Yes. This is a phrase we saw recently on those candies distributed during Valentine’s Day, but this blog is not about those (sigh of relief from your end and mine). Just a thought on a good “travel companion” that has been naggin’ at me since the beginning of Lent: The Holy Spirit! Our Blessed Lord went into the desert filled with the Holy Spirit. I desire the same during these holy and transforming days.
Lent, in my view, can often slip in unexamined fashion, into an enclosed gloomy ambience composed of the heavy clouds of personal sin and the tempestuous winds of its social counterpart. Although I say the former with great reverence for the human condition and cannot/will not dismiss the gravity of sin, my “travel partner” seems to keep picking my head up to Christ with His generous Gifts and savory Fruits. Meanwhile, He is coaching me out of old and unsuccessful life strategies (He’s better and less expensive than Stephen Covey) to new ones — He’s the best coach..sorry Coach Calhoun, you’re #2)
This past weekend I was so thankful to be part of about 90+ young and a couple not-so-young people’s Confirmation here at Good Shepherd. It was confirmation in the Holy Spirit not only in the sacraments sense, but also in my interior priestly life: I WANT IN ON THIS LENTEN JOURNEY AND ALWAYS in your ministry as I did with the Great High Priest in His.
In addition—it’s been a real long winter here in Tally so I’m asking my “travel companion” to, as the Veni Sancte Spiritus says, “Fove quod est frigidum/Melt the frozen, warm the chill.”
Happy trails to all. Forget HIM not!
Father Will Ganci
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
Man, Lent is here already!
It seems like just the other day I was moving into St. Ann's and this Wednesday I will be celebrating my first Ash Wednesday Mass. I am excited about Lent. I see Lent as one long retreat in which as a Church we step back and reflect upon our lives and refocus ourselves ever more deeply into the mystery of Christ's life, death, and resurrection.
However, there is the temptation in the back of my mind to say to myself, "Well, just do what you have to do during Lent and leave it at that." There are many ways that we try to rationalize our way out of taking Lent seriously. As a result of many years of taking Lent seriously which has made Easter that much more fulfilling, that thought was eliminated by the firm foundation that was placed in me during my years with the Catholic Student Union and seminary.
As I look forward and plan for Lent, I first must evaluate my current situation. Take some time for reflection to see where I have come from and where I am now, and where the Lord is calling me to delve into. As a priest of Jesus Christ, I feel that I am being invited to learn what it truly means to suffer with Christ and his people. If there is any season of the year in which the priesthood is most clearly expressed, it is this time of sharing in the paschal mystery of Christ's sacrifice to save us.
I pray that as God leads his people during this journey of 40 days, I might be an instrument of his divine will, and in the process find a richer love and appreciation for the gift of the priesthood that God has bestowed upon me.
However, there is the temptation in the back of my mind to say to myself, "Well, just do what you have to do during Lent and leave it at that." There are many ways that we try to rationalize our way out of taking Lent seriously. As a result of many years of taking Lent seriously which has made Easter that much more fulfilling, that thought was eliminated by the firm foundation that was placed in me during my years with the Catholic Student Union and seminary.
As I look forward and plan for Lent, I first must evaluate my current situation. Take some time for reflection to see where I have come from and where I am now, and where the Lord is calling me to delve into. As a priest of Jesus Christ, I feel that I am being invited to learn what it truly means to suffer with Christ and his people. If there is any season of the year in which the priesthood is most clearly expressed, it is this time of sharing in the paschal mystery of Christ's sacrifice to save us.
I pray that as God leads his people during this journey of 40 days, I might be an instrument of his divine will, and in the process find a richer love and appreciation for the gift of the priesthood that God has bestowed upon me.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Silence Is [BETTER THAN] Golden
This week I’m going on my first personal retreat as a priest. Actually, I’m writing this “last minute” because I realized this is due for post while I’m still on silence.
I would simply like to say that I’m very much looking forward to this and have been accumulating my desires for the retreat over the past weeks in preparation for it. I’ll share one: to savor more deeply the Trinity’s work in the many, many experiences of pastoral labor in the vineyard thus far. My metaphor for parish priesthood over the past few months has been like being in a river of grace, tempted to swim upstream, but needing to just flow..flow..flow..(thankfully)with it! I pray retreat time with the Lord will help me marvel at the stream He’s provided me to be in as His Son’s priest.
Pray with me and for me in the Silence that Is BETTER THAN Golden!
Father Will Ganci
I would simply like to say that I’m very much looking forward to this and have been accumulating my desires for the retreat over the past weeks in preparation for it. I’ll share one: to savor more deeply the Trinity’s work in the many, many experiences of pastoral labor in the vineyard thus far. My metaphor for parish priesthood over the past few months has been like being in a river of grace, tempted to swim upstream, but needing to just flow..flow..flow..(thankfully)with it! I pray retreat time with the Lord will help me marvel at the stream He’s provided me to be in as His Son’s priest.
Pray with me and for me in the Silence that Is BETTER THAN Golden!
Father Will Ganci
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