Love, Life and Prayer

My beloved aunt, who my entire family loves dearly (and who is like a mother to me), has been ill. She is the matriarch of our large Italian family and she is greatly loved by many people. She is older but she has a strong will to live, that is what love will do. In the last few weeks, all of us, her immediate family as well as her extended family have been visiting her, praying for her and trying to make sense of doctor's reports and her heart condition.

We have also had to rely on the goodness of a priest, (who I've yet to meet), who visits her as well as the other patients in the hospital. He has been to see her a few times, to pray with her and for her. What peace of mind that gives to us, to know that this wonderful priest, comes to Beth Israel Hospital in Brooklyn where she is, from a nearby parish to anoint her and pray for her. 

Yesterday her condition seemed dire and so I suggested to my cousin, to ask the nurse to call for a priest. And so this very good priest, once again came to anoint her and pray for her. Before I could drive from my house to the hospital, he had already been there to visit with her and pray. He told family members to call him if we needed him, he was so willing to help. I can't tell you the peace that gave to my entire family and most especially me.

It is so comforting to know that love, prayer and the goodness of others can help in difficult situations. When it comes down to it, what really matters in life? I think it's the love of family and friends, how much we are loved and cared for, our faith, prayers, Eucharist, anointing when we need it, the sacraments, belonging to a loving family and belonging to a faith community. In the end, that's what's real, that's what's important. The "stuff" that we spend our entire lives collecting, doesn't matter in the end, it's just stuff that will eventually belong to someone else or will be thrown away.  What matters in the end is love, family, God and also how much we have touched the lives of others. The question is: have we been a blessing to others?   

Anyone who doesn't think they need a religion, or a faith community or belief in God, or prayers, is making life more difficult for themselves, in my opinion. They're taking the hope out of life. I knew the importance of belief and prayer before this situation. But once again, I'm living it, in the here and now. The benefits of belief are what I'm immersed in and belief is a very good thing, especially when there is a crisis in life, uncertainty or illness. 

Also, the prayers and generosity of this priest, who is so available to help us and especially my aunt, has made a difficult and trying situation so much easier and comforting. That is why faith is so important for human beings. It's there when you need it, it strengthens you and gives you courage and the ability to persevere. Faith helps you deal with the difficulties and trials in life. 

NJA

To Pray Or Not To Pray?

I'm going to weigh in on the blogger commentaries and media interest concerning Christopher Hitchens. Mr. Hitchens is an outspoken atheist and author, who is dying of esophageal cancer. His prognosis is not good and that's according to information he gave during an interview with a national correspondent for The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg. In the video I watched, Mr. Hitchens says, "I'm dying." He is "battling cancer," and I know too well the devastation that disease causes having lost my mother and my young brother to cancer. I am sorry for Mr. Hitchens, for his pain and suffering. Everytime I hear of someone dying of cancer, I think to myself, "How come we don't have a cure yet?" Billions of dollars in research and no brilliant scientist has found the cure yet?........That's frustrating. But that's another story for another day. 

Mr. Goldberg questioned Mr. Hitchens on mortality, having cancer and his religious beliefs. Mr. Goldberg asked this interesting question, "Do you find it insulting for people to pray for you?" His answer was that he doesn't find it insulting, as long as people truly wish him well and are praying for his recovery and not for him to be saved. Very interesting. 

Mr. Hitchens looked concerned on the video clip and stressed out. And who wouldn't be in his situation. But it puzzles me, why he wouldn't opt for hoping, for belief in God, why he wouldn't open himself to the possibility of God's love and mercy? Belief in God gives hope to human beings especially in horrific situations such as the one Mr. Hitchens finds himself in. Prayer also helps in this situation. Prayer can bring about a change of heart, or a change in attitude. Sometimes miraculous things happen when people pray. There is always some positive change with prayer, and if you pay close attention to how prayer effects people and situations, you can become aware of that fact. 

Mr. Hitchens believes that religion is man-made. Certain rules and laws are man-made, that is true. But religion is based on the fact that God does exist and God's existence has been revelaed to us over and over again, especially through God's word.  Believers are responding to God's love and self-revelation and that's why we believe. We are just opening ourselves to the mystery of God and responding through prayer, worship and belief. We should also be responding with deep love, as the saints suggest. 

I wish Mr. Hitchens would read the Bible, the Hebrew Scriptures, especially the Psalms and the New Testament, for I think it would make him feel better and give him hope. It doesn't cost anything and there is much to gain. He doesn't have to believe in God,(though I wish he would, for his own sake), but at least reading the inspired word of God would help him to feel better. Just a suggestion......check out the video clip--

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/10/christopher-hitchens-im-d_n_676681.html

NJA

Dying A Slow Death in the Gulf

The sad news continues as thousands of gallons of oil continue to flow into the Gulf of Mexico though the latest cap is capturing approximately 650,000 gallons of oil a day. The nightmare doesn't seem to end for the Gulf Coast of the U.S. The Gulf of Mexico is still in crisis. The leak has lasted for 54 days. The fish and wildlife who depend on the clean waters of the Gulf for existence as well as the livelihoods of the fishermen in the area, are dying a slow death. Some scientists think it will take decades to clean up the mess and that's once they've stopped the flow of oil. It's an ecological disaster of apocalyptic proportions. In one article I read a rig worker said, "That oil rig and oil well gave us trouble from the start. It was one problem after another. It's as if Mother Nature didn't want it to be built." And now we know why. The worst case scenario has happened. The oil well was too deep to begin with-5,000 feet below the water's surface and that's one reason it's such a problem to control.

I made a comment at a meeting recently that people without faith or without belief in the power of prayer, would think ridiculous (I imagine). But it's not ridiculous to me or the believers at the meeting. I was wondering if large corporations who were going to have to alter land or the sea to extract energy, considered that they were dealing with a divine creation, God's creation and considered treating it carefully, considering every implication for the natural environment. After all, they would not only have to deal with the President or Congress, the shareholders of their company, or the Coast Guard or environmentalists, if something went wrong but they would also have to give an account to God.  What if leaders and administrators prayed to the Creator before plans are drawn to drill, dig or extract energy, praying for wisdom and God's guidance? I'm serious.  Do I think the outcome would be different if people would pray about these monumental decisions beforehand? Definitely.  Is consideration given to the sacredness of the natural world and the environment? Is it viewed as a divine creation, a gift from a generous and loving God? The Bible clearly states over and over again that God's creation is sacred and should be protected and cared for. There is much wisdom in the Bible, which is why I read it everyday and pray with it as well, as millions do. Sacred wisdom and guidance should not be ignored, even by the secular world, because to ignore the wisdom of the Bible or God's will, is to open the door to uncertainty, problems and even chaos, as we are seeing unfold. There are many warnings about that in the Hebrew Scriptures and the Christian Scriptures as well.  

I know we need energy, I understand that for now, at this time, until other forms of renewable, "green" energy can be developed we have to depend on oil. But this catastrophe we are living through and the consequences of not giving a high priority to the environment, in all decision -making, are severe.  I can only imagine what the people who are directly affected are going through. And tragically, it's still not over. 

NJA

Count Me In

Pope Benedict is being vilified, it's irresponsible and it's fueling hatred. Because of irresponsible behavior on the part of some people whose remarks and actions enflame ill emotions and hatred, Catholicism and the visible leader of the Catholic Church on earth, the Vicar of Christ, are going through a difficult and painful trial. In England a "publicity stunt," calling for the arrest of the Pope when he visits Britain, has upset many. (It is utter nonsense!) It is being condemned by sensible British citizens and leaders. So in light of all the negative press, it is not surprising that vandals targeted the house in Southern Germany where Pope Benedict was born. Graffiti was sprayed on the front door, but it was quickly painted over. 

Graffiti was also painted on billboards, which were promoting Pope Benedict's April 17th-18th visit to the island nation of Malta. 

Public opinion is turning against the Church in many European countries. A statistic, that is hard to believe, stated that as many as a quarter of Germany's Catholics were considering leaving the Church. Some people are actually filling out forms called, "Declaration of Defection,"and sending them to their local bishops. This is a crisis that seems, at times, to be spinning out of control. Perhaps the Church does need to convene a new council, Vatican III, as some Church experts and commentators have suggested. Or perhaps, more realistically, a convocation of Archbishops and Bishops should be imagined to "brainstorm" about how to deal effectively with this ongoing crisis and limit the damage it has done to the credibility of the Church. A proactive, enlightened, insightful,  prayerful response is in order. 

There is a website called, "Count Me Out," which provides information for those considering leaving the Roman Catholic Church. According to the website it is, "For many who no longer practice, remaining 'lapsed' is not sufficient; a clean break is needed." According to the website, 9,112 people have completed a "Declaration of Defection," and 458 e-mails have been sent. 

This is very sad and disturbing news. 

I'm going to give a talk this weekend in Brooklyn to Catholic parents. One of the things I'm going to tell them is how important faith, belief and prayer is for children and adults, especially in this uncertain, anxiety-filled, fast-paced world we live in. I will tell many stories, quote studies and my own faith experiences to try to stress that their children need religious rituals and prayer (as many psychologists also state), to give them inner strength and courage to deal with the challenges and complexities of the modern, secular world. 

Talking to parents on the importance of faith and prayer, is one of the most important things I do. I can't imagine a life without faith, prayer and belief, but sadly there are many people without faith. What troubles me even more, is that they try to convince others that faith and belief is not important or necessary in life and that simply is not true. All the studies that I have read, support my belief and the beliefs of all the major world religions, that prayer, belief and religious rituals are good for human beings. 

NJA