America Magazine

Some of you may read America Magazine. I found this interesting article about how they published an ad that featured a statue of the virgin Mary covered in a condom. The person who put the ad there claimed that he did it in protest of the church's stance on contraception.

I have two questions that come to mind. #1: Should we really believe that America didn't know that this was a part of their magazine?

And, #2: how is an ad like this going to have any effect but to prove that the people who are pro-contraception are really just anti-catholic?

Santa Benedict?

What is this world coming to? click here

A new vatican representative

I was reading on Catholic News Service this morning that the pope as appointed a new representative to the U.S. You can read all about it here.

You will learn that this man served in the Holy Land, which made me wonder if there is a parallel between the relationship of liberals to conservatives to the relationship of Palestinians to Conservatives?

Give the gift of yourself

There is a story told about a little boy whose father worked very hard at a very important job often bringing work home with him to do at night. One such night, the little boy came into his father’s study and stood for a while unnoticed. Finally, his somewhat oblivious father sensed his son’s presence, acknowledged him, and asked what his son wanted. The son asked the normal pleasantry question about what his father was doing to which his father replied something about earning his paycheck. The son then asked how much the father made per hour, a question that seemed to irritate the boy’s father. Figuring that his son was in some kind of silly game of comparison with classmates at school, the father told him that that was a very rude question and that it was none of his business. The son left the room and returned a few minutes later. The father, annoyed at being distracted and still thinking about how rude the son’s question was finished the sentence he was writing and then quickly looked up to find his son holding a small ceramic pig with an Iowa State Cyclone emblem on the side. The son opened the bottom of the pig and, much to the surprise of his father, emptied a few quarters, nickels, dimes, and many many pennies onto his desk. He looked at the tear stained eyes of his son who asked, “I’d like to buy one hour. Is this enough?” The father smiled at his son, put down his pen, and went to spend time with his son. And he never brought work home again.

For the past several weeks, I’ve heard a lot of people talking about the obnoxious level of commercialism that plagues Christmas. A lot of people recognize that this is a problem but few offer any kind of solution. I believe that we hear a solution in the scriptures today. The first reading and gospel are one of the few times when it is apparent that one passage is directly citing another. In the first reading, Nathan, speaking on behalf of God, promises David an heir who will be great and a son of God. In the gospel, the angel Gabriel, speaking on behalf of God, tells Mary Jesus “will be great” and will be called the “Son of God.” In the first reading, Nathan promises David a kingdom forever; in the gospel, Gabriel tells Mary “of his kingdom there will be no end.” In the first reading Nathan promises David an everlasting throne. In the gospel, Gabriel promises Mary that Jesus will inherit the throne of David his Father.
Yet, there is a striking difference between these readings as well that give us instruction as we approach Christmas. In the first reading, David feels blessed by God. The Ark of the Covenant, which had been traveling all over Israel to be kept safe, arrives in Jerusalem. His troubles with Saul’s daughter were resolved by God who made her barren. David has it made. So, he wants to do something nice for God for all the good things God has done for him. He decides to build a house or, more precisely, a temple. The problem is that God didn’t ask for a house. He didn’t even want one! He was perfectly fine in his tent. Instead, God decides that he’s going to build a house for David, a lineage so that all of David’s offspring can serve God.

Mary is also coming off of a pretty good stretch. She has got engaged to Joseph, an event that, I’m told, is very exciting. But, Mary’s first act is not to go out and get a gift for God in thanks. She didn’t sacrifice the fattened calf. Mary, instead, thanked God for her good fortune. She simply spent time with God in prayer. This thankful attitude is what allowed her to be the first tabernacle for the body of Christ.

This, then, is the antidote to the problem of commercialism; to focus on relationships instead of things. In other words, our first and foremost gift this time of year should be more about time than money or trinkets. No amount of money, no perfect toy, no ticket to a bowl game is as important as being with the people we love and being with our God…though tickets to Iowa State’s bowl game come close. But, seriously, now is the perfect time to take some time to be with those we love and spend time with God in prayer. Don’t make God send a prophet, an Angel, or a crying child to get you to do it.

a bit of humor

In reading some blogs, I found this entry. My favorite part is

"If you liked the hip cool not-so Mediterranean, Wonder White Bread-o-life iPod Jesus, then you'll just love the Talking Jesus Christ Doll. Comes complete with the patented kung fu grip bearing an authentic sword of the spirit AK-47 (not pictured). Your kids will become the talk of their Bible studies as they learn life verses such as 2 Kings 2:23-24 and John 11:35 merely by pulling the Savior's string. "

Narnia

Today is my day off, my sabbath rest. I used part of it to go see the new movie "The chronicles of Narnia". It's a good movie and has some of the major Christian symbols.

I hope this doesn't ruin the movie for you but, if so, sorry. The most important part of the book is that there is this hundred year winter that is only stopped when Azlan comes back to life after death. Yet, this movie got that all wrong! That was disappointing. Not so disappointing that I left in a huff but enough to make me a little sad.

Rejoicing with Mary

When you think of someone who is really holy, what are some of the characteristics that come to mind? Do you think of a monk off in a cave in the middle of the desert fasting and praying constantly? What about the parents of five kids doing their best to raise faithful children by teaching them how to pray and coming to church? What about a sister working in the inner city of a major metropolitan area teaching poor students? What do their faces look like? Are they joyful?

Today is traditionally called “Gaudate Sunday” from the latin phrase, “Let us rejoice.” We get this phrase from St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians that is the opening antiphon to today’s mass, though we hear it just as strongly in the second reading today from Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians. Paul says to us, “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” This joy is a constitutive element of Christianity. We are to rejoice always. Our prayer is filled with rejoicing for the God who has accomplished so much in Christ Jesus. This means that we joyfully give thanks, which is another way of saying the word Eucharist. We cannot live dour lives if we are faithfully giving thanks for what God has accomplished in Christ Jesus. This is a distinctive feature of Christianity. Atheism leads to futility, frustration, and lack of meaning. Hedonism, or love of pleasure, cannot find joy in suffering and pain. Christianity, on the other hand, leads us to a profound sense of thankfulness and can even see through the pain of this world to the joy we will have in our everlasting home in heaven.

But St. Paul is no Pollyanna; He’s a saint. He recognizes three things that can take away the joy of faith. First he says, “Do not quench the Spirit.Do not despise prophetic utterances. Test everything; retain what is good. Refrain from every kind of evil.” Let’s face it, along our journey, there are people with different gifts. Some people are better at things than we are and, for some of us, there seems to be a lot of people that are better at things than we are. I can almost guarantee that all of you are better at science and math than I am. That’s not the way that my brain works. The danger is when someone is good at living the holy life. We can get jealous of them and their spirituality. This may lead us to try and prove the hypocrisy of them or we may try to copy their spirituality and find that it is not ours. This is why we are to try it out. If it draws you to God then it is good. If not, then don’t do it. This wisdom also governs the church’s attitude to private revelation. In other words, when people see an image of Mary or receive an appearance of Mary somewhere, the church never mandates belief in that because it is a personal, private experience that helps them grow in faith. If it helps other people to draw closer to God, then we tell them to retain it. If it doesn’t, then refrain from it.

So, living a joyful life means that we are called to live a life of holiness. Paul says, “May the God of peace make you perfectly holyand may you entirely, spirit, soul, and body, be preserved blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” This life of holiness to which we are called is the definition of a joyful life. Sin is what brings about sadness. In our Eucharistic Prayer, it says, “Your Spirit is at work when understanding puts an end to strife, when hatred is quenched by mercy, and vengeance gives way to forgiveness.”Yet, the life of holiness itself can seem like a frustration. Oftentimes, in trying to rid ourselves of sin, we can become so fixated on our inadequacies that we can lose light of the forgiveness of God. There are people who become so fixated on this that they will confess the same sin over and over again. Others, in their frustration, simply stop trying to live the life of holiness and indulge in sensuality. This is why Paul prays “The one who calls you is faithful, and he will also accomplish it.” We cannot become frustrated in our sins and lose sight of the forgiveness of God and the forgiveness of the church. This Tuesday we will celebrate the last of our communal reconciliation liturgies, which is a sacramental way to celebrate God’s forgiveness. But, this Eucharist itself, forgives the minor sins that we commit and draws us closer into the body of Christ. It enflames our heart with the joy of Mary who’s joyful hymn was sung during the responsorial psalm, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked upon his lowly servant.” Let us rejoice with Mary this Sunday.

sede vaticansists

I've recently become re-aquainted with a group of people that believe there has been no legitimate pope since John XXIII. They found my email address somehow and were sending me evil material attempting to subvert my love of the pope and bishops.

It's sad. They have nothing positive to add to the conversation. They just complain about how everything has changed and is, therefore, bad. Because of their own ignorance and obstinence, they lead others away. They do incredible damage to the unity of the church and are, in many ways, acting as the anti-christ. I pray for them constantly in the hopes that they will realize that they not only don't have a leg to stand on but are being Judas. After all, Judas thought that, in betraying the Lord, he was saving the movement. These people think that they know more about what the truth of the faith is than the pope and can, therefore, betray him. Someday they will have to look God in the face and see how they are ripping apart the body of Christ, the church.

Pray for them, not only for the leadership but for the lost sheep that believe what these false prophets teach.

Limbo

Here's a great article about how John Paul II and Benedict have eliminated the concept of Limbo and a little bit about why. I love the line "...people should not think the changed focus is a lightweight embrace of warm, fuzzy feelings." See, that's why I don't hug!

Immaculate Conception

Since the death of John Paul II, I've felt very close to his spirituality. He felt a very close connection to Mary, an aspect of my own spirituality that I'd never felt before. He even attributed being saved from death to Mary.

I see this Immaculate Conception as a beginning of this spirituality in my life. I heard in the reading Mary's powerful role in reconciliation today. Her statement, "May it be done to me according to your word." undoes Adam and Eve's evasive statement's. Mary's trust in God is the example to all of us that, despite the difficutlties, we must we willing to submit to the will of God.

J P II loves you...shouldn't we too?

I read other catholic blogs to get an idea of what is being written. Some of the priests tend to be more conspiracy theorist than I am but I they almost always have somthing that I'd have missed otherwise. Here's one great example

JPII article

Now, I will admit that I am probably a little biased in this matter. I feel a special connection to John Paul the great, perhaps more after death than during his life. I've been reading his autobiography and some of his writings and I find them to be profoundly rooted in prayer. But even if I didn't believe that, I can't believe that people think that, since John Paul didn't do their pet project, he wasn't holy.

Gay Priests and LIES

I've been reticent to comment on the new document from the Congregation for Catholic Education because I was waiting to hear what "commentators" would say about it. I've heard the common misconceptions. People like William F. Buckley think priests need to have sex in order to be healthy...as long as it's heterosexual sex. Some give the relativist, "I don't believe that" attitude. Some believe the church is putting it's foot down on the sexual abuse crisis or call gay people evil. All of this is wrong and I'll show you why.

The vatican, in it's typical way, didn't root this in politics or sociology or anything secular. The vatican said, "By means of the sacrament of orders, the Holy Spirit configures the candidate to Jesus Christ in a new and specific way: the priest, in fact, sacramentally represents Christ, the head, shepherd and spouse of the Church...The candidate to the ordained ministry, therefore, must reach affective maturity. Such maturity will allow him to relate correctly to both men and women, developing in him a true sense of spiritual fatherhood towards the Church community that will be entrusted to him."

Further, "In the light of such teaching, this dicastery, in accord with the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, believes it necessary to state clearly that the Church, while profoundly respecting the persons in question, cannot admit to the seminary or to holy orders those who practice homosexuality, present deep-seated homosexual tendencies or support the so-called 'gay culture.' Such persons, in fact, find themselves in a situation that gravely hinders them from relating correctly to men and women."

The argument, as far as I can tell, could be briefly stated in the following statements;
1. A priest is configured to Christ and must, therefore, mirror Christ.
2. Christ was not gay.
3. A priest cannot be gay.

This has nothing to do with married priests. This has nothing to do with the sexual abuse crisis. This has to do with the unique notion of priests "in personae Christi" (in the person of Christ). That's all.

winter storm warning

As I drove today to hear confessions at the grade school across town, go to the hospital, and inquire about a cover for my hitch, I heard that parts of the stat of Iowa are under a snow advisory. In a month and a half, I'll be ready for the snow to be finished and still have two and a half months of snow left. But, for tonight, I'm happy that the snow is coming if for no other reason then because it forces me to slow down.

more time

I'm supposed to be working on this paper about religious freedom. The problem is that I don't have the right materials to do it. I know, I know. Another excuse. But, I'm not giving up. I'm hoping to get a couple of good books via interlibrary loan and have it done by Christmas. I've kind of become fascinated because, in many ways, this topic has changed a great deal in the last few decades, at least in the church. For several popes the idea of religious freedom was rediculous. For John Paul II, it was the cornerstone of his papacy. I think, in many ways, it is the future of the church and a necessary aspect at that.

Watch

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to listen to my favorite radio show, Car Talk on National Public Radio. If you’ve never heard it before, Car talk is hosted by these two very Boston/Italian sounding guys named Tom and Ray. Both know so much about cars that they seem like they’ve been working on them forever. Yet, Tom and Ray are also graduates of the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology so they are very knowledgeable about a whole range of things. For instance, they’ll get questions about the electrical system that seem almost like a foreign language to me and I think to myself that I don’t know why I’m laughing since I really don’t understand what they’re saying. Then, the next person will call in and say, “Every once in a while, when I shift into drive, the car doesn’t move for a while” and I think to myself, “Transmission! I know it’s the transmission. See, I’m just as smart as Tom and Ray!” The other day, they got a question that was a little different than either of those. A person called up and asked about the country of Italy. They said that, in Italy, there are as many cars per capita as the U.S and as many drivers who drive as fast and as badly as most Americans. Yet, according to the caller, there is no road rage. The caller wondered why that was. So, Tom and Ray gave one for their listeners to come up with the answer. One of my favorites was the response of an Italian Cab driver who said, “Today, he cuts me off. Tomorrow, I cut him off.” However, the one that I think was the most honest, was that when Italians drive, they drive from one place to another, from home to the store. When Americans drive, we drive from one time to another, from 11:50 until Noon and anything that gets in my way of getting there on time is evil and it must be destroyed! So, instead, I get angry.

There is, obviously, something negative about this lifestyle. I saw it on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving when retailers put all their bargains out. On CNN, they showed a security camera of one such retail store that opened their doors early to a mob of people. As the mob poured in, one man slipped and fell sprawl out on the floor. And would you believe that no one stopped to help this man up? They were all too busy trying to make sure that they got their cheap DVD players and other deals to notice someone in need of help.

I think this is part of our American culture; being incredibly busy. Part of this is good. It’s good to use your gifts and talents to build up the body of Christ on earth. We are good at instilling this into the next generation. After spending the last few days with my family, I’m amazed to hear all the events that my brothers and sisters go with their children. They’re all in school and, of course, they come to church. But, they’re also involved in sports and music and other organizations. It’s seems like all we do is continue to add more and more clubs and organizations that students can be involved in all the way to college when, as a woman named Susan Lammers, one of the hall directors here at Iowa State, showed the campus ministers and peer ministers, there are four pages of them Iowa State students can join. They can be part of anything from the cigar club to a fraternity to the catholic student club to an athletic club. More and more stuff that gives us life and helps us to meet people, which isn’t all bad. But, it doesn’t get better when you graduate and go into the “real world.” Suddenly, you have to go to work and maybe get your kids to their different events and you have to pay bills and maintain a house. Life just seems to get more and more complicated

For me, that’s the wisdom that our earth and our church offers us at this time of year. Our earth gives us this great winter weather that almost forces us to slow down. I mean, let’s face it, who would want to sit and watch a football game when it’s near freezing temperatures? And, in the next few days, we may get those same freezing temperatures and snow and sleet that just make you want to stay home under a warm blanket with a nice book. The weather even encourages us to rest and take some time for ourselves.

And, as the weather is encouraging this change of pace, our church invites us to slow down as we begin the church’s new year this Advent season. We hear in the first reading that it’s important to stop our hectic lives and remind ourselves that, in the end, everything we do is the work of the Lord. We may think that we are doing great things but, ultimately, we are using simply God’s creation and the gifts and talents that God gave to us in order to do it all. And we hear in the second reading and gospel that, as Christians, we must slow down in order to wait for the coming of the Lord. Part of that means putting our life in order and remembering the obligations we have toward our neighbor. We must remember that we are always to be prepared to see Jesus come again and not succumb to the temptations that draw us away. This may be a good time to use the sacrament of reconciliation to be rid of those busy parts of our life that draw us away from being prepared for the coming of Jesus. So, take some time this Advent to watch and be prepared for his coming.

Advent Waiting

I've been reflecting all day on how hectic life is. We all need to slow down and be a little patient. In my homily, I've been talking about an image I saw of a door opening for "Black Friday" the day after Thanksgiving where we try fill our life up with all kinds of bargains. As the doors opened, the people rushed in and one man fell full sprawl on the ground and no one helped pick him up. They were all too busy getting their deals to stop and help another.

In the rush of this new church year, we must always look deep within ourselves and ask if we are ready for the coming of our savior. God won't care if you don't get that DVD player. God will care if we didn't love our neighbor.

Wasn't this easier in seminary?

I'm having trouble researching my project on religious freedom. I don't have a great library like the one St. Paul Seminary Had. I have found a few things that are helping but I may have to continue working on this when the students get back. I'll keep working, though, and make the final determination about that on Sunday. I also can't narrow down my topic. I need an advisor of some kind. This is hard work!

Homosexuality, the vatican, and celibacy

For the past two months, in various press circles, people have been "breaking the story" about a document that may or may not be released this Tuesday, one week from today. I've been hearing that it's going to come out "in the near future" for the last two months. I'm still waiting...

At first, it was reported that the document was going to ban all homosexuals from priesthood. Fear, dread, anger, discrimination, and all kinds of other feelings came out. Then, nothing happened. No document. Suddenly, a couple weeks later, the media changed its mind. The document was going to ban PRACTICING homosexuals and people involved in the homosexual agenda. A man needs to be celibate for three years before he is admitted to seminary and shouldn't advocate policies that are contrary to catholic teaching. (i.e. gay marriage, open homosexual lifestyle, etc.)

In the next few days, the people that hate the church are going to offer their opinions. Expect to especially hear from gay rights advocates (or, as I call them, "anti-family advocates"), pro-married clergy (or "anti-celibacy") advocates, and pro-women's ordination advocates to have a particular conniption fit in the next week. But, all along, remember that NO ONE KNOWS WHAT THIS DOCUMENT SAYS!!!! There was a rumor that it connected the sexual abuse crisis to homosexuality but no one knows that for sure. What they hate is celibacy. When you hear a commentator the media puts up to debate this issue yet again, they will bring up celibacy. Be forwarned because they will probably get priests to do the speaking.

Remember something as they are speaking: a real practicing celibate, which is the majority of priests, sisters, and brothers, are not sexual abusers, are happier and live longer than other people, and are called to live that life by God. Then, shut off the TV, Radio, or computer and go do something productive.

The Man in Black

I went to see the movie "Walk the Line" last night. It was very dark because it highlighted the tough times that Johnny Cash went through with drugs and alcohol. My favorite scene was when June Carter's father chased off Whalen Jennings (who was delivering drugs for Johnny) with a shotgun.

Here's what I learned: Johnny Cash never stood up for himself and never took any credit for anything until June made him. I'm still pondering this because it's more profound than a simple "stand up for yourself" message. It's about accountability and standing up for what is right instead of going through life as though you are affected by countless other uncontrolable variables.

I also learned that June Carter wrote the song "Ring of Fire."

Religious Freedom

Since I know work in a college setting, one of the things that has been brought back into my consciousness is the fact that students really do work here...and they work hard. I think that I'd blocked writing papers from my mind and the hard work that goes into that process. The students are on break right now for a week so I'm thinking that I'm going to do a project. I'm going to write an academic paper. And, considering the fact that I keep running into this whole religious freedom thing, I think I'll write it about the role of religious freedom in the catholic church.

I have no delusions of grandeur. I'm not writing something that will be worth publishing. But, it's my hope that, one week from today, prior to the seven o'clock mass, I will publish my findings on religious freedom on this blog so that any readers that do sit and read this thing can give me some of the same criticism that my students get.

I'll keep you posted throughout the week.