Being Present

Advent, this powerful liturgical season that we are beginning, invites us to pause in silence to understand a presence. It is an invitation to understand that the individual events of the day are hints that God is giving us signs of the attention he has for each one of us. How often does God give us a glimpse of his love!

Pope Benedict XVI, Homily in Celebration of First Vespers of Advent, November 28, 2009

Pope Benedict XVI reminds us of the simple message of this season of Advent in challenging us to be aware of God's presence.  To stop amidst the busyness and distractions of the "holiday season" and be mindful of the One who gives us life. Indeed this season is meant to be a time of waiting with joyful anticipation of Christ's second coming and the celebration of the Incarnation - the celebration of the coming of Emmanuel - God with us.  How will you take time during this season to be aware of His presence?

As individuals we can take time each morning and evening by stopping and praying.  Begin and end this time of prayer with silence allowing yourself to simply rest in God's holy presence.  If possible spend some time with the Real Presence of Christ in Eucharistic Adoration.

As parents we can help our children to appreciate and experience the real beauty and joy of the season, which is Christ.  Take time to light the candles of an Advent wreath and pray.  Explain the many symbols of the season and their connection to our Catholic tradition.  Allow them to wade into the richness of our faith during this Advent season.

As catechists we can teach those in our care about the importance of silence by reaching into Scripture and drawing inspiration from the lives of the saints.  Additionally we can help them to experience silence by taking time during our sessions to be in silence. 

In a world which never seems to be quiet - always wired to something or has something "on" - silence can be the way to begin learning the importance of being present and of spending time in the presence of the God who loved us enough to become man.

Michael Lavigne 

Click here for Advent & Christmas with Pope Benedict XVI from the USCCB

Gift Received; Gift Given

Gift Received; Gift Given

As Divine Providence would have it, my Chinese missionary friend, from the Philippines, and I were walking together on the Plains of Abraham in Quebec City one warm and bright summer day.  Our conversation was filled with youthful zeal as we explored our 'vocations' together; she moving to Taiwan, and I returning to Maine.

Sr. Nancy asked philosophically, "How does one "BE" a contemplative?"  You see, we were lamenting our busy schedules and daydreaming of quieter surroundings.  As we strolled along, I allowed my imagination to drift around the concept of contemplative living. 

Over the years, I have come to understand the difference between my imagination and the Lord's promptings and I assure you, this gift I am sharing with you came from the Lord!

A contemplative is one who:

SEEs.... KNOWs whom they SEE.... LOVES who they KNOW.... and ENJOYS who they LOVE.  (rho 1989)

I have prayed with this gift for many years now.  To SEE means to become aware of God's movement within us, which is life giving!  To KNOW this God who dwells within us is to feel secure even in the midst of trials.  To LOVE the God we come to KNOW in the depths of our being is to find healing for all our wounds.  And to ENJOY God whom we LOVE is to find peace, balance, belonging, affirmation, hope, and trust which assures us that nothing can separate us from Jesus.  And our Lord comes to us each day most intimately in the Eucharist.

Want to live contemplatively?  Then SEE our Lord in the Eucharist.  KNOW it is the real Presence that comes to us so tenderly.  LOVE the Lord in the Eucharist so you may find strength for your mission.  And ENJOY the fruits of the grace that is ours each time we receive Him.

Who is a Contemplative?  Anyone desiring to be.....

Ruth Oakley

In Thanksgiving

This week most families in our country will pause on Thanksgiving Day to take stock of all that we have been blessed with in our lives.  While it is important for us to express our gratefulness to God every single day, I am no different than most people in recognizing the significance of this cultural practice and using this occasion to spend a little more time reflecting on the blessings from the past months – a little more time to focus on the Giver of all good things – a chance to pour out my heart and say that I am thankful. 

This year I am focused on being thankful for the gift of my wife, our marriage and fruits of our love – our children.  I am humbled by my wife’s ability to love me selflessly day-in and day-out and her constant example of patience as she daily loves our children.  Words cannot express the thanksgiving in my heart for the gift of our marriage – the ups and the downs, the struggles and the joys – all of it is part of this graced journey with our God.  I thank the Creator of all life for the miracles of life (fruits of our sacramental love for one another) that He has given Lori and I in our children.  There are so many directions that I could go in following such a thought, so let me simply focus on the thanksgiving I have in my heart each day when I gaze upon their faces – their innocence, their capacity to learn, their child-like faith, their reminding me each evening to stop and…play. 

In the moments of peace (and play) I realize the enormity of their lives – the fact that God entrusted these young souls to my wife and I.  That they are not objects for our amusement.  They are not prizes or possessions.  They are gifts and they belong to God. And in accepting these gifts we assume a great responsibility upon which we will be judged.  Our vocation – our job if you will – is to model for our children our Catholic faith.  We must be passionate in our desire to teach the truths of our faith, model a sacramental life and pass on an awareness of our baptismal call to be disciples of Jesus Christ here on earth. 

As we celebrate Religious Education month (here in New England) it is easy to connect this thought process to our roles as catechists.  In saying “yes,” we take on the awesome responsibility of teaching our Catholic faith to all the children, youth, young adults and adults who God places in our paths.  We will be held accountable for our actions – for our words – for the teachings we pass on or fail to pass on.  Every catechist has an obligation to represent the Magisterial teachings of our Catholic faith to the best of his or her abilities.  It should be the very desire of our hearts.

Jesus, Himself, reminds us of this standard in the Gospel of Matthew when He warns, “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” (Matthew 18:6).  Prior to these words Jesus speaks of how one needs to have the same humility seen in a child in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.  When I gaze into the face of one of my children or think of the faces of the young people I have worked with throughout the years I am reminded to humble myself – to remember that it is not about me – and to teach the Truths of our faith with courage and integrity, thus remembering that the children, youth, young adults and adults we serve are ultimately children of God, who is the Way – the Truth – the Life.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving Day and may we all celebrate the many gifts that have been bestowed upon us from our Father in Heaven.

Michael Lavigne