FRIDAY POTPOURRI: HEAD, SHOULDERS, KNEES AND TOES, KNEES AND TOES.

Once, when I was a kid, we were at some sort of Mass that was not in a church building (probably some polka Mass at some festival or something) so of course there were no kneelers.  When it came time to kneel and nobody did my Aunt Milly said something like, “By God, I don’t care if nobody else is kneeling!  I am going to kneel before my God!”  And she did so.

There is some confusion in our diocese from parish to parish when it comes to kneeling.  There is universal law.  There are exemptions for the United States of America.  There were changes, which an ordinary has a right to do, that changed what we did in the Diocese of Cleveland.  There were the pastors that were not interested in going along with the (previous) bishop and those who were not.  Then there was a decree sent out by (now) St. John Paul II that, at a certain part of the Mass, we could make up our own mind concerning our posture.  

Some people like this.  Some people HATE this.  (I will be offering a class on gestures at Forest Lodges on the 15th of September at 7:00PM to explore these mysterious things.)  In today’s paragraph (96) it further refines what it means not to have certain personages “standing out” at the Mass - the mystery is pushed deeper.  We are, in fact, to become One Body in the listening of the readings, participating in the prayers and singing, and in the participation at the Lord’s table.

Then it says, “This unity is beautifully apparent from the gestures and bodily postures observed together by the faithful.”  If it is a sign of our unity, it is at least understandable why people get upset when someone decides to be a lone wolf and stand when others kneel or sit when others are standing.

There is SOME room for individual expression here, but not a lot - that is not what the Mass is about.  If you are going to buck a tradition, make sure your choice is legitimately available.  If you are too feeble to kneel or stand, of course people are going to understand.  If the setting makes kneeling impossible (such as squished lack of space), then of course you don’t have to kneel.  But one’s choice should never be to make a point to everybody else.  Hold a sign in the parking lot after Mass if there is a theological injustice you think is going on (and be ready to be confronted) but not at the Mass.  This is a place to become one body.

THE AWESOMENESS THAT IS YOU

Do you know how awesome you are?

What are the odds that you would be reading this blog today?

Nobody would ever stake a bet on it.

The fact that you “are” is in and of itself astronomically breathtaking.

From the very dawn of creation, all the way back to Adam and Eve, only one small fact had to change and you wouldn’t be here.

Someone 3,000 year ago one person in your family line could have been trampled by an elephant and you would not have been born.  Or some rascal in your family tree could have been thrown into jail in the 5th century for drunk and disorderly conduct for just one special night causing someone in your family not to be born and you would not be reading this.  Effective contraception might have been invented in the 11th century and used just on one night and your whole family line could have been forever just a theory.

Someone could have turned left instead of right, been delayed just a little longer, had a cold, been selfish, been angry, been in an accident, misunderstood something, not risked, WHATEVER - in thousands of years, just one of these minor things could have happened and you would not be.  Depending on how far back one of these things might have occurred, much of the planet could have been people by entirely different family lines.

But you made it.  Why you?  Who knows?  Just be thankful and glad.

That is why we celebrate today the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  She, of course, had to come first before Jesus could be born.  We thank God for the gift of her and her parents, Joachim and Ann.  How blessed we are!  Because of this blessed event we have Jesus, we have our faith, we have a Church, we have St. Sebastian, and I have the incredible gift which is you reading this blog.

TUESDAY QUOTE OF THE WEEK CCCLX

FINDING TRUTH WHEREVER IT MAY BE FOUND:  "The sin of the century is the loss of the sense of sin."  Pope Pius XII

QUOTE II:  "Part of needing salvation is not knowing that you need salvation."  Fr. Bendar

IN OTHER NEWS:

St. Sebastian 40 Hours of Devotion begins this Sunday morning and continues until Tuesday night with closing ceremonies at 7:00PM.  Please come join us!

A seminarian from Texas, Christopher Yeager, was visiting yesterday and we ventured to the "new church" to find a way to the bell tower.  It was equally as confusing to find the way up as it is at St. Sebastian but the view was spectacular.

PCV sent in THIS article about the Diocese of Lincoln's Sacred Music Clinic.

The Problem of Evil is video 13:

FRIDAY POTPOURRI: YOU ARE SPECIAL JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE

The place may be new to you but you are not a guest.

You may be rock star but for an hour it doesn’t matter.

You may have just won an Olympic medal, but you should put it in your pocket.

Finishing the paragraph we started last week in the GIRM (95) it says we should, “consequently avoid any appearance of singularity or division.”  It is a level playing field during the time of the Mass.  All sons and daughters, alike in status before their Heavenly Father, we are united as equals at the Mass.  

Imagine that you are a famous movie star.  It is difficult for you to even leave your house without paparazzi crowding around you and snapping your picture.  Unless you go to some exclusive restaurant trying to hang out with your friends at the local food joint is impossible because even the wait staff wants your autograph.

But it shouldn’t be like that at Mass.  The priest should not say something like, “And guess who we have here with us today!”  Ideally, at the Mass, we are just part of the family.

Once in a blue moon, we do have someone relatively famous show up at Mass at St. Sebastian.  Two times ago it was at a Mass celebrated by Father Pfeiffer.  The altar servers knew there was a famous comedian in the church but Father advised them not to make a fuss.  Even after Mass he instructed them to be calm and respectful and not to harass the poor guy but to just to go up and say hello.

It is also why, outside of ritual Masses, special blessings are forbidden at Mass other than the ones that are prescribed.  The ones that are prescribed such as for significant wedding anniversaries, installations of EMHC, and the like are allowed because these effect the whole community and the whole community is involved in the blessing.

But how far should this go?  There are some who eschew the idea of having “visitors” stand before Mass so that everybody can clap for them because it sets them apart as visitors and not family.  (Again, imagine if you were that famous comedian that just wanted to go quietly to Mass and pray with the local congregation.)  But what about when the Knights of Columbus come for their corporate communion or like the time an east coast high school football team came to have Mass here?  Is it better to recognize them to get everybody’s mind off of them?  (Who is that group of people and why are they here?)  Or does one stick so rigidly to the above rule that you pretend that they are not an unusual group of people, “keeping in mind that they have only one Father in heaven and that hence are all brothers r sisters one to the other”?

GUEST BLOGGER: WHAT ROLLER COASTER RENOVATIONS CAN TELL US ABOUT CHURCH REFORM

Many, many thanks to Mr. David Stavars, seminarian at St. Mary Seminary in Cleveland and part time St. Sebastianite for being our guest blogger today.  (I probably wouldn't have had time to get anything out today!)  As always, you are awesome Mr. Stavarz.

Lately, there has been a good bit of hype amongst roller coaster enthusiasts about the supposed removal of the wooden roller coaster, the Mean Streak, at Cedar Point Amusement Park. Cedar Point, located in Sandusky Ohio and arguably one of the best amusement parks in the world, boasts an impressive lineup of coasters of which includes the Mean Streak. This wooden behemoth of a ride opened in 1991 as the tallest and fastest wooden coaster in the world and since then has given rides to over 26 million people.  Luckily, as I had an obsession with coasters especially in my younger days, it was phenomenal having one of the best amusements parks only an hour away. Every year, people from all over the world flock to "America's Roller Coast" to ride the newest and best rides, including the Mean Steak, at least up until the past few years.

Undeniably, as has been the case for many wooden coasters around the country, the Mean Streak has grown much meaner over its lifetime. The ride's old wood tracking - what the trains ride on - has made for a pretty harsh ride, while the track layout has become a bit mundane compared to the newer, innovative, and more exciting steel coasters. However, despite the relatively low ride attendance in the past few years, some people are still sentimental about the wooden coaster's future in the park. Even though the park announced that the Mean Streak would "Get the Axe" at the end of this year, there are still some that speculate about the ride's future. 

One of the theories of the Mean Streak's future involves renovation. Rocky Mountain Construction - the supposed renovation firm - is a company that takes old wooden coasters and converts them into new hybrid coasters using steel tracking. This kind of coaster renovation allows for a much smoother ride and also provides for the ability to change different elements of the ride for a whole new experience. The new steel tracking makes elements like inversions and steep turns possible on an old wooden coaster. One coaster enthusiast even took the time to create a model of what a renovation for the Mean Streak could look like. See the video here: (http://youtu.be/GhbJF3ZxPRQ)

Instead of completely bulldozing the previous structure, this company re-forms the coaster into something new, yet the engineers renovate the ride in a way that is true to coaster's past, a way that is true to its essential nature. Many times today, we want to just bulldoze. In order to make way for the future, we think that we must forget the past and completely start anew. Thanks to Rene Descartes and many others in modern philosophical thought, this way of bulldozing and forgetting the past is largely how the world views what has come before. However, I think it's always important to look and see what has come before and know why it was there before you start the bulldozing. Just because something is old doesn't mean it's obsolete, and furthermore it doesn't mean that what is old can't be re-formed into something new.

Today, there are many in the larger secular culture that see the Catholic faith as old and obsolete. We hear this in regards to Catholic liturgy, ethics (especially sexual ethics), sacraments, devotional life, etc. Many of these elements of Catholicism have been around for centuries - since the very conception of the Church. Yet, in a modern world that tends to question reality and forget the past, these ancient beliefs and practices that have been passed on are what truly grounds us in reality. Just because there elements of the Church that are old, doesn't mean they are useless. As the hymn goes, the Church is ever ancient and ever new.

John Allen Jr., in his book, The Future Church: How Ten Trends Are Revolutionizing the Catholic Church, explains that a major factor in future Church reform will be that of Evangelical Catholicism. By "Evangelical" he means a youthful, vibrant Catholicism that is returning to a stronger, more external, more orthodox practice of the faith in regards to liturgy, sacraments, devotions, prayer, ethics, etc. However, this return to orthodoxy, ritual, and tradition, this looking back to what has come before rather than bulldozing, is not a return to the same Pre-Vatican II Church. This re-formation is a conversion to a new era of the Church, yet one that is true to its past.

On one hand, the modern Evangelical Church will take the traditional, orthodox practices that were good from the Pre-Vatican II Church. However, this modern ecclesial renovation also means that some parts of Church practice that were rough and had possibly detracted from the true mission and purpose of the Church are going to be left in the past. Like coaster renovation, what is going to make the ride unbearable, taking away from the true purpose of the ride, will be changed. Furthermore, while modern Church reform tends to return to the roots of orthodox practice, it also has a crucial awareness to the situation and needs of the modern world. This looking to the modern world, while bring the tradition of the Church to it was the true mission and purpose of Vatican II in the first place.

In order to renovate, one must look at what has come before, but must also see what is possible in the current conditions. Allen says that the Evangelical Church is a Church that not only wants to dialogue with the modern, secular world, but also wants to convert it. Living out such a mission means having your ear close to the ground, listening to what is happening in the culture and acknowledging how the Church can speak Her truths to the people of that culture.

Having an eye to what is ahead means that exciting, new elements of the Church will emerge, but also elements that are rooted in and consistent with the Church's foundation and tradition. Even though the Church has been fundamentally the same in every century, how exactly that Church has looked had been different. 

I see this change happening is when a Mass with reverent praise and worship music also incorporating old Latin hymns into the congregation's prayer. I see it in parishes and youth groups that are centered around Eucharistic Adoration. I see it in women who wear traditional head coverings to Mass, not as a sign of submission, but of holy humility. I see it in the practice of traditional Catholic devotionals like the Rosary, Litanies, and Consecration to Mary amongst young and older people alike. I see it in websites like Word on Fire and Strange Notions, which bring the truth of humanity and Catholicism into dialogue on the Internet.

One way this change has happened in the Diocese of Cleveland is in the successful introduction of Theology on Tap. These are nights where young Catholics from around the diocese meet up at a bar, share conversation and fellowship, and listen to a guest speaker talk on some topic about the spiritual life or address some cultural issue from a Catholic perspective. This is the tradition of the Church reaching out into the modern world. This re-formation is like putting a new set of tracks onto an old coaster. 

What we need to recover, especially as we think about reform in the Church, is the understanding that the Church is ever new because it is ever ancient. Instead of the bulldozing mentality, look to what is truly good and adapt that good to what is needed. As the Church is rooted in its foundation, which is Christ and His mission of conversion in the world, the Church can present itself in a way that is ever new, ever cutting edge, ever relevant to a world that proclaims its irrelevancy. 

SHORT STORY WEEK INSTALLMENT III (THE END)

IV

“Father, as head of the Parish Finance Council I think I can speak for the whole board when I say the repairs to the plaster in the old church ceiling is rather a priority.  If we don’t place God first, then what are we here for?”

“Terry, I agree with you,” said Father scratching is beard.  “There is nothing I would like more.  But ever since the janitor admitted to projecting the image of the Blessed Virgin on the wall, the money has completely dried up.  We have seven empty buildings that nobody wants to buy.  Two empty parking decks for a place that barely needs any additional parking on the street, and a quickly deteriorating financial balance.  I just don’t think it is responsible to spend that kind of money on something ornamental.”

“Firstly, it is hardly ornamental.  Damaged plaster means a leak in the roof!  It will only get worse and more expensive,” replied his Council chair.

One of the young people on the council sighed.  “I wish there was some magical person we could ask for money from.”

“DON’T SAY THAT!” Fr. Andrews said a bit too vehemently. 

“I was just joking.”

“I know.  I’m sorry.  I am just a little stressed these days.”

“It’s still a great parish,” said one of the other members.  “Somehow we will see it through.”

“I’m sure we will,” said the pastor with little enthusiasm.

A few days later, Fr. Andrews and his dog were once again on the ill fated path with the object of going on a walk.  “Oh no,” Father thought to himself, “not them again.”  He thought of turning and walking the other way but there was no point.  “Good evening ladies.”

They said in unison, “Hello Father.”  They sat once again, not looking up.  They were all quiet for a while and then one of the voices said, “Quite a sticky wicket you seem to have at the parish.”

“Quite,” he thought out loud trying not to think to much.

The other voice said, “You know you still have one more wish.”

“Don’t I know it,” said Father Andrews.

“What is it that you desire?” asked the first.

“Listen.  I appreciate all that you have done.  You have always exceeded my expectations and I really can’t complain.  But if it is all the same to you, I’m just going to let things be and trust  God to see us through whatever happens.  It may be good, it may be ill, but I will just trust Him take care of it.  No more of this engineering my fate.  Even when it is successful it seems kind of empty.”

“O come now.  Surly you can come up with SOMETHING even if it is just a booby prize wish.”

“No.  Thank you.  No.  And God bless.”  He started to walk away when he heard, with his ears, “Awesome!”  He turned back to see the two girls standing, smiling, and overjoyed.

“What?  What’s going on?”

“Finally we met someone who decided not to use all of their wishes but to live the life they have and get through it the best they can with God.  That only took - what?”  She looked at the other girl.

“Seven hundred some odd years?”

“Yes!”

“I don’t understand,” said the priest.

The second took over.  “We were doomed to be wish granters by a witch who was tired of us always complaining that we wished life was better.  So to spite us, she made us wish granters and we would only be released when we came across someone who would give up their wishes and be satisfied with the life they had.  You, Father, are the first.”

“To be fair,” the other said, “this was the first time we teamed up.  Otherwise you might not have made it.”

“What will you do now?”  The priest asked in amazement.

“Well,” they looked at each other and nodded, and one said, “let’s find out more about this Jesus fellow you represent.  If was able to make you satisfied with the life that was handed you, maybe there is something from Him we might learn.”

And the three of them and the dog headed off into the woods.

THE BEGINNING

SHORT STORY WEEK INSTALLMENT II

II

“Please Bishop, I really think I have done all that I can do here.  The parish is in default and I don’t seem to be able to help the downward spiral!”  There was a tinge of frustration and sadness in his voice.  “Please let me transfer!  Get someone in here that knows what to do!”

“Fr. Andrews, you far undervalue your services at the parish.  You know as well as I do that we cannot close the it.  It is far too historic and important to the diocese.  I also believe that if it wasn’t for you, the situation would be far, far worse.  I can’t imagine another priest in this diocese that would be as good a priest for this parish as you are.  I know it’s difficult.  Nobody saw all of the factories in town closing and so quickly.  I need you there!  You are a great pastor of the people who are left.”

“But . . .”

“No buts.  The conversation is coming to an end.  I told you my decision Fr. Andrews.  Be the great pastor to this parish that I know you are.  Remember: it is not about numbers.  God bless you.”

With a click the line went dead.  Placing the receiver back onto its cradle Father Andrews rubbed his eyes and sighed heavily.

“What is it boss?”  Mrs. Bailey came into the office carrying a tray of coffee.

“Oh?  Nothing.  Nothing.”

“Liar.”

“Coffee pusher.”

“What did His Excellency have to say?”

“What?  Nothing.  I mean, what excellency?”

“Oh come on.  I know it was the Bishop on the line.”

He held her gaze for a moment and then relented.  “There isn’t going to be any help coming from downtown to save us and I was told to buck up and keep the place going.”

“Ah,” she said, sitting across from his desk and stirring her own coffee.  As the milk turned the coffee caramel she asked, “What do we need to make a real go of it Father?”

The priest snorted.  “People and money.”

Mrs. Bailey clicked her spoon down on her saucer.  “Well there's a revelation.  I meant, what do you suppose we need to get more of both over in the church?”

“A miracle.”

“What kind of miracle Father.  Dream big.  What would do the trick?”

“More jobs in town.”

“Yes, that would be nice,” she took a sip of her coffee while resting both elbows on the edge of his desk.  “But what is something more realistic?  If you could wish something what would it be?”

The priest guffawed.  “Wish?”

“Yes, what would you wish?”

“I don’t know.  Maybe that we had some sort of vision or something.  Maybe if the Blessed Virgin Mary showed herself and we started getting bus loads of people in here to help pay for all of the repairs these old historic buildings need.  That would be great.  I wish something like that would happen.”

As Mrs. Bailey sipped her coffee she let slip a "Humph!"

Just then there was a frantic and persistent knocking at the door.  Mrs. Bailey and the priest looked at each other.  "What could that be about?” Mrs. Bailey asked.  More with his eyes than with his voice he conveyed that he hadn’t the slightest idea.

“FATHER!”  The pounding continued.

“For the love of Pete come in.”  The door flew open and a young altar server stumbled in, his face red, his eyes wild, arms flying.  

“Father, get over to the church right now!  On the wall over the organ!  There is an apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary!”

III

Father Andrews slammed his fist down on his desk.  “This is ridiculous!”  

“That may be,” said the inspector,  “but it is the law.”

“Look, I think that we have been more than accommodating.  We built two new parking garages,  purchased the surrounding houses of upset neighbors, updated everything to be in line with codes, built the reception halls; the new church alone built to hold all of the extra people cost millions and now you want us to help pay for road improvements?  Are you out of your Vulcan mind?”

“That is uncalled for Father.”  The inspector adjusted the briefcase in his lap.  “This was a quiet neighborhood.”

“WHAT NEIGHBORHOOD?  There was no neighborhood.  The neighborhood was DEAD!”

“Be that as it may, the area was not designed for the high level of traffic that your church is attracting not to mention the busses and . . . “

The intercom buzzed.  “Fr. Andrews?”

“WHAT?”

“There is another unscheduled bus that just showed up, the Society of the End of the World is holding a rally outside again, there is a news crew in the lobby wanting just a quick word with you, and Mrs. Lanning has chained herself to the altar rail again.  Do you want me to call the police?”

The inspector stood.  “Here is your warning letter Father.  Fines will start if don’t start taking care of this project.”

“Oh, you’ve got to be . . .”

Just then the door burst open.  “Father Andrews!  Come quickly.”  It was the neighboring pastor and he had a rather desperate look on his face.

“What is it Jack?”  His level of disinterest matched Fr. Jack’s level of excitement.

“There’s no time to explain.  Just take my word for it that you need to follow me and NOW!”

Fr. Andrews lumbered to the door and Fr. Jack grabbed his arm and forcibly picked up his pace.  

“Wait.  Where are we going?  Are you taking me to my suite?”

“You look miserable.  Sit down.  I’m making us drinks.”

“But there is a bus and . . .”

“It’s not your parish Father and you are not the savior of the world.  Let the bus take care of the bus.  This is ridiculous.” 

“You can say that again.  This place has become a zoo that happens to have Mass and confession.  Wow, does that taste good.  Thank you.  I just might make it to dinner aline now.”

“I don’t know how you think you are going to continue this way.  It isn’t particularly good for you and your parish is practically nonexistent.  All your people have fled to surrounding parishes.  This is nothing but a religious tourist trap.  Nice new bookstore by the way.”

“Thanks.  Here’s a discount card for clergy.”

“Thank you.”

After a sip Fr. Andrews told his friend,“This place is going to be the death of me.”

“I can see that.”

“Sometimes I wish . . .” with that, Fr. Andrews slapped a hand against his lips.

“What?  Wish what?  What were you going to say?”

“I - I’m afraid to say it.”

“It’s just me.  You can say anything in front of me.  It goes no further.”

“You’d be surprised how far it might go.”

“What?  Are afraid that your room is bugged?”  He took a quick look under the lamp shade.

“In a manner of speaking, yes.”

Fr. Jack took a sip of his drink.  “You worry me Father.”

“Really?”

“Yes.  Really.  You seem like you are on the edge of falling apart.”

“Wow,” he said as the realization of how stressed he must seem hit him.  “Maybe I should say it.”

“Say what?”

“I wish all this craziness would end.”