Rob pointed out this article and indicated that it deserved a good fisk, and then suggested me as the man for the job. The original source can be found here. Following the lead of Fr. Z, I’ve added my own emphasis and [comments]. I include some information that can be found by poking around this website in my own commentary, and recommend people take a gander for more information. Article and commentary can be found “below the fold.”
Church
Archived Posts from this Category
August 16, 2009
It’s been a while since I’ve posted, and it’ll probably be a while before I post again, but I had to share this story.
First, the backstory. In the past few weeks, I’ve seen a few episodes of Touched By an Angel on the Hallmark Channel. I occasionally watched the show years ago before it went into syndication but wouldn’t have called myself a follower or fan. But in one episode, I saw the Cadillac convertible that Tess drove, and noticed some unique features about its appearance (compared to a variety of other cars I’ve seen). Still can’t say I’m a fan of that show, but I’ve seen a few episodes here and there so it’s been on my mind.
Today, I was driving off to meet some folks, and as I turned from my complex onto the main road, I saw an older gentleman sitting on the grass across the street. Not exactly a place where you expect to see someone sitting. Next to him was a bicycle, which was standing up and propped up by its kickstand. I didn’t have too much time to assess the situation thanks to the traffic, but a few seconds later I wondered if everything was okay, or if this guy may have needed some kind of help. I was thinking maybe he fell off his bike and broke a bone or something or may have been suffering from the intense heat. By then, alas, it was too late for me to pull off and ask if he was okay.
So, I said a prayer to my guardian angel that he would go and check that everything was okay and, if the man needed help, to do whatever necessary to get the guy the help he needs, and if he could, to let me know everything was alright so I wouldn’t worry too much. Then I said my usual Our Father/Hail Mary/Glory Be combo and hoped for the best.
A few seconds later, I turned the radio back on, and a song was just wrapping up. The DJ came on, and it turns out her name is Angel something-or-other. Meanwhile, pulling out from a cross-street was a red convertible. I don’t know much about cars, but this car pulling out had the exact same distinguishing features as the one from the Touched by an Angel show.
So, at the same moment, around a minute after I said a prayer to my guardian angel, I see a car that looks just like the one driven by Tess the angel in Touched by an Angel, and I hear a lady on the radio whose name is “Angel.”
You can call it a coincidence. But I sincerely think that it was a sign from my guardian angel or from God that all was (or soon would be) well with the cyclist.
God is good.
July 31, 2009
I just got a letter in the mail from the Vocations Office. Mentioned in the letter is that this year there are 12 men entering the seminary for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia this year, with 3 others still waiting review. This is apparently a record in recent years, which is great news!
Please pray for them (us), especially during the next month as opening day approaches.
July 17, 2009
Pope Benedict suffered a fall while on his annual Summer vacation. Looks like he ended up with a fractured wrist, and required surgery at a local hospital. What’s particularly interesting, at least to me, is that while he was in the hospital, he refused any preferential treatment and waited his turn behind all the other patients. I think that’s wonderful.
Though I don’t know how I’d feel if I were in the ER and one of the people ahead of His Holiness in line. I’m sure His Holiness wasn’t just sitting in the waiting room like all the other patients for security reasons, but still, I can see myself trying to convince the triage nurse that I was fine and let the man in white go ahead.
Two more comments. 1) clearly this is an example of the last shall be first and the first shall be last.
2) Maybe this can be a lesson for some of our own political elite here in the USA. They’ve got their private doctors and get rush treatment for everything. Maybe if a few Senators or Presidents had to wait in line at the local ER, we’d get better solutions to our health care problems.
In any case, let’s say a prayer for the recovery of the Holy Father and one of thanksgiving that this fall wasn’t any more serious.
May 21, 2009
I had the pleasure of attending an overnighter at the seminary on the eve of ordination day. The event consisted of participating in some of Friday night’s activities, and then going to the ordination Mass on Saturday at the cathedral. There were about a dozen of us participating; five of us were already accepted and planning to enter in August. Several of the rest were in various stages of formal discernment and application as well.
The event consisted of dinner, which was a casual (i.e. civilian attire on everyone, including all the priests) indoor barbecue and “roast” of the deacons to be ordained priests. After that our little group took a rosary walk around the grounds, and then we watched a video of an ordination Mass to become familiar with what’ll take place. Around 9:00 we participated in a Holy Hour/Compline (which was formal), and then they had a clap-out ceremony for the ordinandi. Then it was bedtime. Saturday consisted of breakfast and then heading over to the cathedral for the Mass. After Mass, we made our way back to the seminary for lunch and the day was done.
As one would expect, the ordination Mass was superb. I’m not good at estimating crows size, but I’d say there were probably 100 concelebrating priests, plus most of the other bishops of the archdiocese. Seminarians handled all the serving duties. The music was appropriate. There was a nice mix of Latin chant and more modern music. Nothing hokey. I believe they had instituted lector seminarians do the readings. The cardinal preached a typical-for-him homily. Those of you who’ve heard him preach will understand. Excellent content, but delivered in such a monotone that an entire orchestra could probably tune their instruments while listening to him preach. The actual Rite of Ordination was a beautiful site to behold. The Liturgy of the Eucharist was reverent, and Communion was distributed primarily by the new priests and the bishops — awesome! After the Mass, the new priests were getting photos taken and giving blessings. In other words all that good liturgical stuff that makes me drool.
Someone once made a quote in reference to the Catholic Church: “here comes everybody.”
That quote came to mind multiple times during the weekend when seeing the seminarians and the priests. They’re all unique individuals. They all have different upbringings, ages, hobbies, food preferences, styles of dress, hairstyles, tastes in music, shoe sizes, etc. In other words, they’re human. Just like the rest of us. You can see it quite clearly when they’re all hanging around in their civvies enjoying burgers and hot dogs and chatting about all kinds of random things.
Yet, a few hours later, that same group was dressed to the nines in cassocks and surplices and chanting Night Prayer in front of the exposed Blessed Sacrament. That individuality seems to fade in the sea of black and white, and you start to see what they all have in common: a deep love for Christ and His Church.
And then, after that, back to the individuality as cassocks give way to shorts and collars are shed in favor of pajamas.
I think many Catholics today don’t realize that their priests are regular human beings, because most of us only see them when they’re “on the job.” But “off the job,” they have lives too. We see our clergy on Sundays at Mass, but there’s more to their lives than just Sunday Mass, and just because a man is a priest doesn’t mean he can’t enjoy some fun in his life.
Taking things a bit further, the same could apply to all the faithful. Every one of the 1.1 billion or so Catholics in the world is a unique individual. Yet, we come together to show our love of God in our public worship. Together, that individuality fades, and Christ replaces it.
We come into church with our varied lives. We unite. And then we head out and go back, hopefully a little better than when we came in. A poor man might sit next to a rich woman. There is no black and white and Hispanic and Asian. A heavily tattooed and pierced person receives the same Eucharist as the prim and proper southern belle.
Dare I say, it’s possible that in the Church, the wolf really has become a guest of the lamb, the leopard does lie down with the kid, the calf and the young lion are browsing together. Cows and bears truly are neighbors, here in the Church.
Maybe not the most profound of thoughts. But an interesting reflection to take away from what was already a splendid weekend.
May 11, 2009
Wanted to drop you a quck note to mention that Samaria is NOT pronounced “Sa-muh-RYE-uh.” It is pronounced “Suh-MEHR-ih-uh.” You know, just in case you ever have to read that word again on a Sunday.
P.S. There’s a great little booklet out there called “Lector’s Guide to Biblical Pronunciations Updated” published by Our Sunday Visitor. It can really help you pronounce things consistently and correctly.
April 17, 2009
News is out that the Holy See has decided to launch a doctrinal investigation into a variety of women’s religious orders. This is in addition to a quality of life investigation to be undertaken as well.
Sisters around the world are shaking in their orthotic shoes. It’s possible that Rome is finally realizing what a whacked-out group of tired old hippie feminazis so many of them have become.
We have learned exclusively that the leaders of several dozen larger communities are organizing a convention to discuss the impact these visitations to have, and to get together in solidarity for what may be trying times. As part of the convention, whose working title is “Standing up for Vatican II: It’s Spirit May Be Fading, but Ours Isn’t,” someone composed an anthem, which will be sung each day during various gatherings.
A copy of this anthem has been leaked, and is presented below the fold. (more…)
April 10, 2009
Today is Good Friday. I spent some time today watching the celebration of the Good Friday liturgy from St. Peter’s in Rome. His Holiness looked a little tired, and I’m assuming that part of it is simply that he’s nearing 82 years of age, and this is the busiest week of the year.
Then it also occurred to me that he might also be fasting, which would probably have an effect too. Of course, once you turn 60, fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday is no longer obligatory, but somehow I think His Holiness is one to go beyond the minimums.
Then I got to wondering. One can get a dispensation for just about anything if one presents a justifiably sufficient reason. (For instance, during Lent, there’s the ever-popular corned-beef indult when St. Patrick’s Day is on a Friday. Or one can be dispensed from one’s Sunday obligation if one has a serious reason.) For us layfolk, the normal way to do this is to request it from our pastor, or whoever may have the necessary jurisdiction.
Now, some things require approval of the bishop, and some things require the approval of the pope. I also think that a pastor would have to go to some higher authority to get a dispensation for himself (in the same way as a priest can’t confess to and absolve himself).
Obviously, the pope has a lot of power, as the final earthly authority of the Church. But who can dispense him from any of his obligations? Or can he dispense himself? I know that popes make their confessions to other priests/bishops. But what if there’s some really important Bavarian holiday that falls on a Friday during Lent, and it’s usually celebrated with lots of sausage and beer. Who does the pope go to to get the okey-dokey for him to have some knockwurst that day?
I mean, he’s the pope. Suppose on a fast day he really wants a snack. Can he just say “By my apostolic authority I dispense myself from the requirements of fasting today? Oh and since I’m pope and have the authority to grant indulgences, I hereby grant a plenary indulgence to anyone who eats sausage and drinks a beer in the Apostolic Dining room today between 3:00 and 3:05 p.m.”
Not that it’s likely B16 would do such a thing. But when one spends too much time thinking, this is what he can get on his mind.
March 30, 2009
I was reminded of one of my favorite jokes during today’s Gospel.
Jesus was teaching in the Temple area. The Scribes and Pharisees brought before Him a woman who had been caught in adultery. They said they were going to stone her in accordance with the law of Moses and wanted Jesus’s opinion. Jesus realizes that they’re trying to test Him, and also sees a very good teaching moment here. So first he bent down and began to write on the ground with His finger. Then He said “let the one among you who is without sin be the first to cast a stone.” The elders all stood there dumbfounded and began to walk away. Suddenly a huge rock comes flying through the air and hits the adulteress square between the eyes, knocking her down, dead.
Jesus rolled His eyes, looks out into the crowd, breathed a huge sigh, and said, “Muuuuhhhh-theeeerrr, I was trying to make a point here!”
March 24, 2009
For the record, the Christmas song “Mary Did You Know” is far from my favorite Christmas song, especially given the bad theology (e.g. “this child that you delivered would soon deliver you”) scattered here and there.
That being said, the other day the song randomly popped into my head while praying the rosary, and I kind of went back to the thought after finishing and pondered it some more.
The Angel appeared to Mary and gave the message. “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end.” Hearing those words Mary responds “Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”
At no point does Mary hear, prior to accepting her role in this plan, that her baby’s throne on Earth would be a cross, or that his crown would be made of thorns. It isn’t until nine months and 40 days later that Simeon made the profound statements about the child being destined for the fall and rise of many, that he will be a sign that will be contradicted, and that a sword would pierce Mary herself. All we ever hear of this is that Mary kept these things in her heart.
What might Mary have been thinking the moment Simeon uttered those prophetic words? Did she maybe think he was crazy? Maybe thinking or hoping he was wrong? Did she go home scared? What kind of conversation did Mary and Joseph have on their way back from the temple that day? That night after Jesus went to bed? Did Mary wonder if, in hindsight, she shouldn’t have asked for more info from Gabriel before simply saying “yes”?
Did she have any idea that some day, she’d be following her son down the via crucis? Did she expect that she too would endure the passion with Him?
It just goes to show that no matter what, we must be open to doing God’s will, and be prepared for change. And just when we have things figured out, whether it may be for our own lives or for those of our children, we have to be prepared that nothing will come out as we expect.
That’s probably a good thing. Because if the Angel Gabriel spelled it all out for Mary, she probably would have become overwhelmed. And instead of “be it done unto me according to thy word” Gabriel probably would have gotten an “uhh, let me get back to you on that.”
