 The Church has an excellent opportunity to strengthen its hope in the Lord as we prepare for the 2025 Jubilee Year whose theme is “Pilgrims of Hope.” Pope Francis has invited the Church to prepare for this time of Jubilee with a Year of Prayer. Prayerful preparation for the Jubilee allows us to discern how we can witness the hope that comes from Christ the Lord. Pope Francis in the Bull on Indiction for the Jubilee says that “hope is born of love and based on the love springing from the pierced heart of Jesus upon the cross” (Spes Non Confundit, 3). The merciful heart of Jesus offers us the way toward hope. In his recently released Encyclical, Dilexit Nos (He Loved Us), Pope Francis reflects on the reality of the world and the need for all to live more aligned with the way of love of the heart of Jesus. He offers this reflection: “The heart of Christ, as the symbol of the deepest and most personal source of his love for us, is the very core of the initial preaching of the Gospel. It stands at the origin of our faith, as the wellspring that refreshes and enlivens our Christian beliefs” (32). When we align ourselves in this way, we can assist in growing unity through two of the fruits of love, reconciliation and peace. Division is not from God, wherever that division is found. We might find such a thought incredibly idealistic, if not impossible. Yet, that is what we strive toward as Christians. Pope Francis reminds us: “It is only by starting from the heart that our communities will succeed in uniting and reconciling differing minds and wills, so that the Spirit can guide us in unity as brothers and sisters. Reconciliation and peace are also born of the heart. The heart of Christ is ‘ecstasy’, openness, gift and encounter. In that heart, we learn to relate to one another in wholesome and happy ways, and to build up in this world God’s kingdom of love and justice. Our hearts, united with the heart of Christ, are capable of working this social miracle” (28). The heart of Jesus opens our own hearts and the impossible can become possible. May the Charity of Christ urge us on! In God, the Infinite Love, Fr. Frank
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 I have always had a special admiration for St. Jude. Growing up, my home parish was the Church of St. Jude. I can still remember my mom telling me to pray to the saint whenever I felt that I was facing an impossible task. Legend says that since his name was so close to that of Judas, many people did not pray to him, for fear of confusing the two. To show his thanks to people who did remember him, St. Jude was willing to be extra fervent in bringing the faithful’s requests to the Lord. In John’s Gospel, towards the end of the Last Supper, Christ observes that soon he will no longer be with his disciples, but that he will soon reveal himself. Jude asks Jesus, “Master, [then] what happened that you will reveal yourself to us and not to the world?” (John 14:22) Our Lord responded, “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him” (John 14:23). He is telling his disciple, and us, that whoever holds God’s teachings in his or her heart and acts accordingly is filled with the Spirit of the Lord. The Feast of Sts. Simon and Jude remind us all to be God’s dwelling place. While we do not know much about the lives of either saint, tradition tells us that Simon was called the Zealot in the gospels and Acts (Lk 6:15; Acts 1:13). There is some debate to whether this means he was an ardent disciple of Jesus or that he was a former member of the Zealot sect that advocated for the violent overthrow of the Roman occupation. If the latter is to be believed, then Simon truly demonstrates that no one is beyond becoming a dwelling place of the Lord. The Zealots were known to use violence to advocate noncompliance with the Roman authorities. Nevertheless, tradition and legend hold that Simon helped to spread the Good News, peacefully, through much of the Middle East. It was that conversion of heart that truly made Simon a dwelling place of the Lord. Legend tells us that both saints suffered martyrdom while spreading the faith in Syria. Tradition holds that Simon was either crucified or sawed in half while Jude was clubbed to death or beheaded by an axe. Yet, in the face of adversity and hostility, they continued to profess the faith that had been revealed to them until the very end. So, the question remains: How do we become God’s dwelling place? The answer is simple – follow what Jesus told St. Jude at the Last Supper: love the Lord and keep His Word. When we accept and follow the Word of God, He truly and fully enters into our lives. By keeping His word on our minds and in our hearts, we make ourselves His dwelling place. Sts. Simon and Jude truly became dwelling places of God. What happens when God resides with someone? He or she becomes so full of God’s love that it must be spread. That is what happened to Sts. Simon and Jude and that is what is possible for all of us. By following their example, we, too, can be an outpouring of God’s love to others and help build up His kingdom. *This post was originally posted October 27, 2015* -- The St. Jude Shrine is located in the heart of Baltimore, Maryland, and has been operated and staffed by the Pallottine Fathers and Brothers for over 80 years. The Archbishop of Baltimore entrusted the Shrine to the Pallottines in 1917. Regular Novena Services were established around the outset of World War II, when devotion to St. Jude reached remarkable proportions. Today, St. Jude Shrine is the Nationwide Center of St. Jude Devotions. Like the St. Jude Shrine on Facebook. The St. Jude Shrine is a ministry of the Society of the Catholic Apostolate - Immaculate Conception Province. Learn more by visiting http://www.sacapostles.org/our-ministries.html. AuthorVictor David is a collaborator with the Catholic Apostolate Center and a staff member at The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC.
 Lately I have found myself particularly grateful for all the ways my one-and-a-half-year-old helps me to live and pray better and to be more appreciative of God’s many gifts to us. She is in awe of a great many things. She is utterly fascinated by the microwave. She looks up at it as it heats her meal with an admiration I would reserve for precious few things. But her awe-filled gaze invites me to look around and recognize that, in fact, there is so much worthy of my fascination and admiration. If I stop to think about it, it actually is incredible that this gift of food can be brought to the temperature of my choosing in a matter of seconds. So much around me—from ingenious appliances to the intricate patterns found on a leaf—really is a marvel. My toddler notices all these things in the world around her, largely due to the slow and deliberate pace with which she does everything. True, I often find this irritating in my struggle to get out the door quickly. Yet, when I am patient and open to letting her take her time and put her shoes on herself, I realize that there are a number of times when I do not actually need to rush. I do not have to be in a constant hurry, going from thing to thing or place to place without pause. If, like her, I take a much more relaxed approach to time, I might notice how sweet the bird’s song is or what an unusual shape the cloud in the sky has. I might even take a moment to offer a prayer of gratitude for all that surrounds me. My toddler shows me just how to express this sort of gratitude. She relishes what seems mundane to me. For example, she delights in water. Whether she is trying to rinse for a fifth time while washing her hands, splash with uncontainable joy in the bathtub, or attempting to dive into the holy water font at church, she proclaims just how precious and delightful water really is. I tend to focus on its practical uses for cleaning and cooking, but because of her infectious delight, I have come to a new appreciation of this dimension of water. It has invited me to a deeper reflection on Baptism, in which God has “renewed our corrupted nature in the bath of regeneration” (Roman Missal, no. 54), and the use of holy water more generally. The prayer of blessing over the water highlights the way in which water makes the fields fruitful, refreshes and cleanses our bodies, and quenches our thirst. There is so much on which to meditate as we bless ourselves in the font. Indeed, every sign and gesture of the liturgy is filled with meaning if I can just take a cue from my toddler to see it. Her mastery of nonverbal communication is remarkable. Even without words, she has no difficulty understanding what is going on or expressing herself. When she wants to be carried, she throws her hands up in a gesture of joy, abandonment, trust, and pleading. It may be that she is tired from walking, has bumped herself, or just needs to snuggle. Flinging her arms upward expresses her readiness to be caught up in an assuring embrace and her absolute certainty that she will indeed be picked right up and enfolded securely in my arms. I recently noticed the similarity between her gesture and the orans (Latin for praying) posture used in the Mass, when the priest prays with hands extended. This gesture manages to convey so much in a language beyond words, expressing many of these same desires my daughter has when she wants to be picked up. In this moment as all our prayers are gathered into one, are we not turning upward and offering our petitions to our heavenly Father? Are we not entrusting our very selves to God, confessing that we are tired and bruised and in need of comfort, pleading to be drawn close? Are we not invited to approach with the same complete confidence my toddler has, resting in the knowledge that God will provide for our every need? These are just some of the many lessons I can stand to learn from my toddler, and I am deeply grateful for all she teaches me.
 October 12th is the Feast of Blessed Carlo Acutis. Since he was beatified, I have learned more about him through various articles and videos. He is truly remarkable and an inspiration to young Catholics around the world! I was intrigued by his devotion to the Eucharist and his keen interest in computers and Eucharistic miracles. I recall one of his quotes: “The more Eucharist we receive, the more we will become like Jesus, so that on this earth we will have a foretaste of heaven.” This reminds me of the adage, “you are what you consume.” I think about that when consuming social media today and the challenge of finding good and inspiring news. When we encounter that news, what do we do with it? Do we scroll away once we read the headline? Do we bookmark it, say we will get to it later and never end up reading it? Considering Blessed Carlo, I think we are called to do something more! Just as Blessed Carlo shared the power of Eucharistic miracles, we can foster Eucharistic encounters through social media. Eucharistic encounters are transformative, calling us back to Christ. Through this encounter, our faith is deepened and renewed, and we are brought into a relationship with Christ. Below are three helpful ways to foster Eucharistic encounters through media: 1. Share something honest Posts are often tailored to show only the good sides of life, giving the illusion of a perfect life, when in reality life is not necessarily how it looks on social media. As a Catholic parent, the posts that I take to heart are those that are honest. I recall a friend who is a mother of two posting about her experience of raising two kids. She showed a picture of her cluttered home, commenting how it was late, the kids had yet to be put to bed, they were not following her directions, and she still had a laundry list of things to do. Despite that, she gave thanks to God for being able to raise a family with her husband and having two kids who genuinely care about their faith. These posts meet people where they are at, showing the mundaneness of human life where not everything has to be perfect or go to plan. 2. Root it in Christ and your faith Sacraments like the Eucharist have a visible and invisible reality. The visible reality is the outward expression, that is, the form they take and the way in which they are administered and received. The invisible reality is God’s grace. Fostering a Eucharistic encounter through social media means rooting what we share in Christ and our faith. What we choose to share may be good or inspiring news, but what does the news point to? Going back to my friend, despite the chaotic moment she shared about her family life, she took the opportunity to give thanks to God for her family and children. Gratitude is a powerful expression that builds human connection. What we share on social media are moments of life. In giving thanks to God for that moment, what we are sharing points to the invisible reality that these moments are gifts from God. 3. Consider a Call to Action The Roman Missal has various options for dismissal as part of the Mass: “Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord,” “Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life” and “Go in peace.” In all options, the faithful are sent out to share the Gospel. Fostering a Eucharistic encounter through social media can have a similar effect, calling people to action. Posts like my friend’s that share a moment in their life that they are thankful to God for is a great opportunity to invite others to do the same. In this case, my friend invited others to think about one thing they were thankful for and share it with a family or friend. A call to action is a way for others to sow the seeds of the Gospel, a message which bears fruit over time as people continue to share it faithfully. Earlier this year in his message for the 58th World Day of Communication, Pope Francis focused on artificial intelligence, both its uses and challenges. He mentioned this regarding growing in humanity: “We are called to reflect carefully on the theoretical development and the practical use of these new instruments of communication and knowledge. Their great possibilities for good are accompanied by the risk of turning everything into abstract calculations that reduce individuals to data, thinking to a mechanical process, experience to isolated cases, goodness to profit, and, above all, a denial of the uniqueness of each individual and his or her story.” Despite advances in technology, human connection is something that should not be compromised nor forgotten. Social media is a tool which can be used for good such as evangelizing. Fostering Eucharistic encounters through social media is an opportunity to deepen realities to ultimately foster relationships with Christ. Like Blessed Carlo, let us share the Gospel through creative ways as we interact with others through social media.
 Today, on the Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary, we are reminded of the important role that the rosary plays in our daily lives. It is a form of prayer that we seek when we are struggling and need the comforting embrace of a mother. It is a form of prayer that is joyful, celebrating our successes with Christ through Mary. Devotions to Mary have always been an important aspect of my faith. In particular, the rosary has helped me through many tough times in my life and given me the strength to continue forming my life to Christ, but its importance was reinforced in the first few months of my college career when I joined the Knights of Columbus. Upon entering the Order, Knights are given a rosary as a symbol of our devotion to Mary and a reality of our reliance on her example and her intercession with God But why should we say the rosary? Saint John Paul II gives a clear picture of the rosary’s importance: “The Rosary mystically transports us to Mary's side as she is busy watching over the human growth of Christ in the home of Nazareth. This enables her to train us and to mold us with the same care, until Christ is “fully formed” in us.” When we pray the rosary, many of us are seeking the warm embrace of a mother, someone who can reassure us in our fears and give us the strength to live out each day for Christ. Mary is our mother in every sense of that word. Christ, moments from death, says to Mary, “Behold, your son,” and to the disciple whom he loved, “Behold, your mother.” With these words Christ gives Mary to all of us as our mother, the Mother of the Church, and with these words we are formed by her just as Christ was. The rosary does not pull our attention away from Christ, but rather joins us with him through our love of Mary. John Paul II tells us in Rosarium Virginis Mariae, “Never as in the Rosary do the life of Jesus and that of Mary appear so deeply joined. Mary lives only in Christ and for Christ!” The rosary allows us to participate in that union and calls us to share in the life of Christ through our relationship with his Mother. Each time we pray the rosary we focus on the Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, or Luminous mysteries. These are not only drawing us closer to Mary, but to the life of Christ as each set of mysteries is grounded in the Gospel. When we pray the rosary we do not just repeat prayers over and over again, but rather we are given the opportunity to live out a different aspect of the life of Christ with each decade. Repetition is an important aspect of the rosary, but is it actually repetition? Archbishop Fulton Sheen in his book “The World’s First Love” tells us that it is not repetition for each time we say the rosary, “we are saying to God, the Trinity, to the Incarnate Saviour, to the Blessed Mother: "I love you, I love you, I love you." Each time it means something different, because, at each decade, our mind is moving to a new demonstration of the Saviour's love.” Who better to remind us of the Christ’s love than Mary, the Mother of God, our mother, who raised Jesus, formed him, and followed him. Who better to emulate than Mary, who watched her son suffer and die on the cross for our salvation. Each time we say the rosary we are embraced by our mother, we are renewed in our faith, and we are reminded of God’s love. “Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.” *This post was originally published October 7th, 2024* AuthorNicholas Shields is a young professional from Washington, D.C.
 In thirty-three days, the citizens of our country will go to the polls to elect the next President and Vice-President of the United States, their representatives to Congress, and in some cases, state and local officials. To encourage and support our engagement in politics, our bishops wrote Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship – A Call to Political Responsibility (approved in November 2015, and the new introductory note November 2023, at their Plenary Assembly). This document is a gift, too often left unwrapped or under appreciated, that will deepen our faith, challenge us to be more responsible, and free us to build, in the words of Pope Benedict, a “civilization of love.” Citizenship gives us the opportunity to work for justice. According to the document, “The work for justice requires that the mind and the heart of Catholics be educated and formed to know and practice the whole faith” (para 4). We have the responsibility, the opportunity, and the capacity “to hear, receive, and act upon Church’s teaching in the lifelong task of forming” our conscience, a conscience grounded in four basic principles of Catholic social doctrine: the dignity of the human person, the common good, subsidiarity, and solidarity (para 5). We enter politics with the power of conscience. The bishops tell us, “Conscience is the voice of God resounding in the human heart, revealing the truth to us and calling us to do what is good while shunning what is evil” (para 17). God gives us the ability to know the difference between good and evil, the intelligence to grasp reality, the capacity to weigh moral options, and the virtues necessary to act. The document also says that, “Decisions about political life are complex and require the exercise of a well-formed conscience aided by prudence” (para 31). Our faith is our greatest gift. It is a gift God gives to us, personally, through others. We spend our lives immersed in it so that we can say with Saint Paul, “yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me; insofar as I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who has loved me and given himself up for me” (Galatians 2:20). Every gift evokes a response. I think of the iPad my wife, Barbara, gave to me for my birthday. Over months, even years, I learned what it could do. Facebook helped me keep up with our grandchildren. I could read books or watch movies on planes. Eventually, I had video calls over Zoom. The iPad is now obsolete, but what it gave me remains and I can build on these lessons. In a similar way, we deepen our faith. What does the dignity of the human person mean as we face the challenges of reproductive rights, poverty, migration, criminal justice, gun violence, and care for the earth? We must do the work. What is the reality we face? Where do we get our information? How do we account for bias and regrettably, misinformation? It is demanding work. As Jesus taught us, we need to “go the extra mile.” The bishops encourage the faithful – including themselves – “to examine candidate’s positions on issues affecting human life and dignity as well as issues of justice and peace, and they should consider candidates’ integrity, philosophy, and performance” (para 41). We need to “see beyond party politics, to analyze campaign rhetoric critically, and to choose” our political leaders “according to principle, not party affiliation or mere self-interest” (para 41). This gives us tremendous freedom and unlimited opportunity to build a civilization of love. First, we must see other Catholics as sisters and brothers in the Lord, not as political rivals. For example, “We are not factions, but one family of faith fulfilling the mission of Christ” (para 29). Second, we cannot be “single issue” voters. Our belief in the dignity of human life, from conception until natural death, “is not one issue among many,” and we cannot misuse these moral distinctions to dismiss or ignore “other serious threats to human life and dignity” (para 29). Each conversation, each issue facing the common good, is an opportunity – with charity and justice – to a renewed politics focused on principles rather than polls, the needs of the weak rather than the benefits of the strong, and the pursuit of the common good rather than the demands of narrow interests (para 61). God gives us life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Let us use these gifts to be faithful, responsible, and free followers of Jesus committed to a civilization of love this year and every year. Like the bishops tell us, “This kind of political participation reflects the social teaching of our Church and the best traditions of our nation” (para 62).
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