Father Forgive Them

A priest introduced me to a powerful prayer.

He started out by saying "I think this is a powerful prayer," then he corrected himself. "I know this is a powerful prayer."

And it's powerful, he said, precisely because Jesus prayed it: "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do."

This prayer from the cross is obviously one to use when we are trying to forgive others. But it has other uses, too, the priest explained. He said to use it whenever we might be "hitting a wall" with someone: an obstinate teen, perhaps, or someone who has gone down a wrong path, who is unwilling to reason or change, when we have run out of most options, when we otherwise might be tempted to give up on a person.

"Father, forgive them, they know not what they do."

It's taken me a few months to take that prayer advice to heart. But now I'm seeing it as a powerful prayer for all types of situations, in fact most situations: for peace, for world and church leaders, for respect for the most vulnerable, for those who have left the Church, for sinners dear to us and for those we do not know, for the dying ...

Jesus's prayer, I think, could be prayed for almost anyone or anything.

The priest became an advocate of this prayer after hearing someone else urge its use. Now I pass it along to you, from Jesus's heart, for whatever weighs on your heart this Advent.

"Father, forgive them, they know not what they do."

Inspired by the Year of Faith, Susan Szalewski began writing weekly columns for us. Although that year is over, we liked them so well that we asked her to keep writing. Thankfully, she said yes. So watch for these on Thursdays and see the Year of Faith Blog here.

Praying with Ciara

Last month, my family's two dogs were sprinkled with holy water and blessed at a pet blessing ceremony at St. Columbkille.

This month, one of those dogs is praying.

And she appears to have a special devotion to our Blessed Mother.

Let me explain how this development has come about:

Our family has a custom of praying a Hail Mary before the kids' sports games. We pray for safety and sportsmanship for all involved, for a good game for the team and in particular for our child or any teammate who would benefit from a good performance, for the souls of everyone at the game, and for a victory, if it be God's will. After the "Hail Mary" we end with a traditional team prayer for Catholics: "Our Lady, Queen of Victory, pray for us!"

In our family, one person shouts the first part, the address to Mary. And the others shout back even louder "pray for us!"

Well with all the yelling, our dog Ciara gets a little excited. And a while back she began barking with everyone during the "pray for us!" response. At first the perfectly timed barking seemed like a fluke, and we just chuckled at it. But now she appears to have become conditioned to that response, barking the prayer more frequently with us.

Now she barks with other, similar prayers. I often ask my kids to pray a "Hail Mary" with me before I go to work, for a peaceful night. And we end with "Our Lady, Queeen of Peace, pray for us." No yelling involved.

Just earlier this week when my son Peter and I prayed, invoking the Queen of Peace calmly, Ciara chimed in on cue. A couple days later I tested her alone, with dog treat in hand, shouting "Our Lady, Queen of Victory ..." And "Roh, roh, roh, roh, roh!" was her response. (She prays kind of like Scooby Doo.)

A little background on this dog should be noted:

One night a few years ago, missing a beloved dog that had died, I prayed for another dog, not completely sure if that was a wise prayer. The very next day, at a family gathering, my niece brought three mixed-breed puppies, two in need of a good home. And of course, my children begged for one.
Normally I might have objected, knowing the messes puppies make. But it appeared we were getting a gift from God, so how could I refuse? They had the choice of a dark female puppy or her lighter-colored brother. They chose the girl.

Once we got home we had the task of naming the dog, and each child had certain qualities they wanted in the name. One asked for a current, up-to-date name. Another wanted the literal meaning of the name to reflect something about the dog. Another preferred a saint's name. So we started searching baby names, reading aloud several suggestions. Each was rejected until we came upon Ciara, pronounced "keera."

The name is currently popular; and in its original Irish Gaelic, Ciara means "dark-haired." But we really knew we had the right name when we learned that Ciara is a feminine form of Ciaran, the name of an Irish saint who befriended St. Columbkille.

So perhaps our dog was destined to become saintly and pray. Certainly like all creatures, she was designed to give glory and praise to the Creator.

Now we just need to train her to evangelize.

Then she can teach our younger dog, Laika, to pray.

Inspired by the Year of Faith, Susan Szalewski began writing weekly columns for us. Although that year is over, we liked them so well that we asked her to keep writing. Thankfully, she said yes. So watch for these on Thursdays and see the Year of Faith Blog here.

The Confirmation Retreat is Underway

Confirmation Candidates and their sponsors are gathered at the church this morning. The activities are designed to get the two of them to interact discussing their faith.

It also has them consider what to pray

 for and allows them to pray together.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered. 

They also paint together. Each painting is full of symbolism both as a teaching tool and a reminder of the event.

Pray for our candidates and their sponsors, 

this morning in their retreat and 

as their prepare for Confirmation.

O Good Shepherd, Pray for Brian

You may have heard the tragic news about Brian Bergkamp, a Diocese of Wichita seminarian presumed dead after he was swept away in turbulent water while trying to help a fellow kayaker.

My son Daniel, who knew Bergkamp when they both were studying at Conception Seminary College, asked our family to pray for his former classmate when news spread that he was missing.

Another son David, 8, took the prayer request to heart.

He told me later that he asked Jesus, the Good Shepherd, to help find the seminarian, because the Good Shepherd seeks out the lost.

That was a good prayer, I told David. When we pray it's good to remind God of Who He is, what He has said and what He can do.

Of course, our all-knowing God needs no reminders. But we do. We ask with more confidence, boldness and faith when we remember God's actions and promises and recall that He wants to help us. (Here's where we could remind our Lord that He promised: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.")

We offer God praise when we recall His mighty deeds in our requests. But we must also remember that our will might not be His will.

In adopting this spirit of prayer, of reminding God, we could cover a number of petitions:

Heavenly Father, Who freed the Israelites from slavery, free us from the slavery of sin.

Jesus, You wept. Console me in my grief.

Lord, You said: "Come to Me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest." I turn to You now, Jesus. Help me.

"Blessed Mother, who interceded for the bride and groom at Cana, bring our needs to your Son. And we will "do whatever He tells" us.

We could go on thinking up examples of how we could praise our Lord and remind ourselves of His promises and greatness. But for now, let's offer some prayers for Brian Bergkamp and his family -- perhaps calling upon the merciful Good Shepherd.

Inspired by the Year of Faith, Susan Szalewski began writing weekly columns for us. Although that year is over, we liked them so well that we asked her to keep writing. Thankfully, she said yes. So watch for these on Thursdays and see the Year of Faith Blog here.

Looking Forward with Hope at Graduation

It's graduation time.

As we celebrate with our graduates and look forward with hope, let us pray:

A Blessing for Graduates
Eternal God,
in You we live,
and move,
and have our being.
In Your will
we find our purpose,
and in Your wisdom
we find our joy.

Bless these graduates
who have completed
a course of study
and now begin
a new part of their lives.

Let them not be troubled
about the past nor
anxious about the future,
but let them be concerned about the moment they must now live.

Strengthen their faith and ease their fears
that they may courageously follow your Spirit
and live fully the life You give them.

When doubt and confusion about their purpose surround them,
light their way and give them peace in Your plan for them.
Let them use the gifts they have received in their studies
that they may become a source of inspiration
and blessing for the world.

And when each day is ended, give them delight in knowing
that the good work You have begun in them
shall come to completion in You.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
-- from the Diocese of San Jose

A Graduation Prayer
Life is short and we do not have much time to gladden the hearts of those who travel with us.
So be swift to love and make haste to act with kindness and compassion and the blessing of God Almighty.
Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer, be with us this day and forever more. Amen.
-- Prayers for Special Help

Inspired by the Year of Faith, Susan Szalewski began writing weekly columns for us. Although that year is over, we liked them so well that we asked her to keep writing. Thankfully, she said yes. So watch for these on Thursdays and see the Year of Faith Blog here.

2016 Stations of the Cross

Each year the 8th graders at St. Columbkille Catholic School lead the other students in Living Stations of the Cross. It is a way the school prays together before the Easter Break.

Time to Turn to St. Joseph

We are 31 days into Lent, 16 days away from Easter, two days away from our parish mission, six days away from St. Patrick's Day.

Did I miss anything?

Oh yeah, we are nine days away from the Feast of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It's the perfect time to begin a novena to the saint entrusted by God to care for and protect Jesus and Mary. Among the saints, Joseph ranks second only to Mary.

We turn to St. Joseph as patron of families, workers, unborn children, expectant parents, migrants and refugees, a peaceful death and the universal Church, according to the book, "St. Joseph -- Help for Life's Emergencies."

"His intercession is invoked for accountants, carpenters, engineers and craftsmen. He is invoked by persons beset by doubts or hesitations, those who have a profound interior life, and travelers."

 In other words, we could all benefit from his powerful intercession.

You could pray for the Church and its leaders, for your job or a lack of one, to sell a house or find a home, for your spouse (even an unfaithful one) for your father, for your children, for the dying, for your death, in financial stress or in dark times, for devotion to Mary, for closeness to Jesus.

It seems that in life and in eternity, St. Joseph is hardworking, faithful and diligent.

So let us turn to him in our needs, trusting that God will be attentive to his prayers. Any prayer to St. Joseph would suffice for a novena, which is simply prayers prayed for nine consecutive days. You could use this litany, borrowed from the St. Joseph book, that honors the saint and covers our needs under his various titles:

Litany of Saint Joseph

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.

Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of Heaven,
have mercy on us.
God, the Son, Redeemer of the world,
have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Spirit,
have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God,
have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, pray for us.
Renowned offspring of David, pray for us.
Light of Patriarchs, pray for us.
Spouse of the Mother of God, pray for us.
Chaste guardian of the Virgin, pray for us.
Foster-father of the Son of God, pray for us.
Diligent protector of Christ, pray for us.
Head of the Holy Family, pray for us.
Joseph most just, pray for us.
Joseph most chaste, pray for us.
Joseph most prudent, pray for us.
Joseph most strong, pray for us.
Joseph most obedient, pray for us.
Joseph most faithful, pray for us.
Mirror of patience, pray for us.
Lover of poverty, pray for us.
Model of artisans, pray for us.
Glory of home life, pray for us.
Guardian of virgins, pray for us.
Pillar of families, pray for us.
Solace of the wretched, pray for us.
Hope of the sick, pray for us.
Patron of the dying, pray for us.
Terror of demons, pray for us.
Protector of Holy Church, pray for us.

Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
    spare us, O Lord!
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
    graciously hear us, O Lord!
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
    have mercy on us.

V. He made him the lord of his household,
R. And ruler of all his possessions.

    Let us pray:
    O God, in Your unspeakable providence, You were pleased to choose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of Your most holy Mother, grant, we beseech You, that we may deserve to have him as our intercessor in Heaven, whom we venerate as our protector on earth; You Who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.

Inspired by the Year of Faith, Susan Szalewski began writing weekly columns for us. Although that year is over, we liked them so well that we asked her to keep writing. Thankfully, she said yes. So watch for these on Thursdays and see the Year of Faith Blog here.

Blessings of a Catholic School

"...whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant."

Those Gospel words were proclaimed at a Mass Wednesday for the 100th anniversary of St. Columbkille Catholic School. And they couldn't be more fitting for the occasion.

Archbishop George J. Lucas, in his homily, said service is what has set St. Columbkille apart.

"St. Columbkille School has a great reputation," he said. "And it's not by accident. It's because ... people are trying really hard to not just think of themselves, but to think of others."

Service, Archbishop Lucas said, is one of the greatest blessings of a going to a Catholic school -- and our source of true freedom. He said that as he grew older he grew to appreciate his own Catholic education, particularly because his school taught him to serve. "I learned how to be free to live for somebody else besides myself."

We "become our best selves," he said, and experience that freedom when we use our gifts from God to help others.

Father Vogel, in his homily at the 5:30 p.m. Mass later that day, shared the archbishop's message, again tying it to the Gospel reading. In the passage, the mother of the apostles James and John asked Jesus for a privileged place for her sons in Christ's Kingdom, one sitting at His left and the other at His right. Our Lord then summoned all the apostles, who had become indignant at the two brothers, to tell them what it takes to have a privileged place in His Kingdom.

"You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many."

Let's pray for St. Columbkille School, joining in the archbishop's prayer of blessing over the congregation at the all-school Mass:

"Purify Your faithful in body, mind and spirit, O Lord we pray, so that growing as disciples of Christ they may seek to serve rather than to be served. Through Christ our Lord."

Amen.

Inspired by the Year of Faith, Susan Szalewski began writing weekly columns for us. Although that year is over, we liked them so well that we asked her to keep writing. Thankfully, she said yes. So watch for these on Thursdays and see the Year of Faith Blog here.

Praying with the Saints

There are so many beautiful prayers, especially the ones given to us by the saints and those found in Scripture.

Sometimes you find one that you want to make part of your daily prayers.

I recently found a beautiful prayer by St. John Neumann, whose memorial we celebrated Jan. 5. The excerpt I saw was printed in the Magnificat monthly prayer publication. And I think the prayer is a keeper.

"I feel within myself and ardent desire to love Jesus and to be closely united with Him. The daily reception of His Sacred Body and Blood brings with it immense graces to my soul. But I find that I am not sufficiently watchful over my senses. I am indolent in the discharge of my duties. I say my prayers with distraction. O my dearest Jesus, what a great privilege to visit You daily, as often as I choose, and to receive You each day in Holy Communion!...
O my God, I  have consecrated myself to You.
Do with me whatever is most pleasing to You.

I beg of You, O my God, to let me see clearly what I ought to do.
O Jesus, grant me and to all the courage to resist the evil that is in the world.
You know, O my Jesus, that I would willingly suffer and die for You, though I am unworthy of such a grace.
I have consecrated myself entirely to You! You are my only Lord.
How gladly, O Lord, I thank you for the innumerable benefits You give me.
You are the best of fathers. I will be faithful in keeping Your commandments.
Take entire possession of me, O my dearest Jesus. To You I consecrate all the powers of my soul, my body and my whole being.
Teach me Your will, O dearest Lord, that I may begin and end all my actions for Your greater glory."

Amen!

I have a long way to go to be like St. John Neumann, but may his prayer help me on the path to Heaven. May his prayers, and those of all the saints, bless us all!

And with the Lord's help, may sanctity be our New Year's resolution and lifelong goal.

Inspired by the Year of Faith, Susan Szalewski began writing weekly columns for us. Although that year is over, we liked them so well that we asked her to keep writing. Thankfully, she said yes. So watch for these on Thursdays and see the Year of Faith Blog here.

Thanksgiving Feast

Like the Pilgrims and the Indians, the kindergarten students at St. Columbkille Catholic School gathered to give thanks and enjoy a feast together.