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Showing posts with label Michael Seagriff. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Michael Seagriff. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

So when can we expect to hear Humanae Vitae preached at Sunday Masses?

By Michael Seagriff



File:Paulaudenece1977.jpg
Pope Paul VI (photo credit: Ambrosius007,
Wikimedia)


I recently read a short but interesting article written by Father Michael Orsi. It is entitled How Same-Sex Marriage Won. You can read his article here at Catholic Exchange


As I am wont to do, I simply passed it along to several social media sites with the same question I posed in today's post. That's all I did. What a stir it created.  

I did not have time to join the on-going and often troublesome discussion but did forward another relevant piece I discovered on Homiletic & Pastoral Review (HP&R), entitled Celebrating "Humanae Vitae" 45 Years Later. You can find this excellent article by the well respected editor of HP&R and Jesuit, David Vincent Melconi, S.J., by clicking here.  

Maybe I am naive but I was caught off-guard by the nature of the discussion these two articles sparked. Reading some of the comments became excruciatingly painful - a hard but valuable lesson learned by this wannabe evangelist.   


Continue reading at Michael's blog Harvesting the Fruits of Contemplation.

Friday, February 14, 2014

Love your priests--all of them

By Michael Seagriff
 
 
File:Ordination Livre d'Heures 15e.jpg
Ordination of a Priest, 15th century engraving
(photo credit: Wikimedia Commons)
 
 
 
Blessed John Paul II gave the Church many beautiful gifts; among them were the Year of the Rosary (2002-2003) and the Year of the Eucharist (2004-2005).  In doing so, he encouraged priests, religious and laity to use these gifts and harness the spiritual power and strength that flows from them. Both he and his successor have urged their priests to make the Eucharist the source, center and summit of their priestly lives and to fully embrace and live their unique vocation as "another Christ." 

During the Year for the Priest (2009-2010) Pope Benedict XVI held St. John Marie Vianney up as the model for all priests because the Cure of Ars accepted the cross, was full of zeal for the salvation of souls, was an ardent Adorer of the Blessed Sacrament, was greatly devoted to our Blessed Mother, a lover of sinners who spent hours daily reconciling them with their merciful God, a model of purity, humble in all things, lover of penance and mortification, and a good and holy priest.

Not a single priest should be hesitant to imitate this great priest and saint! There have always been John Vianneys in our midst. Thankfully, more priests are responding positively and wholeheartedly to the Holy Father’s challenge. We are beginning to experience the fruits of their faithful embrace of that call! While we certainly need more priests, we first need holy priests whose Christ-like example will attract other men to the priesthood they love.
 
 
Continue reading at Micheal's blog Harvesting the Fruits of Contemplation.

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Unlock the doors before it is too late!

By Michael Seagriff



File:The church of St Thomas - inside the south porch - geograph.org.uk - 889229.jpg
The Church of St. Thomas (photo by Evelyn Simak,
Creative Commons).



I was disappointed when I was not able to see You this morning.  I have grown to treasure our morning visit, Mass and the reception of Your Sacred Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity- so nourishing, peaceful and transforming.  I have noticed over the years that on those days I am unable or foolishly choose not to start my morning this way, the rest of my day is often more hectic and stressful. I marvel at Your great Love and Generosity in making Yourself so available to all of us.  We certainly are not worthy of that love and attention.

How joyful I felt as I drove up to Your place later that same day.  I did not have a lot of time to spend with You, but You can do so much in such a short period of time.  It is nice to end my day with You, however briefly our time together may be.

I began talking to You as I walked towards the Church door.  As I grabbed the door handle, I was anxious to be with You.  Suddenly, my peace was shattered.  The door was locked.  I could not get in.  You were there waiting for me, but I could not get in.  It was only 3:30 in the afternoon!!!  Had others come and been denied admittance?  So few ever visit You; how disappointed You must be when finally we come to see You but cannot get in.

This is not the first time that I have been locked out.  I sometimes stop at Your other places during my travels but cannot get in.  For so much of my life, I took You for granted and rarely thought of You.  Now I am incensed when we are kept apart.  You told St. Margaret Mary Alacoque that you have a “terrible thirst to be loved by your creatures in the Most Blessed Sacrament”.  You gave us this gift of Yourself. You long for us to visit and to show You heartfelt appreciation for all that You have done for us.

Continue reading at Micheal's blog Harvesting the Fruits of Contemplation.