Jesus tells us, ““You are the light of the world.” And further, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14,16).

But now and again, I think to myself, “How can I be a light when there are times that I feel like I don’t have that light in me?” Such days do happen, and they feel horrible. But there is no excuse since God is asking me to be a light for others! But how?

Ever since I was a little girl, I had always been extremely fascinated by the moon.  It is always so amazing to me when there are nights with a full moon and it illuminates everything so well.

You might stop me here and say, “Hey, what has the moon anything to do with this?” Actually, in my opinion, it has a lot to do with this. Just hear me out.

When I was about 12 or 13 years old, I remember sitting outside gazing at the moon and the moonlit surroundings. Taking in the amazing sight, I remember thinking about how the moon actually has no light of its own, but that it only reflects the light of the sun and in turn illuminates the nights for us. And how if the earth got in its way, it reflects less light, like when a half moon occurs.

For some reason, I had quickly compared it to Jesus, His Light, and me. If Jesus is the Sun, the source of The Light, He is calling me to be an extension of His Light for the world. So just like the moon! I can be like the moon if I stand in “direct view” of Jesus and let His Light “reflect” off of me and illuminate the world in it’s “darkness”. That’s it! And the more “in line” I am with Jesus, without the world, the “earth”, getting in the way, the brighter I can reflect His Light. So yes, it is true; I do not have Light of my own to shine in this world. But I can reflect His Light to others and it’s up to me how much of His Light I will allow to reflect off of me.

So spending time with Jesus in prayer, during Mass, and throughout the day will bring me more “in line” with His Light. Now the other part is the reflection. I can’t just stay in the Adoration Chapel 24/7! I have to then go out and do whatever it is I do at home, at work, with friends, on the street, but with Jesus and His Light in heart and mind. Then automatically, I will start reflecting that Light to others.

God Bless and Shine Bright!!!

Marta Sniezko

Our spiritual health is just as, or even more important than our physical health. It has to do with our soul. It might just be a perfect time to reflect on the health of my soul; examine it for any deficiencies or what junk I have to get rid of. These can become lofty goals for this new year.

Maybe it is spending more time in prayer? Be specific. “I will say the rosary every day.” Or, “ I will sign up for an hour per week  of Adoration at my closest Adoration Chapel.” Or maybe it is something that I need to get rid of? Like not watching 3 hours of TV series, but instead spending that time with my family or loved ones. Think about it.

What will bring me closer to my Creator and beautify my soul which will live forever, unlike my body which will one day perish? Once I focus on my spiritual health, taking care of my physical body will follow. “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)

Wishing you all the blessings and strength of Our Lord for this new year and for the successful completion of our New Year Resolutions.

Happy New Year 2020!

Marta Sniezko

Reading the bible, or even watching the film titled, “Moses,” shows us the mistakes that the Israelites made, but we often do not understand their stubborn conduct against the recommendations of their guide. Still, we do not realize that our life is similar to their misconduct, but we do not see our sins because they are somewhat hidden, as we can read about in Scripture in the chapter Mat. 7.3. We see the splinter in the eye of our brother, while the beams in our own eye we do not perceive. This is because we often do not respond to the remarks of our spiritual advisors – the priests who sometimes preach their homilies in a way that we do not understand. At times, we are more focused on what is happening around us and we get distracted from the present moment. We can see an example in the gospel of Luke 8.4-8 in the parable about the sower who sows the seed.

Thus, we can discuss the negative experiences that come enter our hearts through out senses from the times of our youth. The senses tend to play an enormous role here. For instance, we can consider the sense of taste, as we consume food excessively, simply for our own pleasure. Can we not change something here? Satisfying our hunger is essential, yet gluttony us just pleasurable, but overindulging further can harm our health causing not only weight gain but also significant health problems stemming from obesity. In this case, prudence and carefulness are needed during a meal as to determine where pleasure begins to ensure that greed does not take over and cause sin. This does not yet touch on fasting, which Jesus highly recommends for our spiritual growth.  The sense of touch could also have positive or negative effects. A sense of sexual implications can likewise be disorderly, excessive, or can foreshadow immoral action. Let us also consider the sense of smell, could only a positive sense of smell have a negative effect? As far as our sense of hearing, or even our sense of sight, we can be blessed with a ton of good streaming from these two senses but also a significant amount of evil. Richness – in regard to the senses – allows us to understand another human being in a way that grants us the ability to distinguish them and then choose to utilize these senses in positive or negative deeds.

Joanna M. Maj

May 7, 2019

The secret he used that made them feel loved

St John Bosco and his outreach to young people

I’ve always thought about how was it possible that St John Bosco was able to reach the young people of his time so profoundly. My first automatic explanation would be that those were different times, different people who would respond to a priest since they were brought up differently. I would think that in this day and age, not very many young people would ever get interested in such a thing.  But was that really the case? Or was there more?

These young adults, teenagers, and maybe even children of 19th century Italy, heard of Fr Bosco, came to listen and followed his instructions, amended their lives, and became responsible and righteous humans, let alone true children of God. But what was it? What drew them to him? What made them listen to him?

Don Giovanni Bosco, aka St John Bosco, lived in Italy in the 1800s. Born and raised by pious Catholic parents, he soon wanted to become a priest and serve the Lord with his life. When working in Turin, he was appointed to tutor a rich family’s children. This was to be a very good opportunity for Don Bosco, given he did come from a poor family and would then be able to help out his mother and brothers he left behind. However, God had other plans for him. The Lord soon showed him that there were others who needed his help and talents more than the rich family; the needy youth of Turin.

After receiving a blessing from his superior, he set out to help the boys of the streets. It was those who had no one, no one wanted to do anything with, those that got a little lost in their lives or had no other sources of help. He started inviting them to different meetings where he would incorporate Catholic teachings while doing different activities. Yes! They would have fun, but they also had time for prayer. They played soccer, or sang by a fire, but then had time for Confession and Holy Mass as well. He tried to show that new ways are not always bad ways. On the contrary, new ways may at times be a lot better since the world and its people with their ways of life are changing too.

Don Bosco had that gift, the gift of letting young people be themselves, not feeling stifled and forced to be a certain way. Those young boys, but then later on, girls as well, felt God’s Love through Don Bosco. The way he spoke to them, treated them, taught them. It wasn’t from an older authority that looked down on them and condemned their every wrong decision. It was the authority of Love and Mercy. Looking to build another up, and not drag the other down. Understanding where they are coming from and trying to help them understand others as well. His view that it wasn’t only the old way that was right. That there may be other ways of doing things, as long as it doesn’t offend God, or break any Church Commandments. He taught them how to have respect to others and to earn respect in return.

That is the key. Love.

Love that does not condemn. Love that builds and does not tear down. Love that is patient, kind, and so on, as St Paul states in 1 Corinthians 13. That Love makes miracles happen.

So, loving parents, grandparents, etc., the next time you want to complain about our youth, stop and think for a second. Step in their shoes and try to see their world in their view. Say a short prayer to God to help and find something positive to say. Something constructive. We need a little more of that these days. Especially when a lot that we hear these days is negative and destructive.

And you, young people, don’t give up, but don’t get angry as well when elders say certain things. We have to try to remember that they grew up in a different society. We have to try to understand that they are usually saying certain things because they love us and want the best for us, the best that they know. They don’t want us to get hurt, even though it may seem kind of hurtful and harsh on the outside at times. So maybe talk through and hash everything out. I’m sure the Lord will help smoothen out any differences.

May St John Bosco pray for us and help us in everyday of our lives!

On May 1, 2019, the Polish President, Andrzej Duda, quoted a quote from the Pope John Paul II. on Twitter: “Entering the EU structures on an equal footing with other states is for our nation an expression of a certain historical justice. And on the other hand, it is the enrichment of Europe. Europe needs Poland. (…) Poland needs Europe “- Saint. Pope John Paul II

The above quotation reminds us that the Christian heritage of our nation and the establishment of the Polish State at the time of Baptism is a spiritual and historical reference point for every Pole, of which everyone should be proud, and which places us Poles in a family of nations sharing a common Christian tradition. The Holy Father John Paul II reminded us about this during his pilgrimage to his homeland in 2003.
“Poland has always been an important part of Europe, and today can not be excluded from this community – said the Pope. He strongly emphasized that “Europe needs Poland” and “Poland needs Europe,” and “can enrich Europe.” He appealed for “active building of a spiritual community based on the values that have allowed it to survive the decades of institutional atheism”. ”The Polish nation was shaped on the basis of God’s commandments. ” „I do not stop praying for it, “he said.
Let us also remind you that the Pope spoke about the “spiritual unity of Christian Europe” in 1979, when nobody dreamed of the vision of a united Europe in its present shape, and the doctrine of the Cold War and division of the continent with the Iron Curtain into two hostile camps caused many journalists to think that these were the messianic dreams of the Slavic Pope. In the American Newsweek, the papal vision of a united Europe was called a dream of a Slavic pope.
Eighteen years later in 1997, in a changed Europe, John Paul II has returned to this subject again: “There will be no unity in Europe until it is a community of spirit. This deep foundation of spirit brought Europe unity and for centuries it strengthened Christianity with its Gospel, with its understanding of man and contribution to the development of the history of peoples and nations. This is not an illicit appropriation or wrong grasp of history. The history of Europe is like a great river, into which numerous tributaries and streams fall, and the diversity of traditions and cultures that create it is as great wealth. The framework of European identity is built on Christianity. “
When today we look at what the discussion about the unity of Europe looks like, the most common questions are whether it will pay off. Who will receive subsidies, who will occupy what positions? Economy and politics dominate – unfortunately of a too liberal sort. The exception in the discussion about the future of Europe were the words of John Paul II, who first put spiritual issues and cultural and civilizational heritage, and he asked not about power and profit, but about what we can give of ourselves, and with what we can enrich others.
The Pope urged us not to be afraid to show our heritage, to face challenges, and not to be ashamed of their identity and not reject their Christian roots. He called us to give testimony.
He said to the bishops of our nation in 1997: “The Church in Poland can offer a unifying Europe its attachment to faith, its religious inspired custom, the pastoral effort of bishops and priests, and probably many other values that would make Europe a unified organism  pulsing with not only high economic achievement, but also the depth of spiritual life. “
These words take on a special expression before the upcoming elections to the European Parliament. They should take these words to heart both as candidates for EU positions as well as voters. The future of Europe also depends on us.

 Fr Thomas Koys, M.A.,S.T.L.

/Fr Thomas Koys, M.A.,S.T.L./

Fr. Lawrence Malcolm (Pastor of St. Gerald Parish, Oak Lawn, Illinois)

Going back to the 600’s we meet Pope Martin I (d:655).  Here are the basic facts of the story.  The Eastern and Western halves of the Roman Empire were constantly at each other’s throats.  Emperors and occasionally a bishop would lop off heads trying to bring peace among the people.  This is the era in which people who like to announce “religion is the cause of all war” delight.  At first glance, I almost want to agree with them when this episode of Catholicism is told.  The Emperor in the East was Constans II.  He was a pagan politician who couldn’t accept Christianity but yearned for peace throughout this empire.  His religious friends, the bishops of the East, almost all accepted something called monothelitism.  These folks said, “yes, Jesus had a divine AND a human nature, but Jesus had only one will, and that will was divine.  Pope Martin, true to his office, was defending the full and complete human nature of Jesus as well as his full divine nature.  Are you with me still?  At this point, you maybe saying, “How silly, one will or two wills, what difference does it make?”  Because, the Emperor, who had a better army than the Pope (recall, the Western Roman Empire had fallen before this) arrested the Pope and put him on the “almost” island of Crimea in the Black Sea.  Probably, a pretty nice place to vacation today, but a great place for a Papal prison back then.

 So, why should we care if some theologians say Jesus didn’t have a human will?  This question is NOT like asking, “why should I care if my coffee sweetener doesn’t have artificial sugar.  It is much more like asking, “why should I care if Jesus is my hero to follow or Buda or Mohamed, my favorite political hero.  It has everything to do with our efforts to follow Jesus’ example of love, love even unto the giving of our lives.  You see, if we believed that Jesus’ will was only Divine, we could easily say, it’s not fair to compare ourselves to Jesus.  He never struggled against temptations and even when he accepted death on a cross, it really wasn’t such a great human achievement. Why should us, pure humans give credit to him for doing something that only gods could do? The orthodox view of Jesus’ two wills: human and divine impresses us to strengthen our wills to conform them to God’s.  Modern monothelitism exists whenever we sin badly and say something like: “I was only being human”.  Think about it.  Now, don’t you feel silly for siding with Emperor Constans II?

Fr Thomas Koys,  M.A.S.T.L

World Youth Day 2018 represents another step in preparation for the international WYD due to take place in Panama in January 2019. This new stage of our pilgrimage falls in the same year that the Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops will meet on the theme: Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment. This is a happy coincidence. The focus, prayer and reflection of the Church will turn to you young people, with the desire to receive and, above all, to embrace the precious gift that you are to God, to the Church and to the world.

As you already know, we have chosen to be accompanied on this journey by the example and intercession of Mary, the young woman of Nazareth whom God chose as the Mother of his Son. She walks with us towards the Synod and towards the WYD in Panama. If last year we were guided by the words of her canticle of praise – “The Almighty has done great things for me” (Lk 1:49) – teaching us to remember the past, this year we seek, together with her, to listen to the voice of God who inspires courage and bestows the grace needed to respond to his call: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God” (Lk 1:30). These are the words addressed by God’s messenger, the Archangel Gabriel, to Mary, an ordinary girl from a small village in Galilee.

1. Do not be afraid!

As is understandable, the sudden appearance of the angel and his mysterious greeting: “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you” (Lk 1:28), strongly disturbed Mary, who was surprised by this first revelation of her identity and her vocation, as yet unknown to her. Mary, like others in the Sacred Scriptures, trembles before the mystery of God’s call, who in a moment places before her the immensity of his own plan and makes her feel all her smallness as a humble creature. The angel, seeing the depths of her heart, says: “Do not be afraid”! God also reads our inmost heart. He knows well the challenges we must confront in life, especially when we are faced with the fundamental choices on which depend who we will be and what we will do in this world. It is the “shudder” that we feel when faced with decisions about our future, our state of life, our vocation. In these moments we are troubled and seized by so many fears.

And you young people, what are your fears? What worries you most deeply? An “underlying” fear that many of you have is that of not being loved, well-liked or accepted for who you are. Today, there are many young people who feel the need to be different from who they really are, in an attempt to adapt to an often artificial and unattainable standard. They continuously “photo-shop” their images, hiding behind masks and false identities, almost becoming fake selves. Many are obsessed by receiving as many “likes” as possible. Multiple fears and uncertainties emerge from this sense of inadequacy. Others fear that they will not be able to find an emotional security and that they will remain alone. Many, faced with the uncertainty of work, fear not being able to find a satisfactory professional position, or to fulfil their dreams. Today a large number of young people are full of fear, both believers and non-believers. Indeed, those who have accepted the gift of faith and seek their vocation seriously are not exempt from fears. Some think: perhaps God is asking or will ask too much of me; perhaps, by following the road he has marked out for me, I will not be truly happy, or I will not be able to do what he asks of me. Others think: if I follow the path that God shows me, who can guarantee that I will be able to follow it through? Will I become discouraged? Will I lose my enthusiasm? Will I be able to persevere for the whole of my life?

In moments when doubts and fears flood our hearts, discernment becomes necessary. It allows us to bring order to the confusion of our thoughts and feelings, to act in a just and prudent way. In this process, the first step in overcoming fears is to identify them clearly, so as not to find yourself wasting time and energy by being gripped by empty and faceless ghosts. And so, I invite all of you to look within yourselves and to “name” your fears. Ask yourselves: what upsets me, what do I fear most in this specific moment of my life today? What blocks me and prevents me from moving forward? Why do I lack the courage to make the important choices I need to make? Do not be afraid to face your fears honestly, to recognize them for what they are and to come to terms with them. The Bible does not ignore the human experience of fear nor its many causes. Abraham was afraid (cf. Gen 12:10ff), Jacob was afraid (cf. Gen 31:31; 32:7), and so were Moses (cf. Ex 2:14; 17:4), Peter (cf. Mt 26:69ff) and the Apostles (cf. Mk 4:38-40; Mt 26:56). Jesus himself, albeit in an incomparable way, experienced fear and anguish (cf. Mt 26:37; Lk 22:44).

“Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?” (Mk 4:40). In admonishing his disciples Jesus helps us to understand how the obstacle to faith is often not scepticism but fear. Thus understood, the work of discernment identifies our fears and can then help us to overcome them, opening us to life and helping us to calmly face the challenges that come our way. For us Christians in particular, fear must never have the last word but rather should be an occasion to make an act of faith in God… and in life! This means believing in the fundamental goodness of the existence that God has given us and trusting that he will lead us to a good end, even through circumstances and vicissitudes which often bewilder us. Yet if we harbour fears, we will become inward-looking and closed off to defend ourselves from everything and everyone, and we will remain paralyzed. We have to act! Never close yourself in! In the Sacred Scriptures the expression “do not be afraid” is repeated 365 times with different variations, as if to tell us that the Lord wants us to be free from fear, every day of the year.

Discernment is indispensable when searching for one’s vocation in life. More often than not our vocation is not obvious or evident at first but rather something we come to understand gradually. Discernment, in this case, should not be seen as an individual effort at introspection, with the aim of better understanding our interior make-up so as to strengthen us and acquire some balance. In such instances the person can become stronger, but is still confined to the limited horizon of his or her possibilities and perspectives. Vocation, however, is a call from above, and discernment in this context principally means opening ourselves to the Other who calls. Prayerful silence is therefore required in order to hear the voice of God that resounds within our conscience. God knocks at the door of our hearts, as he did with Mary; he longs to establish friendship with us through prayer, to speak with us through the Sacred Scriptures, to offer us mercy in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and to be one with us in the Eucharist.

It is also important to dialogue with and encounter others, our brothers and sisters in the faith who have more experience, for they help us to see better and to choose wisely from the various possibilities. When the young Samuel hears the voice of the Lord, he does not recognize it immediately. Three times he runs to Eli, the older priest, who in the end proposes the right response to give to the Lord’s call: “If he calls you, you shall say: ‘Speak Lord, for your servant hears.’” (1 Sam 3:9). In your doubts know that you can rely on the Church. I know that there are very good priests, consecrated men and woman and lay faithful, many of whom are also young, who can support you like older brothers and sisters in the faith. Enlivened by the Holy Spirit, they will help you to make sense of your doubts and understand the plan of your own vocation. The other is not only a spiritual guide, but also the person who helps us open ourselves to the infinite riches of the life that God has given us. It is important to create spaces in our cities and communities to grow, to dream and to look at new horizons! Never lose the enthusiasm of enjoying others’ company and friendship, as well as the pleasure of dreaming together, of walking together. Authentic Christians are not afraid to open themselves to others and share with them their own important spaces, making them spaces of fraternity. Dear young people, do not allow the spark of youth to be extinguished in the darkness of a closed room in which the only window to the outside world is a computer and smartphone. Open wide the doors of your life! May your time and space be filled with meaningful relationships, real people, with whom to share your authentic and concrete experiences of daily life.

2. Mary!

“I have called you by name” (Is 43:1). The first reason not to fear is the fact that God has called us by name. The angel, God’s messenger, called Mary by name. To God belongs the power to give names. In the work of creation, he calls into existence every creature by name. There is an identity behind a name, that which is unique in every single thing, in every single person; that intimate essence that only God truly knows. This divine prerogative was shared with man when God invited him to name the animals, the birds and also his own offspring (Gen 2:19-21; 4:1). Many cultures share this profound biblical vision; they recognize in a name the revelation of the profound mystery of life and the meaning of existence.

When God calls someone by name, he also reveals to the person his vocation, his plan of holiness and fulfilment, through which the person becomes a gift to others and is made unique. And when God wants to expand the horizons of life, he gives a new name to the person he is calling, as he did with Simon, whom he called “Peter”. From here comes the custom of taking a new name when entering a religious congregation, to indicate a new identity and mission. Since the divine call is unique and personal, we need the courage to disentangle ourselves from the pressure of being shaped by conforming patterns, so that our life can truly become an authentic and irreplaceable gift to God, to the Church and to all.

Dear young people, to be called by name is therefore a sign of our great dignity in the eyes of God and a sign of his love for us. God calls each one of you by name. All of you are the “you” of God, precious in his eyes, worthy of respect and loved (cf. Is 43:4). Welcome with joy this dialogue that God offers you, this appeal he makes to you, calling you by name.

3. You have found favour with God

The main reason why Mary need not be afraid is that she has found favour with God. The word “grace” speaks of love freely given, not owed. How much we are encouraged to know that we do not have to earn the closeness and help of God, by presenting a “Curriculum Vitae of excellence”, full of merits and successes! The angel says to Mary that she has already found favour with God, not that she will obtain it in the future. And the same formulation of the angel’s words helps us understand that divine grace is continuous, not something passing or fleeting; for this reason, it will never fail. Even in the future, the grace of God will always be there to sustain us, especially in moments of trial and darkness.

The continuous presence of divine grace encourages us to embrace our vocation with confidence; our vocation demands a commitment of faithfulness that needs to be renewed each day. Our vocational path is not without its crosses: not only our initial doubts, but also the frequent temptations that crop up along the way. The feeling of inadequacy accompanies Christ’s disciple to the end. Yet he or she knows the help of God’s grace.

The Angel’s words descend upon our human fears, dissolving them with the power of the Good News of which we are heralds: our life is not pure chance or a mere struggle for survival, rather each of us is a cherished story loved by God. That we have “found grace in his eyes” means that the Creator sees a unique beauty in our being and that he has a magnificent plan for our lives. The awareness of this certainty, of course, does not resolve all our problems nor does it take away life’s uncertainties. But it does have the power to transform our life deeply. The unknown that tomorrow holds for us is not a dark threat we need to overcome, but a favourable time given to us for living out the uniqueness of our personal vocation, and for sharing it with our brothers and sisters in the Church and in the world.

4. Courage in the present moment

From the certainty that God’s grace is with us comes the strength to take courage in the present moment: the courage to carry forward what God asks of us here and now, in every area of our lives; courage to embrace the vocation which God reveals to us; courage to live out our faith without hiding or diminishing it.

Yes, when we open ourselves to God’s grace, the impossible becomes a reality. “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom 8:31). God’s grace touches the “now” of your lives, “takes hold” of you as you are, with all your fears and limits, but it also reveals his marvellous plans! You young people need to know that someone truly believes in you: please know that the Pope has confidence in you, that the Church has confidence in you! For your part, have confidence in the Church!

To the young Mary was entrusted an important task, precisely because she was young. You young people have strength as you go through a phase of your lives where energy is not lacking. Make use of this strength and this energy to improve the world, beginning with the realities closest to you. I want important responsibilities to be given to you within the Church; that there may be the courage to make space for you; and that you may be prepared to take on these responsibilities.

I invite you once again to contemplate Mary’s love: a caring, dynamic and concrete love. A love full of boldness and focused completely on the gift of self. A Church permeated by these Marian qualities will always be a Church going forth, one that goes beyond her own limits and boundaries to let the grace she has received overflow. If we allow ourselves to be truly touched by Mary’s example, we will live out authentically that charity which urges us to love God above all else and above ourselves, to love those with whom we share our daily life. And we will also love those who may seem hardly lovable in themselves. It is a love that is service and dedication, above all towards the weakest and poorest, love that transforms our faces and fills us with joy.

I would like to end with the beautiful words Saint Bernard used in a famous homily on the mystery of the Annunciation, words that express the anticipation of all humanity for Mary’s response: “You have heard, O Virgin that you will conceive and bear a son; you have heard that it will not be by man but by the Holy Spirit. The angel awaits an answer… We too, O Lady, are waiting for your word of compassion… In your brief response we are to be remade in order to be recalled to life… This is what the whole earth waits for, prostrate at your feet… Answer quickly, O Virgin” (Sermon 4, 8-9; Opera Omnia).

Dear young people, the Lord, the Church, the world are waiting for your answer to the unique call that each one receives in this life! As World Youth Day in Panama draws closer, I invite you to prepare yourselves for our gathering with the joy and enthusiasm of those who wish to participate in such a great adventure. WYD is for the courageous! Not for young people who are searching only for comfort and who withdraw whenever difficulties arise. Do you accept the challenge?

From the Vatican, 11 February 2018

VI Sunday of Ordinary Time
Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Lourdes

A common expression by people who say they don’t agree with “everything” the Church says goes something like this: “The church doesn’t belong in the bedroom.”  But the bedroom is one of the most wonderful places that men who love women spend their time.  So let’s talk turkey here.  What this saying is saying, is: “The church is ok when it’s raising money for the poor or when it’s building community amidst diverse peoples or even when it is providing beautiful music to touch our hearts.  But the church need not teach, preach or make reference to anything that has to do with this most intimate and blessed part of life.”   It’s a very tempting conclusion to make because that time for kisses and hugs is all about being time for just the “two of us”.  Having the Pope or an invisible God in the bedroom brings new meaning to the saying: “Three’s a crowd”.

A great many people have no idea what Pope John Paul II’s “Theology of the Body” is. But there are more and more people who are getting hooked on these biblical meditations.  If you are positive that religion and hence God, should have nothing to say about the details or the generalities of that part of our lives we usually refer to as “romance”, then nothing I can say will get you to study the Theology of the Body.   But, if you see romance in life is intimately connected to the concept of love AND if your concept of God has anything to do with true love, I believe you will join that growing crowd of believers who can’t get enough of “T o B”.   What follows is a series of short reflections about romance, about God and yes about morality.  The genius of the Theology of the Body is that it ties these three things together in a way that makes sense to young and old, to Catholics and non-Catholics alike.

Now, be honest.  The idea of a Pope talking about romance is not the first thing you think about when you realize it’s time to go to church.  Right?  But when you think about it, if religion is about love and people’s romantic relationships is where they learn about love on a new level, then isn’t it logical that your religion should be able to make the romance of your life a lot better?  This is a major theme of “T o B” because Pope John Paul II realized that male female intimacy was from the beginning of time, from the get go, long before any psychologist or song writer spoke a word, God’s first great invention.  In fact, you can say it was God’s master idea.  There’s a reason the bible begins with the story of Adam and Eve because this first marriage tells us that marriage as such is fundamental in understanding the meaning of life.

Saying this might surprise some people.  They might be surprised, not because they haven’t said this to themselves before, but because they haven’t heard a priest, let alone a pope talk this way before.  In fact, coming to realize the beauty of the marital bond doesn’t take a great philosopher or theologian.  In fact, it only takes a kiss or even a wink.  This is why nobody seems to be upset at the Church when the Church becomes an integral part of what those two people call their Wedding day.  It’s a no brainer, it’s obvious; the Church needs to be involved in the most romantic day of young lover’s lives.  The beautiful dress, family all around and the rushing off to a romantic place for just the two of you….  Of course,  God is in the air.  God is a part of this romance.

But then why has it become so fashionable to say that God has no place in the bedroom?  What happens between the bliss of young love and today’s constant criticism and dissent against Catholic teachings?  I’ll tell you what happens, or should I say, I’ll tell you what Pope John Paul II has said happens.  First, we ourselves fail to live up to our own vows, our own idealism.  The “till death do we part” turns into “until we can’t stand each other anymore.”   And what’s more, the spirit of God who we felt to be so present at our Wedding days, turned out to be a false god or the true God, only partially appreciated, only immaturely understood.  Getting to know God in the fullness of His divinity forces upon us a number of do’s and don’ts, in other words moral principles.  Getting to know God, especially in His Trinitarian nature, in His roll as master designer AND finally in His roll as “incarnate redeemer” of His fallen children turns the universal experience of youthful romance into one of the human race’s most serious endeavors to make the world a better place.

Before you throw this introductory offer to the side and abandon all thoughts of reading more I ask you one question.  If the world is full of hatred and wars, and love is such a wonderful and yet deadly force in people’s lives, doesn’t it make sense that the problems that we need to fix regarding love must be very subtle, and must be flying below the radar screen undetected by the general public?  If the problems of love were so obvious wouldn’t most people be able to correct them and thereby increase the love in the world?  Ok, that was two questions.  But they are intimately linked.  The fact that so many people reject the Catholic teachings on marriage today is not a reason to consider the Church wrong.  Rather, it makes all the sense in the world that the Church is right and the masses are wrong.  Why? Because love between spouses, love within families and even love between nations is so easily spoiled.  And can I add, just because your love life maybe just fine, that doesn’t mean your love is apart of God’s love.  Just as a single teenager can be selfish, so a couple can be selfish.

If you have read this whole sheet, God love you.  That means you’re interested in love and what the Catholic faith has to say about it.  Now, pray to God to help you read the next one, and the next and the next….

 I met with them pretty frequently, therefore, I was stunned to see sadness on the face of the young gentleman, who to my surprise told me that his girlfriend had left him. They separated in pain, because they ‘went too far’. They hurt each other. Too fascinated with their bodies, they left Their Creator off to the side, far from their relationship, and they allowed themselves to be taken over by destructive passions. The truth of the conscience cannot be hidden, it returns with the echo of the Gospel teachings. They were unable to uncover True Love together.

 Engagement is a special gift from God. It is he who created in us ability to strongly experience falling in love. It is He who gave us feelings, emotions, and the ability to become fascinated with and desire the closeness of another person. All of that is His doing! However, this intensity, if directed in the wrong way, can be blinding. It is not right to accept a gift, but distance oneself from the Giver. Only in Him are there hidden Love and a guarantee of its growth and discovery. Engagement is an invitation to uncover what will be given to a truly loving heart!

 If you have the intention of going on this journey together, prepare yourselves for many discoveries…

 Before any journey, one has to sufficiently prepare for it. How much more should one prepare oneself for a journey of one’s whole life! There are certain requirements that must be fulfilled. God searches for those who will find themselves worthy of His true Gift. “Being in love’ is only a beautiful step that encourages one to prepare him or herself to set out on the waters of sacramental grace, in which both partners much learn to row in one direction – after Christ. He calls: Follow me! And His conditions are clear: “Those who are engaged to marry are called to live chastely in continence. They should see in this time of testing a discovery of mutual respect, an apprenticeship in fidelity, and the hope of receiving one another from God. They should reserve for marriage the expressions of affections that belong to married love. They will help each other grow in chastity.” (CCC 2350)

 If they do not do so, they are putting their greatest calling in peril – the calling of one’s salvation. They may separate themselves from the Eternal Love, as:“His power, put to the proof, rebukes the foolhardy; Because into a soul that plots evil wisdom does not enter, nor does she swell in a body under debt of sin. For the Holy Spirit of discipline flees deceit and withdraws from senseless counsels and is rebuked with unrighteousness occurs.” (Wisdom 1: 3b-5)

 Engaged couples must learn how to carry themselves with a special “spiritual astrolabe”,  like sailors, passing through shoals of ideas, sailing from a feral world, mounds of temptations, behind which evil prowls, and worst of all, fighting the promptings of one’s own ego. This is not all simple and idyllic. It is a learning of acceptance of the daily cross, which is a tool used to chisel away pride and to teach trust in God. There is only one way to make all of this easier. It is safest when Christ boards the boat of life with you, the couple.

 How to begin? By together inviting Christ into your engagement, so He can direct your steps in learning to sail. From meditative prayer, which allows both of you to discover your personal royal dignity: “But you are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises” of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9)

 Such a beginning guarantees a safe start and a stable journey. The deeper you walk together, the more Christ will allow you to uncover the next step in the expansion of your love. And every one of those steps is a gift from Him.

 Roman Harmata

Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction. Mk 5:34

Christians are people who follow Jesus, who leads them in their faith and perfects it. He not only teaches us how to live, but also helps us that we may not lose hope and stall in the middle of our lives’ road.

The Gospel links two people’s stories, which should become for us an example of perseverance in faith, although it seems that for them all lights of hope have gone out.

A woman has been suffering from hemorrhage for twelve years, who gave her entire livelihood to doctors for a cure, who were unable to help her. As time passed, her problem grew worse. However, she did not give up. She went out with hope onto the road, where Jesus was supposed to be passing by. She believed, which was why she told herself: If only I will touch his garments, I will be cured. She did not expect spectacular gestures that would return her to her health. She only wants to touch Jesus. She believes that that is enough to return her to her desired health. This trusting faith paid off. After touching Jesus’ cloak not only did she feel that she was cured, but Jesus himself confirmed it, saying: Daughter, your faith has saved you, go in peace and be free of your illnesses.

On that same road, one of the leaders of the synagogue, named Jairus, came up to him and a earnestly begged him: my daughter is feverish, please come and place your hands on her, that she might be saved and live. This man also believes, that Jesus could only restore health, but it will be seen soon that he can restore life to Jairus’ daughter as well. Besides, Jesus himself encourages him to have greater faith: Do not be afraid, just believe. Trust, that for God nothing is impossible. Thus also Jairus’ faith bore fruit in the gift of life for his daughter.

Our personal problems and needs of our loved ones not only show us our limits as humans and our weaknesses, but they are also trials and necessary tests of or faith. They are invitations that we should go to Jesus with anything that overwhelms us and what we cannot deal with ourselves. This will always pay off. It is important that this is to be done with faith and humility, that he will always help us, though not always in the way we expect. Faith teaches us, that it is not important what we expect from Jesus, but that which He wants from us. We must place our trust in him, and he will act, sometimes more through and in us, rather than for us, the miracle of His transformation.

The topic of celebrating the sacrament of marriage was something I encountered often through listening to various homilies. The priests would often remind that this sacrament was more than just a civil agreement initiated by a government official. Nevertheless, the message of what to do in order to celebrate or benefit from the sacrament of marriage was often unclear. We still try to learn more about these gifts, listening closely. It has to be said, however, that in church, few sermons are given on this topic. Given the importance and scope of the topic, discourse about marriage should be more widespread in parishes, during regular masses, not just on retreats for brothers contemplating monastic life. We need more priests, properly prepared in theology, to explain to the people what exactly the sacrament of marriage is. It is especially important to understand these things before marriage for better preparation, and in order to discover and deepen the marital bond between spouses. Today people seem too busy and overworked to make time to really discover the supernatural union between spouses. But the reality is that marriage, before God, is the gate to a supernatural reality; it is one of the many gates to sainthood. Helping each other during hard times, picking ourselves up after we fall, working together, are only possible through cooperation, the end goal being heaven. Our actions do not need to be spectacular or amazing, the act of living an everyday life with a mutual goal is of greater importance; cooking, cleaning, professional work, raising children, but also rest and spending time together. These everyday acts, seemingly devoid of spirituality, become acts of love and kindness when those intentions are attributed to them.

 Recently, a book written by to Jerzy Ciesielski by the name of “An Instance of Providence” found its way into my hands. Even though I read this book earlier, it was as if I rediscovered the meaning of the words, in which notes were written by a person whose social roles were very contemporary: a husband, father of three, scientist, and above all a Christian, who saw his path to sainthood in marriage.

 When he thought of his calling to marriage, he jotted down a note saying, “If marriage is to accomplish its goal, choosing a spouse is of great importance. This is a matter between the two people and God. The ability to make the right decision and accept responsibility is crucial. It is the joy of accomplishing things together, fear of unnecessary misunderstandings, putting your trust into the good will of a person, looking forward to God’s mercy, recognizing our faults and weaknesses. It is the choice of what kind of life you want to live and all the unknowns that come with it, experiencing the joy of perfection and the tragedy of shortcomings, recognizing our spiritual, mental, and physical attributes, sculpting our character, and adapting to hardships. This new life, rich in spiritual values, should be joyfully paired with fulfilling the will of God; a life that might cause sadness, pain, and the need to surrender to the will of God. Are we striving for perfection, or giving it lip service? What criteria do we use to make these decisions? These are matters that should be reflected upon when establishing the goals of marriage.”

The road to sainthood is traveled upon through everyday life. We must find joy in the dull parts of our life and discover the “bits of heaven” hidden around us. And lastly, we must always keep looking forward together…

Agnieszka Konik-Korn