The week of July 27-July 31, St Mary will be having the lighting in the church replaced with more energy effecient LED lighting. Installation will take place from 7:30am-4pm. This means the church will be closed for those hours. As a result, the 9am and 12pm Masses will be moved to Holy Cross Academy all that week, and Adoration is canceled. If the lighting work takes less time than scheduled, we can move Mass back to the church, so check back for updates. The 6:30am Mass will not be affected.
Thanks for all the birthday wishes and kindness! I got to spend the evening of my birthday out on a parishioner’s boat on the Potomac. We didn’t fish, but just enjoyed the sunset. It has been years since I fished at all and my skills as a fisherman are sketchy. Once I was deep-sea fishing with my brothers, they both caught 25+ fish, standing shoulder to shoulder with me, I caught none. This led to some good natured ribbing about my being a ‘fisher of men,’ but not of fish!
All of that time not catching fish led me to reflect on how the enemy of our souls is clever, calculating and patient in the baited traps that he sets for us:
Calculating: Like a good fisherman, Satan knows what bait to use for each and every fish that he is trying to catch, our individual weaknesses and disordered desires.
Clever: Of course the hook is hidden in the bait. But there is always a hook to ensnare, trap and enslave us.
Patient: He sets the bait before us, and waits. Souls aren’t taking the bait?…. Just wait, they will come.
Did you ever wonder what goes on in a fish brain?… Likely not much more than “looks good… Yum… yum…Ouch…Oh no!” I pray that much more thought and wisdom be engaged in our struggles to resist spiritual bait.
On the other hand, the Lord does not deceive in inviting us into His boat (the boat being an ancient image of the Church). He reveals to us our deepest desires for Love, and tells us of the cost (the Cross), but carries it for and with us. And we fill up His boat by willingly jumping in at His invitation.
I guess that is the kind of fish I need and have, ones willing to jump in the boat!
The week of July 27-July 31, St Mary will be having the lighting in the church replaced with more energy effecient LED lighting. Installation will take place from 7:30am-4pm. This means the church will be closed for those hours. As a result, the 9am and 12pm Masses will be moved to Holy Cross Academy all that week, and Adoration is canceled. If the lighting work takes less time than scheduled, we can move Mass back to the church, so check back for updates. The 6:30am Mass will not be affected.
Last fall I was privileged to offer Mass at the altar where Saint Padre Pio prayed Mass every day and to see his confessional where he so faithfully cared for souls. I have included a few pictures and I hope that his intercession is making me a better confessor!
St. Padre Pio said “Temptations, discouragement and unrest are the wares offered by the enemy. Remember this: if the devil makes noise, it is a sign that he is still outside and not yet within. That which must terrify us is his peace and concord with the human soul. That which comes from Satan begins with calmness and ends in storm, indifference and apathy.” I agree that I have seen this in souls. Sometimes I try to remind folks that it is only by God’s grace that we can be frustrated and disgusted by sin. If we did not have His help, we would wallow and delight in the muck. The very turmoil of the soul coming to Jesus for confession, shows that they are still, with God’s help, doing battle against sin. Be encouraged that no matter how much you may be frustrated and in turmoil, the Lord is with you.
If you don’t find any turmoil and struggle against sin, ask yourself, “have I become indifferent and apathetic to ‘being perfect as my heavenly Father is perfect?'” Because the indifference is the hardest to overcome. It is the diabolic indifference of: ‘my life is fine. I don’t need Jesus.’ I for one, need him always and everywhere.
