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                                         August 17, 2008

Dear Parishioners,

The Holy Scriptures for today emphasize the importance of prayer and our perseverance in prayer. The woman in the Gospel was of course heard by our Lord and He was going to answer her prayer. But He has this dialogue to teach us that all people have a right to ask and to receive from the Lord. Of course, our prayer must be pure and focused on what is good for us and those for whom we pray.

Fr. Fernandez writes in “Conversations with God”: “St. Augustine relates in his “Confessions” how his mother, Saint Monica, never ceased to implore God for the conversion of her son. Nor did she weary of asking good and wise people to speak to her son to dissuade him from his erroneous ways. One day a holy bishop said to her these words by way of consolation: “Go your way; as sure as you live, it is impossible that the son of these tears should perish.” Much later, Saint Augustine himself was to write: “If I did not perish in error, it was due to the daily tears of my mother, who was so full of faith.” God listens in a special way to the prayer of those who know how to love, even thought at times it may appear that He is deaf to the entreaty. He wants our faith to become more strong, our hope to become more profound, our love to become more trusting. He wants everyone to have the desire and the humility that a good mother has.”

We can all thank our mothers for their great trust in God and their love for us expressed in the daily prayers they offer for us. This mother in the Gospel is a model of prayer for all of us, men and women. God desires our going to Him in trust and confidence. Our prayer must be generous and intercessory for others, not just focused on ourselves. And our prayer must be of adoration, of contrition and of thanksgiving not just petition. Let us pray for one another with the fervor of the woman in the Gospel and St. Monica, that we may experience the “house of prayer” as we read in the first reading from Isaiah:

“The foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, ministering to him, loving the name of the LORD,and
becoming his servants--all who keep the sabbath free from profanation and hold to my covenant,them I will bring to my holy mountain and make joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be acceptable on my altar, for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.”

Thanks to all who made our Youth Ministry Family Picnic such an enjoyable event. What a great crowd and what a good time everyone had. The seminarians really appreciated the opportunity of being with so many of you on their last Sunday here.

We all want to thank our two seminarians for their dedicated and joyful help this summer. They will be returning to their seminaries for their studies. Thank you for your welcome and many kindnesses to them. They enjoyed the entire summer and getting to meet so many of you. Their addresses are:

Noah Carter
Pontifical College Josephinum
7625 N. High Street
Columbus, OH 43235-1498

Rev. Mr. Benjamin Roberts
St. Charles Borromeo Seminary
100 E. Wynnewood Road
Wynnewood, PA 19096

God bless and may our Lady keep you in her care.
With my prayers,

Father Arnsparger