Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the graces You pour out upon us as we face life's challenges.

Msgr. Pope on Overcoming Life's Storms

". . . Storms in life are often beyond our control. Perhaps they come from nature and the sudden vicissitudes of this world. Sometimes God permits storms in order to test and strengthen us. Sometimes, too, others drag us into storms and we suffer on account of their poor decisions. Some storms come from our own foolishness and poor choices."
In a recent two-part commentary, Monsignor Charles Pope (pastor of Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Parish, Washington, DC) reflected on various "storms" we may encounter as we live our lives and on how we may meet/overcome them.
To access Msgr. Pope's complete posts, please visit:

Community in Mission: "And no small tempest lay on us …" - The Story of a Storm That St. Paul Endured and What It Has to Teach Us About Sin (4 JUN 17)

Community in Mission: Overcoming Life’s Storms: A Teaching from St. Paul to Storm-weary Souls (5 JUN 17)

Reflection Starter from Pope Francis

"The Church needs everyday saints, those of ordinary life carried out with coherence." - Pope Francis

André Rieu: "By the Beautiful Blue Danube"

As this blessed week draws to a close, I offer this version of André Rieu and his Johann Strauss Orchestra presenting "An der schönen blauen Donau" ("By the Beautiful Blue Danube") (composed by Johann Strauss II):

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the gift of clean water and for those people who strive to supply this resource to Your people.

Thomas Craughwell on Catholic Summer Travel Destinations in the U.S.

"Every summer, American families become road warriors, heading out for day trips, weekend excursions, or longer vacations to explore our vast, fascinating nation. There are plenty of significant sites across the United States that have unexpected Catholic links."

In a recent commentary in the National Catholic Register, writer Thomas Craughwell reported on a number of travel destinations with connections to Catholicism - connections many people are not aware of.  These destinations include the East Room of the White House (Washington, DC); the Father William Corby Monument, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; and Boston common.

To access the complete National Catholic Register report, please visit:

National Catholic Register: Bolgs: Thomas Craughwell: 7 of America’s Catholic Summer Travel Destinations (9 JUN 17)

Reflection Starter from Tobit

"Bless God and give him thanks before all the living for the good things he has done for you, by blessing and extolling his name in song. Proclaim before all with due honor the deeds of God, and do not be slack in thanking him." - Tobit 12:6

Burl Ives: "Noah Found Grace In The Eyes of the Lord"

As we continue to live this week, I offer this version of Burl Ives and the Masquers presenting "Noah Found Grace In The Eyes of the Lord":

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the talents You have entrusted to us.

Finding God on the Street

The streets of any city are a scary place when you don't have a home or place of refuge to retreat to for safety. Father Claude Paradis found that out the hard way. Long before he became a priest, he was homeless and living in Montreal, Canada. This experience of the harsh realities faced on the streets is what motivated him to start an outreach called Notre Dame de-la-rue, which translates to Our Lady of the Street.

Every night, Father Paradis ventures into the streets of Montreal to bring food to the homeless and help them find shelter. His ministry is a comprehensive one as he utilizes his priestly capacity to administer the sacraments to the homeless, celebrating the Eucharist and even presiding at funerals.

A Catholic News Agency story on Father Paradis chronicles his journey from an "addiction to both alcohol and drugs, with a future so bleak, he considered ending his own life," to conversion, ordination and a life committed to "serving the physical and spiritual needs of those trapped in poverty, prison and prostitution."

In an account of his conversion posted to the website La Victoire de l'Amoure (The Victory of Love), Father Paradis writes: "I had the privilege of meeting God just at the moment I was doubting Him. On a little back street in Montreal, abandoned by people, there was nobody there. Passing by the old church, impelled by I don't know what instinct, I turned back in there."

Father Paradis realized that he wanted to become "a man of the Church," so he set out to conquer his addictions. Speaking to the Journal Metro, he said, "The street brought me to the Church and the Church in the end brought me back to the street." This past winter brought him full circle when he spent a month living on the streets in solidarity with the homeless so that he could demonstrate his love for them and draw attention to their plight.

Ministry to the homeless and addicted is a special calling, but everyone can find ways to support the work done by those on the front lines. We can also focus on helping people we encounter avoid the pitfalls that lead to destitution. Father Paradis' troubles began when he couldn't find work and lost his sense of self-worth. His journey of recovery represents the path we are all called to walk. We must constantly strive to improve ourselves and grow closer to God in purity and holiness, but then we must turn around and risk all we have achieved in order to reach out to those who have fallen on hard times or lost their way.

Christ was perfect yet he chose to bear the wounds of our sins out of His love for us. In order to follow Him, we must show that same kind of love for others. We must dare to enter their world in order to guide them to a better place. Christ saved us for this very purpose, so that we could do His bidding, as St. Teresa of Avila once wrote: "Christ has no body but yours; no hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes through which His Compassion looks out upon the world. Yours are the feet with which He walks to do Good. Yours are the hands with which He Blesses all the world."

This essay is a recent "Light One Candle" column, written by Father Ed Dougherty, M.M., of The Christophers' Board of Directors; it is one of a series of weekly columns that deal with a variety of topics and current events.)

Background information:

The Christophers

Reflection Starter from St. John Paul II

"Life is entrusted to man as a treasure which must not be squandered, as a talent which must be used well." - Pope Saint John Paul II

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for opportunities and inspirations to offer our sacrifices to You.