“The God of the universe has formed you out of nothing and called you into existence by name. You cannot earn this great gift; you can only receive it. Everything else about what you are trying to decide or accomplish must center on and return to the truth: I am willed and loved, I have a purpose, and God wants me here.
Sit with this reality. Do you believe it? Does it seem too good to be true? This truth may take time to take root in your heart. Pray for the grace to let go of the lies and receive this truth at a deep level: you are willed, you are loved, and you are necessary.” (p. 13 from “Pray, Decide and Don’t Worry”)

In my prayers with St. Joseph I often wonder about the life he dreamed about. What were his plans as a young boy? I wanted to be a United States Marine beginning about the age of five, did St. Joseph have a similar desire as a young boy. As a teen, a young man, in seeking Mary as his wife and then as the foster father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, what were his thoughts and dreams. What ever they were, we do know that he was a model of faith and faithfulness as Archbishop M. de Langalerie describes in his book, “The Month of St. Joseph.”
The quote above comes from a book on discerning our call in life and asking the greater question of what is God’s plan and how best can I follow this plan. Like St. Joseph our plans will be interrupted by God’s greater and more perfect plan but if we walk by faith then we will seek to move forward in trust and hope because we are beginning to know our Father in heaven.

Often we are encouraged, in good faith, to make plans…to map out our life…to make sure we are perfectly ready before we begin. I hear this continually from young men and women who are discerning the married life or are married and planning for children. Happily this isn’t how life usually works…God’s plans may be our plans but we are always seeking God’s plan first and foremost. This means when we plan we always make room for our faith life, especially prayer. “Faith adds to the light of reason by manifesting new objects of knowledge, and it confirms truths of the natural order by its unexceptionable testimony. If the human intellect would gain in strength and power, let it be penetrated by the life of faith.” (p. 27)

St. Joseph is a great example of how this works always seeking to grow a greater love. As a man of faith he didn’t throw out reason or planning but rather knew how to adjust to the new circumstances, the deeper call to faith he was invited to share. Maybe he thought this invitation to follow God in his marriage to Mary and as foster father would bring special worldly blessings, riches and protections. But we know this didn’t happen and yet St. Joseph continued to be the faithful steward of God’s household in caring for and protecting the Holy Family.
This is important because our faith life is a continued invitation to grow deeper in trust and knowledge of our Lord and God’s plan for us. Like St. Joseph we should enter the mystery of God’s love ever more fully, ”He revered the mysteries that were successively revealed to him, and he lived in the hope of the promised Redeemer, ardently desiring and awaiting his coming… Though here on earth we may faintly perceive the greatness of the love that God bears us, it is only in heaven that we shall fully understand its plentitude.” (p. 28) This is a great act of trust…in relying on God to provide. At many of the major decision points in my life I have understood this trust. (Not always because I am a stubborn man) I remember clearly when I was offered a job to teach 7th grade at St. Bonaventure Indian Mission in Thoreau New Mexico. I had never really considered being a grade school teacher but in prayer…it just seemed the right thing to do. Ultimately it led me to my vocation as priest, but in was the act of trust, that somehow this was the right thing to do that brought a breath of peace into the turbulence of life.

“Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.” (Saint Mother Teresa)
It is a great gift to know while St. Joseph was asked to do this great thing, being the foster father of the Son of God, he also did the many small things a husband, a father, a worker does daily in living his life. In understanding in faith how God calls us to be good stewards of the gifts given and to be shared, the small things are so very important. “This life does not consist in the performance of great and singular actions, nor in certain religious practices, even though these practices should form a daily order of exercises. It is a series of acts ever active and always acting. Faith harmonizes the conduct and animates every work… It supports, animates, and strengthens us in our labors and occupations, by teaching us to offer them to the majesty of God, or to honor his infinite bounty. It reminds us of heaven, and detaches us from earth.” (P. 28–29)
If we are always waiting for the perfect moment, the time when we are totally prepared, the day when we do the great and glorious, then we are missing the small moments, the little points of light, the gift of grace drawing us into the greater and more perfect love. St. Joseph as a model of faith reminds us this truth: you have a part to play in God’s plan because “you are willed, you are loved, and you are necessary.”
God Bless
Fr. Mark

ps…links to both the book “Pray, Decide and Don’t Worry” and St. Bonaventure Mission are below.

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Pray, Decide, and Don’t Worry: Five Steps to Discerning God’s Will

“Truth, not eloquence, is to be sought in reading the Holy Scriptures; and every part must be read in the spirit in which it was written. For in the Scriptures we ought to seek profit rather than polished diction.
Likewise we ought to read simple and devout books as willingly is learned and profound ones. We ought not to be swayed by the authority of the writer, whether he be a great literary light or an insignificant person, but by the love of simple truth. We ought not to ask who is speaking, but mark what is said. Men pass away, but the truth of the Lord remains forever. God speaks to us in many ways, without regard for persons.
Our curiosity often impedes or reading of the Scriptures, when we wish to understand and mull over what we ought simply to read and pass by.
If you would profit from it, therefore, read with humility, simplicity, and faith, and never seek a reputation for being learned. Seek willingly and listen attentively to the words of the Saints; do not be displeased with the sayings of the ancients, for they were not made without purpose.” (#5 from “The Imitation of Christ” by Thomas à Kempis)

When I was studying in the seminary my spiritual director asked me to read “The Imitation of Christ” one of the great spiritual classics. The book itself is only around 160 pages and I quickly read through the book and took some notes for our next meeting. During this time Fr. Vincent then asked me to take time and pray with the words and not simply rush through them. I spent the next four years of formation taking this little book to my holy hour, picking it up during the day and scribbling note after note both in the book in in my spiritual journal on the insights and glimpse of wisdom God shared with me. A few months ago, I began this practice once more, to pray with Thomas à Kempis’ masterpiece and listen attentively to the voice of our Lord and Savior speaking words of love.
As we continue to reflect on St. Joseph the quote above reminded me of the deep and profound humility every Christian must develop in listening to the word of God. St. Augustine in this Confessions, another spiritual classic, reminds us of how in his youthful arrogance he dismissed the writings of Sacred Scripture and early Christian writings as childlike, simple and crude and how he sought out the most learned people for knowledge and how he should to live life. We of course know the end of the story as St. Augustine discovers what the quote above shares: we discover God in many different ways and very often in the simplicity of daily interactions.
In Archbishop M. de Langalerie’s book “The Month of St. Joseph” knowing the blessed saint as a model of humility he reminds us, “Humility is the submission of the mind and the heart to the knowledge of our own misery and nothingness… In the first place, frequent reflection on the infinite greatness of God contribute much to this virtue, placing before minds that contrast it naturally arises from the thoughts of his infinite perfections and our own unworthiness.” (p. 83)
Taking time in reflection of the mystery of life, with St. Joseph as our model, is a way of seeing the peaceful simplicity of learning the Word of God from the lips of a child. How did Joseph with Mary study Jesus daily? Can you imagine them, like all parents, marveling as Jesus discovers the spit bubbles that form and then pop and hear the giggles of baby joy. Did they contemplate God’s joy in their life? Did they find the perfection of God in seeing him learn to roll over, to crawl and then take his first tentative steps? Did they, like all parents, realize the beauty of life, through the eyes of a child as our Lord examined bugs, flowers and a puddle in the newness of God’s blessings of life? As a little child Jesus was not a learned author and great teacher in the worldly sense but in the Incarnational Holiness he showed the deeper and more profound wisdom of the simplicity of God’s abundant and infinite love, grace and mercy in each breath, in the simplicity of the complexity of life.

Don’t get me wrong, learning the complex is good and important in so many ways…I spent 4 years in college, two years in grad school, two years in the teaching credential program and 5 years in seminary. I love to read and learn more and more and more about our Church and God’s love for her. But I have also learned to see in the simple things of life how God presents himself as Father in so many different ways. To see God where we are, right now, in this place and not searching for Him in the distant logic of trying to figure it all out before we humbly present ourselves to our Father, rather we pray “Lord I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.” (from the Roman Missal)
“Let us contemplate Saint Joseph in the different conditions in which he was placed by divine Providence, and see his lowly humility! Not a word of complaint ever escaped him; no regret for the departed grandeur of his family; no thought of complacency on the mission fulfilled by him; he considers himself only as a servant and dispenser of the things confided to him.” (p 85)
Like St. Joseph, God has given each of us a mission. It may not be as important as being the foster father and protector of Jesus and the head of the Holy Family, but our mission, our calling is important and vital to God’s plan of salvation. Take time to listen in prayer. Take Sacred Scripture or find a good spiritual book and for the next year pray with it daily. It will change your life…it changed mine.
God Bless
Fr. Mark
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“The miracle is not that we do this work, but that we are happy to do it.” St. Mother Theresa

It doesn’t seem that this should be too difficult in our lives, that is, remembering the presence of God, and yet in many discussions with good and faithful Catholics, listen in confession and watching and observing the world (and a little looking in the mirror) we often forget that we are in God’s continual and loving presence being showed with love and devotion.
In Archbishops M. de Langalerie’s book “The Month of St. Joseph” he writes to us to remember how St. Joseph is a model for this necessary action in our lives as children of the one true God.

“We Christians have reason to rejoice in the privilege of being able to study the life of Christ in the Gospel, and in receiving Him in the Holy Eucharist. We may, at every instant, find consolation in this sweet and divine presence.” (p 37) While St. Joseph lived the Gospel (good news) daily in his love and interaction with Jesus and Mary, he also studied the Gospel, chose to live the Gospel in service and protection and like Mary pondered what this all might mean. This life of service, literally carrying the Gospel in the Word of God Jesus Christ, watching over and being blessed by this mysteries is a privileged place but we must also remember, in the Eucharist, in our sacramental life, we too are asked to carry Jesus forth and to care for and protect him but our living example to those around us.
“The mind and heart of St. Joseph, initiated as he was into the mysteries of the Incarnation and Redemption, must have been continually occupied with thoughts of God—His providence, His love for Man, His omnipresence, and his other infinite attributes, all of which were revealed to St. Joseph.” (p 36) You can imagine, even with the trials and tribulations, the travels and exile, St. Joseph and the Virgin Mary experienced during the first days of their marriage, the mystery of the Incarnation continued to illuminate the hope they lived in loving each other and the Son of God with their whole heart and all their actions. They lived what was proclaimed in the Gospel of St. John, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (Jn 3:16) If we truly believe this is true then the practice of the mediative and contemplative knowledge of God’s presence becomes practical and life giving in our relationships together placing God at the center.
How can we do this practically in our own lives. Christina and Javier Llerena, who do ministry in marriage and marriage preparation share this advice, “Let your love come through your actions. Being life-giving is going the extra mile when you might have to move your needs aside temporarily. However, these acts of service in relationships build trust and intimacy. Think of them as wise investments—they give more than they take in the long run.” (p 139 from “Boundless Love: Healing Your Marriage Before it Begins”)

Being attentive to our relationships on earth are fruitful when we know the presence of God is constant and grace-giving to our love. The knowledge of God’s presence should and must stir us to an active life of sacrificial love in service of those who are both near and far. In contemplating the heavenly we see the generosity of God’s love in the world surrounding us, even when it is filled with the pain of sin. The extra-mile is the way of the cross in unity with Jesus as was St. Joseph bound to Jesus as foster father and spouse to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
“This attention to the presence of God is the ladder of perfection in every state and condition of life…it suffices to consider that St. Joseph was more impressed with heavenly thoughts than the angels could have been; that he was favored with intimate communications from God more frequently than they were; and that his whole life was animated by faith. (p 35-36)
How attentive are we to the presence of God at home, at work, at play and in the quiet moments of solitude? It is easy to look out on a beautiful vista and feel the awe of God’s creation…but how do we see this same awe in a room full of arguing children? In an office with grumpy or difficult co-workers? Or, after an argument with our spouse? It is in these moments when the conversation with Jesus, the little hug from Jesus, the simply seeing Jesus is offered toward the other in the “going the extra mile” of our lives filled with the joy of the presence of the Gospel, the presence of Jesus Christ.

God Bless
Fr. Mark

“If we wish to serve God and love our neighbor well, we must manifest our joy in the service we render to Him and them. Let us open wide our hearts. It is joy which invites us. Press forward and fear nothing.” St. Katharine Drexel

“Prayer is the only channel through which God’s great graces and favors may flow into the soul; and if this be once closed, I know no other way He can communicate them.”
St. Teresa of Jesus

The switch is moving forward and I am now unpacking the boxes that only a few days ago I was packing. I walked around the rectory and church of St. Lucy one last time on July the 1st making sure I hadn’t left anything behind, (I am sure I have) handing over my keys and garage door opener and driving away to my new home at St. Lawrence the Martyr Parish. What has seemed like a long two months of preparing to move seems to have come so quickly to a conclusion and passes by in a small short breath.
In this year of St. Joseph, I, in the hubbub of the day, often think of the home in Nazareth and how full of prayer it was, how full of peace, how full of joy and how full of love. This is where the call to prayer becomes so vital and transforming as our lives are disrupted and tossed about in the whirlwind of the moment life becomes if it is not grounded in faith and trust in a loving God.
In Archbishop M. de Langalerie book, “The Month of St. Joseph” he reminds us, “It is important to frequently recall to our minds that prayer is essential to the practice of all the virtues, to the avoidance of sin, and in general to the fulfillment of our duties.” ( p. 15) The blessing of prayer, especially in times of disruption, isn’t the avoidance of life but rather the ability and desire to enter into the wonder of life with all the pain and suffering, with all the celebrations and joys. What did Mary and Joseph talk about on the way to Bethlehem or as they fled to Egypt? Did they pray along the way? I have a friend who without fail, when he places the key in the ignition of his car, he then crosses himself and says “St. Christopher…pray for me.” And many of us have the experience of driving along and praying the Rosary as we head to our destination…it isn’t just about “killing time” but rather asking God to be with us on the journey. Now I know Mary and Joseph didn’t have the Rosary to pray but did they recite some psalms or other prayers learned in childhood.
“Prayer must be accompanied with confidence, humility, and fervor. Prayer is, in itself, an act of humility; for in soliciting favors from God, or when returning thanks for those already received, we find ourselves penetrated with a knowledge of our own unworthiness and misery, and our absolute dependence on God.” (p 15) These three small attitudes, confidence, humility and fervor (love) are part and parcel of our faith in God. If we see this through the eyes of St. Joseph we are able to recognize the pathway of blessings.

Knowing we are called by God into holiness should fill us with the confidence necessary to take up our cross, our vocation, our prayer with trust. Joseph, called by God as each one of us are called, took up his duty as husband, foster father and protector of the Holy Family. He could only do this with humility knowing for whom he was called to care for and protect. In doing this he offered his love, complete and without reservation to his wife and our Lord Jesus Christ. When we look at our life, do we move forward in these same actions. Our dependence on God leading us to these attitudes of blessings seeking to give, receive and share these gifts of life from God with gracious love and humility knowing in confidence we are beloved by God.
“We will find our models in this exercise in the humble cottage at Nazareth. It cannot be deemed rash to assert that Jesus, Mary and Joseph frequently practiced this holy exercise, nor can it be too much to consider Mary and Joseph as being the first to receive from the lips of Jesus that prayer which He Himself is the author.” (p 16) Did Mary and Joseph ask there son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, this life giving question: “Teach us to pray?” In their daily life they watched him enter into deep and peaceful times of conversation with our Heavenly Father. Did they ask, “How do we talk to the Father?”
Prayer is the fount and foundation of our lives. We cannot live without prayer. To seek guidance, to ask questions and to practice over and over again leads us into a more intimate relationship with God and his holy people. Pray and pray always.
“Prayer draws into the soul the Holy Spirit, and raises man to Heaven.”
St. Ephraem of Syria
God Bless
Fr. Mark