Catholic Revelation

Coming out of the movie Courageous, my daughter and I cried a river of tears.  The message of this movie was touching and beautiful and I believe that a bit of faith in mankind had been rekindled in us.  Catholics have been flocking to this movie right along with our Protestant brothers and sisters in Christ and boasting of its powerful and emotional message.  Even so, coming out of the theater with my heart deeply moved, I couldn’t help ask myself a few questions:  “Where is the Catholic movie?; What happened to the Catholic message?; and most importantly, “Where are the Catholics?”  We may be in the comfy theater seats watching Courageous with our Kleenexes, but where are our hearts really? 

Allow me to explain my thoughts in more detail.  The main characters in the movie were Protestant men with a self proclaimed devotion to their Christian faith, but some of them were falling short of living this faith.  Tragedy enters into the picture and propels one man to make a renewed commitment to God that as head of his family he is going to vow to be not just a good husband and father, but an outstanding spiritual leader, protector, and provider of the highest Christian standard.  Eventually one of his friends turns his life over to Jesus and he and the rest of this close knit group are moved to join him in making the same vow.  They become witnesses for each other and promise to hold each other accountable to a higher standard.   At a formal celebration attended by their families, they all sign a written pledge for each other of their vows to put God and family first in a heroic and unprecedented way.  They realize that this is a tall order, but they are ready to brave the storm and be held accountable by those they are closest to.  They frame their pledges and proudly display them in their homes.  At the end of the movie, a series of powerful challenges are presented by one of the men in front of the large congregation at the Church he attends.  These challenges are put forth in the form of questions, and the only acceptable answer is a strong, “I will!”    It is like a congregation of God fearing men renewing marital vows in front of their entire church community.  Of course these vows include the obligation to raise God fearing children, (something the Catholic Church has always taught is intrinsically linked to the sacrament of marriage).  Men proudly stand and forcefully respond to the questions with,“I will”.  They pledge to step up to the plate and by their behavior imitate the perfect father; God, the Father.  You really have to see it to understand, but these men proudly proclaiming their God given role as husband and father is more moving that watching Rocky Balboa doing his victory dance in front of the wild cheers of his fans after winning the boxing championship. Read more...

From time to time I run into mothers who are sad that their children are leading lives drastically different than those they held in their dreams. But, even more sad than a life of failed dreams, is a life void of God where joy is simply not attainable. I also hear mother’s mourn the loss of faith in their children’s lives.

Trouble strikes us all. Our children will suffer. We know this because of our own experiences. What is important is how our children manage their troubles. The only effective way to manage hardship is through faith in God. That is what really counts. We might mourn the loss of what we dreamed life would be like for our children, but what is more important is a life of faith in God. As parents, we should strive to keep our children, no matter how old, in tune with God. If they stray, we should pray. The Church I attend holds a prayer session in the adoration chapel for parents whose adult children no longer attend Mass. Personal experience has shown me how powerful this kind of prayer can be.

I wrote this prayer in celebration of the new year. I plan on saying this prayer every day for the next year and beyond. Perhaps you would like to say this prayer as well or even modify it to suit your own needs.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Dear Heavenly God of Peace,

Please embrace my children. Allow me, as their mother, to lovingly place them into your arms. Let them be messengers of your Heavenly Word, and dedicated and loving servants, giving themselves totally and completely over to your will. May they always hear your call for their lives and respond without haste. May they never forget to nourish themselves with the Body and your Blood of your Son, Jesus Christ, as they dutifully, joyfully, and cheerfully participate often in your Holy Sacrifice. When trouble strikes as it most surely will, no matter how small or how big, let them find and take their consolation in You and their Holy Mother, Your Church. Should they find themselves in the company of unbelievers, let them never be tempted, but always a light pointing the way. And Lord, as events continue to unfold in my own journey, help me always, in good times and in bad, be for them, that unwavering example of faith and trust in you. I pray this through the intercession of your blessed Mother who shows us the way. Hail Mary full of grace . . . .

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Dear loving and merciful Lord, Please help the hearts of all Americans to turn toward you and elect leaders who believe in the sanctity of human life and the God given dignity of every human being from the moment of conception to natural death.

We often hear, Lord, that it is not right to force one person’s god upon another. But, we find that this is an impossible right to withhold. Right now we are forced to worship a god called ‘separation of church and state’. We put our trust in men who promise to promote peace and justice in our country and around the world. But the god they uphold, the god of separation of church and state, forces us to put you in second place while we bend to mere men who do not know true world peace because they do not know you.

Lord, guide our leaders. Help them to put aside their own desire for power and adulation and realize that God’s greatest gifts sometimes come in the humble form of our weakest members; the baby inside of the womb, the disabled individual in a wheelchair, the sick and starving person on the streets of India, the elderly person living out his final days on earth, and most especially, our humble savior, born in a stable and laid in a manger.

We read in Matthew 25:40, And the King will answer, "In truth I tell you, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me."

How many times each day do we murder you inside of the womb? Rid us of this very grave sin and cleanse us, Oh Lord.

Perhaps most painfully, God, I must speak of my own sins. How many times to I spend my money on pleasures of the world, keeping much of it away from you while you stay hungry, sick, lonely, or in need of comfort? Help me, along with the rest of all my fellow Americans, to have a more giving spirit this new year.

I pray this through the intercession of your blessed mother, who far from making the claim that her body was her own to do with as she pleased, gave herself completely over to your will allowing her womb to be the vessel that brought forth your Word and your saving grace. Like Mary, who continues to intercede for us, if we could all truly sacrifice ourselves for the common good we might finally realize our eternal resting place in you Oh, Lord.

Hail Mary . . . .

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.