Put it in Park

By Anthony Tobin, Mobile, Ala. - St. Ignatius

The Gospel for All Saints Day led us into some great discussion and the presentation by Ronnie really made me think about what it is we are trying to do here. To refresh our memories the Gospel was Matt 5, also known as the Beatitudes. What Ronnie rightly pointed out is that the Beatitudes are a call to sainthood. Contrary to telling us what not to do, they are telling us how we need to be; meek, poor in spirit, merciful, pure of heart, ect. Ronnie then went on to share an experience from his life in which he was trying to live out the Beatitudes.

The way I see it, what we are doing here every Tuesday, and further more with every Mass and prayer, can be likened to football practice. It is like we are doing doubles with 6:15 Mass and then an hour of prayer and reflection. Just as football practice is physically exhausting, this can be spiritually exhausting. But what we are doing here is more than a practice, it is a training of our bodies/souls. And just as a football player works hard and drives his body so that when the coach calls him, when it is his time to perform, ‘when it matters’, he will not fail. So we, like a football player, train ourselves and drive our bodies so that when we are called upon, when it is our time to “shine”, we are a reflection of Christ.

Just as Ronnie, we will all be called to “put it in park”. We will all be called in little ways and in big ways to be witnesses and examples of God’s unfailing love. Trust me men, you will be called to play in the game. God will call on you and say, “Show them how I love.” And it will be hard, it will be exhausting, it will be a dying to yourself. This is why we need to do as Paul did, “I drive my body and subdue it, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” 1 Corinthians 9:24

All Soul's Day

Merciful Father, hear our prayers and console us,
As we renew our faith in your Son, Whom you raised from the dead,
strengthen our hope that all our departed brothers and sisters
will share in his resurrection,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

--Opening Prayer
Commemoration of the Faithful Departed (All Souls' Day)

Inch By Inch

By Chris Teague, Mobile, Ala. - St. Ignatius

Here is a “poem” Hugh McClelland sent me. His family runs a very large Christian foundation in Chattanooga. I do not know the story behind the poem but I think it is very relative to any man who is dealing with some kind of emotional burden, grief, fear, guilt or addiction. Anyone who reads it should ask themselves, “what is killing you inch-by-inch.”

Tonight Shanghai is burning
and I am burning, too.
But there's no death
so real as the death inside of you.

Some men die by shrapnel
and some go down in flames
but most men die inch by inch
playing little games.

A Few Good Books

By Bill Harkins, Mobile, Ala., -St. Ignatius

Reading the Bible and Catechism are a great way to increase your knowledge of the Faith and enhance your spiritual life at the same time. In order to further develop, I have found that reading other Catholic titles is a big help.

By now, most of us have read Matthew Kelly’s Rediscovering Catholicism. If you haven’t, find a copy in a bookstore, off the internet or borrow one from a fellow Man of St. Joseph. It’s great. In fact, anything written by Matthew Kelly is worth reading.

If you are looking for other books, drop by the Visitation Gift Shop, they have a solid selection. One problem with finding a good book is that there are so many authors and publishers that put out trash concealed by a nice looking book cover and a few select reviews. The last thing I need to pollute my brain with is attacks on my Faith written by disgruntled former Catholics.

There was a time when you could look for an Imprimi Potest, Nihil Obstat and / or Imprimatur listed on the publisher’s info page of a book to determine if it was an authentically Catholic one. These do not mean the writing is official church doctrine, but that nothing in the book is contrary to church teachings. Here is a little more on them:

Religious Superior's stamp: IMPRIMI POTEST "it can be printed"
Censor's stamp: NIHIL OBSTAT "nothing stands in the way"
Bishop's stamp: IMPRIMATUR "let it be printed"

If find a book is written by a Saint, you can’t go wrong in reading it. Though, sometimes they are a little too deep or stiffly written for me. In fact, one day I will actually make it through St. Augustine’s’ City of God, but it is too much for me at this point in my life.
 
There are publishers that are sure to stick with authentic teaching. If I see a label from Tan Books, Ignatius Press or Marian Press, I am not concerned, though some of the Tan Books are a little extreme in their old world conservative emphasis.
 
I put a link to one of my favorites on the MoSJ website. It is The Spiritual Combat, written by a Priest in the late 1500’s. Here is the link: http://www.catholictradition.org/Classics/combat.htm

It’s a little “old corps” as we used to say in the Marines, but has tons of great advice on how to overcome the temptations of our world. Give it a try and let me know what you think.

Men of St. Joseph Weekly Meetings

Archdiocese of Mobile

Daphne, AL
Christ the King Catholic Church, Immaculata Center, Tuesdays, 6:00 a.m.

Fairhope, AL
St. Lawrence Catholic Church, Seton Room, Family Center, Tuesdays, 6:30 a.m.

Mobile, AL
Corpus Christi Catholic Church, Coming Soon

St. Dominic Catholic Church, Murphy Center, Wednesdays, 7:00 a.m.

St. Ignatius Catholic Church, Marian Center, Tuesdays, 7:00 a.m. (Mass at 6:15 in the church)

St. Pius X Catholic Church, Sarto Center, Tuesdays, 7:00 a.m.

Spring Hill College, Coming Soon

Semmes, AL
Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, Thursday, 6:00 p.m.

Archdiocese of New Orleans

Covington, LA
Covington, LA Group, Tchefuncta Country Club pool house, Tuesdays, 6:30 am

Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee

Pensacola, FL
St. Paul Catholic Church, Cafetorium, Tuesdays, 6:00 a.m.

Men of St. Joseph

By Chris Teague, Mobile, Ala. - St. Ignatius

What seems to be so incredible about the concept of a “universal” abiding men’s group with a singular purpose and format, is that it has not already been done successfully within a church as liturgical and “networked” as the Catholic Church!!! Bible studies and men’s groups, and service organizations are old hat in the Church, but there seems to be a real void that the Men of St. Joseph is filling. At least that is our prayer.

The Men of St. Joseph take "church going” men, honest believers who would consider themselves good Christians, but may have fallen into that Catholic trap of “going through the motions,” and help them to learn to walk with Christ daily, to strive harder, to get back up when they fall, and to hold each other accountable for doing so.

While few Catholics would openly admit or think they need to be “saved,” because Christ is a part of their life and they are believers, almost all will admit they have not truly surrendered to Christ. Part of the reason for this is that they think they are already doing enough by going to Mass each Sunday and sending their kids to Catholic school. In truth, for many that is enough. For those Catholics, their eyes are wide open, they are surrendered to Christ and when they go into Mass they do so with a heart that is truly open to Him, and live their daily lives accordingly. Many more treat their spiritual lives like they are punching a time clock.

I like to think many Catholics are “on the path” but most are standing in one place.

If MoSJ can help move men along that path, I truly believe we could spiritually awaken “the sleeping giant” that is the Catholic Church. Imagine the possibilities for the Kingdom if 1.3 billion Catholics became engaged to the degree they are capable. Truly, our Protestant brothers may have a hard time “saving” Catholics, but other Catholics don’t have that excuse. Through His will it can be done.

The MoSJ wants to help men to continue to move forward by helping them focus on the role of servant leadership, especially within their own families. Put the family in the hands of the Father.

Please, keep us in your prayers.

Remember the Sabbath

Fr. Dwight Longenecker posted this blog over at his site, Standing on My Head. Fr. Longenecker, is a former Anglican priest, who converted to the Catholic faith and brought his wife and children with him. He is now a Catholic priest and serves as Chaplain to St. Joseph's Catholic School in Greenville, SC.

There is a running conversation at St Joseph's Catholic School about the frenetic pace of life for us, our families and our students. American middle class life is crazy in its fast pace and pressure for accomplishment and activity. In many families both Mom and Dad work full time and the kids' lives are packed with high pressure academic expectations, a busy social life and a whole range of excellent, but time consuming extra curriculars. In my family with four kids we have: a cross country champion, a chess champion, a soccer star, a fine pianist, budding actress, altar servers, stage crew, wrestling, softball and part time jobs mowing lawns, babysitting, life guarding, etc.