Bless the Lord at All Times!

Brian Kapp, Guest Blogger, discusses Music in Our Liturgy and Faith

Sing With All Your Heart!

Today, November 22, is the feast day of St. Cecilia, the patroness of musicians. Concerts, recitals, festivals, prayer services, and masses have been held on this day for centuries, dating back to 1570 in Normandy. The celebration of God’s gift of music to us gives me an overwhelming sense of gratitude every day. This language of music gifts to us something that not many things do in this world… a chance to connect with our own feelings and faith, a chance to connect with others standing next to us, a chance to connect with our ancestors who sang the same songs and made the same music.

In a way, that is what we do in the Sacraments of Word and Eucharist every week at Mass. We partake in the reception of God’s Word and in the ‘Word Became Flesh.’ Our ancestors did the same thing… going back 2000 years!

One thing is different. We partake in Sacrament and make music in a different way than they did, from a different perspective. That is the gift of faith and of music. Every time we partake of Christ in the Mass and every time a song is sung or played, a new aspect appears. Each act of faith and each musical act is unique within itself. Just as in faith we are called to give everything we have, the language of music asks the same of us. Giving all we have at the Supper of the Lamb produces the healing presence of God’s Spirit in our lives.

Music, in many ways, offers a wonderful metaphor for the bigger picture of faith. I’ll end with a partial quote from the hymn text, His Eye Is on the Sparrow (text written by Civilla D. Martin):

“… I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free;
For his eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me.”
Happy Solemnity of Christ the King!

Brian Kapp is Director of Music and Liturgy at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Mankato, MN. He studied keyboard performance at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and Liturgical Music at St. John's School of Theology-Seminary in Collegeville, MN. He has worked in music ministry in various capacities for the past 11 years.

An attitude of Gratitude, #Finding God in the Ordinary

You get up late.  You pray as you get dressed, “Jesus, you must need this, so I give my day to You.  I love You.”  The kids miss the school bus.  The car pool goes on without you.  You drive to work and can’t find a parking space, and you’re late.  You forgot your umbrella and it’s raining like when the ark was floating.  You’re soaked to the bone and you have no dry clothes or shoes.  The school calls, and the kids are both throwing up.  Someone needs to pick them up.  You cancel your meeting and head home.  You get soaked again.  “Jesus,” you smile and say, “I asked for some time off,  so I guess I should thank You.”

You pick up the kids at school.  Your younger child looks at you and says in front of the school nurse, “I told you I was sick, but you made me come to school.”  You slink out of the nurse’s office with her glaring at you.  The rain is still pouring down.  You all get wet.  It’s now 11 AM and even though they have been throwing up, the kids are hungry.  You get home and make them some soup, and, yes, they both throw up.  You have a lot of cleaning to do. 

The kids are in bed, sleeping soundly.  It’s almost time to make dinner.  You can’t go to the store because you have to watch the kids.  Your sitters are still in school.  You kick off your shoes.  You pour a glass of wine.  Then you remember you haven’t gone to the bathroom since you left work.  You sigh.  You take care of yourself.  You light a candle.  Then you say, “Jesus, take care of this for me.  I can’t do anything without your help.” 

You close your eyes and rest.  You doze for a few minutes, and, when you wake, the shadows are long.  In the flickering candle light, you see your crucifix on the wall.  “Jesus, this was a tough day, but we made it through.  Thank you for taking care of us.” 

“Mom, I have to throw up again.”  You realize it’s too late as you run into the room.  You hug your child.  “I love you, Sweetie.” 

“I threw up, Mommy.” 

“Don’t worry, baby.  Jesus, is taking care of it for us.  Do you want to sleep in Mom and Dad’s bed for now?” 

“Uh, huh.” 

“Mom, I love you and daddy and sissy and Jesus.”   You smile at his precious faith.

From the other bedroom you hear, “Mom, I have to throw up!”  You hear it come up, and you run into your other baby’s room.”   “I love you, baby.”  And she throws up on your bare feet. 

You make a dry baked potato for the kids.  They want to watch TV.  They must be feeling better.  Daddy called and said he’ll be coming home later than he planned.  You showered and you put the kids to bed.  You’re starved too.  You see the box of cereal and pour yourself the last two circles of oats.  You check on the kids.  They’re sleeping.  “Thank you, Jesus, I know You’re taking care of them for me.” 

Daddy walks in the door.  You smile.  He’s soaked to the bone but he’s smiling at you.  He throws his ams around you and hands you flowers.  He says that he loves you, and that you’re a good mom.  He goes back to the car.  He brings in take out for the two of you. 

You eat with great joy.  “Thank you, Jesus,” you whisper, “You’re taking care of this for me.” 

Then you hear, “Mom, Sissy threw up on the dog and he wet the bed.  She scared him.”  You and Daddy look at each other and smile. 

“Sheets are in the drier,” you say. 

It’s finally bedtime.  The kids are sleeping.  You showered again.  You’re ready for bed.  Daddy is watching the news, but he’s really sleeping on the couch.  You cover him up with a blanket.  You fall to your knees next to your bed.

“Jesus, thank You for this day.  I am so grateful that I was able to take care of our children.  Thank you for taking care of all this for us.  I hope the children feel better tomorrow.  Jesus, take care of this for us.  Thank You.  I know You will.  Amen.  Good night” 

Ever had days like this?  Live them with gratitude, anyway.  Offer them up to God.  He’s taking care of things for you.  Thank God.  He’s God. Be grateful.  Let God be God.  He loves you.

#Finding God in the Everyday

Spiritually Adopt a Priest

Our priests need prayers.  Priests are challenged as satan seeks to tempt them and devour their souls. They are the first line of attack that satan wages on our church.  He knows that without our priests, we have no sacraments.  We have no Eucharist.   Evil seeks to destroy our church.  Without priests, we have no church.  They are the roots of the vine that Jesus planted when he chose Peter as our first Pope and the apostles as our first priests.  Without prayer, priests are unarmed in a world of sin.  We need to pray for our priests! 

I offer this suggestion when praying for priests.  Adopt a priest for a year or for a life time.  Pray for that priest.  Pray for him as if he were one of your family, one of your children.  Gather together as a family and pray a rosary for your priest.  When you cannot gather together, pray for this priest yourself.  Offer three Hail Mary's a day for him.  He is one of our Mother's beloved sons.  Offer up your sufferings for him.  Pray for his strength.  Pray that he have a burning love for souls.  Pray that he be given energy when he's tired.  Pray for him to see Jesus in every soul.

Spiritually adopt a priest you know, or, perhaps one you don't know.  There are always missionary priests to be adopted.  There are parish priests in other parts of the world who could use your prayer support.  Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in your choice.  Feel free to adopt more than one priest.  When you do find a priest to adopt, you can choose to tell this priest or not.  I chose to tell my priest that I adopted him.  He was happy to know this. 

Offer your Masses for him.  Have masses said for him.  Ask the Blessed Mother to stand by his side.  Pray for the gift of a happy death for him.  Pray for him to persevere even in danger.  Write his name down in your family bible.  Praise God for the gift of your priest.  Thank God for that gift.  Burn a candle for your adopted priest.  Sing songs of praise to God for him. 

No matter how you choose to handle it, pray everyday for your priest.  Hold him close to your heart.  You will be blessed. 

Always remember to pray for our Pope, too.  Our beloved Francis needs our prayers, too.  Adopt him along with your priest and pray for him daily.  Pray! Pray! Pray!  God will protect and strengthen our priests. 

Sweetest Lord, and Loving Jesus.
We thank you for the gift of Father _____________________ who is our spiritually adopted priest.  We ask that you bless and protect him.  We ask that you give him strength in difficult times.  We ask you to cover him with Your most precious Blood.  We ask that You anoint him with Your love and with your peace.  We ask that you send Your angels to protect him as he ministers to his flock.  We ask that you protect him from evil.  We ask that you give him energy when he must go on.  We ask that you give him rest when he needs it.  More than anything else, we ask that you give him the gift of a rich prayer life so that he may draw closer to You, our Father, to Your Son Jesus, our brother,  and be filled with the light and gifts of the Holy Spirit.  Light of Heaven, we thank You for your blessings.  Bless Father _______________________.  Amen.

The Priestly Prayer of Jesus

And Jesus Prayed
John 17

After Jesus had spoken these words, He looked up to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come;  glorify Your Son so that the Son may glorify You, since You have given Him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom You have given Him.  And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.  I glorified You on earth by finishing the work that You gave Me to do.  So now, Father, glorify Me in Your own presence with the glory that I had in Your presence before the world existed.

I have made Your Name known to those whom You gave Me from the world.  They were Yours, and You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.  Now they know that everything You have given Me is from You; for the words that You gave to Me, I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from You; and they have believed that You sent Me. 

I am asking on their behalf; I AM not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom You gave Me, because they are Yours.  All Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine; and I have been glorified in them.  And  now I AM no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I AM coming to You.  Holy Father, protect them in Your name that You have given Me, so that they may be one, as We are One. 

While I was with them, I protected them in Your Name that You have given ME.  I guarded them, and not one of the was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled.  But now, I AM coming to You, and I speak these things int he world so that they may have My joy made complete in themselves. 

I have given them Your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world.  I AM not asking You to take them out of the world, but I ask You to protect them from the evil one.  They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.  Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.  As You have sent Me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.  And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth.

I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in Me through their word, that they may all be one.  As You, Father, are in Me, and I AM in You, may they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You have sent Me.  The glory that You have given Me I have given them, so that they may be One, as we are One, I in them and You in Me, that they may be completely one, so that the world may know that You have sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me.  Father, I desire that those also, whom You have given Me, may be with Me where I AM, to see My glory, which You have given Me because You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

Righteous Father, the world does not know You, but I know You; and these know that You have sent Me.  I made Your name known, so that the love with which You have loved Me may be in them, and I in them. 

A Prayer for Priests

Lord, we ask that You bless and protect Your priests, 

For those priests who are tired and burnt out, please fill them, again, with Your Holy Spirit. 

For those priests who are full of the Holy Spirit, grant them Your Peace and a burning thirst for souls. 

For those priests who are attacked by evil, protect them.

For those priests who are tempted to sin, strengthen them.

For those priests who sin grievously against those who trust them, grant them true repentance  and salvation. 

For those priests who defy the magisterium of the Church,  grant them forgiveness.

For those priests who are unkind, treat them with kindness and mercy. 

For those priests who cannot forgive, forgive them. 

For those priests who empty themselves in Your service, fill them with Your love. 

For those priests, who have fallen away from You and Your church, guide them back to the right path. 

For those priests who suffer from illnesses of the mind and body, heal and cure them. 

For those priests who are martyrs, greet them with outstretched arms when they die. 

For those priests who die in sin, extend to them Your Mercy and Forgiveness. 

For those priests who are in Purgatory, expiate their sins so that they may rest in Your Glory. 

For those priests who stray into the New Age, bring them back to You. 

For those priests who have turned their backs on You, lead them back to You. 

For those priests who no longer want to serve, give them the burning love for souls that only You can satisfy. 

For those priests who have a fiery love for You and for souls, bless them.

For all your priests, cover them with Your most precious blood and anoint them in Your love. 

For all Your priests, I pray.


Come, Holy Spirit, Come.  Fill all Your Priests and bless them with the fruits and gifts of your grace.  Give them strength when they minister to those in need.  Give them health when they are exhausted and need rest.  Help them to see the Face of Jesus in all souls. 
Amen.

Would You Return?

     The road was dry and dusty.  You heard that the Rabbi, the Master, would be coming this way.  You could not get near Him because you were unclean.  You could not get near anyone because you were unclean.  You had a vile disease that kept you out of society.  You could only shout from a distance and hope that He would hear you.
      As he passed on the road, the ten of you shouted, “Heal us.  Heal us.”  He turned and told you to go and show yourselves to the priests.  In good faith, you left to find the priests in the temple. 
     As you walked, you realized that your skin was clean.  You were no longer sick.  You all look at each other in wonder and awe.  Nine in the group ran towards the priests.  One person returned to give thanks and to praise God.  Did you return?



Luke 17: 11-19

On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee.  As He entered a village, ten lepers approached him.  Keeping their distance they called out, saying “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”  When He saw them, He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.”  And as they went, they were made clean. 

Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice.  He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked Him.  And he was a Samaritan. 

Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean?  But the other nine, where are they?  Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”  Then He said to him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.”