Danny Schneible

November 29, 2019 by Danny Schneible

“Are you ready for Christmas?”

I dread that question. After all, who is ever really ready for the cooking, cleaning, packing, traveling, buying, wrapping, and even fighting that fill up our typical preparations for the holidays? Not me.

The good news is that Advent doesn’t have to be that way. By being intentional and proactive, we can make Advent a time, not of stress and restlessness, but of peace, spiritual growth, and genuine readiness for the coming of Jesus.

Let’s seize the season of Advent! Here are 5 ways to get the most out of those precious days leading up to Christmas.

Practice waiting. That’s what Advent is, right? A time of waiting? This means if you resent the wait, you won’t get the most out of Advent.
If you’re like me you’re not good at waiting, so you’ll have to practice. Place yourself in situations where you have to put off what you want. Choose the longest check-out line at the grocery store. Wait until the third week of Advent to put up your Christmas tree. Be the last one to prepare a plate for dinner.
Waiting teaches us to put others first and it helps us to live in the present moment, instead of anxiously awaiting the next thing.
Add one new prayer. During Advent, we’re preparing for the coming of the Lord. But, in prayer this happens every day! God comes to us, we come to Him, and we experience communion with the long-awaited Savior of the world. This means that bolstering your prayer life, even a little bit, is a great way to get into the Advent spirit.
Try adding a new prayer to your daily routine. Start a routine if you don’t have one yet! It doesn’t have to be anything difficult. One Advent custom involves praying the “O Antiphons,” which are seven titles of the Messiah that are prayed in the evening, from Dec. 17 to Dec. 23. Alternatively, you could pray an “Act of Contrition” before going to sleep, or say to God when you wake up in the morning, “I offer you this day, make it a great one!”
Create a sacred space. A sacred space is an area in your home that is set aside for prayer. During the busyness of life, this space reminds us: Prayer is important. God is near. There is peace here.
Your sacred space can be as small as a table in the corner. During Advent, cover it with a violet tablecloth and put your wreath there. You could also include a standing crucifix, an open bible, a saint statue, and some small icons.
When Advent is over, don’t take it all down. Change out a few things and you can use it to celebrate all the liturgical seasons!
Share your faith. Faith grows even as it is given away. This means that, while talking about your faith may not come naturally, it’s a great way to grow spiritually during Advent.
Start small. This Advent, be on the lookout for one person a week you could share your faith with. If someone is sad or overwhelmed, pray with them right then and there. Do a kind deed for someone and then make sure they know that Jesus loves them. Pray before meals at a restaurant. Make the Sign of the Cross in public.
Religion is typically a taboo subject when families get together. But if you share your faith with love, you have the potential to warm hearts and grow in your own spirituality.
Serve others. While you’re on the lookout for people to share your faith with, also look for ways to be kind, especially to strangers.
Service is perfect for Advent. At a time when consumerism and materialism attempt to focus us in on ourselves, acts of service, kindness, and charity turn our gaze towards the other. Nothing relieves depression and anxiety like service. That’s just how love works.
The sky’s the limit on how you can do this. Volunteer at a soup kitchen. Buy a present from your parish’s Giving Tree for those in need. Visit an elderly neighbor and ask about her favorite Christmas memories. Help your parents decorate their house. Random acts of kindness make Advent really Advent.

June 28, 2019 by Danny Schneible

Mercy is a key virtue to becoming a Missionary Disciple. In Evangellii Gaudium, Pope Francis introduces the connection between mercy and mission:

The Church which “goes forth” is a community of missionary disciples who take the first step, who are involved and supportive, who bear fruit and rejoice. An evangelizing community knows that the Lord has taken the initiative, he has loved us first (cf. 1 Jn 4:19), and therefore we can move forward, boldly take the initiative, go out to others, seek those who have fallen away, stand at the crossroads and welcome the outcast. Such a community has an endless desire to show mercy, the fruit of its own experience of the power of the Father’s infinite mercy.

Here are 8 practical ways to make mercy part of your missionary outreach, from Evangelli Gaudium.

1. Take the first step

Jesus did not wait for the disciples to ask him to wash their feet. Mercy is an offensive sport. It looks for opportunities to take the first step in loving others.

2. Abase yourself

Sometimes mercy calls us to humble ourselves, to take a posture of repentance and service to others. This is especially the case when we have wronged others, but it can even be true when we are not at fault.

3. Suffer with others

Mercy often means being present with those who suffer, to walk with them in times of pain and darkness.

4. Smell like the sheep

Mercy challenges us to get out of our comfort zone, to associate with people that make us uncomfortable. We may have to risk our reputation, just like Jesus did, in order to become friends with sinners.

5. Disregard constraints of time

Mercy demands patience. It forces us not to make people into projects.

6. Care for the grain, do not grow inpatient with the weeds

Mercy demands we love people enough to challenge them to grow in holiness. At the same time mercy calls us to be infinitely patience with people’s sins and shortcomings.

7. Put it all on the line

When the father of the Prodigal Son saw his son returning, he did not pause to think how his son would receive him. He rushed out and lavished his love and mercy on him.

8. Celebrate victories, even small ones

Conversion and repentance rarely happens overnight. Be on the lookout for small victories and celebrate them so as to encourage the journey of faith.

June 13, 2019 by Danny Schneible

Last month, Sean Ater wrote about becoming a questioning disciple. He reminded us that, by listening well and asking great questions, we can learn a lot about people and open up opportunities to proclaim the Gospel. But, before we can even listen and ask questions, we have to courageously approach the other. This is where a spirit of expectation comes in.

I’m ashamed to say, I learned that lesson only recently.

Measuring Up in Michigan

I just got back from “the Great Lakes State,” where I spent a week with an apostolate called St. Paul Street Evangelization, bringing the Gospel to absolute strangers. Me. I did that. Nicholas Hardesty, the most introverted guy you will ever meet, walked up to random people in the heart of downtown Detroit and struck up a conversation about Jesus. Talk about seizing the moment!

Looking back on it now, it’s hard to believe. I don’t even like talking on the phone. Yet I found a way to do what I thought was impossible. I reached outside myself towards the strange, mysterious, unknown of the other.

Why is that so difficult for me? I’ve been thinking it over a lot lately. I’m sure some of it has to do with my temperament. Small talk, making friends, meeting new people – that sort of thing is probably never going to be particularly energizing or life-giving for me. I’m also inexperienced. It’s natural to feel insecure about something you haven’t done very often. Yet, that doesn’t entirely explain it. I also learned in my week pounding the streets that, at least when it comes to sharing the Gospel, this is also a faith issue for me.

Faith on Display

I wasn’t all alone out there. I was part of a five-person team. There were other teams in close proximity as well. Watching them work made me realize: There is an expectant faith on display here. I wouldn’t call any of my team members particularly extroverted, yet they engaged stranger after stranger because they were convinced that God would reveal Himself. Not just that God wanted to, but that He would.

A couple days later, the street teams participated in an event called “Light the Fire.” The premise is simple: Pick a beautiful church in a high-traffic area. Open the doors. Invite people in. Befriend and pray with them. Process their experience with them and give them something more.

In Detroit, that church is “Old St. Mary’s.” It’s a 134-year old piece of heaven plopped right down in the heart of Greektown. A bustling night life has sprung up all around it, with trendy restaurants, bars, and even a large casino within a short walking-distance of the church’s front steps. Needless to say, St. Mary’s is perfectly situated to reach the unchurched.

At 7:00 PM, teams of two began asking strangers a simple question: “Would you like to come in and light a candle?” I admit, I was skeptical. People are out here to eat, play, and socialize. Who’s going to want to light a candle? I pictured myself standing inside, twiddling my thumbs while I waited for someone to pray with. Yet, only 30 seconds later an amazing thing happened: A throng of people came pouring into the church!

I couldn’t believe it. People were actually accepting the invitation. I saw people step inside, set their eyes on the beauty of God’s house, and just start crying. I saw people kneeling and praying fervently in front of a monstrance and a Eucharist they were meeting for the first time. For two hours straight, the line to light a candle extended the length of the church and our prayer teams were never without someone to pray with.

Time for More

All this taught me a humbling truth: I really ought to expect more out of the Lord.

Let’s be real: I was shocked and amazed because I expected so little, both out of God and out of myself. But, what if I stepped out, reached out, and pursued the other fully convinced that God was ready and willing to work through me? Then I might finally become the kind of disciple Christ is calling me to be.

The truth is, you, and I, and all of us could do extraordinary things for the Lord, if only we had a bit more faith in Him.

What is God waiting to do through you?

June 3, 2019 by Danny Schneible

June is the month for celebrating fathers (Note to self: Father’s Day is June 16th!). We grow up hearing that the model for all fathers is St. Joseph, and this is true. But, what can we learn from a man with no recorded words? Let’s take a closer look at the husband of Mary and the father of Jesus.

The most reliable sources of information on the life of Joseph come from the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. There we read that Joseph was a descendant of David (cf. Lk 2:4), from the tribe of Judah. He was probably born in Bethlehem, since he had to go there for the census (cf. Lk 2:1-5). At some point he moved to Nazareth in Galilee, where he was betrothed to Mary. He was a “carpenter” by trade (cf. Mt 13:55); the Greek word describes a craftsman skilled in all kinds of woodwork and masonry. Jesus was later referred to as a carpenter as well (cf. Mk 6:3), which means that Joseph must have passed on his trade to his son.

While Joseph and Mary were betrothed, Mary was found to be with child (cf. Mt 1:18). At first Joseph decided to quietly break off the engagement, so as not to subject Mary to ridicule. But, then he had a dream of an angel who told him that the child was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and not to fear to take Mary as his wife (cf. Mt 1:20-21). He did as the angel of the Lord commanded him (cf. Mt 1:24).

Later, because of the census, Joseph took Mary with him to Bethlehem and it was there where Jesus was born. After the visit of the Magi, Joseph was warned in a dream that Herod sought to kill the child. He fled with his family to Egypt and remained there until Herod’s death (cf. Mt 2:13-15). After this, Joseph settled his family back in Nazareth (cf. Mt 2:23).

Many years later, when Jesus was twelve, Joseph and Mary “looked for Him anxiously” when they lost Jesus on the trip home from Jerusalem, where they were celebrating the Passover. Eventually they found him in the Jerusalem Temple (cf. Lk 2:41-50). When they returned to Nazareth, Jesus was obedient to both his parents, and “increased in wisdom and in stature” under their care (cf. Lk 2:51-52).

What can we learn about Joseph’s character based on all of this?

Matthew described him as a “just man” (Mt 1:19).
From his immediate obedience to his many dreams (four in all; cf. Mt 1:20-21; 2:13, 19-20, 22), we can see that Joseph was a man of great faith who possessed a heart open to the slightest promptings of the Lord.
In the Gospels, Joseph thinks and acts but never speaks. We can take from this that Joseph leads more by example than by words.
Also, to guide and protect his family through their various travels must have taken great strength and courage. In anxious moments, Joseph never faltered.
Finally, from our belief in Mary’s perpetual virginity, we can deduce that Joseph was a chaste man and a master over his mind and body.

If only more men were like St. Joseph! On this Father’s Day, let’s pray that fathers will heed his holy example. Let’s pray that Joseph will help us all to be more just, obedient, strong, courageous, and chaste — all the characteristics of a powerful missionary disciple.

Joseph didn’t say much, but he can still teach us quite a lot.

For more on St. Joseph, see my earlier blog post, “St. Joseph and Docility of the Spirit.”

May 21, 2019 by Danny Schneible

Let’s “Be Real”

“This is how all will know that you are my disciples… if you are real with one another.” Jesus said that, I think.

So let’s “be real.” One of the rarely-discussed plagues upon the evangelizing small group and one of the subtle threats to its long term health and sustainability is often one of the things that may have forged it to begin with: the opportunity to “be real” with others.

Time and again people indicate the opportunity to “be real” with others as one of the principal reasons for joining a small group. By this, they mean their small group to be a home for honest conversation, a place where they don’t have to pretend, and a community of support in which they will be accepted regardless of the extent of their brokenness, from the craziness and messiness of daily life to the dark and painful scandal of my sin. If nothing else, the phrase expresses a deep longing for authentic community and the desire to share one’s life against a culture that values independence and self-sufficiency.

Approached the right way, evangelizing small groups thus become a setting for spiritual breakthrough, healing, and ultimately conversion towards Jesus! Approached the wrong way, we may actually perpetuate woundedness, foster a spirit of disorder or negativity, or unintentionally turn people into projects, leaving small group-goers saying or at least thinking, “My small group is bumming me out!”

What Am I NOT Saying?

Being a teacher for many years, I try to be aware not only of what I’m saying, but also of what I’m not saying. So what am I NOT saying? I’m not saying that your evangelizing small group should be pretentious or shallow, unwilling to be vulnerable or accepting, or that the task of accompanying another sinner is too ambitious and dangerous to be taken on. That is most definitely NOT what I’m saying.

Authentic friendship demands that we are welcoming and vulnerable with one another. Catholic philosopher Jean Vanier, who died just two weeks ago, says as much, writing:

To welcome is to be open to reality as it is, with the least possible filtering. I have discovered that I have many filters within my own self where I select and modify the reality I want to welcome: the reality of the world, of people, of God and of the Word of God. I select what pleases me, boosts my ego and gives me a sense of worth. I rejected that which causes inner pain or disturbance or a feeling of helplessness; that which may bring up guilt feelings of anger or a broken sexuality. We all have filters created from our early childhood, protecting our vulnerable hearts and minds. To grow is to let go of these filters and to welcome the reality that is given, no longer through preconceived ideas, theories, prejudgements or prejudices or through our wounded emotions, but just as it is. Thus we are ‘in truth’ and no longer in the world of illusions.

To be “be real” is to be “in truth” and that’s always a good thing.

5 Habits of a Contagious Small Group

Sharing one’s struggle is almost always challenging, if not heroic. However, I would submit that, against the fear of envy and under the weight of false humility, it can sometimes – just sometimes – be more challenging to “be real” about one’s joys and occasions of spiritual progress. In which case, talking about the latest stress can become just as easy as talking about the weather, reinforcing the thought among small group-goers that freedom is illusive and life is indeed “crazy.”

Yet, St. Paul reminds us that the Kingdom of God is a matter of “righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 14:17). This is the “Catholic thing!” St. Paul continues, “Let us then pursue what leads to peace and to building up one another” (Rom. 14:19). So how do we build this Kingdom-culture for an evangelizing small group without compromising vulnerability or falling victim to shallow pretension?

Consider the following 5 Habits of a Contagious Small Group:

1. Choose gratitude.
In the face of every challenge, choose gratitude. In the words of St. Paul, writing from prison: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! … The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God” (Phil. 4:4-6). This leads into the second habit.

2. Pray.
By way of prayer, keep the focus of the group ever-affixed on Jesus and the immensity of His love. For an evangelizing small group, prayer is not an afterthought; it’s the first thought. The confident disposition previously described by St. Paul is in full play here; after all, “The Lord is near” (Phil. 4:5).

3. Bless one another.
Simply put, to bless someone is to speak the truth of their identity. “You are a good mother.” “You are loved.” “You are a gifted artist.” “It is so good to have you guys over for dinner.” This is more than simply being complementary or well-mannered; it’s an echo of the Father’s heart which affirms creation to be “very good” (Gen. 1:31). In this way, we “speak life” into the small group and encourage others to do the same.

4. Readily give testimony.
There is power in testimony! Testimony provides a regular reminder of God’s nearness and faithfulness, elevating the faith of the evangelizing small group for Him to “do it again.” Where able, help others to identify “the grace of the moment” in their lives too, especially if they are not yet able to perceive or trust that God is really working “all things” for good (Rom. 8:28).

5. But don’t share everything.
This may seem counterintuitive to vulnerability, but a measure of discretion and discernment must always be applied to whatever is shared, even with respect to positive things which may be intimate to one’s relationship with the Lord. For instance, in describing her First Communion, St. Therese of Lisieux intentionally refrains from sharing every detail with her reader, “for there are certain things which lose their fragrance in the open air.” (The Story of a Soul)

By adopting and modeling these five habits for your evangelizing small group, you will create a contagiously Catholic culture ordered to affirmation and up-building, not at odds with honesty.

May 6, 2019 by Danny Schneible

In an earlier blog post, Sean Ater wrote about “Mary and Evangelization.” Specifically, he listed three ways in which Mary teaches us both to evangelize and to be evangelized. In this month of May, which the Church dedicates to Mary, let’s take this a step further. Let’s consider the role of Mary in God’s plan of salvation.

A Neglected Teaching about Mary

Did you know there are five Marian doctrines? The first four are easy enough to list:

Mother of God: She is the mother of Jesus, who is God
Immaculate Conception: She was conceived without sin and remained sinless her whole life
Perpetual Virgin: She was a virgin before, during, and after the birth of Jesus
Assumption: Having completed the course of her earthly life, she was raised body and soul into heavenly glory

It’s the fifth one that might trip you up: “Mediatrix of All Grace.” What does this mean?

When we say that Mary is the Mediatrix of All Grace, we mean that Mary cooperated and continues to cooperate in an extraordinary way in the saving mission of Jesus. This has been the teaching of the Church from the earliest centuries.

But What about Jesus?

It may seem peculiar at first to think of a human being working with God to bring us grace. We tend to think of only Jesus doing that. Yet, while Jesus alone is the Savior and Redeemer of all mankind, Scripture reveals that He also wishes to give us some participation in His saving and redeeming work.

For example, St. Paul said, “I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some” (1 Cor 9:22). He considered himself to be, in a sense, an actual savior of the people he served. But, Paul was not dethroning Jesus. Instead, he was working with Jesus. Paul was “God’s fellow worker” (1 Cor 3:9), “working together with Him.” (2 Cor 6:1)

Now, if Paul can play his part in Jesus’ saving work, then certainly Mary can. In fact, we all can. The difference is that Mary does it better. No one can participate in Jesus’ saving work the way Mary did and continues to do. This is why she has the special title of “Mediatrix of All Grace.”

How She “Roles”

We see this special role of Mary in three stages of her life:

First, in her fiat: Mary’s response to the angel, “Let it be done to me according to your word,” was the occasion for the Son to enter human history. She gave Him the flesh that He nailed to the Cross for our salvation. In a very real way, Mary brought salvation to the world.
Secondly, at the foot of the Cross: Since Mary was sinless, she was able to stand with Jesus and perfectly unite her will and her suffering with the will and suffering of her Son. Whenever someone suffers for the sake of someone else, that someone else is rewarded with grace. That’s what “offering it up” is all about. When we consider that Mary did this perfectly, and for the whole Church, then there’s no doubt that a ton of grace was poured out.
Finally, in heaven: Once Mary was assumed body and soul into heaven, she was crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth. As Queen, she sits at the right hand of the King, as mothers always did in the Davidic Kingdom, and she intercedes on our behalf. Since “the prayers of the righteous are very powerful in their effects” (Jas 5:16), we can be sure that if anyone turns to Christ or does any good thing, it is because Mary intensely desired it and prayed for it.

I know, this is a lot to take in, and I hope I haven’t scared you away. I encourage you: Pray about this! Ask Jesus to show you what a relationship with His mother might look like for you. In this “month of Mary,” ask Jesus to open your heart and fill it with His love so that you can love His mother the same way He did.