Joy to the World!

As we draw closer to the celebration of Christ's birth I have witnessed my children grow more excited each day - full of joy-filled anticipation for all that will happen and certainly for what they will receive under the tree on Christmas morning! My reflection, as I watched my children, led me to this question: Are we filled with this same child-like anticipation as we approach Christmas this year?

Pope Benedict XVI reminds us that, "In the birth of Jesus, God comes to us and asks us to receive Him, so that He can be born in our lives and transform them, and our world, by the power of His love." (General Audience, December 21, 2012) This is the Good News the angels proclaimed to the shepherds. This is the Good News that should permeate our entire beings as Baptized children of God. This is the Good News that so many around us desperately need to hear and see witnessed by those of us who call ourselves disciples of Christ!

This Christmas offers us another opportunity to receive anew Jesus Christ, the Light of the world, that we might be His instruments of light to our families, friends, neighbors, co-workers and the strangers in our midst.  The joy of the season reminds us of our true identity as followers of the Risen Christ, who defeated sin and death that we might have life and have it abundantly.

As we gather with our loved ones, especially at the Eucharistic table, let us ask the Lord of all life, to enkindle in the mangers of our hearts, a profound joy - that most beautiful fruit of the Holy Spirit.  And may that joy, seen so beautifully in the eyes of the little ones during these graced days, move us throughout the New Year as instruments of the New Evangelization.

Merry Christmas!

By Michael Lavigne

A Child is Born

Great news! We have a brand new granddaughter.  Maryn was born November 27 and weighed in at 7 lbs. 6.7oz.  I know that her parents are so proud they could bust.  I know, too, that they are filled with hopes and dreams for Maryn and her future. And this brings me to my point.

We are very soon going to celebrate the day of Jesus’ birth.  Although a birth of humble beginnings, I have no doubt that Mary and Joseph were filled with hopes and dreams for Jesus’ future, not unlike new parents of today. We bring our babies to the church for baptism and have done so for hundreds of years.  Mary and Joseph “brought the child Jesus into the Temple to do for him what the Law required. . . “(Luke 2:27). Both rituals are cause for celebration.  

Yet how much celebrating would we do if we heard the words that Simeon said to Mary: “This child is chosen by God for the destruction and the salvation of many in Israel.   He will be a sign from God which many people will speak against and so reveal their secret thoughts.  And sorrow, like a sharp sword will break your own heart.”    (Luke 2: 34, 35)

We celebrate Christmas with food and gifts.  We spend time with friends and loved ones and rightly so.  We celebrate the birth of the One who would later sacrifice his life.  Let us keep is mind that this Child became the hope for our future and the future of many generations. A Child is born. Jesus, the greatest gift of all, is with us! 

By Judy Michaud

A Hidden Gift

This season of Advent is really so epic.  All the readings lately (mostly from the prophet Isaiah) speak of this great thing that God is about to do.  It’s like all of creation lies in wait.  The nation has been waiting and longing and you can almost feel the anticipation.  Something huge is about to happen!  And we know that something huge indeed does happen.  But it is hidden – a tiny baby, born in a lowly stable, to two young and inexperienced parents.  Many people missed it.  They didn’t see.  They failed to recognize.  They expected something different.  And yet, this hidden, humble child is God.  He comes down to the earth he created and is the answer that all of creation was waiting for, longing for!

On my recent trip to the Holy Lands, I found myself reflecting on this great mystery of the Incarnation.  Of course, in preparing for the trip, I expected I would ponder such things in Bethlehem – the site of the manger and the shepherd’s fields, the place where God became man.  But I was surprised to find myself awestruck a bit earlier in the trip during our visit to Nazareth.  While celebrating Mass at the site of Mary’s home in Nazareth in the crypt of the huge Basilica of the Annunciation, I was struck by the profound reality that it is not in fact at Bethlehem where God touches down to earth.  It is in Nazareth.  We think of the circumstances of the birth of the Christ-child and we are struck by the humility, by the poverty, by the hidden way in which he chooses to come.  But the Incarnation actually happened in Nazareth – in an even more hidden, more humble way.  God touched down to earth in the womb of the Virgin Mary and no one else even knew!  God became man and there was no visible change.  No one could see the tiny baby growing in Mary’s womb.  No one – not even a shepherd or a magi – bowed down to give him the homage he was due.

God could have chosen to come to earth in power and might, displaying his majesty for all the world to see.  And yet he didn’t.  He chose to come as a baby, first veiled in the womb of the Virgin Mary, and then born in the little town of Bethlehem.  He comes in weakness, in vulnerability.  And this same God who came hidden in the womb of Mary comes to us each and every day in the hidden, humble gift of the Eucharist.  In the Eucharist we have truly present the Body, Blood, Soul, & Divinity of our God!  He humbles himself that we might physically hold him within us!  The humility and vulnerability of our God is astounding!  And yet, so often we go before him clothed with whatever it is we feel we must cover ourselves with – our pride, acts of piety, sense of self-sufficiency.  Our God comes to us in the most vulnerable of ways and yet we refuse to be vulnerable before him.  Let us in these final weeks of Advent allow ourselves to be stripped of the clothing we hold so dear and appear before our God in humility, in poverty, in complete vulnerability that He might love us as we are!

By Sarah Houde

18 Days and Counting

As I write this, my son and daughter-in-law are anticipating the birth of their first child, a girl.  Naturally they’re excited, as am I.  I’ve crocheted 2 blankets for the baby and I’ve done plenty of shopping.  We touch base regularly after she visits the doctor.  “How’s the baby? How much does the doctor think she weighs?  How are you feeling?”  The baby is due November 26 but the doctor said the baby will probably come sooner. I keep checking the calendar:  18 days and counting. . .   I’ve reminded my son at least twice in the past week or so:  Make sure you call me when you leave for the hospital. Don’t forget.

The first Sunday of Advent is right around the corner.  We are all aware that it is a time of waiting and preparation for the birth of Jesus.  But how many of us get really excited about this brief season of the liturgical calendar?  How many of us feel the excitement that I’m feeling over the impending birth of my first granddaughter?  Granted, the birth of a baby generates excitement for most people. Shouldn’t the birth of our Lord and Savior also generate excitement and anticipation?  I know we get caught up in the hustle and bustle of shopping, decorating, baking and the busy-ness of the season. Yet in the midst of our preparations are we feeling an element of joy and excitement as we think about the coming birth of Jesus or are we simply going through the paces so we can get it over and done with? 

This Advent, let’s take a deep breath and relax.  Christmas will come and go whether we bake 10 kinds of cookies or 2 kinds.  Christ’s birth will be celebrated regardless of how many gifts we can afford.  Take the time to gather with family and friends and celebrate the real reason for the season. The King is coming!  

By Judy Michaud

Breaking into the Ordinary

I just returned from ten amazing days in the Holy Land.  What an incredible blessing to walk in the places where Jesus Himself walked and pray in the places where He and his apostles prayed and kneel at the site where Redemption was won for the entire world.  It certainly makes the mysteries of our faith such as the Incarnation, the Crucifixion, and the Resurrection come to life in a whole new way!  I’m overwhelmed with gratitude when I reflect upon all that I was blessed to experience.  A verse from the Gospel of Matthew has continued to resonate in the few weeks I’ve been back.   “Many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it and hear what you hear but did not hear it” (Matthew 13:17).  My life will never be the same because of all that I was blessed to see, hear, and experience in those ten days.

I was struck by so many things during my time in Israel that I think it’s going to take my whole life to contemplate and process all that I saw and experienced, but one of the very first things that struck me most was the ordinary-ness of the region of Galilee.  During the first half of our trip we stayed in Tiberias, literally right on western shore of the Sea of Galilee.  As I gazed across the sea in the days we were there, I was so struck by the fact that God entered human time and history in a very real, very tangible, very ordinary place.  There’s really nothing too astounding about the region of Galilee in Israel.  The Sea is certainly beautiful and surrounded by very unique desert-like mountains, but it is a very real place.  Standing there, I could just see Peter and the other apostles going about their daily work.  Seeing the physical places where Jesus worked miracles and called his disciples to follow him caused me to imagine what that would have been like for them.  What was it about Jesus that drew them to him?  What caused them to abandon all else to follow him?  How was it that he rocked their world?  Did they recognize that something was different about him?  Did they know that God was walking in their midst? 

There’s something so beautiful about this reality that God chose to enter time and history in a very simple, ordinary place.  It certainly shows the humility of our God and the simplicity with which he comes.  But it doesn’t stop there.  It points to the intimacy of the relationship he desires to have with each one of us.  Just as God touched down to human history in the womb of a virgin in a little place called Nazareth in the region of Galilee, so too does he desire to touch down into our lives in the ordinary circumstances we find ourselves in day after day.  He wants to break into human history each and every day by breaking into our hearts, by breaking into our lives.  And He often does so in very real, very ordinary ways.  I’m sure that there were many people living in Galilee at the time who did not let Jesus affect their lives, many who were either too busy to notice, or too cautious to care.  And some who simply did not recognize that God was walking in their midst.  How often do we fail to recognize the very simple, very ordinary ways that God comes to us, that he touches down to earth, hoping to break into our lives and into our hearts?  Let us not be like those who failed to notice, but rather let us be like the apostles whose lives became radically different when God broke into their lives, who in the midst of their ordinary lives were so drawn to him and to his presence in their midst that they abandoned all to follow him!



By Sarah Houde

Fraught with Danger?

In a couple of weeks, on the First Sunday of Advent, Catholic Churches in English-speaking countries will begin to use the New Roman Missal.  This impending change in the translation of the prayers at Mass has received much attention and  the efforts to prepare the faithful have been fairly comprehensive. Websites, articles, books and trainings have been numerous and easily available to priests, lay leaders and the laity alike.

Last spring I attended one such training outside of my diocese.  It was, overall, fairly informative and hope-filled....until one speaker offered some concern about the new words that would be recited by the faithful.  The presenter opined that phrases like “through my fault, through my fault, through my own grievous fault” and the words “incarnation” and “consubstantial” were, and I quote, “fraught with danger.”

I am certain that this individual was well-intentioned and concerned that all those who are responsible for teaching the faith consider the importance of catechizing our children properly about the changes, but I still found the choice of words to be inconsistent with what should be seen as a blessed opportunity to teach or re-teach about the Mass and the Eucharist. In fact this is a hope-filled opportunity to move into a new chapter of teaching about the beauty of the Mass and the Eucharist - “the source and summit of the Christian life.”

In many ways our children and youth will be models of embracing these changes and appreciating the beauty of the words that will be heard, recited and sung.  At a recent retreat my office facilitated the nearly 300 youth and young adults who were gathered gave a standing ovation after two of our diocesan priests chanted the new “Gloria.” Rather than be worried about the “danger” that is supposedly lurking behind the “new” words  we should focus on simply getting our children and young people to Mass so that they can experience the richness of our faith and be nourished by the Word of God and Jesus’ Body and Blood.

It is my hope that parishes (and parents) will embrace this opportunity with passion and conviction. It is my hope that they offer ample opportunities in the months and years ahead, for all age groups, to help them grow in their knowledge and experience of the Mass. It is my hope that through these efforts a new generation of saints will fall in love with the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

Because in the end not teaching about the Mass and Eucharist is what is truly “fraught with danger.”

By Michael Lavigne

P.S.  Our office has created a page at our website to highlight programs, videos, and other resources which can be used to supplement a parish’s catechetical efforts in teaching about the Mass and the Eucharist.  You can access this page at www.olffmaine.com/newromanmissalcatechesis

UPDATE: Another Miracle of Life

Back in September I wrote a post about my soon to be born daughter and the world in which she would grow up.  I am happy announce that our latest miracle of life, Julia Rose, was born on October 27.  Both mother and daughter are doing well and being enjoyed by the rest of the family!

Welcome to our world Julia.

 

By Michael Lavigne

On Being Judgemental

Recently I was having a conversation with a friend who was questioning my belief in moral absolutes. I quickly realized that he was confusing the judgment of a person with the judgment of an action. Upon further reaction, I thought of the many times I’ve been accused of being judgmental for my moral beliefs. However, people often fail to realize that a person can view certain actions to be wrong while still having compassion for people who choose these actions. As a canon lawyer, I frequently take calls from people angry about the Church because they feel the Church has no right to make moral judgments.

For example, the Church’s position against abortion is well known. What is unknown is the Church’s compassion and care for women who have undergone abortion. Think about it: Abortion providers such as Planned Parenthood do not offer support services for women who are struggling with the often devastating after effects of an abortion, which are extremely common (see this recent study: http://bjp.rcpsych.org/content/199/3/180.abstract). Yet the Catholic Church offers caring and compassionate services to women who have had abortions such as counseling, retreats, and the Project Rachel program, not to mention the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Why? Because the Church recognizes the difference between the objective wrong that is abortion and the women who undergo abortions, and realizes the need to help women who have been through such an ordeal. Instead of punishing people who have taken an action we judge as wrong, the Church strives to help these women heal.

The same is true for another controversial issue: same-sex marriage. Recently Governor Cuomo of New York said that the only argument opponents of same-sex marriage have is “I want to discriminate against gay people,” and called opponents “anti-American.” This represents the same line of thinking: people who are opposed to same-sex marriage must judge and hate people who are gay. It completely overlooks the repeated message of the Catholic Church (along with many other faiths) that all people are made in the image of God, and as such, have an inestimable worth and dignity.

We live in a society where no one wants to be labeled “judgmental” and people are afraid of pushing their morality on another. I believe the only way to proceed in this culture is to hold fast to our beliefs, and let our actions toward people speak the truth of our deep respect for all people. For all the angry calls I receive in my work for the Tribunal, I occasionally am blessed to receive one from someone crying with gratitude at the healing, reconciliation, and grace they have received as a result of our work. These people were able to realize that the Church was not looking to place judgment or blame on them, but rather seeking to heal them of past wounds and move forward secure in the knowledge that the Church is merciful.

By Shannon Fossett, J.C.L.

Shannon is a Canonist for the Diocese of Portland.

It's the Little Things

We can easily say “I am a Christian” and sometimes it’s even easy to behave as a Christian: when we team or attend a retreat when we attend Mass, when we volunteer in the parish, etc.  These are times and places when it is easy to put on the mind of Christ.  But this is not the where we live and where we live is where the challenge is.  We live in and are exposed to places and situations that constantly bombard us with messages and behaviors that are contrary to Christ’s teachings.  Without pausing to think about it, I’m sure we can all name a couple of people who claim to be Christians but whose lives do not reflect that.   However, I want to challenge you to think about YOU and the areas in your life that may not exemplify Christ. 

Immediately our minds turn to the BIG things:  I’m faithful to my spouse; I go to Church once a week, sometimes more; I don’t swear; I volunteer; I haven’t committed murder; I’m not a thief, etc. Great!  That’s all great, no doubt about it.  But let’s look at the details, the little things of our lives that may speak loudest.  After all that is what St. Therese of the Child Jesus did.  She worked on the details of the picture more than the big picture itself.

Do we give our spouse and children the same courtesy and respect that we would give others such as please/thank-you or excuse me?  We would do that much for strangers, why not our family?  What about our language?  Do we clean up our language when we’re in public but resort to more colorful words with close friends/family? As Christians, we should not have one behavior at home and one out in the world.  We need to do our best to be Christian in our thoughts/words/actions all the time, everywhere.

Are we good stewards of what God has given us?  Do we waste food? Do we recycle?  Do we hoard the clothes that we no longer wear or worse yet, do we throw them out? Are we respectful of our property and the property of others? You’re getting a new set of dishes.  What do you do with the old one? Do you throw it away, store it, or do you donate it to the battered women’s shelter, the food kitchen, Good Will? Do we spend our money wisely? Are we honest in our treatment of others, even when no one else would know?  You have a second job (or your wife or teenager) but are paid under the table so it doesn’t have to be reported on your income tax.  The clerk at the store gave you change for a twenty but you gave her a ten.  We would be quick to point it out if she gave you too little change, but too much change? Would you even have to think about it before saying anything?

Do we place conditions on our commitment to Christ?  I’ll work at the food kitchen/pantry if it rains;  I’ll visit the sick if I can’t find a partner for golf; I clothe the naked if . . . I’ll be kind to my enemy if . . .  I’ll pray more after I retire; after the garden is in; after the kids are older.  First, I have to remodel this room; first I have to roof the garage . . . the kids are too young . . .  after that I’ll  get involved. We are not all called to become Mother Theresa.  We can’t all be great evangelists.  As St. Paul said in his first letter to the Corinthians, we are all parts of the same body and each part has its own function. Not every part is meant to be flamboyant. Not every part is going to be recognized for the work that it does but each part is required to do the best they can, right where they are, just as they are.  

As with St. Therese, it’s the little things that made a difference and it’s the little things that will help to keep us on the path and allow us to follow Jesus as we should.

By Judy Michaud

Slow Down!

The past several months I’ve found myself in a crazy whirlwind of activity.  A summer of transition, a big move for my family, a very blessed trip to World Youth Day, a great evening of worship with Jackie Francois and Patrick Coffin, and now I find myself busily preparing for more wonderful upcoming retreats including Journey 2011, the first ever Catholic Women’s Conference, and the annual March for Life Trip as well as a personal pilgrimage to the Holy Lands and my college roommate’s wedding.  It seems like there’s just been so much going on in all dimensions of my life that I’ve barely had time to breathe, sleep, or even think!  Don’t get me wrong…they’re all very good things – just a lot all at once. 

I was recently sharing with a friend all the great things I’ve been up to lately and made a comment that I just need to slow down so I can enjoy it!  His response: “No, you need to slow down so you can pray.”  Touché.  Without realizing it, in the midst of life’s busyness, my life and mentality shifted to the very thing that Jesus rebukes Martha for in the passage we recently heard in the Gospel at Mass.  “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.  Only one thing is needed.  Mary has chosen the better part.”  Everything going on in my life had begun to become a burden and cause for anxiousness and worry rather than a cause for rejoicing and celebration of the good things that God is doing in my life and through my work.  I had become so busy doing the works of the Lord that I forgot about the Lord of the works!

These words that Jesus speaks to Mary penetrated straight to my heart.  “Mary has chosen the better part.”  What is it that we find Mary doing?  Sitting at the feet of Jesus.  If we are to be effective evangelizers in and through the work that we do, whether we work directly in ministry or answer the call to evangelize in the midst of our secular jobs and temporal affairs, we absolutely must spend time sitting at the feet of Jesus!  Soaking in His love, letting His gaze penetrate ours, and listening to His promptings so that the many things we find ourselves anxious and worried about can become instead causes for joy and opportunities for love.  Sitting at the feet of Jesus reminds us what is truly important and gives us strength to continue doing the work of bringing others to Him.

And so, if you find yourself like me, caught up in the craziness of the fall and a new school year, I challenge you to take some time to slow down…and pray.

By Sarah Houde

A Picture Can Say a Thousand Words

The staff of the OLFF would like to officially unveil our new logo, which was finalized after months of prayer and consultation. As it is often said, “ a picture can say a thousand words” and the new logo is no different.  Each of the elements that make up the image offer a specific insight regarding the mission of the office and all those who participate in the passing on of our Catholic faith:

• Blue coloring: to remind us of Mary, the Mother of God, who is the model for all catechists and the patroness of our diocese.
• Sunrise coloring: represents the dawning of a new springtime for evangelization in our diocese, which was proclaimed by Blessed John Paul II as the Church headed into the new millennium.
• Mountains, pine trees, light house and ocean: represents the beauty of Maine.
• Rays of light: to remind us of our mission, entrusted to us by Jesus - the Light of the World, to: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.* And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Mt 28:19-20)
• Dove: represents the Holy Spirit and, by virtue of our Baptism, our responsibility to participate in the mission of the Church to evangelize and catechize the world.
• Thin circle: symbolizes the lifelong process of conversion and faith formation.
• Entire cross structure with circle image: symbolic of a monstrance and, therefore, the Eucharist - “the source and summit of the Christian life.”

As we continue to journey through October, a month dedicated to the Holy Rosary, let us entrust our prayers for guidance and strength - to participate in the mission of the Church and thereby continue to bring about a new springtime for our diocese - to our Blessed Mother and ask her to intercede on our behalf to her Son, Jesus Christ.

By Michael Lavigne

Another Miracle of Life

Dear families, rejoice in fatherhood and motherhood! Openness to life is a sign of openness to the future, confidence in the future, just as respect for the natural moral law frees people, rather than demeaning them! The good of the family is also the good of the Church.
 

-Pope Benedict XVI, Homily, June 5, 2011

As we journey into the month of October, Respect Life Month, my family awaits the arrival of another miracle of life: Julia Rose.  I find myself thinking about “life” as time draws near to meet my third daughter - I have embraced this exercise as I anticipated meeting all of my children.

 
Some of my reflection has focused on what will this world be like for Julia.  Will she grow up in a world that reflects a culture of death or a world that brings forth a culture of life?  Will she encounter a civilization of selfishness and a perverse understanding of freedom or a civilization of love, selfless love for the sake of the other?  Will she witness a disdain for life, especially  for the most vulnerable and innocent, or will she see the witness of those who have an “openness to life” and therefore an “openness to the future, confidence in the future?”

It seems to me, as I continue to be blessed to serve the Lord through my work in the Church, that so many people are unaware what or who they are created for. They lack an identity.  Pope Benedict XVI, in his “Message for World Youth Day (2011), sums up our purpose, “Men and women were created for something great, for infinity. … The desire for a more meaningful life is a sign that God created us and that we bear His ‘imprint.’ God is life, and that is why every creature reaches out towards life. Because human beings are made in the image of God, we do this in a unique and special way. We reach out for love, joy and peace.”

There are too many lost souls who do not know their true identity and this lack of knowledge leads to so much of the pain, suffering and misguided attempts at happiness seen in our world today.  Respect Life Month gives us an opportunity to refocus and become reenergized as Catholics to help the people who cross our paths to come to know their value - to come to know that the Creator of all is loving them into existence each and every moment of their lives.  This “education,” rather, this epiphany will help them to grow in respect of all life, to bring forth a culture of life, to embrace a civilization of love and be witnesses to the openness to life.

This is the world that I pray my Julia Rose will grow up in during the years ahead.  I pray that God will give me the grace to be an instrument in His hands to help build that world.  

Will you?

By Michael Lavigne

A New Revival

A 2008 Pew Forum study revealed that the fastest growing religious group in America is those who have no religion.  One in six are not affiliated with any religious institution. Approximately 25% of cradle Catholics have left their faith (many studies have indicated that the second largest "denomination", behind Catholicism, is ex-Catholics). Of those who are Catholic only 20 to 30 percent attend Mass on a regular basis.  The stats speak for themselves.

But they do not tell the whole story.

It would be convenient to hide behind such stats and adopt the mindset of some that there is no turning back.  That the secular onslaught we witness today will simply erode away the Church.  But to adopt such a thought process would be misguided to say the least.  Do we really believe that God has given up on His Church in the year 2011? 

Pope Benedict XVI (and his predecessors) have consistently said, "No" to such a hopeless mindset. They believed that there will be a new springtime of evangelization precisely because the world needs it in this post-modern era.  At the closing Mass of World Youth Day Pope Benedict challenged the almost 2 million who were gathered to be God's instruments for this new evangelization: "Friendship with Jesus will also lead you to bear witness to the faith wherever you are, even when it meets with rejection or indifference. We cannot encounter Christ and not want to make him known to others. So do not keep Christ to yourselves! Share with others the joy of your faith. The world needs the witness of your faith, it surely needs God."

Recently our office hosted a special edition of the Hour of Power that offered participants an opportunity to gather for praise & worship (led by Jackie Francois), a testimony on the Eucharist (shared by Patrick Coffin), reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation (thank you to the priests who offered their whole evening to hear the confessions of many who were present), and Eucharistic Adoration.  On a beautiful late summer night over 175 people (of all ages) filled the Chapel at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception for this evening of adoring the Real Presence of Jesus Christ and celebrating our Catholic faith. To say that the evening was inspirational is an understatement.

I couldn't help but be moved in the very core of my being at hearing the words of one of the songs Jackie sung during Adoration.  "I see a generation rising up to take their place. With selfless faith. With selfless faith.  I see a new revival stirring as we pray and seek. We're on our knees. We're on our knees." (Hosanna by Hillsong - click to see and hear Jackie leading us that evening).  All around me was a generation of young and old Catholics on their knees giving their lives over to the Risen Christ. A generation willing to sacrifice their lives for the sake of the Gospel message. A generation who want to "share with others the joy of their faith."

This weekend we celebrate Catechetical Sunday and ask God to bless all those who come forward to share their faith through the ministry of catechesis.  Let us pray that God uses all of our catechists - all those who teach and witness our Catholic faith to all ages - to share His truth, goodness and beauty in a profound way.  Let us trust that the God of life, who continues to nourish us through the Eucharist, will continue to guide all of us through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to enkindle a new springtime of evangelization in our diocese and beyond. 

By Michael Lavigne

Joined in Christ

It was a warm April afternoon in Rhode Island; friends and family packed the small church of St. Agatha and watched as we exchanged our vows- the outward sign of our commitment to each other in the bond of marriage. In his book Love & Responsibility, Blessed John Paul II (then Karol Wjotyla) wrote of marriage as “an act of will that signifies and involves a mutual gift, which unites the spouses and binds them to their eventual souls, with whom they make up a sole family - a domestic Church.” We are firmly convinced, after our first seven years as a married couple, that it is due to the grace showered upon us by Christ, through the sacrament of marriage that we have grown as individuals, as a married couple, and thereby as parents of the six additional souls that make up our domestic Church. 

God, the author of each of our lives, is ultimately the author of marriage. For us, our marriage was the culmination of years during which we learned to surrender our wills to the will of the Father. By doing so, we were able to enter into “the marriage covenant, by which a man and woman form with each other an intimate communion of life and love,” which the Catechism reminds us “has been founded and endowed with its own special laws by the Creator” (CCC, 1660). 

This intimate communion of mind, body and soul between a husband and wife is expressed fully in the mutual gift, or self-donation, that takes place in the marriage bond. It is this gift of self, unique to the marriage act, which mirrors the sacrificial love of Christ and His Bride, the Church. Man and woman witness to this spousal love of Christ through their own selfless and sacrificial love for one another. The United States Catholic Catechism for Adults captures this beautifully, “the grace of this Sacrament perfects the love of husband and wife, binds them together in fidelity, and helps them welcome and care for children. Christ is the source of this grace and He dwells with the spouses to strengthen their covenant promises, to bear each other’s burdens with forgiveness and kindness, and to experience ahead of time the ‘wedding feast of the Lamb’ (Rev 19:9)” (USCCA, p. 285). 

The Church in her wisdom articulates the two purposes of marriage: the unitive, as described above, and the procreative. As husband and wife, we have had the privilege of being co-creators with God, of six beautiful souls (Michael Jr., Mariana, John Paul, Therese, Julia, and Gabriel, who we trust is in heaven). The complete communion of the man and woman in Christ forms a bond that ultimately can bear fruit in the miracle of human life. “‘By its very nature, the institution of marriage and married love is ordered to the procreation and education of the offspring and it is in them that it finds crowning glory.’ (CCC, 1642: GS, 48)

The fruitfulness of married love includes the moral, spiritual, and faith life the parents hand on to their children. Parents, as principal educators of their children, are at the service of life” (USCCA, p. 283-84). In this beautiful vision of the Church, the parents seek holiness for each other, which as a result enables them, in “the service of life,” to seek holiness for their children. Likewise, this “domestic Church” becomes a beacon of light to the world around it encouraging others to desire sainthood in their own lives. The Church recognizes that “not all married couples are able to have children. ‘Spouses to whom God has not granted children can nevertheless have a conjugal life full of meaning.... [and] can radiate a fruitfulness of charity, of hospitality and of sacrifice’” (USCCA, p. 285). 

With so many people not understanding the importance of sacramental marriage as an institution of Christ it is no wonder our society bears the scars of broken marriages begun on a secular foundation of sand. The Church, through Christ and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, offers a foundation of rock: “By their mutual fidelity, the spouses continue to make present to each other the love of Christ and lead each other to greater holiness through the grace they receive from the sacrament” (USCCA, p. 283). In April of 2004 we began such a journey together. It is our prayer and hope that many others, with faith in God, will do the same. 

by Michael & Lori Lavigne
Michael is Director of the Diocese’s Office of Lifelong Faith Formation; Lori is Director of Faith Formation for Good Shepherd Parish, Saco. This article originally appeared in Harvest Magazine.

On Pilgrimage

Continue to pray for our group of pilgrims as they make their way to Madrid to celebrate World Youth Day with Pope Benedict XVI.

Yearning for the Infinite

By time you read this 68 youth, young adults and adults from the Diocese of Portland, Maine have begun their pilgrimage to Europe, which will take them through Fatima, Santiago de Compostela, and then to Madrid to join their peers in the celebration of World Youth Day with Pope Benedict XVI.

In his message for this World Youth Day Pope Benedict XVI writes, "I think that, to some extent, this urge to break out of the ordinary is present in every generation. Part of being young is desiring something beyond everyday life and a secure job, a yearning for something really truly greater. Is this simply an empty dream that fades away as we become older? No! Men and women were created for something great, for infinity. Nothing else will ever be enough. Saint Augustine was right when he said 'our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you'."

And yet our world seemingly strives to find so many things to replace the only One who can allow us to know who we are and to know the greatness for which we were created.  Think about the people in your lives who yearn for something more than the mundane.  Think about those you love who are restless and searching for infinity. What can help them shake free from the path of secularism that binds so many?

The answer: only Christ. 

And those of us, who have been blessed to know and receive the gift of faith and who are in love with the Risen Lord. We are responsible for bearing the Good News of Christ to those who have not heard or seen.  We are called to be evangelists in the modern world.  Each of us must say yes to serving the Lord and one another in this way.

Our office is sponsoring many offerings in the fall, and beyond, that can help you to grow in faith and in effectiveness as a witness of Christ's truth and love.  These events, retreats and trainings may also be part of the answer to the restlessness experienced by many you know in your daily walk of life.

It is our prayer that you will not only join us for many of these but spread the news to all those who will listen so that many will come together to celebrate throughout the coming months just as the young people of the world will be celebrating together over the next two weeks.

Please pray for the pilgrims of our diocese, including Bishop Malone, and be assured of our prayers as well.  Lastly, check our Facebook, Twitter and Blog pages for daily WYD updates from our diocesan delegation!

By Michael Lavigne

You've Got a Friend in Me

"There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship." 

St. Thomas Aquinas

I came across the above quote on Twitter the other day.  My first reaction was, "well, of course that is true." And I found that I was not alone in my reaction as I received some quick feedback from a few people when I re-posted the quote on Facebook.  

Then it hit me. Per usual with St. Thomas there is more to this quote than meets the eye.  

From a secular point of view a "true" friend would be someone who "has my back."  Someone who would be on "my side" when needed.  Someone who is loyal "to me." (I would often hear this from my students when asked to define "friend." They would also say that a "true" friend would "tell me what I want to hear," "not snitch on me," "not tell me if was doing something wrong," etc.)  But true friendship from Aquinas' point of view, the Christian point of view, is different.

First and foremost a true friend would...well...stand for the truth in charity or love.  St. Paul gives us the standard for this in 1 Corinthians: "Love is patent, love is kind.....it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth." (1 Cor 13: 4,6)  

A true friend knows truth and, out of love, wants that truth to be manifested in my life as a friend.  This is especially true when I might be wrong.  A true friend would not "have my back" in such a situation, but, anchored in love, would tell me the truth in order that I might find my way back towards Truth.

A true friend sacrifices for the sake of the other. Such a person does not keep score for better or worse.  Could you imagine if my best friend (that would be my wife) kept score in our marriage (for the record I would be not doing well I am sure)?  Such score-keeping would undermine our relationship as each person would be waiting for the other to "catch up" and "even the score."  St. Paul speaks to this as well, "It does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury." (1 Cor 13: 5). The true friend continues to give - to love - to call the other to the truth.  In fact, the true friend forgives first and then challenges the other to right the wrong and helps them to do so (to often, in our "litigious" society we demand the apology and restitution before even considering the possibility of forgiveness - "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.").

A true friend "never fails."  The problem with this piece is that all of us fail.  We all sin at the expense of the others in our lives due to concupiscence.  Hence, in the end there is only one "true" friend who is the standard for all friendships: Jesus Christ. "There is nothing on this earth more to be prized" than a true friendship with our Savior.  Ultimately a friendship with Christ becomes the standard and the source of grace for all other friendships.  

I am becoming more convinced every day that this is the fundamental problem with so many in our world today.  They lack an authentic friendship with Jesus (please note that I am not referring to the caricature of Jesus that has been created over the years - I am speaking of the Savior of the world who is the Way, the Truth and Life; Who suffered and died for all of humanity for all time; Who pours Himself out to the world through the Sacraments - especially the Eucharist; Who called sin a sin, forgave and said "sin no more." That is the Jesus I am speaking of). 

Those of us who strive to know, love and follow Jesus are obligated to befriend others as He befriends us.  This is true friendship.  And there is nothing on earth which is more prized.

by Michael Lavigne

Cata-Whatsit?

Let’s face it: Catholicism isn’t always easy to understand. From Scripture to the Sacraments, and social teaching to doctrine, it sometimes seems like an impossibly daunting task to decipher the truths of even the most basic cornerstones of our faith. There are literally thousands of texts floating around about Catholicism, and figuring out whom and what to trust can be overwhelming. But for a true Catholic, apathy is not an option. The tools for understanding your faith are available to you – all you need to do is be willing to look. If you truly want to understand and embrace your faith, here are two places to start.

The Bible

In many homes, the Bible is known for being that large, ungainly book that sits on a corner table, doing an exceptional job of collecting dust. If you really mean to embrace your faith, however, the first step is to crack it open - regularly. Even if you feel like you remember most of the stories from Sunday school or your own reading, don’t let that fool you. There is always something more to be learned from God’s Word to us – don’t miss out!

The initial challenge is finding a Catholic translation of the Bible. There are literally dozens of translations on bookshelves – and a majority of them are not Catholic. Why is this important? To put it simply, other versions of the Bible are incomplete. The Catholic Bible contains 7 canonical books that other translations do not (they were removed after the Protestant Reformation). Catholic translations available are: the Revised Standard Version, the New Revised Standard Version, and the New American Bible.

Scripture is the bedrock of our Catholic faith - but as we all know, sometimes it can be more of a challenge than a joy to read and understand. That’s where a Catholic Study Bible comes in. The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible is the most recent such text, and is considered by many to be the best available for Catholics. Study Bibles are designed to present and contextualize Scripture for us, making it that much easier to embrace God’s Word. 

For a little more information on translations of the Bible.

Catechism of the Catholic Church

Throughout its history, the Church has issued documents designed to present the doctrines of the faith to believers. Most well known among these in the past was the Baltimore Catechism, in use from 1885 until the early 1990’s. In 1992, Blessed Pope John Paul II approved the issuance of a new Catechism of the Catholic Church, which is still used today.

So where did this Catechism come from, and why should we rely on it? For starters, the new Catechism was nearly ten years in the making – it was no rush job. In 1985, Blessed Pope John Paul II convened a commission of Cardinals and Bishops to begin compiling a new document of Catholic doctrine (Incidentally, the head of that Commission was Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger – now Pope Benedict XVI). In 1989, the Commission sent out the first draft of the document to every bishop in the Church for their feedback and suggestions. In 1992, the Pope approved the final version of the text, and by 1994 it was in worldwide circulation. It is literally a compendium of the universal faith of the Church, not just the opinions of a chosen few.

The Pope stated that the Catechism "is given to serve as a sure and authentic source book for the teaching of Catholic doctrine." It isn’t necessarily meant to be read from cover to cover, so don’t let the size daunt you. It is designed to concisely present every aspect of Catholic doctrine, in a format that is easy to break down and understand. It’s an invaluable resource for any Catholic.

By Matt Hurd

Matt Hurd is a summer intern for the Office of Lifelong Faith Formation in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland. He is currently a junior theology major at St. Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire and is interested in pursuing youth ministry work as a career.

Do Not Be Troubled - Follow Him

With all the recent talk about the "end of the world" and "rapture" it was timely that we read these words of Jesus from the Gospel for the Fifth Sunday of Easter, "“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. Where I am going you know the way.” (Jn 14:1-4)  In Matthew's Gospel He reminds us that "only the Father knows the hour." (Mt 24:36) So why all the fuss about end-time predictions?  Why the predictions at all?

All of us have the tendency to want to "control" our lives.  We want to be in charge of what happens to us.  If it is not in our time or in the way we planned then we want nothing to do with the situation.  This attitude manifests itself more and more in our fast-paced and ever-changing society. The idea of abandonment to the will of another is foreign or out-right scorned.  Even some Christians (among others) give in to this thinking when they attempt to predict the end of the world through formulas of their own creation - formulas that they control.

In this beautiful Easter season we celebrate Christ's victory over sin and death. We celebrate His complete love for all of humanity of all times.  We celebrate His complete abandonment to the will of the Father, ultimately seen in His giving up His life on the Cross.  Three days later He rises from the dead.  He rises and gives us reason to "not let your hearts be troubled."  We can only embrace this reality by surrendering ourselves, as Jesus did, to the will of the Father.  This is how we are to prepare for our own "end-times" and for the ultimate end of the world.  Jesus reminds us to be prepared at all times and we do so by staying united to Him, especially through the sacraments.  He is the One who shows us how to live for He is "the way, the truth and the life."

Let this message of hope be the message that others can witness through our lives.  Our world, which is so full of trouble these days, needs this witness...needs Christ.

by Michael Lavigne

God Thirsts for Us

In preparing a recent presentation on prayer, I was struck by the Catechism’s definition of prayer.  “Prayer is the encounter of God’s thirst with ours.  God thirsts that we may thirst for him” (CCC 2560).  I find that imagery of thirsting just so beautiful.  Think about that for a minute – the living God thirsts for us to come to Him in prayer, to thirst for Him!  Thirsting implies this sense of desperation and longing.  David cries out with this longing for God numerous times in the Psalms.  “My soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water” (Psalm 63:1).  “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.  My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.  When can I go and meet with God?” (Psalm 42:1-2).  The reality is that just as water is the one thing which we physically can’t live without, God is the one thing our hearts cannot live without.  Because they were created for Him!  “The desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God and for God; and God never ceases to draw man to himself.  Only in God will he find the truth and happiness he never stops searching for” (CCC 27).  It is God alone who can fill the longings of our hearts, those things for which our heart thirsts!  It’s similar to standing at the base of a waterfall.  At the base of a waterfall, there is more water than you could ever drink.  All your thirst is satisfied.  This same thing happens in prayer, in relationship with God!  All of our thirst is satisfied.  Additionally, while standing at the base of that waterfall, the power of the water pouring over you washes off any dirt, any impurities, and you are completely cleansed.  The same thing happens in prayer when we allow the power of God’s love and mercy to pour over us and cleanse us.  He is thirsting for us to come to Him that he might satisfy all of our longings and desires. 

What I find to be so profound about this whole notion is that it is God who first thirsts for us.  “The wonder of prayer is revealed beside the well where we come seeking water: there, Christ comes to meet every human being.  It is he who first seeks us and asks us for a drink.  Jesus thirsts; his asking arises from the depths of God’s desires for us” (CCC 2560).  Prayers itself is a gift because it is God who first thirsts for us to thirst for him!  “God calls man first…the living and true God tirelessly calls each person to that mysterious encounter known as prayer…our own step is always a response” (CCC 2567).  We see this clearly if we look at salvation history.  It’s the story of God pursuing his people, extending himself in relationship and covenant with them, over and over again so that he can be with them.  And what do we find at the culmination of salvation history?  We find a God who thirsts for us so much that He sent His dearly beloved son, Jesus, to die for us.  The crucifix is a reminder of God’s thirst for us.  As He is hanging on the cross dying, Jesus cries out, “I thirst.” (John 19:28).  He thirsts for our love in prayer.  His thirst led him to the cross.  Will our thirst lead us to prayer?

by Sarah Houde

The Fullness of Life

“I have come that you might have life and have it to the full” (John 10:10).  These words of Jesus have always stirred something deep inside of me – a dissatisfaction with living a mediocre life, a desire to live radically, to have a full and abundant life.  With the arrival of spring and new life all around us, I’ve found myself reflecting on these words more frequently once again.  How often I find myself falling into the monotonous routine of life.  A lot of days it certainly doesn’t feel like I’m living this “life to the full” that Jesus spoke about.

Our beloved Blessed Pope John Paul II who was just beatified this past weekend had something to say about living the fullness of life.  “You are young and you want to live. But you have to live life to the fullest and with a specific goal. You have to live for God, for others. And no one can live his life for himself. The future is yours, but the future is above all a call and a challenge to find your life by surrendering it, losing it, sharing it through a loving surrender to others.”  The fullness of life that Jesus promised comes in losing it, in laying it down for others.  Living a radical and abundant life means that we will refuse to settle for mediocrity when it comes to love.  St. Therese of Lisieux and Blessed Teresa of Calcutta lived such abundant lives because they lived each day doing small things with great love.  We find purpose and meaning in our lives and break free from the dull monotony that limits our existence when we decide to make self-giving love our primary goal and motivation.  In our society this is crazy!  To think that living for someone else, not putting ourselves first, is what leads to a full and abundant life?  That’s a radical thing.  Is it easy?  Certainly not.  But is it worth it?  Absolutely.  Why?  Because it is in doing so that we find the fullness of life.  As we are reminded in this Easter season, the Resurrection is only possible after the Crucifixion.  The new life that Jesus promises can only come after we die to our selves.  We have as our model Christ Himself who showed the fullest extent of his love by his radical death on the cross.  But who then proved the fullness of life that this brings by his powerful rising from the dead.  Let us choose to live this fullness of life!  Christ is Risen!  Alleluia!

By Sarah Houde

The Triduum: A Pilgrimage of Love

 

As we enter into the climatic season of the liturgical year for the Church, I pray that our Lenten journey has prepared us well. Pope Benedict reminds us that the Easter Triduum "invites us to ponder the loving obedience of Christ." These days give us a poignant and tangible opportunity to immerse ourselves into Christ's salvific actions.  In a way, the commemoration of Jesus' passion, death and resurrection during these three days can become a pilgrimage during which we can "resolve to imitate Christ's loving obedience to the Father's saving plan, which is the source of authentic freedom and the path of eternal life."

I have distinct memories of the Triduum from when I was young and can vividly recall how much I learned about my Catholic faith through the liturgical movement of the Church.  Bishop Malone often speaks about how he was “marinated in the faith as a child” and this was certainly the case for me during these most important of days.

On Holy Thursday I was always moved by the humble act of the washing of feet and processing with our Eucharistic Lord to the parish chapel where the faithful would “keep watch” with Christ until midnight.  There was something special about spending time with Christ in Eucharistic Adoration as we commemorated the night before He died.  Maybe it was the connection with that actual night two thousand years ago when the Apostles could not stay awake and how, in my sinfulness, I could be just like them often in my life. And yet, in His Presence, I knew I was loved.

Good Friday brought a time of silence, making the Lavigne home eerily quiet, from noon to 3 p.m.  I remember many Good Friday afternoons when I was alone in my room reading about Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross in my children’s Bible. As we grew older my brother began a tradition of putting up crosses in our back yard as a sign of his faith and love of Christ (he still practices this tradition today as he now lives in our childhood home with his family – about 25 years later).  And in the evening the community would gather to reflect intensely on Jesus’ redemptive act and we would “behold the wood of the Cross on which hung the Savior of the world.” As a young child I learned many lessons from the elders of our community who approached the Cross with such reverence, devotion and love for our Lord.

The climax of the Triduum is the Easter Vigil.  I have often taught young people that if they want to learn and experience the richness and beauty of our Catholic faith then they should attend the Easter Vigil Mass.  This celebration has it all – darkness and fire; silence and praise; the simplicity of water and the beauty of flowers; individuals coming into the Church and the community of believers embracing them.  I was blessed to be an altar server for many years during this powerful liturgical expression of our faith.  

There are many memories, too many to recount here, but one stands out after all these years.  It was just as the Easter candle was placed into its stand in the sanctuary, the Church being lit up by the candles of all the faithful, and the Deacon would begin to chant: “Rejoice, heavenly powers! Sing choirs of angels! Exult, all creation around God’s throne! Jesus Christ, our King is risen! Sound the trumpet of salvation!” As his voice rang out (our Deacon was – and he still is – a humble and compelling witness of our Catholic faith for me) my heart stirred with joy, hope and love.  Every year my heart stirred at this moment. It still does.

Now that I have my own children I pray that they too will be “marinated” in the life-giving truths of our faith during the Easter Triduum. I hope they will be moved by the actions of humility; by silence; by a reverent kiss of the Cross; by darkness and light; by a servant’s chanting of Christ’s victory; by the truth of Christ’s saving action out of love for them.

I pray you take time to stop, listen and learn during these holy days. This journey of faith, over the next few days, ultimately culminates in the triumphant celebration of our identity as Christians. "We are an Easter people and hallelujah is our song," Pope John Paul II reminded us so often. Even in the midst of persecution, loss, suffering, loneliness, and death we remain hope-filled due to the reality of Christ's victory! May we, through the graces available to us in this holy season, be witnesses of such hope and joy.  May our lives radiate Christ's obedient love!

by Michael Lavigne