Archive for the 'Church' Category

The “Obligation” of Mass

theophilus October 20th, 2009

I finally did it this Sunday – my son was in RFY and the rest of my family was seated in the pew – before the procession began.  First time in a long time that I can remember preceding Father in on Sunday, instead of the other way around.

The great thing about getting to Mass before it began was that I actually got to settle myself down and pray.  And as I prayed, I observed my fellow parishioners coming into the worship space.  And I mused why the place, while crowded, wasn’t packed to the rafters.  After all, we have 3,000 families and 10,000 parishioners, and “only” four Masses.

And I recalled a conversation I recently had with someone who was about to go on vacation.  His wife was spending some time trying to figure out what Mass they would go to while they were out-of-town.  He couldn’t understand why she was doing so; after all, aren’t we excused from the “obligation” of going to Mass when we are on vacation.

I looked at him and said, “you know, some don’t consider Mass to be an obligation.”

And that’s the way I feel – now.  I used to feel that it was an obligation, one of which I could dismiss without good reason.  I didn’t have a clue about the Mass; I missed the whole point; I didn’t fully get what was going on.

Not anymore.

I go to Mass now with the fervent expectation that Christ is going to rock my world.  I know that when I leave, I am going to be healed, strengthened, emboldened, and – at peace.  I know that, at least for that moment, I am united with him and he with me.  He has a hold of me and he will not let go of me – unless I shrug him off and decide to go with my own plan.  I feel the Holy Spirit within me.  I know that the Blessed Mother and the communion of saints (living and dead) have my back.  I know that I have witnessed beauty and grace; I have seen first-hand the love of God.

How could I have been so blind for so long to what was occurring right before my eyes everytime I went to Mass?

How could I have permitted myself to be apathetic, distracted, even angry, while participating in this gift from God himself?

The celebration of the Eucharist is supposed to be the center of our lives.  Sunday Mass is the point in which all we are, all we have done, and all we are expected to be come together.

And I’ve also realized The Church is not the building in which we worship.  The Church is the body of the faithful – one, holy, catholic and apostolic.  As such, our faith and Christ’s gift to us cannot be confined to a physical structure.  After Mass, we must take Christ “out there” to the world.  We must show the face of Christ to all through our thoughts, words,  and actions.

We all must be apostles and win souls for Christ.

And I’m not necessarily talking about talking to people about Christ.  Yes, if approached about our faith, we need to be prepared with an accurate answer.  If we see someone in trouble, we can ask them to pray.  Rather, what I’m talking about is a more subtle approach.

Our parish has a program where parishioners offer to pray for the youth going through confirmation.  I am praying for ten of these kids.  There is a suggested prayer that has a great series of phrases in it -

Help them to live their lives so that others know they are yours.
Help them to spread their faith.
Help them to use words that bless.
Help them to have hands that heal.

Others know who we are by the way we live our lives.  Do you live your life so that others know you are Christ’s?  Do they look at you and see to whom you belong?  Do they look at you and say “I want some of what he is having”?

Participate in Mass with reverence and awe.  Allow Christ to summon you, blow your mind, consume your heart and awaken your soul.  It doesn’t matter whether you are angry, apathetic, disillusioned, or just don’t get it.  Pray to Holy Mary and your Guardian Angel to allow you to see the mystery and the truth unfolding before you each and every Mass.

May the churches be full.  And may we all truly worship God as one Church, with Christ as our head, and the Eucharist as our transforming and redeeming bond.

Catholic Catechism & Abortion

theophilus October 15th, 2009

There is always a great deal of attention paid when the Church, specifically through our bishops, speak out against abortion.  It gets especially interesting when the Church tries to instruct those Catholics who support abortion, either directly or indirectly.

What is generally lost in this debate is a discussion as to why the Church teaches what it teaches on abortion.  Why does the Church stand so strongly on the side of the unborn?  Why must anti-right-to-life Catholics understand that their action or inaction not only contravenes a major tenet of our faith but subverts the foundation of the dignity of man?

I rarely read the Catechism – should read it more, but I don’t.  The other day was the exception.  I happened to pick it up and came across the section on abortion.  I wish I would have read this stuff earlier because the Catechism makes the abortion decision pretty cut and dry.

In paragraph 2270, we hear that-

Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person – among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life.

To support this proposition, the Catechism quotes from Jeremiah 1:5-

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you.

And from Psalm 139:15-

My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately wrought in the depths of the earth.

There is no wiggle room here for any argument that suggests that the unborn child at any stage is anything less than a human being worthy of protection.  God knew us before he formed us; he started his relationship with us before he even made us as man; we were his children from the get-go.

How about those arguments that the Church has only recently came around to a pro-life position?  Paragraph 2271 answers this question-

Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law.

Take a look at this passage from the Didache, one of the earliest writings of the Church, which the Catechism quotes-

You shall not kill the embryo by abortion and shall not cause the newborn to perish.

As for the present, the Church can’t get any stronger than this statement from Guadium et spes-

God, the Lord of life, has entrusted to men the noble mission of safeguarding life, and men must carry it out in a manner worthy of themselves. Life must be protected with the utmost care from the moment of conception: abortion and infanticide are abominable crimes.

The Church has always officially been against abortion and cannot be much clearer or stronger in its views today – did you see the word “abominable” – sounds real weak-kneed to me.

How serious is abortion?  Is it just another social issue to consider?  Look at paragraph 2272-

Formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense. The Church attaches the canonical penalty of excommunication to this crime against human life. “A person who procures a completed abortion incurs excommunication latae sententiae,” “by the very commission of the offense,” (Codex Iuris Canonici) and subject to the conditions provided by Canon Law.

Another one of those wishy-washy words – “excommunication.”

But paragraph 2272 doesn’t stop with the punishment-

The Church does not thereby intend to restrict the scope of mercy. Rather, she makes clear the gravity of the crime committed, the irreparable harm done to the innocent who is put to death, as well as to the parents and the whole of society.

This teaching is all about mercy and redemption for those involved in abortion; that no matter the offense, Christ will still love and forgive us.  Like every other offense against God and man, we can seek and find salvation.  And by extension, every one of us is called to pray for, love and forgive each person involved with abortion.

Paragraph 2272 also talks about the harm done to the parents and society.  Not only does the unborn child suffer, but so do the mother, the father and society as a whole.  Abortion impacts all of us.

Paragraph 2273 goes further and talks about the role of abortion in society and how life is an inalienable right, even for the unborn.  And for those Catholic politicians out there that try to compartmentalize their faith on this issue, the Church gives some instruction-

The inalienable right to life of every innocent human individual is a constitutive element of a civil society and its legislation. (emphasis not added).

The Church provides some passages from Donum Vitae, from the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, to further illustrate this point-

The inalienable rights of the person must be recognized and respected by civil society and the political authority. These human rights depend neither on single individuals nor on parents; nor do they represent a concession made by society and the state; they belong to human nature and are inherent in the person by virtue of the creative act from which the person took his origin. Among such fundamental rights one should mention in this regard every human being’s right to life and physical integrity from the moment of conception until death.

The moment a positive law deprives a category of human beings of the protection which civil legislation ought to accord them, the state is denying the equality of all before the law. When the state does not place its power at the service of the rights of each citizen, and in particular of the more vulnerable, the very foundations of a state based on law are undermined….As a consequence of the respect and protection which must be ensured for the unborn child from the moment of conception, the law must provide appropriate penal sanctions for every deliberate violation of the child’s rights.

In other words, the unborn child deserves the protection of the laws, period.

How about the argument that disabled children should be diagnosed in the womb and aborted for their own sake?

Let’s turn to paragraph 2274-

Since it must be treated from conception as a person, the embryo must be defended in its integrity, cared for, and healed, as far as possible, like any other human being.

Again, we have guidance from Donum vitae-

Prenatal diagnosis is morally licit, “if it respects the life and integrity of the embryo and the human fetus and is directed toward its safe guarding or healing as an individual…. It is gravely opposed to the moral law when this is done with the thought of possibly inducing an abortion, depending upon the results: a diagnosis must not be the equivalent of a death sentence.”

What a great line – “a diagnosis must not be the equivalent of a death sentence.”

Abortion is unacceptable in a civilized society.  In the Catechism, the Church strongly and emphatically lays out the reasons why.  The unborn child is a human being in need of the protection of society.  No legal, political, mental, emotional, logical, or theoretical gymnastics can subvert this fact or the fact the unborn child is as worthy as we are to be treated with simple human dignity.

I need to read more of the Catechism.  I might actually learn something.

Holy Father’s Monthly Intentions

theophilus October 6th, 2009

It is a tradition for the Pope to express his Monthly Intentions for the Church.  There is a General Intention and a Missionary Intention.  If you pray a Morning Offering when you wake up, you probably offer your day in part for the special intentions of the Holy Father this month.

October’s General Intention is – that Sundays may be lived as the day on which Christians gather to celebrate the Risen Lord in the table of the Eucharist.

I was thinking about this intention on the way to Mass this Sunday.  We pass a Protestant church on the way to St. Max.  This Sunday, I started to think aloud and said rather poignantly while pointing to the full parking lot – “hey guys, the real thing is down the street . . . come on and join us.”

My wife then looked at me with bewilderment, hushed me, and then rebuked me by reminding me that my little girl’s best friend attends that church and I shouldn’t be saying such things.  But then she got to the crux of the matter and said “what, do you think they’re going to go to hell because they’re not Catholic?”

“Whoa there honey – I said no such thing.”

I happen to believe that our salvation does not depend upon us being Catholic.  God is going to extend his mercy to us through his Son to more than those who have accepted his call to join in the one, holy, Catholic and apostolic Church.

But, it is only in that one, holy, Catholic and apostolic Church that we can receive Him, come into communion with Him, experience the Real Presence of Him.  Even the good, holy Christians that attend the Church we passed last Sunday would agree that they do not acknowledge the Real Presence.  It’s only Catholics that accept that Christ, through the Holy Eucharist, is truly present with us and invites us to be one with him, to be one with each other through Him.

And that is what I do not get about those of the Protestant Christian faiths.  Why deny yourself this divine gift?  Why reject Christ himself?  There is a strength, a saving grace, a spiritual high that I get with communion. Christ gives us the gift of Him through Holy Communion; and we either accept it as part of our birthright and who we are, or we reject it.

In the Anima Christi, we extol the virtues of receiving communion -

Soul of Christ, sanctify me
Body of Christ, save me
Blood of Christ, inebriate me
Water from the side of Christ, wash me
Passion of Christ, strengthen me
O good Jesus, hear me
Within Thy wounds hide me
Separated from Thee let me never be
From the malicious enemy defend me
In the hour of my death call me
And bid me come unto Thee
That I may praise Thee with Thy saints
and with Thy angels
Forever and ever
Amen

Sanctification, salvation, inebriation, cleansing, strengthening, listening, protection, union, defending – all from the Real Presence, all from Holy Communion.

There is a prayer of St. Thomas Aquinas that goes something like -

“O Sacred Banquet, where the body of Christ is received, the memory of his passion is renewed, the soul is filled with grace, and the pledge of future glory is given to us.”

Again, why deny yourself this gift, dining at this sacred banquet.

Yet, other Christian faiths deny themselves this grace.  And I guess that is what the Holy Father is pointing out with his general intention this month. 

That Sundays may be lived as the day on which Christians gather to celebrate the Risen Lord in the table of the Eucharist.

Let us pray for our fellow Christians this month.  We shouldn’t jump to “what, do you think they’re going to go to hell because they’re not Catholic?”  Instead, we should be grateful that they share our belief in the Risen Lord, while also praying that they may gather with us at the table of the Eucharist to truly celebrate Christ our Lord.

And we can pray that our fellow Catholics embrace this special grace that is there for the taking if only they will accept it.

Catholicism & Running Groups

theophilus September 7th, 2009

I am a Catholic and a runner, and I”m starting to see some similarities between the two.

I was six months into my forties when I issued myself a challenge – to run a half-marathon.  It didn’t matter that I had never run more than a mile at a time, ever.  I was struggling with being 40 and I decided I needed something to help me forget how fast my life was accelerating.

That was a couple of years ago.  It didn’t take long for me to catch the running bug (or addiction, as my wife calls it).

Now, after a handful of half-marathons, I’ve decided to step it up and try a full marathon this November.

In the past, I’ve always trained alone.  Unfortunately, it’s too often the way I undertake the challenges in my life, alone.  But this attempt at a full is going to be the third time I’ve committed to one, and the other two times I backed out.

So, to help with my training this time, I’ve joined a running group put together by a local running store.  Twice a week, 20-40 runners each time, all ages, all levels of ability.

And I’ve noticed that my mileage for each run has increased, my pace has improved dramatically, and my body is starting to look better than it did in my twenties.  I’m pushing myself harder and harder.  I’m not skimping on my runs.  There are no more excuses.  I’m persevering through more adversity because there is no give up when you’re running with others.

The best part of running groups is that there is always someone to chase, always someone to push you from behind.  Even on long runs (the other day was 16 miles), when I may lose contact with other runners, I know there is someone ahead of me and someone behind me, somewhere.  And that thought keeps me running.  There’s an accountability, a comradeship, a commonality, a connection, a universality . . .

a catholicism.

There is really only one way to run, putting one foot down and then the other.  There is really only one goal in running, to finish the run you’re on.  Whether you’re going it alone or in a running group, I have finally realized that there are hundreds of thousands of runners throughout the world, hitting the pavement or the treadmill at that moment in time, doing exactly what you are doing, putting one foot down and then the other, pushing to finish the run.

You know that the world-class athletes are out, and so are the plodders.  Every Saturday, there is a race somewhere with runners pushing themselves to their best, connecting to something deep inside of them.

Runners each run for their own reasons.  Some are running to something; some are running away from something.  Some are running because that is just what they have always done.

But for whatever reason you run, you eventually figure out that you do not run alone.  Even in the darkest hours of the dawn, you know there is someone else out, heart rate up, mind clearing out the sleep, ears listening to the wonderful sounds of the cadence of their footfall.

Sitting in Mass yesterday, I realized that our parish and Church are a lot like running.  Every Sunday, we know there are millions of Catholics throughout the world who are celebrating pretty much the exact Mass with the same readings and prayers.  While there are variations, the Mass is essentially the same throughout the world.  Christ is present in the consecration in every Mass, in every tabernacle, in the world.

We also know that no matter when we pray our traditional prayers, we know there is someone else somewhere in the world praying those prayers – the Hail Mary, the Our Father, the Glory Be.  When we profess the Creed, it is the same Creed, the same profession of our faith everywhere in the world.  Whether it’s the modest St. Joseph’s in rural Ohio or the Notre Dame, two strangers from the farthest reaches of the world can pull out their Rosaries and begin to pray together.

No matter our wealth, intelligence, job status, or achievements, we are all equal in the eyes of Christ and have a rightful place in front of his altar.  No matter our failings and sins, his home is our home and we are invited into it, wherever we are in the world.  Redemption, salvation, grace, consolation, healing, subsistence are available to each of us in the fullest of measure.

In the Church, we are never alone.  In Christ, we are united to our brothers and sisters, living and dead, in the faith.  We pray for them, knowing they are praying for us.  We may worship with them in community, or worship in the silence of our hearts and homes, but we are still worshiping together.  Our voice is a common, united, Catholic voice carrying itself to the eternal reaches of heaven.

In running, you are never alone, even though it may be the most solitary of sports.  In the Church, we are never alone, even in the deepest solitude of our worship, devotion and prayer.

That is one of the majestic mysteries of our faith; that is one of the enduring truths of  the Catholic Church.

In the Church, we are never alone.  There are a billion others in this with us, putting one foot down and then the other, trying to finish their run.

Holy Water, Precious Blood and Swine Flu

theophilus July 15th, 2009

Due to the Swine Flu, the Anglican Bishop of Chelmsford, the Right Reverend John Gladwin, has banned the use of holy water and seems to be on the path towards doing the same for “the wine in the chalice” (his quote).

I don’t know much about the Anglican Church, except for some studies on King Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I, but I gather they tie themselves into some theological knots.

But, with all of the stories of the Swine Flu, we have some good questions to ask of ourselves in the Catholic Church.  Do we really believe that Holy Water is a divine reminder of our baptism and a sacramental that can heal the spiritually and physically sick, and do we believe that the “wine in the chalice” is the Precious Blood of Christ?  And, do we decline these gifts out of fear or indifference?

If someone is sick, it is probably prudent for everyone’s state of mind if they go to the priest for other arrangements in receiving the cup and holy water.  But, if we are not sick, are we still denying ourselves the Blood of Christ and Holy Water because we are afraid of what we might catch or because we just don’t care?

It’s a tough call in this age of pandemic alerts, but do we really believe what the Church teaches about Holy Water and the Precious Blood?

Do we deny ourselves the blessing of saying -

“By this Holy Water and your Precious Blood, wash away my sins, O Lord.”

As Catholic Online.org tells us -

St. Theresa of Avila on holy water: “From long experience I have learned that there is nothing like holy water to put devils to flight and prevent them from coming back again. They also flee from the cross, but return; so holy water must have great value.”

Holy water is a means of spiritual wealth — a sacramental that remits venial sin. The Church strongly urges its use, especially when dangers threaten. The devil hates holy water because of its power over him. He cannot long abide in a place or near a person that is often sprinkled with this blessed water.

I’m not sure if Bishop Gladwin was too reactionary, but I can’t help but think that similar actions on the part of our bishops would call into question basic tenets of our faith.  In any case, we must remember that Holy Water and the Precious Blood are gifts from God; we should not decline them lightly.

Weekday Solemnities

theophilus June 24th, 2009

It was only recently that I started to understand the difference between the different types of days on the Church calendar.  I couldn’t tell you the difference between solemnities, feasts, memorials, optional memorials and ferial days. I thought feast days were all the same.

So, as I began to learn about the Church calendar, I started to understand its structure and what the Church is trying to teach us as the year unfolds.  I also began to understand why solemnities are reserved for the most important days during the year.

Most solemnities are well-observed (Easter & Christmas) or fall on Sunday (Epiphany, Holy Trinity, Corpus Christi, Christ the King).  Holy Days of Obligation are also solemnities (Mary, Mother of God; Ascension; Assumption; All Saints; Immaculate Conception).

But there are a few solemnities that do not fall on Sunday and are not Holy Days of Obligation.  These are St. Joseph (March 19), the Annunciation (March 25), Sacred Heart (Friday after 2nd Sunday after Pentecost), Sts. Peter & Paul (June 29), and St. John the Baptist (today, June 24).

All of these days are important to us and allow us to spend time thinking and praying about great people in the life of Jesus and the Church, as well as great mysteries that form the foundation of our faith.

With today being one of these most important of remembrances, we should spend some time thinking about the life of St. John the Baptist, what he meant to Christ’s ministry, and what he means to us today.

He was the voice crying in the wilderness.  He prepared the way for the Lord.  He was the fulfillment of prophecy.  He taught repentance, conversion, salvation and forgiveness.

This is a great day to go to Mass, pray the Rosary, read the story of St. John in Luke 1.  It is also a great day to think about whether you are listening to God through the people he has sent into your life; whether you need to get to confession to ask for forgiveness; whether you need to change things in your life; whether you are accepting the gift of salvation from Christ and are serving him.

Are you doing God’s will as St. John did?

Today, place yourself on the banks of the Jordan River and listen to what St. John has to tell you; listen to what Christ has to tell you.

Sunday Solemnities

theophilus June 3rd, 2009

As every Catholic knows, Sunday Mass has the prime spot on the church calendar.  It is the centerpiece of a devout Catholic’s week and a fixture on their schedule.

But, let’s take a quick quiz – how many Sundays in the Liturgical Calendar have special significance over and beyond being a “# Sunday of [Advent][Lent][Easter][Ordinary Time]?”  How many are considered Solemnities, the highest form of celebration on the calendar (above feasts, memorials, and optional memorials)?

Of all of these special days, Easter is the easiest to come to mind.  I don’t know if Palm Sunday is considered a solemnity, but it would fall into the category of being pretty memorable.  How about the  Epiphany (2nd Sunday after Christmas) and Christ the King (Last Sunday of Ordinary Time before Advent), both of which are solemnities?

There are also two other Sundays in Christmas that have a special spot on the calendar – Holy Family (1st Sunday after Christmas and a feast) and the Baptism of the Lord (1st Sunday of Ordinary Time and a feast)?

These days are important to us, to our faith; yet we tend to gloss over some of them.  Other than Easter and Palm Sunday, they become just another Sunday with no real significance to us.

And that’s a shame because each of these Sundays carries so much meaning about Christ, that we short-change our spiritual lives when we treat these days as nothing special.

That is why I’m really trying to pay attention to the period of Sundays we are in now, because they are all solemnities.  Two Sundays ago was Ascension Sunday; last Sunday was Pentecost Sunday; next Sunday is Trinity Sunday; and then the next Sunday is Corpus Christi Sunday.  Throw in Sacred Heart Friday (solemnity) and Immaculate Heart Saturday (memorial) for the weekend thereafter.  Six very holy days (five of which are solemnities) following distantly behind the Resurrection, and centered around the Ascension and the Pentecost.  It is a period when we reflect upon separate parts of Christ’s life and his being, and the very essence of the triune God.  Six very holy days that always occur together.

The Nicene Creed, which we pray most every Sunday, professes that we believe in one God, in one Lord, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Spirit.  We believe in Jesus Christ ascended into heaven and that the Holy Spirit is the giver of life who has spoken through the prophets.  We believe that Christ was born of the virgin Mary and became man and that for our sake he was crucified, suffered, died and was buried.  In these passages of the Creed, our Creed, we have the essence of these holy days during these four plus weeks.

As the priest exclaims at baptisms, this is our faith, this is the faith of our church.  As these six holy days say so much about our faith, we need to make sure we are paying attention to them, instead of just letting them float on by, on our way between Easter and the laziness of Summer.

St. Pius V and Other Heroes for Our Times

theophilus April 30th, 2009

St. Pius V, whose feast day is today, was the lucky pope who had the job of implementing the major reforms of the Council of Trent.

In the 16th Century, Europe was in turmoil; the Church was disintegrating; large segments of laity and clergy were in open rebellion against the Holy See.

By 1545, the Reformation was in full swing; St. Thomas More’s head was off; and the Church was taking its good ole’ time in responding to threats to its very existence.

Finally, Pope Paul III got the long awaited Council of Trent started. Two other popes (Julius III and Pius IV) would preside over the Council before its conclusion in 1563.

The results were as, if not more, transformational than Vatican II. It made major reforms that carved away the abuses in the Church while strengthening the divinely inspired tradition and dogma that were under fierce attack at the time.

To execute the reforms, the Church turned to Pope St. Pius V. He fearlessly implemented these reforms and laid the groundwork for the next four hundred years of the Church.

At a perilous time for the Church and his society, he stepped up and got the job done.

In reading about St. Pius V, I also noticed other names coming up; names well-known to us, who also stepped up during this incredible era in history.  Saints with the names of Ignatius of Loyola, Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, Francis de Sales, Vincent de Paul, Charles Borromeo, Robert Bellarmine, Philip Neri, Peter Alcantara, Francis Xavier. Great saints; great writers; great preachers; great reformers. A collection of larger than life heroes called by God to do great work at this one particular moment.

And I wonder. Did these individuals make their era or did their era make them? If they were collectively born in another quieter and less significant era, would they have been so great? Were they called to greatness because they were needed or could others have done the trick?  Did God place these individuals in the 16th Century precisely because they would be needed?

I believe we live in times that require great people, true heroes who are larger than life. My question is whether God has provided us with this greatness? And have they, will they, step up and answer the call?

I have no doubt that Pope John Paul II did play and Pope Benedict XVI is playing the part of Pius V in our times. But, who are the other saints in our midst?

Is one of these saints, you?

Duty to Call Out Easter Catholics?

theophilus April 13th, 2009

Does a father have a duty to call out their children when they are doing something that is not within their best interests?

Of course, we do.  Fathers are always instructing, guiding, cajoling, pressuring their children to walk the right path.  And sometimes we have to take a rather direct and pointed approach.  It’s how we fulfill our responsibility to help our kids live the lives they are supposed to lead.

But, sometimes it appears to be different when the father is “Father” and the children are parishioners.  It especially appears to be different when the parishioners step inside the church twice a year.

Yesterday, my parish was so crowded that the gym was used as overflow, complete with a closed circuit projection screen.  In other words, the Easter Catholics were out in force.

And Father took the occasion to make it a teaching moment.  He poignantly stated that if the flock who showed up once or twice a year really believed in the Resurrection, they would come to Mass frequently.

Frank, straightforward, honest, to the point.

When I was at dinner, I heard an earful from my family as the story was told.  “We should just be glad they show up at all.”  “How does Father expect to get them back if he attacks them?”  “Our priest simply said that ‘I want to remind everyone that we are open on weekends.’”

So, which is it?  Should we just be happy they are there, or should we get in their heads that it’s not ok if they skip Sunday Mass?

I guess it depends on how you view Sunday Mass and your eternal life.

Is Sunday Mass just a spot on the calendar when your neighbors get together to sing and talk; or is it the center of your week when you are invited into the most intimate and holy communion with Christ our King and Savior?  Can you ensure the quality of your eternal life by thinking of God now and then, or are you supposed to make Christ the very essence of your life, living every moment in perfect tune with him?  And can you live such a life going to Mass once or twice a year?

Mass isn’t an event or appointment.  It’s not like our weekly management meeting, kid’s soccer game, or poker night.  It is the fulfillment of our lives when we gather the divine strength and wisdom needed to live our lives the way God intends for us to live it.  It is when we are renewed and recharged.

So, if we are missing out on something so important, so vital, so essential to our lives here on earth and our eternal life, shouldn’t our Father, who has been charged with not losing us, shouldn’t he call us out if we are missing out on something as important as Mass?

With Easter Catholics, I really doubt that the soft-glove approach works.  I really doubt that the Say-Nothing Approach works either.  True, the Holy Spirit may still spark a flame, but sometimes the Holy Spirit needs to use a knock alongside the head.

Yesterday, Father said what needed to be said.  He was a shephard leading his flock.

Let’s hope, someone took it to heart and will be back this Sunday.  I won’t mind sitting in the gym if they are there.

The Pope & the Speaker

theophilus February 20th, 2009

There are two churches on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. – St. Peter’s on the House side, St. Joseph’s on the Senate side.  In their tabernacles, the real presence of Christ surrounds the Capitol.  Some Catholic Congressmen choose to acknowledge his presence both before the tabernacle and with their votes.

Their votes are joined by like-minded members of other faiths who realize that our laws need to be predicated on a moral and natural law that just so happens to come from God.  It also just so happens that these laws are embodied in the teachings of Christ.

It is not an issue of the separation of church and state; our founding fathers drew this very connection between the basis of our laws and the moral and natural law promulgated by God.

Believing as I do in the primacy of natural and moral law, I often wonder how some politicians can take policy positions that are diametrically opposed to Church teachings, say on abortion, and still sit in church on Sunday.  Isn’t there any sense of guilt or that something just isn’t right?  Don’t they question that maybe the Church is onto something and that, yes, their eternal lives may be at stake?  If they actually go to confession, do they fail to do even one moment of examination of conscience?  How do they rationalize what they do and say on the national stage?

Do they truly look themselves in the mirror?  I’m especially thinking about those who started out their political career pro-life and “grew” in their understanding of the issue concerning “a woman’s reproductive rights.”

The Speaker of the House had an opportunity this week presented to very few of us – a member of the Catholic laity meeting privately with the Holy Father.  For most of us, it would have been a moment of profound humility and interior reflection.  But, it appears that she decided to take the opportunity to “educate” the Pope, instead of accepting personal, spiritual direction from the direct apostolic successor to St. Peter.

What she may have failed to realize is that the Holy Father was probably most concerned with her soul, and those Catholic politicians who take similar culture of death positions.  Very few really know, but I bet she presented herself at this meeting failing to realize that she, like us, is a member of his flock, for which he is accountable to God.  She probably tried to ignore her abortion positions the same way we try to ignore certain sins while in the confessional.

And we have all been like her in one way or another, for we are all sinners and in need of understanding and redemption.  We have all done things in our lives that we have ignored, rationalized or just lied to ourselves about.  I, for one, didn’t go to confession for years because I didn’t want to face the hard questions I was getting while at Mass about my life choices.  I was in the pews on Sunday but hiding from Christ all the same.

Politicians need our prayers, because it is so easy to get spiritually lost while in power.  The soul tends to get buried underneath an avalanche of rationalizations.

Nothing is hopeless with God.  Christ can reach even the most virulent of the culture of death crowd.  If he can reach the “Roe” of Roe v. Wade, he can get through to anyone.

I would venture a guess that the Holy Father included the Speaker in his private prayers this week.  We are called by Christ to do the same.

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