My guardian dear

Few things in life burden the human heart with greater sadness than loneliness. To awake each morning to the pangs of unwanted solitude can be emotionally crippling to our self-esteem. Our senses long to know the touch of a loved one, our eyes seek to rest upon the smile of a guardian, and our hearts sigh for the faithful love and friendship of a kindred spirit.

And although many of us truly struggle with a deep lack of human affection, most of us also fail to recognize the companions we’ve been blessed with all our lives.

Earlier this month, we celebrated the Feast of Sts. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, as well as the feast of the Guardian Angels. During those days, the Church celebrated the gift of these heavenly spirits with joy, although throughout the year, angels are constantly present to us also in the scriptures as beacons of light in our pilgrimage towards the City of God.

Every Catholic child is brought up to believe in a personal guardian angel who watches over him/her from cradle to grave. I too recall being given a beautiful prayer card when I was about seven years old; which depicted an angel watching over two little children with great tenderness and love - his powerful wings stretched over them as a gentle shade as they picked flowers along a brook - his eyes never far from their faces.

Of course as Christians we believe in the existence of Angels since it is a matter of scriptural and doctrinal truth, but the idea of a personal guardian angel seems more suitable for children; just like Santa Claus, fairies and elves. Adults in a sense should know better than to indulge in such naivety.

But is it really immature to believe in guardian angels? Let’s think about that for a moment. Who among us need guardians? The young and vulnerable certainly, but also the weak and defenseless.

Alright, but who else? The rich and powerful surely want to be protected from envious enemies who may wish them harm, but equally deserving of this help would be the prominent children of royalty and heads of state.

I think of how young royals, or the children of Presidents etc, are constantly caught on camera accompanied by their armed bodyguards or secret service agents wherever they go. Understandably, this vanguard of safety enforces some degree of necessary protection.

For some however, this relationship is more than just a security detail. In times past especially, the personal bodyguard is not just protector and shield, but also mentor and confidante. His mission is to constantly look out for his young charges, to ever remind them of their exalted dignities – and by association – their royal duty to always live and act in ways worthy of such dignity.

Far away from the comforts of palace and throne, whether at work, at play or in school, the bodyguard reflects and recalls the memory of the king upon his royal charges; so that despite the natural vigor and adventure of youth, the young royals may not forget their own princely dignity, but always be reminded of their duty, honor and special calling in life.

When this guardian is not protecting, he is counseling, tutoring, encouraging and consoling his young friends.

Now as children of the King of Kings, are we thus not children of royalty? And as children of God, are we hence not vulnerable to the preying intents of His enemies, who desire nothing more than to see us lose our heavenly inheritance through sin.

As such, far away from our heavenly home, do we not need and deserve a spiritual mentor and bodyguard to watch over us until the time comes for us to return safely to our Father’s house?

Of course we do, lest we forget our true dignity as children of God, and embrace a lifestyle and attitude more akin to animals.

Indeed, our Heavenly Father commands that for every one of his sons and daughters, there should be entrusted an angel of light as guardian; to accompany, lead, teach, protect, guide, console and defend always. And like the best of the best, our spiritual bodyguards come to us from God’s own elite army.

These magnificent soldiers of Christ are not cold, nor frightening in their sense of duty before God. Rather they love us with the tenderness of God’s own flaming heart, and seek nothing less than to set our own hearts afire with love for God. They are solicitous to our needs, desirous of our happiness, and faithful to us from cradle to grave.

They are as St. Padre Pio often claimed; our dearest companions on earth. Sons of God in whom his glory is made manifest and his will enthroned for our sakes. They are our friends, our elder brothers in Christ, and our dearest companions from young. They are our own guardian angels, no one else's.

Now it is not enough for us to know that we have a protector and guardian, we should also remember that we have a mentor, confidante, brother and friend, with whom we can open our hearts without fear or regret.

With every step we take in this life, a strong arm is there to support us in love and courage, assuring us that God is ever with us. One of the most beautiful images in scripture for me is the verse about the Archangel Raphael personally offering the prayers, sighs and petitions of Tobit before the face of God, joining his own angelic voice to the prayer of this poor man; interceding for him before the Most High.

Such is the devotion of the angels to us, lest we should lose heart and forget that God exists, and yes he loves us.

The next time we feel alone, let us not forget to turn our minds and hearts to this faithful, loyal and heavenly companion - to ask his help and guidance in all things, to seek his counsel and prayers, to speak, smile, cry and celebrate the joys and sorrows of this life with - for he is eager to serve and lead us to Christ, who is our common master in life and in death.

So to all those who read this, I salute you and your angel with love, and I leave you with this childhood prayer, since those of us who have experienced this friendship know that guardian angels in particular, show us the face of God in a world bereft of supernatural vision:

“Angel of God, my guardian dear. To whom God’s love entrusts me here. Ever this day be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen”

Fishers of Men (Part 1) AWESOME!

A beautiful vocation video for those of you discerning a call to the priesthood

Fishers of Men (Part 2) AWESOME

Second part of this very well done vocation video

He Leads the Way

An interesting remark from a sermon I heard today - "Why are we so conquered by "feeling" rather than "knowing" in our lives today? We do something and act out our choices because we feel like it, regardless of whether we know something is right or wrong. More and more, our lives are ruled and governed by the fickle embers of our feelings (which often cannot be trusted to be authentic witnesses of truth) rather than the conviction of knowledge formed by conscience and prayer.

When faced with any dilemma or conflict, many of us would rather bury our minds in the denial of responsible judgement - as long as I feel it's ok, it's ok - rather than discover the truth about things and ourselves. Not many feel comfortable looking into the mirror of their own conscience, and many more would prefer to escape into the indulgence of their feelings and whims, just so they don't have to think things through...and quite possibly risk admitting their own faults and failings.

In the same way, we cannot afford to build our faith on feelings, since any soul who strives to live righteously with fidelity to the gospel will soon discover that he has more problems, crosses and sadness than he did before his conversion. It almost seems as if the "good man" is a sorry man where providence is concerned. And the irreligious and lackadaisical prosper with apparently lofty blessings from on-high.

At times like these, we may be tempted to cry out in despair because we feel abandoned by God. And yet this dark night is common to the saints; which has led a personage no less than Tereza of Avila to exclaim, "No wonder Lord you have so few friends, look at how you treat them."

However to feel abandoned and to know you're abandoned are two very different things. And the saints no matter how grievous their trials and feelings of despair, know in their hearts that God does not abandon them; that in His love, all their Calvarys have meaning and worth, and that the right path to sanctity and heaven is often preceded by thorny roads.

We must be careful not to let "feelings" alone, however authentic and genuine, be the arbitrator of our life decisions. Instead, we must seek to live our triumphs, losses, joys and hurts in the wisdom and knowledge of God's holy spirit; and a hope that is founded on the faithfulness and redemption of Christ. Above all, we need to ask for the courage to persevere in prayer, since in the words of Mother Teresa (who for many years struggled and lived through her own dark night) - "The fruit of quietness is prayer; The fruit of prayer is faith; The fruit of faith is Love; The fruit of Love is service; The fruit of service is peace."

Faith and truth are not built on feelings, and neither is love. And although we may sometimes feel sad, we will also know deep joys and triumphs in this life...if we persevere in faith, hope and love.

No retreat, no surrender

I was watching a documentary on WWII the other day and one scene in particular stood out in great drama for me.

It was a shot of allied soldiers huddling in the rain - tired, brutalized and discouraged - as an enemy plane rained down a blizzard of propaganda leaflets calling for surrender.

Meanwhile the radio cackled with the insane voice of an enemy station trying to convince the allied troops that they were losing the war in spite of all their efforts and sacrifices. Even worse than the actual torments of battle, this constant barrage of bad news and negative propaganda succeeded in reducing a squad of brave men to tears and despair.

Psychological warfare they called it...almost as powerful as the explosive charge of a combat brigade, but infinitely more damaging in its destructive appeal.

That's what happens in a war. You try and break the enemy spirit, rob them of their passion to resist and inflict the pain of despair upon their souls. After that, any attempt to resist will be drained of courage and hope. And when hope is lost, the battle is won even before a single shot is fired.

We've heard so much about the present war against terror. But so little is ever said of the more horrifying and insidious war in our midst, just because its reality and devastation are often invisible to our eyes.

I am speaking of course of the war that St Paul talked about; the spiritual battle that assaults us all, and against which the horrors of this world are but a pale comparison.

As it stands, I can't think of a time in history when the powerful influence of the secular media is more widely employed to discredit Christianity; with more hostility, fervor and sophistication than in recent years.

It seems that everywhere we turn, we are constantly bombarded with the scandals and infidelity of Christians, the righteousness of abortion and homosexual unions, the sexual perversions of our religious ministers, the relentless mocking of our Christian traditions, the overwhelming rise of divorces and failed marriages, and a merciless stampede upon the idea of absolute truth as taught and defended by the Church.

The list goes on of course; not only with news, persuasions and campaigns that are directly abusive towards the Christian religion;( in particular Catholicism), but also rife with every negative image of suffering, corruption, indifference, chaos and cruelty that cloak the human spirit like a blanket of futility snuffing out any embers of hope and courage, as if persuading people of goodwill to give up the good fight since all is lost anyway.

Indeed, why try when you can make little or no difference? Why not instead join the multitudes and at least spare yourselves the sufferings and ignominy of a useless moral stand?

In contrast, little media coverage is ever given to the triumph of the human spirit, particularly when it comes to the glories and righteousness of the Gospel message and the success of its apostles in turning back the tide of materialism and despair.

Even in our entertainment, the values, lifestyles and perceptions advocated in movies and sitcoms are cleverly designed to rob generations of a living conscience and an accountability to God and each other, knowing that countless people act like drones in subscribing to these artificial realities as gospel alternatives to happiness and fulfillment.

So much negative publicity, so much propaganda against Christians, the Church, organized religion, traditional values, the sanctity of family life, chastity, obedience, self-sacrifice and all the glories of Christianity (and often times perpetrated by the very ministers and stewards who are entrusted with safe-guarding these sublime mysteries and truths for the salvation of souls), that one is prompted to ask this question...

From where does all this evil propaganda arise from? Who is really behind this campaign to vanquish and subdue the Christian heart? What conscious force has hijacked and manipulated this sublime art of communication for use in perpetuating distortions and lies?

In truth, who wields a greater influence over the secular media than the enemy of our salvation, whom scripture warns as being steeped in the art of deceit and cunning subterfuge?

Now don't get me wrong, the modern mass media is a miracle of wonder and a great tool for good and evangelization but in our own time, but it has been employed by the powers of this world to subject man to a prison of false ideals and destructive attitudes, instead of helping him to build a more humane and compassionate society based on objective truths.

There is no news like bad news. There is no truth like the one that comes packaged, edited and compiled with precision to fit a social, economical or political agenda. There is no greater accountability than the lust for prime ratings and readership. And there is no greater loyalty to journalistic integrity than the commitment to pander to the crowd.

Give them what they want and they will love you for it.

Isn't that what the Imperial Senate told Caesar in the Roman heydays of gladiatorial games and bloodlust? Win the crowd and you will win Rome? Is it any wonder then that Christians who remain steadfast in their faith are held in contempt?

To speak publicly of Jesus Christ is to invite scorn, hostility, ridicule and humiliation. And just as some Christians in ancient times have been cowered into silence and impotence by the rantings and ravings of an aggressive crowd, Christians today are just as easily overpowered and conquered by the storm of popular opinion.

How many times have I myself blushed with embarrassment as I sit privy to a conversation that criticizes and condemns my Catholic faith with mocking derision, and felt weak in the face of such overwhelming odds? What more those of my brethren whose feeble attachments to the faith are weak at best, and who are often wont to give anti-christian opinions and arguments more blind faith and respectability than they deserve.

Nevertheless, no storm however violent and threatening can stand up to the power of Jesus Christ, who commands the wildest tempests with supreme majesty and might, as the apostles discovered one stormy night upon the raging waters of Galilee...if...we but keep our eyes fixed upon Him, our rock and our foundation, our refuge and safe harbor in this sea of life.

The next time our hearts feel the cold fingers of futility when confronted with the endless array of bad news and scandals in the media and entertainment arts, let us be brave and remember that this is merely psychological warfare; the desperate attempts of the enemy to drive us into surrender lest we remember our invincibility in Christ, who has already conquered this spiritual war; the prize of which is the salvation of souls.

Let us rather pay no attention to the wiles and propaganda of hell, and keep our eyes centered instead on our valiant captain and Lord - the Lamb of God who by His passion, death and resurrection has overcome the forces of darkness and has consigned them to the everlasting death.

Let us truly rejoice to be part of this victorious army, for both scripture and experience tell us that with Christ and in Christ we will always triumph! And if we are careful not to shut our hearts to this spiritual reality, the father of lies will find it hard to sneak up on us who keep the light of Christ before our eyes always.

Instead, let us put on the armor of God - faith, hope, charity, truth and righteousness - and use every means at our disposal to launch a divine PR campaign for gospel truth and divine love, missing no opportunity to speak of Christ our Lord with reverence and love, making no excuses for our faith, and turning back the icy clutches of relativism and false morality in our world today by the sheer warmth and conviction that comes from embracing the fire of the Holy Spirit.

In our work, in our relationships, in our families, in our marriages, let us be living banners proclaiming the grace and mercy of God, and use every ounce of our gifts and talents to promote the gospel truth of Christ.

The war is won but the battle for souls continues. The time is now for those who would act.

For as always, the old adage rings true - evil succeeds when good men choose to do nothing. And the glory of God is man fully alive…in His goodness and truth.

What's forever for?

Doesn’t anybody ever stay together anymore? That’s a question from one of my favorite songs growing up, but today it seems more pertinent than ever before.

It’s heartbreaking to see so many of us give up on love for really stupid and conceited reasons. We often think of infidelity as involving another man or woman, but the truth is, we are guilty of infidelity when we let anything - whether it's our egos, pride, hobbies, entertainment, social life, friends or work - hijack our hearts from the ones we love, and place our relationships in neat little compartments which we only take out when it pleases us.

In this narcissistic world of what I want, what I prefer, who I want to be with; fidelity is often a tragic victim of selfishness disguised as “being true to myself”…without realizing that we’re often untrue to the one who loves us.

I wonder how many of us actually place our partners as priorities in our lives, and how many of us who enjoy that precious place in the hearts of our partners actually treasure that privilege. It’s sad, but all too often we let our relationships die right before our eyes because we turn our sights away from what’s true and noble, and fix our glances only upon the seduction of self-interests.

Don’t couples know that the opportunities for reconciliation, for healing grace and love are blessings that do not grow on trees, but are graciously given from heaven – not because we deserve it but because we need it. And as the gospel so often reminds us, we must not hesitate with graces, we must not be slow to respond to the kindness God shows us. When the opportunity for reconciliation and peace expresses itself, we must not let pride rob us of that saving grace - for there may not be another one like it.

We need to pray for hearts today; hearts that have forgotten how to love responsibly, to love with hope and forgiveness, to persevere in charity and truth, to be contrite in humility, to trust with generosity, and to always choose fidelity – not just to our partners, but to the virtues of love itself!

For in the end, falling in love is easy…choosing to love is heroic and ultimately the only true face of love. And that is the love we must always pine and work for, even if our partners don't deserve it. Or should I say - especially when they don't deserve it, so that with God's help love may conquer all, and bring healing both to ourselves and to our relationships.

Billy Gilman - What's Forever For Lyrics

I've been looking at people

And how they change with the times

And lately all I've been seeing are people

Throwing love away and losing their minds


Or maybe it's me that's gone crazy'

Cause I can't understand why

All these people keep hurting each other

When good love is so hard to come by


So what's the glory in living

Doesn't anybody ever stay together anymore

And if love never lasts forever

Tell me what's forever for


I've been listening to people

And they say love is the key

And it's not my way to let them lead me astray

It's only that I want to believe


But I see love-hungry people

Trying their best to survive

While right there in their hands is a dying romance

And they're not even trying to keep it alive


So what's the glory in living

Doesn't anybody ever stay together anymore

And if love never lasts forever

Tell me what's forever for


And if love never lasts forever

Tell me what's forever for