Catholicanuck

Book Review: Word and Worship Desk Calendar for 2012

2012-01-09T21:05:00.000-05:00

I received my copy of Word and Worship Desk Calendar for 2012 as part of the Tiber River book review program.

This desk calendar will be useful to any Catholic wishing to be organized, but I suspect of more use to those active in Church ministry. Each page is a week at a glance with a space for a weekly summary. There are also monthly summaries at the beginning of the book.

It has common calendar features like a calendar-at-a-glance for the years 2011-2013.

The distinctive feature of this desk calendar is its coordination with the Liturgical Calendar of the Catholic Church, as it is used in the United States, beginning with November 27 2011, the First Sunday of Advent. It contains a calendar marked with the Christian year, including both Sundays and weekdays, Saints' Days, and civic holidays for both the US and Canada (although Holy Days of Obligation are marked for US only). It also shows the Liturgical Cycles for Sundays and has an outline for the years 2014-2019. There are also notes regarding important days for other faiths, along with daily liturgical readings, and a guide for the Liturgy of the Hours. The liturgical colour for each day of the year is also noted.

A notable omission is the celebrations of the Church in the Extraordinary Form liturgy. Such an addition might expand the appeal of this calendar.

This calendar is of a size that would be convenient to put into a briefcase or book bag, but I suspect the cover might not hold up to constant shufflling. I think that for the price though, this calendar could count as a must-have for clerics or those involved in Church ministry.

You can purchase this calendar here (Aquinas and More).

I wrote this review of Word and Worship Desk Calendar 2012 for the free Catholic Book review program

Christmas Cookies; Revised Translation

2011-12-20T21:50:00.000-05:00

Thank you WI Catholic, for THIS.

I howled.

More on Liturgy

2011-12-16T22:08:00.000-05:00

A thoughtful piece on liturgical rules, and Gaudete Sunday.

Jorge's Lesson in Love and Humility

2011-09-07T08:32:00.000-04:00

From Vox Nova

Black Family spreads the Message in Ontario

2011-09-01T09:25:00.000-04:00

This talented family is helping to get the life-giving message of the Gospels to people in Ontario. This is very good news!

Catholic Kitsch

2011-08-10T13:14:00.000-04:00

I love being Catholic

Some Friday Fun

2011-08-05T09:03:00.000-04:00

http://youtu.be/m57m0XiRgBA

But seriously, how do you get to film a music video in a church? Bah!

As the World Turns

2011-08-04T11:49:00.000-04:00

My eldest daughter has been in THE big city, the centre of the universe, for a year now. She already had a Bachelor of Arts in English but decided she wanted to be a chef.

So to Toronto.

She finished her year of chef training which, although well promoted, was disappointing. She persevered. She is now working three jobs (two in her field) and barely covers her rent on a room. Well, it IS Toronto...

At one job, she gives as little notice as she reasonably can that she wants a few days off to come see us. If she gives more notice, she will not be scheduled to work in the time leading up to her departure. She knows she won't be scheduled for a week or more after she gets back, either.

Another job she was hired for was supposed to be full-time days. Although she didn't mind the job, it was not full-time. She was sent to another location of the same business with the promise of more hours. She did not like this position as well, as it took her away from food preparation. And it wasn't full-time either.

The third job is intermittent, and again, doesn't actually have her doing food prep.

Now, one job is not scheduling her (no explanation) and the other didn't pay her for her last pay period. The cheque was written incorrectly and instead of re-issuing the cheque, they said they add it to her next cheque which should have arrived today, but hasn't.

How is a person supposed to keep body and soul together in an expensive place if he doesn't even know if he'll be given what he's entitled to?

And how is a young person supposed to get a start in life if when he or she gives it the best they've got, they get nothing?

Our daughter has opted to come home and try life from here for a while. She's already applied to several positions in our area.

Scripture tells us that a worker is worth his wage.

Would that all saw it that way.

Collective Guilt??

2011-07-13T15:35:00.002-04:00

I read this today on Fr. MacRae's blog and it got me thinking in a few directions.

Fr. MacRae asks the cost of Fr. Marcel Maciel's transgressions. This is a good question, but I wonder if he's taken the answer far enough.

What is happening to priests is scary. Horrifying. I have been feeling the tensions build over the years among priests I know. I once went to a priest I knew reasonably well and quite innocently asked "I've heard rumours. Are they true?" This was a reference to something I'd heard about his assisting at another parish outside his diocese. The news had surprised me but I was fairly sure he'd know what I was referring to. The immediate look on his face, and his "Please do NOT start a conversation like that!" made me realise just how close to the surface are rumours of a far more sinister form.

The base reason behind the rumours is also horrifying. There are actually people suffering at the hands of priests. Given that priests are to uphold Christ's teaching, this is reprehensible. But the facts tell us that the desire to inflict harm is a human problem, not a priestly problem. It happens everywhere.

But knowing that this abuse has actually happened somewhere in the Church, inflicted by Church clergy affects the faithful in a profound way. For myself, I often feel like the ground is shifting under me. I am afraid to express my faith in someone, for fear of my confidence later being shown to be misplaced. We are called to explain the joy that is within us. I sometimes feel that it is easier to explain my faith than it is to explain why I maintain it in the company of those teachers who would profane it.

The ready claim of "child pornography" being tossed at any priest reminds me a bit of an advertising ploy that we often fall for...a product being touted as being "free" of something that it never actually contained...implying that other similar products are NOT free of it. An example: When cholesterol began to be seen as a bad nutrient for consumption (and I do not claim to believe this), peanut butter was sometimes marketed as "cholesterol free" as if this was a development. In fact, peanut butter has never contained cholesterol. No lie was actually told, but the implications for other products were certainly there.

Then there's the hanging questions...as a lactation counsellor, I saw some of the advertising material created by the makers of artificial infant food targeting new mothers. While giving the government required lip-service to breastfeeding, one video I remember showed a concerned looking mother holding her very young baby. In the background were quietly spoken questions like "How do I know my baby is getting enough?". The video never actually answered that particular question, even though it is entirely possible to tell if a naturally fed infant is being fed enough. But a "formula" manufacturer doesn't necessarily want you to know that.

Hearing a priest defend himself against child pornography charges is a bit like asking the question "So, when did you stop beating your wife?" No matter how it's answered, it doesn't sound good.

Not only is every priest "guilty" in the eyes of many, but every follower is guilty by association. This cross will continue to demand a huge toll on followers whose faith is focussed more on an individual than on Christ. It also has a toll on those who do not understand how language and emotions can be manipulated to create a desired end.

A great many of my parents' generation have left the Church, nominally because of the 'scandals'. I realize that sometimes this is just an excuse for leaving an institution that no longer suits them. But this generation would also have been young adults at the turn of Vatican II. Along with so many things that have changed in that time, the Church has become disposable. When something is seen as dirty, you throw it out.

In my own generation, we have suffered lack of catechesis, and a sort of 'anything goes' mentality which makes the Church simply an option among many. So you don't pick the option you don't like. Who would like the option that may endanger one's children?

For my children, it's second generation catechetical failure. I've tried to stem the tide, but they're young and they're hearing the news...and we've had a lot of news. How relevant is something that they KNOW is bad? After all, mum seems to be the only one telling them otherwise...

The legacy of Fr. Maciel will haunt us for a long time. Pray for our priests!

The beginning of the End of Medugorje?

2011-07-11T16:09:00.000-04:00

So how is the world going to deal with this?

Tale of Two Monasteries (Borrowed from Chant Cafe)

2011-05-31T09:35:00.000-04:00

The link is in the title. Emjoy

Hope in Everyday Life

2011-05-26T11:51:00.000-04:00

Happy Easter!

Easter is a season of hope. We see Jesus die, and then see Him resurrected, with the hope that we may also be resurrected on the last day. We hope in things unseen, like heaven, and we hope that we will get there when we die.

But there is a lot of life that happens before our deaths. How does hope affect us every day?

Well Easter tends to coincide with a lot of very worldly new beginnings. People graduate from schools, which for many means the beginning of new careers. For the young, this may mean new life in the world as a 'grown-up'. Would they have bothered with all the work of studying, if they did not have the hope of reward (gainful employment) at the end?

Fields and gardens are planted in the spring with the hope of the produce to come.

In our own families, we see hope expressed frequently as people strive for better health. Those with unexplained and undiagnosed illnesses can benefit greatly from the hope of a treatment or cure that can mitigate their conditions. Having been in that state myself for a long time, I can tell you what a danger to self is the loss of hope.

Romans 8:24-25 tells us that hope is for something we don't or can't see. Why would you hope for something which you already know and see?

This explains a lot why people in dire circumstances can still hope. This explains why people pray for solutions. If you know what the solution is, you'd do it. When you don't know what the solution is you hope.

Hope is not the same as wishing. Hope is confident and active. Wishing is sitting back and musing about how you'd like something to be. I fully believe that wishing can become hoping, but it doesn't happen automatically. Praying about something is hopeful. We know God answers prayers, even if that answer is not always what we expect. Wishing for a garden becomes hoping for a garden when you start planting seeds. Wishing to be a doctor becomes hoping when you register for classes.

We Christians need to do a lot of hoping. It seems the past years have been rife with excuses to lose hope. People to whom we should be looking for inspiration are letting us down. When we try to do as Christ has asked us through His Church, we are derided and called names, even by those with whom we worship. Various media give us a seemingly endless list of reasons why, according to themselves, we should be embarassed to be who we are.

But we have Jesus, who warned us that we will be hated because He was hated first. We also have the promise that God's ways will eventually conquer the ways of evil.

Catholics are told that we are to attend Mass on all Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation. I think we can see this wisdom of the Church as a way of bringing us hope as it brings us Jesus, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity.

Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, as we have hoped in Thee..

“The High Ground” by Daniel Baird | The Walrus | June 2011

2011-05-15T19:44:00.000-04:00

How might Cardinal Ouellette's presence in Rome change the Church?

“The High Ground” by Daniel Baird The Walrus June 2011

Pope Pius XI’s Jewish archeologist on Independent Catholic News

2011-05-06T17:52:00.000-04:00

Pope Pius XI’s Jewish archeologist on Independent Catholic News

Take time to Read This!

2011-04-20T13:11:00.000-04:00

Thank you Calah for sharing your wonderful story!

What is the Improperia?

2011-04-16T18:22:00.000-04:00

We used to do this up in English many years ago..."My people, what have I done to you? How have I offended you? Answer me!"

I've never heard it in Latin.

More on Liturgy from Chant Cafe

2011-04-14T17:05:00.000-04:00

What We Think We Know That Is Wrong

Posted by Jeffrey A. Tucker

A director of music at a Catholic parish, obviously of long experience, sent me a list he has been keeping of things that people believe that are not so.

1. It is possible to fully understand the Mass.
1a. Having Mass entirely in the vernacular facilitates this complete comprehension.
1b. The more Latin we use, the less we can comprehend the Mass, unless we know Latin.

2. Mass is really about the words.

3. We must determine the popular musical taste of young people and incorporate these styles into the Mass, or young people will eventually leave the church.
3a. Young people overwhelmingly prefer contemporary popular music in church.
3b. Likewise, young children are only capable of grasping music written specifically for them.
3c. Family Masses, primarily addressed to children, facilitate catechesis. Such Masses do not, however, demonstrate to adults that religion is primarily for children.

4. Hymns and songs are integral to the Mass. Mass with music, but with no hymns or songs, is unthinkable.

5. The main way to determine a hymn or song's suitability for Mass is to examine the text.
5a. Therefore, since all versions of the Mass Ordinary have the same approved text in English, any setting is inherently suitable for Mass.

6. Changing texts to prayers, readings and hymns can be helpful, or is at least harmless; people won't even notice, and would say something if they did.

7. Laypeople live essentially stable lives, and look to the church to be surprising and innovative, especially in the liturgy.

8. Most women prefer gender-neutral language when referring to God. The younger the woman, the more this is true. References to God as "he" or "Father" are scandalous or unintelligible to the non-religious.

9. A small group of vocal parishioners likely represents the views of the majority.

10. People can sing tunes and especially rhythms rooted in popular music easily and naturally. Popular music is much easier to sing than classical music.

11. Members of ethnic minorities are grateful to us when we incorporate into Mass musical styles we associate with them.
11a. In cultures other than our own, especially in Latin America, the distinction between sacred and secular music is non-existent.

12. Having a single Mass in multiple vernacular languages is a way to please everyone, even those who speak only one of the languages. This leads to unity.
12a. Any use of liturgical Latin, on the other hand, is extremely divisive.

13. Church music shares many important characteristics with Broadway music from the 1980s and early 90s.

14. All chant sounds the same to untrained ears.
14a. All chant is in Latin.
14b. All chant is equally difficult and esoteric.
14c. Exception: The funeral Sanctus and Agnus Dei are the only pieces of chant that untrained laypeople are capable of singing.
14d. Chant is most appropriate for penitential times (like Lent) and least suitable for joyful times (like Easter).

15. The assembled parishioners, along with the priest, perform the primary actions of the Mass, and are also the Mass's primary audience. This principle drives every liturgical or musical decision.

16. God is indifferent to the particulars of our worship.

17. People in the pews will never, never, never sing in Latin and they resent you teaching them how.

18. The most natural and appropriate opening is a rousing hymn or song for the procession.

19. The best metric to gauge participation in the Mass is the assembly's singing. The louder the singing, the greater the participation.
19a. People who don't sing at Mass lack enthusiasm or devotion.
19b. No responsibility can be laid on the accompanist or music director if a congregation is not singing.

20. The church provides us the Mass in the form of a rubrical skeleton, onto which we map our choices of songs, service music, and locally-designed elements. This is how we do liturgy.
20a. The two main sources for doing liturgy are personal preferences -- what most of us like -- and the lectionary readings for the day.

21. Unaccompanied, unamplified polyphonic music sung by unseen singers in a choir loft is more a performance than worship.
21a. Conversely, a band with an electric keyboard, two guitars, bass guitar, flute, and three singers on microphones near the altar is more worship than a performance.

22. People will sing more at weddings and funerals if you use Mass of Creation.

23. All authoritarianism in Catholic liturgy originates in Rome.

24. The Second Vatican Council fundamentally changed the church, and especially the liturgy.

25. The liturgical changes following the Second Vatican Council have led to an increase in understanding of the Mass, and therefore a general rise in Catholic practice.
25a. To question these changes is to question the Council.

Was it or Was it not a Miracle?

2011-04-11T14:23:00.000-04:00

Hmmm. New med. Adjustment is going well and I'm feeling pretty good. Apparently I'm not exactly on my game yet though.

Yesterday at Mass we heard about Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. But there was a twist.

Given that Jesus was "Firstborn from the Dead", Lazarus couldn't have been dead. Even thought Father was wearing rose on the Fifth Sunday of Lent (Laetare Sunday is the Fourth Sunday...and that is when rose vestments MAY be worn) I bought the line.

And then I thought about it. The raising of Lazarus had just been un-miraclized (my word!) before my eyes and ears.

If Lazarus was not truly dead, then Jesus did not perform the miracle of raising him. Poppycock.

But it is true that Jesus IS Firstborn from the Dead. A brief consult with some people with better-functioning brains than mine said that Jesus rose from the dead and conquered death by not dying again. He ascended to Heaven. THAT is the difference. Lazarus did eventually die and return to dust as all men subject to sin will do.

I'm embarassed for myself.

Let's Hear it for The Anchoress

2011-04-06T12:39:00.000-04:00

To this excellent post, I would merely add a quote from GK Chesterton:

"Dogma does not mean the absence of thought, but the end of thought"

Are the Bishops Standing Up?

2011-04-05T14:27:00.000-04:00

The Following link is to an article regarding the cancellation by, now two, bishops of a speaker who has ties to an organization which promotes abortion. Way to go, Shepherds!

http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=9861&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CatholicWorldNewsFeatureStories+%28Catholic+World+News+%28on+CatholicCulture.org%29%29&utm_content=Google+International

Frustrated by the Slow Rate of Change?

2011-04-02T14:55:00.000-04:00

We are not alone!

http://www.chantcafe.com/2011/04/dealing-with-frustration-at-slow-pace.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheChantCaf+%28The+Chant+Caf%C3%A9%29&utm_content=Google+International

You GO ABP Prendergast

2011-04-01T17:51:00.002-04:00

http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/ottawa-archbishop-dp-partner-acts-against-right-to-life-speaker-cancelled

Mayonnaise Sandwiches...a Fate Worse than Death

2011-03-31T10:12:00.000-04:00

Meant to get this sent out much earlier, but the fog rolled in...so here it is now! God Bless!

We have had a great deal of bad news, in one form or other, over the past couple of months.

Planned Parent advocates in the United States have called those who would restrict their public funding stupid, while themselves saying brilliant things like not having them (PP) would result in mothers having to feed their children mayonnaise sandwiches and Ramen noodles at the end of the month to "fill their little bellies". I respectfully ask PP what alternative they would suggest...to rip those little bellies wide open and kill the children? Goodness knows PP does not offer material assistance to those who have their children, instead of aborting them.

In Canada, LifeSite News is being sued by Father Raymond Gravel because they've said fairly clearly that he is not a good example of a Catholic priest.

In a National Post article on the subject of Father Gravel, Father Thomas Rosica from Salt and Light Television weighs in in Father Gravel's defence against LifeSite, although he says he doesn't agree with him. Father Rosica has his own ax to grind with LifeSite, who took him to task when he labelled as "Taliban Catholics" those who took issue with the flashy Catholic funeral of pro-abortion Senator Ted. Kennedy.

In that interview, Father Rosica felt compelled to mention that Father Gravel had counselled women against abortion. It is utterly remarkable to me that Father Gravel's public record is so spotty that his counselling against abortion is worthy of mention. Counselling against abortion is only what any faithful Catholic priest would do!

This week, Michael Voris issued a Youtube segment regarding the accusations leveled at Taliban Catholics

You know, this is not how I like the Canadian Church to show up in the media...

2011-03-31T09:53:00.000-04:00

So I think this is official?

Your Eminences, Your Excellencies,

Our Conference has now received recognitio for all sections of the English translation of the revised Roman Missal for use in Canada. The Executive Committee, in consultation with the Permanent Council, has selected the first Sunday of Advent, November 27, 2011, as the date for the official implementation of the English translation of the Missal. The official decree for this date has not yet been published, because our Conference is still involved in discussions with the Congregation for Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments about the exact wording of one of the requested adaptations for Canada.

These discussions with the Congregation will not in any way slow down the preparation of the English translation of the revised Missal. Both the National Liturgy Office and the CCCB Publications Department are busy preparing the new book and their work is proceeding on schedule.

As well, the English Sector National Liturgy Office is preparing to start the launching of the catechetical material it has already prepared. The resource Celebrate and Song, which contains the parts of the Mass spoken by the people, as well as three newly composed Mass settings and the ICEL chants, is now finished and will be available for distribution during the first half of April. This resource also contains the texts of Eucharistic Prayers I-IV and 40 hymns not currently found in the Catholic Book of Worship III.

Starting the first week of April, the National Liturgy Office will begin posting texts and power-point slides to be used for workshops at the local level – including workshops dealing with the theology of Eucharist, the process of translation and revision, and the history of the Eucharist.

We had not been able to proceed with the production of the DVDs with Salt and Light TV until the matter of Canadian adaptations was resolved andrecognitio received. We can now proceed with the DVDs. National Liturgy Office Director Father Bill Burke and CCCB Publications Director Dr. Glenn Byer have met with Salt and Light CEO Father Thomas Rosica, C.S.B. The scripts to be used are completed. Salt and Light will do filming in May and June and then, after editing and production, the two DVDs will be ready for distribution by the end of August. The first will be a two-hour presentation on the theological emphases of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal. The second will be an hour-long presentation with a teaching DVD on the structure of the Mass and the meaning of each part of the Mass. The National Liturgy Office will provide a packet of material including suggested workshop formats and questions for discussion at the parish level.

Finally, early in September, we will have CDs ready with a cantor singing a dozen or so of the new prefaces to assist priests who do not read music but would like to sing the prefaces.

If you have any questions or concerns about the implementation of the English translation of the revised Missal for use in Canada, or about the catechetical materials being planned for its implementation, please do not hesitate to call me.

With every good and prayerful wish on our Lenten journey, I remain,
Sincerely yours in Christ Our Lord,

(Rev. Msgr.) Patrick Powers, P.H.
General Secretary

An Airport Encounter

2011-03-23T09:54:00.001-04:00

My heart aches for the many many good priests. Abp Timothy Dolan shares a (very well-handled, in my opinion) soul-shaking meeing he had recently, regarding the accusations of sexual abuse by priests

An Airport Encounter

Tickled Pink!

2011-03-19T16:12:00.001-04:00

Breadgirl from Last Welsh Martyr has just passed an award to me (several months ago) . I am thrilled and thankful!

I am now to offer this award to 15 blogs of my choosing. Unfortunately I don't follow that many blogs! So the ones I choose will be

1. Ask Sister Mary Martha

2. Vivicat

3. Mary's Anawim

4. Catholic and Enjoying It

5.What are We Waiting For?

6. According to Ruth Ann

7. I Have to Sit Down

8. LAST WELSH MARTYR

A deep thought...

2011-03-04T13:47:00.002-05:00

"Cute" is not a liturgical term.

Bell Expressvu Plans to drop EWTN Programming

2011-02-10T16:55:00.000-05:00

In this link is a suggestion for those who will miss EWTN when it leaves their ExpressVu channel selection.

Don't let Bell push you around.

Key to the situation

2011-02-09T19:22:00.000-05:00

It has occurred to me that I do not have anything written here on Papal Succession. What is it? Why do we have a Pope?

Certainly, having a Pope is one thing that sets Catholicism apart from other parts of the Christian world.

Papal Succession is the connection between the current Pope and St. Peter, the Apostle to whom Jesus gave the "Keys to the Kingdom".

Although the term "Pope" is not in Scripture (neither is the word "Trinity") the idea of an earthly leader for a Heavenly institution is.

Matthew 16:18 shows Jesus recognizing Simon/Peter's faith and telling him that that is the rock (petra/petros in Greek, kephas or cephas in Aramiac) on which the Church would be built. Jesus then gives Peter the keys to the kingdom.

The giving of the keys is an allusion to the Hebrew Scripture Isaiah 22:22 where we see the king giving the keys of his kingdom to a minister, who is in charge of running the affairs of the kingdom. One who holds the keys is in charge.

Peter was in charge of Jesus' earthly kingdom, the Church.

Since apostolic time, every bishop has been ordained by someone who was ordained by a bishop who ultimately was ordained by an apostle. Popes are chosen from those who are ordained (or who can immediately be ordained) bishops. Therefore Popes are descended from the Apostles.

This is part of what makes us Apostolic, as stated in the Nicene Creed ("I believe in One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church").

There is a question in some circles as to whether the present Pope is valid. Some say there hasn't been a valid Pope since the 1960s or thereabouts.

A major problem with this is that the few living bishops who are considered by these folks as validly ordained are very elderly. They will not live much longer. IF they are in fact the only validly ordained bishops, and a Pope is not soon chosen from among them (which is unlikely, as the past several popes have actually been cardinals and younger than these few pre-Vatican II bishops) before they die, apostolic succession will have ended.

Unless the world ends first, this cannot happen. We are told that the gates of Hell will not prevail against the Church. If the Church should run out of eligible candidates for the Papacy, I think it can be safely said that the gates of Hell have prevailed. One of the four marks of the Church will have been erased.

Why would God allow this to happen?

Wake Me Up for the Parousia

2011-02-03T21:06:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year

It's been a while since I've been here, that's for sure. I have been busy. I am still trying to figure out why I'm sick, to try to get myself back into 'fighting trim' as a member of the Church Militant.

Or is it the Church Somnolent?

My faithful followers, and my other friends, will know that I have a 'thing' for liturgy...at one time I described it as a passion. The past few years have pretty much eliminated the possiblity of my name and 'passion' occurring in the same sentence. It is hard to get excited about things. But I'm trying.

I think it's getting better. Every so often I get flickers of my old self. Well, my old liturgical zealot self. Something gets me moving.

Something like listening to people complain about the choir. Warning...do NOT complain about the choir in my presence! It is not healthy.

Our esteemed choir leader decided that we should learn to chant the Our Father, according to the Mass setting we've been using for Ordinary Time for several years now. It's a nice setting, and very easy to learn, as these things go. She had the support of both Father and the choir in doing this.

But people will talk. They will grouse and moan. And they will try to pass opinion off as valid criticism. Cries of "Liturgically Incorrect" were summarily dealt with. Education had the effect of silencing most

Life has been made difficult for at least a couple of people in this process. And that couple of people really have far better things to be doing with their time than trying to entertain those who will not be entertained except by being catered to.

Why DO people do this? Why does one suppose his taste in anything should be imposed on many, when the many are not doing anything wrong?

The Church needs people to be involved and dedicated and devout. The Church does NOT need people trying to run the 'show' when they are governed more by their personal thoughts and desires than by the Church's teachings.

The Church does not need people who are there to be entertained. Hmm. Perhaps it is this type of Churchgoer who inspired the idea that "religion is the opiate of the masses (Karl Marx)". Does this mean the Mass is an opiate? Hah. There's that "Church Somnolent" thing again.

No. As was said by Pius XII and many after him, we are called to full active and conscious participation in liturgy. Nothing sleepy about that. Nothing sleep-inducing about that, except perhaps the peace that one may come to because of that participation.

So, anyway...this has pulled me out of hibernation.

Good liturgy...resistance is futile.

God Bless

Another excellent Christmas article

2010-12-23T16:15:00.000-05:00

by someone else!

http://www.insidecatholic.com/feature/putting-the-christmas-back-in-christ.html

Have a Blessed Christmas

What Time is Midnight Mass?

2010-12-22T12:06:00.000-05:00

This article is not written by me, but it is nonetheless heartfelt. But what can you expect when not only does 'convenience' reign supreme, but even people who really should know better do not know the difference between a vigil Mass and an 'anticipated' Mass.

I do agree that Saturday night Masses do confuse.

Fr. De Souza's article reminds me of the article I wrote after last year's Easter Vigil Mass.

As it turns out, "Midnight" Mass is at 10 pm at our chapel for the first time in years.

Not impressed.

Advent Memories

2010-11-28T20:45:00.000-05:00

Today is the First Sunday of Advent.

This causes me to fondly remember a fellow who helped with the first RCIA series I taught.

He was an RCIA veteran, as well as being a retired firefighter. He would mildly chastise me if I forgot something important like closing the evenings with a prayer (yikes) or if I cut my baby's amazing mop of hair.

He had a charming sense of humour and loved to be of service.

When Advent came that year, he surprised me and the rest of the RCIA group by showing up with a lovely handmade Advent wreath, and kits he had put together for each of the candidates to take home and complete.

And then he presented me with the wreath he had made to show everyone.

I still have that wreath. I am not always good about having it out and ready on time, but I do always think of it...and the fellow who made it for my family.

I only taught with him for the one year. He was diagnosed with cancer over the summer and died very quickly. I suppose that was a mercy for him and for his dear wife.

Advent always brings his memory back. Rest in Peace, Ray!

Condoms and Catholicism

2010-11-22T20:17:00.002-05:00

The mainstream media has once again gotten all excited about what they've perceived as a weakness in the Church's stance on something. In this case it's condoms.

The Pope, bless him, made a statement about how the use of a condom by a male prostitute may show that he's developing a moral sense.

No, this does not mean that the Church endorses condom use...ever.

But is the Church against condoms? Is the Church against guns? Garden tractors?

A condom is a piece of rubber (or something). In and of itself it has no morality.

It is its frequent use as a means of birth control that is the problem. If a male (presumably homosexual) prostitute uses a condom, it is not going to be for birth control. So the Holy Father can actually see the USE of a condom, with the intent to reduce harm, as a sign of a good development. That there is a condom involved is rather peripheral. The user is showing concern for the other party and attempting to prevent further evil from occurring, in the form of disease.

I've seen this likened to someone seeing that a murderer stops torturing his victims before killing them as a sign of a developing sense of compassion. The murder is still obviously evil, but it is not compounded evil.

The Holy Father, by making statements such as the latest one public, is showing that he believes we have the intelligence to understand what he is saying. He is not dumbing things down for us.

Let's respond by showing that we do have the intelligence he knows is there, and thinking with the mind of the Church.

And I do thank the poster at Catholic Answers for being the catalyst for this post.

Borrowed: The Story of Halloween

2010-10-28T14:47:00.000-04:00

Halloween:

The Real Story!

Father Augustine Thompson, O.P.,

We’ve all heard the allegations. Halloween is a pagan rite dating back to some pre-Christian festival among the Celtic Druids that escaped Church suppression. Even today modern pagans and witches continue to celebrate this ancient festival. If you let your kids go trick-or-treating, they will be worshiping the devil and pagan gods.

Nothing could be further from the truth. The origins of Halloween are, in fact, very Christian and rather American. Halloween falls on October 31 because of a pope, and its observances are the result of medieval Catholic piety.

It’s true that the ancient Celts of Ireland and Britain celebrated a minor festival on Oct. 31 — as they did on the last day of most other months of the year. However, Halloween falls on the last day of October because the Feast of All Saints or "All Hallows" falls on Nov. 1. The feast in honor of all the saints in heaven used to be celebrated on May 13, but Pope Gregory III (d. 741) moved it to Nov. 1, the dedication day of All Saints Chapel in St. Peter’s at Rome. Later, in the 840s, Pope Gregory IV commanded that All Saints be observed everywhere. And so the holy day spread to Ireland. The day before was the feast’s evening vigil, "All Hallows Even" or "Hallowe’en." In those days, Halloween didn’t have any special significance for Christians or for long-dead Celtic pagans.

In 998, St. Odilo, the abbot of the powerful monastery of Cluny in Southern France, added a celebration on Nov. 2. This was a day of prayer for the souls of all the faithful departed. This feast, called All Souls Day, spread from France to the rest of Europe.

So now the Church had feasts for all those in heaven and all those in purgatory? What about those in the other place? It seems Irish Catholic peasants wondered about the unfortunate souls in hell. After all, if the souls in hell are left out when we celebrate those in heaven and purgatory, they might be unhappy enough to cause trouble. So it became customary to bang pots and pans on All Hallows Even to let the damned know they were not forgotten. Thus, in Ireland, at least, all the dead came to be remembered — even if the clergy were not terribly sympathetic to Halloween and never allowed All Damned Day into the Church calendar.

But that still isn’t our celebration of Halloween. Our traditions on this holiday centers around dressing up in fanciful costumes, which isn’t Irish at all. Rather, this custom arose in France during the 14th and 15th centuries. Late medieval Europe was hit by repeated outbreaks of the bubonic plague — the Black Death — and she lost about half her population. It is not surprising that Catholics became more concerned about the afterlife. More Masses were said on All Souls’ Day, and artistic representations were devised to remind everyone of their own mortality.

We know these representations as the "Dance Macabre" or "Dance of Death," which was commonly painted on the walls of cemeteries and shows the devil leading a daisy chain of people — popes, kings, ladies, knights, monks, peasants, lepers, etc. — into the tomb. Sometimes the dance was presented on All Souls’ Day itself as a living tableau with people dressed up in the garb of various states of life. But the French dressed up on All Souls, not Halloween; and the Irish, who had Halloween, did not dress up. How the two became mingled probably happened first in the British colonies of North America during the 1700s when Irish and French Catholics began to intermarry. The Irish focus on hell gave the French masquerades and even more macabre twist.

But, as every young ghoul knows, dressing up isn’t the point; the point is getting as many goodies as possible. Where on earth did "trick or treat" come in?

"Trick or treat" is perhaps the oddest and most American addition to Halloween, and is the unwilling contribution of English Catholics.

During the penal period of the 1500s to the 1700s in England, Catholics had no legal rights. They could not hold office and were subject to fines, jail and heavy taxes. It was a capital offense to say Mass, and hundreds of priests were martyred.

Occasionally, English Catholics resisted, sometimes foolishly. One of the most foolish acts of resistance was a plot to blow up the Protestant King James I and his Parliament with gunpowder. This was supposed to trigger a Catholic uprising against their oppressors. The ill-conceived Gunpowder Plot was foiled on Nov. 5, 1605, when the man guarding the gunpowder, a reckless convert named Guy Fawkes, was captured and arrested. He was hanged; the plot fizzled.

Nov. 5, Guy Fawkes’ Day, became a great celebration in England, and so it remains. During the penal periods, bands of revelers would put on masks and visit local Catholics in the dead of night, demanding beer and cakes for their celebration: trick or treat!

Guy Fawkes’ Day arrived in the American colonies with the first English settlers. But, buy the time of the American Revolution, old King James and Guy Fawkes had pretty much been forgotten. Trick or treat, though, was too much fun to give up, so eventually it moved to Oct. 31, the day of the Irish-French masquerade. And in America, trick or treat wasn’t limited to Catholics.

The mixture of various immigrant traditions we know as Halloween had become a fixture in the Unites States by the early 1800s. To this day, it remains unknown in Europe, even in the countries from which some of the customs originated.

But what about witches? Well, they are one of the last additions. The greeting card industry added them in the late 1800s. Halloween was already "ghoulish," so why not give witches a place on greeting cards? The Halloween card failed (although it has seen a recent resurgence in popularity), but the witches stayed. So, too, in the late 1800s, ill-informed folklorists introduced the jack-o’-lantern. They thought that Halloween was druidic and pagan in origin. Lamps made from turnips (not pumpkins) had been part of ancient Celtic harvest festivals, so they were translated to the American Halloween celebration.

The next time someone claims that Halloween is a cruel trick to lure your children into devil worship, I suggest you tell them the real origin of All Hallows Even and invite them to discover its Christian significance, along with the two greater and more important Catholic festivals that follow it.

Be sure to check out -

All Saint's Day by Dr. D'Ambrosio

All Soul's Day by Dr. D'Ambrosio

This article is written by Father Augustine Thompson, Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Virginia and reprinted here with his permission.

Who is the Pharisee?

2010-10-15T12:56:00.000-04:00

Not long ago, someone used the term Pharisee in my combox. This term, or its adjective 'Pharisaical' get tossed around quite a bit in the Catholic world.

Its been tossed in my general direction more than once. I would like to examine what this term seemed to mean when Jesus used it and what it has come to mean today.

In the Gospel of Matthew we hear the term a few times. It ranks right up there with 'hypocrite' in Jesus' Good Book! Not a term of endearment then, it is not a term of endearment now, either.

If we are going to toss, or have tossed at us, a term, I think we should know what it means.

The Pharisees were a Jewish sect that arose during the 2nd century BC. They were not the 'ruling' sect but were known to be keepers of the Law (Torah). They believed in life after death. They called to faithfulness to The Law even in the face of potential martyrdom. They believed in the oral tradition of the Torah, as opposed to the literal view of the Torah held by the Sadducees. They tried to impose the purity rituals outside of the Temple. They may have had a great effect on the building of the Second Temple.

The Pharisees were the most popular sect among the general Jewish population and we would see their practices today as the most democratic. We can also see how their beliefs echo in Christianity. They believed in the resurrection of the dead. They believed in free will, but they also believed that God knew what would ultimately happen. They believed that all adults should follow the Law, not just the priests...in order to create a holy nation.

Some Pharisees were certainly stricter with regard to following the Law than were others. In a Jewish document called the Talmud, seven types of Pharisee are described. Only one of the seven types can easily be seen in a favourable light. It would seem that Pharisees knew they were not perfect and were not always loving toward God.

I find it interesting to note that after the destruction of the Second Temple, of all the sects that were in the Temple only the Pharisees emerged in any recognizable form. They are considered by many to be the precursors to Rabbinic Judaism, which is the most common form today.

So what was it about the Pharisees that Jesus was criticizing so harshly? They are referred to, in the Gospel of Matthew (chapter 15 gives us a good look) as a 'brood of vipers', a white-washed sepulchre and other un-kind terms.

There seem to be a couple of things going on here. Jesus seemed pretty clear that he did not like those who were so intent on the Law that they ended up violating God's other laws (Matthew 15:4-5). In Matthew 16, the Pharisees got it again when Jesus pointed out that they weren't watching the signs. According to the notes in the New American Bible (NAB), Jesus was indicating that the Pharisees could not see the coming of the new Kingdom.

Later in the same chapter, the disciples are told to reject the leaven of the Pharisees. Again from the NAB, leaven is seen to mean teaching. By telling his disciples to reject the teachings of the Pharisees, He is paving the way for the new, messianic Kingdom.

In Matthew 23: 24, we get the gnat/camel reference. Jesus is telling them that they are ignoring larger laws by getting hung up on little ones. In verses 25-26 the Pharisees are being called to task for showy, outward displays of piety that have little actual devotion behind them.

It goes on...

In my experience, the invective "Pharisee" is usually lobbed by someone who has a problem with a particular teaching of Catholicism, or perhaps has a problem with her authority generally.

Liturgy is a fine example. Catholic liturgy, particularly the Mass, has a structure to it. In the Roman Missal are found the rubrics for the Mass. In the simplist form, a priest is to "Say the black and do the red", black being the spoken parts of the Mass, the red being the actions of the Mass.

People trying to improve liturgical standards (ie. 'follow the rules') are seen as unbending, uncharitable etc. Sometimes we probably are, and for THAT we can be chastised. But should we be chastised for following the rules given to us?

In the case of liturgy, I think this is not a valid chastisement. The Mass is something we share we all participants throughout the world and throughout Christian history. It is all the same Mass. In a sense, the Mass is a window to Heaven. When one, cleric or lay-person enforces changes of his or her own authority, it is as if they get fingerprints on that window to heaven, and cloud the view. Liturgical law is there to keep that window clear. We owe it to all mass-goers through time and history.

In the case of someone who seeks to follow non-liturgical Church law, a similar principal applies. If something being adhered to is a valid Church law (doctrine, dogma...) we are supposed to do our best to adhere to it. If we do that with pride and showiness, then certainly the pride is to be chastised. If someone is merely going through the motions to make him or herself appear good, well that is a sin as well. Calling someone a Pharisee simply because they insist on following the law is making a judgement call on their motives and the state of the soul...and we are NOT supposed to judge that.

The problem is not adherence to the law. Jesus tells us to follow the commandments, to do as he tells us. Given the the Church is the Body of Christ with Christ as its head, then we are to follow the Church as well.

And those rule-following Pharisees were the ones who survived the destruction of the Temple. A sort of Jewish 'remnant'. Hmmm.

I know there are many different references that could be called upon here with regard to obedience, tradition and law and this post could keep me busy for days. For now, I will end with this:

We must all be mindful of our tendency to sin, including that always sneaky sin of Pride. Given what I've just learned of Pharisees though, I'd say that they were not necessarily a whole lot worse than the rest of us. They had a lot of good going for them that is not mentioned in Scripture. They were however a visible representation in Jesus' time of the Jewish status quo, and I think maybe that's why they were held up as an example of what not to do.

Naming Hope

2010-10-08T14:28:00.000-04:00

I deal with at least three chronic conditions. None are fatal, but they can render life rather challenging.

In trying to improve my health, lately I have been researching my diagnoses. I have discovered that many people seem to become 'diagnosis collectors'.

I think I might have this tendency, so what I say bears no malice whatsoever!

One has to wonder why people become collectors of diagnoses. I think I may have it. It has to do with hope.

It seems people believe that if they find just find the right diagnosis, the illness can be cured, or at least successfully treated.

In the case of some illnesses, of course this is true. In the case of far too many others it is not. At least not now. There are a host of conditions which the medical community has trouble diagnosing, never mind treating. Two different conditions may be given the same diagnosis, depending on the practitioner, and many conditions seem to show up together.

I think people find it important to be able to put a name to what is bothering them. I know I do.

Many times in life I've found myself bothered by something persistently, and it's not until I figure out the source that the problem goes away...often almost immediately! I have sometimes found myself restless and it's not until days later that I realize that I have somehow been reminded of something unpleasant, which is trying to pull itself out of the dark corners of my mind.

I think this is why some of us go after diagnoses.

In Madeleine L'Engle's books (the Wrinkle in Time series. It's been so long I cannot remember exactly in which this book this occurred) Meg, the protagonist, ends up embracing and naming the Echthroi. If memory serves, this removes the evil power of the Echthroi.

I am not, of course, advocating embracing evil for any reason, but Meg's action of naming the evil that had been plaguing her family really struck a chord with me.

For those who are ill, I think the search for a workable diagnosis gives hope. When you have hope, you have a reason to keep going. For those who do not have friends and supportive family (and I am discovering how truly blessed I am to have both!) hope may be all they have.

This Canuck is not so happy today.

2010-10-05T13:35:00.000-04:00

Arrest of peaceful Pro-Life protesters

This happened yesterday at Carleton University in our national capital, Ottawa.

Be proud Canadians.

Can you think of any other peaceful protest that would be worthy of arrest on a university campus?

I can't.

Catholic Encyclopedia on Socialism

2010-09-14T15:56:00.000-04:00

From the Christian point of view material necessities are to be kept at a minimum, and material superfluities as far as possible to be dispensed with altogether. The Christian is a soldier and a pilgrim who requires material things only as a means to fitness and nothing more. In this he has the example of Christ Himself, Who came to earth with a minimum of material advantages and persisted thus even to the Cross. The Christian, then, not only from the individual but also from the social standpoint, has chosen the better part. He does not despise this life, but, just because his material desires are subordinate to his spiritual ones, he lives it much more reasonably, much more unselfishly, much more beneficially to his neighbours. The point, too, which he makes against the Socialist is this. The Socialist wishes to distribute material goods in such a way as to establish a substantial equality, and in order to do this he requires the State to make and keep this distribution compulsory. The Christian replies to him: "You cannot maintain this widespread distribution, for the simple reason that you have no machinery for inducing men to desire it. On the contrary, you do all you can to increase the selfish and accumulative desires of men: you centre and concentrate all their interest on material accumulation, and then expect them to distribute their goods." This ultimate difference between Christian and Socialist teaching must be clearly understood. Socialism appropriates all human desires and centres them on the here-and-now, on material benefit and prosperity. But material goods are so limited in quality, in quantity, and in duration that they are incapable of satisfying human desires, which will ever covet more and more and never feel satisfaction. In this Socialism and Capitalism are at one, for their only quarrel is over the bone upon which is the meat that perisheth. Socialism, of itself and by itself, can do nothing to diminish or discipline the immediate and materialistic lust of men, because Socialism is itself the most exaggerated and universalized expression of this lust yet known to history. Christianity, on the other hand, teaches and practices unselfish distribution of material goods, both according to the law of justice and according to the law of charity.

Food for thought.

2010-09-14T10:31:00.000-04:00

This link was sent to me by a friend this morning, and I decided to share it. At this point I have no idea who produced the clip, so if anyone can enlighten me, please do.

Have a great day!

The Vortex

2010-09-06T19:02:00.000-04:00

Hi Folks

I am passing along a link (in the title) to one in an ongoing series of teachings on the Catholic Faith.

Real Catholic TV, so far, has covered many topics of various interest, including current events. None of these episodes are shy about proclaiming Church teaching as it really is.

Watch and be edified.

Marty Haugen, pre-Vatican II style

2010-08-30T18:48:00.000-04:00

Marty Haugen, pre-Vatican II style

Why did they bother? It wasn't great in English.

A Comparison of Masses

2010-08-20T22:41:00.002-04:00

I am borrowing another's (Mary's Anawim) blog today. Please view the link embedded in the title. You will see a Mass celebrated by a newly ordained priest in Montreal. While I don't much like the background music, it looks like a gorgeous Mass and procession in honour of The Assumption. Way to go, Fr. Greg!

The second...well...it is the stuff which could foster nightmares. Liturgical nightmares at the very leasts. I'm glad there did not seem to be any children in the congregation. They might have been scarred for life.

Page Turner

2010-07-24T17:52:00.000-04:00

I have at times come across people who rankle at reading the Bible because it 'jumps around'.

A non-Christian I know will not read Scripture until someone comes up with a version that has no repetition and is chronological.

I suspect the problem these people have is with the Gospels, which do have topics repeated.

Thing is...we can't remove the repetition in the Gospels, and then provide a totally chronological rendering of the writings therein, and still refer to it as the Bible.

And why can't we?

The New Testament was written by several different authors (as was Hebrew Scripture) and is actually a collection of books. The Gospel writers, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John each wrote the events in Jesus' life slightly differently, in ways which seemed to target different audiences.

The Gospel of John is actually very different from the other three Gospels in its approach to the events and teachings of Christ. It is not one of the 'synoptic' (same eye) Gospels.

To try to make the four Gospels into one book, would be something like taking four different biographies of one famous person and forcing them together into one, chronologically laid-out book.

Imagine if four biographies of, say, Martin Luther King Junior, variously written by an African American man, a British man, a member of the Ku Klux Klan, and another Christian clergyman, existed. Would they tell the same story? Hardly likely. Putting them together into one tale would create an entirely new book.

So it is with the Gospels. Each writer had a different background. They wrote explained and emphasised the Gospel events according to their backgrounds the backgrounds of those they were addressing...Jews, gentiles, pagans, etc.

The bible as we know it was originally written as separate books. We still refer to the sections of the bible as 'books'. There was much discussion, in the early Church, as to which of these many many books were actually intended by God ('inspired') to be in a collected bible.

Depending on where you were, the canon of Hebrew Scripture varied. Christians had to figure out which of their books were intended for Christians. The New Testament also had to be chosen from a variety of books in circulation.

The Christian canon of Scripture in use since the fourth century, experienced a serious challenge in the West when Martin Luther spurred a revolt against the Church and its teaching. He removed seven books, or parts of books, from what had come to be called the Old Testament. He was acting on his own will with this one. He also wanted to remove some books out of the New Testament. Apparently even other Protestants didn't agree with him on that one...

Both Catholics and Protestants have the same New Testament. We accept the same Gospels and Epistles (letters) although there is a wild divergence on what these writings mean.

And I am not aware of any scholarly effort to meld these books into one continuous book.

Great Big C

2010-07-24T17:29:00.000-04:00

Hi Folks

A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of attending a concert by Great Big Sea, who hails from Eastern Canada.

I wouldn't call myself a huge fan, but I did enjoy their music a few years back. This concert was good.

It would seem that their songwriters have some issues with Catholic upbringing.
"Consequence Free" states:

"I could really stand to lose my Catholic conscience. 'Cuz I'm getting sick of feeling guilty all the time"

"When I am King" says this:

"Wake up, without a care. Your head's not heavy, conscience clear
Sins are all forgiven here, yours and mine
Fear has gone without a trace
It's the perfect time, it's the perfect place
Nothing hurting. Nothing sore. No one suffers anymore,
The doctor's found a simple cure.
Just in time"

To me, the forementioned verse, up until the mention of 'the doctor' sounds like someone is describing Heaven. Nah.

While the music is really singing about the same things that most popular music sings about, I find the mention of conscience, and forgiven sin interesting. It's a bit difficult to find mention of sin anywhere else in popular culture!

So, what is the 'Catholic conscience' that GBS is singing about?

It sounds like the one we hear about so often...big Church inflicting guilt on its pathetic group of adherents by making everything fun a sin.

A few years back my daughter and I were a captive audience to a local merchant. Finding out that my children had gone to the local Catholic high school, the merchant bluntly stated "I used to be Catholic, but I left. Too much guilt!"

My daughter later quipped to me that he really should just stop doing things that make him guilty!

That's my girl.

Guilt isn't what the Church teaches. We do guilt to ourselves.

[As to using guilt as an excuse to leave the Church, please see here]

Catholics are expected to have a well-formed conscience. Forming one's conscience is not an easy task! The Church takes it way beyond the little voice in one's head going "unh-uh".

To form one's conscience, one is required to learn what the Church teaches on moral matters. Ideally, this begins in infancy in the Domestic Church...the home. This is where we begin to learn right from wrong.

We often hear, even from within the Church at times, that we are to follow our consciences in all matters. This would be fine, if we had well-formed consciences. We are, however, a fallen people. Left to our own devices, we incline toward sin.

When we aren't sure, we have the Church to guide us. That is the Catholic conscience. If your conscience is giving you permission to act against Church teaching, you have work to do. You're part of all humanity on that one.

Guilt is a way of knowing that we're messing up. Getting rid of that involves correcting what we're doing wrong, and confessing our sins, at least the serious ones.

So where are sins forgiven? Some can be forgiven through prayer, attending Mass, blessing oneself with Holy Water. The mortal, or serious sins require confession to a Priest, who acts in Christ's place to absolve us (assuming we're of the correct disposition...feeling genuinely sorry for what we have done and wishing not to sin again). Sins are all forgiven here.

Whether or not the Church makes everything fun a sin...that is for another day.

Getting older

2010-06-29T20:28:00.002-04:00

Hi Folks

Recently, I was told I needed more work at figuring things out. I was then summarily launched into a project with very few tools. I had to 'figure things out'.

It was a huge challenge for me. The project involved several things which are almost entirely new to me, including learning from the user guides provided for computer programs.

I quickly realized that computer program user guides are not always particularly well written, or well indexed.

After losing a major part of my work because I did not properly save a file (due to my inattention and my difficulty with program interface), the trial work I finally submitted was not very good.

I then had a few days away, so I mulled some things over.

Being told that I needed work on figuring things out carried a little sting. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that the words were very true.

I have a Blackberry on which I send and receive calls and the rare, awkward text message. I also play Sudoku. I haven't figured out anything else.

I have a nearly new computer purchased for my work purposes (like the aforementioned project) for which I have not made recovery disks. Didn't figure that out, either.

For many reasons, I've become much too good at either delegating challenges I face, or just ignoring them.

So it's true. I need more work at figuring things out.

In the Book of the Acts of the Apostles, we hear the Ethiopian Eunuch ask "How can I (learn) unless someone teaches me?" He was referring to Scripture, but the same could be applied to nearly anything else.

In the Gospel of Matthew, we are told "Ask and we shall receive, knock and it shall be opened."

One thing I am very glad to not have to figure out, is Catholicism. Despite destructive action from within and without for two millennia, it is still leading us to a deeper knowledge of God through His Son, Jesus. Not having to figure out just what the Church expects, leaves us with the spiritual energy to go deeper. We don't have to be our own Pope!

Whew. If I have trouble figuring out a computer program, how on earth could I expect to figure out God?

It's a Strange Strange World

2010-06-27T20:03:00.002-04:00

I was recently captive on a 5 hour jet flight. Our young son, who was accompanying me, quickly discovered that he could get programmes here that he cannot get at home. Being a long flight, I let him watch.

Something occurred to me as we watched a well-intended children's music programme which is hosted by some very silly looking adults.

The world of children seems almost designed to create confusion. We see examples of sexualized childhood all over the place. No attempt seems to be made to respect a child's latent period (regarding sexual development).

We have kids who are growing up with silly adults...adults dressed up as children, or in strange costumes which don't actually attempt to hide that there is a person inside...as role models.

So, to summarize: our kids are being forced to behave like adults before they're ready, but which adults are they supposed to emulate? The ones dressed up as bananas?

I can't think, off the top of my head, of a children's program in which adults look and behave as adults. I'm sure there must be one somewhere.

This caused me to think back to when I was a child, in the early days of children's television.

Mr. Dressup. Captain Kangaroo. Friendly Giant, Romper Room...Adults dressed, and for the most part behaved, as adults. And children appeared as children.

I'm not sure where I"m going with this, except to suggest that people be aware of what your children are watching. I know that's been said before. But if some thought that children's programming was unhealthy 40 years ago, I can only imagine what they'd say now.

Sweet Violets

2010-06-12T16:34:00.000-04:00

Hi

I was just out spending a few minutes weeding my fledgling flower garden. Violets have become the bane of my existence.

They are spoken of poetically, and I suppose for the two and a half hours (per blossom...) in which they are actually in bloom, they are pretty, nicely scented (although you need quite a handful to catch that scent) and delicate looking, they are worthy of poetry.

The rest of the time they are a nuisance! They spread both by seed and by tuber. I have spent two seasons now trying to get them out of my flower bed, where left to themselves over the past ?? years they have done their best to choke out everything else.

Today, I recalled something my grandmother once said. She commented on the irony that girls named Violet tended to be, well, strongly built. Not at all delicate.

As I continue to roust the purple peril from my flower bed, I think having strong girls named Violet is perfectly appropriate.

But I would rather consider the lilies...

Prayer request

2010-06-12T14:34:00.000-04:00

Hi Folks

My friend Greg is being ordained to the priesthood today. As you know, the vocation for which he has been chosen is not an easy one.

Please pray for him, and for all priests!

Laughter, the Best Medicine?

2010-06-02T12:36:00.000-04:00

Happy Wednesday!

We had a busy weekend last weekend. Still recovering!

On Saturday, I sold my Catholic books at a women's conference. I sold some great books. I also heard some good speakers.

And then there was the 'Laughter Yoga" lady. Yikes.

It was a Catholic Conference. Yoga is considered 'New Age' and Catholics are not to dabble in any New Age activities.

Laughter Yoga is a form of Yoga (hasyayoga) in which the practitioner induces laughter in himself, not necessarily at the stimulus of humour.

The effect of being in a room full of people forcing themselves to laugh (under the tutelage of a certified teacher) was rather creepy. It reminded me of those scenes in some old movies were a person is having a dream sequence or a memory where a group of people is pointing at the dreamer and laughing.

It claims to have many health benefits. It can reduce high blood pressure, relieve stress, improve diabetes, reduces depression, increases oxygenation of the blood, releases endorphins...

As Catholics, we are to give pride of place to Gregorian Chant during liturgy. We can chant at home, too.
Guess what? Health benefits will ensue...lower stress, increased oxygen in the blood, increased muscle tone, reduced depression...and we're praying at the same time!

I hope it was ignorance, and not will, that had someone invite a yoga practitioner to a Catholic women's conference. Why would someone assume they had to look elsewhere for health benefits.

It annoys me that something as basic as laughter could be associated with spiritual practices. It's a bit like what's happened to rainbows.

I think I Caught a Live One...

2010-05-30T18:44:00.034-04:00

Hi Folks

Blessed Trinity Sunday!

I found this in my com box today. Aside from my excitement of having a comment, I see it could provide me with months of blog-worthy material.

Sadly, I need to eat and sleep:

"Anders Branderud has left a new comment on your post "The Roots of Christianity"

Quote: “ if we have not drifted to far from the Jewish moorings of the Christian faith.”

I want to comment on this.

Le-havdil, A logical analysis (found in www.netzarim.co.il (Netzarim.co.il is the website of the only legitimate Netzarim-group)) of all extant source documents and archeology proves that the historical Ribi Yehosuha from Nazareth and his talmidim (apprentice-students), called the Netzarim, taught and lived Torah all of their lives; and that Netzarim and Christianity were always antithetical.

The original words of the pro-Torah teacher Ribi Yehoshua were redacted by Roman Hellenists, and the redaction is found in the “gospels”. J…. is described in the “gospels”, and le-havdil the teachings of the historical Torah-teacher Ribi Yehoshua from Nazareth are found in the reconstruction (using a logical and scientific methodology to create the reconstruction), Netzarim Hebrew Reconstruction of Hebrew Matityahu (NHM).

The historical Jew Ribi Yehoshua is not the same as the Christian Jzus The historical Ribi Yehoshua was a human.

The above website proofs that the roots of Christianity are Hellenism, not Judaism".

Sorry, Anders. All this website proves is that the writers knew/know very little of Christian History.

The "core message" of the Netzarim says this:

"The original—and only authentic—plan of salvation is found only in Tor•âh′ . Everything subsequent is a supersessionist "pretend salvation" of Displacement Theology."

Included on the website is a book quoted called "The Da Vinci Code: A Jewish Perspective". It is written by Rabbi Michael Skobac.

Where to begin?

At the top of page 15 of the excerpt, we are told that the real title of the 'Book of Acts' is "The Acts of the Apostles". No! Really? Any legitimate, English Catholic Lectionary would have told you the same thing.

Rabbi Skobac says:

First, a little tangent. The Gospel writer Luke did not meet Jesus either.

History is written by the victors. Should we be surprised? As Protestantism increased its hold on the Christian world, anti-Catholicism became rampant.

Denying St. Paul's teachings is just 'Historical Jesus'-speak. Jesus was most definitely a practicing Jew, as 'revealed' on another part of this website. Paul was Pharisee. God's salvation plan was for all people, and in order to get the message out (Some Jews will credit Christianity for spreading the Torah. The Jews were not doing it) there would have to be some assistance given once Jesus had ascended. Saul/Paul was a Jewish Pharisee and a Roman Citizen. His conversion to Christianity gave him a certain authority which made him able to reach the Gentiles.

The excerpt supplied effectively ignores the presence and teaching of Roman Catholic, and later Orthodox, Church during the first 1500 or so years of Christianity's existence. The excerpt (pg 17) says that Martin Luther did not wish the Epistle of James to be included in the Christian Canon. Is the writer unaware that the Epistle of James HAD been included in the Christan Canon since the Canon itself was settled (the full Christian Canon) about 1000 years earlier? This was sanctioned by the Catholic Church! Martin Luther was an unfortunate and unsettling presence in Christian History, and many Christian have been limping along with a shorter Bible ever since (although not without the Epistle of James!).

The Epistle of James includes teaching very clearly present in the teaching of the Catholic Church. So who, other than Luther, was trying to mute James?

Besides, what is this to the Netzarim if they believe that Salvation is written completely and exclusively in the Torah, as stated in their core message?

In another part of the core Netzarim message:

"The doctrine that Tor•âh′ is the "law of sin and death" is a Christian canard, the epitome of misojudaism"

This is not a "doctrine" I have ever encountered in the Catholic Church. In fact, The Catechism of the Catholic Church says this:

121 The Old Testament is an indispensable part of Sacred Scripture. Its books are divinely inspired and retain a permanent value, for the Old Covenant has never been revoked.

Also in the 'core message' is a link to the glossary entry "Displacement Theology".

This is also new to me. Reading the glossary entry, I am linked to "misojudaism". We are told here that Christianity is antinomian. Wrong again! Catholicism actually considers antinomianism to be a heresy.

This is all I can deal with for now. If anyone cares to look at the site, please feel free, but be warned!

PS The spacing of the lines you are seeing is NOT what is in my compose box. Sorry for the spaciness...

Rabbi David Aaron: Isn't Humbleness Just Low Self-Esteem?

2010-05-28T13:28:00.000-04:00

I am borrowing this article. I think it is an excellent explanation of self-esteem and humility for a Godly person.

It is written from a Jewish perspective, but I think it fits perfectly well into the Christian life.

In fact, it seems to give us the root of the Catholic belief of the Communion of Saints.

Rabbi David Aaron: Isn't Humbleness Just Low Self-Esteem?

God Bless

2010-05-27T15:13:00.000-04:00

Well, it would seem that the turbo booster has been applied to the New Evangelization.

http://http://chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it/articolo/1343399?eng=y

Okay, Europe, time to smarten up.

When will be North America's turn?

The Big Picture

2010-05-24T20:24:00.000-04:00

We recently returned from a brief trip East, which meant that we spent a good deal of our travel time in Quebec.

I think I have mentioned Quebec before. For hundreds of years it was a bastion of Catholicism in Canada. The remnants of that can till be seen nearly everywhere you go in the province. I am not going to dwell upon what I've said before.

I did have another thought though, as we drove past so many old stone churches in tiny little communities.

The big picture. Perserverence.

Driving along Highway 20 in Spring is lovely. Windy, but lovely. You drive along the St. Lawrence River, which is impressive in its length and breadth.

I was thinking about how cold it must be in the winter. The wind...and all the old houses that would at one time have been heated with wood, without fancy argon filled double paned windows or fiberglass insulation. Cold! Yet for several hundred years, people have lived here.

And they built churches.

Not the modern, spare barns we so often see, but stone churches with bell towers (with real bells). They are often graced on the inside with many pieces of lovingly carved wood (I'm specifically thinking of the church at St. Jean Port Joli. Amazing carvings throughout, and added over many years), paintings and real gold.

Even when they were built, these churches were not cheap. But they arose from the labour and sacrifice of the people who would use them. And often, it would take more than a generation to complete the work.

Why did relatively few people, with little money, contribute vigourously to the building of Churches they might not see completed? Why would they not spend their money and efforts on their own homes and families?

I think they had a better vision of the 'big picture' than we tend to have today. We want to see return for our time and money. We want to see it quickly and we want to see it in an earthly sense. Eternity takes too long.

In times when infant mortality was higher than it is today, and when diseases we barely think about today could kill you, earthly existence was seen as fleeting. People had a greater grasp of Eternity.

Besides all that, they had a greater sense of these church buildings being the resting place of the Body of Christ. The King of Kings. It was worth it to make it the Church the very best that it could be, even if it took years, and sacrifice.

A slight aside: A few years back, one of my children brought a book home from school about great Canadians. One listed was Paul Emile Cardinal Leger. I will not argue one way or another on his greatness, as I do not know much about him. I do know that one of the attributes they mentioned which attested to his greatness was that he stopped building elaborate churches, so that the money could be used for purposes which would better suit the here and now.

This distressed me. I would hope that a man of the cloth, and a Cardinal no less, would be able to see that building worthy, beautiful churches is not wasteful or extravagant, and that it is certainly not exclusive of using money for other purposes such as supporting schools or charity. If the book I read was correct, Cardinal Leger did not think as I do.

Aside completed

I also think that the Quebecois of earlier generations may have had a better grasp on perseverance. They got through those winters AND managed to continue building lovely churches...They didn't all move to British Columbia. I think of how often I complain, who am not very near wintry winds blowing off a large body of water, when the snow plow takes too long to clear the street.

I think that these lovely buildings in tiny little towns and villages are something we can look to in admiration.

The Manhattan Project

2010-05-10T19:52:00.000-04:00

May 7, 2010

A Letter to Signers of the Manhattan Declaration

Dear Friends,
We hope you've visited our new website, manhattandeclaration.org. It is loaded with resources to defend life, marriage, and religious freedom.
If you've been to the website in the last few days, you saw the story of the eight nurses in New York who refused to participate in taking the life of an unborn child by abortion. They were punished, but held their ground. (Later their employer relented and even apologized to them.) Here are people who refused to render to Caesar that which belongs to God! If you didn't get to the story, please read it. More people must follow their example.
The second bit of exciting news comes from England. Weeks ago, a group of British pastors and Christian leaders, including the former Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey, posted on a website a condensed version of the Manhattan Declaration. They called it, appropriately, the Westminster Declaration. In the first week they had 5,000 signatures. As we write, they have close to 50,000! This is extraordinary. The church in England has not, in recent years, distinguished itself by giving Christian witness on public moral issues. So this was welcome change and big news - all inspired by the Manhattan Declaration.
Around the world we're getting similar reports of the Declaration being picked up and circulated. It has been translated into a number of foreign languages.
Here at home, we're looking forward to a very busy fall. There will be a New Mexico Christian worldview summit, August 24-26 in Albuquerque, bringing together 600 Catholic and evangelical pastors. It is being co-chaired by Archbishop Michael Sheehan and former congressman Bill Redmond, who is a Colson Center-commissioned Centurion. Chuck Colson, along with the eminent Catholic theologian Michael Novak, will be present for this event.
This is the kind of movement-building event that is growing out of the Manhattan Declaration, and that our website will help connect people to. Keep visiting the site and join our online community. It will link you up with like-minded citizens across the country. The movement section will give you blogs and lists of signatories, as well as a feature called Signer Vision. We will be asking people to post comments on our forums and find events related to the Manhattan Declaration.
You may be wondering whether our efforts are bearing fruit. This Declaration has been the most galvanizing force for the Christian church within anyone's memory. It has brought together leaders across the confessional divides to take a clear, unequivocal stand for life, marriage, and liberty. And it is gaining momentum. But we need each signer to get one other fellow believer to sign so that we can swiftly reach one million. Please take a moment today to call the Manhattan Declaration to the attention of a Christian friend. You can share it using our website.
Here's what else you can do:

Pray for us regularly.
Educate the laity through on-line study resources.
Host local events just like the people in Albuquerque are doing in August; and
Give as you're led to support this movement. Our only major expense thus far has been for e-mail and the upgrading of the website, which was contributed by two of our supporting organizations. But we do have ongoing costs to support the website and the Movement. As you'll see, there is a convenient way to give on this website.

Please join the movement. Get others involved, and make full use of the website resources to connect with others who share your convictions about the most important and critical moral questions in our lives today.
God bless you.
Dr. Timothy George
Dr. Robert George
Chuck Colson

Visit us online at www.manhattandeclaration.org

Piux XII, Jews and Catholics

2010-04-30T08:51:00.000-04:00

Borrowing from Zenit this morning! God Bless

Catholics and Jews Renew Dialogue on Pius XII

Affirm Solidarity With Benedict XVI

By Jesús Colina
VATICAN CITY, APRIL 29, 2010 (Zenit.org).- Catholic and Jewish representatives have re-launched a dialogue, interrupted in 2001, on the figure of Pope Pius XII and his relationship with the people of Israel, particularly during the Holocaust.
At the end of Wednesday's general audience Benedict XVI greeted representatives who are in Rome for a meeting organized by the Pave the Way Foundation.
The founder of this organization, New York Jew Gary Krupp, explained to ZENIT that the audience with the Pope was attended by rabbis and representatives of Jewish communities from the United States, Israel, Australia and Switzerland "who wished to stand in solidarity shoulder to shoulder with the Catholic Church and the Holy Father" during "the attacks against the Church and His Holiness by an over-zealous media."
The meeting, which continued with the questions that the International Catholic-Jewish Historical intended to address in 2001, had an academic character with the participation of several rabbis, but was not an official representation.
The commission was originally appointed in 1999 by the Pontifical Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews, and consisted of three Jewish and three Catholic scholars.
They reviewed the Vatican documents concerning Pope Pius XII and submitted a report in 2000 with 47 questions regarding the Holy See's response to the Holocaust.
However, due to disagreement and conflicting viewpoints, the group was disbanded in 2001.
Now, in a two-day debate session that began April 23, answers were given to those 47 questions posed in 2000.
Those who responded to the questions were Jesuit Father Peter Gumpel, historian and relator to the cause of beatification of Pius XII; Matteo Napolitano, professor of the history of international relations (University of Molise, Italy); Andrea Tornielli, Vatican expert from the daily "Il Giornale;" Ronald Rychlak, law professor at Mississippi State University; and Michael Hesemann, German historian and writer.
All the answers were fully recorded by H2O News and will be given to the Yad Vashem Commission, the Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Authority, and will be available on the Pave the Way Foundation Web site.
Initiatives
Krupp reported to ZENIT: "We also discussed the Holy See endorsing a family-based initiative of dedicating Friday night dinner with the family. Here two hours will be dedicated to the children. Rabbi Shmuley Boteach and Pave the Way Foundation are promoting this initiative dedicated to the family."
Moreover, the group met with Monsignor Peter Wells, assessor for the Secretariat of State's Section for General Affairs, and discussed with him the Vatican's efforts to aid victims of abuses.
Krupp acknowledged that "the media has not reported the efforts of the Church to repair these terrible past events."
"Even one is too much," he said, "but this tragedy is not as widespread as the media has led all to believe."
"Monsignor Wells stated that the Holy See considers the original breaking news of these terrible events as a blessing," Krupp reported, because "the Church was alerted then to act quickly to root out these criminals and the errors by some bishops."
"He said that there was too much reliance on outdated psychological and inept legal advisors who advised some bishops that these offenders could be cured," said Krupp.
At the Papal audience David Victor, the chairman of AIPAC, an American Israeli organization, spoke to the Holy Father and asked him to issue remarks condemning the Iranian regime's denial of the Holocaust and its efforts to develop an atomic bomb. The Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, declared, during a 2005 speech, that Israel must be "wiped off the map."
The representatives also met with Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, which oversees the Pontifical Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews.
In that meeting, Krupp spoke about the loud and dedicated condemnation of Adolf Hitler and National Socialism by Pope Pius XII from the very beginning, noting that it should serve as an example of how the Holy See can respond to a modern day Hitler.
Krupp concluded, "This was a very important day in Rome for our group."
--- --- ---
On the Net:
Pave the Way Foundation: http://www.ptwf.org

email this article

Praise Be!

2010-04-18T21:03:00.001-04:00

Good Evening;

(Just a note that this is an older post that I just finished. The liturgical reference is out of date!)

Today at Mass, I cantored the psalm, which was part of psalm 19.

After Mass, a member of our clergy came up to me and clasped my hand and told me I'd made his day.

"How?" I asked.

He told me that the psalm was well done and what he needed to hear.

I thanked him. Later I realized that God had ministered to this man through me, and I was totally unaware.

My lack of awareness would prevent my interference, no doubt.

Wow. What a gift this was! Something rather mundane (I have cantored a lot over the past 10 years) had been turned into something very special for at least one person.

I wonder how often we effortlessly and unwittingly extend God's touch?
Is it not wonderful that God can use people this way?

Now I must remember that God can work whenever and however and through whichever means He desires.

The story of Balaam's Ass is humbling. I like the way singer Don Francisco put it in his song Balaam:
" When the Lord starts usin' you, don't you pay it any mind. He could have used the dog next door if He'd been so inclined."

I'm still thankful that I was there...

The Importance of the Easter Vigil

2010-04-17T16:23:00.003-04:00

The Easter Vigil could, I think, quite safely be called THE Mass of the Christian Liturgical year. It is the Vigil which is the main Mass of Easter. Easter Sunday Mass seems to be the one that most attend, particularly in places where the congregation has not been catechized as to the importance of the Vigil.

If people know anything about the Vigil, it is usually that it is a long Mass. If all the readings are done, there are seven Old Testament readings, seven psalms and seven corresponding prayers. Then, we have an Epistle reading and the Gospel reading. These readings trace out our salvation history, culminating in Jesus' resurrection. The liturgy of the Mass is not layed out willy-nilly. Each of those readings is there for a reason. Often though, the Vigil is shortened by eliminating some of the Old Testament readings.

At the Vigil Mass, the water that will be used throughout the rest of the year is blessed, to become Holy Water. Those who have been going through the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults are received into the Church at this time. There may also be other baptisms and confirmations.

The Vigil can be three hours long.

What is three hours in the course of eternity? People will spend three hours at shopping, at a hockey game, or even viewing a long movie.

A priest I know would tell people at the beginning of Mass to take off their watches. He would remind them that they were moving from chronos time to kairos time. They were taking a peek at eternity.

He had no problem with the long Mass.

Some will complain about the length. I think they need to be reminded of perspective. When I say this, I am assuming a healthy priest and a healthy congregation. Of course allowances must be made for infirmity. But if a person can sit at a hockey game for three hours? I think that blaming the length of the Mass for a small congregation is rather wrongheaded. We share the Mass with myriads of myriads each and every time we attend.

In a sense, the Vigil is a family reunion. At any Mass, we gather together with the Body of Christ, with Christ at the head. We join with Christians around the world, and throughout eternity. Those who have gone before us are there.

My feeling about taking readings (and the corresponding psalms and prayers) from the Vigil is that it is like telling someone that we don't want to hear their family story. Sorry Uncle Isaiah, or Auntie Miriam, we don't want to hear from you this year.

And really, just how much time is saved by taking readings out?

Through this Mass, we are not spectators. There are Psalms and hymns to sing and prayers and a litany (assuming there is someone being baptized) to join in with, as well as the responses common to any Mass. The Mass may actually start outdoors, so there is a procession into the church.

Hearing a Bishop complain about the length of the Vigil reminded me of two very enthusiastic members of the congregation; two small children aged 6 and about 4. They sang, they danced, they took shots at 'directing' the choir, and had a lovely time. Their enthusiasm was quite an example. Over the years, I've seen many children at the Vigil. Rarely have they been disruptive or complaining.

All that said, I fully believe that people should be encouraged to be comfortable at what really is a long Mass. Dress nicely and modestly, but don't wear clothing that scratches or shoes that pinch. Bring a cushion or back support and a lap blanket if you think you'll need it (I know personally what a chill can do to arthritic knees and backs). Bring books or quiet toys for them, but expect children to fall asleep.

And a point of etiquette. When a parish has been assisting in an Easter Vigil Mass that uses all the readings provided, and has been doing so for several years, I would be very very cautious about suggesting change. While no one, not even the Bishop or the Pope 'owns' the Mass, people can become accustomed to practices. When these practices are in line with what the liturgy spells out, I believe that reducing the Mass is a poor choice.

God Bless

WWII and the Church

2010-03-31T09:57:00.001-04:00

A recent comment left with me has fired a few shots at the record of the Church's activities (or inactivities, according to the writer) during WWII.

He maintains that even opening up the archives to many more documents will not change the record of the Church, which he maintains was "largely inactive in the face of genocide"

I'm not certain, Mr. Wilensky, which inactivity you are referring to.

In 1937, Pope Pius XI issued a statement in German (almost unheard of to this day. The Pope really was doing his best to make sure that his target audience heard him) called Mit Brennender Sorge which came down very hard on the Nazi Party.

The man who became Pope XII on the death of Pope Pius XI had already been speaking out against the Nazis in word and in print, as evidenced in the archives of Osservatore Romano, since the mid-1930s.

Some Jews were hidden in the Vatican itself. Others were hidden in other Church buildings, such as Castel Gandolfo, and convents and monasteries.

"The final number of Jewish lives in whose rescue the Catholic Church had been the instrument is thus at least 700,000 souls, but in all probability it is much closer to ... 860,000." (Pinchas E. Lapide, 'Three Popes and the Jews', pp 227-228).

Rabbi Israel Anton Zolli, Chief Rabbi of Rome converted to Catholicism after the war and took the baptismal name of Eugenio, name of Pius XII. While his conversion may have been 'encouraged' by other events, he did express his deep appreciation for Pius XII in his memoirs.

I am, for now (as Holy Week events are picking up speed, and I have much to do) going to leave you with this interview which spells out quite a bit and refers to a book you may be interested in.

I have no fear at all with the opening of the archives. Heck, if contemporary New York Times could sing PXII's praises over his war efforts, and if can be declared a 'Righteous Gentile" then I'm sure it's all good.

But the Truth will bear out.

More on Father Lawrence Murphy

2010-03-30T18:18:00.000-04:00

Borrowing from Catholic Culture.org

Canadian bishop defends Pope, criticizes Archbishop Weakland, New York Times
March 30, 2010

Denouncing “attempts to personally embroil Benedict XVI in the sex abuse scandals,” Bishop Fred Henry of Calgary has written a pastoral letter in which he criticizes the inaccurate reporting of The New York Times and notes that retired Archbishop Rembert Weakland of Milwaukee “did nothing” about the notorious Father Lawrence Murphy between 1977 and 1996.

“The New York Times on March 25, and parroted by other newspapers, accused Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of intervening to prevent a Wisconsin priest, Father Lawrence Murphy, from facing penalties for cases of sexual abuse of minors. The story is not even supported by the evidence of the Times,” Bishop Henry writes.

He continues:

Cardinal Ratzinger does not appear in the record as taking any decision. His office, in the person of his deputy, Archbishop (Tarcisio) Bertone, agreed that there should be a full canonical trial. When it became apparent that Father Murphy was in failing health, Archbishop Bertone suggested more expeditious means of removing him from any ministry.

Furthermore, under canon law at the time, the principal responsibility for sexual abuse cases lay with the local bishop. Archbishop (Rembert) Weakland had from 1977 onward the responsibility of administering penalties to Father Murphy. He did nothing until 1996. It was at that point that Cardinal Ratzinger's office became involved, and it subsequently did nothing to impede the local process.

In August 1998, Archbishop Weakland writes that he has halted the canonical trial and penal process against Father Murphy and has immediately begun the process to remove him from ministry. That same month, Father Murphy dies.

The New York Times flatly got the story wrong. Readers may want to speculate on why.

Source(s): these links will take you to other sites, in a new window.

Bishop Henry: It's wrong to point finger at Pope in sex abuse scandals (Calgary Herald)

Days of Darkness

2010-03-29T13:01:00.000-04:00

Hi Folks

As I was trying to fall asleep last night, I was reflecting on current 'events' in the Church. Maybe not so current...and maybe not really events. Depends on who you talk to, I think.

There is another newscast, this one from Rome (as if that lends it some sort of legitimacy. No one from Vatican 'officialdom' had any part in the clip). More on Benedict's involvement (so they say) in the abuse scandals. "People" are demanding transparency from the Pope.

Sure. They will likely get it. As a matter of fact, if they read Church sources instead of what's in the media, the light might already be dawning. Transparency will not help. People will not believe what does not fit into their pre-conceived notions...at least not without some sort of revelation.

One need only look at the 'case' (so they say) surrounding Pius XII's supposed non-aid toward the Jews. SO much of what was done by the Vatican is part of the public record, and has been for years, if one really wanted to find it. Now, the Vatican has released a pile more of their documents surrounding the time of WWII. I will be very surprised if this quiets the chattering classes. I will be grateful...but surprised. There really was enough evidence already available to show the good works of Pius XII.

Jesus had the same problem. People asked Him for miracles to prove that he was the Messiah. They'd had plenty. Jesus recognized that more miracles would not change their minds.

The Pope is under attack. No question. He needs our prayers. Even if you're not convinced of his lack of involvement in alleged scandal cover-ups, please pray that the Truth will be borne out...and that we'll all listen.

Ecology of Salvation

2010-03-28T18:44:00.001-04:00

Hi Folks

As today is the day during which the ecology types would have us turn off our lights for an hour and think we're doing something useful, I got thinking of something...

First, something important. Today is also the day in which Christians commemorate the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. It is the only day in the liturgical calendar in which there are two gospels.

In the first gospel, we hear of the triumphant entrance. The second gospel is a reading of the passion and death of Jesus. We call this Palm, or Passion Sunday.

Why two gospels?

Catholics do not have an obligation to attend Mass where there isn't one. On Good Friday, nowhere in the world is a Mass celebrated, yet this is the liturgy where the passion and death of Jesus is traditionally read. For all the people who cannot attend the Good Friday liturgy, we have a reading of the passion on the preceding, obligatory Sunday.

There is a term in the Catholic world...Economy of Salvation. Try as I might, I cannot get my head around that term. When I hear economy, I think of money. I'll try another run at understanding it another day. Please do not ask me to explain!

I have invented a phrase of my own. The Ecology of Salvation.

There is a lot of yakking going on about the environment. Much of it makes no sense if you think about it for a minute or two. People are, however, making a really big deal about our need to 'save the Earth'. I probably didn't need to tell you this.

It is rare that you hear anyone talk of the need to save ourselves. That is, to do our best to ensure that we and those we love, make it to heaven, through the grace of God.

The environment in which we subsist, here in the First World, is not really conducive to sainthood. I probably don't need to tell you that, either.

We need to have a movement to rouse environmental awareness of those things that endanger our souls. We need to fight soul pollution.

Let our pulpits ring! Shout it from the rooftops! Do not worship the Earth or the 'environment' (where that means exclusively the land on which we live, and the air that we breath).

And for Earth Hour, we must remember that instead of living in darkness, we must be children of Light.

Coming into Holy Week, I just this second thought of something else. When was the last time you heard of fasting as a cause for good? It makes at least as much sense as turning out the lights for an hour!

Fasting is a regular and required part of the Catholic liturgical calendar. WE do it as a small way of reminding ourselves of Christ's sacrifice for us.

May be the green-types could take it up as a way of reducing their ecological foot print. Yeah. I won't hold my breath.

Jesus is the Light of the World! Have a blessed Holy Week!

Keeping the record straight on Benedict and the crisis

2010-03-27T18:16:00.000-04:00

Today I'm borrowing someone else's work.

I will pose a rhetorical question of my own, though. If people are really concerned about the welfare of the victims, why is it that only the Catholic Church comes under this much scrutiny?

Have a blessed Holy Week.

Keeping the record straight on Benedict and the crisis
By John L Allen Jr

Mar 26, 2010

Intense scrutiny is being devoted these days to Pope Benedict XVI's history on the sex abuse crisis. Revelations from Germany have put his five years as a diocesan bishop under a spotlight, and a piece on Thursday in The New York Times, on the case of Fr. Lawrence Murphy of Milwaukee, also called into question his Vatican years as prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Despite complaints in some quarters that all this is about wounding the pope and/or the church, raising these questions is entirely legitimate. Anyone involved in church leadership at the most senior levels for as long as Benedict XVI inevitably bears some responsibility for the present mess. My newspaper, the National Catholic Reporter, today called editorially for full disclosure [1] about the pope's record, and it now seems abundantly clear that only such transparency can resolve the hard questions facing Benedict.

Yet as always, the first casualty of any crisis is perspective. There are at least three aspects of Benedict's record on the sexual abuse crisis which are being misconstrued, or at least sloppily characterized, in today's discussion. Bringing clarity to these points is not a matter of excusing the pope, but rather of trying to understand accurately how we got where we are.

The following, therefore, are three footnotes to understanding Benedict's record on the sexual abuse crisis.

1. Not the 'Point Man'

First, some media reports have suggested that then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger presided over the Vatican office with responsibility for the sex abuse crisis for almost a quarter-century, from 1981 until his election to the papacy in April 2005, and therefore that he's responsible for whatever the Vatican did or didn't do during that entire stretch of time. That's not correct.

In truth, Ratzinger did not have any direct responsibility for managing the overall Vatican response to the crisis until 2001, four years before he became pope.

Bishops were not required to send cases of priests accused of sexual abuse to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith until 2001, when they were directed to do so by Pope John Paul II's motu proprio titled Sacramentorum sanctitatis tutela. Prior to that, most cases involving sex abuse never got to Rome. In the rare instance when a bishop wanted to laicize an abuser priest against his will, the canonical process involved would be handled by one of the Vatican courts, not by Ratzinger's office.

Prior to 2001, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith got involved only in the exceedingly rare instances when the sex abuse occurred in the context of the confessional, since a canonical tribunal within the congregation handled cases involving abuse of the sacrament of penance. That, for example, is how the case of Fr. Marcial Maciel Degollado, the founder of the Legionaries of Christ, ended up in the congregation, and it's also why officials in the Milwaukee archdiocese directed the case of Fr. Lawrence Murphy there.

One certainly can question how Ratzinger's office handled those exceptional cases, and the record seems painfully slow and ambivalent in comparison with how similar accusations would be dealt with today. Moreover, Ratzinger was a senior Vatican official from 1981 forward, and therefore he shares in the corporate failure in Rome to appreciate the magnitude of the crisis until terribly late in the game.

To suggest, however, that Ratzinger was the Vatican's "point man" on sex abuse for almost twenty-five years, and to fault him for the mishandling of every case that arose between 1981 and 2001, is misleading. Prior to 2001, Ratzinger had nothing personally to do with the vast majority of sex abuse cases, even the small percentage which wound up in Rome.

2. The 2001 letter
In some reporting and commentary, a May 2001 letter from Ratzinger to the bishops of the world, titled De delictis gravioribus, is being touted as a "smoking gun" proving that Ratzinger attempted to thwart reporting priestly sex abuse to the police or other civil authorities by ordering the bishops to keep it secret.

That letter indicates that certain grave crimes, including the sexual abuse of a minor, are to be referred to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and that they are "subject to the pontifical secret." The Vatican insists, however, that this secrecy applied only to the church's internal disciplinary procedures, and was not intended to prevent anyone from also reporting these cases to the police or other civil authorities. Technically they're correct, since nowhere in the 2001 letter is there any prohibition on reporting sex abuse to police or civil prosecutors.

In reality, few bishops needed a legal edict from Rome ordering them not to talk publicly about sexual abuse. That was simply the culture of the church at the time, which makes the hunt for a "smoking gun" something of a red herring right out of the gate. Fixing a culture -- one in which the Vatican, to be sure, was as complicit as anyone else, but one which was widespread and deeply rooted well beyond Rome -- is never as simple as abrogating one law and issuing another.

That aside, here's the key point about Ratzinger's 2001 letter: Far from being seen as part of the problem, at the time it was widely hailed as a watershed moment towards a solution. It marked recognition in Rome, really for the first time, of how serious the problem of sex abuse really is, and it committed the Vatican to getting directly involved. Prior to that 2001 motu proprio and Ratzinger's letter, it wasn't clear that anyone in Rome acknowledged responsibility for managing the crisis; from that moment forward, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith would play the lead role.

Beginning in 2001, Ratzinger was forced to review all the files on every priest credibly accused of sexual abuse anywhere in the world, giving him a sense of the contours of the problem that virtually no one else in the Catholic church can claim. In a recent article, I outlined the "conversion experience" Ratzinger and his staff went through after 2001. Beforehand, he came off as just another Roman cardinal in denial; after his experience of reviewing the files, he began to talk openly about the "filth" in the church, and his staff became far more energetic about prosecuting abusers.

For those who have followed the church's response to the crisis, Ratzinger's 2001 letter is therefore seen as a long overdue assumption of responsibility by the Vatican, and the beginning of a far more aggressive response. Whether that response is sufficient is, of course, a matter for fair debate, but to construe Ratzinger's 2001 letter as no more than the last gasp of old attempts at denial and cover-up misreads the record.

3. Canonical Trials
Ratzinger's top deputy at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on sex abuse cases, Maltese Monsignor Charles Scicluna, recently gave an interview to an Italian Catholic paper in which he said that of the more than 3,000 cases eventually referred to Rome, only 20 percent were subjected to a full canonical trial. In some reporting, including the Thursday piece in The New York Times, this figure has been cited as evidence of Vatican "inaction."

Once again, however, those who have followed the story closely have almost exactly the opposite impression.

Back in June 2002, when the American bishops first proposed a set of new canonical norms to Rome, the heart of which was the "one strike and you're out" policy, they initially wanted to avoid canonical trials altogether. Instead, they wanted to rely on a bishop's administrative power to permanently remove a priest from ministry. That's because their experience of Roman tribunals over the years was that they were often slow, cumbersome, and the outcome was rarely certain.

Most famously, bishops and experts would point to the case of Fr. Anthony Cipolla in Pittsburgh, during the time that Donald Wuerl, now the Archbishop of Washington, was the local bishop. Wuerl had removed Cipolla from ministry in 1988 following allegations of sexual abuse. Cipolla appealed to Rome, where the Apostolic Signatura, in effect the Vatican's supreme court, ordered him reinstated. Wuerl then took the case to Rome himself, and eventually prevailed. The experience left many American bishops, however, with the impression that lengthy canonical trials were not the way to handle these cases.

When the new American norms reached Rome, they ran into opposition precisely on the grounds that everyone deserves their day in court -- another instance, in the eyes of critics, of the Vatican being more concerned about the rights of abuser priests than victims. A special commission of American bishops and senior Vatican officials brokered a compromise, in which the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith would sort through the cases one-by-one and decide which ones would be sent back for full trials.

The fear at the time was that the congregation would insist on trials in almost every case, thereby dragging out the administration of justice, and closure for the victims, almost indefinitely. In the end, however, only 20 percent were sent back for trials, while for the bulk of the cases, 60 percent, bishops were authorized to take immediate administrative action, because the proof was held to be overwhelming.

The fact that only 20 percent of the cases were subjected to full canonical trial has been hailed as a belated grasp in Rome of the need for swift and sure justice, and a victory for the more aggressive American approach to the crisis. It should be noted, too, that bypassing trials has been roundly criticized by some canon lawyers and Vatican officials as a betrayal of the due process safeguards in church law.

Hence to describe that 20 percent figure as a sign of "inaction" cannot help but seem, to anyone who's been paying attention, rather ironic. In truth, handling 60 percent of the cases through the stroke of a bishop's pen has, up to now, more often been cited as evidence of exaggerated and draconian action by Ratzinger and his deputies.

Obviously, none of this is to suggest that Benedict's handling of the crisis -- in Munich, at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, or as pope -- is somehow exemplary. An accounting needs to be offered if this pope, and the church he leads, hopes to move forward. For that analysis to be constructive, however, as opposed to fueling polarization and confusion, it's important to keep the record straight.
[John Allen is NCR senior correspondent. His e-mail address is jallen@ncronline.org.]

Approaching the Media Critically...VERY Critically

2010-03-19T21:16:00.002-04:00

I am sharing with you this article which appeared on the Ignatius Scoop weblog.

It gives a good perspective on the current sexual scandals within the Church as well as being a lesson about critically reading (viewing, listening to) the mainstream media.

A long time ago, I developed a habit which has never steered me badly. When I first hear something shocking in the news, particularly where it involves the Church, I completely ignore the first report. It is rarely accurate.

Actually I cannot recall an instance where a first report about something to do with the Church has been accurate.

If what they are saying is not outright incorrect, it is only partially incorrect, or has weasel words incorporated to make the 'news' appear to say something quite different than the actual events. Sometimes it is just that religious terminology is not understood, and no effort has been made to understand on the part of the reporter. An example of this would be the references to "immaculate conception" that sometimes appears in media. These references nearly always refer, usually with an implied sneer, to virgin births; like "That was no immaculate conception!". In fact, the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception refers to the conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary...who was conceived in the usual human fashion...but the result of that conception was a being who was sinless from the very beginning of her existence.

So, here you are! Click on the Blog entry title to read the article.

The Roots of Christianity

2010-03-12T20:20:00.000-05:00

Over the past couple of months, I have been receiving emails explaining the Parsha which I understand is the weekly Sabbath reading for the Jews.

Aside from giving me more knowledge of the Torah (the Pentateuch, the first five books in the Old Testament, often referred to in Scripture simply as "Moses"), I am being introduced to the Talmud, for which I don't think a Christian counterpart exists. Maybe the Catholic Catechism and the Code of Canon Law, but don't quote me on that!

It is very interesting.

What is most evident to me is just how rooted in history are the liturgical practices of Christianity, at least as found in Catholicism (of which I have the most experience). Communal study of Scripture on the Sabbath is to be made available to Jewish communities. They are restricted from many activities. Catholics are reasonably required to attend Mass (which is a type of Scripture study...plus so much more!) on all Sundays and Days of Obligation. They are also to refrain from unnecessary labour. Jews have restrictions on what they may or may not eat. Catholics are asked to fast and abstain from time to time, and the elements that go into the confection of the Eucharist, are very clearly defined.

From another source I learn that the materials to be used in Jewish worship, such as the garments the rabbi wears, are to be of the best materials. A similar admonishment is found in Catholic liturgical documentation, as well, with regards to the materials used in the Sanctuary and during Mass

It amazes me that some are so quick to dismiss some practices of Catholicism as being wasteful, elitist, imperialistic, impractical, extravagant etc. when there is such base for these practices in Judaism, from which we sprout.

Spiritual Irresponsibility

2010-03-06T20:45:00.000-05:00

A fellow blogger said something which inspired this entry. I am not sure if she'll recognize the relationship!

I have done a lot of work with adults in the parishes where I have attended Mass over the years. I have met some interesting and challenging (sometimes in the same person) people.

I've noticed that the Holy Spirit's name is often invoked, but not given much legitimate credit. Or I've seen enough to make me a bit suspicious when I hear someone frequently speak of the Holy Spirit.

I worked with an adult choir that nearly brought me to a nervous breakdown. The musicians (guitarists) were not well trained in music, never mind liturgy. And I don't think most of the vocalists knew what liturgical ministry was about. Or for that matter, what being in a choir was about. And some made it abundantly clear that they didn't really wish to learn.

In this group, there were some lovely people I really enjoyed working with most of the time. And there were a few who I enjoyed working with very little of the time. It was sad and scary. But it was one of the most prayerful times of my life.

In this context, I often heard that we (and usually the speaker meant ME) needed to let the Holy Spirit be in charge.

This meant: 1) That we didn't really need to practice much, as the Holy Spirit would take us through.
2) That musical training (ie. reading music) wasn't really important because it made the music less spirit-led. This translated into "We don't like your insistance on following the timing, key, etc. in which the song was written. Sometimes this even sanctioned lyric changes! It was made clear that reading music was actually a handicap to Spirit-led music.
3) That planning was unnecessary. I was called to task by someone who I know tried hard to live by the Spirit, but who was, I think, hampered by pride (and I say this without malice as pride is also my greatest challenge). I was told that I should not be scheduling music 6 weeks ahead (as was my practice, but I was never intransigent on choices) but should allow the Holy Spirit to make the choices. To this I replied that I prayed a lot over my music choices, and was the Holy Spirit incapable of working 6 weeks ahead?

The criticism was not pursued.

It irritates me greatly when people use one of our manifestations of God as an excuse for laziness, sloppiness, and poor planning!

This is not to say that the Holy Spirit cannot step in and call a change at short notice. I also know that the Holy Spirit can work far ahead of our finite knowledge.

Again in the context of choir...

Occasionally, as I sat planning the music, I would be called on to choose a piece that did not seem to have any connection with the readings or Gospel of a particular Sunday. Or a selection for one of the hymns needed would simply not come to me. Invariably, the odd choice for a given week would end up being very appropriate in that it responded to an event that had just occurred and for which I had no prior knowledge, or that it responded to something Father said or quoted in his homily.

The missing hymn also frequently allowed for a choice needed for a particular occurrence. Or it would provide the choir members a chance to choose something they wanted.

During this prayerful and challenging time, I eventually heard loud and clear that I was no longer to lead this group. It was like someone lifted a window-blind and let the light in. I do believe that the 'someone' was the Holy Spirit.

I acted immediately. It was so strange. Lent had already begun. We were planning for a Chrism Mass. It was not like me to 'just stop' doing anything. People noticed. I was sent flowers. I friend from the choir (who was well aware of what I'd been dealing with) stopped by that evening to see if I was okay. People phoned. It was as if someone had died.

But it was the right decision. Many lessons were learned. I learned that the parish did not need me quite as much as I seemed to think they did (Did I say I had pride issues?), but others learned how much I did in the parish. Over all, life went on. I had a quiet and prayerful Lent. More ora and less labora. I needed that.

I rested for a year. Almost to the day, a year later, the same friend who knew what I'd been dealing with, and who was now in charge of liturgy preparation, called and asked if I'd form a children's choir. I did, in fact, pray about it. And I did it. It was wonderful.

When we speak of following the Holy Spirit, we must make sure it is, in fact, the Holy Spirit we're listening to, and not a baser or even evil source for our "inspiration"

Ahhh...Lent

2010-03-05T20:01:00.000-05:00

Hi Folks

I haven't been around much. I see it was St. Valentine's feast last time I wrote. So much has happened.

I do not know if God sees me as dissolute or what, but every Lent seems to come as a kit...ready made with Lenten sacrifices.

This year, a large part of my sacrifice seems to be driving. I don't really like driving, and as I deal with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue I find driving very tiring...even when I'm a passenger. As the driver, it's worse. Especially at night.

In some ways I'm better than I used to be. Larger centres no longer terrify me, although driving through Montreal or Toronto is not anything I would look forward to. Having a newer car has really helped my confidence.

Confidence is a good thing. I never thought I would be driving so much. And the rush started on Ash Wednesday, wouldn't you know!

I have made so many trips into our nearest Big City in the past three weeks. For family's health issues... And it's not over yet. I even have one day where two people have appointments in two different cities! And the appointments can't really be changed due to the nature of the conditions. Fortunately, the timings are such that meeting both appointments is physically possible...but what a day it will be!

It doesn't look like it's going to settle down until...well...just before Palm Sunday. Imagine that.

In the midst of this, God has chosen to answer a heartfelt prayer I've been working on for months. A very good thing, but change is stressful...and I don't 'do' stress well. I keep trying...

So, offering all this up seems like a natural thing to do. But I can't really say I CHOSE it!

If you can send up a prayer for us, I'd really appreciate it!

Mercenary Christians

2010-02-14T11:45:00.001-05:00

Good Afternoon

Our small corner of the world has caught the fad (and I hope it's a passing one!) of the backlit signs upon which a business, church or whatever can post thought-provoking, or even idiotic messages, and sometimes their business or worship service schedules. I really think they may be traffic hazards as one is tempted to read them while driving.

Anyway...

I managed to read the sign posted outside of one of our local denominations, and it is sitting like a burr under the saddle.

"Respect people. It comes back"

We are made, all of us, in the image and likeness of God. We are all due respect for that, if for nothing else. As Christians, we are to remember this even if the person being respected does not recognize their own value as human beings.

We are to see Christ in everyone. Sometimes it will be Christ suffering we see, but we still must see Him somehow.

While it may be true that respecting people will 'come back' in the sense that we will be respected for the respect we pay others, this should never be the reason we do it.

It should be for Christ that we do it. Remember "Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, that you do unto me".

Matthew 5:43-47 tells us that if we love only those who love us back, we are no better than a pagan, or a publican (depends which bible you're reading). Anyone can love someone who loves (or respects) him back.

We are called to more. Mother Teresa was, in my thoughts, a good example. She cared for those who could offer her little or nothing in return. These people were often very close to death when coming into her care. Yet she and her sisters worked joyfully with them. In fact reading some of Mother Teresa's writings and writings about her one gets the impression that she found a lot of the recognition she received to be a nuisance.

Yes, respect may come back to us as we cast it out, but to a Christian, whether or not respect comes back is irrelevant.

God Bless

Christian Life: A Study in Plaster

2010-02-08T14:13:00.002-05:00

Several years back, Someone passed on to me a very battered statue of Jesus. The thought was "She'll know what to do with it". This poor thing had no hands, and was chipped all over

When blessed objects (and I assumed that this statue was blessed) outlive their usefullness and/or are damaged, the correct disposal method is to burn or bury them.

I'm not always quick to get things done. This poor statue sat on the piano for quite some time.

Then I heard the story about another hands-free statue. It was said that this statue was a reminder to Christians that we are Christ's hands and feet in the world. Very neat!

I kept the statue. Then it occurred to me that the chips might be a symbol too. As we are out and about being Christ's hands in the world, we are probably going to get rather battered. No one said Christian life is easy.

We need to remember to offer up those dings and bruises to God so he can use our sufferings for the good of others.

I love being Catholic.

On Pius XII

2010-02-05T18:34:00.000-05:00

Much-maligned pontiff - Haaretz - Israel News

Food for Thought

2010-02-01T18:59:00.000-05:00

The other day I was unwrapping a stringy cheese snack. I noticed that the wrapper had instructions for making a little craft-thing with the cheese before one ate it.

Didn't your mother ever tell you not to play with your food?

I couldn't help but think of this teaching! Perhaps I date myself.

At any rate, I can't escape the mental image of grimy little midday hands playing with the magnet-like cheese stick to "peel" it into various creatures.

Have the rules changed?

I realized that this is very much like what Jesus suggested to his followers. I think He was warming people up when He chastised the Pharisees for complaining that Jesus' followers did not wash their hands in the ritual way before they ate their meals. (This, btw, was not saying it was okay to eat with dirty hands. It had to do with the role of tradition in ones life. I suppose the makers of stringy cheese are not saying it's okay to eat with dirty hands, either)

Jesus eventually went on to declare that unless His followers eat his flesh and drink his blood they will not have life within them.

Jews are prohibited from drinking blood, any blood. And to eat human flesh? Unthinkable.

But we are commanded to do this in memory of Jesus.

It is necessary to examine rules from time to time. Do they still fulfill the need for which they were instituted? Which authority is placing the rule? Is it legitimate?

God's rules, as presented through the Catholic Church and Scripture, are legitimate. In things like hand-washing and playing with your food, your mother is a legitimate authority, too!

Book Review: Abbess of Andalusia

2010-01-29T18:54:00.000-05:00

The Abbess of Andalusia: Flannery O'Connor's Spiritual Journey by Lorraine V Murray

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I enjoyed this book immensely. It has really encouraged me to read more of Miss O'Connor's work.

There were some unfortunate editorial gaffs in the book which surprised me: A sentence repeated twice on the same page, a couple of other sentences which, try as I might, I couldn't make sense from.

There was also what seemed to be a spell-check error (a correctly spelled word that should have been another word entirely), although it may have been a local term I was not familiar with. There is some dialectic use of language in the book.

I also thought there was a bit of preachiness in the presentation of Miss O'Connor's Catholicism. That may simply be that as a Catholic myself, I saw on my own what was being pointed out by the author.

Still, this did not take away from the fascinating personality and life of Flannery O'Connor. I recommend this book.

View all my reviews >>

Faith and Reason

2010-01-27T11:24:00.002-05:00

I've been doing a bit of surfing while I've been ill and I've noticed that those who believe faith incompatible with reason frequently seem to be operating with neither.

Charity and Love

2010-01-17T13:21:00.001-05:00

Hi Folks

Those who have not yet gone to Mass please say a prayer for me? I missed Mass today as I am sick. Yuck.

I did a little research recently and confirmed that the words "charity" and "love" come from the same Latin root word "caritas".

I clarify that word 'love' in this case would also be translated in Greek 'agape' to distinguish it from filial love or erotic love.

Agape love, caritas, is the sort of love that is unconditional. It's a general sort of love that can be directed to people you don't know. Caritas fuels charity.

I remember from my youth, an episode of "The Waltons" on the TV where Ma Walton (I'm pretty sure it was her) said that they wouldn't accept charity. Times were hard, and they were hurting. There were people who wanted to help.

I've been thinking of this and wondering if refusing charity is also refusing love?

Pope Benedict's book "Deus Caritas Est " means "God is Love". That is certainly not an unknown phrase.

Why would one refuse charity, if one was truly in need? Is it pride? By refusing appropriate charity, one is refusing someone the opportunity to show love...the spirit of charity.

God is Love...Caritas. This phrase has been abused to the point of being meaningless. So often it seems to be the license to be politically correct. We refuse to call sin what it is (sin) for fear of offending someone.

How loving is it, really, to see one who may well be on the road to Hell, but not to counsel them of the risk they're taking?

But we're not to judge, right? Yep. Right. We are not to judge. We are not to tell someone they ARE going to Hell. It is absolutely not our place, but God's place to judge.

Confirmed Catholics, are commanded to admonish the sinner! That one seems to get forgotten. We are SUPPOSED to call sin, sin. Are we perfect? Not likely, but no one ever made that a requirement for performing the Works of Mercy!

As we admonish, we must be very aware that people who love us will admonish us from time to time, as well.

That is a charitable act of a loving person!

Keeping Christ in Christmas

2010-01-13T13:22:00.001-05:00

Hi Folks!

Happy Ordinary Time!

Now that the Christmas Season is over, I have time to think a bit more about it.

A priest friend of mine related a story that happened to him one Advent. Shortly before Christmas Eve, he received a call from an older woman, asking if he celebrated Midnight Mass. He said he did not, but celebrated an earlier Mass, as a nearby parish celebrated Midnight Mass.

She told him that she was an old-fashioned Catholic, and really thought that Midnight Mass should be celebrated everywhere.

He asked her where she regularly attended Mass, and she replied that she didn't regularly attend Mass.

Uh-huh. So just how does she call herself an "old-fashioned" Catholic, when attending Sunday Mass is one of the basics?

This made me think of the catchy phrase "Keep Christ in Christmas", which I believe is promoted by the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic men's organization I greatly admire.

I think that in the struggle to recognize Christ as "The Reason for the Season" as another phrase goes, some fall into the trap of ONLY keeping Christ in Christmas, and at no other time of the year...except maybe Easter.

This is not a sustainable relationship with Christ or His Church.

To be Christians, we must not only recognize that Christ came...as we do at Christmas when we envision the Manger and listen to readings from Luke's gospel, but we must remember that He will also come again at the end of time (parousia).

Will He recognize those who think they know Him? Do 'they' really know Him, when they do not regularly recieve Him, in the Word, or in the Flesh?

Reading Scripture on ones own, while an admirable practice, does not suffice. We need to also read Scripture through the lense of the Church. As it says in Acts 8:31; "How can I understand if no one explains it to me?"

To read scripture only through ones own interpretation, or through another person's interpretation leads to the embarassment which all Christians should feel at the disunity of Christian denominations.

So where do we find Christ, if not only in Christmas? In the hearts of believing Christians. In the Word (Holy Scripture). In the Eucharist, where we have Christ; Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. And finally in the validly ordained Priest or Bishop when he celebrates the Mass where Christ comes to us in the Eucharist.

The Church Jesus founded becomes Him. He remains at the head of the Church. If you doubt this, remember the words spoken by Christ to Saul, on the road to Damascus "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" Saul, later to become St. Paul, was not persecuting Christ, to all appearances. He was persecuting Christians. Christ in His question to Saul, verified that we are Christ's Church, and therefore part of Himself.

Keep Christ in Christmas...but don't leave him there!

Where two or three are gathered...

2010-01-04T13:47:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas!

I would just like to point out a little feature of my blog which you may not have noticed.

On the right hand side, about 4 inches down, there is a 'follow' button. If you are a visitor to my blog and like what you read, you may opt to follow it, by clicking on the button and following the instructions.

It would be lovely to have you!

God Bless

Merry Christmas?

2010-01-02T20:20:00.001-05:00

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Yes, it is still Christmas. According to the Catholic liturgical calendar, Christmas does not actually end until the Baptism of the Lord, which this year falls on January 10th, in Canada anyway.

I have been pondering the phrase "Merry Christmas". It really surprises me that this is the default Christmas greeting. It seems that every year there is some disaster or other that ensures that Christmas will be difficult for a lot of people.

I'm sure each and every one of us knows someone who is having a rough time during this season.

I can think of at least a couple of Christmas tunes that make reference to mixed feelings for the Christmastide...'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas', 'I'll be home for Christmas'...'Blue Christmas'...that one from the movie Polar Express for which I cannot figure out a title...

The Movie "A Christmas Carol" had a very nice ending, but the situations that were portrayed were very likely someone's reality. At that point in England, they were probably many people's reality.

And the reason for the season?

Our Saviour began His earthly life born in a manger...a rack for animal food! This after a long, forced trip for His pregnant mother. They were far from their home, and living in a stable! Were this anything but the entrance of eternity into time, I think this could be classed as a rather inconvenient set-up to say the least. Not really a merry picture.

The pictures we are given as an example of a merry Christmas usually include snow, candles, fireplaces, wrapped gifts in abundance, groups of people enjoying each other's company...

Why is this considered the norm? It occurred to me, as I watched an old cartoon of a very jolly Santa Claus providing a profuse number of toys to a house that contained many more than three children, that this was almost cruel, especially given that the cartoon dated from the early 1930s. That would be during the Depression, no?

Whence the merriment?

We should all be joyous when we think of Christmas. This is when Christ came to humanity. Emmanuel means "God with Us".

Did joy somehow become confused with merriment? I do not see anything wrong with being merry at Christmas, if we can manage it. I do think that joy and thankfulness should be what we strive for first.

Leaving the Lexicon

2009-12-08T21:33:00.001-05:00

Happy Advent!

Advent, the time leading up to Christmas, has become a bit of a hazard these past few years. All the talk about Merry Christmas vs. Happy Holidays or someother such tripe, Nativity Scene or Nativity Unseen, to shop or not to shop...the list goes on.

Recently, I have been searching out Youtube clips of classic cartoons. These are the ones I remember watching on TV as a child, but would have been seen by a previous generation, or two, on the Big Screen...Steamboat Willy, Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig and many others. I am collecting these for my little fellow to watch, instead of the mind-numbing fare that passes for entertainment these days. Actually, he no longer sees much of that anyway as we disconnected our satellite service last summer.

These cartoons are generally not politically correct on many levels, but some of them are just fun, without attempting social engineering, or some deliberate teaching. So I am weeding out the most violent of the lot, as our son gets rather overstimulated, and letting him enjoy the variety of music, characters, animation (some of which is in...horrors!...black and white!) and energy levels.

One thing I have noticed is how common were religious references in these cartoons whether it is a character saying grace before a meal, or such adaptations as referring to a character "casting his shortnin' bread upon the water" (from "The Whale Who Sang at the Met" pt. 1). The Christmas cartoons often had pictures of people attending church services, and singing real Christmas carols (ie. religious carols!).

Television is nearly devoid of any respectful and/or accurate religious references anymore. Thus goes society. But I think that's been said before.

A couple of years ago, I met a young woman who came to my booth at a local market. She saw my display of Catholic books and came in to share a divine intervention (as she saw it) and ask about prayer.

In talking to this gal, I realized she had no idea what I was referring when I spoke. At all. I asked if she knew the Our Father? Nope. Did she know who Mary was? Nope. I went more basic, and she was still lost. This was a challenge indeed!

My husband and I went to speak to her at her home a short time later. I'm afraid we left them bored and befuddled. We did, however answer her one direct request. When I first met her at my booth, she pointed to a Rosary and said "I want to learn to pray THAT."

I think of her often when I hear about efforts to expunge the last vestiges of public Christianity. I believe that we are developing a language that will have no common reference points, if we haven't already.

Will anyone understand if someone refers to shaking the dust from ones sandals? Going up a mountain? Meeting ones Maker? Casting bread upon the water? The Pearly Gates? Going to Hell? Pearls before swine?

I know there are many others, too.

I think this is posing a huge challenge with regards to evangelisation.

I'm not sure I'm ready!

Projected Blog Improvement!

2009-12-03T20:40:00.001-05:00

Happy Advent!

I am working on finishing a book I started several years ago.

I am hoping that the work I do on this blog is practice for larger projects. One of the problems I have been having, and I'm sure my astute readers have picked up on this but have been too polite to say anything, is knowing when to (or not to) capitalize religious terms like baptism, sacrament, mass...

I know I am not consistent in this. I have had nothing to refer to.

I think I have made a discovery which will help me tighten this up. It is called the CNS Stylebook on Religion.

It looks like a gem that should be in every Catholic resource library.

It contains Catholic terms as well as other religious terms and organizations, historical notes.

The only thing holding me back from ordering it right now is my inquiry regarding a Canadian equivalent.

So maybe someday I'll know if it's Mass or mass...

God Bless

How are we Valuable?

2009-11-19T20:04:00.000-05:00

Hi Folks

Over this past summer, we changed our telephone and internet carrier to a local company who could also save us a considerable amount of money.

The company we jilted (or at least that seems to be how they see it) has sent lovely cards telling me how much they miss me. We have also been getting phone calls.

I received another one today. As soon as the caller got to "We have a special offer..." I cut him off and told him I was not interested. He asked me why.

I told him that if they valued my patronage so much, they should have given me these fabulous offers while I was still their customer. He actually admitted I had a point. No kidding.

It is not like that with God.

God loves all His creation. He loves us more than we can imagine. We are made, after all, in His image and likeness. He also loves us enough to let us go, if that is what we choose. Look what happened to the Angels who proclaimed that they would not serve. They went to Hell.

Jesus shows us this in the Gospel of John. When He proclaimed that it was necessary to eat His flesh and drink His blood, many of his followers said that He was speaking harshly and that they would no longer follow Him. Jesus let them go.

We can also be confident that if we wish to repent, while we are alive, and come back to God, He will take us back. We see this expressed in the Parable of the Prodigal Son in the Gospel of Luke.

In the latter case, we are told that a party was held to celebrate the return of the lost son. Would this actually make up for what is lost during our time without God's grace?

I am fairly certain that God longs for us, if we choose to be away from him. Parents long for children. The woman who loses the gold coin, again in the Gospel of Luke, turns the house upside down until she finds it. So does the shepherd search for the lost sheep.

God will not usually hound us though. Or perhaps He IS hounding us...but sin clouds our perceptions and we do not hear. Hmmm.

I told the telephone company to leave us alone. I cannot imagine that I would want to do that to God...ever. But if I did, I think He would honour my bad choice and leave me to my own devices.

Fortunately, when I changed phone companies, most of the devices stayed exactly the same.

God Bless

All Hallow's Eve

2009-10-31T20:07:00.002-04:00

My Friend S sent this to me, I think it appeared in their church bulletin.

I hope the authors don't mind me borrowing it. I thought it was very good.

(In this weekly column, Tom and April Hoopes share family-friendly ways of
observing the liturgical year and celebrating the Sunday readings.)

Halloween and All Souls

Last year, we attended our Connecticut parish’s “Holyween” party,
where the kids dressed as saints and Dominican Father Bernard Confer guessed
with astonishing accuracy who each was. This year we’re in Atchison, Kan.,
a town that has a cottage industry of promoting haunted houses.

Catholic parents often debate the merits of Halloween as it’s celebrated
in America today. Is it too macabre? What message does it send?

We will remind the kids that “All Hallows Eve” — the vigil of All
Saints’ Day — dates back to the time the Church took over the Pantheon
in Rome in the 600s. The “gods” were removed from altars which were
reconsecrated to the martyrs. So, on the first “All Hallows Eve,” the
streets of Rome were literally lined with carts of bones — martyrs’
relics. Yes, other pagan practices have been mixed in, but we will focus on
that first mix of skeletons and saints.

We’ll pray to the folks in heaven and celebrate their victory with fun and
candy. And on All Souls’ Day, Nov. 2, we will round out the experience by
visiting a cemetery to start the month of prayer for the dead.

Readings

Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14; Psalm 24:1-6; 1 John 3:1-3; Matthew 5:1-12

Our Take

The beatitudes — today’s Gospel — are more relevant than ever. Let us
count the ways.

1. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of
heaven.”

Those who aren’t poor in spirit — those whose hopes are in wealth,
health or material pleasures — have had a tough year. But those who look
to spiritual realities for fulfillment needn’t be fundamentally disturbed
by market crashes or tough times. Their investments are in good hands.

2. “Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.”

In order to mourn, you have to be sensitive to the value of life. In a world
with 42 million elective abortions each year, this beatitude is as needed as
ever — and as powerful as ever. The most effective new voices in the
pro-life movement are the mothers of aborted children.

3. “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”

To be meek means to allow God’s will to dominate your own will. The meek
don’t abuse the earth; and the meek don’t see mankind as a blight on the
earth, either. The meek take God’s creation on God’s terms, and truly
inherit the earth by appreciating the beauty of nature and the dignity of
human life.

4. “Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they
will be satisfied.”

“Be nice” is a fine philosophy of life, as far as it goes, but it
doesn’t go far enough. To “hunger and thirst for righteousness” means
to refuse to tolerate the destruction of social values. Such a hunger
won’t stand for the destruction of marriage and the family, pornography,
embryo-killing research, or other intrinsic evils. However …

5. “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”

“Not tolerating evil” can’t mean “rejecting those we disagree
with.” Christ said, “Forgive them, for they know not what they do.” We
can have that same merciful attitude toward sinners — especially since
we’re sinners, too — and seek to better them, not just denounce them.

6. “Blessed are the pure of heart, for they will see God.”

Pope John Paul II said to be “pure of heart” is to see the true value of
other people, and not make them objects. People describe how a glance from a
John Paul or Mother Teresa made them feel like they were in the presence of
something great. If we are pure of heart, we’ll see Christ in those we
meet — and that will help them see God, too.

7. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.”

Ours is an age where escalating violence is seen as an answer to problems.
Though self-defense is sometimes necessary, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope John
Paul II both pointed out that even that necessary and noble war, World War
II, left Europe on a path to secularization and the culture of death.
Solidarity, not war, is the path to peace.

8. “Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for
theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.”

There are today more persecuted Christians than ever before — Christians
are being harassed and killed in India, Africa, the Philippines, China,
Myanmar, Iraq, the Middle East, and on and on. We can pray for the
persecuted — and pray to the martyrs of our time for the building of the
Kingdom of heaven on earth.

—This article originally appeared in our sister publication, the National
Catholic Register.

Natural Family Planning Misunderstanding?

2009-10-20T19:31:00.001-04:00

Hi Folks

Pondering again.

The issue came up in one of Danielle Bean's blog articles...in the comments at least. More recently it has come up in an email group to which I belong.

Are 'poor' (as in financially challenged) people being irresponsible if they do not actively use NFP to limit their family's size, as opposed to leaving the whole thing up to God?

First, I will define a couple of terms:

Natural Family Planning is a method of fertility awareness by which a couple may choose to space, or to avoid, a pregnancy, by avoiding sexual relations during the woman's fertile period. This method is approved by the Roman Catholic Church for married couples who for serious reasons (ie not to be able to afford a bigger boat) wish to space children. The method properly used is sort of like saying to God "We'd rather not have a child (right now) but we're open to your will."

Another licit option for Catholics in family planning is to simply let God decide when and whether babies arrive. By inference, I call this 'hands off' family planning. Which is not to be confused with complete abstainance.

Complete abstainance can also be practiced by a couple who feel they must not have any children.

What I have read is what I previously stated: if a family is materially poor, they are being irresponsible if they do not actively avoid pregnancy, and just allow God to decide if and when they become pregnant.

I do not understand this line of thinking. If the proper mindset for the use of NFP is to be open to life, even if it should begin when we would rather it did not, we are leaving it, ultimately, up to God.

If a couple chooses to leave it entirely up to God, who knows everything, how is this being less responsible than if they signalled God that be co-creators at this time is not desireable, but ultimately agreed to follow his will?

I think that the irresponsibility argument is removing credit from God to be able to decide when and where he wishes to begin a life. God has been known to work around contraception when he's forced to. There was even a case of a Virgin becoming pregnant...but God asked permission of her to do this!

A life begun is always a blessed event, regardless of the circumstances of conception.

I do not disagree with the use of NFP. I wonder though that those who demand its use from certain sectors of the population are not really wanting to demand abstainance? This seems to me to be one step away from demanding sterilization.

No one has been able to explain the irresponsibility argument to me in a way that does not end up sounding like "I don't wish to care for the children of poor people". Okay, but what if God decides that these poor people should have children? Is it not possible that we are being called to assist these people?

So, explain it to me, please!

God Bless

St. Teresa, Pray for Us

2009-10-19T11:12:00.000-04:00

Hello again

I've had one of those weeks where I feel God is trying to send a message.

Early in the week, I picked up a copy of St. Teresa of Avila's "Vida", her autobiography. I am not so sure about the translation, as it seems to have some 'new age' potential...but I've paid for it, so I'll read it.

I neglected to remember that her feast day was October 15, which coincides quite well with my starting the book!

I have read some of this Doctor of the Church's work before. I think I may have an affinity with Carmelite spirituality.

This Sunday's homily brought a mention of St. Teresa, which I think is the first time I've heard her mentioned at Mass. Apparently Father is a fan of hers as well. I was pleased to find this out.

During Mass, I noticed the presence of a friend whom I have not seen in several years, as she moved away. Four years back, she borrowed a book from me, St. Teresa's "Interior Castle". When I went to give her a hug after Mass, she said "I have something for you!" It was my book!

So I've come to the conclusion that it is time for me to do some more reading of Saint Teresa. I don't think it could be more obvious.

God Bless

Reflections on the Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

2009-09-23T09:40:00.000-04:00

Good Morning

As I was lying in bed last night, not sleeping (if anyone cares to say a prayer for me regarding this vicious worsening of my chronic insomnia troubles, I would be greatly appreciative) I was thinking about children.

Last Sunday's Gospel, Mark 9:30-37 was about people receiving a child in Jesus' name, also receiving Jesus.

Father delivered a delightful homily which was a bit of a variation on what is often presented as the message of this Gospel passage.

One often hears that this reading is talking about being open and welcoming as a child is in order to receive Jesus. Father's perspective was that it might also mean having a good sense of humility. After all, welcoming a child is not always convenient...his illustration of this was humourous and, to me, familiar. Parents go into the room of a child who was sleeping only to discover that the child has been quietly creating a disaster which can sometimes be unsanitary. Think: paint by numbers, where the only number is "2". Having to deal with child disasters can happen when one is all set to go out for an evening. I envision an old "Family Circus" cartoon which shows the mum, dressed up in a long elegant evening gown, plunging out a plugged toilet and opining "For this, I went to college?". Parents must be willing to change plans at a moment's notice.

I suppose that welcoming a child could also go back to the child's very birth...or conception.

I had another thought about children and faith. We who have been involved in religious education have often heard, or said ourselves, the importance of "understanding" in preparation for sacraments. This is particularly said for First Communion. The implication is that a child shouldn't be too young.

I would first ask if any of us really understand what it is that happens during the confection of the Eucharist (Communion). By some God-powered miracle, Jesus becomes the bread which we later consume.

But, to a young child, everything is a miracle and most things are hard to explain. How does a car work? Why does rain fall from the sky... sometimes even when the sun is shining?

Might it not be that a child is actually more likely to "understand" what is happening when Jesus gives His body to us in the Eucharist? After all, a youngster's mind may not yet be bound by the rules life imposes...laws of nature and all that.

As I think a little more, I realize that my thoughts also focus on humility. We grown-ups often do not like be taught. We think we know it all already. It can be hard for us to accept miracles; things we cannot explain or understand. Children are accustomed to not understanding things, so they accept what they are told by people they trust. It is sad if we grow and become jaded to truth. The Gospel of Luke 18:16 comes to mind.

We should become like children, to accept and be accepted by Jesus. For such as these is the Kingdom of Heaven!

Comment worthy?

2009-09-15T20:14:00.001-04:00

HI Folks

I have recently been informed that I had created no way for people to comment on my blog.

I have attempted to remedy this so please let me know (I know some people have my email address) if you are still not able to comment.

There is a little pencil at the end of the posts...beside the envelope for emails.

Thanks!

Behold Your Mother

2009-09-10T19:41:00.004-04:00

Well, I've again been reading "Plain Reasons Against Joining the Church of Rome" by Richard Littledale.

Some of the arguments (and we still hear this ALL the time) made against the Church are with regards to our veneration of Mary, Mother of God.

I think I've already discussed some of our treatment of Mary, but this time I am going to address our belief that Mary is not only the mother of Jesus, but also the mother of all believers.

In the Gospel of John (19: 26-27) Jesus, while dying on the cross, speaks to the Beloved Disciple (John)and tells him that Mary is his mother. He turns to Mary and tells her that John is her son.

This is a practical move. If Mary had children other than Jesus, and the Church states that she did not, Jewish law would insist that she be cared for by them. John was now tasked with her care, in lieu of other family for her.

The Church also teaches that this gives Mary to all of us as our mother. For me, this is not a hard thing to get my mind around.

We are told that the Church is the Body of Christ. After all, we do Christ's work in the world. Mary is the mother of Jesus. Jesus is the Christ. We are the Body of Christ. Therefore, is not Mary our mother, too? I do not see where the problem lies.

Mr. Littledale's book is giving me much fodder for research. He mentions names and makes arguments which I have not heard before. Some of his arguments are based on fallacy, which amazes me for someone who was apparently a lawyer. Perhaps saving souls entitles one to fabricate a little? Nah.

I have just found the reply which John Henry Cardinal Newman wrote to the work of Littledale and look forward to reading it.

(edited insertion) The article I linked to above is not actually by Cardinal Newman. Sorry about that. It would seem I have not yet found his article, if it even exists, as other sources indicate it should! (end of insertion)

I am not yet familiar with Newman's works (shame shame!) but from a quick reading of the introduction of the reply, I think I will enjoy his style. Already it reminds me a little of GK Chesterton.

I spoke to my father a couple of weeks ago. He gave me "Plain Reasons" a couple of years ago when I saw it on his bookshelf. I have since found out that this book was from the library of his father, who was never Catholic. This really piqued my interest.

Kinda gives me a connection to the Oxford Movement!

God Bless

Motherhood and the Environment

2009-09-04T18:39:00.001-04:00

Good Evening

It occurred to me today that stay-at-home motherhood might be beneficial to the I environment.

I hope no one goes "Duh" at this personal revelation. Maybe Ihaven't been paying attention.

So, where has this come from?

Well, I was collecting clothes off the clothesline, which I've been using as much as possible during our wet Summer. Why do I do this? Well, it saves money by not using the electricity that the dryer would. I have the time to do this becase I do not work outside the home.

We don't have a vegetable garden for a lot of reasons, but next year I would like to try a small one. Maybe we'll get it right this time! I do know that other people have gardens. I do not know anyone who keeps a big garden while also working full-time. Growing our own veggies would save money and also provide produce which would, hopefully, be of better quality than that which we've been invited to purchase this season. If we grow things we can preserve, we can eat some of the produce through the Winter, too, when food is even more expensive.

We will not be able to produce all our own food, but the time I can put into growing our own food will help.

How is this an environmentally sensitive practice? Well, I would not likely be using chemicals, so that footprint would be smaller. There would be no fuel involved in shipping the food. If I preserve, the food will quite possibly end up in glass bottles which have been used and re-used many times.

I can often go days between trips into town. If I worked, I might need another vehicle, and would definitely be burning more fuel getting to work and back.

As an at-home mum, I have the "luxury" of choosing cloth diapers, cloth dinner napkins, and rags instead of paper towels, without having to worry about the increased laundry load.

I also think I can get by with a smaller wardrobe, so fewer resources used there, too.

This would be stewardship, I think. Not only can I care for my family in person, but I can use fewer of the resources God has given us.

That many of these practices also save money, it helps extend the single income on which we rely. Money saved not earned is money not taxed.

I realize that working or not working is not a choice some have the option of making for themselves, and the Church does not, as far as I know, have a position on this. But I think the ideas I present might be new to some people.

God Bless.

2009-08-14T08:57:00.001-04:00

A Song for Nagasaki by Paul Glynn

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book was a rare gem. It is the story of the life of Takashi Nagai, who becomes a Catholic Christian. His faith survives and maintains him through the bombing Nagasaki, which kills his wife, who dies with a rosary in her hand, and ultimately brings about Nagai's death. Aside from Nagai's personal story, we learn of the history of Christians in and around Nagasaki. The first time I read this book, it had been loaned to me with strict admonition for its return. My father had been led to hunt it down (it was out of print) and purchase it after reading a borrowed copy. I ultimately hunted down and purchased a copy myself. I just learned that this book has been reprinted! Thank you Ignatius Press.

Please read an earlier entry on this book here: Catholicanuck: Where did the Summer go?

View all my reviews >>

A Perspective on Purgatory

2009-08-09T15:45:00.004-04:00

I was pondering the other day. I do this from time to time.

I am always amazed at the number of practicing Christian who are on medication for disorders such as depression and anxiety. I say this completely without malice, as I have long been one of these people.

I suppose it could be said that mental/emotional/psychiatric issues aren't substantively different than any other health issue requiring medication. Some Christians will actually tell you that if you really believe in Christ's redemption for us, you will be healed. Catholicism does NOT hold to this. They certainly think that if it is God's will that you be healed, you can be healed of anything.

To me though, depression/anxiety is different. Christians have every reason to hope. We know that we are loved and that God has given us what we need to get to heaven. In the Catholic Church, I think we have it easiest of all. We can seek forgiveness in the sacrament of Confession and know that we have been forgiven, as Jesus speaks the words of absolution to us, through the priest. We have the Church Jesus founded, which has actively been observing and engaging humanity and maintaining the Body of Christ for over 2000 years. Why is it that so many of us fall under the impenetrable clouds of things like depression?

Of course for some, it is a chemical imbalance. To me this would be a bit like someone who has to take a thyroid supplement or insulin in order to make the body function as the body is supposed to function.

For those who do not have a chemical problem it's a bit different.

Our bodies, created before the Fall (that is, Adam and Eve disobeying God and being sent from perfect existence which was the Garden of Eden) were created perfect. When the Fall occurred, we became heir to the sin of Adam, and subject to death.

It came to me the other day that emotional illness, perhaps any illness, is part of the stain of sin.

We can know that we are redeemed. We can know that we are loved. If our 'receptors' for this knowledge are damaged due to sin, our own or someone's to which we have been subject, we can't feel the love and joy the way we were designed to feel it. So we suffer. This also seems to me similar to what happens in illnesses such as diabetes...the body's receptors are damaged, so as not to be properly affected by body chemicals, in this case insulin.

I wonder if this is one of the things with which Purgatory is supposed to affect.

Purgatory is the place for purification before the soul enters heaven. If a person dies in friendship with God, but still maintains some stain of sin, Purgatory is where this imperfection can be dealt with. Scripture tells us that nothing imperfect may enter heaven (Revelation 21:27).

Does everyone enter Purgatory? No. Those who die in a state of mortal sin will go to hell. Some rare souls may actually go directly to heaven because they have perfect contrition and have somehow managed to completely detach from the power of sin AND have had the residual stain of sin removed from their souls.

So what is this stain of sin? You can imagine someone deliberately throwing a rock through a window. Saying sorry is part of the aftermath, which also involves a trip to the confessional. But that does not repair the window, regardless of how truly sorry the rock-thrower may feel.

The needed repair is like the stain of sin. That is what Purgatory removes. We will be tested, as if by fire. Our impurities will be removed.

So, illness is definitely an imperfection. It isn't exactly like sin because it is not (at least not always) directly caused by sin. I don't think any sin of my own caused my arthritis, but it is something I am heir to because of Adam's sin. Will Purgatory remove my arthritis? Depression? I suspect it might.

Chesterton, Renaissence Man

2009-08-01T12:27:00.002-04:00

In the past few years, I have been trying to read and find out more about GK Chesterton. I knew him from a little of his his fictional work. My parents had a copy of "The Man Who was Thursday", which I did not actually read until relatively recently, and some of the Father Brown Mysteries.

What I appreciated immediately was GK's use of language. Although it is frequently challenging, it is rather like dark chocolate to one who loves language.

Chesterton never seemed to leave much doubt about what he meant, but he also was said to have had no enemies. He was masterful at saying exactly what he meant, even about specific individuals with whom he vehemently disagreed (such as George Bernard Shaw, HG Wells, and Bertrand Russell) without alienating people. Wells, Shaw and Russell were all friends of GK.

I recently heard of the debate between Chesterton and Clarence Darrow. A comment after that debate was 'It was billed as the "Clash of the Titans", but only one titan showed up'. It is a pity that no transcript of the debate exists. The media was unanimous in declaring GK the winner. They were debating Genesis and Creation. Darrow was the favourite before the debate, partly, I suspect, because he was the American (the debate took place in New York) but also because he was the "man of science".

What seems to come to me is that Chesterton was one of the last "Renaissance Men". He was knowledgeable about nearly everything. Another comment after the Darrow debate was that GK came off much more the man of science than Darrow.

I suspect that GK's broad topic base is a large reason why we do not read him in schools. He is really tough to categorize. Religion, Politics, Sociology, Fiction, History, Poetry...he's written it all. He is popular among homeschoolers, particularly the Catholic because of his religious writing, because of his exceptional use of language, and reason.

I think it could be said that he sought truth wherever it might be and did not limit himself to just religion or just science or whatever.

I am perhaps bold in labelling GK Chesterton a Renaissance man because so many of the original period chose to disavow religious faith, and to proceed as if religion and reason were incapable of co-existence. Chesterton did not in any way do this. He, like Blaise Paschal, showed handily that the two not only could, but perhaps should co-exist.

I would love to know what he would have thought about the environmental movement.

Reality...

2009-07-30T21:34:00.004-04:00

Our eldest daughter has been home from university for the summer. She watches a lot of television.

I do not watch television, as a rule, and when I do I usually find it intensely irritating after a short time. Our daughter doesn't just watch television. She watches reality television. It makes me shudder.

I do not care much if a person is stuck in a house (with a full quiver, models, or otherwise), on an island, in a kitchen, or trying to lose weight. What is the attraction of having one's every move tracked by a camera team? What is the attraction of watching someone's every move?

As dd watches her "television" on the computer, I am frequently in a position to overhear. Dd cooks supper nearly every night. Her Dell, Pickle, keeps her company.

Listening to these people interact reminds me of rats in a cage that is getting smaller and smaller. Eventually they attack each other. Most of the reality shows I've 'seen' (heard?) have some sort of elimination process involved. These people are competing against each other. Their potential elimination from the competition is just the cage getting smaller.

This is not reality. At least not MY reality. My most frequent contacts are my family. We're a pretty clean living bunch, I think (not that there isn't much room for more virtue!), but I do not want my "moments"...private, inspirational, less-than-proud, paraded for all to see. Not for any money.

I need "dark". God tells us that what we hear in the dark, we must speak in the light (Matt 10:27). To do that, do we not need dark? I am not at all sure that God's "still, small voice" can be heard through the din of so much media.

I've gotten to the point where I like quiet. I don't usually follow the news. It causes me stress, as 98% of what I hear I am incapable of affecting. Sure I can pray about it, and probably should more than I do, but I do not need the details to be able to pray. God already knows all that. i don't need the mental and emotional clutter.

Another note:

As I was walking, alone, tonight (no i-pod or any other such device...although I should have brought my rosary) along the river, it occurred to me that at this time last year, I was confined to a wheelchair. Now, I'm moving on my own, and picking up speed. Several people have called my recovery a miracle. Now, I did have surgery, so the direct source of the healing is no secret, but I still have a powerful sense that God was guiding the process. It is a rare gift to know that there are people who see me as the recipient of a miracle.

I know that along the way, extraordinary steps were taken to get me 'fixed up' in a shorter than usual time. A nurse speaks to a doctor who finally makes the right referral. One specialist attaches a note to the referral to another specialist recommending quick action. And that last specialist, the surgeon, follows the request. And I can walk again. Thank you!

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

A strange evening

2009-07-26T18:08:00.002-04:00

Last night found me driving on black asphalt, in driving rain and total darkness...except for oncoming traffic which merely showed that the detailers at the dealership had put something on the windshield which became smeary when wet. Lovely. It was so dark otherwise that the light from my headlights seemed to be absorbed. We were returning from a neighbouring community where we'd been watching a play.

Then I noticed things on the road. My first thought was leaves...but it was raining hard and the leaves were moving. Shoot! Frogs! They were all over! Avoiding them really wasn't a realistic (or safe) option, unfortunately. Ick.

We even hit a bit of fog, just to complicate things further. Did I mention that I don't like driving at night at the best of times?

What made me think of Scripture though (well, other than little prayers muttered while trying to make out the edges of my lane) was when I was undressing at home. I looked at what should have been my clean blouse. I had only been wearing it a couple of hours.

On the back was a squashed grasshopper. Just a little one. Ick again, but how? Then I remembered. As I approached the exit of the theatre where we'd been watching a play, people were around the door. Some were preparing to go out into the torrent, but someone said "Is it snowing?". It was far too warm to snow, even up here, but there was definitely something, other than rain drops, in the air. I was trying to find my kids so I didn't think anything of it until I got to the car and noticed people standing inside the building staring at the door. After confirming this with my daughter, I realize they were watching the tiny grasshoppers that seemed to be attacking. As I suspected, I found the rest of the insect, and part of another one, pressed into the upholstery of our new vehicle, as we got in for Mass this morning.

My daughter commented that we had better buy a lamb and sprinkle our doorpost or she might be out a brother!

It would seem we went from play to plagues!

God's Big Blue Marble

2009-07-12T17:54:00.001-04:00

Here's something fun a friend sent. My score wasn't great but I will try again!

Heaven and Earth Shall Pass Away...

2009-07-03T19:58:00.003-04:00

...but my words will not pass.

Sayeth the Gospel of Matthew (24:35).

You would never know that this has been pre-ordained by listening to some environmentalists.

Once again, I have been assaulted by all the hype on Global Warming (sorry...yet another season is passing here which is making me wonder if some warming couldn't benefit us). I read more on carbon credits which are, if I understand correctly, a way of buying the ability to burn more resources. I gather if you pay some environmental service enough, you can assume that whatever carbon you produce has been 'covered' or accounted for (environmentally speaking). No guilt, and it seems to me, no responsibility.

Funny...this is how some people see the practice of Indulgences in the Catholic Church. While this is a misunderstanding of Indulgences, the Church has been raked over the coals for years for this supposed practice. Apparently Environmentalists such as Al Gore feel "enviro-dulgences" are okay for them.

Yesterday, I decided that our electric kettle is pretty much done its useful life. This life has been less than five years. It's not really a cost issue that bothers me here. It's that it was such a short life...and now the kettle will be landfill.

Both dh and I remember our mothers having electric kettles that lasted our entire childhoods. This seems to me to be right in line with the first of the three 'r's...REDUCE, reuse,recycle.

I honestly think that this is another sign of the disconnect between the environmental hype and actual practice. The sign would be built in obsolescence. Things seem to be made to wear out. Imagine how much less garbage we'd produce if our furniture, appliances, i-pods, shoes, etc were built to last, rather than being built to break down.

To me, this is at least as nonsensical as by-laws prohibiting line-drying clothing, or the drive of increasingly small families to have increasingly large homes.

Large homes mean large amounts of money. Yet we squawk if we have to pay for something that will last...like a durable kettle.

We really do need to examine our priorities. God's word and graces are freely given. FREELY given and they don't pass away. Yet we refuse them. We balk at what embracing those words causes us to do...shun sin (and no, we are not always successful at that), spend time talking and listening to God, our creator (wow...quiet time! People pay big bucks to find that peace, too). Our Creator has our owner's manual. We run better when we consult the manual and follow its recommendations!

Despite all the doom and gloom environmentalists try to throw our way, they are correct about something. The Earth WILL pass away. Are we ready for what happens next?

God Bless

2009-06-23T18:00:00.001-04:00

Women of the Bible...

2009-05-20T17:43:00.002-04:00

I was recently presenting my books and gift items at a conference of the Catholic Women's League, which is an organization of Canadian Catholic Women.

Over the past three years, I've had the pleasure of presenting my wares at three other conferences for the CWL, representing various districts.

I've been around CWL women most of my life. My mother belonged, even though she was not Catholic (they have associate memberships), as did my future mother-in-law, and many of the adult women I remember from my childhood were also members.

My mother always seemed to enjoy the company of these women although I do not recall, as a child, really knowing why they met.

Over the years, I joined a couple of times. My experiences with the local groups I connected with were not always positive and with time I got the idea that the CWL was really wandering away from what I thought should be their mandate of being Godly women.

I think that, gradually, I am beginning to see that there are many Godly women within the CWL and that they belong there. The speakers I had the pleasure of overhearing (I was not actually inside the meeting room) were very strong in their faith and very encouraging to the women to keep strong in the Faith.

This is consistant with what I have seen at the other conferences.

I do my best to sell only books and materials which support Church teaching. Where there have been other displays present with me, they seem to be in this mind-set as well.

What I sell and am asked about often leaves me in awe of these women.

Celebrating Mass when there is a CWL conference in town is a joy, as the women SING! This time, the Bishop was present. His homily exhorted the women to continue in their mission. He told them they were "engaged". I guess the homily might have been a little long. As the Bishop said "engaged" I happened to look up at the priests. They were not engaged. They appeared to be dozing. Well...it was getting late in the evening!

Keep up the good work, all bible-believing Catholic women out there!

Good Reading

2009-05-03T20:47:00.003-04:00

Happy Easter

I've been trying to do more reading of late, now that the Octave of Easter has passed, and thespian activities in the household have subsided. It irritates me greatly when such things coincide, as they did this year, with opening night happening exactly one week from the beginning of the Triduum.

I like my holidays to be something I can focus on.

At any rate, I have had time for some reading.

One book is a children's book I have been reading to my son. It is a reprint by Sophia Institute Press of a title originally published by Benziger Brothers in 1882, and is called "Bible Stories for Little Children".

This is not the brightly coloured, padded cover type of children's Bible story book, but a little paperback with pen and ink drawings. This does not for a minute deter my son, who is five and developmentally delayed, from wanting to look at them!

The stories are succinct, but what has really grabbed MY interest so far is how brief commentary on some stories is used to point out where Old Testament stories are 'figures' (the word they use) of events in the New Testament.

I think the word we might be more familiar with is 'prefigurement' (perhaps too difficult a word for the younger reader!). Two examples I have come across so far are the passage through the Red Sea being a 'figure' of Baptism, and the manna in the desert being a figure of the Eucharist.

This impresses me greatly and at the same time illustrates how far Catholic Education has suffered. This book, I would guess, was originally intended for children from about 5 years of age and up.

I am a 45 year old Catholic who attended 11 years of Catechism classes, and attended Mass nearly every Sunday of my life, and it was not until about 8 years ago that I learned about the prefigurements in Scripture. IF I was ever taught, I certainly did not retain it! And here is this critical information being given to "Little Children" according to the book's title!

So why are these prefigurements so critical, anyway?

Last week, the Religious Ed session I had with the candidate I am teaching focused on Mary, Mother of God. There is little written about Mary in Sacred Scripture...at least on the surface. If one is aware of the prefigurements and types (another term used for prefigurements of a human sort) presented in the Old Testament, the story of Mary gains depth and breadth, and what is often dismissed as merely tradition by those who put no stock in Sacred Tradition, gains a great deal of credibility.

So, yes, I am pleased with this book and look forward to finishing it. I hope also to be finishing up "Everlasting Man" by GK Chesterton, which I am enjoying greatly, and "Remaining Catholic", published by ACTA which was loaned to me at Mass this morning.

More soon!

God Bless

Ask Sister Mary Martha: Some Bird in a Coal Mine

2009-02-26T16:40:00.000-05:00

Hi Folks

This is a blog I have long enjoyed and have not shared. Enjoy!

Ask Sister Mary Martha: Some Bird in a Coal Mine

Strangers and Sojourners

2009-01-18T19:10:00.002-05:00

Be not silent: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner as all my fathers were. Psalm 38:12

Today I definitely felt more like a stranger than a sojourner in our chapel.

We walked in to be greeted by both our priest and a minister from a Protestant denomination. As it was Christian Unity Week, the minister was to give the Homily.

We could not stay. It is bad enough when Catholic lay-people are called on to give "homilies" but to have clergy from a denomination preach lays us wide open to difficulty. In the past we have had "homilies" which were historically incorrect and insulting. Today's apparently had the congregation learning about three Jesuses (is that how you pluralize God's only son?).

Because of a break in apostolic succession, even ordained ministers of non-Catholic communities are lay-people, as the Church teaches.
What is the big deal about a non-priest giving a "homily"? First, understand that there is a legitimate place for a lay-person to speak at Mass. It is after Communion but before the Final Blessing. THAT is not the problem.

I think people do not understand that being a priest is not just a 'job'...something someone else can pinch hit for. An ordained priest is changed in his essence. His unique tasks are "to teach, to govern, and to sanctify" Homilies are liturgical teaching, just the sacrament of Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick (both of which are also to be performed only by a priest) sanctify.

We are increasingly feeling like strangers in the chapel to which we have belonged for over ten years.

Fortunately, we can always sojourn in the Catholic Church. Even in our imperfect little corner, we can pray and work for change. As long as the Mass remains valid, and that has not been a problem, despite these liturgical shenanigans, Jesus is there: In the Word, in the people, in the priest, and most emminently, in the Eucharist.

If a parish existed, and I don't think it does, which had perfect liturgy, we would still be strangers to an extent. We cannot fully know God when we are on earth. Mass is however, our chance to 'play heaven', according to Pope Benedict XVI in his book The Spirit of the Liturgy. It is there to help us get as close to heaven as we can ever be while on earth. It is, I think, a 'thin place' as is referred to in Celtic lore.

I hope to continue to work (pester?) for change, but sometimes, one gets weary...

2009-01-09T18:12:00.002-05:00

Happy New Year!

I am reflecting on a few things in the early days of 2009.

In Canada, we have only Two Holy days of Obligation. These are non-Sundays (not always the case depending on the holy day) on which Catholics are obligated to attend Mass. Catholics are obliged, under normal circumstances, to attend Mass (where Mass is available to them) on any Sunday as well.

Our two holy days are Christmas Day (or the vigil Midnight Mass or even the anticipated Mass which may happen earlier in the evening of Christmas Eve.) and the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God, which falls on January 1st.

An aside here is that Good Friday is not a Holy Day of obligation because no Mass is celebrated. Easter Sunday is automatically an obligation as it is on a Sunday. As with Christmas, the Vigil Mass fulfills the obligation.

Our January 1st Mass was surprisingly well attended. For very predictable reasons, namely New Year's Eve parties, people often choose to ignore the January 1st obligation.

Perhaps less surprising was that this congregation contained a great number of children. Our chapel tends to be a younger than average congregation due to our military nature, but even for us, this was rather remarkable.

What a joy it was to see these little people bouncing around. I found it reminded me that as they have most of their lives to look forward too, I have a new year to look forward to. Oh, that I should have half their enthusiasm!

One of the not-joyful notes was that one of our parishioners had recently been killed in a military 'situation'. I was very impressed to see his widow and their children at Mass with us that day. To me, this spoke volumes about her faith. So many would hide at a time like this.

It became evident that this remarkable woman was relying on her faith and on the prayers of those around her for strength during what could only be a horrific time...at least from an earthly perspective.

I saw a lot of people looking ahead...to life, to the new year, to a radically changed life. All here were looking to (or were being guided to) Christ as their beacon.

Although in our case I regret that the role of Mary was not really commented on at all, I do think that the Church is wise in declaring January 1 as a day of obligation. What a grand way to start off the New Year!

God Bless

Catholicanuck

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Tale of Two Monasteries (Borrowed from Chant Cafe)

Hope in Everyday Life

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You GO ABP Prendergast

Mayonnaise Sandwiches...a Fate Worse than Death

An Airport Encounter

Tickled Pink!

A deep thought...

Bell Expressvu Plans to drop EWTN Programming

Key to the situation

Wake Me Up for the Parousia

Another excellent Christmas article

What Time is Midnight Mass?

Advent Memories

Condoms and Catholicism

Borrowed: The Story of Halloween

Who is the Pharisee?

Naming Hope

This Canuck is not so happy today.

Catholic Encyclopedia on Socialism

Food for thought.

The Vortex

Marty Haugen, pre-Vatican II style

A Comparison of Masses

Page Turner

Great Big C

Getting older

It's a Strange Strange World

Sweet Violets

Prayer request

Laughter, the Best Medicine?

I think I Caught a Live One...

Rabbi David Aaron: Isn't Humbleness Just Low Self-Esteem?

The Big Picture

The Manhattan Project

Piux XII, Jews and Catholics

Borrowing from Zenit this morning! God Bless

Catholics and Jews Renew Dialogue on Pius XII

Affirm Solidarity With Benedict XVI

Praise Be!

The Importance of the Easter Vigil

WWII and the Church

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Canadian bishop defends Pope, criticizes Archbishop Weakland, New York TimesMarch 30, 2010

Days of Darkness

Ecology of Salvation

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Approaching the Media Critically...VERY Critically

The Roots of Christianity

Spiritual Irresponsibility

Ahhh...Lent

Mercenary Christians

Christian Life: A Study in Plaster

On Pius XII

Food for Thought

Book Review: Abbess of Andalusia

Faith and Reason

Charity and Love

Keeping Christ in Christmas

Where two or three are gathered...

Canadian bishop defends Pope, criticizes Archbishop Weakland, New York Times
March 30, 2010