LA CROSSE, WI, December 4, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - With the controversial children's film "The Golden Compass" about to be released in theatres December 7, the Bishop of the Diocese of La Crosse in Wisconsin has instructed his priests to warn parents against the film and the book series on which it was based.More here at LifeSiteNews
Bishop Jerome Listecki's letter to priests came one day after the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops official movie reviewer praised 'The Golden Compass" film. In a rare move, the Catholic League was quick to publicly condemn the review. Other Catholic leaders have called on the USCCB to fire their movie critic Harry Forbes, especially in light of the fact that he also caused scandal by giving a glowing review to the homosexual propaganda film Brokeback Mountain. (see coverage: http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/dec/07120304.html )
"My responsibility as Bishop is to inform you as well as the faithful as to any movies, activities or entertainments that question or undermine the belief of our people and subvert the message of salvation which you as pastors deliver to your communitie," wrote Bishop Listecki to pastors in his diocese in a letter dated November 30...
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Bishop Listecki Instructs Priests to Warn Faithful about "The Golden Compass"
The Golden Compass - What's the big deal?
The Office of Catechesis and Evangelization of Diocese of La Crosse provides us with some answers:
So, what is the big deal about this movie? Why should parents be concerned?
The movie The Golden Compass is the first book of the trilogy, His Dark Materials. Parents need to be concerned because it attacks the foundation of the Catholic Faith.[1]
Author, Philip Pullman says,
• “My books are about killing God.”[2]
• “I am all for the death of God.”[3]
• “I’m trying to undermine the basis of Christian belief.”[4]
The author is an atheist, but how does that affect the film?
“Though much of Pullman’s trilogy involves… mystical worlds with talking animals and magical witches, the underlying theme is no simple fantasy. In the fictional universe of His Dark Materials, there is no real God; rather there is a high angel called the Authority, who purports to be God.”[5] The Catholic Church, frequently called the Magisterium, is portrayed as the dark force to be overcome.
Isn’t His Dark Materials just fiction?
It is fiction but it presents good as evil and evil as good. It portrays the evil of dark, demonic forces that battle God and ultimately kill God. So a film like this (and especially the trilogy it is based on) invites us to join forces against God.
How is the Golden Compass different from Narnia and the Lord of the Rings?
The Chronicles of Narnia are a fantasy representing the battle between God and His followers and Satan and his devils. In the Lord of the Rings, Tolkien shows the power of God and His grace and invites the reader to join Him. Pullman’s trilogy, His Dark Materials, promotes the lie that evil can ultimately defeat God. But we know that Jesus’ death on the Cross has already won the ultimate victory.
Why can’t kids go to it as a fun, fantasy movie? What am I to tell my child?
It is no simple fantasy. It is about evil being presented in an enticing and glamorous way. As the first teachers and protectors, parents would not allow their children to be desensitized to evil so that it becomes commonplace and they no longer recognize it as dangerous and seek to avoid it. It is the same as saying that parents would not let their children drink poison. Tell your children that this movie is definitely poison for the soul. In the Our Father, Jesus taught us clearly to pray, deliver us from evil.[6] Jesus does not want us to toy with evil even when it looks fascinating.
The producers say any references to the Catholic Church have been removed. Doesn’t this leave the movie as just a fun fantasy adventure?
The references to the Catholic Church have been removed from the movie but a different word has been substituted, it is the Magisterium. The producers of the movie are not stupid. They have removed some of the most sinister aspects against Christianity. But don’t be fooled. The fundamental direction of the story is the same even if it has been sanitized and Pullman’s goal is to entice people to read his books and reject God.
The books are much more detailed, more evil, and they attack, with a hateful vengeance, priests, nuns, bishops, the Mother of God and the Pope.
What is Pullman’s philosophy and how is it dangerous?
Pullman’s worldview is a world without God. He thinks the very idea of God needs to be destroyed. Pullman spreads his hatred for religion through these books. The Christian worldview is that God is our loving Father. We cannot exist without Him; God created us and has given us everything out of love. To believe in God and embrace Him for all eternity is the joy and very center of our lives.
How can we use this movie’s debut as a teaching experience?
Talk about this with your children. Do not be in denial that evil exists and that skilled marketers can disguise it and make it look attractive. We need to have a healthy level of concern about the power of evil even though Satan does not have equal power with God and cannot defeat God. Satan is a fallen angel who hates God and wants us to hate God.[7] We love God and therefore we reject Satan and all his evil. This is why you promised at baptism:
■ “to reject the glamour of evil and refuse to be mastered by sin.”
What should Catholic parents do?
Please do not go to the movie and do not buy the books. Return the books if you have already bought them. Spread the message to family and friends. Embrace the positive movies that have come from Hollywood like the Chronicles of Narnia or read the Lord of the Rings, and refuse to give your money or your approval to “Dark Materials” that try to snuff out the Light.[8]
________________________
1 1 John 4:1-4 “…every spirit which does not confess Jesus is not of God.”
2 Tony Watkins, Dark Matter, pp. 21, 152.
3 Philip Pullman, www.books.guardian.co.uk
4 Alona Wartofsky, “The Last Word; Philip Pullman’s Trilogy for Young. Adults Ends
With God’s Death, and Remarkably Few Critics,” Washington Post, Feb. 19, 2001.
5 The Golden Compass: Agenda Unmasked, Catholic League. p. 7.
6 Matthew 6:13, Philippians 4: 8
7 See Revelation 12:7-9; John 8:44; I John 2:18-25; Catechism of the Catholic
Church, #391.
8 Wisdom 4: 12 “ … the fascination of wickedness obscures what is good.”
###
So, what is the big deal about this movie? Why should parents be concerned?
The movie The Golden Compass is the first book of the trilogy, His Dark Materials. Parents need to be concerned because it attacks the foundation of the Catholic Faith.[1]
Author, Philip Pullman says,
• “My books are about killing God.”[2]
• “I am all for the death of God.”[3]
• “I’m trying to undermine the basis of Christian belief.”[4]
The author is an atheist, but how does that affect the film?
“Though much of Pullman’s trilogy involves… mystical worlds with talking animals and magical witches, the underlying theme is no simple fantasy. In the fictional universe of His Dark Materials, there is no real God; rather there is a high angel called the Authority, who purports to be God.”[5] The Catholic Church, frequently called the Magisterium, is portrayed as the dark force to be overcome.
Isn’t His Dark Materials just fiction?
It is fiction but it presents good as evil and evil as good. It portrays the evil of dark, demonic forces that battle God and ultimately kill God. So a film like this (and especially the trilogy it is based on) invites us to join forces against God.
How is the Golden Compass different from Narnia and the Lord of the Rings?
The Chronicles of Narnia are a fantasy representing the battle between God and His followers and Satan and his devils. In the Lord of the Rings, Tolkien shows the power of God and His grace and invites the reader to join Him. Pullman’s trilogy, His Dark Materials, promotes the lie that evil can ultimately defeat God. But we know that Jesus’ death on the Cross has already won the ultimate victory.
Why can’t kids go to it as a fun, fantasy movie? What am I to tell my child?
It is no simple fantasy. It is about evil being presented in an enticing and glamorous way. As the first teachers and protectors, parents would not allow their children to be desensitized to evil so that it becomes commonplace and they no longer recognize it as dangerous and seek to avoid it. It is the same as saying that parents would not let their children drink poison. Tell your children that this movie is definitely poison for the soul. In the Our Father, Jesus taught us clearly to pray, deliver us from evil.[6] Jesus does not want us to toy with evil even when it looks fascinating.
The producers say any references to the Catholic Church have been removed. Doesn’t this leave the movie as just a fun fantasy adventure?
The references to the Catholic Church have been removed from the movie but a different word has been substituted, it is the Magisterium. The producers of the movie are not stupid. They have removed some of the most sinister aspects against Christianity. But don’t be fooled. The fundamental direction of the story is the same even if it has been sanitized and Pullman’s goal is to entice people to read his books and reject God.
The books are much more detailed, more evil, and they attack, with a hateful vengeance, priests, nuns, bishops, the Mother of God and the Pope.
What is Pullman’s philosophy and how is it dangerous?
Pullman’s worldview is a world without God. He thinks the very idea of God needs to be destroyed. Pullman spreads his hatred for religion through these books. The Christian worldview is that God is our loving Father. We cannot exist without Him; God created us and has given us everything out of love. To believe in God and embrace Him for all eternity is the joy and very center of our lives.
How can we use this movie’s debut as a teaching experience?
Talk about this with your children. Do not be in denial that evil exists and that skilled marketers can disguise it and make it look attractive. We need to have a healthy level of concern about the power of evil even though Satan does not have equal power with God and cannot defeat God. Satan is a fallen angel who hates God and wants us to hate God.[7] We love God and therefore we reject Satan and all his evil. This is why you promised at baptism:
■ “to reject the glamour of evil and refuse to be mastered by sin.”
What should Catholic parents do?
Please do not go to the movie and do not buy the books. Return the books if you have already bought them. Spread the message to family and friends. Embrace the positive movies that have come from Hollywood like the Chronicles of Narnia or read the Lord of the Rings, and refuse to give your money or your approval to “Dark Materials” that try to snuff out the Light.[8]
________________________
1 1 John 4:1-4 “…every spirit which does not confess Jesus is not of God.”
2 Tony Watkins, Dark Matter, pp. 21, 152.
3 Philip Pullman, www.books.guardian.co.uk
4 Alona Wartofsky, “The Last Word; Philip Pullman’s Trilogy for Young. Adults Ends
With God’s Death, and Remarkably Few Critics,” Washington Post, Feb. 19, 2001.
5 The Golden Compass: Agenda Unmasked, Catholic League. p. 7.
6 Matthew 6:13, Philippians 4: 8
7 See Revelation 12:7-9; John 8:44; I John 2:18-25; Catechism of the Catholic
Church, #391.
8 Wisdom 4: 12 “ … the fascination of wickedness obscures what is good.”
###
Frater Alban of the CRNJ Serving the Holy Father
A nice post with some pics showing Frater Alban of the Canons Regular of the New Jerusalem while in Rome can be viewed at the Hermeneutic of Continuity blog.
The Fraters are in Rome for the year and Dom Daniel Augustine, prior of the Canons Regular is in California...Pleasse pray for them. We look forward to their anticipated return to St Louis next summer of fall.
A special HT to Paul H!
The Fraters are in Rome for the year and Dom Daniel Augustine, prior of the Canons Regular is in California...Pleasse pray for them. We look forward to their anticipated return to St Louis next summer of fall.
A special HT to Paul H!
They just don't get it....
A Christmas Campaign project of "Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good" with support from Faith in Public Life has posted an Open Letter to Christmas Culture Warriors.
These people don't seem to understand that a there is a culture war going on and had people not made efforts to oppose this de-Christianization of America, we would have lost more ground, especially concerning Christmas.
These people are simply naive and fail to understand what's going on...Should we really just all hold hands and sing Kumbayah while more and more efforts are made to eliminate Christmas and Christianity?
Here is the Open Letter To Christmas Culture Warriors
Recall that this is sponsored byu a group which attempts to confuse Catholics on fundamental moral issues with respect to evaluating candidate for public office.
These people don't seem to understand that a there is a culture war going on and had people not made efforts to oppose this de-Christianization of America, we would have lost more ground, especially concerning Christmas.
These people are simply naive and fail to understand what's going on...Should we really just all hold hands and sing Kumbayah while more and more efforts are made to eliminate Christmas and Christianity?
Here is the Open Letter To Christmas Culture Warriors
Recall that this is sponsored byu a group which attempts to confuse Catholics on fundamental moral issues with respect to evaluating candidate for public office.
US Bishops asked to Fire Chief Film Critic over Glowing Reviews for "Brokeback" and "Compass"
"Bishops horrified at what has been done in their name"It's well past the time to tell Harry "Good-bye"....
By John-Henry Westen
WASHINGTON, DC, December 3, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The Bishops of the United States are being asked to fire the chief movie reviewer for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). Harry Forbes, the Director of the USCCB Office for Film and Broadcasting, has reignited scandal by praising the film "The Golden Compass" which is based on an anti-Catholic novel.
Forbes caused similar controversy two years ago when he issued a glowing review in the name of the USCCB for the homosexual propaganda film "Brokeback Mountain"...
More at LifeSite here
National Catholic Reporter Obsesses on "Women Priests"
Pamela Schaeffer reports for NCR on the recent "festivities" which occurred in St Louis:
Schaeffer's article can be read here.
As a matter of fact, NCR is so enamored with these "priestesses" that it's run a special profile of five of these confused women...here, as well as these other two articles:
Reluctant bishop ordained for North America [Patricia Fresen]
Finished playing by the rules in which the editor concludes:
“What a day. What an occasion. What a rabbi!”Ah, yes, what a day....a day a group of confused or delusional people got together to celebrate "self"! And there are plenty of pictures of participants!
The speaker was Patricia Fresen, a bishop in the Roman Catholic Womenpriests movement. The day, Nov. 11; the occasion, a jubilant ceremony at a Jewish synagogue, during which Fresen would ordain two women -- the latest of a series of such ceremonies, aimed at helping women to fulfill what they say is their calling: to serve the church as Catholic priests.
Among Catholics generally, reactions to the movement range from elation to eye rolling; from tears of joy to expressions of disdain. Even church officials have reacted inconsistently to a trend that flies in the face of the church’s official stance that women cannot be priests. The first ordinations resulted in formal excommunication by the Vatican for the Danube Seven. The decree, signed by then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI) was dated July 22, 2004, ironically, some noted, the feast day of St. Mary Magdalene, sometimes called “apostle to the apostles.”LIGUORI IS STILL SELLING McGRATH's ITEMS! It was checked again this morning...
Subsequent ordinations have so far failed to elicit a Vatican response, leaving it to local dioceses to decide whether silence or public warning is the best approach. In St. Louis, Archbishop Raymond L. Burke warned of excommunication latae sententiae for Elsie Hainz McGrath and Rose Marie Dunn Hudson, the two scheduled to be ordained, along with their supporters, meaning that even without a formal decree, their actions put them outside the church. (Burke’s 1,750-word statement can be viewed at www.stlouisreview.com, archbishop’s column for Nov. 9.) After the ceremony, McGrath and Hudson were served with a summons to appear before a church tribunal Dec. 3. McGrath, a former editor at Liguori, a Catholic publishing house, labeled it “a canonical kangaroo court,” and both women said they would not appear.
The women priests tend to regard such hierarchical rumblings with a mixture of amusement and regret. “Burke is a paper tiger,” said Gerry Rauch of St. Louis, a board member of the Women’s Ordination Conference, which supports a variety of forms of priestly roles for women, ranging from ordination to a “discipleship of equals,” in which all symbols of power, including ordination, would be obsolete....The archbishop is a "paper tiger?"
Such pioneering [women priests] for some has come with a hefty price. Were women priests to compose a litany of emotional and financial costs, it would include the following: Fresen, fired from a prestigious teaching post and expelled from her religious order; Jane Marchant, forced to resign her position as head of health care ministry for the Boston archdiocese; Meehan, facing income losses now that Liguori, a Catholic publishing house, has removed her books from its lists.She would prefer that a Catholic publishing house sell books and other materials by heretics and schismatics? Perhaps to celebrate diversity?
Schaeffer's article can be read here.
As a matter of fact, NCR is so enamored with these "priestesses" that it's run a special profile of five of these confused women...here, as well as these other two articles:
Reluctant bishop ordained for North America [Patricia Fresen]
Finished playing by the rules in which the editor concludes:
Whither women priests? Perhaps they will become yet another breakaway movement, as many church officials must drearily hope. Or, depending on the faithful’s response, these women could conceivably drag the church into the 21st century. We’ll pray for that.It's clear that the views promoted by NCR are anything but Catholic. Isn't it time that it quits referring to itself as such?
Golden Compass promoters trying to advertise in Catholic press
...by using the positive review received by the USCCB Movie Reviewers...
CNA STAFF, Dec 3, 2007 / 05:44 pm (CNA).- The promoters of the controversial movie, The Golden Compass, are making an effort to diminish the boycott being threatened by Catholics and other Christian groups. The advertising agency for the movie has sent an email to the top 50 weekly Catholic newspapers asking that they consider running an ad promoting the movie.Nice work, Harry!
Advertising Media Plus, the agency promoting The Golden Compass, is trying to use a review by Harry Forbes, the director of the U.S. Bishops’ Conference Office for Film & Broadcasting, as leverage against the boycott being called for by Catholics and Evangelicals...
Catholicism Tarred by Christian Film...
And this, coming on the heels of "The Golden Compass"...
On December 7, Gener8Xion Entertainment, a prominent Protestant film company, will release “Noëlle.” Catholic League president Bill Donohue disputes the claim that the movie is merely “a parable of forgiveness and grace”:
“We’ve seen the movie and it’s a gem. In the synopsis provided by Gener8Xion, it accurately describes Jonathan Keene as ‘a young Catholic priest seemingly devoid of genuine human emotion’; his job is ‘to do what he does best: shut down a failing parish.’ Then there is ‘the child-like Fr. Simeon Joyce, a faithful but disillusioned priest who blatantly disregards church regulations, uses church monies to pay an old fisherman’s medical bills and spends most of his time drinking at the local pub.’ Both priests are portrayed as losers....
“Throughout the film, confession is trivialized, celibacy is ridiculed, the Virgin Mary is disrespected, nuns are belittled, last rites are mocked, and priestly vocations are caricatured. In short, that which is uniquely Catholic is trashed. However, the plot and the acting are so deliriously absurd that it is impossible for us to get too worked up about this flick....
An Invitation to Fox 2 News
In response to recent story of two local women pretending to be Catholic priests, an invitation was emailed (and cc'ed to us) to the local St Louis Fox affiliate, which seems to have a proclivity for the absurd and ridiculous.
Dear Fox,
Thanks for running your article on the so-called "Catholic" priestesses.
I think you should know that I have recently, and of my own accord, assumed the hierarchical leadership position of "Catholic Popess," and may be addressed hereafter as "Popess Delusional the First and Last."
I invite you to contact me anytime at your convenience so that we might discuss the matter of these women priestesses, especially since they are now answerable to me and to me alone, given the fact that I have been "ordained" as the earthly ruler of all marginalized and disaffected "Catholics". And as the Supreme Pontiffess, I speak with that authority which all of the known and unknown gods and goddesses have bestowed on me during a private ceremony on the Mississippi River this past Saturday.
My assumption of the powers of Popess has exactly as much, if not more, validity as the "ordination" of these priestesses. These powers oblige me to speak my truth to the prevailing opppresive, hierarchical, and misogynistic powers in the church.
As the new earthly leader of all "Catholic" women priestesses, it would be grossly unprofessional of you to continue to report on their fantasies and antics while ignoring mine, which happen to be truly "divine".
Sincerely,
Popess Delusional the First and Last
On the True Practice of Advent Prayer
Fr Thomas Euteneuer has a wonderful Spirit & Life reflection:
Advent Challenge
We soon begin the great and holy season of Advent, a yearly time of renewal and focus of our faith. I will not bother you with another sermon about the dangers of materialism in the lead-up to Christmas, but if you really need to be reminded about the true spirit of Christmas, the following thoughts may help you to find that balance of living in the world but not of the world....
Cardinal Kasper's Ecumenism: Truth Above All
Gospel for Tuesday, 1st Week of Advent
Optional Memorial of St. John Damascene, priest and doctor
Old Calendar: St. Peter Chrysologus, bishop, confessor and doctor; St. Barbara, virgin and martyr
From: Luke 10:21-24
Jesus Gives Thanks
[21] In that same hour He (Jesus) rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I thank Thee, Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes; yea, Father, for such was Thy gracious will. [22] All things have been delivered to Me by My Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him."
[23] Then turning to the disciples He said privately, "Blessed are the eyes which see what you see! [24] For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it."
______________________
Commentary:
21. This passage of the Gospel is usually called our Lord's "hymn of joy" and is also found in St. Matthew (11:25-27). It is one of those moments when Jesus rejoices to see humble people understanding and accepting the word of God.
Our Lord also reveals one of the effects of humility--spiritual childhood. For example, in another passage He says: "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven" (Matthew 18:3). But spiritual childhood does not involve weakness, softness or ignorance: "I have often meditated on this life of spiritual childhood, which is not incompatible with fortitude, because it demands a strong will, proven maturity, an open and firm character [...]. To become children we must renounce our pride and self-sufficiency, recognizing that we can do nothing by ourselves. We must realize that we need grace, and the help of God our Father to find our way and keep it. To be little, you have to abandon yourself as children do, believe as children, beg as children beg" ([St] J. Escriva, "Christ Is Passing By", 10 and 143).
22. "This statement is a wonderful help to our faith," St. Ambrose comments, "because when you read 'all' you realize that Christ is all-powerful, that He is not inferior to the Father, or less perfect than He; when you read 'have been delivered to me', you confess that Christ is the Son, to whom everything belongs by right of being one in substance [with the Father] and not by grace of gift" ("Expositio Evangelii Sec. Lucam, in loc.").
Here we see Christ as almighty Lord and God, consubstantial with the Father, and the only one capable of revealing who the Father is. At the same time, we can recognize the divine nature of Jesus only if the Father gives us the grace of faith--as He did to St. Peter (cf. Matthew 16:17).
23-24. Obviously, seeing Jesus with one's own eyes was a wonderful thing for people who believed in him. However, our Lord will say to Thomas, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe" (John 20:29). St. Peter, for his part, tells us: "Without having seen Him you love Him; though you do not see Him you believe in Him and rejoice with unutterable and exalted joy. As the outcome of your faith you obtain the salvation of your souls" (1 Peter 1:8-9).
___________________________
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.
Old Calendar: St. Peter Chrysologus, bishop, confessor and doctor; St. Barbara, virgin and martyr
From: Luke 10:21-24
Jesus Gives Thanks
[21] In that same hour He (Jesus) rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I thank Thee, Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes; yea, Father, for such was Thy gracious will. [22] All things have been delivered to Me by My Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him."
[23] Then turning to the disciples He said privately, "Blessed are the eyes which see what you see! [24] For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it."
______________________
Commentary:
21. This passage of the Gospel is usually called our Lord's "hymn of joy" and is also found in St. Matthew (11:25-27). It is one of those moments when Jesus rejoices to see humble people understanding and accepting the word of God.
Our Lord also reveals one of the effects of humility--spiritual childhood. For example, in another passage He says: "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven" (Matthew 18:3). But spiritual childhood does not involve weakness, softness or ignorance: "I have often meditated on this life of spiritual childhood, which is not incompatible with fortitude, because it demands a strong will, proven maturity, an open and firm character [...]. To become children we must renounce our pride and self-sufficiency, recognizing that we can do nothing by ourselves. We must realize that we need grace, and the help of God our Father to find our way and keep it. To be little, you have to abandon yourself as children do, believe as children, beg as children beg" ([St] J. Escriva, "Christ Is Passing By", 10 and 143).
22. "This statement is a wonderful help to our faith," St. Ambrose comments, "because when you read 'all' you realize that Christ is all-powerful, that He is not inferior to the Father, or less perfect than He; when you read 'have been delivered to me', you confess that Christ is the Son, to whom everything belongs by right of being one in substance [with the Father] and not by grace of gift" ("Expositio Evangelii Sec. Lucam, in loc.").
Here we see Christ as almighty Lord and God, consubstantial with the Father, and the only one capable of revealing who the Father is. At the same time, we can recognize the divine nature of Jesus only if the Father gives us the grace of faith--as He did to St. Peter (cf. Matthew 16:17).
23-24. Obviously, seeing Jesus with one's own eyes was a wonderful thing for people who believed in him. However, our Lord will say to Thomas, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe" (John 20:29). St. Peter, for his part, tells us: "Without having seen Him you love Him; though you do not see Him you believe in Him and rejoice with unutterable and exalted joy. As the outcome of your faith you obtain the salvation of your souls" (1 Peter 1:8-9).
___________________________
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.
Monday, December 03, 2007
Just for Today, December 4
(Christ.) What do I require more of thee than that thou endeavour to resign thyself entirely to Me. Whatsoever thou givest beside thyself I regard not; for I seek not thy gift, but thyself. As it would not suffice thee, if thou hadst all things but Me; so neither can it please Me, whatever thou givest, as long as thou offerest not thyself. Offer thyself to Me, and give thy whole self for God, and thy offering will be accepted.
Behold, I offered my whole self to the Father for thee, and have given My whole Body and Blood for thy food, that I might be all thine, and thou mightest be always Mine. But if thou wilt not offer thyself freely to My will, thy offering is not perfect, nor will there be an entire union betwixt us.
- Bk. IV, ch. viii.
(Disciple.) Lord, all things are Thine that are in heaven and earth. I desire to offer up myself to Thee as a voluntary oblation, and to remain for ever Thine....Behold, I commit myself to Thy mercy; I resign myself into Thy hands. Deal with me according to Thy goodness.
- Bk. IV, ch. ix.
______________________
Saint Teresa went through great suffering during her life, and for the sake of souls wished this to be made known after her death, so that seeing the seal of the cross upon her life, they might recognize her mission as genuine. She did not, however, consider the martyrdom of the heart which she underwent was a sign of her acceptance as victim by God's merciful Love; it was the infinite tenderness of divine Love which overflowed from the Sacred Heart into her soul that she took as a pledge.
If she said that to offer oneself as a victim of Love is to give oneself up to much anguish and suffering, it was to souls who held back and would not allow Our Lord to work His whole will in them, as it was often painful; but to souls who, in spite of their shrinking from the cross, were on fire with love and zeal and sought after perfection, she said: Why are you afraid to offer yourself as a victim to God's merciful Love? I could understand if it were to His Justice, but His merciful Love will have pity on your weakness and will treat you very gently and mercifully.
- H.
_________________
For a List of Abbreviations, see this post.
Adapted from Just For Today(©1943 Burns & Oates)
Nihil Obstat: Reginaldus Phillips, S.T.L.,Censor deputatus
Imprimatur: Edwardus Myers, Vic. Cap.
Behold, I offered my whole self to the Father for thee, and have given My whole Body and Blood for thy food, that I might be all thine, and thou mightest be always Mine. But if thou wilt not offer thyself freely to My will, thy offering is not perfect, nor will there be an entire union betwixt us.
- Bk. IV, ch. viii.
(Disciple.) Lord, all things are Thine that are in heaven and earth. I desire to offer up myself to Thee as a voluntary oblation, and to remain for ever Thine....Behold, I commit myself to Thy mercy; I resign myself into Thy hands. Deal with me according to Thy goodness.
- Bk. IV, ch. ix.
______________________
Saint Teresa went through great suffering during her life, and for the sake of souls wished this to be made known after her death, so that seeing the seal of the cross upon her life, they might recognize her mission as genuine. She did not, however, consider the martyrdom of the heart which she underwent was a sign of her acceptance as victim by God's merciful Love; it was the infinite tenderness of divine Love which overflowed from the Sacred Heart into her soul that she took as a pledge.
If she said that to offer oneself as a victim of Love is to give oneself up to much anguish and suffering, it was to souls who held back and would not allow Our Lord to work His whole will in them, as it was often painful; but to souls who, in spite of their shrinking from the cross, were on fire with love and zeal and sought after perfection, she said: Why are you afraid to offer yourself as a victim to God's merciful Love? I could understand if it were to His Justice, but His merciful Love will have pity on your weakness and will treat you very gently and mercifully.
- H.
_________________
For a List of Abbreviations, see this post.
Adapted from Just For Today(©1943 Burns & Oates)
Nihil Obstat: Reginaldus Phillips, S.T.L.,Censor deputatus
Imprimatur: Edwardus Myers, Vic. Cap.
Thoughts and Counsels - December 4
It is God Himself who receives what we give in charity, and is it not an incomparable happiness to give Him what belongs to Him, and what we have received from His goodness alone?
-St. Vincent de Paul
_________________________
From Mary, Help of Christians
Part VI, Thoughts and Counsels of the Saints for Every Day of the Year
Compiled by Fr. Bonaventure Hammer, OFM (© 1909, Benziger Brothers)
-St. Vincent de Paul
_________________________
From Mary, Help of Christians
Part VI, Thoughts and Counsels of the Saints for Every Day of the Year
Compiled by Fr. Bonaventure Hammer, OFM (© 1909, Benziger Brothers)
Meditation for December 4, Mary and Joseph
The Gospels are silent about Mary and Joseph before the Incarnation. God alone was concerned with them.
To be the object of God's especial notice! What a blessing!
What does Joseph do? He lives in a modest corner of a little village. Nothing in his person gives exterior evidence to the passerby of the noble blood that flows in his veins. He is an artisan; he works with his hands; he is at the service of the country folk; he makes their oxen yokes, plows, tables, and repairs their wagons. A good workman, but nothing more than a workman! "He is Joseph, Joseph the carpenter," the people say, as they will say later when Jesus begins to attract publicity by His preaching: "Is this not truly the son of Joseph, the carpenter; you know, the carpenter?"
And Mary, the flower of Jesse so long expected, in what surroundings do we discover her?
She is the flower of the field, and the lily of the valleys, a lily beautiful but unseen. She is poor, also, and modest as becomes her purity; oh, so modest that one would say she fears being noticed or drawn from her contemplation. Not that she is at all unsociable. Indeed not! She smiles sincerely upon the women who pass; at the fountain she hurries graciously to aid her neighbors in drawing water, helping them, too, to place their pitchers on their heads. While with her parents, she applied herself to home duties, putting all her energy into the tasks of her state; she put things in order, swept, prepared the meals, mended the clothing and wove the wool.
Mary and Joseph were the chosen ones of the Holy Spirit. God alone was their all; the world was nothing to them but to them it owes everything.
Adapted from Meditations for Religious
by Father Raoul Plus, S.J. (© 1939, Frederick Pustet Co.)
To be the object of God's especial notice! What a blessing!
What does Joseph do? He lives in a modest corner of a little village. Nothing in his person gives exterior evidence to the passerby of the noble blood that flows in his veins. He is an artisan; he works with his hands; he is at the service of the country folk; he makes their oxen yokes, plows, tables, and repairs their wagons. A good workman, but nothing more than a workman! "He is Joseph, Joseph the carpenter," the people say, as they will say later when Jesus begins to attract publicity by His preaching: "Is this not truly the son of Joseph, the carpenter; you know, the carpenter?"
And Mary, the flower of Jesse so long expected, in what surroundings do we discover her?
She is the flower of the field, and the lily of the valleys, a lily beautiful but unseen. She is poor, also, and modest as becomes her purity; oh, so modest that one would say she fears being noticed or drawn from her contemplation. Not that she is at all unsociable. Indeed not! She smiles sincerely upon the women who pass; at the fountain she hurries graciously to aid her neighbors in drawing water, helping them, too, to place their pitchers on their heads. While with her parents, she applied herself to home duties, putting all her energy into the tasks of her state; she put things in order, swept, prepared the meals, mended the clothing and wove the wool.
Mary and Joseph were the chosen ones of the Holy Spirit. God alone was their all; the world was nothing to them but to them it owes everything.
"Grant me, O Joseph and Mary, a participation in your hidden virtue, the source of so many graces for you; let me love to live hidden."_________________
Adapted from Meditations for Religious
by Father Raoul Plus, S.J. (© 1939, Frederick Pustet Co.)
Jan 11-13, St Louis Annual Marian Conference
We bring you the best speakers. You will hear the truth in Catholic doctrine, theology, Scripture, Tradition, and the teachings of the Fathers of the Church. You will hear of God's healing power in the Eucharist. You will be encouraged, satisfied, and full of hope and truth in this grace-filled weekend. Let the Conference weekend at the Adam's Mark be a winter retreat, a new start, new resolutions in living our life as Jesus lives in us.For more information and registration, click here.
Our confirmed speakers include the following: Fr. Charles Becker; Msgr. John J. Hickel; Fr. Mitch Pacwa, SJ; Fr. Andre Mhanna; Fr. Bill Casey; Fr. Wade Menezes: Roy Schoemann; Vinny Flynn; Mother Assumpta Long; and Fr. Thomas J. Loya, STB, MA.
The Holy Father's Prayer Intentions for December
VATICAN CITY, DEC 1, 2007 (VIS) - Benedict XVI's general prayer intention for December is: "That human society may be solicitous in the care of all those stricken with AIDS, especially children and women, and that the Church may make them feel the Lord's love."Source.
His mission intention is: "That the incarnation of the Son of God, which the Church celebrates solemnly at Christmas, may help the peoples of the Asiatic Continent to recognize God's Envoy, the only Savior of the world, in Jesus."
Christmas at Arlington Cemetery
I received an email the other day and after I verified that it was true (snopes.com), I thought I would share it. Some may have heard of it before, but others, like me, never knew that anything like this was taking place.
I had never heard of this -- only visited in the summer months. Funny that the drive-by media has never told this story in 15 years.Snopes reports, in part:
Readers may be interested to know that these wreaths -- some 5,000 -- are donated by the Worcester Wreath Co. of Harrington, Maine. The owner, Merrill Worcester, not only provides the wreaths, but covers the trucking expense as well. He's done this since 1992. A wonderful guy. Also, most years, groups of Maine school kids combine an educational trip to DC with this event to help out. Making this even more remarkable is the fact that Harrington is in one the poorest parts of the state.
Morrill Worcester initially brought 4,000 surplus wreaths from the holiday decoration company he owns to adorn gravesites at Arlington in 1992. Every year since then he has set aside several thousand wreaths especially for that purpose, driving to Arlington in December with a trailer full of decorations and dozens of volunteers to distribute them throughout the cemetery...I find it uplifting and encouraging to read about such efforts.
Teachers Vs. Priests; Unequal Treatment In the Media?
NEW YORK — When the Associated Press set out to investigate an apparent problem with sexual assault of children in public schools, the organization spared no expense.I suppose it would be that it doesn't server the agenda of an anti-Catholic/anti-Christian press...but, I could be wrong.
A congressionally mandated study by Hofstra University had already found school-based sexual abuse to be a big problem.
“It was one of our priorities for the year,” said John Affleck, editor of the AP’s national reporting team.
The result was a three-part series, available to editors throughout the country beginning Oct. 20, that revealed widespread and routine sexual assault of public school students throughout the country....
So why apparently have only a handful of newspapers nationwide run the series — in stark contrast to the avalanche of press received by the Catholic Church since 2002?
Gospel for Dec 3, Memorial: St Francis Xavier, priest
From: Matthew 8:5-11
The Centurion's Faith
[5] As He (Jesus) entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to Him, beseeching Him [6] and saying, "Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, in terrible distress." [7] And He said to him, "I will come and heal him." [8] But the centurion answered Him, "Lord, I am not worthy to have You come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. [9] For I am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, `Go,' and he goes, and to another, `Come,' and he comes, and to my slave, `Do this,' and he does it." [10] When Jesus heard him, He marvelled, and said to those who followed Him, "Truly, I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such faith. [11] I tell you, many will come from east and west and sit at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven."
_______________________
Commentary:
5-11. "Centurion": an officer of the Roman army in control of one hundred men. This man's faith is still an example to us. At the solemn moment when a Christian is about to receive Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, the Church's liturgy places on his lips and in his heart these words of the centurion, to enliven his faith: Lord, I am not worthy...".
The Jews of this time regarded any Jew who entered a Gentile's house as contracting legal impurity (cf. John 19:28; Acts 11:2-3). This centurion has the deference not to place Jesus in an embarrassing position in the eyes of His fellow Israelites. He shows that he is convinced that Jesus has the power over disease and illness; he suggests that if Jesus just says the word, He will do what is needed without having actually to visit the house; he is reasoning, in a simple, logical way, on the basis of his own professional experience. Jesus avails of this meeting with a Gentile believer to make a solemn prophecy to the effect that His Gospel is addressed to the world at large; all men, of every nation and race, of every age and condition, are called to follow 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.
The Centurion's Faith
[5] As He (Jesus) entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to Him, beseeching Him [6] and saying, "Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, in terrible distress." [7] And He said to him, "I will come and heal him." [8] But the centurion answered Him, "Lord, I am not worthy to have You come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. [9] For I am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, `Go,' and he goes, and to another, `Come,' and he comes, and to my slave, `Do this,' and he does it." [10] When Jesus heard him, He marvelled, and said to those who followed Him, "Truly, I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such faith. [11] I tell you, many will come from east and west and sit at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven."
_______________________
Commentary:
5-11. "Centurion": an officer of the Roman army in control of one hundred men. This man's faith is still an example to us. At the solemn moment when a Christian is about to receive Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, the Church's liturgy places on his lips and in his heart these words of the centurion, to enliven his faith: Lord, I am not worthy...".
The Jews of this time regarded any Jew who entered a Gentile's house as contracting legal impurity (cf. John 19:28; Acts 11:2-3). This centurion has the deference not to place Jesus in an embarrassing position in the eyes of His fellow Israelites. He shows that he is convinced that Jesus has the power over disease and illness; he suggests that if Jesus just says the word, He will do what is needed without having actually to visit the house; he is reasoning, in a simple, logical way, on the basis of his own professional experience. Jesus avails of this meeting with a Gentile believer to make a solemn prophecy to the effect that His Gospel is addressed to the world at large; all men, of every nation and race, of every age and condition, are called to follow 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.
Sunday, December 02, 2007
Just for Today, December 3
Aim only at this, pray for this, desire this, that thou mayest be divested of all self-seeking, and thus naked, follow the naked Jesus; that thou mayest die to thyself, and live eternally to Me. Then all vain imagination shall vanish, all evil disturbances and superfluous cares. Then also immoderate fear shall leave thee, and inordinate love shall die.
- Bk. III, ch. xxxvii.
_________________________
A novice had asked several Sisters to help her to shake blankets, adding rather sharply that they must be careful not to tear them, as the blankets were thin and worn. The Saint said to her: "If it did not happen to be your duty to mend the blankets, you would have spoken more gently and shown greater detachment. You ought not to let self-interest color your actions."
- C.
__________________
For a List of Abbreviations, see this post.
Adapted from Just For Today(©1943 Burns & Oates)
Nihil Obstat: Reginaldus Phillips, S.T.L.,Censor deputatus
Imprimatur: Edwardus Myers, Vic. Cap.
- Bk. III, ch. xxxvii.
_________________________
A novice had asked several Sisters to help her to shake blankets, adding rather sharply that they must be careful not to tear them, as the blankets were thin and worn. The Saint said to her: "If it did not happen to be your duty to mend the blankets, you would have spoken more gently and shown greater detachment. You ought not to let self-interest color your actions."
- C.
__________________
For a List of Abbreviations, see this post.
Adapted from Just For Today(©1943 Burns & Oates)
Nihil Obstat: Reginaldus Phillips, S.T.L.,Censor deputatus
Imprimatur: Edwardus Myers, Vic. Cap.
Thoughts and Counsels - December 3
We should study the interests of others as our own, and be careful to act on all occasions with uprightness and loyalty.
- St. Vincent de Paul
_________________________
From Mary, Help of Christians
Part VI, Thoughts and Counsels of the Saints for Every Day of the Year
Compiled by Fr. Bonaventure Hammer, OFM (© 1909, Benziger Brothers)
- St. Vincent de Paul
_________________________
From Mary, Help of Christians
Part VI, Thoughts and Counsels of the Saints for Every Day of the Year
Compiled by Fr. Bonaventure Hammer, OFM (© 1909, Benziger Brothers)
Meditation for December 3, My Role in the World's Salvation
Today is the feast of St. Francis Xaxier, the great apostle of foreign missions. What enthusiasm is awakened in me by the very thought of the spiritual giants who go to the outposts of Christendom to carry the Gospel to poor pagans! Should my vocation call me to share their labors, God be praised! If it requires me to sanctify myself in my own country, [once] Christianized, it shall be my aim to sacrifice nothing of my apostolic ardor.
There are many ways of working for the redemption of the world. The first and most valuable way is the sanctification of self in my own sphere of activity.
If we do not adequately understand the first lesson of the Catechism that we are created to praise, love and serve God and by this means save our soul, then we are robbing Christianity of its true significance. We are not on earth solely to work out our own salvation, but to effect simultaneously with our own, the salvation and sanctification of our brethren; we must save the greatest number possible of those who live with us upon the earth.
It is a serious error to suppose that every individual is respons1ble for himself alone. Quite the contrary, we are all bound to one another. If I sanctify myself, I aid in the sanctification of all; if I stray from the right path, I contribute to the general decline.
I will ask St. Francis to make me a true Christian, that I may never disassociate the thought of my own sanctification from the sanctification of the rest of the world.
Adapted from Meditations for Religious
by Father Raoul Plus, S.J. (© 1939, Frederick Pustet Co.)
There are many ways of working for the redemption of the world. The first and most valuable way is the sanctification of self in my own sphere of activity.
If we do not adequately understand the first lesson of the Catechism that we are created to praise, love and serve God and by this means save our soul, then we are robbing Christianity of its true significance. We are not on earth solely to work out our own salvation, but to effect simultaneously with our own, the salvation and sanctification of our brethren; we must save the greatest number possible of those who live with us upon the earth.
It is a serious error to suppose that every individual is respons1ble for himself alone. Quite the contrary, we are all bound to one another. If I sanctify myself, I aid in the sanctification of all; if I stray from the right path, I contribute to the general decline.
I will ask St. Francis to make me a true Christian, that I may never disassociate the thought of my own sanctification from the sanctification of the rest of the world.
"St. Francis Xavier, make me a Catholic soul, having a genuine instlnct and zest for the universality of the ambitions of Jesus Christ!"_________________
Adapted from Meditations for Religious
by Father Raoul Plus, S.J. (© 1939, Frederick Pustet Co.)
Rally for Troops Outnumbers SOA Watch Protest
Year after year, dissident Catholics and radical leftists stage a propaganda protest at the gates of Fort Benning against the U.S. Army’s Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation – the former School of the Americas. While anti-military protesters enjoy ample media coverage, little notice is given to thousands of patriotic Americans who honor the troops, only blocks away, during God Bless Fort Benning Day.Read the report from the American TFP here.
[This] event deserves attention...
Two Female "Catholic" Priestesses Conduct First "Mass"
Priestettes pretending to be Catholic priests - What a scandal. And the report indicates that 100 or so people were in attendance. Unfortuantely, those who support this act of rebellion and scandal can hardly claimn to call themselves Catholic.(KTVI - myFOXstl.com) --
Two Roman Catholic female priests who were recently ordained co-pastored their first mass Saturday night in the central west end.
Rose Marie Hudson and Elsie McGrath led the service at the first Unitarian church of St. Louis....
The Roman Catholic Church does not recognize the ordination of Hudson and McGrath that was conducted by an organization called Roman Catholic Women Priests.
Source KTVI Fox 2 News
Gospel for Sunday, 1st Week of Advent
Gospel From: Matthew 24:37-44
The Time of the Second Coming of Christ and of the Last Judgment (Continuation)
Jesus said to his disciples,) [37] "As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of man. [38] For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, [39] and they did not know until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of man. [40] Then two men will be in the field; one is taken and one is left. [41] Two women will be grinding at the mill; one is taken and one is left.
Vigilance. The Faithful Servant
[42] "Watch therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. [43] But know this, that if the householder had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched and would not have let his house be broken into. [44] Therefore you also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
______________________
Commentary:
37-39. In a few strokes our Lord sketches man's perennial insensitivity and carelessness towards the things of God. Man thinks it is more important to eat and drink, to find a husband or wife; but if that is his attitude he is forgetting about the most important thing--eternal life. Our Lord also foretells that the end of the world will be like the great flood; the Son of man's second coming will happen unexpectedly, taking people by surprise, whether they are doing good or evil.
40. It is in the context of the ordinary affairs of life--farmwork, housework, etc-- that God calls man, and man responds: that is where his eternal happiness or eternal punishment is decided. To be saved, one does not need to meet any special conditions, or to be in a special position in life: one simply has to be faithful to the Lord in the middle of ordinary everyday affairs.
42. Jesus himself draws from this revelation about the future the practical moral that a Christian needs to be on the watch, living each day as if it were his last.
The important thing is not to be speculating about when these events will happen and what form they will take, but to live in such a way that they find us in the state of grace.
___________________________
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.
The Time of the Second Coming of Christ and of the Last Judgment (Continuation)
Jesus said to his disciples,) [37] "As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of man. [38] For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, [39] and they did not know until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of man. [40] Then two men will be in the field; one is taken and one is left. [41] Two women will be grinding at the mill; one is taken and one is left.
Vigilance. The Faithful Servant
[42] "Watch therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. [43] But know this, that if the householder had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched and would not have let his house be broken into. [44] Therefore you also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
______________________
Commentary:
37-39. In a few strokes our Lord sketches man's perennial insensitivity and carelessness towards the things of God. Man thinks it is more important to eat and drink, to find a husband or wife; but if that is his attitude he is forgetting about the most important thing--eternal life. Our Lord also foretells that the end of the world will be like the great flood; the Son of man's second coming will happen unexpectedly, taking people by surprise, whether they are doing good or evil.
40. It is in the context of the ordinary affairs of life--farmwork, housework, etc-- that God calls man, and man responds: that is where his eternal happiness or eternal punishment is decided. To be saved, one does not need to meet any special conditions, or to be in a special position in life: one simply has to be faithful to the Lord in the middle of ordinary everyday affairs.
42. Jesus himself draws from this revelation about the future the practical moral that a Christian needs to be on the watch, living each day as if it were his last.
The important thing is not to be speculating about when these events will happen and what form they will take, but to live in such a way that they find us in the state of grace.
___________________________
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.
2nd Reading for Sunday, 1st Week of Advent
From: Romans 13:11-14
Love, the Fulfilling of the Law (Continuation)
[11] Besides this you know what hour it is, how it is full time now for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; [12] the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; [13] let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day, not in revelling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarrelling and jealousy. [14] But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
_________________
Commentary:
11-14. The Church uses this inspired text in t he liturgy of Advent to help us prepare for the coming of the Lord. Christ came into the world by his Incarnation; he also comes to souls through grace; and at the end of time he will come as Judge. Rising like the sun, he dispelled the darkness when he came into the world, and he continues to dispel whatever darkness remains in souls the more he obtains mastery over the hearts of men.
13-14. Souls who have become members of the Church through Baptism are always in need of conversion to a new life. Sometimes God uses Sacred Scripture to awaken people from their spiritual lethargy. In fact, he used these particular words of Scripture to move the heart of St Augustine and have him take the last step towards casting off the attachments of the flesh. "I felt myself still enslaved by my iniquities, and therefore did I groan to myself, 'How long? How long must I continue saying Tomorrow, tomorrow? Why not now? Why not, at one instant, make an end of all uncleanness?' [...] And behold I heard a voice, like that of a child in the house next door, repeating in a sing-song tone, 'Take up and read. Take up and read' [...]. I rose up [...] and returned to where I had left the book of the Apostle; I took it quickly into my hand, opened it and read in silence the first passage on which my eye happened to fall." Having transcribed the verses we are now commenting, Augustine continues: "I read no further, nor was there any need to; for with the end of this sentence, as by a clear and constant light infused into my heart, the darkness of all former doubts was immediately driven away" ("Confessions", VII, 12, 28-29).
14. All Christians "put on" Christ in Baptism (cf. Gal 3:27). Starting with this initial configuration to Christ, they are steadily transformed into him by frequent reception of the sacraments, particularly the sacrament of Penance. "'"Induimini Dominum Iesum Christum". Put on the Lord Jesus Christ', says St Paul to the Romans. It is in the Sacrament of Penance that you and I put on Jesus Christ and his merits" ([St] J. Escriva, "The Way", 310).
___________________________
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.
Love, the Fulfilling of the Law (Continuation)
[11] Besides this you know what hour it is, how it is full time now for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; [12] the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; [13] let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day, not in revelling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarrelling and jealousy. [14] But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
_________________
Commentary:
11-14. The Church uses this inspired text in t he liturgy of Advent to help us prepare for the coming of the Lord. Christ came into the world by his Incarnation; he also comes to souls through grace; and at the end of time he will come as Judge. Rising like the sun, he dispelled the darkness when he came into the world, and he continues to dispel whatever darkness remains in souls the more he obtains mastery over the hearts of men.
13-14. Souls who have become members of the Church through Baptism are always in need of conversion to a new life. Sometimes God uses Sacred Scripture to awaken people from their spiritual lethargy. In fact, he used these particular words of Scripture to move the heart of St Augustine and have him take the last step towards casting off the attachments of the flesh. "I felt myself still enslaved by my iniquities, and therefore did I groan to myself, 'How long? How long must I continue saying Tomorrow, tomorrow? Why not now? Why not, at one instant, make an end of all uncleanness?' [...] And behold I heard a voice, like that of a child in the house next door, repeating in a sing-song tone, 'Take up and read. Take up and read' [...]. I rose up [...] and returned to where I had left the book of the Apostle; I took it quickly into my hand, opened it and read in silence the first passage on which my eye happened to fall." Having transcribed the verses we are now commenting, Augustine continues: "I read no further, nor was there any need to; for with the end of this sentence, as by a clear and constant light infused into my heart, the darkness of all former doubts was immediately driven away" ("Confessions", VII, 12, 28-29).
14. All Christians "put on" Christ in Baptism (cf. Gal 3:27). Starting with this initial configuration to Christ, they are steadily transformed into him by frequent reception of the sacraments, particularly the sacrament of Penance. "'"Induimini Dominum Iesum Christum". Put on the Lord Jesus Christ', says St Paul to the Romans. It is in the Sacrament of Penance that you and I put on Jesus Christ and his merits" ([St] J. Escriva, "The Way", 310).
___________________________
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.
Saturday, December 01, 2007
Just for Today, December 2
Then wilt thou rejoice more that thou hast kept silence, than that thou hast made long discourses, or talked much.
- Bk. I, ch. xxiv.
____________________
Some time after she came to Carmel she was appointed aid to Sœur Agnes de Jesus, her beloved "Pauline", in the refectory. Knowing that unnecessary speaking was forbidden, she never once allowed herself to say anything intimate.
"Oh! little Mother, how much I went through at that time!" she said later. "I could not tell you what was in my heart, and I thought you no longer knew me."After five years of this heroic silence, Sreur Agnes was elected Prioress. On the evening of the election "little Therese's" heart must have beat with joy at the thought of at length being able to speak freely to her "little Mother", and pour out her soul to her as of old. However, God so permitted that she saw less than any of the nuns of the Prioress.
- H.
__________________
For a List of Abbreviations, see this post.
Adapted from Just For Today(©1943 Burns & Oates)
Nihil Obstat: Reginaldus Phillips, S.T.L.,Censor deputatus
Imprimatur: Edwardus Myers, Vic. Cap.
- Bk. I, ch. xxiv.
____________________
Some time after she came to Carmel she was appointed aid to Sœur Agnes de Jesus, her beloved "Pauline", in the refectory. Knowing that unnecessary speaking was forbidden, she never once allowed herself to say anything intimate.
"Oh! little Mother, how much I went through at that time!" she said later. "I could not tell you what was in my heart, and I thought you no longer knew me."After five years of this heroic silence, Sreur Agnes was elected Prioress. On the evening of the election "little Therese's" heart must have beat with joy at the thought of at length being able to speak freely to her "little Mother", and pour out her soul to her as of old. However, God so permitted that she saw less than any of the nuns of the Prioress.
- H.
__________________
For a List of Abbreviations, see this post.
Adapted from Just For Today(©1943 Burns & Oates)
Nihil Obstat: Reginaldus Phillips, S.T.L.,Censor deputatus
Imprimatur: Edwardus Myers, Vic. Cap.
Thoughts and Counsels - December 2
No one should think or say anything of another which he would not wish thought or said of himself.
- St. Teresa
_________________________
From Mary, Help of Christians
Part VI, Thoughts and Counsels of the Saints for Every Day of the Year
Compiled by Fr. Bonaventure Hammer, OFM (© 1909, Benziger Brothers)
- St. Teresa
_________________________
From Mary, Help of Christians
Part VI, Thoughts and Counsels of the Saints for Every Day of the Year
Compiled by Fr. Bonaventure Hammer, OFM (© 1909, Benziger Brothers)
Meditation for December 2, The Life of Union
Yesterday, in considering my preparation for Christmas in union with Mary awaiting Jesus, I meditated upon my call to intimacy as one consecrated.
But there is another and more weighty reason for this intimacy, namely, that through baptism I have become a living tabernacle of the Most High.
God has not destined human beings to be merely human beings and nothing more. Over and above my human nature, my soul and body, a life transcending nature has been given me, a supernatural life. This supernatural life consists not only in the presence of a certain something within me, something that purifies my cognitive faculties, but rather in the mysterious yet very real presence of that great Someone who is God Himself.
Why will the Word come to the manger? For His own pleasure? No, indeed, but to restore to the intimate manger of my heart that ineffable Presence of God which original sin banished.
Every soul in grace is a living shrine of the Most High. Every soul in the state of grace, whether in the cloister or in the world, is by virtue of baptism alone called to a magnificent intimacy with God. It is my duty to ponder well this beautiful mystery of God present in my soul.
_________________
Adapted from Meditations for Religious
by Father Raoul Plus, S.J. (© 1939, Frederick Pustet Co.)
But there is another and more weighty reason for this intimacy, namely, that through baptism I have become a living tabernacle of the Most High.
God has not destined human beings to be merely human beings and nothing more. Over and above my human nature, my soul and body, a life transcending nature has been given me, a supernatural life. This supernatural life consists not only in the presence of a certain something within me, something that purifies my cognitive faculties, but rather in the mysterious yet very real presence of that great Someone who is God Himself.
Why will the Word come to the manger? For His own pleasure? No, indeed, but to restore to the intimate manger of my heart that ineffable Presence of God which original sin banished.
Every soul in grace is a living shrine of the Most High. Every soul in the state of grace, whether in the cloister or in the world, is by virtue of baptism alone called to a magnificent intimacy with God. It is my duty to ponder well this beautiful mystery of God present in my soul.
"O Holy Trinity, dwelling within me, make known to me this great secret, that I may not be ignorant of the gift of God which delighted the happy Samaritan woman at the well of Jacob. Let me seek daily to penetrate ever better this splendid reality of Your Presence in me. I wish to live in this nearness to You; to share with You my thoughts, my joys, my sufferings, be they great or small. Since I am never alone, but there are always two, You and I, is it not right that I associate You with all that happens to me and with all that I do?"Here, then, is the first condition of the life of union, complete awareness of this sublime duality.
_________________
Adapted from Meditations for Religious
by Father Raoul Plus, S.J. (© 1939, Frederick Pustet Co.)
1st Sunday of Advent-The Ten Commandments
"Therefore you also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect." St. Matthew 24:44
An eminent lawyer once asked a Catholic friend to suggest some religious book that would appeal to his legal mind. The Catholic urged him to read the Bible. The inquirer thought that his request had been misunderstood. He again tried to make it clear that what he wanted was an explanation of what was in the sacred book. But the Catholic insisted that he start with the inspired text itself. The lawyer asked him:
"Where shall I begin?"
"Begin at the beginning, and read it through," urged his friend.
Now and then the Catholic called upon his legal friend to find that he was faithfully reading part of the Bible every day. But one evening he found the lawyer walking up and down in his office, deep in thought.
"What's on your mind, Bill?" questioned the Catholic.
"I've been reading the Book of Exodus, especially that twentieth chapter, which tells about God giving the Ten Commandments to Moses."
"Well, what about it?" asked his visitor.
"What about it?" echoed the lawyer. "Why, I have been trying to see whether I could add anything to it, but I can't; it takes in everything. Then I've tried to see whether there is any thing that could be left out, to improve it. Nothing can be added or left out."
Then, with earnestness, he exclaimed: "It's perfect."
Truly, the Ten Commandments are a perfect set of laws, whether we look at them from the standpoint of God or from the viewpoint of man. They are often called the "Decalogue," which means ten words, the ten laws which sum up the wish and will of God.
From the very moment when God created man the Almighty imprinted upon the human soul the natural or unwritten law. Man always could tell the difference between right and wrong, good and evil. Man always knew, for instance, that theft and adultery and lying and murder were wrong.
But the mind of man became darkened and his heart hardened. No longer did he see or want to see what was right and what was wrong. God found it necessary to declare His law again and in unmistakable words. How God gave His Ten Commandments to His chosen people we read in the Book of Exodus, Chapter Twenty.
God had given the Jews one favor after another, one blessing, one gift after another. But they were faithless to their Divine Benefactor. They preferred their blind passions and sinful appetites to the law God had planted in their hearts. Then it was that God decided to give them His Commandments in a way that would strike terror in their hearts.
Three months after the chosen people had left Egypt the Almighty assembled them at the foot of Mt. Sinai. He bade them keep three solemn days of preparation, praying, fasting, and purifying themselves from all uncleanness.
The third day dawned bright and clear. The rising sun lit up the summit of Mt. Sinai. Suddenly the scene changed. A black cloud covered the mountain, terrifying peals of thunder rolled along the mountainside, and blinding flashes of lightning skipped through the gathering darkness.
Surrounded by fire, the Lord descended upon the steep summit and called the prophet Moses. The whole mountain seemed wrapped in thick smoke. A trumpet sounded. The people trembled and took to their tents. But God called them forth to hear as He declared to them in tones of thunder His Ten Commandments:
But isn't it impossible to keep these laws? Without God's help, yes. With God's help, no. Some, like Pelagius, an early heretic, taught that man could keep God's law by his natural powers alone. Others, like Calvin, in the 16th century, claimed that with or without grace it was impossible to keep the Commandments.
God's Church, the Catholic Church, teaches that with the help of God everyone can keep the law of God. Countless souls, of every age, sex and condition, have observed the Commandments. Countless others are keeping them today. It can be done. It must be done. God will punish those who deliberately refuse to keep His law. God rewards, even here, those who keep His Commandments.
Heaven and earth and everything in them will pass away, but the word of God, given on Mt. Sinai, and carved into the fleshly tablets of the human heart - God's Ten Commandments - the perfect law - will never pass away. Amen.
_________________________
Adapted from Talks on the Commandments
by Fr. Arthur Tonne, OFM (© 1948)
An eminent lawyer once asked a Catholic friend to suggest some religious book that would appeal to his legal mind. The Catholic urged him to read the Bible. The inquirer thought that his request had been misunderstood. He again tried to make it clear that what he wanted was an explanation of what was in the sacred book. But the Catholic insisted that he start with the inspired text itself. The lawyer asked him:
"Where shall I begin?"
"Begin at the beginning, and read it through," urged his friend.
Now and then the Catholic called upon his legal friend to find that he was faithfully reading part of the Bible every day. But one evening he found the lawyer walking up and down in his office, deep in thought.
"What's on your mind, Bill?" questioned the Catholic.
"I've been reading the Book of Exodus, especially that twentieth chapter, which tells about God giving the Ten Commandments to Moses."
"Well, what about it?" asked his visitor.
"What about it?" echoed the lawyer. "Why, I have been trying to see whether I could add anything to it, but I can't; it takes in everything. Then I've tried to see whether there is any thing that could be left out, to improve it. Nothing can be added or left out."
Then, with earnestness, he exclaimed: "It's perfect."
Truly, the Ten Commandments are a perfect set of laws, whether we look at them from the standpoint of God or from the viewpoint of man. They are often called the "Decalogue," which means ten words, the ten laws which sum up the wish and will of God.
From the very moment when God created man the Almighty imprinted upon the human soul the natural or unwritten law. Man always could tell the difference between right and wrong, good and evil. Man always knew, for instance, that theft and adultery and lying and murder were wrong.
But the mind of man became darkened and his heart hardened. No longer did he see or want to see what was right and what was wrong. God found it necessary to declare His law again and in unmistakable words. How God gave His Ten Commandments to His chosen people we read in the Book of Exodus, Chapter Twenty.
God had given the Jews one favor after another, one blessing, one gift after another. But they were faithless to their Divine Benefactor. They preferred their blind passions and sinful appetites to the law God had planted in their hearts. Then it was that God decided to give them His Commandments in a way that would strike terror in their hearts.
Three months after the chosen people had left Egypt the Almighty assembled them at the foot of Mt. Sinai. He bade them keep three solemn days of preparation, praying, fasting, and purifying themselves from all uncleanness.
The third day dawned bright and clear. The rising sun lit up the summit of Mt. Sinai. Suddenly the scene changed. A black cloud covered the mountain, terrifying peals of thunder rolled along the mountainside, and blinding flashes of lightning skipped through the gathering darkness.
Surrounded by fire, the Lord descended upon the steep summit and called the prophet Moses. The whole mountain seemed wrapped in thick smoke. A trumpet sounded. The people trembled and took to their tents. But God called them forth to hear as He declared to them in tones of thunder His Ten Commandments:
1. I am the Lord thy God, who brought thee out of the Land of Egypt and out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt not have strange gods before me.Here is the most complete and perfect set of laws in the world, given by God Himself, given in a way that was solemn and awful, given to show us the way to heaven, given that we might know what He wants, and, that, doing what He wants, we might someday be with Him.
2. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
3. Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day.
4. Honor thy father and thy mother.
5. Thou shalt not kill.
6. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
7. Thou shalt not steal.
8. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
9. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife.
10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's goods.
But isn't it impossible to keep these laws? Without God's help, yes. With God's help, no. Some, like Pelagius, an early heretic, taught that man could keep God's law by his natural powers alone. Others, like Calvin, in the 16th century, claimed that with or without grace it was impossible to keep the Commandments.
God's Church, the Catholic Church, teaches that with the help of God everyone can keep the law of God. Countless souls, of every age, sex and condition, have observed the Commandments. Countless others are keeping them today. It can be done. It must be done. God will punish those who deliberately refuse to keep His law. God rewards, even here, those who keep His Commandments.
Heaven and earth and everything in them will pass away, but the word of God, given on Mt. Sinai, and carved into the fleshly tablets of the human heart - God's Ten Commandments - the perfect law - will never pass away. Amen.
_________________________
Adapted from Talks on the Commandments
by Fr. Arthur Tonne, OFM (© 1948)
Gospel for Saturday, 34th Week in Ordinary Time
From: Luke 21:34-36
The Need for Vigilance
(Jesus said to His disciples), [34] "But take heed to yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a snare; [35] for it will come upon all who dwell upon the face of the whole earth. [36] But watch at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."
___________________
Commentary:
34-36. At the end of His discourse Jesus emphasizes that every Christian needs to be vigilant: we do not know the day nor the hour in which He will ask us to render an account of our lives. Therefore, we must at all times be trying to do God's will, so that death, whenever it comes, will find us ready. For those who act in this way, sudden death never takes them by surprise. As St. Paul recommends: "You are not in darkness, brethren, for that day to surprise you like a thief" (1 Thessalonians 5:4). Vigilance consists in making a constant effort not to be attached to the things of this world (the concupiscence of the flesh, the concupiscence of the eyes and pride of life: cf. John 2:16) and in being assiduous in prayer, which keeps us close to God. If we live in this way, the day we die will be a day of joy and not of terror, for with God's help our vigilance will mean that our souls are ready to receive the visit of our Lord; they are in the state of grace: in meeting Christ we will not be meeting a judge who will find us guilty; instead He will embrace us and lead us into the house of His Father to remain there forever. "Does your soul not burn with the desire to make your Father-God happy when He has to judge you?" ([St] J. Escriva, "The Way", 746).
___________________________
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.
The Need for Vigilance
(Jesus said to His disciples), [34] "But take heed to yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a snare; [35] for it will come upon all who dwell upon the face of the whole earth. [36] But watch at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."
___________________
Commentary:
34-36. At the end of His discourse Jesus emphasizes that every Christian needs to be vigilant: we do not know the day nor the hour in which He will ask us to render an account of our lives. Therefore, we must at all times be trying to do God's will, so that death, whenever it comes, will find us ready. For those who act in this way, sudden death never takes them by surprise. As St. Paul recommends: "You are not in darkness, brethren, for that day to surprise you like a thief" (1 Thessalonians 5:4). Vigilance consists in making a constant effort not to be attached to the things of this world (the concupiscence of the flesh, the concupiscence of the eyes and pride of life: cf. John 2:16) and in being assiduous in prayer, which keeps us close to God. If we live in this way, the day we die will be a day of joy and not of terror, for with God's help our vigilance will mean that our souls are ready to receive the visit of our Lord; they are in the state of grace: in meeting Christ we will not be meeting a judge who will find us guilty; instead He will embrace us and lead us into the house of His Father to remain there forever. "Does your soul not burn with the desire to make your Father-God happy when He has to judge you?" ([St] J. Escriva, "The Way", 746).
___________________________
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.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Just for Today, December 1
The saints and friends of Christ served the Lord in hunger and thirst; in cold and nakedness; in labor and weariness; in watchings and fastings; in prayers and holy meditations; in persecutions and many reproaches. Alas! what is our life if compared to theirs!
- Bk. I, ch. xviii.
______________________
Her greatest hardship at Carmel was doing without a fire in winter. It is easy to imagine what this delicate child must have endured during the long Norman winters, in the damp climate of Lisieux. When the cold was more intense, after having spent the whole day shivering, the Saint would go and warm herself for a few minutes in the Community room after Matins. But to reach her cell afterwards, she had to walk about forty yards along an open cloister, and the rest of the way up the stairs and down the icy corridor robbed her of the little warmth she had acquired. When she finally lay down on her straw mattress, covered by two thin blankets, she could only get snatches of sleep. Sometimes she spent the whole night awake, shivering with the cold.
If at the beginning of her religious life she had spoken of this to the novice-mistress, she would have been given some relief, but she preferred to endure this severe hardship without complaint. It was only her deathbed that the truth became known, when she admitted: "The greatest physical suffering of my religious life has been from the cold; I suffered from it to such an extent that I nearly died of it."
- H.
__________________
For a List of Abbreviations, see this post.
Adapted from Just For Today(©1943 Burns & Oates)
Nihil Obstat: Reginaldus Phillips, S.T.L.,Censor deputatus
Imprimatur: Edwardus Myers, Vic. Cap.
- Bk. I, ch. xviii.
______________________
Her greatest hardship at Carmel was doing without a fire in winter. It is easy to imagine what this delicate child must have endured during the long Norman winters, in the damp climate of Lisieux. When the cold was more intense, after having spent the whole day shivering, the Saint would go and warm herself for a few minutes in the Community room after Matins. But to reach her cell afterwards, she had to walk about forty yards along an open cloister, and the rest of the way up the stairs and down the icy corridor robbed her of the little warmth she had acquired. When she finally lay down on her straw mattress, covered by two thin blankets, she could only get snatches of sleep. Sometimes she spent the whole night awake, shivering with the cold.
If at the beginning of her religious life she had spoken of this to the novice-mistress, she would have been given some relief, but she preferred to endure this severe hardship without complaint. It was only her deathbed that the truth became known, when she admitted: "The greatest physical suffering of my religious life has been from the cold; I suffered from it to such an extent that I nearly died of it."
- H.
__________________
For a List of Abbreviations, see this post.
Adapted from Just For Today(©1943 Burns & Oates)
Nihil Obstat: Reginaldus Phillips, S.T.L.,Censor deputatus
Imprimatur: Edwardus Myers, Vic. Cap.
Thoughts and Counsels - December 1
If we consider all that is imperfect and worldly in us, we shall find ample reason for abasing ourselves before God and man, before ourselves and our inferiors.
-St. Vincent de Paul
_________________________
From Mary, Help of Christians
Part VI, Thoughts and Counsels of the Saints for Every Day of the Year
Compiled by Fr. Bonaventure Hammer, OFM (© 1909, Benziger Brothers)
-St. Vincent de Paul
_________________________
From Mary, Help of Christians
Part VI, Thoughts and Counsels of the Saints for Every Day of the Year
Compiled by Fr. Bonaventure Hammer, OFM (© 1909, Benziger Brothers)
Meditation for December 1, The Call to Intimacy
Advent begins the preparation for Christmas - that life of closeness to Mary awaiting Jesus. I wish to cull from it a better understanding of my call to intimacy with God.
I am called to INTIMACY with God as one consecrated--
I. By reason of MY VOCATION:
If I examine my vocation from the viewpoint of God's call to me, what do I find? The Good Master stooping to draw me. To what? Certainly not to an ordinary union with Him. If He has distinguished me from my companions of former days, it is to make me His intimate, His chosen one.
II. By reason of MY PROFESSION:
I have been received into the cloister. I have pronounced my Holy Vows. What have I promised? To strive for perfection according to the spirit of the Religious Congregation that accepted me. The essential element of my vocation is simply this: To strive to efface myself and to give my best measure of virtue. The day that voluntarily and definitely I fall short of this ideal, I shall no longer be in the deepest sense a Religious.
III. By reason of MY MISSION:
If my vocation is the contemplative life and I fail to aspire to intimacy, I am a living contradiction.
If, in a certain measure, my vocation entails the exterior apostolate, no matter what its nature, how can I hope to give God to souls if I myself am not exceedingly rich in God?
"O Jesus, I understand; my call to the religious life is a call to Intimacy with You - the closest intimacy. Grant that I may respond to Your expectations, that I may be a true religious according to Your Heart."
_________________
Adapted from Meditations for Religious
by Father Raoul Plus, S.J. (© 1939, Frederick Pustet Co.)
I am called to INTIMACY with God as one consecrated--
I. By reason of MY VOCATION:
If I examine my vocation from the viewpoint of God's call to me, what do I find? The Good Master stooping to draw me. To what? Certainly not to an ordinary union with Him. If He has distinguished me from my companions of former days, it is to make me His intimate, His chosen one.
II. By reason of MY PROFESSION:
I have been received into the cloister. I have pronounced my Holy Vows. What have I promised? To strive for perfection according to the spirit of the Religious Congregation that accepted me. The essential element of my vocation is simply this: To strive to efface myself and to give my best measure of virtue. The day that voluntarily and definitely I fall short of this ideal, I shall no longer be in the deepest sense a Religious.
III. By reason of MY MISSION:
If my vocation is the contemplative life and I fail to aspire to intimacy, I am a living contradiction.
If, in a certain measure, my vocation entails the exterior apostolate, no matter what its nature, how can I hope to give God to souls if I myself am not exceedingly rich in God?
"O Jesus, I understand; my call to the religious life is a call to Intimacy with You - the closest intimacy. Grant that I may respond to Your expectations, that I may be a true religious according to Your Heart."
_________________
Adapted from Meditations for Religious
by Father Raoul Plus, S.J. (© 1939, Frederick Pustet Co.)
Local Priest Resigns as Pastor
The Rev. Vincent Heier has resigned as pastor of All Saints Catholic Church in University City and was "relieved of his duties" as director of the archdiocese's Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, according to a statement from the Archdiocese of St. Louis.Please keep Fr. Heier in your prayers.
Heier led the archdiocese's interfaith office for about 25 years. Earlier this month, he was at the center of a controversy surrounding two Catholic women who were ordained in a St. Louis synagogue as priests of a group called Roman Catholic Womenpriests...
The archdiocese said in a statement that Heier had resigned from All Saints "in order to devote his complete attention to personal matters."
Archbishop Burke approves new oratory for Latin Mass
From the St Louis Review:
Archbishop Raymond L. Burke has announced he is establishing this weekend the Oratory of St. Gregory the Great and St. Augustine of Canterbury at the Abbey of St. Mary and St. Louis in Creve Coeur.The complete article is here.
The oratory will be the new West County home for the regular celebration of the "extraordinary form" of the Mass, commonly known as the traditional or Tridentine Latin Mass.
The decree of erection establishing the oratory will take effect the First Sunday of Advent, Dec. 2.
This will be the archdiocese’s second such oratory, or nonterritorial parish, that has been set aside for the celebration of the Latin Mass. St. Francis de Sales Oratory was the first, established by Archbishop Burke in 2005.
As part of the archbishop’s decree, he appointed Benedictine Father Bede Price to the office of rector of the oratory, effective Dec. 2. That day Father Price will celebrate the first traditional Latin Mass at the oratory at 10:30 a.m.
The oratory will then celebrate Latin Mass Sundays at 10:30 a.m. and Mondays through Saturdays at 7:30 a.m. The Masses will take place in St. Anselm Parish Centre Chapel on the grounds of St. Louis Abbey, 530 S. Mason Road. The site was chosen in part because it is easily accessible to Catholics residing in West County and surrounding areas....
The Canons Regular of the New Jerusalem for the past four years had been celebrating the Latin Mass according to the rites in force in 1962 at the Passionist Monastery in Ellisville. Father [Thomas] Keller began caring for the community of 75 to 100 people when the order left.
Father Price began assisting Father Keller in October. The community now will be served by the oratory at the abbey. Other monks as they are trained in the traditional Latin rite will later assist Father Price, Father Keller said...
Father Price also thanked Father Karl Lenhardt, rector of St. Francis de Sales Oratory, for his strong support and Father Keller for his tireless help "in keeping this little community together..."
Father Lenhardt added he was particularly grateful and pleased the oratory was connected to the Benedictines, who he said are renowned for their care of the liturgy. "I have no doubt this beautiful treasure of the Church is in the right hands at the abbey..."
Minnesota Heat Wave?
HT to DM for the update!
For the second time in less than a week, Archbishop John Nienstedt has been publically vilified for simply communicating the Catholic Church’s teaching on human sexuality.
In today’s Minneapolis Star Tribune, Nick Coleman castigated the Archbishop for his recent column in the Catholic Spirit newspaper in which the Archbishop concisely and charitably explained the Catholic Church's teaching regarding a homosexual's obligation to chastity and the Church's obligation to support and encourage such a chaste lifestyle. Nick Coleman’s criticisms, together with those of other homosexual activists, expose a deep-seated intolerance and hatred some have towards those who hold traditional values regarding human sexuality.
TAKE ACTION
* Click here to send a note of thanks to Archbishop Nienstedt for having the courage to speak-out on the moral teachings of the Church.
* Click here to write a letter to the editor in response to Nick Coleman's article attacking Archbishop Nienstedt.
* Please FORWARD THIS MESSAGE to friends and family members.
Prayer Vigil in support of Bp. Nienstedt and for healing of homosexuality
From our norhern friends, we received this:
For those who cannot make it to the Rosary Prayer Vigil, one can always unite his prayers with those who have gathered there to pray for those who have chosen a path away from Christ and His Church.
2:00 - 3:00 PMCoincidentally, another group, hostile to Church teaching and the natural moral law will be at the Cathedral, as we read in this notice:
Sunday December 2, 2007
Cathedral of Saint Paul
Selby Aveneue Entrance
Rosary exposed.
We will pray all 4 sets of mysteries of the most holy rosary and the divine mercy chaplet and several litanies while processing around the Cathedral for the support of Bishop Nienstedt and for the healing of the affliction and plague of homosexuality, especially in Minnesota.
Do you encourage and support your lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) family members, and friends who accept and express their sexuality?Progressive "Catholic" Voice? Hardly - this position is far removed from the Catholic faith. What we have here are those who have a twisted and distorted understanding of Jesus' mercy and justice.
If so, you're "cooperating in a grave evil," according to Archbishop Nienstedt.
If you find yourself in disagreement with the archbishop's views and would like to see the Church's teaching on homosexuality reformed in light of credible science and the lived experiences of LGBT people and their families, then you're invited to a . . .
Vigil for Solidarity with LGBT Catholics, their families, friends, and supporters
Sunday, December 2, 2007
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Front steps of the Cathedral of St. Paul
St. Paul, MN
We invite you to stand with us as we "promote" Jesus' message of inclusion, justice, and compassion.
For more information, contact Michael Bayly
of The Progressive Catholic Voice
Phone: 612-201-4534
Email: progressivecatholicvoice@gmail.com
For those who cannot make it to the Rosary Prayer Vigil, one can always unite his prayers with those who have gathered there to pray for those who have chosen a path away from Christ and His Church.
The USCCB's "unfortunate" review of "The Golden Compass"
Unfortunate is one way to categorize Harry Forbes' review and the USCCB 'approval'...
Carl Olson also has a nice commentary on this movie at Ignatius Insight here.
Carl Olson also has a nice commentary on this movie at Ignatius Insight here.
"SPE SALVI," the Encyclical Letter
VATICAN CITY, NOV 30, 2007 (VIS) - Benedict XVI's second Encyclical, "Spe Salvi" which is dedicated to the theme of Christian hope, was published today. The document - which has an introduction and eight chapters - begins with a quote from the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans: "spe salvi facti sumus" (in hope we are saved).This article from the Vatican Information Service is continued here.
The chapter titles are as follows: "1. Faith is Hope; 2. The concept of faith-based hope in the New Testament and the early Church; 3. Eternal life - what is it?; 4. Is Christian hope individualistic?; 5. The transformation of Christian faith-hope in the modern age; 6. The true shape of Christian hope; 7. 'Settings' for learning and practicing hope: i) Prayer as a school of hope, ii) Action and suffering as settings for learning hope, iii) Judgement as a setting for learning and practicing hope; 8. Mary, Star of Hope."
The Holy Father explains in his Introduction that "according to the Christian faith, 'redemption' - salvation - is not simply a given. Redemption is offered to us in the sense that we have been given hope, trustworthy hope, by virtue of which we can face our present: the present, even if it is arduous, can be lived and accepted if it leads towards a goal, if we can be sure of this goal, and if this goal is great enough to justify the effort of the journey...."
The Encyclical begins:
IntroductionContinued here...
1. “SPE SALVI facti sumus”—in hope we were saved, says Saint Paul to the Romans, and likewise to us (Rom 8:24). According to the Christian faith, “redemption”—salvation—is not simply a given. Redemption is offered to us in the sense that we have been given hope, trustworthy hope, by virtue of which we can face our present: the present, even if it is arduous, can be lived and accepted if it leads towards a goal, if we can be sure of this goal, and if this goal is great enough to justify the effort of the journey. Now the question immediately arises: what sort of hope could ever justify the statement that, on the basis of that hope and simply because it exists, we are redeemed? And what sort of certainty is involved here?
Gospel for Nov 30, Feast: St. Andrew, Apostle
Old Calendar: St. Andrew
From: Matthew 4:18-22
The First Disciples Called
[18] As He (Jesus) walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. [19] And He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." [20] Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. [21] And going on from there He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and He called them. [22] Immediately, they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.
________________________
Commentary:
18-22. These four disciples had already met our Lord (John 1:35-42), and their brief meeting with Him seems to have had a powerful effect on their souls. In this way Christ prepared their vocation, a fully effective vocation which moved them to leave everything behind so as to follow Him and be His disciples. Standing out above their human defects (which the Gospels never conceal), we can see the exemplary generosity and promptness of the Apostles in answering God's call.
The thoughtful reader cannot fail to be struck by the delightful simplicity with which the evangelists describe the calling of these men in the midst of their daily work.
"God draws us from the shadows of our ignorance, our groping through history, and, no matter what our occupation in the world, He calls us in a loud voice, as He once called Peter and Andrew" ([St] J. Escriva, "Christ Is Passing By," 45).
"This divine and human dialogue completely changed the lives of John and Andrew, and Peter and James and so many others. It prepared their hearts to listen to the authoritative teaching which Jesus gave them beside the Sea of Galilee" ("ibid"., 108).
We should notice the words of Sacred Scripture used to describe the alacrity with which the Apostles follow our Lord. Peter and Andrew "immediately" left their nets and followed Him. Similarly, James and John "immediately" left the boats and their father and followed Him. God passes by and calls us. If we do not answer Him "immediately", He may continue on His way and we could lose sight of Him. When God passes by, He may do so rapidly; it would be sad if we were to fall behind because we wanted to follow Him while still carrying many things that are only a dead weight and a nuisance.
___________________________
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.
From: Matthew 4:18-22
The First Disciples Called
[18] As He (Jesus) walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. [19] And He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." [20] Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. [21] And going on from there He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and He called them. [22] Immediately, they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.
________________________
Commentary:
18-22. These four disciples had already met our Lord (John 1:35-42), and their brief meeting with Him seems to have had a powerful effect on their souls. In this way Christ prepared their vocation, a fully effective vocation which moved them to leave everything behind so as to follow Him and be His disciples. Standing out above their human defects (which the Gospels never conceal), we can see the exemplary generosity and promptness of the Apostles in answering God's call.
The thoughtful reader cannot fail to be struck by the delightful simplicity with which the evangelists describe the calling of these men in the midst of their daily work.
"God draws us from the shadows of our ignorance, our groping through history, and, no matter what our occupation in the world, He calls us in a loud voice, as He once called Peter and Andrew" ([St] J. Escriva, "Christ Is Passing By," 45).
"This divine and human dialogue completely changed the lives of John and Andrew, and Peter and James and so many others. It prepared their hearts to listen to the authoritative teaching which Jesus gave them beside the Sea of Galilee" ("ibid"., 108).
We should notice the words of Sacred Scripture used to describe the alacrity with which the Apostles follow our Lord. Peter and Andrew "immediately" left their nets and followed Him. Similarly, James and John "immediately" left the boats and their father and followed Him. God passes by and calls us. If we do not answer Him "immediately", He may continue on His way and we could lose sight of Him. When God passes by, He may do so rapidly; it would be sad if we were to fall behind because we wanted to follow Him while still carrying many things that are only a dead weight and a nuisance.
___________________________
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.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
U.S. Bishops Give "Golden Compass" a "Thumbs Up"...
...Is anyone really surprised?
For weeks, controversy has surrounded this film as noted here:
Thankfully though, AmericanPapist has been diligently covering the matter, also:
Fauithful Catholics would do well to review the Catholic League articles as well as the commentary by Tom Peters at AmericanPapist before funding and rewarding Pullman and his "Golden Compass"...
For weeks, controversy has surrounded this film as noted here:
“THE GOLDEN COMPASS” SPARKS PROTEST October 9, 2007The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification for this film is A-II -- adults and adolescents. Harry Forbes' glowing yet misinformed review can be read here.
PHILIP PULLMAN’S DECEIT IS APPALLING November 2, 2007
SCHOLASTIC PRESSED ON “THE GOLDEN COMPASS”; NO MORE VENTURES WITH PULLMAN SOUGHT November 13, 2007
“THE GOLDEN COMPASS” PLEASES NO ONE November 20, 2007
“GOLDEN COMPASS” SPIN DOCTORS November 26, 2007
Thankfully though, AmericanPapist has been diligently covering the matter, also:
You’ve probably heard about the controversy surrounding New Line Cinema’s upcoming movie The Golden Compass and the claims that the book it is based on by Philip Pullman is anti-Catholic.This movie deserves to be avoided as do the USCCB movie reviews (Brokeback Mountain, anyone?)...
Today the USCCB Office for Film and Broadcasting released a very favorable review of the movie, discounting the many criticisms and calls for boycotts it has received.
I have commented on the USCCB’s review, and proposed what I think is a compelling argument for why Catholics and other Christians should prudently consider avoiding it.
Fauithful Catholics would do well to review the Catholic League articles as well as the commentary by Tom Peters at AmericanPapist before funding and rewarding Pullman and his "Golden Compass"...
Just for Today, November 30
To bear the cross, to love the cross, to chastise the body and bring it under subjection, to fly honors, to be willing to suffer reproaches, to despise one's self, and wish to be despised; to bear all adversities and losses, and to desire no prosperity in this world, is not according to man's natural inclination.
If thou lookest to thyself, thou canst do nothing of this of thyself. But if thou confidest in the Lord, strength will be given thee from heaven, and the world and the flesh shall be made subject to thee.
- Bk. II, ch. xii.
__________________________
It is true that it costs us much to give Our Lord what He is asking, but what joy it is to feel the cost and carry our cross so weakly! Instead of reproaching Him for having sent us this cross, I cannot fathom the depths of divine love which move Him so to treat us. God must love Father very dearly to send him such suffering. What joy for us to share this humiliation with him!
I know that the only way to sanctity is by humiliations, and our great trial should prove a veritable goldmine for us. I, who am but a little grain of sand, face the task without courage or strength, but my weakness will be victorious, as I undertake to do this out of love. This is the beginning of martyrdom, let us enter the arena together and offer up our sufferings for the salvation of souls.
- L.
__________________
For a List of Abbreviations, see this post.
Adapted from Just For Today(©1943 Burns & Oates)
Nihil Obstat: Reginaldus Phillips, S.T.L.,Censor deputatus
Imprimatur: Edwardus Myers, Vic. Cap.
If thou lookest to thyself, thou canst do nothing of this of thyself. But if thou confidest in the Lord, strength will be given thee from heaven, and the world and the flesh shall be made subject to thee.
- Bk. II, ch. xii.
__________________________
It is true that it costs us much to give Our Lord what He is asking, but what joy it is to feel the cost and carry our cross so weakly! Instead of reproaching Him for having sent us this cross, I cannot fathom the depths of divine love which move Him so to treat us. God must love Father very dearly to send him such suffering. What joy for us to share this humiliation with him!
I know that the only way to sanctity is by humiliations, and our great trial should prove a veritable goldmine for us. I, who am but a little grain of sand, face the task without courage or strength, but my weakness will be victorious, as I undertake to do this out of love. This is the beginning of martyrdom, let us enter the arena together and offer up our sufferings for the salvation of souls.
- L.
__________________
For a List of Abbreviations, see this post.
Adapted from Just For Today(©1943 Burns & Oates)
Nihil Obstat: Reginaldus Phillips, S.T.L.,Censor deputatus
Imprimatur: Edwardus Myers, Vic. Cap.
Thoughts and Counsels - November 30
It is absolutely necessary, both for our advancement and the salvation of others, to follow always and in all things the beautiful light of faith.
-St. Vincent de Paul
_________________________
From Mary, Help of Christians
Part VI, Thoughts and Counsels of the Saints for Every Day of the Year
Compiled by Fr. Bonaventure Hammer, OFM (© 1909, Benziger Brothers)
-St. Vincent de Paul
_________________________
From Mary, Help of Christians
Part VI, Thoughts and Counsels of the Saints for Every Day of the Year
Compiled by Fr. Bonaventure Hammer, OFM (© 1909, Benziger Brothers)
Meditation for November 30, Saint Andrew
St. Peter and St. Andrew seemed to have advanced by a triple invitation from Our Lord. Jesus calls them at first to the knowledge of His person, then to follow Him for a certain period, after which they returned to their fishing (John 1:42; Luke 5:4-7), and finally to the definite vocation of accompanying Him always (Matt. 4:19).
How many stages have marked my vocation, not so much my vocation to the religious life, but my vocation to sanctity? That also has been offered several times. I understood, even in the world, that I ought not to follow the world; it was an immense grace; I did not grasp at first what it meant to leave the world. Little by little, however, I saw it clearly and I left my own, my bark and my nets.
But once in the religious life, all is not finished; it is then only that all begins. It is possible to live in it some years and lead all told only a rather ordinary existence. A moment comes, according to the great masters of the spiritual life, when one is invited to take the step, to break absolutely, definitely as far as possible with weakness, with the last reserves of self-love; and to plunge into sacrifice through love. God touches the soul with His special grace and immediately the soul sees differently from the past. A world is dead; a new life begins. A fidelity already great has encouraged God to ask more; a perfect fidelity is henceforth required; it means that the soul will always be with the Master and the Master always with the soul.
O great Apostles Peter and Andrew, lead me to Jesus. Lead me to His dwelling. Make me to know the secret dwelling places where I have still so much to learn, so many words of love to say and to hear.
_________________
Adapted from Meditations for Religious
by Father Raoul Plus, S.J. (© 1939, Frederick Pustet Co.)
How many stages have marked my vocation, not so much my vocation to the religious life, but my vocation to sanctity? That also has been offered several times. I understood, even in the world, that I ought not to follow the world; it was an immense grace; I did not grasp at first what it meant to leave the world. Little by little, however, I saw it clearly and I left my own, my bark and my nets.
But once in the religious life, all is not finished; it is then only that all begins. It is possible to live in it some years and lead all told only a rather ordinary existence. A moment comes, according to the great masters of the spiritual life, when one is invited to take the step, to break absolutely, definitely as far as possible with weakness, with the last reserves of self-love; and to plunge into sacrifice through love. God touches the soul with His special grace and immediately the soul sees differently from the past. A world is dead; a new life begins. A fidelity already great has encouraged God to ask more; a perfect fidelity is henceforth required; it means that the soul will always be with the Master and the Master always with the soul.
O great Apostles Peter and Andrew, lead me to Jesus. Lead me to His dwelling. Make me to know the secret dwelling places where I have still so much to learn, so many words of love to say and to hear.
_________________
Adapted from Meditations for Religious
by Father Raoul Plus, S.J. (© 1939, Frederick Pustet Co.)
Msgr. Wach meets with Pope Benedict
On Wednesday, October 3, Msgr. Gilles Wach, Prior General of the Institute of Christ the King, had a very special surprise visit with the Holy Father at the Holy Father's General Audience. His Holiness, recognizing Msgr. Wach in the front row, amidst the pilgrims awaiting his passing by, graciously stopped for a short conversation in which he commented on the Institute's large number of vocations, and inquired about its latest developments, including those in America. For images, click here.
UN Committee Further Empowers Controversial CEDAW Committee
Henry Hyde; May he rest in peace
Nov. 29, 2007 (CWNews.com) - Henry Hyde was a big man, in every meaning of that term.Phil Lawler has an excellent commentary on this great man...here.
As a college basketball player, Hyde once guarded George Mikan in a tournament game won by Hyde's Georgetown team. Mikan went on to set the standard by which every "big man" is measured in professional basketball. Hyde set a similar standard for pro-life legislators.
It was in 1976, during his first term in the US Congress, that the Illinois Republican introduced the legislation now known as the "Hyde Amendment," forbidding taxpayer subsidies for abortion. For 30 more years after that success he was the most visible, tireless, and effective pro-lifer in Congress. Blessed with natural eloquence and a quick wit, he could speak with passion and still maintain a cool command of the facts. I know from experience how difficult it was to write a good speech for Henry Hyde; his off-the-cuff remarks were usually more memorable than the prepared text....
May our Lord Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Word of God, say to him, "Today, thou shalt be with Me in paradise."
Time for the Hammer....?
US Catholic Parish set to "Publicly Bless the Relationship of Same-Sex Couples"
Most Reverend Harry J. Flynn
Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
226 Summit Avenue
Saint Paul, MN 55102
(651) 291-4400
communications@archspm.org
Most Reverend John C. Nienstedt
Coadjutor Archbishop
Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
226 Summit Avenue
Saint Paul, MN 55102
(651) 291-4400
communications@archspm.org
Openly challenges Church moral teachingsYou may contact the Archdiocese to express concerns:
By Hilary White
ST. PAUL - MINNEAPOLIS, November 28, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - St. Francis Cabrini church, of the St. Paul and Minneapolis archdiocese, has announced on their website that they are ready to "bless" homosexual partners.
The parish has published a "Statement of Reconciliation" repudiating the Church for its teaching on sexual purity and married chastity and misrepresenting these teachings as a form of "oppression." The statement said the parish will "Publicly bless the relationships of a same sex couple after the couple completes a process of discernment similar to that completed by heterosexual couples before marriage."
The parish statement goes on to pledge that it will publish in the homosexual press their commitment to the homosexual activist agenda and to including "a gay/lesbian perspective in catechesis at all levels, including elementary school age." The parish currently runs catechesis programmes for children from ages three and up.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the pastor of the parish is Fr. Leo Tibesar who is a national leader in the anti-Catholic homosexual lobbying organisation, Dignity. Fr. Tibesar was recorded this week preaching a homily refuting Catholic teaching on sexuality and accusing those who uphold it, including bishops, Cardinals and "Evangelicals", of hypocrisy....
Most Reverend Harry J. Flynn
Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
226 Summit Avenue
Saint Paul, MN 55102
(651) 291-4400
communications@archspm.org
Most Reverend John C. Nienstedt
Coadjutor Archbishop
Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
226 Summit Avenue
Saint Paul, MN 55102
(651) 291-4400
communications@archspm.org
Over 37,000 Catholic religious over 70
News Release via Religion News ServiceMore at California Catholic Daily here.
November 2007, For immediate release
The 20th national annual appeal for the Retirement Fund for Religious will be conducted in Catholic parishes in the United States on Dec. 8-9.
Coordinated by the National Religious Retirement Office of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington, the appeal benefits the projected $9 billion retirement liability of the nation’s religious orders.
In 2006, this appeal distributed $23 million in Basic Grants that benefited 515 of the nation’s Catholic religious institutes, primarily those of women.
“The unfunded retirement liability is difficult and painful to comprehend,” said Sister Janice Bader, a Sister of the Most Precious Blood of O’Fallon, Missouri, and acting director of the National Religious Retirement Office. The appeal, she says, has helped ensure that this liability can become a “manageable concern...”
. . .
More than 37,000 Catholic religious are now past age 70. More than 5,000 women and men require skilled nursing care. While costs for care in a skilled nursing facility in the U.S. average more than $65,000 annually, religious institutes have kept their average cost of skilled nursing care to $49,850....
HB 1804 author blasts bishop's position
In a followup from a report yesterday:
State Rep. Randy Terrill questions the motivation for the support of illegal immigrants.This newest article is here.
The chief author of the state's new immigration law took issue Wednesday with a leading Oklahoma clergyman who called the law unjust and immoral.
Roman Catholic Bishop Ed ward J. Slattery of the Tulsa Diocese this week blasted House Bill 1804 in a 22-page pastoral letter, only his second such letter in 14 years as a bishop....
Terrill said HB 1804 does not criminalize help given to illegal immigrants for purely humanitarian, charitable or religious purposes....
HB 1804 cuts off public assistance to illegal immigrants, and so it threatens the work of Catholic Charities.
"Some in the Catholic hierarchy confuse private charity with public charity," Terrill said. "I'm curious what he (the bishop) finds immoral or unjust. It's neither righteous nor just to provide tax money to illegal aliens; it's just plain wrong. The state shouldn't be in the business of subsidizing illegal aliens. If the church wants to do that, fine, but it shouldn't be using taxpayer money...."
Book bound in martyred Jesuit priest's skin for sale
A macabre 17th century book about the execution of Gunpowder Plot conspirator Father Henry Garnet believed to be bound in the priest's own skin will go under the hammer this Sunday.This brings new meaning to the phrase, "you can't judge a book by its cover".....The link above is to the Catholic Encyclopedia entry for Fr Garnet.
Perhaps most spooky of all, some claim to see an image of the priest's tortured face peering out of the anthropodermic binding of 'A True and Perfect Relation of the Whole Proceedings against the Late Most Barbarous Traitors, Garnet a Jesuit and his Confederats'....
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