STOP! THEIF!

This is an old commercial for Coke Light.  Did you see how at the end the priest takes the sweat from the Coke can and anoints the girl?  This is very clever.  The hope is that when you see a priest perform this action, you will think of Coke Light.  (It worked for me apparently.  When I thought of this post this was the first image that came to mind.)

This symbol of the Sacred Heart is more rarely used in the Church circles now because it has been so secularized.  I really like this symbol too.

Crosses and crucifixes have long been tried to be secularized from the chest of Madonna, to men's earrings, to being a fashion accessory to hang on the wall.  "It's a statement, not a symbol that I am Christian," I would hear often.  That seems to be waining a bit.

You could probably come up with your own list of words, objets, and even holy days ([St.] Valentine's Day, Christmas) that have been or have tried to be secularized.  

This is yet again why art is so important.  We tend to be visual people.  If the effort to de-sacralize our symbols is successful, then our presence in our culture is that much more diminished.  

Some symbols are taken, others are freely given away.  Priests not wearing collars, religious not wearing habits, church buildings not looking like church buildings, our presence becomes static on the screen rather than a clear picture.  We need to take very good care of our symbols or we run the risk of fading into the background.  Secularized symbols are far more easy to throw away.  We give them up, they will be used up, drained of meaning, and then forgotten.

Tomorrow - one way to reverse the trend.

I KNOW IT DOESN'T MATTER BUT . . .

We’ve all heard it a thousand times so let’s all say it together: “The Church/parish is not a building, it’s the people.”  Yeah, yeah, I got it and intellectually believe it.  But you know what?  At night I still dream about my home parish.  Not the new building but the one in which I grew up in on Hopican Avenue.  Similarly I am mightily attached to West Akron and the building IN

WHICH the parish of St. Sebastian worships.

 

This Sunday we will be celebrating as a Universal Church the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica, the mother Church building of Church buildings.  I will grant you that if some crazed lunatic bombed the place to smithereens (thanks spell check, I don’t know that I ever spelled that word before) the Church will still exist fully intact though perhaps a little ticked off.  But the fact that we have this celebration means we are kind of blushing, shuffling our feet, head hanging a little with a smirk on our faces saying, “Well, yeah, buildings do kinda, sorta mean something to us even though theologically we could completely do without them.”

 

One of my favorite quotes:  “God does not need cathedrals.  But we do.”

 

So I took Sebastian on a walk through my home town the other day.  I wrote about doing this a couple of summers ago.  The point of this particular walk was to see God’s Magic City Church.  This was formally Sts. Cyril and Methodius Roman Catholic Church founded primarily for the Slovak community.  It was absolutely built in the WRONG place -  a flood plain and was regularly flooded.  But the building was a little gem though the renovations after Vatican II were less than stellar.  It is (was) a tiny Romanesque building and would have made some kind of great shrine or some other use if it weren’t built where Wolf Creek enjoys overflowing its banks.

 

Anyway, on our way there we passed the former-former Sacred Heart Church which is now a non-denominational church.  This is the building in which I cut my teeth.  It is mostly in pretty good shape (though they removed the tile roof and replaced it with a shingle roof which robbed it of much of its character.)  So the congregation there must be doing relatively alright.

I just found this video that showcases the organ from my home parish that I tried to obtain but at the time the current owners did not want to sell.  Now some church in Texas will have it.  Tears at my heart . . .

 

Next we passed the old St. Mary, formally the Polish parish in town.  Never a remarkable building it now looks pretty sad.  The non-denominational congregation there could use some paint and other general maintenance to keep the place looking good.  Who knows how long it will be viable without a huge influx of cash.

 

Then there is God’s Magic City Church.  There was a fire there recently.  The area where the sacristy was is completely gutted.  There is no roof or windows left, just a brick shell.  The nave of the main church is burnt through and the cross seems to stand miraculously though precariously on the charred main beam of the roof.  I know it’s just a building but something about it make me feel incredibly sad.  It’s more than it just having been a beautiful building worth keeping around.  It is sad to see a place that roofed so much good so savagely devastated.  Like spilled milk, seeing something that represents such goodness so utterly wasted is somehow disturbing. 

 

Is the “Church” less for having lost a building?  No.  But we have lost a symbol of our mission.  A touchstone that reminds us to keep on track.  Another relic resigned to the memory of the current generation. 

 

No big deal.

 

And huge deal.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BIG SISTER

There is a great article in the Akron Beacon Journal today about Our Lady of the Elms 90^th anniversary.  You can read it by clicking here.  The “Elms” is only a couple of blocks from St. Sebastian and just five years older.  In essence, they grew up together.  And like siblings close in age, they didn’t always get along when they were young.  A peek at the archives, in which are letters written to the bishop at the time, reveals some rivalry over having two Catholic schools so close in proximity.  But as they matured as institutions I like to believe we have grown into a mutual respect having each developed our own identities.  Another
good article here.

 

It is interesting to look back into the archives of the founding of parishes and institutions.  That can reveal a lot of surprises.  I remember doing a research project on my home parish.  Sacred Heart was a Slovenian nationality parish in Barberton, Ohio.  It was always a tiny parish and has since been repressed, merged, given boundaries, and opened under the parish name of Prince of Peace and is larger now that it has ever been as a strictly nationality parish.

 

Going back into the archives I found that the founding of the parish and school was not smooth and cordial.  The deeply ethnic city got a lot of its flavor from a people who strongly associated with their ethnic roots.  So there was a tiny Polish parish, a small Slovak parish, the Hungarians had theirs, the mostly Irish and Germans had the “down town” parish, and the Slovenians were to have theirs.

 

Starting the parish was tricky indeed.  Letters written to the bishop demonstrated what a monumental task it was.  In the “old country,” the government took care of building the churches.  Now people were going door to door asking for money to build a church.  It seemed to them like there was a scam going on in this new land.  “Start building a church,” people would say, “and then we’ll start giving money.”  Of course, one needs money in order to start building and so you have your catch 22. 

 

That problem was eventually solved and the idea of starting a school came about.  The problem was that there were already a number of Catholic schools in this small city and the bishop was not excited about starting another.  Letters back and forth were not always cordial and so when I finished my report my Mom would not let me give it out at the parish.  “Those families are still around and we don’t want to drag up the past in this way.”  So it remained silent all these years.

 

The bishop finally did decide to let these tenacious Slovenians start their own school with the understanding that, after the families had been inculturated, the school would close.  That is easier said than done.  Who declares the inculturation finished?  Who closes an operating school?  But time, cost, changing demographics took care of this.  One by one all of the ethnic parish school closed, long before the priest shortage or recent slew of closings that has everyone up in arms.  Eventually even the parishes themselves closed. 

 

One might think that all that remains of a closed parish is a building, most of which have become new Protestant denominations and deteriorating grandeur (at least in this case although Sacred Heart has become a new Catholic parish,) boxes of artifacts and files in an office at the diocesan archives, and some wonderful memories.  But such is not the case.  The life of a parish lives on.  It lives on in the faith that was nourished in the people and their families that continue to form the faith life of the world today (my priesthood being part of the that) and in the souls that live on forever in heaven with our God – an eternal effect – because they once shared the faith life of fellow Slovenians in a tiny parish called Sacred Heart in a small city called Barberton. 

FRIDAY POTPOURRI: THE MEDIN CHALICE

Today's sacred vessel is the Fr. Joseph Medin chalice.  Fr. Medin was a man of Slovenian descent that served at Sacred Heart Parish in Barberton, Ohio.  It was a nationality parish that served the immigrants that moved to the "Magic City" looking for work in the early 20th century.

My mother was young when Fr. Medin served at my home parish.  Apparently he came from some sort of aristocratic family in Europe.  He served in Barberton during the depression and was very helpful to struggling parishioners.  Mom tells the story of the huge car he used to drive and that he would go about the neighborhood picking up all the kids and bringing them to the church for the catechism classes.  Apparently he also helped many people who were experiencing difficulties out of his own resources.

He was very well loved and remembered.  Apparently he enjoyed his stay in the Magic City and had this chalice made and gifted to the parish as a parting gift.  (A rather unusual occurrence and pays tribute to his generosity.) 

Unfortunately the parish no longer exists.  It was suppressed and merged with St. Mary Polish Parish, given boundaries and is now named Prince of Peace Parish.  The new entity seems to be thriving.  As a matter of fact they just completed and expansion of the church.  The chalice was replated and given into my care at my ordination to carry on the memory of the Slovenian people that once made up Sacred Heart.

Here is a picture of the chalice.  Thanks to Mr. Mike Palko (and the person who recommended him) for the higher quality photos.  There's a lot going on and it is still difficult to see but I'll try to walk you through it.

Set in the golden cup is a silver band with enamel inlay lettering and design.  In Latin in says "Accipiam calicem salutaris" or "I will take the chalice of salvation" from Psalm 116 "I will take up the chalice of salvation and call on the name of the Lord."  The points above the silver band are grape leaves and the there is a grape and grape leaf design toward the bottom of the cup.

All down the stem there is a grape leaf design.  Both the main node and the minor node below are "lace work."  Some sort of red minor gem stones are set in the middle of six flowers that decorate the minor node.

The base is really the show piece of this vessel.  The base flowers out into six peddles.  Three of the peddles are a grape and grape leaf design and three are scenes from the life of Christ.  I am told that what makes this chalice so special is that these scenes would have been tapped out by hand by an artist unlike modern chalices that would most likely have a machine stamp them out.  The scene pictured below is what would face the celebrant during the Mass.  It is of the crucifixion of Christ.  There are four other figures in the scene; St. John, St. Mary, and the two other Marys.  It appears to be the moment when Christ was entrusting His Mother to St. John

This is a scene of the Annunciation.  St. Mary kneeling in prayer has her head turned over shoulder as if taken by surprise by the angel who, holding lilies in one hand and extended a blessing with the other, is presenting her with the possibility of becoming the Mother of God.  The Holy Spirit in the form of a dove, sends His rays down upon her.

The final scene (not pictured) is of the Ascension.  Six disciples look on as Jesus ascends into the heavens.

This is the bottom of the patten (a little worse for wear.)  It has been dropped by servers and sacristans (not at St. Sebastian!) that the last time it was repaired they smith said that it was probably the last time that it could be repaired.  The ornate scene at the center is of the Last Supper.  The engraved lettering which is becoming almost unreadable states, "Presented to the people of Sacred Heart Church of Barberton, Ohio - by Father Joseph Medin in appreciation of his pastorate - January 1931 to July 1940 - GOD BLESS YOU ALL"  The bottom of the chalice has a very crude scratching in it that states, "Joseph Medin 1924"

The people of St. Sebastian Parish will see this chalice in use for weddings and on other celebratory days on which the St. Sebastian chalice is not in use.  It will be my Sunday chalice of use for the rest of the Easter season.

For more information on this chalice go here.

I WILL TAKE THE CUP OF SAVATION

Have you ever given a thought about the chalice used at mass? Where did it come from? Why this chalice as opposed to another chalice? It is possible that it is just the “parish chalice” that the celebrant of any mass might use. It might also be the priest’s own chalice or one given to him to maintain and use.

This is a picture of a chalice entrusted to my care. It belonged to Fr. Joseph Medin who was ordained in 1924. He was pastor of my home parish of Sacred Heart during the 1930s. Sacred Heart was a small Slovenian parish housed in a little wood frame building next to the railroad tracks. My Aunt still tells the story of how he took care of the parish during the depression. Apparently he came from a wealthy family in Slovenia and used that wealth to help others. Gifts would magically appear at the homes of a suffering family, kids that could not make it to CCD classes would be rounded up in his big black car, and it is said that he had a kindness that endeared his people to him. He is still held in prayer by people of that generation today.

Somehow that chalice made it into the hands of Fr. Joseph Ozimek. He was the pastor while I was growing up. He used the chalice regularly. By this time Sacred Heart was in a newer brick building but it was still a tiny Slovenian parish and the pool of servers was still relatively small and because we lived close (this was an ethnic parish, not a territorial parish) I served often.

One day I walked into the sacristy and Fr. Ozimek said, “You’re serving today?” to which I replied sullenly, “Yeah, I have to serve again.” He turned toward me and said, “No, you don’t have to. You get to.” I know I looked like I blew that comment off but it effected me deeply.

For years, kneeling before the altar in my red cassock and surplus ringing the Sanctus bells I would stare at the chalice, so artfully done, so intricate, such care and beauty, being inspired by it also to the importance of the use for which it was made – to hold the Blood of Christ! Around the base are hand tooled (not machine pressed) scenes of the crucifixion, the ascension, and the agony in the garden and on the bottom of the paten is the scene of the last supper.

When I was ordained Fr. Kunkle had the chalice restored and presented to me to use to carry on the memory of the parish and priests of Sacred Heart, which is no longer in existence. It was used at my first mass and continues to be used for weddings, funerals, the Christmas and Easter seasons, holy days, and other special occasions. For almost 90 years this work of some craftsman’s hands has served as a sacred vessel for our most precious gift, the Blood of Christ, and has touched the lips of countless new brides and inspired a new generation of Catholics. That is liturgical art at its best.

I SPLEEN YOU

Millennia ago some ancients thought that the source of great emotion including love was the spleen. Thank God we have come to think otherwise. Can you imagine the bumper sticker, “I spleen N.Y.” St. Valentine’s Day cards would look significantly different. And in June we would sing about the “Sacred Spleen of Jesus.” Artistic representations of the Sacred Heart might look like the Chicago bean reported here Monday. Fortunately we have come to think otherwise.

Over the centuries we have come to venerate symbols of Christ’s body. His whole body is represented in our churches on crucifixes and in the Stations of the Cross. There have been artist depictions of His hands, His feet, His head, and His wounds. His heart has been a matter of particular devotion however because it so well symbolizes His great love for us both human and divine. As the source of all love He gave of everything He had to save us, even His body, which we see particularly in both His crucifixion and in the Eucharist in which He continues to give us His body.

A couple of days ago I was speaking with Dawn Eden (whom I spleen) and she suggested a post about devotion to the Sacred Heart for those who might not be quite familiar with it. Here is a quick rundown.

In the final blow to His body, the sword piercing Jesus’ side as He hung upon the cross is said to have entered the chambers of His heart and from there came the flow of water and blood, releasing to the world His pure and superabundant love. The water is the water of baptism which unites us to Himself as true brothers and sisters, allowing us to share not only in His death but also to be resurrected as new creatures in Christ, sons and daughters of the Father. In His blood we receive Christ Himself in the Eucharist, not a distant God to be imagined or seen from afar, but a God that so thoroughly gives Himself to us that He made it possible to hold Him and even take His body, blood, soul and divinity within us, transforming us into His likeness. This is how completely He has given Himself over to us.

Is it even possible to comprehend how much Jesus loves you? How much He was and is willing to sacrifice for love of you? It is a deep mystery worth contemplating. That is what devotion to the Sacred Heart is, it is trying to comprehend that great depth of love that God has for us fragile, wayward, difficult creatures that He created and redeemed.

Though devotion to the Sacred Heart dates back to around the year 1000, it was from St. Margaret Mary (1673-75 dates of apparitions) that the devotion really took off. There is now a universal feast in June which in turn is a month dedicated to the Sacred Heart. During this month in particular we remember His love and make reparations for the outrages committed against divine love especially in the Blessed Sacrament.

For those who are devoted to the Sacred Heart (which means devotion to His great love and attempting to make some return) or who make frequent communions in a spirit of reparation especially on the First Fridays of the month, who make holy hours or take on other devotions including the enthronement of the Sacred Heart in their homes, we were given these promises according to the apparitions of St. Margaret Mary. (Click HERE for more information on these devotions and their further requirments.)

1. To receive graces necessary to our state in life.
2. To have peace in our home.
3. Comfort in our affliction.
4. Strength especially when facing death.
5. A blessing upon our undertakings.
6. Pardon for sinners.
7. A strengthening for those weak of faith.
8. A strengthening for those more advanced in faith.
9. A blessing for places where a depiction of His Sacred Heart is honored.
10.Priests will be able to touch hardened hearts.
11.Those who promote this devotion will be written in the Heart of Jesus.
12.“I promise you in the excessive mercy of My Heart that My all-powerful love will grant to all those who communicate on the First Friday in nine consecutive months the grace of final penitence; they shall not die in My disgrace nor without receiving their Sacraments; My Divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in the last moment.”

These promises were implicitly approved by the Church upon the occasion of Saint Margaret Mary’s canonization in 1920. All apparitions are of a personal nature and bear no binding force of belief by the faithful. But it seems that the great fervor with which this devotion is carried out by the sensus fidelium seems to indicate a supernatural benefit gained by adhering to the plea of the visions of this saint.

Of course, it also calls one to a way of living. One would fall into superstition to perform the requisite nine First Fridays and then live a life of debauchery thinking that you were in like Flin. Devotion to the Sacred Heart means that one tries to be like Him, which means loving as He did. No easy feat. But our perfection on earth is not in the accomplishment, but in the unyeilding trying.

"O Heart of love, I put all my trust in Thee; for I fear all things from my own weakness, but I hope all things from Thy goodness." Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque