Today on our way home from Albany, New York we stopped twice in the Mohawk Valley first at the Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs at Auriesville, New York. I’ve been stopping here since I was a young boy. My Mom first introduced me to the shrine in the late 1950’s. As I walked around the shrine today I sought the intercession of the St. Kateri Tekakwitha. There are numerous references to Kateri at the shrine and even statuary too. After a bit less than an hour we traveled five and half miles west on Route 5 to the Kateri Shrine which I’ve known about for only about a dozen years. The Kateri Shrine which is maintained by Conventual Franciscan Friars is where the actual birthplace of St. Kateri Tekakwitha was. It is a lovely shrine and decidedly Franciscan. Today the St. Thomas More Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order were showing a video Kateri’s life. We didn’t stay for the video, but I did manage to meet one of their members. I spent quite a bit of time walking the grounds and enjoying the surroundings.
Ready to Rally
In a few hours I will join other educators from around New York State at a rally at the state Capitol to protest the current destructive policy of subjecting our students to relentless testing. Since the Truman Report in 1947 nearly every president has had something to say about public education. Many of these commissions while well intentioned have concluded that we are a nation at risk due to a poor system of public education. The most recent iteration of this political focus has been the Common Core.
The Common Core State Standards provide a consistent, clear understanding of what students are expected to learn, so teachers and parents know what they need to do to help them. The standards are designed to be robust and relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills that our young people need for success in college and careers. With American students fully prepared for the future, our communities will be best positioned to compete successfully in the global economy.
— Mission Statement from Common Core
Despite the good intention of the policy and even those who crafted it the result has been the emergence of a high stakes testing environment that is actually destroying public and private education in New York State and elsewhere with its over reliance on testing. This culture of stress and testing is harming our students who are the future of our country. I’ve never seen children so stressed and at such an early age.
I’ve long been an advocate for social justice and this is one of the issues that cries out for those of us who can speak and can rally to be a voice for those who cannot. Today those of us who have come to Albany, New York will rally for the hundreds of thousands of students and teachers who could not come. We stand in the gap on behalf of our beleaguered constituents. The prophet Ezekiel gave voice to this thousands of years ago.
“I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land.
Ezekiel 22:30
Today we join the prophets of old as we stand in the gap on behalf of teachers and students everywhere and implore the policy makers to end this oppressive plague upon our children and our schools.
Pacem in Terris
Pacem in Terris is the famous encyclical of Blessed John XXIII. As I’ve stated before Pope John was my favorite Pope up until now. When former Pope Benedict decided to resign i prayed that his replacement would be a man like Pope John XXIII. So far I have not been disappointed. This video that came from the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation website of the United States Secular Franciscans is a good synopsis of the encyclical. Pope John XXIII was a Secular Franciscan and there is no doubt that Pacem in Terris is evidence of that.
[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/55888289 w=500&h=281]
The Encyclical Pacem in Terris 50th Anniversary at the United Nations (Long Version) from American Montage on Vimeo.
Blessed John
50 years ago today Pope John XXIII died. He was my favorite pope up until now. Pope Francis reminds me of Pope John XXIII. Pope John convened the Second Vatican Council. He started much needed reforms in the Catholic Church. I loved the old Latin that we memorized as altar boys back in the Pre-Vatican Council days but I am so glad the Mass is in English now or whatever your mother tongue might be because it really brings the liturgy alive. I loved too how religious orders began to wear the clothes of the day. I still remember the nuns who taught me and their habits, but m grateful today for the nuns I know today who are much more accessible because of the reforms of Vatican II. Also, Pope John XXIII was a Secular Franciscan. I didn’t know that then but I do today. We have that in common. I hope someday the church elevates Pope John to sainthood. I think he is deserving of that. Until then Bl. John XXIII pray for us and pray for Pacem in Terris.
Unscripted Pontiff
I was reading an article tonight at National Catholic Reporter about the perils of an un-scripted Pope. Apparently Pope Francis extemporaneous comments in his homilies have the Vatican scampering around doing what some might call damage control. I for one am glad we have a Pope who is not scripted. I don’t think Jesus was scripted and neither was St. Francis of Assisi. The politically inclined are often so afraid to express what’s really on their hearts that they miss opportunities to be helpful. Pope Francis has been a breath of fresh air and I hope he keeps up with these unscripted, from the heart homilies and interactions with the faithful. He’s been an answer to my prayers. We need a living breathing faith and practice of faith that mirrors life. Keep up the good work, Holy Father! Keep those who would contain and package you into a commodity at arms length.
May I have the courage
May I have the courage today To live the life that I would love, To postpone my dream no longer But do at last what I came here for And waste my heart on fear no more.
— John O’Donahue
This quote has been with me since I first read it and especially in the last two days. What is my dream and why would I want to postpone it any longer. As a young boy I dreamt of many things including a vocation to the priesthood. As a young adult those dreams changed to become an archaeologist and historian, and then again as an adult after a tour of duty in the United States Navy. Who am I really? Today, in a conversation with Fr. Dan Riley, OFM following his homily on the feast of Corpus Christi we were invited to explore who we really are in Christ. Who am I really and what am I being called to? I’ve had a sense of mission for months now, but what precisely I’m not sure. What have I come here for? For over a quarter century I’ve been a technology coordinator, a technology problem solver, a teacher, a helper, and most importantly a learner. There is a longing in my heart for communion with Christ. It has always been there. Sometimes it’s been shrouded but always it’s been there.
Corpus Christi
Today at Mt. Irenaeus our liturgy began in the friar garden next to the House of Peace. Fr. Dan opened up the Eucharist with an invitation to silence. In the silence we listened for the voice of God. Fr. John invited us to remember that the Eucharist comes from the earth and that we are one with all creation. We processed up the hill to Holy Peace Chapel and as we walked we sang “Laudate Dominum, Laudate Dominum, omnes gentes, alleluia.
It was all very moving. As I walked behind Fr. Bob and Br. Joe I was blessed by a benediction of tears. Tears of gratitude and an overwhelming sense of presence of the Body of Christ.
Throughout the Eucharist there was a sense of presence and connectedness to the Body of Christ. We are all one in Christ and through Christ. I am grateful today because it has been Christ who transformed my broken spirit and gave me a new life. I believe no one can be transformed without that brokenness. Each of us and all of us must pass through our agony and metaphoric crucifixion to join with Christ in our redemption. There is after all a purpose for our suffering. We cannot be complete until we recognize and accept our imperfection.
Thirty years
Today our children and our daughter-in-law are celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary at a house party. Thirty years ago we were on our honeymoon in Williamsburg, Virginia. While we might have foreseen a lengthy marriage, we did not anticipate a boy named Devin and a girl named Dara who lit up our lives in a way that only children can. Nor could we have imagined Devin’s wife Mandi and all the joy she has brought to our life too. Today Devin, Mandi, Dara and Shaun are working together to throw us a party. The good Lord has provided sunshine and warm weather too. There will be a number of people attending including my wife’s father and my mother. We have lost a couple parents in the last thirty years and grandparents too. We mourn their loss, but celebrate their spirit among us as its reflected in us all. Thank you for this day, these children, grown and married and an extended family that continues to grow.
Prayers for Oklahoma
Tonight as I read the news on the Internet via @Twitter and Google I was struck by the ferocity of the storms in Oklahoma and elsewhere in the heartland of the United States. It must be terrifying to be in the path of one of these great storms and not be able to do anything but pray. I prayed as I read the news and sent positive vibrations that way. There are some among us who deny that the climate is changing. I wondered how can anyone not see change as forecasters predicted grapefruit sized hail would be pelting Oklahoma. What terrible chain of events have we set in motion by our wanton disregard for the planet we call home. St. Francis saw all creation as brother and sister in much the same manner as the indigenous people who once called Oklahoma home. What will it take for us once again to put creation and our Mother Earth first in our thinking? I hope it is not too late to bring some care to our environment.
Creation has an intrinsic order. The following quote is taken from a document from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The created universe is the fruit of the love of God, which has produced human beings in his image who can recognize the intelligent ordering of creation. Because of their privileged position in creation, human beings must recognize their responsibility to be guardians of this creation, and to ensure the proper balance of the ecosystems they depend on.
Let us pray for Oklahoma and the earth that we call home. Let us pray that we become better stewards of the ecosystem that’s been entrusted to us.
Altissimo Omnipotente Bon Signore
Altissimu, onnipotente bon Signore,
Tue so le laude, la gloria e l’honore et onne benedictione.
— St. Francis of Assisi
Translated from the original Umbrian dialect this is: Most high, all powerful, all good Lord! All praise is Yours, all glory, all honor, and all blessing. That was on my heart tonight as I drove away from home and toward my destination. It was a beautiful night for a drive. Temperature hovering at 81 F and low relative humidity. I reflected on the blessings of the day and of year and years. This has been a year of reflection. Yesterday my wife and I celebrated thirty years of marriage. Today it was another memory of an earlier time prior to meeting Diane that had my attention. I’ve been consciously trying to be more grateful. I’ve been following the suggestions of Positive Psychologists and making note of three things each day that have gone well. Originally I noted them here, but have taken to using the notepad app on my iPhone. In any event I am living more mindfully and that is a plus. It’s easy in the hustle and bustle of everyday to live mindlessly and I do that, but in the past almost 18 months I’ve been living more mindfully and practicing yoga which I’ve found has increased my focus, relaxed me and complemented my contemplative life.