Corpus Christi Blog

I hope and pray that everyone had blessed Thanksgiving celebrations! Personally, I don't know where November went, but ready or not, Advent is here! I wanted to update you on a couple of matters.

First of all, I have heard all positive feedback on the new sound system. We now have the white speakers installed so our eyes aren't drawn away from Christ in our worship space. We have also fine-tuned the system and made some tweaks in certain areas that we noticed concerns. Please continue to let us know if you have any difficulties in any way or anything else that you notice.

From a notebook on prayer by Origen, a priest

The kingdom of God, in the words of our Lord and Savior, does not come for all to see; nor shall they say: Behold, here it is, or behold, there it is; but the kingdom of God is within us, for the word of God is very near, in our mouth and in our heart. Thus it is clear that he who prays for the coming of God's kingdom prays rightly to have it within himself, that there it might grow and bear fruit and become perfect. For God reigns in each of his holy ones. Anyone who is holy obeys the spiritual laws of God, who dwells in him as in a well-ordered city. The Father is present in the perfect soul, and with him Christ reigns, according to the words: We shall come tohim and make our home with him.

As we conclude Vocation Awareness Week, let me share with you my vocation story. I have always been Catholic and my family and I went to Mass every Sunday. However, it wasn't until my family moved to Chandler, AZ, when I was in the 6 th grade that I became more involved in the life of the parish. I went to the junior high program, and then was very involved in the high school youth group. I grew a lot in my faith during high school. It was on a youth group retreat when I was a Junior in high school, while thinking about what I wanted to study in college and do as a career, that I thought about the priesthood. At the time, I assumed that because I loved God and had a strong faith, God was therefore calling me to be a priest.

If you were at one of the Masses that I celebrated last week, you'll recall that I encouraged you to reflect on our first reading from the Book of Wisdom because, not only is it inspiring in itself, but it is also foundational for our Christian life. If we really understood this truth in the depth of our hearts, then it would change how we act and live our lives. If you did not reflect on it yet, here is the first reading from last Sunday as well as words from our Lord to St. Catherine of Siena which speak about the same truth of who God is and who we are (and meant to be). Additionally, in case you forgot, my homilies are also on our website.

We're using a new tool called Flocknote that will help us communicate more efficiently with you and keep your info up-to-date. This new tool allows you to choose what info you'd like to receive.

From a letter to Proba by Saint Augustine

Why in our fear of not praying as we should, do we turn to so many things, to find what we should pray for? Why do we not say instead, in the words of the psalm: I have asked one thing from the Lord, this is what I will seek: to dwell in the Lord's house all the days of my life, to see the graciousness of the Lord, and to visit his temple. There, the days do not come and go in succession, and the beginning of one day does not mean the end of another; all days are one, simultaneously and without end, and the life lived out in these days has itself no end.

Fr. Reynaldo Clutario has been incardinated to the Diocese of Phoenix. "Incardination," what does it mean? As far as I remember in my Canon Law class, one of the rights and privileges of an ordained Catholic member of the clergy is that the ordained clergy member of a particular Diocese, or any religious order, or a priest belonging to any apostolic institute, has the right to transfer to any Diocese, religious order, or apostolic institute of his choice for his good and for the advantage of the Church. This movement or process is called incardination and excardination.

You may remember that several months ago we had two different speakers demonstrated in preparation for the new sound system in the Church. While I heard your feedback on both, I told you that the Pastoral Council and I would decide which is the best for our space and that we would have it installed when we raised the $58,000 for it through the Pink Envelope Building Improvement Fund. Thanks to your generosity, we have raised enough money and so it is coming very soon! Our new sound system will be installed during the week of Oct 24.

Have you forgotten that Pope Francis has declared an Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy, which will be ending Nov 20, 2016? Have you made it a point to both receive and be an instrument of God's mercy this year? This is a gentle reminder that God's mercy is waiting to be outpoured in a special way upon us and through us, and He is inviting you and I to take full advantage of His many blessings this year.

A convicting message for all of us to reflect on, since we should all care for one another:

"Woe to the shepherds of Israel who have been pasturing themselves! Should not shepherds, rather, pasture sheep? You have fed off their milk, worn their wool, and slaughtered the fatlings, but the sheep you have not pastured. You did not strengthen the weak nor heal the sick nor bind up the injured. You did not bring back the strayed nor seek the lost, but you lorded it over them harshly and brutally. So they were scattered for lack of a shepherd, and became food for all the wild beasts. My sheep were scattered and wandered over all the mountains and high hills; my sheep were scattered over the whole earth, with no one to look after them or to search for them.

Beginning this Sunday, Sept 17th, I encourage everyone to join me in praying for the Presidential election coming in November. Perhaps you would like to begin a 54-day rosary novena, which if begun today would end near Election day. Or if you prefer a shorter prayer — the Our Lady Un-Doer of Knots novena is a powerful prayer for this nation. I have also provided the Election Prayer for Life so you can pray this prayer as often as you can.

As Catholic Americans, not only should we vote, but we have an obligation to vote. And not only to vote, but we have the obligation (not just the encouragement) of our faith to influence how we vote. The United Conference of Catholic Bishops present it this way, we have dual heritage "as both faithful Catholics and American citizens with rights and duties as participants in the civil order...It is as citizens faithful to the Lord Jesus that we contribute most effectively to the civil order." If we really believe that the Church has what the world needs, we must reflect that in how we vote.

Did you know that we have a parish library?! Located in the Parish Office, it is usually open whenever the office is open. If you are interested in reading more to enhance your spiritual life, come check out some books! We have nearly a thousand books on a variety of topics. If you don't have a lot of time to read, but spend a lot of time in the car, we have CDs that can be checked out as well. The last time I went on a little vacation, I checked out St. Therese's Story of a Soul and St. Francis de Sales' Introduction to the Devout Life. Also, there is a Best of Catholic Answers Live CD set. Additionally, for those of you interested in our Called and Gifted workshop, we have two CD sets that are essential for you to be ready for the workshop, which starts in two weeks.

From a spiritual testament of Saint Louis to his son

I read this as the homily on Thursday, August 25th, for the feast of Saint Louis, King of France. What an inspiring witness he is of putting Christ first in his life, being a parent to children, and a true leader in the position God put him in. May he inspire you too.

My dearest son, my first instruction is that you should love the Lord your God with allyour heart and all your strength. Without this there is no salvation. Keep yourself, my son,from everything that you know displeases God, that is to say, from every mortal sin. You shouldpermit yourself to be tormented by every kind of martyrdom before you would allow yourself tocommit a mortal sin.