MONDAY DIARY - LESSONS OF HUMILITY FROM SEBASTIAN

It still amazes me how many people think that when the Sunday Mass schedule is over that their parish shuts down. Perhaps some places do but for many parishes it is just a change in activity after the last minister walks out of the sanctuary.

This past weekend I had the last Mass and shaking hands in the back of the church there was a person who asked for prayers because she was nervous and would be going in for surgery that week. But surgery deserves more than prayer alone, we have a sacrament for such things and so we celebrated the sacrament of the sick.

After this there was the celebration of baptism as we welcomed a new member into the Church. Father and I had a short break to eat and freshen up and then we headed out to a picnic for our grounds crew. This is the group of people who volunteer a couple of times a week to come out and keep our grounds looking spectacular. They work hard and it was a pleasure to celebrate the close-to-the-end of another season with them. There was the mandatory game of corn hole – a game that I am ashamed to say that I completely fail at. I was a little leery of the score keeping skills of the person against whom I played however but the humiliation was bearable.

That done we headed back to the rectory to prepare to go out to a youth group meeting. We prayed Evening Prayer together, got changed, and headed out with Sebastian (who is far more popular than the two of us put together) to make it to the meeting. As we began our hike a large number of cars were pulling out of the church parking lot. They were about to begin a meeting in the church meeting room but were asked to move their cars because the patching of the parking lot was about to begin.

The walk to the youth group meeting provided the evidence needed to support the statement that Sebastian is far more popular than we are. In fact, I forgot to mention that a young couple registered earlier in the day – the decided factor that this was going to be their parish was that we had such a great dog.

As we walked a car pulled over with a dog and asked if they could visit with Sebastian for a moment. Another lady came out of her house with her dog. A local Episcopal priest pulled over with her dog and then the neighbors came out to meet him causing in impromptu street party. But we had to press on! As we did we were obliged to (happily) stop by a couple of more houses of people who wanted to see the dog (and, oh yes, the priests too.) We passed a gentleman who said he was in his way to a sports boosters meeting at the parish. And then finally we made it to our destination. “It’s Sebastian!” came the call. Then only after the “Hi Fathers” came.

This is not unusual for a parish to keep busy like this all day long – every day. Not listed here were the sporting events, PSR, Children’s Liturgy of the Word, and other parish meetings that took place just this particular day. If one goes home after Mass, it does not mean that the parish does not continue buzzing throughout the day – even a day of “rest.” That is one reason Catholics have full time priests. It is also why there are employees working even on Sunday. It is why your involvement and generosity are so important to the community. Without you the beehive loses its buzz.

FRIDAY POTPOURRI - CALLINGS IN CLEVELAND'S CATHEDRAL - PARTII

This is part II of Fr. Pfeiffer's vocation story. Part I was posted in last Friday's Potpourri.

During this year off I rented an apartment with another great friend from high school, got a job, and lived in the “real world.” It was during this time when I finally started asking the question, “What does God want me to do?” rather than my usual “What do I want to do?” I could not articulate it that way at the time, but during this period I was praying more, continued reading C.S. Lewis books (which interestingly was the consistent thing I did through all the preceding years as well), read the Catechism, and even The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. By this time in my life I was big on apologetics, and I would almost look for debates to defend the Church (I may have done this to a fault at times). I loved talking about the faith. Somehow through all of this, my response to God grace started to grow, and I came to the decision of joining Borromeo Seminary (the college level). I figured if I was energized about the Faith, then maybe I should look into the priesthood; maybe my uncle was onto something I thought.

I told my uncle, and he was thrilled. Then I told my parents and they were very happy and supportive. I told my friends and again was blessed to find much support. During my time at Borromeo Seminary people were affirming this call to priesthood and God kept pulling me along year after year. He pulled me along in my spiritual life as well making me more aware of His infinite love (even for me). Even when doubts would creep up I could not find a good reason for leaving the seminary. It was invaluable to have a good spiritual director during these times (which is probably why the church requires spiritual directors for seminarians). After graduating Borromeo I progressed to St. Mary Seminary for theological studies and more intense training for ministerial priesthood.

It was in my seminary years where living as a holy Christian man really came to the forefront for me. Living out the Faith through the call to holiness (which of course includes realizing how far away I still am) became more paramount. Before seminary I lived the Faith as best I could, but it was extremely intellectual (which is a good thing - don’t get me wrong). I knew the Faith, but was still coming to know the person of Jesus. I am still becoming more aware of Him and His love. This is a life long process of formation for all of us in whichever vocation we choose. His grace somehow worked through it all and kept calling me to priesthood. It is this vocation through which I am to live a holy life. What a blessing it is to be called as a steward of the sacred mysteries even while I am still a sinner. I keep reminding myself that God does not call the worthy, but makes worthy those whom He calls.

Finally after five years at St. Mary’s Bishop Lennon recognized that call. He ordained me a transitional deacon on Oct. 25, 2008 and on May 16, 2009 he advanced me to the rank of the presbyterate in the Order of Melchizedek of Old. The Bishop has assigned me as the parochial vicar of St. Sebastian Parish in Akron, OH for the next four years. I am loving priesthood! - the Mass and sacraments, the people whom I serve, Fr. V. and Sebastian (the dog). How good God is! “And now you know the rest of the story,” as Paul Harvey would say.

Praised be to our Lord Jesus Christ - May God bless you and Mary keep you!

DO BE DO BE DO - SINATRA

"Boredom is in fact the weight of unused capacity, an intimation of the freedom from which the self has hidden" Unger

There is a feeling often reported in the confessional that a person ought to be doing more. And not just more, but something noble and worthwhile. It is as if God is calling the person to some great deed or work - the only problem being that they do not know what it is. So an uncomfortable angst is built up. “I know that I should be doing something, I feel it, but I just cannot figure out what it is,” it is often reported. Daily routines do not satisfy this angst. As good as an activity as it might be, it is just not the right fit. So it is mentioned at confession as being, perhaps, a sin of omission.

What may be happening (and this is good reason to have a spiritual director – one who can help you discern) is that God is preparing you for something coming down the pike. A yearning for service is built up inside of you causing you to look for what it is that is coming your way and when the proper desire is built up God allows the discovery or the realization of your calling to cross your attention.

The answer to the riddle of the calling may, for some, be a short time from months to as few as a couple of hours. Many times it last for years such as some cases of a calling to a religious or priestly life - they know that something is missing from their lives until finally they give their calling a try and feel at peace. “Our hearts are restless until they find their rest in Thee,” says St. Augustine.

What is required of us is that we work on our spiritual life and keep an attentive eye and ear open to our opportunities. Rarely has such a thing been discovered watching T.V. re-runs or playing video games. Don’t shake the feeling but use it as a signal to be ready. It may be that God will be calling.

REHABILITATING THE MOSQUITO

Oh, for some reason I cannot upload pictures today. Sorry.

Mitchner once wrote, “[God] added the mosquito to remind man that no paradise comes free – there are always mosquitoes.”

Thus us this poor little creature much maligned. They are often considered the scourge of the earth save for those birds and frogs that take much delight on dining on them. If there is no God, I would much agree with this lowly assessment of this creature. Except that they have a solid place in the food chain they could be considered horrid little freaks of nature whose sole purpose is to ruin late night romantic starings at the moon and hiking trips. Why should they be? So many more pleasant things could and do exist. Why should uncaring, unthinking nature evolve them? As Michner wrote they exist only to destroy any Shangri-La that we cannot soak in deet. They are a mistake.

But if there is a God, what a wonderful thing a mosquito is! They are proof that we have a generous, loving, and intelligent God who loves life lavishly! Imagine if you were God for a moment – loving life and creation and trying to create as much life in the world as you possibly could. Might you not develop a creature that can live on some of the life of another creature that already had life in abundance? The mosquito lives off of that life we have that fills our cup and runs over into our laps.

But it could not be allowed to run unchecked. What if we felt nothing of the mosquito’s lust for our sanguine elixir? We might be sucked dry and wake up in the bossom of Abraham instead of our sleeping bag. Or worse yet! What if it felt good? There would be mosquito bars! Drivers would have to take a blood level test before driving for fear that they would pass out while driving from lack of blood in their veins! We would have cultivated larger and more hungry super mosquitoes and sell them to miscreants on the streets who would have back alley mosquito parlors where flashy men with more money than taste would send customers into a room with the vampirish beasts occasionally having a body to dispose of in the river from a john that had a little too much of his life taken from him.

But that is not the case! The little beasts sting and leave welts. And they are not cute and furry like a puppy so that we coax them to come around and train them to bring our slippers. Rather, like Fagan they pass through our town trying to steal a little hear and a little there until SWAT! their little marauding escapades are over.

Thus are we kept in balance – one creature benefitting from our wealth of life and they kept in check by the swatter and anti-bug spray. Now, I am not saying that knowing this we should like them any more than we do – or that we should let them have what they want – WWJD? I believe Jesus would swat mosquitoes – but we can come to appreciate them a little more as signs of God’s great love of life. And if paradise does have mosquitoes – fortunately we will have glorified bodies – and so will they and the as the lamb lies by the lion, the mosquito will by the human.

TUESDAY QUOTE OF THE WEEK CXXIX

FINDING TRUTH WHEREVER IT MAY BE FOUND: If you were to bring together the saints worthy of canonization to collaborate in the same work, they would probably be the cause of suffering to each other." Blessed Columba Marmon

QUOTE II: "What happened to the beautiful baby who was Hitler?" Fr. Groeschell

IN OTHER NEWS:

Russ sent in this interesting and relaxing video. Pretty cool! Thanks Russ. (Approx 4.5 minutes.)

Martin sent this in and it is a little late in posting: Prof. Michael Barber's latest Liturgy Reflection video on the Mass readings for September 6th meditates on the meaning of the healing of the deaf man. We hope you enjoy it and would consider sharing it with your readers! You can find older reflections on our Liturgy Reflection channel.

GOOD NEWS EVERY BODY: You may remember Chad Vader: Day Shift Manager. Well season 2 is out and I am so happy! But it is not as good as season one. If you have not seen season one here is the first episode to give you a taste. WARNING: Some inappropriate language.)

Since we have just finished celebrating Labor Day the Diocese of Cleveland Enewsletter asks, "Did you know, the Catholic Worker Movement is grounded in a firm belief in the God-given dignity of every human person? Today over 185 Catholic Worker communities remain committed to nonviolence, voluntary poverty, prayer, and hospitality for the homeless, exiled, hungry, and forsaken. Catholic Workers continue to protest injustice, war, racism, and violence of all forms."

From the same source: Do want to know what the diocese is saying about the current flu scare?

FRIDAY POTOURRI - CALLINGS IN CLEVELAND'S CATHEDRAL: A VOCATION STORY - PART I

There is a guest blogger again today. Fr Pfeiffer has graciously offered his vocation story. Part II will follow next Friday. Enjoy!

Fr. V. has asked me to write a vocation story blog telling of my journey to priesthood. Well, it all started at St. John the Evangelist Cathedral in downtown Cleveland. I say it started there because it is under the vaulted ceiling of our Diocesan mother church where I was baptized. My parents were “between parishes” at the time so my uncle, Fr. Bob Pfeiffer (more on him in a bit), said bring him down to the Cathedral. So in April of 1979 I was washed clean of original sin and began my participation in the Mystical Body of Christ, His Church. Little did any of us know that thirty years later I would be in the same cathedral pressing my nose to the marble and having the bishop’s hands lain on my head allowing me to participate in the eternal Priesthood of Jesus Christ, Head and Shepherd.

My family moved a few times while I was younger, but wherever we were Sunday Mass was a priority and prayer at home was important. We were not praying daily rosaries, but staples of prayer were at meals, Christmas and Easter traditions of prayer and song (at four years old I even wrote and directed a nativity play that the family enacted), and special prayers at family reunions, etc. In fifth grade I started serving at our local parish (in a small town in PA) . This continued through junior high while we lived in Toledo, OH. I think it was at this time I remember my uncle, Fr. Bob, dropping hints about my becoming a priest. I actually ignored much of this. We made our last move just before my freshman year of high school when we came to Stow, OH. We had returned home in a sense to the Cleveland Diocese and close to where my father grew up in Cuyahoga Falls. I even went to my father’s alma mater, Archbishop Hoban High School (even though Fr. Bob went to St. Vincent High School).

It was during these four years that Fr. Bob continued to drop hints - not often but once in a while - about my entering the seminary. But of course toward the end of high school, I had my own plans. I wanted to be an architect, so I was accepted into Kent State University’s Architecture School and continued there for two years. While there, one of my best friends from Hoban entered the seminary (now Fr. Jared Orndorff) as well as another friend I knew from Hoban (now Fr. Mike McCandless). I was happy for them but still did not consider myself as one to wear a roman collar.

After two years I decided to switch majors to Aerospace technology and become a pilot. Architecture was not working out for me as I had hoped, and I felt drawn to military service. I enrolled in the United States Marine Corps Officer Candidate Program. This involved summer training at Officer Candidate School (OCS) and completion of my degree thereupon granting me a commission as an officer and a place in flight school. I went to OCS and gained valuable leadership training (as well as getting in great shape) and returned to finish school, but now something was really nagging me. I did not know what it was, but I felt I needed to take time off school and reconsider my “life’s plan.” Dropping out of full-time school meant leaving the officer program as well.

IT MAY NOT SEEM LIKE IT BUT IT'S ABOUT HEALING

Posts have been made here before about cases of nullity for marriages or as it is more commonly known annulments. That being the case here are just a couple of brief comments and some good news.

The Catholic Church does not annul any marriages. It never has and never will. It does not have the power to do so. If some corrupt official would venture to annul a valid marriage it would not matter one jot because “What God has joined, no man must put asunder.”

What the Catholic Church does do is that it recognizes, proves, and brings forth what actually exists. If, for example, a two people were to marry who were far too young and/or immature to truly make the sacramental commitment to marriage the Church would recognize this fact. For a marriage to be true the two persons must 1)know what they are getting into, 2)understand it, and 3)freely choose it. So all those Romantic novels of princesses being forced to say, “I do” are malarkey for the marriage would not have been recognized anyway.

If you have been civilly divorced please consider getting a declaration of nullity. So many times an excited older couple will come into my office and want to get married but have at least one (maybe more) marriages between them. Unfortunately at that point we will have to start a case for nullity even before we can talk about marriage. And a formal case may take over six months.

The Tribunal of the Diocese of Cleveland has started a tremendous new program called Quick Start. You could always simply meet with your local priest but with Quick Start you will meet with a diocesan expert who can help you get your case rolling much more efficiently and answer your questions much better.

Yes – there is a fee involved and for good reason. But NOBODY HAS EVER BEEN DENIED THE CHANCE FOR A DECLARATION OF NULLITY BASED ON AN ABILITY TO PAY.

So what are you waiting for? Check out more here.

THE DOCTOR WILL SEE YOU NOW

A friend of mine was nervous about seeing the doctor for a problem because of what he knew the doctor was going to ask of him. There was going to be a lifestyle change in store but in the end it would serve to make him healthier enabling him to have more energy and quite possibly a longer life.

Many people feel the same way about listening too closely to that which God is calling them in their heart. The nervousness often stems from having to have a change in living style and that can be a daunting thing. It means leaving the life you know how to live and are perhaps quite comfortable with and embarking on something new.

But consider what it is God is calling you to. Sin is anything that brings harm spiritually, mentally, or physically to you are others. That to which God calls you brings healing and health spiritually, mentally, or physically to you or others. God is calling you to health. Sometimes the call is extreme – think of the martyrs – but most of the time it is like giving up cheesy poofs – it something we enjoy and do not want to give up because they give us immediate gratification – but in the long run having done without them we shall not have to face the damage they did to us.

TUESDAY QUOTE OF THE WEEK CXXVIII

FINDING TRUTH WHEREVER IT MAY BE FOUND: “I love it when people say such things as, ‘Giving should be just between giver and God.’ That is malarkey. It is never just between the giver and God and has been . . . In reality, for most of us, ten to twenty people will have access to information about what we choose to give. This is not about the donor and God. It is about the donor and pastor and the fact that many do not want the one who runs their church to know they support it so poorly.” from J. Clif Christopher’s, “Not Your Parent’s Collection Plate”

QUOTE II: "Stop helping God across the road like a little old lady". from a song by U2. h/t to Warren.

IN OTHER NEWS:

“WOLF! WOLF!” I’m trying not to just holler “wolf!” here. I am ready to really start a Chesterton Society here at St. Sebastian. M. W. are still interested in being point man??? Anyone else interested? This is good time to start up because there is lots of good Chesterton news going on in these parts:

Ellen sends in this information: “I was at the annual Chesterton conference last week and Dale Ahlquist, president of the American Chesterton Society, expressed an interest in having the annual (national!) conference at John Carroll University in a couple of years! (Since they have a Chesterton collection of their own.) This would be a grand opportunity, but a lot of work to be done locally. We are talking 2012 at the earliest. The next two conference are going to be in the DC area, then St. Louis.”

She also writes, “Chuck Chalberg is going to be touring in 2010 and is looking for bookings in Northern Ohio. I wonder if anyone would be interested in sponsoring an "evening with Chesterton" show in April 2010?” I’ve got a hall and a little bit of green – can anybody help sponsor?

And CONGRATULATIONS to the Warren Chesterton Society on celebrating their 5th year this September!

IN NON-CHESTERTONIAN NEWS:

Interested in seeing what the changes in the Mass will be when the new Sacramentary is finally published? G. M. sends in this link to the USCCB website that shows a chart of the changes.

The Diocese of Cleveland Enewsletter asks, "Did you know, the dioceseofcleveland.org 'A-Z Index' provides web visitors with well over one hundred direct links to Catholic information?"

Russel sent in this provocative video for a trailer on Bloodmoney. About two and half minutes.


Gus sent this in: " You and your friends are invited to join EWTN on the First Friday of each month at 3 p.m. ET as we air a special Holy Hour in honor of the Year for Priests. This program, with the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word, will begin airing Sept. 4 and will end in June 2010.

Each Holy Hour will include a sermon by Father Miguel Marie M.F.V.A., as well as hymns and prayers specifically for priests. Keep checking our website, www.ewtn.com, for a new web page on the “Year for Priests,” which will be unveiled shortly. The mini-site will contain information on all of EWTN’s special programming during this Year for Priests (including videos, video clips, and promotional spots), prayers that will be used during the Holy Hour, news, papal documents, and a lot more!

Please join us the First Friday of each month during the Hour of Divine Mercy (and on the web every day) as we follow St. John Vianney’s admonition: “If you want good priests, pray for the ones you have…”

POINT COUNTERPOINT CONTINUED. Michelle sent this link to an article she wrote about the electronic breviary.

MONDAY DIARY - UNTIL WE HAVE FACES

Last night Fr. Pf and I went to the Blossom Music Festival to hear the Cleveland Orchestra play Bolero otherwise known as the fifteen minute snare drum solo and crescendo – known to most people over 40 as the piece used in the movie "Ten." It was cold and threatening rain so we were able to get seats pretty close to the orchestra. “Wow,” Father said closely mimicking the C. S. Lewis book, “They have faces. I usually only see them as white jackets from a great distance.”

We were close enough that we could hear page turns and people taking breathes – even the soloists who were playing string instruments. It was if they were part of the instrument and they needed to breathe for it. It was neat to see so closely some of the world’s greatest musicians playing some of my favorite pieces. Our seats were eye level with their shoes and I was thinking that being the world’s best they could at least do with better socks.

They also performed selections from Carmen. Even if you are unfamiliar with opera in general you know at least some of this piece – especially the Song of the Toreador. According to the program notes when George Bizet premiered this piece it was an absolute flop. But that was due more to the audience not receiving what they expected than it not being a good piece. To put it mildly they went expecting Bugs Bunny but they got Henry V – a far better piece for which they were wholly unprepared. Three months later Bizet died thinking Carmen one of the worst operatic disasters in history instead of what it is: one of the most widely known and loved pieces of opera ever.

He was not alone. This happened quite a bit throughout history. Swan Lake was an unmitigated disaster when it was first produced. Not till after the death of the composer did it become the icon of ballet that it is today. And so it goes with art, books, and ideas, discoveries, and efforts of all kinds.

I think about parents teaching the faith to their children. Teach and desire it as they might some kids wander astray. That does not mean that what you give them will not bear fruit. I think of my Dad. He wanted nothing of Church or God his whole life. How that must break a mother’s heart. In fact, it was not until he was not far from his death bed that he took to prayer and sacraments. But that might not have been the case had his parents not laid some sort of groundwork. Would I have had the environment to become a priest had he not been baptized and confirmed as a youngster – marrying a Catholic woman and being married in the Church? Two generations later those efforts resulted in a vocation. Whoda thunk it?

Do not despair your efforts at bringing God into the world. Martyrs never experience their influence on the world in this life. Keep true to the calling, stay true to the course, your single life may influence more people than you can imagine in your lifetime.

FRIDAY POTOURRI - GUEST BLOGGER ON POINT COUNTER POINT

Response to last Friday’s “Keeping it Real”

Fr. V. makes excellent points. Symbolism is important and we are to use real flowers, candles, etc. for the Liturgy of the Church. When it comes to the iBreviary, I must admit my own hesitation in using it at first. I decided after getting it to try it out for a couple of weeks and then make a decision. I did so and even asked my spiritual director about it. When all is said and done, the point is that one is still praying the Divine Office regardless of the medium as long as the medium prints the correct official liturgical texts (which “iBreviary “does). While I understand and appreciate the use of the leather bound book in hand, do we want to say that is the only “real” way? For instance, what if on Tuesday’s Holy Hour I included the praying of Evening Prayer (the Liturgical texts recommend this actually). For the people to participate in praying those prayers, I would need to give them all prepared leaflets as “worship aids,” which would have been made with a computer, copied by machine, and thrown away or recycled afterward. Are we not praying Evening Prayer or not being reverent of the texts because we do not use books?

Comparing the Breviary to the ritual books of the Mass is helpful because the Office is also the public prayer of the Church very connected with Holy Mass, but remember that there are rubrics that dictate the use of such books - the carrying and kissing of the Book of the Gospels for instance. There are no rubrics like this concerning the Breviary (none that I could find anyway). So treating the Breviary reverently with a kiss (which is what I often do after praying an hour) is praiseworthy but not required nor irreverent if it is not done.

This question raises another in my mind. I wonder if when the printing of books became more common that monasteries ran into similar concerns. To my knowledge, “back in the day,” monks would sing the entire Office from memory. If someone suggested to them the use of books, did they question its authenticity because books were a modern convenience? I just wonder how that transition happened because monks, friars, and nuns now all use books (I think so anyway).

The originator and co-inventor of the iBreviary application is an Italian priest named Paolo Padrini. He stated in an interview, “‘iBreviary’ is not only a text that can be read on the web, but - and it's this the [sic] great innovation - an ‘action’, that involves man and God: the prayer” (read short interview at http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2009/01/05/interview-father-pao.html). Prayer is that dialogue of God with man and man with God in the sanctuary of his heart. Someone could look like they are praying from a book, but are merely reading the prayers whereas one using iBreviary is actually praying them - it is not the book or phone making the difference as much as the person’s heart and faithful intention or lack thereof.
Whatever one uses, the point is to facilitate prayer. Perhaps the iBreviary simply smacks too much of modern technology and the evils that unfortunately can come with it. For those people it will not facilitate prayer, so they should not use it. For some it is beneficial in helping bring them closer to God in prayer throughout the day and facilitates prayer through its convenience. Great! They should use iBreviary! As in many things, the Catholic “both/and” solution applies here. Both can be used. For myself I use both - the book while in our chapel, the iBreviary while I am out and about. Especially as a diocesan priest when schedules change and emergencies happen, I find it helpful.

Oh and by the way, in case the above arguments are not enough, the issue can be somewhat settled in that “iBreviary” has been approved by the Vatican Council for Social Communications (see article at http://www.cathnews.com/article.aspx?aeid=10778). It is not a matter of doctrine, but is nice to know that there is nothing officially “wrong” with using it.

OH YEAH? WELL GOD BLESS YOU TOO BUDDY!

With the assistance of some donated paint and some kind volunteers we painted the sacristy recently. Funny thing about painting a room: When it is desperate need of pain everybody notices. When it is newly painted nobody notices. It just is the way it is supposed to be.

When you are driving down the highway it is very easy to notice rude, idiotic, and dangerous drivers. We are driving along not noticing (usually) how many good, courteous, and safe drivers around us when a MOTHER OF PEARL! driver cuts us off or rides the bumper of the car or some other such thing. There is a ready prayer that most people know for such moments. It is not nice but many of us learned it growing up. In the comics it looks something like this, “%$@** %#$@* ^#%%@?!!!!!!”

The unfortunate part is that the person never knows of your anger. They go along their merry way and you sit stewing and upset and miss some of the best lines from Lake Woebegone. That is unless you are the type of person who then speeds after the offender in hopes to of making them feel is rotten as you do. In that case the unfortunate part is that you have become exactly what you hate.

In the way that (far too many – I include myself from time to time) mark offenders on the road, have you ever given though to searching out people of Christian driving habits? Granted, they are driving the way and Christian driver is SUPPOSED to be driving, but why not give them credit. As a priest I usually give a little blessing the person – not that they can see, but just a little prayer for them that extended kindness toward me.

I usually do this for the person who slows down, moves over, or in some minor way inconveniences themselves to accommodate me when I am entering the highway or need to change lanes or such like things. The same goes if they do it for someone else. Out of state license plates get the secret blessing (which is confusing when I drive out of state) as well as newly bought car tags (because they will need it!) People who blast past me driving well over the speed limit also get it since they are sacrificing themselves to the speed trap so I do not get caught.

Overall it helps me have a more positive attitude and allows the mind to focus on what is good around me instead of only really noting the dirty, stinking, cigarette butt tossing jerky boys – uhm – I mean those poor souls who are probably in need of even more prayer.

OH, BEE THEE ANTS!

We need better PR.

So many of our words have a negative connotation. Good things with bad words are hard to sell.

Let me give an outside example; EAT HEALTHILY

Most people I know at one time rolled their eyes at this phrase. It meant giving up everything that you like to eat, go outside, pick up some sticks and pine needles and pretend that you still enjoy eating. Now that is a hard sell – especially if you enjoy eating. And most people do.

One time I helped through a food party. It included everything that was not good for you in vast quantities. The amount of butter alone consumed that day was enough to keep a bakery in business for decades. The next two days we could barely move. Not because we had eaten too much but because we had eaten too much of the wrong type of things and had poisoned our bodies and they were rebelling against us.

Following that episode eating healthily was not such a horrible thing to consider. We absolutely did not give up on such things as butter but ate them in proper proportions. Well, most of the time. What is the result of this? Were we deprived of the glories of good food? In no way but they were in proper proportion. And our bodies were much more kind to us and we were able to function in life better. Suddenly eating healthy meant having more freedom to be all that we could be.

The Church has similar puzzles. We have a word that sounds negative, drums up suppressing ideas, but is designed for our happiness: Obedience. The very mention of this word brings up ideas of chains and shackles, of being deprived of freedom, of frustration and sadness. But it is designed to do quite the opposite. Its very purpose is to provide freedom. Just one more of the ironies of Christianity.

So a man who has loose sexual ethics is confronted with chastity. To him obedience at first will seem like a drudgery. At night his body may ache to fulfill its strong, animal desire. His mind may make it difficult to even think about anything else. “I am an adult!” he may think to himself, “If I want to act out sexually I will and nobody will tell me what to do!” And so he does. But is that act freedom? He is so driven by undisciplined impulses that he gives into them just to find relief. Yet he sees obedience as a heavy burden.

But were he able to be obedient to the call of chastity and discipline his will how much more freedom he would have! He could choose not to do the very thing his addictions tell him he must. He would have no more worries of perhaps being caught, or having a child, or a disease, or ruining his reputation, or feeling down because he cannot say no, or not steeling time from family, work, or other activities, or maybe just getting a full night sleep if he so chooses. Is that not the greater freedom?

The point is to find where a human being thrives the greatest. That is simply what God is calling us to. When something is called sin it is names so because it brings some harm into the world mentally, physically, or emotionally to the operator or someone else. Freedom has been curtailed and license set free. And hopefully then through confession we pledge ourselves once again to the joy and absolute freedom of obedience – a word only beautiful to those who know and live it well.

TUESDAY QUOTE OF THE WEEK CXXVII

FINDING TRUTH WHEREVER IT MAY BE FOUND: “We call it a “sign” not only because there is a gesture involved – such as a greeting of peace or perhaps shaking hands of those nearest to us – but also that gesture has a profound meeting that we sometimes forget: it is a sign of peace. We really should not receive Holy Communion if there is serious sin on our sou, for serious sin means that we are not in proper relation with God or neighbor. The gesture involved with the sign of peace is not supposed to be merely some generic form of good feeling, let alone a disruption of the solemnity of the Mass. Coming as it does in this part of the liturgy, it is supposed to be a kind of sign or testimony that we are not seriously alienated from God or neighbor, and that we are in a generally fit state for receiving Jesus within us in Holy Communion. Sometimes people can get a bit carried away with enthusiasm at this stage of the Mass, but we ought to be saying when we exchange the sign of peace serves to correct any such exuberance, namely: “The peace of Christ.” Dr. Peter Kwasniewski in Homiletic and Pastoral Review magazine

IN OTHER NEWS:

CK sent in this tongue and cheek article on "Creation According to Athiests."

Greg sent this in: "The next campaign of this 40-day event begins Wednesday Sept. 23 and ends on Sunday Nov. 1. People anywhere can go to the national website http://www.40daysforlife.com/ and locate the event in their own geographical area. On this very professional website they can learn all about the event, the requirements, the reasons, the expectations. There are already (3) locations in the Cleveland area where 40 DAYS FOR LIFE prayer vigils will be conducted simultaneously."

The Diocese of Cleveland Enewsletter reports, "The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) launched a Web page promoting its support of "truly universal health policy with respect for human life and dignity." The page, http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102675775774&s=2627&e=001bCM2opmzbtu9H9Kv7JMmaS6ElyuH0h0VyxbTLc1DipvketV4Xq2POt0wUIqQDC3zK8vN1yHeUCUCawqxEe7sy9iulUDHbcMhQJHoD3jKR7sQD3sNnGgFUhwm0Pb6EaGZ, includes letters from bishops to Congress, videos, facts and statistics, frequently asked questions, and links for contacting members of Congress."

From the same source: "Marriage and the family are institutions that must be promoted and defended from every possible misrepresentation of their true nature, since whatever is injurious to them is injurious to society itself." This is just one of many of Pope Benedict's decisive statements on the unique good of marriage and the family, recently gathered into a new volume of USCCB Publishing's 'Pope Benedict XVI - Spiritual Thoughts Series," this time on the "Family.'"

Unsure if religious life is for you? Now you can meet others who are praying, laughing, and talking about the ins and outs of joining a religious community. Log on to anunslife.org/vocation-forum.

MONDAY DIARY - CELEBRATE! CELEBRATE! DANCE TO THE MUSIC! ON THE OTHER HAND DON'T. AND ITS CELBATE.

Occasionally it is part of the priest’s calling to put on major events. You plan gatherings for maybe a thousand people some groups within that number needing different types of attention. It seems odd that after a while you just get used to it.

This past week we had a large funeral for a prominent Akronite. It was an honor to have the funeral here and it created quite a bit behind the scenes organized pandemonium. As with all funerals, ministers of all kinds must be contacted, cleaning crews must change schedules and add extra between-events attention to the church. Time is spent making arrangements with family and, in turn, staff. Extra priests were expected and so seating must be arranged and liturgical accommodations must be made. Sacristans work to judge for how many communicants we must be prepared. Copies of reading are made, police are notified, and extra vestments are brought out. How many organizations can accommodate such a major event in the life of a family in a couple of day’s time?

This particular funeral the family made the request that Fr. Kraker be the main celebrant. It was such a good choice as he gave a very touching homily, one that I could not have given as I do not have the background with the deceased as he did. That was huge relief though I would have gladly done it. But we were blessed to hear his words.

Perhaps it is part of the charism of the priest to want to celebrate. My oldest sister is quite the opposite. Once my Mom called her in hopes of throwing her and her husband a party. She said, “Guess whose 25th wedding anniversary is coming up?” She honestly did not know. When she was informed she called to her husband and incredulously asked, “Have we really been married 25 years?” I on the other hand have always found an excuse to celebrate something. “It’s apple season! Get out a bottle of champagne and let’s celebrate!”

“We made apple strudel! Let’s have a party!”

“Apple season is over. I was getting sick of apples. Let’s have a party to celebrate.”

If you think about it a parish is a celebration center. The most important celebration happens daily with the celebration of the Eucharist. Confessions, baptisms, confirmations, professions of faith, funerals, and community and educational events. I guess the job aptitude test that I took in high school was not so far off of the mark as I thought it was now that I think about it. I filled out my questionnaire and pulled up the appropriate 3X5 card (computers were not big yet) and read my suggested future career: Cruise Line Director. Perhaps this is somewhat close. But more God centered. And not on a boat. Or near the water. And I wear black instead of white. And instead of a captain I have a bishop. And – well, Okay – maybe it isn’t anything like it.