Embrace the Mission

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord into heaven.  We remember Christ being raised up by His own powers as He completed the work of our redemption. 

But may I propose that it is, in a sense, the “feast of evangelization” – of the mission ad gentes.

In today’s Gospel we read:

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Go into the whole world
and proclaim the gospel to every creature.
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved;
whoever does not believe will be condemned.
These signs will accompany those who believe:
in my name they will drive out demons,
they will speak new languages.
They will pick up serpents with their hands,
and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them.
They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." (Mk 16: 15-18)

And the disciples went out and did exactly what Christ commissioned them to do. It was their mission.  It is our mission – the mission of all who are baptized.

Dare to take up the mission that is ours in Christ.  Trust that the same signs that accompanied the early evangelizers will accompany us.  So many do not know friendship with Christ and need our courageous and joy-filled witness as a starting point, through grace, for a journey with and ultimately to Him.

Anything less than our willing participation in this mission falls short of our baptismal call.

Embrace it.  No matter the cost.

“Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.” 

By Michael Lavigne

A Glimpse into the Humility of Christ

So when he had washed their feet
and put his garments back on and reclined at table again,
he said to them, "Do you realize what I have done for you?
You call me 'teacher' and 'master,' and rightly so, for indeed I am.
If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet,
you ought to wash one another's feet.
I have given you a model to follow,
so that as I have done for you, you should also do."

(John 13:12-15)

I was reminded last night, at our parish's Mass of the Lord's Supper, of the reality that learning about our beautiful Catholic faith is a lifelong journey. And the opportunities to have our eyes opened and our hearts changed seem to come when we least expect them.

As I sat in my office yesterday morning I received an e-mail from my wife asking if I would be willing to have my foot washed during the Mass as they needed one more person and did not know who else to ask at such a late hour.  To be honest my first reaction was one of inconvenience, "I don't want to have my feet washed. I'll have to show up early.  Do I really have to get up in front of a full church and take my shoe and sock off? Ugh."  Truth be told, as I reflect on my initial reaction, it was one of pride.  

But my wife persisted and told the parish "yes" for me.  I am thankful that she did.

After the homily, as it happens at all churches during this Mass, twelve of us approached the sanctuary to sit on stools to await the washing of our feet.  As I removed my sock and shoe I became dismayed that "everybody is looking at me and my bare foot." That brief and little moment of insecurity faded away as I began to watch my pastor wash the feet of those before me.  

I have been attending Mass on Holy Thursday for over thirty years, but I don't recall ever seeing a priest wash the feet as he did on this evening.  His sincerity - his humility - his love of his people was so evident as he took each foot, poured water over it, dried it and kissed it.  Yes, he kissed each of our feet. And after he kissed my foot he said, "Thank you."  He said thank you to me after his beautiful and moving act of humility.

The truth is I owe my pastor, Msgr. Mathieu, gratitude for his act of humility because it truly offered me a glimpse into the humility of Christ.  On this night the Lord, through his priest, allowed me to go a little deeper - to gain more insight into what Christ did for his disciples - did for us - on that first Holy Thursday.

"I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do." It struck me later that night as I knelt in adoration of the Real Presence of Christ that the disciples must have been in awe of the sight of Christ washing their feet, as I was of my pastor.  No wonder Peter's resolute stance against Jesus, the master, humbling himself in such an undignified way.  

Of course, His act of humility on that night was only a precursor to the ultimate act of humility He was to offer the next day as He humbled Himself to death, death on a cross. 

"I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do."  These words have taken on more meaning for me this year in light of my blessed experience of having my foot washed, dried, and kissed.  I pray, on this Good Friday, that I might learn to humble myself more and more - to give myself completely - to die to myself for the sake of those I love that I too might offer others a glimpse of the humility of Jesus Christ.

Amen.

By Michael Lavigne

Witnesses to the Light

As we prepare ourselves to enter Holy Week I'd like to share these words of Pope Benedict XVI from the second volume of Jesus of Nazareth:

“In living out the Gospel and in suffering for it, the Church, under the guidance of the apostolic preaching, has learned to understand the mystery of the Cross more and more, even though ultimately it is a mystery that defies analysis in terms of our rational formulae. The darkness and irrationality of sin and the holiness of God, too dazzling for our eyes, come together in the Cross, transcending our power of understanding. And yet in the message of the New Testament, and in the proof of that message in the lives of the saints, the great mystery has become radiant light. 

The mystery of atonement is not to be sacrificed on the altar of overweening rationalism. The Lord’s response to the request of the sons of Zebedee for seats at his right hand and at his left remains a key text for Christian faith in general: ‘The Son of man…came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many’ (Mk 10:45)” (p. 240)

At the beginning of Lent I shared with you about my anticipation of witnessing the Lenten journey of the catechumens and candidates I have been blessed to teach this year at my parish.  God has not disappointed.  I was not surprised to see God's hand in their lives through a variety of situations as they allowed Him to prepare their hearts and minds to come into His Church. Their journeys have illuminated my own this Lent.

Just this week I was moved by the clear anticipation that they have, especially the catechumens, to die with Christ in order to rise to new life as children of God in Baptism.  Their sincerity and desire to confirm and strengthen baptismal grace through Confirmation. The patient, but passionate, anticipation of their first reception of the Eucharist - the source and summit of the Christian life.

My prayer for this Holy Week, in light of their witness, is that I might approach this season of grace with their humility - their zeal - their childlike anticipation.  I pray that I might better offer up any burdens I have to the One who came to "give his life as a ransom for many."

God bless all of you.  I pray that your and my Lenten journeys have prepared us well to celebrate these mysteries. 

By Michael Lavigne

Anticipating the Joy of Easter

In less than a couple of weeks we will enter into the season of Lent.  Pope Benedict XVI, in his Message for Lent 2012 writes, "The Lenten season offers us once again an opportunity to reflect upon the very heart of Christian life: charity. This is a favourable time to renew our journey of faith, both as individuals and as a community, with the help of the word of God and the sacraments. This journey is one marked by prayer and sharing, silence and fasting, in anticipation of the joy of Easter."

 

I am personally looking forward to this particular Lenten season for a couple of reasons.  First, I am in need of a renewal of my mind, heart and soul.  In my recent prayer I have been reminded of my fraility - of the reality that I am nothing without God.  This poignant reminder has fueled a desire in me to go deeper in my relationship with Christ this Lent and to abandon myself, as thoroughly as possible, to His amazing grace.  In order to do this I need more of Him, which can only be obtained through embracing the opportunity Pope Benedict reminds us of above.

 

The second reason for my anticipation is due to the blessed journey I have had this year catechizing six adults in my parish who are preparing to enter into the Catholic Church this Easter. I have been humbled by their desire to learn and by their authentic longing to receive the Sacraments, especially to receive the Eucharist.  Of course the Lenten season is such an important part of their journey and I thank God for offering me the opportunity to have a front row seat as He works so powerfully in their lives.

 

And there is the catch.  In order for me to truly serve my brothers and sisters in guiding them to grow in their knowledge of Christ - to abandon themselves to Him - I, too, must surrender to Him more completely this Lent.  I need to strip myself of all that might prevent me from being an instrument of God's love so that I may serve them as they deserve.  It needs to be much less about me and more about the One who is the Light of the World and source of the great joy that we will celebrate this Easter.

 

May all of us rededicate ourselves to such an abandonment this Lent.  May we remember to pray for each other for the fortitude to enter into the season with great conviction.  May we offer ourselves as "a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God" that we might serve our brothers and sisters with great charity. 

 

Let this be our prayer for one another as we prepare to enter into this beautiful season.  And join me in remembering in a special way all those who are drawing ever so closer to entering into our beautiful Catholic Church - something that should truly fill us with great joy!

By Michael Lavigne

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

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

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.

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

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

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

 

Follow Jesus

As we continue this journey towards Holy Week and the celebration of Christ's victory over death may we renew our commitment to follow Him.

Seeking Mercy

"In order to respond to the call of God and start on our journey, it is not necessary to be already perfect. We know that the prodigal son's awareness of his own sin allowed him to set out on his return journey and thus feel the joy of reconciliation with the Father. Weaknesses and human limitations do not present an obstacle, as long as they help make us more aware of the fact that we are in need of the redeeming grace of Christ."

Pope Benedict XVI

Message for the 43rd World Day of Prayers for Vocations
March 30, 2006

I am a sinner.  I am broken. I fail to love my wife, my children, my family, friends, co-workers and enemies the way they deserve.  I am aware of this reality.

Pope Benedict XVI’s words above remind us of the importance of recognizing, in humility, our fallen nature.  This recognition is a wonderful starting point each and every day to drawing deeper into a relationship with our merciful Father in Heaven. It is precisely when we are vulnerable – empty if you will – that we are in a state ready to receive Christ’s “redeeming grace.”

The beautiful story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15: 11-32) is meant to draw us into a more complete understanding of God as Love and His desire to shower mercy upon us.  I gained a greater appreciation of this story when I read a little about Jewish customs at the time of Jesus.  When the younger son asks for his “inheritance” he was in effect telling his father that he was dead to him.  Imagine the pain that the father must have felt in the deepest core of his being.  According to custom the father would give the son what was his share of the inheritance but there was a “condition.”  The son could not come back.  In fact, if he came back he could be treated as a vagabond or a thief coming to steal from the property and be killed.

The son would have known this reality, which makes his decision to go back to his father more compelling.  In a way he would have known that he was going back to his own death.  This understanding of the story greatly enhances the point that Jesus is trying to make about the love of God for his fallen away children.

Not only do we find the father looking out for his son (Jesus clearly wants us to know that the father was doing so every day after the son left), but also he runs to his lost son and lavishes upon him forgiveness, mercy and love. He runs to the son who had called him dead and exclaims, “This son of mine was dead, and has come to life again.”  The “irony” is not meant to be lost upon the listener or reader. Can you imagine the crowd who was listening to Jesus tells this story the first time and how stunning this turn of events would have been to them?  Yet the message is clear: God will always be looking to shower his lost children with His forgiveness, mercy and love.  God always runs after us. No matter how sinful or broken we are.

“Weaknesses and human limitations do not present an obstacle, as long as they help make us more aware of the fact that we are in need of the redeeming grace of Christ."  I am a sinner. I am broken.  I fail to love.  Yet I pray daily that the awareness of my shortcomings fuel my desire to be holy and my deepest longing to seek and receive the “redeeming grace of Christ.”

May this continuing season of Lent offer us more opportunities to grow in such consciousness and seek the healing love of Jesus Christ.

- Michael Lavigne

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland is promoting “The Light is On For You.”  Every parish/cluster in the state will have at least one church site open every night from April 11-15 from 6-7p.m. for confession and time of quiet reflection.

An Encounter with the Lord

The season of Lent offers us an opportunity, as Pope Benedict XVI reminds us, to have "a particularly intense encounter with the Lord, calling us to retrace the steps of Christian initiation." Of course this begins with embracing the Lenten practices of prayer, sacrifice and alms-giving, which requires the desire to "die to ourselves." This act of wild abandonment leads to a greater awareness of who we are as sons and daughters of God and prepares us to be witnesses of Christ to the world.

Our world needs such witnesses.  Our world needs such hope.  Our world needs the example of all of us who seek to be holy "as the Father is holy."  Let this be our collective desire this Lent: that we might willingly empty ourselves in order to be vessels waiting to be filled and moved by God's grace.

Michael Lavigne

Lent: A Time to Remember Who You Are

Bishop Malone reminds us in the video above that we "exist because God loved you into being because God is love and what does Love require? A beloved!"  Lent certainly offers us an opportunity to daily "die to ourselves" through prayer, sacrifice, and alms-giving so that we can rest in this beautiful truth.

The evening prayer for today asks God to "bring us back to you and fill our minds with your wisdom."  Let us ask the Holy Spirit to fill us with this wisdom, built upon the fundamental truth of our existence: that we are being loved into existence each and every moment of our loves!

Stop for a moment each day this Lent to reflect and pray about this wonderful truth.  Allow this reality to conform you to God's will that you might allow Him to use you to share this message of hope to the many in our world who do not know or believe it. Amen.

Michael Lavigne

Be Her Gift This Valentine's Day

In case all of you men have not heard Monday is Valentine’s Day.  That’s right the pressure is on to make sure you get that special something to show your wife or fiancée that you love her (Note: I’m writing to men who are married or will be married, but the message should help out all men).

Now don’t worry because this has been resolved for you!  Just buy her a dozen roses (with the free vase!) in her favorite color.  If that doesn’t work, why not get her a pajamagram – what woman doesn’t like new pajamas while it is still cold out.  Not enough, then really show her you love her by buying those diamond earrings she has been longing for (you can even trade them in next year for a larger pair and only pay the difference - imagine how big they will be in ten years!).  If you are running out of time just go for the staples: a nice card with a box of chocolates – that will at least meet the standard of what she is expecting from you.

Truth is, while all of the above are nice and will surely bring a smile to her face, none of it is enough. None of the above meets the real standard for loving our wives or fiancées.

Jesus Christ has set the standard for the gift she deserves.  If you want to show her you love her this Valentine’s Day do this:

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the Church and handed Himself over for her to sanctify her, cleansing her by the bath of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the Church in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. So (also) husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. (Eph. 5: 26-29)

This is the gift she truly desires and deserves from you.  Drop everything that holds you back from loving your wife or fiancée like Christ loved his Church.  Only you know what it is that prevents you from this type of love.  Is it work, friends, sports, pornography, hobbies, selfishness, and on and on and on?  Identify it, seek God’s healing from it (get to the Sacrament of Reconciliation) and drop it from your life. 

Be a real man for her - a man of God. All of this requires a wild abandonment to Christ first and foremost. Go to Him, especially in the Eucharist, and learn from Him. Learn to love her as He loved the Church.

Be her gift this Valentine’s Day.

By Michael Lavigne

P.S. To my beloved wife Lori: I love you and desire to love you more and more each day as Christ loved His Church.  Thank you for loving me and challenging me to grow as a husband and father – to grow as a man of God. Happy Valentine’s Day.