have yourself a merry little…advent!

Just to let you know, it’s not Christmas yet.

I know, I know. The decorations have been in the stores since October. Carols were on the radio while our Jack o lanterns were still on the porch. If your neighborhood is anything like mine, it is filled with giant inflatable Santas and millions of tiny twinkling lights.

It might look like Christmas, but it’s not.

We live in a world that’s focused on the next party – so much so that we forget how to live in the moment. And in this moment, it’s Advent, not Christmas. (Not that all those things are authentically “Christmas,” but that’s another story.)

I used to find it enormously challenging to celebrate Advent properly. Most people I know put up their Christmas trees soon after Thanksgiving (and some even before.)
Not one but two Detroit radio stations have been playing Christmas tunes since the beginning of November. And all the really good sales are probably already over.

But at my house – it’s not Christmas yet.

We celebrate Advent with a simple wreath with three purple candles and a rose one. Most evenings, the boys fight over whose turn it is to light it, and we sing a really bad rendition of “O Come O Come Emmanuel.”

It’s simple, and it’s pretty sweet.

I really wish we could all take the time to celebrate a proper Advent, one in which we took the time to reflect on Christ’s coming. I wish we could hold off on Christmas just a bit. I love all the trimmings that come with the celebration, but truthfully, they don’t always make for spiritual growth. That happens best with silence and simplicity.

I’m no Grinch, and I don’t want to give up a single fun thing about Christmas. But if I can remember Advent, I think my Christmas will be the best one yet.

How do YOU celebrate Advent?

A Renovation Celebration!

On November 8, we here at the North American Regional Headquarters in Detroit celebrated the culmination of the extensive renovation of our building that began in 2007. The following photos, courtesy of Doriguzzi Photographic Artistry, show some highlights!

Don’t judge a book by its cover

So what are we to judge it by? Well, its content of course, some might argue. I am not so sure about that. The content might sound wonderful, be articulate or even poetic. The ideas could even seem logical and truthful with valid facts. It might even touch our hearts and make us think about the way we live our lives. So then if not these things then what are we to judge a book by? The part that no one reads: the reference section. Authors are not credible unless they have the references to back them up.

The gospel shows us Christ’s love through his teachings, miracles, and most importantly His suffering. But Jesus’ actions are not what make Him credible. Jesus said, “If I testify on my own behalf, my testimony cannot be verified.” John 5: 31. Jesus testifies on the behalf of God, and He uses the words of those who came before Him. He quotes Moses, King David, and the prophets and displays how they foretold His coming. These are His references and they give Him credibility.

We as the PIME Missionaries help the poorest people in the world. We aid them with food, medicine, education, and many other services. When asked why we do these things, we reference Jesus. Jesus calls us to give up our lives, and makes our mission worthwhile. Jesus gives us the grace and power to do great things, but He also gives us our credibility.

Giovanni Vitale II, Outreach Coordinator

Wordless Wednesday

(almost) Wordless Wednesday

As you can imagine, as editor of PIME World Magazine, I sort through scores of photographs on a weekly basis. Fr. Sergio returned from his trip to Asia with hundreds more to add to our collection.

I’m a big fan of imagery. Despite the fact that, as a writer, I dig verbiage, I realize that the old adage about one picture and a thousand words is a true one.

In that spirit, and in recognition of this popular midweek blogging trend, I’ll be posting photos on Wednesdays. Every day I see pictures that touch me in one way or another. I hope they speak to you, as well.

If you have questions about any of the photographs, please include them in the comments section or email me at pimeworld [at] pimeusa.org.

From the Fang Mission in Thailand:

on love and detachment

“More than that, I even consider everything as a loss because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have accepted the loss of all things and I consider them so much rubbish, that I may gain Christ.” Philippians 3:8

The loss of all things…

Does Jesus really want us to give up everything – and I mean EVERYTHING – for Him?

Does He want us to not only give up evil, and worldly attachments, but even good things? Does He want us to forsake ALL for Him – even the love of others?

I’ve heard it said that God is a jealous lover. He is not satisfied with a portion of our hearts: He wants them whole and complete. So how do we reconcile His call to “love our neighbor as ourselves” with this extreme call to love Him with our entire being?

That’s the crazy thing about love. It asks us to do the impossible.

Saints and theologians have pondered God’s call to love our neighbor and yet remain detached from the world. St. John Eudes wrote “It is not enough for a Christian to be free from vice and to abhor every kind of sin. Beyond that it is necessary to work with diligence and resolution at the task of becoming perfectly detached from the world and from the things of the world.” One could argue that he was referring to only worldly things, not relationships, but he goes on to say “By the things of the world I mean everything that the world so highly values and loves and strives after, namely, the honors and praises of men, vain pleasures and satisfactions, wealth and temporal comforts, friendships and affections based on flesh and blood, on self-love and selfish interests.”

Yep, even friendships.

I’ve learned the hard way that it really isn’t reasonable to become too attached to things of the world, including relationships. I can and indeed must continue to love my neighbor, since the commandment to do so remains. What I must remember is that there is no guarantee that that love will be returned, nor should I expect it to. The Lord gave me the example with His life. He laid it down for His friends, who proceeded to abandon and even betray him.

Our missionaries are wonderful examples of loving with detachment. They lay down their lives at the feet of those they serve, but they do not expect anything in return. Often their attempts to share the Gospel are ignored or even met with hostility. They are able to continue in their ministry because they realize they are not there to have their emotional needs met or to collect “friends.” Their service is a direct expression of their relationship with Christ, the One who conquers all, loves all, and understands all. When they are met with betrayal, when they are overcome with disappointment at the harshness of life, they can turn to Him, the only friend who matters, after all.

He will never let them – or us – down.

a good and holy thought

The secular world is done celebrating Halloween, but for us Catholics, the days of the dead go on.

The “triduum” of feasts ends with today’s celebration of All Souls Day, a day to remember our loved ones who have gone before us.

Does anyone pray for the dead anymore? I remember when, at the age of seven, I was first introduced to the practice. My grandmother had died, and my mother told me to pray for her soul. I’ve said the prayer hundreds of times since then: “Eternal peace grant unto them O Lord. May their souls and all the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen.”

Funerals these days often focus on the good traits of the deceased (as they should) and are centered around remembering them with love (also not a bad idea.) However, the frequent repetition of the phrase “he/she is in a better place now” gets me a little worried.

Don’t get me wrong, chances are your Aunt Margaret and my Uncle Dave are in purgatory or heaven, and either one is a much better place to be than here on earth. But our attempt to comfort one another with the assurance that our loved ones are now with Jesus gives me pause. If they are, why pray for them?

I guess I’m mostly expressing the fear that rumors of my holiness will be greatly exaggerated upon my death, and that all prayers for my soul will cease. That thought really scares me.

So today I’m praying for the dead. Of course I’m praying for my ancestors, and those of my husband. I’m also praying for members of my parish family, for neighbors and friends, even (and especially) those of other faiths. But I won’t stop there. I’ll pray too for the souls of priests and religious, particularly for those who have served in the missions.

Won’t you join me? Go to mass today if you can. (This is one day out of the year when each priest can say three masses.) If not, it only takes a moment to say that prayer I learned as a little girl: “Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. May their souls and all the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen.”

trick or treat?

A while back outreach coordinator Giovanni started offering tips for missionaries. Here’s another gem.

Tip Number 74: Don’t be the person who gives pennies or apples for Halloween.

Every child hates the house that hands out change, apples, or some other random item that is not candy on Halloween. We as missionaries do not want to be like these people.

Jesus says, “…to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg?” Luke 11:10-12

See, Jesus said it right there! What kind of person on Halloween would give children apples when they ask for candy?

Now you may be thinking – “what does this have to do with being a missionary?” Everything! We don’t go out and give people things they don’t need. When we go to a foreign land we do not jump off the boat and start telling everyone about Jesus and handing out rosaries. No, we meet the people and address their needs. We feed the hungry, tend to the sick, and build personal relationships. Then when they are ready we are there to give them the thing they need the most: Jesus.

The same goes for us here at home. We must meet people individually where they are and when they are ready slowly bring them towards God. If we go around simply handing out rosaries, bibles, or holy cards we are no better than the people that hand out fruit or spare change. Even though all of these things are good, they are not what they need. When we help people meet their needs they now have something much better, a friend in Christ. Then the time might be right to give to hand out rosaries, bibles, or even apples…

But you might want to just invest in those full size candy bars.

create a legacy

Did you know that the PIME Missionaries have a Chapel Building Program?

Through it, our missionaries assist Catholics in developing countries who need safe buildings in which to worship. Donors can contribute to all or part of the cost of building such a structure – creating a legacy for generations to come.

And did you further know that the PIME Missionaries have a channel on youtube? Check it out here!

pray for – and thank! – our priests

Chances are, more than one priest has made a significant effect on your life.

One probably baptized you. One heard your first (and subsequent!) confessions. One gave you your First Holy Communion.

Maybe you were married – by a priest. Has a priest ever visited you in the hospital? Prayed for you? Said the funeral mass for someone you loved?

Perhaps you’ve had the good fortune of forming a friendship with a priest. You might’ve golfed with one, or had a beer with one, or maybe gone on a mission trip with one.

Priests are so important in the lives of the Catholic people, and so often all we do is complain about them. This Sunday, October 25 is “Priest Sunday” – the perfect opportunity to say thank you to the priests in your life.

They need not our condemnation and criticism, but our prayers and support.

Visit priestsunday.org to learn more.