Gus is back live for the first time since leaving for the Holy Land on Thanksgiving Day. He talks about a few of the highlights and the reason he goes back there every single year and clears up some of the misconceptions concerning safety in the Holy Land. If you watch the news, you'll think all that's going on there is missile attacks and bombings, which is unequivocally untrue.
Also, Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen was set to be beatified on Saturday, December 21st but through the intercession of several bishops, it has been postponed over the NY State Attorney General' Letitia James' investigation into clergy sex abuse in her state over the last 100 years. Although Sheen is not, nor has ever been, accused of clergy sex abuse, through six degrees of separation, priests under his charge have been. Gus talks thoroughly about what's going on and talks with listeners about it.
Later, Gus talks about a controversial Nativity scene at Claremont United Methodist Church in Claremont, California, which depicts Jesus, Mary and Joseph as refugees separated in cages. This church annually uses its Nativity scene to tackle social justice issues and is catching a lot of attention over this one. Gus gives his thoughts on the whole matter and gets reaction from listeners.
Dear Gus,
I have high regard for Venerable Fulton Sheen. A couple months before his death, he was asked who it was that inspired him. I think some were surprised to find out that it was a young Chinese girl, age 11.
She had witnessed the Communists arrest her priest and lock him up in his own house. The priest could see through a window what was happening inside the church.
The Communists broke into the tabernacle, and threw the ciborium and thirty-two hosts onto the floor.
The girl made a holy hour of prayer, then knelt down, bent over and received a host onto her tongue. She continued to enter the church each day, made a holy hour of prayer, and received Jesus in the Holy Eucharist from the floor. When she received the last host, she accidentally made a noise, was caught and killed. Faith overcame fear!
Bishop Sheen was so impressed with her courage and love for the Holy Eucharist, he decided to make a Holy Hour of prayer every day.
If we could overcome our fears with faith, what great acts of love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament could we do? Few of us will ever be in the position of this 11 year old Chinese girl.
We are called to believe in His true Presence in the Holy Eucharist. This seems to be too much to ask for some.
This Advent, I hope we will be able to really believe that what we are seeing in a consecrated Host is the Baby Jesus. May we experience a real birth of faith in ourselves.
Faith overcomes fear! FAITH IS NOT WAITING TO SEE THE RESULTS OF SOMETHING! Faith is a great virtue.
We will have to wait for Venerable Fulton Sheen to be elevated to Blessed.
His inspiration was a heroic 11 year old Chinese girl.
I once heard that Bishop Sheen was found dead, kneeling in front to the Holy Eucharist.
We all need to do Holy Hours of prayer in front of the Holy Eucharist.
Sincerely, Steve Schneider