Catherine's Baptism

And Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children...” (Acts 2:38-39)

Melissa and I would like all of you to join us for Mass on Sunday, February 22, 2009 and celebrate the Baptism of our daughter Catherine Siena Guillen. Her baptism is set for 10:00am at Holy Cross Church.

We're both excited for Catherine as she enters into the Sacrament of Baptism. "By baptism we are reborn spiritually." Those are the very words of the Council of Florence. By baptism we enter God's family. It gives us a new birth and makes us children of God. Only by baptism can we enjoy the fullness of life of God's household: the sharing of His table, His healing, His fatherly forgiveness and care (Hahn, Swear to God). Infant Baptism fits the nature of God's love: God loves us before we love him. Also, by baptism all sins and all personal sins are forgiven. As well as original sin inherited from our first parents Adam and Eve. Sin and its consequences disappear when God comes into the soul, just as darkness disappears when the light is turned on. Similarly, when we are baptized we enter into possession of our inheritance immediately. The point to be emphasized, and never to be forgotten, is that we are potentially in heaven the moment we are baptized (Trese, The Faith Explained).

Congratulations Monsignor Daugherty!

Congratulations to Father Scott for receiving the honorary title of Monsignor! It was a special day at St. Mary's Church in Visalia to witness Father Scott along with five other priests from around the valley receive the papal honor of Monsignor, Chaplain to His Holiness. The title of “Monsignor” is a title of distinction given by the Pope to certain priests in the Roman Catholic Church as part of a papal honor recognizing the priest’s service to the Church.

Father Scott was nominated by Bishop John, who then submitted his name to the Holy See. Our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI then conferred the honor onto Father Scott as well as the other wonderful priests in our valley. Congratulations Monsignor Daugherty, and Thank You for your faithful service, self-sacrifice, and devotion. God Bless You!

**Priests who are given papal honors and thus named monsignors are considered to be members of the papal household and thus are listed in the Annuario Pontificio (the papal yearbook).

Holiness

"You shall be holy; for I the Lord your God am holy." - Leviticus 19:2

God expects all of us to strive for holiness, because He is perfect holiness. It is our prime objective in life. Scripture speaks clearly about duties and responsibilities. Throughout the Old and the New Testament we find practical instructions for living in ways that are pleasing to God. These commands may seem harsh and foreign to those who live in a culture preoccupied with rights, privileges, and pleasure, but they are necessary. We must remain obedient to them if we want to grow in holiness. It is in obedience to God's commands that one finds true joy.

Keep the joy of loving god in your heart and share this joy with all you meet, especially your family. Be holy.

Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta (August 26, 1910 - September 5, 1997

St. John Chrysostom on Faith Alone - A.D. 391

"He that believes in the Son has everlasting life" . . "Is it enough, then to believe in the Son," someone will say, "in order to have everlasting life?" By no means! Listen to Christ declare this Himself when He says, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord! Lord!' shall enter into the kingdom of heaven", and the blasphemy against the Spirit is alone sufficient to cast him into hell. But why should I speak of a part of our teaching? For if a man believe rightly in the Father and in the Son and in the Holy Spirit, but does not live rightly, his faith will avail him nothing toward salvation.

[1] St. John Chrysostom. Homilies on the Gospel of John {ca. A.D. 391}. The Faith of the Early Fathers. Volume II. Pg 108. William A. Jurgens