Blog

By: Andy Baker, Coordinator of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Diocese of Palm Beach

One of my all-time favorite Christmas traditions is the timeless Charles M. Schultz cartoon classic, A Charlie Brown Christmas. Like many of you, Charlie Brown and the gang instantly transport me back to my childhood. For at least half an hour, I forget the hustle and bustle of today and relive a simpler time, listening once again with childlike ears, to the true meaning of Christmas. For me, the annual showing of this cinematic masterpiece paused our mandatory bedtimes and called together all of my neighborhood friends around a shared television and a multitude of Christmas treats. Yet, as I watched this year and reflected on the past, I was drawn deeper and deeper into a reflection on the need for trusted relationships and true friendships, and just how important those in our friend circle are to the development of our individual relationship with Jesus Christ.

Reflecting, I couldn’t help but be moved by Charlie Brown’s sense of being lost, his desperate search for truth, and at times lashing out in frustration at his friends who eventually turn away and leave him. It reminded me so much of youth ministry today because our young people are a lot like Charlie Brown. They also desperately seek the Truth (Jesus Christ) and, because they can’t see Him for all the chaos, they reject and walk away from Him, looking for solace in the dangerous lies of the world. As I pondered further this idea of trusted relationships, I recognized that none of this is reserved just for our youth, but for all of us; young and old, engaged or disengaged, we all desperately need a trusted friendship circle to get us in front of and keep us close to Jesus Christ. We absolutely need a Linus van Pelt to remind us of the Truth and to mobilize our friend circle when we need them the most. The Gospel of Luke gives us a great example of a friendship circle:

One day as Jesus was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem, and the power of the Lord was with him for healing. And some men brought on a stretcher a man who was paralyzed; they were trying to bring him in and set [him] in his presence. But not finding a way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on the stretcher through the tiles into the middle in front of Jesus. When he saw their faith, he said, “As for you, your sins are forgiven.” (Luke 5:17-20 NABRE)

The paralyzed man had the ultimate friend circle… follow my thought for a moment, these companions carried their friend on a stretcher across villages and through crowds, never giving up on their goal of getting their friend in front of Jesus. Having met the ultimate roadblock in an impenetrable crowd, they climbed up on the roof, ripped it open, and lowered their friend down. But here is the best part, Jesus heals the man not because the man asked to be healed, but because of the faith of his friends. The man was healed because of the faith of his friend circle! He had the ultimate friend circle, and I am almost positive he had a Linus van Pelt.

Wrapping up this Christmas reflection on relationships, we come to the season of resolutions. Charlie Brown and Linus van Pelt have made me think deeply about my own friend circle. I realize I need more true friends than familiar acquaintances in my circle.  I need more friends willing to rip off the roof for me and fewer giving me a thumbs up or heart emoji. Humans are driven by relationships, it’s in our DNA and the purpose of our creation. In His image we were created to be in relationship with Him and together with the help of each other, to reflect Him to everyone else on this earth. This New Year, I invite you to join me in making a firm resolution to check and update your friend circle, to find your Linus, and, most of all, to be a Linus to someone else.

Here’s what the Scriptures have to say:

Genesis 1:26-27 – Then God said: Let us make human beings in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the tame animals, all the wild animals, and all the creatures that crawl on the earth. God created mankind in his image; in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

John 15:5 –I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.

John 15:13-15 – No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command you: love one another.

_{Author: Beth Zanotelli, Family Life Coordinator for the Diocese of Palm Beach}

On All Saints Day, the gospel reading begins Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. In this reading, Jesus teaches his apostles and the multitudes that follow him, the Beatitudes:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.  Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the land.  Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.  Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.  Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.  Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.  Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3-10)

This sermon ends with “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.”  (Matthew 5:12) Interestingly, this sermon calls us to be poor in spirit, to be meek, to be merciful, to hunger and thirst, to be clean of heart, to be peacemakers, and then ends with “rejoice and be glad!”  Jesus challenges us to leave behind our old ways and live a new way.  He challenges us to love God with our whole hearts.  What bad habits or attitudes can we leave behind? How does God challenge us to stand up for Truth, Beauty, and Goodness while remaining joyful?  How can we make changes to the way we behave? 

The Church honors all saints, on November 1, both those who have been formally canonized and others who are in heaven. These saints are individuals who have lived lives of extraordinary faith and dedication to God, and they serve as our role models.  They have played a significant role in spreading Christianity and leading others toward holiness. The saints knew the joys and sufferings of the Beatitudes.  Many were patient in their heroism and remained joyful as they persevered through adversity.  They relied on simplicity and humility as they hungered and thirsted for righteousness.  Many saints overcame a life previously not lived for Christ, but they heard the call to follow Jesus and converted.  They learned that being clean of heart and becoming peacemakers was the way to the Kingdom of Heaven.

 Thanksgiving celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November, is a reminder to give thanks and to rejoice in our many gifts.  We celebrate our blessings, and maybe we even try to apologize for our shortcomings and forgive others.  The message of the Beatitudes is a checkup for us to see if we are “living in a manner worthy of the call we have received”. (Ephesians 4:1) We should ask ourselves if we are living the call of the Beatitudes.  Are we living in a manner worthy of being called a Christian?

Take time to review the Beatitudes that Jesus gives to those who choose to follow Him.  Look for changes you can make to grow closer to Him in holiness.  Rejoice when you receive glimpses of the Kingdom of Heaven, when you are satisfied, when you are shown mercy, when you see God, and when you are called a Child of God!  Rejoice when you find yourself “living in a manner worthy of the call you have received.”

Here’s what the Scriptures have to say:

Ephesians 4:1-3 – Brothers and Sisters: I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace.

1 Peter 3:8-12 – Finally, all of you, be of one mind, sympathetic, loving toward one another, compassionate, humble. Do not return evil for evil or insult for insult; but, on the contrary, a blessing, because to this you were called that you might inherit a blessing. For: “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep the tongue from evil and the lips from speaking deceit, must turn from evil and do good, seek peace and follow after it.  For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears turned to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against evildoers.”

Micah 6:8 – You have been told, O man, what is good, and what the Lord requires of you: Only to do the right and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God

By Cathy Loh, Diocese of Palm Beach Director of Marriage, Family Life, Faith Formation and Youth Ministry

As the old song lyric goes, “I never promised you a rose garden.” Indeed, Jesus never promised that the Christian life would be a bed of roses, besides roses have thorns. Life is full of ups and downs, twists and turns, and hurdles, and following Jesus is no exception.  Indeed, Jesus admonishes his disciples that they must pick up their cross and follow him (Matthew 16:24). At the end of John’s gospel (21:18), Jesus warns Peter that when he is old, he will be carried where he does not want to go.

Even Jesus’ own Mother experienced her share of sorrows. As prophesied by Simeon when Mary and Joseph presented Jesus in the temple: “…and a sword will pierce through your own soul also…” (Luke 2:35). That prophecy was fulfilled as Mary stood at the foot of the Cross, watching her only Son die the agonizing death of crucifixion after being brutally scourged.

Why would we expect our experience to be different? A quick reflection on my own life bears this out. The joys of growing as a disciple of Jesus Christ, and of married family life, educational accomplishments, career and ministry highlights, have been punctuated by the sorrows of loss, sickness, fears, trials, and disappointments. Currently, many of my colleagues are struggling to balance the challenges of caring for aging parents with the joys of becoming grandparents. Some are facing their own physical struggles and health scares while looking forward to freedom in retirement. There are many joys and sorrows in life. That is life as we know it.

How are we supposed to navigate life? Like the disciples on the Road to Emmaus, we need to allow Jesus to accompany us on our journey. There is one constant in life: Jesus Christ who promises to be with us until the end of the age (Matthew 28:20).  This is a promise that we can absolutely rely on, to give us the hope, comfort, and courage to keep going. I often wonder how people who do not know or believe in Jesus Christ face the challenges of their lives. How do they avoid falling into despair? Thankfully, we who are disciples of Jesus Christ know that He is with us, that He can redeem all of our sufferings and bring a greater good out of them. That knowledge should give us hope and consolation.

During this month of October with the feasts of Divine Mercy and Our Lady of the Rosary, we are reminded of the power of prayer and invited to join Jesus and Mary in the heart of prayer. Of course, Jesus is also present to us in His Word, the Holy Scriptures, and in the sacraments, especially the Holy Eucharist. And where Jesus is, Mary is also. Thankfully, our Creator and Father, who knows us intimately, provides us with physical reminders of His presence, His love, and His mercy, so we can confidently face each day knowing that He is by our side.

Here’s What Scripture has to say…

1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 – Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Peter 5:7 – Cast all your anxieties on [God], for he cares for you.

Psalm 34:18 – The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

John 14:27 – Peace, I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

John 15:5 – I am the vine; you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

Author: Beth Zanotelli, Family Life Coordinator for the Diocese of Palm Beach

Have you ever considered that there might be fruits, or consequences to your opinions? Our opinions should depend on right judgment. The noun judgment signifies the ability to make considered decisions or come to sensible conclusions, and the verb to judge means to evaluate, assess, form an opinion or conclusion about, decide, or determine.

How can we better form our opinions?   Do we go to God first and ask Him for clear judgment, or do we follow the opinions of others, perhaps those with the loudest or most popular voice?  Do we hastily form an opinion about something, or do we take time to evaluate what is good, right, and true?  How can we prayerfully discern what is good when we form our ideas or opinions?

Using right judgment can mean different things.  Learning to judge rightly is important because it helps us discern right from wrong and form our conscience. In his letter to the Romans, St. Paul helps us understand the importance of not believing everything we hear in the news, or from other people.  Chapter 12:2 teaches, “Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.”   When we have a clear vision, when we consider others, and align with God’s will, we are considering right judgment.  In the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 1787) it is clear, “Man is sometimes confronted by situations that make moral judgments less assured and decision difficult.  But he must always seriously seek what is right and good and discern the will of God expressed in divine law.”

It takes courage to stand up for truth and goodness.  It is what we are called to do, in doing the work of God.  If you witness people who are radiant with joy, they are most often joyful because they rest in the knowledge that “they hold the power of love and self-control.” (see 2 Timothy 1:7) To exercise correct judgments is not always the easy road, but it is the path to an abundant life and a way to accept and give God’s love.

As stewards of creation, we should also consider how right judgment affects our relationship with the world and other people.  If the outcome of our opinion, thought or idea harms another, perhaps it is not the “will of God”.  If our conclusions have selfish or prideful motives, it seems that we have not been courageous, and most importantly, we have not taken a stand for truth and goodness.  We, with humility, should present our judgments to God and seek His direction.  Faith in God is required to know Him and to understand His ways.

Here’s what Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church have to say:

2 Timothy 1:7 – For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control.

Philippians 4:8-9 – Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.  Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me.  Then the God of peace will be with you.

CCC 1785 – In the formation of conscience the Word of God is the light for our path, we must assimilate it in faith and prayer and put it into practice.  We must also examine our conscience before the Lord’s Cross.  We are assisted by the gifts of the Holy Spirit, aided by the witness or advice of others, and guided by the authoritative teaching of the Church.

Colossians 3:23-24 – Whatever you do, do from the heart, as for the Lord and not for others, knowing that you will receive from the Lord the due payment of the inheritance; be slaves of the Lord Christ.

Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart, on your own intelligence, rely not; In all your ways be mindful of Him, and he will make straight your paths

Author: Beth Zanotelli, Family Life Coordinator for the Diocese of Palm Beach

What is revival?  The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition defines Revival as A restoration to use, acceptance, activity, or vigor after a period of obscurity or quiescence.  Imagine placing defibrillator paddles on someone’s chest to restart their heart, this is a physical revival of a human life, a restarting of a human heart, but what about the revival of our spirit, our human soul? 

Because God created us as a body and a soul, we must strive to keep both body AND soul healthy.  Scripture warns us in Revelation 3:14 not to become lukewarm in our faith, warning, “…Because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.”  We can grow indifferent or worse, cold in our faith, even as good Christians.  How do we realize when there is a need to take action to restore our spiritual zeal or vigor?   How do we restore, revive or even supercharge our faith and, if necessary, rekindle the love of God?  How can we renew our faith and thereby “defibrillate” our soul?

First and foremost through prayer.  Our prayer should be for continuous revival!  Each day, in our prayers, we should ask the Lord to revive us again, and again and again.  Second, taking time daily for an examination of conscience is always helpful.  If through this examination we realize our faith was stronger yesterday than today, it is time to change direction and repent.  Turn to God!  Third, if we have lost sight of what is most important, that is, if we have lost sight of the Truth, it’s time to remember. We can allow God’s Words, Holy Scripture, to revive us and give us instructions about how we are to live! 

By taking time to read and learn about our salvation history, recorded in both the Old and New Testaments, we can avoid the things that caused our ancestors to fail and try to repeat their successes.  Time and time again, the people turned away from God, only to fall into darkness.  When they remembered God, repented, and followed His Commandments, they were revived!

And like our ancestors, we cannot do it alone.  Another important resource to help revive, or restore our soul is to seek accountability, by asking someone to help us when we are falling away.  It is important to surround ourselves with like-minded people and create boundaries with those who tempt us to turn away.  Walking together with those who understand our faith is fruitful and a source of encouragement.  And this can include the Saints!  Take time to read their writings, especially those who are patrons of the things you are dealing with. 

Lastly, the most effective tool for personal revival is participation in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and receiving the Eucharist as often as possible.  At least on Sundays, but if possible, come to Mass during the week.

In Matt Maher’s song, “Just Like You”, there are words we can take to prayer (and as you know, when we sing, we pray twice!).  Let us make these words part of our prayer for revival: 

Revive my heart, renew my soul; In You, oh Lord, I am made whole; Cause you’re my God, my Lord and lover.  Like a burning fire, be my one desire.

I want to be holy, just like you; I want to go where You lead me to; With reckless abandon to Your Truth; I want to fall deeper in love with You!

Here’s what Scripture has to say:

Revelation 3:14-22 – I know your works: I know that you are neither cold nor hot.  I wish you were either cold or hot.  So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.  For you say, “I am rich and affluent and have no need of anything”, and yet do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.

Matthew 24: 11-13 – Many false prophets will arise and deceive many; and because of the increase of evildoing, the love of many will grow cold.  But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.”

Ephesians 4:1-32 – I, then, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace:  one body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Psalm 19:8 – The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul.  The decree of the Lord is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple.

Psalm 119:88 – In your kindness give me life, to keep the decrees you have spoken.

Author: Beth Zanotelli, Family Life Coordinator for the Diocese of Palm Beach

During the 50-day Easter Season, we celebrate the promise of new life both in Heaven and on Earth, we rejoice and are renewed in faith.  We anticipate an even greater renewal and the boldness that the Holy Spirit gave the Apostles on Pentecost. The Apostles also received the courage and wisdom to preach to many nations and peoples. How can we be renewed at Pentecost this year?  How can we fully participate in the Descent of the Holy Spirit?

Psalm 104:1-2 invites us to sing the praises of God the Creator!   “Bless the Lord, my soul!  Lord, my God you are great indeed!  You are clothed with majesty and glory robed in light as with a cloak.” This is the psalm that we will pray at Mass when we celebrate Pentecost. It is part of the scriptures the Jewish Apostles knew and recited as children and throughout their lives. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph sang this Psalm that gives us a perfect image of God’s intimate involvement in the world He created.  Verses 10,14, and 15 proclaim, “You made springs flow into channels that wind among the mountains …You raise grass for the cattle and plants for our beasts of burden.  You bring bread from the earth, and wine to gladden our hearts.” How often do we stop to praise God for the gifts of creation?  God made everything.  We belong to Him, and we should delight in Him!  How often do we sacrifice a luxury for the protection of God’s creation? How often do we share our witness of God’s greatness with others?  How often do we dust off the scales of the world and delight in Him?

In the Easter season, we hear about the Apostles and their life after Christ’s Resurrection. As we approach Pentecost, imagine them gathered together,  reciting Psalm 104:30, “Lord, send out your Spirit and renew the face of the earth.”  At Pentecost, God sends us An Advocate, he fulfills his promise by sending the Holy Spirit. We can wake up each day and be refreshed by the Spirit.  The gift of the Holy Spirit was breathed on the Apostles and Jesus said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.  Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”  At Pentecost Jesus’ Paschal Mystery is complete and we, the Church, have what we need to carry on His work in the world.  We can show others the glory of heaven by sharing the Gospel.  We can witness what we know about Jesus to others.  It doesn’t have to sound like a theology textbook.  Our witness to others can be seen by living the Truth, by outwardly showing forgiveness, and by being servants to one another.  By the power of the Holy Spirit, we who are baptized and confirmed children of God, are strengthened to be sharers of the Word and to be warriors for the Truth. We need to daily renew our faith and look for ways to draw closer to Jesus. We can do this with constant prayer, repentance, and faith.  We can ask the Holy Spirit to be present in our life.    Take a moment to pray with the words of Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman:

Come Holy Spirit!

Make our ears to hear. 
Make our eyes to see.
Make our mouths to speak. 
Make our hearts to seek. 
Make our hands to reach out. 
And touch the world with your love.  AMEN.  

Here’s what scripture has to say:

Psalm 104:24-35 – How varied are your works, Lord!  In wisdom you have wrought them all; the earth is full of your creatures.  Look at the sea, great and wide!  It teems with countless beings, living things both large and small. Here ships ply their course; here Leviathan your creature, plays.  All of these look to you to give them food in due time.  When you give to them, they gather; when you open your hand, they are well-filled.  When you hide your face, they are lost.  When you take away their breath, they perish and return to the dust from which they came.  When you send forth your breath, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth. May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord be glad in these works!  If God glares at the earth, it trembles; if God touches the mountains, they smoke!  I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God while I live.  May my theme be pleasing to God; I will rejoice in the Lord.  May sinners vanish from the earth, and the wicked be no more.  Bless the Lord, my soul!  Hallelujah!

Author:  Catherine Loh, Diocese of Palm Beach Director of Marriage, Family Life, Faith Formation, and Youth Ministry

We have finally made the journey through Lent, through the Passion, and now we can celebrate Christ’s Resurrection! Happy Easter! We are an Easter people!

However, let us remember, without that 40-day journey toward the Passion and the actual Passion itself, we cannot get to the Resurrection. Without Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection, we have no hope for restoration as God’s sons and daughters, co-heirs to Christ’s Kingdom. Perhaps we should take some time to look back and contemplate our Lenten journey.

First, let’s consider where we were when it all started.  Were we blissfully journeying through life?  Or did we notice some clouds on the horizon?  Or were we already immersed in a period of struggling and suffering, a “Dark Night of the Soul” as described by St. John of the Cross?  Did we have a plan for Lent?  Perhaps we desired to grow in holiness and to grow closer to the Lord. Perhaps we wanted to overcome a bad habit or develop a new virtue. The good news is that we did not have to make the journey or achieve our goal all on our own. Jesus issued an invitation to each one of us to journey with him, to accompany him towards the Resurrection.

Just like the blind man in the Gospel of Luke 18:35-39, Jesus asked us, “What do you want me to do for you?”  In one biblical translation, the blind man responded that he wanted to recover his sight. “Recover” is an interesting word.  It means to regain or return to a normal state.  That means the blind man was not always blind. Somehow, he had lost his sight, but now he placed his hope in the Lord Jesus to recover his vision.

How did you respond when Jesus asked you what you wanted? What did you hope to recover? Had you lost something you once possessed or enjoyed or maybe even took for granted?  Had you somehow lost your vision? Had it become cloudy? What obstacles did you encounter?

Like the blind man, did you tell Jesus what you hoped to recover? How did Jesus respond to you? Did he immediately grant your request? Or did he come alongside you on the road to that recovery? Did you allow him to accompany you toward the Resurrection?

Maybe you are still waiting or even struggling to recover what was lost. The Resurrection is not a destination but a promise.  We are all on that journey toward our own resurrection. Allow the Lord to remain with you on your journey and keep heading in the right direction.  Avoid turning back and giving up what has been or is still in the process of being recovered. Stand firm in the promise that “with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). Let us not lose hope. We are an Easter people whose hope rests in the Lord (cf. Psalm 71:5). Behold, with the Lord, all things are new.

Here’s what Scripture has to say:

Luke 18:41 – …Jesus asked him “What do you want me to do for you?” 

Matthew 19:26   – But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Psalm 71:5a – You are my hope, Lord;

Revelation 21:5 – …Behold, I make all things new.

Do you know who made you?  God made you!  Why did God make you?  He made you because He loves you!  This is the reality that many of us learned when we were young. We pass it on to our children because it is how we form our faith.    As we learn more about God, our faith grows, and we find security in God’s love.  God’s love never changes, it is always present. Knowing God’s love is the basis for our faith and securing this love in our soul takes care and practice.  To know and receive God’s love, our hearts must be open.  We spend our lives discovering God’s love, and we should delight in it often.  Morning, noon, and night are the perfect times to turn our thoughts to God.  They are perfect times to delight in His love and give praise and thanksgiving.

God made you because He loves you.  God, who is love, is a communion of three Divine Persons.  These three Persons are united in an inner life of love. God the Father is the giver, He gives the gift of self.  The Son is the Receiver, who receives the Father’s gift of self and gives back His own gift of self to the Father.  “They are distinct from one another in their relations of origin: ‘It is the Father who generates, the Son who is begotten, and the Holy Spirit who proceeds.’ The divine Unity is Triune.” (CCC 254) There is so much love between all three persons, they are one single Being. This inner life of love is eternal and never broken.  The love of the Trinity is fruitful and life-giving. We can access this love through prayer.

This new year is the perfect time to return to the prayers we learned in our childhood.   Remember that we are to pray the “Sign of the Cross” with humility and reverence.  Our outward prayers are a witness to others. Our prayers are not just words we have been saying for years.  Our behaviors as adults are shaped by the experiences of our childhood.  Can you remember a time when someone taught you about Jesus or taught you to pray?  Does that childlike curiosity still inspire you to love the Lord?  When you enter a Catholic Church or pass by a Tabernacle, do you remember to show reverence for the presence of Jesus?  Find ways to honor your creator.  Find ways to love the one who first loved.   “We love because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)

 Love wants to be with the beloved.    

Here’s what the Scriptures have to say:

1 John 4:8 – God is Love

Psalm 139:14 – I praise you, so wonderfully you made me; wonderful are your works!

Jeremiah 33:2-3 – Thus says the Lord who made the earth and gave it form and firmness, whose name is Lord:  Call to me, and I will answer you; I will tell to you things great beyond reach of your knowledge.

Hebrews 4:16 – So, let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.

Author: Beth Zanotelli, Family Life Coordinator for the Diocese of Palm Beach

Do you want your children to have a good life?  Do you want your kids to be successful and flourish in the world?  Not many parents would answer “no” to those questions.  There are also not many parents who wake up in the morning and say, “I would like to be a lousy parent today.”  Most parents want the best for their children, and many work tirelessly to create a life that is better than the life they had growing up.  Or maybe they try to repaint the fairytale life that they knew.  What a joy and honor it is to raise children.  Of course, it comes with great sacrifice and constant care, but raising children is truly a gift!

The most important question we should be asking is, “How can I help my child live a holy life and get to heaven?” We are called to baptize our children as part of our Catholic faith. During a baptism, when the priest or deacon is about to pour the water, parents, Godparents, and all present are reminded, “Make it your constant care to bring your child up in the practice of the faith.” This responsibility comes from the understanding of who is the “ultimate owner of the child.”  Psalm 139:13 says, “You formed my inmost being; You knit me in my mother’s womb.”  God is the original parent and “owner” of our children, while mothers and fathers are the biological “foster parents” who have received the child on loan from God.  One of the parents’ most important duties is to teach their children about the genuine love of God. Much of this is taught by loving encounters and experiences within the family.  Parents also must teach their children to pray.  Prayer must begin at birth and continue throughout life.  Faith needs to be a constant for the baptized, and prayer sustains faith. 

How do we teach our children well?   How can we do a better job of bringing them up in the faith?  One way is to live the Liturgical Calendar.  Teach your children about Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter, but go even deeper and look at each day as a journey in faith.  Who is the Saint of the Day? Find a way to celebrate at least one Saint each month (three or four would be better).  It’s not that difficult, in February there is already a day for St. Valentine, and in March, St. Patrick.  You could learn about the Patron Saint of your Parish and celebrate by making a recipe from the country they are from.  Choose a patron saint for your family and celebrate along with the patron saint of each child.  Do you celebrate the anniversary of their baptism?  Why not, it is when they became Children of God. When you start teaching your child colors look at what color vestments the priest is wearing at Mass. He will wear green in Ordinary Time, what are the other colors he wears? (HINT: purple, white, red)

Our faith is best taught through lived experience. Another way to teach the faith and about the life of Jesus is to pray the Rosary as a family.  October is the month of Our Lady of the Rosary, how many ways could you count the 10 Hail Mary’s in a decade of the Rosary?  You could count on beads, stickers, jellybeans, pompoms, cupcakes, and the list goes on.

As we each try to live the Liturgical Calendar, look for groups that meet to pray and play.  Catholic Tots, Religious Education activities, and Catholic Scouting groups like American Heritage Girls, Little Flowers, Blue Knights, and Trail Life are great groups.   Connect with other families to share ideas and build community. Like-minded people will help you grow your faith and teach your children well.

Here’s what the scriptures have to say:

Proverbs 22:6 – Train a [child] in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not swerve from it.

Deuteronomy 6: 5-9 – You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your strength.  Take to heart these words which I enjoin on you today. Drill them into your children.  Speak of them at home and abroad, whether you are busy or at rest.

Psalm 139:13-14 – You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb.  I praise you, so wonderfully you made me; wonderful are your works!

John 3:5 – Jesus answered, “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.

Author: Beth Zanotelli, Family Life Coordinator for the Diocese of Palm Beach

There are several times during the Holy Mass when Christ offers us His peace.  At the beginning, right after the Sign of the Cross, the priest has the option to say: “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” and we respond, “And with your Spirit.”  After the ‘Our Father’, again the celebrant responds with a message of ‘peace’ when he says, “Deliver us, Lord, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days, in your mercy, free us from sin and save us from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.”  The most obvious exchange is when we offer each other a Sign of Peace.  The words from the priest celebrant again stress the importance of peace.  Here he shares the words of Jesus when he says, “Peace, I leave you, my peace I give you, look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church, and graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with your will.” After this, we are invited to share a gesture of peace.  This gesture is the same peace we just received from Jesus!

Like each part of the Holy Mass, the Sign of Peace has biblical roots.  In Matthew 5:23-24 we are reminded, “If you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother and then come and offer your gift.”  Offering peace is not just a state of mind, it is an action.  Like forgiveness, peace begins with a person.  If we are to receive Jesus in the Eucharist, and if we desire to share in His holiness, we must have the courage to clean up the mistakes and misunderstandings we have created in our lives.  In the letter to the Hebrews, we are cautioned to persevere and not be weak.  Chapter 12:10-12 is a great reminder, that if we want to be holy, if we desire true peace, we must be disciplined.  “They disciplined us for a short time as seemed right to them, but He does so for our benefit, in order that we may share His holiness.  At the time, all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it.” We all desire the peaceful fruit of holiness, we all desire peace.

There are many ways to achieve peace. Life is filled with balancing, juggling, and avoiding.  We try to balance holiness and the world. We juggle planning as we look forward, learning from our past, while we live in the present moment. We continuously try to avoid those things that rob us of our peace. To live in the present moment means we will have to stop rushing around, we need to find time to rest and reset.  To live a life of holiness means we need to first, trust in God’s Mercy, then, learn to forgive one another, and most importantly forgive ourselves.  Finally, to achieve peace, you must be an active participant.  In our families we must share our thoughts and feelings, we must forgive one another, we must be patient with one another, and we must find mutual respect.  In the hectic noisiness of each day, we need to find our Sabbath moments. We won’t be able to receive the graces of God’s peace if our lives are too busy.  We need to find moments to be thankful and offer a prayer. Jesus wants to help us build peace -in our hearts – in our relationships – and in our families!

In preparation for Christmas, remember what we prepare for – the coming of the Prince of Peace!  In Philippians 4:4-7 we are instructed, “Rejoice in the Lord always.  I shall say it again rejoice!  Your kindness should be known to all.  The Lord is near.  Have no anxiety at all, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

Here’s what the Scriptures have to say:

Luke 2:13-14 –And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Hebrews 12:10-12 – They disciplined us for a short time as seemed right to them, but he does so for our benefit, in order that we may share this holiness.  At the time, all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it.  So, strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees.  Make straight paths for your feet, that what is lame may not be dislocated but healed.

Hebrews 12: 14-15 – Strive for peace with everyone, and for that holiness without which no one will see the Lord.  See to it that no one be deprived of the grace of God, that no bitter root spring up and cause trouble

Proverbs 12:20 – Deceit is in the hands of those who plot evil, but those who counsel peace have joy.

Matthew 5:23-24 – If you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come to offer your gift.

Philippians 4:4-7 – Rejoice in the Lord always.  I shall say it again rejoice!  Your kindness should be known to all.  The Lord is near.  Have no anxiety at all, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

By Beth Zanotelli, Family Life Coordinator for the Diocese of Palm Beach

Who is Mary?  Why do we honor her?  How can we imitate her to become better disciples of Jesus?  What are her messages?  How can Mary bring us deeper in our faith, and closer to Jesus? 

So many questions surrounding the Blessed Virgin Mary!  As we often do, we complicate what is quite simple.  In answer to the question “Who is Mary?”:  She is a girl from Nazareth; she is the daughter of Anna and Joachim; she is the cousin of Elizabeth; she is the bride of Joseph; she is ALSO, the mother of Jesus, the newborn babe; she is a guest and caring friend at the wedding feast in Cana; she is the woman at the foot of the Cross; she is a disciple in the upper room at Pentecost.

Mary’s identity is God-given, special and unique to her. 

What does it mean to honor Mary?  Our Judeo-Christian faith instructs us, actually commands us, to honor our mother and father.  Just as we are called to honor our earthly parents, Mary is our heavenly Mother.  The Canticle of Mary, that is Mary’s Song, is found in the Gospel of Luke 1:46-55.  Mary responds to Elizabeth by saying, “All Generations will call me blessed.” How very true is this proclamation!  Do we believe the scriptures that tell us Mary, by the power of the Holy Spirit, conceived and gave birth to the Christ Child?  By honoring the Virgin Mary, the Mother of our Lord, we honor God himself.  We ask her for her help and her prayers.  The CCC (971) says: “The Church rightly honors the Blessed Virgin with special devotion.  From the most ancient times the Blessed Virgin has been honored with the title of – ‘Mother of God,’ to whose protection the faithful fly in all their dangers and needs…This very special devotion differs essentially from the adoration which is given to the Incarnate Word and equally to the Father and the Holy Spirit, and greatly fosters this adoration.”

How can we imitate Mary and be a better disciple of Jesus?  Imitate her virtue.  While this takes a lifetime of formation in faith, there are 10 principal virtues listed in a small but powerful book by St. Louis de Monfort, called True Devotion to Mary.  Entry #104 of this book, lists the Principal Virtues of Mary: “Her ten principal virtues are: deep humility, lively faith, blind obedience, unceasing prayer, constant self-denial, surpassing purity, ardent love, heroic patience, angelic kindness, and heavenly wisdom.”  God chose Mary just as He chooses each of us for a high calling.  If we want to be obedient to God’s plan for our life, we need to imitate Mary with a commitment and willingness to sacrifice out of love and devotion to our Savior.

What are Our Lady’s messages?  From as early as A.D. 40, Mary has appeared to give messages of hope and love.  Her messages are always meant to draw us closer to her Divine Son, Jesus, to give us inspiration, and to remind us of the virtues. Each time she brings a special but similar message emphasizing the importance of prayer.  At Fatima she asked that we pray for the conversion of Russia; to pray the Rosary every day to obtain peace for the world; to pray to Her Immaculate Heart, and she asked us not to lie, envy, or speak badly of others. 

How can Mary bring us deeper in our faith, and closer to Jesus? At Cana, Mary’s message is “Do whatever he tells you.”  When you pray, listen; when you read Scripture, listen; when you gaze on the beauty of God’s creation, listen; Listen for ways God is calling you closer; Listen for ways you can “be Jesus” to others; Listen to hear God’s plan for you.

Mary is called the first disciple.  She followed Jesus throughout His life, she was at the foot of the cross when Jesus died, she celebrated His resurrection and was with the disciples at Pentecost. If we desire to be like Mary, willing to accept God’s plan no matter the cost, we can and should rejoice in the plan that God has for us…

Who are YOU? What is YOUR “song”?  What is God calling YOU to say “yes” to?

YOUR identity is God-given, special, and unique to YOU.  Give God YOUR Fiat!

Here’s what the Scriptures have to say:

Luke 1:46-55 – My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior.  For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed.  The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.  His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him.  He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart.  He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly.   The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty.  He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.

 John 2:1-12– On the third day there was a wedding in Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.  Jesus and his disciples ere also invited to the wedding.  When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.”  Jesus said to her, “Woman how does your concern affect me?  My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.”  Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings, each holding twenty to thirty gallons.  Jesus told them, “Fill the jars with water.”  So, they filled them to the brim.  Then he told them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.”  So, they took it.  And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, without knowing where it came from, the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves good wine first, and then when the people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now.”  Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs in Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him.  After this, he and his mother, brothers, and his disciples, went down to Capernaum and stayed there only a few days.

 Luke 2:22-32 – When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,” and to offer the sacrifice of “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,” in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.  Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.  This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the holy Spirit was upon him.  It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Messiah of the Lord.  He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:  “Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.”

Author: Beth Zanotelli, Family Life Coordinator for the Diocese of Palm Beach

Before you ask what is your disposition, you might have to first ask yourself, what is disposition?  It’s a noun, that is, a person, place, or thing. This noun, however, you cannot hold in your hand.  It is a part of you; it is your usual mood or temperament.  Disposition could also be defined as a tendency. Are you a person who is joyful or do you tend to be gloomy?  Are you a Tigger or an Eeyore?  Is your “cup half full” or does your cup tend to be “half empty”?  Does your disposition lean toward being a person who is receptive and open to what others have to say or do you tend to be close minded?  Jesus tells many parables that teach us about disposition.  In the Gospel of Matthew, we hear of Jesus talking to the crowds that gather.  Just as any great teacher does, Jesus uses more than one explanation to convey His message about the Kingdom of God.  Each parable uses a different image to explain His message.   In the parable of the Sower, the seeds fall on different types of soil. They fall on the path, on rocky ground, into thorns, or on fertile soil. Jesus explains that the Seeds are the Word of God. The different types of soil reflect the dispositions of our hearts.  It’s only in the fertile soil that the Word of God can truly grow, take root, and bear fruit. (Matthew 13:1-15)

How can we change and prepare our hearts to receive the Word of God?  What should be our disposition when we pray; when we read, listen to, or hear God’s Sacred Word?  Jesus tells us to be open and receptive – “Harden NOT your hearts” (Hebrews 4:8).  Let your heart be fertile and take time to cultivate your soul to be open to His Words, His Love, and His plan for you.  Just like most of us, soil does not have the disposition to provide the seed with what it needs to survive AND thrive. That’s why a farmer prepares his field to receive the seed; tilling it, watering it, adding nutrients, giving the soil what it needs to produce an abundant harvest. 

Look to Mary as an example of how to improve your disposition, she is the best example of one who is open and receptive to the Lord.  She is totally attuned to God. Her Immaculate Heart is not hindered by sin or the world.  Our Lady appeared to St. Brigid and told her, “The rose gives a fragrant odor; it is beautiful to the sight, and tender to the touch, and yet it grows among thorns, inimical (hostile) to the beauty and tenderness. So may also those who are mild, patient, beautiful in virtue, be put to the test among adversaries. And as the thorn, on the other hand, guards, so do wicked surroundings protect the just against sin, by demonstrating to them the destructiveness of sin.”  Mary is designated as the Mystical Rose because her beauty leads us to God, and her fragrance attracts our souls to Christ. 

Prepare the soil of your heart. Don’t let the world distract you, instead, allow adversity to inspire you to remain open. The first and easiest step might be to find your Bible and take it off the shelf, join a small group, read the Sunday readings the week before each Sunday Mass, and try to set aside time each day to prepare the soil of your heart.

Here’s what the Scriptures have to say:

Matthew 13:1-14 – On that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea.  Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd stood along the shore.  And he spoke to them at length in parables, saying: “A Sower went out to sow.  And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it up.  Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil.  It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep, and when the sun rose it was scorched, and it withered for lack of roots.  Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it.  But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.  Whoever has ears ought to hear.”  The disciples approached him and said, “Why do you speak to them in parables?”  He said to them in reply, “Because knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted.  To anyone who has, more will be given, and he will grow rich; from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away.  This is why I speak to them in parables, because ‘they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand.’

Hebrews 3:13 – Encourage yourselves daily while it is still “today,” so that none of you may grow hardened by the deceit of sin.  We have become partners of Christ if only we hold the beginning of the reality firm until the beginning of the reality firm until the end, for it is said: “Oh, that today you would hear his voice: ‘Harden not your hearts as at the rebellion.’”

2 Timothy 3:14-16 – But you, remain faithful to what you have learned and believed, because you know from whom you learned it, and that from infancy you have known the sacred scriptures, which are capable of giving you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

_{Author: Catherine Loh, Diocese of Palm Beach Director of Marriage, Family Life, Faith Formation, and Youth Ministry} 

As summer vacation stretches out before us, beckoning us to locales far and near, we relish the promise of relaxation and release from the demands of our everyday lives, even temporarily.  However, while some ‘demands’, like school or work, can be placed on hold for a time, others do not diminish or release their hold on us.  Some of those demands are ontological (fundamental), they are part of our nature, who we are, our relationships with others.  Can a mother or a father ever stop being a mother or father?  Can a daughter or a son truly erase that relationship?  What about a priest who, through ordination, has become a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek? (Psalms 110:4) We can take a vacation. We can stop doing, but we cannot stop being.

When we are baptized, we become adopted children of God, co-heirs with Christ, and temples of the Holy Spirit, forever changed by the sacramental graces. Even if we turn our back on our baptismal promises, we cannot erase the nature of our relationship with God.  But we can affect the impact or fruit of these graces in our lives depending on if and how we respond to the gift.

Just what is the nature of this gift, how far-reaching is it? From the very beginning, we understand that our life, our very being, is a gift from God, and it is only through God that we continue to exist.  The Creation account from Genesis 2:7 tells us: “then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.”  In a reflection on this truth, the psalmist praises God: “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you, for I am fearfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”  (Psalm 139:13-14) St. Paul the Apostle attributes our continued existence to God as he evangelizes in Athens: “Yet he [God] is actually not far from each one of us, for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’…” (Acts 17:27b-28a) Paul returns to this theme in many of his letters to the church communities he establishes on his various journeys to share the Gospel. Indeed, God both gives us and continues to hold us in existence.

We have so much to thank God for. Scripture tells us that everything we have comes from God. “Do not be deceived…. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1:16-17).  Every good gift comes from God.

So, why would we even consider taking a vacation from God? If God holds us in existence, how can we expect to survive, let alone flourish, without him? What if he took a vacation from us? If every good gift is from him, even our vacation is a gift from him. Why would we exclude him? The only right response is gratitude, not neglect.

Let us resolve to observe the commandment to keep the Sabbath day holy, and invite God to accompany us on vacation, so we can show him our gratitude for every good gift. And where can we find him, body, blood, soul, and divinity? At Mass, in the Eucharist, in every Catholic Church in every corner of the world.  As Catholics, we keep the Sabbath holy by attending Mass where participation in the Eucharist is an act of thanksgiving for all that God has done for us. Finding a local Mass is simple; check this link:  MassTimes – Find Catholic worship times for Mass, Confession, Adoration and Holy Days

Here’s what the Scriptures have to say:

Acts 17:27b-28  – Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are indeed his offspring.’

1 Corinthians 8:6 – …yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and from whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

Colossians 1:17 – And he [Christ] is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Deuteronomy 5:12 – Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you.