Rob Colquhoun

No true death in the Christian Faith

There is no proper death in the Christian faith, just sleeping. The human soul is immortal. This is a frightening prospect for some- would they get bored after 100 years? Some of the greatest Saints’ bodies have not decomposed and remain uncorrupted to this year- what a fascinating area for religion and science to contemplate- Science cannot deny the mystery and greatness of this phenomena. Death as St Paul proclaims has lost its sting- the Resurrection of Christ has nullified its power over man and we are reconciled to God once more- a great basis for rejoicing. The cold pessimism of those who believe that once we die “that’s it” have nothing to hope for, and no reason for being. But with our compassionate and merciful God, forgiveness and redemption are always possible- Justice shall be fully realised in all time at the end of time and every man reaps what he sows. Death was never part of God’s original plan for humanity- but through the disobedience of Sin it entered our world- Sin deadens the human heart and makes man lie to himself. But, given the mortality of all of humanity – we must pass through death to further life- this is the passage of faith that we must all accomplish. We cannot know in a scientific sense the great mysteries after death, but our faith must be alive in us to sustain hope and love. The belief of life after death helps us to not be self obsessed in this world about ourselves or our possessions but can gently help us to understand God’s plan for humanity. Christ reassures us, “Take courage, I have conquered the world.” (Jn 16:33)

West End Catholic Churches Join together for Festival of Faith

Robert Colquhoun

From the 13^th- 16^th July the West End Catholic Churches united to organise a collection of events called “Spirit in the City.” The events were popular and successful and showed the desire from young people to learn more and deepen their faith.

This was in conjunction with the “Open the Doors” weekend for the Diocese of Westminster. This initiative was a weekend for parishes to have specific events to make people feel welcome in Churches and to celebrate their faith. Over 150 events were planned across the diocese.

The participating Churches from the West End were Our Lady of the Assumption & St Gregory (Warwick Street), Corpus Christi (Maiden Lane), St Patrick’s (Soho) and the French Church (Leicester Square). Each Church hosted the events for a day.

On Thursday, There was a 40 hour exposition with the blessed Sacrament at Warwick Street with talks, discussions, an all night vigil and a procession later in the evening.

On Friday, the events moved to Corpus Christi Church, where after morning praise, Mass and devotional prayer, David Payne gave a talk on understanding the father’s love. There was a procession to St Patrick’s in the evening at 9pm where there was another all night vigil.

For the Saturday, there was street evangelisation in Soho Square, including a concert with Christian bands in the afternoon. In the evening there was a great talk by Bishop Longley on uniting our spirit with Christ. In the evening a Taize prayer service was held.

On the Sunday, the French Church hosted a play called Tunnels by the theatre group ACTS, some poetry and refreshments followed.

Overall, the events were a tremendous success and will definitely be repeated next year. There was a great enthusiasm for evangelisation during the 4 days and hopefully many have heard the message of Christ through the events.

 Many thanks to Anne Marie Salgo, the organiser of spirit in the City who worked tirelessly for months to get everything in place.

Introduction: Robert Today I am going to give a talk about vocations…

Sense of calling: Anglican, Fascination and interest in Church

Every since reading Faith and reason, since 17, I have felt called to serve the Church.

By training for priesthood for me is the fullest way to serve God and others.

Sense of avoidance, but a true calling does not go away.

Behave like Nicodemus and the Rich Young Man.

Vocation  = vocare – to call in latin. Everybody is called by God, whether to marriage, religious life, single life and to many different callings.

We are all called to holiness (Vatican II, universal call to holiness). In order to hear a calling we need to listen.

What Vocations crisis? God calls we listen.

There is a clear Vocations message in the readings today.

In the first reading today – Amos is told by God to Go and Prophesy to the people of Israel. This shows that God calls people to carry out his work. Amaziah is jealous of Amos and worried that he would bring trouble to the royal temple.

In the reading from Ephesians we hear that we have a specific purpose willed by God, and that we all might exist for the greater glory of God. It tells us that God makes known to us his will for our lives and he calls us to unite with his will to accomplish his plans for us and for the world.

In the Gospel, we hear that Jesus tells his disciples to take nothing for the journey, to concentrate on the essentials – this shows the radical calling of Jesus’ message

(((Like the rich young man- self righteous, things that he does good things and follows the commandments- Yet Jesus demands so much more! How can we learn to give more in our lives rather than be mere takers. Self righteouness and self pity have no place next to God.))))))

Cardinal Newman:

God has created me to do him some definite service; he has committed some work to me which he has not committed to another. I have my mission – I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next.

 I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for naught. I shall do good; I shall do his work. I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place while not intending it- if I do but keep his commandments. Therefore I will trust him. Whatever, wherever I am. I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him. He does nothing in vain. He knows what He is about. He may take away my friends; He may throw me among strangers. He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide my future from me – still He knows what he is about.

Newman says that each person has their own talents which nobody else on earth is capable of doing. We are not mere islands as persons, but must interacts and engage as best as possible with all those around, in the best Christian fashion. Even when life can seem to be unworthwhile, God is still there to comfort us and does not forget us. He saw that true religion based in the heart.

He understood that God creates a purpose and a plan for our lives regardless of our abilities. God does not require us to be successful but rather to be faithful first. (mother Theresa). God does not demand the impossible from us, but to cooperate with him is likely to give you happiness. We find this when we are seeking and loving what is true and good.

To discover the will of God and to do it wholeheartedly- Just as Maria in the Sound of Music discovers – is to be a great foundation for life.

To be interested, moved, inspired, to love something and to love what you do a good indication that you could work in that area.

The call of

Abraham – Gods asks Abraham to put aside everything and promises him great things. As Abraham set off, he embarked on a journey that he knew virtually nothing about, anything could have happened. He was called to embark on a new way in life which would bring great reward. Abraham once again is called to put his trust in God when the Lord asks him to sacrifice his son.

Samuel – takes a while to realise that the Lord is calling and is helped by Eli. God calls him 3 times and young Samuel thinks that Eli was calling him.

Peter – makes mistakes, lies about knowledge of Jesus, tries to run away from his mission but eventually shows his faithfulness.

Mary – is scared at first of God’ messengers, before declaring that she is the handmaid of the Lord.

To be a Priest today is to be a midwife to most of the profound aspects of human existence. Every priest is a steward of the mysteries of God. (1 Cor 4:1)

 The priesthood and religious life is the biggest challenge of all! Priestly ministry to care about people, help the poor, visit the sick, visit those in jail and to clothe the naked. This is the most radical calling.

((((((Jesus told us that there were few labourers in the vineyard and we need to pray that he would send more labourers into the vineyard.))))))))

((((((Now it is - To bring a counter cultural message to society- true Christian living not to be  too materialistic, not to be obsessed about your own pleasure (hedonistic).

Secular society: The ideal presented is one of instant success, a fast career, and an existence centred on self affirmation, often bereft of respect for others. Self assertation rather than service.

But the commandments are not just restrictions and prevention of certain activities- they are an invitation to be free and discover how to be fully alive))))))

2 great secrets: (that contemporary society does not know).

1/ True committed Christians contain inexplicable, unexplainable joy in their lives. A vocation fully lived out makes some of the happiest people in the workplace. In order to change the world, we don’t have to wait one second- it can happen immediately.

2/ living ones life as a gift to others, through helping and serving others means we can really discover ourselves and be fully human. Self awareness and self knowledge puts people firmly in touch with reality. God cannot be outdone in Generosity- must be onto a winning ticket. People do not regret a lifetime of love and service, which we have discerned to be God's call for them.

Challenge is to discover what you are being called to be and do. Not easy, God not in the telephone directory.

How can you know and how can you have the commitment for your vocation?

Vocations must always involve commitment and sacrifice- in a healthy and honest manner this can be a good thing. In order to love we need to be able to put ourselves at risk, to open ourselves to be vulnerable and not to be too defensive.

We must all ask the question-

How can I serve God? How can I serve God better in my life?

How do you know your calling?

Time in prayer, reflection and discussion with a trusted person. silence in prayer can help discerning.

“man can only grow and realize his vocation in relation to others.” (CSDC 149).

Our own freewill, God invites us on a journey of discovery to see that we can serve him openly in freedom and truth.

JP2 “Every vocation, every path to which Christ calls us, ultimately leads to fulfilment and happiness, because it leads to God, to sharing in God’s own life.”

Celibacy – means one is able to give you whole heart to God. If he has called us to the religious life or priesthood celibacy will mean committed to God with an undivided heart.

Prayer:

St Ignatius said, receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, my entire will, all that I possess. You have given it all to me; to you, O Lord, now I return it; all is yours, dispose of me wholly according to your will. Give me only your love and grace, for that is enough for me

Lord, give us generous giving hearts

Send more labourers into the harvest.

"My son, hold fast to your duty, busy yourself with it, grow old while doing your task. Admire not how sinners live, but trust in the Lord and wait for his light" (Sir. 11:20-21 NAB).

My son, if you come forward to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for temptation. Set your heart right and be steadfast, and do not be hasty in time of calamity. Cleave to him and do not depart, that you may be honored at the end of your life. Accept whatever is brought upon you, and in changes that humble you be patient. For gold is tested in the fire, and acceptable men in the furnace of humiliation. Trust in him, and he will help you; make your ways straight, and hope in him. . . . Consider the ancient generations and see: who ever trusted in the Lord and was put to shame? . . . For the Lord is compassionate and merciful (Sir. 2:1–6, 10, 11).

"Do not stir up, do not arouse love before its own time" (Song 3:5).

Birth Control

"The way to plan the family is Natural Family Planning, not contraception. In destroying the power of giving life, through contraception, a husband or wife is doing something to self. This turns the attention to self and so destroys the gift of love in him or her. In loving, the husband and wife must turn the attention to each other. Once that living love is destroyed by contraception, abortion follows very easily."
- Mother Teresa (in front of Bill and Hillary Clinton)

"I am supposing, then, although you are not lying [with your wife] for the sake of procreating offspring, you are not for the sake of lust obstructing their procreation by an evil prayer or an evil deed. Those who do this, although they are called husband and wife, are not; nor do they retain any reality of marriage, but with a respectable name cover a shame. Sometimes this lustful cruelty, or cruel lust, comes to this, that they even procure poisons of sterility [oral contraceptives] . . . Assuredly if both husband and wife are like this, they are not married, and if they were like this from the beginning, they come together not joined in matrimony, but in seduction."
- St. Augustine

"No Christian married couple can want to block the well-springs of life. For their love is based on the love of Christ, which entails dedication and sacrifice. . . Moreover, as Tobias reminded Sara, a husband and wife know that 'we are children of saints, and we cannot come together in the way of the gentiles, who do not know God.'"
- St. Josemaria Escriva

Love

"Love to be real, it must cost—it must hurt—it must empty us of self."
- Mother Teresa

"Intense love does not measure . . . it just gives."
- Mother Teresa

"The person who does not decide to love forever will find it very difficult to really love for even one day."
- Pope John Paul II

"Man cannot live without love. He remains a being that is incomprehensible for himself, his life is senseless, if love is not revealed to him, if he does not encounter love, if he does not experience it and make it his own, if he does not participate intimately in it. This is why Christ the Redeemer 'fully reveals man to himself.'"
- Pope John Paul II

"There is no place for selfishness—and no place for fear! Do not be afraid, then, when love makes demands. Do not be afraid when love requires sacrifice"
- Pope John Paul II

"Real love is demanding. I would fail in my mission if I did not tell you so. Love demands a personal commitment to the will of God."
- Pope John Paul II

Modesty

"Either we must speak as we dress, or dress as we speak. Why do we profess one thing and display another? The tongue talks of chastity, but the whole body reveals impurity."
-St. Jerome

"Certain fashions will be introduced that will offend Our Lord very much."
- Our Lady of Fatima, in 1920.

Our Lady

"It is the boast of the Catholic religion that it has the gift of making the young heart chaste; and why is this but that it gives us Jesus Christ for our food, and Mary for our nursing Mother?"
-St. John Henry Cardinal Newman

"Before, by yourself, you couldn't. Now, you've turned to our Lady, and with her, how easy!"
-St. Josemaria Escriva

"Mary, give me your Heart: so beautiful, so pure, so immaculate; your Heart so full of love and humility that I may be able to receive Jesus in the Bread of Life and love Him as you love Him and serve Him in the distressing guise of the poor."
-Blessed Mother Teresa

"When we were little, we kept close to our mother in a dark alley or if dogs barked at us. Now, when we feel temptations of the flesh, we should run to the side of our Mother in Heaven, by realizing how she is to us, and by means of aspirations. She will defend us and lead us to the light."
- St. Josemaria Escriva

"If you ever feel distressed during your day — call upon our Lady — just say this simple prayer: 'Mary, Mother of Jesus, please be a mother to me now.' I must admit — this prayer has never failed me."
-Blessed Mother Teresa

"Love our Lady. And she will obtain abundant grace to help you conquer in your daily struggle."
-St. Josemaria Escriva

"Have confidence. Return. Invoke our Lady and you'll be faithful."
-St. Josemaria Escriva

"So your strength is failing you? Why don't you tell your mother about it? . . . Mother! Call her with a loud voice. She is listening to you; she sees you in danger, perhaps, and she—your holy mother Mary—offers you, along with the grace of her son, the refuge of her arms, the tenderness of her embrace . . . and you will find yourself with added strength for the new battle."
-St. Josemaria Escriva

"All the sins of your life seem to be rising up against you. Don't give up hope! On the contrary, call your holy mother Mary, with the faith and abandonment of a child. She will bring peace to your soul."
-St. Josemaria Escriva

"May I give you some advice for you to put into practice daily? When your heart makes you feel those low cravings, say slowly to the Immaculate Virgin: Look on me with compassion. Don't abandon me. Don't abandon me, my Mother! -- And recommend this prayer to others."
-St. Josemaria Escriva

"When you see the storm coming, if you seek safety in that firm refuge which is Mary, there will be no danger of your wavering or going down."
-St. Josemaria Escriva

"Only after the Last Judgment will Mary get any rest; from now until then, she is much too busy with her children."
-St. John Vianney

"To serve the Queen of Heaven is already to reign there, and to live under her commands is more than to govern."
-St. John Vianney

Purity

"Only the chaste man and the chaste woman are capable of true love."
- Pope John Paul II

"Chastity is a difficult, long term matter; one must wait patiently for it to bear fruit, for the happiness of loving kindness which it must bring. But at the same time, chastity is the sure way to happiness."
- Pope John Paul II

"Deep within yourself, listen to your conscience which calls you to be pure . . . a home is not warmed by the fire of pleasure which burns quickly like a pile of withered grass. Passing encounters are only a caricature of love; they injure hearts and mock God's plan."
- Pope John Paul II

"[God] has assigned as a duty to every man the dignity of every woman."
- Pope John Paul II

"To be pure, to remain pure, can only come at a price, the price of knowing God and loving him enough to do his will. He will always give us the strength we need to keep purity as something as beautiful for him."
- Blessed Mother Teresa

"Holy Purity is granted by God when it is asked for with humility."
- St. Josemaria Escriva

"'Purity?' they ask. And they smile. They are the ones who go on to marriage with worn-out bodies and disillusioned souls."
- St. Josemaria Escriva

"By Lust I mean that affection of the mind that aims at the enjoyment of one's self and one's neighbor without reference to God."
- St. Augustine

"Lust indulged became habit, and habit unresisted became necessity."
- St. Augustine

"There is need for a crusade of manliness and purity to counteract and nullify the savage work of those who think man is a beast. And that crusade is your work."
- St. Josemaria Escriva

"Many live like angels in the middle of the world. You, … why not you?"
- St. Josemaria Escriva

"When you decide firmly to lead a clean life, chastity will not be a burden on you: it will be a crown of triumph."
- St. Josemaria Escriva

"Don't be such as coward as to be 'brave.' Flee!"
- St. Josemaria Escriva

"When you have sought the company of a sensual satisfaction, what loneliness afterward!"
- St. Josemaria Escriva

"To defend his purity, Saint Francis of Assisi rolled in the snow, Saint Benedict threw himself into a thornbush, Saint Bernard plunged into an icy pond . . . You . . . what have you done?"
- St. Josemaria Escriva

"Don't say, 'That's the way I am—its my character.' It's your lack of character. Esto vir!—Be a man!"
- St. Josemaria Escriva

"Purity is the fruit of prayer."
- Blessed Mother Teresa

"Purity prepares the soul for love, and love confirms the soul in purity."
- St. John Henry Cardinal Newman

"Holy Purity, the queen of virtues, the angelic virtue, is a jewel so precious that those who possess it become like the angels of God in heaven, even though clothed in mortal flesh."
- St. John Bosco

"As soon as you willfully allow a dialogue with temptation to begin, the soul is robbed of peace, just as consent to impurity destroys grace."
- St. Josemaria Escriva

"Temptation is necessary to make us realize that we are nothing in ourselves."
- St. Josemaria Escriva

"More souls go to hell because of sins of the flesh than for any other reason."
- Our Lady of Fatima

Purity of Mind

"In the realm of evil thoughts none induces to sin as much as do thoughts that concern the pleasure of the flesh."
-St. Thomas Aquinas

"In temptations against chastity, the spiritual masters advise us, not so much to contend with the bad thought, as to turn the mind to some spiritual, or, at least, indifferent object. It is useful to combat other bad thoughts face to face, but not thoughts of impurity."
-St. Alphonsus Liguori

Purity of Speech

"A man who has the habit of abusive language will never mature in character as long as he lives"
-Sirach 23:15

"Filthy talk makes us feel comfortable with filthy action. But the one who knows how to control the tongue is prepared to resist the attacks of lust."
-St. Clement of Alexandria

"Never talk of impure things or events, not even to deplore them. Look, it's a subject that sticks more than tar. Change the conversation, or if that's not possible, continue, but speaking of the need and beauty of holy purity--a virtue of the men who know what their souls are worth."
-St. Josemaria Escriva

The man of impure speech is a "person whose lips are but an opening and a supply pipe which hell uses to vomit its impurities upon the earth."
-St. John Vianney

"That conversation . . . was as dirty as a sewer! It is not enough for you to take no part in it. You must show your repugnance to it strongly!"
-St. Josemaria Escriva

"I have never talked about impurity. . . . But I have spoken many times, as I have to do, about chastity, purity, and the joyful affirmation of love."
-St. Josemaria Escriva

Reconciliation

"In failing to confess, Lord, I would only hide You from myself, not myself from You."
- Saint Augustine

"Confession is like a bridle that keeps the soul which reflects on it from committing sin, but anything left unconfessed we continue to do without fear as if in the dark."
- Saint John Climacus

"A soul does not benefit from the sacrament of confession if it is not humble. Pride keeps it in darkness. The soul neither knows how, nor is it willing, to probe with precision the depths of its own misery. It puts on a mask and avoids everything that might bring it recovery."
- Saint Faustina

"At the time of your examination beware of the devil that ties your tongue."
- Saint Josemaria Escriva

"'You told me, Father, that after my past life it is still possible to become another St. Augustine. I don't doubt it, and today more than yesterday I want to try to prove it.' But you have to cut out sin courageously from the root, as the holy Bishop of Hippo did."
- Saint Josemaria Escriva

The Holy Rosary

"The holy Rosary is a powerful weapon. Use it with confidence and you'll be amazed at the results."
- St. Josemaria Escriva

"If you say the Holy Rosary every day, with a spirit of faith and love, our Lady will make sure she leads you very far along her Son's path."
- St. Josemaria Escriva

"Say the Holy Rosary. Blessed be that monotony of Hail Mary's which purifies the monotony of your sins!"
- St. Josemaria Escriva

"You always leave the Rosary for later, and you end up not saying it at all because you are sleepy. If there is no other time, say it in the street without letting anybody notice it. It will, moreover, help you to have presence of God."
- St. Josemaria Escriva

The Most Blessed Sacrament

"When you approach the tabernacle remember that he has been waiting for you for twenty centuries."
- St. Josemaria Escriva

"Make your lives intensely Eucharistic."
- Pope John Paul II

"With all the strength of my soul I urge you young people to approach the Communion table as often as you can. Feed on this bread of angels whence you will draw all the energy you need to fight inner battles. Because true happiness, dear friends, does not consist in the pleasures of the world or in earthly things, but in peace of conscience, which we have only if we are pure in heart and mind."
- Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati

"Many Christians take their time and have leisure enough in their social life (no hurry here). They are leisurely, too, in their professionally activities, at table and recreation (no hurry here either). But isn't it strange how those same Christians find themselves in such a rush and want to hurry the priest, in their anxiety to shorten the time devoted to the most holy sacrifice of the altar?"
- St. Josemaria Escriva

"We must understand that in order 'to do', we must first learn 'to be', that is to say, in the sweet company of Jesus in adoration."
- Pope John Paul II

"Of all devotions, that of adoring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the greatest after the sacraments, the one dearest to God and the one most helpful to us."
- St. Alphonsus Liguori

"Jesus has made Himself the Bread of Life to give us life. Night and day, He is there. If you really want to grow in love, come back to the Eucharist, come back to that Adoration."
- Mother Teresa

Vocations

"In the first place I say this: you must never think that you are alone in deciding your future! And second: when deciding your future, you must not decide for yourself alone."
- Pope John Paul II

"[young people] know that their life has meaning to the extent that it becomes a free gift for others."
- Pope John Paul II

"Priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus. When you see a priest, think of our Lord Jesus Christ."
- St. John Vianney

"For everyone, whatever his state—-single, married, widowed, or priest—chastity is a triumphant affirmation of love."
- St. Josemaria Escriva

"Leave a parish twenty years without a priest and they'll be worshipping the animals"
- St. John Vianney

True forgiveness

Forgiveness is not a weakness, but a sign of strength. It is not about forgetting but learning how to move on into the future. Unforgiveness poisons those who can’t forgive with bitterness, anger and jealousy. But those that forgive are free from their feelings which can undermine them. As in the Lord’s prayer- as God forgives us, we must be in the position to forgive others for their transgressions against us. This must happen deep down and not on the surface. Forgiveness enables us to move on from the situation we have been in and not wallow in the misery of the past. Those who find it hard to forgive due to a sense of injustice should rest assured that God is the ultimate arbiter of justice because he embodies justice in the fullness of time. He is judge at the end of time- it is his job to repay and not ours.

Indignation as energy for action

Indignation means resentment, anger or annoyance. Yet these feeling can be channelled into constructive forces provided a catalyst for our actions, towards the improvement of society. Those that commit evil are responsible for their actions, but they are not responsible for our actions- and therefore are responses perhaps towards any evil done towards us. When our car is stolen, rather that wallowing in self pity we can set up a neighbourhood watch scheme. If our cousin dies of malaria, we can help those in the 3^rd world fight the disease with our support. There are countless organisations that have been established by people thinking that the current service was unsatisfactory and they could do a better job. By having a stubborn refusal to be a victim, we can learn to overcome our emotions that could overwhelm us and learn to cope with distress and problems. When Nelson Mandela had spent decades in jail as a political prisoner – he refused to be a victim and helped to build a better and more just society when he was released by being involved in leading the country. Moving on from grief, sorrow and anger through energising our emotions into good helps our recovery and changes our attitude.

Particular Habits- Escapism to False Paradises

In order to cope with work, many people become mentally detached from what they are actually doing. This can happen by a process of repetition, daydreaming, routine and the robotisation of our work. By not being engaged- helps to separate mind and body from the task in hand. But this can also happen in other areas- escapism from reality is a mechanism for coping for many people. Whether by pornography, drugs or computer games- these are all false heavens that attempt to bring happiness by a particular fantasy- but usually these fantasies end up making the user deluded and detached from self. From detaching mind and body we cannot function as well as one and we are not so much integrated people. But by knowing oneself, being fully in touch with reality we have a firm understanding of the world and where we are. Don Quixote was so deluded he saw giants instead of windmills, yet he recovered from his deluded madness and saw life again as it really is.