American Catholic Radio

“Go, rebuild my Church!” This divine inspiration, which St. Francis received at San Damiano—surrounded by the church’s crumbling walls and oddly shaped stones strewn about on the ground—provides a suitable backdrop for Franciscan Media’s new mission-oriented focus. Like San Damiano during the time of Francis, the Catholic Church today is in serious need of rebuilding. Pew and CARA studies over the last 20 years have shown a decline of Catholic Baptisms, marriages, and Mass attendance. For every one person who becomes Catholic, six are leaving the Church, and one out of every 10 Americans is a former Catholic. (Incidentally, when Francis received his inspiration, church attendance at San Damiano was at zero.) These kinds of statistics are staggering, and they point to the critical need for rebuilding. But what kind of rebuilding is needed? And how does Franciscan Media fit into this? Catholic bishops and ministry leaders have been slowly waking up to the fact that they can no longer presume people attending Mass—or children attending religious education or Catholic school, or couples presenting themselves for marriage—have already encountered Jesus Christ, what is often described as an initial evangelization. Without an initial faith, Church teaching remains at the level of religious information, not formation. Prayer methods, reflecting on Scripture, and spirituality sound more like lifestyle options and not the pathways to meaning and fulfillment that they are. To account for this, Pope Francis has spent much of his papacy emphasizing the need for a more missionary-minded Church: a Church that presents itself as an open door and as a field hospital. This kind of Church is doing spiritual triage in the name of Jesus, the aim of which is to reorientate a person’s faith within the body of Christ. The Church needs a renewed evangelization and catechesis—what Pope Francis often describes as an evangelizing catechesis. This kind of catechesis is rooted in the Gospel message. Its singular aim is to communicate the truth of God’s love, which he calls in his exhortation the Joy of the Gospel “the primary proclamation.” This proclamation represents the most fundamental and saving Christian truth: that Jesus Christ loves you, he died and rose for you, and he is at your side right now! Franciscan Media has been sharing this primary proclamation for many years and in many different ways (e.g., St. Anthony Messenger, books, and online resources). Going forward, to support the evangelizing and catechetical rebuild beginning to take place in the Catholic Church, we’ll be reorganizing our content around themes of rebuilding, including: Rediscovering God, Healing Our Relationships with God and Others, Listening to God and Discerning God’s Will, and Following God in the Manner of St. Francis. Underneath these headings are countless subheadings and corresponding resources that can be customized to speak more directly to the pain points of individuals, families, and parish leaders. Some of this content will remain free to use. But we also want to customize and package our content in ways that support the rebuilding of families and parishes and help us to be more sustainable as an organization. The Church must be missionary at its core—going where people are, living among them, and sharing the good news of the Gospel message through word and witness. While it used to be the thinking that missionary work was something that took place in a far-off country, the mission fields of today also include Catholic parishes and homes. Franciscan Media wants to be present at these missionary outposts, bringing the care, love, and hope that come with opening oneself up to a radical surrender to God’s love à la St. Francis. Please pray for us, and know that we are praying for you! I delve even further into this important theme in my interview with Thank God for Monday. Listen below.

Image: Saints Oswald and Notburga | Hand-colored metalcut print | Meister mit dem Maschenhintergrun Saint of the Day for February 29 (925 – February 29, 992) Saint Oswald’s Story The last acts in the life of today’s saint make for an amazing story. In truth, they merely underscore the holiness he exhibited throughout his life. Born into a military family in 10th-century England, Oswald was a nephew of the archbishop of Canterbury, who raised him and played a crucial role in his early education. Oswald continued his studies abroad in France, where he became a Benedictine monk. Following his appointment as bishop of Worcester, and later as archbishop of York, Oswald founded monasteries and introduced many reforms. He supported—and improved—scholarship at the abbeys he established, inviting leading thinkers in such fields as mathematics and astronomy to share their learning. Oswald was widely known for his sanctity, especially his love for the poor. The final winter of his life was spent at the cathedral in Worcester that he so loved. At the start of Lent, he resumed his usual practice of washing the feet of 12 poor men each day. On Leap Year Day, February 29, he died after kissing the feet of the 12th man and giving a blessing. The news of Oswald’s death brought an outpouring of grief throughout the city. Reflection Nepotism does not always lead to bad results proving that God can use even something quite negative to bring about some good. Oswald seemed to enjoy favors as a result of his uncle, the Archbishop of Canterbury, but he followed his own humble path and gained sanctity serving the poor. Enjoy this prayer in gratitude for the saints!

Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the King November 26, 2023 Cycle A Among fairy tales some of my favorite stories are about kings who disguise themselves and go among their people to learn of their true needs. In those stories, the wise king knows his people and is able to care for them because he’s shared their struggles. What a far cry from so many of the secular rulers–kings or presidents–throughout human history. Today’s liturgy highlights the kingship of Christ with two readings which use images of sheep and shepherding. Ezekiel has God taking on the role of shepherd—caring, rescuing, healing and judging us, who are God’s flock. The image shifts a bit in the Gospel, where Jesus is still our shepherd, but the role of judge gets more of the emphasis. There—like the understanding king in some of those fairy tales—Christ our King has identified completely with those who are hungry, thirsty, homeless, without clothing, in need of healing or imprisoned. This familiar scene of the last judgment sets the criteria for entrance into the kingdom of Christ: How have we recognized our King in those who come to us in need? We may have little control over the conduct of secular presidents or kings. But our relationship with our heavenly King is clear: We are to embrace him in our loving service to one another.

Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time November 19, 2023 Cycle A In my ministry in the inner-city parish where I’m pastor, I’m often overwhelmed by the seemingly unsolvable problems we face. How to tackle poverty, unemployment, crime? How to get practical help to folks? How to bring together those with resources and those with needs? And how to deal with daily frustrations? In this tough ministry, one of my Franciscan colleagues has a very helpful strategy for me and our parish community. He says there’s two ways to do this ministry. One is a way that stresses people’s needs. This “need-based” approach can often lead to frustration as we face those overwhelming problems. A second way is an “asset-based” approach. Everyone has a gift. Every person has a unique dignity given by God. Everyone is an “asset” in our community. The poorest person economically may have a talent or gift not immediately apparent. In this approach, we’re all in relationship, and in that relationship love and service can flow two ways. Maybe that’s part of what Jesus wants to teach us in today’s parable of the talents. We’ve all been given gifts by God. And in the parable, praise goes to those who develop those gifts; hoarding them or burying them—even for security’s sake—is not an option. In our faith communities we’re challenged to find ways to discover the gifts each person has, and to discover how to put them at the service of the Kingdom.

Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time November 12, 2023 Cycle A In my parish there are several older women parishioners who embody for me the beautiful description of “wisdom” found in today’s First Reading from the Hebrew Book of Wisdom. There the notion of wisdom is described in feminine terms. “Lady Wisdom” anticipates what we may be seeking; she waits for us at the start of each day; meets us as we continue through our day. Those wise women elders in my parish fit that description. I look to them for guidance. When they come into the parish church each Sunday morning, I feel a bit more confident, because our community has the gift of their presence and their experience. The Gospel today offers us a reminder that—in Matthew’s parish at least—there were both wise and foolish women, and men. The evangelist was warning his community that all of its members needed to be prepared for the Lord’s eventual return, an event whose date and time are unknown to us. So Matthew tells the parable of the wise and foolish virgins and their readiness or lack of it for the bridegroom’s return. Locked doors and some hard words from the bridegroom make the parable a real challenge. But I suspect that my wise women parishioners would remind me that being prepared for the Lord is the basic Christian challenge. His final coming–as well as his daily presence in my life–is something I need to be ready to welcome.

Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time Cycle A November 5, 2023 Today’s Gospel has created a certain amount of extra work for me over the past few years. I’ve answered emails from people writing in to our internet and radio question and answer service about the famous passage: “Call no one on earth your father.” Based on this Gospel text, people want to know why Catholic priests like myself seem to violate Jesus’ words on a daily basis by being called “Father.” Of course I can remind them we priests aren’t alone in this, since most of our dads are also apparent offenders against the text–although that point rarely comes up from the questioner. But the broader meaning of today’s Gospel passage is a teaching of Christ which we in Church authority have sometimes violated. Jesus condemns those who do not practice what they preach; who allow titles and the power they imply to become the focus; who forget that service in love is what leaders in the community must embody. To bring home Jesus’ point, in today’s First Reading the prophet Malachi warns the priests of his time: Keep the focus on our common Father, the one who has created us. Good advice for all Christians–but especially for the “Fathers” in our midst who’ve been given that title in Church service. With Jesus, with the prophet, and with those good folks who continue to ask me about my title—I hope I can hear the challenge!

Memorial of Saint Charles Borromeo November 4, 2023 Daily Reading from the USCCB: Romans 11:1-2a, 11-12, 25-29 Now Paul turns his attention to the Jews. Are they still God’s chosen people? Israel has indeed been unreceptive of the message of the gospel, but God has not for that reason now rejected Israel. Their unbelief has paved the way for the preaching of the gospel to the Gentiles. There’s a kind of competition between Jews and Gentiles. The Jews’ rejection of Jesus has served as a vehicle to awaken the Gentiles to what God is offering them in Jesus. Israel’s unbelief is being used to awaken the light of faith among the Gentiles. God’s call of the Jews to faith in Christ remains valid, even if they have not responded to the call. “The gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.”

Friday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time November 3, 2023 Daily Reading from the USCCB: Luke 14:1-6 The other day we heard the narrative of Jesus’ cure of the crippled woman. The cure took place in a synagogue, and the synagogue leader objects that Jesus was healing on the Sabbath. Jesus replies that if it’s acceptable to care for farm animals on the Sabbath, it’s certainly acceptable to care for a daughter of Abraham. In today’s reading we have almost the same narrative. This time it’s set at a dinner hosted by a prominent Pharisee. The guests watch to see if Jesus will cure on the Sabbath. Jesus uses the same argumentation he used before. The man is cured. Jesus teaches that both men and women are eligible for his ministrations. God is kind and loving to us all.

Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls) November 2, 2023 Daily Reading from the USCCB: Wisdom 3:1-9 Today the Church commemorates the faithful departed–that is the faithful believers who have died in association with the Lord, but who have not yet reached a level of holiness that allows their full participation in the kingdom of heaven. The Lectionary gives us no fewer than 28 readings for this day, a sign that the body of Christ on earth is concerned even with its members who have died. The First Reading is from the Book of Wisdom. The condition of the departed is not meaningless. They are at peace and enjoy the hope of immortality. They must endure a period of trial, but they look forward to being with God forever. God looks after them just as he will look after us.

Solemnity of All Saints November 1, 2023 Daily Reading from the USCCB: Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14 Today the Church commemorates all the saints–that is all the saved joined eternally to the life of the triune God. Their number is first given as 144,000–that is the square of the twelve tribes of Israel multiplied by a thousand, symbolizing the new Israel. Then comes another vision of a multitude beyond number from every nation, race, people, and tongue. They stand before God praising and thanking him for the salvation that he has conferred on them all. This reading assures us that the number of the saved is not small. It’s beyond counting and it includes people of every sort. This great gathering of praise is still going on. We hope to be part of it some day.

Tuesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time October 31, 2023 Daily Reading from the USCCB: Romans 8:18-25 The believers’ association with the Father through the Spirit is not yet complete. For one thing, God has not made creation capable of reaching its goal on its own. Creation must still strive for wholeness and integrity. Such striving involves suffering and effort on our part. Yet God has given us hope of salvation–hope that makes present suffering and effort seem as nothing compared with the glory that lies ahead. We hope and wait knowing that what lies ahead of us is full incorporation into the life of God. Obviously we don’t see what we hope for. If we did we wouldn’t be dealing in hope. So we wait, because our hope involves endurance. The life of the believer always involves hope and endurance.

Monday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time October 30, 2023 Daily Reading from the USCCB: Romans 8:12-17 Who is in charge of our life? To whom are we to be submissive? We are under no obligation to the flesh,–i.e., to the selfish demands of sin-prone human nature. We belong to God, and if we follow the spirit of God, we become God’s very own children. We enter a family relationship with God. We become capable of relating to him as our own father. We are children of the Father. We belong to him as Christ does. We are at home with the Father as Christ is. We are called to share Christ’s sufferings, but also his glory. How breathtaking that we are called to be members of God’s family with Christ. May God keep us conscious of his gifts to us.

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Cycle A October 29, 2023 In my inner-city parish people come to us daily for help with rent, food, medical needs. I’m not a social worker, and so I’m grateful for the knowledgeable people on our team who can find the help people need. But when I read today’s First Reading–a portion of the Mosaic Law taken from the Book of Exodus–I do get some basic instructions for some practical things I can do to help. God tells me there that my conduct toward people who are vulnerable because of any human need must be tempered by recalling my own human condition. The people of Israel–the law says–should remember they were once strangers in Egypt; and so the stranger on their doorsteps ought to receive respect and care. God has been good to me in my times of real need; and now God may be asking me to do the same for someone. Later in the passage there’s a very practical instruction about returning a man’s cloak to him for the night, even though you’ve demanded it as a loan guarantee. That instruction tells me that any relationship I have with the poor must honor people’s God-given dignity. Thanks to that instruction I look into a person’s eyes on the soup kitchen line, and try to communicate our shared relationship in the Lord. God’s law is full of the compassion of God—and that’s the first thing I can share with my fellow human being.

Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles October 28, 2023 Daily Reading from the USCCB: Ephesians 2:19-22 We don’t know much about the apostles Simon and Jude. Scholars are uncertain about whether the author of the Letter of Jude in the New Testament is the same person as the apostle. The Church celebrates the feast of Simon and Jude today. It takes precedence over the scheduled Ordinary Time observance. The First Reading the Lectionary gives us is from the Letter to the Ephesians. St. Paul tells the Ephesians that we all belong to the household of the faith, built upon the apostles on the basic foundation stone of Christ. We are all in Christ forming a dwelling place for God. You don’t have to be prominent to belong to Christ’s structure. You just have to be willing to be built into it.

Friday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time October 27, 2023 Daily Reading from the USCCB: Romans 7:18-25a We are called to liberation from mastery by sin. This mastery is what Paul refers to as “the flesh”–the whole sphere of human rebelliousness against God. “Flesh” is the power of human self-seeking that keeps us away from God. Moving from mastery by the flesh to mastery by God is not easy. We want to do what is good and right, but “the flesh” seems more appealing. It’s easier to be bad than it is to be good, even when we want to be good. We find ourselves still captive to the sinfulness that is in us–captive to the flesh. But deliverance from the dominion of the flesh is available to us through the life in Christ Jesus that God offers us.

Thursday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time October 26, 2023 Daily Reading from the USCCB: Romans 6:19-23 Saint Paul reminds the Roman Christians that they used to be subjects of sinfulness–mastered by sin, but that now they are subjects of righteousness. When sin was master of their lives, righteousness was excluded. And where did that lead them? To death. Now that they have been freed from sin and become subjected to God, they are being led to sanctification. Each mastery has its outcome. The mastery represented by sin leads to death. The mastery represented by subjection to God leads to eternal life in Christ. The choices that the early Christians of Rome had to make face us, too. We too, need to ask ourselves who and what governs our life. Where have our choices brought us? Where are they taking us?

Wednesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time October 25, 2023 Daily Reading from the USCCB: Romans 6:12-18 Saint Paul now shifts his attention to some of the pragmatic implications of faith and salvation. The presumption here is that it is impossible to live a human life in total independence, subject to nothing or to no one. We all have a master. We are all servants of someone or some thing. Salvation does not come to us through good works or observance of Jewish ritual law, but as gift. Does that mean that we are free to behave any way we please? Certainly not. It may be that we were subject to sin in the past, but now we are called to be subject to grace, to the generosity of God–a subjection that calls for the obedience of our hearts to godliness.

Tuesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time October 24, 2023 Daily Reading from the USCCB: Luke 12:35-38 One of the recurrent themes of Jesus’ preaching is the second coming. Jesus assures his hearers that he will return to set all things right. Christian discipleship is imbued with expectation. The timing of Jesus’ coming has not been revealed. We have to wait in watchfulness. Jesus will come when he will come. And it’s up to us to be ready to receive him. Yet the coming of the Lord is not a one-time event. There are interim comings scattered throughout the life of the believer. Jesus comes to us in our joys and sorrows, in our successes and failures. And we have to be ready to welcome him whenever he comes. How attentive am I to the comings of the Lord in my life?

Monday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time October 23, 2023 Daily Reading from the USCCB: Romans 4:20-25 Further reflection on Abraham’s faith and righteousness–and ours. God made promises to Abraham and Abraham believed that God was able to keep his promises and would keep his promises: offspring and prosperity. This constituted the grounds for the righteousness that God attributed to him. But God has also attributed righteousness to us who believe that Jesus was put to death for our sins and raised for our justification. Justification–life in God–is a matter of giving and receiving. God offers the gifts of life and prosperity to Abraham and all his descendants–all those who would imitate his faith in God’s promises, all who would accept God’s gifts. We are offspring of Abraham if we share his faith, if we accept God’s gifts.

Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time Cycle A October 22, 2023 We often say, “Religion and politics don’t mix.” Our nation has a tradition of separation between Church and state. But today’s Sunday Mass readings bring these two realities together. The First Reading comes from the book of the prophet Isaiah–a text written in the sixth century before Christ some two hundred years after the original Isaiah prophesied. The situation: the people are in exile under the domination of the king of Persia–Cyrus. He’s a pagan king, but the prophet calls him God’s “anointed.” God will use this pagan king to restore his people to their homeland. In the Gospel, the civil ruler in the spotlight is the Roman Emperor. Here the religious-civil issue is raised by the Pharisees. Seeking to trap Jesus, they want his opinion on paying taxes. (It seems like the subject of taxes is a timeless human issue!) At any rate, you know the Lord’s response: Give to Caesar what belongs to him; but give God what belongs to God. It’s all a matter of priorities. The state is an institution that commands our response to legitimate responsibilities. Christians have an obligation to be good citizens. But God can and will call on us for a response which comes first. Our American bishops have taken pains to instruct us on the duties of citizenship, and the values of faith which must assist us in our response. Today let’s allow our Lord’s timeless priorities to guide us.