Strengthening Faith

(I placed a box of Nabisco Vanilla wafers on the ambo). You probably think the deacon has lost his mind. Deacon Paul is preaching on Vanilla wafers. Well, yes I am.



We all believe in many things that we do not understand and in many cases cannot see. We usually do not believe in things without reason. We take the word of reliable sources about things we do not understand so that we do not have to fully understand every thing that we interact with every day. We can see the effects of unseen things and we believe in them. In other words,people have an abundance of faith in everyday life.

For example, when we go to the Rouses (a local grocery chain) to buy a package of Nabisco Vanilla Wafers, we believe that there are indeed tasty cookies inside the box. Nabisco and Rouses are both reliable companies, so we have believe and trust.

We cannot see the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Yet we can see what happens if we spend the day fishing, swimming, or on the beach without sunscreen. Our skin gets red, we burn, we might even blister. We believe in the ultraviolet rays because we see it’s effects. An because reliable people such as Scientists and physicians tell us that it is UVA and UVB rays that are damaging our skin and thats we must wear sun screen, we generally believe what they say and follow their advice.

These are just 2 examples of well developed faith in many things in the natural world around us.

But, as the people of of our Lord Jesus Christ, we need to actively enrich and develop our faith in God and his Church.


Our first reading today start’s out with the words “God put Abraham to the test”. As a young boy, I had a children's bible that had this story in it. There was an artist’s rendition of this scene. Isaac was tied up, lying on a makeshift altar with a pile of wood nearby. Abraham had a large knife in his hand ready to sacrifice him. The depiction of this story terrified me… It made me wonder what sort of mean guy was God. Even as I grew older I could not understand this story for the longest time. I love my children deeply - what would I do if I heard God tell me to offer one of them up as a human sacrifice?

The story seems to imply that God did this just to test Abraham's faith, but if God knows all things he could have known Abraham's faith without the trauma. This means that the purpose of the test was not for God's benefit, but somehow it was for Abraham, and perhaps for you and I.

Abraham learned that if he has faith, and he does God's will, even when it seems like the hardest thing in the world, God will provide, and things will turn out well in the end. And God rewarded him by making him not just the father of Isaac, but the father of the Jews, and by extension the Christians. And these people would remember his faith forever, and remember the lesson that God will always provide.


In the Gospel today, we have the scene of the transfiguration. One thing we all need to keep in mind, is that although the apostles were following Jesus, they really did not understand him or his mission as the Messiah. In light of the upcoming passion and crucifixion of Jesus, this event was intended to strengthen the apostles and their faith.

The truly amazing thing is how quickly the disciples will forget. Peter, James and John have seen Jesus revealed in glory, but their courage will fail them at the cross. Peter will deny Jesus three times. Perhaps there is a lesson here for us. We, too, have experienced the hand of God in our lives, but we find faith difficult when trouble looms.

In modern times, God provides many things to help strengthen our faith. He knows, like in biblical times, that as humans, we need constant reminders and assurance. For many, the miracle of new life and the mysteries of the created universe are enough to remind us of the constant work of God in creation. Others need more.

Miraculous cures such as those experienced by pilgrims who have visited the site of the apparitions at Lourdes remind us of the action of God in the world.

Our faith, like our bodies and minds, will not become strengthened if we exert no effort on our parts. So what can we do in our everyday lives to help feed and strengthen our own faith in God?

For everyone, it is different. I cannot tell you what will work for you, but I can give you some ideas of what works for others. Attending Mass for an hour on Sunday and receiving the Holy Eucharist is great – a great start. However, can you imagine what would happen if a star athlete practiced only 1 hour a week or a student doing only one hour of homework and studying a week? We all need to do more to strengthen our faith.

When I asked my mother what things she did that helps strengthen her faith. She paused and said “When I pray the rosary. It’s hard for doubt and temptation to get into my head when I am praying the rosary.” Praying the rosary may be the thing for you. And if the rosary is not the thing that helps increase your faith – there are numerous other types of prayer – meditation, devotional, scripture reading – you need to find what works for you and do it. Maybe for the rest of lent we could sacrifice 15 to 30 minutes of television or other type of recreational activity and devote it to one or more types of prayer.


Maybe you can give your faith muscles a little exercise by putting into action Jesus’ words “whatever you do for the least of these – you do for me.” There are many opportunities in our own community for demonstrating corporal works of mercy . There are sick people in the hospital who need visiting, lonely people in nursing homes who need someone to talk with, people in our own parish who need help making ends meet.

Some may have difficult assenting to certain teachings of the Church concerning faith and morals. I was like that once. I had planned to leave the Church. Before I did, I wanted to prove that I was right and that the Church was wrong. I started an intellectual quest; you might call it a research project. I wanted to prove beyond a doubt that I was right and that the Church was wrong. Well I read and researched and studied over the period of a year. 1 by one, the things that I was certain that the Church was wrong about – much to my disappointment, I proved that the Church was right. After a while, I gave up and decided that on matters of faith and morals, I should listen to what the Church says.

For those who are struggling with teachings of the Church in these matters, I encourage you to do your own study. But when you do, be careful of the sources that you use. Some are reliable like Nabisco and Rouse’s, but many are not. Look deeply and carefully, because when you open them up, you might be surprised at what you find. (I took a banana out of the box of Vanilla Wafers)

Holy Family Homily - Transform the World By Making Your Family A Holy Family

Reading 1 Sir 3:2-6, 12-14
Responsorial Psalm Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5
Reading II Col 3:12-21
Gospel Lk 2:22-40

There is a grammar school that puts on a very elaborate Nativity play each year. They always have plenty of people trying out for the roles of Mary and Joseph, because they are considered the starring roles. People like to try out for the role of the shepherds because the little boys like to carry around the shepherds staffs. There is never any problem getting people to fill the role of the magi, because of the really cool costumes they get to wear.

But there is always problems getting people to fill the role of the innkeeper. Partly because the role is so small and partly because the innkeepers is view as being a real mean guy.

This one particular year no one signed to try out, except one 3rd grade boy. He of course got the role. When it came time for his line, Joseph knocks on the door and asks for a place to stay. The little boy, answers, “No, I am really, really sorry, but we don’t have any room. But you and your wife look really tired. Why don’t you come in and rest your feet and have a cup of coffee.”

Well that brought down the house with laughter. But after meditating over this story, you realize something very important. That young buy must be raised in a household with an extraordinary amount of love and compassion, a modern day Holy Family.

As a people of faith, we are called to transform society by making our family a modern day Holy Family

What does it mean to be a Holy Family?

In the 2nd reading from Paul - there is a paragraph that always raises eyes. We tend to listen to only the parts that are convenient to what position we would like to defend. I think that some men, in particular, read “wives be subordinate to their husbands”, they develop temporary deafness when it comes to listening to the rest of the paragraph. When Paul writes the following

“Wives, be subordinate to your husbands, as is proper in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and avoid any bitterness toward them.”

- what does he mean? Paul explains this same thing in more detail in the 5th chapter of the letter to the Ephesians when he writes that Wives should be subordinate to their husbands, and that husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the Church. What did Christ do for the Church? He laid down his very life. So are modern husbands called to lay down their lives for their wives.

The same holds true relationship between children and parents. Children of course, as we heard in first reading from Sirach, are called to honor, love and respect their parents. This does not just apply to young children as they grow up in the parent's home, but to adults as their parents age and have difficulty taking care of themselves. Parents, beware!! The converse is also true – you are admonished not to nag or be overbearing to your children.

We are called to mutual love in our families between husband, wife, and children in a manner that reflects the Holy Family, and in fact in the same manner as extraordinary love between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Our Gospel today presents an ordinary event in the life of an ordinary Jewish family – the presentation of the first born child in the temple. Yet, in the midst of this ordinary event, through the action of the Holy Spirit, Simeon and the prophetess Anna recognize that something extraordinary was going to happen through this Holy Family .

In preparing for this homily, I did some research on art that depicted the Holy Family. There are many beautiful works, by great artists such as Raphael and Michaelangelo. In all of these works, the Holy family is depicted as nearly perfect - perfectly clean, well dressed, and well groomed. This depiction of perfection in art had its purpose, but also sets an unrealistic view for us as we strive to model our families on the Holy Family.

The Holy family did not live a perfect life. They had problems that they had to deal with, just as each of us do in our lives. Let us see what scripture tells us that shows how the Holy Family was like our families

The Blessed Virgin Mary in her ninth month of pregnancy, she had to ride a long distance on the back of a donkey, over rocky roads to take part in a census. Ladies, can you imagine doing that?

And because of all the travelers at time of the Census, there was no room at the inns. And there was no kind innkeeper like the little 3rd grader to invite them in for a cup of coffee. So Mary had to give birth in a stable? Close you eyes if you have been on a farm or to the zoo? Take a deep breath an think about what it smells like? Can you imagine giving birth in a place like that.

We know that the Holy Family was poor. The offering that was made at the presentation of our Lord was that of a poor family. What family among does not have or has not had financial issues to deal with?

They had to flee their homeland because of Herod's plan to kill of the young male children. The went to a Egypt for an extended period , a country with a different culture, a different language where Joseph had to find work, the family had to find a place to live. When they returned, the Holy Family had to build a new life for themselves. Many of us, with the Hurricanes of the last few years, had to flee our homes, lost our businesses and our jobs, and had to return to re-establish homes and livelihoods.

And finally, after living a life of difficulties and sacrifices, which included losing her husband somewhere along the way, Mary faces what is the ultimate pain for most parents, the loss of her child.

So, as you can see, our God is empathetic to our every day struggle to be a Holy Family because He has lived those very same struggles. How are we to become imitators of the Holy Family and thereby transform our culture one family at a time।?

I have a two suggestions for all of us – On this feast of the Holy Family, what better time, to take stock in those things that are distractions, that prevents the love in our families from growing. It will be different for everyone. For some, it could be TVs in every room, for others, too many activities crammed into too little time. For some parents, it could be excessive devotion to job, and for children, maybe it is obsession with video games and other toys. Whatever it is for each of us, I challenge each of us to eliminate just one thing that interferes with the growing of the mutual love to which all families are called.

An what about the elderly? Too often the aging are society are discarded and ignored. They are left to feel unwanted, unloved, and unnecessary. If you have a family member , friend, or acquaintance who is aging and alone, take them the love of the Holy family by, calling them on the phone, visiting them, making them feel special, needed, and loved.

Starting from just a handful of disciples, the Church - without the benefit of fine buildings, television evangelists, great theologians – grew to a community that transformed the world. In spite of the fact that belonging to the Church was a crime, and being convicted cost many believers their lives, the Church continued to grow. Why was that? It was simple because of the way early Christians lived - with extraordinary love and compassion. Outsiders saw the joy in their lives and wanted to be a part of it.

By making our family a modern day Holy Family, by living each of our lives with with the love that the little 3rd grader in the Nativity play had, we can once again transform society and change the world.

4th Sunday in Advent Homily - God Calls Us All To Do Great Things

There have been many times in history when great things have been done by ordinary people who lived humble lives. In fact great things have been done by people with less than auspicious beginnings, the disabled, the poor, those who grew up illiterate.

A personal encounter for me with a person who had very humble beginnings and achieved greatness was on November 8, 1970. I was sitting in the north end zone of old Tulane stadium. The Saints were losing 19-17 with 3 seconds left on the clock. On to the field trots Tom Dempsey, who proceeded to kick a 63 yard field goal to lift the Saints to victory. This was an amazing feat for several reasons. No one ever expected the field goal record to be broken in an outdoor stadium, on natural grass, on a cool, damp, windy day. What made this even more amazing was that Tom Dempsey was considered handicapped. He was born with half of a right arm and half a right foot, that same foot that Tom used to kick that record setting field goal. Growing up , few would have expected Tom to become a professional athlete, much less one who would set a record that would last for nearly 40 years.

Now, you may not be a football fan, or maybe you are just too young to remember this event. I am sure, however, that everyone nows someone or is familiar with someone in history who has accomplished great things in sprite of their circumstances.

Abraham Lincoln, our 16th president, is considered one of the greatest leaders in the history of our country, some say the entire world. Yet, he was born in a one room log cabin, had only 18 months of formal education, and worked as a laborer for pennies a day. Helen Keller, totally deaf and blind, overcame great odds to become a famous author, a much in demand speaker, and a political activist.

No matter how ordinary we see ourselves, not matter our age, handicap or other circumstance, as a people of faith, we are all called to do great things for God.

In Today's first reading, King David is told by God through the prophet Nathan, that he will be the founder of a dynasty , a kingdom that will last forever. You might remember that this is the same David who even though he was the youngest and smallest of Jesse’s sons, a shepherd who lived with smelly animals, he was anointed King by the prophet Samuel. He over came his humble beginnings to become the first truly great leader of Israel.

The Gospel today describes the Annunciation. Let us set the scene. Although her age is not known exactly, Mary was certainly a teenager when she was betrothed to Joseph, probably a young teenager. What is betrothed? Engagement and marriage were not done in the same way with which we are familiar. The betrothal was a part of the wedding ceremony that took place approximately a year before the couple lived together as man and wife. So here we have Mary, a young woman, preparing to start an ordinary life as a wife and mother, being confronted by an Angel telling her that she was going to be the Mother of the Son of God. Mary could have said - “No way. I want to have a husband and 6 children who can take care of me in my old age.” However, in conforming her will to the will of God, she brought forth the Savior of the World. No greater act has been done in the history of mankind.

Praying over these readings while preparing this homily made my pause and consider the number of times I have made decisions without conforming my will to the will of God and made me wonder how different each of our lives might be if we were to conisder God’s will before making decisions.

So, as Christians, what are we to do? How are we to cooperate with the Lord to accomplish great things? Well, I would like to offer some suggestions for all of us.

Advent is a season for reconciliation. I suggest that this week, before Christmas, we prayerfully consider the relationship in our lives which is the most broken, that is need of the most healing. Maybe it is a relative or someone who use to be a friend. Maybe it is someone who has hurt your or maybe it is someone that you have hurt. Whatever the case, make a sincere effort to reconcile that one relationship between now and Christmas. It is not going to be easy, but with prayer and God’s help, all things are possible.

Something else that we can consider, a little further out in the future – say next week. We are approaching New Years, why not consider a resolution to do something great for the Lord by serving others. I have a copy of the Parish bulletin. Inside there a number of actively working ministries already established. Consider joining one of these ministries that could help bring the Lord Jesus to someone in need by works of love, works of charity.

And after looking over these ministries and finding that none of them are your calling, why not consider starting a new one? What are the unmet needs of our community? Organization such as the Knights of Columbus, Marriage Encounter, and Habitat for Humanity were each started by one or two people with a vision to do great things with the help of God. What vision might each one of us have to do great things for the Lord?

Wait, wait, wait

In 1997 I went through the discernment process to become a Permanent Deacon in the Roman Catholic Church. I was not accepted. I was not rejected. I received a letter from the Archbishop that essentially said try again another time. I thought I was ready to proclaim the Gospel. God told me to wait, wait, wait.

Six years ago, I started the discernment again. I was accepted and started formation in January 2004 for ordination in December 2007. In the midst of this, Hurricane Katrina and the subsequent levee failures devastated the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Because of this, a year was added to our formation. We were not to be ordained until December 2008. Wait, wait, wait.

My friends and family know that 10 years ago I was diagnosed विथ aform of thyroid cancer, papillary carcinoma. At my 10 year check-up, a recurrence was found. I had surgery this October to remove the cancerous mass. With that surgery, I lost my right recurrent laryngeal nerve. This has left me with vocal cord paralysis on the right side. Thanks to some excellent direction from my beautiful daughter-in-law, Kassie Willis Augustin who is a speech therapist at the Therapy Center in Lafayette, LA, I have regained a remarkable amount of my voice. It is not very powerful and is a bit raspy, especially late in the dअ y.

This past Thursday, I had a procedure by Dr. Andrew McWhorter of Our Lady of the Lake Voice Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In this procedure, he made 2 punctures in my neck and with the aid of a fiber optic camera he threaded up my nose and down my throat, added collagen to the paralyzed vocal fold. (I am trying to post a video of this procedure, but having some technical difficulties.) This procedure should help it make contact with the left vocal fold and restore most of the sound and power to my voice to help me proclaim the Gospel after ordination. Dr. McWhorter is very optimistic.

Unfortunately, there was a small complication in the procedure. Normally, after this procedure, patients are allowed to speak immediately. I have not spoken since Thursday and am not allowed to try until Sunday. I wonder what my voice will sound like. I am hoping it will sound like James Earl Jones, or even my classmate Mike Talbot!

As the people of God, we are all often called to wait. The Holy Scripture is replete with examples of those called, and called to wait. God called the Jews out of Egypt, then had the wait for a lonnnggggg time in the desert before showing them the promised land. Elizabeth, the elder kinswoman of the Blessed Virgin Mary, had to wait until she was very old before she became the mother of John. The disciples waited 40 days for the coming of the Holy Spirit.

God answers all of our prayers. Sometimes He says yes, sometimes He says no, and sometimes He says "Wait, I have something better for you." I can't wait!!

They Will Know We Are Christians By Our Love?

This past week, I prepared a homily for class, to be given on this week's readings. Now, it might seem odd to give a homily on Forgiveness for Pentecost, but that, as they say, is how the Holy Spirit moved me. In the Gospel this weeks, Jesus essentially puts the life giving action of God the Father in the creating story on par with the life giving action of the Holy Spirit in the forgiveness of sins.

"and then he breathed on them and said, 'Who's sins you forgive are forgiven. Those that you retain are retained.'"

What a powerful thought! Even though I left out 2 of my main points while preaching (homily given with no notes) thanks be to God, it came out OK. My homework assignments (aka post-homiletic suggestion) that I gave out were for this week were 1) go forgive someone and 2) go ask forgiveness from someone that you hurt in the past. Can you imagine the difference it would make in renewing the face of the earth if a preacher with 1000 or so people sitting in the pews was able to get his entire congregation to forgive someone and seek forgiveness from someone all in the same week?!

Sitting in Mass on Sunday, listening to the first reading where the Holy Spirit came down on the disciples as with tongues of fire, made me really think about the birth and subsequent growth of the Church. People became part of the Church because Christians represented something completely different in society, something that they had never seen. Christians are the ones who helped those in need, regardless of whether they were part of the Christian community or not. Christians took care of widows and orphans, gave dignified burials to those who had no one to care for them, and cared for the victims of the various plagues and scourges often at the expense of their own health and lives.

Each Church has their own method of evangelizing, spreading the good news. There are lay and ordained ministers, diocesan newspapers, parish bulletins, websites, newsletters, movies, quasi-factual novels, world-wide outreaches, and young men in black suits riding around on bicycles to name just a few. Yet, Church attendance and membership continues to drop in the USA.

In comparison, the disciples at the time of Jesus had 2 things - the word which they spoke on the street corner and more importantly the way that they lived their lives with complete love as Jesus lived his. Interesting. I suppose we can tell which was the more effective method of evangelizing. It is also the most difficult.

Another Hurricane Katrina Victim

A little over 2 years and 5 months after devastating New Orleans, Hurricane Katrina has claimed another victim. The storm destroyed his eastern New Orleans neighborhood and with it the life he had known for over 50 years. His health gradually declined since Katrina dealt her blow to the city and my father-in-law, Jack A. Quarles, Sr., passed on to eternal life on February 1, 2008 at the age of 87 years.

As he was a lifelong southern Baptist, my lovely wife Pam and her siblings decided to send him off with a Baptist service, presided over by Rev. Reggie Smith of Northside Baptist Church in Slidell. Most of you who read this did not know my father in law, but you might get to know his character by reading this eulogy that I delivered at his funeral.

On behalf of Jack Quarles - his children Jack Jr, Lynda, Pam and all of the members of the Quarles, Mullen, and Augustin families, I would like to thank you for coming to celebrate the life of Jack Quarles, Sr. .Thank you for giving up this beautiful day to show your respects to Mr. Jack and support the family..

Many may know things about him –

He was a career employee of the US Postal Service

A devoted and loving husband , father, father-in-law, grandfather, great grandfather

A pioneer homeowner in New Orleans east who lived in the same home for over 50 years

A man with a keen, dry sense of humor, who could take kidding as well as dish it out.

He was a simple man and unassuming man in every way. He lived simply, dressed simply, ate simply

Most of you know that he was a Navy veteran of World War II who proudly served on the escort carrier USS Kadashan Bay. What you may not know is that he volunteered so as to spare his father, Steve Quarles who was head of the local draft board, the ordeal of inscripting his son into the military.

Most would say that Mr. Jack was an ordinary man. I would like to share with you that which was extraordinary about him

He was an extraordinary in his kindness and gentleness.

Mr Jack was one of a vanishing breed - true gentleman. My generation, our children, and grandchildren can learn a lesson from this extraordinary man.

In his 1852 book “An Idea of a University”, the late Roman Catholic Cardinal John Henry Newman described a gentleman as:

“… mainly concerned with others, concurs with their movements rather than takes the initiative himself. …carefully avoids -- all clashing of opinion, or collision of feeling, … or suspicion, or gloom, or resentment; his great concern being to make every one at home. He never speaks of himself except when compelled, has no ears for slander or gossip…. He is patient, forbearing, and resigned, on philosophical principles; he submits to pain, because it is inevitable, to bereavement, because it is irreparable, and to death, because it is his destiny.”

This was Jack Quarles.

When he could, he would stand at the dinner table until all of the ladies present were seated. No matter how hungry, he would never begin eating until all were served.

When anyone entered a room, he would stand to greet them

Anytime anyone did anything for him he would say – “thank you”

Even in the last months of his life when he would fall down and someone would help him off the floor, his first words were – “thank you

And in his last few weeks which were spent at the Chateau Notre Dame, his first and last words when someone would visit him were “Thank You, Thank You”

He was extraordinary in perseverance. Most of us who worry about our small problems and setbacks in life could learn from Mr. Jack’s example.

When he became unexpectedly widowed in 1988 , many, including myself, thought that he would not be far behind. He had numerous health problems. My late mother-in-law tended to almost all of his needs. How would he survive? Not only did he survive, but he thrived. He was present for the birth of another grandchild and 2 great grand children. Jack dined out, traveled around the country, became a bowler, a swimmer, was active in the National Association of Retired Federal Employees, becoming president of the local chapter. He also became quite the ladies man, very popular at many social functions, even at the Pearl River Senior Center that he visited several times a week and while attending the baseball and basketball games of my youngest son Daniel.

As many of you know, Hurricane Katrina destroyed the home in New Orleans East in which he had lived. The things that we rescued from his flooded home fit in a few cardboard boxes and 2 plastic tubs. The storm took away almost everything he had and the life he had known– his friends, home, his neighborhood, his furniture clothes, his Church.

Yet he never complained or was even angry. In a note that he wrote to himself in October of 2005, he wrote – “I saw my house for the first time today. What a mess!” No complaints, no anger.

Although Mr Jack and I were of different denominations, we shared one faith in Jesus Christ. In the reading from the Gospel of St John which we just heard, when Christ encounters the grieving Martha, she tells him "if you had been here, my brother would not have died." So what does he respond? That death is natural, and that Lazarus is in a "better place?" No – Jesus weeps! And we like Jesus, who wept at the death of his friend, we weep and mourn at the passing of Jack Quarles.

Yet, as Martha did in the Gospel reading, we have certain hope in his resurrection. The Resurrection of Christ is the very heart of the Christian faith and Christian Good News. As is heard in many Christian Easter services

“Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice! Christ is risen, and life reigns! Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in the grave!”

This eulogy was concluded with a reading of a prayer that he carried around in his wallet for years.

Driver's Prayer

Lord, lead me today in safety through the paths of this busy world. Help me to keep my eyes and mind on the road while my heart rests in Thee. Let me see in each of those who walk or ride an image of Thee, dear Lord. Keep me in Your gracious care so that all my journeying may lead at last to Thee. Amen.

Geaux Tigers... A Great Time... Thank You Lord - Do you really wear purple and gold?

For those who know me, I am a long suffering LSU fan. Since I was a small lad, I have bled purple and gold. My dad was a Tulane alumnus, and when we went to the LSU - Tulane game (which used to be a great rivalry) I would wear purple and gold sitting amongst a sea of Tulane olive green and blue. I suffered through the David Archer, Curly Hallman, Jerry DiNardo years and have been in a state of minor ecstasy in the Nick ("I am now kicking myself in nowhere Alabama") Saban era and now the Les Miles dynasty. Tonight, my good friend and fellow deacon candidate Ricky Suprean, his lovely wife Lynn, his son Cai and his mother Elaine came over for an in-house tailgate party prepping for the LSU-Ohio state showdown. We were also joined by Pam's dad and sister Lynda. We had a great time, made even greater by good friends, food, and drink along with the total domination of the LSU Tigers over the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Louisiana has been down for so long. With political scandals, poor educational record, and the destruction of the 2005 hurricane season, it seemed like there would never be a ray of sunshine for the bedraggled Bayou State. A national championship is just what the doctor ordered to lift the collective psyche of the Louisiana populace.

I called my brother during the pre-game drive home to see if he had made the requisite preparations to enjoy the game. He revealed to me that he might have to miss the end of the game as he had an 11:30 adoration hour. I gave him LSU Tiger dispensation and told him to bring a portable TV to the adoration chapel if needed!!!! After all, I have it on good authority that Jesus is wearing purple and gold robes with "G-e-a-u-x - T-i-g-e-r-s" embroidered on the sleeves.

The Value of Life

I am currently reading Selected Works of Joseph Cardinal Bernardin, Volume II, Church and Society (ISBN-13: 978-0814625842) edited by Alphonse P. Spilly, C.PP.S for a class in Spiritual Formation taught by Deacon Dr. Harold Vincent, former dean of the college of Arts and Sciences at Xavier University. Cardinal Bernardin was known for the balance and nuance with which he approached the issues of peace-making, the need for a consistent ethic of life, religion and society, health care, Catholic-Jewish dialogue, and, near the very end of his life, the promotion of the Catholic Common Ground Initiative.

Bernardin is obviously very educated and intelligent. His writing is very dense (as in thick, hard to wade through) but insightful and though provoking. The common theme in the writings of this volume is that an integrated person must have a consistent view or ethic on pro-life topics which include, but are certainly not limited to:

• Abortion
• Death Penalty
• Physician Assisted Suicide
• Euthanasia
• Care for the dying and elderly
• Hunger
• Political and social oppression
• Racism
• Pornography
• War
  
• And many more
  

While I am still forming my thoughts in the area of Consistent Ethic of Life, I would like to know where you are on the issue. I would appreciate any comments and a response to my poll. The poll allows you to select more than one answer. Thanks for the generous gift of your time.