COME BACK AND TALK TO ME WHEN YOU HAVE A PCC

Things like this crack me up: This is an excerpt from article that appeared recently, “Ultra-modern Catholic churches ‘sometimes go wrong,’ failing to reflect the essential elements of the faith, said Cardinal Gianfraco Ravasi, prefect of the Pontifical Council for Culture.” 

 

Did you even know that we had a Pontifical Council for Culture?  Yet there it is.  Is it not amazing that we have a Church that is so large and can have such a significant sway on the world that we would even have a need for Pontifical Council for Culture to analyze, report, and make suggestions for improvement?

As it is said, “Size doesn’t matter.”  You might have the largest religion in the world, but if it isn’t true who cares?  But as it is, the Catholic Church is the largest Christian Church in the world (even if you add up every Protestant Church in one huge bunch, they would still not match the number of people in the Catholic Church) AND I happen to believe that she holds the fullness of truth.  That makes having a Pontifical Council for Culture all that much cooler.

 

There is a local non-Catholic Church that is very excited that they now have three campuses in very diverse neighborhoods.  We have 221,055 parishes that make just about anybody’s idea of being diverse silly.  And when other Churches are excited about going to a country where a disaster has occurred to help, chances are that the Catholic Church has already been there ministering for as long as people can remember and will be there after the present emergency has passed.  Today, we will clothe more people, educate more people, feed more people, shelter more people, give medical treatment to more people than any other institution on the planet. 

 

And how many organizations out there can go toe to toe with such institutions as the United States government or with the United Nations?  What other institution out there is there of this caliber that is still speaking out for the rights of the unborn?  What other powerful group has not fallen to the pressure of modern cultural pressure who can do something about it? 

 

Who else has a Pontifical Council for Culture????

SAVE THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE

There were two concerts this past weekend, in the park across the street from the parish.  The first one on Friday night was a big band concert with a live, local band.  The band leader would introduce the song, the band would pick up their instruments and play.  At the end of a particularly good solo the audience would clap.  Though there may have been some talking, most of the attention of the audience was directed toward the stage.  At the end of the piece, the audience would show their appreciation by clapping varying by how much they enjoyed it.  A soloist might be reintroduced, “That was Skip Johnson on the saxophone,” and the audience would clap again.

Saturday night was a Gospel Celebration “concert.”  Instead of a music director there was a DJ.  Instead of human beings with instruments, there was a CD playing with (very loud) speakers.  When the music played people talked over it.  At the end nobody clapped, nobody received recognition, even the DJ had difficulty making herself heard over the talking, and then went on to the next song by a different musical organization on a different CD by a different recording label.

 

Even in art we are moving further and further away from the human experience.  From self-serve gas stations, to automated phone “help lines”, to shopping on line, we need actual human contact less and less and less.  And as we need other less, we appreciate them less when we do see them.  (Ugh!  I know that clerk is going to come over here and ask me if I need any help.  I wish he would leave me alone!)  Similarly, as we surround ourselves with virtual art, (posters, recordings, catalogue statuettes,) we appreciate true art less when we experience it.  (Can’t this polka band play some Metallica?  If it were a DJ he could just pop it in.)

 

The Church, when she is her best self, eschews this virtual experience of art.  Recordings are not permitted at the Mass where the Godly and the truly human experience are to meet in their rawest forms.  Recorded music (which, like prints of art and reproductions of statuary) has its place, but is a tragedy and a failing when used during those times in which we are to demonstrate our most human selves.  It is like watching Mass on T.V. or texting your spouse a happy 50^th anniversary.  Epic failure.

 

What happens when all of our art is virtual – when we only have recorded music, posters, and plastic, mass produced sculptures?  We lose touch with the human spark of inspiration, spontaneous innovation, individualization that spawns localization.  Art becomes fashion and as bland as the culinary landscape has become – McDonalds from sea to shining sea.  It becomes as silly as buying a souvenir designed, manufactured, and sent from China (and where the proceeds will go) to remember your trip to Ireland. 

 

The tide can change.  All it takes is people to do something.  Support the arts.  Participate in the arts.  Go to a play.  Introduce your children to arts and teach them how to experience it.  When you see a street musician put some money in the case and if they are good, give them more.  STOP and listen to them for a moment.  When buying a souvenir, consider looking for something actually made in the place that you visited.  (Yes, it will cost a little more.)  When looking for something to go on that wall, consider getting something a human being has created – go to the local arts and crafts fair or artist’s shop.  It is riskier and it is Okay to make a mistake but in the meantime you’ve supported the arts.  If you can, hire a trio instead of a DJ.  Donate (every little bit helps) to a local school of arts, or museum, or theater, or organ project, or ballet, orchestra, opera, or city arts program.  Go listen to concert, even it is for free by the city.  Get as close to the human experience as possible.  Make possible the culture for art to flourish when and as you can.  Do your part to keep us human.

TUESDAY QUOTE OF THE WEEK CCCV

FINDING TRUTH WHEREVER IT MAY BE FOUND:  "Although some people were surprised that an author of books about riots, orgies, and cannibalism would become a devout Catholic, (Evelyn) Waught felt it quite natural.  'You have no idea how much nastier I would be if I was not a Catholic,'he said.  'Without supernatural aid, I would hardly be a human being.'"  h/t to Jim Casey for finding that one.

 

IN OTHER NEWS:

 

Apologies for their not being a post yesterday (and today's being so late.)  It is the first day of school and there are a number of new employees.  But everything, though time consuming, went well.

 

The Diocese of Cleveland Enewsletter asks, "Did you know, your opportunities to make the Diocesan-wide pilgrimage are quickly winding down?  Most Reverend Richard Lennon, Bishop of Cleveland has designated five parishes as pilgrimage sites in the Diocese of Cleveland for the 'Year of Faith.'"  Read more here.  See you at St. Sebastian!

 

This is a three minute video that is a scandalous commentary on modern culture.  It is both funny and tragic.  It is called Dannon Yogurt with Birth Control on the Bottom.  Keep in mind the title before deciding to watch it.  Find it here.

 

 

FRIDAY POTPOURI: ITS GOOD TO BE THE KING

There s a saying that goes like this, “He who is polite to you but rude to the waiter is not a polite person.”  Manners cannot be a veneer.  You are either a person of manners or not.  One is to be solid mahogany or be considered a charlatan. 

 

So it is with faith as we see today in paragraph 36 of Lumen Gentium, bringing us dangerously close to the end of this chapter.  The Catholic way of living the Christian life cannot be something we wear when convenient.  The Church is not something one joins, it is something one becomes.  Just signing up at the local Catholic parish does not make one a Catholic anymore than does an Italian become Irish because he wears a “Kiss Me I’m Irish” T-shirt.  There is a life to be lived.

 

Christ was exalted by God because of His obedience to the will of the Father and the extreme living out of that life in a world hostile to it.  He handed on that life to the Apostles and, in turn, to each of us.  So we cannot think that faith is something to do for an hour on Sunday, before meals, and for a few seconds before going to bed at night, it is who we are to be.

 

And like Christ and apostles we are not just to live it for ourselves.  Among the offices into which we were anointed at our baptism is that of the kingly office.  It gives us mandate to involve ourselves into the temporal workings of this world when they do not serve the proper means and ends of the human person.  We are to steer our homes, schools, communities, governments, workplaces, our very world into the right order before God.

 

There are two pitfalls here.  The first is the thought that the goal is just to win and turn everyone into Catholics.  The point is not to be on the winning side but to bring true joy and freedom to all.  It is like debating.  If your goal is just to be right, even if you are you will not win friends.  If your goal is to bring someone to truth, then you have a much better chance of winning over your opponent. 

 

The other side of the coin are those who think you simply want to ram your religion down their throats.  (Of course what nobody sees is that they too want to ram their beliefs – even secular as they may be – down your throat.  There is the mistaken idea that there is some sort of neutral position.  There is not.  Every belief, even atheism comes with presuppositions that cannot be scientifically proven.  Hence Atheism is a belief.)  Never think because your position happens to be Catholic that you have no right to share it and to try to imbue your nation with its ideas.  EVERYONE has that right and you are not a second class citizen.  Youy voice is just as important and civilly valid as anyone else’s trying to sway the nation.

 

There is a way in which we were designed to live.  And it is living that life that gives us the best chance at joy.  It is our mission to do what we can to establish true justice, love, and peace.  “The laity enjoy a principal role in the universal fulfillment of this task.  Therefore, by their competence in secular disciplines, and by their activity, interiorly raised up by grace, let them work earnestly in order that created goods through human labor, technical skill and civil culture may serve the utility of all men according to the plan of the Creator and the light of His Word. . . and in their own way may be conductive to universal progress in human and Christian liberty.”

RANT - COUNTER RANT: WHY WE STILL NEED TO THINK

It is time to return to the ancient craft of thinking.  We have handed over so much of our thinking to remembering devices and calculating devices, and instead of freeing up our brains for more lofty endeavors, have mindlessly given over that time to other devices that whittle away life for us while we put thinking on hold aside from wondering who might get kicked off of the island next.

 

As a counter to this a book was recently suggested to me: Peter Kreeft’s, “Socratic Logic; A Logic Text Using Socratic Method, Platonic Questions, and Aristotelian Principles.”

 

There’s a winning title.

 

And I will admit, as admirably as Mr. Kreeft tries to make it a fun exercise, it is a lot of work learning how to think.  But the pay offs are magnificent.  Like learning another language, if you can put up with the long fuse, the boom at the end is well worth it.

 

I would love have a course like this taught in our parish school and even open it up to the rest of the parish.  (We shall see.)  This is for two reasons: first, it would prevent people from embarrassing themselves writing mindless drivel as Mr. Richard Kunkel did in his letter to the editor in the Akron Beacon Journal on Wednesday, August 14^th concerning abortion, and second, it would help students to see mindless drivel when it appears before them.

 

There is so much to write about in this letter I doubt I can do it in one post but here are some high – er – lowlights.  After stating that a recent letter to the editor really made him think, he wrote, “Suppose Honda had a bad model, and it was recalled.  Should we make a law forcing Honda to close?  Or how about a law that would close every automaker in the state?”  Is this a fair comparison?

 

To begin with, Honda does not design anything that is intended to kill anybody.  Their products are supposed to be convenient and safe.  Therefore, if something goes wrong, we make them fix their product and make them safe once again.  Abortion is not designed to keep a person safe but to kill them.  If we don’t want people killed, then yes, we do shut them down.

 

Further, the product that Honda makes does not affect the morality of a nation, the family structure, religious freedom, or health care.  It is a false example.  A better one would be independent brain surgery clinics (if such a thing existed.)  If they were in violation should we keep letting them perform brain surgeries and work with them in eventually coming around to being a safer clinic?  No.  I would say stop all surgeries now.

 

Mr. Kunkel also states that the only problem here is that one group doesn’t want abortion so therefore it should be legal.  Really?  There are (essentially) three groups out there: those who want abortion, those who don’t, and those somewhere in between.  In a democracy such as ours that is always the case and we vote to see what we should do.  For example, there are a great number of people out there who enjoy smoking.  There are those who think it should not be done in public, and the somewhere in between group.  I could use his same argument to say that only one group wants there to be no smoking in our country – therefore the rest of us should be able to smoke next to him at his favorite restaurant.  Bet he doesn’t buy it.  (All of a sudden his call for tolerance disappears.)

 

Ah!  See?  I’m already going too long.  But I can’t stop.  “If you don’t want abortion, don’t have one,” is another tired and silly diatribe.  He likens it to, “If you don’t like alcohol, don’t drink,” as if it were an equal case.  How about this better one: If you don’t like racial prejudice, don’t use racial slurs, but don’t trample on the rights of those who want to use them or burn crosses on public property as long as they have a permit.  But that hardly solves the problem.  (And really, there is only one group that wants us to get rid of racial inequality – right???)

And he calls this a “war on women.”  Switching the conversation to women’s health and rights is a clever way of covering over what is at the center of this debate: another innocent human being.  It is a war on humanity and the rights of the weakest and least politically connected among us.  And as we become a nation that takes the throwing away of human life more and more easily, we become less human, appreciate all human life less, and take another step backward in the advancement of human dignity, worth, and love.

 

Last point and then I will try to stop.  Mr. Kunkel states that we should be able to do whatever is legal and not be unfettered “by my or anyone else’s dislike.”  The tyranny of tolerance.  Of course what I want to do may be in direct contradiction to what you want to do.  Who gets to win?  My Aunt had a neighbor who put in a chimney that met code but only caused smoke to be trapped between the houses and forcing smoke into her house, leaving an odor and making a mess.  Yet it was legal.  Was the neighbor therefore morally in the right because the city said they had their hands tied because he was up to code? 

 

And once again (I know, I said I would stop) we forget the idea that there is a human person in the womb.  He was a human person at conception, as he develops he is a human person, and he will only ever be a human person as he develops.  He struggles for life and will be born and grow if we let him.  I would say these are signs of what this human person wants.  But we silence him so that he does not have a say and we can do away with him without giving him any real consideration.  It is legal after all and therefore must be morally right and good for us as a nation.  Right?

IT'S LARGELY A MATTER OF HOW ONE CHOOSES TO SEE THE WORLD

ATTITUDE.

One person is angry, the other is Okay.  One feels slighted, the other thinks nothing of it.  One person is always down, another decides to be happy.

 

When I was a kid we lived "on top of the church" and so I was always being sent over to serve when there was nobody else available in our tiny Catholic parish.  One day, walking in to the sacristy, the pastor said with some surprise showing on his face, "You again!"

 

"Yeah," I said in a  dejected tone, "I have to serve again."

 

The surprise look on his face changed to a very somber and serious one.  "No," he said both kindly and emphatically, "you get to serve again."

 

On that note, this is reminder that tomorrow (Thursday) is a holy day of obligation.  We get to go to Mass that day to celebrate something very near and dear to the heart of a Catholic: The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Check you local parish(es) for Mass times.

 

For those near to St. Sebastian, we have a vigil Mass tonight at 7PM and on Thursday we have 9:00AM Mass, 5:15 extraordinary form, and a 7PM Mass. 

TUESDAY QUOTE OF THE WEEK CCCIV

FINDING TRUTH WHEREVER IT MAY BE FOUND:  "The man who is moved to over eat or over drink does not at all necessarily resolve a life long of gluttony or drunkenness.  If anything he's far more likely to assure himself that this is the very last time he will indulge in either.  He reaches out his hand toward the decanter in order to fortify with one more glass his resolve to become a T-totaler."  C. S. Lewis

 

QUOTE II:  "If you want to win the war you've got to pick the right battles."  This take on the old saying is from the X Files.

 

IN OTHER NEWS:

Possible new saint on our hands???  The cause for G. K. Chesterton is being opened!  Read more here.  Thanks Brian.

Have you seen the stories about the "angel priest?"  Here is a blog post about it that resolves who the priest is.  But that still doesn't make the story any less cool - the sacraments were what was special and did what they were intended to do.  Thank for the posting.

 

OK, this was actually pretty cool.  Mary sent in a flash mob doing a painting. 

And in case you want to see the original painting go here.

MONDAY DIARY: ALMOST EXCRUSIATINGLY TRUE STORIES: THE VIRTUE OF LIVING A CLEAN LIFE

Kids - LISTEN TO YOUR PARENTS! They may be old but they know a thing or two.  You may have heard them tell you that it is very unwise to put anything about yourself on the Internet because anything you post is out there forever.  It is.  Always think twice.  For just when you think you have life all together - *WHAM * - something comes back from your past Internet life to haunt you. 

 

And to tell the truth, this is not new and it is not just the Internet.  In our modern age, we are camera happy and SOMEBODY out there always has a copy of an embarrassing picture of you.  JUST FOR EXAMPLE . . . one of my beloved classmates just sent me this picture that he somehow found . . .

Yes, I am in the above picture.  How he got a hold of this picture I do not know.  There was a time when this Slovenian boy danced with the Hungarians.  It was fun.  We toured all over north east Ohio and made a few bucks and ate a lot of free Hungarian sausage and deep fried dough.  I am sure there are pictures of me in many a grandma's photo album.

 

In fact, when I die, it would be interesting to find out just how many people have pictures of me - well - not ME per se, people always have been interested in the clothes I wear.  In Rome I found out why so many local priests do not wear their clerics.  I couldn't walk 50' without someone wanting my clothes in their picture:

I either worked for or belonged to many organizations that required special clothing.  I used to work for the Yankee Peddler Festival at the Doc Spellbinder's Medicine Show which meant I spend the whole weekend walking around in a colonial clothing and having my picture taken.

The funny part was that many of these things were over the weekend.  I was also an organist for my home parish and would often have to play in some sort of costume because there was no time to change.  So one weekend I was someone from colonial America and the next I was in a band uniform. . .

It was particularly interesting when I worked for Revenge-O-Grams in their murder mystery weekend department.  One weekend I was Chinchinisad and had just been murdered before I had to high tail it out of Punderson State Park to make it to the 4:00 Mass in time to play the opening hymn.  That was perhaps a little disturbing. 

 

But just in case someone out there might have pictures that would be best left in a drawer, I want to get the worst out of the way so that I need not live in shame and fear that it might come out some day. 

 

I worked for a couple of years at Christmas time for Higbees.  We did Christmas shows at the breakfasts they served.  The really talented people got to work at the down Higbees with Mr. Jingaling.  The rest of us were farmed out to the malls where we worked with various and sundry Santa Clause impersonators.  Yes.  I was a Higbees Jingle Bell Rocker.

FRIDAY POTPOURRI: WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON AND WOULD ANYBODY KNOW IT?

The gist of my homily last weekend was: “This ain’t heaven.”  Which is why, according to Michner, God gave us mosquitoes.  No matter how great life here may be, those little buggers remind us that there’s got to be something better.

 

In the mean time, that does not stop us from doing our best to make this life a blessing.  We live in a state that some refer to as, “Already/Not Yet.”  Jesus Christ has come and in reality, death and sin have already been defeated – the end is clear – the battle is won.  It is like the mathematical certainty of the population of the United States and Europe is headed for a sharp decline due to smaller families, contraception, and abortion.  At this point there is nothing to be done except try to minimize the damage.  The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.  We can either participate in it or, for some strange reason, choose to join those who have already lost.

 

That being said, His Kingdom is not yet fully established here on earth.  It won’t be until He comes again.  We are living in the aftermath of war waiting for our cities to be rebuilt.  The government is not yet fully established, order does not yet reign supreme.  (This may be overstating the case a bit, but I think it helps one imagine the state we are in.  We are rejoicing, but not yet fully.)

 

So in this next uber long paragraph of Lumen Gentium (35), the laity, in particular, are given their marching orders toward the building up of the Kingdom.  To aid us until the King comes to fully establish his rule, he sent us not only a hierarchy but the laity.  Interestingly the document says that he gave us “not only the hierarchy” but also the laity to fulfill the prophetic office to the world.  Once again the documents call the Church’s people to their proper roles.  There are no passive members of the Catholic Church and in this role, hierarchy and laity alike are held to the same level of responsibility. 

 

Once again, whatever you are doing today, wherever you go, whomever you meet all can be used to advance the Kingdom of God, bringing people over to the side of life, freedom, and dignity.  In fact, the laity can do this more effectively because their efforts are, “accomplished in the ordinary circumstances of the world.” 

 

Of high importance is married and family life.  (Today more than ever!)  More often than not at the end of a wedding homily I remind a couple that their marriage is not just for them.  It is for me, the servers, the people attending the ceremony, their future children, and all those with whom they will come in contact throughout their married life.  They are going to live the inner life of the Trinity – love between two persons that is fruitful and becomes a third person, a community of love that spills over and nourishes the community now and in the future.  “Hence by their example and testimony, they convict the world of sin and give light to those who seek truth.”

 

WOW!  Think of that today as you are taking the trash out, mowing the lawn, driving to work, loving your family, or going over to the neighbors for beers and brats.  THIS IS YOUR CALLING and the purpose of marriage.

 

FURTHERMORE, the Church foresees times when there will not be clergy present.  For example, in times of persecution the laity are called to supply sacred functions to the best of their abilities.  (Now that doesn’t mean trying to consecrate bread or forgiving sins, but the door, in emergencies, is open wider than most people think.)

 

“Let the laity, therefore, diligently apply themselves to a more profound knowledge of revealed truth and earnestly beg of God the gift of wisdom.”

 

Again I say, “Wow.”

AND I APPROVE THIS MESSAGE

Some priests talk about anonymous letters they receive. Of course, being anonymous, they are never, “I just wanted to write you and tell you how wonderful you and the parish are.” They are usually burning with anger and dripping with maliciousness. I don’t why, but I don’t get those. (And wouldn’t pay them any mind if I did.) The worst part about them is that there is nothing to be done with them. One can’t respond because there is no one to respond to. So there can be no clearing up of misunderstandings (on either’s part) or an explanation. (And whoever got the idea that anybody could be won over to something by being rude to them is beyond me.)

 

Now, that is not to say that I don’t get messages of one sort of another from people who disagree or disapprove of something I said or did. I do. But fortunately they are signed and therefore we can do something about it. Talk –come to some sort of understanding even if it is an understanding of disagreeing. (The blog is different because we can still send messages back and forth.)

 

A difference between the two notes (anonymous and signed) also tends to be the tone.  The anonymous ones tend to be very disrespectful and the other type, while they may still be strong, is usually a more logically thought out argument than some emotional diatribe. This anonymity may be why there are so many people confessing road rage. The anonymity associated with road rage allows our worse self to come out. Since (chances are) no one will know who it is that is cutting them off, tailgating, slamming on the breaks, honking the horn, flipping them off, or yelling at them, our worst self, the stuff deep down that we would never share if it were associated with us, can come out. (Great karma when it turns out that you and the person you attacked pull into the same parking lot.)

 

This is also the danger of the internet. The ability to leave anonymous messages (and as we have discovered lately, news articles that turn out to be false after doing much damage) allows the worse part of our culture to surface. No longer do you have to stand behind your word with your signature and address or stand out on the street and have your face associated with a protest sign. Nasty and numerous missives can be left with and about anybody.

 

It is the duty of all who are interested in the elevation of our culture but particularly the Christian/Catholic to fight against this temptation and tendency. It is another form of calumny, detraction, and gossip of the worst sort and we can’t be a part of that.

 

Some have said that they fear reprisals for something they want to say if they put their name to it.  If that is the case, if the risk is not worth the price of the argument, then it shouldn’t be brought up at all. We are to be a people of our words.

WHAT TO DO WHEN JESUS IS BROKEN

The arm fell off of Jesus.  A scapular that is thoroughly worn.  A rosary that has broken so many times that it really can’t be repaired anymore.  What do you do with these things if they have been blessed?  It seems wrong simply just to throw them in the trash.

 

A blessed item means that it has been set aside for service to God and therefore needs to be treated differently than your apple cores and used tissues.  Here are a couple of stand-by rules:

 

First, they cannot be made over into secular purposes.  The arm of Jesus cannot be used in your son’s diorama of a Halloween cemetery.  The rosary shouldn’t be made into costume jewelry.  The banished glass chalice cannot be used for dinner. 

 

There is no canon law concerning the disposing of religious articles however and so some of the determination has to do with the sensibilities of those who are in charge of disposing.  Somewhere in between the above uses and simply holding on to them forever is the answer.

 

Then general rule of thumb is: burn or bury.  Old palms, wool scapulars, books, etc may be thrown on the fire.  Other objects such as rosary beads and statues may be buried.  The holy oils at your parish at the end of the year are either burned or buried.

 

It should also be kept in mind that there are those who collect these very objects, especially pieces of rosaries and often statuary, in order to repair them and give them away or sell them.  You might want to contact such a person.

 

On the other hand, failing to find someone who wants your stuff (for the right reasons) and having something that will not burn and is not biodegradable, what do you do? 

 

There was a tabernacle that was stolen from a parish once and recovered.  It was disassembled and placed along an anonymous tomb in one of our cemeteries.  When the fad of glass chalices passed, the question was what to do with the 8 packs of glasses from Kmart that were no longer going to be used.  Can’t burn and exactly where can you bury glass?  At one institution the glasses were wrapped and smashed (as reverently as possible) and then disposed of.  I imagine that would be a similar thing to do with plastic statues and plastic rosary beads – dismantle them as much as possible, perhaps wrap them in old newsprint, and then dispose of them. 

 

Or you could just hold on to them for life in a box in your closet and let your kids figure out what to do with them when you’ve gone.

TUESDAY QUOTE OF THE WEEK CCCIII

FINDING TRUTH WHEREVER IT MAY BE FOUND:  "What is ecclesiastical history but a record of the ever doubtful fortune of the battle though its issue is not doubtful?"  John Cardinal Newman

 

QUOTE II: "The champion of an idea may be defeated but the idea itself only vanishes when it has been defeated by another idea."  Hubert Jedin

 

IN OTHER NEWS:

Eric sent this in:  "Your painting (that Eric painted) of St. Sebastian Attended by St. Irene won first place, by popular vote, on a European art website noenga.com."

We had an art and architecture tour at St. Sebastian this past week.  While on the tour Tom took this great picture of one of our windows:

 

Here is an interesting article on "Why we are losing the battle over marriage."  See what you think.  Click here.

 

Bishop Lennon responds to Pope Francis' comments concerning priests with same sex attraction:

Cathy sent this in:  Pope returns home from WYD.  Under 2:00

MONDAY DIARY: ALMOST EXCRUSIATINGLY TRUE STORIES: FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS

Continuing the saga of the broken dishwasher:  In the grand scheme of things this is a silly problem - and "problem" is a strong word to use in this story.  I mean - really - most of humanity never has, doesn't have, a probably never will have a machine that washes their dishes for them.  And there are people starving in the city.  So I know - just get over it.  Besides, remember when you were growing up how much fun it was when it was you and your sister's turn to wash the dishes together - how close it made you? 

My sister in New York never had a dishwasher and she talks about how relaxing she finds it.  She was also voted Most Likely To Enter an Insane Asylum.  I take that back, that wasn't nice.  But on the other hand she doesn't have staff and volunteers and visitors on an hourly basis leaving mugs and cups and dishes in her house.  In fact, now that her kids are grown, its just her and my brother-in-law.  And they're minimalists when it comes to setting the table.  NOT a fair comparison.

 

I must say that our plant manager really hopped to it to help us out in the rectory.  Gads am I lucky.  He took care of the whole thing.  I tried to be nonchalant about the whole thing.  I think I did a pretty good job of making it sound like the whole thing didn't matter too much to me because, quite frankly, I was embarrassed at how much I wanted the piece of junk replaced and working.

I didn't even have to do much research.  He took care of it.

And when there were snags, I made a good show of rolling along with the punches.

And though I was very grateful, I was dignified when it was installed and working.

FRIDAY POTPOURRI: EVERYTHING MATTERS

St. Therese was all about doing every little thing with love and for the glory of God.  If she washed floors, she gave thanks that she was able to do this for someone and did the work with great care because she did it for God.  That way every action we perform – every action we perform – can become a greater connection to God.

 

I try to remember that as I wash dishes while our machine is down.

 

“Try” is the operative word.

 

The next paragraph of Lumen Gentium (34) reminds us that God wishes to give His Spirit to every person in order that they may perform these “good and perfect works.”  Julian of Norwich fans might see a little of her theology reflected here.  All things given to God can be made good and for the glory of God and our benefit.

 

At your baptism, Sacred Chrism was put on your head and (among other roles) you were anointed priest.  For a priest to fulfill his duties he must offer sacrifice.  (That is the definition of a priest – one who responsible for the sacrifice.)  There are many chances to offer sacrifices in daily life – “in family and married life, daily work, relaxation of mind and body” and even hardships, if they are accomplished in the Spirit and through Christ are sacrifices acceptable to God. 

 

Personally I find it very cool that relaxation was included.  Not only do we have a great God who is almost like a doting grandmother, “You need your rest!  You will take it easy today!” we also have a Church that says the same.  When possible, as a priority, we are to rest.  But not simply rest, but rest in God.  Even rest can be for our sanctification.  (So be careful about going to see that R rated film for your rest.)

 

Of course this culminates in the Eucharist, our source and summit.  After have received God’s gifts, we are sent out into the world to be priests, prophets, and kings, living the life, transforming our world, and offering sacrifices.  But then we are to return to the Eucharist and offer all that we have done with the Eucharistic sacrifice.  That is why we must have full, conscious, and active participation at the Mass.  We must actively offer our sacrifice.  Remember the new translation, “Pray my (brothers and sisters) that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God the Almighty Father.”  What a monumental missed opportunity Mass is when we go through it brain dead not offering our own sacrifice and relying on the priest to keep us entertained.  We are not there to be entertained.  Hopefully we are given the environment to do what we are supposed to be there to do, to offer ourselves and our sacrifices as the priesthood of the laity.

IT COULDN'T LAST FOREVER

The honeymoon is over.

 

The paper today reports that not everybody is happy with the new pontiff.  Actually I’m rather surprised it took so long.  Most of the brouhaha stems from the pontiff saying that if a priest is gay but repents of a lifestyle not in keeping with the priesthood, then who is he to judge. 

 

Those on the right and left are not happy.  The right is not happy because he seems too wishy-washy.  The left is not happy because he does not seem wishy-washy enough.  Which places our pontiff right smack dab in the middle, or in his own terms, he is a son of the Church and believes as the Church does.

 

There is erroneous thought out there that he can change Church teaching.  He can’t and any Catholic worth his salt knows that.  Allowing a man to become a priest who happens to have SSA is not matter of theology per se, but matter of policy.  If I were hiring a business manager, I might want someone who has at least worked in the non-profit world because that would be a lot smaller learning curve for the new employee, but that too is a matter of policy, not the official teaching of the Church.

 

In the end, what has changed?  Nothing.  Any man who wants to become a priest will have to conform his life morally to the teachings of Christ no matter his orientation.  What is far more interesting is this idea that we have to “like” or “dislike” our pontiff as if he were a Facebook page.  Either way, he is our pontiff.  Do you like your boss?  Do you like your Dad?  Do you like your president?  Like or dislike all you want, unless you want to leave you job, family, or country you can either be miserable or work with what God gave you to make something holy of your life and advance the Kingdom of God.  (Do you really think God cares if you like Christ’s vicar on earth?  But I would imagine he does care if you worked for the advancement of the kingdom or not.)

 

My Dad used to go into an absolute fit when it rained.  “I can’t ride my bike, I can’t work in the garden, I can’t go out and do anything!”  To him I used to say, “Dad, you live in northeast Ohio.  It rains.  You either find a way to enjoy the rain or you are going to be miserable.”  He chose to be miserable.

 

We have a pope.  What do you choose?