Gratitude for virtual prayer series

The “Praying with Scripture Series” provided by the archdiocese was so very well done, timely and helpful! I want to thank all those who participated in preparing the series for us. The talks by Archbishop Hebda and Bishop Cozzens were some of the best I have heard on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius — easy to understand and insightful. I also want to offer that one of the most powerful ways to pray with Scripture in this way was not highlighted: Entering into the Scripture to know the person, the personality, the heart of Jesus. While it is good to look for direction, lessons, morals in Scripture (what I should do or what it means), praying with Scripture this way also opens the door to know the person of Jesus. And, the more we know someone, the more we can love them. This is true with our friendship with Jesus. When entering into a scriptural scene, try asking Jesus personal questions. It has been stunning to me to receive direct and immediate answers to questions like, “Lord Jesus, what emotions were you experiencing?” or “Lord, why did you do that?” Many times the answers were not at all what I expected and helped me know him better. He wants to reveal himself to us — and help our friendship to grow. And when he reveals himself so completely, it helps me to be more honest and open with him. I recommend the “Praying with Scripture Series” and I recommend asking these types of questions during your conversation with Jesus.

Paul Putzier
Cathedral of St. Paul, St. Paul

Spiritual emergency

Father Thomas Margevicius recently sent the Liturgical Calendar 2020-21 to the priests of the archdiocese. In it he writes: “Pastors are welcomed to make use of the still-current permission to offer General Absolution during Advent.” This is certainly a proper response to the COVID-19 virus. Physical emergency is easy to identify. Spiritual emergency is more difficult to quantify. As a Church we are called to consider both physical and spiritual needs of our parish communities. Pew Research Center published in 2015 the results of their findings on confession practice: 43% say they go to confession at least once a year; 28% never go; 29% are between the two extremes. If this is not a spiritual emergency, then what is? Is it too much to ask to have an open discussion on this topic?

Father John Malone
Retired priest of the archdiocese

Eucharistic healing

Bishop Cozzens’ column on the healing power of the Eucharist (“The need for healing,” June 25) is welcome during this time of COVID crisis and the need for each of us to take responsibility for ourselves and others by physically distancing and wearing our masks. However, can the wounds of white privilege and systemic racism be healed without addressing these sins and their causes? No. Please, bishops, speak out boldly! Call upon the Holy Spirit! Follow the promptings of Pope Francis! Help us to speak and act in ways that challenge social injustice and sinful acquiescence in our own white privilege. Only then will Eucharist provide genuine healing for all persons created in God’s image and likeness.

Anne Klejment
Lumen Christi, St. Paul

Taking encyclical to heart

Thank you for publishing about Pope Frances’ latest encyclical, “Fratelli tutti”! I’m glad it made the front page (“Belief in God as creator of all has practical consequences, pope says,” Oct. 9)! It would have been powerful had it been printed in its entirety! I wonder the impact in our archdiocese on upcoming elections, on addressing racial injustices, and on our divided communities if we individually and collectively took an honest look at our neighbor both in the geographic sense and spiritual sense! It’s good to have a clear reminder of the importance of human love and relating to our neighbor/s despite the inconvenient, uncomfortable and often messy ways that true encounters occur, as the profound Good Samaritan story demonstrates.

MaryAnn de Ruiter
Ascension, Minneapolis

Honoring aborted babies

Four score and eight years ago, my earthly journey began. My letters to honor God’s preborn children are self-serving. Upon my passing, I hope my escort to the throne will be a multitude of the 60 million mutilated martyred unborn, baptized in blood, angelic cherubs.

Everett C. Dehmer
Cathedral of St. Paul, St. Paul

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