Knights of Columbus Bishop Busch Council 4863


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From the Desk of the Chaplain
From the Desk of the Chaplain, March 2006:

God's Initiative in the World

Dear Brother Knights,

Peace and joy be with you.

We take up our fifth area identified by the U.S. Bishops in 1997 where catechetical texts were deficient in Catholic teaching in the past thirty to forty years.

There has been an overemphasis on human action and a lack of emphasis on God's initiative in the world. The CCC in Part One, Chapter Two begins with the title: "God comes to Meet Man." God always takes the first step in the mystery of love. The CCC #52 teaches: "By revealing himself God wishes to make them (men & women) capable of responding to him, and of knowing him, and of loving him far beyond their own natural capacity." "It pleases God, in his goodness and wisdom, to reveal himself and to make known the mystery of his will." (CCC #51)

When we place an overemphasis of building up the good of the human family upon our own human efforts, the search for God is often dismissed and the need for God is distained. St. Augustine taught "our hearts are restless until they rest in God." What a horrible discouragement, lack of hope, untold fears and great uncertainty about the future is sown in the hearts of our children if they are taught that their future happiness is dependent upon their human actions alone. The Church often prays for mercy and grace, pleading with God, "Help us oh Lord for without you we are sure to fail."

It is true that we must cooperate with God's grace and mercy in this life. But let us remember and teach that God inundates the world with his mercy and holds all things together by his bountiful love. We are to turn to God at all times for every need and trust in his providential care.

May God bless you.

Sincerely in Christ,

Father Todd Schneider

 

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From the Desk of the Chaplain, February 2006:

A Distinctively Christian Anthropology

Dear Brother Knights,

Peace and joy be with you.

We continue to examine the ten areas identified by the U.S. Bishops where catechetical texts in the past forty years have been deficient in instructing children in the Catholic faith. As Knights my hope is that each of you by your own personal study and personal witness will be able to assist others struggling to understand their Catholic Religion in these areas.

Let us consider the fourth area identified by our Bishops: the deficient teaching of a distinctively Christian anthropology. Anthropology is the study of the human person, the study of human origins, human nature, and human destiny. Anthropology also studies how the environment, culture and social relations influence the relations between persons and the dignity of human beings in general.

Begin your study of Christian anthropology by reading the CCC #355-421, 1699-1748, and 1877-1948. You will clearly begin to understand that the core of Christian anthropology is that:

  • Man and woman are created in God's image and likeness
  • Man and woman have the capacity to know and love God
  • Each human person is created in the image of God and is a being at once corporeal and spiritual
  • There is a unity between the body and the soul
  • God willed to create man and woman equal in dignity but distinct beings masculine and feminine
  • Man and woman are complimentary beings created for each other to be a communion of persons
  • Their very bodies reveal the mystery that humanity is created for communion

If our Christian anthropology is deficient, this opens the door for abuse and violence, especially against those who are most vulnerable in society. Let us conclude with the teaching of the ancient Fathers of the Church: "God's glory is man fully alive in Christ"

May God bless you.

Sincerely in Christ,

Father Todd Schneider

 

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From the Desk of the Chaplain, January 2006:

Jesus, the Apostles,
and the Church

Dear Brother Knights,

Peace and joy be with you.

Let us continue to consider the third of ten areas where catechetical texts were identified by the U.S. Bishops in 1998 as being deficient in teaching the Catholic Religion.

Catechisms after the Second Vatican Council until the printing of the Catechism of the Catholic Church by Pope John Paul II in 1997 were found to be deficient in "the ecclesial context of catholic beliefs and magisterial teachings." 

I find this area of the ten areas identified by the U.S. Bishops as the most critical for the church to address in the years ahead.  As Knights we need to help restore the true teaching of Christ.  We must remember that Christ Himself willed the Church.  So many people hold that the Catholic beliefs and teachings are "made up," or are simply "human inventions."  So prevalent is this understanding that Pope Benedict warns the church and the world of the dictatorship of relativism.  A dictatorship where no truth is certain and all belief, no matter how illogical and filled with nonsense has equal value.

Christ made the Church.  Christ made certain men apostles.  Christ willed to build His Church on Peter and the Apostles.  Christ promised to be with His Church forever.  Christ endowed His Church with authority and power.  The citations on the mystery of the Church in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) are too numerous to cite.  Look at the index of the CCC, pages 769-772 and review a wealth of information for your study and reflection.

The section of the CCC #749-975 reflects on article 9 of the Apostles Creed:  I believe in the Holy Catholic Church.  "To believe that the church is "holy and catholic," and that she is "one and apostolic,"… is inseparable from belief in God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit."  To deny that Christ instituted the Church is to deny Christ himself.

How we speak about the church in front of our children and grandchildren will have a great influence upon their future happiness.  May we speak about our love for the Church with the same affection that we speak about our love for Christ.  The Fathers of the Church often taught that we must embrace the whole Christ.  Christ the Head and Christ the Body, which is His Church.  To love the head alone, or to love the body alone would be to love a monster.  Let him who desires love; embrace both the head and the body-Christ and His Church.

May God bless you.

Sincerely in Christ,

Father Todd Schneider

 

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From the Desk of the Chaplain, December 2005:

Jesus

Dear brother Knights,

Peace and joy be with you.

In last months newsletter we considered the first of ten areas where catechetical texts were identified as deficient in teaching the Catholic Religion. The U.S. Bishops therefore established standards that publishers of catholic catechetical material were to include if they wanted to be recognized as approved texts for instruction in schools and parishes throughout the United States.

Last month we considered the importance of the Trinity in religious education. This month we consider briefly the second deficient area identified by the U.S. Bishops: "the centrality of Christ in salvation history and an insufficient emphasis on the divinity of Christ."

Begin to study the Catechism of the Catholic Church # 422-630 to become familiar with the official Catholic teaching on the identity and importance of Jesus Christ in salvation history. Because teaching about the identity of Christ and our Lord's importance has been insufficient for the past forty years, there is much confusion among the catholic faithful, especially the young.

Do not be surprised when you ask a Catholic what makes him or her a Christian, and not hear mentioned the name of Jesus Christ in their response. You might hear something to the effect that a Christian is good and practices charity.

If you point out that Jesus Christ is the only Son of God, sent by the Father to redeem us from sin and leads us back to the Father and the joys of heaven, you will hear something to the effect that Jesus Christ is just one of a number of God's Sons and Christianity is just one of many ways to enter heaven.

You might even point out that Jesus himself said that, "no one can come to the Father except through me," (John 14:6) many will simply say I don't believe that.

You might respond with, how can you say that you don't believe in the words of Christ, either Jesus speaks the truth or he is a liar.

If Jesus is a liar he is not the Son of God. If Jesus is not who he claims to be then he is a liar and a lunatic.

Happy Birthday, Jesus!But let us not abandon the truth even if others are confused about Christ. Remember Christ said unto us "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life," (John 14:6). Recite often the Creeds of our faith. Every Sunday we profess: "We believe in One Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten not made, one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us me and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man."

Let us not be discouraged by the insufficient instruction of so many in these past forty years but rather let us begin to renew all things in Christ.

May God bless you.

Sincerely in Christ, Father Todd Schneider

 

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From the Desk of the Chaplain, October 2005:

The Trinity

In the previous newsletter, I drew your attention to the fact that the Bishops of the United States identified in 1997 ten areas where catechetical texts used in the United States were deficient in the instruction of the Catholic Religion. Therefore, a generation of Catholic children has received insufficient instruction in these ten areas of the faith for the past forty years. In this month's newsletter, we begin to identify these ten deficient areas so that we might respond to the spiritual need of the faithful.

The first deficient area was the Church's teaching on the Trinity and the Trinitarian structure of Catholic beliefs and teachings. Take time to study numbers 232-263 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, (CCC). CCC#234 reminds us that: "The mystery of the Most Holy Trinity is the central mystery of Christian faith and life."

As Knights, we can begin to renew this area of faith in our children and grandchildren by teaching them to make the Sign of the Cross with reverence before and after every prayer. Let us recite often the prayer called the "Glory Be." Teach often that we believe that there are three divine persons--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in One Divine Nature. We do not confess three Gods, but one God in three persons. Therefore, as God is a communion of life and love within Himself, so we His children are called to live a communion of life and love with God and one another..

May God bless you.
Sincerely in Christ,
Father Todd Schneider

 

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From the Desk of the Chaplain, September 2005:

Understanding Ten
Major Areas of Faith

I began writing this first article for the Sauk Centre Bulletin as your new spiritual director on Sunday, August fourteenth, the one hundred and fifteenth anniversary of the dear Father Michael J. McGivney. I want to thank Father Sylvester Kleinschidt for his faithful years of spiritual care. If I can serve you half as well as Father Kleinschidt I will have served you well.

Soon our children and grandchildren will return to school In imitation of our founder Father McGivney, may we discover new opportunities to build up the Catholic religion within our families..

In 1998 the U.S. Catholic Bishops reported that Catholic catechetical textbooks since the Second Council were deficient in ten major areas of the faith. The U.S. Bishops established standards that all publishers must meet before their material can be submitted as approval texts for use in Catholic schools and CCD programs. Most Dioceses and parishes are working to improve the teaching materials used in the instruction of the faith to our children.

Unfortunately, for about 40 years (from the late 1960s to the late 1990s) many children now serving as adults have received poor Catholic teaching in the United States. The Knights can contribute greatly to the improvement of the Catholic Religion. First of all, each brother Knight can add to the improvement of our Catholic religion by personal study of the Catholic Catechism of the Catholic Church. In the following newsletter I would like to examine with you the ten areas where many Catholics have received deficient instruction.

God bless you
Sincerely in Christ,
Father Todd Schneider

 

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From the Desk of the Chaplain, June 2005:

A Christian Family Models the Holy Trinity

In the Mystery of the Holy Trinity there exists the relationship of three divine Persons in One God – God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They relate with one another in a loving relationship of perfect harmony. I like to think that every family should be a unity of persons who model the loving relationships of the Holy Trinity by their love and service toward one another as father, mother, and sons and daughters.

With God's Word and graces as members of the Church, persons in a family are enabled to mature in holiness by their love and service for God and humankind.

In the month of June our nation celebrates Father's Day. Let us point out the important role of the father God assigns him in the family.

In our disordered world today the young are lonely people. Why? They lack the companionship of dad and often of mom too.

A family as not as its main function to support industry and the economy. Happiness and eternal salvation do not flow from an animated wallet or an overflow of material possessions. G. K. Chesterton wrote: "Things do not make a person happy, only persons can do so." The family is to build or form human beings and quality relationships – become truly civil and fully human.

What do wives and children want and need most from dad?? To help them attain salvation in the Lord. As the head of the family, the father must give himself, his active presence, time, and talents to interact ad relate with mother ad children. The father who leads wife and children to faithfully observe the Lord's Day of Rest and the participation in Holy Mass, along with regular confession, parish devotions, etc., enables the family to cherish life and love – cultivates holiness and stands tall to defend Holy Church and particularly God's institution of sacred marriage and the family.

The Catholic Catechism tells us: "The future of humanity passes by way of the family. The major task of adult life is to establish and guide the next generation."

Fathers, it is no easy tasks for you in a pagan culture. God truly wants and needs your help. You are not alone. Regular prayer, the rosary, weekday visits with Jesus in the tabernacle – you with the help of the Holy Spirit can accomplish the impossible. St. Joseph, all-powerful with God, pray for you.

Father Sylvester Kleinschmidt, Chaplain

 

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From the Desk of the Chaplain, May 2005:

Mary the Perfect Disciple of Christ the Way, the Truth and the Life

A disobedient world seeks peace with might, power and countless babble of erroneous human opinions and evil works. It distances itself from God who is unchanged

truth. By this the world amasses endless destruction violence and havoc.

At the start of the 20th century G.K. Chesterton made the observation that "Christianity as not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult and left untried."

The problem originated with Original Sin of Adam and Eve. Sadly, their disobedience to God's Way or plan for creating peace and harmony is welcomed by much of mankind today..

The Catholic understanding of human freedom is a gift from God to be used in the service of God and neighbor. It the Gospel or St. John 14:1 Christ tells us: "I am the Way the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Our modern secularists, like Pilate in the presence of Christ the Lord of Truth, mock God and His lordship over them. Sadly, their constantly changing erroneous and evil opinions are adopted and welcomed by legislatures, congresses, courts, medical clinics and educational institutions. The more bizarre and destructive to unchanging truth and goodness, the more they are embraced by much of the media and unthinking populace. They do not know or realize that truth and right unites us to the God of truth and neighbor.

The results of ignoring lasting truth and right are everywhere in endless array: abortion, euthanasia, divorce, homosexuality. Merciless attacks against God's institution or marriage and the family, etc. you are able to add to this litany of evil and destruction.

Large numbers of young people today are angry with our modern adults who betrayed them. All the violence and destruction of life and family break-ups has brought them unhappiness and discouragement and lack of hope and confidence. They are asked why to they flock to and enthusiastically embrace Pope Benedict XVI as thy did Pope John Paul II? Because the Pope tell us the truth – "Get to know Jesus Christ who helps you to be good and holy." As Catholics we should know that happiness is a gift only God has to give us. Only obedient souls are open to receive true satisfaction and happiness.

As Knights of Columbus families, like Mary, beg her help to embrace all that Christ the Way, the Truth, or the Life teaches us through the Holy Catholic Church.

Father Sylvester Kleinschmidt chaplain

 

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From the Desk of the Chaplain, April 2005:

The Centrality of the Year of the Eucharist

The Holy Eucharist is a divine mystery of faith. It is the sacrifice of the Cross and makes present Christ's death and resurrection in an unbloody way under the sacramental signs of bread and wine. It is offered by an ordained priest of holy Church as Christ commanded at the Last Supper, "Do this in memory of Me."

A French Philosopher, Blaise Paschal, once said, "Human things must be understood in order to be loved. Divine things must be loved in order to be understood.";

In the Eucharist, we celebrate one of these divine things. It is a Sacrifice and a Sacrament of great faith and love as well as a deep mystery difficult to understand and to explain.

The only way to understand it is to love this divine truth and to "faithfully participate" in it with real faith every Sunday and Holy Day. In it Christ offers Himself and us to God the Father and nourishes the life of God in us which makes possible our growth n the virtues and holiness. Remember the command of Jesus at the Last Supper: "Take and eat … Take and drink…" Faith must help us to understand such words.

Pope Paul VI: "Oh necessary bread … without you we cannot have true life and victory over death.

Pope John Paul II teaches: "The Eucharist builds up the Church. It is the life-blood, source and summit of all goodness and holiness. When we participate in the Eucharist we renew our lives and we will know how to live the life of Christ in the midst of society."

God "first" in all of life. Then, all other relationships will fall into their proper order and harmony. Holiness begins with the blood of Christ on the Cross. Reconciliation and forgiveness of sin does not begin from man but from god.

In the rules of holy liturgy for the Eucharist, the Church makes certain that the focus of our worship is on God more than the praise of man. Her liturgical rubrics for celebrating the Eucharistic sacrifice fulfills the four major aims of religion that makes us one with God and all humankind. They are to adore God, to thank Him, to make reparation for our sins and to ask for what we need. Note well that asking to receive is not number one. Without a deep faith and a real desire for greater holiness Holy Mass remains a meaningless mystery.

To deepen our appreciation of the Eucharist needs faithfulness to our Sunday Eucharist, other Eucharistic devotions, benediction and Holy Hours along with weekday visits with him in our church tabernacles. Side by side with Eucharistic devotion we need regular reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation for real progress in holiness.

A Eucharistic K of C family is responsible for others. Jesus says to his followers: "You, yourselves give them to eat…"

Father Sylvester Kleinschmidt, Chaplain

 

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From the Desk of the Chaplain, March 2005:

The Holy Eucharist is a Divine Mystery

Every priest who celebrates Holy Mass leads us back in spirit to Jerusalem and the Upper Room of the Last Supper.

A priest should offer Mass each day. It is needed for the spiritual life of the priest as well as for the good of the Church and the world. The Mass is always an act of Christ and the Church. The Liturgy is never anyone's private property.

The Mass makes the community, not vice versa. It is the worship of God. The Mass makes present the Sacrifice of the Cross on Calvary; it does not add to that Sacrifice or does it multiply it. It is not a new sacrifice but the same under unbloody signs of bread and wine.

The Eucharist is the foundation of all Christian practice. For this reason the faithful are obliged to participate in the Eucharist on days of obligation (Sundays and Holy Days), unless excused for a serious reason (for example, illness, the care of infants, or dispensed by their own pastor). (Can. 1245) Those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit a grave sin. (Catechism 12811. Sunday Rest 2185) This obligation for our participation may be done on eve before Sunday or Holy Day if it is necessary to do so.

Sadly, some Catholics today tell us that they no longer find Holy Mass meaningful. That results for two reasons. One, the Eucharist is a divine mystery and can be understood only by our divine gift of faith. Our understanding of it requires our worship and adoration of the Lord in his sacramental presence outside of Holy Mass in both public and private devotions. Begin each morning with your Morning Offering of yourself and the day with our Lord in all the Masses offered that day in one's parish and diocese.

Pope Paul VI wrote: "That in the course of the day the faithful should not omit to visit the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle of our churches. Such visits are a proof of gratitude and an expression of love. Such prayerful visits restore morality, nourish virtues, console the troubled, and strengthen the weak.

Our devout genuflections and silence before our Lord when we arrive or leave church would elevate our appreciation of the Eucharist.

If not taking place in your parish, let the faithful request persistently for regular and frequent Benediction with the exposed Blessed Sacrament along with Holy Hours, Eucharistic Day of adoration, and with rosary or Marian Devotions and First Friday celebration.

The Eucharist is the source and summit of all that is holy, good, and noble. Let all the faithful, especially Knights of Columbus families, join ourselves with Pope John Paul II in deepening our Eucharistic prayer-life and worship during this Year of the Eucharist. Don't delay, start today. Humble and sincere adoration and worship of our Eucharistic Lord joined to self-denial and fasting will open us and our world to God's bountiful love and graces so that all human and family life will blossom.

Before the Blessed Eucharist, let us constantly pray for all unborn.

Father Sylvester Kleinschmidt, Chaplain

(This report was previously published, except for the final paragraph, in the October 2004 K of C Bulletin.))

 

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From the Desk of the Chaplain, February 2005:

K of C Annual Blue Mass

On February 28, 2005, at 8:00 p.m. in St. Paul's Church, the Knights of Columbus will offer its annual Holy Mass called The Blue Mass. By this effort the Knights of Columbus want to show their solidarity with all emergency men and women — the firefighters, police, medical and religious personal. There is no better way to say thank you.

The above people are the First Responders after the Front Line Defenders, that is, the family and the civic community when disasters and violence attack human life, property and safety of all. These people put their lives at risk and deserve the gratitude of all. We must not wait until a real tragedy and loss of life occur.
As Catholics we are taught that: "If you want to succeed begin and continue with God our Father." A man is never so tall as when he kneels before almighty God. The same holds true for a K of C council and a nation.

It is our hope that all knights with their families — especially teenagers — will participate in the Blue Mass in solidarity and in gratitude with men and women First Responders who risk their lives to protect us.
Truly great men and leaders began to be so in their family life. This calls for faithful worship of God at home, communal and liturgical worship. As Catholic men, do not fail your frankly and community, and use this opportunity of worshiping to enhance justice, peace, order and harmony in or world today. Families who humbly rely on God are the most reliable people. God the Holy Spirit tells us: "To the upright I will show the saving power of God." Ps. 50.

As head of your family, lead your wife and children in spiritual devotions and practices at home and in your parish. As a family, treasure the Sunday Rest and Eucharist. As a family, visit Christ in the tabernacle during the week, take part in Eucharistic Days, Lenten Devotions and May devotions with Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament. As a family, stand in the confessional line regularly. Recall that the Bible reminds us that we all sin daily. Visit parish churches and Catholic shrines as well as shut-ins and lonely neighbors. Recreate as a family; do things as a family. Do this and you won't have the troublesome and more difficult task to push teenagers to pray and be faithful Catholics later in life.

To obtain a safe and less violent society, fathers and families must observe the principle of subsidiarity — "It what the family can do best do not permit public officials or the school district to usurp the roles of the parents and the family. Also observe the rule of solidarity that families support one another in tending to their responsibilities."

May Saint Joseph beg God to assist you husbands and fathers as brother knights to lead your families to live noble and holy lives and thus lessen violence and the burdens of the First Responders in our communities..

Father Sylvester Kleinschmidt, Chaplain

 

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From the Desk of the Chaplain, January 2005:

America Morally Bankrupt

Americans have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven. No other nation has ever been given such wealth and power.

But we have forgotten that it was God who offered us his gracious hand to enrich and strengthen us. Instead, we imagine that all thee things were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Our great success has made us self-sufficient and too proud to pray to the God who made us.

Is this not why many of us today employ denial about the reality of abortion at all cost? So we refer to pro-abortion politicians as "pro-choice;" to unborn babies as mangled remains of an aborted fetus; the place of slaughter or death center as a clinic. Many of us would like to keep all these ugly words out of our minds and those ugly photos out of sight.

In truth abortion is ugly. It is murder. Murder is mortal sin. Sin is ugly. How many people know what abortion is? Do they see it on TV? Do they see it in school — even Catholic school?

They learn all about sex but not about abortion; they hear about and see the "revolting" Jewish Holocaust photographs, endlessly in school and on TV, but never about the American Holocaust of Abortion. Does Planned Parenthood, a profitable world chain of baby killing centers, show them what abortion is? No — to all above questions. What is needed are more brave souls who carry those posters of aborted babies to educate the public, especially young people, who have sex education and have been told abortion is a simple way out for them.

Laurette Elsberrym, an author, wrote, "The truth is that our country is so far gone" morally "that any organized effort is doomed to failure. Abortion has become a sacrifice to the gods of lust, greed, convenience, and total self-indulgence. Most churches won't even mention the ‘A. word."

Pope Felix III wrote, "Not to oppose error is to approve it, and not to defend truth is to suppress it."

What is superior to error and evil? Faithful Catholic people, especially families, who stand tall and live all the teachings of God and holy Church. This demands much prayer and self-denial. Such families deepen their reverence and appreciation for the Holy Eucharist and the sacrament of Penance.

Pope John Paul II tells us, "Be not afraid," for "humanity passes by the way of the family." Often write public officials to promote pro-life and pro-family programs.

Holy families, especially K of C families, have the support of God to make America a moral nation again — one guided by truth and right or goodness.

Father Sylvester Kleinschmidt, Chaplain

 

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From the Desk of the Chaplain, December 2004:

The Family - Our
Hope for Society

The Advent Season helps us to prepare well for the birth of the Savior and the Feast of the Holy Family — Jesus, Mary and Joseph. The liturgy of the Church engages us in deeper ways of prayer along with a sincere sacramental confession of one's sins and shortcomings.

Let us not forget that the family is a divine and natural union of a man and a woman. God blesses such self-giving for love and for life saying, "Be fertile and multiply: fill the earth and subdue it." (Gen. 1:28)

Some observations on family life follow as practical tips to help families cope with the demands of modern life. Each presumes a mature and Christian outlook on life and the world. The New Testament view, not the worldview given us in the Wall Street Journal, is needed or these observations will seem sheer nonsense.

A satisfying family life does not come from consumerism or an affluent lifestyle — more toys for kids, or adult toys — snowmobiles, motorcycles, watercrafts, etc. Deep down sufficient material things would suffice for better marriages and warmer relationships with our Lord and all family members.

A Christian family must be a domestic church or small faith community. The total gospel must believed in all of life not only on Sunday morning. The Lord's Day of Rest, and all of daily family life, takes its cue from Christ and His Church: how Catholic lives are to live and be counter-cultural toward purely earthly values.

For Christians, what matters most is intimacy with God and other people, particularly family members. The two may not be separated. Watch with whom, where, and with what parents spend their time most. There your heart will be. No dad will ever say on his deathbed, "I wish I had spent more time with my friends and business."

Families grow in holiness and happiness when they do things together — pray, read, study, work, play, sing together. Note that Jesus returned to Nazareth and was obedient to Mary and Joseph. Because he did so, the Bible tells us, "He grew in age, wisdom and grace."

A family that prays together stays together. Statistics tell us clearly that the father has a greater success in faith preservation of children and youth than Mom. A dad who worships our Father in heaven faithful is enabled to maintain his authority over his family with little difficulty.

Parents must insist children and youth attend Holy Mass and devotions with the family. You fail them if you send the without one of the parents accompanying them. Parents are responsible that the young be faithful in this always. This is equally so for regular monthly or at least bi-monthly confession. Dad must tend to this seriously. Youth need this help and so do parents. It is better to form a delicate conscience than a lax one that denies one's sins. The Bible tells us that we sin daily.

As Knights of Columbus and fathers of families, do not fail heaven and earth in your most difficult vocation possible. Like St. Joseph, go to God when it appears to be an impossible burden: Jesus Mary and Joseph, pray for us.

Father Sylvester Kleinschmidt, Chaplain

 

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From the Desk of the Chaplain, October 2004:

The Holy Eucharist is
a Divine Mystery

Every priest who celebrates Holy Mass leads us back in spirit to Jerusalem and the Upper Room of the Last Supper.

A priest should offer Mass each day. It is needed for the spiritual life of the priest as well as for the good of the Church and the world. The Mass is always an act of Christ and the Church. The Liturgy is never anyone's private property.

The Mass makes the community, not vice versa. It is the worship of God. The Mass makes present the Sacrifice of the Cross on Calvary; it does not add to that Sacrifice or does it multiply it. It is not a new sacrifice but the same under unbloody signs of bread and wine.

The Eucharist is the foundation of all Christian practice. For this reason the faithful are obliged to participate in the Eucharist on days of obligation (Sundays and Holy Days), unless excused for a serious reason (for example, illness, the care of infants, or dispensed by their own pastor). (Can. 1245) Those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit a grave sin. (Catechism 12811. Sunday Rest 2185) This obligation for our participation may be done on eve before Sunday or Holy Day if it is necessary to do so.

Sadly, some Catholics today tell us that they no longer find Holy Mass meaningful. That results for two reasons. One, the Eucharist is a divine mystery and can be understood only by our divine gift of faith. Our understanding of it requires our worship and adoration of the Lord in his sacramental presence outside of Holy Mass in both public and private devotions. Begin each morning with your Morning Offering of yourself and the day with our Lord in all the Masses offered that day in one's parish and diocese.

Pope Paul VI wrote: "That in the course of the day the faithful should not omit to visit the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle of our churches. Such visits are a proof of gratitude and an expression of love. Such prayerful visits restore morality, nourish virtues, console the troubled, and strengthen the weak.

Our devout genuflections and silence before our Lord when we arrive or leave church would elevate our appreciation of the Eucharist.

If not taking place in your parish, let the faithful request persistently for regular and frequent Benediction with the exposed Blessed Sacrament along with Holy Hours, Eucharistic Day of adoration, and with rosary or Marian Devotions and First Friday celebration.

The Eucharist is the source and summit of all that is holy, good, and noble. Let all the faithful, especially Knights of Columbus families, join ourselves with Pope John Paul II in deepening our Eucharistic prayer-life and worship during this Year of the Eucharist. Don't delay, start today. Humble and sincere adoration and worship of our Eucharistic Lord joined to self-denial and fasting will open us and our world to God's bountiful love and graces so that all human and family life will blossom.

Father Sylvester Kleinschmidt, Chaplain

 

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From the Desk of the Chaplain, September 2004:

Faithful Catholics are Good Citizens

As Catholics and Knights of Columbus, we are endowed and capable with our Christian presence to witness every aspect of human life and activity in our society and world. Where culture is, there the Church needs to be also.
After Jesus was baptized by John, the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus in the form of a dove and a voice from the heavens said, "This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased." (Mt. 3:17)

Upon our baptism God says the same about you and me. Original Sin is forgiven and the Holy Trinity - Father, Son and the Holy Spirit begin to live in each one of us. We become sons and daughters of God and members of the Mystical Body of Christ, the Church, sharing in the family of God, the Holy Trinity.
In the document On the Family Pope John Paul II tells us, "That the humanity passes by way of the family." Children lack nothing whose father truly loves their mother. The sacrificial love the parents have for each other helps the children to also learn to love God one another, and all humankind.

James Cardinal Gibbons of Baltimore (1834-1921) taught "that a faithful Catholic cannot help buy be a good American Citizen also."

The Catholic family must assume its role and responsibility in what parents can do best. Do not permit the school district, commerce, or industry to usurp the rights of parents over the individual person. To allow that leads to the loss of human dignity, a denial of the personhood of individual persons. Then, the State becomes a "Nanny State." In our nation this would be a democratic tyranny - a worse tyranny than any dictatorship.
Citizens must actively identify and oppose secularists and laws which promote anti-life and anti-family practices like gay marriages. Catholic families need to be truly a "domestic church." Such families will observe the Lord's Day of Rest faithfully for the worship of our Father in heaven; observe days of penances; practice spiritual devotions in the home and parish; etc. This allows God to take over our troubles and difficulties. The Lord withholds no good thing from those who truly pray.

The United States needs the 2000 years-old worldview more than the Catholic faith requires the American experience.
If this country of ours, which we love so much and which has done so much good for so many, is to escape further descent into the culture death, it will be because of the presence, witness and actions of a revitalized Catholic Church in the United States of America.

As knights we will not grow weary. Instead let us strive mightily as faithful Catholics to help to make America great because her Catholic families as citizens are holy and good citizens.

Praised be Jesus Christ, now and forever!
Father Sylvester Kleinschmidt, Chaplain

 

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From the Desk of the Chaplain, June 2004:

A Living Rebuke to the
Enemies of the Family

To the Apostles and the Infant Church Jesus said, "The Holy Spirit will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you … Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid." (John 14: 25-27)

From the moment that Mel Gibson actually wanted to make a picture that treated Christ faithfully and reverently, he and the movie were attacked viciously. Before and after the showing, The Passion of Christ was dragged through the mud every way possible. These attacks were made because the picture came to stand for the person of Jesus as the Messiah or Christ and Son of God who would make all things new. What is it about the person of Jesus Christ that fills some people with such anger?

Our Lord knew this would happen when he stated, "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you …. But I chose you out of the world therefore the world hates you." (John 15: 18f)

Genuine goodness is threatening to those living an immoral lifestyle. The lifestyle of a true Christian shows up the failings of others. A true Christian is a living rebuke to the wicked. The innocent unborn children point out the evil deeds of anti-life and pro-choice Catholics.

The more depraved our society becomes, the more it will hate the mystical body of Christ. As members of Christ, the hatred is directed at us. Whether we are silent or noisy, evil hates truth and goodness. We must expect to be insulted, hated, lied about and attacked. That is our cross to bear.

It is going to get worse very quickly. The issue of homosexuals demanding their unions be called marriage has become center stage. Many evils have been presented as good in the past forty years. This one will destroy the fabric of society and wreck our children the fastest. Only God's institution of the family - one man and one woman - can civilize the young to be normal human men or women. If it fails in this, then, the nation surely collapses in violence and disorder.

Jesus has no hands on earth but ours. We are called to be the Church Militant. We will not hide. We will take up our burden. We will accept our cross: the hatred of the world.

With the truth of Christ, patience in suffering and constant prayer, the Holy Spirit will give us the strength and courage to turn back the anti-God, the anti-life, and the culture of death.

We know the fight is coming. A barrage of ill-will is sure to come our way. The calumny against The Passion of Christ will look tame for what is to come, but we may not refuse our Catholic duty in everything and everywhere in our daily lives - including the voting booth.

It is essential that we maintain ourselves in holiness by faithfulness in constant prayer and fasting as well as fearlessly proclaim the truth so that we can with Christ "shine as lights in the world." (Philippians 2:15) In that way, the Church will remain a living rebuke to the wicked.

Let all Catholics, particularly all Knights of Columbus families, not grow weary in fighting both human and spiritual demons of evil.

Fr. Sylvester Kleinschmidt, chaplain

   
   

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This page last updated December 19, 2010