About Ronald Patrick Raab, C.S.C.

Ronald Raab, C.S.C.,serves as religious superior at Holy Cross House, a medical and retirement home for the Congregation of Holy Cross, Notre Dame, Indiana

On The Margins – John 12:20-33

Posted on March 21, 2015 by Ronald Patrick Raab, C.S.C.

Listen to “On the Margins”. This broadcast comes from KBVM 88.3, Catholic Broadcasting Northwest. We have a deep instinct to preserve our lives. Yet, Jesus calls us to die to selves so that we can live in Christ. There is a profound desire to pattern our lives in Christ’s passion, death and resurrection. Prayer invites us into change. Fifth Sunday of Lent, March 22, 2015.

Listen now: [audio https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/75239779/On%20The%20Margins/On%20The%20Margins%20March%2022%202015.mp3]

Stream live On The Margins on KBVM 88.3FM on Saturdays at 8am and Sundays at 8am.

Bread and Concrete: (Liturgy and Ministry Magazine, April 2015)

Posted on March 20, 2015 by Ronald Patrick Raab, C.S.C.

(Part 3) This is the third feature article in a ten-part series in Liturgy and Ministry Magazine, April 2015. This series reflects my ministry of celebrating Eucharist in Portland, Oregon. I am very grateful to Ada Simpson, editor for her willingness to publish these reflections.

Kisses of betrayal and mercy

“…She has not stopped kissing my feet since the time I entered.” Luke 7

I approach the altar with a profound bow. I make my way up the two dark-stained wooden steps of the sanctuary. I lean over the altar and kiss the place of sacrifice and of celebration from where we shall eat our daily bread. With the altar I begin the Eucharist with a sacred moment of intimacy. This kiss is far reaching, it is not just a kiss on wood or cloth or stone or mosaic or tapestry. This kiss is public witness that my life as a priest is either authentic – or not. My life must become and remain a vessel for God’s faithfulness to fill every relationship and every human encounter.

My public kiss begins in my private prayer. My lips on the altar may turn into a kiss of duplicity if I do not find my true life in Christ Jesus. My vocation is to make this kiss real and genuine. I am called to find Christ in my silence, in the intimate moments of my life struggle and in my own pain and suffering and on-going questions. If I avoid the truth of my life, my lips will become chapped kissing wood and cloth. My kiss is formed from years of prayer, a lifetime of struggles with personal intimacy, discovering a generative life and a healthy sexuality. This kiss is a public witness that I have found intimacy with God and especially within the Eucharist itself. This kiss goes public at every Mass. Continue reading →

Lent 2015: St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Posted on March 19, 2015 by Ronald Patrick Raab, C.S.C.

St. Joseph
Pencil: Ronald Raab, CSC

Our professed Brothers of the Congregation of Holy Cross are dedicated to St. Joseph, so today is their feast day. Here is a short reflection from our website of the Congregation of Holy Cross:

As Holy Cross brothers, we go to St. Joseph as the model of a life humbly lived for God and for others in poverty, chastity, and obedience. In living out his vocation as the husband of Mary and the foster-father of Jesus, St. Joseph remained unwavering in his loyalty, faithful to his mission, and unselfishly open to the will of God. Following his example, we seek to offer our lives to God and to others with that same loyalty, faithfulness, and generosity.

St. Joseph, pray for us

Click here to learn more about our patrons in the Congregation of Holy Cross

Lent 2015: “The Veteran of All Wars”

Posted on March 18, 2015 by Ronald Patrick Raab, C.S.C.

“The Veteran of All Wars”
Painting: Ronald Raab, CSC

Recently, I have listened to several veterans who struggle with their lives now that they have returned to civilian life. One man has lost his family and may lose his home because of his health issues. Another veteran has found consolation in drugs and alcohol to numb the emotional pain from serving several tours of duty.

This painting represents veterans of all wars, from generation to generation. In this Lenten season, learn more about why our veterans struggle with homelessness when they return from serving our country.

Click here to read more about homeless veterans.

Click here to read more about why veterans are homeless.

Lent 2015: “The elderly and medications”

Posted on March 17, 2015 by Ronald Patrick Raab, C.S.C.

“Which pills do I take?”
Charcoal: Ronald Raab, CSC

Today’s gospel is about the man who sat at the pool of Bethesda waiting to be healed. He sat there for thirty-eight years. Jesus heals him. Jesus invites him to take up his mat and walk. Today, many elderly women and men wait for such healing. Prescription drugs are a concern for our older population. People struggle to see the pills, to read the directions and remember when and how to take their medications.

Elderly people are often confused about the right use of these medications in order to find healing and pain management. “Did I take my pills today?” “I really cannot see my pills?” “Do I take them all at once or space them out during the day, I cannot remember?” “I thought for sure I took these pills this morning, I better take some more.”

Let us pray for our women and men who need assistance in their lives for the healing they need. Let us lift up to Jesus our cry for healing in mind, body and soul. Let us hear for our own lives Jesus saying to us, “Rise, pick up your mat and walk.”

Click here to read more about the difficulties older people face with medications.

Click here for a quick fact sheet about our elders and prescription drugs.

Lent 2015: Second Scrutiny Litany from March 15

Posted on March 16, 2015 by Ronald Patrick Raab, C.S.C.

The Second Scrutiny: (Cycle B) The Fourth Sunday of Lent, March 15, 2014

Response: Christ in me, arise

From the darkness of indifference to strangers…

From the darkness of impatience to our children…

From the darkness of manipulation in our relationships…

From the darkness of overt pride and selfish attitudes…

From the darkness of self-centered power and blatant control…

From the darkness of sexism and racism…

From the darkness of sarcasm and mockery…

From the darkness of food addiction and self-hatred…

From the darkness of bigotry and prejudice…

From the darkness of past mistakes and uncertain futures…

From the darkness of put-downs and outbursts…

From the darkness of poor body image and negative choices…

From the darkness of always needing to judge other people…

From the darkness of compromising our lives and talents…

From the darkness of devaluing ourselves…

From the darkness of stereotyping other people…

From the darkness of not taking risks…

From the darkness of keeping our eyes cast down in shame…

From the darkness of wicked things and not living the gospel…

From the darkness of not seeing miracles and beauty…

And from all evil…

Fourth Sunday of Lent 2015: Jean Vanier and L’Arche

Posted on March 15, 2015 by Ronald Patrick Raab, C.S.C.

Jean Vanier founder of L’Arche

“Live as children of the Light.” (Ephesians 5, from the Fourth Sunday of Lent, Cycle B)

Each year, the Templeton Foundation gives a large monetary prize to someone who excels in life’s spiritual dimensions. This year’s winner, Jean Vanier, received $1.7 million.

I invite you to read more about Jean Vanier receiving this prestigious award. Jean is profoundly wise and a true religious leader in our day. Jean Vanier has created nothing short of a miracle for people with emotional and mental disabilities. His community, L’Arche is world wide. He believes and can testify that community heals. We must hold on to this insight with hope for our future. His voice is profound, loving. His mission is to restore relationships from all the divisions of the world. He will be officially recognized in May for his life and life work.

If you read nothing else on this Lenten journey, ( I know I say that a lot!) make sure you read and listen to these interviews. We need such wisdom. We need people to lead us. We need to enter into the truth of God’s love and plan for us all. We need to stop our judgements about people, about ourselves and listen with our emptiness to the power of God’s love for us. We need to seek the light that God gives each person and then become instruments of peace.

Click here to read and listen to his interview, “What does it mean to be fully human?”

Click here to listen to Krista Tippett and her interview with Jean Vanier. Don’t miss it!

Click here to read an interview from Religion and Ethics.

Click here to read more about the Templeton Foundation.

Click here to read more about L’Arche USA

The Independent sketched the beginnings of his life’s work:

Mr Vanier left the Navy in 1960 after almost drowning. He went to live in Paris to think, and write, about the meaning of life. A Dominican priest, Thomas Philippe, took him to see a mental institution near Meaux, east of the French capital. “I was horrified,” he recalled. “There were 80 people living in a building meant for 40. They were subjected to terrible violence.”Mr Vanier bought a house in the village of Trosly-Breuil near Compiègne and invited two men from the institution to live with him. “People with mental disabilities have been among the most oppressed and humiliated,” he said. “They were called idiots. But these are beautiful people.”

On The Margins – John 3:14-21

Posted on March 14, 2015 by Ronald Patrick Raab, C.S.C.

Listen to “On the Margins”. This broadcast comes from KBVM 88.3, Catholic Broadcasting Northwest. This gospel calls us into reflection on the cross of Christ. God wants the best for us. We must not settle for anything less than God. Lent invites us into Light. Lent invites us to be restored in Christ. Fourth Sunday of Lent, March 15, 2015.

Listen now: [audio https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/75239779/On%20The%20Margins/On%20The%20Margins%20March%2015%202015.mp3]

Stream live On The Margins on KBVM 88.3FM on Saturdays at 8am and Sundays at 8am.

Pope Francis: Second Anniversary

Posted on March 13, 2015 by Ronald Patrick Raab, C.S.C.

Pope Francis washing feet on Holy Thursday

Today we mark the second anniversary of Pope Francis’ election as pope. Let us pray for Pope Francis and the Roman Catholic Church on this day, that we may become instruments of God’s mercy in the world, that we may follow Christ as people of non-violence and peace, and that we may be challenged by the Holy Spirit to witness hope in our ever changing and complicated world.

Come, Holy Spirit, Come!

Click here for an article from Catholic Relief Services on his outreach to the poor

Click here for an article from Time magazine on his leadership style.

Pope Francis will spent part of his second anniversary hearing confessions at Saint Peter’s. Here is part of what he said yesterday about confession:

Every penitent who approaches the confessional is sacred ground to be cultivated with care and attention

Vatican City, 12 March 2015 (VIS) – “The Sacraments, as we know, are God’s demonstration of closeness and tenderness towards humanity; they are the concrete way God created to move be closer to us, to embrace us, without shame for our limits”, said Pope Francis this morning as he received in audience in the Paul VI Hall the participants in the annual Course on the Inner Forum organized by the Apostolic Penitentiary. “Without doubt”, he continued, “among the Sacraments, it is that of Reconciliation that best shows the merciful face of God. We must never forget, either as penitents or as confessors: there is no sin that God cannot forgive! None! Only what is hidden from divine mercy cannot be forgiven, like those that hide themselves from the sun cannot be illuminated or warmed.

Rev. Malcolm Boyd, Episcopal Priest and Civil Rights Leader, dies at 91

Posted on March 12, 2015 by Ronald Patrick Raab, C.S.C.

Rev. Malcolm Boyd, dies at 91

I learned last week that another civil rights leader has died, Rev. Malcolm Boyd. He was an an actor and writer and later was ordained a priest in the Episcopal Church. He was a prolific writer who produced over thirty books. I am privileged to own two autographed books from the remarkable man. I met Malcolm in Los Angeles about ten years ago through another Episcopal priest friend of mine. I spoke with him a few times and he was always so supportive of my writing for publication. As our country remembers the march on Selma this past week, we have lost another public figure who stretched out his faith into loving witness in the world. He marched there fifty years ago. God bless his soul.

Click here for his obituary from the New York Times

Click here for a short video on his life. This is a wonderful interview.

Click here for the obituary in the Washington Post