A Knight's Walk in the Kingdom

theophilus November 18th, 2009

Fr. Mark Burger is the pastor of St. John the Evangelist parish in West Chester, Ohio.  He is also a renowned speaker and retreat leader.  He appears annually at the Cincinnati Men’s Conference and always leaves us pondering whether we are truly listening to the voice of God that is always in our heads, even if we have hit the cerebral mute button.

Fr. Mark decided to publish a book, “Hearing God’s Voice.”  We received advance notice of the book at this past Men’s Conference in March so I was looking forward to its release.  He decided to self-publish it, which means some unfortunate publishing house missed out on the chance to sell people something that is going to actually enrich their souls and lead them closer to our heavenly Father.

The book is laid out as a daily meditation.  Each day of the year carries a different sermon.  Some are of the slap-you-across-the-face variety, while others reveal themselves to you slowly and profoundly as you mull the message over during the course of a day.

The important part of Fr. Mark’s insights is that he always tells a story.  It’s not lecturing or postering-it’s just spinning a tale and then hitting home the point.  It’s also ecumenical in scope.  For me, it’s a great way to spend the five minutes before I walk out the door in the morning.  I find myself reflecting on the story during my ride into work.

A good example is today’s reflection for November 18th.  Fr. Mark tells the story of a friend who gave him a prayer to bring someone peace in troubled times.  After relaying the prayer, Fr. Mark concludes by sharing with us that -

“Jesus promised to give us a gift that no one else can, the gift of peace. His peace comes when no other sentiment, feeling or emotion will satisfy. Only His peace has the power to keep our eyes focused on heaven.”

We do live in unsatisfying times that are calling out for the best in all of us.  Fr. Mark’s book may be one tool that God is putting into your hands to help you answer this call.

You can order the book through this link – Hearing God’s Voice.  You just need to fork over $13.95 (and I’m assuming S&H and applicable taxes-you also have to register with lulu.com).

Advent is around the corner.  These meditations may be just what you need to start off the new liturgical year right.

Required Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from a friend who worked on the book with Fr. Mark.  I provided free and rather poor guidance to Fr. Mark on how to set up a blog to publish his daily meditations.  I have not received and will not receive anything of value in connection with this book.  I just think it’s a cool worship tool worthy of your time and money.

• God's Call , Prayer , Renewal
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theophilus October 7th, 2009

Today is the feast day for Our Lady of the Rosary.

As such, I would like to issue the 20 Decade Challenge.

Pray all 20 decades of the Holy Rosary today – the Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful and Glorious Mysteries.  Pray one set in the morning, one at lunch, one at the end of the workday and one before bed (or anyway you can piece together about an hour of your day).

Offer each decade for a specific intention.  Some intentions may include: the Holy Father and his intentions – peace in the world – the Church, our priests and deacons, our bishops, vocations, our fellow parishioners – our spouses, children, godchildren, young people in our lives, parents and family members, coworkers, teachers – the unborn, the end to abortion – our nation, our troops, our political leaders – the unemployed and those suffering economically, those suffering from personal and physical distress – those of other faiths, those who have fallen away from the Church – those who have died and those who mourn their loss, those who have died in natural disasters or accidents – the victims of violence, the victims of our culture – repentance for our sins, conversion of sinners and the souls in purgatory – or whatever or whomever else for which we wish to pray.

There is no shortage of things needing our prayers and the Holy Rosary is prayer on steriods.  It’s a direct call to the Blessed Virgin Mary and her beloved Son.  The Holy Rosary is a powerful weapon against all that ails our world, especially those things caused by man that erode human dignity.

Take the 20 Decade Challenge.  Let our Holy Mother hear a multitude of voices today.

• Mary , Prayer
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theophilus September 23rd, 2009

I have a small card that I carry in my prayer book.  I got it in the mail as part of a fundraising campaign by some Catholic organization.  I couldn’t tell you which one; but I really wish I would’ve sent them some money because the prayer card has come in handy on so many occasions.

The prayer card doesn’t have any images.  On the front is the “St. Pio Prayer” and on the back are the “Padre Pio Counsels.”   Padre Pio was a great man of prayer who was known for spending hours in the confessional and in his ability to intercede in prayer and get other people’s prayers answered.  He lived in the 20th Century (dying in 1968) so he is one of our modern saints; he lived in our times.  If you do not know about his life, just google him and start reading.

Today is the memorial of St. Pio.  In this day and age of uncertainty, it is fitting to call upon him and ask for his intercession in prayer and to adhere to his counsels.

Padre Pio Counsels

“Pray, hope and don’t worry. Worry is useless. God is merciful and will hear your prayer. Prayer is the best weapon we have; it is the key to God’s heart.”

“Walk cheerfully and with a sincere and open heart as much as you can, and when you cannot always maintain this holy joy, at least do not lose your trust in God.”

“Do not tire yourself over things that cause anxiety and worry. Only one thing is necessary: to lift up your spirit and love God.”

“Be cheerful. Jesus will take care of everything. Let us trust in Jesus and our heavenly Mother, and everything will work out well.”

St. Pio Prayer

Gracious God, You blessed Padre Pio with the five wounds of Christ Crucified, making him an inspiring witness to the saving love of Jesus in our world, and a powerful reminder to us of Your infinite mercy and goodness.

Through the heavenly intercession of St. Pio, I ask for the grace of  . . . (here state your petition).

Help me, O Lord, to imitate Padre Pio’s devout faith, prayerful holiness, patient forgiveness and loving compassion towards others.  Amen.

Padre Pio, pray for us!

• Prayer , Saints
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theophilus September 11th, 2009

In 2004, the Knights of Columbus resolved that September 11th be observed each year as a World Day of Prayer for Peace.

The Knights’ prayer is from Pope Benedict XVI’s prayer at the Prayer Service at Ground Zero on April 20, 2008.  Everyone is encouraged to pray this prayer throughout today and to dedicate your Rosary in remembrance of the events of 9/11/2001 and the struggle for peace throughout the world.

God of peace, bring your peace to our violent world:
peace in the hearts of all men and women
and peace among the nations of the earth.
Turn to your way of love
those whose hearts and minds
are consumed with hatred.

God of understanding,
overwhelmed by the magnitude of this tragedy,
we seek your light and guidance
as we confront such terrible events.
Grant that those whose lives were spared
may live so that the lives lost
may not have been lost in vain.
Comfort and console us,
strengthen us in hope,
and give us the wisdom and courage
to work tirelessly for a world
where truce peace and love reign
among nations and in the hearts of all.

We ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Pope Benedict XVI
Prayer Service at Ground Zero
April 20, 2008

• Pope , Prayer , The Battle , U.S.A.
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theophilus June 29th, 2009

I came across a prayer attributed to St. Ignatius a while back -

“Lord, teach me to be generous.  Teach me to serve you as you deserve.  To give and not count the cost.  To fight and not heed the wounds.  To toil and not seek for rest.  To labor and not ask for reward, save for knowing that I am doing your will.”

I know someone who is trying to live the last phrase of that prayer – “To labor and not ask for reward, save for knowing that I am doing your will.”

He is doing something that will result in others gain, yet he will probably not be rewarded for it.  He is doing something that will benefit many, yet his family questions his career path.  There is always the question left unsaid, but always hanging in the air, as to whether he should be doing something more distinguished or of greater monetary worth.

Yet, he has confided in me that he truly believes that he is doing God’s will.  He is exactly where God needs him.  He is laboring for Christ.

I told him about St. Ignatius’ prayer because I realized he is trying to live it.  He is trying so hard to keep from falling into the chasm of self-pity where he will crave reward for his labor.  He is trying to satisfy himself with the reward of knowing that he is doing God’s will; he is serving Christ.  I can tell that it is not easy.

And I reminded him that it doesn’t matter whether we measure up in someone else’s eyes; whether we are doing what others expect of us.  What matters if whether we are doing what God wants us to do; whether we measure up to what Christ expects of us.

The saints lived the prayer of St. Ignatius; each and every phrase.  We are called to do the same.

We all are called to be generous and serve and give and fight and toil and labor; but not to count the cost or heed the wounds or seek for rest or ask for reward.  We are all called to just serve Christ and do God’s will.  We are all called to be a saint.

• God's Call , Prayer , Sacrifice , Saints
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theophilus February 24th, 2009

In the past few days, I have been thinking about my Lenten plans.  Usually, I coast into Lent and figure out what I’m going to do sometime around the 2nd Sunday.  But this year, I decided to actually plan ahead of time so I can make the most of the forty days.

If you don’t have a plan, you need one; especially this year.  With the world full of chaos and uncertainty, we need to get in tune with Christ.  Lent is the gift we have been given to do just this very thing.

The best website I’ve seen so far to help me form and stick to a Lenten plan is from Catholic Culture.  Their Lenten Workshop has a Personal Program component that leads you through fasting, prayers, almsgiving, good works, education, and self-denial.  It is the perfect primer for anyone that wants to do more than just give up sweets, eat fish on Fridays, and fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

Make this a meaningful Lent!  With all that is going on in the world, it shouldn’t take a genius to figure out that God is calling us back to him.  Let us pray that he opens our eyes to his deeds and our ears to the sound of his call (cf. this week’s alternative opening prayer). Let us invite the Holy Spirit into our prayers so he can lead us to what we should do.

This season is about our relationship with Christ.  Let these 40 days bear fruit worthy of his love for us.

• God's Call , Holy Spirit , Jesus , Prayer , Renewal
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theophilus February 20th, 2009

There are two churches on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. – St. Peter’s on the House side, St. Joseph’s on the Senate side.  In their tabernacles, the real presence of Christ surrounds the Capitol.  Some Catholic Congressmen choose to acknowledge his presence both before the tabernacle and with their votes.

Their votes are joined by like-minded members of other faiths who realize that our laws need to be predicated on a moral and natural law that just so happens to come from God.  It also just so happens that these laws are embodied in the teachings of Christ.

It is not an issue of the separation of church and state; our founding fathers drew this very connection between the basis of our laws and the moral and natural law promulgated by God.

Believing as I do in the primacy of natural and moral law, I often wonder how some politicians can take policy positions that are diametrically opposed to Church teachings, say on abortion, and still sit in church on Sunday.  Isn’t there any sense of guilt or that something just isn’t right?  Don’t they question that maybe the Church is onto something and that, yes, their eternal lives may be at stake?  If they actually go to confession, do they fail to do even one moment of examination of conscience?  How do they rationalize what they do and say on the national stage?

Do they truly look themselves in the mirror?  I’m especially thinking about those who started out their political career pro-life and “grew” in their understanding of the issue concerning “a woman’s reproductive rights.”

The Speaker of the House had an opportunity this week presented to very few of us – a member of the Catholic laity meeting privately with the Holy Father.  For most of us, it would have been a moment of profound humility and interior reflection.  But, it appears that she decided to take the opportunity to “educate” the Pope, instead of accepting personal, spiritual direction from the direct apostolic successor to St. Peter.

What she may have failed to realize is that the Holy Father was probably most concerned with her soul, and those Catholic politicians who take similar culture of death positions.  Very few really know, but I bet she presented herself at this meeting failing to realize that she, like us, is a member of his flock, for which he is accountable to God.  She probably tried to ignore her abortion positions the same way we try to ignore certain sins while in the confessional.

And we have all been like her in one way or another, for we are all sinners and in need of understanding and redemption.  We have all done things in our lives that we have ignored, rationalized or just lied to ourselves about.  I, for one, didn’t go to confession for years because I didn’t want to face the hard questions I was getting while at Mass about my life choices.  I was in the pews on Sunday but hiding from Christ all the same.

Politicians need our prayers, because it is so easy to get spiritually lost while in power.  The soul tends to get buried underneath an avalanche of rationalizations.

Nothing is hopeless with God.  Christ can reach even the most virulent of the culture of death crowd.  If he can reach the “Roe” of Roe v. Wade, he can get through to anyone.

I would venture a guess that the Holy Father included the Speaker in his private prayers this week.  We are called by Christ to do the same.

• Church , Culture , Mercy & Forgiveness , Pope , Prayer , pro-life
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theophilus February 2nd, 2009

I have found two websites recently that are outstanding reminders.

One is the First Friday Society.  Historically, the First Friday of every month is devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  The most important way to show our devotion on this day is to attend Mass.  The First Friday Society will send you an email in the days before the first Friday of the month reminding you to go to Mass.  It will also remind you of Holy Days of Obligation.  If you don’t go to weekday Mass regularly, this reminder will help you become more devoted to Christ through the Eucharist.

The other website is the Apostleship of Prayer.  I knew that the Holy Father always has his monthly intentions (see my left sidebar), but I didn’t know that these intentions started through the efforts of the Apostleship of Prayer  ministry in 1844.  The Apostleship encourages us to say a Morning Offering upon waking to offer every part of our day to Christ.  I’ve been praying a Morning Offering for a year or so.  It’s just such a great way to start the day.

On a totally unrelated note, I have a frustration with locked churches.  I like to drop in for a visit to the Blessed Sacrament when very few people are there.  I like being in Christ’s presence, the solitary silence, and the spiritual sanctuary that only an empty church can offer.  I especially love traditional churches, which are often only found in urban areas.  So, there are too many times when I want to enter into this blessed wonderland only to be faced with the cold, hard sound of locked doors.

Today, I had some time between meetings in the city, so I went to the Cathedral in downtown Covington, Kentucky, which is in an urban area across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, Ohio.  For some reason, I was surprised that I found the doors were locked.

I then went to Mother of God Church in downtown Covington and likewise found their doors locked.  I then saw a passageway to the side door of the church and decided to give it a try.  The door was locked.  But, there was a door buzzer with a sign stating “press for admission.”  I looked up and saw the camera mounted above the door, pressed the button, “presented” myself to the camera, and the door buzzed.  I entered by the confessional on the side of the church.

It all became a great juxtaposition of events.  Today is the Feast of the Presentation.  Monday is the Joyful Mysteries for the Holy Rosary.  Mother of God is an old German church with a huge fresco of the Annunciation, Visitation and Nativity above the altar, and the Presentation and Finding Jesus in the Temple above the altars of St. Joseph and Mary respectively.  So, I was led by the Holy Spirit to pray a very powerful and blessed Rosary.

Towards the end of my prayer, a gentleman came up to me to let me know that they had to lock down the church.  He sheepishly apologized to me and warmly told me to come back.  I left knowing that this circumstance was just a sign of the times; a contradiction expressed by Simeon.

As I got back to my car in the side parking lot, I noticed an elderly lady who was having great difficulties trying to balance some things in her arms while she got out of her car.  We still have a great deal of ice around because of last week’s ice storm and she couldn’t get a good foothold on a patch of ice surrounding her car.  So, I went over, took her hand, then her arm, and navigated her through the ice.

The point isn’t my gesture.  It was the Christian, Christ-like and chivalrous thing to do.  The point is more profound.  What would have happened to her if I hadn’t been kicked out of church?

Interesting times we live in.  Interesting times.  Remember, God is in control.

• Church , Jesus , Liturgy , Mary , Prayer
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theophilus January 30th, 2009

January is National Birth Defects Prevention Month.

I rarely write about my own birth defects but I’m thinking I better write something about them before this month is out, especially considering that my birth defects and my faith seem to be totally intertwined with each other.

I was born with a cleft lip and cranio-facial birth defects, i.e. the different sides of my skull didn’t exactly form in perfect proportion to each other.  As a result, one side of my face is good to go, the other side has needed a great deal of work.

I have had more surgeries than I can remember; each one exhibiting the marvels of reconstructive medical science.  My conditions are so rare that I was always a must see for interns and residents on their rounds; and I even had photos taken of me for medical textbooks.  To this day, I have a standing appointment for major work with a dentist every decade or so.

My childhood was spent in doctor offices, dentist chairs, hospital beds, operating rooms, and with speech and hearing pathologists.

My sinuses are always a problem.  I need subtitles when I’m watching a movie on TV; and I finally broke down and started bringing a missal to Mass so I could fully “hear” the readings.  My eyesight is such that I can’t bring my eyes together in one single point of sight and my eyes have drastically different levels of vision.  I have little depth perception, so I’m always knocking into things, dropping perfectly thrown passes from my nephew, and losing my golf drives when they fly more than 150 yards off the tee.  I have a speech defect, but am in a field requiring superior communication skills.  I often need people to repeat themselves and they likewise often need me to repeat myself.

I was picked on, ridiculed and bullied as a kid; and rejected by more girls than I care to remember as a teen and college student.  Things got a little better in young adulthood.  To this day, I have people that look at me with THAT look, the one folks reserve for others that look differently than what they have come to expect.

Yet, somewhere along the line, God made me realize that I am the way he chose to make me.  I am made perfect in his image.

I have learned so much about life and about God because of my birth defects.  I have learned so much about others, both good and bad.  I have learned how God expects us to live and treat each other.  I have learned how to be truly grateful.

I am thankful to the doctors and dentists who put my face back together.  I am thankful for the nurses who comforted me when I was a scared little boy in a lonely hospital room in the middle of the night.

I am thankful for my parents, my family, my friends and the girls I’ve dated along the way who all saw through my deformities to the real me.

I am so in love with my wife that it surpasses my understanding.  She fell for and has stayed in love with an incredibly imperfect man, yet she fights for me, she fights for us.  She truly loves me, heart, soul &, yes, body.  She is such a beautiful woman, both inside and out, yet my birth defects have never been an obstacle to her loving me so.

I am so blessed that my parents see me as their son, not a deformed child; my wife sees me as her love, not a deformed man; and my children see me simply as their Daddy, not someone that looks different than others they know.

Actually, it’s been through my children that God has chosen to show me just how much he has blessed me.

My little girl looks like her mother; my son is the mirror image of me.  I have a special affection for my daughter because she is the first blood I have ever known (I am adopted).  But even more profound, I tend to wonder how much of my birth mother is in her.  She looks like my wife; but how much does she also look like my mother?

And then there is my son.  He is perfect in every way.  In him, I see what I could have been, physically.  I look at him and see what I would have looked like without the birth defects.

But, I would haven’t it any other way.  Let me repeat, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

For, I am the way God chose to make me.  I am made perfect in his image.

Every time I look in the mirror, I am humbled.  Every time I look upon someone who looks a little differently than others, I empathize.  Every time I see someone going through a hard time or in distress, I am spiritually connected to them.

And every time that I am going through hard times or get discouraged or don’t know where to turn, God reminds me that he is still there for me, that he is guiding me, that he has always guided me throughout all times of my life, both dark and bright.

He reminds me that he has tested me and found me worthy.

Today’s first reading is from Hebrews 10 and the writer hits the nail on the head, “You need endurance to do the will of God and receive what he has promised.”

My birth defects and being an orphan taught me endurance, both spiritually and physically.  God has a purpose behind everything he does.  He has a purpose for making me the way I am.  There are times when I don’t know why.  There are times when I fall into self-pity.  There are times when people treat me differently because of the way I look.  There are times when I look in the mirror and want to cry.

But, in these times, God ALWAYS brings me back to Him.  He reminds me of his will and his promise to me.

And when I doubt his special plan for me, he sends my wife to kiss me, my kids to jump on my back, and my parents to call me just to see how I am doing and to tell me that they love me.

And he also reminds me that I am a success professionally.  I am an inspiration to others.  I rise above my limitations and do what he expects of me.  I am bearing the fruit he wants from me.  And I must place my total trust in him.

It’s God’s way of telling me that I am the way God chose to make me.  I am made perfect in his image.

And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

• Catholic Men , Divine Filiation , Faith , God's Call , Gratitude , Liturgy , Marriage , Prayer , Relationships , Saints
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theophilus January 22nd, 2009

One of the uplifting aspects of the 2008 election was the great discussion that took place on the stblogosphere promoting the Culture of Life.  I’m certain this discussion will reach new heights in the coming years.

But with today being the anniversary of Roe v. Wade and Respect Life Day, I’m not going to focus on this discussion; for this day is a good day to simply fast and pray.

Fasting in reparation, in petition, in hope, in love.

Prayer through the Rosary and Mass.

Prayer for intercession to Mary as Our Lady of Guadalupe, patron saint of the unborn, and Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, patron saint of our nation.

Prayer to the Sacred Heart and the Divine Mercy of Jesus that he will show us his infinite mercy and that our nation will be redeemed.

Prayer to the Precious Blood of Jesus that our nation is washed clean of this corrosive and soul-destructive sin.

Prayer for the unborn; especially those already killed and those whose lives hang in the balance.

Prayer for pregnant mothers contemplating abortions and those who have already had abortions.

Prayer for all pregnant mothers and their babies.

Prayer for those mothers who chose life and are wondering whether they made the right choice; for those who are struggling; for those who placed their children for adoption.

Prayer for abortionists and those who work in the clinics.

Prayer for those who advocate for the Culture of Death.

Prayer for those who advocate for the Culture of Life.

Prayer for our public officials.

Prayer for those in the media.

Prayer for those who just want the issue to go away; who want a “negative peace.”

Prayer for those who will not open their eyes; who won’t even look at the incredible pictures of life in the womb.

And most introspectively for me, prayer for my birth mother who made the right choice; despite my foster homes, orphanages and birth defects.

I think one of  St. Teresa of Avila’s prayer is especially appropriate for today.

Let nothing disturb you.  Let nothing frighten you.  All things pass.  God does not change.  Patience achieves everything.  Whoever has God lacks nothing.  God alone suffices.

Christ has no body now on earth but yours; no hands but yours; no feet but yours.  Yours are the eyes through which the compassion of Christ must look out on the world.  Yours are the feet which he is to go about doing good.  Yours are the hands with which he is to bless His people.

We have a long road ahead of us.  We cannot succeed in turning our nation back to a Culture of Life unless we fully and completely put our work into God’s hands.

• Prayer , pro-life
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