Christ the King Catholic Church

Due to the current health circumstances, we are all facing, public services are now open with limited seating and health and safety precautions and protocols in place.  Thank you so much for your individual and group cooperation and patience.   
Public Mass:  Limited and Live Streamed.     Welcome!

Fr. Philip Schmitter will be celebrating (Live Streaming) all Masses on his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/philip.schmitter.3
Facebook link on header-top of our website ~ right edge

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BISHOP BOYEA'S FRIDAY MEMO

Keep in touch with Bishop Boyea and the Diocese of Lansing at:
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Online 

Friday, October 23, 2020
Feast of Saint John of Capistrano

 
 
Dear Friend,

To live a virtuous life has always been the aim of human beings. As Saint Gregory of Nyssa said in the 4^th century: “The goal of a virtuous life is to become like God” (Catechism of the Catholic Church #1803).   

What is virtue? Well, a virtue can be defined as a firm and habitual disposition to do good. How to we acquire virtue? By doing a particular good action so often that it become second nature. 

There are three “theological virtues” – faith, hope, and charity – which are infused in us through the Sacrament of Baptism. These have a divine origin. 

Then there are the four “cardinal virtues”: prudence, temperance, fortitude, and justice. These were identified and developed in ancient Greece and Rome and, thus, became a natural basis for the virtues found in Christianity. That’s why they are often also known as the “natural virtues”. They are, or can be, common to all people. They are the human foundation upon which grace can build.

All are necessary, but in these days when a fidelity to Christian orthodoxy can lead to the threat of social persecution and, even, legal penalty allow me focus on the virtue of fortitude.

https://www.uffizi.it/en/artworks/fortitude

Fortitude might be just another word for courage. Yet, this cardinal virtue can be misused. Certainly, this virtue is meant to avoid cowardice. Yet, it is also meant to avoid rashness. That is where the virtue of prudence helps. It is not always good simply to charge ahead.

The natural virtue of fortitude is a habit we develop of asserting ourselves and not letting ourselves be run over. It is a matter of having heart which is the very meaning of courage. It is not just a defensive posture. Sometimes, this courage, this heart calls, us to promote the truth or what is good.

This fortitude when graced by God has a different motivation. At the Last Supper Jesus was preparing his apostles for Good Friday and Jesus’ own death on the cross. Just before leaving for the Garden of Olives, Jesus assured them: “I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world” (John 16:33). We are bold, courageous, filled with fortitude because no enemy is more powerful than the victor of the Cross.

In addition, Jesus has changed the very focus of this virtue. It no longer is about ourselves.  Rather, it is about standing up for God and for others. Jesus rarely stood up for himself but regularly challenged others to worship the Father and to care for the least among us. The real grace of this virtue was spelled out by Jesus at that same Last Supper: “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth…But you know it, because it remains with you, and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you,” (John 14:16-18). We are not alone.

Sisters and brothers, this virtue of fortitude, like the virtue of love itself, is focused on the Other and others. We are able to practice this virtue because we ourselves have been the focus of God’s own love. We are filled with the divine gift of courage. Let us be brave, prudently, in order to think, and say, and do, what God asks of us.

Assuring you of my prayers, I am sincerely yours in Christ,

+ Earl 

Bishop of Lansing

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Watch: On the Path to Priesthood: Deacon Mark Martin of the Diocese of Lansing
explains his journey from Mormonism to Catholicism and onto
the sacred priesthood next year. Deo volente. 

27-year-old Deacon Mark is a parishioner of Saint Anthony in Hillsdale.
He is currently studying at the Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit.
Please do keep him in your prayers in the months to come. Thank you.

https://dioceseoflansing.flocknote.com/note/9322631/video/470007649

Watch: Deployed for Mission: This week parish staff from across the Diocese of Lansing
gathered to prayerfully re-imagine what a Catholic parish could be in the 21st century.
Entitled “Deployed for Mission”, the October 20 event in Brighton
was led by Father John Riccardo of the Archdiocese of Detroit
and a team from his Acts XXIX apostolate.

https://dioceseoflansing.flocknote.com/note/9322631/video/470007651



Watch: Lansing Catholic High School & The Polish Pope: The latest Diocese of Lansing Podcast
features Dominic Iocco, the new President of Lansing Catholic High School,
and Krystyn Schmerbeck, the new Principal of Lansing Catholic High School,
discussing the influence of the school’s patron, Pope Saint John Paul II,
upon their own lives and upon the past, present, and future of the school.

https://dioceseoflansing.flocknote.com/note/9322631/video/470007654


Read: In this month's FAITH Magazine, the official publication of the Diocese of Lansing,
popular Catholic speaker and writer, Pete Burak, offers an antidote to the fears
that can beset our daily lives: Prayer. 

 "We need to pray?" asks Pete, "Yes, it’s no joke, the power we need to live a fully Christian life
(free, joyful, peaceful, fruitful) is tied directly to our time spent with God.
" To find out more about the why and how of prayer, click here.

https://faithmag.com/prayer-offer-jesus-your-fears


    https://faithmag.com/index.php/        Faith Magazine


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