Daily Reflections

“Behold, your mother.” This line summarizes the story of Creation but personalizes it so that we see the ultimate purpose of Creation is to lead us to Redemption. God didn’t have a Plan B when we committed the Original Sin. God’s Plan A was ALWAYS to send His Son to redeem and restore us. He just wanted to be with us, to love us and remain with us forever. This is game changer. Mother Mary is the Mother of the Church because of what happened at the foot of the Cross. The world had fallen into chaos and lies so thoroughly that we literally killed God out of our blindness. Mother Mary endured all of this, only to embrace US as her sons and daughters! Suddenly, the Church becomes the Vessel of the New Creation in its Sacraments and Saints. The glory of God is the human being fully alive, through the salvation of souls. To bring greater or even the greatest glory to God then requires a maximizing approach to sharing the Gospel with as many people as possible in the most gratuitous forms of generosity we can muster in this life. We are all fragile individuals limited by space and time, but through supernatural grace, God can flow through us and become a blessing for all of humanity. We become channels of living water, vessels of the Holy Spirit to bring order, beauty, and light to others through the Blessed Mother. Today is the final day we have reflections for you for the 54-Day Rosary Novena. FRP has a great calling and hope to establish 72 Small Groups throughout the Archdiocese of Louisville and beyond to break open the gifts of the Holy Spirit through Salvation History & JPII’s Theology of the Body. If you are interested in joining, leading, or hosting a small group—please fill out the interest form at this link and become a witness to Hope like JPII. Imitate Mother Mary and St. Joseph to restore the culture by renewing the family. The Days of Creation are finally underway in the Archdiocese of Louisville. Let us be witnesses to God’s awesome power to create and give us the gift of life again in our parishes, our schools, and our families. May God bless you all!

“Let anyone who thirsts come to me and drink. As Scripture says: Rivers of living water will flow from within him who believes in me.” On this day, we begin the Year of Wonder. Yesterday, we entered this Feast on the Vigil of Pentecost with our ArchLou Great Novena Pentecost Pilgrimage. This is in conjunction with the Universal Church’s Jubilee Year of Hope that goes to the end of this year 2025. Hope and Wonder are deeply intertwined. In fact, without hope, we remain in a wilderness starving and thirsting without anything to satisfy or quench us. We feel the pain of despair. We isolate ourselves from one another and fail to ask for help. We remain tormented by the lies of the enemy and feel steeped in the darkness of sin and death. Chaos and confusion reigns in this kind of nothingness. It is a survival of the fittest mentality that gives birth to a world of scarcity, selfishness, and famine. Millions of people today are starving to death, countless people are addicted to pornography or AI generated “companionship”, and the very fabric of society in God’s Plan for marriage and family seems to be under a brutal onslaught of vicious attacks and demonic mockeries. There seems to be no order, no beauty, and no light in people’s hearts today. Such darkness can feel overwhelming and impossible to overcome. Yet, on this day—when the Apostles are huddled in fear of such a brutal world who had just murdered their Savior, that despite His Resurrection, their reluctancy to suffer remained—the Holy Spirit comes. All these days and weeks and novenas of prayer matter. It’s not happy thoughts or platitudinal niceties. Our prayer has been deep, consistent, unwavering, and relentless. Yes, we have been afraid. Yes, we have been reluctant. Yes, we have perhaps fallen into the chaos of sin at times ourselves on this journey with Our Lady. But she was with the Apostles on that fateful day as well to give birth to the Church! She gives birth to each of us as well. We have been formed by her through our prayers each day, and we have become a New Creation. Pentecost is upon us! The Holy Spirit comes to renew the face of the earth and overshadow the chaos of nothingness with profound love, gentleness, and joy. Jesus is laying His hands on those born blind to give us the ability to see as He sees! But before we can truly see, we must allow these hands of Christ to touch us through these long years of transformation in the Archdiocese of Louisville. We must allow this time to permeate our being so we can become channels of this life giving water for others still yet to be born. We must allow the Holy Spirit to overshadow us as Mother Mary did to say like her “Let it be done unto me according to Your Word.” That way, in our lives, and in our beloved Archdiocese of Louisville we can embrace the Year of Wonder as God says to each of us steeped in darkness—LET THERE BE LIGHT. Amen.

You are here. Life is amazing.

It really is, isn’t it? To think that God thought to bring each of us into existence and give us the freedom to enjoy this life is something to really think about deeply. We exist. Our families, our parishes, our whole Archdiocese exists and has existed for nearly as long as the United States itself. That makes this place very rich soil that is simply in need of tending, tilling, and digging into deeply!

Officially kicking off the Year of Wonder is a huge step forward in the deep and rich history of the Archdiocese of Louisville. This is a moment that signals a completely new and unprecedented experience in our 217 year history. We transition from the Year of Invitation to this moment of being made new in the Year of Wonder. We have our first American Pope, and our Archdiocese has just entered a powerful parish planning process that will bring forth some major moments of transformation and renewal. What an opportunity for love, communion, and solidarity to begin growing in our hearts!

Last year’s theme was “Like a Treasure Buried in a Field” where Christ sold everything to buy the treasure within each of us, and now He wants to remake us, our families, and our parishes.

As we enter this Year of Wonder, let us begin reflecting on this endearing passage from Genesis: 

“God looked at everything He had made, and he found it very good.” ~ Genesis 1:31

If the Archdiocese is to be a Garden, then as we visit these pilgrim sites today for the Jubilee of Hope, we must enter into this story of Genesis deeply so as to experience anew the wondrous love of God the Father as He brings forth all of creation just by speaking—“Let there be light!”

From the days of Creation to the story of Adam and Eve and the powerful experience of Noah and the Ark comes forth the depth of conversion that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob experienced that gives us the seed of the Gospel. It is a seed that should give us a chance to pause and marvel at the simplicity and yet complexity of its design.

This world that God gave us is simple and yet complex. The beauty of nature, the peace of stargazing, the silence of listening to God’s creatures should stir within us a curiosity and desire for more. God sees everything He made as very good. Why? How? Is it possible? In a world filled with division, chaos, confusion, violence, and death—could life really be “very good”?  God says it is. Can we? You’re here after all. Life is amazing. Let that sink in. Just sit with that and begin to wonder.

“There are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written.” John ends his Gospel with this profound line that even these words are somehow attempting to respond to! The world is still attempting to understand what Jesus did with every individual moment in His life, and we still cannot fully comprehend it. Yet, I believe it’s because Jesus came for the individual person. Once, when Christopher West was teaching, one of his students approached him and asked him why Jesus chose that particular time in history, that geographic location, that hour to die. Christopher West didn’t have an answer for him, but this student took that question to deep prayer and came back with an answer. Of course, you would think Jesus would choose today with all the technology we have to communicate and see visible proof of his miracles and more. Imagine a photograph or video of the moment Jesus rose from the dead? Think about Lazarus coming out of the tomb! It wouldn’t just be a cinematic moment like the Chosen or the Passion of the Christ, but rather something that is raw and unfiltered. Wouldn’t that have made the most sense?! Instead, this student simply said this: Jesus chose that single moment in time, that location, that culture, that language, that second to die all so that He could save the good thief. As we conclude the year of Invitation today let us reflect deeply on the passage of the year: The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure buried in a field that a man finds and hides again, and then out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. The good thief stole from others and was paying for his crimes. Jesus saw his heart and with the good thief’s repentance, drew him to himself. Jesus found the treasure within the heart of the good thief and sold everything so that he could buy that man’s body and soul from Satan’s clutches. We are all called to repentance and to trust in Divine Mercy. Pray for the Gifts of the Holy Spirit to saturate your being so you too can become conduits of this mercy for others needing redemption and healing. He put you in this world at this particular time for a reason. Who are you called to lead to Jesus?

“When you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted;  but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” There is a reality in our lives that society doesn’t know how to accept. When we get a car and a job, there seems to be an initial experience of euphoria, a sense of freedom to do whatever we want. College life after turning 18 can exacerbate this euphoria depending on who you befriend and where you choose to “party”. That life of “freedom” though can prove itself to be very shallow though and if you resist the process of growing up, you could find yourself surrounded by shallow people seeing sensual pleasures through some of the emptiest experiences just to maintain some kind of euphoric familiarity. But this is not God’s Plan for us! We are made for love yes, but we are also made for responsibility. All of us, myself included, must answer to God for how we choose to live our lives. We can either take people or God’s gifts for granted by being grateful in some shallow externally imposed standard OR we can choose gratitude on a daily basis, even if we don’t feel grateful in the moment. Even if we don’t feel like going somewhere or doing something, we must still choose to love others authentically. We must still choose to sit with God anyway. Perhaps you haven’t spent much time in Adoration recently. Maybe you don’t really understand what it is or why Catholic do it. Yet, if we really believe that Jesus is fully present in the Holy Eucharist, then wouldn’t we want to spend time with Him? This after all is His promise to us, that He would be with us to the end of time, and by sending us the Holy Spirit, we suddenly have the grace to believe even if we don’t see Him. This is what Jesus was saying to St. Peter in that critical moment of reconciliation. Peter, even if you don’t feel like it or see me, you’ve been chosen and called to love as I love. Prepare to suffer as I suffered, to die as I died, so that you may live and love as children of God.

“I wish that where I am they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me” In these final days of the Way of Trust Novena, let us be grateful to God for the grace He has given us. Let us also though sit in Wonder and Awe at what God will continue to do in our lives in these comings weeks, months, and years in the Archdiocese of Louisville and far beyond. Do not forget about the Eucharistic Revival. Do not forget your own testimony, and the deeply layered story of who you are and who Christ longs for you to become. Do not believe the lies of the enemy who are intent on destroying me and you. Cling to Christ the True Vine, and let His Father the Vine Grower strengthen you and prune you. Allow Him to teach you through His Holy Spirit. Let the Holy Spirit come into your life and change you for the better. This isn’t a rite of passage. This isn’t a graduation. Conversion is an always becoming forever in union with Jesus. This requires Divine Mercy as well as Divine Justice. We need His tender heart of compassion when we are steeped in our darkness or despair, but we also need the Lord to get our attention and wake us up with clarity and discipline. To be a disciple of Jesus is not easy, but it is worth it. Prayer is necessary. The Eucharist is indispensable. Confession is a must. And the Blessed Virgin Mary is in the midst of it all, bringing us to her Son through Prayer, through conceiving His Body and Blood in her Womb, and allowing us to enter mystically into her womb through the Confessional to be reformed into another Christ. Keep praying. Never give up. The Holy Spirit is on our doorstep. It’s nearly time.

“They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world. And I consecrate myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth.” The whole purpose of Family Renewal Project – as well as the ArchLou Great Novena – is to share the fullness of the Truth presented in the Gospel of Jesus Christ with others, both in and outside the Church. However, this Truth is shared lovingly, gently, patiently, consistently, persistently, humbly, and intentionally. We are definitely on the Road to Calvary in these reflections, our prayers, our ministries, our events, and our entire mission. It is not easy to share the Church’s Gift of Truth with a world that is hurting so deeply, and yet now couldn’t be a more necessary time to do so! We do not belong here. This world is not our eternal home. We are pilgrims and exiles destined for a different home in Heaven with Jesus forever. Thus, when the world redefines something to be loving or unifying that isn’t, when the world accepts a certain behavior, lifestyle, belief, or decision as healthy or responsible when it isn’t, then we must speak up! God did not create our hearts, minds, bodies, sexuality, souls, or families for confusion, chaos, or death. He made us for a fruitful love that is open to His Plan and trusting in His Providence to help us live it out without fear. We will definitely lose friends on this journey to Jesus. Yet, isn’t this journey the most worthwhile journey we could possibly embark upon?! Living our entire lives for His Plan for Love is the only way we can actually be happy and at peace with our existences! He’s the only One who can help us make sense out of anything, from our relationships to our suffering. As we prepare to be made new in this Pentecost of God’s Wondrous Gift of Light and Truth, can we allow ourselves to be fully immersed in this Truth, to be consecrated in it? Join us on pilgrimage this Saturday as we Kick Off the Year of Wonder and begin this journey together, in prayer and solidarity!

“I glorified you on earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do. Now glorify me, Father, with you, with the glory that I had with you before the world began.” Did you catch that line? Jesus is speaking in His Divinity here to His Father right in front of His disciples just hours before His crucifixion and death! He is speaking as God the Son who was literally there with the Father before the world began. That means, when there was still nothing, before existence itself, the Son was there to bring order, beauty, and light with His Father. In the Man we worship—the Logos, the in-fleshed reality of all logic and meaning—God Himself became human, took on our nature, and brought forth a new Creation in His Resurrection. Suddenly, all the years before His birth and all the years since flow through Him and from Him. HE has now become the center of human history, for even the year 2025, which we live in today, is marking the years since His entrance into human history with His birth! Now we prepare for 2033, the 2,000th anniversary of His death and resurrection and the birth of His Church at Pentecost. In the 6,000 or so years since the dawn of civilization, we have been longing for renewal and redemption. We have been longing for family renewal and cultural redemption. Is it possible to see our children and grandchildren come back to the Catholic Faith? Is it possible to trust people again so thoroughly we don’t feel like we even have to lock the doors to our cars or homes? Will we ever live in a world again where people see each other rightly, as God always intended? I believe so. But it comes through many years of building one another up through prayer, true communion, and ultimately solidarity. It is a radical trust in the human person as made in God’s image and likeness. It is a rejection of the lies of Satan and the chaos and confusion he stirs and twists in front of us. Eventually, the storm will be calmed, and order will be restored. The Light of the World is coming through the fire of the Holy Spirit. Are you ready for that Genesis moment again? 

“In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.” Jesus has conquered every evil, including death itself! That means, even if we are living out the suffering here on earth in this great delay before eternity, we can trust that death has no longer become an end, but a beginning to the world God always had in store for those who love Him. The world Jesus is referring to is this world, filled with hunger, selfishness, gluttony, disease, greed, bureaucracy, indifference, lust, addiction, abuse, human trafficking, drug cartels, war, and murder. His conquering action though, was to absorb the evil of human sin and the shattering effects it has had on the cosmos and allow it to be nailed to the Cross in His Body and through His Blood. God the Father then took hold of His Son in the Tomb – allowing the death of sin and evil to remain in this world – bringing forth His Son in a glorified resurrection! However, now death and evil no longer have power over those who have been Baptized in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Through the mercy of God, even the baptism of desire through blood or circumstance can transcend the evil of sin and death. If we have a true and pure longing for God in everything we do, regardless of our situation, God has the power to know our hearts and bring us to Him forever. He also gave us the Church to carry on His Mission and make this experience tangible, incarnational, and sacramental so as to give us true peace in this mercy and love from God. He conquered the world by giving us His Church, and through it, we can have certainty that God is real and present with us even now in the Holy Eucharist. Through the time we spend with Him in Adoration and the Mass, we begin to see the world as God sees it: as a paradise waiting for redemption. There is brokenness in this world, but this world is not our home; the earth itself will somehow be caught up in this redemption as well. All of Creation will be made new, and the Gospel itself will become our Way of Life. Praise God!

“As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven. They did him homage and then returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and they were continually in the temple praising Gd.” Today we celebrate the Feast of the Ascension in the United States. This is the moment we’ve been reflecting upon the last few days, and it is the critical moment in which Jesus (God in the Flesh) entered back into Himself right in front of His Apostles. This isn’t rocket ship Jesus, and yet, it was in a certain sense. Jesus definitely ascended bodily into the sky and passed beyond the clouds. For someone who only considers what they can see though, one would expect to have found Jesus sitting on the Moon in 1969 when the astronauts arrived. No, He’s not in orbit in that visible, measurable sense. Rather, He entered into Heaven itself, the realm which transcends beyond space and time, yet contains both! If Jesus IS the Way, the Truth, and the Life, then our desire for Eternal Life in Heaven is the same as our desire for the very essence of who Jesus IS. In His glorified masculine body, we can encounter the sovereign Lord of the Universe who is beyond all things, but we can also encounter a beautiful, attractive, humble, normal, loving person. One day we will be able to physically hug Him and kiss Him. We will be able to hold Him tight and never have to let go. Until then, we must trust that He will come again and help us make sense of everything. We just have to walk from this place of Wonder and Awe and take that joyful gaze we have at the Mystery of the Eucharist into our everyday lives. We must evangelize, but first—before we can truly begin this Great Commission, we must finish our prayers. Before we can officially enter through the gates of this Year of Wonder in the ArchLou Great Novena, we must remain grateful for all God has done so far. We have an American Pope who is a humble missionary for the whole world! Family Renewal Project has continued to grow our team and receive so much support and countless prayers of encouragement! And God has worked miracles in so many people’s lives. Even if He has answered our prayers in ways we didn’t expect, can we remain grateful to Him for the lessons He is teaching us through them? This is the Way of TRUST after all. God is good. All the time.

“At the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed.” The Lord fulfills His promises! The suffering we endure always leads to joy. However, it is critical that we enter into the grief before the Resurrection moments in our lives. We often try to move too quickly from death to resurrection as if there is not a grieving period. There most certainly IS. Jesus wept when Lazarus died before He raised him from the dead. There were 40 hours where Jesus’s dead body lay in the tomb on the brink of possible decay. And yet, the Heavenly Father raised His Son and spared Him the corruption of His Body so that we too could witness such a moment in our lives. However, this is only possible if we allow ourselves to grieve properly, with trust in His promises. Grief itself, then, can become a profound form of prayer, of longing for meaning and purpose behind our suffering and death. What we have lost, then, through this experience of grieving, can become something not of pain but of purpose. The pain of the Old Testament is wiped away and transformed into the New, through our grief and intentional attitude of longing. We must be willing to sit and be with our feelings. We must journey to Christ in the Tomb, just as the women visited His Tomb in expectation that He was there. This is the same experience we have now in these days between Christ’s departure at His Ascension and the descent of the Holy Spirit. Can we wait, trust, and BE with the Church in this time of uncertainty? Can we find consolation with fellow prayer warriors as we await the Birth of the Church and the new Creation that the Holy Spirit wishes to bring upon us? Pay attention. There’s always MORE to this journey.

“When a woman is in labor, she is in anguish because her hour has arrived; but when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the pain because of her joy that a child has been born into the world. So you also are now in anguish. But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.” This about sums up the Christian life. This is the essence of the Theology of the Body, for our very existence is dependent upon this reality. St. Paul himself affirms this when he says that all of creation is “groaning in labor pains” for the redemption of the body. If we wish to see our friends and family return to Church and trust in God again, then we must be willing to enter the purgative journey of redemption and healing. This requires intense moments of emotion and hard conversations, but it is well worth it. Our families can be renewed and restored. The culture can be rescued from the lies of Satan and those who cooperate with him. In fact, much of the experience of dealing with the lies of Satan causes great anguish, pain, and suffering. Yet, if we hold on to the gift of Confession and the graces that flow from our encounter with Christ in prayer, when we truly trust in Jesus, all of that suffering will be used for a glorious purpose. All of that darkness will be banished when Christ Himself enters into our suffering, pain, and sin so as to fully address it, and then conquer it with Divine Mercy. It is the mercy of God that relieves a woman of her pain in childbirth when she first holds her little one; this, joined with her husband’s steady presence in his complimentary masculinity, is what God’s perfect design holds for peace and redemption to be renewed in the next generation. TRUST God’s Plan for love and life. Suffer the pains of redemption but then rejoice in the resurrection of reconciliation and laughter once more. And it all comes through the power of prayer.

“Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy.” Today, the Ascension of the Lord, is a moment suspended in time for the Church. It is the moment Jesus Himself ascended into Heaven in a way that changed the world forever. All of us today are marking the incredible moment when He entered the Heavenly realm, and in just nine days, after the necessary period of reflection, prayer, and preparation the disciples experienced in Jerusalem, the Holy Spirit came upon them. Today, we long for that same experience of renewal and restoration in the Church. These nine days between Ascension and Pentecost are the first official novena in Church history. These 54-Days have been broken up into six different novenas. Three were in petition and the last three are in Thanksgiving. Soon we begin the final novena of our time together. And yet, the ArchLou Great Novena continues these next nine years. When was the last time you participated in something that lasted that long? Grade school, K-8th grade? To pray for this long with the same intention, focus, and drive is not an easy task, but together, we can encourage each other today. Longevity is at the heart of the Catholic Faith, and long suffering is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. We must learn to carry the Cross that Jesus gives us with determination, fortitude, and hope. The great Treasure of the Church (God’s perfect Love) is at the end of this Double Rainbow of beauty, goodness, and truth. We just have to be willing to ascend to the heights with Jesus. Follow the Light of the World, for His Seven Sacraments are more vibrant than the seven colors of the rainbow. Jesus is God, and God is the essence, source, and summit of everything. Thus, His ascension into Heaven was His entering back into Himself in a way that helps us embrace our own interior journey. This is not navel gazing. This is not introspection. This is rather a profound encounter with the God of the Universe found in the depths of our hearts. He is waiting for you. Will you allow the Holy Spirit to guide you back to Him? For when we enter into ourselves, we always come out as a New Creation, and while the journey is painful and filled with tears and suffering, once we emerge on the other side, no one can take our joy away for our grief has become joy. 

“I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth.” These reflections have been a great gift as we have moved from the Year of Invitation to the Year of Wonder in the ArchLou Great Novena. They have also helped us more deeply enter into the Paschal Mystery from Jesus’s Death and Resurrection, through the Easter Season, and toward the Church’s birth at Pentecost. The words shared here are only a taste of what John Paul II’s Theology of the Body can give us if we continue down this path. These reflections are nothing compared to the gift of healing that only Jesus can do in each of our lives. Words only go so far unless we allow them to speak to us in the depth of our beings. Only if we recognize the Word Made Flesh can we embrace the words He speaks to us in a way where they affect our beliefs and actions through our conversion and transformation. We are transformed by His Words and suddenly, our very bodies dance in step with the words we heard. If we have the ears to listen, what Jesus wishes to conceive in our hearts will be born into our reality. Our ears then are wombs ready to hear the Gospel proclaimed in full, if only we allow ourselves to hear Him speak to us! Be not afraid. Let Jesus till the soil of receptivity in your heart. Let Him plant His seed inside you. Allow it to grow in the womb of your heart, so that the truth of God’s love can be born into your reality. There is more that must be shared in these coming years, but we must allow the Holy Spirit to prepare the Way of Trust to more properly order how best these truths and ideas reach us. When we cooperate with God’s promptings then, He paves the perfect Way forward. He shows us how best to reach one another with that spirit of truth and love. Let us continue preparing for Pentecost everyone! Don’t give up your prayers now. We are so, so close! 

“Now I am going to the one who sent me, and not one of you asks me, 'Where are you going?'” In these final days of the Way of Trust 54-Day Rosary Novena leading up to Pentecost, Jesus is preparing our hearts for his departure. So many of us often wonder why Jesus ever had to leave in the first place. Wouldn’t it be easier to believe in Him if we could see Him, touch Him, and speak to Him?! Wouldn’t that be the undeniable evidence of the Resurrection that everyone in this world doubts? Jesus, why did You leave us?! Yet, with the spirit of gratitude in this last half of these novenas, let us really think about what would have happened if He had stayed and made Himself known to the world. Would people really feel they could remain free to love Him? Or would they see Him as an unkillable guru who is now meant to dictate how we must live our lives from here on out? Would people draw close to Him or remain distant from Him because of fear, discomfort, or anger? People pass on resentment through the generations, so it’s very possible a spirit of darkness would have remained in people’s hearts despite Jesus’s continued presence in the way we could understand. Rather, like a war general who moves to the back of his troops so he can more effectively guide them in battle, so too did Jesus ascend into Heaven so He could direct us in this spiritual battle for our souls. Yet, perhaps more personally, Jesus wanted us to have true freedom so that love would be our primary motivation for embracing the God who made us. Our gratitude for the gift of life itself, then, is the first step toward loving the One who gave it to us in the first place. Only through gratitude for our earthly lives then can we begin walking the path toward Eternal Life. Don’t be sad Jesus is leaving. Trust that He is going to prepare an eternal place for us as well! 

“The hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God.” What a powerful reminder from Jesus that this is not our ultimate home! This world is passing away because so many people in it have cut themselves off the Vine of eternal life. This is not a condemnation or accusation of any individual people. We simply must recognize that not everyone in this life will respond to God’s invitation to reciprocate His love for them. Not everyone will want to enter the Banquet Hall of the Heavenly Feast. If we have lived our whole lives in habitual sin, addiction, abuse, darkness, resentment, or despair then we may find it hard to even recognize the love or mercy of God the Father. We may not even believe or want to belong in His company. Heaven is not a reward for good behavior and Hell a punishment for the bad behavior. Rather, Heaven is preserved for those who say Yes to the Wedding Invitation of God’s Promised Land. It is a place free from sin and death, where there will be no tears, no fear, no more darkness at all. Yet, in this life, we must suffer the persecution from those who believe worshipping God is somehow the same as worshipping the world’s pleasures. Those who refuse to accept Jesus’s message also tend to reject His love as well. If we are not in a relationship with Him at all, we may find ourselves cut off from the Vine one day. In this life, His followers will be ridiculed, misunderstood, or rejected. But through their suffering, the conversion of sinners and the healing of broken hearts becomes possible. Let us pray for those we love who remain in darkness. Grab your rosary and offer this day for their conversion. Let these years leading up to 2033 become a conduit of Divine Mercy in their lives. Let your entrance into the Year of Wonder be the beginning of a renewal in your own family and a restoration of our Archdiocesan family as well. Jesus, we trust in You!

“The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.” The Holy Spirit is the One Person who gives us the greatest gifts. These gifts are the many ways God shows His love for us. These gifts of love come from our Father in Heaven. They aren’t just any gifts either. They are the very gifts that help confirm our faith in Jesus, that help us to receive the merciful love from Him that re-establishes confidence in our self-worth, and moves us to live a life of passionate service for others. This isn’t an arbitrary list that we memorize in religion class before our Confirmation in 8th grade. This isn’t meant to be a vague attempt to share some shallow ideas about Catholicism because of an old, outdated curriculum. This is meant to be a timeless expression of God’s profound desire to reach our hearts in a way that gets our attention and changes our lives. That is why the Holy Spirit is considered the Advocate – because He advocates for us! He encourages the saints to pray for us; He prompts our family and friends (or even complete strangers) to speak love into our lives. He teaches us through every life experience, every book, class, or lecture, and even in every beat of our heart that we are loved by God. He is the One who hovers over the chaos of our nothingness to bring forth order, beauty, and light. Light – because of the vision that we receive to see as God sees. Beauty – because of the attractive nature of the Gospel that excites, motivates, and animates us to connect with others. And Order – to bring the vision into a passionate group of individuals who are then given the strength and courage to walk the right path to see the vision become reality. After all, vision without execution is hallucination. Let us be grateful for the gift of Family Renewal Project in the Archdiocese of Louisville as well as the Great Novena and so many other groups who share that same collaborative spirit to rebuild trust, strengthen communion, and inspire solidarity in our wounded families and society.

“Remember the word I spoke to you, 'No slave is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.” Sometimes Jesus has to say hard things. Sometimes, we must hear the truth spoken bluntly, painfully, and intensely. Sometimes God has prepared our hearts to receive such truths spoken in such a way as to get our attention, wake us up, and help us to take them seriously enough to change our ways. Otherwise, we may remain anesthetized to the saving medicine of God’s grace and mercy. Even more dangerously, we may become immune to its effects because we take the doses of God’s love in a way that doesn’t convict, humble, or convince, but rather in ways that help us remain complacent, indifferent, or comfortable. This is where we hear things from the culture like, “God loves everyone no matter what we do. He just wants you to be happy. You can do whatever you want because God wants you to be happy.” The idea of coexisting in a nebulous world of niceties only furthers our decline into collective isolation. If we want true and total solidarity then we must be courageous and bold. We must not be afraid to speak the truth confidently and consistently. However, it must be done with great compassion, patience, and mercy as well—even if the tone we must use sometimes is direct, the words blunt, and the timing undesirable. If the relationship we have with someone is strong enough, and the trust is established, then the truth will always be received in a way that grows and changes us for the better. God loves you right where you are. He just loves you too much to leave you there. Be prepared for persecution, just as the Master endured. True love can handle anything.

“Whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.” All we must do is TRUST the Lord. If we are in a relationship with Jesus, consistently striving to pray, listen, and speak to Him, then we learn how to hear His voice and follow His promptings. The circumstances He puts in our lives make it possible to live the Christian life. It’s not about following signs, numbers, dates, coincidences, or superstition. It’s about recognizing the patterns of communication the Lord uses to woo us, meaning—to get our attention and attract us toward His loving presence more and more. He doesn’t want anything FROM us, He only wants the very best FOR us. God the Father longs to give us the very best gifts, but we have to take our time, be patient, and learn to take one step forward. Only through action can we truly show evidence of a good discernment. Do not live in analysis paralysis. Do not be held captive by the busyness of the world. Love your family. Have the hard conversations. Enter the journey of forgiveness, redemption, counseling, and healing. God will always be with you. Do not push aside the people He is sending your way. Don’t be afraid to accept your emotions, attitudes, or perceptions and then lean into them not in an unaware subconsciousness that perpetuates your misery; rather, lean into these feelings and use them as tools of deepening your interior life. Only then can you truly ASK for what you most deeply desire. Only then can you even know WHAT you need for your joy to be complete, for true happiness to reign in your life. The Promised Land is so close to us, if only we let Jesus reveal it to us slowly. Pray your Rosary. Pray your daily prayers of Thanksgiving, Communion, and Solidarity with FRP, the Great Novena, and all the people of the Archdiocese of Louisville. Embrace the People of God, for we all long to lead each other to Him who unites us all in Heaven. Jesus is the Treasure of Wonder and Awe. He will recreate us. Just let Him in!

“Jesus said to his disciples: "As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and remain in his love. "I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete." This is such an important reality to consider today in the Church. What is love but of following through with your commitments, of wanting and choosing the best for others for their own sake?! Love requires responsibility, they are intertwined and indissoluble. One cannot exist without the other. John Paul II when he was still Cardinal Karol Wojtyla said in his book “Love and Responsibility” that “The greater the feeling of responsibility for the person, the more true love there is.” This is the essence of the Lord’s commandments, to love one another so that our joy may be COMPLETE! We cannot live peacefully in the Promised Land if we have not first completed the journey of redemption, healing, forgiveness, and mercy. The Father’s love comes to us through the Divine Mercy of His Son. We are incapable of fully reconciling with God the Father in this life unless we have died to self, forgiven others even when they have betrayed us or hurt us, AND trusted in the mercy Jesus Christ to flood our hearts in an ongoing basis as we continue to encounter our suffering brothers and sisters. Pope Leo XIV said in his opening homily about the love of God the Father in reference to St. Peter’s encounter with Christ on the shores of Galilee: “It is as if Jesus said to him, “Only if you have known and experienced this love of God, which never fails, will you be able to feed my lambs. Only in the love of God the Father will you be able to love your brothers and sisters with that same ‘more’, that is, by offering your life for your brothers and sisters.” If we want to become fishers of men in this Great Commission of the Great Novena one day, then we must enter the purgative journey of becoming true Catholic Disciples of Jesus Christ. Remaining in His Love is a gift we receive more and more over time, and the more we receive, the more we are transformed into Christ Himself, and THEN our joy will be complete!

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.” Today, we reflect on the central theme of the whole Great Novena that will remain with us throughout the next nine years. It is a theme that Archbishop Fabre himself inspired when asked about how we can best prepare for the 2,000th anniversary of the birth of Catholicism in 2033. He simply responded with words I paraphrase here—“I can only tend to the portion of the vineyard to which I have been assigned. If what we do here echoes beyond then praise God.” This is the Father’s heart coming near to us to “Comfort” us in our time of need. Archbishop Fabre’s episcopal motto is “Comfort My People” and this nearness is deeply felt with each passing day. His support of these efforts gives us the peace to move forward with confidence and joy. Jesus Christ Himself flows through the hierarchy of the Church, so when our beloved Archbishop feels moved by the Holy Spirit to support something, then we know this comes not from any one of us, but from Christ Himself moving in our midst. God the Father is the vine grower, growing Christ within each of our hearts. Through these next nine plus years, our Father will also prune us of any branch that doesn’t bear fruit which means slowly but surely, we will be sanctified, healed, and grown through these efforts. It may feel painful, purgative, and unpleasant at times, but the discipline of the Lord is only meant to help us grow. Just as parents discipline their children to help them, so too does the Lord discipline us. That’s part of what it means to be His disciple after all. Otherwise, we can do nothing. Just as He said to us all those years ago in ways that still speak to us today in the present moment. “I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.”

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” These are the words of Jesus to His disciples shortly before His death. Yet, once again they are recalled in the days before Jesus’ Ascension as they encountered Him in His Resurrection day after day. Remember, John also said that Jesus did many other signs than what is written down. That means the peace of God is an ongoing gift to His Church that is renewed with each generation. As we continue to welcome our new Holy Father Pope Leo XIV, we must recall the joyful words he also spoke to us in his opening remarks on May 8. “Peace be with you” are the words of our Bishop of Rome because they are the words of Christ when he first appears to His Apostles. They had abandoned Him in His hour of need, and yet instead of chastising, condemning, or damning them, He mercifully said “Peace be with you.” This was a bookend moment for them, which gives us all the better understanding as to why they must have recalled His words before His crucifixion when He said to them, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.” It is PEACE we seek in this pilgrimage of love in the ArchLou Great Novena, one that is confident in the Resurrection and hopeful in the Church’s capacity to live out the Great Commission. To share the Gospel of Jesus Christ requires great prayer, great faith, great love, and great service. Only then, we can experience great peace in our land as we show mercy to all those we encounter, just as Christ did 2,000 years ago. Be not afraid as St. John Paul the Great told us, just as Christ Himself said. Don’t be troubled. Be bold. Be confident. Be merciful. 

“The Advocate, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name-- he will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.” In just a couple of weeks, we will experience Pentecost once again and call down the Holy Spirit upon the Church throughout the world. This is an annual prayer, something that cannot be forgotten or overlooked. In fact, most of the Church’s work in the world begins in these coming weeks each year. The fruit that flows forth from this outpouring is something that has the capacity to bring about miraculous conversions, healings, and peace. Have you ever asked God to bring your family members back to Church? You’re not alone. This is one of our most unifying desires in our hearts today, and yet God knows that conversion is a gradual process with unique moments of encounter that pull us over critical thresholds at uncontrollable times. We can only pray for our loved ones, but God can move hearts through our prayers in total surrender to Him. As we prepare to welcome the Holy Spirit as a Treasure of Grace once more into our lives, it is with great joy that I invite you all to participate in our first ever Great Novena Pentecost Pilgrimage. This is the Jubilee Year of Hope throughout the universal Church and the Archdiocese of Louisville has designated various pilgrim sites for the faithful to visit in order to receive indulgences and experience profound grace from God. We are working to organize both a northern AND a southern route. At this time, we are advertising the northern route beginning at the Cathedral at 10am on Saturday, June 7 before we travel to St. Martin of Tours by 11am. By 1pm, we hope to be at Holy Cross Catholic Church in the KY Holy Lands before heading to St. Joseph’s Proto-Cathedral in Bardstown by 4pm. We will pray the Rosary, hear reflections, and meditate on the Stations of the Resurrection to officially kick off the Year of Wonder! We hope to see you there! Go to greatnovena.com/calendar/pilgrim25 for more info and RSVP through our Google Form.

“This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” On this day, the birthday of St. John Paul the Great, let us remember the great Pope of our times, especially as we welcome our new Holy Father Pope Leo XIV in his installation Mass. Indeed, on this day, John Paul II’s birthday, we begin a new chapter in the Church throughout the world, and in particular the Church in the United States. Particularly in the Archdiocese of Louisville, we are in the midst of some critical time of discernment and change of which only God fully understands. We must trust in His Providence through these times, no matter what happens. To see all things as God sees takes time, patience, and humility, and our experiences at home in our families are the first signs of this slow process of growth. The family after all is meant to be the “school of love.” In the same way, our parish is meant to be a “school of prayer” that strengthens our relationship with God and one another. To be a disciple of Jesus Christ then requires this gratitude toward the family and parish He gave us. God longs for us to find stability, peace, and a deep sense of belonging. Our destiny has much to do with what He has given to us as much as it has to do with what He will give us one day. Only then can our freedom emerge. We didn’t choose to speak English, we inherited it from our parents before we even knew what the word freedom meant. Thus, our choices and desires flow from our understanding of family and our experience of love within it. Jesus wants us to have love for one another without condition. This is the Treasure within each of us: the capacity to love and be loved by God and one another. The Great Novena is a time of prayer and openness to the Holy Spirit, and if you experience nothing else from this movement but prayer, then praise God—for the fruits of such prayer are sure to be unimaginable. Be grateful and sit with your Holy Mother as you pray your Rosary today in wonder and awe at what we are witnessing in the Church of Her Son.

“I am going to the Father.” Such a simple line, but as always, Jesus packs this with depth! These are the words chosen by the Church in each daily Gospel after Easter to serve as a reminder of what Jesus said in the very hours before His Crucifixion. They should both console us and awaken us to who Jesus really is. These words were given to us decades after these events by the Beloved Disciple John to speak into our wounded hearts so as to remind us of the Father’s love for us. If Jesus IS the Way to the Father, then by getting to know Jesus, we can find ourselves in a place where we become capable of encountering God the Father more personally than ever before. There is currently no Catholic Feast Day in honor of God the Father, and oh how that must pain the heart of Jesus! All He wants for us is to open our hearts to this personal relationship with our Heavenly Father, but in a childlike spirit of vulnerability. He called Him “Abba” which means “Daddy!” Can you refer to God the Father as your “Daddy?” Think back to your earliest memories of childhood. We all in some way understand God in how we first encountered our earthly mothers and fathers. If our fathers were loving and protective, perhaps we see God the Father as loving, protective, and near. If our dads were strict disciplinarians without compassion or patience, perhaps God the Father feels more like a tyrant or slave driver. We must seek the merciful love of Jesus to help us encounter His Heavenly Father in a way that fills in the gaps of what we may have lacked as children from our earthly parents. How can God the Father and St. Joseph father us again? How can Mother Mary through the Holy Spirit touch our hearts with the compassion our earthly mothers may have lacked? If we truly wish to be Thankful for the gifts God is giving us in this 54-Day Rosary Novena, if the prayers we pray throughout this 9-Year Great Novena are to bear true fruit in our lives, then we must be willing to enter deeply into our own redemptive journey to the Father with Jesus. The Road to Calvary is not easy, but if we can walk with Jesus, He will bring us through the painful process of healing to bring redemption and resurrection to our bodies and souls. THIS is the Treasure buried in the Field of our Hearts. Are we willing to remain with Him until we’ve come to fully possess this Treasure of True Love?

“Where I am going you know the way.” What bold, confident, and personal words from Jesus to His disciples! Yet, Jesus is saying this, and the disciples are still confused about what He means. Thomas responds, "Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?" How can we know the Way? By knowing Jesus. That’s what Jesus is saying to us, that if we learn to follow Him as His disciples, to truly become like Him in how we think, act, pray, see, and love—then we can also go where Jesus goes. Why? Because, after spending so much time with Jesus in prayer, our thoughts and actions start to become HIS thoughts and actions, because we KNOW HIM! This is another precursor to where we are going in these reflections leading up to 2033. The ArchLou Great Novena will only strengthen Communion in the Church if we learn to pray as the Lord Jesus prays. From there, we can get to know Him more deeply with each passing year. The Way is not just a path, it’s not just a lifestyle, it’s not only a process. The Way is a PERSON, and we can trust Him every step we take. He is holding us in His hands, carrying us along despite our sins and shortcomings. Regardless of this current culture’s attempts to block or thwart God’s Plan for Love and Life, the Truth always wins in the end. But only Truth spoken with Love can bring forth new Life. THIS is the Way of Trust! This is the love of Jesus Christ mercifully granted to each one of us with every rosary we pray in Thanksgiving and hope in His providence. In this world of chaos and confusion, God is leading us through in peace. It’s not a wilderness when we cling to Christ. It’s a Wilderness Trail leading through the darkness into the light, from death to life, from a wasteland to the Promised Land. Keep moving forward. Never give up. Jesus is the Way forward.

"I know those whom I have chosen." These words of Jesus were spoken to his disciples right before His crucifixion, but they must have rung out loudly to these men in the wake of His Resurrection just a few days later! To know someone deeply requires vulnerability, trust, confidence in being heard and loved, and surrender. This is about making a gift of ourselves to others without fear of being used, abused, neglected, or ignored. Of course, Jesus knew that He was about to have all of those things happen to Him anyway. Yet, He also knew that by enduring such pain and suffering at the hands of those who refused to know Him, He would pave the Way for those who would open their hearts to Him. The music God is longing for us to sing is merciful and just. It is in tune with His heart without fear and without defending oneself. It sings in absolute confidence in God's perfect love for each of us, for He knows those whom He has chosen! Remember, He has chosen you for His Kingdom! Our only job is to respond to that invitation to become One with Him, to enter into that song that has perfect moments of silence, meditation, and peace as well as perfect moments of harmony, symphony, and active receptivity to the loving gaze of the Father. That means everything we do every day can become part of that song, whether in silent Adoration before the Eucharist, in personal reflection in our thoughts, in acts of service, in conversation with family or friends, in our daily jobs in the workforce. Recreation, entertainment, pleasure, and fun can also become a part of the Sacramental Song that Jesus longs to sing to the world. This is a world filled with a silent indifference that is ignorant to the needs of those God has chosen. We must learn to teach the faith systematically, organically, patiently, peacefully, and lovingly. This is the mercy and justice of God, sung in harmony with one another for the good of the world He has made. It's that song that is at the very foundation of Creation itself, and the chaos of cacophony, arrogance, insecurity, fear, and intellectual suspicion cannot withstand the awesome power of God's Providence when He begins His Work. In the coming days, the Lord of Heaven will once again speak into the void of our darkness to bring forth order, beauty, and light--through silence, song, and solace. Let the New Creation come forth in your heart!

“As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.” Today, Jesus is longing for us to understand the most basic goal of every Catholic Christian: to remain with Him. This isn’t just an ideal to strive for. It’s not just wishful thinking right before His crucifixion and death in hopes they don’t flee when things get tough. He knows they’re going to run away into the chaos and darkness of despair and fear! These words then are packed with a deeper meaning that will take many years for each of his disciples to unpack. To remain with Jesus would require a personal investment into the lifestyle of Discipleship even after His death and resurrection. In this Easter Season, as we prepare for His Ascension into Heaven, we must remember that Jesus’ words would continue to echo in His disciples’ lives until they too would give them up for love of Him. Remaining in His Love requires a surrender of our lives with trust in the Resurrection. The lifestyle of discipleship requires following His commandments, not as a list o rules, regulations, rituals, or requirements—but as a love story of epic proportions. Every “restriction” that marriage requires a husband and wife to submit to is in fact the simple evidence of their love for one another. It’s a lifestyle, but more importantly, it’s a love story. The promise of Eternal Life necessitates that we live differently than others without this hope of belief. To belief in Heaven means to follow Christ’s Church, to trust in His authority to give St. Peter the Keys to the Kingdom and then remain within the bounds of what the Church realizes through time and space. The enter into the open arms of the Church is to enter into the open arms of Jesus Himself, for He and the Church are One. This is what FRP’s Way of Trust Novena is hoping to do with each rosary we pray together, and this is what the Great Novena is hoping to bring to the whole Archdiocese of Louisville—Communion, Solidarity, and a Love Story from God the Father to all of us, if only we remain in His Love through His Sacraments.

“The works I do in my Father’s name testify to me.” Today, we begin the transition from our first 27 days of Petition to the next 27 days praying in Thanksgiving. These next three novenas begin on the anniversary of the first apparition of Our Lady of Fatima, and this very week we celebration the beginning of the Pontificate of Pope Leo XIV! We are nearing the end of The Great Novena’s Year of Invitation and will soon begin the Year of Wonder, and what a wondrous time it is in the Church! How much do we have to be grateful for?! Everything Jesus is doing in our lives, especially for the Church in the United States has been showing us a love of God the Father that our parents, grandparents, and ancestors have longed for since the founding of our country. The United States began through revolution, a revolt against the tyranny of a patriarch named King George III. A King should be benevolent, loving, fatherly, kind, and a servant to all, and yet throughout history, most if not all kings proved mostly selfish, arrogant, manipulative, greedy, and sinful slave-drivers. Very few were virtuous or imitating the King of Kings. The United States then chose to throw off the shackles of a dictator while perhaps becoming enslaved to another—that of an autonomous independence that has allowed some to forget their dependence on God the Father, our ultimate King. God the Father is not a dictator or a slave-driver. Every single thing Jesus did and does is in His Father’s Name, and these works prove that He is to the One we should follow and devote our lives to serve! He does this by first serving us on the Cross, dying for our sins, paying our debt, and re-establishing Creation anew. As we continue to marvel at these days in the Church and in the world, let us be grateful for God’s Providence. Let us prepare for a total, systematic transformation of our hearts in these coming years! All we have to do is let Jesus in!

“Whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as the shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” The gatekeepers of the Church today must pay close attention to this passage, for so many can become blind to the voice and message of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Good Shepherd and He longs to take care of His sheep, and in one way or another, He will get to us. Of course, He won’t force His way in, as only thieves or robbers jump over the gate to steal or destroy. Rather, Jesus is tenderhearted, patient, and persistent. He has compassion and through humility, he consistently shows us His love time and time again. When someone truly wants the best for others, and comes to you with a servant’s heart, don’t you feel more open to welcoming them more and more into your life? There’s no agenda, there’s no pressure or manipulation. It’s just pure love, a true gift of self with confidence in eternity. We must learn to be detached from our timelines, methods, or processes, and let the process of the Gospel work on the hearts of all those we serve in the Archdiocese of Louisville and far beyond. Our parishes are getting ready to go through some tremendous transformation and growth, so we must be open to the Holy Spirit’s voice. People want their parishes to thrive again. We long for community, joy, friendship, love, and accountability. The Great Novena is part of building this community, in partnership with Family Renewal Project and other groups, parishes, and organizations throughout the Archdiocese. Let us imitate Christ as we continue to invite and inspire others to discover this great treasure of prayer and Eucharistic Love. The Communion and Solidarity being born from these efforts is palpable, attractive, and unstoppable. If you’re just jumping into this Novena and would like to read all the reflections since the beginning, we invite you to go to www.greatnovena.com and click on Reflections for more. 

Jesus said: “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.” This Gospel is perfect for Holy Mother Church to welcome Pope Leo XIV as our new Holy Father. On this secular holiday in the United States, Mother’s Day, in which we honor both our earthly mothers and throughout this month of May our Heavenly Mother Mary, let us not forget the importance of embracing the Universal Church as deeply connected to Our Blessed Mother at the foot of the Cross. When Jesus gave Mary to John the Beloved Apostle at the Cross, He was entrusting the Church He was establishing to His Mother just as He was entrusting His Mother to the Church. It is the Gospel of John which records this passage of the Good Shepherd. Jesus is the ultimate King of the Universe and Leader of the Church. The Holy Spirit guides the decisions of the Church regardless of who is appointed as the next Holy Father. It is critical in these days as we absorb the intensity of the media’s analysis of the Church today and Pope Leo XIV’s beliefs, tendencies, and ideas that we keep praying for Him. The Great Novena, as well as these 54-Day Rosary Novenas are foundational elements of prayer that bear immeasurable fruit for many people. Prayer changes us, and we change things because of the inspiration, healing, and peace God gives us through this prayer. Can we allow God to grant us this peace in our families, our friendships, and those we know in the Church and in the world during this time? Pope Leo’s Papal Motto after all is “In the One, we are one.” 

“It is the Spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life.” Habemus Papem! We have a Pope! When Jesus said this to his disciples in the Gospel of John, He wasn’t backing down from what He was telling us about the Eucharist, the Bread of Life. He really wanted us to eat His Flesh and drink His Blood! This isn’t a metaphor or a symbol. He simply ramped things up! He’s telling us to not look at what He’s saying as the world looks—in ways where we measure and touch and feel the change happening at every instance. This is a temporary, fleeting perspective of life. It’s a worldview with only death as the horizon, so every moment we attempt to calculate and control our existence before it’s too late. Rather, Jesus is imploring us to play the long game, to see what He is saying about the Bread of Life through the lens of eternity! If we want to be in Heaven, then we must desire to take God Himself into us bodily, spiritually, emotionally, mentally, socially, and beyond. He is stretching our hearts and longing for us to embrace His every word and deed. Sadly, many leave Him at these words, but not Peter. He speaks for all the Apostles when he says to Jesus, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.” This is why He is the Rock upon which Jesus Christ built His Church, and despite the centuries of mistakes and denials embodied through many of St. Peter’s successors, the Catholic Church remains One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic. This is a new day indeed, and to have an American, who embodies the heart of a missionary in Peru while growing up in the United States is an unprecedented and historic moment. The Great Novena of the Archdiocese of Louisville is about to launch “The Year of Wonder”, and what a wondrous time it now is in the Church! Let us pray for our new Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV. Pray he too can play the long game, to see as Our Lord Jesus Christ sees, to be a Good Shepherd for a Church in need.

“Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood remains in me and I in him.” The main theme of the ArchLou Great Novena was inspired by Archbishop Fabre when he described God’s call for him to be our Archbishop of Louisville. He knew the great longings of the Church for renewal, restoration, and resurrection throughout the US and beyond. However, He made it clear that God has asked him only to tend to the portion of the vineyard to which he has been assigned. If these efforts bear fruit and echo to others areas of the country, praise God. This image of the vineyard shows us another element of the depth of Jesus’ love for us when He invites us to remain with Him. “I am the vine. You are the branches. If you remain on the vine, you will bear much fruit, but without me, you can do nothing.” In the Gospel of John he goes even further when he speaks of the Eucharist in how He is asking us to remain in Him. By eating His Flesh and drinking His Blood we remain in Him! This is how we remain on the Vine of His Church, His Body. We must live out the Sacramental Life: going to Confession, receiving the Eucharist, attending Mass, raising our children, evangelizing the culture, and more. There are many disciplines of a Catholic Disciple, and over the years we will explore them more and more in depth. Jesus is teaching us. He wants us to remain in His Love through constant receptivity to His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity—for, as Archbishop Fabre said, through a relationship with the very Person of Jesus Christ, the answers He gives us through His Church to our deepest questions will make sense. Outside of that relationship, cut off from the Vine, we live in chaos, and Jesus’ Kingdom of Truth, Love, and Goodness remains out of our understanding. Stay with Him. Those who believe never leave.

“They shall all be taught by God.” Such a simple line, but it helps us to perfectly clarify both Christ’s intentions in His Eucharistic Discourse, and the intentions of the Great Novena for the Archdiocese of Louisville. This Great Novena is Eucharistic at its core, meaning grassroots efforts of the Body of Christ responding to His Work within us, and FRP’s 54-Day Rosary Novenas have provided the foundation of prayer upon which this movement has grown. Prayer is our response to God’s action in our lives, and through the Eucharistic Revival throughout the United States as well as the efforts of Family Renewal Project and other apostolates and organizations, the ArchLou Great Novena has been born. This is a 9-Year Prayer Initiative with a different theme and scripture verse to reflect upon every year leading up to 2033. These themes are based on the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, and the Scripture verses build through the Story of Salvation. You can go to www.greatnovena.com/about to watch a full hour-long info session with John Sohl and Bryan Cain to learn more and to see the Annual Themes that are being proposed each year. These themes will help guide small group leaders as well as these very reflections. They will help the Great Novena Task Force to plan events catered to the annual themes. These are the early days of the Great Novena, so most people are still unaware that it is even happening in the Archdiocese of Louisville. However, this is where your prayers will make such a difference! Communion in the Church can only come about through faithful prayer and openness to the Holy Spirit to soften our hearts and change our minds about people—including our perceptions and opinions of one another’s intentions, attitudes, or beliefs. We must seek God’s perspective and open our hearts to one another with compassion. That is how the Great Novena will inspire Solidarity one day. Start with prayer. Other events and answers to the question: What is the Great Novena will become clearer each day. Remember, we are being taught by God, and God sometimes takes a while to reveal His purposes, plan, goals, and desires for us. If He gave too much away though, we probably couldn’t handle it, so let us all trust Him together. Please pray for the Great Novena Task Force as they continue to seek the Vision God is asking us to strive toward. Pray for Family Renewal Project and all our parishes, priests, and leaders throughout the Archdiocese of Louisville and far beyond. Surrender to Jesus, and He will make all things clear.

“Everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day." This is essentially the same point Jesus is making as when he speaks of the Kingdom of Heaven like a treasure buried in a field. This year’s theme of the Great Novena is something that simply cannot be exhausted. If we wish to remain on the vine and bear fruit, then we must be willing to let Jesus grow us. He is the Vine Grower and the Vine. We are the branches. If we cut ourselves off, then we wither and die. Do not leave the Sacraments of Confession and the Eucharist. Believe in Jesus and trust in the gift of His Church and His Sacraments. The Seven Sacraments in fact are the most highly effective Signs of God’s Love in the world, more vibrant and healing than the rays of the most beautiful rainbow imaginable. If we are to see as God sees and allow the power of the Eucharist to shine in our lives, then we must cooperate with His Grace. We must trust the Sacraments to crystallize into the most vibrant lifestyle of love, joy, and peace we could possibly imagine. Jesus is the ultimate Sacrament of God’s Love. His Body is literally the visible evidence of God’s Invisible Love, and it’s a love stronger than death itself. This love, when crucified, was fractured into a beautiful stained glass prism that blasted the Seven Sacraments into our world so we could experience the most incredibly fulfilling life possible this side of Heaven. Yet, if we believe in Jesus, then we will pass through this portal of death into the unknown glory of Resurrection when Jesus raises us on the last day. Who wouldn’t sell all that he has in this temporary life and buy the field that holds of the Treasure of Everlasting Life?

“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.” This single line of Jesus inaugurates His Eucharistic Discourse in the Gospel of John. This is something we will explore in depth throughout the Year of Healing in 2028-29 during the ArchLou Great Novena, but long before we get there—we must consider how this relates to the profound invitation from Jesus to join this movement in prayer and service. The Great Novena is a 9-year prayer initiative of the Archdiocese of Louisville to strengthen communion in the Church and one day bring solidarity back to the world, specifically in the hearts of those closest to us. Jesus is the Word Made Flesh, His Body is the Flesh He calls us to eat, His Blood He calls us to drink! These were shocking words to those who followed Him after the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. To go and out of joy sell all that we have is what Jesus is inviting us to consider in these years of transformation in the Archdiocese of Louisville. To be His disciple means to give up our former way of life, our former belief systems, opinions, lifestyles, and fears in order to live as He lives and love as He loves. One of the biggest ways to participate in the Great Novena is to consider starting a small group and sharing these reflections with others. Pray the official Prayer of Union and Solidarity each day. Support FRP’s efforts in praying the 54-Day Rosary Novena each season in these years ahead. This Pentecost Rosary Novena should remind us of Jesus’ Words. When we trust in Him to provide for our needs, we never hunger or thirst for anything other than what He gives us, for what He gives us is always exactly what we need to live and love! Be not afraid to embrace this deep truth of Jesus today and live according to His Way of Trust!

“Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.” The Eucharistic Revival is nearing the end of its three-year movement, but it’s really beginning in the hearts and minds of Catholics throughout the United States. Many of us in the Archdiocese of Louisville participated in the glorious events of the Eucharistic Pilgrimage and witnessed the symbolic handing on of the Monstrance at the Walking Bridge in downtown Louisville. The rain and storms threatened, but the sun broke through and the double rainbow appeared across the sky as a Promise to us that God will never again flood the earth in destruction. Instead, He floods the earth with His merciful love through the Eucharist! When we are filled with these incredible moments of communion and solidarity, when we witness God’s Work in the Church as we did last summer, we cannot forget the deeper spiritual reality He is wishing to communicate to us. The Eucharist is not a far-away experience, but rather a personal, intimate encounter with a Person. Jesus Christ longs for us to believe in Him, fully present in the Eucharist. This is the ultimate Treasure of Heaven! Why do we hide treasure, but to protect it from thieves? Why do we decorate treasure chests but to show the great value inside? In the same way, we hide the Eucharist in the Church in order to protect it from those who don’t respect or value this personal relationship with Jesus. We decorate the Tabernacle to communicate this value to others, and yet, when we receive the Eucharist, we take in this Treasure into our very bodies. We become Tabernacles of the Lord, treasure chests of His Divine Mercy. Our clothes then should communicate our value, and our lifestyles should communicate His truth, love, beauty, and goodness. Let Jesus give you this most enduring food.

“Jesus said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" What a provocative and distressing question! Jesus asked Him three times to remind Him gently of the three-fold denial of Peter the night Jesus was arrested. This was Peter’s moment of reconciling with Christ. Everything the ArchLou Great Novena hopes to accomplish is leading to and through this momentous question. It’s a question every single Pope throughout the centuries has had to wrestle with in light of being this man’s successor. Jesus re-establishes the masculinity and leadership of Peter in this moment, but for those of us who have denied Jesus for years, who have struggled to follow Him or trust in His Teachings that He has given to us through His Church, we must walk this path from Genesis and Exodus to Jesus’ Birth, Life, Death, and Resurrection as well. We must deal with our own sins, weaknesses, and failures by trusting in God’s merciful love. We must be willing to walk the path to Calvary that these reflections invite us to trod. If we ever hope to see the Promised Land of our children or our children’s children growing up in stability, peace, and faith—while living in that Peace of Christ that He gave St. Peter and the other Apostles ourselves, then we must be willing to pick up our crosses and follow Jesus. When we begin the Year of Wonder next month, we will begin where we must always begin, in Genesis. These reflections this month are meant to prepare our hearts, to help us discern our attitude and resolve, and to open this treasure trove of God’s Love that is awaiting us with each passing day. God has invited you to discover your story and unlock these mysteries one Gift at a time. Wonder always leads to Wisdom, but it is long pilgrimage. Are you willing to take the first step?

“The Father who dwells in me is doing his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father.” Ultimately, the Great Novena is about guiding people into the heart of the Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus. The celebrations, the prayers, the gatherings, the community, the truths and formation we experience—all of this is part of getting to know Jesus more deeply. The Father dwells in the Sacred Heart of Jesus. That  means when we look at Jesus, we look at the Father. Now, God the Father is invisible. We can’t see Him. Yet, because God the Son became human, we can see God, and because the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are Three Persons in One God, while all the Persons are distinct, they are all present together at all times. So God the Son is present in the Person of Jesus Christ, and the Father is also with Him. In some way, the Father becomes visible in Jesus as well! Some of us have strained relationships with our earthly fathers. Perhaps he’s in the picture, maybe we lost him long ago, it’s possible we’ve made amends and have a great relationship with our dads. Whether we are in college or grandparents, our understanding of God the Father flows from our experience of fatherhood in this life through our natural family relationships. If we want to imitate Jesus, to live, pray, and love the way Jesus does, then we must get in touch with this relationships that He has with His Father in Heaven. This is the key that will unlock the Treasure lying in the depths of our hearts. We must restore in some way a relationship with the Father as a personal, loving, life-giving, gentle, strong encounter. Can we call Him “Daddy, Abba” as Jesus did? Take this to prayer, and consider these words during your rosary this day. 

“Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain alone.” This famous story of Jesus multiplying the loaves and the fish for the five-thousand we know happens before His Death and Resurrection. However, it is a story that foreshadows the ultimate Gift of God’s Eternal Life in Heaven, which is fulfilled in the Eucharist. In fact, in the Gospel, the timing of this miracle happens right before the Apostles cross the Sea of Galilee in the storm to see Jesus walking on water AND the Eucharistic Discourse He gives once they arrive on the other side. This means that the miracle of this multiplication of food is just a sign pointing us toward the ultimate food from Heaven, Jesus’ very Body and Blood. The only way we can truly understand, embrace, and live this Eucharistic Life though is to cross the storm of disbelief, doubt, indifference, ignorance, and persecution. Jesus calms this storm, and indeed, is in complete control of it! In this Easter Season, as we continue to prepare for this upcoming Year of Wonder, let us remember the reality of Jesus’ awareness of what He was doing in the years before His Death and Resurrection. Every single teaching, miracle, decision and person He met was intentional. Through His daily actions, He gave His disciples systematic formation. Nothing was random. While it seemed like there was a storm within Jesus, the Truth is that Jesus WAS the Storm, but not one of destruction or death. Rather, this kind of storm transforms and empowers us. He knew they would want to make Him immediately after He performed this sign, but not for the right reasons. So, he withdrew to the mountain alone. His Resurrection, if He had stayed on earth, would have led people to the same conclusion, yet once again, for the wrong reason. So, His Ascension into Heaven was necessary so that we could rely on the Holy Spirit to more deeply enter into a relationship with Him and allow Him to guide our lives with our free, loving, and peaceful openness to His Plan. In that way, we will one day find ourselves alone with Jesus on that Mountain of Heaven, only to be welcomed by all those who have gone before us. In Truth, by trusting Jesus, even when we are alone, we are never lonely. 

“For the one whom God sent speaks the words of God. He does not ration his gift of the Spirit. The Father loves the Son and has given everything over to him.” Jesus’ Words have the power to penetrate our hearts and transform our souls. The Gifts of the Holy Spirit are packed with power and value. They can change things within us forever, but only if we allow them inside us. God is not holding out on us. He’s not a tyrant. He is the light of Truth itself. When we prefer darkness, when we are steeped in wickedness and are afraid of being exposed, we are not protecting the value of our personhood or dignity. Rather, we are holding onto worthless things and meaningless lies. The True Treasure that we can discover in this Great Novena is the movement of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit from prayer to communion to solidarity. This is the same movement from wonder to wisdom to beatitude. As we approach the days in which the Cardinals begin to discern who our next Holy Father will be, as we move more deeply through this Jubilee Year of Hope, let us continue to invite and inspire those in the Archdiocese of Louisville to join us in this Great Novena Prayer or Union & Solidarity. Let us continue to pray our rosary each day during this 54-Day Rosary Novena, especially in this first half in Petition for the many intentions we hold in the silence of our hearts. These intentions are what the Holy Spirit is overshadowing. These intentions will be answered by God very soon, and in Jesus’ Name, we can trust in His gratuitous generosity. After all, God never says “No” to our prayers. He either says, “Not Yet,” “Yes,” or “I have something better in mind. Trust Me.” Can we be detached from what we think we need and cling to the Treasure of Truth, Goodness, Beauty, and Love? 

“Everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.” This line sums up Jesus’ entire mission and message. If we want to be with Jesus, then we must be completely honest. If we want to hold onto lies, fantasies, or meaningless idols, then we will simply remain in darkness. Before the Holy Spirit brings order, beauty, and light in the Story of Creation, there is the chaos of nothingness that must be addressed. We live in a world that has forgotten God, and yet because so many of us are starting to wake up, we can see the evidence of the Holy Spirit hovering over the chaos of this global internet to bring forth the Truth of God’s Love once again. Yes there is confusion about who we are, where we’ve come from, and where we are headed. There is confusion about how we must treat one another as well as what makes a fulfilling and meaningful life. However, despite the confusion and lies some of us may have believed, God the Father made us a certain way, and He never changes or wavers on the promise of true love He’s destined us to receive. He longs for us to soften our hearts enough to hear His voice and trust His Plan for love and life. The wickedness of the world, both in the division of war, as well as in the division of families and individuals can be overcome. It is possible to allow God to bring about a New Creation in this world. Perhaps this time in our lives is the first day of the New Creation God is making within you. 

“If I tell you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?” Jesus continues His conversation with Nicodemus with a bit of sad frustration. This man, a teacher of Israel, couldn’t comprehend the depths of God’s eternal love. The earthly world in which we live can seem so permanent, so incredible, so fun and fulfilling that we can literally forget that it’s temporary and passing. Every good experience is meant to be an icon of Heaven, not an idol of Hell. When we worship our experiences, possessions, activities, hobbies, or relationships, we can forget about the ultimate relationship with the Person who made us all. We can forget about the most valuable reality of existence. Life on earth will end much sooner than we think, so we must prepare our hearts for the ultimate unknown. However, this should not make us hopeless. Pope Francis established the Jubilee Year of Hope for a reason. Death is not the end, even if our loved ones face it with fear, despair, or a hopeless attitude as if they have simply “given up” on life. Cancer, disease, injuries, accidents, or self-inflicted harm can all drive people to the edge of self-annihilation. Yet, if we can see even the toughest experiences in life as profound opportunities from God to trust His providence, we can overcome anything. Victory over death is possible with Jesus Christ, and if we allow Him to get into the boat of our whole family, then we can all become witnesses of Hope together. This is why JPII wrote so much about marriage, family, and sexuality. He wanted us to see our bodies as gifts, treasures, temples of the Holy Spirit to cherish and never give up on. Life is precious, and love is the medicine to heal all wounds. Embrace this love of Jesus Christ this Easter Season, and you can be there for your family when they are most in need of consolation, compassion, and peace. May all our loved ones who have gone before us pray for us as we pray for them, especially those in Purgatory or those who have no one to pray for them.

“Unless one is born of water and Spirit he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.” These words of Jesus spoken to Nicodemus should prepare our hearts for the transition from the Year of Invitation to the Year of Wonder in this Great Novena leading to 2033 when Jesus will give us His Greatest Commission. The journey from Wonder to Wisdom is long, challenging, and at times difficult, yet, with perseverance and trust in Jesus, it becomes the most rewarding and fulfilling experience imaginable. This is not an ordinary birth into an ordinary life. Baptism gives us a rebirth into an extraordinary life filled with supernatural love and meaning. If you are seeking real meaning in your life, then dig deeply in the well of living waters of the Catholic Faith. The Church has centuries of history, teachings, wisdom, suffering, and truth hidden away like a Treasure waiting to be discovered by each of us. If we can see this Great Novena, both in the simplicity of the prayer AND in the complexity of the movement of communion and solidarity, then we can see the ultimate goal of Jesus is to renew our families, restore our culture, and resurrect our Church by transforming each of our individual hearts! Perhaps you have felt your life has been filled with chaos, abuse, addiction, or some other form of great evil or darkness. Such is the case when the treasure of eternal life is buried in the depths of our hearts in a place we have never been willing to explore. Fear, shame, or doubt can make us shut down our hearts. Yet Jesus is capable, through His Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist, & Confession to open us up to the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. He can confirm our faith and restore our hearts, bringing order, beauty, and light once again. The Year of Wonder is coming. The New Creation of the Church is beginning. Don’t miss this opportunity to be a part of something bigger than any of us can fully comprehend. Prepare your heart to more deeply commit to being His Disciple today. 

Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” As the final day passes in this Octave of Easter, we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday, established by John Paul II in the Year 2000 for the universal Church on the day he canonized St. Faustina, the visionary of Jesus who gave the world Divine Mercy. This is where the famous words at the bottom of the famous painting, “Jesus, I trust in You” come from. And, in the Church’s Wisdom, on this day, the reading for the 8th day of the Octave of Easter is the story of Jesus having mercy on his disciples, despite the fact that they all ran away except for John the day Jesus was crucified! They must have been terrified about what He would do to them when they found out that He had risen from the dead. That meant He really was God Himself, that nothing could stop Him, not even death. And these disciples abandoned Him when He needed them most by His side? Yet, Jesus came to give them peace, mercy, and love. Thomas doubted of course in the famous moment when Jesus showed up again to cast away all his doubts by entering through a locked door without being a ghost. That means our bodily resurrection will be familiar but different. Perhaps the disciples were scared of the Jews or the Romans while in Jerusalem, which is why they must have locked the door. They were protecting themselves from what they felt would be certain death, meaning they treasured their lives without trusting the Lord. So, when Jesus comes into their midst anyway, He reminds them of the greater Treasure of Heaven by showing them His side and taking Thomas’ hand and placing it into His deepest wounds, wounds that now shine with glorious, merciful love. On this day, go to Confession. Trust in His Mercy and Goodness. Don’t hide from Him. Seek out His Heart of Love.

“Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.” The Great Commission is to share the good news of the Resurrection without holding back and without fear. The fullness of the Gospel though is proclaimed not in piecemeal, haphazard fashion that leaves people confused, directionless, or filled with doubt and division. Rather, the fullness of the Gospel is shared systematically and intentionally. We cannot allow the efficiency of the industrial revolution to remain in our minds if we are to be entrusted with the salvation of souls! Discipleship is slow, hard, intentional work like gardening. It can't be manufactured. Otherwise, we end up in a pile of Catholicism not knowing how any of the saints, sacraments, traditions, prayers, or teachings connect together or to the rest of our existence. The need for structures to support systematic formation outside of the efficiency or functional paradigms is critical if the Church is to truly experience Resurrection. However, in these years leading up to 2033 and beyond, the Church has been quite literally participating in the Death of Christ, and yet, we are also invited to participate in His Resurrection as well. The Church is waking up! Just as Adam was put into a deep sleep (literally “torpor” meaning a “state of non-being”) in order to be remade and reawakened as a double unity as male and female, so too has the Church been asleep the last several decades and is being brought back to her senses but now with an even more effective means of imaging Christ the Bridegroom. The Promised Land is filled with the Treasures of Heaven. The Saints in Heaven are praying for us on earth to witness these days with expectant hope. And, since hope is not just extra positivity or optimism, but rather the certainty that things will make sense eventually no matter what happens, then we must prepare ourselves for every possibility. Sharing the Gospel is hard work, but it is incredibly joyful and possible. It is the most compelling, inspiring, exciting, hopeful, joyful, and valuable invitation we can possibly share with someone we love. The first major events of the ArchLou Great Novena are being planned as we speak. More information is coming soon! We hope you will join us for our Pentecost Pilgrimage to kick off the Year of Wonder on Saturday, June 7th. Go to greatnovena.com to stay updated as we prepare more information.

“He said to them, "Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something." So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish.” The ArchLou Great Novena falls right in line with this momentous experience of the disciples with Jesus on the Sea of Galilee. This “sea” is not much bigger than Taylorsville Lake near Louisville. This is the same sea that Jesus walked upon and calmed the storms. It is the same sea where Jesus got into Peter’s boat and changed his life forever. And in this moment, after Jesus’ death in Jerusalem, the disciples fled there for fear of suffering the same fate, and yet, upon Jesus’ own request, made their way back home to Galilee. This is the place where Jesus began His public ministry, where He first made Himself known through His miracles and teachings. This is when He gained His following and also when the disciples (including Peter, Andrew, James, and John) felt the power and joy of Jesus’ identity flood their being. You could say that the Sea of Galilee represented “the good ole days” when their first encounter with Jesus was still fresh, new, and exciting. Now, having witnessed His brutal crucifixion, Galilee was a place of familiarity. Yet, Jesus had changed them forever with the Resurrection, and when He revealed Himself to them just as He had done so at the very beginning with the catching of fish, it became obvious that what they were finding was not just fish, but the something deeper—the meaning behind the experience. This is at the very essence of the Great Novena, to re-establish the sacramental worldview in the hearts and minds of our closest friends and family, all by allowing Christ to work through us, to go out into the deep, and lower our nets for a catch more numerous than we can imagine. The ultimate Treasure found in the Kingdom of Heaven is the glory of God through the salvation of souls. Pray for your families during this Easter season—for deep conversion, miracles of healing, and moment of reckoning that only Christ can orchestrate.

“Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones

as you can see I have.” Jesus is not a ghost! He’s not imaginary or fictitious. The Resurrection really happened! Countless thousands have been willing to die for this belief in the Resurrection. The Eucharist is both a sacrifice AND a celebration, a recognition of the challenges we still face AND an abiding hope in the Promise of Eternal Life. As we continue to prepare our hearts for the Resurrection of the Bride of Christ in our beloved Church, knowing full well the crucifixion we have endured these last several decades, let us trust in Divine Mercy! Let us trust in the Risen Lord’s bodily resurrection. His flesh and bones is not poetic symbolism. This is incarnate, tangible, visible power passing into the field of vision of Jesus’ closest friends and family. Remember, his disciples were no longer his slaves. He called them his friends. That’s what Christianity is about. At the core of discipleship is a deep an abiding friendship, but not only based solely on entertainment, humor, parties, or recreation—all of which serve as great raw material for friendship, but without virtue, kindness, accountability, and unstructured intentionality (both in fun, in service, and in community), friendships cannot become Christ-like. We cannot embody the Gospel as friends nor witness to the Resurrection as friends if we do not seek first the Kingdom of Heaven. If we treasure fun over freedom, pleasure over peace, or emotions over enduring truth, then we may miss the joyful friendships Christ has in store for us. When you pray your Rosary, our Prayer of Petition, and the Great Novena Prayer of Union & Solidarity, please pray that God will raise up a generation of solid Catholic friendships for the good of our families as we all become witnesses to hope.

“He took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him.” In these dramatic days in the history of the Catholic Church, particularly with the passing of our Holy Father Pope Francis, we come upon in the Octave of Easter the famous story of the two disciples on the Road to Emmaus. Thousands of pages have been written to reflect upon this passage, and in our time, it seems to be the very theme of the Church. Here we are, apparently going in the wrong direction and Christ comes to listen to our hearts and help us reflect upon our story. Each of us has a unique story, where we’ve come from, where we are, and where we are heading, and Christ accompanies us patiently, mercifully, confidently. He listens to us, but then He also invites us to listen to HIM as He breaks open Scripture and transforms our lives. This is also the heart of the Great Novena’s “Year of Invitation!” Only when we break bread with Him though can we actually recognize Him as our Savior, and yet this sacred meal can only happen if we are willing to first sacrifice our comfort zones and enter these threshold conversations with others. To break bread, we must first allow Christ to break through the hardened soil of our hearts. Through the Eucharist, the seed is planted within us and we become grafted to the Vine of Eternal Life. As we continue to prepare for the 2,000th Anniversary of the Church in 2033, let us pray diligently for the soul of Pope Francis and for the Cardinals to be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit as they elect the next Successor of St. Peter, and let us pray for all those who have fallen away from the Church, that this time can inspire them to reconsider their own hopes for true love and a meaningful life. Come, Holy Spirit!

“She thought it was the gardener…” Consider for a moment your role in the drama of Salvation History. How do you fit in? What part do you play “in the grand scheme of things?” Mary Magdalene must have wondered why Christ had chosen her from the muck of her darkness, sin, and demonic possession. Remember, she was the woman who Christ had cast out seven demons! This woman had been quite literally through hell. Yet, in the wasteland of her former life, in the warzone of her suffering, Christ came to bring order, beauty, and light once again. He called her by name and drew her into the light of His love. After the Resurrection, He began to cultivate His garden with her. The seed of course had already been planted in the Blessed Mother at the Annunciation, and there is certainly tradition that Christ would have visited His Mother before Mary Magdalene or the other disciples. However, Mary Magdalene remains special to Christ in that He longed for the People of Israel to be caught up in this incredible story as well. He longed for those who had fallen and been cast out of the Garden of Eden to be reclaimed and restored to new life in the Garden of the Resurrection. However, Christ still had to tell her how to remain on the vine most effectively, though it seemed counterintuitive: “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father.” She must have been hugging him quite tightly, as if she never wanted to let Him go again! Yet, it is the Holy Spirit which we must cling to closely in this life, so that, once we enter our own death and are buried in Christ, we can trust in Him to bring us back to life.

“The soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed.” On this Easter Monday, this line is poignant. To HIDE the truth of Christ’s Resurrection, the chief priests paid the soldiers to lie about what they had witnessed. Claiming the disciples stole the body of Jesus, many even today doubt the Resurrection. However, if thousands of saints and martyrs have witnessed to Christ’s Resurrection over the centuries, there must be something off about this other story. The lies of Satan twist the truth into something plausible and attractive for those seeking the easy way out. If we wish to know the truth, then we must be willing to search for it. It’s not just that the truth will set you free in some big moment. It’s also not just that the truth will MAKE you free through your own efforts. Rather, it’s about knowing the Truth by allowing Christ to reveal Himself to us through the slow passage of time, and then, through our receptive hearts to His healing rays of Divine Mercy, bask in His loving kindness. The Great Novena is a prayer meant to prepare us for these healing rays, so that we reject the lies of this culture of death and hopelessness. If we ever hope to bring others back to Church, back to the Sacraments, back to Jesus, we must trust Him completely. He is in charge of the timing of when and how His Truth is known. He is in charge of softening the hearts of others, and only He can provide the treasured truth they are seeking in their identity and purpose. Instead of being controlled by money, politics, pleasure, or possessions, doing as THEY instruct, let us listen to Christ in the depths of our hearts and do as HE instructs, and through that, we receive the most valuable reality imaginable—a Resurrected Love that casts out fear.

Happy Easter everyone! He is Risen, Alleluia! As we enjoy this incredibly good news, in fact, the best news EVER, let us consider the empty tomb as a treasure trove of wonder. As we welcome our family members back to Church for the first time in months or even years, let this be a glimpse of the Resurrection in our lives. Don’t let this moment pass without helping them see the possibilities of what Christ may be doing in their lives! Regardless of their intentions for coming to Mass (obligation, habit, indifferent familial responsibility, etc.), Christ is always the One who makes the first move! Our actions are merely a response to His Love in our lives. It is HE who found the treasure of Heaven buried in the field of our hardened hearts. It is HE who hid this treasure within us so that He could go and out of JOY sell everything He had on the Cross so that He could purchase us for Himself. It is our choice whether or not we will allow Him to unearth this treasure permanently. As John the Beloved Disciple gazed into the empty tomb, one must wonder if He was pondering these mysteries. As Peter walked in to discover this treasure of the Resurrection, it naturally pulled John into the mystery as well. This is the essence of the “Year of Invitation.” Let your Easter Joy be obvious and gentle, strong and grateful. Don’t be afraid to be Catholic. Let the Treasure of Jesus Christ shine in you for all to see! 

If Louisville’s Great Novena is to bear fruit, we must remain on the vine in the Church that Christ Himself established. Christ gave the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven to Peter. He entrusted Him with the gatekeeping of the greatest treasure of all, and He invites each of us to give up everything and follow Him to this Resurrection Joy. However, Resurrection is not instantaneous, for the people would have otherwise mistaken the Resurrection for a false death. No—Jesus had to truly die, to be declared dead, to be witnessed by the living as one among the dead. By doing this, He sanctified even death itself so that it too can become a breakthrough moment (in fact, the definitive breakthrough moment) by which we escape the clutches of Satan and the decay and sin of this world and enter our eternal rest. The fruit we bear, the legacy we leave behind, the impact our lives make on one another must proclaim the Paschal Mystery, Indeed, it’s Death AND Resurrection! Just don’t forget the time it takes between the two. Jesus was in the tomb, in the realm of the death from Good Friday at 3pm until Easter Sunday sunrise. That’s roughly 40 hours. No wonder “their story seemed like nonsense and they did not believe them! But Peter got up and ran to the tomb…” No wonder he became the first Pope, the Rock upon which Christ built His Church. Peter was running to the only place he knew to go, to the one Who had the “Words of Everlasting Life.” Peter clung to the vine, even unto death. Let us learn to do the same, so that we too can come home “amazed” as what has happened.

On this Good Friday, the treasure Jesus is seeking in His willingness to enter His Passion and Death is surprising. He makes it very clear in His conversation with the guards who have come to arrest Him. “I told you that I AM. So if you are looking for me, let these men go.” This was to fulfill what he had said, “I have not lost any of those you gave me.” God the Father gave something very special to Jesus, a treasure He was not going to lose in this mysterious self-gift. Oh He was willing to lose His life in the process, which was a priceless treasure as well. However, He was selling everything He had on His journey to Calvary for the Kingdom of Heaven, the pearl of great price, the “treasure buried in a field.” That treasure of the Kingdom of Heaven was something He knew was within each of US, and He was not going to lose those the Father had given Him. He’s talking about all of those who have been baptized into His Passion and Death. We too can lose our earthly lives for His sake, as we seek the treasures of Heaven in the Resurrection and Redemption of the Body. As we enter this sad, painful, and yet mysteriously good Friday, especially at the 3pm Hour of Divine Mercy, let us have sorrow for Jesus at the moment of His death, but let us also have hope in the prize of eternal life that is to come. This is something that lasts long beyond the pains of this temporary world of passing treasures, for it is a treasure of joy which will not disappoint and which will fulfill us beyond our wildest dreams.

Another pivotal line in the journey to Christian Perfection this time is Jesus’ statement to Peter: “Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.” Inheritance is more than money. It often has to do with property, investments, possessions, housing, and other elements of one’s legacy. When we inherit something, it usually involves someone’s death. Jesus is preparing his disciples for his death with this statement! Yet, at the same time, He is impressing upon them the critical truth of what is means to be “buried in a field.” If we truly wish to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven, we must be willing to sacrifice ALL of our possessions, property, money, and other assets in order to receive the greatest gift and treasure of all: Jesus’ presence and love forever. We can catch glimpses of that treasure now on earth in how we pray, in how we love one another, and in how we serve the Church. As you pray your rosary and our prayer of petition, we invite you also to consider praying the Great Novena Prayer of Union and Solidarity with us. You can find that prayer at greatnovena.com. This is a long journey, but by being consistent, persistent, and patient, we can discover our story in the Gospel and embrace Jesus’ servant leadership as He washes our feet and changes our lives.

The entire Christian Life hinges on this reality, stated plainly—“They paid him thirty pieces of silver.” As we embark on this next Pentecost Novena, it is my privilege to introduce the trajectory of the Great Novena for the Archdiocese of Louisville. 

These reflections will strengthen FRP’s 54-Day Rosary Novenas while also giving all those who participate in Louisville’s Great Novena fuel for the fire of the Holy Spirit which is stirring on the hearts of all of us in these sacred days. However, before we can encounter that Holy Fire of Pentecost Sunday, we must endure the crucifixion love of Christ, starting with the betrayal of Judas. 

On this Wednesday of Holy Week, let us also reflect on the theme for this “Year of Invitation” in the Great Novena as we invite and inspire all those to pray with us in preparation for the 2,000th Anniversary of the Birth of Catholicism in 2033. This year’s theme is “Like a Treasure Buried in a Field.” Christ is inviting us to consider the ultimate treasure we are worshipping. The Kingdom of Heaven is not one purchased with money, power, or political / military strength. It is not obtained through conspiracy, manipulation, or domination. Christ began his public ministry at age 30, and just 3 years later, for 30 pieces of silver, Judas showed us the violent fruit of greed when he handed over the Savior of the World to torture and death. 

Ironically, Judas was handing over the very treasure he should have been most seeking—union with God in the Kingdom of Heaven forever.

“Behold, I have graven thee in my hands; thy walls are always before my eyes. Put me as a seal upon thy heart, as a seal upon thy arm, for love is strong as death.”

As love is in focus in the month of February, we must remember daily that the love God has for his people is unfailing. That we are so beloved by God that he has literally written our names in his hands. Praise the Lord for this gift!

The love that God has for each of us is something we should unfailingly remember to thank him for every day.

As we go about our lives, we fall continually in and out of love for things of this world. We love our friends and our family, but they may disappoint us or confuse us with their words or their deeds. 

We may love our home, but grimace at the furniture that needs replacing or mending. Mothers and fathers should love their children unconditionally, but occasionally conflict between parents and children divides them and makes for challenging relationships.

This is not God’s way with us.

The living and knowing God continuously looks at us with loving and longing, calling us back always to him. Our challenges never cause the Lord to look away from us. 

On Valentine’s Day, and every day, let us never forget that the one who loves us the most is our Father in heaven. Let us do our utmost to love him back always, to thank him for his goodness, to acknowledge the gift of his unceasing love.

As we move through the Christmas Season, let us consider the depth of Christ’s Love for us in coming to us in the flesh in the humble manger in Bethlehem. He came not to a CEO, a President, or a King, but to a humble little family. He made them HOLY by becoming human and sanctifying their loving union. Joseph and Mary were committed to one another in a virginal and yet profoundly passionate love. The love of Jesus in their midst strengthened them all the more to accept the world as the gift that it is, and their prayers for us all with their newborn King changed the world.

We too can enter into this prayerful posture of receptivity. We too can accept the invitation to seek this treasure in Jesus’ love. He is the only One who can inspire and uplift us. He is the only One who can help us know the truth and to be unafraid of what it will do for us. Jesus Himself told us, “The truth will make you free.” This freedom is being offered to us by Jesus Himself, but He offers it to us through one another. Every opportunity He gives us to love comes with every encounter we have with one another. 

Every moment, we can share the Christmas Joy with others or not. Every day, we have the opportunity to speak the truth with love, to share the Gospel without fear. This is the time of year where great gifts are shared with one another, and yet the greatest gift of all comes to us on Christmas Day before any other gift is opened. Jesus Himself is the Treasure buried in the field, and the field where the shepherd’s kept watch over their flocks by night became the field where this treasure was revealed for the first time. In their joy, they sought the newborn King with everything they had.

The Magi followed the Star of Bethlehem, the Light of the World to the humble stable, and on this Epiphany, they had their “A-ha!” moment when their minds were renewed. When they encountered the most powerful King and Lord of the Universe as a vulnerable little baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, they must have paused in absolute awe at such a treasure of true Wisdom. These Wise Men finally could see as God sees, and so they returned home a different way, changed forever because of the insight God had given them.

The Great Novena is meant to do this for us as well. This is a great light of goodness, truth, and beauty in our beloved Archdiocese of Louisville. This is an opportunity to pray together like never before. Essentially, the Great Novena is a prayer first and foremost and you participate most simply by praying the prayer in solidarity with others. 

From this prayer, we hope it inspires many to start or join a small group, seek spiritual direction, or counseling—as well as help us all to create the infrastructure and culture that supports these personal encounters. That infrastructure includes bigger events in the universal and Archdiocesan Church (retreats, conferences, liturgical events, service, courses, adventure, etc.) as well as developing support systems for small group leaders, priests and others providing spiritual direction, counseling, etc. 

Both the grassroots relational work as well as the infrastructural / cultural work are meant to give God to space to transform our hearts and re-establish the sacramental worldview in society. This means seeing God in everything and meeting Jesus in everyone, even in our everyday loved experiences of birthdays, concerts, sports, family life, and more—all to build union in the Church and solidarity in the world. 

That begins this year from Advent through Christmas and beyond. As we welcome the birth of Jesus into our hearts this year, let us continue to go on Mission in the Eucharistic Revival by inviting and inspiring everyone we know to join the movement of Louisville’s Great Novena by just praying with us. Remember, Jesus is the vine, and we are the branches. If we remain in Him and He remains in us, we will change the world. Without Him though, we can do nothing. Trust in Jesus, surrender to His love, and marvel at the Holy Family’s Treasure Trove in His little newborn body.

As always, we invite you to consider starting a small group of 5-8 people in your parish or community to reflect on this theme in these weeks of Winter’s purity. After many years of hardship and suffering, perhaps these will be the years where He washes away the darkness and brings the innocence of childhood, laughter, joy, and purity again into our hearts. Please pray for the Great Novena Task Force and all those discerning their commitment to this great movement. Now, let us pray our Official Prayer of Union and Solidarity for Louisville’s Great Novena.

God is inviting us on a great journey of redemption, healing, and joy. The Great Novena in the Archdiocese of Louisville has the potential to become a great treasure for those who discover it. Jesus is referring to our mystical encounter with Him in our daily lives in this passage from Matthew’s Gospel. The theme of this first year of Louisville’s Great Novena is focused on the Kingdom of Heaven and all that God is inviting us to sacrifice to enter this place of eternal joy. What are you willing to sacrifice to find true union with Jesus in one another?

When we invite someone to pray with us, we must be gentle, intentional, and reverent. There is a sacred space between our hearts and theirs, whether it’s through a friendly text message, phone call, or conversation after Mass. That space is meant to be filled with the words of the Holy Spirit, where the truth is only spoken with love. If we wish to inspire others to walk this journey to Calvary with us, if we wish to compel them to commit to this long journey of prayer and transformation, then we must allow them to discover it in their own time.

One huge trait of the Great Novena is the longevity of it. This is a 10-year process of prayer, formation, community, and transformation. Whether one discovers this movement now or in 2033, Jesus is still working in their lives right now to open their hearts to His love. All we are called to do is reveal His Kingdom to those He sends us, while allowing those very same people to reveal the Kingdom of God to us as well. After all, this is an infinite Kingdom with souls all over the earth made for this eternal life and love. When we come to understand that profound reality, I think it can settle us in for the long haul. Catholics learn to play “the long game” when we accept that we are not the savior of humanity.

However, when we have encountered Jesus, who IS the Savior, He draws us into His great adventure of evangelization in the Great Commission. We just don’t have to have all the answers or please every person we meet. Jesus knows their hearts, and He most definitely knows their wounds. Only He can reveal to them the treasure of their truest selves, contained most perfectly in the Eucharist. As we delve more deeply into this Year of Mission in the Eucharistic Revival in the United States, let the beginning of Louisville’s Great Novena be a part of that mission of inviting and inspiring everyone we meet into the bigger story of salvation.

Right now, for most people in the Archdiocese of Louisville, this treasure of their Catholic Faith and true humanity is still buried in the field. There is still much work to do in order to build greater union in the Church, and without putting these efforts at the center of the universe, we must still remain committed to showing people the importance of true union, not just objective obligation to others. The structure of the Church is given to us by Christ certainly, but our receptivity to this structure and our subjective experience of this union needs great revival and restoration. Let this first reflection of the Great Novena be an opportunity for us to pray more deeply for this union so we can inspire solidarity in the world when the Good Lord shows us how.

We invite you to consider starting a small group of 5-8 people in your parish or community to reflect on this theme each week during Advent and Lent of this year.

Please pray for the Great Novena Leadership Team and all those discerning their commitment to this great movement. Now, as we conclude, let us pray our Official Prayer of Union and Solidarity of Louisville’s Great Novena.