Five decades of singing without music

JULY 14, 2008 | Since I will be on vacation for a few weeks, I thought I would yield this space to a series of reflections on the Liturgy of the Hours written by retired Auxiliary Bishop Agustín Román as he marks the 50th anniversary of his priesthood. They already have appeared in La Voz Católica, our monthly Spanish-language newspaper.

According to St. Augustine, when we sing, we pray twice. I find that to be true. I have always liked music, song and poetry because they lead me to God. I enjoy greatly when someone who has this gift makes use of it and I always lament not being able to do so myself.

During my seminary years, I dreamt of being able to sing and of leading the faithful in singing to our good Lord. I worked hard in music class and could read the notes as well as my classmates, but every time I sang, it was obviously off-key. I could not distinguish “do” from “re”. Sometimes, I dared to ask the Lord why he had not given me the gift others possessed.

50 years with the same companion

JULY 2, 2008 | Since I will be on vacation for a few weeks, I thought I would yield this space to a series of reflections on the Liturgy of the Hours written by retired Auxiliary Bishop Agustín Román as he marks the 50th anniversary of his priesthood. They already have appeared in La Voz Católica, our monthly Spanish-language newspaper.

This year I will be celebrating 50 years of life with the same companion. She has been the first one to speak to me in the morning and the last one to speak to me before I fall asleep at night.

Her words so overwhelm me that sometimes they become part of my dreams. Her words encourage me during the day when she whispers phrases that resemble the rays of a lamp whose oil is never exhausted, and stir me back from my many and frequent distractions.

She is a companion who remains young despite the years, who rather has been rejuvenated with the passage of time. If she was beautiful when I first received her in 1958, she was more so in 1961 and even more beautiful after 1970.

Be ‘green’: Stay married

JUNE 20, 2008 | As if the ill-effects of divorce were not obvious enough, a study conducted by a group from Michigan State University recently concluded that divorce is bad for the environment.

Published online in the “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,” the study found that divorce “has led to a surge in the number of households with fewer people so that we collectively devour more space and gobble up more energy and water.”

Hard financial times also affecting archdiocese

JUNE 6, 2008 | The U.S. economy is not doing well. Gas prices have reached new heights. Home prices are dropping. Food costs are rising. Every sector of our society is feeling the pinch, from the state legislature to county governments to local school boards. All have announced drastic cutbacks in their budgets.

The Archdiocese of Miami is feeling the pinch as well. Even though our collection revenue has increased – the ArchBishop’s Charities and Development appeal raised nearly $10 million last year compared to $6.7 million in 1998, and the assessments we collect from parishes increased from $2 million to $5 million over the same period – our expenses have risen at a much higher rate.

Six new priests begin ‘journey

MAY 16, 2008 | In today’s Gospel, Jesus says to Peter, “You follow me.”

Today, here at St. Mary Cathedral, we will all witness a beautiful ceremony in which six good men from the Archdiocese of Miami will commit themselves to follow Jesus as priests of the New Covenant.

How to keep your child as safe as possible

MAY 9, 2008 | Being a parent has never been easy, but I cannot help but think that the task is much harder today.

For one thing, stay–at–home moms, in general, are a thing of the past. Most children today grow up in households where both parents must work to make ends meet – that is, if they are fortunate enough to have both parents, as so many households are headed by single moms who struggle mightily to put food on the table.

Thank you, Pope Benedict!

APRIL 25, 2008 | What a great week to be Catholic!

Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Washington, D.C., and New York — and the attendant media coverage — certainly achieved its purpose: to help the multilingual, multicultural multitude of Catholics in the United States reflect and rejoice in the faith that was handed down to us by the apostles.

For vocations, be like Andrew

APRIL 18, 2008 | This weekend, the jubilee days of prayer for vocations will end. The opportunity to pray before the Blessed Sacrament, ensconced in a monstrance blessed by Pope John Paul II, will conclude, appropriately, with a Holy Hour at St. John Vianney College Seminary in Miami. (Monstrance Schedule)

When is baptism invalid?

APRIL 11, 2008 | At the end of February, the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a statement saying a baptism administered “in the name of the Creator, and of the Redeemer and of the Sanctifier” is not a baptism at all.

Because baptism is the first sacrament of Christian initiation, the use of an incorrect formula has tremendous repercussions on a person’s future sacramental life. “A person who has not received baptism cannot be admitted validly to the other sacraments,” states the Code of Canon Law (No. 842-1).

Letter from Archbishop Favalora

APRIL 4, 2008 | I am pleased to present the financial report of the Archdiocese of Miami for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2007. This annual report reflects the financial stewardship practiced in the Archdiocese of Miami.

‘Neither fire nor smoke will separate us from the love of Christ’

MARCH 28, 2008 | As reported here, the devotional chapel at St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Kendall caught fire the Friday before Palm Sunday. ¶ To illustrate the hope that our Christian faith imparts to us at Easter — a celebration which continues for 50 days, until Pentecost Sunday — I would like to share with you a reflection written by St. Catherine’s pastor, Father Juan Sosa, just a couple of days after the fire.

Live up to God’s gift

MARCH 21, 2008 | Have you ever received a gift you truly felt you did not deserve? I hope you feel that way this Sunday. ¶ I know our catechumens will. They will be crying tears of joy after their baptism this Easter Vigil because they know and appreciate the gift they have been given.

God will find you amid the silence

MARCH 14, 2008 | How about turning off the television this week? ¶ Or perhaps you could drive without using your cell phone. ¶ What if you turned off the radio during your morning and evening commute? ¶ This is the beginning of Holy Week, the culmination of the Lenten season. Are you spiritually prepared? Have you been listening to God these 40 days?

Haitians need protected status

MARCH 7, 2008 | More than a week ago, I wrote a letter to President George W. Bush — and every member of Florida’s congressional delegation — urging our government to grant temporary protected status to Haitian immigrants in the United States.

Virgin of Charity, pray for Cuba

FEBRUARY 29, 2008 | After 49 years, Fidel Castro has stepped down from his official position as “president” of Cuba. ¶ That does not mean the end of communist rule on the island. That does not mean that freedom and economic opportunity will come for the Cuban people anytime soon. ¶ The island is still a communist dictatorship tightly controlled by Castro’s hand-picked successors. Prisoners of conscience remain in Cuban jails and Cuba’s people are allowed neither freedom of expression nor the right to leave the country freely.

Why we must honor fidelity

FEBRUARY 22, 2008 | Every year around Valentine’s Day, we celebrate married love by honoring couples who are marking 25, 50 or more years of marriage. We did that this past weekend, Feb. 16.

Lourdes: God is with us

FEBRUARY 15, 2008 | Exactly 150 years ago this month, the Virgin Mary began appearing to a poor peasant girl in a small village called Lourdes in France. The Virgin identified herself as the Immaculate Conception — an article of faith that had been proclaimed by the pope only four years earlier.

Time to make some Lenten resolutions

FEBRUARY 8, 2008 | Lent is a time of spiritual discipline to help us prepare for the celebration of Our Lord’s death and resurrection. But Lent is not just about meatless Fridays and fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Lent also should be about learning more about our faith and doing more to live it out each day.

Be as generous as God

FEBRUARY 1, 2008 | A jubilee year, in the Jewish tradition, meant that farmers did not plant any crops. The practice was meant to remind God’s people — every seven years, and every seven-times-seven years (49th to 50th) — that their lives depended on the providence of God.

Voting, conscience go together

JANUARY 25, 2008 | As you might have noticed, election season is upon us. Candidates are debating, pollsters are predicting and columnists are commenting. Everyone is focused on the so-called “horse race,” especially during a year when so many candidates are running from each party and no one seems to have an advantage.

Not my baby!

JANUARY 18, 2008 | They say experience is the best teacher. That was certainly the case with a young man I met many years ago. He told me he never really questioned the pro-choice position on abortion until he and his wife decided they wanted a child.

You’ve got to know your faith

JANUARY 11, 2008 | A recent edition of the Florida Catholic noted that more people can rattle off the McDonald’s jingle about the Big Mac than can list the Ten Commandments.

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