RIP Warren Zevon.
Sad it takes someone's passing for them to finally be appreciated.
Wednesday, September 10, 2003
Man Visits Fort Wayne in Crate on Cargo Plane
This story obviously raises a lot of security questions, but of more interest to me is that he flew into Fort Wayne on his trek. Fort Wayne has an airport where basically commuter airlines fly in and out of, but large cargo planes. The man in the crate flew in on one of those cargo planes that usually wake me up in the morning about an hour before my alarm goes off.
From CNN.com - Man shipped from New York to Texas in crate - Sep. 10, 2003:
"McKinley shipped himself through cargo carrier Kitty Hawk Inc., which said it was told by the shipping firm, Pilot Air Freight, that the crate was loaded with computer monitors.
The crate, marked as containing computer equipment, was picked up at a company called Metrotech in the Bronx, New York, and driven to John F. Kennedy International Airport, and then to Newark, New Jersey, where it was placed on a Kitty Hawk cargo plane, she said.
'The plane actually went to Buffalo. From Buffalo it went to Fort Wayne, Indiana. There was a change of planes onto another Kitty Hawk cargo plane, and he ended up at DFW [Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport],' Luber said.
He was then driven to the intended address, which was his father's house in De Soto, a suburb 14 miles south of Dallas. "
This story obviously raises a lot of security questions, but of more interest to me is that he flew into Fort Wayne on his trek. Fort Wayne has an airport where basically commuter airlines fly in and out of, but large cargo planes. The man in the crate flew in on one of those cargo planes that usually wake me up in the morning about an hour before my alarm goes off.
From CNN.com - Man shipped from New York to Texas in crate - Sep. 10, 2003:
"McKinley shipped himself through cargo carrier Kitty Hawk Inc., which said it was told by the shipping firm, Pilot Air Freight, that the crate was loaded with computer monitors.
The crate, marked as containing computer equipment, was picked up at a company called Metrotech in the Bronx, New York, and driven to John F. Kennedy International Airport, and then to Newark, New Jersey, where it was placed on a Kitty Hawk cargo plane, she said.
'The plane actually went to Buffalo. From Buffalo it went to Fort Wayne, Indiana. There was a change of planes onto another Kitty Hawk cargo plane, and he ended up at DFW [Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport],' Luber said.
He was then driven to the intended address, which was his father's house in De Soto, a suburb 14 miles south of Dallas. "
Pope Heads Close to Home on 9/11
He'll be very close to Krakow while in Slovakia, can't imagine that he wouldn't want to make the short trip to visit. There has been some kind of death threat issued but not many details there.
From News 8 Austin | 24 Hour Local News | HEADLINES | Death threat made on Pope:
"There's been a death threat made against Pope John Paul as he prepares to go to Slovakia later this week.
The threat was reported Tuesday by a Slovak newspaper. Authorities are confirming the threat but won't elaborate on its nature. They say they don't want to say anything that could help any would-be attackers.
The pope arrives in Slovakia Thursday. Thousands of police officers and guards will be on duty during the four-day visit."
He'll be very close to Krakow while in Slovakia, can't imagine that he wouldn't want to make the short trip to visit. There has been some kind of death threat issued but not many details there.
From News 8 Austin | 24 Hour Local News | HEADLINES | Death threat made on Pope:
"There's been a death threat made against Pope John Paul as he prepares to go to Slovakia later this week.
The threat was reported Tuesday by a Slovak newspaper. Authorities are confirming the threat but won't elaborate on its nature. They say they don't want to say anything that could help any would-be attackers.
The pope arrives in Slovakia Thursday. Thousands of police officers and guards will be on duty during the four-day visit."
Tuesday, September 9, 2003
Archbishop Dolan Responds to Optional Celibacy Letter
I greatly admire Archbishop Dolan. I've included one paragraph that I thought was especially good because it focuses on Jesus. Archbishop Dolan isn't afraid to bring prayer and Christ to the forefront of any discussion.
Read the whole letter. It is a lot more balanced than the usual defense of celibacy and it is a reaffirmation of the current practice in the church. The Archbishop does a great job of affirming all of his priests and working not to allow this incident to drive a wedge between them.
From
Zenit News Agency - The World Seen From Rome:
"The church, of course, listens intently to many voices, and loud voices are not lacking today. She listens to petitions, committees, authors, advocacy groups, even columnists and editorial writers in newspapers, all free with advice. But she first and foremost listens to Jesus, His Word, and, as my teacher and mentor Msgr. John Tracy Ellis used to say, she listens, 'Not to the voice of today as much as to the voice of the centuries.' That voice -- of saints, scholars, and faithful of the past -- speaks eloquently in praise of celibate chastity for priests, a praise admirably echoed by the signers of the letter as well. "
I greatly admire Archbishop Dolan. I've included one paragraph that I thought was especially good because it focuses on Jesus. Archbishop Dolan isn't afraid to bring prayer and Christ to the forefront of any discussion.
Read the whole letter. It is a lot more balanced than the usual defense of celibacy and it is a reaffirmation of the current practice in the church. The Archbishop does a great job of affirming all of his priests and working not to allow this incident to drive a wedge between them.
From
Zenit News Agency - The World Seen From Rome:
"The church, of course, listens intently to many voices, and loud voices are not lacking today. She listens to petitions, committees, authors, advocacy groups, even columnists and editorial writers in newspapers, all free with advice. But she first and foremost listens to Jesus, His Word, and, as my teacher and mentor Msgr. John Tracy Ellis used to say, she listens, 'Not to the voice of today as much as to the voice of the centuries.' That voice -- of saints, scholars, and faithful of the past -- speaks eloquently in praise of celibate chastity for priests, a praise admirably echoed by the signers of the letter as well. "
Popular Catholic Writer Father John Powell Accused of Sex Abuse
FromNBC5.com - News - Popular Priest Faces Lawsuit:
A popular Chicago priest was slapped with a lawsuit Monday as charges of sexual abuse surfaced.
NBC5's Anna Davlantes reported on Monday that four women have come forward, claiming Rev. John Powell (pictured, center), a Jesuit priest, abused them when they were teenagers. Davlantes further reported that Powell is a popular professor at Loyola University and is an accomplished lecturer and writer. Powell, Davlantes reported, is the second-best selling "Christian" author in U.S. history.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages from the Jesuits and Powell, Davlantes reported.
FromNBC5.com - News - Popular Priest Faces Lawsuit:
A popular Chicago priest was slapped with a lawsuit Monday as charges of sexual abuse surfaced.
NBC5's Anna Davlantes reported on Monday that four women have come forward, claiming Rev. John Powell (pictured, center), a Jesuit priest, abused them when they were teenagers. Davlantes further reported that Powell is a popular professor at Loyola University and is an accomplished lecturer and writer. Powell, Davlantes reported, is the second-best selling "Christian" author in U.S. history.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages from the Jesuits and Powell, Davlantes reported.
Funny No One Makes This Connection
Remember late last year and again earlier this year when Bishop Weigan publicly confronted Governor Gray Davis? Now, less than a year later, Davis is about to be recalled as governor. I know there are other reasons but to the person of faith this raises an interesting question what would be the real effect if more bishops took to task those who wear the name "Catholic" and then publicly oppose the teachings of the Catholic Church?
From National Catholic Register:
"The message is blunt: Abortion hurts women and is the direct killing of children, and any politician who promotes such a heinous thing shouldn't receive Communion.
That's what Sacramento, Calif., Bishop William Weigand said to Gov. Gray Davis.
But Davis said he's going to continue to receive Communion anyway.
Bishop Weigand repeated his opinion twice: Once in a pro-life Mass marking the 30th anniversary of Roe v. Wade and once in an interview with the Register on Jan. 27.
In the Mass, Bishop Weigand explained that one cannot be Catholic and pro-abortion.
'I have to say clearly that anyone - politician or otherwise - who thinks it is acceptable for a Catholic to be pro-abortion is in very great error, puts his or her soul at risk and is not in good standing with the Church,' Bishop Weigand said. 'Such a person should have the integrity to acknowledge this and choose of his own volition to abstain from receiving holy Communion until he has a change of heart.'
Davis has taken exception to Bishop Weigand's statement and says he will neither stop taking Communion nor renounce legalized abortion."
Remember late last year and again earlier this year when Bishop Weigan publicly confronted Governor Gray Davis? Now, less than a year later, Davis is about to be recalled as governor. I know there are other reasons but to the person of faith this raises an interesting question what would be the real effect if more bishops took to task those who wear the name "Catholic" and then publicly oppose the teachings of the Catholic Church?
From National Catholic Register:
"The message is blunt: Abortion hurts women and is the direct killing of children, and any politician who promotes such a heinous thing shouldn't receive Communion.
That's what Sacramento, Calif., Bishop William Weigand said to Gov. Gray Davis.
But Davis said he's going to continue to receive Communion anyway.
Bishop Weigand repeated his opinion twice: Once in a pro-life Mass marking the 30th anniversary of Roe v. Wade and once in an interview with the Register on Jan. 27.
In the Mass, Bishop Weigand explained that one cannot be Catholic and pro-abortion.
'I have to say clearly that anyone - politician or otherwise - who thinks it is acceptable for a Catholic to be pro-abortion is in very great error, puts his or her soul at risk and is not in good standing with the Church,' Bishop Weigand said. 'Such a person should have the integrity to acknowledge this and choose of his own volition to abstain from receiving holy Communion until he has a change of heart.'
Davis has taken exception to Bishop Weigand's statement and says he will neither stop taking Communion nor renounce legalized abortion."
Archbishop Curtis Says Archdiocese Will No Longer Provide Priests for Girls and Boys Town
From Omaha.com:
"Many questions remain unanswered, including Peter's immediate future as executive director. Will the archbishop reassign him to another post? Will Peter seek a leave of absence from the archdiocese to remain in his job, and would Curtiss grant it?
Peter, who turns 69 in November, wants to stay. The board apparently wants him to remain, at least for the foreseeable future, until embarking on a national search for his successor.
A Girls and Boys Town leader told me over the weekend that he was certain that Peter would remain as executive director for at least a couple of years. But who knows? This is a developing story.
Peter was out of town Monday. Archbishop Curtiss said he would respond to questions after consulting with advisers - and with Father Peter. "
Father Val Peter is the author of a very good book on spirituality that is a quick read:
From Omaha.com:
"Many questions remain unanswered, including Peter's immediate future as executive director. Will the archbishop reassign him to another post? Will Peter seek a leave of absence from the archdiocese to remain in his job, and would Curtiss grant it?
Peter, who turns 69 in November, wants to stay. The board apparently wants him to remain, at least for the foreseeable future, until embarking on a national search for his successor.
A Girls and Boys Town leader told me over the weekend that he was certain that Peter would remain as executive director for at least a couple of years. But who knows? This is a developing story.
Peter was out of town Monday. Archbishop Curtiss said he would respond to questions after consulting with advisers - and with Father Peter. "
Father Val Peter is the author of a very good book on spirituality that is a quick read:
Why You Should Read Luke Timothy Johnson's New Book
First Amy has a wonderful post over at
open book:
"But doesn't this bulletin notice scream 'Miracle of Sharing?' I mean - my experience as a religious ed coordinator tells me very definitely that what adult Catholics want, more than anything else, is answers, and they live with this fantastic hope that God has revealed answers, through Scripture and Tradition. To suggest that 'there is no final answer' to the question of who Jesus's identity is absurd and not Catholic, and not even Christian. It is a shabby god in whom I have no interest who leaves us bereft, with no answers.
And ultimately, those who fall back on this technique for 'teaching' are showing, in the end, how stupid they are. They don't have the knowledge or skills to be able to explain the Creeds - they don't understand them in context, they're not smart enough to be able to elucidate them so that they are comprehensible and relevant to modern sensibilities...so they throw up their hands and say, 'Discuss, class.'"
She's right and I would say that the above average Catholic has little understanding of what the Creed says we believe. The Catechism is based on the Creed and it is a reliable source of belief but it is based on a presumption of belief. Luke Timothy Johnson's new book points out that the norm for Scripture interpretation and belief is the Creed and he lays out a great presentation of the Creed and why we "modern" just don't get it.
First Amy has a wonderful post over at
open book:
"But doesn't this bulletin notice scream 'Miracle of Sharing?' I mean - my experience as a religious ed coordinator tells me very definitely that what adult Catholics want, more than anything else, is answers, and they live with this fantastic hope that God has revealed answers, through Scripture and Tradition. To suggest that 'there is no final answer' to the question of who Jesus's identity is absurd and not Catholic, and not even Christian. It is a shabby god in whom I have no interest who leaves us bereft, with no answers.
And ultimately, those who fall back on this technique for 'teaching' are showing, in the end, how stupid they are. They don't have the knowledge or skills to be able to explain the Creeds - they don't understand them in context, they're not smart enough to be able to elucidate them so that they are comprehensible and relevant to modern sensibilities...so they throw up their hands and say, 'Discuss, class.'"
She's right and I would say that the above average Catholic has little understanding of what the Creed says we believe. The Catechism is based on the Creed and it is a reliable source of belief but it is based on a presumption of belief. Luke Timothy Johnson's new book points out that the norm for Scripture interpretation and belief is the Creed and he lays out a great presentation of the Creed and why we "modern" just don't get it.
Pope-Hopes for Peace Fell with Twin Towers
From Reuters AlertNet:
"'In a few days we will be commemorating the tragic attack on the Twin Towers in New York,' he said in a message to the annual meeting of the internationally renowned Catholic peace group Sant'Egidio.
'Unfortunately, it seems that many hopes for peace collapsed along with the Towers,' he said in the message released by the Vatican on Monday."
From Reuters AlertNet:
"'In a few days we will be commemorating the tragic attack on the Twin Towers in New York,' he said in a message to the annual meeting of the internationally renowned Catholic peace group Sant'Egidio.
'Unfortunately, it seems that many hopes for peace collapsed along with the Towers,' he said in the message released by the Vatican on Monday."
September 11th is D-Day for Terry Schiavo
From EPIVALOTHANASIA:
Latest News From Ground Zero
Contributing editor Pamela Hennessy of the Terri Schindler-Schiavo Foundation brigns us the latest news from Ground Zero in the fight to save Terri:
As you may already know, a hearing is scheduled for Thursday, September 11, 2003, at the courthouse in Clearwater, Florida. This hearing is to be at 10.00am (GMT -5) and, at that time, Judge Greer is expected to schedule a date when Terri Schindler-Schiavo's feeding tube will be removed. When that is done, Terri will die from dehydration and/or starvation. Though the attorney representing Terri's husband, Michael Schiavo, contends that this is a peaceful and painless death, the truth is that Terri will be made to suffer tremendously. You can read more here.
From EPIVALOTHANASIA:
Latest News From Ground Zero
Contributing editor Pamela Hennessy of the Terri Schindler-Schiavo Foundation brigns us the latest news from Ground Zero in the fight to save Terri:
As you may already know, a hearing is scheduled for Thursday, September 11, 2003, at the courthouse in Clearwater, Florida. This hearing is to be at 10.00am (GMT -5) and, at that time, Judge Greer is expected to schedule a date when Terri Schindler-Schiavo's feeding tube will be removed. When that is done, Terri will die from dehydration and/or starvation. Though the attorney representing Terri's husband, Michael Schiavo, contends that this is a peaceful and painless death, the truth is that Terri will be made to suffer tremendously. You can read more here.
Monday, September 8, 2003
Sad News-Warren Zevon Dies
I was just thinking a few days ago how he was given only a few months to live almost a year ago--it seemed like he was beating the odds.
From CNN.com - Singer Warren Zevon dead at 56:
A lifelong smoker until quitting several years ago, Zevon announced in September 2002 that he had been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer and had only months to live. He spent much of that time visiting with his two grown children and working on a final album.
Zevon died in his sleep Sunday at his home, publicist Carise Yatter said.
I was just thinking a few days ago how he was given only a few months to live almost a year ago--it seemed like he was beating the odds.
From CNN.com - Singer Warren Zevon dead at 56:
A lifelong smoker until quitting several years ago, Zevon announced in September 2002 that he had been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer and had only months to live. He spent much of that time visiting with his two grown children and working on a final album.
Zevon died in his sleep Sunday at his home, publicist Carise Yatter said.
Today is the Feast of the Birth of Mary
Here is a link to hearing AVE VERUM Corpus Natum de Maria Virgine chanted. The prayer composed by a pope at one time was recited by the faithful during the elevation at Mass as a way of contemplating the true presence of Jesus.
Here is the prayer in Latin and then in English:
AVE VERUM Corpus
Natum de Maria Virgine:
Vere passum, immolatum
In cruce pro homine:
Cuius latus perforatum
Fluxit aqua et sanguine:
Esto nobis praegustatum
Mortis in examine.
HAIL, true Body, truly born Of the Virgin Mary mild Truly offered, wracked and torn, On the Cross for all defiled, From Whose love-pierced, sacred side Flowed Thy true Blood's saving tide:
Be a foretaste sweet to me In my death's great agony.
Here is a link to hearing AVE VERUM Corpus Natum de Maria Virgine chanted. The prayer composed by a pope at one time was recited by the faithful during the elevation at Mass as a way of contemplating the true presence of Jesus.
Here is the prayer in Latin and then in English:
Natum de Maria Virgine:
Vere passum, immolatum
In cruce pro homine:
Cuius latus perforatum
Fluxit aqua et sanguine:
Esto nobis praegustatum
Mortis in examine.
HAIL, true Body, truly born Of the Virgin Mary mild Truly offered, wracked and torn, On the Cross for all defiled, From Whose love-pierced, sacred side Flowed Thy true Blood's saving tide:
Be a foretaste sweet to me In my death's great agony.
Is bin Laden the 'Mahdi'?
The Hadith predicts the rise of a messianic figure toward the end of time, interestingly also the reappearance of Jesus. Shows in some way how Islam captured some of the teachings of Arius that were prevalent in Arabia during the time of the Prophet. Anyway World Net Daily reports that Bin Laden might see himself as this "enlightened one" who will lead the Islamic people in a fight against the infidel and if that is true how that changes the type of war that the US faces.
From WorldNetDaily:
"If bin Ladin – or some other Islamist leader – were to declare himself the Mahdi, should that make a difference to U.S. policy-makers? Yes.
If the claim were believable to the Islamic world, then the U.S. could no longer claim to be fighting terrorism alone. Indeed, it would become a global religious conflict. "
The Hadith predicts the rise of a messianic figure toward the end of time, interestingly also the reappearance of Jesus. Shows in some way how Islam captured some of the teachings of Arius that were prevalent in Arabia during the time of the Prophet. Anyway World Net Daily reports that Bin Laden might see himself as this "enlightened one" who will lead the Islamic people in a fight against the infidel and if that is true how that changes the type of war that the US faces.
From WorldNetDaily:
"If bin Ladin – or some other Islamist leader – were to declare himself the Mahdi, should that make a difference to U.S. policy-makers? Yes.
If the claim were believable to the Islamic world, then the U.S. could no longer claim to be fighting terrorism alone. Indeed, it would become a global religious conflict. "
Strong Words for the Week
Times Against Humanity gives a survey of the "strong words for the week"--a review of Catholic commentary. He makes me sound pretty good in the post for September 4th. Thanks!
Times Against Humanity gives a survey of the "strong words for the week"--a review of Catholic commentary. He makes me sound pretty good in the post for September 4th. Thanks!
Sunday, September 7, 2003
Cafeteria Catholicism and the Canonization of Sin
I thought about entitling this bit "let he who is without sin cast the first stone" but thought that I'd better wait until now to state that, because what I'm about to say is really nothing more than that I am a sinner, and believe me I'm reminded of it every time I open my mouth. I know that uncharitbable things that I say often are sinful and I sincerely repent of having said them. But I think that even as I say that, I also realize that too often I just excuse my behavior or blame it on something else.
Such is the modern attitude toward sin. Although, I think it goes even further than excusing it or explaining it away. The real issue that we face now is that people have gone to the point of calling what is clearly sinful behavior--"good".
I've been thinking it about this for some time, how even the most conservative of Catholics has stopped admitting that they are sinners and their are some elements of Jesus' teaching that they find difficult to accept because of this basic "disorder" that exists in all of us no matter what our idealogy. We all come the light of Christ with our "blindspots" and we say right along with the most liberal of Catholics, "I confess to Almighty God and to you my brothers and sisters that I have sinned!" And truly we all have. The attitude of conservative Catholics to the war, over and against the warnings of Pope John Paul II about the lack of justice in the arguments put forth by the U.S. government, the attitude of liberal Catholics on issues of homosexuality, abortion and the attitudes of some high ranking bishops about homosexuality in their ranks etc. all point to the sinfulness that is there for anyone with an oposing viewpoint to see, albeit the spec in their brother's eye, while avoiding the beam in our own eye.
Admitting our sinfulness is something that we do at every Mass. We do it in preparation for the sacred mysteries that quite frankly can become a little meaningless if we do not approach Christ with any real felt need for a messiah or savior. If we are not desparate for Christ to save us from our sins, because we don't think we have any, then we are likely to be just going through the motions. Such is the state of many Catholics, I think, including priests and laity.
I have often been moved by the story of Peter being told to cast out into the deep after a night where he and his companions had a pretty miserable fishing outing. He reluctantly does so, because quite frankly he is a fisherman and the carpenter on the surface wouldn't seem to know much about fishing. He catches so many fish that they have a difficult time pulling them in and he turns to Jesus and says "Lord, depart from me for I am a sinful man." Jesus turns to Peter and says, "Follow me and I will make you a fisher of men."
It is a powerful story. It pits our plan against God's. Our plan often leads to a lot of frustration and what do we do with it? Admitting that we are sinners, real sinners, going to Hell if someone doesn't save us sinners---is the first step to experiencing salvation.
A former classmate of mine, he was a few years ahead of me at Saint Meinrad has recently been excommunicated. He was a good guy back in school. In a place that had more than its share of homosexuals, I never even suspected that he was one, but turns out that he is and rather actively promotes it. He was removed recently from his parish after being arrested in a park for public indecency. He's gone off and joined a church that calls itself the Orthodox Catholic Church of America, a church largely made up of former Catholic and Orthodox clergy that is neither Catholic or Orthodox. A visit to their website shows that they perform "holy unions" and "second marriages" are not a problem. In some ways they strike me as "cafeteria catholicism" on steroids. Here you can choose and even call what Jesus called sin--holy! Truly a novel approach to following whatever path you are on and calling it "good."
I am a sinner and the path I walk, if it is my own is often not good. Jesus didn't counsel anyone to "do what they want to" or to "believe whatever they wanted to" rather he spoke of repenting "of changing one's mind" and believing the Gospel, taking up one's cross and following Him. It is a difficult path for us sinners but ultimately the path of salvation...the other road is paved with good intentions but as we all know deep down leads to Hell.
I thought about entitling this bit "let he who is without sin cast the first stone" but thought that I'd better wait until now to state that, because what I'm about to say is really nothing more than that I am a sinner, and believe me I'm reminded of it every time I open my mouth. I know that uncharitbable things that I say often are sinful and I sincerely repent of having said them. But I think that even as I say that, I also realize that too often I just excuse my behavior or blame it on something else.
Such is the modern attitude toward sin. Although, I think it goes even further than excusing it or explaining it away. The real issue that we face now is that people have gone to the point of calling what is clearly sinful behavior--"good".
I've been thinking it about this for some time, how even the most conservative of Catholics has stopped admitting that they are sinners and their are some elements of Jesus' teaching that they find difficult to accept because of this basic "disorder" that exists in all of us no matter what our idealogy. We all come the light of Christ with our "blindspots" and we say right along with the most liberal of Catholics, "I confess to Almighty God and to you my brothers and sisters that I have sinned!" And truly we all have. The attitude of conservative Catholics to the war, over and against the warnings of Pope John Paul II about the lack of justice in the arguments put forth by the U.S. government, the attitude of liberal Catholics on issues of homosexuality, abortion and the attitudes of some high ranking bishops about homosexuality in their ranks etc. all point to the sinfulness that is there for anyone with an oposing viewpoint to see, albeit the spec in their brother's eye, while avoiding the beam in our own eye.
Admitting our sinfulness is something that we do at every Mass. We do it in preparation for the sacred mysteries that quite frankly can become a little meaningless if we do not approach Christ with any real felt need for a messiah or savior. If we are not desparate for Christ to save us from our sins, because we don't think we have any, then we are likely to be just going through the motions. Such is the state of many Catholics, I think, including priests and laity.
I have often been moved by the story of Peter being told to cast out into the deep after a night where he and his companions had a pretty miserable fishing outing. He reluctantly does so, because quite frankly he is a fisherman and the carpenter on the surface wouldn't seem to know much about fishing. He catches so many fish that they have a difficult time pulling them in and he turns to Jesus and says "Lord, depart from me for I am a sinful man." Jesus turns to Peter and says, "Follow me and I will make you a fisher of men."
It is a powerful story. It pits our plan against God's. Our plan often leads to a lot of frustration and what do we do with it? Admitting that we are sinners, real sinners, going to Hell if someone doesn't save us sinners---is the first step to experiencing salvation.
A former classmate of mine, he was a few years ahead of me at Saint Meinrad has recently been excommunicated. He was a good guy back in school. In a place that had more than its share of homosexuals, I never even suspected that he was one, but turns out that he is and rather actively promotes it. He was removed recently from his parish after being arrested in a park for public indecency. He's gone off and joined a church that calls itself the Orthodox Catholic Church of America, a church largely made up of former Catholic and Orthodox clergy that is neither Catholic or Orthodox. A visit to their website shows that they perform "holy unions" and "second marriages" are not a problem. In some ways they strike me as "cafeteria catholicism" on steroids. Here you can choose and even call what Jesus called sin--holy! Truly a novel approach to following whatever path you are on and calling it "good."
I am a sinner and the path I walk, if it is my own is often not good. Jesus didn't counsel anyone to "do what they want to" or to "believe whatever they wanted to" rather he spoke of repenting "of changing one's mind" and believing the Gospel, taking up one's cross and following Him. It is a difficult path for us sinners but ultimately the path of salvation...the other road is paved with good intentions but as we all know deep down leads to Hell.
First Linking of the Year to Fireronzook.com
33-10 in the third quarter with 3 minutes left. The announcers are saying it is time to put Brock Berlin on the bench, the fans boo when he returns to the lineup.
Meanwhile on the other side, Ingle Martin stands with his helmet off. The masterful way he moved the ball and ate up time in the first half forgotten by the clueless coaching staff. In a game that demanded experience on the field to run the clock out, he never returned. The defense that was in the backfield all night long suddenly were not within site of any Miami player who had the ball. The defense which held Miami to under fifty yards of offense to this point in the game suddenly could do nothing.
What could have gone down as a defining moment in Ron Zook's career as a head football coach--will go down as a defining moment. How do you blow a three plus touchdown lead in the final quarter of a game? Hire Ron Zook as your head football coach.
Here is what the editor of fireronzook.com says--Editor's Note:
"I can tell you this much...I watched the first half of the Miami game on the edge of my seat, loving the attitude and explosiveness that our guys were playing with, and thinking to myself 'why do I keep this site up?' It's true...I'm a Gator fan no matter what, and sometimes I just get sick of the whole Zook business and want to blindly cheer for the team. No website, no point of view on the choice of our head coach, no effort. Just drink beer and cheer. But I don't break that easily I suppose. Zook even went for the 2 point conversion when he had no business doing so (as aptly pointed out by my tequila-ridden friend Larry), and I ignored it because I was having fun. I was thoroughly impressed though. Completely. I haven't felt that good cheering for Gator football in over a year....and dammit I missed that feeling.
But then the sun went behind the clouds and I once again remembered why this site exists in the first place. Not because Leak threw in interception. Not because the defense fell apart against a Brock Berlin onslaught. But because we have the wrong head football coach. String together an entire game of what I saw in the first half...and maybe I'll give it some more thought.
But for now...I'm not holding my breath."
33-10 in the third quarter with 3 minutes left. The announcers are saying it is time to put Brock Berlin on the bench, the fans boo when he returns to the lineup.
Meanwhile on the other side, Ingle Martin stands with his helmet off. The masterful way he moved the ball and ate up time in the first half forgotten by the clueless coaching staff. In a game that demanded experience on the field to run the clock out, he never returned. The defense that was in the backfield all night long suddenly were not within site of any Miami player who had the ball. The defense which held Miami to under fifty yards of offense to this point in the game suddenly could do nothing.
What could have gone down as a defining moment in Ron Zook's career as a head football coach--will go down as a defining moment. How do you blow a three plus touchdown lead in the final quarter of a game? Hire Ron Zook as your head football coach.
Here is what the editor of fireronzook.com says--Editor's Note:
"I can tell you this much...I watched the first half of the Miami game on the edge of my seat, loving the attitude and explosiveness that our guys were playing with, and thinking to myself 'why do I keep this site up?' It's true...I'm a Gator fan no matter what, and sometimes I just get sick of the whole Zook business and want to blindly cheer for the team. No website, no point of view on the choice of our head coach, no effort. Just drink beer and cheer. But I don't break that easily I suppose. Zook even went for the 2 point conversion when he had no business doing so (as aptly pointed out by my tequila-ridden friend Larry), and I ignored it because I was having fun. I was thoroughly impressed though. Completely. I haven't felt that good cheering for Gator football in over a year....and dammit I missed that feeling.
But then the sun went behind the clouds and I once again remembered why this site exists in the first place. Not because Leak threw in interception. Not because the defense fell apart against a Brock Berlin onslaught. But because we have the wrong head football coach. String together an entire game of what I saw in the first half...and maybe I'll give it some more thought.
But for now...I'm not holding my breath."
Friday, September 5, 2003
Want to Visit the Vatican Art Museum?
But don't have the money to make the trip. Make a virtual visit...
Vatican Museums Online
But don't have the money to make the trip. Make a virtual visit...
Vatican Museums Online
Books I'm Associated With
Click on the above to see some of the books that I have had a hand in walking through. Includes such authors as Father Benedict Groeschel, Pat Madrid, Archbishop Dolan, Johnnette Benkovic and others.
Click on the above to see some of the books that I have had a hand in walking through. Includes such authors as Father Benedict Groeschel, Pat Madrid, Archbishop Dolan, Johnnette Benkovic and others.
Thursday, September 4, 2003
Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword".
Paul Hill is dead. The State of Florida took his life. He took the life of those he felt were murderers of the unborn. He became one of them by taking their life. Ironically, the governor of Florida, Jeb Bush remarked that Hill's God wasn't his, because his God didn't teach that killing was right--I say ironically because he signed the death warrant that did to Paul Hill, what Paul Hill did to the abortionists. Hill felt they were murderers, the State of Florida felt that Hill was a murderer and in the end they murdered him.
Jesus' teachings are so radically opposed to the killing of anyone. Those who have grasped the teachings of Jesus have changed the world not through violence but through the power that Jesus offers his disciples if they humble themselves and allow Him to be the Lord of their lives. One has only to think of Rev. Martin Luther King and the non-violent Christian civil rights movement and the revolution it unleashed in the United States. Or of the Polish Solidarity movement led by Lech Walesa under the patronage of Our Lady that sparked similar movements and brought down the Iron Curtian. The only victims in both of these movements were members of the protesting groups, in imitation of Christ they offered their lives so that others might live. This is the message of Christ, that we lay down our lives for our friends and enemies--not that we take their lives.
But unfortunately most of us are way to impatient to wait on the Lord and are apt to take things into our own hands. So the unplanned pregnancy is terminated, so the anti-abortion protestor gets impatient and seeks to take up the sword, so the State decides the easiest way to deal with a criminal is to exterminate them. And the cycle of violence continues...but please never in the name of God.
Paul Hill is dead. The State of Florida took his life. He took the life of those he felt were murderers of the unborn. He became one of them by taking their life. Ironically, the governor of Florida, Jeb Bush remarked that Hill's God wasn't his, because his God didn't teach that killing was right--I say ironically because he signed the death warrant that did to Paul Hill, what Paul Hill did to the abortionists. Hill felt they were murderers, the State of Florida felt that Hill was a murderer and in the end they murdered him.
Jesus' teachings are so radically opposed to the killing of anyone. Those who have grasped the teachings of Jesus have changed the world not through violence but through the power that Jesus offers his disciples if they humble themselves and allow Him to be the Lord of their lives. One has only to think of Rev. Martin Luther King and the non-violent Christian civil rights movement and the revolution it unleashed in the United States. Or of the Polish Solidarity movement led by Lech Walesa under the patronage of Our Lady that sparked similar movements and brought down the Iron Curtian. The only victims in both of these movements were members of the protesting groups, in imitation of Christ they offered their lives so that others might live. This is the message of Christ, that we lay down our lives for our friends and enemies--not that we take their lives.
But unfortunately most of us are way to impatient to wait on the Lord and are apt to take things into our own hands. So the unplanned pregnancy is terminated, so the anti-abortion protestor gets impatient and seeks to take up the sword, so the State decides the easiest way to deal with a criminal is to exterminate them. And the cycle of violence continues...but please never in the name of God.
Wednesday, September 3, 2003
The Church that was Destroyed on 9/11
Much has been written about the church that survived the fall of the World Trade Center towers on 9/11/2001, but I've seen little written about the one that fell. It was an orthodox church dedicated to St. Nicholas. It strikes me there is symbolism to the fall of a church dedicated to the Christian bishop who has become the secularized Santa Claus.
An awesome picture of the church before its destruction and the effort to rebuild it are here...SAINT NICHOLAS CHURCH
Much has been written about the church that survived the fall of the World Trade Center towers on 9/11/2001, but I've seen little written about the one that fell. It was an orthodox church dedicated to St. Nicholas. It strikes me there is symbolism to the fall of a church dedicated to the Christian bishop who has become the secularized Santa Claus.
An awesome picture of the church before its destruction and the effort to rebuild it are here...SAINT NICHOLAS CHURCH
Scripture Interpretations--The Sodomites
Thanks to Amy for sending me a letter to the editor that appeared in the New Orleans newspaper protesting a priest who protested the French Quarter becoming another Sodom and Gommorah. Here is the link to the letter and here is my response to this absurd interpretation of the passage in Genesis. First let me say that what the writer is saying is truly one of the most oft repeated "modern" interpretations of the passage but in my mind one of the most absurd and cleary one motivated by an agenda that is not at the base truth seeking.
Was the sin of the Sodomites, inhospitality? (read the letter)
This is another example of the sad state of scripture studies. Reread that story about Sodom and see if there is anyway you could interpret the sin of the Sodomites as that of "inhospitality"--while it is true that Lot is hospitable--to the point of offering his virgin daughters to the Sodomites--their crime is hardly inhospitality. In fact if you take away any sense that homosexual activity is a bad thing, one might argue that the Sodomites were being incredibly hospitable to their guests and Lot was doing anything he could to prevent them from offering their generous hospitality to the strangers.
Of course the truth is that the Sodomites were evil. They lusted after the strangers and wanted to "use" them. The sin of the Sodomites is "lust" gone totally beserk to the point of violence. The imagery of them being struck blind by the angels is a good way shedding light on their predicament--they are so "blinded" by their lust that they can't even discern the heavenly visitors are from God!
The idiots who continue to teach the most absurd things about Scripture in order to be politically correct, to re-explain the miraculous and to not offend really have overstayed their welcome. I think it is time for us to be a little inhospitable to them.
Thanks to Amy for sending me a letter to the editor that appeared in the New Orleans newspaper protesting a priest who protested the French Quarter becoming another Sodom and Gommorah. Here is the link to the letter and here is my response to this absurd interpretation of the passage in Genesis. First let me say that what the writer is saying is truly one of the most oft repeated "modern" interpretations of the passage but in my mind one of the most absurd and cleary one motivated by an agenda that is not at the base truth seeking.
Was the sin of the Sodomites, inhospitality? (read the letter)
This is another example of the sad state of scripture studies. Reread that story about Sodom and see if there is anyway you could interpret the sin of the Sodomites as that of "inhospitality"--while it is true that Lot is hospitable--to the point of offering his virgin daughters to the Sodomites--their crime is hardly inhospitality. In fact if you take away any sense that homosexual activity is a bad thing, one might argue that the Sodomites were being incredibly hospitable to their guests and Lot was doing anything he could to prevent them from offering their generous hospitality to the strangers.
Of course the truth is that the Sodomites were evil. They lusted after the strangers and wanted to "use" them. The sin of the Sodomites is "lust" gone totally beserk to the point of violence. The imagery of them being struck blind by the angels is a good way shedding light on their predicament--they are so "blinded" by their lust that they can't even discern the heavenly visitors are from God!
The idiots who continue to teach the most absurd things about Scripture in order to be politically correct, to re-explain the miraculous and to not offend really have overstayed their welcome. I think it is time for us to be a little inhospitable to them.
Told Ya
Cleveland clarifies that the only real change in the new GIRM that affects the congregation is that they must bow before receiving communion. Further giving the desire for unity in the worshipping congregation, why are they allowing for all these "may" options that will create a "house divided"?
First, this "clarification" is being released because thankfully the laity aren't as ignorant about these matters as they were twenty or thirty years ago. Father Murray has found out that you can't just "make it up" and say that the Vatican is issuing these changes.
Secondly, if the Diocese of Cleveland is really interested in unity they would mandate the posture that is put forth in the GIRM and not try to recapture parts of the "tradition" of the church that Father Murray is fond of. If he wants the church to change the posture of the faithful during the liturgy he should vigorously work for that change. But in the meantime, this instruction is fostering a liturgy where some people will be standing, some sitting, some kneeling, some raising their hands, some clutching their hearts, some holding hands, some clasping their hands, etc. This is instruction????
From An explanation of the new General Instruction of the Roman Missal:
"Fr. Murray explained that there will be changes in the way Roman Catholics in the United States will do Holy Communion.
Here are some of the major points to be clarified regarding this new instruction:
Recitation of the “Our Father”:
During the “Our Father” (Lord’s Prayer) people may raise their hands. This is not, as some suggest, an attempt to mimic those from the Evangelical or Pentecostal Churches. It is an attempt to recover an ancient gesture of the Church seen in the catacombs, but most importantly, it is an imitation of how Christ prayed in life and in death, says Tertullian, a Father of the Church. People may also continue to fold their hands at their hearts. Neither of these gestures is mandated by GIRM. They are pastoral suggestion from Tradition.
Sign of Peace:
During the “Sign of Peace,” people may embrace one or two family members, loved ones or close friends. They may shake hands, or bow respectfully and peacefully to their neighbor, or whatever the individual deems appropriate to his/her culture and personality in so far as it shows forth the dignity, sobriety, seriousness of this gesture that signifies a deep love, unity, and reconciliation within the Body of Christ. It is not a “hug” nor is it meant to put anyone in jeopardy.
Reception of Holy Communion:
People will be required to show reverence to the Body and Blood of Christ by bowing their heads before receiving Holy Communion. People will also be invited to stand and sing throughout the reception of Holy Communion, though no one will be prohibited from kneeling or sitting in prayer after the individual reception of Holy Communion—a longstanding custom in the United States.
Those are the facts. What the Diocese hopes, is that our Catholic faithful will understand that after the Second Vatican Council, changes were introduced that upset people and were unsettling because people were told what to do, but were not told why we do, what we do. The Diocese is committed to catechesis and education. People will be invited to do the new changes because they would know why the changes. It is our hope that people would come to know that these new changes are intended to bring a greater reverence, holiness and unity to Holy Communion. The reason for the reverence holiness, and unity is: so that having been transformed by God, made holy by God, we would be able to transform the world to be more just, more holy, more peaceful. "
Cleveland clarifies that the only real change in the new GIRM that affects the congregation is that they must bow before receiving communion. Further giving the desire for unity in the worshipping congregation, why are they allowing for all these "may" options that will create a "house divided"?
First, this "clarification" is being released because thankfully the laity aren't as ignorant about these matters as they were twenty or thirty years ago. Father Murray has found out that you can't just "make it up" and say that the Vatican is issuing these changes.
Secondly, if the Diocese of Cleveland is really interested in unity they would mandate the posture that is put forth in the GIRM and not try to recapture parts of the "tradition" of the church that Father Murray is fond of. If he wants the church to change the posture of the faithful during the liturgy he should vigorously work for that change. But in the meantime, this instruction is fostering a liturgy where some people will be standing, some sitting, some kneeling, some raising their hands, some clutching their hearts, some holding hands, some clasping their hands, etc. This is instruction????
From An explanation of the new General Instruction of the Roman Missal:
"Fr. Murray explained that there will be changes in the way Roman Catholics in the United States will do Holy Communion.
Here are some of the major points to be clarified regarding this new instruction:
Recitation of the “Our Father”:
During the “Our Father” (Lord’s Prayer) people may raise their hands. This is not, as some suggest, an attempt to mimic those from the Evangelical or Pentecostal Churches. It is an attempt to recover an ancient gesture of the Church seen in the catacombs, but most importantly, it is an imitation of how Christ prayed in life and in death, says Tertullian, a Father of the Church. People may also continue to fold their hands at their hearts. Neither of these gestures is mandated by GIRM. They are pastoral suggestion from Tradition.
Sign of Peace:
During the “Sign of Peace,” people may embrace one or two family members, loved ones or close friends. They may shake hands, or bow respectfully and peacefully to their neighbor, or whatever the individual deems appropriate to his/her culture and personality in so far as it shows forth the dignity, sobriety, seriousness of this gesture that signifies a deep love, unity, and reconciliation within the Body of Christ. It is not a “hug” nor is it meant to put anyone in jeopardy.
Reception of Holy Communion:
People will be required to show reverence to the Body and Blood of Christ by bowing their heads before receiving Holy Communion. People will also be invited to stand and sing throughout the reception of Holy Communion, though no one will be prohibited from kneeling or sitting in prayer after the individual reception of Holy Communion—a longstanding custom in the United States.
Those are the facts. What the Diocese hopes, is that our Catholic faithful will understand that after the Second Vatican Council, changes were introduced that upset people and were unsettling because people were told what to do, but were not told why we do, what we do. The Diocese is committed to catechesis and education. People will be invited to do the new changes because they would know why the changes. It is our hope that people would come to know that these new changes are intended to bring a greater reverence, holiness and unity to Holy Communion. The reason for the reverence holiness, and unity is: so that having been transformed by God, made holy by God, we would be able to transform the world to be more just, more holy, more peaceful. "
Tuesday, September 2, 2003
A Great Book
I think I had queried whether any readers of this blog had read this book somewhere down below and no one responded in the affirmative. So now I've read it or more accurately I'm reading it. I'm about half-way through it and it is absolutely the best book I've read in some time of this ilk. Along with Stalking the Divine by Kristin Ohlson (see below) I'm feeling pretty blessed right now and I must also mention my friend Alexander Schmemann (see my archives).
The Strangest Way: Walking the Christian Path is an excellent critique of our culture and what we who live it in need to do in order to follow Jesus in it. He draws on works of literature from Dante to Flannery O'Connor to flesh out his points. Highly, highly recommended!
I think I had queried whether any readers of this blog had read this book somewhere down below and no one responded in the affirmative. So now I've read it or more accurately I'm reading it. I'm about half-way through it and it is absolutely the best book I've read in some time of this ilk. Along with Stalking the Divine by Kristin Ohlson (see below) I'm feeling pretty blessed right now and I must also mention my friend Alexander Schmemann (see my archives).
The Strangest Way: Walking the Christian Path is an excellent critique of our culture and what we who live it in need to do in order to follow Jesus in it. He draws on works of literature from Dante to Flannery O'Connor to flesh out his points. Highly, highly recommended!
Monday, September 1, 2003
Marlins Acquire Jeff Conine (ruff..ruff)
The Marlins pick up one of their original players from the Orioles to give a much needed boost have the lost of Mike Lowell for the regular season. In the old days (early 90's) whenever Conine was introduced they would play a tape of a dog barking, a play on his name being similar to "canine."
From Florida Marlins News:
"Swinging a late-hour deal with the Orioles on Sunday, the Marlins acquired veteran Jeff Conine for two quality minor league prospects -- Double-A right-hander Denny Bautista and Class-A right-hander Donald Levinski.
Conine, known as Mr. Marlin when he wore Florida teal from 1993-97, is batting .290 with 15 home runs and 80 RBIs this season for Baltimore. In 35 games since the All-Star Break, he is hitting .302 and has three homers and 17 runs batted in. "
The Marlins pick up one of their original players from the Orioles to give a much needed boost have the lost of Mike Lowell for the regular season. In the old days (early 90's) whenever Conine was introduced they would play a tape of a dog barking, a play on his name being similar to "canine."
From Florida Marlins News:
"Swinging a late-hour deal with the Orioles on Sunday, the Marlins acquired veteran Jeff Conine for two quality minor league prospects -- Double-A right-hander Denny Bautista and Class-A right-hander Donald Levinski.
Conine, known as Mr. Marlin when he wore Florida teal from 1993-97, is batting .290 with 15 home runs and 80 RBIs this season for Baltimore. In 35 games since the All-Star Break, he is hitting .302 and has three homers and 17 runs batted in. "
A Call to Reform...it Begins With Each One of Us
I'm working on a number of talks that I have to give throughout this Fall in places like Chicago, Charleston, and Van Wert (OH). I am speaking a couple of times on the subject "living the Eucharist" with a sub-topic of how the new Mysteries of Light set out an agenda for personal reform. I am speaking on this latter topic exclusively in a talk that I'll give in October at a Diocesan rosary rally in the Diocese of Charleston, SC.
The first Lumionous Mystery is the Baptism of Jesus it brings to mind a number of passages of Scripture:
"It is you who should baptize me." "I am not worthy to unloose the strap of his sandals." "I must decrease, He must increase." "Prepare the way of the Lord." and "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased."
Humility opens us to a true experience with God. Humility is a stance of openness to God.
I've heard a hundred talks on humility that all began the same way to the point that one would think that someone had gathered all of my teachers to some central location and said "teach humility in this way--start by writing the word on a blackboard and then point out the root of the Latin word 'humi' means 'on the cround' and then say so someone who is 'humble' has their feet on the ground." Big deal!
Humility is an attitude of expectation and it is exemplified by John the Baptist and his stance toward Christ in the Gospels in the passages quoted above.
How can we reclaim that stance in our own lives? By first repenting of the stance of Adam and Eve that we all have inherited from Original Sin. In the garden, Adam and Eve did not believe what God said, because their senses told them otherwise. The fruit on the tree looked good and desirable---this is true of every sinful choice that you or I can make in life. We need this drilled in our heads "looks good but is bad for you." Obesity is a problem in this country not because of the surplus of cakes but due to the lack of seeing the "cakes" as a bad thing to the point that they are literally poison for me.
So it is the case with just about every other type of sin you can think of inclucing sexual sins. The church proclaims the truth (often in spite of itself) and we are all in the garden of the world. Will we listen or will we "see that the fruit looks good to the eye?"
Just as an aside where does this truth come from and how can we know that it is from God?
1). Natural Law... God created the world and it was "good" so looking to nature is something that Paul in his letter to the Romans says is the "gospel" that is accessible to all people even the "unbelievers." There are many sexual sins that the Church claims to be a "disorder"of Natural Law. All sexual acts not open to procreation are considered disordered by the church.
2). Scripture...Father John Redman has written a massive work on the Gospel of John where the main thesis is that Rudolph Bultman is a modern Arius and that a large number of bishops have bought into a watered down version of the Scriptures robbing them of any real value. Anyone who has been exposed to 'pop-Scripture" study or "getting everyone to share their hidden bread and fish" knows how this leaves the authority of Scripture. However, I would say even if you accept this watered down version there are still fundamental teachings that it doesn't seem one can exclude as coming from Our Lord. Our Lord's teaching on "lust" would be one example. What does lust mean? It strikes me you can play the "culture of the time" deal with a lot of Scripture but you are still stuck with the prohibition of lust which is more sweeping than any of the individual condemnations.
Finally reclaiming a fundamental tenet of Christianity that is hardly ever mentioned. I recall a sacraments class where a bright student once asked the professor, "If baptism is all about 'inclusion in the community' then why should we ever baptize anyone in danger of death?" The professor had no answer, but did stammer for a few minutes.
3) Original Sin...The good world is in a fallen state, there is a basic "disorder" of the world that has chosen "created things" over God. Since this is ignored so much today and really the reality of Christ and the salvation offered by the church through Christ means nothing to many people including a fair number of Christians. It is interesting that several new books on the Creed mention this as the "forgotten truth" of our age.
If we don't remember that there is something basically disordered with the whole mess and the "fruit on the forbidden trees looks good" from where we are standing then we are doomed to remain part of the "fallen world" with little understanding of the salvation offered to us by Christ that can empower us to rise above it all!
I'm working on a number of talks that I have to give throughout this Fall in places like Chicago, Charleston, and Van Wert (OH). I am speaking a couple of times on the subject "living the Eucharist" with a sub-topic of how the new Mysteries of Light set out an agenda for personal reform. I am speaking on this latter topic exclusively in a talk that I'll give in October at a Diocesan rosary rally in the Diocese of Charleston, SC.
The first Lumionous Mystery is the Baptism of Jesus it brings to mind a number of passages of Scripture:
"It is you who should baptize me." "I am not worthy to unloose the strap of his sandals." "I must decrease, He must increase." "Prepare the way of the Lord." and "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased."
Humility opens us to a true experience with God. Humility is a stance of openness to God.
I've heard a hundred talks on humility that all began the same way to the point that one would think that someone had gathered all of my teachers to some central location and said "teach humility in this way--start by writing the word on a blackboard and then point out the root of the Latin word 'humi' means 'on the cround' and then say so someone who is 'humble' has their feet on the ground." Big deal!
Humility is an attitude of expectation and it is exemplified by John the Baptist and his stance toward Christ in the Gospels in the passages quoted above.
How can we reclaim that stance in our own lives? By first repenting of the stance of Adam and Eve that we all have inherited from Original Sin. In the garden, Adam and Eve did not believe what God said, because their senses told them otherwise. The fruit on the tree looked good and desirable---this is true of every sinful choice that you or I can make in life. We need this drilled in our heads "looks good but is bad for you." Obesity is a problem in this country not because of the surplus of cakes but due to the lack of seeing the "cakes" as a bad thing to the point that they are literally poison for me.
So it is the case with just about every other type of sin you can think of inclucing sexual sins. The church proclaims the truth (often in spite of itself) and we are all in the garden of the world. Will we listen or will we "see that the fruit looks good to the eye?"
Just as an aside where does this truth come from and how can we know that it is from God?
1). Natural Law... God created the world and it was "good" so looking to nature is something that Paul in his letter to the Romans says is the "gospel" that is accessible to all people even the "unbelievers." There are many sexual sins that the Church claims to be a "disorder"of Natural Law. All sexual acts not open to procreation are considered disordered by the church.
2). Scripture...Father John Redman has written a massive work on the Gospel of John where the main thesis is that Rudolph Bultman is a modern Arius and that a large number of bishops have bought into a watered down version of the Scriptures robbing them of any real value. Anyone who has been exposed to 'pop-Scripture" study or "getting everyone to share their hidden bread and fish" knows how this leaves the authority of Scripture. However, I would say even if you accept this watered down version there are still fundamental teachings that it doesn't seem one can exclude as coming from Our Lord. Our Lord's teaching on "lust" would be one example. What does lust mean? It strikes me you can play the "culture of the time" deal with a lot of Scripture but you are still stuck with the prohibition of lust which is more sweeping than any of the individual condemnations.
Finally reclaiming a fundamental tenet of Christianity that is hardly ever mentioned. I recall a sacraments class where a bright student once asked the professor, "If baptism is all about 'inclusion in the community' then why should we ever baptize anyone in danger of death?" The professor had no answer, but did stammer for a few minutes.
3) Original Sin...The good world is in a fallen state, there is a basic "disorder" of the world that has chosen "created things" over God. Since this is ignored so much today and really the reality of Christ and the salvation offered by the church through Christ means nothing to many people including a fair number of Christians. It is interesting that several new books on the Creed mention this as the "forgotten truth" of our age.
If we don't remember that there is something basically disordered with the whole mess and the "fruit on the forbidden trees looks good" from where we are standing then we are doomed to remain part of the "fallen world" with little understanding of the salvation offered to us by Christ that can empower us to rise above it all!
Sunday, August 31, 2003
Cardinal Rumored to Take Ratzinger's Post Says its Time to Take a Fresh Look at the Liturgy Changes
From Zenit News Agency - The World Seen From Rome:
"'Forty years later, it is right to ask what the liturgical reform itself has represented for the renewal of Christian communities, to what degree the liturgy, reformed according to the indications of the council, is able to mediate between faith and life, so that it forms believers able to offer consistent evangelical testimony,' the cardinal said.
At the same time, 'it is useful to ask oneself with clarity and sincerity if the reform has experienced some weak point and where, and, above all, how it can be relaunched for the good of the Christian people,' he added.
According to the cardinal, the challenge the Church faces today is 'to translate the reform in the life of the believer, called to integrate himself in the communion that the Son desires to establish with each one, a communion that we celebrate constantly in the liturgy.'
Cardinal Sodano presented these questions to the participants in the Liturgical Week and asked them to give thoughtful answers. At the same time, he offered guidelines for their answers.
'Although it can rightly be said that the conciliar reform has been carried out, the liturgical pastoral program represents a permanent commitment which enables one to draw from the richness of the liturgy the vital force that is spread from Christ to the members of the Body, which is the Church,' he said. "
From Zenit News Agency - The World Seen From Rome:
"'Forty years later, it is right to ask what the liturgical reform itself has represented for the renewal of Christian communities, to what degree the liturgy, reformed according to the indications of the council, is able to mediate between faith and life, so that it forms believers able to offer consistent evangelical testimony,' the cardinal said.
At the same time, 'it is useful to ask oneself with clarity and sincerity if the reform has experienced some weak point and where, and, above all, how it can be relaunched for the good of the Christian people,' he added.
According to the cardinal, the challenge the Church faces today is 'to translate the reform in the life of the believer, called to integrate himself in the communion that the Son desires to establish with each one, a communion that we celebrate constantly in the liturgy.'
Cardinal Sodano presented these questions to the participants in the Liturgical Week and asked them to give thoughtful answers. At the same time, he offered guidelines for their answers.
'Although it can rightly be said that the conciliar reform has been carried out, the liturgical pastoral program represents a permanent commitment which enables one to draw from the richness of the liturgy the vital force that is spread from Christ to the members of the Body, which is the Church,' he said. "
Why the Left Hate the Church
An attempt at an answering the most baffling of questions. Why people who claim to love the poor hate the institution that does the most for the poor.
From FrontPage magazine.com:
So why do leftists hate the Church? In part, because they don’t really care about the poor. If they did, they’d support school choice, the Second Amendment, strict law enforcement in urban neighborhoods, and a restriction of mass immigration that savagely undercuts the wages of the native working class—to mention just a few policies the Left opposes with all the demagoguery it can muster.
No, the contemporary Left knows that fighting poverty isn’t a sexy issue anymore—that the suburban bourgeoisie which stuffs its coffers has pretty much given up on uplifting impoverished Americans, and retreated behind the walls of its gated communities. Instead, the Left has focused on issues which really appeal to its privileged constituency—namely, preserving and extending the sexual libertinism that became respectable in the 1960s. “Progressives” who’d never drop a dime in a beggar’s cup can be counted on to help keep abortion legal up through the ninth month—lest inconvenient pregnancies interrupt their daughters’ sojourns through Barnard, Bard, or Oberlin.
An attempt at an answering the most baffling of questions. Why people who claim to love the poor hate the institution that does the most for the poor.
From FrontPage magazine.com:
So why do leftists hate the Church? In part, because they don’t really care about the poor. If they did, they’d support school choice, the Second Amendment, strict law enforcement in urban neighborhoods, and a restriction of mass immigration that savagely undercuts the wages of the native working class—to mention just a few policies the Left opposes with all the demagoguery it can muster.
No, the contemporary Left knows that fighting poverty isn’t a sexy issue anymore—that the suburban bourgeoisie which stuffs its coffers has pretty much given up on uplifting impoverished Americans, and retreated behind the walls of its gated communities. Instead, the Left has focused on issues which really appeal to its privileged constituency—namely, preserving and extending the sexual libertinism that became respectable in the 1960s. “Progressives” who’d never drop a dime in a beggar’s cup can be counted on to help keep abortion legal up through the ninth month—lest inconvenient pregnancies interrupt their daughters’ sojourns through Barnard, Bard, or Oberlin.
Saturday, August 30, 2003
Are Attacks on The Passion Anti-Christian?
Turning the tables.
From WorldNetDaily: In defense of Mel Gibson:
"Nominally, we are supposed to be this Christian country, although even a glancing look over some of the media's recent treatment of religious themes in popular culture does make you wonder. Right now, Mel Gibson's getting it in the neck for, as Time Magazine of Sept. 1 refers to it, his 'eccentric film project' – the 'eccentric' project being of course, 'The Passion,' the filmed recounting of the last day in the life of Jesus Christ.
You get the feeling from the venomous tone of many of the articles written so far about the Gibson film (a number in the New York Times), many of those writing can't forgive him his Christian fervor, and his conservatism, which rather indeed sets him apart from many of his fellows in Hollywood. So they're having something of a field day, nailing him for 'anti-Semitism,' getting real picky about details such as whether the Roman soldiers spoke Latin or Greek in the Holy Land in Christ's day. People magazine after running a cute picture of him frolicking on the beach at Malibu with his youngest child (of seven) devotes two pretty nippy pages to him and 'The Passion.' "
Turning the tables.
From WorldNetDaily: In defense of Mel Gibson:
"Nominally, we are supposed to be this Christian country, although even a glancing look over some of the media's recent treatment of religious themes in popular culture does make you wonder. Right now, Mel Gibson's getting it in the neck for, as Time Magazine of Sept. 1 refers to it, his 'eccentric film project' – the 'eccentric' project being of course, 'The Passion,' the filmed recounting of the last day in the life of Jesus Christ.
You get the feeling from the venomous tone of many of the articles written so far about the Gibson film (a number in the New York Times), many of those writing can't forgive him his Christian fervor, and his conservatism, which rather indeed sets him apart from many of his fellows in Hollywood. So they're having something of a field day, nailing him for 'anti-Semitism,' getting real picky about details such as whether the Roman soldiers spoke Latin or Greek in the Holy Land in Christ's day. People magazine after running a cute picture of him frolicking on the beach at Malibu with his youngest child (of seven) devotes two pretty nippy pages to him and 'The Passion.' "
Problems of the Married Priest?
I found this interesting, please read the entire article by Father Wilson. But I did want to comment about some of the objections.
1)Living off campus. This already is happening in many dioceses in the US with the celibate clergy.
2) Office hours. Ditto and for some years. I remember when the pastor in my parish posted office hours in the 1970's people were scandalized. But now this is pretty standard. A married priest can respond to an emergency just as well as a celibate one. Do we think that parents don't respond to the emergencies of their children if they don't occur during "office hours." Ever hear of doctors, dentists, etc responding to emergencies. The fact is I know of plenty of cases where celibate clergy haven't been available in emergencies, have been impossible to reach (employing answering services off campus, etc.) This is a red herring.
3). Divorced Priests. Father mentions one that he thinks exists in TN. I wonder how many people are aware of the presence of not a few "celibate" priests who were once married and have divorced. There are divorced priests serving right now, a few have been very public about it, a pastor in a large Florida parish had an article written about his strange path to ordination a few years ago.
4) Compensation. Another red herring. Almost every parish in the country now employs a heft staff of married people to function as business managers, DRE's, Youth Ministers etc. The average salary of celibate priests is $18,000 including food and housing, plus stipends for weddings, funerals and other additional means. Parishes can afford and in fact do pay out a lot more than is commonly realized. Recently a "celibate" priest in Florida was jailed for having embezzled $400, 000 dollars over a period of three years in a rather small parish. This went unnoticed until an audit of the parish. If a parish of that size didn't miss that much money, I think it is clear that this is a non issue.
Father Wilson rightly notes that there have always been married clergy in the Church and that this is not an innovation. It is something that has been the exception in the West but it is nothing akin to other issues that it often gets lumped with that are clearly against the tradition of the Church.
Anyway give it a read.
From The Wanderer, Father Joseph Wilson:
"For one thing, Catholics would need to get used to their priests living off-campus (in the northeast at least, this is still unusual), away from the parish plant, and many priests serving in troubled areas would be living significantly far away in places where they could raise their families. Compensation would have to be looked at, stewardship and Catholics’ poor level of giving addressed. In Protestant congregations, typically far smaller than ours, individual parishioners know that if they do not give significantly, their churches will not be able to afford a full program and, likely, a pastor. Catholics who are members of large congregations can avoid feeling that same responsibility.
Catholics would have to get used to the fact that their priest would have something approaching 'business hours,' and live with the consequence of troubled clergy families if they didn’t. We’d also have to face the fact of clergy family divorce (there already is a divorced Catholic priest, I think in Tennessee — a married former Episcopal priest who divorced after being received into the Church and ordained)."
I found this interesting, please read the entire article by Father Wilson. But I did want to comment about some of the objections.
1)Living off campus. This already is happening in many dioceses in the US with the celibate clergy.
2) Office hours. Ditto and for some years. I remember when the pastor in my parish posted office hours in the 1970's people were scandalized. But now this is pretty standard. A married priest can respond to an emergency just as well as a celibate one. Do we think that parents don't respond to the emergencies of their children if they don't occur during "office hours." Ever hear of doctors, dentists, etc responding to emergencies. The fact is I know of plenty of cases where celibate clergy haven't been available in emergencies, have been impossible to reach (employing answering services off campus, etc.) This is a red herring.
3). Divorced Priests. Father mentions one that he thinks exists in TN. I wonder how many people are aware of the presence of not a few "celibate" priests who were once married and have divorced. There are divorced priests serving right now, a few have been very public about it, a pastor in a large Florida parish had an article written about his strange path to ordination a few years ago.
4) Compensation. Another red herring. Almost every parish in the country now employs a heft staff of married people to function as business managers, DRE's, Youth Ministers etc. The average salary of celibate priests is $18,000 including food and housing, plus stipends for weddings, funerals and other additional means. Parishes can afford and in fact do pay out a lot more than is commonly realized. Recently a "celibate" priest in Florida was jailed for having embezzled $400, 000 dollars over a period of three years in a rather small parish. This went unnoticed until an audit of the parish. If a parish of that size didn't miss that much money, I think it is clear that this is a non issue.
Father Wilson rightly notes that there have always been married clergy in the Church and that this is not an innovation. It is something that has been the exception in the West but it is nothing akin to other issues that it often gets lumped with that are clearly against the tradition of the Church.
Anyway give it a read.
From The Wanderer, Father Joseph Wilson:
"For one thing, Catholics would need to get used to their priests living off-campus (in the northeast at least, this is still unusual), away from the parish plant, and many priests serving in troubled areas would be living significantly far away in places where they could raise their families. Compensation would have to be looked at, stewardship and Catholics’ poor level of giving addressed. In Protestant congregations, typically far smaller than ours, individual parishioners know that if they do not give significantly, their churches will not be able to afford a full program and, likely, a pastor. Catholics who are members of large congregations can avoid feeling that same responsibility.
Catholics would have to get used to the fact that their priest would have something approaching 'business hours,' and live with the consequence of troubled clergy families if they didn’t. We’d also have to face the fact of clergy family divorce (there already is a divorced Catholic priest, I think in Tennessee — a married former Episcopal priest who divorced after being received into the Church and ordained)."
Terrorism Takes Many Forms
From The Mighty Barrister - Catholic Commentary Online:
"Terri was being 'housed' in a hospice in Florida, although hospice care in Florida is apparently intended for terminal patients only, not for long-term care. She was recently secretly moved to a separate hospital, and Michael Schiavo has instructed the hospital staff not to disclose her medical condition to her parents. The same judge who ruled to have the feeding tube removed just slapped Michael with an order that the hospital must disclose Terri's condition to her parents. However, the Florida Supreme Court recently ruled that Judge Greer must now set a date for a hearing on when to remove the tube, and that hearing is set for... ahem... September 11.
Yes, folks, terrorism can take many forms. "
From The Mighty Barrister - Catholic Commentary Online:
"Terri was being 'housed' in a hospice in Florida, although hospice care in Florida is apparently intended for terminal patients only, not for long-term care. She was recently secretly moved to a separate hospital, and Michael Schiavo has instructed the hospital staff not to disclose her medical condition to her parents. The same judge who ruled to have the feeding tube removed just slapped Michael with an order that the hospital must disclose Terri's condition to her parents. However, the Florida Supreme Court recently ruled that Judge Greer must now set a date for a hearing on when to remove the tube, and that hearing is set for... ahem... September 11.
Yes, folks, terrorism can take many forms. "
Friday, August 29, 2003
Joseph Dubruiel
Aquinas Thought of Everything
Below is a quote from Summa Contra Gentiles. I've been familar with the notion that St. Thomas said we'd all be 33 in Heaven regardless of when we died (before or after that age), but no one every seemed to know where he'd said it. Well here it is, along with an interesting discussion on the other qualities of the glorified body:
From Jacques Maritain Center: GC 4.88:
"STILL we must not suppose, what some have thought, that female sex has no place in the bodies of the risen Saints. For since resurrection means the reparation of the defects of nature, nothing of what makes for the perfection of nature will be withdrawn from the bodies of the risen. Now among other organs that belong to the integrity of the human body are those which minister to generation as well in male as in female. These organs therefore will rise again in both. Nor is this conclusion impaired by the fact that there will be no longer any use of these organs (Chap. LXXXIII). If that were any ground for their absence from the risen body, all the organs bearing on digestion and nutrition should be absent, for there will not be any use for them either: thus great part of the organs proper to man would be wanting in the risen body. We conclude that all such organs will be there, even organs of which the function has ceased: these will not be there without a purpose, since they will serve to make up the restored integrity of the natural body.*
Neither is the weakness of the female sex inconsistent with the perfection of the resurrection. Such weakness is no departure from nature, but is intended by nature.* This natural differentiation will argue the thoroughgoing perfection of nature, and commend the divine wisdom that arranges creation in diversity of ranks and orders. Nor is there anything to the contrary in the expression of the Apostle: Till we all meet and attain to the unity of faith and recognition of the Son of God, even to a perfect man, to the measure of the full stature of Christ (Eph. iv, 13). This does not mean that in that meeting in which the risen shall go forth to meet Christ in the air* every one shall be of the male sex, but it indicates the perfection and strength of the Church, for the whole Church shalt be like a perfect, full-grown man, going out to meet Christ.*
Again, all must rise at the age of Christ,* which is the age of perfect manhood, for the sake of the perfection of nature, which is at its best in this age above others.
Below is a quote from Summa Contra Gentiles. I've been familar with the notion that St. Thomas said we'd all be 33 in Heaven regardless of when we died (before or after that age), but no one every seemed to know where he'd said it. Well here it is, along with an interesting discussion on the other qualities of the glorified body:
From Jacques Maritain Center: GC 4.88:
"STILL we must not suppose, what some have thought, that female sex has no place in the bodies of the risen Saints. For since resurrection means the reparation of the defects of nature, nothing of what makes for the perfection of nature will be withdrawn from the bodies of the risen. Now among other organs that belong to the integrity of the human body are those which minister to generation as well in male as in female. These organs therefore will rise again in both. Nor is this conclusion impaired by the fact that there will be no longer any use of these organs (Chap. LXXXIII). If that were any ground for their absence from the risen body, all the organs bearing on digestion and nutrition should be absent, for there will not be any use for them either: thus great part of the organs proper to man would be wanting in the risen body. We conclude that all such organs will be there, even organs of which the function has ceased: these will not be there without a purpose, since they will serve to make up the restored integrity of the natural body.*
Neither is the weakness of the female sex inconsistent with the perfection of the resurrection. Such weakness is no departure from nature, but is intended by nature.* This natural differentiation will argue the thoroughgoing perfection of nature, and commend the divine wisdom that arranges creation in diversity of ranks and orders. Nor is there anything to the contrary in the expression of the Apostle: Till we all meet and attain to the unity of faith and recognition of the Son of God, even to a perfect man, to the measure of the full stature of Christ (Eph. iv, 13). This does not mean that in that meeting in which the risen shall go forth to meet Christ in the air* every one shall be of the male sex, but it indicates the perfection and strength of the Church, for the whole Church shalt be like a perfect, full-grown man, going out to meet Christ.*
Again, all must rise at the age of Christ,* which is the age of perfect manhood, for the sake of the perfection of nature, which is at its best in this age above others.
Book Recommendation--Required Reading
Romano Guardini remains one of the best modern classic writers to read. Here is a quote from him from the book linked below:
"the health of the spirit depends on its relation to truth, to the good and the holy. The spirit thrives on knowledge, justice, love, adoration--not allegorically but literally."
Romano Guardini remains one of the best modern classic writers to read. Here is a quote from him from the book linked below:
"the health of the spirit depends on its relation to truth, to the good and the holy. The spirit thrives on knowledge, justice, love, adoration--not allegorically but literally."
Signs of the End?
Thanks to a reader for pointing this out to me. The day that the 10 Commandments were removed from the Alabama courthouse the stock markets fell.
The blue-chip Dow Jones industrial average (CBOT:^DJI - News) ended down 6.66 points.
In case you don't get the point...from the Book of Revelation, Chapter 13:
18: This calls for wisdom: let him who has understanding reckon the number of the beast, for it is a human number, its number is six hundred and sixty-six.
It's not God that we really trust anymore, folks!
Thanks to a reader for pointing this out to me. The day that the 10 Commandments were removed from the Alabama courthouse the stock markets fell.
The blue-chip Dow Jones industrial average (CBOT:^DJI - News) ended down 6.66 points.
In case you don't get the point...from the Book of Revelation, Chapter 13:
18: This calls for wisdom: let him who has understanding reckon the number of the beast, for it is a human number, its number is six hundred and sixty-six.
It's not God that we really trust anymore, folks!
Monks of the Wester Priory Celebrate 50 Years
Their best singer, the lead vocalist on all those Monks of the Western Priory left the community some years ago. I visited the community some years ago. It is in rural Vermont and quite the center of activity. A little whacko at times, but then so was most of the church at that period. Hopefully, they are doing well.
Weston Priory / Welcome!
Their best singer, the lead vocalist on all those Monks of the Western Priory left the community some years ago. I visited the community some years ago. It is in rural Vermont and quite the center of activity. A little whacko at times, but then so was most of the church at that period. Hopefully, they are doing well.
Weston Priory / Welcome!
Sixteen Year Old Might Play in UK-UL Football Game!
From theLouisville Courier Journal:
"University of Louisville freshman Amobe Okoye might be the youngest player in college football this season. The 6-foot-2, 300-pound defensive tackle turned 16 last month.
When he showed up on the depth chart with the second team last weekend, UofL officials started digging. So far, no player younger than Okoye has surfaced.
But that might not stop coach Bobby Petrino from playing the Nigerian-born phenom when the Cardinals open their season Sunday at the University of Kentucky. "
From theLouisville Courier Journal:
"University of Louisville freshman Amobe Okoye might be the youngest player in college football this season. The 6-foot-2, 300-pound defensive tackle turned 16 last month.
When he showed up on the depth chart with the second team last weekend, UofL officials started digging. So far, no player younger than Okoye has surfaced.
But that might not stop coach Bobby Petrino from playing the Nigerian-born phenom when the Cardinals open their season Sunday at the University of Kentucky. "
In Post 9/11 Passengers Still Carry Weapons in Carry-On Bags
From Oregon Live:
"Outbound passengers at Portland International Airport recently tried to carry on board the following items:
A 16-pound, clear plastic bowling ball with a hand grenade inside.
A hundred rounds of live ammunition.
A large can of mace.
A desk ornament with a grenade attached.
A razor-sharp martial arts weapon called a 'throwing star.'
The last three were confiscated Wednesday morning in what security agents described as a typical day at PDX.
Discovery of the grenade desk ornament shut down one security lane for about 15 minutes while police were summoned to make sure it was not explosive. "
From Oregon Live:
"Outbound passengers at Portland International Airport recently tried to carry on board the following items:
A 16-pound, clear plastic bowling ball with a hand grenade inside.
A hundred rounds of live ammunition.
A large can of mace.
A desk ornament with a grenade attached.
A razor-sharp martial arts weapon called a 'throwing star.'
The last three were confiscated Wednesday morning in what security agents described as a typical day at PDX.
Discovery of the grenade desk ornament shut down one security lane for about 15 minutes while police were summoned to make sure it was not explosive. "
Power Outage in London During Rush Hour
When I lived in Europe the power was always going out, so I'm not sure how big a story this is but it does have an "erie" parallel to what happened around the great lake a few weeks ago--could it be the work of a hacker sending a message?
From BBC NEWS :
"A rush-hour power cut has caused major disruption on rail and Tube services in London and the South East.
Power returned to the system at about 1900 BST and the rail and tube network took several hours before most services resumed normal operations.
Network Rail said about 1,800 trains were affected by the power cut, caused by a fault with the National Grid.
Train company Connex reported the power went out between London and Ashford, in Kent.
South London was hardest hit and Transport for London said 60% of the Tube network was affected. "
When I lived in Europe the power was always going out, so I'm not sure how big a story this is but it does have an "erie" parallel to what happened around the great lake a few weeks ago--could it be the work of a hacker sending a message?
From BBC NEWS :
"A rush-hour power cut has caused major disruption on rail and Tube services in London and the South East.
Power returned to the system at about 1900 BST and the rail and tube network took several hours before most services resumed normal operations.
Network Rail said about 1,800 trains were affected by the power cut, caused by a fault with the National Grid.
Train company Connex reported the power went out between London and Ashford, in Kent.
South London was hardest hit and Transport for London said 60% of the Tube network was affected. "
Thursday, August 28, 2003
Saintly Aura Appears at Funeral of Priest?
From Ananova:
"Thousands of people who attended the funeral of a Romanian priest believe they saw a miracle when a halo appeared over the church.
Scientists say it was a rare type of circular rainbow that appeared as the priest's body was taken for burial.
A believer told Evenimentul Zilei: 'I am sure it was a sign. It looked like a rainbow but it was circular as a fire aura. It was the father's saint aura.'"
From Ananova:
"Thousands of people who attended the funeral of a Romanian priest believe they saw a miracle when a halo appeared over the church.
Scientists say it was a rare type of circular rainbow that appeared as the priest's body was taken for burial.
A believer told Evenimentul Zilei: 'I am sure it was a sign. It looked like a rainbow but it was circular as a fire aura. It was the father's saint aura.'"
A Confused Man for All Seasons
Arnold is very far from being a conservative, but he does have a lot of money and that must be why he is a republican. He's a little confused too.
From NewsMax.com: Inside Cover Story:
"Arnold said he supported domestic partnership legislation but not gay marriage, contending, 'I think that gay marriage [sic] is something that should be between a man and a woman.'"
Arnold is very far from being a conservative, but he does have a lot of money and that must be why he is a republican. He's a little confused too.
From NewsMax.com: Inside Cover Story:
"Arnold said he supported domestic partnership legislation but not gay marriage, contending, 'I think that gay marriage [sic] is something that should be between a man and a woman.'"
Feast of St. Augustine
Here is a saint that transcends it all. Almost anyone can relate to him, his struggle and the beautiful way that he described it. Here is an excerpt from the Confessions that is read in the Liturgy of the Hours for today.
From Universalis: Office of Readings:
Your rays beamed intensely on me, beating back my feeble gaze, and I trembled with love and dread. I knew myself to be far away from you in a region of unlikeness, and I seemed to hear your voice from on high: “I am the food of the mature: grow, then, and you shall eat me. You will not change me into yourself like bodily food; but you will be changed into me”.
A great Eucharistic meditation for today and everyday!
Here is a saint that transcends it all. Almost anyone can relate to him, his struggle and the beautiful way that he described it. Here is an excerpt from the Confessions that is read in the Liturgy of the Hours for today.
From Universalis: Office of Readings:
Your rays beamed intensely on me, beating back my feeble gaze, and I trembled with love and dread. I knew myself to be far away from you in a region of unlikeness, and I seemed to hear your voice from on high: “I am the food of the mature: grow, then, and you shall eat me. You will not change me into yourself like bodily food; but you will be changed into me”.
A great Eucharistic meditation for today and everyday!
40th Anniversary of King's "I Have a Dream" Speech
Being from NH, I was always proud that we got a mention. Here is an interesting piece from our friends at the Bruderhof Communities:
Bruderhof Communities - Martin Luther King:
"Despite all the hoopla surrounding the 40th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'I Have a Dream' speech, it seems that every year King’s real message becomes more obscured. For most Americans he has been reduced to posters and postage stamps, an excuse for a long weekend once a year. But in these days of heightened fear, acute injustice, and daily warmongering, King’s example of nonviolent resistance becomes more relevant than ever before. In fact, unrealistic as it may sound, I believe King’s principle of overcoming enemies with love is the only solution to the problems facing us today, both at home and abroad."
Being from NH, I was always proud that we got a mention. Here is an interesting piece from our friends at the Bruderhof Communities:
Bruderhof Communities - Martin Luther King:
"Despite all the hoopla surrounding the 40th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'I Have a Dream' speech, it seems that every year King’s real message becomes more obscured. For most Americans he has been reduced to posters and postage stamps, an excuse for a long weekend once a year. But in these days of heightened fear, acute injustice, and daily warmongering, King’s example of nonviolent resistance becomes more relevant than ever before. In fact, unrealistic as it may sound, I believe King’s principle of overcoming enemies with love is the only solution to the problems facing us today, both at home and abroad."
Wednesday, August 27, 2003
The Real Changes are Forthcoming
And they deal with translations! When we go back to saying "And with your spirit" and "through my fault, through my fault, through my most grevious fault" then I wonder how the liturgists will react?
From CNS STORY:
The Vatican has convened a meeting with church leaders from English-speaking countries to discuss and clarify questions about the translation of liturgical texts.
The Oct. 21 encounter will cover a wide range of topics, including the principles of translation used under new Vatican norms, the respective competencies of the Vatican congregation and bishops' conferences, the role of the International Commission on English in the Liturgy, known as ICEL, and the function of the Vatican-instituted Vox Clara Committee.
And they deal with translations! When we go back to saying "And with your spirit" and "through my fault, through my fault, through my most grevious fault" then I wonder how the liturgists will react?
From CNS STORY:
The Vatican has convened a meeting with church leaders from English-speaking countries to discuss and clarify questions about the translation of liturgical texts.
The Oct. 21 encounter will cover a wide range of topics, including the principles of translation used under new Vatican norms, the respective competencies of the Vatican congregation and bishops' conferences, the role of the International Commission on English in the Liturgy, known as ICEL, and the function of the Vatican-instituted Vox Clara Committee.
Notice--God is not the 10 Commandments
The 10 Commandments have been moved from the courthouse in Montgmery, AL. I have written previously that it was rather ironic that after the very religous civil rights movement that gave people of all races the right to participate in the life of this country that almost at the same time "God" became the unwanted guest. I specifically say "God" and I should add "Jesus" but I do not mean "religion." Althought separation of Church and State is often put out as the issue, it is clear that other religion are fine with the populace. Moslems are lauded, Buddha is accepted, and every conceivable pagan religion is just fine. It is God of the Christians that is no longer welcomed in the public forum. God has become the scapegoat of this nation, and we have become the aetheistic power in the world that once was the Soviet Union.
From FOXNews.com:
"Another man tried to calm the protester, who was angrily shouting 'God haters' at the people who wanted the controversial monument removed.
'Get your hands off our God, God haters!' the red-faced man yelled.
The 5,300-pound granite marker was hauled on a dolly by a Georgia moving company from the public view area to another, undisclosed place in the courthouse complex."
The 10 Commandments have been moved from the courthouse in Montgmery, AL. I have written previously that it was rather ironic that after the very religous civil rights movement that gave people of all races the right to participate in the life of this country that almost at the same time "God" became the unwanted guest. I specifically say "God" and I should add "Jesus" but I do not mean "religion." Althought separation of Church and State is often put out as the issue, it is clear that other religion are fine with the populace. Moslems are lauded, Buddha is accepted, and every conceivable pagan religion is just fine. It is God of the Christians that is no longer welcomed in the public forum. God has become the scapegoat of this nation, and we have become the aetheistic power in the world that once was the Soviet Union.
From FOXNews.com:
"Another man tried to calm the protester, who was angrily shouting 'God haters' at the people who wanted the controversial monument removed.
'Get your hands off our God, God haters!' the red-faced man yelled.
The 5,300-pound granite marker was hauled on a dolly by a Georgia moving company from the public view area to another, undisclosed place in the courthouse complex."
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