When a young, irreverent priest arrives at Saint Patrick Parish in Lawrence, Massachusetts, he discovers the unexpected—boiling ethnic tensions in a changing working-class community.

Filmed over four years, Scenes from a Parish tells the wildly diverse personal stories of Father Paul OBrien and his unruly flock, as they struggle to hold onto faith in the face of desperate circumstances.

“Steer the faithful, and everyone else, to “Scenes from a Parish,” a surpassingly lucid little documentary. It raises more questions about the church’s place in a changing world–and touches more emotions doing so–than any big- budget studio folderol.”
- Ty Burr, Boston Globe

I don’t understand why the concern for the “church’s place in a changing world”. The Church’s place in the changing world is irrelevant! The 21st century (our changing world) is as irrelevant as the the 1st all the way through to the 20th century. Why the need for the Church to catch up to the changing world? The Catholic Church is not a 21st-century religion.

In a comment I left to:  “Scenes From A Parish“  I stated-

“Think Tridentine Mass/Latin Mass. We can ALL buy missals in our own language and follow along with the Mass. Then we can stop the whining and cease with the “WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR ME” mentality.

Clare was the first flower in the garden of the Poor Man of Assisi. Hence the name of this blog. “Little Flowers Along The Path.”  St. Francis, the Poor Man of Assisi, is my patron saint. I have hopes that through the path of my life, I will strive to become one of his Little Flowers.

Many of us struggle financially.  Many times we fell resentment because of the things we can’t have rather than being grateful for the things we do have.  There are millions upon millions who are suffering from extreme poverty.  Guaranteed they don’t care if they have a new outfit, a new car, or the latest video game of music cd, etc. 

St. Clare intentionally lived her life in extreme poverty.  Her and her order of the Poor Clare’s slept on the ground, went bare footed and followed strict rules of poverty.  She replicated the life of Our Lord, Our Savor-Jesus. 

“The foxes have dens and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head” (Matt. 3:20).

I don’t intentionally live my life in poverty but I must remember not ask for more than what I need when it come to Earthly materialism.

Let us pray to God together for each other, for, by sharing each other’s burden of charity in this way, we shall easily fulfill the law of Christ.—St. Clare of Assisi

I do know the Eucharist is the sacrifice of the Church. Jesus is there in the tabernacle. The consecrated bread and wine becomes the Most Precious Body and Blood of Christ. It is the blessed sacrament of the Church. And, I do know we go to Church to receive Christ in the Eucharist. Christ told us to “Do this in remembrance of me”.

I have left the Church many times and have come back in hope that my heart will burn and want for more. Again, recently, I have felt an emptiness and I feel something is missing. I have silently thought that Church was pandering to our Protestant brothers and sisters.

Tridentine Mass

Then yesterday, during the liturgy, the congregation broke out in applause for the fine work that the piano player and the singers were doing. My nine year old grandson was applauding and that is when I gently put my hand on top of his clapping hands and quietly told him “No, don’t do that.”  Later, on the drive home, I explained to him why I stopped him. I more or less cited the quote below-

Wherever applause breaks out in the liturgy because of some human achievement, it is a sure sign that the essence of liturgy has totally disappeared and been replaced by a kind of religious entertainment. Such attraction fades quickly – it cannot compete in the market of leisure pursuits, incorporating as it increasingly does various forms of religious titillation (Ratzinger, Spirit of the Liturgy).

That wasn’t the first time that a round of applause broke out. Another time is when the ladies auxiliary was handing out small scholarships to the newly graduated high school seniors. My inner peace and my sanctuary quickly left me.

I have tried and I keep trying to fit into the new ways. Even though the new ways are over 40 years old. Everything that I was taught during my Catholic education was pushed to the back of my mind. I had to learn the new ways. When actually, I have never forgotten the true beauty of the Tridentine Latin Mass. I made my first Holy Communion in 1961. The Church was still in the Tridentine tradition. Now, the Church follows Novus Ordo Missae-New Order of the Mass.

One website I found has a full page on The Evils of the New Liturgy.  Also if you click Old Mass vs. New Mass you will find comparisons to the Traditional Latin Mass with the Modern Mass.

I pray that we find our way back to the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.

I am not the good seed.

I am-

The seed sown on rocky ground
I am the one who hears the word and receives it at once with joy.
But I have no root and lasts only for a time.

I am angry and bitter. I am resentful and hurt. These feeling (weeds) are getting in the way of me becoming the good seed.

I cannot flourish and sustain in the glory of our Lord.

Life gets in my way, O’ Lord.  Life gets in my way.

“My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt” (Matt 26:39).

Dear Lord,
In this time of uncertainty,
Be my rock in a world built on sand;
Be my oasis of grace and peace in a world of tension and turmoil;
Help me to carry my cross gracefully, as you did in Your Passion;
Help me to follow Your beam of light in the midst of this darkness;
Help me to see Your will in all things
And show others Your comfort and strength.

Keep me calm when tempers flare up;
Keep me sane in a crazy world;
Keep me focused on the houses in Heaven
rather than the houses of cards collapsing around me;
Keep my eyes focused on the prize of Heaven
and not lose hope in You in this world or in the world to come;
Make me be compassionate in dealing with others;
Let me see my travails as carrying my cross and sharing in Your Passion, for the love of You and for the salvation of souls, including mine.
And may all my difficulties be ultimately for my good and Your glory. Amen.

Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.
They are more precious than gold, than a heap of purest gold; Sweeter also than syrup or honey from the comb.  Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.

Why do I seek temporal things?  Why do I think that earthly things will bring me joy?  Why do I feel deprived of material objects?  Why do I not know that what I want is not what I need?  Why?  Because I don’t have my seed firmly planted on fertile soil.  Temperance is the word that strays from my mind and vocabulary.   

O Jesus, how could I complain if nailed to God’s commandments which are given for my salvation, when I see You nailed to the Cross! Strengthen my faith and increase my love for You. Help me keep the commandments.

St. Bridget of Sweden

Our Redeemer revealed to you his sufferings. He spoke to you about his Passion. Most pious woman, teach me to be joyous when I hear His name. Help me to be a strong maternal presence to my family and a loving partner to my husband as you were to yours. Show me how to have compassion for the poor and sick. Show me how to have compassion for my fellow man. Show me how to forgive. And, most of all dear St. Bridget, pray that I may keep the love that burns in my heart for our Lord-God.

By Mary Magdalene’s prayers and example may I proclaim Christ as my living Lord and one day see him in glory, for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Let your acquaintances be many, but one in a thousand your confidant. -Sirach 6:6

Dear Lord, Please help me to forgive those that have forsaken me.

Faultless Lord, enduring death for me,
You have consummated the debt of my sins:
Your sacrifice of forgiveness was absolute!
Grant me the strength to also forgive others,
To excuse their transgressions against me.
So I may truly reflect this spiritual fruit,
Obliterate any persistent feelings of malice.
Let each trespass end as a closing chapter,
My continuing on the road of righteousness.
Forgive my sins as I aspire to forgive others.
You are truly archetypical of forgiveness.
You are a most forgiving Lord!  

Do not give in to sadness, torment not yourself with brooding; Gladness of heart is the very life of man, cheerfulness prolongs his days. -Sirach 30:21-22

My sweet Mother Mary, Show me how to have a happy heart and not feel resentment. I am not angry-my heart is heavy with sadness.

Holy Mary,
help those in need,
give strength to the weak,
comfort the sorrowful,
pray for God’s people,
assist the clergy,
intercede for religious.

Mary, all who seek your help
experience your unfailing protection.
Amen.

Giovanni di Fidanza was born in Bagnorea, Italy, son of Giovanni di Fidanza and Maria la Ritella, and according to tradition, received the name Bonaventure from St. Francis of Assisi, who cured him of a childhood illness. Legend has it that St. Francis foresaw the future greatness of little John and cried out “O Buona ventura“-O good fortune!

Saint Bonaventure-

• Italian theologian and philosopher who taught that the goal of all the arts and sciences is the direct contemplation of God.
• was a Franciscan.
• the Seraphic Doctor.
• 11th Doctor of the Church.
• biographer of Saint Francis of Assisi. He wrote the official Franciscan biography of St. Francis.
• came to the defense of the Franciscan ideal when William of Saint-Amour (a philosopher and theologian at University of Paris around 1250 A.D.) accused the mendicants of defaming the Gospels by their vows of poverty.

That is my elementary understanding of St. Bonaventure.

Not knowing anything about St. Bonaventure, I wanted to delve into his life and get to know him.  I had the hardest time understanding his teachings, works and philosophies. 

Phew! 

I think I will leave the theological understandings to the scholars.

Further reading on Saint Bonaventure can be found at Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 

“Buona fortuna”-Good Luck!

Love. 

It sounds so simple.  Yet, it is not effortless. 

“Dear Lord, teach me to love.”

It brings happiness.  It brings joy.  It brings peace. 

It’s affection, passion, emotion, devotion and action. 

Out of the nine below, which ones applied to you today?

• Love Is Patient
• Love Is Kind
• Love Does Not Envy
• Love Does Not Boast
• Love Is Not Proud
• Love Is Not Rude
• Love Always Trust
• Love Always Hopes
• Love Never Fails

Pray for us, O glorious Mother of the Lord.
That we may become worthy of the promises of Christ.