What Have You Done with Your Baptism?

Posted on October 23, 2024 by the Bouchers

In his world travels, Pope Saint John Paul II often asked Catholics, “What have you done with your Baptism?” This question has lingered in our lives ever since; along with a further question, “What have you done with the call and gifts of the Holy Spirit, given to us through Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist?” The United States Bishops remind us, “Jesus Christ sends that same Spirit upon everyone who is baptized in his name. For we have all gone down into the water with Christ and have all been anointed as disciples to bring Good News. We have all received his Spirit. This is not a Spirit of timidity or fear, but a bold Spirit of life, truth, joy, and grace.” (Go and Make Disciples, 67)

A. Let’s begin with a little digging into the story of your own baptism.

  1. How old were you when you were baptized? Do you know your Baptismal date?
    or the church, city/town, state, and or country where you were baptized?
  2. What are three things you know, or have been told about your Baptismal day by your parents, Godparents, relatives, who were present? Therese’s godparents were Uncle Norman and cousin Lois Champagne. For John, they were his siblings, Norman and Shirley.
  3. Do you have keepsakes of your Baptism (i.e. Baptismal certificate, photos, gown, candle, jewelry, or gifts)? What do these keepsakes mean for you today?

For Therese, her Baptism was both a joyous occasion and a time to ask for God’s healing of a birth defect. And John remembers showing our grandson his white Baptismal gown, which we still have. Nolan’s eyes bugged out and he whispered, “That’s a dress!” Although we have had to do some hunting for Baptismal dates.

B. Pray about the Baptism of Jesus by St. John in Lk. 3:3-6 and 3:21-22. What would it be like to go back in time and enter into this event? Who would you be? What would you see, hear and feel? and

John [said], “I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire…

When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” (NRSV)

C. What does  your Baptism mean today?  What does your encounter with Father, Son and Holy Spirit look like now? Is it growing or in need of resuscitation? Your answer can become the underpinnings of a witness about your spiritual journey no matter how bumpy. Parents might also look at your memories of the Baptism(s) of your children. What did the sacramental encounter mean to you? Then consider sharing your experience in an open, non-judgmental way.

For example, when our grandchild, Elizabeth, was baptized on the Feast of the Holy Cross, the priest lifted her chin and anointed her as he prayed, “Receive the sign of the Cross on your lips”. She responded with a smile and a full-bodied baby sound. When the moment is right, Therese hopes to share the possible meanings of this exchange, with our now adult Elizabeth. Perhaps it is a hint of her/our call to bring the Good News of Jesus into the world of our everyday lives.

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The Nuts and Bolts of Evangelizing Your Young Adult

Posted on September 17, 2024 by the Bouchers

Author, Sherry Weddell, has noted a common concern among older adult believers. She says, “I’ve had a number of conversations with the very serious disciple parents (Catholic and evangelical) of young adults and am seeing a pattern:

Many (not all) of their now grown children, who were very carefully raised, home-schooled, little or no television, active as leaders in youth groups, etc., are walking away from the Church and the faith, now that they are on their own as post-college, independent young adults. De-Churched.

Their parents are handling it as graciously and lovingly as they can, but all are wondering: Were my children just going along with the family norm? Did they ever really believe? Were they ever genuine disciples?” “Forming Intentional Disciples Forum,” Facebook, June 1, 2024).

As authors of a book addressed to these parents, we would add these observations, as well.

  1. Keep in mind that the world of your grown child is dramatically different, than when you were his or her age. Many support systems are gone, invisible, or have taken on a new form. For example, successful youth ministries are in the rearview mirror. And the parish church is not usually seen as viable place to get support as an adult… So, when your young person faces a new marriage, a new job, a death, a divorce or a long-distance move, who does your young adult reach out to (often instead of you)?
  2. And under a parent’s concern is the call to evangelize young adults! But it is equally important to reach out to those who encounter them on a regular basis: their extended families, work teams, peer groups, neighbors. Ask yourself, what parents, grandparents, uncles, and aunts, might be willing to accompany your young person into an adult spiritual life? Who might be their ‘godparent,’ or companion, as they seek the next step in a life-long journey of faith?

Here are two articles that offer beginning points:
“When Someone You Love Stops Going to Church”
https://www.catholicdigest.com/faith/spirituality/when-someone-you-love-stops-going-to-church/.
“Praying for Our Adult Sons and Daughters”
https://www.catholicdigest.com/family/relationships/praying-for-our-adult-sons-and-daughters/

Here are two books: Praying for Our Adult Sons and Daughters: Placing Them in the Heart to God. And a second small group guide available on Amazon.

Mending Broken Relationships, Building Strong Ones: Eight Ways to Love as Jesus Loves Us. This book acknowledges relationship problems in some families that bring pain, hurt, fear, and rejection. It also guides the reader into becoming more like Jesus through respect, gratitude, patience, being present, speaking truth with compassion, and forgiveness.

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Behind the Cabrini Film

Posted on June 25, 2024 by the Bouchers

Therese enjoyed the recent film about St. Francis Cabrini, who has been a life-long friend, a remarkable healer and a companion through Cabrini’s diaries. Therese has also been inspired during dozens of pilgrimages to Cabrini’s shrine in New York City. Here are some of Therese’s favorite stories, that provide an essential background for a budding relationship with this Saint.

For example, the story of Mother Cabrini’s overwhelming fear of water (which was hinted at through underwater scenes). This began with a near drowning at the age of seven, which left Cabrini with a severe and persistent dread of water. When she realized her call to be a traveling missionary, St. Frances took her fears before God in prayer. Jesus responded with a promise, “I (will) protect and guide you with my hands from one sea to the other.”  So, she put her faith in God during twenty-three missionary ocean voyages. During one such crossing Mother Cabrini was even given the nickname, “sea-lion” by passengers who noticed her immunity to most bouts of seasickness and her practice of sitting on the deck to pray and to add to her diary, “written between one wave and another.”

God’s protection In 1912 St. Frances Cabrini, had a ticket for an ocean voyage from Europe to New York, but because of administrative problems at Columbus Hospital in New York City, she canceled her trip and took another ship a month earlier. The ship she would have traveled on was the Titanic. And knowing her zeal for service to others, she would have stayed in steerage to pray with her beloved immigrants.

Her missions beyond New York included offering religion lessons for  underground coal miners, visiting yellow fever infested neighborhoods, riding a donkey down the side of a steep precipice, and surviving decades of poor health. But none of these things mattered. She trusted God and would often remind her sisters of St. Paul’s words. “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

 Finally, the driving force behind every scene in Cabrini’s life is only hinted at, or perhaps portrayed symbolically, when Mother Cabrini put on her veil. This Saint’s every action was grounded in faith. Behind every act of charity, every attempt to bring justice, is Cabrini’s greatest motive, in her own words: “To love Jesus, to seek Jesus, to speak of Jesus, to make Jesus known… This will be my main interest, the purpose of my steps, my comings and goings, all my preoccupations, of all that comes my way as work.” And finally, how can we imitate her? She encourages us to rely on “the [Holy] Spirit working within us, and comforting us with abundant light, and granting the Spirit’s promptings for every small and large holy action.” So, let us pray… Jesus, help us “devote ourselves to the Holy Spirit with our whole hearts,” like Mother Cabrini… “that we too might see the face of the earth renewed”. Amen.

 

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