November 14, 2009 by Fr. Michael Najim
Sometimes when I pray I find myself pondering moments in my life that are deeply etched in my memory. These moments are unforgettable because the experience touched my heart so profoundly that it changed the way I see life. And what initially seems to be a distraction in my prayer actually ends as a consolation because the Spirit brings the grace of that moment back to me in a time when I need to relearn the lesson.
The other day when I was praying I found myself in Peru in 1998. I’ll never forget that life-changing trip. I was a seminarian and I traveled with a group of seminarians and priests to visit the good work that the St. James Society does in that country. Continue Reading »
Posted in Prayer, Purity and Simplicity | Tagged Life is beautiful | 8 Comments »
November 11, 2009 by Fr. Michael Najim
Early in our lives we learn the importance of having good role models. The same is true when it comes to living in holiness: we must look to people who have lived the Christian life to a heroic degree so that we can learn from them. This is one of the reasons in the Catholic tradition that we honor the saints. The saints comprise the Holiness Hall of Fame. They inspire us.
Among the saints, however, there is one woman whom every saint looked to for inspiration: the Blessed Virgin Mary. Yet Mary is more than just another good Christian role model. She is the embodiment of Christian holiness. Therefore, it is important that we give her the proper honor due to her, for God chose her to be the Mother of our Savior. That’s a really big deal! Continue Reading »
Posted in Blessed Virgin Mary | Tagged Blessed Virgin Mary, lessons of Mary's life | 2 Comments »
November 6, 2009 by Fr. Michael Najim
I wonder sometimes about the outcome of a still verdictless life. Am I living it right?
- John Mayer
God uses nature and the seasons to teach us many lessons about life. If you’ve been reading this blog, you’ve probably noticed that I like to write about autumn simply because I think it is the most poetic season (at least in New England), a season that teaches us many lessons. Last week I found myself contemplating how the colors of the leaves become more beautiful the closer they come to death.
As I pondered this reality, it struck me that our lives should reflect the lesson the foliage teaches us: the more we age, the holier we should become. The older we get, we should become wiser, more virtuous, and enjoy an ever-deepening relationship with the Lord and with the most important people in our lives. Continue Reading »
Posted in Death and Final Judgment | Tagged Death, final judgment, John Mayer | 7 Comments »
November 2, 2009 by Fr. Michael Najim
I think it’s safe to say that most of the readers of this blog greatly admire the saints. We look to them as our role models for living the fullness of the Christian life. “They inspire us by their heroic lives.”[1] “Their glory fills us with joy, and their communion with us…gives us inspiration and strength…” [2]
We know some of their stories. Some spent hours in deep prayer every day (Teresa of Avila), with little sleep to boot (John Vianney); others spent their days in selfless service to the poor and homeless (Mother Teresa); still others worked tirelessly in hospitals ministering to the sick (Elizabeth of Hungary), or built orphanages (John Bosco), or schools (Elizabeth Ann Seton). And then we look at our own lives and think, I just don’t have what it takes to be like that; I don’t have what it takes to be a saint. Continue Reading »
Posted in Holiness | Tagged Friendship with Jesus, Holiness, ordinary life, Pope Benedict XVI, saints | 4 Comments »
October 30, 2009 by Fr. Michael Najim
The movie Romero is based on the true story of Archbishop Oscar Romero and the political unrest in El Salvador during the 1970s. The movie depicts the horrendous human rights violations that the government was committing against the Salvadoran people. Women were being raped and killed; everyday laborers were sometimes slaughtered at random; and priests, too, were being murdered. Romero, the archbishop of San Salvador, became a voice for the voiceless speaking out against the abuses, and he paid the ultimate price. On March 24, 1980, he was shot to death while celebrating Holy Mass. Continue Reading »
Posted in Surrender | Tagged Oscar Romero, Surrender to the Lord, what to do when feeling burdened | 7 Comments »
October 27, 2009 by Fr. Michael Najim
So you have a problem. You find that you’re spending way too much time either dwelling on the past or thinking about the future. You truly want to stop, but you don’t know how; the past and the future are constantly luring you with their voices, and you keep listening to them.
You wonder why you’re constantly restless and why you lack interior peace and joy, but the answer is right before you—literally right before you. It’s called the present moment. Continue Reading »
Posted in Peace and Calm, Prayer | Tagged the present moment | 10 Comments »
October 23, 2009 by Fr. Michael Najim
The other day, as I was driving south on Route 95, I was awestruck by the autumn foliage. A couple of times I was tempted to stop and look, but that’s not the smartest thing to do when you’re on the highway during rush hour. However, when I was on the back roads about a mile from my parent’s house, I was able to stop for a few moments on a small bridge and take in a picture-perfect autumn-in-New England scene: the sun was shining, the trees along the river’s edge seemed to be on fire, brilliant with spectacular reds and yellows, and their colors were reflecting on the water. A “thank you Lord” welled up in my heart.
Life is so rich when our hearts are fully aware of the Lord’s presence and the daily gifts that He gives us. But how can we live each day with an awakened heart? How can we see not only the beauty of creation each day, but also the beauty of our lives? Pope Benedict gives us the best answer. Continue Reading »
Posted in Jesus | Tagged Friendship with Jesus, great potential of human existence, Pope Benedict XVI | 5 Comments »
October 20, 2009 by Fr. Michael Najim
The deepest longing of the human heart is to love and to be loved; and what’s so amazing is that no one needs to teach us this truth. We know it innately. Our hearts long for love and we want to love back. But this longing to love and be loved often gets people into trouble because they try to fill that longing with things that simply can’t satisfy. Think, for example, of people who live promiscuously. They are, as the song says, looking for love in all the wrong places. As they try to satisfy their longing for love, they are left empty. Continue Reading »
Posted in Love | Tagged Love, Mother Teresa, St. Augustine, the heart, The heart's deepest longing | 7 Comments »
October 15, 2009 by Fr. Michael Najim
Do you hear voices? If you answered yes to this question while undergoing a psychological evaluation, the doctor may conclude that you’re schizophrenic. But it’s true that each day we do hear different voices. One voice discourages us while the other encourages us; one voice accuses us while the other comes to our aid; one voice speaks lies while the other speaks truth.
Which voice have you been listening to? Which voice will you choose to listen to today and from now on? This choice will make all the difference in your life. Continue Reading »
Posted in Jesus | Tagged the Good Shepherd, The voice of truth, the world flesh and devil | 3 Comments »
October 11, 2009 by Fr. Michael Najim
It’s impossible to be selfish and happy at the same time. I know this from experience, for if I’m honest with myself, I find the days that I am most miserable are the days that I am too focused on myself: on my problems, my frustrations, my weaknesses. I’m certain the same is true for you. Think about the last time you felt sad or weighed down. Maybe it was yesterday, or maybe it’s today. If you take a few moments to reflect, you may find that you are focusing too much on yourself. Continue Reading »
Posted in Uncategorized | 13 Comments »
