side street next to the two-story, aluminum-sided house on Wyandotte Avenue in Big Stone Gap, Virginia. Whispering threads through the crowd. They’re impressed that author Adriana Trigiani came home to make the feature film of her first novel, Big Stone Gap. The film is currently in postproduction. Camera crews prepare to shoot, an artisan works on adhering a sign to a Jeep door, the makeup artist waits until it’s time to touch up the star. Then everyone hushes as they hear: St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o r g

PHOTOS BY ANTONY PLATT

“Picture up . . . quiet . . . roll sound . . . action.” Actress Ashley Judd, as the story’s protagonist, Ave Maria Mulligan, walks out of the house barefoot, a letter in hand. She pauses to look at it, then gazes into the distance. She gets into a car and drives down a street, without saying a word. “Cut.” The cast and crew reset to shoot it again. It’s scene four of 18 scheduled for one day’s filming. Amid it all is Trigiani, the writer and director whose passion for the project is contagious. Trigiani extends her big, Italian welcome with an enthusiastic smile and a touch of Southern honey. Her Catholic faith drives everything she does, including the way she Fr anciscanMedia.org

cares for people on the set and in the town. “Faith for me is the struggle—the inherent struggle of will—the battle between the lure of the things of this world, and the more important spiritual values that feed our souls and the mission of taking care of one another in ways that truly matter,” Trigiani says. The movie project is closely connected with Trigiani’s belief in “taking care of one another.”

The cast of Big Stone Gap includes (from left) Whoopi Goldberg, John Benjamin Hickey, Jenna Elfman, and Ashley Judd. The story follows the life of Ave Maria Mulligan (Judd) in Big Stone Gap, Virginia.

A Story Is Born Trigiani is a multitalented artist who grew up in Big Stone Gap, attended St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana, then moved to New York City to find her place in the entertainment world. She performed as a stand-up comedian Sep tember 2014 ❘ 31

tal Digi as Extr

and wrote for television and film. In 1985, she conceived a story about Ave Maria Mulligan and her life in Big Stone Gap. Trigiani later turned that idea into a screenplay. Her agent then encouraged her Click here for more about the movie. to write it as a novel. That Click the button above for an audio novel would be followed interview with author Adriana Trigiani. by a dozen more, generating a worldwide fan base. “I was lucky to have the work in books because that very intense focus on story and characters only

Times change. Needs don’t.

made me look at the Big Stone Gap screenplay with a sharper sense of how to make the film,” she says. As she wrote, Trigiani put everything into place to make the feature film in her hometown. Making a film requires a great script, director, actors, producers, artisans, and money. Those pieces didn’t easily fall into place; Trigiani needed persistence, which comes naturally to her.

Some Friendly Help Trigiani’s childhood friend Jane Higgins moved with her through some of that preproduction process. Higgins describes the Big Stone Gap where they grew up as a safe, family place. When she read Trigiani’s first novel, she recognized fictionalized versions of places (like the Mutual Pharmacy where they went every day after school for sodas) and events from their childhood, like when Elizabeth Taylor came to town. Higgins has worked in community development for 17 years in eastern Kentucky, so she understands the economic difficulties people face in the region. She saw her hometown change after a large coal company left.

Where Is Big Stone Gap?

GLENMARY GLENMAR RY HOME HOM MISSIONERS Priests, brothers brothers and lay laay coworkers coworkers est establishing ablishing the Catholic Chur Church ch in the U U.S. .S. missions. Your Y our o generosity ttoday oday will help our ministry ministrry tomorrow. tomorrow. www.glenmary.org/75years www .glenmar y.org/75years P.O. P .O. Box 465618, Cincinnati, OH 45246 s 800.935.0975

32 ❘ Sep tember 2014

Big Stone Gap is situated picturesquely amid mountains and the Powell River in Wise County, located in far southwestern Virginia, just over the Kentucky border. Residents can drive to Louisville, Kentucky, in less time than it would take them to reach the Virginia coast. According to the US Census Bureau, the median income in Wise County is $35,120, compared to $63,636 for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Twenty-four percent of the county’s population lives below the poverty line. Town manager Patrick Murphy also remembers the Big Stone Gap of the 1970s and says the town is still a great place to live and raise kids. With the movie as a catalyst, he says, “I think we’re on the verge of something very special happening in Big Stone Gap.” Murphy sees that “something” as an increase in tourism that could boost the economy. “We’re trying to capture the essence of the film and preserve St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o r g

some of the places, like the booths in Carmine’s. People want to go in and sit in the one where Ave Maria sat,” Murphy says. That’s why they’ve used $250,000 in grants to turn an old gas station—turned into a local restaurant called Carmine’s during the filming— into a visitors’ center. They might also provide tours that include some of the filming sites. “The whole town embraced the movie being here,” says Murphy. “She [Trigiani] wants her hometown to benefit from it.” During the filming, more than 100 people associated with the production stayed either in town or nearby, and patronized its businesses. Higgins wants to see the benefits continue. “Adri just kept on and on and on. I know how hard she worked to get it there,” Higgins says. “Big Stone Gap owes it to Adri to capitalize on this, and they owe it to themselves.”

are sparked to bring their storytelling to the table—to tell their stories of the mountains and the people that come from there. “So far, it seems that our little movie has given the town a boost; and while it wasn’t perfect, we tried very hard to make it a positive experience for everyone.” Trigiani’s friend Nancy Bolmeier Fisher went to Big Stone Gap as Trigiani was beginning

Bringing the Film Home

Fr anciscanMedia.org

PHOTO BY ANTONY PLATT

For Trigiani, her hometown was the only possible place to film. “I wanted to go home in every way—as an artist, filmmaker, product of the Wise County Public Schools, as a friend and daughter,” Trigiani says. Her mom and her “honorary” families are there. Friends took roles as extras. Other community members made food for the crew, played instruments, donated vehicles and props. The production relied heavily on their input and support. Trigiani cites her mother, a former librarian, for showing her “that being a writer is one of the highest callings.” She says that her mother’s devotion to making their home beautiful, as well as how her parents cared about design, architecture, and history, sparked something artistic in her as a child. “As I dig deeper as a writer, I wanted to be present in the place where my imagination was born—to revisit, but also to renew,” Trigiani says. “As I go on in life, I see that places, backdrops, are sometimes more than that. They are, in specificity, where the characters were created, and I wanted to celebrate that. I can’t tell you what a thrill it was to see the scenes come to life, and they were in life, as they had lived on the pages of the novel.” Going back to Big Stone Gap to film, though, was about even more. Trigiani says, “I hope the movie brings more movie business to southwest Virginia, and I also hope that the students

(Above) Whoopi Goldberg portrays Fleeta Mullins, one of the many colorful characters viewers will encounter in the movie. (Left) Glenmary Father John Rausch, seen here with Adriana Trigiani, appears in the movie as— what else?—a priest. For more on his experience on set, click here.

PHOTO BY BETH DOTSON BROWN

the shoot. The two met in New York City in the 1980s. One of the things that bonded them through the years is their Catholic faith, which Bolmeier Fisher says is at the center of both of their lives. “The whole time I’ve known her she’s talked so affectionately about Big Stone Gap,” Bolmeier Fisher says. When Bolmeier Fisher saw the reception the community gave Trigiani, she realized the feeling was mutual. She says of the film, “It’s just sort of a love story between her and the community.” Sep tember 2014 ❘ 33

PHOTOS BY EDDIE KILBOURNE

Trigiani and her friend Nancy Bolmeier Fisher (back right) work with fellow author David Baldacci (front left) on The Origin Project, a writing project for students in Big Stone Gap.

A Labor of Love

“Some of my favorite moments in school came through guest artists,” says Trigiani, pictured here with Nancy Bolmeier Fisher.

34 ❘ Sep tember 2014

Bolmeier Fisher is helping Trigiani direct that love into The Origin Project, a writing project that began with Big Stone Gap ninth graders in the spring. “Some of my favorite moments in school came through guest artists who came through, and I’m trying to keep that energy going for our kids,” Trigiani says. For the launch, Trigiani and author David Baldacci, also a Virginian, spoke with the ninth graders. The students then wrote personal narrative pieces, and local retired teachers volunteered to give them positive feedback on the work. “It’s an attempt to get those kids to tell stories of the culture of this place, which really is something,” Bolmeier Fisher says. The project also can help students discover what Trigiani has learned. “We are all born with imaginations, but is it engaged and nurtured and respected as important in life? Is the imagination framed as integral to being a human being with a sense of his or her own spirit? So many parents want their children to grow up and make money, but when the imagination is engaged, you can make anything.” While Trigiani’s parents were instrumental in sparking that imagination, it was the Glenmary Home Missioners, her early teachers in the faith, who strongly influenced her ideas of living her Catholicism. (This year, Glenmary is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its founding.) Trigiani says her faith calls her to “go where there is a need, that you challenge your com-

fort zones, that you relate to one another in a way that is supportive and lifts up the spirit, because, really, that’s what is divine in us. “And while it may seem that there are more important pursuits, anyone who is in the business of lifting spirits should stay focused on that. “Faith is ultimately what every story is about,” she says. “I mean, really and truly, faith drove Big Stone Gap because it’s about a woman who has to own her own life. She has to have faith in the person she is so she might find her place in this world, and therefore take that giant risk to love someone.” Trigiani can even see God in the difficulties in getting her film made in Big Stone Gap. “I believe in God and I also believe in the power of faith to transform any life, any situation or any crisis, because it means that we take the best of who we are and look into the eyes of another and work it out. The working it out—that, too, is divine,” she says. So she approached the hard work with love and the knowledge that her home made her who she is. She also approached it as a divine calling. “The imagination is the creative center of the soul. I believe all art is divinely inspired. It would have to be. There would be no other explanation for the awesome mystery of creativity,” says Trigiani. “I mean, once there was nothing and now there is something—a song, a poem, a novel, or a painting. There is either creativity or destruction. To create is to connect to God.” A Beth Dotson Brown is a freelance writer from Lancaster, Kentucky. She is the associate director of communications and collaboration for Promise Neighborhoods of Berea College. St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o r g

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tal Digi as t Ex r

Big Stone Gap on the Big Screen

❘ BY BETH DOTSON BROWN

Big Stone Gap, the Film Writer Adriana Trigiani finds that, whether writing for the screen or the printed page, God is there, even in the story of Big Stone Gap. “I take my writing work seriously—it’s sacred, it’s coming from the divine. I am only a conduit and that includes the hilarity, the laughs, the foibles that may be the most godlike stuff, because we are created in God’s image so there must be a lot of laughs in heaven.” In keeping with Trigiani’s good humor, there are laughs in the movie. Actors Whoopi Goldberg and Jenna Elfman, both known for their comedy work, are among a cast that includes Virginian Patrick Wilson, John Benjamin Hickey, Ashley Judd, Judith Ivey, and Jane Krakowski. The story focuses on the town’s unmarried pharmacist, Ave Maria Mulligan, who makes a life-changing discovery about her family history. That discovery alters the way the people she grew up with see her, as well as how she sees herself. As Ave Maria struggles to figure out who she is and where she belongs, the town and its eccentric characters welcome Elizabeth Taylor for a disastrous, yet hilarious, visit. Amid the comedy of the town, Ave Maria also

PHOTO BY ANTONY PLATT

tries to make sense of two possible romances in her life.

Ashley Judd told the Los Angeles Times that her work on Big Stone Gap “brought me back to that unfiltered joy of the creative process.”

35A ❘ Sep tember 2014

St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o r g

tal Digi as t Ex r

Big Stone Gap on the Big Screen

❘ BY BETH DOTSON BROWN

A Glenmarian Goes “Big Hollywood” Three hours across the mountains from his

justice issue,” he says, referring to the eco-

humble abode in Stanton, Kentucky, Glenmary

nomic challenges of the Wise County, Virginia

Father John Rausch became a film actor for a

town. Like many mountain towns, after coal

day. He had his own starred dressing room and

mining diminished, other businesses didn’t

makeup artist that made him feel like he was

flood the region to replace the lost jobs. “Real

“Big Hollywood.” Rausch, who served the

economic development is going to have to

Glenmary parish in Norton, Virginia during his

bubble up from what’s already there,” Rausch

first ministry assignment in 1973 and 1974,

says.

was the parish priest of the Trigiani family.

Rausch was impressed with Trigiani’s perse-

Through the years, he’s kept in touch Trigiani

verance that made filming in Big Stone Gap

daughter Adriana. That made him her choice

possible. He lauds her willingness to take less

to play the role of a priest in the film.

of a profit so she could return to the place

Although the film production atmosphere

where the story was born. “She returned to

contrasted to his daily routine, it did connect

give thanks to this area where she comes

with his longtime work as a social justice advo-

from,” he says. “I want to affirm that.”

cate. “To me, filming in Big Stone Gap was a

It wasn’t only Trigiani with whom Father Rausch found a spiritual and justice connection. He talked with actress Whoopi Goldberg about Pope Francis and the needs of children in the United States. He listened to actress Ashley Judd share her passion for social justice that she puts into action by supporting women who are victims of sexual slavery. While the off-camera conversations came easily for Rausch, so did the onscreen work. His role was as a Catholic priest saying a prayer at the bedside of the dying Ave Maria Mulligan, played by Judd. He wanted to represent the priesthood well. “I felt very good doing that

PHOTO BY BETH DOTSON BROWN

scene. When I was praying the Our Father, I was sincerely praying,” he says, noting that he was even able to remember and use the Latin version. Although he’s back in his Kentucky hills, not those of Hollywood, he’s still telling stories of

Father John Rausch is more than a movie consultant.

his big screen debut and of his friend Adri’s

The Glenmary priest is a longtime social-justice

dedication to a place that helped make her

advocate and former parish priest of the Trigiani’s.

who she is.

Fr anciscanMedia.org

Sep tember 2014 ❘ 35B

Why So Serious? We’re overworked and overstressed. Sister Anne Bryan Smollin shows us how laughter can boost our spirits. BY CHRISTOPHER HEFFRON

F ANYBODY HAS THE RIGHT to be joyless, it’s Job. Consider this: in the breadth of 42 chapters, he is tested by God to the brink of mental and physical collapse. He’s robbed of his wealth, his family, his health, and any semblance of mental calm. The entire book is an exercise in drama and trauma. But even in the face of terrible loss, Job holds fast to his joy: “Once more will he fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with rejoicing” (8:21). Talk about resolve. We may not face trials as extreme as this Old Testament figure, but 21st-century living can be a drag. A brief scan of an online news site yields these depressing headlines: “FBI Seeking More Victims of Serial Child Molester,” “11Year-Old with Autism Kept inside Dog Cage,” “Iraq Insurgency Has New Rising Star.” Life isn’t easy.

36 ❘ Sep tember 2014

The stresses in our personal lives are not the stuff of national news, but they can still weigh down our spirits. How can we find calm in the chaos? Serenity in the stress? Anne Bryan Smollin, CSJ, has devoted her life to finding answers to those questions. She is an international speaker on wellness and spirituality, and the author of Tickle Your Soul: Live Well, Love Much, Laugh Often and God Knows You’re Stressed: Simple Ways to Restore Your Balance, both from Sorin Books. She also has a doctorate in counseling psychology from Walden University. But beyond her impressive credentials, Sister Anne is disarmingly funny. When she sat down with St. Anthony Messenger at our booth in Anaheim, California, during the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress in 2013, her wit and wisdom drew a crowd. By the end of our interview, 15 St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o r g

PHOTO COURTESY SR. ANNE BRYAN SMOLLIN/LA RELIGIOUS ED CONGRESS

passersby stood captivated. The many people to whom she spoke a day earlier at the Congress were in stitches. Sister Anne is funny, yes, but her message is no joke.

Good and Bad Stress According to a recent survey by the American Psychological Association, 72 percent say their stress levels have increased in the last five years. The top sources of stress include money, work, the economy, family responsibilities, relationships, and personal health. We can be a high-stress culture. So how do we cope? “Some stress is good for us—like deadlines,” Sister Anne says. “It's the distress that we really have to deal with. Because if we don’t deal with it, it deals with us. And then you open up your body to diverticulitis, colitis, migraine headaches, heart attacks, cancer.” Sister Anne suggests we become more in tune with our bodies and our behavior. Under stress, some people eat more—others not at all. We tend to drive faster, sleep less, and lash out at friends and family. But life is about choices, Sister Anne says. And sometimes our choices increase those stresses. “Look at the behaviors in your life. And then ask, ‘What are the things that feed my heart and soul?’ We need to get in touch with our choices. So then we are being responsible for ourselves and taking care of ourselves. It doesn’t mean all the stress won’t be there, but it’s a different way of handling it. And then what happens is we keep that sense of balance in our lives. We find the joy and the happiness. We trip over it!” Fr anciscanMedia.org

Sometimes, though, stress and anxiety find us regardless of our choices. Difficult coworkers, cantankerous neighbors, intolerable relatives—all of whom can be tough to avoid—can wreak havoc on our spirits. Sister Anne calls these people “crazymakers,” and says they should be handled with caution. “We have research right now that says if you hang around enough negative people, you’re going to be physically ill,” she says. “What we don’t want are these crazymakers to decide for us how we’re going to act, how we’re going to think, where we’re going to spend our time. And we don’t have to let them in our minds. We don’t have to rent out that space in our minds to people.” Self-protection is crucial, Sister Anne asserts. “Create barriers so that we don’t let certain people in our own space. Difficult people can do damage. They’re toxic. It’s not healthy. We’re not going to erase all the negative people. All we can do is choose how we will interact with them and how we respond to them.”

Anne Bryan Smolin, CSJ, is a counselor and a bit of a comedian, too. For years this popular author and lecturer has told people to lighten up and laugh off the little things. Two of her popular titles on the topics of silliness and stress are pictured above.

Holy Laughter

■ Family

A significant part of Sister Anne’s ministry involves the healing power of laughter, and there’s a good bit of scholarship behind it. According to the Mayo Clinic, laughter has been shown to fill our bodies with oxygen-rich air, ease tension in our muscles, and boost our immune systems. A good laugh can also give our souls a lift, but first we have to lighten up. “We take ourselves too seriously, and that’s the opposite of what the Gospel message is,” Sister Anne says. “We walk around like the

top sources of

Stress ■ Money ■ Work ■ The economy

responsibilities

■ Relationships ■ Personal

health

Sep tember 2014 ❘ 37

Laughter relieves tension, oxygenates the blood, and helps us cope with everyday stresses. But a good laugh can also lifts our spirits. “It’s medicine for the soul,” Sister Anne says. “It keeps us balanced. It keeps us healthy.”

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whole world is on our shoulders. Even at church, people don’t look happy. We don’t look at each other. We’re not connected with each other. And yet that’s what it’s all about.” The Bible is filled with references to joy. Ecclesiastes tells us there is a time to laugh. The Book of Proverbs maintains that a “glad heart lights up the face.” In the Psalms we’re told that it’s pleasing to God when we “shout for joy.” Jesus himself was a source of positivity. “I challenge all of us to go through the New Testament,” she explains. “Tell me you wouldn’t want to hang around Jesus. It was a time filled with good, healthy, positive energy.” Joy is portable, and Sister Anne never leaves home without it. She recalls a story of a recent flight when her plane was grounded on the tarmac for Click here for more on almost three hours. ConnectSister Anne Bryan Smollin ing flights would be missed. and her ministry of The agitation and exhaustion humor. among travelers were palpable. But she refused to buy in to the negative—an easy pitfall for many of us. Sister Anne and a married couple seated next to her ended up entertaining the whole plane. Tensions gradually eased. Joy won. “You can take a bad situation, and you can

38 ❘ Sep tember 2014

find a way to deal with it. God puts humor in our lives. There’s energy that comes from it. It connects people,” she says. Sister Anne’s blueprint for a balanced life is effective—and relatively painless. She eats properly (despite the occasional lapse, she admits), and she gets enough sleep. Exercise is important, as is prayer. But it’s also about attitude. We choose how we behave. We are the creators of the energies we put out into the world. “We choose our attitude,” she says. “If you choose to be negative, that’s not healthy for you or anybody else. It drags you down. What we look for we find. Our minds are powerful things. So you’ll look for negative people. You’ll look for negative situations. That’s what you’re going to find.”

Joy Is Contagious It teeters on cliché anymore, but an attitude of gratitude is essential for a healthy life. Sister Anne recommends a simple exercise each night before we lay head to pillow. “Before you go to bed at night—and you have to do this every night for the rest of your life, by the way—sit on the side of your bed and think of five things that you’re grateful for that happened during the day. Go to bed. Next St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o r g

night, do the same thing. By the third night, you’re sleeping better. After that, you start waking up more positive,” she says. What that does is condition our minds to seek out joy. Our awareness changes. Over time, our attitudes lighten. We can become more joyful people. “When we’re grateful, we open up our hearts, and our attitudes are much more positive,” she says. “We have to make conscious choices to surround ourselves with positive attitudes—to be people of gratitude. Those are choices. And if you make healthier choices, what we’re doing is really and truly living out the joyful Gospel message.” Sister Anne also stresses that we’ve lost focus on the here and now—where life happens. Many of us are either locked in the past or too focused on the future. “People don’t know how to live the moment,” she says. “We’re living yesterday. ‘Why did I say that?’ ‘If only I didn’t.’ ‘Maybe I should have.’ But we can’t change yesterday. We don’t have a lot of power with tomorrow either. We can hope for it, but there’s not one of us who are truly assured of it. All we have is now. And when we slow ourselves down to the now, we grab that energy.” Even though the now can be difficult, God puts moments of joy in our lives each day. We just have to pull our blinders off and look for them. “I think there are little things that God puts in our day that help us see that we can have a sense of humor. Little surprises,” she says. Joy can also start with us, too. It can begin with something as effortless as a smile. “A smile—that’s the beginning of laughter,” she says. “The benefit of smiling is that it lights up the frontal part of our brains, and that’s connected to memory. I always tell people if you walk into a room and forget why you’re there, stand still and smile. You’re going to remember because your brain is going to light up.” Sister Anne says joy and laughter pay dividends. “It’s medicine for the soul and it’s contagious,” she says. “It benefits everybody, not only the person that you’re with, but you get the benefit, too. It’s the way we open up our spiritual worlds to each other—simply with that gift of laughter.” A

Sister Anne’s Quick Tips for a Joy-Filled Life Staying positive and joyful are achievable goals, says Anne Bryan Smollin, CSJ. Here she offers four easy guidelines to consider.

1 2 3 4

Surround yourself with positive people. Negative thinking clogs the brain. Don’t hang around negativity. A smile is the way we send a blessing to each other. If you smile at someone, even a stranger, he or she is going to smile back. Look at people. We don’t keep eye contact anymore. What we do is we turn around and stare at the floor or the piece of paper in our hand or a smartphone. Learn to laugh at yourself. Recognize that when you trip, it’s not the end of the world. Sometimes we give up so much energy that we don’t see how we might be able to keep that joy and laughter.

A glad heart lights up the face. —Proverbs 15:13

Christopher Heffron is the associate editor of this publication, a columnist, and the manager of its digital edition. He holds a BA in English and communication arts from Mount St. Joseph University. Fr anciscanMedia.org

THE SPIRIT OF FRANCIS

❘ BY FATHER PAT McCLOSKEY, OFM

Stripping Off Worldliness

CNS PHOTO/L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO

Newly elected Pope Francis returned to the residence where he stayed before becoming pontiff and insisted on paying the bill, despite now effectively being in charge of the business, the Vatican said.

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kills the soul! It kills the person! Kills the Church! “It is God’s strength that supported Francis’ renunciation,” said the pope. It was a renunciation of the spirit of the world, “the cancer of society and the enemy of Christ.” (The pope’s homily outside the Basilica of St. Francis and his other talks in Assisi that day are available through the “pastoral visit” section at vatican.va.) A Pat McCloskey, OFM, is Franciscan editor of this publication. His newest book, Peace and Good, will be published by Franciscan Media in November.

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Click here for video clips of Pope Francis’ visit to Assisi.

Francis Returns Even His Clothes Francis used his father’s money to repair San Damiano, a dilapidated church outside Assisi. Pietro sought justice from the bishop. Francis said, “From now on I can freely say ‘Our Father who art in heaven,’ not ‘father Pietro Bernardone,’ to whom behold, I give up not only the money, but all my clothes too” (2 Celano 12).

St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o rg

ILLUSTRATION BY JULIE LONNEMAN

n March 13, 2013, Pope Francis caught the world’s attention by choosing St. Francis of Assisi as his patron. He quickly showed what that means for him: riding the bus with the cardinals back to the Domus Sanctae Marthae (where he has chosen to live) and paying his own bill at the hotel where he stayed before the conclave. A few months later, he carried a small bag onto the plane for his trip to World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro. On October 4, the pope visited Assisi and, in effect, explained how St. Francis inspires him. Among his audience were the eight cardinals who had completed the first of several meetings to advise him about the reform of the Roman Curia and the governance of the worldwide Church. At the bishop’s residence, in the room where Francis stripped himself of the clothes provided by his father, Pope Francis told a group of poor people assisted by Caritas: “The Christian cannot coexist with the spirit of the world, with the worldliness that leads us to vanity, to arrogance, to pride. And this is an idol; it is not God. It is an idol! And idolatry is the gravest of sins!” Pope Francis continued: “And we all must strip ourselves of this worldliness: the spirit opposing the spirit of the Beatitudes, the spirit opposing the spirit of Jesus. Worldliness hurts us. . . . Spiritual worldliness kills! It

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PHOTO COURTESY OF THE TRIPODI FAMILY

From Pain

The death of their son drove this couple to establish a place of comfort for others who grieve.

PHOTOS BY WILLIAM RIETER

BY JERRI DONOHUE

HRISTI TRIPODI was heading down the driveway of Cornerstone of Hope, a bereavement center in Independence, Ohio, when she noticed an elderly man stumbling toward the parking lot, tears streaming down his face. Christi climbed out of her vehicle and approached the stranger saying, “You just look like you need a hug.” “I hugged him, and he sobbed in my arms,” Christi recalls. When he regained his composure, the man confided that his wife had died three months before. Without her, the widower said he had no reason to live. Christi understood the man’s despair, and she drew on her own heartache when she answered him.

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St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o r g

Purpose

“I know that you feel that way, but God still needs you here,” Christi replied. “He needs you! You cannot give up.” Christi and her husband, Mark, believe that recovering a sense of purpose helps the grieving to heal. Their own lives bear witness to this. They founded Cornerstone of Hope.

Nor did the kindergartner receive much support as she mourned. Taylor had a 15-minute visit with the school counselor, who then lent the child booklets

An Unimaginable Loss The Tripodis met when both were students at Ohio State University. Mark immediately was drawn to Christi’s smile. For her part, Christi thought Mark resembled a younger, slimmer version of the actor Sylvester Stallone. “What attracted me the most was probably his sense of humor,” Christi says. “He could turn any day of mine that was difficult. He can still turn any day that is tough and make me laugh.” The two wed when Mark completed a degree in engineering. Before long, the Tripodis seemed to be living the American dream. Mark had a rewarding job, and the couple settled into a lovely home. Their family grew to include daughters Taylor and Francesca, and a son, Bobby. Not only were the Tripodis happy with their life, they were aware of their blessings. Then, on Mother’s Day 2000, the couple rushed 3-year-old Bobby to the emergency room when he spiked a fever. The next day, their precious little boy succumbed to bacterial meningitis. The lively preschooler’s sudden, unexpected death plunged his parents into a bottomless pit of grief. “We really wanted to die. We were on our knees. The pain was so bad. And having to think about dealing with it another day, and wake up in the morning, . . . who wants to?” recalls Christi. Well-meaning individuals urged the couple to pull themselves together for their two surviving children. “But I couldn’t even get out of bed,” Christi says. “For months, I would say, I was out of it.” She credits her mother and sister for helping care for 5-year-old Taylor and toddler Francesca during the dark months after Bobby died. Still, Taylor was late for school 21 days. Fr anciscanMedia.org

about grief that were 20 years old. Christi bristles at the memory of that incident. “Our daughter had lost her best friend and was returning home to parents who were a wreck,” Christi says.

In Search of Comfort Right after Bobby died, Mark and Christi sought individual counseling. Ten weeks later, they switched to a monthly support group. Month after month, new participants would relate the story of their loss to the previous members, who then felt obliged to share their own tragedy. The Tripodis found comfort in being with others who empathized with their suffering, but they eventually realized grief is an ongoing process—a slow journey. Simply repeating the details of Bobby’s death did not move them forward. The support group, which was not professionally led, was not enough to help them heal. “There was no structure to offer hope. No tools to give you hope,” Mark remembers. The infrequent meetings posed a problem, too. Christi pleaded for relief during the long weeks between sessions. She yearned for a

(Opposite page) In 2000, Christi and Mark Tripodi suffered the unimaginable loss of their 3-year-old son Bobby. (Above) A statue outside Cornerstone of Hope embodies Matthew 19:14: “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

Sep tember 2014 ❘ 43

Christi and Mark Tripodi are pictured here with seven of their eight children. God’s gentle call, and the Tripodi’s openness to it, resulted in the foundation of Cornerstone of Hope in Independence, Ohio.

place where she could go to find some respite from her intense sorrow. Even as they mourned, the Tripodis realized others struggled to find sufficient help in coping with the loss of a loved one. “We put it on our shoulders— on top of our grief—that this can’t happen to anyone else; this can’t happen anymore,” Mark says. “We want to be the last couple to feel this exhaustion to find ample grief support.”

On a Mission

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The Tripodis vowed to establish a nonprofit bereavement center that would be open six days a week. There was no such facility near their home in northeast Ohio, and so, in the summer of 2001, Mark and Christi flew to Portland, Oregon. There, at the Dougy Center for grieving children and families, they attended a how-to seminar on setting up a bereavement center. The couple learned about fund-raising Click here for more techniques, developing a board information on Cornerstone of directors, and overseeing volof Hope and grief. unteer programs. Seeking advice, Mark and Christi also visited two similar organizations, Erin’s House in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Ele’s Place in Lansing, Michigan. Because they would hire only licensed counselors, social workers, and art therapists for the facility they envisioned, the Tripodis traveled to another bereavement center, the Car-

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ing Place in Pittsburgh, to learn about staffing. Christi and Mark poured time and energy into research and planning, convinced that their mission to establish a bereavement center was God’s will. “He was calling us to do something special in our son’s memory,” Mark says. But even as they progressed with the project, the couple seemed stuck in other ways. “We weren’t in a positive place of healing,” Mark admits. “We were still spiritually malnourished.” Mark thinks he sometimes acted selfishly or made poor decisions as he tried to alleviate his misery. Christi says her response to their loss was no better. For a while she wandered numbly in a fog of grief. “I wasn’t even concerned about [Mark’s] grief, my children’s grief,” she says.

A Spiritual Awakening Almost 18 months after Bobby died, Christi’s mother gave the grieving parents a brochure she had picked up in a nearby church. It described the Apostolate for Family Consecration, an international organization that nurtures the spiritual lives of Catholic families in the tradition of St. Louis de Montfort. St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o r g

(Far left) A festive atmosphere—complete with booths, crafts, demonstration tables, and even a raffle—greets visitors at an open house at Cornerstone of Hope. (Left) Visitors check out Lisa’s Butterfly Treehouse, dedicated in memory of Lisa Kurtz Luciano. The Treehouse offers a therapeutic space in a beautiful natural setting.

Fr anciscanMedia.org

The Petitti Family Prayer Garden provides a quiet and reflective place for those grieving to receive individual counseling, pray, meditate, or just get some much-needed alone time.

PHOTOS BY WILLIAM RIETER

“She said, ‘This is what you need,’” Mark recalls. The couple promised to attend a conference weekend at the apostolate’s central Ohio location. That decision changed their lives. “For me and for my wife, we felt we were on the road to Emmaus when we went there,” Mark says. “I went there with grief and sin and poor coping skills.” Even though the Tripodis faithfully attended Sunday Mass, Mark had not received the Sacrament of Reconciliation since his wedding, years earlier. “It was a turning point,” Mark says of the long confession he made during that weekend. He unburdened himself, and then listened with an open heart and mind as the priest “walked through the Gospels” and discussed the Eucharist, confession, and the meaning of Christ’s death. Mark, who had graduated from Catholic elementary and high schools, realized he held a superficial grasp on his faith. “When my son died, I had basic secondand third-grade questions,” Mark recalls. Because of his transformative confession, he recognized the significance of Christ’s death and resurrection to his own life.

Meanwhile, when Christi went to confession, she, too, experienced a sense of relief and hope. She had not blamed God for Bobby’s death, but she found comfort in the priest’s reassurance that God allowed the tragedy to happen—but he did not cause it. Christi says the weekend reminded her that heaven is the ultimate goal of all believers. “I wanted to live for the here and now,” Sep tember 2014 ❘ 45

Expanding the Organization’s Reach

Christi says of her life before Bobby died. “I didn’t even want to think about heaven. I didn’t want to think about death.” After the apostolate weekend, she and Mark had a new goal—for their family to eventually be reunited with Bobby in heaven. Christi realized they needed to make God the center of their lives.

Dina Parmertor found help at Cornerstone of Hope after a teen gun-

Healing at Last

man killed her son and two other students in a school shooting in

Back home, as the Tripodis continued to examine and embrace their faith, they gradually accepted Bobby’s death. “Probably 90 percent of our healing was the faith component,” Mark says. “What helped us really was establishing a relationship with Our Lord.” Christi agrees. “I’m not saying we didn’t have faltering times again,” she says, “or days when it was really difficult.” But she is certain they handled their pain better after the conference weekend. Enduring changes resulted from the couple’s renewed commitment to their faith. Christi read books by Catholic authors—a habit she has kept—and she often gives copies to others who mourn. Daily prayer became a priority for both Christi and Mark. “We weren’t praying throughout the week,” Mark says of their life before then. “It was just the one hour on Sunday.” The couple also availed themselves of frequent confession, and they began to pray the rosary as a family every Sunday, and on weekdays whenever possible. At the same time, Christi and Mark realized that God has expectations for each of his children, and they rediscovered purpose in their lives. “Whatever your role in life is, as a husband, father, grandparent—even child or sibling—if you’re in a state of grace, you just offer up those daily tasks to the Lord,” Mark says.

Chardon, Ohio, in February 2012. “Making the decision to attend the support group was an extremely hard decision, but was ultimately the best decision,” Parmertor says. “The group taught me the tools for coping with the loss of my son, Danny.” Thousands of other grieving men, women, teens, and children have turned to the bereavement center since it opened in 2003. Each week about 400 people attend private counseling, support groups, workshops, or special events in the homey, Victorian-style building in Independence, Ohio. Fees are based on income; nobody is turned away because of inability to pay. The facility also responds to emergency situations off-site, such as operating a satellite office at St. Ambrose Parish in Brunswick, Ohio, following a car accident that killed four teenagers in 2012. Cornerstone of Hope’s many other services include: ■

a school crisis team to help students, faculty, and staff cope with deaths within the school community;

■

weekend retreats for people whose loved one died in military service;

■

day camp providing grief support to inner-city children who lost a relative or caregiver;

■

numerous support groups, including one designed specifically for families of murder victims, another for relatives of suicides, and yet another for those whose loved one died by accidental overdose;

■

training for volunteers in church-sponsored bereavement ministries;

■

low-cost workshops for therapists, social workers, and nurses.

Cofounder Christi Tripodi says Cornerstone’s goal is to “make life possible again” for those who mourn. “We are not feeding the poor. We are not clothing the naked,” she says. “But spiritually, we [the bereaved] have broken souls. What’s really worse than losing somebody you love so much?”

46 ❘ Sep tember 2014

Reaching Out to Others As they proceeded on their grief journey, the Tripodis also moved forward with their project to found a nonprofit, nondenominational bereavement center. By 2003, they had raised the funds necessary to open Cornerstone of Hope, which helps the bereaved of all religions, and believers and nonbelievers alike. The Tripodis chose the center’s name from Ephesians 2:20: “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.” Cornerstone’s mission statement, too, describes its faith base: “Guided by Christian St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o r g

Misty Ramos (left) leads an art therapy session at Cornerstone of Hope. Volunteer Sarah Valler helps 8-year-old Logan Harris work on a project. Particularly effective with children, art therapy employs creativity to aid in the painful and difficult healing process.

(Far left) Connie and Stephanie Ward work on an art therapy project together. Since it can be hard to put grief into words, art provides a safe and constructive outlet for children.

PHOTOS BY WILLIAM RIETER

(Left) Stephanie Ward uses photos as part of her art therapy project.

values of compassion and service, we welcome and serve all seeking support.” Mark, who earned a master’s degree in business administration, leads the organization as its executive director. And although she is now the busy mother of eight children, Christi continues to serve on its board. The Tripodis believe it was God’s plan that they comfort the grieving and provide “a place to give them hope in despair.” Following this call helped Christi and Mark to recover from their son’s death. They encourage others to choose a form of service, too. “I don’t want people to give up,” Christi says. “I want them to do the will of the Lord and try to serve him.” Fr anciscanMedia.org

While they turned their pain into purpose, the Tripodis acknowledge their tragedy changed them forever. “I have such a passion for making sure my children know why we believe what we believe,” Christi says. “Grief never ends,” Mark says. “You might say, ‘Well, that’s depressing.’ But my wife and I always say Bobby’s death wasn’t a one-time change that happened. His death continues to change me to this very day . . . how we raise our kids; how important our faith is now to us; the rosary.” “God was always calling us,” Mark says. “But I guess we heard him in our brokenness finally.” A Jerri Donohue is a freelance writer from Brecksville, Ohio. She is a longtime and frequent contributor to the Catholic Universe Bulletin, the newspaper of the Diocese of Cleveland, and has written other articles for this magazine. Sep tember 2014 ❘ 47

The Praying Artist

Painter Stephen B Whatley reveals the redemptive spirit that shapes his life and art. B Y E R I N B R I E R LY

48 ❘ Sep tember 2014

luminaries of the British stage and screen). Across the Atlantic, Whatley’s exuberant style has won him an ardent following of American devotees. Yet the story behind the creation of his art is far different from what might be expected. As Whatley takes up his brush and faces the prospect of a blank canvas, he finds the challenge of making that first mark overwhelming—making him feel as though he had never painted before. For Whatley, the creative process is a spiritual purgation.

Divine Push to Create “I totally depend on God and prayer,” explains Whatley. “At the beginning of any painting, St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o r g

PHOTO COURTESY OF STEPHEN B WHATLEY

MID THE STAID opulence of Buckingham Palace’s lavish interiors hangs a piece of art like no other. It’s an architectural view of the palace, a painting ablaze with tints of flaming yellow and smoky blue, kindling a luminosity reminiscent of Monet’s Houses of Parliament. Brave and brash, this is art that outstrips Royal Collection standards like Vermeer and Holbein in its vivacity and daring. The artist behind the work, British expressionist Stephen B Whatley, has achieved a mastery of color and light which has gained him accolades not only in the secular press, but also from private collectors (including many

(Far left) Fueled by a heart set afire by the divine, artist Stephen B Whatley paints on location in Wales. From commissioned paintings of Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London to ecstatic iconography, Whatley’s works are dazzling expressionistic masterpieces. (Left) Transcendent and ever-sincere, Whatley’s depiction of the Sacred Heart of Jesus hints at the pain that drives the artist’s creativity.

CNS PHOTOS/STEPHEN B WHATLEY

there’s this enormous buildup. I . . . am rendered powerless. We’re so often told in Scripture that fear is negative and that we should have no fear if we trust in God—but it seems a necessary part of my creative process. Through that fear, I am divinely pushed to look to God for direction. I am at the foot of the cross, with my head completely bowed. That is [my] personal journey.” After more than three turbulent decades of spiritual searching, Whatley, 48, was received into the Catholic Church at Easter 2011. While he is keen to express his absolute dependence on prayer throughout all his work, his artistic tributes to Jesus, Mary, and the saints reveal Fr anciscanMedia.org

most intensely the divine push of his selfemptying creative process. Like the soul in The Dark Night of St. John of the Cross, Whatley, as an artist, makes the descent into emptiness before ascending, through prayer and self-offering, to the heights of spiritual inspiration. This almost Pentecostal ecstasy results in an innovative and expressionistic iconography, dazzling with prismatic light and raised to a mystical dimension by the addition of sublime detail. Teardrops glisten upon the tender countenance of the Blessed Virgin; the seraphic smiles of the saints complement the sorrowful yet heartfelt gaze of Christ. Sep tember 2014 ❘ 49

CNS PHOTOS/STEPHEN B WHATLEY

Pope Francis is an excellent example of Whatley’s creative process. The passion that propels his work forward is unpredictable, and completion of the work “took a lot of prayer.” In the end, though, the intercession of the Holy Spirit gently urged the artist along the right path.

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As an expressionist, Whatley describes his art as existing within a “limit-pushing,” emotionally charged paradigm. Yet the real genius of Click here to explore the art his religious work rests in its of Stephen B Whatley. ability to capture God’s emotional response to us, the viewers. His paintings become windows through which we gaze into heaven, and heaven smiles back. “It’s all passion,” remarks Whatley, as he

50 ❘ Sep tember 2014

discusses the creation of these modern icons. “There are great moments of joy, a particular color or mark suddenly drawing the painting together. On the day when I felt inspired to paint Pope Francis, I was extremely tired, and [the painting] took a lot of prayer. Toward the end, . . . I felt quite upset—I wasn’t sure I had captured him. I prayed, ‘Please, Holy Spirit, intercede for me.’ I suddenly picked up a brush and pushed some blue along the side of [the pope’s] face, and it was like this sudden burst St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o r g

(Far left) The deep faith and humility of St. Clare of Assisi is brought to life in this painting by Whatley. (Left) In addition to his religious images, such as this one of St. James, Whatley has painted portraits of big names such as Dame Judi Dench and Sir Ian McKellen.

of direction. . . . I knew the painting was complete.” The voice of this soft-spoken artist becomes animated with candid fervor as he goes on to recount other instances of divine intercession during the painting process. While painting St. James, Whatley became frustrated by his failure to capture the apostle’s compassionate spirit. Relying wholeheartedly on prayer, he took a risk, grabbed a palette knife, and scraped the face of the saint off the canvas, hoping to soften the somewhat hardened countenance in a second attempt. Knowing that the entire painting might be destroyed if he were unable to hold the composition together, Whatley begged the Holy Spirit to come upon him and direct him. Suddenly, “seized with a charge of energy,” the left-handed artist “grasped brushes with both hands,” applying each stroke in a “completely new way.” The result—a far gentler and more impassioned rendering of the great apostle. As he recalls this incident, Whatley’s voice intensifies, evidence that the artist’s ability to portray the divine arises directly from his own experience of the presence of God.

Conversion Prompted by Pain Whatley’s Christian faith didn’t come easily. It’s the product of a strenuous passage through grief and artistic evolution. His mother’s sudden death in a Fr anciscanMedia.org

car accident in 1981 left Whatley, then 16, bereft. He speaks of the “great gulf” of death, which he learned could only be bridged by love

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(Right) This image of Our Lady of Lourdes is just one piece of a vast collection. Whatley’s work has been featured in publications such as The Daily Telegraph, TIME magazine, and The New York Times.

CNS PHOTOS/STEPHEN B WHATLEY

(Far right) Vibrant and festive, Our Lady of Guadalupe is a testament to the artist’s reverence for “a great instructress in the faith.”

and faith. Whatley’s conversion revealed that suffering is not only a necessary element of the creative process, but also a transfiguring force for healing. Thus, his paintings gradually emerge from darkness into the light of hope and life. “In the early years, I didn’t think I would get through [the suffering]. The heartbreak was so great . . . but [I found] art school was . . . therapeutic.” Even so, healing proved a slow process as Whatley discovered in art an outlet for his grief. “I had this ability to paint in a photographic way, and people would be impressed, but I felt empty. I knew that I had to find another way to express myself in order to survive that pain. . . . That is how my work evolved.” At the same time, Whatley moved from pencil to the more fluid mediums of charcoal and oils, and in doing so, experienced a renewal that allowed him to create “much more felt works.” Crediting the loss of his mother as the catalyst for his own emergence as an artist, Whatley understandably speaks with profound gratitude for his gift of sharing the grace of healing with others. “I have so many people who reach out to me and say, ‘When I saw your work, you restored hope in me—you’ve given me such joy.’ It is through prayer that I am given the ability to reach to that deeper spiritual level. Even though part of me died when I lost my mother, it didn’t block the love that’s in my heart. The 52 ❘ Sep tember 2014

color and the joy [in my paintings] come predominantly from prayer, but [also] from the love in my heart. Ultimately, love is the thing, the great thing.” Love pours itself out in incandescent rays through Whatley’s paintings, particularly in his renditions of the Mother of God. For instance, his boldly textured Our Lady of Guadalupe is a fiesta for the eyes, alive with a sense of divine visitation and maternal warmth. The painting reflects the artist’s deep attachment to the Blessed Virgin, who represents for him the personification of the beauty of truth and “a great instructress in the faith.”

Art as Message of Hope Hope is the recurrent theme throughout all of Whatley’s work. The artist refuses to become jaded by past trials. Instead, his own personal history of suffering has become the vehicle for an advocacy of Christian hope. In a world in which art too often becomes a vehicle for cynicism, Whatley’s paintings shine forth as light-filled visions, fired by the hope with which the human soul strains toward the transcendent. As we discover along with this prayerful artist the Christian freedom to rejoice while allowing suffering to become a process of conversion, let us hope that Whatley’s art will continue to create a sacred space for healing. A Erin Brierly, like Stephen Whatley, is a convert to the Catholic faith. She’s the author of several articles for UK-based magazines Novena and Soul Gardening, a mothering journal. Brierly lives with her husband and daughter in Conyers, Georgia. St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o r g

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ASK A FRANCISCAN

❘ BY FATHER PAT McCLOSKEY, OFM

Few Pro-life Homilies What explains the absence of positive instruction from the pulpit regarding the pro-life stance by the Catholic Church? I do not recall one sermon or discussion by a priest during a weekend Mass about why the Church believes that the decision of life over abortion is the only selection that a Catholic can make. Although Catholic organizations such as the Knights of Columbus do take a positive stand on this issue, why don’t the bishops and parish priests? I suspect that most people in the United States (Catholics and nonCatholics) know what the Catholic

Church teaches about the respect due to unborn life. In fact, approximately half the people in this country agree that there should be some restrictions on abortion, but they do not agree on which restrictions should be backed by law. Unfortunately, many US Catholics seem to reflect the common misconception that respect for life from conception to natural death is an authoritarian and undemocratic belief. Would more frequent preaching on this topic change Catholic minds? Perhaps it would, but I doubt it. You could encourage priests at your parish to preach on this more often. I think the present situation

Protocol for Graveside Committal Ceremonies

If a Catholic does not want a formal funeral Mass when he or she dies, what would a Catholic graveside committal ceremony be like? The Order of Christian Funerals (in use in the United States since 1989) has separate sections for use with adults or with children. They follow the same format, but have adjustments based on the age of the person being buried. The rite opens with a welcome given by the presider (usually a priest or a deacon). After a short Scripture verse, there is a prayer to bless the place of committal. Another prayer for the actual committal precedes intercessions, the Lord’s Prayer, a concluding prayer, and a final blessing. In the situation you describe, a longer Scripture reading could replace the short biblical verse. A 1997 appendix includes prayers for the committal of cremated remains.

54 ❘ September 2014

flows more from hearts that need converting to the Lord’s ways, than from minds that need changing to reject the country’s conventional wisdom that a respect for privacy trumps all other issues in this discussion. Pro-life issues often occur in the general intercessions at Mass. In his 1979 book Aborting America, the late Bernard Nathanson, MD, explains how people favoring abortion manipulated public opinion to create a right to abort, a procedure that he performed an estimated 60,000 times before he recognized that he was denying a basic right to a human being, not to some mass of tissue. Five years later he directed and narrated The Silent Scream, a documentary about abortion. The prolife movement led him in 1996 to become a Catholic. A good homily helps listeners understand God’s self-revelation in Scripture and in the faith community; it helps them see their lives as God sees them. Then they make whatever choices will better reflect their dignity as people made in God’s image and likeness. I understand a good homily as helping people move forward on their faith journey. Trying to shame people into making morally good choices will not work in the long run. At least, that’s not the strategy that Jesus used in his preaching.

Response Much Appreciated Your answer “Did Those Bishops Sin?” (June 2014) provided a great course in corporate apologetics. My faith was formed by the Marianist community 60 years ago. I can’t walk away from what I believe, but I certainly am not impressed by St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o rg

what I have seen from the US bishops’ conference. The flock “knows its shepherd” just as surely as the shepherd knows his own. I wrote my bishop a letter, similar to the one referenced in your column, expressing my concerns. He wrote back that he would “pray for me.” No other discussion. I won’t waste my time anymore. I think it’s evident when the shepherd doesn’t care, the flock soon follows suit. To refresh readers’ memories, I responded then to questions about bishops who had been negligent regarding protecting children from pedophile priests, bishops who may not have consulted their people last fall regarding the Holy See’s questionnaire to prepare for the October 2014 synod of bishops on the family, and whether a bishop or priest not in the state of grace can perform the functions of his office. We believe in Jesus in a much more solid way than we believe in any human being. We trust that popes, bishops, priests, etc., are acting as conscientious shepherds— until we have clear evidence to the contrary. On the flight back from Israel on May 26, Pope Francis spoke with reporters for more than an hour. One of them said that in all local churches there are norms that impose a serious moral and often legal duty to cooperate with local civil authorities regarding the sexual abuse of minors by clergy. The reporter continued, “What would you do in the case of a bishop who clearly did not respect, didn’t follow, these obligations?” Pope Francis responded that three bishops were then under investigation by the Church. One had already been convicted, and his punishment was being decided. “There is no special treatment,” the pope said. “The abuse of minors is truly a horrible crime. . . . We know that it is a serious problem everywhere, but my concern is about the Church. “A priest who does this betrays the Fr ancisca n Media .org

body of the Lord because this priest is supposed to lead the boy or girl, this young man or woman, to holiness. And these young people, these children are trusting . . . and then instead of leading them to holiness, he abuses them. And this is extremely serious! . . . You are supposed to lead them to holiness, and you create a lifelong problem for them.” The pope added that he would soon celebrate a Mass at his residence for several persons who had been abused; then he would meet with them and with Cardinal Seán O’Malley, a member of the recently established commission responsible for addressing such abuse. On July 7, that Mass was celebrated and a meeting was held with six people who had been abused by Catholic clergy. Jesus’ betrayal by Judas did not destroy the faith of all other Christians, but obliged them to give their faith in him a clearer and more consistent expression. Individual shepherds in the

Catholic Church have betrayed the people entrusted to their pastoral care, but the Divine Shepherd never will. Your Catholic faith is battered but still intact. People may escape human justice, but no one can escape divine justice.

No Statue of Mary? Must every Catholic church have a statue of the Blessed Mother? I recently visited one that did not. This is not a requirement, but most Catholic churches and chapels have at least one such statue. A

Father Pat welcomes your questions! Send them to: Ask a Franciscan, 28 W. Liberty Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202-6498, or Ask@FranciscanMedia.org. All questions sent by mail need to include a selfaddressed stamped envelope. This column’s answers can be searched back to April 1996 at StAnthonyMessenger.org.

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September 2014 ❘ 55

BOOK CORNER

❘ BY CAROL ANN MORROW

Almost Home Helping Kids Move from Homelessness to Hope By Kevin Ryan and Tina Kelley John Wiley & Sons 220 pages • $16.95 Paperback/e-book Reviewed by SISTER MELANIE BAIR, OSF, PhD, former teacher and principal, who served primarily with the poor. She is former executive director of Boys Hope Girls Hope Cincinnati. Covenant House is a faith-based initiative serving homeless and runaway youth in the United States and Canada since 1972. The

WHAT I’M READING ■ Where

Two Worlds Touch: A Spiritual Journey through Alzheimer’s Disease, by Jade C. Angelica

■ Where

Is Knowing Going? by John C. Haughey

■ Acting

PHOTO BY MIKE POSEY PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEO

■ Never

in Film, by Michael Caine Go Back: A Jack Reacher Novel, by Lee Child

■ Monsters:

The 1985 Chicago Bears and the Wild Heart of Football, by Rich Cohen

Michael Leach is the editor at large and publisher emeritus of Orbis Books. He was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Catholic Book Publishers Association in 2007. Leach has these five books on his nightstand.

56 ❘ September 2014

authors of Almost Home—Kevin Ryan, president of Covenant House, and Tina Kelley, former staff writer for The New York Times— share from personal experience. While the book champions Covenant House and the spectrum of programs that are offered to homeless children who arrive at the doorstep of one of their 21 homes, it also presents other organizations that help children, such as “Fatherhood Initiative,” “Youth on Their Own (Tucson),” and “Children’s Rights.” The book is well-written and informative, supported with relevant and reliable statistics. The moving stories shared by six young people give the reader an upfront and personal understanding of youth who have had to face monumental challenges in their effort to go beyond the effects of growing up in a toxic environment of poverty, neglect, abuse, abandonment, and drugs. The young people in the book persevered in their struggle, but many others did not and gave up on life itself. The authors address the underlying causes of homelessness: poverty, inadequate education, human trafficking, lack of health care, mental health issues, and problems with foster care. Ryan and Kelley suggest ways in which these critical problems can be resolved. One of the many things that struck me was the desire of each of these six young people to find their mothers and to reunite with their families. No matter what they had suffered, they were ready to forgive, and wanted to “fix” their families, to belong! To adequately address the many issues that are presented in this book will require the participation of the entire village: elders, teachers, and other child-care professionals; nonprofit organizations who serve children; churches, businesses, and government at all levels. Almost Home is an important read for teachers, pastors of churches, social workers, and all those who serve children, especially those children who live in poverty or difficult circumstances, who lack stability, predictable meals, and educational opportunities. In fact, I would recommend this book to everyone. St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o rg

BOOK BRIEFS

Faith: Being, Becoming, Returning Being on Fire The Top Ten Essentials of Catholic Faith By Richard G. Malloy Orbis Books 191 pages • $18 Paperback

Doors to the Sacred Everyday Events as Hints of the Holy By Bridget Haase, OSU Paraclete Press 176 pages • $14.99 Paperback/e-book

This book’s back cover promises “an enjoyable journey,” which the author delivers. The Jesuit’s Top 10, rooted in Scripture and tradition, use contemporary culture to link Catholic roots to the now. The 10th essential is to be happy, a reminder that faith is essentially optimistic.

Catholic by Choice Reviewed by ELIZABETH BOOKSER BARKLEY, PhD, the author of four books and numerous articles, of which many touch upon finding the grace of the present moment, such as Loving the Everyday: Meditations for Moms and Life after Death: Practical Help for the Widowed. Knowing the power of a well-told story is one of the author’s gifts, so Bridget Haase’s book is full of them: stories about a strong mountain woman “tending a fire, drawing water at the well, pickling her garden cucumbers.” Or a six-year-old AIDS patient building a Lego castle he envisions as “a part of heaven” because “when you die you go to God’s beautiful castle.” And a subway rider oblivious to others, “humming along with his iPad” as his feet tap out a rhythm. Haase believes there are graces to be had by engaging with stories—graces of redemption, compassion, and strength. Through these 52 “hints of the holy,” she invites us not only to read but also to “own each story” and be “open to its grace.” Readers can respond personally to poignant meditation prompts such as “When I stand under the stars, I sometimes feel. . . .” Haase’s simple, poetic prayers are enriched with excerpts from Scripture. Sprinkled throughout the book are succinct bits of saintly wisdom from the likes of St. Vincent de Paul, Fulton J. Sheen, and Mother Teresa. As a companion on a retreat or as a guide through the weeks of the year, this book does just what its title promises: it opens doors to the sacred in the most ordinary events of life. Fr ancisca n Media .org

Why I Embraced the Faith, Joined the Church, and Embarked on the Adventure of a Lifetime By Richard Cole Loyola Press 231 pages • $14.95 Paperback/e-book Richard Cole is a poet whose memoir is humorous and down-to-earth. His journey toward Catholicism began with a gift certificate for a weekend at a monastery from his wife, who thought he’d like the quiet. Cradle Catholics will follow his quest with new appreciation for the faith they share with the author.

It’s Not the Same without You Coming Home to the Catholic Church By Mitch Finley WIPF & STOCK 193 pages • $22 Paperback While this is a reissue of a book first published in 2003, it needs to be out there for many seekers already encouraged by Pope Francis to return to the tradition they once embraced. No didactic text, this is a collection of stories. Alienated Catholics will find their twins in its pages. Books featured in Book Corner and Book Briefs can be ordered from

St. Mary’s Bookstore & Church Supply 1909 West End Avenue • Nashville, TN 37203 • 800-233-3604 www.stmarysbookstore.com • stmarysbookstore@gmail.com September 2014 ❘ 57

A CATHOLIC MOM SPEAKS

❘ BY SUSAN HINES-BRIGGER

‘Because I Said I Would’

s a parent, I am guilty of making promises that I fail to keep. Promises for books to be read, games to be played, trips to be taken. I get busy, I get distracted . . . the excuses go on and on. How many times have I recited the lines from Dr. Seuss’ book Horton Hatches the Egg: “I meant what I said and I said what I meant. An elephant’s faithful one-hundred percent!”? Yet I still failed. Then, one day, I came across a TED Talk by Alex Sheen. Sheen is the founder of the nonprofit “because I said I would,” a movement that started with his dad. After finding out more about the program, I started to think about how reliable my word was. Did I follow through when I said I would? Not enough, I discovered. Too often I would promise things and not follow through. Not only was I guilty of failing others, but I was also failing myself.

A Eulogy Becomes a Movement So what is the movement all about? On September 4, 2011, Alex Sheen lost his father to cancer. In his eulogy, the younger Sheen focused on one thing: his father’s ability to always keep a promise. At the end of the eulogy, Sheen distributed small white cards to those in attendance.

Click the button to the left to listen to Susan’s “Marriage Moments.”

The cards were blank, except for the words “because I said I would” in the lower right-hand corner. It was a simple gesture to honor his father’s shining example of integrity. 58 ❘ September 2014

Sheen never imagined those cards would change his life and touch the lives of many others. Nor did he realize that those cards would spawn a social movement and nonprofit organization dedicated to the betterment of humanity through promises made and kept. The program has been featured in People magazine, on NPR, and through various social media platforms. The premise of the program is simple. A person writes a promise

on the card—either to himself or herself, or to someone else. The card is given to another person, and when it is fulfilled, the card is returned as a reminder that that person kept his or her promise. The organization’s website (becauseisaidiwould.com) offers a wide range of ways to institute the program in your life. To encourage positive change and acts of kindness, the “because I said I would” organization sends “promise cards” anywhere in the world at no St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o rg

ILLUSTRATIONS BY MARY KURNICK MAASS

CLOSE TO HOME One of the greatest things we have is our integrity. Alex Sheen has said that the promises we make don’t have to be big ones. They can also be small. So what would your promises be? You can take part in this concept by either sending for your 10 free promise cards or downloading them from the organization’s website. I have challenged myself to fill out those 10 cards, distribute them, and earn them back. For instance, after having a hard time staying on track with my fitness program, I wrote myself a promise that I would complete three 5K races in the coming year. I gave that card to my workout partner for safekeeping. After my final race, she gave me my card back. It now has a place of honor with my medals. So, I challenge you. How will you fulfill this challenge? Visit our Facebook page (St. Anthony Messenger magazine) and let us know what promises you’re going to keep.

cost. Over 1,275,000 promise cards have been sent out to over 105 different countries! Because of the overwhelming response, Sheen left his corporate job and now works to promote “because I said I would.”

All Kinds of Promises Sheen’s hope is that people use the cards to remember the importance of their word, for promises both big and small. It could be a promise to volunteer at a soup kitchen. Or agree to play a game with your kids. You could even take on something a bit

bigger, as Garth Callaghan did. Callaghan, who has battled cancer three times, was afraid that he might not be around to see his daughter graduate. His promise was to write one napkin note for every day of class his daughter Emma has until she graduates from high school. He has been writing napkin notes for Emma’s lunch box since she was in the second grade. Sheen has not removed himself from the challenge, either. He has fulfilled promises such as getting 100 tickets to Disneyland for children

Click here to watch Sheen’s TED Talk on the “because I said I would” program.

tal Digi as Extr

with cancer and walking 245 miles across the entire state of Ohio in 10 days to raise awareness for the victims of sexual violence (a promise he made to Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus, and Michelle Knight, three women held captive in a Cleveland home for years). This month, the organization will host “because I said I would | ONE,” in Columbus, Ohio. In addition to moving stories of human perseverance through featured speakers, attendees will be able to share their own promise stories. One way they can share them is through video recordings that will be made at the event and then turned into a yearlong YouTube series. Thanks to his father, Alex Sheen has learned the value of his word and that of others. Perhaps it’s time we all took the challenge and started practicing what we preach. A

Do you have comments or suggestions for topics you’d like to see addressed in this column? Send them to me at “A Catholic Mom Speaks,” 28 W. Liberty St., Cincinnati, OH 45202-6498, or e-mail them to CatholicMom@FranciscanMedia.org.

PETE AND REPEAT These scenes may seem alike to you, But there are changes in the two. So look and see if you can name ILLUSTRATION BY TOM GREENE

Eight ways in which they’re not the same. (Answers on page 26)

Fr ancisca n Media .org

September 2014 ❘ 59

AT HOME ON EARTH

❘ BY KYLE KRAMER

Kiss the Flowers

Unlike his papa, Eli doesn’t generally filter the natural world into categories of beautiful roses and nuisance weeds. He can see loveliness in both. To notice and appreciate the world’s beauty—whether it’s a cultiAppreciating vated rose or a morning glory Nature weed—is an important pracMany common weeds are tice for those of us with useful for food or medicine. strong egos and practical Find out more at pfaf.org. minds. As we expand our human footprint on the Rain forests are often cut to world, it will also be more create grazing land or grow and more necessary for us to crops for cattle. You can appreciate even those landhelp preserve them by eatscapes that have been radiing less meat or seeking cally changed or damaged by out sustainably raised beef. our presence. Eli didn’t simply appreciate Can you think of a time the morning glories as if they when you were deeply were there to please him or moved at the beauty of serve him, like a consumer God’s creation? How might item. When he stooped down you include creation as a to kiss them, Eli took another regular part of your prayer? crucial step: he humbled himself, and he gave something back. The 13th-century Sufi poet Rumi once wrote that “there are a thousand ways to kneel and kiss the ground.” Eli took it literally, but you and I might kiss the ground or the flowers in any number of ways: fighting to save rain forests or mountains or a watershed, and changing whatever lifestyle and consumption habits that support such destruction in the first place. As we do, we might finally realize that God is always kneeling down to kiss us, too. A

Kyle Kramer, an organic farmer, is author of A Time to Plant: Life Lessons in Work, Prayer, and Dirt (Sorin Books).

It’s well-worn and good advice: Savor the beauty of the natural world. Morning glories point beyond. 60 ❘ September 2014

tal Digi as Extr

Click here to hear an interview and explore links. St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o rg

PHOTO BY DON NESBITT

ur young son, Eli, likes to join me on the rounds of early morning farm chores. One recent morning, we walked together to the chicken coop, hand in hand. We passed one of our vegetable plots, which sported its usual late-summer weediness, and Eli spotted a number of open morning glory flowers. To my stubbornly pragmatic mind, morning glory vines are obnoxious interlopers in our gardens and hayfields. I’d be glad to be rid of them. Eli, however, was so excited by these beautiful blue flowers that he exclaimed, “Papa, I don’t just want to smell the flowers. I want to kiss them!” And kneeling down with a theatrical flourish, he did exactly that. In the moment, I simply laughed at the sheer comedy of his actions, and I delighted in his delight. I can think of no better way to be reminded of the well-worn (and good) advice that we should take time to smell the roses: to savor the beauty of the natural world. As I’ve thought more about it, though, I’ve come to see that the wisdom of Eli’s instincts extended far beyond the level of greeting-card sentiment.

BACKSTORY

Our Newest Offering

f you’re a longtime subscriber, you’ll know that, every once in a while, we introduce a new, regular column into this magazine. Sure, we’ve got our permanent, very popular columns (departments), such as

“Followers of St. Francis,” “Ask a Franciscan,” “Reel Time,” “Channel Surfing,” and more. But the editors here, from many years’ experience, know that you readers like to mix it up. Sometimes it’s just a desire for variety, and we’re happy to provide it. Other times there’s some celebration or

PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER HEFFRON

observance among Catholics worldwide. Then there is Pope Francis. No one seems to get enough of this guy! Google News has resorted to collecting a page of news stories a few times a day rather than barraging subscribers with notice after notice. Of course, we editors started publishing regular feature articles about Pope Francis. He’s doing so many things that are challenging us to live and enjoy our faith more deeply! As the “Francis effect” persisted, we decided to initiate a regular column, “The Spirit of Francis,” that launches in this issue. It took us a few months to develop our approach and to recruit CNS PHOTO/L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO VIA REUTERS

authors whom we are confident will have something new, insightful, and masterfully written to share with you. We chose to play our strongest hand: helping people understand how the spirit of St. Francis inspires the spirit of Pope Francis. So we looked for socially engaged experts on our beloved St. Francis. We settled on a team of two friars (Pat McCloskey, OFM, and Murray Bodo, OFM), a Franciscan sister (Joanne Schatzlein, OSF), and a laywoman (Gina Loehr). Pat you’ll know from our own pages; Murray is a prolific author and poet (Francis: The Journey and the Dream is his most well-known), Joanne lectures worldwide on St. Francis, and Gina wrote the new book Saint Francis, Pope Francis (Servant Books). Murray and Joanne regularly lead pilgrimages to Assisi. Art Director Jeanne Kortekamp called in one of her premier illustrators, Julie Lonneman, to create a new image each month from the life of St. Francis. I think it’s going to be a great column! I hope you agree.

Editor in Chief

Fr ancisca n Media .org

September 2014 ❘ 61

ST. ANTHONY M essenger

28 W. Liberty Street Cincinnati, OH 45202-6498

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Available from the Missionary Oblates

Lourdes water on back of medal

Clever and beautiful! Made with light blue glass beads and silver beads, the stretch braceletâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s focal point is an intricate pewter Lourdes medal that holds a â&#x20AC;&#x153;dropâ&#x20AC;? of Lourdes water on its back side, where it will rest against the skin of the wearer â&#x20AC;&#x201C; keeping her always close to the healing power of Lourdes. The Drop of Faith Lourdes Bracelet will be sent to you in gratitude for your gift of $12 or more. Your donation will support the ministries of the Missionary Oblates as we serve poor and needy people in our missions around the world.

Thank you for your generous support!

Donate Now â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Toll Free At:

1-888-330-6264 Mon. - Fri. 8:00 a.m. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 4:30 p.m. Central

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$12

$20

$30

$45

$100

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Check/Money Order Credit Card # _______ _______ _______ _______ Exp. Date ____ /____ Signature (required)__________________________ Please send ___ Drop of Faith Lourdes Bracelet(s). #204607 ($12 suggested donation each)

Name ________________________________________ Address ______________________________________ City ___________________ State _____ ZIP________ E-mail ________________________________________

#M15ADA9A1

Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows . $E -AZENOD $RIVE s "ELLEVILLE ),