St. Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (Feast day-July 15) St. Bonaventure, known as “the seraphic doctor,” was born at Bagnoregio, in the Lazio region of central Italy, in 1221. He received the name of Bonaventure in consequence of an exclamation of St. Francis of Assisi, when, in response to the pleading of the child’s mother, the saint prayed for John’s recovery from a dangerous illness, and, foreseeing the future greatness of the little John, cried out “O Buona …
Category: Parish News & Events
Act of Charity: Prayer of the Day for Friday, July 15, 2022
O my God, I love you above all things with my whole heart and soul because you are all good and worthy of all my love.
I love my neighbor as myself for the love of you.
I forgive all who have injured me and ask pardon of all whom I have injured. Amen.
My Yoke Is Easy / Mi Yugo es Suave
When I was a kid I always thought this verse was talking about egg yolks and it made no sense to me. Maybe Jesus could make a mean omelet? I wasn’t sure. I have seen lots of different ways people interpret this verse, but the most helpful I have heard is looking at the words quite literally.
The picture I chose today is of a yoke. This was an instrument that would attach two bulls together so they have double the strength to pull something like a cart. This was a really effective way of plowing that saved a lot of time and effort, until one of the bulls didn’t want to play well with the other.
Think about it, if one of those bulls decided to move differently or get angry or just do a cold hard stop, it would throw off the entire method. Whoever is being the shepherd, so to speak, would have to stop everything and get them both back in step so that they could accomplish the task at hand. The ease and efficiency is entirely dependent on who you are attached to and whether or not they have the same mindset of the task at hand.
So how does this apply to our spiritual lives? Well, we are all attached to something. We have allowed something into our lives that pushes or pulls us, makes us stop in our tracks or makes us run faster. Whether it’s a job, a vice, an addiction, or just the struggle of everyday life, these things make us exhausted if we let them take the lead. Our yoke becomes heavy. I can look back on areas of my life where I struggled with certain sins and how they affected every part of my life and made me feel burdened. Bottom line, when we attach ourselves to these things and let them lead, we get into trouble.
Have you ever broken down into an ugly cry and screamed out for rest? I am pretty sure that has happened a few times since I became a dad. All I need is just another twenty minutes of sleep. We all want to rest even though we have convinced ourselves that if we ever stop then we lose our worth or waste time. But deep down we want to be unburdened. Jesus reminds us in the Gospel today that he is the one who comes to unburden us, to let us rest, to set us free. Who doesn’t want that?
Imagine Jesus taking whatever it is you are attached to, and detaching it so that he can take its place and start to guide and direct your life. I think this is the purpose of him telling us that his yoke is easy and his burden is light. This is not to say that problems and struggles won’t ever come up, but we will have the divine navigator who will help us through them and give us peace. Let’s all pray for the grace to let go of the things we let lead us, and allow Jesus to take the wheel.
From all of us here at Diocesan, God bless!
Cuando era niño, siempre pensaba que este versículo hablaba de las yemas de huevo y no tenía sentido para mí. Tal vez Jesús podría hacer un omelet increíble. No estaba seguro. He oído muchas formas diferentes de interpretar este versículo, pero la más útil que he escuchado es interpretar las palabras literalmente.
La imagen que escogí es un yugo. Era un instrumento que unía a dos toros para que tuvieran doble fuerza para jalar algo como una carretilla. Era una forma efectiva de arar que ahorraba mucho tiempo y esfuerzo, hasta que uno de los toros no quería trabajar bien con el otro.
Piénselo, si uno de los toros decidiera moverse de manera diferente o enojarse o simplemente pararse en seco, arruinaría todo el método. El pastor or el granjero tendría que detener todo y volver a ponerlos al paso para que pudieran cumplir la tarea en cuestión. La facilidad y la eficiencia dependen completamente de a quién esté vinculado y si tienen o no la misma mentalidad sobre la tarea en cuestión.
Entonces, ¿cómo se aplica esto a nuestra vida espiritual? Bueno, todos estamos vinculados a algo. Hemos permitido que algo entre en nuestras vidas que nos empuja o nos jala, nos hace parar en seco o nos hace correr más rápido. Ya que sea un trabajo, un vicio, una adicción o simplemente la lucha de la vida cotidiana, estas cosas nos agotan si dejamos que tomen la iniciativa. Nuestro yugo se vuelve pesado. Recuerdo ciertas áreas en mi vida donde luchaba con ciertos pecados y cómo afectaron cada parte de mi vida y me hicieron sentir agobiado. En pocas palabras, cuando nos apegamos a estas cosas y dejamos que nos dirijan, nos metemos en problemas.
¿Alguna vez has llorado sin parar pidiendo a gritos el descanso? Estoy seguro de que me ha sucedido algunas veces ahora que soy padre de familia. Solo necesito dormir veinte minutos más. Todos queremos descansar aunque nos hayamos convencido de que si nos detenemos vamos a perder nuestro valor o perder el tiempo. Pero en el fondo no queremos estar cargados. Jesús nos recuerda en el Evangelio de hoy que él viene a descargarnos, a dejarnos descansar, a liberarnos. ¿Quién no quiere eso?
Imagina a Jesús tomando esa cosa a la cual te apegas y apartándola para que él pueda venir y tomar su lugar y comenzar a guiar y dirigir tu vida. Creo que es por eso que nos dice que su yugo es suave y su carga es ligera. Esto no quiere decir que no vayan a surgir problemas y batallas, pero tendremos al navegante divino que nos ayuda a superarlos y nos da la paz. Oremos todos por la gracia de dejar esas cosas que permitimos guiarnos, para permitir que Jesús tome el volante.
De parte de todos nosotros aquí en Diocesan, ¡Dios los bendiga!
Tommy Shultz is a Business Development Representative for Diocesan. In this role he is committed to bringing the best software to dioceses and parishes while helping them evangelize on the digital continent. Tommy has worked in various diocese and parish roles since his graduation from Franciscan University with a Theology degree. He hopes to use his skills in evangelization, marketing, and communications, to serve the Church and bring the Good News to all. His favorite quote comes from St. John Paul II, who said, “A person is an entity of a sort to which the only proper and adequate way to relate is love.”
Feature Image Credit: Paul Jai, unsplash.com/photos/Pt9JWmvHbGw
St. Kateri Tekakwitha: Saint of the Day for Thursday, July 14, 2022
St. Kateri Tekakwitha is the first Native American to be recognized as a saint by the Catholic Church. She was born in 1656, in the Mohawk village of Ossernenon. Her mother was an Algonquin, who was captured by the Mohawks and who took a Mohawk chief for her husband.
She contracted smallpox as a four-year-old child which scarred her skin. The scars were a source of humiliation in her youth. She was commonly seen wearing a blanket to hide her face. Worse, her entire family died during the …
St. Michael, For Personal Protection: Prayer of the Day for Thursday, July 14, 2022
St. Michael, the Archangel! Glorious Prince, chief and champion of the heavenly hosts; guardian of the souls of men; conqueror of the rebel angels! How beautiful art thou, in thy heaven-made armor. We love thee, dear Prince of Heaven!
We, thy happy clients, yearn to enjoy thy special protection. Obtain for us from God a share of thy sturdy courage; pray that we may have a strong and tender love for our Redeemer and, in every danger or temptation, be invincible against the enemy of our …
The Lord our Defender / El Señor es Nuestro Defensor
Today’s readings were a bit difficult for me to comprehend at first and I had to research a bit to better understand what God was saying to me. I believe one of the main messages is that God will never abandon those who belong to him. We are born in His image and likeness and taught compassion and patience.
As Psalm 94 notes, “Shall he who shaped the ear not hear or he who formed the eye not see?” At the same time, today’s Gospel gives particular reference to little ones, those who with childlike faith are humble, those who rely on God to provide for their needs. By saying “yes” to the Father, Christ epitomizes perfect submission to the Father’s will.
In the First Reading I believe another one of the main messages is that God can take anything bad and turn it into something good. Assyria is an example in contrast to that of Israel, highlighting the dangers of what may happen when we do not always follow God’s ways.
In Psalm 94 God recognizes the rebellion of the wicked through their ignorance and arrogance in word and action. The wicked attack the weak and disadvantaged. G. Campbell Morgan states, “In this song we see how the very things which assault faith, and threaten to produce despair, may be made the opportunity for praise, in the place and act of worship.” Let us forever recognize The Lord as our Defender.
Al principio las lecturas de hoy me resultaron un poco difíciles de comprender y tuve que investigar un poco para comprender mejor lo que Dios me estaba diciendo. Creo que uno de los mensajes principales es que Dios nunca abandonará a los que le pertenecen. Nacemos en Su imagen y semejanza y nos enseñan compasión y paciencia.
Como dice el Salmo 94: “¿No oirá el que formó el oído, ni verá el que formó el ojo?” Al mismo tiempo, el evangelio de hoy hace una referencia particular a los pequeños, a los que con la fe de los niños son humildes, a los que confían en Dios para proveer sus necesidades. Al decir “sí” al Padre, Cristo personifica la sumisión perfecta a la voluntad del Padre.
En la Primera Lectura creo que otro de los mensajes principales es que Dios puede tomar cualquier cosa mala y convertirla en algo bueno. Asiria es un ejemplo de eso, en contraste con el de Israel, que nos demuestra los peligros que pueden suceder cuando no siempre seguimos los caminos de Dios.
En el Salmo 94 Dios reconoce la rebeldía de los impíos por su ignorancia y arrogancia de palabra y acción. Los malvados atacan a los débiles y desfavorecidos. G. Campbell Morgan afirma: “En esta canción vemos cómo las mismas cosas que atacan la fe y puedan producir desesperación, pueden convertirse en una oportunidad de alabar, en el lugar y acto de adoración”. Reconozcamos siempre al Señor como nuestro Defensor.
Dr. Alexis Dallara-Marsh is a board-certified neurologist who practices in Bergen County, NJ. She is a wife to her best friend, Akeem, and a mother of two little ones on Earth and two others in heaven above.
Feature Image Credit: Luis Ca, www.cathopic.com/photo/3071-jesus-orando-padre
St. Henry: Saint of the Day for Wednesday, July 13, 2022
St. Henry, son of Henry, Duke of Bavaria, and of Gisella, daughter of Conrad, King of Burgundy, was born in 972. He received an excellent education under the care of St. Wolfgang, Bishop of Ratisbon. In 995, St. Henry succeeded his father as Duke of Bavaria, and in 1002, upon the death of his cousin, Otho III, he was elected emperor. Firmly anchored upon the great eternal truths, which the practice of meditation kept alive in his heart, he was not elated by this dignity and sought in all …
Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus: Prayer of the Day for Wednesday, July 13, 2022
O most holy heart of Jesus, fountain of every blessing, I adore you, I love you, and with lively sorrow for my sins I offer you this poor heart of mine. Make me humble, patient, pure and wholly obedient to your will. Grant, Good Jesus, that I may live in you and for you. Protect me in the midst of danger. Comfort me in my afflictions. Give me health of body, assistance in my temporal needs, your blessing on all that I do, and the grace of a holy death. Amen.
Faithfulness, Repentance, and Salvation / Fidelidad, Arrepentimiento y Salvación
The First Reading today can be a little confusing for those of us who haven’t been reading the book of Isaiah in context. Isaiah is a prophet of God who is constantly calling God’s people to repent of their wicked ways and return to the Lord.
In this excerpt, Isaiah is sent by God to speak to Ahaz, the King of Judah. Ahaz and his people are fearful because their land is under attack. Their hearts trembled, “as the trees of the forest tremble in the wind.” But God sends Isaiah to tell the King and his people to be courageous and remain tranquil. Through the words of Isaiah, God reveals to Ahaz that their enemies will not triumph over them, but stipulates that Ahaz must be faithful to God. “Unless your faith is firm,” Isaiah tells him, “you will not be firm.” The book of Isaiah goes on to show that Ahaz and the people of Judah are not faithful to the Lord! Judah is eventually conquered by the Babylonians and taken into captivity.
In the New Testament, God the Father sends not just a prophet, but his only son Jesus Christ to make it clear to all of us that we can be delivered from all of our fears—we can experience safety and freedom—if only we will respond with faith. Not the kind of faith that merely says, “I believe,” but the kind of faith that God wanted from Ahaz. A faith that demonstrates our willingness to forsake our own misguided ways and faithfully follow the One, true God.
In today’s Gospel passage from the book of Matthew, we see that Jesus is clearly expecting a radical response to the miracles he has performed which so often accompany His invitation to repentance and salvation. “Jesus began to reproach the towns where most of his mighty deeds had been done, since they had not repented. ‘Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!… I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.’”
Jesus couldn’t be more clear. Life and death are hanging in the balance for the people of Chorazin and Bethdsaida. The same choice is given to us. What do we want? Life or death? Will we repent? Will we demonstrate that we believe by returning to the worship and service of the One true God?
It is God’s mercy that speaks to us in these passages of scripture. Let’s truly repent of our sin, while there is yet time, and allow the Holy Spirit to renew us and change us. By choosing God’s ways over our own ways we can live in freedom from fear and experience authentic peace and eternal salvation.
La Primera Lectura de hoy puede ser un poco confusa para los que no han estado leyendo el libro de Isaías en contexto. Isaías es un profeta de Dios que llama constantemente al pueblo de Dios a arrepentirse de su maldad y volver al Señor.
En este pasaje, Dios lo envia a Isaías a hablar con Acaz, el Rey de Judá. Acaz y su pueblo tienen miedo porque su tierra está bajo ataque. Sus corazones temblaron, “como los árboles del bosque se estremecen con el viento”. Pero Dios envía a Isaías a decirle al Rey y a su pueblo que sean valientes y permanezcan tranquilos. A través de las palabras de Isaías, Dios le revela a Acaz que sus enemigos no triunfarán sobre él, pero estipula que Acaz debe ser fiel a Dios. “Si tu fe no es firme”, le dice Isaías, “no serás firme”. El libro de Isaías continúa mostrando que Acaz y el pueblo de Judá no son fieles al Señor. Al final, los babilonios conquistan a Judá y lo llevan al cautiverio.
En el Nuevo Testamento, Dios Padre envía no a un profeta, sino a su único hijo Jesucristo para dejarnos claro a todos que podemos ser liberados de todos nuestros temores, podemos experimentar seguridad y libertad, si tan solo lo respondamos con fe. No el tipo de fe que simplemente dice: “Creo”, sino el tipo de fe que Dios quería de Acaz. Una fe que demuestra nuestra disposición de abandonar nuestros propios comportamientos equivocados y seguir fielmente al Único Dios verdadero.
En el pasaje evangélico de hoy del libro de Mateo vemos claramente que Jesús espera una respuesta radical de los milagros que ha realizado que frecuentemente acompañan su invitación al arrepentimiento y a la salvación. “Jesús comenzó a reprochar a los pueblos donde había hecho la mayor parte de sus grandes obras, ya que todavía no se habían arrepentido. ‘¡Ay de ti, Corazín! ¡Ay de ti, Betsaida!… Te digo que será más tolerable para la tierra de Sodoma en el día del juicio que para ustedes.’”
Jesús habla muy claramente. La vida y la muerte penden de un hilo para la gente de Chorazin y Bethdsaida. Nos da la misma decisión a nosotros. ¿Qué queremos? ¿la vida o la muerte? ¿Nos arrepentiremos? ¿Demostraremos que creemos volviendo a la adoración y al servicio del Único Dios verdadero?
Es la misericordia de Dios la que nos habla en estos pasajes de las Escrituras. Arrepintámonos verdaderamente de nuestro pecado, mientras aún haya tiempo, y permitamos que el Espíritu Santo nos renueve y nos cambie. Al elegir los caminos de Dios sobre los nuestros, podemos vivir libres del temor y experimentar la paz auténtica y la salvación eterna.
Christine Hanus is a thwarted idealist who, nevertheless, lives quite happily in Upstate NY. She is a wife and mother of five grown children.
Feature Image Credit: Jon Tyson, unsplash.com/photos/CYswOLYDUXY
St. John Gaulbert, Abbot: Saint of the Day for Tuesday, July 12, 2022
Saint John Gaulbert, Abbot – Feast day is July 12th The city of Florence gave to the world Saint John Gaulbert. Although he enjoyed the benefits of an early Christian education, his youthful heart was soon attracted to the vanities of the world. A painful incident was the means God made use of, to open his eyes. Hugo, his only brother, had been murdered and St. John had resolved to avenge his death. On a certain Good Friday he met his enemy in a place where there was no escape for the latter. …