What I love about Pope Francis is that he is so approachable and practical. His smile is infectious, his love genuine, and he is not afraid of talking about his own experiences and relationships. So, when Pope Francis announced the Jubilee Year of Mercy and the theme for World Youth Day 2016 in Krakow, we knew he understood and experienced mercy in his own life.

The best way to understand mercy is to experience it. When asked how to practice mercy Pope Francis says, “Look, reading the Beatitudes will do you some good. And if you want to know what practical things you must do, read Matthew 25, which is the protocol by which we will be judged. With these two things, you have a plan of action: the Beatitudes and Matthew 25.”

Helping youth, children, and their families experience mercy is achieved by sharing our own examples and granting mercy to others. The pilgrims at World Youth Day will experience mercy in the sacrifices their chaperones and leaders have made to accompany them. They, in turn, will need to be merciful with each other as they sacrifice comfort, sleep, and the familiarity of their lives at home. They will hear about mercy in the catechetical sessions and be lavished with God’s mercy as they celebrate the sacraments with the global young Church. They will have a mountaintop experience that can only be fulfilled when they return home to witness God’s mercy in their everyday lives.

At home, in the parish, and school, we need to do as Pope Francis suggests, and follow the Beatitudes and Works of Mercy. Mercy must become a deliberate habit. Just as Pope Francis is a global model of mercy, we must be the local, on-site practitioners. Asking for and giving forgiveness must be spoken aloud in our communities and homes. Praying for others and doing the works of mercy must be named and praised. We must be intentional, bold, and unashamed to say we are people of mercy because of Jesus, who showed us the ultimate mercy.

We need to make sure we have the tools to help us achieve communities of mercy and the skill to use them creatively. In RCL Benziger’s Be My Disciples series, every chapter contains a Disciple Power, a virtue of fruit of the Spirit that, when practiced, creates a life of mercy and discipleship. Using these virtues as a focus each week, as well as looking for and rewarding the Disciple Power in practice, can create an atmosphere of mercy. RCL Benziger’s Stories of God’s Love Kindergarten program will now have an additional online lesson for a virtue each week that can be practiced by our littlest disciples and their families. Our Family Prays, a resource for family ritual and prayer, gives creative prayers for families to pray together. The more we pray together, the more mercy we experience. And, the wonderful Family Life series intentionally focuses on family faith and morality to help build families of mercy and love.

Any of these resources, and much more, can be previewed at RCLBenziger.com. But, when all is said and done, we also need to have infectious smiles and show genuine love so that our children, youth, and families will truly know God’s mercy and spread it even further.

Catherine Becker is a sales representative for RCL Benziger, serving parts of the Midwest including Southern Illinois, Missouri, Kansas and Memphis, Jackson, Evansville, St. Cloud, Boise, and Honolulu.

Cathy Becker holds a Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and is a nationally Certified Lay Ecclesial Minister. She has served as a Youth Ministry and Catechetical Leader in Springfield, Illinois, Rockford, Illinois and Greensboro, North Carolina, where she has developed and directed elementary, adult, and adolescent ministries including RCIA. She is currently the chair of the NFCYM/NACYML National Certification Commission. Cathy has been an adjunct and author for the Center for Ministry Development and Benedictine University in Springfield, Illinois. She resides in Springfield with her husband Joshua and three daughters who are, as a family, at the core of her vocation and joy.

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When I was a child, I grew up in a home with both my parents and grandparents. I shared a bedroom with my sister and each night, as I drifted off to sleep, I heard my grandparents praying the rosary together. Every time we set out in the car on a family vacation, my parents led us in a prayer asking God to grant us a safe journey. Other devotions surrounded me as I grew in my Catholic faith. Our family went to Stations of the Cross on the Friday nights of Lent, and we celebrated the Sacrament of Reconciliation regularly. We participated in our parish May crowning and attended Eucharistic Adoration and parish missions. Throughout my life, Catholic prayers and practices have been an essential part of my journey of faith.

As faith formation leaders, it is important to help catechists and parents realize the importance of sharing with our children and young people the rich tradition of the prayers and devotions of our Church. Catechetical leaders should identify strategies whereby this vital dimension of our Catholic faith can be shared and experienced by our young believers.

It is important to encourage catechists to utilize the prayer resources contained in their basal religion books to help children learn our treasured prayers and practices. Highlight the importance of allotting time during their lesson to engage the children in the prayer service provided in each chapter of their faith formation book. These weekly prayer experiences help students learn the many forms and styles of the Church’s prayer life. If your community is culturally diverse, provide catechists with prayer and devotional ideas that respect the heritage of their families.

Offering opportunities to celebrate devotions in a community setting is a great way to bring families together. For example, host an Advent event when families come together to create an Advent wreath for use in their home. During Lent, gather families together in church to walk and pray the Stations of the Cross. Sponsor a “Mary Day” in May to celebrate our Blessed Mother as a woman of faith; include the praying of a decade of the rosary during the experience.

Our Catholic community is blessed with a richness of treasured prayers and practices that can support a deepening of faith within all believers. Let us continue to share and experience them in our parish and school communities.

Related resources:

• View sample of Catholic Prayers and Practices for Young Disciples
• Visit our Family Life website
• Learn more about Mary on USCCB website
• Shop RCL Benziger’s store for Catholic prayers and practices resources

Anita M. Foley is a senior sales representative for RCL Benziger, serving the Catholic community of the Archdiocese of Newark and the Dioceses of Metuchen and Paterson, New Jersey.

Anita holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and a Master’s in Religious Education from Seton Hall University. She has also attended Immaculate Conception Seminary, South Orange for continuing post-graduate education and formation. Before joining RCL Benziger, Anita taught in Catholic elementary and high schools. She also served in ministry in the Archdiocese of Newark and in parish ministry as a: Director of Religious Education, Pre-K Religious Education Program Coordinator, and Director of RCIA and Adult Faith Formation. Articles written by Anita have been published in Today’s Parish, Catechist Magazine, and Word on Worship. She is currently a workshop and retreat facilitator, and serves as a member of the Liturgical Commission of the Archdiocese of Newark.

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There they were, practically paralyzed with fear. Over the past three years, they talked and traveled with the greatest of teachers. They witnessed miracles, learned life’s deepest truths from him, and grew spiritually sharper and more formidable. Yet their current circumstances reduced them to cowering in the upper room, unable to move and barely able to believe.

These disciples, these followers of Jesus, knew that their leader was brutally murdered in arguably the most gruesome and painful method of execution ever created. They had heard rumors they could also be sentenced to this same form of brutality.

So, despite the fact that Christ had promised the Holy Spirit would be sent to them, (read John 14:26 and again in John 16:7), all they knew at that moment was anxiety and confusion. The only semblance of a plan for the future was to remain hidden away from others. It seems they were too filled with terror to know what else to do.

“And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the holy Spirit... ” (Acts 2:2-4a). Their lives would never be the same as the gift of the Spirit gave birth to the Church.

The power of the Holy Spirit had come upon them. This power was made manifest with new insights into the events and teachings of Jesus. Instead of feeling frightened, they had been changed with a newfound courage.

Having been seized by the power of the Spirit, they now had been fully transformed by the Holy Spirit. The disciples did not attempt to discreetly escape from the house and inconspicuously blend in with the crowds. On the contrary, with boldness and defiance they stormed out and announced their presence by pronouncing the Good News in different tongues. They did not quietly and tentatively whisper about the life of Jesus; they loudly and prophetically professed the Good News to any and all who would listen.

It is because the disciples embraced their vocation that 3,000 people accepted their message and were added to the faith that day. But what if the Holy Spirit had not come upon them? Would you and I have ever heard about Christ? Would you and I even be Christians today?

In a similar way to what those disciples of the past did, we, as disciples of the present, are called to respond to the Holy Spirit in our lives. Through our Baptism and Confirmation, we have received this same gift of the Holy Spirit. We are commanded to pass on the faith now, just as the disciples did then.

Even though there may be times we feel too weak and worried, too unprepared and unqualified, we are still called to be a Christian. The word Christian means to act as one who follows Christ; for it is when we trust in the presence of the Holy Spirit, we discover the gifts we need to exit our upper rooms and enter into the world. After all, if we share our Catholic faith with those around us today, the Good News can be shared with future believers – the next generation of disciples.

For additional reading and reflections on Pentecost, click on the following links:

• RCL Benziger: Celebrate the Easter Season
• RCL Benziger: Meditation Booklets - Easter To Pentecost
• USCCB: May 15, 2016 – Pentecost Sunday – Mass During the Day
• USCCB: Teaching The Spirit Of Mission Ad Gentes: Continuing Pentecost Today

Scott Mussari is the Director of Faith Formation at Saint Columban Church in Loveland, Ohio, and can be reached at smussari@stcolumban.org.

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Standing on the corner, across the street from my home is a remarkable stop sign protruding out of a cement sidewalk. What makes it remarkable is the tree has beaten all the odds by taking root and growing up through the inch-wide metal post and blossoming fully out of the hole at the top. Not only is it alive, it continues to grow larger. Year after year, its roots delve deeper under the cement to gather nutrients and water from the earth beneath. It seems the tree has no plans to stop flourishing.

This is the miracle of life - the power of God’s creation. Yet, a few random trees blossoming forth on an earth covered in cement could never support the billions of people who call earth home. However, it seems this is where we are headed.

“One thing is certain,” said Pope Francis, in a speech to the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador. “...[We] can no longer turn our backs on reality, on our brothers and sisters, on mother earth... We are also invited to care for [the planet] to protect it, to be its guardians. Nowadays, we are increasingly aware of how important this is. It is no longer a mere recommendation, but rather a requirement...,” he warned.

The problem of environmental abuse is not a new one. Fighting the problem is a cause that has been taken up by many people, among them, Wisconsin Senator, Gaylord Nelson. On April 22, 1970, after years of working to promote awareness of environmental degradation and social injustice, Senator Nelson’s dream of a national day for the environment was realized when some 20 million people met in various locations across the country for the first Earth Day. Because of this effort, Congress enacted some of the most important environmental legislation in the United States.

This year, 2016, marks the 46th Earth Day, which calls people worldwide to positive action in caring for the earth. The theme, Trees for the Earth!, is one of five major themes that will be undertaken across five years, leading to the 50th anniversary of Earth Day and a goal of planting 7.8 billion trees.

The trees not only counteract the effects of climate change and improve air quality, but also provide communities with food, energy, and income. The impact is greatest where the people are poor and vulnerable.

For Christians, this call to responsible stewardship of the earth, and for each other, is an ancient one, issued in the Book of Genesis. Here, we are taught about the goodness of all creation, brought into orderly existence through the Word of God. And here, we receive our charge to serve as guardians of all a loving God has created: “God created mankind in his image; in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and God said to them: Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and all the living things that crawl on the earth” (Genesis 1:27-28).

Too often, “dominion” has been misunderstood as an “excuse for unbridled exploitation of nature,” writes Pope Francis in his second encyclical, Laudato Si’: On Care For Our Common Home. But in truth, Scripture tells us to “till and keep” the garden of the world . . . implying a “relationship of mutual responsibility.”

The Psalm of David also reminds us that to have dominion does not mean we own the earth, but rather, “The earth is the LORD’s and all it holds, the world and those who dwell in it” (Psalm 24:1). And, as Pope Francis points out in his encyclical on the environment, “We are not God.”

Inspired by St. Francis, the patron saint of ecology, Pope Francis believes there is a need for praise: “Laudato Si’, mi’ Signore” – “Praise be to you, my Lord.” “In the words of this beautiful canticle, St. Francis of Assisi reminds us that our common home is like a sister with whom we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens her arms to embrace us” (Laudato Si’ 1).

In this encyclical, Pope Francis focuses on relationships – with God, with others, and with the earth. His teaching builds on the long-standing tradition of the Catholic Church for communion, social justice, care of creation and stewardship of the earth; teachings that were preached by previous popes including Blessed Pope Paul VI, Pope Saint John Paul II, and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who was referred to as “the green pope.”

In the last chapter of Laudato Si’, Pope Francis stresses that education and training are the real keys to transformation and action that will renew the earth. He writes, “Ecological education can take place in a variety of settings: at school, in families, in the media, in catechesis, and elsewhere. Good education plants seeds when we are young, and these continue to bear fruit throughout life” (Laudato Si’ 213).

Earth Day is a wonderful educational opportunity for children and young people and their families to link their faith to a global ecological outreach seeking to serve the common good of all humanity. For additional resources on this topic, including prayers, see:

• Laudato si’ On Care For Our Common Home
• Saints Resource
• Canticle of the Sun
• USCCB: Catholic Social Teaching on Care for Creation and Stewardship of the Earth
• USCCB: Environment/Environmental Justice Program
• Catholic Climate Covenant

Mary Regina Morrell, Director, Wellspring Communications, is a syndicated Catholic columnist and author who has served the Church for more than 25 years. She is a former Associate Director of Religious Education for the Diocese of Metuchen, NJ, and Managing Editor of The Monitor, Diocese of Trenton. Find her at mary.wellspring@yahoo.com and Twitter @mreginam6.

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“I am a visual thinker, not a language-based thinker. My mind is like Google Images.” Who am I? If you guessed a person diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder or ASD, you would be right. More specifically, this quote is from Dr. Temple Grandin, a self-advocate, diagnosed with autism as a child. She is now a professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University. An expert on animal behavior, Dr. Grandin, designed more humane livestock handling facilities, which are utilized around the world today. Currently, a diagnosis of ASD includes several conditions previously diagnosed separately: autistic disorder, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), and Asperger syndrome. These conditions are collectively called autism spectrum disorder (ASD) - a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain, though what causes these differences remains unknown. Signs of ASD begin during early childhood and last throughout a person’s life. Nothing about how a person with ASD looks may distinguish them from others, but they may have different ways of learning, paying attention, or reacting to things. They might repeat certain behaviors and have difficulty with change in their daily activities. Their learning, thinking, and problem-solving abilities can range from very gifted to very challenged. In essence, there is a wide range of characteristics and abilities. Many people with ASD, often referred to as “on the spectrum,” are able to comprehend much more than one might imagine. This information is critical to know. It means a person who is seemingly unengaged; physically, emotionally, or behaviorally, may understand and remember everything they see, hear, and do; possibly, more than others who are seemingly very engaged. They cannot express it as others would. Therefore, it is vital for catechists and teachers to appreciate that all learners are capable of growth in holiness and being educated in our faith is a baptismal right of every Catholic. To promote successful inclusion and engagement of persons with disabilities, the following two best practices are strongly recommended. First, provide a “buddy” for anyone who would benefit from such individualized support. The presence of a buddy, peer, or otherwise, will help keep individuals on task with increased participation in various activities. Typically, a buddy quickly becomes a valued friend! Secondly, teach in a multi-sensory approach as much and as often as possible. Think of our five senses and work to plan lessons that involve as many of the senses as possible. Be creative and energetic for God! Anxiety is often a prevailing characteristic of individuals with ASD. Similarly, their family members may experience high levels of stress. Pastorally, we aim to reduce these feelings. The following strategies will assist us in this goal:

• Create and maintain a predictable routine during each session, gathering...
• Post the agenda/outline; have printed copies available for the day, class, retreat…
• Provide and promote the use of sensory items; noise canceling headphones, fidget objects…
• Plan for twice as much time needed to accomplish half as much work
• Focus on one concept at a time
• Offer choices; this promotes feelings of being in control, which helps lower anxiety/stress
• Reduce or eliminate handwriting requirements
• Prepare individuals for change by telling them what to expect before it occurs
• Build relaxation or downtime into the agenda
• Use fewer words to aid in being heard and understood
• Avoid rushing and be patient while waiting for responses
• Provide modifications as needed (e.g., lessen required work; provide an alternate project/assignment; allow early arrival or dismissal to avoid increased noise and crowds…)
• Provide accommodations as needed (e.g., accept responses in the way that’s easiest; adapt materials or lessons; vary activities; provide written instructions, extra time, or breaks…)
• Use visual cues, pictures, or objects to accompany instructions (e.g., prayer hands, Bible...)
• Promote gospel values of full inclusion in parish life to affirm the entire family’s Catholic identity

Temple Grandin’s success was certainly aided by receiving positive support throughout her life; a life well-lived with a diagnosis of ASD. As we strive to better serve all people of God and honor the dignity of every life, may our actions affirm another statement by Dr. Grandin: “The world needs all kinds of minds!” Her TED talk by the same title can be viewed here: https://www.ted.com/talks/temple_grandin_the_world_needs_all_kinds_of_minds?language=en For additional resources, visit www.catholicswithautism.org Charleen Katra is an Associate Director in the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. For seventeen years her responsibilities have included Ministry with Persons with Disabilities, Early Childhood Ministries, and Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. Charleen speaks frequently at national, state, and local events. Most notable are her presentations on successful strategies and best practices in disability ministry. She also writes regularly on this subject. Charleen has a Bachelor of Science in Special Education and Elementary Education and a Masters in Pastoral Studies. From 2010 through 2014 she served as a founding member, then Co-chair/Chair, of the Autism Task Force for the National Catholic Partnership on Disability (NCPD).

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Finally, we made it. The wait is over, and it has arrived. It is Holy Week, the holiest of all the weeks in the Church calendar. We anticipate it. We look ahead to it. We hope for it. But, are we ready for it?

With all the build up, there is no reason we should be unaware or unprepared. Yet some of us will still claim, that somehow we did not see the imminent arrival of Holy Week coming. Truth be told, it has been foreshadowed since the first chapters of the Gospel of Luke, and since the first pages of the Bible itself.

In the opening procession of Palm Sunday Mass, which begins Holy Week, the crowds cheered Jesus’ joyful entry into Jerusalem by proclaiming “glory in the highest” (Luke 19:38). This echoed the choirs of angels who, with similar ovations, pronounced Jesus’ jubilant entrance into our world at his birth (Luke 2:14). Furthermore, the appearance of an angel to Jesus during his passion at the Mount of Olives, and likewise to Mary before Jesus’ conception at Nazareth, again highlights how Christ’s trials of Holy Week are connected and suggested from the very beginning of Luke’s Gospel.

Even prior to the evangelist, the images of Holy Week are reflected all the way back to Genesis Chapter 2, with human beings banned from the paradise of the garden because of sin. Once more, we are able to recognize the link to the Palm Sunday Gospel, when we hear Jesus promise paradise to the penitent thief, and sin is finally conquered.

While it is possible, we may have missed these aforementioned prefigures that alerted us to the onset of Holy Week. Hopefully, our actions during the season of Lent leading up to this holy time, helped to prepare us. After all, our fasting was meant to enable us to drop a few of the excesses and clutter from our lives, and not merely to drop a few extra pounds from our waist. Our almsgiving should have attempted to fill the void of someone else, instead of filling our ego with a sense of self-importance. Our prayer was intended to draw us closer to Christ, rather than being something we discontinue as soon as Holy Week is over, and we have crossed it off our calendars.

This is because Holy Week is centered on the cross. These disciplines we have been practicing these forty days, were to become regular practices and parts of our daily existence. Forty represents newness and change, such as when God created a new covenant with Noah after forty days of rain, or when Jesus began his ministry after forty days in the desert. We too are supposed to be made new, after these forty days of Lenten trials.

It is our newness, our change, our transformation that signifies whether we are really ready for Holy Week. Being ready means being different than we were before before Lent. We should have been dying to the sinfulness and wickedness of our lives during these weeks of Lent, so we could be born again in God’s glory and mercy during these holiest of days.

Holy Week concludes with the Easter Vigil, where the Scriptures declare Jesus resurrected. He is no longer trapped in the tomb, having risen victoriously over this place of death. We are to follow his example and free ourselves from what binds us. We are to step out of the darkness of our lives, and walk with Christ into the light of the new day. We are to walk out into the world to spread the Good News with our words and with our actions.

This is Holy Week. It is now here. Are we ready for it?

For additional reading and reflections on Holy Week, click on the following links:

RCL Benziger mediation booklets, Lent, Year C

USCCB Lent

RCL Benziger’s resource “Take Up Your Cross”

USCCB March 26, 2016 Bible Reading

Scott Mussari is the Director of Faith Formation at St. Columban Church in Loveland, Ohio and can be reached at smussari@stcolumban.org.

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Muchas ciudades y pueblos de América Latina pasan los meses antes de Cuaresma afanándose con la preparación de las celebraciones de carnaval que, para observadores y participantes por igual, son un espectáculo de excesos de todo tipo. Sin embargo, la época de carnaval, en sus inicios, tenía obvios vínculos religiosos.

En la raíz latina de la palabra carnaval "carnem-levare", –abandono de la carne– está su vínculo con el calendario y las prácticas católicas. Puede haber sido solo un día antes del Miércoles de Ceniza, cuando se disfrutaba de una comida más lujosa antes de iniciar el período de ayuno y abstinencia. Es hora de recuperar y remodelar el significado del carnaval.

Para los católicos, la Cuaresma siempre ha incluido la abstinencia de carne y el ayuno los viernes. De hecho, antes del Vaticano II, la Iglesia pedía la abstinencia de carne todos los viernes del año, no porque era algo saludable como los "meatless Mondays", sino por el sacrificio que conlleva y porque nos hace conscientes de que el viernes fue el día de la Muerte de Jesús en la Cruz por nuestra Salvación.

Nuestros jóvenes católicos, y algunos no tan jóvenes, no han oído mucho sobre el valor espiritual, físico, social y ecológico de la abstinencia y el ayuno. Se podría decir que estas prácticas nos dan un cuadrangular de beneficios, y es algo que podemos promover sin timidez entre los jóvenes y nuestros coetáneos. A pesar de que no están obligados a abstenerse de carne hasta la edad de 14 años ni ayunar hasta los 18, la Ley Canónica dice claramente que el deber de practicar algún tipo de penitencia es para todos: "En la Iglesia universal, son días y tiempos penitenciales todos los viernes del año y el tiempo de Cuaresma.” Y ese deber es para todos aun aquellos que están fuera de las edades para quienes es una obligación: "Cuiden sin embargo los pastores de almas y los padres de que también se formen en un auténtico espíritu de penitencia quienes, por no haber alcanzado la edad, no están obligados al ayuno o a la abstinencia." (Código de Derecho Canónico 1250-1251)

Junto al valor espiritual de la penitencia y la abstinencia, sería fructífero para los jóvenes católicos entender la sabiduría de la práctica antigua de la Iglesia que está en línea con lo que la medicina y la nutrición modernas han descubierto más recientemente sobre los efectos del exceso de consumo de carne y azúcar, dos elementos que tradicionalmente se reducen en los menús de Cuaresma. La abstinencia tiene dimensiones sociales que nos deben conducir a dar limosna, la otra práctica cuaresmal, por el bien de los que sufren hambre y carecen de lo esencial para la vida. Aunque para los individuos sea difícil canalizar estas limosnas, hay organizaciones católicas benéficas como Catholic Relief Services (crs.org), para el extranjero y Campaña Católica para el Desarrollo Humano (usccb.org) y Caridades Católicas (catholiccharitiesusa.org) para el país, que lo han estado haciendo por nosotros durante muchos años. Es igualmente importante en este momento de la vida de nuestro planeta reducir nuestra huella de carbono y esto en parte puede lograrse si casi los mil millones de católicos que pueden ser consumidores de carne reducen su consumo (ver Laudato si '50).

Examinemos los posibles pasos que podríamos tomar para recuperar el significado de carnaval, y así honrar las prácticas del ayuno y la abstinencia que nos pide la Iglesia como muy apropiadas para al crecimiento espiritual y el cambio, y como obras de justicia.

Marina A. Herrera, Ph.D., obtuvo su diploma en Fordham University; fue profesora de eclesiología en Washington Theological Union, Empire State College y New York Theological Seminary. Escritora y conferencista sobre la historia y las prácticas religiosas de Latinoamérica en el país y en el extranjero y colaboradora con editorials para la publicación de materiales religiosas de calidad para los hispano-hablantes en Estados Unidos.

Many Latin American cities and towns spend the months leading up to Lent busily preparing the carnival celebrations that, for many observers and participants alike, are a spectacle of excesses of every type. Yet Carnival time, in its beginnings, had religious connections.

Carnem-levare, meaning “abandoning meat”, is the Latin root of the word carnival. And there is its link to the Catholic calendar and practices. It may have been only a day of celebration prior to Ash Wednesday, indulging in a more lavish meal before entering a period of fasting and abstinence. It is time for us to recover and refashion the intended meaning of carnival.

For Catholics, Lent has always included abstinence from meat and fasting on Fridays. In fact, prior to Vatican II, the Church called for abstinence from meat every Friday of the year, not because it was a healthy thing to do (along the lines of “meatless Mondays”), but because of its sacrificial value in making us aware that Friday was the day of Jesus’ Death on the Cross for our Salvation.

Our young Catholics, and some not so young, have heard little about the spiritual, physical, social, and ecological value of abstinence and fasting. One might say that these practices give us a home run of benefits, and something we can promote without shyness among the young and our peers. Although not obliged to abstain until the age of 14 or fast until the age of 18, Canon Law is very clear that the duty to practice some form of penance binds us all: “The penitential days and times in the universal Church are every Friday of the whole year and the season of Lent.” And the duty extends to those outside the age brackets for whom it is a requirement: “…pastors of souls and parents are to take care that minors (my emphasis) not bound by the law of fast and abstinence are also educated in a genuine sense of penance” (Code of Canon Law 1250-1251).

Together with the spiritual value of penance and abstinence, it will be fruitful for young Catholics to understand the wisdom of the Church’s ancient practice in alignment with what our medical and nutritionist communities have more recently discovered about the effects of excess consumption of meat and sugar, two of the traditional omissions from our Lenten menus. Abstinence has social dimensions that should lead us to almsgiving, the other Lenten practice, for the sake of those who suffer hunger and lack many of life’s essentials. While individuals may find it difficult to find ways to channel those alms, Catholic service organizations such as Catholic Relief Services (crs.org), Catholic Campaign for Human Development (usccb.org), and Catholic Charities at home (catholiccharitiesusa.org) have been doing so for years. And equally important at this juncture of our planet’s life is the reduction of our carbon footprint, which can be done in part if the close to 1 billion members of the worldwide Catholic community who may be meat consumers simply lower their consumption of meat (see Laudato Si’ 50).

Let us each consider what we might do to reclaim the intended meaning of carnival, and to truly honor the Church’s practices of fasting and abstinence as practices leading to spiritual growth and change, and as works of justice.

For more visit:

Catholic Resources

2016 Lent and Holy Week

Marina A. Herrera, Ph.D., obtained her degree at Fordham University, taught ecclesiology at Washington Theological Union, Empire State College, and New York Theological Seminary. She has written and given conferences and lectures on Latin American religious history and practices in this country and abroad, and now collaborates with many religious publishers to bring quality materials to Spanish-speakers in the US.

en español
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The story of the Epiphany is arguably one of the most widely known of the Bible. But because it is so familiar, there is a tendency for us to overlook and therefore oversimplify its full meaning. Even the word Epiphany has dual definitions. It denotes the manifestation of Christ, yet in addition, it connotes a moment of sudden revelation.

Perhaps the unexpected insight of the Epiphany narrative is how well it exemplifies the entire Gospel message. The Church recognizes this, since we hear these same Scripture lines from Matthew regardless of what liturgical cycle we are in. If it is so important that the exact reading be read year after year, then clearly it is worth our efforts to unpack it.

The plot begins with the magi arriving from their foreign land. From astronomers to wise men to kings, Biblical scholars debate the exact vocation of these wanderers. Nonetheless, they are in agreement that the magi set out on their journey once they saw the star twinkling in the sky. What a wonderful depth of truth to be packed into these few details!

We too are invited to model our own spiritual journeys after the magi’s nomadic one. Similar to how they observed the light in the night sky, we are meant to be on the lookout for the presence of the light of the Lord shining in our world. We are called to search for God and to seek out all of the ways the Divine reaches out to us.

But it is not enough to merely notice these things. Comparable to the wisdom of the magi, we are to respond upon recognizing the presence of the Lord. We were created to react back to our Creator – to get up and to go where we are being led. Although traveling the path today may have different challenges, it is no less difficult than the hardships and struggles they faced two thousand years ago.

Upon arriving where we have been called, we are to offer up and surrender ourselves. The magi prostrated themselves and then gave gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, which was the best of what they had. We are to do the same – to come and adore Him with our worship and sharing of our finest attributes, which are compassion, mercy, and love.

Once encountering the Lord, Matthew writes, the magi departed by another way. This travel tip holds true for us as well. After truly experiencing Jesus Christ in our hearts and in our souls, we can never continue heading down the same route we had been before. We become transformed and changed, and therefore, must also change the direction of our lives. Yet, as we persist and persevere on our earthly spiritual pilgrimage, we may become afraid of navigating the darkness of the strange twists and turns ahead of us. However, we can be confident the familiar light of Christ will always be shining brightly enough for us to follow.

Scott Mussari is the Director of Faith Formation at St. Columban Church in Loveland, Ohio and can be reached at smussari@stcolumban.org.

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2015 Christmas Season

Blessing the Home of the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord

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In the liturgical calendar, the feast of our Lady of Guadalupe is celebrated as a solemnity in Mexico, South and Central America and many other countries. This celebration is of great importance because Our Lady of Guadalupe, or La Morenita, meaning “little dark one,” as she is affectionately called, has allowed many indigenous peoples to identify with her and her message. The Church recognizes that in 1531, Mary appeared to Juan Diego dressed as an Aztec princess, with dark hair and olive skin. In communicating her appearance, thus, she restored dignity to the Aztec people of Mexico after they had suffered and endured many years of inhumane European colonization.

The image of the Virgin Mary surrounded with Aztec symbols, her appearance in that historical context, and the fact that she approached Saint Juan Diego in his native indigenous language, clearly express her desire to communicate God’s love and concern for those who were suffering. A reflection on this significant event in the life of faith of the people of Mexico is offered in RCL Benziger’s bilingual basal program, Sean mis discípulos Catechist Guide for Grade 4. Catechists are asked to reflect with their students on the significance of Mary’s choice of seeking Juan Diego, a poor indigenous man in the hills of the Mexican countryside, and the effect this had on the reception of the Christian faith among the natives of Mexico and Central America.

Concerns of racial and ethnic identity are significant in the process of communicating any kind of message. Transmitting information effectively means first establishing and building stable and permanent relationships. In this sense, in XVI Century Mexico, Mary was following God’s example of communicating the message of salvation to the world. God’s desire has always been to bring humanity back to full communion with him and one another. From the moment that sin entered the world and the human race turned its back on God, God has not ceased to stretch his hand toward us. In an attempt to establish a lasting and stable relationship, the Covenant, God has sent his people prophets to remind us of his love and to call us back to communion with him. Yet, humanity has historically rejected that call, as if God’s message was being lost or misunderstood.

The Incarnation of Christ radically changed this. Through the Mystery of the Incarnation, God becomes man, a human being who walks the earth and speaks our language. In the letter to the Galatians, Saint Paul says, “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to ransom those under the law, so that we might receive adoption. As proof that you are children, God sent the spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, ‘Abba, Father!’” (4:4-6).

The celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which falls within the Holy Season of Advent, proves to be a perfect opportunity for us to reflect on Mary’s role in bringing forth God’s Word to the world. Just like Mary prepared for the birth of her child two thousand years ago, she also prepared the peoples of the Americas in the New World to welcome and receive God’s Word.

Francisco Castillo is the Senior Editor, Multicultural Specialist for RCL Benziger.

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