FR. REDEMPTUS - "VOCATION STORY OF THE "C" STUDENT "

DISCALCED CARMELITE PRIEST HOLY HILL WISCONSIN

Tape 101 A - VOCATION STORY OF THE "C" STUDENT

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FR. REDEMPTUS

VOCATION OF C STUDENT

October 7, 2001

HOLY HILL, WISCONSIN

Mr. Michael Kotarski: September 7th, or October 7, 2001, and we're at Holy Hill Wisconsin. And you were talking with Fr. Redemptus.

Fr. Redemptus: Yes.

Mr. Kotarski: And what you want that bag there?

Fr. Redemptus: Fr. Redemptus of the Cross. I was looking for this bag.

Mr. Kotarski: Well, I've got one for you if you want one for covering your ah...

Fr. Redemptus: Well, when I go out I carry the cassock, the alb going to the different funerals and things like that.

Mr. Kotarski: I've got a bag like that for you then.

Fr. Redemptus: Good, because I've been using a different kind of (laughter)...shopping bag or something.

Mr. Kotarski: Well, we're looking at the Carmelite bag that we use for Congress 2000. It's got the seal of Carmel on it, and it's got the cross of...did you see that one?

Fr. Redemptus: Oh that's...oh, yeah.

Mr. Kotarski: Do you recognize that?

Fr. Redemptus: That's John of the Crosses cross. Yeah. Crucifix.

Mr. Kotarski: And you're Redemptus of the Father Redemptus of the Cross.

Fr. Redemptus: Yeah, well...

Mr. Kotarski: This an appropriate bag for you.

Fr. Redemptus: Sure is, well my name was John, before I entered, but in those days they gave us a new name. So I didn't have any choice. So (? 026 inaudible) asked me to take this name because his provincial, that was his provincial name Redemptus of the Cross. And his provincial was ah, was there in the Nazi occupation and ah the Nazi's could...questioned them without mercy and then he had a stroke in the confessional and he died. So Fr. (? 035) my novice master wanted me to carry on the name.

Mr. Kotarski: Well, that's beautiful. What ah, was there another Priest that you were influenced by from Iowa?

Fr. Redemptus: Oh, one of the Priests that came here was a boy from Iowa. His name was, I forget his first name, but his religious name was (? 043 Fidelis sp?) and Fosselman was his last name. He was in the second world war, and went to prep school to study Latin in Boston. And then he entered the Carmelites in Boston. And then became a Priest. And when the Vietnam war broke out he went in as a Chaplain. He was (? 052 inaudible), and then he came home and was pastor here of the parish. And he lost his sight and so he had to resign being pastor, but then he went down to the eye clinic. And his sight was restored and he came back as Pastor and he's always on guard. All the people loves him. He's always...he loved people and he worked hard. He ah, he was always ah, he didn't waste any time. He's a good man. Good Priest. People still miss him.

Mr. Kotarski: Alright. Now can you tell me if somebodies out there listening Jimmy, or Bobby, or Bill, Tim or Matt. Their listening out there and they're wanting to know whether or not they have a vocation to be a Discalced Carmelite Priest, or a Brother. What are some of the signs? What kind of encouragement can you give them and what should you be looking for?

Fr. Redemptus: Well, should I tell you what happened to me?

Mr. Kotarski: Yes.

Fr. Redemptus: Well, ah...I grew up as a boy in Boston, and went to grade school in the West end of Boston. The St. Joseph School, and we had Sisters of Notre Dame (? 078 inaudible). They taught us for the first eight years, and then I served Mass in the fifth grade, and from then on I think I always wanted to be a Priest but I never knew how it would happen. Well, I went to a public high school because I didn't have money to go to a Catholic Jesuit high school. And then I went a year to Saint (084 Philip Neary/Nearie ? sp) to study Latin. That was a prep school, and the headmaster was Mr. Joseph (087 McQue sp?) and he really influenced my life. Then the next year when I went to work and then ah, I came back to him asking...I wanted to be a Priest, and he said "I'll be glad to recommend you to the Holy Cross Fathers in the Northeastern, Massachusetts." So I went there two years of college. And then my marks were too low, but after that they let me go. But the Superior was Fr. Gerald Fitzgerald who later founded the Servants of the (? 097 inaudible) a special order to take care of priests. But anyway he said "I think you have a vocation." and he said "I'd be glad to recommend you to the Sacred Hearts Fathers, that's Father Damion's group, or the Carmelites." Well I'd never heard of the Carmelites, but I said, but he said "I think you're a Carmelite." So that's the way I found the Carmelites.

Mr. Kotarski: And you contacted the Carmelites?

Fr. Redemptus: Yeah.

Mr. Kotarski: Okay.

Fr. Redemptus: That's the way it happened. I wasn't looking for them, it just seemed like the Lord sent me here.

Mr. Kotarski: A huh. Now what year were you born in?

Fr. Redemptus: I was born in November 26, 1917.

Mr. Kotarski: 1917?

Fr. Redemptus: Yeah, and my mother, she lost a girl and a boy before I was born. Ah, I would have had an older sister and older brother, but then ah, 1917, that was the year our Blessed Mother was appearing to the children of Fatima, and I was in my mother's womb, and ah, I was born.

Mr. Kotarski: My goodness.

Fr. Redemptus: See, before that after losing the two children my mother was kind of down in the dumps, because the other ladies were having their babies and she couldn't. So she prayed to St. Joseph, and then I was born.

Mr. Kotarski: And you're name, what name did she give you?

Fr. Redemptus: John Robert, I was baptized.

Mr. Kotarski: What's your last name, Short?

Fr. Redemptus: Short.

Mr. Kotarski: John Robert Short?

Fr. Redemptus: Yeah, and at confirmation I chose Joseph.

Mr. Kotarski: Okay. Do you still have a devotion to Joseph?

Fr. Redemptus: Yes. Not enough but I have.

Mr. Kotarski: What special, could you tell the kids out there listening to a vocation tape here, what's special about Joseph as a saint?

Fr. Redemptus: Well, he was...after our Blessed Mother, she's the greatest creature. St. Joseph was next because he had to take care of God, Jesus, and Mary. That's the...and so whatever vocation you have God always gives you enough grace, the sufficient grace so he had the great grace to take care of Mary and Joseph.

Mr. Kotarski: (? 135 inaudible) and Joseph?

Fr. Redemptus: Jesus and Mary, excuse me.

Mr. Kotarski: And Joseph is special in the Carmelite Order too, right?

Fr. Redemptus: Yes. Oh, is he special. Ah, the Carmelite Order is reformed by St. Teresa of Avila in the 16th century in Spain, and while helping the Friars form there, their foundations, she was going around all over Spain forming the Nuns. Forming the Carmelite Nuns. And she said, and she revived the devotion to Joseph, and the whole church in the world. She said she never asked St. Joseph for anything that he didn't obtain it.

Mr. Kotarski: Wow, that's powerful.

Fr. Redemptus: And that's a saint saying that. Yeah.

Mr. Kotarski: Now, what if the kids were out listening to this tape. You're eighty three years old aren't you?

Fr. Redemptus: Going on eighty-four. Ah, November 26th.

Mr. Kotarski: Congratulations.

Fr. Redemptus: Thanks, if I make it.

Mr. Kotarski: How many years a Priest? Over fifty?

Fr. Redemptus: I was ordained June 10th, 1947. Yeah.

Mr. Kotarski: You're over fifty. That's about fifty-three, fifty-four years a priest.

Fr. Redemptus: Fifty-four years. Yeah, Fr. Dominic (? 151 inaudible) and I were ordained together in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Kotarski: Wow.

Fr. Redemptus: Yeah.

Mr. Kotarski: And well, for the kids out there a lot of them come, they might not have a Dad at home, or a Mother at home, and know that you do personal presence here. Visible presence. If they were to come to Holy Hill, Wisconsin, knock on the door and ask to see Fr. Redemptus to talk to him about a vocation. Would you be willing to talk to them?

Fr. Redemptus: Oh sure, sure.

Mr. Kotarski: Answer their questions?

Fr. Redemptus: I'm not too versed in that but I'll do the best I can. I'll tell you when it happened in my life.

Mr. Kotarski: That's right.

Fr. Redemptus: Yeah.

Mr. Kotarski: So, Billy, or Timmy, or any of you folks out there listening Fr. Redemptus is here, he'll talk to you. Fr. Redemptus, let's talk a little bit about prayer and let's say a little prayer here. The Ava, let's say a Hail Mary, and then...

Fr. Redemptus: Okay.

(Both together): In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among woman and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. St. Joseph pray for us.

Mr. Kotarski: Now ah, we're going to take a quick break here for just a minute.

Mr. Kotarski: We're back and took a short break here. I'm doing alright.

Fr. Redemptus: Okay.

Mr. Kotarski: Yeah, yeah. As a young boy or young girl, and we're learning to pray. I want you to tell them, the five, six, seven year old, eight year olds. You're probably old enough to be their grandpa aren't you?

Fr. Redemptus: Well, I guess so, (laughter) yeah.

Mr. Kotarski: Okay. How would you teach those kids to pray? What would you tell them? Let's talk to them about it a little bit? Is it alright when I pray to pray simply?

Fr. Redemptus: Oh, very much so, yeah. Oh, the best way to pray is the way Jesus taught us, you know, the Our Father.

Mr. Kotarski: Alright.

Fr. Redemptus: Kind of say it slowly like. You don't have to say many prayers...just ah slowly. Because the Our Father has seven petitions in it. Is...the first three is what God wants from us, and the four, second...the last four are what we need from God. That's in general.

Mr. Kotarski: All in that one Our Father.

Fr. Redemptus: Yeah.

Mr. Kotarski: Now, if I pray that, can I pray it at home, as well as school, and church?

Fr. Redemptus: Oh, we can pray it anywhere. Yeah.

Mr. Kotarski: At the bus stop?

Fr. Redemptus: Bus stop.

Mr. Kotarski: Now, if I'm at church, is it alright to sit in front of a picture of Joseph, or a statue, and look at it and think of God?

Fr. Redemptus: Sure.

Mr. Kotarski: Have you done that yourself?

Fr. Redemptus: Oh, sure. I spend a lot of time in, you mean growing up you mean? Sure I spend a lot of time in church just being there with Jesus, you know. And the statue of St. Joseph was always there, and the statue of Mary was always there, and also the Little Flower was always there. Those three.

Mr. Kotarski: And even as a Priest, haven't you done that too?

Fr. Redemptus: Yeah, uh huh.

Mr. Kotarski: And the kids can do that? Now...

Fr. Redemptus: Sure. Whatever...I guess prayer is kind of a talking and listening to God, you know. And it takes time. We can't always get right into prayer, we have to kind of...it takes time. Just settle down and you know, get, we don't hear the voice of God like we hear each other's voice, but ah God speaks to us all the time. Especially when we are listening to Him.

Mr. Kotarski: Could you...what are some of the ways that God speaks to us all the time, or He speaks to you. Can you tell the kids that?

Fr. Redemptus: Well, He speaks to us especially through the liturgy, through the Mass. In you know, the inspired word of God is the readings from the scripture. See those, somebody reads them, and somebody wrote them, but the one's that wrote them were inspired by God. So it's really God's word that we're listening to.

Mr. Kotarski: That's at Mass that we're listening to that.

Fr. Redemptus: Yeah, the scripture readings.

Mr. Kotarski: Okay, and if I get a little fidgety during Mass and I have a hard time listening, I shouldn't stay away from Mass because I get fidgety?

Fr. Redemptus: No. No, well Mass isn't something ah, oh, how can I say it? It's contacting Jesus. We need to do everything we can to come close to Him. And this is the great moment when He gave His life for us, you know. And when He gives us His body, and blood, and soul, and divinity in communion. So that's a precious moment, the most precious moment of the day. And then when He gets inside of us, He's living in us, then He'll help us to pray. We can make the effort, but it all comes from Him. Because He prayed all the time He was listening to His Father during His lifetime, and His Father told Him what to do and He listened.

Mr. Kotarski: Sally and Suzy are out there, they're listening and they want to know how can I make God grow inside of me, once He comes inside?

Fr. Redemptus: Oh...that's easy. Because ah, Jesus ah, well God first came to us in baptism, and then if we received confirmation the Holy Spirit comes to us in a special way. So He's really living it and just like St. Paul said "I am living in Jesus. Jesus is living in me."

Mr. Kotarski: How are we going to grow God inside us? Sally and Suzy want to know how...you mentioned God can come inside us at Mass.

Fr. Redemptus: Yup.

Mr. Kotarski: And we receive Him in the eucharist.

Fr. Redemptus: Yup.

Mr. Kotarski: And there He stays. How do we make Him at home and how do we grow Him?

Fr. Redemptus: Well, just by being good. That opens the door to many graces. When we try to do what God wants, and avoid sin or anything bad, then ah God gives us grace, and that grace is His divine life in us, so He's growing in us all the time. But especially ah, I guess the greatest grace is to be able to love. Love God and love one another, because that's what Jesus came to do.

Mr. Kotarski: And when we love in school, we probably, if we're students, we should probably respect the teacher. Is that true?

Fr. Redemptus: Oh, that's absolutely true. Yeah. Respect is very important.

Mr. Kotarski: And when we respect the teacher, there is more order in the classroom.

Fr. Redemptus: Oh, absolutely, yeah. And everybody has to um try a little harder. You know not give in to the things that are around them. Everybody knows what's right, and just buckle down, sort of, you know. Something like that.

Mr. Kotarski: Now, you're what you mentioned as a student at one of your teachers that you didn't get the best of grades. Isn't that what we were talking about?

Fr. Redemptus: Oh, yeah. Yeah, I...I didn't get...I was only a C student.

Mr. Kotarski: And C student's can love God?

Fr. Redemptus: Oh, absolutely. Sometimes the less you know, the more you can love. It's a contradiction but I suppose...but you know...if you don't know everything, then you're always looking for God. You know.

Mr. Kotarski: The less you know the more you have an opportunity to love, because and then the next thing you said is that the unless you know the reason for that is, the less you know you're always looking for love.

Fr. Redemptus: Yeah.

Mr. Kotarski: Looking for opportunities to love God.

Fr. Redemptus. Yeah. That's what it's all about. When it comes down at the end there's nothing left but love. All the other things fall away as St. Paul said.

Mr. Kotarski: A "C" student for Christ.

Fr. Redemptus: Yeah.

Mr. Kotarski: And that's possible for all the kids that are listening to the tape in school.

Fr. Redemptus: Yeah.

Mr. Kotarski: They can think about loving God and becoming a Priest or a Nun or a Sister?

Fr. Redemptus: Absolutely. Anybody can that wants to. And then well if it's according to God's will, you know, we always have to let God take over.

Mr. Kotarski: That's right, that's right. Now, tell me when I'm in the classroom and I feel like loving God. I should also respect the other people in the classroom.

Fr. Redemptus: Oh, yeah. Well...

Mr. Kotarski: My other friends and students.

Fr. Redemptus: Yeah, well loving God ah is easy. But loving one another is difficult. But Jesus said "If you love, whatever you do to the least of my brethren you do to me." So, Jesus wants us, like He, to love everyone.

Mr. Kotarski: And as I love, say that I'm in grammar school. And I'm trying to love God and I'm trying to love my neighbor. One of the ways that I can respect my neighbor and the other kids in the room is not to fight with them.

Fr. Redemptus: Oh yeah. Fighting is ah, that's not the way. Because fighting leads to more fighting and we have to be both peace.

Mr. Kotarski: And if Tommy, or Bob, or Mike, are out there they shouldn't be name calling at one another in the classroom either.

Fr. Redemptus: Oh, no. That's not good, because we have to respect one another. Each one is ah made in the image and likeness of God, and God is living in them. So the way we treat each other is the way we treat God.

Mr. Kotarski: Now, that, when we respect each other we can still be good in sports and things like that, can't we? Even though we respect each other, we can still have fun in life?

Fr. Redemptus: Oh sure. Sports is great...I love it. I played day and night when I was young.

Mr. Kotarski: You prayed day and night?

Fr. Redemptus: I mean, I played baseball, and football until the lights went out. (Laughter)

Mr. Kotarski: You did?

Fr. Redemptus: Yeah.

Mr. Kotarski: He's very humble, in fact you played, you were in minor league professional baseball for awhile.

Fr. Redemptus: Well no, that's a good, somebody likes to say that but I never went beyond sand lot. But...what..oh but, the friends you make when you play you get team work, you know? And it helps you later on that we're all one big family and we're supposed to work together, you know.

Mr. Kotarski: And that begins in the family and carries over into the classroom.

Fr. Redemptus: Yeah. Well, we're all God's family, you know.

Mr. Kotarski: So, we shouldn't gossip and spread lies about the people in the class either?

Fr. Redemptus: No, never. No, no that's out.

Mr. Kotarski: That offends God.

Fr. Redemptus: Yeah. That's not nice.

Mr. Kotarski: That's not nice.

Fr. Redemptus: We have to protect one another.

Mr. Kotarski: Be polite even when other people are not polite.

Fr. Redemptus: Oh, yeah, right especially then, you know. Well...

Mr. Kotarski: Yeah, I think so, and I think that that's a good thing. And you know ah we can have baseball, we can have softball, we can have a lot of fun in soccer.

Fr. Redemptus: Yeah.

Mr. Kotarski: And we can even pray to be a good sport.

Fr. Redemptus: Yeah. True. But then we have to leave sports go...it's not the end of everything, you know.

Mr. Kotarski: It has to have it's place.

Fr. Redemptus: It's just a way, a means to get to the end. The end is union with God.

Mr. Kotarski: The end is what?

Fr. Redemptus: Union with God.

Mr. Kotarski: Tell me a little bit about this union with God?

Fr. Redemptus: Well, um it's ah...that's where ah, that's our destiny because we're not going to be here for long, we're just going to be here for a short time on this earth, compared to eternity which is forever. So God made us, He put us on earth to know, love and serve Him, and to be good to one another, and to return to Him and He'll give us the reward of everlasting life with Him for all eternity. Without end. Never ending.

Mr. Kotarski: So that means, fine now, that's a big, big, that's a big thing.

Fr. Redemptus: That's the whole game. Yeah.

Mr. Kotarski: Uh huh.

Fr. Redemptus: That's the whole game in one. Yeah.

Mr. Kotarski: And that's why I try to do good so that I don't lose heaven.

Fr. Redemptus: Yeah. Oh, it's ah, it's the only goal, only game that we have to win.

Mr. Kotarski: We've got to win that one.

Fr. Redemptus: We gotta win that one and Jesus will do it, all we have to do is try, keep trying.

Mr. Kotarski: What if it's hard for me, because ah, when I go home from school...I go home and my daddy's not there. My mommy is but my daddy's not and I get scared when it gets dark out in my room.

Fr. Redemptus: Well, you know growing up ah...I had the same situation because my father was never well. I never...so much...he was in the hospital for thirty years. So my mother had to take care of us, and then she had to go to work in the late afternoon until the early evening. And so we just had to buckle down and do our homework. And listen to the radio, a little bit, but not too much.

Mr. Kotarski: That was before TV?

Fr. Redemptus: Before TV. The radio was the thing, yeah.

Mr. Kotarski: So you would go home and do your homework?

Fr. Redemptus: Yeah.

Mr. Kotarski: So what if as bedtime comes ah, and I'm a little bit scared of the dark. Are there ways that you can suggest that I could overcome that fear of the dark? Because I like to leave the light on. Is that okay, first of all?

Fr. Redemptus: That's okay, sure.

Mr. Kotarski: Okay.

Fr. Redemptus: Well, we're never alone. God is always with us. And He's alive, and He loves us, and we belong to Him. He'll never let us down.

Mr. Kotarski: And our life is a gift from Him?

Fr. Redemptus: Yeah. Everything comes from God.

Mr. Kotarski: And God will protect us to the degree that He wants to protect us in this life?

Fr. Redemptus: Sure.

Mr. Kotarski: And even though I'm afraid, does it offend God if I ask God to protect me?

Fr. Redemptus: Oh, no. No, He wants, he wants to hear from us.

Mr. Kotarski: Can I just tell Him flat out, God I want to leave the light on because I'm scared of the dark?

Fr. Redemptus: Sure, that's okay. But if you can remember what Jesus told the apostles, these were grown men. He said "Do not be afraid. He kept saying it over and over again, so you're not the first one to be afraid, almost everybody's afraid at one time or another. But love casts out fear.

Mr. Kotarski: Love casts out all fear?

Fr. Redemptus: Yeah, that's what Jesus said. Keep loving.

Mr. Kotarski: And can I pray that God send me this type of love. To teach me how to love like that?

Fr. Redemptus: Oh sure, that's where it all comes from. We can't do anything with ourselves but we can just try, but real gifts come from God. Every good gift comes from heaven.

Mr. Kotarski: And as I get older, if I'm no longer afraid of the dark, but I'm concerned and I think about the Priesthood or the Sisterhood, and I'm kind of ascared of that but I'm thinking that God may be calling me that way, and I'm still frightened. Can I ask God to hold my hand and teach me more about it?

Fr. Redemptus: Oh, sure, sure. Well, the thing is you grow into a vocation. It doesn't happen all at once. It just, try to be as good as you can and say your prayers and ask Jesus or your favorite saint to help you. I used to pray to Saint Anthony.

Mr. Kotarski: You did?

Fr. Redemptus: Yeah.

Mr. Kotarski: How would you pray to Saint Anthony for help?

Fr. Redemptus: Well, somebody gave me a little holy card with his picture and a prayer on it, and that's what I said. So, I always prayed to our Blessed Mother though, she was the greatest influence.

Mr. Kotarski: So, the boys and girls that are in this church, Catholic church, and go to church should understand that no one in the church is without mother, father, sister or brother, isn't that true?

Fr. Redemptus: Absolutely, Jesus wanted to make sure of that way, and before He died He gave us His own Mother to be our Mother. And she is our heavenly Mother. And she takes that work...she takes that vocation seriously.

Mr. Kotarski: Very seriously.

Fr. Redemptus: Yeah, she's watching over us.

Mr. Kotarski: In fact, when you were in the womb, she's appearing to not parents or adults, she's appearing to three little kids in Fatima.

Fr. Redemptus: Oh...(379 inaudible).

Mr. Kotarski: Isn't that true, 1917?

Fr. Redemptus: 1917 from May to October on the 13th of each month. Yeah, she was came, come, came to give the world to talk to the children. Tell them to tell the whole world to say the rosary, and do penance, and pray for the conversion of sinners and conversion of Russia, and ah oh that still powerful message.

Mr. Kotarski: And then you were born that November?

Fr. Redemptus: Wasn't that a blessing, yeah.

Mr. Kotarski: What a blessing.

Fr. Redemptus: I know it.

Mr. Kotarski: And it still is a powerful message today with the war going on and things, in Afghanistan.

Fr. Redemptus: Yeah. Well, we kept an all night vigil here, I don't want to get off the track.

Mr. Kotarski: Well, tell me about that. If the kids want to come here they can participate, or their families. But tell me, tell them a little bit about it.

Fr. Redemptus: Well, there's a group of people. This came from the layman. People, men and women. They wanted to do something for peace, and for Our Lady, (? 389 inaudible) Fatima's prayer, request for prayers and penance. So they started in 1968 in September at the Cathedral to have an all night vigil with an opening Mass at eight o'clock Friday night. It's always the eve of the first Saturday and then it closes with an eight o'clock Mass Saturday morning. And during the evening we have different Priests come to speak on different, on the virtues, or sacraments of different topics. A talk about Mary. And ah, then we have confessions after each speaker, so the church is usually ah, used to be full but it's getting full again. Ah, and ah we go to, we had the Cathedral for four years and then (? 397 inaudible) said "Maybe you should move around." So we move around to different parishes. So this month we going to our own parish in West Milwaukee, Saint Florians. For November 2nd.

Mr. Kotarski: Huh, that's very powerful.

Fr. Redemptus: Yeah, and a lot of people are died and gone to heaven. But ah, they're old people, and young people, and all kinds of people, that come to pray and ah, and to kind of listen to our Blessed Mother. Yeah. So we say the rosary often during the day, and have a procession. Then they have a coffee hour, or milk, whatever, at eleven thirty to twelve thirty, and then (? 406 inaudible) on the hour. Then a procession at ten thirty and a procession at three o'clock, and closing Mass.

Mr. Kotarski: That's the all night vigil?

Fr. Redemptus: All night vigil.

Mr. Kotarski: And you go there.

Fr. Redemptus: Yes. All night vigil of reparation and prayer. We've had it since September 1968...65, 65! Yeah.

Mr. Kotarski: September 1965?

Fr. Redemptus: Yeah.

Mr. Kotarski: That's quiet a deal.

Fr. Redemptus: Isn't it?

Mr. Kotarski: Amazing.

Fr. Redemptus: Yeah.

Mr. Kotarski: And sometimes you try to keep all night and there's people who are out there thinking they can't make all night. Well, if sometime you take a nap during the night, that's a start.

Fr. Redemptus: No problem. If you want to just lay down in the pew, and sleep, when you wake up well you keep going.

Mr. Kotarski: Nobody's going to kick you out for napping.

Fr. Redemptus: No, no, no.

Mr. Kotarski: Okay.

Fr. Redemptus: And ah, it's a little ah, well, little different because a lot of people don't believe in ah that they think that nights are made to sleep, and it is. But ah, some people want to go the extra mile for Jesus and Mary, so that's...

Mr. Kotarski: That's okay.

Fr. Redemptus: Ya, and a lot of blessings come between. You know a lot of blessings come, flow after, flow to you during, between, during the month (? 419 inaudible).

Mr. Kotarski: God gives graces?

Fr. Redemptus: Yeah, He says...wow!

Mr. Kotarski: Uh huh.

Fr. Redemptus: And what I like is, is I just love those people to little, little all comes in all sizes and shapes, and colors, and age, and they're all happy.

Mr. Kotarski: Uh huh.

Fr. Redemptus: They're not, they didn't come to ask for anything, they came to just to give God the prayer and the penance.

Mr. Kotarski: Uh huh.

Fr. Redemptus: And He certainly has that prayer.

Mr. Kotarski: Is that what you seen with happy people? Happy people are people that tend to give?

Fr. Redemptus: Oh yeah, that's...you know, Archbishop Cushing in Boston. He become a Cardinal later. He said "What is happiness?" He said (this was back in the thirties), "You look around. You look for happiness here and happiness there, it's only when you forget about looking for it, and you start giving, or helping someone, that you find that you're on the road to happiness."

Mr. Kotarski: That's it. That's it in a nutshell ain't it?

Fr. Redemptus: Ya. Ya he had a big booming voice. He didn't need loud, any speakers. (Laughter).

Mr. Kotarski: Uh huh.

Fr. Redemptus: Ya, he is a great prince of the church.

Mr. Kotarski: Well, in the Carmelite Order have you found happiness?

Fr. Redemptus: Oh yeah, and how. I don't know, but I've always been happy, but the last three or four months I've been the happiest in my whole life, because I don't know...here at Holy Hill, this is a shrine to our Blessed Mother. And people, pilgrims are coming all the time and ah, well, I don't know where it came from but I think it came right from God. I feel great. I feel the happiest I've ever been.

Mr. Kotarski: Uh huh.

Fr. Redemptus: And I think Holy Hill is like a little bit of heaven. I really do.

Mr. Kotarski: Uh huh.

Fr. Redemptus: Yeah.

Mr. Kotarski: And the kids that come here. They ask for you, you'll talk to them and show them around a little bit?

Fr. Redemptus: Oh, sure. Sure we have nothing to hide. We'll show you everything.

Mr. Kotarski: And the food here, if I was thinking to become a Carmelite Priest, Father Superior for the Prior. Father (? 443 Sarel sp?) does not force you to eat moldy bread?

Fr. Redemptus: No, no. Everybody's healthy here. (Laughter).

Mr. Kotarski: And if you want to take vitamins, you can take vitamins?

Fr. Redemptus: Vitamins, sure. Sure, that's okay.

Mr. Kotarski: And you go to the doctor. They let you go to the doctor on a regular basis?

Fr. Redemptus: Yeah, well I'm...I go to the doctor often now and I take a lot of pills and stuff like that, but I'm doing okay. I don't know, it just seems like ah...you keep trying it will happen no matter what it is. But you gotta keep trying. Keep at it, whether it's prayer or whether it's...whatever you want, because God is working with all of us.

Mr. Kotarski: I think that's so. And any boy or girl out there that thinks about coming to a monastery, Holy Hill, or the Priesthood or to the Sisterhood, there's happiness to be found there.

Fr. Redemptus: Oh sure, sure. And ah, were people just like you. We're no different just ah you know, we just we like to pray, and so do you I'm sure. And there is really the key.

Mr. Kotarski: What is?

Fr. Redemptus: Key.

Mr. Kotarski: What is the key?

Fr. Redemptus: Prayer. Prayer.

Mr. Kotarski: Prayer.

Fr. Redemptus: Pray any way you can. As often as you can. And ask God, Blessed Mother, to oh, any saints, Saint Joseph, any saints to help you to pray...like Jesus especially.

Mr. Kotarski: Well, we're gonna, we're gonna conclude our little discussion and conversations with you now. And if there is anything...if you are talking to Mary what would you say to Mary in a message to ah, our Blessed Mother Mary?

Fr. Redemptus: To Mary?

Mr. Kotarski: Yeah.

Fr. Redemptus: Well, I'd ask Mary, our Blessed Mother. I know she will, but to continue to take care of all the whole world, because we're all her children. But especially the young children.

Mr. Kotarski: And if you were having a chance to talk to Joseph what would you ask of Joseph right now?

Fr. Redemptus: Well, stay close to us as you did to Mary and Jesus. And maybe we'll have to oh like, you flee from the country, but God will always be with us. You stayed Mary and Jesus when you brought them into Egypt, but then you brought them back again so...

Mr. Kotarski: So, if we have, we're exiles in a foreign country, or even if we're in...ah, Joseph will be with us?

Fr. Redemptus: Yeah. And we really are exiles. This isn't our true country, you know.

Mr. Kotarski: Uh huh.

Fr. Redemptus: Our true home is heaven.

Mr. Kotarski: Uh huh.

Fr. Redemptus: That's what it's called.

Mr. Kotarski: Uh huh, right. And we could be exiles because of pain. Or we're going through terrible pain, or a disease. Joseph is there to protect and guide us.

Fr. Redemptus: Oh sure, sure. Especially when we need him most he's there most.

Mr. Kotarski: And if we have a lot of sorrow, and we're depressed and we're hurting inside. Joseph is there to protect and guide us along with Mary.

Fr. Redemptus: Ya, you betcha. Our lady, you know, she's a queen of angels and saints, but she's also was a human being, and God allowed her to suffer. You know, terrible because when she saw her Son die before her eyes, it was pretty tough.

Mr. Kotarski: Uh huh.

Fr. Redemptus: But she kept going.

Mr. Kotarski: And we have to keep going and trusting in God, and hoping in God.

Fr. Redemptus: Yeah, because God allows things to happen so we can come close to Him. Everything that happens is supposed to bring us closer to God. So ah, if He closes one door He opens another one, and opens two, you know.

Mr. Kotarski: If he closes one door He opens sometimes two?

Fr. Redemptus: Sure.

Mr. Kotarski: We have to be prepared for that.

Fr. Redemptus: Yeah. But He's always there. He never sleeps. He's thinking of us all the time. He's thinking of each one without thinking less, oh how can I say it? He loves each one of us with all His love without taking that love away from anybody else. He can do that, see.

Mr. Kotarski: He's a good guy?

Fr. Redemptus: Good? He's always good.

Mr. Kotarski: Do you love Him?

Fr. Redemptus: Love Him, yeah. Oh, oh...I owe everything to Him, I guess we all do. You know.

Mr. Kotarski: Uh huh.

Fr. Redemptus: Yeah.

Mr. Kotarski: And He's been good to you?

Fr. Redemptus: Oh, has He ever, yeah. Well, there were days when I didn't know what was, which way to go, but ah, I don't know, it ah, you just hang in there and keep praying. I always found that when I made mistakes, that's when God was closest to me. He...he...God draws straight lines crooked. That is they look crooked but they're not really crooked they're straight, but they seem crooked to us, but God's always there.

Mr. Kotarski: Uh huh.

Fr. Redemptus: Yeah.

Mr. Kotarski: Well praise be Jesus. I want to thank you for taking the time out of your schedule to talk to us, and to talk to the boys and girls that will listen to the tape in their school or at home, and ah families are good places to grow a little bit of heaven too.

Fr. Redemptus: Oh, sure, our families are the basis of (? 497 inaudible). And I'll be praying for you every day, at Mass and during the day, until God calls me.

Mr. Kotarski: You'll do that for all the hearers of this tape?

Fr. Redemptus: Yeah. All the hearers of this tape.

Mr. Kotarski: Those are in your spiritual family of the tape. Children of the tape ministry?

Fr. Redemptus: Yeah. And I'd like to sign off by saying what we usually greet each other with "Praise be Jesus Christ."

Mr. Kotarski: And what's the response?

Fr. Redemptus: "And now and forever. Amen."

Mr. Kotarski: Let's start it fresh then, go ahead again.

Fr. Redemptus: Praise be Jesus Christ.

Mr. Kotarski: And now and forever.

Fr. Redemptus: Amen.

Mr. Kotarski: Amen.

Fr. Redemptus: Yeah.

Mr. Kotarski: We taught them a little prayer.

Fr. Redemptus: Yeah.

Mr. Kotarski: Amen.

Fr. Redemptus: Amen.

Mr. Kotarski: Alright, thank you, Father.

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