A CHECKLIST FOR CATHOLIC DADS Shalom

tidingsA BI-MONTHLY CHRISTIAN MAGAZINE June/July 2016

Transforming Hurt Into Intercession BY CHRISTOPHER WEST HOW I SAID ‘GOODBYE’ TO ANOREXIA AND ‘HELLO’ TO CHEESE THE MEASURE BY EMILY STIMPSON OF SUCCESS BY SAM GUZMAN IN MY WEAKNESS, GOD STRENGTHENS ME D ear Mother, we seek your loving intercession for all our persecuted sisters and brothers around the world. Embrace them in your mantle. Guide them to the Sacred Heart of your Son who knows their pain. Pray for us, your children. Amen. EDITORIAL NOTE

he whole barracks was intoxicated with the victory of war. The lights of colorful lanterns made the large tent seem like an island of light. Beautiful girls were dancing with T tambourines. Enthusiastic songs were heard everywhere. Amidst the loud cheers and guffaws of the soldiers, Emperor Alexander and his close friends were enjoying victory dances around barrels of alcohol.

The Emperor, intoxicated, was praising himself by talking about his victories and achievements. As Alexander continued the self-praise, his bosom friend, Cleetus, sitting near him, fi nally said, “About the victory, the Emperor doesn’t have much to claim.” On hearing this, Alexander said angrily, “Cleetus, you are my close friend, but you should be careful while speaking to me!” Cleetus, who was equally intoxicated, ignored the Emperor’s words, and continued, “On account of these victories, the Emperor does not have any great claim. Your father, King Philip, raised and trained you in the best possible way and that has made you able to achieve these victories. Therefore, for these victories, it is your father who has to be praised.

Alexander became insulted by Cleetus’ words. Blazing with anger, Alexander grabbed a spear from an aide and threw it at his friend. The spear pierced Cleetus’ chest. With a cry of distress, he fell down and writhing on the fl oor in pain, he died.

The songs and cheerfulness of the crowd immediately ceased. Everyone became motionless, unsure of what they should do. Emperor Alexander, without knowing what to do, looked at his dead friend. He knelt down and, holding Cleetus’ feet, began to mourn, lamenting, “O Cleetus, my dear friend, forgive me. I have conquered the whole world; Yet, I could not conquer my anger.”

Is this not the condition of many of us? We have gained much; but we are unable to control our own thoughts, emotions, behavior, or words. While we pursue outward freedoms, we bind ourselves internally. We may be controlled by addictions to alcohol or cigarettes, for example. There are some who cannot begin their day unless they have a cup of coffee. Others only eat a meal if they get a particular dish. Still others postpone their family or prayer time to surf the internet or watch the latest popular television show. Individuals such as these have lost their freedom. If we carefully analyze ourselves, we will realize that many undesirable thoughts and bondages are tearing us apart. Our thoughts are under the bondage of other powers.

Only those who have inner freedom can effectively make use of external freedom. Jesus said, “Amen, amen, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin” (John 8:34). Jesus can set us free from the bondages of life. Those willing to submit to the will of God will be redeemed by chains of this world.

Prayer Lord, I am unable to escape from the evils which have conquered my mind. I desire to gain freedom from sinful behaviors and thoughts. Only You, my Lord, can give me real freedom in my heart. Save me by sending Your Holy Spirit. Let Your precious Holy Blood cleanse my heart. Let me praise and glorify You with a pure conscience. Amen.

BENNY PUNNATHARA

JUNE/JULY 2016 SHALOM TIDINGS 3 CONTENTS

ENGAGE 5 The Measure of Success | SAM GUZMAN PATRON, SHALOM MINISTRIES 7 Welcome to the Life-Changing Habit of Saying ‘No’ | KATIE O’DONNELL H.E. Baselios Cardinal Cleemis Major Archbishop-Catholicos of the 10 A Good Sense of Humor According to Syro-Malankara Catholic Church

Saint Teresa of Avila | KATE FLANNERY PATRONS Bishop Daniel E. Flores Diocese of Brownsville ENCOUNTER Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath 12 Five Steps to Peace | ERIC WANDREY Syro-Malabar Diocese, Chicago 15 The Power of Mercy: Transforming Hurt Bishop Thomas Mar Eusebius, Syro-Malankara Exarchate, USA into Intercession | CHRISTOPHER WEST SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR 17 Pick Up Your Mat and Go Home | DR. MARCELLINO D’AMBROSIO Father (Dr.) Roy Palatty, C.M.I. 19 The Prison Cell That Is Never Locked | FATHER JOHN H. HAMPSCH, C.M.F. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Chevalier Benny Punnathara 24 How the Most Holy Rosary Can Kill Your Sin |CHARLIE JOHNSON CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Joe Philip

ENJOY SENIOR SUB-EDITOR Mary Job 26 How I Said ‘Goodbye’ to Anorexia and ‘Hello’ to Cheese | EMILY STIMPSON EDITORIAL COUNCIL 30 Praying With Your Children | KAREN REEP Joseph John Jinto Mathew 32 A Checklist for Catholic Dads | RANDY HAIN Loreto Xavier DANA EDWARDS 34 Hearing God in the Workplace | DESIGN 37 Meet ‘The Doorkeeper’—Solanus Casey, Mustard Tree (www.mustardtree.in) The Man with No Ego | LARRY PETERSON SHALOM TIDINGS June/July 2016, Volume IV Issue III (ISSN 2327-4549) is published bi-monthly by Shalom Media USA Inc., 211 East Wisconsin Road, Edinburg, Texas EVANGELIZE 78539. Periodicals postage pending at Edinburg, Texas, and additional mailing offices.

39 Wonder-Filled Saints | DR. TOM NEAL Shalom Media USA Inc. 211 East Wisconsin Road 40 Rescued By Virgin Mary | BROTHER DANIEL KLIMEK Edinburg, Texas 78539 Office: (215) 366-3031 44 Book Review: The Gospel of Happiness | MARK PHILLIPS E-mail: [email protected] Shalom Media Canada 45 Media Scan P.O. Box 3070 7700 Markham Road and 14th Avenue 46 Upcoming Events Markham, Ontario L3S 4T1 Office: (416) 913-8230 E-mail: [email protected]

Shalom Media Europe Cathedral House Norfolk Street Sheffield S1 2JB United Kingdom Office: 114-2759-972 E-mail: [email protected]

Shalom Media Peruvannamuzhi P.O. Kozhikode Kerala, India 673528 Office: +91 496 266 4600 E-mail: [email protected]

DISCLAIMER Shalom Media Australia Inc. Shalom Media USA Inc. considers its sources reliable and verifies as much data as possible. However, reporting inaccuracies can occur. Consequently PO Box 134 readers using this information do so at their own risk. While every effort has been made to ensure that information is correct at the time of print, Shalom NSW 2146 Media USA Inc. cannot be held responsible for the outcome of any action or decision based on the information contained in this publication/website. The Sydney, Australia publishers or authors do not give any warranty for the completeness or accuracy for this publication’s content, explanation or opinion. Although persons and ministries mentioned herein are believed to be reputable, neither Shalom Media USA Inc. nor any of its employees, sales agents or contributors accept Shalom Media Rome any responsibility whatsoever for such persons and ministries’ activities. No part of this publication and/or website may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval Via Pelagio I system or transmitted in any form without prior written permission from Shalom Media USA Inc. Permission is only deemed valid if approval is in writing. No 10 - B/17 00165 Rome, Italy POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Shalom Media USA Inc., 211 East Wisconsin Road, Edinburg, Texas 78539 Office: +39 333 2849 843

4 SHALOM TIDINGS JUNE/JULY 2016 THE MEASURE OF

By Sam Guzman

veryone who wants to be a failure, please raise your rule the day. hand. But here is the thing: When it comes to God’s EThat’s what I thought. economy, outward, numerical success means exactly We all want to be good at what we do, to be competent, nothing. respected, and admired. We even spend large amounts of money on things we do not need in order to show off WE FOLLOW A FAILURE just how successful we are. I say this with all due reverence, but humanly speaking, But we do not just like to be thought of as Jesus’ earthly life was a complete failure. He did not successful—we also judge others on their degree of overthrow the Roman government and usher in a glorious success, naturally admiring those with high-powered earthly kingdom as so many had hoped. He did not make jobs and big bank accounts. We assume those with more friends with the powerful and influential. He did not win accolades or money or possessions are better people. many to the truth of the Gospel. Quite the opposite. He We admire a CEO more than a janitor simply because was despised and rejected almost everywhere He went. the former brings home a huge paycheck and has lots of The once-adoring crowds that followed Him later power. We should not, but all too often we do. turned away from Him because His teaching was too hard to hear. Those in His hometown sneered at Him BIGGER IS BETTER? and tried to throw Him off a cliff. The religious leaders This success-oriented thinking also creeps in in other hated Him and considered Him a demon-possessed areas of life, especially when it comes to numbers. Men blasphemer. One of His closest friends betrayed Him like big numbers. The bigger and more impressive the for money, and the rest of His friends disowned and number, the more we think it matters. One million must abandoned Him. He was mocked, laughed at, and be better than ten thousand, right? considered a madman. And the zenith of His life? It was Even within the Church, it is easy to judge success being unjustly condemned to death, stripped naked, in terms of numbers. Is your parish growing? How humiliated, nailed to a cross with common criminals, and many baptisms took place this year? How big was the buried in a grave that was not even His own. collection this week? How many people are involved in Yet despite all this, Jesus is the most important man your programs? who ever lived or ever will. His life, death and resurrection There is nothing wrong with statistics, but all too is the hinge upon which history turns. Why? Because easily it becomes an idolatry of sorts, the only measure God’s ways are not our ways. His judgement is not our of success for which we care. Quantity replaces quality, judgement. It is higher and better. the work of God is treated like a business and numbers

JUNE/JULY 2016 SHALOM TIDINGS 5 THE SPIRITUAL ECONOMY floods our hearts with happiness. God does not assess value shallowly like we do. In the So let me ask you this. For what are you living? Power, spiritual economy, the most successful human works—the wealth, fame, the admiration of others? If so, you very big, glitzy stuff with big numbers that everyone praises as well might get what you wish for and you will have your incredible achievements—are often worth zip, zilch, nada. reward. But it will be so much sound and fury signifying The famous names, the best-selling books, the huge nothing. It will be so much vanity in the eyes of God. sums of money? They do not impress the ancient of days. There is only one way to be a truly great man—not just That is not to say that outward success is wrong by in time, but in eternity. And that is by becoming a man default. God very well might bless and multiply your who loves the divine heart of Jesus deeply, by becoming efforts abundantly. There are many famous, respected, and a man who belongs wholly to God. wealthy people who are holy and righteous. But the point This is the summary of the matter: Now abides is, it is not wealth or power or fame that makes these souls success, failure and love. But the greatest of these is love. pleasing in God’s eyes. It is what is in their hearts.

THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE © SAM GUZMAN is the founder and editor of The Catholic Gentleman So what makes us successful in God’s economy? What (www.CatholicGentleman.net). He is the husband of a beautiful woman makes us truly great men? What gives worth to our and the father of three precious children. He lives in the Milwaukee area efforts if not numbers and statistics and outward fruit? of Wisconsin, and is the communications director for Pro-Life Wisconsin. Love. Love alone is what God desires of us. It alone gives He is a writer and blogger, and his work has been published in “The our actions worth in His eyes. It was the widow, and not Christian Science Monitor,” “Catholic Exchange,” Aleteia, “Truth and the wealthy, who won the heart of Jesus with her gift. Charity Forum,” “One Peter Five” and a number of faith-based blogs. He Fame means nothing. Money means nothing. is working on his first book. He has been a guest on EWTN, Magnificat Blog stats and social shares mean nothing. Human Radio, Radio Maria and other media outlets. Above all, he is a Catholic respect, book contracts, fat paychecks, power, praise who strives to be a faithful son of the Church. His purpose in life is to be and adulation—they all mean nothing in eternity. Even a saint. Through loving and total consecration to the Immaculate Virgin repeated frustration, mistakes, and failure mean nothing. Mary, he seeks to be formed into the image of Jesus Christ. Reprinted Love alone will last forever. It alone unites us to God and with permission.

6 SHALOM TIDINGS JUNE/JULY 2016 HELLO, FOMOS:

WELCOMETO THE LIFE-CHANGING HABIT OF SAYING

‘NO’ By Katie O'Donnell

ello, my fear of missing out (FOMO) friends! We say yes to THE NEW NORMAL absolutely everything—everything we can and cannot possibly It was a time when I was in desperate need of reclaiming my life on Hdo. We suffer from the complete inability to say “no”—to every many levels. To do this, I had to insert some brick-wall boundaries request, every opportunity, every social gathering. In short, we live into my day (or more accurately, into my night—because, let us be an exhausting existence. honest, without a good night’s sleep, I sin a lot more, pray a lot The “fear of missing out” is getting worse. Thanks to our social- less, have less patience, and overall I am just not a good person). media-interconnectedness, there are countless more activities we I had to practice saying “no” to nearly every invitation that never knew we might be missing. required breaking my self-imposed, twenty-four year-old “bedtime.” But I am realizing FOMO is merely a symptom. At its root, FOMO Not kidding. I even rehearsed on my roommate, over and over: is a sign we have already missed out on something much more “Thank you, I can’t. I’m going to bed.” important than Friday night’s festivities. And it has a lot more to do Why is that so hard? (Besides the fact that we do not want to with identity than we as Christians would like to admit. feel lame?) We love Jesus most days, we even do a lot of good work for Him. As millennials, we just do not say “no” that often. We do not like But we are not secure in our deepest purpose, so we frantically try turning people down, we flee directness, we hate finality, so we do to make ourselves valuable and unforgotten—to our work, to our not commit. We say, “maybe,” just in case something better comes friends and to everyone else whose affirmation we seek. along. Or we say, “Sure,” and then wonder why we have reputations for not following through.

JUNE/JULY 2016 SHALOM TIDINGS 7 WHAT WE REALLY WANT to anything that does not necessarily point us toward that purpose. For me (as much as my pride hates to admit it), when I have the Without it, all we have is the infi nite appetite for distraction. In hardest time saying “no,” it is because I want to be liked by those distraction, we will never be at rest—at leisure—in our souls, and who would recognize my “yes.” I look to them—and their perception without leisure, we can never know God: of me—for my validation and identity. Yes, I know God loves me “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). and that all my worth comes from Him, but in the moment, I would I have heard before that the psalmist here is not offering an rather feel important. arbitrary suggestion, such as “wear green, and know that I am God.” We live in a world that tells us to create our own identity (which Instead, it is a conditional. In other words, if you be still, then (and is completely exhausting, by the way), instead of receiving it as gift only then) will you know that I am God…That I am your Father and from the Father. you are a beloved son or daughter. What is worse is that we buy into it. Even as Christians (we are To the extent that we allow this stillness of soul, we begin to not unscathed by the culture), we believe this message and so know who we are. we fl oat aimlessly through our week, “tossed about by the waves” as Saint Paul writes, saying “yes” to every opportunity for fear of LET YOUR ‘NO’ BE ‘NO’ missing out on something that could have brought meaning to our Here is what I am trying to remember: The beauty of saying “no” lives or at least could have been Instagram-worthy. is that it refl ects freedom and freedom refl ects a heart at rest. We We like to keep ourselves busy—really busy—trying mercilessly rest in the truth that God is our Father, and our identity comes from to avoid that moment of silence in our day that threatens to leave Him—not from the ones we hung out with last night. us alone with ourselves and uncover our deepest insecurities. And We have the freedom to graciously decline because we are not in those moments where we do fi nd ourselves alone, we make slaves, even to our honorable job titles or fun, social circles. We do forceful attempts to keep the noise going—the radio is on, the text not have to be “tossed about” by every passing invitation or the messages are chiming at our fi ngertips, the newsfeed is scrolling … fear of missing out because we know who we are and what our anything we can do to keep us from acknowledging the loneliness purpose is. We can rest in a disposition of soul that knows the art that exists deep within our hearts. of living and the art of loving. We do not have to watch ourselves live anymore—we can simply live. THE IMPORTANCE OF LONELINESS It is a purposeful loneliness. Why? Because, as another missionary KATIE O’DONNELL grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina, and although she has lived told me on my fi rst day in FOCUS, “Adam had to be alone in the hundreds of miles away for almost a decade, she still calls Sweet Carolina home. Her garden to know that he was made for love.” Loneliness points us favorite season is football, and having served for four years as a FOCUS missionary toward dependency. (Do you not hate that sometimes?!) It is true. in SEC Country, the Auburn Tigers won her heart. A ballerina since age four, O’Donnell Like an infant at baptism, even before we are at all capable of currently trains under The Colorado Ballet for fun. She is the only person in the state loving back, we fi nd ourselves completely dependent, sustained of Colorado who does not ski. She dreams of being a career student where she could and identifi ed by the Father’s love. Without this, we have nothing. continue studies in music, literature, art, and history. She graduated from Hillsdale With it, we have it all. College with an English degree and recommends that, and Jesus, to everyone. We have our purpose in life and have the freedom to say “no” Reprinted with permission from FOCUS Blog (www.focus.org/blog).

8 SHALOM TIDINGS JUNE/JULY 2016

A GOOD SENSE OF HUMOR ACCORDING TO SAINT TERESA OF A By Kate Flannery my adult years, I have often turned to Saint being stoned. God is not the one who pushes us down, Teresa of Avila as a spiritual mother. I love her but He is the one who picks us up. How quick are we Incourage, her passion, her wit, and her boldness. to reach for the outstretched hand? Do we even reach Throughout her life, she was always on the go. She was out for it? Or are we too proud, choosing to try to get up a reformer who brought the Carmelite Order back to by ourselves? What did Saint Teresa do? In one of her its original roots. She got things done, founding more reflections, she writes, “I praise the mercy of God, for it than fifteen monasteries. Yet, she was a great mystic—a was He alone who gave me His hand” (Life, Ch 7, “The woman who received beautiful graces, revelations and Collected Works of Saint Teresa of Avila, Volume One,” ICS experiences of God in profound ways that are hard to Publications, Washington D.C. 1987). tangibly explain. She went into ecstasies as a result Do we immediately turn to God in our day-to-day of her deep relationship with the Lord and wrote a lives? This is a question we can all reflect upon. Taking our reflection a step further, do we respond to the situations in which we find ourselves with joy or a sense of humor? I believe Pope Francis and Saint Teresa would have been great friends. In his homily at the canonization Mass of Junipero Serra, Pope Francis reminded us of Saint Paul’s command to “rejoice always.” If we forget SAINT TERESA OF AVILA this call, we fall into the temptation of becoming book called “The Interior Castle,” about the journey of “sourpusses”—to use Pope Francis’ term. We are called faith leading to union with God. I love the synthesis of to be people of joy in the midst of suffering, not in the practical and the mystical in her personality. This the absence of it. It is this type of transparency in our synthesis becomes more compelling in our lives today, relationship with God, this type of outlook on the life of for it reveals that we are capable of a deep interior life faith, this sense of humor that helps us move forward in and relationship with God in the midst of the busyness answering the universal call to be missionary disciples of life. who witness to the Gospel through our encounter with There is a story about Saint Teresa that has caused those around us. me to laugh in genuine appreciation of her character. Like Saint Teresa, may we always have a sense of According to tradition, Teresa fell off her donkey while humor. May we be bold and honest in our dialogue journeying to visit one of her convents—causing her to with God. May we be apostles of joy. And may we join in land in the mud and dirty her Carmelite habit. With her saying the phrase very often attributed to Saint Teresa of quick, fiery Spanish temper, Teresa looked up to heaven Avila, “God protect us from sour-faced saints!” and said to God, “If this is how You treat Your friends, no wonder You don’t have many.” I love this story because it beautifully depicts Saint Acquire the habit Teresa’s humanity and honest relationship with God. It is a raw, unfiltered moment of frankness that I believe is of speaking to God an example of both true prayer and transparency in our relationship with God. as if you were alone If prayer is ongoing dialogue with God through words, thoughts or actions, what is Teresa’s statement if not with Him, familiarly prayer? She talks to God with confidence and trust. She is bold about her feelings, knowing that God can handle her honesty. Notably, where does Teresa turn first in her and with confidence day-to-day life? To God. He is her crutch, her foundation, even in times of frustration and annoyance, He is at the and love, as to the forefront of her mind. When I first heard this anecdote, I could completely dearest and most relate to Saint Teresa. Like her, I fall down on the road toward holiness. Furthermore, I often catch myself loving of friends. blaming God for different moments of hardship and SAINT ALPHONSUS LIGOURI frustration. What we sometimes miss as we lie there in the mud is the hand that is in front of us—the extended hand of Christ that I often imagine in the story of the KATE FLANNERY is the social media coordinator for the Catholic Apostolate woman caught in adultery, the one who Jesus saved from Center (www.CatholicApostolateCenter.org). Reprinted with permission.

JUNE/JULY 2016 SHALOM TIDINGS 11 overpriced grill with blaring country music. I did not have that much money to spare, but since I had no choice, I FIVE STEPS TO ordered an overpriced burger and overpriced fries and dug in. I was happy to relieve my hunger although a little worried about my wallet. A surprise came when it was time to pay. I was informed that a couple had seen my clerical collar and covered my bill before they left the restaurant! Very happily surprised and grateful for the strangers’ PEACE generosity, I sat back to enjoy the rest of the meal. At By Eric Wandrey that very moment, a song by Carrie Underwood came on the restaurant's sound system: "Jesus Take the Wheel." It occurred to me that when you actually do let Jesus take the wheel, He takes care of everything, even your wallet! Step 1 TRUST COMPLETELY IN The first of the five steps to being at peace is trusting GOD'S PROVIDENCE completely in God and just letting Him “take the wheel.” A couple of years ago, I found myself in John F. This step is really the most crucial: once we abandon Kennedy Airport in New York City, exhausted from a long ourselves completely to God's loving Providence, international flight and completely famished. The food everything else simply falls into place. It really is amazing options were very limited by my gate, so I ended up how He provides when we let Him: He loves us so much going to a place that I otherwise would have avoided: an that He not only takes care of our needs but will often

12 SHALOM TIDINGS JUNE/JULY 2016 mile 18 when I hit the wall....hard. My legs cramped, GOD KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT WE my vision blurred, and my head felt woozy. Eight-minute NEED. LIFE IS SO MUCH MORE miles became 9 minutes and then 10 minutes and finally 11 minutes. I was hurting so badly that the only BEAUTIFUL AND PEACEFUL thing that kept me going was thinking about the finish line. When I finally hobbled across and received my WHEN WE FREE OURSELVES medal and a cold Gatorade, I was completely depleted, but I felt like I was in Heaven. FROM THE RUTHLESS AND Life is like a marathon and Heaven is the finish line. Life is tough and we will doubtlessly hit the wall SUPERFICIAL STANDARDS numerous times during the course of our earthly existence, but if we keep our eyes on the goal, one day OF THE WORLD AND ALLOW we will be able to say with Saint Paul, “I have fought the OURSELVES TO BE ENVELOPED good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7). BY THE UNCONDITIONAL LOVE To keep our eyes on Heaven, we need to constantly remind ourselves that we are pilgrims on a journey, and OF GOD OUR FATHER. THERE IS we have to keep in mind that the goodness of our life on Earth is just a preview of what is to come. Maintaining NOTHING MORE FRUSTRATING this focus on Heaven requires taking time to pray and contemplate the things above. Life will always weigh us THAN CLINGING TO THINGS THAT down, but if we keep our eyes on our goal, we will always ARE BEYOND OUR CONTROL; find the strength to keep moving forward. THERE IS NOTHING MORE Step 3 MAKE THE BEST OF YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES LIBERATING THAN LETTING GO About seven miles off the western coast of Ireland, a lonely island looms out of the sea, the tip of a massive AND LEAVING EVERYTHING oceanic mountain. Fifty-four acres and 715 feet high, Skellig Michael is now home only to a colony of Northern TO GOD. Gannets, but there was a time when this remote outcropping hosted more than seabirds. For more than 600 years, it was home to Irish monks seeking complete solitude and spiritual freedom. give us extra gifts just to make us happy. All we have to The monks of Skellig Michael limited their own do is try our best to truly live what our Lord exhorts in the material freedom so severely because the harsh Gospel: discipline helped them build the virtues needed to “Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, be free from all that could lead them away from God. they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father Although they were physically confined to 54 acres, they feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can were spiritually soaring, because they had put the North any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life- Atlantic between themselves and anything that could span? Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take distract them from God. Their material limitation was the care of itself” (Matthew 6:26-27). condition for their spiritual success. Although very few of us are called to such Step 2 KEEP YOUR EYES ON HEAVEN radical measures, all of us find ourselves in limiting A few years ago, I got it into my head that I wanted to circumstances; we all find ourselves on our own run a marathon. I trained and trained for five months “skelligs.” Part of Christian life is accepting the hardships straight—long runs on the weekends and short runs and difficulties of our lives as a necessary condition for during the week. When the big day came I was bursting achieving closeness to God: with energy and practically biting at the bit to take on the “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, 26.2-mile challenge. and take up his cross daily and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). I went to the starting line with the goal of sticking to The key to finding peace is learning to love the a pace of nine minutes per mile, but I felt so great that “skellig” on which God has placed you and allowing I started out much faster. I was knocking out amazing yourself to flourish there. Some skelligs are tougher than eight-minute miles and everything seemed fine...until others, but one thing you can be sure of is that the one

JUNE/JULY 2016 SHALOM TIDINGS 13 on which you find yourself is perfect for you. God knows them. Most of these “what-ifs” are nothing more than what you can handle, and He knows exactly what you energy-sapping variables that are simply beyond our need to grow in spiritual freedom. control. To live in peace, we must learn to leave those Peace comes when we choose to take advantage of variables in God’s hands and focus on the few that are the good things at our disposal rather than longing for within our limited spheres of influence, all of which can what is not. We find peace when we choose not to bang only be handled one at a time in the present. our heads against the wall about things that will never change and choose to focus on how we can flourish Step 5 STOP CLINGING rather than fixating on the ever-abundant deficiencies of Not long ago, I had the opportunity to spend some time our circumstances. with friends who live near San Jose, California. When I told a go-getter businessman friend that I would be in Step 4 LIVE FULLY IN THE PRESENT Silicon Valley, he got very excited and insisted that I do We all know that feeling of melancholy that creeps in some networking: “Those tech companies are changing every time something good is about to come to an end, the world! Be proactive and meet people there!” be it the last day of vacation, the close of the holiday Since I respect my friend a lot, I took his advice and season, or the final hours of Sunday evening. The feeling started thinking of a way to network and connect with may be lessened when more enjoyable things are soon to someone at Google. However, as I worked on solving come, but there will always be those moments when you the problem (becoming tense in the process), a quiet realize that the good times will not roll forever. thought from the Holy Spirit snuck into the midst of my Even though we will always have to face this calculations and plans: “Let me handle this.” unpleasant reality, the good news is that it does not My instant reaction was to “cling” to the project and have to be so miserable when we do. The key is to stop work on it myself, but the thought kept coming back: worrying about the future and learn to live the present to “Just let go and trust in Me.” the full. God has so many blessings that He wants to give So that is what I did. I let go and I left it in God’s us, but to receive them, we have to be where He is: in the hands. present. The next day, a friend (who knew nothing about my There is no limit to the blessings that God wants desire to visit Google) said to me out of the blue, “Hey, a to give us, but we often hinder His generosity by being new buddy of mine at Google just invited me for a tour. too distracted to receive them. God wants to give to us Want to come?” I could not believe it! and does give to us; all we have to do is open our eyes Why do we cause ourselves so much stress trying to of faith and accept what He has to offer. God will take do everything when all we have to do is turn to God? He care of our future problems if we simply let go and focus has something that we lack: infinite knowledge. From all on living the present moment. Each day is bursting with of eternity, He knows each of us thoroughly; He knows blessings, but we have to live in the present to receive everything that can happen to us and everything that will them. happen. Acts of trust in God’s blessings are essential to living God knows exactly what we need. Life is so much in the present because there are always an infinity of more beautiful and peaceful when we free ourselves from “what-ifs” waiting to swarm our imaginations if we allow the ruthless and superficial standards of the world and allow ourselves to be enveloped by the unconditional love of God our Father. There is nothing more frustrating than clinging to things that are beyond our control; there TO KEEP OUR EYES ON HEAVEN, is nothing more liberating than letting go and leaving everything to God. WE NEED TO CONSTANTLY REMIND OURSELVES THAT WE (C) ERIC WANDREY is a seminarian of the Archdiocese of New York. He ARE PILGRIMS ON A JOURNEY, has a licentiate degree in philosophy from Regina Apostolorum Pontifical Athenaeum in Rome and is looking forward to his ordination in 2019 AND WE HAVE TO KEEP IN after finishing his theology studies. He enjoys long-distance running, art MIND THAT THE GOODNESS OF appreciation, writing, philosophizing, and spending time with friends. Wandrey is especially excited about evangelizing contemporary culture OUR LIFE ON EARTH IS JUST A through the power of artistic beauty. To receive his spiritual reflections on great works of art and to follow his journey towards the priesthood, be PREVIEW OF WHAT IS TO COME. sure to follow him on his blog, God-Lights (www.godlights.me).

14 SHALOM TIDINGS JUNE/JULY 2016 This life is a battle between good and evil, truth and THE POWER OF MERCY: lies … and we are constantly lied to about who we are. When these lies take root in our sense of ourselves, we TRANSFORMING HURT are not simply able to uproot them on our own. But this is precisely why Jesus Christ came into the world—to save us from the lies that cripple us and to show us the TRUTH INTO INTERCESSION of who we really are. By Christopher West I have been on my own journey in this regard, and I have found a great deal of healing by learning how to forgive those who imprinted these lies on my soul. fter a recent talk, I received an e-mail from a Forgiving those who have hurt you and sent these woman who asked what to do with the pain she messages that you are “worthless” does not mean Afeels from being told for most of her life that she sweeping the pain under the rug or trying to forget about is worthless and unlovable. As Pope Francis has been it. Here is a very important passage from the “Catechism reminding us during this Year of Mercy, forgiveness is of the Catholic Church” (“CCC”) that takes us right into a critical step in healing from the wounds others have the heart of how to heal from the pain people have caused us. caused us and how to forgive: Here is my response to Kathy (not her real name): It is not in our power not to feel or to forget an Dear Kathy, offense; but the heart that offers itself to the Holy Spirit I am so, so sorry you are hurting. I am so, so sorry turns injury into compassion and purifies the memory in that these messages (that you are worthless and transforming the hurt into intercession (“CCC” 2843). unlovable) have taken root in your heart. Kathy, the pain and hurt you feel can become a

JUNE/JULY 2016 SHALOM TIDINGS 15 THIS LIFE IS A BATTLE of this is in our power to accomplish on our own, but it is possible for the “heart that offers itself to the Holy Spirit.” BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL, Here is a prayer that might help: Come Holy Spirit, come Lord and Giver of Life, I offer TRUTH AND LIES...AND WE You my heart and all of the pain I feel in being told by (fi ll in the blank) that I am worthless and unlovable. Help ARE CONSTANTLY LIED TO me to see that (fi ll in the blank) is also in pain and has been told the same lies. I never asked for this pain, but ABOUT WHO WE ARE. now, I freely accept this pain in union with the sufferings of Jesus and offer it in intercession for all those who have powerful prayer. When we offer our pain to God, it wounded me. becomes redemptive, not only for the person pained, but Kathy, entering into a prayer like this can bring also—and this is the real miracle of forgiveness—for the miracles into your life. It is not a magic trick, though. We person who caused the pain in the fi rst place. The reason have to be willing to dig deep. And that can hurt. You may people have caused you pain is because people have also want to look into some good counseling. I am not caused them pain. In this sense, the pain you feel is a counselor. I am just trying to offer you a little (I hope) really a sharing in the pain that they feel. helpful advice. And this is how the Holy Spirit can turn our pain into Your brother, compassion. Compassion means to “suffer with.” You are Christopher suffering with the people who caused you this suffering. Offering that suffering as a prayer for them is not only © CHRISTOPHER WEST is a globally recognized author and teacher of Saint healing for you, through the working of God’s grace, it can John Paul II’s “Theology of the Body.” He is founder and president of The bring healing to the people who caused you the pain in Cor Project, a global membership and outreach organization dedicated to the fi rst place. equipping men and women to learn, live and share the beauty of the divine This is how we fulfi ll Christ’s commandment to “love plan for human life, love, and sexuality in the new evangelization. This article our enemies” and “do good to those who hurt us.” None originally appeared at CorProject.com and is reprinted with permission.

Faith is a family conversation. It is time to join in.

Subscribe now to Shalom Tidings magazine and read about the Faith in print or digital format! We gather together the best and most brilliant authors, writers, bloggers, saints, and scholars who share their stories, insights, and inspiration on the things that matter most!

Subscribe online at www.Shalomworld.org/tidings or download the Shalom Tidings App in Google Play or on iTunes. PICK UP YOUR MAT AND GO HOME By Marcellino D’Ambrosio

his is what the healing of the paralytic as recounted sins are called “venial.” in the Gospel of Mark teaches us about the But whether original or actual, mortal or venial, sin T faith of the community and even infant baptism. always drains the life right out of us. As we walk away Sometimes we act as if sins are just black marks against from God, we grow spiritually weaker and weaker until we us in God’s ledger, debits against our rewards account. come to the point that we no longer have the strength to But the Gospel story of the paralytic (Mark 2:1-12) walk back home to our Father. should wake us up to the real nature of sin. For sin is When Jesus returned to Capernaum after His first more than a demerit—it is distancing of a person from mission trip, people flocked to Him. A paralyzed man God, who happens to be our source of life and energy. could not join the throng—he just lay there watching God’s Holy Spirit is “the force” that must be with us if we people pass him by. Until, that is, some of his friends are to have life and strength and vigor. cared enough to pick him up and bring him to Jesus. Sin is always a result of a decision. Original sin, But then they encountered a problem—the crowd was so flowing from the tragic decision of Adam and Eve, causes thick that they could not get their friend through the door. us to inherit a weakened humanity which, from the They could have consoled themselves that they tried and moment of conception, is distanced from God. Actual then brought the poor man home. Yet, they were more sin results from each person’s own decisions. Some determined than that. They hoisted him up on the roof, decisions can cut us off entirely from the divine life opened a hole in the thatch and lowered him down. source. We call these decisions “mortal.” Some decisions The Gospel of Mark makes a curious comment at do not snuff out divine life, but rather weaken it. Such this point. “Seeing their faith,” it says, Jesus turns to the

JUNE/JULY 2016 SHALOM TIDINGS 17 paralyzed man and tells him that his sins are forgiven. Jesus does not say “yes” to our spiritual needs and “no” First of all, note that faith is something that should be to our earthly needs (2 Corinthians 1:18-22). He created visible. The four stretcher carriers believed that Jesus us body and soul and desires that we have fullness of was, at the very least, a mighty man of God who could life, in every department and have it abundantly (John help their friend. But this belief manifested itself in 10:10). resolute, persistent, conspicuous action. And of course So a tormented man who had to be carried to Jesus this faith was united with charity, since they had gone walked away bearing his own stretcher and free as a to such great lengths not for themselves but for their lark. It would never have happened, though, if his faith- unfortunate friend. filled friends had not cared enough to risk ridicule and Notice, however, that it was not the paralyzed man’s disappointment to bring him to Jesus. faith that prompted Jesus’ decision to forgive his sin. It So when is the last time you invited someone to was the faith of his friends. Perhaps his physical paralysis church? was a sign of utter spiritual paralysis—maybe he had not the strength to make a positive act of faith. So his friends’ faith stood in proxy for his own. That © DR. MARCELLINO D’AMBROSIO has a doctorate in historical theology from is exactly why infant baptism has always been practiced the Catholic University of America. Though a specialist in the interpretation in the Church from the beginning–the faith of parents, of scripture and tradition, Dr. D’Ambrosio’s teaching has covered a broad godparents and the whole Church stand in proxy for the range of subjects from historical, dogmatic, and sacramental theology to infant who is incapable of faith. evangelization, ecumenism, and Vatican II. Yet throughout his academic The most deadly paralysis is the paralysis of sin. career, Dr. D’Ambrosio always remained deeply involved in pastoral work, When the Pharisees object to Jesus’ authority to heal this especially teen evangelization and Hispanic ministry, assuring that his malady, to wipe out the paralytic’s past and give him a teaching remained relevant to the challenges of everyday life. Article brand new start (Isaiah 43:18-25), Jesus demonstrates originally appeared in “Our Sunday Visitor.” Reprinted with permission His competence by healing the physical disease as well. from Crossroads Initiative (www.crossroadsinitiative.com).

Evangelization is about first receiving and then giving. Without one, the other can’t work. If you have received gifts, we have an opportunity for you to give!

The Shalom GIFTS initiative is ready to meet you where you are at and provide you the tools, training, and team to help you share your talents and time in world evangelization! With years of experience, a passion to serve the Church and proclaim Christ, the GIFTS volunteer program provides a multi-faceted approach to connect you with our global ministry. From intercessory teams, publication representatives, writers/translators, social media ministries, technology teams, visiting and praying at our international headquarters, and even full-time volunteer opportunities in Texas or California, opportunities to build up the Kingdom of God are endless!

If you are ready to give to others the Good News of the Gospel that you have received, visit www.ShalomWorld.org/gifts for more information and details on how to apply! NEVERTHE PRISON LOCKEDCELL THAT IS By Father John H. Hampsch, C.M.F.

quirky cartoon showed a bedraggled and disheveled prisoner probing his open cell door, Acalling to his gaunt cell mate, “I have some good news and bad news for you. The good news is that I just found that this cell door isn’t locked. The bad news is that all these years it never was—there’s no keyhole!” The “bad” news is the fact that countless people imprison themselves, often for years, in their self-induced guilt, and the really “bad” news is that they do not realize the “good” news that the Lord has provided an easy escape plan. Heaven is full of sinners-turned-saints who have experienced the absurdity of that cartoon. For instance, Saint Peter Julian Eymard confessed, “After pursuing me for a long time the Lord ‘imprisoned’ me, as it were. He deprived me of everything to force me to focus on Him, but invariably I returned to the nothingness of worldly interests, shunning the abyss of His love.” Why would anyone choose to live in a prison cell when not forced to do so? Or wallow in the sludge of oppressive, negative feelings of guilt, when a simple cleansing of the filth is almost absurdly within reach? Our heavenly Father, in His ineffably impulsive divine love, can hardly wait to “forgive us our trespasses.” The spirit-breathed inspiration of the prophet Micah articulates this amazing truth as a question for devotees of pagan gods: “Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression?” (Micah 7:18). Imagine a person so dysfunctional that he shuts himself up in a dark, stuffy cave, and closes the entrance so tightly that not the slightest ray of sunlight can penetrate the darkness. Would anyone blame the sun for the darkness of the cave? In response we would want to scream, “Open the entrance of the cave and let in some sunlight! Better still, come outside and bask in the brilliant warmth of this beautiful day!” The “good news” is God’s gift offered to every despondent heart: “In your presence there is fullness of joy” (Psalm 16:11). The “Catechism of the Catholic Church” (CCC) explains how God’s loving mercy overrides His righteous indignation at the horrendous evil of sin, which is an act of insulting the Creator of the universe. “When the sinner for the elders of the church and have them pray over takes the tiniest step toward His waiting open arms, he them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord is embraced in a flood of the warmest affection from a … and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has God whose tenderness and love totals far more than all committed sins will be forgiven” (James 5:14-15). the human love added up from the beginning of human The fourth portal of mercy is contrition—either existence on earth.” Few will deny that God’s wisdom or “perfect” (based on love of God) or “imperfect,” also power is infinite—although no one can really grasp it. called “attrition” (based on fear of punishment) God’s infinite mercy is a concept that many prisoners of (John 5:16-17)—can educe forgiveness of sin. their own guilt find hard to appreciate. As Paul says (2 Without sacramental confession and its many special Corinthians 4:4), “In their case the god of this world has advantages, perfect contrition by itself, even prior to blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from confession, would suffice to remove mortal sin. However, seeing the light of the gospel.” They cannot perform God’s ecclesiastical law, not divine law, requires that before simple requirement for soul freedom: “Repent and turn to receiving communion any such already-forgiven mortal God so that your sins may be wiped out” (Acts 3:19). THE SIX PORTALS OF GOD’S MERCY IMAGINE A PERSON SO From their self-imprisonment, they may be aware of the “no-keyhole door,” but they may be unaware that their DYSFUNCTIONAL THAT HE cell has a number of unlocked doors to afford them SHUTS HIMSELF UP IN A their escape from the self-confinement of sin. The Bible speaks of six such portals of God’s mercy—three of DARK, STUFFY CAVE, AND which are sacraments—but implied for each one is the CLOSES THE ENTRANCE prerequisite of a repentant heart. First, of course, is the “start-off-clean” sacrament of SO TIGHTLY THAT NOT THE baptism that removes original sin, which is “contracted, SLIGHTEST RAY OF SUNLIGHT not committed—a state and not an act” (CCC 404), described in Romans 5:12. In the baptism of non- CAN PENETRATE THE infants, repented personal sin is also remitted: “Repent, DARKNESS. WOULD ANYONE and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven” (Acts 2:38). BLAME THE SUN FOR THE Second is the sacrament of reconciliation (often DARKNESS OF THE CAVE? improperly called “confession,” which is only the penitent’s act of relating his sins to the priest). This sacrament is the most perfect “door of escape from the prison cell of sin” because it was instituted by Jesus sins be “submitted to the keys” of the Church’s power in precisely for that purpose alone. It was to be channeled the sacrament of reconciliation, if available). Meanwhile, only through the Apostles and their clergy successors: “As if no confession is available, or if the sins are doubtfully the Father has sent me, so I send you … If you forgive the mortal, communion may be received after a preparation sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins by perfect contrition. Imperfect contrition without of any, they are retained" (John 20:21-23). confession is not a sufficient preparation for communion Besides conferring God’s “negative mercy”—sin after mortal or doubtfully mortal sin. But with a valid removal—this sacrament also confers more of God’s confession, even imperfect contrition suffices to remove “positive mercy,” namely, a restoration or increase of any sin. All of this was affirmed by the Council of Trent. sanctifying grace (2 Peter 1:4); a surge of actual grace Fifth, an act of sincere love of God would imply a to discern better what is sinful and motivation to avoid it deep regret at having offended Him as the beloved of (Philippians. 2:13); an inflow of sacramental grace that the soul. This would implicitly contain an act of perfect intensifies contrition (2 Corinthians 7:10); an increase contrition and, hence, would be conditioned on the of merit, i.e., heavenly reward (1 Corinthians 3:8); an above statements regarding perfect contrition. “I tell you, added indulgence—a lessening, shortening or dissolving her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence of accumulated purgatorial suffering (1 Corinthians 3:13- she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is 15); and, finally, a deep spiritual encounter with Christ, the forgiven, loves little" (Luke 7:47). Good Shepherd, in His gentle mercy (Matthew 11:28). Sixth, an act of sincere fraternal charity—that is, The third portal-sacrament of mercy is the sacrament an act of love of God as His presence is recognized in of the anointing of the sick, formerly called “Extreme another human: “We know that we have passed from Unction.” “Are any among you sick? They should call death to life because we love one another. Whoever does

20 SHALOM TIDINGS JUNE/JULY 2016 not love abides in death” (1 John 3:14). This Christ- told him that every such passage was qualified by the focused fraternal charity would also implicitly contain option offered to every sinner to evade such wrath by perfect contrition and would be subject to the same turning to God’s mercy, and that the mercy of God was conditions. mentioned in the Bible directly in more than 400 places From these six routes of “escape from the prison of and indirectly in hundreds of other places, from mercy sin,” we can only marvel at how the Lord strives to give parables (as in Luke 15) to psalm-prayers. us every opportunity to be free of sin’s bondage and When he brought up the time-worn objection about confinement. It seems that He strives to exhaust His Jesus’ referral to the “unforgivable sin,” I explained that divine ingenuity in finding ways to shower us with His any sin that is “unforgivable” is not unforgivable by loving mercy. All that is required of us is to reach out to reason of God’s refusal to forgive, but by the sinner’s Him to be caught up into His embrace of mercy. refusal to be forgiven. The sinner refuses forgiveness A classic bumper sticker says, “If you feel far from by simply refusing to apologize to God (repentance) God, guess who moved!” That is a reversible separation, for spitting in His face by sin. The Lord patiently and as David showed in his simple prayer: “Draw near to me, lovingly urges the sinner to accept His divine forgiveness, redeem me, set me free” (Psalm 69:18). Yet, countless but the recalcitrant sinner simply refuses to accept it. souls have become calloused by not recognizing the I showed my fellow passenger a statement from the Lord’s yearning to embrace us and “nuzzle us to His “Catechism,” a copy of which, providentially, I happened divine cheek.” “I took them up in my arms; but they did to have in my valise. I urged him to read, not just the not know that I healed them. I led them with cords of opening words of the passage but the entire paragraph. human kindness, with bands of love … like those who lift It started with the words of Jesus: "I tell you, every sin infants to their cheeks” (Hosea 11:3-4). and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy A passenger next to me on a flight noticed my Roman against the Spirit will not be forgiven." Then followed the collar and soon engaged me in a conversation about CCC commentary: “There are no limits to the mercy of religion, remarking that he had given up his childhood God, but anyone who deliberately refuses to accept His faith, “because,” he said, “the Bible speaks so much mercy by repentance rejects the offer of salvation with about the wrath of God.” He was incredulous when I the forgiveness of his sins. Such hardness of heart can

JUNE/JULY 2016 SHALOM TIDINGS 21 lead to final impenitence and eternal loss” (CCC 1864). a promise to return to the practice of his Christian faith. The third personality in God’s triple-personality, the Holy By his response to God’s grace he had changed in a Spirit, acts as grace bestower. Thus, “blasphemy against moment from reprobate to righteous. Truly, “the hope of the Spirit” is simply refusal to accept God’s grace of the righteous ends in gladness” (Proverbs 10:28). forgiveness and salvation. This encounter left me with a grateful heart as well, I tried explaining this by a simple kindergarten-level as I recalled the words of James 5:20: “Whoever brings illustration: “If you were poor and I offered you a no- back a sinner from wandering will save the sinner's soul strings-attached gift of a million dollars and you refused from death and will cover a multitude of [his own] sins.” it, could you blame me for selfishness or injustice? Your I had simply shown him that his prison cell of guilt had being deprived of the gift would have been your choice, never been locked. By the nudge of the awesome mercy not mine. Counterpoint that example with the passages of God he had only to open the unlocked door and find about the “unforgivable sin,’ coupled with the inspired himself free—and “if the Son sets you free, you will be words of Peter: ‘The Lord is … is patient with you, not free indeed” (John 8:36). wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). I told this gentleman that the world’s worst sinner can be forgiven in a fraction of a second by simply saying to the Lord, with true sincerity, “I’m sorry.” Refusing to do so is the only way one can end up in hell. The unrepentant sinner says, in effect, that he is prepared to accept the endless anguish of hell rather than humble himself by opening himself to God’s mercy by a simple apology (repentance). I showed my fellow passenger that instead of distortedly emphasizing the wrath of God, he should emphasize the pride and absurdity of any sinner remaining unrepentant. The wrath of God is mentioned in the Bible only in the context of the obdurate and sustained refusal of persons or nations who snub His loving mercy. The devil knows that pride is the main [RECONCILIATION] IS roadblock to repentance and ultimately salvation. “God opposes the proud,” says James, “but gives grace to the THE MOST PERFECT humble … Submit yourselves therefore to God … Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your "DOOR OF ESCAPE hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts … Humble FROM THE PRISON CELL yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you” (James 4:6-10). The most profound act of the virtue of humility OF SIN" BECAUSE IT is a sinner’s heartfelt utterance of two simple words, “I’m sorry!” Recall Jesus’ simple but convicting parable of WAS INSTITUTED BY the publican versus the prideful Pharisee; both prayed, but only the publican’s humble prayer for mercy was JESUS PRECISELY FOR answered. I explained to my seat companion that the God from THAT PURPOSE ALONE. whom we have distanced ourselves will make a thousand steps toward us if we will only make the first step toward © FATHER JOHN H. HAMPSCH, C.M.F., was ordained as a Catholic priest Him. That is what James means in stating, “Draw near to in 1952, is a member of the Claretian Missionaries, and is founder and God and He will draw near to you.” It is the best scriptural director of the Claretian Teaching Ministry (www.CatholicBooks.net). Listed answer to the poignant bumper sticker question: “If you in Who’s Who in Religion in America, he has served as parish priest, feel far from God, guess who moved!” seminary professor and rector, college professor, lecturer, magazine When I opened my Bible and showed him just a writer, newspaper columnist, editor, retreat master, hospital chaplain, few descriptions of God’s tender mercy, such as the prison chaplain, campus chaplain, Cursillo director and director of suicide parable about the Prodigal Son, his acrimony seemed prevention programs in Texas and California. Father Hampsch earned to melt. I invited him to say, “I’m truly sorry, Lord”—while degrees in philosophy from Loyola-Marymount University in Los Angeles accepting his salvation earned for him by Jesus’ death. and from Notre Dame University, with postgraduate work in ascetical He hastened to blurt out that commitment—almost and mystical theology at the University of Southern California and the tearfully. His parting words were words of gratitude and Dominican House of Studies in River Forest, Illinois.

22 SHALOM TIDINGS JUNE/JULY 2016 Are you ready for a fresh, new perspective on news, entertainment and faith? Get Shalom World and let your cable providers know that what you and your family watch matters!

How to get it! Visit www.ShalomWorldTV.org/channelfi nder and directly request Shalom World to be off ered by your cable network provider’s viewing lineup.

Once you have it, spread the good news! E-mail us (tv@ shalomworld.org) or call us (215-366-3031) and we can send you television brochures to help you introduce and invite others into our global community of faith! HOW THE MOST HOLY ROSARY CAN

KILL By Charlie Johnson YOUR SIN t is when I bring to mind the reality of my own “destroyer of vice” and “defeater of heresies.” It is a sin- fallenness and the shackling weight of sin that I am killer. It is the battle armor against hell and all its wicked Ireminded of a secret weapon—one given to us as a forces. And it is the end and doom of our habitual sins. loving gift from God. It is an old and powerful weapon forged in the fire of prayer. This essential spiritual weapon YOU MUST PRAY THE ROSARY EVERY DAY of our time is the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin How do I tap into this ancient power, you ask? Simple. Mary. Pray the Rosary. Pray it every day! It will kill your sin The Rosary is a weapon of heaven's ilk. It is the loving because it will draw your gaze into the holy presence of gaze of Heaven’s fair Maiden and at once that great Jesus where sin cannot maintain to dwell. A mind that

24 SHALOM TIDINGS JUNE/JULY 2016 is steeped in temptations is a mind quickly subdued by and enact the greatest drama of love the world has ever the beauties of God’s love. The Rosary is an endeavor of known; it is the book of the simple, which initiates them God’s love, if anything. While our sin clouds the mind and into mysteries and knowledge more satisfying than the the senses with the dehumanizing darkness of wayward education of other men; it is the book of the aged, whose affections, the Rosary is a journey out of that darkness. eyes close upon the shadow of this world, and open on “Say the Holy Rosary. Blessed be that monotony of the substance of the next. Hail Mary’s which purifies the monotony of your sins!” — “The power of the rosary is beyond description.” — Saint Josemaria Escriva Archbishop Fulton Sheen With each bead, each Our Father and each Hail Mary, The Rosary is so often said in a flood of thoughts. It the monotony of our prayer turns the tide against the is hard to maintain the Gospel scenes at the forefront monotony of our sins and a brilliant light begins to fire of the mind while one prays it. It is in this time of prayer out the darkness in a soul. that our worries and our joys come to the surface against the background of a holy meditation. It is the sweet THE ROSARY IS A FAITHFUL PROMISE… background music to our lives, consoling us in times BUT BE NOT PROUD of great distress, and reminding us in times of great According to pious tradition, Our Lady gave us fifteen forgetfulness that we are never alone. The Rosary is an promises when she gifted us the Rosary: signal graces, offering of us to holiness. special protection, flourishing virtue, armor against hell, destruction of vice and the defeat of heresies, a soul that THE ROSARY IS A PATH TO VICTORY shall not perish—these are but a handful. But above all If a particular sin plagues you and steals your joy, strike else, the Rosary is a promise of drawing near to the heart a fateful first blow against it with a faithful recitation of of Christ, by looking at His life through the eyes of His the Rosary. Even if you are a skeptic, take a leap of faith! loving mother. When heaven makes a promise, it never Commit to pray the Rosary daily. If you do it, you will does so lightly. The promises of heaven are always kept. witness the manifold power of God transforming your life. This puts the power of heaven at your disposal to destroy Do not worry whether or not the Rosary is your only path the enemy of your soul. to victory: There are many paths and many tools that are Pride will kill your desire to pray the Rosary. Many given us by God. But the Rosary is a channel that runs will say that they do not need it. It is boring, too time deep and wide. It will lead you on a path to have your consuming—the simple and affective instrument of God’s greatest needs fulfilled. It is a vessel that carries you pious and lowly. Precisely! If the Rosary is a child’s to whatever miracle you may need for your soul to find prayer, then let yourself become a child—to such belongs healing. the kingdom of God. Here is an example to help you understand the efficacy of the Rosary: THE ROSARY MYSTERIES WILL SHAPE “Do you remember the story of David who vanquished Goliath? What steps did the young Israelite take to YOUR SOUL overthrow the giant? He struck him in the middle of the If you are burdened and confused by your own suffering forehead with a pebble from his sling. If we regard the or that which you see in the world, contemplate the Philistine as representing evil and all its powers: heresy, passion of Our Lord in the sorrowful mysteries. If you impurity, pride—we can consider the little stones from the are anxious about tomorrow and unsure of God’s power sling capable of overthrowing the enemy as symbolizing in your life, contemplate the resurrection power of God the Aves of the Rosary.” —Dom Columba Marmion, in the glorious mysteries. If you are sensing God’s call “Christ, the Ideal of the Priest” to follow Him faithfully, yet are too afraid to step out on that unknown journey, say “yes” to God with the Blessed Virgin Mary in the joyful mysteries. If you fret a great lack of inner fortitude to believe God’s words and the © CHARLIE JOHNSON hails from the deep green southern reaches of transforming power of the Son of Man, look to the life of Birmingham, Alabama. Inspired by Catholic thinkers to re-write his Jesus in the luminous mysteries. Your soul will learn to reformed Protestant view of the faith, he began a journey that led him to exult in these wonderful scenes and your soul will begin Confirmation and First Holy Communion in the Catholic Church in January to take the shape of it. This is the work of Our Lord and 2015. Charlie works in the legal profession by day and writes in his spare time. He married his lovely bride, Katie, on the Feast of Our Lady of His most loving mother in the life of those who come to Guadalupe in December 2015. He writes regularly for the Catholic Stand, Him in prayer through the Rosary. Catholic365.com and at his personal blog, CatholicJuice.com. Reprinted The Rosary is the book of the blind, where souls see with permission from Catholic Stand (www.CatholicStand.com).

JUNE/JULY 2016 SHALOM TIDINGS 25 HOW I SAID ‘GOODBYE’ TO ANOREXIA AND ‘HELLO’ TO CHEESE By Emily Stimpson

26 SHALOM TIDINGS JUNE/JULY 2016 was all set to write a fun, breezy little article about one of my was perfect, that everyone falls short, and I stopped expecting favorite things in the universe—wine—when the Great Hive Mind more of myself than other mere mortals. That is not to say I bought Iinformed me it was National Eating Disorders Awareness Week into the “You’re Okay Just the Way You Are” nonsense that my (not (in February). Thanks, Facebook. Now I feel guilty writing about even remotely helpful) counselor spouted. I was not (and am not) wine. Because I do not do things I feel guilty about—or, at least, I “okay.” I am a sinner, not a saint. I have work to do. I just recognized try not to do them—the wine article is on hold. Instead, I am going that I am an ordinary member of the human race and the work I to share a few thoughts about how I walked away from anorexia for have to do cannot be done overnight. I need time. I need grace. So good fourteen years ago. do we all. And that is “okay.” For those of you not familiar with the disease, the prognosis for those battling eating disorders is not exactly rosy. While most I MADE NEW FRIENDS people who struggle with anorexia get somewhat better, few get I had wonderful friends in college. I loved them dearly. But, with all better. The majority spend their lives waffling on the edge of a precious few exceptions, they struggled with food just like I did. At relapse. Many fall right off that edge. But me? You could not drag my university, eating disorders and disordered eating ran rampant. me back to that edge with a thousand horses. I like cheese too After I graduated and my social circle expanded, I started meeting much. And bacon. women who would not touch rice cakes if you paid them. I will I also like myself too much. And my friends and family and never forget the moment I saw my roommate Jessica eat four every other person on the planet who does not deserve to deal cookies and not express a word of guilt. It was a revelation. with the horror that is Emily when she is not eating. In my case, That is why when people ask me how they can help a loved one Christian charity pretty much forbids a relapse. struggling with anorexia, my first answer is: have a healthy attitude That is not to say I am not a normal woman living in the 21st toward food yourself. century. Air-brushed babes can totally get me down. Skinny jeans That is really it. Do not complain about your weight. Do not go cannot go away fast enough. But, regardless of how I occasionally on crazy diets. Do not beat yourself up over eating cheesecake. Just feel about my body, I am not going to starve myself in pursuit make wise choices about what you put in your body, enjoy the heck of some unrealistic ideal. At nearly forty, I do not have the time, out of good food and embrace the size you are supposed to be, energy or inclination to stop feeding myself. Life is too full to spend not the size the media tells you to be. Trust me, it really does help one minute of it going down that rabbit hole. them. So, what made my recovery possible? Lots of things, from my desire to be a mother (although that has not quite worked out) I ATE CHEESE to an increasingly full and fun life. Five things, however, stand out Seriously. above the rest For years, my breakfast consisted of a small Lender’s Bagel topped with one piece of melted fat-free cheese. Yes, I shudder to I ACCEPTED THAT I WAS NOT PERFECT think of it now. But eat it and little else long enough and you will Much of my struggle with anorexia was rooted in my frustration also start to think fat-free cheese is Kraft’s answer to triple cream with myself. I was frustrated with my faults, frustrated with my brie. weaknesses, frustrated that I did not look, think or act the way I Shortly after my twenty-fifth birthday I went to Wales to visit a wanted to look, think and act. I was curvy, not lithe; smart, not friend. There, her blessed mother fed us cheese—real, honest-to- sexy; way, way too sensitive and full up with opinions that spilled goodness Stilton cheese. It was creamy. It was rich. It was glorious! forth from my lips with a life all their own. I realized almost instantly what an idiot I had been. There was this Some of that frustration was wrongheaded (Note: There is wonderful, delicious world of cheese out there and I was eating nothing wrong with being curvy and smart). But not all of it was off rubber! the mark. I did speak my opinions too freely and with insufficient At that point, I began wondering what else I had been missing. charity. I was too sensitive and self-centered. My temper was not So, I started testing the waters, sampling a hamburger here, a one of my greater virtues. In short, I was not perfect. piece of carrot cake there. And it was good. It was so good. The Shocker, right? But that bothered me in all the wrong ways more my taste buds remembered what good food tasted like, the when I was nineteen. I could not stand my imperfections and I less I cared about being a size two. My priorities changed and I was wanted them gone immediately. Yet, try as I might I could not keep all the happier for it. those opinions from popping out of my mouth. I could, however, keep from popping things into my mouth. By I DEVELOPED A SACRAMENTAL WORLDVIEW not eating, I could punish myself for not being perfect. I also hoped This was a big one. Bigger than cheese even. You see, behind every that maybe people would not mind the opinions so much if they eating disorder is a wrong vision of the world. The anorexic looks at were coming out of a size two body. Believe it or not, that did not the body and does not see a precious, beautiful gift. She does not work out so well. If Emily eating had one hundred opinions she see the living image of God. Instead, she sees a hunk of matter, a needed to keep to herself, Emily not eating had one thousand! piece of flesh whose worth is determined by its size and that needs As the years passed, I grew in wisdom and maturity. I learned to be controlled, punished or both. more about original sin and concupiscence. I realized that nobody The same goes for food. Anorexics do not look at food and

JUNE/JULY 2016 SHALOM TIDINGS 27 think, “There’s a sign of God’s love for me, a perpetual symbol of and again, expecting He would take care of all the lingering bits of the total self-gift He is from all eternity and the gift He becomes my struggle as I sat in His presence. at every Mass in the Eucharist.” No, the anorexic looks at food and And He did. He showed me what the books could not and sees a problem. She sees the enemy. She sees something that has healed what logic did not. He did a great work in me. And He wants to be controlled before it controls her. In the presence of food, she to do the same for each and every man or woman still living in the feels fear, loathing, revulsion. Not gratitude. Not amazement. Not mental prison of an eating disorder. wonder. God always wants more for us than we want for ourselves. He Sometimes, anorexics do not eat because they do not believe wants wholeness. He wants joy. He wants us to be His children, they deserve to eat. Sometimes, anorexics do not eat because their feasting for all eternity at the marriage supper of the Lamb. And life is in chaos and food feels like the one thing they can control. again, all we have to do is show up. Sometimes, anorexics do not eat because they want to make themselves disappear. Sometimes, it is all three. But always, always, always, it is because they do not see Regardless of how I occasionally creation rightly. They do not see themselves rightly. They do not see food rightly. They do not see a world where everything—food and feel about my body, I am not the body included—are occasions for grace, natural sacramentals going to starve myself in pursuit that proclaim the glory of God and invite us to love Him more. Because anorexics do not see creation rightly, because they do not of some unrealistic ideal...Life is see reality rightly, they cannot act in accord with it. They cannot act sanely. The truth is, most of the world is crazy right now. Few people too full to spend one minute of it see reality rightly. It is just that some people’s crazy manifests in an going down that rabbit hole. inability to feed themselves. For me, the real turning point in my recovery was realizing that my body, not just my soul, imaged God. I finally saw it as the gift that it was, a gift that made so much possible. And when I saw that, I stopped wanting to punish it and control it. Instead, I started wanting to care for it. The same goes for food. When I realized that the most intimate communion I had with God was that I ate Him—when I realized that the almighty, all-powerful, all-knowing God of the universe became food for me in the Eucharist—I stopped abusing food. I stopped seeing it as the enemy and started seeing it as a perpetual sign of God’s love for me. And I was not about to say no to that love. I needed it too much.

GRACE My recovery from anorexia was, in many ways, a logical one. That is how I tend to operate. As long as I am drinking coffee, I am a woman whose thoughts, more than her emotions, guide her actions. Now, when I am not drinking coffee, all bets are off, but most of the time, with me, “See the good” means “Do the good.” I saw the good of my body, I saw the good of food, I saw the good of cheese and I started acting in accord with those goods. When I figured out that starving myself was a fantastically awful way of controlling my world and that I was abusing two of the greatest gifts God had given me, I did an about-face right quick. But my ability to do so was a grace. My whole recovery was a grace. It was a gift from God that I can never repay. And no, I do © EMILY STIMPSON (www.EmilyStimpson.com) is a freelance Catholic writer based in not know why I got that gift and not the gift of being able to keep Steubenville, Ohio. Her books include “These Beautiful Bones: An Everyday Theology my opinions to myself. God has His reasons, I suppose. All I did of the Body (Emmaus Road), “The Catholic Girl’s Survival Guide for the Single Years was show up. I did, however, show up. As soon as I realized what (Emmaus Road), and her latest, co-authored with Biran Birch, “The American Catholic the Eucharist was, I got my rear end over to the nearest Catholic Almanac: A Daily Reader of Patriots, Rogues, and Ordinary People Who Changed the Church each and every day. I prayed in front of the Blessed United States” (Image). Stimpson is a contributing editor to “Our Sunday Visitor” and Sacrament. I received the Blessed Sacrament. I read about the a blogger for CatholicVote.org. Article originally appeared in The Catholic Table (www. Blessed Sacrament. I did my bit, placing myself before Christ again TheCatholicTable.com). Reprinted with permission.

28 SHALOM TIDINGS JUNE/JULY 2016 JUNE/JULY 2016 SHALOM TIDINGS 29 PRAYING WITH YOUR CHILDREN By Karen Reep

aking an effort to pray daily is an important part DO NOT FEAR of faith formation for children. They follow our Unfortunately in our society, prayer is mostly done Mexample, whether it is morning prayers or mealtime privately at home. Many people are embarrassed or even prayers. When we teach our children to pray while still ashamed to pray in public (restaurants, for example). children, it may instill a lifelong healthy habit. Beginning We set the tone for our children wherever we may go around age two, toddlers can imitate their parents and with them. By being shameful of public prayer, we teach older siblings during prayer time. The simple gesture of our children that pride comes before humility. This is folding their hands is a sweet start to a fruitful prayer life. certainly not the image of God. We are called to praise Prayer at home is a comforting experience, but how can we Him all the time, everywhere. Why do we feel ashamed? teach our children to pray anywhere, at any time? Is someone really going to laugh at us? Who should feel

30 SHALOM TIDINGS JUNE/JULY 2016 ashamed of themselves in that scenario? God calls us to live extraordinarily. This calls for bravery, determination Our prayer cannot be and faith. These character qualities not only help children persevere in their prayer lives, but also in their daily lives. reduced to an hour Make an effort to put God first in all you do, especially in front of children. on Sundays. It is WAYS TO BEGIN If you have not prayed publicly with children before, important to have a it may seem awkward. They may be embarrassed and fight you. I suggest not forcing it on them, but let it daily relationship with be understood that this is going to become a habit in which your family will be participating. Older children the Lord. may be especially hard to convince. Just keep setting that example and let your expectations be known. POPE FRANCIS Reinforce how important prayer is in general. We have an obligation to thank God for our meals at each sitting, no matter where we may be. After some time, prayer, and say it at each meal until it becomes habit. most children will begin to understand the importance. Younger children may be more open to this practice, but If they are too embarrassed to verbally participate, teenagers may not be as enthusiastic. Do not try to push simply let them sit quietly and listen. Each day, set them too hard to participate right away. Simply being a new expectation for the child to accomplish. For quiet during this time is a way to show respect for the example, folding their hands, closing their eyes or moment. Keep showing them that this is a new habit that whispering the prayer to themselves are all acceptable will be taking place several times a day. By observing ways to begin. parents during prayer time, the child will realize that this is not a passing fad that Mom and Dad will eventually TRIAL AND ERROR forget. We all make mistakes. There have been many times when I have simply forgotten to pray before I eat. Thankfully, IN CONCLUSION God knows when we are genuine and when we are not. I Finally, pray for one another. Ask God to open the hearts simply ask for His forgiveness, and do my best to begin of your children. We are not perfect parents. That is not again. We must also have this attitude with our children. what children need. They need imperfect parents, to allow They will forget and need to be reminded. We should them to be imperfect. This is the only way to Christ, by be gentle in this endeavor, because we want this to be surrendering all to Him. We all need help in this area, for a pleasant experience for them. They will be aware of pride creeps into all of our hearts every day. Do not be others watching, especially their peers. It is important for afraid to ask God for help in front of your children. This them to show their friends that this is a part of who they will give them the confidence to do the same. are and that they are not ashamed. This is a great way for Jesus said to His disciples: Ask and it will be given to our children to begin evangelizing others! you; seek and you will find; knock and the door shall be opened for you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the BE AUTHENTIC one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the If we are having a bad day, pray about it as a family. This door will be opened (Matthew 7:7-8). is a great way to communicate with one another as well as give it over to God. Surrendering to God and His will can be difficult. If we show our children that we are not afraid to trust God in all things, they will be comfortable trusting Him themselves. Be open and express your concern, worries, sadness, and fears to Him. Trust in Him openly in your words and actions so that you can show your children how wonderful it is to rest in His word. © KAREN REEP is a Catholic wife and mother to six children. She lives in a small town in southern Kansas. She has a degree in health science, PRAYER TIME but prefers to be a stay-at-home mom. She teaches Catechism to the If you do not already pray with your children, begin tenth grade girls of her local parish. In her spare time she enjoys writing, slowly. You do not want to force them into praying, lest it reading, and running. Article originally appeared on www.CatholicStand. become an unpleasant chore. Begin with the mealtime com. Reprinted with permission.

JUNE/JULY 2016 SHALOM TIDINGS 31 A CHECKLIST FOR CATHOLIC DADS By Randy Hain

have had numerous conversations over the years with other Look back on your own upbringing. What role did your father Catholic dads about the challenges of raising kids in today’s play? Were there other role models? Just as many of us live out the Iworld. The discussions usually center on the bad cultural lessons we learned in our youth, our children will someday emulate influences affecting our children, our hectic schedules, and our us. They are always watching and we have to decide if we will be well-intentioned desire to be better fathers. We mean well, but how their heroic role models who consistently set the right example or do we move from conversation to action? The stakes are high and relinquish our fatherly responsibilities to a host of bad societal this generation of children desperately needs fathers to step up to influences. Which will it be? their responsibilities. After recently reflecting on my conversations with other dads, I I was blessed to grow up with great parents. We did not made a list of the actions I am working on which I learned from my have much but my parents made sure my sister and I had love, father and my own experiences as a parent. Just making this list discipline, faith, strong values, and a solid work ethic. My mother was convicting and challenging for me, as I became acutely aware played a vital role in our family, as all mothers do, but I find as of where I fall short. Yet, developing this list has also inspired me I grow older that I am most like my father. I pass on to my own and I try to reflect on these actions during my prayer time each day. children many of the lessons he taught me, and I still look to him I have a long way to go, but I believe living up to the expectations for wisdom and advice. below will keep me headed in the right direction:

32 SHALOM TIDINGS JUNE/JULY 2016 SURRENDER giving, volunteering, time with our families, and certainly our We have to surrender on an ongoing basis to Christ for His will relationship with Christ. to be done in our lives. Guys, we are not in charge as much as we want to be! Saint Ignatius of Loyola once said, “Few souls LOVE OUR WIVES understand what God would accomplish in them if they were to Husbands, we must love and cherish our wives, plain and simple. abandon themselves unreservedly to Him and if they were to allow Our children will learn to love others by how they see Mom and His grace to mold them accordingly.” Dad love each other. We need to say, “I love you” to our wives and our children as often as possible. Let us show our wives respect BE A MAN OF PRAYER and cherish the critical role they play in our families. “The most Our children will be much more likely to pray if we do. Work on important thing a father can do for his children is to love their developing a daily prayer routine with the goal of at least one hour mother,” said Theodore Hesburgh. per day devoted to prayer. Sound difficult? Think about how much Today’s children face significant challenges and strong fathers, television we watch a day or how much time we spend answering without a doubt, are part of the solution. Let us take a few minutes e-mails. Consider the time we spend in our cars each day and how to reflect on how we are doing as fathers and as husbands. Take much we devote to exercise. the results of this reflection to prayer and reconciliation. Most We have more than enough time for prayer if we schedule it and importantly, commit to make the necessary changes. As Catholic integrate it into our day. Also, imagine the powerful influence we men, we have a responsibility to be strong fathers and husbands, can have on our children if they see us on our knees in prayer each leaders in our parishes, good stewards in our communities and night at family prayer time. humble followers of Christ. Let us look to the inspiring example of Saint Joseph, patron UNDERSTAND OUR TRUE VOCATION saint of fathers, workers and the universal Church, for his For those of us blessed to be married and have children, we obedience, humility, selflessness, courage, and the love he must recognize that helping our families get to heaven and being showed to Mary and Jesus. If we can emulate Saint Joseph even good husbands and fathers—not our business careers—is our real a little each day, we will be that much closer to becoming the vocation. Ask yourself, “Is my work serving my men and fathers we are called to be. family? Or is my family serving my work?” INVEST TIME Our children need our time. Put down the NOTHING COULD BETTER smartphone, turn off the television; cancel the EXPRESS THE PRIDE AND golf outing. Let us spend more time with our kids! In the absence of a father’s time with EMOTION A FATHER FEELS his family, you can bet there are countless bad influences ready to take his place and WHEN HE UNDERSTANDS guide his children in the wrong direction. I THAT HE HAS HANDED paraphrase author-theologian Dr. Scott Hahn, who wrote that in our modern age the father or DOWN TO HIS CHILD WHAT mother who is willing to walk out of the office REALLY MATTERS IN LIFE, after forty hours in order to have more time with his/her family is the real hero. THAT IS, A WISE HEART. POPE FRANCIS BE COURAGEOUS Christians are meant to stand out, not blend in. Blending in speaks to conforming so that our faith becomes part of the mainstream … and © RANDY HAIN is president of Serviam Partners Consulting/Coaching (www. we need to fight the culture. These are difficult serviampartners.com) and actively serves on a number of non-profit boards in the times and we have a responsibility to love and Atlanta, Georgia community. He is the senior editor for the Integrated Catholic Life™ defend Christ, be great role models for our (www.IntegratedCatholicLife.org), which he co-founded in 2010 with Deacon Mike families and stand up for our faith. Bickerstaff. Hain is a co-founder of the Annual Atlanta Catholic Business Conference, the Catholic Business Café, and leads the Saint Peter Chanel Faith at Work Ministry. PRACTICE DETACHMENT He is a prolific writer and frequent presenter on a number of topics including faith, Are we too focused on acquiring toys, bigger family, Catholic men’s issues, fatherhood, faith/work integration, careers, authenticity, houses, nicer cars, or the next promotion? We leadership and human capital. This article is adapted from Hain’s fifth book, “Journey need to let go of the things that are in the way to Heaven: A Road Map for Catholic Men” (Emmaus Road Publishing). Reprinted with of our prayer lives, Mass attendance, charitable permission of author.

JUNE/JULY 2016 SHALOM TIDINGS 33 quickly and efficiently, while helping me to be a positive voice in my work environment. Here are some inspirational points I keep in mind while working HEARING in a nine-to-five career: 1. “Work becomes worship when you dedicate it to God and GOD IN THE perform it with an awareness of His presence.” —Rick Warren, “The Purpose Driven Life” A secular view removes God from our work. However, God wants to be a part of our work. He calls us to use our unique talents for others. This helps to reveal to us why we are important and what we WORKPLACE are called to do. We can each bring honor and glory to God in our By Dana Edwards own way by using these unique talents in whatever work we do. Some ideas: thank God for opportunities He presents throughout the day; take time to acknowledge and thank coworkers ntil recently, I had this perception that to serve God in a for their talents; and recognize clients and customers by thanking day job, someone had to work directly in religious life or them for their business and time. Uwork as a missionary. I thoroughly enjoy my day job in communications, but could not help wondering if what I was doing 2. “Slaves, be obedient … as to Christ, not only when being ultimately served God. I searched the Internet for ways to see God watched, as currying favor, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will in the day-to-day struggles of work-life balance. of God from the heart, willingly serving the Lord and not human Through my search and prayer, I realized that working in an beings, knowing that each will be requited from the Lord for ethical environment that fit with my morals and values was the first whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.” —Ephesians step to seeing how my work served God. After reflection, I also saw 6:5-8 how the words I used and the promotional or informative materials Regardless of the type of work we do, God is our ultimate I designed inspired and educated others. God gives us all unique employer. Following God’s plan for our work is what gives it talents to grow and develop, as mentioned in The Parable of the legitimacy. Just as Adam and Eve, before they sinned, were given Talents in the Gospel of Matthew. I believe my communications role the task of taking care of God’s creation, so also were we created allows me to strengthen my gifts in thinking creatively and working to do God’s work of maintaining and providing for His creation.

34 SHALOM TIDINGS JUNE/JULY 2016 It is important to remain ethical in our daily tasks. When we are 5. “In every way I have shown you that by hard work of that sort we tempted to gossip, be grumpy or give in to peer pressure, we must must help the weak, and keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus remind ourselves that God calls us to act above those enticements. who Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” —Acts 20:35 3. “Those to whom God gives riches and property, and grants While we work to earn a living and provide for our families, we power to partake of them, so that they receive their lot and fi nd are also called to be generous to our neighbors in need. After all, it joy in the fruits of their toil: This is a gift from God. For they will is because of God’s blessings that we have the ability to take care hardly dwell on the shortness of life, because God lets them busy of ourselves. We are, again, called to take care of all God’s creation. themselves with the joy of their heart.” —Ecclesiastes 5:18-19 Serving God in our work completely depends on our attitude. Some ways we can take care of God’s creation include: We are called to be joyful in our work. This is made easier when we ◗ Refl ecting on what our God-given talents are and seeking ways to remember that we are ultimately serving others through our work. put our talents to work by serving our community. If there is a menial or stressful task ahead, think of the people who ◗ Seeking to respect life in all forms—the environment, human life benefi t from our service. from conception to natural death, and other living animals. ◗ Finding ways to live simply and not be wasteful (recycle, reuse). 4. “I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me ◗ Offering to help others in the offi ce—if a coworker is on a tight and I in him will bear much fruit, because without Me you can do deadline, ask her or him how you can assist in your role. nothing.” —John 15:5 ◗ Saving a portion of your monthly budget for charity, including God wants to be invited into every area of our lives, and much church tithing. You never know when a service opportunity presents of our lives are spent doing work. Though we may attain monetary itself—and now, you will have a budget from which you can pull! success or be productive in the workplace, if our work does not have God as its foundation, it is stripped of its transcendent © DANA EDWARDS is a recent graduate of the University of Florida. She resides in meaning. Including God in our daily lives is a sign of humility. Try Tallahassee, Florida, where she works as a digital strategist and volunteers as a asking for God’s help throughout the day or during an important lector and with communication outreach at her local parish, Good Shepherd Catholic meeting or project. Church. Reprinted with permission from the Catholic Apostolate Center (www. CatholicApostolateCenter.org).

FEEDBACK @shalomworld.org

Shalom Ministries is engaged in evangelization and discipleship. Our You hear global presence aids in inspiring individuals and equipping ordinary people to do extraordinary things! from us. We're here to help you in the daily work of loving Jesus, drawing closer to Let us hear His Church, and serving others. We can only do this in the power of the Holy from you! Spirit and with your presence, prayer, and input!

Contact us with your thoughts on current programming on Shalom World television channel. If you have suggestions of how we can better fulfi ll our mission to share the Peace of Christ, we want to hear from you! Partner with us as we continue to build our global ministry! WORLD YOUTH DAY

A pilgrimage isn't just about the destination. It's about the journey. Watch Shalom World TV to make the journey with Catholics around the world! Pope Francis invites you to Krakow, Poland, for World Youth Day 2016 this July! Even if you cannot travel, you are still invited to make the trip. RLD MEET ‘THE DOORKEEPER’ SOLANUS CASEY, THE MAN WITH NO EGO TH By Larry Peterson

he 2016 election (mere months away) long ago wore me down. The pundits include the greatest thinkers T of our time. I know this because virtually all of the television and radio commentators, campaign offi cials, editorial writers, government offi cials, talk show hosts, comedians and, of course, the candidates are always saying, “I THINK … this" or “I THINK … that.” Those folks sure do a lot of thinking. And I know it must be important thinking because the ones doing all the thinking are doing it on television, radio, in print or somewhere in cyber-land. It MUST be important, right? Wrong! They are all experts in everything you can think of and, fi lled with their own sense of grandiosity, vilify, name call, and besmirch those with an opposing viewpoint or philosophy. They even attack their opponent's families. Then you hear the great Machiavellian disclaimer of, "Hey, that's politics." You know what, I have my own phrase for all of it— rude, obnoxious, self-gratifi ed Egomania. I am so over it. I decided to begin a search for someone sans EGO. I was sure it would be almost next to impossible. But guess what? It was not. We Catholics celebrate the great feast of All Saint’s Day on November 1. The saints are members of the Catholic Hall of Fame (I call it that). They are the best of the best, the crème de le crème, the most selfl ess of the unselfi sh. These are the people who loved God unconditionally and, in some cases, failed many times before they got it right. But they all invariably emptied themselves for others before they died, many times giving their lives in doing so. Let me tell you about one of them who was a quiet, uncomplicated man who never aspired to be anything more than a simple priest. His name was Bernard Francis Casey and his family and friends called him Barney. There are many guys and gals like Barney in our Catholic Hall of Fame and they, like Barney, were “ego-less.” This was not a birth defect. Their secret simply was knowing how to love God with all their mind, heart, and soul. That led them to love others more than themselves. It was NEVER about them. Milwaukee. He spent five years there before being able to move on and join the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin. Upon his acceptance he took the name of Solanus after Saint Francis Solanus, a 17th-century missionary. Solanus Casey was finally ordained a priest at the age of thirty-three. He had to study extremely hard to reach that goal and when he was finally ordained he was given the title "Sacerdos Simplex" which means "simple priest." This meant that he was not permitted to preach or to hear confessions. He never complained and took joy in just being a "simple priest." Father Casey lived in Detroit and his main job at the monastery was that of "doorkeeper." Father Casey, wanting to be the absolute best at whatever God chose for him, became the finest doorkeeper that ever lived. He did this for well over twenty years and also became known for his service to the sick and the advice and consultations he would have with visitors. People began attributing cures and other blessings to his interaction with them or others. Father Casey was a man who opened and closed doors for people, a man who had no ego, and who was happy to serve God in the simplest of ways. A man who, because miracles have been attributed to his intercession, was declared "Venerable" by Pope John Paul II in 1995. This is the first step toward canonization as a saint. Father Solanus Casey died in 1957. Father Casey is the first man born in the United States to be on the road to full sainthood. And all he did was humbly and happily open doors for people and talk to them if they wanted. A Catholic Hall of Famer for sure and quite the contrast to the gaggle of egotists that bombard us daily with their "I think" wisdom. Solanus (Barney) Casey has re-charged me. It might be nice if all of today’s bloviating pundits could hear or read his story.

© LARRY PETERSON (www.larrypeterson-author.com) is a Catholic/ Christian blogger and posts commentary weekly. His work has appeared in such publications as Zenit from Rome, Aleteia, New Evangelists, Top Catholic Blogs, Big Pulpit, Catholic365.com and others. His first Barney was born in Oak Grove, Wisconsin, back in 1870. children's picture book, "Slippery Willie's Stupid, Ugly Shoes," was He was the sixth of sixteen children of Irish immigrants. published in 2011. In 2012, his full-length novel, "The Priest and the When Barney was a boy he contracted diphtheria and it left Peaches" was released. His latest novel, "The Demons of Abadon," began him with a permanently raspy sounding voice (Barney would being published in Volume form (ebook format) in the fall of 2015. The never have qualified for American Idol). Barney felt the call complete novel (paperback and ebook) will be available in the spring of to the priesthood but, at the age of sixteen, he hit a detour. 2016. Peterson resides in in Pinellas Park, Florida, and his kids and six He had to go to work to help the family and worked at jobs grandchildren all live within three miles of each other. His first wife died in Minnesota and Wisconsin as a lumberjack, a prison of cancer in 2003. He remarried four years later and is now the primary guard, a streetcar operator, and a hospital orderly. caregiver for his wife, Martha, who has Non-Hodgins Lymphoma since Barney always did whatever job he had to the best of his 2011 and came down with Alzheimer's Disease in 2012. Peterson says, ability, wanting to serve his God in all things. Five years later "God has me where He needs me and I try my best to make Him proud. he was able to enter Saint Francis High School seminary in His blogsite is www.slipperywillie.blogspot.com.

38 SHALOM TIDINGS JUNE/JULY 2016 life did I ask God for success or wisdom or power or fame. I asked for wonder and He gave it to me.” WONDER-FILLED An elderly man came up to me afterward with tear-reddened eyes and said, “You know, it was years and years ago when life beat out of me the wonder you talked about tonight; and with wonder went my faith in God and in the goodness of life. The gift I received tonight was a new hope that I could fi nd wonder again, and so fi nd faith again by asking for it.” SAINTS In a world plunged deep in dark and divisive cynicism, it is our By Dr. Tom Neal wonder-fi lled saints that keep alive in the world the hope that God’s Eternal Innocence is not, in this falling world, forever slain by men. Rather, it is still dared by those few who choose daily to embrace the ne of my favorite quotes in all literature is: "In wonder all gift of faith in the Innocent Heart of Jesus, wounded by malice yet philosophy began: in wonder it ends … But the fi rst wonder is burning with ardent love, that births in them afresh adoring, yearning, Othe offspring of ignorance; the last is the parent of adoration." trusting wonder. It is the prime contagion of the Communion of Saints —Plato in whose number I hope to be. Wonder that posture of trusting, yearning openness to the endless “… and a little child shall lead them” —Isaiah 11:6 surprise of existence, the ceaseless fascination of beauty, the sleepless seduction of goodness and the unending allure of truth—is the presupposition behind all learning, including that transcendent mode of learning that is born of faith in Jesus. I recall an incident years ago when I gave a talk on the necessity of © DR. TOM NEAL (https://nealobstat.wordpress.com) serves as Academic Dean and cultivating wonder in the life of faith and argued that wonder, being a Professor of Spiritual Theology at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, Louisiana. “declension” of the gift of holy fear, has to be begged for and received He has worked for twenty years in adult catechesis, retreat ministry, and teaching as a grace from God that heals our narrowness and opens us to see all theology in various contexts. Dr. Neal received his Masters in Systemic Theology from things as fl owing fresh from God’s “Eternal Innocence.” I built the talk Mount St. Mary’s University and a Ph.D. in Religion at Florida State University. He around Abraham Joshua Heschel’s famous quote, “Never once in my resides with his wife and four children in Metairie, Louisiana. VOICE OF THE VATICAN

From its state-of-the-art studio in the shadow of the dome of Saint Peter’s Basilica, join anchor Ashley P. Noronha for the latest news, events, features, and interviews directly from those who know the Catholic Church best! Every Saturday at 7:00PM ET eroine, cocaine, opium, marijuana, excessive alcohol, not to mention hallucinogenic drugs like mushrooms (psilocybin) Hand LSD—he consumed most of these before the age of eighteen, many before he turned fourteen, the addictions growing stronger as the existential emptiness deepened. What sounds like an introduction to a Hunter S. Thompson novel actually constitutes the autobiography of a Catholic priest. Father Donald Calloway of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception retells his dramatic and heart-wrenching life story in “No Turning Back: A Witness to Mercy.” As a destructive youth, Calloway spent his adolescence succumbing to temptations large and small, from sins of the flesh with constant promiscuity, to crimes against the law with thousands of dollars of grand theft in stolen merchandise, as well as nightly partying with friends consuming all forms of drugs and addictives while listening to heavy-metal music. At one point, Calloway became a follower of the rock band the Grateful Dead, inspiring entrance into a psychedelic culture which, among other things, left him with a big Grateful Dead tattoo on his arm. To this day he has it, as a remembrance of the past he lived. The past he left. To this day he does not have a clue how that tattoo got there, being stoned to oblivion during the night of its implementation. During his youth, Calloway was such an angry and rebellious kid that he names a chapter in his book “Animal” in describing himself, his early mentality, his vicious ways. His family (especially his parents) suffered great emotional trauma as a result of their son’s behavior. For a while, they lived on a military base in Japan, for Calloway’s stepfather was an officer. This did not last too long. Running around with Japanese gangs, stealing tens of thousands of dollars in merchandise—from electric guitars to cars—got young Calloway arrested and deported from the country. He was escorted RESCUED BY VIRGIN MARY By Brother Daniel Klimek through the airport by military guards with chains and shackles find anything to read but, preferably, land on a National Geographic around his hands and feet, while he spat at his captors and threw for the pictures. Instead, his hand landed on something else, an out verbal obscenities to surrounding pedestrians, angrily cursing odd book about a subject so alien and obscure to the teenager his way onto the plane. that it was intriguing enough to read. The book was called “The Although, like any angst-filled adolescent, Calloway developed Queen of Peace Visits Medjugorje.” a strong hatred for his parents—notwithstanding their efforts Essentially, it was the story of the Marian apparitions in Medjugorje to help their struggling son, praying for him and checking him which brought on the crisis of his conversion. He was only one of the into rehabilitation facilities numerous times—a guilt-stricken first of a long line of Christians who were to fall under the spell of the consciousness still haunted him about his younger brother, where mystical Bosnian village, embracing that land of mystery. a stronger bond existed. Father Calloway describes his feelings “This book showed me a side of things I had never really heard poignantly: of or experienced before, but I certainly could relate to the radical “The only bond that I had left with my family was with my nature of the message … It was not long before I realized this book little brother, Matthew. When it came to him, I felt terribly, almost was presenting me an offer to change my life and surrender to inexplicably conflicted. Ten years younger than I, he would often something greater than myself—to believe in God and be different. plead, ‘Brother, play with me.’ A part of me It was a revelation that required a revolution wanted to stay home and be the big brother in my thinking. Could this be the way out I I wanted to be and thought he needed. But “On one occasion, was looking for?” I was so preoccupied with my girlfriends He spent the whole night reading the and drug buddies that I didn’t want to I even found myself book, until the early hours of the morning. commit to anything domestic.” In the process, the inner beings of his soul After returning from Japan and checking in a crack house, were transformed from the anxiousness and into an ineffective rehabilitation clinic in crawling around on restlessness he previously experienced to Pennsylvania, things did not get any better. a deep serenity and peace that radiated For years the drugs continued, so did the the rug on my hands and pervaded his spirit. The messages promiscuity, the theft, and another arrest. of Medjugorje touched him on a higher In terms of his growing addictions, Calloway and knees looking level, the return to prayer, peace, fasting, a describes vividly what a poisonous rabbit reconciliation with God and the need for hole he fell into, hitting rock bottom in what for any cocaine that conversion. For the first time, something reads like a distant and dreary space. offered him hope from his abusive past, from “On one occasion, I even found myself might have fallen his life of sin and despair. in a crack house, crawling around on the on the floor. There “The Virgin Mary was saying things that rug on my hands and knees looking for any were so clear and captivating that I found cocaine that might have fallen on the floor. were cockroaches myself moved and literally experiencing There were cockroaches running around and emotion in a deep way. This was a kind of maggots in the sink from all the unwashed running around and emotion I hadn’t experienced since I was dishes. A crying baby could be heard, a little boy who really loved his mother and unattended in a back room. Yet there I was maggots in the sink wanted to make her happy. And yet the Virgin on the floor, right along with the baby’s Mary was saying that she was my mother, mother, searching frantically for white specs from all the unwashed that she was the mother of those who had on the floor. If we found anything white, we’d dishes." gone astray and was calling us back to God, put it in the bowl and smoke it, even if we to Jesus. She made it clear that she was didn’t know what it was.” not God, but she was pointing to her Son So, what on earth could have turned this and saying He is the Messiah, the Savior of rebellious youth, this struggling addict, this “animal” (as he later the world. I found myself totally falling in love with this mother, this described himself), into a devout Catholic priest, not to mention woman.” into an eloquent author of books on theology and Mariology? The aesthetical quality was sublime. He was experiencing a It all began one night in March 1992 when, to the surprise of beauty he had not felt in a very long time. In this woman, the Virgin his friends, Calloway decided not to go out partying, as was the Mary, he found a beauty that was not poisonous and sinful—like usual routine, but to stay at home for the night. He felt immensely his past encounters with women—but pure and refreshing, an depressed, a longing and emptiness occupied his very being. “I immaculate gentleness that offered a ray of hope and emanated a found myself sitting there alone in my room with nothing to do and radiant light into Calloway’s darkened world. Spiritual and sublime, no one to turn to. My existence was laughable. My life was a waste, this attraction led Calloway to a small prayer of the heart, in which and I was hoping it would somehow come to an end … I hated my he revealed his longing for this mysterious presence in front of him. life. I was restless and anxious about everything.” Looking for a way “As I continued to read, I said to her in my heart, ‘I want to to fill the time, he began browsing his parents’ bookshelf, not to believe. I really do. You are piercing the little bubble of my world

JUNE/JULY 2016 SHALOM TIDINGS 41 and offering me something more than I ever heard. I need this.’” His past was still very prominent in his mind and the remorse, the This inner need, this spiritual longing, was being satisfied. As he regret that was felt was overwhelming—the need for forgiveness continued reading, a strange but wondrous rebirth from death to encapsulated his entire being. new life occurred. “Although I was in serious despair about my life, “In fact, I started crying so hard that I could hardly breathe. I as I read the book, I felt as if my heart was being melted. I hung on had to literally gasp for air because I was crying so uncontrollably. to each word like it was transmitting life straight to me.” There were torrents of liquid coming out of my eyes. Before long, Then a new day came. “Early in the morning, when I closed the clothes I was wearing were soaking wet.” the book, I said, ‘The message in this book is life changing. I Hours of such excruciating crying led to inexplicable tears of have never, ever heard anything so amazing and convincing and joy and, all of the sudden, he felt an immense peace in his heart, so needed in my life.’ One might say that this was my first prayer. a tranquility that surpassed understanding. “I started to feel Whomever this Virgin Mary was, I believed what she was saying— almost bubbly and giddy, almost like a child being tickled by his that she was my mother and came from heaven for me.” father. Suddenly, I was animated. I had life again and felt so much Instantly, after telling his overwhelmed mother about the different. My body tingled all over. I was so wrapped up in Jesus experience, Calloway—though not a Catholic yet—ran off to Mass for that I became aware of how much I was loved.” the first time in his life, speaking to a priest afterwards, confessing This purifying peace led to something inexplicable, a mystical—if his entire past to the man. When he came back home, Calloway not downright supernatural—experience. Like thousands of patients began throwing out all of his filthy possessions from his past life, who have reported undergoing near-death experiences, Calloway from drug paraphernalia to pornographic magazines, to his heavy left his body. metal records and his water bongs and pipes. Six 30-gallon bags “But all of a sudden something below me and within me—this is were the result. very difficult to explain—knocked me out of my body. I literally felt After clearing his space of all distractions, Calloway knelt by his as if I had left my body. My physical form remained on the couch, dresser and deeply desired to go into prayer. But he did not know but my soul or spirit had left.” The experience paralyzed him, as how to pray. As he recalls, “Until earlier that day, I had never said a he gradually saw his body farther and farther away from him, his prayer in my entire life.” This did not stop him, however, from falling spiritual presence being slowly removed from the physical. Out of into an overbearing ambiance of deeply healing and purifying tears. desperation, he let out a penetrating, spiritual cry to that person

42 SHALOM TIDINGS JUNE/JULY 2016 his studies, implementing a deeper love of God in his mind. O sinner, be not discouraged, Professor Miravalle, a theologian and Mariologist, is a leading figure in the Marian movement and also played a great influence on but have recourse to Mary in Calloway. Miravalle is the president of Vox Populi Mariae Mediatrici, a movement within the Catholic Church that hopes to gain papal all your necessities. Call her approval to deem Mary as the Co-Redemptrix, becoming the fifth Marian dogma. Interestingly, Miravalle’s own connections to your assistance, for such to Medjugorje are not small. He has written numerous books on the subject and, when he was a doctoral student in Rome, his is the Divine Will that she dissertation was called, “The Message of Medjugorje: A Postconcilar Formulation of Lourdes and Fatima.” The dissertation showed how should help in every kind of the messages of Medjugorje align with Church tradition, ranging from the Gospels to the teachings of the early Church fathers in necessity." their foundational elements and, of course, to Vatican II and other approved apparitions. The thesis was successfully defended in the SAINT BASIL THE GREAT Pontifical University of Saint Thomas (Angelicum) in Rome in 1984. Beyond inspirations like Professors Hahn and Miravalle at who had just touched his soul. “Mary!” What happened next was Franciscan, Calloway went on to study with other greats. He phenomenal. Calloway was “violently slammed back” into his body. received both his M.Div and S.T.B. at the Dominican House “After I got over the shock of the impact, a feeling of peace of Studies in Washington, D.C., and then earned an S.T.L. at overwhelmed me, a peace that was tangible. Then I heard a voice, the International Marian Research Institute in Dayton, Ohio. At the most pure feminine voice I have ever heard and ever will hear. the Institute, he studied with such prominent theologians and It was within me, it was outside of me, it was like liquid love being Mariologists as Father Luigi Gambero and Father Eamon Carroll. poured over me. It was pure maternal love. It said, ‘Donnie, I’m so Most remarkably, Calloway took the last class that the great French happy.’ That’s all I heard, but I knew who it was. Nobody called me theologian and Mariologist Rene Laurentin taught at the Institute. Donnie but my mother. Nobody. I knew this was the voice of Mary, Laurentin himself has been one of Medjugorje’s greatest supporters the Blessed Virgin Mary. I was so at peace that I felt like a little boy for years, with countless of books on the apparitions. snuggled close to his mother’s breast. I was so at peace, so loved Calloway’s S.T.L. dissertation concentrated on the Mariology in and so at rest that I went into a deep sleep. I hadn’t slept like that the diaries of Saint Faustina Kowalska, combining his love for Our since I was a young boy.” Lady with his love for the Divine Mercy devotions. The dissertation The phenomenon that Calloway experienced, in addition to was more than 200 pages long, contained more than 700 leaving his body, is called an interior locution (locution cordis), the footnotes—in Latin, French, Polish, Italian and Spanish—and, years mystical grace of hearing a spiritual presence—in this case, Our later, was published into a book called, “Purest of All Lilies: The Lady—in an interior way through the depths of the soul. Virgin Mary in the Spirituality of Saint Faustina.” He even graduated After his profound spiritual experiences, an official conversion summa cum laude with his S.T.L. to Roman Catholicism followed. What also followed was the The former drug addict, convicted criminal, and high school desire for the priesthood. Not just any priesthood. Calloway dropout graduated with an advanced degree, studying with some wanted to become a Marian priest, both for Our Lady and for the of the most renowned theologians in the world and publishing reason that the Marians of the Immaculate Conception are the his work into a book about the Mother of God. Today, Father official promoters of the Divine Mercy devotions of Saint Faustina Calloway is the House Superior for the Marians of the Immacluate Kowalska, the Polish nun and mystic who experienced visions of Conception and their vocations director. He preaches his story Christ in the 1930s. Calloway saw himself, through his past, as throughout the world, reaching countless hearts. His life story the poster-boy for Divine Mercy. For, through the grace of God, he is an example of grace and divine mercy in motion, through received the greatest mercy after a life of sin. the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and particularly her Becoming a priest meant going back to school. For this high continuing work in Medjugorje. His autobiography is a powerful school dropout, this was not the easiest task. Notwithstanding, and poignant testimony about one man’s journey, being led out of through his subsequent education and efforts, Calloway was able a tunnel of darkness and despair into the radiance of hope and to encounter some of the most eminent Catholic intellectuals and belief in something purer, truer and warmer than the temptations scholars in the world. After earning his GED and spending some of contemporary culture—what the human soul longs for, spiritual time in community college, the Marians sent Calloway to study at sublimity and meaning in one’s existence. Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio, where he earned his bachelor of arts in theology and philosophy. It was at Franciscan BROTHER DANIEL KLIMEK is a friar in formation, studying to be a priest, with the that he encountered some of his favorite professors, including the Franciscan Friars of the Third Order Regular of the Province of the Most Sacred Heart prominent Catholic intellectuals Scott Hahn and Mark Miravalle. of Jesus. This article was published at ministryvalues.com and is reprinted here with Calloway admits that Professor Hahn had an influential impact on permission.

JUNE/JULY 2016 SHALOM TIDINGS 43 BOOK REVIEW THE GOSPEL OF HAPPINESS By Mark Phillips

In 1998, the American Psychological Association launched a new movement called “Positive Psychology.” Instead of focusing solely on how to make mentally ill people better, they began to study the field from another angle: what makes healthy people healthy? What makes them happy? How can people become more resilient? Out of this came a new understanding of the core of what brings us contentment. It turns out that their discoveries are perfectly compatible with the beliefs and customs the faithful have been practicing for millennia. Dr. Kaczor establishes the overall premise that happiness is attainable and psychology can help, he offers practical steps to reach that goal. Chapters are dedicated to faith, hope, and love; prayer, gratitude, forgiveness, virtue, and willpower. In each, the biblical expectation is described. Then, he illustrates different studies that have proven empirically how these elements lead one to happiness. Dr. Kaczor is a William E. Simon Visiting Fellow in Religion and Public Life in the James Madison Program at Princeton University and is professor of philosophy at Loyola Marymount University. With that level of educational prowess, one might expect this book to be erudite, lofty, and difficult to follow. On the contrary, it is written with an easy style, by hat is happiness? How can we achieve the goal a regular man with a wife and children and challenges like of being happy? As Christians, we have a hope the rest of us. He often uses personal anecdotes, including Wand peace that defies understanding in Jesus failures, to illustrate his points. and our eternal salvation. God, who is Love, wants us “The Gospel of Happiness” delves deeply into the to be happy. Are all faithful Christians, therefore, always scientific research done on this subject, both from content and positive? What should a follower of Christ secular scientists and those who approach it with do if he or she struggles with depression or melancholy? a spiritual slant. The sheer number of works cited What if the knowledge of forever with God is not enough throughout the book gives credence to the idea that to make the here and now as joyful as it could be? There happiness is not an ephemeral mystery that cannot be are countless self-help books that teach how we should understood. It is something that can be studied, and it eat right, sleep right, or think positively in order to be can be acquired. It is not something that is given to only happy. Most of these are based on solid research and a special few who know the secret. There are methods offer helpful advice. However, too many ignore God’s that can be practiced by anyone to reach that goal. place in the equation. And while it is a “self-help” book, it does not ignore Dr. Christopher Kaczor’s new book, “The Gospel of the aid of the greatest Helper of all. Happiness: Rediscovering Your Faith Through Spiritual Practice and Positive Psychology,” is a brilliant marriage © MARK PHILLIPS is a freelance writer, stay-at-home-dad, homeschool of psychological theory and theological truth. Instead of teacher, and theatre director. He is the author of "The Enemy in Your clashing with secular studies that attempt to reveal the Cupboard" and "A Donkey Named Flea." His latest novel, "Jezebel's cause of happiness, Dr. Kaczor illuminates their findings Diary," is now available on Amazon. He is a regular columnist for "Shalom and clearly shows how they are compatible with what we Tidings" Catholic magazine. Phillips lives with his wife and four children already know about God’s love for us. in Springboro, Ohio.

44 SHALOM TIDINGS JUNE/JULY 2016 MEDIA SCAN

CALLED & GIFTED The Called & Gifted™ Discernment Process is has been used since 1993 by over 75,000 lay, ordained, and religious Catholics and other Christians around the world. This is a three-part discernment process intended to help lay Catholics discern their charisms. Part one is the Called and Gifted workshop which lays the foundation for the beginning of discernment. Part two is the One Hour Gifts interview, which is an invaluable part of the process. Part three is the substance of the discernment process. There are versions of the Called & Gifted™ introductory workshop available for parish and diocesan staff, Catholic school teachers, DREs and catechists, diocesan priests, seminarians, religious congregations, and young adults/campus ministry as well as for average lay Catholics in a parish setting. For more information about these specialized versions, visit http://www.siena.org/Called-Gifted/ VIGIL called-a-gifted. VIGIL is a multimedia resource for deep prayer and an authentic encounter with God produced by a community of artists, musicians, and filmmakers. A seven-part video series of live-recorded songs and reflections is culminated by an invitation for the Church to “keep watch and pray” for the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and reawakening of faith throughout the year. Powerful music and spirit-filled lyrics, VIGIL offers tracks by John Finch, Greg & Lizzy, Andrea Thomas, and Cathedral (featuring Shawn Williams & Kevin Terry). Visit their website www.TheVigilProject.com for a host of resources, news, digital downloads, music videos, podcasts and inspiration today!

CA LIVE APP Catholic Answers Live, hosted by Patrick Coffin, is a daily, two-hour radio program dedicated to Catholic apologetics and evangelization. As a call-in program, Catholic Answers Live connects listeners to prominent leaders in the Church today—including scholars, nuns, priests, bishops, and cardinals—and touches on every aspect of our lives as Christians. You will hear discussions on just about everything relating to the Church: doctrinal controversies, family concerns, social issues, evangelization, ethics…you name it! With CALive, you can listen to live and archived shows, download for offline listening, search, filter, review upcoming shows and add past shows to favorites, and more! Download today in the App Store or Google Play Store today!

JUNE/JULY 2016 SHALOM TIDINGS 45 2016 UPCOMING EVENTS

JULY SEPTEMBER SEP-OCT

IHM NORTH TEXAS CATHOLIC CATHOLIC WOMEN'S CONFERENCE NATIONAL CATHOLIC SINGLES 29 HOMESCHOOLING CONFERENCE 9 "COME TO ME" 30 CONFERENCE TO Arlington, Texas TO San Antonio, Texas TO Dallas, Texas 30 ◗ For more information visit 10 Featured speakers include 2 ◗ For more information visit www.ihmconference.org Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller, www.nationalcatholicsingles.com Sarah Swafford, Susan Tasso, Mary Jane Fox. OCTOBER AUGUST ◗ For more information visit www.pilgrimcenterofhope.org INTERNATIONAL CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF ST. AUGUSTINE 2 STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL 6 CATHOLIC MEN’S CONFERENCE TO New Orleans, Louisiana Jacksonville, Florida CHRIST OUR LIFE CATHOLIC ◗ For more information visit Featured speakers include Bishop 24 REGIONAL CONFERENCE 5 www.catholicstewardship.com Felipe Estevez, Father Michael Revak, TO Des Moines, Iowa Brother Angelus Montgomery, Brother 25 Featured speakers include Innocent Montgomery, Hector Molina, Archbishop Charles Chaput, Bishop DECEMBER Brian Sexton. Richard Pates, Father Tom Hagan, Father Michael Schmitz, Deacon ◗ For more information visit NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON Alex Jones, Jackie Francois Angel, www.dcfl .org/mensconference 1 CATHOLIC YOUTH MINISTRY Mark Hart, Jesse Romero, Magnus TO San Jose, California Macfalane-Barrow, and musical guests Steve Angrisano, Ike Ndolo 3 Featured speakers include Bishop Band. Frank Caggiano, Chris Stefanick, Kara Powell, and many others. ◗ For more information visit www.christourlifeiowa.com ◗ For more information visit www.nccym.info

46 SHALOM TIDINGS JUNE/JULY 2016 How do you grow in your faith, increase your peace, engage the world and enjoy it all at the same time? Sounds impossible? Well, we made an app for that.

Shalom World App One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic and user friendly! Get commercial-free HD broadcasts or vibrant programs on your Android or Apple device. From movies to music, missionary stories to daily Mass, talk shows, news, documentaries and cartoons, this app is made for the universal Church and meets you right where you are.

When we live in a time where there is an app for everything, Shalom World off ers you everything you need in one app! Download and share the Good News of Jesus Christ! Available for FREE on Google Play or on iTunes today! LET US HOLD FAST THE ti CONFESSION OF OUR HOPE WITHOUT WAVERING, FOR HE WHO PROMISED IS FAITHFUL. HEBREWS 10:23