Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

     A very important, healthy and necessary part of being a human person is to abscond from time to time on vacation.  It takes one out of the daily routine, allows for quiet reflection and the restoration of our energies, and perhaps even lowers one’s blood pressure. A vacation is healthy and should also be holy.  Why holy?  Because the Holy One Himself went on vacation.  In today’s Gospel, we hear that Our Lord “withdrew” to Tyre and Sidon.  Where are these obscure towns but on the Mediterranean Ocean. i.e. the seashore.  After traversing the height and depth of the interior of Israel Our Lord needed to get away with His friends in order to prepare for what was to come.

      This reminds us of how very human Jesus Christ is, truly God, truly man.  The man, like any other man, needs rest and a change of pace.  After all did God not “rest” upon completion of Creation?  But rest does not and never has meant distancing oneself from God.  In fact, Who is that restores our strength as the Psalms so often remind us.  We don’t vacate from God but rather use the opportunity of rest to rest more perfectly in Him.  On your getaway, bring a Bible, a catechism, or any good spiritual reading to help you draw more deeply into your relationship with the Lord.  Be sure when planning to seek out the Church where you will participate at Mass.  Foster family prayers and devotions and let your surroundings help facilitate the calm and serenity that a change-of -pace is supposed to afford.  Too often, I hear people saying they are exhausted after having returned from vacation.  Was it then ever a vacation?  The Spanish have a beautiful expression: “Via con Dios”-Go with God!.. If you do so you will reap the rest you need and deserve.

   This Sunday August 20^th is the feast of St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153), the patron saint of our church in Beach Lake.  He was born in France and through his learning and spiritual influence dominated the century in which he lived.  As a Cistercian monk he founded many monasteries that preserved the intellectual patrimony of the ages and developed theology that still profoundly affects our present day.  Thirteen months from now we will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of St Bernard’s Church.  Plans are already underway and anyone who wishes to assist in implementing them is most welcome.  Kindly speak with Father Langan.  May St Bernard prayer for us and assist us in our undertakings.

With Blessings  Father Langan