It’s unbelievable that we’re already one week into March, and two weeks into Lent. Is it too late to still cover and reflect on this last Sunday’s Gospel? Because that was our plan, and then we got a little behind…we’re just gonna roll with it.
This past Sunday featured Matthew’s account of the Transfiguration, so this month we’re outsourcing our commentary to St. Francis de Sales, since he covered this way back in 1622. His sermon for the Second Sunday of Lent essentially concerns the beauty and happiness of eternal life - and our inability to truly comprehend it here on earth. He opens with a parable from St. Gregory the Great (we’re comforted that he also outsources his commentary), of a woman who gives birth in a dungeon and is condemned to pass the remainder of her life there with her child. Yet she desires to have her son know the beauty of the world outside the dungeon, so she is given leaves of a tree to show him to help him understand the beauty of the hills covered in fruit trees:
And although his mother, holding in her hand some leaves of those trees, may tell him: ‘My child, they are covered with leaves like these’ and, showing him an apple or an orange, ‘They are also laden with fruits such as these; are they not beautiful?’ the child remains in his ignorance. His mind simply cannot comprehend what his mother wants to teach him, for all that she uses is nothing compared to the reality itself.
But, he continues, even this stunted comparison of leaves to tree-laden hills is a better approximation than we can achieve in our understanding of Heaven:
The limitations are the same, my dear souls, with all that we can say of the grandeur of eternal happiness and of the pleasure and beauties with which Heaven is filled. Indeed, there is greater proportion…between the beauty of the leaf or fruit of a tree and the tree itself laden with both flower and fruit, between all that this child comprehends of what his mother tells him and the reality itself of the things spoken of, than there is between the light of the sun and the splendor which the blessed enjoy in glory; between the beauty of a meadow sprinkled with flowers in the springtime and the beauty of these heavenly gardens; between the loveliness of our hills covered with fruits and the loveliness of the eternal hills.
He digresses into what we can know about Heaven, ultimately closing joyfully and hopefully:
In the heavenly Jerusalem, then, we will enjoy a very pleasing conversation with the blessed spirits, the angels, the cherubim and seraphim, the saints, with our Lady and glorious Mistress, with Our Lord and with the thrice holy and adorable Trinity - a conversation which will last forever and will be perpetually cheerful and joyous. Now if in this life we have so much pleasure in hearing that which we love spoken of that we cannot be silent about it, what joy, what jubilation we will receive in hearing chanted eternally the praises of the Divine Majesty, whom we should love, and whom we will love, more than we can comprehend in this life! If we take so much delight in the simple imagination of this unending felicity, how much more will we have in the actual possession of it! An endless felicity and glory, one that will last eternally and one which we can never lose! Oh, how greatly will this assurance increase our consolation! Let us walk gayly and joyously, dear souls, among the difficulties of this passing life; let us embrace with open arms all the mortifications and afflictions that we will meet on our way, since we are sure that these pains will have an end when our life ends, after which there will be only joy, only contentment, only eternal consolation. Amen.
You can read the whole thing here. We’re guessing this sermon-laden Substack isn’t really cutting it when it comes to communicating the beauty of eternal life, either - even with the help of St. Francis de Sales. How fortunate we are to have this glimpse of glory through the account of the Transfiguration - and to be able to gaze upon our Lord in adoration! Speaking of… we’ve got two upcoming adoration opportunities this week - sign up for an hour:
Tuesday adoration at Newman (8am-10pm) - sign up here
Saturday overnight adoration at St. Robert (5:30pm-8:30am) - sign up here (you can also submit prayer intentions here)
Bible in a Beer Catholic Podcast
File this under cool things that cool Catholics are doing… Kevin Landgraf recently launched a new podcast, Bible in a Beer. It’s a series on faith and life with local Catholics you likely know, and we think you’ll really enjoy it. The first three episodes (yes, he already dropped three episodes) feature a discussion of Lent with Fr. Michael Malucha. Check out the first episode below and additional episodes on Spotify.
For Your Calendar:
The Milwaukee Catholic scene remains very active this Lent - here’s everything going on at St. Robert and beyond.
Tuesday, March 8 at 7:00pm | Brewing the Faith EASTSIDE (Brew City Catholic)
Join Brew City Catholic at Good City on the East Side of Milwaukee to meet some friends new or old and hear a great message led by some other awesome young adults. Your first beer is on BCC!
Friday, March 10 at 5:30pm | St. Robert YAM at Holy Family Fish Fry (RSVP)
This one’s easy…just show up, buy your dinner, and eat with us. Check out the menu/prices on the HF website, and throw your name on this list if you plan to join us so we can make sure we find everyone there!
Saturday, March 11 at 10:30am | Fides Patrum - Origen: Commentaries and Homilies I
The winter/spring series of Fides Patrum is focused on Origen, who St. Jerome hailed as as an “immortal genius” and a “man of steel” due to his astounding scholarly output. You can find more details here, but the seminars are held select Saturday mornings at the Panther Catholic Newman Center after 9am Mass.
Saturday, March 11 at 2:00pm | Intertwined: Conversations on Faith and Life (RSVP)
We have a new series providing space for conversation about faith and its role in all aspects of our lives - Intertwined! Join us in the St. Robert Community Room for a discussion about the intersection of social media and faith. We'll have light refreshments, but feel free to bring something for yourself or to share. Let us know you're coming here.
Saturday, March 11 at 5:30pm | Overnight Adoration at St. Robert (sign up)
St. Robert offers overnight adoration on second Saturdays every month. We are looking for at least two adorers every hour between 4:30pm Mass and 8:30am Mass - so commit to an hour with the Lord and help make this effort possible! Sign up for a slot here and submit prayer intentions here.
Saturday, March 18 at 7:00pm | Lenten Adoration Evening at St. Robert
Join members of St. Robert for an evening of prayer during our annual Lenten Adoration program. Confession will be available during the hour.
Sunday, March 19 at 2:30pm | UPLIFT Young Adult at Old Saint Mary (RSVP)
All are welcome to join the Family of Four Parish in UPLIFT faith formation opportunities. Details for March look TBD, but sessions open with communal prayer time in the church, followed by roughly 30 minutes of the speaker, along with Q&A. Food and beverages will be provided! You can see more info here.
Friday, March 24 at 6:00pm | YAM-Hosted Soup and Stations at St. Robert (RSVP)
Young adults are hosting Soup and Stations for St. Robert on Friday, March 24 - help us contribute to this Lenten effort by joining us in prayer and signing up to bring some food or supplies. Sign up here if you plan to attend the dinner and please volunteer for something if you're able!
Saturday, March 25 at 9:00am | Annunciation Mass+Waffle Bar at St. Robert (RSVP)
Join us for Mass to celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord and stick around to enjoy a waffle bar after. Waffles are a traditional food to celebrate the Annunciation in some countries, so we’re adopting the custom! RSVP for the reception here, and while you're there, please consider signing up to help or to bring an item to share. If you’re able to help with the liturgy (we need servers, lectors, and more) please email strobertYAM@gmail.com.
Monday, March 27 at 7:00pm | Opening Our Hearts to Survivors: Conversation and Prayer about Abuse in the Church (RSVP)
Join Fr. Andrew Infanger at St. Robert for an evening of reflection and discussion about the difficult issue of sexual abuse by church leaders. The evening will include a talk titled, “What I have Learned from Listening to Survivors” by Sara Larson of Awake Milwaukee, as well as an opportunity to share your own thoughts and feeling as members of this wounded Body of Christ. The night will end with evening prayer in the church. Please RSVP for this event here.
Monday, March 27 at 7:00pm | Meet Your Fathers Forum - St. Augustine
The organizers of Fides Patrum invite all to a series highlighting some of the most important Fathers of the Church. Join us on Monday, March 27, at the Salzmann Library at St. Francis de Sales Seminary for a talk on St. Augustine, hosted by Fr. Justin Kizewski. You can find more details about this forum here.
Friday, March 30 through Sunday April 1 | Undone: Healing the Whole Person Retreat for Women at St. Alphonsus Parish in Greendale, WI (RSVP)
Immerse yourself in a three-day conference of truth and transformation as the knots of Eve, in us, are undone by Mary's example of radical receptivity. Through a series of talks, teachings and prayer experiences, you will be invited to become Undone in God's presence while deeply receiving the truth of your authentic identity. More information and registration can be found here.
Every Wednesday evening | Cor Jesu
Young adults from across the area come to St. Robert for adoration and confession at 7pm, Mass at 8pm, and a social after. Young men are also invited to join for a 6pm dinner beforehand at the JPII House.
Every Saturday morning | Mass and Via Coffee
All are welcome at Panther Catholic Newman Center (3001 N. Downer Ave) for 9am Mass followed by socializing upstairs at the Via Coffeehouse on Saturday mornings.
Applications Open | Kinship Community Food Center’s Mission Intern Program
Are you looking for a new way to serve? Kinship’s mission interns live a year rooted in faith and social justice through prayer, community, and service in the Catholic tradition. Your year would include serving at the food center, working on the urban farm, attending formation sessions, and making connections with community members and other missionaries. Right now, applications are open for the summer of 2023 and the year 2023-2024. Come live a life of generosity as a Kinship Mission Intern -- Visit Kinship’s website to apply. For those who are interested in becoming a volunteer visit www.kinshipmke.org/volunteer.
Don't be sure you'd give ups to social media. It's always there. Ups delivers very well. 😂✍️