From yesterday's Office of Readings:
"Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony to Jesus and for the word of God, and who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands." (Revelation 20:4)
This reading occurs every year, but I doubt that the "I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded" was ever more graphic than it was for me as I read those words last night. It makes one think of the death of St. John the Baptist and St. Paul.
There is great sadness in such horrible acts but with our faith in Christ there is great hope of victory that is not of this world.
Wednesday, May 12, 2004
Tuesday, May 11, 2004
The Not So Hidden Lives of Nuns
Unfortunately, if this is the radical testimony of religious life it might be better unexposed..
From Catholic Citizens:
"There's no escaping left wing nuns these days. On May 7, WGN Chicago, radio host Milt Rosenberg hosted a discussion with Sr. Carolyn Farrell, B.V.M., head of the Gannon Center for Women at Loyola University Chicago, Sr. Joan McGlinchey of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, Vicar for Religious in the Archdiocese of Chicago, and Cheryl Reed, author of the new book 'Unveiled: The Hidden Lives of Nuns.'
Traditional Catholic listeners had ample opportunity to be appalled at what was said on the show. WGN listener and Chicagoan Terry Hodges observed that 'the two nuns who appeared were quite representative of those American nuns whom they themselves called 'progressive.' The two hour discussion revealed them quite tolerant of legalized abortion since they understand women to be free 'moral agents,' open to legalizing homosexual unions, women's ordination, yada, yada, yada. Needless to say, neither wears a religious habit. On several occasions during the broadcast, they could be heard snickering under their breath when the host asked them where they stood on several traditional Church teachings and discipline.'
During the program, guest and author Cheryl Reed revealed she was raised Catholic but converted to the Russian Orthodox sect. When Rosenberg asked why she left the Catholic Church, she said primarily because of Church teaching on papal infallibility and birth control issues. Mr. Hodges observed that 'after (Ms. Reed) praised a local Sister of Mercy, described in her book as a student of Buddhism and collector of Buddha statues, I enjoyed the squirming when the (Jewish) host asked if the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith would be as approving of her hobby.' "
From Catholic Citizens:
"There's no escaping left wing nuns these days. On May 7, WGN Chicago, radio host Milt Rosenberg hosted a discussion with Sr. Carolyn Farrell, B.V.M., head of the Gannon Center for Women at Loyola University Chicago, Sr. Joan McGlinchey of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, Vicar for Religious in the Archdiocese of Chicago, and Cheryl Reed, author of the new book 'Unveiled: The Hidden Lives of Nuns.'
Traditional Catholic listeners had ample opportunity to be appalled at what was said on the show. WGN listener and Chicagoan Terry Hodges observed that 'the two nuns who appeared were quite representative of those American nuns whom they themselves called 'progressive.' The two hour discussion revealed them quite tolerant of legalized abortion since they understand women to be free 'moral agents,' open to legalizing homosexual unions, women's ordination, yada, yada, yada. Needless to say, neither wears a religious habit. On several occasions during the broadcast, they could be heard snickering under their breath when the host asked them where they stood on several traditional Church teachings and discipline.'
During the program, guest and author Cheryl Reed revealed she was raised Catholic but converted to the Russian Orthodox sect. When Rosenberg asked why she left the Catholic Church, she said primarily because of Church teaching on papal infallibility and birth control issues. Mr. Hodges observed that 'after (Ms. Reed) praised a local Sister of Mercy, described in her book as a student of Buddhism and collector of Buddha statues, I enjoyed the squirming when the (Jewish) host asked if the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith would be as approving of her hobby.' "
2005 Synod Will Focus on Eucharist
Could of used whatever they'll come up with next year, this year.
From CNS STORY: SYNOD-EUCHARIST May-10-2004 :
"The recent debate over liturgical abuses and reception of Communion by dissenting Catholics is about to be taken to a global level as the church prepares for the 2005 Synod of Bishops.
The synod's topic is the Eucharist. In recent days, bishops around the world have received a Vatican-prepared thematic outline that focuses in large part on the rules that govern celebration of the Eucharist -- including who should and who should not receive Communion.
The 75-page outline, called the 'lineamenta,' has not been released publicly by the Vatican. Catholic News Service obtained a copy of the document in early May.
The outline emphasizes the sacramental and liturgical norms against shared Communion with most non-Catholics. It repeatedly makes the point that the church does not have the power to give Communion to Catholics living in grave sin, to those 'teaching error' or to 'persons living an immoral life.'
Although the Eucharist is a sacrament of unity, it presupposes 'unity in the faith' for those who would share in its reception, the document said. In that sense, people should not receive Communion in a 'casual, routine manner,' it said."
From CNS STORY: SYNOD-EUCHARIST May-10-2004 :
"The recent debate over liturgical abuses and reception of Communion by dissenting Catholics is about to be taken to a global level as the church prepares for the 2005 Synod of Bishops.
The synod's topic is the Eucharist. In recent days, bishops around the world have received a Vatican-prepared thematic outline that focuses in large part on the rules that govern celebration of the Eucharist -- including who should and who should not receive Communion.
The 75-page outline, called the 'lineamenta,' has not been released publicly by the Vatican. Catholic News Service obtained a copy of the document in early May.
The outline emphasizes the sacramental and liturgical norms against shared Communion with most non-Catholics. It repeatedly makes the point that the church does not have the power to give Communion to Catholics living in grave sin, to those 'teaching error' or to 'persons living an immoral life.'
Although the Eucharist is a sacrament of unity, it presupposes 'unity in the faith' for those who would share in its reception, the document said. In that sense, people should not receive Communion in a 'casual, routine manner,' it said."
The Message of the Gospel?
I watched "The Word in the World" with Father Michael Manning yesterday as he interviewed a missionary. I came rather late in the discussion and I have no idea if the missionary was a priest or a lay religious--he wore no habit or clerical atire and he was never identified by any title by Father Manning. But what struck me was the missionary's total reduction of the Gospel to a political platform for the restructuring of society. Asked point blank what the message of Jesus was the missionary said, "Jesus preached that we need to believe in ourselves and believe in each other."
I'm sorry but this is not the message of the Gospel. Jesus told people to believe in God and in Him. He told them they needed to die to themselves in order to live in Him. If God is taken out of the equation we do not have love for our neighbors but a political ideology that is exactly the type of messiah that Jesus clearly taught he was not.
It might help if everyone opened the Gospels and got reacquainted with Jesus as he is there without reducing his message because someone tells us that isn't what Jesus really meant.
I'm sorry but this is not the message of the Gospel. Jesus told people to believe in God and in Him. He told them they needed to die to themselves in order to live in Him. If God is taken out of the equation we do not have love for our neighbors but a political ideology that is exactly the type of messiah that Jesus clearly taught he was not.
It might help if everyone opened the Gospels and got reacquainted with Jesus as he is there without reducing his message because someone tells us that isn't what Jesus really meant.
Repentant Teen Confesses to Smashing Image of Mary
In Clearwater, FL...
From Tampabay: Teen held in Virgin Mary smashing:
"Angry, bored and unable to sleep, Kyle Maskell grabbed his Marksman slingshot and headed out of his foster home to destroy something that might bring him a degree of infamy that rivaled his rage, police said.
He soon looked up into the image of the Virgin Mary, the iridescent figure that had formed on the side of a glass building on U.S. 19 eight years earlier, drawing throngs of believers to Clearwater.
Maskell reached into the pouch of his slingshot and launched three or four ball bearings, striking the image's top three panes, police said. People who showed up hours later found the virgin beheaded.
That's the story Clearwater police say Maskell, an 18-year-old Clearwater High School sophomore, told them Monday morning before they arrested him on a charge of felony criminal mischief. He was being held at the Pinellas County Jail Monday night in lieu of $10,000 bail.
Police said the teen cried for three hours while recounting his deed. The guilt had eaten at him for more than two months."
From Tampabay: Teen held in Virgin Mary smashing:
"Angry, bored and unable to sleep, Kyle Maskell grabbed his Marksman slingshot and headed out of his foster home to destroy something that might bring him a degree of infamy that rivaled his rage, police said.
He soon looked up into the image of the Virgin Mary, the iridescent figure that had formed on the side of a glass building on U.S. 19 eight years earlier, drawing throngs of believers to Clearwater.
Maskell reached into the pouch of his slingshot and launched three or four ball bearings, striking the image's top three panes, police said. People who showed up hours later found the virgin beheaded.
That's the story Clearwater police say Maskell, an 18-year-old Clearwater High School sophomore, told them Monday morning before they arrested him on a charge of felony criminal mischief. He was being held at the Pinellas County Jail Monday night in lieu of $10,000 bail.
Police said the teen cried for three hours while recounting his deed. The guilt had eaten at him for more than two months."
Monday, May 10, 2004
Martyrdom by Bad Music
One wonders who does like this music?
From Sacred Miscellany:
"Can bad hymns kill? Or can they incite near homicidal rage? This morning it was a near thing for me. Because I have a job as a church choir director/organist at an Episcopal church, I go to the 7 a.m. Mass. Once upon a time, there was no music at the early Masses. However, nowadays any parish with a full-time music director requires music even then. And it can be torture.
I entered the church to the sound of the organ being played in a style usually confined to baseball games and horse shows. It was Marty Haugen's 'Canticle of the Sun.' And no, I don't want to 'play in the forest,' thank you. Then we had Christopher Walker's 'Laudate Dominum.' During Communion, we honored 'Jesus our brother' with Bernadette Farrell's 'Bread of Life.'
This morning was the closest I've ever come to just shouting, 'Oh, be quiet!' Yes, I know that aesthetics don't have anything to do with the validity of the Mass, that Jesus doesn't mind bad music, etc., etc. And no, there isn't a tasteful Eastern Rite parish or a traditional Mass that's less than an hour and a half away.
I go. I grind my teeth. I thank God for the gift of Himself. And I heave a huge sigh of relief, like Pollyanna, that's it's seven days till the next Sunday. Any suggestions on how to avert enraged outbursts or apoplexy will be gratefully received."
From Sacred Miscellany:
"Can bad hymns kill? Or can they incite near homicidal rage? This morning it was a near thing for me. Because I have a job as a church choir director/organist at an Episcopal church, I go to the 7 a.m. Mass. Once upon a time, there was no music at the early Masses. However, nowadays any parish with a full-time music director requires music even then. And it can be torture.
I entered the church to the sound of the organ being played in a style usually confined to baseball games and horse shows. It was Marty Haugen's 'Canticle of the Sun.' And no, I don't want to 'play in the forest,' thank you. Then we had Christopher Walker's 'Laudate Dominum.' During Communion, we honored 'Jesus our brother' with Bernadette Farrell's 'Bread of Life.'
This morning was the closest I've ever come to just shouting, 'Oh, be quiet!' Yes, I know that aesthetics don't have anything to do with the validity of the Mass, that Jesus doesn't mind bad music, etc., etc. And no, there isn't a tasteful Eastern Rite parish or a traditional Mass that's less than an hour and a half away.
I go. I grind my teeth. I thank God for the gift of Himself. And I heave a huge sigh of relief, like Pollyanna, that's it's seven days till the next Sunday. Any suggestions on how to avert enraged outbursts or apoplexy will be gratefully received."
Bush to Meet with Pope John Paul II
From CNS STORY: Bush to make election-year visit to pope in June; top issue is Iraq:
"Pope John Paul II will meet with President George W. Bush in early June, and the top item on the agenda will be Iraq, sources in Rome said.
The meeting June 4 was arranged after days of quiet talks involving Vatican officials and U.S. diplomats. The White House and the Vatican were expected to officially announce the encounter in mid-May.
U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican Jim Nicholson told Catholic News Service May 9 that Bush had altered his schedule in order to make sure he didn't miss the pope, who is scheduled to travel to Switzerland June 5-6. "
"Pope John Paul II will meet with President George W. Bush in early June, and the top item on the agenda will be Iraq, sources in Rome said.
The meeting June 4 was arranged after days of quiet talks involving Vatican officials and U.S. diplomats. The White House and the Vatican were expected to officially announce the encounter in mid-May.
U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican Jim Nicholson told Catholic News Service May 9 that Bush had altered his schedule in order to make sure he didn't miss the pope, who is scheduled to travel to Switzerland June 5-6. "
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