“It is because I think so much of warm and sensitive hearts, that I would spare them from being wounded.” Charles Dickens
Some people are a little more sensitive…do “you” care?
God bless,
Fr. Michael Sliney, LC
Fr. Michael Sliney, LC
“It is because I think so much of warm and sensitive hearts, that I would spare them from being wounded.” Charles Dickens
Some people are a little more sensitive…do “you” care?
God bless,
Fr. Michael Sliney, LC
“He was simply and staunchly true to his duty alike in the large case and in the small. So all true souls ever are. So every true soul ever was, ever is, and ever will be. There is nothing little to the really great in spirit.” Charles Dickens
Cooking a meal, paying the bills, doing the laundry, preparing the morning coffee, remembering people’s birthdays and anniversary’s, praying for others…the small stuff, but done with love, means SO MUCH!
God bless,
Fr. Michael Sliney, LC
The Church is our Mother from cradle to grave, giving us spiritual birth in the Sacrament of Baptism and preparing for us for eternal life in the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick. Many consider this Sacrament more as “Last Rites” but it is not only for those who are close to death, but also for those with a serious illness or before a potential life threatening operation. The catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us: “The first grace of this sacrament is one of strengthening, peace and courage to overcome the difficulties that go with the condition of serious illness or the frailty of old age. This grace is a gift of the Holy Spirit, who renews trust and faith in God and strengthens against the temptations of the evil one, the temptation to discouragement and anguish in the face of death. This assistance from the Lord by the power of his Spirit is meant to lead the sick person to healing of the soul, but also of the body if such is God’s will. Furthermore, “if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.” (#1520)
Occasionally this Sacrament has a healing power and can produce a miracle. I once anointed a man as he was on the way to the operating room. He looked pale and near death and even the doctor told me that he had a slim chance of making it…ten years later, he is alive and well today! Another 30 year old man had been hit by a car while crossing the street and was in a coma for a few days when I went to give him this Sacrament. His mom and sister were in the room and they told me the Doctors were not hopeful…I later received a call from one of his friends, saying that he recovered and wanted to thank me personally. He told me, “Fr. Michael, I don’t know you, but I remember your visit to me in the hospital room a few weeks ago. I was in a coma, but for some reason, your presence made a special impact on me. I could hear your words and more importantly, I felt the power of your blessing. It was very real and I consider this to be a miracle. I wanted to thank you personally for this special grace.” I told him, “I am just an instrument…be sure to thank God. He must love you very much.” Another 80+ year old man was recovering from a stroke in intensive care, and during the blessing, his eyes opened wide and he spoke with much greater clarity…all of the kids were in the room and they were amazed to see this immediate cause and effect.
Sometimes, it can be a more silent witness that makes the most impact. A gentlemen in DC was no longer able to talk and his wife thought he might be near the end, so she asked if I could stop by to administer the Sacrament. Immediately after the blessing, he reached out for my hand and held it tightly…his eyes filled with tears and he was trying to whisper, “Thank you…thank you for coming…thank you so much.” When I entered the room, his face reflected a lot of anxiety, as I left, I saw tremendous calm and joy. Two days later, he died in peace.
Death is a mystery. As we approach the door of eternity and our final journey to meet God, allow his soothing grace to touch your hearts or those of your loved ones…God wants to accompany us in this final phase!!
“None of us clearly know to whom or to what we are indebted in this wise, until some marked stop in the whirling wheel of life brings the right perception with it. It comes with sickness, it comes with sorrow, it comes with the loss of the dearly loved, it is one of the most frequent uses of adversity.” Charles Dickens
My mom and dad did so many acts of self-sacrifice for me in my youth…and they were always there when I needed them. You don’t forget that!
God bless,
Fr. Michael Sliney, LC
“We need be careful how we deal with those about us, when every death carries to some small circle of survivors, thoughts of so much omitted, and so little done-of so many things forgotten, and so many more which might have been repaired! There is no remorse so deep as that which is unavailing; if we would be spared its tortures, let us remember this, in time.” Charles Dickens
God bless,
Fr. Michael Sliney, LC
TKC!
“Relying on God has to begin all over again every day as if nothing had yet been done.” CS Lewis
Christ is always close by, especially in our storms, but we need to reach out to him.
God bless,
Fr. Michael Sliney, LC
“The closer one approaches to God, the simpler one becomes.” St. Teresa of Avila
As we grow older, we need to re-gain the simplicity and trust of our childhood.
God bless,
Fr. Michael Sliney, LC
“The greatest honor God can do a soul is not give it much; but to ask much of it.” St Therese of Liseux
So grateful to my swim coach as a kid and all those other coaches, teachers and spiritual directors who have gently challenged me and pushed me to a higher level along the way…God’s plan and His dream for us is so much bigger than we think…fan your gifts into a flame and allow him to love and work through you!
God bless,
Fr. Michael Sliney, LC
TKC!
“A thousand difficulties do not make a single doubt.” St. John Henry Cardinal Newman
St. Mother Teresa and so many other tremendous saints all went through darkness and difficulties….but they kept their eyes on Jesus and never doubted his very personal and loving plan for their lives.
God bless,
Fr. Michael Sliney, LC
As the new school year begins, kids and parents have so much going on, so it can be even more of a challenge to get together for a family meal. One highlight of my nearly 20 years of priesthood has been to accompany over 500 different families for this shared experience, but I can tell you, it is becoming harder and harder to find a night that works, especially in today’s busy culture!
I asked one of those moms from Greenwich, Ct., who is married with 2 pre-teen and 2 teenage kids to describe her struggle:
“We have six schedules to coordinate and with work, travel, school events, homework, kids’ practices and activities, it is extremely difficult for us to maintain a consistent family dinner routine. When our kids were younger it was easier as most of their activities were over by 6:00 PM but now many of them are just beginning at that time or later, so it seems like someone is always missing. We try to make dinner happen as often as possible but breakfast, although often a bit rushed, is sometimes the best we can do. I’m appreciative of whatever time we can be together to connect over a meal because I love the opportunity for us to share and support each other and the kids always learn a lot (and on a good day laugh a lot) from hearing each others experiences. Shared mealtimes enhance our bond as a family.”
On a personal note, I had the blessing of having a family meal about 90% of the time, growing up in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan with my 2 older brothers and older sister. Our sport practices ended at a reasonable hour, none of us played on travel teams, and life was a lot simpler. No radio, no television, no cell phones…and there was no hiding! If anything was going in our hearts and minds, it was clearly exposed to our parents, and they could easily take our daily pulse for both the good and bad elements. My mom and dad would bring up interesting topics to discuss, and we would get feedback on our personal struggles or decisions. If the discussion ever got a little heated, my sister and mom were really good to lower the temperature with a joke or a funny face…and without a doubt it brought all of us really close together, and kept us informed about each other’s lives.
Anne Fishel, a professor at Harvard Medical School, wrote this piece for the Washington Post on January 12, 2015: “20 years of research in North America, Europe and Australia back up my enthusiasm for family dinners. It turns out that sitting down for a nightly meal is great for the brain, the body and the spirit. Adolescents who ate family meals five to seven times a week were twice as likely to get A’s in school as those who ate dinner with their families fewer than two times a week…young adults who ate regular family meals as teens are less likely to be obese and more likely to eat healthily once they live on their own.” It can also be a enriching spiritual experience, as I know families that will discuss the life of a Saint over dinner, or talk about meaning of life issues or answer deeper questions that their kids may have on God or the Catholic Faith.
I currently live in Rye, New York with 9 other really busy priests. We all agreed a few years ago that we need to commit to some shared meal time, to help us live religious life authentically and to give an example to the busy families whom we serve. Breakfast made the most sense, so thanks to one of our generous priests, Fr. Steven Reilly, we are able to enjoy a hearty bowl of Quaker Oatmeal, hard boiled eggs and a tub of yogurt each morning at 8 am. The conversations are funny, lively and edifying, and our community has come together in a deeper way since the institution of this healthy practice. Like many of you, we are all extremely busy, going to NYC, parishes and other ministries up to two hours away…but we try to protect this time, and it has really been paying off!
Please, have this discussion with your entire family to see what you can make work…in the words of St. John Paul II, “The future of the world and the Church passes through the family”, and family meals with prayer is an essential component to building this “dream team” for God!