A Temple of the Holy Spirit

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Daniel & Catherine ready for Confirmation I had the privilege of witnessing my son and daughter receive the Sacrament of Confirmation this past Tuesday at the Basilica of Our Lady of the Annunciation in Lancaster, OH. It was a wonderful Mass with a full choir, trumpets, and all the rest. During his remarks, Bishop Earl K. Fernandes mentioned that we too, like the Basilica, are temples of the Lord. It caused me to reflect on this idea. Although I've mostly seen only pictures of the great cathedrals and basilicas in the world, I have seen some amazing churches even in our own diocese. These structures are a testament to the Church's love for God (read the entire Church - Militant, Suffering, Triumphant). They represent great skill, sacrifice, and passion for Our Lord and often times His Mother.  Yet the words of Christ always echo in my mind when contemplating the beauty that surrounds me in those places; “ Do you see these great buildings? There will not be one stone left u
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Buried Treasure: The Patrimony of the Church

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Originally posted November 27, 2007


"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up; then in his joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field." Matthew 13:44

I have always enjoyed this parable and the ones that accompany it in Matthew's Gospel. It makes me think of all that I have given up in order gain the treasure of the Faith. I think of all the friends I have lost. I think of all the sacrifices I have made to do what God wants and how they now don't seem like sacrifices at all. It makes me think of the treasure I have found that is that pearl of great price.

This parable also makes me wonder who in the hell buried this treasure in the first place? Who took the Faith that was mine, by virtue of my Baptism, and hid it from me allowing me to wander through life looking for something to fill that void left in my heart where my Faith should have been? Who took the teachings on chastity and buried them in the mire of a false freedom? Who took the statues, holy reminders that the Mass is where Heaven and Earth meet, and hid them behind felt banners? Who took the truth about sin, venial and mortal, and hid them under the guise of a self-formed conscience? Who took the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew out of the Liturgy and buried it beneath clown masses and the Fr. Bob show? Why did they silence the beautiful hymns that raised the heart and mind to Heaven by burying them beneath the dull self-centered songs telling God how great we are? Who took the challenge to strive for holiness and covered it with a suggestion to be good?

This parable makes me question who took the patrimony of the Church that was rightfully mine, by the graces won for me on the Cross, and hid it in a potter's field of piffle? I know the answer to this, these, and other similar questions. It was, of course, the Devil and his band working in and through human persons and events many of which were entrusted to care for souls.

I thank God that I have stumbled upon this treasure as I wandered the field in search of anything to make me happy. I ask Him for the grace to help me dig it up for all to see and to share it with my children and my children's children and on and on. I sold all I had in order to gain back my birthright that had not been sold for pottage but had been buried to keep me from going hungry. I refuse to allow anyone to hide it from my descendants.


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