Encouraging the Culture of Encounter with Jesus Christ, His Church, and All People

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Your Head or Your Heart?
Which do you follow?  In literature, movies, and everyday life, this question comes up.  Regarding work, relationships, society, government, ethics, and just about everything.  In any decision our head says one thing while our heart says another.  By “head” we usually mean our logical intellectual side, and by “heart” we usually mean our emotional side.  Think of Mr. Spock, the logical Vulcan from Star Trek versus Dr. McCoy, the one who isn’t afraid of sharing his more emotional outbursts.
As Catholics, which do we follow? Take a minute and name where you think you fall on the spectrum.  From what place do you make decisions?  From where do you tend to act.  My  spiritual director in the seminary posed this very question to us.  We spent much time debating - making what we thought were good arguments trying to clarify what one means by these terms.  After all, our emotions are too fickle, but is that all the heart is - our emotions? Is it not more than that?  But God gave us reason, our intellect - our “head.” Is that not how we must decide especially when it comes to ethical questions. My director just sat there watching and smiling as we spun our wheels on this question.  Finally, he sighed and said, it’s really a trick question.  For the Christian, we do follow neither head nor heart - we follow Christ! We decide and act from the “spiritual space” of where He dwells in us.  We must think with his mind and act from His heart. 
While there is more to this question philosophically and theologically regarding our passions, our intellect and our will (and these distinctions are important - maybe a future column or faith formation session can unpack it more), my director helped us ground our reflections in the most important truth, Christ Himself.  Without Him our head and heart will lead us astray.

2 Processions Coming Up!
On Tuesday May 24 starting at 6pm will be a Rogation Day Procession.  This is a traditional practice involving a simple procession around the property of the parish asking God to bless our parish territory and all parishioners.  There are particular intercessions that include asking for relief from plagues and wars.  Even in the Easter Season we will need to offer appropriate reparation for the sin and suffering in our world.  Mass in the Extraordinary Form will follow the procession.

On Sunday May 29 following the 11:30 Mass will be a Marian Procession from the Church out to Mary’s Grotto near the rectory.  There we will pray and bless the statue continuing to honor our Lady who always brings us closer to her Divine Son.

Faith Formation - June 6 @ 6pm in the Church
                What about Virtue? Being Christian amidst the Enlightened and Woke.
                Nowadays we hear of “woke-ness,” and we often see others signal approval for                           many progressivistic attitudes.  In this reflection we meditate on how to discern
                 and rightly stand up for what is good, true, and beautiful.

Donations for Fr. Sal
We are happy to report that $2,465.00 was collected last week and presented to Fr. Sal for Ukraine.  Thank you again for your generosity.

Happy Easter!
Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Pfr