CCM's big, fat Lenten post

When does Lent begin this year?
Lent starts on Ash Wednesday, March 9, 2011.

What is Lent?
Lent is a time when all throughout the Church prepare to celebrate Easter through penance, prayer, fasting and alms-giving. Traditionally, the season of Lent lasts forty days (not counting the Sundays of Lent), from Ash Wednesday until the Easter Vigil (the night before Easter Sunday). The word Lent is from an Anglo-Saxon word lencten, which means "spring." Observance of Lent can be traced to the earliest days of the Church, when Christians willingly joined catechumens (those seeking baptism) in a period of intense preparatory prayer and fasting in the weeks before their baptisms, which were performed during the Easter Vigil, in the pre-dawn hours of Easter Sunday.

What is the point of Lent? Is it biblical?
The point of Lent is that it is a time of prayerful reflection and conversion (turning away from sin and back to God). In imitation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who spent forty days fasting and praying in the wilderness before beginning His public ministry (see the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke), we spend the forty days before our annual celebration of the Lord's Resurrection (i.e. Easter) in fasting, prayer and sacrifice. The number 40 is important in the Bible because it symbolizes preparation and renewal. For example, Noah spent forty days and forty nights in the ark (Genesis 7:4, 12, 17; 8:6) and Moses spent forty days and forty nights on Mount Sinai when receiving the Law from God (Exodus 24:18; Deuteronomy 10:10). 

Do I have to "give something up" during Lent?
It seems that everybody - even those who know the least about Catholic Christianity - knows that Catholics traditionally give something up during Lent. In fact, it becomes a ridiculously common question for Catholics to ask one another "what did you give up?" during this season. Truth is, you are not required to give up something for Lent. What you are required to do, is to do penitential acts - making temporary sacrifices in an effort to draw closer to God. For many people, they may willingly give up something that they enjoy as a penance during Lent. This is certainly a good practice. For others, however, they may choose to do penance by setting their alarm extra early to get up and pray every morning, or by setting aside extra money each week for the poor or the Church. You should start praying, now, and asking God what penance(s) He would have you do during Lent.

Fridays, however, are a different story. Whether you realize it or not, every Friday of the year is supposed to be a day of penance for Catholics, so Lent isn't all that different. On every Friday of the year, according to canon law and in recognition of Christ's sacrifice on the cross, you should either refrain from eating meat or do some other penance (such as praying the Stations of the Cross, saying extra prayers, or some other offering). On the Fridays of Lent, however, you don't have a choice: you are obliged to refrain from eating meat. 

Why can we eat fish on Fridays?
You certainly don't have to eat fish on Fridays. You could simply go vegetarian each Friday. But fish is allowed because, due to longstanding tradition, it is not considered meat. The fish is an ancient Christian symbol and eating fish (and other seafood) on Fridays has long been allowed.

What are "days of fast and abstinence"?
During the Lenten season, we are encouraged to fast, pray and give alms (money to the poor), seeking to amend our Christian lives. But on two days in particular, the Church requires that we all fast and avoid meat. They are Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. On these days, Catholics should fast (eating only one small meal, if needed). If they do eat a small meal, it should be meatless.


Are the Sundays in Lent part of Lent?
Many people ask if they can "cheat" on the Sundays of Lent? In other words, they want to know if they have to practice penance on the Sundays of Lent. Well, technically, Sundays are always a celebration of Jesus' Resurrection - sort of "mini-Easters," if you will - so Sunday is never officially a day of penance. In fact, on the Church's calendar, the Sundays during Lent are called the Sundays in Lent instead of the Sundays of Lent. So, it is really up to you. Lent is a season geared towards doing penance and turning towards the Lord. If you feel that you are "cheating" on your penance, then you shouldn't do it. Follow your conscience.

Here is another exception for this year. In 2011, the Solemnity of the Annunciation (March 25th) falls on a Friday of Lent. The solemnity takes precedence over the Lenten weekday, so, in recognition of the Annunciation, you do not have to abstain from eating meat on that particular Friday.

What is Ash Wednesday?
Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent. It is called this because we are marked with ashes as a sign of mourning for our sins and repentance. (Where did such an idea come from? See Daniel 9:3 where the author proclaims "I turned to the Lord God, pleading in earnest prayer, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.") On Ash Wednesday, Catholics are expected to fast and to abstain from eating meat.

Is Ash Wednesday a holy day of obligation?
No. Ash Wednesday is not a holy day of obligation, which means that Catholics are not required to attend Mass on that day. But they are strongly urged to attend. At the very least, you should try to attend a prayer service and receive ashes. Here in Oxford, the only Mass on Ash Wednesday will be at 7:00am at St. John's. At 12:00 noon, there will be an ecumenical prayer service at Paris-Yates Chapel on campus and at 5:30pm, there will be distribution of ashes at St. John's.

As mentioned above, Ash Wednesday is "a day of fast and abstinence", which means that adult Catholics should fast for the day, although eating one small, meatless meal is acceptable if needed to maintain strength.

Here are three important tips for a holy Lent:

1. Pray fervently for the Holy Spirit to show you the areas of your spiritual life that need to be amended and ask for God's help in establishing your spiritual practices for Lent.
2. Follow the Church's rules of fasting and abstinence, and your own Lenten practices, quietly, joyfully and without complaint. No one likes a complainer, and you may not realize it but you can bear important witness to your friends and family members by simply and humbly doing what is asked of us in ways of penance, fasting and abstinence.
3. Make a commitment to go to Confession at least once during Lent.

And finally, below, you'll can find more detailed suggestions, courtesy of the Aggie Catholic blog at Texas A & M.

Lenten Suggestions:

Increased Prayer:
- Wake up 20 minutes early and start the day in prayer.
- Daily Mass 1-2 times a week.
- Spend an hour in prayer in front of the Blessed Sacrament each week.
- Go to Confession.
- Read Scripture daily.
- Start a Lenten Bible study group with your friends.
- Start to pray a daily Rosary.
- Pray the Liturgy of the Hours.
- Pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy each day.
- Pray the Stations of the Cross on Fridays.
- Pray for your enemies.
- Watch The Passion of the Christ and then meditate on Christ's sacrifice.
- Read about the life of a saint.
- Get involved with the parish if you haven't already.
- Memorize Scripture verses.
- Read a book on Catholic spirituality.

Increased Almsgiving:
- When you fast from a meal, give the money you would have spent to the poor.
- Use a coin box during Lent to collect your loose change each day and give it to the poor.
- Volunteer with Interfaith Compassion Ministry, the Pantry, Save-a-Life, or More Than a Meal.
- Spend more time with your parents.
- Visit a nursing home.
- Start tithing each week.
- Make a pledge to a worthy, charitable cause.
- Forgive an old grudge.
- Invite someone to attend Mass with you.
- Share your faith with someone.
- Give someone a Catholic tract, CD or DVD.
- Exercise patience and love.
- Speak in a pleasant tone to everyone.
- Look for extra ways to help others.
- Go out of your way to talk to someone who is shy or difficult.
- Offer to watch a mother's child(ren).
- Drive with love and care.
- Write a letter to a relative you haven't seen in a while.

Increased fasting:
The following are good things we can fast from and have back at a later time.
- Try to eat only bread and water on Fridays.
- Fast from TV.
- Fast from snacking or candy.
- Fast from the radio and/or iPod in your car; make driving time prayer time.
- Fast from the Internet and/or Facebook.
- Fast from caffeine.
- Do not use seasoning on your food.
The following are things we can fast from and continue to give up:
- Fast from alcohol (especially if you drink too much or are under 21).
- Fast from speeding.
- Fast from sarcasm or gossip.
- Fast from pornography.
- Fast from being lazy or lying.
- Fast from not studying or working too hard.
- Fast from complaining.
- Fast from some other bad and/or unhealthy habit.

Learn to love

"You learn to speak by speaking, to study by studying, to run by running, to work by working, and just so, you learn to love by loving. All those who think to learn in any other way deceive themselves."

-St. Francis de Sales (d. 1622)

Remember the Fast Day

Bishop Latino:"We do not ask for documentation from individuals because the Gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us to love our neighbors."

Bishop Latino has asked all Catholics to spend the day in prayer and fasting toward the stopping of Senate Bill SB 2179. Along with activists and Catholic Charities, the bishop says this bill kindles "resentment among our people". He asks us to recognize immigrants as the face of "Jesus Christ".
From the Mississippi Catholic:
The current bill in our state Legislature on immigration that mirrors the Arizona immigration law, though perhaps well-intentioned by the authors, is an unnecessary, mean-spirited and retrogressive bill. We do not need to pass a state law requiring the enforcement of federal laws. Law enforcement agencies are already tasked with enforcing these laws.
We call upon our legislators to drop this unnecessary legislation. What we need is national comprehensive immigration policy change. State initiatives, such as the current proposed legislation, will not remedy our broken system of immigration and may even intensify the situation on a local level.
Our state unfortunately has a history of discrimination that we have worked very hard to overcome. Indeed we still have a long way to go in this area and current state legislation will only add to this journey
The immigration issue has certainly ignited some fierce debate and kindled some deep feelings of resentment among our people. Indeed the immigration issue is an emotional and divisive one. The complexities of this issue evoke concern, anger and confusion for many.
Surely, the fact the debate has become so heated indicates the real need for change and reform in our nation’s immigration laws. A just solution must be achieved nationally that benefits our state and country and at the same time respects the fundamental human rights and dignity of all people.
We would do well to pause for a moment and reflect on this issue from a pastoral perspective. Pastorally speaking, illegal immigration causes human beings to live a life lacking in dignity because of constant hiding, fear and abuse of basic human rights. Our church’s social service agencies serve people from all walks of life because they are in need. We do not ask for documentation from individuals because the Gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us to love our neighbors.
The U.S. bishops in no way condone or encourage illegal immigration. Illegal immigration does not benefit the common good of our society. The bishops support an earned legalization process that would require undocumented workers to pay a fine and work their way down a path to legalization.
Earned legalization is not amnesty. There are several stipulations and eligibilities that must be met by individuals seeking it. This position of the bishops, which is well grounded in the Gospel and in church teachings, recognizes a law has been broken and sets about a way to make amends for that in a just and humane manner.
The position of the bishops also exhibits the reality that, under the current system, individuals are being exploited in poor working and living conditions and families are being painfully separated.
Respect for the dignity of human life is what is at the heart of the Catholic Church’s position on immigration. The Catholic Church has always and will always speak for this fundamental universal value.
The Catholic Church respects the rights of sovereign nations and their laws. The United States is a nation built on a system of laws and principles, but if a law violates human dignity and basic human rights it is not just.
Yes, we should be concerned about laws being broken and our national security. Societies crumble when laws are ignored and broken. We should also be concerned that the current proposed state legislation eats away at the very fabric of our nation’s ideals and the fabric of humanity.
Let us remember to put a face on this situation – the face of Jesus Christ. 

In conjunction with fasting and the Bishop's stand for the undocumented worker's rights, Catholic Charities has also taken action by uniting with other national activists, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the Mississippi Immigration Rights Alliance to pass out information to assist those who are faced with being deported. The documents can be ordered through Catholic Charities. 

Fr. Jeremy Tobin, OPraem (seated in back) listens as a woman recounts a raid from ICE. Fr. Jeremy is a member of MIRA and writes for the Mississippi Catholic.
 

Won't you take a few minutes...

...to stop by the church and visit with our Lord today?

"When you approach the tabernacle remember that He has been waiting for you for twenty centuries."

- St. Josemaria Escriva (d. 1975)

Living your Faith is tough...

Don't give up.


"We always find that those who walked closest to Christ were those who had to bear the greatest trials."

-St. Teresa of Avila (d. 1582)

Lewis on marriage

Don't forget to join us for our Book Club today at 2pm at Highpoint Coffee on North Lamar.

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis is our book. So far, we've read through Book 3, part 6: Christian Marriage.

Marriage is much in the news lately (or not, since this story vanished from the headlines as quickly as it appeared yesterday) as late yesterday, the Obama administration announced that the Defense of Marriage Act - signed into law by Pres. Bill Clinton in 1996 - is unconstitutional and they will cease to defend it in court. (Anyone who's had a basic U.S. government course want to remind us what is glaringly wrong with that declaration? But I digress...). Well, here is some of Lewis' wisdom on the topic of marriage:

He starts by pointing out that "the Christian doctrines on this subject [marriage] are extremely unpopular."  Tell us about it! Lewis composed this line during Word War II. One wonders if he could even imagine the attack the Christian doctrines on marriage would come under seventy years later! Lewis continues:

"The Christian idea of marriage is based on Christ's words that a man and wife are to be regarded as a single organism--for that is what the words 'one flesh' would be in modern English. And the Christians believe that when He said this He was not expressing a sentiment but stating a fact--just as one is stating a fact when one says that a lock and its key are one mechanism, or that a violin and a bow are one musical instrument. The inventor of the human machine was telling us that its two halves, the male and the female, were made to be combined together in pairs, not simply on the sexual level, but totally combined. The monstrosity of sexual intercourse outside marriage is that those who indulge in it are trying to isolate one kind of union (the sexual) from all the other kinds of union which were intended to go along with it and make up the total union. The Christian attitude does not mean that there is anything wrong about sexual pleasure, any more than about the pleasure of eating. It means that you must not isolate that pleasure and try to get it by itself, any more than you ought to try to get the pleasures of taste without swallowing and digesting, by chewing things and spitting them out again." (pp 104-05)

GOOD CHEER: Erika Vincent and Worldwide Catholicism.

Erik Vincent speaks on her experience as a Catholic in her home country of Lithuania and her new adopted home of Oxford. Come on out and have a cold (or if you're more Eastern European, a room temperature) drink and learn more about our ancient and global faith!7pm at the Library off the Square.

Oh..and, Lord, just how Catholic is Lithuania?

THIS  MUCH CATHOLIC!

Hill of Crosses, Lithuania. Visited by Pope John Paul II.

Turning Towards the Lord

For those of you interested in this sort of thing, here is a recent article about "ad orientem" worship (i.e. our 5pm Mass at St. John's). It's a great read with powerful insight on the topic and I found it on New Liturgical Movement:

The End of Orientation by Fr. Thomas Kocik

By “end” in this context I don’t mean cessation but purpose. Most readers are probably aware of the theological underpinnings of the Church’s ancient practice of celebrating the Eucharist ad orientem, toward the east – if not geographical east then the “liturgical east” of the cross and apse. A common orientation of priest and people represents the Church on pilgrimage, through history, toward the heavenly banquet of the Kingdom. It points us toward the rising sun symbolizing Christ, the “oriens ex alto” whose coming in glory is anticipated in the Eucharistic liturgy. It expresses the sacrificial character of the Eucharist: priests, whether pagan, Jewish, or Christian, have always offered sacrifice standing before an altar, not behind it. And it symbolizes the faithful reaching out for the transcendent God.

Opponents of the traditional orientation generally dismiss it as contrary to the Second Vatican Council’s emphasis on the full and active participation of the faithful in the liturgy. James White’s remarks about the post-Vatican II “turning of the altar” can be taken as typical:

It was hard to think of ever again turning one’s back on the  people of God while at the altar. The personal encounter of facing the people of God may be the most important shift of all, for it proclaims louder than words that the action now belonged to the whole community and was not something the priest did for the community. Now it was with the community.[1]

While I don’t dispute that many Catholics in the past (especially before the Liturgical Movement, or where the movement had little influence) viewed the Mass as something done by the priest on their behalf, I propose this had much less to do with “orientation” than with sacerdotal monopolization of the liturgy resulting from the ascendancy of Low Mass. In support of this claim I point to the Eastern Churches, which, with the exception of the Latin-influenced Maronites, have kept the tradition of celebrating the Divine Liturgy ad orientem without ever having lost a strong sense of corporate worship.[2] When people insist that Mass "facing the people" is crucial to the work of fostering congregational participation, I have to wonder whether the Eastern rites enter at all into their thinking. Do they really want to imply that Eastern Christians have gotten it wrong all this time?

A more recent and, in my opinion, more sophisticated challenge to eastward orientation comes from Jesuit liturgical scholar John Baldovin (Boston College). In an essay published last September in Worship, Father Baldovin argues that Mass facing the people better expresses, not only the communal dimension of the liturgy, but also the sacrificial and Christocentric character of the liturgy. As he sees it, people who hold that the sacrificial nature of the Mass is more evident when the Mass is celebrated ad orientem betray an inadequate, even “dangerous” theology of sacrifice. For Baldovin, the deepest meaning of Christ’s sacrifice is found, not in the “outdated categories” of expiation and atonement, but in the shared meal:

The sacramental sharing of that without which we cannot exist is the perfect way of representing the true meaning of Christ’s sacrifice and of his priesthood, which I take to mean his offering of himself in faith and obedience to the one he calls Abba.[3]

He contends that Catholics who prefer Mass ad orientem for the sake of "facing the Lord" miss the point that

the liturgy requires both vertical and horizontal engagement with Christ. [...] One faces Christ in the assembly, one faces Christ in the presider, one faces Christ in the altar, and of course one faces Christ in the consecrated gifts.[4]

I'll leave aside the apparent relativizing of the substantial Presence of Christ in the Sacred Species, troubling though that is. Although Baldovin does not explain how sacramental communion is the best external representation of the Lord’s sacrifice, this view is not to be dismissed casually. The Church, he points out, has cautiously avoided explicit doctrinal pronouncement about the nature of Christ’s redeeming sacrifice. Baldovin’s stated preference for speaking of every stage of Christ’s life – not just His Passion and death – as a sacrificial offering is consistent with the patristic understanding of Christ’s whole life as a “recapitulation” and thereby a sanctification of every aspect of human life.[5] Furthermore, there is an intrinsic connection between sacrifice and sacred meal in both pre-Christian religions and Christianity. Still, it is not apparent to me why the richness of the sacrificial meanings of the gospel embedded in the celebration of the Eucharist should be thought to preclude a common orientation of priest and people. After all, the sacrificial meal of the New Covenant is a foretaste of the heavenly banquet toward which the Church journeys, and eastward orientation has a lot (if not everything) to do with eschatology.

 

But even if we grant – what seems exceedingly implausible – that Mass versus populum is a better way of representing the sacrificial nature of the Eucharist, there remains more to consider. The question of Christian sacrifice, like that of “facing Christ,” distracts from what I believe is the soundest justification for the traditional eastward orientation: a common orientation of priest and people when addressing God symbolizes the end or telos of the liturgy. That end, according to the economy of salvation, is ascribed not to Christ but to the transcendent Father, the source of the Godhead.

 

The Latin theological tradition views the liturgical re-presentation of Christ’s sacrifice (however conceived) as an offering of the whole Christ, Head and members, to the Father through (and with) the Son in the Holy Spirit.[6] In the Roman Canon as well as in the other Eucharistic Prayers of the modern Roman Rite, the First Person of the Trinity, God the Father, appears as both the starting point (principium a quo) and the end (terminus ad quem) of the Eucharistic action, while Christ, the incarnate Son, appears there as High Priest, through whose mediation the Father has been gracious to us and we render praise and glory to Him. In contrast, but not in disagreement, with the Western structure of liturgical prayer, the traditional Eastern liturgical prayer ends with the words: “For unto Thee are due all glory, honor, and worship, to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.” From this I reason that the celebration of Mass facing ad orientem symbolizes a movement not only toward the “east” of Christ, but also toward the Father through, with, and in Christ (“Per ipsum, et cum ipso, et in ipso...”).

 

Whether the traditional topography reflects an outmoded theology of Eucharistic sacrifice, or neglects the true presence of Christ in the assembly, are questions that can be argued in good faith until the Parousia. To some extent, these questions distract from what I consider to be the real question at hand: Which liturgical typography, versus absidem or versus populum, better symbolizes the inner dynamic or Christocentric-Trinitarian movement of the liturgy? A common orientation of priest and people toward a transcendent reference point, it seems, comports well with the fact that it is not Christ but the Father who is terminal in man’s relation to the triune God: the Father is the “end” of liturgical orientation. That, I believe, is the most significant of all the theological reasons for the traditional orientation.

NOTES

[1] James F. White, Roman Catholic Worship: Trent to Today (Pueblo/Liturgical Press, 2003), p. 125.

[2] Timothy (Bishop Kallistos) Ware, The Orthodox Church (Penguin Books, 1963; reprint 1983), p. 278: "The worship of the Orthodox Church is communal and popular. [...] Orthodox laity do not use the phrase 'to hear Mass', for in the Orthodox Church the Mass has never become something done by the clergy for the laity, but is something which clergy and laity perform together. [...] In the Orthodox Church, where the Liturgy has never ceased to be a common action performed by priest and people together, the congregation do not come to church to say their private prayers, but to pray the public prayers of the Liturgy and to take part in the action of the rite itself."

[3] John F. Baldovin, "Idols and Icons: Reflections on the Current State of Liturgical Reform," Worship 84 no. 5 (Sept. 2010): 386-402, here at 396.

[4] Ibid., 396-97.

[5] E.g. Irenaeus, Adversus haereses III, 18, 7.

[6] Cyprian Vagaggini, OSB, treats of this at length in the chapter 7 of Theological Dimensions of the Liturgy ("From the Father, through Christ, in the Holy Spirit, to the Father: The Liturgy and the Christological-Trinitarian Activity in the Divine Plan"). Eng. trans. Liturgical Press, 1976.

Triple Header Tuesday!

BEAT MEMPHIS!!!

And after the game:
5PM: MORE THAN A MEAL at Stone Center. Come and help serve the needy of our community. Sometimes a warm smile and friendly voice is all someone needs! Bring it on!

7:00PM: San Egidio meets in the Magnolia House (416 S. 5th) to reflect on the Gospels and discuss topics of living a Christian life. Bring a friend. Be blessed!

7:15-8:30PM: Adoration in the Church. Fr. Joe will be available for Confessions.

HOMERUN!!

Bishop Latino Declares a Fast for Immigration Reform

Bishop Latino in the Saltillo Mission (Mexico)

The Bishop of Jackson, Bishop Joseph Latino, has declared a Day of Fasting for the entire Diocese on Friday, February 25th for the cause of Immigration Reform. He urges Catholics to pray that the Senate Bill SB 2179 not pass. The bill moves that Mississippi adopt the same policies that Arizona put in place concerning state oversight in identifying those who were in the country without proper documentation. The Mississippi Catholic has the story here.

Fast days are important and should be observed by the faithful. Fasting requires those 14 years old and up to the age of 65 to have one simple meal during the day and may take some food (not a meal) in the morning and evening. The fasting asks that one refrain from any meat or poultry.
Although participating in the fast is voluntary, it is a rarity that a Bishop would declare a fast.

The Bishop has not declared a fast for the diocese in the history of his episcopacy. The issue of immigration has been incredibly important to him and he has encouraged protests, letter campaigns, activism and other means in the cause of civil rights and social justice. So in declaring a fast, he highlights the importance of this issue for everyone in the Church and the urgency of this social concern.

The Bishop says:
"I ask all Catholics in the diocese to observe this day through communal prayer, personal reflection, fasting and acts of charity." The entire statement can be read here.

A day for leaders

For Catholics and for Americans, today is a day set aside to honor leaders. We need strong leaders.

Seal of the CSA featuring Washington

February 22nd, on our secular calendar, is the birthday of George Washington. Since 1885, it has been a federal holiday (though it was shifted in 1971 to "the third Monday in February") and it was the first federal holiday set aside to honor an individual. But for many years before its official designation as a federal holiday, Washington's birthday was considered to be an important and patriotic day. Washington was considered to be the "father" of the American republic. Even years later, as the nation was at war with itself, the leaders of the fledgling southern Confederacy looked to Washington for inspiration and sought to honor him as the father of their newly-separated government as well. In a display that many modern eyes would view as ironic, the short-lived Confederate States of America purposely chose Washington's birthday to be their "official" date of founding. On the Confederacy's seal, approved by the Confederate Congress in 1863, was inscribed an equestrian image of Washington and along the margin, the words: "The Confederate States of America: 22 February 1862."

St. Peter (icon, c. 5th century)

February 22nd, on the Church's calendar, is also an important feast day of an important "founding father" of another sort. It is the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter. Now, it may, at first, seem strange that we have a feast day seemingly dedicated to a piece of furniture. But the term's importance when we look at the name in Latin: cathedra Petri. Sound familiar? The "cathedra" of Peter... from whence we get the term "cathedral."

Let me explain. In ancient times (i.e. the time of Jesus, the Apostles and the early Church), important teachers taught sitting down and thrones were symbols of authority. Emperors, kings, judges and philosophers all sat to teach and make pronouncements. Standing was for reading, sitting was for teaching. A cathedra is an important seat on which a bishop sits. It is the throne of the bishop. And it is the symbol of a bishop's teaching authority. This is why each and every bishop has a cathedra (i.e. bishop's throne) in his home church, making that church a cathedral.

But we celebrate today not a piece of furniture, but the important role that St. Peter undertook as the first bishop (overseer) and supreme pastor of Christ's Church. The authority with which Christ entrusted Peter (Mt 16:13-20), is symbolized by his cathedra, or chair. In 2006, on this day, Pope Benedict XVI, the successor of Peter, summed up the importance of Peter's role in the Church's early years:

Which was, then, the "cathedra" if St. Peter? He, chosen by Christ as "rock" on which to build the Church (cf. Matthew 16:18), began his ministry in Jerusalem, after the ascension of the Lord and Pentecost. The first "seat" of the Church was the Cenacle, and in all probability in that room, where Mary, the Mother of Jesus, also prayed with the disciples, a special place was reserved for Simon Peter.
Subsequently, the see of Peter was Antioch, a city situated on the Oronte River in Syria, today Turkey, which at the time was the third metropolis of the Roman Empire after Rome and Alexandria in Egypt. Of that city, evangelized by Barnabas and Paul, where "for the first time the disciples were called Christians" (Acts 11:26), Peter was the first Bishop.

In fact, the Roman Martyrology, before the reform of the calendar, established also a specific celebration of the Chair of Peter at Antioch. From there, Providence led Peter to Rome, where he concluded with martyrdom his course of service to the Gospel. For this reason, the See of Rome, which had received the greatest honor, received also the task entrusted by Christ to Peter of being at the service of all the local Churches for the building and unity of the whole People of God.

In this way the See of Rome came to be known as that of the Successor of Peter, and the "cathedra" of its Bishop represented that of the apostle charged by Christ to feed all his flock. It is attested by the most ancient Fathers of the Church, as for example St. Irenaeus, bishop of Lyon, who in his treatise "Against Heresies" describes the Church of Rome as "greatest and most ancient, known by all; … founded and constituted at Rome by the two glorious Apostles Peter and Paul"; and he adds: "With this Church, because of her outstanding superiority, the universal Church must be in agreement, that is, the faithful everywhere" (III, 3, 2-3).

So, in two ways, today, we American Catholics celebrate leadership today: leadership at the founding of our country, and leadership at the founding of the Church. Perhaps we can view this convergence as Providential. After all, we need leadership. Strong leadership. We need it in the secular realm and we need it in the spiritual realm. It is part of our DNA to rally around leaders who make difficult decisions and rally the troops. God recognizes this and, when he established his Church, he did not leave us leaderless. He advised that we be "wise as serpents and innocent as doves" (Mt 10:16), but he did not tell us to be religious rogues. Instead, he placed over the nascent Church a group of leaders which he sent out (apostles) to baptize and preach the Gospel in all the world. Chief among those was Simon, who Jesus renamed Rock (i.e. Peter).

We still need strong leadership in the Church. Tough decisions must be made and the multitudes must be inspired. Fecklessness is the anti-religion and deflates the spirits of God's people. Pray for strong leaders in our Church. Pray that our bishops will lead us through the difficult spiritual terrain which surrounds us and that they will bravely stand up to the rising tide of secularism and relativism which seeks to water down and destroy our potency in the world. We need leaders with backbone. Pray for our bishops!

ZOMG! The Internetz causes nun to break vows!

Maria Jesus Galan, 54, dubbed Sister Internet by her fellow nuns, had almost 600 Facebook "friends" when she wrote on her Facebook page that she had been asked to leave the convent over her online activities.

More here. 

And if you want to friend her, here's her Facebook page!

President's Day Action Figure Monster News!

America's only Catholic president (unless you ask a certain segment of our diocese about our current POTUS) has been made over in Monster Form (yes, for real) as an action figure.
John F. Kennedy: The Phantom of the White House.

Fresh news! Read about it here!

When choosing to eat fish on Fridays...

... I would not recommend this one:

Yes, it's real. You can read the full story here.

Good Cheer report

At this week's session of Good Cheer on Wednesday, we were joined by Catholic convert and Ole Miss alum Josh Whelan who spoke about being ready to answer questions about our faith and about living our Catholic Christianity in the real world.

So, where do we find the answers that others ask about Catholicism. Well, first and foremost, you should make sure that you have the tools you need. Primarily, you need a good translation of the Bible. I recommend the Revised Standard Version and Ignatius Press puts out a great Bible with this translation.

You also need a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. This volume contains a thorough compilation of the Church's official teachings on every conceivable topic. And, it has a handy-dandy index in the back to aid in looking up topics. It is super-footnoted with references to Scriptures, writings of Church Fathers and Doctors, and to the decisions of Church councils.

Finally, Josh recommended familiarizing yourself with Catholic authors who specialize in apologetics, or being able to defend your faith. He mentioned Scott Hahn who is a former Presbyterian minister and currently a professor at Franciscan University of Steubenville. His books are a must and one in particular (Rome Sweet Home, which he penned with his wife, Kimberly) is a great starting point in Catholic apologetics. I would add some other great Catholic apologists to the "must read" list, including: James Akin, Dave Armstrong, Jeff Cavins, David Currie, Karl Keating and Patrick Madrid. 

For your Friday...

We're heading into another weekend - and what a beautiful one its shaping up to be! Ole Miss baseball is in the air and there is a definite feeling of Spring-come-early around these parts. Personally, I'm blessed to have a lot of my family in town for the baptisms of my daughter and my niece/goddaughter this Sunday at the 11:00 Mass (y'all come!).

In the interest of leaving the week on a happy note, I'll leave you with a hilariously ingenious video which celebrates the departure of a not-so-great attempt at a Catholic hymnal. The video's creator writes: "With the new Mass translations coming out this year, the 'Gather' hymnal will sadly become obsolete. With that in mind, I composed a tribute medley to some of the best songs contained therein. Unfortunately, I didn't have a hymnal around when I was tracking this, so I did the best I could to remember the lyrics from memory. Enjoy!"

Book Study Today at High Point!

After last week's snow day (which, consequentially, had Oxford looking like Narnia!), the study of C.S. Lewis' "Mere Christianity" continues today at 2:00pm at High Point Coffee off the Square.

C.S. Lewis

"Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of - throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself." Mere Christianity

Words of wisdom...

"Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence; and keep your conscience clear." (1 Peter 3:15-16)

Don't forget about Good Cheer tonight at 7:00pm at The Library (just off the Square). Josh Whelan will be speaking about being able to defend your faith and being Catholic in the real world. Come out and bring your friends!

Adoration tonight!

Don't forget that CCM sponsors Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament each Tuesday night from 7:15pm until 8:30pm. Come and worship Him!

Our Lady of...

Statue at the Shrine of Our Lady of Hope in Wisconsin.

We've all heard them: Our Lady of Guadalupe, Our Lady of Lourdes, Our Lady of Fatima, etc. These are names of the Virgin Mary associated with officially Church-approved apparitions or appearances to certain persons throughout history. You can now add another name to the list: Our Lady of Good Help.

Adele Brise, pictured later in life.

Yesterday, Church officials at the Vatican finally acknowledged and declared "worthy of belief" what is now the first Church-approved apparition of the Virgin Mary in the United States. Here's the story: In 1859, at the eve of America's Civil War, Our Lady appeared three times to Adele Brise, a Belgian immigrant near the town of Bay Settlement, Wisconsin. Adele was given a personal mission to "gather the children in this wild country and teach them what they should know for salvation." Adele was 28 years old at the time and she devoted the rest of her life to teaching and catechizing children.

A small wooden chapel was constructed at the site soon after the apparitions. By 1861, a larger chapel was constructed, on which was inscribed "Notre Dame de bon Secours, priez pour nous" or "Our Lady of Good Help, pray for us." This is where the name of the shrine came from. But it was not until December 8, 2010 that Bishop David Ricken, bishop of Green Bay, gave official Church recognition to the shrine after theological and historical experts spent more than two years intensely investigating the chapel and the apparition. Yesterday, the Vatican added it's approval, making this the first officially-recognized Marian apparition in the United States.

What is a "Marian apparition?" 

Well, according to Catholic belief, the era of public revelation ended with the death of the last apostle. Nothing more can or will ever be added to the Apostolic faith which has been preserved by the Holy Spirit in the Scriptures and in the Apostolic Traditions of the Church. This is called the "deposit of Faith" and we cannot add to it nor take away from it.

An apparition is a private revelation that emphasizes some aspect of the deposit of Faith. The Church may investigate such an apparition and may, after a lengthy investigation,  declare that a particular apparition is "worthy of belief," but this simply means that the message of the apparition does not contradict or add anything new to the deposit of Faith and that the faithful may believe that the apparition is real. However, belief in approved apparitions is a matter of personal faith and private devotion and is not required of anyone.

Statue of Mary as Our Lady of Lourdes

Some Marian apparitions are known as "historical apparitions" because they occurred many centuries ago, predating the Church's official mechanisms for investigating these matters. Such "historical apparitions" include Our Lady of the Pillar (Spain, c. AD 39), Our Lady of the Snow (Rome, 358) and Our Lady of Walsingham (England, 1061). Apparitions which have been approved by the Church include Our Lady of Guadalupe (Mexico, 1531),  Our Lady of Lourdes (France, 1858) and Our Lady of Fatima (Portugal, 1917), to name a few.

Why Mary? Well, she's pretty important. Through our baptism, we are the adopted sons and daughters of God. Jesus, according to Hebrews 2:11-12, is our spiritual brother. So, Jesus' mother is our spiritual mother. And like any good mother, Mary is always praying for us, that we might have salvation through her Son, Our Lord. In all of the approved apparitions, Mary is always calling her children back to her Son, pointing to Jesus as the way of salvation.

As explained by the great folks at Catholics United for the Faith:

Authentic private revelations, such as approved Marian apparitions, neither add to or subtract from the deposit of faith. Rather, they call us to a greater commitment to Jesus Christ, the one Savior of the world, and the Church He founded, and draw our attention back to the content of public Revelation.

Do all Catholics have to believe in Marian apparitions?

No. As stated earlier, apparitions are considered "private revelation" and are only approved by the Church after a long and very thorough investigation. Many supposed apparitions are false or hoaxes and are never approved (including the Mary-on-rye-toast and Jesus-in-a-window-pane kind of stuff). But for the apparitions which the Church does approve, they are meant to be an aid in strengthening one's Christian faith and, in the end, belief is a personal one. Remember, the Church never declares an apparition to be "necessary," she simply clarifies that some are "worthy of belief."

But, private revelations such as those at Guadalupe, Lourdes, Fatima and, yes, now Champion, Wisconsin, can be a great boost to our faith life. They can remind us that God has not abandoned his Church but is still with us. According to one great explanation, these apparitions "provide an invitation to deepen our conversion to Christ, often through a heightened awareness of Mary's spiritual motherhood. They are a gift to the Church that ought to be received soberly, but also joyfully."

Happy Obscure Catholic Saint's Day!

The skull of St. Valentine.

Poor St. Valentine. He never asked for it. He never asked that his name come to be associated with cheap candy and heart-shaped mylar balloons. I'm pretty sure he would have never guessed - not in a million years - that he would become synonymous with romantic crushes, red foil heart decorations and free hug coupons. What a horrid fate.

All we know about him is that he was buried along the Via Flaminia (an ancient Roman road which led from the city to the Adriatic Sea) on February 14th. We're not even positive about the year, but it was likely during the third century. His name does not appear in the earliest known Roman martyrology (the list of Christian martyrs from in and around the city of Rome) which was published in 354, but he was added to the Roman calendar of saints in 496 by Pope Gelasius I, who remarked that he was to be commemorated as one of the many saints "...whose names are justly reverenced among men, but whose acts are known only to God." According to pious tradition, there were actually two individuals who are both celebrated as martyrs on February 14th: a priest from Rome and a bishop from Terni who bore the same name. The two lived about about 50 years apart but both died as martyrs for the Faith during the third century. Each was buried after his martyrdom in a grave along the Via Flaminia, just at different distances from the city. But it is the former, who has come to be known as St. Valentine of Rome, that is usually considered the St. Valentine.

Throughout the years, at least seven known saints have also shared this name, though they have different feast days. But the one commemorated today continues to be remembered most widely. Despite the rumors you might have heard, he is still found on the Catholic Church's official list of saints, but because so little is known about him, his feast day was removed from the Church's General Calendar in 1969. Local calendars (those of dioceses, etc.), however, are still permitted to commemorate him on February 14th. There are many churches dedicated to this and other saints named Valentine (we'll touch on one in particular a little later). And one church in Rome, the Basilica of Santa Maria in Cosmedin, displays what is believed to be the skull of St. Valentine (the Roman martyr/priest).

This day is one of the more obvious examples of Catholic origins of another of our popular celebrations. "But what about the romantic part? How does that fit in?" you might be asking. How did the name of a Christian martyr(s) become entangled with notions of love and fidelity (at best) or a raunchy money-making holiday (at worst)? Well, it seems we owe this to two things: the fourteenth century English poet Geoffrey Chaucer and a case of mistaken identity.


In 1382, Chaucer published a poem honoring the first anniversary of the engagement of England's King Richard II to Anne of Bohemia. From history, we know that an agreement for the engagement was signed on May 2, 1381. Chaucer's poem, entitled Parlement of Foules, commemorates the date of the king's engagement in the following line:

"For this was on seynt Volantynys day
Whan euery bryd comyth there to chese his make"

Or, in modern English: "For this was on Saint Valentine's Day, when every bird comes there to choose his mate." For years, it was assumed by Chaucer's readers that February 14th was the day he was referring to, the day on which birds mated -- a good day for an engagement. Other poets and authors echoed the supposedly "ancient tradition" of St. Valentine's Day being a day especially suited for romantic pursuits. In time, it became hardened custom in western Europe. It was not until the 19th century in England that "valentines" began to be exchanged on a large scale but the engines of capitalism and consumerism powered a virtual revolution in the celebration of St. Valentine's Day in the 20th century as valentines (and candy, and flowers, and gifts, and...) came to be the norm rather than the exception.

Throughout the years, legends sprung up and were attached to St. Valentine's already largely-invented hagiography. One story, which was widely disseminated after it showed up in the popular Butler's Book of Saints (1894) even had the soon-to-be martyred Valentine sending a letter from his jail cell just before his death. Get it? The "first valentine." How cute.

But all of the attempts at connecting love and courtship to a saint whose feast day is on February 14th is based on a misunderstanding of Chaucer's words. You see, Chaucer was not referring to February 14th. Think about it: birds were, of course, very unlikely to be mating in the middle of February. But they were likely to be mating on May 2nd - the actual date of King Richard and Anne's engagement. And, May 2nd just happens to be the feast day of another St. Valentine - a fourth century bishop of Genoa, Italy (and one of the many saints who share this name).

Soooo..... Valentine's Day, as far as being a "romantic" holiday, really is every bit as invented as you might have suspected. Of course it is a good thing to show your significant other that you love them. Hopefully, it is apparent every day, but it is nice to have an excuse (even a made-up one) to celebrate romantic love - it is, after all, a great thing. And if, by chance, you completely forgot to get your favorite somebody flowers or a card today, having read this post, you can now convincingly argue that this whole day is based on a big old misunderstanding of a fourteenth century poet, and that you've got everything planned for the real St. Valentine's Day (the one Chaucer intended)... on May 2nd. Yeah.... Good luck with that.

Book Club cancelled, too

Today's Book Club is cancelled. Sorry, but in true southern style, the snow is closing down everything. We'll continue with our Book Club next Thursday, and start our discussion on C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity then. We'll also add chapters three and four to our reading responsibility by then.

So, there's this young priest...

How many times have I been sent a Re:Re:Re:Fwd: email that has some high-larious joke about the crazy hijinks of the "young priest". One of the ones goes that this "young priest" was, as usual, being berated by his bishop because the young man had installed a "drive-thru" confessional. with a sign that said, "Toot and Tell or Go to Hell". It never gets better and yet, people still tell me that one.
That, by the way, was the joke.

Pertinent to Brad's story on the "Confession App", I am not at all surprised that people are wondering if they can "txt" their sins for absolution. In my time, I've had people try to phone in confessions, email confessions or even come in the confessional with someone to have a "shared confession". It's not the 80's people. We don't do that (anymore).
Actually, as Brad stated, confession is personal and there can be no means of translation (even an interpreter) electronic or otherwise between confessor and penitent. Why our confessional at St. John's has a cable jack is beyond me...
While on the subject, it must be stated that confession is also protected under the seal of confession. So whatever you tell a priest is to be held in the strictest of confidence (more than Area 51 level confidence..come on, Obama, show us that alien!) and if a priest does tell of what he hears in confession, it is automatic excommunication for him. Over. Out. Done.

On the other hand, if a priest tells a layman (or another priest) something outside the sacrament, he cannot enforce the "seal". The seal is asked for by the penitent and only the penitent.
But as long as there has been confession, there have been jokes about it but truly, confession is no joking matter. It's one of the best and least used sacraments.
Maybe this year we can change that. Let's try to take the sacrament more seriously...while I'm still young!

Good Cheer canceled tonight

Due to another impending snowpocalypse for the Oxford area, we are regretfully canceling Good Cheer for tonight. Don't worry, though - we'll be back next week!

Hope you have as much fun as these two on your snow day:

Confession? There's an app for that!

Well, not really -- despite what the popular media would have you believe. What's been introduced (and approved) is an i-Phone app that helps you to prepare for sacramental confession. In other words, it helps you to go through a high-tech version of a very ancient (and necessary) prep: an examination of conscience. It does this by walking you through the Ten Commandments and by giving you a basic guide to the Sacrament of Penance.

The app (pictured at left) was created with the help of two Catholic priests. And it really has been given Church approval: Bishop Kevin Rhodes of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana has approved it. But, despite the sensational (and misleading) headlines--not unlike the one I intentionally used for this post--this app is not intended to and cannot take the place of sacramental confession of your sins. Basically, it is meant to help you organize your thoughts before you enter into the confessional and to walk you through the sacrament if you're a little rusty. And for those reasons, I think its a great thing.

But before you get hit with the jokes about confessing your sins to a priest on your iPhone, you already know that's bunk. But for $1.99, maybe its worth the price if it helps spur you to more frequently use the Sacrament of Penance. But since the thing keeps track of the sins you list, you might want to make sure you pick a good password. As if your girlfriend doesn't already have enough on you.... [crickets chirping]

I said, as if your girlfriend doesn't already have enough on you. Thanks. I'll be here all week...

Introducing.... Tuesday Adoration

Tonight CCM will host Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on 7:15pm until 8:30pm at St. John's. We hope to continue this practice every Tuesday at the same time. Please come and spend a few minutes in prayer before the Lord. Pass it on!

"To converse with you, O King of Glory, no third person is needed. You are always ready in the Sacrament of the altar to give audience to all. All who desire you always find you there, and converse with you face to face." - St. Teresa of Avila

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock..."

A Reflection on Answering God's Call

In the years 1853-54, an English painter named Holman Hunt spent many late nights in a farm shed, working on a painting he would entitle "The Light of the World." It pictures Jesus, crowned with thorns and holding a lantern, knocking on a door overgrown with vines. Hunt explained that the painting is an allegory of Christ's words in Revelation 3:20: ""Behold, I stand at the door and knock," says Christ. "If any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and will dine with him, and he with me."

The painting was a huge success. In later years, Holman painted a life-sized version which was taken on a world tour in the late 19th century. It drew crowds wherever it went and inspired much popular devotion. Most viewers of the work are struck by the striking chiaroscuro, the play of shadows and light. But the artist himself felt the need to point out an important piece of symbolism nearly fifty years after completing the painting. Its the door. Look closely and you'll realize that there is no handle on the outside. It's absence is purposeful for the door, like our hearts, can only be opened from the inside. Christ wants to "dine with us" and he wants us to follow his will for us. But he will never force his way in. We must answer the soft knocking at the door.

What are you gonna do with the rest of your life? Many of you who are in college are asking that very question. Regardless of your major, it is inevitable that most of you will enter into a crisis of purpose - a time where you sincerely wonder what you are being called by God to do. But as cliche as it may sound, it is true that God has a plan for you. Seriously. You must only listen to his call and allow yourself to follow his direction.

And let's be clear here. Quite separate from your career or your occupation, I'm speaking of your vocation - your calling from God. What is God calling you to do? Have you asked him in earnest prayer? Have you responded to his answer?

Be attentive to God's call. Christ is knocking and he will lead you. Answer in faith.

Adoration "Panis Angelicus"

Tomorrow is the First Friday of the Month. Traditional Catholics regard the first Friday as particular in that Friday was the day our Lord died on the Cross so we as his chosen, honor him with special acts of love and devotion. Devotions on the First Friday come from the 17th century as a young nun was instructed by an apparition of Christ to ask Catholics to receive Communion on the first Friday of each month for nine months.

You may believe or not believe the legend but it has been time tested that when one spends time with Christ, good things happen. We offer the following to you:

Mass at 8:30am with Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament to follow until 12:00pm. What is it? It is a special time of reflection and prayer spent before the host outside of the tabernacle. Catholics do anything from meditation to the rosary to praying a series of prayers. Some even bring devotional books to read while in adoration.

And don't forget an act of Penance. You may either refrain from fleshmeat (poultry or beef) or do some extra act of mercy in honor of Christ. Give blood. Visit the hospitalized. Call someone you've been estranged from. Give away some of your old but usable clothing.

Give of yourself. Give some time. Give a care about your FAITH!

Cool Catholic Traditions: Blessing of the Throats

Today is the feast of St. Blaise, a physician who became the bishop of a city called Sabastea in what is now Turkey. He died as a martyr for the faith in AD 316. One ancient story about this holy bishop was that, through him, God miraculously healed a young boy who had a fish bone stuck in his throat. For this reason, the prayers of St. Blaise have long been invoked for those threatened by or suffering from injuries and illnesses of the throat.

For centuries, Catholics have had a custom on St. Blaise's feast day called the "blessing of the throats". During the blessing, the priest holds two candles tied together with a red ribbon in the form of a cross at the throat of the person seeking a blessing and prays: "Through the intersession of St. Blaise, bishop and martyr, may God preserve you from throat troubles and every other evil. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."

On this very cold day, a blessing of the throat would certainly not be a bad idea. Happy St. Blaise's Day!

Book Group meets today!

Lewis

We'll have the first meeting of our brand new Book Group today at 2pm at High Point Coffee on North Lamar (see map below, for directions). We're reading Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. All are invited, so feel free to bring friends and guests. You don't have to have bought the book yet, but when you're ready to do so, it is available at Square Books as well as from online booksellers. Today we'll talk about the author and assign chapters for next week. Hope to see you there!

To whet your appetite for Lewis' very unique writing style, I'll leave you with what might be my favorite quote from the book. Here, Lewis is talking about how Jesus is treated in the modern secular culture:

"I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: 'I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept His claim to be God.' That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic--on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg--or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come away with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to."

Finally, here's a map to High Point Coffee on North Lamar. See you this afternoon!


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Good Cheer Last Night

I don't know about y'all but what a cathartic experience that was for me. I'm better...so better.

For those who are interested, you can get the transcripts of my talk last night here.

And to show I don't make these things up..ROCKET TO THE MOON! \mm/\mm/

If you like it then you are a GIRL!
(seriously, this somehow was part of last night's discussion)
__________________________________________________________
From Brad:

Here are a few pictures from last night's session of Good Cheer.

A light unto the nations

Today is Candlemas, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, which commemorates how the infant Jesus was dedicated by his parents in the Temple at Jerusalem forty days after his birth, in accordance with Jewish law. Luke's account of this event (Luke 2:22-40) tells us that in the temple, Jesus was blessed by Simeon in the presence of the prophetess Anna. Simeon had been promised by the Holy Spirit that he would live to see the Messiah and upon seeing Jesus, he began to chant aloud a hymn that we now pray as part of Night Prayer (Compline). It is called the Nunc Dimittis:

Lord, now you let your servant go in peace,
your word has been fulfilled:
My own eyes have seen the salvation,
which you have prepared in the sight of every people:
a light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel.

Jesus is the "light" to reveal God to the nations. So it is a tradition that candles are blessed during or after the Mass on this day. It's a great and fitting tradition, a powerful reminder that Jesus is the "Light of the world."

Groundhog Day: More Catholic Than You Realize

In the United States, on our secular calendar, today is also known as Groundhog Day. For those who are wondering, "Punxsutawney Phil" did predict an early spring earlier today. But what most people don't realize is that the tradition of predicting a continuing winter or an early spring on this day actually dates back to customs surrounding the Catholic holiday of Candlemas. In centuries past, many European farmers believed that the weather of the remaining days of winter would be the opposite of the weather on Candlemas. In other words, if the weather was cold on Candlemas, they would predict the rest of winter to be warm and mild. This tradition continued in Protestant parts of Europe after the Reformation and, somehow, became connected to badgers. The tradition of a weather-forecasting animal was brought to Pennsylvania by German immigrants (the so-called "Pennsylvania Dutch") in the 18th and 19th centuries and, eventually, became embodied in the tradition of "Groundhog Day."

So, while Americans are prognosticating the weather patterns for coming weeks today, you can laugh to yourself that they're carrying on an old Catholic tradition. In any event, have a happy and holy Candlemas!

Fishers of Men

Okay, college men: this is for you. Are you prayerfully discerning God's will for your life? If so, have you seriously considered the priesthood?

Ask a Catholic: St. Brigid's Cross

"My grandmother has a cross made out of dried leaves hanging on her wall. She calls it her St. Brigid cross. What is that?"

St. Brigid's Cross

Today is St. Brigid's Day. St. Brigid is one of the patron saints of Ireland (the other two are St. Patrick and St. Columba) but she is, perhaps, best known to many American Catholics through the particular style of cross that you're describing. Many Catholics of Irish ancestry have a St. Brigid's cross hanging somewhere in their house. This is the story of where it comes from.

St. Brigid died in AD 524.

St. Brigid was born at Faughart in Ireland around AD 453, a time in which the island was being evangelized by St. Patrick and his associates. Her father was a pagan chieftain and her mother was a Christian. As an adult, she became an important leader of the Church in Ireland and founded monasteries for both men and women. Her association with the cross which bears her name goes back to a legendary story about a visit she made to a pagan chieftain who was on his deathbed. During her visit, she picked up some of the rushes which lined the floor of his hut and began to weave them together into a cross.He asked her about what she was doing and she responded by telling him about Christ and his cross. The man accepted the Christian faith on his deathbed and was baptized just before passing away.

It is customary to make a St. Brigid cross from reeds or rushes on her feast day, and then to have the cross blessed by a priest. The blessed cross is then hung on or near the front door of a home and remains there all year, until it is replaced on the next St. Brigid's Day with a new cross. If you'd like to make your very own St. Brigid's Cross, you can find instructions here.

Like any sacramental, the purpose of this cross is to remind us of our Catholic faith and, in turn, to increase our faith and devotion to Christ and his Church. Happy St. Brigid's Day!

"I am the wheat of God..."

"...Let me be ground by the teeth of the wild beasts, that I may become the pure bread of Christ."
- St. Ignatius of Antioch, martyred in AD 108

A reflection on the Martyrs

The Coliseum in Rome is one of the most famous sites in the world. It has stood  watch over the ancient Roman Forum since its completion in the year 80. It was the Cowboys Stadium of its day, the largest and most advanced amphitheater ever built in the Roman Empire. Even today, as it lies in a ruined state, it impresses visitors to the Eternal City with its sheer size and with its classic, arch-embellished architecture.

In its heyday, the Roman Coliseum played host to chariot races and performance arts. The floor of the venue could even be flooded to stage elaborate mock naval battles for the spectators, which could number around 50,000. Underneath the floor, however, was a vast labyrinthine network of tunnels and holding cells - the last routes for many of the participants in the Coliseum's more nefarious performances: public executions. 

First and second-century Romans were generally known to be measured and decorous in many facets of public life, but they had a real blood lust when it came to entertainment. This was the culture which gave rise to the fight-to-the-death world of gladiators and, as a society, they had a real flair - demented knack, if you will - for creative and extravagant methods of public execution. Guillotines and the  hangman's noose would not have satisfied the crowds which gathered to watch the execution of criminals and "enemies of the republic" such as rebels, traitors, deserters from the army, runaway slaves and... Christians. Those who were unfortunate enough to be sentenced to death in the amphitheater knew that their end would be bloody and very public.

Public executions usually occurred during the noon break when the Coliseum, which operated on a very tight schedule, was between a morning of wild animal hunts and an afternoon of gladiatorial combat. Roman citizens sentenced to death elsewhere in the Empire had the right to appeal directly to the emperor, so many Christians who were Roman citizens ended up being martyred in Rome after an unsuccessful appeal to the emperor. If their death sentence was upheld by the emperor, Roman citizens were exempt, as citizens, from scourging and from death by crucifixion. They were usually beheaded by the sword. This is why St. Peter (a non-citizen) was crucified but St. Paul (a citizen) was beheaded, though they were guilty of the same crime.

Christians and others sentenced to die were often forced into mock gladiatorial combat against trained fighters or may be damnacio ad bestias, "condemned to the beasts" - thrown to a group of wild animals to be mauled and/or possibly eaten. Any wild animal would suffice, but there seems to have been a penchant for the exotic and creatures were imported from all over the empire for this purpose. Records tell us that the condemned were thrown to hippopotamuses, rhinoceros, bears, leopards, crocodiles and lions. If they survived these, the citizens might then be beheaded but the non-citizens would be impaled, crucified or burned alive. And all the while, witness after witness reports that these things were done to men, women and - horrifyingly - even children, on account of nothing other than their faith and their willingness to follow Christ their Lord in all things, even unto death.

But instead of stamping out Christianity, these public executions had the opposite effect: they inspired those who witnessed them and the Church grew. And it grew. Against all odds, the faith grew not by the sword, but by acts of genuine kindness, humble love of neighbor and by the stalwart example of the martyrs. "The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church,"  observed an early Church leader. Those who died willingly and innocently for their faith lived on in the vast numbers that they inspired and encouraged. And so it was, that martyrdom - long before the word became sullied and confused, in our modern language, by those who use faith as an excuse for murdering others - became the basis for constructing a Christian calendar, because the days on which Christians entered into their eternal reward were to be remembered and to be celebrated by those left behind, and the prayers of those "holy ones" (i.e. "saints"), eternally before God's heavenly throne, were to be sought and implored for all of us.

Martyrs for Christ are not a thing of the past. We are willfully (and woefully) ignorant if we tune out the recent news reports of our fellow Catholics who have been slaughtered for their faith in countries such as Iraq and Somalia. Entire communities of Christians have been put under enormous pressure to leave their homes or to face violence. In your prayers, please remember those who would be modern martyrs, those persecuted and abused for the faith in many areas of the world today. Pray for them and seek out the intercession of the saints whose merits and prayers we rely on for help and protection.