Some Reactions to La Crosse Bishop Announcement

"The Diocese has waited a long time for a new shepherd, but has accepted the delay in good faith according to the designs of Divine Providence."

It's nice to have him in place so he can give proper leadership to the diocese."

"Things haven't really been going anywhere without the leadership of a bishop."

"It's nice to have a bishop that has been a pastor," [Fr. William] Menzel said. Many bishops get a degree in canon law, and then begin work in a chancery or a "curia," a diocesan office, Menzel said.

"Many never have been a pastor in a parish," Menzel said. Burke, the previous bishop had never been a pastor.

Did Fr. Menzel have problems with Archbishop Burke?

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 9:46 AM   

 
Gospel for the 7th Day in the Octave of Christmas
From: John 1:1-18

Prologue
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[1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the word was God. [2] He was in the beginning with God; [3] all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. [4] In him was life, and the life was the light of men. [5] The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. [6] There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. [7] He came for testimony to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him. [8] He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light.

[9] The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. [10] He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not. [11] He came to his own home, and his own people received him not. [12] But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; [13] who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

[14] And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the father. [15] (John bore witness to him, and cried, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, for he was before me.'") [16] And from his fullness have we all received, grace upon grace. [17] For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. [18] No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known.
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Commentary:

1-18. These verses form the prologue or introduction to the Fourth Gospel; they are a poem prefacing the account of Jesus Christ's life on earth, proclaiming and praising his divinity and eternity. Jesus is the uncreated Word, God the Only-begotten, who takes on our human condition and offers us the opportunity to become sons and daughters of God, that is, to share in God's own life in a real and supernatural way.

Right through his Gospel St John the Apostle lays special emphasis on our Lord's divinity; his existence did not begin when he became man in Mary's virginal womb: before that he existed in divine eternity as Word, one in substance with the Father and the Holy Spirit. This luminous truth helps us understand everything that Jesus says and does as reported in the Fourth Gospel.

St John's personal experience of Jesus' public ministry and his appearances after the Resurrection were the material on which he drew to contemplate God's divinity and express it as "the Word of God". By placing this poem as a prologue to his Gospel, the Apostle is giving us a key to understand the whole account which follows, in the same sort of way as the first chapters of the Gospels of St Matthew and St Luke initiate us into the contemplation of the life of Christ by telling us about the virgin birth and other episodes to do with his infancy; in structure and content, however, they are more akin to the opening passages of other NT books, such as Col 1:15-20, Eph 1:13-14 and 1 Jn 1-4.

The prologue is a magnificent hymn in praise of Christ. We do not know whether St John composed it when writing his Gospel, or whether he based it on some existing liturgical hymn; but there is no trace of any such text in other early Christian documents.

The prologue is very reminiscent of the first chapter of Genesis, on a number of scores: 1) the opening words are the same: "In the beginning..."; in the Gospel they refer to absolute beginning, that is, eternity, whereas in Genesis they mean the beginning of Creation and time; 2) there is a parallelism in the role of the Word: in Genesis, God creates things by his word ("And God said ..."); in the Gospel we are told that they were made through the Word of God; 3) in Genesis, God's work of creation reaches its peak when he creates man in his own image and likeness; in the Gospel, the work of the Incarnate Word culminates when man is raised--by a new creation, as it were--to the dignity of being a son of God.

The main teachings in the prologue are: 1) the divinity and eternity of the Word; 2) the Incarnation of the Word and his manifestation as man; 3) the part played by the Word in creation and in the salvation of mankind; 4) the different ways in which people react to the coming of the Lord--some accepting him with faith, others rejecting him; 5) finally, John the Baptist bears witness to the presence of the Word in the world.

The Church has always given special importance to this prologue; many Fathers and ancient Christian writers wrote commentaries on it, and for centuries it was always read at the end of Mass for instruction and meditation.

The prologue is poetic in style. Its teaching is given in verses, which combine to make up stanzas (vv. 1-5; 6-8; 9-13; 14-18). Just as a stone dropped in a pool produces ever widening ripples, so the idea expressed in each stanza tends to be expanded in later verses while still developing the original theme. This kind of exposition was much favored in olden times because it makes it easier to get the meaning across-- and God used it to help us go deeper into the central mysteries of our faith.

1. The sacred text calls the Son of God "the Word." The following comparison may help us understand the notion of "Word": just as a person becoming conscious of himself forms an image of himself in his mind, in the same way God the Father on knowing himself begets the eternal Word. This Word of God is singular, unique; no other can exist because in him is expressed the entire essence of God. Therefore, the Gospel does not call him simply "Word", but "the Word." Three truths are affirmed regarding the Word--that he is eternal, that he is distinct from the Father, and that he is God. ''Affirming that he existed in the beginning is equivalent to saying that he existed before all things" (St Augustine, "De Trinitate", 6, 2). Also, the text says that he was with God, that is, with the Father, which means that the person of the Word is distinct from that of the Father and yet the Word is so intimately related to the Father that he even shares his divine nature: he is one in substance with the Father (cf. "Nicean Creed").

To mark the Year of Faith (1967-1968) Pope Paul VI summed up this truth concerning the most Holy Trinity in what is called the "Creed of the People of God" (n. 11) in these words: "We believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God. He is the eternal Word, born of the Father before time began, and one in substance with the Father, "homoousios to Patri", and through him all things were made. He was incarnate of the Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit, and was made man: equal therefore to the Father according to his divinity, and inferior to the Father according to his humanity and himself one, not by some impossible confusion of his natures, but by the unity of his person."

"In the beginning": "what this means is that he always was, and that he is eternal. [...] For if he is God, as indeed he is, there is nothing prior to him; if he is creator of all things, then he is the First; if he is Lord of all, then everything comes after him--created things and time" (St John Chrysostom, "Hom. on St John", 2, 4).

3. After showing that the Word is in the bosom of the Father, the prologue goes on to deal with his relationship to created things. Already in the Old Testament the Word of God is shown as a creative power (cf. Is 55:10-11), as Wisdom present at the creation of the world (cf. Prov 8:22-26). Now Revelation is extended: we are shown that creation was caused by the Word; this does not mean that the Word is an instrument subordinate and inferior to the Father: he is an active principle along with the Father and the Holy Spirit. The work of creation is an activity common to the three divine Persons of the Blessed Trinity: "the Father generating, the Son being born, the Holy Spirit proceeding; consubstantial, co-equal, co-omnipotent and co-eternal; one origin of all things: the creator of all things visible and invisible, spiritual and corporal." (Fourth Lateran Council, "De Fide Catholica", Dz-Sch, 800). From this can be deduced, among other things, the hand of the Trinity in the work of creation and, therefore, the fact that all created things are basically good.

4. The prologue now goes on to expound two basic truths about the Word--that he is Life and that he is Light. The Life referred to here is divine life, the primary source of all life, natural and supernatural. And that Life is the light of men, for from God we receive the light of reason, the light of truth and the light of glory, which are a participation in God's mind. Only a rational creature is capable of having knowledge of God in this world and of later contemplating him joyfully in heaven for all eternity. Also the Life (the Word) is the light of men because he brings them out of the darkness of sin and error (cf. Is 8:23; 9:1-2; Mt 4:15-16; Lk 1:74). Later on Jesus will say: "I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (Jn 8:12; cf. 12:46).

Vv. 3 and 4 can be read with another punctuation, now generally abandoned but which had its supporters in ancient times: "All things were made through him, and without him nothing was made; in so far as anything was made in him, he was the life and the life was the light of men." This reading would suggest that everything that has been created is life in the Word, that is, that all things receive their being and activity, their life, through the Word: without him they cannot possibly exist.

5. "And the darkness has not overcome it": the original Greek verb, given in Latin as "comprehenderunt", means to embrace or contain as if putting one's arms around it--an action which can be done with good dispositions (a friendly embrace) or with hostility (the action of smothering or crushing someone). So there are two possible translations: the former is that given in the Navarre Spanish, the latter that in the RSV. The RSV option would indicate that Christ and the Gospel continue to shine among men despite the world's opposition, indeed overcoming "it", as Jesus later says: "Be of good cheer: I have overcome the world" (Jn 16:33; cf. 12:31; 1 Jn 5:4). Either way, the verse expresses the darkness' resistance to, repugnance for, the light. As his Gospel proceeds, St John explains further about the light and darkness: soon, in vv. 9-11, he refers to the struggle between them; later he will describe evil and the powers of the evil one, as a darkness enveloping man's mind and preventing him from knowing God (cf. Jn 12:15-46; 1 Jn 5:6).

St Augustine ("In Ioann. Evang.", 1, 19) comments on this passage as follows: "But, it may be, the dull hearts of some cannot yet receive this light. Their sins weigh them down, and they cannot discern it. Let them not think, however, that, because they cannot discern it, therefore it is not present with them. For they themselves, because of their sins, are darkness. Just as if you place a blind person in the sunshine, although the sun is present to him, yet he is absent from the sun; in the same way, every foolish man, every unrighteous man, every ungodly man, is blind in heart. [...] What course then ought such a one to take? Let him cleanse the eyes of his heart, that he may be able to see God. He will see Wisdom, for God is Wisdom itself, and it is written: 'Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God.'" There is no doubt that sin obscures man's spiritual vision, rendering him unable to see and enjoy the things of God.

6-8. After considering the divinity of the Lord, the text moves on to deal with his incarnation, and begins by speaking of John the Baptist, who makes his appearance at a precise point in history to bear direct witness before man to Jesus Christ (Jn 1:15, 19-36; 3:22ff). As St Augustine comments: "For as much as he [the Word Incarnate] was man and his Godhead was concealed, there was sent before him a great man, through whose testimony He might be found to be more than man" ("In Ioann. Evang.", 2, 5).

All of the Old Testament was a preparation for the coming of Christ. Thus, the patriarchs and prophets announced, in different ways, the salvation the Messiah would bring. But John the Baptist, the greatest of those born of woman (cf. Mt 11:11), was actually able to point out the Messiah himself; his testimony marked the culmination of all the previous prophecies.

So important is John the Baptist's mission to bear witness to Jesus Christ that the Synoptic Gospels stage their account of the public ministry with John's testimony. The discourses of St Peter and St Paul recorded in the Acts of the Apostles also refer to this testimony (Acts 1:22; 10:37; 12:24). The Fourth Gospel mentions it as many as seven times (1:6, 15, 19, 29, 35; 3:27; 5:33). We know, of course, that St John the Apostle was a disciple of the Baptist before becoming a disciple of Jesus, and that it was precisely the Baptist who showed him the way to Christ (cf. 1 :37ff).

The New Testament, then, shows us the importance of the Baptist's mission, as also his own awareness that he is merely the immediate Precursor of the Messiah, whose sandals he is unworthy to untie (cf. Mk 1:7): the Baptist stresses his role as witness to Christ and his mission as preparer of the way for the Messiah (cf. Lk 1:15-17; Mt 3: 3-12). John the Baptist's testimony is undiminished by time: he invites people in every generation to have faith in Jesus, the true Light.

9. "The true light..." [The Spanish translation of this verse is along these lines: "It was the true light that enlightens every man who comes into the world."] The Fathers, early translations and most modern commentators see "the Word" as being the subject of this sentence, which could therefore be translated as "the Word was the true light that enlightens every man who comes into the world...". Another interpretation favored by many modern scholars makes "the light" the subject, in which case it would read "the true light existed, which enlightens...". Either way, the meaning is much the same.

"Coming into the world": it is not clear in the Greek whether these words refer to "the light", or to "every man". In the first case it is the Light (the Word) that is coming into this world to enlighten all men; in the second it is the men who, on coming into this world, on being born, are enlightened by the Word; the RSV and the new Vulgate opt for the first interpretation.

The Word is called "the true light" because he is the original light from which every other light or revelation of God derives. By the Word's coming, the world is fully lit up by the authentic Light. The prophets and all the other messengers of God, including John the Baptist, were not the true light but his reflection, attesting to the Light of the Word.

A propos the fullness of light which the Word is, St John Chrysostom asks: "If he enlightens every man who comes into the world, how is it that so many have remained unenlightened? For not all, to be sure, have recognized the high dignity of Christ. How, then, does he enlighten every man? As much as he is permitted to do so. But if some, deliberately closing the eyes of their minds, do not wish to receive the beams of this light, darkness is theirs. This is not because of the nature of the light, but is a result of the wickedness of men who deliberately deprive themselves of the gift of grace (Hom. on St. John, 8, 1).

10. The Word is in this world as the maker who controls what he has made (cf. St Augustine, "In Ioann. Evang.", 2, 10). In St John's Gospel the term "world" means "all creation, all created things (including all mankind)": thus, Christ came to save all mankind: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him" (Jn 3:16-17). But insofar as many people have rejected the Light, that is, rejected Christ, "world" also means everything opposed to God (cf. Jn 17:14-15). Blinded by their sins, men do not recognize in the world the hand of the Creator (cf. Rom 1:18-20; Wis 13:1-15): "they become attached to the world and relish only the things that are of the world" (St John Chrysostom, "Hom. on St John", 7). But the Word, "the true light", comes to show us the truth about the world (cf. Jn 1:3; 18:37) and to save us.

11. "his own home, his own people": this means, in the first place, the Jewish people, who were chosen by God as his own personal "property", to be the people from whom Christ would be born. It can also mean all mankind, for mankind is also his: he created it and his work of redemption extends to everyone. So the reproach that they did not receive the Word made man should be understood as addressed not only to the Jews but to all those who rejected God despite his calling them to be his friends: "Christ came; but by a mysterious and terrible misfortune, not everyone accepted him. [...] It is the picture of humanity before us today, after twenty centuries of Christianity. How did this happen? What shall we say? We do not claim to fathom a reality immersed in mysteries that transcend us--the mystery of good and evil. But we can recall that the economy of Christ, for its light to spread, requires a subordinate but necessary cooperation on the part of man--the cooperation of evangelization, of the apostolic and missionary Church. If there is still work to be done, it is all the more necessary for everyone to help her" (Paul VI, General Audience, 4 December 1974).

12. Receiving the Word means accepting him through faith, for it is through faith that Christ dwells in our hearts (cf. Eph 3:17). Believing in his name means believing in his Person, in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God. In other words, "those who believe in his name are those who fully hold the name of Christ, not in any way lessening his divinity or his humanity" (St Thomas Aquinas, "Commentary on St John, in loc.").

"He gave power [to them]" is the same as saying "he gave them a free gift"--sanctifying grace--"because it is not in our power to make ourselves sons of God" ("ibid."). This gift is extended through Baptism to everyone, whatever his race, age, education etc. (cf. Acts 10:45; Gal 3:28). The only condition is that we have faith.

"The Son of God became man", St Athanasius explains, "in order that the sons of men, the sons of Adam, might become sons of God. [...] He is the Son of God by nature; we, by grace" ("De Incarnatione Contra Arrianos"). What is referred to here is birth to supernatural life: in which "Whether they be slaves or freemen, whether Greeks or barbarians or Scythians, foolish or wise, female or male, children or old men, honorable or without honor, rich or poor, rulers or private citizens, all, he meant, would merit the same honor. [...] Such is the power of faith in him; such the greatness of his grace" (St John Chrysostom, "Hom. on St John", 10, 2).

"Christ's union with man is power and the source of power, as St John stated so incisively in the prologue of his Gospel: '(The Word) gave power to become children of God.' Man is transformed inwardly by this power as the source of a new life that does not disappear and pass away but lasts to eternal life (cf. Jn 4:14)" (John Paul II, "Redemptor Hominis", 18).

13. The birth spoken about here is a real, spiritual type of generation which is effected in Baptism (cf. 3:6ff). Instead of the plural adopted here, referring to the supernatural birth of men, some Fathers and early translations read it in the singular: "who was born, not of blood...but of God", in which case the text would refer to the eternal generation of the Word and to Jesus' generation through the Holy Spirit in the pure womb of the Virgin Mary. Although the second reading is very attractive, the documents (Greek manuscripts, early translations, references in the works of ecclesiastical writers, etc.) show the plural text to be the more usual, and the one that prevailed from the fourth century forward. Besides, in St John's writings we frequently find reference to believers as being born of God (cf. Jn 3:3-6; 1 Jn 2:29; 3:9; 4:7; 5:1, 4, 18).

The contrast between man's natural birth (by blood and the will of man) and his supernatural birth (which comes from God) shows that those who believe in Jesus Christ are made children of God not only by their creation but above all by the free gift of faith and grace.

14. This is a text central to the mystery of Christ. It expresses in a very condensed form the unfathomable fact of the incarnation of the Son of God. "When the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman" (Gal 4:4).

The word "flesh" means man in his totality (cf. Jn 3:6; 17:2; Gen 6:3; Ps 56:5); so the sentence "the Word became flesh" means the same as "the Word became man." The theological term "incarnation" arose mainly out of this text. The noun "flesh" carries a great deal of force against heresies which deny that Christ is truly man. The word also accentuates that our Savior, who dwelt among us and shared our nature, was capable of suffering and dying, and it evokes the "Book of the Consolation of Israel" (Is 40:1-11), where the fragility of the flesh is contrasted with the permanence of the Word of God: "The grass withers, the flower fades; but the Word of our God will stand for ever" (Is 40:8). This does not mean that the Word's taking on human nature is something precarious and temporary.

"And dwelt among us": the Greek verb which St John uses originally means "to pitch one's tent", hence, to live in a place. The careful reader of Scripture will immediately think of the tabernacle, or tent, in the period of the exodus from Egypt, where God showed his presence before all the people of Israel through certain sights of his glory such as the cloud covering the tent (cf., for example, Ex 25:8; 40:34-35). In many passages of the Old Testament it is announced that God "will dwell in the midst of the people" (cf., for example, Jer 7:3; Ezek 43:9; Sir 24:8). These signs of God's presence, first in the pilgrim tent of the Ark in the desert and then in the temple of Jerusalem, are followed by the most wonderful form of God's presence among us--Jesus Christ, perfect God and perfect Man, in whom the ancient promise is fulfilled in a way that far exceeded men's greatest expectations. Also the promise made through Isaiah about the "Immanuel" or "God-with-us" (Is 7:14; cf. Mt 1:23) is completely fulfilled through this dwelling of the Incarnate Son of God among us. Therefore, when we devoutly read these words of the Gospel "and dwelt among us" or pray them during the Angelus, we have a good opportunity to make an act of deep faith and gratitude and to adore our Lord's most holy human nature.

"Remembering that 'the Word became flesh', that is, that the Son of God became man, we must become conscious of how great each man has become through this mystery, through the Incarnation of the Son of God! Christ, in fact, was conceived in the womb of Mary and became man to reveal the eternal love of the Creator and Father and to make known the dignity of each one of us" (John Paul II, "Angelus Address" at Jasna Gora Shrine, 5 June 1979).

Although the Word's self-emptying by assuming a human nature concealed in some way his divine nature, of which he never divested himself, the Apostles did see the glory of his divinity through his human nature: it was revealed in the transfiguration (Lk 9:32-35), in his miracles (Jn 2:11; 11:40), and especially in his resurrection (cf. Jn 3:11; 1 Jn 1:1) The glory of God, which shone out in the early tabernacle in the desert and in the temple at Jerusalem, was nothing but an imperfect anticipation of the reality of God's glory revealed through the holy human nature of the Only-begotten of the Father. St John the Apostle speaks in a very formal way in the first person plural: "we have beheld his glory", because he counts himself among the witnesses who lived with Christ and, in particular, were present at his transfiguration and saw the glory of his resurrection.

The words "only Son" ("Only-begotten") convey very well the eernal and unique generation of the Word by the Father. The first three Gospels stressed Christ's birth in time; St John complements this by emphasizing his eternal generation.

The words "grace and truth" are synonyms of "goodness and fidelity", two attributes which, in the Old Testament, are constantly applied to Yahweh (cf., e.g., Ex 34:6; Ps 117; Ps 136; Osee 2:16-22): so, grace is the _expression of God's love for men, the way he expresses his goodness and mercy. Truth implies permanence, loyalty, constancy, fidelity. Jesus, who is the Word of God made man, that is, God himself, is therefore "the only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth"; he is
the "merciful and faithful high priest" (Heb 2:17). These two qualities, being good and faithful, are a kind of compendium or summary of Christ's greatness. And they also parallel, though on an infinitely lower level, the quality essential to every Christian, as stated expressly by our Lord when he praised the "good and faithful servant" (Mt 25:21).

As Chrysostom explains: "Having declared that they who received him were 'born of God' and 'become sons of God,' he then set forth the cause and reason for this ineffable honor. It is that 'the Word became flesh' and the Master took on the form of a slave. He became the Son of Man, though he was the true Son of God, in order that he might make the sons of men children of God. ("Hom. on St John", 11,1).

The profound mystery of Christ was solemnly defined by the Church's Magisterium in the famous text of the ecumenical council of Chalcedon (in the year 451): "Following the holy Fathers, therefore, we all with one accord teach the profession of faith in the one identical Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. We declare that he is perfect both in his divinity and in his humanity, truly God and truly man, composed of body and rational soul; that he is consubstantial with the Father in his divinity, consubstantial with us in his humanity, like us in every respect except for sin (cf. Heb 4:15). we declare that in his divinity he was begotten in this last age of Mary the Virgin, the Mother of God, for us and for our salvation" (Dz-Sch, n. 301).

15. Further on (On Jn 1:19-36) the Gospel tells us more about John the Baptist's mission as a witness to the messiahship and divinity of Jesus. Just as God planned that the Apostles should bear witness to Jesus after the resurrection, so he planned that the Baptist would be the witness chosen to proclaim Jesus at the very outset of his public ministry (cf. note on Jn 1:6-8).

16 "Grace upon grace": this can be understood, as it was by Chrysostom and other Fathers, as "grace for grace", the Old Testament economy of salvation giving way to the new economy of grace brought by Christ. It can also mean (as the-RSV suggests) that Jesus brings a superabundance of gifts, adding on, to existing graces, others--all of which pour out of the one inexhaustible source, Christ, who is for ever full of grace. "Not by sharing with us, says the Evangelist, does Christ possess the gift, but he himself is both fountain and root of all virtues. He himself is life, and light, and truth, not keeping within himself the wealth of these blessings, but pouring it forth upon all others, and even after the outpouring still remaining full. He suffers loss in no way by giving his wealth to others, but, while always pouring out and sharing these virtues with all men, he remains in the same state of perfection" (St John Chrysostom, "Hom. on St John", 14, 1).

17. Here, for the first time in St John's Gospel, the name of Jesus Christ appears, identified with the Word of whom John has been speaking.

Whereas the Law given by Moses went no further than indicate the way man ought follow (cf. Rom 8:7-10), the grace brought by Jesus has the power to save those who receive it (cf. Rom 7:25). Through grace "we have become dear to God, no longer merely as servants, but as sons and friends" (Chrysostom, "Hom. on St John", 14, 2).

On "grace and truth" see note on Jn 1:14.
18. "No one has ever seen God": in this world men have never seen God other than indirectly: all that they could contemplate was God's "glory", that is the aura of his greatness: for example, Moses saw the burning bush (Ex 3:6); Elijah felt the breeze on Mount Horeb--the "still small voice" (RSV)--(1 Kings 19:11-13). But in the fullness of time God comes much closer to man and reveals himself almost directly, for Jesus Christ is the visible image of the invisible God (cf. Col 1:15), the maximum revelation of God in this world, to such an extent that he assures us that "he who has seen me has seen the Father" (Jn 14:9). "The most intimate truth which this revelation gives us about God and the salvation of man shines forth in Christ, who is himself both the mediator and the sum total of Revelation" (Vatican II, "Dei Verbum", 2).

There is no greater revelation God could make of himself than the incarnation of his eternal Word. As St John of the Cross puts it so well: "In giving to us, as he has done, his Son, who is his only Word, he has spoken to us once and for all by his own and only Word, and has nothing further to reveal" ("Ascent of Mount Carmel", Book II, chap. 22).

"The only Son": the RSV note says that "other ancient authorities read "God" (for Son); the Navarre Spanish has "the Only-begotten God" and comments as follows: some Greek manuscripts and some translations give "the Only-begotten Son" or "the Only-begotten". "The Only-begotten God" is preferable because it finds best support in the codexes. Besides, although the meaning does not change substantially, this translation has a richer content because it again explicitly reveals Christ's divinity.
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Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland.

Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
- posted by LRS @ 7:24 AM   

 
UN-Supported Pro-Aborts Sue Costa Rica
From the Catholic Family & Human Rights Institute (www.c-fam.org):

UN-Funded Pro-Abortion Group Attacks Costa Rica's In Vitro Ban

The Center For Reproductive Rights (CRR), the most active pro-abortion litigant in the United States and a major global pro-abortion force, has filed supporting documents in a case against Costa Rica that is now pending before an international human rights commission. The outcome of the case could have repercussions on pro-life legislation throughout the Americas.

Costa Rica's Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court issued its landmark pro-life ruling in 2000, finding that "the human embryo is a person from the moment of conception ... not an object," so that its life and must be protected by the law from conception, and banning in-vitro fertilization (IVF) due to the "disproportionate risk of death" to embryos used in the procedure.
...
The CRR openly admits that it uses international law to promote abortion, saying in a recent report that it has "pioneered using international human rights law and legal mechanisms to secure women's reproductive rights," and that it has "filed groundbreaking legal cases in the inter-American human rights system." The CRR considers this case important because "Depending on the Inter-American Commission's final decision, governments and courts across North and South America could cite its ruling...in developing and interpreting their countries' laws on reproductive technologies, contraception and abortion."

The Commission is due to consider the case in March, 2005. It will then issue a report recommending actions to be taken by Costa Rica, and if its recommendations are not adopted within three months, it may submit the case to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, where any decision would be binding on Costa Rica.

CRR is one of the most aggressive promoters of abortion in the world and is financially assisted by the UN Population Fund (UNFPA). UNPFA, however, denies they support abortion.

Copyright 2004 - C-FAM (Catholic Family & Human Rights Institute).
Permission granted for unlimited use. Credit required.

- posted by LRS @ 6:54 AM   

 
Chicagoan is Names New Bishop of La Crosse

The new bishop of the Diocese of La Crosse grew up on the southeast side of Chicago in a Polish-Hispanic neighborhood and worked for a time in the steel mills there. Bishop-elect Jerome E. Listecki, whose appointment was announced Wednesday morning, described his background as that of "a neighborhood kid" growing up in a working-class Roman Catholic community where his mother was a homemaker and his father was a city bus driver, who before that owned a neighborhood tavern. Both parents are deceased.

"It is an honor following Archbishop Raymond L. Burke, a person I consider a friend and a bishop that I respect and admire," said Listecki, who studied church canon law at the same university and lived in the same housing complex in Rome as Burke in early 1980s.

[Archbishop] Burke also issued a formal statement later in the day Wednesday in which he expressed "profound joy" at Listecki's appointment. "Knowing well Bishop Listecki's outstanding spiritual gifts and his excellent preparation by both education and experience, I also know that he will serve the faithful of the Diocese of La Crosse with tireless devotion and great distinction," Burke said.

Listecki, who retired as a lieutenant colonel on Sept. 30 after 23 years in the Army Reserve...

Article
- posted by LRS @ 6:38 AM   

 
Bishop Olmsted Places LifeTeen Priest on Leave

A Valley priest who founded a charismatic youth group that exploded into the nation's largest teen ministry was placed on administrative leave Wednesday while his superiors investigate an allegation of sexual impropriety that went unreported for two decades.
...
"This has been a very difficult but necessary decision," the bishop's top aide, Vicar General Fred Adamson, said at a hastily called news conference at the diocese's headquarters in downtown Phoenix.

"The action comes after an attorney notified the Diocese of Phoenix that his client claimed to have recovered a repressed memory involving sexual improprieties by Father Fushek in 1985," Adamson said.

Great - another case of a "repressed memory" being brought back to "life."

Full Article
- posted by LRS @ 6:24 AM   

 
From the Post: Friend of Burke's succeeds him in office

Pope John Paul II named Bishop Jerome E. Listecki, an auxiliary bishop in Chicago, to replace Archbishop Raymond Burke as the ninth bishop of La Crosse, Wis.

Burke and Listecki became friends when they were in graduate school together, studying canon law, in Rome in the early 1980s.

Listecki, 55, was ordained in 1975 and named an auxiliary bishop in Chicago in 2000.

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 6:16 AM   

 
Gospel for the 6th Day in the Octave of Christmas
From: Luke 2:36-40

Anna's Prophecy
---------------
[36] And there was a prophetess Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Ahser; she was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity, [37] and as a widow till she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshipping with fasting and prayer night and day. [38] And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks to God, and spoke of Him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

The Childhood of Jesus
----------------------
[39] And when they had performed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. [40] And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon Him.
*************
Commentary:

36-38. Anna's testimony is very similar to Simeon's; like him, she too has been awaiting the coming of the Messiah her whole life long, in faithful service of God, and she too is rewarded with the joy of seeing Him. "She spoke of Him," that is, of the Child--praising God in her prayer and exhorting others to believe that this Child is the Messiah.

Thus, the birth of Christ was revealed by three kinds of witnesses in three different ways--first, by the shepherds, after the angel's announcement; second, by the Magi, who were guided by a star; third, by Simeon and Anna, who were inspired by the Holy Spirit.

All who, like Simeon and Anna, persevere in piety and in the service of God, no matter how insignificant their lives seem in men's eyes, become instruments the Holy Spirit uses to make Christ known to other. In His plan of redemption God avails of these simple souls to do much good to all mankind.

39. Before their return to Nazareth, St. Matthew tells us (2:13-23), the Holy Family fled to Egypt where they stayed for some time.

40. "Our Lord Jesus Christ as a child, that is, as one clothed in the fragility of human nature, had to grow and become stronger but as the eternal Word of God He had no need to become stronger or to grow. Hence He is rightly described as full of wisdom and grace" (St. Bede, "In Lucae Evangelium Expositio, in loc.").
*******
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland.

Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
- posted by LRS @ 6:07 AM   

 
Galveston-Houston Becoming Archdiocese

HOUSTON - The Roman Catholic Diocese of Galveston-Houston is being elevated to the rank of archdiocese because of the growth of Catholicism in Texas, church officials said Wednesday.

The designation by Pope John Paul II makes Texas the second state in the country, joining California, to have two archdioceses.Galveston-Houston will join San Antonio in administering to the roughly 6.5 million Roman Catholics in the state.

The announcement coincided with the retirement of Archbishop Patrick Flores in San Antonio and the naming of Jose Horacio Gomez, 53, an auxiliary bishop from Denver, to succeed him.

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 9:07 PM   

 
A Recent Letter to the Editor re: St. Stanislaus

Mass at St. Stan's

Archbishop Raymond Burke missed a golden opportunity to quiet the dissent of the St. Stanislaus parishioners. Had he rescinded his earlier decision disallowing any Masses at the church and permitted the celebration of midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, he may have regained some respect in the eyes of the rebels who balked at his effort to seize church assets.

The congregation responded by bringing in a "ringer" with the courage to do what he was chosen to do. Midnight Mass was celebrated - much to the chagrin of the archbishop, I imagine.

Although I am not a member of the little Polish Church, I sensed a true feeling of solidarity and a resolve to overcome the present discord.

Daniel Ness
St. George

There are a number of inaccuracies here. First, Archbishop Burke is not trying to "seize" the assets of the church. Rather than repeat what has been sufficiently documented regarding this subject, the board of directors refuse to abide by Church law.

Secondly, it seeems that the board of St. Stanislaus has been planning this for quite some time - one does not ordinarily buy a round trip ticket from Poland to the US at the last minute, especially at Christmas. It appears that this flagrant act of open rebellion and disobedience had been deliberated for weeks.

Thirdly, the priest (if he was, in fact a priest) who came in under cover of darkness displayed, not courage but cowardice by contravening the legitimate orders of the Archbishop as if he were able to decide what is best for the parishioners. This priest should be disciplined for his act of disobedience and for causing scandal by encouraging the rejection of the mandates of the Archbishop.

Lastly, a "true sense of solidarity" does not flow from rebellion and disobedience to the Church and to one's bishop. If anything, it further exacerbates the problems brought on by the board.

Link to Letter
- posted by LRS @ 7:01 AM   

 
Springfield, IL Police Interview Beaten Priest

The condition of a Catholic priest found badly beaten in a Springfield park last week is improving, which allowed police Monday to interview him for the first time about the crime.

That initial talk with Monsignor Eugene Costa, which lasted about five minutes, didn't provide investigators with any significant clues about who did it, however, said Springfield police Lt. Rickey Davis.

"He's improving," Davis said. " ... He was able to talk to us. I can't tell you what he said, of course, but he couldn't shed any additional light on the information for us to help us out."

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 6:49 AM   

 
More Protests Brewing in Boston

Catholics outraged by the treatment of parishioners attending a South Natick church's final Mass are considering staging sit-ins at other parishes the Boston archdiocese intends to close.

"The archdiocese has shown its true colors in calling in the police, and we will act accordingly," said Peter Borre, co-chairman of the Council of Parishes, a coalition of parishioners concerned about Archbishop Sean P. O'Malley's decision to close more than 80 parishes because of fiscal problems.

Act accordingly??? Do you suppose he means that he and others will spend more time before the Blessed Sacrament praying? Or that they will perform acts of penance and fasting?

Article.
- posted by LRS @ 6:44 AM   

 
Rome discovers a new breed of tourist
And many of those are likely to be readers of Dan Brown's books "The Da Vinci Code" and "Angels and Demons".

The first "official Angels and Demons tour", organised by a group of 30-something Romans specialising in the "darker side of Rome", will tomorrow show visitors the Roman sites used by the author of The Da Vinci Code.

Archbishop John Foley, head of the Vatican's pontifical council for social communications, told the Guardian recently that he had read The Da Vinci Code and found aspects of it blasphemous. He attributed the book's success to its "overall attitude of attack and undermining religion by saying it's a sort of conspiracy". But, he said, the Vatican had "done away with the edicts of forbidden books".

Article.
- posted by LRS @ 6:37 AM   

 
In a Bold Effort to Stay Alive.....
Women religious crafting new ministries, says U.S. religious leader

ROME (CNS) -- While much emphasis is placed on the decline in numbers, religious orders today are creatively engaged in ministries for a new millennium, according to the president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious. Benedictine Sister Christine Vladimiroff, prioress of her community in Erie, Pa., was interviewed recently while in Rome for the first International Congress on Consecrated Life, which brought together some 800 leaders of men's and women's religious orders from around the world. In an interview with The Catholic Key, newspaper of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Mo., Sister Vladimiroff said religious orders are exercising creativity in founding new ministries, especially with the poor in inner cities. She also said religious communities are pooling their resources and collaborating more with one another and with the diocesan church.

Does this mean that those religious orders which are seeing an increase in vocations are doing something wrong?

CNS article.
- posted by LRS @ 6:32 AM   

 
Holy Family Parish Prays for a Miracle

Parishioners of Holy Family Church held a prayer vigil Sunday, hoping for a "miracle on Humphrey Street." The parishioners recently learned that the St. Louis Archdiocese changed its recommendation and now Holy Family Church, 4125 Humphrey St., is slated to be closed.

"Everyone was absolutely stunned," said parishioner Cecelia Dooley. "We were devastated..."One of the things that happened, the deanery was going by false information," Dooley said. "Everybody is very distraught. We continue to pray that we have our miracle on Humphrey Street."

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 6:26 AM   

 
Gospel for the 5th Day in the Octave of Christmas
From: Luke 2:22-35

The Purification of Mary and the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple

[22] And when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they (Joseph and Mary) brought Him (Jesus) up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord [23] (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord") [24] and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtle-doves, or two young pigeons."

Simeon's Prophecy

[25] Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. [26] And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. [27] And inspired by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, [28] he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said, [29] "Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word; [30] for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation [31] which Thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples, [32] a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for the glory to Thy people Israel."

[33] And His father and His mother marvelled at what was said about Him; [34] and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, His mother, "Behold this child is set for the fall and the rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against [35] (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed."
***************
Commentary:

22-24. The Holy Family goes up to Jerusalem to fulfill the prescriptions of the Law of Moses--the purification of the mother and the presentation and then redemption or buying back of the first-born. According to Leviticus 12:2-8, a woman who bore a child was unclean. The period of legal impurity ended, in the case of a mother of a male child, after forty days, with a rite of purification. Mary most holy, ever-virgin, was exempt from these precepts of the Law, because she conceived without intercourse, nor did Christ's birth undo the virginal integrity of His Mother. However, she chose to submit herself to the Law, although she was under no obligation to do so.

"Through this example, foolish child, won't you learn to fulfill the holy Law of God, regardless of personal sacrifice? "Purification! You and I certainly do need purification. Atonement and, more than atonement, Love. Love as a searing iron to cauterize our soul's uncleanness, and as a fire to kindle with divine flames the wretchedness of our hearts" ([St] J. Escriva, "Holy Rosary", Fourth Joyful Mystery).

Also, in Exodus 13:2, 12-13 it is indicated that every first-born male belongs to God and must be set apart for the Lord, that is, dedicated to the service of God. However, once divine worship was reserved to the tribe of Levi, first-born who did not belong to that tribe were not dedicated to God's service, and to show that they continued to be God's special property, a rite of redemption was performed.

The Law also laid down that the Israelites should offer in sacrifice some lesser victim--for example, a lamb or, if they were poor, a pair of doves or two pigeons. Our Lord, who "though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that by His poverty you might become rich" (2 Corinthians 8:9), chose to have a poor man's offering made on His behalf.

25-32. Simeon, who is described as a righteous and devout man, obedient to God's will, addresses himself to our Lord as a vassal or loyal servant who, having kept watch all his life in expectation of the coming of his Lord, sees that this moment has "now" come, the moment that explains his whole life. When he takes the Child in his arms, he learns, not through any reasoning process but through a special grace from God, that this Child is the promised Messiah, the Consolation of Israel, the Light of the nations.

Simeon's canticle (verses 29-32) is also a prophecy. It consists of two stanzas: the first (verses 29-30) is an act of thanksgiving to God, filled with profound joy for having seen the Messiah. The second (verses 31-32) is more obviously prophetic and extols the divine blessings which the Messiah is bringing to Israel and to all men. The canticle highlights the fact that Christ brings redemption to all men without exception--something foretold in many Old Testament prophecies (cf. Genesis 22:18; Isaiah 2:6; 42:6; 60:3; Psalm 28:2).

It is easy to realize how extremely happy Simeon was--given that many patriarchs, prophets and kings of Israel had yearned to see the Messiah, yet did not see Him, whereas he now held Him in his arms (cf. Luke 10:24; 1 Peter 1:10).

33. The Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph marvelled not because they did not know who Christ was; they were in awe at the way God was revealing Him. Once again they teach us to contemplate the mysteries involved in the birth of Christ.

34-35. After Simeon blesses them, the Holy Spirit moves him to further prophecy about the Child's future and His Mother's. His words become clearer in the light of our Lord's life and death.

Jesus came to bring salvation to all men, yet He will be a sign of contradiction because some people will obstinately reject Him--and for this reason He will be their ruin. But for those who accept Him with faith Jesus will be their salvation, freeing them from sin in this life and raising them up to eternal life.

The words Simeon addresses to Mary announce that she will be intimately linked with her Son's redemptive work. The sword indicates that Mary will have a share in her Son's sufferings; hers will be an unspeakable pain which pierces her soul. Our Lord suffered on the cross for our sins, and it is those sins which forge the sword of Mary's pain. Therefore, we have a duty to atone not only to God but also to His Mother, who is our Mother too.

The last words of the prophecy, "that out of many hearts thoughts may be revealed", link up with verse 34: uprightness or perversity will be demonstrated by whether one accepts or rejects Christ.

36-38. Anna's testimony is very similar to Simeon's; like him, she too has been awaiting the coming of the Messiah her whole life long, in faithful service of God, and she too is rewarded with the joy of seeing Him. "She spoke of Him," that is, of the Child--praising God in her prayer and exhorting others to believe that this Child is the Messiah.

Thus, the birth of Christ was revealed by three kinds of witnesses in three different ways--first, by the shepherds, after the angel's announcement; second, by the Magi, who were guided by a star; third, by Simeon and Anna, who were inspired by the Holy Spirit.

All who, like Simeon and Anna, persevere in piety and in the service of God, no matter how insignificant their lives seem in men's eyes, become instruments the Holy Spirit uses to make Christ known to other. In His plan of redemption God avails of these simple souls to do much good to all mankind.

39. Before their return to Nazareth, St. Matthew tells us (2:13-23), the Holy Family fled to Egypt where they stayed for some time.

40. "Our Lord Jesus Christ as a child, that is, as one clothed in the fragility of human nature, had to grow and become stronger but as the eternal Word of God He had no need to become stronger or to grow. Hence He is rightly described as full of wisdom and grace" (St. Bede, "In Lucae Evangelium Expositio, in loc.").
************
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland.

Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
- posted by LRS @ 12:19 AM   

 
Update on Fr. John Perricone and St. Anthony of Padua Parish

Founder's death leaves traditional congregation in dispute over successor

To say that St. Anthony of Padua, the church [Fr Paul] Wickens started nine years ago, is a haven for traditionalists is an understatement. And with his death this year, the search for just the right successor to the old founder has split the parishioners of this unusual West Orange church.

At a time when they would rather rally around a new priest, hundreds have boycotted the chapel for makeshift Masses at a Ramada Inn in East Hanover and a VFW Post and the Wellesley Inn in Fairfield.

The schism opened soon after the July death of Wickens, whose opposition to the historic 1960s reforms of the Second Vatican Council attracted hundreds of other "traditionalist" Catholics who like him felt the changes sullied ancient Catholic traditions and practices.

The current boycotters say they have nothing personal against Wickens' replacement, the Rev. John Perricone, a conservative Catholic in his own right who in many ways seems a perfect fit for St. Anthony's. Perricone, who started at St. Anthony's Dec. 1, is founder of the group "Christifidelis," which is dedicated to the Latin Mass.

The article states that some have rejected Fr. Perricone because is an archdiocesan priest, or because he celebrates both Masses (Tridentine and Novus Ordo), or for other reasons that perhaps only God understands.

With God's grace, may Fr. Perricone prevail in his new assignment.

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 10:02 PM   

 
Transcript of Cardinal McCarrick Interview on FoxNews

[CHRIS] WALLACE: Thank you, sir. One of the fascinating developments the last year or so has been the new explosion of interest in the life of Jesus Christ (search). Whether it's Mel Gibson's hugely successful movie "The Passion of the Christ" or the book "The Da Vinci Code," which has 9 million copies in print, or the recent covers of Time and Newsweek on the nativity, 2,000 years after his life and death people are fascinated with Jesus.

How do you explain it?

MCCARRICK: Well, of course, I guess you start by saying that we believe he's both man and God. We believe that he is the Father's great gift to the world, the gift of salvation. I think that, perhaps, most of it begins by the gift of faith that so many people in the world have had over those 2,000 years, that he left an extraordinary legacy, and the legacy was the salvation of the world.

The legacy was also a church that he left behind and a church that, even though it has not maintained that unity that he desired so much and that we all desire and pray for so much, yet there are more than a billion and a half people in the world today who believe in the Lord Jesus.

And because of that, the stories of his life are told and retold to children in tents in the desert and in skyscrapers in large cities. All over the world, people believe in him.

Link to transcript.
- posted by LRS @ 6:13 AM   

 
Let us remember the victrims in our prayers

Tidal Waves Death Toll Rises to 40,000

BANDA ACEH, Indonesia (AP) - The death toll from the epic tsunami that rocked 11 countries rose to 40,000 people Tuesday, and food and supplies poured into the region, part of what the U.N. said would be the biggest relief effort the world has ever seen. Millions remained homeless.

Rescuers struggled to reach remote locations where thousands more were likely killed by the deadliest tsunami in 120 years. Bodies, many of them children, filled beaches and choked hospital morgues, raising fears of disease across the region.

Full story.
- posted by LRS @ 6:11 AM   

 
Gospel for Dec 28, Feast: The Holy Innocents, Martyrs
From: Matthew 2:13-18

The Flight Into Egypt
---------------------
[13] Now when they (the Magi) had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the Child and His mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the Child, to destroy Him." [14] And he rose and took the Child and His mother by night, and departed to Egypt, [15]and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, "Out of Egypt have I called My Son."

The Massacre of the Innocents
-----------------------------
[16] Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, was in a furious rage, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the wise men. [17] Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: [18] "A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they were no more."
**********
Commentary:

14. St. John Chrysostom, commenting on this passage, draws a particular attention to Joseph's faithfulness and obedience: "On hearing this, Joseph was not scandalized, nor did he say, `This is hard to understand. You yourself told me not long ago that He would save His people, and not He is not able to save even Himself. Indeed, we have to flee and undertake a journey and be away for a long time...'. But he does not say any of these things, because Joseph is a faithful man. Neither does he ask when they will be coming back, even though the angel had left it open when he said `and remain there till I tell you.' This does not hold him back: on the contrary, he obeys, believes and endures all trials with joy" ("Hom. on St. Matthew", 8).

It is worth noting also how God's way of dealing with His chosen ones contains light and shade: they have to put up with intense sufferings side by side with great joy: "It can be clearly seen that God, who is full of love for man, mixes pleasant things with unpleasant ones, as He did with all the Saints. He gives us neither dangers nor consolations in a continual way, but rather He makes the lives of the just a mixture of both. This was what He did with Joseph" ("ibid".).

15. The text of Hosea 11:1 speaks of a child who comes out of Egypt and is a son of God. This refers in the first place to the people of Israel whom God brought out of Egypt under Moses' leadership. But this event was a symbol or prefiguration of Jesus, the Head of the Church, the New People of God. It is in Him that this prophecy is principally fulfilled. The sacred text gives a quotation from the Old Testament in the light of its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The Old Testament achieves its full meaning in Christ, and, in the words of St. Paul, to read it without keeping in mind Jesus is to have one's face covered by a veil (cf. 2 Corinthians 3:12-18).

18. Ramah was the city in which Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, concentrated the Israelites he had taken prisoner. Since Ramah was in the land of Benjamin, Jeremiah puts this lament for the children of Israel in the mouth of Rachel, the mother of Benjamin and Joseph. So great was the misfortune of those exiled to Babylon that Jeremiah says poetically that Rachel's sorrow is too great to allow for consolation.

"Rachel was buried in the racecourse near Bethlehem. Since her grave was nearby and the property belonged to her son, Benjamin (Rachel was of the tribe of Benjamin), the children beheaded in Bethlehem could reasonably be called Rachel's children" (St John Chrysostom, "Hom. on St Matthew", 9).
***********
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland.

Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
- posted by LRS @ 6:03 AM   

 
No suspects yet in attack on Catholic priest

Police still were looking for clues Thursday into the Tuesday night beating of a Catholic priest in a Springfield park.

Monsignor Eugene E. Costa, 53, remained in St. John's Hospital's intensive-care unit Thursday...Costa was found unconscious with a severe head injury on a hillside near the band shell in Douglas Park, 400 N. MacArthur Blvd [in Springfield, IL]... Costa served as the Springfield Catholic Diocese's chancellor, which is part of Bishop George Lucas' leadership team. He also was pastor at St. John Vianney Church in Sherman, where he lives, and Holy Family Church in Athens.

Springfield police Lt. Rickey Davis said Thursday that authorities believe the attack took place in the park, probably right in the area where he was found, between 7 and 10 p.m. Among the questions that haven't been answered is why Costa was at the park that night, when temperatures were in the low 20s, and why someone beat him.

Article.
- posted by LRS @ 7:02 AM   

 
Parish Plan Revisions & Study for St. Louis Deaneries
The St. Louis reported on both sets of plans and the revisions.

In the South CIty Deanery:

As a result of the revisions, three parishes that were slated to close now would remain open. They are St. Pius the Fifth, Sts. Peter and Paul and St. Agatha.

Link.

In the North Deanery:

...planning efforts in the deanery have just begun, it’s too early to tell right now if there will be any significant changes.

Two parishes within the North St. Louis Deanery, said Father Ullrich, currently are not being included in planning efforts [St. Simon of Cyrene in North St. Louis and St. Stanislaus Kostka.]

Link.
- posted by LRS @ 6:23 AM   

 
Church closings news brings out demonstrators

Cecelia Dooley has worshipped at Holy Family Catholic Church at 4125 Humphrey Street in the Tower Grove South neighborhood of St. Louis for 52 years. Her three children attended its school. And her daughter was married there.

On Sunday, her efforts and the efforts of other parishioners led to a demonstration and prayer vigil in front of the archdiocese's administrative office, 4445 Lindell Boulevard. About 100 church members, from the elderly to preschoolers, said Hail Marys and Our Fathers and waved signs urging that the church remain open.

Given the shortage of priests, one of the reasons cited for the parish closings, [state Sen. Patrick] Dougherty suggested the church look again at the way things were run and consider operating churches with deacons and lay ministers rather than close a parish such as Holy Family.

I hope St. Louis is spared the "sit-ins" and other activities like those going on in the Boston Archdiocese. I hope this is not a prelude to actions of that type. Two people were arrested at a 'vigil' in Boston a few days ago.

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 1:59 AM   

 
Gospel for Monday, Dec 27, Feast: St. John, Apostle & Evangelist
From: John 20:1a, 2-8

The Empty Tomb
--------------
[1a] Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early. [2] So she ran, and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him." [3 ]Peter then came out with the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb. [4] They both ran, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first; [5] and stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. [6] Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; he saw the linen cloths lying, [7] and the napkin, which had been on His head, not lying with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. [8] Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed.
****************
Commentary:

1-2. All four Gospels report the first testimonies of the holy women and the disciples regarding Christ's glorious resurrection, beginning with the fact of the empty tomb (cf. Matthew 28:1-15; Mark 16:1ff; Luke 24:1-12) and then telling of the various appearances of the risen Jesus.

Mary Magdalene was one of the women who provided for our Lord during His journeys (Luke 8:1-3); along with the Virgin Mary she bravely stayed with Him right up to His final moments (John 19:25), and she saw where His body was laid (Luke 23:55). Now, after the obligatory Sabbath rest, she goes to visit the tomb. The Gospel points out that she went "early, when it was still dark": her love and veneration led her to go without delay, to be with our Lord's body.

4. The Fourth Gospel makes it clear that, although the women, and specifically Mary Magdalene, were the first to reach the tomb, the Apostles were the first to enter it and see the evidence that Christ had risen (the empty tomb, the linen clothes "lying" and the napkin in a place by itself). Bearing witness to this will be an essential factor in the mission which Christ will entrust to them: "You shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem...and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8; cf. Acts 2:32).

John, who reached the tomb first (perhaps because he was the younger), did not go in, out of deference to Peter. This is an indication that Peter was already regarded as leader of the Apostles.

5-7. The words the Evangelist uses to describe what Peter and he saw in the empty tomb convey with vivid realism the impression it made on them, etching on their memory details which at first sight seem irrelevant. The whole scene inside the tomb in some way caused them to intuit that the Lord had risen. Some of the words contained in the account need further explanation, so terse is the translation.

"The linen clothes lying there": the Greek participle translated as "lying there" seems to indicate that the clothes were flattened, deflated, as if they were emptied when the body of Jesus rose and disappeared--as if it had come out of the clothes and bandages without their being unrolled, passing right through them (just as later He entered the Cenacle when the doors were shut). This would explain the clothes being "fallen", "flat" "lying", which is how the Greek literally translates, after Jesus' body--which had filled them--left them. One can readily understand how this would amaze a witness, how unforgettable the scene would be.

"The napkin...rolled up in a place by itself": the first point to note is that the napkin, which had been wrapped round the head, was not on top of the clothes, but placed on one side. The second, even more surprising thing is that, like the clothes, it was still rolled up but, unlike the clothes, it still had a certain volume, like a container, possibly due to the stiffness given it by the ointments: this is what the Greek participle, here translated as "rolled", seems to indicate.

From these details concerning the empty tomb one deduces that Jesus' body must have risen in a heavenly manner, that is, in a way which transcended the laws of nature. It was not only a matter of the body being reanimated as happened, for example, in the case of Lazarus, who had to be unbound before he could walk (cf. John 11:44).

8-10. As Mary Magdalene had told them, the Lord was not in the tomb; but the two Apostles realized that there was no question of any robbery, which was what she thought had happened, because they saw the special way the clothes and napkin were; they know began to understand what the Master had so often told them about His death and resurrection (cf. Matthew 16:21; Mark 8:31; Luke 9:22; etc....)

The empty tomb and the other facts were perceptible to the senses; but the resurrection, even though it had effects that could be tested by experience, requires faith if it is to be accepted. Christ's resurrection is a real, historic fact: His body and soul were re-united. But since His was a glorious resurrection unlike Lazarus', far beyond our capacity in this life to understand what happened, and outside the scope of sense experience, a special gift of God is required--the gift of faith--to know and accept as a certainty this fact which, while it is historical, is also supernatural. Therefore, St. Thomas Aquinas can say that "the individual arguments taken alone are not sufficient proof of Christ's resurrection, but taken together, in a cumulative way, they manifest it perfectly. Particularly important in this regard are the spiritual proofs (cf. specially Luke 24:25-27), the angelic testimony (cf. Luke 24:4-7) and Christ's own post-resurrection word confirmed by miracles (cf. John 3:13; Matthew 16:21; 17:22; 20:18)" (St. Thomas Aquinas, "Summa Theologiae", III, q. 55, a. 6 ad 1).

In addition to Christ's predictions about His passion, death and resurrection (cf. John 2:19; Matthew 16:21; Mark 9:31; Luke 9:22), the Old Testament also foretells the glorious victory of the Messiah and, in some way, His resurrection (cf. Psalm 16:9; Isaiah 52:13; Hosea 6:2). The Apostles begin to grasp the true meaning of Sacred Scripture after the resurrection, particularly once they receive the Holy Spirit, who fully enlightens their minds to understand the content of the Word of God. It is easy to imagine the surprise and elation they all feel when Peter and John tell them what they have seen in the tomb.
*******************
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland.

Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
- posted by LRS @ 1:48 AM   

 
St Stanislaus Parish Defies Archbishop Burke

A mystery priest from Poland delivered a Christmas present to worshippers at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church in St. Louis.

Roger Krasnicki, a spokesman for the St. Stanislaus board, said a few people were upset that the board found its own priest in defiance of Burke's orders. A few board members received threatening phone calls, and someone set fire to a grassy area near the church after midnight Mass on Friday, he said. The fire was extinguished without any damage to the property.

The board is keeping the identity of the priest a secret, Krasnicki said, to shield him from any repercussions.

"This guy is out on a limb. . .. He's under a lot of pressure," he said.

The priest, who was flown in from Poland, will celebrate Mass again Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m., but he will soon return to his own parish, board member Bob Zabielski said.

The appeal to the Holy See failed, the board refuses to abide by the decision of the Holy See and they publicly defy the Archbishop who has not granted faculties to any priest to celebrate Holy Mass at St. Stanislaus. Apparently this has been in the works for a while...

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 4:08 PM   

 
A Holy and Blessed Christmas
I would like to wish everyone a holy and blessed Christmas.

I pray that the blessings of the Savior of the world may be bestowed on you and your family on this holy day.

- posted by LRS @ 6:11 AM   

 
"Urbi et Orbi", Christmas Day 2004
The Holy Father's Urbi et Orbi Message for Christmas

1. Christus natus est nobis, venite, adoremus!
Christ is born for us: come, let us adore him!
On this solemn day we come to you,
tender Babe of Bethlehem.
By your birth you have hidden your divinity
in order to share our frail human nature.
In the light of faith, we acknowledge you
as true God, made man out of love for us.
You alone are the Redeemer of mankind!

2. Before the crib where you lie helpless,
let there be an end to the spread of violence in its many forms,
the source of untold suffering;
let there be an end to the numerous situations of unrest
which risk degenerating into open conflict;
let there arise a firm will to seek peaceful solutions,
respectful of the legitimate aspirations of individuals and peoples.

3. Babe of Bethlehem, Prophet of peace,
encourage attempts to promote dialogue and reconciliation,
sustain the efforts to build peace,
which hesitantly, yet not without hope, are being made
to bring about a more tranquil present and future
for so many of our brothers and sisters in the world.
I think of Africa, of the tragedy of Darfur in Sudan,
of Côte d’Ivoire and of the Great Lakes Region.
With great apprehension I follow the situation in Iraq.
And how can I fail to look with anxious concern,
but also invincible confidence,
towards that Land of which you are a son?

4. Everywhere peace is needed!
You, Prince of true peace,
help us to understand that the only way to build peace
is to flee in horror from evil,
and to pursue goodness with courage and perseverance.
Men and women of good will, of every people on the earth,
come with trust to the crib of the Saviour!
"He who bestows the Kingdom of heaven
does not take away human kingdoms" (cf. Hymn for Vespers of Epiphany).
Hasten to meet him;
he comes to teach us
the way of truth, peace and love.

- posted by LRS @ 6:04 AM   

 
How to Find Christmas Peace
Some great quotes and insights:

Bishop Fulton J. Sheen

How to find Christmas peace in a world of unrest? You cannot find peace on the outside but you can find peace on the inside, by letting God do to your soul what Mary let Him do to her body, namely, let Christ be formed in you. As she cooked meals in her Nazarene home, as she nursed her aged cousin, as she drew water at the well, as she prepared the meals of the village carpenter, as she knitted the seamless garment, as she kneaded the dough and swept the floor, she was conscious that Christ was in her; that she was a living Ciborium, a monstrance of the Divine Eucharist, a Gate of Heaven through which a Creator would peer upon creation, a Tower of Ivory up whose chaste body He was to climb "to kiss upon her lips a mystical rose."

As He was physically formed in her, so He wills to be spiritually formed in you. If you knew He was seeing through your eyes, you would see in every fellowman a child of God. If you knew that He worked through your hands, they would bless all the day through. If you knew He spoke through your lips, then your speech, like Peter's, would betray that you had been with the Galilean. If you knew that He wants to use your mind, your will, your fingers, and your heart, how different you would be. If half the world did this there would be no war! 

---

"King of Kings yet born of Mary
As our Lord on earth He stood
Lord of Lords in human vesture
In the body and the blood
He will give to the faithful
His own self for heavenly food,"

- from "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent" (French Carol)

---

"The Eucharist began at Bethlehem in Mary's arms. It was she who brought to humanity the Bread for which it was famishing, and which alone can nourish it. She it was who took care of that Bread for us. It was she who nourished the Lamb whose life-giving Flesh we feed upon,"

- St. Peter Julian Eymard

---

"When we worship you in the form of bread... we always see you as an adult. But every year at Christmas, you reveal yourself to us as a child born in a crib. We stand in silent amazement...

In silent adoration we stand before the mystery, like Mary when the shepherd came and told her what they had seen and heard: 'She kept all these things, pondering them in her heart.'

- Chiara Lubich

---

"The shepherds - simple souls - came to adore the Infant Savior. Mary rejoiced at seeing their homage and willing offerings they made to her Jesus... How happy is the loving soul when it has found Jesus with Mary, His Mother! They who know the Tabernacle where He dwells, they who receive Him into their souls, know that His conversation is full of divine sweetness, His consolation ravishing, His peace superabundant, and the familiarity of His love and His Heart ineffable,"

- St. Peter Julian Eymard

---

"Where is the new-born King of the Jews?" inquired the three Magi of Herod, king of Jerusalem. "Where is He?" they repeat in their great desire to find Him. "We have seen His star in the East, and we have come to adore Him. Ah, tell us where He is; we desire so much to see Him; we have made so long a journey in order to become acquainted with Him!"...

But now there is no need of traveling far or of making many inquiries to find Him. He is, as we know by faith, in our churches, not far from our homes. The Magi could find Him in one place only; we can find Him in every part of the world, wherever the Blessed Sacrament is kept. Are we then not happier than those who lived at the time of our Saviour Himself?

- from The Blessed Eucharist, by Fr. Michael Muller, C.S.S.R.

---

Bishop Fulton J. Sheen

The little town of Bethlehem is taken from two Hebrew words which mean "House of Bread." He Who called Himself "the Living Bread descended from Heaven" was born in the "House of Bread" and was laid in the place of food, the manger. The first temptation Christ had in the beginning of His public life was to become a bread King, and to win men by supplying them with food. On one occasion when they attempted to make Him King after multiplying the bread, He fled into the mountains. Rome once rang with the cry: "Bread and circuses." But the Bread that was brought at Bethlehem was an entirely different kind: "Not by bread alone does man live."

The body has its bread. Shall not the soul have its food too? Those who have nourished themselves solely on the bread of the stomach and ignored the Bread of the soul have cried out with some of the bitter disappointment of the Lord Chesterfield: "I have seen the silly rounds of business and pleasure, and have done with them all. I have enjoyed all the pleasures of the world and consequently know their futility, and do not regret their loss. Their real value is very low; but those who have not experienced them always over-rate them. For myself, I by no means desire to repeat the nauseous dose."

---

Merry Christmas! A holy night, a silent night with Mother and child, all is calm, all is bright. This inspiring hymn came to us because an organ in Germany broke down about one hundred years ago.

Without an organ the parish priest in this small country church said it would be a "Silent Night". The organist would compose a melody. The priest would write the lyrics and the choir would just sing the soft praises of this hymn for midnight Mass.

That is all it was meant to be, just a simple hymn sung once and forgotten. Then a snowstorm prevented the man who fixed the organ from coming until the snow melted in the spring. After he finished he noticed the music left on the organ since Christmas night and took it back to Munich. The rest is history. "Silent Night" has reverberated throughout the ages. With its quiet sounds of love and peace it has inspired millions and millions, touching the lives of countless people.

It is the same with a holy hour. We leave it in the chapel like the music to "Silent Night," and God turns our hour of prayer into a never-ending stream of graces for His people. A single holy hour of prayer touches more hearts through God’s grace, than all the people who have ever been touched by "Silent Night". From a single holy hour of prayer God’s graces reverberate throughout the world until the end of time and will continue for all eternity.

This is because of the divine appreciation God has for those who love His Son in the Blessed Sacrament. The Father will spend all eternity thanking you and loving you in heaven because you have honored His Son on earth in the Blessed Sacrament. The Blessed Sacrament is the continuation of Christ’s Incarnation on earth.

Coming to the Blessed Sacrament we find the same humility and gentleness that the shepherds found in "the babe lying in a manger". (LUKE 2:15). The hunger in the heart of God for the love of man is expressed in the profound humility of these two words, Baby Jesus.

How great is God’s desire for intimacy with man! Jesus came as a Babe, because no one is ever afraid to come close to a baby. A baby is lovable in its vulnerability. A baby reaching our for love with open arms is irresistible.

The Sacred Host embodies the Divine Tenderness of the Incarnation. So gentle and humble, so loving and small and vulnerable, the Blessed Sacrament is Jesus saying "Come to Me...for I am gentle and humble of Heart". (Mt. 11:30).

Only the humble hear His voice. Only those with a childlike heart seek His Heart in the Blessed Sacrament. This is why Jesus says: "Let the children come to Me; do not prevent them for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these." (Mk 10:13).

- Excerpts from Letters To A Brother Priest

More can be found here.
- posted by LRS @ 12:40 PM   

 
C.S.Lewis on the Commercialization of Christmas

Three things go by the name of Christmas. One is a religious festival. This is important and obligatory for Christians; but as it can be of no interest to anyone else, I shall naturally say no more about it here. The second (it has complex historical connections with the first, but we needn’t go into them) is a popular holiday, an occasion for merry-making and hospitality. If it were my business to have a ‘view’ on this, I should say that I much approve of merry-making. But what I approve of much more is everybody minding his own business. I see no reason why I should volunteer views as to how other people should spend their own money in their own leisure among their own friends. It is highly probable that they want my advice on such matters as little as I want theirs. But the third thing called Christmas is unfortunately everyone’s business.

I mean of course the commercial racket. The interchange of presents was a very small ingredient in the older English festivity. Mr. Pickwick took a cod with him to Dingley Dell; the reformed Scrooge ordered a turkey for his clerk; lovers sent love gifts; toys and fruit were given to children. But the idea that not only all friends but even all acquaintances should give one another presents, or at least send one another cards, is quite modern and has been forced upon us by the shopkeepers. Neither of these circumstances is in itself a reason for condemning it. I condemn it on the following grounds.

1. It gives on the whole much more pain than pleasure. You have only to stay over Christmas with a family who seriously try to ‘keep’ it (in its third, or commercial, aspect) in order to see that the thing is a nightmare. Long before December 25th everyone is worn out— physically worn out by weeks of daily struggle in overcrowded shops, mentally worn out by the effort to remember all the right recipients and to think out suitable gifts for them. They are in no trim for merry-making; much less (if they should want to) to take part in a religious act. They look far more as if there had been a long illness in the house.

2. Most of it is involuntary. The modern rule is that anyone can force you to give him a present by sending you a quite unprovoked present of his own. It is almost a blackmail. Who has not heard the wail of despair, and indeed of resentment, when, at the last moment, just as everyone hoped that the nuisance was over for one more year, the unwanted gift from Mrs. Busy (whom we hardly remember) flops unwelcomed through the letter-box, and back to the dreadful shops one of us has to go?

3. Things are given as presents which no mortal ever bought for himself—gaudy and useless gadgets, ‘novelties’ because no one was ever fool enough to make their like before. Have we really no better use for materials and for human skill and time than to spend them on all this rubbish?

4. The nuisance. For after all, during the racket we still have all our ordinary and necessary shopping to do, and the racket trebles the labour of it.

We are told that the whole dreary business must go on because it is good for trade. It is in fact merely one annual symptom of that lunatic condition of our country, and indeed of the world, in which everyone lives by persuading everyone else to buy things. I don’t know the way out. But can it really be my duty to buy and receive masses of junk every winter just to help the shopkeepers? If the worst comes to the worst I’d sooner give them money for nothing and write it off as a charity. For nothing? Why, better for nothing than for a nuisance.

Excerpted from C.S. Lewis' book, God in the Dock.

- posted by LRS @ 12:23 PM   

 
Midnight Mass from St Peter's Square
Schedule from EWTN (All times changed to Central Standard Time)

SOLEMN MASS AT MIDNIGHT WITH POPE JOHN PAUL II FROM ST. PETER'S SQUARE (2 hours)

Friday December 24, 2004 5:00 PM LIVE
Saturday December 25, 2004 7:00 AM ENCORE

And

URBI ET ORBI FROM ST. PETER'S SQUARE: POPE'S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE TO THE WORLD (60:00)

Join Pope John Paul II for his inspiring Christmas Day message to the world on the celebration of Christ's Birth.

Saturday December 25, 2004 5:00 AM LIVE
Saturday December 25, 2004 9:00 PM ENCORE
Sunday December 26, 2004 2:00 AM ENCORE
Sunday December 26, 2004 9:00 AM ENCORE

- posted by LRS @ 7:36 AM   

 
Birth of Dissension?
Christians debate circumstances surrounding Mary and the Christ child

Anne Wiser was 22 years old and living in Paris when a young minister, fresh out of seminary, announced during the Christmas service that he did not believe in the virgin birth.
Mary was a young girl who got herself in trouble, and that's the story she told, the minister said.

"I got up and walked out," Wiser remembers.

Congratulations to her for having the courage to distance herself from those who preach a foreign gospel...I have done the same - it's not something one looks forward to doing, but, when one preaches something so completely opposed to the truth, to the teaching of the Church, everyone, in unison, should leave (IMHO).

That was in 1963. Today, Wiser is the Christian education director at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Yuma, Ariz., on the eastern edge of the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego. "All the teachers at St. Paul's teach the virgin birth," she says.

For Wiser, the biblical account of a virgin giving birth to the long-awaited Messiah in a stable in Bethlehem isn't just a sweet story.

"Without the virgin birth, Christianity makes no sense. In order for Jesus to be crucified as a redemption for our sins, he had to be perfect, which means he had to have God as his father."

Here is a smart lady who understands that the truth of these mysteries cannot be rejected without rejecting Christ.

The virgin birth dissenters, however, remain steadfast. To them, it is revisionist history written for a first-century audience of Greeks, Romans and others who were used to hearing such miracles about their gods and kings.

"It's based upon a very ancient mythology," says Harpur, the Canadian who addresses this in his book, "The Pagan Christ." Harpur's book, which was a best seller in Canada and is due to be released in the United States in March, points out several examples of virgin births in mythology that precedes the New Testament by hundreds of years.

"Almost anybody of any importance had either a virgin birth or a supernatural birth," Harpur says.

Fortunately, for Christians, we do not have to rely on people such as these when we have the Fathers of the Church who have written extensively on the subject. And Catholics have the Magisterium, guided by the Holy Spirit to teach us. The Virgin Birth has been taught by all the creeds of Christendom. For us, it is an article of faith - a basic norm of Christian orthodoxy.

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 7:09 AM   

 
Gospel for Thursday, Dec 23, 4th Week of Advent
From: Luke 1:57-66

The Birth and Circumcision of John the Baptist

[57] Now the time came for Elizabeth to be delivered, and she gave birth to a son. [58] And her neighbors and kinsfolk heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. [59] And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they would have named him Zechariah after his father, [60] but his mother said, "Not so; he shall be called John." [61] And they said to her, "None of your kindred is called by this name." [62] And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he would have him called. [63] And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, "His name is John."And they all marvelled. [64] And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. [65] And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea; [66] and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying "What then will this child be?" For the hand of the Lord was with him.
***************
Commentary:

59. Circumcision was a rite established by God under the Old Covenant to mark out those who belonged to His chosen people: He commanded Abraham to institute circumcision as a sign of the Covenant He had made with him and all his descendants (cf. Genesis 17:10-14), prescribing that it should be done on the eighth day after birth. The rite was performed either at home or in the synagogue, and, in addition to the actual circumcision, the ceremony included prayers and the naming of the child.

With the institution of Christian Baptism the commandment to circumcise ceased to apply. At the Council of Jerusalem (cf. Acts 15:1ff), the Apostles definitely declared that those entering the Church had no need to be circumcised.

St. Paul's explicit teaching on the irrelevance of circumcision in the context of the New Alliance established by Christ is to be found in Galatians 5:2ff; 6:12ff; and Colossians 2:11ff.

60-63. By naming the child John, Zechariah complies with the instructions God sent him through the angel (Luke 1:13).

64. This miraculous event fulfills the prophecy the angel Gabriel made to Zechariah when he announced the conception and birth of the Baptist (Luke 1:19-20). St. Ambrose observes: `With good reason was his tongue loosed, because faith untied what had been tied by disbelief" ("Expositio Evangelii Sec. Lucam. in loc.").

Zechariah's is a case similar to that of St. Thomas, who was reluctant to believe in the resurrection of our Lord, and who believed only when Jesus gave him clear proof (cf. John 20:24-29). For these two men God worked a miracle and won their belief; but normally He requires us to have faith and to obey Him without His working any new miracles. This was why He upbraided Zechariah and punished him, and why He reproached Thomas: "Have you believed because you have seen Me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe" (John 20:29).
*******
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland.

Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
- posted by LRS @ 6:03 AM   

 
Antiphon for the 23rd of December
O EMMANUEL, Rex et legifer noster, expectatio Gentium, et Salvator erum: veni ad salvandum nos, Domine Deus noster.

O EMMANUEL, our King and our Lawgiver, Longing of the Gentiles; yea, and salvation thereof: comes to save us, O Lord our God!

(O EMMANUEL, God with us, our King and Lawgiver, the expected of the nations and their Savior: Come to save us, O Lord our God.)



- posted by LRS @ 1:26 AM   

 
Norms of Catholic Orthodoxy - Rule 1
Previously I had written on couple of St. Ignatius' rules here and here.

I probably should have started with this one, which is Rule Number Uno, but, my minds sometimes wanders:

First Rule. The first: All judgment laid aside, we ought to have our mind ready and prompt to obey, in all, the true Spouse of Christ our Lord, which is our holy Mother the Church Hierarchical.

There isn't much to say that has not been said before. There is a great explanation regarding obedience in a letter by St. Ignatius on Obedience. Fr. John Hardon provides the background and analysis on St. Ignatius' letter here.

St. Ignatius' Letter on Obedience which he wrote to the Jesuits in Portugal on March 26, 1553, is justly regarded as "the most admirable of all the letters which came from his pen." [1] In the four centuries since its composition, the letter has been translated into all the major languages in use in modern times. Its teaching is not only "the backbone of the Society of Jesus," but it has become the classic exposition of perfect obedience for most of the religious orders and congregations that have arisen in the Church in the past four hundred years. However, as much as the ideals which it presents have been praised by the Church and admired by unprejudiced historians, there is perhaps no other piece of Jesuit writing that has been more frequently misunderstood or bitterly attacked than the Epistola de virtute obedientiae.

This is well worth the time spent reading it.
- posted by LRS @ 12:45 PM   

 
Prayers and Devotions for the Christmas Season
The following resources are at Women for Faith and Family:

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
Mealtime prayers for the Christmas Season
Blessings for Christmas Tree and Crib - December 24
The Creche
The Christmas Novena
The "O" Antiphons
Christmas Hymns and Carols
Scripture Readings for Christmas Masses
Saint Stephen - December 26
Saint John the Evangelist - December 27
Feast of the Holy Innocents - December 28
Saint Thomas Becket - December 29
The Holy Family
Saint Sylvester I - December 31
Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God - January 1
Saints Basil the Great & Gregory Nazianzen - January 2
Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton - January 4
Epiphany - January 6 (traditional date)
Blessed André Bessette - January 6
Saint Raymond Penyafort - January 7
Our Lady of Prompt Succor - January 8
The Baptism of the Lord

This exceptional resource is here.

Also, see Celebrating Advent and Christmas - Family Sourcebook

- posted by LRS @ 12:43 PM   

 
Antiphon for the 22nd of December
O REX Gentium, et desideratus earum, lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unem: veni, et salva hominem, quem de limo formasti.

O KING of the Gentiles, yea, and desire thereof; O Cornerstone, that makest of two one: come to save man, whom Thou has made of the dust of the earth!

(O KING of the Gentiles and their desired One, the Cornerstone that makes both one: Come, and deliver man, whom You formed out of the dust of the earth!)

The Great Antiphons

The public prayers of the Church consist not only of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass but also of the Divine Office, the prayers of the priets' Breviary. The Office was at one time chanted daily by the faithful, and is still chanted by some religious Orders. Certain parishes are reviving the custom of having Solemn Vespers on the eve or afternoon of major feasts. The Magnificat or Canticle of the Blessed Virgin Mary is chanted near the end of Vespers. Starting on December 17 a series of Antiphons are added to Vespers before and after the Magnificat. Just to read these "O Antiphons" each day would be a wonderful part of any Catholic's prepartion for Christmas!

"The...great Antiphons are said entire before and after the Magnificat, from the 17th to the 23rd of December, inclusive. If the Vespers are of a first or second class double, the great Antiphon is said after the prayer of the feast, for the commemoration of Advent."

Taken, in part, from Coalition in Support of Ecclesia Dei newsletter.


- posted by LRS @ 12:20 PM   

 
Peoples Republik of Illinois Usurps Parental Rights

Families are furious in Illinois after discovering that the state will screen all children from birth to age 18 for mental health. The passage of the 2003 Children’s Mental Health Act in Illinois created the Illinois Children’s Mental Health Partnership (ICMHP).

The New Freedom Commission on Mental Health (NFCMH), designed by President George W. Bush, sparked the Illinois version. It passed nearly unanimously in the state legislature in 2003 with the purpose of ensuring “appropriate and culturally relevant assessment of young children’s social and emotional development with the use of standardized tools.”

Along with routine mental assessments in all mandated school exams, children’s scores will be stored on an electric scorecard to track information on each child and their social-emotional development. Any child who is not found in good mental standing may be prescribed psychotropic drugs.

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 12:14 PM   

 
The Holy Father speaks about the Mystery of Christmas

John Paul II said that "during these days of preparation for Christmas we pray continually in the liturgy 'Come Lord Jesus'."

"On Christmas," he continued, "we contemplate the great mystery of God becoming man in the Virgin's womb. He is born in Bethlehem to share our fragile human condition! He comes among us and brings salvation to the whole world. His mission will be to reunite all human beings and peoples in the one family of the children of God. We can say that in the mystery of Christmas, we contemplate the 'leap forward' in the history of salvation."

Vatican Information Service.
- posted by LRS @ 7:31 AM   

 
From Town Talk: Beware, St Stanislaus...

A word of caution

BEWARE, ST. STANISLAUS. Under what name will a proposed irrevocable trust be set up and while you are told the trust will be used for St. Stanislaus and the Polish community, what about the interest earned by this trust? Where will that money end up? If this Canon law was so important, why was it not enforced decades ago? For Archbishop Burke to pull your priest and deny Mass and the sacraments in your own parish does not do much to warrant trust. It just alerts you to be more skeptical as to what kind of person he really is. Remember, Eve was convinced it was OK to eat the apple in the Garden of Eden. Was that her irrevocable trust?

Perhaps, I have not yet had enough coffee or something - but I'm having a difficult time with this...Either that, or this person has had too much of something.

The facts and the details have been explained numerous times, yet some want to continue the tired, old mantra that Archbishop Burke is the bad guy here. It's a shame that this person is confused and doesn't understand what's going on or what has been going on for a number of years.

It's particularly disgraceful to suggest that Archbishop Burke is something he is not. This effort at calumny is, frankly, despicable and uncalled for - the Post does a disservice by printing such nonsense.

Source.




- posted by LRS @ 7:15 AM   

 
Take that, you Grinch!
Parish pulls together to replace stolen gifts for the needy

A local inspirational story in the Post this morning:

With heart the parishioners of Ste. Gen occupied their day,
Securing gifts for those less fortunate than they,
But alas! The parish Giving Tree was invaded by a Grinch,
Who slithered off with 50-odd packages, leaving donors in a pinch.
"You can't stop Christmas!" they cried, and within 48 hours
They had replaced every package in wrapped and stacked towers
That were loaded into cars, vans and the occasional bus
And delivered to the families of St. Liborius.

Like their colleagues in mythical Who-ville, the parishioners of Ste. Genevieve du Bois Catholic Church have demonstrated that the spirit of Christmas may be found within one's heart.

Full story.
- posted by LRS @ 6:43 AM   

 
Jamie Allman to be Executive Director of Communications for Archdiocese

St. Louis Archbishop Raymond Burke has hired television reporter Jamie Allman to be his spokesman. Allman will leave his position as an investigative reporter for KMOV (Channel 4). His final installment of "Extra Edition" aired Saturday.

In a prepared statement, [Archbishop] Burke said Allman's "assistance will be invaluable for conveying the truth about our Catholic faith and life to the people of the Archdiocese of St. Louis and of our community."

On the radio this morning, Jamie sounded excited by this career move. This seems like a good fit for him and the Archdiocese. I have heard him many times on the radio speaking in defense of the Church.

Please keep him and his family in your prayers as he assumes this new position as spokesman for Archbishop Burke and the Archdiocese of St. Louis.

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 6:34 AM   

 
Deanery plan continues to change

Changes in the Northeast County Deanery plan for Catholic parishes north of Interstate 70 continued to be announced in churches this past weekend.

Under the new recommendations, Our Lady of Guadalupe School will remain open.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Church also will remain a "territorial" church.

Another change is that parishioners in the St. Christopher parish will join the St. Angela Merici parish.

St. Jerome Church will now be the site of a new parish comprised of St. Jerome, Our Lady of Good Counsel, St. Catherine of Alexandria, St. Pius X and Corpus Christi parishes.

Pope John Paul II elementary school, which was to remain open under the first draft, will consolidate with St. John Neumann.

Highlights of the article are above.
- posted by LRS @ 6:28 AM   

 
All-Latin concert gives pause for thought

One of the most reliable joys of the Christmas season is the annual Christmas concert by the St. Louis Chamber Chorus. It always arrives on the fourth Sunday of Advent (as opposed to the first Sunday), it's always varied and interesting in its content, and it always encourages thinking, as opposed to a sentimental wallow in a shallow commercial pool.

That was the case with Sunday afternoon's edition, given at Our Lady of Sorrows Roman Catholic Church in St. Louis.

I don't recall seeing anything that promoted this.

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 6:21 AM   

 
Unity of Church and All Is a Priority, Says Pope

Holds Christmas Meeting With Officials of Roman Curia

VATICAN CITY, DEC. 21, 2004 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II told his aides in the Roman Curia that unity among all people, beginning with believers, is his foremost concern and commitment.

"Unity of the Church and unity of the human race! I read this aspiration to unity in the faces of pilgrims of all ages," the Pope said today when meeting with Curial officials in the traditional meeting to exchange Christmas greetings.

The Holy Father recalled that the Second Vatican Council constitution "Lumen Gentium" stated that the Church has the "mission to be a sign and instrument of profound union with God and of the unity of the whole human race."

He appealed to the cardinals, bishops, priests, religious and lay people present "to be ever more aware that communion with God and unity among all people, beginning with believers, is our priority commitment."
...

The article states that this is why he convoked "The Year of the Eucharist." I found the following statement to be of profound significance:

"Believers have a great responsibility, especially to new generations, to which the Christian heritage must be transmitted in an unaltered manner," the Pope said. "For this reason, on several occasions -- especially during the pilgrimage to Lourdes -- I did not fail to encourage European Catholics to remain faithful to Christ."

Indeed, our responsibility demands that we pass on faithfully the fullness of the truth which has been handed on to us - not some pseudo-truth which may make us feel good but the authentic teaching of Christ, His Apostles, and the Church. We fail in our duty if we transmit those truths which have been "altered", rendering them no longer truth but errors or falsehoods.

The Holy Father, echoing the Teaching of Jesus, calls us to be winesses to the truth - to give testimony to the truth, not only in words, but in our actions, in our daily lives - to be an example of one who is a follower of our Lord and Savior. In this way, we can more readily pass on what it is to be a Christian and we can avoid becoming 'stumbling blocks' for others.

To promote unity among men, the Holy Father gave the same charge to cardinals that he left in his message for the forthcoming World Day of Peace: "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

Source.



- posted by LRS @ 6:17 AM   

 
Missouri Supreme Court: No Statute of Limitations in Abuse Case?

The Missouri Supreme Court refused Tuesday to prevent the prosecution of a Catholic priest accused of sodomizing a young boy more than 25 years ago, meaning that other decades-old clergy sex abuse cases across the state can now move forward.

Missouri prosecutors believe the state's law during the 1970s allowed them to file charges at any time. Lawyers on both sides view the [Rev. Thomas] Graham appeal as a test case that could have sweeping effects across the state.

Until the law was replaced on Jan. 1, 1979, it said there was no statute of limitations for crimes that were punishable by "death or by imprisonment in the penitentiary during life."

For Graham, 71, the decision means his case will now move forward in St. Louis Circuit Court.

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 5:49 AM   

 
A New Catholic St Louis Blog...

Rome of the West

A weblog about Catholicism in Saint Louis, Missouri, which was called the "Rome of the West". Topics of interest are the historical Catholic patrimony of our City, the restoration of Catholic culture, manners, and morals, increasing public and private piety, and fostering interest in the fine liturgical arts.

Here is something posted there that I did not know (It's great to learn so many different things):

The famous Serenity Prayer was written by the liberal Lutheran Pastor and theologian, Dr. Reinhold Niebuhr, who was born in Wright City, Missouri. This prayer gained notice by its inclusion in 1944 in an army chaplins' field book, and later became nearly synonomous with AA....
Dr. Niebuhr was a pacifist during the First World War, a Socialist, and a theologian of the Social Gospel, but became alarmed by the rise of the Nazis.

The blog, by Marcus Scotus, is here.
- posted by LRS @ 12:49 AM   

 
Explore the Christmas Season...

Catholic Culture offers this section to help you experience the joy of Christmas by keeping a spiritual focus on the season.

Throughout this wonderful time there will always be much hustle and bustle, shopping and baking and gift giving. But we hope you will refer here often for ideas and spiritual nuggets to increase your Christmas joy.

Let us try to celebrate Christmas with the innocence and humility of children always keeping in mind the wonderful birth of the Christ Child.

An excellent resource covering:
* About Christmas
* 12 Days of Christmas
* Prayers, Blessings, and Hymns
* Activities and Customs

See it here
- posted by LRS @ 12:28 AM   

 
Gospel for Wednesday, Dec 22, 4th Week of Advent
From: Luke 1:46-56

The Magnificat

[46] And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, [47] and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, [48] for He has regarded the low estate of His handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; [49] for He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. [50] And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation. [51] He has shown strength with His arm, He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts, [52] He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree; [53] He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent empty away. [54] He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, [55] as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity for ever."

[56] And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her home.
************
Commentary:

46-55. Mary's "Magnificat" canticle is a poem of singular beauty. It evokes certain passages of the Old Testament with which she would have been very familiar (especially 1 Samuel 2:1-10).

Three stanzas may be distinguished in the canticle: in the first (verses 46-50) Mary glorifies God for making her the Mother of the Savior, which is why future generations will call her blessed; she shows that the Incarnation is a mysterious _expression of God's power and holiness and mercy. In the second (verses 51-53) she teaches us that the Lord has always had a preference for the humble, resisting the proud and boastful. In the third (verses 54-55) she proclaims that God, in keeping with His promise, has always taken care of His chosen people--and now does them the greatest honor of all by becoming a Jew (cf. Romans 1:3).

"Our prayer can accompany and imitate this prayer of Mary. Like her, we feel the desire to sing, to acclaim the wonders of God, so that all mankind and all creation may share our joy" ([St] J. Escriva, "Christ Is Passing By", 144).

46-47. "The first fruits of the Holy Spirit are peace and joy. And the Blessed Virgin had received within herself all the grace of the Holy Spirit" (St. Basil, "In Psalmos Homilae", on Psalm 32). Mary's soul overflows in the words of the "Magnificat". God's favors cause every humble soul to feel joy and gratitude. In the case of the Blessed Virgin, God has bestowed more on her than on any other creature. "Virgin Mother of God, He whom the heavens cannot contain, on becoming man, enclosed Himself within your womb" ("Roman Missal", Antiphon of the Common of the Mass for Feasts of Our Lady). The humble Virgin of Nazareth is going to be the Mother of God; the Creator's omnipotence has never before manifested itself in as complete a way as this.

48-49. Mary's _expression of humility causes St. Bede to exclaim: "It was fitting, then, that just as death entered the world through the pride of our first parents, the entry of Life should be manifested by the humility of Mary" ("In Lucae Evangelium Expositio, in loc.").

"How great the value of humility!--"Quia respexit humilitatem.... It is not of her faith, nor of her charity, nor of her immaculate purity that our Mother speaks in the house of Zachary. Her joyful hymn sings: `Since He has looked on my humility, all generations will call me blessed'" ([St] J. Escriva, "The Way", 598).

God rewards our Lady's humility by mankind's recognition of her greatness: "All generations will call me blessed." This prophecy is fulfilled every time someone says the Hail Mary, and indeed she is praised on earth continually, without interruption. "From the earliest times the Blessed Virgin is honored under the title of Mother of God, under whose protection the faithful take refuge together in prayer in all their perils and needs. Accordingly, following the Council of Ephesus, there was a remarkable growth in the cult of the people of God towards Mary, in veneration and love, in invocation and imitation, according to her own prophetic words: `all generations will call me blessed, for He who is mighty has done great things for me'" (Vatican II, "Lumen Gentium", 66).

50. "And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation": "At the very moment of the Incarnation, these words open up a new perspective of salvation history. After the Resurrection of Christ, this perspective is new on both the historical and the eschatological level. From that time onwards there is a succession of new generations of individuals in the immense human family, in ever-increasing dimensions; there is also a succession of new generations of the people of God, marked with the sign of the Cross and of the Resurrection and `sealed' with the sign of the paschal mystery of Christ, the absolute revelation of the mercy that Mary proclaimed on the threshold of her kinswoman's house: "His mercy is [...] from generation to generation' [...].

"Mary, then, is the one who has the "deepest knowledge of the mystery of God's mercy". She knows its price, she knows how great it is. In this sense, we call her the "Mother of Mercy": Our Lady of Mercy, or Mother of Divine Mercy; in each one of these titles there is a deep theological meaning, for they express the special preparation of her soul, of her whole personality, so that she was able to perceive, through the complex events, first of Israel, then of every individual and of the whole of humanity, that mercy of which `from generation to generation' people become sharers according to the eternal design of the Most Holy Trinity" (John Paul II, "Dives In Misericordia", 9).

51. "The proud": those who want to be regarded as superior to others, whom they look down on. This also refers to those who, in their arrogance, seek to organize society without reference to, or in opposition to, God's law. Even if they seem to do so successfully, the words of our Lady's canticle will ultimately come true, for God will scatter them as He did those who tried to build the Tower of Babel, thinking that they could reach as high as Heaven (cf. Genesis 11:4).

"When pride takes hold of a soul, it is no surprise to find it bringing along with it a whole string of other vices--greed, self-indulgence, envy, injustice. The proud man is always vainly striving to dethrone God, who is merciful to all His creatures, so as to make room for himself and his ever cruel ways.

"We should beg God not to let us fall into this temptation. Pride is the worst sin of all, and the most ridiculous.... Pride is unpleasant, even from a human point of view. The person who rates himself better than everyone and everything is constantly studying himself and looking down on other people, who in turn react by ridiculing his foolish vanity" ([St] J. Escriva, "Friends of God", 100).

53. This form of divine providence has been experienced countless times over the course of history. For example, God nourished the people of Israel with manna during their forty years in the wilderness (Exodus 16:4-35); similarly His angel brought food to Elijah (1 Kings 19:5-8), and to Daniel in the lions' den (Daniel 14:31-40); and the widow of Sarepta was given a supply of oil which miraculously never ran out (1 Kings 17:8ff). So, too, the Blessed Virgin's yearning for holiness was fulfilled by the incarnation of the Word.

God nourished the chosen people with His Law and the preaching of His prophets, but the rest of mankind was left hungry for His word, a hunger now satisfied by the Incarnation. This gift of God will be accepted by the humble; the self-sufficient, having no desire for the good things of God, will not partake of them (cf. St. Basil, "In Psalmos Homilae", on Psalm 33).

54. God led the people of Israel as He would a child whom He loved tenderly: "the Lord your God bore you, as a man bears his son, in all the way that you went" (Deuteronomy 1:31). He did so many times, using Moses, Joshua, Samuel, David, etc., and now He gives them a definitive leader by sending the Messiah--moved by His great mercy which takes pity on the wretchedness of Israel and of all mankind.

55. God promised the patriarchs of old that He would have mercy on mankind. This promise He made to Adam (Genesis 3:15), Abraham (Genesis 22:18), David (2 Samuel 7:12), etc. From all eternity God had planned and decreed that the Word should become incarnate for the salvation of all mankind. As Christ Himself put it, "God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).
***************
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland.

Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
- posted by LRS @ 12:09 AM   

 
New Blog - "Totally Catholic Youth Ministers Lounge "

Are you in youth ministry and you've had it with crazed parents? Rollin' your eyes at the pastoral council? Tired of administration work? Love youth? Love the Church? Appalled at parish politics? Looking for some good games? For a creative ways to teach a lesson for Religious Ed? Just need a place to veg out and say "phew! Someone outside of the parish to talk to!"? Grab y'r Starbucks, turn the computer away from the staff's eyes, grab a seat on a donated dusty couch and let it all go.

Here's the Link.
- posted by LRS @ 8:07 PM   

 
The God in the Cave

"The place that the shepherds found was not an academy or an abstract republic; it was not a place of myths . . . explained or explained away. It was a place of dreams come true." Chesterton dwells upon the theme of Bethlehem in this excerpt from the book which many consider to be his masterpiece.

When I first starting reading this, I thought it was from a book which one of my sons wanted - but I was wrong. The book I just bought for him was "God in the Dock" by C.S Lewis.

This one, "The God in the Cave", looks to be quite good also.

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 7:59 PM   

 
Sister Act...I mean, Cat....

About 15 years ago, Sister Mary Turgi was given a small kitten. Sister, as the kitten was called, brought her owner closer to the natural world. "I developed an intense relationship with this cat," Turgi said. "I think I realized she was just one piece of the nonhuman world.

"If there is no Earth, there is no social justice," she said.

During Lent last year, the Saint Mary's campus did the traditional Stations of the Cross and a new Earth Stations.

Turgi said the Earth Stations recalled the suffering of the Earth as the body of God.

The rest of the article is typical "Gaia-speak"...Sophia tells me so...

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 12:24 PM   

 
Catholic Lawyers Guild of Colorado - Catholic?

Each November, members of the Catholic Lawyers Guild of Colorado gather for a "Red Mass" commemorating the martyrdom of St. Thomas More, a lawyer who was beheaded in 1535 after refusing to renounce his faith to the king of England.

[Archbishop] Chaput made it clear to the group that he was upset that Colorado Attorney General Ken Salazar [a professed Catholic who supports abortion 'rights'] was chosen in 2003 for an award named for More, said Laura Tighe, the guild's incoming president.

Our group felt we wanted independence," Tighe said.

Of course they want independence. However, they seek a false independence, a distorted 'freedom' - what they embrace as freedom is really a form of slavery...this happens when people are blinded by pride and arrogance.

"We are obviously very distinctively Catholic, but there's a great difference on how we exercise our Catholicism. We understand the ramifications of our decision, and we will go on."

Obviously, "Distinctively Catholic" is code for meaning that one was baptized Catholic but has rejected the hierarchical structure of the Church, while at the same time, embracing those who reject or are opposed to fundamental tenets of truth and faith.

St. Thomas More, pray for us!

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 6:18 AM   

 
$3.8 million settles 23 sex abuse suits

The Archdiocese of St. Louis this year agreed to pay nearly $3.8 million to settle 23 civil suits alleging sexual abuse by clergy, including two suits settled last week, according to a church lawyer.

The settlements do not resolve open criminal cases or end the suits against individual priests, said Bernard Huger, a lawyer representing the archdiocese.

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 1:19 AM   

 
St Agatha Church to be spared....

Archdiocese considers revised plan for parishes

One historic Catholic church would be spared and another landmark suddenly faced closing in a reworking of the sweeping plans to close about 30 parishes in south St. Louis and north St. Louis County.

St. Francis de Sales, known as the "Cathedral of the South Side" for its towering 300-foot steeple on Gravois Avenue, would close, largely because of the cost of needed repairs. The original plan was to preserve it as the new home of Latin Masses for the greater St. Louis area.

St. Agatha, now home to Latin Masses, and St. Pius V would be spared. Those two South Side parishes had been on the closing list. St. Agatha's is next to the Anheuser-Busch brewery.

I was unable to attend St. Agatha's Sunday to hear Msgr. Schmitz, the Vicar General of the Institute of Christ the King, who was to give the homily and address the faithful. The Institute will be a great asset to the Archdiocese of St. Louis as will the Canons Regular of the New Jerusalem.

It's sad to see that St. Francis de Sales would close. In fact, it's sad to see any church close because of lack of attendance or other factors. If only it were possible to move those great, architecturally beautiful churches like St Francis de Sales to St Charles county to replace some of the new "worship space" warehouses...what a blessing it would be!

Full story here.
- posted by LRS @ 1:15 AM   

 
Gospel for Tuesday, Dec 21, 4th Week of Advent
From: Luke 1:39-45

The Visitation

[39] In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, [40] and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. [41] And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit [42] and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! [43] And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? [44] For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy. [45] And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord."
********************
Commentary:

39-56. We contemplate this episode of our Lady's visit to her cousin St. Elizabeth in the Second Joyful Mystery of the Rosary: "Joyfully keep Joseph and Mary company...and you will hear the traditions of the House of David.... We walk in haste towards the mountains, to a town of the tribe of Judah (Luke 1:39).

"We arrive. It is the house where John the Baptist is to be born. Elizabeth gratefully hails the Mother of her Redeemer: Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honored with a visit from the mother of my Lord? (Luke 1:42-43).

"The unborn Baptist quivers...(Luke 1:41). Mary's humility pours forth in the "Magnificat".... And you and I, who are proud--who were proud--promise to be humble" ([St] J. Escriva, "Holy Rosary").

39. On learning from the angel that her cousin St. Elizabeth is soon to give birth and is in need of support, our Lady in her charity hastens to her aid. She has no regard for the difficulties this involves. Although we do not know where exactly Elizabeth was living (it is now thought to be Ain Karim), it certainly meant a journey into the hill country which at that time would have taken four days.

From Mary's visit to Elizabeth Christians should learn to be caring people. "If we have this filial contact with Mary, we won't be able to think just about ourselves and our problems. Selfish personal problems will find no place in our mind" ([St] J. Escriva, "Christ Is Passing By," 145).

42. St. Bede comments that Elizabeth blesses Mary using the same words as the archangel "to show that she should be honored by angels and by men and why she should indeed be revered above all other women" ("In Lucae Evangelium Expositio, in loc.").

When we say the "Hail Mary" we repeat these divine greetings, "rejoicing with Mary at her dignity as Mother of God and praising the Lord, thanking Him for having given us Jesus Christ through Mary" ("St. Pius X Catechism", 333).

43. Elizabeth is moved by the Holy Spirit to call Mary "the mother of my Lord", thereby showing that Mary is the Mother of God.

44. Although he was conceived in sin--original sin--like other men, St. John the Baptist was born sinless because he was sanctified in his mother's womb by the presence of Jesus Christ (then in Mary's womb) and of the Blessed Virgin. On receiving this grace of God St. John rejoices by leaping with joy in his mother's womb--thereby fulfilling the archangel's prophecy (cf. Luke 1:15).

St. John Chrysostom comments on this scene of the Gospel: "See how new and how wonderful this mystery is. He has not yet left the womb but he speaks by leaping; he is not yet allowed to cry out but he makes himself heard by his actions [...]; he has not yet seen the light but he points out the Sun; he has not yet been born and he is keen to act as Precursor. The Lord is present, so he cannot contain himself or wait for nature to run its course: he wants to break out of the prison of his mother's womb and he makes sure he witnesses to the fact that the Savior is about to come" ("Sermo Apud Metaphr., Mense Julio").

45. Joining the chorus of all future generations, Elizabeth, moved by the Holy Spirit, declares the Lord's Mother to be blessed and praises her faith. No one ever had faith to compare with Mary's; she is the model of the attitude a creature should have towards its Creator--complete submission, total attachment. Through her faith, Mary is the instrument chosen by God to bring about the Redemption; as Mediatrix of all graces, she is associated with the redemptive work of her Son: "This union of the Mother with the Son in the work of salvation is made manifest from the time of Christ's virginal conception up to His death; first when Mary, arising in haste to go to visit Elizabeth, is greeted by her as blessed because of her belief in the promise of salvation and the Precursor leaps with joy in the womb of his mother [...]. The Blessed Virgin advanced in her pilgrimage of faith and faithfully persevered in her union with her Son unto the cross, where she stood (cf. John 19:25), in keeping with the Divine Plan, enduring with her only-begotten Son the intensity of His suffering, associating herself with His sacrifice in her mother's heart, and lovingly consenting to the immolation of this Victim which was born of her" (Vatican II, "Lumen Gentium", 57f).

The new Latin text gives a literal rendering of the original Greek when it says "quae credidit" (RSV "she who has believed") as opposed to the Vulgate "quae credidisti" ("you who have believed") which gave more of the sense than a literal rendering.
**************
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland.

Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
- posted by LRS @ 12:52 AM   

 
The Rainbow Sash Movement responds to the Pope's "Gay Bashing"

The Rainbow Sash Movement is calling Pope John Paul II to stop his international Gay Bashing. Dogma is driving this effort not Holy Scripture. Personal piety is driving the Church in the direction that is opposed to the reality of the Psychological sciences. Like Galileo's Papal detractors this Pope thinks it is ok to publicly condemn knowledge for Dogma. Gays/lesbians/bisexuals/transgender (glbt) are the brunt of these senseless mean-spirited attacks. We call on the Pope to educate himself, and come out and dialogue with glbt Catholics. Has the Pope ever talked to a gay Catholic?

The Rainbow Sash Movement is further calling the Pope to tone done his language, and stop and think how this will affect the lives of innocent people. This orchestrated worldwide jihad against the glbt international community is symptom of sick theology gone wild. Thank God the European Common Market, and Canada no longer listen to this sick propaganda of hate.

Finally, the Rainbow Sash Movement is calling Pope John Paul II to enter into a public dialogue with gay/lesbians/bisexuals/transgender Catholics. Certainly this is the pastoral thing to do.

We are glad to see that Archbishop Flynn of Minneapolis/St Paul in his recent visit to the Vatican said he discussed the issue in a private meeting in early December with Cardinal Francis Arinze, head of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments. I got the clear understanding that this is recognized as a very complex pastoral issue which must constantly be looked at in all its ramifications," Archbishop Flynn said in an interview in mid-December.

If Cardinal Arinze recognizes this, what is the problem with the Pope? Or is this more Vatican smoke and mirrors? To find out more or join the Rainbow Sash Movement please visit our web site at www.rainbowsashmovement.com

I don't recall reading anywhere that Cardinal Arinze confirmed Archbishop Flynn's reporting.

It is quite clear that many cannot accept the teachings of Jesus Christ or His Church yet they insist that they see themselves as "Catholics". The Holy Father has consistently taught that those with disordered inclinations must be respected as human beings made in the image and likeness of God, yet they are also called, as are all people, to practice chastity and purity.

What the RSM is demanding is nothing short of the Holy Father and the Church sanctioning unnatural, immoral, and sinful behavior. They want sodomy to be called good and wholesome and a gift from God.

In a certain way, however, the burden they have is an opportunity for it provides a person a real and special occasion to resist evil temptations and grow in grace. Some have more burdens than others, but these burdens, if viewed and accepted properly, can be used to glorify our Lord and God.

Pray that these people will come to realize the necessity for repentance and conversion before it is too late. Pray also for the Holy Father as so many professed Catholics reject him and the teachings of the Church which he passes on to us. Pray still again, that the disunity within the Church might be resolved.

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 5:21 PM   

 
French Catholic Bishops Denounce Books on Mary

PARIS (Reuters) - Shortly before the day that made her famous, France's Roman Catholic Church has stood up for the Virgin Mary by denouncing two new books that question whether she was a virgin when she gave birth to Jesus Christ.

In statements made as Christians prepared for Christmas, it has decried the best-selling "Mary, The Mother Of Jesus" by Catholic journalist Jacques Duquesne and "Mary, A Dogmatic Journey" by Dominican theologian Dominique Cerbelaud.

"The two books gravely offend the Catholic faith," declared Bishop Jean-Louis Brugues, head of the French bishops' doctrinal commission that recently reviewed the two works.

Unfortunately , this is not an uncommon issue, it seems. I have had "conversations" with a priest and with a protestant gentleman who 'facilitates" a Catholic parish Bible study program, both of whom have denied the perpetual virginity of Mary - as well as a few other things.

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 7:08 AM   

 
Christmas Tree Is Symbol of Christ, Says Pope

The evergreen Christmas tree is a symbol of life offered by Christ, "God's supreme gift to humanity," says John Paul II.

The Pope explained the meaning of the tree during his Angelus address today to the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square.

Zenit article here.
- posted by LRS @ 6:31 AM   

 
St. Stanislaus Board Proposes a Compromise

ST. LOUIS - An independent Polish parish in St. Louis has offered an olive branch and a compromise to St. Louis Archbishop Raymond Burke to resolve a one-year standoff over control of the historic church's assets.

The lay board of St. Stanislaus Kostka church proposed turning over all money from Sunday collections to the pastor, yet to be named, to manage. In addition, the lay board offered a year's worth of revenue in advance, spokesman Roger Krasnicki said.

The board also would serve as landlord and lease the historic church and rectory - at no rental cost - to the archdiocese. The board also would assume the responsibility of maintaining the church, to be paid by parishioners in a separate restoration fund.

Bernard Huger, attorney for the archdiocese, said Friday the proposal "is not workable as written," but he'd meet with the parish's attorney the week of Dec. 27 to try to resolve the matter.

I heard this last week on a local radio station but no coverage was in the Post Dispatch as far as I could tell.

It seems the board wants to retain complete control of the property...

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 6:17 AM   

 
Gospel for Monday, Dec 20,4th Week of Advent
From: Luke 1:26-38

The Annunciation and Incarnation of the Son of God

[26] In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, [27] to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. [28] And he came to her and said, "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!" [29] But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. [30] And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. [31] And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus. [32] He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to Him the throne of His father David, [33] and He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of His Kingdom there will be no end." [34] And Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no husband?" [35] And the angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. [36] And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. [37] For with God nothing will be impossible." [38] And Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.
******************
Commentary:

26-38. Here we contemplate our Lady who was "enriched from the first instant of her conception with the splendor of an entirely unique holiness; [...] the virgin of Nazareth is hailed by the heralding angel, by divine command, as `full of grace' (cf. Luke 1:28), and to the heavenly messenger she replies, `Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done unto me according to thy word' (Luke 1:38). Thus the daughter of Adam, Mary, consenting to the word of God, became the Mother of Jesus. Committing herself wholeheartedly to God's saving will and impeded by no sin, she devoted herself totally, as a handmaid of the Lord, to the person and work of her Son, under and with Him, serving the mystery of Redemption, by the grace of Almighty God.

Rightly, therefore, the Fathers (of the Church) see Mary not merely as passively engaged by God, but as freely cooperating in the work of man's salvation through faith and obedience" (Vatican II, "Lumen Gentium", 56).

The annunciation to Mary and incarnation of the Word constitute the deepest mystery of the relationship between God and men and the most important event in the history of mankind: God becomes man, and will remain so forever, such is the extent of His goodness and mercy and love for all of us. And yet on the day when the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity assumed frail human nature in the pure womb of the Blessed Virgin, it all happened quietly, without fanfare of any kind.

St. Luke tells the story in a very simple way. We should treasure these words of the Gospel and use them often, for example, practising the Christian custom of saying the Angelus every day and reflecting on the five Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary.

27. God chose to be born of a virgin; centuries earlier He disclosed this through the prophet Isaiah (cf. Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:22-23). God, "before all ages made choice of, and set in her proper place, a mother for His only-begotten Son from whom He, after being made flesh, should be born in the blessed fullness of time: and He continued His persevering regard for her in preference to all other creatures, to such a degree that for her alone He had singular regard" (Pius IX, "Ineffabilis Deus," 2). This privilege granted to our Lady of being a virgin and a mother at the same time is a unique gift of God. This was the work of the Holy Spirit "who at the conception and the birth of the Son so favored the Virgin Mother as to impart fruitfulness to her while preserving inviolate her perpetual virginity" ("St. Pius V Catechism," I, 4, 8). Paul VI reminds us of this truth of faith: "We believe that the Blessed Mary, who ever enjoys the dignity of virginity, was the Mother of the incarnate Word, of our God and Savior Jesus Christ" ("Creed of the People of God", 14).

Although many suggestions have been made as to what the name Mary means, most of the best scholars seem to agree that Mary means "lady". However, no single meaning fully conveys the richness of the name.

28. "Hail, full of grace": literally the Greek text reads "Rejoice!", obviously referring to the unique joy over the news which the angel is about to communicate.

"Full of grace": by this unusual form of greeting the archangel reveals Mary's special dignity and honor. The Fathers and Doctors of the Church "taught that this singular, solemn and unheard-of-greeting showed that all the divine graces reposed in the Mother of God and that she was adorned with all the gifts of the Holy Spirit", which meant that she "was never subject to the curse", that is, was preserved from all sin. These words of the archangel in this text constitute one of the sources which reveal the dogma of Mary's Immaculate Conception (cf. Pius IX, "Ineffabilis Deus"; Paul VI, "Creed of the People of God").

"The Lord is with you!": these words are not simply a greeting ("the Lord be with you") but an affirmation ("the Lord is with you"), and they are closely connected with the Incarnation. St. Augustine comments by putting these words on the archangel's lips: "He is more with you than He is with me: He is in your heart, He takes shape within you, He fills your soul, He is in your womb" ("Sermo De Nativitate Domini", 4).

Some important Greek manuscripts and early translations add at the end of the verse: "Blessed are you among women!", meaning that God will exalt Mary over all women. She is more excellent than Sarah, Hannah, Deborah, Rachel, Judith, etc., for only she has the supreme honor of being chosen to be the Mother of God.

29-30. Our Lady is troubled by the presence of the archangel and by the confusion truly humble people experience when they receive praise.

30. The Annunciation is the moment when our Lady is given to know the vocation which God planned for her from eternity. When the archangel sets her mind at ease by saying, "Do not be afraid, Mary," he is helping her to overcome that initial fear which a person normally experiences when God gives him or her a special calling. The fact that Mary felt this fear does not imply the least trace of imperfection in her: hers is a perfectly natural reaction in the face of the supernatural. Imperfection would arise if one did not overcome this fear or rejected the advice of those in a position to help--as St. Gabriel helped Mary.

31-33. The archangel Gabriel tells the Blessed Virgin Mary that she is to be the Mother of God by reminding her of the words of Isaiah which announced that the Messiah would be born of a virgin, a prophecy which will find its fulfillment in Mary (cf. Matthew 1:22-23; Isaiah 7:14).

He reveals that the Child will be "great": His greatness comes from His being God, a greatness He does not lose when He takes on the lowliness of human nature. He also reveals that Jesus will be the king of the Davidic dynasty sent by God in keeping with His promise of salvation; that His Kingdom will last forever, for His humanity will remain forever joined to His divinity; that "He will be called Son of the Most High", that is that He really will be the Son of the Most High and will be publicly recognized as such, that is, the Child will be the Son of God.

The archangel's announcement evokes the ancient prophecies which foretold these prerogatives. Mary, who was well-versed in Sacred Scripture, clearly realized that she was to be the Mother of God.

34-38. Commenting on this passage John Paul II said: "`Virgo fidelis', the faithful Virgin. What does this faithfulness of Mary mean? What are the dimensions of this faithfulness? The first dimension is called search. Mary was faithful first of all when she began, lovingly, to seek the deep sense of God's plan in her and for the world. `Quomodo fiet?' How shall this be?, she asked the Angel of the Annunciation[...]."

"The second dimension of faithfulness is called reception, acceptance. The `quomodo fiet?' is changed, on Mary's lips, to a `fiat': Let it be done, I am ready, I accept. This is the crucial moment of faithfulness, the moment in which man perceives that he will never completely understand the `how': that there are in God's plan more areas of mystery than of clarity; that is, however he may try, he will never succeed in understanding it completely[...]."

"The third dimension of faithfulness is consistency to live in accordance with what one believes; to adapt one's own life to the object of one's adherence. To accept misunderstanding, persecutions, rather than a break between what one practises and what one believes: this is consistency[...]."

"But all faithfulness must pass the most exacting test, that of duration. Therefore, the fourth dimension of faithfulness is constancy. It is easy to be consistent for a day or two. It is difficult and important to be consistent for one's whole life. It is easy to be consistent in the hour of enthusiasm, it is difficult to be so in the hour of tribulation. And only a consistency that lasts throughout the whole life can be called faithfulness. Mary's `fiat' in the Annunciation finds its fullness in the silent `fiat' that she repeats at the foot of the Cross" ("Homily in Mexico City Cathedral", 26 January 1979).

34. Mary believed in the archangel's words absolutely; she did not doubt as Zechariah had done (cf. 1:18). Her question, "How can this be?", expresses her readiness to obey the will of God even though at first sight it implied a contradiction: on the one hand, she was convinced that God wished her to remain a virgin; on the other, here was God also announcing that she would become a mother. The archangel announces God's mysterious design, and what had seemed impossible, according to the laws of nature, is explained by a unique intervention on the part of God.

Mary's resolution to remain a virgin was certainly something very unusual, not in line with the practice of righteous people under the Old Covenant, for, as St. Augustine explains, "particularly attentive to the propagation and growth of the people of God, through whom the Prince and Savior of the world might be prophesied and be born, the saints were obliged to make use of the good of matrimony" ("De Bono Matrimonii", 9, 9). However, in the Old Testament, there were some who, in keeping with God's plan, did remain celibate--for example, Jeremiah, Elijah, Eliseus and John the Baptist. The Blessed Virgin, who received a very special inspiration of the Holy Spirit to practise virginity, is a first-fruit of the New Testament, which will establish the excellence of virginity over marriage while not taking from the holiness of the married state, which it raises to the level of a sacrament (cf. "Gaudium Et Spes", 48).

35. The "shadow" is a symbol of the presence of God. When Israel was journeying through the wilderness, the glory of God filled the Tabernacle and a cloud covered the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 40:34-36). And when God gave Moses the tablets of the Law, a cloud covered Mount Sinai (Exodus 24:15-16); and also, at the Transfiguration of Jesus the voice of God the Father was heard coming out of a cloud(Luke 9:35).

At the moment of the Incarnation the power of God envelops our Lady--an expression of God's omnipotence. The Spirit of God--which, according to the account in Genesis (1:2), moved over the face of the waters, bringing things to life--now comes down on Mary. And the fruit of her womb will be the work of the Holy Spirit. The Virgin Mary, who herself was conceived without any stain of sin (cf. Pius IX, "Ineffabilis Deus") becomes, after the Incarnation, a new tabernacle of God. This is the mystery we recall every day when saying the Angelus.

38. Once she learns of God's plan, our Lady yields to God's will with prompt obedience, unreservedly. She realizes the disproportion between what she is going to become--the Mother of God--and what she is--a woman. However, this is what God wants to happen and for Him nothing is impossible; therefore no one should stand in His way. So Mary, combining humility and obedience, responds perfectly to God's call: "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done according to your word."

"At the enchantment of this virginal phrase, the Word became flesh" ([St] J. Escriva, "Holy Rosary", first joyful mystery). From the pure body of Mary, God shaped a new body, He created a soul out of nothing, and the Son of God united Himself with this body and soul: prior to this He was only God; now He is still God but also man. Mary is now the Mother of God. This truth is a dogma of faith, first defined by the Council of Ephesus (431). At this point she also begins to be the spiritual Mother of all mankind. What Christ says when He is dying--`Behold, your son..., behold, your mother" (John 19:26-27)--simply promulgates what came about silently at Nazareth. "With her generous `fiat' (Mary) became, through the working of the Spirit, the Mother of God, but also the Mother of the living, and, by receiving into her womb the one Mediator, she became the true Ark of the Covenant and true Temple of God" (Paul VI, "Marialis Cultus", 6).

The Annunciation shows us the Blessed Virgin as perfect model of "purity" (the RSV "I have no husband" is a euphemism); of "humility" ("Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord"); of "candor" and "simplicity" ("How can this be?"); of "obedience" and "lively faith" ("Let it be done to me according to your word"). "Following her example of obedience to God, we can learn to serve delicately without being slavish. In Mary, we don't find the slightest trace of the attitude of the foolish virgins, who obey, but thoughtlessly. Our Lady listens attentively to what God wants, ponders what she doesn't fully understand and asks about what she doesn't know. Then she gives herself completely to doing the divine will: `Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word'. Isn't that marvellous? The Blessed Virgin, our teacher in all we do, shows us here that obedience to God is not servile, does not bypass our conscience. We should be inwardly moved to discover the `freedom of the children of God' (cf. Romans 8:21)" ([St] J. Escriva, "Christ Is Passing By", 173).
****************
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland.

Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
- posted by LRS @ 12:22 AM   

 
Pope Condemns Same Sex Union as Attack on Society

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope John Paul (news - web sites) on Saturday condemned same sex marriage as an attack on the fabric of society and called on Catholics to combat what he said was aggressive attempt to legally undermine the family.

"Attacks on marriage and the family, from an ideological and legal aspect, are becoming stronger and more radical every day," the 84-year old pontiff said in the unusually strong statement.

"Who destroys this fundamental fabric causes a profound injury to society and provokes often irreparable damage."

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 6:31 AM   

 
Gospel for the 4th Sunday of Advent
From: Matthew 1:18-24

The Virginal Conception of Jesus, and His Birth

[18] Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; [19] and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to send her away quietly. [20] But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; [21] she will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." [22] All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: [23] "Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son and His name shall be called Emmanuel" (which means God with us). [24] When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him.
****************************
Commentary:

18. St. Matthew relates here how Christ was conceived (cf. Luke 1:25-38): "We truly honor and venerate (Mary) as Mother of God, because she gave birth to a person who is at the same time both God and man"("St. Pius V Catechism", I, 4, 7).

According to the provisions of the Law of Moses, engagement took place about one year before marriage and enjoyed almost the same legal validity. The marriage proper consisted, among other ceremonies, in the bride being brought solemnly and joyously to her husband's house (cf. Deuteronomy 20:7).

From the moment of engagement onwards, a certificate of divorce was needed in the event of a break in the relationship between the couple.

The entire account of Jesus' birth teaches, through the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14 (which is expressly quoted in verses 22-23) that: 1) Jesus has David as His ancestor since Joseph is His legal father; 2) Mary is the Virgin who gives birth according to the prophecy; 3) the Child's conception without the intervention of man was miraculous.

19. "St. Joseph was an ordinary sort of man on whom God relied to do great things. He did exactly what the Lord wanted him to do, in each and every event that went to make up his life. That is why Scripture praises Joseph as `a just man'. In Hebrew a just man means a good and faithful servant of God, someone who fulfills the divine will (cf. Genesis 7:1; 18:23-32; Ezekiel 18:5ff.; Proverbs 12:10), or who is honorable and charitable toward his neighbor (cf. Tobias 7:6; 9:6). So a just man is someone who loves God and proves his love by keeping God's commandments and directing his whole life towards the service of his brothers, his fellow men" ([St] J. Escriva, "Christ Is Passing By", 40).

Joseph considered his spouse to be holy despite the signs that she was going to have a child. He was therefore faced with a situation he could not explain. Precisely because he was trying to do God's will, he felt obliged to put her away; but to shield her from public shame he decided to send her away quietly.

Mary's silence is admirable. Her perfect surrender to God even leads her to the extreme of not defending her honor or innocence. She prefers to suffer suspicion and shame rather than reveal the work of grace in her. Faced with a fact which was inexplicable in human terms she abandons herself confidently to the love and providence of God.

God certainly submitted the holy souls of Joseph and Mary to a severe trial. We ought not to be surprised if we also undergo difficult trials in the course of our lives. We ought to trust in God during them, and remain faithful to Him, following the example they gave us.

20. God gives His light to those who act in an upright way and who trust in His power and wisdom when faced with situations which exceed human understanding. By calling him the son of David, the angel reminds Joseph that he is the providential link which joins Jesus with the family of David, according to Nathan's messianic prophecy (cf. 2 Samuel 7:12). As St. John Chrysostom says: "At the very start he straightaway reminds him of David, of whom the Christ was to spring, and he does not wish him to be worried from the moment he reminds him, through naming his most illustrious ancestor, of the promise made to all his lineage" ("Hom. on St. Matthew", 4).

"The same Jesus Christ, our only Lord, the Son of God, when He assumed human flesh for us in the womb of the Virgin, was not conceived like other men, from the seed of man, but in a manner transcending the order of nature, that is, by the power of the Holy Spirit, so that the same person, remaining God as He was from eternity, became man, which He was not before" ("St. Pius V Catechism", I, 4, 1).

21. According to the Hebrew root, the name Jesus means "savior". After our Lady, St. Joseph is the first person to be told by God that salvation has begun.

"Jesus is the proper name of the God-man and signifies `Savior'--a name given Him not accidentally, or by the judgment or will of man, but by the counsel and command of God" [...]. All other names which prophecy gave to the Son of God--Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (cf. Isaiah 9:6)--are comprised in this one name Jesus; for while they partially signified the salvation which He was to bestow on us, this name included the force and meaning of all human salvation" ("St. Pius V Catechism", I, 3, 5 and 6).

23. "Emmanuel": the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14, quoted in this verse, foretold about 700 years in advance that God's salvation would be marked by the extraordinary event of virgin giving birth to a son. The Gospel here, therefore, reveals two truths.

First, that Jesus is in fact the God-with-us foretold by the prophet. This is how Christian tradition has always understood it. Indeed the Church has officially condemned an interpretation denying the messianic sense of the Isaiah text (cf. Pius VI, Brief, "Divina", 1779). Christ is truly God-with-us, therefore, not only because of His God-given mission but because He is God made man (cf. John 1:14).

This does not mean that Jesus should normally be called Emmanuel, for this name refers more directly to the mystery of His being the Incarnate Word. At the Annunciation the angel said that He should be called Jesus, that is, Savior. And that was the name St. Joseph gave Him.

The second truth revealed to us by the sacred text is that Mary, in whom the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14 is fulfilled, was a virgin before and during the birth itself. The miraculous sign given by God that salvation had arrived was precisely that a woman would be a virgin and a mother at the same time.

"Jesus Christ came forth from His mother's womb without injury to her maternal virginity. This immaculate and perpetual virginity forms, therefore, the just theme of our eulogy. Such was the work of the Holy Spirit, who at the conception and birth of the Son so favored the Virgin Mother as to impart fruitfulness to her while preserving inviolate her perpetual virginity" ("St. Pius V Catechism", I, 4, 8).
************
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland.

Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
- posted by LRS @ 5:39 AM   

 
Fargo Bishop addresses the roots of dissent among Catholics

FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA, USA, Dec. 17, 2004 (CNA) - In a pastoral letter to be released on Saturday, Most Rev. Samuel J. Aquila, Bishop of Fargo, addresses the roots of dissent among Catholics, highlighted during the recent elections in the U.S., and picks out five main areas of concern.

He suggests that though there are exceptions, catechetical formation for the last 30 years has failed to hand on the faith. He says it was clear during the media discussion of Catholic teachings and voting during the elections that “many of the faithful have not read the Catechism, the encyclicals of Pope John Paul II, or the documents of Vatican II.”

Where have we heard this before? It is abundantly clear that those who have been properly and authentically catechized do not engage in opposing the teachings of the Church, generally speaking. Ther are, of course, some who think they have been properly catechized, yet fight the Church daily - they are misguided and have been deceived.

The first area of concern is that many people who call themselves Catholic “even reject the principle that we must accept what the Church believes and teaches, and think they can pick and choose what to believe,” writes the bishop.

“We must never forget that certain Church teachings,” - those revealed in Scripture and Apostolic Tradition and upheld by the Magisterium – “can never change,” he said, “regardless of whether or not people accept them or are faithful to them.”

Paraphrasing St. Ignatius, even though it may seem to me that the something is black - if the Church tells me it is white, I will abandon my inclination that it is black and accept fully that it is, in fact, white - and I will not engage in promoting discord or dissent.

Imagine the blessed unity that would exist among Catholics if all professed Catholics would adopt this attitude of humility...

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 8:34 AM   

 
Seminary inspections may begin in fall

The long-awaited Vatican inspection of U.S. Roman Catholic seminaries, which was planned in response to the clergy sex abuse crisis, is expected to begin in the fall of next year, according to Catholic News Service. The visits will involve more than 100 seminaries and other American institutions that help prepare men for the priesthood, the news service said.

Bishop John Nienstedt of New Ulm, Minn., chairman of the U.S. bishops' Committee on Priestly Formation, said that the issue of homosexuality was expected to be part of the review. The visitation will take up the question of "how seminaries approach celibacy and chastity - either in relationship to heterosexuality or homosexuality - or the temptations or inclinations people have," Nienstedt said.

Some Catholics complain that the priesthood has become overwhelmingly gay, potentially alienating heterosexuals from enrolling in seminaries.

Sufficient documentation exists, it seems, for this claim...

Source.


- posted by LRS @ 8:30 AM   

 
"Stalin would be proud", says lawyer for defendents
Prayer and Scripture Reading During Gay Celebration Could Cost Christians 47 Years in Prison

PHILADELPHIA, December 17, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A group of eleven Christians were arrested on October 10 for praying, singing, and reading scripture during an annual "gay pride" event known as "Outfest" in Philadelphia. The members of the group were charged with three felony (criminal conspiracy, ethnic intimidation, and riot) and five misdemeanor charges.

An appeal to a federal appeals court to stop the prosecution was denied Tuesday.

The Philadelphia city prosecutor in the case, Charles Ehrlich, attacked the Christians as "hateful" and referred to preaching the Bible as "fighting words." The judge agreed.

It seems both the prosecutor and the judge are anti-Christian bigots. Apparently they did not see the video here. It gives a whole other meaning to the phrase "city of brotherly love"...

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 12:50 AM   

 
Gospel for Saturday, 3rd Week of Advent
From: Matthew 1:18-24

The Virginal Conception of Jesus, and His Birth

[18] Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; [19] and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to send her away quietly. [20] But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; [21] she will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." [22] All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: [23] "Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son and His name shall be called Emmanuel" (which means God with us). [24] When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him.
*************
Commentary:

18. St. Matthew relates here how Christ was conceived (cf. Luke 1:25-38): "We truly honor and venerate (Mary) as Mother of God, because she gave birth to a person who is at the same time both God and man" ("St. Pius V Catechism", I, 4, 7).

According to the provisions of the Law of Moses, engagement took place about one year before marriage and enjoyed almost the same legal validity. The marriage proper consisted, among other ceremonies, in the bride being brought solemnly and joyously to her husband's house (cf. Deuteronomy 20:7).

From the moment of engagement onwards, a certificate of divorce was needed in the event of a break in the relationship between the couple.

The entire account of Jesus' birth teaches, through the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14 (which is expressly quoted in verses 22-23) that: 1) Jesus has David as His ancestor since Joseph is His legal father; 2) Mary is the Virgin who gives birth according to the prophecy; 3) the Child's conception without the intervention of man was miraculous.

19. "St. Joseph was an ordinary sort of man on whom God relied to do great things. He did exactly what the Lord wanted him to do, in each and every event that went to make up his life. That is why Scripture praises Joseph as `a just man'. In Hebrew a just man means a good and faithful servant of God, someone who fulfills the divine will (cf. Genesis 7:1; 18:23-32; Ezekiel 18:5ff.; Proverbs 12:10), or who is honorable and charitable toward his neighbor (cf. Tobias 7:6; 9:6). So a just man is someone who loves God and proves his love by keeping God's commandments and directing his whole life towards the service of his brothers, his fellow men" ([St] J. Escriva, "Christ Is Passing By", 40).

Joseph considered his spouse to be holy despite the signs that she was going to have a child. He was therefore faced with a situation he could not explain. Precisely because he was trying to do God's will, he felt obliged to put her away; but to shield her from public shame he decided to send her away quietly.

Mary's silence is admirable. Her perfect surrender to God even leads her to the extreme of not defending her honor or innocence. She prefers to suffer suspicion and shame rather than reveal the work of grace in her. Faced with a fact which was inexplicable in human terms she abandons herself confidently to the love and providence of God. God certainly submitted the holy souls of Joseph and Mary to a severe trial. We ought not to be surprised if we also undergo difficult trials in the course of our lives. We ought to trust in God during them, and remain faithful to Him, following the example they gave us.

20. God gives His light to those who act in an upright way and who trust in His power and wisdom when faced with situations which exceed human understanding. By calling him the son of David, the angel reminds Joseph that he is the providential link which joins Jesus with the family of David, according to Nathan's messianic prophecy (cf. 2 Samuel 7:12). As St. John Chrysostom says: "At the very start he straightaway reminds him of David, of whom the Christ was to spring, and he does not wish him to be worried from the moment he reminds him, through naming his most illustrious ancestor, of the promise made to all his lineage" ("Hom. on St. Matthew", 4).

"The same Jesus Christ, our only Lord, the Son of God, when He assumed human flesh for us in the womb of the Virgin, was not conceived like other men, from the seed of man, but in a manner transcending the order of nature, that is, by the power of the Holy Spirit, so that the same person, remaining God as He was from eternity, became man, which He was not before" ("St. Pius V Catechism", I, 4, 1).

21. According to the Hebrew root, the name Jesus means "savior". After our Lady, St. Joseph is the first person to be told by God that salvation has begun.

"Jesus is the proper name of the God-man and signifies `Savior'--a name given Him not accidentally, or by the judgment or will of man, but by the counsel and command of God" [...]. All other names which prophecy gave to the Son of God--Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (cf. Isaiah 9:6)--are comprised in this one name Jesus; for while they partially signified the salvation which He was to bestow on us, this name included the force and meaning of all human salvation" ("St. Pius V Catechism", I, 3, 5 and 6).

23. "Emmanuel": the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14, quoted in this verse, foretold about 700 years in advance that God's salvation would be marked by the extraordinary event of virgin giving birth to a son. The Gospel here, therefore, reveals two truths.

First, that Jesus is in fact the God-with-us foretold by the prophet. This is how Christian tradition has always understood it. Indeed the Church has officially condemned an interpretation denying the messianic sense of the Isaiah text (cf. Pius VI, Brief, "Divina", 1779). Christ is truly God-with-us, therefore, not only because of His God-given mission but because He is God made man (cf. John 1:14). This does not mean that Jesus should normally be called Emmanuel, for this name refers more directly to the mystery of His being the Incarnate Word. At the Annunciation the angel said that He should be called Jesus, that is, Savior. And that was the name St. Joseph gave Him.

The second truth revealed to us by the sacred text is that Mary, in whom the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14 is fulfilled, was a virgin before and during the birth itself. The miraculous sign given by God that salvation had arrived was precisely that a woman would be a virgin and a mother at the same time.

"Jesus Christ came forth from His mother's womb without injury to her maternal virginity. This immaculate and perpetual virginity forms, therefore, the just theme of our eulogy. Such was the work of the Holy Spirit, who at the conception and birth of the Son so favored the Virgin Mother as to impart fruitfulness to her while preserving inviolate her perpetual virginity" ("St. Pius V Catechism", I, 4, 8).
***********
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland.

Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
- posted by LRS @ 12:37 AM   

 
A little fun at "Season's Greetings"
Last night I had a call from our phone company about lowering the long distance...At the end of the call, the representative said, "Happy Holidays", to which I responded, "I hope you have a Merry and Blessed Christmas." I think it took her by surprise...she stuttered, "Uh, OK, Uh, Thank you!" What a treat it was!

Anyway, the reason for this post was to link link to Jeff Miller's "Season's Greetings" parody here.




- posted by LRS @ 12:49 PM   

 
Mother Strangled, Baby Cut from Womb
Of all the horrific acts, we have this occuring here in Missouri. I hear about this act of evil this morning.

SKIDMORE, Mo. (AP) - An eight-months-pregnant woman was slain in her home, and her fetus [BABY] was then cut from her womb, authorities said. Believing the infant survived, they issued an Amber Alert early Friday.

Bobbi Jo Stinnett's mother found her body Thursday afternoon. The 23-year-old woman had apparently been strangled. Authorities issued an alert hours later for the infant, a girl.

Keep the family in your prayers.

Article here.
- posted by LRS @ 12:28 PM   

 
I received my Adoremus Bulletin yesterday...
...I would recommend that anyone who can, support Adoremus and sign up for a subscription to the Adoremus Bulletin. It provides more information than what is available via the website (Letters, etc).

This month Helen Hull Hitchcock has an article entitled, "Bishops Send Mixed Signals at USCCB Meeting", which sums up nicely what happened at the latest meeting. Some of us who were fortunate enough to witness it via EWTN were rather shocked at some of the voting results and Helen does an excellent job in reporting on this and conference in general.

...the divisions within the conference are increasingly visible, as revealed in the conflicts over the Liturgy; even more starkly in the sex-abuse crisis; and this year, in the bishops' divergent responses on Catholics and political responsibility. This situation cannot easily be resolved.

What will the the USCCB be like in five years? No one could have predicted five years ago the dramatic changes we have experienced. Indeed, the post-September 11 world, and the Church's own "9-11" of the sex-abuse scandals presents a vastly altered landscape and challenges unimaginable five years ago.

This Year of the Eucharist calls all of us to renew our convictions about this "source and summit" of our life, and to deepen our commitment and our fidelity to the liberating truth of Christ's Holy Church.

Since the results and other issues have been discussed and lamented before, I won't rehask them here, but do read the article if you get a chance. It helps to get an understanding of what is going on at the USCC.

Although she doesn't mention it, I had to laugh a bit when Bishop Bruskewitz rose to ask the body of bishops if it was really necessary for the USCCB to decimate entire forests to publish papers and other documents that no one ever reads, including many bishops...

I know that I hesitate to read or review most documents coming from the USCCB while, at the same time, I eagerly look forward to reading those that come from the Holy See...There seems to be quite a disparity between the two - It's probably because I'm not used to having firm, resolute and sound explanations "nuanced" into ambiguity.
- posted by LRS @ 7:20 AM   

 
Maronites begin census of their U.S. membership

The Maronite Catholic bishops of the United States have initiated a Maronite census.

The Maronite patriarch and the Maronite Synod of Bishops issued the request to compile the census. The request stems from years of war in Lebanon, as Christians fled to other countries in search of a better life.

The census also is designed to point out areas of the country where the Maronite Church has no presence.

The data will help the local Maronite parishes with better outreach and communication with Maronites within their areas who are not yet involved with parish life but would like to be.

To register online, go to www.maronitecensus.net or call (314) 231-1021 to receive a census form by mail.

The census office can be reached by e-mail at usa@maronitecensus.net.

Complete article here.
- posted by LRS @ 7:11 AM   

 
Editorial: Our duty to form our consciences

Pope John Paul II recently reaffirmed that we must work hard at catechesis — constantly teaching ourselves about our faith and all that we believe. We must train ourselves, check our consciences and be sure that we are living up to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As the pope said in an address to visiting American bishops two weeks ago: "There can be no separation between faith which is to be believed and put into practice and a commitment to full and responsible participation in professional, political and cultural life." This is the challenge for all of us.

More.
- posted by LRS @ 7:06 AM   

 
Cathedrals preparing for Christmas Masses

Archbishop Raymond L. Burke will celebrate Midnight Mass on Christmas at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis in the Central West End.

A ceremony of lessons and carols beginning at 11 p.m. will precede the Mass at the cathedral basilica, on the corner of Lindell Boulevard and Newstead Avenue.

A 5 p.m. vigil Mass Christmas Eve, Friday, Dec. 24, also will be celebrated there.

Saturday, Dec. 25, Christmas Day Masses at the cathedral basilica will be at 8 and 10 a.m. and at noon. There will be no 5 p.m. Mass Christmas Day.

Midnight Mass will be celebrated at the Basilica of St. Louis King of France (Old Cathedral), 209 Walnut St., Downtown. Carols will begin at 11:30 p.m. A Christmas Eve vigil Mass will be celebrated at 5 p.m.

More.
- posted by LRS @ 7:02 AM   

 
Our Lady of Guadalupe By Abp. Burke
Archbishop Burke has a great summary of the history of St. Juan Diego and Our Lady of Guadalupe in his weekly column. I recall reading before he came here that he is an history buff of sorts and loves to read books dealing with history. One can get that sense from reading his many of weekly columns such as this one. He provides us a great backdrop for his teaching so that, when he teaches us, we can understand why he has laid an historical foundation for us and grasp more readily what he presents.

Meditation upon the apparitions and the message of Our Lady of Guadalupe helps us very much in our observance of these last days of Advent and our celebration of the coming of Our Lord at Bethlehem. The Mother of God brings the Christ Child, conceived in her sinless womb at the Annunciation, into the world. He is the mercy and love of God in human flesh. He is the One who will suffer, die and rise from the dead in our human nature, so that we may enjoy forever freedom from sin and its most evil fruit, everlasting death.

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 6:45 AM   

 
Pasco County bans Christmas trees from public buildings

NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. - Pasco County officials have banned Christmas trees from public buildings in a move that one constitutional law group said Thursday was "the most extreme example of censorship imaginable."

The last of the Christmas trees were removed Wednesday after the county attorney said they were religious symbols, said Dan Johnson, assistant county administrator for Public Services.

Some people have lost all sense of reality. They should be pitied and prayed for, then driven from office.

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 6:13 AM   

 
Holy Father's Message for 2005 World Day of Peace

VATICAN CITY, DEC. 16, 2004 (Zenit.org).- In world marked by war, terrorism and violence, John Paul II is launching a campaign to overcome evil with good.

This is the essence of the Pope's message for the next World Day of Peace, to be observed Jan. 1.

The theme of the text, published today, is the same advice given by St. Paul to the first Christians in Rome: "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." The text will be sent to the world's leaders and to key international organizations.
...
The Holy See confirmed today that the Pope will preside over Mass the morning of Jan. 1, the World Day of Peace.
...
Pope Paul VI instituted the World Day of Peace in 1967.

Zenit Article here.
- posted by LRS @ 12:40 AM   

 
Gospel for Friday, 3rd Week of Advent
From: Matthew 1:1-17

The Ancestry of Jesus Christ
[1] The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the son of Abraham. [2] Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, [3] and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, [4] and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahson, and Nahson the father of Salmon, [5] and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz due father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, [6] and Jesse the father of David the king. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, [7] and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asa, [8] and Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, [9] and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, [10] and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, [11] and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon. [12] And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, [13] and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, [14] and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Aching and Achim the father of Eliud, [15] and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, [16] and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.

[17] So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations.
******************
Commentary:

1. This verse is a kind of title to St Matthew's entire Gospel. The promises God made to Abraham for the salvation of mankind (Gen 12:3) are fulfilled in Jesus Christ, as is Nathan's prophecy to King David of an everlasting kingdom (2 Sam 7:12-16).

The genealogy presented here by St Matthew shows Jesus' human ancestry and also indicates that salvation history has reached its climax with the birth of the Son of God through the working of the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ, true God and true man, is the expected Messiah.

The genealogy is presented in a framework of three series, each consisting of fourteen links which show the progressive development of salvation history.

For the Jews (and for other Eastern peoples of nomadic origin) genealogical trees were of great importance because a person's identity was especially linked to family and tribe, with place of birth taking secondary importance. In the case of the Jewish people there was the added religious significance of belonging by blood to the chosen people.

In Christ's time each family still kept a careful record of its genealogical tree, since because of it people acquired rights and duties.

6. Four women are named in these genealogies--Tamar (cf. Gen 38; 1 Chron 2:4), Rahab (cf. Josh 2:6,17), Bathsheba (cf. 2 Sam 11:12, 24) and Ruth (cf. Book of Ruth). These four foreign women, who in one way or another are brought into the history of Israel, are one sign among many others of God's design to save all men.

By mentioning sinful people, God's ways are shown to be different from man's. God will sometimes carry out his plan of salvation by means of people whose conduct has not been just. God saves us, sanctifies us and chooses us to do good despite our sins and infidelities--and he chose to leave evidence of this at various stages in the history of our salvation.

11. The deportation to Babylon, described in 2 Kings 24-25, fulfilled the prophets' warning to the people of Israel and their kings that they would be punished for their infidelity to the commandments of the Law of God, especially the first commandment.

16. Jewish genealogies followed the male line. Joseph, being Mary's husband, was the legal father of Jesus. The legal father is on a par with the real father as regards rights and duties. This fact provides a sound basis for recognizing St Joseph as Patron of the whole Church, since he was chosen to play a very special role in God's plan for our salvation; with St Joseph as his legal father, Jesus the Messiah has David as his ancestor.

Since it was quite usual for people to marry within their clan, it can be concluded that Mary belonged to the house of David. Several early Fathers of the Church testify to this--for example, St Ignatius of Antioch, St Irenaeus, St Justin and Tertullian, who base their testimony on an unbroken oral tradition.

It should also be pointed out that when St Matthew comes to speak of the birth of Jesus, he uses an expression which is completely different from that used for the other people in the genealogy. With these words the text positively teaches that Mary conceived Jesus while still a virgin, without the intervention of man.
************
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland.

Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
- posted by LRS @ 12:27 AM   

 
Creation of 'Quasi-Embryos' is "Morally Repugnant"
Canadian Biotechnology Expert Denounces the Creation of 'Quasi-Embryos' as "Morally Repugnant"

VICTORIA, December 16, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Last week, LifeSiteNews.com reported that a member of the US President's Council on Bioethics proposed the creation of genetically engineered 'biological artifacts' that he claimed, though capable of producing embryonic stem cells, would not technically be embryos. This proposal was heralded as a means of skirting the ethical barrier to obtaining embryonic cells, which requires the killing of human beings in the embryonic stage of life.

Speaking with LifeSiteNews.com, Dr. Clem Persaud, a retired Professor of Microbiology and Biotechnology, called the proposal "deeply flawed." He said that the process would not create an unknown 'new entity,' but a severely disabled, cloned human being. "The process amounts to a kind of germ-line genetic engineering combined with a type of cloning to produce an aberrant human embryo. Deliberately producing a deformed human being, then destroying it to harness stem cells is morally repugnant, and is a clear case of ends justifying means."

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 10:14 PM   

 
Cardinal Mahony's Deposition....
can be viewed here.
- posted by LRS @ 12:40 PM   

 
A Pastoral Letter on the Virtue of Chastity
Most Rev. Joseph F. Martino, Bishop of Scranton, has issued a pastoral letter on the virtue of chastity.

...Bishop Martino conceded that violations of chastity in the Catholic Church and in the Diocese of Scranton have made some people skeptical when the church speaks on sexual morality.

“But for just that reason it is more necessary, not less, to speak the truth about sexual morality. Sin and confusion cry out for honest, truthful speaking,” he said.

“The [C]hurch has always taught — and I teach here — that we need to find our happiness and holiness in a commitment to the chastity lived out in marital love or the chastity of celibacy lived out either in the consecrated life or the life of a single lay person in the world. These are the two paths to happiness and eternal life. There are no others.”

While some may believe that other subjects take priority, Bishop Martino stressed that “chastity is a virtue for our times, and it does take priority. That should be clear, for instance, in the wake of the scandalous events in our own church as well as those in secular society.”

The 4,100-word pastoral letter was published as a special section in the Dec. 9 edition of “The Catholic Light,” the diocesan newspaper. The letter is also being printed as a brochure and will be available to parishes, schools and others as an educational resource.

Bishop Martino noted that society’s generally permissive attitude about sex “makes the church’s teaching on chastity so necessary today. There is a vast gulf between the secularist view of sex and the Christian view of chastity.”

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 6:55 AM   

 
Post Dispatch Editorial on Bishop Gregory

A good priest

FOR A DECADE, Roman Catholics of Southern Illinois have been blessed with a bishop of gentle heart, persuasive leadership and common sense. Now, Wilton Gregory is off to tend a larger flock at as archbishop of Atlanta.

Sadly, this good priest began and ended his tenure by dealing with one of the worst scandals in the history of the Catholic church in America - the sexual abuse of children and teens by priests. His intelligent and compassionate approach helped set the church on the long path toward cleansing and healing.
...
He drew criticism both from all sides. But he bent the church as far toward reform as its hierarchical structure was willing to bend.

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 6:38 AM   

 
Update on Fr. Robert Johnston

Two men filed a lawsuit Wednesday claiming that a Roman Catholic priest, Robert F. Johnston, sexually abused them as young teenagers at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Valley Park.

In 2002, the church removed Johnston as pastor of Our Lady of Providence parish in Crestwood after a victim came forward and Johnston admitted abusing the boy more than 20 years before.

The suit, filed in St. Louis Circuit Court, also names the St. Louis Archdiocese and Archbishop Raymond Burke as defendants.

The archdiocese issued a statement that noted that Johnston, 68, "lives in a monitored environment and is not permitted to exercise any form of public ministry."

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 6:32 AM   

 
Late-Term Abortion Hospital Covers Up Saint's Portrait - Bishop Objects

The covering-up of the picture of a saint, depicted inside a chapel at Calgary's notorious Foothills hospital, has brought the ire of local Roman Catholic bishop Fred Henry.

The hospital claims the picture of St. Luke, a physician, is offensive to non-Christians, and has had doors placed over it. A note over the doors explains that any representation of the human form in a place of worship is offensive to both Jews and Muslims. Bishop Henry said the move is ridiculous.

Lifesite News article...
- posted by LRS @ 6:16 AM   

 
Legionaries of Christ banned from Archdiocese of Minneapolis
Apparently, the 'exchanges' between Archbihsop Flynn and the Legionaries of Christ have been "vague and ambiguous" and the Archbishop does not have "clarity about the intent and practice of the ministry" of the group.

Perhaps they should have donned a rainbow sash - then, of course, they would have been received with open arms.

Source (PDF) [Thanks to CWNews]
- posted by LRS @ 6:12 AM   

 
Gospel for Thursday, 3rd Week of Advent
From: Luke 7:24-30

The Mission of John the Baptist (Continuation)

[24] When the messengers of John had gone, He (Jesus) began to speak to the crowds concerning John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to behold? A reed shaken by the wind? [25] What then did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, those who are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in kings' courts. [26] What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. [27] This is he of whom it is written, `Behold, I send My messenger before Thy face, who shall prepare Thy way before Thee.' [28] I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John; yet he who is least in the Kingdom of God is greater than he." [29] (When they heard this all the people and the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John; [30] but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.)
**********
Commentary:

28. St. John the Baptist is the greatest of the prophets of the Old Testament because he was nearest to Christ and received the unique mission of actually pointing out the Messiah. Still, he belongs to the time of the promise (the Old Testament), when the work of redemption lay in the future. Once Christ did that work (the New Testament), those who faithfully accept God's gift of grace are incomparably greater than the righteous of the Old Covenant who were given, not this grace, but only the promise of it. Once the work of redemption was accomplished God's grace also reached the righteous of the Old Testament, who were waiting for Christ to open Heaven and let them, too, enter.
**********
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland.

Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
- posted by LRS @ 5:31 AM   

 
Norms of Catholic Orthodoxy - Rule 13
Previously I had comented on Rule 10 from the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. This evening, I would propose another for discussion. It is one which requires both faith and humility. If one does not have complete faith in Jesus Christ and His promise to be with His Church guided by the Holy Spirit until the end of time, one may find it difficult to accept this rule:

To be right in everything, we ought always to hold that the white which I see, is black, if the Hierarchical Church so decides it, believing that between Christ our Lord, the Bridegroom, and the Church, His Bride, there is the same Spirit which governs and directs us for the salvation of our souls. Because by the same Spirit and our Lord Who gave the ten Commandments, our holy Mother the Church is directed and governed.

Even if my reason is not in agreement with something that the Church states is true and must be believed, I cannot err if I submit to the Church and assent to what she proposes. One does err and sin when one exalts oneself to that level of superiority where one's own opinions are of greater importance that the truth as proposed by the Church. We have witnessed this in our own time over and over again - by bishops, priests and the laity. We can see it nearly everyday. If we look back through history, we will see it there as well. One great example of this is the protestant rebellion in the 16th century.

I cannot fail to mention how peaceful and joyful one's life can be when one accepts what the Church proposes for our belief and assents to it without questions or complaints. It seems that one who is continually complaining and dissenting from the Church's teachings is really quite unhappy - there is a lack of true joy in his life. Are they who dissent from the Church's teachings on chastity, for instance, truly happy? Are they who openly defy the Holy See in other doctrinal and disciplinary matters truly following our Lord?

There is much joy to be gained when one takes up his cross to follow Jesus. He gives us extraordinary graces when we are obedient to Him and obedient to His Church.





- posted by LRS @ 1:13 AM   

 
Federal Judge: Nativity Must Be Allowed In Bay Harbor Islands, Florida
An email update:

***Tune in tonight to the O'Reilly Factor on the FOX News Channel to catch exclusive coverage of this victory including commentary from Thomas More Law Center attorney Edward White! The O'Reilly Factor airs at 8 PM and 11 PM (Eastern).***


ANN ARBOR, MI – Federal Judge Cecilia Altonaga ruled today that the Town of Bay Harbor Islands, Florida, must allow the display of the Christian Nativity.

The Thomas More Law Center had filed a federal lawsuit against Town officials earlier this month after resident Sandra Snowden was denied permission to display a Nativity for the second consecutive year. Today’s ruling was a result of the Law Center’s motion asking the court to immediately order the Town to allow Snowden to display a Nativity scene on public property.

Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel of the Law Center commented on the ruling, “We are pleased with Judge Altonaga’s quick response to our request that Sandra be allowed to display a Nativity scene this Christmas. This is a great example of what can happen when Christians stand up for their right to celebrate Christmas in public.”

In her ruling on Wednesday, Judge Altonaga’s explained that Snowden had shown a substantial likelihood of success on her free speech and equal protection claims and that Snowden may display her Nativity scene this Christmas season on Causeway Island in the Town of Bay Harbor Islands where the Town has allowed a local synagogue’s Menorah to be displayed each holiday season since December 2001.

Judge Altonaga also ruled that Snowden had shown a substantial likelihood of success that the Town had violated the establishment clause in 2001 through 2003 by displaying only Jewish religious symbols, to the exclusion of Christian symbols, during the December holiday seasons.

The lawsuit filed December 2, 2004, claims that for the past several years during the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, the Town of Bay Harbor Islands has adorned the lampposts lining its main street with Jewish religious symbols of Menorahs and Stars of David and has allowed a Jewish synagogue to display its fourteen-foot Menorah on Causeway Island, the most prominent public location at the entrance of Town. Yet, every request by Sandra Snowden, a Christian resident, to display Nativity scenes purchased with her own money in a similar manner during the Christmas season, had been denied by Town officials.

Law Center attorneys filed a similar lawsuit last year against the Town of Palm Beach, Florida, for its refusal to respond to repeated requests to display a Nativity alongside town sanctioned Menorahs. This past May, a federal district court judge acknowledged the importance of recognizing religious holidays and ordered Palm Beach to treat all religious symbols equally.

- posted by LRS @ 12:17 PM   

 
From the Mailbag, Dec 15
Subject: Christmas Eve Poem

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree, I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep
in perfect contentment, or so it would seem.
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eye when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
and I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts,
to the window that danced with a warm fire's light.
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right.
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"Its my duty to stand at the front of the line,
that separates you from the darkest of times.

No one had to ask or beg or implore me.
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December."
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."

"My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam.
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.

Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red white and blue... an American flag.
"I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.

I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet.
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat,
I can carry the weight of killing another,
or lay down my life with my sisters and brothers
who stand at the front against any and all,
to insure for all time that this flag will not fall."

"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright.
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."

"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret.
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget
to fight for our rights back at home while we're gone.
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.

"For when we come home, either standing or dead,
to know you remember we fought and we bled
is payment enough, and with that we will trust.
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."
---------------------------------

Please remember those brave men and women who are sacrificing so much. Keep them and their families in your prayers.


- posted by LRS @ 7:40 AM   

 
Update on Institute of Christ the King in St Louis
Msgr. Michael Schmitz, Vicar General of the Institute of Christ the King, will be the celebrant at the 10:00 AM Latin Mass this Sunday, December, 19 at St. Agatha Parish.

- posted by LRS @ 7:21 AM   

 
St Louis Deanery plan undergoes changes

Some parishioners in the Northeast County Deanery who attended Mass Saturday or Sunday learned of changes to recommendations for the consolidation of schools and churches in their area.

According to several sources, the new plan calls for St. Jerome, Our Lady of Good Counsel, St. Catherine of Alexandria, St. Pius X, and Corpus Christi parishes to form a new parish at the St. Jerome site, 10235 Ashbrook Drive.

Article.
- posted by LRS @ 7:12 AM   

 
Nurses' strike is on at St. John's Mercy Hospital
Pray that this dispute is resolved soon and that no lives are endangered.

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 7:08 AM   

 
St. Matthias school merger likely

After nearly 14 months of discussion, St. Matthias the Apostle School Pastor William Kester announced that if Archbishop Raymond Burke agrees, the school will close its doors in May and next year students will go to St. Francis of Assisi School.

Kester will present the merger proposal to the Catholic School Office. The Catholic School Office will take it under advisement and forward it to Burke, who will make the final decision on the proposal. That decision is expected to come in February.

The parish council settled on St. Francis of Assisi School on Telegraph because the school is large enough to accommodate all of the St. Matthias students; the facilities are equal to or better than what St. Matthias has; and there is a gymnasium, kitchen and library with two part-time learning consultants.

Full article here.
- posted by LRS @ 6:43 AM   

 
Archbishop speaks to Vatican officials about Rainbow Sash protests

Archbishop Harry J. Flynn of Minneapolis-St. Paul spoke to Vatican officials about gay rights proponents wearing rainbow sashes to Mass and receiving Communion.

One must read this article, I believe, with a critical eye. The use of the word "gay" by the author is misleading - the proper adjective and terminology should be homosexual.

Unlike some other bishops across the country, Archbishop Flynn has allowed Communion to be given to members of the group known as Rainbow Sash. That has prompted criticism by some Catholics in his archdiocese, and at one Mass a group of lay people tried to block the aisles to prevent sash-wearers from receiving Communion.

He said Cardinal Arinze agreed that it was a complex problem requiring clear teaching and pastoral sensitivity. The archbishop said he was not asked to change his policy.

Of course not...it is absurd that embracing and condoning homosexual behavior by permitting sacrilege and scandal to occur is looked upon as being "pastorally sensitive'.

"We all stand very strong in our teaching concerning human sexuality, and what is right and what is wrong, and the teaching of the church concerning homosexuality, the teaching of the church concerning marriage between one man and one woman," he said.

"Then as you step away from the strong articulation of the teachings, you get into the pastoral practice of what do you do in some of these very difficult and challenging situations," he said.

Yes, indeed. Following Christ can be very difficult and upholding the teachings of Christ and His Church also require strength, fortitude, and resolve. One who sanctions that which is objectively evil by allowing the reception of Holy Communion seems to be complicit in the scandal - of being pastorally insensitive to the faithful entrusted to one's care.

Archbishop Flynn said sash-wearers would not be denied Communion because members of the movement had assured him in writing that their presence was not in protest of church teachings.

Then why, may one ask, do they proudly wear the sashes? If pro-aborts were to wear some outward sign of their support for murdering the unborn (with assurance that it was not in protest of Church teaching), would they likewise be allowed to receive Holy Communion?

CNS article.
- posted by LRS @ 6:16 AM   

 
Is the Wrong Message being sent?
Does staging sit-ins and protests and generally being disobedient result in saving a parish slated for closure?

A headline reads:
Plymouth parish off the hook: O'Malley changes closing decision

Source here and here.
- posted by LRS @ 6:01 AM   

 
Cardinal Castrillón on What People Expect of Priests

People today seek one thing from a priest: to encounter Christ, contemplating in him the face of God, says the prefect of the Congregation for Clergy.

Zenit article.
- posted by LRS @ 5:54 AM   

 
Gospel for Wednesday, 3rd Week of Advent
From: Luke 7:18b-23

The Mission of John the Baptist

[18] The disciples of John (the Baptist) told him of all these things. [19] And John, calling to him two of his disciples, sent them to the Lord, saying, "Are You He who is to come, or shall we look for another?" [20] And when the men had come to Him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, `Are You He who is to come, or shall we look for another?'" [21] In that hour He cured many of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many that were blind He bestowed sight. [22] And He answered them, "Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. [23] And blessed is he
who takes no offense at Me."
************
Commentary:

18-23. "It was not out of ignorance that John enquired about Christ's coming in the flesh, for he had already clearly professed his belief, saying, `I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God' (John 1:34). That is why he does not ask, `Are You He who has come?' but rather, `Are You He who is to come?' thus asking about the future, not about the past. Nor should we think that the Baptist did not know about Christ's future passion, for it was John who said, `Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world' (John 1:29), thus foretelling His future immolation, which other prophets had already foretold, particularly Isaiah (chapter 53) [...]. It can also be replied, with St. John Chrysostom, that John made this enquiry not from doubt or ignorance, but because he wished his disciples to be satisfied on this point by Christ. Therefore, Christ gave His reply to instruct these disciples, by pointing to the evidence of His miracles (verse 22)" (St. Thomas Aquinas, "Summa Theologiae", II-II, q. 2, a. 7 ad 2).

22. In His reply to these disciples of John the Baptist, Jesus points to the miracles He has worked, which show that he has investigated the Kingdom of God; He is, therefore, the promised Messiah. Along with miracles, one of the signs of the coming of the Kingdom is the preaching of salvation to the poor. On the meaning of "the poor", see the notes on Matthew 5:3; Luke 6:20 and 6:24.

Following the Lord's example, the Church has always taken special care of those in need. In our own time the Popes have stressed time and again the duties of Christians in regard to poverty caused by man's injustice to man: "Selfishness and domination are permanent temptations for men. Likewise an ever finer discernment is needed, in order to strike at the roots of newly arising situations of injustice and to establish progressively a justice which will be less and less imperfect [...]. The Church directs her attention to these new `poor'--the handicapped, the maladjusted, the old, various groups on the fringe of society--in order to recognize them, help them, defend their place and dignity in a society hardened by competition and the attraction of success" (Paul VI, "Octogesima Adveniens", 15).

23. These words refer to the same thing Simeon prophesied about when he referred to Christ as a sign that is spoken against, a sign of contradiction (cf. Luke 2:34). People who reject our Lord, who are scandalized by Him, will not reach Heaven.
*********
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland.

Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
- posted by LRS @ 12:14 AM   

 
Peterson Trial Gave Exposure to Humanity of Unborn Child

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., December 14, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The massively publicized trial of Californian Scott Peterson for the double murder of his pregnant wife Laci and unborn son Connor ended yesterday with the jury's recommended sentence of death by injection for the convicted murderer.

Setting aside arguments over the death penalty, which most pro-life leaders tend to oppose, the case itself gave extraordinary public exposure to the reality of the humanity of the unborn child, who in this case was Connor Peterson.

A rational, thinking human being can readily see the dichotomy here. Why is it permissible for a "doctor" to mutilate and kill an unborn baby without any penalty whatsoever? The argument of the "want" or desire of a baby cannot withstand the light of scrutiny from a logical or philosophical perspective. How can it possibly be allowed to murder an unborn child (or any innocent person) because he is not "wanted", but - if that child is "wanted", it would then be impermissible to murder him? The entire pro-abortion position, because it is built on sand, cannot remain standing when exposed to the light of truth and justice. Perhaps, this is part of the good that will come from this horrible and heartbreaking tragedy.

The full article may be read here.
- posted by LRS @ 11:46 PM   

 
Norms of Catholic Orthodoxy - Rule 10
As I was reading "All My Liberty" by Fr. John Hardon, I was particularly struck by the rules of St. Ignatius on having the true sentiment which we should have as part of the Church Militant. In particular, reading Rule 10 provided a wake up call to me...How should this be applied today? Am I guilty of violating this rule? How does one, in today's culture, follow this? It seems to me that detachment and obedience are the keys...

Tenth Rule.
We ought to be more prompt to find good and praise as well the Constitutions and recommendations as the ways of our Superiors. Because, although some are not or have not been such, to speak against them, whether preaching in public or discoursing before the common people, would rather give rise to fault-finding and scandal than profit; and so the people would be incensed against their Superiors, whether temporal or spiritual.

So that, as it does harm to speak evil to the common people of Superiors in their absence, so it can make profit to speak of the evil ways to the persons themselves who can remedy them.

In a certain sense, many have heard something somewhat similar in the expression of our mothers - "If you can't say anything good about so-and-so, don't say anything at all".

While the statement is, no doubt, praiseworthy and one to which one should adhere, the rule surpasses it. How difficult is it to find some good in one of our priests or bishops rather than focusing on and drawing attention to a particular fault or inclination? It's, most likely, not difficult at all. There is the added benefit of being advised to discuss the problems, not with others, but with those who can have some influence on correcting the problems.





- posted by LRS @ 12:23 PM   

 
Santa and Sytem Administrators
Here are some interesting similarities between Santa Claus and "system administrators":

* Santa seldoms answers your mail.

* When you ask Santa for something, the odds of receiving what you wanted are very small.

* Your parents ascribed supernatural powers to Santa, but did all the work themselves.

* Nobody knows who Santa has to answer to for his actions.

* Only a lunatic says bad things about Santa in his presence.
-------------------------------

From an email I was sent today....and please, no email from "System Administrators"...


- posted by LRS @ 12:08 PM   

 
Something is really amiss here...

Bishop won't reinstate priest

GALLUP — Apparently the war will continue in the Diocese of Gallup. And like all wars, it looks like everyone will suffer.

It's the frequently discussed, but rarely publicized, legal battle between Bishop Donald E. Pelotte and Father Jerry T. Mesley, the Diocese of Gallup priest who had his priestly faculties removed by the bishop in September 1997 over allegations of misappropriation of funds at St. Jerome Parish in Gallup, which was closed by the diocese in 1996, and Immaculate Conception Parish in Cuba, N.M.

Although documents from the Vatican confirm that Pelotte lost his most recent legal challenge, Pelotte is hardly conceding to Mesley.

Or, apparently, to the Vatican either....in opposition to the decisions of the Vatican's Congregation of the Clergy and the Signatura, this week's chancery's press release states that "Bishop Pelotte will not restore Father Mesley to active ministry as a priest of the Diocese of Gallup."

After all, it's only Rome - we are free and independent here.

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 7:20 AM   

 
The Death of Common Sense in France?

PARIS (AP) - They arrived as they do every December: gaily wrapped gifts destined for children at a kindergarten in rural northern France.

But this year, teachers unwrapped a few, took a look and sent all 1,300 packages back to City Hall. The presents were innocent, but strictly speaking, illegal: seasonal chocolates shaped like Christian crosses and St. Nicholas.

"In 1968, the slogan was, `It's forbidden to forbid.' In 2004, it's, `Forbidding is a must,'" Bruno Frappat, editor of the Catholic daily La Croix, wrote in a weekend commentary. "And one of the phobias most in vogue is Catho-phobia." (emphasis added)

Lunacy and idiocy are the rule of the day, and a new form of paganism has taken root...

Article here
- posted by LRS @ 7:16 AM   

 
Enlightened heresies

"Muslims need ... a new Enlightenment, a movement away from brutality." This remark came from a friend of mine as we were discussing the problem of faith in the public square. My friend is by his own description, "a militantly agnostic Jew," a philosophy professor who loves to debate anything that comes to hand.
...
My friend ... did point out something worth considering. Islamic sharia is not substantially different from the Mosaic criminal code in Leviticus and Deuteronomy. Both permit polygamy. Both require the stoning of adulterers, blasphemers and those who lead others away from the faith, although for adultery, Hebrew law required the death of both parties, not just the woman. Both permit the death penalty for children — Hebrew children could be stoned to death for disobeying their parents. The similarities are really rather striking.
...
It is a commonplace to point to the hundreds of Christians throughout history who have launched barbarities similar to those sanctioned by the criminal law codes of Islam, the Torah, or the Enlightenment. However, a further fact is not so often noted. Only the Christian faith has been powerful enough to stop those who launched such barbarities. Whether Christian or Jew, Muslim or enlightened atheist, the only law that forces each human being to respect the dignity of every other is Christian law. If Islam is still barbarously cruel, if Islam has never been enlightened, that is due to the fact that Islam has never fully been brought under Christian dominion.

An article by Steve Kellmeyer here.
- posted by LRS @ 7:12 AM   

 
Four parishes near East St. Louis to consolidate

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. Four long-standing Roman Catholic parishes in East St. Louis will consolidate into one parish under a proposal recently approved by outgoing Belleville Bishop Wilton Gregory.

Gregory says in a letter that St. Joseph will be the location for the future parish. The decision affects about 645 parishioners.

The other churches involved are St. John Francis Regis, St. Patrick and St. Philip.

It should be noted that very few men in the diocese are answering calls to the vocation of the priesthood.

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 6:20 AM   

 
VOTF & SNAP "rankled" by Audit Plan

Two victim advocacy groups accused Roman Catholic bishops Monday of abandoning their pledge to root out sexually abusive clergy by reducing the number of U.S. dioceses that will receive full, onsite audits of their child protection programs next year.

The Survivors' Network and Voice of the Faithful have asked the National Review Board, the lay watchdog panel the bishops created, to intervene. Nicholas Cafardi, the board chairman and dean of Duquesne University Law School in Pittsburgh, could not immediately be reached for comment.

Article.
- posted by LRS @ 6:06 AM   

 
Aquinas Institute of Theology plans move to larger quarters

Spokeswoman Kristi Ruggles said that as a result of "the changing church," most of the growth has been in lay students. "The laity are more and more realizing that they have a role," she said. "They want to study theology, and there are jobs out there for them."

The "changing church"? Is this "Catholic" theology? I want to see a mandatum...

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 12:30 AM   

 
Gospel for Dec. 14, Memorial: St. John of the Cross, Priest & Doctor of the Church
From: Matthew 21:28-32

The Parable of the Two Sons

(Jesus told the chief priests and the elders,) [28] "What do you think? A man had two sons; and he went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.' [29] And he answered, 'I will not'; but afterwards he repented and went. [30] And he went to the second and said the same; and he answered, 'I go, sir,' but did not go. [31] Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. [32] For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the harlots believed him; and even when you saw it, you did not afterward repent and believe him.
***************
Commentary:

32. St. John the Baptist had shown the way to sanctification by proclaiming the imminence of the Kingdom of God and by preaching conversion. The scribes and Pharisees would not believe him, yet they boasted of their faithfulness to God's teaching. They were like the son who says "I will go" and then does not go; the tax collectors and prostitutes who repented and corrected the course of their lives will enter the Kingdom before them: they are like the other son who says "I will not", but then does go. Our Lord stresses that penance and conversion can set people on the road to holiness even if they have been living apart from God for a long time.
************
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland.

Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
- posted by LRS @ 12:29 AM   

 
Tariq Aziz wins 'unofficial support' from Vatican

Saddam Hussein's former foreign minister and right-hand man has persuaded sympathisers in the Vatican to arrange free legal advice for his defence against war crimes.

Tariq Aziz, a practising Christian who acted as foreign spokesman for the Iraqi dictator, secured the services of Italian lawyers after contacting a group of Roman Catholic priests and bishops.

He wrote to his family from jail in Baghdad urging them to contact Father Jean-Marie Benjamin, a Left-wing priest who had previously brokered a controversial meeting between Aziz and the Pope before the war last year.

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 11:08 PM   

 
New Vatican Document on Homosexuality and the Priesthood...
...Coming Before Fall 2005

John Thavis, the Vatican correspondent for the Catholic News Service, an agency of the US Bishops Conference, reports that the Vatican will soon publish a document concerning homosexuality and the priesthood. The report notes that Vatican officials are preparing an inspection (or visitation) of US seminaries to commence in the Fall of 2005 and the document is expected prior to the visitation.

Source.

And then there is this from CNS:

The Vatican is expected to publish soon an "instrumentum laboris" or working questionnaire that is about three pages long. It will act as an outline for the visits to more than 100 seminaries and other institutes of formation, which are expected to take several days each.

Already, the names of approximately 75 bishops and 100 priests who will carry out the visitations have been submitted and discussed by U.S. and Vatican officials. A facilitator to coordinate U.S.-Vatican contacts also will be chosen.

Sometime before the process begins next fall, the Vatican expects to publish a long-awaited and potentially controversial document on whether candidates with homosexual inclinations should be admitted to the priesthood.

The document on homosexuality has been in the works for more than five years. An early draft of the document took the position that homosexuals should not be admitted to the priesthood; in its current form, the document takes a more nuanced approach to the whole issue, sources said.

CNS article.
- posted by LRS @ 7:51 PM   

 
Fr. Charles Bouchard and "A true (false) sense of Communion"

Then the skies cleared the next morning, Sunday, Aug. 1, as eight seminary presidents in matching robes led 5,000 of the best and brightest in American Christianity to a liturgical moment that past generations could barely imagine.

The Chautauqua Communion service is one of the more extraordinary signs of what religious leaders and scholars say are revolutionary changes in Christian attitudes toward the central ritual of their faith.

"Jesus was all inclusive no matter what denomination you are," said Mary Summers, 63, of St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church in Cleveland.

The Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodoxy and other groups such as the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod still do not practice general intercommunion. Last year, Pope John Paul II warned that moving too fast toward intercommunion could produce a false sense of unity that diminishes a Catholic understanding of the Eucharist.

In the Catholic Church, laypeople are participating much more in services, including serving the transformed bread and wine to their neighbors. The practice of going to confession declined, but with it also went a lot of the guilt that kept many people away from receiving the sacrament out of fear they were not worthy.

But now, everyone is worthy - which is why we say, "Lord, I am now worthy to receive you..." (sarcasm)

Gwen Henderson, 49, said she no longer buys into the notion that some people are not worthy to receive Communion.

The principle is so important that some said they would rather switch if their church opposes intercommunion. Claire Hayes, a former Catholic, decided to join St. Luke's Episcopal Church after her daughter became an Episcopalian.

"It was an issue for me that she couldn't receive Communion" in the Catholic Church, Hayes said. "I thought when I die when she comes to my funeral she wouldn't be able to receive Communion. That really bothers me."

When the Son of Man returns, will He find anyone of Faith?

The rules on intercommunion are a lot more flexible than many people realize.

The Catholic Church permits Communion for non-Catholics in emergency situations or in places such as hospitals, prisons or battlefields where other Christians may not have access to the sacraments from their own clergy.

Diocesan bishops also may make exceptions. In special cases, such as weddings or funerals, Northeast Ohio Catholics may appeal to Bishop Anthony Pilla to allow, for example, the non-Catholic spouses to receive Communion.

Uhhh....Unless I'm incorrect, the Code of Canon Law (#844) does NOT permit this, nor does the the Code permit Bishops to deviate from this, unless I'm mistaken.

At the Chautauqua service, Campbell asked the Rev. Charles Bouchard, president of the Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, to read the Gospel as a gesture to acknowledge a Catholic presence.

The Catholic leader, however, had different plans. He got so caught up in the spirit of things that he, too, distributed Communion at the service, and received Communion himself from a female Presbyterian pastor, the Rev. Cheryl Gosa.

"It was really a special moment," an ebullient Gosa said afterward. "I thought God was probably just fine with that."

I wonder what his superior has to say about this? Perhaps, nothing...Perhaps, Archbishop Burke could comment on this?

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 12:27 PM   

 
Sunday Masses - Canons Regular of the New Jerusalem
Starting this Sunday, December 19 at 9:45am, the Canons Regular will be celebrating the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at the Passionist Nuns Chapel, 15700 Clayton Rd in Ellisville, MO. This is the Tridentine Latin Mass.

And this will be for Sundays & Holy days ONLY! Daily Mass will still be at their oratory. The house chapel is too small for any group over 12, so they have received
permission from the Archbishop to have Sunday and Holy Day Masses at the Passionist chapel.

For any questions, please DO NOT call the Nuns about this. Refer all questions to Fr. Oppenheimer. The phone number for the Canons Regular is 636-536-4082.
- posted by LRS @ 12:08 PM   

 
Bishop Gregory Back in Town

Outgoing Bishop Wilton D. Gregory could not contain his smile as he walked down the aisle Sunday to the pulpit of the Cathedral of St. Peter in Belleville, winking at familiar faces and waving at babies. Later, he could not hold back his tears.

"I'm getting a little weepy when people are telling me they're going to miss me," Gregory said after a short prayer service. His eyes filled with tears minutes later when asked what he would miss about the diocese of Belleville when he leaves to fill the post of archbishop of Atlanta.

"The people," he replied. "There's no reason to be a bishop if you're not with the people."

Full story here.
- posted by LRS @ 6:53 AM   

 
Pope Defends Nativity Scene as a Sign of Faith

The Christmas crib is a sign of faith and culture, says John Paul II.

"Small or large, simple or elaborate, the crib constitutes a familiar and particularly expressive representation of Christmas," the Pope said. "It is an element of our culture and art, but above all a sign of faith in God, who came to Bethlehem 'to dwell among us.'"

His observation about Nativity scenes as a sign of faith and culture came at a time when some countries are debating whether to remove the crib from public places.

Article.
- posted by LRS @ 5:58 AM   

 
Gospel, Monday, 3rd Week of Advent
From: Matthew 21:23-27

The Authority of Jesus is Questioned
[23] And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, "By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?" [24] Jesus answered them, "I also will ask you a question; and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. [25] The baptism of John, whence was it? From heaven or from men?" And they argued with one another, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say to us, 'Why then did you not believe him?' [26] But if we say, 'From men,' we are afraid of the multitude; for all hold that John was a prophet." [27] So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." And he said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."
***********
Commentary:

23-27. When the chief priests and elders ask "By what authority are you doing these things?" they are referring both to his teaching and to his self-assured public actions--throwing the traders out of the Temple, entering Jerusalem in triumph, allowing the children to acclaim him, curing the sick, etc. What they want him to do is to prove that he has authority to act in this way or to admit openly that he is the Messiah. However, Jesus knows that they are not well-intentioned and he declines to give them a direct answer; he prefers to put a question to them that forces them to make their own attitude clear. He seeks to provoke them into examining their consciences and changing their whole approach.
*************
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland.

Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
- posted by LRS @ 5:51 AM   

 
Gospel, Sunday, 3rd Week of Advent
From: Matthew 11:2-11

The Mission of John the Baptist. Jesus' Reply
[2] Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples [3] and said to him, " Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?" [4] And Jesus answered them. "Go and tell John what you hear and see: [5] the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. [6] And blessed is he who takes no offense at me."

[7] As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to behold? A reed shaken by the wind? [8] Why then did you go out? To see a mana clothed in soft raiment? Behold, those who wear soft raiment are in kings' houses. [9] Why then did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. [10] This is he of whom it is written, 'Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee.'

[11] "Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he."
****************
Commentary:

2. John knew that Jesus was the Messiah (cf. Mt 3:13-17). He sent his disciples to Jesus so that they could shed their mistaken notions about the kind of Messiah to expect, and come to recognize Jesus.

3-6. Jesus replies to the Baptist's disciples by pointing to the fact that they are witnessing the signs which the ancient prophecies said would mark the advent of the Messiah and his Kingdom (cf. Is 35:5, 61:1; etc). He says, in effect, that he is the prophet who "was to come".

The miracles reported in the Gospel (chapters 8 and 9) and the teaching given to the people (chapters 5-7) prove that Jesus of Nazareth is the expected Messiah.

6. Jesus here corrects the mistaken idea which many Jews had of the Messiah,
casting him in the role of a powerful earthly ruler--a far cry from the humble attitude of Jesus. It is not surprising that he was a stumbling block to Jews (cf. Is 8:14-15; 1 Cor 1:23).

11. With John the Old Testament is brought to a close and we are on the threshold of the New. The Precursor had the honor of ushering Christ in, making him known to men. God had assigned him the exalted mission of preparing his contemporaries to hear the Gospel. The Baptist's faithfulness is recognized and proclaimed by Jesus. The praise he receives is a reward for his humility: John, realizing what his role was, had said, "He must increase, but I must decrease" (Jn 3:30).

St John the Baptist was the greatest in the sense that he had received a mission unique and incomparable in the context of the Old Testament. However, in the Kingdom of heaven (the New Testament) inaugurated by 'Christ, the divine gift of grace makes the least of those who faithfully receive it greater than the greatest in the earlier dispensation. Once the work of our redemption is accomplished, God's grace will also be extended to the just of the Old Alliance. Thus, the greatness of John the Baptist, the Precursor and the last of the prophets, will be enhanced by the dignity of being made a son of God.
****************
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland.

Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
- posted by LRS @ 12:05 AM   

 
Vatican, Orthodox Church to Collaborate on an Ecumenical Film Project

The year 2005 will see an unprecedented ecumenical collaboration: Russian Orthodox Christians and Catholics from Italy and Poland will join "their scholarly and creative forces" to make a five-part historical documentary about early Christians, "Pilgrimage to the Holy City." The filming process begins in the spring, and the release is scheduled for Christmas.

Announcing the plan, Patriarch Alexis II of Moscow and All Russia pointed out that the idea behind was to once again remind to the world that Christianity was the foundation of European culture. He sees the project as an event of paramount importance. "The recent signing of the EU Constitution, which does not even make any mention of the common Christian roots, requires a creative spiritual response as well as a political one," the Russian Patriarch said emphatically. According to him, "millions of Christians worldwide took as an insult [this attempt to] hush up the modern world's historical foundations."

The acclaimed Russian filmmaker Vladimir Khotinenko, 52, has been invited to direct the Christian documentary. "Our task will be to make 'Pilgrimage to the Holy City' a film appealing to mass audiences," the director says. "Contemporary society has sidelined moral issues for some reason, making their consideration optional. A person coming forward to speak about those values in public will be immediately attacked or ridiculed. This is just what has happened to Mel Gibson's 'The Passion of the Christ,' for instance." Miracles should be made tangible and visible, Mr. Khotinenko holds. He said his ambition was to create a convincing visualization so that viewers would have no doubts the imprints of the Apostle Peter's knees on the stone floor were genuine (the imprints will be among the relics featured in the new documentary).

The film is going to be produced by a Moscow Patriarchy scholarly center, the Orthodox Encyclopedia. Sergei Kravets, in charge of the center and of the script editing team for "Pilgrimage to the Holy City," has announced, "all the catacombs and relics of the Vatican and Rome will be opened to Russian filmmakers for the first time ever." The Moscow Patriarchy and Holy See officials made the decision when they met for talks in Moscow in August. The visiting Vatican officials then brought along a copy of the Icon of the Virgin of Kazan, which had for more than a decade been confined to the Pope's private rooms. This year, John Paul II decided to return the image to the Russian Orthodox Church as a gesture of goodwill.

In response to the Pontiff's gift, Patriarch Alexis II expressed confidence that kind relations with the Roman Catholics would eventually be restored, noting that the Russian Orthodox Church had all along "showed willingness to develop these relations in the spirit of sincere cooperation."

This sounds very encouraging....

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 9:38 PM   

 
Gospel (1962 Missal) 3rd Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday)
GOSPEL (Jn. 1:19-28).
At that time the Jews sent from Jerusalem priests and Levites to John, to ask him, Who art thou? And he confessed, and did not deny; and he confessed: I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he said: I am not. Art thou the prophet? And he answered, No. They said therefore unto him, Who art thou, that we may give an answer to them that sent us? what sayst thou of thyself? He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Isaias. And they that were sent were of the Pharisees. And they asked him, and said to him: Why then dost thou baptize, if thou be not Christ, nor Elias, nor the prophet? John answered them, saying: I baptize with water: but there hath stood one in the midst of you, whom you know not: the same is he that shall come after me, who is preferred before me, the latchet of whose shoe I am not worthy to loose. These things were done in Bethania beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Why did the Jews send messengers to St. John to ask him who he was?

Partly because of their curiosity, when they saw St. John leading such a pure, angelic and penitential life; partly, as St. Chrysostom says, out of envy, because St. John preached with such spiritual force, baptized and exhorted the people to penance, that the inhabitants of Jerusalem came to him in great numbers; partly, and principally, they were impelled by the providence of God to demand publicly of St. John, if he were the Messiah, and thus be directed to Christ that they might be compelled to acknowledge Him as the Messiah, or have no excuse for rejecting Him.

Why did the Jews ask St. John, if he were not Elias or the prophet?

The Jews falsely believed that the Redeemer was to come into this world but once, then with great glory, and that Elias or one of the old prophets would come before Him, to prepare His way, as Malachias (4:5) had prophesied of St. John; so when St. John said of himself that he was not the Messiah, they asked him, if he were not then Elias or one of the prophets. But Elias, who was taken alive from this world in a fiery chariot, will not reappear until just before the second coming of Christ.

Why did St. John say, he was not Elias or the Prophet?

Because he was not Elias, and, in reality, not a prophet in the Jewish sense of the word, but more than a prophet, because he announced that Christ had come, and pointed Him out.

Why does St. John call himself "the voice of one crying in the wilderness"?

Because in his humility, he desired to acknowledge that he was only an instrument through which the Redeemer announced to the abandoned and hopeless Jews the consolation of the Messiah, exhorting them to bear worthy fruits of penance.

How do we bear worthy fruits of penance?

We bear fruits of penance, when after our conversion, we serve God and justice with the same zeal with which we previously served the devil and iniquity; when we love God as fervently as we once loved the flesh-that is, the desires of the flesh-and the pleasures of the world; when we give our members to justice as we once gave them to malice and impurity (Rom. 6:19), when the mouth that formerly uttered improprieties, when the ears that listened to detraction or evil speech, when the eyes that looked curiously upon improper objects, now rejoice in the utterance of words pleasing to God, to hear and to see things dear to Him; when the appetite that was given to the luxury of eating and drinking, now abstains; when the hands give back what they have stolen; in a word, when we put off the old man, who was corrupted, and put on the new man, who is created in justice and holiness of truth (Eph. 4:22-24).

What was the baptism administered by St. John, and what were its effects?

The baptism administered by John was only a baptism of penance for forgiveness of sins (Lk. 3:3). The ignorant Jews not considering the greatness of their transgressions, St. John came exhorting them to acknowledge their sins, and do penance for them; that being converted, and truly contrite, they might seek their Redeemer, and thus obtain remission of their offences. We must then conclude, that St. John's baptism was only a ceremony or initiation, by which the Jews enrolled themselves as his disciples to do penance, as a preparation for the remission of sin by means of the second baptism, viz., of Jesus Christ.

What else can be learned from this gospel?

We learn from it to be always sincere, especially at the tribunal of penance, and to practice the necessary virtue of humility, by which, in reply to the questions of the Jews, St. John confessed the truth openly and without reserve, as shown by the words: The latchet of whose shoe I am not worthy to loose, as the lowest of Christ's servants, giving us an example of humility and sincerity, which should induce us always to speak the truth, and not only not to seek honor, but to give to God all the honor shown us by man. Have you not far more reason than John, who was such a great saint, to esteem yourself but little, and to humble yourself before God and man? "My son," says Tobias (4:14), "never suffer pride to reign in thy mind, or in thy words: for from it all perdition took its beginning."

ASPIRATION
O Lord, banish from my heart all envy, jealousy and pride. Grant me instead, to know myself and Thee, that by the knowledge of my nothingness, misery and vices, I may always remain unworthy in my own eyes, and that by the contemplation of Thy infinite perfections, I may seek to prize Thee above all, to love and to glorify Thee, and practice charity towards my neighbor. Amen.
- posted by LRS @ 9:06 PM   

 
Gospel, Saturday, 2nd Week of Advent
From: Matthew 17:9a, 10-13

The Transfiguration (Continuation)
----------------------------------
[9] And as they were coming down the mountains, [10] (And) the disciples asked Him (Jesus), "Then why do the scribes say that Elijah must come?" [11] He replied, "Elijah does come, and he is to restore all things; [12] but I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not know him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will suffer at their hands." [13] Then the disciples understood that He was speaking to them of John the Baptist.
**************
Commentary:

10-13. Malachi 4:5 (3:23 in the Hebrew) speaks of the coming of Elijah the prophet before "the great and terrible day of the Lord", the Judgment Day. When Jesus says that Elijah has already come, He is referring to St. John the Baptist, whose mission it was to prepare the way for the First Coming of the Lord, the same as Elijah will have to do prior to His last coming. The scribes failed to grasp the meaning of the prophecy of Malachi; they thought it referred simply to the coming of the Messiah, the First Coming of Christ.
***********
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland.

Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
- posted by LRS @ 12:31 AM   

 
An open letter from St. Stanislaus Kostka Parishoners
I received this email this morning. It helps to bring many things into perspective, especially since this has not, to my knowledge, been printed in the press. I thank Mr. Czernikiewicz for forwarding this to me.

********************************
Here is an open letter from St. Stanislaus Kostka Parishoners, which was released two months ago. Those who follow this case will be interested to see somewhat broader perspective,
__________________________

Parishioners of St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish
at Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist Church
15 Plaza Square Saint Louis, Missouri 63103-2318
Contact: (314) 781 4486 e-mail:stkostkaparish@sbcglobal.net

October 3, 2004

Open Letter to Parishioners and Supporters of the St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish

Over the last several months the Polish community of the St. Louis metropolitan area has been largely divided over a disagreement between the Archdiocese of St. Louis and members of the Board of Directors of the parish corporation regarding the future of the parish. The purpose of this letter is to outline the position of the St. Stanislaus Parish faithful parishioners who are supportive to the changes proposed by the Archbishop of St. Louis. Our prime objective is to reunite our community of faith and to resume religious services at St. Stanislaus Church.

In order to understand what is currently occurring in the St. Stanislaus Parish community we need to take a closer look not only at events which occurred earlier this year, but also at the circumstances surrounding changes of corporate by-laws by the Board of Directors of the St. Stanislaus corporation. This conflict has many underlying issues which have developed over many years, and unfortunately they have not been explored enough by the media and therefore are not known to the public. To further explain our position, it seems useful to clarify some terms in regard to St. Stanislaus Parish community vs. Polish Roman Catholic St. Stanislaus Parish Corporation.

St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish is a faith-based community of people who subscribe to the discipline and teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. The parish was established by Archbishop Kenrick in 1880. As a parish, St. Stanislaus Kostka is required to function in accordance with the norms of Roman Catholic Church law.

The "Polish Roman Catholic St. Stanislaus Parish" is a Missouri not-for-profit corporation established in 1891 to enable the St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish community to more easily function within civil law. As Article 1 of the original by-laws states, "The corporate power of the corporation shall under the laws of the State of Missouri be exercised in conformity with the principles and discipline of the Roman Catholic Church, and in accordance with such rules and regulations as may be established from time to time, for the government of said church, by the Roman Catholic Archbishop in the Diocese of St. Louis, or by his authority."

Unfortunately, for some time the values and goals of both entities have been very different. As a result, the needs of many members of our parish community have not been properly represented and attended. Over the past several years, the St. Stanislaus Parish corporation has been managed in such a way that it has resembled more of a small family business, rather than a Roman Catholic parish community which functions according to the norms of Roman Catholic Church law.

The original by-laws were adopted by the first Board of Directors of the St. Stanislaus Corporation in 1891. The first President and Treasurer of the Board was the pastor of St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, Fr. Urban Stanowski. In 1891, Archbishop Kenrick, as trustee for the Congregation of St. Stanislaus, signed a deed conveying a property from the archdiocese to the civil corporation – "Polish Roman Catholic St. Stanislaus Parish". While the deed conveyed the property to the civil corporation, it did not transfer financial control of the parish. When the property was conveyed, the parish corporation was structured so that all directors, including the pastor, were appointed by the Archbishop who could also remove the directors in case of disagreement. The Archbishop also had final decision-making authority in any disagreement among the directors.

Article 5 of the original by-laws states that "The Treasurer of said corporation shall collect all moneys due or coming to said corporation and pay out of funds in his hands, only such claims and demands as he may be directed to pay by resolution of said Board of Directors. Whenever the money in his hands belonging to said corporation shall exceed sum of Five Thousand dollars, he shall deposit the same, in the name of said corporation, in a depository to be designated by said Board: and monies thus deposited can be withdrawn only by check signed by such Treasurer and countersigned by acting President of said corporation. He shall keep in a book for that purpose, a just, true and full account of all receipts and disbursements of said corporation, and said books at all times be open to the inspection of any member of said Board of Directors and to the Archbishop of Diocese of St. Louis or his representative. He shall on the first Monday after the Feast of Pentecost, in each year (or oftener if required by resolution of said Board) make out, in duplicate a full, true and detailed account of all said receipts and disbursements, together with a full and true statement of all assets and liabilities of said corporation, and shall transmit, without delay, one of said duplicates to the Roman Catholic Archbishop of said Diocese, and shall submit the other to said Board of Directors at its next regular meeting. He shall prepare and cause to be published in such manner as the President of said corporation may direct, a synopsis of said account and statement for the benefit of the members of said corporation.[..]

Article 8 states that "If any dispute or controversy arise between the members of said Board of Directors which they cannot settle, they shall submit same, without delay, to the decision of said Archbishop of said Diocese of St. Louis, and if he be absent to the Vicar-General, and in his absence to the Administrator of said diocese of St. Louis, and the decision of said Archbishop, Vicar-General or Administrator, shall be final and binding on all parties. Either party refusing to abide by said decision, after being duly notified in writing thereof, shall forthwith cease to be a director of said corporation and his place shall be declared vacant by other members of said Board of Directors".

Article 12 states, in part, that "Those by-laws cannot be changed or modified, nor […] shall any amendment be made at any time which shall in anywise be in conflict with any law of the State of Missouri, or with any rule , regulation or requirement of the said Diocese of St. Louis in force at the time of such proposed change".

The St. Stanislaus Corporation functioned in its role in accordance with the original charter until the lay members of the Board of Directors revised the original by-laws in 1978, then adopted new by-laws in 2001, and most recently in 2004. Through these illegal changes of the original by-laws, the lay Board of Directors took away the authority of the Archbishop over the parish corporation. Through these revisions, the Board of Directors secured its own autonomy by removing the power of the Archbishop to remove them from office. By revising the by-laws in this manner, the members of the Board violated the original purpose of the St. Stanislaus Corporation and its relationship to Saint Stanislaus Kostka Parish and thus the Roman Catholic Church.

After assuming a position of authority over the parish corporation, the Board of Directors focused their attention primarily on the financial management of the parish funds and so disregarded many relationships with active parish members. Despite several requests by many parishioners over the course of many years, and although required by the original by-laws, the Board refused to provide a complete detailed written report of all the financial accounts of the parish. As far as we know, the Corporation has never gone through an independent audit of all financial accounts it holds.

In the summer of 2003, Archbishop Rigali initiated the process of bringing the parish into conformity with the more than 200 other parishes of the archdiocese. In response to the Archbishop’s request, the Board of Directors initiated an intense, large scale, hostile campaign crafted to discredit Archbishop Burke, the successor to Archbishop Rigali, who has worked to bring to completion the work begun by Archbishop Rigali. The vindictive language and tone used in Board of Directors communications to parishioners and on their internet site is despicable and disgraceful and should have no place in any parish community. We find such tactics deeply troubling and unacceptable, particularly if they are used in the name of all parishioners.

The current conflict between the Archdiocese and the Board of Directors clearly demonstrates that the Board is defending its own position of power, which was attained through illegal modifications of the original corporate by-laws and which for the first time is being seriously challenged. In a desperate attempt to retain final authority over the parish assets, the Board wrote on its internet web site that it is currently considering the parish assets "to be deeded to another Polish organization not related to the Archdiocese and possibly not related to the Roman Catholic Church, or to join another (non Roman) Catholic Church." By appealing to the passions and prejudices of many unaware parishioners, members of the Board created an illusion of a potential danger of closing the parish.

The St. Stanislaus corporation currently owns multiple bank accounts with considerable assets, which have been generated through the hard work and generous donations of money, time and talents of countless individuals who believed that their work benefited the St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish community and thus the Roman Catholic Church. Many supporters providing financial contributions to the current campaign do not realize that they actually support actions which remain in direct contradiction with principles of Roman Catholic morality. The "Save St. Stans" campaign, filled with hostility towards the Roman Catholic Church, exploits the vulnerability of many faithful parishioners and supporters of the St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish who have been led to believe that donating money to the campaign, will help to save the parish from closing. Unfortunately, these donations are used to fuel aggression and hostility towards the Roman Catholic Church.

The changes the Archdiocese is requiring in the structure of the St. Stanislaus Corporation will allow St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish to be faithful to its original mission. These changes will also ensure that parish assets will be managed in accordance with both the spirit and the law of the Roman Catholic Church. In this way the required changes will benefit the entire parish community.

We are asking our fellow parishioners who have previously taken a position opposing Archbishop Burke to reconsider and join us in our support of making the changes the Archbishop is requiring. St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish has been given his assurance that as long as we continue to gather at St. Stanislaus Church and continue to support our parish it will never be closed. This is a unique commitment that no other parish has been given. He has also assured us that, in accordance with Roman Catholic Church law, the funds of St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish will never be used for any other purposes.

It is up to us as faithful parishioners to follow our Archbishop instead of separating our parish from the Roman Catholic Church as has been suggested by the Board members as an alternative. The signers of this letter are not prepared to stand by idle to watch the Board of Directors either turn our parish assets over to some organization which is not part of the Roman Catholic Church or to force the Archbishop to close the Parish because of the obstinacy of the lay Board in refusing to accept the reasonable requirements of Roman Catholic Church law. This conflict is a test of our judgment and ability to exist and function as a religious community within the Roman Catholic Church. How we emerge from here is dependent on our ability to comprehend the complexity of the situation, and on our courage to make a conscientious choice. We truly hope and pray that this conflict will be resolved in the best interest of the parish community. We accept the fact that every Roman Catholic parish, in order to remain a part of the Roman Catholic Church, must function in accordance with Church law.

You are always welcome to join us at our Sunday Polish Mass at 9am and coffee-and-donuts meetings at Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist Church.

* * *

Parishioners of St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish at Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist Church

- posted by LRS @ 10:03 AM   

 
Archbishop Burke encourages Enthronement of Sacred Heart

...the [A]rchbishop is recommending that Catholic families follow the traditional practice of Enthronement of the Sacred Heart in their homes.


"The Enthronement of the Sacred Heart of Jesus leads to a strong commitment to imitate the royal way of Christ, which is selfless love of others by the practice of the virtues," said [Archbishop Burke]. "If we are truly to live the mystery of the Holy Eucharist, of sharing with Christ in his Eucharistic Sacrifice, then Christ must be a constant companion, an always welcomed member of our household."

To assist Catholics in this, the archdiocesan Office of Worship has various devotional items available, including the Enthronement Home Ceremony Book.

For more information on Sacred Heart materials, call the Office of Worship at (314) 792-7231.

Every Catholic family should do this. Every pastor in the archdiocese should promote this and assist families with the enthronement.

Article here.
- posted by LRS @ 7:22 AM   

 
Merger plans to be sent to Abp. Burke

Archbishop Raymond L. Burke should have a "best set of recommendations" by this weekend for the consolidation of parishes and schools in the Northeast County and South City deaneries.

Archbishop Burke is expected to meet with the archdiocesan Priests’ Council to discuss the recommendations for the South City Deanery on Tuesday Dec. 14 and Thursday, Dec. 16. He is expected to meet with the council on the Northeast County Deanery on Monday, Dec. 20 and Wednesday, Dec. 22, said Father Brockland. The archbishop also will meet with the pastors of both deaneries.

St Louis Review article.
- posted by LRS @ 7:16 AM   

 
Abp. Burke on the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception

As we prepare for the joyous celebration of the birth of our Savior on Christmas, we invoke the intercession of Mary Immaculate, that we may be disposed to receive the Savior into our lives each day, to follow Him faithfully each day along the Way of the Cross which leads to sinlessness and eternal peace in the Kingdom of Heaven. May the 150th anniversary of the Proclamation of the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception be the occasion for us to turn, with renewed confidence, each day to the Mother of God, asking the help of her prayers, so that the victory of her Son over sin and everlasting death may be ours. She is the Mother of God and our Mother. She will not fail to help us by her intercession. "O Mary, conceived without original sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee."

Full article here.
- posted by LRS @ 7:12 AM   

 
Book signing by Fr. Giesler tomorrow
Father Michael Giesler will sign copies of his new novel, "Marcus," a novel of early Christians in Rome, from 1:30-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, at the Wespine Study Center of Opus Dei, 100 E. Essex Ave. in Kirkwood. Call (314) 821-1608.

- posted by LRS @ 6:53 AM   

 
The meaning of the season is the birth of Jesus Christ
From Archbishop Charles Chaput's column...

The ‘holidays’ exist because of Christmas the holy day

The people of Denver elected John Hickenlooper as their mayor because they saw in him the common sense that guides every good leader. He earned their confidence last week. In the face of a strong and unhappy public response, he reversed his decision to retire the “Merry Christmas” lights on City Hall. “Merry Christmas” will remain part of Denver’s public celebration of the holidays for at least the foreseeable future.

This December, I have a modest proposal. Let’s scrub the expression “Happy Holidays” from our vocabulary. We don’t need it. We don’t celebrate a generic excuse for gift-giving. We celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

So let’s say it — and mean it — with all our hearts: Merry Christmas.

Excellent advice from one of the faithful shepherds of the Church.

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 6:34 AM   

 
Philosopher reverses course after decades of promoting atheism

He expresses a belief in God based on scientific evidence

NEW YORK - A British philosophy professor who has been a leading champion of atheism for more than a half-century has changed his mind.

He now believes in God - more or less - based on scientific evidence, and says so on a video released Thursday.

At age 81, after decades of insisting belief is a mistake, Antony Flew has concluded that some sort of intelligence or first cause must have created the universe. A superintelligence is the only good explanation for the origin of life and the complexity of nature, Flew said in a telephone interview from England.

"My whole life has been guided by the principle of Plato's Socrates: 'Follow the evidence, wherever it leads.'"

Full story.
- posted by LRS @ 6:23 AM   

 
Gregory will be "a hard act to follow" in Belleville

The process itself is begun by the pope's representative to the United States, called the apostolic nuncio, the day a bishop's seat is vacated. The nuncio, Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, will collect names in the same geographical region, and then begin to look outside the region.

The Rev. Thomas Reese, editor of America magazine, said Montalvo would put a lot of stock in who Gregory, St. Louis Archbishop Raymond Burke and Cardinal Francis George of Chicago recommend for Belleville.

Article here.
- posted by LRS @ 6:17 AM   

 
Gospel, Friday, 2nd Week of Advent
From: Matthew 11:16-19

Jesus Reproaches People for their Unbelief

(Jesus spoke to the crowds), [16] "But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market places and calling to their playmates. [17] `We piped to you, and you did not dance, we wailed and you did not mourn.' [18] For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, `He has a demon'; [19] the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, `Behold, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds."
******************
Commentary:

16-19. Making reference to a popular song or a child's game of His time, Jesus reproaches those who offer groundless excuses for not recognizing Him. From the beginning of human history the Lord has striven to attract all men to Himself: "What more was there to do for My vineyard, that I have not done in it?" (Isaiah 5:4), and often He has been rejected: "When I looked for it to yield grapes, why did it yield wild grapes?" (Isaiah 5:4).

Our Lord also condemns calumny: some people do try to justify their own behavior by seeing sin where there is only virtue. "When they find something which is quite obviously good," St. Gregory the Great says, "they pry into it to see if there is not also some badness hidden in it" ("Moralia", 6, 22). The Baptist's fasting they interpret as the work of the devil; whereas they accuse Jesus of being a glutton.

The evangelist has to report these calumnies and accusations spoken against our Lord; otherwise, we would have no notion of the extent of the malice of those who show such furious opposition to Him who went about doing good (Acts 10:38). On other occasions Jesus warned His disciples that they would be treated the same as He was (cf. John 15:20).

The works of Jesus and John the Baptist, each in their own way, lead to the accomplishment of God's plan for man's salvation: the fact that some people do not recognize Him does not prevent God's plan being carried into effect.
**********************
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland.

Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
- posted by LRS @ 6:13 AM   

 
I'll be out till later this evening....

- posted by LRS @ 5:05 PM   

 
Politics of inclusion at Christmastime...

“Students at Spring Grove Elementary School in McHenry County, Illinois recently managed to sing holiday songs without ever mentioning Christ or the Christmas story. In another Illinois community, students in the Woodland District schools were forbidden from singing ‘Jingle Bells,’ never mind ‘Silent Night.’ But lucky for them, they are now allowed to listen to Christmas songs on the school bus (a ban was invoked after one student complained, but was later reversed when parents protested).

And more stories of the same from the Catholic League.

Another warning went out years ago, for those who remember, when more and more entities resorted to the "XMAS" tag rather than use Christmas...I don't recall seeing "XMAS" of late. Perhaps it's too close to "Christmas"? Happy Winter Solstice, anyone?

Speaking of which...Wlliam Donohue has another article aptly titled, "DON’T CALL IT CHRISTMAS".

The Kansas newspaper [the Wichita Eagle] ran the following clarification: ‘A story in Monday’s paper referred to a tree that was lighted at Tuesday’s Winterfest celebration as a ‘Christmas tree.’ In an effort to be inclusive, the city is actually referring to this tree as the ‘Community Tree.’

In Glendale, Ohio, village officials had a Holiday Walk on the Village Square last Saturday, though no one explained what holiday was being celebrated. And in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, the town sponsored ‘a series of holiday events’ that included a ‘Holiday Parade’ and ‘a Community Sing and Tree Lighting.’ Again, there was no mention of exactly what holiday these people were so happy about.

Winterfest...Holiday Parade...a Tree Lighting. The reason for the season, eh?
- posted by LRS @ 12:43 PM   

 
How is the Sacrament of Penance....
...related to the Sacrament of Baptism? What about redemption and human freedom? Why doesn't Lucifer just go to Confession? (This is also a test question).
- posted by LRS @ 12:42 PM   

 
Where do we find Christ when we celebrate the Eucharist?
Name as many places as you can with sliding into heresy...(this is a test).

Sacrosanctum Concilium # 7 states, in part:

...Christ is always present in His Church, especially in her liturgical celebrations. He is present in the Sacrifice of the Mass, not only in the person of His minister, "the same now offering, through the ministry of priests, who formerly offered Himself on the cross"20) but especially under the Eucharistic species. By His power He is present in the sacraments, so that when a man baptizes it is really Christ Himself who baptizes21. He is present in His word, since it is He Himself who speaks when the Holy Scriptures are read in the Church. He is present, lastly, when the Church prays and sings, for He promised: "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them" (Mt 18:20) .

Any others?
- posted by LRS @ 12:38 PM   

 
Pontifical University to Take on the Devil

A Vatican university said on Thursday it will hold a special "theoretical and practical" course for Roman Catholic priests on Satanism and exorcism in response to what the Church says is a worrying interest in the occult, particularly among the young.

The two-month course, which begins in February and will be limited to priests and advanced students of theology, will include themes such as Satanism, diabolic possession and "prayers of liberation."

I guess this means the devil is real?

Article.
- posted by LRS @ 12:35 PM   

 
Challenging the Christmas “Grinch” in New York and Florida
A News Alert from the Thomas More Law Center

***Thomas More Law Center to be featured tomorrow morning (Friday, December 10th) on the FOX News Channel's FOX & Friends program. Tune in tommorrow at 8:20 AM (EST)!***

ANN ARBOR, MI — With less than three weeks to go before Americans celebrate the national Christmas holiday, two prominent legal cases dealing with government policies that discriminate against Christmas religious displays during the holy season have each reached a critical stage. The Thomas More Law Center is fighting two separate cases, one in New York City and the other in Bay Harbor Islands, Florida, over policies that outlaw the public display of the Christian Nativity while permitting the display of symbols of other religions.

Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel of the Law Center commented Thursday, “Christmas is under siege throughout our nation, and the cases in New York and Bay Harbor Islands demonstrate the kind of hostility and double standard being used by officials to deny Christians the right to publicly celebrate one of their holiest seasons.”

In New York City, Law Center attorney Robert Muise will present oral argument Monday before the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in the Law Center’s case against the New York City Department of Education. The Law Center filed a federal lawsuit, challenging New York City’s policy that encourages and permits the display of the Jewish Menorah during Hanukkah and the Islamic star and crescent during Ramadan in the more than 1200 public schools in the City, but prohibits the similar display of the Christian Nativity during Christmas.

The appeal was filed after Senior U.S. District Court Judge Charles Sifton ruled that the City’s discriminatory policy was permissible because it was an accommodation of “multiculturalism” and “an attempt to diversify the season and provide non-Christian holidays with parity.”

Separately, Florida U.S. District Court Judge Cecilia Altonaga is expected to rule early next week on a request for a temporary restraining order that would require the Town of Bay Harbor Islands to allow a Christian resident to the display the Nativity alongside existing Jewish Menorahs.

The emergency request was filed as a part of a federal lawsuit against the Town of Bay Harbor Islands for its practice of displaying exclusively Jewish religious symbols while prohibiting the similar display of a Christian Nativity. The Town had adorned the lampposts lining its main street with Jewish Menorahs and Stars of David and allowed a Jewish synagogue to display its Menorah in the most prominent, public location at the entrance of the town. However, the town denied a Christian resident permission for the second consecutive year to display her Christian Nativity scenes.

In a hearing in Miami earlier this week, Law Center attorney Edward White argued that Bay Harbor Islands is discriminating against Christians by violating the free speech rights of resident Sandra Snowden, who had been denied the right to display her private Nativity in a public forum. Town attorneys defended their policy, arguing that the Menorah can be displayed because it is a secular symbol and not a religious one, unlike the Nativity.

The Menorah is a secular symbol?
- posted by LRS @ 12:10 PM   

 
Bishop Trautman Summarizes Agenda for Liturgy

Bishop Trautman shares thoughts on liturgy chair appointment
LSV: Can you give us a short preview of the agenda for the liturgy committee?

Bishop: There are two main things: first of all a review of the ICEL (International Commission on English in the Liturgy) texts that are being presented to the commissions of English-speaking bishops' conferences now. There are 11 English-speaking conferences of bishops. And ICEL has been charged with translating the missal prayers. Those prayers are coming to the bishops now for review, modification and approval. So the work now of the committee will be to study those texts and to present them eventually to the body of bishops.

We have to ponder also the ecumenical dimensions of liturgical texts. For the last 35 years we, with the Protestant tradition, have used the same liturgical texts. An example would be the Nicene Creed, the Apostle's Creed, the Holy, Holy, Holy, The Lamb of God. We've all used the same texts. Now that is being questioned because some of those texts are not translated according to (the Liturgiam Authenticam) document.

Article here.
- posted by LRS @ 6:55 AM   

 
At Holy Mass Last Night
Because of a number of circumstances yesterday, I was unable to attend Mass where I had intended to do so...Because I had to be at work rather early, I could not attend Mass at the Chapel of the Canons Regular of the New Jerusalem. My next option was go to Mass at the Cathedral of to St. Agatha's at noon, but was unable to do this because of a scheduling conflict which arose that morning. It seemed that I had a couple of options left - going to Mass at my parish at 6:00pm or to St. Joseph's at 7:30pm. I reluctantly decide to go to Mass at my parish (I seldom go there anymore due to numerous liturgical abuses and the worst 'music' imaginable - "sacred" is isn't.

Before I went to my parish, I remembered this article, where Brisbane's Archbishop and the priest responsible for at least hundreds of invalid Baptisms agreed that those who report liturgical abuses are "spying" on act of worship.

"In other words it's spying on an act of worship."
Father [Peter] Kennedy said it was a rare opportunity for the two men to agree. "People have no right to be doing this sort of thing. They have no respect for the mass and they have not respect for the liturgy," Father Kennedy said.

Apparently, neither this priest nor the Archbishop has read article 184 of Redemptionis Sacramentum which says, in part:

[184.] Any Catholic, whether Priest or Deacon or lay member of Christ’s faithful, has the right to lodge a complaint regarding a liturgical abuse to the diocesan Bishop or the competent Ordinary equivalent to him in law, or to the Apostolic See on account of the primacy of the Roman Pontiff.

Now was any mention made that priests are specifically prohibited from altering the liturgical rites or that the faithful have a "right" to a true Liturgy:

The faithful have a right to a true Liturgy, which means the Liturgy desired and laid down by the Church, which has in fact indicated where adaptations may be made as called for by pastoral requirements in different places or by different groups of people. (Inaestimabile Donum, Forward)

or from the most recent Instruction from the Holy See:

[12.] On the contrary, it is the right of all of Christ’s faithful that the Liturgy, and in particular the celebration of Holy Mass, should truly be as the Church wishes, according to her stipulations as prescribed in the liturgical books and in the other laws and norms. Likewise, the Catholic people have the right that the Sacrifice of the Holy Mass should be celebrated for them in an integral manner, according to the entire doctrine of the Church’s Magisterium. Finally, it is the Catholic community’s right that the celebration of the Most Holy Eucharist should be carried out for it in such a manner that it truly stands out as a sacrament of unity, to the exclusion of all blemishes and actions that might engender divisions and factions in the Church. (Redemptionis Sacramentum)

So it was with some hesitation that I decided to attend Mass at my parish. I did not go to file a report or to fill out a report card on various shenanigans and other 'goings on', but to fulfill my Holy Day obligation, offer praise to God, to ask for Our Blessed Mother's intercession and to pray for the very priests who need the graces to demonstrate their love of Christ and His Church by being obedient to the directives of the Church.

I have been told my others that things were getting better at the parish (I so rarely attend Mass there that I would not know...If I did, I would be compelled to write letters to the Archdiocese.

I knew something was amiss when the entrance procession included a woman who was holding aloft a bowl of incense...How inclusive!

Anyway, as I stated, I was not there to take notes, but I did notice the following:
1. Nearly every prayer in the Missal was changed to some extent, including the Eucharistic Prayer Preface.
2. The homily was given, not from the lectern, but while walking about the steps of the sanctuary (similar to the TV evangelists).
3. The wine was consecrated in a large flagon on the altar (a la Mahony).
4. The Precious Blood was later poured into common wine goblets for the numerous extraordinary ministers.
5. We received no final blessing at the end of Mass from the priest who is supposed to be acting "in persona Christi" - The priest is to impart his blessing by saying, "May Almighty God bless YOU,...not, "May Almighty God bless US,..."

Anyway, we have been told by the Office of Worship and the Archbishop that NO glass vessels are to be used in the Archdiocese for the distribution of the Precious Blood. Apparently, some parishes either haven't received that update or they have chosen to ignore it. I did miss the "Ministry of Danced Prayer", though. That's probably scheduled for the Christmas Masses.

**** Updated ****
I had almost forgotten this...I was struck by the irony of a statement made during the homily which, paraphrased, went something like this: "We show our love of God by being obedient to Him." Of course, this is most true. However, it seems that we do not have to be obedient to the Holy Father or the Church in order to demonstrate our love of God, if we follow the examples given by some of our priests in celebrating the Holy Mass and their infidelity to liturgical laws...

One other thing which I had heard through the grapevine (from a priest I know), but have yet been unable to absolutely verify is that this parish ranks second in number of complaints at the Archdiocese. Whether this means at the Office of Worship or elsewhere, I am not certain. I have written no letters to the Archdiocese for a while, since for all practical purposes, I attend Mass at parishes which do not engage in the "do-it-yourself" Mass.

Lord Jesus, have mercy on us. Mary, Mother of our Lord, pray for us.
- posted by LRS @ 6:49 AM   

 
Bishop Gregory Named as Archbishop of Atlanta

Bishop Wilton D. Gregory, who was president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops for three years during the height of the clergy molestation crisis, has been appointed by Pope John Paul II to serve as Archbishop of Atlanta, the archdiocese announced Thursday.

Unbelievable is the only word that comes to mind. Archbishop Donoghue's resignation becuase of age was accepted, it seems. Please keep the faithful of Atlanta and Archbishop Gregory in your prayers.

Source.

and here.
- posted by LRS @ 6:05 AM   

 
Gospel, Thursday, 2nd Week of Advent
From: Matthew 11:11-15

The Mission of John the Baptist. Jesus' Reply
----------------------------------------------
(Jesus spoke to the crowds,) [11] "Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he. [12] From the days of John the Baptist until now the Kingdom of Heaven has suffered violence, and men of violence take it by force. [13] For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John; [14] and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. [15] He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
*********
Commentary:

11. With John the Old Testament is brought to a close and we are on the threshold of the New. The Precursor had the honor of ushering Christ in, making Him known to men. God had assigned him the exalted mission of preparing His contemporaries to hear the Gospel. The Baptist's faithfulness is recognized and proclaimed by Jesus. The praise he received is a reward for his humility: John, realizing what his role was, had said, "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30).

St. John the Baptist was the greatest in the sense that he had received a mission unique and incomparable in the context of the Old Testament. However, in the Kingdom of Heaven (the New Testament) inaugurated by Christ, the divine gift of grace makes the least of those who faithfully receive it greater than the greatest in the earlier dispensation. Once the work of our redemption is accomplished, God's grace will also be extended to the just of the Old Alliance. Thus, the greatness of John the Baptist, the Precursor and the last of the prophets, will be enhanced by the dignity of being made a son of God.

12. "The Kingdom of Heaven has suffered violence": once John the Baptist announces that the Christ is already come, the powers of Hell redouble their desperate assault, which continues right through the lifetime of the Church (cf. Ephesians 6:12). The situation described here seems to be this: the leaders of the Jewish people, and their blind followers, were waiting for the Kingdom of God the way people wait for a rightful legacy to come their way; but while they rest on the laurels of the rights and rewards they think their race entitles them to, others, the men of violence (literally, attackers) are taking it, as it were, by force, by fighting the enemies of the soul--the world, the flesh and the devil.

"This violence is not directed against others. It is a violence used to fight your own weaknesses and miseries, a fortitude, which prevents you from camouflaging your own infidelities, a boldness to own up to the faith even when the environment is hostile" ([St] J. Escriva, "Christ Is Passing By", 82).

This is the attitude of those who fight their passions and do themselves violence, thereby attaining the Kingdom of Heaven and becoming one with Christ. As Clement of Alexandria puts it: "The Kingdom of Heaven does not belong to those who sleep and who indulge all their desires, but to those who fight against themselves" ("Quis Dives Salvetur", 21).

14. John the Baptist is Elijah, not in person, but by virtue of his mission (cf. Matthew 17:10-13; Mark 9:10-12).
******************
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland.

Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
- posted by LRS @ 1:29 AM   

 
Those darn kids, again
The following was from an email I received today. No doubt, many of these are probably well known already, but I thought I would share them.

Below is the email as I received it. For those who can remember as far back as their grade school days, perhaps, some of these might be vaguely familiar, especially considering some of the terminology used in regarding certain aspects of the faith. Those with small children will immediately recognize the misspellings based on the level of understanding that a child has or on a phonetic rendering of terms that a child is trying to work out.
****************

Subject: Those darn kids, again

Pay special attention to the wording and spelling. If you know anything about the bible, even just a little bit, you will probably find this humorous!

This allegedly comes from a Catholic elementary school test in which kids were asked questions about the Old and New testaments. The following statements about the Bible were written by children. They have not be retouched or corrected. Incorrect spelling has been left as is.

1. In the first book of the Bible, Guinessis, God got tired of creating the world so he took the Sabbath off.

2. Adam and Eve were created from an apple tree. Noah's wife was Joan of Ark. Noah built and ark and the animals came on in pears.

3. Lots wife was a pillar of salt during the day, but a ball of fire during the night.

4. The Jews were a proud people and throughout history they had trouble with unsympathetic genitals.

5. Sampson was a strongman who let himself be led astray by a Jezebel like Delilah.

6. Samson slayed the Philistines with the axe of the apostles.

7. Moses led the Jews to the Red Sea where they made unleavened bread which is bread without any ingredients .

8. The Egyptians were all drowned in the dessert. Afterwards, Moses went up to Mount Cyanide to get the ten commandments.

9. The first commandments was when Eve told Adam to eat the apple.

10. The seventh commandment is thou shalt not admit adultery.

11. Moses died before he ever reached Canada . Then Joshua led the Hebrews in the battle of Geritol.

12. The greatest miricle in the Bible is when Joshua told his son to stand still and he obeyed him.

13. David was a Hebrew king who was skilled at playing the liar. He fought the Finkelsteins, a race of people who lived in biblical times.

14. Solomon, one of Davids sons, had 300 wives and 700 porcupines.

15. When Mary heard she was the mother of Jesus, she sang the Magna Carta.

16. When the three wise guys from the east side arrived they found Jesus in the manger.

17. Jesus was born because Mary had an Immaculate Contraption.

18. St. John the blacksmith dumped water on his head.

19. Jesus enunciated the golden rule, which says to do unto others before they do one to you. He also explained a man doth not live by sweat alone.

20. It was a miricle when Jesus rose from the dead and managed to get the tombstone off the entrance.

21. The people who followed the Lord were called the 12 decibels.

22. The epistels were the wives of the apostles.

23. One of the oppossums was St. Matthew who was also a taximan.

24. St. Paul cavorted to Christianity, he preached holy acrimony which is another name for marraige.

25. Christians have only one spouse. This is called monotony.

*****************
- posted by LRS @ 1:40 PM   

 
Pope says God wants all to be holy, 'immaculate in love'

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Presiding at a special Mass marking the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of the dogma of Mary's Immaculate Conception, Pope John Paul II said God "desires that, in Christ, we all would be holy and immaculate in love."

During the Dec. 8 Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, the pope said he was "renewing today in a special way" the act of entrusting the protection of the entire church to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

Source here.
- posted by LRS @ 12:30 PM   

 
Gospel, Dec. 8, Solemnity of The Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary
From: Luke 1:26-38

The Annunciation and Incarnation of the Son of God

[26] In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, [27] to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. [28] And he came to her and said, "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!" [29] But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. [30] And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. [31] And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus. [32] He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to Him the throne of His father David, [33] and He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of His Kingdom there will be no end." [34] And Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no husband?" [35] And the angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. [36] And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. [37] For with God nothing will be impossible." [38] And Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.
*********
Commentary:

26-38. Here we contemplate our Lady who was "enriched from the first instant of her conception with the splendor of an entirely unique holiness; [...] the virgin of Nazareth is hailed by the heralding angel, by divine command, as `full of grace' (cf. Luke 1:28), and to the heavenly messenger she replies, `Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done unto me according to thy word' (Luke 1:38). Thus the daughter of Adam, Mary, consenting to the word of God, became the Mother of Jesus. Committing herself wholeheartedly to God's saving will and impeded by no sin, she devoted herself totally, as a handmaid of the Lord, to the person and work of her Son, under and with Him, serving the mystery of Redemption, by the grace of Almighty God. Rightly, therefore, the Fathers (of the Church) see Mary not merely as passively engaged by God, but as freely cooperating in the work of man's salvation through faith and obedience" (Vatican II, "Lumen Gentium", 56).

The annunciation to Mary and incarnation of the Word constitute the deepest mystery of the relationship between God and men and the most important event in the history of mankind: God becomes man, and will remain so forever, such is the extent of His goodness and mercy and love for all of us. And yet on the day when the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity assumed frail human nature in the pure womb of the Blessed Virgin, it all happened quietly, without fanfare of any kind.

St. Luke tells the story in a very simple way. We should treasure these words of the Gospel and use them often, for example, practising the Christian custom of saying the Angelus every day and reflecting on the five Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary.

27. God chose to be born of a virgin; centuries earlier He disclosed this through the prophet Isaiah (cf. Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:22-23). God, "before all ages made choice of, and set in her proper place, a mother for His only-begotten Son from whom He, after being made flesh, should be born in the blessed fullness of time: and He continued His persevering regard for her in preference to all other creatures, to such a degree that for her alone He had singular regard" (Pius IX, "Ineffabilis Deus," 2). This privilege granted to our Lady of being a virgin and a mother at the same time is a unique gift of God. This was the work of the Holy Spirit "who at the conception and the birth of the Son so favored the Virgin Mother as to impart fruitfulness to her while preserving inviolate her perpetual virginity" ("St. Pius V Catechism," I, 4, 8). Paul VI reminds us of this truth of faith: "We believe that the Blessed Mary, who ever enjoys the dignity of virginity, was the Mother of the incarnate Word, of our God and Savior Jesus Christ" ("Creed of the People of God", 14).

Although many suggestions have been made as to what the name Mary means, most of the best scholars seem to agree that Mary means "lady". However, no single meaning fully conveys the richness of the name.

28. "Hail, full of grace": literally the Greek text reads "Rejoice!", obviously referring to the unique joy over the news which the angel is about to communicate.

"Full of grace": by this unusual form of greeting the archangel reveals Mary's special dignity and honor. The Fathers and Doctors of the Church "taught that this singular, solemn and unheard-of-greeting showed that all the divine graces reposed in the Mother of God and that she was adorned with all the gifts of the Holy Spirit", which meant that she "was never subject to the curse", that is, was preserved from all sin. These words of the archangel in this text constitute one of the sources which reveal the dogma of Mary's Immaculate Conception (cf. Pius IX, "Ineffabilis Deus"; Paul VI, "Creed of the People of God").

"The Lord is with you!": these words are not simply a greeting ("the Lord be with you") but an affirmation ("the Lord is with you"), and they are closely connected with the Incarnation. St. Augustine comments by putting these words on the archangel's lips: "He is more with you than He is with me: He is in your heart, He takes shape within you, He fills your soul, He is in your womb" ("Sermo De Nativitate Domini", 4).

Some important Greek manuscripts and early translations add at the end of the verse: "Blessed are you among women!", meaning that God will exalt Mary over all women. She is more excellent than Sarah, Hannah, Deborah, Rachel, Judith, etc., for only she has the supreme honor of being chosen to be the Mother of God.

29-30. Our Lady is troubled by the presence of the archangel and by the confusion truly humble people experience when they receive praise.

30. The Annunciation is the moment when our Lady is given to know the vocation which God planned for her from eternity. When the archangel sets her mind at ease by saying, "Do not be afraid, Mary," he is helping her to overcome that initial fear which a person normally experiences when God gives him or her a special calling. The fact that Mary felt this fear does not imply the least trace of imperfection in her: hers is a perfectly natural reaction in the face of the supernatural. Imperfection would arise if one did not overcome this fear or rejected the advice of those in a position to help--as St. Gabriel helped Mary.

31-33. The archangel Gabriel tells the Blessed Virgin Mary that she is to be the Mother of God by reminding her of the words of Isaiah which announced that the Messiah would be born of a virgin, a prophecy which will find its fulfillment in Mary (cf. Matthew 1:22-23; Isaiah 7:14).

He reveals that the Child will be "great": His greatness comes from His being God, a greatness He does not lose when He takes on the lowliness of human nature. He also reveals that Jesus will be the king of the Davidic dynasty sent by God in keeping with His promise of salvation; that His Kingdom will last forever, for His humanity will remain forever joined to His divinity; that "He will be called Son of the Most High", that is that He really will be the Son of the Most High and will be publicly recognized as such, that is, the Child will be the Son of God.

The archangel's announcement evokes the ancient prophecies which foretold these prerogatives. Mary, who was well-versed in Sacred Scripture, clearly realized that she was to be the Mother of God.

34-38. Commenting on this passage John Paul II said: "`Virgo fidelis', the faithful Virgin. What does this faithfulness of Mary mean? What are the dimensions of this faithfulness? The first dimension is called search. Mary was faithful first of all when she began, lovingly, to seek the deep sense of God's plan in her and for the world. `Quomodo fiet?' How shall this be?, she asked the Angel of the Annunciation [...]."

"The second dimension of faithfulness is called reception, acceptance. The `quomodo fiet?' is changed, on Mary's lips, to a `fiat': Let it be done, I am ready, I accept. This is the crucial moment of faithfulness, the moment in which man perceives that he will never completely understand the `how': that there are in God's plan more areas of mystery than of clarity; that is, however he may try, he will never succeed in understanding it completely[...]."

"The third dimension of faithfulness is consistency to live in accordance with what one believes; to adapt one's own life to the object of one's adherence. To accept misunderstanding, persecutions, rather than a break between what one practises and what one believes: this is consistency[...]."

"But all faithfulness must pass the most exacting test, that of duration. Therefore, the fourth dimension of faithfulness is constancy. It is easy to be consistent for a day or two. It is difficult and important to be consistent for one's whole life. It is easy to be consistent in the hour of enthusiasm, it is difficult to be so in the hour of tribulation. And only a consistency that lasts throughout the whole life can be called faithfulness. Mary's `fiat' in the Annunciation finds its fullness in the silent `fiat' that she repeats at the foot of the Cross" ("Homily in Mexico City Cathedral", 26 January 1979).

34. Mary believed in the archangel's words absolutely; she did not doubt as Zechariah had done (cf. 1:18). Her question, "How can this be?", expresses her readiness to obey the will of God even though at first sight it implied a contradiction: on the one hand, she was convinced that God wished her to remain a virgin; on the other, here was God also announcing that she would become a mother. The archangel announces God's mysterious design, and what had seemed impossible, according to the laws of nature, is explained by a unique intervention on the part of God.

Mary's resolution to remain a virgin was certainly something very unusual, not in line with the practice of righteous people under the Old Covenant, for, as St. Augustine explains, "particularly attentive to the propagation and growth of the people of God, through whom the Prince and Savior of the world might be prophesied and be born, the saints were obliged to make use of the good of matrimony" ("De Bono Matrimonii", 9, 9). However, in the Old Testament, there were some who, in keeping with God's plan, did remain celibate--for example, Jeremiah, Elijah, Eliseus and John the Baptist. The Blessed Virgin, who received a very special inspiration of the Holy Spirit to practise virginity, is a first-fruit of the New Testament, which will establish the excellence of virginity over marriage while not taking from the holiness of the married state, which it raises to the level of a sacrament (cf. "Gaudium Et Spes", 48).

35. The "shadow" is a symbol of the presence of God. When Israel was journeying through the wilderness, the glory of God filled the Tabernacle and a cloud covered the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 40:34-36). And when God gave Moses the tablets of the Law, a cloud covered Mount Sinai (Exodus 24:15-16); and also, at the transfiguration of Jesus the voice of God the Father was heard coming out of a cloud (Luke 9:35).

At the moment of the Incarnation the power of God envelops our Lady--an expression of God's omnipotence. The Spirit of God--which, according to the account in Genesis (1:2), moved over the face of the waters, bringing things to life--now comes down on Mary. And the fruit of her womb will be the work of the Holy Spirit. The Virgin Mary, who herself was conceived without any stain of sin (cf. Pius IX, "Ineffabilis Deus") becomes, after the Incarnation, a new tabernacle of God. This is the mystery we recall every day when saying the Angelus.

38. Once she learns of God's plan, our Lady yields to God's will with prompt obedience, unreservedly. She realizes the disproportion between what she is going to become--the Mother of God--and what she is--a woman. However, this is what God wants to happen and for Him nothing is impossible; therefore no one should stand in His way. So Mary, combining humility and obedience, responds perfectly to God's call: "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done according to your word."

"At the enchantment of this virginal phrase, the Word became flesh" ([St] J. Escriva, "Holy Rosary", first joyful mystery). From the pure body of Mary, God shaped a new body, He created a soul out of nothing, and the Son of God united Himself with this body and soul: prior to this He was only God; now He is still God but also man. Mary is now the Mother of God. This truth is a dogma of faith, first defined by the Council of Ephesus (431). At this point she also begins to be the spiritual Mother of all mankind. What Christ says when He is dying--`Behold, your son..., behold, your mother" (John 19:26-27)--simply promulgates what came about silently at Nazareth. "With her generous `fiat' (Mary) became, through the working of the Spirit, the Mother of God, but also the Mother of the living, and, by receiving into her womb the one Mediator, she became the true Ark of the Covenant and true Temple of God" (Paul VI, "Marialis Cultus", 6).

The Annunciation shows us the Blessed Virgin as perfect model of "purity" (the RSV "I have no husband" is a euphemism); of "humility" ("Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord"); of "candor" and "simplicity" ("How can this be?"); of "obedience" and "lively faith" ("Let it be done to me according to your word"). "Following her example of obedience to God, we can learn to serve delicately without being slavish. In Mary, we don't find the slightest trace of the attitude of the foolish virgins, who obey, but thoughtlessly. Our Lady listens attentively to what God wants, ponders what she doesn't fully understand and asks about what she doesn't know. Then she gives herself completely to doing the divine will: `Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word'. Isn't that marvellous? The Blessed Virgin, our teacher in all we do, shows us here that obedience to God is not servile, does not bypass our conscience. We should be inwardly moved to discover the `freedom of the children of God' (cf. Romans 8:21)" ([St] J. Escriva, "Christ Is Passing By", 173).
****************
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,Co. Dublin, Ireland.

Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
- posted by LRS @ 12:46 AM   

 
Straight Answers: The Immaculate Conception
Fr. William P. Saunders, pastor of Our Lady of Hope Church in Potomac Falls, wrote this article as a columnist for the Arlingtoin Catholic Herald. He has written several articles which are excellent catechetical and explanatory guides...

This one is perfect reading for tomorrow. Share it with others.
- posted by LRS @ 11:56 PM   

 
Archbishop's letter disturbs St. Stanislaus Kostka board

But Tuesday night, after a much shorter second meeting, one side wasn't talking and the other was decidedly less upbeat.

The reason was a letter, written by Archbishop Raymond Burke just after last week's meeting, to the parishioners of St. Stanislaus in which he reminded the parish that their complaint against him to the Vatican had been rejected last month, and then laid out his vision for the handing over of their parish.

Archdiocese representatives would not comment Tuesday night, but St. Stanislaus board members said the particulars of the deal outlined in Burke's letter were different from those they had heard in the meeting last week, and that they had pointed that out at Tuesday's meeting.

Something about this story just doesn't sound right...It's inconceivable that Monsignor Vernon Gardin, and the lawyer for the Archdiocese, Bernard Huger, were not communicating Archbishop Burke's position or that they were unclear or did not speak to the Archbishop about the meeting. I'm not certain that this account is truly credible.

Article here.
- posted by LRS @ 11:47 PM   

 
Canons Regular of the New Jerusalem Web Site
Special Thanks to Marc P. who notified me that the CRNJ web site was up and running.

http://www.canonsregular.com/index.html
- posted by LRS @ 5:01 PM   

 
Chaldean Archbishop of Kirkuk Speaks about Positives
Yet Archbishop Louis Sako is frustrated about the lack of truthfulness and accurate reporting from Western journalists and news organizations who are "simply peddling propaganda and misinformation".

We can sympathize with his frustrations about the reporting. Those who are looking for accurate reporting on the Iraq situation are not going to find it on the nightly network news or on many of the cable news channels.

Archbishop Sako's frustration is increasingly shared by other Iraqis, who can hardly recognize their country from the foreign media coverage. Westerners, too, both military and civilians, upon their return are often finding to their surprise and concern they had lived and worked in a different country to that their loved ones, friends and neighbors back home saw every night on the news.

Wall Street Journal Opinion Page
- posted by LRS @ 7:19 AM   

 
Catholic laity must follow authoritative church teachings,

"A clear and authoritative reaffirmation of these fundamental principles of the lay apostolate will help to overcome the serious pastoral problems created by a growing failure to understand the church's binding obligation to remind the faithful of their duty in conscience to act in accordance with her authoritative teaching," [the Holy Father] said.

He said there was an "urgent need for a comprehensive catechesis" on the lay apostolate.

The pope told the bishops that promoting a clear understanding of doctrinal and moral teachings was an essential part of their ministry as teachers and pastors.

How many people, how many Catholics, will listen to the Holy Father?
How many Catholics will be made aware of these recent statements of the Roman Pontiff?

There is a great need for catechesis and for catechists - those Catholics who are able should assist the bishops and priests in the task of catechizing others. Those who are unable to assist by actively teaching can, nonetheless, assist by offering their prayers and sacrifices. Here I would suggest the Marian Catechist Apostolate as a means to acquire the necesary doctrinal and spiritual formation needed to assist in the work of catechesis. Please check it out if you feel called to help in this area.

CNS article is here.


- posted by LRS @ 6:26 AM   

 
Vatican publishes "Martyrologium Romanum"

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Three years after finishing the massive project of updating and correcting the book-length calendar of Catholic saints, the Vatican has published an even bigger, more accurate version.

The "Martyrologium Romanum" ("Roman Martyrology") was presented to the public Dec. 4 during a conference on holiness and the complicated task of separating fact from legend when dealing with martyrs and saints who lived and died thousands of years ago and whose lives gave rise to fervent devotion and, perhaps, fanciful stories.

The martyrology -- with its 6,658 individual names and an additional 6,881 unnamed martyred "companions" -- is organized as a calendar; it lists the saints and blesseds whose feast is celebrated each day and provides a small biography of each.

The 844-page martyrology is considered a liturgical book, not a catalogue or history, because it forms the basis for determining which saint is remembered at Mass each day.

The book is published in Latin while Italian, French, and German translations are under way. No mention of an English edition.

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 6:24 AM   

 
It's Official: Diocese of Spokane files for bankruptcy

By becoming only the third diocese nationally to seek shelter in bankruptcy court, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Spokane is hoping the court will help provide a clearer picture of its financial liability in mounting sex-abuse lawsuits and goad its reluctant insurers into paying some of the claims.

The diocese filed for Chapter 11 protection yesterday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Spokane, citing total liabilities of about $81 million, with about $76 million of that in sex-abuse claims, according to financial statements filed as part of the bankruptcy proceedings. It has only about $11 million in assets, according to the statements.

Article here.
- posted by LRS @ 6:22 AM   

 
Gospel, Dec 7, Memorial: St. Ambrose, Bishop & Doctor of the Church
From: Matthew 18:12-14

The Lost Sheep
----------------------
[12] "What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go in search of the one that went astray? [13] And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. [14] So it is not the will of My Father who is in Heaven that one of these little ones should perish."
*********************
Commentary:

12-14. This parable clearly shows our Lord's loving concern for sinners. It expresses in human terms the joy God feels when a wayward child comes back to Him.

Seeing so many souls living away from God, Pope John Paul II comments: "Unfortunately we witness the moral pollution which is devastating humanity, disregarding especially those very little ones about whom Jesus speaks."

"What must we do? We must imitate the Good Shepherd and give ourselves without rest for the salvation of souls. Without forgetting material charity and social justice, we must be convinced that the most sublime charity is spiritual charity, that is, the commitment for the salvation of souls. And souls are saved with prayer and sacrifice. This is the mission of the Church!" ("Homily to the Poor Clares of Albano," 14 August 1979).

As the RSV points out, "other ancient authorities add verse 11, "For the Son of Man came to save the lost"--apparently taken from Luke 19:10.
****************
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland.

Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
- posted by LRS @ 12:25 AM   

 
Text of the Holy Father's Address to Bishops of Region V
First some commentary:

Pope John Paul has exhorted the bishops of the US to reacquaint themselves with their role as teachers. He referred to the "serious pastoral problems created by a growing failure to understand the Church's binding obligation to remind the faithful of their duty in conscience to act in accordance with (the Church's) authoritative teaching."

The Pope said, "There is urgent need for a comprehensive catechesis on the lay apostolate which will necessarily highlight the importance of a properly formed conscience."

Comments courtesy Lifesite.

The text of the Holy Father's address is here.
- posted by LRS @ 9:33 PM   

 
More success stories from Non-embryonic stem cells

Non-Embryonic Stem Cell Testimonial from Russia: Spinal Cord Injuries Reversed

The Russian news agency Novosti reported Monday that Russian scientists have succeeded in treating six individuals bed-ridden with spinal cord damage using non-embryonic stem cells derived from the patient's own nasal tissues. All six are learning to walk again.

Link.
- posted by LRS @ 9:29 PM   

 
A Simple Test
After reading an Off the Record post by Diogenes here, and recalling that St. Bernadette's was a much discussed parish some time ago on a Catholic Web Site - and it hosted a comments page which was soon removed after a number of posts were made asking them to read the Catechism, etc..., I decided to have a little quiz:

What do these St. Louis parishes share?
St. Cronan, Holy Family, Holy Innocents, St. Margaret of Scotland, and St. Pius V...

Answer? Not today...



- posted by LRS @ 5:45 PM   

 
(RCF) Roman Catholic Faithful Press Release
*** UPDATED ***

To view the Press Release, you will need to visit the RCF site.

This press release is not for the 'faint of heart'. Perhaps the USCCB will appoint a special "Task Force" to study the letter and get back to RCF, say, in a few years?

The Press Release has been removed as some have indicated that it is over the top...which it is....
- posted by LRS @ 1:15 PM   

 
Incorrect Headline in Prior Post...
I have been informed that an article previously posted here has an incorrect headline (as taken from the source).

The information from WHYY FM News states the following:

Rachel Buchman works as a freelance reporter for WHYY news, and helps produce WHYY's Radio TImes talk show from time to time. In Wilmington, Delaware she reports and anchors for WILM newsradio, where she often files for CBS. She started as a volunteer at WHYY ... and at WPFW, a Pacifica station in Washington, DC. Rachel graduated cum laude from Barnard College of Columbia University in 1999 with honors in Anthropology.

While WHYY is an NPR affiliate, and Rachel Buchman is/was a freelance reporter for the station, the headline is, indeed, misleading or incorrect. Perhaps the proper headline should have indicated that so as not to insinuate a questionable or remote association link with NPR?

Thanks to SMC for bring that to my attention.
- posted by LRS @ 12:50 PM   

 
St. Nicholas from CatholicCulture...

St. Nicholas was born in Lycia, Asia Minor, and died as Bishop of Myra in 352. He performed many miracles and exercised a special power over flames. He practiced both the spiritual and temporal works of mercy, and fasted twice a week. When he heard that a father who had fallen into poverty was about to expose his three daughters to a life of sin, Nicholas took a bag of gold and secretly flung it through the window into the room of the sleeping father. In this way, the three girls were dowered and saved from mortal sin and hell.

We have celebrated the feast of St. Nicholas, in part, by doing the "shoe" thing for as long as I can remember.

Shoes can be left outside the bedroom door, or stockings are hung by the fire on December 5th evening. St. Nicholas (instead of Santa Claus) comes by to brings cookies or gifts in the shoes or stockings.

Article.
- posted by LRS @ 7:07 AM   

 
Chicago Church Restoration by the Institute of Christ the King

Building saved from the wrecking ball will be used by a Latin mass Roman Catholic order

St. Gelasius Church is a neo-Renaissance shell empty of pews and parishioners, so dilapidated it was once slated for destruction.

Now it is alive with activity as masons repair the stone facing and priests in cassocks supervise painters inside the rectory.

After a community battle to save the 81-year-old Roman Catholic church, a Latin mass order has moved in, hoping to bring a renaissance of worship and art to a changing South Side neighborhood through an ancient liturgy.

The Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, headquartered in Italy, plans to celebrate the Tridentine mass, a historic form of liturgy spoken in Latin, in a sanctuary restored to an Italianate glory.

Full story here...
- posted by LRS @ 6:50 AM   

 
Church reaches out to Hispanics
But the church mentioned in the article is not Catholic...

Forty-four Hispanics gathered for a turkey dinner and fellowship the day after Thanksgiving at First Baptist Church of O'Fallon.

The event marked the first fruit of the labor of Patrick Regalado, who was hired as an associate pastor in October to start an Hispanic Ministry Center for the Greater St. Louis Area.

And most [of his Latino brothers], like Regalado, grew up in Roman Catholic homes. Some 90 percent of Latin America is Roman Catholic, he said.

Regalado was "born again" at age 18 after his father survived what a doctor had diagnosed as terminal cancer.

The catechetical crisis is evidently not limited to the U.S.

Article.
- posted by LRS @ 6:27 AM   

 
St. Stanislaus weighs setting up trust

Many parishioners at St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Church remain deeply fearful about the future of their historic Polish parish, despite recent news of a possible compromise with the Archdiocese of St. Louis.

Roger Krasnicki, a spokesman for the board, warned the 300 gathered at the Polish Heritage Center: "We will have to give up something in order to reach a solution with the archdiocese."

I had intended to comment but decided instead to pray for this man and the others responsible for deepening the rift and suspicion of the Archdiocese in this situation.

Article.
- posted by LRS @ 6:08 AM   

 
Gospel for Monday, 2nd Week of Advent
From: Luke 5:17-26

The Cure of the Paralytic in Capernaum
--------------------------------------
[17] On one of those days, as He (Jesus) was teaching, there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was with Him to heal. [18] And behold, men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they sought to bring him in and lay him before Jesus; [19] but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. [20] And when He saw their faith He said, "Man, your sins are forgiven you." [21] And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, "Who is this that speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God only?" [22] When Jesus perceived their questionings, He answered them, "Why do you question in your hearts? [23] Which is easier, to say, `Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, `Rise and walk'? [24] But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"--He said to the man who was paralyzed--"I say to you, rise, take up your bed and go home." [25] And immediately he rose before them, and took up that on which he lay, and went home, glorifying God. [26] And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, "We have seen strange things today."
**************
Commentary:

17. A little earlier, beside the lake, Jesus addressed His teaching to crowds (verses 1ff). Here His audience includes some of the most educated Jews. Christ desired not only to teach but also to cure everyone--spiritually and, sometimes, physically, as He will soon do in the case of the paralytic. The evangelist's observation at the end of this verse reminds us that our Lord is ever-ready to use His omnipotence for our good: "I know the plans I have for you, plans for welfare and not for evil', God declared through the prophet Jeremiah (29:11). The liturgy applies these words to Jesus, for in Him we are clearly shown that God does love us in this way. He did not come to condemn us, to accuse us of meanness and smallness. He came to save us, pardon us, excuse us, bring us peace and joy." ([St] J. Escriva, "Christ Is Passing By", 165). On this occasion also Jesus wanted to benefit His listeners, even though some of them would not receive this divine gift because they were not well-disposed.

19-20. Our Lord is touched when He sees these friends of the paralytic putting their faith into practice: they had gone up onto the roof, taken off some of the tiles and lowered the bed down in front of Jesus. Friendship and faith combine in obtaining a miraculous cure. The paralytic himself had a like faith: he let himself be carried around, brought up onto the roof and so forth. Seeing such solid faith Jesus gives them even more than they expect: He cures the man's body and, what is much more, cures his soul. Perhaps He does this, as St. Bede suggests (cf. "In Lucae Evangelium Expositio, in loc."), to show two things: that the illness was a form of punishment for his sins and therefore the paralytic could only get up once these sins had been forgiven; and that others' faith and prayer can move God to work miracles.

In some way, the paralytic symbolizes everyone whose sins prevent him from reaching God. For example, St. Ambrose says: "How great is the Lord who on account of the merits of some pardon others, and while praising the former absolves the latter! ...] Therefore, let you, who judge, learn to pardon; you, who are ill, learn to beg for forgiveness. And if the gravity of your sins causes you to doubt the possibility of being forgiven, have recourse to intercessors, have recourse to the Church, who will pray for you, and the Lord will grant you, out of love for her, what He might have refused you" (St. Ambrose, "Expositio Evangelii Sec. Lucam, in loc.").

Apostolic work should be motivated by desire to help people find Jesus Christ. Among other things it calls for daring--as we see in the friends of the paralytic; and it also needs the intercession of the saints, whose help we seek because we feel God will pay more attention to them than to us sinners.

24. Our Lord is going to perform a public miracle to prove that He is endowed with invisible, spiritual power. Christ, the only Son of the Father, has power to forgive sins because He is God, and He uses this power on our behalf as our Mediator and Redeemer (Luke 22:20; John 20:17-18, 28: 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Colossians 2:13-14; Hebrews 9:14; 1 John 1:9; Isaiah 53:4-5). Jesus used this power personally when He was on earth and after ascending into Heaven He still uses it, through the Apostles and their successors.

A sinner is like a paralytic in God's presence. The Lord is going to free him of his paralysis, forgiving him his sins and enabling him to walk by giving him grace once more. In the sacrament of Penance, if Jesus Christ, "sees us cold, unwilling, rigid perhaps with the stiffness of a dying interior life, His tears will be our life: `I say to you, My friend, arise and walk,' (cf. John 11:43; Luke 5:24), leave that narrow life which is no life at all" ([St] J. Escriva, "Christ Is Passing By," 193).
***************
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland.
eprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and ScepterPublishers, the U.S. publisher.
- posted by LRS @ 5:42 AM   

 
Leon Suprenant Responds to the Post Dispatch

Kevin Horrigan's Nov. 28 column, "Keeping the faith - at great personal cost," leaves the impression that the Rev. Thomas Doyle's strained relationship with church authorities is based primarily on his 1985 report concerning clerical sex abuse and the growing homosexual subculture in the church.

It is true that Doyle's report was a source of alienation. It was tragic that his findings weren't taken seriously until the sex abuse scandal came to light in 2002. Even if his facts, statistics, and inferences weren't accurate in every instance, in retrospect there was too much evidence there to ignore.

Sadly, though, as the scandal has played out, Doyle has assumed the role of casualty, not hero.

"Scandal" has many shades of meaning. In a strict, religious sense, scandal is an attitude or behavior that leads another to sin. I don't presume to judge the state of Doyle's soul, but it's clear from his public statements and associations that he has been scandalized by the sins of some members of the clergy. He has not, in fact, "kept the faith."

Further, the new, "democratic" church he envisions not only calls for a marked departure from the biblical model that the Catholic Church has followed for two millennia, but also represents a populist power grab in keeping with the agendas of radically dissident organizations like Call to Action and Voice of the Faithful.

Doyle's sincere concern for victims of sexual abuse is praiseworthy. However, it's his extreme, aberrant views, not his staunch opposition to sexual abuse, that trouble church authorities and many practicing Catholics alike.

Leon Suprenant
President, Catholics
United for the Faith
Steubenville, Ohio

Emphasis above added...
Source.
- posted by LRS @ 1:29 PM   

 
Gospel, Second Sunday of Advent
From: Matthew 3:1-12

The Preaching of John the Baptist
---------------------------------
[1] ln those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, [2] "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." [3] For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight."

[4] Now John wore a garment of camel's hair, and a leather girdle around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. [5] Then went out to him Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan, [6] and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

[7] But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? [8] Bear fruit that befits repentance, [9] and do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father' ; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.' [10] Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

[11] I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. [12] His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."
**************
Commentary:
1. The _expression "in those days" does not specify the exact time of the event in question. It is sometimes used merely as an opening phrase to mark the beginning of a new episode. In this case, in fact, it can be calculated that some twenty-five years have elapsed since the Holy Family's return from Egypt. This is only an estimate, because the exact date of their return has not been established.

On the date of the start of John the Baptist's preaching, see Luke 3:1-3.

The word "wilderness" has a wider meaning here than we give it today. It does not refer to a sandy or rocky desert, but rather to arid regions, low in vegetation.

2. "Repent": Christ's redeeming work ushers in a new era in the Kingdom of God. This brings such advance in salvation history, that what is required from now on is a radical change in man's behavior towards God. The coming of the Kingdom means that God has intervened in a special way to save mankind, but it also implies that we must be open to God's grace and reform our ways. Christ's life on earth compels people to take a stand--either for God or against him ("He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters": Lk 11:23).

Given man's sinful state after original sin, the newly-arrived Kingdom requires that all men repent of their past life. To put it another way, they have to stop going away from God and instead try to get closer to him. Since sin hinders this conversion, it is impossible to turn back to God without performing acts of penance. Conversion is not simply a question of making a good resolution to mend our ways; we have to fulfill that resolution, even if we find it difficult.

Penance grows only where there is humility--and everyone should admit sincerely that he is a sinner (cf. 1 Jn 1 :8-10). Obedience also goes hand in hand with penance; everyone ought to obey God and keep his commandments (cf. 1 Jn 2:3-6).

The literal translation of the Greek is "Repent". But precisely because the very essence o f conversion consists in doing penance, as we have said, the
New Vulgate has "paenitentiam agite" ("do penance"). This translation
conveys the deeper meaning of the text.

Man's whole life, in fact, consists in constantly correcting his behavior, and therefore implies a continual doing of penance. This turning back to God was preached continually by the prophets in the Old Testament. Now, however, with the coming of Christ, this penance and turning to God are absolutely essential. That Christ took on our sins and suffered for us does not excuse us from making a true conversion; on the contrary, it demands it of us (cf. Col 1:24).

"Kingdom of heaven": this expression is identical to "Kingdom of God". The former is the one most used by St Matthew, and is more in line with the Jewish turn of phrase. Out of reverence, the Jews avoided pronouncing the name of God and substituted other words for it, as in this case. "Kingdom of God" or "Kingdom of heaven" was a concept used already in the Old Testament and in religious circles at the time of Christ. But it occurs particularly frequently in Jesus' preaching.

The phrase "Kingdom of God" can refer in a general way to God's dominion over creatures; but normally, as in this text, it refers to God's sovereign and merciful involvement in the life of his people. Man's rebellion and sin broke the order originally established in creation. To re-establish it, God's intervention was needed again; this consisted in the redeeming work of Christ, Messiah and Son of God. It was preceded by a series of preliminary stages in salvation history throughout the Old Testament.

Consequently, the Kingdom of God, announced as imminent by John the Baptist, is brought into being by Jesus. However, this is an entirely spiritual one and does not have the nationalistic dimension expected by Jesus' contemporaries. He comes to save his people and all mankind from the slavery of sin, from death and from the devil, thereby opening up the way of salvation.

In the period between the first and second comings of Christ, this Kingdom of God (or Kingdom of heaven) is, in fact, the Church. The Church makes Christ (and therefore also God) present among all peoples and calls them to eternal salvation. The Kingdom of God will be brought to completion only at the end of this world, that is, when our Lord comes to judge the living and the dead at the end of time. Then God will reign over the blessed in a perfect way.

In the passage we are considering, John the Baptist, the last of the Old Testament prophets, preaches the imminence of the Kingdom of God, ushered in by the coming of the Messiah.

3. By quoting Isaiah 40:3, St Matthew makes it clear that St John the Baptist has a mission as a prophet. This mission has two purposes--first, to prepare the people to receive the Kingdom of God; second, to testify before the people that Jesus is the Messiah who is bringing that Kingdom.

4. The Gospel gives a brief outline of the extremely austere life of St John the Baptist. His style of life is in line with that of certain Old Testament prophets and is particularly reminiscent of Elijah (cf. 2 Kings 1:8; 2:8-13ff.). The kind of food and dress described are of the most rudimentary for the region in question. The locust was a kind of grasshopper; the wild honey probably refers to substances excreted by certain local shrubs rather than to bees' honey.

In view of the imminent coming of the Messiah, John underlines, with his example, the attitude of penance preceding great religious festivals (similarly, in its Advent liturgy the Church puts John before us as a model and invites us to practise mortification and penance). In this way, the point made in the previous verse (concerning John's view of his mission as precursor of Christ) is fulfilled. A Christian's entire life is a preparation for his meeting with Christ. Consequently, mortification and penance play a significant part in his life.

6. John's baptism did not have the power to cleanse the soul from sin as Christian Baptism does. The latter is a sacrament, a sign, which produces the grace it signifies. Concerning the value of John's baptism, see the note on Mt 3:11.

7. St John reproaches the Pharisees and Sadducees for their attitude towards him. His preaching and baptism are not simply one more purification rite. Rather, they demand a true interior conversion of the soul, as a necessary predisposition to reach the grace of faith in Jesus. In the light of this explanation, we can understand why the prophetic words of St John the Baptist were so hard-hitting; as it turned out, most of these people did not accept Jesus as the Messiah.

"Pharisees": these constituted the most important religious group in Jesus' time. They kept the Law of Moses rigorously and also the oral traditions which had built up around it. They gave as much importance to these latter, indeed, as to the Law itself. They strongly opposed the influence of Greek paganism and totally rejected the homage paid to the Roman emperor. Among them there were men of great spiritual eminence and sincere piety; but there were many others who exaggerated pharisaical religiosity to the extreme of fanaticism, pride and hypocrisy. It was this perversion of the true Israelite religion that John the Baptist (and later our Lord) castigated.

"Sadducees": the Sadducees constituted a smaller religious group than the Pharisees, but they included many influential people, most of them from the main priestly families. They accepted the written Law, but, unlike the Pharisees, they rejected oral tradition. They also rejected certain important truths, such as the resurrection of the dead. On the political front, they went along easily with the terms dictated by the Romans, and they acquiesced in the introduction of pagan customs into the country .Their opposition to Christ was even more pronounced than that of the Pharisees.

9-10. St John the Baptist's listeners believe their salvation is assured because they are descendants of Abraham according to the flesh. But St John " warns them that to pass God's judgment it is not enough to belong to the chosen people; they must also yield the good fruit of a holy life. If they fail to do this, they will be thrown into the fire, that is, into hell, the eternal punishment, because they did not do penance for their sins. See the note on Mt 25:46.

11. St John the Baptist did not limit himself to preaching penance and repentance; he encouraged people to receive his baptism. This baptism was a way of interiorly preparing them and helping them to realize that the coming of Christ was imminent. By his words of encouragement and by their humblerecognition of their sins, they were prepared to receive Christ's grace through Baptism with fire and the Holy Spirit. To put it another way, John's baptism did not produce justification, whereas Christian Baptism is the sacrament of initiation which forgives sin and bestows sanctifying grace.

The effectiveness of the sacrament of Christian Baptism is expressed in Catholic teaching when it says that the sacrament gives grace "ex opere operato". This means that grace is given by virtue of Christ who acts through the sacrament, and not by virtue of the merits of either the minister or the recipient of the sacrament. "When Peter baptizes, it is Christ who baptizes [...]. When Judas baptizes, it is Christ who baptizes" (St Augustine, "ln loann. Evang.", 6).

The word "fire" points in a metaphorical way to the effectiveness of the Holy Spirit's action in totally wiping out sins. It also shows the life-giving power of grace in the person baptized.

Foremost among the personal qualities of St John the Baptist is his remarkable humility; he resolutely rejects the temptation of accepting the dignity of Messiah which the crowds apparently wanted to bestow on him. Carrying the sandals of one's master was a job for the lowest of servants.

12. Verses 10 and 12 refer to judgment by the Messiah. This judgment has two parts: the first occurs throughout each man's life and ends in the Particular Judgment immediately after death; the second occurs at the time of the Last Judgment. Christ is the judge in both instances. Let us remember the words of St Peter in Acts 10:42: "And he commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that he [Jesus] is the one ordained by God to be judge of the living and the dead." The judgment will give to each person the reward or punishment merited by his good or bad actions.

It is w orth noting that the word "chaff' does not refer only to bad deeds; it refers also to useless ones, for example, lives lacking in service to God and men. God will judge us, therefore, for our omissions and our lost opportunities.

"Don't let your life be barren. Be useful. Make yourself felt. Shine forth with the torch of your faith and your love. With your apostolic life, wipe out the trail of filth and slime left by the unclean sowers of hatred. And set aflame all the ways of the earth with the fire of Christ that you bear in your heart" ([St] J. Escriva, "The Way", 1).
**************
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland.

Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
- posted by LRS @ 12:10 AM   

 
Diocesan Bankruptcies: A Feast for Lawyers

Bankruptcy filings by various Catholic dioceses are now the rage. The Archdiocese of Portland (Oregon), faced with $155 million in tort claims — after paying some $53 million to settle 100 cases — filed for court protection under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code on July 6.

It takes a great deal of restraint to keep from verbally blasting and condemning the criminals who permitted these atrocities to happen to those entrusted to their care and to the Church. It takes a great deal more strength to pray for their immortal souls.

Article here on Catholic Exchange.
- posted by LRS @ 10:43 PM   

 
The Truth About Abstinence-Only Education

Headlines this week blared alarmist reactions to the increased federal funding of abstinence education in our nation’s schools upon release of a congressional study issued by Rep. Henry Waxman (D-California). According to Rep. Waxman’s wildly misrepresented facts and out-of-context suggestions, he and his colleagues are insisting that abstinence education is dangerous, misleading and riddled with inaccuracies.
...
“The Waxman report is nothing but a hit piece, an extremely misleading attempt to discredit abstinence programs because they pose a huge threat to the ‘safe sex’ establishment that promotes pre-marital sex, homosexuality and gender confusion,” said Robert Knight, director of CWA’s Culture & Family Institute.

Article.
- posted by LRS @ 10:39 PM   

 
Waxman Report Is Riddled with Errors and Inaccuracies

A new report from Representative Henry Waxman (D-CA) and the minority staff of the House Committee on Government Reform, The Content of Federally Funded Abstinence-Only Education Programs, is yet another attempt by aggressive proponents of comprehensive sex education to discredit and undermine the message of authentic abstinence education.

Frankly, I don't think one should expect any less from an out-of-touch-with-reality Kongrsscritter from the People's Republik of Kalifornia. You want the truth? They've never heard of it...

In 2002 alone, the government spent $12 promoting contraception and condom use for every $1 it spent to encourage teens to abstain from sexual activity.

Source.


- posted by LRS @ 10:33 PM   

 
Gospel for Saturday, 1st Week of Advent
From: Matthew 9:35-10:1, 5a, 6-8

The Need for Good Shepherds
---------------------------
[35] And Jesus went about all the cities and villages teaching in their synagogues and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and every infirmity. [36] When He saw the crowds, He had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. [37] Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; [38] pray therefore the Lord of harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."

The Calling and First Mission of the Apostles
---------------------------------------------
[1] And He called to Him His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every infirmity.

[5a] These twelve Jesus sent out charging them, [6] "But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. [7] And preach as you go, saying, `The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.' [8] Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without pay, give without pay."
************
Commentary:
35. The Second Vatican Council uses this passage when teaching about the message of Christian charity which the Church should always be spreading: "Christian charity is extended to all without distinction of race, social condition or religion, and seeks neither gain nor gratitude. Just as God loves us with a gratuitous love, so too the faithful, in their charity, should be concerned for mankind, loving it with that same love with which God sought man. As Christ went about all the towns and villages healing every sickness and infirmity, as a sign that the Kingdom of God had come, so the Church, through its children, joins itself with men of every condition, but especially with the poor and afflicted, and willingly spends herself for them" ("Ad Gentes", 12).

36. "He had compassion for them": the Greek verb is very expressive; it means "He was deeply moved". Jesus was moved when He saw the people, because their pastors, instead of guiding them and tending them, led them astray, behaving more like wolves than genuine shepherds of their flock. Jesus sees the prophecy of Ezekiel 34 as now being fulfilled; in that passage God, through the prophet, upbraids the false shepherds of Israel and promises to send them the Messiah to be their new leader.

"If we were consistent with our faith when we looked around us and contemplated the world and its history, we would be unable to avoid feeling in our own hearts the same sentiments that filled the heart of our Lord" ([St] J. Escriva, "Christ Is Passing By", 133). Reflection on the spiritual needs of the world should lead us to be tirelessly apostolic.

37-38. After contemplating the crowds neglected by their shepherds, Jesus uses the image of the harvest to show us that that same crowd is ready to receive the effects of Redemption: "I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see now the fields are already white for harvest" (John 4:35). The field of the Jewish people cultivated by the prophets--most recently by John the Baptist--is full of ripe wheat. In farmwork, the harvest is lost if the farmer does not reap at the right time; down the centuries the Church feels a similar need to be out harvesting because there is a big harvest ready to be won.

However, as in the time of Jesus, there is a shortage of laborers. Our Lord tells us how to deal with this: we should pray to God, the Lord of harvest, to send the necessary laborers. If a Christian prays hard, it is difficult to imagine his not feeling urged to play his part in this apostolate. In obeying this commandment to pray for laborers, we should pray especially for there to be no lack of shepherds, who will be able to equip others with the necessary means of sanctification needed to back up the apostolate.

In this connection Paul VI reminds us: "the responsibility for spreading the Gospel that saves belongs to everyone--to all who have received it! The missionary duty concerns the whole body of the Church; in different ways and to different degrees, it is true, but we must all of us be united in carrying out this duty. Now let the conscience of every believer ask himself: Have I carried out my missionary duty? Prayer for the Missions is the first way of fulfilling this duty" ("Angelus Address", 23 October 1977).

1-4. Jesus calls His twelve Apostles after recommending to them to pray to the Lord to send laborers into His harvest (cf. Matthew 9:38). Christians' apostolic action should always, then, be preceded and accompanied by a life of constant prayer: apostolate is a divine affair, not a merely human one. Our Lord starts His Church by calling twelve men to be, as it were, twelve patriarchs of the new people of God, the Church. This new people is established not by physical but by spiritual generation. The names of those Apostles are specifically mentioned here. They were not scholarly, powerful or important people: they were average, ordinary people who responded faithfully to the grace of their calling--all of them, that is, except Judas Iscariot. Even before His death and resurrection Jesus confers on them the power to cast out unclean spirits and cure illnesses--as an earnest of and as training for the saving mission which He will entrust to them.

The Church reveres these first Christians in a very special way and is proud to carry on their supernatural mission, and to be faithful to the witness they bore to the teaching of Christ. The true Church is absent unless there is uninterrupted apostolic succession and identification with the spirit which the Apostles made their own.

"Apostle": this word means "sent"; Jesus sent them out to preach His Kingdom and pass on His teaching.

The Second Vatican Council, in line with Vatican I, "confesses" and "declares" that the Church has a hierarchical structure: "The Lord Jesus, having prayed at length to the Father, called to Himself those whom He willed and appointed twelve to be with Him, whom He might send to preach the Kingdom of God (cf. Mark 3:13-19: Matthew 10:1-10). These Apostles (cf. Luke 6:13) He constituted in the form of a college or permanent assembly, at the head of which He placed Peter, chosen from among them (cf. John 21:15-17). He sent them first of all to the children of Israel and then to all peoples (cf. Romans 1:16), so that, sharing in His power, they might make all peoples His disciples and sanctify and govern them (cf. Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:45-48; John 20:21-23) and thus spread the Church and, administering it under the guidance of the Lord, shepherd it all days until the end of the world (cf. Matthew 28:28)" ("Lumen Gentium", 19).

1. In this chapter St. Matthew describes how Jesus, with a view to the spreading of the Kingdom of God which He inaugurates, decides to establish a Church, which He does by giving special powers and training to these twelve men who are its seed.

5-6. In His plan of salvation God gave certain promises (to Abraham and the Patriarchs), a Covenant and a Law (the Law of Moses), and sent the prophets. The Messiah would be born into this chosen people, which explains why the Messiah and the Kingdom of God were to be preached to the house of Israel first before being preached to the Gentiles. Therefore, in their early apprenticeship, Jesus restricts the Apostles' area of activity to the Jews, without this taking from the world-wide scope of the Church's mission. As we will see, much later on He charges them to "go and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19; "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to the whole creation" (Mark 16:16). The Apostles also, in the early days of the spread of the Church, usually sought out the Jewish community in any new city they entered, and preached first to them (cf. Acts 13:46).

7-8. Previously, the prophets, when speaking of the messianic times, had used imagery suited to the people's spiritual immaturity. Now, Jesus, in sending His Apostles to proclaim that the promised Kingdom of God is imminent, lays stress on its spiritual dimension. The power mentioned in verse 8 are the very sign of the Kingdom of God or the reign of the Messiah proclaimed by the prophets. At first (Chapters 8 and 9) it is Jesus who exercises these messianic powers; now He gives them to His disciples as proof that His mission is divine (Isaiah 35:5-6; 40:9; 52:7; 61:1).
********************
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland.

Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
- posted by LRS @ 12:31 AM   

 
Some Encouraging News...from Denver
...Especially considering the number of retailers and others who are removing the word "Christmas" from their promotional or advertising campaigns.

"Merry Christmas" to stay on city hall

"I am not 'Scrooge'," mayor says

Heading off a holiday controversy, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper said today the "Merry Christmas" sign will stay on the City and County Building.

And you can vote in a survey there:

What should the city of Denver do about the "Merry Christmas" sign on the City and County Building?

Total Votes = 475

'Tis the season to be jolly, so leave it up (412) 87%

Use Happy Holidays instead (50) 11%

Bah, humbug! Remove it altogether (13) 3%

Denver Post article here....and don't forget to vote!


- posted by LRS @ 10:22 PM   

 
NPR Reporter Says Christians Should 'Burn'

A National Public Radio (NPR) reporter has resigned after a hateful voice mail message she left for a conservative group was made public.

Rachel Buchman worked for WHYY in Philadelphia, an NPR affiliate, when she called the offices of the Web site laptoplobbyist.com to express her outrage over an e-mail the group sent to her opposing special rights for homosexuals.

"You're evil, horrible people. You're awful people," she said, identifying herself only as "Rachel." "You represent horrible ideas. God hates you and He wants to kill your children. You should all burn."

I am reminded, every time I hear things like this, of Fr. John Hardon's exhortation that we must be witnesses to the truth - and that being a witness means that one must be a martyr. We are reminded that paganism is a culture of untruth and today's paganism, which is different because it has spawned in a once Christian culture, is composed of a culture of death in a society permeated with lies, errors, and untruth. "Truth" in this context could be defines as conformity of the mind with reality.

How are Christians to respond - especially if one is to follow Christ who is Life and Truth? We should remind ourselves that, if we are to follow our Lord, we must be willing to take up our crosses and be ready to suffer with Him and for Him. That is, we are to be, in a word, martyrs - voices of truth, witnesses ready to testify to the Truth and to present evidence of Truth which is Jesus.

Pray for people like Rachel who eyes have been blinded by the culture of death and lies. Offer reparations for the hate and sinfulness of those enslaved by sin.

The story article is here.




- posted by LRS @ 9:55 PM   

 
Feast of the Immaculate Conception - Dec.8

The Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a holy day of obligation, will be observed Wednesday, Dec. 8.

It is one of the oldest Marian feasts, dating back to the seventh century. In 1846, Mary was proclaimed patroness of the United States under this title. By her faith, obedience and holiness, she teaches us what it means to be a bearer of Christ to the world.

This Dec. 8 the Church will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception by the papal bull, "Ineffabilis Deus," of Blessed Pius IX issued Dec. 8, 1954.

Archbishop Raymond L. Burke has invited all priests in the archdiocese to join him at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary from 1 to 3:30 p.m. for an afternoon of study and celebration of the doctrine.

The schedule of Masses for the holy day and preceding Tuesday, Dec. 7, vigil at the old and new cathedrals is as follows:

BASILICA OF ST. LOUIS (Old Cathedral), Memorial Drive and Walnut Street, Downtown: 5:10 p.m. Dec. 7; 7 and 11:15 a.m., and 12:10 and 5:10 p.m. Dec. 8.

CATHEDRAL BASILICA OF ST. LOUIS, Lindell Boulevard and Newstead Avenue, Central West End: 7 and 8 a.m., and 12:05 and 5:30 p.m. Dec. 8.

The Mass schedule at several other churches in the archdiocese is as follows:

ALL SAINTS, 7 McMenamy Drive, St. Peters: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 7; 6:30 and 9 a.m., and 7 p.m. Dec. 8.

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, 2300 Church Road, Arnold: 7 p.m. Dec. 7; 6 and 8 a.m., and 5:30 and 7 p.m. Dec. 8.

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, 5912 Highway 94-South, Augusta: 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 8.

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, 2900 Marshall, Maplewood: 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Dec. 8, with Archbishop Burke to celebrate 6 p.m. Mass, followed by a chili supper in honor of the parish’s 100th anniversary.

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, 110 Maryknoll Road, Old Monroe: 6 and 8 a.m., and 8 p.m. Dec. 8.

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, 1020 W. Main, Park Hills: 7:30 p.m. at St. John Bismark Mission Dec. 7; 8 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8.

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, 481 Pine St., St. Mary: 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 8.

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, 100 N. Washington Ave., Union: 7 p.m. Dec. 7; 7 a.m., noon and 7 p.m. Dec. 8.

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, 14060 Highway 94 North, West Alton: 7 p.m. Dec. 7; 5 p.m. Dec. 8.

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION (Dardenne Prairie), 7701 Highway North, O’Fallon: 7 p.m. Dec. 7; 6:30 and 8 a.m., noon and 6 p.m. Dec. 8.

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION-ST. HENRY, 3120 Lafayette Ave., St. Louis: 7 p.m. Dec. 7; 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 8.

MOST SACRED HEART, 751 N. Jefferson St., Florissant: 7 p.m. Dec. 7; 7 and 9 a.m., and 7 p.m. Dec. 8.

ST. FRANCIS BORGIA, 311 W. Second St., Washington: 7 a.m., noon and 7 p.m. Dec. 8.

ST. FRANCIS XAVIER (College) Church, Grand Avenue and Lindell Boulevard, Midtown St. Louis: 7:15 a.m., noon and 5:15 p.m. Dec. 8.

ST. JOHN, APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST, 16th and Chestnut streets, Downtown: 7:10 and 11:30 a.m., and 12:10 p.m. Dec. 8.

ST. JOSEPH, Maryland and Meramec avenues, Clayton: 6:30 and 8 a.m., noon, 12:10 p.m. (in the parish hall) and 5:30 p.m. Dec. 8. A digital image of Our Lady of Guadalupe blessed by the Pope may be viewed in the church following the 4 p.m. Mass Saturday, Dec. 4, through noon Mass Thursday, Dec. 9.

ST. PETER, 243 W. Argonne Drive, Kirkwood: 6:45 and 8:15 a.m., noon and 7 p.m. Dec. 8.

ST. PETER, 324 S. Third St., St. Charles: 6:20 and 8 a.m., noon and 7 p.m. Dec. 8.

STE. GENEVIEVE, 49 DuBourg Place, Ste. Genevieve: 5:30 p.m. Dec. 7; 6 and 8 a.m., and 12:10 p.m. Dec. 8.

From the St. Louis Review
- posted by LRS @ 7:48 AM   

 
Archbishop Burke Discusses His Visit to Rome...
This is a very good article by Archbishop Burke. He discusses his meetings with the Holy Father and his meetings with the other bishops and with the Roman Curia.

His report is like a journal of each day's happenings - with commentary and reflections. Archbishop Burke provides us with a great insight into what the "ad limina' visits are about...I highly recommend his article here.

For those who might be interested, Archbishop Burke did not discuss what he did or did not purchase at Annibale Gammarelli's shop in Rome - this is probably to the dismay of some at the Post Dispatch.
- posted by LRS @ 6:37 AM   

 
Attendees are upbeat in St. Stanislaus talks

After a 3 1/2-hour meeting with the St. Stanislaus board of directors Thursday night, Monsignor Vernon E. Gardin, the archdiocese's vicar general, emerged to say the lengthy discussion went well.

At class last night, I heard that there was to be something new proposed by the Archdiocese...

...the archdiocese proposed placing the parish's money into an "irrevocable trust." The trust would serve as the archbishop's written commitment that the board of directors has been seeking for months.

Decision time is getting closer and closer...

An archdiocesan official who asked not to be identified said St. Louis Archbishop Raymond Burke was "looking to get this done by Christmas."

Pray for God's blessings for this situation.

Source

*** Updated ***
Another article on the same subject from the Archdiocesan Newspaper, the St Louis Review.

- posted by LRS @ 6:19 AM   

 
Cardinal Pell Backs Stand Against Renegade Priests

CARDINAL George Pell has backed the Catholic Archbishop of Brisbane's tough stand against renegade priests who performed "invalid" baptisms using politically correct language.

In the Catholic equivalent of the culture wars, Archbishop John Bathersby has questioned whether parishes that defy orthodoxy on baptisms should remain in the Catholic Church and has decided to take the dispute to the Vatican.

...Cardinal [Pell], who is also Archbishop of Sydney, stopped short of saying priests who used the wrong form of words should be thrown out of the Catholic Church.

"Just because a person is making a mistake that doesn't automatically put them outside the church," he said.

The priests involved in the invalid Baptisms would have had to be:
a) ignorant, or
b) willfully disobedient

I'm not certain that there are other explanations. These days it is not too difficult to imagine that ignorance could possibly be an excuse for such a travesty. However, this seems to be a very remote probabilty.

Article.

- posted by LRS @ 6:19 AM   

 
Papal Message to Bishops of Region IX
I never did see this at the Vatican Information Service but thankfully the St. Louis Review has carried it.

The text of Pope John Paul II’s remarks to the bishops of Region IX — Missouri, Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska — Nov. 26 at the Vatican can be read here.
- posted by LRS @ 6:07 AM   

 
Calif. Diocese Settles Clergy Abuse Cases; 87 Victims

The Orange County diocese reached a settlement with 87 victims of clergy abuse, and a source close to the case told The Associated Press it promised to be bigger than the record $85 million agreement with the Boston Archdiocese.

...a participant in the settlement negotiations told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity that the sum would exceed the record $85 million paid to 552 plaintiffs in Boston in 2003.

Complete article here.

*** Updated ***
Take a look at this CWN Off the Record post about some of the other things that are done with money in the Diocese of Orange...
- posted by LRS @ 6:06 AM   

 
Gospel for Dec 3, Memorial: St. Francis Xavier, Priest
From: Matthew 9:27-31

The Curing of Two Blind Men. The Dumb Devil
--------------------------
[27] And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, "Have mercy on us, Son of David." [28] When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to him, "Yes, Lord." [29] Then he touched their eyes, saying, " According to your faith be it done to you." [30] And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly charged them, "See that no one knows it." [31] But they went away and spread his fame through all that district.
*********
Commentary:

27-34. The evangelist shows people's different reactions to miracles. Everyone admits that God is at work in these events--everyone, that is, except the Pharisees who attribute them to the power of the devil. A pharisaical attitude so hardens a person's heart that he becomes closed to any possibility of salvation. The fact that the blind men recognize Jesus as the Messiah (they call him "Son of David": v. 27) may have exasperated the Pharisees. Despite Jesus' sublime teaching, despite his miracles, they remain entrenched in their opposition.

In the light of this episode it is easy enough to see that the paradox is true: there are blind people who in fact see God and seers who see no trace of him.

30. Why did our Lord not want them to publicize the miracle? Because his plan was to gradually manifest himself as the Messiah, the Son of God. He did not want to anticipate events which would occur in their own good time; nor did he want the crowd to start hailing him as Messiah King, because their notion of messiah was a nationalistic, not a spiritual one. However, the crowd did in fact proclaim him when he worked the miracles of the loaves and the fish (Jn 6:14-15): "When the people saw the sign which he had done, they said, 'This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world!' Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew, again to the hills by himself."

31. St Jerome (cf. "Comm. on Matth.", 9, 31) says that the blind men spread the news of their cure, not out of disobedience to Jesus, but because it was the only way they could find to express their gratitude.
***************
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland.

Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
- posted by LRS @ 12:12 AM   

 
Help The Passion of the Christ win the best movie of the year award!
I received this email yesterday. I confess that I rarely go to the movies but that I did see "The Passion" three times and bought the DVD. If you were as moved as I was to a deeper realization of the passion and death of our Lord, then perhaps you may be moved to vote for the movie. Here is the email as I received it:

Vote today and then forward this on to your family and friends so they can vote! Voting ends Dec. 13.

Dear Larry,

Please help The Passion Of The Christ win the best movie of the year in CBS’s People’s Choice Awards! Cast your vote and then forward this to your friends and family and ask them to vote for The Passion Of The Christ.

PLEASE SAVE THIS EMAIL. AFTER YOU CAST YOUR BALLOT, PLEASE COME BACK TO THIS EMAIL AND FORWARD IT. BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE CBS WEBSITE IS SET UP, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO FORWARD THIS INFORMATION FROM THE VOTING SITE. AFTER CASTING YOUR VOTE, IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO RETURN TO THIS EMAIL IN ORDER TO FORWARD IT TO YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

We are asking you to register so that we can keep an accurate tally of the number of votes AFA Online produces for the movie. As you know, Mel Gibson is not the favorite person in Hollywood because of his making this movie.

PLEASE, AFTER YOU HAVE VOTED, COME BACK TO THIS EMAIL AND FORWARD IT TO ALL YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS. WE NEED AS MANY PEOPLE TO VOTE AS POSSIBLE. THIS MOVIE DESERVES TO BE THE MOVIE (DRAMA CATEGORY) OF THE YEAR! WITH YOUR HELP IT WILL BE!

Help us make sure The Passion Of The Christ gets more votes than any other movie in history! Voting ends December 13. Please take action now.

Click here to register your vote!
Sincerely,
Don
Donald E. Wildmon, Founder and Chairman
American Family Association

If you wish not to register at AFA, you can vote for the People's Choice Awards here.
- posted by LRS @ 11:42 PM   

 
NCR Report on "Statement on Catholics in Public Life"

The agenda of the fall meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said bishops would "debate and vote" on policies regarding Catholic politicians who support abortion.

From what I recall (without going back to review the tape), Cardinal McCarrick rose and asked that he be allowed to remove the "item" from the agenda, thereby tabling any discussion on the subject. This was one of the discussions I was eager to see and one of the reasons I taped and watched the meetings.

"I’m disappointed that it wasn’t discussed publicly, because it’s a great concern for all the people in our nation and for Catholics who are bound to give a very strong witness in this area," said St. Louis Archbishop Raymond Burke, who’s among a handful of bishops who have challenged pro-abortion politicians publicly.

Many other faithful Catholics were also disappointed that Cardinal McCarrick chose to abandon another teaching moment and another opportunity to demonstrate courage in the face of adversity.

Archbishop Burke said American culture seems poised for more definitive moral direction from Christian leaders, which U.S. bishops failed to provide by skirting the issue of pro-abortion politicians.

"We know from the elections that there’s a concern among the general population about moral issues, so I’m particularly disappointed that it wasn’t discussed openly at this conference," Archbishop Burke told the Register.

We must continue to pray that more bishops are given the grace to be courageous and to vigorously defend the Church's doctrines and disciplines.

"They (the American Life League) have been attacking me constantly," Cardinal McCarrick told the Register.

And with good reason it seems...

Cardinal McCarrick has been at the center of the debate about pro-abortion politicians who receive Communion because he chairs the committee charged with studying the issue. Furthermore, as archbishop of the nation’s capital, he oversees parishes that serve dozens of pro-abortion Catholic politicians.

Cardinal McCarrick said the bishops would develop a "Reader on Catholics in Public Life" and that their doctrine and pastoral-practices committees have agreed to take up the matter of Church teaching on when it is proper for Catholic politicians — and all Catholics — to receive Communion.

The cardinal said, "There will be continuing consultation on the complex theological and canonical aspects of these matters within our conference and with the Holy See."

More of same old banter...A politician rather than a Shepherd and Defendor of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. The really good news is that he turns 75 on July 7, 2005 - about 7 months from now and will be required to submit his resignation to the Holy Father.

Source.


- posted by LRS @ 10:36 PM   

 
Daily Latin Mass in West County...7:00am
The Canons Regular of the New Jerusalem (CRNJ) are now officially open in their new location in West county. They are located at 1635 Kehr's Mill Rd in the Wildwood Area.

Directions:
From Hwy 40 Westbound, take the Long Rd exit & go South to Wildhorse Creek Rd.
From Hwy 40 Eastbound, exit immediately after crossing the Daniel Boone Bridge at Chesterfield Airport Rd. Proceed to Long Rd, turn right and go to Wildhorse Creek Rd.

At Wildhorse Creek Rd:
Turn left, then make an immediate right on Kehr's Mill Rd. About 1 mile down the road on the right, look for the black mailbox w/ long winding driveway up the hill, #1635. The phone # is 636-536-4082.

They have daily Tridentine Mass at 7:00AM. There are about 12 seats in their chapel & have been relatively empty, as word has not gotten out yet.

Thanks to Marc P. for the update.
*** And Thanks to Johnna H. for the directions clarifications.
- posted by LRS @ 1:44 PM   

 
Dr. Edward Peters Comments on the Brisbane Debacle

According to ABCNEWS On-Line, a parish church in Australia might have performed thousands (yes, thousands) of invalid baptisms over the years as a result of its priests changing the Trinitarian formula (the words) used at baptism. Brisbane Archbishop John Bathersby has stated: "At a certain stage a parish could— and I'm not saying it has happened here—a parish could make so many changes that they really are no longer Catholic…Perhaps they're a type of Christian church in their own right but they're not a part of what we would refer to as a Catholic church." In some respects, even these worrisome words understate the problem.

Invalid Catholic baptisms do not result in some half-way form of Christianity. They result in nothing. One who is invalidly baptized is in exactly the same ecclesial status as one who was never baptized. Period. Think about it this way: when Angela and I brought home each of our new-borns, they were the cutest little pagan babies in the world. But if they had never been baptized (validly, of course), they would have remained our cute "pagan" babies. Just progressively taller.

Given, moreover, evidence that such invalid baptisms have been going for many years, one must now ask how many of these deceived people went on to first Communion, Confirmation, perhaps even married, without benefit of the desired sacraments, because no sacrament can be validly received without prior Baptism (1983 CIC 842, 849). The complications in those areas alone will be enormous, and we haven't even raised potential penal implications of sacramental simulation (1983 CIC 1379), let alone sacrilege, by offending clerics (1983 CIC 1389).

In light of such factors, I have to wonder how priests who seem to have performed so disastrously for so long on such an incredibly simple but vitally important point are actually being left in place pending investigation. +++

Exactly - the priests responsible for this catastrophe should have been immedialtely suspended of all faculties.

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 12:04 PM   

 
The Post Dispatch displays its self-righteousness again...
...in an article critical of Archbishop Burke - for shopping at Annibale Gammarelli's shop in Rome when he was there last week.

Perhaps, the Post intended to be comical?

SO ENCHANTED were we by reporter Tim Townsend's description of Annibale Gammarelli's Roman tailor shop in last Saturday's Post-Dispatch that we wanted to buy something from there.

After all, if Gammarelli's is good enough for the popes of the last 160 years, and if St. Louis Archbishop Raymond L. Burke shops there - he finds the tailoring "very reliable," he told Mr. Townsend - then it's good enough for us.
...
But what if, like Archbishop Burke, one was in the market for a Gammarelli cassock, that long tunic-like garment worn by priests, bishops and altar boys? At Catholic Supply Co. in St. Louis, you can pick up a polyester-and-cotton model for $59.95, but at Gammarelli's, the popular choice is the $600 33-button model in worsted wool.

Still, as Archbishop Burke noted, the tailoring is very reliable, and Italian menswear costs an arm and a leg. After all, you can get a suit at Men's Wearhouse for $125, or you can buy an Armani for a couple grand. It depends on your priorities.

Apparently, someone at the Post-Dispatch is unaware that quality costs money. Perhaps, with its prolific investigative skills, the Post can provide us list of other shops who offer similar articles of clothing as that of the Gammarelli shop.

Article here.
- posted by LRS @ 7:34 AM   

 
Parade will portray real St. Nick

Millstadt Weihnacht Festival Parade

When: Noon Sunday

Where: First block of East Laurel Street to the VFW Hall, 200 Veterans Drive.

This Sunday, Mark Westhoff, a local historian and former president of the St. Clair County Historical Society, will don a costume of the magical [S]aint [Nicholas] and haunt the streets of Millstadt during their annual Weihnacht Festival Christmas Parade.

Legend says that a Catholic bishop, dressed in clerics and riding horseback, carried a sack full of gifts for children on a December night before the church celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ.

Stories, passed from generation to generation, say he even dropped gold through the windows of the poor.

His name was St. Nicholas of Myra, but children may know him better as the legendary and mysterious "St. Nick."

Nicholas, who lived in fourth-century Turkey, rapidly became a worldwide legend after his death, with different regions fastening their own culture to his image. Western Europe celebrated his feast day, Dec. 6, by giving gifts of candy and praying for miracles.

"Nicholas wore traditional church dress of a purple skull cap, a pointed hat and a pectoral cross," Westhoff said. "Basically something you'd see a modern Catholic bishop wear. He had a big crosier, and the stern look of a tough priest. That's what you'll see in the parade."

Story here.

- posted by LRS @ 7:30 AM   

 
St. Boniface's bells are ringing again

Bells at a glance:
St. Boniface, at more than 3,000 pounds, is the largest bell, situated in the north tower. The south tower's bells, named St. Mary and St. Joseph, weigh more than 1,000 pounds each.

Those bells were blessed at the Thanksgiving Mass, attended by more than 60 people from St. Boniface's nearly 200 households, and began to sound once again. [after being repaired]

No one knows just when the bells fell silent. Gray estimates it was at least 10 to 15 years ago. Declining attendance and parish finances put fixing the bells low on the list of parish projects.

St. Boniface church in the Carondelet neighborhood is one of 30 Catholic churches in the area that the St. Louis Archdiocese may close because of shifts in population and a lack of priests. But on Thanksgiving, the congregation got a temporary reprieve from uncertainty and fear. Joy and hope were in the air.

Article here.
- posted by LRS @ 7:04 AM   

 
Outspoken (and confused) priest blasts church as dysfunctional
The priest in Brisbane (Fr Peter Kennedy, of St Mary's Catholic Church at South Brisbane), responsible for invalidly baptising hundreds of people, accuses the Church as "dysfunctional". One might wonder if the priest is projecting his own inabilities to cope with his vocation on the Church, the hierarchy, and ultimately, Christ Himself?

"The traditional Catholic thing is that all wisdom comes down from above but we Catholics live in a democratic society."

Perhaps, the new thinking is that wisdom (one of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit) really comes from man or from a form of democratic belief or consensus?

"The church is so dysfunctional. If you are in a dysfunctional relationship after a time you say enough is enough."

It sounds like he is trying to say "Good-bye".

"The underlying thing is that the church, which is not a democracy, is having trouble relating to democracy."

The Church has no problems relating to democracy. The Church, established by Christ as an hierarchical institution, does have a problem with wayward or renegade priests and others who attempt to undermine the Sacraments or Sacramental life of the Church, reject Christ's teachings and the doctrines of the Church, or the structure or nature of the Church. This is sometimes considered to be a form of protestantism, or, depending on circumstances and other factors - heresy, apostacy, or schism. At the very least, the actions of disobedience toward the approved rites or complete confusion should be a cause of serious concern for his superiors for it demonstrates a complete misunderstandinging of Sacramental Theology or even worse, a rejection of a necessary aspect of the Faith. (Updated to reflect, more accurately, what I meant - Sorry for any confusion).

Father Kennedy said yesterday Archbishop Bathersby was failing to read the "signs of the times". "The Archbishop is going around all the parishes praying for vocations for religious life," Father Kennedy said. "It's like praying for rain during an El Nino pattern."

Of course, it is the Archbishop who can't read the "signs of the times" for he will not permit the priest to alter the form of the Sacrament of Baptism to fit "the times"...And, evidently, the priest's acquired 'wisdom' discounts prayer as a means to petition God for more vocations.

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 6:14 AM   

 
Gospel for Thursday, 1st Week of Advent
From: Matthew 7:21, 24-27

Doing the Will of God
---------------------
(Jesus said to His disciples,) [21] "Not every one who says to Me, `Lord, Lord,' shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in Heaven.

Building on Rock
----------------
[24] "Every one then who hears these words of Mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock; [25] and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. [26]And every one who hears these words of Mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand; [27] and the rain fell, and the floods came, and winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell; and great was the fall of it."
**********
Commentary:

21-23. To be genuine, prayer must be accompanied by a persevering effort to do God's will. Similarly, in order to do His will it is not enough to speak about the things of God: there must be consistency between what one preaches--what one says--and what one does: "The Kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power" (1 Corinthians 4:20); "Be doers of the word, not hearers only, deceiving yourselves" (James 1:22).

Christians, "holding loyally to the Gospel, enriched by its resources, and joining forces with all who love and practise justice, have shouldered a weighty task on earth and they must render an account of it to Him who will judge all men on the last day. Not every one who says `Lord, Lord' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but those who do the will of the Father, and who manfully put their hands to the work" (Vatican II, "Gaudium Et Spes", 93).

To enter the Kingdom of Heaven, to be holy, it is not enough, then, to speak eloquently about holiness. One has to practise what one preaches, to produce fruit which accords with one's words. Fray Luis de Leon puts it very graphically: "Notice that to be a good Christian it is not enough just to pray and fast and hear Mass; God must find you faithful, like another Job or Abraham, in times of tribulation" ("Guide for Sinners", Book 1, Part 2, Chapter 21).

Even if a person exercises an ecclesiastical ministry that does not assure his holiness; he needs to practice the virtues he preaches. Besides, we know from experience that any Christian (clerical, religious or lay) who does not strive to act in accordance with the demands of the faith he professes, begins to weaken in his faith and eventually parts company also with the teaching of the Church. Anyone who does not live in accordance with what he says, ends up saying things which are contrary to faith.

The authority with which Jesus speaks in these verses reveals Him as sovereign Judge of the living and the dead. No Old Testament prophet ever spoke with this authority.

22. "That day": a technical formula in biblical language meaning the day of the Judgment of the Lord or the Last Judgment.

23. This passage refers to the Judgment where Jesus will be the Judge. The sacred text uses a verb which means the public proclamation of a truth. Since in this case Jesus Christ is the Judge who makes the declaration, it takes the form of a judicial sentence.

24-27. These verses constitute the positive side of the previous passage. A person who tries to put Christ's teaching into practice, even if he experiences personal difficulties or lives during times of upheaval in the life of the Church or is surrounded by error, will stay firm in the faith, like the wise man who builds his house on rock.

Also, if we are to stay strong in times of difficulty, we need, when things are calm and peaceful, to accept little contradictions with a good grace, to be very refined in our relationship with God and with others, and to perform the duties of our state in life in a spirit of loyalty and abnegation. By acting in this way we are laying down a good foundation, maintaining the edifice of our spiritual life and repairing any cracks which make their appearance.
***************
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland.

Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
- posted by LRS @ 12:45 AM   

 
Rockford, Ill. Bishop Doran Joins Cardinal George in Consecration to Mary

On Dec. 8, 2004, the 150th anniversary of Pope Pius IX’s solemn proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, Bishop Thomas Doran of the Diocese of Rockford, Ill. will consecrate his diocese to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

In doing so, Bishop Doran joins Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., archbishop of Chicago, who in August announced that he will consecrate his archdiocese to Mary on the same day.

Article
- posted by LRS @ 9:49 PM   

 
Liberal Bishops Bash Gibson's Passion as....
...."A Modern Version of Notorious Medieval Passion Plays"

This really comes as no surprise, except for the fact that, after almost a year, some still seem obsessed with discrediting a film which had such a profound impact on so many Christians and others.

Article here.
- posted by LRS @ 9:34 PM   

 
A New Book and Web Site
From an email from Michael Rose, author of Goodbye, Good Men and Priest

The Bishop of Covington just granted the indult Mass -- and at his cathedral. He himself even celebrated the first Mass. Quite a change for years and decades past.

I wanted to let you know that I've got a new book out. It's called In Tiers of Glory, and The Wanderer called it a "lavishly printed, full-color book illustrating the history of church architecture... it demonstrates that a strong and healthy reaction is underway and, indeed, about to topple the Modernist movement that imposed so much architectural ugliness on unsuspecting 20th-century Catholics."

Here's the book's website:
http://www.dellachiesa.com/books-intiersofglory.jsp

In conjunction with my book, today (December 1, the Feast of St. Edmund Campion) I am inaugurating a web journal devoted to resources, articles and projects pertaining to traditional church architecture, restoration and perservation. It's called Dellachiesa.com: http://www.dellachiesa.com

Will you help me get the message out about the website? I'd appreciate it!

Pax Christi,
Michael

- posted by LRS @ 9:24 PM   

 
Vatican: AIDS a sign of moral 'immunodeficiency'

VATICAN CITY - The Vatican today blamed the spread of AIDS on an "immunodeficiency" of moral values among other factors and called for education, abstinence and greater access to drugs to fight the disease.

On the eve of World AIDS Day, the head of the Vatican's pontifical health council quoted Pope John Paul as calling AIDS a "pathology of the spirit" that must be combated with "correct sexual practice" and "education of sacred values."

A "pathology of the spirit", indeed...

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 6:37 AM   

 
Dec 6...Town-hall meeting in St. Peters

As many of you know, Planned Parenthood has opened up shop here in St. Peters at Midrivers & Suemandy, near the mall. On Monday, December 6th, a town-hall meeting is scheduled at St. Peters City Hall. Protest plans are scheduled to be discussed.

Please come and let's work together to make it perfectly clear that Planned Parenthood and their baby killing ideology is NOT welcome in our own backyards.

I am also told that PP is setting up shop near a Crisis Pregnancy Center...How convenient.

No more detail yet on times....

**** Updated ****

Time of meeting is 7:00pm.
- posted by LRS @ 6:32 AM   

 
Babies killed not because they are going to die...
... but because they are going to live

A hospital in the Netherlands admits to euthanizing babies. This is a country which already permits the killing of others.

Euthanasia Prevention Coalition Executive Director, Alex Schadenberg, said that this is not new news. "The British Medical Journal revealed, already in 1997, that eight percent of all infant deaths in the Netherlands are from euthanasia for fetal anomalies. This is clearly eugenic euthanasia, and has nothing to do with having a terminal illness," he said.

More and more, we witness the insidious practices of the truly demonic being proposed as something good and kind.

I sometimes envision being in a war room with the entire world map laid out on a large table, as those keeping track of the spiritual battles move markers to different cities and countries. There are sighs of anguish as once Christian countries continue to fall under the spell of the Enemy and take up arms (evil) against their own people and others.

Source.
- posted by LRS @ 6:16 AM   

 
Gospel for Dec. 1, Memorial: St. Francis Xavier, Priest
From: Matthew 15:29-37

The Canaanite Woman (Continuation)
----------------------------------
[29] And Jesus went on from there and passed along the Sea of Galilee. And He went up into the hills, and sat down there. [30] And great crowds came to Him, bringing with them the lame, the maimed, the blind, the dumb, and many others, and they put them at His feet, and He healed them, [31] so that the throng wondered, when they saw the dumb speaking, the maimed whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.

Second Miracle of the Loaves
----------------------------
[32] Then Jesus called His disciples to Him, and said, "I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with Me now three days, and having nothing to eat; and I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way." [33] And the disciples said to Him, "Where are we to get bread enough in the desert to feed so great a crowd?" [34] And Jesus said to them, "How many loaves have you?" They said, "Seven, and a few small fish." [35] And commanding the crowd to sit down on the ground, [36] He took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given thanks He broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. [37] And they all ate and were satisfied; and they took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces left over.
**********
Commentary:
29-31. Here St. Matthew summarizes Jesus' activity in this border area where Jews and pagans were living side by side. As usual He teaches and heals the sick; the Gospel account clearly echoes the prophecy of Isaiah which Christ Himself used to prove that He was the Messiah (Luke 7:22): "the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped..." (Isaiah 35:5).

"They glorified the God of Israel": this clearly refers to the Gentiles, who thought that God could give the power to work miracles to Jews only. Once again the Gentiles are seen to have more faith than the Jews.

32. The Gospels speak of our Lord's mercy and compassion towards people's needs: here He is concerned about the crowds who are following Him and who have no food. He always has a word of consolation, encouragement and forgiveness: He is never indifferent. However, what hurts Him most are sinners who go through life without experiencing light and truth: He waits for them in the Sacraments of Baptism and Penance.

33-38. As in the case of the first multiplication (14:13-20), the Apostles provide our Lord with the loaves and the fish. It was all they had. He also avails of the Apostles to distribute the food--the result of the miracle--to the people. In distributing the graces of salvation God chooses to rely on the faithfulness and generosity of men. "Many great things depend--don't forget--on whether you and I live our lives as God wants" ([St] J. Escriva, "The Way", 755).

It is interesting to note that in both miracles of multiplication of loaves and fish Jesus provides food in abundance but does not allow anything to go to waste. All Jesus' miracles, in addition to being concrete historical events, are also symbols of supernatural realities. Here abundance of material food also signifies abundance of divine gifts on the level of grace and glory: it refers to spiritual resources and eternal rewards; God gives people more graces than are strictly necessary. This is borne out by Christian experience throughout history. St. Paul tells us that "where sin increased, grace abounded all the more" (Romans 5:20); he speaks of "the riches of His grace which He lavished upon us" (Ephesians 1:8) and tells his disciple Timothy that "the grace of our Lord overflowed for me and with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 1:14).
*************
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland.

Reprinted with permission from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers, the U.S. publisher.
- posted by LRS @ 12:05 AM