The Epistle for this great feast states that "grace" has appeared to all men and has given us instruction, namely we are to:
1. deny ungodliness and worldly desires
2. live soberly
3. live justly and godly
4. look in hope for the coming of Christ.
This epistle struck me as a confrontation to living a life of fantasy. What do I mean by fantasy? I mean, living in such a way as to avoid a confrontation with reality. Let me give some examples. First, we love entertainment...a good movie, an exciting football game, a rousing orchestration. These things are not bad in themselves, however, what is the effect of a "good movie"? If the effect is to take us "outside of ourselves" and our daily troubles by immersing us in a fantasy world than we could argue that that is not "living soberly". This is especially true when the movie also has us "accepting and approving" immoral behavior by watching it on the screen. (Ps. 118:37 says "Turn my eyes from vain things.")
What is so bad about enjoying a little fantasy world? The trouble is the escapist attitude that often comes with this type of entertainment. It turns the heart off, and the soul gets put on the back burner in a way. Our pleasure receptors are teased and everything is focused on this non-reality - this entertainment. Anyone only need watch children after an exciting action movie to see the fantasy world bleed over into reality. The children start to act out what happened in the movie and try to make it more real to themselves. In avoiding reality, adults are ultimately avoiding God and His reality. Jesus, in His Passion and Death, is the ultimate acceptor of reality, namely, the reality of sin, damnation, and of course redemption.
Now don't get me wrong, fantasy has its place. The great classic moral fantasy tales can teach children lessons that cannot simply be injected into their minds and hearts with prolonged lectures. I would point one to Micheal O'Brien's book "Landscape with Dragons" for a wonderful exposition on good vs. evil fantasy literature. But, to stretch fantasy into adulthood is to keep adults childish. I picture grown men crying at the loss of their football team in the finals, or a mom fidgeting this her new iphone like a 5 year old plays with a new toy on Christmas day! It is a new drunkeness, an avoidance of the realities that come at us, and the epistle for today calls us to a new soberness.
So let us live sober, embrace reality, especially the ultimate Reality, Christ Himself in His fullness and Truth.
God bless you!
Here we are...Advent 2009.
Have you given any thought to how you are going to prepare to meet your Lord and God, Jesus Christ?
Lately I have been feeling a bit "under the weather" both physically and spiritually. It seems to me that God has set me up just for this time of penitence and preparation. My wife and I have decided that we not only wanted to do something penitential and personal, but we also wanted to commit to some type of service. Unfortunately, we have decided to do such things in the past, only to be frustrated and find ourselves on December 25th not having done anything special and fallen into the same rut that most modern Catholics fall into...consumerist celebratory chaos.
So, we dropped the big plans of serving the poor Christmas ham on our Lord's birthday and instead decided to do something close to home. Since my wife has eight siblings, all with large families, we decided we would go and help out a family a week...whatever kind of help they need: cleaning, cooking, watching kids, washing windows, whatever. Will it work? I don't really know, but we will give it a try and see.
What are you doing this year? I would love to hear your ideas. God bless you!
Today my family and I just returned from a brief visit with my family in Michigan. It was a delightful but short visit. The traveling is always a challenge with six children and usually one of them ends up sick while on the road. Of course, this time was no different. However, the trip as a whole was a great blessing, especially "car conversation".
My wife knows how I get after hours of driving and always tries to revive me through deep conversation. She might start off with some difficult scripture quote or some passage from the Illiad to try to bait me into a discussion. This drive was no different. She thought she would start with a quote from Genesis, "Wherefore a man shall leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they shall be two in one flesh." (Genesis 2:24 - drbo.org) She then proceeded to ask me what I thought of this in light of the many instances both in scripture and in modern life where a man ends up under his father's house (or farm or business) and the wife is the one that forsakes family.
So what do you answer to a question like that after being on the road for 5 hours in a mini-van full of kids? Well, I saw it as a chance to talk about the spiritual significance of authority and paternity - here are my thoughts. This is a statement of revelation about the man's authority rather than just his physical location. It is more about his new found paternalistic authority as the head of his household rather than him having to move away from his parents. He is now the head of his household rather than subservient to his father. One can see how this took place historically when the son would still be in his father's tribe, but would be given his own flock of sheep or other animals.
This authority structure finds its fullfillment in Christ in the famous quote from St. Paul's letter to the Ephesians, "Let women be subject to their husbands, as to the Lord: Because the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ is the head of the church. He is the savior of his body. Therefore as the church is subject to Christ, so also let the wives be to their husbands in all things." (Ephesians 5:22-24 - drbo.org) The husband's authority is now his responsibility in Christ to live as Christ and for the wife to live as an image of the faithful Church. They shall "cleave" to each other, and yet, the husband bears the ultimate responsibility for the holiness and salvation of his wife and family.
This scripture always brings up the issue of subjection. I have been reading a beautiful book about the cloistered life called, "A Right to Be Merry" by Mother Mary Francis. She opens a delightful window into the life of a Poor Clare nun back in the 50's. She speaks of obedience in these terms, "An obedient religious simply cannot blunder while she obeys. The superior may be wrong in commanding, but the subject is still right in obeying. It is a wonderous alchemy by which the brass of an imprudent order is unfailingly changed to gold for the one who obeys it. Too many persons think of being bound to obey. Actually, it is the headiest exercise of our liberty to be free to obey. Adam was the lord of the world when he was free to obey. When he surrendered that glorious freedom in order to disobey....well, which human heart does not keep the record of his sorry loss?"
Unfortunately, we could echo her sentiments with relation to modern marriages, too many feel that Ephesians 5 is such a negative thing. In fact, I once attended a Mass where they omitted the part on subjection of women! However, this scripture and call from God Himself is a great gift of freedom. Obedience may be a cross that is difficult to bear at times, but also allows a great freedom and joy in knowing that you are following God's will by being obedient to your rightful superior, be it your spiritual director, your religious abbot or mother, and yes, even your husband! Think of the great gift that has been given to us, simply because of Jesus' obedience to the Father....and what damage was done because of one little act of disobedience in the garden of Eden!
Live obedient - live devout!
I wanted to spread the word that I am currently working on producing an audio course on the Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis De Sales. It is my hope that in both mp3 and CD format that you will be able to learn more about living for Jesus and the teachings of St. Francis De Sales. I hope to have this course available on the website soon.
Please continue to pray for us!
God bless you all, Live Jesus, Live Devout!
Chris Fifelski
"Every one that exalteth himself shall be humbled, and he who humbleth himself shall be exalted."
What is it that we exalt in our lives? Is it ourself? Is it our job or our spouse? Maybe it is a imaginary version of God in which He is more of a servant of ours rather than a God that deserves our total gift of self? Do we ever think of exalting the Cross of Christ in our life?
Let's face it, the Cross is no fun. Jesus didn't trudge up the road of Calvary with a smile on His precious face. Mary didn't dance under the "gibbet of shame". In fact, most of the disciples were so scared they ran away and hid. This Cross, this terrible Passion of Jesus Christ was indeed a terrible thing, unlike anything we have seen represented in wood, paint, or porcelain.
This feast gives us pause to realize that we MUST exalt the Cross of Christ in our lives. There is really no other way. "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." Mk 8:34 To follow Christ is to "take up" our cross and follow Jesus all the way to the ultimate culmination of that road to Calvary, that is, to be crucified with Him. We must echo St. Paul when he stated, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I that live, but Christ who lives in me." Galatians 2:20
So let us make a couple observations:
1. The Cross means suffering (pain, discomfort, work, trouble, etc)
2. We are to "take up" our cross, which means total acceptance, grasping, encountering, etc - we cannot take up our cross by keeping it at arm's length.
3. Carrying our cross leads to the crucifixion. We die with Him so as to reign with Him...there is no other way. That way we can repeat the words of St. Paul mentioned above.
4. The Cross and Crucifixion ultimately lead to the Resurrection. Of course, there can be no Resurrection without the death first.
Some practical measures:
1. Stop treating your body (as St. Francis named his, "brother Ass) as if it were the most important thing in the world. Sometimes it may need to be tamed. (Recall St. Francis and other saints many austerities and penances - is it so bad to imitate those whom the Church gives to us as models of virtue?!)
2. Start giving prayer and the works of Christ priority in your life. Dedicate time to these things and never let a day go by without meditating on the Cross.
3. Do you have pain and suffering in your life? Accept it as a gift from God and imitate Christ in carrying this Cross in serenity and composure. You may suffer, but can you do it without whining and with a courageous spirit?
4. Open yourself to God's will...what is He asking of you today? Be fearless in your following of His will, no matter what the cost. Above all, submit this to your spiritual director's competence and be willingly obedient.
5. Take the Cross in your hands and be a like the "good thief" crucified next to Christ. Acknowledge your faults and failings and stop blaming God. Do penance and amend your life. Live for Jesus - Live Devout!
"The word devotion, which is derived from the Latin, answers to that of devotedness -- a vowing of ourselves, a consecration of ourselves. A devout person is, then, a person devoted to God, consecrated to God. There is no stronger expression than that of devotion to mark that disposition of the soul of a person who is ready to do everything and to suffer everything for Him to whom he is devoted." (quoted from The Spiritual Life, by Fr. Jean Nicolas Grou
This quote says a lot about what living devout is all about. It is about giving ourselves up completely to God, without the littlest reservation, and being willing to do and suffer all for the love of Him alone. As we seek to live this devotion out we can run into many challenges and troubles. The point is, we have been given over to Him and should continue to live out this consecration through our challenges and struggles. After all, what kind of devotion would it be if we fled at the least struggle?
So, as devotees of Jesus Christ we must resign, no, we must commit ourselves to a way of life that at every moment seeks to grow this devotion. Our daily choices will reflect our devotion. Do we choose to pray rather than watch TV or a movie? Do we choose to dress in a certain fashion that reflect our devotedness to Christ? Do we allow ourselves idle talk or gossip? To we get angry when things don't go "our" way? Do we seek pleasure for themselves? Do we choose our own way, or are we willing to do it God's way (possibly known through our spiritual director)? Are we accepting of our roles and duties in life, or do we gripe about them?
Obviously, the above litany could go on and on, but in the end, these questions and subsequent decisions are made in our heart and will. For it is there that we either accept our calling from God or reject it. It is then with our will that we ultimately choose to live devout!
A recent article on the CNS website highlighted the distressing state of religious vocations in the US. It stated that 75% of men and 90 of women in religious orders are over the age of 60. Within 10-20 years these religious orders will either die out or be left with empty convents and no one to tend to their apostolates.Here is an interesting quote from the article: "Though the numbers in religious orders may be decreasing, the study found that new members are passionate about religious life and that men's and women's communities following more traditional practices have better success attracting younger members today." (emphasis mine) http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0903603.htmIn this simple statement is something to really ponder, what is it about the "traditional practices" that attract these younger members? Could it be that these traditional practices are actually those that will assist these young and idealistic youths to achieve their goals of sanctity? Could it be that these traditional practices are those acts that bring about a more peace-filled soul and thus allow a person the freedom to fully embrace their religious life and identity?Live Devout is dedicated to these "traditional practices" because we know that these practices have been practiced and handed down by the multitude of saints over the past 2000 years. Such greats as St. Anthony, St. Benedict, St. Margaret Mary, St. Catherine, St. Francis, St. Ignatius, St. Therese, and St. Pio would not be what they are today without a firm grasp on these traditional practices, namely of prayer and penance.As a married person, I often reflect on my own call to sanctity through matrimony. In this also, I must commit myself to the "traditional practices" of marriage. These are those great graces that God has given to us through our roles as husband and father, wife and mother. While some religious orders have reverted to their pre-Vatican II habits, so must men and women return to more traditional and modest clothing. While nuns and monks return to an horarium more full of time for prayer, we must do our part to ensure we are becoming men and women of prayer, even within our secular duties. And as many religious seek to return to a traditional understanding of their founder's charism and rule, we must seek to understand the traditional teachings of the Church on our incredible roles and responsibilities as fathers, mothers, and spouses. If married persons can embrace the "traditional practices" of matrimony, I am sure we will see a new renewal in married life as well as vocations to religious life. Let us all embrace these traditional practices - and Live Devout!
The Brief Rule of St. Romuald
"And he [Br. Paul] received this brief rule from Master Romuald, which he was very careful to practice throughout his life:
- Sit in your cell as in paradise;
- cast all memory of the world behind you;
- cautiously watch your thoughts, as a good fisherman the fish.
- The way is via the psalms – do not leave it. If, in your beginner’s fervor, you fail to do the whole psalter, do a little here and a little there, studying each with your whole mind and spirit, and when your mind wanders during the reading - don’t quit, hurry to refocus;
- Place yourself in the presence of God with fear and trembling, as if standing before the emperor;
- destroy yourself completely;
- sit like a baby chick, content with the grace of God, who, unless its mother gives it something , knows nothing and has nothing to eat."
This short rule of St. Romuald can easily be translated for those living in the world. Here is my version for us "secular" folks:- Make your prayer time each day your time of paradise.
- Do not dwell on your memories of your daily struggles in the world, but cast them all before the Cross.
- Cautiously watch your thoughts...darn good advice!
- Pray each day, and try to pray throughout your day. If you find yourself slipping, hurry back to prayer....don't procrastinate (for you may not have tomorrow!)
- Place yourself in the presence of God (throughout the day) with fear and tremblying, as if God were passing by you during your work day.
- Destroy yourself completely...mortify your senses and desires, offer some sacrifice and penance each day for your sins.
- Reread #7 a few times until your get it...it is priceless.
For me, the constant message is prayer and penance. The spiritual life is like rowing upstream, once you stop rowing you are going to go backwards. Chose today, act today, live devout today. Happy Feast of St. John Vianney!
Have you ever given much thought to how you spend your time? Have you ever taken a diary of where your time goes. I can remember many years ago when I decided to go on a diet. The first thing the diet book recommended was to journal for a week and record everything that I ate. I was amazed by how many things I ate and when. It was a truly eye-opening experience to see how I was feeding myself.
This is true of our spiritual life, which is really our life in total. It encompasses everything we do, say, think, and pray. For instance, a person may say that they have no time to pray, and yet they commute 30 minutes to and from work. During this time they may listen to the news or a musical radio station...what would happen if this person decided to pray 5 decades of the rosary during this time? Or maybe another person spends 45 minutes each day on Facebook after the kids are in bed. Again, is this time "well spent" or just "spent".
I bring all this up because of how short life really is. I am turning 36 this year and amazed that I am probably half-way through my life. What have I done with it? How much time have I wasted on TV, worthless news, sports, entertainment, or just plain trying to please my self? If we take anything from the monastic and religious life, it should be the lesson of time spent well for the glory of God rather than the succor of self.
That all being said, we should examine our life more and more. The more we compare ourselves with Jesus and Mary the more we shall see just how lacking we are. This should humble us and give us a desire to grow and spend more of our time with and for Jesus. (To just dwell on our sinfulness and not be motivated to grow is just another sinister version of self-love....we love ourselves so much we are not willing to change to conform to Christ.) After all, the "unexamined life is not worth living!"
God bless you...All for Jesus!
Do you examine your conscience? How often do you go to Sacramental Confession? What is included in your examination of conscience?
This exercise is the foundation of a spiritual life built on the Truth. We must face the truth about our own lives before we can more on in growth. For example, if a person seeking to grow in the life of prayer is hateful to his brother, or is stuck in some secret sin, how can he move forward?
We begin our examen by "placing ourselves in God's presence." This is only facing the reality that God is already and truly with us and we only need to reflect on this reality for a moment for it to change our perspective. Once we have done this we ask Him for the necessary means to know ourselves and the state of our soul. We can then begin to either just review the previous day, minute by minute, or review the time period since our last confession.
This is where the hard work begins - facing ourselves with the eyes of Jesus and Mary. We must hold ourselves up to these models of the Christian life to get an extremely realistic picture of our state of affairs. We should compare our attitudes, ideas, and actions to that of Jesus and Mary and not be afraid to face the grim reality of our sin. The fact is, we are sinners and should never hide from our sins, but rather bring it out into the open for Jesus to conquer. How do you compare to these two models of the Christian life?
A couple of good books I recommend for learning the way of Jesus and Mary are "The Imitation of Christ" by Thomas a Kempis and "The Imitation of Mary" by Alexander de Rouville. Read these slow and reflectively and do not be afraid to act upon the teachings therein.
|
RSS Feed