Remember who you belong to, says youth speaker |
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Written by LAURIE STEVENS BERTKE, Chronicle Writer
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Tuesday, 09 February 2010 00:00 |
TOLEDO—Father R. Tony Ricard won’t complain too much if you call him a mama’s boy.
The priest from the Archdiocese of New Orleans finds he has been quite successful in listening to and following the wisdom of his mother, and he now travels the country sharing a message of faith inspired by her words.
Father R. Tony Ricard, a priest from the Archdiocese of New Orleans, speaks to youth, young adults and families at Toledo Christ the King. (Chronicle photo by Laurie Stevens Bertke)
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The popular youth speaker sprinkled plenty of humor into his delivery of that message when he spoke at Toledo Christ the King Feb. 1. His presentation was part of an evening event for youth, young adults and families sponsored by the parish and the diocesan offices of Black Catholic Ministry and Youth, Young Adult and Campus Ministry.
“When we were little, my mama used to always say the same exact thing to us when we would leave home. She would always say, ‘Remember who you belong to, and don’t be stupid,’ ” said Fr. Ricard.
The first part of that quote is easy to understand, said Fr. Ricard. It serves as a reminder that “wherever you go, whatever you do, you represent the family. You belong to her, and if you go out there and you do something that is wrong, it’s going to reflect on whether or not she been doing her job as a mama.”
The second part of her quote reflected his mother’s teaching “that ignorance was when you don’t know something. Stupidity is when you know it’s wrong, but you still do it,” said Fr. Ricard.
Simplifying it further, Fr. Ricard told the crowd, “Ignorant people can get into heaven; stupid people burn in hell.”
If stupidity means you know something is wrong and you still do it, the church would define that as a “grave matter,” added Fr. Ricard. “You have full knowledge of what you’re doing, and you do it of your own free will — sin.”
Fr. Ricard asserted that his mother’s “little line sums up everything the Roman Catholic Church has been trying to teach us since the dawn of time.”
“When we say, ‘Remember who you belong to,’ what do you think the entire Old Testament is about?” he said.
And when people still did not remember, Fr. Ricard continued, the Lord said, “Let me come down and tell you myself,” and He sent His only begotten son, Jesus, to spread that same essential message: “Remember who you belong to, and don’t be stupid,” said Fr. Ricard.
Jesus’ entire life focused on turning away from sin and loving others. “Ultimately Christ was saying to us, you’ve got to do right,” said Fr. Ricard. “You’ve got to make sure you’re walking the right path. Cause if you’re not, you’re gonna go to the fires of Gehenna.”
Going to hell is more difficult than getting into heaven, according to Fr. Ricard, because “when He hung on the cross, he gave us a ticket that passed up everything, straight to the kingdom. All you’ve got to do is hold on to the ticket.
“That’s it. You’ve got to consciously choose to go to hell,” he said. “You’ve got to make a decision to go against the will of God.”
It is much easier to do the right thing, Fr. Ricard added.
“Wherever we go, whatever we do, we have to remember, we are children of God,” he said. “No matter how old you get, you are God’s sons and daughters, and wherever you go, whatever you do, you must represent your God.”
Those who live lives of faith are destined to be in the kingdom one day, Fr. Ricard told the audience.
“All of us are destined for greatness,” he said. “All of us one day will be in the kingdom of heaven, celebrating with our God. But it’s up to us, whether or not we truly live out our common call.”
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 02 June 2010 18:56 |
