The following is by the Most Rev. Michael C. Barber, S.J. Bishop Barber took part in a pilgrimage to Lourdes, France, with Order of Malta, to the shrine where Our Lady appeared in 1858. This is part of his May 8 homily from a Mass at Sacred Heart Parish Church in Lourdes.
I had heard years ago about the Diocese of Arlington, and how they were ordaining so many young priests — more than any other diocese in the USA. I always wondered what their secret was.
Last year I was invited to give a retreat to the priests of Arlington, and I accepted because I wanted to find out what their secret was. Of course it helps to have a good bishop. While on the retreat one of the priests came to see me.
He said, “I don’t have a problem to discuss. I just feel called to share something with you. I am a full-time hospital chaplain. I visit sick people all day, every day. I made these little prayer cards with a picture of the suffering Christ. On the back I wrote a short prayer. I ask the sick if they’ll say this prayer.”
The prayer says something like “I offer all my sufferings for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and sisterhood in the diocese of Arlington.”
Because of these prayers offered by the sick and suffering for the sake of the Diocese, Bishop Paul Loverde ordained 100 new priests in 10 years.
Or take another case. I am a Jesuit priest and I lived for years in a Jesuit high school community in San Francisco.
One of our priests there faithfully followed the three pillars of the Jesuit Rule for 40 years: 1. Prayer and Mass in the morning. 2. Teach five classes during the day. 3. Scotch and soda in the evening.
After 40 years of teaching physics, he was diagnosed with a serious illness and told he had to move to the Jesuit infirmary in Los Gatos. Most priests hate to get news like that, and resist going to the infirmary. He, on the other hand, went dutifully and found he was given a new mission-in-life: the Prayer of Intercession.
He had a large statue of the Sacred Heart moved into his infirmary room. He sent out emails to all the Jesuits saying: send me your intentions. I’m here all day and I want to pray for your intentions. Like St. Paul, he offered his sufferings for the sake of Christ’s body, which is the Church.
Well, things started happening, people’s lives were being changed. Prayers were answered: exams were passed, scholarships were granted, alcoholics started going to AA, mothers wrote that their kids were going back to church again … and many more.
Then a few years later when the doctor told him “We are going to amputate your leg on Friday” he sent out an urgent email: “This Friday many special graces and blessings are going to be granted. Send me your most important intentions.”
At that point I was a seminarian, and wrote and asked him to pray that I would get approved for ordination. And this Jesuit was approved and ordained.
I believe all these things were granted by God because this Jesuit Father offered his suffering, together with Christ on the Cross, for the sake of the members of the Church.
We are gathered here in St. Bernadette’s parish church. Even if the Blessed Mother had never appeared to her, everything Bernadette needed for salvation is here. When you go home, look around your parish church. Everything you need to get to heaven is there.
They did a survey recently, in one of the newspapers in my city. They found that people who go to church regularly live longer — about seven years longer on average.
My friends, those who are baptized, those who have their sins forgiven in confession, those who receive the Lord’s Body and Blood in Holy Communion don’t just live longer …
You will live in eternity!
Story from The Catholic Voice.
So what constitutes to being a mortal sin? Most people will only think of murder, or stealing; but it is a lot more involved than that simple narrow definition.
I would like to ask Bishop Barber this question. Does a politician who endorses abortion and votes for it time and time again…..and dies without going to confession……go to Heaven?
Only God knows who is and is not in heaven.
I am not the bishop, but I think he might reply that with all due respect, you don’t really have to worry about that. That’s up to the politician to worry about. Your own soul is enough for you to be concerned about.
Maria,
I don’t think anyone knows for certain the answer to your question. But I suspect that Bishop Barber’s answer would be that such a person has placed themselves at grave risk for eternal communion with the Evil One.
I used to ask Nancy and Paul Pelosi’s Pastor (now deceased)– why he always publicly praised them to the skies, and why he did not seek to teach them and heir five daughters, the True Catholic Faith— and he always replied, that I should be more loving and accepting of their point of view, that every Catholic has the right to their own viewpoint. I would say, “You think I should be more loving and accepting?? But doesn’t anyone love the poor babies in their mother’s wombs, in danger of death, daily, by abortion??” Then he would just smile, and walk away. This “fine” Catholic family, learned NO CATHOLICISM AT ALL– in their parish church!! And Heaven?? Poor Bishop Barber!
Anyway– it does help, if you want to get to Heaven– to have good, honest parish priests, who will teach and guide you, and your family, in the Catholic Faith, lifelong!! So many young people today, are never taught much, about their Catholic Faith, even those who attend Mass regularly, with their parents!
Linda Maria, how do you know that? Do you teach in faith formation? Do you audit the classes? Maybe they are teaching the kids how to live the Catholic faith in their daily lives and not burdening them with lots of rules. Just saying! I don’t know either.
Bob One– as you may know, there has been little good catechesis, since Vatican II– and many people have grown up with little or no training in their Faith! Many have been so discouraged! Many also feel confused, and just terrible, having no training in Christian Morality, upon committing serious sins– such as pre-marital sex, and abortion, or gay sex acts– etc. And some are blessed, to finally find some answers, by reading Catholic books– or by listening to Catholic TV or radio programs. They deserve good religious and moral training, from childhood, in their parish church!
P.S. Bob One, we all have to GROW UP and live by rules! And we must all be expected to grow into maturity, as good, practicing Catholics– and good citizens of our Nation, too! We all have to obey good rules, and practice mature self-discipline, daily!!!!! Mature FAITH in Our Lord, and practicing His Faith with love, maturity, good discipline, and care, leads to the highest of all happiness, well-being, and fulfillment, that we ever could dream of — Salvation, Heaven, Eternal Life!!
I think all Catholic priests and prelates have the duty to Christ, to teach the Cathoic faith to all in their churches, and guide them correctly, in the practice of Faith and Morals. Yes– it is quite obvious, that the Pelosi family’s Catholic moral and religious training, was deliberately ignored and neglected, by the Church! Many other famous, so-called “Catholics,” had the same thing happen!
I think Bishop Barber is a good bishop, and I think he means well. But unfortunately, all of our Catholic prelates today, are limited in what they can do, due to the restraints placed on them, since Vatican II.
I am astonished by these words by Linda Maria. It all sounds castigating people, judgmental, critical of our fellow human beings; yet she doesn’t seem to see the plank in her own eye, and condones the disobedience from those in the extreme right—such as the disobedient societies out there that thumb their noses at the Ordinary Form, bishops, and Pope Francis. It’s all one-sided. It’s all hypocritical.
Calm down, jon. You need to grow up and mature, and see the GOOD that a Catholic poster is expressing– in this case, to advocate for PRO-LIFE, in questioning a Pastor of a famous PRO-DEATH U.S. political figure and her family, since the priest (and many Jesuits, too!) publicly PRAISES and FULLY SUPPORTS these false “Catholics!” Rep. Pelosi, who is fully supported by her parish church– is a dangerous, powerful, corrupt political figure– and she has done enormous damage to her country, and has supported the deaths of millions of unborn babies– just to start off with!
What a wonderful article1
Linda Marie: please share with us what documents from Vatican II have restrained Bishops from exercising their duties. Several documents expanded the role of the Bishops and Bishops Conferences. The actions of the Curia and several post-council popes have stonewalled a more active role for Bishops in the Church.
Fred, don’t you know, that at Vatican II, the Church decided to no longer govern, and to seldom use the Code of Canon Law?? The Church Fathers all declared religious freedom for all! A bishop is now forbidden to run the affairs of churches, schools, and Catholic institutions in their diocese, as well as decisions of priests and religious orders, in his diocese! That is why, for example– the president of Notre Dame– was able to invite “Pro-Death” Pres. Obama, to give the 2009 graduation speech, and honor him– an independent decision. He did not have to obey his local bishop, who vigorously opposed his decision. Ask your local bishop about this, Fred.
Linda Maria, this is all false! Please cite the exact paragraphs of the Vatican II documents to which you refer.
You can find the Church’s post-Conciliar, new beliefs on religious freedom for all, in the controversial “Declaration on Religious Freedom, ” “Dignitatis Humanae,” of Dec. 7, 1965- the Council’s thirteenth document. I am sorry for the way in which religious freedom has hampered the ability of our post-Conciliar prelates, to correctly govern our Church— disastrous! It is very hard on a good bishop, like Bishop Barber, not fair! The overall impact on our Church, of this decision, has been extremely bad!! “Freedom for all” concepts– can also ultimately lead to– (sorry!) multiple schisms!!! With each to go their own way!!
Bob One– no, this is NOT to be found written down, in the documents, it is the POLICY that the Church Fathers decided on, at Vatican II– that the clergy NO LONGER ACT IN AN AUTHORITY POSITION– and a bishop CANNOT tell Catholic institutions of his Diocese, what to do. GO ASK YOUR LOCAL BISHOP, Bob One!! This position is a BIG PROBLEM in today’s Church, all over the world! For example, as I cited above— this is the reason that Notre Dame had “PRO-DEATH” Obama come and speak, at graduation, in 2009, and gave him honors—- the local bishop disagreed, but had NO POWER to stop Notre Dame! NO POWER AT ALL!!
Sorry to sound so emotional — but the decision of the post-Conciliar prelates to become extremely lax in Church governance, and promulgation of the “freedom of religion” concept, for all clergy and laity to believe and to do as you wish– this results in a massive disintegration, and possibly– tragically!!– multiple schisms!! Everyone makes up their own personal version of the Catholic religion??? And the Pope, also?? Guess I just have to get used to this, right??? I am not “dogmatic”– but I do believe that Catholic religious and moral practice, is a big responsibility to Jesus Christ, Who died for our Salvation!! Anybody respect that?? How about many of the the Jesuits– and Holy Cross Fathers, at Notre Dame?? Respect for…
I will finish my last sentence, in my above post. Here it is: Respect for Christ is sadly missing!