Another year has flown by and another Christmas has passed. The excitement that spread while we decorated, baked, entertained and shopped has vanished into the frigid wind. As we plunge into January, we put away the decorations and the world suddenly seems a little darker. We return to the normal unexciting routine.

It becomes a challenge for the catechist to find inspiration from January to March. We leave our homes in the dark and return after the sun has set. Some of us may feel a bit melancholy. As I taught my class in this first week of the year, the students could not seem to get the dust out of their eyes. Their exhausted bodies resisted any kind of real thinking. They trudged on through the week and moaned every time I mentioned the word “homework.” The bleakest days of winter can consume the most faithful souls with doubt. I know exactly how they feel. During this time of the year, I quickly grow tired of the sound of my own voice. I often wonder if I am making any sense. I do anything to put some energy into my lessons.

Whether you teach religion full-time or volunteer at your parish religious education program, the battle against the culture never ends. The media piles the garbage higher than ever in these days when we are left with little else to do than watch television. We are told about the latest celebrity to enter rehab; how the New York City Mayor’s office sent out pamphlets on how to “safely” prepare heroin; the music superstar who accepted an award while intoxicated. The lunacy snowballs as the days proceed. Our students are rendered blind and deaf to the message of Jesus Christ. Dysfunction has become the new “normal”. People who find consolation in God are left in the cold. Pope John Paul II spoke to educators and students in a homily on September 10, 2000 about our obligation:

“As scholars and teachers who have opened your hearts to Christ, your vocation is that of living and bearing witness in an effective way to this relationship between the individual branches of knowledge and that supreme “knowledge” which concerns God, and which in a sense coincides with him, with his Word made flesh and with the Spirit of truth given by him.”

His words are easy to forget this time of year. It is difficult to teach the faith when we are not inspired. We forget why we initially came to the noble profession. Even though you may be tired, these are not the days to rest. As you enter your classroom, demonstrate Christ to your students. Illuminate their ever-darkening world with His light. Do not be afraid to bear His witness in the heart of the storm. As Jesus said to the deaf mute “Ephphatha, be opened!” (Mk 7:34) We must awaken our students to His truth. They have been sucked in by a culture that is not willing to let them go. Remember that the Truth will set them free! Stay strong and draw your power from the Master Teacher.

The Catholic Church will implement the new translation of the Roman Missal in the United States on Sunday, November 27, 2011. Many parishes have started to prepare their flock by publishing inserts in their weekly bulletins and introducing people to the new musical Mass settings.

Some Catholics bemoan the changes claiming that they are not interested learning the new responses. To these people, the old translation of the Mass is comfortable. They can rattle off the responses in their sleep. Learning the new Missal will require a certain effort that may not have been present for many years in the veteran worshiper.

Pope Benedict XVI understands the human hesitation to change. He recently stated:

“I pray that in this way any risk of confusion or bewilderment will be averted, and the change will serve instead as a springboard for a renewal and a deepening of Eucharistic devotion all over the English-speaking world.”

The change in the Mass presents the Church with many challenges but at the same time offer the catechist a wonderful opportunity to reintroduce his or her students to the glory of the Eucharistic celebration. It is no secret that those who know the Mass often respond without mediating on the beauty of its language. The lessons on the new translation should delve into the scriptural origins of the Mass. We must show our students how and why our liturgy has evolved.

One example of the new translation changes our response as we prepare ourselves for the reception of Holy Communion. As the gentile centurion who did not feel privileged enough to have Christ enter his home addressed Jesus, we too will state:

Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.

This new translation exemplifies how our new responses will be more faithful to our scriptural roots.

Many of the changes are simple and modify only a few words from what we may be accustomed. However, the more subtle the change, the more we can be confused. Use a resource that explains the reason for the changes. I recommend A Guide to the New Translation of the Mass Booklet by Edward Sri (Ascension Press). It is a straight forward guide that provides the reader with a tear out reference sheet to take to Mass.

Your enthusiasm will be the key to selling your students on the new Mass. Demonstrate your passion for the liturgy and your willingness to adapt to change. The youngest generation needs to discover the “source and summit” of our faith. Enkindle their love of Christ in the Eucharist as we awaken our Latin roots. Open their hearts and minds to the words of Christ and allow Him to speak to them in a way that will change them forever.

Every April, I present Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body to my senior classes. The beloved Pope’s teaching on sexuality is perhaps one of the Church’s best kept secrets. I ask the students to mention our current topic to their parents and most return to class explaining that their parents have never heard of the Theology of The Body. But the parents are the least of my problems. I must first sell this teaching of the Church to the students in my class.

Most young people understand and can explain what the Church teaches, but following the teaching becomes a different matter. Society and the media have sculpted its citizens to follow their instincts rather that the Law of the Gift. Karol Wojtyla defined the Law of the Gift as “Man, who is the only creature on earth which God willed for itself, can fully find himself only through a sincere gift of himself.” Most people live by the philosophy “If it’s available, I should take all that I can.” We seldom think about the long-term consequences in the world of instant gratification.

Most members of the younger generation rely on physical attraction as they enter each relationship. This sounds normal at first until we realize that they prefer to delve into sexual intimacy before truly coming to know his or her partner. The “hook up” culture has made sexual encounters available at the very beginning of the relationship. They refuse to make commitments until after they have past the point of no return. I recently documented the new dating ritual in my book, The Complete Christian:

“Dating has evolved through the years and it is interesting to see how young people approach this process. My students explain the steps of dating as:

1. Talking to him or her. Two people test the “waters”. They establish a comfort zone between each other. They text one another and write to each other via the computer. This becomes a period of getting to know a person before there is any discussion of going out together.
2. Hooking up. This is a purely physical stage of the relationship. The two people are not exclusively in a relationship at this point. During this part of the relationship a person decides whether they are sufficiently attracted to the person.
3. Being together. The couple does various activities with each other as they enter an exclusive relationship. Although “together”, this stage allows each of the partners to exit the relationship when they feel it is time to move on.
4. Dating (Going Out). Both people have committed to the relationship. They have reached an “official” exclusiveness in this stage. The world now knows that they are a couple.

The dating ritual of young people today demonstrates their fear of getting hurt. We ease into our relationships because we worry about rejection. Failure to take risks in our relationships can paralyze us.” (The Complete Christian, Basile, St. Paul’s /Alba House

Unfortunately, one of the greatest gifts that God gives us is distorted by many young people because of his or her pursuit of instant gratification or an attempt at shielding themselves from loneliness. His or her sexuality, which should be an incredible exclusive gift to be unwrapped by a future spouse, has been given freely away to basic strangers.

The chastity talk should begin during the grammar school years. Use any opportunity you can to demonstrate the pitfalls of sexual recreation. Teach your students about the boundaries that he or she needs to establish, before an embrace or other passionate moment tempts him or her to squander the gift of their sexuality. Unveil the body as a beautiful gift.

 

In the age of materialism, Christians often hear how we need to avoid the pitfalls of the consumer driven world.  Commercials on television lure the viewer to purchase items that we do not really need.  We work endless hours so that we can spend and our unbridled spending causes us to toil even harder. Another “holiday season” has commenced and we once again have embarked on another month long spending spree in order to satisfy our shopping lists for Christmas.

In class this week, my lessons focused on Chapter Six in George Weigel’s, Letters To A Young Catholic. In this chapter, Weigel utilizes the favorite pub of G.K. Chesterton, The Old Cheshire Cheese in London.  When I show my students a picture of the rotund Chesterton, they understand why Weigel chose this Catholic writer to illustrate the sacramental imagination. The sacramental imagination is defined by Weigel as “the core Catholic conviction that God saves and sanctifies humanity through the materials of this world.” G.K. Chesterton’s enjoyment of earthy pleasure is clearly evident.  Chesterton believed that God could be found not only in church, but also in his favorite pub, in the company of good friends and in the pleasure of fine food. As Chesterton sat at the Old Cheshire Cheese, his favorite port only enhanced the conversations with friends and colleagues. A sizzling steak made his company even more glorious.

The premise of the sacramental imagination seems to contradict the Christian concern of being consumed by the unhealthy attraction to material possessions. Weigel and Chesterton both want us to utilize ordinary, earthly things to find communion with God and others. As we celebrate Christmas, all of us exert a lot of energy during an exhausting time of year.  We do not seem to mind preparing a meal for several hours that takes only minutes to eat.  The laughter at the table, the stories of days gone by and appreciating time with the people we adore eases the aches and pains of peeling turnip, apples and potatoes.

Catholics are sacramental people. The outward signs of inward grace nourish our lives. Advent and Christmas become the perfect time to celebrate the sacramental imagination. The meals enjoyed during these times take on a whole new meaning when we focus on their importance. Jesus is constantly depicted at the dinner table during His ministry. The profound speeches were not reserved for the temple or in the midst of the crowds.  His best sermons mesmerized the people seated across from Him.  A simple meal disarmed those hostile and resistant to His message.

If we were to receive any advice on how to get the most out of this time of year, Jesus would remind us to direct our attention to the people around us. This special time of year can help us recapture the magic of our relationships:

• A ten-minute phone call can rekindle a bond that has been lost but not forgotten.
• Ringing the bell of a neighbor can break down the walls of loneliness.
• A spontaneous invitation can make an outsider feel included.
• A simple compliment can heal the scars caused by the careless words of others.

During the frenzy of December, we can inject the spirit of Jesus Christ into all of our activities. We may demonstrate Christ in the chaos of the crowded mall, in the kitchen and selecting our Christmas tree. But no matter what we do, we must integrate the love Jesus into every action in order to truly experience the joy of Christmas. Just like the Incarnation, Christmas must become an other-centered event. God was certainly not focusing on Himself when He became one of us.

Use every moment and gesture to teach during this season of grace. Show others the presence of Christ in your decorating, entertaining, wrapping, baking and shopping. The material things of the world can and will bring you and your loved ones into communion with God when used in the proper way.  Infuse your celebration with His love.

May you and your families experience the profound joy given to the world by the Babe in Bethlehem. Have a Blessed Advent and Merry Christmas!

Alex

 

I often refer to this passage of the Last Judgment with my students. They have so many questions about heaven that it only seems natural to look at what Jesus Himself had to say about our encounter with Him after we die:

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?

When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’ And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’ Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.’

Then they will answer and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?’ He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.’ And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

The average person has difficulty in seeing Christ in others. This can be true for teachers. We enter the classroom with our lesson plans, quizzes and stacks of paper to grade. We equate classroom management and discipline with comprehensive moral guidance. We often forget the main objective of teaching: bringing our students to heaven. Teaching young people about eternal happiness and fulfillment takes diligence. This honor comes with tremendous responsibility.

For this reflection, we must place ourselves in the bull’s eye of Christ’s questions. Imagine the last judgment as if Jesus spoke directly to each teacher.

When your students were hungry for something more than the world could provide, did you nourish them with the comfort of faith?

Did you fill his or her soul with the good news of the Kingdom of Heaven? How often did you bring these young people to receive the Bread from Heaven and sit with me in Adoration?

Did you show your students the moral path when they thirsted for righteousness? Did you illuminate their lives with truth in a world of relativism and darkness?

Did you, a stranger help the lonely and lost souls feel welcome and connect with others?

When the young people in your midst were stripped of their dignity because of their impulsive selfishness did you clothe them with my love?

When your students were left exposed did you cover them with dignity and the hope of conversion?

Christ, the teacher, puts a heavy burden on the shoulders of every teacher. How are you faring under the load? Are you worried about grades or souls? Next time the nuts and bolts of teaching distract you from our precious goal, reflect on what Jesus demands of you. Efficiency in the classroom will be judged on far more than the timeliness of graded papers and the average of your last test.

When you create you next lesson plan, think about how you can lead the young people in your class on the path to heaven.

Last week, the publisher at Saint Paul’s/Alba House informed me that my latest book The Complete Christian would be released at any time. I took a few moments to reflect on the goals of this project.

I hope that The Complete Christian will help readers reflect on how to merge the message of Jesus Christ into everyday living. Too often, I read the Facebook entries of former students, colleagues and friends and scratch my head in wonder of what is going on in their lives. With the new world technology, we can post our up to date events activities and thoughts. In one such post, a young college student explained how she enjoyed her most recent sexual tryst. No apologies, no regret. This young woman belongs to a family where Sunday church attendance was always expected as a high school student. Her newfound freedom that college has provided has obviously exposed her intentions.

I consciously overuse Pope John Paul II’s quote on freedom. The great pope wrote, “Freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought.” As followers of Christ, we are called to fully digest the message of the Kingdom. “Loving our neighbors as ourselves” is a fulltime commitment. Many Christians assume we can flip a switch and “turn on” the Christian life style when the situation arises.

I moderate the senior retreat program each autumn at Kellenberg. Attending ten retreats, I have the opportunity to meet many wonderful young people. In one discussion I ask my young friends, “What will your faith life be like in ten years” and includes, “Will you attend church regularly?” I am always amazed when they shrug and say that they don’t know. The students fail to recognize that the biggest obstacle to faith is our own selfish will.

Being a complete Christian requires diligence and hard work. Every devout Catholic has experienced “Sunday fatigue” when attending Mass is true effort. Our desire to personally receive our Lord in the Eucharist provides the strength to go to Him. Living a Christ-centered existence can be nearly impossible as our culture lures us to the dark side. I remind my students that the lack of faith of Nicodemus (John 3:2) and betrayal of Judas (John 13:30) lead them to the skulk around in the darkness.

Christ urges His followers to walk in the light and illuminate others. The catechist has the awesome responsibility of transforming young people into complete Christians. Teach them about the importance of vocation. Push them to hear the voice of Christ in their hearts. Show them the importance of finding Jesus and being Him as well. The secret of our most impressionable lessons may lie within the person in front of the classroom. Tell them why Christ is important to you and why you stand before them. As we settle into this school year, push your students to get out of their own way and find Christ who waits constantly for their arrival home.

The newly beatified John Henry Newman gave the world an incredible meditation of Christian living. Share it with your students in your efforts to make them a complete Christian:

God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me, which He has not committed to another.

I have my mission. I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next.

I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons.

He has not created me for naught. I shall do good;I shall do His work. I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it if I do but keep His commandments.

Therefore, I will trust Him, whatever I am, I can never be thrown away.

If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him, in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him. If I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him.

He does nothing in vain. He knows what He is about. He may take away my friends.

He may throw me among strangers. He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide my future from me. Still, He knows what He is about.

Teachers love the classroom. It is the place where we thrive. It is the arena filled with the exhilaration of a lesson well taught. The classroom is our home away from home. The classroom can become the center of our universe. It is where we literally stand as the bridge to a whole new world for our students.

Sometimes we can grow too attached to the classroom. We miss the grand stage of knowledge as we drift into summer vacation. I have often heard colleagues rationalize, “Once you hit the Fourth of July, the summer is almost over” and “The summer is way too long.” Independence Day often marks less than the two-week point of summer vacation for teachers and students. Statements like this have left me scratching my head and drawing the conclusion that this teacher is attempting to wish the rest of the summer away.

We all know how draining teaching young people can be. Summer should be the teacher’s secret weapon. Time away from students and the classroom can be spent recharging our batteries that power the body and soul. Jesus, the ultimate teacher, would withdraw with His apostles after spending many hours intensely teaching enormous crowds. Our Lord understood that in order to be a more effective teacher, he had to spend quality time with his friends and family.

Our classroom relationships should be an extension of our personal relationships outside the classroom. The peace, tranquility and fulfillment that is cultivated through spending quality time with the ones we love the most can transform us and in turn, inspire us in the classroom.

Summer enables the teacher to catch up on the long list of things that have been put on hold throughout the year. I have been no stranger to the summer practice of painting and wallpapering our home. There never seems to be enough time during the school year to accomplish our home improvement projects. We often neglect the people in our lives as we attempt to check another item off of our endless “to-do” lists. No matter how much time we spend with our family and friends, we can always use more time to fortify these bonds.

In my latest book, The Complete Christian (due out later this year), I dedicate a full chapter to the importance of traveling with family and friends. Vacations can be stressful, so stressful in fact that some people would rather forego the experience. Long hours cramped in a car with children can rattle the calmest of people. The endless lines at the airport waiting to clear security or customs may make us wish that we never left the shelter of our humble abode. The money used on a vacation could often be used to fix an item around the house that has been neglected for way too long.

Vacations can be magical. They provide moments that families will talk about for years to come. The immersion into another culture and language can be a transforming experience. Moving outside of our comfort zone can create a priceless event.

In these summer days, pack up the family and head out for new adventure. Go where you have never traveled before. Seek the unknown and carve new paths down untraveled roads. Break up the monotony with a visit to an unknown destination. Invest in your relationships by choosing a vacation that will benefit your family forever. The rest and relaxation in these summer months will provide the buffer in the hectic days of the school year ahead.

Have a peaceful summer!

The Sacramental Shuffle

When you look at your calendar in the next few weeks, it is a good bet that there will be a first Holy Communion, Confirmation or wedding to attend. These sacraments are an integral part of every May. I was recently asked by my niece, Rose, to act as her sponsor for Confirmation. Being her Godfather, I was excited to assume this honor as well.

As the Religion Department Chairman at Kellenberg Memorial High School, I also oversee the religious instruction of our teachers in the Brother Joseph Fox Latin School. Each year, I send out dozens of letters from my office to local parishes alerting them to the requirements that our students have fulfilled here at school. Every student in grades 6 through 10, attend a retreat with their respective homeroom once a year. Our students also complete several projects in their preparation for the sacrament of Confirmation.

Recently a band of parents called my office insisting that I be more forceful with the parish and even with those in the diocesan offices. They wanted me to explain that since our students had already undergone sufficient training and participated in various service projects, the parish requirements would be excessive. I understood their reaction, but I urged the parents to participate in the parish activities as well. You can never have too much exposure to the spiritual dimension.

So the tug of war begins. It is natural that parishes want their members to come together for their own retreats, meetings, practices and service activities. They want people to come together as a community and experience the sacraments as the Body of Christ. But at the same time, we must compete with the demands of the frenzied teenage world. Those preparing for the sacraments begrudgingly sit before us as we attempt to prepare them for Communion, Confirmation and even Marriage. They constantly glance towards the clock wondering when their time of “penance” is over.

Each year, catechists in all aspects of Christian instruction are dealing with more and more “unChurched” Catholics. Regular attendance at Mass is far from a priority. Religious Ed, Pre Cana and even religion class in parochial school are perceived as unnecessary burdens. They try to avoid these at all costs.

The glory and pageantry of the sacraments draws the Catholic from his or her spiritual hibernation. People love the frills that accompany these events. Parents and grandparents reminisce about their own special day many years ago. Others spare no expense in celebrating these days.

When I accompanied Rose to the meeting for Confirmation, it was not unusual that people from various levels of faith development were in attendance. The sacraments offer the catechist a unique opportunity to hook the occasional Christian into regular Catholic practice. How do we use this time to bring people back to the Church on a regular basis?

It is a common practice to have students write reflections about the Gospel or homily and also have the church bulletin signed by a parish priest. We want to make sure that those preparing for the sacrament attend Mass. But do we want to employ as I call it “the tyranny of faith?” Children will never eat their vegetables on their own, but the creative parent makes the vegetables on the plate look and taste more appealing. The notion of going to Mass occurs long before dawn on Sunday morning. Be practical and down to earth every time you meet with the candidates for the sacrament. Meet them at their level. An unfocused, two-hour program can make anyone doubt why he or she has bothered to waste their time.

Show them the glory of the Eucharist. Bring them to Adoration. Let Jesus do most of the talking. Like the sacraments, Catholic faith has so many beautiful traditions. Incorporate them into your program. Jesus made each encounter a social experience. He sat around a table and addressed real issues. Make your sacramental preparation a special time that the candidates will remember forever along with their special day when they receive the sacrament.

“The Sacramental Shuffle” is walking the fine line between dynamic evangelization and catechetical force-feeding. Gently lean on those who come before you. Push them into the realm of personal practice. Offer the invitation to come before Christ each Sunday for the rest of their lives. Show them what they are missing: true joy in a relationship with Christ.

 

With the fluctuations in temperature, the body cannot seem to find its rhythm in the early days of spring. I look in the mirror and long for the warmth of the sun to put a bit of color on the tired face staring back at me. At Kellenberg, we administer trimester exams before the Easter break. As I proctored exams during the last week, I pondered a topic for this column. “A column?” I asked myself. “ How can you put together two coherent thoughts when you have trouble remembering your name, Alex,” I admonished myself.

When you saw the title of the column, you may have been tempted to reach for your ruler. There are times when corporal punishment may be tempting, but that is not what I am talking about. I thought it would be appropriate to write about the positive affects of pain during this Holy Week.

A good teacher causes pain in the lives of their students. Growth is a difficult process. Many of the young people in our classes would rather remain in the cocoon of apathy. “No interest, no opinion, no problems” may be the mantra of some students. The slumped bodies hiding in the shelter of the classroom desk wait for the days to slip away.

Faith is an invitation that many find too inconvenient to pursue. “I am way too busy on the weekends to think about church,” rationalize many of my scholars. A Sunday morning underneath the covers presents a more attractive alternative to Mass. A friend recently joined a conversation about the Church’s teaching about how missing Mass is a mortal sin. When one member of the group explained how Vatican II clarified this teaching, my friend sarcastically questioned whether more people were banished to hell after the Church defined this matter. Excuses come in all shapes and sizes. These days the press is full of people taking cheap shots at a Church because it is easier to criticize than embrace the conversion process.

My friend illustrated a major problem in the world today: relativism. We avoid the pain of this world by inventing our own rules to the game of life. The teacher’s obligation in the classroom is to assist his or her students in facing the discomfort that shapes us as human beings.

I had these lyrics playing in my head as I sat down to write this column:

Don’t give up ’till it’s over

Don’t quit, if you can

The weight of your shoulder

Will make you a stronger man.

Life is incomplete without difficulty. Many young people don’t quit, because they never begin trying. Our students see homework, papers, projects and other simple obligations as exercises in futility. They fail to realize that teachers are attempting to expand their minds and hearts through every experience in and out of the classroom.

As my students sat through their trimester exams, many had a desperate look on their faces as if to ask, “Why are you torturing me?” When preparing for the impending exams, several students asked if I had a copy of one of the books that were covered during the trimester. When I questioned what had happened to his or her copy, they told me that they had thrown the book in the garbage because “they were done with the book.” Many students totally miss the point of education.

Our students must discern between their perceived duties and the glorious possibility into which they have been invited. The simple word “yes” can cause pain and discomfort. Ask Mary what this word did to her. Faith costs. Our Blessed Mother did not jump for joy when the prophet Simeon told her, “A sword will pierce your heart.” But the wonder of Easter could never have occurred without her heartbreak at the foot of the cross.

Each day with your students should not be all sunshine and flowers. Our experiences with our students can literally be a pain. There are many days when we feel as if we will “let things slide,” but the distress caused by the time with our students can lead to incredible change.

Being that I am not only a citizen of the United States but Ireland as well, those who know me best may expect a column about good Saint Patrick during this week of the “wearing of the green.” I have been playing music around the tri-state area for the month of March with my band, The Irish Mist (www.theirishmist.net), so I have certainly had my fill of corned beef, cabbage and Irish tunes. So as I sat down to write this article, I thought I would take this column in a different direction.

Lately, I have been renovating my attic. My dad is always a steady presence during my home-improvement projects. He offers not only his expertise but his spiritual advice as well. I seem to approach each project with the same attitude. I think to myself, “How soon can I finish this project?” My father quickly pulls me back to reality. He speaks with the patience of the true carpenter who knows the importance of planning and contemplating your next move.

I slapped on my goggles, facemask and gloves as I prepared to insulate the rafters of the attic. In the best of circumstances you can imagine how difficult it is to work with gear that obstructs your view. As I muttered under and over my breath, my father calmly reminded me that I should not allow my frustration to get the best of me. Even though the sagging insulation tried to prove the contrary, his voice became a prayer to this weary worker.

As my back ached and the years of dust in my attic consumed me, I couldn’t help but ponder the relationship of a master carpenter and his young son in Nazareth. The mature Joseph must have spent many days tutoring young Jesus in the carpenter’s shop. During the most frustrating times, Joseph would guide the apprentice. Joseph knew the pain of the splinters. He felt the cuts from the lack of concentration. He lived through the hottest days, when the midday sun scorched the back of his neck.

I am sure that Joseph used these quiet moments to teach his son some of life’s most important lessons. Joseph had no idea what lay ahead for Jesus, but he knew from experience that God had a special plan for him. The carpenter’s shop would provide the opportunity for unique father-and-son time. Because God had emptied Himself and took human form, the young Jesus thirsted for wisdom as every other young person. I am sure Jesus studied the face of his foster father as he practiced his craft. The solace of the master carpenter surely could have been on the mind of Jesus in Gethsemane and on Calvary. Saint Joseph played an important role in molding his young heart and mind. But like all teachers, we may never see the results of our best lessons.

With the Feast day of Saint Joseph in sight, we should remember that a good teacher takes advantage of every moment to enlighten his or her students. Even though we possess much more knowledge than our pupils, we must approach them as the carpenter takes each raw piece of wood in his hands. We, too, can build them into something beautiful to behold.

We have experienced the same frustrations that our students experience. We can demonstrate how to survive the most trying of times. Exhibit patience and love as your students make mistakes. Demonstrate the skill of the master carpenter with passion and grace. Anything worth building takes time to complete.

As we move through the final weeks of Lent, look to Saint Joseph not only as a craftsman of wood but as a teacher of the greatest teacher of all. You will be a true success when your students go beyond your highest expectations. Pray to Saint Joseph for wisdom and strength in your moments of frustration.

Oh, St. Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God. I place in you all my interests and desires. Oh, St. Joseph, please assist me by your powerful intercession, and obtain for me from your Divine Son all spiritual blessings, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. So that, having engaged here below your heavenly power, I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of Fathers.

Oh, St. Joseph, I never weary of contemplating you, and Jesus asleep in your arms; I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His fine head for me and ask him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath. St. Joseph, Patron of departing souls – Pray for me.