Not the prayer of hypocrites

July 2, 2020

Thus, this is how Jesus introduces the teaching of the “Our Father” prayer. He does so by distancing himself from two groups of his time.

First and foremost, hypocrites: “You must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men” (Mt 6:5).

There are people who are able to compose atheistic prayers, without God, and they do so in order to be admired by people. And how often we see the scandal of those people who go to church and are there all day long, or go every day, and then live by hating others or speaking ill of people. This is a scandal! It is better not to go to church: living this way, as if they were atheists. But if you go to church, live as a child, as a brother or sister, and bear true witness, not a counter-witness.

Christian prayer, however, has no other credible witness than one’s own conscience, where one weaves a most intense dialogue with the Father: “When you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret” (6:6).

Source: Pope Francis’ catecheses on the Lord’s Prayer, given during general audiences between Dec. 5, 2018 and May 22, 2019.

Msgr. Kenneth Schwanger

Our Lady of Lourdes Church

My Dear Family of Our Lady of Lourdes,

Happy 4th of July!

I love that we take the time to celebrate Independence Day on the actual day of the holiday. It speaks to the importance that it holds for us as a country.

The Fourth of July is one of my favorite national holidays. How wonderful that we celebrate ourselves as a nation by calling to mind the Declaration of Independence and the great hope and promise that has always been a part of our nation. Independence Day calls us to share in the dreams and expectations of our forefathers and to live as a nation that expects great things of itself and sees itself as a light guiding others to freedom and self-determination.

Our nation needs us. If the United States of America is to realize its potential for good in the lives of its citizens and in the world at large, it must depend on the goodness and industry of its people. Democracy provides a means for free men and women to live together in a manner that affirms the dignity of each person and helps all to prosper. But we must remember that democracy does not make good men and women. It is good men and women that make a democracy great.

May our Independence Day, then, be more than a day of celebration. May it also be a day of decision. Let us commit ourselves anew to living good and holy lives, to allowing the Lord to form and guide us. And let us also commit ourselves to being good citizens, to being active in civic life so that our nation and the world may benefit from the fruits of a nation realizing its promise.

Happy Independence Day!

Msgr. Schwanger
Pastor