One of the Greats

Today is Friday of the First Week of Lent. This date, February 23, the Church commemorates one of the Saints of the Early Christian Church, St. Polycarp of Smyrna (now in Turkey). Polycarp could be invoked as a Patron Saint of the Senior Citizen. He was 86 years old when a persecution against Christian broke out. Polycarp had grown up knowing the Apostle John. Because this stawart Christian leader lived in the first century of Christianity, he is considered a "Father of the Church." Clement of Alexandria, Polycarp of Smyrna, and Ignatius of Antioch are considered "Apostolic Fathers" because they either knew one of the Apostles or were influenced by those who had heard the Apostles.

Lent and Spring Training

As we continue the Lenten Season, we pray for those who lost their lives in the tragic school shooting in Parkland, Florida. And we entrust the grieving parents, spouses, siblings, classmates, and family members to the intercession of the loving heart of Mary, Mother of Sorrows.

We pray too for our elected officials so that they may enact laws prohibiting the sales of high powered assault rifles, and that mentally unstable and violent individuals may be helped and prevented from doing harm. Lent is a sort of Spring Training for our bodies and souls as we prepare ourselves for the celebration of Easter and Jesus' Resurrection. Like coaches everywhere, the Church is asking us to be moderate in food, drink, entertainment and many ways to restrain our appetites. Anyone who has competed or even had a class in one of the sports, practice is a daily requirement. Practice turns a habit of doing good into a virtue. When you steer a conversation away from the brink of gossip and flip the topic to a positive outlook, you have practiced the virtues of prudence and charity. When we begin our day with the Morning Offering and tell the Lord that "all I am going to do today, cooking, driving, walking, praying, etc., as well as all that I enjoy and all that causes me discomfort I offer up to you Lord for you and your holy intentions. Like the pitchers of the baseball leagues, the batters, the catchers, and the first basemen and all the team's players need to be in top shape. I read an article that gave 15 ways to "Keep Lent" by doing something, or by avoiding certain foods or activities. One suggestion was for those who spend a lot of time in the gym. The author suggested cutting back on the treadmill and putting in more time in reading the Bible, or books on the spiritual life. Listening to CD's or podcasts on our Faith and spiritual lives are other ways to get in some spiritual life training.

Recently I was privileged to spend time with Sister Augusta who is almost 102. When she was hospitalized with the flu and pneumonia, she kept repeating many short prayers. When not impeded by various tubes and IV's, she kept her rosary in her hand. I can't tell you if I will ever live to be 100, but I do want to become a person of prayer so that when it is time for me to exit this world, I will have hit a "grand slam" and covered all the bases of faith, hope and charity well lived. I pray for all those who read this that you may continue this Lenten season growing in grace and virtue not nly day-by-day, but moment-by-moment!

The "Encounter in the Temple"

Have a Happy February! I looked up the origin of the shortest month of the year. February comes from the Latin "februum" which means "purification." Often the Lenten season begins in this short month which in our northern climate is often the least pleasant. As I write, the weather app on my phone tells me that it will be 32 degrees Fahrenheit when I get ready for Mass tomorrow morning.

There are plenty of days left to rejoice: 13 of them! February 2nd is a Feast in the Latin and Eastern Catholic Churches. It is the commemoration of the Presentation of the child Jesus in the Jerusalem Temple. In St. Luke's gospel, Chapter 2 tells us that Mary and Joseph took Baby Jesus to dedicate him to the Lord. Here is what the gospel says about this Feast of the Presentation:

When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord",and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons." Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Messiah. Guided by the Holy Spirit, Simeon came into the Temple and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him into his arms and praised 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 have prepared in the presence of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and glory for your people Israel."

While still holding the Divine Child in his arms Simeon prophesied as he drected his words to Jesus' Mother, Mary, "Behold this child is destined for the fall and the rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted--and you yourself a sword will pierce--so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."

Luke continues the story of this "Encounter of the Lord" who comes to his Temple. Eastern Catholics and the Orthodox Christians call this the Feast of the Encounter of the Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ. During this Encounter we are introduced to Anna, another elderly person who was waiting to see the Messiah. She who lived a life of prayer and fasting recognized the Savior presented in the Temple with Mary and Joseph. She began to spread the Good News that the Messiah had come in the disguise of a baby boy. "She spoke about the Child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Israel." I was impressed by the directness of two prayers for this day used in the Melkite Catholic Rite. From the "Publican's Prayer Book" published by Sophia Press of Boston, Massachusetts:

For the Encounter of the Lord O Christ God, who through Your birth have sanctified the virginal womb and have blessed the arms of Simeon, You have come today to save us. When wars prevail, keep your people in peace and strengthen our public authorities in every good deed, for You alone are the Lover of Mankind.

Here is another prayer from the Publican's Prayer Book

O Mother of our God, Hope and strength of all Christians, watch over those who place their trust in You O Most Pure. Let us, O Faithful, glorify the First-born, the Eternal Word of God, born of the Virgin All-Pure, for we have seen beyond the shadow and the letter of the Law, a sign of Christ in these words: Every male opening the womb shall be called holy to the Lord.

As Pope Francis pointed out in his homily given in Rome today, the Encounter in the Temple was not just a meeting with Simeon and Anna. Francis invited us to remember that when Jesus comes into the temple, into his Church, it is a meeting with others, with all the baptized. This episode highlights the totality of membership in the Church: rather than just a "personal relationship with Jesus," being a member of the Church puts me and you into relationships with others. Today in Rome (this Sunday in North America) the Church celebrates Consecrated Life. What's Consecrated Life? It happens when men and women pronounce vows of obedience, chastity and poverty, consecrating themselves for life to the service of God and of his Church. As the Scripture said about Jesus, he was designated, or dedicated, to the Lord God, so men and women who are vowed religious, and lay men and women who live their dedication to God "in the world" are doing their best to imitate Jesus. If you are reading this and you are not a "consecrated religious", not to worry! When you were baptized you were consecrated to God then. The vowed consecrated life is a calling to be a reminder and a witness to the supernatural. We do not work for wages for ourselves, we do not own personal cars or properties. We are free from certain cares to "be" for Jesus.

Now one way for you and I to "encounter the Lord and Savior" is to attend Mass and place ourselves into God's hands during the Mass. When we receive Jesus in the Sacred Host, Encounter takes place especially during those brief moments when we can talk to our Divine Guest, and if we listen, he can talk to us. Another way to encounter the Lord at Mass is in the readings from the Bible, the first readings and the gospel. If you can't hear the readings, or if you attend Mass in another language, get a St. Paul Daily Missal, or pick up one of the several monthly missalettes available. Our Pauline Book & Media Centers all stock the missals and missalettes. On February 3rd, we will experience the Blessings of the Throats on St. Blase Day. During this flu season, we need such blessings! Have a blessed continuation of the Month of February.