By Sarah, a nose flautist who lives in Maryland, in Ora et Labora
Now, who on earth is ever going to say to God, "No, Lord, let me do it?" Uff da! The thought!
However, we are all at fault for behaving that way to God one time or another. If it's habitual, there is really a problem. I am writing these words for all of us to think about how we treat The One (God, not Obama, duh!) Who gave us everything.
In reading the reflection in In Conversation with God by Francis Fernandez (volume 2) for the second week of Easter - Friday, I stumbled across another nugget of wisdom. Let's visit the passage from Acts 5:38-39. So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this undertaking is of men it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!
This clearly means: God wins. You better pick your side.
Then the reflection talks about the five loaves and the five thousand being fed. The Lord asks us to give to Him what we have. It may be very little, it may be more than others, but to give it is the work needed to generate His power. We can hand him the little we have (five loaves, our daily life, simple prayer, suffering in silence . . . ) as He is counting on us to will it into His service for the blessings to occur. The whole premise is to not wait until you have means or not, but to do something and give something. God can do wondrous things with nothing (the nothingness of our being - even if we feel our nothingness is meaningless, it is not). Our nothing is our surrender and surrendering is a big gift of trust and faith.
St. Josemaria Escriva (from Furrow, 123): Do you see? With him you could do it. Why are you surprised? Be convinced: there is nothing to be surprised about. If you trust in God - really trust - things work out easily. And, what is more, you always go further than you imagined you could.
It is good and right that you should work things out . . . but put God first in the equation. You can count on being blessed.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Friday, April 17, 2009
Serving others is its own reward
By Msgr. Fred Dolan in National Post. Msgr. Frederick Dolan is Vicar of Opus Dei for Canada. After several years in the business world as a sales representative and a stockbroker, he pursued graduate studies at Harvard Business School. In 1980 Msgr. Dolan moved to Rome where he completed his doctoral studies in philosophy. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1983. Msgr. Dolan served as a chaplain at a student residence in South Bend, Indiana, and later worked with high-school students in the Bronx and college students at Yale University.
Before his appointment as Vicar, Msgr. Dolan was the Chancellor of the Curia of the Prelature in Rome from 1992 to 1998.He is based in Montreal at 1380 Pine Avenue West, H3G 1A8.
My father, freshly arrived from Maryland, sat in his hotel room placing batteries into a flashlight as diligently as a boot camp recruit loading a rifle under a drill sergeant's stare.
Assured there would be light, he twizzled with companion gizmos he'd just bought: jumper cables, crampons, a full-blown roadside emergency kit.
"There," he said, finally satisfied, "now you'll be safe."
I had not, until that moment, felt endangered. I am a middle-aged man with decades of university education and professional training behind me. I've lived in Montreal for years, and know its winters well. I am also a Catholic priest. Let us just say I know Who to call for help.
But this man is my father and, on checking into the hotel, he sensed a blizzard in the air. The ink was barely dry on the guest register before we were on our way to Canadian Tire to make sure I had everything I needed to drive and survive in the coming storm.
Was he just being a busybody? Violating "personal boundaries" by interfering in my adult autonomy? Some modern psychologists might say so. They, unfortunately, would be aping the late 19th century's self-declared "psychologist" and philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, who preached the futility of being concerned with the care and comfort of other human beings.
Nietzsche's creed came down to the declaration that "there is no God, no afterlife, and therefore man is completely on his own." His outlook on life can be summarized as "maximize earthly enjoyment at whatever the cost because that's all there is." Pope Benedict XVI has masterfully summarized Nietzsche's approach as offering only: "a narrow this-worldliness -- with the will to get the most out of the world and what life has to offer now, to seek heaven here and to be uninhibited by any scruples while doing so."
For anyone who has bought into this vision of life, the driving force will be an ideology of power and domination. Such intangible values as generosity and mercy will most likely be scorned.
We don't need to scale the lofty heights of German philosophy to see the damage done by this belief system. We encounter it in our daily lives, for example at work when we hear the boss who barks, "I don't care what or how long it takes, just get it done!" Suddenly, people become merely a means of production, or even obstacles to production, rather than individuals possessing dignity and worthy of respect. Forgotten is the fact that we are not machines but rather human beings who have been created to be happy.
There is, and there always has been, another way -- one that begins and ends with the word "service." Not self-service. Rather, service as a way to recognize the great dignity and worth of those around us.
My father is someone for whom service is one of life's great essentials. Serving others is just a natural reflex for him and others like him. If you are bareheaded when it begins to rain, you may wind up sporting a hat that you wouldn't normally be caught dead wearing in public, but for which you will be infinitely grateful. Trust me. I know.
What my father and his generation taught me is that the greatest happiness of all comes from scratching someone else's back, usually in the spot they just can't quite reach.
A saint of the Catholic Church, Josemaria Escriva, had a favourite Italian expression per servire, servire. The obvious meaning is "To serve, serve." The deeper meaning is "to be useful, serve." The inescapable conclusion of this tidbit of wisdom from the founder of the Catholic organization Opus Dei is that unless I serve others I am of no use to them. Just imagine for a minute what your workplace would be like if your boss discovered that to lead means to serve by discovering and developing the talents of others.
Yet it is not only holy men and practical dads who can serve as reminders of what giving can bring. The Tiger Woods of women's professional golf is a very classy 28-year-old from Mexico by the name of Lorena Ochoa. Each time Lorena arrives at a golf course for a tournament, the first thing she does is shake the hand of each and every Mexican working at the club. It is her way of pointedly acknowledging their dignity.
What my father and his generation taught me is that the greatest happiness of all comes from scratching someone else's back, usually in the spot they just can't quite reach.
Which brings us back to the look of contentment on my father's face as he sat back from assembling my winter-driving survival kit. It was the calm before the storm when he noticed me scratching my ankle.
"What are you doing?" he said "It just itches," I said. "Pharmacy," he said.
And off we went to the drug store, emerging with two king-sized servings of Keri Lotion. It helped, as my father knew it would. Per servire, servire -- truly balm for the world around us.
Before his appointment as Vicar, Msgr. Dolan was the Chancellor of the Curia of the Prelature in Rome from 1992 to 1998.He is based in Montreal at 1380 Pine Avenue West, H3G 1A8.
My father, freshly arrived from Maryland, sat in his hotel room placing batteries into a flashlight as diligently as a boot camp recruit loading a rifle under a drill sergeant's stare.
Assured there would be light, he twizzled with companion gizmos he'd just bought: jumper cables, crampons, a full-blown roadside emergency kit.
"There," he said, finally satisfied, "now you'll be safe."
I had not, until that moment, felt endangered. I am a middle-aged man with decades of university education and professional training behind me. I've lived in Montreal for years, and know its winters well. I am also a Catholic priest. Let us just say I know Who to call for help.
But this man is my father and, on checking into the hotel, he sensed a blizzard in the air. The ink was barely dry on the guest register before we were on our way to Canadian Tire to make sure I had everything I needed to drive and survive in the coming storm.
Was he just being a busybody? Violating "personal boundaries" by interfering in my adult autonomy? Some modern psychologists might say so. They, unfortunately, would be aping the late 19th century's self-declared "psychologist" and philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, who preached the futility of being concerned with the care and comfort of other human beings.
Nietzsche's creed came down to the declaration that "there is no God, no afterlife, and therefore man is completely on his own." His outlook on life can be summarized as "maximize earthly enjoyment at whatever the cost because that's all there is." Pope Benedict XVI has masterfully summarized Nietzsche's approach as offering only: "a narrow this-worldliness -- with the will to get the most out of the world and what life has to offer now, to seek heaven here and to be uninhibited by any scruples while doing so."
For anyone who has bought into this vision of life, the driving force will be an ideology of power and domination. Such intangible values as generosity and mercy will most likely be scorned.
We don't need to scale the lofty heights of German philosophy to see the damage done by this belief system. We encounter it in our daily lives, for example at work when we hear the boss who barks, "I don't care what or how long it takes, just get it done!" Suddenly, people become merely a means of production, or even obstacles to production, rather than individuals possessing dignity and worthy of respect. Forgotten is the fact that we are not machines but rather human beings who have been created to be happy.
There is, and there always has been, another way -- one that begins and ends with the word "service." Not self-service. Rather, service as a way to recognize the great dignity and worth of those around us.
My father is someone for whom service is one of life's great essentials. Serving others is just a natural reflex for him and others like him. If you are bareheaded when it begins to rain, you may wind up sporting a hat that you wouldn't normally be caught dead wearing in public, but for which you will be infinitely grateful. Trust me. I know.
What my father and his generation taught me is that the greatest happiness of all comes from scratching someone else's back, usually in the spot they just can't quite reach.
A saint of the Catholic Church, Josemaria Escriva, had a favourite Italian expression per servire, servire. The obvious meaning is "To serve, serve." The deeper meaning is "to be useful, serve." The inescapable conclusion of this tidbit of wisdom from the founder of the Catholic organization Opus Dei is that unless I serve others I am of no use to them. Just imagine for a minute what your workplace would be like if your boss discovered that to lead means to serve by discovering and developing the talents of others.
Yet it is not only holy men and practical dads who can serve as reminders of what giving can bring. The Tiger Woods of women's professional golf is a very classy 28-year-old from Mexico by the name of Lorena Ochoa. Each time Lorena arrives at a golf course for a tournament, the first thing she does is shake the hand of each and every Mexican working at the club. It is her way of pointedly acknowledging their dignity.
What my father and his generation taught me is that the greatest happiness of all comes from scratching someone else's back, usually in the spot they just can't quite reach.
Which brings us back to the look of contentment on my father's face as he sat back from assembling my winter-driving survival kit. It was the calm before the storm when he noticed me scratching my ankle.
"What are you doing?" he said "It just itches," I said. "Pharmacy," he said.
And off we went to the drug store, emerging with two king-sized servings of Keri Lotion. It helped, as my father knew it would. Per servire, servire -- truly balm for the world around us.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Relating with God without miracles
By Javier Morales, a communications entrepreneur in Mumbai in What I read
[The book El Hombre de Villa Tevere] makes you pray telling about the deep interior life of St. Josemaria, his relationship with God without the miracles.
A deep interior life based on the practice of a few pious actions during the day, the Norms of piety any member of Opus Dei does, such as daily Holy Mass, Mental Prayer, spiritual reading, etc.
His interior life would lead him to live in the presence of God at all times, doing everything for Him and in Him. everything would lead him to think of god, and he would make use of everything to go towards God, even for instance, of songs which talked about human love, directing those words towards God or towards the Virgin Mary.
But that wouldn't take him out of the world, on the contrary, thanks to that presence of God he would be very attentive of other people's needs or likings. For example, once, while leaving a farm house at which he had been resting and working in the summer of 1967, Father Javier Echevarria found in the house a snake. Skillfully he managed to kill it, and when triumphantly announced it, St. Josemaria asked him if he had removed it so that the people who would clean, wouldn't get scared finding it there (instead of just thinking of the adventure).
His love for the Virgin Mary was not theoretical but shown in deeds. When an image (a statue) was 'rescued' from Switzerland (it had been disposed) and arrived to Villa Tevere, he immediately went to welcome her, kissed her hand and told her beautiful praises and many words of love.
He also praised, loved, prayed and learn many things from various saints, without making of his devotion a full catalogue of practices or rituals.
His love for the Mass was intense, clear, intellectual, theological, and again very down to earth, shown in material ways. Preparing his Mass, not allowing distractions such as photographers getting very close to the altar. Usually, he would celebrate Mass at mid-day and prepare 15-minutes prior to that. One day, because of heavy work, they forgot to tell him 15 minutes in advance and they told him only when it was already time. At first he was upset, but then, he was so much in love with the Mass and God in the Eucharist that he was able to concentrate very well, in spite of not having been able to stop, take a break to focus on it prior to the appointed time.
He also had a great devotion to the guardian angels.... he saw a lady of the Work on the street and next day he told her he had prayed to her Guardian Angel.
He needs to be praying, like the beating of the heart, that's why, he said, he can never loose his temper for more than a couple of minutes.
He is so immersed in prayer that even when in danger of dying (the car was slipping uncontrollably towards a cliff) he didn't stop praying or got out of control.
This presence of God cannot be improvised, it comes from being well rooted in God through the practice of the other Norms. Prayer cannot be anonymous, he said, it has to be an intimate relationship with God, one to one. Heaven is guaranteed for those who do the Norms well.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
My Father's Prayer
By Beatasum in Catholic Me (I am blessed)
My father was a very devout Catholic. He prayed, on his knees by his bedside every morning and every night. He encouraged me to do the same.
Growing up in the Sixties and Seventies, I was not as prayerful as he would have liked. I had other things on my mind: school, boys, dances, music and other non-religious activities. My father prayed everyday for me, in the hopes that I would one day recognize the need for prayer in my life. It took some time for his prayers to come to fruition, but as an adult I now realize how important prayer is. I still feel that I can improve upon my prayer-life and I am grateful, today, to have come across a card that my dad possessed, upon the back of which he had he typed out his petition.
The prayer itself, is an appeal to God to grant a favour through the intercession of the priest, and founder of the organization Opus Dei.
Spanish priest, Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer died on June 26, 1975, at age 73 and was beatified by Pope John Paull II, in 1992. On October 6, 2002, the Pope canonized him fully as a saint. His Feast Day is June 26 (two days after my birthday).
From an early age, Josemaría Escrivá began carrying a rosary in his pocket and he developed a lifelong love and adoration of the blessed Virgin Mary. He had a special connection to the Virgin Mary of Guadalupe; while alive he remarked about a painting of this Virgin giving a rose to Juan Diego. “I would like to die that way” he said. In fact, his natural death did occur in a room under the painting of the Virgin of Guadalupe.
I don’t know enough about Opus Dei to argue whether or not accusations about political statements by Josemaría Escrivá are true or not. I do know that Dan Brown uses Opus Dei to great negative effect in his books, so I am inclined to disregard the rumours against it, since Dan Brown is at the top of my list of “useless articles”, as my mother would say.
I know also, that for some reason my dad had a very strong attachment to this particular priest/saint. The card on which the prayer is printed is well-worn by his hands–it is torn and stained and a corner is missing, but the words are still clear and the sentiment rings out.
My father mysteriously crossed out eleven lines at the top of the reverse side of the card. I wish I knew what they had read, but he used a black marker, so he must have been determined that nobody read it. He also crossed out his brother’s name since he had died. The remaining intercession touched me deeply this morning and I am determined to fulfill his intention:
“My deepest wish now as always Lord, is
that Josemaria Escriva in his constant
advocacy before Your Throne, might
deign to include my daughters,
my brother Mick and my
sisters; to plead that they would
retain or redevelop the fullest real-
ization and appreciation of the great
benificence bestowed on them by being
born into the True Faith; to the point
where each of them would resolve again
to nurture, treasure and safeguard it
for the remainder of their earthly
sojourn.”
With all my heart, I thank you Daddy for all your prayers for me.
Beatasum
My father was a very devout Catholic. He prayed, on his knees by his bedside every morning and every night. He encouraged me to do the same.
Growing up in the Sixties and Seventies, I was not as prayerful as he would have liked. I had other things on my mind: school, boys, dances, music and other non-religious activities. My father prayed everyday for me, in the hopes that I would one day recognize the need for prayer in my life. It took some time for his prayers to come to fruition, but as an adult I now realize how important prayer is. I still feel that I can improve upon my prayer-life and I am grateful, today, to have come across a card that my dad possessed, upon the back of which he had he typed out his petition.
The prayer itself, is an appeal to God to grant a favour through the intercession of the priest, and founder of the organization Opus Dei.
Spanish priest, Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer died on June 26, 1975, at age 73 and was beatified by Pope John Paull II, in 1992. On October 6, 2002, the Pope canonized him fully as a saint. His Feast Day is June 26 (two days after my birthday).
From an early age, Josemaría Escrivá began carrying a rosary in his pocket and he developed a lifelong love and adoration of the blessed Virgin Mary. He had a special connection to the Virgin Mary of Guadalupe; while alive he remarked about a painting of this Virgin giving a rose to Juan Diego. “I would like to die that way” he said. In fact, his natural death did occur in a room under the painting of the Virgin of Guadalupe.
I don’t know enough about Opus Dei to argue whether or not accusations about political statements by Josemaría Escrivá are true or not. I do know that Dan Brown uses Opus Dei to great negative effect in his books, so I am inclined to disregard the rumours against it, since Dan Brown is at the top of my list of “useless articles”, as my mother would say.
I know also, that for some reason my dad had a very strong attachment to this particular priest/saint. The card on which the prayer is printed is well-worn by his hands–it is torn and stained and a corner is missing, but the words are still clear and the sentiment rings out.
My father mysteriously crossed out eleven lines at the top of the reverse side of the card. I wish I knew what they had read, but he used a black marker, so he must have been determined that nobody read it. He also crossed out his brother’s name since he had died. The remaining intercession touched me deeply this morning and I am determined to fulfill his intention:
“My deepest wish now as always Lord, is
that Josemaria Escriva in his constant
advocacy before Your Throne, might
deign to include my daughters,
my brother Mick and my
sisters; to plead that they would
retain or redevelop the fullest real-
ization and appreciation of the great
benificence bestowed on them by being
born into the True Faith; to the point
where each of them would resolve again
to nurture, treasure and safeguard it
for the remainder of their earthly
sojourn.”
With all my heart, I thank you Daddy for all your prayers for me.
Beatasum
Thursday, April 9, 2009
A Christ-centered life
By Dr. Bernardo Villegas in Manila Bulletin
Every year, Holy Week gives an opportunity to Christians to focus their attention on Jesus Christ as the Redeemer of the world. Throughout all the days of this culmination of the Lenten Season, we consider how Jesus, true God and true Man, was obedient unto death, even unto the death of the Cross. Jesus is without doubt the very center of our attention as we move from Palm Sunday to the glorious day of the Resurrection.
It would be a pity, though, if we limit our Christ-centeredness to Holy Week. For a Christian, every day should be an opportunity to put Christ at the center of all our activities. I would like to cite here the example of St. Josemaria Escriva, Founder of Opus Dei. His whole being was centered on the Person of Jesus Christ. None other than Pope Benedict XVI, when he was still known as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, expounded on the Christ-centeredness of this modern saint, who was canonized by Pope John Paul II on October 6, 2002.
In an address to theologians and other scholars reflecting on the studies and teachings of St. Josemaria, then Cardinal Ratzinger highlighted the Christ-centeredness of St. Josemaria: "...there is something which one immediately notices when one comes in contact with the life of Monsignor Escriva de Balaguer or with his writings — a very vivid sense of the presence of Christ. 'Stir up that fire of faith. Christ is not a figure that has passed. He is not a memory that is lost in history. He lives! 'Jesus Christ is the same today as He was yesterday and as He will be forever,' he writes in The Way. This Christ who is alive is also a Christ who is near, a Christ in whom the power and majesty of God make themselves present through ordinary, simple, human things."
Pope Benedict XVI spoke of St. Josemaria as having a marked and special type of Christ-centeredness, in which contemplation of Jesus' life on earth and contemplation of His living presence in the Eucharist lead one to discover God and from God they throw light onto the circumstances of our everyday life. Then he quotes from one of the best-selling books of St. Josemaria, Christ Is Passing By: "The fact that Jesus grew up and lived just like us shows that human existence and all the ordinary activity of men have a divine meaning. No matter how much we may have reflected on this, we should always be surprised when we think of the 30 years of obscurity which made up the greater part of Jesus' life among men. He lived in obscurity, but, for us, that period is full of light. It illuminates our days and fills them with meaning, for we are ordinary Christians who lead an ordinary life, just like millions of other people all over the world."
Only by centering one's life on the Person of Christ can each one of us respond to the universal calling to holiness. Pope Benedict XVI specifies two things that we can learn from reflections on the life of Jesus, from the deep mystery of the fact that God not only became man but also took on the human condition, making Himself the same as us, except for sin. The first one relates to the very charisma that God gave to Opus Dei: "First of all is the universal call to holiness, to whose proclamation St. Josemaria made such a contribution, as John Paul II recalled in his homily during the beatification Mass. But also, to give body to this call, there is the recognition that holiness is reached under the influence of the Holy Spirit, through ordinary life. Holiness consists in this — living our daily life with our sights fixed on God; shaping all our actions to accord with the Gospel and the spirit of Faith."
Let us resolve then to make full use of the impetus that Holy Week has given us to continue to focus on the Person of Christ for the rest of the year and the rest of our lives. The principal way we can get close to Christ is to live a life of prayer, sacrifice, and apostolic action. The highest form of prayer is the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass which is a representation of the Sacrifice on Calvary performed in an unbloody manner. Happy Easter to all my readers.
Every year, Holy Week gives an opportunity to Christians to focus their attention on Jesus Christ as the Redeemer of the world. Throughout all the days of this culmination of the Lenten Season, we consider how Jesus, true God and true Man, was obedient unto death, even unto the death of the Cross. Jesus is without doubt the very center of our attention as we move from Palm Sunday to the glorious day of the Resurrection.
It would be a pity, though, if we limit our Christ-centeredness to Holy Week. For a Christian, every day should be an opportunity to put Christ at the center of all our activities. I would like to cite here the example of St. Josemaria Escriva, Founder of Opus Dei. His whole being was centered on the Person of Jesus Christ. None other than Pope Benedict XVI, when he was still known as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, expounded on the Christ-centeredness of this modern saint, who was canonized by Pope John Paul II on October 6, 2002.
In an address to theologians and other scholars reflecting on the studies and teachings of St. Josemaria, then Cardinal Ratzinger highlighted the Christ-centeredness of St. Josemaria: "...there is something which one immediately notices when one comes in contact with the life of Monsignor Escriva de Balaguer or with his writings — a very vivid sense of the presence of Christ. 'Stir up that fire of faith. Christ is not a figure that has passed. He is not a memory that is lost in history. He lives! 'Jesus Christ is the same today as He was yesterday and as He will be forever,' he writes in The Way. This Christ who is alive is also a Christ who is near, a Christ in whom the power and majesty of God make themselves present through ordinary, simple, human things."
Pope Benedict XVI spoke of St. Josemaria as having a marked and special type of Christ-centeredness, in which contemplation of Jesus' life on earth and contemplation of His living presence in the Eucharist lead one to discover God and from God they throw light onto the circumstances of our everyday life. Then he quotes from one of the best-selling books of St. Josemaria, Christ Is Passing By: "The fact that Jesus grew up and lived just like us shows that human existence and all the ordinary activity of men have a divine meaning. No matter how much we may have reflected on this, we should always be surprised when we think of the 30 years of obscurity which made up the greater part of Jesus' life among men. He lived in obscurity, but, for us, that period is full of light. It illuminates our days and fills them with meaning, for we are ordinary Christians who lead an ordinary life, just like millions of other people all over the world."
Only by centering one's life on the Person of Christ can each one of us respond to the universal calling to holiness. Pope Benedict XVI specifies two things that we can learn from reflections on the life of Jesus, from the deep mystery of the fact that God not only became man but also took on the human condition, making Himself the same as us, except for sin. The first one relates to the very charisma that God gave to Opus Dei: "First of all is the universal call to holiness, to whose proclamation St. Josemaria made such a contribution, as John Paul II recalled in his homily during the beatification Mass. But also, to give body to this call, there is the recognition that holiness is reached under the influence of the Holy Spirit, through ordinary life. Holiness consists in this — living our daily life with our sights fixed on God; shaping all our actions to accord with the Gospel and the spirit of Faith."
Let us resolve then to make full use of the impetus that Holy Week has given us to continue to focus on the Person of Christ for the rest of the year and the rest of our lives. The principal way we can get close to Christ is to live a life of prayer, sacrifice, and apostolic action. The highest form of prayer is the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass which is a representation of the Sacrifice on Calvary performed in an unbloody manner. Happy Easter to all my readers.
St. Josemaria and my wishlist
By Dawn in a Helping Hand
So lately I have been calling on our Lord for everything under the sun. :) I feel like a kid again, in that, back then I had no limits to my wants and desires and frequently asked Him for all of it. Including a million dollars! As I got older I began to feel like maybe I was using him as one would use a genie in a lamp. "Here, God, this is what I want, grant it for me".
So I began to shy away from asking Him for what I wanted. I note here, that was to my detriment.
Then I read a book called Left to Tell. A woman going through the Rwandan genocide who relied wholly on God during her time of captivity. She would often tell Jesus what she wanted and thank Him in advance. I thought that was kinda weird, too forward, not reverent and definitely not something I would do.
Then...I realized one day, as I was praying, I was doing it. I thanked God for the blessings in my life and for any future blessings and graces He would bestow upon me and my family. Umm..okay..so let's go one step further then. I'll just sorta ask Him, in a roundabout way..(and I was always concerned about how I asked..don't want to make Him mad, ya know?)..
Then last night I read this by St. Josemaria Escriva:
"Be more daring still, and whenever you need anything, mindful always of the "fiat" - "Your will be done" - don't ask, tell him: "Jesus, I want this or that". For that's the way children ask." #403 The Way
I love the way He works. He always answers my questions.
So lately I have been calling on our Lord for everything under the sun. :) I feel like a kid again, in that, back then I had no limits to my wants and desires and frequently asked Him for all of it. Including a million dollars! As I got older I began to feel like maybe I was using him as one would use a genie in a lamp. "Here, God, this is what I want, grant it for me".
So I began to shy away from asking Him for what I wanted. I note here, that was to my detriment.
Then I read a book called Left to Tell. A woman going through the Rwandan genocide who relied wholly on God during her time of captivity. She would often tell Jesus what she wanted and thank Him in advance. I thought that was kinda weird, too forward, not reverent and definitely not something I would do.
Then...I realized one day, as I was praying, I was doing it. I thanked God for the blessings in my life and for any future blessings and graces He would bestow upon me and my family. Umm..okay..so let's go one step further then. I'll just sorta ask Him, in a roundabout way..(and I was always concerned about how I asked..don't want to make Him mad, ya know?)..
Then last night I read this by St. Josemaria Escriva:
"Be more daring still, and whenever you need anything, mindful always of the "fiat" - "Your will be done" - don't ask, tell him: "Jesus, I want this or that". For that's the way children ask." #403 The Way
I love the way He works. He always answers my questions.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
'I’ve Never Seen A Stronger Faith Than That Among Persecuted Catholics In China'
RSD Reports, Wednesday, April 08, 2009. Giving classes to seminarians from the An interview with Fr. Esteben Aranaz, a member of the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross, who is returning from six years of priestly work in Taiwan and on the Chinese mainland.
In the interior of China, north of Beijing, a Spanish priest is giving theology classes in an old ice plant. It’s 2 a.m. The students drink in his lessons on the Catechism of the Catholic Church. They know it will be a long time before they hear something like this again.
After class, they will all return home and the next day go to work like everyone else. Only they and a small group of faithful know that they are seminarians in China’s persecuted Church. As for the teacher, Esteban Aranaz, he will pick up his guitar and continue his role as "visiting musician."
On his trip through China, many "concerts" are awaiting him: classes for seminarians, retreats, Masses for small groups, visits to priests. "Almost always at night, when the police aren’t watching. Fear? That’s irrelevant. No, I’ve never been afraid."
Esteban Aranaz is a diocesan priest who belongs to the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross, an association founded by St. Josemaría Escrivá and united to Opus Dei. For six years he lived in Taiwan and often traveled to the Mainland. Now, he is returning to Spain to be Rector of the Major Seminary of his diocese, Tarazona.
Why did you move from Tarazona to Taiwan?
Our Lord gave me hints little by little. We received news from a nun from our diocese who was living in a cloistered convent in Taiwan. It was clear that so many people there did not yet know Christ.
At Christmas in 1999, I invited a young Chinese friend to my parish. His legal and employment situation in Spain was not very good. Yan was not a Christian but his sincere and generous temperament made our friendship easy.
On Christmas Eve we were in church, where he was helping me prepare for midnight Mass. When he saw the figure of the Child Jesus, he told me that the Child "was telling him" three things: "First, that he comes from heaven, and is not as we are; second, since he is little, he has a Mother who loves him a lot; third, his arms are open because he loves everyone."
I had been wondering how I could explain the meaning of Christmas to him, but it wasn’t necessary. His simple but deep words moved me and I thought: "How many people in China don’t know you, Jesus." From that moment a great restlessness to go to China was born in my heart.
I began to give it serious consideration in 2000 when John Paul II urged us: "Duc in altum! Put out into the deep!" Those words constantly resounded in my head. At the same time, I was moved by the letter the Prelate of Opus Dei wrote for the start of the third millenium, challenging his sons and daughters to "set more daring goals" in their apostolate.
But you were already a priest…
Yes, but that still didn’t seem enough. I had to make up my mind. So on a trip to Rome, I prayed before a relic of St. Francis Xavier, a saint who left everything to go to Asia. I asked our Lord: "Give me a clear sign if you want me to go to China. It’s not an easy decision."
I had just left the church when a nun from Asia greeted me on the street and said, "Please pray for my country, China." I froze on the spot and replied, "You have no idea how much I do, sister." It was the sign I was waiting for. There was no going back on my words.
When I told my Bishop, he gave me his complete support: "I can’t refuse a service for the universal Church," he said, and I’ve been eternally grateful.
How did you get started?
It was hard, certainly. For the first two years, my days came down to celebrating Mass, studying Chinese, and fulfilling my norms of piety such as the Rosary and prayer. I got a lot out of the Mass, for I came to understand how it was the high point of each day. Since I couldn’t do anything else, I prayed and prayed for those people with whom I couldn’t yet communicate.
Did you suffer much from loneliness?
No, I’ve never felt alone. As a member of the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross, I could go to a center of Opus Dei in Taipei to receive the means of formation and spiritual direction. There I found the strength needed not to become discouraged. I also had the prayers of my family and many friends as spiritual support.
Finally, after those first two years, the archbishop of Taipei entrusted me with a parish of 120 persons, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal (a devotion St. Josemaría liked a lot). "Whom will I assist?" I asked. "You’ll be the only priest," he replied. I felt a great eagerness to start working.
The first homilies in Chinese were a disaster! But thank God, the faithful were very understanding and helped me out a lot.
How is the faith of the Taiwanese?
You must understand that in Taiwan, a country of 23 million people, only 1% of the population is Catholic. But they are very proud of being Catholics and have a lively sense of belonging to the Church.
In my time there, we had 32 conversions. I recall with special affection a 58-year-old man with cancer. His family was Catholic, but he had always remained a pagan. They called me from the hospital: "He wants to be baptized." I remember asking him about the truths of the faith: "Do you believe in God the Father? Do you believe in God the Son?.…" And he responded firmly while grasping my crucifix: "Yes, I believe!" When I was about to leave he asked if he could keep the crucifix: "This is my only consolation now," he said. He died soon after in great peace.
On my visits to the sick, I often though about St. Josemaría as he prepared for the foundation of Opus Dei by visiting the dying in Madrid’s hospitals. I know all the hospitals in Taipei very well! There I’ve anointed the dying, baptized and even married people!
How do you explain the Catholic faith to non-believers?
The Taiwanese in general are very respectful of the faith, so it’s easy to talk about it. For the past three years, we’ve had a Corpus Christi procession through the central part of the city. Parishioners prepare a patterned carpet of multi-colored rice. It’s an opportunity to explain the Eucharist to people.
When Christmas was approaching, I wanted to set up a Nativity scene in a public place. This tradition provides a good chance to speak about Christ. One of the main banks in Taiwan is adjacent to the parish church. The entrance to this skyscraper has a small garden—it was the perfect place. I asked two of the faithful to accompany me when I spoke with the person in charge. Before going in, we prayed a Hail Mary that all would go well. It was December 12, feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
As it turned out, not only were we able to speak with the building administrator, but he immediately gave us permission, and even more, paid for it to be set up!
This religious tradition was quite surprising to many people. But ever since then, the Nativity scene has been set up there each year. It’s a wonderful teaching opportunity.
But your original intention was to go to mainland China.
And I was able to go! After learning Chinese well enough, I got in touch with some communities of the persecuted—or "underground"—Church and was able to visit them. I even had a chance to visit some Christians who live north of the Great Wall.
After getting to know them, I can say that I’ve never seen a stronger faith than that among the persecuted Catholics in China. It’s a faith purified by the Cross, by suffering. They’ve taught me so much. For example, when we celebrated early morning Eucharist in someone’s home, the piety of those people was so moving. For them, the Mass is truly a treasure.
A bishop who has been in prison and is now under house arrest told me: "For the Church to go forward in China, I have three concerns: that we never be afraid, that we are faithful, and that our priests are well formed. Everything else will take care of itself."
That bishop got an orphanage going for 72 abandoned and sick children who had been found on the street. Chinese priests in general are heroic.
How can the Church in China be helped?
With prayer.
That’s all?
But it’s not enough to pray for the Church; we also need to pray for the authorities in China, that they convert. In addition, money is needed to help Chinese priests who can come to Europe to receive training. I also help support the Guan Ming ("Clarity") Foundation, which provides books for the underground seminarians. Recently we’ve been able to send them the first Chinese translation of the complete works of St. Thomas Aquinas—the Summa Theologiae and other writings.
And now?
The Bishop of my diocese in Spain opened a seminary and named me Rector. So I’m back in Tarazona to continue serving the Church here. But although I’ve left China, my heart is still there.
In the interior of China, north of Beijing, a Spanish priest is giving theology classes in an old ice plant. It’s 2 a.m. The students drink in his lessons on the Catechism of the Catholic Church. They know it will be a long time before they hear something like this again.
After class, they will all return home and the next day go to work like everyone else. Only they and a small group of faithful know that they are seminarians in China’s persecuted Church. As for the teacher, Esteban Aranaz, he will pick up his guitar and continue his role as "visiting musician."
On his trip through China, many "concerts" are awaiting him: classes for seminarians, retreats, Masses for small groups, visits to priests. "Almost always at night, when the police aren’t watching. Fear? That’s irrelevant. No, I’ve never been afraid."
Esteban Aranaz is a diocesan priest who belongs to the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross, an association founded by St. Josemaría Escrivá and united to Opus Dei. For six years he lived in Taiwan and often traveled to the Mainland. Now, he is returning to Spain to be Rector of the Major Seminary of his diocese, Tarazona.
Why did you move from Tarazona to Taiwan?
Our Lord gave me hints little by little. We received news from a nun from our diocese who was living in a cloistered convent in Taiwan. It was clear that so many people there did not yet know Christ.
At Christmas in 1999, I invited a young Chinese friend to my parish. His legal and employment situation in Spain was not very good. Yan was not a Christian but his sincere and generous temperament made our friendship easy.
On Christmas Eve we were in church, where he was helping me prepare for midnight Mass. When he saw the figure of the Child Jesus, he told me that the Child "was telling him" three things: "First, that he comes from heaven, and is not as we are; second, since he is little, he has a Mother who loves him a lot; third, his arms are open because he loves everyone."
I had been wondering how I could explain the meaning of Christmas to him, but it wasn’t necessary. His simple but deep words moved me and I thought: "How many people in China don’t know you, Jesus." From that moment a great restlessness to go to China was born in my heart.
I began to give it serious consideration in 2000 when John Paul II urged us: "Duc in altum! Put out into the deep!" Those words constantly resounded in my head. At the same time, I was moved by the letter the Prelate of Opus Dei wrote for the start of the third millenium, challenging his sons and daughters to "set more daring goals" in their apostolate.
But you were already a priest…
Yes, but that still didn’t seem enough. I had to make up my mind. So on a trip to Rome, I prayed before a relic of St. Francis Xavier, a saint who left everything to go to Asia. I asked our Lord: "Give me a clear sign if you want me to go to China. It’s not an easy decision."
I had just left the church when a nun from Asia greeted me on the street and said, "Please pray for my country, China." I froze on the spot and replied, "You have no idea how much I do, sister." It was the sign I was waiting for. There was no going back on my words.
When I told my Bishop, he gave me his complete support: "I can’t refuse a service for the universal Church," he said, and I’ve been eternally grateful.
How did you get started?
It was hard, certainly. For the first two years, my days came down to celebrating Mass, studying Chinese, and fulfilling my norms of piety such as the Rosary and prayer. I got a lot out of the Mass, for I came to understand how it was the high point of each day. Since I couldn’t do anything else, I prayed and prayed for those people with whom I couldn’t yet communicate.
Did you suffer much from loneliness?
No, I’ve never felt alone. As a member of the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross, I could go to a center of Opus Dei in Taipei to receive the means of formation and spiritual direction. There I found the strength needed not to become discouraged. I also had the prayers of my family and many friends as spiritual support.
Finally, after those first two years, the archbishop of Taipei entrusted me with a parish of 120 persons, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal (a devotion St. Josemaría liked a lot). "Whom will I assist?" I asked. "You’ll be the only priest," he replied. I felt a great eagerness to start working.
The first homilies in Chinese were a disaster! But thank God, the faithful were very understanding and helped me out a lot.
How is the faith of the Taiwanese?
You must understand that in Taiwan, a country of 23 million people, only 1% of the population is Catholic. But they are very proud of being Catholics and have a lively sense of belonging to the Church.
In my time there, we had 32 conversions. I recall with special affection a 58-year-old man with cancer. His family was Catholic, but he had always remained a pagan. They called me from the hospital: "He wants to be baptized." I remember asking him about the truths of the faith: "Do you believe in God the Father? Do you believe in God the Son?.…" And he responded firmly while grasping my crucifix: "Yes, I believe!" When I was about to leave he asked if he could keep the crucifix: "This is my only consolation now," he said. He died soon after in great peace.
On my visits to the sick, I often though about St. Josemaría as he prepared for the foundation of Opus Dei by visiting the dying in Madrid’s hospitals. I know all the hospitals in Taipei very well! There I’ve anointed the dying, baptized and even married people!
How do you explain the Catholic faith to non-believers?
The Taiwanese in general are very respectful of the faith, so it’s easy to talk about it. For the past three years, we’ve had a Corpus Christi procession through the central part of the city. Parishioners prepare a patterned carpet of multi-colored rice. It’s an opportunity to explain the Eucharist to people.
When Christmas was approaching, I wanted to set up a Nativity scene in a public place. This tradition provides a good chance to speak about Christ. One of the main banks in Taiwan is adjacent to the parish church. The entrance to this skyscraper has a small garden—it was the perfect place. I asked two of the faithful to accompany me when I spoke with the person in charge. Before going in, we prayed a Hail Mary that all would go well. It was December 12, feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
As it turned out, not only were we able to speak with the building administrator, but he immediately gave us permission, and even more, paid for it to be set up!
This religious tradition was quite surprising to many people. But ever since then, the Nativity scene has been set up there each year. It’s a wonderful teaching opportunity.
But your original intention was to go to mainland China.
And I was able to go! After learning Chinese well enough, I got in touch with some communities of the persecuted—or "underground"—Church and was able to visit them. I even had a chance to visit some Christians who live north of the Great Wall.
After getting to know them, I can say that I’ve never seen a stronger faith than that among the persecuted Catholics in China. It’s a faith purified by the Cross, by suffering. They’ve taught me so much. For example, when we celebrated early morning Eucharist in someone’s home, the piety of those people was so moving. For them, the Mass is truly a treasure.
A bishop who has been in prison and is now under house arrest told me: "For the Church to go forward in China, I have three concerns: that we never be afraid, that we are faithful, and that our priests are well formed. Everything else will take care of itself."
That bishop got an orphanage going for 72 abandoned and sick children who had been found on the street. Chinese priests in general are heroic.
How can the Church in China be helped?
With prayer.
That’s all?
But it’s not enough to pray for the Church; we also need to pray for the authorities in China, that they convert. In addition, money is needed to help Chinese priests who can come to Europe to receive training. I also help support the Guan Ming ("Clarity") Foundation, which provides books for the underground seminarians. Recently we’ve been able to send them the first Chinese translation of the complete works of St. Thomas Aquinas—the Summa Theologiae and other writings.
And now?
The Bishop of my diocese in Spain opened a seminary and named me Rector. So I’m back in Tarazona to continue serving the Church here. But although I’ve left China, my heart is still there.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Questions on Opus Dei at Catholic Answers Forum
Red Meg of Catholic Answers Forum replies to questions on Opus Dei
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rafaela
I am the one responsible for translating the letter of Prelate each month to one of the smaller European languages.
Thank you!!! As one who reads the letter in translation to English every month, I know how appreciated that kind of help is.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rafaela
It is just that as an academic, I feel my intellect is being neglected in some elements of the Work. For instance, why does OD center never call it self one? The name is always something like ''Maple woods cultural center for women'' (made it up) but that is the way. Now u may say that it has to do with privacy of people who live there. My question is though why is it needed there in comparison to saying this is ''Monastery of the order of Dominicans''.
I guess the way I've always thought about it is this: a center is, first and foremost, a home. We don't have the custom here in the US of assigning names to individual houses, but my impression is that some parts of Europe do, which is rather charming. But even if we did name our homes here, I don't think my family, Catholic though we may be, would call it something like "St. Gemma" or "A Little Piece of Opus Dei" or anything like that. It would be kind of weird, don't you think? It would strike me as equally weird for a center to be named like that. Particularly when the center is a large residence (I'm thinking of the college kids' place in Boston, now) there will be many residents who are not practicing, or are not Catholic, or are not even Christian. Tacking on some kind of "churchy" name would be off-putting, and could potentially deprive them of what could otherwise be a truly wonderful living experience. Many people think they cannot stand Christianity, yet when they see it lived out, simply, day by day, they understand the appeal.
Does that make any sense?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rafaela
Another point that there is, is that when ever I mention ''cult'' everybody in the Work seem to get unreasonably irritated. Why is that, unless if what I say has some sort of tiny part of truth? You know, originally sociologists, used word ''cult'' to refer to any relatively small religious group.
Last things first-- in English, at least here in the US, cult has taken on an exclusively perjorative meaning. It implies you have "checked your brains at the front door," so to speak, and decided to abandon all pretense of independent thought and freedom.
This whole notion of abandoning freedom is completely inimical to our spirit. St. Josemaria insisted time and time again that we needed to be living out our vocations with total freedom.
Many of us have simply had our patience tested over the last few years with all the Da Vinci Code nonsense. People that, for years, couldn't give a hoot that someone belonged to Opus Dei, suddenly became deeply interested, but not for any spiritual reason, but because of the potential for a freak show. KWIM? I hope you can understand that it can all get a bit tiresome at some point.
This might be a rather silly example, but suppose the notion that a mother couldn't properly care for more than two or three children became widespread and fixed in popular culture. If that happened, I, as the mother of eight, would probably start to get a bit exasperated at some point if many of my acquaintances, even without malice, kept innocently saying, "But surely you can't take care of that many! Some of them must be neglected/underfed/whatever." Yes?
I hope this makes some sense, at least??
Best,
Margaret
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rafaela
I am the one responsible for translating the letter of Prelate each month to one of the smaller European languages.
Thank you!!! As one who reads the letter in translation to English every month, I know how appreciated that kind of help is.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rafaela
It is just that as an academic, I feel my intellect is being neglected in some elements of the Work. For instance, why does OD center never call it self one? The name is always something like ''Maple woods cultural center for women'' (made it up) but that is the way. Now u may say that it has to do with privacy of people who live there. My question is though why is it needed there in comparison to saying this is ''Monastery of the order of Dominicans''.
I guess the way I've always thought about it is this: a center is, first and foremost, a home. We don't have the custom here in the US of assigning names to individual houses, but my impression is that some parts of Europe do, which is rather charming. But even if we did name our homes here, I don't think my family, Catholic though we may be, would call it something like "St. Gemma" or "A Little Piece of Opus Dei" or anything like that. It would be kind of weird, don't you think? It would strike me as equally weird for a center to be named like that. Particularly when the center is a large residence (I'm thinking of the college kids' place in Boston, now) there will be many residents who are not practicing, or are not Catholic, or are not even Christian. Tacking on some kind of "churchy" name would be off-putting, and could potentially deprive them of what could otherwise be a truly wonderful living experience. Many people think they cannot stand Christianity, yet when they see it lived out, simply, day by day, they understand the appeal.
Does that make any sense?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rafaela
Another point that there is, is that when ever I mention ''cult'' everybody in the Work seem to get unreasonably irritated. Why is that, unless if what I say has some sort of tiny part of truth? You know, originally sociologists, used word ''cult'' to refer to any relatively small religious group.
Last things first-- in English, at least here in the US, cult has taken on an exclusively perjorative meaning. It implies you have "checked your brains at the front door," so to speak, and decided to abandon all pretense of independent thought and freedom.
This whole notion of abandoning freedom is completely inimical to our spirit. St. Josemaria insisted time and time again that we needed to be living out our vocations with total freedom.
Many of us have simply had our patience tested over the last few years with all the Da Vinci Code nonsense. People that, for years, couldn't give a hoot that someone belonged to Opus Dei, suddenly became deeply interested, but not for any spiritual reason, but because of the potential for a freak show. KWIM? I hope you can understand that it can all get a bit tiresome at some point.
This might be a rather silly example, but suppose the notion that a mother couldn't properly care for more than two or three children became widespread and fixed in popular culture. If that happened, I, as the mother of eight, would probably start to get a bit exasperated at some point if many of my acquaintances, even without malice, kept innocently saying, "But surely you can't take care of that many! Some of them must be neglected/underfed/whatever." Yes?
I hope this makes some sense, at least??
Best,
Margaret
Questions on Opus Dei
Red Meg of Catholic Answers Forum replies to questions on Opus Dei
Quote:
Originally Posted by AveSantaMaria
What is a supernumerary?
A supernumerary is a member of Opus Dei who has a vocation to marriage and raising a family of their own. We keep to the same "plan of life" as other members (numeraries and associates) like Mass, prayer, Rosary, etc. but we live in our own homes to take care of our families. Numeraries, on the other hand, remain single and normally live together in a center. They do this so they have the time & energy needed to give formation & spiritual direction.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rafaela
Though I have not experienced anything negative, and I sort of buy into their message, I still wonder why they need to be in front line of marketing their group in internet etc.
Opus Dei has one major website dedicated to explaining the organization, another one dedicated to sharing the writings of St. Josemaria, and I think there's one more, not nearly as extensive, that is "about" St. Josemaria. I'm not too sure what their goal is, exactly, except maybe for historical or scholarly use?
Anyway, I guess I don't see a problem with using the modern means of communication to explain who we are. Some people feel much more comfortable accessing information that way, while others (who would rather watch paint dry than spend time on the internet) would probably do better to just knock on the door of a center, sit down and have a cup of tea with someone and discuss things. I don't see the issue with either approach-- the goal is to help people see that God calls everyone to be a saint, and if using a variety of means to communicate that is what works, than go for it...
Quote:
Another fact I am concerned with is, why there seems to be relative amount of people online, with their web pages, whom seem to be totally normal, and they are very radically against OD, some calling it even 'cult'.
I can't speak to everyone's experience with the Work-- I can certainly say, though, that it isn't for everybody, just as everybody isn't called to the cloister or a third order or whatever. I can say, however, that I have encountered nothing 'culty' in my dealings with people in Opus Dei. Nothing. We place a huge, huge emphasis on freedom, because we are children of God, not slaves. Anything done in the Work needs to be done freely, as an adult.
That being said, I have encountered one person in the Work who is by nature an incredibly pushy woman who will not take no for an answer. I have to imagine she has rubbed some people the wrong way over the years. But that is quite clearly her own defect that she needs to work on, not something to be attributed to Opus Dei, any more than my horrible sloppiness and poor housekeeping should be...
I would definitely encourage you to poke around the www.opusdei.org site further if you are interested-- a lot of material is covered, and explained with more writing skill than I possess. You can, of course, ask me, too, but I am subject to family demands.
Also, there were two books published recently that present an interesting look-- one is from an "insider," the apologist Scott Hahn, called "Ordinary Work, Extraordinary Grace;" the other is from an outside perspective, by the journalist John Allen, called "Opus Dei." They are both from Doubleday, which is apparently seeking to cash in on all aspects of controversy, since they also published "The Da Vinci Code" and St. Josemaria's "The Way."
Hope this helps,
Margaret
Quote:
Originally Posted by AveSantaMaria
What is a supernumerary?
A supernumerary is a member of Opus Dei who has a vocation to marriage and raising a family of their own. We keep to the same "plan of life" as other members (numeraries and associates) like Mass, prayer, Rosary, etc. but we live in our own homes to take care of our families. Numeraries, on the other hand, remain single and normally live together in a center. They do this so they have the time & energy needed to give formation & spiritual direction.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rafaela
Though I have not experienced anything negative, and I sort of buy into their message, I still wonder why they need to be in front line of marketing their group in internet etc.
Opus Dei has one major website dedicated to explaining the organization, another one dedicated to sharing the writings of St. Josemaria, and I think there's one more, not nearly as extensive, that is "about" St. Josemaria. I'm not too sure what their goal is, exactly, except maybe for historical or scholarly use?
Anyway, I guess I don't see a problem with using the modern means of communication to explain who we are. Some people feel much more comfortable accessing information that way, while others (who would rather watch paint dry than spend time on the internet) would probably do better to just knock on the door of a center, sit down and have a cup of tea with someone and discuss things. I don't see the issue with either approach-- the goal is to help people see that God calls everyone to be a saint, and if using a variety of means to communicate that is what works, than go for it...
Quote:
Another fact I am concerned with is, why there seems to be relative amount of people online, with their web pages, whom seem to be totally normal, and they are very radically against OD, some calling it even 'cult'.
I can't speak to everyone's experience with the Work-- I can certainly say, though, that it isn't for everybody, just as everybody isn't called to the cloister or a third order or whatever. I can say, however, that I have encountered nothing 'culty' in my dealings with people in Opus Dei. Nothing. We place a huge, huge emphasis on freedom, because we are children of God, not slaves. Anything done in the Work needs to be done freely, as an adult.
That being said, I have encountered one person in the Work who is by nature an incredibly pushy woman who will not take no for an answer. I have to imagine she has rubbed some people the wrong way over the years. But that is quite clearly her own defect that she needs to work on, not something to be attributed to Opus Dei, any more than my horrible sloppiness and poor housekeeping should be...
I would definitely encourage you to poke around the www.opusdei.org site further if you are interested-- a lot of material is covered, and explained with more writing skill than I possess. You can, of course, ask me, too, but I am subject to family demands.
Also, there were two books published recently that present an interesting look-- one is from an "insider," the apologist Scott Hahn, called "Ordinary Work, Extraordinary Grace;" the other is from an outside perspective, by the journalist John Allen, called "Opus Dei." They are both from Doubleday, which is apparently seeking to cash in on all aspects of controversy, since they also published "The Da Vinci Code" and St. Josemaria's "The Way."
Hope this helps,
Margaret
Spanish Cardinal: A great vocational flowering in the secular apostolate
The archbishop of Madrid told World Youth Day organizers that the 2011 event will be an opportunity to renew Spain's fidelity to the Church.
In his address, Cardinal Antonio María Rouco Varela reviewed the history of Christianity in Spain, and the fruits that evangelization has given the country and the world. He said that in Spain the seed of the Gospel sprouted rapidly, but now the Church must address new challenges if evangelization is to continue to bear fruit.
He explained how evangelization began in his country almost 2,000 years ago, with the Apostle James, whose tomb, according to tradition, is in Santiago de Compostela, where the 1989 youth day was held.
With World Youth Day in 2011, he stated, the Church in Spain seeks a "new spring of the Church," one of the great challenges being "the demographic decline," especially with regard to youth and children.
The cardinal also mentioned the new charisms that have manifested themselves in his country in recent years, which have resulted in "a great vocational flowering in the secular apostolate and contemplative life."
He continued: "I would like to mention two examples: the Neo-Catechumenal Way, which arose in the in 60s, and Opus Dei, which was born almost 100 years ago."
The world's greatest poverty, he said, is its "break with God." Hence, he exhorted all the members of the Church in Spain to work so that her "missionary vocation will flower again."
In his address, Cardinal Antonio María Rouco Varela reviewed the history of Christianity in Spain, and the fruits that evangelization has given the country and the world. He said that in Spain the seed of the Gospel sprouted rapidly, but now the Church must address new challenges if evangelization is to continue to bear fruit.
He explained how evangelization began in his country almost 2,000 years ago, with the Apostle James, whose tomb, according to tradition, is in Santiago de Compostela, where the 1989 youth day was held.
With World Youth Day in 2011, he stated, the Church in Spain seeks a "new spring of the Church," one of the great challenges being "the demographic decline," especially with regard to youth and children.
The cardinal also mentioned the new charisms that have manifested themselves in his country in recent years, which have resulted in "a great vocational flowering in the secular apostolate and contemplative life."
He continued: "I would like to mention two examples: the Neo-Catechumenal Way, which arose in the in 60s, and Opus Dei, which was born almost 100 years ago."
The world's greatest poverty, he said, is its "break with God." Hence, he exhorted all the members of the Church in Spain to work so that her "missionary vocation will flower again."
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Polish author: Fortunately we have confession
by Piotr Chmielinski in Sunday Catholic Weekly
A journalist, columnist, author of many books and documentaries. Gifted with a distinctive, typical radio voice. Recently he has been involved in educating young people. He is fascinated by John Paul II and Saint Josemaria Escriva.
I met Pawel Zuchniewicz in his office of the Association Sternik, which runs schools and nursery schools for boys and girls. This relatively new initiative of a group of parents and teachers that has created a unified and consistent educational offer, based on the individual approach towards each pupil, respect of their freedom and the Christian vision of man and his life.
‘In what we offer, school and family go hand in hand. We think that the first and irreplaceable place to bring up children is the family, and the school should be only ‘prolongation of home’. Therefore, the schools run by Sternik are mutual work of families’, says Zuchniewicz. He is responsible for the flow of information both within the association and outside, e.g. contacting journalists and all those who are interested in the association.
Faithfulness in the small things
Very tall, with a beard, smiling. A typical storyteller. He is eager to talk and his talks are long, especially when the subject concerns his beloved person John Paul II.
‘He fascinates me. Not only because he was great and he changed the world. First of all, because he managed to be so fatherly and faithful. Faithful in the small things. When he took up something he had to finish it’, Zuchniewicz stresses.
He has already written several books about the Pope. ‘Lolek. Mlode lata Papieza’ [Lolek. The Pope’s Early Years] is a biographical novel of the first twenty-five years of the life of the future Pope. The second part of this biography is ‘Wujek Karol. Kaplanskie lata Papieza’ [Uncle Karol. The Priestly Years of the Pope]. It presents the life of Karol Wojtyla in 1946-1958, the year he became bishop. The third part will be published soon and will be entitled ‘Habemus Papam’. Pawel Zuchniewicz is also the author of the book ‘Jestem z Wami’ [I am with You] about the life and teaching of John Paul II in the form of an interview and of the book ‘Nasz Papiez’ [Our Pope] – an illustrated biography of Karol Wojtyla.
Book written in spite of his wife
However, the most known book of our hero is ‘Cuda Jana Pawla II’ [The Miracles of John Paul II]. That book might have never been written. ‘You must not write it. You cannot make business on the Pope’, Pawel’s wife firmly stated when he told her that he intended to write such a book. ‘She was right. But I felt that I had to write it. I found many unique dramatic stories that had changed people’s lives. You had to show them, especially that during the lifetime of the Pope little was said about the healings and other graces obtained thanks to his intercession. I know that this book helped many people and it gave them hope. And then my wife admitted that I had done the right thing, having decided to write about the miracles. She saw that they as if ‘wrote themselves’ and you could not, even if you wanted, make sensational news’, Zuchniewicz says.
In his opinion what was most extraordinary in the stories of miraculous recoveries was the fact that they would have not probably happened if the Pope was not the way he was – quite ordinary. ‘He approached people, talked to them, heard their prayer intentions’, Zuchniewicz stresses. The Ninth Grammar School named after Klemenstyna Hoffmanowa is regarded as one of the best schools in Warsaw.
Pawel Zuchniewicz finished this school in 1980. He extols his teachers very much. But first of all, he remembers the priest from the All Saints Parish in Warsaw-Srodmiescie, who taught religious instruction. His name was Fr Miroslaw Mikulski. ‘He gave me solid religious knowledge. I was fascinated that the world of faith was so concrete. I remember that after each lesson of religious instruction I told several non-believing mates about its contents. They listened with interest’, Zuchniewicz says.
Faith is the answer to questions
After graduating from high school he began studying journalism at the University of Warsaw. He wanted to be a journalist. But at the same time he was more and more aware that the answer to all questions was in faith. And you should deepen your faith. That’s why at the same time he began studies in the Institute of Family Studies in Lomianki near Warsaw.
After having finished his studies he began working for the Polish Radio. ‘My professional work has always been connected with religion. I served during various religious events, the papal visits and the Youth World Days. I talked a lot about faith. Soon I noticed that it was easier to speak about matters of faith than to apply them. Every time you report such topics you face situations that verify the attitude of the one that speaks. My wife could speak on this subject most but fortunately, she reads ‘The Diary of Sr. Fautina’ and she is merciful. And what is more fortunate is the fact that we have confession in the Church’, Zuchniewicz adds.
He tries to show the whole richness of the Church in his work. One day some American journalists asked him how he could write about the Church objectively when he was a believer. He answered them that to write about a given reality in a competent way one should get to know it well. ‘And then, it is true that one can see that the Church is weak and sinful people. And there is a whole ocean of good that one should show and reveal. The thing is not to ‘ice’ the reality. The thing is to show this deepest truth that evil can be overcome with good. John Paul II testified to that’, Zuchniewicz says.
He has been involved in Opus Dei for many years. Thanks to its spiritual guidance he is convinced how important the regular application of simple religious practices, such as daily Mass, Rosary, meditation, is. He has put this principle into practice. Together with his family he takes part in the liturgy in the Presentation of Our Lord Parish in the district of Natolin in Warsaw. He always uses ‘Oremus’, with which he follows the liturgical texts. Thanks to that, two senses: hearing and sight, and not one, are involved in receiving the texts. ‘I am still learning how to use human attributes, the reason, the senses and various skills to deepen my relationship with Lord God’, he adds.
A journalist, columnist, author of many books and documentaries. Gifted with a distinctive, typical radio voice. Recently he has been involved in educating young people. He is fascinated by John Paul II and Saint Josemaria Escriva.
I met Pawel Zuchniewicz in his office of the Association Sternik, which runs schools and nursery schools for boys and girls. This relatively new initiative of a group of parents and teachers that has created a unified and consistent educational offer, based on the individual approach towards each pupil, respect of their freedom and the Christian vision of man and his life.
‘In what we offer, school and family go hand in hand. We think that the first and irreplaceable place to bring up children is the family, and the school should be only ‘prolongation of home’. Therefore, the schools run by Sternik are mutual work of families’, says Zuchniewicz. He is responsible for the flow of information both within the association and outside, e.g. contacting journalists and all those who are interested in the association.
Faithfulness in the small things
Very tall, with a beard, smiling. A typical storyteller. He is eager to talk and his talks are long, especially when the subject concerns his beloved person John Paul II.
‘He fascinates me. Not only because he was great and he changed the world. First of all, because he managed to be so fatherly and faithful. Faithful in the small things. When he took up something he had to finish it’, Zuchniewicz stresses.
He has already written several books about the Pope. ‘Lolek. Mlode lata Papieza’ [Lolek. The Pope’s Early Years] is a biographical novel of the first twenty-five years of the life of the future Pope. The second part of this biography is ‘Wujek Karol. Kaplanskie lata Papieza’ [Uncle Karol. The Priestly Years of the Pope]. It presents the life of Karol Wojtyla in 1946-1958, the year he became bishop. The third part will be published soon and will be entitled ‘Habemus Papam’. Pawel Zuchniewicz is also the author of the book ‘Jestem z Wami’ [I am with You] about the life and teaching of John Paul II in the form of an interview and of the book ‘Nasz Papiez’ [Our Pope] – an illustrated biography of Karol Wojtyla.
Book written in spite of his wife
However, the most known book of our hero is ‘Cuda Jana Pawla II’ [The Miracles of John Paul II]. That book might have never been written. ‘You must not write it. You cannot make business on the Pope’, Pawel’s wife firmly stated when he told her that he intended to write such a book. ‘She was right. But I felt that I had to write it. I found many unique dramatic stories that had changed people’s lives. You had to show them, especially that during the lifetime of the Pope little was said about the healings and other graces obtained thanks to his intercession. I know that this book helped many people and it gave them hope. And then my wife admitted that I had done the right thing, having decided to write about the miracles. She saw that they as if ‘wrote themselves’ and you could not, even if you wanted, make sensational news’, Zuchniewicz says.
In his opinion what was most extraordinary in the stories of miraculous recoveries was the fact that they would have not probably happened if the Pope was not the way he was – quite ordinary. ‘He approached people, talked to them, heard their prayer intentions’, Zuchniewicz stresses. The Ninth Grammar School named after Klemenstyna Hoffmanowa is regarded as one of the best schools in Warsaw.
Pawel Zuchniewicz finished this school in 1980. He extols his teachers very much. But first of all, he remembers the priest from the All Saints Parish in Warsaw-Srodmiescie, who taught religious instruction. His name was Fr Miroslaw Mikulski. ‘He gave me solid religious knowledge. I was fascinated that the world of faith was so concrete. I remember that after each lesson of religious instruction I told several non-believing mates about its contents. They listened with interest’, Zuchniewicz says.
Faith is the answer to questions
After graduating from high school he began studying journalism at the University of Warsaw. He wanted to be a journalist. But at the same time he was more and more aware that the answer to all questions was in faith. And you should deepen your faith. That’s why at the same time he began studies in the Institute of Family Studies in Lomianki near Warsaw.
After having finished his studies he began working for the Polish Radio. ‘My professional work has always been connected with religion. I served during various religious events, the papal visits and the Youth World Days. I talked a lot about faith. Soon I noticed that it was easier to speak about matters of faith than to apply them. Every time you report such topics you face situations that verify the attitude of the one that speaks. My wife could speak on this subject most but fortunately, she reads ‘The Diary of Sr. Fautina’ and she is merciful. And what is more fortunate is the fact that we have confession in the Church’, Zuchniewicz adds.
He tries to show the whole richness of the Church in his work. One day some American journalists asked him how he could write about the Church objectively when he was a believer. He answered them that to write about a given reality in a competent way one should get to know it well. ‘And then, it is true that one can see that the Church is weak and sinful people. And there is a whole ocean of good that one should show and reveal. The thing is not to ‘ice’ the reality. The thing is to show this deepest truth that evil can be overcome with good. John Paul II testified to that’, Zuchniewicz says.
He has been involved in Opus Dei for many years. Thanks to its spiritual guidance he is convinced how important the regular application of simple religious practices, such as daily Mass, Rosary, meditation, is. He has put this principle into practice. Together with his family he takes part in the liturgy in the Presentation of Our Lord Parish in the district of Natolin in Warsaw. He always uses ‘Oremus’, with which he follows the liturgical texts. Thanks to that, two senses: hearing and sight, and not one, are involved in receiving the texts. ‘I am still learning how to use human attributes, the reason, the senses and various skills to deepen my relationship with Lord God’, he adds.
Making chastity doable
By Fr. Roy Cimagala. Fr. Cimagala is the Chaplain of Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE), Talamban, Cebu City. Email: roycimagala@hotmail.com
Obviously one of the biggest challenges facing people, especially the young, is how to live chastity. This has to be a continuing affair that everyone, as much as possible, should also be involved. Yes, we have to help one another here.
We just cannot throw in the towel that easily in this warfare. In fact, we should not, no matter how intimidating the battle, or how hopeless it looks. In our earthly life, chastity is more a matter of struggle than of a state. It’s dynamic, not a static virtue.
It cannot be understood in a very restrictive way, that is, the capacity not to fall into some ugly practices. It's a living component of love, and in love, anything goes. One is open to all possibilities, but there's always that desire to give oneself to the beloved, no matter what it costs.
As such it will always require fresh and ever renewed efforts, driven by new impulses of reason. It should never be allowed to go on automatic pilot. The constant and erratic movements of our hormones, the ever-present sting in our flesh all require an abiding vigilance and motivation.
This is not to mention the external elements—occasions of sins and temptations—that assault us in one of our most vulnerable spots. There has to be a concerted effort to dismantle the growing social structure that seems to foster impurity.
In its place, we should create a healthy and conducive environment for this virtue to take root, grow and mature. It should be a set of practical conditions and factors that are doable. Chastity should become second nature to us, enabled by grace and our correspondence.
I just would to gather some pertinent words of saints to support what I've just said. St. Augustine, for example, says: “To be truly chaste is to have your sight fixed on God and live as an offering to him.”
We need to cultivate this mentality. We cannot live simply pursuing our own plans and desires. We have to fall in love, and that can only happen if we our mind and heart are fixed on God, and because of that, they are also fixed on others in their proper hierarchy and ways.
How should we understand the implications of this need to love so as to live chastity? St. Gregory gives us an idea. “There are some who want to be humble without being despised. They want to be content with what they have without suffering need.
“They want to be chaste without mortifying their body... When they try to acquire virtues while fleeing from the efforts that virtue requires, it is as though they hoped to win a war by living comfortably in the city, without having anything to do with the combat on the battlefield.”
What's clear here is that we have to wage what's called as ascetical struggle, the constant effort to fill and keep our minds and hearts with love and all the expressions of goodness.
It's a struggle with endless frontlines. Even our weakness, physical or otherwise, can be a frontline where we can also win, if we know how to live out what St. Paul once said: “For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Cor 12,10)
Making chastity doable is a matter, first of all, of grace, but it's also a matter of ever-renewed struggle. St. Josemaria Escriva, founder of Opus Dei, says the following relevant point:
“We have to fight against our passions by increasing our life of piety daily. I will never get tired of saying that nobody...can imagine they lack the necessary means for the fight. Nor will I get tired of repeating that if anyone abandons those means, they will fall.
“It's a clear symptom: when the energies of someone's soul are habitually enfeebled, when they are dull or their life is languid, you can be sure that they already abandoned the fight some time ago; that their hearts are empty of God and filled instead with selfishness, love of comfort, and the flesh...
“So feed your soul on God's love. Give it to him completely.”
Alas, this is a tall order! Hard, but not impossible. Thus, we need to help one another, giving good example and timely reminders, and doing all to make chastity doable to everyone.
Obviously one of the biggest challenges facing people, especially the young, is how to live chastity. This has to be a continuing affair that everyone, as much as possible, should also be involved. Yes, we have to help one another here.
We just cannot throw in the towel that easily in this warfare. In fact, we should not, no matter how intimidating the battle, or how hopeless it looks. In our earthly life, chastity is more a matter of struggle than of a state. It’s dynamic, not a static virtue.
It cannot be understood in a very restrictive way, that is, the capacity not to fall into some ugly practices. It's a living component of love, and in love, anything goes. One is open to all possibilities, but there's always that desire to give oneself to the beloved, no matter what it costs.
As such it will always require fresh and ever renewed efforts, driven by new impulses of reason. It should never be allowed to go on automatic pilot. The constant and erratic movements of our hormones, the ever-present sting in our flesh all require an abiding vigilance and motivation.
This is not to mention the external elements—occasions of sins and temptations—that assault us in one of our most vulnerable spots. There has to be a concerted effort to dismantle the growing social structure that seems to foster impurity.
In its place, we should create a healthy and conducive environment for this virtue to take root, grow and mature. It should be a set of practical conditions and factors that are doable. Chastity should become second nature to us, enabled by grace and our correspondence.
I just would to gather some pertinent words of saints to support what I've just said. St. Augustine, for example, says: “To be truly chaste is to have your sight fixed on God and live as an offering to him.”
We need to cultivate this mentality. We cannot live simply pursuing our own plans and desires. We have to fall in love, and that can only happen if we our mind and heart are fixed on God, and because of that, they are also fixed on others in their proper hierarchy and ways.
How should we understand the implications of this need to love so as to live chastity? St. Gregory gives us an idea. “There are some who want to be humble without being despised. They want to be content with what they have without suffering need.
“They want to be chaste without mortifying their body... When they try to acquire virtues while fleeing from the efforts that virtue requires, it is as though they hoped to win a war by living comfortably in the city, without having anything to do with the combat on the battlefield.”
What's clear here is that we have to wage what's called as ascetical struggle, the constant effort to fill and keep our minds and hearts with love and all the expressions of goodness.
It's a struggle with endless frontlines. Even our weakness, physical or otherwise, can be a frontline where we can also win, if we know how to live out what St. Paul once said: “For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Cor 12,10)
Making chastity doable is a matter, first of all, of grace, but it's also a matter of ever-renewed struggle. St. Josemaria Escriva, founder of Opus Dei, says the following relevant point:
“We have to fight against our passions by increasing our life of piety daily. I will never get tired of saying that nobody...can imagine they lack the necessary means for the fight. Nor will I get tired of repeating that if anyone abandons those means, they will fall.
“It's a clear symptom: when the energies of someone's soul are habitually enfeebled, when they are dull or their life is languid, you can be sure that they already abandoned the fight some time ago; that their hearts are empty of God and filled instead with selfishness, love of comfort, and the flesh...
“So feed your soul on God's love. Give it to him completely.”
Alas, this is a tall order! Hard, but not impossible. Thus, we need to help one another, giving good example and timely reminders, and doing all to make chastity doable to everyone.
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