​Advent is “waiting eagerly for the Lord and keeping to the Way” (Ps.37:34).  We look forward to the coming of Christ as we prepare for the commemoration of the birth of Jesus.  It is also the season of anticipating His coming again at the end of time.  We remember that Jesus said “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through Me” (Jn 14:6) 
 
We pray, meditate and reflect on our lives to prepare ourselves for the second coming of Christ.  We may also contemplate the lives of the saints who have passed on ahead of us as we review events and consider things we could offer up to God.  We examine the injustice that exists in our life, our community and the world and ask God for deliverance.  We hope in God to deliver us.  We offer our hope in God when we keep to the way as did the Apostles and Saints.  They taught us and they set us an example; they love us and keep us in prayer.  Their lives offer us hope in Christ Jesus.  They kept the way and we ought to pass this way on to others.  Let’s love God and our neighbors as ourselves.  God bless.

 Composed by: Br. Pio Benedict   

Here we are again, it's that time of year.  Halloween approaches with its ghosts and goblins, witches and demons.  Immediately following All Saints Day on the 1st, we have All Souls Day where we remember the dead, our family and friends who have crossed over.   It is important to remember the poor souls in purgatory at this time.  These poor souls need our thoughts and prayers so they can move on to sit with our heavenly Father.
 
As St. Padre Pio has said, "do as I have done.  Pray, pray always for the souls of the dear departed.  Even if your loved ones are in Heaven, we must always pray.  If they no longer need your prayers, they are applied to other souls in need."
 
Padre Pio had an intense and loving concern for the dead and the salvation of their souls, continually praying and remembering them.  One of the stories told of him was of St. Pio’s rising from dinner with the other friars and going to the dining room door where he was seen speaking to someone, even though no one was there.  Upon returning to dinner the friars inquired, so Padre Pio replied, "Don't worry.  I was talking with some souls who were on their way from Purgatory to Heaven.   They stopped here to thank me because I remembered them when I celebrated Holy Mass this morning."
 
Think about it, when we are in pain and misery, isn't it a marvelous thing when someone comes to our aid or even just comforts us?  All of us need this interaction, concern and love.  What makes the souls in Purgatory any different, except for the fact that many of these poor souls have no one to pray for them.  They are long forgotten.
 
St. Pio once stated, "more souls of the dead than of the living climb this mountain to attend my Masses and seek my prayers."  He never forgot them and we should do the same. 
 
I want to thank the Padre Pio Foundation for this reminder and for refreshing my memory of some of the above information and facts.  I would also like to thank them for the beautiful prayer that follows.  Please visit them at www.padrepio.com  and explore more about St. Pio.  
 
PRAYER FOR OUR DECEASED LOVED ONES
 
Almighty, Loving and Gracious God, with faith and hope I pray for the eternal welfare and well-being of my deceased loved ones, especially... (here mention names.)
 
Raise them up to the fullness of life with You forever, and welcome them into the company and perfection of Your saints, to enjoy unending love and everlasting rest and peace in Your presence.
 
May Christ, the Good Shepherd, bring my beloved deceased safely home to You, and may they be happily reunited with family, relatives,  and friends who have gone before them into Heavenly paradise.
 
Grant comfort,  strength  and consolation to all who mourn  and grieve as we await our eternal reward,  seeking only to be home again with You and all those we have loved so deeply in this life. Amen.
 
    
 Please remember these poor souls now and throughout the year.  If we don't, their suffering will continue.  Make this a daily habit and help them reunite with our Heavenly Father.
 

By Br. Raymond de Penyfort
 
In Christifidelis Laici, the document of His Holiness John Paul II relating to the role of the Laity, we as laymen are also called to go into the vineyard (the world) [Mt 20:1-16].  The whole world is to be transformed.  Today, however, as never before, we must be cognizant of our role.
 
The document speaks of the PLACE where lives the laity, men and women in every position and walk of life.  For us as Lay Dominicans, the challenge is even more apparent since we already are aware that we must PRAY, Study, be together in Community and Evangelize.  I would suggest that the PLACE implies the time and when and where we must be especially conscious of that role.
 
Today we are going through incredibly difficult times and our Church needs us now more than ever.  The whole Church is being subjected to criticism, in large part due to poor behavior of its leaders; therefore, how must we, the laity, evangelize in this feverish climate?
 
I feel that at this time, it is wise to step back and realize that we are understandably shocked and dismayed and want to see justice done.  It may be difficult for lay people to know what to say or do, but let us continue to pray for the poor unfortunate victims and that this never happens again.
 
In the meantime, I wish to concentrate on other issues that many of us average Catholics face in whatever the forum—the PLACE.  We must continue to emphasize our concern for one another in whatever way we can.  For instance, coming away from a discussion with two acquaintances at a health club who are both facing cancer and sickness, with a sincere “I’ll be praying for you” promise.  There is a novena at SS. Philip and James to St. Peregrine, the patron saint of cancer patients.  I have several Jewish friends who needed support because of losses of friends and relatives who have been consoled just by the fact that I took the time to listen.  I made a few telephone calls for someone whose relatives needed counseling, and I have recently made efforts in my own family to heal some past wounds between members.
 
My efforts have been ongoing but in none of these instances except one did I include an invitation to attend church—just yet.  But in all of these situations, the individuals have known that I’m Catholic and although not in heaven yet, I believe in my Church.
 
What I’m saying with all this is not to sing my own praises, but that if we can continue to try to show to others kindness and good works, it is because of our Christian beliefs that we are motivated and enabled to do so.  Corporal works of mercy can never stop for us.
 
During this time of trouble, I am reminded of an occasion when I was addressing a sad school board situation that was very divisive and quoted a meaningful poem that I learned as a school boy at Sacred Heart of Jesus School, by John Henry Newman:
             
              Lead kindly light amid the encircling gloom, lead thou me on.
              The night is dark and I am far from home, lead thou me on.
              Keep thou my feet, I do not ask to see
              The distant scene; one step is enough for me.

Image Source:​By Jacob Willemsz de Wet - The Yorck Project (2002) 10.000 Meisterwerke der Malerei (DVD-ROM), distributed by DIRECTMEDIA Publishing GmbH. ISBN: 3936122202., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=160203

Composed by: Sr. Caterina de Siena

Several friends and I are doing a summer book study on Robert Cardinal Sarah’s, The Power of Silence.  The Cardinal gives profound and challenging insights into silence that we may counter the world’s “dictatorship of noise.”  What is the purpose of an entire book dedicated to silence?   That we may learn to reside in the quiet of our hearts and to enter into union with God. 

Cardinal Sarah references The Twelve Degrees of Silence by Sr. Marie-Aimee de Jesus, O.C.D. (edited with Introductions and Reflections by Lucinda Vardey), a nineteenth century French Carmelite nun who wrote about her journey to union with God by being attentive to and practicing silence in many forms.  Sr. Marie-Aimee’s insights are brief, but very compelling.  Edith Stein, a.k.a. St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, O.C.D., was so impressed with The Twelve Degrees of Silence that she wrote a treatise on it, drawing public attention to this mystical writing.

I would like reflect upon and present all Twelve Degrees of Silence in a blog series, setting out with the first degree of silence on the path to Divine Union - Silence in Words.  This silence challenges us to “speak less to the created and much to the Creator.”  Sr. Marie-Aimee recommends tuning out the world and its news in order to hear and listen to the quiet voice of God.  Lucinda Vardey provides wonderful reflections that are geared to achieving each of the twelve degrees of silence.  It is recommended to take one decree of silence per month to incorporate them into practice.

The book study group delineated the following steps to attain the first degree of silence which leads to more silent time for prayer:

• Turn off the television, radio, CDs, MP3s, computers, etc. in order to dispel the constant, noisy bombardments that are the antithesis of silence.  It is in silence that we may come to know how God may be speaking to our hearts in “a still small voice” (1 Kings 19:11-13).  We cannot hear God’s voice and bask in His Presence if chaotic noise and frantic hearts are the order of the day.  We are in the world, and cannot totally tune it out; however, we can create a quiet monastic cell within our hearts where we can retreat and commune with God.
• Tame the addiction to our phones by waiting at least five minutes before responding to those “notification pings.”  This helps us to gain the perspective that we are in charge of our actions and responses and that our phones or electronic devices do not own us.  Pick a specified time of the evening to “turn off the phone” and do not look at it until the following morning.  It is impressive to see how much time you now have for prayer!
• Slowly incorporate moments of silence into our daily routines so that we can enjoy the peace of God’s Presence that He wants us to experience.  Learn to appreciate a pre-dawn morning before everything springs to life or the quite stillness of the late evening when nature is resting.
• Realize that many distractions will come our way as we attempt to pray.  When a distraction presents itself, “don’t get on that ship.”  Imagine the distraction sailing by without giving it another thought.
• Vardey recommends asking yourself the following, “Do you really need to speak?” and “Is it possible to listen more?”  In other words, check the need for “adding your two cents” to a conversation.  You will be amazed at what a blessing it is to remain quiet and “just listen” to others.  This does not mean we become mute and never speak again.  We become more prudent in what we say and when.  A calm and peaceful heart that abides with God is the goal of silence.
• Speak only when required and make your speech meaningful and a blessing to others.
• Begin each day with Psalm 141:3, “Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.”