Priesthood Sunday USA | October 28, 2007

Do you know that Sunday October 28 is Priesthood Sunday? This is a day sponsored by the Serra Club. It is also celebrated by Marriage Encounter as World Priest Day. What are you doing to thank the priests that touch your lives? What are you doing to encourage more vocations? Thank your priests. Write them letters. Let them know that you love them. If you want information on what your parish can do, click here.

Pray for our priests!

Catholic World News : Fears, negotiations for priests kidnapped in Iraq: "Two Syrian Catholic priests were kidnapped in Iraq on Saturday, October 13." Our priests are under attack on every front. Satan attacks from right and left, front and back. Pray for all of our priests, especially those under in spiritual or physical danger. Lord Jesus, You have chosen Your priests from among us and sent them out to proclaim Your word and to act in Your name. For so great a gift to Your Church, we give You praise and thanksgiving. We ask You to fill them with the fire of Your love, that their ministry may reveal Your presence in the Church. Since they are earthen vessels, we pray that Your power shine out through their weakness. In their afflictions let them never be crushed; in their doubts never despair; in temptation never be destroyed; in persecution never abandoned. Inspire them through prayer to live each day the mystery of Your dying and rising. In time of weakness send them Your Spirit, and help them to praise Your heavenly Father and pray for poor sinners. By the same Holy Spirit, put Your word on their lips and Your love in their hearts, to bring good news to the poor and healing to the brokenhearted. And may the gift of Mary, Your mother, to the disciple whom You loved, be Your gift to every priest. Grant that she who formed You in her human image, may form them in Your divine image, by the power of Your Spirit, to the glory of God the Father. Amen. Prayer found at http://www.scborromeo.org/prayers.htm

St. Theresa of Avila

The picture is not one of mine, I got it from boglewood.com. The statue is titled The Ecstasy of S. Teresa di Avila. "Believe me, the safest thing is to will only what God wills, for He knows us better than we know ourselves, and He loves us." - St. Teresa of Avila in Interior Castle Today is the feastday of St. Theresa of Avila. St. Theresa of Avila is a great saint, doctor of the Church, reformer, and mystic. Should anyone be interested in mysticism, they should NOT look to eastern religions. Look to Catholic mystics like St. Theresa. And if you have not read Interior Castle, you highly recommend it. You can read more on St. Theresa by clicking here.

Fr. Larry Richards - I'll pick up the cost

For some time I have had a side-bar button that links to the Reason For our Hope Foundation run by Fr. Larry Richards. A friend of mine gave me a CD of Fr. Larry's "Confession" talk that really moved me. I went back and downloaded more of Father Larry's talks, and they were all quite powerful. His talks really will change your life. Not because there is any new theology, but because he challenges us to live our faith honestly and with passion. He doesn't soft sell the truth. Fr. Larry tells it like it is, but with vibrancy, humor, and conviction. He takes the bible, the teachings of the Church, and the writings of the saints, and presents them in a way that it comes alive. He puts the challenge of Christ in such a way that I WANT to be a saint. I WANT to do what it takes. I WANT to change my life. Wherever you are spiritually, this will speak to you. It will set you on fire - or stoke the flames higher. There are five talks in the Reason For Our Hope series: Confession Knowing God's Will The Mass Explained The Truth What More Could He Do For You You can get the talk "The Truth" free by registering at the Reason For our Hope site (click here). Because I have found these so powerful, I am willing to buy the entire set for you. My funds are not unlimited and am willing to do this for the first 5 people who ask. Leave a message in the comment box and send me an email with where I should send the talks. I will buy the talks in MP3 format and put them on a single disk (in MP3 format) and mail them to you.

Oct 2 - Feast of Guardian Angels

"Behold, I send an angel before you, to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place which I have prepared. Give head to him and listen to his voice, do not rebel against him, for he will not pardon your transgression; for my name is in him. But if you listen attentively to his voice, and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies, and an adversary to your adversaries." Ex 23: 20-22 "See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you that in heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven." Mt 18:10 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased." Lk 2: 13-14

Happy Michaelmas!

Today is the feast day of St. Michael. It was traditionally known as Michaelmas and was a holy day of obligation until the 18th century. The Church has added Saint Gabriel and St Raphael to the feast day - these are the three Archangels named in the bible. Among other things, St. Michael is the patron saint for our family - all of us are named Michael or Michelle (first, middle, or confirmation name). Today is a special feast day for our family. There is a prayer to St. Michael that the entire Church would say after every mass. Those at daily mass at some parishes still say it (they do this at my parish). We say it together at least once per day. I share it with you: St. Michael the Archangel Defend us in battle. Be our protection against the snares and wickedness of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host - by the Divine Power of God - Cast into hell, Satan and all evil spirits who wander this world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

Michaelmas is coming!

In case you didn't realize, Saturday Sept 29 is Michaelmas (the feast of St. Michael). St. Michael is our family's patron saint and we are all named Michael or Michelle (first, middle or confirmation name), so Saturday is a big day for us. Michaelmas has been an important holiday in the Church, especially in Ireland, Scotland and Wales (ah those wonderful Celts). Michaelmas was a holy day of obligation until the 18th century, and because of its proximity to the equinox marked the beginning of Fall. Here is a traditional Michaelmas recipe I found at Fish Eaters that we will be making this Saturday and wanted to share with you. We wanted to give you a jump on getting ingredients, since the flours are not your typical mega-mart staples (we had to go to a organic health food store to get the barley and rye). This is Celtic in origin (of course the Irish and Scots argue about whose it is, but never mind that). St. Michael's Bannock 1 1/3 C. barley flour 1 1/3 C. oat meal 1 1/3 C. rye meal 1 C. flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 scant tsp baking soda 2 1/2-3 C. buttermilk 3 TBSP honey or brown sugar 2 eggs 1 C. cream 4 TBSP melted butter Mix the barley flour, oat meal, and rye meal. Add flour and salt. Mix the soda and buttermilk (start with the 2 1/2 C) and then add to the dry mixture. Stir in honey. Turn out onto floured board and mix (as with all breads, don't over-mix), adding more buttermilk if too dry, or more flour if too sticky). Divide dough in half, and roll each, on a floured board, into an 8" circle (about 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch thick). While heating a lightly greased skillet, mix the eggs, cream, and melted butter. Spread onto one of the bannocks and place the bannock, egg-side down, in the skillet and cook til the egg-side is browned. Put the egg mixture on the top side, flip the bannock and cook 'til the second side is golden. Repeat this application of the egg wash and flipping and cooking until each side has been cooked three times. Do the same with the second bannock. Serve warm with butter and honey. Have a happy Michaelmas on Saturday, and enjoy. Saturday, be sure to wish a happy feast day to anyone you know named for St. Michael!

Being A Catholic Man

Archbishop Chaput of Denver tells it like it is at First Things. Read his article at FIRST THINGS: On the Square » Renewing the Church, Converting the World. Here is an excerpt about Catholic men. Christian love is not weak or anesthetic. It’s an act of the will. It takes guts. It’s a deliberate submission of our selfishness to the needs of others. There’s nothing “unmanly” about it, and there’s nothing—and I mean nothing—more demanding and rewarding in the world. The heart of medieval knighthood and chivalry was the choice of a fighting man to put himself at the service of others—honoring his lord, respecting the dignity of women, protecting the weak, and defending the faith even at the cost of his own life. That’s your vocation. That’s what being a Christian man means. We still have those qualities in our hearts. We are not powerless in the face of today’s unbelieving civilization. We can turn this world upside down if only we’re willing to love—the kind of Christian love that is vastly more powerful than just a sugary feeling; the kind of love that converts men into something entirely new; the kind of love that bears fruit in a man’s zeal, courage, justice, mercy, and apostolic action. So I leave you with this: Be men who love well. Be the Catholic men God intended you to be. Be men of courage and fidelity to your God, your wives, your families, and your Church. Put your belief into practice. Do everything for the glory of God, even the little things you have to do each day. Love those who don’t love you. Love—expecting nothing in return. Love—and those you love will find Jesus, too. Love—and through your actions, God will change this world. Thank you God for calling me to be a Catholic man. And thank you God for bishops like Archbishop Chaput. Amen Welcome th the Church Militant - are you ready to do your part? h/t to Jay of Pro Ecclesia*Pro Familia*Pro Civitate and Catholic Dads

Mathetes Award

Deb at UKOK's Place (one of those blogs that made it into my Google reader) nominated me for the Mathetes Award. Here’s a quote from the orignal blog post explaining the award…. "Mathetes is the Greek word for disciple, and the role of the disciple (per the Great Commission) it to make more disciples. I'd like to take the opportunity to award five other bloggers with this award and badge for acting in the role of a disciple of Christ. These five all share the message in their own creative ways, and I admire them all for what they do. In the spirit of this award, the rules are simple. Winners of this award must pick five other "disciples" to pass it on to. As you pass it on, I just ask that you mention and provide links for (1)this post as the originator of the award (Dan King of management by God), (2) the person that awarded it to you, and then (3) name and sites of the five that you believe are fulfilling the role of a disciple of Christ" Deb, thank you very much for the nomination. I very much appreciate it (and your blog). I'd like to think I am a good disciple, but I think I have a long way to go - but I guess we all would say that. Regardless, thanks. Now for the nomination. Of course, Deb, you have made it hard because you would have been one of the five I would have nominate. But I think there are few out there that I would mention. So here are my five: Fr. Stephanos at Me Monk, Me Meander whose insight and guidance I find profound, though I wish he would be able to get high speed access again . :-) Amber at This Catholic Journey who has inspired and challenged us with her ongoing journey into the Catholic Church in spite of all the obstacles. Barb at SFO Mom who shows us how to live our faith simply in our daily lives. Sister Mary Martha at Ask Sister Mary Martha for reminding us why we miss the straightforward "between the eyes" nuns that used to be more common when we were younger. The entire crew at Mount Carmel Bloggers who show us what it is to be faithful Catholics - not liberals, not conservatives - just faithful Catholics. Well, that's my list.

God or Mammon

No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and mammon. Luke 16:13 I think it worth repeating this verse from Sunday's Gospel for those of us living in the world, but striving to not be of the world (I include myself here). Whom will we serve today? Wealth? Power? Sex? If we want to know whom our god is, then look at what we love. Look at what we are devoted to. Look at what compels us to do what we do. May the love of God and the love of neighbor be the source of all we do. Then the one true living God will truly be our God.

A Back to School Story

Creative Minority Report is one of the blogs that I absolutely have to visit every day. Not only does it have one of the best layouts, it has writing you just don't want to miss. So how I missed this one two days ago, I don't know. But thanks to Jay at Pro Ecclesia (one of my other "have to read" blogs) for pointing to it. You want to read this one. A Back to School Story And Modern Day Miracle.: "Tommy didn’t want to meet a celebrity. He didn’t want to play basketball against an NBA hero. His wish was simple: Save my School. You see, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia was closing Tommy’s elementary school because much of the Catholic population had moved into the suburbs and the urban neighborhood just couldn’t support the school anymore. Here’s the letter Tommy wrote:" For the rest of the story, head on over to Creative Minority Report.

Is with a twist

There is a great article at California Catholic blog "Notes from A Cultural Madhouse" Read the whole thing, I have skipped some of the useful background and got to the meat here. My emphasis added. “Subsists” is “Is” with a twist: So, when Lumen Gentium says the Church of Christ subsists in the Catholic Church, it is saying that it exists only in the Catholic Church. In its very substance or essence, the Catholic Church is the Church of Christ. But in using subsists, the Council is saying something more. As the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith’s June 29 “Responses to Some Questions Regarding Certain Aspects of the Doctrine of the Church” indicates, the Vatican Council’s use of subsists indicates the simpler is, but with this twist. Subsists, says “Responses,” “brings out more clearly” than is “the fact that there are ‘numerous elements of sanctification and truth’ which are found outside her [the Catholic Church’s] structure, but which ‘as gifts properly belonging to the Church of Christ, impel towards Catholic unity.’” In using “subsists,” the Vatican Council attempted to get at the truth of the nature of the Church of Christ in a way that takes into account the very real salvific elements found in non-Catholic groups. “Subsists,” however, does not stop at a simple recognition of the character of non-Catholic groups. It implies an ecumenism which finds its fulfillment It implies an ecumenism which finds its fulfillment only in conversion. For if elements of the Catholic Church exist outside her visible confines, they do not exist in the way that Christ willed for them to exist but as broken and scattered. As “Responses” said, only in the Catholic Church do we find that essential characteristic of the Church of Christ – unity – which gathers all the elements of truth, making them part of one substance. This being so, Catholics and non-Catholics alike are impelled to seek for themselves and each other that unity which, as Lumen Gentium says, “subsists in the Catholic Church, governed by the successor of Peter and the Bishops in communion with him.” This work of conversion is not one-sided. For while it certainly implies, for non-Catholics, full entrance into the Catholic Church, it demands something of Catholics as well -- the recognition of non-Catholic Christians as real, if separated, brethren and the zeal to bring our brethren home to the Church of Christ, which is, and subsists in, the Catholic Church. The problem with some Catholics who reach out to our separated brothers and sisters is that they stop at the recognition of salvific elements outside of the Church. But we are called to more than that. We Catholics are challenged to invite our brothers and sisters home. That the we may be one. This requires a conversion on the part of our separated brothers & sisters. And it requires an active evangelization on our part. This isn't relativism in action - it is a call to heal division through a conversion of separated Christians to unity with the Catholic Church. This is not "separate but equal," and it is not about negotiating on matters of faith or morals. No, it is reaching out and teaching with humility.

The Cost of Faithfulness

I was mentioning to the RCIA head at my parish (in response to questions about an adult faith formation series) that I was looking for a going deeper in understanding my faith. I said that I am very well catechized and knowledgeable already. She told me that I won't get what I was looking for at a parish (which is sad in and of itself). I told her that I see myself as a teacher of the faith in the future. And I had indicated that my spiritual advisor had recommended the distance course through the Franciscan University at Steubenville. I am seriously considering this - especially as it has a reputation as orthodox in its teachings (btw, if anyone can give me insights on the program, it would be greatly appreciated). Well, she told me that I would find it tough getting work in the Diocese of Orange with a degree from Steubenville. That was a rather surprising statement. But after doing a little research, I suspect that she is correct about biases among many in leadership positions in the diocese given the public statements of some well placed priests in the diocese. Why should being faithful to the teachings of the Catholic Church make one less desirable to many of the leaders of that Church (at least out this way)? Any thoughts or advice?

Feast of the Assumption

Today is the feast of the Assumption. Let us praise God for the boast of the human race, our Blessed Mother! Without her "yes" at the annunciation, we would still be in darkness. How wonderful she is! May we imitate her when God calls on us. Let us praise Christ and thank him for the gift of his Mother to us through St. John! Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our Life, our Sweetness and our Hope. To the do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To Thee do we send up our sighs mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious Advocate, Thine Eyes of Mercy toward us, and after this our exile show us the Blessed Fruit of thy Womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Pray for us O Holy Mother of God That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Previous posts: 2006 Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Where have all the men gone?

I'm feelin' a little on fire tonight. It could be that I've been over-worked and am fighting a summer cold. Or it could be the Holy Spirit. Either way, I've got something to say. First, h/t to Fr. Stephanos at Me Monk, Me Meander for pointing to the article at Crisis Magazine (Crisis Magazine: The New Catholic Manliness). This is definitely required reading for Catholic men, and prompts my post. So where have all the men gone in our Church? Well if you mix an over-correction to errors from a previous generation with radical feminism in the midst of a tumultuous period you have a perfect storm. A storm that left us with soft, touchy-feely "Faith Communities" that all but suppressed authentic Catholic masculinity and feminized the Church in the industrialized First World. But there is good news - We're back! We men needed a bit of time to figure out what to do. But with leaders like JP2 and B16 it was only a matter of time before we would figure it out. Oh yeah, we figured it out. We figured out that we need strong men, who will stand up for what they believe. Men who will take the difficult path. Who will act with courage, justice, and compassion. Men ready to be rocks for building His Church. Men who want the challenge of Christ. This is no easy challenge. It means fasting, praying, and giving for your family and your Church. It's rejecting temptation. It is fighting the Devil. It is witnessing to the faith. It is living our faith and challenging others to do the same. It means following the full Catholic faith. We want the whole thing with all the implications. The love Christ showed us, the love B16 writes about in Deus Caritas Est, is not easy. It isn't "hold my hand, play nice-nice and everything will be all right" love. Christ's love is HARD. It means humility and sacrifice. It means commitment.and discipline. It means struggle and perseverance. It means training and study. It means repentance and obedience. It means duty and service. It means leadership and taking responsibility for our Church. It means instructing our children about how to be a faithful Catholic; a follower of Christ in the the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. It means living that faith. It means stepping up and being counted as a follower of the Christ. Because the world is hostile to the message of Christ and those who follow him, it means you can expect hardship. It means being ridiculed, and despised and hated. It means having others judge you wrongly. It means being unpopular. It may cost you friends. Or jobs. Or lifestyle. It will certainly cost you something and it will not always be easy. In fact, this is so hard, that without Christ we cannot do it. But if we open our hearts. Say "yes" like our Blessed Mother did when asked by the archangel Gabriel, then His grace will transform us and the world through us. If we say "yes" and, with His help, LIVE that "yes" through our actions then it means ultimate victory. And peace. And joy. And REAL love. It's the Church Militant, baby. You ready to step up?

That Catholic Show - Water, Water Everywhere

You gotta see That Catholic Show!

Love Our Patrimony

Rejoice in our Catholic Church! God has blessed us for nearly two thousands years. Much has come against the Church, and yet she remains. The fullness of Christ’s truth resides in the Catholic Church. May we remain faithful to her because it is right to do so. May we remain faithful so we may share in her glory when Christ the bridegroom embraces his bride at the end of ages. There is a strong mentality among many leaders in our parishes to reject our past. This antipathy to our patrimony is disheartening. We stand on the faith of those who came before us, saints and martyrs loyal to the Church from the apostles forward. We need to embrace the richness of our history of our tradition - not reject it for a faddish modernism. I have heard those who are parish leaders, who are entrusted with teaching our faith, speak with condescension about our past. Because the Church is made of humans, there has been scandal, just as we are suffering through scandal now. May we have the strength to address these problems as they occur in the future - as they certainly will in our fallen world. But far greater than the human weakness within the Church is the richness of our faith. The fruit of the Church has been bountiful and immeasurable. This is where we should point our faithful. To focus on the failings is to stand in judgment. To be in such a place is to tempt us with pride. The pride that we are somehow better than our forefathers, that our judgment is somehow superior. I have heard those in there late 50s and early 60s complain about nuns they had in school. These nuns taught them the faith. Yet they blame these nuns for giving them guilt and a fear of God's judgment. I feel sorry for these people. They do not recognize the great contribution to their own lives that these nuns made. These people do not see where the seeds were planted and nourished. They do not see the eternal truths that they were taught. Faith is not easy. One must guard against the snares of the Devil. Many from this generation want to leave out the parts they don't like, and then blame it on those who gave their lives to impart the wisdom of ages because deep down, they know that they cannot and should not let it go. I lament the loss of our religious. While decline in priestly vocations increases our appreciation for the former abundance in sacramental life, the loss of our nuns has made me appreciate our former abundance in community life. For the nuns were the glue in our parishes. Their teaching, and humility, examples of obedience, and faithfulness are sorely missed. May the numbers of faithful religious again increase so that the Church may benefit from the sweet fruit of their holiness. Let us remember who we are and how we got there. Let us listen to those in the Body of Christ who have come before us. Let us look to our heritage for grounding. Let us also remember in our prayers those who were part of the cultural turmoil of the 1960's and 1970's and are stuck with the lens of struggle and revolution. May they find Christ's peace that has always been here, waiting for them in His Church.

OneYear of Blogging!

I started this blog a year ago with a post about St. Ignatius of Loyola. St. Ignatius is one of my favorite saints. His desire to do God's will, and how he continuously sought God's will, moved forward with what he thought was best, but he was open to changes in direction. He shows us how all of life is a process of discerning God's will. St. Ignatius, pray for us on our journeys. That we may faithfully discern our paths in following our Lord Jesus Christ. Since it is this blog's anniversary, I thought I would gather my favorites from the past year in a single list. Thanks to those who shared the past year, I look forward to the next. I am sure there will be plenty to share. Well, here are my favorites from oldest to most recent: “Thy Will Be Done” or “My Will Be Done” – Part I and Part II Grattitude & Responsiblity - Laying Foundations Forgive me Father for I have sinned... What color hat do you wear? Heroes Superordinate Goals El Camino Real Metal as in a Forge Miracles (Part 1 of 3), (Part 2 of 3), and (Part 3 of 3) Ears of the Deaf & Tongue of the Mute Advice For Couples Starting Out On Christian Pride - Part I and Part II Pride and the Poor

The Kitchen Church

National Catholic Register: The Kitchen Church: "The father smiles and says to one of his sons, “Go tell them I want all my children together, in the kitchen, with me.” The son does what he is told — but the dining-room group is aghast at his message. “Well, look at Mr. Special,” says one of them. “He thinks it’s his way or the highway!” “All of this talk about ‘You must gather in the kitchen’ is silly,” says another. “What’s most important is that we love our father and we are talking to him. It’s all his house. He can hear us just as well from the dining room as from the kitchen.”" Outstanding commentary in NC Register. To my protestant brothers and sisters: I must say that I don't understand the flub from some of you prots out there about the Chruch's paper on the position of the Church in relation to other Christian communities. I mean, you left the one true Church thinking we had things all wrong anyways. Frankly, I expected you all to just shrug. What do you care whether we think you are only Christian communities versus full fledged Churches. You left us and went your own way, remember? With all the shouting, someone might think you actually cared. "The lady doth protest too much, methinks" - Shakespeare (Hamlet). Some of your responses strike me as the sour grapes of spoiled children who want to do things their own way AND have other say "why that is just wonderful, Billy! Your just like the Roman Catholics!" Sorry, it just ain't true. We pray you come back with us. Our statement of the facts are not meant to hurt - they are meant to ensure that those involved in dialogue remember that truth. Sometimes well meaning people can put the goal of unity above faithfulness to the truth - the article was meant for those Catholics engaging in the ecumenical dialogue more than anything else (imho). So why do we have ecumenical dialogue if this is the Catholic position? Because we want to restore unity among all Christians. We want to be one with you. We DO care about you. We want share our faith so you can see that the truth you believe is here, and so much more that you are missing. The fullness of truth is in the Catholic Church. That does not mean truth is not found in your communities - it is, but not all of it. Like what? Well. for starters you are missing the sacraments. Protestant faiths have valid baptism (thank God). That is good, you are part of the family - but you miss so much more, especially the Eucharist. Compared to the Eucharist, those with out it are like the hungry left out of the banquet. You need a valid Eucharist to receive the body and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ (that is one of the reasons apostolic succession is so important). And there are 5 other sacraments you are missing - moments of Grace that you refuse to accept. Not to mention we are supposed to be one, but you left. There is no way around it. Protestants broke the unity. It was there once, and we know it will return in the end. So we must reach out to our wayward brethren and beckon back. It is what Christ wants us to do. Please. Stop the protests. Open your hearts. Come back.

Bible Statistics and Lesson from Maccabees

Dom Bettinelli at Betnet.com has a new tumblelog appropriately named Bettumblog. This is a place he started for interesting clippings he finds, but provided without comment. There he had posted some lectionary statistics about the percent of the bible you will hear at mass. For the New Testament, if you go just on Sundays, you get about 41%, and if you go daily, you get about 72%. For the Old Testament it is about 4% from Sunday masses and 14% if you attend daily mass. So, if you rely only on mass attendance for your Bible reading you are missing out on A LOT, especially from the OT. Read your bible! You will find that it has great relevance for and many parallels with today! Last night, I was reading 1st Maccabees (0% in Sunday lectionary readings). It was describing how the Seleucid king had conquered Israel, had taken over the temple, and had banned Jewish worship and rituals (those circumcising their sons were killed - the mother, those doing the circumcision, and the child). This was done because the king, Antiochus, wanted to unify his realm with a single religion (worshiping the Greek gods). So here is the part that is relevant for today. Many of the Jews who had admired Greek culture embraced this change and became apostates - rejecting their faith in the true God - even some of the priests! While we do not have a pantheon of false gods in the sense of Zeus and his ilk, we do have a modern pantheon of materialism, sex, power, science, nature, and the self. While none of these "gods" are wrong when kept in their proper place, our modern society tells us to fall down and worship them. They take the good that these false gods are based upon, and distort them until they are evil. We are pressured to abandon our God and follow their "truth." Secular cultural leaders tell people of faith that they are fools, and that true knowledge and wisdom are found in their false gods. The worst of these are those that masquerade as religious or faithful. Those who have bought into the modern fallacies - those who reject the tenets of the faith, but retain the "cultural" aspect of their religion. Or they tell us the god "tolerance" supersedes all else, and any disagreement is simply not tolerated. Here is the good news/bad news. In Maccabees, even though the false religion succeeds for a while - a statue of a false god is even erected in the temple, the resistance of those who remain faithful renews the Jewish faith and restores Jerusalem. Here is the bad news, it was not easy and many suffered. This theme recurs frequently in the Bible. Our faith will be challenged, many will fall, but those who stay faithful will be saved in the end - but not without suffering. It is always good to remind ourselves that the faithful win in the end, but it is also important to remember that we may suffer greatly before that time. Stay faithful.

Why I Love Jesus

Why I love Jesus I got tagged twice in the span of less than two days! I guess I better take care of this. Thanks to Creative Minority Report and Play The Dad? Be the Dad! for the tags. The rules: Those tagged will share 5 things they "love" about Jesus. Those tagged will tag 5 other bloggers. Those tagged will provide a link in the comments section here with their name so that others can read them. So here are some of my reasons for loving Jesus: Through him all things were made. He made me, and my wife and my kids and my parents and my dog and the sunrise and the sunset and the oceans and the mountains and everything else that is good in this world. He died for me. After we humans screwed it up good and basically told God to take a hike, he STILL loves us. So much so that he paid the price of our redemption. And he would have done it if it was only me that had sinned. That is how much he loves me! For his first miracle, he turned WATER INTO WINE. And at the end of a three day wedding feast! Talk about joy in life! Let me tell you, Jesus is the life of the party! He gave us the best mom in the world, Mary! And he listens to her! Guess who told him to make the wine? Yep, it was her. I mean, this was his mom - and he gave her to us and us to her. He gave us the Eucharist. I go to mass and receive my Lord and God in a real and physical way. At that moment of communion, when all masses are one outside of space and time - I am with my God and savior and the entire Church throughout time. Here is a 6th freebie. I also love Jesus because he cares enough to knock me over the head every now and then with the spiritual equivalent of a 2 x 4 to get my attention. I mean, he goes out of his way to make sure I get the message some times. And here is a 7th. He gave us the Church that he told us he would not leave. He built it on Peter, and has promised that the gates of Hell will not prevail against it. I could go on but I am already two past the requested five, so I'll leave it at that. Since the people I would tag have mostly been tagged or have done this one, I am going to leave the tagging open. Let me know if you play, I’d love to read your responses!

On Christian Pride Part II

I have been reading much of the reaction that the American (and other) bishops and the entrenched liturgical establishment has to say about the Moto Proprio, Summorum Pontificum, that Pope Benedict released 10 days ago. Fr. Z has a listing of these, with intelligent commentary (far more intelligent than most of the original pieces). His July 2007 listings can be found here: What Does The Prayer Really Say? » 2007 » July. When I read the reactions of our leaders, I was saddened by the pride and arrogance that many of the responses exhibit, which prompts this post. I posted on Christian Pride previously, and want to continue my thoughts in light of the current developments. What does pride look like? It goes something like this. I don't need to listen to you. Who cares what the Church says. The Church doesn't know what its talking about. I don't not need to pay attention to the Bible. Who do you think you are to tell me what to do? I know what is best for myself. I know better than you what needs to be done. What, do you think I'm stupid that I need your help? I have a brain to think for myself, I certainly don't need to be told what to think. I will only believe what I see, I will not trust the word of others. My own counsel will I keep. We all have seen this kind of thinking. I suspect we all have thought this way. I certainly know I have. But this thinking is the root of sin. It sets up whoever thinks this way as their own god. It stiffens the neck and hardens the heart. When we are called back to the truth, to repentance, it fights the soul within us that wants to return to God. This is the real plague that threatens Western civilization. Our culture tells us we are all little kings of our own realms, gods of our own existence. This fatally flawed perspective tells us that there is no right and wrong, except as the individual sees it (relativism feeds and insulates pride). This pride even infects our Church. Bishops that resist the lead of the Pope demonstrate it. They want to be head of the Church and resist following the Vicar of Christ. Liberal religious advocates speak from this very place. They argue that the Church is wrong, that our tradition is not sacred, that we do not need to believe the teachings of the Church, and that, somehow, the Church was wrong in its teachings before the 60's, and is wrong now on a number of important issues. Those that argue the Holy Spirit abandoned the Church at Vatican II show this arrogance as well. Both groups share the foolish pride that they have the truth and that Christ's own Church is too ignorant to see it. We have seen this sinful pride before in our history. We saw it as the unity of the Church was splintered at the Great Schism and during the Protestant Reformation. Those episodes resulted in fractures in the Body of Christ that have yet to heal. To many of our wayward brothers have not yet returned home. We are facing the same situation today. But it is not from the extreme traditionalists - they have had their say and only a fringe are willing to leave the Church with them (though we should strive to keep all within the Church). No, it is the liberal side of the Church that is the greater threat. This group says they are Catholic, but in their arrogance reject what is Catholic and what is Sacred. So what can we do? We all must humble ourselves before God. We must answer whether we believe what we say every Sunday in the Nicene Creed. If so, we must follow the leader of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. We must open our hearts and bend our knees. Pray for forgiveness, and receive the Holy Spirit. All lay, and all priests, and all bishops who serve the Lord, set aside your pride and open your hearts!

Modern Ezra & Nehemiah

This week I read Ezra and Nehemiah. And something struck me about the parallel between these two biblical figures and Pope Benedict. Ezra restored right worship of the Lord, and rebuilt the temple in Jerusalem. Nehemiah rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem so the City could be re-established after it had been destroyed. Both books were about restoring God's law in his city and in the hearts of his people. The release of the Moto Proprio, Summorum Pontificum strikes me as directly parallel to Ezra re-establishing worship and rebuilding the temple. The Holy Father is seeking to restore the right worship to the Church - not by requiring that all return to the Extraordinary form of the right, but by setting in place an influence to control the rampant liturgical abuses and the lack of the sacred found so often in the current ordinary form of the Latin Rite. As with Ezra, there are some who do not want this. But restoration of the sacred is what we need, and what many who feel exiled within our own Church need. The document released by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith "Regarding Certain Aspects of Church Doctrine" is akin to Nehemiah rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. Nehemiah re-established the borders of the City of God. He strengthened its defenses so that it could again be inhabited and defended by His chosen people. The Pope, through this document, clearly establishes the border of the Church. He is re-stating, and strengthening the defenses against those would see the boundaries erased and relativism installed as god. Of course those outside of the Church take offense - just as Sanballat and Tobiah grew angry. There were even those among the Jewish people who conspired with those outside to stop Nehemiah, as Shemaiah conspired with Sanballat and Tobiah. Similarly, today we see those who are nominally within the Church trying to undermine the work of the Pope on this and other issues. In these old testament cases we see opposition to rebuilding Jerusalem. Today, we have something similar, as Pope Benedict, building on the work of Pope John Paul, calls the people back from the error of their ways so the Church can be strengthened. The question is where do you stand. Do you stand with those seeking to keep the Church weak, or will you give your efforts to building Christ's own Church? I, for one, will serve the Lord by offering my labor in the service of building and strengthening his Church.

"What would Raymond Brown say?"!?!

Commonweal -Between Theology & Exegesis: "This is not, however, what a substantial majority of American Catholic Bible scholars wants to hear. I venture to guess that their silent question about this book is: “What would Raymond Brown say?”" I have unexpectedly been added to a Commonweal mailing list. This was not really intentional, and can make for some scary reading. The most recent email I received was a review about the Pope's book, Jesus of Nazareth. The line above summarizes the review. It was largely dry and critical as only an academic review can be. It put me back into a world that I knew, not in theology, but in psychology. I could get my blood pounding reading issues about the structure of personality. Things that to anyone in daily life, are largely irrelevant, but were pretty important to me in my little academic world. My academic discussions centered around mental life, but often had little to say that was directly relevant to actual living. Such is the nature of the academy. The problem with this attitude in theology is that one is in danger of leaving faith out of the study of God. So we get all the academic trappings, but none of the prayer, none of the holiness. It looks like it can become a lot like the English department. With discussions of what the received view is and how something does or does not fit with that view. It puts me in the mind of the warning of St. Francis to St. Anthony "It pleases me that you teach sacred theology to the brothers, as long as in the words of the Rule you "do not extinguish the Spirit of prayer and devotion" with study of this kind." The attitude presented in the review can suck the life out of faith, and lead one down dangerous roads. Roads that lead one to criticize a pope leading and teaching his flock, because he has not kept up with the latest trends in the academy. It can take faith, and turn it into an academic battleground - trampling on the sacred in the road to academic fame (and what a low prize that). It makes a grand tempest in a teapot, appearing as nothing more than a lot of noise from the outside. The only clear message in the article is that "experts" think the Pope is wrong. Which feeds the liberal leanings of some, raises the traditional ire of others, and undermines the teaching of the faith to all. This pedantic position leads one to ask "what would Raymond Brown say" rather than "what would Christ himself say." I for one, will attend to Christ, listen to my pope and worry not about Fr. Brown.

It's still official - the Catholic Church is THE Church

DOCUMENT REGARDING CERTAIN ASPECTS OF CHURCH DOCTRINE Not that I expect any minds to change outside of the Church. No, I think this letter is for those Catholics stuck in the late '60s and '70s. You know, the ones with theology from The Beatles. The ones who say it doesn't matter what you believe, as long as you have love (of course the definition of love is a bit amorphous in that theology). Those who love the "Spirit of Vatican II" (as opposed to the actual Vatican II). This is for those in the Church to remind them that there is one true Church. May all who seek God come to find him in the one true Church founded by Jesus Christ and extended through his apostles and led by the successor of Peter.

What do you think of the Moto Proprio?

I'd love to see what people are thinking about the Moto Proprio, Summorum Pontificum. Leave your vote and then leave a comment as well.

Summorum Pontificum

What Does The Prayer Really Say?»Blog Archive » Summorum Pontificum: my intro comments and the text: "This document is about opening hearts and healing. In his explanatory letter Pope Benedict even quotes 2 Cor 6:13: “Widen your hearts!” Read Summorum Pontificum with a wide heart, and no one need fear that rights will be trampled or due authority undermined." I look forward to the positive impact this will have on the Church and on the Norvus Ordo liturgy. We need more sacred, and this provides it both directly and indirectly as the Norvus Ordo mass is reconnected to its roots. Let us thank God for this extraordinary pope. Let us pray for open hearts. Let us humbly follow where our shepherd leads. Click to go to Fr. Z's WDTPRS. He is a great resource for this issue.

On Christian Pride - Part I

I have some thoughts on Pride especially when found in Christians, and particularly the Catholic variety. This is the first of at least two parts. The concept of Christian Pride or Catholic Pride is an oxymoron. I am glad I am Christian. I am grateful to God most high that I am Catholic. It is a sacred gift to have been born thus. It is a gift from God that I was given parents and nuns and priests who catechized me well. It is still a greater gift that the fire of the Holy Spirit has touched me with a thirst for knowledge about the true faith and a desire to live it. But pride...? Many see pride as a good thing (e.g., "I'm proud of you," or "I am proud to be an American (or whatever group)." But what is the opposite of pride? We have an answer from the Thesaurus. The opposite of pride is humility, modesty, and shame. We are called to be both humble and modest. These are set clearly against pride. How then can we be proud of being Catholic Christians when being called to Christ means to seek humility and live modestly? If I am proud to be an American (or Christian or of Irish decent), does that mean all who are not should live in shame? I understand being grateful. I understand pledging my heartfelt allegiance. I understand owing a debt to those who have given me the great gifts I have. But does that make me superior to others? Am I God that I can make such a judgment? Being blessed with gifts should not be a source of judging those who do not have these gifts - rather they impose a burden of responsibility. "When much has been given a man, much will be required of him. More will be asked of a man to whom more has been entrusted." Lk 13:48

Congressional Hypocrisy

Members of Congress urge US bishops to intervene in Iraq War: "Washington DC, Jul 5, 2007 / 11:30 am (CNA).- Fourteen Catholic members of Congress released a letter on Tuesday, calling on the country's Catholic bishops to help end the war in Iraq. The letter urges the bishops to 'mobilize Catholic opinion on this, one of the most critical issues of our time.'" How is that for a joke? Catholic members of Congress don't want the Church to speak when it reminds them that abortion is wrong, but wants the Church to speak when it benefits there particular position. As to the specific issue of Iraq.... When the country first decided to go to war, I strongly believed it a wrong and unjust decision - I still think so. I also believed then, and I believe now, that once we made the decision for war, we had to commit to finishing the job - no cowardly withdrawals. Going into Iraq was a mistake, simply pulling out without creating the real opportunity for stability would be an even bigger mistake. I wish these Catholic members of Congress would start attending to how one lives with responsibility for making mistakes, not just the freedom to commit them. Pulling out of Iraq, like having an abortion would be seeking to avoid responsibility. Our nation must stop avoiding the consequences of our actions and do what it takes to set things right. Shame on you "members of Congress" - stop the politics and do what is right.

A Catholic American or an American Catholic?

Tomorrow is the 4th of July. The day we Americans celebrate the birth of our nation. I have always been patriotic, and that increased after the 9/11 attacks. But what does it mean to be an American, and how does that fit in with being a Catholic? I would consider myself patriotic, and believe that I live in one of the greatest nations that have ever existed. I have always loved the freedom afforded by my government. That freedom allows a man to live as his conscience dictates. We are free to do what we believe to be right. America is great because of the freedom and opportunity it affords. And America has taken its responsibility as a member of the world seriously. While not perfect, I must say the world would be a very worse place without the United States in WWI, WWII, and standing up to the communists in the Cold War. I honor the brave soldiers who have answered the call to duty in all conflicts to defend the liberty we hold dear and extend hope to others. America is a great country and I am glad I am an American. But I am also Catholic. And the two sets of values - American and Catholic, are not always in sync. Modern American values see freedom as being free to do whatever you want, while Catholics see freedom as being free to do what we are called to do. There are many "Catholic" politicians in America who are "cultural" Catholics. In fact, most Catholic politicians publicly espouse values that are counter what faithful Catholic believes. They do so, in the name of "freedom." They will not defend the life of an unborn child because women need to be "free." They are even willing to force those of us who believe differently to pay for these murders (poor women need to be "free" to murder their unborn children too). They undermine the sanctity of marriage because others should be "free" to have the government equate their sin with my sacrament. They argue that my voice has no place in the public square, unless I check my Catholicity at the door, as if it were a coat I could take off. These are Catholic Americans. They are Catholic to the extent that it describes their culture of origin, like an Irish American, Italian American, or Asian American. It is important to one's identity - but not the central component. It is the adjective, not the noun. I value being an American, but for me, it is the adjective to the noun of being Catholic. Being Catholic is central to my identity. Being an American describes the culture I come from (to be accurate, I am and American Roman Catholic). More important than all of the freedoms, successes, virtues, and faults that come with living in the United States is my struggle toward heaven in the Church founded by Christ himself. If I had to give up either being American or being Catholic, the answer is easy for me. I will always be Catholic. What would your choice be? Have a safe and happy 4th of July! God Bless America!

Feast of Saints Peter & Paul

Today is the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (two of my favorite saints). These were the men commissioned to build Christ's church. We are each challenged to follow their examples. To risk all to follow the Lord. To follow our mission of building the Church. Why are these two of my favorite saints? Peter was the one with the profound statements of faith combined with such human failings. I see much of myself in his failings and in his enthusiasm. St. Paul is a favorite for lots of reasons. Even one who has sinned against the Church greatly can be called back. St. Paul had to get hit over the heard for God to get his attention (that feels familiar), but once his attention was on the Lord, the world was never the same. St. Paul has provided us with a profound understanding of Jesus Christ and given us some of the most beautiful scripture passages. Btw, the Pope has dedicated the coming year to Saint Paul. Father in heaven, may we who benefit from the foundation laid by your son, Jesus Christ through Saints Peter and Paul learn to follow their examples in building your Church. May we turn to you in forgiveness when we falter as did these Saints. And, like them, may we stand firm in faith at the hour of our death. We ask this through Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever & ever. Saints Peter and Paul, pray for us.

Athiests in heaven?

Praying for Atheists - Mark Shea. Here is a clip: "Eupocrisy is a universal human experience. We see it, for instance, in the story that Jesus told of the two sons. The father asked the older son to go work in the Vineyard and he said, 'Yes' but didn't go. The younger son said, 'No' but then went. Jesus asks simply, 'Which one did his Father's will?' And the answer, of course, is that the one who said 'No' is the one who obeyed. In short, it is possible for humans not only to be worse than their best rhetoric, but to be better than their worst rhetoric. Most atheists fit this bill, which gives me hope that the Holy Spirit may be up to more than they realize in their own hearts." Interesting article. I like the discussion of the verse above. Of course, it is best to "say yes when you mean yes and no when you mean no," but actions are more important than words. The article also highlights an important difference between Catholics and many protestants - that we must not judge people. Actions, yes. Positions, yes. People, no. It is not easy, but it is a mandate - not an option.

Do Politicians Have Religious Freedom

From Amy Wellborn's open book: Just about had it: Yeah, some in either party are tortured souls, but most live their political lives in the midst of a simple calculus, 'If I endorse X, Group Y won't give me money, I will be presented by the media as Z, and my chances of support from the national party for my future political life will be less than zero.' Reminds me of a bible quote: "All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me." (Mt 4:9) I like visiting Amy's site for her even handed (and faithful) take on issues. The quote above is from an article she published about politicians and the Eucharist. It got me wondering about a tangent - whether there is a fatal flaw in our two party political system. I think that there are no faithful Catholics who would say that either party reflects how a state should be justly run. Fair? But we have Catholic politicians on both sides who adopt positions that are not in line with what they actually believe in order to make it in their respective party. Can you imagine a pro-life Democratic presidential candidate? How about someone willing to back the sanctity of marriage? Or stand against Euthanasia? Or birth control? Or allow prayer in school? On the other side, can you imagine a Republican presidential candidate who is against the death penalty? How about one who thinks we should moderate the undesirable effects of capitalism or argues for preferential treatment for the poor? Does this mean that to be a politician one must make a deal with the devil? John Kennedy's compromise was wrong - you cannot be a private Catholic and public agnostic. Remember, "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other." (Mt 6:24) It seems that giving up and going home is not the answer. Tilting at windmills without hope of victory is not ideal either. But perhaps this is the only way to go. Perhaps a clear, consistent and uncompromising Catholic voice would make a change in one of the parties in the long run (my bet would be Republican). I guess, America is still not ready for its first faithful Catholic president - maybe it never will be.

Hurray for St. Paul!!!

Year of St. Paul to be celebrated to mark 2000 anniversary I remember in my college days that I used to not be the biggest fan of St. Paul. I had bought into the nutty idea that so many hold that St. Paul was misogynistic. Then I went to a bible study on St. Paul and understood how his ideas were liberating and revolutionary - and still are today. It's just that now, we some of us are too selfish to see that by giving we receive. Over the years I have developed a strong devotion to St. Paul. What a great saint indeed. I am looking forward to this dedication. I wish I could go to Rome and see his tomb. Maybe one day.

No return?

Dale at Dyspeptic Mutterings had a post titled "Past the point of no return": It is about the rift between the liberal and orthodox Catholics. Here is an excerpt: "Allen is right that there's a canyon between the tribes, and the problem is at its root one of trust. But, sadly, he's wrong to think that any amount of discussion and building of 'safe spaces' is going to heal the fissure. Only time can do that now." I like Dale's blog and am a regular reader. I think that this article is worth a read and a thought. I think that Dale is right and wrong. He is right that adopting a kumbaya, hold hands, create a safe place won't do squat. But waiting and doing nothing doesn't strike me as the correct or Christian response either. How are we to follow the Pope's dictate to evangelize when we cannot reconcile within our Church. Btw, in my mind, there are three groups liberals, orthodox, and then radical traditionalists forming a third group. There is heresy on the left and schism on the right - there are rifts on both sides of the path. What can we do? At the least, there is prayer. And there is standing up and speaking out. There is being leaven in the dough. Perhaps it is not enough, but it seems to me we need to continue regardless. Would listening work? I don't know. I do know that those on the left could use some hard headed thinking and the guidance of the Church to provide structure and grounding. And admittedly, some of us in the more orthodox camp could use a touch more compassion. The left needs to learn to not compromise values with a culture of death, the right needs to learn to reach out to those living in a complex world. What do you think?