ADAM'S ALE

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

TUESDAY QUOTE OF THE WEEK CCXI

FINDING TRUTH WHEREVER IT MAY BE FOUND: “Quackery is false science; it is everywhere apparent in cheap and popular science; and the chief mark of it is that men who begin by boasting that they have cast away all dogmas go on to be incessantly, impudently, and quite irrationally dogmatic.” G. K. Chesterton on “Quackery about the Family”

Quote II: “Just as two grocers are more likely to be reconciled when they remember for a moment that they are two fathers, so two nationals are most likely to be reconciled when they remember (if only for a moment) that they are two patriots.” same from “The Intrinsic Value of the Nation”

IN OTHER NEWS:

Here is interesting news for members of Saint Sebastian sent in by P.V.: As it turns out, the final resting place for John Paul II (who will be beatifide on Divine Mercy Sunday) will be the chapel of Saint Sebastian in St. Peter!

Monday, April 18, 2011

MONDAY DIARY: GUEST BLOGGER

I'm taking today off. Fr. Pf gave cartooning a shot with his computer so I could focus on Holy Week today. What a swell guy. Enjoy!

Friday, April 15, 2011

FRIDAY POTPOURRI: THREE FOR THE PRICE OF ONE (IRONICALLY APPROPRIATE TITLE IN MORE THAN WAY.)

We are heading into Holy Week. Holy cow! Soon enough we will be celebrating the Triduum. The Triduum is a three day celebration which is composed of Maundy Thursday (or Holy Thursday,) Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. Evidence of the fact that it is indeed one long celebration you will notice that there is not (or shouldn’t be) a closing hymn at the end of Maundy Thursday (we go into adoration) there is neither an opening nor a closing hymn on Good Friday, and Holy Saturday begins with the blessing of the fire.

For Catholics then that means we do not stop our observance of this holy time when we leave church. We carry it with us to the domestic church – to our homes – work place – school - wherever we may be we carry with us the Passion of our Lord and mark it in any special way we can. So get ready! It is almost here! What will you do?

As a complete side note - Blogger seems to be working much better now! My frustration is passing quickly.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

LIFE THROUGH PHARMACEUTCALS

Back when I used to watch more T.V. there was a commercial out for a pill that claimed to relieve the sufferer of hangovers the pain of a night of binging so that the person could function at work (or home) the next day. There would be no headache or other accompanying maladies. It would be like nothing the night before took place – at least as you worked that day – the dent in the car and the surprise new tattoo notwithstanding.

I have not seen this advertised again though my T.V. habits are joyfully so poor that I may just be missing them. But what would you suppose would be the result of such a miracle drug? One result would be a more alert and productive work force. That is true. But since much of the consequences of drinking would be erased it seems that the amount of people consuming and the amount consumed would increase would it not? Erase the consequences (or at least some of them) and the temptation increases.

That was part of the prediction in another area when Pope Paul VI wrote Humanae Vitae. Readily available devices, medications, and procedures to erase the natural consequences of human interactions would lead, according to him writing in 1968, to a greater marital infidelity and a general lowering of moral standards. “A man who grows accustomed to the use of contraceptive methods may forget the reverence due to a woman, and, disregarding her physical and emotional equilibrium, reduce her to being a mere instrument for the satisfaction of his own desires, no longer considering her as his partner whom he should surround with care and affection.

“Finally, careful consideration should be given to the danger of this power passing into the hands of those public authorities who care little for the precepts of the moral law. Who will blame a government which in its attempt to resolve the problems affecting an entire country resorts to the same measures as are regarded as lawful by married people in the solution of a particular family difficulty?

Who will prevent public authorities from favoring those contraceptive methods which they consider more effective? Should they regard this as necessary, they may even impose their use on everyone. It could well happen, therefore, that when people, either individually or in family or social life, experience the inherent difficulties of the divine law and are determined to avoid them, they may give into the hands of public authorities the power to intervene in the most personal and intimate responsibility of husband and wife.”

If one wonders how he could have prophesied such a thing, if you take into consideration the “morning after hangover” pill and the logical consequences of such a miracle drug, it is not difficult to apply it to this scenario.

Preaching on such topics is so very difficult. Defensive walls go up so quickly as prying into private matters where Churchmen should stay away though politicians all over the world seem to be delving ever more deeply into them. But the Church only desires to assist humanity live the best possible life we can here on earth and preparing for the next. Certainly the predictions of Humanae Vitae that we experience now are not ideal or even remotely close. But engaging in these practices, for all the problems they seem to solve, create a general and greater harm to all of society. Indeed the effects are not a private matter at all.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

NOT QUITE UP IN SMOKE - BUT IS THERE A WHIFF?

My Dad was a terror in restaurants. I was always sure that we were going to get beat up. Someone would light up a cigarette and he would start

coughing and waving his hand and talking very loudly about inconsiderate people while Mom and I would wither in our booth.

Smoking in public was a big thing. When we used to decorate the hall for a dance down at Slovene Center on of the first decorations you put out were the colorful tin ashtrays on the tables. Halfway through the night there would be a romantic (albeit stinky) fog in the room. When you went outside at the end of the night your eyes would sting and your clothes stink so many people smoked.

So strong was smoking in our nation and so strong was the smoking lobby that it would never have been in my wildest dreams that we would have the strong anti-smoking movements that we have today. It seemed to be nigh near impossible. Yet here we are. And an even bigger shocker was traveling to Mexico and finding they are following suit. Smoking may not be dead, but after years of smoking their lungs no longer seem to be processing as much oxygen.

In a similar vein we seem to be experiencing somewhat a change in public and political winds concerning abortion. A new crop of American are coming up and swelling the ranks of the beleaguered soldiers who have been fighting this battle for the dignity of life during the darkest hours. It is not the dramatic turn around that we witnessed with smoking, but compared to how entrenched and wealthy the pro-abortion movement is, it is amazing that we are seeing what we are seeing.

Can it go further? Here is where we see the power of prayer. Is the wedge in the door strong enough to turn things around? Strengthen it with your invocation to God. It does not have to be a lengthy prayer (though if you can – great!) A quick prayer when reading the paper, hearing a story on the radio, reading it on your computer news or right now is a step in the right direction. “God, we see a crack in the door. Send help!”

Monday, April 11, 2011

TUESDAY QUOTE OF THE WEEK CCX

FINDING TRUTH WHEREVER IT MAY BE FOUND: “Some dogma, we are told, was credible in the twelfth century, but is not credible in the twentieth. You might as well say that a certain philosophy can be believed on Mondays, but cannot be believed on Tuesdays. . . the point is not whether it was given in our time, but whether it was given in answer to our question.” G. K. Chesterton in “Orthodoxy” from our last Chesterton meeting.

QUOTE II: “The thief compliments the things he steals, if not the owner of them.” Same.

IN OTHER NEWS:

Can man live on brew alone? Thanks BW

From J.B., "Tune in to find out: What does the Next Generation really think about marriage? Are we going to lose the movement to defend marriage because young people already believe in same sex marriage? Are college students committed to abortion on demand? You can find this program at the show archives at Catholic Radio of San Diego. This program and many other great programs are posted within a couple days of the initial broadcast, so check back often!

Fr. P and I found another spot on parish grounds we had not yet explored. As we crawled around I thought this shodow was pretty neat.

Frank sent this in. Interesting. BMW sent this in. Have you checked out the St. Austin Review? Pretty cool. great conversion story. See more here.

LS sent this in. Human Planet. Pretty interesting.

PV sent this in. The Museum of Divine Statues is opening soon!

More good news! According to this site virginity is seening an increase on our college campuses.

The Diocese of Cleveland Enewsletter wants to introduce you to this year's priestly ordination class. Read more here.

And finally this great video from F. S.

MONDAY DIARY: NEVER AT A LOSS

I went to visit a friend this past week that I had not seen in a little spell for some mysterious reason. Then I found out why. It turns out that my friend had been pretty ill and was not completely over it yet. It wasn’t just a pretty bad flu, it was a serious illness.

Sometimes it is hard to come up with something to say in such situations. “I’m sorry,” seems as oddly wrong as it seems oddly appropriate. I find most people don’t mind talking about it but don’t want fussed over. So I include such situations into the general category of another joy of being a priest.

“Have you been anointed?”

“Not yet.”

“Do you want to?”

“Sure.”

“Okay, let’s do it.”

The Church gives us something to say and something to do. We fall into comfortable patterns of prayer and ways of being with each other and doing something – the very thing that such situations tend to steal from us – having something to do. Whereas the sacrament may be only given by a priest, certainly prayer and the offer to get someone to an anointing is certainly the realm of all Christians and as Catholics we are certainly blessed to have pray

ers prepared for us if we are at a loss as to what to say.

Gosh, I like being a Catholic priest.

Friday, April 8, 2011

FRIDAY POTPOURRI: A ROSEY OUTLOOK

Last week at Mass you may have noticed something different about the

vestments that they clergy wore at Mass. If you were at a parish that had the resources (and a priest willing to do it) you would have witnessed one of the most rare of approved liturgical colors in use. Along with black, it is an optional color for use and not mandated. Unlike blue, it has a true liturgical function. The color that you may have witnessed is rose. (Notice I said rose, not pink – though I will admit that if our vestments were used as a color test for our pre-schoolers, every last one of them would say “PINK!”)

The color is supposed to be a pale or light purple. During lent and advent seasons the official color for use is violet or purple. Purple represents sorrow, repentance, Penance, and mourning. We wait in anticipation of Christ’s coming either in the incarnation or the resurrection. However on the third Sunday (Gaudete Sunday) of advent and in the middle of lent (Laetare Sunday) we change to rose. Both of these words can be translated as “Rejoice” in Latin and are the first words of the Mass that you would hear if Mass were said in Latin and the introit sung.

We do in fact rejoice. Our time of waiting and longing are half over. Christ is on the way. Promises made to us are going to be fulfilled. We cannot help but to let a bit of joy in during this season of penance. So do not go all out and throw off the purple and jump right to white but put on rose, the joy of the promise so pressing out through the longing of the season that for one day it bleaches it to rose, the color of subdue joy.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

ON A LONG ENOUGH TIME LINE, EVERYONE'S CHANCE OF SURVIVAL DROPS TO ZERO (FIGHT CLUB)

There is a new ministry beginning at St. Sebastian. It involves people praying for those who are dying. They asked me to come up with some information that people should know about what Catholics need who are in the dying process. Here is the information that I gave them. It's good information to keep in your hip pocket.

Dying is one of the most important things we do in this life and

often there is some amount of misunderstanding or even ignorance concerning what a Catholic should do at the hour of death. Most importantly, the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is just that, for those who are ill. One of the desired effects of anointing is healing. Therefore anointing should never be put off until the hour of death especially in this age when getting hold of a priest is becoming more and more difficult. Rather, Viaticum (for the way), the giving of the Blessed Sacrament, is the proper sacrament for the dying.

If, however, the person who is anointed is in danger of death, the priest should offer the apostolic blessing with its attached indulgence. If the priest is not aware of the danger of the illness or should he forget, it might be good to ask for the apostolic blessing if death is an imminent reality.

From the Book of Indulgences, “But if a priest cannot be present, holy mother Church lovingly grants such person who are rightly disposed a plenary indulgence to be obtained in articulo mortis (at the approach of death) provided they regularly prayed in some way during their lifetime. The use of a crucifix or a cross is recommended in obtaining this plenary indulgence.” In this situation, they may receive a second indulgence in one day by special exemption.

For these reasons those all are encouraged to pray regularly, especially the sick and dying, that they might receive these special blessings.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

RANT; COUNTER RANT: 500 YEAR OLD BREAKING NEWS

On Sunday, front page, above the fold, the Cleveland Plain Dealer carried a story about break-away Catholic parishes. If you follow the story inside there was also a second story. Together there was about 1 and a half full

pages dedicated to congregations that have split from the Catholic Church and are doing just fine thank you very much. Throughout there is constant mention of St. Peter, a community that has left the jurisdiction of the Catholic Church but retain other Catholic beliefs and practices. They broke away in protest against the diocese’s plan to close the parish as part of its program of restructuring.

There are two points that are worthy of consideration here. The first is that such a fuss is being made in the first place. People break away from Protestant denominations constantly. They rise and fall so quickly that it is difficult even to keep an accurate record. Like soap bubbles on roiling water they form, grow, split into ever smaller proportions, join elegances, grow, pop, change, rejuvenate, large bubbles in the center, thousands of smaller ones all around. Today there are literally thousands and thousands of denominations and independent churches and the number continues to grow. For various reasons; leadership, theology, philosophy, political reasons, geographic, popularity, etc. the world of Christian denominations is in a constant state of flux, dividing as they feeled called. There are some notable exceptions; say that noble main-line Protestant denomination building that has stood on one of your church corners for decades. But there is even a good chance that they have realigned themselves with another “conference” or that others have left their conference for some other.

The point is: it’s only really big news if it happens to the Catholic Church. And that shouldn’t be news. Is anybody surprised that this happens? It has been happening in earnest for about 500

years. It is called the Protestant movement. It began with groups of people dissatisfied with the Catholic Church for various and sundry reasons, sometimes very good reasons. They protest against the Church by breaking away, establishing their own way, having their own ministers and leadership, often beginning with the thought that when they have effected change in the Church, they will reunite, but not always.

The congregations mentioned still want to call themselves Catholic. I understand that. It does lend a certain legitimacy. I am sure that they have very good reasons for doing what they do though what is quoted in the newspaper is largely sound bites and bumper sticker slogans, not philosophy or theology. I trust that if we were to sit down with anyone from any of these congregations, particularly the ministers, they would have a well thought out manifesto. That being said, part of the definition of being Catholic is not to be a "Church", but a parish united to a local Church, that is, a diocese. The diocese in turn is part of the universal Church, in our case, the Catholic Church. Is it possible to not be a part of this structure and still claim to be a part of the organization? That argument depends on what side of the fence you are on. On this side we would say no, on the other, many would say yes including many among certain segments of the Anglican Church.

The big news, IMHO, is when a congregation is united back to the Catholic Church. Of course that barely merits a mention in a tiny article on the back page of the comics amidst car sale ads. Good news (well, I am biased, I think it good news) doesn’t sell. Division sells, not unity.

Still, my heart goes out to the congregation of Saint Peter. When you reach a level of frustration that you feel so helpless what else is there to do? But now it is an impossible situation. Both sides, perhaps with all good intentions (and I am not saying that I could have suggested anything better) have set up a lose-lose situation. The two positions stand on either side of a balanced

teeter totter waiting for the other move and start a chain of events. It will take tremendous grace, cooperation, understanding, sacrifice, effort, and good will for this not to end as a messy sword thrust and the gore spilling out upon the ground ending up on the front page of the paper. Some might even think it impossible.

The breaking away may not be seen as very Catholic, but the process certainly is one. Since the earliest days of the Church – even in the writings of the Bible, there is the constant testing and stretching of what it is to be Catholic. When a point has been taken too far, when the rules have been changed so much that a person is playing a different game, the Church defines herself and invites others to remain or depart. That’s why we have laws and rules – not because we sit around making laws and rules, but because somebody tried to do something and we had to think about how that does or does not play a part in the Catholic Christian faith. And today we see it played out in this most dramatic way.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

TUESDAY QUOTE OF THE WEEK CCIX

FINDING TRUTH WHEREVER IT MAY BE FOUND: “Perhaps dirt is the necessary condition of beauty,” he continued. “Perhaps hygiene and art can neve

r be bedfellows. No Verdi, after all, without spitting into trumpets. No Duse without a crowd of malodorous bourgeois giving one another their coryzas. And think of the inexpugnable retreats for microbes prepared by Michelangelo in the curls of Moses’ beard!” from Aldous Huzley’s, “Time Must Have a Stop”

QUOTE II: “And how many chances to learn from the Master you have wasted by not knowing how to supernaturalize them?” Saint Josemarie Escriva

IN OTHER NEWS:

I grew up in an ethnic parish and occassionally we would get a complaint about singing a song in the native language of the parish. It was one of the few times my Mother would get her dander up. "God forbid!" she would muse loudly, "that a child should learn that "Jesu" means "Jesus" and "Bog" means "God!" The same seems to happen for Latin. "Nobody knows it," means it shouldn't be done.

However, the documents of Vatican II and more recently Pope Benedict call for every person to know their parts of the Mass in Latin so that when in a multicultural situation we can all still pray together. To that end, M sent in this article about kids learning Latin. Here is an expert: " I mean there is actually a [Pay attention:] substantial body of evidence that children who study Latin outperform their peers when it comes to reading, reading comprehension and vocabulary, as well as higher order thinking such as computation, concepts and problem solving."

The Diocese of Cleveland Enewsletter asks if you are thinking about becoming Catholic. If so consider looking here at Catholics Come Home. From the same source: Here is a list of fish fries in the diocese.

P. sent these numbers in of you or someone you know is involved with a crisis pregnancy: Then tell them that this is a safe, confidential place to get help and to have their questions answered. · Here are the numbers: · Summit, Portage and Stark Counties….330.374.7863 · Cuyahoga County: 1.877.910.0093 and 1.855.910.0054 · National Crisis Pregnancy Hot Line (in case you are traveling) 1.800.395.4357

Support Good Habits! Here is a site that is trying to help a few Cleveland area young ladies out of debt so that they might enter a religious order. Have a look!

One of the problems that I am having with Blogger is that all of sudden all the spaceing dissappears. I go back and fix it and then - poof! - it disappears again. That is the biggest pain at the moment. Any advice from anyone? This never happened before this week.

Sunday, April 3, 2011

MONDAY DIARY: SPRING CLEANING

It was time to start some spring cleaning though not the type about which you might be thinking.

No longer able to roll around in the snow and somewhat keep himself clean, Sebastian was beginning to get a little bit of an aroma about his so it was time to give him his spring bath. Now despite what people might think, I do not do EVERYTHING in my clerics. To begin with they are FAR too expensive to do such things as wash a dog in them so a change of clothes was in order.

Now, living in a rectory comes not only with blessings but with its own challenges. At more modern parishes often the offices and the living space for the priests are in two different locations. But older parishes were not built for that. This parish built a rectory in 1930 with just three offices, one for the secretary, one for the pastor, and one for everyone else. That was all you really needed. Today we have extra secretaries, deacons, youth ministers, music ministers, accountants, business mangers, etc. etc. etc . . . That can mean that a rectory is chuck full of people often in the living spaces. Such is life. You get used to it though we have moved many offices out of the rectory here.

But still, every once in a while you need to do something in your "home" like wash the dog. Nobody cares if you are walking around in a T-shirt and shorts, but I care. That's just the way it is.

Between my room and Sebastian's bathtub we have to pass before a doorway that is open to a number of offices. So we walk down the hallway and I try to make sure the path is clear before we make a run for it.

Everyone is very respectful. But when these two worlds collide there are bound to be some unfortunate occurances. Anyway, we make it down to the tub and Sebastian jumps in. Fortunately he loves baths.

He also likes shaking.

Of course, the process must work in reverse also.

In the end it is much like Ohio weather: learn to love it or be miserable. I choose to love it.

Saturday, April 2, 2011

BLOGGER

I've been having problems with Blogger recently. Has anyone else? All I have to say is:

Friday, April 1, 2011

FRIDAY POTPOURRI: PASSIONATE ABOUT CROSSES

The Passion Cross has sharp ends on it. Of course “passion” means the life, d

eath, and resurrection of Jesus. The sharpness of the ends of the cross recall is suffering and death, particularly the pain he endured from the nails through his hands and feet. When all four ends are thus rendered, it recalls the three nails with the longer arm representing the sword that pierced His side. According to the site Seiyaku a blunt, circular finial at the top can represent a halo of Our Lord.

Thursday, March 31, 2011

I, ME, WE, US, OURS, MINE, - AND OH YEAH, HIS.

Can you stand one more observation about Catholic music?

The other day I was up in the choir loft playing music on our organ that I learned as kid. Here are the words to one song:

‘Neath olive trees,

‘neath olive trees.

Dost know the heart that here is weeping,

Dost though the blood-stained tears recall?

For thee each burning tear He offers,

For thee the sacred rubies fall.

To cleanse thy soul,

To cleanse thy soul.

Behold the man!

With scourge the heartless rabble beats Him!

In streams His blood most precious flows,

But not a word is heard from Jesus,

In silence to His death He goes.

To cleanse thy soul,

To cleanse thy soul.

I was quite taken with these words and brought deeply into contemplation. (And I realize that is me. It won’t be the same for everyone.) And then later I had the opportunity to sing at Mass quite a few of the more “modern” hymns. Here is a sample of one of them:

In these days of Lenten Journey

WE have seen and WE have heard

The call to sow justice in the loves of those WE serve.

WE reach out to those who are homeless,

To those who live without warmth. In coolness of evening WE’ll shelter their dreams;

WE will clothe them in mercy and peace.

Now, there is nothing really wrong with this song though God is quite left out of the picture. As much as the first song is focused on God and what He does, the second is hyper focused on us and what WE do. Here is another from my childhood:

Jesus asks for loving mercy,

Mercy for His enemies,

From the heavy Cross He carried,

Prompting us to b

end our knees.

“Please forgive them loving Father,

All who’ve made my sorrow greater.

Men offending You know not what they do.

Here is another more recent one:

WE rise again from ashes,

From the good WE’ve failed to do.

WE rise again from ashes,

To create OURSELVES anew.

If all OUR world is ashes,

Then must OUR lives be true,

An offering of ashes,

And offering to you.

I will give the benefit of the doubt that the final “you” is God. Now, grant you, you can cherry-pick the best and the worst from the old and the new and come with a number of complaints and virtues of the music of the times. There was some pretty bad stuff written in our past and some pretty good stuff in more recent times. It may also be the case that we ignored ourselves a bit much in the past and it is good to put ourselves on the spot and say, “Hey! Get to work! God will do this but He wants you to work on it too!”

That being said, walking down the aisle preparing to celebrate the source and summit of our faith, embarking on an intimate contact with our God with His Word and His Body and Blood and all we can sing about is ourselves quite misses setting us up for what we are about to do. “Lift up your eyes from whence cometh your help!” not “We are called to be spiffy.”

This was on my mind today as we sang for Mass and I just kept thinking, “Gads, another

song about us.” So perhaps I am being a tad strong, but I don’t believe entirely incorrect. We are coming to the Supper of the Lamb, it’s His party, and our music should more fully reflect this.

It is not a matter of old verses new. Really good versus semi-good. The advantage of the old is that we have left behind much of what was poor and kept the better half so the pickings are perhaps better. The new has a fuller mix of the good and the bad. Pastors and music ministers need to be on their toes about the music that they pick. Just because it is in an “approved book” and everybody likes it and all the local parishes are singing it does make it a good song for Mass. “If your best priest friend sang that song while jumping off a bridge does that mean you have to do it too?”

That sounded funnier to me when I thought of it than it does typed out.