The "R. A. C. E."

"R" for "Reading". Reading refers to constantly learning more about my faith, about the teaching of the Church, about Christ and His plans, whether by reading books, listening to tapes, attending lectures and study circles etc. if I make no effort to learn Christ's point of view, I will end up adopting someone Else's point of view-the TV's, the newspaper's, my boss',my professor's? In our "age of information"' with Church teaching available from myriad sources, we have no excuse for not knowing what we believe.

"A" for "Apostolate". An "apostle" is someone who is "sent out" to perform a task. When we become followers of Christ we are given the all-important task to: "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you."(Mt. 28:19-2) If a cell is not reproducing, it is probably dying; if I am not bringing others closer to Christ, I am probably not close to Christ myself.

"C" is for "Cross". The Cross -suffering, sacrifice, self-denial- was Christ's chosen instrument to redeem the world, to reestablish communion between God and man. If self-denial and sacrifice(i.e. doing things God's way when I would prefer to do things some other way, accepting the trials he allows me to undergo even when they make my heart bleed) are not present in our lives, how can we stay close to Christ? As Christ put it: "Then he said to all, "If anyone one wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."(lk. 9-23)He didn't make it optional.

"E"for "Encouragement". We can't do it alone. There are no Christian "Lone Rangers" -at least, not for long. "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them"(Mt. `18-2-). We need the encouragement of friends and companions who share our priorities, and we need the encouragement of those who are further along on the journey, who can guide and direct us.

In Short... If we frequent the sacraments, pray & fulfill the purpose for which God has created me then we can run the "RACE" in order to win.

THE MEANING OF LIFE

God created us in order to live in communion with Him, to know and love Him, to serve Him, and in that way to experience the fullness of life that He wants to give us. As the Catechism puts it: "Man is made to live in communion with god in whom he finds happiness" (Catechism of Catholic Church, #45).

THE BOY PRIEST...Cont...

DECEMBER 8^th 1841 Don Bosco was getting ready to say Mass, from the cold outside a boy slipped into the sacristy for a bit of warmth. The sacristan realized he was not one of the servers and chased the boy out. “Call that boy back. He’s my friend!” Don Bosco shouted. The boy was an orphan, out of work and an easy target for some swindler. For such lads the prison gates swung wide open. But just now a friendly work coaxed a smile from the lad. A Hail Mary together and the boy asked could he come back.

The following week there were seven boys. Then week by week they increased in number, coming to Don Bosco every Sunday for a short catechism lesson, for confession and Mass, and then out for the day into the countryside.

That’s how Don Bosco’s work for boys began. Like all beginnings it was hard and painful. He and his boys were pushed from pillar to post. The work was misunderstood by the clergy and looked upon with suspicion by the police. There were bills for the bread and clothing. There were harsh words and even insults at times. But Don Bosco smiled and kept going. His Bishop and also his confessor (now St. Joseph Cafasso) kept encouraging him. The “Lady” of his first dream continued to appear and point the way. He trusted that God would not let him work in vain.