Friday, January 28, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Tuesday, January 04, 2011
Ordination anniversary
My priestly Ordination and Feast of John Neumann
In June of 1836 on the day of his first Mass, Father John Neumann (1811-1860) whose feast we celebrate today, uttered a prayer that consisted of only five words: “Dearest God, Give me holiness.” He had only recently arrived in the United States. He had studied for the priesthood in his native Bohemia, but there were so many priests in his homeland that the bishop decided there would be no more ordinations for an extended period. So at the age of twenty-five John Neumann set out for America and was there ordained to the priesthood by the Bishop of New York. The next day, he prayed those five words: “Dearest God, Give me holiness.” As he celebrated the Eucharist at the very beginning of his priestly service, he prayed for holiness. My dear brothers and sisters, today is the anniversary of my own ordination. I was ordained in January 5th 1997. Please pray that I will be dying as a holy priest.
Vocation of the prophet Jeremiah says in Jeremiah 1:5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."And God’s further words to Jeremiah were also verified in John Neumann: "To whomever I send you, you shall go; whatever I command you, you shall speak. Have no fear before them, because I am with you...says the Lord."
The words of Saint Paul, the great missionary Apostle, apply so well to Saint John Neumann: “I have made myself a slave to all so as to win over as many as possible. To the weak I became weak, to win over the weak. I have become all things to all, to save at least some. All this I do for the sake of the Gospel, so that I too may have a share in it” (1 Cor 9:19; 22-23).
In his book Written in Blood, Robert Coleman tells the story of a little girl, Mary, who needed a blood transfusion. Her little brother, Johnny, had suffered from the same disease that she had and had recovered two years earlier. Since her best chance of recovery was a transfusion from someone who had recovered from the disease, her little brother was identified as the ideal donor. "Would you give your blood to Mary?" the doctor asked. Johnny hesitated. His lower lip started to tremble. Then he smiled and said, "Sure, for my sister." Soon the two kids were wheeled into the hospital room. Neither of them spoke, but when their eyes met, Johnny grinned. As the nurse inserted the needle into his arm, Johnny's smile faded. Johnny watched his blood flow through the tube. When the ordeal was over, Johnny's shaky voice broke the silence. "Doctor, when do I die?"
It was only then that the doctor realize why Johnny had hesitated, why his lip had trembled when he agreed to donate his blood. He thought giving his blood to his sister meant giving up his life. When he agreed to give the blood, Johnny had agreed to die so that his sister would live. Fortunately, Johnny did not have to die to save his sister.
No matter what type of good work a priest does the highpoint of the priest’s ministry is celebrating the Eucharist. It is the most important moment of the day for the priest.
Prayer and the Eucharist is the most important time of every day in the life of a priest and religious.
I always look for my joy in knowing that I am doing what is best for the kingdom of God. Whether 10% or 99% of people appreciate what I do is not the decisive factor in whether I am happy or unhappy. Because I am human it is a consideration but it is not the decisive factor. Last Christmas day one woman who was a lapse catholic came to me and said “father I was against catholic life but because of you I am coming back.” that was my best Christmas gift this year.
I remember the words of my patron saint, St. Vincent de Paul “To rely on our talents is a cause of great loss. When someone places confidence in his own prudence, knowledge, and intelligence, God, To make him know and see his insufficiency, withdraws from him His help and leaves him to work by himself. This is often why our undertakings miserably fail.’ “Dearest God, Give me holiness.” Amen.
In June of 1836 on the day of his first Mass, Father John Neumann (1811-1860) whose feast we celebrate today, uttered a prayer that consisted of only five words: “Dearest God, Give me holiness.” He had only recently arrived in the United States. He had studied for the priesthood in his native Bohemia, but there were so many priests in his homeland that the bishop decided there would be no more ordinations for an extended period. So at the age of twenty-five John Neumann set out for America and was there ordained to the priesthood by the Bishop of New York. The next day, he prayed those five words: “Dearest God, Give me holiness.” As he celebrated the Eucharist at the very beginning of his priestly service, he prayed for holiness. My dear brothers and sisters, today is the anniversary of my own ordination. I was ordained in January 5th 1997. Please pray that I will be dying as a holy priest.
Vocation of the prophet Jeremiah says in Jeremiah 1:5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."And God’s further words to Jeremiah were also verified in John Neumann: "To whomever I send you, you shall go; whatever I command you, you shall speak. Have no fear before them, because I am with you...says the Lord."
The words of Saint Paul, the great missionary Apostle, apply so well to Saint John Neumann: “I have made myself a slave to all so as to win over as many as possible. To the weak I became weak, to win over the weak. I have become all things to all, to save at least some. All this I do for the sake of the Gospel, so that I too may have a share in it” (1 Cor 9:19; 22-23).
In his book Written in Blood, Robert Coleman tells the story of a little girl, Mary, who needed a blood transfusion. Her little brother, Johnny, had suffered from the same disease that she had and had recovered two years earlier. Since her best chance of recovery was a transfusion from someone who had recovered from the disease, her little brother was identified as the ideal donor. "Would you give your blood to Mary?" the doctor asked. Johnny hesitated. His lower lip started to tremble. Then he smiled and said, "Sure, for my sister." Soon the two kids were wheeled into the hospital room. Neither of them spoke, but when their eyes met, Johnny grinned. As the nurse inserted the needle into his arm, Johnny's smile faded. Johnny watched his blood flow through the tube. When the ordeal was over, Johnny's shaky voice broke the silence. "Doctor, when do I die?"
It was only then that the doctor realize why Johnny had hesitated, why his lip had trembled when he agreed to donate his blood. He thought giving his blood to his sister meant giving up his life. When he agreed to give the blood, Johnny had agreed to die so that his sister would live. Fortunately, Johnny did not have to die to save his sister.
No matter what type of good work a priest does the highpoint of the priest’s ministry is celebrating the Eucharist. It is the most important moment of the day for the priest.
Prayer and the Eucharist is the most important time of every day in the life of a priest and religious.
I always look for my joy in knowing that I am doing what is best for the kingdom of God. Whether 10% or 99% of people appreciate what I do is not the decisive factor in whether I am happy or unhappy. Because I am human it is a consideration but it is not the decisive factor. Last Christmas day one woman who was a lapse catholic came to me and said “father I was against catholic life but because of you I am coming back.” that was my best Christmas gift this year.
I remember the words of my patron saint, St. Vincent de Paul “To rely on our talents is a cause of great loss. When someone places confidence in his own prudence, knowledge, and intelligence, God, To make him know and see his insufficiency, withdraws from him His help and leaves him to work by himself. This is often why our undertakings miserably fail.’ “Dearest God, Give me holiness.” Amen.
Saturday, January 01, 2011
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