What Pope Francis says about "Admonish Sinner"

The light of love proper to faith can illumine the questions of our own time concerning truth. Truth nowadays is often reduced to the subjective authenticity of the individual, valid only to the life of the individual. A common truth intimidates us, for we identify it with the intransigent demands of totalitarian systems. But if truth is a truth of love, if it is a truth disclosed in personal encounter with the Other and with others, then it can be set free from its enclosure in individuals and become part of the common good. As a truth of love, it is not one that can be imposed by force; it is not a truth that stifles the individual. Since it is born of love, it can penetrate to the heart, to the personal core of each man and woman. Clearly, then, faith is not intransigent but grows in respectful coexistence with others. One who believes may not be presumptuous; on the contrary, truth leads to humility because believers know that, rather than ourselves possessing truth, it is truth that embraces and possesses us. Far from making us inflexible, the security of faith sets us on a journey; it enables witness and dialogue with all. 

(Excerpt from The Church of Mercy, page 8)

St. Pius Parishioner Highlighter March: Admonish the Sinner

Ok, you caught us, this month we didn't technically interview a parishioner, but Fr. Joe is a part of our larger Church community and he is not short on words to describe God's mercy and love.

Admonish the Sinner is a difficult topic to discuss and it's hard to find practical ways to practice this Work of Mercy.  How do you tell someone that they are behaving sinfully without them getting angry or defensive?  Fr. Pins gives us some great advice: to not sin ourselves.  The best way to admonish the sinner is to first look at ourselves.  When we look at admonishing the sin in our own lives we have a better understanding of how difficult it is to change a behavior, which leads to empathy and patience for others.  Then we can speak more genuinely and compassionately with others about the struggle that they experience.  And Pope Francis reminds us time and time again that we must be the face of Christ to others, the face of mercy.

As we move through lent, may God bless you as you look inward to overcome sin and through the power of Jesus Christ arise victorious!


Guest Blogger:
Emily Schmid
SPX Music  Ministry Director &
Adult Faith Formation Coordinator

Be a Saint of Mercy: Admonish the Sinner...like Padre Pio!

The third Spiritual Work of Mercy, Admonish the Sinner, is one that most Catholics either misunderstand, cringe at, or completely ignore when acting on our call to live the Works of Mercy.  Let's admit it, it's easy to talk to ourselves into believing that Feeding the Hungry is more important and urgent than Admonishing the Sinner...plus it seems to require less awkward interactions!

Before moving on, perhaps it's wise to begin with a little explanation of what it really means to "Admonish the Sinner."

In Matthew 18:15-18 Jesus said, "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone.  If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.  But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses.  If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.  Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

In our world, "Admonishing the sinner" is often confused and used interchangeably with judging or condemning somebody for his or her actions.  But if you read Jesus' words in Matthew 18 closely, you'll see that admonishing has nothing to do with judging someone, but everything to do with genuinely loving them!  But, we know from experience that it isn't always easy to lovingly correct someone-our message doesn't always carry the love we hold in our hearts and our intentions can so easy be misinterpreted!  But again, Jesus' instruction in Matthew 18 points out the difference...He instructs us to seek out our "brother" in private! This really gets to the heart of "Admonishing the Sinner."  how do we correct the sinner? What is our intent? What is our approach?  Are we more concerned with the soul of the sinner or punishing them for the evil done?  We have to weigh our intentions carefully and take our concerns for the soul of our friend and strangers into consideration, before we speak!

So what saint should we turn to this March? Who can model for us an authentic example of "Admonishing the Sinner?"

How about the tremendous mystic monk, Padre Pio!

Padre Pio, baptized Francesco Forgione, grew up and lived in Italy between 1887 and 1968.  At the age of ten he told his parents, "I want to be a friar...with a beard," after seeing a Capuchin friar traveling through town.  These genuine words would end up being prophetic, as Francesco was ordained a priest on August of 1910. Within a month of his ordination, Padre Pio found himself praying in a a chapel when Jesus and Mary appeared to him and gifted him the wounds of Christ on the Cross, the stigmata! This began years of ecstasies, illness, suffering, and other miraculous displays of God's work through Padre Pio.

During his assigned time in San Giovanni Rotondo, Padre Pio became the spiritual father for many men and women (called his spiritual daughters and sons).  Padre Pio shared with these daughters and sons his five rules for spiritual growth-1. Weekly Confession, 2. Daily Communion, 3. Spiritual Reading, 4. Meditation and 5. Examination of Conscience.  When explaining these spiritual rules, Padre Pio used the analogy of dusting a room (used or unused) on a weekly basis, to frequent confession.

And it was after establishing this private relationship with his spiritual children that Padre Pio began to share with them his God-given gift of seeing the soul with interior vision.  With his holy eyes he could see the dark corners of this "undusted" room that he spoke of.  It allowed Padre Pio the opportunity to admonish those hidden sins that his spiritual children (and all humanity) like to keep hidden.

For example, from the book "The Padre: Testimonies" by Fr. Iasenzaniro we read...

"Father Pasquale Cattaneo also gives us a testimony showing Padre Pio's ability to read hearts. Fr. Cattaneo had received permission from his superiors to visit San Giovanni and to go to confession to padre Pio.  During his bus trip he prepared himself with a good examination of his conscience so as to be ready to make a sincere confession of his sins.  With the help of the Holy Spirit he looked into every corner of his soul, and made new promises of amendment.  However as the bus going to the Gargano was on the last part of the journey and the town came into view, he ended his examination perplexed thinking: "The spiritual life at times seems like trying to climb glass."

When he arrived at the friary, he went into the sacristy and told the friar who helped with the confessions that he had come to confess to Padre Pio and afterwards he patiently waited for his turn.  When the time came he entered the confessional, greeted Padre Pio and made his confession.  After confessing his faults, Padre Pio gave him absolution.  He then arose, feeling happy that he had made a sincere confession, when he turned one last time and glanced at the Padre--the Padre smiled at him and with an amused look he wittingly said: "So the spiritual life seems like climbing glass, eh?"

Father Pasquale was flabbergasted and couldn't seem to utter a word, but from then on he was absolutely convinced that Padre Pio was enlightened by the Holy Spirit to guide souls.  Thus it is a very unusual truth that P. Pio could at times perceive what his spiritual children were thinking, even without them giving explanations to him." 

Padre Pio cared about the souls that crossed his path, even when it was a soul that had much dust to clean.  He yearned for these souls to experience the grace and love that only comes through a relationship with Jesus Christ.  Do we approach dusty rooms with the same desire!?  Padre Pio models perfectly the way to "Admonish the Sinner."

If you would like to learn more about Padre Pio, I suggest checking out this website: http://padrepiodevotions.org

If you desire to become one of Padre Pio's spiritual children, consider saying this prayer:
O Saint Padre Pio,
holy bearer of the Wounds of Christ,
accept us this day as your spiritual sons and daughters and keep us
always on the narrow path
by your intercession.
And do thou, O our Spiritual Father,
stay there at the Gates of Heaven until
all of your spiritual children have entered
through, even and including us.
Through Christ our Lord,
Amen.

As we reflect on our Christian call to "Admonish the Sinner," may we each find compassion and love in the way Padre Pio approached sinners.  He models for us the love that must be at the forefront of our desire to correct others.

Saint Padre Pio...Pray for us!

Guest blogger: Joe Tallman
SPX School Middle School Religion

Admonish the Sinner: A Spiritual Act of Mercy; An Act of Love

It is sometimes hard to think of admonishing a sinner as an act of mercy, but, it really is one of the most loving things we can do with and for each other.

"Admonish" seems like a hard word; but calling someone we love back into a right relationship with God is a tough task! It is not about judging or condemning.  It is not about pointing out petty issues; it is not about being superior to another.  Rather, it is about calling each other to walk in the ways of righteousness; to follow in the ways of Jesus. To admonish another is to say in a very strong way, "I care about you-not only in this life, but in the next as well!"

We are all sinners; we stumble and fall, and sometimes we cannot see what keep us from the loving kindness and mercy of God.  We need each other to call us back; we need each other to empower us to "Come Home to Christ."

On Thursday, March 10th at 7:00 in the evening our St. Pius family will have the opportunity to celebrate together the loving-kindness and mercy of the Father in our communal reconciliation service.  In the Spirit of Mercy, I admonish you, my brothers and sisters, to return to Christ with your whole heart and mind and being.  It is in love, the love of Christ, that I, a sinner too, call you to come home.

Guest Blogger: Dr. Cheryl J. Fournier
PALF St. Pius X Catholic Church, Urbandale, IA

What Does the Pope Say about Welcome the Stranger

You may be like the [prodigal] son who left home, who sank to the depths, farthest from the Gospel. When you have the strength to say, "I want to come home," you will find the door open. God will come to meet you because he is always waiting for you-God is always waiting for you. God embraces you, kisses you, and celebrates. That is how the Lord is, that is how the tenderness of our heavenly Father is. The Lord wants us to belong to a Church that knows how to open her arms and welcome everyone, that is not a house for the few, but a house for everyone, where are can be renewed, transformed, sanctified by his love-the strongest and the weakest, sinners, the indifferent, those who feel discouraged or lost. (Excerpt from Church of Mercy by Pope Francis, page 31)

Year of Mercy Parishioner Highlight: Welcome the Stranger

This month I had the pleasure of interviewing Phil McGrath on the subject of welcoming the stranger.  Phil heads the Greeter and Newcomer Ministries at St. Pius and is a staple here known for his smile, strong hand shakes, and most importantly, his jokes. 

Phil is typically the first person you meet at St. Pius and his charisma is infectious.  You often leave an encounter with Phil feeling good about yourself. This welcoming nature of Phil's truly is a charism, his gift from God to serve.  What is most impressive about Phil is how empowering he is for others.  He directs the conversation to be about the other and he listens to what people say.   He compliments and remembers not only their name but facts about them with his amazing memory! Phil provides assurance to others that they are valuable and worthwhile to the parish.

After talking with Phil I reflected on how often I say hello to others and learn their names.  Some days I feel like I want to isolate myself from others, just come to church, do my duty as a good Catholic, and then leave.  But Phil encourages us to do more, because, as Phil points out, when we are a welcoming parish, people contribute and then the parish grows. When people are empowered, when they feel important, then they have the confidence to share their gifts to the parish, not just monetarily but with their time and talent as well. How amazing it is to have a parish full of life and vitality, where we build each other up to create a strong Body of Christ!

It is easy for us to get into the habit of isolating ourselves at church, in public, and even in our families, but maybe we need to consider how we reach out to others every day, even in the small ways.  How can you welcome someone today? How can you empower someone today? How you can build up the Church of Christ in the world?

God bless =)

Guest Blogger: Emily Schmid
SPX Music Ministry/Adult Faith Coordinator

Be a Saint of Mercy: Welcome the Stranger…like Mother Teresa!

As we look at the landscape of the world this month, perhaps no Work of Mercy is more relevant and at the same time also more challenging to embrace than the call to “Welcome the Stranger”!

Conflicts around the world, such as the unrest in Syria, have displaced millions of people from their homes over the last year. And the mass exodus shows little signs of stopping as refugees look for new homes around Europe and even the United States.

In fact, the U.N. Refugee Agency estimates that the number of displaced individuals has surpassed 60 million by the end of 2015 – the highest yearly number ever recorded!

Pope Francis has not ignored this issue. Rather, he has embraced it and made it and emphasis of his papacy. Recently acknowledging that “Welcoming the Stranger” is not always easy, but necessary if we are to fulfill our Christian obligation. Saying, “Nations must find the right balance between two serious and binding obligations: protecting the rights and safety of one's citizens and ensuring assistance to and acceptance of migrants.”

But there is fear and uncertainty when we open our homes and our countries to strangers. We make ourselves vulnerable. Perhaps we look the other way and pretend it’s not an issue?

So who do we turn to? Who can model for us this “balance” that Pope Francis speaks of when welcome strangers?

How about, soon to be canonized, Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta!

We know her story well.

Young Gonxha Agnes left home at the age of 18 years old to be a missionary (1928). She joined the Sisters of Loreto and was shortly after sent to India to teach in an all-girls school. She loved her work, her sisters and her students, but something was still missing. Then in 1946 during a train ride to her annual retreat, Mother Teresa had a conversion. She would later call this her “call within a call”, to radiate Christ’s love on all souls.

This is exactly what Mother Teresa did! She was granted permission to start a new religious community called the Missionary Sisters of Charity. Their charism…to serve the “poorest of the poor”…the strangers whom no one else would dare love and care for.

Through her work, Mother Teresa was focused on being a witness to the joy of loving, celebrating the dignity of every human person, embracing the value of doing little things faithfully and with love, and showing the worth of a friendship with God!

And if you spoke to the millions of strangers who Mother Teresa and her Sisters of Charity welcomed, I know you would find that her work is exactly the example we need to embrace those whom the rest of the world chooses to ignore!

If you want to learn more about Mother Teresa, her work, her life, and the Missionary Sisters of Charity, click her:http://www.motherteresa.org/. Also feel free to stop by our Middle School Religion classroom to see our 2nd class relic of Mother Teresa (a portion of her habit)!

As we reflect on our Christian call to Welcome the Stranger, may we each find strength in Mother Teresa’s response to love those that others are afraid to love - Sounds like she knew a thing or two about Welcoming the Stranger!

Blessed Mother Teresa…Pray for Us!









Blogger: Joe Tallman, 
Middle School Religion
St. Pius X School